The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-12-14
Letters From the People.
About the Prosperous Ranches Along
Little Otter Creek.
And the Old and New Settlers West.
ward From Kibby.
They are all Content and Rejoice III
the Plenty of the Land.
Letter From Kibby.

EDITOR GREAT FALLS LEADER:
In my last communication to your es-
teemed paper gave some of the i'm
provements made during the past season
east of Little Otter creek. On Little OF
ter shey are mostly old settlers but show
spirit of enterprise. John Stone, John
Ober, L. A. Wall and John Croft all show
additions to their homes and marked i'm
provements on their ranches in the way
of fencing, corrals and breaking for the
coming season. John Geisey has made
an addition to his band of stock during g
the past week of 1870 head of horned cat
tie purchased in Gallatin valley where
they have suffered somewhat from drouth
the past season. A good many
look thin, but as Mr.. Giesey has straw
from 100 acres and some 200 tons of hay
on hand they are not likely to go hungry
this winter
AS we 60 west from Kibby and begin
to ascend the summit between Little OF
ter and Belt, marked changes again meet
the eye. Briggs and O'Kerman are bach
elors but everything about their homes
indicate that they will be looking fol
help mates in the near future. They are
natives of Sweden; emigrated to this
country when boys; made their stake in
mining; have sworn allegiance to Uncle
Sam and are full t1edged republicans.
A short distance further on we find
Ortman, Rich, Gahan and on the very
summit, Henry Johnson-all hoasting OF
good crops, of stock growing and in fine
condition. H. johnson last year raised 6
crop of oats bearing forty bushels to tho
acre. Montana, in The vicinity of Kibby
can beat the world and only takes such
moisture as nature gives .srom hel
bounty.
As we leave the summit and go west
new settlers are seen Oh every hand
Some came early in the season, some
came late, but all with whom converset
expressed themselves very emphatically
as being well pleased with Montana, tht
climate. water and general productive
ness. They have followed Horace Gree
ley's advice. They have no regret bu
are satisfied to remain, to conform t(
Montana's ways and customs and make
for themselves home in view of the
time when old age begins to tell upo1
youthful vigor.
A mile farther on we stopped at Mr.
Halls, who came in two years ago anC
engaged in ranching and the raising O.
blooded Pole Angus cattle and | mus
say that finer herd cannot be found il
any country. They show Mr. Halls un
tiring care while thrift and healtl
abounds on every hand.
A little distance and we came to Kid
der's ranch. They are new corners, bu
with large family the improvements
which they have made are surprising ever
to an old settler. Night overlook us ant
we pulled rein at Mr. Ogden's and re
ceived right hearty welcome. Mr.. anC
Mrs. Ogden and daughter Maud are from
Michigan. Mr.. Ogden is approachin!
the age of sixty, yet hearty and hale h,
has finished off a fine house and mad,
other improvements which show that ht
has not been idle during the past season
l spent most happy evening and in th'
morning called on Nathan Wilson ant
wife Last spring Mr.. Wilson whil'
hunting a location to settle on, staid owe
night with your correspondent At tha
time he looked as if he had come to Mon
tana to be planted, weighing then onl,
about 1870 pounds. AS he expressed him
self, "When | left my home in Michigan
bid my wife and children good bye hav
ing but little hopes of ever seeing then
again on earth' What change! Hi
health is improved, his weight is nov
1SO pounds-a strong and vigorous man
He has built a new house