Custer County Area History: As We Recall (2025)

TXT

Once again, thank you for your[...]

A CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF
CUSTER COUNTY, MONTANA
188[...]

It is exciting to be writing this - the last page of my book I traced Mr. W.B. Mahoney from western Montana to Africa
- but I view its coming to an end with mixed emotions as I and back to the east coast to get permission to use his maps.
realize I have only scratched the surface of a subject that reaches I traced E. Kay Kirkham through the Salt Lake City Library
to infinity in every direction. to obtain permission to use the maps from which I took the
To those of you who contributed the use of your precious section showing old forts in the area, and towns from former
pictures: they are now labeled and preserved for posterity, and days. The land use maps were provided by the City-County
the stories you have submitted will help make the past come Planning office. This excellent group of maps can be found in
alive for generations to come. Without you my efforts would the back of the book. I hope you will find them as interesting
ha[...]and informative as I did.
The members of the Range Riders, Inc., cooperated with me I'm sure black and white will not do justice to the outstanding
in every way possible from answering innumerable questions to paintings of the steamboats by James Trott of Fort Benton, but
allowing me to use the stories from the Memorial Hall and to I really appreciated his sharing his co[...]I also want to thank the North Dakota State Historical Society
The president of the Range Riders during the time I was for the photos of the early-day steamboats and the information
compiling this book, the late E.O. Allen, and his wife, Edna R., about them. Blair Chicoine of Sioux City helped me with most
were often called upon when I had questions as were Del and of the material for the captions on the boat pictures.
Bernice Carey, who have a large collection of early-day histories. I would like to thank Mary Haughian and Mildred Waldie
The Miles City Saddlery passed out brochures, collected for offering to help proofread some of the stories from the
stories and pictures as well as advising people w[...]facilitating their getting prompt help. Thanks· to Tat Cain, Irene Gresens submitted the title chosen for the book which
Diana Davis and Margie Nelson. was the one of many preferred by the majority of those who
John Riggs, Elaine Swanson, and Ward[...]did a helped select it.
fabulous job of reproducing photos. Most of the pictures in the Bob Barthelmess wrote captions, made s[...]Christian stories, previewed much of my material, and wrote many letters
Bsarthelmess, or L.A. Huffman, courtesy of the Range Riders in quest of stories, pictures, and information. Thank you, Bob.
Museum and John Riggs of Riggs Camera and Gifts.[...]rs, Margie Nelson and Judy Kalloch, as well as
The Miles City Genealogical Society helped with the my husband, Casey, helped and enc[...]t - typing, stamping, recording,
I appreciated the announcements made by the local radio addressing letters, numbering pages, etc. Betty Barthelmess
stations, and the great coverage given my book by the Star. and her granddaughter, Cari, helped with this, too.
Thanks to Bill Perschillo for providing the painting of the My heartfelt thanks to all those above and the many more
Bradshaw barn, a well-known landmark, for the cover of this who helped in various ways to make this book possible. I hope
volume.[...]mpiling
Bill Wilkerson did an excellent job on the section dealing with it.
the Milwaukee Railroad.[...]

Printed and published in the United States by Curtis Media Corporation, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this work
covered by the copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form[...]trieval systems - without written permission from the publisher. The
materials were compiled and produced using available information; the publishers regret they cannot assume liabi[...]

PREFACE ...............................[...].. ... .... .... .. ..... ............... 26
Up the Muddy Yellowstone ...............................[...].............................. 86
Home Is Where the Heart Is .... ..... ........ ..... ..... .......[...]........................................... 132
The Great Montana Centennial Cattle Drive ...........[...].................................. 151
Overview of an Area ..................................[...]

Men hunted in groups of from two to six, and were accompanied
by their skinners w[...]Bill Stone said Bill Frazier· was noted as the best hunter in the
area, and was known to kill as many as 100 head in a day. Buffalo
were skinned where they fell and hides were left to dry until
moved to the banks of the Yellowstone to be picked up by the
steamboats in the spring.

2

Hunters and trappers found the area a satisfactory location to carry on
their trade as buffalo carcasses were everywhere. Pictured below is
Waxahachie, the wolfer. The tent on the right is the home of wolfer
Brown. Brown's horse is shown carry[...]

Squad room of L Troop, 6th Cavalry at Fort Keogh, Montan[...]

The Fort, 1896, looking SW with Sargent Wood of the Second Infantry. Left
building is the guardhouse: large building in rear center is band quarters.
Steam engine in rear center was used to power the sawmill to cut wood before
the sawmill burned. Piles of cordwood surrounded the fort in lieu of a stockade.

Company of 22nd Infantry soldiers in full military dress in front of their
barracks in 1890's.[...]

A practice march of the Fort Keogh unit trying to maintain battle readiness during peace
time - anything to break the monotony.

The Fort Keogh military contingent camped in the Powder River breaks 25 miles east of
Miles City, 1889.

6

Watering horses at the McDowell camp.

A Fort Keogh hunting party using muzzle-loader rifles helped supply the fort with
fresh meat. Game was plentiful in the area.[...]

Mining gold along the Yellowstone - a fruitless venture.[...]

Canteen at Ft[...]dvertising is always with us - upper right corner of picture!

10

The German Singing Society conducted by musician Barthelmess.

Picnic along Yellowstone River north of Keogh. Tarpaulin was pegged to ground for
dancing.[...]

The parade ground was flooded so the officers and their families had a place to skate in the
winter.

Early Day picture of Keogh Indian camp.

12

Hunkpapa Sioux leather lodges near the fort in 1878.

Brave Wolfs sweat lodge.[...]

Some of the Indians in this winter camp near the fort about 1880 had wall tents
and there appears to be a stovepipe coming out the top of the tent. The bark has
been peeled from the trees as far as they can reach to be used as fuel. Wagon seat
has sprin[...]

The 22nd Infantry left Fort Keogh in 1896 where they had been since 1888 when they relieved the 5th
Infantry which had come in 1876 by steamboat.[...]

The new town, called Miles City, was a wooden[...]

Borchardt's Corn[...]No one had to be told that the Yellowstone had 'gone out', as it was[...]obvious to all. (Huffman Photo)

Fire claimed many of the buildings in Miles City, in this photo by
Schlickting, fire ravaged the Gray Mule. Many of the saloons had
'ladies of the evening' as it was considered an acceptable thing in an
area of so few women.[...]

In the Centennial Roundup published by the Miles City
Star, Charley Harris is said to have walked into Miles
and Ulmers and ordered nine sheep wagons. Could they
be the ones in this picture? Because a sheepherder with
the help of a good dog, could herd a large band of sheep,
he had his own year around "home". However, it took
many riders to handle a like number of cattle, so the
hapless cowboy had a bedroll under the stars (or snow!)
when away from the ranch until later years when tents
were some[...]between
1912-1917) we find cars mingled with the horse drawn
vehicles. Along with the Christianson Drug, we see the
Luger Furniture Company which 'sells pianos'. The
banner proclaims 'The Commercial Club - headquarters
for visitors'. (Photo courtesy of Tom Zook)

18

Fire in June of this centennial year of 1989 completely destroyed the Glass
building built soon after the turn of the century. It housed the
Coast-to-Coast store which the owners, Steadmans, are rebuilding.[...]Firemen here are shown cooling the embers of the fire at the
Coast-to-Coast store. The smoke and water damage in the
adjoining building precipitated the liquidation of yet another
long time Miles City business, the Miles City Saddlery. The
Saddlery was built by the same man a few years after he
completed the building which housed the Coast-to-Coast.
(Photo courtesy of Hank Shaw)[...]

Miles, Strevell and Ulmer (Miles and Ulmer) is the oldest business in Miles City to be continuously run by members of one family.
Passage of the open range is clearly indicated by the stacks of barbed wire on the right. A sewing machine is shown in the left hand
window and coffeepots and teakettles adorn the right. (Photo courtesy of Bill Jones)

20

Orschel's was, among[...]'s clothing store. A salesman, Mr.
Fry used to go out to the wagons where the m en were working to sell clothing.[...]

Still a drug store, the building is now occupied by the Big Sky Pharmacy.

22

We still have a Shore's store which sells women's wear. It was recently[...]operated by members of the Shore family.[...]

In 1894, H enry C. Smith open ed a jewelry store in the front corner of the
drug st ore. Eventually Mr. Smith took over the entire building.

He had special wall and[...]his time he had t he
finest jewelry store in the state of Montana.

24

In 194 7 Paul and Betty Lou Mann purchased the store from Smith and
operated it under the name of 'Smith Jewelers' for a number of years but later
changed the name to 'Mann Credit Jewelers'.

In June of 1978, Manns sold the store to Donald
Diedrich who, four years later, sold out the
merchandise and closed the shop, ending the era of
H. C.[...]

Since, at the time this photo was taken, this machine was on the ground, I think it Come on now[...]via Newfoundland. This Christmas photo (191 0) is of 0-r in[...]

The Archdales raised fine horses as shown here. Peopl[...]This freighter uses six teams with a jerkline to pull his numerous wagons.
rode in light spring wa[...]o speaks for itself.

Oxen were sometimes used to transport freight. The Diamond R Bulltrain
is shown in front of the Commercial Hotel, Orschel's and the Miles and
Strevell Hardware Co. Some of these bulls were turned loose to seek
shelter in a blizzard one winter. It is said[...]n relatively
good condition, but rustlers removed the horns from some and
appropriated the bulls. The brand on some was on the horns.[...]

1920 Photo of (1-r): Johanna Dunlap Colvin, Andrastine Rasmusse[...]built in 1924, and was probably one of the first interstate hauling[...]elephant to an ant". (Photo courtesy of Verna Benasky)

Mr. Bickle, Dave and Boby (?) and Earl Gaines (banker) with the Glide car
bought in 1912 in Billings from[...]

Water transportation was as important to the Custer County area as it was to the rest
of the nation in the days prior to the emergence of the railways. The steep banks near
Milestown were ideal for unloading cargo and passengers from the sternwheelers, which
were virtually the only steam powered boats to ply the waters of the Yellowstone. The
Buffalo Rapids ten or twelve miles downstream from Miles City, and the Wolf Rapids just
below that, increased the risk of navigating the Yellowstone, but pioneers accepted challenge
as an integral part of their existence. These risks caused insurance on the boats to cost as
much as one tenth the value of the vessel as the average time for them to go without some
sort of accident was about ten years.

The 'June rise' created tremendous excitement in early day Miles City. Anne M. McLean
had this to say about the upper Missouri boats (above St. Louis) that came up the
Yellowstone:

"The white boats slowly making their way between the green trees on the banks of the
Yellowstone River, which is the second swiftest navigable river on the globe, were beautiful
in the eyes of the early settlers and seemed to be all that kept a living link between cities,
homes and civilization located so far away. The boats coasted back and appeared to be in
such a hurry to leave us. We children learned and knew the whistle and could tell at night
which boat had arrived. Many experienced something of the feeling of John Alden and
Pricilla as they watched the Mayflower start back to the old homes. The departure of the
boats made them think of the long hard winter, the dangers, privations and scarcity of food
before these white messengers returned".

The statistics I quote concerning the boats on the following pages are from WAYS
PACKET DIRECTORY by Frederick Way, Jr. (University of Ohio Press, Athens, Ohi9)[...]

The Far West was built in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in[...]comfortable boat, as can be seen by this picture of the
interior, it was used in government service on the Yellowstone, 1876-1877.
Captain Mart Coulson was skipper during the race from Sioux City to Fort
Benton and back between the Far West and the Nellie Peck. The Far West
won by three hours, making the trip in 17 days and 20 hours. The Far West
sank seven[...]

Besides the shifting tree snags and sand bars, there was always the danger, in trying to make one more trip during a season, the water
would be found too shallow or an unexpected cold snap would occur. The latter resulted in the Eclipse finding itself in the dilemma shown
here - stuck in an ice jam. The Eclipse sank twice in 1887. The last time, fifteen miles below Sioux City, she stayed down - September 3,
1887. (Photos courtesy of orth Dakota State Historical Society)

32

Loaded with buffalo hides from animals destroyed by the thousands in the early 1880's, the
F. Y. Batchelor prepares for its trip downstream. Supplying settlements as well as trading
posts along the Yellowstone (many of which belonged to the boat's owners) provided it with
furs in addition to hides for its return trip. She was one of the boats used to transfer the
Indians to the Standing Rock Reservation. Sold in 1885 after the advent of the railroad, it
made what is believed to be the last commercial run to Fort Benton by a steamboat. First
sinking in Sout[...]recked by ice in 1907.

(Photos courtesy of orth Dakota State His torical Society)[...]

34

J[...]courtesy artist Jam.es Trott

The Josephine transported supplies to Custer, Terry, Crook and Gibbons during hostilities with the Indians. It too helped
transport the Indians to the reservation. Several reliable accounts say she wa[...]rded by Fredrick Way, Jr., whose principle source of information was insurance records. They may have only
owned her for a short while. The 183 X 31 X 4 ft. boat was made in Pennsylv[...]

The Jim Leighton sternwheel ferryboat (119 V2' X 30 '[...]ilt in Sioux City in 1880. In this photo, donated to the
Range Riders Museum by Mr. and Mrs. S. Donet[...]- see sheep wagon on left. It was difficult
to haul livestock on the big steamboats which carried passengers for long distances.

36

President Abraham Lincoln signed a charter for the Northern Pacific Railroad July 2, 1864.
Following years of exploring and surveying, construction was begun i[...]79-1882, when a bridge was finally completed ov r the Missouri Riv r, trains crossed the
river on tracks laid on the ice in the winter and on ferry boats in the summer. This R. . Morrison
picture is of the bridging of a smaller river. The East and West branches of the railroad cam
together at Gold Creek, Monta[...]

The Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in Miles City in November of 1881, soon
bringing to a close the era of the steamboat. Trains were faster, cheaper, and did
not have to await the 'spring rise' to deliver passengers and freight. The railroad
also advertised the West in glowing terms, helping to settle the areas they
serviced.

38

The Milwaukee Road was an important part of Miles City for 75 years from 1907 to 1982.

Miles City was located just about half w[...]linios, and Tacoma,
Washington. It was 1119 miles to Chicago and 1075 miles to Tacoma. This made it an ideal
location for a mojo[...]and other
supporting buildings. From around 1910 to 1953, Miles City was the major shop for
repairing steam locomotives on the lines west from Mobridge, South Dakota to Tacoma.
Peak employment in Miles Clty was around 1000 and held pretty steady to the end of the
steam era in 1953 when the first big lay-offs took place.

Besides the locomotive repair facilities that employed around[...]plex for repairing freight cars that employed 200 to 400. Miles City was the
headquarters for the Trans-Missorui division that extended from Mobridge, South Dakota
miles post 805 to Harlowton, Montana miles post 1335, and included 299 miles of branch
lines. The Superintendents office, the Division engineers office, the Master Mechanics office
and the Roadmasters office were all in Miles City. The Engineers, Firemen, Conductors and
Brakemen operated trains both east and west out of Miles City. There were Switchmen,
Section men, Di[...]n Miles
City. It was a busy Railroad terminal.

The end of the steam operations in 1954, reduced the shop force to about 10 employees.
They tore down the 24 stall roundhouse and made some engine stalls in the north end of the
Machine shop. They also tore down the large brick store department that had employed as[...]yees, and every other building they could get rid of.

In December 1959, the Division headquarters was closed with the loss of the
Superintendents office and the Engineering department. More powerfull diesel locomotives
pulling heavier trains steadily reduced the number of engine and train crews. There had
been two passenger trains a day each way until 1955 and by February 1964, the last
passenger train was discontinued.

All operations west of Miles City were discontinued April 1, 1980. After that, they only
had three c<i?al trains a week that the Burlington Northern transfered at Miles City. A
provision of the merger agreement that created the Burlington Northern March 1, 1970, was
that all interchange with the Milwaukee would be at the first point of interchange instead of
the last. This would have given the Milwaukee 6 coal trains a week at Miles City to haul to a
Wisconsin power plant. These were unit coal trains and required that the Milwaukee put 24
diesel locomotives into the power pool. The new Milwaukee management decided they
couldn't put 24 diesel locomotives in the power pool so would put in 12 and take every othe[...]at Miles City. This decision was clearly designed to show a loss as it took a
deadhead crew one way for each train operating east of Miles City. It was either deadhead
crews back and forth or pay detention time at the away from home terminal.

When the Milwaukee shut down at Miles City April 1, 1982, there were only a total of 35
employees left.

One employee was kept working for several years pumping over 500,000 gallons of diesel
fuel out of the ground around the shop, that had leaked in for over 35 years. They had to
drill shallow wells at various locations and install an oil seperator in the basement of the old
oil house to comply with Environmental Protection laws.

Rail Car Maintenance bought the yard and some buildings and repair freight cars in Miles
City. All that's left of the Milwaukee is pictures and memories.[...]

Grading along the North Bank of the Yellowstone River west of Sheffield on what was called Look Bluff. It looks like this was all done with
horses which was quite a project.

40

Looking east from the up river side. The finished bridge has four overhead spans each 270 feet long. The photo shows that they h ave already
started to pull the piling out from under the second span.[...]

42

Miles City shop and yard looking east from the
coal dock in 1942. G6 No. 1103 is next to No. 24
stall of the Roundhouse. Machine shop and
Boilers shop are the long buildings with a
transfer table between them[...]storage track. Smoke stack and coal dock are
for the 6 boilers in the power house. The three
loads of coal are for the locomotive coal dock.
The switch engine is making up an east bound
freight from the long lead switching into the
yard. The L3 for the train with a desert tank is
going down the main line to the east end. The
yard office is on the right set back of the lawn.

L3 No. 396 is being turned on the Miles City
turn table to go eas t. The Roundhouse is in the
background.[...]

X978 was the Miles City shop goat for about
20 years. It was used to move locomotives
and tenders during overhaul in the
roundhouse and shop. Pictured here in[...]o. 1 stall.

X978 being loaded into a gondola to go east
for scrap in March 1954. Smoke box and
cy[...]cut off. Wrecker
couldn't lift it high enough, so the diesel
switch engine had to shove the gondola
under it.[...]

Diesel locomot ive No. 200 at Miles City March 3 1, 1982 with the last empty coal train. It was turned over to the Burlington Northern to be
loaded at Colstrip, Montana. and would return t o the Wisconsin power plant on the Burlington Northern as far as St. Paul, Minnesota,
then transfered back to the Milwaukee. The 585 was switching, making up the last train. It was mostly company material being shipped to
the Milwaukee's Core railroad still operating[...]

Here range sheep are being brought in to the sheds to be worked.

Ralph Gilmore's sheep crossing the Yellowstone at Scott's Ferry just north of Terry.
This is the only way sheep could be taken accross the Yellowstone before 1910 when
a bridge[...]

(1-r): Ewen Cameron and Evelyn Cameron[...]Dick Crosby shearing sheep on the[...]

With its huge steam engine this tractor was able to haul many wagon loads of wool at
once. Les Fluss is driving the 'train' owned by Les Fluss and George Burt. This method
certainly made the transportation of wool much simpler in the Terry community in 1904.
(Photo by Ca[...]

Sheep grazing on the Bickle ranch. The herder and his dog may be seen in the foreground.
Their job was to keep the sheep together and free from predacious animals.[...]g (1-r): Dan O'Brian, herder, Ben Bickle (brother to Dave and
grandfather of Gordan Bickle), Art, Dave Bickle (owner), and Emil (son of Ben).

(Photos courtesy of Art Bickle)[...]

The Archdale Ranch.

A closer look at the Monty Archdale ranch. They ran cattle on
Locate Creek and the lower Powder River.

(1-r): Mable[...]

Rounding up the Archdale cattle. (1-r): Billy Longfellow, E. S. Cameron, and Monty and
Lionel Archdale.

The Archdale's feeding rye hay to their herd. (Photos by Lady Cameron)[...]

The Crown W buildings with owner J. H . Price holding saddle horses. otice
the saddles the horses are wearing.[...]been decorat-ed with one of thes famous Montan~ irons.[...]ho.r ~1•n X Hoar gltH Q J>kl't of p1r
J.J[...]

This photo by Lady Cameron is titled the Irvine/Adams Ranch. The brand is registered to
Irvine.

Lanee Irvine and Wes[...]

Branding calves at the E2.

E2 beef h erd. Notice the horns on the cattle.

Horses in a rope corral with Glen Farnum in the foreground. E2 corrals were built[...]

Another angle. Abner R. Farnum, who had been the manager of the E2 Some E2 cowboys enjoying a little rest. The last man standing is Germany
until they sold out in 1907, bought the place. His son, Hiram was his John.
partner in the deal. (Photo by Lady Cameron)

58

Joe Jackson was horse wrangler for the TN. Jack Taylor on Mosby Ba[...]

TN camp on South Strevell Creek. Camped at the old Reverse E2 Spread.

TN r oundup on Coal Creek. Moving out the remuda. (Photos by Lady Cameron)

60

Cowboys with Shacky Kimball (on right) taken on the Powder River. Chow time. Remuda in rope corral[...]Part of the TN crew.[...]

Germany John, Charley Wiley, and Don Pyle pulling shoes. Frank Sometimes a horse was unwilling to cooperate and the boys had to pull his
Clark is on the horse. shoes the hard way.

The reps are packing up to leave the wagon. The roundup is through for[...]Lady Cameron)
Chapping a cowboy. Pug Owens doing the chapping.

62

The XIT herd on the trail. They usually left Texas in early April. It took Cowboys have a noon hr ak.
about three months to make the trip so they arrived around the first of
July . They had to wait to start until they were sure the grass would get a
good start along the trail.[...]

XIT cowpunchers on the ferry at Fallon, Montana, 1904. XIT cattle crossing the Yellowstone River near Fallon. After the[...]longer h a d to swim the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers.[...]

The SL headquarters after they moved to Foster Creek. Some of the other men who rode for the outfit
were; Eben Daily, Charlie Hay, Tom Jo[...]ourtesy Bob Shy)

Some of the SL crew is displaying much appreciated fresh
vegetables brought to the camp by Mrs. Hitzfeldt. (1-r): Ira[...]and,
with Loud, purchased the ranch a few years later. Loud sold
out to him about 1909.

66

(1-r): Sam Shy and Ike Shy taken at the Ike Shy Ranch. Sam was Sam Shy doing his job.
younger and was referred to as the dinner rep until he became old
enough to wrangle horses .

Throw that rope gently but true and don't rile the herd![...]

The picture a bove, taken by Huffman in 1907, includes the following men, not necessarily in this order: Cha[...]Ed Whitbeck; Jim Gibson - LO; Billie Glenn - boss of Horkan Ranch and also the wagon boss; Billie Crawford - himself and the JO; Price Terrett - JO;
Sidney Smith - himself; H[...]himself;
Tepee Dick - John Ramer; Jim Drake - TA (the A may be open); Eva Carey - night hawk; Art Alger[...]fied on picture from two different sources . Some of the other riders have been tentatively identified as[...]and Charlie Mosgar.
Other riders who rode with the Pumpkin Creek Pool according to Joe Gaskill in Echoing Footsteps are: Lee Warren[...]ilson and Ludolph; and Ord Ames - Riley Tyler.
The story of the pool is told in the history of Ira Carey and the following pages are copied from Ira's bran[...]

Cross[...], Sept. 29, 1902. (Cameron Photo)

Living room of Cross S house, 1903. Fireplace is still center at[...]Picture of the ranch house as it looked in 1939 when Robinsons purchased the
Cross S. The three large original rooms are still being used -[...]and dining room. The bunkhouse burned in spring of 1943 or 1944. (Courtesy[...]

The ice-house at the Cross S was built in the ground. In go the ice cakes! John Robinson standing behind.

Summertime birthday gathering at the Cross S Ranch, 1943. Standing (1-r): Emily[...], Bruce Hammond, John Robinson and Jess Robinson. The ranch is
still[...]

(1-r): Casey Barthelmess, ''Bugler" Law and unknown standing on the porch of LO.
The ranch was expanded after the hard winter of 1886-7 by the addition of the WL
(now owned by the Miles Family). As John Holt had made so much money for his
investors, they deeded everything to him in 1888. He took John T. Murphy as a[...]ntually operated with only son, Ed, who took over the
management after John Holt died in 1913[...]improved his holdings until he was forced to sell. The ranch eventually went to the
McIntosh Interests in the mid 1920's (Courtesy Tom Zook)[...]

Aerial photo of LO taken in late 1950's. (Courtesy Jo Anne Fox)[...]utte, surrounded by LO land, has played a part in the history of this area since the
Indians sent smoke signals from its summit. The Powderville Stage Road ran just under the
Butte before the county road was established up Spring Creek. It d[...]Maxwell who had mail contracts from Fort Keogh to Fort Mead (Sturgis), South Dakota. The
area where the peak is located belongs to John Krutzfeldt. (Courtesy Floyd Robinson)

78

(1-r): Bob Hardy and Ed Robinson (Brother of Floyd, Sr.
who was killed when a horse fel[...]

Hardy, shown above, also moved in 3700 head of sheep in two bands. Dr. Ivins also had sheep.

In addition to their own sheep, the LO ran sheep for Bill Taylor, Floyd Robins[...]

John Scott's beef herd at the Johnson Creek trail pasture, October, 1954. The location of the Scott
holdings can be found in the maps in the back of this book. They include, but are not limited to the old
McNeirney Ranch, the + - + .

John Scott's crew on this occasion consisted of (1-r) standing: David Gilman, Bob Pierce,[...]

The trail camp on Johnson Creek.

Beef herd crossing Tongue River at the flume. It is interesting to note
that this is the same place the picture of Robinson's sheep was taken in
the preceeding story. (Photos in this section courtesy of Mary Emily
Barthelmess)[...]

Many, realizing that range which supported buffalo should also be good Larger animals, which used to be roped by head and heals and
for cows, established permanent outfits in the area. Here is a crew stretched out to brand, are now usually branded in a chute.
working with the open range method of branding. Lacy Speelman is
facing the camera. Hard winters soon scaled down most of these large
herds somewhat.

84

Casey Jones is heating branding irons with a propane torch, the newer,
easier method. No chopping wood! (Courtesy[...]burner to heat irons. The temperature of the[...]rons can be kept more even in this way.

Maybe the wrestlers have gotten better looking? Paula Shaw. Some things will always be the same. A cup of cowboy coffee and a
feeling of a job well done follows a day of branding. (1-r): Tom Zook,[...]

They di d it a ll! One of the Mallett teams. (Courtesy of Malletts) Sam Jarvis, with a four horse hitch, is disking down a field of sod which
it must have taken a long time to plow with horse-drawn equipment.[...](Courtesy of Tom Zook)

The family having crew on the Cooksey ranch in 1931. (1-r): Jerome,[...]buckrake), and Mother and Dad Cooksey. The team is Bob and Big.
(Courtesy of Cookseys)

6

Once the hay is swathed, it can be bailed either by a small bailer like Combines similar to this one skim through the fields making quick work
the one shown, or by the big round or big square hailers. For the of the harvesting. Herb Barrett at the wheel with Peggy Carey Barrett
larger machinery more than one row of hay is often raked together. as[...]

The Eyes of the Beholder

I stood on the spongy, soft carpet of pine needles that had I left the tree and walked down the hard packed trail to the front
fallen in a pick-up-stix pattern from the towering pine trees of the house.
overhead. It was so peaceful standing ther[...]itting down on a rock strategically positioned at the corner of
childhood home. My eyes lovingly caressed the old rundown log the small "yard", I rested my chin in my hands. About two hundred
house with the tar paper roof sprinkled with jagged chunks of yards down the hill from the house was the old reservoir, now
dull, red shale. Over the years the weather had torn various simply a mud hol[...]brown cattails rising proudly and
sized holes in the tar paper exposing the pale, sun bleached standing at attention[...]new and different aspect of my old home, a picture floated across
The weathered logs in the now deserted sanctuary had grown my memory. I thought of the night my father had returned from
nearly white and were showing signs of deterioration. To the town with two pair of second-hand ice skates.
right of the front door, the third log from the bottom was rotting We had to try them out that night! My father with two small
in a ribbon sized strip all along the front. The small bits of girls in tow started through the crunchy, white snow down to the
corklike wood were flaking out of the log, being carried away ice . Mother followed carrying a big flashlight. The circle of
with each caressing touch of the wind or disappearing one piece yellow-orange light made darting patterns on the hard packed
at a time to make a snug, downy-like nest for the family of pack snow. The ice was slick. Thud- down I went. Almost magically the
rats housed within.[...]om under my clumsy, skate clad feet. I screamed
The old screen door, with the tight, snapping spring that long and laughed as I once more sat down on the unyielding ice.
ago gave that door such a sharp "[...]When our first lesson was over, we all trudged to the top of the
hung spiritlessly from the hand polished, slick door frame. One hill. T[...]ss, I tumbled
rusted, red hinge sagged miserably. The other was pulled from into my warm bed never to forget my first exciting experience on
the frame, leaving there jagged, splintered wounds gaping from skates.
the casing. The slamming of a car door broke my nostalgic spell and
Beyond the screen, the front door was standing half open - reminded me my family was ready to leave. They view my
almost as an invitation to enter, but the rundown air about the childhood home as a deserted, run-down, old[...]dead; I see a happy home full
shuddered. Ignoring the empty feeling inside, I started down the of laughter and adventures. They see trees; I see fo[...]er odor assailed my nostrils nearly a place for the abundant wildlife to water.
taking my breath away. Pine - oh, how I had missed the smell ''Beauty" is truly in the eyes of the beholder!
of these majestic, towereing overseers. I leaned my head against
the sandpaper rough bark and remembered the many hours my
sister and I had spent with these t[...]by Margie Rae Nelson
seek. We climbed to the top for that breathtaking view and
picnicked in the cool shade of the protective branches. Or we
simply lay on our backs in the crunchy, soft needles looking up
through the branches at the white lamb's wool clouds in their
sometimes slow and dreamy, sometimes wild and frantic race to
the other end of the far away, unknown horizon.[...]

This homestead was North of Miles City near Stone Shack. (1-r): Lon and Mr. Charles Mahoney and the tent he slept in when doctor advised he
Alma Stew[...]ndeberg, Sina Reno, John needed lots of fresh air. Taken in Miles City. (Courtesy[...]

The J.B. Kempton Ranch. The Ramer Ranch in 1886. Susan Ramer and Ed Kimble.[...]Mollie Daly and friend in front of Charley Daly House .
Daly ranch.

The old Piper Dan Roadranch on Tongue River.

The Charlie McKay Ranch.

The homestead of Leo and Rex Gresens built on Ash Creek,[...]south of Miles City.[...]

Bradshaw's[...]A 1979 photo of the former Abbey Maternity Hospital at 819 South Cent[...]Don Stanley, ''Mayor of Volborg" - population[...]at the time? "One," as Tenny Sad said, "when[...]

The log building built by the Irion brothers about the turn of the century. (1-r); Ira Carey,
who bought the buildings, Willard Heaps, Fritz Zook and his daug[...]In front of the Crosby holdings on the Mizpah are, left, Ord[...]Ames and Hod Crosby.

The Bennetsen Brothers had two houses. They used one for a summer kitchen to keep
from heating up their sleeping quarters in the other house. Here, before their 'winter
ki[...]

The old Leo and Rexa Gresens homestead. This picture combines the old with the new.
The abandoned building and corrals in the foreground contrast with the portable corral
and loading chute (on the right) which are often used by ranchers today.

96

Here day herders were coming off the herd and the
ight Hawk was heading out.

With free[...]

The buffalo - who could roam anywhere - were plentiful in south-eastern
Montana because of the quality of its grass. This and the altitude make
Montana raised horses some of the most sought-after animals in the world.
This was never more aptly proved than[...]Irion, owner, and Bill Stewart who is holding the horse on which he just
won the Hell Creek Endurance Race.

98

A Huffman picture of cowboys at work.

100

Lee Warren taking the kinks out of a rough one.[...]

Bill Bryant brings in a few[...]ng. Torry Johnson and Mickey at the NZ Bar Ranch near Kirby,[...]

(1-r): Bob, Sam and Ike Shy at the Ike Shy place on Tongue River.

Del Carey at his place on the north fork of Foster Creek.[...]

Class reunion of former Junior High students of 1915.
Picture taken in[...]hidden) Grace Norman. Picture taken in front of Met
Cafe.

A dearly loved matron of Miles City, Mrs. Genevieve Rehn. Mrs.
Rehn started teaching in the Miles City Schools about 1910. She
married[...]not known. She was Miss Genevieve
Thompson to many of her pupils, who revered her for her great
c[...]expert at bridge she taught
many classes in the art of bridge playing. A good neighbor. (Photo[...]

Same group as above. The school was located on the place now belonging to the
Oceola Lowe family (not related to the John Lowe Family whose boy is pictured). It
was located a short distance south of the Lowe buildings.[...]udents Mary and Emma Schlappert standing in front of
the Lincoln School (before remodeling) in the year 1912.

LO School (1-r) back row: J[...]

Shown in front of the State National Bank are (r-1): Claude Slater, Mar[...]r, and Perl Powell, Claud's sister who is holding the hand of her daughter, Blanche. (Photo Courtesy Ker[...]

The miners are represented in this 1913 photo. On the left is the Palace Saloon and the
Hotel Coggshall. On the right is Orschel's, the European Hotel, C. B. Towers Company, the
Hotel Olive and the Jordan.

Another 1913 photo shows a number of cowgirls parading before the Bullard Block Bar, the
Acme Pool Hall, and the Golden Rule.[...]

1915 - No Fourth of July parade was complete without the entries of the Indians.
Besides their bands (this one from[...]ated their dancing
skills at dances held on the street, exhibiting tribal costumes and dances. The
Indians received gratuities for their contribution to the festivities in the form of
coins tossed onto the dance floor. This excited the children as they dashed about
gathering coins.

This picture was taken in 1989, but the Model T Ford was built in 1914 - one year
after the top picture was taken and one year before the picture of the Fort Peck
Band. Buster and Gladys Deibel of Olive, Montana, drove it in the Centennial
parade, winning first prize in the class. It has kerosene and carbide lights and
brakes on the rear wheels only. Oh, and of course, a crank!
110

In 1934 Ira Carey drove the nurses' float having been asked to do
so by Marion Ruffner who was in nurses' training in Miles City
at the time.

112

Delbert Hanson drove the Range Riders' stage coach and was accompanied
by Darrel Hanson, his nephew. I can't tell who the 'ladies of the evening'
are who are riding in the stage.

This hitch consisted of six poines who were more than ready to get the
show on the road! The right front horse frequently leaped as tho[...]

Parading down main street with a team of mules is Ira Carey accompanied by Mrs . J .M. Ven[...]ers . Following is a prairie schooner.

And at the end of the line there was food!. The Range Riders had a mess wagon set up to serve the
crowd. All the pictures on this page were taken in 1939 b[...]

Though distance may make the horses look small in the
above picture, thi~ picture gives a better idea of their size.
When spontaneous applause from the crowd spooked the
horses, the wheel team braced its feet and had the other
horses in line in short order, although the wheel horses
were scooted along the pavement for a distance.

These are two of the four freight wagons the teams were
hitched to. The men drove the horses to Miles City for the
affair, a trip which took twelve days and did a great deal to
help get the horses in readiness for this tremendous[...]

In the wagon, behind a team driven by Ray Stoltz accompa[...]ad, are Mr. and Mrs. John Cameron who
represented the sheepmen who played such a great role in
building our country. In the wagon, also, are Catherine Mathis
and Ava McDonald.

As Don Cain of Volborg, goes to join the parade I'm sure he's
totally unaware his t[...]

Walter Sumer on Tornado. King of them all, Skyrocket, the notorious bucking horse.

Norman Venabl[...]

Bud Linderman on D[...]

The Board of Direc or.· and Tm Lee3
t Lh · alional owboy Hall of fame
nd We Lem tlerilage enler
r que l lhe honor of your presence
j

al Lhe formal enshrinement of
BOB J\&Kl
and
PADDY QYA
inlo Lhe Qodeo liell of fame
Thursday evenin8, ovember 30, 197
l 7:30 PM

ow boy Hall of fame
Oklahoma ily[...]

When these two friends, Bob Askin and Paddy Ryan, were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978,
it was interesting to note that the national anthem was sung by Reba McEntire.[...]

Bill Baker, the strong man, throws them over his head.[...]Shorty Davis and his cow at the Miles City Roundup, 1919.
Owen Crosby joy[...]

It looks like the steer is holding the man down - maybe it's a case of role reversal.

Double decking a steer[...]

126

This catch and saddle race, unlike the wild horse race, finds the cowboys catching and
saddling their own saddle horses and racing to their designation.

Casey Barthelmess a[...]

Mike Barthelmess follows in his f[...]es, team roping champion once and all round of the Denver Stars, a participating team of the Major League of Rodeo - a
once. The horse he is riding, Niger, was named NRA calf roping horse of short lived program which was dissolved after they had been involved with
t[...]the team for only a short time.

128

Cinde won NRA All Around in 197[...]won
16 saddles, and well over 180 buckles, twelve of which Cinde, a silversmith, has made herself. She has m[...]lf roping, ribbon roping, and breakaway roping at the FFA rodeo.[...]

Doug Wall and Walt Secrest get into the spirit of things as the two pickup
men race across the arena. The Miles City area has boasted of many good
pickup men besides these two: Bob Paul[...]y Whitlock, Ord Ames,
and Jack Voll in are a few of them.

130

'Range Riders' was the name chosen in 1939 by the people who formed the organization
which built and has maintained Miles City's Museum. In order to join this association in
those early days one had to show evidence of having ridden the open range (before fences)
prior to 1901.

Life then in this western country[...]n experience today.
Trail herds coming from the south, large roundup outfits running wagons cover[...]n
area, and smaller ranchers sending 'reps' to those roundups were, in a large part, the scenes
in which the so called Wild West was created.

Bronc r[...], and stockhands were everywhere as one's ability to ride was a
necessity and most animals had to be caught when they needed to be worked on. The six
shooter had a reputation far greater th[...]solved. Chaps, spurs, and a slicker coupled with the
cowboy's saddle were his working tools, and his bed roll and a change of clothes generally
constituted his life's belongings. He spent half his nights sleeping under the stars, ate from a
tin plate cross legged on the prairie, and reaped most of his pleasure from his work. He was a
hard man weathered by the sun and wind. Though he gambled and drank, he was inwardly
usually good, and was a credit, certainly, to his time.

The homesteader came next as the land opened up, and he made life somewhat miserable
for the free wheeling cattle barons. The plow, post hole digger, and milk . cow raised havoc
with the 'go where you will and do what you want' attitude of the past. Perseverance,
however, and the desire for elbow room and a free life granted many of these farmers the will
to stay.

The rural woman of that day either came with her husband, moved West to teach school, or
just happened there on a visit. She was a rare lady who took the good with the bad and held
up her end to a degree respected by all. She was wife, mother,[...]friend. Her life was much harder than that of her counterpart in the towns, but her
importance to the frontier was just as great.

The riverboats, freight outfits, and railroads held a[...]ey brought in
supplies and carried products to market. The town businesses - the store, opera house,
school, church, and doc[...]ment offices -- each played a significant part in the
growth and development of this remote area.

The Range Rider Museum is glad to share with you photos and the experiences recorded in
the Memorial Hall of many of the people associated with this great period of time in our
history[...]

Deciding they would like to have a reunion of old
friends to reminisce about times past, a group
started meeti[...]els old store. There surfaced a desire for a
home of their own. Logs were donated and cut in
Western Montana, the orthern Pacific Railroad
hauled them to Miles City without charge,
volunteers peeled and processed them, and with
community contributions, the Range Riders
Museum's first structure was built.

The building, when completed, stood very much
alone as you can see from this photo by Leo D.
Harris. The stage coach stood in the shelter
provided for it at the left of the picture. Eight
buildings now grace the museum grounds.
Through the years the Range Riders Meetings
registered as high as 400 stockmen who had ridden
the western range. Most are now gone, but their
decendents carry on.

The original log building as it looks today, painted[...]m and enclosed in a beautiful
pole fence. Annexed to the rear of the building is
the Memorial Hall. It is by the continued support
of the community that the museum has been able
to come so far.[...]

The pioneer log house at the museum (donated by
the Cain family) is typical of the homes of the early
days. It has one room and is furnished with the
conveniences of the era. The new addition, the one
room country school, is also representative of those
earlier times. The school was added in 1989.

A new addition also in 1989 is the Bert Clark gun
collection. Over 500 pieces displayed in this exhibit
span a period of over 300 years of World and
American history. From a 1600 wick ignition match
lock hand made Arabian rifle to a Sharps 45-120
buffalo gun, the collection represents unbelievable
fire arm significance. It is most unusual that
weapons from the Old Country join our Revolution
and Civil War's, the Indian campaigns of the early
West, the trail herd drives of the 1880's and the era's
of the two World Wars to make this collection such a
complete[...]

A cowboy breakfast served from the old TN chuck
wagon on the Range Riders grounds at an early
Range Riders Reunion in the late 40's. (1-r): Joe
Mann and Dan Lockie;[...](right center).

Another feed put on at the Range Riders Reunion
in the 1960's. Cooks are Guy Parker, Don Pyle_[...]

Nearly 500 plaques honoring residents of an eariler day adorn the walls of the Range Riders
Memorial Hall. Each plaque contains a summary of that pioneer's life and is preserved for posterity.
The museum board has a continuing commitment to seek out and provide a space for future
inductees. At the annual dinner, a tribute is read during the plaque unveiling for each honoree.[...]

A small portion of the Bert Clark Family gun collection
donated to the museum in 1967. Five hundred and forty-five
pieces are included in this exhibit.

The Home Room Exhibit in the Heritage center at the
museum.

138

Replica of the 'McQueen House' lobby in Milestown exhibit at the museum.

Blacksmith shop is one of the interesting ones to be found on 'Old Milestown' street.[...]

140

Range Riders' stage coach meeting Governor Forrest Anderson at the airport in Miles
City. Buster Cain is piloting the coach which is drawn by Bob Barthelmess' team of
blacks.[...]

Two miles from Roundup, on the Adolph Ranch was the staging area for They were to be trailed from the banks of the Musselshell to the banks of the
the mass of cattle bearing the trail brand M over 89. (Courtesy Fritz Yellowstone, a distance of 60 miles. (Photo by Ella Mae Howard)
Zook)

The average horn spread on the 110 longhorns donated by Jim
Leachman was from 40[...]d) Trail boss Jay Stovall got ''The Great Montana Centennial Cattle[...]

It has been estimated that about 70% of the cattle in the larger herd was of longhorn decent. This accounted for
the most part for their mottled coloring. They proved[...]worked around cows before. A small number of cows were in turn frightened by the unfamiliar sight of a man
on horseback! (Ph[...]

The official count, according to the ''Billings Gazette", was 3,500 horses, 200 Wagons strung out for two miles where the traveling was good. (Photos
wagons, 2,400 riders, and the 2,700 head of the main bunch of cattle plus the courtesy Fritz Zook)
110 lead steers.[...]

As the covered wagons with their outriders moved across the prairie, they This wagon had a four horse hitch. Some of them which hauled the
presented a timeless panorama. This picture might well have been taken by gear of the drovers had four or five teams. Fritz Zook is the rider in
Huffman! (Photo by Ella Mae Howard) the foreground. (Photo courtesy Fritz Zook)

146

The drive stopped early in the day so the animals could be cared for and Some exhausted individuals 'hit the hay' early and others juined the
people would have time to shower in the portable showers provided, and group at the Anheuser-Busch tent where beer aud soft drinks were
call home on the portable phones if they wished. Portable generators served, profits from which went to the L atigo fund for rural development.
were set up to provide power to the camp and to provide refrigeration for Part of the crowd danced and sang to a western band while others
the food and drinks. (Courtesy Fritz Zook) chattered excitedly about the days happenings. Some senior citizens[...](there were many on the drive) told tales of the olden days, many of which[...]

Some counties an[...]stove.

(1-r): "Last of the old time sheriffs", Bill Damm, former Custer County
Sheriff and member of an early pioneer family, Homer Holmes, and[...]

Listening intently to a conversation, Fritz Zook has
evidently been seeing what the ''Billings Gazette"
had to say about the cattle drive. Another paper
reported on the cattle drive from the scene of the
action. Rademacher of White Sulphur Springs
printed the front page of his newspaper on an 1880[...]Webber wagon. The remaining pages of his paper
wer pre-printed on subjects of historical interest.

See the small sticker at the base of the tail on the nearest horse? This
method of numbering helped the wranglers keep the horses straight.
What a job![...]

Besides having its own paper the drive had its own Pony Express and I doubt that the former Pony Express was a bit busier! The riders were
(authentically) from 13-18 years old. Each rode a distance of 4 miles.

Lyle E. Johnson of Big Tember, assisted by
nephew, Dale Wood,[...]onument 28' long and 12' high
commemorating the Great Montana Senator Max Baucus is riding point as the longhorns move along. Representative Conrad Burns
Centennial Cattle Drive. It depicted the joined the drive Thrusday and started off the auction at Billings after the parade came from
drover shown herding two longhorn steers Alexander Road north of Billings, down Main and ended at the two livestock yards.
and was donated to the Latigo Corporation.
It has been placed on the grounds of the
newly constructed Billings Chamber of
Commerce.

150

The WPA made dams as well as improving springs and roads.

Most of the work was done by horses. Men were paid extra for the use of
their teams. Most of them knew more about horses than machinery and th[...]bie as this crew did. A larger Cat
eventually had to come and pull them out.[...]A Bantam hen 'adopted' these three coyote pups which had been dug[...]d have smothered
This beaver got caught in a trap of his own making. (Courtesy Floyd them had her wing spread been of a size adequate to do so. The story
Robinson)[...]happy ending, however, as when they grew up, one of
the ungrateful little beasts ate h er.[...]

A 4th of July celebration. (Famous Lady Cameron photo)[...]The adoption of Casey E. Barthelmess into the Cheyenne Indian tribe at[...]ceremony held during the Diamond Jubilee of the Montana Stockgrowers[...]

Cowboys on the ranches did play cards for entertainment, but with the setting
they're in, I wonder if this wasn't a pla[...]normal conditions, the horse would probably be getting more attention[...]than the camera person. (Lady Cameron photo)

Joe Jonutes dressed in headdress and his brother in the cowboy outfit.

154

Neil Bennetsen showing one of their Hereford bulls at the Eastern
Montana Fairgrounds. The first Custer County Fair was held in
September of 1894. Green and orange ribbons were given for 3rd and 4th
places, moving white to 5th place. Entrance fee for one person wit[...]

157

Mormon crickets. (photo by Irene Messmer)

Wolves (in the past)[...]

And Families working together to get things done.

160

A wide variety of scenery

And fantastic fall colors
(P[...]

A century is not long in the history of a nation, but
it is a great expanse of time in the life of a person and
very few survive that mark in[...]ason,
our Family Story Section is dedicated to five centen-
arians who have achieved that goal and have shared
with us a few of their memories in the first five stories
of this portion of the book.

164

168

known only to God. Birth certificates were John Damm home on Pumpkin Creek. This is the home where Tressia was raised. It now belongs to her
unheard of. Many people were also rolled in brother Frank's family.
their blankets and buried at the side of the
trail. bringing the stage horses across. It was Tongue River and the creek crossing at my
The mail used to be carried by horse-drawn thought he had be[...]les called buck-boards, built more for at the water and had fallen from his horse. He spots.
service than comfort. They could carry all the was at that time the husband of Bessie Hey, I will never forget my first experience with
heavy mail pouches, besides articles of who later became the wife of Tom Jones, a Indians. It was during one of their camping
merchandise ordered by people living along prominent business man of Miles City in trips across the creek from our house. My dad
the road. They were built to withstand the earlier days. The mail at that time was being and I had been husking corn in a little barn
wear and tear of muddy roads, as there were carried by Lou Boughton. a short distance from the house. The barn
no paved highways. The mail carriers Indians used to travel in caravan style from had only one doo[...]ions at Lame Deer and Ashland imagination of Indians at that time was not
miles, and it was the duty of the ranchers who to Miles City several times during the year, too pleasant, as not being very old, I had
cared for these horses to have them fed, usually in spring and fall, and again on the heard of several gruesome murders commit-
watered, curried, and harnessed when the fourth of July for the celebration in Miles ted by them, and how[...]in different women and children when on the warpath. In
In the year 1892, during a heavy rainfall in places in the street in the evening added zest fact our folks had put us children in the cellar
April, a man by the name of Joe Hey lost his to the occasion. The bridge at the mouth of to sleep while they stood guard on these
life by dro[...]Pumpkin Creek, where it emptied into the occasions. We were very frightened. To get[...]back to my story, Dad decided it was time for[...]a cup of coffee, so he went to the house, and[...]I decided to keep on husking as the little barn[...]was behind the shed which joined the barn,[...]I would have been out of that barn and at the[...]suddenly I noticed the barn becoming darker[...]and darker. Looking up, I saw the window[...]ing in the sun. My only means of escape was[...]As I grew older, I learned to love them, and[...]to this day I consider them the most fascina-[...]ting and attractive people in the world, even[...]to the point of envying them their comfort-[...]able style of dress. We used to visit them at[...]whatever they had to trade, more for the[...]pleasure of associating with them than[...]class of people.
Seven Damm brothers and sisters, Back row[...]the round of the neighborhood about twice a[...]

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