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 38
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 38
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 38
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 38
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 38
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 38
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 38
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The year 1893 opened up with the usual activity, and there were more people in Big Timber that spring than there had been in the town before. Many of these were outfitting for the Boulder mines, which were then in the height of their glory and adding much to the prosperity of the town.
Then came the panic, which seized the whole country in its iron grasp. Big Timber suffered severely. Its wool and mining in- dustries, which had contributed most to the town's prosperity, were paralyzed. Mining was discontinued entirely; the price of wool got so low that it was hardly profitable. Dur- ing all its previous history Big Timber had been a place of unusual activity and business enterprise, and the depression led some to be- lieve that its former standing was lost forever. Adding to the general feeling of depression was the failure of the First National Bank, which closed its doors on July 27.
The bank's affairs were not in bad shape,
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and steps were soon taken toward a reorgani- zation. This was accomplished by the organ- ization of the Big Timber National Bank, which opened its doors on December 18. De- positors of the old bank were paid in full by the new concern. There were other business failures, and for a time the bottom seemed to have dropped out of the town. But there was soon a rally, and the panic was weathered. The town was a long time in recovering from the effects of the panic. During the next few years there was a gradual improvement, but no radical change for the better until the latter part of the decade.
Coming on the heels of the financial de- pression were a series of fires, nearly all of in- cendiary origin, which from October, 1893, to the next April did damage estimated at $50,- 000. The first of these fires occurred on the evening of October 31, when the Criterion building and three adjoining buildings were destroyed, the fire having been started, it was supposed, by a tramp. The second conflagra- tion was on the evening of December 26, when the livery and feed barn of Mastin & Co. burned, together with part of its contents. This was started by an incendiary.
The most disastrous conflagration in the history of the city up to that time was set by a firebug on Thursday morning, March 29, in a vacant building owned by the Clark Cattle company, and before the fire was gotten under control nearly $15,000 worth of property had been destroyed. The town at the time had very poor fire protection, and it was only by the greatest exertions of the citizens that much greater damage was prevented.
The last of this series of fires occurred Monday night, April 9, 1895, and was the most disastrous of all, the losses being about $20,000.
The creation of Sweet Grass county in the spring of 1895 had a beneficent effect upon the town of Big Timber, and resulted in a small but healthy growth. The wool shipments that
year reached the enormous figures of 4,138,- 763 pounds, equalled by no other city in the state. The average price paid was only about nine cents, but at this low price the receipts were nearly $400,000. To ship this product required 169 cars, and the freight charges were over $43,000. On October 25th the wool warehouse of the Northern Pacific burned, causing quite a loss. Two other buildings in the vicinity were also consumed by the flames. Another event of this year was the erection of the Episcopal church, a stone structure.
Two of the principal events of the year 1896 were the starting of a flour mill and the establishment of an electric lighting system. Articles of incorporation of the Pioneer Mill- ing company were filed on the second day of the year in the county clerk's office. The in- corporators were C. T. Busha, E. O. Clark and E. B. Clark, of Big Timber; and N. L. James, of Richland Center, Wis. The capital stock was $15,000, and the purpose of the com- pany were to erect and maintain a milling plant. Work was commenced at once on the mill, and it began grinding wheat June 25th.
Articles of incorporation of the Big Timber Electric Light and Power company were filed March 6th. The incorporators were John Martin, Sr., and J. S. Jays, of Livingston, and Charles Bowhay, of Townsend, and the capital stock was $5,000. The plant was erec- ted at once, and since then Big Timber has had electric lights.
The town was visited by another fire early on the morning of June 11, 1896, which did considerable damage, destroying two stone business block and stocks of goods.
The wool shipments for 1896 amounted to 3,281,155 pounds. This was believed to be a larger shipment than from any other point in Montana that year.
The years 1897 and 1898 passed without incident worthy of mention. There was very little improvement in the town, but the effects
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of the hard times were gradually passing away, thus paving the way for the activity that was to come in 1899.
Times continued to steadily improve. In 1900 the federal census showed a population of 438. The wool shipments that year were 2,300,000 pounds. The next year they were about 2,000,000 pounds, and the average price paid was 13 cents.
In 1901 several events took place that are worthy of being recorded in the history of Big Timber. One was the establishment of a county high school. This question was de- cided favorably at a special election through- out the county on July 8th. There was a small vote cast, but the majority for the establish- ment of a school was large.
Another important event was the building of a woolen mill in the city, the first woolen mill ever built in the state of Montana. Wil- liam Whitfield was the promoter of the mill, but a large share of the stock was taken by local capitalists. The mill started up July 26, 1901.
The question of incorporation was a live issue in 1901. During all the years of its history Big Timber had been without a water system and fire protection, and many citizens were anxious to incorporate in order that these might be secured, either by having the village put in the water works or to grant a franchise to some company that would. In the spring of the year a gentleman arrived in Big Timber who signified his desire to establish a water works system in the town, and set about to secure the interest of others in the enter- prise. After talking the matter over, he dis- covered there was a strong sentiment in favor of incorporating the town. A petition was then prepared, and in a few hours 105 signa- tures had been secured, nearly everybody ap- proached signing it. The petition was consid- ered by the board of county commissioners June 3; that body took favorable action on it and employed A. E. Snook to take the census
of the proposed incorporation. Mr. Snook completed his work and reported to the board two days later; he had found 673 people living within the proposed limits of the town. Ac- cordingly the board ordered that an election be held on Monday, July 15th, to vote on the question.
Immediately began a hard fought cam- paign. Some of the citizens thought that the city should own its own water works system when one was installed, while others believed the proper way would be to grant a franchise to a private company, and it was generally understood that this was to be done if incor- poration should carry. Those who opposed were not, necessarily, adverse to incorporation, but they were against the granting of fran- chises. The vote was close, and incorporation was defeated by a vote of 54 to 50.
The third company of the Montana na- tional guard was organized in Big Timber in 1901 and mustered into the service on August 26th by Adjutant General McCulloch, assisted by Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Bliss. The com- pany was known as C company. The commis- sioned officers were: Captain G. H. Preston; first lieutenant, Bird Vestal; second lieuten- ant, H. Hanly.
Big Timber was finally incorporated in 1902. A petition was circulated early in August asking the county commissioners to take the necessarily legal action to bring about the founding of municipal government. The mat- ter was considered at a special meeting of the board on August 6th. The petition was found to have 130 signatures, but its legality was questioned, and action. was deferred until the September meeting that the question at issue might be referred to the attorney general of the state. The bone of contention was sub- stantially as follows :
When the petition was first circulated a clause was inserted to the effect that the signers pledged themselves to oppose the grant- ing of franchises or contracts for any public
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HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
utilities. That section of the petition was worded as follows :
We, the signers of this petition, believing that the proposed incorporation should own and operate its own water works, it is mutually understood that we are opposed to the granting of franchises or contracts for public utilities by such proposed incorporation, and in case the town is incorporated we will always do all within our power to prevent the granting of such fran- chises or contracts.
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To the petition with that clause inserted there were 107 signers. Several citizens, how- ever, who favored incorporation but did not desire to bind themselves by the aforemen- tioned clause, inserted another clause to the effect that they favored incorporation, but would not pledge themselves either for or against municipal ownership. franchises or contracts. Of these signers there were 23, making a total of 130 signers to the petition asking for an election for incorporation. In the list of signers were the names of a few men who had left the city before the matter was considered by the county law makers and there were also found the names of a few who lived outside of the proposed boundaries of the in- corporation.
On these grounds Messrs. Harvey Bliss, H. O. Kellogg and J. E. Barbour objected to the board granting the petition. County At- torney Hall held that the two clauses defining the position of the signers were surplusage and therefore should not be considered by the board in considering the petition. However, to avoid complications, it was decided to wait until a later meeting before taking final action.
At the commissioners' meeting September 2nd the matter was again taken up and
After a careful examination and investigation of the same, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the board that said petition contains more than 100 qualified electors now residing within the limits of the pro- posed incorporation after deducting the names of all persons who have withdrawn from said petition or moved from the limits of said proposed incorporation since signing said petition, upon motion of Commis- sioner McConnell, seconded by Commissioner Nevin, 15
it was ordered that a census of the proposed incor- poration be taken.
John E. Clark was named enumerator, and he reported to the board September 4th that he had found 665 persons living in the town. The commissioners then granted the petition and named October 18th as the day for holding the election at which to decide whether or not the town should be incorporated. As judges for this election they named H. C. Allen, L. M. Howard, Harvey Bliss, H. O. Kellogg and J. F. Asbury.
At the election incorporation carried by a vote of 94 to 16. After the commissioners had canvassed the vote they ordered an elec- tion to be held on Saturday, November 9th, for the purpose of electing a mayor and four aldermen, two from each of the two wards. Two parties, each representing the policies of the two factions, came into existence. A meet- ing was held and a "citizens" ticket nominated, the members of which were pledged to oppose municipal improvements and were against the granting of franchises and contracts. Another set of men met and placed in nomination can- didates on a "progressive citizens" ticket. It was the sense of those who took part in this convention that the city should put in and maintain a water works system and should es- tablished an efficient fire department. An ex- citing campaign followed.
At the election probably every vote in the town was brought out. The candidates on bothi tickets were solid business men of the town, and the election hinged almost entirely on the policy which was to govern the young city. The "progressive citizens" elected every man on the ticket by decisive majorities. Fol- lowing was the vote :
Mayor-John F. Asbury, p. c., 84; H. O. Kellogg, c., 61.
Aldermen First Ward-Henry Witten, p. c., 62: S. A. Perrine, p. c., 57 ; Solberg, c., 31 ; W. L. Shanks, c., 31.
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HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
Aldermen Second Ward-Frank Blakes- lee, p. c., 32; Henry Nicholson, c., 25; A. G. Hatch, p. c., 49.
The first meeting of the city council was hield at the office of the county assessor on the evening of December 10. The oath was ad- ministered by Judge H. C. Pond, after which the wheels of the city government were set in motion. A. G. Hatch was chosen president of the council. The following appointments were made by the mayor and confirmed by the council : Clerk, E. C. Hale : police magistrate, H. C. Pound; treasurer, J. W. Geiger. At a later meeting A. G. Yule was appointed marshal.
Under the law municipal elections are held on the first Monday in April, and it was there- fore necessary to hold another election on April 6, 1903. There was only one ticket in the field and this contained the names of the officials then serving. There were a few scat- tering votes cast.
At the annual election of 1904 only one alderman from each ward was elected. S. A. Perrine succeeded himself in the first ward, and F. E. Blakeslee in the second.
Although the much desired water works had not yet been put in, the necessity for some kind of fire protection was felt, and in 1904 the Big Timber fire department was organized with a membership of 39, with J. P. Clark as chief. Two chemical engines and a hook and adder truck were purchased by the city, and quite an efficient department came into ex- istence.
The worst fire in the history of the city. from the stand point of property loss, occurred Monday night, January 16, 1905, when the Hatch block and the entire stock of the Hun- gerford pharmacy and almost the entire stock of the Fair store were destroyed, involving a loss of about $35,000.
At the annual election held on April 3. 1905, John F. Asbury was reelected mayor, defeating H. O. Kellogg by a vote of 69 to
37. Henry Witten and A. G. Hatch were re- elected aldermen from the first and second wards, respectively, without opposition.
At the annual election of 1906 S. A. Perrine was reelected alderman from the first ward; in the second G. H. Howard was elected, de- feating F. E. Blakeslee.
During the year 1906 Big Timber made rapid strides in public improvements, and the rapid growth and thriving condition of the town has resulted beneficially. To show the condition of the town as a shipping point, it may be said that the receipts of the Northern Pacific railway for the year ending December I, 1906, was approximately $206,487, an in- crease over the previous year of $50,000.
At a special election held June 23 the electors of the town decided to issue bonds for $40,000 for installing a system of water works, something that had been needed for years. It is to be a gravity system, and work will be be- gun on it in the spring of 1907.
During the year more than one and one- quarter miles of cement walks were constructed and about three-quarters of a mile more were contracted for. The Big Timber Pioneer said of the building activity for the year 1906, in its special edition of December 13: "The past year has witnessed an unprecedented growth in buildings, but the demand for dwellings and store buildings is far in excess of the sup- ply. Not an empty house of any description can be found in the city, notwithstanding the large number that have recently been erected. and a number of prospective residents are awaiting the completion of dwellings now in course of construction."
In the matter of education Big Timber has always kept pace with the demands of the steadily increasing population. A handsome new high school building was erected in 1905. which is thoroughly modern in every respect and splendidly furnished. The county high school is accessible to all of the children of the county and presents an opportunity to the
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young people to acquire such an education as will prepare them for college or fit them for the practical duties of life. That the value of the school is appreciated is shown by the large attendance of pupils from every part of the county. The city public schools are graded to and including the eighth grade and employ five teachers. The work embraces the prepara- tion of the pupil for the high school.
Big Timber supports three church organi- zations-Methodist, Episcopal and Congrega- tional. Each organization has a substantial church edifice, and enjoys a growing congrega- tion. There are also a number of members of the Catholic denomination, and services are held here occasionally.
The secret organizations of the town are as follows: F. O. E., Aerie No. 790; K. P., Big Timber Lodge, No. 25; Masons, Doric Lodge, No. 53; M. W. A., Big Timber Lodge.
MELVILLE.
The second town in Sweet Grass county in size and importance is Melville. located on Sweet Grass creek, twenty miles due north of Big Timber. The little village is on the stage and mail route from Big Timber to Two-dot and has daily mail. The townsite is on an ex- tensive flat, which takes its name from Cayuse butte, a large jagged shaped elevation that overlooks the town.
Although Melville is not a large town, it is, and has been from the date of founding, a thriving trading point. In the town are one general merchandise store, a harness and shoe shop, a blacksmith shop, a saloon, a hotel, a school building, a church and several secret organizations.
Melville came into existence in 1882, when H. O. Hickox started a store there and named the place Melville in honor of Lieutenant Mel- ville, of Arctic fame.
By the fall of 1888 we find that the village consisted, besides the store, of a school, saw-
mill, blacksmith shop, a harness shop, and a hotel building was built there that year.
The Melville townsite was platted by Mr. Hickox November 21, 1904. Since then sev- eral residences have been erected, and the lit- tle town has become the winter residence of several neighboring ranchers who take up their residence here in order to give their children the advantages of the excellent school there.
NYE.
Nye is the name of a postoffice and little village on Stillwater river, thirty-six miles southwest of Columbus, with which point it is connected by a state and mail line, and forty miles south of Big Timber. The busi- ness houses of the little village consist of a store, hotel, blacksmith shop, and there is also a public school in town. The present village has a very uneventful history, but the old Nye, or Nye City, as it was called, which was lo- cated south of this point, had as interesting a history as one could wish for.
The old Nye City came into existence in the year 1887, and for a period was one of the liveliest mining camp in Montana. Prior to that date there were a few shacks in the vi- cinity of the spot on which was afterwards built the town. They were the property of Jack V. Nye, Joseph Anderson (commonly called Skookum Joe), A. S. Hubble and a few other prospectors and original locators of min- ing claims. Among the other early prospect- ors who operated in this vicinity during the seventies and up into the eighties were Wil- liam Hamilton, Hedges brothers, M. M. and R. L. McDonald. Joe Shutes and others. These worked their claims on the upper Stillwater with indifferent success until the year 1886, when the Minneapolis Mining and Smelting company bought most of the claims in the vi- cinity and began operations on a large scale.
Then began an era of activity on the upper
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HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
Stillwater and Nye City, named in honor of Jack V. Nye, sprang into a lively existence. The company, at an expense of about $4,000, built a wagon road into the camp and spent other thousands of dollars in other improve- ments. Miners and laborers poured into the new camp from all directions. Cooke City, the flourishing mining camp to the south, was nearly deserted, and there was almost a stam- pede from Big Timber.
The town dates its existence from early in August, 1887, and in an almost incredibly short time there was a flourishing little city. According to a correspondent from the new camp to a Livingston paper, grading for the smelter began on August 8, and there was on that date quite a force of men at work there and a big rush was on. From the same authority we learn that preparations were be- ing made for the opening of a general mer- chandise store and a restaurant, and that a petition was being circulated asking the postal authorities to establish a postoffice there. Two saloons were opened on the 20th of the same month.
The townsite was platted in August, and there was a big demand for the lots. A Nye correspondent to the Livingston Enterprise of August 27, said : "The arrival of the com- pany's attorney, accompanied by A. S. Hovey, surveyor, of Helena, has caused some demand for town lots, their business being the platting of the townsite, etc. Pending the completion of this work, the refusal of over forty lots has been given by the townsite agents." The town was built in a well shaded basin at the base of the well known Granite range, the mountains rising abruptly from the outskirts of the village and towering into the clouds. The view from the town was a grand and pic- turesque one.
Work was provided for everyone who came to the camp in the construction of the mills and smelter and in the mines. By fall there was a town of five or six hundred people
where a few months before there had been nothing. During this, its most flourishing period, there were two stores, five or six res- taurants, eleven saloons and a few other enter- prises that go to make up a mining camp. The postoffice was established that fall, mail being carried by a private carrier, who was paid with money raised among the inhabitants of the town. These were the only mail facilities un- til July, 1888, when a tri-weekly service was established by the government. The name of the postoffice was Nye, but the townsite and town itself were referred to as Nye City.
Nye City was not destined to long remain the flourishing town it was during the first days of its existence. Because of the fact that it was found that the town was on the Crow In- dian reservation, thus making impossible the acquiring of title to mining claims, and be- cause of internal dissension, the Minneapolis Mining & Smelting company closed all its works. This was fatal to the town. The peo- ple who had gone there with the idea of gain- ing untold wealth gradually abandoned the camp. Finally practically everybody left, and there came a time when there was no one left but the postmaster, and Nye City entirely dis- appeared. Then the postoffice was moved up to its present location, and there was nothing left of the old town but the memory.
There was some little activity in the camp in the spring of 1894, owing to some discov- eries and developments of nearby properties, but this did not last long. A bridge was built over the Stillwater at the camp by James Hedges, E. A. McAtee and Lee Lute; that spring, a blacksmith shop was built and there were a few other improvements.
OTHER PLACES.
Ten miles southeast of Big Timber is the postoffice and station of Grey Cliff. Here is also a store and blacksmith shop, which sup- ply the wants of the farmer and stock raiser
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HISTORY OF SWEET GRASS COUNTY.
in that vicinity. Grey Cliff came into exis- tence as a railroad station in the spring of 1894. Prior to the ceding of a tract of land by the Crows in 1892 this part of the county was on the reservation, and of course not open to settlement. It was in March, 1894, that a surveying party, in charge of Harry Ralph, of Helena, located depot grounds for the North- ern Pacific at different points along the line in the recently ceded Crow lands. The govern- ment allowed the railroad company acreage for depot sites, at points ten miles apart, on these lands, and one of the points selected by the surveying party was that of Grey Cliff.
Reed postoffice is located on the Northern Pacific railroad and the Yellowstone river twenty-four miles southeast of Big Timber, the station name being Reeds Point. There is a general merchandise store at this point.
Howie is the name of a country postoffice located on Sweet Grass creek, twelve miles northeast of Big Timber, with which place it is connected by stage and mail route. This is the oldest settled community in Sweet Grass county, it having been settled in 1877. In the early days a postoffice was established near the mouth of the creek and named Sweet Grass. Here in 1881 a school was established, which has been in existence ever since, with the exception of the years from 1884 to 1889. There is also a Norwegian church organiza- tion, which has been in existence here ever since 1886; services being held in the school house. In May, 1892, the name of the post- office was changed to Howie by the postoffice department, without consulting the wishes of the patrons of the office, a fact which was re- sented by the people of the vicinity.
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