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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
The plateaus, which flank the bottom lands following the course of the river, extend in a gradual incline backward into the mountains. The soil has an average depth of three feet and is underlaid by substratums of argillac- eous matter, thus retaining the moisture near
the surface of the ground, and rendering irri- gation in parts unnecessary. These bench lands extending toward the Crazies are a paradise for the growth of winter wheat, as the moun- tain snows lie here throughout the winter, af- fording entire protection to grain sown in the autumn, allowing it to mature in the early summer before the need of artificially supplied moisture is felt. The bench lands on the other side, extending to the Bridger mountains, can- not be surpassed as stock ranges, exceeding any other locality in the state for the advant- ages furnished in this branch of agriculture.
The sides of the mountains of Park county are covered with dense growths of timber, affording material for lumber and fuel. Pine, fir and cedar, abound in all parts of the county.
MONTANA HAYING SCENE
PART III SWEET GRASS COUNTY
CHAPTER I
BEFORE COUNTY ORGANIZATION -- 1743 TO 1894.
The county of Sweet Grass came into exist- ence as a political division of the great state of Montana early in the year 1895. The county derived its name from Sweet Grass river, or creek, which flows from the eastern slope of the Crazy mountains to the Yellow- stone river, and to the late Judge William G. Strong belongs the honor of naming the coun- ty. The creek received its name from the abundance of vernal grass which grows in its valley. The grass which grows here gives forth a peculiar, sweet odor, somewhat like that of vanilla; hence the naming of the stream.
The date of the advent of the first white men to most of the counties of Montana is 1805 and 1806, when Lewis and Clark crossed the state on their way to and from the Pacific ocean, and it was some years after that event before other counties were visited by members of the Caucasian race. But Sweet Grass and a few other counties may justly lay claim to a date over a half century earlier than this.
In the year 1741 M. de la Verandrye, a French Canadian, accompanied by some Cath- olic priests and about fifty men, set out from Quebec, Canada, for the headwaters of the
Missouri river, with the intention of proceed- ing to the Pacific ocean. His course in what is now Sweet Grass county appears in the first chapter of this book.
On the 16th day of July, 1806, Captain Clark and party, traveling on horseback on the north bank of the Yellowstone, passed a little stream, up which a distance of two miles they could have found the now famous Hunter's hot springs had they gone out of their way that distance. Immediately after crossing this stream they entered what is now known as Sweet Grass county, within the confines of which they were destined to remain six days. Details of this are found in a former chapter.
It was not long after the return of the Lewis and Clark party to civilization before the fur traders and trappers came to the Yel- lowstone valley. These hardy pioneers pene- trated all parts of the valley on their hunting and trapping expeditions, and the many streams of the present Sweet Grass county were thoroughly covered. No forts or trading posts were established this far up the river, however, the nearest being at the mouth of the Big Horn river. For many years these were the only people to visit the Yellowstone valley.
192
HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
and the records of their operations are very meager. It was not until the discovery of gold in Montana in the early sixties that the coun- try became known to any considerable extent.
By a treaty signed September 17, 1851, all that part of the present state of Montana south of the Musselshell river, west of Powder river and east of Shields river and the upper Yel- lowstone was included in the Crow reserva- tion, and in this tract, of course, was included all of the present Sweet Grass county. This was the condition until 1882, when all of the present Sweet Grass county north of the Yel- lowstone river and a small portion of that on the south side was opened to settlement by treaty. In March, 1891, congress ratified an- other treaty, which threw open to settlement all that part of Sweet Grass county that had been up to that time in the reservation. These treaties will be treated more fully in their chronological order.
In the latter part of July, 1864, John Bozeman piloted the first train of immigrants through this section. He was closely followed by another train under the leadership of James Bridger, that famous trapper and scout. This party camped one night in August at the mouth of a creek, which since that day has been known as Bridger creek. The Bozeman and Bridger parties were followed by others the same year, and thereafter for several years there was considerable travel through the fui- ture Sweet Grass county. Many parties on their return to the states built boats at Emi- grant gulch (in the present Park county) and at other points on the upper river and made the trip down the Yellowstone. These en- countered many dangers from the Indians and the treacherous river.
The second peace treaty with the Crows, concluded at Fort Laramie, Dakota, on May 7. 1868, was an important item in the history of Sweet Grass county because of the facts that over one-half of the county as it appears on the inap today was taken out of the Crow reserva-
tion. The new treaty provided that the In- dian reservation should include that territory in Montana that was south and east of the Yellowstone river and west of the 107th de- gree of longitude, which degree of longitude runs through the center of the present day county of Rosebud. Under this treaty all that part of the present Sweet Grass county north of the Yellowstone was removed from the res- ervation. A provision of this treaty was as follows :
1
The United States agrees at its own proper expense, to construct on the south side of the Yellowstone, near Otter creek, a warehouse or storeroom for the use of the agent in storing goods belonging to the Indians, to cost not exceeding twenty-five hundred dollars; an agency building for the residence of the agent, to cost not exceeding three thousand dollars; a residence for the physician, not to cost exceeding three thousand dollars; and five other buildings, for a carpenter, farmer, blacksmith, miller and engineer, each to cost not exceeding two thousand dollars; also a school house or mission building, so soon as a sufficient num- ber of children can be induced by the agent to attend school, which shall not cost exceeding twenty-five hundred dollars.
The United States agrees further to cause to be erected on said reservation, near the other buildings herein authorized, a good steam circular saw, with a grist mill and shingle mill attached, the same to cost not exceeding eight thousand dollars.
In July, 1868. Captain LeMott, in charge of the troops at Fort Ellis, proceeded to Lit- tle Timber creek, in the present Sweet Grass county, and there distributed the first annuities ever received by the Crow Indians. This was in accordance with the provisions of the treaty just completed. Soon after this Major Camp, of the United States army, was appointed Crow agent and he at once began the con- struction of agency buildings on Mission creek, in the present Park county. Why these buildings were not put up near Otter creek, as was provided in the treaty, is not known.
In 1871 the control of these Indians passed from the war department to the interior de- partment, and Major Pease was made agent, the first civilian to hold the office. In Febru-
193
HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
ary, 1875, came orders to remove the agency from Mission creek to the Stillwater. Agent Clapp was then in command, and by the first of April the agency buildings on Mission creek were deserted and the agency was estab- lished some distance up the Stillwater, near the mouth of the Little Rosebud, and on the Carbon county side of the river.
During the fall of 1871 the first attempt to survey a line for a railroad was made in the Yellowstone valley. Mr. Muhlenberg, a Northern Pacific engineer, accompanied by a small military escort from Fort Ellis, started from Bozeman and ran his lines easterly to a point near the mouth of Pryor creek, there being forced to abandon further work on ac- count of a heavy fall of snow. During the next two years the line was completed through the Yellowstone valley.
The honor of being the first settler on Sweet Grass county soil belongs to Horatio N. Gage, who settled at the mouth of Duck creek, about six miles below Dr. Hunter's hot springs, in 1873. In the latter part of July, 1874, a war party of Sioux, which had attacked many . places on the upper Yellowstone, came to the Gage home, killed four head of cattle, but did not attack the house. Several times the Gage family was obliged to seek protection from the hostile Indians at Dr. Hunter's home. Up to February, 1875, when arrangements were made for the removal of the agency to the Stillwater, the Gage ranch was the lowest of the habitated places on the Yellowstone. At that time Horace Countryman and Hugo Hoppe moved to the mouth of the Stillwater, and their places became the outposts of civili- zation. When the stage line was established between Miles City and Bozeman the Gage ranch became one of the stage stations, and here were enacted some of the exciting inci- dents in this new country. On this ranch Gage raised the first alfalfa that was ever reaped in Sweet Grass county. In April, 1882, the Gages sold two or three tons of alfalfa to
soldiers who were passing through the coun- try. What was once the site of this old stage station is now one of the largest and best alfalfa fields in Sweet Grass county, from which are cut some 2,000 towns of hay a year. On this ranch was located the first irrigating ditch, of the county. It was constructed in 1876.
Almost simultaneously with the advent of Mr. Gage in 1873 came two brothers, Al and W'aborn Harrison, who drove in a band of cat- tle and horses and located on lower Sweet Grass creek. There they engaged in stock- raising, and there they have made their homes ever since.
The year 1875 brought forth more stirring events within the boundaries of the present Sweet Grass county, among which was the killing of Sam Shively by the treacherous sav- ages. That year Major Pease, with quite a large party, had gone down the Yellowstone from Benson's Landing (about three miles east of the present city of Livingston) to the mouth of the Big Horn river, where it was his intention to establish a trading post. It was quite an undertaking, and Major Pease, accompanied by a few companions, started out from the Big Horn camp with the intention of going east to interest capital in the enterprise. Owing to the hostility of the Indians the enter- prise had to be abandoned before long, and Fort Pease abandoned.
The first settlement made in Sweet Grass county, excepting the Gage ranch and the Har- risons' home, already referred to, was made near the mouth of Sweet Grass creek in the year 1877. The men who settled here that year were W. R. Bramble, Fred Bartels, and W. L. Shanks. It may be of interest to note that all of these gentlemen are alive today David Riffle settled on Big Timber creek the same year. So far as we are able to learn these were the only permanent settlers in Sweet Grass county that year. These gentlemen had, practically, the whole of the Yellowstone val-
13
194
HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
ley to choose from, and their choice of loca- tion was a wise one, as has been proven since that time.
The number of settlers on Sweet Grass creek was increased in 1878 by the arrival of WV. A. Harrison, Mr. Davis and Alex. Ferte. The first water right from the Sweet Grass was taken that year by W. A. Harrison. The same year, through the efforts of W. L. Shanks, a voting precinct (of Gallatin county) was organized in this colony, and at the elec- tion that fall eight votes were cast. The name of the voting precinct and the postoffice, when that was established, was Sweet Grass.
David Riffle, who had settled on Big Tim- ber creek the year before, took out an irrigat- ing ditch in 1878, the first from that stream. In 1880 he raised 3.700 bushels of oats and four acres of potatoes.
Sometime in the fall of 1878 Thomas Kent, who, as stated before had traveled over the whole of the Yellowstone valley, settled at the mouth of Bridger creek, at which place he has ever since made his home.
About the time the settlers were building homes on the lower Sweet Grass Coleman Puett selected a site for a home on the upper Sweet Grass, on land that all but joins the present site of the town of Melville.
During the late seventies there had been settlement in all parts of the Yellowstone val- ley and supplies were brought in to these set- lers over the stage line between Miles City and Bozeman. Along this line in the present county of Sweet Grass were established a number of stage stations and postoffices that became very well known points. One of the stations was the Gage place on Duck creek; another was the Big Timber postoffice, store and stage station, on Big Timber creek, just across the Yellowstone from the present site of Big Timber : the Bramble road house, at the Sweet Grass crossing, was another; while on the old government trail leading from the Sweet Grass across the divide to White Beaver
basin was Canyon station, where there was a saloon kept by John Brady and a boarding house operated by Mrs. Nostrum.
Among the settlers of the late seventies was Sim Roberts, who settled at a point above the present town of Melville. Roberts was a conspicuous figure in the early history of Sweet Grass county, as he has been in its later history. He was known as a "killer," and became no- torious as a suspected "cattle rustler." He was in court many times to answer to different crimes, but was never convicted.
Closely following Roberts came John and George Cook, who established the first large cattle and horse ranch in the future county.
The settlement on the lower Sweet Grass was added to in 1879 by the arrival of Henry Fletcher, John Hoff and Benjamin Hoyseth, who took up claims.
Concerning an event of the year 1879 Mr. E. S. Topping, in his "Chronicles of the Yel- lowstone," has written :
On the upper river two old-timers, though young men, who had had some narrow escapes from Indian bullets and arrows, gave up their lives to the Yellow- stone this summer of 1879: one in doing his duty, and the other in that higher duty of helping a comrade in distress.
On the 18th of July Tommy Thompson, Steve Gage and some others were driving a small herd of Nelson Story's cattle across the Yellowstone near the mouth of Sweet Grass creek. The cattle were forced into the river at last, and the two men started to swim their horses after them. Gage was riding a broncho, or untamed horse, so Thompson went ahead that it might follow his. When nearly across Thompson looked behind and saw that Gage's horse was acting badly, so, turning, he swam back. As he came near to young Gage, the latter was thrown from his horse, and in trying to pick him up Thompson was also torn from his horse, and both were swept away and drowned. The bodies were found but a short distance below and were taken up the river. Thompson had been a great favorite with Mr. Story, and the body was brought to Bozeman, and a neat monument now stands over his resting place. Steve Gage was buried by the side of his father, who had died the year before at the ranch on Duck creek, which ranch was the lowest on the river from 1873 to 1875.
195
HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
Closely following the arrival of Puett and Cook brothers to the upper Sweet Grass came the "22" outfit, a large cattle company owned by two men named Flowery and Lowry, who located on land adjoining the original Cook Bros.' claim. Sim Roberts was for a consid- erable time foreman for this company, and he was followed by Sam Garvin.
The years 1880 and 1881 brought quite a number of settlers to different parts of the county. On November 7, 1880, Veasy, Mc- Donnell & Fitzpatrick brought the first band of sheep to the country which is now Sweet Grass county and wintered them on the Riffle ranch.
It was in 1881 that the first school in Sweet Grass county was organized; it was lo- cated on the lower Sweet Grass. A school house was built in the fall of the year, and Miss Lizzie Evans was the first teacher. W. A. Harrison, W. R. Bramble and E. T. Ewing were the trustees. Being the only school in the country which is now included in Park and Sweet Grass counties, it was attended by chil- dren from a large scope of country. There was attendance from Big Timber creek and from Duck creek. When a school was organ- ized in the town of Big Timber in 1884 only three or four children of school age were left in the pioneer district and it was discontinued to be restimed again, however, in 1889.
The year 1882 was an eventful one in the history of Sweet Grass county, for it brought about the ceding of the Crow lands located west of the Boulder and the completion of the Northern Pacific railroad (late in the year) through that part of Gallatin county which is now Sweet Grass.
This treaty was made with the Crows June 12, 1880, but was not ratified by congress until April 11, 1882, and, consequently, the ceded lands were not thrown open to settlement nntil that date. The treaty provided for the sale to the United States of lands formerly in the Crow reservation as follows :
Beginning in the mid-channel of the Yellowstone river at a point opposite the mouth of Boulder creek ; thence up the middle of the channel of said river to the point where it crosses the southern boundary of Montana territory, being the 451h degree of north lat- itude: thence east along said parallel of latitude to a point where said parallel crosses Clark's Fork; thence north to a point six miles south of the first standard parallel, being on the township line between townships six and seven south; thence west on said township line to the one hundred and tenth meridian of longitude; thence north along said meridian to a point east or west of the source of the eastern branch of Boulder creek to the place of beginning.
Immediately after the opening of this strip of land came W. F. McLeod, in whose honor was named the McLeod postoffice, driving be- fore him a herd of 125 cattle and 200 horses, which he brought from his former home in Oregon. He is recognized as the first perma- nent homesteader in the Boulder valley. Mr. Jarrett took up his home on Wright creek, where he was the first to prove that apples could be successfully grown in this part of the territory.
With the completion of the railroad late in the year 1882 came a new order of things; the pioneer days were gone forever. The set- tlers that came in after that date rode on the cars, and the prairie scooner went out of com- mission. The old stage stations that had done duty for so long along the route from Miles City to Bozeman were replaced by towns. Dornix, later replaced by Big Timber, came into existence and became the center of population of the surrounding country. Con- cerning the passing of one of the old stage sta- tions and an important event in the county's history the Yellowstone Leader in February, 1902, said :
In 1883-the year made famous by the building of the Northern Pacific and the extinction of the buf- falo-a half dozen ranchers held possession of the en- tire valley of the lower Sweet Grass. These men were W. A. Harrison, Fred Bartels, John Hoff, A. L. Har- rison, Ben Hoyseth and W. Ewing.
At the Sweet Grass crossing, where the home of Henry Bartels is now located, W. R. Bramble was
196
HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
keeping a road house at that time, and some three or four miles further east. on the old government trail leading from the Sweet Grass across the divide to White Beaver basin, was another road house known as Canyon Station. At this place one John Brady, who was supposed to be a bad man from Texas, kept saloon, while the boarding department of the hostelry was in charge of a somewhat notorious Mrs. Nostrum, . whose husband was at that time engaged in getting out ties for the new railroad. The place bore an un- savory reputation, due in part to the fact that Brady and Nostrum had provided their establishment with a mysterious underground tunnel leading from the saloon to a root house some fifty feet distant. Ostensibly this tunnel was to be used for protection against In- dians, but it was generally rumored that there were other purposes.
Just twenty years ago this spring the roundup was .amped one week near the mouth of Sourdough creek, a small tributary of the Sweet Grass, a dozen miles above the Bramble place. Sam Garvin, who has he- come prominent in more recent affairs, was captain of the roundup, and among 20 or 25 men in camp were several who are now well known in this vicinity. They were Ed. Cardwell, W. L. Shanks, Thos. Mc- Donald, H. C. Pound, Olaf Lafverson. Chas. Prutting, Alf Downing, Walter Story, H. Lowry, John Cook, Gus. Sidle, E. S. Tutt, Pat Patterson and others.
Late Saturday afternoon a half dozen men, in- cluding Sam Garvin, E. S. Tutt. Bill Miner, R. Potter, Chas. Wickam and Pat Patterson, left the camp and rode away in the direction of the Yellow- stone, returning early the following morning.
The same night a little incident occurred at Can- yon Station, which was not only destined to wipe that particular name from the map of Gallatin county, but also to rechristen the place with the name of "Dead Man's Gulch." a most suggestive title which it has borrie to this day. When the shooting ceased and the thick mantle of sulphureous powder smoke had lifted. the interior of the Brady saloon looked as if it had been attacked by the (commando) of Boer riflemen, while the lifeless body of the proprietor lay bleeding on the floor.
Aside from those implicated, Nostrum was the only person who witnessed the shooting. According to his story, Mrs. Nostrum had already retired to her room adjoining the saloon and he and Brady were about to retire when a man entered and asked for a drink. While Nostrum was serving the thirsty cus- tomer, four masked men entered the room. The leader immediately pulled his six-shooter and fired on Brady. The latter threw up his left arm just in time to intercept the bullet, which penetrated the arm above and below the elbow and then passed entirely through his body, severing the spinal cord and landing its vic- tim on the floor in a lifeless heap.
Then followed a wild fusillade, perforating floor,
ceiling and walls in every direction. As soon as the shooting had ceased and the shooters departed, Nos- trum started in search of A. L. Harrison, who was then deputy sheriff of Gallatin county. During the night the two men carefully prepared the body of Brady for the "planting," and as soon as daylight came Harrison hit the trail in search of the murderers. At the round-up camp he confronted Garvin and his companions with the information that he had come to place them under arrest for the killing of Brady, but in turn those gentlemen informed the officer that he might avoid trouble by taking the back track, which he proceeded immediately to do.
Returning to Canyon Station, Harrison assisted Nostrum in burying the remains of Brady, whose grave, which lies on a knoll about a hundred yards south of the present road, is still marked by a little mound of grass covered earth, enclosed by a rough picket fence.
Soon after the shooting the buildings were torn down and hauled away: several of the shooters are dead, some are in prison and others are scattered; Nostrum and the woman are long since gone and they are so nearly forgotten that it is now impossible to ascertain their first name. But in his "narrow house," John Brady is still waiting for the grand jury at Boze- man to name the man who sent the big chunk of lead crashing through his unworthy hide.
The settlers in Wright valley built a school- house in 1884. As there were no funds avail- able for the purpose of building the school house, the settlers turned out and donated the work. Logs were hauled from the Crazy mountains with which to put up the building. A dance was given at the Jarrett ranch, from which was cleared $175, and the building was put up free from debt. Miss Agnes Cosgriff. now Mrs. J. B. Mendenhall, was the first teacher. Among the scholars who attended the first school are Mrs. Richard Budd, Mrs. T. R. Lanphear, Mrs. J. H. Ammerman, James Woods, J. W. Fryer and R. S. Jarrett.
In 1885 the first irrigating ditch of much importance in the Boulder valley was taken out by Chas. Kimberling and Geo. W. Baker, who reaped such bountiful returns therefrom that the theme of its success acted as a stimulus in bringing forth scores of settlers, which re- sulted in the establishment of McLeod post- office in 1887.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.