Rosebud County, Montana - Current Events, 1907

Current Events

Rosebud county is correctly named the "historical county" of Montana as it was in what is now the confines of Rosebud county, that occurred those stirring incidents that opened up the valley of the Yellowstone for occupation by the white man. Here it was that Custer and his brave men met with defeat, and General Miles thrashed the Indians at Little IMuddy and Lame Deer. The fulF and complete accounts of these battles are given in preceding chapters and also other interesting incidents relating to the subduing of the Indians and tlie settlement of this great domain by the whites.

The first white settlers to enter the territory now embraced in Rosebud county, came in the fall of 1876 and too much cannot be said in commendation of these hardy pioneers who braved the many dangers of frontier life at a time when the Indians were on the war path and their war parties scattered over all parts of the territory. Among those sturdy men who risked their lives to build homes in this then virgin territory, we find : Peter Jackson, Archie Mc- Murdy, and James Simpson, who came here in 1876, and were followed the next spring by: John Guy, Wm. Mouatt, Ben Green, Tom

Carter, John Justin, who settled at Pease Bottom: Mr. Murphy, Thomas Alexander, Thomas HammoncJ, Frank Andrews, M. Curran, who settled at Forsyth in 1877. Mr. Tolbert settled on Froze-to-Death creek in 1877 and Joseph Gee and N. Boyle settled at the mouth of the Rosebud ; George Mace settled at Howard the same year. In 1878, we find Joseph Isaacs, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Nortman, George. King, Wm. Roche, James Norman, James McGraw, Mike Conklin, James Parker, Dick Kennedy and W. B. S. Higgins had taken up their settlement here. John Guy. who settled at Pease Bottom must be given the distinction of being the first to break land and try the possibilities of this section along agricultural lines. Thomas Alexander was the first to have a band of cattle in this territory which was in 1878, but Diamond Carpenter and Robinson were the first to. run a large bunch of cattle in this section. The first band of sheep was brought into this territory in 1881 and they also belonged to Thomas Alexander.

The Northern Pacific railroad was built through this section in 1882 and the population grew rapidly. New settlers came in and located along the creeks and rivers and engaged in stock raising, which industry thrived wonderfully. The severe winter of 1886-7 '^^'^'s a hard blow to the stockmen, but it was the means of giving them a valuable lesson. Up to that time they had had no thought of wintTer feeding and had never made preparations for doing so, but since that time, though it is seldom necessary, nearly all the stockmen have been in a position to feed their stock should the winter be severe enough.

The government agency at Lame Deer was established in 1888, buildings were erected and an agent was stationed there. A school was started and has always been well attended by the Indian children. The fact that a government agent was statione'd there has probably been the cause of several Indian outbreaks being nipped in the bud, and much protection to settlers and their property.

The history of Rosebud county is so closely connected with that of Custer county that it must necessarily be brief and only those points are taken up that are already not included in the history of Custer county. The matters of historical importance up to the time of the creation of Rosebud county are limited.

The first agitation for the creation of a new county was started in 1893, but little interest was manifested, however, until 1895 when the principal issue in Custer county was the cutting off of the present county of Rosebud. The people in favor of county division were successful in electing the men whose opinions coincided with theirs and House bill Number 12 was introduced by Representative James S. Hopkins, which provided for the creation of Rosebud county. They were unsuccessful in passing the bill through the legislature and still remained a part of the large county of Custer. Two more unsuccessful attempts were made to bring about the division, in 1897 and 1899, and it was not until 190 1 that the bill passed the legislature and the new county was formed. On February 11, 1901, Governor Tocle appended his signature to the bill with a

Senate bill No. 21. An act to create the county of Rosebud, to define its boundaries, and to provide for its organization. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State

That all that portion of the State of Montana embraced within the following boundaries shall be known as, and shall be. Rosebud county, to-wit: Beginning at a point where the township line, running between ranges forty-four and forty-five east, in the county of Custer, in the State of Montana ; when surveyed and extended south, will intersect the northern boundary line of the State of Wyoming; thence north, along said township line, observing the jogs or offsets in said line, to its intersection, when surveyed, and extended, north, with the county line running east and west along, between Custer county and the county of Dawson, in said State of Montana : thence west along said county line to the middle of the main channel of the Musselshell river and the east boundary line of Fergus county ; thence up the middle of the main of said river and along the meanderings thereof in a southerly direction, to a point where the same is intersected by the county line running between the counties of Yellowstone and Custer; thence in a southeasterly direction along said county line to the junction of the Yellowstone and Bighorn rivers ; thence up the middle of the main channel of the said Bighorn river and along the meanderings thereof in a southeasterly direction to the intersection with the aforesaid northern boundary of the State of Wyoming; thence east, along the boundary line to the place of beginning. The town of Forsyth situated within the boundaries above described shall be the county seat of said county of Rosebud until the permanent county seat shall be designated in the mode and manner provided by law.

Sec. 2. That the indebtedness of said Custer county, as the same shall exist on the first day of March, 1901, shall be apportioned between the said counties of Custer and Rosebud by first deducting from said indebtedness the amount of all moneys on hand and all moneys belonging to said Custer county, and also deducting the value of all real estate and personal property within and belonging to Custer county on the said first day of March, 1901, and the remainder of said indebtedness shall be apportioned between the said counties of Custer and Rosebud respectively in proportion to the amount of taxable property in each of said counties, said amount of taxable property to be ascertained by a commission consisting of the boards of county commissioners of said Custer and Rosebud counties and Charles H. Loud, judge of the seventh judicial district, which said commission shall meet at the court house at Miles City, on the isth day of March, 1901, and shall take, as the standard for such apportionment of indebtedness the assessment for the year 1900 as determined by the board of equalization of said county of Custer.

Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of said board of county commissioners of Rosebud county, in the event it should be found, upon the adjustment of such indebtedness, that the said county of Rosebud should assume and pay any amount of same, to cause to be made and delivered to the said county commissioners of said Custer county, warrants on the county fund in the sum of one thousand dollars each, and fractions thereof, if such there be. for the amount found to be due, which said warrants, upon presentation, shall be indorsed by the treasurer of said Rosebud county, "Not paid for want of funds." and shall thereafter draw interest as other county warrants.

Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful for said board of county commissioners of Rosebud county to issue any warrant or warrants in any amount or sum, or to incur any indebtedness, or enter into any contract, or incur any liability for or on behalf of said Rosebud county, until they have fully complied with the provisions of Sections 2 and 3 of this act.

Sec. S- That the board of county commissioners and the treasurer of said Custer county shall, at their regular meeting during the month of March, 1901, ascertain the amount of money in the school fund belonging to (whether apportioned or not) the several school districts embraced within the limits of said county of Rosebud which have been carved out of the county of Custer, and the county treasurer of said Custer county shall, during the month of March, 1901, and upon receipt of the warrants specified in Section 3 of this act, transfer and pay over to the treasurer of said county of Rosebud, such moneys as may be on hand at the said March meeting of said board of county commissioners of said county of Custer, and as by them and the said treasurer thereof, found to belong to the school districts of the said county of Rosebud. Said funds to be transferred shall be held by the treasurer of the county of Rosebud, where they were originally designated and bonded.

Sec. 6. The following named persons are hereby appointed to the following offices, the name of the appointee being placed opposite the office to which he is appointed: Freeman Philbrick, W. W. McDonald, and Hunter Terrett, commissioners; Charles W. Bailey, clerk and recorder; Charles Davis, sheriff; T. W. Longley, treasurer; James B. Grierson. clerk of the district court; Fred L. Gibson, county attorney; Gertrude M. Higgins, superintendent of common schools; R. W. Snook, public administrator; J. F. Kennedy, coroner; Charles B. Taber, county surveyor.

ileges as are by law conferred upon like officers in other counties of the state of Montana, and they shall be entitled to receive the same emoluments, salaries and fees, as are conferred by law upon like officers of other counties of the same class in the state, and shall in like manner give bonds and enter upon the discharge of their respective duties upon giving a bond within ten days after the passage and approval of this act. and they shall hold their respective offices until their successors are elected and qualified, and be subject to all repealing laws applicable to other similar offices generally. The bond above provided for shall be approved in the same manner as the bond of other county officers, and filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county of Rosebud. Provided, however, that such salaries shall not commence until such officers shall enter upon the discharge of their duties and shall have qualified according to law

Sec. 7. The county commissioners of said Rosebud county shall have authority to contract for the transcribing of such parts of the public records of said Custer county as they may deem useful and necessary to the said county of Rosebud and the inhabitants thereof, or they may appoint and depute some capable and discreet person to transcribe the same, and for such purpose shall have access to the records of said Custer county.

Said transcripts, when completed shall be carefully compared with the originals by the county clerk of said Custer county, who shall be entitled to receive a compensation of five dollars per diem while actually engaged in the performance of such duties ; and when found to be correct, shall by him be so certified under his name and seal, and thereafter the records so transcribed and certified to shall be received and admitted in evidence in all courts of the state, and shall be in other respects entitled to like faith and credit as said original records.

Sec. 8. The county commissioners of said couniy of Rosebud, for the purpose of funding and paying any indebtedness which may be incurred by reason of assuming any of the indebtedness of Custer county, are hereby given the authority to issue on the credit of their respective county, coupon bonds, to the amount sufficient to enable them to redeem any or all legal outstanding warrants or orders, equal in amount to said indebtedness so incurred, which said bond shall be sold at no less than par and in the mode and manner provided by law for the issue and sale of county bonds.

Sec. 9. That the treasurers of Custer and Rosebud counties shall, at the time of the adjustment of the indebtedness as provided in Section 2 of this act, make out and transmit to the county commissioners of said Rosebud county, lists of all delinquent taxes within the limits of Rosebud county, as above established, shown by the records of their respective offices.

Provided, That no delinquent taxes due to the county of Custer shall be considered in the adjustment of the debts as hereinbefore provided, but it shall be the duty of the treasurer of Custer county to collect such delinquent taxes and to turn over to the treasurer of Rosebud county its pro rata share of said taxes as he may be able to collect within thirty days after making such collection ; Provided further, that should there be any surplus of funds in the hands of the treasurer of Custer county after adjustment, as hereinbefore provided, said surplus shall be divided between the counties of Custer and Rosebud in the same mann.er as hereinbefore provided for dividing the indebtedness.

Sec. io. All district and township officers within the said county of Rosebud, whose election or appointment is not herein provided for, shall or may continue to hold office and exercise the duties pertaining thereto, until the expiration of the term for which said officers were elected or appointed.

Sec. II. The county boundaries of said Custer county are hereby altered to conform to the boundaries of said Rosebud county, as established by this act.

Sec. 12. The said county of Rosebud is hereby added to and made a .part of the /th Judicial District of this state, for judicial purposes, and all that part of the Crow Reservation lying east of the Big Horn river is hereby attached to Rosebud county for the purpose of taxation and for judicial purposes.

The officers of the new county entered upon their duties in the early part of March and at once took the necessary steps to bring about a settlement of affairs with the mother county of Custer. After a careful accounting it was ascertained that the total indebtedness of Custer county was $274,000 and that Rosebud county's porportion was 32.85 per cent of the whole, or$45, 259.50, and warrants were drawn for that amount payable to Custer county. The taxable property of the new county was found to be $2,187,639.

On June 3, 1901, two of the commissioners appointed resigned. The}- were W. W. Mc- Donald and Freeman Philbrick. Tliomas Alexander was appointed in place of McDonald and Thomas E. Haanmond was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation oi Philbrick, seat contest, although the town of Rosebud recently attempted to circulate a petition for that purpose. They were unsuccessful and the matter was soon forgotten.

The settlement of the Crow Indian reservation, which was recently thrown open for settlement, will add much to the resources and population of Rosebud county. More than 500.- 000 acres of this tract lies in the county and much of it can be irrigated while the rest is excellent grazing lands. The conditions for obtaining this land were the same as those under the homestead law, except, that each person drawing a piece of land had to pay four dollars per acre for it. One dollar down and the balance in three equal payments, the second payment to be made at the end of the second year, the third at the end of the third year, and the fourth at the end of the fourth year. The applications for this drawing were not as numerous as expecteil on account of the government reserving much of the irrigable land. Among the irrigable tracts thrown open was the Myers and Sanders flats, located in the valley of the Yellowstone river west of the town of Howard. I^nd in this district was especially desirable on account of the fertility of the soil and its easy access to railroad facilities.

ture has become one of the main pursuits of the settlers. The valleys of the Tongiie, Rosebud, Big Horn and Little Big Horn rivers as well as other smaller streams are very fertile and large quantities of hay, grain, vegetables and fruit are raised here every year.

The scenery along the rivers is very beautiful, the valley being covered with a dense growth of Cottonwood and the surrounding hills covered with a mat of grass. The canyon of the Big Horn is considered one of nature's grandest works of scenic beauty. One of the wonders of nature is found on Greenleaf creek alxiut 60 miles from Forsyth in the shape of an ice well. Some years ago a man named W'm. Campbell started a shaft while prospecting for gold and after getting down 30 or 40 feet complained of the extreme cold. The perspiration from his face would run down and form ice drops as it fell. Being somewhat superstitious he decided to quit and did so. This was the starting- of the ice well. As a rule in summer, the ice forms within a few feet of the top. While the ice itself makes the well a natural curiosity, it is the formation of the ice during the hottest period in the summer, that makes this well a great natural curiosity.

The Alilwaukee railroad is to build through Rosebud county and is now at work on the right of way. The route is up the Yellowstone river on the north side until it reaches a point opposite the town of Forsyth, when it runs in a northeasterly direction to the Musselshell river. This will open a large section to settlement.

Chapter Cities And Towns

The town of Forsyth, the county seat of Rnsebud county, was started in 1882, when the Northern Pacific railroad was building through this section. It was the winter terminus of that road in 1882 and was located on the Yellowstone river, 45 miles west of Miles City. The selection of the site was a favorable line as the valley of the Yellowstone has an average width here of about i J/2 miles, where the land is le\-el and fertile, and is almost in tlie center of the county.

The town gets its name from Col. James W. Forsyth, of the seventh cavalry, who was well known in this section during the Indian troubles. It was platted by the Northern Pacific Railroad Co., in October, 1882, and was chosen by them as the end of the freight (li\isii)n l)etween Glendi\-e and Billings.

Young, who opened up a general merchandise store here in the spring of 1882, and was soon followed by Fred Henning, George Taylor, H. R. Marcyes and Manchester and Bryan, David Sweet started the first restaurant the same year. In 1883 Thomas Alexander entered the mercantile business here.

The town was visited by a disastrous fire in August, 1888, which destroyed twenty thousand dollars worth of property. Seven business houses on Main street between Ninth and Tenth streets were burned to the ground. The origin of the fire is unknown. The insurance on stocks and buildings was about eight thousand dollars.

For many _\ears the growth of the town was very slow and little progress was made and it was not until the year 1901 that the peiiple awakened to the fact that Fcirsyth had

A disastrous fire occurred July 8, 1901, when the Occidental hotel, a three-story frame structure, was burned to the ground. It was occupied by its own employees and about twenty-five boarders, mostly railroad men. Twelve persons occupied the third floor and but two of these escaped without jumping from the windows. The inmates of the lower floors left the building in time to escape injury but lost most of their personal effects. All of the ten who leaped wrom the third floor were injured and bruised by the fall. The more specific hurts were as follows : Albert Smith, left hand and fingers burned; Carl Schroeder, right foot burned and ankle sprained; J. V. Saleno, hips injured; Stephen Bolen, right hip bruised, nose and cheek badly cut ; Gus Ahlgren, bruised head and left knee; John Faler, right arm broken ; John Roeu, hands and face burned, side injured, ribs broken; W. S. Myers , sprained wrist and face burned ; Fred Roeu, arm sprained and body bruised; Aman Ahorlick, bad cut and head bruised. All of them suflfered much from the jar. In fifteen minutes the walls had fallen and the fire had spread to the coal dock and engine house. A barrel of gasoline was stored in the engine house which soon exploded and in a brief time the buildings were in ruins. The line of cars were pushed to a place of safety. In the morning it was discovered that one man had lost his life in the conflagration. The charred body was seen in the ruins and by means of grappling hooks an effort was made to draw it forth. The attempt was only partially successful as only the head and trunk could be recovered, the rest having been burned away. It was afterwards found that the remains wei'e those of Jacob Braun of Hebron, N. D, The origin of the fire is imknown.

corps of teachers is employed. The present building cost about $12,000. and a new building is now in the course of construction which will cost when completed about $8,000 and will be used for the grade pupils, the old building will be used for the High school department.

Four different churches have organizations here, though but two of them have buildings, the Methodist and Presbyterian. The Episcopal and Catholic denominations are expected j to erect edifices in the near future. ! Forsyth is naturally the outfitting, mercantile and banking center of the country, supplying sheep, cattle and ranch outfits for a radius of over one hundred miles and affording ample facilities for the transaction of all manner of business.

In 1904 the county voted bonds lor $50,- 000 for the purpose of building a bridge across the Yellowstone river at Forsyth. The bridge was completed in 1905 at a cost of $57,000. With adequate bridge facilities closer relations have grown between the residents of the north side and the townsjjeople and a marked increase in trade and business has been experienced.

The Northern Pacific railroad employs about 200 men here and its monthly payroll amounts to about $12,000. The railroad company is now building at $25,000 wool warehouse here for handling that product. In addition to the Northern Pacific, Forsyth will be on the main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad which is now building towards the coast.

The building of a system of water works is contemplated and an election will be held in July to decide the cjuestion of bonding the town for $35,000 for such purpose. If the bond issue carries, water will be taken from the Yellowstone river and pumped to a reservoir on Forsyth Heights, which rise se\eral hundred feet above the town. This will insure ample pressure for all purposes.

three elections have been held. The officers electer have been: 1904 - Mayor, Charles B. Tabor ; councilmen, Charles W. Bailey, Barney Blum, D. J. Miiri and Wm. Martin ; clerk,

The town has a wide-awake Business Men's association and the fraternal orders are well represented, the Masons, Eagles, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and railroad men's organizations having a large membership.

The town of Rosebud, located twelve miles east of Forsyth, the county seat, is the second town of the county in size and importance. It has a population of about 125. Being located on the railroad at the confluence of the Rosebud and Yellowstone rivers, it has become a large shipping point. Directly opposite across the Yellowstone river is the Edwards irrigating canal which waters a large tract of land where much hay, grain and produce is raised. The town is growing rapidly and is well equipped with business houses, having two good hotels, two large mercantile establishments, a bank, a lumber yard, and other lines of business. It has a fine brick school building with an able corps of teachers and two churches, the Methodist and Episcopal. It has a daily mail. Western Union telegraph and Northern Pacific express ofifice.

Busby is a village on the Rosebud river, first settled in 1884, eiighty miles south of Forsyth, the county seat, thirty miles east of the Crow agency on the C. B. & O. R. R., the shipping point. It is situated in the midst of the Cheyenne Indian reservation containing about 1,500 Indians and 200 whites. The U. S. Indian training school is located here, having between 80 and 90 pupils. Mail is received by special supply.

Crow Agency, a station on the C. B. & Q. R. R. first settled in 1880. 170 miles by railroad southwest of Forsyth, the county seat. It has Catholic and Mission churches, a flouring mill, two general stores and a hotel. Mail daily.

Other postofBces in Rosebud county are: Ashland, Birney, Decker, Hathaway, Howard, Kirby, Lame Deer, Lee, Lock, Lodge Grass, Pearl, Rancher, Sabra, Saint Xavier, and Satchwell.