The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-06-26
A SCRAP OF HISTORY. I
Granville Stuart Giycs Some Information
of Interest.
Correspondence Ne,o North West.

OF Interest.
Correspondence Ne,o North-West
(The following, although personal letter
to the editor, is given entire for the valuable
historical items it contains, and the pardon
of the author begged for the liberty taken
j. H.M)
Fort MAGINSIs, Mont,
june II, 1885.
1t yours of the 10Th inst. see Mr.. Koch
explains the Bitter Root name. He is cor
rect. But your informants are mistaken
ABOUT LA BARGE CITY.
In 1901 Deer Lodge was most commonly
known as "Spanish Fork" because of most
the first settlers being Mexicans, among
whom were Thos. Lavatta, Joe Hill, Alejo
--, Joe Pizantby, KILLED at Bannack
by vigilantes for killing George Copley, in
January, 1861 and several others. Tom La
vatta can tell you all about the first settlers.
But the place was also frequently called
Cottonwood" until July, 1862, when Capt.
Joe LaBarge came over from Fort Benton
and, as was told, for was then living at
Gold Creek) announced his intention of
starting big store and living there, (he
had just started rival Fort at Benton
known as Fort LaBarge," belonging to La
Barge, Hardness & Coz upon which the
leading citizens of Cottonwood" met and
laid off some two or three streets and for
mally christened the new town "LaBarge
City, and as such it went on to the earliest
maps of Idah o and Montana, although IL was
still frequently called Cottonwood" until in
the spring of 1864, when the old residents Of
the town determined to inaugurate a gentle
boom. So they employed Colonel deLacey
to lay off town one mile square, (the land
was none of it surveyed as yet, nor for some
years afterward,) which was owned by
"THE DEER LODGE TOWN CO."
who, so far as l remember, were James Stu
art, President; John S. Pemberton, Louis
Demers, Leon Quesnelle, LIE Descheneau,
Jehn w. Powell, Chas. w. Wright, Frank
L. Worden, Frank LaMontagne, John +.
Grant, Fred II. Burr, Frank Truchot, and
perhaps one or two others. This company
gave most of the lots away to actual resi-
dents, and never sold enough to get even on
their survey, &c. After the lands were sur
veyed they tried to get title, but could never
do so, and finally Polk Newcomer, as Pro-
bate Judge, entered it for the citizens.
ArLAT OF THE TOWNSHIP
of deer Lodge City" was prepared by the
writer on the basis of deLacey's survey The
only plated a small portion of the mile
square, and the same is on record in sepa-
rate, we'll. bound book, in the County Re.
C orders office. 1t is to this clown Co." that
the pleasant little town of Deer Lodge owes
its wide streets, its Court House square and
other agreeable adjuncts, for it was only by
their untirirg efforts that parties were pre-
vented from building at random everywhere
in the TOWNSHIP, as was the case in most of |
the towns In the Territory.
Their philanthropic efforts in this direc- |
ton were not by any means appreciated by |
the "pilgrims" who came in, and eonsidera- |
BILE dissension, i'll will and a few suits grew |
out of the desire of some of them to take |
their labors and expenses had given them a |
ust title.
HINT TO HISTORIANS.
i have the original plats of "LaBarge City" |
and "Desr Lodge City," and most of the doc |
evidence connected Herewith, but |
life is all too short for me to now attempt to |
hunt them up in the ten bushels of letters |
and documents of all kinds that have accum- |
ulated on nay hands-for my brother James |
and myself never destroyed letter or . |
written paper during our residence in Mon
lana, and / still continue the habit. Perhaps |
some future Motley" may find few grains |
Of valuable wheat among this mass of chat,
aud If SO shall have had my reward. Poor
James went to his long years ago, but to this
lay cannot speak of him without the
wounds in nay heart reopenIng afresh, AID
am proud to know that many of his kind |
actions are still held In grateful remembrance
IN the hearts Of those who knew him.
1--WE ARE SEVEN"
Pemberton, Quesnslle, Descheneau, Pow
I'll and Wright, too, are gone-half of that
little Town Company, who, twenty-one
years ago, dreamed of future city under the
'hadow of Mount Powell, have passed away.
AN INVOCATION.
And while Deer Ledge has not realized the
'ond anticipations of its founders, yet 1t has
lived to see the railroad, the telegraph, the
and the College Of Montana. And
when the incipient mill onaires from Cariboo
Ind Orc Fino invest their money, the dear
Did town may see other and still greater
hings. So mote 1t be.
GRANVILLE STUART.