Roosevelt County's Treasured Years (2025)

Table of Contents
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Roosevelt County's Treasured Years (1)[...]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ollaborator for town
Helen O tlund ..............................[...]Marvin Presser, el Schenk nberg and
The Editors of Herald ew .................. . ..................[...]BOOK NAME
The name of the history book wa elected from th 3 0 na[...]
Roosevelt County's Treasured Years (2)[...]ation on
town histories, family stories, and were of general assistance to the editorial staff:

Bain[...]yn Casterline and James Spurgeon

McCabe and Dane Valley: Viola Nelsen

Froid: Myrtle Barrington and her s[...]s Matejovsky and
Harold Bawden

To all of the people who wrote special articles:
By-lines included on articles

To John LaRoche for the many hours of research

To George Boyd and Barney Andresen for special illustrations

To the Mini ters or people of Congregations who compiled or wrote the Church[...]o Chick and Mary Ferguson and Don's tudio for the refinishing of pictures

To the town of Froid, Culbertson and Wolf Point; the Anderson Bi[...]nd the Fort Peck Assiniboine- ioux Tribes for allowing us to reprint
m terial from t[...]The Froid Weekly and th Bainville News for their contributions of
picture , article and free advertising space.

To KVC'K r dio for th ir adverti ing and promotion of the book

To KXMO and K MV Television tation for their advertising spaces

To the Fir. t. tate Bank of Froid, The ulbert on tate Bank, Traders tate Bank of
Poplar. and the itizens and We tern ational Banks of Wolf Point for
making it po sible to secure additi[...]adverti ement pac s.
To Viola l'lark and Mab I ,Jensen for the many days spent helping to "Proofread".[...]garet
Zimmerman. and Mary Lou Miller for their help in 'proofing'.

TO LL THE PEOPLE OF ROO EVELT COU TY WHO CO TRIB TED
FAMILY[...]OK OR
EW.'PAPER ARTICLE. OR GE ERAL I FORMATIO WHICH
HELPED TO MAKE TH[...]

Roosevelt County's Treasured Years (3)[...]. . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Department of Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

Roosevelt County's Treasured Years (4)[...]ith and determination to succeed made it possible for future
generations to enjoy and participate in the history of

ROOSEVELT COUNTY'S TREASURED YEARS

THE COMI G OF AGE
by Ma rg r[...]happened to th Pratri
Of long. long ago?
What happ n d[...]the Pram go f"

"The Prairie i not gon . my chtld.
Tim ha . turned a page.
Th old make Lmy for th<' 11<1u·
But tt ', the neu• that marks it. age.

" When I Lm a chtld
I looked bke a child. like you
But llm<' ha , I ft it. mark on me
. on the[...]km !(al'e u·ay lo u·nnkle.
Like tall gra. gal'<' ,my to grain
But the . un . till . hin<1s on the PrainC' and I
And We still drink th<[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (5)[...]wasn't settled in a day
It was the ol' Pioneers that made it that way.
They came from the east and some from the we[...]re was quite a change.
The towns grew up in times that were rough
an to stay in this country you had t[...]shacks wasn't too warm,
you dug your own coal for heat in the storm.
The women folks work was cut o[...]d it the dirty thirties in the big drought
some of them ol' boys, they just headed south.
But most of em' stayed after they proved their claim,
an some of their kids went on to fame.
If you've lived here long, then you'll know why,
there's no other place like the Big Sky.

THE HOMESTEAD[...]so many years;
These wall have heard the ounds of joy,
And orroi ed at our tears.
Each creaky b[...]ill remain.
These walls have heard. in the dead of night,
A little baby's cry;
They've seen the depths of lonelines
And bliss that reached the sky.
The recollections flood my mind
Like armies in review,
Of lean years. good years ... prayers and hopes,
Evolved, old house around you.
Think I, we 'Ll never move away,
Least not without a fuss,
For through the y ars, this house ha com
To be a part of us.

vi.

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (6) -TABLE OF CONTENTS -

TITLE PAGE ..... . ..... . ... . ....[...]. . . . . . . . . V

"THE COMING OF AGE "[...]. . . . 25

IOUX A D A I IBOI E TRIBE

Hi tor of th iou and th A iniboin[...]. . . . . . . . . . . 39

Ro ter of uperintendents . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (7)[...]63

Creation of Roosevelt County ................................[...]. 65

Elected Officials of Roosevelt County . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (8)[...]............................. 1000

History of County Rural Schools . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (9)[...]~c
------- ~ 6 /t t I,( 11 I O 1'1/ .ah ~[...]n,. be

LEWIS & :Z I ,-,._
CLARK ~• ut I\ • ~
J.ca,,• A.K
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1BOS
Ap1t,I J?
of Ma-. tho.•~

On SA.11d bA .._[...]-.,t :::Spv-•/~

MA t a, i 7 , - ,,..,
Se/ow 'i.p/Qi.Q
M o..y J rd
J[...]MQ.y St-1,
Wo I .,e.
a Po,,, t[...]f"'), e ... .,.
•F (/,.I , P.

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Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (10)[...]OURNEY ACROSS For several days we have seen g reat numbers of buffalo
ROOSEVELT lying dead along the shore; some of them partly devoured[...]een drowned in attempting to cross or else, after
of 32 persons: Captain Meriwether Lewis of the 1st crossing to some high bluff found themselves too much
regiment of the United States Infantry; Lt. William Clark,[...]to ascen t or swim back again, and
2nd Lieutenant of the United States Artillerists; Sargeants perished for want of food ; in this situation we found several
John Or[...]ryor and Pa trick Gass; Privates parties of them. There are geese in abundance, and mo re
Wil[...]ald eagles than have been seen hitherto; the nest of the
Cruzatte, Rueben Fields, Joseph Fields, Rober[...]Sunday, April 28, 1805 Camped this night south of
Thompson, William Werner, Joseph Whitehouse ,[...]George Drewyer and Toussaint Charbaneau. The wife of to a low ground on the north side o[...]ve r and forming bluffs, some
interpreter in many of the Indian languages. of white and others of a red colo r, exhibiting the usual
The following is a day by day description of their travels appearances of minerals; and some burt hills, though
through wha[...]white incrustation like fro st. The low {frounds are level,
We left the mouth of the Yellowstone. From the point of fertile and partially timbered. The only[...]llowstone and Missouri River, which at a distance of a which rises into the neighboring hills an dha ve ve ry little
mile comes within 250 yards of each other. There, a water. At a distance of 18 miles, the Missouri makes a
beautiful low plai[...]is abundant-
recede, and extends along each side of them for several the common, and the mule-taile[...]here it joins the
higher plain there is a channel of 60 or 70 yards in width,
through which a part of the Missouri, when at its greatest
height passes[...]een the high and low plain, is night west of mouth of the Big Muddy.
a small lake 200 yards wide, etending for a mile parallel We proceeded early, w[...]nd. Captain Lewi
with the Missouri along the edge of the upper plain. who was on shore with one hunter, met about o'clock two
At the lower edge of the lake, about 400 yards from the white bears. Of the strength and ferocity of this animal the
Missouri and twice that distance from the Yellowstone, is a Indian[...]nt . They n ve r attack
situation highly eligible for a trading establishment. him but in parties of six to eight persons and even then are
(Later For[...]which extends often defeated with a lo of one or more of th ir party.
back three miles in width, and seven[...]r up ply them, th y are oblig d to
extensive body of woodland and along the Missouri with approach very near to th bear: a no wound except
less breadth, till three miles above it is circumscribed by through the heart i mortal, the (Indians) frPquen tly fall
hills within a space of four yards in width. A sufficient sacrific if they mi their aim. He attack,· rath r than
quantity of limestone for building may easily be procured avoid man and uch i the t rror which he has in pired,
near the junction of the ri vers; it does not lie in regular that the Indian who go in quest of him paint them he
strata but in large irregular masses, of light color, and of and perform all th uper titious rite cu tom[...]it as preferable bear did not appear d irou of encountering u.: but
to the land at the confluence of the ri ver , which th ir although to a killful rifleman th danger i very much
various channels may render very insecure. dimini hed et the white b ar i a terrible animal. On[...]fired and each wounded a b ar. One of them made hi
The northwest wind rose so high at 11 o'clock that we e cape: the other turned upon Captai[...]till at about six miles there is a timbered piece of low piece, which h again aimed at him. and a th[...]open. We camped on the north ide, the of the bear was yellowi h-brown; the eyes black and
wind and the sand which it raised and the rapidity of the piercing; black front fe t: and th f[...]advancing more than eight deeper than that of the black b ar.
miles; during the later part of the day the river become We are surr[...]nd
wider and crowded with sandbars. Although game i their companion the woh e , whi[...]me more
plentiful, we kill only what is necessary for our sustenance. numerou and make grea[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (11)[...]Our game today was deer, elk,
overhang the banks of the ri ve r. There are greater and bu[...]hree beavers. This animal (beaver) we
appearances of coal than we have hitherto seen, the strata[...]ing in some places six feet thick; and the strata of burnt when boiled resembles in flavor the fle[...]h, which are always on the same le vel with those of the sounds of codfish, and is generally so large as to afford a[...]plentiful meal for two men. One of the hunters in passing
In the evening after co[...]near an old Indian camp, found several yards of scarlet
entrance of a river which empties into a bend on the north cloth, suspended on the bough of a tree as a sacrifice to the
side of the Missouri. This stream which we called diety of the Assiniboines. The custom of making these
"Martha's Ri ver" (now the Big Muddy[...]mon among all the Indians on the
wide, with water for 15 yards; the banks are of earth and Missouri. The air was sharp this[...]steep though not high, and the bed is principally of mud. on the oars as we rowed.
Captain Clark ascended it for three miles, found that it
continues at the same width, with a gentle cur[...]up Poplar River.
extensive, fertile and beautiful valley, but without a single The weather became quite cold, the ice was a quarter of
tree. The water is clea r and has a brownish yell[...]collection of bushes, about 30 feet high and 10-12 feet in
T[...]vening and diameter, tied in the form of a fascine and standing on end
continued so this morning. We proceeded and found the in the middle of the low ground. This we supposed to have
river more winding than usual with a number of sand- been left by the Indians as a religious sacrifice. The low
islands and bars, on one of which we camped at a distance grounds on the river are much wider and more common,
of 24 miles. The low grounds are fertile and extensi[...]very little timbe r, and the cottonwood very bad of its Through all this valley, traces of the ancient bed of the
kind; being too small for planks, broken and dead at the river are[...]hills have become
top, and unsound in the center of the trunk. We passed lower, the strata of coal, burnt earth and pumice-stone
some ancient lodges of driftwood which do not appear to have in great measure ceased. At a distance of 14 miles we
have been inhabited lately. The game continues abundant. reached the mouth of the river on the north, which from the
We killed[...]ers measuring five feet three unusual number of porcupines near it, we call it the
inches from the point on the hoof to the top of the shoulder. Porcupine River. (Now the Poplar[...]ds wide,
with their cunning are taking their toll of the antelope with though the water is only 40 yards at the entrance into the
repeated maneuvers of decoy; but generally taking them as Missouri. Captain Clark found it to be of the same width
they cross the river; for although antelope are swift of foot, and about knee deep for the 20 miles into the hills. There
they are not g[...]also on the surface of the earth; and a low range of
Wednesday, May 1, 1805 Camped this day near river mountains at a distance to the west of north, whose
south of Sprole.[...], when the wind became so high and water of the river is transparent and is the only one that is
squally that we were forced to come to at a distance of ten so of all those that fall into the Missouri. Before entering a
miles,[...]ges itself, its low
cottonwood and remained there for the day; one of the grounds are formed of a stiff blue and black clay, and its
canoes being[...]ght to ten feet high and seldom if
in consequence of high waves. The country around is more ever overflowed, are composed of the same materials.
pleasant than we have passed for several days, the hills At three and a[...]timber on the north and
with lumber, principally of cottonwood. The undergrowth camped just above the old channel of the river which is
is willow on the banks and san[...]es, red now dry. We saw vast quantities of buffalo, deer, elk,
willows and the broadleaved w[...]porcupines. ( Another reference book makes note of the fact
without wood, though the soil is dark, rich, mellow loam. that this area was probably used for hunting by the
Our hunters killed a buffalo, elk,[...]r Trading Co.) (Still another reference book
bird of the plover kind. makes note that this area would be an ideal spot for fur[...]old river bed two creeks-southwest of Chelsea and probably
which seemingly puts them back on the north side of Tule Creek.
the river.)[...]igh during the night; at daylight it rudder of one of the boats, and when we set out the wind
began to[...]ottonwood leaves rises from the north side of the ri ver, we camped at a[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (12)distance of 18 miles in a point of woodland on the north. out in a body to c[...]umstance very rare on the Missouri, and the first that nor ho wl. Captain Cla rk and one of the hunters met a large
has occurred since we lef[...]we fired, it did not attempt to attack,
quantity of game and the animals are extremely gentle,[...]o swim half across the river to a
In the course of the day we passed some old Indian sa[...]out 20 minutes. He weighed 500
hunting camps, one of which consisted of two large lodges, pounds and measured eigh[...]n inches around the beast; three feet eleven
made of timber laid horizontally with the beams[...]ches around the
overlaying each other to a height of five feet and covered middle of the foreleg and the talons were four and three-
with trunks of trees that have drifted down the river. The eighths i[...]fish and flesh, he feeds on
sticks about the size of a man's leg or arm about 12 feet long roots and wild fruit.
which are attached at the top by a withe of small willows The antelope are now lean with young so they may be
and spread out to form a circle of 10 to 14 feet in diameter. readily caught at[...]cross the river.
Against these are placed pieces of driftwood and fallen
timber, usually in three ran[...]crossed the imaginary line between Roosevelt and Valley
aperture in one side for a door. It is however, at best a very County. They spent this night on the south side of the river
imperfect shelter against the inclemencies of the weather. about where Oswego is now lo[...], then made a loop up near the Canadian
southeast of creek with many wolves around.[...]t 1805.
we used our sails. At a distance of five miles we came to a They camped at 2[...]further camped on the north nearly half of their 4,000 mile trek spent crossing the state
at a distance of 17 miles. The country is beautiful in the of Mon tana.
extreme.
Among the vast quantities of game around us, a new References used were:
brand of goose, the white brants, (usually found further (1) Adjournal of the V oy ages and Travels o f a
north) and the wolves being very abundant are of two Corp of D iscover y, by Patrick Gass.
species. First the[...](coyote) which is found on (2) History of th e Exp edition unde r the Command
almost all of the plains. These wolves associate in packs of of Lewis and Clark , by Elliot Coues.
10 or 12, and[...]brand was used by Meriwether Lewis to mark bales of
furs botanical specimens and other items for sWpment back to[...]Louis in the spring of 1805.
The e mp[...]materials in the b ale. The brand, of wWch th re are be ltcved to[...]the rocks on the north shore of the Columbia River below the[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (13)[...]The Fiske expedition of 1863 followed the same route
Overland trails in[...]trains. . reached the Milk River north of Havre. From there they
Eight such trains set ou[...]south to Fort Benton. The 1863 trip also records that
between 1862 and 1867, carrying emigrants from[...]the prairie was burnt black between the west fork of the
Minnesota west to the newly discovered gold f[...]0 mile journey records the first mention of what was probably a
between Minnesota and the Montana El Dorados crossed hailstorm, for upon reaching the north end of the Poplar
an unmapped wilderness, inhabited by I[...]earlier routes along the Missouri River and more of the
authorized an exploration of several routes for the area is described in detail. Buffalo were seen in great
Northern Pacific Railroad. Isaac I. Stevens, newly numbers, providing plenty of fresh meat. In~ian
appointed governor of the Washington territory was skirmish[...]. Wood was scarce but buffalo chips were
vicinity of the Dakota-Montana they followed the wide plentiful for cooking. The mosquitos were bad and there
valley along the Missouri and Milk Ri ve1·s and from th[...]were green and the
turned south at the foothills of the Rockies near Havre. grass in good condi[...]h cut up by
This route, however, was not selected for the Northern ruts from other wagon trains who had preceded them. Both
Pacific, but much of the survey information was used by cattle[...]mer as they had during the other trips.
outgrowth of this survey also provided some necessary[...]between Fort Berthold and Fort Union
information for the wagon trains which were to follow in seemed to emphasize the distances and problems that lay
the 1860's to the Montana gold fields and on[...]irritations. Finally a group led by the
Regiment of Volunteers when he conceived the plan of Sims brothers took some 40 wagons and traveled in
conducting wagon trains of emigrants from the upper advance of the other 400 wagons for the rest of the way to
Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains. Th[...]rain split
migration was brought to the attention of the Congress again, some going on to the gold fields, some stopping in
who then appropriated money for such expeditions. Fiske the Sun River area[...]n to Helena.
received $5000 and a military escort for his first wagon The Holmes Wagon Trains a[...]7 miles and averaging 16 miles per day. most of the trip alone through Montana in 1864, with the[...]fficulty army would no longer provide an escort for the wagon
crossing the Big Muddy (near Culbertson). It was train.
necessary to unhook part of the wagons and use them to There seems to be no record of either Fiske or Holmes
make a bridge over which the rest of the wagons can be making a trip in 1865.[...]Stevenson, Dakota Territory and traveled the rest of the
procedure followed by future wagon trains). T[...]ng to trade. Some trading took place and the band of
Indians followed the immigrant train when it left Fort
Kipp, adding a great deal of color with their bright colored
feathers and dress." Leaders of a wagon train were to
discover that the days were so long that it was necessary to
stop to give the animals a ch[...]oon. On Friday
August 15 they describe the waters of the Missouri as being
warm and muddy and the gras[...]ful.
Buffalos roamed in great herds on both sides of the river.
Upon leaving Roosevelt County[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (14) l<[W UL M

---
I LU l I U f H I

',

-9-

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (15)[...]CANA Root<> of tbt Fi,k ,nd Hol\c, Tu~_r
-e[...]Union
and west it is about the same route that was traveled in
1862 expedition.

Wagon train· 1970 version. A new sport for the decade of
the 70's.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (16)[...]There were three plans for the exploiting of the fur[...]reaching was the plan of organizing companies for the
The period of fur trading is one of the most romantic and purpose of trading goods with the Indians for furs and
important eras in the history of Montana. Not only did the hides. (2) Fur co[...]ur traders and trappers add to the economic value of the trappers and hunters into areas where[...]hese trappers could be paid on monthly or
routes of travel. These trappers were the true pathfinders[...]laries, with some working on a commission basis.
of the West.[...]ho trapped and sold where he pleased.
information of the white man but he also exerted a We were to see all three efforts of fur trading along the
profound and far-reaching influence on the destiny of the Missouri River.
Indian. While it is unfortunately true that the fur trade
brought corrupting and destructive diseases, it is also true
that he brought to the Indian his first lesson in civilization.
The servants of the fur trading companies mingled their
blood wit[...]h met fur traders coming downstream bound for the great
better than any other class of white man. Indian agents, Fur Mart of St. Louis. These fur traders were not new
army of[...]pparently adventurers in this enterprise, for this region of the upper
to understand the Indian character suff[...]ve Missouri had been a gathering ground for furs for the
permanently with amicable relations. The Indian on his Canadian companies at least a quarter of a century prior to
part, seemed to understand that the trapper was not an Lewis and Clark. The Hudson Bay Fur Company,
enemy; for he bartered with him, fed him and gave him his[...]as done through barter, since functions, for it operated in a region where no white man's
the[...]s to the Indian, and only a few would law except that enforced by itself held sway. (This was to
be tra[...]st where the money would be hold true for other companies once they were established.)
needed. The properly prepared skin of a buffalo cow, when
carried by an Indian to a dis[...]se, brought in barter,
approximately three pounds of sugar, or two pounds of NORTHWEST FUR TRADING COMPANY
coffee, or two gallons of shelled corn, or usually one quart
of whiskey, which in many of the trading posts was well The Northw[...]an $1.00 Montreal in 1800 and was composed of several Scottish
on the upper river, but transpor[...]tions
were high and the average robe sold finally for a little more or supervision of trade in the Northwest, these men
than its cost t[...]ocured and sold in volumes to be profitable items of degradation and injury to the Indian. The sale of alcohol to
trade.[...]fraud amounting
Whenever the skins were ready for trade- usually to a sheer exchange of nothing for the goods of the Indian.
during the winter months-the Indian b[...]shrewd trader first got his victim so intoxicated that
on their women or on a convenient pack animal, an[...]in 1806, they divided their party after
suspected of treachery, they were denied access to the post,[...]es, only a few Indians would be way of the Missouri as he had gone, but Captain Clark
allowed in the trading room at one time. In many of the chose to explore the southern route[...]ellowstone flows into the Missouri. In the summer of
trained eye on those who came to trade. In this i[...]1806, together with the famous Sacajawea (wife of
Indian was at the mercy of the trader. Charboneau[...]here Montana and North Dakota were to derive much of
larger quantity of goods in preference to goods in smaller, its history-an imaginary boundary line that was to
better quality. A striped blanket or a blanket of striking separate two states.
color brough[...]ourney up the Missouri, Clark had been so
blanket of the same quality. Alcohol was always worth impressed with the opportunity for fur trading, that in
far more than its weight in blankets. Only the[...]inexperienced trader, or a trader who was in fear of his life with headquarters at Mandan. This new company did not
or the life of the fort, would extend credit to any of the stand the opposition very long and a few years later sold
tribes men , for they were notably poor risks.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (17)[...]ascent of bluffs, about one and a half miles wide and two[...]miles long. Above and below at a distance of about 200
organized by John Jacob Astor of New York. yards commence the points or bottoms of the Missouri
After the war of 1812, Mr. Astor was shrewd enough to which contain great quantities of cottonwood, ash, and
secure passage of an act of Congress which forbade aliens elm trees sup[...]he fur trade within the United States wood for fuel.
Territory except in subordinate capacities under American[...]e American Fur Company arose
traders. The passage of this act on April 20, 1816 not only occasiona[...]adian competition but entrenched power of the American Fur Co. was always
forced the Northwest Company of Montreal to sell their sufficient to bre[...]could be done. But towards the end of the service rendered
investments. Thus, the Ameri[...]e Sioux Indians had caused a great
gained control of the Canadian operation with what loss of trade because of their hostile and aggressive
amounted to a monopoly of the fur trade in the Oregon disposition[...]upon enough territory of other tribes who have been
For the first 20 years the Indians conspiring with th[...]rade or
Hudson Bay Fur Company made it hard going for the come to the Fort, even for food, for fear of reprisals.
American Co., burning the forts and mu[...]as trappers and traders; and maintained about 23
of 1825 with many of the Indian tribes mostly stopped regular and wintering posts. Most of these wintering posts
these depredations and fat years for the American were log huts, quickly[...]er skins, which once had been the principal items of
series of forts were built along the Missouri and trade in the early years, had lost much of their value. The
Yellowstone Rivers. introduction of the silk top hat in the style centers of the
We will be concerned here with only the forts which were world in 1835 soon reduced the demand for beaver pelts
built in the area along the river which is now in Roosevelt used in the production of the beaver cap. At the same time,
County. depletion of the animals from over-trapping had made[...]dealing in buffalo, much of the trading was done by the[...]ers, shipped
Kenneth McKenzie, the true pioneer of Montana, but annually as many as 40 to[...]ale buffalo hides per
more often called the "King of the Missouri", founded Fort year. Elk skins and bull buffalo hides were too thick and
Union in the fall of 1829. McKenzie worked for the Pierre heavy to be used in the buffalo trade.
Chouteau Company, part of the American Fur Trading Of the bison and its rapid disappearance, Maximilian
Company. McKenzie was to serve as manager of the fort wrote, "The numerous Indian tribes subsist almost
for only a few years.[...]their skins after retaining a
The construction of the fort and much of its operations sufficient supply for their clothing, tents, etc.; and the
were in the hands of Major Alexander Culbertson. A fire agents of the company recklessly shoot down these noble
whi[...]2 caused extensive damage, but the animals for their own pleasure, often not making the least
fo[...]in 1833. It was used as trading post by use of them except taking out the tongues. Whole herds of
the fur company and a supply for the Assiniboine tribes, them are often drowned in the Missouri River; nay, I have
been assured that 1800 and more dead bodies of these
and part of the time for the Sioux.[...]formed of the dead bodies in some of the morasses of the
handsome of all the trading posts on the Missouri, was
situat[...]rivers; and from this we may have some idea of the
above the mouth of the Yellowstone River. The front of the decrease of the buffalo's".[...]uthor described Fort Union as being 22 miles west of
was worse for the Indian, who seemed to die in great[...]numbers almost to the extinction of some of the smaller[...]doctor of sorts from the fort decided the only hope was to[...]been exposed to the disease and most of the patients died.[...]Brilliant in his establishment of the new fort, Kenneth[...]McKenzie failed miserably in the management of his
affairs. He was an autocrat and many of his acts were of[...]and horror. Against the law, he
~-rt Uni_on -_one of the important early trading posts on the introduced the practice of giving or selling liquor to the
y;;souri Rive~, built in 1829 near the mouth_ of _the Indians. This practice was[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (18)[...]hed civilization again, he reported the existence of the
Kenneth McKenzie was relieved of his command of Fort whiskey still which was used to[...]trading with the Indians to William Clark (of the famous
The liquor scandal nearly wrecked Fort[...]ewis-Clark expedition) who was now Superintendent of
the government did little about it. Indian Affairs for the western tribes. Clark was instructed
While[...]to supress this illicit manufacture of whiskey and close the
Culbertson was placed in c[...]still, which nearly wrecked the fur trade of the company.
Fort and assumed command until 1839, when Major The affair of the still was allowed to pass unpunished.
Alexand[...]ition he Father DeSmet, foremost of Fort Union's noted visitors,
held until about 186[...]rn Indian tribes and
Fighting among the tribes of Crows, Gros Ventres, was affectionat[...]by fair dealing. Culbertson was a notable figure for DeSmet the official mediator between the government and
he tied together the era of savagery with civilization in the outrage[...]ofessions, studying
marry into prominent families for such a connection and recording wit[...]new
increased their trade advantage and relations of the frontier.
Indian bride would rem[...]n their trading Isaac Stevens ascended the valley of the Missouri in
operations. Only occasionally was there a real love match 1853 surveying for a railroad route to the Pacific.
and a lasting ma[...]urchased by a new commander to be time for rest and relaxation.
stationed in Fort Buford. Much of the material used in
building Fort Union would no[...]the old fort, gives this DESCRIPTION OF FORT UNION
description: "The place of horrors might well have been the
designation of old Fort Union, which with the exception of Taken from the history of Fort Union-1843
Lisa's fort (soon abandoned) was[...]by Edwin T. Denig
northwest. For a score of years the population of this fort in
the middle of the vast wilderness flirted daily with death, The plan of the fort is laid out nearly due north and south
and tragedy was commonplace. The history of Fort Union fronting 220 feet and running back about 240 feet. This
was a continuous series of conspiracies, family feuds, space was enclosed by pickets and palisades of 20 feet
sieges, pitched battles, drunken brawls and cold blooded high, made of large cottonwoods and founded upon stone.
murders[...]The corner bastians were made of stone masonry 24 feet[...]N Around the top of the second story are the balconies with[...]here were two
John James Audubon, the greatest of all ornithologists large outside gates to the fort, one each in the middle of the
and founder of the Audubon Society of America, came up front and the rear. Up on the top of the front one is a
the Missouri in 48 days, the fastest trip ever made from St. painting of the treaty of peace between the whites and the
Louis by steambo[...]ed by J.B. Moncre'vier, Esquire in 1825.
material for his book, "Quadrupeds of North America". These gates are 12 fe[...]eorge Catlin, now famous Indian artist, drew many of The principal building within the fort[...]he bourgeois, or the gentleman in charge of the fort. Next to
Fort painting the Crows, Blackfeet and Assiniboine this were the office of the fur company and the Indian
Indians, pictures of the great Missouri River and the
animals who inha[...]spent many winter
months at the fort. It was here that he suffered deep
humiliation. After he had boasted of the valor of his men,
his force fled from the Sioux nation, and at the funeral of a
half-breed victim of the attack, heard the speaker at the
fort announce, "This funeral is caused by the cowardice of
t he Bridgers party". Bridger dismissed his men a[...]ia River salmon fisheries,
committed what the men of the prairie and mountain
regarded as a gross act of treachery. Wyeth stayed a few
days at the fort on[...]d Culbertson, who explained
to him the operations of the whiskey still. When Wyeth F[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (19)[...]their method of travel or their destination.[...]Fort Union was abandoned-much of it tom down and
moved to the site of Fort Buford and used for the
construction of this fort which became an Army military[...]Governor William Clark (relation of expedition Clark)[...]threw his influence in behalf of other forts but Astor
having the ear of the Federal Government in Washington[...]Thus we began to see the effects of political action in the[...]information that in the early 1800's the Hudson Bay Fur[...]Trading Company had a base camp for trading and[...]room are brought all trading and A group of archaeological and geological students from
war[...]uilding was the trade shop, and indicated that the area between the lagoon and Holger
leading i[...]secure from possible trading post. Part of a spear with Hudson Bay
weather, accidents, or m[...]. There was also a stamped on it, and a kind of round seal with trading
window to the outside of the fort which could be used when company e[...]s.
Indians were troublesome or were too numerous for fort
personnel to handle. In a large rectangular area or court
extends a line of small buildings used as residences for the
employees, nearly all of whom had taken Indian wives.
Within the fort[...]t Stewart was established in 1854 during the time of
ten stables, enough for 50 horses. An ice house filled with Frost, T[...]ry good managers and finally gave it up.
storage for the meat killed during seasons when hunting[...]se was the very bad shape. By the end of the summer he had the fort
kitchen and the mess h[...]ssiniboines. (Larpenteur had worked
on the number of visitors or company at the fort. All men for many years as a clerk at Fort Union.) It was necessary
were expected to dress for dinner and none were allowed in to use all of his knowledge and experience to get the
the mess[...]e inquiring about and contacting many of his old friends
always seated at the second table[...]winter of 1859-60 were pleasant ones at the little fort, with
During the summer about 250 good cartfuls of hay were good trade and buffalo could be killed within 300 yards of
cut and stacked. The winters were long and severe and the fort.
animals could not graze out of the fort. Next to the hayfield
was a garden, on a[...]tu~ips, radishes, beets, onions, com and potatoes for the the end of two years the companies were consolidated.
entire camp. It was duly noted that there was seldom Fewer clerks were n[...]aise a good garden, but otherwise the out of a job. He returned to St. Louis.
climate was favo[...]A Mr. Campbell of St. Paul heard of Larpenteur, Boller
f The flagstaff was the glory of the fort, for on high, seen and Smith's intention to try t[...]ged to the United States
0
The sight of this flag gives the certainty of security
{ ~ dhngers, rest for the weary traveler, peace and plenty[...]provided the necessary money and equipment for an[...]the first made with such wagons in the interest of fur
0
e ungry. To all those whose eyes were to behold this trading. Most of the wagon train stayed at Fort Berthold,[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (20)[...]about 25 miles west to a place on the left bank of the Poplar
river about two miles north of the Missouri. The actual
position of the mouth of the Poplar River has been altered
James Larpente[...]by an uncertain number of miles since Lewis and Clark
noted author of first[...]Spread Eagle bottom of lowland near the river. This post[...]Mr. Clark of the American Fur Co. built a trading post[...]and Lemon. During the severe winter of 1861-62
but Lemon, Larpenteur and his faithful In[...]to Fort Stewart. Upon reaching Fort Stewart of the cattle either froze or starved to death. The[...]und it in smoldering ruins from a surprise attack of buffalo hides was almost at a standstill and L[...]at the idea of seeking out Indians in their camps for trade.
Fort Stewart was located one mile north of the Missouri With the ensuing empasse they s[...]arge
at Devil's Bend; three and a half miles west of Blair and Company and divided the profits, each receiving $1400.00.
four and a half miles east of Calais. Larpenteur remained to manage the trading post for the[...]James
Kipp. Kipp had been stationed at Fort Union for a time, but
after leaving there had established F[...]ocated on the Missouri River, near where
the town of Blair was located later. It was also about 200
yards from the established Fort Stewart. In the spring of
1860 the name was briefly changed to Fort Maffot but only
called that one short season.
W.D. Debb in the Fiske Wagon Train Diary from 1862
described Fort Kipp in the words of his wagon master as "a
very bad campground-stinks like a slaughter house!" The
Missouri River was descri[...],
1862.
Fort Kipp was burned by a surprise raid of Sioux-Indians
in the fall of 1862. M[...]valle, White Shield, Stormy.
During the summer of 1862 Owen McKenzie established
a small fort a few miles west of Fort Kipp and Stewart.
Because of trouble with the Indians this fort existed only
about one season. Roulette was the trader in charge of the In 1876 when the Agency was established[...]Indian traders store was built by the firm of Thompson,
downstream, Roulette was smuggled aboar[...]r's trade in furs. The Assiniboines Culbertson (for whom the town of Culbertson was named)
were so incensed with Roule[...]P.W. Lewis was in charge of one store. They built a second[...]by the name of Howard Cosier came to work in the store as
Thi[...]Cosier bought the trading post
1833 at the mouth of the Poplar River, about a half mile and operated this one and the one in Wolf Point as H.M.
north of the Missouri. The trading post was named for Cosier and Company. In 1908 Cosier bough[...]. Cosier trading store. H.C.
it seems safe to say that it had a short existence. Walker worked as chief clerk for Cosier in the Poplar store.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (21) In 1881 the T.C. Power & Bro. of Fort Benton opened MacDonald bought this stor[...]'/; I . ,,..--~~' ~:[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (22)[...]trading stores in the Wolf Little is known of Fort Charles other than it was built in
Point are[...]also had a trading independent partnership of Bruigier and Booge. It was
company store at old F[...]ck was so well located on the north bank of the Missouri near the Elk
respected that when a name was to be selected for the Prairie crossing, about 50 miles west of old Fort Stewart.
reservation, it was named after[...](Approximate location is about one mile north of the
Reservation".[...]ad a trading post with Mr. V. this fort was that it was found abandoned in 1863.
Bogy in charge. W[...]oward Fort Buford history when it mentioned that a Charles C.
Cosier and Shaw formed a partnership and operated under Sargent of Fort Buford came to the Wolf Point area in 1876
the name of H.M. Cosier Company. as manager for a trading post built by T.C. Power. This
Sherma[...]It is generally believed that the town of Culbertson
received its name from a son of the famous fur trader who[...]decided to farm on the banks of the Missouri.[...]a string of mackinaw boats to Fort Berthold, now in North[...]and trading with the Indians that Mr. Chouteau decided to[...]send him to the Blackfeet country in 1833. At that time the[...]Traders. He worked under the able leadership of Major
Kenneth McKenzie for a few years, assuming command of[...]was the main commander of the fort. He later became a[...]Sacred Snake Woman, daughter of Blood Chief. She easily
assumed the ways of civilized living, yet she never learned[...]traveled thousands of miles with her husband between[...]General Miles and then as a scout and guide for the forts[...]tired of the nomadic life, established a ranch about one a[...]- Wolf Point. a half miles west of the present townsite of Culbertson.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (23)[...]CLUBFOOT TRAIL PUZZLED INDIANS
Followed tracks of Crippled Trapper to Fort Benton to
warn Whites.
Redskins Discovered Trail of Clubfoot George Boyd in
Snow in 1864-and made emergency ride to warn whites of
Demon that was coming.
When during the winter of 1864-65 a band of Gros
Ventres Indians discovered the trail of Clubfoot George
Boyd in the snow in the Milk River country and
ascertained that it was headed towards Fort Benton, they
thought it was that of an evil spirit. They made an
emergency ride to the Fort to warn the white men there
that a demon was coming to their place. But they arriv[...]and went upon their way.
The Indians' finding of Boyd's trail and their belief that
it was that of an evil spirit attended a long, lonely,
dangerous[...]erre in the
Dakotas to Fort Benton, at the behest of the American Fur
Co., which had trading posts at both places. The post at
Fort Pierre ran out of sugar, a very serious shortage
because it was one of the things which the Indian Club{oot George.
customers were very fond of, using it to sweeten the tea
which the traders had taught them to brew and drink.
There was no hope of obtaining a new supply before
navigation opened i[...]y felt
dispatched to Fort Benton with the request that a supply be sure, had been made by an evil[...]t river boat after the ice had gone out. The bulk of animal hitherto unknown to them. They abandoned[...]ver from Fort Benton with furs at the That worthy communed with himself for 24 hours before
earliest possible date. announcing that he would provide the bravest warriors
The journ[...]ve with charms to ward off the influence of the evil spirit, or
to be made on foot and was attended by many perils, not failing that, to guarantee them good hunting in the Happy
the least of which were from being lost, frozen, killed by[...]me lonely night Thus equipped, a party of braves started to follow the
camp. There was at t[...]arless, as resource{ul hours later the party of Gros Ventres hove in sight and
and as intrepid as any pioneer of the period. He left a their head man asked for a conference with the chief of the
remarkable trail, but his enemies, both red a[...]ollow. He volunteered to make the white men of an evil spirit they had trailed there from
the tr[...]rifle, he set endeavored to explain the nature of the trail they had
out one day on his lonely tramp. He relied upon his gun to followed. Presently one of their audience exclaimed:
supply him with food. "I'll bet they have been following George Boyd's trail. "
When an Indian brave of a hunting party of Gros Boyd was called. When he st[...]They they turned and filed slowly from the room.
that country for many years, but had never before seen
tracks like these. He called his hunting companions[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (24) Confluence of the Missouri and Yellow-
stone Rivers. Mis[...]is the old military jail. Not
shown is one of the barns used for housing
horses and also storing of wood for
winter. It is located left of the jail.

Officers headquarters building. Note sign
in front "The last of the hostile Sioux
under Sitting Bul[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (25)[...]VER with two companies of soldiers, going first to Fort Keogh[...]and then to the area of the Big Horn. Major Hartz was here
Fort Poplar[...]r River about a year when he was relieved of his command by
Post are the names which have been[...]Wheaton, who was promoted to Major
various kinds of buildings and businesses established in General and had command of the military post until it
nearly the same spot o[...]The following excerpts were taken from a report of the
Company in 1860 and called "Fort Poplar" there is every Secretary of War for the year of 1881, which will give a
indication that Army personnel and Army scouts (Indian general idea of activities during that time.
and white) used the facilities while they were in the area.
This was also true of other trading posts up and down the
Missouri, inc[...]iver, Montana, as escort, with rations and forage for the
During the early 1870's several writers hav[...]place. Camped at Ferry Point, Montana on
mention of the soldiers which were operating from Poplar[...]Assiniboine (near Havre). Joseph Culbertson (son of public stores from Fort Keogh to Camp Poplar River,
Alexander Culbertson of Fort Union) often mentions in his Montana, l[...]y Point and arrived at
book "Famous Indian Scout" that both he and his father destination Januar[...]Camp Poplar River, Montana, against a band of hostile[...]Indians encamped about two miles to the southeast of the
latter post, on the south bank of the Missouri and after an[...]engagement in which eight of the hostiles were killed,[...]about 200 ponies, 69 guns, and burning 60 of their lodges.
On the 6th of January these Indians, together with 162[...]Camp Poplar River and proceeded towards the camp of[...]of hostile Indians who fled to that camp after the capture of[...]that, if he would not take his command to their camp,[...]left Camp Poplar River to scout up the Missouri for hostiles
There seems to be no definite documentation just when reported in that locality. No Indians were seen and the
the name c[...]miles.
agency at Wolf Point, was in the process of being moved to January 9, 1881 Lieutenant[...]Infantry,
Poplar about 1876 after the order came for the Indians to be with a detachment left Camp P[...]Army had not easterly direction, to search for and bring in a party of
been officially stationed here at that time, Army personnel hostiles reported hidden in that direction. Returned the
referred to their station[...]telegraphic instructions, Headquarters Department of been arrested by Major Ilges, were forw[...]Dakota on September 22, 1880, by Companies Band F of under charge of Captain Dewees and his Troop A, Second
the 11th U[...]in the intercept the retreat to Canada of Sitting Bull's band of
surrender of Chief Gall, Sitting Bull and other important hostile Indians. On the 21st of January, information
Indian chiefs who were makin[...]having been received at department headquarters that
surrender. Captives were then taken to Fort Buford. Sitting Bull with about 300 of his band had secretly left the
From available history, it would seem that Camp Poplar vicinity of the mouth of the Milk River on January 11, and
had only three[...]il 1885 when he was ordered away issued for the recall to Fort Assiniboine of the troops. The[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (26)[...]Lieutenant Mansfield, commanding left Fort Custer for
return to Fort Assiniboine on January 26. Fort Maginnas to assist in the construction of a telegraph[...]Infantry, with a detachment of 20 men started building the[...]August 24, 1881 Sergeant Neeland, with 19 men of the[...]DESCRIPTION OF CAMP POPLAR RIVER[...]ing Bull and his family. This man is probably one of
the most famous Indian chiefs in western history.[...]While Wheaton was in charge of the Post, the captains[...]Kronen and Suthburrow. Lt. Dent was a nephew of
January 23, 1881 Captain Snyder, Fifth Infantry, General Grant of the United States Army. Quartermaster
with Compan[...]tation left Sergeant Colgan was in charge of all clothing for the
Camp Poplar River for Wolf Point to assist a band of Camp and a Commissary Sergeant was in charge of food
Indians under Crow King numbering about 300 (who had for the Camp. The Top Sergeants were Rogers and Chest[...]The Army Post was located in the northern portion of
to Camp Poplar River January 31, 1891. what is now the town of Poplar, and was quite large in size.
January 2[...]tenant C.A. Booth, This was the part of town where the majority of white
Seventh Infantry, left Camp Poplar River with
detachment of Companies A, B, and E, of the Seventh
Infantry, which had formed part of Major llges' command
at that post and arrived at Fort Buford on January 30.
January 28, 1881 Troop M, Second Cavalry, left Fort
Custer for the battlefield on the Little Big Horn, in charge
of the materials for the monument to be erected to the
officers and soldiers who fell in that action.
January 31, 1881 camped on Milk River[...]1 Troop A, Second Cavalry, le{t Camp
Poplar River for Fort Buford with 53 Indian prisoners of
war. Arrived February 4. Left Fort Buford Februa[...]in O.B. Read, Eleventh
Infan try, with detachment of Companies B and F,
Eleventh Infantry, left Camp P[...]p Poplar.
hostile Sioux Indians, under the charge of Scout Allison en
route to surrender at Fort Bufor[...]y,
Captain McDonald, commanding, left Fort Keogh for
Camp Poplar River, to remove intruders from the
reservation under charge of Agent Porter. Returned to Fort
Keogh.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (27)[...]around the camp and it soon became one of their favorite[...]"It seems that one extremely sultry day, the man who[...]crawled into the tank of water to cool off. Shortly after he[...]The water used for washing, butchering and watering
the trees that surrounded the parade grounds was also[...]The soldiers and sergeants of the post each had their[...]family of five or six. They were located on the north bank.[...]The barn located on the western end of the
establishment housed all of the horses. In the front of this
building were long piles of wood, which were accumulated[...]ing the summer, and cut down from along the banks of[...]luxuries for the soldiers. Clothing and meals were provided[...]by the Army for the soldiers.
To the east of the parade grounds, we find the library and[...]the school, which was provided for the children of the men[...]and the houses, built from regular lumber, of the people
Camp Poplar River.[...]of the establishment. The root cellar which housed the ice,
people Ii ved. The southern part of the town was made up of cut in huge chunks from the Missouri River duri[...]winter, was located in this area. Part of the ice was used to
the MacDonald Trading store a[...]ficers' fashioned ice-boxes. About two-thirds of the ice house was
and soldiers' quarters, and most of the other buildings underground to prevent summer thawing. The ice was
were built of logs placed in an upright position. This was packed between layers of sawdust.
contrasted by the log houses where the l[...]'lean-to's' or storm sheds could be
found on most of the buildings and all had brick chimneys.
The roofs were covered with shingles instead of sod. The
paths or gravel-sidewalks were kept in place by a
foundation of small boards.
Each of the quarters were provided with an "out-house".
D[...]the Missouri River. From this
barrel, the barrels of each household was filled
approximately on[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (28)[...]any Wilson was with this command. I was then a scout under
soldier, and to attain this they practiced on the rifle range the command of General Miles. On January 12th I was
located approximately where the present Poplar airport is discharged from the command of General Miles and re-
situated.[...]enlisted the same month as Chief of Scouts under the
The post was abandoned on October 2, 1893, pursuant to command of Captain Reid. Sometime in the month of
General orders No. 55, Headquarters of the Army and January Colonel Algeris with two companies of the Fifth
special orders No. 143, Headquarters of the Dakota Infantry came here from Fort Keogh and Majo r Bell of the
Territory on September 26, 1893.[...]from Fort B uford with two troop s
By direction of Major Lloyd Wheaton, Twentieth of the Se ven th Ca valry and made their camp on the[...]Company C, proceeded by rail to Fort of the Poplar R iver about where old man Sears' house
Buford, North Dakota for station. Company I of the s tood. Colonel Algeris then took command of all the troop s.
Twentieth Infantry (Indians) tog[...]olonel sen t me and Yellow E agle and the Captain of
proceeded in the same manner to Fort Assiniboine.[...]camp to ee
post quartermaster remained in Poplar for further orders. just how many Indians there[...]ort Snelling, the camp was situated. I made this trip over to Galls camp
Minnesota and the privates of the hospital corps proceeded three or four t[...], Pembina and Buford. On the morning of February 4th or 5th or 6th, Colonel
Quartermaster[...]k Colgan went to Fort A lg eris sent for me and ordered me over to tell Gall and his
Keogh , returning to settle on a ranch just south of the men that they must surrender by noon of that day, if he
Missouri River from Poplar.[...]didn 't he would move his troops on his camp. I went over to[...]oops to move on the camp. aptain Reid wa
STORY OF CHIEF GALL'S FAMOUS FIGHT ordered with two companie of the eleventh infantry with
the cannon that now sits in front of the agency office, to go
by J oseph Culber tson , Sr. the lower end of the Indian camp. Colonel Algeri with two[...]companies of the mounted infantry and Major Bell with
reprint[...]Far mer, Popla r, Montan a, two troop s of seventh ca valry to cross the Missouri River at
S[...]the m outh of the Popla r with the little gatlin g un, by doing[...]ndians completely urrounded.
Along in the month of December 1880 Chief Gall with The India[...]and a
and made his winter camp on the south side of the Missouri buck was wounded twice. The entire camp wa captur d
River across from the mouth of Poplar Creek. Sometime in with the loss of many buffalo robe and a great man
~he month of November two companies of the eleventh horses and a good many of the men and squaw got away
infantry under the command of Captain O.B. Reid came but on account of the cold weather and th deep now and
here from Fo[...]r. William Sibbets and Reverend no tepees for them togo to except the friendly Indian , they[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (29)[...]rred to Fort Buford. A Yankton Indian by
the name of Black Horn who belonged to this agency and
made a lot of trouble was in Gall's camp at the time of the
fight, and he was also taken to Fort Buford as a prisoner of
war. If Gall had not been so bull headed and used better
judgment he could have avoided all this trouble. That was
the great trouble with Sitting Bull.
After[...]couts and Jack Culwell to the
ruined timber north of the town of Glasgow (now) to see if
we could locate Sitting Bull's camp. As he had been
reported hunting in that part of the country. I must say
that was the hardest trip I ever made in all of my scouting
for the government on account of the severe cold weather
and deep snow. I was out fifteen days without seeing a
hostile Ind[...]trip back we ran into a hostile camp
at the mouth of the Little Porcupine on their way to Camp
Poplar with Scout Allison.
On this trip I met X. Redler camped on the big Porcupine.
He was[...]other man and two Red River jumpers and four head of
horses. I said to Jack Culwell, ''We'll camp here tonight
w[...]" He said to me, "Joe come have supper with
me." I asked Bedler what he had for supper, and he said
"Snowballs and pepper sauce. " I must say that X. Bedler
was the greatest officer I have ever met in all my life. He
feared nothing and knew the country as the best scout did.
I had first met Redler at Fort Benton in 1869. He was a
friend to the Culbertson family. I was then a little boy.
The leading chiefs in t[...]i/'

,I[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (30)[...]Juv ~ h.w. of-~ .d~[...]~ 7 k ~ A u 4 i u d-[...]AAAA/ud.·•
a,,,u:( fi'u.UJ#:.v~~ MuwluWA~I..[...]-'JU>-t ~ k 4u.4/
he elo ,vwf t1avi-f i/u-v r. ~[...]~ a vv11A/f/V C,a1,~ ¼} -dit'.uwtAA . l!uu:,I_ v/[...]~ -4J

fk hulia.Vv ~ I ,- 1.uu/.1[...]~,la,d-~~kw
ltz..i,t'l/ /'-r_-tt,(J til tiq U U /u>VVZI ~ -11 /4_ it[...]'Jto i'
I , ' I
~ .J.u-lctu d dt.a 1.~<'l .1/w J -t!V[...](>-iv ~ .4&d
11..e.'I. 1,i.£/l/11 c.':t. -t, . l!,,c. -!A~ VtUJ[...]t
#lw ,ucl 1ttaw ~ i..l.b-w.[...], / , ~ - t(.((>-i /,c,..." \.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (31)[...]verside - 1919. Picture taken about 1903 south of Poplar.

-28-

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (32)[...]\ D °\ i

Written while C.B. Lohmiller was clerk[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (33)[...]>-,,
......
I

~[...]()
I
I
ct:
I -"lo
") I -.),[...]•

... ,
"- I 'l[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (34) ... The Teepee is made of hand sewn Elk skins. The
Buffalo is the Tribal emblem of the Assiniboine
Tribe. The Bear is Chief First-To-Fly's personal
emblem of his cult. The peace pipe is one of the
main symbols used ·in all ceremonies. Notice that
the peace pipes are facing toward[...]ts.

The white represents the snow of wintertime. The
black markings on the white circle near the apex
of the Teepee represent Chief First-To-Fly foot-
I prints on the warpath. The white at the base of
w
w
I the Teepee represents again the snow of winter-
time and the little Teepee[...]t

cessful conquest of ttie enemy with confiscation
,, of the tr uorses. · ·

The open boxes near the apex of the Teepee re-
present the hoof pr i nt s of the ho rs es Ch i e f
First-To-Fly captured.[...]~J(j d JLQ t;o:;:i/-

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (35) HISTORY OF SIOUX AND ASSINIBOINE TRIBES
Reprint fro[...]o a
considerable degree the changes in attitude of the
American public. From early colonial times[...]their internal affairs until 1824 when the Bureau of
Indian Affairs was created under the supervision of the Part of the 600 head of cattle issued to the Indians on the
War Departm[...]Fort Peck Reservation - 1907
control of the Army until 1849 when the Home Department
of the Interior was established and Indian Affairs w[...]1871 when Congress declared all Indians
subjects of the United States. keep out. That fall large numbers of Sioux moved out into
Prior to the 1860's the[...]the wilderness.
challenged the Indian possession of territory in the What the Sioux wan[...]the Civil War, gold was discovered in the kind of life they had always known. But it was not to be,
the Idaho and Montana territories and thousands of for the white man's hunger for land was never satisfied.
emigrants rushed by way of the Missouri and by overland The more lan[...]an by confining them to reservations.
ceded most of their hunting grounds in the Mondota Late in 1875 the order went out that all Indians must be
Treaty of 1851, were increasingly bitter over the bad[...]o now had taken their land and given so little of compliance with the Army order, the Army moved ou[...]ioux and put them found a large encampment of Sioux and Cheyenne by the
in prison. The rest sca[...]d to the Fort Peck areas. of General Custer, but it was also the beginning of the end
The army strengthened its position along the Missouri for the Indian. Although they had won a decisive vict[...]and Fort Berthold. Then in badly in need of food. The Army followed.
1864 Colonel Chivington[...]iment in the notorious Sitting Bull, one of the chiefs at the Little Big Horn
Sand Creek Mass[...]Miles as he moved
which were under the Commander of Fort Lyon. As a result north. Sitting Bull wanted peace and said he would quit
of this and other events, the Plains Indians were ve[...]country. General Miles settled for nothing less than
In 1865 President Johnson a[...]forced
Indians agreed to permit the establishment of routes of to move to Canada where the Army could no[...]ntinued along the In the fall and summer of 1876 the government
Bozeman trail until 1868, when the government tired of continued to take advantage of the Indian to get new
harassment, sent a peace co[...]er Black Hills; and the unceded lands east of the Powder
River country, including the Black Hills, for which the River in Montana and Wyoming. In[...]ans agreed not to inter{ere with the construction of the were promised rations until they could beco[...]rated. Surveying the Indians' supply of buffalo was rapidly disappearing. By
expedition,[...]ousands and by the mid-1880's the buffalo
pretext of a survey for military purposes. He came out was nearly[...]proclaiming the gold in the Black Hills. Inspite of the there were few buffalo in the area and[...]almost entirely dependent upon the government for their
government then tried to buy the Black Hill[...]lling to pay--and continued its grim task of rounding up the Plains Indian
the gold rus[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (36)during this time. Bands of Indians who followed Sitting
Bull and Gall were o[...]inging in the Indians. Gall
was camped just south of the Missouri River, about two
miles away. Early i[...]ng a brief encounter,
Gall surrendered; and later that year Sitting Bull, who had
been living in Canada,[...]reements with the tribes involved to give up most of the
territory agreed to in 1873-4. They gave up all but the
present reservation areas of Fort Peck, Fort Belknap Branding at th[...]noted by members of the Chief Red Stone Band that[...]store, the agency buildings and personnel for supervising
the west end of the reservation did not come until 1879. A[...]that built a number of the agency buildings; the lumber
The Fort Peck[...]nce since was obtained from cottonwood logs. That mill also
1871, and for all but eight years has been located at Poplar. supplied the material for the Poplar River Boarding School
Although the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1851 established where other than Army Post buildings were not adequate.
boundaries for six separate Indian tribes, including the[...]ties carried on at Wolf Point were
Sioux, no part of the present reservation north of the by the Indian Service, changes in pe[...]ing governmental election periods. The most noted of
Fort Peck in 1871 was to serve the Lower Assiniboine and sub-agents who had charge of the Wolf Point Agency was
several bands of Sioux. The agency was situated in the Ja[...]tockade at Fort Peck which had been built in 1867 for the Agency where he had been a butcher.
firm of Durfee and Peck, holders of government contracts During Mr. Jones' tenure, in the winter of 1883-84 the
to supply military posts and Indian a[...]tinct, and there had
often served as headquarters for military men and been a drouth and total crop failure. It was stated that over
government commissioners. The Fort Stockade, which 300 Indians died in the vicinity of the W.P. Agency site
now lies under the water beh[...]charge and had seen the terrible loss of life due to the lack
present site on Poplar Creek. The present reservation of food, promoted an irrigation project to be built for the
boundaries were established by Congress in 1888. diversion of water on Wolf Creek. It was built of rock[...]water to the flat west of the agency ite. The plowed dirt[...]r rai ed in
The first Indian Agency established for the Assiniboines abundance during those year for the tribe.
was at Fort Peck which was built as a[...]ere would be driven from the Poplar agency for laughter,
annuities promised the Indians under the September 17, proce sand i ue. Thi often turned out to be a gala time,
1851[...]. It was during the appointment of John K. ha e in 1 9
Long before the tribe officially moved to the ~ olf Pomt that cattle were issued to the A siniboine . The typ were
area one of their main camping grounds was m an area beef, milk cow and large grown te r for work oxen. Later
known as "Frog Creek" (Patgasa W[...]stallion kept at the agency barn for br ding purpo e .
Old records indicated that in 1873 whites lived in 'Yolf By the Bureau of Indian Affair advocation of a live tock
Point. According to the Assiniboines, two trappers b~lt a and farming program for th A iniboine thi combined
cabin on the north bank of the Missouri, later the site of activity was taught to them, and machin ry a[...]luding good
which killed many wolves and coyotes. That situation was for the making of wearing apparel.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (37)[...]OF BILLS OF LADING
FOR THE WOLF POINT, MONTANA[...]..... Trip ............................. - /Jo I ed................................. .......... ........... ........ .. .... I 8 8. ...._

Received of Steamer ··--~---------------------------[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (38) I 17:;_

/~

7'r

-37-

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (39)[...]The Fort Peck Reservation covers 2,000,000 acres of
rolling prairies in eastern Montana, bounded on[...]oundary and the Porcupine Creek on the west {in
Valley County) and extends north through Township 33
then east acros three counties; from the Porcupine in
Valley to the Big Muddy in Sheridan County. The land
rises gently to the north and is cut by the valleys of several
streams. There are a few isolated badlan[...]The elevation varies from 1900 to 3100
feet.
Of the more than two million acres allotted to this[...]rt Peck tribes Fort Peck Tribal Building
for the allotment of the reservation and the sale of surplus
lands. Each Indian was to have 320 acres of grazing land
plus some timber and irrigatable land. Some was
withdrawn for agency buildings, school and church use half of the population being Indian. Brockton at this tim[...]or is nearly all Indian. The concentration of the Indian people
withdrawn were to be disposed of under the general within town areas is due in large part to the new housing
provisions of the homestead, desert-land, mineral or[...]ted the reservation.
remaining land not disposed of by within five years, they Poplar is headquarters for the Sioux and Assiniboine
were not carried out.[...]he tribes would Tribes, and the location of the Fort Peck Indian Agency,
have lost what little land they had left. Today about The Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Public Health
237,000 acr[...]ian store which
control over another 86,000 acres of the so-called sub- carries groceries, r[...]people on the Fort Peck Reservation
432,000 acres of open range land; close to 471 ,000 of dry live much like their white neighbors, except too often in
land farm and pasture land; 17,000 acres of irrigated land; much poorer circumstances. They all speak English,
and about 12,000 acres of timber land or used for other except for a few elderly people; go to the same public
purpo[...]about 7,000 acres schools; live in the same kind of houses and wear the same
a year through sales to non-Indians. In 1973 the Fort Peck kind of clothes. Although there are a number of very
Tribes borrowed $1,500,000 from the Farm-Hom[...]rmers and ranchers, there are many
Administration for land purchase of 26,000 acres of more unskilled men who depend on se[...]74 will enable them or construction work for a living. Many of the Indian
to purchase another 15,000 acres.[...]people now have the opportunity to work in one of the two[...]bal industries developed in Poplar. In the matter of[...]Although they have adopted many of the white man's[...]ways, the Indians at Fort Peck have retained many of their
The Indian population is concentrated in[...]y ties are strong and they practice the
one-third of the reservation. The principal communities lie Indian custom of sharing what they have, however little,
along the east-west routes of communication- U.S. with relatives and friends. They still prepare foods that
Highway No. 2 and the Burlington Northern Railroa[...]n on the reservation with a nothing they like better than an Indian celebration where[...]old friends, have give-aways, enjoy
pop1:-lation of about 3500, with about one-fifth being feasts, and most of all dance.
Indian. Poplar has a population of about 2100 with one- Many of the values of the Indian people are not shared[...]they have served the Indians well for generations. On the[...]other hand, Indians find many of the white man's values[...]The Fort Peck Indians, like all other Indians in this[...]country are citizens of the United States and are free to[...]1924 about two-thirds of the American Indians acquired[...]citizenship by special acts of Congress. In 1924 Congress
provided that all other Indians born in the United States[...]Sioux-Assiniboine Tribes, of which more than half live off[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (40)[...]ut 600 other 1875 December 3, order for Indians to go back to the
Indians living here, r[...]to maintain order.
basic roll; a descendant of a person on a basic roll; or 1879 Presb[...]ior to 1960 with the Methodists for a mission on the reservation.
approval of the Secretary of the Interior. All persons born 1880 Indian[...]Wolf Point to establish church.
longer part of the Dakota tribe. they are commonly called 1[...]e" (rebels) by the Sioux which refers to the fact that 1886 Order prohibiting Sundances.
they j[...]in their wars 1886 May 15, Secretary of the Interior authorized
against the Sioux. Their[...]lish is derived from new contract for reservation.
the Algonquin "Ass-ni-pwan" meaning[...]ent signed at
term supposedly refers to the fact that the Assiniboine Fort Peck.
used[...]ns
The Sioux at Fort Peck are the descendants of the giving the United States 17,500,000 acres of
"hostiles" who put up such a fierce resistance to the white land and the division of the remaining
man's invasion of their territory. They represent all three 6,000,000 into three separate reservations.
divisions of the Dakota people. The largest band 1888 May 1, Congress passed the act of fixing the
represented at Fort Peck are the Yankonai of the middle boundaries of the three reservations.
division. The United Sta[...]officially calls the 1889 Cut the rations of beef to Indians on the reser-
tribe Sioux, altho[...]word "Sioux" is derived from a French corruption of a 1896 Government aid to Indian Mission[...]southwest of Brockton.[...]resbyterian Church organized in Wolf
TIME LINE FOR THE SIOUX-ASSINIBOINE[...]ROSTER OF SUPERINTENDENTS
1851 Treaty with Assiniboin[...]ian Agency
Mountains east to the mouth of the Yellowstone[...]Year Name
Ventres and Crows for a hunting area-Rocky Came Left
Mountains east to the mouth of the Yellowstone
1857 Sitting Bull kills "Ho[...]Thoma J. Mitchell
Crows; located south of the Milk River and Fort Peck- 1877[...]1 6 Henry R. We t
1873 Boundaries of Blackfoot Reservation began to tained at P[...]c. Ind. Agent)
1874 Established north of the Marias River and 18 6
Missouri River extending from the summit of 1 89 I J. . obey
the R[...]t prol
undivided reservation for Blackfeet, Assini- 189[...]E .D. man
toil the land and some of the rudiments of 1921[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (41)[...]nly Indians can compete in the exhibits, but most of
1930 1933 H.D. McCullough the racing and athletic events will be free for all. The annex
1933 1934[...]rtment will be open to persons other than Indians of
1934 1939 John G. H[...]Prizes will be given; blue ribbons for first, and red for
(Acting S[...]F.A. Asbury will have a good display of exhibits on hand." Other
1948[...]jelly and pickles. School displays will consist of art work,[...]1959 David P. Wes ton models of farms.
1959 1961 Da[...]The Great Northern Railroad will have a rate of one and
1962 1967 Stanley Lyman one-third fare for round trip from Havre to Mondak,[...]Arrangements have been carefully made so that the
1974 Present Burto[...]entertained. We expect the largest crowd that has ever[...]The Indian Fair Grounds bordering the east side of the
reservation was opened up for settlers. This Indian Fair townsite of Poplar are perhaps the best in Eastern
was established for the purpose of promoting and Montana. Through the efforts of Major C.B. Lohmiller,
encouraging agriculture among the Indians of the Superintendent of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and[...]Indian grandstand in background ready for the rodeo.[...]July 17, 1913, Poplar, Montana.

reservations so that they may be better prepared for
gaining their livelihood from this industry, the one that
most of them will have to follow. Visitors will have the
opportunity to see the products of this reservation and of
the country adjacent thereto, and can also make
comparisons of the exhibits of the Indians with those of the
white people.
Quote from the fair book of 1913, "This will be the last
fair to be held before the opening of the Reservation to
settlement. Person can registe[...]e known and they will be able to
see the products of the land they are about to go upon; also
t[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (42)Indian encampment Just east of Poplar during Fair time. Year unknown but thought[...]magician. Exhibition of an Indian family engaged in[...]moving with travois like in the olden times. They will[...]picture taken by Depot - 1917

seating capacity of almost 500. The grandstand is set in
concrete pie[...]ntly strong to proclude the
slightest possibility of an accident. It is 24 by 104 feet, is
well-covered and at the rear are a number of booths for the
sale of refreshments.
Eighty acres of land comprise the Fair Grounds; this is
enclosed[...]r Ground in Sheridan
County,. the Commerical Club of Poplar is
endeavoring to secure from the County[...]13

FIRST DAY-SEPTEMBER 25
10:0OA.M.
Parade of Indians around the Fair Grounds and
through the streets of Poplar. The Indians will be
mounted and dress[...]Exhibits at Fort Peck Indian Fair - Fall of 1911[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (43)[...]presents silver cup to Hoceson
Assiniboine Indian for best exhibit at Fort Peck Fair - James Bad M[...]p is in museum now at Poplar. end for a gain of twenty yards - 1913.

SECOND DAY-SEPTEMBER 26
1[...]tepee and will demonstrate
the old time method of stealing horses, engaging in a
fight and showi[...]game between the Piegans of Glacier National Park and
3:00 P .M.[...]the Mandan's of the Fort Peck Reservation. The Fort Peck
Races[...]ian wrestling match between old Indians.
$2.00 for first prize--$1.00 for second prize.
Hundred (100) yard dash for old Indian men. $2.00 first THIRD DAY -SEPTEMBE[...]1:00 P.M.
Hundred yard dash for young Indians. $2.00 first 100 yard d[...]Pole vault for height[...]Indian school and a picked team from the town of[...]The moving picture man was there seeking pictures of the 5:00 P.M .
dances, customs and d[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (44)[...]Two of the Fair Board Committee in 1923. With Carl[...]s

The Indian Fair at Poplar was the big event of the season
for years. I think the largest camp I ever saw was in 1918.
Inside the fair grounds fen[...]race track. TRIBAL INDUSTRIES
That year there were tents and tepees side by side almost
around the track. I was riding some race horses for Bob A & S Tribal Industries wholly owned[...]lar contract to
the camp telling what the program of events for the day produce 120,000 camouflage netting components for the
would be; smoke would start from all the tent[...]fired, Frank Poplar Industrial Park south of the railroad. Sid Morris of
fired and fell on the ground kicking and quivering like a the Brunswick Corporation is general manag[...]ng animal. Everybody laughed thinking it was part of Fourstar is head of the material department; Pat
Jack's act. A[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (45)[...]ck Housing manufacturing company
built nearly all of the new Indian housing for the Poplar-
Brockton area. This company is no longer functioning. A
new Housing Authority of the Fort Peck Tribes takes care
of the new homes.
The Wontanin Wowapi is a very in[...]vation.
The Dakota Market carries a full supply of authentic
Indian crafts, tapes, records and cards[...]ATION
Fort Peck Indian craftsmen make all kinds of beaded made the floral design. Most of the Fort Peck's craftsmen
articles, including med[...]es, ties, belts, favor the geometric design of the Plains.
and moccasins. They also make war bonnets, porcupine One of the craft items that Fort Peck is well known for
headdresses, and other articles necessary for dancing among both Indians and whi[...]iniboine and the In the early days of the Presbyterian missionary work,
three divisions of the Sioux, some of whom traditionally Indian women were[...]liked the Lone Star pattern and adopted it for their own.[...]This quilt has become a traditional item of Fort Peck[...]Fort Peck has a number of very fine painters and sketch[...]nationwide for their ability of drumming and singing.[...]for as long as there have been Indians. In the old da[...]northwest of town and they lasted for as long as two weeks[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (46)[...]ilies would drive their teams and wagons
hundreds of miles to get there carrying bundles which they
could use for giveaways, herding or leading cattle or horses
for the same purpose. There was plenty to eat and peo[...]ng and parade
around camp and through the streets of Poplar. When
camp broke up they would leave in clouds of dust, driving
home the cattle or horses they had[...]costumes and headdresses. Prizes
are still given for the best dancers in many categories.
Giveaways ar[...]Indian fam ily ready for da ncing - 1907[...]There are eight celebrations on the r ervation that ar[...]the 4th of July. (2) The Brockton Badland c lebration. (3)[...]largest and oldest of these celebration . The selection of
Indian tepee taken during Sta mpede at Wol[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (47)[...]NDIAN DANCES
Description of dances taken from "Famous Indian Scout"[...]The Sun Dance begins in the month of June, lasting
three or fo[...]walk
up and down the line of mounted Indians and pick out[...]generally costs the
ones that cut the pole a horse each. After the Medicine Pol[...]was cut, it was painted red and set in the middle of the
camp, and stalls out of brush would be made to hold
dancers and singers for the Sun Dance. They would then
bring in the braves and lay them down at the foot of the
pole and pierce holes through the skin of their breasts, and
then a stick about the size of a lead pencil would be placed[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (48)[...]or drinking all day and perhaps all night if
some of their friends would not cut them loose. They would
also pierce holes through the skin of their backs and would
be strung up to this Medici[...]. Others would drag two buffalo heads by the skin of
their backs around the circle of the camp, which was at
least a mile, and some would be laid down at the foot of the
Medicine Pole and twenty or more pieces of flesh about the
size of a JO<t piece would becutfromeacharmandplacedat After the grass dance on July 6, 1907
the foot of the pole. The little children of all ages would be
brought to the Medicine Lodge t[...]ung together and a stick about the length and ize of a
For the Scalp Dance the Medicine Pole was placed in t[...]tied to these bone with a buck kin ·tring
center of camp, all blackened with charcoal. They took the[...]hes long. They take thi tick in their hand
scalps of the enemy and tied these to the end of a long stick. and swing the bones back and for[...]they could string on the stick. The one that strung the mo t
beat the drum and sing and dance[...]teen to twenty, rode
around abreast in the circle of the camp all singing for joy.
There is where the young Indian and young[...]ve with a squaw, they
generally take two or three of their best horses and tie them
to the lodge belon[...]o have a good time.
At this dance the braves tell of the number of hor e they
have stolen from the enemy and the number of enemy they
have killed. After telling all[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (49)[...]had kept the Indian way of life through his collection of[...]ian craft and arts and his leadership as chairman of
the Fort Peck tribes for six years.[...]offered prayers to the Great Spirit for Mr. Eder. His[...]Indian. All Indians held
I the pipestone in reverence and as a symbol of peace. Some[...]peaceful intent when meeting strangers. Treaties that had
Miss Indian America been solemnized by the smoking of the pipe were rarely[...]Many of the legends concern the origin of pipestone. One
Poplar has had the honor of having one of its own Indian of the legends told by our Indian grandfathers is ab[...]eople, and their flesh and blood was
achievement, for any Indian girl competing for this title turned into pipestone. While all the Indians were
must possess outstanding qualities of poise, character and drowning, a great bald eagle flew down so that a beautiful
Indian characteristics and demonstrate her dedication to Indian maiden could catch hold of its feet. The eagle
the betterment of her own people through her educational carried her a way to the top of a cliff above the water. When
efforts and choice of life work. the water[...]father was the war eagle. This was the beginning of a
Fort Peck Reservation was chosen Oil Celebratio[...]ecoming th tenth Miss is representative of the above legend. The stem is grooved
Indian Amer[...]the Evil Spirit. The two ribs near the bowl of the pipe[...]mother. The flaw is a belief of the Indian that only the
THE STORY OF THE Great Spirit is capable of making anything perfect. The
CEREMONIA[...]ich a Ceremonial Peace At the beginning of the peace pipe ceremony, the bowl is
Pipe was int[...]Assiniboine, Fort holds the pipe. Four laps of sweet grass are cut off and laid
Peck Rese[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (50)[...]of the 8th United States Cavalry.[...]for the reservation. He continued in these duties unt[...]when he was made Superintendent of the agency.[...]Indianapolis, Indiana, a daughter of Mathew and Barbara[...]County) with her parents in 1882 at the age of 11 and spent[...]her early years in the Yellowstone Valley.[...]secured employment as instructor of dress making in the[...]h is believed to purify the pipe. It is now ready for any were married on December 12, 1895 at the home of her
ceremony that may take place.[...]he remained as Superintendent of the Indian Agency until
The sacred pipe is rai[...]e believes the humble words he speaks in the bowl of the
pipe travels through the stem and the message[...]e west to the buffalo eagles and the
thunderbirds that the thunderbirds will have mercy upon
his people.[...]highest and there shall be meat from the
buffalo for his people. The pipe is then offered to the north
where the four winds dwell, that there will be no tepees
blown down or torn in two, that the north wind and snows
will have mercy upon his people that they live through the
white snow and be able to w[...]his wife, Grandmother's Traveling Day, sees to
it that there will be no sorrow, no tears, no famine, no[...]stem pointed straight to
the heavens and the bowl of the pipe to the ground; and the Major C.B. Lohmiller house, Superintendent of Indian
last words are spoken. "May these words I have spoken in Agency
the bowl of this pipe be heard by the Great Spirit and be
gra[...]s his pipe upon the ground. history of the reservation. Land were allotted to[...]shown how to farm for a living and the Indian fair were[...]great attractions. The re ervation was open d for white
MAJOR CHARLES B. AND MARY LOHMILLER[...]Besides being superintendent of the agency, Major
Charles B. Lohmiller was bor[...]elf with variou enterpri e
July 17, 1866, the son of John C. Lohmiller who had come in the new town of Poplar. He was a director of the Traders
tQ the United States from Germany in 1861. Charles State Bank of Poplar, the fir t pre ident of the Fir t
acquired his early education in Iowa, and at the age of 16 National Bank of Brockton and for a n um her of year wa
enlisted in the regular army at Davenport, Iowa. One of his active in the cattle business. He wa al o organiz r of the
first assigned duties with the army was at Fo[...]Geronimo campaign during president of the company.
1885-1886, and assisting with the capture of the old Major Lohmiller served in World War I a fir t
warrior. In 1888 he was sent to Fort Bufo[...]r's outbreak, and was also involved in the battle of Lohmiller completed nearly 50 year[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (51)[...]gborne:
This poem was not written~ or composed by thatof life aro fleet[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (52)[...]The heart of the[...]of experienced en-[...]that are re]iable and compe-
tent that are persona11y ac-[...]best of ervice. \V e can al-[...]so furnish a limit d number of
Major C.B. Lohmiller (head turned left) in leadin[...]Grow Twice-Kill Twice enroute to see outside of the re ervation
the "Great White Father" in Washi[...]0,229 people had registered by September 13, 1913 for
land on the Fort Peck Reservation; the drawing to[...]secutively. These numbers were not certain tracts of[...]J. C. Heiland
land, but a representative choice. For example No. 1 has
the whole reservation to choose from - then No. 2 has the Poplar, Montana
rest of the land from which to make a choice, except that
taken by No. 1. If anyone holding a number does not take
advantage of their number, the next succeeding number
w[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (53)[...]One-sixteenth of the claim needed to be under cultivation[...]the right of selection for $3.00 and the right to file on land.[...]Military men could get credit for living on the claim while[...]He did have to make the mandatory
I have liv1..' d on the Fort Pec k amount of improvements on the claim.
Indian R s .! rvation for forty years On a desert claim, the[...]but a feasible
and know every foot of it . irrigation outline presented that was sworn to by two
I hav e pl ~nty of horses and rigs . witnesses as to i[...]bility, and at least $1.00 per acre
I us e g e ntle native driving ho rses[...]rie nc ed and carefu l Most of the land on the reservation had already been[...]allotted to the Indians which was suitable for irrigation
When you us e one of my rigs,[...]projects along the southern boundary of the county near
team and driver, th[...]government had made a feasibility study of this area for
ger of g e tting lost, and you w ill[...]irrigation, and by the time the land was open for filing,
b ~ sure of getting back to town
part of the irrigation system was already in progress.[...]--!Oc a day in cor ra l
G ra i n 25c e xtra .[...]e m ore than 8,000 claims on the Reservation
open for en try and those who went to the expense of Sioux Indians from Montana, partic[...]Poplar, showed the Japs in the BunaGona campaign that
undo ubtedly get firs t chance at the land selection before the game of stealthy scouting could be played by
the rest was thro wn open for general entry on June 30, Americans bette[...]cout post positions and returned with information that
Government by April 1, 1914. If one needed to fin[...]icularly as to weak points
or obtain the services of a land locator this was held by the men of the Rising Sun.
recommended to be done before filing time. The other Take the case of Staff Sgt. John Red Door, formerly a
choice was t[...]n at Poplar. Once he stole
could get the services of a Government land loca tor to through th[...]an patrol in a thrust
appear with you at the time of filing, who would s wear that at a big pill box that had been giving the Americans plenty
he had seen the land and that he was g iving an accurate of trouble. Red Door crept up to the coconut-log stronghold
description and valuation of the property. and tossed gr[...]Red Door's patrol knocked off six
the filing fees of $16.00 (desert claims had no filing fees), of them. Red Door was hit, but Sgt. Arthur Belgard,
and have 10 days to look over the land and pay one-fifth of another Indian from Poplar saw him fall and carried him
the appraised value of the land. The remaining four-/ if ths to safe[...]it all at once before the five years Mo st of these true Americans have Indian last names, as
were up. A popular method of proof is the commutation for example Pfc. Lloyd Half Red and Sgt. George Red Elk.
proof which stated that at the end of 14 mon th s' actual Some have conventional names like Captain Duncan
residence, the appraised valuation of the land m ust be paid Dupree, a Montana Stat[...]ralian town celebrated when Pfc. Roland L.
months of the year for three years. It was not required to Pussick , an Indian medic, survived the battle of
have your family also residing on the claim if not p ractical Sanananda Point. Residents of the town were concerned
to do so; but the[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (54)[...]CHANGES IN INDIAN HOUSING

Type of shade used by Sioux Indians and wood pile for Ormsby smoking peace pipe. Joshua Wetsit in pic[...]dentified.

Single dwelling house - taken west of Wolf Point Apartment size dwelling - taken east of Poplar

Government Indian Housing at Wo[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (55)[...]e Brockton Indian Celebration in 1919.

Fourth of July Celebration in Brockton - 1921. Camping at the Brockton Indian Celebration west of[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (56)[...]linic. Jakie Wirth house.

Headquarters for Indian Police and Interpreters - 1894.
Maj[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (57)Dr. Atkinson visiting Indian camp east of Poplar in 1887.

Dr. Atkinson at Deerta[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (58)The ceremonial costumes of the men were usually
elaborate. Isaac Miller, Jam[...]The Indians call the cemetery the "village of the dead".
They visited it at certain seasons of the year, to converse[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (59)[...]owing the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, what is now Valley C:Ounty belonged to
the District of Louisiana, then to the territory of Louisiana with St. Louis as the capitol. Later subdivisions of this
area to which the valley belonged were gradually absorbed int.o the Union.[...]I t,11[...]y 26, 1864, the Montana Territory was created out of the Idaho
territory. Above are the nine original counties created at that time.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (60)[...]I fro 1
.t'[...]'I[...]~
I.> Rcsc

IN I869: Meagher County was created out of Gallatin County and part of Oiouteau County. In 1870 Dawson
took half of Big Horn County, boasting a population at that time of 136 white male adults, leaving all of Big Horn
County with but 26. Glendive was selecte[...]I a 8'i[...]of v'C\ll e~[...]Coun·h-,

AlW ABUNDANCE OF C O ~ : Following statehood in 1889, Montana scarcely r embl d th original
territory, except for its outer boundaries. In 1893 Valley County was created out of Dawson County with th
Missouri River as th[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (61)[...]COl~T'JT SPLl'ITING ERA: In 1912 sizeable Valley County was cut almost down the middle to form Bla[...]the county seat; and finallypartofBlaine and part of
\ 'alley was taken to forn1 Phillips.[...]--rh e F1NAL Split I Cf t'1[...]Rooge\/eJt ,,,,

FeAgus

/ I

FINAL CARVING: 'll1c final slice of the Legislative knife came in 1919 when RooscY It[...]iels county was formed from the
nortJ1cast corner of\'allcY and a small sliver was taken from Sheridan CountY. , 0 CI I.Al re,&_~ I lA \'E BEE r W)E[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (62)IN THE BEGINNING ...

No story in the formation of Roosevelt county would be
complete without first relating some of the background
on the formation of Sheridan County. The formation of
Roosevelt County is almost like the re-run of an old movie
produced about ten years before the[...]ng.
The first attempt at dividing the huge area of land
known as Valley came in 1908 when the people in the east
and nort[...]cided the county seat at Glasgow
was too far away for any kind of sufficient contact with its
residents. This petit[...]On November 8, 1938 the taxpayers voted $25,000 for the
who were at that time promoting division-Bainville and construction and equipping of the present court house. The
Plentywood.[...]W.P.A. appropriated $42,590 for the construction. The
A second attempt to divid[...]the petition was turned down by the state because
of insufficient valuation in the proposed new area of four
million dollars. ·
In a December issue of the 1910 Culbertson Searchlight
we read, " COUNTY DIVISION-Several projects on foot For Senator, H.C. Walker, Poplar; Representative R.S.
in Eastern Valley County." Plentywood had devised a Richardson, Antelope; heriff, T.A. ourtne , Antelop ;
scheme of her own to cut off the northeast end of Valley (This heriff elected and killed at nowden four day after
County which would be composed of 55 townships- taking office), ount[...]H.B. Hill ,
county divided a short distance west of Brockton, but not Mondak; urveyor Olaf Bergh[...]lar, with Medicine Lake as the county seat. of chool , Irene Murphy Enterpri e (near Froid)·
Cu[...]proposed in 1908 with the dividing line just west of Poplar Administrator, iels hri ten en, Dagmar; Jerk of
and running straight north, with Culbertson the c[...]Johnson Poplar.
In April 1912, William Powers of Bainville, assisted by During thi conventi[...]t
known as the "Lundquist Petitions". Dan McKay of ballot and the upcomin[...]olin,
also assisted with the petitions. The Valley County Medicine Lake; R. 1[...]zl r ,
Commissioners approved the application of these petitions Froid; F.W . atli u[...]per accounts, it seems there wa little of Bain
protest over the now proposed county boundar[...]o
west boundary being as it is now separating Valley and committ
Roosevelt, but running straig[...]t is Froid i r
now Daniels County. The[...]th
the middle; Bainville because, with the help of Mondak, coun[...]d lo withdraw from th<' race. "The
been open for settlement and apparently th in uffici nt[...]itt th n anted
white population in the area of Poplar and Wolf Point did to support the nor[...]m r in th ar a
not merit them much consideration for a count eat at thi d in fav r of t
time.[...]on non-
1913 for the purpose of selecting a nam for the new count bal P ba beat
and proposing a slate of officer to be 1 cted. Th 140 L[...]Foi'lowing thi tion,
delegate chose the name of" HERIDA "ov r th half Lak i d · n in Di t 'o urt[...]thi tim th o r of the countv er
people selected from what i now Roo evelt ounty.) involv[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (63)[...]tive Richardson never got the two Boards of County Commissioners to meet with the
to serve si[...]e Assembly District Judge on second Tuesday of March, 1919 in
had adjourned and there was no special session before the Plentywood for the apportionment of indebtedness.
next regular election.[...]Section 6. Sheridan County to make list of delinquent[...]taxes; and to collect same. Any surplus of funds to be[...]Section 7. Pertains to the adjustment of indebtedness[...]t County commissioners authorized
IN THE MAITER OF THE CREATION OF to sell bonds for county indebtedness.
ROOSEVELTCOUNTY,MONTANA Section 9. Division of school districts and the
apportionment of school district moneys.
HOUSE B[...]empowered to issue a contract for transcribing records
Passed Febr[...]from Sheridan County; provides for delivery of records,
Legislative Assembly - State of Montana and compensation of clerk for transcription.[...]Section 11. All actions pending in District Court of the
"An.Act to Create the County of Roosevelt, Designate its old county which pertain to the new county shall be
Boundaries and providing for its Organization and transferred to the District Court to which the County of
Government, and to Change the Boundary of Sheridan Roosevelt is attached, and s[...]said action had originated in District Court of Roosevelt
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of County.
Montana:[...]following persons are hereby named
Section 1. That all that portion of the State of Montana and appointed to fill the offices as s[...]e
as and shall be Roosevelt County, in the State of Montana, State Representative John[...]Beginning at a point at the northwest corner of County Commissioner Frank[...]P.J. Nacey
Northeast corner of Township 32 North, Range 53 East; Assessor E.J. Rice
thence South a distance of about 6 miles along the Range Clerk Distric[...]e between Range 53 and 54 to the Southeast corner of Clerk and Recorder John C. Dwy[...]Ernest L. Walton
Township line a distance of about six miles between Coroner[...]fson
Township 31 and 32, to the Northeast corner of Township Superintendend-Schools Mrs. Nina McFarlane
31 and 32, to the Northeast corner of Township 31 North, Public Administrator
Range 54 East; thence south a distance of about six miles County Surveyor Scott Hart
to the Southeast corner of Township 31 North, Range 54
East; thence East alo[...]en
Township 30 and 31 North to the boundary line of the
States of Montana and North Dakota; thence South to the All of said officers shall have the power to perform the
Missouri River; thence West on a meandering line of the same duties and entitled to the same privileges as by law
Missouri River to the East boundary of Valley county; con{erred on like officers in other counties. All officers
thence in a Northerly direction along the boundary line of shall give bonds and take the oath of office as required by
Valley and Sheridan counties to the point of beginning. law, and approved by the State Auditor. Terms of[...]be until the next regular general
Section 2. That for judicial purposes the said County
of Roosevelt shall be attached to and become a part of the election.[...]ss county until the
Seventeenth Judicial District of the State of Montana. same is reclassified as provided by law.
That the temporary county seat of said County of Section 14. Roosevelt County Commis[...]sub-divide county into
provided by the provisions of Chapter 135 of the Acts of the municipal townships and road districts. Justices of the
12th Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana, Peace and road supervisors provided for. Hold over officers
approved March 9th, 1911.[...]il term expires.
(NOTE: The following sections of the bill creating Section 15. The county boundaries of Sheridan County
Roosevelt County are abbreviated.[...]all be altered so as to con{orm to the boundaries of
Section 3. All laws applicable to the several counties of Roosevelt County as established by this Act.
M[...]l force and effect
appointed or elected officers, except as otherwise provided from and after its passage and approval.
in this Act.
Section 4. The Board of County Commissioners shall This Bill ha[...]five days
meet within 15 days after the approval of this Act to select (Sunday excepted) and the L[...]being in
a chairman and proceed with the business of organizing Session, it has become a law[...]signature, this eighteenth day of February, A.D. 1919.
Section 5. Pertains to the Apportionment of
indebtedness of Sheridan County as of January 1, 1919;[...]ties; Secretary of State[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (64)[...]Bids were put out for County Printing. Bid No. 1 from[...]k. Afewweekslaterthe bid was awarded to
suffering of trying to split a county through the route of the Poplar Standard for $5,000.00.
petition, referendum, and vote in tryi[...]jurisdiction
County organized and separated from Valley county. To over all county electio[...]The bitterness, the broken promises, and the ploy of of the precinct boundary lines were in effect for more than
politics during the campaign for the county seat of 40 years.
Sheridan County were to carry over into the organization
of Roosevelt County. The landscape and the scenery was
somewhat different but many of the players were the same. Precinct 1 Mondak Town Hall
A committee composed of J.W. Schnitzler of Froid, Precinct 2 Bainville, Ward 1 Jail
William Powers of Bainville and Ernest Walton of Poplar Precinct 3 Bainville, Ward 2 Fire Hall
sponsored and lobbied for a bill to create a new county from Precinct 4 Bainville, outlying N.E. of Bainville
the southern end of Sheridan County, to be known as[...]McCabe School
Representative John Nyquist of Froid. During the floor Precinct 7[...]Peterson School
discussion on the bill the name of the county was changed Precinct 8 Ente[...]Precinct 13 Culbertson, Ward 2 City Hall
for five days while the Legislature was in session, t[...]on School
creating Roosevelt County was unique in that all county Precinct 16 Pryor[...]ol House
there any provisions in the bill calling for an election to Precinct 21 Tunison[...]23 Wolf Point, Ward 1 Chamlin Implement
Weinrich of Mondak John Anderson of Froid, and R.E. Precinct 24 Wolf Point, Ward 2 Fire Hall
Patch of Poplar w~re not without some experience.[...]er Bert Tyler Place
were still in Valley County, elected again when we were in P[...]ullivan's Place
Sheridan County and now appointed for Roosevelt; all Precinct 28 Volt[...]0 was
Anderson was elected as County Commissioner of Wide Awake Community and No[...]. R.E. Patch was
the only 'newcomer' to the field of county government, but Many of the municipal township officialB were already
he[...]ment on March 7, 1919.
Plentywood in the forenoon of March 4, 1919. The first
order of business was to select a site for the county seat of Municipal Township 1 J.C. Maguire,[...]selected. We will pro?ably Justice of the Peace Charles Arivee, Mondak
never know the exact reasoning behind the selection of Constable John S[...]evious court house selection and Justice of the Peace K.L. Hansen, McCabe
(2) there were plenty of vacant buildings which could house Const[...]hey instructed John pwyer, Justice of the Peace Frank Moon, Culbertson
Clerk and[...]able Wilfred Woods, Culbertson
for all offices. They rented some bmldmgs from Charle[...]ipal Township 4 S.C. Moore, Poplar
Arivee for the temporary offices. . Justice of the Peace
Officials were appointed to fill all[...]e contained m House Bill No. Justice of the Peace Charles Gordon, Wolf Poi[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (65) The month of April was equally busy. County roads were all against the creation of a new county out of Roosevelt.
de ignated and the contracts let. (S[...]the residents in the eastern end of Roosevelt County. If the
Bid for caring for the county poor and the County farmers will unite on Culbertson for the county seat we can
Physician were let. Dr. C.J. Munch won the bids for the win, if we stay divided between two towns, NEITHER
eastern end. o one had bid for the western end. WILL WIN." Mo[...]written as the
On April 20th, bids were let for the classification ofland results of the election showed.
in Roosevelt County. Bids[...]at 2.1 ¢ per acre or not less than 700,000 acres for 2.05¢
per acre, or all the land in Roosevelt C[...]tana.
1 5/ 8¢ per acre, or lands east of the Big Muddy at 1 7/8¢ per : :0 1

acre, and for deeded lands on the Reservation only 2 1/2¢
per[...]nish all forms and :.,- o:::-dcr of t ,1e :o::ird of Count:,· '-'o:·T.1is .1 ioncr3, :·ou o:::-o te[...]of !~oosovol t Co1mt7, ::ind you ::irJ instructed to[...]of.fi oc, to th0 torr:1 o~ op.Lo ;.• a nd c::it,ib[...]the County
Commissioners with a petition praying for a special
election to determine the location of a permanent county
seat. The Board answered on M[...]ind it
in ufficient. ow therefore, be it resolved that the petition
be, and is hereby denied."
On[...]who had to call a special session during
harvest for its consideration. Attorney L.A. Brown
appeared for the petitioners who then wanted to call a
' pecial election" for a new county seat. But there was
trouble in chec[...]lf Point 1224.
petition was denied on the grounds that it was not signed Poplar was clearly the winner of this election and on
by 100 persons whose names h[...]Wednesday November 10, 1920 the Board of County
electors in some registration district est[...]evelt County in the needed buildings for the new Court House. The Strand
last general elec[...]and all four met The jubilant citizens of Poplar motored to Mondak in
the same fate. An art[...]many cars and by Friday morning the last of the records
the Commissioners as being "crafty".[...]the
general on ovember 2. It seems safe to report that at some
point or time, politicians had at least tried to make it
appear that the eastern end of the county could at some
future time break from t[...]ays over the
past 50 years.
The main campaign for the county seat was in the
eastern end of the county with the towns of Froid, Bainville
and Culbertson as the contenders[...]aw
votes in each town and rural area, were a part of the
campaign. Froid was eventually induced to give up the
fight because of lack of population and other factors,
leaving the towns of Bainville and Culbertson in the
truggle. Poplar stood alone in the middle of the county
and Wolf Point on the western edge. The population of
registered voters was quite evenly distributed-about2200
east of the Muddy and about the same west of the Muddy.
An article in the Culbertson Searchlight of October 1920
said, "There will never be another division of Roosevelt
County. The legal requirements as to po[...]ol" Court House in Poplar -
valuation, and number of square miles in each county are[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (66)was rented for $1.00 a year and county offices were[...]23 22
Room was located in the top story of the Walker Opera 34 unknown[...]2
In an article in the November 12, 1920 issue of the 36 unknown[...]own 12 0
anticipated that a fear{ul roar will be raised and the people
who[...]unty seat will be far from
pleased. It is certain that it will be immensely more The o~cial canvass on November 18, 1922 showed
convenient for the general public to have the county seat in[...]votes and Wolf Point with 2003 votes.
the middle of the county than either the extreme east or (Later additions of these numbers showed Poplar with
west end of the county". Too bad people didn't recall these[...]nd Wolf Point with 2012 votes but the first
words of wisdom for the next election in 1922. addit[...]e was never any explanation why discrepancy, for the canvass board also showed 3865 to
it was nece[...]s to be located. Then quite by chance an for. Under dispute seemed to be precincts No. 3 Bainv[...]action was filed in District
necessary 51 percent of the votes cast to make Wolf Point Court protesting the election by Dr. J.L. Atkinson of
the permanent county seat, and is making a strenu[...]which
campaign to capture county seat as a prize for the town of prohibited the moving of the county seat to Wolf Point. On
Wolf Point."[...]and appointed Scott Hart and John Moran as
towns of Froid and Bainville were still thinking in terms of special 24-hour guards to safeguard the electi[...]thereby supported Wolf Point the vault of the County Assessors Office. On January 17,
hopin[...]ot vote at this time which left about one-
fourth of the population of Poplar without any say in the
matter. Ballots cas[...]17 18 Recorders Of/ice le{t to right: Glen Peelman, Jake Seel,
8[...]63 7 protesting the action of Wolf Point parties for having
14 Culbertson Outlying 108 13 opened the election sacks of precincts 23, 24 and 31. The
15 Brockton 81 10 Supreme Court of Montana wa then asked to canvas
16 Pryor[...]precincts 3, 23, 24, 28 and 31. No result of the canvas wa
17 Smoke Creek[...]9 Poplar Ward 2 210 I rendered a decision on February 8, 192[...]28 0 Spaulding of Helena represented Poplar, while George
23 Wolf Point Ward 1 6 230 Hurd of Great Fall repre ented Wolf Point.
24 Wol[...]1 Impatient with the long due-proces of law, Wolf Point
25 Wolf Point Outlying[...]212 citizens moved the county records (except Clerk of Court,
26 Tyler 23[...]5 February 15, Chief Justice Callaway i sued an order that
28 Volt 0[...]as settled. The records were moved back to Poplar that
30 Wide Awake 6[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (67)[...]1924. The old railroad division office was leased
for $75.00 a month. This building remained as the cou[...]on office was located just a shade south and west of
the present depot-after Court House it became Bea[...]st court trial was held in Mondak during the fall of[...]with C.E. Comer as Judge. There was no indication of
what the trial was about.

Taken in front of the old Court House in Wolf Point about
1932. Bac[...]n Curran in Treasurer's office; Tom
Forbes, Clerk of Court. Front row: Cal Rodgers, Clerk &
Recorder;[...]office; Martha Klodt, in Clerk Hanging scaffold that was built for the only legal hanging
& Recorder's office; Lois[...]ce; Evelyn Bahn (McNeil) in County Superintendent of Boyd is on the steps and the jailer, who is[...]ols' office; Ella Reiter (Zimmerman) Deputy Clerk of the side.
Court; Margaret Ulrich, County Att[...]Invitations were issued for the hanging-those who
Once the fight for, the location of the county seat was received the invitations w[...]AS USUAL" attitude was Sheriffs on that date without pay. The private execution
adopted b[...]losure 32x70 feet, 18 feet high, on the
residents of Roosevelt County.[...]Rathert Furniture) with atlin and Geer attorney for the
State and Marron and Mourn a attorney for the de£ n e.

This is a picture of the first criminal trial in District Court
Back r[...]nown, Joe in Roosevelt County. Attorneys for the state were Catlin
Frerich, undersheriff, Todd Shamley. Front row: Judge and Greer; for defense, Marron and Moum. At this time,
Go[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (68) The politics of Roosevelt County was, until about 1940,[...]being apportioned out of their office. The state's new
predominantly Repub[...]required the change based on population
officers of the county appointed by the Legislative act[...]figures supplied by the State Department of Community
creating the county in 1919. The few ex[...]ty Commissioners are elected at large but
offices of State Representative and County Treasurer[...]ceeding any election.
been to the Democratic side of the ledger. Again there have[...]Commissioners are elected for six-year terms but
been exceptions, in the offices of the County Clerk and staggered so that one Commissioner term will expire every
Recorder,[...]l be based.
district was formed with the counties of Roosevelt,
Sheridan, Daniels and the eastern part of Valley into
District 4. From this district we elected tw[...]ederal ruling, which in Montana
essentially means that each State Representative
repre ents approximatel[...]1__(-.,._1
you can see that Roosevelt County met the sad fate of being[...].. ~ ··- I
enatorial districts. House districts 1 and 2 ea[...]I[...]I

State Representative; and combined they make Sen[...]rict o. 1 with one State Senator. The western end of[...]: I
the county is combined with parts of Daniels and Valley[...]·-T :· . ~------:..- ~~~
for House District No. 3. District o. 3 is combined w[...]:· ,} . !·-
House District o. 4 in Valley County to make Senatorial[...]_ I/ ...~ ...,[...]I[...]Thus one can see with a quick glance at the map, that the
science of politics has greatly changed in the last five
yea[...]ries of the new districts and the bold, ably.
sense of unity within party ranks, as well as meet financi[...]determined have been the same since the
inception of th e county. The law mandates three county[...]The new Montana constitution provided for a Study
d istri cts a nd protected the present co[...]forms of County government and present at least one[...]were: Position No. 1 David Harmon of Bainville; Position[...]No. 2 Harry Axtmann of Poplar (resigned--John LaRoche[...]. l~t
I[...]Because the election on the proposals of the County[...]I[...]I officials were placed on the primary ballot i[...]resignation of the County Clerk and Recorder Eleanor[...]Schmeltzer and the death of Sheriff Leo Cody, left the[...]in terms of county government under the Study[...]Commission's proposals, or how long the term of[...]appointments could be made for. Appointments were made
LECl LATJVE Dl.STRICf[...]ucorial diatrict 2. TIie e11tin - I• lad..ie.l la Z2 for each office until the next election for that office is
M•taaa iodieMft lin - ,.,,,,_.i[...]en, M011 tana •...tie• eled.laf tJoe cllotrid I
Oiotricu I ud Z io -terial dlatritt I , 3 aad 4 pub 6c..,,..;u •- · i[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (69)[...]oint or elect a
Study Commission to determine the kind of city
government which will best suit the future needs of that
city.
Forms of county and city governments are to be reviewed
ev[...]Senators from
Thomas R. Forbes Clerk of Court Roosevelt County for over fifty years.Henry Lowe, 1921-
P.J. Nacey[...]or, 1953-1955,
Nina McFarlan Supt. of Schools Postmaster, Wolf Point; Sta[...]r Poplar. New desks were purchased for future use.
A. W. Gustafson County C[...]Representative
Nina McFarlan Supt. of Schools H.A. Schoenig[...]ator Thomas R. Forbes Clerk of ourt
A.W. Gustafson Coroner[...]Margaret Ingelhart upt:-. of hool
John Hoffman J.P. Froid Twp.[...]Andrew Harbo nty i ioner
W.F. Wood Constab[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (70)[...]ble Culbertson
Margaret . Inglehart Supt. of Schools[...]r Jud. Twp. Margaret N. Inglehart Supt. of Schools[...]able Culbertson
Thomas R. Forbes Clerk of Court[...]roid Jud. Twp.
Margaret . Ingelhart upt. of chools C.E. Manning[...]Thomas Forbes Clerk of Court
Charles Jacobs Constabl[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (71)[...]Jud. Twp.
Margaret N. lnglehart Supt. of Schools C.W. Kullander[...]Thos. R. Forbes Clerk of Court
Dan Mitchell Constable Poplar Ju[...]. Twp. Myrtle Nord wick Supt. of Schools
Jack Sillerud Constable Wolf Po[...]table Wolf Point
Myrtle Nord wick Supt. of Schools[...]le Myrtle Nordwick upt. of chool
Jud. T[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (72)[...]wp. Myrtle Nord wick Supt. of Schools
Fred Turner J.P. Poplar T[...]Jud. Twp.
Guy A. Miller Clerk of Court
Jack Allen J.P. Springdale[...]int Twp. Guy A. Miller Clerk of Court
William DeWitt J.P. Wolf Point[...]id Jud. Twp. Alice Tinker Supt. of Schools
John Forsyth Consta[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (73)[...]6-Yr. Term I.L. Ramstad J.P. Poplar Jud. Twp.[...]nty Commissioner
Alice Fossen Supt. of Schools Eleanor A. Schmeltze.c[...]Alice Fossen Supt. of Schools
W.A. (Andy) Frick J.P. Wolf Poin[...]stable Bainville
Guy Miller Clerk of Court[...]cted Officials
Jack Allen Justice of the Peace 1956
J.W. Wolf Justice of the Peace[...]s Guy Miller Clerk of Court
1950[...]. Shuman Sheriff I.L. Ramstad J.P. Poplar Jud. Twp.[...]Jud. Twp.
Alice Fossen Supt. of Schools H. Johnson[...]Trea ur r
Guy A. Miller Clerk of Court W. . Han on[...]Alice Fossen upt. of chool
Carsten Beck County Co[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (74)[...]ldow J.P. Culbertson Jud. Twp.
I.L. Ramstad J.P. Poplar J ud. Twp.[...]ud. Twp. Addie Carpenter Clerk of District Court
Harold Ausk Const[...]ected Officials
Clerk of Court[...]Leo Cody Sheriff
I.L. Ramstad J.P. Poplar Jud . Twp.[...]Alice Fossen Supt. of Schools
Jud. Twp.[...]On November 7, 1962 Guy Miller resigned a s Clerk of[...]Addie Carpen ter Clerk of Court
Alice Fossen Supt. of Schools George Shanks[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (75)[...]County Attorney
Harry Axtman Supt. of Schools Virginia Plouffe[...]Harry Axtman Supt. of Schools
Lucille Timm J.P. Culbertson Jud. Tw[...]strict Court
Lorene Roberts Clerk of Court
Kenneth Nyquist County Commi[...]Culbertson Jud. Twp. for the Common Good of the
Nick Nickoloff J.P. Poplar Jud. Twp. People of Roosevelt County
John R. Wimmer J[...]ounty enator for 1 ear (1957-
FROM[...]ill continue to fairly represent the
people of Roosevelt County, as well
as the State of Montana.
YOUR VOTE WILL BE APPRECIATED

CIRCULATED ANO PAID FOR BY STANLEY NEES, POPLAR. MONT .[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (76)[...]Coach

Train going through Poplar winter of 1 07[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (77)[...]ir
with foam" mean more than just words to a song for any landings. Captains and pilots got the[...]came more important and more frequent,
a distance of some 3,000 miles, the weaving, rambling[...]landmarks, current quirks or
river, with hundreds of tumbling currents was sustained points (points-small patches of woodlands) river bends
by fretful mountain stream[...]cherous crossings (where the current
through most of its journey to the Mississippi. cr[...]s and unexpected.
beds more than 550 million tons of silted earth for deposit Most accidents (other than boiler explosions) happened
in the Mississippi, earning the nickname of the Big at sharp bends in the river. Wrecks, while they stayed
Muddy. Only scattered clumps of willow brakes and some above ground, serv[...]ion marks and lent their
cotton wood trees remain of the vast Missouri valley of names to the places where accidents occurred. Once sunk,
timberlands which once offered sanctuary for the Sioux they added more treachery to th[...]cords indicate
and Assiniboine Indians, ha bi tat for abundant game birds there were as many as 500 boats wrecked between St. Louis
and animals, and fuel for forts and fireboxes of the and Fort Benton.
steamboats which o[...]age up the Missouri from St. Louis to Fort
nerves of steel, telescopic vision both day and night, and[...]rd and sketches his impressions made fromthe deck of
of the Captains traveling the Mighty Mo.[...]he river were very much awed at their first sight of
it were always an active part of any community or fort. the "big medicine c[...]e Great Spirit whom they believed to
nearest bend for expected boats. For these boats were the be offended.
very existence of the people who lived in remote, northern[...]the appearance of the steamer puffing and paddling, and[...]ushing by their villages, which were on the banks of the
The Mighty Missouri River - "Rushing and dest[...]Empire Builders in the Great West."
in the spring of the year.

The log of the steamboat "Robert Campbell" left the[...]record of their trip up the Missouri which gives some idea[...]of navigation problems. The four most important item[...]storms and lack of wood. Running out of wood or fuel was[...]duck for more Indian attacks. Running out of food was[...]hunt. Buffalo and other animals for food were plentiful,[...]but Indian attacks were too bad for anyone to leave ship[...]Mighty Missouri - "Wide and Peaceful" in the fall of Yellowstone" made its maiden voyage up the[...]the late 1840's many of the trappers and hunters who[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (78)[...]on no longer found prevent the build up of unwanted sandbars, which in turn
this necessary a[...]swirling headlong through the narrow confines of its
Traders E.H. Durfee and Colonel Peck owned a fleet of 14 banks. Other swollen streams and rivers em[...]e late 1860's Durfee and remembers the year of "ITS" year of the big flood. Ice jams
Peck bought two small tra[...]their return trips. The caused flooding for short periods of time.
Indian reservation was later named for one of these
trading posts "The Fort Peck Indian Reservation".
The Benton Packet Company of Bismark eventually
took over much of the commerce on the upper Missouri. In
1883 they advertised that the "Steamships Rosebud,
Josephine and Dacatah" a[...]A Missouri River Steamer thought to be the "City of
Mandan".

The coming of the railroad through the north country
gradually choked off the big bulk of river commerce. Ice jam in the Missour[...]Stevens freighted on the
Sam Lilly and the Mondak for several years. George
Littlefield freighted from[...]teamboat travel had ended. Keeping the river free of
snags, fallen and dead trees and other debris hel[...]Travel on the Mi ouri did not · for man[...]ummer, aero ic i n d of[...]dependent on the Ferry boats, for the prole iding brid
1921 - Mandan snagboa[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (79)[...]ed the same dangers to the Captains and operators
of the ferry boats as it had to the steamships.
T[...]w channels and the rich
farm lands are now a part of the river. Islands come and go, Fort Peck D[...]be seen when the water is very low. east of the dam. Designed to handle 255,000 cubic feet of
Rip-rapping along the banks is common and althoug[...]river banks and ultimately the lives and property of the
people who live there.
As early as 1927, the United States War Department,
with the Corp of Army Engineers, were making surveys
along the Missouri for feasible dam sites. However it was
not until 1932 that the final plans were drawn for a large
earth filled dam to be located in Valley County. The flood
waters stored by Fort Peck impo[...]d be
discharged during low periods and compensate for
deficiency of flow from lack of rainfall or diversion of
waters from the Missouri and its tributaries for irrigation.
Conversely, during high water periods[...]caused untold amounts of damage to roads, railroads and[...]tural land. Other benefits will be the prevention of
soil erosion, insurance of domestic water supply for more
than 20 towns and cities, and a supply of hydro-electric[...]s were mostly fulfilled. Dammed and diked,
Garden of the Gods South of Culbertson the Mighty Missouri is seldom thought of as a historical[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (80)[...]highway, for which, at one time our very existence[...]now span the wide Missouri, we think of the well-developed[...]beauty of areas still left untouched by the h and of man.

Dumping rock and gravel to close the Mis[...]Dredges working in the vicinity of Park Grove at the Fort[...]ve tons each and are placed on the up-stream face of the
dam.[...]the top of the bridge to make ure th wa wa cl ar for[...]not, he waited for the approaching vehicle b it t am and[...]e" bridge. Now, however, a modern tern of i nal
Dredges making the fill at Fort Peck D[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (81) One-Lane Bridges

Built for steamboat days , Snowden span has a lift section[...]hand power and laborers
old telephone. The name of the bridge is still determined by pushed on long poles stuck in the windlass. After an hour
which side of the river you live on-crossing from of backbreaking work, the section had only been rais[...]Snowden about two feet, and it was decided that would take too long.
Bridge. If you are coming f[...]up the
The railroad tracks run down the center of the bridge and river to Fort Peck.
planks are placed level with the rails to allow for car or Many of the workmen on the construction job were
truck t[...]et south. They really suffered from the cold that first winter
long, with tracks 55 feet above the[...]awbridge in 1912 and 1913. Stories are told of the deaths of workers
type lift section was needed to let the[...]who fell from the span into open, swirling waters of the
under the bridge, and is 271 feet long and w[...]ine could raise the lift section 22 feet in one of the piers which were sunk 80 ft. into bedrock.
in[...]remained in the pier.
During the construction of Fort Peck Dam, large barges The bridge w[...]nd in use by 1914. This was
loaded with materials for the dam could not pass under. the only b[...]0 I S Mr N[...]I Ir

Before Snowden bridge was built, everyt[...]Or.,ce you crossed bridge after phoning for clearance and[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (82)[...]warrant for the arrest of Collins on a charge of gambling
"City of Mondak"ferryboat, 1913. Name of ferryboat may and causing trouble in[...]k are construction camp, Deputy Wilson of Mondak who had
visible in background.[...], he left the office with Wilson' gun.
remembered that this system of collecting bridge fees was Outside he fi[...]m
still in effect until the late 1930's. The toll for a car and instantly. Collins then turned the[...]officers' guns and fled into the brush. A posse of about 200
charged another ten cents and men passe[...]across, it was fifty cents he could not escape.
for the horse and twenty-five cents for the man. During the A few of the cooler heads talked the crowd out of an
depression years it seems that many-a-young man was immediate lyn[...]as placed in the Mondak
stowed a way in the trunk of a car to save that precious jail. Burmeister had been taken to the hospital in Williston,
extra dime of toll. One story is told of an ingenious North Dakota.
invention of a kind of "swinging rope ladder affair" on the When word came of Burmeister's death about nine P.M.,
underside of the bridge, which allowed the young men of the mob waited no longer, storming the[...]the neare t telephon pole.
without spending most of their day's wages on the bridge Whether[...]to the jail is one of the debatables. However, the bod wa
Clarence Romo of Bain ville was the first person in Model returned to the jail that night, but wa gon th n xt
T days to cross the Sno[...]morning. But one thing seem certain, a body of a color d
before the other planks were put in for other travel. man, whether Collin or[...]most of the summer. And it i known the labor r at th[...]o such thing as obtaining
an accurate description of this incident. Four different[...]newspapers each gave a somewhat different version of the
episode. The following is a synopsis taken fr[...]en bridge over the located du outh of ulb rt on. In 1903 a mor uh tantial
Missouri for the Great Northern Railroad. ollins wa[...]r on. When Patter on In th fall of 1904 Georg Bak ream from Willi ton and
came back[...]i hack, ollin and mad a deal for th f rr whi h wa till run bv c bl . Hi ,
Patterso[...]wif and on , ~am in thl'
planned to use her as a kind of ho tage to keep Patter on pring of 1905 and op rat d th ferr until 1910. Th y aL·o[...]n ar th riv r.
miles east, and wore out a warrant for ollin ' arre t. Ed and harli L nd took ov r for a hort p riod and in
The newly elected heriff,[...]H. Burmeister, both from operat d it for the n xt thre y ar . tafford and Hroob
Plentywood[...]ridan ounty, drove were on th board of the first ferry compan.v[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (83)[...]rated by Lewis "JIMMY" the ferry south of Culbertson served until the
Solberg.[...]Dainie Finnicum built a ferryboat in 1912 for the[...]boat maybe two seasons. Dainie then sold it to Harry[...]Finnicum to May Holt, daughters of William Holt, who[...]for his daughter Mona.
About 1914 the city formed t[...]tled on their place,
Adee Vail operated the ferry for the next several years. A their house burned,[...]perated it until 1934 when the Missouri throat that ended his life in 1921 leaving Ann with fi[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (84)[...]s the river at
Treasurer's office. Nineteen years of the 26 she has been Wolf Point, a group of Brockton businessmen bought the
Deputy Treasurer.[...]ver below
Brockton was built and owned by a group of southside
farmers and ranchers. It was a cable fe[...]s
pushed across the river by the current. One end of the boat
was pulled up close to the cable, the ot[...]ran it two or three days a
week.
They had a lot of trouble with the cable ferry, the river
went up a[...]gasoline engine on it.
Bill Breeze with the help of deck hand Ralph Boyce ran it.[...]the
"City of Brockton Ferry" - 19:U[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (85)[...]Lar on sold the Fawn to Bill Fisher. Bill
ran it for a few years but it was growing old and the fear of
dumping a truckload of good spring wheat in the Missouri
River convinced him to junk it out in 1946.
He old part of it, the paddle wheel, rope, an.chor, etc. to
the[...]POPLAR FERRY BOATS
o one knows for sure just when the first ferry was used Jack M[...]Ed Hubbard,
in the Poplar area, but it is thought that the government Harold Bawden, Jim Stewart, John Olson, Tom Bawden,
operated some kind of a boat when Poplar was a fort. Shipley[...]round.
When the Colgan ranch started southeast of Poplar, they
used a flat boat with a cable for their own use and did on
occasion cross suppliers[...]it to Everett Chaney. Chaney traded this boat for "The
contract to cut wood for the steamboats traveling the Fort Peck"[...]d it to Harry Hagen in 1946. He ran it
both sides of the river. The ferry worked fine as long as the for the remainder of 1946 and in 1947 sold the boat to Bert
winds were[...]the winds were strong, or the water Forrest of Poplar. Forrest and Bob Cornelia ran it until
was[...]was inoperable. This ferry crossing July of '4 7, then hired Jim Davis for the remainder of the
was about three miles east of Poplar. year. Clarence[...]s.
The next boat, to become known as the "City of Poplar", ....
wa built by Dick[...]e engines. It had two A frames hinged on the
back of the hull, counter balanced by weights in the cab,[...]McCone County
line. Francis Rowe, who also ran it for Martin, continued
as the pilot. Hilger in turn so[...]William
Voorhees and they took over the operation for a number of Left to right: Ferryman Jack Mail, Lilly Ba[...]e
the county line. By the year 1941 the old "City of Poplar" holding saddle horse.

We'[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (86)[...]rs who worked on the ferry boats during the years of[...]most of the boats until the 1930 s. Joe Youpee helped lim[...]of the history of this country and a neces ary part of it[...]rtin on the Snoopsey.

In 1949 it was decided that the town of Poplar and the
three counties involved, Roosevelt[...]was during this fall while crossing with two load of
wheat and a car that the boat sank at the west cros ing.
The vehicles were retrieved, minus one load of wheat, but
the boat was beyond repair.
The town of Poplar decided to purchase an old cable boat "City of Poplar' operated b
that had been used on the Yellowstone. It wa hauled fr[...], where it stands today.
There were other boats that operated in the ame area
during these years. One was a cable boat below the mouth
of the Poplar river run by Al Benson and Joe Youpe .
Another was run above the mouth of the Redwater. A cable
boat owned by Martin[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (87)[...]Slim Nelson with chunks of ice from the Missouri during[...]spring break-up.

"City of Poplar" in ice jam.[...]om Fort Peck, later made into garage just
The end of the "City of Poplar" for river service - 1939. west of Poplar.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (88)[...]Bud Nelson's house being moved to the south ide of river.
museum.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (89)[...]day, December
16, 1913 to make final arrangements for the construction of
bridge over the Poplar River west of town.
The Illinois Steel Bridge Company was awa[...]stern agents, Messrs. Zelch &
Walton, have charge of the contract, with Mr. Walton
taking actual supervision of the work. A force of men were
put to work Tuesday and it is expected that the bridge will
be completed in less than three weeks.
While here, Mr. Weinrich made the statement that an
effort would be made to have the approaches gr[...]ge this fall, thus having everything in readiness for
spring crossing.[...]Foot bridge across Poplar Creek just north of town.
Old West Poplar Creek Bridge[...]This was the only means of transportation across the[...]of the ferry easily accommodated two wagons and team[...]y operated this ferry until
between hills in back of picture. the summer of 1916.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (90)One of the first trips of the Invincible across the Missouri.[...]Littlefield and his partner, Ira Slawson, owners
of the river freighter, "The White City", had just delivered
a load of wheat to Williston, North Dakota when a
delegation from Wolf Point met them to make a deal for
ferry service at Wolf Point.
The first summer the passengers and cargo were ferried
across on a barge that was pushed by the freighter. That
winter the White City was remodeled into a ferry boat with
deck space for eight rigs.
George Littlefield operated[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (91)[...]Wolf Point
The need of a bridge was of great concern to the people Ferry boats and a pontoon bridge had provided the much
south of the Missouri River, as well as to the businessmen needed systems of transportation across the Missouri
in Wolf Point.[...]P.A. transportation was available in the fall of the year when
Campbell, treasurer. Construction of the pontoon system the river was half frozen, or in the spring of the year with
began in April 1915 and put into operation in September of large cakes of ice causing "ice jams". The "June Rise" of
that year. The cost of the bridge was approximately$5000. the river made crossing treacherous for small row boa ts
Hans Sethne was the superintendent of construction. and even some of the ferry boa ts.
About 75,000 feet of lumber was used.
Two weeks after the opening of the bridge, it was partly
washed out by a jam of driftwood against the bridge. Two
months elapsed[...]e was back in operation.
But this was not the end of the trouble!
In November 1916, after the river[...]river started the ice moving, and the huge
chunks of ice took out most of the pontoons as they drifted
down the ri ver. In the spring of 1917, crossing the river by
pontoon bridge was ab[...]o over $20,000.
Some m eans had to be provided for crossing the
turbulent Missouri and John Pipal's[...]ra Smith (Johnson) cutting the ribbon, dedication of the[...]need of a bridge across the mighty Missouri, William[...]Young, a county commissioner, was one of the main[...]and others, federal approval of the bridge was granted in[...]November 1927, at an estimated cost of $400,000. Final
approval of the War Department was given September[...]1928. In December 1928 the contract for construction was[...]awarded to the Missouri River and Iron Company of
Leavenworth, Kansas for $427,644.40. The bridge was to[...]The bridge consists of two 275 foot and one 400 foot[...]curbs. The bridge is designed to carry two lanes of[...]affic on the 20 foot road way, with top clearance of 11 feet.[...]The Lewis and Clark bridge, east and south of Wolf[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (92)[...]The coming of the railroad in 1887 solved part of the
problem for mail and other supplies and freight which[...]railroad. By 1902 as the influx of settlers began to arrive,
the problem arose of how to transport mail, people,[...]some freight was hauled from Brockton north as that area[...]stage coach that operated in Roosevelt County. The routes[...]Missouri comp leted 1968 afte r a fifty lines of direct travel. Other freight lines went south fro[...]Stage coaches as a method of travel and a means of
delivery services existed for only a relatively short period
of time, mainly between 1902 and 1912. When the branch
discovered that previously selected sights were n ot lines of the Great Northern were built, and cars came into
suitable because the banks of the river were not of a very existence as a fairly reliable method of transportation
solid foundation. there was little need for stage coaches.
The bridge is built on what is c[...]een the United States Post Office and George Ator of
The bridge was built by the A.A. Nelson Constru[...]he contract gave the route distance as 60
Company of Sheridan, Wyoming. Superintendent and[...]was to be $1400 a year. The
engineer was Al Reed of White Sulphur Springs, Montan a. contract was for a period of four years. Dick Ator was listed
Construction of the bridge was started in 1967 and a[...]d the contract from 1906 to
completed in the fall of 1968. 1910. Henr[...]as discontinued. Besides those who
the outh shore of the river. The new bridge is called a h e[...]ony and Frank
beneath the bridge rather than part of it in overhead Winch were men tioned .[...]d the delivery (if mail
was not a weighty problem for either the rancher o'!" the
United States Postal Department. Most of the very early
settlers picked up their mail when they made trips of
necessity to town for needed supplies; both supplies and
mail be[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (93)[...]The existence of these post offices depended on the
Overland Steam[...]Culbertson, Montana - population-most of them were closed in the 1930's during
twenty ton[...]even passengers seated on a plank
along each side of the coach. Entering from the back,
passengers could carry the luggage on with them. Tickets
were $5 for a one way trip or they could take advantage of Lund ville Post Office and store. Bob Leete o[...]ces
neighbors would take turns meeting the stages for the
neighborhood mail. Delivery was made twice a[...]ps were made at places along the route where
food for passengers could be obtained or a change of horses
could be made. Such known places were Orth[...]f roads were dry and weather good. At other
times of the year drivers (and passengers) had to contend[...]n
winter. Most stages were drawn with four horses for light
loads and six to eight when the load was heavy and roads
not too good. Teams of horses were often "spirited" and a
few runaways a[...]engers
were expected to help the drivers in times of emergencies.
Another era of history came to a close about 1912-and
only a few of the "old timers" remain with us who can
vividly recall this "better than walking" method of
transportation, and the funny or serious incidents of
"their" first ride on a stage coach. Seips Post Office and cu tomer waiting for mail.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (94)[...]dustrial
Agent, E. C. Leedy of St. Paul, Minn., state that excursion tickets can be pur-
chased for one-half of the round trip rate plus $2.00. These excursion t[...]e the Twin Cities on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, beginning
in Ma[...]Indian reservation. Special easements and right of way WHAT MAY BE SHIPPED IN A CARLOAD
could only be granted by the Congress of the United States, OF EMIGRANT MOVABLES
since they were now the custodians of the Yankton-Sioux
and Assiniboine Indians, upon w[...]such as clothing, furniture, or furnishings for residences
virgin territory. After several weeks of heated debate, the with not to exceed one piano, not goods shipped for sale or
Congress finally settled the question and the building of speculation; and
the railroad across the For[...]tion Tools and other hand implements of calling;
proceeded, reaching the small settlement[...]d) vehicles, other than motor vehicles.
unthought-of invisible county line between two future[...]knocked down portable house;
transported for immigrant families was the main cargo of Grain, seed, shrubbery or trees for planting;
the new railroad in the early 1900's. Special rates of 25 Feed for livestock or poultry while in transit;
cents per[...]nary livestock not exceeding 10 head; declaration of
to families riding on passenger trains, with chil[...]iffs.
made from the area. The first known carload of wheat was When shipment of emigrant movables includes ordinary
shipped from[...]ust require the
The new railroad was doing all that was possible to execution of the uniform livestock contract. Additional
develo[...]ntly setting grass fires along the railroad, some of Upholstered and polished furniture, mirror , etc. hould
which burned many hundreds of acres. They decided the be crated or pro[...]fireguard from Fort Buford to Glasgow, a distance of 150 pianos, etc. should be boxed to prevent[...]walking plow to plow the two furrows on
each side of the tracks, a job which took a year to
accomplish.
The first law relating to the creation of railroad
corporations and their control by public[...]ssed in the Territorial Legislature over the veto of the
Governor on May 7, 1873.
It was not until the legislative session of 1907 that a
Board of Railroad Commissioners was created. This act
provided for three commissioners elected for a term of six
years with a salary of $4000 a year. The high salaries
indicated the importance in which the duties were held, for
each commissioner received $1000 more annuaHy than
any of the executive officers except the Governor; and
equal to the Supreme Court Justices. THUS THE
BEGINNING OF OUR PRESENT RAILROAD AND
PUBLIC SERVICE CO[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (95)[...]destroyed with the fire in
No specific amount of lumber and similar materials, 1928.
seed and feed is authorized in this definition of emigrant
movables. It is understood that a reasonable amount of
these articles will be permitted.[...]SNOWDEN
The lowest minimum charge for the shipment of
household goods and emigrant movables, whether ca[...]den bridge was
is declared in writing on the Bill of Lading, not to exceed completed. The building[...]nt the rate is quoted in cents per
hundred weight for a minimum of 20,000 or 24,000 pounds
on a 36½ foot car. You must pay for the minimum and if the[...]s at
the same rate per hundred weight. The charge for a larger No depot was built here but a siding was built for boxcar
ca r is based on a higher minimum weight.[...]e, it was a flag-stop.
east and some points south of Chicago, minimum weights
on carload shipments dif[...]Bainville was originally located east of the railroad
INSPECTION OF LIVESTOCK FOR tracks on the old Wal[...]half miles east of the present townsite. The first depot in[...]of the sharp U-curve of the railroad and was the sight of
The railroads are prohibited from carrying liv[...]horized state or federal veterina rian. The of the building. In 1910 when the Great Northern built the
Montana regulations require that horses receive mallein branch line to Ple[...]ish to call your particular attention to the fact that several times since 1907, the building now is a[...]inspection done by a federal officer without cost for
his wo rk. But we wish to call your particular attention to
the fact that on account of the fact that it requires from 24
to 48 hours to make the malle[...]er several days before
you are ready to load. See that official health certificates Great Northern fr[...]lin tests. Attach these
to your waybill. Also see that test charts are made. CLOVERDALE
All cattle of any class that originate in the state of
Wisconsin or New York destined to the state of Montana Railroad phone located east of Lanark.
must be accompanied by a certificate of health issued by a
Federal veterinary.[...]tracks the summer of 1887. The first regular agent, James[...]work on September 15, 1887. He was
The building of the town in 1903 soon necessitated the robbed, murdered and burned in the depot February 1,
building of a depot for freight, passengers, express and 18[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (96)[...]Northern Railroad Co. It was situated just south of the[...]the outskirts of Brockton. Silas Gleason was the first full-[...]building was sold to George Shanks for $200.00 and moved
to the Shanks farm northwest of Brockton in 1971.

Train wreck near Culbertson[...]nfield, F.B. Wilbur and in 1904 J.E. Bewick. Many of
these agents were from the east and stayed only a[...]In 1899 a new 24x48 depot was built, with one end of the
building used for living quarters for the agents. The depot
has been remodeled several times, with an extension added
for freight storage; the living quarters were deleted[...]active up-to-date modern building.
Another era of history has arrived. This depot once
bustling wit[...]orm once piled high with homesteaders'
belongings of animals, machinery, and household goods,
now is q[...], (now consolidated into
Burlington Northern) who for over 60 years ran passenger
service twice daily,[...]been others, one serious train
wreck is recorded for the Culbertson area, in 1936.[...]Jim Shanks and John Puck preparing the depot for
Calais[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (97)[...]Macon had only a siding for boxcar loading. Used as a
flag stop for passengers when necessary for about ten[...]An old box car was moved to Wolf Point for a depot
during the winter of 1887. Established soon afterward was[...]Everett and it was during his tenure that a new 24x24
depot was erected somewhere east of the present P V[...]his multiple business interests took most of his time. John[...]Erickson was there a short period of time. In 1915 C.P.[...]Swedberg, Glenn Brooks was agent for a short time. Joe
Piane is the present agent for Burlington Northern.[...]agricultural area dictated the establishment of Wolf Point[...]north of the tracks (near what is now Casey Livestock[...]CHELSEA
Chelsea had a siding for boxcars loading but no depot. It
also had a treating plant for water for the steam engines.
Used as a flag stop for passengers when necessary.[...]ng grain at Chelsea siding. The town of Wolf Point in 1913 (new depot built)[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (98)[...]occurred near Wolf Point.
The first in the fall of 1917 when a steam locomotive
explosion near the old depot took the Ii ves of three men.
The second one was just west of Wolf Point in 1932 when
train No. 27 wrecked and[...]Twisted wreckage is all that remained of train No. 27
which wrecked just west of Wolf Point in 1932. The[...]913 and
remained until 1964 when the way was made for the new
modern structure. Pictured above, in 1915, are Ed Cody
and Jim De Wane hauling a load of freight to local
merchants. The cargo carr[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (99)[...]motive
steam explosion near the depot in the fall of 1917. The
accident took the lives of three men. Burning weeds[...]1910 when the elevator was built.
In the fall of 1909 the Great Northern started its branch Jess Jern was agent of the depot for 1910 to 1947 Cal
line from Bainville north to Ple[...]osed in 1963.
and Froid area about the first part of July and reached
Plentywood July 31, 1910.
At[...]t FROID
services for the towns going north. The mail continued to
be hauled by stage coach for another year. . The depot at[...]uilt the same fall as the branch
In the summer of 1911, the passenger and mail train hne of the Great Northern railroad in 1910. The first agent
made its first run. A group of businessmen from Williston was Mr. Forncrook[...]ert Rogney started in the depot in 1914 and
line. For awhile the Great Northern Bruck, a combina[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (100)[...]providing the basis for which the state could obtain funds
Montana Volume I on a state-federal ma[...]divided into 12 highway districts
The highways of the state form the primary unit in its wit[...]st to receive state gasoline tax was imposed of two cents per gallon.
the attention of the public. The care of public roads was left
to the county commissioners[...]ounty funds would allow.
The invention and use of the automobile aroused and
increased interest in[...]d smooth roads. The
first legislative recognition of the automobile was in 1905
when the Legislature provided that its speed should not
exceed eight miles an hour w[...]r in the country.
The 1913 Legislature provided that automobiles should
be registered with the Secretary of State: registration fee
was $2; dealers fees were[...]sed, collected by county
treasurers. Fees were $5 for motor-driven vehicles of less
than four wheels; $10 on automobiles of less than 20
horsepower; $15 on those less than 31 horsepower; and $20
for any larger. One-half of the fees collected were to go to
the count[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (101)[...]The wages for work were the same as for county road
Section• 7, 8 and 9, Chapter 7&, S[...]der condltlon ■ ext ■ ttns
at point and time of operation. and ao &I
~~,~~P:~;ea:~na~~ ~~::eren\~~eilteto u~: $7.00 for a man and two horses for eight hours work
use or the highway. CITIES AND[...]ed and traffic within their i: $10.00 for a man and four horses for eight hours work
corporate Umlt1.
Trame. Mt[...](Man to provide own board and room and feed for horses.)
htf'I~• meeting 11hall ke~p to the rlah'L One
·veht[...]dlre<'tlon shall pnst1 by turning to the left
of the one overtaken. At corners, curves :~; $4.00 per day for man with no horses
and crossings v ehicles must[...]mtog to left muat ewlng full a.round
intenectlon of centec. ol htghwaya. A drlver[...]-~ 60¢ per hour for man on bridge work
50¢ per hour for man on dirt bridge work
or a. vehicle de.siring to tum to left for any
reason must w a rn all !ollowlng by extending
his arm tor 'I\Ot teas than two seconds In[...]ot 75¢ per hour.
advan c-e or turntng. A driver of a vehicle
betns over ta.ken by another and recelvtnar a
111lgnal that la.tter dulree to J>&a• must w-Jthout
delay ma[...]t Main con tractors for the high way were: Albert LaLonde,
C'& r :stoppi[...]1etance than etght feet, nor at a
greater n.tc, of epeed than ab: mHee per hou.r.[...]brafe.., eat.·h aurtlclent to stop drive wbeela
of c &r and prevent them turn Inc while car[...]muat have a horn auUlctent to
glvt timely wamtns of approach; du.rtnc-
per1od between one hour after[...]responsible for his own workers.
In front. (one on each aide) an[...]Gravel was applied to the 90 mile stretch of road between


llch[...]$150.00 for adverti ing the Teddy Roo eveltHighway. Itis[...]9 the first resolution was presented to the
Board of Co~nty Commissioners asking for a special bond
election for the construction of a through highway from
east to west in the county[...]the summer and there
were 787 votes cast with 538 for and 249 against the bond
issue.
On December 1,[...]ve
Act and subject to approval from the Secretary of the
United States Department of Agriculture and the Mon tan a
State Highway Depar[...]1920, also
with state matching funds. The number of the Glacier
Trail product is 84 B 1- and still has that number. Survey-
ing was started as early as 1918 and approved for construc-
tion in 1922. Work started in the spring of 1923. L.A. Bahn[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (102)[...]and Wolf North of Culbertson
Point - V[...]der Road
3. Strandvold Knudsen 548 Northeast of McCabe
4. Ira F. Calder Bain ville-Cald[...]Peterson Bainville-Dwyer south of the Valley school in 1913.
18. Einer M. Bergstrom McCab[...]McCabe west road
19. Dan Masters West of Homestead
20. R.H. Murry & S.S. Moen Culbertson N[...]ement
R.H. Murry-S.S. Moen Culbertson-Dane Valley Rd.
21. A.D. Picard Bainville-Dwyer
2[...]& Macon North Road Beginning of construction of Sheep Creek bridge in 1930
H.B. Straderier south of Froid.
32. J.C. Yandell & H. NilandWolf Point Nor[...]oad
42. Metzger & Prichard North & Northwest of
Brockton & culverts
43. Logan Sackett Northwest of Wolf Point
44. Dan Masters Rd. 604 West of Homestead
45. Bergstrom & Lee West of McCabe; North and
East of McCabe
46. E.L. Gates Wolf Po[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (103)[...]ge in 1927 on RY.

Veda LaRoche hauling timber for Seips Bridge.

Stanley Nees hauling timber for Seips Bridge 21 miles Hauling wheat on north Brockton trail. Town of Brockton
north of Poplar.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (104) HIGHWAY #2 APPROVED FOR CONSTRUCTION 1922
R. 47 E.[...]• Post OFt,ce.•
J'l:>.I
GREAT NORTH[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (105)[...]I
I[...]I
Roads
I I I I I I ion
11==::::c:::[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (106)[...]by Orphey "Bud" Lien

The credit for being Roosevelt County's number one pilot
must go[...]the
Vida area and sold out in 1917 to move north of Poplar to
raise flax on 2,000 acres of leased land. After dried-out
crops for five years in a row, the family moved to Flaxvill[...]rst plane ride in Williston, North Dakota in
1919 for $15.00 and he had the flying bug from then on. He[...]ile and haystack, he
jumped from the barn. A gust of wind flipped him over and
wrecked his glider. In 1923 he built an airplane from the
parts of several unrelated planes for $900.00. Dewey Ed Camrud's plane "the Spirit of Wolf Point" -1936, Jim
barnstormed around the cou[...]ked his
plane on a farm near there. He sat on top of the wreckage
and surveyed his $900.00 loss.[...]d Dick Moothart from Froid,
Dewey went to work for Ford Motor Company and Adam Schled[...]rence
which many remember as the biggest air show that "Red" Lodmell from Brockton and He[...]Grosse from Wolf Point. This
Dewey taught most of the early flyers in the area, club esta[...]ort and built the first
including John Schnitzler of Froid, who was instrumental hangar. Chris[...]onal Airport.
was a State Senator and the founder of the Schnitzler It wasn't too long bef[...]needed an
Corporation, and is reported to be one of the founders of the overhaul and Hardy Anderson was drafted to[...]er and his pilot, Richard Hedberg, were for the engine overhaul so they gave him a membership[...]other plane. They purchased a 40 hor epower
north of Malta and both were killed. Titus Richards was[...]taking it down for trade-in. The radiator would blow out
Ed Camru[...]the water occa ionally and Dewey went looking for the
engine in about 1936. It was christened "The Spirit of Wolf nearest pot-hole to refill it and go on[...]ed the plane. Harold "Hardy" Director of Aeronautic for one million air mile . That i
Anderson was a shop mechanic for Camrud's at the time. approximately 15,000 hour of flying or 625 day off the
Dewey Lowers had ret[...]n 1934 as ground.
County Surveyor, and, of course, was also busy ~aching Hardy An[...]te in th late
flying. Though it was in the depths of the ~epress1on, t~e thirtie and becam[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (107)[...]Dewey Lowers served as an instructor for many pilots[...]learn the art of flying. Jim spent several months at
Taken at Anvi[...]ts thought to be Earl in the spring of 1928. In July of that year a group of
Schmidt and Richard Moothart.[...]I "Travel Air" biplane from Frank Wiley. Wiley la[...]1 many terms as Chairman of the Aeronautics Commission
of Montana. The plane was picked up in Kansas City a[...]e country.

Anderson Airport on the north side of Wolf Point. Since
going into the crop spraying bu[...]lion acres.
Wilbur White, who farmed northwest of Poplar, was the
early flyer in the Poplar area. I[...]here
he also had farming interests. It is rumored that he never
completed one trip without at least one forced landing. The
engine had the unfortunate habit of swallowing a valve
now and then. While propping that cantankerous engine Pictured in front of the TRAVEL AIR is Ben Anderson,
one day, it surpr[...].time Wolf Point resident, and Jim Cook. It seems that
the fingers off of one hand. Wilbur did things that many of Ben had a mail contract south of the Missouri and with the
us only dream about. He[...]akup was unable to deliver the mail. Knowing
lady that did not look like the adventurous type) bought a the "mail m[...]ertain, records the first "airmail" delivered out of Wolf
place to spend the winter. They went down to[...]FIRST FLYING SCHOOL I WOLF POINT[...]the river on a ferry operated at that time by Leonard[...]one of the four that is still around, all the others having[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (108)[...]. At present he is flying a PA-18
Piper, using it for crop spraying and coyote hunting.

G.[...]und a lot and among
them is George Lowers, holder of a gold card attesting his George Dewey Lowers
record of a million air miles, approximately 15,000 hours or
625 days off the ground. The card carries the signature of
Chet Moulton, Idaho State Director of Aeronautics, and is Popla[...]George, as a youngster, was intrigued by stories of Flying in Roo evelt ounty really got off the ground
airplanes and dreamed of having a flying career. after World[...]first in tructor wa Jack Hotalling, a
on the edge of the wing. f[...]m Mil ity. Jack would fly up
It was then that George confided he was going to fly from Mil . City for a f w da at a tim in hi old Pip
some day. Armed with a book, "The ABC of Aviation," he Crui r. The mi e had eaten[...]g teenage days in which he built a wings so that the fabric flapp d around . Jack fl w low and
gli[...]c fl w
assembled two planes from wide assortments of distant- off. The Poplar Flying club wa . mad up of farm r who
related parts.[...]b came full-bore fly r . Hard And r on aid that h
George was the 589th pilot in the United States to be couldn 't get in uh fa t enough for that bunch in Poplar.
licensed.[...]an instructor, took part in the Ford U -7 that wa a genuine money pit. A trip to Pho ni co t
nat[...]group about two dollar per mil plu everal length of
through the depression years when the aviation industry stove pip for heating the engin in the morning. Wh n
was probab[...]s back on they took the plane to Great Fall for r lie n ing, it wa
its feet and George was at Wol[...]. dealer offer d 250.00 for it. B n Holte aid that th 'd
Among Lower's long-time acquaintances is A .A . make a chicken coop out of it b for they would 11 it for
Bennett, former Alaskan bush pilot and now airport $250.00. It fate i till unknown.
manager at Las Vegas. He retired fr[...]Later in tructor at Poplar w re Gen " mitt " mith of
ago but last Christmas, on his 80th birthday, he soloed a the Wolf Point Airport, now of Bridg r ; Bill Gatlin of
helicopter and is believed to be the oldest man in the Poplar, now of Great Fall ; and All n abo of Poplar, now
United States to qualify in 'copter flying. of Billings.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (109)[...]in savings. Knowing the proper Hub Ames of Scobey, in enlarging this service certified air
p[...]the little airstrip at Brockton had four proven of great value in many emergencies. Pioneer pilots
p[...]the Case dealership in
Williston and visits many of his farm customers by
helicopter. Bill Harmon spe[...]sen, a naval pilot instructor, had
several groups for instructions. Among the original
members soloing[...]rian Jacobsen,
and Bennie and August Eschenbacher of Froid; La Vern
and Wilbur Schledewitz, Len Sorby,[...]Rasmussen and Dennis Elgen now offer a full
range of aviation services at the Culbertson Airport. Dr.[...]t. Through the efforts and enthusiasm of these early flying
Burton Ostby, another World[...]d individuals, Roosevelt County now has three
use of his plane, flying back and forth to his farming[...]In the past decade, crop spraying for weeds and pests,[...]inued to serve the area during the winter of 1976.
since that time. First Frontier planes landed on a sod strip[...]ecome the "in" thing with
1.tear the brick hangar that had been built by WP A labor in many college[...]1930's. With considerable cooperation and effort of during the spring of 1976 have been: Peggy Sage, Jack
local citizens t[...]egering. The pilot is Bud Lien.
runways. The City of Wolf Point later voted on a bond issue
to provide[...]to the atmosphere. This too attests to the spirit of
cooperation that has prevailed in the community since the
day "poo[...]ne.

In 1952 Lyman Clayton, Jr., once a student of Dewey
Lowers, later had his flying skills sharpen[...]in a four-place Stinson Station Wagon . north of Wolf Point.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (110)[...]eal, the crowd was happy,
Through the influence of Senator J.W. Schnitzler, who the progr[...]nd had a landing field on the east say that not a man, woman or child now regrets having
edge of Froid, a group of planes touring the country were visited[...]s and its marching thrilled and held the interest of the
of July 27, 1928:[...]attendance
Sunday will go down in the history of this community was much appreciated.
and its little trading center, Froid, as the event{ul day of its The Scobey-Plentywood ballgame drew attendance of
time, past as we predict, for many years to come. With the baseball enthusiasts who received all and more than they
rising of the sun visitors began to come to our gates, the[...]an Pirates and the thrills
were a continuous line of rolling cars and the gates opened in this[...]entywood sluggers scoreless until
air-the arrival of the planes in the National Air Tour on the eighth inning-only to be nosed out on account of a
its 6,000 mile journey. couple of errors. The games were a treat and the managers[...]was complete, and if experts in this line of all three teams should be congratulated.
had to put in years of preparation, the event could not have Probably the greatest thrill of the day was the triple
been carried through with[...]-the make but one jump, but on account of so many people
planes began to arrive when the hour was announced and having come for such a distance, he offered to make an
access was[...]early drop, so the attendance was greeted by two of these
again in order right on the hour. The first[...]m to time the drop and measure
and with the speed of a bullet roared its way from the the distance so that his landing was but a few hundred feet
clouds down over the tops of our chimneys and in a flash from the pe[...]ollowed by V.R. Lucas who took up his
before most of us realized what was happening. The[...]with the reception accorded them here that they gave u
Great Falls being two hours and thirt[...]to them is due the wonderful handling of the p ople,
Billings, Wolf Point, Plentywood, Mil[...]interest to the event. When the planes that they would encounter the minimum of inconvenience
were all settled and at rest the line extended for a half mile of parking, etc. They were always courteous and kind[...]e commands and demand and we want to expr s to
For such a large gathering in such a little town the[...]ick on who
was unusually orderly. Manager Collins of the tour stated ordered hi head officer h r everal day b for the
that it was the most orderly and best managed gathering event, to arrange for thi policing, i al o to be counted a
on the entire trip. The National Guard had no difficulty at among tho e who a i ted mat riall and wa friendly to
all to keep the[...]the people in our community. The committee
of the various planes were not at any time delayed o[...]in charge also wi he to thank all tho e who a i t d in
inconvenienced by the curious. Comment is[...]arrying th
sections and there is unity in opinion that Froid is event to a succe sf[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (111) HORSES

By the middle of the 1880's or early 1890's, stock buy_ers
were co[...]estern ~ever".
Up to this time the development of this part of Montana
had been slow but in the middle 1880's or[...]who were to play an important part in the future of Rope Corral - Diamond Ramuda
northeastern Mon[...]er operated He left Miles City in the month of March, 1887 with a few
a ranch south of Bainville and served Roosevelt well as one horses. Upon reaching the junction of the Missouri and
of its competent County Commissioners. Mr. P.J. Nace[...]nt 14 years working on ranches before he ventured for being operated by Mr. Thomas Forbes. They[...]the construction line and found a ready sale for the horses.
Cogswell. He came here to te~ch but t[...]He returned once more to Miles City for more horses,
clerking in the store at Wolf Pomt.[...]Mr. Sweetman decided he needed a supply of horses
At the time Mr. Cogswell ventured into business for nearer than Miles City and he established a horse camp on
himself many of the Indians had a few cattle or horses and the Muddy River. Here he brought a mixed bunch of horses
they could always trade these for the merchandise they as he had purchased them from different ranchers. Some of
needed.[...]hese horses were the "open box" D
In the summer of 1887 the Great Northern Railroad and[...]horse power, and as the eastern supplies for them. Two of the men who took advantage of
horses were not accustomed to being turned out at[...]opened a and Mr. William Sibbits.
mark~t for horses and Mr. Luke D. Sweetman was one of Mr. Sweetman, being a progressive stockman had little
the men who took advantage of this horse market. use for inferior stock and steadily improved his horses
Mr. Sweetman believed that there would be a good until he had about 400 head of heavy draft Percheron
market for horses along the line of railroad construction. horses.[...]of Chicago and being well satisfied with their methods of[...]business he never changed. Mr. Sweetman went out of the[...]Mr. J.C. Dwyer was a pioneer of the ranchmg busmess,[...]locating first near Glendive but lost most of his stock in the
hard winter of 1886 and 87.[...]head of Percherons and 50 head of black polled Angus[...]cattle. His brand was "7 JD". In the early years of[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (112)[...]Butte, Montana for canning purposes. Beginning about[...]In 1917 or 1918 the total horse sales for Charlie Evans,[...]Machinery began to take the place of horse-power, and the
demand for horses for war purposes had ceased in 1918.
City of Mondak Ferry in 1914 that crossed horses for Dr. Horses that had sold for $100 each previously, now were
Atkinson that were trailed to Culbertson. selling for $5.00 to $7.00 a head at the Butte cannery.[...]by a Sheriffs posse a few days
situated northwest of the present Raymond O'Brien farm late[...]ew when rustlers were within the
trailed 600 head of Clydesdale horses from a ranch vicinity of the ranch. Although there were no sounds or
approximately 20 miles west of Fort Benton, in Choteau visible signs, he would provide extra watches for the herd.
County, Montana, on the north side of the Missou~ Riyer, One man always guard[...]ght.
to a location one and a half miles northwest of Bamville, Coming to the Evans ranch du[...]oosevelt County. a group of five or six rustlers, including Tom Jones and a
Mr. Evans traded land near Fort Benton for about 260 man by the name of Nelson, drove away 36 head of the
head of the Clydesdale horses. He bought the balance of Evans horses, taking them 50 miles north across the
the horses to make the 600 head that he trailed to Bainville. Canadian border to a creek about five mile outh of
In time he increased this amount to 2000 head.[...]hewan, Canada, where they herded the
This trade of land for horses was made with a rancher animals for four days.
living near Sun River, Montana, at a cost of approximately On missing the horses, the Valley County heriff office
$40.00 per head. They were b[...]on the left was notified and a posse of eight men was formed which
thigh, and this brand[...]Evans.
different times, as the need be. Most of the supplies and Overtaking the ru tier near a creek outh of E tevan,
equipment were bought at Culbertson.[...]thus induce the men to leave the country. F ling that
was an abundance of native blue joint hay, which was cut da[...]o the tream with hi hor which warn toward
device, for raking hay on his ranch. About three men were[...]Jon wa wearing.
rake and the other two took care of piling the hay in Then , seeing the po sibl n ce ity of wimming him elf,
bunches with a pitch fork, as it[...]threw it into th r k.
reining' the horses. A ton of hay could be raked up in a short Reaching th other ide of th tream , Jon fled on hi
time with this rake. They put up about 300 ton of hay for hors and was not se n again in thi part of th countr .
the winter feeding and a large shed was used for feeding
and shelter for the horses.
There would be 18 or 20 riders emp[...]er than the cattle
roundups, with about 2000 head of horses. The ummer
roundup was for branding, and ifthere were horse to sell,[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (113)[...]northwestern part of Roosevelt County although their[...]camp was in the present Valley County.'[...]band of 500 or 600 sheep from near Glendive. He brought[...]this band north and ran them for about one year near
Lakeside. He then disposed of them. While running these[...]t~e ~ ellowstone River land. One of his five camps was
withm the present boundaries of Roosevelt County. He[...]probably had in the neighborhood of 5000 or 4000 sheep at
Trailing horses to Sidney i[...]In the spring of 1895 he suffered severe losses from high[...]It was in the spring of the year, but the rivers had not[...]broken up. ~r. Merrill gave instructions for the sheep to be[...]tend to business
The horses were all recovered except one saddle horse. It
~as understood that Nelson, companion of Tom Jones, at other places.
died shortly a[...]possible to move the sheep before morning, and by that
courthouse in Wolf Point, Montana in 1940.[...]be moved. He lost
Mr. Evans died at Culbertson of ptomaine poisoning in between 800 and 1000 sheep.
August 1908 at the age of 50 years. He became ill while on aWhen the water[...]ol from the carcasses. Soon the flats were dotted
for several days. He was ill for four days. with men wearing gas masks.
Charles Evans, son of Winfield Evans, Sr., raised horses Dr. Atkinson[...]d began buying and selling business.
them. For several years he shipped an average of 15 cars of In t~e year 1887 Mr. James MacDonald resigned his post
horses a year to Michigan for farming purposes. By 1940 as Indi~n trader at Poplar and went to herding sheep for
he was shipping a car a year to Michigan.[...]. They were more versatile than cattle as out of the sheep business about 1910 and into the cattle
th~y ~ould be used for work, pleasure and brought a g~od business.
pnc[...]ep company to begin operations at or near
minimum of care, being able to feed on the open range in P[...]the Shaw Sheep
the winter, without the daily care that sheep and cattle Company.
required. Range was w[...]y built a large 10 room house oflogs
no necessity for someone to herd them. They could roam for on land about nine miles northwest of Culbertson.
miles without causing any disruption. Roundup time was a In 1889 Mr. Day of the region south of the Missouri River
big project with about 2000 head of horses. The summer crossed a large band of sheep on the bridge across the
roundup was for branding and if there were horses to sell Muddy[...]around 10,000 head of sheep. These were Shaw sheep. Mr.
It was in these years of 1884 through the early 1900's Helmer had the sheep divided in five camps. One camp was
that many of the early horse ranchers came to this county. across the Missouri River in McCone County.
Many or most of them started out with horses, gradually
changing to sheep or cattle as the demand for horse power
went out. The following are some of the early horse
ranchers: Frank Cusker (George-so[...]nson
and Sgt. Colgan.
You will read about some of these men in the sheep
section and nearly all of them will be covered more The last shipment of 2000 sheep from Culbertson by Pat
thorough[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (114)[...]n 1906 Mr. Ed sheep in 1905.
Egan, a son of Mr. John Egan, was running sheep. It is[...]Bill
In 1888-89 the Shaw Company incorporated for $25,000. Jackson began ranching on this ra[...]Jackson uffered a
Walker was vice-president. Some of the stockholders were severe loss by a fir[...]hen he sold them in about
incorporated company in Valley County. That was the 1904, there was between 2500[...]Another sheep man who lived south of Culbertson, in the
In 1889 Mr. P.J. Nacey bought 1800 sheep of the Shaw 1880's was Mr. J.P. Smith, known as 'Doc'.
Sheep Company. This was the beginning of many years of On this ranch was a good four or five[...]this ranch was a good ten room log house of logs or poles. This fall Mr. Smith had many ton of hay
and log shed, 11 corrals and other buildings needed to all stacked and ready for feeding. Winter preparations
carry on in the shee[...]r. Smith then closed out his sheep and went north of
In 1922 Mr. Nacey went back into the sheep busine[...]One loss Mr. N acey had to meet was the burning of the about the year 1900.
log house.[...]Montana.
In the year 1908 he reached the peak of his sheep Another rancher who ran sheep for the haw heep
business when he was running 8000 he[...]l he had a the sheep a short time.
ranch of 1850 acres of which 1500 was kept as hay land. The B.D. Phillips beep Company ent in thou and of
In 1900 Mr. J.S. Day went into sheep and began[...]unty to feed.
between 8,000 and 10,000 head. Most of these sheep, if not In the fall of 190 they hipped in everal thou and
all of them, were run on the south side of the Missouri River sheep. Figure seem to differ[...]l
and take up land, he was forced to sell because of lack of during the early fall. In the month of ovember, Mr.
range.[...]ibbits and a Mr. Hancock and a on of Mr. B.D. Phillip
On March 3, 1889 the Shaw She[...]tarted to find the h p a they had a uppl of winter
180.77 acres of land from Mr. John Gilbert. provi ion for the camp.
The United States Congress enacted s[...]or two wh n a big torm
affected wool prices. One of the stockholder , Mr. H.M. came up. Thi w[...]opl b gan to g t
The Shaw heep Company was one of the companies worri d .
who let men[...]north a t rly dir ction, and th la of F bru r[...]an of th h p w r d af, and tho till Ii ing[...]om of them . To h
that Foxi (the dog) had k[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (115) There are many tales told of this sheep dog. Anytime he
saw his reflection in[...]e
would jump through it.
The story is also told of his master paying a family fifty
cents a day all one winter for Foxie's meals.
The winter of 1906-1907 was one of the hardest the sheep
men ever had in Roosevelt County. The sheep ate the hair
off the tails of Mr. Redstone's horses.
One of the men in the east end of the county, to save his
sheep, was Mr. John Egan.[...]he horse was hitched with his head at the joining of the
logs, he pushed rather than pulled the plow.
Some of the other sheepmen running sheep in Roosevelt[...]t lambing was about a 75
or 0% crop.
At the end of the first year Mr. Leonard sold out to
Arnette who ran them one year, and then he disposed of
them.[...]Indian who went into the sheep width of 200 to 400 yards wide, and had been cut by erosio[...]l at this enterprise. below the level of the plains it crossed. Every man who set
Fred L[...]k Reservation out knew the risks and knew that on the trail he was
for summer range for 5,000 to 8,000 head of sheep in 1914- considered less valuable th[...]for the cows' feet and the horses' back; let the cowh[...]alued at$20,899 in and the cook take care of themselves" was the trail bosses'
1920. In 1940 i[...]d at $41,709. slogan. The average age of a cowboy was only twenty-four.[...]were jumpy-the rattle of a snake, the sneeze of a horse or a
match struck in the dead of night. To tire out the herd and[...]okee trader, The critical moments came for most Montana ranchers
Jess Chisholm, who carved o[...]nd his trading post on the Canadian rode for days in all directions bringing in the cattle the[...]emain with their mothers
more than a million head of cattle had traveled up this quite often got misbranded. Although we now look forward

Looking for &rass after a prairie fir e. Date of picture unknown.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (116)[...]However, it wasn't until the early 1940's that Sales rin gs
for selling livestock came into their own . These a r[...]Glasgow which take care of selling mos t of th e cattle in the
northeast counties of Montana. Few cattle are shipped by[...]s large enough to haul their cattle to the market of[...]ial time, this was
not the case in the early days of ranching when it might
take months before all the[...]miles. One thing we
have in common is at the end of the day the air around th e
fire is acrid with the smell of burned hair and hide from th e
calves branded. El[...]e a s November, The la rge expa n ses of ra nge for the cattlemen
cattlemen held another roundup, whe[...]f disappeared shortly after th e turn of the century. T he
was ready to be trailed or shipped to ma rket. Two, three Home tead Acts made way for new ettler and oon the
and four year olds were in this group. Before 1887, most of Diam ond Willow fence po t dotted the prairie around the
the cattle ready for market were trailed overland to 160 to 320 acres allotted to the home teader . Much of the
Mandan-Bismarck and then shipped ea st or sou[...]were n ot equipped to handle la rge economy of Roo evelt County. According to the Montana
numbers of live, moving cargo.[...]ting rvice, there were 44 ,000
With the coming of the Grea t North ern Rai lroad in 1 87, head of cattle in Roosevelt ounty in 197,5, down abo ut
C[...]enter. The 6,500 head from 1974. Mo t of the cattle are to be found on
s tockyards boas ted of 11 loadin g ch utes, 12 corrals and diver i[...]ttle and grain . H rd
yards which held 6,000 head of stock at one time-with vary in size f[...]being loaded by the survived the depres ion of the 1930' are quick to add a
carload . Hay was h[...]ckyards by the Diam ond a nd McCann ranches. Most of and cream for the family , and maybe ome to ell.
the cattle were shipped to St. Paul o[...]Pasture land seems to be at a pr mium , much of it i
brought between $35 a nd $50 per h ead. The other[...]s rvation
center was loca ted a t Oswego, now in Valley County. on a price per head , per acre per month ba i , more[...]prices have varied ov r the year , from th low of 5¢ to ¢ a[...]pound during the 1930' to the high of 6 ¢ to 75¢ per pound
of the very early 1970' . attlemen , like farmer , ha their[...]2,000 head during the winter for market or laught r. Of[...]ba is . Feeding cattle for quick weight gain i no long r on
Stock yards Culbertson , Mont[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (117)[...]PORTRAIT OF A COWBOY
The basic ingredient of the cowboy's function and his[...]identity was the horse. The range was no place for a man[...]millions of head of cattle over the plains. The mounts were[...]usually supplied by the ranch and few of the early day[...]Veteran cowboys, proud of the feeling of height and
power that came from being mounted, ever walked further[...]most often burned out after five to seven years of hard[...]or the hooves of either; enabling a 140 pound man to[...]mired cow out of the bog, turn a stampede or drag a line for[...]form of a hangman 's noose when someone was caught in[...]the unforgiveable crime of rustling cattle or horses.[...]fundamental for early cowboys. Bitter cold in the winter,
Wolf Po[...]furnace like heat in the summer, and the constant wind on[...]constant companions for the cowboy. Many times working[...]and his bedroll.
scientific process of balanced diets of grain, h ay, mineral, The most reverent feelings of cowboys were reserved for
proteins and salt. The two principal feedlots in Roosevelt womankind-that is the nice girl portion of womankind.
County are located one on each end; the Little Muddy For marriage was a mode of life that most cowboys
Livestock Feeders Co-op., located at[...]he county to be organized in 1957 with a capacity of were too low to support a family .
1,000 head[...]olf Point Feeders at Wolf Point with the capacity of except at th e end of the " trail". Then, with few exceptions,
approxim[...]relaxation for the lonesome cowboy. In three or four days[...]Ranchers sweated through th e dry s um mer of 1886.
west to find solace and good health, spendi[...]ys, were storing twice their normal supply of willow br ush .
the far west,-a land of va t ilent spaces, of lonely rivers, Ducks and geese flew south a month early. In Novem ber
and of plains where the wild game stared at the passing[...]a powdery snow th at blew
horseman. It was a land of scattered ranches, of herds of through every crack and n ail h ole in th e h ouse. But the
cattle, and of reckless riders who unmoved, looked in the worst had not begun. December seemed n o more severe
eyes of life or death. In that land we led a free and hardy than usual, and[...]wide plains shimmered and estimated that storm "killed several tho usand head of
wavered with heat; and we knew the freezing misery of cattle-when it was 15 below zero and t[...]p and hunger and thirst; and we saw walls of shacks-and in some places they devoured the
men d[...]ter began to drop, the cattle would
felt the beat of the hardy life in our veins, and ours was the stand around with their backs humped to the wind, and
glory of work and the joy of living." they w[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (118)[...]or more
cattle down. These cattle were pulled out of the corral, and
the next morning they had the sam[...]erywhere. The government
lost between 50% and 75% of their herds at Poplar and Wolf
Point. Many of the individual ranchers lost about the same
percentage-and a few of them lost the entire herd.
It was during this winter that a young horse wrangler
near Utica, Montana called Kid Russell, took out water-
colors and a scrap of cardboard, and painted a picture
showing a humped[...]er. Charles Russell called his
painting, "WAITING FOR THE CHINOOK".
The chinook came at the end of February. Scavengers
offered to skin dead cattle for half the proceeds, but by the
end of April, a Montana dealer wrote, "The bottom is out of
the hide market".[...]Hereford Bulls at the John Stensland Ranch north of Wolf
The winter of 1886-1887 stayed in the hearts of the Point. John is a member of the Montana tock Growers
ranchers. For although cattle roamed the range the year[...]ld they be caught in the winter
without some feed for the livestock. This severe winter that
demolished so many head of cattle almost exterminated
the sheep population w[...]ere was a Golden Jubilee celebration in Miles
out for any price, trying to recover at least part of their City to commemorate the 50th annual convention of the
investment. Livestock were dumped on a declin[...]nt through their first 14th, 1934 issue of the Froid Tribune- " The Golden Jubilee
great dep[...]not only reflected an historic period in history of the[...]It marked the close of one era and the beginning of[...]STOCKGROWERS stage of action. everal hundred per ans were pre ent who[...]he past was glorified, the present wa mad mind{ul of
The Montana Cattlemen met in Miles City on Apri[...]still in existence with a determination of the present generation to excel in all the
third[...]ership. The 92nd annual roundup things that not only the livestock indu try stand for, but
of the Montana Stockgrowers Association was held in to strive for the better things which all the other indu trie
K[...]1976. Headquarters were at the and forces of the state of Montana and the north we t tand
"Outlaw" Inn. Reg Davies, Chinook, president, made this for and encourage. "
comment, "Cattlemen are urged to[...]ounty
every area, it is extremely important that cattlemen unite tockgrower A ociation-no i[...]or
originally paid on a 1¢ per head assessment for cattle, 1962 in Roo velt ou[...]and one was automatically a sugg stion of the late J
member when the brand was registered w[...]Secretary, whose duty it was to keep such records for the di tance to me . 9[...]following offi n
Association book ofi to a i t th Mo
Jackson, James MacDonald, Henry Miller, F[...]lph Patch, Frank Arnette, tephen Scott of the cattle industry, and to promot
and C.R[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (119) Some of their projects are promotion and support of the Home, and first baby born on Father's Day. Money
use of beef in the high school home economics classes[...]to
throughout the county, brand napkins, serving for auction Montana Beef Council toward advertis[...]. Our annual farm city week tea, promotion of beef.
putting out a six county brand book, giving a trophy at the Since a large part of Roosevelt County is dedicated to
4-H Fair, and Be[...]ities. At the present
Throughout the years some of the donations given by the time our active m[...]courtesy of Bill Mitchell

c.N3[...]George Reynolds
East of Bainville South of Culbertson Cattle
J connec[...]ieben Horses

J-6 North of Bainville,
on Shotgun Creek[...]South of Bainville[...]f'j_ East of Lanark[...]East of Lanark[...]Dan Stiehl

l:
East of McCabe

Jack Evans
on right sho[...]Jack Sheilds
of horses[...]Evans
Lazy E, on both thighs
of horses
¾[...]N-2 Connected

4R Bill Phea
East of Bain ville
4 Reverse R[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (120)[...]supplies and also herded cattle for the government around
the forts and for the Indian Agency. His wife was[...]mostly of horse and colt trading; but what cattle he could[...]in the country, and a landmark for over fifty years. In the[...]early years Bauer had been a woodcutter for the
steamboats and continued that for some years after[...]trading post, housed in two buildings, one for the Indians
and one for the white man. "Tula Rock and Rye", whiskey
Cattl[...]rock candy had been dissolved in, was freely
used for herding cattle and the Jack Mail Ferry landing in[...]his trading post store, he worked first for Dr. Atkinson and[...]ford cattle ranch twelve miles
Miles and miles of rolling prairies broken by strips of north of Poplar. For many years he sold cattle to Fort Peck
badlands made a natural feeding ground and shelter for Agency on a contract bid. His cattle rang[...]early rancher wa Dave Mitchell. He wa part
forest of trees along its banks provided the logs to build[...]ife was French Indian. Mr. Mitchell wa a
shelters for livestock and homes for men. The abundant trapper, hunter and Indian trader all of hi life. Early in
wildlife provided food and some[...]other provisions, take hi dog team and tart for the north
nature, who had not marred the prairies[...]ort Peck; the fur traders who had head of hor e . The e he would drive home, turn out to
es[...]on to Canada. In tim he tarted trading hor for
sold wood to the steamboats who operated between[...]itchell ranch wa built up
From the above group of people, came our first about two mile ea t of Wolf Point on th bank of Little
cattlemen. After the Fort Peck reservation[...]ft id . Much
established they had the opportunity of watching the credit i due him for th ffort he made to inter t the
cattle, shipped i[...]ow fat during the summer months on the lush grass of Jame Miller came in 1 4 a a rid r. In 1[...]cattle for himself while riding for oth r ran h r . He
In the late 1860's or early[...]nd a improved hi herd on hi ranch outh of Lanark. Hi fir t
fur trader, established a ranching operation near the cattle were 200 head of horthorn-Whitefa H r ford
mouth of the Big Muddy in what is now known a King ley[...]m a fin a h rd a an in th
Coulee a few miles west of where Culbertson is located. He country.
began his operation by purchasing 60 or 70 head of Mr. William Alexand r Tr xi r wa in th fr ighting
Durhams, mostly of inferior grade, and bringing them to bu ine with hi mul team from Fort Buford-ea t and
the north side of the river. One noticeable thing was the west[...]st cam to thi count . H and hi wife,
tame buffalo that grazed contentedly for many years with an A siniboine woman , built their horn on th bank of
those cattle. As the buffalo grew older, he became cross and Wolf r ek about two mile we t of Wolf Point. H r wa a
Mr. Culbertson had to have him killed. Jack Culbertson good upply of water, a growth of nativ tr and hrub
erected good log buildings, and it soon became a stage for shelter and a wid xpan of prairi cov r d with an
station or road house, a place for trappers, hunter or abundance of gra e . A th four girl in th famil wer
weary travelers to rest. Mr. Culbertson was one of, if not marri d, ach r ceiv d 25 h ad of cattl for w dding
the first, white man to ranch in Roosevel[...]akota in 1889. the la t years of hi Ii£ in b d. At th tim of hi d ath,[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (121) each daughter and his wife received about 200 head of P.Q. McClammy, Jim Swinel and Billy Crowder. The[...]d "CK". In 1902 this company fattened 13,000 head of steers
Indian trader started buying cattle for government on the Fort Peck Reservation.
contrac[...]k Agency. About 1894, his son The valleys of the Cotton wood and Wolf Creeks in the
oel Burshia established a ranch about ten miles north of very northwest part of the county was grazed by both
Poplar. He had at least 300 head of cattle and about the sheep and cattle belonging to the Gibson and Carpenter
same amount of horses. Company based in Valley County.
In 1887 Major C.R.A. Scobey, (later became head of the Joshua S. Day came to Montana in 1884. Three thousand
Indian Agency) had the government contract for beef for Longhorn steers and cows were trailed to Montana[...]theast along the Missouri about three miles south of
reservation. Jody Allen and John Strachan delivered Culbertson. The winter of 1886 took about 90% of the DT
cattle for the Major. Scobey later married Strachan's herd.[...]ent two terms as Major heading the Fort Peck head of cattle from Texas, starting early in the spring and
Indian Agency, ranched in the northern part of the county reaching Montana in late August or ear[...]bey area. later mixed this herd of Texas Longhorns with Herefords
Stephen Scott[...]house and other buildings. He enclosed a pasture of 180 of the other barns and corrals. Joshua Day was
acre[...]t County. instrumental in the building and growth of the town of
The Lazy O outfit, operating out of Fort Buford, was Culbertson.
owned by J.H. Huson. He ran his cattle as far west as the In the spring of the year 1881 a steamboat was slowly
Big Muddy in 1883. This outfit had the beef contract for plying its way up the Missouri River. Upon reachi[...]annuities to the Indians who point where the City of Culbertson now stands, this boat
occupied the co[...]Buford. was forced to tie up for a whole day while the herds of
Frank J. and Dan Stiehl settled near what was[...]tte,
Mondak in about 1888. Dan ran about 150 head of cattle. who was to come back to this area in 1898[...]the range land, they acquired title to 1800 acres of Diamond ranch was located nine miles southeast of
land, much of it later used for farming. As with many Culbertson with holdings located on both sides of the river.
others, they lived in three counties without moving, The Diamond owned some 1600 acres of deeded land on the
Valley, heridan and Roosevelt. north side and had at least ten sections of state land under
The tar Ranch, near the mouth of the Big Muddy, was lease, plus the free range. One of the largest outfits in
owned by the Hedderich Brothers of North Dakota. They eastern Montana at the time, t[...]ir start ran between between 6,000 and 8,000 head of cattle and as
in Roosevelt County. In 1889 they w[...]1906-7. Its chief brand was
trailed in 3000 head of cows all over two years old. These the "Bar Diamo[...]y short time this company
had more than 1000 head of cattle grazing on the Little
Muddy, Shotgun and Lake Creeks. For the most part, they
used the Star brand on the ri[...]hey also had at
least three other brands. Holding of the Hedderich
Brothers Star ranch extended as far east as Bainville. The
Star Ranch sold out to Arnette of the Diamond Ranch.
About 1885 Tom Courchene began to develop a ranch
about one mile east of Culbertson. He had previously
freighted and worke[...]opportunity came. He built a
large rambling house of several rooms and a stockade
where 75 or 100 peop[...]barns and corrals which would hold
up to 100 head of stock and freighters wagons all of which
could be put under lock protection against theft. He raised
about 150 head of Percheron horses, headed by high grade
s tallions; about 500 head of good white-faced cattle, and
raised a few hogs an[...]pplied
the family's winter vegetables-and a share for their
neighbors.
The Pioneer Cattle Company ha[...]e
year 1885. By 1887 they had sent many thousands of head
of cattle to graze in Roosevelt County. Among[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (122)[...]In a short time trees had been cut and prepared for a log[...]house, also barns, sheds and corrals. The corrals of this[...]ranch were very large. The Manning Ranch was one of the
large ranches of the early days. Both horses and cattle[...]were run. The brand was "X-C" for both.[...]Montana he married a daughter of Mr. John Manning.[...]ranches had to reduce the number of cattle.
In the city of St. Louis was a cattle company known as[...]company sent several thousand head of cattle into[...]until after the hard winter of 1886-87.[...]east of the present site of Bainville. John Lundqui t of
Minneapolis, Minnesota was president of the company.
Bachelors on Diamond Ranch. Left to right: Mac Gonion, They had approximately 1,500 head of cattle, 1,000 heep
Bill Harding, Bill Geyer, Fran[...]acres of land to rai e feed for the live tock.[...]James windle owned a cattle ranch northwe t of[...]hea and located on th Big Muddy, betwe n what i now
(Bainville banker and rancher); and Nolen Arm[...]Bride wa tabli h d in the
1897, most of the cattle operations were moved from the L[...]e Helena headquarters about 1910. first for the J . . Day ranch and had acq uir d 1,600 acre[...]e Diamond with about 5,000 on the north id of the riv r. H built th fir t log barn
head of his stock until about 1916-18. During this time h[...]was instrumental in helping to build up the town of Mr. herman T. og well am in 1 5. Th[...]sold to Florian had tabli bed a chool for the Indian childr n at Wolf
McCann in 1940.[...]mpany, with chool wa h Id in on nd of an unu d bar, and the
Oscar Hage as foreman, oper[...]Atkinson, government doctor at th FortPeck for him If many of the Indian had a£ w attl or hor
Indian Agency, s[...]ch on th they could al wa trad th for th m r handi th
south side of the river in partnership with hi brother-in- n[...]th side, and from the Poplar River to impo ible for the arl ranch r to hav continu din th
the Big Mud[...]r the disastrous ranching busine .
winter of 1886, losing many of their sheep, they went into By th year 1 5 a few of th Indian had b
a large scale horse ranching, and[...]on wa very instrumental in inferior grade of tock.
getting the town of Poplar e tablished. om of the men intere ted in the cattle bu in w r
The Manning Lake i in ection 13, Town hip 25 and Mr. M dicine loud , known a th " attl King" of th
Range 54. At the south end of Manning Lak i the Indian , and u in th br[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (123) largest sheep owner among the Indians at the west end of Henry P. Lowe came to Culbertson in the[...]brand was "EG". worked for S.P. Mitchell two years. When the land in the[...]m Fort Buford Culbertson area was opened for homesteading by the
to Poplar, and was furnishin[...]to
opened a butcher shop in Poplar in the summer of 1886. this land until his farm consisted of 1,000 acres all in one
This was the first butche[...]he began to develop a ranch about ten miles east of silos, barns and corrals, besides fencing and[...]loped ranch.
Thomas Bowman trailed in 100 head of Texas heifers, Mr. Lowe bought purebred[...]the Mar Car Ranch. Mr.
other needed improvements for the winter. Bowman Lowe deserved much credit for the work he did in raising
located near Bainville[...]bout this same time Henry A. Miller settled south of northeastern Montana.
Culbertson, leased I[...]one year Comer Armstrong had a ranch south of Culbertson. He
he located in Richland County on Charley Creek. shipped in about 500 head of eastern cattle in 1906, and lost
Mr. David LaRoque and Mary Mitchell, a daughter of most of the herd during the severe winters of 1906-07.
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Mitchell, were married[...]ir George McConnell was a rancher south of Culbertson
ranching operations on their land lying about six miles and later in the vicinity of Lanark for nearly 25 years. He
east of the city of Wolf Point, Montana. They started out had about 350 head of cattle and 75 horses.
with a cow and two calves.[...], they C.A. Stafford, former postmaster of Culbertson,
purchased a cow or a calf. At one tim[...]aded operated a ranch about seven miles east of Culbertson, lost
a beaver shawl for a two year old heifer. his entire band of 2,100 sheep in a prairie fire in April 1899.
A[...]ly selling one or two a Montana Territory. For four years he worked for other
year until their herd built up and they were able to ship a ranchers and in 1889 bought 1,800 head of sheep from the
carload each fall. The LaRoque's a[...]Muddy River. Having been through the winter of 1886, he
Reservation. Mr. LaRoque bred his mares to these always provided plenty of winter feed. He came north as a
stallions, thus raising the quality of his herd. In about the cowboy, and during his l[...]He had acquired
mares, again he improved his herd of horses. The LaRoque 1,850 acres of deeded land of which 1,500 were hay
brand is NS. He always put up plenty of hay to carry his meadows. His main ranch was nine miles west of
stock through the winter and in the spring have them in Culbertson. Nacey was well known for his purebred
good condition.[...]en her area where they had been woodcutters for the steamboat
by her father as a wedding present. and raised horses for the Army. They settled on Shot Gun
William Jac[...]Bainville Creek about a mile and a half west of Bainville. The first
area about 1900. The Jackson[...]een the Big year the men put up 400 tons of hay and fed the cattle for
Muddy and the Dakota line. the CK-Pioneer Cattle Company for $3.00 per head. They
did this for several winters and thought it was easier than[...]settled on Snake Creek north of Bainville. They brought
most of the cattle with them, having both range cattle an[...].W. (Dad) Williams came in 1897 and settled north of[...]light spring wagon drawn by a partly broken team of
J.A. McCann[...]903 and raised horses
which was located just west of Lanark. In 1919 McCann for eastern markets. As the amount of range decreased, he
went east and purchased regis[...]d raising cattle.
and heifers. This was the start of the McCann Polled George Reynolds ca[...]rian McCann. Snake Butte north of Bainville. For several years he raised[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (124)[...]ers. As the range and he closed out most of his stock early in 1900. He
became more crowded R[...]railed in some cattle and started
bought 700 head of steers to fatten on the Reservation. In his ranching operation northwest of Culbertson. He
the fall of 1902 one of the worst prairie fires this area had stocked[...]acing flame. It burned out several thousand acres of the cattle business in 1878 and set u[...]ng land, killed several hundred cattle (about 300 of County near Choteau. He drove 1,300 head of cattle to this
this herd) and killed over a hundr[...]om Texas. In 1904 they came to this area and
rest of this herd was sold to the Indian Agency at Poplar started their ranching operation just south of the river
and Wolf Point. from where the town of Brockton is located, now in
The J.B. Cattle Co[...]Bob Reid had the "Open Buckle" ranch northwest of
same brand was used for both horses and cattle. Little is Chelsea[...]n it was a growing ranching business for more than 33 years.
operation in 1903 and that Mr. Patch was an early member Mr. Q.P. McClammy came to Montana from Texas
of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. trailing cattle for the VVV outfit. He left the company and
Tom Mc[...]regon bringing 2,000 head went to work for the N-N in the Prairie Elk area (McCone
of cattle and 3,000 head of horses. He located first on County) in 1896. Leaving there, he worked for the Pioneer
Porcupine Creek but became annoyed by the amount of Cattle Company, commonly known as t[...]bout 1902-3, he helped to cross about
miles north of Wolf Point. (Years unknown) 13,000 head of cattle to the north side of the Missouri, all
The Pen and Key Ranch owned[...]reservation to fatten. McClammy was wagon boss for the
1893. The ranch is south of the river and their range was CK. After l[...]r and Charley Creek. Both cattle and for Dan Knapp and also started his own ranch. His sto[...]oplar before buying the ranch. The ranch consists of east as the Poplar River. His main brand w[...]Swinging E. The McClammy Ranch was just north of the
and is now operated by a grandson, Barlow Colgan. The town of Oswego, but ranged into Roosevelt County.
Pen and[...]Nugent started a ranch in 1889 one mile northeast of
Coming to Montana in 1884, S.P. Mitchell ran h[...]Montana in 1885 and his wife-to-be
the south side of the river, selling them to the Army at Fort c[...]to eastern markets. He became cooking for the Day ranch on Red Water in Richland
foreman of the Star Ranch (Hedderichs) until they sold to. County and Nugent continued to work for the Day ranch,
the Diamond in 1903. He bought 240[...]in Montana. Moving to
Stafford on the north side of Shot Gun Creek and moved the north side of the Missouri River, he tarted the YP
his cattle and horses there in about 1895. His range at that ranch , running both cattle and hor e . At the clo e of his
time was from the Big Muddy to the Dakota lin[...]ranching, he had acquired about 150 head of hor and
member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association in 1899. between 200 and 300 head of cattle.
A half brother of Mitchell's, Aureus McKinney came to
Montana in 1900. He also worked for the Star Ranch. After
leaving that ranch he took up squatters rights on a piece of
land about ten miles east of Culbertson and established his
own ranch. Farming at that time consisted of putting up
large quantities of hay for the "big ranches" and taking
care of their nursing stock. By the time fences came in to
being, McKinney had established his own stock of cattle.
Jack Shields, traveling 18 days from t[...]been a
soldier in Col. Reno's cavalry at the time of the battle of the
Little Big Hom, came in 1900 to work with his[...]omas at the Star Ranch. He accumulated a few head of
cattle and when the Star was sold, he established[...]ut during the hard winterof1886-1887 he lost most of
his stock. Coming to the north side of the river, he worked
first for the "Lazy E" ranch running horses on Snake
Creek,[...]worked around Williston. Deciding to have a ranch of
his own he settled on Sand Creek, running[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (125)[...]More on the ridges rooting snow for grass;
by Bill Ralston Hard to move that much snow for feed, few got back,[...]you leave the hide".
Other on East Charlie, built of cottonwood logs straight as
pine.[...]aded-give you
Cowell ranch Dad bought in the year of 1904. For dead animal!" Soon loaded too.
"The oldest ranch[...]owner 1906 and 1907, the killingest winter I knew,
of[...]doing fine.
Hitchracks on both sides, the length of both streets,
Thi where cowboys tie their broncs while they eat.

Show me a town that's got it beat,
" Let's lift one or two before we[...]pen range, a well grassed country to ride;
Haying for sometime, hay stacks enough for all,
Winter of 1904 and '05 nice all through as I recall.

Ranch near the Missouri; in June at flood stage too,
Lived at the Charlie Creek ranch, just out of view; Louise Ralston and her father, B[...]he old
1906 Dad shipped all the cattle to Chicago that fall, barn door with brands of the open range.
Very seldom the roundup got them all.

Roundup moving out of Wild Cat; the torm sure cold to
face ,
This ridg[...]The Whirlpool cattle swimming sight was just east of
Reached the Miller ranch, half a foot lay on the[...]Blizzarded all night, drifted, at least two feet of snow, yellow clay. As the cattle went to drink, they were pushed
Sure lucky to get out of that storm· into deeper wat[...]cro ing. If you got too far downstream on
Winter of 1906 and '07, eight foot drifts of snow, the riffles you could fall off[...]dropped off into water 30 feet
orth frigid winds I hoped would let up too. deep, flowing in a circle which was hard to get out of. The
rowboats that were to take the cattle rescued them . Frank
The[...]e cattle stayed at night, river south of Culbertson. If you lived on Charley Creek[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (126)[...]fee. That fall when shipping time came, Major Lohmiller[...]shipped 1,300 to 1,500 head of cattle and sold them-[...]THE STORY OF "HIS HAIL"
Swimming horses[...]In the latter part of January 1904, the white stockman
southwest of Culbertson, you took all the shortcuts to get[...]nt C.R.A. Scobey at the agency
was not the demand for this ferry. When the railroad was headquarters, Poplar, Montana, that Indians were killing
built into Lambert, Enid and Richey half of Culbertson's cattle that belonged to the white lessees.
trade area south of the Missouri River was cut off. T[...]Bill Stephens had the first ferry boat just north of the butchering places and the strange part of the killings was
Spurgeon ranch and below the Whirlpool cattle crossing. that only choice part of a beef were taken each time and the
The summer of 1907 Bill lost his boat in the June raise of rest of the carcass left without any attempt to conceal t[...]es floating down the river caught on the act. That bold way of rustling "white beef' was the same
cable and took[...]on all carcasses that were found on the reservation. Most of[...]investigation and soon found that only one Indian wa[...]His Hail, an Assiniboine, who was at that time about 70[...]group known a
Many reports had been coming in of cattle grazing on the the "Bow and Arrows" meaning old Indian who were
Fort Peck Indian Reservation for which there was no skilled with the bow and arrow and alway lived like their
revenue being paid. In the year of 1906, the government ancestors, in a prim[...]warrior and later a m dicine man , he believed that the
agency at Box Elder. Colonel Daniels instructed Mr. mith illness of hi on wa cau d by a charmer. He u p cted
to roun[...]med Thief.
Mr. Smith looked at Colonel Daniels for a minute, and The boy of Hi Hail di din th latter part of D c mber
then told him that such a task would be next to impossible. 1903[...]it would take at least 30 days. The wife of Thief told that omeone knock d on th ir
Colonel Daniels looked at Smith and said, "Why I can't door very early that morning and old Thi f w nt to who
stay here 30 days. I haven't been home in several weeks it wa[...]an op n d th door he a hot b t n
now and I've got to get home and renew my wife[...]For a w k or more v ral white u p c w re brought
A[...]ed to divide the in by th Tribal Police for que tioning, but Hi Hail wa
Reservation into thre[...]among the trib to go into eclu ion a on of th ir act of
Walter ClfArk operated in the middle part and Jim[...]to forget hi orrow ov r the lo of hi on. And anoth r
During the spring there was much rainy weather which thing, it wa a fact that an old Indian n v r kno k don a
made the rounding[...]ing one storm a large But oon a report cam that someone had tak n a fr h
bunch broke loose and returned to the big herd that had not horse from Charging Dog' f ed lot and I ft one in plac of
been counted. In all they rounded up several thousand it which belong d to Hi Hail. That wa th fir ttim it wa
head owned by companie who were not paying a grazing thought that he might b the guilt p r on.
fee or who were only paying for part of the herd, playing After that many told about how Hi Hail, b for the
like there weren't any more of their cattle on the death of hi boy, had usp cted old man Thi f to b th
reserv[...]charmer who a t the p 11 of ickne ov r hi boy. B ing[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (127)[...]ed at them, the bullet going over their
composed of medicine men who believed the charm carried[...]unless shot The returning fire of the posse riddled the body of the
through the head. His Hail was careful to pl[...]and when various the body laid, showed that the man had been wounded the
organizations got t[...]left arm was broken and he had rested the
forms of magic, where the people looked on, his act always[...]was known to be a good shot.
head completely so that no one saw his face. His wife came The b[...]where an inquest was held and the body of His Hail was
The act that he performed was simple but shocking. He buried alongside of his son. No attempt was made to place
laid prone[...]he ground but merely left on the
under his head, like a pillow; then, with the mallet, she buri[...]se sleigh on which the coffin was taken.
growled like an injured bear. After a time he laid down and So ended the life of an Indian murderer and cattle
remained there unt[...]r.
The act was to demonstrate to the audience that he could
not be killed by blows, even on the hea[...]LE IN ROOSEVELT COUNTY
As the reservation, at that time, was of the closed kind
where the state and county had no jurisdiction,[...]hurry to apprehend the In the year of 1905 or 1906 most of the cattle in Roosevelt
murderer. And so His Hai[...]rge, appearing at County were dipped for "Scab" or "Texas Itch".
different places and som[...]e Fort Peck Agency, a dipping vat was built north of
they had seen him at several different places at the same Poplar on the bank of Poplar Creek. The vat was about 90
time.[...]tom was perhaps four feet wide. The
He marked for death several people that he hated so the sides were built at a slan[...]p. It
gathered in groups and took turns watching for the was filled with water from Pop[...]ded to the
The man kept the Indians in a tate of terror for over a water. As the lime and sulphur did[...]her dead or alive. dipped. Most of the cattle carried the JB brand (Ralph
Immediate[...]It was the last of May and the weather was very warm.
By the tim[...]h his herd. The water had been so strong with lye that
numbered about two hundred men.[...]s they
oon his trail wa found which came out of the thick
brush and led to a de erted log cabin.[...]nd
when they spotted him, he wa ju tin the proce of getting
a meal.
Hi Hail wa known to be lightl[...]fu ed by the
udden noise and ran into the brush for a moment,
unarmed, but immediately returned and took one of the wimming cattle through
two rifles that he had, a 30-30 Winche ter. During that
time, the ones who were in the lead of the pos e, kept up a the cattle dip .
steady fire the short tim that the fugitive was in sight.
After he disappeare[...]t was a wise move, because the tracks howed
later that His Hail ran for a time and then circled back and
laid down for some distance a way from his first trail. There
he waited for the men who, he planned , would follow his
tracks and, if they did , he could easily have killed several of
them before he was discovered . But when t[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (128)also swallowed some of the water in the vat, they soon Among some of the men who came into the country were
became ver[...]er the burning those who made a business of rustling cattle or horses.
of the lye became greater and their thirst increased[...]hey built hideouts
cattle started to run, looking for water and within four and would retreat i[...]hreatened.
hours time Mr. West had lost 196 head of cattle. The trail There were two such hideouts in the northeastern part of
over which he traveled is still known as the "JB[...]g corner and the other where the town of Homestead now
lost a prize registered bull. When[...]the hill and all that could be seen was the smoke stack. The
Jim Smi[...]e sub-agency at Box Elder, brought roof was of sand just higher than the surrounding ground
in t[...]ipped. After hearing which caused it to look like a little raise in the ground. The
the story of Mr. West, he objected to so much lye in the[...]the vat solution was not changed, so as the of the stock they wanted and in a few days some rancher
cattle came out of the vat, he had his men swim them woul[...]y, the rustlers often stopped at a rancher's home for
most of the solution, and the cattle arrived home safely.[...]ers refused
It was estimated nearly 4,000 head of cattle went to keep them. There were two reasons for this, one-the
through this vat.[...]others running cattle on the good will of the rustler and two-he was afraid of being
Reservation used the dipping vat at Poplar[...]to keep a rustler had
was built on the Big Muddy for the use of white ranchers. the wires of his fences cut between nearly every post and
T[...]deep and about four feet wide at the Most of the men who rustled trailed the horses into
botto[...]herd was disposed of, they returned to their hideouts to
A man named George Stevens was the foreman of the gather up some more.
crew of lumberjacks who operated this dipping vat. Early[...]attle rustlers would most often trail the herd to
that spring these men had come to Montana seeking work[...]he way at very
The cattle were brought to the end of the vat and the reasonable prices, esp[...]re Dutch Henry whose name was something like "Wintz"
was room for only one to stand and those in the rear that was located 16 to 20miles north of Culbert on but left there
were crowding forward f[...]eader to jump into the about 1907-190 and i uppo ed to have gone to outh
water After the anim[...]o have gone with him,
swim the 80 feet to the end of the vat as it was too narrow Tom Ryan and a man named Duffy. Duffy owned ome
for him to turn around. land near the pre ent sight of Antelope, Montana.
It was necessary for the animal to be completely Another rustler, who at the time worked for Tom
submerged and if he did not go under the wate[...]kill d Billi All n in a
used to pull up the head of an animal if he got under the ulbert on[...]right up. A few over 27,000 head It i known that the el on-Jone gang h ld am ting at
went through[...]anch on th Mudd to d cid wh th r to
Coming out of either dipping vat, cow were frightened , urrend r to th law-or not. Th r wa a diff r n of
and most of them did not want to claim their calv .[...]no .
Corrals were made from either boards or rop for holding The tory i told of how th heriff cam from Gia gow,
cows and calves until they were dried off and would Rt that time the county eat, to get el on but fail d
reclaim each other. Cattle were held in the corrals for to find him . Th h riff and l o[...]office, h r wa hi d pot acquaintanc , I on waiting
Maud Poul on interview for him .
Decem her 6, 1940 Th r ar man torie told of th outlaw Jon . n[...]Ed . h rman ranch nd Kid
In the early history of the cattle busines in Roosevelt Trailer , an outlaw wa to pla th violin . B for th dan
County, the rancher held their tock close[...]h eriff arriv d and a rr t d Kid Trail r.
because of Indians. These people claimed th e white man ow th r wa no one to furni h mu i for th dan e.
kill d their buffalo and they had a rig[...], took th b t hor nd
developed , thousands of cattle and horses w re oon th[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (129)[...]the breakfast table, Jones
was shot in the back. That afternoon they reached the
Agency at Poplar. Majo[...]cobey's daughters came from school, they
insisted that he be cleaned up-hands and face washed
and a clea[...]dly was a good woman,
and he should be cleaned up for her sake." The men finally
obliged and Jones was[...]90
when the tall and abundant grass was first cut for hay.
After the hard winters of the late 1880's, the need for winter
feeding of cattle became apparent. The larger ranchers
broke a few acres of ground which was planted to oats and[...]cut for hay-and this was the beginning of a new concept-[...]1905, most of them managed to break a few acre , from five[...]oats, if not, it was flax , for either grew well on new broken[...]that it could not be cut with a binder and was mowed a[...]raked like hay.

1907 - Henry Hoye and his team of oxen. Paul N ygaa[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (130)[...]I
..
z[...]I J[...]◄~
w
.I
.I[...]ll 4 7 [ " 4' [ " . . I'. II SO [ II S I t " $2 [ " S3 [ II S4[...]or tbe county. On tbls map th" following ph ases of tbe topogTnpby nre Indicated: (1) Up-[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (131)[...]I[...]I
Cl :[...]•

A.J.Nnoo I IZ J. • n J[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (132)[...]Most of the homesteader had come from the ea t where[...]ntinuous cropping and block farming were a matter of[...]ar Culbertson. unheard of-and while the oil wa virgin and moi ture[...]taken its share of the crop production and ome old timer[...]in the Froid ar a r memb r that th hail cam arl in
June and ome of the pring wheat cam back to mak[...]Wheat i reported to have run about 1 to 20 bu h 1 p r[...]during World War I, and th gov mm nt n d d th grain[...]price supports wer t by th Pr id nt of th nited[...]WH T PRI E IXED FOR THE 191 ROP
By the time the homestead law wa pas ed r quiring
that at least 40 acre be broken in the three year p ri[...]had already accomplish d this, each pric for the 191 at crop igh b
year bre[...]' when the huge 2.20.
steam engines came that could pull to 12 bottom plow , price of 1 h at wa fi y ar at 2.00
the system of farming b gan to change dra tically. Th[...]ade it po ible to ha rung up r ly for high pri f h
plant more than one c[...]figur a at pr nt will not di turb th pri of[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (133)[...]1938.
established.
Acting under the authority of the food law, the President
thus met the agitation in Congress for higher prices and
took steps to stimulate product[...]e President declared, would assure
the production of a reasonable profit. On the basis of No. 1
Northern spring wheat and its equivalents,[...]s from the Montana Agricultural Department
showed that crops during the 1920's ran from fair, good to
ex[...]Baker and Nees on header - 1925
Prices were high for those days, and most farmers were
now free and clear of debts. New machinery was
purchased; tractors replaced horses for farming, and The block system of farming was about all that had been
Model T Fords replaced the buggy for transportation. The used and now became an open invitation to disaster. The
old saying "that agriculture is the back bone of the current system of summerfallowing (leaving land idle but
nation's e[...]practice. The Biblical prediction of seven years drought[...]stationery object - fence posts,
The pro perity of the year 192 wa shortlived.1929 was abando[...]ssian thistles. Surface wells dried up, and water for both
failure-and we began the year known a the "g[...]alled a "the dirty 30' " smog that we may have to contend with here on the open[...]prairies in the future, will never equal the dust of the 1930's
that permeated every crack and crevice of the house.

Drilling water wells in about 1916. Many of the same rigs
used again during the 19.10[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (134) Good feed for livestock was non-existent and farmers
were glad[...]old straw and salt. When the straw was gone, feed for cattle
was even more skimpy. The government shipp[...], and the Montana Farmers union provided some hay
for their membership. Neither was enough for the starving
livestock. The government tried buyi[...]d left.
The years 1933 to 1936 were disastrous for many
farmers, losing their farms through mortgage[...]others went west to start over again. Businesses that could
no longer carry the overload of credit went bankrupt and
closed. The over-extended credit and the stock market
crash of 1929 closed many banks, and the people lost what
little money they had been able to save. Market prices for
cattle were from 3¢ to 8¢ per pound; wheat pric[...]in
President Franklin Roosevelt and the beginning of the
alphabetical programs-CCC for young men and youth
building dams (Medicine Lake)[...]PA (Works Progress Administration) which provided for[...]which would provide food for their families. Many farmers[...]ort Peck in the winter and come back to
1937 crop of whea t, all there was. Alma and Amanda[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (135)[...]being as a permanent
practice, and the new method of stubble mulch tillage left
as much as possible of the previous year's crop on the top of
the ground to protect the soil. The Soil Conserva[...]1940's and showed farmers how
to reseed grass and for grassed waterways which provide
areas of natural water run-off to prevent deep gulleys fro[...]sis with Federal assistance, making the
rangeland for cattle more valuable. Those families who Spraying for grasshoppers - 1938. John Andresen, Roy
had manag[...]s and trees
early in the season. pirits were high for a better year. By in their path. Again farmers tried spraying to annihilate
the Fourth of July the grasshoppers had moved in. these worms. But in spite of these catastrophes, crops
Farmers worked day and[...]med "a
government helped to furnish the chemicals for spraying. good year".
Cut worms and army w[...]The last 38 years have been good to and for agriculture.
some parts of the county. Army worms left complete[...]nything but over enough to produce good crops of from 20 to 40 bushels per[...]once again farmers could be free of debt. In the middle[...]incentive payments for grain storage. At the same time,[...]controls were placed on the number of acres each farm[...](or parts of farms) could be taken out of production, the[...]government again providing a system of land payments.

Bud Na ss and g iant g[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (136)[...]denoting that harvest was over are no longer een . For[...]separate operation. Methods of haying are also changed[...]deli very rake to the new swathers or windrowers that mow[...]ready for the baler. Automatic bale stackers and bale[...]agons, and hay stackers have taken many long hour of[...]bone of our economy. But it is still an "iffy" busine -IF[...]e middle 1960's the farm voted out the support I slip on my pants and sneak out the door.
price pa[...]since been sold on the open Out in the yard I run like the dickens
market, with prices fluctuating from[...].
over $5 per bushel. During the same period most of the Soil Clean out the barn, curry Mance and Ji[...]ack on the market. Work two hours, then eat like a Turk
About the same time the acreage controls were abandoned And, by heck, I'm ready for a full days work.
and farmers again could plant full acreage.
Although the eastern end of the county remains mostly Then I grease the wagon and put on the rack
true to the strip farming practices, in much of the central Throw a jug of water in an old grain sack.
and western parts of the county block farming is again Hitch up the horses, hustle down the lane
seen with fields of 80-160 and even 320 acres in one large Must get the hay in'cau e it look like rain.
block. Pastures which were still virgin sod have been Look over yonder, ure as I'm born
plowed as well as the land that was seeded back to grass in Cattle's on the ram[...]is running between 35 and 50 bushels Heaving like I'm wind broke, and wet clean through .
per acre with the abundant moisture of 1976. Got back to the horse , then for recom p n
Not only has the type of farming changed, but the kinds ance got traddle of a barb d wir f nc .
of machinery have changed considerably-from the oxen Joint all aching, mu cle in a jerk
or team of horses and the one bottom walking plow, to the I'm fit a a fiddl and read for a full day' work.
steam engines that could pull 12 bottom to mall tractor
which have g[...]e new very large Work all ummer till winter i nigh
powerful ones; plowing has given away to ?allower Then I figure up th book and h av a big igh .
tillage wi[...]e. Perhap th bigge t Got l h now that I had t p .
change has come with the method of harve t , from th ow olk[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (137)[...]ing from, planting to, fertilizing with, spraying for
and harvesting if --. Wives help them, little boy[...]ives visit them, salesmen detain them, meals wait for
them, weather can delay them, but it takes Heaven[...]not as fast as
year, plus the added expense that he is certain will crop up snowmobiles.
this year. Or else he will assume the role of the indignant
shopper, impressing everyone within earshot the pounds
of pork or the bushels of grain he must produce in order to
pay for a suit at today's prices.[...]dietition with a passion for alfalfa, animals and[...]He is not much for droughts, ditches, throughways,[...]God. Nobody el e gets o much satisfaction out of modem[...]the stub end of a pencil, a square tape, a 4.98 pocket[...]watch, and a cupful of chaff in each trou er cuff.
A farmer i both Faith and Fatalist- he must have faith[...]to continually meet the challenge of his capacities amid[...]an ever-present po sibility that an act of God (a late spring,[...]competitor, your cu tomer, your source of food and fibre ,[...]wise, fast-growing statesman of stature.[...]of his hopes and dreams, he can be recharged[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (138)[...]T~e blac~ 11ne in the ~o1Rture for thn 1st . 7 M0~thR & ,~1te
For thP t .USTRF. Weather Rbt1on loc~ted ;:i.t (for t'he la~t .S~
~.~ --~ •~[...]2.00
.I> Sh[...]..,. c:;8 I fa r C"'O'O but ~l-tort[...]i:roor' crop hail[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (139)[...]~nn . l.5 . owfa 11 fnr thP of 19?1- 2? to 1972-77i
7i[...]Ac:; . 5 in of snow fall crop[...]4t; in . i:rooi-, crop
?c:; - 26 "'i9 1 n . l"ooc, cron
0
6- ?7
r:[...]in . - - - - - - ~oon cron (aooa
c:;-:i: _ c:;4 ~-----~--+------------4---[...]AfterxiaffllSM' i Av rat1e now fall
for ~2 VP r R- 1 .P ~ for th P::t on is 31 . 8[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (140)[...]t Morgan's came into Roosevelt
County in the fall of 1919. They leased 75,000 to 100,000
acres of land on the Fort Peck Reservation, from Poplar
Cr[...]They farmed about 35,000
acres and used the rest for range for their large herds of 1919
cattle.
Frank Mattelin, a pioneer resident of the county, over. Her daughter, Marie J[...]r. He commissary filled with huge stores of flour, sugar, coffee,
agreed to invest one and a[...]bles in ca e lot ; the
venture, as large supplies of grain were needed due to_the long mess hall where the 30 to 40 men ate; the huge pails of
critical wheat shortage, especially throughout th[...]minal Association (GTA) at St. make pies for dinner. The labels were somehow mi sing
Paul was corporation manager.· In the fall of 1919 he from the cans brought from the commissary, but he wa
brou~ht a crew of men, two to each tractor and plow outfit. quite sure that they were pumpkin. They turned out to be
They s[...]Amencan Mr . Emmaline Mattelin was cook for the cattle camp
market at the time, were used, ea[...]nged on the go. In Frank , had worked there for 14 years a a foreman with a
one day they broke a record of 560 acres. . crew of 26 men.
Much of the breaking was seeded to flax the nextspnng,[...]camp on a camp tove. The fir t night, when ome of th
At harvest time the grain was hauled to mark[...]ddumpling
ten to twenty miles distance, by trains of five to eight out in the open over the prai[...]ring oron th ground in a nt.
with its road speed of two to three mil~s per hour. _It B fore[...]ead b the boil rful, al o fill d gr at crock full of
elevators at Brockton and Poplar.[...]long ix h n a
Morgan backed the Montana venture for three year their only mean of having fr h gg and at night th
(and it is said to have lost $3,000,000 becau e of drought), hen roo ted on th wagon r ach .
then[...]Bacon was order d each w for u at th
ampbell completed the remainder of the fiv -year headquarter and for th umm r amp, .,mmalin
farming lea e on[...]thea tern Montana, whe~e the lots 100 pound of sugar at a tim , 25 pound each of dri d
corporation continues to engage in large sc[...]of cann d tomato , p a , orn and homin .
Cooking for a corporation crew:[...]ht} built woman ighing littl mor
cooked for the corporation the first year ampb 11 too[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (141)than 100 pounds, "wringing wet", did all of the washing "Work for a cow outfit", said a friend,
and ironing for the camp. The life of a cowboy has its joys and sorrows.
Ironing was[...]see new things till the day's end.
stove. Because of the crews obvious need for food, My friend, if it could only be[...]ven drove a
team in the hayfield.
Yet, in spite of the hard work, Emmaline remembers
those years with pleasure. "I was young and strong then,"
she laughs lightheart[...]d, a top bronc buster. of nine. Some of his family arrived in the United States
Wrangler[...]they homesteaded in July
Those were the days, and like all are gone; 1888.
While brea[...]came down with typhoid and ended up
Broke horses for the camps all month long; los[...]ouse and Sy- a long trail of being a cowboy cattleman.
The boss of the Wagon Camp at the mouth During the Boer War period Fred became acquainted
Of moke Creek. Six hay Haulers, one named Hy;[...]until spring. Fred Fear, for a dollar a day. The 13 horses given them on Monda[...]g came the Spanish American War
Corrals soon full of cattle, some not shed. with more demands for horses. He kept busy breaking his[...]fight-two just had a battle.

A cowboy's life is like nature, different each day.
With all the elements[...]ay;
Holding cattle as it rains; slicker and chaps of leather.

Some of the crew of the Frye Cattle Co. Sitting: Ethan
Ryan, w[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (142)[...]Fred passed away July 17, 1970 at an age of 91 years.[...]His life was full and well lived with a zest of the old timers,[...]ye Cattle Company, and
Lou Parton, cattle foreman for Frye Cattle Company, at Seattle Packing Plant of Frye and Co. were well known
the Big Muddy Wagon[...]names in Washington, but it wasn't till the fall of 1921 that[...]Charles Frye, a man of German decent with capital of
Their family consisted of three daughters and a son, six his own, and an access to much more, was always ready for
grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.[...]where he Fred Fear, a cattle buyer for Moran and iegel, went to
worked for the Frye Cattle Company. Clariss8: finished h~r work for Bud Gleed, manager of the Yakima cattle
schooling in Washington but started a teaching caree~ m operation of the Frye Cattle Co. All beef de tined for the
Poplar. Lois, Iris and Bob graduated from Popla~ High Seattle Packing Plant of Frye and Co. pa d through
School. Lois married a[...]cott Smith, Jr. Yakima and only cattle ready for market were en ton. The
(now deceased).[...]a home. they bought in 1916. had cattle that were uffering eriou lo e . He cleaned up
Fred had[...]cattle f~r a this operation and recommended h p for that area. 5,000
hobby and helped buyers needing cattle at the auction head of heep and a replacement for F ar w re on th n xt
yards. He knew the cattle bu[...]he
From then on there was never a month went by that Power Cattl o., who had a p rmi[...]t to Lewi ton
folks. They also had a teady stream of visitor from all and other plac receiving cattl for th Yakima op ration[...]to check on ome cattl that a fri nd of hi had , who wa a[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (143)[...]any farmers in the area, and many were forced out of
the cattle business because of the lack of pasture, and it[...]of them.
Men that came in with Frye and Co. were Gerald Tracy,[...]They sent out a roundup wagon and crew of cowboys to[...]one of Frye's many camps and the location where many of
Leaving fo r Frye Cattle Co. calf b.""anding. To[...]had summer
Reservation and were being taken care of by Dave camps at different loca[...]ith
consulting the head office, Fear ma de a deal for these cattle a Bull camp near the Winslow place. Cowboys or fence-
for Frye and Co. and bought them for $35 a head. That was riders at these camps kept their particular bunches of
the start of one of the biggest cattle spreads in this country. ca[...]keep gates shut.
Frye took over the lease used for these cattle and When they were e[...]em. After some inquiries in Poplar, job for the roundup crew that went from one pasture to
some of the cattle were wintered by Abe Dale, who had a another to brand the calves. One summer that crew
camp on the Poplar River point just south of the town branded 8,500 head of calves. Later when the cattle were
where there was bountiful feed for a win ter camp and hay bothered with scab, dipping vats were built so they could
to be bought south of the Missouri River that could be be dipped.
delivered across[...]Frye bought cattle and hay on both sides of the Missouri
As Fred Fear was getting acquaint[...]n't a They had camps near the sources of their hay where they
fancy dresser so approached[...]Missouri River bottom. They had many hay crews of their
neckerchief around his neck. The person at[...]e check and went to the back room to hay for them.
confer with Charley mith, the President. Sm[...]not too plentiful so they created prosperity for Poplar and
minutes before we can cash your check"[...]ther towns along the line. Wages were $75 a month for
cashed the check and welcomed Frye and Company's men, $50 for cooks, all with room and board. Anyone
business in the bank. Later Fred Fear found out that when willing to work could most always fi[...]ars went on, Frye built a new headquarters across
for $1,000 for Fred Fear and any more up to two million, but the road from the Hayne place, and many of the original
for any amount over that, maybe you should call Seattle, buildings still[...]hey had had a temporary office in the upper story of the
Lundeen Mercantile Co. store.
They rented the Paul Hayne place a couple of miles
north we t of town and set up an office, commissary, bunk
house and cook shack for the hired help, a barn and
corrals. Fear lived in[...]The Frye Co. stepped out and leased a few ranches for main
camps and then , block leased most of the Fort Peck Indian
Reservation in township blocks for terms of five years.
This was an area from Tule Creek east[...]iles . The leases amounted to about 200,000 acres of land.
Fred surrounded himself with ex-ranchers and
cattlemen that had been through it all and they started[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (144)[...]bought up the rest of the Frye land except the main ranch
which Fred Fear purchased for himself.[...]and Bla~kfoot for many years and was never too busy to[...]he spent much of his time between the Frye holding at[...]where they had their share of rustlers, rum runners, and[...]enough of Fred Fear to adopt him into their tribe. He was[...]called Chief Black Shield after a long set of rituals and[...]Names of the local people who bought up Frye holdings[...]and who worked for the Frye Company have been omitted
so that none would be forgotten.
Bob Corbett and Billy St[...]an interest in wheat farming. He bought a section of The abundance of coal, accessible to most homesteaders
land next[...]armer in these parts. When the within a radius of a few miles from their home, must have
farmer pl[...]owed; when he seeded, Fred seeded; been one of the deciding factors when the settlers fir t
whe[...]e best land available purchased availability of coal for fuel was in trumental in the
as soon as possible. At that time the Indian could sell his development of all of eastern Montana and Roo evelt
land as he wished,[...]agency County was no exception. The winter of ea tern Montana
was asked to put up land for sale in big blocks, and much of are long and often very cold, having once at l[...]nd along the Missouri River the extteme cold of a min u 60 degree (below zero) in 1936.
bottom an[...]ches which was dry-land farmed. The use of wood for fuel or heatin wa almo t ntirely
They owned about 30,000 acres of land. The river bottom restricted to the[...]ver.
land ran from Macon on the west to southeast of Brockton. Even then, the abundance of wood for fuel wa beginnin
Much of this bottom land had to be cleared of brush before to be depleted a early a 1905 n ar the nd of h
it was broke. steamboat era. Prior to that tim , th log for th building
A big irrigation plant was set up on the Chel ea slough of home depend d upon the wood d ar a along th
which increased production of the bottom land. Thi wa Mi ouri and Pop[...]umps located near the Longtre Exe pt for the riv r bottom , R o v It ount wa
Ranch. Irrigation ditches were put in and all kinds of grain practically "tr le ". Th tarkn ofth prairi with i
were raised besides alfalfa and potatoes. Two other lev I land to the g ntly rolling hill , with pl nt f gra
irrigation plants were located just south of Poplar on the but no tr , wa no d in man of th famil hi tori
west side of Poplar Creek and up on Tule Creek.
For all of these operations, they bought a lot of
machinery but still used many hor e and mule which
they raised for themselves. They shipp din a load of jack
from California for this but soon found out th y were not
suited to M[...]ested in the sheep bu ines , which
was taken care of by John Pfaff. They also built a large
sheep shed for this operation. It still stands on land
belonging[...].
During the depression years, Frye sold a lot of their land
back to the government under the Bankhead-Jones Act
that was passed to reclaim unproductive land that wa
later known as sub-marginal land.
At Frye's passing, Fred was asked by the heirs to get rid
of the holdings in Montana. Local farmers and[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (145)[...]Minnesota
and Wisconsin areas. It was also noted that many of the
early pioneers came in the spring, spent the[...]ding a shack, and returned to their original home for
the first winter. Fuel for the very first winter was not a
pressing problem.
With the railroad coming in 1887, lumber for homes
could be shipped in to Culbertson, Poplar a[...]n families arrived, and winter came, the
shortage of wood for fuel caused an extensive search for
another kind of heating materials for their homes.
Little mention has been made in other printed materials
of the vast number of coal mines which were located in
Roosevelt County[...]feasible to even hazard a
guess as to then um her of tons of coal mined individually in
the early years of settlement. Since most of the commercial
mines are also closed, those figures are also unattainable.
It is remembered that in the eastern part of the county, that
most of the mines were being commercialJy operated and
coal sold for $2.50 to $4.00 a ton in 1925. Hauling was still
d[...]letely taken the Near Missouri River east of Culbertson. Name of mine is
place of coal for heating. Electricity had also taken its not[...]ome and the coal-wood range is now only a
remnant of the past.[...]ROY DILL MINE - Located on the 40 acres east of the[...]s ofwaterin
Apologies to those who operated mines that we have this mine which had to be pu[...]When water became too much of a problem, the mine was[...]nd a son was killed. The mine was west of Art Ryders and south of Murray's. This was a drift
closed. mine (which means that you could dig the coal by yourself).[...]ased the land, mined the coal and sold it by
west of Froid. Watts operated from 1914-1917. Leased to I[...]SOUR KRAUT MINE - was located south and west of
Norton from 1944 to 45 when the mine closed.[...]JAKE THOMSE MI E- started in 1910 at Dane Valley[...]mine was 11 miles south of Froid and three miles east of the[...]ROCKY PO I T MI E - a drift mine west of Froid near[...]east and south of Froid.[...]ran out of coal at five feet the mine closed.[...]LARSE MINE - at Dane Valley operated during the
Coal bins at home - H.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (146)[...]operated a mine
three miles north and a mile east of Culbertson from 1916
to 1942. He furnished coal for Culbertson and other towns
along the highline as far west as Glasgow to the tune of
150,000 tons before closing the mine.

BUTIERFIELD MINE - located one mile east of the river
bridge was the main source of supply for the town of
Culbertson. This mine closed about 1917.

WIX MINE - was first started by McMillan who started
mining for the public. It was sold to Charles Jarvis in 1915[...]old it to Joe Wix and his
son Ted who operated it for 16 years.

JENNISON MINE -is electrically operated and produces
15,00 tons of coal annually. (As far as is known it is the
only[...]PARKS- operated a mine five miles east and south
of Culbertson.
LEPAGE'S- operated a mine north and east of Bainville.[...]METZGER MI E - located one and a half mile ea t of
Brockton-fu rnish ed coal for the railroad in Brockton and
for the steam generating plant which furni hed the[...]electricity for Poplar.

Coal Mine at Christie Picards. Glen s[...]tie Picard,
located about 15 mile north and east of Bainville.

LANARK MI E - wa run by a Mr. Hale.

GRU TZ MI E - wa south and ea t of ulb rtson.

S MITH MI E - run by Charlie mith and[...]lle.
SIMARD-SWEET! G MI E - located outh and ea t of
Bainville.
ALTO MI E - located[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (147)[...]COAL MI I G ARO D MI ERAL BE H
BROCKT[...]The first coal mine were developed by the farm r for
1887, when the Great orthem began con truction in their own use. It wa fre fu I for the long winter in the
Brockton, and 1908 when th[...]ed. It new country. fter one winter of tr 'ng to get th ir coal
was a large wooden construction that was used primarily during the frigid winter and the icy wat r that alwa
for loading coal for shipping. The coal cars were wenched ac[...]To b gin with, the coal wa ticking right out of th
The second coal chute was a round affair that re em bled hillside. Later, they had to[...]a water tank. It had a metal spout attached to it that of dirt and the wat r becam mor of a pro bl m th d p r
allowed for the hard coal used for firing the engines to pour they went. Mo t of th oal v in wa ith r in or under
the coal into the coal car on the train. It was in use for about water. All of thi dirt-moving had to b done with hor
ten years[...]summer to get their winter fuel. om of the w II-known
mine wer named for the landowner. ome wer th .
HAULING[...]ierce mine . The
There was a party by the name of Pritchard who u d to iel ons open d th ir min to hav coal for t o large
do the hauling. He had four hor es hook[...]they remained until hauled away for crap iron in th 30' .
gondolas on the "Y". They p[...]30' . eral group
cable going from the back end of the wagon, one team leas d the min[...]te where they had a wench. When the two kind of coal-good and " chool hou " oal. o
wagon was in so far, the wench tipp d up the front end . named for it wa haul d and tored at th variou hool
Then they opened the tailgate of the wagon and the coal with no[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (148)[...]was located. It is thought that each of the four mines were[...]is known about the coal mines in the western end of[...]and Norman Jensen at coal mining camp
-1938

one of the first to mine coal and sell it. Later in 1938, John
Nesbit, Pete and Chet Baker mined and sold hundreds of
tons from the Borgrude mine. Also in 1938 Carl No[...]sophisticated by now. They used tractors instead
of horses and had pumps to take care of the water.
Many are the stories told and retold. Weather so hot that
horses had to be taken out of the mines to the hilltops for
air. There were loaded wagons balky teams couldn't or
wouldn't move out of the mine. Stub Ne bit tells of a wild
ride downhill on a wagon load of coal. A martingale
snapped and the horses couldn't hold the wagon and had
to race ahead of the loaded wagon until it careened into a
ditch that stopped it. Stub was twelve years old then, but
calmly drove the wagon load of coal home.
John N es bit tells of a tractor that slid and teetered on the
edge of a bank. He hitched hi team to the tractor and the[...]til he could start the engine and
maneuver it out of danger. Bud Nesb1tstill has a scar in the
middle of one hand. This happened when Carl Frost got
careless with a pickaxe.
All of tho e mines have been abandoned for year , the
use of coal long gone and nearly forgotten.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (149)[...]The yippee of the cowpoke and the pounding hoof of the
"The Brockton flax mill is buying flax str[...]d rolling prairies and the grassy coulee of north ea tern
fiber products.[...]new fever of excitement prevailed in the early 1950' . The[...]en sound was the clanking and grinding of oil drilling rig .
in the spring of 1916 to build a flax mill. It was built west of The excitement was created by the roving bands of lea e
town, across the coulee from where the Red[...]contacting the landholders and negotiating for oil righ ts.
In the spring of 1917 the mill was completed and "Bill" The discovery of oil by the C.H. Murphy orporation in
Lindenfield[...]ast Poplar Field in late 1951 was the forerunn er of a
The mill was used to process flax straw into tow, a fiber new phase in the story of Roosevelt County. This discovery
used to make lin[...]velopment
linen mills back East. There was plenty of flax in the area of the Poplar-Wolf Point communitie all through the[...]1950's. While the oil movement lacked some of the romance
Unfortunately, the flax was ripened and threshed before and glamour of pioneer fur trading and homesteading a
th straw w[...]ury earlier, nonetheless, it is an important part of
to learn that green flax straw was desirable in the making our more recent history.
of quality tow. Also, the high freight rates at that time
helped to make the mill unprofitable.
A scheme for processing alfalfa into cake for cattle was
introduced in an attempt to keep the mill running, but that
venture also failed.
In 1919 after only a litt[...]oys coming out
winners. They were awarded the use of the well drilled for
the mill.
The building was taken down and re-established on the
J.C. Sullivan farm north of Brockton, where it served as a
ham. In 1953 the f[...]Fir t oil w ll outh of ri er - 192 . Dr hole. P op/ of[...]in to get it drill d. ¼ mile w t and north
Field of flax on Jeld n Farm of Barlow Colgan home. t am -cable tool rig.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (150)[...]......
~ , .:-
~-■
- ,I■-■■■■ ■■tW[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (151)[...]---5'--"-v---- I

. -~~ - \0- POPIAR OIL[...])6 3I[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (152)[...]Pumping oil at one of the many wells in the north Poplar[...]Oil activity in the eastern end of the county, although[...]dry and abandoned holes. Most of the land in the area[...]Companies, but there are few producing wells east of the
Big Muddy.
Drilling for oil about 192 -29 northea t of Froid in In the Froid area there are[...]y hole. Powell land southwest of Froid, the Noel Sundheim well[...]located on the Seltz land also southwest of Froid, and the
Richwine well east of Froid. Wells drilled but found dry and
Over the[...]a. The Ostbys on Schumkessel land.
di covery of the Tule Creek field in 1960 led to the[...]·n the Bainville area are the Leo
establishment of a modest-sized oil refinery at Macon Robinson well just west of Bainville in Section 28,
seven miles east of Wolf Poin t. It primary production i jet Township 28, Range 58; the well located on[...]J et F uel Refinery it was lots just south of the Farmers Union Oil Company still has

Fire at the oil refinery seven miles east of Wolf Poin t. Now k nown as the Tesoro R ef[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (153)[...]In November of 1959 this plant went into operation[...]under the ownership of Pacific Vegetable Oil Corporation.[...]meal for livestock feeds.[...]Les Hefferline was the first manager of the P.V.O. Ernie
Oil storage in the north Poplar[...]Knick has been manager since that time. Mr. Anderson's[...]supplement and mustard oil as an edible oil. At that time
this was unheard of. Mr. Anderson wa a pioneer in the
field of protein meal for ruminate animals and mustard oil
for the edible market.[...]completed in recent years. In 1968 the size of the mill
building was enlarged by 60 feet for storage and a mu tard[...]additional sack storage area for planting eed. In 1973 it[...]the fall of 1974. Thi unit enable them to bring the[...]The improvements that Mr. Ander on ha put into the[...]pr ent own r i ontin ntal rain ompany. Th y[...]mp but at pre ent is not producing and its future i flax, and sunflower . In th futur th will[...]- d varieti .
well located ten mile outhea t of Bainville on th
nowden road in ection 33, Town h[...]r e producing well : th David Luft
well northwest of Culb rtson, the Kruegg r w ll al o
northwest of Culbertson and the Gobb · oor w 11
southeast of ulb rtson. Dry hole wer found on land
belonging t[...]nd wa capp d.
While the original fev rand pitch of excitement of the oil
di covery no longer prevails, seismograph[...], each well drilled has contributed to th
economy of the area where the wells ar located and to[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (154)[...]1. Create a strong market for locally produced feed grains.[...]3. More employment-more business for main street[...]Froid Development 6. Local source of supply for possible expansion of
Corporation was incorporated December 7, 1961, wi[...]vestock industry in the area.
stock authorization of$100,000. The first board of directors 7. Long term investment in future of community and
were: John Simard, Bainville, presi[...]lgrimson, La Verne The construction of the plant began in May 1966 and it
Picard, Buck R[...]ompleted in March 1967. Sales the first full year of
Duwayne Simard. Other people instrumental in the operation to April 30, 1968 were $278,311.61. For the year
formation of the corporation were: Donald L. Hunter,[...]employs about 28 people at the peak of the busy season.
Hansen, Jerry Wallander, Carsten Beck, Clarence The present board of directors are: W.R. Casterline,
DeTienne and Edga[...]president; Gerald Raaum,
Growth and development of the CBF is recorded in the treasurer; Rob[...]Arne
May 14, 1964: First land purchased on motion of Buck Skedsvold has been manager of the plant since it went in to
Ryder.[...]ion
manager.

July 16, 1964: S.B. Wallander moved that since the
feasibility study of the Montana State University is
favorable, that CBF construct a livestock feed
manufacturing plan[...]er 21, 1965: CBF stock sales fulfills requirement of
tate Investment Commissioner, having $50,000 in[...]Built Feeds as it
incorporated the first initials of all three towns in the
Development corporation .
W.R. Ca terline wa elected President of the Board. The
objective or goals established for the C B & F
Development corporation when t[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (155)UNITED STATES
DEPAR'l~MENT
OF
AGWCULTU

Soil C ntcr on Highway 1[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (156)[...]nservation Service (SAS), Construction Department of
Montana Highways, the Federal Crop Insurance Agency,
the Social Services office, and an extension of the County
Welfare office on a part-time basis. One large room in the
basement is used for various kinds of county meetings.

COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
County Extension work began in this section of the state
in 1917, and in Roosevelt County when it was created in
1919. Until 1933 the directing agency for the Extension 4-H Leaders - Roosevelt Count[...]ry. Finally in 1933 the United States Olson of McCabe; Raymond Peterson, Culbertson,
Department of Agriculture, Montana State University at deceased.
Bozeman and the county shared the salaries of the
Extension Agent and the Home Demonstration Agent.
The first officers of the Farl]l Bureau and the Extension
Executive Boa[...]chairman; Lucy Curran, redevelopment program for the reservation area which
Brockton, secretary-tr[...]Froid; Henry Lowe, Culbertson; and Frank Weinrich of KEEP and Mini-KEEP programs.
Mondak. The[...]Agent
fairs were discontinued after 1935 because of drouth and There were eight 4-H Clubs, wit[...]Cabe had 11 mem hers.
In 1959 Roosevelt was one of 12 counties in the United The western Roosevelt County Fair was staged with
States selected for a pilot program in broadened Exten ion Volt, B[...]year at Volt. Premiums donated by the businessmen of
sewi ng classe , farm bookkeeping courses, work h[...]Hanson, District Home Demonstration Agent for Daniels,[...]rk, Elizabeth Mineral Bench, 8 members, Mr . I. W. Buchanan, Leader
Bergh, Trudy Wheeler, I uah Wheeler and Mrs. August Culb[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (157)[...]924 to June 30, 1924
tion work with an enrollment of 365. A Woman's A.W. Warden, July[...]7
vacation camp was held at Brush Lake July 15-17 for Robert H. Sterling, August 1, 1937 to[...])
There were 16 club projects with a membership of 166. John E. Wicks, April 1, 1966 to June 30, 1970
Some of the clubs carried two or three projects. The four[...]and Associate
Enterprise, Snake Butte, Happy Valley and Green Valley Hannea A. Hallgrimson, July 1, 1955, Ind[...]. It was Indian and Associate
estimated that 700 persons came to enjoy the program of Emery G. Anderson, July 1, 1963 to eptemb[...]e ta Hanson, 192 to 1930
Places, faces, and kinds of projects have changed, but in all[...]I DI E T
Bainville South Squad, Bainville,[...]provid d that
ounty .n
Council Officer for Homemaker )uh ommit[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (158)[...]Disaster program, and in the event of national emergency[...]or war, the ASCS will be part of Food, Feed, Seed, Gasoline,[...]rost, Norman 1975.
Jen en, tub esbit, I. W. Buchanan, and Chris Tange. F[...]with. In 1975 Roosevelt was
co mmunity boundaries that were still used for the 1976 the third largest wheat produ[...]Montana.
changes). All farmers who signed up for the original wheat 1933 - Agricultural Adjustment Association
allotment were allowed to vote for their permanent 1935 - Had a Corn[...]n (ASC)
two allotment board members, H.H. Wheeler of Froid and 1964 - Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service
Ed Manley of Poplar. Wheat allotment distributed was (ASCS)
only about 70 percent of the wheat acreage reported. A total of 65 farmers were elected to the Agricultural
Co[...]1961 Roosevelt County had about. million bushels of alternate Peter G. Heinrichs and second a[...]at five bin Rauch.
site -all loan grain, that was turned over to the Distric[...]sen, Vice-chairman
Production Control pro vi ions of the A.A.A. of 1933 and on Edward J . Lind ay, member Larr[...]encouraged production control through the hifting of Handran.
land to soil conserving use[...], Vice-chairman
The Agricultural Adju tment Act of 193 combined the Loren Houg, member R[...]bit, member Alvin chagunn, first alternate
quotas for wheat with a penalty for not following the Harry wank, econd a[...]Di trict 6 - hairman Norman Jensen, Vice-chairman
for over eeding but wheat allotment would have been[...]n Duane Olson, Vice-chairman
retirement contracts for three to ten years. Duane Christoffersen, member John Miller, first alternate
Instead of surpluses in 1974-75, all out production h[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (159)[...]Knudsen, member Paul E. Alisch, first of soil erosion, the conservation of both soil and water, the
alternate Virgel Petersen, second alternate Edwin utilization of all resources in their maximum su tained
Hansen.[...]use. These practices included about 0 percent of the
cropland "strip cropped" for erosion control and about[...]trol, 690 acres of grass waterways, over 600 re ervoir and
THE[...]stockwater dams, 500 acres of trees planted for
shelterbelts, many Great Plains projects of fencing , well
drilling etc. Numerous other kind of projects include
The Froid and Culbertson-Bainv[...]s were organized in 1941. Together they cover all of pasture seeding , field windbreaks , drainage
R[...]operator.
The districts have ten supervisors that are elected every With the drought of the 30's behind us , and a new
three years by the farmers. generation of farmers , many of the contoured field have
The objectives of the Soil Conservation Districts and the[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (160)[...]name. They continued in the same line. Some of the better
by Ha rold Rauch known projects were additions of the Lone Tree school[...]better meeting place. Earlier
The early roots of Farm Bureau were established when it th e Min[...]Biem Fair in 1926 was held at the
was determined that a need existed to disseminate Biem s[...]ureau was first along the fields for support. The men held rabbit hunts,
-3stablished in 1920 when it filed articles of incorporation. followed by oyster suppers. Bask[...]group attempting to picnics were h eld for the entire family . At one time they
exchange inf[...]unty schools and favorite picnic areas. A variety of These groups managed our work and fun[...]then disbanded when
wrestling and baseball. Some of the early members recall the need fo r them[...]Good
dormant until 1961 when under the leadership of Jack
Greenwood it became active again.[...]am
The conservative organization flourished at that time in 1902, but th e movement did n ot r[...]the farmers' decisions and as a result end of April 1916, there were 37 locals in the state and[...]the state convention that year the state received its
The organization's[...]t a national wheat referendum. This was the start of conventions.
a trend toward freedom of decisions for farmers and an era Actually most of the reg ion al cooperatives were started
of freedom at the marketplace, which in turn has in the 1920's after World War I , before there was much
strengthened prices.[...]s remained stable and has Grain Exchange of Minneapolis, organized in 1908, wa s to
had stron[...]ordering point for carloads of machinery, feed a n d twine.
F[...]Farmers Union Central Exchange of St. Paul. The[...]E. 1922 to help farmers obtain a better price for their
Ne bit wa the president of what was then called the livestock. I[...]ganized; this later became a
became the president of the Farmers Union and resigned branch of the National Farmers Union Insurances. The
as Farm Bureau pre ident. In ovember of 1931 the Farm fir t publication of the Montana Union Farmer was
Bureau di solved and[...]The need for people to organize and control their own[...]Local must first be organized. The symbol of the Farmers
Union i the triangle; the base being Education, the left[...]ide of the triangle is Cooperation, and the right side i[...]collection of all dues, with the state returning a porti[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (161)[...]were started in Froid, Poplar and Wo)f Point. one of the e[...]Wolf Point and the only Farmers Union lumber yard i[...]ng livestock to sale rings and necessary supplies for[...]is now the Western National Bank. The first board of
directors was O.B. Horsford, Clarence Chamberlain[...]thers unrecalled. The
first site was the west end of main street and the first by Louis Dietrich
manager was W.I. Burnison.[...]Roosevelt County with the licensing of Robert Penner in[...]asgow, basis until 1941, offering coverage for auto, fire and life.
Plentywood, Circle, Wolf Poi[...]trichboughttheWolfPointAg ncy. p
"Junior work" for the young people began in 1933 with until 1957, policie were all rviced from the horn of th
Esther Harbo as County Director of Education. Cla s re pective agents.
work, recreation and handicraft were provided for the In 1957 an office wa built in the[...]ra I
1958 the Bubbling Springs Bible camp wa purcha ed[...]al . It
directors of education have been Leota Hoye (25 year ),[...]ion wa
Since education is the base of the organization, young built,[...]· 1974 ,
Encampment for Citizen hip state conv ntion and[...]-ti
many other gatherings. The program of th Farm r o[...]ur
Legislation is the third side of the triangl and to thi t
end, the president of th Montana Farm r nion and the[...]board member keep a watchful eye on legi lation b for[...]of Bill dam
rates and support pric s for grain, maintinaing[...]iabilit , h alth
agricultural lands for agriculture and quitabl per onal and Ii£ ·
property taxes are only a few of the many legi lative In 1[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (162)[...]board of directors of Oswego Collection, Dispatch, and[...]Delivery currently by Larry Stensland from north of Wolf[...]and plan national policies to lead all producers of[...]of assuring "The cost of production plus a reasonable[...]to 1968, when local farmers and ranchers learned of (excerpt taken from Edna Ostby story-Fro[...]a meeting was scheduled "During the drought of the 1930's the farmers in many
and all farmers an[...]a theory machinery were being foreclosed on for lack of funds to
and a plan unfold whereby; when strongly[...]y Association members were
establish their prices for farm commodities, based on the farmers who would come from all over to bid on machinery
cost of production plus a reasonable profit, a privilege and equipment, and instead of putting a good bid on
denied to farmers, yet is the first rule of business to things, they would bid a dollar or two. That did not bring
manufacturers of all other products. very much money for the fellow who was doing the
As interest in thi[...], foreclosing. The things bought at the sale for these small
more farmers and ranchers began to jo[...]. There were a few bidders ready to buy at a much
of the ever growing ational Farmer Organization.[...]I went to one demonstration where the Sheriff and h[...]were going to use the fire hose to quell the mob of
Vice President - John Toavs people, but the farmers put a stop to that when they cut the
ecretary - Richard Hibl fire hoses o that there was no pressure. The office rs also
Treas[...]could do nothing. If that had been in this age, I'm afraid
Meat Chairman - Warren Hauge[...]sevelt County enthusiastically pur ued the cour e of thing.
collective bargaining through the efforts of County
Pre ident, John Mann, who later became the[...]e was taken from the Froid Tribune
Repre entative for eastern Montana. in 1936 and demonstrates clearly the activities of the
FO members from Roosevelt County, along with FO Holiday As ociation. At the close of the 1930's and early
members from surrounding cou[...]disrupting old patterns, and causing an need for this organization and it disbanded.
upward push o[...]me members to drift away from the continuous
need of pursuing a fair market through organized Proceeds of Sale Totaled 1.95
collective bargaining; while th[...]"Tuesday afternoon at Poplar a large delegation of
the future could bring to agriculture in the way of members from the Froid Farmers Holiday[...]disastrous prices, combined with rapid inflation of costs, witnessed and took part in the f[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (163) Members of the Holiday association from this and The bidding was of short duration. The tractor old for 50
neighboring counties had been summoned together for the cents and plow for 35 cents. Several work horses were old
purpose of saving at least a part of the personal property of at from 7 to 15 cents each and the other property at like
Mr. Brechbiel of the Mineral Bench country which had prices, including a disc and drill. Total proceed of the ale
been repossessed by representatives of the International amounted to $1.95. Each it~m wa paid for and payment
Harvester Co. and taken to Poplar for sale. accepted. The property wa then removed from the
For several minutes previous to the scheduled time for grounds by neighbors of Mr. Brechbiel and returned to hi
the sale, the committee of action was in consultation with farm from wh[...].
the representative in charge, but with no avail except that While personal opinions may vary as to the[...]offered postponment. Suddenly the impatient crowd of of the action taken in this case, it is further evidenced of the
approximately 400 farmers commenced to crowd into the determination of the farmers to protect their property from
room demanding that the sale take place at once. With forec[...]restored."
take his stand on the tractor, and ask for bids, not being
allowed to bid himself.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (164)[...]lso owned a log cabin right on the state line. As I recall,
(The fore part of this story is taken from an article written th[...]ou entered the building and
by Mrs. Luke Sw~ tman for Montana Western History the North[...]full length of the floor. From the Montana side the liquor
PER[...]s named "MONDAK", the The fall of 1903 was a period of great activity. Buildings
name taken from the first two syllables of the two states. were being erected for the housing of various projects,
The clash lasted about 20 years[...]as chiefly saloons; with larger buildings for wholesale beer
well as forces for good and evil. It is difficult to say which and[...]dities were shipped by
force won the controversy, for the area shows no both rail and steamer to Mondak and stored for
evidence of fight, only a deserted shack or two, and the[...]ht sneak a few bottles back home, plus the amount that
distinguishing mark now being the barred windows,[...]to depot, erected by the Great Northern for passengers,
Seel of Buford, son of Jake Seel who was the original owner express, freight and Western union. Originally, express
of the townsite. Nothing there now bespeaks of the life and trains made only flag stops, la[...]was placed
vitality which once held such promise for a plains city. on regular stops. Considerably later the "Dinkey" made
The idea of a town to be built on the state line, mostly in daily runs (except Sunday) from Williston to Scobey. Up to
Montana w[...]wered, either
with George Stevens who was manager of a ranch located drawn or ridden. In the[...]ith solid ice enough to hold up sleds, it too was
of the ranch was Hamms Brewing Company of St. Paul, the scene of much activity.
Minnesota. Luke and I were visiting the Stevens on the The[...]et by hauling in homes and
ranch when the subject of founding a new town came up. buildings for small businesses from abandoned Fort
Financing th[...]main drawback. Stevens had Buford. One of the first large buildings was the Stevens-
ideas[...]stone News".
Palda, a lawyer from Minot took care of the iegal end of the A year after the town started there were seven saloons
company and tevens wa named manager of the new ministering to the needs of a thirsty public. Three elevators
Mondak town ite[...]nelans, Mr. Rounce and
Jacob Seel owned a piece of land in Montana bordering Ben Doyle. Ano[...]ideally situated on the Great was used for the town hall meetings and other community
orthern Railroad, the banks of the Mis ouri River and not activitie . Young and old danced to the music of Sandon
far from the site of the famou old Fort Union. Fort Buford, Broth[...]itinerant theatrical
which had been abandoned now for everal years wa group made the to[...]ch
about two mile ea tinto orth Dakota with a lot of vacant appreciated and enjoyed.
building[...]l was glad to ell the The piritual side of life was not forgotten. Protestant
land and take[...]eld in a small house whenever a minister
the fall of1903 thing began to take hape; lot were old[...]ley and Mrs. Harry Hill as Superintendents.
One of the fir t building wa the home of the Town ite Officer were Pearl Johnson,[...]r; Lucile Waterman, organist. A flourishing Ladie
that shape. Th re were veral familie living in or near Aid wa tarted which h lped furni h the money for the
town when it tarted . Wilfr d Lemieu, a Frenc[...]ed as often a he wa
nece ities. John eel, brother of Jake, had the fir livery able at th[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (165)the people of Mondak than to entertain Brother Van in In 1919 a final county plit re ulted in the forming of
their homes.[...]te a large seat. Frank Weinrich wa one of the fir t county
building and later some of the rooms were used for an commissioners, having serv din Valley County, h ridan
emergency hospital. The nearest h[...]Marshall. The town jail was The moving of the county seat to Poplar and th coming
never entirely empty--his method being to release one of prohibition the same year marked the beginnin of the
prisoner when another one needed its restraining end for the town of Mondak. When th y built the bridge
influences. Wh[...]Bainville, over the river at Snowden first for train , and later put the
Charles Council held the marshalls job with Jack Shields planks down for autos, thi wa the end of the river boat
as deputy. days for transportation of freight and pa enger .
An electric plant was st[...]reas . Al and Ike Union to commemorate the post of the American Fur
Honstain built a Great Northern[...]ich had occupied about the ame site
hotel was one of the last places in Mondak to close. The a[...]amily; Jacob Seel and
family; Tom Forbes, manager of the Hedderick store. He
later operated the grain elevator at Lakeside near the
Sweetman ranch.

Town of Mondak about 1906

The following is taken from an interview with Otto 1,
the first baby born in the town of Mondak on O tob r 2 ,
1 99.

Wheat was rai ed i[...]und until th
elevator were built about 1909. Mo t of th grain w nt to
Minneapoli by train and mo t of the cattl w r hipp d to
hicago th same way. ome flax wa rai d but i
eventually died out a other grain w re found that w r
ea ier to harve t.
Frank Weinrich had a big[...]W inri h own d the
land which wa the original ite of Old For nion whi h
h d ded to the orth Dakota Hi torical i t ob u d
in the re toration of th old Fort.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (166)[...]THE REMAINS OF MONDAK[...]to one of the many saloons.

All that is left of the school building. Wreckage
from small frame bu[...]d is
thought to have been moued in after the fire of
1928.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (167)[...]Hangmans Tr e

Earliest r oll ctiom, ar • of t11 • han 1 ma11·.._ 110< , m, I in tJ1 ' lurn ing and .... 1ill "'"· p · rnkcl in
.. I langman'!-> Tr c •·. I · ft to right : ~Ir. and ~Ir,, .. ··1m[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (168)[...]It is difficult to present an accurate account of
Bainville's history. Records are scarce, and most of the
original inhabitants are no longer with us.[...]wn, however, to sketch a reasonably clear outline of the
town. Bainville had its hey-day in the era of the
homesteader, the horse, and the coal-fired steam loco-
motive, but declined when that era ended.
The two families perhaps most conc[...]dquists. John Lundquist
owned a ranch (nicknamed, for no apparent reason, the Birdseye view of Bainville, Montana.
"Central Security") three miles southeast of the present
townsite, and very near the Great ort[...]facility and a roundhou e, o that the train a w 11 a
Apparently, Charlie continued[...]bed as a man businesses with a steady ource of income.
who, "if he saw a pile oflumber or a stack of grain doors, Initially, the town ite wa plotted north of th railroad
had to erect a building." He was a promoter, a man short of tracks, with the treets named after Pre ident : McKinley,
cash but long on ideas. Realizing that the rapidly rising Washington , Lincoln, and Garfield . Bain built hi
population of homesteaders needed close access to goods[...]th id n nam d
and services, and aware that the proximity of the railroad Pizant had a general tore there[...]ine
allowed such access, he conceived of a town on the site of followed suit. Very oon, however, ext[...]built a general store (though tracks. Most of the southern t an
it may have been mana[...]named Bruegger. There eem to have been a variety
of rea ons for the move. The location m to
exc s ively wet for a town. John Lundqui t
maintain a working ranch, and ther for o
much expan ion on to hi property. The
at a long, blind curve in th railroad tra
orthem did not like to have i
or over, the railroad plann d to ·
from a jun[...]wm n from branch and ·
lodging. Regardl s of the r
of 1907 the town wa fi
lo ation. Lundqui t mo
in to the new lo ·
nucl u of the
e tabli h d hi
and again h
For then
r te, a horn
11 parts of
G nnan an
though ther
north of town
on its main a
nd d to
. A I ain h[...]iti n , of n[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (169)[...]barber
one time, Bainville sported at least seven of these shops. One could go on, but by now it should be evident that
establishments. Ole Opstedahl had a pool hall that was little Bainville had a[...]ly a pool hall; he also doubled ae town policeman for a There was also a small community of professionals:
time. A Mr. Wenzel ran a cafe and[...]newspaper began as the
had the dray business, and for a time employed Cyp Valley Tribune, later changed its name to the Bainville[...]r
I\Q.W ... o-f>- until the mid 1930's.[...]agency, where he sold the Model T's that became the[...]beloved (but often cursed) possession of many early
residents. For several years, Bainville offered the services[...]of a veterinarian, Dr. G.W. Adams, and a dentist, Dr[...]Coulston, perhaps deserves a special mention, for he[...]occupied a central position in Bainville affairs for many[...]years. Arriving in 1917, he first worked for Dr. Spooner,
West side of Main Street, Bainville.[...]ton sold
The list should also include a variety of general stores insurance and o[...]housed in a two story stone building that is the present
had a general store aero s the street from the older location of the post office. Later, William Rhea opened the
L[...]ilding very near the Lundquist
Gustafson, brother of Mr . Lundquist. Above the Peck[...]farmers.
plant to provide light for dances which are still fondly[...]ident . The town also of this book.
contained a small creamery three black mith shop What wa life like in early Bainville? Almost
(owned by William Beau[...]unanimously, older re ident agree that it was much
Provo t), two rvery barn , and two lu[...]Imperial and the Monarch . There was a ucces ion of Because there were more[...]ar traveling
run by Loui J . Foley, who dverti ed that he could fix show combinin[...]rformed
anything but " Broken Heart and the Bre k of Day. ' In almost every umm[...]ictures existent showing circus
concrete building that still tands, having last housed the[...]Bainville - winter of 1920.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (170) main street. Dances, picnics, and community socials of one country in droves. The shrinking population, coupled with
kind or another were numerous and well attended. Silent the advent of the automobile, created a sharp decline in the
m[...]ore; one early citizen recalls seeing demise of the coal powered locomotive. Trains no longer
D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation", perhaps the most needed to stop so often for fuel and water. Fewer and fewer
famous of all American silent films, at the Bluebird. And[...]Even at the town's peak, many of the bu ine e were
During Prohibition, there we[...]area, which at best distilled products reasonably like destroyed, it was not often rebuilt. Indeed, there is some
whiskey, and at worst produced substances that could (had specualtion that buildings were occa ionally burned
they been used[...]men to the because they were not profitable--for the purpo e of
moon years before the Apollo project. Though tave[...]m selling anything but a malt "near fact that Bainville was hard hit by fire during the
beer,"[...]d
advertised on their labels. Even during the era of the around 1916, burned a few years later[...]in 1920; perhaps this was a ble ing in
Bainville that could, in their own way, be termed di[...]nstorming pilots often traveled through the area; for a destroyed "nearly one entire block in the m[...]take the more daring citizens on section of Bainville. The fire had its origin in the tore of
airplane rides. Two of the most venturesome young men, E.J. Bila[...]hall, drug store, restaurant, and maller
from one of these planes.[...]One dreaded annual event was the spring flood of building of the Farmer's tate Bank." In 1932, the " entire
Shotgun Creek. A great many old pictures show torrents of business section in the block bordering the south ide of the
water rampaging through the streets, and ofte[...]burned down during the Chri tma
the lower floors of buildings; John Lundquist's livery barn progra[...]high school During the po t war period of the late 'Fortie and early
students produced a special issue of the Bulldog devoted to 'Fifties, fair grain pr[...]e pro perity, and
town history. Their examination of the Home Hotel's allowed the busine s community to tabilize for a time.
register revealed that "during the late twenties, when the Until wel[...]wo
famous guests, including the 'I want to be alone' lady, Implement dealer ,[...]nada, were forced to stop in Bainville on account of lo ing battle. The sa o[...]he Lit
Today, Bainville is a leepy little town of approximately
15 0 residents , with only ix operating bu ine
establi hments. Everywhere, one es ve tige of the pa t:[...]r
wall covered with faded adverti ements for th " otor
Mart ' the " Bainville Trading ompany,' and " ccident a ta i id-
Flour.' What cau ed the declin ? Th r i no singl fi
an wer; instead , veral[...]n ,
the greatest ingle cau e wa the gr at drought that b gan m[...]p · of[...]building ho of[...]Bainville 1.0.0.F. n w g n ra tion of Ba inv a[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (171)[...]r regain its former size,
Bainville how few signs of dying. It enters the
Bicentennial year hoping for better days.
The author would like to conclude with an apology and
everal expre ion of gratitude. Because this history
focu ed upon the town, and not the urrounding area, the
name of a great many prominent rural families have been
omitted. Becau e the hi tory of the town focused upon very
early bu ine e ta[...]e attention they deserve.
Although the hi tory of the chool i written elsewhere,
ome mention hould be made here of Maude C. Helton,
who taught in the grade chool for thirty-nine years-- Fairview Mill, built about 1911.
fifteen of them without a day ab ence. One can only hope
the[...]own , receive adequate recognition in the portion of this Coa t Trading Companv purchased the Fai[...]y. u ine ~ in H, 6.
A lar e number of people helped compile this record. In 191[...]the bu iness until 1943. Fritz Mortinson was one of the
Kelly.[...]oa t Trading
Je · -Frank Flour Mill that burned duri early ompany purcha ed th[...]T TE LI E CL B
o i kota.
hip of b Mr . Emil hri ti[...]k . dt i c x nee you cou[...]r d rt thirti . A lot of p opl
p n[...]·u1 ntertainm ntin that[...]I th local chi op)[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (172)[...]C.K.C.K. People the service, went to work for Emil and lat r took ov r om
in the territory and Canada would know what was going of the management until it wa old in th prin of 1 69.
on at the State Line.[...]ginning as we didn't have water. activities for people to enjoy. Wr tlin wa on . W had a
Had to haul the water, gas lamps and kerosene lanterns for lot of top wre tler . Girl wr ti r in th hall up tair wh[...]dust in a building. This was used to keep That was outside.
the food and beverages cold. We buil[...]ed off th hill er th road
to put large chunks of ice and had ice chests in the kitchen to mak[...]d wa in two differ nt ta . Th
The first couple of winters we closed because it was player could hit the ball out of the tate.
impossible to heat the place with what[...]one artifical leg, Bert heppard.
In the summer of 1935 we managed to get a light plant. The games were u ually played on unday and dr w
That was a big improvement which we used for a couple of large crowds.
years until we got connect[...]n
Company. Also had wells drilled so we had a lot of good soft October 4th 1947. They came and it[...]ning and it wa too mi rable. The
In the summer of 1937 we put in a steam plant which was spe[...]r wive were treated to lar
We managed to get most of the modem conveniences steak din[...]We had RC.A. Rodeo' u uaily twic a year. That wa
lot of banquets and parties, besides feeding people who always a lively time.
came for entertainment.[...]and then. made a real boom for the ta in and the urrounding
January 12,[...]h Lin .
State Line was rebuilt. Emil hauled a lot of the lumber from And o it continu d for v ral a wi h all or of
Kalispell him elf. It wa a struggle getting thing[...]d al r wan · d o tr om hing
again. With the help of neighbor , friend and relativ ,[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (173)[...]CK ALLEN served for a while as an inspector during construction of[...]California where he served as vice president of a local
Pacovsky, the former Cyp Fournier farm la[...]In 1958 they settled in The Dalles, Oregon.
lover of horses and had some the most handsome horses in[...]harness shop in Bainville by the courtesy of The Dalles Masonic Lodge, which also
located south of the Ii ttle cafe building. He was also Justice had Masonic rites at the funeral service for him. He was
of the Peace in Bainville at one time.[...]rvived by his widow, Florence; a son, Charles Jr. of
Jack's son, Harold, met a young miss from the M[...]Chuck Owen's now live. Myrtle raised large flocks of HENRY BECKER
turk[...]he Les Wilde
farmstead. After Harold went to work for the Roosevelt by Elizab[...]ildren but their house September 17, 1855. I believe his first wife's name was
was always open to a school child who might need a meal Mary. Of that marriage three children were born: John
or a bed for the night. Harold passed away in 1970 and[...](or Masske). She was one of several children of Albert and[...]of her marriage to Henry. He was 13 years her senior. Of
A native of Goodridge, Minnesota, he came to Montana that union 16 children were born: Veronica Elizabeth i[...]tina in 1891, Ida Rejina in 1892, Rudolph
Florida for a couple year . He farmed in partner hip with[...]rd 1 97, Helena Ruth 1898, Henry Joseph
northeast of Bainville until 1942. He and his wife, formerly[...]Cecilia Alexandria 1901, Leo in 1902,
Hazel Joyce of Thief River Falls, Minnesota whom he[...]ephine 190 , Lucille Irene in 1910.
12 mile north of Bainville, in the spring of 1944. They I believe all the Becker children were born in Minn[...]in Todd County, in and around the town of Browerville.
mile north of BainviJle. They have resided here since, Part of that time we lived in town and part in the country.
except from 1947 to 1954 when they lived in Bainville o[...]ana first, our father or brother
would be handier for chool and am wa employed a John, I don't know for sure, but believe it was John as he
carpenter by[...]y. He old the
ranch in 1973 to hi olde t on Vance of idney, but till
re ide on the ranch . They have t[...]live at Hilli le, Arizona, and Larry the
youngest i attending chool at Dougla , Arizon .[...]ery and dry-goods tore.
Later he obtained control of the tore and eventually
moved to Bainville.
In 1926 he became general agent for an in uranc
company headquartering for a while in Lewistown; then he
returned to[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (174)[...]Grandpa al o kept two lar pile of wood forfu l to urn[...]The boys opened a coal min on D ac for ur u[...]year, then it wa Dad or the brother who went. I ven
years old the first time I went to town and ten y a th[...]There was plenty of wild game in tho e d ch a[...]help to a large family tarting from cratch. I mmer
came to Montana in the spring of 1911. He had a restau- and fall there w[...]up
Our father came to Montana in 1910 to work for John wild Indian turnip and eat them raw, al o wild onion
Markey and look for a location. He first filed on a claim which made our breath bad. Th older i ter did not lik u
near Markey's near the river in[...]tim long
relinquished, as it was difficult for father to take him to the the river. Thi help[...]t amily m .
court seat and interpret for him. They made several trips, Dorothy[...]k n of going on.
h r nee he was a good cow and gav lot of h milk.
l o m hick n .
Th of the family came b pa
oth th r. When we arriv d
Luci] Doroth ta d th r unti
in th rant for John, and Doroth
Lucille wa hed · and cl[...]a p in two. Don't kn
half.[...]th d had a
op ning into a dug out cav that w for a ellar.
hou and bunk hou had dir on of.
The cattl lik d th II water, bu ad to haul wa r
from th river for cooking and hou e a it wa od 0 u·al oy , houltek, I B ck r.
ater and turn d clothes y llow, m[...]cker. The place u 1a.
taste bad if on cook d wi h i . 0. wa[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (175)[...]. Dad and the neighbors singing songs and telling of different happenings in the
donated work on the[...]uth, Henry, Ollie, Leo, Dorothy, Loretta, Edward, of singing. Neither one were married, and came to ou[...]e Manford and Sylvia singing voices. Although all of them sang quite well we had
Hi gin , the Bayer c[...]n's four children, Bob, The first church I ever went to was in the Bluebird
Grace, Clyde an[...]was a widow. Theatre in Bainville when I was ten years old. We were
Our father donated[...]Catholics and there wasn't a Catholic Church at that time.
Four older si ters did not come to Mont[...]husband had been killed on the Rosary beads most of the time. He prayed in a low voice,
railroad.[...]ta. what he was talking about. He died at the age of 99 years
Ida was married to I.O. Bannister who was a druggist and and five mont[...]brother John's daughter, Mrs. Bill
The reason for the folk coming to Montana was to try Krall lives[...]get a new start after financial losses and a run of bad The only children Ii ving of this family are: Al, Leo, Ed,
luck.[...]inville, believe his name was si ters baked bread that day. Some Indians came in a
Dr. pooner. The near[...]ns wanted so he gave them
Breaking the ground for farming wa done with horses all the fresh bread.[...]walking plow. All the farming wa done with horses that stopped at our place, we usually fed them. We had[...]clock on the wall with a pendulum going back
I remember two winter when the temperatur dropped a[...], time they were there.
but we alway had plenty of cold water to drink, a my
brother cut ice out of the river and tored it in a log ice
hou e covere[...]a 50 gallon barrel to
put the ice in with water for u e in the hou e. JOH T[...]to t y with u from anada. Pete
Park wa a friend of my brother I. He had a horn tead My father John T. B[...]wife Elizabeth who were living on what i now known a
y older i ter had to bak 1 loa v of br d ev ry th Old tar Bottom outhw t of Bainville, Montana.
other day. We had a large pan[...]met my other Ada
l rg black metal p n for baking th hr d in. Th fi led Liv who[...]p d ourp ac in th umm ron th way
to the river for a picnic. While my par nt liv d w n v r
got to go to any of the picnic . Later on w w n t to a lot of
them . Our paren wer very trict with u and we nev r
once thought of di ob ying them in ny way o many
youn[...]r mother and father p d aw y ·n th win r of
1922, my brother Al took over the ranch and k pt[...]the hou the next
few years. My old r brother and i ter w nt to dances at
the Lanark and Lake ide cho[...]too. There wer a few barn danc .
One summer when I wa a teenager, my brother Hank built John Becker'[...]er and had everal dance ther . the left and R nry i on tr m right.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (176)[...]heating stove to get the fro tout of th andwi h . Lun h[...]The sick were taken care of at horn until things look d[...]called in a neighbor woman a i ting a a midwif .[...]Friends and relatives helped with the car of the new born[...]then back to Culbertson until her death in 1970. I am
the only one of the children till re iding in the area, and[...]homestead which i pre ently the Earl "Bud" La ounte
farm north of Bainville. Mary Becko wa a i ter to le[...]l they mov d furth r w t . B id
Arkansas in March of 1909 to make their home with their France[...]LR BROD H
shack they were to live in for qu ·
he wa appointed Postmist[...]b Emil
office which continu d for a n
marriage to r. B k r. They[...]it
ho o i[...]n lked or rod ho ho I
hr . in aH kind Man a
bit r old[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (177)live in Billings. They have one son. Donald works for Mr. Brunner passed away in 1963. I am living in
Mountain States Telephone. Delores H[...]with her six children in 1952 or 1953. All of the children got their schooling in
Bainville. Em[...]Bainville. Mrs. Maude Helton taught eleven of them in the
three girls and live at Culbertson. H[...]A real old-time and colorful cowboy that settled in the[...]early 1900's and ranched just west of the North Dakota
state line and north of Highway Two. Neighbors helped
Mr. Brunner was[...]nner was born in Manitowoc gave Ira credit for having the "wildest" cattle in the
County, Wiscon[...]ntana on June 6, 1924. important or urgent that it couldn't wait until Ira first
Got the business[...]nched in the area, near the
the butter and cheese that was produced. We had to close Montana-Dakota state line but south of the highway, he
down.[...]the coal dock passengers from Mondak to Sidney for Frank Weinrich.
at the round hou e. Thi wa before the Great orthern This lasted for two year and there were many hardships
had die el[...]ntime we had more children, 15 altogether, that were used. This was a new country for cars, and the
they are: Elroy, Elli and Ellen in[...]fir t licenses were is ued free to keep track of then um her of
Baldwin Park, California, Elda in Willi ton, Elai[...]ntana.
Elida and Elona live in Plentywood. Edward i in My fir t memorie of Mondak were at the age of two. Our
Bainville, Elwyn live in For yth , Montana. Eldred in fir t home was[...]purpo e well becau e much of our living wa in the hotel. I[...]exp ri n that go with a mall town booming.
In th pring of 1912, we moved into a mall hou e which[...]D d bought in the middle of town . Early that ummer we[...]my fir t experience of eing a building moved and was[...]told many a time to get out of the way. Her in this home my
i ter Helen wa born . We rai d chicken and milked a[...]cow which in tho e day wa a n e ity for a growing[...]The pring of 1913 found Dad root more firmly[...]at Mondak. Mother kn w then that Dad intend d to tay in[...]anora, Elana, Ellen. Front: Elina , brother and I sp nt much tim playing around th ferry
Eli[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (178)[...]The trains would not top but the oldier would be
for a new home.[...]xcitement had started as the railroad was
headed for Sidney. First a bridge was to be built at[...]wden. This was constructed by Guthrie and Guthrie of in 1914. It came by rail and with neighbor ' help[...]o e long winter
in a work camp on the north side of the river. I can evenings. Sliding down the hill wa also a favorite in the
remember going for a Sunday ride with my folks and wintertime, follo[...]apple .
seeing the shack town and the steel work for the bridge, all Sometimes during school the teachers would a k me to go
laid out on the north side of the river. The steam engines shovel in some more[...]t and knit
were puffing and men going and coming like ants. As a boy socks, sweaters and caps. In chool[...]t
has aided many a traveler as well as shipments of through the Red Cross. News of the war was announced in
materials.[...]month old.
Mondak was a boom town at the tum of the century. And
little did we know at that time it would be so shortlived, In the winter of 1918 the flu epidemic struck Mondak.
enabling so[...]were well enough went from hou e to hou e caring for the
It was April 4, 1913, the day of the hanging of the bad sick. The only doctor would be from Willi[...]ld rarely be able to come other than to
shooting of Cortney and Bursmaster. He rode in the back of pronounce death. I remember working with Grandma
the wagon with him to jail. The manhunt that resulted Rounce in caring for the sick. he wa the be t nur e and
after the shooting, I will never forget. Every man carried a "doctor".[...]We did look out the windows. illness. First time I had known him to be ick. We all helped
After the[...]with the ferryboat were long and hard.
distance of the jail. Collins was hung to a telephone pole Hi[...]nt. In 1914 all the homes were wired and approval of the Interior D[...]d
man those old time machine and I would get into the plant 20 feet long. Th y w r[...]e women could get their wa bing and ironing don . I . . wiili i
remember well the strong-arm method ofwa hing b for on i
the electric machines; it wa don before we I ft for school. 1
Dad later purcha d one of th bigg r horn in Mondak.[...]' h
nice view of the whole town. y third i ter, J rry, wa
born in this home.[...]w w r willing to
double up and make thi conv nien for oth r . often pm
had as boarders our own teacher . I rememb r ott Hart,
th county surv yor and[...]ak wa no
hou . cott gave m m fir t pair of good ki b au h I to a t
wanted a new pair.[...]k th ir toll.
job. y i ter, Jerry, a thr ear old and alwa clo
t[...]a bit, h
r ached over and tipp d th bowl on h r. I cam in th door ha o op n-to[...]n
at the time, dropp d th wood I wa carrying and grabb d
h r, tearing h r dr off. oth r co er d h r burn with da
flour. he came through that p ri nc ithou a ar. r turn d from pring of
When the new jail wa built of c m nt in th wintertim , 19 ntinui[...]building . Dad had mov d much of Mondak
Then w chool that wa built in 1913 a bur ting at th mo irvi th umm r of 192 J
walls with four ar of high hool a w II a 1 m ntary . born am r. 11 of th hil
During World War I all th program h Id r ofp tri[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (179)[...]RY four miles north of Culbertson. They came to Montana by[...]ving on
A prominent and re pected young pioneer that came to the farm near Culbertson. Befor[...]Bainville as a Crisman started working for the Great Northern
regi tered pharmacist.[...]o oon after he came to this 1948. Most of his life he worked between Bainville and
communit[...]as a booming
daughter, Patty Ann (Mr . Rex Welton of Glendive). railroad terminal 50 yea[...]three trains
Art wa alway pu hing and promoting for the leaving town each day of the week and returning at night
betterment ofhi c[...]p in the big roundhouse. Tony Sala was "call boy"
that the town got water and a sewer system. He was also for many years for the railroaders.
duly concerned about entertainment for the people and After retiring in 19[...]death. They had five children, their
organize one of Bainville's earliest baseball teams.[...]ainville, Montana
Whether by coincidence or a bit of maneuvering, the team Grace Coulston Bainville, Montana
gained an expert pitcher in a black man that came to town Marguerite Gilson t. P[...]Carydel Bullock Honolulu, Hawaii
the time of the Black ox candal when members on that Pat Crisman Alburqueque, ew Mexico[...]me Clarence . Crisman deceased in 1967
of them were showing up on ball teams in the Scobey[...]sed in 1956
Plentywood area. Bainville had a team that even gave
tho e north teams tiff competition. Art wa al o an ardent
upporter of the Bainville Bulldog Ba ketball team all the
yea[...]CRUSCH FAMILY STORY
and t ·me keeper for them many year and became as
emotionally involved[...]were: Onis, Eva, Eric, Earl, Ulric and
Becau e of rt' knowledge of drug , remedie and Everett. They were accompanied by a niece, Viola Kates
ymptom of illne e he'd gained in hi pharmacy and her mall on. For ten day they tayed at a rooming
bu ine , he wa often called upon for advice and help hou e and cafe Viola[...]Cru ch helping her. Jack Dwyer lived north of Bainville,
when there were no doctor in Bainville[...]ated Mr.
rt wa al o very ctive in the politic of hi choice, the ru ch Oni Eva and Viola Ka[...]y
D mocrat . ny D mocratic c ndidate could be ure of an built their hou e . They tayed at t[...]campaign cooking. r. ru ch brok 60 acr of land then learned
for the candida t . that it wa all Indian land and the mu t mov . Earl
I[...]Jim oore) and on Larry. rt pa d way in March of wa al o black man nam d H rman All n[...]m t r oon ft r rt
death . he ha c rri d on hi vit I int r t ·n th w 11-
being of Bainvill nd it' p opl .

L R[...]by Ralph ri man

On the morning of Octob r born to
arion[...]o y
and ulky racer for veral yea a y
good roller skater, for which h t d
me that during tho e year he[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (180)[...]I landed in Mondak on the tenth day of March 1 10,
Left to right: Margaret Crush, Earl Crush, Ulic Crush, where I tayed briefly with an uncle, John Dick , who had[...]son, Maude Mattingley, Lydia of the only Cru ch family in America, my par n , fou[...]emigrant car from outhern Indiana. I rememb r Mondak[...]r helped them build fence and other that time was "dry" o orth Dakotans came on the Great
things. The Crusch's new home was 15 miles northeast of orthern train fro a far awa a Minot[...]octor and hospital was in vanished except for the jail, con tructed of concrete and
Williston.[...]e and also drove About the fifteenth of March w came to Bainvill where
him hitched to a s[...]my father, Arnold Cru ch, m elf and my i ter, Eva took
There were some hard winters whe[...]We hired a pring wagon and team from
the doorknob of the house to get to and from the barn. The[...]going to office, pre ently the ranch of Eldon Pica d on
town in winter the dog[...]thi ite. Dwyer who had the official job of ' in "
blizzard came up and made itimpos[...]but home tead · d of 320 acr h on
the team followed the dog and t[...]in
into Medicine Lake. Eric like to tell thi tor about fire- ~rl~[...]n ighb
"I wa helping fight a prairie and after figh[...]rnoon and into the night ver wa hungr . I oka u
team and wagon and drov to Ed ith wh r lg
ome flour and a frying pan. I t ha k and m ·
batter then tied the fry[...]ied the tub and put the batter · an, I
along · and wh n a pancak ad I
back uld r and in hi wa[...]cam and ork d for
n igh a k on.[...]nd·
a
R
i d
B ar
t[...]h ould burn i nin[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (181)[...]Montana in search of more land and cheaper land on[...]15½miles northeast of Bainville. Charles came to Montana[...]by immigrant train or box car with four of his sons, Martin,
Fay Crusch pitching bundles at[...]nd all their belongings. There were no bridges at that time[...]while fording the creeks.
pick when I suddenly looked up to ee standing above the Later that same year, Mrs. DeTienne came west with the
pit a[...]ed in full buckskin clothing carrying a rest of the children. There was another son, Young, and
rifle. He couldn't peak a word of English. I was really daughters Alvina, Grace, Eva and Agnes.
cared as I had no gun with me. I finally shared a sandwich Joel and Ted DeTienne were brothers of Mrs. Charles
with him from the meager lunch I had and he left. I never DeTienne and homesteaded in this same[...]r where he went. good reason for Charles and Jamina to choose Montana
I recall another incident in January of 1911 when I when they came looking for more land. William and John
worked on the dray ta[...]a homestead together. There were many families of
baby in a mall two room hack, a veritablepalacein[...]nd their name have wagon train as did some of the others.
lipped my mind. We drove back into Bainville late at night Martin and Joseph, sons of Charles and Jamina, farmed
and it wa o cold the doctor and I thought we were imply later on land of their own in this same area. A on of
going to freeze . Little wonder, when we arrived[...]ed at one time.
Th wor t xperience my wife and I had wa the Panasuk and Tinenenko[...]. Bainville
combination drought, du tanddepre ion of the thirtie . It was the neare t town but for doctor and ho pital they went
wa o vere and of uch dur tion that we about de paired to Williston, orth Dakota.
of ever eing good time again. Man left o sad though,[...]harles DeTienne wa born Augu t 10, 1 70 and died
for they I ft with o littl , ome Imo t nothing to how for March 29, 19 5. Jamina wa born October 22, 1 66 and
their many year of hard work . But when it did change, my died[...]tead harle wa a preacher, a man of God, and minister d
in our family a well th t of my wife brother ha dug many churche . H pa tored the Church of the azar ne in
well and built dam nd d[...]ontana to pa tor the church there and he
varieti of lfalfa and gr m k fine grazing and hay,
reclaiming land th tone lit r lly blew awa . If I had not
n thi chang I imply would not b Ii v it. Montana i a
wonderful countr and it ha b n v ry good tom and my
family . I wa a boiler fireman befor I came to thi tat at
the ag of 2 . I made top money for tho e day v n though
a young man firing at ome of th bigge tco I mine in the
tate of Indiana. But th be t d ci ion of my Ji£ wa in
coming We t. I have never for a moment regr tted it.

TH[...],
owned by Sievert MahJen . halmer wa a World War I Agne , Young, and Eli.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (182)[...]ta, in the Alvin was a young man of 1 wh · .
Pentecosta[...]s quite a musician as were his The re t of the family cam by p[...]1•

in the Johnson school northeast of Bain ville. kept bu y hauling[...]lliston in 1937 and lived temporary room for th , · d
th[...]Three children survive, Young home. At that tim , w[...]es Haugsdal, Colorado. northea t of the town of Bai
When asked what they thought the parents ha[...]Klodts, Harry icholson, and E.A. LeP ou .
that the folks thought the distance between neighbors[...]Dr. pooner was the fir t doctor I rem ember.[...]teachers was Elizabeth DeTienn , daughter of Th
Crusch chool was u ed for year fo r unda ool ,[...]served on District hool Board. I ta ug h t int h
by Lo[...]eral ye d later erved a ch oo for[...]moved to Roosevelt In the summer of 1917 Alvin met r Ma p n h
County f[...]rri 25th,
steaded eighteen miles northeast of Bainville. Joel moved 191 at Minocqua, W[...]This wa our family home exc pt for win nt in
In 1918 Joel sold t[...]ied in 1969.
land about nine miles straight north of Bainville. Joel Arie and Laura Jean[...]rida in 196 r .. i
in having a school house (John Dunn chool ) built. Joel married to Donald Thu a
served for a time as school board chairman. Joel s live-[...]Bainville. I continu d d d
Joel and Olive had two daughter : E i who wa with Laura J ean until[...]ook, orth Dakota a t the time A. Fi ld of Tomah on pt
of the home teading, and Elizabeth who tau h t count[...]arriage. continu d vi i wi and
They also had thre on . T[...]h r O Ti nn "i Id
and worked until completion of the da m in 1 0. Th[...]1924 when h m o d to ·nn ota. Th bi rd
on Loui i th onl m mb r of th fa mil o b born in
Roo velt ount . He l[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (183)[...]post of Chairman of the County Democratic Central[...]Committee over a period of twenty-seven years, giving out
there he met Colon[...]ndians. Mr. Dwyer held the
friend . At the out et of the pani h merican War, unique di tinction of having been adopted into nine
Roo evelt wrot Mr. Dwyer a king that he et together a different Indian Tribes who e cau e he had championed
company of men for the Rough Rider R giment. Time did throug[...]1945, he and
not permit them to join the activiti of the Regiment but Honorable B.K. Wheeler were[...]er at Far o until they w r di banded at the clo e of pre ented gift to the e men who had been their friends.
the war.
ft r many exp ri nee in the d y of buffalo herd and
th Indian w r partie , Mr. Dwy r ettl don hi own ranch
ixt n mil north of B inville. He oon b came ngaged
in th work of public offic at Mondak wh r he wa the[...]It ounty wa fir t
organiz d .
In the " Hi tory of Montan "compil d by Tom tout in Elmer Dy[...], Mr. Dwyerr c ·ved thi mention with th founding of in Unionville, Mi ouri. T to Red Oak, Iowa but
Roo velt ounty : " I w r . Dwy r' pioneer r tum d to nion[...]hi r ogniz d p r on 1 D h d d the call offor
into the bill er ating Roo velt ount ." r. Dwy r[...]year nd url
that it w du to hi clo a o i tio nd high r gard for wor nted a farm ju t
Teddy Roo v It tha h ugg t d that the count be cro · ich th farmed
named for hi old friend and th ugg ion w[...]· · t of Bainville,
In l l , John Ow r wa unit d in m rri ge to Lillian i merand url
M rrill[...]· I ar in
Mr. and Mrs . Dwyer mov d with th[...]a tob
Poplar and at th clo of his term of of:fic went into th[...]their own but
It was at thi time that Mr. Dwyer became ac iv in tate[...]een appointed by the
late enator Thoma J. Wal h a I gal advi or to th ntry- chool
Indian and from that tim until hi d ath he had work d d[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (184)[...]le frequently.
Muri Dye's mother, Cora Helton, i well remembered by
residents of the Culbertson-Bainville area she also came
to Cu[...]found an abundance of feed . Thi alJ -irriga[...]one and one half mile from
family. This consisted of Winfield S. Evans, r. and wife, pre ent town of Bainville.
Mr. and Mrs. Winfield S. Evans, Jr. an[...]m from ulbe fifte a I dr
known as Tom and the son, Winfield, Jr. was kn[...]their real names. bu y. o the two I took ·n ir nd
Mr.[...]dh ui)
Mr. Evans engaged in thi bu ine for ome time. on a larg log roo[...]n to learn to ride and handle tock ing built of lurnb r.
at a very tender age. Jack grew to manhood in thi ranch
home.
A daughter of Mr. and Mr . chaap b cam th wi£ of
Jack Evan . Her par n wer earl da pion r i[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (185)[...]vans - 1920.
horses move the load. Some of his language would hardly Taken in Bainv[...]nd said, in his very loud voice, "You
can't do it that way, you must be quiet for so much noise the far side of the pasture running and neighing, she
only excite[...]d on the Fort Buford !her pony she started for the pasture and by the time she
Military Reservat[...]knew something had been
land would soon be opened for ettlement. The first fall the disturbing them, they were bunched but not in the usual
Custodian of the Reservation came and ordered them to[...]y together day after day.
collect 2f) cents a ton for the hay they had put up, but Mr. Mrs. Evan[...]the horses closer together,
Evans refused to pay for the hay and no more was heard then decided on a tour of inspection and found the fence on
about it.[...]the north side of the pasture with the wires cut and down,
The He[...]rs had been there at work but had been
the custom of the country to give a big dance. Dances were[...]ek on the south
the road all the way . The bottom of the sled was filled with side of the Missouri River as a suitable location for a new
hay then the blankets were put in and then[...]r near Culbertson to cross. One or two loads were
of snow . Upon arriving at Culbertson they had a little crossed on the ferry but this was too slow for Mr. Evans so
difficulty getting the baby buggy up[...]by bugg~, and and mules into the river. For three days they worked
here the baby slept all ni[...]this herd was all safely across without the loss of a
and the schottish. At daylight the people bid t[...]ngle animal. There were between 700 and 1000 head of
farewell and started home.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (186)[...]n June 3, 1915 he had a picnic at his ranch north of
this move Mrs. Evans and two small children rode[...]as invited. His men cleared
buggy while the rest of the family all rode horseback. Here a place in the grove of trees on the hillsid northeast of the
on the Big Dry their nearest neighbor was ne[...]were there , and many children were baptized that day.
The saddle herd, consisting of about 250 horses were He lived on Sn[...]and others and rented them to what was at that time a busy
said that he couldn't hold the herd on a night like this and population. He had a large barn and k[...]saddle horse there. He cast his first
can't hold that herd tonight, you are not rider enough to vote for General Grant in 1872. He was a member of the
ride for me. He then called his daughter, 15 years of age, to Methodist Church, and died at the age of 1 years ten
go and herd. She went out and herded through that storm months and 22 days on January 12, 1[...]illiams daughter, Josephine. They had one
Some of the happy memories of the Evans family are the daughter, Mrs. Bill (Gladys) Harmon. Williams daughter
Fourth of July celebrations. Mr. Evans would get up his[...]ere trimmed with ribbons and tiny
flags and rings of various colors appeared where ever they
could be[...]submitted by Elva Crusch (Mrs. Eric)
they started for the celebration.
The horses were full of life and right up on the bit and William Cu[...]eding
children lived on the ranch the attractions of a Fourth of the pigs. He kicked one and hurt his toe. Th[...]Crickets,
The Evans' horses run on the Big Dry for about four Lord ol fishooks, most handso[...]with them. This trottin, Maggie-dottin , that go} darned rooster stepped on
time it made feed h[...]hi fir t car and as he
averaged $80 a head. Some of the Evans horses were seen passed the team and buggy, Grandpa aid "Wal, I swan, if
in France during the World War of 1917. that feller is in such a hurry, he hould have started[...]) are brothers.
hauled it with horses on the ice. That was the first Evans Daughter :
Hotel. That was the east side of the street, down near the Joesphine (Mr .[...]ys Harmon (Mrs. Hill)
Stagecoach Inn was located. That burned in 1913 and he Mary (Mrs. Georg[...]Lon (Mrs. Albert)
Tom Evans died in the fall of 1908. Alva Crusch ([...]Jack

In the spring of 1902, William C. Evans, brother of Tom,
and his wife Katherine, and their family mov[...]ROBERT M. MILLER
wagons bringing a herd of cattle and horses to settle on
Snake Creek, south of Snake Butte and north of where the by elson Miller
town of Bainville now stands. They left their ranch on
Lo[...]My father Bob Mi11er was horn in Arkansas in I (,;t At
Culbertson on the first day of July. age 20 he left home for ehraska . From that place he later
In addition to operating the ran[...]joined a Texas cattle drive h ading north for Montana.
bought a place near Culbertson and opera[...]ed on working
subscribed to the Fort Benton paper for 42 years, and then as a cow-poke for the "Circle Ranch" for several vears. He
was surprised and pleased when[...]lifetime tended cattle on the south side of the Missouri as f~r east as
subscription. He was interviewed and an account of his life the Ye1lowstone . Glendive was then the railroad tNminal
included in the History of Pioneers of Montana. where the markPt[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (187)[...]Fort Benton was reached. winter of 1905-06 with snow two feet deep and no help to[...]be had. Travel was virtually impossible for any distance.
lea tone winter as a woodsman in t[...]survived! In 1910 in December, my mother was sent for
first child, Robert, was born in 1902.[...]orn on Snake Creek. Her brother
In the spring of 1903 they left their Sand Coulee came for her in the night through a storm with a four horse
homestead for eastern Montana. He remembered the[...]heated a rock sizzling hot in the oven, put that in to keep
livestock for the railroad. They traveled overland by[...]kept snug and warm. They arrived in time for the delivery.
grown children: Roy and wife Belle[...]nch, so the open range sought by the Evans family
for the Culbertson area looking for range for their horses. was already beginning to d[...]was started, and we didn't have so far to travel for our
Dakota where settlers were beginning to farm[...]ent several winters very
camp located from south of the Missouri to the Canadian pleasantly in this isolated way. A time for reading good
line.[...]any families.
My families caravan was delayed for about a week near We al ways had a good garden, but I do not remember my
Big andy for the duration of a severe May blizzard in mother doin[...]ere directed to go northward to find a good route for Canning in our family may have started ab[...]Dried fruit was our main fruit source. I do remember one or
sheepherder and his band. That night they enjoyed two times fi[...]not recall how they got them. We always had boxes of
had ever heard before. They arrived in Culbertso[...]place where everyone simply helped
present site of Bainville, and ea t to beyond the Dakota themselves. I can remember in the late fall, the coal
line. My[...]house before dawn and the
Banks creek northea t of the present Bainville, but spent men al[...]t winter working on the J. . Day Ranch just south of loaded, then all would leave about dusk m[...]ut to our ranch in caravan-headed north for the journey home any number
the pring of 1904, leaving the family temporarily at 'the of miles a way.
dairy' which wa my grandfather Bill[...]a way in most directions. These made the best of times for
and ntique how i now located. There I wa born in the[...]had before. These were the days of country dances, box
my mother. he galloped into[...]e were no schools in our neighborhood. My
cu, tom of the time di . . appeared up the attic ladder, unt[...]Reynolds
The dairy became the stopping place for all the family for one winter. After that we moved to town for a few
member. when they had come the long journey[...]winter with father remaining at the ranch. Then for a few
to Culbert ·on from their home twenty-five[...]year there were enough home teader children o that a
wa , our hopping center for grocerie and other chool, the 'J[...]children,
11 the cattered n ighbor would come for mile and tay[...]gland during World War II, now lives
from home by that tim . One night my mother put us[...]lo t Mis oula.
her way in the blackne s of the new burn and couldn't get My par[...]Archie Brown in 1944. Returned to Bainville
roof of the lean-to kitchen, sometime lat r she spotted it where they lived, he died in 1963. For the remainderofmy
and found her way back.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (188)[...]r and family . Later he traveled to several
parts of the United States to work while looking for a
permanent home. In Kentucky he married Harriet[...]farm while there. They were neighbors
and friends of the McCrackens' and Higgin 's families who
later came to Montana.
The Harmon's decided to try Montana for a better
opportunity, emigrating by train with their three children,
William, Lena and Carl , in the winter of 1905-06. Arrived
in Culbertson and spent the rest of that winter in a shack
near the river. Harriet made br[...]ge R eynolds and wife, Mary Evans Reynolds. Taken
Valley. Not being surveyed yet he could not file a claim[...]he went out and found the cabin missing, so
ended that venture. He had seen a place south of Bainville,
traveled by horseback to interview the homesteader. The
snow was so deep that he rode the railroad track to They[...]n and
milk cows, all their goods and their family of five. Loui se family, south of us; and my Uncle Bob Miller and family
was born later in 1912. east of us.
The Harmon family sold their place in 1916[...]. In 1926 Bill , the The severe winter of 1906 and 1907 were di a trou with
oldest son, married Gladys Miller of Bainville. The farm great loss of livestock.
was later divided between the two boys, Bill and Carl , each The house of C.M. Young and family, ix mile north ,
adding som[...]. My fath r located the
Carl married Karen Harp of Buford. Lena married and stove pipe, du[...]imenson.
Carl and Karen 's children are: Velma of eattle; Dean of I can remember the t rrible prairie fir s which u:ed to
Bainville; Paul of Canada; Carl of Billings; Verna ru ch w ep the country for miles. My Mother and old r . i, ter
of Bainville, and Ronda in Calgary.[...]young r on s would climb the high hill back of our hous to[...]OLD hauling barrel of wat r and food a. fa t a . h could .[...]My fath r rai d t r to II for o n to th farmer in
by Mary Reyno[...]th Dagmar and Grenora ar a .. , om of th ,[...]orth the following day .
settled on a ranch north of Bainville in s ction 15. Much of th land ast of u, wa. homesteaded or bought
to wnship 29, range[...]n Rus ia .
They left their former home because of the danger from M Moth rand children lived in ,ulb rt. on in winter for
rattl esnakes. The chose this location because of the the childr n to att nd chool. Her Uncl W. ~. Evan. wa ,
flowing spring and abundant grass . At that time thi was instrumental in having the first church built ther . ,
Valley County, and Pat ac y was County, heriff. there was a majority o!' Pre, byt rian, . that wa , what it
The family unloaded at Culbertson and bought th ir fir t turned out to be. This building i. now the L. IL~. Church . So
order of groceries from a young clerk , Rube Gustafson, in[...]store. home for the months on the farm . ·
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (189) In 1905 a government surveyor by the name of Pette THE MORNING RIDE
surveyed our locality and signaled from the top of Snake by Lazy E. Ridge Runn[...](Jack Evans)
landmarks a re Black Butte north of Bainville, Signal Butte
four miles south of town and Lookout Butte northeast of We started on a circle
town, and Eagle Butte southeast of Snake Butte. Just at the break of day
Heddericks of Williston owned the Star Ranch south of Pacing Joe was my mount
town. The foreman[...]ater married Albert Peterson and homesteaded east of And a goer it was said
Bainville on the[...]iss Charlotte Hanson.
Rev. ellie Ozman was one of the first ministers in the Right there on t[...]ook us all to Williston in a The "Yellow Rose of Texas beats
heavy wagon to attend a circus there. We took feed for the the Bell of Tennessee."
horses and ourselves, and bedding, an[...]d To see what was in sight
on the farm north of us, now owned by their son Wayne.
Emma died at 16[...]al in Williston. There were We saw a bunch of horses
two doctors there at that time, E.J. Hagan and Distad. And played[...]ulee
Crusch and lives on a farm five miles south. I married And I saw that Gravy smiled
Albert Nelson who was born in Sweden[...]As we rode up from the coulee
France in World War I. We raised six children, Thelma of And showed ourselves in sight
Paducah, Kentucky; Anita of Calgary, Alberta; Greta of We saw them snort and turn
Paducah, Kentucky; Norman of Sumner, Wisconsin; And run with all their might
Glendon of Stanley, orth Dakota ·and Mavis of Denver,
Colorado.[...]To read both sides for brands[...]I could see their big eyes wink
GEORGE REYNOLDS As we sped for those narrows
The horses, antelope and I
(submitted by Alva Crusch (Mrs. Eric)[...]If I turned them to catch them on the fly
Mr. Reynol[...]low and
the following verse reminds daughter Alva of her Dad and As I piled both spurs and quirt
his walking-plow:[...]The antelope gained the narrows
" One day I walked into a furniture store, and the A[...]od said, "This is hand rubbed, and
it has a sheen that has seldom been seen in wood." And out And now the race did lay
of the past, and down through the years my memory played Between the horses in that band
me a trick. And I saw, not the chest on the salesroom floor, And the little grey of mine
but plow handles sturdy and slick . And they were rubbed That was tearing up the sand
by hours of toil , held by those sweating han~s, with maybe
a drop of grease from a bolt, or oil from the harness bands. As I beat them to it
Oh, they had a gleam and they had a glow, a glow that And swung them to the right
you'll never meet. And I saw my Dad with his hands on the Joe[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (190)[...]And there we'll wait till spring
But I'm here to tell you Then we'll see what turns up
It was different with that old buckskin mare, We may do a different[...]Met our friends and relatives
That buckskin mare was out of sight Kissed our family all ar[...]Then we'd saddle up our ponies
That belonged to the Lazy E And start back for the Dry.

As we told each other
The brands we rea[...]jaw the story.
Some of the brands were complicated[...]When we found our camping ground
If we don't have those brands just right Down o[...]last tent stake was "drove"
On our forenoon ride that day Bill Curts and Joe C[...]He says I'll tell you fellows
Don't stake no horses out[...]And tie them good and stout

On the twentieth day of November I'll tell you what I aw
The wind was very high And I know that it will pan
Zip and I were holding herd I saw it in the ether
That had drifted from the Dry. I saw the Blackfoot' hand

Our ponies lank and hungry I tell you boys
Looked like an old hat rack It's a warning I have to heed
The nights were long and cold I read it in the ether
To make the long throw back.[...]George Hunter and Tiny
Looking kind of tall The first guard they can tand
Says he , I'll tell you boys Then me and Hungry
We can't make that throw back this fall. Will hold the[...]With our hors clo e at hand
Let's turn that day herd loose And[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (191)[...]a big half circle during World War I.
As they rode the mad stampede Mil[...]shed out to our horses In a life of this type you must conserve human resources
And b[...]"Do unto others as you would like to be done by." Keep your
As we crossed a little[...]ing and mind the law.
My night horse did his best
I saw that I was losing ground
As I raised a little crest
C. A. FOURNIER
As I plied both spurs and quirt
To make a faster run by Margaret Swigart
I saw a flash of light
And heard Bill Curt's gun[...]Quebec, Canada. He was second in line of twelve children
I heard the Boss' yell born to[...]ight horse barber in the Sidney area for many years. Alphonse stayed
He called him General Banks with Cyp and his family for a time during his teens and
He held them to the center attended school in Bainville. Three of all the Fournier
And kept them up in ranks[...]Dobkoski of Belt, Montana and Charlotte Carrol of
George Hunter rode a horse that night Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
His name was Run[...]tained some French words and expressions, but was
I didn't see myself quite ea[...]er on the shelf where they lived for five years. Cyp, as he is known,[...]on Face" glazed the break-outs carry buckets of sand which he poured between the
With his six gun tried and true studdings of the house walls to provide an insulation
We'll ho[...]Cyp recalls a severe winter blizzard in Canada that
covere[...], still standing upright in the snow. He had been
I'll ride and guide this stampede trapped[...]done In 1909 Cyp went to work for Earl Evans on his ranch
north of Bainville. While working there a gray wolf was
As I fell in with Joe Curley giving them[...]protect her calf, the wolf would move in and ham
I saw my night horse had to run string t[...]a large living area and five
What happened after that fingerlike prongs leading off of it. The beginning of each
Up along the lead prong was evidently started by the mother wolf and
I'll tell you as the Boss told me completed by the cubs since the opening was much smaller.
After that stampede By using a long stick with a wood bit on the end of it, Cyp[...]oseph left his family in 1910, Rose took in
Along that running mass washings to keep her family going. That spring Cyp went
Of tails and mane and horseflesh to work for Jack and Charlie Evans on the Lazy E ranch.
As al[...]ey crashed They rounded up 1600 head of horses and 125 head of

-206-

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (192)[...]with her sister Hazel O'Brien who was lone ome for her[...]She liked to run so ended up running a good share of the[...]continued on the Dray. Later they worked for Leonard Ray
on the farm in the summer of 1917. It was here that their[...]parents in Minnesota as she awaited the birth of their[...]for the summer, but the family returned to Bainville[...]fall to work for Kelloggs.[...]for keeping the mare and gave Cyp the colt she had ha[...]nita Beryl Fournier was born on a farm just north of[...]The family rented the Fry place south of Bainville about
twelve miles where they lived for about three year .[...]gan, Jim
the Big Dry Country on the Redwater east of Jordan about Miller and Jim orgards.
twenty m[...]she would carry a syrup pail half ful]
The horses that had gone over the bank stayed near by of cream on the addle horse with her and would hak i[...]next morning when the riders rounded up the rest of the she u ed an upright crock hum with a da, her.
horses and brought them back they discovered that In 1925 they moved back to the farm ju t north of
lightning had struck and killed a mare and colt in the Bainville so that Margaret could tart to school . yp
center of the herd. Stampeding horses move in a circle and[...]sar to
can be heard a mile away, and further than that if one leave home at 4:00 in the morning to[...]I J
ranch south of Bainville along the Missouri River. At
haying time he was given a dump rake and a team of
broncs to follow the mowers in the hay field . The rake wa
out of adjustment and would bump him on the seat. He
finally got the attention of one of the mowers, who came
over and held his horses whi[...]the rake. His
horses were so frisky they trotted for a day and a half-
until he got to bunching hay an[...]a walk.
When threshing started Cyp went to work for Jack Allen
on a farm three miles south of Bainville.
Cyp worked for Bill and Hurley Mitchell during the
summer of 1912.
After working for several farmers and ranchers in the
area he start[...]from the Great orthern depot. It was
at the depot that he met a pretty girl, Iara reasdal , in[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (193)[...]ed by Laurence Gessner
for 17 years. This meant milking at 5:00 in the morni[...]tween seven and nine A.M. Washing bottles, caring for Wisconsin and on June 29, 1883, Louisa[...]n at
the stock and farm duties filled in the day. Of course, cows Fall Creek, Wisconsin. In May of 1906, Louisa came to
had to be milked at 5:00 in[...]Montana and filed on a homestead, the NE¼ of Section
was separated for cream which was stored in a coolinv 3, Township 27, Range 59, east of Bainville. At that
tank. It was a steady job and confining, since the sam~ time the town of Bainville was located southeast of its
routine was carried out each day. Sometimes a[...]. A few boys in Bain ville will immigrant train for the Montana homestead. They stayed
remember that they helped deliver milk sometimes in the[...]family when they first came here and
summer time for a chance to get out to the farm for a while. Charlie Bain located them. The main reason for their
Lyle and Chester Pickthorne, Bill McGary, t[...]choosing this area to settle in was the fact that homestead
boys and many others.[...]land was still available. Their first impressions of this area[...]er was Clara's them good potentials for making a living as farmers. Then,
sister, Violet.[...]mpressive factor.
Sunday was guest day and most of the time another Naturally this was just the opposite of the closed in wooded
family or two would stop by after church for dinner. The areas in Wisconsin where the[...]b bys were frequent guests. The summer of 1906 the Gessners hauled lumber from
The Fournier[...]story frame house. The walls of all four rooms were
Clara was active in Ladies Aid, Rebeccas American plastered and that same plaster is still in excellent
Legion Auxiliary, lead a 4-H Club for several years and condition as is the rest of the original house. An addition
taught Sunday sch[...]rpenter work
Cyp belonged to the ancient order of United Workmen, those first years for area settlers, too. They did their first
Oddfello[...]o lend a helping hand. He served as
floor manager for many of the dances held at the armory.
Margaret married Sterling J. Swigart of Sidney,
Montana . They have three children, Rose[...]ve in Billings.
Richard passed away at the age of 23 after an emergency
appendectomy when uremic po[...]lbert Granley and purchased
a house in town, west of the school house, and was
manager of the Farmers Union Filling Station for five
years.
Cyp worked at many jobs after this[...]ny beautiful hooked rugs, and made many lap robes for
the needy and for many years made wreaths to put on the
forgotten g[...]Leonard Smestad
was building houses she did much of the painting.
Clara always kept a lovely yard and garden. Cyp would
help her to care for the yard and she would manage her
flowers. Clara and Cyp had almost fifty-eight years of
marriage together. Clara passed away in September[...]il September 1974
when he married Carrie Hartsell of Sidney. She passed
away in ovember of 1975. Cyp is in good health at the age
of eighty-three and enjoys walking to the Sen[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (194)[...]They are Mrs. Kenneth Halley (Geneva) of Minot, North[...]Dakota and Gerald and Mrs. Richard Smith (Gennet) of[...]1941 Ervin and Esther Evanson of Bonetraill, North[...]Washington. They have one son, Larry of Marysville and[...]The teacher there was Irene Delaney, daughter of one of the[...]terms at that time were held through the summer, spring,
For fuel they gathered buffalo chips from over the[...]dar trees in the badlands School was closed for awhile, so both Laurence and Ervin
for fence posts. Tom Orrison helped him do this. They[...]the diploma and she had al o been hi former
some of those posts are still standing in use since, bett[...]grains and raised good crops.
A.C . Spooner, M.D. of Bainville, was the Gessner's first[...]o roads and horse vehicles, or on foot, the means of (by Alb rt Granley)
transp[...]cery stores were few and far
between. In the fall of the year they'd purchase several Ole G[...]born in orway in 1 77, and came to
hundred pounds of flour and often sent to the M.W. Savage Minnesota when he wa eight years old.
mail order house for different kinds of dried fruit, etc. Then, Mr. Granley was marri[...]ile,
too, they hunted rabbits and other wild game for food. Minnesota, in June 191a.
Nearly everyone had a pair of skiis or snowshoes to travel Mr. Granley came to Culbertson in May of 1900. H came
around over the deep snow.[...]with an immigrant train and had charg of a carload of
The Gessners had two boys. Laurence was born Ju[...]homestead and on January 23, 1914, what i now Engan 's regi~ t r d Hereford ranch, just nor[...]hen his mother was on a back home trip of Plentywood.
to Wisconsin. Laurence has been a lif[...]he same room he wa to stay. He worked for Evans horse ranch and other
born in. He married Agnes Henriksen of rural Williston, ranches until h[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (195)[...]For a couple of months, the home was a two room house[...]near the present site of Wylie's tavern. This was a decided[...]The permanent home was built in the spring of 1910 in
the Tubman Addition west of Main Street. The homestead[...]was about a mile west of town. In the summer time the[...]summer of 1910.[...]Wallie Peterson and son, Charlie Bain (founder of the[...]Peterson,
on his homestead, three miles northwest of what is now Charlie Smith , Charlie Johns[...]no playground and too many distractions for the students.
His first log house was also used for a school house where In November 1908 a new sch[...]and Bill, Benny near the present site of Bjorge Oil and Trucking. The
Hanson , and Hunter[...]eback from her homestead
During the snow winter of 1906 and 1907, Ole and his a bout t hree miles south of town. Students included were the
partner went on skiis and pulled a sled, and cut tops off of Ha nson ch ildren, Benjamin, Lillian , Evelyn; Clark
the trees in low places for fire wood. Lundquist , Cy[...]er. become an annual affair since that time with the scholars
Mr. and Mrs. Granley had[...]e here near Bainville on put on exhibitions of broncho riding and trick roping.
the farm. Edwin[...]in which yo ung a nd old pa rticipated. Of course there were[...]ner were born in
McGregor, Iowa. It was necessary for them to stop at Bainville. Marguerite J[...]n Bainville.
hardware store near the present site of the small brick
building on the east side of Main treet.
At this time the majority of the business places were on
the north side of the tracks. Due to springtime flooding,[...]day the family walked to Signal Butte, I was born in Hillsboro, North Dakota in 1896 to Ole a nd
located south of town. As it was necessary to skirt around Amelia Belland. My father was a section forema n for th e
several herds of range cattle, it was a long and tiresome rai[...]Montana. My Mother and I followed a little later by train .[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (196)We lived in the section house at Snowden, and I started The Evans Horse Ranch in those days ran thousands of
school in a log building there. Some of the children going to head over a range spre[...]y. Later this school consolidated with Mondak, so I on the south by the Missouri River. That was a lot of
drove by horse and buggy or rode a horse from the[...]r son was Charlie. Tom 's brother, Bill , had two
of Snowden. The house they built there was a one room log sons, Roy and Earl, and everybody joined in for the
building. Later they added on two rooms.[...], the Evan men and
home. It left about three feet of water in it until the ice went their riders enj[...]horse. Benny always managed to get back on
Some of the early day neighbors were Mary Wilson and[...]ead was 160 acre (a quarter-
The nearest towns for trading were Buford, Mondak and section), in sections 19 and 30, township 28, range 58. That
Bainville. We attended church at Mondak and Bainville. was three miles west of the present site of Bainville. In
Martin Halvorson worked for my father on the farm. 1906, howeve[...]r oldest ones attended We were neighbors for years on the northwest and we t
grade school in Fort Union, formerly Mondak. The of places owned by Spencer Mitchell and Aureus
younger ones went there for a while until it consolidated McKinney.[...]school in Bainville. By the spring of 1907, Dad completed our homestead[...]of seven moved in. In later years , a kitchen and ot[...]e was added. The original hack was sided with sod for[...]ce Hanson present size of one thousand acres was reached .[...]In this part of the Montana Hi-Line, only a few places
I was four years old in November, 1906, when I first saw are still held in the name of the family who originally
northeastern Montana.[...]homesteaded them. Ours is one of the e places.
It was a wintry, cold day when my[...]et us at the busy
Culbertson depot, 12 miles west of the homestead he had
started earlier that year.
We stayed in the hotel in Culbertson that first night. The
following day we rode a two-seat[...]m Evans ranch , neighboring
Dad's homestead. Most of that ride was across wide-open
country with no roads o[...]We lived in a spare log house on the Evans ranch that
first winter. Dad was unable to haul lumber enough to
build our homestead shack until the spring of 1907.
I guess I learned the meaning of western hospitality from
the Evans families during that first "big snow" winter in
Montana. The sodbuster[...]cow,
from the rancher and his family. We learned that a
Montana milk cow can have a wild streak unlike[...]tie
them before they would submit to milking.
I remember the Evan ranchhands that winter of 1906-
07 and their efforts to keep up with the demand for wood
which was the only fuel for heating and cooking. Th
nearest supply was on the banks of the Mi ouri River,
eight or ten miles south . In[...], th
ranchhands drove about twenty or thirty head of hor e
ahead of the rig to break a trail. It made a pretty[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (197) and Joyce were all born in Montana, in that order, at home first saw that homestead. She managed the farm well with
with the help of Mrs. Sarah McCoy, a neighbor who knew us[...]pioneer woman of high ideals, always kind and helpful.
There were no close doctors or hospitals at that time, and I moved from the farm to Wolf Point in April of 1928. I
it seems that no one had to go to a hospital or even see a[...]arm due to a severe cut from
doctor very often. I guess if you did, you were in a "bad a barbed-wire fence. I had fallen on the fence from a
way."[...]loaded hay rack when the team of horses hitched to the
The nearest general store for us was in Bainville. rack bolted sudden[...], dry goods and groceries all In 1931 I married Bernice Norby of Bagley, Minnesota.
came from that same store. Later, several other businesses[...]. fall of 1928.
One spectacular prairie fire I can remember started by a We had four chil[...]attended Wolf Point schools. Wayne now is a
west of our home. The wind moved it rapidly toward our[...]living in Mission Viejo, California. Barbara, a
that darkened the entire sky. I remember mother throwing former teacher, lives in Wayzata, Minnesota, and Bill, also
pails of water on the shack without much hope of saving a former teacher, now is a newsman with United Press
anything including the lives of all of us. The Evans boys International in Helena.[...]d on the scene, however. They shot and I started working in 1928 for the assessor's office of
killed three horses, cut them open lengthwise, tied ropes to Roosevelt County. Originally, Valley County covered
the carcasses and dragged them be[...]to the North Dakota line. In 1912
in a fire line that held. this area was part of Sheridan County, and in 1919
The school we an[...]was on Roosevelt County was created.
a plot of our land west of our home. It was 1909 or 1910 that I was a switch clerk when I started in the assessor's
I started attending. The Evans girls, Viola , Mabel and office. Later, I worked in the county clerk and recorder's
Maude[...]office and in the treasurer's office. Then I won election to
would drive from their home ranch in a buckboard with two the office of county treasurer, and later to the office of
seats pulled by a team of horses in full run. They would county assessor. I served 30 years in elected positions and a
come b[...]we could hear them long before and total of 41 years in all as a county employee.
after we could see them. That entire family had a good time I retired in January, 1975. Bernice died April 4, 1[...]e children all managed to get the required amount of career, also was county librarian for 14 years and active in
education; some possibly r[...]ittle more than the First Lutheran Church of Wolf Point. There she was
others. We older boys o[...]Sunday School teacher. Bernice also was a
duties. I remember running the horse-drawn machines - charter member of Kappa Gamma, a teachers honorary
including the plow, drill and binder. Some years, if the society, of northeastern Montana.
season was late and the cro[...](W. Clarence Hanson died in the spring of 1976.)
needed, then it might be October or Novemb[...]nd thawed and school work again was
discontinued. I guess I missed about half of every school MAUDE HELT[...]after two P.M. on May 15, 1966 the school bell
I failed to pass my eighth grade examination in two[...]lton
con ecutive years. The County Superintendent of Schools who had been a classroom teacher for nearly 50 years, 39 of
thought I should try again, a third time, so I did. To this those years in the Bainville school system. The roll call
day, I don't know if I was that much smarter on my third represented classes back to 1927. A "This is your life, Mrs.
try, or if I had simply become that familiar with the test, or Helton" was presented.
if I was about old enough to vote and the superintende[...]to Bainville with her parents in 1908
was running for re-election. At any rate, I passed. and has never really left northeastern Montana. She
That rural school served many other purposes such as[...]d Miles
socials, dances and church activities. At that time, a City before starting her teachi[...]ould conduct country school near the town of Westby. She taught later at
additional services. Sometimes, these visits were for one the Rhode school east of Froid. Then she taught one year in
week or more.[...]ainville and continued to
mother arranged to care for additional visitors for that teach there until she retired in 1966.
length of time. I can remember as many as 15 or 16, Mrs . Helton never missed a day behind her desk for 15
including our family, in our house for visits that lasted years and probably not more than 45 days in 49 years of
weeks. It just seemed everyone was happy when oth[...]parents were charter members along with the rest of for school at 7:30 in the morning, her day seldom ended
the family of the Lutheran Church in Bainville. Mother[...]there was always lesson
also was a charter member of the Ladies Aid there. preparation for the next day.
Dad died in 1917, but mother con[...]ades had slipped during the year
place he started for another 50 years. She died there at the always found Mrs. Helton had time for some private
age of 91 in a modern home full of labor-saving equipment lessons during the summer so anyone's quest for higher
and advantages she wouldn't have dreamed of when she learning was never tu[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (198)[...]st need to know who is the boss. '
Of the 1500 students that had been pupils of Mrs. Charlie Johnson filed on a home[...]e "This is Your Creek, seven miles north of Bainville. He rode for the tar
Life" program. Many of those attending were now the third & Diamond outfits and in the winters helped his brother-
generation of her former pupils.[...]Montana in 1910. She and Charlie were married that ame[...]Dora was an active sewing leader for the 4-H for many
Fred S. Harvey came to Montana from Michigan. He and years. She also liked to tell the story of how Charlie would
his family spent 1906 in North Dakota near Williston and drive for many miles just to fill up his car with gas at a[...]a passed away in 1975 at
Shotgun Creek, northwest of Bainville. He had two sons, the age of 95.
Jay and Fred R. Two of his brothers, Bert and OIi ver, and a
stepdaughte[...]on to Fred S.
and his sons. Jay moved to New York for a time and later (taken from interview of Elmer and daughter-in-law Kay)
moved to Washington, where he died last year at the age of
96. Fred R. Harvey married a school teacher. They[...]age on in Montana. He had relatives that had moved out here and
November 27, 1913. Mrs. Ha[...]rom Ohio to visit her sister Eva, Mrs. Eddy McCoy of town of Pinewood, Minnesota and came to Bainville for a
Bainville. She stayed to teach school and lived[...]it lasted until 1927. He arrived in Bainville one
for many years. Because of the numbers of Harveys in the very wet March morning, he s[...]the school became known as the Harvey mud that oozed up over the shoe-tops. He located hi
School and as many of the country schools, it has pioneeri[...]n Flour mills. He
Fred R. moved to the Flathead Valley in 1936 and lived worked the next six falls[...]Torrance, threshing crew.
Robert, and Dale of Kalispell, Adelaide of Columbia Falls, By 1919 Elmer had found his "one and only", Tillie Huso.
Lucille of Charlo, Nellie of Missoula and Almont of Froid. Elmer and Tillie were married in the B[...]Church, the first couple ever to be married in that church.[...]west of Minnesota. Ella and Mable Kirkvold came in the[...]as they were loading equipment in preparation for oming[...]home in 1945, World War II wa over. Lloyd i buri din a
ED HIGGINS[...]Orton found a girl that really met hi fan in
A young[...]Bainville in 1909 a Munitions factory. In June of 1942 Orton mad hi wa
and Ed taught school for three years. They then acros Canad[...]nd he and Kay M K II r w re
homesteaded southwest of Bainville and farmed until 1947 married .
w[...]Bainville for burial.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (199)[...]ng when he worked on the main canal of the Lower
morning in 1946, Elmer hobbling about with a cast on his Yellowstone project in the vicinity of Sidney. In those days
foot after having a horse f[...]construction project. There was no Department of
memories of the opportunities in Montana made the[...]ed
Kirkvold's feel the West was calling. By March of 1948, by the state to the counties and the[...]mer in the area. This was the beginning of what was later to
worked for the imard Brothers for two years in their shop become the construct[...]truction business. To begin with, the
ranching on that location. December 3rd, 1952 is one of roads built were very primitive and very few of them had
Kay ' most eventful days of her life, she became a full- gravel surfaci[...]the road building while wife, Irene, cooked for the crew and
Grandfather's place east of Froid where they are ranching at the same ti[...]ong. At four o'clock in the morning the day began for
Elmer's youngest sister, also named Tillie, ha[...]soon thereafter as all the horses had to be
north of Culbertson where they farmed. Edwin passed[...]64 on the job at seven A.M. with an hour off for dinner and
when she returned to Bemidji, Minnesot[...]ued until six in the evening. Much work had to be
for her during those years until 1969. Orton and Kay'[...]entangled with a combine pulley and lost the ends of four repaired. Bedtime came about 9:30 P.M.[...]least, he is still as soon as the frost was out of the ground in the spring and
handy-man for Ort and Grandson Lyle and can keep up[...]il freeze-up which was often around
with the best of them! Tha[...]most of the jobs were along what is presently Highway[...]In 1919 they built the road just north of the Snowden
(taken from the Richland Coun[...]Albert and Irene built the first semblance of a road west
Albert Lalonde was born at Crookston, Minnesota in of the Muddy bridge on the reservation near Culbertson in
1 92, the son of Julian and Mary Biladeau Lalonde. His 1922. The equipment consisted of two scrapers pulled by
father was born in Quebec,[...]ta. Albert attended public was during that summer a terrible hail storm and cyclone
schools[...]e attended school there and later family for a few hours until a tent could be raised. It was[...]ol. formed, and they assumed the obligation of constructing
Albert and Irene were married Dece[...]amily
Bainville by Rev. Father John Hennessy, one of the built the road from Bainville to Culbertson under the
pioneer priests of ea tern Montana. They homesteaded auspices of the new highway department. A pioneer
east of Bainville on the site that is now the Bill Wilson engineer of this area, Scott Hart, was in charge.
ranch. Ther[...]except that by 1925, gravel surfacing became part of the
The Lalonde had four children, all born on the program. With that the gravel truck was introduced. Most
homestead except Eugene who wa born in Williston , of the trucks used were Model T Fords and carried ab[...]ohn was born ovember 17, yard and a half of gravel. Prior to this, horses and wagons
1915. He married ynove Bratberg, daughter of Mr. and had been used so very little gr[...]the
20, 1917. He married Dorothy Wilson, daughter of Mr. and horses for pulling the machinery, but they were still used
M[...]gons and scrapers.
he married O' eil Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. John The next piece of equipment to evolve was the gravel
Jone . Eugene[...]1. He married crusher. In order to make use of all the gravel material and
Beverly Perrault, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. tanley eliminate the la[...]crushed to a maxi um size of about one and one-half inches[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (200)in diameter. The crushing of the stone helped to make a School for my sister and I was a problem. At first our
more dense mix and al[...]rm . We drove an old pony
the early thirties many of the roads in Eastern Montana hitched to a[...]nd walking. The
The state then began a program of oil surfacing over all next year the school was moved two miles closer. After that
these roads. Most of this surfacing was done with highway the sc[...]the most children lived.
maintenance forces. Many of these roads are still in use This building was used for church and Sunday chool. I
today.[...]uarters to Sidney sled where mother played for services. My parent , being
and operated from there. About that time a new type of older, did not participate often in part[...]s
tremendous improvement over any previous models of busy helping organize a church in Ba[...]to crops. Flax wa the crop mo t planted
advantage of being able to pick up the load and carry it at[...]model had. not grow on new land.
This type of equipment revolutionized the highway[...]o terms a County
industry and eliminated the need for horses. These Commissioner in Roosev[...]scrapers were also very adaptable to the leveling of land. Representative from this area in 1936-[...]ed to
Mr. Lalonde purchased a considerable amount of try for office again but death intervened .
unimproved valley acreage around Sidney and during the
"off season"[...]g and ranching.
In the early 1940's the clouds of war appeared on the
horizon. Most construction wa[...]d, THE LePAGE FAMILY STORY
except essential war contracts. During this time the Albert
Lalonde Company was engaged in the building of airports, (as told by Char[...]tion dumps and military highways. This was a time
of extreme shortages. New equipment was not obtainab[...]it was necessary to repair and patch up the old. Of course Wisconsin to Princeton, Minnesota in 190[...]ut a real strain on the repair parts supply. Many of LePage soon decided to go farther we t to see[...]little more farming near Delano,
In 1943 most of the defense construction in the area was Minn[...]the family put up a little shack and fished for a living, elling their
decided to sell most of the machinery and spend their time fish for five cents a pound. But oon it wa We tward Ho .
ranching near Savage for the duration of the war. again and they moved on ae[...]Albert Lalonde and his wife saw the evolution of where ancy home teaded in 1905. Th ir[...]ide with a dirt floor. Ida pa away
The end of the road came to Mr. Lalonde on June 8, 1945,[...]and brother that there wer rtu h in[...]digging
My name is Ruth Leeson Smith. I moved to Montana in rock and br akin[...]"T
who came from Grand Forks, North Dakota. I was 13 year good a[...]ov h n
five miles southwest of Bainville. He came a month before he wa[...]1930 and m oa
Mother, my sister and I came. He had an emigrant car in farm[...]d t d K n neth of
He built a single boarded "shack" 16 x 24, in[...]J w 96!1. John i
lived the first year. In the summer it was very h[...]Point.
winter too cold. There were out-croppings of lignite coal c Le[...]dition to
Without this lignite coal I doubt if people could have hved arm,[...]homestead , o the e young Kath erin Miller i non who
peop[...]eighborhood dance and card is a re ident of Gal n. ha d P ily mad
parties. Picnics, rodeos , baseball games, Fourth of July th ir home togeth r and far[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (201)[...]le coal auger to make a They were known for their moonshine whiskey, and well
hole, placed the dynamite in the hole and picked and known for the care and treatment of their horses.
shoveled the coal out. They sold a lot of coal to people in the
surrounding area.
Their[...]hey either drove team and wagon or walked to town for
supplies.
Charlie told about the Ole Moe fire that started about a
mile and a half east of their place, burned for two days and JOHN LUNDQUI[...]te Earth. The next day another fire started
north of them and it burned until it reached the blackened by Mrs. Paul Panasuk
land of the fire the day before.
One of their favorite early day activities was the dance[...]dren: Alice, Clark, Emery,
the rooms to make room for all the neighbors. and?. Cla[...]yed home all day!" They fished in the east of Bainville. Charlie Bain came here in 1878 and
Mis[...]ne line-setting. Charlie Bain sold many of these horses to the army,
Charlie was also a good[...]nd coyote. Bain was the manager of the Lundquist Ranch. Charlie
Early neighbors of the LePages included Bob Miller's, owne[...]harlie Bain
Perry became concerned about school for their built the Grand Hotel whe[...]borhood and offered his newly built chicken house for Butcher Shop was and the present day fire[...]board a teacher-so it constructed.
was that the LePage School was started in their yard. One[...]Lundquist was the first big farmer in Bainville,
of the first teachers was Mrs. Margaret Skorick Forbes. owning many acres of land east and north of Bainville
The LePage School system was later move[...]ed by David
building located on Jackson Hill west of LePages. Panasuk. He also had man[...]k has been stable in Bainville at the site of the present Bjorge Oil
cut down to five chickens[...]in Bain ville, a Velie. He did lots of flood irrigation from the[...]ck County, Maryland in early Romo. Some of the people that worked on the Lundquist
1900. They homesteaded eight and one half miles north of Ranch were Andy Simonson, Ira Calder, Te[...]7 he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Vangen of
Left to right: John Hurley, Nick Lippy, Mrs. Nick[...]more so than many of us could ever anticipate or imagine.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (202) The only form of entertainment was visiting with the few
~eighbor[...]which
was a great help, not only as another form of
entertainment, but useful in many ways.
No el[...]stove
had a reservoir on it and it was the duty of the children to
keep it filled with water, carry[...]ound coal mine
where Dad and the boys mined coal for our own use and
sold some to the neighbors.
W[...]h good health and enough to
eat which compensated for many things. Back row[...]47.
a threshing machine together and would thresh for others
as soon as they finished their own. There was a lot of
excitement come harvest time, with Mother and the older
sisters doing a lot of extra cooking and baking for the MR. AND MRS. IRA MARDEN[...]. The boys always helped with the farming.
All of us children attended Round Prairie School until[...]s. J a mes Van de berg a nd Darel Marden
the fall of 1939 when Mother moved into Bainville during
the[...]orth Dakota. He met and married
With the loss of Fred and Ernest to the army, Dad was Ma[...]akota in
unable to keep on farming so in the fall of 1942 had an 1910. Margaret h ad been b[...]n sale and moved into Bainville, where h e worked for Th ey moved to the Bainville a rea in the summer of 1913.
the Great Northern Railroad until he retire[...]y fi rst lived on the Art Cody place. In the fall of 1915
In March 1957, we had an open house for our folks th ey h omesteaded seven miles north of Bainville where
celebrating their 50th wedding an[...]Civic t hey built a shack and Ira worked for Bill Evans while they
Center in Bainville. It was a very rewardin g day for the proved up their homestead. In 1919 they moved to the
folks and also for us children with many of their n eighbors Herman Torgerson far m and[...]nding. It was a day they ch erished south of Bainville where they made their home.
the rest of their Ii ves.[...]ed to Havre, Montana and in May, 1975, at the age of
for approximately two years, until sh e became ill an[...]The Mardens had ix children. Robert who i decea ed.
July 1965.[...]infancy) Korene. Norma, Mrs. Harold Holly, of Ray, orth Dakota
Alma, born 1908, died a t the a ge of two from the flu; Joel, has seve~ children,[...]iston; Fred, Kn tme, and Karla. Edward who i al o decea d. He wa
died December 7, 1969; Ella,[...]every year , if at a ll possible, we get together for a
family reunion . We h a ve found it very reward[...]eriences th at we shared as children, with a pair of
wonderful parents that God gave us, whose memories we Alb[...]n ovember 24, 1 7. Maude Eyth 1 Low wa
ab undance of material or worldly things, the experience of born in ine, Mi souri on Decemb r 22 1 2. Mattingle
the love and the caring of a large family, which our parents were marr[...]24 , 1909, at ine, Mi ouri.
gave us, is somthing that time will never erase from our March 10[...]nds - fo r this we th ank God, fo r he is the One that made come from Kirksville, Missouri b[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (203)[...]ked up the Missouri River, three miles, to
Maude' i ter' , the Jim Berry's ranch to get a team of
hor e to go back after Maude. They traveled on th[...]is now Roosevelt County,
eighteen mile north ea t of Bain ville, Montana on ections
-9, Township 29,[...]mestead rights through Five generation picture of Maude Mattingley. Back: Bessie
Jack Dwyer, who e[...]tty Tibbats. Front: Jannel Fuller and Chad,
filed for quatter and home tead right .[...]r
yard owned by John Lundqui t. The barn wa built of od.[...]house in Bainville for a hospital. Jamina DeTienne was a
midwife that went around to the homes, most of the time,
for arrival of the new babies.
There wa a Cru ch School, and that building i on the[...]Entertainm nt con isted of picnic , card partie , Ea ter[...]by men of the community. Maude recalls all they had for
lunch wa divinity candy that he made. Harry ichol on
and one of the ru ch boy help d b at the candy, and it[...]gle , B rt Palmar, Harry making com br ad, i ouri tyle. On of the foremen aid,
Palmar, Annie DeTienne, Erne t l[...], Montana.' h , al o worked on a ranch for Richy
William A. Crusch, Maude Mattingley, John icholson, weetman which i about five mile outh of Bainville and
Lydia Ferguson, ina laPause, Ulrich Crusch, small i the imard ranch. now. Anoth r recoll ction was that
child, Bessie Mattingley. her fir t broom wa mad out of buckbru h.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (204)[...]e: Bessie Mattingley born March 21, 1912 that he received a patent for a full half tion ofland.
1911. She attended the C[...]Emma wer marri d in 1 16. Th ]d
Mapes for her first teacher. She married Ulric Crusch on[...]r and Gary. Their present address abundance of big, weet trawb rri .
is Sandpoint, Idaho.[...]s attending. He married ome neighbor of the Mellott' in tho earl day w r :
Florence Swart[...]is O'Day, 0 car el on' , Tony ala' , Alb rt i ott ' ,
Anchorage, Alaska.[...]te ' , Jacob Thoma ' , Wi]]iam
After the birth of this second son, Bernard, Doc Sawles Hacken[...]Another brother Howard Mellott wa one of th fir t
four."[...]in Williston, orth Dakota , six miles east of Bainville during the 1920 . He later went
on Marc[...]living on the
original homestead , has used some of the lumber from the
homestead in building parts of his present home.
One incident still to be rem[...]CAR EL 0
over the Indian Hill, southeast of their place, and they used
barrels of water hauled by horses to put them out. by Dean I on
Neighbors were the Earl Ferguson , William[...]ty i tob r of
Mr. Albert Mattingley pas ed away Octob r 15,1[...]d hi
car mishap at DeQueen, Arkansa , at the age of event . ·[...]d .., d of
Jack Mattingley came from Mi ouri in 1916, and[...]. Th ig h t hi 11 I
worked around the Bainvill , ontana ar a. H la r[...]Lepouc af r ntering and
returning from World War I, h , again, work d with fr.
Lepouce.
When he ma[...]~t
b come hi broth r-i n -law. H tied on th pi ce of land b idn 't horn t a i
where the Bob yqui t farm building ar . It[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (205)[...]Oscar married Mable Torgerson, daughter of Michael T.[...]children using a 1936 Ford for a bus.[...]uishments from George
Zimmerman. They paid $1,000 for the relinquishment (w[...]s 1906 at Glasgow, the County seat of Valley County,
awmill, i still standing. The first time Oscar left the Montana. It was three miles northeast of Old Bainville on
homestead he put a padlock on th[...]ed a few days later it was twisted off by a rider that In the spring of 1907 the O'Briens loaded two emigrant
needed shelter and he ays, "I have never locked the door cars with .lum[...]a to be shipped to Old
0 car continued to work for John Lundquist when he Bainville, Mont[...]engine. The other partners and a sister of the three, Mrs. Alphonse Provost (formerly
were L[...]y
steam engine to break and eed flax on thou ands of acres frame house on it. They made other improvements that
of land in the Bainville area.[...]n an adjoining 160 acres, making 320 acres
One of O car' fir t job on the Lundqui t ranch was to[...]t Bainville to the Their neighbors at that time were Dick O'Days, Macks,
pr ent ite. " We ju[...]d to lay plank to cro the creek on." "Another job I had Peck , Tillingho t, the Walters family[...]e homesteaders married Clint Otis. A sister of Clint Otis, a Mrs. Gottel, was
going north . 11 t[...]e bronc and the County uperintendent of chools in Valley County at that
Ea, terner couldn't handle them owe (Lundqui t Ra[...]r also.
would hip in old hor e from Minne ota and I made many P.H. (Dick) O'Brien died F[...]trip, taking them to ulbert on. The trail wa outh of the year, a winter of very heavy snow.
tracks th n.'' "My pay wa 25.00 a month and I got The eldest daughter Mary and hu band J.P. avoy
another :- .00 for taking the lead in getting up." (Getting (Jack) and family of three came from Beaudette,
th er .w up in the mor[...]n all along the Great orthern Railroad.
" o a lot of peopl didn't think it wa uitabl for farming.'' They later moved to Bend, Oregon.
Ce[...]ived in Fairview. Mrs.
huilding an laborate y t m of dam , dike and ditche Elizabeth anford now liv in idney a do her on and
which made him one of the county' foremo t pione r of family, th Dr. anford' .
oil and wat[...]m a half ear after her hu hand' death that Mr . O'Brien
and family by upplying and for W.P . . project . Th m t and married[...]oma (Jake). They
Bain viii Civic enter remind him that "I handled each cam back to th home tead at Bainville and farmed and
, hov 1 full of and in thi building veral time .'' "I took a made improvements. Th y mortgaged the 320 acr s to buy
gov mm nt contract for 700 to furnish the and and then 4 0 acr[...]run away accident in Jul of 1920 in h r 60th year. Jake
Many of th fir. t ettl r that gave up and moved on left tayed on the farm for om tim , then old and traveled
their names a part of Roo evelt County hi torv . A a xten[...]wife' death . Hi n ph w and
their names .• ome of O car fir t neighbors were harl ni ces[...], ,Jo Boyer and Rill Crandall. di po d of everything.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (206)[...]means of communication, no tr ti[...]hor e and buggy. I think a book coul w[...]those years - bu i o 1[...]into town w w i a
and a livery I ! t[...]in front of the Hotel ; th h· ·[...]building which i now[...]and Mr . Peck )iv . in th
twelve miles northeast of Bainville, Montana in what is Calhoun[...]George
Reynolds and Bill Evans. The neare t town for trading wa ROLLA D "POP'[...]e, Montana.
In early years they broke 230 acre of od with hor e to ([...]crops. The winters all eemed very cold with
lots of snow. The nearest chool wa the ru ch chool I, Trudi ( a h) H in Butte , Mon[...]ar nt mo n. · ton and I
homestead. The fir t five children attend d chool[...]em until · in 1 that tim
later year the children went to chool at th J[...]u ation in
hurch built in 191 by memb r of thi hurch. It wa[...].
located between Rus ian ttl m nt of ontana and[...]I pr thr ral
Th[...]. .
1970. Four of the Pana · th a. Th[...]hi , n ea t of d[...]a. nd "Pop".
and live nort t of B lly hi Donna[...]i
hav ix chi) and Ii dney.[...]Bu h· 1i i · e
GR E D R LPH P CK[...]kill din action at th ag of tw ntv-one . H w, ri
Grace and Ralph P ck[...]i din Cu. t r
th y proved up on a claim north ast of town . ·eighhor. Battl fi Id .[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (207)[...]er Bud was Crops were a failure much of the time, and the prairie fires
killed. He aw a great deal of ac tion as n ose g unner in the were such a problem, burning the crops and the piles of
Italian Theater of War. Before h e was sent oversea s h e ha[...]p the town a live while his three son s Fourth of July celebration and that was a must on every-
were erving their country.[...]a ma rried Richard Trang, Bainville and that building still stands. The girls attended
and ha[...]ainville. Dr. Spooner was the family doctor and
I, Trudie, came to idney in 1945 where I h ave been with also Dr. Munch from Culber[...]Idaho. Marguerite lives in California, Norma in
I till live in idney and will probably r emain h ere for th e Nevada, and Helen , the widow of Edward Sorbel, farms in
rest of the time I might have left. th[...]d "Hall, Higgins and Olson" in honor a nd mem ory of
the three young men from Bainville that lost their lives in
World War II.)[...]Another World War I Veteran and pioneer of the[...]AMILIES
Wi con in in 1906, egged on by the spirit of "Go West,
Young Man, Go We t!" He worked at draying for Mr. by Mary[...]river boats as they brought
machinery and supplie for the home teader and others in Durin[...]to the Bain ville a rea.
Carl home te ded ea t of Bainville but he was soon to Most of these h ave moved a way but a m ong those who
meet Jo ephine 01 on who had home teaded outhwe t of remained to m a ke this their home w[...]lla Chapeau, Quebec, Can ada . Out of a fa m ily of 12 children
orth Dakota and d cided to go We t[...]ee girl and their m oth er cam e to the
available for horn teading, and fil don a claim outhwe t[...]. Life being what it is, the pioneers li ves were
of B invill . arl let hi fir t claim go and filed ne[...]orrow, lonelines surpri e, happine s, b ut most of a ll
hack together, and h re the fir t rai ed th ir family of det rmination which we recognize as th ei[...]Montreal, Q uebec a nd ca me
wer marri d in 1 0 . For neighbor they had George to thi a[...]before 1907. Lizzie took up a claim northea t of Bain ville.
farm hor e from Crandall a he wa quit raiser of Emil was a barb r by trade and op ned a ho[...]uch glowing r por and ncouraging r marks that her[...]pr umably to get other member of th famil .
In the pring of 1 0 , am r tum d bringing with him[...]hi brother A.D. and a i ter Laura, arriving b train. Sam[...]boarding hou e and caf . In th fall of 190 another broth r[...]Picard, di cov ring that h had lo t hi fir t claim, took up[...]another claim 13 mile ea and one mile outh of Froid.
Old docum nt how that thi claim of 320 acres cost him
Mr. and Mr . Carl C. Peterson,[...]1915. inter ting to note here that th T timony fe wa figured[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (208)Mr. and Mrs. Christie Picard - 1913.

by the number of words--as 660 words at 22 V2¢ per
hundred= $1.50.
His claim shack built in 1909, was more than that. It was
built on three levels. Probably one of the first "split level"
homes. The kitchen-living[...]·ng i
and sister Mary Teresa, came to ontana to Ii with[...]D L OF R II D[...]al of Pr due f r 191[...]2.25
Eldon, Audr . Front row: \i if, Annie, Wa n and A.D.
Picard.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (209)[...]Grandma Jane died April 29, 1928. Sam That worked great until the sled tipped over-they all[...]til the early 1940's when she town the rest of the time. The roads were generally blocked
rented[...]y homestead days were
31, 1943. He was Roadma ter for the Great Northern the Norbert Belgr[...]retired in 1962 and lived in Froid at the time of his death
pa ed away before Lizzie, who died in M[...]6, at age 75.
After working through the winter of 1908-09 at the Lavern and Elna Tolef[...]table, Christie claimed land some 15 miles north of they own and operate a bar. They have five c[...]ive at Rapelji,
In 1913 he married erena Hagen of Waseca, Minnesota. Montana. Vickie Irish[...].
On eptember , 1916 Christie became a citizen of the Laura Picard married Grant Bakewel[...]Grant in the car leading their milk cow out north of
1919.[...]icard family gathered at Bakewells. The highlight of
the night before, taying overnight so they could get loaded the day for the children wa an Easter egg hunt engineered
and[...]e u e they couldn't pay. Old record how the price of The Bakewells moved to Plentywood and later to
coal at 1.50 a ton. ome of the men on the mine payroll Kali pell, Montana where they lived the rest of their days.
were: Jo ear , Loui 01 on, Juliu[...]They had one daughter, Ruby (Mr . Herwin Cyrus) of[...]ada Augu t 17, 1 . He wa the tenth child of[...]thi country at th age of 20.[...]wa plant din the part of town located on he north ide of[...]Hi home tead was located 11 1,2 mile north of Bainville[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (210)[...]Allison, and live in ulbertson. Ther a i
Mary Reynolds. They came up the Missouri River on a in Mental Health, of Omaha, ebra ka. Erni marri d
steamboat to Fort Benton in the spring of 1878 from Iowa. Janice Kemke. They liv in Ba[...]in with her parents to married Charmain B rt I on, hav on n , Ja on, and
the Snake Butte ranch north of Bainville. She attended they live in Hanna, Wyoming. Agn s i at horn .
school in Culbertson, boarding with pe[...]A.D. and Annie lived on their ran h north of Bainvill
the school term. until the fall of 1946 wh n th y r tir d and mov d to
For a time after she finished school, she took sewing[...]A.D.'s brother, Sam, on his
homestead northwest of Bainville until they built their
own house.
On September 8, 1916, A.D. Picard became a citizen of the
United States at Plentywood, Montana.[...]amster working in
the woods. He had a great love for horses and in later years (a told by Mr[...]elgian Stallion, raised and sold horses.
Some of their neighbors in the early days were: Mr. and The challenge of th op n country of h W t had
Mrs. George Reynolds, Mr. and Mrs. Ole[...]beckoned Mr . Liv a , her two daughter and two on of
and Grace Crusch, a Negro man named Jackson and Mr. Arkansa to come to Montana to farm outh of Lanark .
and Mrs. Albert Klodt, Mr. and Mrs. Alb[...]another daughter Mr . John Dunbar liv d on what i
DeTienne sisters-Violet, Opal and Flossie, John[...]sently the John Dethman place. ) It wa thi factor that
Arnold and Herman Neilson , and Bert and Merle Pa[...]s most because Mrs. Piercy was the only one of her family 1 ft in
pioneer communities-baseball games for men and Arkansas.
women, basket[...]ocials and slipper socials , It wa the fall of 1910 when eorge and ally Pi re of
card parties and dances. In later years when the[...]0 agemill , Arkan a boarded an immigrant train for
built big barns, barn dances became a big thing.[...]were held thrilled with the big-open country of Montana wh n h
wherever they could get together.[...]a very glad to be near her famil again .
the home of Mrs. Albert Klodt when a priest would come[...]org Loran Pi re , wh w b rn I 4,
Dwight Vannatta, they have two children Tara a[...], Deni e marri d Rand marri d in ar h of rn 10. ha d
Kemit and they live in Ta[...]and with
their on hay, live on Eldon's farm north of Bainvill
which wa once known as the Dwyer communit . Jan i a
nurse living in Denver, olorado and And i a tud n at
M U, Bozeman, Montana.
May married[...]marri d Patricia ac and )iv on th horn
plac north of Bainvill . The have i childr n and fi e
grandchildren . Paul marri d Jo nn ahl n and th _ liv Lw ay brother and i t r . Mr . J
at Hanna, W oming. Th ir two[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (211)[...]homesteaded on property one mile north of Bainville.[...]just south of the Bainville city limits on land that is now[...]Mrs. Ring's mother lived with them for many years.
They had no children of their own but their home did not[...]lack the sounds of young people's joy and laughter. All the
daughter[...]1963); Eudora (Mr . 0.A. youngster of Bainville were welcome there and it was a
Fulk r on) of Tacoma, Wa hington· Margaret(Mr . Elmer[...]o go!" There were always cookies to munch
J n en) of Billing and Winfred of Bainville. on.
The Piercy ch[...]were Ii ving.
a one-hor e buggy nd a box d-in led for winter. The They w re members of the Methodi t hurch and Mrs.
led wa equipped with ah ter for w rmth on tho e cold Ring took an active[...]The Pi rcy' fir t family doctor wa Dr. pooner of Ring managed a grain elevator until 19[...]t. Mr. Ring pa ed awa in a of 196 and t Ila di d a few
Winfr d nd r . Pi rcy r m mb r well the annual month lat r.
Fourth of July picnic th neighbor had on the riv r
bottom.[...]McBri n
then.
Mr. Piercy pa d away at the age of ight - ight in Edward B. Robin[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (212)[...]father's divi ion. That's when m Mother, Leo, Walter and
I (Dora) joined our father here in the Big ky coun[...]We lived in the section hou e one mile we t of Bain ill .[...]Maude Helton for their teacher. Mr . H lton ha
father worked on the railroad. He got all his schooling in taught mo t of our childr n and randchildr n.
Iowa and started t[...]r. Mr . Helton ha been a real acher-friend for our
In 1899 he was inducted into the army, the War with family. Leo and I went to chool in · an
Spain,[...].
and went to work on the railroad again for hi father. I can recaJl how m fath r i
In 1904 my father married my mother, Alice Brennan. ection for men. He mad ·[...]th r wa tran f, rr d to ildf rd ,
Montana to work for the Gr at orthern; in a 1 11 wa
tran ferre[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (213)[...]nger, Patricia and Debbie.
After my h u band died I worked as school I unch cook from
1954 until I retired in 1969.
Dorothy lives in Glendale, Cal[...]Romo filed on his homestead five miles southeast
of the present Bainville on June 6, 1906, built a 12[...]ht and it froze. The next day it thawed
snowbound for two day and we just had to wait," Sadie out so that I could work it up and that night froze again. It
explained.[...]finally thawed out on the third day and raised so I could
That first night after they reached the shack, adie[...]o has
wondered , " Who would ever come to a place like this!' They always enjoyed baking bread. She[...]ir bed set up so decided to sleep on week, most of which she gives to her children and their
0 car'[...]thoughts tracing back through
they tried to cover that mattre . eedless to say, they the years[...]the time we had proved up, we liked it so well
"I had quit a time making bread that winter," adie here that it has been our home ever since."
added. "It took three day to make one batch of bread. I set "Times were hard in those days," Oscar remembered. "I[...]brought some speltz seed along from Rugby and that first[...]Together they remembered the terrible dust storms of the[...]That fir t winter O car made skii and snow hoe so he[...]and adie could get to town for grocerie and kero ene and[...]town of Bainville in 1906 or 07.[...]at night to graze, but water for th tock had to be hauled
for many year .[...]put up ice for cooking and drinking; al o how they cut and[...]hauled wood for their own us and to II. ometimes th ice[...]for other p ople and for the busin s places in town . They
Oscar and Sadie[...]ember 2 , 1906. also hauled a lot of wood. In one winter they would haul[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (214)[...]nly tor turn t th
bringing a double wagonbox load of ready for the stove tates in 1915 with hi n ph w, v[...]e teaded in what wa th n h ridan
he charged $4.00 for the load, saying she thought ounty.[...]Ingeborg Nordaune ttl d fir tin orth I ak ta wh n
Sadie experienced a similar encount[...]in ction 29, town hip 30, rang 5 .
smaller chicks for 10¢ apiece and charged 50¢ for dressed, They were eeking land wh nth y m t Mont n but
ready for the pan fryers. One lady thought 50¢ was too hav[...]l in th tar
butter which they traded at the store for groceries. For paper shack . Hor es wer the only mod of travel and for
years she washed clothes on the board for cowboys at the getting coal and the uppli for xisten . About 1920
nearby ranches and for bachelor homesteaders. She also am got a truck and what a chang . ow th y ould m k
baked for many of them as well. two or[...]long winter trips.
horses and got stuck tight in that gumbo mud. eare t neighbor in heridan ounty of am' w r th
In the early years Oscar worked eac[...]had his own Store and post office 1 1h miles we t of Mr . Ronning '
machines. Oscar remembers one year when he had 100 homestead. Thi supplied ome of their need but Bainvill
acres of wheat that went 40 bushels per acre. That good was the nearest town.
crop really was what g[...], the horses in the area at the time, and mo tall of u witch d to
oldest, teaches high school, Edwin died of double horses later.
pneumonia while attending co[...]the third son, This was a great community for kiing and am would
farms at Saco; Lester farms at[...]would rage out of control.
"Many people have wondered how the ol[...]could accommodate such a big family," Le ter form of recreation. unday chool and church w r h Id in
sa[...]in th LaMar hool.
work. They were charter members of the old Lake ide Th R nning r tir d f[...]h, belonged to the Bainville Booster Club to care for Willi ton ince that tim . Th Ronning. had fiv childr n:
the cemetery[...]lunteer work. adi wa a arion thra of Willi ton, orth Dakota:, ylvia Bakk n
member of the American Legion Auxiliar for many year . of M dicin Lak , Montana ; orman and I mil ofBainvill :
In their youth, both ang in the[...]g th ir moth r'.,
Lester added. " He played a lot for ntertainm nt. H a horn ad and al o t[...]aim wa • old to lngvar Ronning and h
existence) for several years, and wa al o th fir t p r on in old it to I mil.
Model T day to cross the nowden bridg on th[...]d cam
anniversary th have th b t wish of th ir ho t of to d rica i \~'1th his uncl m
friend .[...]Ronning. Ka om i ou" in W1 .[...]In u onning i . · n 21,
by[...].H cl hi h r I 1925.
am Ronning was born in or ay in 1 4 and i no but contin g[...]h pr nt tim . The original ho ad i" now own d bv
Februar 1, 1976.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (215)[...].-e. •~Q; , f• • ·etilmflf for £xchan,re, Rrfund or
,a Sal :-[...]Dakota where they lived for seven years and then ventured[...]Martin homesteaded six miles north of Bainville on what[...]Charlie homesteaded land that lies just west of the Orton[...]farm located south of Bainville south and east of Dale[...]Denver area. John's daughter Lucile of Denver now owns
Bain ville wa the neare t hopping center and Williston, the homestead of her Uncle Charlie.
orth Dakota wa the close t ho pital. Hor es were u ed
for farming and al o for riding. vend organized a lodge in
the community for activitie and affair and also for JACOB A D BARBARA SEEL
dance . It wa composed of people from three communities
in orway, early ettlers all living in the area of the (by 'Otto Seel a told to Waldemar Sorensen)
Ronning Home tead. That lodge i still in action and the
pre ident i Kennet Ronning, son of vend and Katie. Jacob U. e[...]Ingbert,
Dance were al o held in the ba ement of the new barn Germany. He went thr[...]ter
Ronning built. At one uch barn dance, a group of men specializing in French, La[...]usine and bologna making thoroughly
vend G. for a milk tool. It wa o huge vend had to get a[...]r to remove it. They built a new home in 1929 and that In May, 1 9 he came to the United ta[...]hundred. For doing the butchering, Jake got house rent,[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (216)[...]ummer. of the remaining part of Mondak.
The last troops at the fort were colored and left in 1895. In 1969 Otto I and family mov d to Willi i n wh r
After the soldiers left, Jake started farm[...]n came with a what was once the boomin town of Mond k.
fine venison, and he bought it for a special treat for the
soldiers. The captain was very angry and want[...]then
sent soldiers up and down the river looking for the man. by Mr . org hi ld
Jake homesteaded and later a part of his homestead
became the townsite of Mondak, later known a Fort wa ·rr of wha wa
Union. Jake and his wife, Barbara, had eig[...]th nd tran f r
born in the town of Mondak in 1903) and William, the busine[...]Glendive.
house along the Missouri River. Four of these children are Born Augu t 17, 1 77, i[...]employed at th age of 13 for a freighter who had ag
Jake farmed his homestead and helped start the town of pay him 10 a month but wh n ·[...]ho r .
mail pouch, word was received that the train would stop. In March 1 96, hields left the Y ton r
They found out that Mondak had the best water along the area w[...]home teaded. Riding alon ,
route so made a point of filling up with water there. hields tr[...]there were connections notified him that there would be a job th re if he could
between Gl[...]y and stagecoach. come. hield's account of the trip to the tar Ranchi fill d
The homesteaders moving in and settling the area south of with warm remembrance of the friend hip and
the Missouri River for 30 miles or more and west of the hospitality of the ranchers along the way.
Yellowstone came to M[...]uy Courtship on the frontier had i ' · ·
supplies. There were nine[...]hor eback. In hi book, "MY '
justice of the peace, a sheriff, four elevators, four beer of early day court hip[...]h, stores, a doctor, a newspaper, and a dance for the urra d[...]Mamie rod th u
good part of Mondak burned to the ground.[...].
Otto M. Seel on of Jacob and Barbara el, wa born in 1900.
M[...]Th
there and took over the farming inter t of hi fa h r. H an
married Lucille Fou tberg[...]ann and Barbara. a
Otto kept a lot of the original thing hi folk haa, 1[...]own and ha
pay taxes on the large t portio!1 .of th . o_ld ondak[...]her a c m nt ault. to poured
the fir t wh !barrow of cement in th aul and th la
when it wa built in 1920 a fifty cents p r hour. Th third
building i the original jail of ondak.
After the nowd n bridg · wa buil · ong r
nece ar for the horn tead r o haul n th
£ rryboat aero s the i ouri Riv r to ondak. ntana[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (217)[...]ved there until
retirement, moving into Bainville for their remaining
years.
George and hi wife Melv[...]ields passed away May, 1964. Jack was a
re iden t of Bethel Home in Williston for six years. His mind
wa as sharp at the age of 96 when he passed away as at
any time of his life. He died in 1973.
Mamie hield wrote t[...]as no
man who was more polite or had more respect for a woman
that the cowboy of the Old West. In the 1900's when the
home teaders began to come in, there were all classes of Med and Bertha Simard, transportation in 1900.
people that came in with them. That is when the would-be
cowboy came in. These men re[...]ys
but didn't know how.You have to Ii ve the life of a cowboy to
be one. I have lived among and with one all my life. I passenger coach. We came to the Lunke farm which[...]Dakota and later to Berthold, North Some of our close neighbors were Jens Norgaard's, Oscar
D[...]Mayo Shultz, Fred Swant, Bill Crandall, Fred
her i ter Ida came to Montana to join her brother Ole Leonard, John Markle, Fry's and Cody's. Most of these
Koozenny who had homesteaded north of Bainville. Anna people have been gone to rest for a long time. Romo's are
and Ida soon filed on the[...]na home tead until 1946 garden going. We had lots of turkeys and chickens. One of
when they moved into Bainville. They started farm[...]gon. The korick home tead is Ada and I had to go to work so we went to Bainville to
now[...]ana uk. Their work in Fine s cafe, Ada cooked and I waited table and ran
daughter, Mr . John Forbes ([...]ives in the the soda fountain. Carrie asked me if I knew how to make
McCabe area. Al x pa ed away in 1973. Ida Koozenny sodas and I told her "yes" but the truth wa I had only
married Peter Horob and they also farmed north of ta ted a few and watched them make odas at Turner[...]ere excellent gardner and Anna Drug in idney. ow, I was only 14 going on 15 but I made
till rai e om vegetable and the best dill there is for a go of it.
pickle ![...]there and two branch trains ran out of Bainville, the[...]n wa born June 25, 1 97 at mu t have b n at lea t i ty railroad familie living at
Fort Buford. H r fa[...]father, Med imard wa born in anada I later went to work at the Home Hotel a a wai re for
and cam to Montana in 1900.[...]and family moved to Roo evelt never be as mart a I wa at tha ag . Th Hotel had a
ounty in pril, 1[...]girls Ada, Ethyl, and Lena and chicken, bi cuits that mak s your mou h water. Right this
one bro[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (218)[...]mo t of wn fun in th[...].
In ovember Ada got married and that December my Glenn marri d Helen mith a[...]n and family liv in
The folks struggled through that winter and then 1920 Minot and the children graduated th r .
was a bumper crop for them. They shipped the wheat to My bro[...]s orgaard held the Lakeside elevator. Thi i called The Lak ide Ranch.
his grain until spring, 1921, waiting for 3.00 but it went There are enough acre to tak care of qui a f w famili .
lower than $2.00. My Dad needed a new binder for his big ome land ha been old ince but th y[...]and got a new binder on a bare note. Dad aid "if I get Med imard pa d awa , Minn ota
hailed out, what then?'. I remember the binder cost nearly eptember3,19[...]andi
$600.00. All went well and with the hone ty of people in mi ed by all. Bertha (Moth r[...]Mondak was about nine miles fr~m our place and I went Med and B rtha could ha v Ii[...]ight
there to work in a store for Mike Taylor. Mondak wa the
County eat of the new Roo evelt ounty. atlin wa gr at grandchildr n o I f . I th y r part.[...].
County Attorney Ernest Walton wa i tant ounty
Attorney, Pat acey wa heriff, and harl[...]THE IME
Ilaterworkeda awaitre for ixmonth .Th nI prain d
my ankle and had to go hor[...]M folk moved to the John Markle place the winter of mid -t n 1910. h h
1920-21 and lived th r until the fa)) of 1925 wh n h y Eldon Picard ranch .[...]Th rai d two Rolland . Mauri
dairy for several ear . Another brother v a born in pa ed away in 19.5 th bo farm d th ir
January of 1925 Gl nn . horn tead un ii Ida pa 19 7. . , on. car, di d
I remember in 1927, May 22nd ther wa uch a no in 1972.
torm the milk wa n 't deli v red for two day . th
too d ep for a buggy or a sled. Th potato plan froz a
w 1l as all the wild fruit tr , but th moi ur lat r mad
up for the lo . We farmed th Power's place and rai d[...]plac on th riv rfor flood d
land to cut clover ha for th milk cow . La r w moved to by Ruth I on , mith
the "River Plac 'a we called it[...]. I
That particular team's members w re Franci and Edwin[...]. B rtha loved bask tba1l and ne r I I g t c[...].
ear of playing.
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (219)[...]a cave was dug in the sandstone
orth Dakota. I moved to Montana with my parents, near[...]ovisions
George and Bertha Leeson, in the spring of 1908. My father could be stored.
bought a homestead about five miles west of Bainville George recalled the winter of 1904 with snow eight to ten
where my home was until Charlie and I were married in feet deep when about 400 head of cattle both froze and
April, 1914.[...]two-room frame house, we soon Culbertson for supplies and the house was nearly covered
built another room for a bedroom. We had a small barn and with snow. There was no food except hog brand and no fuel
a granary built of lumber, but the chickens had to live in a for the fire, so Mother and I stayed in bed most of the time to
log and straw hou e. keep warm. Some of the furniture was broken up for a little
We planted what crop we had money for, bought a few heat and a little cooking.[...]fortable, but it was fun. while I was across the creek trying to get what cattle we
For recreation people had card parties and dances in[...]my step-father threw me a lariat rope which I tied around
churche were being built. Our neighbo[...]self and he pulled me through the icy cold water. I
church but meetings were held in the school. I remember thought I would freeze to death before I got across the
my father hauling our organ to the[...]could creek.
play to accompany the singing of hymns which all I remember looking for strays early one spring near
enjoyed. This school building had a history of being McCabe when I became "snow blind". I gave the horse his
moved, first located north on[...]s a prairie fire five or six miles north and west of
finally abandoned in 1924.[...]with a strong northwes·t wind driving the
By that time we had three children of school age. As fire. Cattlemen from the area came to help fight the fire.
buses were unheard of, we had a problem getting our They wo[...]ront leg so they could pull the
in a rented house for two years when we purchased our animal on each side of the fire. Other men walked behind to
present home[...]left, usually using gunny sack or
Charlie worked for the county at road-building for two what ever they could find to beat th[...]x and swifts (called small grey foxes). The pelts I shipped
opened a coal mine near the Missouri Rive[...]hes.
be quite a good business and made our living for about ten We also picked a lot of wild berries for jellies and jam.
year . One time I remember trying to ride a bronco that weighed
From the 40's we continued with the farm ourselves. about 1700 pounds. I had to use an appl~ be, to stand on to
Crop were[...]on the horse. This t ~ threw me
seeded mo t of which looked like a good yield. At midnight seven times in one[...]they could ride. They saw a horse
Charlie and I are parent often children all of whom are in the corral that they recognized as a " killer" horse. They
Ii vin[...]nders), Deer offered to bet the men 50 that they could not ride him.
Lodg ; Bud, Turlock,[...]Donna (Mr . Don Thorpe), Another time I got lost riding from Enterprise to
Keno ha, Wi co[...]inia; and Plentywood. It was dark when I came to the Jack Evans
Richard of Bainville. We al o have 21 grandchildren and[...]kidded me about being lost. I spent the night there and was
Life for u ha been bu y and ometime very hard, but[...]in the we t the next morning.
alway intere ting. I doubt if we would have been happier But th[...]me to make sure that I wa headed in the right direction for[...]our home range. About a month and a halflater I wa able[...]return the favor to Jack Evan . A few mile north of our[...]D HOTG MITH "quick and' and I pulled them out.
Rancher in the area that I remember best were the
The J-Jug Brand for George W. " hotgun" mith as Evans an[...]rge mith named the
told by Earl teven , a tep- on of eorge and Ida mith "DEVIL KIT HE "and"[...]cowboy.
fir t night at John Archer's ranch north of Lanark; then on About 190 w fenced th er ek bottom lands and Mr.
to Dad William' place two mile outh of the original Emory, a heepman,[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (220)[...]we came to this area, Gla gow
was the county seat of Valley county, and it wa at lea t
120 miles to the neare[...]d, Mr. Smith was an early day sheriff in thi ar a
of Valley County.[...]Torg r on, 1914, in Bain ill .

Richard Sweetman of Sweetman Ranch. old to Lakeside wer[...]nd three grand on on the ha k tball am.
the banks of the Missouri River was a familiar landmark in[...]ther d at
the early ranching days, was the author of two books, their home. Dinner wer erved in thr e hift - m n ,
"Gootch, the Story of a Cow Horse" published in 1936, and childr[...]an, an authoress in her own right, wrote articles for Torger on in Decemb r 1951.
many of the state Historical ociety magazine .
Luke Swe[...]a.
Luke and Alice operated their own cattle ranch for almo t
25 years. During thi time, they were very[...]TOR ER 0
organizing and e tablishing the new town of ondak in[...]ta in 1
Luke and Alice were the paren of five childr n: to ntana , ar[...]I

I H EL D ATHILD TOR ER 0 i

by Mr . Donna gaard[...].
Minne ota.
T came to Bai · i , 1914 with nine p
of t r t ch e[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (221)[...]Anna M. Shields was the youngest of eleven children[...]born on April 15, 1888. At the age of 14 months, her father[...]was killed by a fall from the roof of his newly constructed[...]store of that day - Benner and Begg.[...]taking the one located south of Bainville. Here Bill and[...]is house and built on to it. It is no longer part of their[...]A number of years later Bill sold the farm. He then[...]worked for the Great Northern Railroad as a machinist.[...]- 1912. jobs-"watched engines" for the Great Northern, worked[...]on farms, and then he worked for many years for the Albert[...]azel) Kellogg, he worked at Wyle's Bar for Earl Wyle.
Idaho, William (decea ed), Mrs. Newton (Violet) Fisher of In 1964 Bill became ill and had a leg amputated. In
Edmonds, Washington, Virgil of Choteau, Montana, and October, 1972 on[...]Fairview. Bill was on the first City Council of Bainville
by Zita Tubman Rudolph[...]days-1911-and Bill played
In an wer to the call of the west, William Thomas the French horn in that band. Baseball was then as it is
Tubman of Hammond, Wi con in came to Montana in[...]played baseball and later
1906. He wa a young man of 22 year - born on Dec- became an umpire.
ember 27, 1 4. William wa an orphan at the age of ten Upon completion of the Snowden bridge, Bill was the
year , and he an[...]and a sister were on first to drive a team of horses and wagon across it. This
their own. William and hi i ter lived with relatives, at the was a draw, toll and railroad bridge across the Missouri
home of a Methodi t mini ter whom he dearly loved, and River and is still in u e. When Bill worked for Lalonde
la tly at the home of hi future wife' aunt. Here he Construction he often drove a truck with a number of dump
attended school and completed his classroom[...]l. Bill wa often called for jury duty-especially during
William wa alway called Bill, except for hi wife, who that time when our county was a part of Valley County.
call d him Will.[...]n, located passenger train as far as Froid that made its final trip in
wh r the Mi ouri and Yellow tone Rivers join d. The 1957.
aptain of the steamboat operated a bu ines as far as[...]. Bernice
Fort Benton . Thi man' on wa the aptain of the boat wanson of Mis oula who has two children- andra and
on which Bill worked. A picture of the enior aptain and arl. Zita, Mrs. teve Rudolph of Froid, who has five
boat i on di play in the museum at Fort Benton.[...]ainville area. Marjorie, Mr . Treacy tephens of Great Falls, who has
He al o traveled north a far[...]o visit. On June 27, years ago. Kathleen Tubman of Bainville and Billings. All
1910 he married Anna M. hields of Hammond, Wisconsin four girls ar[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (222)[...]achinery. My p ov d in h
resident of Richland Homes of Sidney but lives in Bainville of finding a better location with b rm
with Kathleen in the summer. Bill and Anna lived all of land. We stayed a few day with Le[...]. VANNATTA with lots of snow, wind and blizzard[...]We moved out oft wn o
I was born January 4, 1904. In April 1916 when I was 12 Sands place. It i where Ki
years old, I came to Montana from Anamoose, North[...]In the fall of 1916 we mov don Mr . Davi ' farm and
After seve[...]moved to the Dwyer place, now farmed there for 12 year ; in ction 1-2, town hip 29,
owned by Eld[...]d the cattle on foot, with no other ter, lots of snow, wind and o cold and not much crop that
help than our dog Jack.[...]s all done with hor es at the tim which mad a lot of
Simonson's. My Father homesteaded near the Snake[...]e to do before tarting in th field .
road. He and I used to break sod with a sulky plow and a Jim and I went to the Burgett chool then located on th
walk[...]en Eschenbacher place. Hazel Gardn rand
In 1928 I married Hilda Kirkvold. We continued living in[...]or 1927. In 1925 w
the same area until 1941, when I purchased the Henry moved the school to[...]ned many acre o w ot i
Dwight E. Vannatta March[...]i rg d 1.0
The four oldest[...]t i n.
Our entire family graduated from Bainville H[...]h r
wife and I have retired and live in town.[...]rlyn, his wife and thr e on live on th i .
family farm. Two[...]dr n : ,
his parents at the age of two year . Th family ttl din[...], Do Ima
Minne ota. Johanna i kin came from Holland at th d
age of 21 and also found h r wa to inn ota. Th Y r[...]n ril and Pat i (P tti di d .
children wer bornofthismarriage: am[...]d fi
at th Flour Mill in Bainville and Pe v ork d for the Bill chi} GI[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (223)[...]MILY were no doctors for a great many miles in any direction; all[...]the children were delivered at home, with the aid of a
The Wilson family has resided in Roosevelt (formerly midwife.
Valley) County since 1902. The recorded history of the In the spring of 1897, Thomas Wilson moved his family
family begin[...]ilson was born May 20, 1855, was part of a parcel ofland a neigh boring rancher coveted,
e[...]wn in County and on November 10, 1897, that rancher shot and killed
Donegal. It is unclear w[...]miner, and then near the present location of the Snowden bridge, on land
to outh Dakota, where[...]pper, a buffalo adjoining the homestead of her brother Jack Shields. In
hunter, and a gold m[...]here.
have been very good; Ruth Wilson Berry, one of his Life at the new homestead was initially very hard. Roe,
daughters, recalls being told that "while trapping and the oldest boy, was only in his mid-teens, leaving the
hunting for gold in South Dakota, a man came and stayed widow with a considerable amount of work and
with him - while Dad was on trap line, t[...]responsibility. The area was thinly populated. For the first
the gold, money, and furs Dad had and l[...]earest doctor was in Williston, over thirty miles
of the "old sod" with him as a reminder to return; the
thief even stole that. away. Rut[...]nearby doctor,
settled in the Pease Bottom region of Montana, about 110 her mother stitched them together herself, as a desperate
miles west of Miles City. There he met and married Mary l[...]lities were woefully inadequate;
and the daughter of a remarkable man. Mae Wilson died, probably of consumption, at age
The hields side of the Wilson family tree is interesting eighteen.[...]As the Wilson boys were growing up they worked for
wa himself a very old timer in eastern Montana). John neigh boring ranchers. When they came of age, they filed
hield was born in Limerick, Ire[...]aveled to America to visit her. time World War I was declared. Ted entered the service
' While he[...]n, with the first child, tragically died of influenza while he was away.
exception of (John hields) died of cholera." he decided to Two other Wilson broth[...]even year old, John, travel during World War I. When they returned, Roe joined his
to America to join her. From the age of thirteen on, the brother Tom on the ranch. Bill married Dorothy Ryan (now
record of hi activitie read like a miniature history of deceased) and had one daughter, Billie Lou,[...]nd was attended business school, and worked for several years in
the teer man on a boat coming up[...]nion. When the Civil War wa declared, he enlisted for of marriage, Bill was divorced. He then rejoined his[...]ne; In 1935, Bill married Mabel S. Hansen of Buford. They
for hi ucce in getting help to a urrounded detachment[...]ued to live on the Wil on ranch where they rai ed
of cavalrymen, he wa (acording to oner port) nominated two children, Mary and Robert ("Pat").
for a M dal of Honor, though he did not receive one. The The Wilson si ters, Ellen and Ruth, both spent much of
mo t famou engag m nt h participated in wa the their live in other parts of Montana. Ellen Wil on
B ttle of the Litt] Bighorn , wher he wa pinned down[...]by Major R no. teacher. For many years he wa principal of schools in[...]d Wilson died Ellen
D pite the tran ient nature of hi Ji:£ , John hield returned to nowden to as i tin the affair of the ranch.
married and rai ed a family. Hi daught[...]ed Ruth Wilson married Dee H. Berry. Mo t of her life has
a variety of childhood experience that m unbelievable been p nt at Havre, Montan[...]hield expanded under the joint ownership of the Wil on brother
s ttl d in Pease Bottom, where, a pr viou ly mentioned, and i ter ; at its p ak, it compri ed approximately 13[...]ary hields on ovember 1 , 1 6, acres of own d and lea ed land. But adly, the death of
in the tiny, now defunct community of Rancher. Tom in 1955 marked the beginning of a rapid ucc sion of
The Wil ons lived in P ase Bottom until 1 97, w[...]"), Edwin 1965. The land, operated jointly for almo t fifty year , was
("Ted"), Mary ("Ma[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (224)[...]erry
Brothers have brought a considerable portion of this under
irrigation. Land north of their's is owned and operated by[...]njunction with
their lessee, Mr. Jerry Portra.
Of the original Wilsons who settled near Snow[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (225)[...]at Ole and Herman Torgerson 's. Lunch break
Ready for chool, Glen and Vernie Picard - 1926.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (226) MEMORIES OF LANARK Rudy and Fred Hinz lived north of Jack Forsythe and[...]and Ed Hart Ii ved a bout where Edgar Ii ves now. I
I thought of: When Dad homesteaded he said the can't remember that group too well.
following were around them. There[...]ley Johnson was a cowpuncher and homesteaded
name of horty Brooks that lived up north which is now near Bainville but Da[...], who was a seamstress with Mrs. Lowe
He was sort of a handy man that everyone went to and got in the early days. She just died recently. Mrs. Henry Lowe
help when needed. I remember how he loved kids. He was a still lives[...]. Joe Wix homesteaded south and east of Lanark and I
Jesse Hale lived in Lanark, which wasn't that then. He believe Mrs. Wix's mother, Mrs. Smith, had a homestead
owned a hotel (I think it was on the corner next to the south of their place. I remember her when I was so very
depot) and there was a grocery store[...]who homesteaded below
There was Johnny Dunbar that homesteaded on the land Hosfields and Kellogs, an[...]ave. A.C. McKinney lived on the place water tower that furnished water for the steam engines.
east of orma's. Bill Hunter homesteaded north of him. The skidoo was a train with one baggage car and a coach
Lee Blevins homesteaded south of the tracks, which and small steam engine that serviced the immediate area.
McCann have now. The[...]r lived near Kellogs. T. Fenton and his two
north of the tracks. sisters, lived south of the tracks near Clover. Sols bigs lived
Bill Nay was section foreman of the railroad and Ii ved in near Lanark and he die[...]ear him
Lanark. The earliest recollection we have of a store owner and was a homesteader. He shot hims[...]hn Beckers. lived down south of Lanark somewhere. Also Art
We can't remember w[...]lt but believe Petersons lived near Slough (south of Norma's).
it must have been around 1910-1912. I imagine Hale had it There was a melting pot in the community. Norwegians,
built for hi kids and those surrounding us as McKinney Swed[...]rs!
Dad aid the elevator was built in 1909 and that brought We liked to go up and visit with Old[...]in some people. It was there many years and seems I was a bachelor up north of us and had one son, Dave, who was
about 14 or 11;[...]and slung them over the
took up a homestead north of Lanark. He married a back of our pony. They began to spit and scratch and we
B[...]er thing to tame
Jim Ros had a home tead north of Lanark, too and just them when we got them home.
south of him was Tom Morrow's homestead. In those days we did a lot of May Basketing. How we did
Lark Wilson had a place next to Dad on the ea t. Ed love to walk, in the dead of night, with the Bjorges, over to
Han on had a place we t of Dad. H.C. Bjorge and D. . Dave Nelsons and May Ba[...]r and Mrs.
Lee Ford had a place north and west of Ed Hanson as did Nelson saw our backs and was sca[...]sked in to eat sandwiches, hot cocoa, and
Jack For ythe lived at Clover which wa ju ta whistle candy[...]ed nearby. place and another year another. I remember one year going
Ed William , whom Dad[...]ver to Je e Hale at Lanark. They had a son Lloyd, that
lived further we t and a bit north.[...]dander up. I decided thi Halloween Id get even with him[...]and o I got ome Jim burger chee e and really oiled[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (227)[...]Next morning we found our
machinery piled on top of each other and a bundle stack
wrecked.
In t[...]Evans, also a hotel. There was a poolhall there, I think the
name of the man that ran it was Courchene. Machgan ran
the depot. Pee[...]store and other things. K.O. Slette was a baker. I
remember Hawkie and Deafie were Indians that always
came to town and liked the kids. We enjoy[...]line together. They worked together and did lots of things
that helped them to survive and better themselves. The[...]veryone else. What a
wonderful heritage to have! I treasure it.
I remember when Bjorge's had just a tar papered sha[...]th with Roland in 1916.
lovely home. We had a lot of fun when the men played
cards, we'd go to the bedroom and Ralph would keep us in
stitches with his antics. I remember their old phonograph 1902 he a rrived i n the Culbertson area with hi fath r ,
with the c[...]ers William, leaving his mother, Mary Grant For yth in
in the front to regulate the sound. Then c[...]land . In 1913 he married Violet Morrow, daughter of
radios. The square radios had megaphones on them,[...]rea. To Alexander and Violet, Roland , an onl
I remember when Dad used to windrow the grain, then[...]wa born ptember 26 1915 on a farm t of
the binder and mower. Swindle used to hitch up t[...]e r a
mules and put the headings of grain in a large box that we t of Froid, Montana w land up. In 1944[...]wa the original ite o of r th ir
Mom hung out a dishtowel from th e com er of th e hou e to death in 1962, Roland[...]ank in later years to keep th e water from fr zmg for th
livestock. In early day t hey pumped from aw l[...]ed a buggy and th en the old ord. Th r w r
Fourth of J ul celebration down in r oul h r h
menu ually had a ball gam which wa i~ng. Pi k:0g
fruit like wild plum , grap and buffalo b rn wa a b1g
event.
I r member hor back riding
winter wagon , old ford gla d ~ coup , and th n h
more modem on that had bat n and a crank
he car with.

LE
by Roland For th[...]t
Al xander For yth w born 20, 1 3 a[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (228)[...]n, D.C. Cowan,
Valley Elevator pastor[...]t-Episcopal,
W.I. Saxton R.T. Cooking[...]CITY OFFICERS
GENERAL STORES Valley Land Company Walter Mathews, M[...]ALDERMEN
Valley Meat Market, Jacobs and Marckle W.T. Steph[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (229)[...]shot, croasknuckles, bowie knife, or razor i prohibited.[...]It shall be unlawful for any per on or per one to ride or[...]No person shall keep a bawdy house or hou e of ill-fame
The town of Culbertson was incorporated September 18, within the town of Culbertson or within a thr e mile limit.
1909. Th[...]easurer. The Council- in the corporate limits of the town is prohibited. Violator
men were: W. T.[...]an, F. G. Arnette, G. H. are subject to fines of 20 to 100 or imprisonment.
Coulter, and S. P. Mit.chell. Sterling C. West was notary The town of Culbertson began its existance long before
public[...]ning with the coming of the railroad in 1 7. At that time[...]According to historians, Culbertson was named for[...]ranch about a mile and a half we t of the pre ·ent townsite[...]east of Jack ulbertson ranch. His land later compri ed.[...]much of the pre ent Culb rtson town ite. in a man[...]numb r of
pe 0
"Pay Day" in Culbertson. Indians from
of Brockton.

Town of Culb rtson.[...]D PO PO 0
Some of the early day city ordinances provided that: The Th fir t D pot wa a railro d bo car 1 ated on th rail-
carrying of concealed weapons, pistols, r volvers, sli[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (230)[...]depot
also served as the mail distribution center for that area.
When this depot was burned, and a new one b[...]within
the same building. This situation remained for a number of
years.[...]fice
would move to a store, hotel or other places of business. In
1911 it was moved to the local Drug[...]1967.
Culbertson served as a distribution point for all eastern Excavating after the big fire of January 5, 1908.17 degrees
Valley County mail going to inland towns during the earl[...]ladder company was T. M. Armstrong. Some of the early[...]ing the six shooter which
The disasterous fire of January 5, 1908 which destroyed was used for an alarm. For a long time the company
the entire Gussenhoven Bl[...]ious fires, operated through donations. For some time the group
strongly pointed up the necessity for adequate water became inactive, but i[...]incorpora- reorganized. Record books show that K.L. Brujord, Dan
tion. The places of businesse destroyed in the 190 fire Cour[...]t Donaldson,
were the Evans Hotel, the law office of Frank Catlin, H. J. Anderson, Edgar Er[...]e barber hop, Gold Dollar Saloon, part of thi group.
Jarvis Brothers meat market, Jim Charley's City In spite of the cumbersome equipment which had to be
Restaura[...]h 1947, a drive was begun to buy
The only means of fighting thi fire was with buckets a ne[...]s acquired
and wet blankets. Three eparate charge of dynami!e from the county for a rural fire truck.
were set off in an attempt to ave the busines block. Few people realize that these men erve without salary
In 1913 another f[...]an alarm comes in,
and the roof and the top story of the Courchene building. they leave their jobs regardless of how important they
Shortly after this fire , the Culbertson Volunteer Fire might b . Most of the money u ed to finance and support
Department[...]tment came from the annual Thank giving
consi ted of three hose companie and one hook and ladder dances. W. F . Wood and John Lab were each Secretary for
company. R.O. Lunke was named Fire Chief and[...]Fire Chief
William Stute was assistant. Captains for these companies and James Baldwin, Secreta[...]any 2- L. E. Schow; became Fire Chief and i serving at the present time. A new
and Company 3- Jack Littlefield. Captain of the hook and Fire Hall was complet[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (231)[...]The first waterworks bonds were issued in 1911 for In 1902 Frank S. Reed, editor and proprietor of the
$39,000.00 J. E. Peterson was City clerk at t[...]broaden out in the newspaper field. He thought of
mile southeast of town. The 220 GPM pump was driven by Culb[...]ing 24, 1902, he published the first issue of the Searchlight;
tanks for river water are still in use today. 21,900 feet of Culbertson's first newspaper and THE OLDE T
ste[...]e installed. CONTINOUSLY PUBLISHED NEW PAPER I
The water was turned on March 11, 1911.[...]he city sewer system replaced private sewer lines of the
New Evans Hotel and the private cesspools in[...]ounds. The lagoon sewage disposal system, capable
of handling a populatiorr of 3000 was added in 1958.[...]idewalks had been built all the way up both sides
of the two Main Street blocks in 1902. Hitching posts were
installed in front of the Evans Hotel, north of Heddericks
store, north of Tanner & Best and in back of the Bruegger Culbertson
Store. The first con[...]rooms of the square house still standing across the street[...]Sr. worked for Reed, walking eight miles every week from[...]his farm home in Dane Valley.[...]on main street were individual gas lights ment of the town and the area, Cul on grew rapidly.[...]hted independently His editorials on the need for new bu e establi hmen
of each other. Each place of business provided its own aroused ambitio[...]ke and it wa not long
treet light. Places like Tanner and Be t had electric light before ulbertson wa a booming town. In 1906 more than
plants for indoor lighting about 1912 or earlier. 1500 people attended the ourth of July c lebration.
In 1916 white way electric lights consisting of 24 one• In October 29, 1920, Reed old th rchlight to Dale
way iron standards for Main tr t and 17 overh ad urran an[...]led. The wiring was done by Bue · of · · n becam .
Don[...]n the pre nt J . V. La n a I "th. In 1
McKinney Garage from 1916 to about 1[...]took over the pa ed it to I
Dakota Utilities Company wa contracted to provide[...]· · t yric
electric services for the town. edi[...]installed a local xchange in
Culbertson the week of ovem r 23, I 5. A buildin a .i
erected on the lot b tw n th old chool building a[...]w ·tor.
The first load of poles arriv d for the tel phon lin on The Republi[...]in Jul 1913.
January 11, 1906. L. H. Dow, manag r of th G. . T I
phone Company installed 30 phones. Long distance[...]0 R
about 1910 to accommodate the people of the north
country. The facilities were pur[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (232)that "The country was too damed healthy and the men all from one to six patients at a time and did most of her own
shot too straight". His only patient he s[...]Dr. C. A. Tillotson arrived during the summer of1902. By deliver nearly 100 babies, besides caring for her other
May 1903, he had completed a fine three[...]M. Finn also came in 1902 but left in the spring of school children were operated on for trachoma of the eyes.
1903.[...]the Government
with Dr. Tillotson until the fall of 1908 when Dr. Tillotson Doctor and his nurse f[...]Mrs. Catherine Newton started her hospital for
when Culbertson teemed with humanity like a 'young maternity patients in 1925[...]hose 18
the Culbertson area medical practice, and for almost 30 years had 143 patients.
years served the community, proving over and over again
that people were mighty glad to have a doctor they could Mrs. Brueggers home had been used for patient care for
depend upon.[...]Poplar.
Dr. J. H. Williams arrived in the fall of 1947 and Midwives seemed to be plenti[...]and new baby and performing other household tasks for as
the building of the modem 12 bed hospital which was com- long as two weeks. It is unfortunate that we do
pleted in 1951. not know their names, but some of the family stories
Dr. Raymond Jensen arrived[...]who helped the individual family.
practicing here for only six short years he was killed in a
car wreck[...]ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
short period of time. Dr. Donaldson from Fairview often
filled in for emergencies when the Doctor's office in After approximately three years of planning and work
Culbertson was vacant. by members of the Hospital Board and other interested[...]opened on April 2, 1951. The first baby was born that day,
Joy Louise, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Finnicum. Since[...]d, four beds in the women's ward, maternity
The Valley Hospital built in 1903 by Dr. C. A. Tillotson[...]Administrators of the hospital have been: Martha[...]aamen, Gene McCracken, B. L. Iverson, And

Old Valley Hospital[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (233)[...]ince January 1975. Phyllis Romo has been director of
nurses since February 1969.
August 1974 was the ground breaking for the new
Nursing Home-Hospital facility. It will h[...]oard has Jim Baldwin as
the chairman, Keith Mrnak of Froid and Bryce Romo of
Bainville. Members of the Roosevelt Memorial Hospital
corporation board[...]er car The new Evans Hotel wa the re ult of community effort.
on the Great Northern Railroad[...]ld ju t
and Williston. This was the Dental office of the as well have a bigger share in the trade of tra eler
Brockman's; Alma, Fanny, and their broth[...]hree children were jumping off places of Williston and Gla gow then have to
graduates of the Kansas City Dental College; as was their[...]ers all in the railroad car. They also had a goat for subscription began in ptember 1916.
their m[...]t
siding, they would take pictures and fill teeth for a month and agreed to ell the ite and the foundation of th
or more and then move on.[...]tte remained here with her husband, i ue of ovember 17, l 16: 'Th new hotel will ha e a
keepi[...]ce open, until her husband moved frontage of 100 f; et on Broadwa ( ain tr t) and 70 fi t
to H[...]impl "Lon
Culbertson wa an oil painting made for harl Jacob .
When he died in po ane, a hington t th ag of 7,
she was the oldest practicing den · t in th[...]e next year the Evans family built an w hotel mad of h Inn b
brick on the same site. For the times, this hotel was mod m[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (234)[...]side. Both of these saloons had dirt roofs.
Culbertson landmark[...]building stood between the Chamber of Commerce[...]During Culbertsn's early day boom, a total of 13 saloons
TOURIST HOTEL[...]8; Max Gonion's Mint Bar; Frank Stephans Big Horn
of George Cooper, for Charlie Bain. The building housed on the c[...]ar; the Evans Hotel bar
the Tanner and Best Store for many years. Thomas in the next bloc[...]om the church and operated the hotel and a
bakery for several years. For a few years it was operated as
a boarding house a[...]PARK ROOMING HOUSE

On the east ide of the street the Park Rooming House
wa located in the vicinity of the Corral Motors building. It
al o had a saloon and at one time was also a kind of
boarding house for those gue ts who planned on staying
everal day .[...]v ral people have mentioned in their family story of[...]Front; The Gem ; J . Keyeo's Phoenix , north of the telephone[...]afterwards came Wilk rson was north of the Park rooming hous and
Peterson's log saloon which was located on the south end saloon.
of mai n street, on the east side and faced the depo[...]times. Station. After that BiUy Donahue had his barber shop[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (235)[...]evenings. Prices were 10¢ and 20¢ for the first motion[...]picture in town. There was plenty of entertainment[...]nd We t tore Building, Culbert on .

Main Street of Culbertson[...]situated in a tore one door outh of the H. D. Edmond '[...]m the August 1915, under the management of Charl Hol ten ,
1930's until 1947 when the Mortua[...]he bar and is till the manager. ownership of A. Maxfi 1d. L. G. Myhr, th jew ler,
In 1953 part of the bar was partitioned off for the tate purcha ed it in 1919 and olan Helto[...]tore moved into a The building wa clo ed for awhil until April 1932, wh n
new building on Main treet. Alvin oo r i the liquor Warren Hill did xtensive r[...]t off r d
The CulbertBon Opera Company, compo d of leading hool hildr n who had perl[...]Don Hunter th ount Exum ion Ag nt, pul'i ha d h
S. Stafford, Mark Thomas and Dr. . John to[...]op rated the th ter until h mov d to Billing in 1
of the hall and made arrangements with opera compani[...]e ball was held. The first how, "The ro ",
open d for a three-night ngagem nt, January fourth . DR G TOR
After that there were shows , hard time dances ,
masquerade[...]ralli and imilar . Stafford , a nativ of Indiana, tabli hed the fir t
activities he[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (236)[...]Janes continued to run the dray line for 28 years, selling[...]drayman that the shift was made from horses to motor[...]2 story building, It carried a complete line of harness and saddlery goods.
Wittmeier & Brooks (g[...]d it to A. W. Huxsol, who had been
the pharmacist for Stafford.[...]barn in 1902. The barn was sold to A. J.
resident of Culbertson, coming here from Canada in 1901.[...]as
Wilson. He had been employed as the pharmacist for 10 station in one end of it in 1926. The station was run by
years prior to this change of ownership, so was not a Clarence Teet[...]arried clothing until it closed
and what remained of the stock was moved to Williston.
Tanner and B[...]thing else. Hall's Retail carried a complete
line of clothing.
The Farmers Mercantile carried some c[...]at
this date has recalled.
kogmo's, a branch of Gamble is the only clothing store
operating now i[...]in existence located one block ea t of ain Str t - name[...]unknown. Joe Amsdorff worked there the winters of 1907-[...]Englebright a a partner. Both of them came from orth
During the first year in C[...]1906 Frank Mathew establi hed the wh re that wa located.
first general dray line, and in 1907[...]in 190 , L. brothers who had livery rigs for hir .
E . Schow in 190 , Jake Haraldside in 1 09,[...]Jack Evans erected the Eclip e barn in I 9 , wh re
AJva Janes in 1910. the Evans rooming hou stood for many years.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (237)[...]GARAGES block west of the Evans Hotel. In 1954, Donald March wick[...]. They sold Nash cars and Oliver Machinery.
south of where Sorby's Implement now stands. This was This business has been closed for several years.
later the Donaldson Brothers garag[...]C. Funk built a garage on the north end of main street in
The Evans garage was built in 19[...]ated by
In 1946 the McKinney brothers opened J. I Case garage Hannes Hallgrimson. The garage has been closed for
next to the drug store. They took on the Ford dealership in several years, except for the community auctions which
1954. In 1962, Sterl[...]s now
moved to the presentlocation under the name of McKinney been sold to Roland Roberts who is using part of it as Ii ving
Motors.[...]quarters.
A garage was located south of Harvey Park's home in
about 1912 and was run by W[...]Continental Oil Company built a new building for the[...]of the bulk plant, and there were several managers:[...]manager i Hann Hallgrim on.[...]name of the station ha changed from O to XX[...]Hu ky ompan bought th ta ion and i i now c lJ d[...]until 1 , cK.inn from I 1 to 1 2, nd J andrud[...]from 1 2 to 1 4 until it wa tom down for th n b nk .[...]I PL
Ford r ice tation, ulb rt on.[...]hn D r
busin s from 1935 until 1954, on the com r of th n xt lmpl ·n of th ir al m n w[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (238)[...]1
i:ienera.l Merch.a ndise
r ,
I[...]1' •I : .[...], ,
, i Culbertson, Mont• .... ,:..[...]··· .'-·····:...:..... lPO .. /-
'I •[...]/

; \/ I' ' I . I : I • '

, Sold[...]I
~ ...... ...
.I .,[...]I[...]• '

1I[...]•• •• •• •• • I[...]I

12[...]··H o- ··iJ i
1a[...]'
I..[...]n. In 1945 a corporation was formed by
Store back of hotel.[...]Tanner and Best with the purpos of building a new[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (239)[...]b sold to Krall. In 1971 Krall sold to Earl Weeks
for the John Deere implements, and on December 1, 1947 who had worked for the Company for several years.
William Krall, Bert Weinrich and J[...]implement business where the Conoco tation i located.[...]sells the McCormick-Deering line of machinery.[...]Dan Schledewitz ran a blacksmith shop for many years,[...]moved east of town on Highway umber 2, continuing[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (240)[...]ar, he built the Moen store which was in business for Bruegger discontinued his store in 1910.
o[...]1898. In 1905 this firm disposed of their interests to Mr.
The Gamble store was first opened in the early 1930's by Wittmeier and I. L. Brooks. Brooks withdrew in 1910 and
Stenhjem[...]sh Grocery.
LUMBER YARDS
Each of the three general stores also had a lumber yard
i[...]is now; Hedderick's lumber
yard was located south of H.O. Park's house to the comer
and west to the alley; and Tanner and Best had a yard
south of the Reed house where C. Hankins live.

Valley Meat Market

W. F. Wood[...]Markley purchased the stock and fixtures of the Valley
Redfield was the manager until his retirement in[...]with
L. D. Bi hop a operator. After they went out of busine s
the property wa owned by Henry P. Lowe f[...]Wolff now own the building and has
r mod led · t for a home.

EARLY GRO ERY[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (241)proprietors of the Star were Charles Jarvis, C. S. Stafford,[...]00. By
took it over and operated it until the end of the 1920's. 1910 deposits were $234,470.46. Directors wer G. W.
Buster Johnson then operated it for several years until Tanner, J.C. Gregory, J.E. Peterson, I. 0. Jette and K. 0.
Albert Zeltz bought it about[...]organized in April 1906. It fir t opened up for bu in in a
This building now has three offic[...]d the small frame building. During the big fire of 190 thi
Professional Building, which houses Attor[...]1910; Bostwick, cashier; E. M. Bostwick, as i tantcashier.
The bank had a paid up capital of 25,000 in 1910.[...]AIRIES the spring of 1910 with the following officer : C. A.[...]Schlenker, cashier; Sterling We t, a i tantca hier. It had
established. It was operated by W. C. (Bill) Evans and a capital of $25,000. It closed in 1925.
located about one mile east of Culbertson on land owned by CULBERT O[...]Schnitzler and J. E. Peterson , with a capital of 25,000.
dairy was later owned by Leonard Vancile.[...]der included K.
and one-half miles north and east of town, about 1909. L. Brujord, Frank Fai[...]. Moen , Albert
Charlie Boid had a dairy, east of town, about the year Donaldson, Charles J[...]W. Huxol, A. T. Listug, Frank McMahon
a farm east of Culbertson. In 1937, he sold his business to[...]ilson.
Marinus Lynggard who had it until 1940. At that time, it In May 1932 C. L. hnit[...]nd
was sold to Ove Madsen who was running a dairy of his chairman of the board, J.E. Peter on and .B. Wallander
own.[...]on in 1928 became pre ident and chairman of the board. In January
and continued until 1945 wh[...]Larsen in 1946 and delivered In December of 196 J. E. Peter on retir d. A new
milk until 1948[...]d to building wa built aero the tr et north of th old bank
the milk business and purchased the d[...]i tant a hi r- lr n Pow 11[...]bank fir t tarted in
1 02 under the name Th Bank of ulb on. but[...]re i[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (242)[...]orn
Pete and Elsie Hauck in 1957 on the west side of Main Motel. Annetta's Beauty Nook is owned by Annetta
street where they operated for 4 years. In 1961 they built a Larsen and is i[...]September 29, 1903. I was 20 years old. Sandy Stewart[...]had a picture of him. He was sitting on the north side of the
room. This building still stands. I s/ Billy Donohoe

LARSEN CONSTRUCTION AND CABIN[...]VER ON MORTUARY is located in
the former Assembly of God Church.
THE MODER AIRE FLIGHT ERVICE and fl[...]open d in 1961 by Hal Mies el. The fir t
manager of the re taurant was Lloyd Folvag. Hal Miesse![...]Rice took over the
tation.
THE WILD WE T DINER i a railroad car refini h d
and redecor ted. It wa[...]Flair and th Elk Hom. The Flair
on the river. It i own d by Thelma mith . Lloyd Folvag was[...]ecil Cole. The cafe is Cole's Cafe i now. H operated thi shop for many year
hou d in the old Ford garage which was[...]Grocery stor formerly By 1 06 most of the area around Culbertson was
owned by orbey' ;[...]homestead d. It previously consisted of large cattle, hor
operated in the old stor[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (243)created a need for elevators. Four were in existance by the Fa[...]D.
1910--Hanson and Barzen, under the management of M. J. and B.
Dunn, who came to the area in[...]mpany was organized by area
which closed in 1910; Valley Elevator, owned and operated farmers as the "[...], 1909. This is believed to be the oldest company of
Elevator under the management of H.J. Kranz. It was its kind in the state of Montana and is still locally owned
destroyed by f[...]and rebuilt. The and controlled by a group of area farmers.
Farmer's Elevator Company purchased Sowle's Valley
Elevator sometime before 1919.

Farmers Elevat[...]Culbert on. Original part mov d omp . I burned
from Lanark.[...]. .
The late E. E. Bonebright wa field auditor for the Imperial Young, Otis el on, and Alvin
Company and on of the own re. Manager throughou th[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (244)[...]LD TIMERS
be rebuilt in Lanark, but to expand the Valley Elevator in
Culbert on, which the company had pre[...]1971, and LeRoy Vannetta from Quite a number of years ago,
1971 to present time. How many thousand I do not know,
In 1967 the Farmer's Elevator purchased the Victoria Beast of monstrous size did roam
Elevator. At the present[...]all our home.
operation u ing all three elevators for gi-ain storage. The ground shook under the m[...]There was no one to give it a dose of lead.[...]For it was not fitting that they should live,[...]And, like dream phantoms of the night,[...]Down the sides of the mountain steep,[...]At changes that followed after this.[...]Are upholding the tandard of truth and right.
Fir t N ew Evan Hotel built in 1903, burned in 190 . That they may thu continue to the end,[...]But of all the wonders of bygone days,[...]In wh.ich , without doubt that hunter bold,[...]The r nowned tonehatchet, dw It of old.
Th boy ' camp here I would fain d crib
But ufficient tim nd pac i d ni d .[...]That you implicitly b Ii ve all this .[...]A th law prohi bi the u of malt.
Donald on Brother gomg up in moke about 192[...]ut part two will b n o dream ,
. tory huildm!( in for f,fround ,. Moens . Church on the And thi[...]np, to lattn Da , aint . But for part on thi ends the c ne .[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (245) HISTORY OF CULBERTSON It was in 19[...]A young man from the East of pleasant mien,
by Alex McBride Though of humble appearance and small in size,[...]e curtain on the palmy days, Kind friends, indulge a notion of my own,
When the herds of fattening stock did graze, For I make him the hero of my poem.
On either side of the Big Muddy stream, He called for help to do a good work
Which winds its ways through this valley so green. And none that he asked for aid did shirk.
A stockyard was built beside the railway,
Of which part remains to this present day,[...]his brother Fred
While a trail through the brush for the N bar N With plough and scrap[...]Had the honor of hauling the first load of rock.
We will tell of the famous raid back north, And S[...]g called forth, Built up the walls of the stone foundation.
When bold John Eder ranged[...]But lumber and windows cost money 'ti plain,
Of ranchers, cowboys, and gave command[...]with the carpenter work.
Where they could see for miles around, And Williams and Wilson when that was done,
When far below in the meadow they spied[...]in and spread the plaster on.
Someone making for a dugout in the hillside.
Whether Jones or Nelson[...]their shooting and shouting were all in vain,
For the runner the shelter of the dugout did gain. We must tune our harp t[...]Of patient labor and lack of rain,
A forlorn hope led by Eder decended,[...]the battle was ended, This fertile land of the Middle West.
And the lone runner turned out t[...]ed his escape with joy. And the notes that the banks could not renew.
Then home came the pos[...]was missing, But the term "next year" i uggestive of hope,
But all hands short of ammunition. And the peop[...]put another crop in,
The old timers will tell of the famous raid. With turdy determ[...]und which did play, pardon for being out of d te,
The fathers and mother of the pre nt day, And a th hour i g tting late,
Soon proved inad quate to meet[...]by modem grand ur nd 1 tric light,
The needs of thi chola tic at. Th[...]ao d a the a on w nt,
By two stately building of bric and c m nt.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (246)[...]by Mrs. John Simpson of ranching was acquired on a ranch near Helena and[...]an aunt Culbertson, where he became foreman of the Diamond
an uncle on their farm. Ranch, the largest ranch at that time in this part of
He enlisted fo r World War 1 in 1917, where he[...]rom New York to different interested, and for a long time was the active head of this
ports in Europe. After the Armistice he work[...]great ranch property, which was located north of the
Dakota Division of the G. N. Railroad, and later Missouri River, the river constituting one of its borders,
transferred to Montana about 1921, a[...]erent depots. Culbertson and mile stretch of wire fence.
Bain ville is where he put in the lon[...]died but set up office in home after that.[...]Arnette was a big man in the live stock industry of
Montana , and it was only natural that some of his abilities[...]of the bank at Culbertson and in 1909 was representa[...]from Valley County in the State Legislature. He was a[...]member of the Masonic fraternity and the Mystic Shrine.[...]1924, at fifty-nine years of age. He married in 1900 Dr.
H. W. Ander on[...]her parents in an emigrant train that was nine days in[...]ted
bought and lived in the hou e owned and built for Brook , the cour e of denti try at the We tern D ntal ollege,
until 196[...]ida, wher graduating in 1 99. She was one of the first class to take
they both have pas d away[...]tate board examination in Montana. She practiced for
a time in the tate of Washington, but mo t of her[...]KG. R ETTE wa matron of the Ea tern tar hapter at ulbertson,[...]e
Frank G. m t contributed mor than forty year of Methodi t hurch in ulb rtson .
his life to the upbuilding and the pioneer work of ranching It wa about 1 1 that Frank Arnette came to Montana.
in Montana. ff inter ts for many year wer As he c m up th Mi ouri Riv r on th steamboat, th
concentrated around the own of ulb rt on. wh r his Far We t, he was ju t of th ag to appr ciate the wond rs
name is held in sp cial re pect and e teem. that lowly unfolded b fore his vision . One of th stops the
Mr. Arnette was a native of Illinois, born in Henry boat made wa at th[...]the
Illinoi schools , and when he wa fifte n year of ag he boat and went to the Indian c[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (247)[...]t few years he was retired and lived near the Big
kind of conference, and when they saw him they made Hom River south of Hardin. He enjoyed fishing and spent
such grunts and noises of surprise that the boy was many hours at this past[...]urning to the boat. Not far
from the present site of Culbertson the boat was compelled
to tie up one whole day, since the river was jammed by an
immense herd of buffalo. During his early years in
Montana he was[...]JACOB BAUER
adventure were part of his daily experience, and once he
was a member of the twenty-seven cowboys under[...]to decide whether to go or to fight. mouth of the Big Muddy, was est.ablished in 1883 and was
The Indians claimed that the "Leather Britches" had one of the earliest ranches in the area.
killed their ca[...]uer was born in 1851 in Wurttenberg, southern
way of thinking, killing the buffalo was as much a crime Germany, and was well educated in that country. When he
against the Indians as killing t[...]Arnette was not only a stockman but also did some of butchering trade. In 1 70 he enlisted in[...]ny
the pioneer work in transforming Montana lands for D of the Seventh U. S. Infantry and came to Fort Buford in
agriculture. In the early days securing feed for horses was 1871. In 1877 he married an Indi[...], at Poplar
a difficult proposition, and to solve that he decided to sow and in 1883 settled on his[...]the Big
some land to oats. His associates claimed that the country Muddy.
would not grow such a c[...]es, and the harvest was such as to part of the first floor as a store and warehouse.
fully j[...]told him it would never work. He built the bridge of hewn
and Wilma. Wilma married Milbourn Donaldson,[...]ough, but allowed local people to
Henry Seiben of Helena was Frank Amette's uncle. cross free. There was a const.ant tring of wagons traveling
They had extensive holdings in C[...]y, now Bauer ran about 3,500 head of heep atone time, but old
owned by the Hemess Brot[...]to W. B. Shaw in 1897. He also ran about 500 head of cattle
where Bill Peterson now lives, east of Culbertson. and a large number of horses, did little farming.
Frank died in 1924[...]prominent man in early Mont.ana hi tory,
Spokane for a period of time, then returned to Culbertson especia[...]particularly noted.
home in the west part of town. he died at the age of 7.
Arnett.e's built a bungalow mansion on the we t side of
town.
Whitcombs owned it for many years, and it i pre ently JOH B[...]perhaps t old · i ulb rtson[...]vicinity. H t i rtson and
By Myrtl E.[...]din. THE R B R I 0 IL
They liv d in D lano, ·[...]na W. Bertino
befor coming to ulb rtson. H work d for th tar
Ranch. Later, he had a busin in ul rt.son b for It 7[...]o fir t
taking up a horn stead 9 mile north w et of town, h l'i arriv B[...]n ·
cattle for Bert Bell of illiston, orth Dakota. t. Da[...]rted farming, and fr, gov rnm nt I n
continued[...]in. It snowed i
mined coal for a numb r of years. country ov[...]Id
Elmer was a fin violinist and on of the b st old tim "Don't ttl h re. n."
musicians in the country. He play d for old tim danc e Th y took hi advi an[...]o Glasgow. I ok d th land ov r , and fina[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (248)[...]Roosevelt County.
They ettled ten mile northeast of Brockton, about two
mile outh and west of Manning Lake.
Frank Bertino and Giovanna Ruffatto were natives of
Valperga, Italy. They were married June 4, 1893 a[...]of snow. Two of the Bertino sons, Pete and Frank, were[...]While Ii ving south of the river, the nearest doctor was Dr.[...]early year none of the family were ever hospitalized

Berti[...]agon trail ov r th
uninh d p . Exe pt for o. 2, th r till re no
impro ved road and west toward Brockton. There i ,
however, gr ro d ea t toward Culb rtso[...]plow with four hor to tum
und r i y found they could go only a
h ort[...]Bertino ays, they have b n
picking rocks ever in (for many years by hand , now
with a mec hanica[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (249)except Albert, the youngest, when he was 12 years old. He In 1912 they bought the homestead of William Fenton
was taken to Williston where he was treated for a severe and Mr. Percy. Thi land joined th[...]they frequently held Saturday night dances. Many of the
guests came from across the river. A brother-[...]ertino, the mother,
cooked supper, then breakfast for ten to twenty of them,
sometimes even more, on her small laundry s[...]y built a large two-story frame house with
plenty of room for the family still at home, the five sons
and two d[...]onths. Community celebrations, such as the
Fourth of July, baseball games practically every Sunday,
we[...]e were more people.
John, Peter and Frank, sons of Frank and Giovanna
(now deceased), still live in[...]n
married Lena Hodges (deceased, 1973) from south of the
river. Frank married Belvina Bertino, a teach[...]mmers, and in The fir t evening all th n i hbor ind udin
the winters he worked in the woods for loggers. Later he Lee Blevin , Lark Wil on[...]J
and Ralph Woods became partners in farming for several Dunbar, harlie · 'th, H. J ck[...]e n day Mr. an M
First he worked for the Bowman ranch near M dicine with t[...]Ii and
Lake, the next year, for the J. . Day Ranch. H h lped
haul lumber for the hou that still stands on the Day[...]·
Ranch, now belonging to W. H. Carli 1 outh of u,gh h
Culbert[...]'
Lanark, eight mile t of Cul on. H bo · ·[...]1
h , farm mac · nd tarted farming for hi
th · g ofl .I on a v ll l , bu
pl d with th[...]09 he pur th J ugh ho
which i now th ranch ar .[...]mo ed to
strip at a time of und a x, nd[...]r 10, 19 3.
right rain i r a go d cr op. That fall a
paid for th fa ·ded to buy more 1
bough[...]lo ro. ped H . m
buying land for a long ti . B[...]f
arch 2, 1911 h ma ggi John on of Rob rt nd ur[...]Dal na, Dean in
in Wi onsin for ten y are.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (250)[...]1924 -1929. Ruth taught before marriage,
working for Henry Miller, John Archer and J. S. Day[...]nches. He and Bert Bowers hauled all the material for taught piano and still does occasionally.
the building of the Stockman's Hotel and the 1903 school[...]dgar held numerous jobs,
building. The rocks used for the basement and foundation and was on the school board, District #17, for 3 years
were dug out of the hills north of Culbertson. during the construction of the Culbertson Armory.
The people who were sett[...]idge
unloading their immigrant cars. A great many of them site was located. From December 193[...]1935 he
would unload at Blair's place and go back for another load. was a Field Engineer for the W.P.A. and F.E.R.A. In
Later they picked up t[...]on the at Culbertson, and he continued in that position until his
homestead.[...]old homestead and enjoys every minute of it.[...]care for. Farming was done with horses. Most of the
LEE 0. BLEVINS[...]dances, community baseball, and of course the big Fourth
The Lee O. Blevins family arrived in Culbertson in of July celebrations.
March, 1904, the year of the big blizzard. After three days The Bowers[...]ad poisoning or good hemp rope.
about a mile east of town. Blevins worked at whatever he Edgar[...]as able to buy machinery and start Director of Education in Missouri. Ellen is a surgical nurse[...]anch near Plentywood.
years. The land is now part of the F. B. McCann ranch. Marjorie is in charge of draperies in a large Billings store.[...]taught nine years of music in the Poplar School system. Ed[...]o their former home in Kansas. They soon
r alized that Montana wa the place for them a it offered Jacob and Augu ta Bruegg[...]d,
th Bow r home nd there they p nt the remainder of wa the fir t Clerk, donated the big bell for the 1903 brick
th ir life. Thi i n ow th C. R. a terline farm . qrhool house, was Postmaster for many years, and was[...]for them , providing pring , mattre and b dding[...]By E. L. Bower th floor of her home. he doctored th patien a b t he[...]could, mo t of whom uffered from gun hot wound or
Bert wa born[...]bronc. The h riff
Th y homesteaded two mile ea t of ulb rtson in 1900 frequenUy advi d "ble[...]at Dr. . A. turgeon 1 ft in the pring of 1 02 d daring
Bentonville, Arkan a . He arriv din ulb rtson with his that th country wa too dam h althy, all men hot too
pa[...]eyan College in H lena, Montana, for chool. Th y w r 1 o confirm d in th Luth r[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (251)[...]and jam,
In 1915 he was called into the service of his country in Canned meat, made pork into bacon and ham.
World War I. He served as Corporal in the Air Service until
A[...]to help in many ways.
1919 he married Jessie Dahl of Williston. They moved to Mid-wives were plentiful, Doctors few,
the Bruegger home east of town, which has been home Of course they knew what be t to do.
since.
In 19[...]and served We salute and thank the pioneers of ye teryear,
in that capacity for 33 years until he retired. We had three For their efforts to free us from all fear.
beautiful[...]ge Montana is the place where we will dwell.
of 14.
Jessie attended school in Williston taking[...]J e ie Bruegger
course and working for several law firms. She enjoys art
and music. She has been active in the past years-Charter
member of the American Legion Auxiliary, charter
member of the Culbertson Woman's Club, Girl Scout leader
for 16 years, Worthy Matron of Eastern Star, Ladies Aid[...]pression, and went
out on drives to collect money for worthwhile projects. Freeman Buck came[...]ry few street lights back then, so we state of Vermont. He worked for J. . Day for a time. Then
carried flash lights with us at nigh[...]ok a homestead in the timbered bottom, outh
lamps for 13 years, but we did have a bathroom with hot of the river. There he built his first log hou e in[...]ush and the
Hugo and Jessie have furnished land for the Brueggers summers he would work out with hi horse on the Lower
Tourist Park free of charge for 30 years. The firemen Yellowstone Irriga[...]cided to move hi
Hugo passed away June 8, 1967. I have lived through an buildings to higher g[...]n has grown into homestead. Clearing hi land of timber and bru h wa all
such a wonderful town in[...]from ea t of idney. Thi wa a dandy f ri er botto[...]nni nton on
YESTERYEARS I MO A A now own the[...]i1 wd ali
That lasted all spring, not too nice.[...]n t oplar m .
There wa n 't a blade of it to mow.
ven year of drought tick it out th mu ,
While they worked l[...]BRO HR
For pro tion, they carried a gun 'back th n '.
Everyone had a woodpil , aw d and chopped ,
The floor of their cabins wer n atl mopped.

Ther wer no el t[...]ro n lamp , tall on and wid ,
K pt a lantern lit for h n th y w nt ou id .

They brought wa r from the riv r 'back th n,
That wa pr ciou , it wa u d again and a ain .[...]ranch .
For h ladi wa hd y wa one of th big day , o[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (252)[...]ere Herbert Dunbar lived to the east of our place. It is the
three daughters, Magdaline,[...]ne. Anoth er Anna Moothart farm now. West of town was the Joe
member of the party who came over at this time was[...]and Julius Zoanni, John Tviet , Joe house for his garage after being remodeled. As for fences
voboda , Tom Hackley, Ralph and Amos Bax[...]eceived their education in Locations of buildings; Brit Smith had a saloon building
wit[...]n located on main street, in the location of Born's Plumbing
she arrived, went to school in Cu[...], located
with the Duffys, later the Naceys. Part of her educa tion between the Tourist Hotel a[...]l in idney where she had stayed with the for fire wood. The City Jail was located about where[...]n. Maria and her was located north of the City Jail. The Great Northern
husband had fou[...]Albino Depot was a small building at that time. The depot agent
Zoanni, they had five child[...]Indian Burial Grounds were located south east of town[...]caskets, they were called then, were set on top of the[...]boxes were put side by side. Later, I noticed the boxes[...]could be seen. When some nosy
Lily Dale wa one of Culbertson's early· educators and peopl[...]Indians
was the first chool principal, also coach of the first dug a grave and put all the r[...]covered it with
basketball team which wa composed of both boys and dirt.
girl . In 1911[...]From what I can learn the railroad was built thru here in[...]I can remember hearing Steam Boats whistle as they[...]went up or down th e river, and I would watch the smoke[...]Alvin Cooper stop at the old Ferry for the ferry-men to lower the cable[...]d Lavina Delaney Cooper ames of early ranches were: J . S. Day cattle ranch ;
hom[...]n ch ; F.G. Arnette a nd S.P .
living on the land for two year and not being able to get Mitche[...]inville, Snake Butte and Big Dry Coun try. The
My i ter, Mattie, and brother-in-law were living in[...]d Helmer, and
Culbertson, and they told my father that there was lots of Jacob Bauer had hor e and cattle.
good land[...]folk moved her in June 1 9 . Dad built a hou · e for the mouth of the Big Muddy Creek . He also cut wood to
the family to live in. It was located one block ea t of Main supply the team boats.
tr t. t pre ent, r . and Mr . Blai dell live in the house. I can remember in the fall of the year, wh n ranchers
Dad did carpenter work and fil d on 160 acres of 1 nd east hipped cattle of eing the flat outh of town black with
of town. Dad mov d th cow nd hor e and hou hold cattle for day , waiting for cattle car to arriv and they
good ov rland from Willi ton. other and five of u would load out everal train load .
childr n c m . y old r i t r , r . trope, met u t th I nev r was a cow puncher. I alway had moreinterestin
d pot. It took the tr in[...]n
run from Willi ton. orth D kota to ulb rtson at that riding hor . I w w ll acquain~d with J.B. purg n.
tim .[...]ile my other was visiting r . Tom
I was born in Willi ton orlh Dakota on Octob r 3 1 96. Cu hing, I wa playing on the t with Ruby u bing[...]1 , located and P te. We wer in front of the Bruegger ercantile tore
threefourth of a mile e t of ulb rtson. and Dutch H n[...]Th r wer v ry f, w ttler . Tom u bing lived a t of barr I earl filled with garbag from the r staurant. H
town t that tim . Th am ear he built a log pushed the cart up to the fr ntdoor of Mr. Bruegger's tore,
hou e located about where the ew Evan Hotel tand . I open d the door and dumped th conten[...]building from Buford, orth Dakota, and I can r memb r old Dutch saying, "Eat that you
and it was our fir t hotel, known as th Evans Hotel. stingy Dutchman." I wa telling about it at home and my[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (253)[...]The Diamond Coulee is located north we t of town. The
have a grub stake on credit."[...]Diamond Cattle Company pastured some of th ir cattl
I also met Cy, a horse thief, in 1912 at a ranch northwest along this coulee as there was plenty of water th y ar
of Medicine Lake. I was working for Mr. Fred Summers. around.
Mr. Summe[...]ing horses and did some farming. I attended the Pre byterian Church when I w a child .
He said to me, "We have to get the s[...]the country." Each child had a part. That ev ning th up rintend nt
About a month later, we heard that many farmers were got up and said , "Only th children that b long d th
missing horses. That was the only time I had ever seen Cy. church will take part in the program." That took th wind
I was married September 10, 1918 to Miss Minnie A. out of my sails so I n ver went to church until w w r
Hinz. Her folks[...]was located wher th ono o filling
part of town, near the fair grounds for about three years. station. It was a frame building of one room. M
We moved to a place where we didn't[...]a first teacher was Mis Martin.
quarter of a mile. After living in the house where Mrs.[...]n, Arizona, and California. Then, she wa
After I was discharged from World War One, I went to married to Earl Goodrich. They hav thr e childr n . At
work for the Farmers Mercantile Co. and set up machinery[...]California.
store during the winter. This job I held for four years Alvin graduated from Culbertson High chool. He
straight. In 1924 I went to work in the Culbertson schools worked on the dray for John Chri tiansen . He married
as janitor during[...]entered the Army. He graduated
Whitcomb suggested that the school board keep me on year from[...]anic. At pre ent, they are living on a farm north of
furniture during the summer. Both buildings were[...]full basements which held the coal
fired furnaces that had to be fired by hand. The a hes were[...]andled the same way. The coal bins, took up a lot of room. took a teachers cour e at Billings, Montana and taught
I worked at the schools until the summer of 1949, when I two years in Culbertson rural school. _he married orri
was forced to resign on account of a bad heart condition. Astle and lived in Culbertson for a while. The have two
boys. Mr. Astle i managing a dairy farm for hi father.
In June of 1949, I moved my shoe repair machinery down Cole[...]are during vacation .
The Legion Post asked if I would consider taking care of Yvonne graduated from the eighth grade and ga e up
the State Liquor Store. I inquired as to how it was handled chool for a hu band. he married Ro Diaz. The ha e
and found that nobody was allowed to open a bottle in the[...]d, a girl, and live in idney , on na. . .
store. I told the Legion boys if they wanted to get the tore A for prairie fire -on fall th r wa a prame fir
for me, I would be glad to manage it. ptember 19, 1949, tarted ea t of town abou n mile , by a tr in. could
the Governor notified me that the tore would be moved e th reflection of th fit1 on th k for aw . It burned
into my place of busine s.[...]ck into th tate . It w fin 11
I remember the year from 1936 to 1940 when the wind[...]a now." b , " I 'm ~o[...]ad r
walk thro
h ard i
illi . ired m
work[...]an
quitting all rig ,
tabl . I in di
r ch o r[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (254) Mr. J. W. Dale was the first superintendent of our school,
built in 1903. At that time, only the three rooms on the first
floor were u ed for school. The first room to the left, as you
go in the school, took care of the first four grades and was
taught by Miss Otis[...]m was where Miss Lily Dale taught high school.
I can remember some of the old time ranchers and
tockman complaining th[...]ild the present high school building to take care of the
student . After several years of teaching, Superintendent
Dale was elected County Treasurer of Valley County and
moved to Glasgow.
ylve ter and Lavina Cooper were the parents of eight
children. They are Mattie (Mrs. C.E. Astrop[...]Frank Farley), Willie H., and George Cooper,
all of whom are deceased.

GUY H.[...]ay and Bill Casper - 1922
The correct spelling of the name is COSPER. Through
the year , no matter[...]me as
CO PER, it somehow would become CASPER. One of the
family stories was that in the early 1 90's, when my
grandfather, James C[...]ing to his father about
the change in the pelling of the name. My brother ,
William and James made the effort to keep their names
corr ctly pelled, but ince I didn't bother, I am known as a
Ca per.[...]ame time. Both worked for Mr. and Mr . Walter Patch.[...]four young girl came to be near her i ter, r . Mary[...]1903, i ter Ethel (01 on) in 1907, and I was born in 1910.
Pearl, Maggie and Bernice[...]y par nts were living w t of ulb rtson on the Muddy
Rirls.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (255)This was in 1910. I vaguely remember living in Culbertson. midwest to his millionaire partner. The northea tern
I know we moved to Homestead about 1916 where I first prairies stretched whole and clean[...]arbed wire and homesteader shacks. He often h ard of
My father was a rancher, saloon keeper, and I remember buffalo still roaming the hill , bu[...]arents tell about the time they ran the first of only seeing dead carcasses with hid on, and n v r a
hospital in Culbertson. I also remember that my mother live one.
baked bread for sale and that my older sisters, Pearl, Three thousand[...]ut 1 4. Taking xa
The time and years of these experiences elude me--I just longhorn steer and turning it into ca h w[...]s about the family. He knew nothing of cattle or ranching but wa a fi dg
of men, so he simply went out and hired faithful for n to[...]do the hiring and firing and hos ing of the cowboy .[...]ri River where he built hi headq r outh of
THOMAS COURCHENE Culbertson at the mouth of Hard crabbl lley. Taller[...]e winter ofl 6 7 which wip d out many
interpreter for Generals Custer, Terry and Miles, was Montana cattlemen, took 90% of the DT h rd. Mr. Day m t
Culbertson's first citiz[...]ch he
1888, and the first livery barn. He was one of the first shared with two other local rancher . The thre drove
school trustees serving for eight years. He plotted the about 11 thousa[...]t
Mr. Courchene had a ranch about one mile east of or early September. Mr. Day's hare oft[...]00 head.
were above the average in the country at that time. Glendive was the first shipping point for DT cattle, but
Mr. Courchene had a large rambling house of six or after 1889 the animal were driven[...]om Culbertson which had been
These were all built of logs. founded a f[...]ilroad made their survey In the years of the open range Mr. Day had an average of
through Roosevelt County, the line of survey ran through about a dozen cowhands and a many a twenty. He ran
the house and cut some of the other buildings in two. Mr. Texas longhor[...]impossible to move them. The Creek outh of Brockton. In 1904 he d about ,0 0
Rail[...]e wa no heepman.
snow fence came within four feet of the house. Before the day of the home te ge[...]and Mr. Day no land. But i m[...]w . i .[...]dent John W. Dale came to Montana in 1 3,
was one of the leading educators of Montana. He taught in
Culbertson for ven ear and with th a i tanc of hi
daughter, Lily Dale, started the Culbertson High hool.
His son, Harry Dale, wa one of ulb on' arl da
lawyers.[...]in I 7 i till[...]m uth of
wa 34 r · folk b ing Y, ra[...]onth and 14
in an ea m h r of oci aJth, which h[...]a.
finally having charge of a 1 . Bill Dono[...]olid, rful or of th b
adv ntur in 1, an[...]n d ir na
glint of Yank wdn h . In l 4[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (256)[...]ed from The flu epidemic hit us like every one else. My mother
barbering in 1952.[...]river was floating full of ice, no bridge, and the ferry wasn't[...]little hope for my mother, and the baby which was
Christian Ed[...]Indiana on November 25, 1881. He was the youngest of five I van Lee, now living in Bozeman.
brothers and two[...]t holes
parent moved to a farm nea r a small town of for the first telephone line between Sidney and Culbertson.
Huntingburg, Indiana, near th e county seat of Jasper. He and Ernest McGinnis got ten cents a hole. Many of
There he helped hand saw the lumber and shingles for the these holes were dug in scorio, an[...]he worked as deck hand on
condition in 1932 when I made a trip to my gra ndfather's the ol[...]e, now in the
farm . They were the only buildings of hand h ewn lumber I museum at Poplar-.
ever saw.[...]He discovered the large vein of coal, later known as the
My mother's folks liv[...]where h e He planted his first crop of wheat by hand from a sack
bought her pumpkin pie,[...]he wind blew out the straw and
grandfather's farm for two years. Kath ern Alice chaff[...]His second crop was planted with a box like deal that
Fredrick was al o born there. But there was alway[...]thresher and harvested for the area. I think 20 bushel an
My father was a fireman on[...]ght
Indianapolis. A mea le epidemic took the life of Luther years.
when he wa ju t over on[...]as he sang
fourteen year old si ter to take care of us. 'Bringing in the shea v[...]led out the
leave. When the baby died my mother's i ter got word to thorns.
my father' i ter to come and help. The Health Officers My fathe r also learned the trade of cobbler. He made and
refu ed to let her in . he aid, "There i a dead baby in wore wooden shoes. He on ce aid to me when I yelled at my
there, the mother and another child are near death, boy for the noise th ey ma de runni ng a cross the floor,
omeone ha to help." he pu hed her way in. I can 'That' not so bad si , suppose they all wore wooden
rem[...]hoe?'
making my brother' hroud. he prepar d him for burial. Another memory I have i the mark on the trees on my
ca ket wa left on our door tep for her to put him in. he grandfather farm. My[...]Entertainment, we had lots ofit with picnic , all kind of
r fully r cov r d[...]· ided to move. middle of May very year-who could forg t it r . Mart
neighb[...]Tryon' birthday party. he wa in a wh 1 chair mo t of
ye r b for n utth home te her life. he liv d in log hou t the foot of the blue hill
wond rful n w country.[...]ik · he nd my mother d for aw tabl full of too m n goodi to m ntion . T n
ontana[...]· bruar 5. It g Hon cro k of ic cold 1 monad fr zer and fr zer of
w ig[...]on c m with We arriv d th fir t of arch . tay done month t the
am[...]. th of pril 1 16. d dw o impr ed by th black[...]land . y mother aid 'Lord wh t lot of du t. I aid, le
W tayed two w k , th n return d to Indian polis. tay her , peopJ don't die b u h r ar no c me ri s.
Thing went f[...]ck d Romi thought th r w re a lot of hill to lide down.
our things, hipped our furnitu[...]no w d , no ra , nd only d r mic . The air
live . I wa even y ar old and Romi wa five .[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (257)plowed from the Missouri River to Sidney, and I have been next move was to Port Huron, Michigan where his father
told that it went as far as Glendive. It crossed our[...]Edward Fergus family settled on David r ek, nine
like puppies by the house. They didn't seem much afraid. miles north of Geyser. Each of the member then fil d a
Coyotes ran in packs. We could see them most any time of claim and so spread out the holding of the Fergu
day, but all we ever lost to them was one old turkey hen that Ranches. Will recalled that the Ranch wa noted for i
nested out. hospitality and that Charlie Russell was often a vi itor. It
We we[...]was in this vicinity during the severe winter of 1 6-1 7,
when we came to Montana. It was non-denominal, what that Charles M. Russell, then a young arti t, made hi[...]gh held services. famous sketch of the half-starved cow. The picture b came
Our h[...]miles south, one well known as "The Last of the Five Thou and."
mile west on highway 16. It j[...]his claim to his mother. Hem ta
My brother and I went to the John Lee school. I finished school teacher, Elizabeth Moylan , f[...]They were married on Augu t 21, 1 4.
and me ready for high school, my dad decided to move to Two children were born of this union. A daughter,
Culbertson. In the spring of '23, I started to high school, Marguerite, was born[...]in the Caster Hotel in Belt, Montana.
longer care for my little brother. She passed away in March[...]r. He built several homes There are a number of versions of how "Charley Creek" got
and other buildings aroun[...]home its name. Bill's version was because of a hor e named
on February 16, 1971 at the age of 90. His friend Ernest was "Charley" was always[...]back to Culbertson The ranch was located south of the Mi ouri River and wa
for the funeral. There are at present three children, 17 the summer quarters for the Fergus family. The children
grandchildren, 37[...]west and south of Culbertson. The land w of ulbe on
was the former headuarter of ajor ulbertson and al o
MAUDE[...]Minne ota, a maj · ·
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. ylvester Cooper. he grew up[...]gr
Mr . Fair} y wa a member of Culb rtson Ea tern tar
and Thoma M nn Am rican Le[...]ry.
urvivor includ thr ons, Edward hi ld of
acramento, California; illiam hi Id of ount
Terrac , Wa hington, and Rob rt hi Id of od
ountain, a k., and a daugh r, r . B b acPh r on
of Wood ountain, as .

FERG[...]four bro b r of ar ugh r, wa[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (258)[...]until his retirement in 1970. Adele held a for many years and was Superintendent four years. Mary
position in the engineering department of a well-known taught nine years and was also principal part of that time.
hip building firm in Portland until her re[...]for awhile, then sold to Pete Johnson and his sons. T[...]they lived out their lives with the exception of Stella, who is[...]in the United States Cavalry,
laundry hou e back of the Evans Hotel, got out of control First Regiment Troop D June 7th, 1888. He[...]ire block, including Mr. three years as a Trooper for General Nelson A. Miles, with
Folkestad's bu ines[...]na. During his service
The new building was built of sandstone. Most of the years, his duties were to patrol the areas su[...]t is now Trooper Fryhling rode as a special guard for General Miles
occupied by the Cleme Drug tore.[...]ing outposts. Trooper Fryhling's comments
1 96 in i eton, outh Dakota. In 1905 he started stores in regarding General Miles were always of high praise as a
Bowbell and in F1axton, North Da[...]he closed fine General and Commander with concern for his men
the Culbert on and North Dakota store and[...]ly 17, 1893, at Fairbault, Minnesota, Louis
outh of Poplar. The Arthur store was located in the Fryhl[...]an named Arthur The Louis Fryhling's had a family of four boys and three
David, a retired government employee from the Indian girls. One girl died at the age of two from Scarlet Fever in
Agency at Poplar. Hi lack of merchandi ing experience 1905.
cau ed him to give[...]re and left eastern During the early years of 1900 the homesteading urge
Montana. became so great that even the Fryhlings could hold back
Charlie Folke tad was a charter member of the Masonic no longer. So, Grandpa Fred Fryhling and his family of
Lodge in Culbert on. They were members of the three sons and one daughter headed for Montana. This
Pre byterian church. All four children were graduates of family consisted of Grandpa Fred Fryhling, sons Louis,
the Culbert on[...]pre ent time. in the area known as Dane Valley. In 1906 the home tead[...]claim were filed and in the pring of 1907 the familie ,[...]way of th Great orthern freight train. Then came the[...]team through gumbo mud knee deep for eight mile of[...]futur home and growing up place. Great
n r where i · · · ouri in the early 1900 . e pansion of tall rip la t year' gra waving in the
Whe[...]boat at aw a hard lifi in tor , nd it wa all of hat.
Brockton. Loui and arth Fr hling wi h i childr n tarted
T n · re a ho[...]ugh to upport the
H r bbl r their i ter nd h r hu b nd , Mr. family a th gr w up.
and[...]b. Whitcomb had b n a mini ter In 1 20 ad i ion wa made to quit farming. n auction
nd ·r ch r. Ther w r a lot of country ale wa h Id to di po of all machin r and live tock.
ch pri[...]in th t thi tim th old horn ad i b ing farm d b Fr d
ulb rt on school[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (259) Fred married Marie Anderson of Froid and they
operated the homestead until retir[...]ho still live
there.
Chris married Marie Olsen of McCabe, they al o farmed
in the area until about 1938 when they moved to the
Flathead valley, and farmed near Ronan, op rating a
Holstein Dair[...]aised their family.
Marie married Henning Kamp of Kenmare, orth
Dakota and they farmed near Kenmare for man · y ar
before moving to the West oast.
Earl became a department tore operator and work din
that line until he retired in Town end , Montana in 19[...]way Mail ervice and wa a upervi or out f
pokane for many years until hi r eti rement in pokan ,
where[...]dipping vat. H r t ad cattl for. ah: for th r •
Jack r r a from wa. lot.' of . prinJ.! t r. w lat r work d for ,Jim
dora orth Dako h[...]horn ndr w cam fr av and h 1--. ·nt for hi~
Th odo H brok h 'd for ii he hrot h odor wh[...]later marri d E rman . I ho 'or m · t1[...]ranch . Thc•< don•
ho he bought from H nry 1i ller. Th h a dandy oul[...]<• tn h•arn to
k farm d the. h rman plac for a time and did. how. . p a k En[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (260)[...]a si ter of Jack hields, lived except for the winter months[...]home teaded south of the river in 1907, and through good[...]wa of terling character and worked hard for the good of[...]i 1 11 , whi h wa th n loca d in[...]m fo rt,
dri vrng bunch of h hr om kot . H
worked for Bill F rgu f KR c ' th[...]., Ing f
.· a loon in Cuther on for. veral y n mo d[...]nd \ 11liam J.
to hi .· rnnch on Hard. crabhle ( for . Fr ' and[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (261)[...]rly I[...]d liv i[...]rk fro in f lo. I
He had heard of the cowboy and Indian in a wild land! learn d but i t no g o k d
Our father had already purchased a dwelling in for a h .I anda a nd
Culbert on from . . Moen , a pioneer merchant of the went a lend ntana hort I
town. Our furniture and world! go rri ed via freight. thought, o left m th of back
Our first impres ion of ulbert on that it wa reall a Ea t to work that wi
typical we tern town , with cowbo d Indian , hor e I came back next[...]tation which happ b I th ra in
Our only mode of tran portation wa a hor and buggy, and[...]·
and the hor e wa al o u ed for addle riding. W had a good to me. Her[...]d potato ." Th ight alJ b but it will ra i
had a large garden and rai d our own v g ta
milk[...]nizing in our h ur a
in piration for all of th o
the nited tate fr[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (262) o, I looked around and the people were down in the
mouth it eemed. They just had a dread of blizzards and it
nearly cleaned the country out.[...]wo deep, and froze. The
railroad fences were full of hides. The Indians were
skinning them.[...]much then. If you went, that was that. You were on your[...]I started out looking for a claim. I heard of a place
1971 - Norma and Bill, Ella and Charles H[...]to the north. I filed on it immediately. It was 160 acres. I got[...]hou e of log o I could be sure ofit when I went out to work.
I bought a team of broncs and went up to Minot, orth[...]Dakota, bought a set of harnes , and put the hames on[...]I topped at Mondak on the road to Minot, met a fell[...]in tyle the rest of the way to north we t of Minot where we[...]work thre · g. Then went by wagon to idney where I
wo for th y n th · · · oject. Of[...]don t r to o t pa I got was[...]i 1 kind eat a 50 b low.[...]uilding j
fo o I Froid now, and co t r ock o
I He p[...]· nd I I ft
utl n[...]. .
I no o[...]. Th had hor e with th m
i ouri r .[...]Then in og hou . I h th log up
h"m Pither w . of from th[...]ng . E ry hin nt fin and I
W had ,Jame . windle who c wi h the[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (263)Then in 1908 I got married. I went back east to Minnesota because our three children each were born in a dif£ r nt
for that. She was Ella Flink and I think we had it all made county, in the same house, the log hou we liv din for 40
up back in 1903. years. We added to it though. W even had I ctrici yin
After we got back they charivaried us and all the 1928 by batteries. I had it in the outdoor c llar built of
neighbors came. The weather was fine but a storm[...]ha b the
from somewhere and asked if that was one of my biscuits. I crabapple . There has been a harv m kind both
didn't say anything so he hit it against som[...]'11 la t four to
mean trick to make it look like Ella didn't know how to five year . Plum[...]rted and we got along fine. We put in done. I got one ripe pear in four y en they d[...]hoping, but at
elevator at Lanark in 1909. I raised over 1500 bushels of that it ha been rewarding b cau e you could hop .
whea[...]y neighbor dropped by Then rhubarb. I've had all kind of them. In 1 9
and told me to sell my homestead. I told him that I aimed to when I got malaria they didn't have quinine o I got
live on it so I followed him to town and waited across the[...]took half a tea poon dry
street until he came out of a store. I met him in the street with water and it did fairly well. I doctored from 1 9 to
and told him to heave atit, buthedidn'tgothrough with it. 1955, then I got Taber's M dical Dictionary. It aid in
When I went to Mandan I bought a ballpoint pen and I black and white that the cau e of Pemiciou Anemia wa
had that with me wherever I went and I've got that pen yet. shortage of hydrochloric acid. I got that then, but I couldn't
I had a pack with me and a blanket was quite a help, for get much after that. I wouldn 't go to the ho pital and! have
instance. I was finishing up threshing in the fall of 1902 been hitting it good so far. It' up and down, but I'm here
and I was hitting toward home, which at that time was t. yet. The oldest doctor back i[...]snowing and it just kept up. One thing that helped my trees, wa I had the la
Finally I got tired and coming to a rock in the trail, I sat out dike and ditche ea t and we t of the home tead abou
down on it and when I woke up I was frozen stiff. I a mile and a half long with four mal[...]d the waterways through the trees. Without that there would be
last I remember was, I thought my heart was going to bust. no trees. Pine took the wor t beating.
Then I was standing in a farmer's yard thanking him for There is one odd thing about thi place of mine. It' ju t
breakfast and I felt all right and went on as though the picture of my father' farm back in weden. It had the
nothing had happened. I don 't know how far I went that railroad and highway lanted corner aero the land and
night but if I hadn't had that pack with me and made that the creek the ame place.
place- well, I guess I looked in St. Peter' door but he hut it I, Ella Hawkin wa born April 17, 1 6, in t. Paul,
a[...]Minne ota, one of twin , my broth · · ·
I got ga ed in the root cellar, sacking potatoe . I made one old · r and two y
up my mind[...]and they found me in the away I wa ix
cellarway steps. They got me out of there and got a doctor hou ek bu it wa v
and he puJled me out of it. of fath the old coun
I got three other quarter of land then rented other land, Ame · am tou
o I had at least 1,0 0 acres under control doing mo t[...]n cow · · -30
head herd. I thought I wa g tting
ee now it help d me to root hog or
fe[...]three it k pt our no to the grind
ju t as hard a I worked and th n o
4:30 A.M. until dark at nigh in[...]all at Lan
igh for
b
th[...]I

pa
to
bl
al
a

a
all.
W didn 't bu man[...]d had a
a i I ign d up for for hard
Roo ou m no ur if it lot of[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (264)[...]nice and so the Hages killing.
dift rent. I pent o much time on the roof of the other In 1917 he was building a house for Gust Johnson
mending leak and the wind would whip it all loose and southwest of Froid. That was the summer we came to visit
with the next rain I had it to do all over again. our a[...]on, my mother's sister. My
My hu band wa great for going into everything in a big father, H. Beck, had passed away in 1916.
w y, three acres of potatoe , one of strawberries, so we had In April of 191 Adolph and Mrs. Beck were married at
lot of work all the time.[...]place. Mrs. Beck had
The e highlight , o much I could write, but would not be three children, so Adolph had a ready-made family.
of intere t to other . The fun we have had here, whe[...]worries when a
torm would come up, the runaways that almost made your
heart top beating. My husband wa[...]. He had to get the child
af ly on the other ide of the fence before trying to stop the
hor e . He wa[...]down. This cau ed
th ga and he wa about dead when I found him. The
doctor wa in the neighborhood and[...]in Potter. The folk had old their farm the
ummer of 1971 and moved to Ridgecrest. Claire has nine
chi[...]nts
came to ulbert on in 1911. With the exception of one year
p nt on her hu band' land near the Culb[...]er folk' farm or on
th pre nt one three mile ea t of it. Norma and William
have four children ; Ro ema[...]Virginia.
harlie Hawkin pa ed away in January of 1976.

DOLPH HELBERG[...]t m n building in
t F on r . Two of th horn h v
b rt on.[...]· in a two room hom tead hack for many y ar
hre hing machin for man year . alway to b room for vi itor or om on
h d wi[...]· r I ou .[...]on
who t der' h I nd , and let ri Paul
omeone I g t the l nd. In t hooting[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (265)[...]ho on driving then was just a matter of keeping your ar
started the coal mine southwest of Froid. This is where we running.
got the co[...]ugged the coal in, the other There w re lots of good win nd I t of b d n e .
one carried out the ashes. Also, there was Joe Young, Paul ome of tho e blizzard took t f human liv
Wagner[...]lso was a neighbor. radio to warn p ople of comin[...]wa to run to the pump and g it. Th ld i[...]Adolph had was six mile outh of Froid and t.[...]that looked like a darning n die.
seated on drill. Adolph Helberg[...]hor e , get a team from u , and go on. I mi
middle of the night when he came back . H[...]making a profit. Mo t Hamil ta
of the time the guys tried to buy the box lunch of ano her of Hom Th
guy' girlfriend and make a profit[...]work wa don
you hitch d up a bronc to a wagon , t
of excitem nt. In tho da r ·
wer on our ow[...]call d h
walk d, drink of wate ndout.
om ti
In 192
on
u[...]uld
affo
In
0

I[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (266)Ranch. Thi ite wa chosen, not for the farming
po· ibilities, but for the cenic view it provided-looking
northward to h[...]ea tward toward North Dakota.
Charlie was a lover of cenic beauty. With his hobby of
photography, he collected a large assortment of pictures of
the area through the year .[...]of the Bolstad Act for a few years. He was well known for[...]A owner of the first movie camera in the area, he filmed[...]He was known a a great friend of the Indians and was[...]in trumental in the naming of Fort Kipp. This Indian[...]olde t son, Butler of Milwaukee, Wi consin, pa ed away[...]in 1971. Glenn who i married to the former eta Hodges,
Mr . Charle (Vi[...]in ulb rt on. Paul i married to the former Marguerite
Martin.

For the f e commuted from[...]t
cutting bu on. H i i HE RY KR EGER
with hi bro t buildin o
work d for p . a[...]He · d to Hulda Waldow at H mb rg,
m i hi four on gre , th d him[...]nd farmer and at
Virgie J · r m mb r d for rd ning and he ti th[...]Fi L an hurch in
the fact that Mr . Jacob wa amo '[...]rlie was active in civic affair gas mayor of nd interment in t n ry.
ulbertson for thr term from 1920 to 1926, a term on th[...]school board from 1925 to 192 , and as con table for a time. Frank P. Lawr n d Wil[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (267)[...]have rvi t that ti t )way[...]to Montana the gon t at I
first part of April.[...]kidd i[...]The crop nd the pric i p[...]I mov d into r on in 1946.[...]Elaine i marri nd liv in ul and[...]er hu band liv in kr o. D nald i a
urveyor, hi wife i a teacher th at Kali[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (268)Ro buck for two w ll phone , battery operated, and wire.
We u[...]bbi, Brian, and Brenda. Leroy Larsen was a member of
the National Guards for several years. He married Betty[...]Linda, and DeeAnn. He is a member of the corporation.[...]All the sons of Willie helped their dad with the farming[...]by El ie I. Park[...]various job . One of the e job wa on a new railroad which[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (269)[...]ith Bill Martin on the Befor th town ite of Bai · do
south side of the Missouri River and north of ioux Pa s. trading and mark ting, thi[...]ti n
Fred worked and rode for well known rancher , uch as becau e w w[...]rnette, riding night and day through of candy or fruit.
rain, sleet and snow. He had many[...]Indian with all th ir ol po i
area, and a new way of life. Grandma and Grandpa our plac with team and wagon, eith
Shields were the parents of the late Jack hield and Julia Fort Bu r ulb o poi
Gould. They were like real parents to Fred , and treated topp d k our f ri mi
him as one of their own sons. There wa alway a place at which th uld ha
the Shields table for him. A[...]l w lo k d forw h .
Near the turn of the century he was Foreman for the YZ waited eag rly for daddy to bring i
Ranch, seven miles south of Bainville (before it became a decorated.[...]a
While still the foreman and needing a cook for him elf which were t mori
a[...]ll from a To tore ice in winter for the
scaffold and died. This left her alone and among stranger , job and a lot of manpower. Th
so again she moved on, this time com[...]ou d
wife Cora had located on a homestead east of town. in making a p ial reat-ho[...]reage wa rly da
employment for her as cook and housekeeper at the YZ[...]h all the , and all
Ranch for Fred Leonard. All the ranch buildings including[...]to be a family affair.
the house were constructed of logs, which were taken from We knew w[...]ided some helter. hen the cattl h a h rat I of
married in 1905. He homesteaded on land joining the the pump they would come out for a w lco drink , and
ranch on the north,[...]e made.
and farming in what was known as Lakeside Valley in the The thin ould b ta[...]· ·
Fredrick, all of which were born in the log home . tead[...]h
little lady through the year . Our log home con i ted of one brin
large family room, two bedrooms an[...]w
Later two room were add d on, and built of lumb r, a
kitchen and dining room.
The YZ bra[...]it, and at
pr nt till own thi brand.
ome of th arly day fri nd , n ighbo and rang
rider w[...]m ntiona
f, w.
littl
call d Lak d
om of h
children a nding thi
mil . Our par n[...]li d thr mil from th h
Th first trip I can rem m r a wh n I a
old. oth r took us children to Arkan for fi
vi it on th train . h n arri d
d pot by n un I with am and lum r agon. n r
forgo th t bump rid o r h tr k r d, nd wi h d
r h m for a l igh rid wi h dadd . h n r tum d
ho[...]t u a th k id d p hich
con i d of a o]d ho ar on a railroad iding[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (270)Ba ·eball ga me a nd foot race also a dd ed to th e list of Horses and buggies or horses and sleds prov[...]the children grew to purchased. Even after that, for several years, the horse and
dulthood. Marie ma[...]75. B unnie ma rried Rose Evans. the bulk of the entertainment during the early years. In
He w[...]953. later years, Canasta was a favorite game of the Luft
Elma married Henry Becher. El ie ma rrie[...]by Ruth Machgan
The parent of David Luft, Conrad (1 57-1940) and
Chri tin (1 59[...]o St. Paul, Minnesota with his parents at the age of
Montana to home tead in 1907. Can a dian h om est[...]rs. He finished with his schooling in St. Paul in
I w limited homestead to 160 acres, while in Montana 1902. That same year Mac, as he was known , arrived in
they[...]Culbertson Montana to work as station agent for the
mile northwe t of C ulbert on. Gre[...]wn hip 29, Range 55. Initially a " hack" wa built for remained there until he retired in 1950 except for one
helter and a evere torm fo rced the helter[...]r , David, along with hi fa mily
experienced most of the hard hip of the early year . The
hou e were built from log hauled from the timbered area
of the Mi ouri River a nd plastered with a straw-mud
mi ture.
elma Tietz wa one of eight children born to am uel
(1 7 -1 nd Ro ina (1 4-1956) Tietz. Three of the
childre ed away at an early age. elma wa born in
Ru ia i 7 and migrated to Montana with her family
in 1 10. The Tietz family ettled we t northwe t of
ulbert n.
n D cember avid Luft[...]Gemeinde
(P ce rch northwe ofi and LeRo . n d[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (271) Dr. Munch was one of his dearest friends . When anyone Id 11[...]John Ma nnin g of
There wasn't a hospital in Culbertson at that time. When atholic. He wa born in I11i
Mac arrived in 1918 to settle permanently, the li[...]16. nt wa
On November 11, 1918 was that important Armistice he r d. In
Da[...]ay, 1950 and we took our first trip to acre of Ia n uilt, th Dakota. J[...])
Mac passed away in January, 1972 at the age of ninety had four childre nn[...]h ou e into the riv r a took al of Joh ' t milk
Dakota in 1859.[...]iam and David;
Montana by way of the Black Hills. He enlisted in the army Ja[...]d I Bur ·h · ·
a scout for five year · scouting through the Dakota ,[...]Adel' Wal and
Bur hia all of whom
When Id 11 wa ab[...]ther, Mary an
o 1 and Da ·
immigrated to
ta) of g r at p
th ir arrival in
aero from Poplar,
found[...]ad of ham .[...]d
moth r of Davi h of Poplar. David Bur at k[...]ving nigh in l. l at t 2. I. had at on tim . :1 of[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (272)cattle and Ohead of good addle horses, with an unknown southwest of Brockton. Idell Manning's father, Dave
numb r of range hor e . Burshia, lived on the south bank of the Missouri River. The
During the time that John lived on the south side of the government had built an Indian school on the east end of
Mi ouri, he had a wood contract with the governme[...]led Poplar Creek. They rounded up all
upply wood for the teamboats as well a the Fort Peck t[...]here,
contract from the government to provide hay for the the first winter in Montana.
animal at the agency. When he had run out of hay land
north of Poplar, he had gone exploring for more hay land
and found a hay heaven on the Big M[...]a a bootlegger and he sold or traded "Tulu" (some
kind of Canadian whiskey) to the Indian for furs.
John Manning and the Murray family went into the
heep bu ine , each taking 5000 head of sheep on shares
for the W.B. haw Company. haw' nephew, Howard
o ier[...]. haw al o had a
ranch about eight mile northwe t of Culbertson, about
1 92. Manning and Murray went out of the sheep business
in 1 95. Jim Helmer had beep a[...].
John Mannin wa a hard worker but he lo t much of his
money in bad inve tment . He died in Poplar o[...]Idell Manning never married again, lived the re t
of her life at the ranch and in Poplar and died Dece[...]John' younge t on, William, married arah Flynn of
Frazer in 1 01. They had thr children: LeRoy Manning;
Anna Manning who married Ray Bracken of Homestead;
and William Manning.
Anna Manning wa[...]ning, Sr. Taken by their
born but all are decea d except Emily Mor e of Poplar and home in Poplar. Star car behind them.
Howard Helmer of Billing .
John Jr. died in 1 07 from a lung hem[...]1 91 William' father took a government hay
tory i in the Froid tion). E t Ile di d in March 1976. contract. While exploring for hay he found blue joint hay
M ud M nning marrie[...]hi family to the pre ent day Manning Ranch we t of
Jon . ud Jon i now . Rich rd nd live in ulb rt on.[...]23, 1 01, William married arah
W hington. Ri h rd i l o d d . Flyn f[...]of[...]R.
b

on of

V i
old
t Will
ugh t
ry Bu
t[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (273)[...]Thy .
died in J uly of 1946. William married Lizzie mith three h[...]Howe i "[...]Salem, Massachu ett . Antoni'
trade in Poland was that of a baker and he practiced hi
profession in the Boston area until he heard the " call of
th e West" in 1910. At that time, the great railway promoter,[...]ing offered to new ettler .
Antoni took advantage of the offer and then returned to Ja[...]n fr m Wi c n in a nd
Boston for his family. He had acquired a "land claim[...]B orth D kota in 1 3. H
scroll" for an acreage in Box Elder, Montana. In 1911 , his[...]nn a a rn 1w r ma rri din
wife and family of six children gave up the luxury of a 1905 Mi[...]ortable home. Their po essions, plus a good upply of J .A throug h[...]s and implements necessary to start their new way of oun bunch of hor
life, were packed in an "emigrant car", and t[...]hrough th
up and eventually became the wife of Edward " ute" betwe n 1 97 and
Anklam of Culbertson. They have three children . After a He bought 320 a
few years of almost unbearable hard hip the famil y[...]younge t child, Lucille, now Mr . 0 car W. 01 on of al
Culbert on, wa born there. hortl[...]Di m nd of H I na.[...]om Lanark north tot
mi proud of ncan citiz n " hip.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (274)[...]Between the exposure and loss of blood, he died soon after[...]were ready for high school they moved into Culbertson.[...]of this family there is a grandson and granddaughter[...]McDonald had a brother, Jay Scarbro, who worked for the
Frank Weinrich , James A. .-,'1cCann, F.B. McCann and H. Diamond Ranch and had a homestead east of Culbertson.
takke, hired man.[...]truck by lightning, riding fence line in Oklahoma for[...]an uncle. The uncle had left some land in trust for Oscar's
In 1914 J. . Mc ann bought out Lark Will on, which is care for as long as he should live. When they heard Oscar[...]ok had lost his family they sent for him and he lived out his
plac outh of Bjorge' , the Lee Blevin place and John[...]eford cattle ever since then. He now
ha the honor of being in the Polled Hereford bu ine[...]McKinney came to the thirteen year old cowtown of
the American Poll d Hereford ociation at Kan[...]ril 12 1900, from his home town, Licking,
Mi ouri for having rai ed th Polled Her ford over fifty[...]_ married Ma Ellen Grant of nearby Dent Count , on May[...]At that time, hi half brother, terling Price Mitchell[...]wa for man of the tar Ranch ea of
Mitchell he er of th lat era . Hurley[...]ew c u nd wide-op n opportuniti that hi
from i ic d The g[...]hich ,Jack an of B 'II .
w. g[...]he did w II. H u of ul n.Th horn ad
had a nice et of log huildin . On afternoon o ger.
in thP fall of ar ,Joh gun nd w nt Farming d c · of pu ing up
hunting after fall. H didn't return a .. u ual and hi na i ve h y . ter feed for big ranche which
wife became .• he g[...]y who Ii v d alwa kep bl ramudas of addl hor on hand
n ctr. By thi.· tim it w[...]during- the winter. along ith a ho pita) bunch of cattl .[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (275)although most of the stock grazed on the open range the[...]told by Fr d Ro
acreages of oats, some wheat, corn and potatoes.
Gradually he[...]t
ready market for well-broke horses as the homesteaders Culbertson area with t 'trail h . I
began to settle the country. A gentle team would[...]orses were always in with the D.T. herd for J ay oft
demand. His steers would be shipped[...]They brought 15 of wh
After his wife, May and two children arrived[...]son where he has since resided Jim worked for a at th
except for a short time during World War II when he[...]anch, h b from
southeast of town where he raised fryers and sold eggs to A[...]miles ea t of ulbertson , pr entl ,John
The children of this family included: Oral who is Dethman' . Jim old hi ranch to Al I ft
deceased, Bessie Ebby, who lives in Alpine, Ca[...]ethma . an
Gladys McKinney of Washington, D.C., Grant who is also head of cattle and hor e ; al o did a lot o and
deceased. Ethel Twedt of Langley, Washington; Sterling of fi hing. He made quite a um of mon y w a in
Culbertson, Howard who lives in Helena, Arlyne Plumb of Montana. He did not put any money in th[...]k pt
Wheatridge, Colorado, and Betty Lou Seiler of Pleasanton, it at home. He alway l pt with a p[...]and he knew how to u e it-for he wa aver a[...]arly 1940 after many ucc y ar of
ranching, at about th ag of 4, h r tu Iowa. H
Mrs. Menz is the granddaughter of Major Culbertson tayed with a niece until hi d ath, a ho af r hi
and the daughter of Jack Culbertson who ranched near arrival. H i buri d i
Culbertson. She and her husband , George Menz, live at I worked for Jim for r ny folk aid ,Ji
Fort Kipp, about 12 miles we t of Culbertson. Her brother hard to work for and I ' but I found Jim
John Alexander (Jack) Culbertson, live[...]lo ; h h1r
South Dakota. De cendan of Joe ulber on live at when I reaU ne d d a .I in
Poplar.[...]nd I na Erick , on , d . ix
had[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (276)[...]town, where he had opened a hardware store, one of the
Leonard who died in Pol on in 1961, Iva, a nd[...]ert on. center of the main block of the town. In that block and[...]hard drives for her. Because of Samuel's presence on[...]always a gathering of the neighboring bachelors at the[...]play in, and a croquet set, all of which were thoroughly[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (277)[...]the stockyards. The river the spring and summer of 1907. David and Ardelia
backed the Muddy up to Plentywood and that was one Moothart had four sons; Frank, Lloyd, Floyd, Harvey and
spring that all the creeks around Culbertson ran uphill![...]r, Ada. Frank and his wife, Kate had their
One of the first cars in Culbertson came chugging up the[...]en they
street and when the stagecoach broncs saw that, they just came. Lloyd and Floyd were 17 yea[...]dware store was destroyed by fire, consuming most of and moved his family a far west as Cando,[...]ess in a new building next to There he worked for three years with hi brother, John, an
what then w[...]ttorney in the real estate business. The prospect of
Because there was no Lutheran Church during th[...]ended the and ranching opportunities for their ons appealed to
Presbyterian Church, which[...]nsidered the educational
ministers were in charge of the church; their work with advantages of the school in Culbert on for Harvey and
young people was outstanding. The religious life of the Ada.
young Presbyterians was centered[...]le northea t
Endeavor Society. This was also true of most of the other of Culbertson. Those fir t ride ea t of Culbertson through
high school students of the town; even members of other the valley to the higher elevation of the home tead were
churches were associate member[...]interesting to us. We passed the log home of the Bower
entertainment in the church and at the homes of the and Boid families as well as evera[...]had een in
Samuel and Lena lived in Culbertson for the remainder Montana and the last we would ee for many mile . Before
of their lives. Mrs. Moen died March 28, 1936 after[...]o orway and California. On circles on top of a hill overlooking the valley below.
February 3, 1941 he died as a result of a hit and run Perhaps the tone had been[...]Armory which was filled to capacity with hundreds of A tent wa our home with a hack to ho[...]could be built. We all
to S.S. Moen, one of Culbert on' olde t re ident and ate in the tent and ome of pt there. The partly
merchants. He w[...]fini hed ha urni hed sleeping quarter for both
at Churchs Ferry, orth Dakota.[...]affair , giving Frame hou built that fir t umm mber
freely of their time and money. The Trinity Lutheran[...]hurch in Culbertson is really a memorial to th m, for hitch d to wagon or bug · rovid d ou of
their contributions made its e tabli hm nt po ibl[...]· · a and co d for
fu I . Th wood[...]' brother had
horn teaded. Both w r born in th ta of irginia. Th
came to Montana following th ir marriag in 1 07 and a
home t aded north of ulb rt on that am ar. j
ome of th ir n ighbor w r : B rt ambl , Adolph[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (278)Taken in 1910 at the wedding of Lloyd and Fanny ( teeple) Moothart. At the David and Ardelia Moothart home three
mile ea t of Culbert on. tanding in back left to right: Violet[...]ld William .

hurch. o emb r of thi famil became m w[...]buggie th hat . The odor of du t and hor e can
t h eld in the home of the till b vi r ca . Indian bra it[...]a quaw carr ing
Elder J .E. K p i rrnon . Pot-luck dinner[...]d
d with th e h roviding mo t of th food . · 11[...]w
V

t
color d ha
and , itting in t
On Fourth of . ri er·,
memory . wagon I~ d of hration[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (279) In those days there were no fences for miles. We made our cushion cac h c[...]s over the rolling hills in the general direction of lupine. The e th tiful ·[...]thrilled with ong and pl
Large herds of cattle and horses owned by a few· rop of , corn, oa
ranchers roamed the prairie. Mr[...]four miles from our place. Our fall of 190 a carload of hei£
presence was not welcomed by the ranchers.[...]help
follow section lines. We have fond memories of riding with Hom churn d butter an
our father and mother in a buggy behing a team of driving sugar and other gro ery ·
ponies on those country trails. One day the face of a coyote Thu , with produc from t
looked down at us through the thick grass from the top of a good food on our tabl . With th
hill as we[...]the fall, our paren manag d
lights in the homes of the settlers were a cheering sight. We di tunc[...]hart famil gr w. rank and Kate, who
It was fun for a little girl to follow behind a plow as it ma[...]·gh , had four boy in addition to
turned that thick sod for a field or a garden. And what Josephine. The were Elvin, Ralph, ahlon and
gardens that virgin soil produced. Visiting neighbors were[...]ank wa
always taken to see the garden. One day as I was running married to Retta Rader. Their[...]Ev 1 n ,
between the garden rows ahead of mother and a visitor, I Wayne and Treva. Lloyd marri d Fann h had
heard the warning buzz of a rattlesnake. It was coiled in Edythe, Gl[...]. Flo d
the path a few feet in front of me. One ofmy brother , either was married to A[...]after Harvey' death. Her
little Josephine said, "I think it is pretty". We hoped she second hus[...].
wouldn't try to pet one when she wa out alone. Of course Lloyd and Ada, who never marrie[...]t to be admired from a members left of the original David and Ardelia Moothart
distance.[...]L 0 OR
the class of 1910. The fir t fall that Harvey and Ada went
to school in Culbertson they[...]wa in the cond grade tha for
fini hed high school in ulbertson with th cl[...]i
Tho e win · e cold. o[...]I LD
caught in one ·[...]On of th more rugg d horn
wax b[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (280)[...]y. He had to have a His district of medical care, which extended from the
hou ekeeper, which wa Anna Jorgenson for a time. Henry head of Redwater Creek to the Dakota line, and about 10
t yed on the home tead and added to it in spite of hard miles beyond Medicine Lake, was covered[...]during the first years, and later by car.
Both of the boy are dead also. Cal teppler now owns the
Peter en place.
ow for the names of the creeks. There was a man that
lived on the Poplar bottom that had a horse he called
barley. Whenever thi hor e got loose he wanted to go
ea t. One of the time he got away, the owner caught him
on a creek ea t of the Poplar country, o he referred to the
creek as[...]e
goe on and find another creek and met a trapper that had
wintered on this new creek. The fellow ays, "[...]me because Comer Armstrong
had a dugout in a bank for hi heepherder to live in. This
dugout can be foun[...]al by
train he wa informed by the lady proprietor of the
rooming hou e that hi ervice wouldn't be required in the
town, becau[...]to her opinion, hi medical practice a an
a ociate of Dr. T.W. Collin on wa very bu y.
The following[...]h' colleague, Dr. ollin on, moved o
cob y nd for over 30 year , Dr. unch dedicated hi life
toward[...]her of[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (281) In th fall of 1 7 Pat started working for J .S. Day on the it was necessary for them to attend school in Culbertson.
Red wa ter n[...]oke very little English, stayed with
h d thou and of head of sheep out on shares, although his the Nace[...]family's
mai n intere t wa cattle. As Pat worked for and became help, she became thoroughly[...]an
more xp rienced he was oon the trouble shooter for the language and customs.
ma ny heep ou[...]on their own land. They were used to
ra nch outh of C ulbert on, working for the DT outfit. wrangling cattle, now th[...]g the open range to
Th er were ome 13 boy working for the outfit and they farmers and barbed wire fences. Some of the cowboys tried
ra n between 25,000 and 30,000 head of stock. The whole their hand at farming a[...]out 110 miles or so away In the winter of 1906 and 1907, Pat bought 1200 head of
where there wa a cattle cro sing across the Yello[...]d recently
and where they were loaded on a branch of the Northern purchased from the Shaw Sh[...]was tough. He traded his land in the Sand Hills for hay on
P t' next move wa to homestead north of town and Hardscrabble Creek south of Culbertson. The weathers
wh n hi place wa proved[...]good place to camp overnight because it was out of the
marri d in the Log Hotel, which was one of the best wind and deep snow. During[...]up on the ice and the sheep had to be moved. One of
mother wa fo rtunate to have hook hand with Presi[...]Charlie Peterson and they fed that hay out. Winter hung[...]The herder was to bring the weathers to the ranch for[...]and due to some rough sheep dogs, 700 head of the[...]In 1913 Pat became Sheriff of Valley County and later[...]after Roosevelt County was formed he was Sheriff of[...]hor es and a rather diversified program of agriculture.[...]purebred Hereford cattle. It was in the 1920's that he[...]returned to beep and they were the mainstay of the ranch
for many years.[...]Tracy of Geraldine, ontana.[...]Pie e of Bainville, ontan their[...]of[...]ck
mall I[...]our
o' i l C[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (282)[...]NDERSEN CLARK NAY Of the even childr n only thr Ii ·[...]killed in a coal min at Mc ab i .
Andersen Clark Nay came to Montana by[...]at High River, anada. Ma k di i ·
wagon from Lawton, Oklahoma in 19[...]d in
April 16 with a herd of horses, seven children, his wife and Culbert on[...]e they wa buri d b id hi th i
stopped at a ranch house somewhere in Montana to rest wife died ever al year r i
and the ranchers wife wanted to keep Dewey. he wa[...]: a
childless, couldn't have any children of her own and told Hale, McKinn y , and y k
Dewey's mother to give her the baby for there were too
many hardships for a baby on such long trips. Dewey's
sister Myrtle[...]by Florene Berg
The family didn't like Missoula so came back to Lanark
about a year late[...]a big fanc two
father said they were almost out of bacon and flour and room log cabin that wa built b .
didn 't know how they were going[...]ta, wher Dave worked a
and was a very good friend of the family until her death. foreman for the Great orthem. D[...]ituation ti i r[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (283) Erne t married Thelma Gordon of Williston. Her father Our first house was built of logs. We broke sod with
wa heriff at that time. They now live in Spokane, horses[...]We came to Culbertson because the land was opened for
Myrtle Pyle live in Conrad, Montana. David Nel[...]Culbertson was where we did our trading and that was
Wheaton, Illinoi .[...]My impressions of the area was that it was an awful long[...]Some of the activities were dances and card parties. A[...]basement of the bank. Then a church was built years later.
The Fred elson ranch was nine miles south west of We were charter members.
Culbert on on Hardscrabble Creek. He had a career of I don't know just when Lanark school started, but
interesting experience since he lived most of his life in the Charlotte Hanson was the teach[...]nal around the rapids, which later
became the ite of the Great Keokuk power dam. After
earning sufficient money they sent for the rest of the J. G. NUGENT
family who joined them in 1 69. Fred elson was eight
year of age when he came to America. Most of his by Maude M.[...]ing was acquired in ebraska.
During the ummer of 1 2 he worked as a fireman on a My fa[...]Here he managed the J .S. Day Ranch for three years. It
Buford with mule teams. He recall stopping at Joe is south of the Missouri River.
Culbert on's tage Hou e which wa we t of Culbertson in They landed in Glendive and were married there. Later
a coulee that wa later called King ley Coulee, after Al[...]uatter's rights. There was no town, only a boxcar for the
fter freighting for ome time he wa offered a job as a depot. Th[...]g which was a hauled them home with a team of horses, and built a log
rough, tough one in all kind of weather. hou e. It was la[...]e sheep bu ine . Their We had lots of company. Most of them had traveled a
ranch wa outh of Wolf Point on the outh ide of the long distance and al ways stayed overnight. We had to
Mi ouri River. In I 9 Fred el on old out to Jim driv[...]l the mother cha ed them away with the broom. That wa in
· t of the old time I 5.
i d a f rming When the land wa urve[...]t do tor w t Poplar. H wa Dr. kin on. I will b[...]pril.

w
h
t
with the Pool roun
on di d i th idn y
ith h . p i tory w

J E[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (284)[...]daughter , Mr . H pur
James (Elaine) McMullin of Savanna, Illinoi ; Mr . teven and mov
H. (Ma[...]ouri; Mr . they unl
David (Beverly) Belzer of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Charles to pa tu
(Margaret) Bachman of Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Robert call d th
(Patricia) Miller of Detroit, Michigan; Mrs. Loui (Carolyn)
Harrison of Kidder, South Dakota; sons, Raymond of
Omar, Michigan; John Marron in Germany; Thomas in[...]Arnold Olson passed away in Williston at the age of ro · g'
58. Burial was in Everson-Clayton M[...]neseo and there he met Hilma Johnson. She was one of
seven children who had come to America with their
widowed mother from weden to make a new life for
themselves. They had purchPsed 160 acres ofland and the
eldest son, Gus, farmed it for his mother.
Hilma and P.A. were married there[...]r,
Charlie Johnson, was employed by the eibens in that
area and advised his brother-in-law and ister to[...]ben family, by whom they were employed,
consisted of brothers Jake and Henry and their mother.[...]While living in Cascade, they became the parents of a on,
Charles, and a daughter, ylvia.
P.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (285)[...]ried in 1927, to onrad Gu tafson, a rancher south of thereafter.
th Mi ouri River. ylvia and Co[...]n the Gustafson ranch. Their
daughter, Helga Ann, i married to Joe Falcon. They have
one on. They are[...]ated from Montana State hills, southwest of Froid. Their son, Frank, passed away as
ollege[...]bell, graduated from the
agricultural development of the McCabe community. At high school in Froid. She married Nels Larsen in Sheridan,
the time of hi death in 1942, Elmer was Secretary in the Wyoming. They had three sons.
tate Office of the Agricultural tabilization Conservation A[...]she was employed as the housekeeper and also cook for the
0 car operated the farm and was land appraiser on a well-known Senator Kendell. She worked for them for
part-time ha is for the Federal Land Bank of pokane. He many years until her retirement[...]where she devotes her time
on the original board of directors of the heridan County with the Senior Citizens Programs in that community. Her
Rural Electric Cooperative and was active on that board husband, Nels, is also deceased.
for veral year . He al o erved on the board of directors
for the orthea tern Montana Telephone A sociation. In
1956, he became a full time appraiser for the Federal Land
Bank and in 1959 he becamethefirstmanagerofthenewly
e tabli hed office of the Federal Land Bank As ociations PETE AND ELSIE PARKS
in idney, Montana. He held that po ition until his
retirement in 1970.[...]oria Marchwick
He married Lucille Marcinkow ki of Culbertson in 1944.
To thi union four children we[...]till keep their intere t in their Dakota, a son of Jay and Hannah (Pettit) Park. They
farm which inc[...]ife Hilma, in In 1913, Pete had enough of orth Dakota and rode west,
1 25.[...]area with his brother Ary to thresh. Ary

4th of July elebration I JO or 11.

THEODOREJOH[...]and Eva John o ·u tea tof
P.A. I on' plac t of Mc . T d wa
kill d in a runaway a cid nt i h r on ,[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (286)went back, but Pete always maintained that he had never barley and oat wer ground wit[...]flour on
He took up a homestead southeast of Culbertson. About The first year h brok u[...]wi
spent many months in the Walter Reed Hospital for leg He had sub crib d to th[...]uld pick up r hi
Pete ran a string of coon hounds and did much hunting neighbor who wer not ain
for the government. He was also a great bronc buster
which he did for added income. He also loved to trade
horses.
I[...]a brother, Harvey, bought a place
five miles east of Culbertson. Jay was killed by a bull in
1930 and[...]and Gloria Mae Marchwick. Pete was deputy sheriff for
Roosevelt County in 1931 and 1932.
Some of the first neighbors and friends were: Joe and
Osw[...]inally to Bainville chool.
We're quite ure any of u who lived and urvived the
well known dirty 30'[...]e grue ome ark for a vi i · . In 1 12 h
story of hungry live tock, no crop no gard n , bank of Ju land,
dirt in the fence line -no rain for month[...]went over the Great Divide on Jun 7. All of infa
hi brother and i ter are gon to . ma

HRI DEL I P E
b Dori Pau[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (287)[...]completed 55 years of continuou banking in this vicinity.[...]Bank of which Peter on i pre ident, and his son, Robert,[...]ier. A daughter, Helen, teaches in the University of[...]My fath r, hri ten Ra mu en, (better known as
of 1 6:3. H pa d way in Octob r 1 70. Both funera[...], adventurou cowboy, came to
wer h ld at the Dane Valley hurch wh re both had be n Montana ab[...]ed a a cowboy and
charter m mb r and h d att nd d for ov r 50 ear . hri heepherd r when u[...]al, wide-open
w , th la tr maining charter member of the ch urch. COW to n.[...]A a child I loved to Ii ·ten to him tell a lb rt on.[...]E · i tinction (?) of having 21[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (288)[...]team and buggy. They Kamp'
drove home that night in the dark. When
Mom was very impressed with the ocean of gra s. he ea t oft
had never seen so m[...]lo est neighbor, Froid. It c
Ole Ersland, for the breaking of 20 acres of od. To break and a lot
the sod Ole used a team of one horse and one oxen. Mom Jim Bak
recalls that the 20 acres of wheat yielded 60 bushels per r k at Fro
acre. Eventually Dad broke the rest of the farm with a and lodgin
breaking pl[...]ck to herding room could b
sheep south of the Missouri River. Mom stayed on the[...]ore horn ad in
it. She says the idea of freezing vegetables is not new. Their held at[...]uld freeze in storage. They kept the piano for many, ma anc
them frozen until they were used. To this day Mom will not of the fir t piano in th vicinity. It
eat rabbit or prairie chicken as that was about the only wagon or sleigh and t[...]their young married life. for dance that la d until dawn.
Water was scarce and precious[...]ter was obtained from a slough one-half mile east of the of their recreation. Fourth of Jul
house. It was hauled by stone boat, horseback[...]on horseback from And eat they did, for ldom wa th r
Culbertson. Sometimes he even walked[...]hools played an important part of th a
One Fourth of July when Dad was herding sheep outh life. Everyone attended the chool program
of the river he got the day off. He and another heep[...]Our c chool wa th · a I
the ferry aero the Mi ouri. Imagine their fru tration at of th arm. Aro · wa
topp[...]the river bank without food waiting being
for the ferry to return.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (289)[...]a. Mr. Schledewitz had
Father and Mother left for the United States soon as they come over earlier in the year and found a place for his
were married, with the intention of homesteading. Their family near Russell, Kansas, and then sent for his wife and
fir t stop was Cando, North Dakota,[...]Mr. Schledewitz came to Montana to claim his
ome of the homestead land, Dad decided that Scotty homestead approximately 12 miles northwest of
hould go too, and he did. Dad always said that he Culbertson, which now belongs to[...]ggled cotty to Montana so he could get in on some of Association. After building a small log house, he sent for
the good Montana land.[...]so Daniel was
Archer place, another little bundle of joy made an elected to go find his[...]grant car to make the trip but didn't get far out of
home tead. The farm i still in the Ross family, as Fred Culbertson until he found the terrain wasn't made for bike
bought the place in 195 . The farm is now farmed by Jim, riding. After pushing the thing for several hours, he met
of the third generation.[...]chledewitz had brought every kind of seed along from
Time were hard in tho e day . Mom rai ed big gardens, Kan a that he could get hold of so they could experiment.
getting up at daybreak,[...]the weather conditions were ideal and there
care of chicken , gee e, and duck , and milked cows, which was an abundance of everything so the family felt that at
11 helped to keep the home fire burning. last they had found the Land of Plenty! The next year,
At fir t the folk had a[...]tana was
a they could. Their fir t barn burned, o that meant they all about when they had a crop[...]over to the Manning
Winter were tough, plenty of now, ometime level ranch to buy ome. Mr. Manning didn't have any for sale
with the fence nd th coulee would fill[...]right then but told them they could use everal of hi , but
wa le ere about all that could be u ed in the they'd have to break the[...]a car. back the next year which they did.
If i in hor e, or ome bl ck mith work, he[...]·vit . Many of their neighbor were people that had been their[...]to church nd n · · n Ru · ome of them had gon to anada[...]z
i[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (290)[...]Her parent am to Montana i[...]Montana in 1905 from money to pay for roo
Gardiner, North Dakota. Horses were used for everything where h hired ou to
in those days and a harness and saddle shop looked like a Redwat r. Hi brid -
good business to start[...]mp)
coming town. This shop was located just north of the dre e , mo tly hand nd
Tanner and Best store. That winter and the next pring he velvet.
built[...]After th w ·
Culbertson. It is the house that Ernest Waldow now live Ranch and
1n.[...]business. He sold the dray line busine died of tarvation.
to Alvy Janes, and then bought the Pho[...]On D cember 2, 1 90, Frank "Da
Because of prohibition in 1919, all the saloons were closed.[...]v da
Dad had bought a farm northwest of Culbertson in 1915 ilver cup with "Be t Wi "i · nit from Mr. Da .
from Mr. Liemaster. It already had a house on it and ome This cup i till in Ma po
of the land was broken. With this advantage, it didn't take In the spring of 1 91, D w ·
too long to get star[...]at the river,
summer and moved back to Culbertson for school in the dwelling. Later the ugen m[...]south of Culber on wher all the build
Dad served as City Marshall for a number of years in standing were then built though t[...]and r . Carli
acey, the first Sheriff of Roosevelt County, when the Later the out for th quatted
county seat was still at Mondak. When the county seat wa on a piece of l ug d ,h m
moved to Poplar we moved to Poplar and lived there for from the riv r al ·
two years unt[...]ugen w r on
Mother was busy taking care of h r famil , but alwa t
had time for church and Ladie Aid, and help d get them
both or[...]minister at fir tin ulbertson; and he al o confi
of u . When we lived in Poplar, Reverend Hagen would[...]m a farm,
wa ea i r d
John ma E
Le[...]G li at d o Brad
i
John bough t ·n
until · h·[...]. hild .

I D[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (291)[...]HERMAN
b an were by 10 pound lot .
Maude tated that "her mother always kept the school[...]ng on Henry Sherman first located north of Sioux Pass on
aturday. Everyone took lunch to school in pails, and it what is now some of the best farm land in Richland
ometimes would b[...]ules Brothers.
and a buffalo robe provided warmth for these trips.
Returning home from one dance, Maude[...]meter and it wa 40 degrees below so he said,
"Thi i the la t time we'll go dancing this winter! What[...]We'd all freeze to
death." The dancing terminated for a period of time.
Maude and her brother were always happy[...]d go to the e dance because the cowboys took care of
them, and they could tay up late. One cowboy used to
whittle doll furniture for her with hi jack knife..
Brother Frank enli ted in World War I. Maude
remember accompanying her father to take h[...]from a heart attack and
Frank could not come home for the funeral.
Mr . ugent hired a man to help wi[...]ill Frank
got home. he worked very hard had a lot of company so
wa alway baking bread and churning butter. It was
when expecting company one day that he became very ill
and wa in bed for three month . Dr. C.J. Munch just
arrived in Culb[...]n on' practice,
and he came to the farm every day for 1.00 a trip. Mary
nn ugen t wa hi fir t patient. he died at the age of 7
year.
ft r her mother' death, Maude help d[...]er
l a d to Frank and Idel Maxam and Maude worked for
th m.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (292)[...]Mr. Sherman had filed on a violin and tak i
homestead on Shack Creek, and the son-in-law Oake[...]ring th
on a place on Charley Creek south of the Barney McGuire dry y r and mo u th ir
place that Harold Tolksdorf now owns. Henry Mill r now[...]oungest boy filed on land west to e anyon fro
of his father which was on hack Creek. Henry herman[...]Verda
Sherman, owns the old Sherman place and ome of the log
house still stands to mark the building p[...]as the i te u n Ii v d th
The entire community was saddened when new of the that time, r
death of Grandma Shields reached Culbertson. he died hortly after arriving i r to
Sunday evening[...]ni ur of
Funeral services were held at St. Anthony' Chur[...]a Civil War Veteran, who Having heard of land in Mont
passed away several year ago. A large proc ion of th gov rnm nt for clai d
loving friends accompanied the r[...]h h Anna, J ohn Jr.,
Country of Wexford Ireland, January th, 1 52. he came Willi and B h .
to America with her parents in I 65 and for a tirn ett] d Their claim[...]rried ec ·
to John hields, a veteran of the ivil War. To thi union To
nine children[...]ulia Gould and Fred M. The la t nam d a a veteran of H.
the World War and preceded hi mo her i[...]mourn h r pa ing, n hildr n , a
numb r of grandchildr n and a h t of fri nd . h
long b r m mb r a b th old tim r a ' on ho
alwa r ad wi h h }ping hand in tim of troubl
orrow.

L[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (293)and farmed on the homestead. Both of the boys have died. hauling soldiers to Fort As[...]Falls to the Black Hills, going by way of Judith Basin.
That winter they supplied Fort Meade with beef and in[...]1881 drove the rest of the herd of 1000 steers to Pierre,
CHRISTIE[...]le outfit, and drove
Croix, Wi consin, a daughter of Mr . and Mrs. Robert cattle from Deep Creek[...]ed Tingley Bros. in Judith Basin where he located for
he married George Franklin Loucks in Kermit, North five or six years. For nine years he was foreman for the
Dakota. Mr. Louck died in 1934, and the two sons that Pioneer Cattle Co. of which John Core was the active head.
they had preceded their mother in death too. They were During that time he moved an enormous herd of cattle,
George Franklin, Jr. and Jack Robert.[...]al. he filed on some land and built up a ranch. For a number of
Remaining per on in the family are a grandson,[...]ks and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Kathryn Loucks, both of to farming when the homesteaders cut off his ra[...]boys attended the Palmer School, staying
Lee, all of Culbertson. wi[...]attended ummer school in one of the local country[...]In 1952 Herbert married Lodema Myers of Medora,
orth Dakota who s husband died of cancer. he had two
by Maude[...]ee
d t amb at , ebra ka , bound for Fort girl who were rai ed and chooled in idne[...]me t .50. Equipm nt of idn y wher he retired and moved to
He cured wor[...]marri d lifi working for th ir par nt . In 1 2 th
J rg[...]rm trong r nch on Hard crabbl r k.
for · r During th d pr ion th old mo t of their cat I to the
I h. go mm nt for Ii l or nothin - 1 .0 for a co and
In 6.0 for calf. H rb join d in th ran hing al o.[...]Du to 1 k of ountr hool, aud mo ed into[...]for 12 r .H nd hi wif r r ir d and ar making[...]Jim r . d i d in on in[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (294) A son of Captain and Mrs. James B. Stephens, Bill wa
born[...]Arkansas. His father had been a guerrilla fighter for
Union forces in the South. As a young cowpuncher,[...]anches from Culbert on to Gla gow, later
ranching for himself. After ranching for a whil , he had
the first ferry across the Mis ou[...]annie L.
Pearce at Bentonville eptember 7. All ix of the childr n
resulting from this union-Bill, Jr.,[...]n
Louise, Mary and Jimmy were born in cobey.
For several years he served on the cobey ouncil and
t[...]ground . Th Ii d in ichigan for a ar or m r ; th n , th
He entered the theat[...]500.00 built o d liv i f
a director, for a period was a partner of Otto King in the oil it while build[...]t
M.C. Kilgore. He liquidated mo t of his holding , the la t la 11 n
being the sale of the Rex Theatre to Marlenee . He[...]R H
Wi con · ha a r fu of in
early da and th Ji win[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (295)[...]erica, "Come to Montana, the wheat is taller than I". Otto Waldow arrived in 1906 to homestead on a half
Rumor of World War I were spreading through Europe o section of free public land. His brother Ernest came four
it[...]y aid America had been good to manager of the Imperial D and B grain elevators for 20
them and did not care to go back. year . He also was school clerk for 25 years and stock
All the good home tead land had been taken by the time in pector for 12 years.
they arrived , o they home teaded on ome hill two miles
north of Culbert on. oal wa di covered and a coal mine
wa op rated ther for 26 year . They had farming
intere t a well.
The highlight of the year in the early day , wa the FRANK ARTHUR WEINRICH FAMILY
Fourth of July celebration which attracted everyone in the[...]He came to the Culbert on area in 1901. He rode for the
day. tar Ranch and wa wagon boss of the Diamond Ranch.
For everal years he had a livery stable at Mondak,[...]when the fire swept the town of Mondak in 1928.[...]Frank was county commissioner of Valley, Sheridan[...]old dog named Home Brew when they laid out many of the[...]erved a county commisioner of Roosevelt County for[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (296)she was a young girl they lived near the townsite of moving in to a two r om
Snowden. Mrs. We[...]d attending many marri d M ta Voight i in
country[...]. Gertrude married a M thodi
man by the name of Caywood and had two daughters. Ethel[...]nk Weinrich. Myrtle married Harold Died of Fright"
Allen, and had one daughter. arah married[...]e son . Bert, the oldest, married dark, and thi i
Mabel Padgett and they had two children. Harry re[...]l three sons were born at Mondak the hou e. I
and attended grade school in the Mondak chool. (T[...]d bl w
brick building was later torn down and one of the Picard bouncing in
built a house near Ba[...]never know
Frank Weinrich died in May of 1954 and Mr . Weinrich on and wa
passed away in November of 1967. After their deaths the The dog wa[...].
the Weinriches had made toward the hi tory of Roo evel t We rememb o[...]l hi r ti tin 1
Culbertson, Montana to look for a home tead. They came
by train, along with man other p ople who had heard of
the free land tall gra , urely a promi d land. After
wading now, water and mud they found a room in on of
the everal rooming hou on ·[...]L p
fe I a bi well h wa pr[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (297)[...]They had been visiting on a Dakota reserve. That was the
first time I saw an Indian travois, that is, two poles hooked
one on each side of a horse, with the other ends dragging[...]My mother passed a way on June 4, 1900 and I believe is[...]from Missouri to close herd on his brood. I can imagine the[...]One thing I remember so well was that as rattlesnakes[...]roundup wagon, with four quarts of Old Taylor whiskey,
the then approved remedy for snakebites, with orders that
we were to be poured full of it, if bit. We didn't get bit that[...]bottom of the cupboard. I never knew my father ever to
take a drink of hard liquor.[...]But someone did get away with a couple of quarts of the[...]remedy and in later years when my brother and I were[...]rattlers got so bad that we finished up the remedy. I
haven't heard of rattlers in the winter since.[...]We had a bad prairie fire in the summer of 1902, but I
don't know just how much country was burned over. It wa[...]the thing then to kill the poorer class of cattle, split them in
two and use them for a fire drag, with a saddle horse on
each side of the fire line pulling the carcass by lariats[...]lay at the head of tar coulee and Father joked that we
could have roast beef sandwiches from it. I can remember[...]in later years eeing saddle horses with most of the hair[...]In the early ' O' Father tarted a ranch north of
Wi Ii ton on ow Cr ek for the Hedderich who at that
time I believe h d a tore at Willi ton. They could ee th[...]or Th
t .
I owboy om tim cu d the
Mi[...]P ter on and Ida
M ggie and bro r Hurle (both now of Hel Tak n n ar Gr at orthern D 'J)Ot at ulb rt on.
at that tim . Th wa no doct b y
i t r w bo Popl r wit ne o .
tkin on in attendanc . Hur bor of
Willi ton a ho , which m a[...]th old 11 ranc rmon now I lik ~ i
third high man in tha , ing only fo
i er and m . Bu of Bain
The old Fort Buford-Popi r Road ran ju t north of th fi[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (298) Father raised a lot of horses which he trailed to North Th winter of 1 -0 I b r.
Dakota to sell to settlers there. In our family we have an old had plenty of h o dri
bill of sale dated August 13, 1 , which repre e[...]und
Father's start in horses. We still had ome of the off prin t t l p of
from that original bunch of mare until I sold out in 1943.
Jack Shields told of an outlaw hunt that he, my fath r, d ri
the Evanses and others made in the early day . A I to f u[...]l
Antelope Creek close to the pre ent town of Antelop , but n[...]had b en hot in th
leg. The outlaws who got most of the blame were Jon and
Dutch Henry although Fathe[...]tay all ni
The ranches I remember be t at that tim were th mak i on
Diamond (now the F.B. McCann ranch) owned by rank
Arnette for whom Frank Weinrich worked until he tart d
out for himself; the Star, of which my father wa for man;
the YZ, with Fred Leonard, r., foreman; the[...]ecurity with John Lundquist all or part
owner.
I can recall cattle shipping out of Culbert on when the
Pot Hook pool roundup wagon w[...]the the
ranchers on the north side. ome of those hipping from Jack
the south side[...]nd tay all night. Elva
Jim Spurgeon who I believe was one of the best cowmen I teacher and rod
ever saw.[...]ond boug ha Th
rted out for him lf.
Fat · . 4 .
o[...]i
tarted.
ul di h
a ni hed,
h for John c o[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (299)Com mi ioner of Valley County, which post he filled for even go around. One woman I remember held the loaf
m ny year .[...]ce off with the butcher knife-with the loaf still
that if the country wa n't all open, the cattle were d[...]cleaned out hi mall herdofabout250 head in 1909. I Before the Bainville-Plentywood branch rail line went
remember him telling my brother and me that the cattle in, everything was freighted out of Culbertson clear to the
had to go, but it wa bett[...]untry would Canadian line. Hank Winch was one of the men who
be settl d by farmer and the land cou[...]hauled passengers. He would leave from in front of the
people. I can remember the ettlement of the Dakota Evans Hotel, rain or shine[...]ross to get bobsled with a canvas cover. I have seen him leave for the
cattle in the fall, ome of tho e claim hacks had cow chips north country[...]ring had a freighting outfit before Winch.
bout that time on the Montana ide you could ride clear to The grade for the branch line was built in 1909 and '10.
Bru h[...]er open a gate. Part of it ran through our hay meadow. The first passenger
I remember riding from north of Poplar one afternoon, run was in the fall of 1911. The train out of Williston
down pa t the Jack McDonald place, and[...]ing town in those real early days. large. ome of the members were: Fred Ring, Art Cody, and
aloon[...]ill at the hitch racks. Just west of my mother's grave in the Culbertson
There wa a cowboy of the old chool in Culbertson at Cemetery is that of olan Armstrong. He was ambushed
that time named al William . Cal came up with the old[...]r outfit who had a ranch aero s the Mi souri outh of was very well liked by those who knew him. He had come
0 wego. Frank tephen kind of looked after his welfare. up the trail and at one time was wagon boss for the
OnedayCalwentintoMaxim' Baranda kingBigDutch,[...]heard about William Tell shooting chipped in for a stone and also put a picket fence around
an app[...]he apple on In 1909 Mr. Dale was professor of the Culbertson school
hi head. Du ch leveled and[...]down. o and lived about three miles east of town. He drove a horse
one knew how badly he wa h[...]came around okay, getting his horse out of the pasture when his dog started to
although he carried that car a long a I knew him. bark at omething on the gr[...]vestigated and
George Bain wa the water hauler for the town. I don't found it was a dead man. The authorities put a man with a
know how m n trip a day he made with that team and lantern and shotgun to watch the body that night, but
W3.f!OI1 with five wooden barrel deliv[...]at 35¢ a about midnight he got cared and ran for town. The county
barrel.[...]o get them done up and had received a mall square of turned her out day and my job wa to get[...]n it. When he ent me back to her. One night I mi ed her o Father got me out before
get the tuff, 11 t th piec of p p r on the way. I tried to chool to round her up. As I was going pa t the Evan
t lk th Chin m n into giv[...]er laundr . We livery barn. ju t outh of the Evan home Kirk Kellogg
argu din our two diffe[...]ned the front door, looked out and aid it looked like
a big ho iron . I l f hi plac bout on jump ahead of him. eone ·ng in Billy Ford[...]wa Billy Ford. He had b n b a ten to
nding up for long im .[...]le a wwa torn up around th r a if acoupl of[...]of
It m Ii ea bunch of u · db ki
day around town and wo v bo tim
br ad would come out of h o o m ould g[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (300)[...]s one shoe and ock. It wa one Bi l i
more unsolved mystery. wh n i
Fred Leonard, Sr. used to tell about one eveni[...]accepted. He noticed Hominy the ummer of 1976.
was limping around camp and when he took off hi boot, it
was half full of blood. He had been shot in an encounter
with hor[...]J r Booth
The winter of 1909 our father , tepmother and broth r[...]and r B rton
Harry went to California for the winter, leaving Hurley H Dunb[...]Frank Fairle M
We were both fond of chocolate pudding and tried all L.M. F[...]oid
The Presbyterian Church was built before that. A.C. Lemon Re[...]ns H .D. Edmon
Weinrich told me that the Diamond roundup wagon wa Be ie[...]H. th-milin r
camped on Diamond Coulee west of Culbertson, o Frank Eugene axam G.W. Orchild eler
Arnette got a bunch of the boys to help with shingling the Frank Moon
church. He said they looked like ants up there with pur Ol
and chaps on.[...]many left as the boy started to get dry and left for uptown. O' on o . n
A bunch of the chool boy were in on a deal to put off a ir
few essions of school by swiping the clapper out of the
bell. It didn't work, however, a the janitor,[...]a t t
now. I alway ot a Pin deportment and n uld ph n
Father believe that it tood for Perfect in r.
Ranch and[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (301) nd participate is exactly what many of the visitors do. equally eager and friendl[...]rom some far distant state, then grab a pitchfork
for a hearty breakfast of sourdough pancakes and and reso[...]The idea of the Threshing Bee was initiated over a cup of[...]organization to restore some of the equipment their fathers[...]ontribution toward preserving the pioneer history of that[...]avid Damm, Froid; Charles
Tu·in Czty tractor- 16 i•ali•es. 27 horsepou:er on drawbar. Engelke, Froid; Allen Evenson , Wolf Point; Art Fast,
.J.I on helt. Hardy Ander,·on on tractor.[...]rt on; Raymond Peter on, Culbertson; Lewi Pierce,
like a small steam engine. the gigantic ultman-Taylor,[...]tely 100 active member come from
with it the lore of pion r days when northea tern pra[...]ea was being home teaded section of the state, north we t orth Dakota , and outhern
a[...]. . a katchewan . The devote uncounted thou and of man-
hour of work each year in the r storation of thes rare and[...]back to thoAe early times when
such threshing was for real. They swap stories with the[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (302)[...]r • lect d or sid nt. St rling McKinn Y,
Many of these men are father and son teams. They work and ecr tary, E.A ." ute" Anklam . Mu h of th . ucc s' of
on the old tractors during the winter months, on[...]but they would b th first to point out, how ver, that th
performed the "impossible" by restoring over O tractors, pectacular su e s of th, Thr shing B e and Antiqu
many of which were once discarded as junk. Most repair[...]how lie in the tr mendous loyalty and oop ration of
parts for these long out-dated machines are no longer every m mber of th organization.
purchasable so the Threshers mak[...]uly an int r-co mmunity, int ' r·
have done much of the parts making are Riley Tyre of county, inter- tate and int rnat[...]org ttably
Sidney, a machinist who has made parts for and re tored thrilling for all who att nd .
two steam engines. He has also made parts for many of the
units the Threshers have restored. Harlow Str[...]mer from Homestead , makes critical missing
parts for gas tractors, such as valve cages and valves from
discarded oil well drill stem casings for a 1906 Hart Parr
tractor.[...]onclude. the Thre.·hing H
activitie each da . It i a irring ight to watch a. the
regal 1906 teamer l ad th long pro of proud
vintage tractor , cars and truck ove[...]ar d
200 pound of hamb ca po[...]r
bun (ran out). 6 d ney i)O singlf' pi
dozen donut~. 110 dozen ice er a . ~mo gallons of soft Mr and ,"\1r . . /Jrook ,. , - Culh,•r(.<.;nn
drink . (ran out of la. t two items, also candy>. flO pounds ofof Frmd 1 t of the group.
rp tr rv ofH ·ho, rvdfour
ye r .. r) n of ( wa. th(' fir. t
pre t an[...]their a hanquet m
recogmt1on of their work
Hal IRwis of Crav. :a. katch wan ha announced the
Thresh mg B e event. for. ix of the ven .v ar. it ha. heen
held. With h1s amazrngl~· ine hau. tahl and accurnt<'
knowledg of each unit on displav. the past spnng.· alive
for the thou. ands of v1. 1tors who love his v1v1d running
commentary[...]- 1926 /,,,ft tn n,:h t llowa rd lla,:cn ,
Fu I for a·11 v h1cl('s during th Thr<'shing B <' is dorn[...],o.,cl/ /,ct'. l>on
h_v cnmmunit~· spint('rl fu I cnmpam i-- . '},•a"'[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (303)[...]olled hereford ranch

Hor. e Power - 19i9[...]Cha rite Hawkins ,u•rdrnp !{rain - /.9 I[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (304)[...]ghbor got together, broke, rolled, sowed J35acres of flax for Widow Wilson east of Culbert on. Mr .
Wilson in buggy, Dr. Johnstone i[...]- 190 . Back rnw lr/t In npht , '1dnrv Bla1r. irg,I Blair, John imp on. John Dunhar.
Bob Hoge. eparat[...], Johnnie, imp. on, Frank Grant. Charlr. 1ay. Rt/I Jack. on. ,J,m Ryan, Ti rry W,1. nn. Jn Wi[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (305)[...]Culbert~on , ~chool - 1920.

Hardwarp Man . i!{n . Store to right General Merchandi. f'[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (306)[...]n Froid and operated as a GTA Elevator and a part of the
Imperial elevator on left. Indepe[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (307) HISTORY OF McCABE In 1921[...]carp n rand building c ntr t r
The first site of McCabe was directly across the road in[...]mailcarri rformanyy ar takingov rfromM rtin I n
owned by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jern, which wa moved in 1926 who wa for d to quit b cau of illn
from Culbertson in 1909. In 1910 H.B. Johnso[...]Store from Leeland, a settlement seven miles west
of McCabe, to the same site, and a short time later[...]y Mont-Oak. Grain Company.
During the building of the elevators the Jorgensen
sisters Christine and Katie, daughters of Peder Jorgensen
in Dane Valley, were hired to feed the crews.
When the railro[...]town was named McCabe.
In 1910 John Lundquist of Bainville bought 40 acre of
land from Julius Hansen for the McCabe Town ite. Thi First airplane in McCabe.
portion of land was in the southwest corner of the Hansen
Homestead.
After the townsite had b[...]lots, the three
business places were moved north of the railroad track to
the present McCabe site.
At that time McCabe became a thriving village.
run by the lnstne s Brothers wa built. Thi bu ii dia ilt
a . op[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (308)[...]Ba ement of fir t church, 1911. Ebenezer Lutheran[...]Church. Dane Valley.

,Jpn,en Brother on Reeve t am engine. Charlie Nelsen
u•ith hor, e , broke 55 acre of od that day - 1912.

L to R· Mrs . .Je. .[...]Whitman .Jame . . ./p , s , 'tuller, Henry Femri/i{hl,
Tony A•tenwn and dau,?htn ThPlma .

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (309)[...]In the summ r of 1917 Dad cam to Froid. Montana to[...]three mil north of M 'ab . Th north w •:t I 4 ., ct.ion 12[...]Eagl , Mi i h " furnitur •, i-.om 1[...]nowing, th road w r o bad I night. Th[...]morning th w ath r hadn't 'O Dad I ft our[...]country wa white with snow and ou could · e for mil[...]The snow melted and thew ather wa nice for awhil . I)~[...], Adele, time we got here. About thr day b for it did . ·
Anna, Marie and Freda.[...]Tanner Be t tor and ome groc rie . That night w ,J pt[...]the afternoon for the re t of our thin
Hans Ander on came to Montana from We[...]ed at t rom choo)
the fall of 1907 with a friend Pete Han en with no[...]f wa n hool hou
intention ofI aving him oat h
with six[...]Jo hau B rg · trom .
They arrived i ulb r on by train in March, 190 , and[...]t )ad to vi it u. wa,'
Han ear i nowthetownofFroid.Atthattim
how ulbert[...]ur mail. Dr. Darlan at ro1 wa doctor. that
Later the Rhode hool wa built on -half mil north of wa ight mi) ·. \! illi on, or h[...]In 1922 my i. r Maud and h r hu hand, i lark Davi ,
Mr. An hi daughter w r memb r of[...]V d bad crop . I af y ar .
mov d in[...]2 go and pa i-- d[...].. ug i aud(• r nt cJ th
A[...]nt . I k pt hou. for
ho ) and E[...]E CHRI TI 0

I cam to 1ontana with my par nt r ..[...]ctur don th followin · in that
and Lucy. two brother . Claude and l:vd . it a on of a kind int · beli v d[...]uilt ab ath r of
land around .Eagl R nd a wood d. not much had he[...]f Dan
cl ar d for farmmg. man from Froid., fontana cam to[...]circular
font.ana . Dad though that would h h. tter than cl ann~[...]e c nt r.
tr . and milking co s for livmg .[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (310)[...]Wilhemena also did the duties of a midwife in the area.[...]William Forbes Sr. was one of the early homesteaders in[...]Edinburgh, Scotland. He spent the early years of his life
Dairy barn of Clarence Christianson. there and apprenticed for seven years as a carpenter.[...]rlier gone to America,
Thi farm became the home of Clarence Chri tianson and had hi own[...]n , moved to He had returned to Edinburgh for his future bride, to bring
thi area in 191 . They[...]boyhood
uffered through drought and poor crop in that area so friend, ' cotty' who was hoeing[...]new. William Ro told him of the great land of opportunity and[...]Friend had to vouche for new immigrants to come to[...]Am rica , nd it was indeed a lucky break for Scotty. They
BE E CHE BAC[...]worked for a hort time in that area, harvesting.
by Betty[...]that ar a, moving ea tward on an immigrant train.
Ad[...]in to Culb rt on, C rlyle Ranch, al o for Bill Ral ton. Iti known, he being a
Montana to ho[...]d have a wheelbarrow,
the· tead land north of Mc abe. Ada 1 o built ach of them one.
B d r., dau hter Adelia
ho D i up in land filing on
B nd, xchang[...]fir t
g ri i
wit o[...]' g
in i h
n lp.[...]at n of
Bain viii[...]dry
y
There wa a cloudbu orth of Bai · ·
at work . Wh n he c horn ", h
running like the Mi, Ro iv r. He I f t
on the · of the k and warn o
th ho e[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (311) In 1906 he homesteaded one half mile southeast of Pearl and Bell. Wh n fall cam I w nt back to hio , but
McCabe, and built a homesteaders shack. Later he built a Pearl and I kept in touch by mail and th pring ofl91 aw
barn on the same premises for his horses. me back in Montana. I w nt to work for D d Kao again.
Culbertson at that time was the nearest town for trading. Pearl and I wer married on Jun 30, 192 . P arl wa
The nearest doctor was Dr. Munch, of the Culbertson area, teachin chool in th Mc ab di trict. That fall D d Kao
and the nearest hospital was Willist[...]decided he didn 't want to farm anymor . P arl nd I u d
In 1918 Scotty built the poolhall in McCabe. our aving to make a down paym nt on all of Dad Kao '
Specifications were that a two story structure had to be farming equ[...]. W tar din on our own
built, one level for entertainment. Throughout the year and 1919 came along. That ught and a bad on .
many barn dance[...]he wheat went about four bu n that part
McCabe was fast becoming quite a town. oon a hotel , of the country there are alw -[...]table, bank and other weed and kid , and that t ch wa
places of business were being established. born on May 2, during a th u ow. That
Scotty Forbes was married in 1920 to Irene Mae Jern of wa the la t moi ture till th r for
Midale, Saskatchewan, Canada, who assisted her au[...]and operated by Annie and place ju t ea t of Billy B kno th k
Andre[...]by he had ever brought into the world, fo i 16
Forbes, Jr., deceased in 1972, and John Forbes living two pound .
miles east of McCabe who married Margaret korick of One fall we were to a ale and heard[...]been held up. It was aid that they had l ft oin ea t
They attended a rural chool in McCabe which at that in a big Buick car. Anyway, about three[...]found thi Buick in a straw pile I had on ted land.
Inez Forbes, daughter of Irene and cotty Forbes, Of cour e the heriff had to come out an t[...]son. asked my wife at the hou where I w id I wa
Two houses which we know cotty built, are the present getting ome harne ready for a five ho do ome
Kelly Walter home[...]the other, ha down the mi
In 1945, at the age of 52, Irene, wife of cotty Forbe , c clear through. I w ·
passed away of cancer after everal year of illne . fo llar and pad a[...]r
Death came to cotty Forbe at the age of6 in 1951 , very h .[...]arent heart attack. Thu end d the a
life of one of Montana ' early ttler and home teader . f[...]in 1973.
Edward an obb had i daugh r .

H H[...]rt
I in o for[...]n. d
that I might l oc t[...]r . I finally
cam ou with m ii po
looking for a man to a king p[...]ca ln i~ k t
sum r[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (312) That ame year for Chri tma dinner we were going to and E[...]cDowell) live in Whitefish. Stuart
Floyd Ka o' . I had the end out of a grain wagon and the lives in Westernport, Maryland, Rodger was killed in
wagon was full of traw. There was my wife and five Germany during World War II. Pearl died in 1935. In 1941 I
children, Mi ke ' four children and my mother-in-[...]married Ruth Horner. We had two daughters. I thought I
known to all a Grandma Kao. I pulled up close by the front was done with eastern Montana, but when I went back for
door, wrapped the line around the stake of the wagon , got a wedding of one of Floyd Kao's grandchildren my
off and went around[...]ut with their daughters met fellows from that area. Ramona (Mrs. Jim
p rt of the Chri tma dinner and other Chri tma goodies. Ross) lives on the Charles Hawkins homestead east of
bout thi time Ray Kao , Floyd's boy of about 12, came Culbertson and Carol (Mrs. Larry Davidson) lives in
around the corner of the hou e with a milk bucket over hi Williston , orth Dakota. I left Whitefish in 1964 and now
head and riding th[...]field.
Everything and everyone lid o ut the back of the wagon ,
landing in the now and covered with straw. It ure was a
me , and the econd up et for some of the tuff.
One fall three buffalo from the Wi[...]ere . If anyone wa around, they were gone, but if I was
alone they didn't eem to mind. oon they were even
coming in the barn . I got o I could rub their heads and
cratch their ear . To[...]lli ton park came up to ee me. When he heard what I
had been doing he got all excited. Told me how dangerous
they were and that I hould have cha ed them a way. "You
cha e them away" I aid. "I tried that and they wouldn't
leave o now I ju t pet them and we get along fine." Later
that pring they butchered them, for there wa n't addle
hor e enough to h rd them into[...]ile when you hauled it with four
hor e and a load of grain. I c rtainly admire tho e early
ttler who made[...]he way to Froid it leveled Ha rue ting we t of Dane Valley Church on Nels elsen
off aft r t n mil . From th[...]1927 the crop: look d mighty good. W had 200 acre
of wh at in a low. bowl-like fi Id . When the kern l wa ju t
in the oft milk[...]ut th furth r into thi bowl the harder it
frozP . I rut the field of wh t, tied it nd ho k d it. om to[...]and childr n, Edith three
frozen and I h dn't ven known it . . _ o I cl cid d to! v the e d olph t[...]arriv d in tana in
farm . ln the :pring of ·2 w mov d to ulb rt on and li ed Fe[...]nd w lived in th oth r Th ... umm r I work d for a o t corner of ction for th of
hlackHmtth fi ing up w gon .... Ounng th h rv[...]Mc
hark out to the farm nd ~ h red up two ou fit. of w gon her with h r of the home te der ndur d
and hors H c nd went o work pitching hundl . _ for H rry the hard wint r . hauling of coal from th riv rand mining
,'wunkr . of · n coal.
In Ortoh r I went to Whit fi . . h . (,u K ow . _ now t[...]1r nd ond chooJhou e
Kalispell and his i. why I went to that ar . I arriv don b[...]r her from hi
f>nneg~n . He u ed o live in h Ru., i n ,' ttl m nt and pl .
was a gr in[...]und Man _
hou e in Whitefi. h I w n in to e him nd w nt to work hr nd
on th l => th of Oct ob r in ·2 and work d there till ugu t l, "proving
19:-, 1. When I fir. t mov <l to Whit fi h l wa ' very r nge[...]. to \i a in
sf•eing the high mountain r ng on three sid , of u •. It d Gia[...]Nlr nld on went to then 1ghbor. to borrow a , hov I. The h rme go, and h_ that tim
ladv a . k d him what he want cl to do wi hit[...]y\ ·ood ch \ ·a . fini.hd so h
. hovel that hill down over th r . o I can s . I want to could tra v I y r in .
mv l ' ncle Flovd ."[...]cided to
·Mv daughter Hlanche rMr .. Harold I> eter ) liv s in quit farmin[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (313)[...]l are
deceased. Charles and Agnes Christensen of Racine, '
Wisconsin, and Alfred of Kansas City, Missouri.

MR. A D MRS.[...]th in ii ·
ho one mil ea t of b cam from th F[...]n an Ta br
up land for th m el nd thei n r[...]h d dt
n • Ii ed to I bra · old n edding[...]n b
th . Kath rin liv d in her hou e for two mor immigrant car. with th ir r of furnitur .[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (314)[...]for miles around came with horses and oxen for water.[...]will, many times a couple of hours were spent 'hunting' the
John Hofman farm p[...]which was then used for field work and custom breaking[...]ew years later a grain separator was added
couple of cow and hor e and pigs. The women and[...]ntil 1914 when a large frame
The fir t barn wa of od which was a good shelter in barn wit[...]was built, and the homestead shack with
tho e day of evere winters.[...]so worked at masonry and
di tance where they went for lumber, groceries, other plastering, a profession learned in Denmark in his youth.
upplie and for the service of a doctor. A family of seven children were reared and Hofman
In the winter they al o went south of Culbertson, across remained on the home place until he retired at the age of 71
the river, cro ing on the ice for wood. This was a two day years, and moved t[...]1957. Children are: Bolger Hofman, farmer in Dane Valley,
back the next day, ometime long after dark. During one Carrie elsen, of McCabe Olga Grele, Wolf Point, Lil
of the e trip for wood the ice wa good when they cro ed, ybakken of Albuquerque, Fred on the 'home place',
but the ne[...]two hor . The land wa ded to a few acre of
fla , o t nd potato , and a mall g rden wa al[...](riding plow) nd three hor , and then a few acres of Whitman Walker Jame wa born and rai[...]a. oved to th Dakota to work, then
In th ummer of 19 a prairie fire, mo t dre ded of all came to Montan in 1 6. Mr. Jame home[...], broke out near the Dane outhwe t of cCabe, Montana. At that time the nea
V II y hurch . It wa he ded directly for the building but place to trade w ulber[...]d the ouri grocerie including a heavy ack of flour.
Riv r.[...]wiped out the lick born . J ari of Portland, Or gon. Willi
nd de n , but in l 12. ry pring, th r i on J m • of World War II wa kill wport[...]· · the rth rn
th fourth of July nd r crop w h rv[...], box oci I at[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (315)[...]an immigrant train to ulbertson for el ven day . It co[...]0 car ay hi fir impre ion of th ar a wa that it[...]northwe t 1/4 of ction 23, Town hip 2 . Rang 5 inf 11[...]of 1910. Hi lo t n ighb r w r rt Zich and E,d[...]i
comm unit a of
p o· nd ·rl
ly i f rom[...]n

n
i
n
. b[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (316)[...]been a prairie fire and there wasn't much feed for the cattle,
In 1911 H.B. Johnson and J.T. Hul[...]d to come back towards Culbertson.
tore in what i today McCabe. He[...]acres in section 18,
Church ervice were held for a number of year in township 29 range 57. Thi was one and a h[...]fferent home by Pa tor Dom kow from 1910-1914 out of McCabe. My father started to build a sod house soon as
of idney.[...]he summer.
daughter . Howard, farm-rancher north of Wolf Point My Mother, older brother Lou[...], married to Howard Will on, county gotten a ride for u to Juliu Han en' (the town of McCabe
agent. Ira, farmer at Mc abe, married hri[...]r built on their land). We stayed with the Juliu
I abel marri d Bill Han on, new paper printer, live[...]water wa
ulb rt on marri d Elaine Gie n. Grae i dece d. good and there wa plenty for our u e and enough for the
hri tin el en, born to H.P. el en[...]on, Iowa. H n mov d to wa on our neighbor land, o for ometime we had to haul
Roo v It ounty in 1 06.[...]H n horn t <led with family four mile northw t of Thi wa Loui ' job, and I often rode along. We drove an
D ne Valley bur hon he p r k. H di din 1927. ox hitched to a toneboat.
hri tine nd M tilda took car of Ed Leubke' cook car Th fir t year w wer on the horn tead my father
during thr hing for two or thr e r . hri tin al o drove o en[...]work on thre bing rig in
worked hou ek p r for Mr . Arnett nd Mr . Bewich of the fall. One year he came back driving a t am of black
ulb rt on, nd Mr . K mp of Froid b for m rrying hor . We wer real happ to h[...]wa being built in
ry to r turn tog ton of th childr n who had b n 1 10, my mother old butt[...]t tor wa buil at Leland, a ite ju w of[...]The chool wa built in 1 12, thi building i now the[...]DID E. K D E The highligh of th h choo d unda[...]pie .
by r . Viola I n ur near t n ighbor[...]par n bought and mov d to
In l O wh n they heard of free land in Montana, th y Han en farm at c ab .[...]Th r wer ight childr n in our famil : Loui of Tue on,
In the pring of 190 my fath r came by train in an Arizona, he now[...]e who were settling in Dagmar. He planned to look for Boyd, di d O tob r 1975.
land there too. John of Whitefi h, Montana[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (317) Anna Schile of Nashua, Montana
Knud, on a farm five miles out of McCabe.
Virgil, Lockhart, Texas.
Kenneth di[...]HIAS LYNGGARD
The Lynggard family , consisting of Mathia , son
Marinus age 14, and daughter Amalie,[...]The family came by boat and train to acquire land of
their own and make a new life for themselves. Lynggard
had a sister in the area and[...]ed 440 acres three and one half miles north-
east of McCabe, Section 17, Township 29, Range 57.
In[...]with her family . They had
also come west looking for land. Mr. a[...]in us and Marie have four children : Elaine Myron of Jacob , re ide in ulbertson ; Wilma , Mr . Erne t Faulk ,
pokane, Reinard of Jack on ville , Florida , Daryl wh o live[...]rain , Mr . Lloyd
in Kalispell, and Faye Bertin o of Culbert on . The three P a r on , re[...]tion in ulbertson .
The family have been member of Eben ezer Luthera n H RLIE EL E
Church of Mc abe 56 year n ow a nd memb r of t he
Ladie Aid for over 50 year . I wa a · or, born in D[...]i , fro nmark[...]I[...]n a fr igh rain t nth pring of[...]Lan no op n for ho · g y t. o[...]on . ·am .i - n . no rth of wh an e \ 'all urr[...]~n w •roul · ito
n i . H
a four I
ft hild
u d ntana
I O gi[...]n th Dan all .
hur ch hich the hub of community aff
Th childr n JI that the highlight of th a.
driving into ul son on ay night .. w he
cu tom for man h fa · er would h g,
vi iti ng, and a Y~ an i am cone hef ng
ho[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (318)[...]Mrs. Charlie Nelsen in front of store at McCabe - 1920.

Charlie Nel en and Fran[...]drilled a 12 foot well there and got good water that came up[...]to one and a half feet from the top of the well. After that[...]erybody dug
when come time to file on it in 1910. I used to borrow a team their own. There was 18 inches of good hard, shiny black
and wagon from Mr. Tanner,[...]each other. We hauled what wood we needed from
I worked at the Tanner and Be t tore in Culbert on[...]rything in tho e years, but always I wa single when I came here and I got my wife by mail. I
liked elling machinery. Jep on wa a brick layer b[...]on building new come from Denmark) for a year. We had a real good crop in
building .[...]land. y home tead hack December 7th. I had enough money to get married and I
w with rough board covered with tar paper. After a decided I would go to Chicago and ee her. he then came
few good wind torm a lot of the tarp per wa gone. I built out to Montana and we were married here.
a bunk on one wall for a bed, nd had ome boxe for a We moved to Bainville in 1915 and I worked for Mr.
t ble.[...]Thi wa a general tore but when
I oking out the er ck between the Tanner and B t got the John D ere dealer hip in 1912 I
pr r coming down from Medicine kept · g machinery for them too.
n h t can I could find from th In I built a tor in c abe and we moved there.[...]alized it would The op ned in 1 20 and I got my own John D er[...]back to town. Then deal . W op rated that tor until 1 31 when we
fir med to ort of m to Froid .[...]. d in
I wa. i na y fw h do[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (319)[...]rest. Nelsen, who knew the da that manag d[...]Another incident, in the fir t h i a[...]Culbert on for provision , e peciall[...]ng a th family had a of[...]them o 100 pound of flour la ted only o.[...]Quite a number of people al o who came to loca in th[...]One of the first year a drunk came in on night and[...]sen, his father-in-law, three bro her -in- team of Mule , wa fir t mail carri r to both[...]Louis and am Fryhling. leftPrinceton togo Valley and Enterp
to Kenmare, orth Dakota to meet Jen Di[...]barn
help them find homestead 50 to 60 mile north of · ilo in the and[...]a o of
land wa availabl in Montana, north of ulb[...]d D di i
wa n't long before all the land in and around[...]. Tom.
being ettl db p opl of Da · . I Ed . d l an - n
In Jul they r urned to i loa · or[...]ilroad Immi hor I , in m[...]r Baumgarten i ifomia .
1 n
0

i[...]fam th i from mpt n,
mi[...]tructi n crl'w that
o for thi h n[...]om wa built Octoh r of that Jl' nr he

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (320)[...]was very rugged for the whole family. The summer and fall[...]family for several weeks. His brother in Havre was[...]seriously ill, so he helped care for him until he died.[...]unpleasant experience for her and the children.[...]Then in April, 1911, I was born, and my Mother had no
doctor. I was the fifth born without a doctor in attendance[...]so that was no problem, but, six weeks later, when I was[...]my mother a bottle of Chamberlains Colic and Diarrhea[...]The country school was a mile west. And as I recall their[...]stories, the kids were thankful there were four of them to
help each other in some of the " You don't belong here"[...]They reaped a nice harve tin the fall of 1911, and my[...]Mama and she fed me in the shade of a hock.
In May of 1913 Mark wa born, and again, without a[...]doctor, and, for the next four years with a lot of help from
marri d Lucy nder on, daught r of Han Ander on. the thr older childr[...]a located
at th family home. By thi time the town of McCabe had ju tone mile we t of Mc abe. Thi wa purcha ed from
om into bein[...]here and better and pr ttier
chool up rint ndent for man . than ever,[...]t · id , The ounge t member of the famil , Ph lli , wa born in
ha · i ry. pt mb r 1923. Dr. Munch had b[...]h He reached th door of am ' b droom, h wa m t with the
to a on, fir t outcry of a bah . h had to b born like th r tofu .
Ro ·gi d. I think that wa probably one of th happie t ti:m in our
An[...]Our i ter Lucy, who[...]Th horn i r
by Fr nee[...]d
approximat ly four mile southw t of McCab . Montana, G org - - tri H ll[...]Fr nc - - yril Aplin
fath r had b n working for the Gr at orth rn Railroad M[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (321)[...]om Stanley, North
Dakota in 1912. He came to work for Clarence Ross who
owned a butcher shop in Culbertson at that time.
Later he worked for Tanner and Best for a time and then
went to work for the city of Culbertston as policeman and
water commissioner.
He was city police for 25 years and water commissioner
for 39 years.
His only transportation to and from the pump house and
water tanks was a horse and cart.
I can remember when he was at the pump house one da[...]o was able to save his life.
There was six more of us girls born and raised in Mr. and Mrs.[...]1967.
Mrs. Ben (Edith) Antonson lives south side of the river The Young family moved to the farm , home teaded by
from Culbertson , and I, Mrs. K. (Dora) Knudsen live on a Mr. and Mrs. Emory (Bud) Acker. In the pring of 1916 they
farm ten miles north of Culbertson. moved to the[...]ives in Spokane, Helen and Pearl in east of McCabe. They dug a well and put up theou ideofa
C[...]1963 and my Father in 1967. In the spring of 1916 illiam and Jennie Young, paren
of Charley and Frank, moved to Montana, and made the[...]Frank Young had home teaded two mile outh of[...]o eighbor of Youn
by Hazel Knud[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (322)Vernon and Marjorie live east of Froid, Montana. Walter
married Genevieve James, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Whitman James, who had homesteaded 1/2 mile west and
1/ 4 mile south of McCabe. Roy and Shirley live in
Williston. Ruby d[...].
The family church has been the First Baptist of McCabe.
With twelve children something to do was[...]the water barrel used to haul water for house.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (323)[...]Forb , Ol n r of building, m c nt r. nd J rn i on right
id , oth r g ntl man with full b ard i.. unknou n.
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (324):f
0)

I

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (325)[...].., i.,c•s,o
~ '([...]~
! l'I ~ ~;,;,~ ;,d[...]p ('1 'O"('i:) 't:i

~{ ~~[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (326) HISTORY OF FROID The townsite agent, Amboree Olson, brother of Mrs. S.C.[...]Later it was discovered that "Froid" was a French word[...]meaning "frigid" and everyone agreed that the name had
The birth of the town of Froid was in theyearof1910, but[...].
the actual history began quite some time before that year. Before the branch line of the railroad came thru in 1910,
The prairie of eastern Montana had been opened for the first business esta[...]bertson by teams and wagon, later with
and plenty of water, to be what they had been looking for in large tractors pulling several wagons. Mail, passengers,
their earch of a place to build new homes and establish a[...]which
new life. Their dreams were not unrealized, for the land ran from Culbertson to Plentywood one day and back the
yielded rich returns for those who stayed to work it and next.
much of their land is still owned by the early homesteade[...]The first general store was built just north of the
or their relative .[...]e Bates. Close
Easterners, used to an abundance of wood, soon found by was W. G. Reiter' s Blacksmith shop also on the east side
that the near-to-the-surface supplies of lignite coal were of the road. On the west side of the road, the place now
vital to urvival in this[...]I
=:::::::=:===:;:=~~~:1:---------:;r---Tr-[...]~

·:-r t ~-::->;i ,; n in~lu1ing he
,1.., , r :11 i~•·ar re 1 ence
~~e 1 1 :Q~ :[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (327)[...]Further down at the restaurant. At that time he wa cooking for 23 men who
southern tip of the settlement also on the west side was Bert w[...]received travelers The early records of the platting of Froid as a town ite
going north or south.[...]de was the Tasa Livery but the following i being ubmitted a ub tantially
Barn and a[...]l<a.l ph J..c, Ma. h e,I">', s
uJ~ 1-~(;.[...]'t I~I t k , "" , t 'h Shop[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (328) The SW 1/4 of Section 19, Township 30, Range 56, then
in Valley County, was filed on in 1906 by J.O. Baker under[...]he old Jack Cobban ranch on the Muddy Creek west
of town.
United tates patent on the land was iss[...]ment contains this clause,
"Granted under an act of Congre s for the relief of certain
home tead ettlers in the tate of Alabama."
There eem to be no evidence that Mr. Hurley ever
re ided here. The power of attorney through which he
conveyed the land to D[...]site
Co. wa acknowledged by him before a ju tice of the peace
in Pike County, Alabama.
The next t[...]D. Ray Gregg and C. . Froid - 1914
Ha kin , both of whom were early stockholder in the Fir t
tate Bank of Froid. incorporated a a town. J.W. Ander on, cashier of the
OnJulyll,1 11,J.W chnitzlerb cam theownero[...]v d to J.O. Ba r. In later ye r title was a ister of Riley, Clar nee, Walter and Amo Tuni on.
pas d fr[...]bout 1915 Reverend Place of the
edicine Lake Realty o., J. . hnitzl r or h[...]ought n outlet for hi par time. He ·city
In April 1 10, th town of Froid wa platted, but th had a futur and[...]e · and
actual Bing of lots wa n't until Jun . It wa ju t by[...]b d in
accident that Froid i Froid, th original town ite wa e[...]and
planned outh of her on John Lee claim n r O ar hac I and
Gang tad' farm and w to h[...]g up' arly
Adams house just w t of Edith Phair . and the Schnitzl r tting[...]igh
two room house. The r st of th bu in men rebuilt in the valu o[...]tory, h could
incorporate a a town. It wa found that the popul tion th n wir Re[...]nd finding hi
annexing of two small tracts adjoining th town ite,[...]h re Arnold undh im liv ) A word of mouth mong fri nd[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (329)pulled-and many of the local residents were gathered in Aro[...]op rator . Th
To we younger folks, the novelty of all this seems rather telephone exchange remai[...]ut 1 54
some 60 years and realize the hidden joys of pulling a the Farmers Rural Telephone lin[...]everal wells had been dug to find a ource of water
During 1916 S.J. Dorothy and M.J. Kockendorfer supply for the town. A mall well with rather rusty water
obt[...]9 but could be used to upply only a mall
the name of the Froid Electric Company. Later F.S. Sleight section of town ince the upply wa n ot ample. The water
ente[...]tower was built in 1950. In 1956 an ample upply of water
Froid Auto and Oil Company on the lots owne[...]was found in the well dug about one mile we t of Froid and
Gilbert Rogney across the street from t[...]Dorothy built another small structure on the rear of the septic tanks for sewer in each individual home are at la ta
same l[...]another light plant which was operated thing of the past within mo t of the city limi . A lagoon
by Ed Olson as the caret[...]ewer serve the town.
and Froid was without lights for quite some time.

Pa in main t t of Froid.

Froid about 1923-24 ( omebod '[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (330)[...]a hot and sultry night in August 1933, when most of
Froid's peace-loving, law-abiding citizens had retired for
the night, an unearthly scream pierced the air. Because of
the warmth of the night, doors and windows had been left
open a[...]sed. A
fire was sighted in an old car in the yard of Mr. and Mrs.
Skilander. Mr. Skilander was the vil[...]ody was found in the car and it was later learned that Mrs.
Skilander had first thrown a strong solution[...]lliston hospital. Mrs. Skilander was found guilty of
murder and sentenced to a term of life imprisonment at
Deer Lodge where she died.[...]machinery in 1907 for Tanner and Best in Culbertson-later[...]small building just west of the Congregational Church was
used for an office until the modern brick structure was[...]completed. In the fall of 1940 he sold the building to the
North side of Main treet about 1910-1912.[...]te in 1950. Plans were underway to rent the
Froid for a half century. building to Roy Smith of Plentywood when the building[...]was totally destroyed by fire in 1951. As I recall, it was one
of the coldest January nights on record, when water[...]been vacant for many year until the Horseshoe Club took[...]moved the children' playground equipment to that lot.

THE VOGUE
ora Roy came to Froid in 1 0 and taught at the
McCord School for two year and then for one y ar t the
Congregational Church. he fir t op ned a mall dre
hop in a building on the north sid of main tr t, later
building a new building on the com r loc tion wher she
wa to remain in busin for 50 year . Th Vogue carried
dresses, millinery and[...]the building, making ab auty hop in the outh
end of the building for his wife who operates ORMA' S B HOL[...]OP, and made the living quarters in the north
end of the building in to an office for the Froid W ekly. Both Ed Bucholtz had[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (331)store just east of where the Coast to Coast is now, in 1910.
After a year of operation he sold the General Merchandise
store t[...]Froid, April 1976, Fir t tate Bank

North side of Main Street in 1910. Going from right to left is Bank purchased the a e of the Valley County Bank, al o
the Bucholtz Store, Olson Hardware, Valley County Bank. loated on Main Street Froid[...]own and Buffalo aloon. Bank of Froid.[...]from that year until 1970, when a new building wa
OLSON BAN[...]The First tate Bank of Froid purchased the
First ational Bank of McCabe, Montana i
In 1910 A.J. Olson built a bank and a hardware store on 1923.
the present site of the Coast to Coast. The Valley County In 1925 the ten stockholder of the Fir t ational Bank
Bank existed for only one year and the stock was sold to of Froid old their tock to J .W. r. Th a e and
J.W. Schnitzler. The bank part of the building was then depo its were tran ferr d to the Bank of Froid.
used to enlarge the hardware part of the building. On July The Fir t ational Bank had nized i It
5, 1926 the hardware store was comple[...]operated in the building now oc h i nd
fire, which also consumed the Loucks st[...]19 · · · the
Gil Johnson for a grocery and hardware store. The Froid I nd n n
building and contents were so[...]nd
Danny Thompson who operated it for two year and h n
old th tore and the bu ine to David Quamm n . in
that time Dave ha operated th bu ine a th oa t to
Coast tore.

FIR T T TE B K OF FROID
In 1910, Mr. J .W. hnitzl rand fou[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (332)[...]until 1917 when it was sold to a group of people who named[...]rt. It was located on the lot where the west side of
Buck's store is now. The disastrous fire of1928 is thought to[...]This lumber yard located on the north side of Main Street
in 1923.[...]$5,000.00 in currency which had come in the
mail that morning and was placed on a shelf just above the Also located on the north side of Main Street, the
safe to be counted later.[...]cut ignition also burned in the fire of 1928.
wires and other controls on the J.W. Schnit[...]re seems to have been two fires on the north side of
getaway car without success.[...]mbered two other buildings also burned. The names of
Dakota line. As far as is known, the criminals we[...]been more business places on the north side of the street
than have been mentioned, one of which may have been a[...]Henry vend en in 1940 who then u edit for an ice cream
building for the ranching and farming operation of the parlor. In 1943 he sold the busin[...]ntil 1946. From
until hi death and Curti Hal eide i the pre en t manager. 1946 until 1956 they operated it a a place for the small fry.
The building i located directly north of the old First tate In 1956 rs. Duebner a[...]tore. For about two year Pauline Folvag operated ita a[...]fi .
This building originally con tructed for a hard war From 1 0 until th pr ent time[...]. n by fire along Wl of
the bloc ( th ·n[...]Contin ntal Oil ompan
the groc TY ·1 i 1 yder oco ta[...]ha
other general merchandi . I m[...].
Ed Renwald also built a tor on the north ·d of ain When ding in
Street in the new town of Froid in 1910. He operated the th[...]n th two 11 for ng nd minor
as Leo Tripplett's "[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (333)[...]ement in 1945. In the next few year the own r hip of[...]Medicine Lake new a well a other articl of in r t[...]then moved to an offic in Ray' afe building and i now
housed in the north half of orma' B aut hop building[...]ARD
The Kamps Lumber Yard is Froid's only place of
business established west of the old stage road, moved to
the new townsite in 1910, and operated by the original
owner for a full half century. Lumber was hauled by wagon
f[...]in late 1910.
Leo Triplett, long-time employee of the Kamp Lumber
Yard bought the busines in about[...]it nion
op · i o[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (334)[...]rine Armantrout and grandson Tom
Cookson with one of the newly constructed Altars in 1932.[...]The Farmer's Elevator, one of the first to be constructed
Willard Armantrout[...]1955. Four new steel bins with a storage capacity of 55,000
comer just north of the lumberyard). Carpentry and hand bushels were erected in the summer of 1959. The elevator
carving were hi pecialties and the altars of several now has a storage capacity of 240,000 bushels. George
churches were built in hi[...]Hunter was the fir t manager of the Farmer's Elevator.
The first manager of the Occident Elevator was a Mr.[...]HEEL R FILI G HOP
aw filing · of ci or , a w 11 a watch
repair kept y for veral year during th
30' and early[...]n r in 1949. Ground breaking c r moni for the con ruction of the
D lmar Krohmer was the m chanic from 1 9 to 1[...]1953. Th building Th building and f cili i compl d enough to b
ha remained vacant until in 1 75 th Town of Froid op r tion I for the 1 72 a on .
purcha ed the building for a cond fir tation . Th n wly A compl te program of oil car rvic
organized Jaye e ar planning on u ing th part of th th oil nter through cooperativ rv d by th
building (once u d for a home by th We n r ) a an Farm r nion ntr I Exchange. Includ d are crop
office.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (335)[...]operated it for about three year wh n the tock and[...]odem station.
Early day street scenes, south side of street - 1910.[...]ny owner and a
The plant has a storage capacity of 1,000-1,200 tons. !tis many user as any building on the main treet of Froid.
equipped with rotary type blenders and bag[...]rid h
building is also able to store 350-400 tons of pre-bagged bought Lot 1 of Block 10 from the Medicine La e Realty
plant food[...]This center will allow farmers to Company for the purpo e of buildin a aloon. The
purchase only the plant food ingredients needed for their completed building wa called "Billy' P[...]bank
The Froid Opera House was built by a group of tock and the building wa old to c[...]Almost everyone in the community wa empty for a couple of ear until it wa in 1 31
was a shareholder. The building was used for most of the C. . ulli an who opera d a grocery tore[...]ter continu d to b 1941 and 194
a good place of weekend entertainment until replac db al[...]. The th a r ha Hunting n
been clo ed for everal year . Mi[...]and gen rator
located in a shack on the location of th pr
war hou e.

FROIDA TO DOIL O P
During 1916 Do
ob ined franc
the nam of Froi t
into th partn r h
the Froid Auto an[...]· ·
01 on a careta and I bum d th armed
wa without lig for q ti Th o[...]m · orth · of t tr
W TL D IO[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (336)[...]ere seems to have been several small buildings in that
were living in the upstairs, and Purvis had operated a space, none of which can be described accurately. John
small grocery tore in the downstair . A mall area of the Brown "The Land Man" moved his locating[...]harmacist. Dr. Darland had hi medical of the K vile cemetery along with the Reiter Blacksmith
practice in the up tairs of the building until 1921 when he shop. Following[...], he operated the drug store doctor's office for about a year. Fred Price the po tmaster,
and held hi medical practice in the ame building. For had put in a confectionary store in the P[...]and Rebeccas who had b en
operate the drug store for another two year . meeting in the up tair of the building which hou d the
The Froid Drug to[...]to layton K ve th who old light plant ea t of the now Westland station built the
operated it (minu drug ) for almo t two year . The Odd Fellow's Hal[...]d to b David on who in talled a the on of orway and the Fanner Union al o u d th~
laundrymat on the ea t id wher the old tairway had hall for a meeting place. The building, own db Art Ryd r ,[...]acantform nyy ar andin1971Mr.and
the Mint Bar and i now the r taur nt part of Jim' Mint Mr . Ray Vol ki built a new buil[...]. Built
in 1912, the building wa fir t con true d for a Pool Hall What i now x Bar wa originally con tructed
by Harry Roy nd John F ly. Th n for many y a it w for a butch r pe by Hull Holl and Jim[...]contin ark in th building for
Gottlieb, and was then known as " y, M c and Bill[...]te 1930' the building was
The cafe in the r ar of the building ha had m n y operator old to[...]r LaBatte, Art Ritter and Lo
and office --on for th Froid W kly. Evelyn c ii ran Loni a[...]In 1959 Ray and Myrtl Barrington bought tim i owned by David Par n u.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (337)[...]nd remodel d · into
Anna Enger, and unknown. One of the first businesses to apartments. The bu[...]vacant since the 1 60 .
be built in the new town of Froid was the hotel by Anna
Enger, who had up to[...]The red brick building at the we t end of Main tre t[...]ing role wa played by the above building at
One of the first places of business to be built in the new the time of the flu epidemic in 191 . J .W. chnitzler
town in[...]harve t hand and bachelor who
Sheep Creek Hollow for a crew of 23 construction men. Mrs. were i olated about the country ide, into town for medical
Enger retired from the hotel business in[...]Doctor had too large a patient load to vi it th m
of continuous ownership and operator of the hotel. Mrs. otherwi e. There wa a meet[...]nization
Lena Tobiason was employed by Mrs. Enger for 25 year . formed to make thi care available. The top floor of the
Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Lindberg and Mr. and Mr . M[...]. Peile
owned and operated the hotel for short intervening periods olici • ol wor · · · .
of time before Mr. and Mr . Harry John on, formerly of Co in ta and J
Medicine Lake became owner of the hotel in 1946. During ho t b n b
the 1960' the town of Froid bought the hotel and[...]tha
Duebner and There a Die n ran the hotel until i a an o
clo ed in 1973. On[...]roj
thi time.

B RBER HOP
The building that hou
hnitzler bank building l
old town ite. It[...]d .
building for h r living qua[...]on
J p on . I Lindb rg (pa r n of Phinn[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (338)[...]of Main Street. During the summer, Price put in a[...]office (across the street east of the present post office),[...]Rural mail carrier who gave many year of service to
decided that rather than have the "take" leave town, the[...]rvice were: C.C. Scott, fir t
money could be u ed for con tructive purpo e . For a time, rural mail carrier, 1910, number of year unknown; Tom
the r ceipt were divided equall[...]r,
the new Fir Hall wa built in 194 . The balance of the Larry Peter on, Oliver Urdahl. (Pardon omission
money wa p nt for playground equipment for the
downtown area. The Fire Hall accommodate two fir
truck the City Council Room the I·brary and the city jail. Froid Tribune, June 24 1910:
The upp r tory ha i u d many tim a month for
me ting and variou other activitie . " OMML IO 1 HERE
For everal ye r , Harry John on rv d a Town[...]Po tma t r Fred Price · · comm, wn of
the pre ent F're Chief.[...]au ery mail
Through th ffort of the Woman Club th ity handler in th[...]fix tu hortly to accommodate the patron of the o/fic in
librarian for everal year and Glady Krohm r, the good ."
pre ent librarian, ha al o erved for everal y ar .

PO T OFFI E[...]Froid , ha in tall d a oda
Fred Price, broth r of Mr . Walter Tuni on, wa fountain and i now di p n ing cold drink at all hour ."
appointe[...]14, 1 10. The poet
office wa located in the back of a building on th south ide[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (339)[...]#
# C 0 N F E: C T I 0 N E R Y #
ff[...]and #
I![...]#
# FIN E LIN F. OF CO FECTI ONS # Farmers U[...]if
#
# PCST OF~I CE BUILD I ~G # selling their first car to Helmer In tne . Owner of the
.!J
·/ # building since that time have included O.B. McCabe, C. .
#[...]ork # Dearborn line. Delmar Krohmer i head mechanic wi h
H[...]# partsman. The black mith part i clo ed .
# • P R I C E #
#[...]JI
# I am in a po sitio n to do y o ur #
# building. Bi crew of me n at work; #
µ[...]#
JJ
E. PR I C CO TR[...]J#J!. !J.!J :,f.!lj 1l!JN · 1!!! J!.!.!l 1:1!'!.'I![...]OTA 1 ator for
b J ohn a nd Harry[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (340)[...]DAHL HOSPITAL
Bill Strandlund (brother of Elmer Strandlund and Mr. and Mrs. J[...]uilt their new home and hospital
the street south of where the new post office is now. Later in Froid in 1914. Dr. Darland, with the able assistance of
the shop was leased to Herman Schulz (fatherofthe Schulz nurse Belle Dahl officiated at the births of more than 800
brothers) and Bill Reiter Sr. who operated it for many babies, most of them born at the Dahl hospital. Mr. Dahl
years. L[...]he Post Office and then the bank until she
owners of the house have been the Walter Burt's , Jerry[...]rs and the Gottlieb Lufts. It is the present home of
Mr . Luft.[...]In a family story it was noted that there was a Dr. Miner[...]first barber shop was in the northeast comer of Henry[...]the early 1920's. The building housed th e
office of the 8'-J;anitzler Farming Corporation a well a
e[...]r . The building wa de troyed by fire in J anuary of
1956, nd wa rebuilt th ame year. Han on old the
b[...]constructed in the umm r of 1 55. An ann x wa add din[...]1956 making a total torag capacity of 120 000 bush l .[...]manag r from 1959 until 1975. Bru anford i th n w
The Dahl home and hospital built in[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (341)[...]Marguerite came to McCabe, Montana in the spring of home. In 1911 Mr. Ander on home teaded n[...]acres from Mr. McCann, seven World War I he served over eas in France and Germany for
miles northeast of McCabe. They formerly lived at 21 months and later served in the United tate Army of
Waukegan, Illinois and Eleva, Wisconsin.[...]upplement our learning and After farming for a time he became engaged in
keep us up to our gra[...]e in Froid.
She also helped delivery every baby for miles around. Henry Anderson pa ed away in 1967 at the age of 79.
Effie and Bill Adams helped anyone who needed[...]rn May 27, 1 97 in Ea t Grand
A beautiful grove of jack pines, a memorial to my dad, Forks, Minn[...]oosevelt Ruby Loui e Akers, daughter of Mr . E telle Aker
Memorial hospital of a heart condition. Hughes wa[...]ed away September 15, 1958 at the Bethel west of Culbertson. Her parents ranched we t of
Home in Williston of a stroke. They were preceded in death Homestead[...]5, 1929. They
May God richly bless all pioneers of Eastern Montana, continued to live on Ander[...]and ranching operation for the next forty ear . The[...]n . in I . and[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (342)[...]married
Andrew Ander on, and they lived in Froid for a number of
years. After he died in 1941, she moved to Culbertson and
was a cook at the Roosevelt Memorial hospital for twenty-
one years. She was forced to retire at the age of eighty-eight
becau e of her health.
Nettie became a resident of Faith Lutheran Home in
Wolf Point, and Beulah and one of her boys came to
Montana to be near her. She passed away at the Home in
February of 1974.

ANVIL FARM[...]1976 sees Howard Jacob en living on Anvil Farm that
wa tarted in 1907 by his father. Anvil Farm has been here
for many year , but here is how it all started.
Jen Chri tian Jacobsen (known only by the name of
Chris) came to Lake Preston, South Dakota from Bo[...]he then in
1901 completed training in the trades of horseshoeing, Chris and Jane Jacobsen -[...]came to Culbertson in 1907. She worked for the Republican
engineering at outh Dakota Agricul[...]atter' rights 1910 he married Jane Wilson.
for a home tead in ortheastern Montana, 25 miles[...]lson met and married Chris Jacobsen she
northea t of Culbert on. had taken up a homestead eight miles east of Froid. When
Jane Wilson came to Laramie, orth D[...]is now known as Anvil Farm. Chris had built a tar
For in 1902 where he fini bed chool and then attended[...]ice, wa born in ovember 1910. In 1911 they
worked for the Evening Time in Grand Fork until she built the hou e that till tand on Anvil Farm and which[...]Gla gow Montana. He made his Final Proof of his[...]wo year a member and one y ar a pr ident of h
Board of Education of the Froid Public hool four year
a Chairman of th Board of th ongr gational hurch.[...]He al o rved a lerk of chool Di trict 4 and wa D puty[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (343)[...]I[...]I

Chris and Jane and family[...]Ethel, Jane Jacobsen, Alice in front of her mother, Chri[...]and Hobart Wheeler.
Chris and Jane had dreams for the future. Even though
they had to take trips to Culbertson that took one day to get winter home, he attended ch[...]939 he
there, load lumber and building materials for their farm married George Wheeler. They ha[...]ril n
buildings they wanted to build, travel out of Culbertson to and Mark.
the long climb to the top of the divide and then camp there Hazel was born on the An vii Farm and al o attended
for the night to rest the horses, it did not stop the[...]l died in 1971.
Chris always told his children that he had heard there Howard Jacob en, born[...]. Its Enterpri e and Froid, but had mo t of hi hooting in
name was Froid, but his tr[...]hri ar both in th ni d
the road which i now Highway 16. t[...]uild up Anvil Farm. They hfo d 30 Farm a t of Froid .
men during harve t and took car of 26 hor . They
employed three cook to feed the men[...]m
Howard alway n aked down so th could h ar i too. in
Whenever the neighbor got tog th rat h Valley hool , da
Chri w[...]uri
and before the nigh wa ov r th y r I ping in all t pa
corner .[...]J . . . .
partie for 'everyon . Al o boating nd wimming at
dicine[...]Jane nam d th ir farm "Anvil Farm " in 1 14
b au of hris's pro£ ion a a bl ck mi h . Th ok
out their brand in th hap of an Anvil in 917. I i
r gistered in h rid n ounty, a Froid a in h rid n
County at that tim . Th ir on, Howard , till ha th brand
which is regi ter d for both cattl and hor p[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (344)[...]07
with one baby boy, Dale, and homesteaded south of Froid,
near Mother's sister, Mrs. Wallace Hardy,[...]thunes, and George Muesman. There were others who I
cannot recall at the moment. I, Dorabel, was born on the
farm , also two brother[...]al was born.
How we enjoyed the barn dances. As I recall John
Anderson played the fiddle. We childr[...]ed davenports.
When Dale was about 12 he worked for Art and Lyda
Mann. No child labor laws at that time! Harvest in 1925 was a time to remember for me! Dad told
I shall never forget the flu epidemic of 1918. Dr. Darland Hazel and I to drive a team of horses with wagons loaded
worked day and night. That flu immunized me against the with grain i[...]team and I followed in another wagon. My first trip! I
We all had hard times, but these were made easy[...]r a love affair with Montana. It's stopped, I would have to pull the reins on my horses or the[...]tongue would go through the endgate of Hazel's wagon. We[...]t. There stood a young fellow named
HI TORY OF THE L.A. BAH FAMILY Da[...]started for home-but before we got there- the tongue of
by Evelyn Bahn McNeil my wagon went through the endgate of Hazel's wagon.[...]using a fresno and four horses. Elmer was one of his
Ernie Bahn ettling on land located in the Ent[...]. winter and topped for hi lunch and change of horses at
In 190 another trip wa made to orth[...]Early neighbor wer the Jack Hurley and the
ar of pu h ·ng th now off the blank b fore g ttin[...]d . Hazelin1913, Evelyn mov d a quarter of a mile east of th farm . Dad wa a
in 1914, Helen in 1916, and Le ter Jr. (known a Bill) in memb r of the chool board for many y ar . A mile to th
191 . In 1 I the roof w raised and four b droom were west of u wa th Valley hool, and teach r of both
added. Then in 1 23 a front and back porch w[...]. A barn wa built and a dam Teachers that mad the b t impr ion on our family
built in th co[...]oyed swimming · n th ummer. Le ter had for a ven month term in 1 26- ( v n month , horty told
one of the fir t D lco Light Plan in talled at th farm . me wa becau that wa all th mon y they had) and
The neare t town[...]Jo phin Lilly at h Enterpriz hool for wo term
in 1910. The town be'ng ten mile to thew t of th farm . 1925·1927. Th r w re two young[...]Ewald and
Mrs. Floyd Kao wa the mid-wife wh n I wa born and Chri ti Chri toffi r on who[...]wer put in with a two When Edyth wa r ad for high chool, sh Annabel
bottom gang plow drawn by[...]took Edyth
header was push d by hor in tead of being pull d by into town on unday an[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (345)[...]planks or pull them back-maybe this car wa one[...]the robbers in that car![...]high school education. In 1937 Dad became manager of[...]manager of the Werner Elevator in Poplar, moving to[...]Mom was one of the charter members of the Rebekah[...]Edythe married John Curran, son of Mrs. Lucy Curran,
of Poplar. John died in 1972 and Edythe lives in Bil[...]Hazel married Don Haley of Miles City. Don died in 1971[...]Loretta Stein of Opheim who died in 1967 and Elmer[...]Helen married Alfred Ryder of Froid. Helen lives in eattle.[...]Bill married Alice Romo of Bainville and they live in[...]Livingston. Evelyn married Dallas Mc eil of Froid and[...]I wa the fourth child in a family · ·[...]ld at the Mr. and Mr . Elijah J. Barley of e, Bedford
schools. Parents nev[...], Penn ylvania. My ea on are of
too young to dance, we were placed on layers of winter living on a fa here ne[...]ed b the
ready to go home. At that point in time ther wa quite a n tow[...]o · unction of
to stay up later and all learn d to dance to th ·c of J ac[...].
Winter on the farm wa th tim · i ·
Dad would load the family in a lei[...]n
top th robb rs. of
watched the pla do
a t and no[...]'t 1
car coming at d I[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (346)[...]August Barr was not a young man at that time. He had[...]hers. His mother and ten year old sister had died of
the "black plague", a disease that swept through Germany
killing thousands like the flu of 1918 swept through the[...]months to get to the new country. Days of no winds, the[...]One of the early jobs in the new country was gardener for
John D. Rockefeller. The father of all these older[...]. and brothers lived in Ohio the rest of their lives, and his[...]I don 't know what year August left Ohio and moved[...]ied Amalia
families, each family having a section of the building from Hegland in North Dakota, b[...]eir
her six children and went to the third story. I was five and children were born. Five sons an[...]raised the window and looked out to see the wall of water plastered with plaster of paris. They don't use such lovely
and debris coming. Then she kneel[...]y come from Norway when she was
fond recollection of my mother. The plaster cracked and 14. H[...]nd fell. to America to be with her older ones that were here.
My mother, five sisters and Grandma Ba[...]them three weeks to get here. Steam engine had
I still remember striking the water with my eyes op[...]seriously hurt. Final y my sister next older and I climbed America.
onto the door of a hou e. I held onto the door knob, but she The main[...]ed this by seedin g the next year, with no crop
I drifted two mile down tream, almo t to the stone[...]where Amalia had rela tives. There she was
·de of town, then wa wept about one mile up tream.[...]The potato planter came with them. That wa 1907. This
the end of the bridge nd let the water through with a ru h.[...]n our farm, and can still be u ed. Itis a J ohn
A I came back downstr am I wa shoved out against the Deere.
rail[...]' clothe and cap delivered milk around
The body of my mother nd one si ter wa found. I Williston to customers. Little did I dr am I would ever meet
imagine the re t were buried in the Grandview Cemetery th"s girl much les b her i ter-·n-law ome day.
along with 00 or mor unknown[...]y was on call throughout th differ nt ar a they
I lived with a Mr. Cu ter for two day , until r. D.S. liv d in wheneve[...]y he needed. She had delivered a lot of babi and alway did
found my fath r and told him where I wa . I rv d with the cooking wher ver h wa .
relative for the next two ye r and finally went to liv with[...]quite mechanical minded, o one fall
the tutzman . I lived with the e foster parents until I was Henry Barr, the old t, drove around looking for a job and
24 years old.[...]bing
We moved fir t to orth Dakota in 1907 and I b gan rig, oh h"r d him a hi engin e[...]farming with Mrs. tutzman's brother. In the pring of could fix anything on the thr shing r[...]im and many nights he and one
took up homesteads. I had forty acre next to the or two[...]cing b Its by lantern and Model T Ford
Stutzmans. I was married in 1910 and lived on the light half he night.
homestead until 1919. Since then I have lived in Minnesota Henry and my mot[...]in year later I marri d hi young r brother Georg
All of my life I have been truly thankful for the par ntal (Billy) making my mother and I isters-in-law.
care of the e two dear people, the Stutzman&, have[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (347)[...]in Montana, both on farms that they have been on for over[...]ries. The typical homestead layout. It
took a lot of hard work to make it livable, and everyone
loved[...]s, where they
stopped. They were so cold and sort of lost. It was also
getting dark. Billy was 13, and said he never was o cold in
his life as he was that day. Mr. and[...]er wonderful cook ,
and why not. Their mom wa one of the be t. h could ew,
or do anything.[...]ota i
four children, Kathryn, Richard Vivian and Eddi .[...]oothart in 1 32. Th
liv d on th Bahn plac a t of Froid until buying th ir
pr n farm . Th ir on H rv di d Jul 1 , 1 43. Loi i[...]) of
v nd n and Ii in hio. J n 11 marri[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (348)[...]UTH BECKER Jorgensen of Dagmar on November 25, 1924. Five[...]ives at Shepherd and has
May 30, 1895. At the age of 20 he arrived in the Bainville three girls;[...]nson, lives at Shepherd and has two
various areas of the county and as far north as Canada. children; Connie, Mrs. Richard Lindborg, lives in Missoula
For about three years he rode the rails, working at[...]e summer and coal mines in the winter. He Valley School until 1941, and then all of the girls went to
started working for Harry Johnson at Froid in 1925. scho[...]After living fifteen years on the farm east of Froid, the
Point. They moved east of Froid and farmed the Mcillwain Goodwin Be[...]ired and moved to Sidney in 1958. east of Froid and moved there in 1941.
Six children were born to this marriage: Richard of Las In 1952 Goodwin's health became quite bad and the
Vegas; Robert of New Orleans; Dan in the U.S. Army; f[...]. In early January 1965 Goodwin
Mary Ann Overland of Homestead; Norma Jean Hecker of died. Goodwin served as Roosevelt County Commissioner
California; and Judy Heflin of Hawaii. and for many years was Chairman of the Froid School
In 1964 the family moved to La[...]homesteaded at Glasgow, Montana in 1920. They old
that Umd and moved to Froid, working for C.B. Jocobsen 0 CAR A D ARTHA BERGL D
for several years before buying any land.
Carl boug[...]J. Johnson
about twenty-five miles west and north of Froid. After
several years of farming and living out on the fa.rm, he[...]randmother, the John Berglunds,
moved into Froid. For a couple of years he drove back and migrated to the Un[...]from the farm for twenty-five cents a day. He later r iv d
Good win bought land six and one-half miles east of Froid seventy-five cents for a day lasting from sunup to
near the old Valley school house. He married Elizabeth[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (349)[...]horses. I remember a huge steam engine tractor setting by[...]in the yard, and playing on it, till it was sold for
scrap iron. The first tractor I remember my father owning
Oscar and Martha Berglu[...]was a McCormick Deering. He would tell of the threshing
- 1952.[...], the crew would sleep in the hay loft
The word that there was plenty of grass, level land, and or some kind of shelter, u ing straw or bundles for a bed.
all farmable drew my grandfather to Montan[...]o they put a tarp on the
homestead. In the spring of 1908 he acquired land eight ground and a[...]the weather had
miles eastofFroid, the East half of Section 12, Townehip30 turned very chilJy. W[...]orning,
North, Range 56 East; returning to Dassel for the winter. everything wa covered with snow[...]leigh eve often. In the area
Dakota. I remember my father saying they walked the 60 ea t of where Mark Rudolph live n the torm b am
miles to the farm , most of the miles barefoot, a their shoe more in ten and he could no longer . H told of finall
didn't fit too well. (At that time, shoe wer worn only for dropping the rein and · on on had him horn . I
chool and in the winter). Once again, back th y went to rememb rwellthehor - t tim I wouldclimbon
Minnesota where Grandma Berglund and[...]in . In the pring tru ted animal a ·
of 1910 my father, 0 car r turned to Montana and mad i My oul
his home. During thi[...]In fa
parents came to Montana for hort period of tim . Luc· d
Grandmo[...]·ng from
chool in the area for the community. Grandmoth r had Froi[...]·
their organ hipped to Montana o that h childr n could choo ·[...]p a
mile north of th farm . After it clo d it wa mo d and[...]il the building wa mov d to T Ford which I r k
Culb rts[...]ground . It a w a ba
remodel d and i no a mu um. Ov r th ears I r . th r in ma a -
My fath r, hi brother, and sister would tell of having alwa b workin[...]oid
ev ning singing. 0th r times, they would talk of th barn ar a , arriving horn late at night[...]ar' wor ·
On Mar h 13, 1919, my i ter Dori wa born . Alvira my than[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (350)[...]north of what is now McCabe, in 1904. He said the first[...]winter of 1904 and 1905 was so cold and so much snow, he[...]ran out of most food except flour, so even tried to make[...]pancakes by greasing the pan with axel grease. I often[...]Mother and I moved to Culbertson the next winter and[...]1911 she took up a homestead eleven miles north of[...]looked like we could make a living in a new country. But it[...]Maria, died in the spring of 1915 and I spent most of my[...]llar, James Ostbys, M.C. Sorensens, and the
say, "I may not accomplish anything, but I can always Abbotts. Most of the time I attended school in Culbertson.
find omething to do on the farm". He served on the school I married Phoebe Tunison at Culbertson in 1923. We had
board at the Hammond chool for many years and a family of four boys and nine girls. Only John Bergstrom
bel[...]lives at Froid and farms about twenty miles west of
on the board of directors. He passed away May 23, 1967. Froid.
I remember my mother always planting a huge garden, Phoebe and I farmed around Froid for many years, then
canning everything that could be canned and giving the moved to For[...]s living in many states,
and stored (which seemed like ton and tons to me), the although most of them are in Montana and we see them
chicken and beef canned in the fall for the coming year, quite often.
and of burying watermelon in the wheat so we could have
a treat later ·n the year. I remember the smell of freshly
baked bread and bun , of her ewing and crocheting or
doing other fancy wor[...]rounding community
could have an Ea ter Egg Hunt. I do not believe there i a In 1905 Mr. Carl Bertel en married Marie Moundine
horn in the community that ha not b en touched by her Jorgine Jensen of Copenhagan in Denmark. In the fall of
thoughtfulne , friend hip baked good ewingorcroch[...]end and n ighbor who migrated to ontana for the fr e land of 160
vi it. Mother pa d away on pril 11, 1 69.[...]n ry, till tand on th original the location of the two count that
home ite, but have been vacant for many year now. Th r a on they cho that ar
building hav b n off r d to th Thr bing B[...]o w ey lived
can be part of th we t m h ritag th t w ar all o proud wi unmarri d broth f about 12 to 13
of. The rocking ch ir that my gr ndfath rmad , the round year th[...]oth r articl arl 5.00 per acr for n built a barn
are in the family[...]on it e family lived u rn for thr or
i till in th family, b longing to m . I moved to Gr t four month until th ho[...]t, hu band Larry and on, cott liv in That fi · r · ri
Gr at Fall . Judy John[...]·ng f · ily birth of Gunner,
HA BERG TRO F[...]Th y
Hane Berg trom came to Culb rt on, th n in Valley had I t a ti m ow rre
County, in September of 190 with hi moth r, Maria g lo an[...]ar t had
Berg trom. I wa only eight year old at that time. We pl nted 1[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (351)[...]Ft. Peck Dam to work for awhil an a bad l g[...]Ruby married, had two children and i now Ii ving in[...]Roger and Jan r and hi famil Ii i a nd
Roger farm th pla ' for v nd. n h r[...]rie Bertelsen married in Denmark - 1905.

thumb like no one else in the neighborhood. The place be-
c[...]t most everyone identified the place by Duck
Lake for the Bertelsens and the Gangstads. Their nearest
town for trading was Froid. Their farm was located eight
miles east of Froid. The first doctor was Fleischman and
then D[...]wa
They rai ed a big garden which fed the fa
crop of grain and f, ain which fi d picni - I 17.
Each ear when th arv ted
of it to the mill and d i
ished aJl the good br ad trie[...]L R IL
alway had on hand for fa nd
Thl are.a wa fa for i ool
and the hill pro fun for
neighborhood with · , o
The B r[...]. I b
a[...]il · n t th ag of nd 1 th r a[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (352)[...]of Froid in a log house and she was taking in washing for[...]Day the volley of shots would be fired over his grave. While[...]the countryside for bones and would sell them by the[...]wagon load. He trapped skunks and made skunk oil for[...]commented on the horrible stench of the skunk. Tom
replied: "The smell of the skunk is not near as bad as the flu
Washing clothes at Sheep Creek about 1920. A.R. Butler, that's going around".
Adelaide, Happy and Mary Virginia Butler. Tom Carter spent much of his time "uptown", leaving his[...]at enthusiasm, reassuring her frightened of storms, if as much as a sign of a cloud
that if he didn't like the countryside, they would stay only appea~[...]n stay at home alone. Her corncob pipe was a part of
Into this hou ehold came three little girls, w[...]th relish, the smoke pouring from
Adelaide Butler of Longview, Washington, "Happy" it like a chimney in full force. Her sister would state flatly
Mercer of Billing , Montana, and Mary Virginia iel en of and with emphasis, "I smoke nothing but Chesterfields!"'.[...]na.
other had planned to return to Crookston for the birth a[...]her elf rather than with partner.
of Mary Virginia, but the tork aw no reason not to u[...]'a friend once a ked Dad. "We ordered girls, for each user. The first day of every month Hannah tood
and that e got" dad proudly replied.[...]y cents into
challenge a member of the chool board for Hannah s hand.
many y woman ever to b part of the chool Hannah Carter wa a woman of strong convictions. he
y tem ·n ty. he helped organize the Catholic believed that the reason for gray hair wa hampooing.
Church iet[...]ince he did not wi h to end up with gray hair like tho e
Cro Chapter in Roo evelt County. he wa acti[...]new paper in the early day . the age of 90.
Dad' lifi wa hi om · . h·[...]hill
umm rtim m v i e ota and
Wi con in.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (353)[...]a on. next eleven year , Duan , of Fr · al
His first project was to build a shed for the animals and a Jone , Froid; and Margar[...]r y
built and lived in for one year. Maude came when the cabin edu[...]l
was built. There were few neighbors and that boy of23 and were con olida ted, in ·
girl of 17 were very homesick, but they were determined t[...]gradua . Dua
fulfill their dream and have a home of their own, o they father, who h alth wa
grit their teeth and wiped away the tear of disappoint- family ar all mern b r of Froid L
ment.[...]'
from the homestead. Maude told of making butter and Ewald wa on th[...]house hoping to sell it, and the that board for many ye o-
proprietor remarking that she didn't think a kid knew op was[...]n
much about making butter that was fit to eat, but she this area[...]e farm through the R .
It wasn't until 1910 that the present town of Froid was Ewald wa a member of Rhoda chool Board and
established about[...], bought the two elected trustee of the Froid hool . Other in wer
adjoining quarters of land and lived in the exact location Farmers nion Oil Board and hipping tion
for 59 years. It wasn't until their health was so poor, that where he served a number of year . He retired f n of
they couldn't continue, that they quit farming. health in[...]aude pas ed farm seven mile outh of Froid. Walt and Ard ce Jone
away, September 18, 1[...]reside in ioux Fall , outh Dakota wher Lyle i a ma h[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (354)[...]ersen family. Taken 1918 - day before
Alfred left for World War I. Top: Ewald, Bolger, Alfred,
Thorwald and Anne. M[...]three times. His wife, Ane, issued
the ultimatum that the boat be sold and they sail to
America. Jorge[...]orgen bought.
Caroline worked in a Danish home for she spoke no
Engli h. Later on, he met Han . For a time she worked at
the ame farm Hans did. They[...]together.
Their first home seven miles north of Lake Preston,
outh Dakota was a shack which was[...]ey reared eight children by
farming their quarter of land and renting another. even of Holger Christoffer en has Ii ved on the same ranch for 55
the e children attended Baker chool o. 6 which[...]parents came from the
They were active members of the Danish Lutheran same i land in Denmark, but met and married in outh
Church near Badger, outh Dakota where ix of their Dakota in 1 94.
children were c[...]served on the chool, Bolger boasts that he ha 310 proven year of pure
church and variou town hip board .[...]his
In 1919, Han and Caroline went to vi it hi i ter and mother ide. Be ide hi own famil tree, he i proud of
familie near Froid, hoping the drier climate would ea e hi herd of horthom cattle he owns with hi nephew,
Han ' a th[...]purcha ed a farm ju t Warren. veral of the cow can be traced back to the
outh of Froid from Jim Purve , and moved ther early champion bull of England.
next pring, bringing two emigrant car wi[...]er came to vi it hi relativ in 1913 with the idea of
machinery and hou ehold good . The fir t ummer th[...]hi ambition. He, however, learn d on hi vi it that
pr ent location. Bolger and Thorwald ( hri ie) worked ontana wa a healthi r plac for hi father and tha one
at the farming . G rtrude n[...]tate. He
Froid, and Cl ra t rted chool in th fall of 1 20. Anna. convinc d hi folk to come to Fr[...]of town .
The farm in outh Dakot wa I ft to be taken ov r by Early in th pring of 1920 Han P . hri toff r n
the old t on, lfr d, who fter World W r I had come arriv d in Froid wi h hi two[...]hin r and hou hold good . The w r later
and their i childr n were born here. join d by i er G rtrud and Fri da. Two month later
Han and aroline wer member of the Fir t Luth ran hi moth r and i r Iara rriv d . They all liv d in a
Church in Froid, where aroline wa a m mb r of the m 11 h c until h pr nt hou w mov[...]nd variou pin-up .
Han pa ed away eptember 20, I 22 and is buried in Th y 1 pt her until[...]29 wh n Holg r tarted writing a tory elling of the d pr ion in
he moved to town . In 1934 he m[...]arri d it through th Thirti . ot a cut orm,
south of Froid on land joining her former home. h pas d[...]th outh a t ntion . In mall wa h did for north a tern Ion na
Cemetery.[...]what Steinb k did with the Oaki of Oklahoma in his
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (355)[...]together. Most of the occupants of the b d wer girl and[...]lebrations took place. Marion wrote original poem for
Military Ball at Liberty Theatre in 1926. Three front girls over a hundred of the e occa ion .
are: Edith Miller, Frieda Christ[...]gales of laughter in one play when the comedian fainted
book "Grapes of Wrath". In 1938 Holger became vice[...]every time he heard the word blood.
president of the first board of directors on the conservation[...]of the ational Guard. People came dres ed. in formal[...]6. centimeter of the ceiling or wall e caped the e crepe paper[...]artists. Men and women worked diligently for day on
Wisconsin. She taught four classes of English and two transforming the hall[...]attended the dance at the
applied alphabetically for schools in Montana. She had Valley chool. Dora John on and E ther Harbo chorded
alre[...]Roald l:farbo played the banjo and Jack
Valier as that was too far down the alphabet. She stopped[...]hired her. he has never peru ed a bank Valley chool. They pr ferred i b ing tuffy to thi form
directory since. of air conditioning.
Holger, or Slim, and Marion[...]could no and Ed Lu bk w r th n of h ca ion . Th
longer boa t that hi children were of pur Dani h gu trav I d er fr :t n ubbl fi Id in h ated mail
extrac[...], pla ·n an au h rp mad utof n Id d
every kin on thatfor four in h m min .
Declaration of Indep ndenc .[...]f£
h ch of 25
took c
for tw
e t daughter an[...]Jo phin r i ,
wer born. They ar now glad that or h Dakota, c[...]i ·d hool i
go are till tea d about not b ing n[...]1 d a on, \ eld n
when ome of th m applied for e a born 19, 1927.
institution of l arning, th y w r ch nd Ewald hi th r, farmed th r for a
tuition for being born in orth Dakota. H a a farm four north a t of . hri t
ho , but the boy didn't materializ d[...]th nd a half
g n ration wh n th r wa a d lug of ho d mil t of Froid.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (356)[...]and Howard.
Harri I Ralph and France . Harri Clark family - 1942.[...]Montana at about the ame time and all of them just
happene[...]· out for ulbertson, arriving[...]e of the[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (357)[...]ork horses. However, as the
drouth and depression of the 30's moved in, cream checks
became almost the sole source of income o the vacated
horse stalls were filled with milk cows who produced to the
best of their ability on a meager diet of Rus ian thistle ,
straw and millet hay. 1937 was the last and about the wor t
of the drouth years as hardly anything grew that ummer
but a fair amount of rain fell that fall and 19 proved to b
a wet year, although rust[...]r crop. From then on crop failures became a thing of
the past, but failing health became a wor e obsta[...]married and farming and ranching in the vicinity of the William H. oa putting ha in barn with lin .
original homestead which is now the home of Donald and
his family.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (358)[...]The door was always open for any travelers and visitors
through the years to stop for rest, eats and visiting.
Jack and Annie were early, if not charter members of the
Froid Congregatio[...]When they
became hard of hearing, they were forced to retire from[...]born at the ranch home five miles west of Froid. Mrs.
Lean us S[...]r. Cobban pas ed away January 16, 1946 at the age of
69. Mr . Cobban pa sed away October 28, 1947 at the age of
65.[...]upp (bro i[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (359)[...]Robert lark , Gerald lar , i 1an Moothart Richard[...]upply of floUI. He died bile of th[...]an
The fall of 1907 Robert Cookson came to · on, howi
Montana, the end of the railroad line and hired a man wi h
a doubl ted pring agon, or bugg , to ta him and
anyone el that may hav gotten off th tr ·[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (360)[...]ame to
ontana, and hi hou e fll tand .

Th now of winter , the heat of ummer ,
Th bumper crop , the thin crops,
Th ea on come and go.
r of drouth, a hopper and ru t,
ar of wind b owing eternal du t
d ]way forever tryin[...]pital in Froid. Mr.
ter for many ye
·ca nur[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (361)[...]he horses hitched up again. But, which way to go! I
equipment. I came in April, as Edcµe was born in March, prayed for God to show us the way, and the snow seemed to
and I waited until I could travel with him.[...]around us. was east. Just a quarter of a mile away was our west fence
They would set up[...]Our trouble began on June 29, 1919. We had crops that happy we were to be safe from that three day blizzard.
looked good, but that Sunday it was 113 degrees with an Montana has been our home for 57 years and we love it
east wind blowing. The Fr[...]ase it was a bad storm. Our hired man was waiting for Ed died several years ago, but I still have my home in
us and already had the lant[...]my business, the D and D.
afternoon. The storm by that time was coming fast, and he
said, "I'll get the door to the cellar open and you can go[...]." Ed laughed at him, but when the wind died
down for a few minutes and everything got real still, and[...]round, we went to
the cellar. Just in time, too, for that wind, hail, and rain,
seemed to take everything in sight. Our house sat behind
seven rows of trees, so was saved, but it took all the other
building , pulled the pipe part way out of the well, and
drove straws into fence posts we never could pull out. That
storm took 23 hams and houses, including our neig[...]led. All
the crop were hailed out-a heart breaker for a new start!
We built up as much as we could, for by that time we were
almo t broke. But the neighbors worked together, for
everyone had the ame kind of troubles. We tried to make
thistle hay to keep ou[...]horse
could run, we were to find out. We were ure that it would go
over George Laughlin' farm. We grabbe[...]left blac en a t of Froid
had time to plow enou[...]. The - 6 i[...]to
1930 w e bad blizzard. I wa driving on[...]r ted On Friday night I count land in[...]· di i buried in h north
lightly.[...]Ra
w nt hom e
ready. I g
husband, Bud[...]I ,
road, a real bli ng, but Bud[...]i nd Andre w r marri d .
wrong. Ther wer nof[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (362)[...]south of Dalhart, Texa . Bernard di d in I 5 and[...]Lutheran Home in Wolf Point. At th ag of 4, h i inf ir[...]he ba lmanton,
and liv d on a farm for . B m rd
(B[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (363)[...]Adam built his home of lumber hauled from Culbertson[...]well driller who charged them "board and room" for he and
his horses for the winter. August and Ben bought this rig[...]and dug a number of wells in the area after this.[...]. Late in ovember one year he wa. a ked to thre h for
Ed Eng who fanned west of Medicine La e. The ice broke
Their ·[...]l it aero - a "toot' from the
th for hopping until Froid team whi tle ave th hor a burst of energy. The rig
built in 1910.[...]Ad m and Wilh lmina E h nb
ontana in th f 11 of 1 7 nd loc
of the pr nt town of Froid. In th
broaght their f mily ·[...]·gr nt
" quatted " on land untl! i r hom
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (364)[...]m i d[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (365)[...]years as janitor at the Froid chool. All of the children
girl , June, Lucille, Edna and Vivia[...]raduated from the Froid High School.
Alvin Cooper of Culbertson. They have three children·[...]old.
daughter, u an. Augu t married Luella Knick of Froid.
They now live in Wash·ngton and have four[...]Canada. Mr . Finley wa a long-time re ident of Froid.
during the late 1930' . He al o had one "f the fir t herd of he wa preceded in death by her hu band a on[...]Two on Bob and eorge, of Tacoma, Wa hington, and
another Bill, of Froid, urviv d her.[...]May 3, 1 67, at th ge of 1. rvic w re with R v rend
by[...]. fth
on of land, north
. I thr m n work[...]th ir nd long enough t
day m n
I he ol it. n
Frank moved e of
and took up another
Whil Frank wa living on
you[...]ar . bu mo ly
a a carp nter, chool bu driv r and for a gr t many[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (366)[...]They came to Montana and homesteaded ju t south of
the Sheridan County Line, north of the Leif unwall farm,
in 1916. ora taught school east of Froid near the Ewald
Christoffersen farm. There a[...]rly. The children walk d to
school until the fall of1929 when the family moved to Froid
so the childre[...]he loaded hi pplie on a wagon and tarted
out for his claim. The wa thawing a
were running h[...]heir ·
had

ho

r of h f hir d
i h d man m m

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (367)[...]· 0 the bought a farm we t of
·1th y ed aw[...]he when
ood for the ca ttl ,[...]eland
oplar for gro · nd .[...]b h nd to i[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (368)activities inch1ded the whole family for barn dances at
George Leubkes ham, parties, dances, basket socials and
Christmas programs at the Valley School. Fred and Hilda
celebrated their 25.th wedding at the Valley School in 1941
with all the family and friends at[...]ere stranded one
night at Goodwin Bergh's because of a sand storm.
Everyone's houses W6l"e covered wit[...]ad Gjonig

Oscar Jens Gangstad, the second son of Peder Gang tad
and Elisa Johnson, was born March[...]They
lived there until Dad was bout twelve years of age. They
moved to Fosston, Minnesota. They moved[...]wagon. They made their home about four mile ea t of
Fosston. There were three boys and four girls in heir
family, all were member of a Country Lutheran Church
and Dad was confirmed t[...]h, Lillian, 12
He built a hack on th outh id of Hor h B nd on
he p Cr k and liv din that h k until h had th land
proven up.
Dad worked[...]ation pr
ontana I

{
n,[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (369)[...]Church built in Froid. All of us children were confirmed[...]there. Mom as a charter member of their ladies aid. We[...]During the year of 1924 Gladys took sick and Dr.
Darland of Froid sent her to Rochester, Minnesota. Mom[...]and Clifford were there for over six weeks with her. I was[...]for us, and other neighbors helped in m~y ways. Dad a[...]the rest of the family were happy when they came back[...]We had a Sheep Creek Baseball team. Orval was one of[...]reford cattle. Each fall, Dad would take carloads of
Glady . Front: 0 car, Clifford and Hannah.[...]cattle or pigs to the Chicago Stockyards. On one of these
trips he brought back a piano for Mom.[...]moved to keep the cattle in. Sometimes the wires of the
hou e. In July, 1912 my sister Gladys, (Mrs.[...], so you didn't have to touch the wires.
pring Valley, Minne ota. Eventually dad purchased that The tumble weed grew. Dad cut, sta[...]In 1933 all the neighbor gathered at our place for the
Our fir t barn wa dug into the id hill ,[...]from the Mi ouri River, topped with
fl w. That wa good w rm barn. Right aero from I remember one ummer we had a terrific hail storm that
t e ther barn dug in the[...]barn outh with the field gla e . A wall of water over a mile
· h he big b rn . Heh d mor hor e and wide, like a ilver ribbon, coming along the low land on the[...]th wa er I vela it cam along th er kb d. Thi rai d[...]h voe with he fenc bridge , I phon line and ro d in[...]th r . I dy liv d with he folk . h onl on of[...]th y farm d in h p n win r in
h I. Billing .
Man y of our n ighbor · ·ng c of p g
wer ick at ou[...]. u t 3 1. 1. 22 I
att nd ed Da from th eigh . Orval m
Glad y . liffo rd and I gr rom Froid H' . D ko[...]untry chu e nt to D I girl. Ru h d.
L unday for Churc h , L' unda ol and u[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (370)[...]nd they live in
Oakridge, Oregon. He is a foreman of a lumber
manufacturing plant there. Clifford is m[...]Ladie Aid had a golden
wedding anniversary party for the folk . All of the childr n
were home for this. Mother and Dad enjoyed that very
much. Froid and the community friend , and n[...]er oung
and artha
a .

p
I
n i
chin

J DB[...]John ton r m rn
marri d in I, lo on . Odem to horn .

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (371)[...]a coal mine in 1924 trying to get another boy out of the At that time my brother Roald, aged two and one half, and[...]h boys were dead by the time they could be I, aged one, were their only children.
reached.[...]Denmark, he in 1873
There was a man by the name of Je ie Reed who old and she in 1 0. Th[...]thmatic condition
what he wanted o gave her a hen-don't know b ow the and her doctor advised that she move to another climate.
chic en turned out.[...]Thi wa the reason for my parents moving to Montana
We u ed to go down[...]d taking up a home tead which wa quite a trend at that
Either Carroll Krohmer would take te m nd led or[...]rm. There Therefore, in the pring of 1907 they packed their bag
would be quite a group of u by the time we got to the lake. I and baggage, o to peak, and a team of hor e , a few head
alway kept the bonfire burning, a In ver could kate. of cattle ome chicken a few farm implements and
The[...]ed in a railroad baggag car.
The e w r aJw y alot of fun and the childr n got to go Dad' brother Anton Ander n and bride of a fi w
along. The little on went to 1 p on oa pil din the month had j u t arrived in Erwin for a visit nd when
com r nd the bigg r one played out id or oon le rned th ey learn d of my par n plan th y d id d to go with
to d nc and then the girl could bring b k . Ther
four of my cl m te till in th r : Hob rt Wh ]er,[...]I yd v rything w don by h[...]WO C d of raps and I f from[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (372)[...]ne, L le and
Andrew.

buildings and not much of that. Dad dug hi own coal at
what was known a the "Devil Kitchen ". Buffalo chip
were a common fuel for a quick hot fire . ater wa a
problem also, until[...]at
in variou way . There, ere many hard hip , but that wa
life and it wa great.
In the meantime more[...]d d land · · ·
The were followed in 1910 by th i r pa
Jacob n and young r brother. Grandma
£ 11 into the job of midwifi and d liv r d
th neighborhood.[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (373)family really did enjoy it for many years. Dad retired due to
ill health in 192[...]terests over to
Roald. He then lived on the farm for a few years with his
wife E ther. They both beca[...]ounger boys moved to the west
coa t in 1931 where I was already living. It was quite a
change over to[...]and the Pacific Ocean
truly fantastic cenery, but I am sure nothing was mor~
beautiful to them than t[...]oald wa
preceded in death by his wife Esther .
.I have many wonderful memories from my childhood.
Like every el e, we had our ups and downs, but we had[...]nd our was a happy family.
My brother Lyle and I are the only original Harbo' J ft
now. He and his[...]les
Tacoma, Wa hington, and my hu band George and I live outhw t of Froid until the fall of 1945, when they moved
within five mile of our daughter and her family in ·oo into[...]th board of the German Church outhwest of Froid and
A I lo~k back on the pioneer day , I realize th t p opl both he and Anna were active in the affair of that church
were not JU t p ople then, but rather each[...]ry p nny n nd four girl -eight of whoni are till living.
wa well earned and equally[...]who ar The ol Kathryn who i married to John D. Miller.
urvivor of the home tead day mu t appreciate nd tak h r children and farm near Froid. Pauline i
our hat off to the on , daughter and grandchildr n of n a married to Ted Engelman. They re ide in
thi great army of people, who have t y d b hind t[...]nie · e former Ruby
M Y the memory of our parent and r 1 tiv nd frl nd Balard[...]h v ete, xt i married to
th young t r here ft r can boa t of th f ·ct th t th ir Lo · · ul They hav two
for f ther helped build our gr at nation. T th[...]married Emma Damm
p opl Id die te my m 11 portion of th R v It ounty[...]h nd
of 1916 when he bought a farm of outh[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (374)[...]m
the opening up of territory in Montana. He decided to get
a way[...]red someone with hor e and
wagon to show him some of the land which would b
available. When the Homestead Act of me
effective, he chose to ettle on[...]four mile ha
wa to become the townsite of Froid.
Life in tho e day wa no ea y in ·
expan e of prairie. In the winte
many fierce blizzard , and at ·
became lo t before they foun
el e cabin. In the d
of prairie fir . Th
thr aten d to de tro
neighb f Belgum.
th ·
apart.
w ath
would
of lan

1
0
from

p

i[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (375)[...]and very distant and she had a baby to care for so was left
pretty much alone except for her bosom pal, Mrs. Logan[...]Walker. To her she confided that she was much frightened
Tideman Hippe farming with oxen. of the Indians. Mrs. Logan then informed her that she need[...]rry, Mrs. Logan was an Indian and the best friend of[...]e!
The Lewi Tipp family lived a mile northeast of Hippes Culbertson was the nearest doctor[...]e Lake.
heep and , once when a ewe rejected one of her twins, Mr. There were 11 children, nine[...]nard and
Tipp gave the lamb to Benora. he recalls that she with Alice Cloe Geyer died. Clarence[...]California; Ona
Mother and Dad walked to the Tipp for a visit. Dad Morton Medicine Lake; C[...]en LaMar, Froid. They all attended school
pring of the year. The lamb wa kept in a box by the[...]fed from a bottle and nipple. 'Lady' For recreation there were mainly the area dances. An
b c me quite productive and bore five ets of twins and the orchestra composed of Dice Lobdell, Danny Purves, Jim
herd numbered 26[...]n in 1 and died in 1931.
ne over for noon dinner and evening upper.
u ually be 30 to Oat each gathering for which
baked goodie for we k . ometime the
weather would turn bad and tho[...]ation .
In 2 · w r rad d for a Hart Parr
tractor w h would pull a four bott[...]b

ind
I
1[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (376)[...]ne room. hired h r
brother to till a mall pi of land hi h a
required to prove up a ho tead.[...]ho
wa home teading outh
doing ome work for him.
1 y fat bo .
ca i[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (377)[...]and that fall started to build a new house, which was
Alma[...]2xl4 quite a mansion in tho e days. This was used for a[...]granary when a new house was built in 1917. That is now
locator and he took them to the Froid area[...]eighbor were Luebkes who lived directly
e p cting that he could irrigate it from Duck Lake. Henry north in a od hou e; Coats who lived ea t of Luebkes in
then took 160 acre in 1~30-56 and Mort[...]lived in the ame section
1 -30-56, north and ea t of the B in land. Before the land with Hoye[...]to the bank and u ed to bake bread for all the bachelor in the area. Joe
Henry bought the land for about 3 .00 p r acre. Joe Root Arn dor[...]a Henry and
ha . the northea t corner of Henry 160 and he took a home tead aero[...]F ome tead a half mile ea t of Arn dorff.
for[...]hoe
for
n
Til
h i
much of[...]1 Froid
Fork , i d[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (378)Henry Hoye breaking sod on his homestead east of Froid
with oxen that he shipped from Minnesota to Culbert on,
nearest[...]Perry W. Huff Home tead
family of three children, Richard Moothart, and David aud[...]· I ma lor,
Sharon Hoye Dale on the home far[...]r Fu ~, r
Marlin married Beverly Wright of Williston. They have
two children, Elaine and Tim[...]of
f rm[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (379)[...]rs' were their nearest neighbor .
Jack was one of those instrumental in e tabli hing th
Church of the Immaculate Conception in Froid.
As for entertainment, he wa entertainment him If.
When he wasn't playing his violin for barn dance or
school doings, he was telling tale , both true and tall, and i
still well remembered in Froid.
Everett Jacobs[...]Dad bro in Kali Dad · i and[...]Mother c manag farm I 1[...]wn and h rh i .
, 1 75 and i bu i

Back row: Hel .[...]r o :t? I[...]n of nr. n){[...]( u a rt tw n I; •

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (380)[...]nd Mrs. Jens Jensen - 1959
Town hip 30, Range 57. That quarter, together with the
outh half of the orthea t quarter of Section 15,
Township 30, Range 57, and the outh half of the Jens told of many experiences he had learning to ride
orthwe t quarter of ection 14, Township 30 Range 57, ho[...]became hi 320 acre home tead. The first two years of his On ovember 20, 1929 Jens and Marie Merrill of
farming the grain was hauled into Culbertson, 25[...]Church. It was a cold stormy day quite a lot of snow, so
branch line wa built through Froid that wa no longer wa hard getting arou[...]Mr. and Mrs. M.P. Dalby had a party for us in
In the ummer of1910 hi father Jen Jacob en, came up[...]when four men came out to get u ten mile west of
country over. That fall after harve t he old hi farm in[...]company came it wa really fun to make room for them.
roid area fro[...]n a crop did come
1i . up, gra hopp r[...]l ft for
y living on nd f r[...]ilroad in
tun until pring, t
J worked for
William anning. i r
until he went into t a
wound i anc i in
191 i o r, r[...]'
early 1 ' i rot "th him , but du
to ill t i ro pi I from l 27
until h a d wa[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (381)[...]rdahl, Jo
The children grew up and left home, except John. He wa " Wilfr d' John on.
a good mech[...]the fanning until he passed away in March
1967.
That fall we had to move to town a everyone aid i
wasn't good for us to be alone out there. We lived on the
farm during the summer and in town for the winter . Jen
had a severe heart attack ovembe[...]cine Lake now. Jen till wa ·
the farm as that wa ho year . The neig r
be Ray Brien B[...]ar
el on and Emil And
Jen wa on the Fl
Judge of Election for
Fanner Elevator and
Our ·
Arizo
xic[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (382)[...]2 in argent, Minnesota, moving with his family to
I orth Dakota when quite a young boy. He first worked on
the Lewi Burkholder farm northwest of Plentywood. He
filed on a homestead north of Plentywood where he broke
up O acres of land with four oxen.
Letting hi homestead go, he moved back to North
Dakota where he farmed for some time, meeting his future
bride durin this ti[...]in 1917.
Otto and Dora farmed ·n North Dakota for six years
before coming to the Froid area. They rented what was
known a the Ronnevig place and then worked for Mr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert John on
D[...]ck to
Froid, working on the Art Ryders place east of Froid until
they bought the old Keller place eight miles east of Froid in
1943. Here they lived until in 1962 and[...]n thi family: Meril, who
married Ina cCracken of Bainville. They have two
children. Marjorie married William Rygg of Wolf Point.
They had three boys and a girl. Marjo[...]me together from
Grand Fork , orth Dakota to look for land in 1 07. They
top fir tin Willi ton, orth Dakota but found nothing
that t d them. They got to ulbert on nd hir d r.[...]n r
r C i
0
W1 11 h
w
I n[...]n
at th ge of n i rk
worked for ran[...]F brua , . to
work d for hi brother, Harr for ·i 1 , 73. and
1 o farming for th m Iv o rin[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (383)[...]hael.
Aloy (Pete) Kamps married Frances Hanson of Wolf
Point. After graduation from the University,[...]action as a bomber pilot in the European theater of war.
I abel graduated from the College of t. Catherine in
1932. he taught high chool in Iowa, worked for even
years for th tate of Minne ota in t. Paul, one year in
Wa hington for the Weyerhauser Timber Company. In
943 he marrie[...]In 1936 Jo ephine Kamp graduated from the College of
t. Catherine. he taught high school in Wolf Poi[...]Culbertson, one wagon full at a time. I found building our[...]cold, and I only tayed that one night at the farm until the[...]We got 15 acre broke that pring and eeded to flax, but[...]o didn t amount to much. The method of farming thi[...]ral Indian around, but
FLOYD K OF MILY they n ver gave u[...]rrie Eul W had pl nt of lig . for th digging.
M rch 4, 1 ·[...]and uncov r th co I a · hen . Then it could be
going t[...]. I

C[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (384)[...]l y
years made children 's clothing and quilt for tho inn d.
In 1918 we had a severe flu epidemic which took th e I.iv
of many men and women. chool and church[...]blic places were clo ed. Funeral wer
held out of doors and few people attended them to pr v nt
the spreading of germs.
Our children are: Lewis Kao of Culbertson , W. Ray Kao
of Billings, Eula D. Kao Bensch , Wolf Creek, Orego n , a nd
Hazel D. Kao Nelson of Froid. Floyd died in 1951 a nd i
buried at Grandview Cemetery at Brethren Church .
I went back to Michigan for a famil y reuni on a nd met a n
old friend , one I had known before coming to Mon ta na , Mr.
Co[...]H pa d
away in August 1967.
I am still living in Froid at th e age of 6, th e on}
surviving charter member of the Brethren Aid a nd th
only one of the original Enterpri e h ome teader ti[...]JOH K

b ma Ber I n

John
communit
fa
n d
K[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (385)[...]4, 1913 John and Gunda were married by Valley School and finished in the Hammond School.
O.J. Hagen, pa tor of the Norwegian Lutheran Church Arthur and Martha live on a farm not far from the home
which now i the American Lutheran Church in Froid. In place.
fact, they were the first couple married in that church. Laures Lewis started in the Hammond School and
Witnesse to that marriage were Peter Johnson, and finished in the Valley School. He farmed the home place
manda trand, ister of the bride. They lived in the sod until hi[...]Benna Krogedal Busby started school in the Valley
Lenore and Alma. One child lived only a few hours[...]. She now lives in
buried behind the hou e by one of the few trees growing Livingston.
there.[...]Bernhardt started and finished school in the Valley
Tho e early years were hard year for thi family. They School. He married Cynth[...]e Engli h language which they all of Froid until moving to Arizona. He passed away in[...]John wa God fearing, hard working man, and that's My father , August Gustav Krohmer, was[...], Wisconsin, July 17, 1 74. My mother was born in
that came lat r. There were tough year during the big[...]no crop . Consequently, no in the spring of 1907 and homesteaded ten and one half
mon y. Many f rm were being old for taxe . miles southeast of Home tead.
John then went to Portland, Oregon,[...]Hilda Hanson at Clifton, Wisconsin, then
hipyard for two year , came home and paid off his taxe ,[...]al o did carpenter work in Homestead for a few years
He had about four year of ood crop and decided to during hi par[...]1 o aid "There
no pl c lik m ri , th land of opportuni ."
ft rhi d th,Joebou htth f rmfro[...]Id it to Larry Thomp on,
ur go d fri nd nd n i hb r to the north.

L[...]· · lking plow for
b od
h i ho
ho t
er[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (386)for a lot of their groc ri in the arly day
from a catalog by the name of " avage" . Ther wa a
church and school two and on[...]about the only
entertainment we had. Mo t of the land wa brok with
horses and a walking plow. Many load of cow chip wer
picked which were used for heat. Iona remember that if
you turned the chips over and there wer worm u[...]nd hills about two mile north. Mother rai d
a lot of turkeys and she herded them like heep. The win r
were really bad in those days. I remember Dad tringing a to
twine between the house and barn o he could follow i . Th canning, a
only fruit we had was chokecherry auce. milk for our f
Coal was hauled from the Triplett mine w[...]gn work d
located about ix mile outhwe t of Froid. chool hot
Dad died April 30, 1954 in Froid, where they had lived for · dand
a few years.[...]or for hi[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (387)[...]Montana as the doctor was sending him west for health[...]Butterfield was the land man in Culbertson. Much of the[...]of what is now !{_vile cemetery but for doctor and hospital it
was Culbertson for LaMars.[...]roof for warmth. The children attended school at the[...]La Mar yard for two months at a time while he went around[...]1 7. Christy and Sam Picard much of those two months that he stayed in the area. The
threshing machine. Dad[...]Missouri; Clinton, Homestead, Montana; Joe,
ome of the younger ones were sen t back to North Dakota[...]ng early housewife. While
and tayed in Bainville for a month in the coal shed behind i n Culbertson before moving to the homestead, she[...]It wa bare and lonely. Even the baking for the cafes and for the bars. There were some days
prairie had been d[...]nce we had been gone. she u ed up 100 pounds of flour to fill the orders for baked
Our folk managed to take u to church abou[...]After moving to Froid , she took in washing for the area
Getting to chool wa alway a problem and we didn't get ba chelors and the hir ed hands and for others also. She
there too regularly in the early year . ome of us went to carried th e water from the creek[...]more each
We had dry ea on in he ummer and lot of now in the trip to the creek.
winter. M[...]After he became a widow sh e erved a s caretaker for the
follow d that one beam all day. Each pring he would[...]k up another 15 acre . The mo t beautiful potatoe I her church activitie . he is pictured in t[...]very good crop in l ter another white woman for thre year after home teading
y ar , but by that time I wa married. in 1906. The Jubilee Book al o tell u ; "For thirty year
After a few mor p ople ettl d in the area we had he cared for the Congregational Church and devoted time
ha eba[...]nd c rd partie wer died in Jul 1 6 at the ge of 5. Ralph La ar died in
held in the winter wh n p[...]r m ny nd r orb Portr
came, he called for mo t of the quar d nc .
Dad cont·nu d to live on the f rm un ·1about the tim of R . J OH LEE[...]r d the
land ince th n . Em' liv d ju t w of th hom d by Hulda J[...]i de th in 1 72 and Bud liv ju outh mil or o.
Out of th ten childr n in hi family Bud La oun , th[...]oh d com to th
my di d I th n a month af r thi tory wa[...]'ch
Another brother, Joe, a bachelor, al o cam at that time . our yard. pr
Ralph home teaded on the north ide of town nd Joe ~ d
homesteaded ea t of Froid, ction 22, Township 30 , Range m i
56.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (388)[...]- 191

the building wer moved from north and outh of
town ite into town.
By 1915-1916 w had[...]l from t d
didn t com too of ig
w lk that far u
packa
Int
h 1
th n t
wr
acquir[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (389)[...]y and
ora built a two tory frame hou e ju tea t of Ryersons
which burned in 1923. ora did the cooking for the
thre hing rig in the "Leeland" cook car. Nora i till living
in Hemet, alifornia.
Andrew Le had a home tead outh of Triplett' . He was
killed durin World War I.
Johanne Lee pent hi life in the Plentywood are[...]to the Harlem Re t Home. He pa ed a way
at th a e of 70.
ervice were held in the Froid Lutheran Ch[...]orth Froid metery.
Known family at the time of hi death were two brother : Mrs. L.A. Bahn and Mrs. J. T. Loucks
Phinnie of idney and Lawrence Lindberg of Ro amond,
alifornia.[...]on for the family. A tragic accident took the life of Ruthie
JOH A D ARAH LOUCK[...]y Mary a therine Louck Valley City ormal chool where they attended both high[...]owbell her Graving at that time an audi or for Internal Revenue
th op[...]I d ha b n i[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (390)[...]first church Mother recalls was in a school north of
what · now the town of Froid. The pastors were men who
traveled around t[...]he United States by ship
northwe t Froid and used for church and community when she wa[...]Gottlieb soon after they arrived
a charter member of the Congregational Ladies Aid. in Froid. Marie worked for Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Kamps
In the ummertime of the 1920 s and 1930's the hay loft of until she and Gottleib married on March 18,[...]Freiden Geminde Lutheran Country Church west of Froid.
oldest brother Ben, played the clarinet wi[...]e time, and they came to outh and west of Froid. They had three children while
play for everal of the dance . Later Leon Mue man and t[...]winters the neighbor would get the fall of 1921, they decided to move to Galatia, Kan as,
together at one of the farm home to play card or hove where Gottlieb worked for the anta Fe Railroad.
back the furnitur and dance. ome of the place were John They lived in Kansa for eight years, and had three more
iller , G orge[...]ch he made and he al o In the fall of 192 , they decided to journey back to Froid.
play[...]back to Froid, aying he
Dad tarted a gun club, I believe it to be the fir tin the and Marie[...]BL
by

wa ho n Wi i on
1 9 . H nd hi[...].
wa ev ar old when v d i ontana .
The n trading tow[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (391)[...]children joined the family, Jo ephine h II nd D I r
Eschenbacher.
In 1942 they were able to buy their own farm whi hi . ix
miles south and west of Froid where th liv d until hi :
retirement[...]SA D MARIE MAD E

Marie orsensen daughter of Mr. a
orensen , was born in Denmark on Jun e
up[...]itaiiz d a d
away in June of 1972 at t i illiam Ma. - J <J.'j
The had two daught[...]g di and I r
a Ii a[...]ma, ororit..
a way in r of 1972 a th ag of 67.

0 T[...]turn d h . Lo ui .
Ji. ouri
I F. . i r
ca fair and r d h i. ai
h ading him to jorn[...]t, ancf fil cf c- laim ::; n
nort of ct1on l ~. to n. hip :w. ra lrl. on
pnl . . Th le nd ·a . cla .. i 1t1d a . " ( ·oal ". H •
bought a[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (392)[...]n St. Louis.

Cattle in pa tur .

ucce fully for everal year , after which drought, grass-
hopper[...]in 190 nd fell
in love wit ountry of Montana. He yedin
a h phe whi[...]d

or cut h y
d hip of th h
have gone back ho
having to ·
·[...]d ·11
wa rn i d c II
r[...]ri d
leg. Billy an d to b i roid Irvin ughter Lo i ia. Di din
cem t ry wit , bu[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (393)[...]E
O.B. McCabe farm where stage stopped for meal C 2
the i
sometimes overnight.[...], married Earl Earley in 1910. Farmed just ou ide of anning ·
Froid. Had three children; Archi[...]dward and Richard Dinty.)
Divi ion, orld V ar I. Franc
Garage in 192 . la r had a
Froid.[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (394)[...]his shop.
tarted in the barber trade at the age of fifteen. He can In 1935 Leona went to[...]h
give you a have or hair cut along with the best of them." Dakota coming back to Froid and operating a beauty shop
(Courte y of The Culbert on Republican issue of Thursday, along with Mac in the barber s[...]from the barber trade in 1960. After the death of his
ulbert on team. Two of the player with him were Ike wife Ma[...]long th hi-line, from orth Audrey i married to Marion O thy. They live in
D kota to W[...]ington Jame married Phylli Winter of Medicine Lake. They
but got the wandering fever a[...]live in Froid.
ulb rt · full of · were getting off. Peggy marr[...]arried
in d e t of Hom tead,
M ntil[...]L G IDTH
i r
c[...]ild I
and Dr.[...]d ught r g of
born in Ho[...]roid.
midwife.
udr y and D
I 23 the H.L. M am to Froid wh[...]ill r
hop. Mac had two bar orking for him o .
am Plough and[...]in p n,
and op ned hi . I old enough to help[...]ilband , h
too. He c rri d for t b and cl n d th[...]ay night bath . In I 0 rri d to
Dalla earn d h[...]
Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (395)[...]for many year . Al o a m m her of th id Al ta[...]Miller i living on th horn farm north a t[...]Mrs. Victor (Eunice) Leonard i Ii ing t A[...]the middle of ovemb r wh n th[...]car. One of the men who wen with him wa La[...]of 1 their olde t daughter Eth 1 d[...]wa ry ick and couldn't go to ch I t
Mr lier and the re t of th fami al
wa k for over a month but nev[...]picture - 1905 there wa no one el e to do i . In 1919 a c[...]e. r. Miller eptemb at th ag of 73.
South Dakota with her parents and grew up and[...]Mr . Miller pa ed Jun 1 h ag of 73 al .
educated there. John and Anna were marrie[...]to Culbert on in 1907 and home-
steaded northea t of what i now Froid. TH PR
ome of their early neighbor were the G orge
Laughlins, R[...]organize the Farm r u u 1 ir
In urance ompany of Dagmar, and a dir rand vie
pre ident fro[...]and pr id nt until hi
wa al o county commi ion r of Roo v It
rm from 1932 hrough 1 4 and a
for ov r 20 ar .

A dr -u at Kamp[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (396)[...]opped only a A school was built in Dane Valley. My brothers walked
few rods from the Miller buil[...]ad been badly frightened built in McCabe I started there when I was ten years
but were very excited by all the ac[...]Every year saw new improvements, and better ways of[...]1956 when she passed away at the age of 95.
Ole Mogen was born in Norway in 1860. When he was We had our own Fourth of July Celebrations in those
nine years old he cam[...]r a fe w years Ole came
west everal times looking for m ore la nd to raise their
growing family. He m a[...]y out west. Ole
filed on a home tead located west of F roid . A daughter,
Josie, and a son, N icky, al[...]s the
original homestead. Edwin, who fa rmed east of Froid b ut
now lives in C ulbertson. Clara, who i[...]ed and lives
with her son Carroll on a fa rm west of Froid .
Cul bertson was the fi rst stop for a doctor a nd h ospital.
When Froid was founded t[...]d in
death by his wife who died in 194 at the age of 3.

HUGH MORROW FAMILY[...]rth Dakota, to
Culbert on, Montana, when he heard that the government
had opened ea tern Montana for home teading. He and his
brother am, arrived in C[...]06, and each
filed on 160 acre ten mile northe st of Culbert on. Jack and Mary Murray and daughter Ellen - 1 3 in
That ummer they built a shack. The fir t we k in outh Dakota.
November my mother Martha, and eight of the ten children
came on the train . They were dr[...]y lat r the family moved to a f rm four mile
ea t of ulbert on for the winter, while the family who[...]urray
own d the place moved to town for chool.
In the pring we went back to he home te[...]t exciting thing happened. On hot day of Iri h par nt . H t 17 and worked[...]ack to sav us . in Rulo, bra ka, of Fr nch , Iri h nd Indian de cent. A
In the nex[...]owa. After their
neighbor all around u , and Dane Valley wa ttl d . By marriage Jack and Mar m[...], 1 6.
The railroad wa built in 1910, and many of the younger A h If broth r of Mary, Dav Bur hia, wa a buffalo
generation p nt d[...]hunter in thi area . He nt word tc, Jack and Marv that
to walk four or five mile .[...]

Roosevelt County&#039;s Treasured Years (397)[...]later a blacksmith shop. Mary hakNl bread for townl--[...]of Homestead and 15 miles north we t of Froid , where they[...]midwife for many pioneer women .[...]urray married Arthur Zick . Sh,· dH•d 111 l!lh!I.
Montana in a covered wagon, driving their livest[...]now 90 and live in Froid. l Tn til I!-nO }w liv(•d nn .·mokf.
Manning family Harper[...]s an expert bronc-bu ter and roper. "good as an:v
that time Williston consisted of a few log hou e and a and better than mo[...]rge W b ter and had thre • childr n:
River west of Culbertson, they used a toll bridge operated[...]ray
Jack and Mary built their fir t home south of the place.
Missouri River between Poplar and what i now Brockton.
They Ii ved there for three year . \i hen they n d d
supplies or medicine, they u ed a[...]to go to Poplar. Dr. Atkin on , erved the ar a at
that time. Poplar wa still a fort. with federal troop,
stationed there. Jack erved a caretaker for . veral
years at a boarding school for Indian child