I just saw this post today (7/22/25), and it was the first time I learned of Jerk’s last name.
I have a Jerk saddle on a 12.5” tree that had to have been built in the late 1940s or early 1950s. My grandfather had Jerk make it for my Dad and Uncle to ride as kids. My Dad was born in 1941 and uncle a couple years later. My uncle was riding this saddle along with a guy named Dub McQueen moving cattle in a thunderstorm when Dub was struck by lightening. It killed Dub and both horses, but my uncle survived. If memory serves correct, he was 9 years old at the time. Dub’s saddle is in the museum in Thermopolis, WY and I think still bears the burn scars of the lightning strike.
About the time I turned 9ish they had Wilsey Barrett (I think Jerk taught Wilsey) in Powell, WY refurbish it so that I could ride it. He made 2 sets of fenders and stirrup leathers, one smaller and the other larger, so I would be able to ride it as I grew. I rode it and then my sister did some and a half dozen other cousins and kids, and even my first two kids rode it some up into the early 2000s.
I was making my first saddle about 1997 and Wilsey mentioned that he though Jerk was still alive at that time and teaching 4H kids leatherwork somewhere in Montana.
Anyway, I had it in a storage shed that recently went through a wildfire, and I’m assessing the damage.
The tree looks to have northwest bars and I was always told it was a Chuck Shepard…sorta looks like one.
The tree and ground seat seem to be ok, but most of the exposed leather is pretty scorched. I’ll probably rebuild it for the grandkids, just trying to decide exactly what I want to do. Originally it was rough out. And it has a horribly uncomfortable seat…can be compared to riding a 55 gallon drum! Lol.
