The Dutton Family Tree Explained: Shocking Mysteries and What We’ll See in Yellowstone 1944

Over several generations, the Dutton family‘s tale has unfolded, providing us a fascinating glimpse through various television series. From contemporary ‘Yellowstone’, 1800s-set ‘1883’, and upcoming ‘1923’, we’ve gained valuable insights into both the ancestors and current members of this Montana family. Future Yellowstone spinoffs like ‘1944’ and the Rip & Beth offshoot promise even more intriguing revelations about their history.

Understanding the family tree, as shown below, proves useful because there are several unanswered questions regarding it.

Will Alex And Spencer’s Kid Be The Father Of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton?

1923 seems to have solidified that Alex and Spencer’s child was indeed John Dutton II, the character later portrayed by Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Yellowstone. Yet, Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, and Michelle Randolph, who play Spencer, Alex, and Elizabeth respectively, all hinted to me that nothing is definitively confirmed. As Schlaepfer put it: “Nothing is set in stone.

The door remains open for Taylor Sheridan to close it… Brandon and I have had numerous discussions regarding our familial ties, and while we’d like to believe that our ‘John’ could be the same one, only time can reveal the truth.

In the meantime, Randolph, who also ended up in a similar situation in 1923, shared with me that she was “pretty sure it hasn’t been verified yet.

Indeed, the red lines linking Jack, Elizabeth, Spencer, and Alex to John Dutton II on the family tree are justified. These connections raise a significant query that we ponder as we approach the year 1944, namely: Who among them will inherit the legacy of John Dutton II?

Will Elizabeth And Jack Have A Child?

It appears that Elizabeth might hold significant importance in the year 1944, considering she was expecting a child with Jack at that time.

Following Jack’s passing, she carried on living and relocated away from the ranch. There’s uncertainty about whether the child she carried went on to be born. If it was, particularly if it turned out to be a son named John, potential complications could arise for the upcoming Dutton family lineage.

Who Is The Mother Of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton?

In the TV series “Yellowstone,” although we understand that John Dutton II is Kevin Costner’s character John Dutton III’s father, since Dabney Coleman portrays him, we’re unsure about who his mother is. We don’t even know her name.

It’s highly probable that we’ll encounter the woman John ends up marrying around 1944, given that the series is expected to focus on the Dutton family during their early to mid-twenties.

It’s clear that not many enigmatic boxes remain on our family tree, making it one of the last big puzzles to solve. Therefore, we hope that the upcoming generations of ‘Yellowstone’ will provide the solution to this mystery.

Who Is Spencer’s Widow?

Following the heartbreaking demise of Alex, we discover that Spencer continued his life and had a child with a widowed woman separate from him. Interestingly, despite this, he chose not to marry her. As Elsa narrates, she mentions this intriguing detail.

After losing his first spouse, Spencer chose not to tie the knot again. Instead, he found companionship and fathered another child, but declined to officially marry this time. Eventually, the woman he had been with vanished one day.

Is it possible that the woman in question could be someone we haven’t met before, perhaps even Elizabeth, or possibly someone from Spencer’s past? Given their shared history and the fact that they have a child together, this topic certainly warrants our attention and speculation.

What Is The Name Of Spencer’s Second Child?

Prior to the 1923 finale, it was uncertain whether John II had any siblings, but the twist involving Spencer’s late wife hinted at a potential half-sibling. Now, my curiosity is piqued as to who this mysterious sibling might be.

Is it possible that the character from Yellowstone could share a name with them, such as Beth, Lee, or Kayce? Is there a chance that the child might be called John? If Spencer’s companion is Elizabeth, could they choose to name their baby after Jacob, Cara, James, or Margaret instead?

These queries are whirling through my thoughts, and I’m not only curious about discovering her identity as a widow, but also eager to find out what they named the child shared between them and Spencer.

Which, If Any, Of These Characters Will Be Central To 1944’s Story?

To me, there are three characters who will likely be in 1944. John II, Spencer and Elizabeth.

It seems highly likely that John Dutton II will be a significant figure in the series, given that both Alex and Spencer, as well as Jack and Elizabeth, were pregnant during 1923. Furthermore, since we see John II in “Yellowstone” as an elderly man, it’s plausible to assume he would have been in his early to mid-twenties during the ’40s. This would place him right in the prime of his life, many decades after his birth in the ’20s and before his demise in modern times.

Yet, he’ll seem almost like a fresh character, as our understanding of him from the previous series, such as “Yellowstone,” is quite limited. In one, he was still an infant, and in the other, he was a man nearing the end of his life.

That leads me to the other characters who could return.

In the closing scenes of the series, “1923”, it becomes clear that Spencer had lived for 45 years following Alex’s death in 1924, which places his demise around 1969. However, he was shown to be alive in 1944 and capable of managing the ranch with assistance from his children. Given that Jacob, portrayed by Harrison Ford, could run the ranch well into his eighties, it’s reasonable to assume that Spencer would continue doing so until he was no longer able. Consequently, I have a strong suspicion that we will encounter him in 1944 as well.

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I believe Elizabeth may attend as well. By the end of 1923, she was expecting. As previously mentioned, she could be the woman Spencer is connected with romantically. It seems highly plausible that she and her child would reappear in Montana to contribute to the ranch’s future.

It’s highly likely that Cara and Jacob won’t return among the 1923 Duttons, as we already know Jack and Alex are deceased. In my imagined lineup for returning Duttons in 1944, I’d include John II, Spencer, and Elizabeth.

In essence, the Dutton family lineage is captivating, and whenever I stream either 1883 or 1923 on Paramount+, or Yellowstone on Peacock, I can’t help but ponder over the connections between all the generations, as well as the numerous questions that each new chapter raises.

2025-04-21 01:16