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 53
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 53
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 53
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 53
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 53
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 53
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 53
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The Northern Pacific railroad employs about 200 men here and its monthly payroll amounts to about $12,000. The railroad com- pany is now building at $25,000 wool ware- house here for handling that product. In ad- dition to the Northern Pacific, Forsyth will be on the main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad which is now building towards the coast.
The building of a system of water works is contemplated and an election will be held in July to decide the question of bonding the town for $35,000 for such purpose. If the bond issue carries, water will be taken from the Yellowstone river and pumped to a reser- voir on Forsyth Heights, which rise several hundred feet above the town. This will insure ample pressure for all purposes.
The town was incorporated in 1904 and
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HISTORY OF ROSEBUD COUNTY.
three elections have been held. The officers electer have been : 1904-Mayor, Charles B. Tabor; councilmen, Charles W. Bailey, Bar- ney Blum, D. J. Muri and Wm. Martin : clerk, C. W. Bailey ; attorney, J. C. Lyndes ; marshal, O. O. Bitle : police magistrate, H. R. Marcyes.
1905-Mayor, A. R. Sickler ; councilmen, H. H. Fletcher, C. E. Richter, J.C. Lyndes and Barney Blum: clerk, J. B. Collins; marshal, D. J. Smith ; attorney, F. V. H. Collins ; police magistrate, T. J. Thompson.
1906-Mayor, A. R. Sickler; councilmen, S. H. Erwin, C. E. Richter, Barney Blum and D. J. Muri ; clerk, D. J. Muri ; attorney, Fred L. Gibson; marshal, J. W. Straw ; police mag- istrate, T. J. Thompson.
The town has a wide-awake Business Men's association and the fraternal orders are well represented, the Masons, Eagles, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and railroad men's organizations having a large member- ship.
ROSEBUD.
The town of Rosebud, located twelve miles east of Forsyth, the county seat, is the second town of the county in size and importance. It has a population of about 125. Being located on the railroad at the confluence of the Rose- bud and Yellowstone rivers, it has become a large shipping point. Directly opposite across the Yellowstone river is the Edwards irrigat- ing canal which waters a large tract of land
where much hay, grain and produce is raised. The town is growing rapidly and is well equipped with business houses, having two good hotels, two large mercantile establish- ments, a bank, a lumber yard, and other lines of business. It has a fine brick school building with an able corps of teachers and two churches, the Methodist and Episcopal. It has a daily mail, Western Union telegraph and Northern Pacific express office.
The town was first settled in 1879 and was formerly known as Beeman.
Busby is a village on the Rosebud river, first settled in 1884, eighty miles south of For- syth, the county seat, thirty miles east of the Crow agency on the C. B. & Q. R. R., the shipping point. It is situated in the midst of the Cheyenne Indian reservation containing about 1,500 Indians and 200 whites. The U. S. Indian training school is located here, hav- ing between 80 and 90 pupils. Mail is re- ceived by special supply.
Crow Agency, a station on the C. B. & Q. R. R. first settled in 1880, 170 miles by rail- road southwest of Forsyth, the county seat. It has Catholic and Mission churches, a flour- ing mill, two general stores and a hotel. Mail daily.
Other postoffices in Rosebud county are : Ashland, Birney, Decker, Hathaway, Howard, Kirby, Lame Deer, Lee, Lock, Lodge Grass, Pearl, Rancher, Sabra, Saint Xavier, and Satchwell.
CHAPTER III
DESCRIPTIVE.
Rosebud county is nearly as large as the entire state of New Jersey and contains 7,383 square miles or four million seven hundred twenty-five thousand, one hundred twenty acres of land, which is largely rolling. Her resources are many and varied and her output of stock is enormous, considering the limited population which does not exceed five thou- sand, by the most careful estimates. The inhabitants are thrifty, progressive and well-to-do. The population is fairly well distributed but as in most stock coun- tries, it is scattering. The surface is rolling and much of it is rugged, and some mountainous. Much of it is termed "bad lands," but there is also the high rolling prairie lands and the rich bottoms, which com- bine to form a whole that is peculiarly well adapted to both stock raising and agriculture, the two principal industries. The most pro- ductive valleys are: From the mouth of the Big Horn to Myers station on the north side of the Yellowstone river, which is twelve miles long and one and a half miles wide; from San- ders to Howard, called Froze-to-Death valley, which is six miles long and one and three- fourthis miles wide; from Forsyth to Hatha- way on both sides of the Yellowstone, which is 25 miles long and two miles wide, and where the big Edwards ditch is located; the valley of the Rosebud 100 miles long by one mile in width, where more hay is raised than in all other parts of the county combined ; the upper part of the Tongue river valley which is well watered and is fifty miles long and one mile wide; and Porcupine Bottom which is watered by thirteen artesian wells. The soil in all these bottoms is a sandy loam. Through the west- ern part of the county is the Big Horn and
Little Big Horn rivers, and nearly through the center flows the turbulent Yellowstone, while within its confines are the Tongue and Rose- bud rivers, besides innumerable smaller streams, water holes or basins, coulees, draws and other natural reservoirs for the holding of water, all tending to create a well watered area, the greater part of which is susceptible or irrigation.
During the past four years over 35.000 acres of land have been irrigated. The Rose- bud Land and Improvement Co. is the largest of the irrigation projects of Rosebud county. This is a co-operative company and has a ditch thirty-six miles long, fifteen feet across the bottom and carries 22,000 inches of water. Water is taken from the Yellowstone near For- syth and runs in an easterly direction to Sadie bottom, where it is again returned to the Yel- lowstone. This waters 25,000 acres of land. Work was started on this ditch in August, 1903, and the work was completed in 1904 at a cost of $150,000, or about six dollars per area. The Rancher Ditch Co. started work in 1904 at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Big Horn rivers, to supply the country known as Pease Bottom with water. The ditch is twelve miles long, twelve feet wide at the bot- tom, carries three feet of water, runs northeast and empties into the Yellowstone three miles east of Myers station. The Terrett and Bailey ditch, near Brandenburg, on the Tongue river, about forty-five miles from Forsyth, was started in 1900 and completed in 1904. This was a private enterprise and watered about 2,000 acres of land, but could be extended to water 4,000 acres additional. It is six miles long, eight feet wide at the bottom, carries three to four thousand inches of water, and
327
HISTORY OF ROSEBUD COUNTY.
cost $15,000 or about $7.50 per acre. There are a number of small irrigation projects in operation where small tracts are watered, es- pecially along the creeks of the interior, where many of the ranchers take water for a few acres. A tract of land west of Forsyth on the south side of the Yellowstone is to be watered by the government which comprises 7,000 acres. The Rosebud reservation recently thrown open for settlement comprises 525,000 acres of land in Rosebud county of which half is susceptible of irrigation. With irrigation all kinds of hay, grain, fruit and vegetables are raised here and yield prolifically. The soil is especially well adapted to the raising of sugar beets and as soon as a factory is estab- lished close enough to this section the raising of sugar beets will become one of the chief pursuits.
The finest irrigating ditch in Rosebud county is a private ditch owned and built by John Barringer, on Tongue river, about fifty miles from Forsyth. The ditch is four and one half miles long and waters 2,000 acres of land.
Stock raising has always been the chief industry in this section as the topography of this country affords excellent protection against the inclemency of the weather, while the nu- tritious bunch grass of the ranges possesses wonderful fattening properties. It is estimated that it requires ten acres of land for each head of cattle and three acres for each head of sheep per year on the open range. The days of ex- tensive herds and stock holding have passed, and now the stockmen are decreasing their holdings, taking better care of their stock and acquiring lands so that they may raise hay to feed in case of a hard or prolonged winter sea- son. It is estimated that at the present time there are 250,000 head of sheep and 150,000 head of cattle in Rosebud county, besides a large number of horses.
Since irrigation has been used and the peo- ple have come to know of the agricultural pos-
sibilities, diversified farming is rapidly becom- ing one of the chief industries of this section.
On the north side of the Yellowstone river lies a rich tract of land sixty by seventy miles in area where stock grazing is engaged in ex- tensively, while on the south side of the river is a section sixty by one hundred miles square, that is, if anything, even better than that on the north side.
Throughout the county there remains large tracts of railroad lands unsold and immense areas of government land which can be secured under the homestead and desert land acts.
The Crow reservation recently thrown open for settlement will add much to the pop- ulation and resources of Rosebud county. This land, approximating 525,000 acres in this county, is rolling with some bench land and some very rich bottoms along the rivers. Some of the soil is gumbo, but there are large tracts of sage brush lands, a sandy loam with great grain possibilities when furnished with water. The entire tract is bounded on the north by the Yellowstone river, while it is crossed by the Big Horn, Little Big Horn and Tulock Fork rivers. These with numerous other smaller streams will furnish an abundant supply of water for irrigation purposes. The system of irrigation works now in operation, constructed by the Indians under government supervision, indicates what the white man may do with this soil and with these conditions.
As a tribe the Crow Indians, who occupy the southern part of this county, are peaceable and docile. Agriculture is their principal pur- suit and, in that they are making rapid strides ; some of their farms on the reservation might serve as models for some white farmers and the general appearance of the Big Horn valley compares favorably with other agricultural sec- tions of the state. The Crows raise wheat, oats and vegetables and also cut large quanti- ties of wild hay, while stock-raising is an in- (lustry of considerable importance.
What has been said of the climate of Cus-
328
HISTORY OF ROSEBUD COUNTY.
ter county is also true of Rosebud county. It does not go to extremes here either in winter or summer and this section has been termed the "Banana belt of Montana."
The county is traversed by two great rail- ways, the Northern Pacific, which passes through the valley of the Yellowstone, about the center of the county, and the Burlington, which enters the county from the south and proceeding northward, passes through the west- ern portion of the county and forms a junc- tion with the Northern Pacific, thus affording ample means of transportation to and from the large centers of traffic. The Chicago, Milwau- kee and St. Paul road is now building through this county, on the north side of the Yellow-
stone, but in close proximity to that stream until it reaches Forsyth, when it runs in a northwesterly direction to the Musselshell river. Trains are expected to be running over this line sometime in 1907.
Coal is mined here but in small quantities, as it is a lignite and its natural condition is the same as that in Custer county, so tliat it will not permit of shipment. It is used quite exten- sively here, however, for fuel and retails at about $3.50 per ton delivered.
With all its natural advantages, the open- ing of the Crow reservation and the advent of the Milwaukee railroad, Rosebud county must develop rapidly and soon become one of the wealthiest counties in the State of Montana.
CHAPTER IV
POLITICAL.
In accordance with the provision of the enabling act creating the county of Rosebud, wherein the Governor of Montana was em- powered to appoint the officers of the new county, on February 1I, 1901, Governor J. K. Toole appointed the following persons to fill the offices mentioned with their names.
Freeman Philbrick, W. W. McDonald and Hunter Terrett, commissioners; Charles W. Bailey, county clerk and recorder ; Charles Da- vis, sheriff; T. W. Longley, treasurer ; James B. Grierson, clerk of the district court; Fred- L. Gibson, county attorney : Gertrude M. Hig- gins, county superintendent of schools; R. W. Snook, public administrator; J. F. Kennedy. coroner; and Charles B. Tabor, county sur- veyor.
The county seat of the new county was fixed by the legislature at Forsyth and, as Forsyth is the largest town in the county and centrally located, the matter of changing the
county seat has not been agitated by over am- bitious communities. The first election was held in the new county November 6, 1902, and the votes for the respective candidates were as follows:
Congress-J. M. Evans, dem., 248; J. M. Dixon, rep., 310; George B. Sproule, soc., 5; Martin Dee, labor, 8.
Associate Justices-J. B. Leslie, dem., 249; W. L. Holloway, rep .; 344; W. D. Cameron, soc., 4.
Senator-J. S. Hopkins, dem., 342; A. C. Wilson, rep., 265.
Representative-James Blair, dem., 294; Wm. Bray, Sr., rep., 31I.
Sheriff-R. J. Guy, dem., 300; J. Z. Northway, rep., 300. There being a contest filed for this office, Nothway won and es- sumed charge.
Clerk of Court-C. Z. Pond, dem., 279: D. J. Muri, rep., 313.
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HISTORY OF ROSEBUD COUNTY.
Treasurer-T. W. Longley, dem., 332; M. Bentail, rep., 264.
Clerk and Recorder-C. W. Bailey, dem., 304; R. McRae, rep., 289. This election was contested and McRae won the contest.
Assessor-B. Roney, dem., 275; J. B. Grierson, rep., 323.
Attorney-E. J. Diecks, dem., 288; F. L. Gibson, rep., 307.
Supt. of Schools-Gertrude M. Higgins, dem., 323 ; Luella Lane, rep., 272.
Coroner-N. O. Finch, dem., 296; G. H. Kline, rep., 303.
Public Administrator-Ed Adams, dem., 272; R. W. Snook, rep., 304.
Commissioners-N. G. Humphrey, dem., 286; Thomas Alexander, dem., 323; WVm. Mouart, dem., 265; M. Schiltz, rep., 296; Freeman Philbrick, rep., 256; J. C. Hope, rep., 276. The election of Mr. Humphrey was con- tested by Mr. Hope and the latter won the con- test, Mr. Hope assuming the duties of the office.
It was claimed that many illegal votes were cast at this election and that many men had been shipped here to vote, and that they had not established a residence here. The con- tests were all brought on this point and in each case the contestant was successful.
In the election of November 8, 1904. the Republican ticket was successful throughout with a large majority. The result of the vote was as follows:
Roosevelt electors, 460: Parker electors, 140.
Congress-A. C. Gormerly, dem., 163: J. M. Dixon, rep., 480; J. H. Walsh, soc .. IO.
Governor-J . K. Toole, dem., 210; Wm. Lindsay, rep., 434; M. G. O'Malley, soc., 7. District Judge-C. H. Loud, rep .. 429: J. B. Herford, dem., 207.
Senator-Maurice Bentall, rep .. 384; T. W. Longley, dem., 269.
Representative-J. T. Brown, dem., 204, J. Rumley, soc., 8; G. W. Brewster, rep., 431.
Sheriff-J. Z. Northway, rep., 375; W. J. Nix, dem., 249; Zeb Tart, soc., 22.
Treasurer-Chas. Davis, rep., 389; W. W. McDonald, dem., 242; J. A. Waddell, soc., 11.
Assessor-J. B. Grierson, rep., 455; Ed McGeehee, dem., 182; R. L. Forney, soc., 7.
Clerk and Recorder-R. J. Cole, rep., 413; P. C. Schoelkopf, dem., 225; H. C. Holtkamp, soc., 6.
Attorney-J. C. Lyndes, rep., 429.
Clerk of Court-D. J. Muri, rep., 401 ; H. E. Webber, dem., 233. Sut. of Schools-Millie Smith, rep., 417;
G. M. Higgins, dem., 223. Public Administrator-R. W. Snook, rep., 418; Ed Adams, dem., 191.
Surveyor-C. B. Tabor, rep., 455.
Coroner-Peter Droese, dem .. 226.
An election was held April 4, 1906, for the primary election law and by a vote of 263 to 72 it was decided to adopt it.
The people of Rosebud county have been wise in their selection of public officials and none of them have as yet betrayed the con- fidence reposed in them.
There are seventeen election precincts in Rosebud county and below we give the names of the precincts according to their numbers, they are : Rancher, I ; Howard, 2; Forsyth, 3: Armalls creek, 4: Hathaway, 5; Decker, 6; Birney, 7: Tellett, 8; Antelope, 9: Acorn, 10; Rosebud, II; Pleasant Hill, 12: Butte, 13: Lee, 14; Mckay, 15; Kirby, 16: Ashland, 17: Crow Agency, 18.
The registry districts are as follows: No. I-Forsyth, Howard, Armalls creek, Ante- lope and Acorn, Bert Coleman is registhy agent. No. 2-Rancher, and Crow Agency precinct, Phillip Isaac is registry agent. No. 3-Rosebud, Hathaway, Pleasant Hill, and Butte, R. McRae, registry agent. No. 4- Lee, McKay, Terrett, and Ashland, George W. Parkins, registry agent. No. 5-Birney, Kirby, and Decker precincts. C. C. Rouscolp, registry agent.
CHAPTER V
EDUCATIONAL.
Owing to the fact that Rosebud county has existed but a short time as a separate political division the educational history of the county is necessarily short, the greater part of it being included in the history of Custer county. The schools of the county are up to the standard of the state and the people have displayed com- mendable zeal in providing for the rising gen- erations proper educational facilities, and steps have been taken to assist the youth of the county to obtain good education at home.
The first school in the territory now em- braced within this county was at Pease Bottom at the confluence of the Big Horn and Yellow- stone rivers, and was held in the proverbial log schoolhouse. This was in 1879 and was then known as district number two of Custer county. The second school was established in 1883 at the town of Forsyth. The first teacher in this school was Miss Kitchen, now Mrs. Harden, and about fifteen pupils attended.
The first school in Forsyth was held in a small log building between Ninth and Tenth streets. This building was used for a short time and then the school moved to the corner of Tenth street. It was afterwards moved across the railroad tracks, and in 1888. it moved back to the north side of the tracks into the frame building now occupied as the court house. There it remained until the year 1902, when the handsome brick structure was erected on Main street getween Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. This building cost $12 .- 500, and is one of the best equipped in the state.
From the school report of 1901, we quote the following facts and figures : Census, male, 342, female, 314: number enrolled, 325; total attendance, 26,255 days ; average daily attend- ance, 214; average salary of teachers, male
$50 ; female $50; number of school house, 12; volumes in libraries, 1,267 ; value of libraries, $707 ; value of school houses and grounds, $4,- 135 : total money apportioned for school pur- poses, $4,462.40; disbursements, $1.917.28; amount on hand August 31, 1901, $2,465.92. GERTRUDE M. HIGGINS, Supt. of Schools.
The report for the year 1904 shows a large increase in attendance, the number of school children and the number of school houses and amount expended for school purposes. Below is the report :
Amount collected, $38.837.45 ; disburse- ments, $27.926.15 ; census, male, 408. female, 335 ; total number enrolled, 552; average daily attendance, 305 : number of teachers, male 6, female 26: average salary of teachers, male $73. female $52: number of school houses built during year, 6; total number of school houses, 24: volumes in libraries, 4,099: value of libraries, $2.249: value of school houses and grounds, $25.770.
GERTRUDE M. HIGGINS, Supt. of Schools.
The question of instituting a free county high school which the laws of Montana pro- vide for has not yet been voted on in Rosebud county, but the rapid growth in population and the desire of the outside districts for higher education will soon make the institu- tion of a county high school necessary.
A second brick school building to cost $7,- 500 is in course of construction at Forsyth and will be occupied by the grade pupils. When this is completed the former building will be used by the high school. The enrollment at Forsyth in the spring of 1906 was 162. The students finishing the high school work in the Forsyth schools are admitted to all the institut- tion of higher learning throughout the state.
PART VII CUSTER COUNTY
CHAPTER I
CURRENT EVENTS.
The history of Custer county contains the account of many interesting events, and it was in this section of the Yellowstone valley that were enacted those incidents which made possible the settling of the West and the trans- forming of the barren plains with their In- dian tepees to rich farms and populous cities.
The general history in preceding chapters give the account of the trip of Lewis and Clark through this virgin wilderness in 1806; the trials and hardships of the venturesome trappers and the location and abandonment of their outposts when fur trading in the north- west became unprofitable ; the true and detailed account of the horrible massacre of the gal- lant Custer and his brave men on the Little Big Horn, June 25, 1876; the campaigns of Gibbon, Crook, Miles and other generals who participated in the closing events of the In- dian wars of the Yellowstone valley ; the fight with Crazy Horse and his band on the Tongue river ; the fight on the Rosebud ; General Miles' fight with the forces under Sitting Bull on the Yellowstone ; the flight of Sitting Bull and his ultimate surrender; and the flight of Chief Joseph through Montana and his capture by General Miles.
Repetitions have a tendency to tire one, so the history of Custer county commences with its formation in 1864 as Big Horn coun- ty, its re-creation in 1877 as Custer county and the early settlements.
The territory which comprised the county of Custer at the time of its organization in 1877, was in 1864 set off as a county and named Big Horn county. This territory has at times been a part of Nebraska territory. Da- kota territory. Idaho territory and finally in 1864 it became a part of the territory of Mon- tana. The boundaries of Big Horn county when a part of Idaho territory were as fol- lows: Commencing at the point of intersec- tion of parallel of latitude 47 degrees; and meridian of longitude 109 degrees ; and from thence east along said parallel of latitude 47 degrees to meridian of longitude 104 degrees ; thence along said meridian 104 degrees to par- ellel of latitude 45 degrees ; thence along said parallel of latitude 45 degrees to meridian of longitude 109 degrees: and from thence north long said meridian 109 degrees to place of beginning. Thus, it will be seen, that in the early part of 1864, Big Horn county comprised all that
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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY.
territory which is now Custer, and Rosebud counties and a part of what is now Dawson, Yellowstone, Carbon and almost a quarter of the present county of Fergus.
After the territory of Montana was organ- ized in 1864. Dawson county was one of the first formed, as also was Gallatin county. The east line of Gallatin at that time extended farther east than at present and took in a part of what is now Park county. The exact bound- aries of Big Horn county at that time were not accurately described, but according to the enabling act, it was to comprise : All that part of the territory of Montana not included in any of the counties already created. The north and south boundaries of Big Horn county remained the same as when this was a part of Idaho territory, but the west line was made to extend to the east line of Gallatin county, and Big Horn county then comprised almost a quarter of the territory of Montana.
No county organization was ever effected in Big Horn county and no settlements were made in this territory prior to the Custer bat- tle and the occupation of this section by the army. In fact, the Indians roamed at will over the entire Yellowstone valley. Such knowledge of it as the white man had gained was due to hardy and fearless explorers who attempted its exploration because of the many stories of the great wealth that was to be found here. Their progress was always stubbornly resisted by the Indians and they had but little time or opportunity for investigations, and until the occupation by the army little was known of this great and fertile valley. The Custer battle, which occurred June 25, 1876, and which is fully given in a previous chapter, while it was the greatest victory of the allied tribes was also their greatest defeat, as it re- sulted in the immediate occupation of their ter- ritory by their greatest enemy. the whites, of the great valley that had hitherto been held sacred to their uses and which was the last of their important strongholds. The magnitude
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