USA > Montana > Yellowstone County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 30
USA > Montana > Park County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 30
USA > Montana > Dawson County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 30
USA > Montana > Rosebud County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 30
USA > Montana > Custer County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 30
USA > Montana > Sweet Grass County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 30
USA > Montana > Carbon County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 30
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Monday, March 12, 1906, the Cokedale mine and coke ovens shut down, throwing about 150 men out of work. That the shut down was permanent was evident from the fact that the machinery was taken from the mine and all portable property was removed from the camp. This was the death knell of Cokedale. The buildings remain to tell the story of what the town had been, but it is doubtful if the town will ever again be popu- lated.
CINNABAR.
On the Yellowstone branch of the North- ern Pacific, 51 miles south of Livingston and three miles northwest of Gardiner, is the rail- road station of Cinnabar, until recently the ter- minus of the Park branch railroad and for many years one of Park county's towns. The place takes its name from the mountain which overlooks this point, a prominent feature of southern Park county. The mountain was so named from the color of its rocks, which have been mistaken for cinnabar, although the red
color is due to iron. Cinnabar is 5,196 feet above the level of the sea.
When work was commenced upon the Na- tional Park branch in the spring of 1883, it was given out that the terminus would be at the little town of Gardiner, on the northern boundary line of the park. It was the inten- tion of the company to do this, and the road- bed was graded to that point. Then came the difficulties connected with the Gardiner town- site and the company abandoned its original plan to build to Gardiner. It was stated that the road would be built to a point about three miles from the original site selected, and, moreover, that a town would be built at that point. When the last rail of the Park branch was laid on August 30 a townsite had already been surveyed and named Cinnabar. This plat was never recorded, but lots were placed on sale in December. The growth of Cinnabar was not spontaneous. Although it had the advantage of being the terminal point, the little town of Gardiner "just across the street" had advanced into quite a thriving little busi- ness place, which thought that it would be a question of only a short time when the road would be extended and the town of Cinnabar would go out of existence. So Gardiner con- tinued to be the principal town of the upper Yellowstone, and Cinnabar made slow pro- gress. During the summer of 1884 an effort was made to revive the drooping spirits of the new town. Concerning this enterprise the Liv- ignston Enterprise on August 12th said :
"There are many rumors at Gardiner, Cin- nabar and Mammoth Hot Springs about the great town that is to be made of one of the two first named hamlets-probably Cinnabar. Overtures have been made to the people of Gardiner to pay certain sums of money to have upon their town conferred the advantages that are to produce metropolitan fruit. The weight of favor rests at present with Cinnabar, which, according to reports, is to be resurveyed
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
(probably with the object of obtaining more front and corner lots), and it is to be endowed with a fine depot, two or three smelters and incidental institutions to promote its greatness. The townsite rests under attachments to the amount of $10,000 to $20,000, but trifles like that will probably not stand greatly in the way of its prosperity. Just who is to start the boom is not stated, but it is supposed to be C. T. Hobart. To the good sense of the upper Yel- lowstone people is due the fact that they are not yet taking any great stock in these reports. There will be a good town in that vicinity, but not just yet."
The second survey of Cinnabar townsite was made that month by Surveyor S. Deutsch under the direction of Major Armstrong. Four hundred and seventy acres were included with- in the town, and the new survey made an en- tire change in the direction of the streets and the plan of the future town. No record of , this plat has been preserved. Notwithstand- ing all these efforts to build a city, the town did not make much advancement.
In the summer of 1895 another attempt was made to bring the eyes of the world upon this place. June 4th the Cinnabar Townsite company was incorporated with a capital stock of $30,000 with the following incorporators : J. D. Finn, H. J. Hoppe and A. J. Campbell. The objects of the company were to purchase. improve, hold and sell real estate at and near the town of Cinnabar, to construct a bridge across the Yellowstone at that point, and to put in an electric lighting plant there. A new townsite was platted and recorded by this com- pany June 20th. Some improvements were accomplished by these men in the little town, among others the building of a new depot.
The extension of the road to Gardiner in the spring of 1902 was the death blow to the town of Cinnabar. What business houses there were closed up and the postoffice was discontinued. Cinnabar now occupies a place on the map only because of the fact that it is
a station of the Northern Pacific railroad on the Park branch.
CHICO.
Chico is a postoffice and small hamlet on the east side of Yellowstone river, four and one-half miles from Fridley and 27 miles south of Livingston. It has a daily mail by stage to Fridley. Chico came into existence at a very early day, superseding the old mining town of Yellowstone City. One mile from the Chico postoffice is the health resort of Chico Warm Springs, which is the property of Wm. E. Knowles. The springs have become quite fa- mous locally, and the place is frequented dur- ing the summer months by many patients.
Following is the analysis of the solid con- tents of the water, as given by Prof. F. W. Clark, chief chemist United States General Survey :
Solid Contents
Parts in 100,000
Calcium carbonate
8.65
Magnesium carbonate
2.00
Sodium carbonate
2.74
Sodium sulphate
4.87
Potassium chloride .83
Sodium chloride .58
Silicia
3.17
Total
23.53
CHICORY.
Twenty miles up the Yellowstone Park branch from Livingston is a station called Chicory. Should a passenger alight there lie would find a water tank and a section house. This is all that remains of what was to have been a great city.
Chicory dates its existence from the sum- mer of 1883. When the Park branch was building up the Yellowstone river that year it was announced that there would be two towns built on the line-one at Cinnabar and one at Chicory. It is a strange coincidence that
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
both these towns are now merely uninhabited stations of the railroad, while several other places not then on the map have grown into prosperous towns. Jas. Kreppner owned a quarter section of land where Chicory station now stands, and they do say that it was good farming land, but the town building craze held the west in its grip at that time, and much good agricultural soil was given up to the building of towns that never materalized. Mr. Kreppner sold interests in his farm to Drew B. Allen, a well known Livingston real estate man, and M. G. Grant, a Northern Pacific en- gineer. These three gentlemen then proceeded to lay out a town and place the same on the market. The following copy of an advertise- ment which Allen Bros., who were the agents for the townsite, inserted in the Livingston Enterprise of March 22, 1883, will explain the standing of Chicory as viewed by the proprie- tors of the townsite :
Chicory, Gallatin county, Montana, is situated on the Northern Pacific railroad 28 miles from Livingston and about the same distance from the National Park. At this point the Northern Pacific Railroad Company is building a depot, section house, water tank. etc., and many other substantial improvements are going on. The town is endorsed by the railroad company, who own a one-half interest in the same, and will do all in their power to further its interests. The lands lying north and south are exceedingly fertile, and west cattle ranches are numerous; east are the celebrated Mill creek, Emigrant gulch and Six Mile mining districts, and in the place itself thrift, energy and intelligence are to be found among its citizens. The Villard Mining company's claims adjoin the town on the east. The gold and silver bearing quartz mines in Emigrant gulch are very rich, as are the placer mines. Coal mines within one mile of the town are being vigorously worked, and iron, lime and sandstone abound. Before the town was platted lumber was on the ground for a number of buildings, and before the town was entirely surveyed buildings were in course of construction. The town is young yet, and thereby affords opportuni- ties for securing lots at low figures, and we feel con- fident that the constant and increasing demand for the same will advance prices from 25 to 50 per cent within a short time. Full particulars. prices and plats will be furnished upon application to Allen Bros.
But such flattering descriptions of the town-to-be did not build a city, and Chicory died before it awoke to a realization of its birth. The failure to bring about the building of a city at this point is only one instance of the miscarriage of the plans of those who came west to develop the country and at the same time make their own fortunes.
MUIR.
Muir is the name of a postoffice and rail- road station on the main line of the Northern Pacific at the eastern entrance to Muir or Boze- man tunnel, twelve miles west of Livingston.
The site of this place is historic ground. Here for countless ages before white men came to the country the Indians of the Columbia river country were wont to cross the Belt range of mountains on their buffalo hunting trips to the plains of eastern Montana. Later, in 1806, Captain William Clark came over the pass, located here, on his way to the east. Then, when the emigration to Montana set in in the sixties, the pilgrims crossed the moun- tains at this point, and the pass became known as Bozeman pass, named in honor of the man who piloted the first wagon train over this route. Nearly two decades after this event it was the site of a flourishing town known as Muir City, one of the first of Park county towns.
On the Ioth day of November, 1881, E. H. Beckler, engineer in charge.of the locating party on the railroad survey over Bozeman pass, pitched his tent where the town of Muir City was afterwards built, and near the present site of Muir station. Mr. Becker immediately began the erection of a shack for permanent quarters and became the builder of the first residence in Muir City. Work upon the ap- proaches to the tunnel was begun at that time and the next spring the the work of digging a hole 2.600 feet long through the mountain was
173
HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
put under way. There was quite a large force of men at work upon the tunnel for the next two years, and it was but natural that a town would spring up at this point. The town was builded a little distance from the tunnel's mouth and on the east side of Billman creek. It was named Muir City in honor of James Muir, the contractor who pierced the mountain for the tunnel. The town was supported by the immense work which gave it existence, and until the tunnel was completed early in the year 1884 the little tunnel city was indeed a flour- ishing one. There was nothing to support a town at this point except the work, and when the workmen went away the town was aban- doned, and buildings were left vacant. A fire on January 24, 1884, destroyed a number of these, and some were removed to other locali- ties. Muir is one of the highest points on the Northern Pacific railroad, being 5,516 feet above sea level.
OTHER PLACES.
Besides the places named are a number of country postoffices in different parts of the county. Rockcreek is a postoffice twenty-four miles north of Livingston, which is supplied with a daily mail. There is also a M. E. church at that point. Meyersburg is thirty- four miles northwest of Livingston and is on the stage line between Sedan and Livingston. On the extreme northern edge of Park county, forty-five miles north of Livingston, is the post- office of Lat, with a tri-weekly mail from Mey- ersburg. Ten miles east of the county seat is the country postoffice of Bruffeys. In the Boulder mining district, just west of the line that separates Sweet Grass and Park counties, is the postoffice and little mining hamlet of Contact. This point is thirty miles southeast of Livingston and the same distance southwest of Big Timber, from which point it is supplied tri-weekly with mail. Pinecreek is a postof- fice on the east side of the Yellowstone river,
thirteen miles south of Livingston, from which point it is supplied with mail three times a week. A Methodist church is located at Pine- creek. Chimneyrock is a postoffice and coal mining camp eighteen miles southwest of Liv- ingston. It has a daily mail and stage. Fifty miles southwest of Livingston and five miles from the railroad is the postoffice of Miner, with a tri-weekly mail.
There are also a number of railroad sta- tions which have not been mentioned. Brisben is on the Park branch ten miles south of Livingston and has an elevation of 4,716 feet above sea level. It was established in July, 1883. A telegraph office was put in at that time with G. T. Noblitt in charge. Trail Creek, 4.747 feet above sea level, is a station on the Park branch fourteen miles south of Livingston. "Daileys is another station on the Park branch, thirty miles southwest of Liv- ingston and 4.941 feet above sea level. It was established in July, 1883. Another sta- tion on the Park branch is Sphinx (elevation 5,103 feet), forty miles above Livingston. Muhlerin station was located at a point forty- five miles above Livingston on the Park branch in the fall of 1886. Five miles west of Liv- ingston is Coal Spur station, from which point is built the spur to Cokedale. Nine miles west of Livingston on the main line of the North- ern Pacific is Hoppers station. Mission is ¿ station on the main line seven miles east of Livingston. There was formerly a postoffice at this point. Elton is thirteen miles east ot Livingston and six miles west of Springdale.
There are other points in the county which at one time or another arose to the dignity of bearing a name because of being the site of postoffices or for other reasons. Maxwell was once the name of a Park county postoffice six- ty-five miles from the county seat. Hoffman postoffice was established in April, 1900, on Trail creek, twenty miles southwest of Living- ston and fifteen miles southeast of Bozeman. The postoffice has been discontinued. Hicks
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
is the name of a discontinued postoffice that was located thirty miles southeast of Living- ton. Crevasse was a community of miners at a point twelve miles east of Gardiner. It was settled in 1880. Cowles is a recently discon- tinued postoffice fifty-four miles southeast of
Livingston. Cleora postoffice was established in July, 1891, at the Potter ranch on the Shields river divide, with W. E. Potter as postmaster. It has been discontinued. Bryan was once a postoffice twelve miles north of Livingston.
CHAPTER V
POLITICAL.
Until the twenty-third day of February, 1887, when Governor Preston H. Leslie signed the bill creating Park county, that portion of Montana now known as Park county, together with the greater part of the present Sweet Grass county and a portion of what is now Carbon county, was a part of Gallatin county. So prior to that date the political history of Park county was merged with that of the mother county. Before the building of the Northern Pacific railroad through this portion of Montana territory late in the year 1882 there were only a few permanent residents in that part of Gallatin county east of the Belt range of mountains, which later became the dividing line between Park and Gallatin coun- ties, and those engaged principally in pros- pecting and mining. Consequently the fu- ture Park county had up to that time taken no part in the political history making of Mon- tana territory.
With the building of the railroad, however, a big change came about. Early in 1883 the city of Livingston came into existence and in a few short months was a prosperous city. The Yellowstone Park branch of the Northern Pa- cific was built the same year and other towns came into being. People flocked into the upper Yellowstone valley and engaged in mining,
stock raising, farming and other pursuits. Thereafter until Park county was erected, the people east of the Belt range took a prominent part in the political history of Gallatin county. In a former chapter we have told of the sev- eral attempts to bring about the formation of a new county and its final accomplishment in 1887. Therefore we shall not now review this history, but shall proceed at once to the story of the ballots from the time Park county be- came a separate political division early in the year 1887.
The enabling act provided that the follow- ing officers should serve the new county until the officers elected at the general election in November, 1888, should have qualified: O. P. Templeton, sheriff, salary $2,000; F. W. Wright, treasurer, salary, $2,000; Elsberry Martin, clerk and recorder, salary, $2,000; M. D. Kelly, probate judge, salary, $1,200; John H. Holliday, assessor, salary, $1,800; Benja- min F. Myers, Geo. M. Hatch and Geo. H. Carver, county commissioners ; J. H. Elder, county attorney, fees and salary of $400; Net- tie Ballinger, superintendent of schools, sal- ary, $880; S. M. Moore, surveyor ; T. K. Lee, public administrator; Dr. H. Robarts, coroner. The majority of these were Republicans, but we find among them at least four members of
175
HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
the opposite political faith, namely, Elsberry Martin, Benjamin F. Myers, M. D. Kelly and J. H. Elder.
The board of county commissioners met at Livingston May 2, 1887, and Park county be- gan life as a separate political division. There were several changes in the personnel of the county officials before the election of 1888. May 3. 1887. J. H. Elder, the county attorney, resigned because he was not eligible, being at the time receiver for a national bank and there- fore a federal office holder. Jolin A. Savage was appointed by the county commissioners on that date to the office. Mr. Savage also resigned. on October 13, 1888, when Allan R. Joy was named and filled the unexpired term. E. B. Martin resigned the office of county clerk and recorder January 1, 1888, and David P. Van Horne served out the term. Another change was made June 6, 1888, when Sig- mund Deutsch was appointed county surveyor.
At the second day's session of the board of county commissioners held on May 3, 1887. the following minor officers were appointed : Jolın Ellison, road supervisor for Big Tin- bcr; A. J. Kenney, road supervisor for Shields River : Frank Beller, constable for Red Lodge precinct ; William H. Redfield, justice of the peace for Livingston precinct to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of M. D. Kelly to accept a position as a county officer ; John A. Ennis, under sheriff; Samuel Jackson, deputy sheriff for Gardiner and Cooke.
The campaign of 1888 was the first one in which the people of the new county took part as a county, and there was much speculation as to the political complexion of the new di- vision. The conventions were held at Livings- ton. The first one was held on Saturday, Sep- tember 8, when the Democrats gathered to se- lect delegates to the territorial convention at Butte. J. H. Elder presided over this conven- tion and O. M. Hatch was secretary. The delegates named were B. F. Myers, J. A. Sav- age, John Stuff, H. Bliss, W. D. Cameron,
Morris Roth, D. P. VanHorne, A. H. Delone and Alva Mayne. The delegates, who were also to represent Park county in the district convention were instructed to support William T. Field for joint councilman for the counties of Park and Fergus. September 15 the Dem- ocrats again met at Livingston and named a full county ticket for the coming election. This convention was presided over by Benjamin F. Myers and O. M. Hatch was secretary. The Republicans met at Livingston on September 13, when delegates to the territorial conven- tion were selected and a county ticket named. Major Geo. O. Eaton was president of the convention and S. L. Wallace was secretary. The following delegates to the territorial con- vention were chosen: C. H. Stebbins, W. E. Thompson, C. A. Burg, A. R. Joy and Geo. H. Hatch. Alternates were E. Goughnour, A. W. Miles, F. D. Pease, Geo. H. Wright and H. O. Hickox.
For the first election the county commis- sioners, at a meeting held on September 4, 1888. named the election precincts, polling places and judges of election.
This initial election occurred on the sixth day of November, 1888, and showed the county to be Republican, that party carrying the county for delegates to congress and joint councilman and electing its representative. On the county ticket, however, the Democrats were successful in electing four officers-one commissioner, clerk and recorder, assessor and superintendent of schools. There were 1,744 votes cast for the head of the ticket-delegate to congress. Following is the official vote : Delegate to Congress-Thos. H. Carter, rep., 1,067; Wm. A. Clark, dem., 677.
Councilman (joint with Fergus)-Geo. M. Hatch, rep., 877; Wm. Field, dem., 838.
Representative-Geo. H. Carver, rep., 1,126; Geo. J. Allen, dem., 573.
Commissioners-WV. M. Wright, rep., 1,040; H. J. Hoppe, rep., 1,012; H. O. Hickox, rep., 882; B. F. Myers, dem., 884;
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
M. Roth, dem., 437; W. H. Lee, dem., 818. County Attorney-Allen R. Joy, rep., 1,204.
Sheriff-O. P. Templeton, rep., 1,252; John Lenihan, dem., 445.
Treasurer-F. W. Wright, rep., 1,201 ; J. A. Lovely, dem., 517.
Clerk and Recorder-W. V. Grannis, rep., 656; D. P. VanHorne, dem., 1,059.
Assessor-O. Emmons, rep., 844; T. P. McDonald, dem., 872.
Probate Judge-John Clifford, rep., 995 ; M. D. Kelly, dem., 720.
Public Administrator-T. S. Carter, rep., 1,155.
Coroner-Dr. W. T. Collins, rep., 1,165.
Superintendent of Schools-Miss Brunette Ballinger, rep., 761 ; Mrs. Eva Hunter, dem .. 955.
Surveyor-S. Deutsch, rep., 1,805; H. S. Potts, dem., 629.
County seat-Livingston, 1,382; Spring- dale, 274: Big Timber, 35.
George M. Hatch, who as shown above carried Park county, was successful in the dis- trict and was elected, serving as Park county's first councilman. H. O. Hickox, who was only two votes behind the successful Democratic candidate for county commissioner, started a contest for the office, alleging fradulent vot- ing in the Springfield precinct, but dropped the matter before the case came to trial. The only change in officers before the next election oc- curred September 5, 1889, when W. T. Collins resigned the office of coroner and W. H. Red- field was appointed by the county commis- sioners.
The next election in Park county took place on May 14. 1889. at which time delegates to the constitutional convention were elected for the purpose of framing a constitution for the new state. Park county constituted one elec- tion district and was entitled to send three dele- gates. Under the law not more than two of the delegates from each district should be
members of the same political party. There- fore each of the two parties placed two candi- dates in the field. The Republicans nominated for this honor Geo. O. Eaton and Allan R. Joy ; the Democrats placed two of their strong- est men in the field in the persons of B. F. Myers and W. T. Field. The Republicans were successful in electing the odd man. The vote was :
Geo. O. Eaton, rep., 722; Allan R. Joy, rep., 548; B. F. Myers, dem., 487; W. T. Field, dem., 545.
After the constitution had been prepared a special election was called for October 1, 1889, to ratify or reject the same, and to select state and county officers providing the constitution should be adopted. For the office of governor there were 1.950 votes cast, a gain in the county of over 200 in less than a year. For the constitution Park county registered 584 votes, while only 30 were cast against it. The first state election showed the county to be strongly Republican, that party carrying the county for congressman and the whole state ticket by substantial majorities and electing every member of the county ticket except superintendent of schools and coroner. The vote :
Congressman-Thos. H. Carter, rep., 1,132; Martin Maginnis, dem., 802.
Governor-Thos. C. Power, rep., 1,064; Jos. K. Toole, dem., 886.
State Senator-Jas. E. Thompson, rep .. 1,033; William T. Field, dem., 878.
Representatives-Chas. H. Eaton, rep., 1,056; Chas. H. Stebbins, rep., 978; Ozias M. Hatch, dem., 702; Benj. F. Myers, dem., 878.
Judge Sixth Judicial District-Frank Henry, rep., I, III; Moses J. Liddell, dem., 778.
Clerk District Court-Orlando Emmons, rep., 935 ; James A. Bailey, dem., 931.
Commissioners-Hugo J. Hoppe, rep .. 923; Geo. T. Lamport, rep., 1,022; Wm. M. Wright, rep., 1,031; Wm. H. Bullard, dem ..
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
851; James Connell, dem., 781 ; Alva Mayne, dem., 806.
County Attorney-Allan R. Joy, rep .. 1,035 ; Martin D. Kelly, dem, 857.
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