Yetta Kohn

Yetta Kohn (March 9, 1843 – April 24, 1917) was a German-American immigrant who came to New Mexico and became a businesswoman, rancher, and ferry operator. After her husband died in 1877, Kohn operated the family's wool and hide business. She became a real estate investor and a cattle rancher. The T4 Cattle Company ranch, which has remained a family business, in Montoya, New Mexico has become one of the largest private ranches in the United States. Besides mercantile stores, Kohn has also operated banks, a ferry, and a post office.

Early life and marriage Yetta Louise Goldsmith was born on March 9, 1843, in Bavaria, Germany. She came to the United States from Le Havre, France when she was 10, arriving in New York City on the ship William Tell in 1853. She lived in Leavenworth of Kansas Territory by June 1860, when she lived with the Kennedys who had young children. She was 17 at the time. He was born February 2, 1837, in Pilsen, Bohemia.

Colorado and Kansas

Kohn and her husband Samuel drove their covered wagon west during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. In May 1864, Cherry Creek was destroyed by a flood. The family returned to Leavenworth by 1865, where their daughter Belle was born. Two other infant children were born and died there. Kohn's husband Samuel died in Las Vegas on September 29, 1877, and was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Las Vegas. Her children ranged in ages from 7 to 17 when her husband died. She operated the 4V Ranch with about 4,000 head of cattle. The ranch had two investors,

Kohn died on April 24, 1917, at her home in Montoya.

Howard operated the family businesses and was a real estate investor after his brothers' and mother's death. He married Clara McGowan, his bookkeeper, in 1923. They had a daughter named Yetta. Howard suffered smoke inhalation after a fire at the Kohn ranch and died in 1933. Clara operated the T4 Cattle Company after her husband's death and the ranch grew to 180,000 contiguous acres with the purchase of part of the Bell Ranch in 1946. It is now one of the largest private ranches in the United States with about 220,000 acres.