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CENTRAL MONTANA HISTORY
Central Montana represents an area substantially encompassed by the Missouri and
Musselshell Rivers and the Highwood and Belt Mountains. It is where the Northern plains
touches noses with the Rocky Mountains, interspersed with numerous beautiful mountain
streams with well watered bottoms, consisting of many level, lime-enriched, loam
benchlands covered with luxuriant grass, in area about the size of the state ofNew
Hampshire. It was a paradise for all kinds of wild life, especially the buffalo.
There is very little evidence in this area of prehistoric occupation by man. There
are a few buffalo runs, some artifacts and Indian paintings or pictographs. The white man
found within this area no tribes controlling exclusive territorial rights. The Crows from the
south, Blackfeet from the north, Nez Perces from the west, and later the Sioux from the
east claimed and used the same for hunting and there were many clashes among these
tribes. The river bottom on the Missouri at the mouth of the Judith was probably the most
used and occupied area by the Indians. The smallpox played havoc with the tribes at that
location and as a consequence many bodies were originally found in the cottonwood trees
and even to this day some in the clefts of the rocks in inaccessible places.
The explorers Lewis and Clark first brought this area to the attention of the world.
They arrived at the mouth of the Musselshell River on May 21, 1805. From their memoirs
it appears that they had received accurate knowledge of the area from the Indians. As they
poled and towed their heavy boats up the rapids in the canyon of the Missouri, describing
the scenes, animal life, and vegetation, they finally arrived, on May 29, 1805, at the mouth
of the beautiful stream which they named "Judith's River".
To indicate their accurate knowledge of the country, witness this entry in their
Journal:
"It (Judith River) rises in the Rocky Mountains in about the same place
with the Musselshell and near the Yellowstone River."
Very few residents of Central Montana today have as accurate a conception of the
area as that shown by these explorers.
Many trappers and fur traders during the period from 1820 to 1880 in this region
had many contacts with the Indians. Trappers were scalped, furs were traded, pemmican
bought, squaws married, liquor smuggled, and half breeds also known as metis-multiplied.
We have definite information that the Bible-toting Jedediah Smith with a party
of trappers, including Jim Bridger, operated in this area in the spring of 1830. It was also
visited by missionaries. Father Pierre de Smet traveled across Central Montana in 1846 on
his way back to St. Louis. On the 15th of September an outdoor mass was held in the
presence of an assemblage of some two thousand Flatheads, Nez Perces, Piegans, Bloods,
Gros Ventres, and Blackfeet, all for the moment peacefully united.
CAMP COOKE
With the discovery of gold in Montana there came increasing demands for
protection of the whites from resulting Indian opposition. This led to the establishment of
the first permanent military post within the confines of the state of Montana. A battalion
of the 13th Infantry, commanded by Major Clinton, was ordered to proceed to Fort Benton
and in that vicinity to establish a post. This battalion stopped 70 miles
Object Description
| Rating | |
| Title | Central Montana History |
| Description | Oscar Mueller (1877-1964) was a Lewistown, Montana, attorney and amateur historian. This 12-page document summarizes key locations and events in the history of Central Montana. Sections include Camp Cooke, Mussellshell Settlements, Pony Express, Carroll Trail, Reed and Bowles Trading Post, Gun Laws, Chief Joseph, End of Stockade Posts, Settlement of Stockmen, Vigilante Movement, Charles M. Russell, Fort Maginnis, Development of Transportation, Mineral Development, Non-Metallic Mineral Deposits, and County Government. |
| Creator | Mueller, Oscar O., 1877-1964 |
| Genre | newspapers |
| Type | Text |
| Language | eng |
| Date Estimated | 1820-1917 |
| Subject (keyword) | Fergus County, Montana; Lewistown, Montana; |
| Rights Management | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ |
| Contributing Institution | Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, Montana |
| Publisher (Original) | Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, Montana. |
| Geographic Coverage | Fergus County, Montana; Judith Basin County, Montana |
| Coverage-date | 1820-1917 |
| Digital collection | Central Montana Historical Documents |
| Digital Format | application/pdf |
| Physical format | |
| Digitization Specifications | Canon MX310 300dpi |
| Full text of this item | CENTRAL MONTANA HISTORY Central Montana represents an area substantially encompassed by the Missouri and Musselshell Rivers and the Highwood and Belt Mountains. It is where the Northern plains touches noses with the Rocky Mountains, interspersed with numerous beautiful mountain streams with well watered bottoms, consisting of many level, lime-enriched, loam benchlands covered with luxuriant grass, in area about the size of the state of New Hampshire. It was a paradise for all kinds of wild life, especially the buffalo. There is very little evidence in this area of prehistoric occupation by man. There are a few buffalo runs, some artifacts and Indian paintings or pictographs. The white man found within this area no tribes controlling exclusive territorial rights. The Crows from the south, Blackfeet from the north, Nez Perces from the west, and later the Sioux from the east claimed and used the same for hunting and there were many clashes among these tribes. The river bottom on the Missouri at the mouth of the Judith was probably the most used and occupied area by the Indians. The smallpox played havoc with the tribes at that location and as a consequence many bodies were originally found in the cottonwood trees and even to this day some in the clefts of the rocks in inaccessible places. The explorers Lewis and Clark first brought this area to the attention of the world. They arrived at the mouth of the Musselshell River on May 21, 1805. From their memoirs it appears that they had received accurate knowledge of the area from the Indians. As they poled and towed their heavy boats up the rapids in the canyon of the Missouri, describing the scenes, animal life, and vegetation, they finally arrived, on May 29, 1805, at the mouth of the beautiful stream which they named "Judith's River". To indicate their accurate knowledge of the country, witness this entry in their Journal: "It (Judith River) rises in the Rocky Mountains in about the same place with the Musselshell and near the Yellowstone River." Very few residents of Central Montana today have as accurate a conception of the area as that shown by these explorers. Many trappers and fur traders during the period from 1820 to 1880 in this region had many contacts with the Indians. Trappers were scalped, furs were traded, pemmican bought, squaws married, liquor smuggled, and half breeds also known as metis-- multiplied. We have definite information that the Bible-toting Jedediah Smith with a party of trappers, including Jim Bridger, operated in this area in the spring of 1830. It was also visited by missionaries. Father Pierre de Smet traveled across Central Montana in 1846 on his way back to St. Louis. On the 15th of September an outdoor mass was held in the presence of an assemblage of some two thousand Flatheads, Nez Perces, Piegans, Bloods, Gros Ventres, and Blackfeet, all for the moment peacefully united. CAMP COOKE With the discovery of gold in Montana there came increasing demands for protection of the whites from resulting Indian opposition. This led to the establishment of the first permanent military post within the confines of the state of Montana. A battalion of the 13th Infantry, commanded by Major Clinton, was ordered to proceed to Fort Benton and in that vicinity to establish a post. This battalion stopped 70 miles downstream at the mouth of the Judith River on July 11, 1866, and there established a post named Camp Cooke, in honor of Brigadier General Cooke. During its short existence it served as a threat against the hostile Indians. The soldiers from this camp established summer camps at the mouth of the Musselshell for protection of the settlement there. The location of the camp received much criticism from the more settled localities, especially Helena and Fort Benton, and probably due to this criticism and a rat plague it was ordered discontinued and dismantled in October, 1869. Bess Streeter Aldrich in her book "The Lieutenant's Lady" has resurrected the life of this isolated western post. The story is based on a diary kept by a lieutenant's wife who lived at the camp for more than a year. MUSSELSHELL SETTLEMENTS One of the principal routes to the Montana gold fields was by steamboat to the head of navigation on the Missouri River at Fort Benton and thence overland to Helena and other camps. Only during the flood seasons was it possible to reach Fort Benton and many steamboats had to unload before reaching there and transport the goods by land freight, mainly bull teams. In order to establish a more permanent unloading place for the steamers, John Berkin and party in the spring of 1865 explored a route down the Musselshell River to its mouth. In 1866 the Rocky Mountain Wagon Road Company built a cabin and established a townsite at the Mouth of the Musselshell River named Kircheval, in honor of a steamboat captain. It was also the county seat of a "paper" county named Musselshell. But the project failed to develop. In the early spring of 1868 James Brewer and party of nine on behalf of the Montana Hide & Fur Company and later George Clendennin built facilities at the mouth of the Musselshell River for trading and transportation. It reached its height of development in the spring of 1869. While waiting for the first steamboat to arrive in the spring of 1869, there gathered a large party of wolfers, trappers, and freighters. The Sioux Indians attacked the settlement. These hardy pioneers in one of the leading Indian battles of the state practically wiped out the Sioux. One year later the place was practically abandoned. PONY EXPRESS In the spring of 1867 a contract was let by the Government for a tri-weekly pony express mail route from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Helena, Montana. The arm chair strategists at Washington by looking at the map determined that it would save about 600 miles, but they did not consider the fact that at least 600 miles of the route was through Indian country and that the Indians resented the intrusion. The mail route was through Central Montana, crossing the Missouri at Fort Hawley, located about 20 miles above the mouth of the Musselshell. From there it went direct to the Judith Mountains, near Black Butte, following along the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, through Judith Gap, up the Musselshell, the North Fork, to Confederate Gulch, and from there by stage to Helena. The mail carriers traveled in pairs, usually only at nights and taking turns sleeping during the day in some hidden recess so as to avoid the Indians. Nevertheless very little mail was delivered. What mail the riders did not burn to warm up their food, the Indians stole, including the horses and equipment many times. The attempt to establish a mail route was both a tragedy and a comedy. One of the main participants through Central Montana was Central Montana History -2- Henry McDonald, a daredevil, who knew the country and the Indians. His experiences appearing in the book entitled "Wandersong", written by his daughter Eleanor Banks, constitutes a most authentic and well written early history of the region. CARROLL TRAIL Construction of the North Pacific railway was halted at Bismarck, Dakota Territory, by the panic of 1873. To facilitate better transportation from Bismarck to trade centers in Montana, the railroad, in conjunction with the largest freighting outfit in the territory, the Diamond R, and the Missouri River Transportation company, owners of a line of steamers known as the Coulson line, promoted a new freight road from Helena to a new metropolis to be built on the Missouri river, some 25 miles above the mouth of the Musselshell river. The new town was called Carroll after one of the principal promoters, Matt Carroll, and the road was known as the Carroll trail. It did business in the summers of 1874 and 1875, having military protection by soldiers stationed at Carroll and at Camp Lewis, the present site of Lewistown. In 1875 and 1876 it supported a mail and stage route. It was known as the Northern Pacific stage, the Carroll trail being, in fact, a preliminary extension of the Northern Pacific. At its height Carroll supported two business establishments, one by George Clendennin, and a branch of the Murphy-Neal Company, and two resorts handling wet goods, and warehouse and office of the Diamond R Company. In June 1876, the Missouri River at flood stage washed away most of the townsite. Nevertheless, the route continued to do some business until 1880. REED AND BOWLES TRADING POST For more than a decade after the road agents had been driven out of Western Montana gold camps, there still remained a section of Montana Territory where there was no law or order, to-wit, Central Montana. The two outstanding characters who dominated this area were Alonzo S. Reed and J. J. Bowles who built and operated from November 1874 until 1880 a combination Indian trading post and station on the Carroll Trail on Trout Creek, now Big Spring Creek, at the present location of the poor farm below the City of Lewistown. DESCRIPTION OF POST The post, from the best description, consisted of two log cabins built with the ax and auger and will no nails or pegs to hold it together, and a dirt roof. They were enclosed in a stockade built by standing poles on end in a trench joined close together so as to form a high fence around a quadrangle about 100 by 150 feet. On the south and towards the creek was a big gate through which they could drive inside the quadrangle or stockade. On the north was a corral to protect horses from Indian raids. During this period their main business consisted of trading with the Indians, mainly in wet goods, most liquor being made out of a cheap grade of alcohol, plug tobacco, red pepper and other ingredients to make it hot, with a liberal helping of Spring creek water, depending on the demand. The traffic in liquor with the Indians was condemned and outlawed by the federal government, so, in fact, it amounted to a bootleg joint in the Indian country. In addition, Central Montana History -3- they would keep travelers, who stopped on their trips along the Carroll trail. During that period this was the only station from Martinsdale to the forks of the upper Musselshell, more than 75 miles southwest, and Carroll on the Missouri river, 75 or 80 miles northeast. They also catered to big game hunting parties from the east and even from Europe, as well as from other sections of Montana, where game was not as plentiful. Besides this, they did considerable business with white trappers and hunters. GUN LAW ESTABLISHED During this period, except for three or four months in the summers of 1874 and 1875, when the government kept soldiers at Camp Lewis, there were no authorities for maintenance of order for 100 miles or more from this trading post. Reed and Bowles were in themselves kings, maintaining their position and prestige by guns. They had a reputation as killers all over the territory and many a tale has been told of the mysterious disappearances of customers and of their private cemetery where they buried victims. As their traders usually remained around the post for days and even weeks at a time consuming Indian whisky, many an argument among trappers, wolfers and Indians was settled by guns. Major Reed was usually the self-constituted lawmaker, sheriff, judge and executioner. There was only one form of punishment for all crimes and that was death by gun shot. CHIEF JOSEPH REACHES BASIN Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Perces, consisting of about 300 warriors and 200 women and followers, with about 1000 horses and camp equipment, in 1877 entered the Judith basin on their memorable flight in attempting to reach the Canadian border and escape from the army. They had successfully evaded, outgeneraled, defeated and escaped from three armies in their 800 miles of almost continuous fighting. In the Basin they felt at home, this being their hunting grounds to which they repaired from their home west of the Rockies to get their provisions. The night of Sept. 21st they camped near the stockade of Reed and Bowles, their accustomed trading post. They visited with Reed, relating to him the incidents of the fights and boasting of their many successes and escapes and of the punishment they had given General Sturgis in their last encounter. The distance of more than 70 miles from this point to Cow Island on the Missouri River was covered by the Nez Perces between Saturday morning and about Sunday noon. END OF STOCKADE POSTS In the summer of 1879 there came straggling over the divide from the east into the Judith basin some 40 families of a distinct race, neither white no Indian, known as "breeds". They travel in howling, creaking, growling, all wood wagons known as Red River carts, loaded with children and their camp outfits and followed by straggling members of the party and barking dogs. The carts were pulled by cows, their ponies having been stolen by the Sioux Indians. These people settled at and near the townsite of Lewistown, building log cabins of the universal Red River breed type. They were known as Metis and are depicted in the book "Strange Empire", by Joseph Kinsey Howard. NEW TRADING POST Central Montana History -4- A new stockade trading post of similar character was located on the present townsite of Lewistown by Francis A. Janeaux, a licensed trader. The year 1880 saw a large influx of stockmen into the Judith Basin, which definitely ended business for the squawman, Indian trader, hunter, trapper and wolfer and consequently the stockade trading posts. SETTLEMENT OF STOCKMEN The settlement and rapid development of Central Montana was vividly portrayed in the news columns of the Rocky Mountain Husbandman published by Sutherlin Brothers at Diamond City and later at White Sulphur Springs. As late as 1878 the Carroll trail and shipments of freight by steamboats from Carroll was revived. The paper reveals the rendezvous of freight outfits at Smith River Valley with military protection for the purpose of shipping their produce and cattle by way of the Missouri River boats from Carroll. It also reveals that the Bannock Indians under the leadership of Tendoy, a conservative chief, were having trouble in attempting to control the radical Indians known as hostiles; that the river Crows were represented; that the Flathead tribe under the leadership of Charlo were hunting buffalo in the basin and the lower Musselshell and had lost over a hundred horses to the marauding Sioux. It also reports the presence of Col. A. P. Pickett, a big game hunter, representing the magazine "Forest and Stream" of New York City, the wealthy Irishman, James Jammison, and an Englishman Charles Messiter. All the Indians and the big game hunters were still successfully hunting the buffalo, the grizzly bear, and other large game found so plentiful in that area. The years 1878 and '79 reveals that the stockmen from the settled sections of Montana were gradually taking up ranches in the upper Musselshell valley and in the summer of 1879 gradually pushing into the Judith basin through Judith Gap. The year 1880 reveals a real boom in the settlement of the basin and the sections east of the Musselshell by stockmen and the taking up of most of the best locations. Most of the early settlers came from the mining sections, having migrated from the east and worked in the mines so as to secure some capital with which to set up business. They were good American citizens, hardy, willing to put up with privations in order to make a start in life. Very few had much prior experience in the stock business or farming. On December 29, 1881, Will Sutherlin reported concerning the country between Judith Gap and Lewistown: "Of course it is unclaimed, as no one now things of taking an upland farm the rush now is for the lower lands, along the creeks, where water for irrigation may be had with the least expense." Sheep were moved into Central Montana with other livestock, but the first band driven in was by Fred Lawrence to the Flatwillow country. From about 1887 to 1897 Fergus County was the leading sheep producer of the state of Montana. There were a few large cattle outfits, among them being the D-S Ranch under the management of Granville Stuart. The two volume book "Forty Years on the Frontier" gives a very accurate account of his experiences and the origin of the livestock industry. Central Montana was organized into roundup associations, a cooperative system of running stock on the open range. All of the Judith Basin west of the Judith River was called the Judith Association; North of the Moccasin and Judith Mountains to the Missouri River and east of the Judith River, the North Moccasin; and that portion east of Central Montana History -5- the Judith Mountains to the Musselshell and Missouri, the Maginnis, and part of the Musselshell. The Musselshell Valley with its many tributaries arising from the adjacent mountains constituted one of the natural made-to-order potential stock areas in Montana. In the early 80's as the livestock industry surged out of its original confines seeking new territory this area was soon settled and the best locations taken. This led to the development of the largest roundup association in existence, known as the Musselshell. As reported by letter dated June 19, 1884, by R. N. Sutherland, appearing in the Rocky Mountain Husbandman, then published at White Sulphur Springs, this roundup association extended from the upper Musselshell easterly to the bend, 150 miles in length and 40 to 70 miles in width. It comprised about 100 men, 85 riders, 1000 saddle horses, and consumed a beef a day. Besides, it had 25 representatives to the Yellowstone, "some to the Judith, and some to the Flatwillow and Fort Maginnis roundups". There was considerable cooperation among these organizations. The ideal stock ranch consisted of a good hay bottom near timber, open water the year round, situated to control surrounding hilly range free of snow. Prior to 1880 the residents of Central Montana relied almost entirely for a living upon the business of trading with Indians, trapping, wolfing, cutting wood for steamers operating along the Missouri River, and upon occasional hunting parties. When the stockmen took over the country and the steamers quit plying the Missouri because of the coming of the railroads, the men who had made their living under former conditions found themselves out of employment. But they did not give up without a battle. They resented the intrusion, and soon there were reports of thieving, both by Indians and by these unemployed. Horses were the most subject to larceny and their loss was serious as transportation was necessary to the life of the community. In 1882 and '83 horse stealing led to robberies and the increased reports were evident in the newspapers. VIGILANTE MOVEMENT This section was one of the last stands of the buffalo and the Indian trading post and the life and civilization that existed prior to the coming of the stockmen. To this section migrated the worst element of the tough characters of that period, concentrating from all points, from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. These thieves, desperados, outlaws, ex-convicts, and other criminals, for better protection and cooperation, organized gangs. They would steal horses, take them to locations on the Missouri River bottoms in the badlands, work over the brands, and then dispose of them in other sections, often in Canada; and, in turn, would bring stolen horses from Canada to dispose of them in the States. They kept guards out day and night to warn against Vigilantes and officers. They often used the "whiskey hangouts" as the headquarters for their gang depredations. They were well organized, arrogant, and brazen. The region was losing heart under the curse of organized hordes of outlaws, against which the established agencies of law were powerless. The cattlemen, from purely selfish reasons, stepped into the breach and became both prosecutors and judges. At the meeting of the stockmen's association at Miles City in April, 1884, the range conditions as to livestock stealing was the sole consideration. There was no action taken openly but the word was passed out to take action. This understanding led to the formation of the Vigilante movement. The leading organization was centered around the DHS Ranch, with Granville Stuart as the leader. Gossip reported that he was responsible for action in other parts of the state and in western North Dakota, but the real facts are that the DHS raids were conducted only in Central Montana and that the other raids were independent and separate and in response to depredations in those regions. Most of the deaths occurred at a pitched battle near the mouth of the Musselshell on July 20, 1884; that all of the men disposed of, not exceeding 18, were known thieves. After August, 1884 the stock inspector and regular enforcement officers took over and the Vigilante movement ended. The rich, well watered lands of the Judith Basin became the ideal area for the settlement of the farmer or nester. The introduction of barbed wire led to the fencing of the range land and consequently crowded out the open, free system of running livestock. The hard winter of 1886-87 was the beginning of the end. In 1889 the range stock was gathered and driven north across the Missouri River at the mouth of the Judith, to more likely, less-developed country, the final stand of the open range livestock operations. CHARLES M. RUSSELL In 1880 there came to Central Montana a boy of sixteen with an unquenchable urge and ambition to paint and depict the old west, the Indian, the buffalo, the abundant wild life, the beautiful scenes, and the vanishing life of a passing generation or way of life. As a means of livelihood he sought employment with the roundup, choosing the job as night herder in order to find more time to pursue his hobby--painting. His paintings accurately depicted and portrayed the development of civilization in that area through the traditions and life of the tribal man, the Indian, the trapper, hunter, stagecoach and freight transportation, and finally the open range method of the livestock operations with the traditions of a cowboy, his horse, amusements, his club--the saloon. No word history of those times and the evolution of civilization can as effectively be portrayed to future generations. He was a graphic historian. His sketch depicting the tragedy of the hard winter of 1886-87 entitled "Waiting for a Chinook" brought recognition. That simple painting has done more to impress future generations of the tragedy and weaknesses of the open range system than any number of words or statistics. When the range stock were moved from the Judith Basin across the Missouri River in 1889 Charles M. Russell was trailing them. He had become a part of the life of the region he was leaving. He loved the scenes, the life, and resented the necessity of abandoning the same. He felt homesickness for the old range. No doubt while struggling in the heat and the dust to move the livestock from their accustomed range he muttered "Damn the wire fences." FORT MAGINNIS The newspapers, especially the Husbandman, as early as 1878, advocated the location of a fort in Central Montana to protect the stockmen and settlers in this area. In 1880 there was established a fort named Fort Maginnis, on the southeast flank of the Central Montana History -7- Judith Mountains, in honor of the congressional delegate, Martin Maginnis. It had accommodations for 13 officers and 184 men. During the ten years of its existence it served as the headquarters for patrol activities of the Army against the Blackfeet, Piegan, Cree, and Bannack Indians. The total disappearance of the buffalo, the more effective settlement of the Indians on their reservations, the establishment of regular civil government, and the greater concentration of military posts led to General Order No. 43, April 10, 1890, directing withdrawal of troops and abandonment. DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORTATION As the settlements grew in the early 1880s stage lines were established to connect with the other settlements. "The Benton and Southern Express Line, emerging from White Sulphur Springs led eastward to Ubet and there divided into two routes. One continued west towards Great Falls (earlier to Fort Benton) and the other went eastward to Fort Maginnis. Ubet was the junction of another route established in 1882 and extending from Billings by way of the Musselshell River. Later, with the growth of the region, two freighting routes were established, the Junction City route extending from that trading post located at the junction of the Big Horn and Yellowstone Rivers, and terminating at Maiden; and the Judith Landing route which was established in 1884 between Clagett and Maiden". There were fifty-two arrivals and departures of stages per week in Lewistown before the arrival of the "Jawbone", the first railroad. Stagecoaches operated between the principal towns until the railroads arrived. The development of Central Montana as a farming community demanded adequate transportation. The first attempt to build a railroad was early in the 1890's by Richard A. Harlow of Helena, Montana. The original objective was to reach the large ore tonnage on the dumps in the Castle Mountains. After many disappointments due to the financial difficulties and depressions the railroad was constructed from Lombard to Castle. The corporation, named the Montana Railroad Company, was universally known as the "Jawbone". This short road not proving financially profitable, the Northern Pacific Railroad encouraged and partially financed the construction of the road to the Judith Basin. It was completed to Harlowton in 1902 and reached Lewistown on October 30, 1903, but due to snow difficulties it was of very little benefit to the community until the spring of 1904. The entrance of the Montana railway into the Basin produced revolutionary changes. Population began to increase and homesteaders began to pour in and transform the Judith Basin from a livestock grazing region into an agricultural region. Soon after the turn of the century the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company, seeking a means of expanding its road to the West coast, located the main line up the Musselshell Valley. Construction was at its height in 1907 and 1908, and about the latter part of 1908 regular scheduled trains were in operation as far as Butte, Montana. In order to develop one of the richest, largest coal reserves in the state available to this railroad there was located a town named Roundup, in honor of the livestock industry. The coal mines boomed the population and a fine city soon developed. It was referred to as the miracle of the Musselshell. This transportation encouraged and lead to the homesteading of the benchlands in the Judith Basin and the expansion of the raising of wheat. In 1907 to 1908 the Billings Central Montana History -8- and Northern constructed its lines from Billings to Great Falls, tapping the Judith Basin country. These extensions proving such a success they were followed in 1912 and 1913 by the Billings and Northern and the Milwaukee branch lines from Lewistown Roy and Winifred and one east to Winnett and the completion of the line from Lewistown to Great Falls. The Homestead Act up to 1909 was restricted to 160 acres. There was a great influx of homesteaders, many having had no experience in farming. They invaded the range lands of the livestock ranch units. As soon as they proved up on their homestead they would secure loans, in most cases, followed later by larger loans and thus to foreclosures. The small units were uneconomic, inadequate even for the horse and buggy days. The railroads when building their extensions through the area established townsites every few miles, and through brass bands and other advertising features sold lots to the public. The whole economy was built up on the basis of the small units. The dry farming methods then used were only experimental and many of the systems proved inadequate. The more than average amount of rainfall from 1909 to 1915 encouraged these mistakes. The period from 1917 to and including 1919 proved to be below average in rainfall and destroyed the economy of the area. Many of the farmers found themselves in distress. To add to this mistake the counties loaned money to the distressed farmers in order to maintain the population. This only prolonged the agony of the individuals it attempted to help. Foreclosures were rampant and financial institutions, especially the banks, failed. The more hardy farmers and stockmen acquired their neighbor's property, enlarging their units and improving their farming methods. This readjustment has rebuilt Central Montana into a great wheat growing section, especially in the Judith Basin. The livestock units are now generally of an average size to be profitable and support a satisfied and prosperous people. The towns and cities in Central Montana have had to be readjusted to the present date transportation and economy. Most of the business is now centered in the central city of Lewistown, Montana. MINERAL DEVELOPMENT The first discovery of gold in Central Montana resulted in a rush in 1879 into Yogo Gulch in the Little Belt Mountains. These claims proved disappointing, but later in the early 1890's there was discovered the Yogo sapphire mine. The sapphire claims were purchased by and English syndicate which successfully operated the mines from about 1900 to 1929 when, due to the war conditions, operations were discontinued. A recent government publication by Stephen E. Clabaugh, Geological Survey Bulletin 983, stated, "The Yogo sapphire deposit is the most important gem locality in the United States" and estimated the present value of all cut stone taken from the Yogo deposits at more than twenty-five million dollars. In 1880 gold was discovered in the Judith Mountains and many claims were filed and some developed. One of the most successful was the Spotted Horse. It was acquired in 1883 by P. W. McAdow. It was successfully worked almost continuously until 1936, producing gold of an estimated value of over five million dollars. At Gilt Edge, Montana, in the Judith Mountains, there was discovered ore of a low grade limestone replacement type. On this property a mill was built in 1893 which was among the first in the United States to apply the cyanide process for the extraction of gold. In about the year 1900 the Central Montana History -9- cyaniding process was applied to similar ore in the North Moccasin Mountains, one of the most successful being the Barnes King Development Company, which operated successfully until about March, 1919. Later a new ore body was opened near the Barnes King property and successfully operated until closed by war conditions in 1943. These mining operations developed the boom towns of Maiden and Gilt Edge in the Judith Mountains, and Kendall in the North Moccasins. At their height they supported a population of more than one thousand each. Today they are only ghost towns and part of the history of the region. NONMETALIC MINERAL DEPOSITS The primary nonmetallic deposits that have been developed of consequence in the area are the gypsum. The region affords many good deposits of this type. The U.S. Gypsum Company mines at Heath, Montana were first opened in 1915 by the Northwest Gypsum Company. The U.S. Gypsum Company acquired the plant properties in 1928. A new modern plant was erected and equipped in 1936. Since then the company has been mining and processing from 400 to 500 tons of crude gypsum a day. Its unit constitutes one of the major industries of the region. The Lewistown Brick & Tile Company, located on the edge of the city of Lewistown, Montana, has been manufacturing brick since 1911. It operates and manufactures some of the finest brick in the Northwest. Central Montana was the scene of the first production of oil in the State of Montana. The first well that produced oil was in the Devils Basin, the Van Duzen well, completed in November, 1919. On December 8, 1919, the first commercial well in the first commercial producing field in the state was completed in the Cat Creek field, known as the Frantz well. One of the leading producing profitable fields in the state is the Big Wall, located north of the town of Roundup, Montana. COUNTY GOVERNMENT At the beginning of the settlement of the Central Montana by the stockmen in 1880 all of the area was included in Meagher County. On December 1, 1886, the creation of Fergus County became effective. On March 1, 1911, a portion of Central Montana in the Musselshell Valley became a part of Musselshell County. Portions of the Musselshell Valley originally included in Fergus County became a part of Golden Valley County, on October 4, 1920. On December 10, 1920, Judith Basin County's creation became effective. On February 22, 1925, Petroleum County was carved out of eastern Fergus County. On April 1, 1917, portions of Musselshell Valley in Central Montana became a part of Wheatland County. From this brief history it appears that the development of county governments follows the general trend of other developments. Some justified by growth, but some promotional and not justified. In recent years, Petroleum County has pointed the way in securing a more concentrated, economic and effective management for small counties by the adoption of the managerial form of county government. It has proved successful and no doubt will lead the way for other counties to follow. This brief survey of Central Montana history records some interesting facts, the most unusual being the development of the region from a virtual Stone Age under the Central Montana History -10- Indians, still hunting with bow and arrow, and ruled by primitive tribal government in the 1870's to the occupation in the 1880's by progressive stockmen. In the seventy-five years of occupation by the white man many problems have been resolved; primarily by the trial and error methods, but there are many still calling for solution. In the transportation field the many branch line railroads in this region find themselves in distress if operated in the usual manner. In the highway field there is great optimism and many fine highways are being built that will take care of transportation by auto and truck. In the agricultural field the introduction of new methods, machinery, and chemistry has produced wonders. The government agencies, such as the Soil Conservation Service, Forest Service, and Extension Service, have furnished technical services of great value. In the mineral development the main optimism lies in the future of the oil development. We have in this region identical formations producing and that produce oil and having much shallower drilling and cheaper production costs. As is evident in the general field of progress, the primary cause and basic reasons for great advancement is the wonderful industrial progress which forms the basis of all progress and industries and consequently the welfare of the people. |
| Local Identifier | SC 1.1 Central Montana History. |
Description
| Title | Central Montana History-Mueller 1 |
| Type | Text |
| Contributing Institution | Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, Montana |
| Digital Format | application/pdf |
| Digitization Specifications | Canon MX310 300dpi |
| Full text of this item | CENTRAL MONTANA HISTORY Central Montana represents an area substantially encompassed by the Missouri and Musselshell Rivers and the Highwood and Belt Mountains. It is where the Northern plains touches noses with the Rocky Mountains, interspersed with numerous beautiful mountain streams with well watered bottoms, consisting of many level, lime-enriched, loam benchlands covered with luxuriant grass, in area about the size of the state ofNew Hampshire. It was a paradise for all kinds of wild life, especially the buffalo. There is very little evidence in this area of prehistoric occupation by man. There are a few buffalo runs, some artifacts and Indian paintings or pictographs. The white man found within this area no tribes controlling exclusive territorial rights. The Crows from the south, Blackfeet from the north, Nez Perces from the west, and later the Sioux from the east claimed and used the same for hunting and there were many clashes among these tribes. The river bottom on the Missouri at the mouth of the Judith was probably the most used and occupied area by the Indians. The smallpox played havoc with the tribes at that location and as a consequence many bodies were originally found in the cottonwood trees and even to this day some in the clefts of the rocks in inaccessible places. The explorers Lewis and Clark first brought this area to the attention of the world. They arrived at the mouth of the Musselshell River on May 21, 1805. From their memoirs it appears that they had received accurate knowledge of the area from the Indians. As they poled and towed their heavy boats up the rapids in the canyon of the Missouri, describing the scenes, animal life, and vegetation, they finally arrived, on May 29, 1805, at the mouth of the beautiful stream which they named "Judith's River". To indicate their accurate knowledge of the country, witness this entry in their Journal: "It (Judith River) rises in the Rocky Mountains in about the same place with the Musselshell and near the Yellowstone River." Very few residents of Central Montana today have as accurate a conception of the area as that shown by these explorers. Many trappers and fur traders during the period from 1820 to 1880 in this region had many contacts with the Indians. Trappers were scalped, furs were traded, pemmican bought, squaws married, liquor smuggled, and half breeds also known as metis-multiplied. We have definite information that the Bible-toting Jedediah Smith with a party of trappers, including Jim Bridger, operated in this area in the spring of 1830. It was also visited by missionaries. Father Pierre de Smet traveled across Central Montana in 1846 on his way back to St. Louis. On the 15th of September an outdoor mass was held in the presence of an assemblage of some two thousand Flatheads, Nez Perces, Piegans, Bloods, Gros Ventres, and Blackfeet, all for the moment peacefully united. CAMP COOKE With the discovery of gold in Montana there came increasing demands for protection of the whites from resulting Indian opposition. This led to the establishment of the first permanent military post within the confines of the state of Montana. A battalion of the 13th Infantry, commanded by Major Clinton, was ordered to proceed to Fort Benton and in that vicinity to establish a post. This battalion stopped 70 miles |
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