Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-12-25
The Old Janesux Stoeksde Was Form
erIy Where the Power Mercantile
compsny's Block Now Stands.
LARGE HERDS OF BUFFALO
Site Of the City Of Lewistown Was
Then a Feeding Ground for Buff
fslo and Antelope.

rapid growth OF civilization Is almost
phenomenal, the changes which have
taken place during that period are
truly wonderful.
In 1850 the district now covered by
the city OF LewIstown and It's environ.
ments, was then but a feeding ground
for limitless herds OF buffalo and ante.
lope and It's population consisted Of a
small settlement Of hardy frontiers
men and half breed hunters. with
their families, who composed the van
guard Of the present civilization.
Among this number were John and
Dan Crowley, who mad located on Big
Spring creek the year before, living
in a small cabin near the present site
Of the Lewistown fair grounds and
who were then laying the foundation
Of what is now a valuable and pros.
porous ranch.
W. ID. Cameron was living in the
vicinity, who, with Benjamin Dexter
and "Shang' Gibson, a gambler and
prospcctor, composed the population
Of what Is now known as Lewistown.
On the ground which is now occu-
pied by the magnificent new building
owned by the Power Mercantile Com
pany, was then located the stockaae
and trading post which was owned
and run by +. A. Juneaux, a French
Canadian. who, with his family, had
been living there for several years.
The Enclosure was about two hundred
feet squaTr and was constructed for
purposes ~ defense against any hos
tile band of Indians who might hap
pen 10 stray into the ncighbDrhood.
and "a arranged 50 that the trader
could drive his stock on the inside if
he found il necessary.
A stout uastion was erected at each
corner Ol tho inclusurc for the pur-
POSE Of defending the structure; these
bastiUDs were double dccked towers
furnished with lo0p-holcs Tor the use
Of rincmcn both above and below and
furnished a formidable obstacle, when
tenantod by hardy rrontiersmen. for
the prowlins bands Of reds TO over
come,
The Christmas season then was not
the highly dccorous and civilized cell
obration of the present time. but was
observed Dy hilarious dances and
laastjng among IA" families Of haI1
breeds, dwelling in the Immediate
ncirhboFbood, which were participat-
ed in 10 a certain extent by the white
hunters and trappors who happened
to return 10 the settlement in time for
the celebrations.
Two weeks before the approach of
the festive aso hunters would ar
rive at the trading post with strings
OF Indian ponies heavily laden with
pelts and meat. which they would OK.
change with the trader for groceries
and generous supplies Of fire water
or alcohol. which was always kept in
stock. With these supplies, earned
in many a long and arduous hunt, in
conjunction with large quantities OF
buffalo meat, they wou.4 repair to the
nearest half breed settlement, there
to pass the time away in a season OF
boistcrous festivlty.
A rather embarrassing custom was
observed amongst the breeds on New
Year. at which time they travelled
around the settlement wishing every
one they met a happy New Year and
hestDwing "A kiss upon those w..o were
not too fractions. The Juneaux stock
AIDE, during Christmas time was 9
scene Of unusual activity and excite
mcnt. Half breed hunters, intermin
gled with n few white frontiersmen
were there, busy %barterng with thu
trader for their winter supplies. Civ
ing in exchange furs and pelts pro
cured during the fall hunt.
Alcohol was consumed in larg'
quantities and an air Of boisterouI
welcome and festlvity prevailed. Thu
breed girls and women would congre
gate at one Of the larger cabins and
general invitation would be extende,
10 the boys" to attend a dance; al
old fiddle was produced and after tn
musician had been primed to the prop
er pitch by generous applications o
fire water, the dance would procee,
and many an old.timer will tell a
spent at those Christmas dances
where etiquette was an unknown
quantity and good fellowship prevail
ed.
In 1880 General Kruger passe,
through where Lewistown now stand
in search of n location for an arm.
post and shortly afterwards old For
Maginnis a built and occupied b.
a detachment of Uncle Sans army
In 1881 f. A. Juneaux tore down III
old stockadc and built the log build
ing, nov occupied by the lewiston
Commercial Company. in which h
ran a traders store for several years
James Fergus was already locate
on Armclls creek and had n bunch q
cattle there. while the u. II s. outh'
then owned by Granville Stuart, turn
Cd loose n big herd IN 50 about tw
and a half miles below Fort Magll