Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1913-04-15
ORGANIZATION
OF PIONEERS
MEETING HELD TO
FORM FERGUS COUNTY
SOCIETY.
TO MEET AGAIN FRIDAY
All Old.tirers Are Requested to Be at
the Judith Club-All Who Came to
Fergus by the First Monday in
December, 1886, Eligible to Mem.
bership.

In response to call for meeting
Of pioneers Of this county. a large num-
Der Of Old-timers assembled at the Ju-
dith club last Friday evening, when
the preliminary steps were taken to
organize the Society OF Fergus County
Pioneers. 1t was the sense Of the
meeting that all who came here prior
to the first Monday in December. 1886,
should be eligible to membership, that
being the date when the county was
organized.
A committee consisting Of f. c.
Russell, David Hilger and John d.
Waite was appointed to prepare con-
stitution and bylaws and to report at
another meeting to be held at the Ju-
dith club next Friday night, when it
is proposed to perfect the organiza-
ton.
Rudolf Won Tobel presided and
stated that seven years ago meeting
was held at which a society of pio-
neers was organized but 1t never met
again. Lately there had been sugges-
tions that the matter be taken up
again and considerable interest
seemed to be taken in the plan. 1t
would be unfortunate, said Mr.. Won
Tobel, to allow all the interesting facts
in the early history of the county to
be lost through failure to have such
a society as was proposed.
Mr.. Won Tobel read a list of the Of
ficers chosen at the meeting held six
years ag, when j. p. Barnes was
chosen as president, and Messrs.
Simpson. Walker, Thompson. Smith
and Eldridge, vice-presidents.
George J. Wiedeman was then
chosen as secretary Of the meeting
and Hal Gibson was pressed into serv-
Ice to make stenographic report of
the proceedings.
Some discussion followed as to the
date to be fixed as a requirement for
membership and 1t was generally
agreed that the one stated was the
natural one to adopt at this time.
The Old Postoffice.
David Hilger suggested that the old
log house that was the first postoffice
here should be preserved.
J. NJ. Vrooman added to this the
suggestion that it be restored and
placed in Day park
Some "reminiscences.
Samuel Phillips, being called on,
spoke In reminiscent vein. He told
how Francis Janeaux fixed the final
spelling of the name "LewistoWn"
The postal department had written
him asking whether the terminal
ton" or town" Lnzon, remembered
by Old-timers as clerk in Mr..
Janeaux's place, read the letter to his
employer, who said, Make it Lewis
town."
John p. Waite told of some humor-
Gus experiences when he passed
through here in 1881 on his way out
to go east. He camped at Reedsfort
and In the evening a notorious horse
thief named Iliff, brother of a mn-
lister of some prominence, came in.
Mr.. Waite was warned and watch was
kept all night and he lost no horses,
although Tiff had with him some ami
mails he was supposed to have stolen
at Fort Maginns.
DR.. ]. Fl. Willard spoke briefly
about campaigning in the early days
In company with Mr.. Hilger.
Edward Brassey, Lewistown's first
schoolmaster, told of his experiences
as teacher here when ne had twelve
or fifteen breed children for pupils.
AT the next meeting there will per-
haps be more extended discussion in
regard to interesting matters of early
history and 1t is hoped that there will
De large attendance.