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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47
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President-Republican electors, 479; Democratic electors, 369: Peoples party elec- tors, 23 ; Prohibition electors, 18.
Governor-Timothy E. Collins, dem., 383; Wm. Kennedy, pp., 24: John E. Rickards, rep., 459; J. M. Waters, pro., 16.
Judge Seventh Judicial District-Geo. R. Milburn, dem., 482; Jason W. Strevell, rep., 397.
Representative-A. L. Babcock, rep., 480; I. D. O'Donnell. dem. and pp., 427.
Congressman-Benj. R. Atkins, pro., 22,; Wm. W. Dixon, dem., 382; Caldwell Edwards, pp., 26; Charles S. Hartman, rep., 444.
Clerk District Court-F. L. Mann, dem. and pp., 451 ; Fred B. Mitchell, rep., 431.
Commissioners-John C. Bond, rep., 417; Edward Cardwell, rep., 489: C. O. Gru- well, dem. and pp., 468: Geo. Herbert, dem. and pp .. 401 : Robt. J. Martin, rep., 351; Benj. W. Toole, dem. and pp., 395.
Treasurer-Sidney F. Morse, dem. and pp .. 461 : Lucius Whitney, rep., 409.
Clerk and Recorder-Uri E. Frizelle, rep., 432; E. L. Peck, pp., 36; Wm. M. Tompkins, dem., 427.
Sheriff-H. A. Frith, pp., 32; John M. Ramsey, rep., 492 ; Samuel R. Salisbury, dem., 382
Surveyor-Geo. T. Lambert, rep .. 525; Chas. S. McFarlin, dem. and pp., 354.
Superintendent of Schools-Mattie J. Crampton, dem. and pp., 461 ; Julia Soule, rep., 413.
Assessor-Samuel K. Deverell, rep., 526; Charles H. Smith, dem. and pp., 364.
Coroner - Henry Chapple, rep., 523; James E. Free, dem. and pp., 357.
Public Administrator-Peter H. Smith, dem., 401 ; Andrew J. Wilkinson, rep. and pp., 465.
Attorney-Hallowell F. Clement, rep. and pp., 415 ; John B. Herford, dem., 471.
There was a wonderful increase in the 1894 vote, 1.478 votes being polled in the coun- ty on the question of location of the state capi- tal, which was several hundred more than had ever before been polled in the county. The peoples party was again in the field and made a much better showing than it had two years before. The Republicans elected every candi- date with the exception of county treasurer. which office went to the Democrats. The vote :
State Capital-Anaconda, 647; Helena. 831.
286
HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
Congressman-Hal S. Corbett, dem., 307 ; Chas. S. Hartman, rep., 861 ; Benj. F. Maiden, pro., 18; Robert B. Smith, pp., 226.
Senator-Albert L. Babcock, rep., 926; Ernest H. Gagnon, pp., 89; I. D. O'Donnell, den1., 445.
Representative - Henry A. Frith, pp., 82; Pat Lavelle, dem., 368; Christian Yegen, rep., 960.
Clerk and Recorder-Thos. C. Armitage, dem., 351; Uri E. Frizelle, rep., 884; Frank M. Lambert, pp., 175.
Sheriff-Geo. A. Berkey, rep., 661; John B. Herford, dem., 552; Fred Sweetman, tax payer, 187; John J. Walk, pp., 60.
Treasurer-John B. Barnish, pp., 108; Sidney F. Morse, dem., 709; Wm. H. Nor- ton, rep., 602.
Superintendent of Schools-W. E. Burr, pp., 121; Lucy S. Railsback, dem., 358; Martha E. Shoemaker, rep., 901; Florence Snyder, ind. rep., 55.
Surveyor-Albert A. Morris, rep., 1129.
Assessor-Leslie Bunnell, dem., 215; Elmer E. Summers, pp., 575; Frank S. Whit- ney, rep., 640.
Coroner-Henry Chapple, rep., 1022 ; Jas. E. Free, dem., 349.
Public Administrator-Eugene S. Holmes, rep., 1167.
Attorney-Robt. T. Allen, rep., 736; Gib. A. Lane, dem., 637.
One of the most exciting elections ever held in Yellowstone county was that of 1896, when the free silver forces, combining the Demo- cratic and Peoples parties, swept the Western states. William Jennings Bryan carried the county for President over William Mckinley by a vote of 575 to 429. The free silver issue also had its effect on coun- ty politics and swept into power the ma- jority of the Democratic and Peoples party candidates. The Republicans, however, car- ried the county for their candidate for district judge and elected one of the commissioners,
sheriff, public administrator and coroner. There was a falling off from the vote of 1894, the highest number of votes polled for any of- fice being 1024, for sheriff. The vote :
President - Republican electors, 429; Democratic electors, 575; Prohibition elect- ors, 5.
Congressman-O. F. Goddard, rep., 420; Cnas. S. Hartman, dem., 503.
Governor-Alexander C. Botkin, rep., 444 : Robert B. Smith, dem., 542.
Representative-Joseph H. Rinehart, rep., 453 ; Thomas C. Armitage, dem., 537.
Judge Seventh Judicial District-Charles H. Loud, rep., 506; C. D. Middleton, dem., 162.
Commissioners-Charles Spear, rep., 481 ; E. A. Baldwin, rep., 424; J. B. Annin, rep., 488; Orson N. Newman, pp., 511; Patrick Lavelle, dem., 487; Charles M. Jacobs, dem., 485.
Clerk District Court-Thos. B. Hill, rep., 467 ; Thos. A. Williams, dem., 508.
Attorney-Fred H. Hathhorn, rep., 454; Wm. M. Johnston, demn., 556.
Clerk and Recorder-U. E. Frizelle, rep., 441 ; Sidney F. Morse, dem., 557.
Sheriff-Geo. A. Berkey, rep., 536; Geo. W. Hubbard, dem., 488.
Treasurer-Maxwell G. Mains, rep., 455; Wm. B. George, dem., 536.
Assessor-Wm. O. Parker, rep., 449; E. E. Summers, pp., 548.
Public Administrator-E. S. Holmes, rep., 507; C. F. Burton, dem., 468.
Coroner-E. P. Townsend, rep., 554; scattering, 9.
Superintendent of Schools-Martha E. Shoemaker, rep., 409; Gwen F. Burla, dem., 571.
Surveyor-Charles A. Dewar, rep., 453; Geo. F. Lamport, dem., 516.
Again in 1898 did the fusion forces sweep the county, leaving to the Republicans only two officers on the county ticket by small ma-
287
HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
jorities, those for treasurer and public admin- istrator. Fusion not being brought about on the congressional ticket, the Republicans carried the county by a plurality. There was a gain of 115 votes over the election of 1896, for the office of sheriff, 1, 139 votes being polled. The vote :
Congressman-A. J. Campbell, dem., 431 ; Thomas S. Hogan, pp. and sil. rep., 133; Thomas C. Marshall, rep., 517.
Senator-C. O. Gruwell. dem. and pp., 670; John E. Edwards, rep., 440.
Representative-J. D. Losekamp, dem. and pp., 647; Wm. H. Norton, rep., 471.
Treasurer-Wm. B. George, dem. and pp., 527: W. L. Ramsey, rep., 592.
Clerk and Recorder-Nat G. Carwile, den. and pp., 728; W. J. Stratton, rep., 368.
Sheriff-Geo. W. Hubbard, dem. and pp., 626; J. C. Bond, rep., 513.
Attorney-Wm. M. Johnston, dem. and pp., 644: James R. Goss, rep., 464.
Surveyor-Geo. T. Lamport, dem. and pp., 577 ; A. A. Morris, rep., 523.
Coroner-V. Lieberg, dem. and pp., 538; E. P. Townsend, rep., 527.
Public . Administrator - Henry Terrell, dem. and pp., 528; Chas. Spear, rep., 542.
Assessor-R. C. Wells, dem. and pp., 647 ; F. D. McCormick, rep., 421.
Superintendent of Schools-Gwen F. Burla, dem. and pp., 740; WV. D. White, rep., 339.
Fifteen hundred and seventy-three votes were cast for governor in 1900, the largest vote polled in the county up to that time. William Mckinley carried the county over W. J. Bryan by a vote of 827 to 654. the other national po- litical parties receiving 27 votes in the county. Conditions were complicated in state politics, there being many tickets in the field, and the Republicans carried Yellowstone county for congressman and governor. In county poli- tics there were five tickets, or parts of tickets,
in the field, and a combination was brought about against the Republican ticket. The lat- ter elected representative, two commissioners, treasurer, assessor, attorney, superintendent of schools and surveyor, while the fusion forces elected the other officers. The vote :
Congressman-C. E. Edwards, dem., .pp. and pp., 687; Geo. C. Stull, rep .. 768; Pat C. F. Kelley, ind. dem., 48; M. J. Elliott, soc. dem., IO.
Governor-J. K. Toole, dem., pp. and lab., 657; D. E. Folsom, rep., 774; Thomas S. Hogan, ind. dem., 63; J. F. Fox, soc. dem., 16.
Judge Seventh Judicial District-Charles H. Loud, dem., rep. and pp., 1,434.
Representative-J. D. Losekamp, dem. and pp., 687; Geo. C. Stull, rep., 768; Pat Lavelle, ind. dem., 59.
Commissioners-P. H. Smith, dem., pp., and lab., 700; C. M. Jacobs, dem., pp. and lab , 710; L. A. Nutting, dem., pp. and lab., 658; S. K. Deverell, rep., 783; W. O. Parker, rep., 732; H. B. Drum, rep., 702.
Sheriff-G. W. Hubbard. dem., pp. and ind. dem., 915; Thomas S. Linton, rep., 626.
Treasurer-Clayton Warner, dem., pp. and ind. dem., 654; Eugene S. Holmes, rep., 844.
Clerk and Recorder-Nat. G. Carwile, dem., pp. and ind. dem., 897.
Clerk District Court-Thomas A. Wil- liams, dem., pp. and ind. dem .. 892.
Assessor-Chas. S. McFarlin, dem .. pp. and ind. dem., 661 ; A. P. Smith, rep., 842.
Attorney-H. A. Frith, dem., pp. and ind. dem., 515; F. H. Hathhorn, rep., 970.
Superintendent of Schools-N. McCrary, dem., pp. and ind. dem., 549; Marguerite M. Strong, rep., 929.
Coroner-Andrew Clark, dem .. pp. and ind. dem., 622; James Chapple, rep .. 852.
Public Administrator-Henry Terrell, dem., pp. and ind. dem., 785 ; Geo. F. Benning- hoff, rep., 672.
288
HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
Surveyor-A. A. Morris, rep., 941.
The highest vote polled in 1902 was 1.540 -for the office of sheriff-which was a slight decrease from the vote of two years before. The Democrats succeeded in electing only two officers, the candidates for sheriff and treas- urer, and the vote for representative was a tie. The Republicans carried the county for the other officials by majorities ranging from a very few up to several hundred. The official vote :
Congressman-John M. Evans, dem., 572 ; Joseph M. Dixon, rep., 809: Geo. B. Sproule, soc., 59 ; Martin Dee, lab., 17.
Senator-C. O. Gruwell, dem., 756; Chris. Yegen, rep .. 774.
Representative-S. F. Morse, dem., 735: Chauncy C. Bever, rep., 735.
Sheriff-Geo. W. Hubbard, dem., 859; Wm. B. Calhoun, rep., 681.
Treasurer-Gwen F. Burla, dem., 829; S. K. Deverell, rep., 693.
Clerk and Recorder-Nat. G. Carwile, dem., 709: John W. Fish, rep., 785.
Attorney-J. D. Matheson, dem., 681; Charles L. Harris, rep., 791.
Assessor-A. B. LaMott, dem., 624; War- ren A. Evans, rep., 864.
Superintendent of Schools-Lucy A. Rails- back, dem., 490; Marguerite M. Strong, rep., 984.
Coroner-Andrew Clark, dem., 497; J. H. Rinehart, rep., 966.
Surveyor-A. A. Morris, rep., 1.034.
Public Administrator-H. G. Williams, dem .. 690: O. D. Hogue, rep., 723.
A special election was held December 20, 19.02, to elect a representative, the vote at the general election having been a tie between Messrs. S. F. Morse and Chauncy C. Bever, each receiving' 735 votes. The vote at the special election was nearly as close as at the general election, the canvassing board declar- ing that 580 votes had been cast for Bever.
the Republican nominee, to 579 for Morse, the Democratic nominee.
Mr. Morse protested against counting the vote of Junction precinct upon the grounds of a vote being cast and counted when the elector was not registered in that precinct. Bever's counsel claimed that the board of canvassers had no authority to throw out the precinct but to count the vote as they found it. The ma- jority of the board concurred in this opinion and a certificate of election was given to Mr. Bever. The vote in Junction stood eight for Bever to four for Morse, so that if the pre- cinct had been thrown out Morse would have had three majority.
The largest vote ever polled in Yellowstone county was cast at the general election on No- vember 8. 1904, when 1.833 ballots were cast for the office of county treasurer. Theodore Roosevelt carried the county over Alton B. Parker for president by the decided vote of 1.249 to 449. The Democrats elected three officials, W. M. Johnston, representative; Gwen F. Burla, county treasurer : and Fred H. Fos- ter, clerk district court. The Socialists had a part of a ticket in the field and polled a small vote. Following is the official vote :
1,249;
President-Republican electors, Democratic electors, 449: Peoples party elec- tors, 14. Socialist Labor electors, 4; Socialist electors, 66; Prohibition electors, 6.
Congressman-J. M. Dixon, rep., 1,160; A. C. Gormley, dem., pp. and lab., 554; J. H. Walsh, soc., 56.
Governor-Wm. Lindsay, rep .. 1,009; J. K. Toole, dem., pp. and lab., 759; M. G. O'Malley, soc., 52.
Judge Seventh Judicial District-Chas. H. Loud, rep., 864: J. B. Herford, dem., 859.
Representative-C. C. Bever, rep., 850; W. M. Johnston, dem., 919; A. F. Scirving, soc .. 43.
Sheriff-W. P. Adams, rep., 1,096; G. W. Hubbard, dem., 677; Chas. Trott, Soc., 56.
Treasurer-Henry White, rep., 792 ; Gwen
289
HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
F. Burla, dem., 1,001 ; Milo C. Roberts, soc., 40.
Clerk and Recorder-John W. Fish, rep., 1,275; Geo. Boyde, soc., 68.
Attorney-Harry L. Wilson, rep., 964; Harry A. Groves, dem., 791.
Assessor-Warren A. Evans, rep., 1, 146; Henry Klenck, dem., 559: John Horn, soc., 44.
Clerk District Court-Cass Prudhomme, rep., 799: Fred H. Foster, dem., 9.49.
Superintendent of Schools-Marguerite M. Strong, rep., 1.206; Eliza D. Matheson, dem., 536.
Surveyor-P. M. Gallaher, rep., 905 : Henry Gerharz, dem., 808.
Coroner-J. H. Rinehart, rep., 936; John P. Murphy, dem., 799.
Public Administrator-W. F. Sylvester, rep., 990 ; J. M. V. Cochran, dem., 684.
The vote in 1906 fell off to 1,641, which number was cast for sheriff. The Republicans were again generally successful, but as usual the Democrats succeeded in electing a few officials. Their candidates elected were sheriff, surveyor and one commissioner. The Social- ists had a full ticket in the field and polled a larger vote than at the previous election. The vote :
Congressman-Chas. N. Pray, rep., 901 ; Thos. J. Walsh, dem., 578; John Hudson, soc., 76.
Senator-J. B. Annin, rep., 765; C. O. Gruwell, dem., 715; Adam F. Skirving, soc., 119
Representative-Albert A. Morris. rep., 736; J. B. Herford, dem., 698; Alford R. Jensen, soc., 103.
Sheriff-Wm. P. Adams, rep., 674; Jas. T. Webb, dem., 916; Nils C. Roberts, soc., 51.
Treasurer-John W. Fish, rep., 759: Nat. G. Carwile, dem., 752; Jesse F. Gilchrist, soc., 68.
Clerk and Recorder-ira L. Whitney, rep., 1,150; Geo. Boyd, soc., 104.
Assessor-A. P. Smith, rep., 1,083; E. W. Keene, dem., 380; John Horne, soc., 58.
Attorney-Harry L. Nilson, rep., 895; [. S. Hogan, dem., 658.
Superintendent of Schools-Mrs. M. M. Strong, rep., 842; Ella L. Hayden, dem., 661.
Coroner-G. Herman Smith, rep., 934: J. J. Mahoney, dem., 436; E. A. Cobb, soc., 80.
Public Administrator-W. F. Sylvester, rep .. 742; S. R. Salsbury, dem., 591 ; L. H. Cardwell, soc., 98.
Surveyor-B. C. Lillis, rep., 669; Henry Gerharz, dem., 762.
Commissioner (six year term)-Geo. F. Benninghoff, rep., 489 ; G. F. Burla, dem., 965; A. J. Lundborg, soc., 78.
Commissioner (four year term)-M. W. Cramer, rep., 752; J. D. Losekamp, dem., 658; Ben Ogley, soc .. 76.
Commissioner (two year term)-Chas. H. Newman, rep., 791; C. M. Jacobs, dem., 581 ; John Powers, soc., 82.
CHAPTER V
BILLINGS, THE "MAGIC CITY."
When Billings came into existence in the summer of 1882 and had, within a few months, gained a population of between one thousand and two thousand people, housed principally in shanties and tents, had reared itself on an alkali flat which a few years before had not been trod by white man, it was styled the "Magic City." The sobriquet was appropri- ate; the rapid building and populating of Bil- lings was magical. The name still clings to Billings, and is as appropriate now as it was in the first few months of its history. Now the population of the city increases by thou- sands every year; now. instead of the shacks and shanties of the 1882 period, are erected brick, stone and marble structures, three, four and five stories high. The improvements of the "magic" city of 1882 would not compare very favorably with those of the year 1907. when one million dollars is being expended to make the city a Greater Billings.
In an earlier chapter of this history we quoted from the writings of Mr. Addison M. Quivey, who passed through the Yellowstone valley in 1874. as follows: "The country is valuable for neither agriculture, grazing nor minerals, but may be interesting to the geolo- gist or naturalist. The country is undoubtedly a marine formation, and from its present ap- pearance I should think it admirably formed for the last home and burial place of the horri- ble monsters of the earliest animal creation." The country so described in 1874 is the one in which is now located the city of Billings, the metropolis of eastern Montana.
Billings is the county seat of Yellowstone county. It is located on the north side of the Yellowstone river on a gently sloping plain near the eastern extremity of what is known as
Clark's Fork bottom, a valley sixty-five miles long and from four to ten miles wide. The plain, or second bottom, as it may be called, is high enough to be out of reach of the occa- sional freshets to which the low lands border- ing the river are sometimes liable. On the north and south rise precipitous bluffs and rugged cliffs of a yellowish sandstone forma- tion, possibly once the banks of a greater Yel- lowstone river. Westward the valley is framed by the perpetual snow-capped peaks of the Rocky mountains, apparently not more than twenty or thirty miles distant, but in reality many times that distance. The elevation of the city, according to the Northern Pacific sur- vey, is 3,119 feet above sea level ; according to the authority of the weather bureau, it is two feet less than this. Billings is 892 miles west of St. Paul, via the Northern Pacific railroad; by the same route it is 238 miles east of Helena, the capital of the state: by the Bur- lington route the city is about 900 miles north- west of Omaha, Nebraska.
Billings occupies a strategic position in Northwestern commerce. The four zones of commercial influence are centered in St. Paul, Billings, Spokane and Seattle. The capital of Yellowstone county is. on the
main line of the Northern Pa- cific railroad, and is the terminus of the Burlington & Missouri River railroad; it is also the terminus of the roads that run to Red Lodge and Bridger, in Carbon county. Four- teen passenger trains leave Billings daily, and the city is both freight and passenger division point for all roads. The freight yards of the Northern Pacific and Burlington roads have the largest trackage here of any city between St. Paul and Portland. Being the junction
291
HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
point of the two great systems, Billings is the natural gateway to the entire northwest.
The "Magic City" is today a city of between 12,000 and 13,000 people, and the population is increasing at a rate that promises well for its future greatness. Its citizens are wont t) announce it as the second city of Montana in point of population and commercial import- ance. If it has not yet quite reached that stage. it is fast approaching it, and such cities as Helena, Great Falls and Missoula must look well to their laurels, or they will be distanced. Billings' supremacy is due to its admirable location, its ideal climate, its splendid railway service, the broad slope and natural wealth of its tributary territory, drawing trade 150 miles from the north and south and 75 miles from east and west ; its cheap fuel and power, and, above all, to the enterprise and public spirit of its business men. This latter resource is a valuable asset to the city.
Agriculture, jobbing, manufactures and railways are the four factors that are the back- bone of Billings' commercial life. A few years ago, a typical frontier village. Now a city of beautiful homes, wide shaded streets, splendid schools, palatial public buildings, hospitals, libraries, churches, clubs, substantial business and office buildings, and everything that goes to make up an ideal home and business city.
The history of Billings dates from the spring of 1882, there never having been a building erected on the townsite prior to the month of May of that year. But two miles down the Yellowstone from the present busi- ness portion of Billings, about where the Northern Pacific railroad bridge spans the river, there had been a little village for sev- eral years previous to the founding of the "Magic City." This was Coulson, and, as its history is inseparably linked with that of the newer town, we shall tell its story before tak- ing up the history of Billings proper.
Early in the winter of 1876-77 P. W. Mc- Adow came to this location. took up a land
claim, and a little later opened a store, he be- ing the first settler in the vicinity. Also in 1877 came J. J. Alderson, Joseph Cochran, Henry Colwell, Clinton Dills, Milton Summer and Johnny Hoor, who settled in the vicinity. The stage line through the Yellowstone valley was established that year, and one of the sta- tions was at the point where Mr. McAdow had his store. The station was kept by Mr. Alder- son, who operated a hotel in connection. A postoffice was established, and Mr. Alderson was made postmaster, a position he held for three years. The place became known as Coulson, and consisted of a little cluster of buildings about Mr. McAdow's store. Its growth during the late seventies was slow, but it became a well known stopping place among those who passed over the stage line and others who took up residence in the vi- cinity. The importance of the place was added to in 1878 by the construction of a sawmill by Mr. McAdow.
A number of capitalists, believing that Clark's Fork bottom was destined to become a place of great importance, associated them- selves under the name of the Minnesota & Montana Land & Improvement company, bought a large tract of land on the bottom from the railroad company in March, and made prep- arations for the building of a town. Negotia- tions were begun with the proprietors of the Coulson townsite for the purchase of the lands there, but satisfactory arrangements could not be made. The owners concluded that they could make more money by holding than by disposing of the property at the figures of- fered. So the deal fell through; the company laid out the Billings townsite a short distance up the river ; and it was not long before Coul- son was distanced completely in the race for supremacy.
It must not be imagined that Coulson went out of existence immediately upon the found- ing of the "Magic City." In fact, it contin- ued to be a village of some importance even
292
HISTORY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY.
after Billings had reached the height of its boom. Being the older town, it had some ad- vantages over the new one. For several months, owing to the proverbial slowness of the national government in acting. it held the postoffice, while Billings, a town of 1,000 or 1,500 people, had none, and the residents of the latter city were obliged to make the trip down to the old town for their mail; even the Billings newspapers were entered at the Coul- son postoffice. An idea of the size and im- portance of Coulson in the fall of 1882, after Billings had taken its place as the principal town in the vicinity, is gained from an article in the Billings Herald of October 22, 1882. On that date it stated that there were in Coul- son a brewery, hotel, three general stores, five saloons and about thirty other buildings.
Now let us go back and consider the early history of the town of Billings proper. Bil- lings might be said to be a fiat town. The Northern Pacific railroad company issued its fiat that a town should be builded in this vi- cinity, and Billings was the most remarkable instance on the whole Northern Pacific line of a considerable town coming into immediate life and vigor on the strength of orders issued from the railway headquarters in New York City.
The company which founded the town and which for many years played an important part in its history was the Minnesota & Montana Land & Improvement company, organized un- der the laws of Minnesota in 1881. The com- pany was made up largely of officials of the railroad company. Heman Clark being pres- ident and Hon. Frederick Billings being in- terested.
It appeared to these men that a town builded on Clark's Fork bottom would command the trade from an immense surrounding territory-and their beliefs have been verified. So the company purchased from the railroad company all of the latter's holdings on Clark's Fork
bottom from Young's Point to the old town of Coulson. embracing upwards of 60,- 000 acres, the most fertile tract of land in the Yellowstone valley. After the decision was reached to build the town on Clark's Fork bot- tom the question of the exact location arose, and the little insignificant Alkali creek, which puts into the Yellowstone at Billings deter- mined the corporation to build near the lower end of the valley. Of this selection Mayor Fred H. Foster has written: "The fact that Alkali creek commands the only practicable northern outlet from the Yellowstone valley caused Heman Clark and Frederick Billings to locate Billings on its present site rather than at Canyon Creek or Laurel. This insignifi- cant rivulet, daily seen by our people, has built Billing's."
The original townsite was platted in March, 1882, lots placed on sale early in April, but the filing of the plat was not made in the Custer county records until June I. The town was named in honor of Frederick Billings, who was the president of the Northern Pacific Railway company from May 24, 1879. until June, 1881.
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