
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.
A sheriff's daughter runs off with her boyfriend (John Ericson), unaware he is a murderous bank robber.
A prospector dies en route to his claim, leaving his daughter to defend her inheritance in "miner's court"; guest Ida Lupino.
Little Joe and Hoss are mistaken for gunmen while in a small Texas town; they find themselves in the middle of a dangerous feud between two families.