Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-02-14
SUN RIVER.
It's Past, Present and future---
Biographical Sketches Of
its Two First Settlers.
History Of its Early set.lcnent---Orig-
tnal Locators Of the Valley Ranches.
Beautiful Homes--immenso
Wheat Fields Of
the Future.
lRRiGATiN0 SCHEMES.

Tho beautiful stream that flow,
through this valley is .erllG lv ~!
ssel.sn IndiGns 'Natoe-oMcti, Wiiicl
according to LOWS Il Clarke mean.
Medicine Or Sun river, hence the name
with which those explorers christcnet
III, and which o,r town aud valley beal
~ day. It would be impossible L
3aritc evcr so brief nn outline history
pf this town and valley without men
tioning the names Of two men wht
haze been identified with it from ii.
first settlement until now, therefore
wc will endeavor to give II slight bio
graphical sketch Of each.
Mr.. John Largent, Sun Rivers first
scttlcr, was born in Illinois and came
o Montana in 1862, and entered the
ecrvioc of the American fur company
J.. / VT Benton. Leaving that service
y respected some during the carly
Fniliny excitement of this territory,
bud IN company with John Wren,
),ow Of Chotcau, started. for British
.Ianbia by way Of Edmonton on
l'.c Saskatchewan river OF tho north.
{WHrV arrived ut the Inter river entire
\ destitute, the Indians having stolen
l,L.l horses. They bar mined there
(j"" ecason and then started back to-
fvmd Benton having given up the
ide. Of going to British Columbia, IN
hiving ut Benton after an absence Of
p@ai. two years Of Lartlships and
|,urG4.ng I which few have endured.
M 1867 Mr.. Largcnt came to this
.'H" and opened general store and
|'dr'rg house for the accommodation
pttraycltrs between Virginia City and
|tie mend Of navigation, Fort Benton.
~, s15 he sold out his storc and other
AZ fE'tar ,,ero to drU. s..,-v,l, rr--ge. ,is.i,
only le homestead on which his pres
eilt dwelling stands, and which was
-, H.. .S building erected here. In
|. n lection with John j. Hcaly in
|'sr7 q he built tho present Sun river
H~idte, his interest in which hc sold
|o NJ Steel with his store and other
|propaty. Mr. Largent is an upright
|an.. honorable man, n genial and
kiea. .cous gentleman, generous TO any
Elr.sree with his friends, and quite the
Feversn with his enemies.
Mr. Geo. Stccll is Canadian by
,irtl and came to Montana in 1857,
'r' 30 Mr.. Largent entered the scr
ice 81 the American fur company,
nlaps charge Of their trading post at
%. Jenton, remaining in that scr
" ntil 1864, when he went into
fi'i'nss with Matthew Carroll form
Pr tNe firm Of Carroll & Steoll, of
orl Benton, in general merchandis-
fls, and gradually worked into u
e.s ircighting business until 1871,
~. Tho firm Of Carroll a. Steel dis
70 or joined Ed. Maclay and G.
boadwatcr, forming the famous
a'nond II company which became
p" OF the largest transportation
oinnmies in tho west.
IL, 1871 Mr. Steel sold his interest
the Diamond II and Went to Salt
|.a'se City and there engaged in busi-
loss until 1873 when he returned to
M River and bought ont John Lar
ken' ns before stated, and is to-day
(ne of oul Leading merchants. Natu-
|Glly MIR. Steel is ono of our most
twalnert ,ncn, and has boon elected
the territorial Legislature several
ies and is ut present q member of
he teIritorial convention. A gentle
ian OF good sound business qualities,
lnagnamimous kindhcurted man,
rfrroadyto assist the poor and needy,
pad upright and straightforward with
III,
Mr. John j. Hcaly was the first set
~ on the Chotenu side Of tho river,
|nd owned ferry near the site of tho
leseqt bridge. Mr.. Healy also
pened q store and hotel u few years
fter IN the building now owned by
I, D. Strong.
lhere was n government farm near
VMHt Is known us tho Sparks place as
|ary rs 1857, but we have been una
pc to learn when it was located or
abandoned.
Nh. Joseph Largent cnme to Sun
Fiyer in 1867, and located on the Mis-
\ Houl'l ut a place called shergold, and
fhieh is perhaps the best hay ranch
Montana.
~ 1867 Geo, Heath and Chas. Penn
ief built log cabin on the ranch
ow owned by James Adams which
p'y sold to tho lattcr in 1869. At
'ouS tho Same time James Coburn
'ltied on tho ranch now owned by b.
hlnray, to whom he sold ii in
w and in tnat year Mr.. Jpmes