
Ben Cartwright is the patriarch of an all-male Nevada ranching family. Set during and after the Civil War, "Bonanza" is the story of life on the family's thousand-acre spread, known as the Ponderosa, near Virginia City. Ben has his three sons, each with a different (and deceased) mother. Serious eldest son Adam hopes to follow in his father's footsteps; middle son Hoss is a gentle giant -- physically strong, but sometimes naive; and youngest son Little Joe is the most impetuous and romantic of the offspring.

Maud Hoad leads her revenge-seeking family against Joe, who was forced to shoot treacherous Jeb Hoad.

Hoss falls prey to a beautiful woman with a gambling addiction and refuses to believe she's only interested in his money.

An Easterner swears revenge for the death of his father, a drunk that a Cartwright killed in self-defense.

Adam and Little Joe warn Hoss when he tries to help Arnie, a man with the mind of a child and an uncontrollable temper.