Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1913-03-27
MIIES CITY LOSES MOST VAL
UED CITIZEN
Pierre Wibaux, Pioneer, Cattle
King, Banker, Builder and Good
Citizen, Dies AT Chicago

|
Citv this morning on his return from
the bedside of Pierre Wibaux, the
president of the institution, who was
at hospital in Chicago, he found a
telegram awaiting him announcing
that Mr.. Wibaux had died at 12:15
this morning, and Mr.. Butler started
at once on his return to Chicago on
train No. 2 which arrived here between
| 10 and II o'clock. Mr.. Wibaux's wife
and son Cyril were present at the
bedside of the husband and father,
having recently been summoned from
| their home in France, on account OF
the serious illness of the husband and
father.
In the days when the cattle indus
try was at it's zenith in Montana,
when "cattle kings and "cattle bar
ons,' so-called were plentiful through
out the state, Mr.. Wibaux was one of
the largest owners, but as the range
industry gradually narrowed down and
the big outfits disappeared, he
followed the trend of the times and
changed the substance of his invest
ments into banking, mining, insurance
and real property.
He was born in January, 1858, in
Roubaix, France. At the age of
eighteen he entered the French army
and after years. service he was sent
by his father on a two-year tour of
England, to study English methods
and machinery in the manufacture of
textile fabrics, in which business his
father was largely engaged at Rou-
baix. 1t was in England that he made
the acquaintance of the lady who af
terwards became his wife, and it was
there also that he learned of the i'm
mense profits to be made in the range
cattle in the United States. Thor
oughly impressed with this new idea
he induced his father to give him a
financial start and with a moderate
capital he came 10 this country, in
tent on engaging in the range stock
business; first taking course of
"roughing it'' around the stockyards
of Chicago, to become familiar with
the commodity which he was about to
handle, and the methods of the busi-
ness, as far as it could be learned at
the central market.
After TINS acquiring a knowledge
which would enable him to judge the
qualities of the cattle he came west
and located on Beaver creek, in DaW-
son county, where he first domiciled
himself in dugout, after the prevail
ing fashion. He decided for the first
that he would be his own foreman until
he had mastered the details Of the
business, and for five years he rode the
range in all seasons and weather, do
ing the work of the commonest cow
puncher.
It was while Mr.. Wibaux was living
thus, on Beaver creek, that the Mar
quis de Mores, fellow countryman,
located himself on the Little Missouri
and attempted his scheme Of slaugh-
tering cattle on the range in opposi-
tion to the big packing houses of Chi
cago and Kansas City, the failure OF
whicn is matter Of well known west
ern history.
Mr.. Wibaux, however, appears to
have himself followed sound business
anethods, and he succeeded in convinc-
ing the Northern Pacific Of the ad-
vantages Of Mingusville (now Wibaux)
as shipping point, and stockyards
were erected ard a little town began
to grow up, in the development OF
which Mr.. Wibaux's sense of order
and beauty were manifested, as ne con-
structed for himself home OF eie-
gance and even luxury for that period
in the west.