Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1886-08-12
COUNTY AND COUNTY SEAT.
The Country Embraced in Fergus ccuny--.De.
scription Thereof.
iexis.own. the conai, Seat Location History.
Growth. ETC.

FERGUS COUNTY.
Fergus county becomes a political divis-
ion Of Montana by an enactment Of the
1ith Legislative Assembly, Dee. LIST, lSs6
Though the name judith was thought to
be the most appropriate by many Of our
citizens las the great Judith basin, noun
tnins and river are all within its borders)
with due regard for one of our oldest and
most respected citizens, who introduced
aud iathered the bill-Ilon. james Fergus
the legislative body unanimously decided
70 name the county. Fergus. That our
readers elsewhere may be able TO appreci-
ate the propriety and justice of the honor
conferred and the natural pride we take in
the name, we give IA short biography Of tine
father of Fergus county.
BioGEAPHIcAL.
Hon. James Fergus was born near elias
Cow. scotland. Oct. Sth, 1913, and is there
fore az years old. At the age OF 20 years
he emigratcd to the United States and set
He'd in what was then the Black Hawk
purchase, now the state of Iowa, and was
one of the earliest pioneers west OF the
Mississippi river. shortly after he went to
ann fTtftfu toNutG utiiiS
charge Of the manufacture of powder for Il
number of years. Removing to Moline. H.,
he engaged in the foundery business, there
and at Rock Island. remaining about eight
years. subsequently he removed to Min
nesota and loratcd at st. Anthony Falls,
| now Minneapolis. then to Little Falls, and
| laid out that townsite in 1857. The town
| site company. under his supervision. built
I n dam and bridge across the river and
made other valuable improvements that
materially added to the growth and subsc-
quent prosperity of that place. In part
mcrship with James Whitford, he owned Tia,
principal portion of the townsite OF tlls
present city of Great Falls, Minn. Mr.
Mhitiord was killed " the famous lndiai
| massacre aud the property was jumped
| but the town was given Mr.. Fergus na me
In 1860 he went to Colorado. from ther,
he driitea. as n gold seeker, to Virginia
city during the great Alder gulcE excitement
, which every Montanian is fipniliar wit h
and was selected recorder o. that one,
flmous mining camp. lie cotinued minin.
until 1860. when he moved to Last thanc'
| and remained one year. lie then engaged
ia stock raising and dairy business in th
Prickley Pear valley and Il few years hate
moved to Prickley Pear Canyon wher
he continued stock raising and keep
ing stage station for ten years. Sellin
out there he moved into this portion Of tn
territory, settling on Arinelis creek, and D
now extensively interested in horses, eattl
and sheep raising. There is nc man bette
known or more respected in this territory
He has been actively identified with tn
interests and history Of Montana and ha
done much for the territory as whole. III
WAS one oi the first commissioners of Mad
ison county aud held the same position i
Lewis " Clarke county six ytars and ha
been twice elected to the leg stature. ii
represented Melgher county IN the const
tutiunal convention of 1854. lie wa
ma arrictl in ! SI3, to Miss Parmelin Dllei
of New York. -Four children have blesse
them-onc ron, Andrew, now manager 9
the stock ranch. and three daughters, "a
| ma rrilt.