Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-21
Agriculture in Fergus County
By Carl II. Peterson


ever that were brought into the
county were brought in by Robert
Sullenger, the preceding year, and
wintered on Spring creek above Lewis
town. Frank Stoddard drove in from
White Sulphur Springs in 1882, To-
eating in the foothills of the Judiths.
Among the other early stockmen of
eastern Fergus were Oscar Stephens
of the McGinnis and Roy section about
1880. Oppheim and Tiegen settled on
| the Mcdonald creek in 1883, later the
D. H. and s. outfit, the N-Bar and 9th
ars followed. There were hundreds
II thousands Of cattle and sheep roam
ing on the open ranges Of the county.
During the winter Of 1885-1886,
known to all oldtimers as the hard
winter when an unusually heavy loss
Of cattle was sustained, the sheep in
dustry from that date flourished un-
| til for the next 10 years Fergus re-
| NAMED the banner sheep county of
the state.
While farming was carried on to
some extent from the advent of the
old stockmen, yet it was not carried
on to any considerable extent until
| the year of 1900, when number of
Gallatin valley farmers emigrated
into the Judith Basin, settling near
Moore, and demonstrated that grains
could be grown profitably on the
benches without irrigation. Among
these early settlers were Penwell and
sons, John CASTOR, Clarence Robin
son, Dan Caffman, Bob Shaw and
| others. Immediately following. the
settlement near Moore others came
| in and took up homesteads near Lew
| istown, Glengarry, Hobson, Bench
land, Stanford, Coffee Creek and Den
ton. Later others settled near Hill
ger, Winifred, Roy, Grass Range and
Winnett. Perhaps no like area in
the world saw such rapid devel-
opment during a few years as this
region did, due in a large measure to
plements and the large yields of
grain received During this home
stead period the cattle and sheep
range was gradually cut up, with the
result that no longer were the pas
lures dotted with livestock as in the
past. Stockmen disposing of their
large holdings, but no county has yet
been able to build up permanent
agriculture without livestock, and
Fergus county was no different. Grad
ually the farmers began to increase
their livestock holdings until it may
not be long until there will be more
cattle and sheep shipped out of the
county than there were during any
year of the palmiest days of the open
range.
The following data gathered from
the assessors files indicate in meas
ure the recent growth of the live
stock industry:
1913-Horses, 1925; assessed val
ue, $760,550. Cattle, 5,917; assessed
value, $141,7S6. Hogs, 1858; assessed
value, $14,315.
1916-Horses, 25,342; assessed val.
ue. $1,070,9S6. Cattle, 52797; assessed
value, s1,218,399 Hogs, S,4O2; as
sessed value, $43,002.
Prior to 1913 practically all of the
dairy products used in the county
were shipped in from outside points.
The following statement Of the
Fergus county creamery from June
l, 1914, when they began operation,
until September, 1916, indicate the
growth of that industry: Amount but
ter fat bought, 419 102 pounds; paid
farmers, $132,1905s. In addition,
much was sold as butter by farmers
during this period.
Farmers Elevators.
During the past two or three years
great strides have been made by
farmers in the matter of forming
their own marketing associations In
the form of cooperative elevator
companies. There are at present 20
farmers elevator companies, nearly
all of these being operated on the
patronage dividend basis.
Fergus county schools also have a
splendid rural school system and one
county high school and several vii
lage high schools. These schools are
fast becoming noted for their many
services rendered by them to the
people of the county. The following
indicates their growth:
Jan. l, 1913-No. rural schools 81;
enrolment, 1879; village schools, 6;
enrolment, 61O.
Jan. l, 1916-No. rural schools, 1853;
enrolment, 2,117; village schools, 20;
enrolment, a275.
Rapid as may have been the de.
velopment of Fergus county during
the past, the changes that will take
place during the next decade will be
even more rapid and striking. Every
thing that will be done from now on
is to build up permanent agricul-
ture.