Krentz Ranch

Inducted in 2008

Mar 3

Douglas - Cochise County

Inducted in 2008

The Krentz Ranch, located 35 miles northeast of Douglas, has a long and illustrious history. Jessie Benton initially owned the Spear E. Ranch, but Julius and Emma Krentz bought it in 1907 when they moved their cow/calf operation from Winslow South to Douglas. Julius had immigrated to this country in 1872 from Alsace-Lorraine to avoid serving in the German army and married Emma Wolff, a St. Louis native.

The Krentz's first stop in Arizona was Globe, where Julius settled an estate. They remained there for the next two years. During that time, they accumulated a good-sized herd of cattle, which they drove to Winslow when the family moved to eastern Arizona.

Julius, a butcher by trade, bought the slaughterhouse and Palace Meat Company in Douglas from Ed Tovrea. He hoped to cash in by selling provisions to Camp Harry J. Jones, a U.S. Army encampment, and the workers at two smelters in the area. Julius and his sons Frank, Joe, and Lou operated the meat market until Julius died in 1910. The family sold the business back to Ed Tovrea in 1919.

Ranch life is demanding, and Joe wants to be wealthy. When Joe's wife died, he and Lou sold their interest to Frank, Sara, and their sons Jules and Stuart. The family continued to raise beef on the ranch and sold it retail to the local store and wholesale to the Gadsden Hotel. Sara, whose name was Sara Arizona Dugan, was born on the steamship USS ARIZONA while her parents were in transit from Ireland to their new home in the United States. Her birth on the wall in Ellis Island, "Dugan Baby born on 7/4/1881." In honor of the momentous occasion, her parents gave her the middle name of Arizona, and she never dreamed that she would spend a good portion of her life there. When Frank died, Sara and her sons Jules, Stuart, and Bob continued to operate the property. Eventually, Sara sold her interest to her sons.

Although the ranch changed hands several times, it has always remained with the family. In 1977, Stuart sold his interest to Phil and the late Rob Krentz. The brothers acquired the remaining shares over the next two decades, making them the fourth generation to own and operate the property. The family tradition of raising purebred Hereford and Charolais as crossbred cattle continues today. They focus intensely on responsible land conservation and good water management.

The Krentz Ranch is well known for its extensive gravity flow water line. Water from the line sustains the cattle operation and provides the water needed to maintain a well-managed range. Submersible pumps augment the line to provide a consistent flow. It not only provides water for the cattle, but it has also allowed the family to create 25,000 acres of wildlife habitat for numerous species such as deer, javelina, mountain lion, antelope, dove, and quail on the property.

Throughout the years, members of the Krentz family have left their mark on the State. Sara served as a page in the Territorial Legislature in Prescott. Her son Stuart represented Cochise County in the Arizona House of Representatives for two terms before moving to Mexico for six years to work on the USDA's highly successful AFTOSO Project to eradicate Hoof and Mouth disease.

To protect the property from future development, a conservation easement has been put on the ranch to ensure it will always remain a cattle ranch.

On March 27, 2010 Robert Krentz was shot and killed by a suspected illegal alien while checking water lines on the ranch. Phrases used to describe Robert Krentz include a loving husband, great father, and loyal friend. He was known as a conservationist, good rancher, and kindhearted individual who was always available to lend a helping hand when the need arose. Known as Rob, Krentz, with the help of his brother Phil, headed up operations for the historic Krentz Ranch.

Rob was a visonary like his forefather before him, and worked to improve the ranch at every opportunity. Rob and Phil had put in two solar water wells before Rob’s death. The family continues to use cutting edge conservation tools, utilizing soar wells and more of the like to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.