Ghost Towns of Golden Valley County Montana (2025)

OCR

County, Montana /
Billings[...]

3 1238 00536 4533

1.3% K}? WWW

THE GHOST TOWNS
of

GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY, MONTANA

69.

Leland P. Cade

my loving wife of 45 years
1984-1998

In appreciation:
Janet[...]

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 98-92491

Cade, Leland P.
History of 18 ghost towns in Golden Valley County, Montana
History of businesses in Golden Valley County, Montana
History of social and economic activity in Golden Val[...]

Farmers & Merchants Bank of Ryegate
Bank of Ryegate

Other money lenders
Blacksmiths

Brand n[...]hurches

Coal mines

Community halls

Cream, crop of

Selecting a crop

Custom tanning

Elevators

Emigrant cars

Establishing a farm

Farmers Union

Farmers’ institutes

Birth of Golden Valley 00.
GVCo. Book of Records

TABLE OF CONTENTS

313 From horses to cars
317 Horses

329 Land commissioners
830 Lives[...]Newspapers

340 Oil

343 Post offices

358 Price of land

363 Real estate sales
369 Roads

371 Steam engines

- APP E N DlC ES
375 One index
404 Two Life of post offices
405 Three Life of ghost towns
406 Four Ryegate Cemetery

406[...]

The area of Golden Valley County became a beef- and sheep—producing region during the lat[...]In 1879, John Murphy was in the Big Coulee, south of Ryegate, running both cattle and sheep on
the Sev[...]hman area in 1882; his log house was the
location of the Olden post office. Also in 1882, T. C. Power & Co, Montana merchants, established a
stageline between Coulson [Billings] and Fort Benton, and Power hired Walter Burke to construct a river
crossing and stage stop at Old Lavina. George Pirrle came to the Swimming Woman area in 1883 from
Scotland and by 1886 had “5,000 acres deeded land and 14,000 head of sheep"...and a post office.
James B. Elliott was running sheep o[...]with no signs. Law and order...perhaps.
Suppliers of necessities...maybe. Horses...big ranches needed[...]would be invaded by
homesteaders.

Montana became a state in 1889 and soon 16 counties were mapped and named. \Mth
statehood came laws, order, a plan for land ownership, provisions for roads, sc[...]t
1908, the federal government opened the country to homesteading. With barbed wire, homesteaders
iden[...]land and fenced out the sheep and cattle. Goodbye to free grass for livestock producers,
and goodbye to the wide-open frontier.

THE [gold] RUSH FOR [fre[...]from “back East” where there was an abundance of rainfall, fertile soil, a
proven capability to abundantly produce many crops. They were led to believe that Golden Valley County
would be just like that...and even better because it was flat and had no trees to remove. Railroads and the
government advertised the area as having fertile soil, abundant rain, and a marvelous climate, ideal for
vegetables, fruit, g[...]ganda.

The only farming methods the settlers had to work with were those they used "back home,”
where a farm of 160 acres would provide a living for a family. They expected to have a town every 10 or
15 miles to accommodate horse travel. Schools...nearby and everywhere. Roads...around every section
of 640 acres. Enterprises...dairying at the head of the list for a dependable, steady cash income.
Horses...for tran[...]m, trading. Chickens. Turkeys. And full ownership of the
land in three years for “proving up"l It was a grand opportunity that no rationally thinking person could turn
down. They came by the thousands to Montana. The peak year was 1917.

GETTING TO THE AREA OF GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY
Railroads generated business[...]mesteaders transportation, via "emigrant cars,” to
their new homes out West. A young farmer from Wisconsin or Minnesota could tr[...]eeded in one or two rail cars and he‘d be ready to farm upon arrival. And the best part of the deal...the
owner got to ride with his animals and goods; dangerous but worth the risk. The price: $60 or $75, a ride
many purchased...and lived to tell about, generating many unique tales.

CLAlMl[...]the Milwaukee Railroad, Dad headed from Wisconsin to California in April of 1911. He
stopped at Lavina to visit his cousin Stella Cade Redford. She and her[...]there, Dad caught homesteading fever and decided to forget

His priorities were obvious: Build a shack; his was 12 x 14 and was still in use as of 1998.

Accumulate farm power, a few horses to pull his plow and grain drill, Build a barn for the horses; his was a

. straw shed. Drill a well for water; his was 268 feet deep, pumped by wind and hand power. Find a wife; he
found Helen Tuifley on a homestead a few miles away and married her in 1918.

OFF TO A GOOD START... 0R WAS IT A BAD START??

Homesteaders raised a good crop in 1914, a better crop in 1915. For example, Joe Cade, my
father, raised 45 bushels per acre of wheat in 1915. “Everything they told us about this country is truellll"
With “proven yields" like that, he had plenty of confidence to buy an additional [160 acres] later that same
yea[...]and taxes that were overdue. Probably 75% or 80% of
homesteaders were gone by 1930. Joe Cade remained, as did a few others, somehow defying the laws
of economics. (His story is told in my book, WELL, I GUESS l WAS JUST LUCKY.)

ABOUT THIS BOOK

I began working on this book in 1991. Since I had incidentally accumulated so much
information about the area of Golden Valley County while doing research for WELL, I GUESS I WAS JUST
LUCKY, it seemed worthwhile to write two additional books, one book on schools and another book on
ghost towns. THE SCHOOLS OF GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY, MONTANA, was published in May of
1998. This book, THE GHOST TOWNS OF GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY, MONTANA, is being published
in late 1998. It relates the story of 18 towns, loosely defined, in Golden Valley County that went from
thriving communities (1908—1916) to ghost towns (1917-1940). History books would reco[...]epression.

There were numerous excellent sources of information. The County Treasurer's office at
Ryegate had a number of school clerk books plus an abundance of other information. The Ryegate
Weekly Reporter co[...]ion,
photos and documents, each one appreciated.

A few details about the book. Written on a Macintosh Centris 660AV computer, using ClarisWorks
software. Database of information, the basis for this book: 10,154 entr[...]names in the index, 5622 entries. Photocopied on a
Ricoh copy machine, using 24—pound Georgia—Pa[...]okcraft in Billings. Seven years from inspiration to completion.

Enjoy!!!

Leland P. Cade
Bill[...]

aflold]

*E[...]d by raiiroad construction

Rothiemay - last town to disappear

A place for 50 yams..."

After The Milwaukee RR was
consTrucTed in 1908, a spot on The
Musselshell River became a place of
significance when The location was
given The grand complimenT of a
new depot. A depot was a solid
predicTion of The fuTure - passengers,
freighT, businesses, commerce, a
new shopping cenTer close To home.

AT The same Time, Nils Eklund and
Henry BarTz appeared with an idea -
To merchandise 18,000 acres of land
and start a Town. ln 1910 C, E. Durland
surveyed The Barber locaTion To map
a Town complete wiTh sTreeTs and
avenues, blocks an[...]several businesses had been
established including a post office
and school. By The middle of The
decade and only a few years old,
The spoT had grown into a Town —
hotel, stores, bank, grain elevaTor,
imp[...]cksmiih,
barber, Telephone, livesTock Traders
and a variety of anTiclpaTed
peripheral acTivlTy. The nexT sTep up ,
a creamery To serve The many milk
producers in The area

The pr[...]nTs. The bank That
opened in 1917 closed in 1923, afier
only six years. The hotelburned. The
school closed, and Then The post
office, WlTh HarlowTon To The west,
and RyegaTe To The easT, Barber
didn’T have a reason for being.

AT abouT age 15 or 20 The Town[...]The post office
closed in 1958. “WiTh The deoTh of C.
V. Franson in 1959, There no longer
remained a Town.” Remaining as of
1997 - The wthe church and a very

weaThered sTore building. 1. Code.[...]111
“ 111111 11111111

Delegates Are Elected to Attend County
i Convention September 31d

The Republican caucus held
Saturdayinight at Barber was
somewhat of alove feast consider—
ing the fact that a big delegation
was in attendance. On account
of sickness in the family the
editor of the Reporter had to
{orego the pleasure of an invita—
tion to'attend. Three delegates

were elected[...]n which will be
held 'in Roundup on September
3rd to elect candidates for the
county offices and also delegates
to the state convention. “
Those who drew the lucky
numbers as delegates to “the
county convention were: Henry
Bartz, announced candidate for
the office oicounty commissioner.
W. C. jenizen. present county
commissioner. and Harry Henton,
manager of the Ryegatc Mercan—
tile Ca. ' 3

You do not kn[...]’s
going on if you don‘t read the
Reporter. ' i ' M '

WH'lvl-i‘m-l—

Barber is situated on the main line of the
C. M. 8: St. P. Ry., and while not a large town,
serves quite a large territory. From
appearances Barber was designated by the
Milwaukee railroad to be the town in this
section instead of Ryegate, but for some reason
or other moved the depot here [to Ryegate] after it
was partly completed. The natural opening to
the south and north benches at Ryegate probably
caused the railroad company to make the
change. Had it not been for this there probably
would not be any town of Ryegate now.

Barber lies six miles to the west of
Ryegate and has one good general
merchandise store, hotel, saloon and lumber
yard and a good school, which is used for church
services and other community functions. Mr.
N. C. Eklund, proprietor of the general store, is
a good booster for his town and the country in
general, and enjoys a good business from the
surrounding territory. Bes[...]klund farms and
receives good returns. He is also a public
spirited citizen and gives liberal to the support
of civic enterprises.

Mr. Henry Bartz is another strong
supporter of his town and community. He is in
the lumber and implement business and is a
former partner of Mr. Eklund formerly
mentioned in this article. Mr. Bartz enjoys a
good business and is a large farmer besides,
farming successfully severa[...]e takes considerable interest in politics and
was a candidate for the office of county
commissioner two years ago, losing out under
the old caucus plan by the hook and crook of
manipulation of caucus politirs. He was not to
be ousted without showing spirit and ran
independent, being defeated in a three-cornered
fight, but giving his opponents a run for their
money.

Barber has a very fine territory to the
south and valley land to the west and draws

Wimnuummfimummmwmnm“;

HWH'X‘i'MH-l—H i

W‘FWH +‘H'+-I-l-+ W++++H+H44~+H++++++

GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY

Barber - 1908 - 1959

from the north to quite a large extent. The land
around the town is good, e[...]hbors.

Barber has good school facilities,
having a modern, up-to—date rural school, well
furnished and well look[...]ilities in Ryegate makes it handy for
parents who have children of high school age to
complete at least a high school education.

Among the farmers who are[...]nt
ranks in the improvement and rapid
development of the Barber section are: H. J.
Baker, J. H. Bergh, A. W. Day, S. W. Hubbell,
O. B. Lovely, H. H. Maley[...]YOU POSTED: If
you are interested in this section of the world
and want to learn more about it, there is no
better way than to subscribe for this paper for a
year. Hum Me Special (Izmir/nus Ed/fiaa oft/16
R[...]k/y Reporter; December 115; 1.915.
Story included a phafo of Hana/7 Home 0/
CZar/es Fff Card

1917 - A. H. Glimm new barber from North Dakota. EMA/5148.

1917 - School had 34 pupils between ages of 6 and 15 years.

1917 - Farmers State Bank built by Jacob Zeier. D/GVJJ.

1917 - Farmers State Bank of Barber opened.

1917 - Hotel operated by Baxter f[...]’ Aid will meet with Mrs. Oscar Stageberg. Rift/a]: 4.

1918‘? — Hotel, livery stable, blacksmi[...]levator, church
operational. 010V] Z

1919 — J. A. Sidle advertising for well drilling. RFFRSepmmte[...]ic at Barber, sponsor not identified. BWKJIJIJE [i

1919 — N. C. Eklund advertising closing out pr[...]..early twenties C. V. Franson opened building as a store...” 17/01/18.

1922 - First graduating high school class of three.

1923 - Farmers State Bank of Barber closed. 12 W7? December 6:

1924 - Barber[...]chased church building from Methodists, who moved to Ryegate.

1928 - Gymnasium added to school for $800. 17/01/16:

1935 - Arthur and Lul[...]h, school. 0101/16:

1941 - Thirtieth anniversary of Lutheran Church July 31.

1948 - 01d hotel burned[...]da Nelson. DIGV 15

1949 - Lutheran Church became a part of the Lutheran Church at Harlowton.

1955 - School[...]last teacher. 17/67/1217.

1956 - Gymnasium sold to Webster Bridges of Shawmut for $508.89.

1958 - Post oflice closed,[...]from Ryegate. DICE/22

1959 — “With... death of C. V. Franson, there no longer remained a town.” DIGVILSI 21.

1962 - School district com[...]For many years, Lutheran Church held distinction of having smallest congregation in
world; dis[...]

C. J. Evans loaded and shipped two cars of hogs to So. St. Paul. 11?}? Mans/1 31., 1.916:
Bank:

Farmers State Bank of Barber opened 1917, closed 1923. Building later burned.

“The bankwas the first business [in Barber] to close about the year 1923.” 0/01/22.
Barber:

Mr. Walter Warn [Warren] new barber 1916. DIGVZZ.

A. H. Glimm new barber 1917.
Blacksmith:

“Soon there was a blacksmith shop built by Mr. [Eric] Pearson.” 17/67/17. &

“Barber...had a combination service station-blacksmith shop...”[...]theran Church organized 1911.

Ladies Aid Society of Lutheran Church organized 1911.

M, E. [Methodist[...]elevator...” DIET/’17.

“C.V. Franson came to Barber...1917...operated the elevator several yea[...]ry from IHC. 1916.

N. C. Eklund received carload of machinery from Emerson Brantingham. 1916.

N. C. Eklund still in business 1919.
Garage: ..

“...a garage and restaurant operated by Mr. 8: Mrs Loui[...]1911. Later burned. D/GVJcSl

“Bert Fitch built a hotel which C. V. Franson took over in 1911..." B[...]Co. 12W}? «la/y], 1.920.
Livery:

“In addition to hotel, Mr. Franson also ran a livery stable.” 016' V 27:

Percheron Pluton at[...]“Chauncy Evans is expecting eight more carloads of cattle this week.” 1?}? Jam .2 1.9162
Lu[...]

B +++++++1 +’-il+-i'+'+'-i§+~+~+
arbcrw .i + . RIM'_Rb§K_VKbLEY ~‘ ,~ ‘+r

_ 5 + Reporter“:09rrespond=nt I ' +

The new hotel is now ready _:

and open for business.

Henry Bartz went rq_Roundu|iA new organl has been bought
by the congregation in Barber.

-I- + + + +'+ _+'+"+ + +'+ + +v+ + +-’+
Jesse Bald[...]rber, *twenty
miles south and has hired Roy Owens
to help him.. Mr. Graves expects to
complete the work in about a month‘
or six weeksc, r f . ._

Miss Rut[...]

+++++++++++i++++++
+ BARBER NEWS NOTES II-
II- By Special Correspondent. +
*O§§+*+#O+++§++++O

Mr. ’l‘ipling of the Independent Hur?
vester company, is in Barber[...]+++++++++++
+ BARBER NOTES +‘

##ti-l-OQ-Q‘I-ifééi'O'l‘i'i

' A 'bnskel social and dance was giv-

en in the new elevator last. Tuesday
evening.

The‘npplication of H. A. Jacobs for
a retail liquor license at Barber was

granted subject to the restrictions
mentioned in the petition. }

i++++++++o+++++++++
1+ BARBER BRIEFS *.
+ By Special Correspondence 4W
l++119+o§++++0+++++

i Mr. Warn has completed installing
the new barber[...]y for
all kinds 0: Barber w'ork.

ltev. Larson of Mlssoula will conduct
services at Barber next Sunday morn~

ing and evening.

i
l

The Ladies' Aid of the Lutheran ‘

English church met with Mrs. Eklund ;
last Thursday.
'A Sunday School committee con
sisting of seven met at the Lindquist
home last Saturday evening for the
purpose of selecting song hooks.

*+'+§++‘P+'O+§+.i*§+
+ BARBER BRIEFS +
+ By Special Correspondence -l-
++++++++++++++++++i
The Barber Elevator Company held ‘

their annual election last. Saturday
afternoon.

i

++++§+++9++++++++‘
g. BARBER BRIEFS §
+ By Special Correspondent '0-
i++i+§++§§+++§+¢+i

Mr. Henry Barts received a cariosd l

or machinery from the Independent i
Harvester Co.

Mr. N. C. Eklund received a cnrload
or machinery from Emerson Brunt-
ingham Co, last. week. I

t
v

t
i
i

A reception will be given by Lila
Barber W. C. T. U[...]friends invited.

Julius Werness o! Billings was a
caller last. Tuesday in Barber.

t

i
v

Mr. George Graves is busy putting[...]

The M. E. Lsdles' Aid wil[...]next Saturday even.
lug, June 17th at 8 o'cltx-k. A good
program will be rendered. Every.-
body come.[...]otes .
+ (By Special Correspondent) 4v
4- .6
00+O+i+++++++000

The M. E. Ladies' Aid met in the
churc[...]other articles not mentioned

USUAL TERMS

I

0
O
J. G. LARSON, Owner, -:

L. A. Kendall, Auctioneer, » .
0 Herman E. Strong, Cl[...]@©®@@®@e~

©

9

©
0

o

YOU can't do a good job with poor tools, neither can
- you expect a bumper crop ifryou use inferior or worn-
out impl[...]mm qll ty 0! Implements
and you will be surprised I! lire dliierenu. Coins in and
m m implement! you[...]o o ex e o s e (5) © o @

The local branch of the American
Red Cross met lug Saturday in the
Re[...]ng
meeting Saturday, January 12th. it
was decided to give a social date to
be fixed later. The iollowing commit;
tee will have charge oi the program:
Messrs. Arthur Eklund, H.[...]klund and Melvina Ferguson.
Mrs. Stup was elected to superintend
the knitting. Some materials are on
h[...]ing there
will be cut out work for those who
wish to sew. It is hoped that those
Who are not already members will feel
it their duty to join at once.

H

©

ooooooooooooeoeem[...]

A Gigantic Value Giving Opportunit_y

AMAZINGLY - PROF [TABLE — TO - EVERYBODY

'N. C. EKLUND’S $20,000 STOCK[...]iions, Etc. '

ON SALE WITHOUT RESERVE

At Prices to Convert These Goods Into Spot Cash Regardless of Loss or Sacrifice

A WORD TQ THE PUBIJC
Oui- Reason for This Sale

.mptvpic-lfiubandnflmrmdr
mugs-nan ~in._a_nr.brsuiz.i=aie'm.nd
_AMAZED n nrANNoUNcEMLN-r slrn'.
FORCED SACRXHCE SAIL m a. renal
lure—usiMPLYTHLSu-wduulu
new. enemy fla[...]nu: pm at ORIC 'AL COST. in
earnmrlamn wanna.
ale i-rils ,Au: Mil am'. 555m la ever,
an an... natural[...]ice

Saje
Starts

NEWTON WAGON

One afiz-inch Mnuntzin Wagon.
. regular $235, vaIu $19[...]S
.. $16.90

WESTERN PACKEPSKND
PULVERIZERS '

a Western Packers and Puiverlz-

_, ers, regular 31[...], now. .. ,, $11.00

MEN’S WOOL UNION SUI'I'I‘S
39 values, sale price, . $7.20
38 values, sal[...]0 values. sale prire
at , $3.50

FREE FREE

To the first 25 adult people en-
tering our door: Saturday morn-
ing October 9th, l920, will be
given a Merchandise Certificate
good [or 31.00 in trade[...]ertificate
when you buy any article. You
don‘t have to spend another cent
if you don’t want to.

535.00 . Given Away FREE

FREE

i

i

' . HARNES 7
One set of work hmeu....585.00

Eveners nnd neckynkes to go
, at less than today's wholesale
Prices.

‘[...]ill be discounted 20 per
cent. _

SHOES
All shins to gn Eta discount at

:0 Der rent and more. .,

LAN[...]‘
~One Emerson Carn Planter. re
gular $85 vein; a! $65.0 ,
DELAV AL SEPARATORS

No.12 regular $110[...]31.50 value,
sale price . $100
5- toot. regular 5 a value, sate
price. 51 oo_[...]

..__...._ ....... LII-urine.

mum ~..[...]FIFTH or .lllLll

©©®©©©® .011 . a o a .

@090.

ON THE

W©©©®©O©®

CELEBRATE:
BA[...]THE INSURANCE DEPABTHHT 0? THE

American Sociely of Equily

comma macaw \M‘auo no

SUBSTANTIA[...]ING THE FOLKS
Bring YourLunch Baskets- -And Enjoy I1 Day With U51

BARBER, MONTANA, iJlILY FIFTH:[...]LS, MONTANA

11111 111111 1111111111

Have Building Completed
By Early Fall

1

Specia[...]h 61h, il. was unanimously
11013111213 Lo 01“ch a new; chuwh
during The fall of the -11rcsenl.

in less (mm on

unlv 11 11“ membms ill the 01111—
|i1111 \vllu livé 1'11 “Barber,
1 L1111111111l. has h11i111 la1d aside
:11 1‘111111 1111.1111c1eus f1)1 11111 suml
which will I11 511111-il111li11ll11 1
11ll1:1111111111:'l11111[...](luring U11) summer, it ‘ is
quile cerlain that a Sullicienl'
large sum will he raised in a
short time. ' '

.Fm «Y mUJIZZ

,2... 8»
.2[...]

Belmont was a place of
significance by 1911 when
Tobiason and Steen established a
stage to Lauina.

Homesteaders were coming in
by the dozens by 1911. Hans Hium
established a blacksmith shop
that year to repair the many
wagons and plows the
homesteaders[...]usiness
became easier in 1912 when the
State Bank of Belmont was
established. There was now a
place to deposit money, and more
importantly to borrow; eueryone
needed more money.

Main street[...]ttain
for Billings Wednesday.

M. R. Cooperymade a business
trip to Lewisbown Thursday.

The “ ‘7'9' ranch unload[...]ng auditor for the

.G. N. Express Co.. opened an of-

fice in Belmont Thursday.

A. R. Ivieridith of Hohson, came

‘down Friday and built. 9. house[...]um made 9. business

.tripto Billings the first; of the

week.

Lavinu and Belmont will be here-
after connected by a daily stage
line, Messrs.Tobiason & Slew of
Belmont having commenced to run
a transfer between the two towns.
This new enterprise will fill a long
felt want. and will be a great ac-
commodation to traveling men and
the public generally. In addi-
tion to the transfer of passengers
the proprietors of the new line will
carry baggage. express and freight.
The exact hours for the arrival and

departure of the new line will be an-
nounced latter.

BELMONT is differently located than other
of her sister towns, from the fact that she is located
in the midst of a prairie and surrounded by hills at
some distance and the town can be seen for a
number of miles in any direction as you approach it.

The t[...]y was settled up some seven years
ago and has had a steady, healthy growth, coming
up better than ever after a fire which destroyed
practically all of the business portion about a year
ago, the only mercantile house that was saved was
that of the Belmont Mercantile Company after a
hard fight by the citizens, and it is said that the
reason for this was that Mr. Verne Cornell, manager
of the big general store carried a rabbit‘s toot, taken
from a rabbit killed by a red-headed, cross-eyed
nigger in the dark of the moon. Nevertheless, the
store was saved and it was a good thing for the
natives, tor had this store went with the rest, they
would have had to travel some distance to do their
trading.

Taking the place oi the buildings destroyed
by the tire are a number of bigger and better ones,
a brick store having been added. It can readily be
seen by the picture that Belmont has a class of
buildings of better appearance and construction
than the average town of its size.

Belmont has also one of the largest halls of
any town in this section and to show the
progressiveness of the residents, it was nearly all
built by donated labor and much of the material was
given gratis. The folk of the surrounding country
donated liberally.

At the present time there is under
construction a large Lutheran church, which will
cost in the neighborhood of $3,500 and the money
has all been subscribed and no one was asked for
less than $25 and no one was allowed to
contribute more than $50. it can readily be figured
out that a large number of people will have a hand
in the making of this handsome edifice.

”mTIIE TOWN OF OPPORTUNITY..."

A large portion of the land surrounding
Belmont was homesteaded and[...]d by those who came early in the
game. Nearty all of these first settlers are still
farming their original homesteads and many have
acquired more land and now have a section of tarm
property.

Peculiar as it may seem, nearly all of the
people settling the Belmont country came from the
same locality in Wisconsin, a town known as
Viroqua. One might be inclined to guess that
Viroqua must have been pretty well deserted after
all these people sold out and left. None of them
believe that they made a mistake, either, and are for
Montana all the time[...]ter than they did on the "old sod“ and that
has a strong tendency to make people “like the
place" and be contented, It is only fair to the place,
for a man ought to boost and spend his money in
the country which was good enough to produce it
for him.

Belmont is situated on the Great Northern
railway, about 14 miles southeast of Fiyegate and
although the town is not large in numbers, larger
towns will “have to go some" if they beat it for bustle
and progressi[...]th “time killers" but busy
customers who desire to transact their business
and get back to the farm, and busy merchants.

The next in line is that of the Belmont Hotel
of which Mr. Harry Grant is owner and proprietor.
Mr. Grant is a well-known hotel man in this section,
and an all around good fellow and a live wire,
extraordinary, and his hotel is one of the best
conducted of any in the Valley.

The Belmont Mercantile Company, has the
honor now of being the oldest business house in
the town and passed through the fire without a
scratch. Mr. Verne Cornell is the backbone of this
concern and as everybody from far and near knows
"Verne” he draws his share of the trade. This store
carries an up-to—date stock of general merchandise
and has besides, a meat market and a long distance
telephone in connection.

The next large store is that of F. S. Strayer,
who confines himself to the passing out of
hardware and furniture Mr. Strayer formerly
condu[...]s in the different
towns around. Mrs. Strayer has a finely furnished
annex where the ladies get fitted out in finery.

T. A. Tolrude is about as live as any of them
and dispenses large and small tracts of land and
farms besides. He believes in Belmont and in
Montana and has been very successful in all of his
undertakings.

Another man who is an important factor in
the civic life of Belmont, is Hans Hieum, who
conducts a large blacksmith shop, farms and does a
whole lot of other things for the benefit of the
public weal.

Belmont has a well—equipped bank with
ample resources for the taking care of the financial
end of the community, with Mr. S. J. McPherson as
president and Mr. A. H. Gilbertson as cashier. Both
of these gentlemen are well-known in financial
circl[...]apid growth under
their management. Besides doing a general
banking business, they handle real estate[...]wo large elevators, the
Farmers and one belonging to a line company. It
requires both of these houses to take care of the
grain which comes to the town. although it is said
that the Farmers is the most patronized.

it takes grit and hard work to get a new
county on its feet and going, and it takes the same
grit to get a town moving to keep it moving. This is
the disposition of the people who make and are
making a good, live town on the prairie. The railroad
has not kept up to the standard and has not
recognized the value of this section to their road, as
the town needs and is entitled to better train
service and station accommodations. Railroads as a
rule, spend their money and their time so that the
larger centers can have all of the pudding, and the
little fellow who makes the large centers possible
and who produce the coin of the realm which
makes it necessary for railroads to exist, can have
the leavings it there happens to be anything left,
which is not usually the case.[...]e the
“whole cheese" and the big cities get all of it but the
rhine, and that is graciously left for[...]ake it or leave it, as he chooses.

In the matter of good roads, Belmont is a
little ahead of other localities, but the soil is better a
large portion of it being sandy loam while other
portions are clay, Probably some hustling on the
part of the citizens and the volunteer work of the
farmers themselves had something to do with it.

From Ftyegate Weekly Reporter, Farme[...]tion, 32 pages, December 16, 1915.
Story includes a photo of “MAIN STREET - 1915,”
1. General Store H. C.[...]rniture, F. S. Strayer Prop. Other
photos 1. City of Belmont - 1909, 2. Belmont
Basket Ball Tea[...]

1909 - “Arnold Ftyum came to Belmont...lived in atent."

1909 ~ School opened in a shack.

1909 - Railroad Stockyards in existence.[...]ge 238.

1911 - Henry Gustav Sandsmark advertised to claim his homestead in 22 6 11. L! August 18.

1911 - Lavina to Belmont daily stage operated by Tobiason & Steen of Belmont. RH May26.

1911 - Hans Hium constructed[...]the down town area." DIGV38.

1911 - Belmont area of Yellowstone County became a part of Musselshell County.

1911 — Seventynine Ranch u[...]1912 crop..." HWH December 19.

1912 - State Bank of Belmont opened November 25.

1912? - First saloon established by Chris Ftyum, later sold to Harry Grant.

1912 - “...town has twenty-five r[...]saloon,
lumber yard, blacksmith shop. oil station of Continental Oil Co, elevator, bank..." FiWH
Decem[...]ioners. FtFi August 30.

1912 - Effort being made to get an agent for the railroad station. HFl July 5.

1912 - “....J L. Cashel, owner of the [Belmont] townsite here..." FlFl July 5

1913[...]onstructed.

1914 — “W. B. Woodman, secretary of the Farmers Grain Company of Belmont..." HH June 15.

1914 - Belmont main stre[...]t office moved in. DIGVSS.

1915 - C. E. Mitchell of Belmont...locate in Ryegate to make it headquarters for orchestra. HR August 13.[...]ovember 4.

1915 — Henry Helgeson “proprietor of other new general department store, brick." HWH November 4.

1915 - T. A. Tolrude “having large real estate business and a fine farm..." FlWFl November 4.

1915 - Hans Hium[...]ew Saloon erected at Belmont by Pleasant Spurlock of Roundup. FtFi April 16.

1915 - Herman Krause of Dakota purchased saloon from Pleasant Spurlock. HR April 15.

1915 — Belmont “a lively town located in a lively community, made up by lively people[...]

1916 - J. W. O’Leary advertising 45 head of hogs for sale. RWFi September 15.

1916 — Mount[...]t and Lavina. FtFl October 20.

1916 - Population of Belmont 200. Polk Montana Gazetter page 1084.

1917 - C. Jensen of Lavina sold his meat market at Belmont to Mr. Chas. Hiller. FlFl March 9.

1917 - High scho[...]l constructed.

1917 — Mr. & Mrs. E. J. Hermann of Lavina leased Grant Hotel in Belmont. HR May 18.[...]Friday. Fr‘H May 3.

1920 ~ Belmont area became a part of Golden Valley County.

1920 - Party held community hall to honor Helen Rich, state essay contest [participan[...]0 - Meeting held in Belmont by “for the purpose of forming a farmers union." RWFv‘ December 9.

1920 - Post office moved to the Henry Helgeson store...then to the Arne Anderson store...”

1920 - L. J. Sarve[...]17.

1921 — Many in area delinquent in payment of taxes.

1921 - No. 2 dark northern spring wheat quoted at 91¢ a bushel. Ll October 28.

1922 - Hotel and bar operated by Harry Grant.

1922 - Belmont State Bank had loans of $165,004.47. DIGV202.

1922 - Golden Valley County offering reward of $200 for squealing on bootleggers. Li August 11 .

1923 - Post office moved to Tolrude real estate office.

1923 - Belmont Leghorn Farm reported yield of 39,918 eggs for year, return of $706.93. LI January 6.

1924 - State Bank of Belmont closed in January.

1928? - "...in the late 19205, the church burned down following a Christmas program."

1930 - Standard Oil Big on Belmont Dome north of Belmont. RWFl March 13.

19305 - Two elevators to[...]rmers joined federal farm program under “triple A", the Agric. Adj. Act. HWH Nov 9.

1934 » High s[...]e two year high school.

1936 - Post office moved to Arne Anderson store.

1937 - Oliver Richards loca[...]1942 - High school closed.

1952 - July 23 issue of RWR includes photo of school.

1962 - Brick school building dama[...]

GN engineering headquarters.

City of Belmont. 1909

.\ r, ttltt- ng of the rttttltt'ul was llultl'

ut the school house[...]id t‘ur untliiug liel‘
u‘tmt the metropolis of Museelshell

tulitil)’. After due tlulllicl'uliun the.

n-uttt-lusion was reached that Belmont
ought to have better serrlm; from the
(t. .\'. railroad, and that an effort ought
It) he made at once to get an agent

inr thin utntinn. it is tht- opinion of
the writer [hut if J. L, CtthltL-I. owner
or the towusite here, would "\\'l|flL‘k[...]and other touns ttlotu: this line.
we would soon have :1 t-t-gulnr fluent
:tttd nilso a respectable tit-pol. it the
t‘ttitl.t'ul Pan induce ('ttshel to “come
zit-rims," .ltnt llill uill tln him-wisp.[...]OWNS
060. W“ /7/1

Neighbor ol Ryagaie Promises to Be-
coma Prosperous Berg

Rt‘ltnnnt. "'l'ltt[...]()m-ttr-
tunity." is located in the western
part of Musselshell County, sixty
miles north-west of liillintzs‘ anti
a hundred forty mile: south-east
of Great Fallc, on the Billing; &
Northern Rnilway w[...]d Chicago. Burlington &
Quincy railways. Thu town i:
<ix illllt‘< south of the Museelshell
River whose north banklis follow-[...]e 22 out Meridian. has filed no
[ice ofintention to mnko ilnnl commutntlot
Droofto establish claim to the land abovx
described. before Arthur C. Boyors. a U. 5
Commissioner. at Lavina. Montana. on tht
1 1th day of September, l9 ll.

Claimant names as witnesma: Christ
KiellnndJXnnn Bekkum. Than. A. Tolruti
Lawrence A. Brannon, all of Belmont. Mon
Inna.

8-“ C. E. MoKOIN. Register.

STORES ARE Busv AND FARMERS’
SEEM TO 8E HAPPY

The only lhlng Ill]! 15 needed to
hulleve that Belmont la n lawn W|lll
u hlluru In lo my I vlnlt [0 [hit hllay
lllllc nletropolla and have a lime chnl
Wllh 1h..- IllEl’Chfilll-r” uercll[...]|u wttr [mrflculurly nonu-
lllle ln the sma hunk of Ilalmonl.|
where m no (lma dld [here seem In hel
a moment when there were not A
ntronnt or people golng m and cm.
“1’0 hlld [he pleasure of gelling n
fun nnnuleh prllnvat- \vllh Mr. A‘ ll.
unln-rtsan, tlte cnrltler, and round ltlnl[...]nnsler rot hln locullly.
The other merchants seem to he of
tho sflllllz snlrlt null 11 very [Ilemmnl
r llll[...]slnesn. l
Frank in n good than any place Hal
wttn ahave been 1n‘the tailoring business
here the past year' have turned over
'the'buslness to Mr. Hahn and they
have gone to Belmont where they
have leased‘the Grunt Hotel and will
carry on the bu[...]he absence or Mr.
and Mrs. Harry Grant who expect to
spend an lndellnlle Ume in traveling
by automoltl[...]recoup} erected ntl
Belmont by Pleasant Spnrlock of.
Roundup, was sold last Saturday to
Herman Krnune. who has recently:
moved here from Dakota. Mr. Knnne‘
wlll at once begln the erectlon of 3'
Hubstnntial resldence, and wlll moveI

his family here as soon as la la com-l
pleted. I

co... 1

At a I‘m‘cnl mooring “r the L'AVll |
Mutual Telullltunn (‘Ulllllzllly it was. “LEA
clded to mumlrucl :| film In littllllulll
as soon as fund[...]: Charles liall-
dolpll sold his last year's crop of over
seven thousand bushels for 31th9 (he

nther day, He sllll has some for seal
wheat. I

Anumberof Belmont folk at.
tended the[...]

not included i_n:__Precinct No.
15, will )‘ote at Lavina. ..... ..

C. E. Mitchell of Belmont ha- been
in the city tnll week and will l[...]merly with the Olympian
company, but has been for a lime
making his home in Belmont. He is
figuring on purchasing a lor and build-
ing a home and will move his family

here as soon as this is completed
I O U 0 t .

The Belmont Leghorn Farm re-
ports an egg yield of 39,918 for
the year1922, and a cash return
from .the nockgét $706.93.“

‘Ed[...]extra
mam ’

, Mien Helen Olcott visited in
I Roundup yemrdnv. _.

FOR SALE—45 hciid of lions;
itisnll tln'ee-‘qnnrtcr Jersey bull,
11} 3'0an old. Inquire of J. \V.
O‘Lem‘y. Belmont. ad. 9-3.

+++++++[...](By special Correspondent) +
l- -l-
++¢+§+0+++6i++++

Harry Gram has opened up a pool
hall in the old Jeneon building and
Mr. Glyn[...]OOQOOOQOiOOOOO

The M. E. Sunday School will give
a nodal on Friday evening, May 10 at
the old lchool house. Everyone Se 1:»
“ted to come and have a good. time.

The V " IAd‘lea‘ Aid will meet
Trim Mn. Guetafeon on Fridnyt May
10. All are invited to attend.

The Lutheran Ladlee’ Aid met Fri~
day[...]steer calves under six month.
Inquire at Tulrud’a ranch. Bel-
mmxt. Montana. nd.-i~2

Name of Appllunt

Nov. /?33

Section

Tota[...]K um
Harms, l'ulvr 32 150
mm, n-m USO
Hurt, Dan , a 1120
Udrl.’ Dun T. . 25 320
llnuD, Henry , 33 1[...]lmo

' 361.
Sec—

ms 196. 90
n1.

5\\' H

part

Of

_\'\\'173 Seclion
. 1’75 acres
'Andl‘ew Se'i[...]he Belmont Leghorn Farm ré—
parts an egg yield of 39.918 for
the yenr1922 and a 'cash return

from .tbe flock, of 706 93.

Ghost town - Belmont

PROPAGANDA BROUGHT US

“I guess you’d call it propaganda that
brought us here. Stories of cheap land, big wheat
crops and the likes.” Ada[...]BANK

Mr. and Mrs. [Alfred E: Sadie] Englet
came to Lavina on May 26. I909 and
immediately filed on a homestead... While on
the homestead in December of ISIO. he
entered the Lavina State Bank as assista[...]S. when he removed from Lavina
and became cashier of the Belmont State
Bank. Then in June IBIS. he returned to the
Lavina Bank as cashier and active head.
DIGV page I75.

BLACKSMITH SHOP

In the early 19105, a man by the name of
Ludvig Sandsmark and family came to Belmont and
put up a hotel and ran that along with a machine
business until the blacksmith came and to[...]Hans Hieum immigrated from
Wisconsin in the fall of 1910 and bought a
relinquishment of 160 acres and a year later he
bought the 80 acres adjoining the town site for
farming and erected a home on the property. Being
a blacksmith he built a blacksmith shop in the down
town area. DIGV38.

P[...]ing and holding services on
Sunday. He was always a welcome
sight as he would dig in and help milk

c[...][not by machine either]. There was milk
and cream to sell besides regular orders for
mom’s No. 1 butter. We had eggs to sell to
help on the groceries, triers all dressed and
ready to go for as low as 35¢ to 50¢ each.
Adah Bakken Lane writing in DIGV page[...]e, taught
Sunday School in the Belmont Pool
Room, a good place to pray for the losers
[sinners]. Carrie Hunt died i[...]ace was also an overnight
stopping place for many of those living further
on when they were hauling fe[...]ont and couldn’t make it home in one day.
Going to the coal mine meant a trip with four
horses and a wagon and leaving about 4:00 in
the morning and g[...]WINTER FUEL
The homesteaders got their fuel
from a coal mine on Painted Robe
Creek along the Great N[...]MONTGRDWS

It wasn’t long until Belmont
started to grow. Lawrence Sandsmark
built a hotel in which he had a post
office and also handled some
groceries. Then a saloon, lumberyard,
depot, restaurant, a livery barn and
meat market went up. Mrs.[...]

1'12 DIGVpage 167

BELMONT TOWN

When I came to Belmont fin l9i 7) it was
an active community with a bank, two hotels,
two stores, two saloons, a blacksmith shop,
auto repair shop. There was a big hall that had
a garage downstairs and the upstairs was
used for roller skating and dances. We had a
top basketball team, five or six of the Nelson
boys were on the team until the flu epidemic in
i9l8 when several died. Edwin Hium and Tim
Sandaker ran the lumber yard. There was also
a dance hall out on Painted Robe. if no one
had any instruments we would whistle the
music. When i came in l9l7, there was a
stage both ways from Lavina to Belmont and
during the flood [that year) the passengers
were taken by boat in and out of Lavina. i
remember L. Lehfeldt driving the stage,
always in shirt sleeves, winter or summer. He
never wore a coat. Abe Homesfad/h D/Gl/
page 1494

GARAGE

By the next fall, they [Belmont
community] had a new school building and the
first full term was taught by Miss Nottingham
whose father owned a garage at Belmont. Charles
Robinson writing in DI[...]amily lived in the
apartment in the south portion of the building. I
baby-sat their three children and had a lot of
trouble keeping them out of the candy case in the
store. Mr. 8: Mrs. Shields[...]se days also that Belmont
could boast that it had a hospital in the area, one
having been erected by the Great Northern, about
1 1/2 miles south of the townsite, near the railroad.
It was in this h[...]iting in DIGV page 39.

BELMONT TOWN

Belmont had a basketball team
who were champions of Central Montana
at that time. The team were young[...]and Horton had homesteads twenty miles
southwest of Belmont. In 1914 the
main street burned to the ground for
one block including the hotel owned by
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Strayer. They
rebuilt a store with living quarters
and Harry Grant built a large hotel
including a saloon, a pool hall, a
restaurant, and bakery shop went up.
0. H. Helgeson and son Henry, built a
large grocery, dry goods and hardware
store with a post office in one end.
other buildings were two[...]ard, blacksmith shop and
garage. Belmont then was a lively

town and neighbors were like one big
family.
page 43.

Mrs. Ed Olson wr[...]

NEW TELEPHONELINE

THE NEXT YEAR WE BUILT A FOUR
ROOM HOUSE WITH BETTER LUMBER EROM
REED HUNT LUMBER YARD. TN 1918 WE
GOT A TELEPHONE LINE IN FROM LAVINFL
THERE WERE :7 PEOP[...]L DRILLING

My uncle finally decided he would try to
drill a well so he set up a tripod and hung a
pulley in the top through which he ran a rope and
by pulling up and dropping it he was eventually
able to sink a hole in the ground. At perhaps
thirty or forty feet he struck a weak flow of water
which helped out. Boy 0/5017 "7117'!ng 010V[...]RVEST HAS COMMENCED
HERE. SEVERAL 017 THE FARMERS HAVE
THEIR HOUSES FILLED. AND FRANK PAUL IS
HAULING 170R THE HOUSES IN BELMONT.
THE ICE IS A FINE QUALITY, BEING FROM [8
'1‘0 22 INCHES THIC[...]WR FEBRUARY 10. 1921.

BROADVIEW

Hans Ilium went to Broadview and
started a blacksmith shop there. Hium
taught me the blacksmith trade. We had
a shop [on our farm] and we went to his
shop to learn it. It was a part of a
school program. His shop was on the
west side of the main road going through
Broadview, just south of shop where
that metal shop is. Easton’s livery[...]1 995.

BELMONT

Pop 200 Musselshell County; A p 0 on the
BN ry 32 miles N of Laurel. Has a United
Lutheran church, an opera house, a bank, a
hotel and 2 grain elevators. Explress] G N
Tel[eg[...]State Bank [Capital
$20,000] S J McPherson, Pres, A H Gilbertson,
Cashr. Besse’s Restaurant, Christ[...]ner W. RR eprress] and tel[egraph] agt.,
Tolrud T A real est. Polk? Alon/fang Gazetter
1.916; page 10[...]uctioneer and very much in demand
when the ladies of the community had box
socials. They raised a lot of money that way for
the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Belmont. It
was a lovely building in its heyday." 111702? J.
ROMW 1.9.95.

OPERA HOUSE

The so—called opera house must have
been the big building on Main street which was
us[...]e fLm
times there. $5 would buy gas for the Ford, a
dance ticket and lunch. MYda J. 1?sz
1.91962

Reference: Rise & Fall of Belmont by Mrs.
Clair Carlson, RWR July 23, 1970.

A. R. MeridiTh of Hobson came
down Friday To build a house on his
claim.

H. B. Drum made a business Trip To
Billings The firsT of The week.

Mrs. Hathorn, daughTer and Two
neices spent last week aT The Drum
ranch, returning To Their home in Billings,
Monday. [Mp/772i Mil

good
included

for

BELMONT ELEVATOR NEWLY

w. B. woodman, secretary of

the Farmers Grain Company of
Belmont, was in town Friday and

Billings Wednesd[...]. Cooper madeabusiness Trip Company at Belmont is a newly
TO LeWISTOWfiTthSdOV- organized concern, and its

progress has been largely due to
the initiative efforts made by
the secretary of that company.
He says that there is no question
but that an elevator operated by
the farmers will be a success if
business

farmers of Belmont will build an
elevator, as a satisfactory deal
purchasing
arranged with[...]

A “wannabee” town on the Musselshell .....

BURGOYNE
Lasted three years....

Burgoyne became a spot along the
Milwaukee railroad in 1911 when a post
office was established. With home—
steading activity in all directions, a post
office at that location was closer for local
folks than Slayton and Cushman to the
east, Byegate west and Vebar north.

The railroad considered it a place of
significance in 1912 when it scheduled
stops for the convenience of the traveling
public. A section crew worked out of
Burgoyne with Andrew Rickey the boss in
1912. Burgoyne's claim to fame occurred
in 1913 when two railroad freight t[...]ve the area status by using the
Burgoyne name for a news heading.

The combination of a post office and
watering station for steamers was not
enough to give Burgoyne permanence
The town came and disappeared in three
years. it lasted from 1911 to 1913.

L. Cade.

IMMIGRANT CAR

George Unger shipped an immigrant car
from Clear Lake, \Msconsin to Burgoyne. It
contained lumber for a two-story house, two cows,
some hens, a pair of pigeons, a cat and household
goods. When my mother, with three children and l
plus a three month old baby boy got off the train at
Bur[...]ather bleak
but we were not dishearted for it was to be a new
home and a new life. Mattie M. Mrs Clarence
Kinney writing i[...]uen Valley C

unty

West of Cushrnan
East of Ryegate

North side of river
4 18 21

LAVINA BRIEFS

Herman Wen'ne[...]kee [RR]. at Burgoyne. until he
was injured about a year ago. arrived here
today enroot to his homestead near
Burgoyne. He has been in Minne[...]. receiving medical treatment. but
he is still in a weakened condition. due to the
terrific blow he received on the head from No
16 which he went out to flag. RR March 26.
ISIS.

BURIED ON RIMS

John Fitch...had a homestead that joined
the railroad at Burgoyne. He had a long [log?]
shack after he and Bessie Dutton were[...]for about two
years. It was discontinued because of not enough
patrons. They had a baby girl who was killed when
thirteen months old. The baby was buried on the

rims north of Burgoyne. DIGV 131.

SERVICES IN NORWEGIAN

Our church was at Belmont, six miles
away, and part of the time the services were in
Norwegian. A few times Johnny Fitch of
Burgoyne conducted worship service and hym[...]

TWO FREIGHTS PILE UP AT BURGOYNE

A head on collision occurred at
Burgoyne siding early Tuesday running at a
high rate of speed.

The crews of The two trains “unloaded”
which is The railro[...]ast bound Train who
sprained his ankle in The act of leaving his
engine.

No. 16. “The fiver” had[...]Track clear. RM? Februa/y 2/,

191.2

VELOCIPEDE TO WORK

Mr. Forsyth worked as a [railroad] section
laborer with Rudolph Lehfeldt who was his foreman
at Burgoyne. Mr. Forsyth often walked to and from
his work. He also used his velocipede or hand car
as transportation to work. He often went to Lavina
to get his groceries on his hand car and sometime
he[...]ank See], the seetion foreman at
Burgoyne, killed a large porcupine, while
at work a short time ago. “Porky” was
having a snooze on a cottonwood limb,
but was quickly dispatched by a blow on
the head with a stone. Its hide now
ornaments the side of a railroad building

at Burgoyne. R‘VRlWay 18, 19[...]S lit
4- By Special Correspondent. +,
++++++++++++ifli++++i

George Arnold and William Anslow
passed :Eiru here Thursday on theirY
Way to the Snow-res where they will
spend two weeks hunting.

Karl Paulson was a caller at the
Cottonwoods Sunday. He went to La-'
Vina Monday [0 make proof on his
homesread near Sunnyside. l

Raleigh Sanders went to La-
vina. last week on business.-
Frank Arnold has finished build-
inga house on his claim two miles
north of Burgoyne.

The bridge crew of the C. M.
& P. S. under Charley Joyce ’re—
pa[...]last week.

Fratt’s Roundup are buSy now
owing to the early spring, and
abundance of water which makes
it possible for them to get their
cattle out on open range this
early. . .

George Arnold is expected to
arrive soon from Montivideo.
Minn. He is employed as cashier
in a bank at that place. He will
live on his homestead[...]rgoyne.

Belcher & Glover Sheep Co.,

are lambing a bunch of ewes at
Sunny Side Springs. They are
having excellent success owing to
the fine weather. They will be
through by next week.
g A petition is being circulated
for a post office at Burgoyne, and
many signatures have already been
secured. If this petition is grant—
ed the post office will be at the
residence (if john L. Fitch.

This is certainly one_of the
finest spring seasons Montana has
ever seen.[...]ore grass than they

ever saw before at this time of

the year.

+0§++O+O++++++Oi
O 0
9‘ W[...]orrespondent) O
9 v
+++++§+9§++§+§§§

Quite a crowd trom here attended
the ball game av.[...]

1911 - Bridge crew of Chicago Milwaukee & P. 8. RR repaired bridge at Burgoyne. HWFi May 18.
1911 - Railroad crew operating out of Burgoyne, Frank Seel, foreman, HWH May 18.

1911 - Fratt’s roundup crew busy getting cattle to open range. RH May 18.

1912 - Frank Eikert and W[...]y24.

1912 - Passenger train changed arrival time to 8:47 am. HR August 23.

1912? - Thirteen month old Fitch girl killed, buried on rims north of Burgoyne. DIGV131.

1912 - Andrew Rickey new sect[...]i June 28.

1812 - Mrs. Mary Kinney took shipment of chickens to Cushman, sent to Great Falls. RH October.
1913 - East bound[...]

1905 - I940

Clara has to be considered an
area and not a specific location.
Long time resident of the area Edgar
Lewis says “Clara was where the[...]on.

Clara entered the history books in
1905 when a post office was opened.
The post office was apparently
closed and in 1911 W. V. Lewis made
an effort to re-establish it. By 1912
Clara had status enough to qualify for
an effort to build a Lavina to Clara
phone line.

Clara’s claim to fame was Holly
Hall and Holly Club, the social anchor
for the area that gave the community
of Clara Flats an identity

The December 16, 1915 issue of the
Ryegate Weekly Reporter identified
Clara as a town, but such required a
stretched imagination. A post office
somewhere with Holly Hail and school
a few miles away. Nearby coal
mines, a blacksmith at Glendale,
livestock dealer, sawmill[...]in 1922. Clara
Lewis became GVCo. Superintendent
of Schools in 1922. Clara Lewis would
easily win the nomination as the most
famous local personality; the post
office named for her, and GVCo.
Superintendent of Schools.

The Clara school and post office
were b[...]ndoned about 1940.
because the area was about out of
people. The last building
disappeared when Wesley Johnson
tore down the hall. From a boom to a
bust in 30 years. 1. Code.

ron comm SUPERINTEHDENT

CLARA G. LEWIS

IIII I swim lwp‘l‘lbilEflU‘l‘leuHfit‘LllS—nflminltliuLOf
County Superinlcndcnt of Sclmuis of Golden Valluy Gilunly

at the Prrrnnries Lu be held August 29th 1912.

Sixteen ieurs experience nine years of which I have LIquiit

in rIIrIII schools of Montnnn

ims IIImiliurized ms with tho .

requirements necessnr) for It successful school system

. - i‘nili advoilisomcnt -
‘ .r. 1

+++++++++++++++++
4’ i-
+ CAMERON CREEK NOTES +
+ (By Special Correspondent) +
+ ,- +
+++++++++++++++++

The people of the Cameron Creek
neighborhood are proving right along
that they are a bunch at live wires,
At a watch meeting held in their new
school house New[...]3 short
literary program was enjoyed by all.
One of the amusing tealures was a rise
bate. “Resolved that knitting and sew-
ing[...]ing Father’s socks and
trousers. It is needless to say which
side won but hereafter for B. wh[...]

1910 - W. H. Lewis of Clara named vice president of [Musselshell county] Division Club. RR February 2[...]ranch. HH August 23.

1910 - Petition circulated to establish mail route between Clara and Rothiemay,[...]8.

1910 - Clinton Evans mail carrier from Lavina to Pine Grove, Clara a stop along the way.

1910 ~ Fred Meyers operated a mail and stage line from Lavina to Clara. RR October 21.

1910 - W. V. Lewis postmas[...]eron Creek. DIGV252.

1911 - Nearby Glendale post office opened. Post office may have been named for a homesteader in the
area by the name of Glendale.

1911 - W. V. Lewis made effort to reestablish Clara post office.

1912 ~ Effort made to build telephone line from Lavina to Clara. RFl July 5.

1913 - Erection began on 26x4[...]ecember 9.

1914 - S. L. Cook operated mail route to Pine Grove Thursdays and Mondays.

1914 - Holly C[...]t Mrs. Haise. FlFl April 17.

1914 - Construction of Clara school house began.

1914 - Miss Clara Lewis of Clara attended summer school in Red Lodge. HH Jul[...]n log Holly Club hall progressing, members expect to be in new quarters soon. Later
covered with siding. RR Ju/y31.

1914 - Clara Lewis of Clara rode horseback to Hedgesville, 30 mile trip. HH September 22.

1915? - Mail came up from Lavina to Emory store and post office to Glendale, Clara, Sahara, Pine Grove.
DIGV205.

1915 - Proposed railroad would run on south edge of Snowy Mountains.

1915 - Samuel’s four-piece orchestra played for dance at Holly Hall, two miles south of Clara post office.
RR December 10.

1915 - Clara[...]n Moe blacksmith at nearby Glendale.

1916 - Talk of Mutual Telephone Co. extend line from Lavina to Clara. J. M. Chandler of Lavina involved.

1916 - J. V. Lewis, local livestock dealer.

1916 - A. F. Elliot had sawmill in Snowies.

1916 - F. S.[...]1917 — Glendale Boosters’ Club contributed $5 to Red Cross. Fl'R March 16.

1918 - Cameron Creek R[...]ed, 21 members. RR January4.

1918 - Neighborhood of Cameron Creek built their own telephone line. RR[...]ghbors had surprise party at Ed Johnsons, evening of dancing and singing. Ll March 20.

1920 - County[...]rch 10.

1921 - Former Clara post office and home of Russell Barret, postmaster, burned. Photo DIGV 92.

1922 - Holly Club met at home of Vic Lewis. FlWFl January 19.

1921 - Judges for coming election of Clara Precinct No. 1 named. RWR November 25.

192[...]1922 - Big dance at Golden Viflllow Lake south of Clara sponsored by A. F. Sibley and Otho Zumwalt, Clara
merchant. LI J[...]republication nomination for GVCo. Superintendent of Schools. Photo DIGV 102.

1923 - Otto [Otho?[ Zumwalt of Clara applied for welfare of $20 per month. RWR October 9.

1923 - Holly Club[...]Clara post office. DIGV 198.

1930 - E. E. Moats, A. E. Vlfieber and Mrs. Metherd have new cars. FiFi March 27.
1930 ~ Holly club met at[...]d.

CLARA BUSINESS DIDECTODY
BLACKSMITH:
John Moe of nearby Glendale.
COAL MINING:
Winnie Williams mine east of Clara.
\fipond mine east of Clara.
Swanson mine east of Clara.
Dorrel mine east of Clara.
Zeier mine east of Clara.
EDUCATION:
School. Building erected and op[...]ITIES:
Clara Lewis, Elected County Superintendent of Schools in 1922.
LIVESTOCK DEALERS:
J. V. Lewis,[...]cted hall 1913. Abandoned 19405.
Glendale [suburb of Clara] Boosters Club, 1917.
Red Cross, 1919.
Farm[...]N AND ENTERTAINMENT:
Golden Vlfillow Lake, south of Clara.
Holly Club, sponsor of dances, parties, plays, social activity.
Holly Cl[...]rters for community business meetings.
SAW MILLS:
A. F. Elliot, 1916; F. S. Gwinn, 1916.
TRANSPORTATI[...]AD:
1910 - Fred Meyers operated stage line Lavina to Pine Grove.
Railroad proposed for south of Snowy Mountains.
STORE:
Otho Zumwalt, had a store on his ranch, 1919.

Glendale is another inland post office to the
northeast of Ryegate and belongs to the class of
towns sewed from the Lavina Post Office. This
district was largely homesteaded: the balance of
the land belonging to old—time ranchers and the
Northern Pacific Railroad. If the NP. build to their
survey, Glendale will have a much closer railroad
connection than it has now, The farmers of this
section are enjoying prosperity and fine cro[...]reported from there this year.

The following is a partial list of those who
are developing the Glendale territory:[...]. Dorrel, B[arlow] Higgins, George
D. Moats, John A. Moe, l. D. Sutherland, Orin C.
Tartt and l. W. \fipond. RWR December 16, 1915
and DIGV 104.

MINED COAL

I [Joe Huxtable] mined coal for Winnie
Williams [northeast of Clara] in the winter. Believe i
had the best time of my life around there those
years. i left there just before Christmas in 1929,
have been back a few times [as of 1971] hunting
and the like, but the old Flats are pretty deserted to
what they used to be. DIGV248.

PHOTOS

Photo of Clara post office and home of
Russell Barrett, postmaster. Burned in 1921. DIGV
192.

Photo of Holly Club Community Hall, taken
in 1953. DIGV193.

Photo of Bert and Clara Lewis taken in
1918. DIGV201.

SCHOOL AT CLARA
That fall [of 1931] we [Huxtables] moved
back to the homestead and down by Holly Hall at
the Emmet Moats place so that Emma May could go
to school at the Clara school. DIGV204.

SQUARE DANC[...]aig, who headquartered here;
apparently not known to anyone now living. During
the 19303 author L. Cad[...]ing winters cutting corral poles and hauling them
to Tuifley Bench with horses. Clarence Peddicord
wor[...]Canyon - named for an early day squatter
who had a cabin at the big spring which heads the
south fork of Cameron Creek.

Lost Turkey Spring - this spring, located far up
at the head of Pole Creek, was named so because
turkeys lost by the Armstrongs were found there.
DIGV193.

MAIL TO CLARA

During the fall of 1910, Dad [Clinton Evans]
bid and received the bid on a Star Mail route from
Lavina to Pine Grove, 3 country Post Office at the
old Shlfflet Ranch in the Snowy Mountains. The
mail route paid a few dollars under eight hundred
dollars a year for one trip a week, fifty six miles one
way. There were very few houses along the road
from Lavina to the Clara Post Office at the Bill Lewis
Ranch. D/[...]0 N RI N D
l [Clinton Evans] can remember so well of
saying “Uncle Bill [Lewis], what are you going to do
when the homesteaders take all your sheep
range?" He said, “Clinton, in a few years you can tie
a bacon rind behind your wagon and they'll all follow
you out of the country." DIGV252.

THANKS TO LOUIE LEHFELDT

l [Clinton Evans] can remember, too, and
have always felt grateful to Louie Lehfeldt [owner of
Adams Hotel] for his concern in my behalf. He used
to come to my room in the Adams Hotel in the
wintertime and say, "Sleep in kid, you’re not going
anywhere [to carry the mail to Clara] today. There's a
blizzard on.” i was fourteen years old at that time."
D/GV252.

ALMOST FROZE

I [Madie Huxtable McElvain] picked up the
mail at Ftoy Dorrell’s, Sahara post office, carried it to
the Lee Simpson ranch and back from April until
O[...]was 38 miles on
horseback and there were 17 gates to open and
close. i got up at 4 am. and fed the stock. milked
the cow, saddled my horse and I looked a the
thermometer « it was 54 below. I looked again
before i left and it was 48 below at 6 am. I rode 3
miles [from Clara] to Sahara. picked up the mail and
started out. i was north of Angus Cameron’s and a
blizzard began. I couldn’t see the gate or the
ground. The horse stopped. I was cold so I turned
back and stopped at Stuppe’s place. Clarence
Peddicord was there. l got warm and headed for
home. i had made 17 miles of the mail route. i put
the horse in the log barn, went to the cabin, built a
fire, took off my chaps and went to bed until the
cabin got warm. i had frozen my face. i had dressed
warm and this is what I had on: 2 women’s long
johns, 2 men‘s long johns, wool pants, jeans,
chaps, 2 pair of women’s stockings, 3 pair of men’s
wool stockings, overshoes, no shoes. A sheepskin
coat, mittens and gauntlets, an army wo[...]ver my face and neck. Just eyes and nose
out, and a scotch cap over it. That was one of the
times I almost froze to death. Mad/e M. Gwr‘n
McE/vain writing in DIGV2[...]Twin Coulee Schoo

CLARA POST OFFICE

After i [Marie \Meberj was married we had
the Clara Post Office. There wasn’t any salary with it,
only a commission on the stamps we sold, D/GV
198.

LIST[...]. and Mrs. Dave Nelson and children, Mr.
And Mrs. A. E. Weiber and daughter were guests
last Tuesday evening at the A. F. Elliot home. The
evening was spent listening to Amos and Andy
over the radio. HF? March 27,1930.[...]The girls are working on their third project
now. A picnic is planned for July 9. Dorothy
Metherd gave an interesting talk on color in relation
to clothing and Carol and Mary gave a fine
demonstration on posture. HR June 30, 1932.

BOOSTERS OF GLENDALE
The Boosters Club of Glendale [suburb of
Clara] have just made a contribution to the local Red
Cross by donating $5 to the work. FlFt March 16,
1917.

Sn wi

Sahara PO

I I
E lglélly Ha|l&
Clara School

Nonh

'north of Clam.- A free dance andi
[supper will be given Saturday;
night Sept. 6th at the ester EVE
embody invited to come. .

1:1:ening,

1 Forty" two guests attended the
1
113116 picnic SUDQBX‘ at 14116 (i011) 011.101:

1H31L1Friday night given by the
1officers of the Red-72' Gross Clam

1bmnch.

1, , Glendale News

Mr. 11111.1 Mrs. .1. A. Kirkpatrick
111111 childien of McLLone1 :11'e vis-
liting 101.1L11'0141101o.

Mr[...]“1.1115 spout 111 (luncinu 11nd singinn
111111 A112»: .1111111s1111 11111113 11 10111111-
1111111[...]ens living'in the vicinity ol
Clara and Rothiemay have petitioned
the postoffice department to establish
a mail route from Rothiemtsy to ‘Clara'
3 diatqpce of fifteen miles. About 60
2-reaidonta'- a'ndr patroh’smf: those— we
'otfices hav‘e signed the petition like—
maularge number of residents -11.

this vicinity 'who will ' be , gr[...]Wm. Drummond, the directors named
at the meeting of the Mutual Telephone Co.
have been busy the past week endeavoring to

get the organization of the company
complete. There is considerable talk of the
extension of all lines and especially out
from Emory to the west as far as Tufiley and
north to Clara.

A windrow of rocks picked by
homesteaders on Clara Flats. Some
claimed the rocks grew like potatoes.
They never ran out of rocks to pick, It has
been estimated that Clara Flats has
enough rock to cover the Snowy
Mountains 60 feet deep. Photo 199[...]World’s largest stack of hay wire at Edgar
Lewis ranch near Clara. This pile came from
thousands of tons of hay during a period of many
years. Baler twine was used in balers before WIre
was developed. One small example of the
chaging world of agriculture. Photo 1994 by L.

Cade.

Edgar Lewis, lifelong resident of
Clara area, stands at the site of the Shadow
Wew school, a few miles east of Clara in 24 1O
21, All that is left — a few pieces of wood,
rocks; only memories to confirm the location.
L. Cade.[...]945

Sahara post office postmark May 12,1933.
For a time, the Clara post office was located in
the Sahara stone house,

Addressed to Leland Cade in the hospital at
Roundup. A broken left arm.

Sahara post office located afew miles
northwest of Clara at the legendary Lewis
stone house. Stone structure still standing
as of 1998, in fair condition. L. Cade.[...]

Home of the Icsenbarq Cushman Communim Clubl! .....

CUSHMAN-1880-1969

The area of Cushman became a place
with an identity about 1880 when a post
office called Olden was opened at the
David Fratt ranch. lt was close to the
Musselshell River and north of what was to
later become the location of Cushman.

A few individuals raised cattle in the
area for the next 30 years. And then
development began on a grand scale. A
plat ofa good place to start a town - on a
river, close to Slayton and the Milwaukee
RR, a distance from Lavina. In 1909 a
post office was established and the
Templeton Lumber Company established
a store - homesteaders would buy lumber
by the wago[...]The
store was there waiting for the boom that
had to come, since the area had just been
opened for settlement. By 1911,
Cushman had enough activity to quality for
a news heading in the Lavina
Independent.

Soon a store, saloon, livery, elevator,
blacksmith shop,[...],
Stockyards, hotel, pumping station, coal
chute. A population of 30 in 1916.

The land wouldn’t support a family on
160 acres or 320 acres. Rural folks moved
away, went back home. A few concerned
citizens thought social life should have a
boost and so formed the Cushman
Community Club in 1929. For everyone
that liked to dance, the Cushman
Community Club hall was the place to be
every Saturday night for many years. The
Cushm[...]40
years - the last meeting was in 1969; the
end of the Cushman story.

The Cushman Community Club and
the Cushman Hall are legendary in the

memories of many, including this writer.
L. Cade.

nlden Valley

Musselshell River

CUSHMAN

TRACTOR

to Operate It

drive wh=e|.10tnchhce an :turiM wheel.

nah drive-wheel.
Underllnn: (run: urrin weilht to

Extlusive “mum [clr xhlltlnl duty.
ntely p[...]l

THE'FORD':

Develops 16 H. P. at Belt. Docs I
Not Require Skilled Labor '

24 inches ul lnctlan :urflce. minutes «a mix'

Double driv:--»provided by bit but][...]

CUSHMAN CHRONOLOGY

1880 - Olden post office opened at Fratt ranch.

1882 - David Fratt came to Cushman, “conducted a cattle ranch...about a mile north of the present
site of Cushman.”

1883 - David Fratt and John T. Murphy [79 outfit] brought 6,000 head cattle to Musselshell. DIGV 12

1884 - Olden post office closed.

1908 - Plat filed for record in Yellowstone County.

1909 - Post office opened at Cushman.

1909 - Templeton Lumber[...]. X. Sudduth sold his Broadview experimental farm to a syndicate from Illinois.

1910 — Order establis[...]910.

1910 - School opened.

1911 - “Cushman” a news column heading. Ll Apr/73 1.911.

1911 - Progressive League of Cushman working for a depot and “Y” at intersection of railroads.
RWY? Jam (9, 1.911 andJme 29 1.911.

1[...]Cushman store.

1911 - Jim Burns, superintendent of the Horse Shoe Bar remix. 12/? Illa/‘06 IZ 1.911.

1911 - Mrs. Nels Dolve in charge of culinary department at [Cushman] hotel.

1912 - S[...]d Fratt, age 71, died in Billings March 19, owner of Horseshoe Bar ranch at Cushman
and in mercantile[...]man. flWBJzL/yai 1.912.

1912 — Faint whispers of a depot at Cushman on Billings-Northern RR.[...]

1912 - E. C. Skinner depot agent for Great Northern.

1912 - W. A. Boles, proprietor of Cushman Hotel and store. mm 1%9/19, 1.912

1912 -[...]12 - W. X. Sudduth auction sale “2.5 miles west of Lavina on the Milwaukee and one half miles
east of Cushman on the Great Northern...” REA/aim 1, 1.912

1912 - Rellie Sanders [later of Franklin] working on grain building at Cushman wh[...]13 June 29, 1.912

1912? - Slayton Mercantile Co. of Lavina “has built a large store building [at Cushman] and will

put in a branch stock of large size...” 1? WRDecemberIE 1.915

1913 - “We understand Fratt ranch sold to Kingman lnv. Co.” I? W'li’ié'bZZ 1.91.2

1915 - Methodist Ladies Aid society[...]store building. RimflayZZ 1.915.

1915 - Photos ofof bonds to build new school. REM] Z 1.915

1915 -W. D. Corne[...]Sunday school. 1? F77? MayZZ 1.915.

1916 - Harry A. Bolles, postmaster.

1916 - Rasmussen had a stage to Slayton for rail passengers.

1916 - Mr.G. Pichon[...]R express and telegraph agent.

1916 - Population of Cushman 30. 1.915 Polk/11017121122 Gazetteapage11[...]azaar. RR 031065122 1.916:

1917 - Belchers moved to Cushman to the Old Fratt ranch, also known as Horse Shoe Bar[...]re burned, D. H. Everett manager and owner. ERMam/i .9, 1.917.

1919 - First appearance of two aeroplanes; USqotemAerJZ 1.91.9.

1919? - Pea[...]er 27: “...leased my ranch...”

1920 - Joseph A. Bishop opened blacksmith shop July 19. EPWJa/y29 1.929.

1920 - H.A.Bolles of Cushman, candidate for county treasurer. 12W}? (l[...]9.

1930 - Effort began by Cushman Community Club to install a hardwood floor in hall.

1930s - Cavender house[...]? - Andrew Dale moved Rasmussen [or Dolve] school to Cushman for hall.

1944 - Well drilled for Cushma[...]b hall.

1946 - $200 deposited with Montana Power to get electricity for school.

1947 - Cushman hall added elect[...]dly damaged in wind and hail storm, the beginning of the end.
1969 - Last meeting of the Cash. Comm. Club February 18, at the Lavina Methodist church.
1975 - Cushman post office closed.

References:
Ryegate Weekly Reporter[...]w‘ton Times-Clarion, Bicentennial Issue 1976 ”To Promote the Social
Welfare of the Community.”

One Car of Corn
Two Cars of Fine Hay

Over at Fratt & Rasmussen‘ s is where you will
find this and the Quality and Prices are right.

A good many people who read our ads have nev-

er been to Cushman. That’s the reason that
. you are not ”onto" Cushman prices. We have
.- had a very satisfactory increase in our- business

duri[...]t we are treating the

people right. It pays them to come a long way

to deal at our store. Quality, Quantity. Right
. Pri[...]the people always find here.

, Mayhe'gyou want to get hold of a little fencing?
Our store iswthe place for you to start for.

' 'We’ve got ’em’all beat and they acknowledge it.
when it comes to Prices on Farm Machinery.

Th ‘ 01. ' or‘the[...]_
_ . e , 1067‘ v Feed, Hay, Seed Graln, Etc.

i

l

ND: 28 S‘I'Iky Plow When you'cannot find Hai. Seed Grain or[...]head ' anywhere else. come here. We never are out of
, . OEJFS ClfiSS- 1 these things and we don’t charge a. big price.

Muny' excellent features
on this member ofa customer, always a customer.

Ask to m Ilu No. 25.

Willi? ' F r all & ..[...]

He [Jess Garfield] homesteaded
northeast of Broadview and went in
partnership with Herb Belch[...]8.

BOUGHT TEAM

In 191'? William Evans came down
to Roundup. The town was about to pave
its streets. Bought one team from
Belcher and Garfield at a sale in
Lavina. They’re the kind that pull the fire
wagon. Plenty of action, fifteen hands
[high one hand is 4"], the[...]ar the Belcher»
Garfield headquarters were moved to
what had been the David Fratt Ranch at
Cushman During that partnership, Jess
went to Miles City once a month for seven
or eight months of the year to buy a
carload or two of horses which he and
hired hands broke or finished breaking and
then sold to the homesteaders who were
coming into this territory every day.
When the term of this partnership expired
it was to be the choice for Herb Belcher to
buy or sell and he chose to buy. Jess then
bought a small place at Slayton, this being
Where the leau[...]t the Garfield and
Belcher ranch and has returned to his
home in Miles City. RWR May 27, 1915.

BELGHERS MOVE
TO CUSHMAN

In 191'? Herb [Belcher] sold his
interest in the [Slayton Mercantile] store
to D. W. Slayton and bought [Jess]
Garfields interest in the horse business.
selling many horses to the homesteaders.
Horses were bought by the carioad in Miles
City, then broke to work before being
resold. In 191'? the Belchers moved to
Cushman on what was lfllOWIl as the old
Fratt ra[...]ng post [also post office] called
Olden They used to trade with the indians
there. Herb Belcher writin[...]_It‘.\\'ill be ('0 \Your Advant-
age to Investigate ‘ l

l

Belcher & .Garfitm

Itt'!

Messrs. A. C. Bayer: and G. HI
Belcher returned from their trip to
SL Paul Monday. in advance 0! ten
«unloads of lcattle which they pur-
chased while there. The shlpment
includes steers. halter: and calves.
rOne carload of steers were taken by
D. W. Slayton. who will run them on
his ranch along the river, and the
balance to he dlvlded among the three;
gentlemen. Belcher 5:[...]their bunch—.
es, while the State Bank expects to
dispose of its share to the ranchers
in the neighborhood. as soon[...]

Sudduth Ranch of Gashman and Broadview

SUDDUTH FARM SOID

Famous Broadview Experimental Farm Sold to
Eastern Capitalists

One of the most important land deals
in the history of eastern Montana hasjust been
consummated by which Dr. W. X. Sudduth,
one of the leading exponents of intensive
farming in America, has transferred his[...]us Broadview [experimental]
demonstration farm...[to a) new syndicate [of
7 men from illlnois).

Dr. Sudduth and George A. Waterman
of Broadview, have formed a reality (realty)
corporation and will be the Montana
representatives of the syndicate.

The investment...runs into six
figures...many thousands of acres... millions of
dollars...the syndicate will be in charge of Dr.
Sudduth, and will be operated under
supervision of the (Montana?) bureau of plant
industry. MAO/IQ 1.4709

CUSHMAN
Ed Heacock of the Sudduth ranch has
been unloading a car of alfalfa meal and a lot
of molasses with which to make a feeding
ration for their hogs. RWApr/M M712

Fair[...]adview,
was Dr. Sudduths. This gentleman also had a
river ranch near Lavina. He tried to promote
the use of alfalfa and on one occasion went to
Chicago and had flour made of alfalfa and
bread made of the flour. He also raised hogs
and had his men fe[...]Be/cf/e/E‘Faml/y/h D/G‘l/ ///'.'

We located a “locator”...he agreed
to show us some vacant land for a fee of $25
each. He took uswest (of Lavina) through the
Slayton ranch where we crossed the
Musselshell River on a steel bridge, [the only
one for miles around] and[...]science and gave talks at the
schools on the use of alfalfa. He was
convinced that alfalfa was a very nutritious
food, and when he had his sole he[...](in WI), Mr. Slayton
established each one on part of his holdings
along the Musselshell river. Dan and Bert
received each a part of the Sudduth ranch.
There was a house on the lower part where
Dan lived, and Bert built a house on the upper
part. Ernest was on part of the Trask ranch and
lived in the stone hotel of old Lavina. S/ayfon
s/on/ page [4’4 0/611 P/70/0 of afl'g/ha/ /0g
cab/)7 on Sadat/#7 ranchpage MUD/6V.

in March of T91 0, i went to work on the
ranch of W. X. Sudduth. Raga/7 Rorabeck
Wflfihg/hD/GVpageMZ

Another old timer was a man known as
“Doc” Sudduth. He had a ranch on the
Musselshell near Lavina and was a great
believer in the nutritive qualities of alfalfa. He
made tea and bread from it, among other
things, and was quite a hog raiser using alfalfa
for feed. Roy 0mm wnfih[...], lll.,... had
made arrangements with Dr. Sudduth to come
here and take charge of his farms in Lavina
and Broadview, but as Mr, Sud[...]eir
plans...upset. R/éMa/chZé /9/.5

T. S. Hunt of Broadview, formerly
superintendent of the Sudduth ranch. spoke
on “Soil Conservation." RRFeb/Z/a/VZ 19/2

David Fratt was one of the
largest individual cattle owners in
Montana..[...]Bork, on December 27,
l848...

In l864 he decided to go to
Idaho... journey by on team in a
company of emigrants. From Omaha the
party proceeded along the north side
of the Platte River, and opposite
Scott’s Bluffs,[...]d Red
Bluff, they changed their minds and
decided to come to Montana.

In 1878 he moved to the Shields
River...and to the Musselshell River
Bailey in 1882... He conducted a cattle
ranch on the Musselshell about a mile
north of the present site of Cushman.
This was also a trading post on the
stage line. It was called Dlden.

His death occurred on the 19th
of March at his residence in Billings.
Trading Post,[...]ituated on the
Great Northern about l2 miles S.E. of
Ryegate and was for many years the
home of the David Fratt ranch,
which comprised many hundreds of
acres.

The coming of the farmer, in
time, caused this stock ranch to
suspend operations for lack of range,
and taking in as a partner, Mr. Hnton
Rasmussen, branched out into t[...]not bemoan his fate that the
farmer had taken all of his [free]
range not much, but like all wise

people squared himself around to the
new conditions and started into
business, selling material to the
farmer in place of stock to the packing
houses. David Fratt was a true
Montanan and the state lost one of her
best citizens at his death over a year
ago. He was what might be called a
“rough man of the west" but he was
also a diamond in the rough, and many
of the farmers around Cushman and
Belmont received help from his hand

when they came to need. lilUH
December 16, 1915.
FBHTT 8' MURPH'I’
[John T.] Murphy [owner of

Seuentynine Ranch or Montana Cattle
[30.] and David Fratt brought 6,888
head [of cattle] to the Musselshell in
1885. Lester P. Baldwin writing in DIGU
page 12.

FRRTT HERE IN 1888s

Fratt was a hardy old—time
cattleman who came to the country in
the 1888s. He had cowboys working
for him but would also drive around his
range in a buckboard pulled by a team
of horses. He always had a heavy
winter coat along and when
questioned about[...]as he had
they wouldn’t ask and that nobody but
a fool or a tenderfoot would try to
predict the weather in Montana. Roy
Olson[...]

Dad Hake Schladweiler] was a
trap drummer and played in various
dance bands around Ryegate. Later
he was to play for many years [in the
30s and 40s] with the[...]the Cushman
school house last Saturday night was a
decided success with John P. Currie as
violinist.[...]day night was not
so well attended as common, but a
good time was reported by alL RWR
May 27, 1915.

CUSHMAN COMMUNITY CLUB

F O R M E D

On November 23, 1929, a small group of
people met to form a new organization in
Golden Valley County. They we[...]syth, Mr. and
Mrs. C. H. Ashdown, Mr. and Mrs. J. A.
Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Vern Parker, Mr. and
Mrs. Ma[...]d Mrs. George
Rediske, Mr. R. 0. Lewis and Mrs H. A.
Bolles.

Each of these charter members gave ten
dollars to help purchase a building...

The purpose of this club shall be to
provide a place for social gatherings of the
community and to promote as far as possible the
social welfare of the community...

By 1936 the music was costing $15 per
dance so in 1937 the club began hiring bands for
70% of the floor.

Strayer closed out his business [grocery
store] and a group of people purchased the
building and formed the Cushman Community
Club. G F. [fer/Like wh‘jngjjz DIET/115.

The Cushman Community Club
at Cushman served a turkey supper at
midnight for their dance Saturday
night. A large crowd, swell eats and ato work for Fratt and Rasmussen
Lumber Yard at Cushman. Rasmussen
had a stage to take passengers
connecting between the Milwaukee
and the Great Northern railroads. It
was necessary to ford the river to
make the connections at Slagton. when
the river was too high to ford, a
swinging bridge, made from hog wire
and wood slats, enabled the
passengers to cross. Elmer Holue
writing in DIGU Ill.

Before t[...]ina. He took
passengers and baggage from one
town to the other. Sometimes he was
short on time and had to take a short
cut and ford the River. Boy Olson
writing in [JIEU 113.

Mr. [J]. D. Cornell who has a
homestead near here has gone back to
work on the G. N. coal chute in
Bushman. Hill}? October 28, 1915.

THE BR CURL CHUTE
“Coal came to Cushman for the
RH steam engines on gondolas. It was
dumped into a pit. an elevator raised
the coal to a bin. During Llllllll, lots of
trains went through, magbe 24 in 24
hours.[...]

IJJHTEB FOB RB STEHMERS:

Cushman had a [HR] pump house
on Belcher land for filling the w[...]e that it was
Ed Pearl, also Floyd Corbin. It was a
full time job. Flll of the people in the
area hauled water from our place to
get drinking water. Some had buggies,
also cars.[...]en
gallon cans. The Eushman depot was
later moved to the Mike Brgand place
south of Cushman. Don Belcher
commenting in 1996.

Charles[...]ing plant and pumping
station at Painted Robe [NE of
Broaduiew 5 miles] and then at
Bushman for two ge[...]ere no longer needed. Joe
Delaney writing in DIEU I75.

SPORTS
Mr. Ball was a star pitcher for the ball
team... Some of the names who played...Paul
and Ned Phippips, Elm[...]Ned
Phillips. DISK/112.

TRE ANDP T FIE

Some of the neighbors I remember
were...Bolles who ran the store and post office
at Cushman. Roy Olson Writingin DIGV 1 14.[...]in
operation [1971] and also houses the US. Post
Office. DIGVIIE

I also helped Mr. Bolles in the
Cushman store in Ju[...]gord wn‘tingin DIGV 165.

Recognizing the value of a trading
point. the Slayton Mercantile Company has
built a large store building and will put in a
branch stock of large size. This concern is one
of the largest in the Valley and is owned and
controlled by D. W. Slayton, a former stock
raiser of the Valley. [Mr.Slayton] is president
and the largest stock holder of the State Bank
of Lavina. RWR December 16, 1915.

Cushman had the g[...]bout 1919, maybe about 50 people there.
There was a restaurant and store and hotel
there. The dance hall was at one time a store.
Charlotte Osse, long time resident of
Cushman. commenting in a letter of December
18, 1995.

Cushman is the place for Big[...]Jug/2.2 1.915.

The Templeton Lumber Company has a
well stocked yard and nice office building on
Main street [in Hedgesville]. The local
manager is B. F. Reynolds. a young man from
Iowa whom the Templetons brought w[...]started yards at Broadview
and Cushman. JGJApn‘I 2, 1909.

I ran the store at Cushman for many
years. I was cold for 25 years. The stove
wouldn‘t heat the store. I had the post office
too. Charlotte Osse commenting during a Visit
November 5. 1995 at Lavina.

CUSHMAN
Population 30; a village on GN 8r. CM
&St P Rys 7 miles N of Belmont the banking
point; Hotel G. Pichnon prop; grain elevator,
Harry A. Bolles PM; Harry A. Bolles farm
implements; Cushman Cash store - G.[...]ed on the Great Northern
about 45 miles northwest of Billings. The agent in
1912 was E. C.Skinner. G.[...]church services in
the Cushman Hall once or twice a
month during the time Reverend Turner
had the Lavina, Hyegate territory. He
drove a team and was often a visitor
at the [Fratt] ranch. Huth Lane Garfield[...]016]] page 109.

The Methodist Ladies Hid society
of Cushman, will meet with Mrs.
Gordon on the bench,[...]ybody welcome. mun July 29,
1915.

The Ladies Hid of Cushman is
busy planning their annual bazaar,
which will be held the 28th of this
month. RH October 20, 1916.

“About 1927,[...]Bela/bar.

SALOON

Cushman at the time was a busy place
wth an [railroad] agent and three [24 hours a day]
operators at the depot and an elevator, a dance
hat. a blacksmith shop. livery barn and lumberyard
and several houses as well as a hotel Also there
was a grocery store, post office and saloon At
one time there were two stores, and a bus from
Slayton, a two-room school with 40 to 45 students
and two teachers. Cavender was the drector of
thegmshman band. 14/er ism/79f: afar/If; D/G'l/

Later [after the RR station was opened] a
man named John Brebenc pu up a saloon and
hotel, bit this was destroyed by tire 0/61/11?

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Blacksmith shop will be open for
busi[...]gasoline
for sale. Satisfaction guaranteed. Jos. A.
Bishop, Cushman, Mont. 121W? Jalylfi 1.920.[...]ing included;- Boudméficscg

ixturesand 3 lots. A going; business
and paying. ~0w'ner Retiring. ‘-‘_A big op—
portunity for some one. Any reas[...]

The era of the great railroads-steam engines and long strings of rail cars of all shapes and sizes
ended in most of the small Montana towns just after World War ll [1946]. As the child of railroading parents
and grandparents, our lives r[...]rail lines. People living in the now Ghost Towns of Golden Valley County obtained their
livelihood as employees of the rail roads which ran east and west [Milwaukee[...]coal chute foreman for the GNRR at the metropolis
of Cushman. Montana-population about 50 at the peak of the steam engine era. He was responsible for
keep[...]p trains came through the soldiers would hang out of the windows:
whistling, hooting. and yelling at a[...]this teenagerl All our local boys were either
off to war or too young to be interesting.

The coal chute was a large wooden structure about 75 feet tall with a deep pit underneath. It had
a series of buckets, chains and pulleys not unlike a water wheel, which transported the coal from the pit
below up to a large hopper at the top of the structure. At the top was a chute mechanism operated
manually by the fireman[...]uld slide down into the coal bin [tender] portion of the train‘s engine. After filling the tender, t[...]uld release the chains and the chute would return to its original position. Much of the
operation of the coal chute was by gravity with the help of a system of chains, pulleys and buckets.
However, the filled buckets of coal were lifted to the hopper at the top by a gasoline engine situated in the
very bottom of the building, The lireman’s job on the train was to shovel the coal from the tender into the
firebox; manually, most of the time.

This big old building was MT. EVEREST so far as we kids were concerned. I think that every kid in
Cushman attempted to climb to the top at one time or another. This must have been much to their
parent’s dismay [if they knew about it of course]. Gene Forsyth, my closest friend, challenged me one
day, “I dare you to climb up the chute." Wrong thing to say to a tomboy like me! Up i started and Gene
right behind. We made it all the way to the top but had serious doubts about halfway up when gravity
started to grab at us as the old building tended to cant outward a bit. We stuck our heads over the edge
only to discover my Dad was up there working on the bucke[...]nt even though no one had specifically forbade us to take on this particular
adventure. We were scared silly and started to try to go back down but the height and gravity were just too
much for us so we retreated back up to the roof and sat there, thoroughly miserable.

Dad shinnied down a pulley on the inside where the buckets went up and down, but grinning,
said to us. "You got up here. now figure out how to get back downl You will when you get hungry

enough." As soon as he was out of sight we crawled over to check out the cable he had shinnied down. I
never saw such a deep dark pit in my life before. The only light was a tiny spot of light at the bottom where
the pit opening was as[...]but our knees were so weak we couldn‘t walk for a few minutes. We sat down and
contemplated our condition and the fate we were sure awaited us when we got to the house. We slipped
in the back door acting as[...]d just been right there all the time. No one said a word and it was
never mentioned--ever. Our faces were black from coal dust. We weren‘t aware of it as we had washed all
traces from our hands and arms before coming to the table. Since we though no one knew what we had
done, we figured no need to rock the boat. We never tried that stunt again.

The coal was transported to Cushman via gondola cars and boxcars from the various coal
producing areas of Montana. During the war, gondolas were in short supply so much of the coal came in
boxcars which had to be unloaded by hand with a huge shovel on wheels. The gondolas were easy to
unload. They had bottoms that opened up by means of a lever and dumped the coal directly into the pit
beneath the coal chute Once, when Dad was unloading a boxcar, the coal jammed in the pit and Dad
went down with a big iron bar to pry it loose. it started to slide and buried Dad in an avalanche of coal to just
above his shoulders. Had my uncle not been nearby and heard his cries for help, he would have lost his
life! After being freed, he just smiled[...]t that
close!"

The water tank was situated close to the coal chute along the railroad tracks. That was also part of
my father’s job-—keeping the tank full of treated water for the steam engines. There was a three-story
“treating" plant about a half mile from the railroad tracks and a big tank there Water was pumped from the
Musselshell River a mile away to a large cistern, then into a huge tank in the treating plant itself where it
was treated with lime and soda before being pumped to the big tank up by the tracks. The water from the
river was too hard for the engines to use as it left deposits on the pipes and insides of the engine and
boiler that would make them inoper[...]ad the cars into his pickup and transport it down to the treating plant where he would off-load it
and hoist it up to the top of the treating plant where it would be stored and used. He would dump 3~50#
sacks of lime and 3-50# sacks of soda into the full tank of water and mix it to dissolve it by means of giant
paddles turned with a cranking wheel. Sometimes he would let me do the mixing. After it was dissolved,
he would go back downstairs to the room where the three enormous pumps were situated and start them
up to pump the treated water up to the big tank at the railroad tacks. The three in-line pumps and
attendant equipment were very similar to those used in oil field compressor and transmission facilities.
They filled nearly the whole downstairs of the plant.

The water tank up by the tracks sat on a high heavy platform and had a big spout that was also
manually operated by means of chains and pulleys. The fireman would unhook the chain and pull the
spout down to fill the engine boiler, then release it and a series of weights and pulleys would cause it to
retract back up against the tank and he would hook the chain down to hold it in place. Often times 1 would
run up to the tracks when the trains were filling wi[...]

Adele, do you want to go for a ride?" I would climb aboard and ride down the tracks a mile or so. The
engineer would stop the train and let me off and I would walk home. Some times l got to blow the whistle
and even operate some of the controls. What a thrill! I would wave to all the sheep and cows along the
way.

Bridge crews were brought in once a year to repair and maintain bridges, replace rails and
do[...]rew train was an entity unto
itself. it contained a kitchen car, dining car, sleeping cars, office ca[...]l supply cars. The Bridge
Crew Foreman when l was a child was a Japanese man named George Irye, a friend of my family. We were
invited to have dinner with him a couple of times during the term the crew was in Cushman. It was always a
sumptuous meal done in the most elegant of Japanese traditions with Mr. Irye dressed in the Japanese
clothing. The Bridge Crew trains were always tastid[...]

The coal chute held maybe ten tons. A railroad car load of coal was 20 tons I think, but I am not
sure. The coal was just like it came from the mine, it wasn‘t sorted for siz[...]ing plant for the water was located approximately a half mile from the railroad. The lime
and soda were stored on the top floor. Near the treating plant was a bunk house for coal chute and
treating plant help[...]er in the treating tank was stirred by hand using a crank that turned large paddles for about 15
minutes or about 200 cranks per tank of water.

Lime and soda sacks were loaded, six at a time. on a little elevator at the bottom of the treating
plant and hoisted up to the top by a block and tackle assembly operated by hand. They were off loaded
and stacked around the perimeter of the top floor. This was usually an eight hourjob[...]ped in.

In that area, only the concrete footings of the elevator remain [8] between the stockyards an[...]river (or Belchers?)]. Milwaukee RR 2 miles north of
Cushman along Musselshell River. Sketch by[...]

James B. Elliott established a sheep
ranch about 1888 two miles east of what
was to become Emory. At that eany date,
the country was[...]911 and Emory was on
its journey into the history of Golden
Valley County.

In 1912, there were enough children in
the area that a school was established 1/2
mile south of the Emory post office, in the
southeast corner of 18 9 22.

The spot became a promising town
with the establishment, in 1912, of a
branch store of the Slayton Mercantile
Company of Lavina. During that same
year. an effort was made to get a phone
linetrom Lavinato Emory and Clara.

Homesteaders raised a good crop of
grain in 1914, a very good crop in 1915.
They were thrilled with the “proven”
productivity of the area.

Settlers constructed a community hall
at Emory town [not to be confused with the
school] in 1918. Now they had their own
meeting place and a community identity.

A Farmers Union was functioning in
the area in 1921, and so was an Emory hall
board.

Emory grew to have a post office,
store, and blacksmith shop. When the[...]held at the school in
1991, all that remained was a badly
weathered log building. Propaganda and
optimism brought the settlers to the area.
Hard times and a mean climate cleared
most of them out. Emory -1911-1933; 22
years from beginning to end. L. Cade.

BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE A SLAYTON MERCANTILE STORE”,

Golden Valley County

.Two miles northwest of Emory, on the A.. FISibIeyl

IIIII DA

At Golden WillowLak'e

I t

SAI. A II-

DANCE PAVILION OVER THE WATER
Music B) the B[...]Candidates “ill all be there Everybody assured of
a good time. It' you/cant dance _ycu can take a boat
~ride—Cmne. and celeb: ate theJainpan¢the[...]f convenient. , ~ _ y:

mGlVBnWflTSIBI-EYWH1Hr—I;
Ollie Zunfwalt, 0hr; Herchan[...]

hauling the hall away [to
Lavina] when the Harmon Bunk house
family arrived[...]before we [Harmons] Outhouse

H
were there " [:1 I: orse barn

“The post office was at the Slayton[...]Harmon. Township 9

Range 22
Nonh
Dick Stratford of Billings, T

owner of Emory as of
1 997.

n D

Emory town 1/2 mile II! CD

north of school Emory school

To Roundup 30 _>

Clar®

Rothiemay

® T Twi[...]

EMORY

J. B. Elliot [of Emory] returned from Miles
City Monday where he disposed of his clip of
190,000 pounds [of wool] at 16 1/49). Fi’Fl August
7, 1908. Elliofranch2miles east of Emory.

LAVINA NEWS

Governor Norris has appointed J. B. Elliot

as a member of the State Board of Sheep
Commissioners. RH March 17, 1911,

LAVINA NEWS NOTES

Mr. A. A. Meacham of rI‘Wiri Conley
bench was in town a few days ago and
purchased a line of up-to-date farm machinery
from Phillips and Shoemaker.[...],
and the development on quite an extensive scale
of a coal mine [unknown location] in his
locality, Will furnish a number of men with a
full season’s work. fl}? Apr)! 26; 1.912.
Meac[...]NEWS

The Slayton Mercantile company has
decided to open a general store at Emory, about
20 miles north of Lavina. Several loads of
Lumber have already been hauled out, and
work has already begun on the erection of the
building, which will be about 24x46. It is the
intention to carry a complete, up-to—date line of
everything that is handled at the big store in
Lavina. The store will be in charge of Mrs. J.
F. Lynch, and we predict a bright future for the
new store under its capable management. RR
Alay24 1.912 A pro/bet ofD. W Harlan.

NE“ NOTES FROM LAVINA

“THE WHITE Cl’lY”

A meeting will be called for July 6 at
Emory. Mont. for the purpose of organizing
a stock company to build a telephone line
from Lavina [through Emory] to Clara. All
interested in this movement are requested to
be present. RR July 5, ISIE.

LAVINA
You should see the nice line of dry goods
and ladies’ and misses‘ shoes just arrived at the
Emory Branch [of Slayton Merc.] store.
Ll September 13,1912.[...]in Lovino
Wednesday from his ranch ll miles north of
town, and states that the new Wheoton and
Emory roads [Iedding to Lovind) will soon be
surveyed, 05 three viewers from Roundup
were in that country the first of the week
inspecting the proposed route. It is exp[...]y and they will
commenced threshing at once. They have several
jobs on the northeast bench [out of Lavina];
besides a big run around Sunnyside, Emory and
Glendale. FiF[...]stacking
these days, and judging from the number of shocks
in the fields and stacks of grain to be seen, farmers
will be more than pleased with the returns of their
labor, and any in doubt of what this fair expanse of
Montana can afford to produce would forever be
silent if they visited E[...]BOUNTY CLAIMS

Eighty—Six Hides fire Presented to
Sheriff Fisco During First Ten
Days This Month

Twelve different persons brought to Sheriff
Fisoo 86 hides of predatory animals, mostly
coyotes, for which they received bounty certificates
during the first ten days of July.
Thomas Calder, Emory 10 coyotes, $80.
W, S.[...]ry Gareti, J. F. Lynch, C. G. Wood. From page
484 of County Commissioner minutes at Roundup,
fo[...]

ONE NOIS? ROUND lUINS FOR
HEDGES

By massing a vehment volume of swats in
the ninth inning, Hedgesville defeated t[...]Sunday afternoon and converted
what was beginning to hearken like an Emory
victory into a bacon toting campaign for the locals.
Final score, 7 to 6.

The winning team had 7 errors to Emory’s
6. Moatz struck out 8 men to Emory’s 6. Double
play - Bangert, Bean, Byrnes.[...]d June 23, 1914.

WHEAT NEVER LOOKED BETTER

Some of the finest samples of spring and
winter grain ever seen raised in this section of the
country, has been brought in from the ranches in
the neighborhood, and according to reports, the
prospects for a bumper yield are general thruout
this whole section.

Ft. A. Munson of Tufiley submitted a
sample of winter wheat this week from a field of 25
acres. The wheat stands four feet, 10 inches h[...]om Vern Bristol’s ranch
at Emory.

The ranchers have already commenced to
haul out their [binder] twine, and it will be only a
short time until the big yields will begin to come in.
HR July 16, 1915. Joe Cade claimed he raised 45
bushels of wheat to the acre that year, and after that
for many years it was zero or close to that.

EMORY

Emory is another inland post office lying
north of Tuffley and is on the Lavina Star Route out
of the Lavina post office. A large portion of this land
was homesteaded from the United States[...]who are making
good. There are many more than we have
acquaintance with, but we mention a few because
of their prominence. A. Boginis, J. P. Center, I. E.
Lanier, Geo. Meacham, E. J. Mills and Nichola[...]cember 16, 1915.

EMORY
Musselshell County; A p o 20 miles N of
Lavina on the C M & St P Ry the shipping and
bank[...]s in the Emory country are
quarantined on account of smallpox. RF? November
17, 1916.

EMORY NEWS

There will be aof Lavina and Emory [community team] at
the latter place last Friday night was well attended
and a splendid game played. However, Emory was
too many for Lavina and the score of 21 to 11 was in
their favor. They expect to play another game at
Lavina next week Friday and of course the tables
will be turned. FlFl February17[...]Telephone Co., which has
recently been organized to operate between
Lavina and Emory, held a business meeting at
Tammany hall last Saturday, a large crowd being in
attendance. G. H. Belcher was elected president of
the company and L. H. Box, secretary and

treasurer. RF] August 23, 1917.

EMORY NEWS

A public meeting is to be held at the Emory
hall Friday evening, May 3rd,, at which time there
will be a service flag raising. This flag will contain 24
stars, which represent the 24 boys who have been
called to the service from the Emory community.
There will[...]Oldfield, Hon. D. W. Slayton and Rev.
Father Kuhn of Ryegate. An auction sale will be
held also, after[...]supper
and dancing will be enjoyed the remainder of the
evening. FlFl April 26, 1918.

EMORY NEWS

The board of directors of the Emory hall
met last Sunday for their annual banquet and to
discuss the general policy of the institution for the
coming year. "Big Chief” [Joe] Bradish was elected
to some high and mighty office, the nature of which
we do not hardly savay, but it means the custodian
of the royal exchequer. Fi’WR March 31, 1921.

EMORY lBBlGflTIIJN

There is some talk of roughly
making a preliminary survey of the
Twin toulee and Cameron creek
territory. and while this would he a
small project it would be a paying one
if enough water can be secured from
the flood waters of these two creeks.
BUJH Dctober 25, 1921.

EMORY P[...]rfield
13, W. 0. Wood 47: County Treasurer: Henry A.
Bolles 25, C. C. Peterson 23: County Sheriff: E.[...]Harry Ringwald 6, John Sorta 0: County
Attorney: A. D. Baker 32, Stuart McHatfie 27:
County Assessor: A. W. Harrison 15, Roy S.
Johnson 41: Co. Superintendent of Schools:
Clara G. Lewis 39, Mrs. J. Minnemann 18,[...]OCAL BREVITIES
W. J. Phillips delivered tour cans of brook
trout, which arrived on No. 16 [Milwaukee RR]
Wednesday evening, to Golden \Mllow Lake, on
the Aulden Sibley ranch ne[...]endent May 26, 1922. Golden WI/ow Lake 2
miles NW of Emory.

They attended church at the Emory sc[...]ret Alexander
writing in DIGVpage 185.

Emory had a blacksmith and he made a
brand for us, Y lazy A bar. it wasnt John Moe. i
rode up on a saddle horse to get the brand made.
Leonard Mashino commenting in[...]mory.
This was before the Lynch family was there. A hail
storm wiped Lynches out and they left, which[...]lephone in the
neighborhood and l often was asked to deliver
messages by horseback. Mary [Lynch] McVey
writing in DIG V, Page 208.

“Some of their neighbors were John
Mashino, Amos Sackett,[...]der writing in DIGV page
184.

When the mail came to Emory it came up
about twice a week from Lavina on a horse drawn
stage. On one such trip to Emory to get the mail,
my sister-in-law and I were driving a horse and
buggy. The harness broke and neither of us knew
how to fix it and we didn‘t have any wire or twine so
we took the lacings from our corsets and tied it
together enough to get home. Sadye Anderson
Stang/and writing in DIGV page 194.

In 1936 I tore down an old community hall in
Emory, with Kenneth Russel’s help, hauled it to
Lavina on a four wheeled trailer, to build a
basketball gym south of the Lavina School. Herbert
Clemens writing in DIGV page 172.

in l9l2 i worked on :1 gas plow outfit until
August when it become too dry to plow. i then
got a job with Bill Strdndhon who was raising
horses and moving to at new location near
Emory and he gave me thejob of cutting logs
for the new buildings. Stormy/lien mfihg r7
D/G‘l/page 21.3. A//e/7 homesfeadeo’ of 1779
wesf endof/he 270144295:

Vast herds of buffalo ranged in the valley
previous to 1880, but with the near approach of the
railroad they were rapidly exterminated, [to teed RR
workers] the last one in this vicinity being killed in
the Twin Coulee [just west of Emory] area in 1885.
Daniel W Slayton page 141 DIGV.

At one time [the city of Emory had] besides
the school, a post office; a general mercantile store
Slayton of Lavina branch; a black smith shop and a
large community hall. Fred Jensen in DIGV page
20[...]esteaders.

The Slayton Mercantile Company [of
Lavina] built a store at Emory, Montana with Mrs. Jim
Lynch as manager. She had a good business until
the homesteaders sold out and left the area."
Oscar Balgord writing in DIGV page 166,

A tragedy...one day...seeing smoke at
Tom Dougherty‘s place [west of Emory 3 miles on
Twin Coulee] ...quickly went over there to help put
out a fire in a granary. Coming home blackened,
tired and sad, we learned that three of the
Daugherty children had burned inside. Virgini[...]n 1910 William Evans carried
mail from Pine Grove to Lavina, about 55 miles one
way. In a three—seat spring wagon. Once a week,
$700 a year from the U.S. government. He’d get
up at 2[...]orning...ride horseback...get
the mail sacks...go to Clara to the Lewis rock house
[at Sahara], to Glendale, to Emory. then to Lavina.
Clarence Evans writing in DIGVpaqe 195.

Bill Olcott brought the mail out from Lavina
[to Emory] and would pick up cream and eggs for
the ranchers. The year 1919 was one of the driest
years and a very hard winter. Much of the stock was
lost that winter. Elmer Strand writing in DIGV page
173.

I carried the mail to Emory and back for
three years. Anna Gossink was postmistress [at
Lavina] at the time. It was a Star Route, going three
times a week. in the winter time I took it with a
spring wagon or sled and horses, going out to
Emory one day and back the next. After school was[...]children took turns, packed their
lunch and made a pleasure trip out of
accompanying their father to Emory, eating lunch
with the postmistress, Mrs. Lynch, and her
daughter, Marie. Emory had a general store
[Siayton Marc] and a school house. Herb Clemens
in DIGVpage 171.

iIEM[...]IEIR

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EMORY, MONTANA.
I

i . . FOR SHERIFF

I he ab; announce my: all a: a Candidate on the Republican
Ticket far the[...]

1908[...]for settlement.
1910 - William Evans carried mail to Emory from Lavina.

1910 - [J. B.] Elliot’s [sheep shearing] plant expects to turn out 20,000 sheep, running 14 men. FlFl July 1.

1911 - J. B. Elliott on State Board of Sheep Commissioners.

1911 - Post office opened,[...]].

1912 - School opened in log structure.
1912 - A. A. Meacham developing coal mine in area.
1912 - Road from Emory to Lavina surveyed.

1912 - Emory branch of Slayton Mercantile 00. store of Lavina established.

1912 - Wood & Mulroy threshing in area.

1912 - Effort made to establish telephone line from Lavinato Clara.
1914 - Emory school [1/2 mile south of town] a place to vote.

1914 - Had town baseball team, playing Lavina, Hedgesville, Wheaten.
1915 - Featured as a town in RWFl issue of December 16.

1915 - Best grain crop ever raised in area.

1916 - Three homes quarantined on account of smallpox.

1917 - Mutual Telephone Co. made effort to establish line from Lavina.
1918 - Very dry year[...]remember.

1918 — J. E. Shoemaker carried mail to Emory from Lavina.

1918 - Emory hall constructed[...]closed.

1919 - Glendale post office closed, mail to Emory.

1921 - Talk of developing irrigation on nearby Cameron Creek.

1[...]2 - Big dance at Golden Willow Lake, sponsored by A. F. Sibley and Otho Zumwalt.
1922 — Brook trout[...]36 ' Emory hall torn down by Herb Clemens. hauled to Lavina.

1944 - School closed.

1990 - Emory log[...]e.

1991 - July 19-21 - Emory-Twin Coulee reunion of pioneers, 263 registered from 13 states; organize[...]d floor, Cushman orchestra played under direction of

Don Belcher.

1991 - July 21 - Church services a[...]organized by Lavina Methodist

Church. Ed Toenyes of Billings, minister.

Log structure 1/2 mile south of Emory.
Sports:

Emory baseball team.
State government:

James B. Elliot, member, State Board of Sheep Commissioners.
Store:

Slayton Mercantile C[...]TING THE BOOZE

Lorn Dunwald, who lived southwest of Emory, tells of a cowboy by the name of Speedball who
was transporting booze for his frie[...]n Twin Coulee. Along the way Speedball stopped
at a water hole on Twin Coulee, his Model T loaded with quite a few bottles. Bootleggers would use any
sort of a bottle that would take a cork. Lorri happened to be riding in the area that day and saw the Model T
at the water hole. He rode over to see what was going on. Here was Speedball uncorking the bottles,
taking a little out, and adding a little alkali water from a water hole. That gave Speedball more bottles to sell
for more profit, and customers probably never knew the difference. Story told to L. Cade, 1991.

WATER HAS MEDICINAL VALUE

Mr. P. Balgord of Emory, Mont. has the makings of a real health resort on his ranch, in the Emory
neighborhood. Recently Mr. Balgord sent a sample of the water he found in the well, drilled by E. G. Lewis
Company, at a depth of 800 feet, to a friend at the Agricultural College in South Dakota for analysis, to
determine if it could be used for irrigation or stock purposes. In reply to the communication Mr. Balgord
received word that the water was of great medicinal value for rheumatism, kidney and[...]drilled, the more medicinal value the water would have. LI
January 13, 1922.

LIVED NORTH OF EMORY

My sister, Adaline Moats Christopherson, taught school at Emory about 1929. We lived a little
north of there. Kent and Lottie Moats homesteaded straight east of the Clara school 2 or 3 miles near the
rim of the Devil’s Hole. Harrison and Lalia Loomls also homesteaded a little north of Winn Williams and east
and up the hill from the B[...]was the Clara post office. Clara Meats Priest in a letter, 1991.

Pete Jensen: Homesteader in the early 19105, a school teacher at Emory
during the early or mid-19103; a member of the school board, good neighbor,
always a bachelor, good oonversationalist, hard worker, a precious memory for
many. He lived 2 miles southwest of the school near the Dunwald family. One
hot day during the late 19305 he served Dad and I lemonade in his coal pail,
the best he had in kitchen utensils. Horses belonging to Pete and Joe Cade
grazed Twin Coulee for a number of years. L. Cadet

H paradise of sagebrush and gumbo.....

FRANKLIN
1910-1930

MonTana was opened for
seTTlemenT in I908, The same year ThaT
The Two railroads were compIeTed ThaT
wenT Through The area of Golden Valley
CounTy. The Billings and NorThern RR
esTablished a depoT every few miles To
accommodaTe horse Travel of The era.
There was a Trail norTh of RyegaTe buT
no Town. The likely place To esTablish a
Town was where The Trail crossed The
railroad. Th[...]lready There
raising sheep. Knowing he would lose a
good share of his free grazing To
homesTeaders, he wenT inTo The real
esTaTe business. AT an early daTe he
was considered “The faTher of Franklin.”

The spoT on The railroad had
enough promise for William C. Dunlap
To esTablish a sTore There in IQID. The
possibiliTy of irrigaTlon generaTed
opTimism. In l9l I, FraTT and Rasmussen
of Cushman opened a lumber yard. A
Town was now assdred and in 1912 a plaT
was filed.

The Town was growing - posT office,
livery, cafe, real esTaTe agenT, oil
leasing in The area, saloon, L. A.
Sanders Lumber Company, coal mine,
hoTel, Two gr[...]organ'zaTions. In 1919 Jenizen filed an
addiTion To The original Town plaT.
Franklin was well on The way To
permanenTTownhood.

The boom Turned inTo a busT and
The counTry Thinned ouT, leaving unpaid[...]end came in 1953
when The posT office closed.

As of 1997, Franklin had a
populaTion of one — Don Firehammer,
operaTing The Firehammer, Inc. ranch.
He is The son of Fred Firehammer who
esTablished L. A. Sanders Lumber
Company. 1. Code.[...]+++

5000 AC RES
..L:\ND FOR. SALE

Oue-half‘to Four miles [ram ‘
‘ Ilyegnte Momma
All Agricu[...]ed Lists at Property
AL the Reporter Ollice
Terms To Suit Purchaser

W. C. JENIZEN
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3“ _ CITY-OF FRANKLIN . {:3 3:

PLENTY OF ROOM FOR
FARMERS IN THE VICINITY 0F
FRANKLIN

THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN is located
in a fertile and irrigated valley, and lies in the
center of an large farming district, as yet only
sparsely s[...]e Great Northern
Railway which runs from Billings to Great
Falls, connecting with the Milwaukee [Jaw
B[...]points south.

The town is about six miles north of
Ryegate and has yet to get its growth, that will
come when people settle[...]ding
it. It has business houses enough at present to
take care of the country around, but there will
soon be openings for more lines of business. It
has a good elevator system, good lumber yard,
general s[...]saloon, etc., and the
only reason that it is not a town of good size now,
is that the land has never been pushed for sale.
Now there will be an effort made to get those
lands into the hands of actual settlers.

Much of the land around Franklin is
now under irrigation, and much more can be
irrigated with a little expense. But like other
parts of the country in this section, irrigation is
not ne[...]are
producing abundantly and that there is plenty of
natural moisture for the growing of crops.

Mr. W. C. Jenizen might be called the
father of Franklin, having resided there even
before the advent of the railroad, engaged in the
raising of sheep on a large scale. As range was
necessary, Mr. J enizen acquired many acres of
land in this Vicinity and with the coming of the
farmer, he was quick to see the change and is
now breaking up his Franklin Ranch and
practically gone out of the sheep business.

Franklin lies in the oil belt and a
company has been securing leases from the
farmers north of the town.

Mr. Jenizen conducts a real estate
[business] in the town. In the commercial life of
Franklin, probably the next in activity is the L.

A. Sanders & Company, lumber merchants.
Messrs L. A. [Rollie] Sanders and Fred
Firehammer being the members of the firm.
They conduct a first—class lumber yard and
carry a full line of farm implements.

The general store of the town is
conducted by E. C. Dunlap and here the post
office is located. Mr. Dunlap is enjoying a
thriving business and recently was compelled
to enlarge his quarters to take care of it.

W. H. Glendenning owns the livery
business a[...]et. Mr. Glendenning was formerly in the
same line of business at Ryegate, disposing of
his interests two years ago,

Franklin is underlaid with coal and at
the present time has a mine in operation [two
miles north]. Mr. J. S. Ma[...]and has installed pumps, and
other machinery.

As a shipping point, Franklin will
undoubtedly become of importance as the
country surrounding it becomes settled and
producing A very large territory lies to the
north and west without railroad facilities and
much of the grain grown around Rothiemay, an
inland post office about 14 miles north is
marketed at this point.

Franklin is supplied with a good public
school, which belong to the Ryegate district. It is
centrally located and farmers for some
distance have this facility for their children.

To show the growth already around
Franklin, it might be said that five years ago
there were less than a thousand acres under
cultivation and in crop, now there are over
sixty thousand, all of which was farmed this
year. The soil is like all of the soil in this
territory, composed of a deep, rich limestone
and shale and when it[...]

J enizen Father Of Franklin

Mr. W. V. Jenizen, might be called the
father of Franklin, having resided there even
before the advent of the railroad, engaged in the
raising of sheep on a large scale. As range was
necessary, Mr. J enizen acquired many acres of
land in this vicinity and with the coming of the
farmer he was quick to see the change and is now
breaking up his Franklin ranch and has
practically gone out of the sheep business. DIG'V

105
FRANKLIN

W. C. Jenizen is having a ditch line run
on his land this week. When completed it will
irrigate about 800 acres of land.

Work on the irrigation project is
progressing slowly. HHNav: 1, 191a

HEDGESVILLE
W. E. Dunlap of Franklin , was in the city
last Friday between tr[...]adiness in another year. Mr. Robinson has

charge of the engineering work, which is nearly
completed.[...]in going east. It now leaves at 1:16
p.m. instead of 4:40. Trains going west there is
no change, the t[...]1.

BVEGHTE NOTES

Friday morning two wagon loads of sheep
shearers arrived in town and repaired to W. G.
Jenizen’s ranch at Careless Creek, where they
will lop off a few thousand dollars of gold
certificates from the backs of the wolly blatters.
Mr. Jenison has about 10,000 sheep to be trimmed
up with a hair cut and neck shave. After they have
completed their job of shearing at the Jenizen
ranch they will go to the ranch of Thomas Powell
who has about 2,600 sheep to receive the same
treatment. REJMJmW, 1911.[...]. Hagen [Hedgesville contractor] has
the contract to erect the new Dunlap store building
at Franklin. Work of construction will soon be

under way. H1! Aqum‘[...]LINE BETWEEN

RYEGATE AND FRANKLIN
There has been a great deal of discussion

about the establishing of a transfer at Cushman
between the Great Northern and the Milwaukee
and this should be done for the benefit of those who
have heavy freight bills to pay. When it comes to
the passenger traffic, however, Ryegate has a good
deal better connections with the Great Northern
than has Lavina. There is a stage line running
from Lavina to Cushman and the distance is about
six miles. Betw[...]r miles [actually 7] and better
roads. The people of Ryegate are taking the matter
up and will in the[...]and then the
traveling trade will naturally come to Ryegate
when they want to transfer to the Great Northern .
for they can always do some[...]times the
size between Miles City and Butte. [NV/i?
Navember4 1.912

WARRANT IS ISSUED
FOR W. C. J EN'IZEN

Branded An Animal Which
Belonged to $1123 Ranch

A warrant was issued for the arrest of W.
C. J enizen at the instance of the Shaff Bros, for the
illegal branding of a bull belonging to the latter.
This particular animal was purchased[...]Liuergman has purchased the
“Fal car" belonging to Harry Hemon and
made a run over to nggate Monday. Mr.
Bossman believes that the old fashioned
may of getting over the ground is too
slow. BZUH[...]

CITY LOC[...]from Billings...who was looking up the
prospects of leasing land for...oi1. This move by
the stranger ...result of the report of oil bearing
dirt being found at an 85-foot depth near
Franklin. HH4zgmt11, 1.914.

THREE WELLS FOR OIL TO BE

DRILLED

Hedges Herald: That Hedgesville is
considered the hub of an oil-bearing district is
evidenced from the fact that geologists who have
examined this territory hope recommending that
we[...]d near Franklin, Rothiemay, and
Twodot. Thousands of acres have been leased at
these points by J. B. Yates & Company of Billings,
and machinery for deep drilling will be at work
within a week or two. RRALgvzzstZél 1.914.

B V E G HTE N E “J S
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Morrow [of Ryegate]
had to take their young daughter Margaret to
Billings the last of the week for an operation for

appendicitis. They[...]2161, 1.9161

FRANKLIN FLASHES

Rev. Bassire held a church
service in the school house on Tuesday
evening. He had a good audience. He
will preach again on next Tuesday
evening at 8:30. He will be glad to
have the whole community present. It

takes a little effort to come out to a
service on a week day evening,
is worth while.

but it
RR May[...]s light, but it was unanimous for
the bond. It is a move that commends itself to the
farmers. Many of them could not have gotten seed
grain had it not been for this action. 131? Alarm 22,
1.91:6:

FRANKLIN FLASHES
The ladies of the Red Cross society held a
box social in the school house on Saturday
evenin[...]s not large, but the results Were very
gratifying to the society. Between $55 and $70 were

raised, and a pleasant time enjoyed. EBA/ay31,
1.918.

FRANKLIN FLASHES

Mrs. L. A. Sanders and Mrs. Andy Fitch
went to Roundup on Tuesday for a few days
business and pleasure. This leaves Andy[...]ttle washer at the [Fitch] hotel,
and “Rollf’ a lone, loose bachelor.

The Eastside Social Club met at Ben
Plockers on Friday night. They report a fine
time. REA/aim 22, 1.9163

FRANKLIN FLASHJEE
Christ Lazoff, the genial custodian of the
Franan depot, has received his call to report to
Roundup on June 23rd. Chris will be much
missed.[...]Saturday
afternoon at the school house. There was a good
attendance of members and one visitor, Mrs.
Richard Muggenberg [of Woman’s Pocket], who
has recently moved here from Chicago. Mrs.
Firehammer served a light lunch. The ladies are
planning on giving some sort of an
entertainment soon.

A number of people fi'om Franklin
attended the show i[...]

FRANKLIN FLASHES

The mellow chimes of the hammer and
anvil are occasionally brot in with the breezes
from our neighboring city to the south [Ryegate],
never conceding Franklin, or its tributary
community a place on the map. We wish these
people knew that in the fall of the year of 1908 the
now thriving town of Franklin was established on
the Billings to Great Falls branch of the Great
Northern Railway, a distance of about 80 miles
from Billings. The town is located[...]county on the famous Careless Creek
in the heart of a splendid farming commmiity.
The land surrounding[...]le producing wheat
yielding as high as 60 bushels to the acre, also
producing fine yields of flax, oats, barley and
other grains. Clover, tim[...]actically
unknown, having only two short crops in a period
of ten years. The best of water, in good quantity,
is obtainable at from 10 to 100 feet. Twenty miles
from town, to the north the Snowy Mountains, with

its bubbling[...]heir magnificent and imposing grandeur
presenting to the eye a striking and pleasing
contrast to the level plains. The climate is pure
envigorating mountain air with blue skies and
sunshine. The proximity to the mountains also
insures a good and sufficient rainfall for the
growing crop[...]s tributary
country offers splendid opportunities to the
prospective investor and homeseeker. 121? June
141.916:

FRHNKLIN FLHSHES
The Farmers Elevator is having a little
fun with our old friend Stubbs. TM: questions
arise: Whether the by-laws give the board of
directors the right to buy perishable stuff, and
whether they can be compelled to pay for it. If}?
[Flam/1 15. 1.9161

FRANKLIN FLASHIE
W. E. Dunlap, proprietor of the Franklin
store has been called for jury duty[...]jects are nearly ready for filing with the judge
of the district court and it expected that they will be
in a shape to present to Judge Harkan on his visit
here on Tuesday of next week. Both projects seem
to have enough signers back of them to be brought
to a successful conclusion. There seems to be little
or no opposition as yet to either of the projects.
EFFRNar/ember 03 1.9.21.

FRANKLIN[...]ct is now
awaiting weather fit for the engineers to get on the
job and it is hoped that this will be in the near
future. Those in charge of the organizing of the
district, are hoping that they can begin brea[...]stated that in his opinion
there would be nothing to delay the work, once the
engineers complete their[...]met with Mrs. F. D.
Firehammer Saturday and spent a very pleasant
afternoon. There were two visitors, Mrs Geo.

Unger and Mrs. C. W. Kinney of the East Bench.
fiWRAp/‘IY 1.9, 1.923.

One Hundred RRCoalCars Loaded

My partner, Rellie Sanders, and I
also hauled coal from the Ralph Bloom
and Dunlap mines. We had two wagons
with coal boxes hitched to six horses
with seven tons to a load. We hauled
coal to the oil wells in the Woman’s
Pocket and sometimes we would make six
trips to Ryegate. We would load the
coal at the mines and haul to the coal
cars and in one year one hundred cars
we[...].
We shovelled fourteen tons both ways at
$28 for a day’s work. Fred Firehamner
writing in DIGV 129.

The following is the body of the
petition to the State Hduisory Board
which is being circulated throughout the
County.

we, the undersigned residents of
Golden Ualley County...petition to
Federal Emergency administration of
Public works...application of Franklin
Irrigation District.

The construction of the Dead
Man’s Basin would benefit euery
taxpay[...]possible lowering
Ieuy and taxes...

The stockmen of the
...greatly benefited ...make
auailable at a reasonable price.

wheat growers...could get
irrigated farm at a price they could
afford to pay... diversify their farming...
This would resu[...]own.

The partially irrigated farms
...would find a normal flow in the river...
towns along the way would not be faced
by a water shortage as they have been in
the past.

The construction... is necessa[...]r men
and teams, for families who without it
will have to have aid, in some form for
an indefinite period. nwn U[...]t into
his lumberyard and sold it as used
lumber. I was working in the
lumberyard then. I pulled a lot of nails,
It was in the late 1930s. Steve Sbanz
commentingiu 1996.

FRANKLIN NEWS NOTES
Mr. Roscoe Lewis, of Merino [later
Harlowton], is relieving Mr. Fred Nelson at the
depot for a couple of weeks. RP”? diam/522 1.922

A friend of mine at Franklin was a single
guy. He put his money in a mason jar and buried
it by a clothesline post. Like after he sold cattle.
Tony Taborsly mmmentizgge/a[...]1159.

Iwas section foreman at Franklin from
1958 to 1968. I remember chasing rabbits and
deer. We ate all of them. We liked to watch the
train wrecks. ” EMA/12201225 at flan[...]y dad [Stanley Allen] and Fred Metzger
bought one of the elevators in Franklin and tore it
down for the lumber. Iof the Snowy Mountains north of
Rothiemay, the steel building on the left was the
office of the Farmers Elevator at Franklin. The
size of the building is about 12 x 16. The office roll
top desk in our house came from that el[...]llon delivered lambs in Frankfln
last Friday. L. A. Harris of Rayfleld also
delivered lambs in Franklin last Friday.
RWR October 12,1933. This the only
reference to stockyards in Franklin.

'I'UEMHN MEET

The members of the lineman
surprised Mrs. Hndrew Fitch at Frankl[...]The guests brought along
well—filled baskets so a fine repast was
enjoyed at a late hour. Cards were the
entertainment of the evening. HlUH
March 6, 1938.

ii 31%;?

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Iicfljday’(;reethigs to C)ur l3atrons

WE extend to you our Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and
Happy and Prosperous New Year and desire to thank you
for patronage given us during 1915, In[...]consideration and will give in return (he best we have to give in
the way of service and to assist you in obtaining suitable building
materia[...]ts talk this over

‘isw-i-if

-_ A, “son.

.B ldingMarerial ' :

Wehmdk z co[...]ard Ind E
my is stuck builders hardware. b l'ding i
Pzpu. xask and dams. interior iumisiiiugs. E
nth. mix. lime. eemeni and ML. and every- i

i
i

min: nzcessary [or your CDmplele buiioiug,[...]aterial or Finished Com
Experience Furnished Free of Charge. Consult us Before Buying or Bui
We May Be Able to Save You Money '

tum-KI ”no or L A. smog“ ( can.“

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Farm Implements

We[...]n
her everything in! the lam, Dependable

{<b-H‘I‘H.

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mlrhlnzryn the right pric:[...]ss. Let us tail in you
zbouk it.

irissHsl—M-i—Hssmas i-v-H-H—H—r

H-m—i—i-i-

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lete Plans and Our *H‘
lading. 3::

.‘FRANKLIN. * _ -

L. A. SANDERS AND COMPANY

Lumber and Farm Implements
, MUSSELSHELL COUNTY ..
, i

MONTANA

..'C\

iiiMiii‘ iiiiiiii
ii iiiiiiii IS i ii

HELD MEETING LAST WEEK AND
ENOUGH STOCK lS SU[...]Fnrniers' Elevntml ni
Franklin is n go, according to advice
received at this office. A meeting
nns how on last Thursday in the
school ho[...]it is said, wlll
hcgln nt onoo nnu it ls expected to
have lliB new concern ready lo. re-
mlvn \i'lient iii the beginning oi iho
imuiing aonson. Th[...]nd (he most (if (he
nienihoru hold only one share of stock
niihongh iho soiiing or siooh ls Tint con
uni-n nxcliislvely to innnm-s. Quito
n number of shares of stock were
sold in Ryegnte.

COME TO

FRANKLIN

MONTANA

Tle Hub of the Coal, Oil and Gas District

Winner of Denver Cup and San Francisco Cup on
. ' Winter Wheat

We Have a Rich. Deep Soil.

VBu ness Opportunities. of all Kinds Await You. Plenty
Z’r" ’ f of Good Land for Sale at Reasonable Prices

.i-

ny Information Desired Will Be Cheerioll[...]

i The Franklin Livery

Rigs Furnished for All Occas[...]BEER
MEALS SERVED—«ROOMS IN CONNECTION

J. i3. ROSSMAN; Proprietor

Franklin, Montana

, Announcement
“H- . ‘ f,’

VVE desire to announce tn the people“
. of Franklin and vicinity that we

have opened a fully- «equipped branch Lutn ;-‘
ber Yard and extend an invitation tn) the:
trade to call at this yard and ionic
our splendid stock carried at all time

As this Is a branch nf our big yard_ at':‘
Cushman, material[...]plete
building can he furnished on short notice.

A good stock carriedof even thing such us 4‘

Sash and Doors, Screen Dours.

Lime, Cement. Brick Lumber and I
Shingles and Lath. Deminsion. etc. ‘
When in need of anything In The line of "
Building Material. Give Us aHAVE BEEN WAIT-‘3
IN FOR A CAR LOAD OF FINE CLEAN

Swedish Select
Seed Oats

NOW ON TRAC[...]ONT

We Inadeagood buy In these 0 s and
are going to give our Custome s and
Patrons the benefit of our good ‘luck.
Don’t wait until spring as you will not
be able to get this chance again. Op~1
portunity only knocks. at your door
once, take advantage of it right now.
The Price is $2.75 per one-hundred[...]B.' Franklin, Montana.

PHONE US BEFORE ORDERING II ~ -‘
Empson’ s Stringless Beans 10
Banner Bra[...]—
Keruscne, 5 gallons - - - ,
Overalls, “Boss of the Road”
Men‘s Working Shirts j -

- Come and Give This Store :I-Triai

6i) ,.

MUSSEL SHELL COUNTY.

Town of Franklin - 1912
Jenizen addition - 1919
School ad[...]; Lang/now"
. .

“:4 wt

5 or rm wen;
. '

u I: I: (4 II It

. V . ' FRANKLIN MONT
. |"| '_[...]

1908 - “The thriving town of Franklin was established...on Great Northern RR..[...]ost office opened.

1910 - W. C. Jenizen planning to irrigate 800 acres. HH November 1, 1910.

1911 -[...]a. HH January 31, 1911.

1911 - Fratt & Rasmussen of Cushrnan opened lumber yard. RWR April 25, 1911.[...]y 27, 1913.

1914 — Assessor W. T. Stubbs plans to assess the town of Franklin. HH March 3, 1914.

1914 - Oil leasing a[...]DIGV 129.

1914? - Fred Firehammer established L. A. Sanders Lumber Company.

1914 - Oil reported to be found at 85 foot depth near Franklin. HH August 11,1914.

1915 - W. C.Jenizen identified as father of Franklin. Fl WFl December 16, 1915.

1915 — Fra[...]anklin coal mine under new management.

1915 - L. A. Sanders and Company advertise lumber and farm im[...]16, 1915.

1915? — “Oscar B. Parkhurst owned a business in Franklin.” DIGV244. ’

1916 - Franklin Pop 50 Musseishell Co A p 0 on the G N Ry 8 miles N W of Ryegate the banking point.
has a hotel and a grain elevator; E C Dunlap P M: Dunlap, Edna C ge[...]eal estate; Rocky Mountain Elevator Co; Sanders L A &
Co lumber. Montana Gazetter and Business Direct[...]ish had Franklin Mercantile. DIGV 129.

1918 - L. A. Sanders Lumber Company did pretty good up to 1918. DlGV129.

1919 - Farmers Elevator advertisi[...]ober 2, 1919.

1919 — Jenizen filed an addition to original town plat.

19205 - “Dinky’ running[...]ator. D/GV129.

1920s? Farmer’s Elevator leased to Roy Kneisel. DIGV 129.

19205? . Fred Firehammer[...]late 1920s DIGV129.

1921 - School addition added to Franklin townsite.

1921 - Franklin irrigation pr[...]ling with Judge Horkan.

1922 - Mrs. J. Minnemann of Franklin running for County Superintendent of Schools.

1923 - Mr. Fred Nelson depot ope[...]

1925? - 100 RR cars of coal shipped out of Franklin. DIGV129.
1926? - Fred Firehammer hauling 7 ton loads of coal, 6 horse team. DIGV 129.
1930’? - Fred Fir[...]30 - Elevator torn down late 19305 by Frank Clark of Ryegate.
1934 - Hill & Son advertising Dunlap Fan[...]ce closed.

1967 - Franklin school building moved to Firehammer ranch for shop. DIGVpage 130.
1996 — May 1: Historic tour of Franklin, 32 present, organized by Leland Cade.
1997 - L. A. Sanders Lumber Company building still standing a[...].
Lumber and Hardware:
Fratt & Rasmussen 1911.
L. A. Sanders Lumber Company 1915.
Organization[...]

Mr. and Mrs, 1,. A. Random ware
at, the mnumniua hunting' last week.[...].

.5 Mr Grant Paul 1:. hulldlnz n mnnli
human in i-‘rnnlrllu (his “3121..

.‘Mrs. Tim»; B. Smith wont to Uni-her
Mondny’w spam! no: anL-Lrtinn .utli
her[...]r. F .Elun (rom 11593313 has
iuuvod hlswlirlk'8911I'lll iiiecta in Mir-n
I I-lylli in ulnur h m which 110 bus ran
Led inst Fri[...]as ranged tho blliCK
nmiiin shop. [1.3 bah nut in a good flour
nml in’ .ll'\‘- m use it for a dancn hall
’lha ill'ni duncn to be xiven Wednv‘s-
flay Dgcr'anlber 22

Min. in A. Sumlru'a ll 111 with 11m
1 . hum.» .

Mrs. Janina Ill-nut run a “yawn-
Lnllnr 'lumuiuy , .

Mr F. D. Flleimummi[...]n crup ‘
for 13: yea” brunking; m» ,
Zihirdl a: 2nd year’s crop (or
‘ arming

.000 Loren of land (or sale on
. Five Year Terms

lN..C. JENIZEN

————
Frlnklln. Montana %

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%

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15 Milt-n Norm or Frank
-:-W[...]S. ICargiii in. in the” Falls. He

iexpects- to go out before returning.

W. C. Jeniznn is having[...]en

roomplet'ed it will irrigatn nbout 809

acres of land _

r.—Vint Williamrwent’t’Téwfii-
town. Wednesdsy 01 this Week.

The government in[...]er.

$2.50
3.50

masox

l

One—half to Four miles from
Ryegate. Montana

'All ' Argicult[...]s Lowest
\‘(ariamy Deed with all

Tracts

Terms to Snip Purchaser

w.<:_.JEmz

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Above: L. A. Sanders Lumber Company at Franklin. Fred Firehar[...]historic tour May 1, 1996.

Below: Franklin post office post mark dated March 10, 1952. Letter written by Bertha
Anderson of Woman’s Pocket to Joe and Helen Cade of Tufiley Bench. They lived 7
miles apart. She wrote, “I did think I would answer in a few days, but I had no news
only snowy days, then the blizzard, r[...]6 the snow
plow plowed the pocket hill. Bert then to Ryegate got coal, eats and a months of

5. emoaks. "um,"

Jo: was, Vlcx-anxtnnu'

L. A. SANGERS. szzuruu.

n, Lt xuzxsu, awn. puma".

Franklin, Mont. " 191*

LETTERHEAD

Letterhead of Franklin Farmers Elevator Company. Joe Cade was reelected vice president

of the elevator on July 9, 1921. This elevator one of two at Franklin, the other Rocky
Mountain. During[...]305, both elevators were torn down by Frank
Clark of Ryegate.

umrzn STATES mo: Aummsmn-ou LlCE[...]

TERMS CASH. A11 accounts are due on the first of each month succeeding the sale.

03 (9/ij 506/69.[...]AID WHEN DUE

1921 GRAIN SALE BY FARMERS ELEVATOR OF FRANKLIN
TO STANLEY ALLEN OF ROTHIEMAY

Sales slip of Franklin Farmers Elevator Company. H. A. Morsanny [operator of

Rothiemay Cash Store] sold to Stanley Allen [homesteader at foot of Snowy Mts.] in 1921
three items; dark hard Winter[...]nter Wheat, dark northern spring wheat.
Last item a “% of error in settlement” that amounted to $12.55. Morsanny was
apparently an agent of the elevator even though he always operate[...]

OLD LAVINA

1882 - 1908
A stop for stage traffic

Old Lavina began in 1882 as a stage
station. T. C. Power & Bros, mega-
merchandisers in the state, was in the
process of establishing a freight line from
old Billings to Ft. Benton. A station had to
be located every ten or twenty miles to
accommodate freighters. One very good
day was 40[...]ys were
considerably less. Horses and drivers had
to be housed and fed. The spot on the
Musselshell River, 23 miles west of
Roundup, was an ideal spot.

Walter Burke took on the job of
establishing the stage line and stations for
T. C. Power. He had a sweetie
somewhere by the name of Lavina, and he
gave the station that name.

Smith Brothers established a store
there in 1883 and Burke was the first post
master. Soon a stone hotel went into
business, and of course a saloon. Late in
the 18005, Belcher Brothers operated a
store.

The mechanical revolution in high gear
at the time altered the history of Old
Lavina. erh railroads operating
everywhere, s[...]r
greater capacity.

When the Milwaukee RR wanted to
purchase land for a depot at Old Lavina,
the owner wouldn‘t sell. So the railroad
went a mile or two east and built a depot.
The new location was called Lavina.
Soon, a bridge was erected across the
river at New Lavina[...]82 and ending in 1908 The stone
hotel turned into a local residence and the
other buildings gradually disappeared.
Old Lavina made it to the ripe young age
0126. L. Cade.

ORIGIN OF LAVINA

Lavina had its origin as a stage station at the
crossing of the Musselshell by the Billings-Benton
stage line. Smith Brothers started a general store
there in the early eighties. In 1883 Lavina had only
one building, a log structure partitioned into
dwelling, hotel, s[...]st office; in 1885
it had several residences, and a branch store by T.
C. Power and Brothers. Walter Burke was a
homesteader near there. In 1885 the first bridge[...]y in 1882. Walter Burk[e] was also
superintendent of the stage line at that time. Said
stage line and the town of Lavina being owned by
T. C. Power, later Senator.[...]aby was three weeks
old, Belcher Brothers decided to put a stock of
goods in at old Lavina since Harry Scott had moved
to Custer. Floyd Belcher stayed in Roundup and
Herb and Bess moved to old Lavina. They drove to
the Hart ranch the first day, then on to [old] Lavina.
At that time, [old] Lavina had the stone hotel, a
saloon and one three-room log house and the
store[...]V117.

LIVED IN TENT

He [William Banks] lived in a tent in [new]
Lavina, as many others did. There was a real estate
office, a saloon [it wasn’t called a tavern in those
days], and the Adams Hotel was being built [1808].
A store and post office were at Old Lavina. Bernice[...]a on February 16, 1908. The
company, not securing a suitable site in old Lavina,
built the depot in what was to become the new
Lavina. D. W. Slayton story, DIGV146.

Photo of old Lavina showing several
buildings. DIGV137.

STONE HOTEL

So we [Rorabeck’s] came to Lavina, which seemed to be the “jumping off" place at the time. it was
fairly well established as a town whereas Flyegate was just starting. The new town at Lavina was perhaps a
half mile down the [Musselshell] river from the old Lavina, which had long been a way-mark on the old
freight trail from Billings to Lewistown. Belcher Bros. had previously operated a general store there and
there still stood a stone hotel of perhaps 8 or 10 rooms. Dave Flarabeck writing in[...]rvice, Mr. [Dan] Slayton established each on part
of his holdings along the Musselshell river, Dan and Bert received each a part of the Sudduth ranch.
There was a house on the lower part where Dan lived and Bert built a house on the upper part. Ernest was
on part of the Trask ranch and lived in the stone hotel of old Lavina. Dan slayton story, DIGV 144.

220 MILE STAGE LINE

The stages had to be running by July 1.
That was the date that the contract called for. Didn‘t
have much time. It was the way we had to go, 220
miles when we went by Martinsdale. But in a short
time after 1 got the stages running I changed the
route and cut off Martinsdale and it was then that I
planned to make the crossing of the road where
Lavina is or was when I left. l have heard that it was
moved down the river on the west side of the
bridge

That fall we put up quite a few buildings all
out of logs civered with dirt. There was a mess
house, bunk house for men to sleep in, and a store
and of course a saloon. That was the biggest
business of them all. That tall I [Walter Burke] was
appointed postmaster. Had to have all this done by
hired help. In a short time we had log barns built in
place of the tents and that fall l had hay at all of
those stations. Walter Burke Letter, September
30, 1931, DIGV186.

ARRIVED IN OLD LAVINA

In May of 1908, 1 [James F. Lynch] arrived in
Old Lavina wi[...]had traveled
through on the first Milwaukee train to enter
Montana. Lynch family story, DIGV207.

RELO[...]After selling the ranch, Louie [Lehleldt]
decided to build a [Adams] hotel [1908]. In the
meantime the Milwaukee Railroad Company wanted
to buy the land where Old Lavina stood [which is
where Abe Horpestad now (1971?) resides,
However, the owner of the land of the old townsite
and the Company could not agree on a price so
they decided to relocate the town where it is today,
which is a part of Louie’s original ranch. Ludwig
Lehfe/dt story, DIGV 155.

FOUR RAW BRONCS

One cowhand [of the Seventynine ranch]
recalls knowing a cowboy by the name of Fresh.
One day he made a bet that the could drive a team
of tour raw broncs across the flat bridge at Old
Lav[...]d down and harnessed
for the event. What happened I‘ll leave to the
reader’s imagination. Later Fresh became a
sheepman but always walked like a stove-up
cowboy. DIGVB.

HIRED TWO TEAMS

In July[...]st G. Slayton] ranched for several
years adjacent to the old town of Lavina, and
batched in the old stone hotel, later moving to the
east part of the Dave Fratt Ranch, Belcher farming
the west pa[...]aded his new
“Minneapolis" engine the fore part of the week and
took it across the river at the “old town." RR March
23, 1917.

TO LAVINA BY STAGECOACH

In 1908 Frank [Walter] married Verna Mae
Smith. They came from Billings to Lavina by
stagecoach, to the old Lavina Stage station. there
they were met[...]Mrs. Smith‘s brother,
and went by spring wagon to the Baker ranch on
Swimming Woman Creek. Josephine Walter
Marking story DIGV 190.

MOVED FROM OLD TOWN

A masquerade was held in the hall shortly
after I came - the same hall that had been moved
down from the Old Town [of Lavina] and is now the
laundermat, barber shop, e[...]ROAD

In 1883 the mail route was changed and
came to the old town of Lavina, then very new, and
from there went to Judith Gap direct by Halbert and
Bercail. A log bridge across the Musselshell river
having disappeared with the customary spring
floods, a permanent bridge was constructed in
1885, at least, the contract was let June 22 of that
year. From this time on until the coming of the
Great Northern Railroad, Lavina was on one of the
most important wagon roads of the state. DIGV
136.

Town owned by T. 0. Power.

Bunk house for men to sleep in.
Post office:

Walter Burke named post m[...]ant ~ cafe:

Mess house. 1883.
Saloon:

“...and of course a saloon." DIGV 186. Rocky Mountain Husbandman, Oct[...]aring plant:

D. W, Siayton [plant operating west of Lavina in 1909] RR June 28, 1909.
Stable:

Walter[...]others general store. 1882.

Owned by Hon. lrvine of Huntley, Rodney Robinson in charge. 1883.

Belche[...]0. Power branch store.

STONE HOTEL

“There was a stone hotel at old Lavina, made of sandstone. It had 17 guest rooms. Abe
Horpestad l[...]ng and woke up. It was
dark so he put his leg out to see how deep the water was. He never had to get out." Fiona/d Belcher
commenting in Lavina in[...]3 REPO RT

“Lavina, the station at the crossing of the Musselshell, on the Benton and Billings road, is
fifty—five miles north of the latter place. It is the property of Walter Burk, superintendent of the
stage line running between the two cities nam[...]commodious and well kept [stone]
hotel, there is a blacksmith shop, saloon and store, all having sep[...]ed by
Mr. Burk. The store is owned by Hon. Irvine of Huntley, and is in the charge of Rodney Robinson.
Below Lavina, the valley of the Musselshell is from one-fourth to one—half mile wide, and is cut by
the river, which winds from one bluff to the other, thickly shaded by heavy cottonwood timber,
while upon the hills most of the way excellent pine grows in abundance. The soil of the bottom
lands is deep, black loam, such as grows the best of vegetables and cereals... The settlers whose
acquaintance I had the pleasure of making were Albert Bus, J. M. Raths, Chaney Dodge, James
Meadishall, A. R. Campbell, A. M. Woolfolk, J. I Hatch and J. M. Wood. flocb-rflfazmtam
Hasbandm[...]OLD TOWN

[Emma Kruger Delaney] had seen pictures of sheep but never a real one, So when shearing
season started at the {Slayton shearing] shed near the “Old Town" [of Lavina] everyone was going to
watch them shear as they were now going to shear them by machine-gasoline motor. i thought they would
put them in a machine at one end and they would come out all sheared at the other end. When I saw how
those animals were nicked and cut i never went to watch again. Emma. K. Delaney writing in D/GV 174.

LAVINA

Born with a depot, 1907

During the late 18005, a freight line
operated between Colson [Billings] a[...]on. The trail crossed the
Musselshell River where a stage stop was
established by T. C. Power & Co. and
Walter Burke. This spot turned out to be
the location of Old Lavina. When the
railroad was constructed, a depot was
constructed east of Old Lavina, the
historical incident that established the
location of New Lavina.

Once the depot was constructed in
19[...]Louie Lehfeldt constructed the
Adams Hotel, close to the depot. That
same year D. W. Slayton constructed the
Slayton Mercantile Company, complete
with a post office. The situation looked so
encouraging that Slayton established a
bank in 1909, also a sheep shearing plant.

A second hotel, The Redford [later
Clermont] was co[...]t, facing The Adams.

Soon the little outpost out of Billings
was an impressive town: hotels, depot an[...]club, tailor shop,
churches, school. With so much to offer,
settlers found it a convenient place to
shop and visit and do business.

During the Great[...], the town
stagnated but remained on the map.

As of 1997, an estimated 150
residents live in Lavina. Only a few
businesses remain: the old Slayton
Mercantile Company operated as Lavina
Country Store; new owners to call it
Slayton Mercantile Company. The Boe
famil[...]ation. The American
Legion log hall is the center of social
activity. L. Cade

illirl limiter illli

S[...]urns
in Ground Yesterday Morning--
$60,000 Lass.

i The entire stock and store build'
‘23; of the Slayton Mercantile Co. at
{Lavina was destroy[...]he loss
lbeinrr estimated at $60,000, one~
lthird of which is covered by insur-
‘mcs. _/
i The fire was discovered about
ithree o’clock at which time the
hear of the building was already en-
lveloped in a sea of flames. In an
' credibly short time the entire
building was ablaze and in 'less
ithan two hours was reduced to
lashes. As Lavina has no fire pro«
itection and as there was a high
[blowing at the time, efforts to tight
lthe fire were useless. Attempts to
have some of the stock were made,
Vtths progress of the flames was
.9 rapid that only a few suits of
lothes could be removed from the
mine building. T[...]s sleeping on the second floor
he were compelled to jump from
window to save their lives.

>' The origin of the fire is unknown.
he store was lighted by s g[...]ystem but it is said that
gthis was not the cause of the
Era. It started somewhere in the

ear of um b‘v’tainp

t“- («2.uzns6.

Dan W[...]

1882’? - Smith brothers started a store in early 19805. DIGV 142.

1882 - Walter Bu[...]ee V Cattle Company established headquarters west of Lavina near river.

1883 — “[Old] Lavina, the station at the crossing of the Musselshell, on the Benton and Billings road.[...]October 4.

1883 - Mail route changed from going to and through Olden to [old] Lavina.

1883 - Post office established at[...]Lavina. DIGV 187.

1884 - D. W. Slayton recorded a temperature of minus 39 near Martinsdale on December 24, 1884. R[...]yton homesteaded on Currant Creek, 12 miles north of Lavina [Raths Ranch as of 1997,
log structure still standing]. DIGV 142.

1[...]nstructed across river at Old Lavina, or at least a contract was let on June 22.
DIGV136& 141 & 142.

1887 - Mail service from Lavina to Shawmut extended to Merino. Rocky Mountain Husbandman, July21.

1891[...]s that in 1891, the snow was 22 inches deep north of town at Folsom, and that
jackrabbits fed under the snow like moles. RF! March 24.

1903- Billings and Lavina s[...]ings daily 7: 00 am, arr Lav 7 pm. Polk Directory of
Yellowstone County, page 53.

1905- Freight line operating from Billings to Lavina. DIGV 116.

1907 - Louie Lehfeldt had first car in Lavina area, a red Maxwell with red trim DIGV 155.

1907 - Milwa[...]Lavina. DIGV143.

1908 - Stage line from Billings to [old] Lavina went out of business on account of the Milwaukee RR. RR
August 7.

1908 — Grand opening of Adams Hotel November 6, with 22 rooms; owned by L. C. Lehfeldt; “fully a
hundred" in attendance; Prof. Grady’s orchestra[...]rk. DIGV 136.

1908 - Dr. G. E. O’Neil, dentist of Roundup, making monthly visit to Lavina and other towns. RR
December 11.

1908 - B[...]yard race and $50 purse. FIR July 9.

1909 - Bank of Lavina established by Dan Slayton and othe[...]

1910 - D. W. Slayton of Lavina elected president of [Musselshell county] Division Club; Herb Belcher of
Lavina elected vice president. HR February 18.

1[...]sold 75 horses at Lavina, prices ranged from $75 to $160; W. W. Felker
auctioneer. FlFf April 29.

1910 - Adams Hotel came close to having disastrous fire. FlFl May 6.

1910 - [Orig[...]ntile store burned. DIGV 174.

1910 - First issue of Lavina independent published Friday, June 24. DIG[...]red 3am; three clerks sleeping on upper floor had to jump from window. RH June 10.

1910 - D. W. Slayton let contract for erection of modern brick [store] building to Contractor Crow of Billings,
cost $15,000. Old ruins [from frame store building fire] have been hauled away. FlFI July 1.

1910 — Teams have been hauling wool to Lavina warehouse; About 500,000 pounds will be so[...]ed at Slayton's shearing plant near town; 29 days of shearing; fastest man
averaged over 200 sheep per[...]sheep sheared averaging 8 pounds; 290,000 pounds of fleece sheared. Sold at 20¢. 600,000
pounds wool[...]10 - Slayton store brick work above second floor; to be ready for occupancy August 10. FIR July 22.

1910 - Arthur C. Bayers listed as director of Bank of Hedges. HH August 23.

1910 - Hotel man E. W. Rad[...]October 21.

1910 - Mr. Rose employed as operator of Milwaukee depot. HR October 7.

1910 - Fred Meyer[...]Lavina and Clara. Lavina State Bank [at
location of Lavina Crossing Cafe]. RH October 21.

1910 « Ad[...]ck building, which D. W. Slayton is erecting next to Slayton Mercantile store,
delayed a few days; building to be 32x60 feet. FlFi‘ November 11.

1910 - Lavina stock yards filled with last big shipment of beef belonging to Seventynine ranch, headed for
Chicago. FlFf Novem[...]11.

1910 - J. W. Dresser beginning construction of new jewelry store. FiFi November 11.

1910 - D. J. Hogan sold his big ranch at Musselshell to L. C. Lehfeldt. FfFl November 11.

1910 - Hendershot‘t Brothers added on to their restaurant. HR November 11.

1910 - First L[...]ebruary 2.

1911 - D. W. Slayton elected director of Citizens State Bank of Roundup. FiFi February 2.

1911 - J. M. Chandler planning to install gasoline engine to pump water on irrigated fruit and vegetable
farm. RH March 17.

1911 - Bank of Lavina established as State Bank of Lavina. DIGV 175.

1911 - Fullmer coal mine north of town operated by A. J. Kendall. RR March 24.

1911 - The Lavina Commercial Club recommended Wm. Roach to be road supervisor north on the Elliot
and Pound[...]rshall handling International and John Deer lines of farm machinery. HR March 24.

1911 - D. A. Sheehan joined land office of L. H. Box. RH March 24.

1911 - New planki[...]

1911 - Lavina Drug Company opened,[...]walks. Ll April 21.

1911 - Two horse thieves try to cash $6.00 check at Lavina bank, left headed for[...]19.

1911 - L. H. Box developing coal mine north of Lavina. RFi May 26.

1911 - Twelve wool buyers ca[...]n Olympian, and six from Billings; bought 7 clips of wool
from 16.5c to 18¢. RR August 4.

1911 - Dr. Hugh Heaton building house southeast of the ball park. RR October 20.

1911’? - Dr. Hug[...]- J. C. Jensen opened meat market that was later to be C. A. Dunham’s residence. RR November 1.
DIGV16‘3.

1911 - D. W. Slayton brick residence just west of Lavina completed. Contractor Hoe of Billings has large
crew working. RR October 20.[...]eyors at work surveying township 9 range 21 north of Lavina [where Joseph M. Cade
homesteaded on the u[...]s in the
area. Fi'Ft October 20.

1911 - Sheepman A. C. Tompkins shipped 14 cars sheep from Lavina stock yards to Smith Bros. of
Chicago. FiFi October 20.

1911 - Louis Lehieldt[...]ut. RH November 3.

1911 - Art Wylie is in charge of the Adams Hotel livery. RR November 18.

1911 - D[...]11 - Old Musselshell bridge [at old Lavina] moved to new location at south end of Main Street [of new
Lavina. DIGV 162.

1912 - School becoming crowded for Methodist church; decision made to purchase needed lots on
which to build new church. From Lavina - Century of Change 1863—1983, page 43.

1912 - Methodist ch[...].

1912 - Ed W. Radford, the hotel man, contracts to put up ice for 4 businesses. Vlfill also retail[...]Lavina investment Company located Ed L. Roach on a homestead north of town. RR January 29.

1912 - Lavina Commercial Club begins effort to become county seat of new county. RFi February 9.

1912 - James C. Jens[...]ng Company will build 30.000 bushel elevator west of Slayton warehouse and north of
RRtracks. RR May 17.

1912 — Dr. Cheney, deputy state veterinarian, ordered all of D. L. Miller’s horses shot because they had
glanders disease. This leaves Miller with no power to do his spring work. RR May 17.

1912 — A. C. Bayers introduced new sage brush grubber, man[...]uling. FlR May 24.

1912 - Carpenter gang arrived to construct Lavina’s new grain elevator. RFr‘ J[...]1912 - T. W. Linton operated his first store out of Radtord Hotel. DIGV 161.

1912 - Effort being made to build telephone line from Lavina to Clara. HR July 5.

1912 - Lavina’s new elevator is completed, ready to receive fall wheat. FiFi' July 26.

1912 - July 26 RR: C. W. Seig has contracted to burn 300,000 brick at location near river. HR Jul[...]ugust 23.

1912 - G. H. Belcher elected president of Mutual Telephone Company, organized to operate between
Lavina and Emory. FiFt August 23.[...]ffering broke horses for sale at livery barn, 900 to 1400 lbs. HWF? September 5.

1912 - Ed Englet tor [Musselshell County] Clerk of Court on Socialist ticket. FiFi October 25.

1912 - Lavina making move to have county seat located there. FtWFt September 4.

1912 - Commercial Club lost in effort to get railroad connection at Lavina between Milwauk[...]ns constructed homestead shack on claim northeast of Lavina with lumber purchased
from Slegal Lumber C[...]14 - Enoch Bilden and Dorothy Sickle first couple to be married in Methodist church. L! October 25.

1[...]ator J. C. Jensen purchased 560 pound hog from L. A. Brennan, one of
Belmont’s prosperous ranchers. RH June 5.

1914[...]terary Club formed November 14, organized at home of Mrs. Oscar Balgord with 15
charter members. DIGV1[...]at M. E. Church. DIGV 181.

1914 - First meeting of Lavina Cemetery Association held October 22 at home of D. W. Slayton. D. W.
Slayton elected president, G[...]president. DIGV 182.

1915 - First annual banquet of Women’s Literary Club held at Lavina Opera Hous[...]id $804 last year. FlH July 9.

1915 - New county of Grant, promoted by Lavina Commercial Club, discussed with group from Broadview.

1915 - New tailor shop to be established in L. H. Box building.

1915 - Lavina Milling Company checked out $10,000 last month, given to farmers without interest, on
wheat stored at the mill.

1915 - A. C. Bayers and G. H. Belcher purchased ten carloads of cattle in St. Paul, steers, heifers calves.

1915 - Last load of brick loaded out at Musselshell tor the new schoo[...]Lavina State Bank. Involved was $1,100 regarding a payment on a
coal mine contract. FiWFt‘ November 4.

1915 -[...]na. DIGV98.

1915 - Albert Holte has taken charge of Lavina livery. living in Adams Annex. FlFt[...]

1916 - First annual banquet of Women’s Literary Club at Opera Hall January 12.[...]ng Co. held meeting. RR March 31.

1916 - Carload of thorobred horses arrived to be added to herd owned by A. C. Bayers. FiFi March 31.

1916 - New bell insta[...]~ Slayton Mercantile shipped in another [RR] car of Fords. RF? April 7.

1916 - A. C. Bayers of Percheron Stock Farm, received eight more head of purebreds, one shipped from
flame HRAmflZ

1916[...]e 16.

1916 - Women’s Literary Club met at home of Mrs. G. H. Belcher. FlFl June 16.

1916 - Lavina Mutual Telephone Co. will build a line to Belmont as soon as funds available. RFl August 18[...]on campaign; D. W. Slayton spent $85.00 according to
expense statements filed with Clerk and Recorder Fred E. Renshaw. HFl September 15.

1916 - Mr. Ftohrdanz of Southeast Bench [Utopia area] brought 70 hogs to market. RR September 15.

1916 - D. W. Slayton pu[...]now owner. HR October 27.

1916 - Regular meeting of the Women‘s Christian Temp. Union held church b[...]a Mutual Telephone Company directors meet. Decide to give central [operator] increase of
$15; decide to print new directory. Now 120 subscribers including 14 new on Belmont line and 16
on new line southwest of Belmont now being constructed. HR December 18.

1916 - Surveyors establish elevation in front of Lavina School at 3,434 feet, marked with i[...]

1917 - G. W. Goble new rural mail carrier [ to??]. HR February 23.

1917 - A. C. Bayers cashier of Lavina State Bank. FiFt March 9.

1917 - Suter an[...]ll game between Cushman and Lavina. Lavina
won 16 to 14. RH March 9.

1917— C. Jensen sold his meat market in Belmont to Chas. Hiller. HR March 9.

1917 - Anton Jensen co[...]917 - Grocer T. W. Linton found live snake in box of bananas. HFl March 16.

1917 - Big concrete irrig[...]917 - G. H. Belcher in Dakota looking for carload of thorobred cows for his Cushman ranch. RH March 16[...]old town." FlFi March 23.

1917 - George Ftediske of Slayton and S, Stein will erect moving picture ho[...]l 20.

1917 - Mr, and Mrs. E. J. Herman, tailors, have turned business overto Mr. Hahn. FlFl May4.

1917 - Flour mill short of wheat and so employee Mr. Fred Hendershott moved to homestead two miles
north of Lavina. RH Mary4.

1917 - First regular meeting of Eastern Star Chapter held at lodge room. RH May4.

1917 - D. W. Slayton elected president of Mutual Telephone Company. FlFl May 4.

1917 — Phillips and Roach have installed an Empire House Lighting plant in their[...]- l. G. Madden erecting garage 50x100 garage east of 7?. HR May4.

1917 - W. F. Slacker given up Adams Hotel dining room and will move to homestead near Clara. FlFl May 4.

1917 — A. H. Giimm of Sentinel Butte, N.D. new barber in town. FlFl May[...]17 - Highway between river bridge and bluff south of town being graveied. Several teams of horses at
work. FlFl June 22.

1917 - Chautauqua scheduled for next week, 3 days of entertainment. RH July 6.

1917 - Farmer’s Equity of South East Bench organized. received carload bind[...]ranch. HR December 28.

1917 - Jim Jensen elected to school board, served until 1932.

1917 — Herb Belcher sold his interest in the [Slayton Mercantile] store to D. W. Slayton. D/GV 118.

1918 - Fire destroys La[...]r from Slayton Mercantile, complete with full set of plows,
disc, harrow, drill and other items. RF? April 19.

1918 - W. A. Raintord working in J. C. Jensen’s meat market. FiFl April 19.

1918 - Farmer‘s Equity of Southeast Bench received shipment of seed including 3,600 pounds cane,
also speltz and timothy. RH April 26.

1918 - C. L. Duckers of Clara purchased barber shop. HR May 17.

1918 - M[...]ew telephone manager; digging cellar under office to be his home. FlH May 17.

1918 - Contract for new school building went to Anton Jensen for carpenter work; lumber to J. F. Slegel.
RH May17. DIGV 137.

1918 . Frank Walter supervising excavation and re-ditching of old Bair irrigation ditch running from Sla[...]

1918 — Claude Meredith has n[...]e Marcyes resigned from McCormick garage and went to work for Lavina garage. RR June 7.

1918 — Lavina now has direct phone line to Billings and Roundup over Bell Telephone wires. H[...]from Mrs. 0 Cooper. RR June 7.

1918 - Enrollment of 86 in school, “perhaps largest in the history..[...]flu epidemic. DIGVSS.

1919 - Claude D. Merideth of White City Garage advertising Aultman & Taylor tractors for sale; horsepower
ratings of [belt ~ on the ground] 15—30, 22-45, 30-60. FiWFl March 27.

1919 - School enrollment of 27. LI September 2.

1919 - Dr. Appleman set up h[...]I September 12.

1919 - First aeroplanes [2] ever to fly over Lavina. Ll September 12.

1920 — Lavin[...]0 - Phillips & Roach advertising their shop as “a real service station." FlWFl April 22.

1920 — First regular meeting of Lavina town council held in D. A. Sheehan’s office.

1920 - Hans Knutson agent for Equity Mutual Insurance Company. RWR July 1.

1920 - A. C. Bayers auctioneer for A. Rasmussen ranch sale southeast of Cushman. FtWFt September 23,

1920 — The Epworth League [Methodist] met at home of Miss lrene Hendershott. RWFi October 28.

1920 - First yearbook, THE LAVlNAN, published by students of Lavina school, 52 pages.

1920 - [Golden Valley C[...]te, and one at Lavina. RWR November 4.

1921 - D. A. Sheehan has moved his office from Clermont Hotel[...]ted room for
an office. RWR January 27.

1921 — A. Rasmussen & Company advertising 1918 prices on l[...]on at her home on Southeast Bench by Dr.
Appleman of Lavina. RWR September 27

1921 - Montana Power Co. installed lights at a cost of $3,316.50. DIGV 136 & 139:

1921? - Hitch racks 5[...]64.

1920? Adams Hotel closed.

1925 - Last issue of Lavina independent published.

1925 - Carl Brovol[...]urchased by Rev. Albert J. Schuh.
Lavina, Century of Change 1883-1986, page 42.

1926 — Central phon[...]cut from 8 in the morning until 9 at night, with a reduction in operators
salary. RR April 23[...]

1930 - WCTU met at home of Mrs. A. Rasmussen. HR March 20.

1930 - Montana Elevator[...]— May 15 RR: Ladies Card Club met with Mrs. W. A. Lewis. HR May 15

1930 - May 22 RR: Woman’s Li[...]denly. DIGV 164.

1934 - Frank Laughlin installed a frigidaire in his White City Inn.

1938 - Oliver Richards bought the Lavina Elevator. From Lavina - Century of Change. DIGV 168.

1941 - Carl Brovold closed Lav[...]ards constructed gas station and shop; later sold to Miller Boe; later owned by Richard
Fraser; later[...]ne. DIGV 168.

1951 - Lavina Cemetery Board voted to charge $20 for a full lot, $10 for half lot. DIGV 182.

1951 - Oliver Richards elected mayor of Lavina. DIGV168.

1952? - Lavina installed sewer[...]ril 4. Headquarters for
Lavina social activity as of 1997. DIGV 140.

1953 - New well for park and Met[...]pleted.

1955 - Richards Cafe constructed on site of old White City Garage by Oliver Richards. DIGV 16[...]Bilden and Oscar Balgord sold Siayton Mercantile to John H. Gerdts. DIGV 166.

1958 - Milwaukee Railr[...]967 - Lavina depot sold and moved in two sections to Sterling ranch near Ryegate.

1969 - New dial tel[...]972: More street paved.

1969 - Attempted robbery of post office, safe had to be replaced.

1970? - Lutherans sold their church[...]t.

1982 - Milwaukee railroad tracks removed.

We have n twn suction. fifteen Barber Shop

disk Emerson Engine Plow for Give Us a Ca“
stile. It‘s 11 snnp Rt $250. " ' /‘/’/l

‘ I ‘ r — T. H. Hexnsxsao’n‘, PBOPE.
1[...]

”(and bottoms; nne set. of buck

Fryels Garage 1919 selling bouums. sail rm.[...].5 J"
W. D. Howland garage 1921 '
Oliver Richards to Miller Boe to Richard Fraser to LeRoy Lane to Sid Bee 1996

Bank - money to loan:
Bank of Lavina [private] 1909
Lavina State Bank [state ch[...]18

Barbers:
Tiiden H. Hendershott 1916. D/GV136.
A. H. Glimm RR May 18, 1917.
C. L. Duckers RR May 17, 1918.
Tom Hayden 1918
C. A. Dunham 19405

Blacksmiths:
William “Gra[...]

A Real Service
, Station
PHILLIPS 85 ROACH
'[...]

Burns to Ground Yesterday Morning

The entire stock and [frame] store building
of the Slayton Mercantile Co. at Lavina was
destroye[...]g, the loss
being estimated at $60,000, one third of which is
covered by insurance.

The fire was discovered about three o’clock
at which time the rear of the building was already
enveloped in a sea of flames. in an incredibly short
time the entire building was ablaze and in less than
two hours was reduced to ashes. As Lavina has no
fire protection and as there was a high wind blowing
at the time, efforts to fight the fire were useless.
Attempts to save some of the stock were made, but
the progress of the flames was so rapid that only a
few suits of clothes could be removed from the
burning buildin[...]s sleeping
on the second floor who were compelled to jump
from a window to save their lives.

The origin of the tire is unknown. The store
was lighted by a gasoline lighting system but it is
said this was[...]o interested in the
company. FiF? June 10, 1910.

To REBUILD
Slayton Mercantile of Lavina Wlll

Put Up Large Brick Structure

Dan W. Slayton, president of the Slayton
Mercantile Co., of Lavina made the announcement
this week, that plans are already being made for the
erection of a new building to take the place of the
one destroyed by fire last Thursday morning.

The new building is to be larger than the
old one and is to be constructed of brick, work on it
to be commenced within the next two weeks. FiFi
June[...]Through the progressiveness and natural
ability of its manager, G. H. Belcher, the business of
the Slayton Mercantile Co. has developed to such
an extent that all the available room has been
occupied for the storage of the immense stock.
DlGV136.

CONTRACT LET

D. W. Slayton has let the contract for the
erection of a modern brick building to Contractor
Crow, of Billings, at a cost of $15,000. The main
building will be two stories high, the top floor to be
used for living and office rooms. The old ruins have
been hauled away, and the new building is
expected to be inciosed in about six weeks. When
completed, it will be one of the most complete
stores in the west, adding greatly to the
appearance of the town. The brick to be used is of
superior quality, being furnished to by F. W. Handel
of Musselshell. FiFl July 1, 1910.

BRICK WORK
The S[...]eping even.
The gray stone window sills are going to make a
good appearance. That the store will be ready for
occupancy by the 10th of August is without a
doubt. HFl July 22, 1910.

NEW BRICK BUILDING

Although we have received a disastrous
loss through the burning of the Slayton Mercantile
Company’s handsome store[...]parations
are already being made for the erection of a
commodious brick building in which to resume the
large volume of business that it has enjoyed in the
past. DIGV 13[...]LAYTON MERCANTILE

The magnificent brick building of the
Slayton Mercantile Company was completed last
Thursday, and Contractor Crow stated that is a
record breaker for fast work, considering[...]

Since the magnificent new building of the
Slayton Mercantile Co, has been completed,
Lavina seems to have taken a new lease on lite.
Hendershott brothers addition.[...]jewelry store. Slayton erecting new
building next to store...L. C. Lehteldt...overhaul
town hall. FlFi‘ November 11, 1910.

STORE BUILT

A store was built, known as the Slayton
Mercantile.[...]riginal
trame building burned and was replaced by a brick
building constructed of brick tired in a kiln near the
river. DIGV 144.

BERT SLAYTON CLERK

For a time after the [original frame] Slayton
Mercantil[...]sleeping in an upper room when it burned and
had to jump from an upstairs window. DIGV 150.

BUILDING BEGAN 1908

Little building was done at the new
townsite [of Lavina] until the summer of 1908 when
the Adams Hotel and the Slayton Mercant[...]antile] frame
building burned and was replaced by a brick
building constructed of brick tired in a kiln near the
river. DIGV 144.

PHOTO

Photo of “Slayton Mercantile Co. Harness
Shop and Implem[...]ilding,
one story. Ll December 19, 1911.

CARLOAD OF FORDS

The Slayton Mercantile Co, have just
received a carioad of Fords which they expect to
dispose of in a short time. RH March 3, 1916.

BAILEY MANAGER

Thus far, but two candidates have been
selected tor Mayor [for the forthcoming election],
these being J. T. Bailey, manager of the Slayton
Merc. Co. and A. O. Englet, cashier of the State
Bank. Ll March 6, 1920.

CUSHMAN STORE

Recognizing the value of a trading point,
the Slayton Mercantile Company has built a large
store building and will put in a branch stock of large
size. The concern is one of the largest in the
[Musselshell] Valley and is owned and controlled by
D. W. Slayton, a former stock raiser of the valley.
FiWFt December 16, 1915.

GLENDALE NE[...]layton store in Lavina is
expected home the first of the week. FIR January
15, 1915.

PHOTO
Good photo of Slayton Mercantile
Company brick building, still standing as of 1997.
DIGV146.

SAGAR SECRETARY-TREAS.
Miss Mary Sagar, secretary-treasurer of
Slayton Mercantile Co. leaves the latter part of the
week for an extended visit with her sister in[...]ercantile Store, is expected home the
latter part of the week. HR February 4, 1916.

CARLOAD OF FORDS

Slayton Mercantile Co. shipped in another
load of Fords this week. FIR April 7, 1916.

SHEARER NEW[...]t the Slayton Mercantile Store by the
resignation of Bert Slayton. RR May 24, 1918.

1910 - Contract for new structure let to contractor Crow of Billings for $15,000, brick
[outside brick fired at Musselshell; inside layer of brick of lower quality and fired at
Lavina], two stories.[...]- Ford cars arriving by railroad carload for sale to homesteaders.

1917 - Herb Belcher sold his interest in store to D. W. Slayton. DIGV 778.

1918 - Store selling Titan tractors. RR April 79, 7978.

1919 - L. A. Terneaure managing implement shop. DIGV 766.

19[...]Bilden and Oscar Balgord sold Slayton Mercantile to John H. Gerdts. DIGV 766.

1997 - Mr. & Mrs Jim C[...]1998 - Purchased by George and Charlotte Ainslie to be operated as Slayton Mercantile Co.
Question as[...]2L. Keep Your Undles
LAVINA LINE ‘ '

Fosse, E. A. Ranch '15 2L 183 Fresh and Smart
Hart,'_]as. Ran[...]solvcs in 40 Seconds
Willis}. Elso . 33
Woolfolk, A. M. Ranch IL 25 IL.

MELSTONE LINE NO. 2

Brockway', N. C. Ranch IS XE

Chandler, M. Ranch IL is i Sflayfimi were. $0.
‘Holmburg, D. Ranc[...]

RADFORD HOTEL
ADAMS ANNEX

CLERMON‘I‘ HOTEL

1911 - Radtord Hotel constructed by Ed[...]de Redford. Seventeen
rooms.

1911 - Radford soon to install cement
sidewalks. LI April 21.

1911 - Ra[...]o DIGV 116.

1915 - Albert Holte has taken charge of
Lavina livery, living In Adams Annex.
RR November[...]RR November 17.
1918? - Adams Annex name changed to

Clermont Hotel.

1920 - Clermont Hotel advertisi[...]fe.

19803 - Family lived there and had cate
open a year or so.

1995 - Hotel burned.

COUSIN BUILT RADFORD
I arrived in Lavina on April 23, 1911. l was on
my way to California but stopped in Lavina to see
my cousin Stella Cade Redford. She and her
hu[...]Joe Cade, Tuffley Bench homesteader,
commenting to son Leland numerous times.

“Aasesuaasasasyaasa[...]Meals in the best pozsible condition.

All kinds of Sausages, Ham, Bacon, md a full line of
Canned Goods.

Fish and Poultry in season.

i

. Ellhent mm... pm: p.141" mu on. and Horse
_flldea. arm; in your am..- “a mu.

‘ 1w

RAllFORD FEED &‘SEED 00.

ti
*2
iii.
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*3
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Seed Wheat, Oats, Barley, Flour.
Commeal, Corn,[...]a.

Layina,

Montana

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Fish and Poultry In Season.

if LAVINA, - - -
kifiifivflrfidm\va‘firrifiifi§fi iii

73::

C. JENSEN, Proprietor 3“
Dealer In All Kinds o! FRESH HEAT

All kinds of Homemade Sausages 3:

Everything New and Up- to- Date. Experienced %
cutter to attend to. your wants. Your »
patronage solicited. E

MONT[...]L White Clty Garage

H. F. SULLIVAN Proprietor

A Complete Line of Genuine Ford Parts‘
TIRES, TUBES END ACCESSORIE[...]RK
Agents for Ford Cars, Truéks and Staude—Mak-a-Tractors‘
AVINA. ' MONTANA