Wyoming
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Matilda ‘Tillie’ Bock Sewell Spent Years…
It’s well-known in Wyoming ranch country that gender is irrelevant. Anyone who can do the job is a cowboy.
In the case of Matilda “Tillie” Mae Bock and her sister Clara, when their dad Julius “Jule” Bock needed cowboy help, they were the eldest children in the family and were the ones to saddle their horses and go to work.
Tillie was born Nov. 30, 1902, on the Double Spear Ranch in Weston County. This was land her father had homesteaded when he was 21 years old, the minimum age for a man to claim a homestead.
He built a cabin and proved up on his land while starting his family with wife Bertha.
Julius would eventually buy more homesteads and the YT Ranch, giving him property across a wide territory. Ultimately, he acquired 1,200 head of cattle and had 2,000 head of sheep.
Initially Julius, with Tillie and Clara to help, managed the operation. Later, other children assisted, and he also hired help, so he eventually had a crew of 20 men.
Tillie started school when she was only 4 years old. At that time, classes were held only during June, July and August, because of the winter weather being so severe. To get to the school, she and her six siblings either rode their horses or walked.
She Grew Up In The Saddle
Riding was second-nature for Tillie and she spent most of her childhood and adult life in the saddle.
This October she will be inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame, joining her father in the elite group of cowboys in the WCHF. He was inducted last year.
All seven Bock children were born on the ranch.
Tillie and Clara being the oldest learned at a young age to carry their share of ranch work. They spent long days in the saddle, helping gather cattle and sheep during the roundups, and helping ship them on the railroad.
Weston County History reports both became “exceptionally good horsewomen at a fairly young age.” In fact, Tillie and her sister were featured at the Belle Fourche Roundup one year as “The girls from Newcastle who roped and tied steers.”
Family friend Joe Fordyce once said that, “If a guy had a horse that could not be broke or if the horse had bad habits, he recommended to anyone to take the horse to the Bock Sisters.”
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Matilda “Tillie” Bock Sewell earned a reputation as being cowboy tough and a true Wyoming cowboy around Weston County. She was often with her sister Clara. (Courtesy Candy Moulton)
Cowboy Tough
Tillie married George Sewell in 1925. She continued to be actively engaged in the ranching business for many years in addition to raising her family of seven children.
Tillie had a succession of favorite horses and put many miles on each of them.
After her marriage, Tillie lived at the YT Ranch. Later, she and George worked on other ranches. When George died in 1949, she was left to raise their three children that were still at home.
Tillie and her children went through trying times, but they were cowboy tough. She recalled “many cold winter mornings, waking up and having to thaw the tea kettle that froze on the stove overnight.”
Tillie had learned cowboy work from her father and she instilled in her children, and grandchildren, the cowboy way. Her three sons also worked in ranching and farming.
Other Featured Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Famers:
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Joseph Rex Wardell Ran Cattle For 53 Years
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Frank E. Miller Rode The Range In Carbon County
Wyoming Cowboy Hall Of Fame: Kent Snidecor’s Not A Rancher, He’s A Cowboy
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Veteran Legacy & New Exhibit At Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Mickey and Bill Thoman, a Cowboy Couple
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: A Hamilton Cowboy Legacy
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Mary Flitner – My Ranch, Too
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Marion Scott, Campbell County Cowboy
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Pat Dew
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Marie Jordan Bell — Iron Mountain Cowgirl Who Earned Her Spurs
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Bill Francis, Cowboying in Jackson Hole
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: Stepp Family Forges Way For Black Cowboys
Wyoming Cowboy Hall Of Fame: From Brush Creek to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame Saddles Up with Cowboy State Daily
34-Years Ago Sunday, Lane Frost Died At Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cowboys Remember
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — As the Aug. 18 primary election approaches, Cap City News is introducing candidate questionnaires to help voters make informed decisions at the ballot box.
Every candidate in the primary field was sent the same three questions and given a limit of 500 words, which could be distributed among their answers as they saw fit. To ensure a fair and direct line to the community, all responses are published exactly as submitted, without edits or alterations.
Candidates were asked:
- What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?
- If elected, how will you address these challenges?
- What qualities or qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?
Questionnaires are being published on a rolling basis online through Aug. 11. They will be accessible via the Cap City News Election Tracker.
Jessica Crowder (R), Wyoming House District 43
What are the most crucial challenges your constituents are facing?
Wyoming is built on hard work, strong communities, and the responsible use of our natural resources. The families in House District 43 and Wyoming face real challenges — from the need for a more resilient, diverse economy to the increasing outmigration of young people. Wyoming families also face rising costs of healthcare, housing and more. House District 43 deserves a representative that puts people first and works to strengthen the place we call home through steady and thoughtful leadership.
If elected, how will you address these challenges?
As a legislator, I will use my experience working with landowners, businesses, and local governments to support the industries that define Wyoming while encouraging thoughtful growth and diversification. Our future depends on good jobs, strong schools, and communities where families can put down roots and thrive. We can honor the values that make Wyoming what it is while building something that lasts—an economy that works for working people, an education system that prepares the next generation, and communities that remain resilient and connected.
The rising cost of healthcare and the difficulty of accessing services are real challenges for Wyoming families. We need reforms that reduce costs, expand access—including to mental health resources—and meet people where they are. The 2026 Health Insurance Affordability Task Force is working to address rising costs, and I will work with this group and others to develop effective solutions that deliver the quality care our communities deserve.
Tax and housing reforms must be reviewed for possible refinement so people can afford to buy homes, stay in their homes, and build equity and pride of place. At the same time, every Wyoming county depends on a different mix of revenue, and we all rely on stable, predictable local funding for essential services. I will participate in honest, informed conversations about how to provide relief to those who need it most without jeopardizing essential services.
Wyoming’s economy depends on our core industries and new businesses that invest here. Both need clear, consistent processes and regulations so they have confidence in choosing Wyoming. Economic growth also relies on strong infrastructure and a skilled workforce. When these pieces work together—predictable regulations, reliable infrastructure, workforce readiness, and responsible budgeting—they create a stable environment that encourages growth, provides good jobs, and protects taxpayers.
What qualities/qualifications do you possess that have prepared you to meet these challenges?
I believe we maintain and create opportunity by respecting the people who live here and the land that sustains us. I grew up on a ranch and now raise my family in Laramie County, where we run a ranch and small business, so I understand the challenges facing families, landowners, and employers. With over 20 years of experience in agriculture, land management, and public policy, I’ve supported working lands, defended local interests, and strengthened communities. The values that guide this work—practical problem solving, respect for local knowledge, and a commitment to community—have broad application beyond land management and would serve me well in the legislature.
Related
TETON COUNTY, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Health recently confirmed two additional cases of measles in Teton County, bringing the statewide total to six cases, with five cases having occurred in Teton County.
A release from the WDH states that one recently-confirmed case is an adult with no identified links to the previous three Teton County cases, while the other case is also an adult, who had direct exposure to a previously identified case.
“This underscores the highly contagious nature of the measles virus,” the release states.
According to the release, the public may have been exposed to measles at the following locations and times:
Target Jackson Hole, 510 S Highway 89, Jackson, Wyoming 83001
- July 5, 2026, 7:00 AM through 7:00 PM
- July 6, 2026, 7:00 AM through 7:00 PM
- July 7, 2026, 7:00 AM through 7:00 PM
Smith’s Food and Drug, 1425 South Highway 89, Jackson, Wyoming 83001
- July 8, 2026, 9:00 AM through noon
“Measles is very contagious and can cause serious illness, including pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization, and death,” the release states. “Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles infection.”
For more information on measles, including case counts, exposure locations, and guidance on what to do if exposed, visit the Wyoming Department of Health website.
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