The Anaconda standard., 1899-12-17
WAS SETTLED YEARS AGO
Stevensville Occupies the Site of
Old ST. Mary's Mission.
MON TANA'S OLDEST TOWN
1t Has Progressed Slowly, but 1t Is Still
Growing Beauty OF Location
and Wealth of H storic
Incident.

known. the first written conveyance of
property in the region that is now en-
braced in the boundaries of the state
of Montana was the bill of sale which,
in 1850, transferred from the Jesuit
fathers at st. Mary's mission to Major
John Owen the improvements that had
been made at the old mission site. From
that year dates the history of the town
Of Stevensville, the oldest settlement in
Montana. Major Owen in that same
year built a palisade fort below the
present Stevensville townsite. This was
called Fort Owen and remained stand
ing until 1857. when it was partially
destroyed by an Indian war party of
the Blackfoot nation. The next season
second fort was built, the remains
of which are still standing a short dis
tance from Stevensville.
In 1856 Major owen built the second
mill. 1t was rude affair, it being dif-
ficult on account of the distance from
the railroad to obtain the best ma
terial. The burrs in this mill were
taken from the one the fathers built
and We're brought originally from Bel
GUM. 1t answered the purpose until
1865. when machinery was brought
from St. Louis and a better one built
on the same site. This mill, which was
the only one in the valley for some time.
did good work until about 1886. 1t was
burned in 1890
| The mission, which had been aban-
! doned, was reopened in 1866, and in 1867
Father Ravalli returned to make the
| mission his home. Here, as elsewhere,
| Father Ravalli, who was physician and
surgeon as we'll as priest, rendered to
! the Indians and white settlers, both
Protestant and Catholic, such aid as
was needed. No weather was too bad
or night too dark to visit the sick and
administer to their wants. He also kept
a drug store to which the pioneers went
| when in need of medicine. When money
was scarce he charged little or nothing
| for his services or medicine Father
| Ravalli labored increasingly without
| compensation, sacrificing his own
| health and comfort for those of others,
until even his strong constitution gave
| way and he fell sick. From that he
| recovered. but in 1880 he was stricken
| with paralysis and was confined to his
bed until death ended his sufferings. He
died respected by all who had known
| him. For the labor he had performed
! and many acts of kindness rendered
early settlers were indeed grateful, and
when he died the people mourned, for
| good man was gone.
Among other early white settlers who
remained were Joseph Lompre, who was
a hunter and trapper and came about
| 1850: T. w. Harris. an Indian trader.
who came in 1851 or 1852, was one Of
the first county commissioners of this,
then MiSsoula county. John Silverthorn
came in November. 1850. In the list of
pioneers of 1862 and 1868 we find the
following names: Benjamin Harris,
Louis Clarmont. Ed Carron and Mr..
! VI Tnl MT ,i,1C
being the first white woman who set
tied in the valley. The daughter of. Mr..
! and Mrs. Dobbns, born in December,
1862, was the first white child born in
the valley. After a short residence in
an Indian cabin near Fort Owen. MIR.
Dobhins moved to the present site of
Stevensville. where he took up land ana
made a permanent home. Mrs. Dob
bins was the only white woman in the
valley until the arrival of Mr.. and Mrs.
w. e. Bass in 1864, and for number of
years was the only one in Stevensville
A. s. Blake, now of Victor, came to Fort
Owen in 1851 John S. Robertson came
in the fall Of 1853 J. w. Winslett came
in 1865 and was one of the first to keeE
, a store. These early pioneers have done
much from which we, who came later
receive the benefit. Some one had tc
come first and prepare the way fol-
those who might follow. In a few years
The town was located in 1864. One OF
j the first schools taught here was by {
, man named Feddler. Later John B
+ Wright taught school, Mr.. Wright live!
! in Lincoln, Neb.. and makes frequen
!, visits to Stevensville and takes de
, cided interest in the old town. ]. B
, | Buker father of the Buker brothers
a who live about here, and ]. B. Price
! | father of J. M. Price and Mrs. M. H
: Barker. were among the first physicians
The first store was kept by Johnson {
! Houk. Among pioneer ranchers wer
! T. c. Tiff, who was located in Missoula
= one named Frazier. and one othe
o named Catlin. The NJ. f. church, south
Q built about $780, was for some time tn
" only one. but it's doors were open t
9 members of other denominations. Revs
n r. w. Flowers and E. ]. Stanley Wer
q among the first ministers located here
4 Later Rev. Messrs. Stewart and Coo
of Missoula came up the valley an
a held services once a month. There ar
: now four Protestant church buildings,
:, resident pastor for three of them.
!. In 1884 the public school house. two
!, story building. was erected. There
n now good school, with three teacher
:, employed. There is a good hotel. Ther
:, are a number of neat store building
: and shops. The first newspaper wa
: started about 1884 or 1885. There is no
), one local paper, the Northwest Tribun
q J. r. Faulds, editor and proprietor
In 1887 the railroad was built throug
- the valley. In 1886 or 1887 ground wa
bought for cemetery. In 1898 Missoul
county was divided and Stevensyille be
came a part of Ravalli county. Thei
are number of lodges. some of whic
are beneficiary.
Henry Bucks residence was the fir!
frame one built here, and Mrs. Buc
and Mrs. Flowers among the first whif
women who lived here. There are no
many pretty residences and neat co
tages. Trees have been planted an
sidewalks laid. Buildings are constant
being erected and the population
steadily increasing.
uIcT INc0p0RRATE0