History of Southern Montana
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History of Southern Montana Alva J. (Al) Noyes History of Southern Montana Table of Contents History of Southern Montana..................................................................................................................................1 Alva J. (Al) Noyes.........................................................................................................................................2 INTRODUCTORY........................................................................................................................................3 Chapter I. Early History.................................................................................................................................4 CHAPTER II. The First Charter....................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER III. Lumber..................................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER IV. The Lost City......................................................................................................................10 CHAPTER V. First Probate Judge...............................................................................................................12 CHAPTER VI. Jeff. Davis Gulch................................................................................................................13 CHAPTER VII.............................................................................................................................................15 CHAPTER VIII. Ranching..........................................................................................................................16 CHAPTER IX..............................................................................................................................................18 CHAPTER X. Mining Laws........................................................................................................................22 CHAPTER XI. Notes From Old Court Records..........................................................................................25 CHAPTER XII. Incidents in the Life of Augustus F. Graeter.....................................................................27 CHAPTER XIII. W. B. Carter Story...........................................................................................................28 CHAPTER XIV. Incidents in the Life of John F. Bishop............................................................................30 CHAPTER XV. John C. Innes, an 1862 Man..............................................................................................31 CHAPTER VI. Story of James Kirkpatrick.................................................................................................33 CHAPTER VII. Incidents of Beaverhead County.......................................................................................35 CHAPTER XVIII. The Grey Horse.............................................................................................................38 CHAPTER XIX. First Meeting of County Commissioners in Montana.....................................................39 CHAPTER XX. ALDER GULCH...............................................................................................................43 CHAPTER XXI. Alder Gulch.....................................................................................................................45 CHAPTER XXII. Ranching.........................................................................................................................48 CHAPTER XXIII.........................................................................................................................................49 CHAPTER XXIV. Charles Beehrer.............................................................................................................52 CHAPTER XXV. Incidents in Beehrer's Life — Flour Riot.......................................................................57 CHAPTER XXVI. George Lovell...............................................................................................................60 CHAPTER XXVII. Incidents......................................................................................................................61 CHAPTER XXVIII. Jeff Durley to J. X. Beidler........................................................................................65 CHAPTER XXIX. The Men of Bannack and Virginia...............................................................................66 i History of Southern Montana History of Southern Montana 1 History of Southern Montana Alva J. (Al) Noyes This page copyright © 2003 Blackmask Online. http://www.blackmask.com • INTRODUCTORY • Chapter I. Early History. • CHAPTER II. The First Charter. • CHAPTER III. Lumber. • CHAPTER IV. The Lost City • CHAPTER V. First Probate Judge. • CHAPTER VI. Jeff. Davis Gulch. • CHAPTER VII • CHAPTER VIII. Ranching. • CHAPTER IX • CHAPTER X. Mining Laws • CHAPTER XI. Notes From Old Court Records. • CHAPTER XII. Incidents in the Life of Augustus F. Graeter. • CHAPTER XIII. W. B. Carter Story. • CHAPTER XIV. Incidents in the Life of John F. Bishop. • CHAPTER XV. John C. Innes, an 1862 Man. • CHAPTER VI. Story of James Kirkpatrick. • CHAPTER VII. Incidents of Beaverhead County. • CHAPTER XVIII. The Grey Horse. • CHAPTER XIX. First Meeting of County Commissioners in Montana. • CHAPTER XX. ALDER GULCH • CHAPTER XXI. Alder Gulch. • CHAPTER XXII. Ranching. • CHAPTER XXIII • CHAPTER XXIV. Charles Beehrer. • CHAPTER XXV. Incidents in Beehrer's Life — Flour Riot. • CHAPTER XXVI. George Lovell. • CHAPTER XXVII. Incidents. • CHAPTER XXVIII. Jeff Durley to J. X. Beidler. • CHAPTER XXIX. The Men of Bannack and Virginia. Alva J. (Al) Noyes 2 History of Southern Montana INTRODUCTORY To the people of Southern Montana, the cradle of our State, to the men and women who bore all of the early hardships, who never flinched when a duty was to be performed; who drove the Red man from his hunting grounds, and the robbers from their roosts, I dedicate this short history of those early days. I want to thank Mr. Charles Beehrer, for throwing light on men and things never before published; Judge H. M. Lott, John F. Bishop, A. F. Graeter, John C. Innes, James Kirkpatrick and W. B. Carter for early day stories; F. L. Graves, Jr., for pictures; George R. Metlen for kindly help; Jay Baker and Charlie Conger for records; Mrs. Walter Scott of Armstead for information; Ed Hart of Virginia City, for valuable material which he alone could furnish; and particularly Miss Myrl Erwin for assisting in gathering information and preparing my manuscript for the printer; last, but not least, the many boys of Beaverhead who have made it possible by their words of encouragement and financial assistance, especially T. J. Murray, Harry Gilbert and Gov. B. F. White for the money with which to carry the work to a successful termination. Friendship is better than a bank because it purchases many moments of contentment unknown to him with gold alone. AL NOYES. INTRODUCTORY 3 History of Southern Montana Chapter I. Early History. I would not attempt to write the history of Montana. History is simply his−story, aud from personal experience, I know that he is a composite character that hears with many ears, and sees with imperfect vision, the multitude of things that have taken place during the fleeting years of his existence. Several people have given to the world a story of Montana. Some of these so−called historians have never breathed one breath of the pure air of our mountains and plains, nor gazed with rapture on the wonderful mountain peaks, that lift their heads toward the sun, bidding it wreath them with hues so glorious that they become wonderful pictures — pictures that no painter in his right mind, would try to produce with any accuracy. They have never gazed on the beautiful lakes that lie embedded in mountain gorge nor listened to the song of the ruling stream, as it rushes gladly to join the river that is soon to mingle with the “Father of Waters,” on its way to the great salt sea. Much has been said of such a nature, that it is contradicted by those who claim to know the facts. Much of it is true, and no fault can be found, other than that there was not enough detail to satisfy the minds of those who were more exacting. In my work, I shall try to give as many facts of actual things as have come to my knowledge, either by an examination of old records, or from personal talks with some of the men who helped to make the history of Southern Montana. I want to place before the people many things never before published; I want to give men credit for having helped in various ways, in the up−building of the State so many of us have learned to love, and into whose care we desire to entrust all that is left of us, when we cease to enjoy its many blessings. That I will leave out much that some of you will want to know, goes without saying, because we only choose those things that appeal to us, personally, as being apt to be of worth to others. Another thing, we cannot make this work too long, because our main object is to republish the book of Thomas Dimsdale, the first man to write the story of the thrilling days of 1863 and 1864. MONTANA. The name is of Latin origin, meaning mountainous. The La Verendrye were probably the first white men to see the Rocky Mountains in 1748, and no other known whites came until the Lewis &Clark