John Carrey Belt Buckle, 1950-1970

Jess Taylor was born in 1898 in The Cove, Oregon. His father was a railroad contractor and at 18 Jess was working in Texas building ships. In 1924, he began ranching in the Lost River area of Idaho and in 1934 met Dave 'Cougar Dave' Lewis and in 1935 purchased Lewis' Ranch on the Salmon River. Jess and Dorothy Taylor would own and operate the ranch until 1969 at which time it was sold to the University of Idaho for $100,000. Jess Taylor used the ranch as the base for his outfitting operation, including hunts for Big Horn Sheep.

John Carrey was born in 1914 at the Jack Shiefer place on the South Fork of the Salmon River. His family would move to McCall, Idaho. He married Pearl Holbrook in June 1939 in Asotin, Washington. They homesteaded at Shorts Bar where they also ran sheep. In 1943, the couple moved to Little White Bird Ridge outside of Riggins where they would run cattle. Carrey would also work as a packer and hunting guide. He would co-author five books on Idaho history, primarily around the history of the Salmon River area. He amassed a large collection of 106 horned skulls which was sold to a private museum in New England. He also became known for making sheep horn belt buckles for friends. Carrey died 11 February 2002 in Riggins.

Jerry Thiessen worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game from 1965 to 1994 as a wildlife biologist and administer. For part of his career, he was based in Lewiston, Idaho. Part of his job was to attend various functions of sporting goods or related organizations representing Fish and Game. Around 1993, he attended the annual meeting of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association where he acquired this belt buckle at the evening banquet.