James P. Langley

Modern-era Ranching

Inducted 2006

James P. Langley was born in Warwick, North Dakota, into a family shaped by grit, land, and hard work. His father came north from Kansas in 1904 after hearing that land would be opened for homesteading on the Fort Totten Indian Reservation. Like many early settlers, he began life on the prairie in a modest 12-by-14-foot shack, laying the foundation for a ranching legacy that would define James’s life.

The hardships of the 1930s left a deep mark on James. During the winter months, he and a group of neighboring boys traveled to California in search of work. Among the toughest jobs he took on was fencing in the mountains—backbreaking labor that left its imprint on his hands and in the sturdy fences he later built around his own ranch. Those years taught him endurance and self-reliance, qualities that never left him.

James served his country during World War II, and when the war ended, he returned home to farm and ranch alongside his parents. He married Esther Wood, and together they made their home just a mile west of his parents’ place. Ranching was not simply his livelihood; it was his passion. He raised registered Hereford cattle for the rest of his life, believing firmly that if they weren’t Herefords, they weren’t worth having. He also valued good saddle horses, though his early years were humbling—he started out with an old Army saddle that didn’t fit well and left him with more than his share of saddle sores.

His fascination with saddles began in the early 1940s when he purchased a new Hereford saddle in Sioux City, Iowa, after shipping a carload of cattle. From that point on, the collection grew steadily. Over the next 30 years, nearly every trip ended with a saddle or two coming home. Eventually, Esther put her foot down and refused to allow any more saddles in the house. James responded in true Langley fashion: he bought an old house, remodeled it, built his own saddle racks, and filled it. When that space was full, he filled a fifth-wheel trailer, and later the basement of his home. Some saddles even came to him over the phone from as far away as California. Saddles weren’t his only weakness—he was equally fond of buying boots, cowboy hats, bulls, and saddle horses.

James entered the U.S. Army on June 15, 1942, beginning his service as a private and rising to the rank of technical sergeant by the time of his honorable discharge on December 15, 1945. During World War II, he was placed in charge of a motor pool, overseeing the maintenance of 6×6 Army trucks, and was awarded the American Theater Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Victory Medal for his service.

James helped establish the livestock sales ring in Devils Lake and remained actively involved for nearly 15 years. He also served his community through leadership roles on local township, church, and elevator boards. In addition, he was a member of the American Hereford Association, the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, the National Cattlemen’s Association, the American Legion, and the Elks, reflecting both his deep commitment to the cattle industry and his dedication to civic life. He was named North Dakota Hereford Man of the Year.

James loved the land and lived by simple, enduring wisdom. “Take half the grass and leave the rest for a dry year,” he often said. He believed deeply in the Hereford cow, once remarking that it had sent more kids to college, bought more Cadillacs, paid for more ranches, paid more taxes, and bought more whiskey than any other breed.

His generosity was well known. When a neighbor wanted to buy heifers but had no money, James told him to take them and pay when he could. On another occasion, when a Hereford cow produced a black baldy calf, James immediately called a nephew to come get it, explaining that since it wasn’t a Hereford, he didn’t want it.

James often said, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” His hobbies included making belt buckles, repairing saddles, and attending rodeos. If there was a rodeo within a hundred miles—even on a perfect haying day—James could likely be found in the stands. He was a faithful spectator at the Rough Rider Rodeo during its three-day event in Devils Lake, content to watch the sport he loved and the way of life he lived.

James passed away on October 11, 1999, at Devils Lake, ND.