The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-12-29
Was In State Before Any Man Now Living
Passing of Judge Frank Woody
of Missoula, Recalls Historic Times:
In Same State Was Resident of Four Territories

A FEW DAYS AGO there died in
~ Missoula at the age of 83,
\ Judge Frank H. Woods, who
came to Montana before any man
NOW diving. He entered the
borders of what is now Mon
tana in 1856, driving team OF
oxen, and when he arrived at the site
OF Missoula, he found an encampment
of 800 Indian lodges where the city
was to rise. He became the first may
or of Missoula, and from 1866 to
1880 served as county clerk and re-
corder, which, in the later years, was
combined with the post of probate
judge. In 1859 he was elected a
member of the territorial legislature
for the counties of Missoula and Deer
Lodge, but as there was doubt of the
legality of the session that followed
ne did not attend. He lived for SO
years in the same house in Missoula,
which was situated consecutively in
the territory of Washington, the ter
ritory of Idaho, the territory of Mon
tana and eventually in the state of
Montana. AS matter of fact, he in
forms us IN memorandum he left
that he really lived in four territories
and one state, while yet within the
boundaries of Montana.
when first came to what is now
Montana" he wrote, land lived in
Grass valley, within eight miles of
what is now the city of Missoula, the
country was then Washington terri
tory. I then went to Bannack, in
1852, at that time in the territory of
Dacotah; then in 1864, I came back
to He'll Gate, five miles below the
present city of Misoula, which was
in the Idaho territory; then it became
Montana territory and then the state
of Montana"
In 1859, Mr.. Woody, with the as
slstance of Henry Brooks and James
Holt, made pillow that turned the
first furrow ever. made in the He'll
Gate valley-or in Montana with the
exception of the missionary settle
ment in the Bitter Root valley.
Many Months of Hardship.
1t was only after many months of
hardship that Judge Woody succeed
ed In making his way overland to |
Montana. While he was in Utah |
ne was obliged to walk 100 miles for
! job, living as best he could on the
Mormons enroute. He afterwards |
said of himself and of the
TWO companions of this trip: II think
We were the first three original
tramps in the United States" His
associates were Jim Kingsley, from
Indiana, who had Joined the Mormon
church in hope that living thereby
would be made easier; and Sam
8allingee, a native of Kentucky.
I'VE had a consultation" wrote
Judge Woody in telling of that ex-
'erience, land I might say formed a
rust. Sam put in his rifle and
'ouch and powder-horn, Jim his blan-I
Eet, and l, my experience. After
ONE discussion, We agreed we would
ubsist on the Mormons by passing
ourselves off as Mormons and beg
ling our way. We drew straws to
ZEE who should attempt to get some
ming to eat, and the one to whom
he lot fell to do this was to continue
n that business during that day. II
hink We were the first three original
ramps in the United States, and we
ollowed the methods very closely !,
hat are pursued by the tramps of the
resent day.
Meat an Unknown Quantity. ,
"The houses along the road were
catered, but we never passed one I
'lthout asking for something to eat
occasionally we would get small I
lece of bread, but never any meat, ,
nat being an unknown quantity with
8 at that time. In This way we sue E
eeded in getting enough bread to /
eep our hunger down to a certain
xtent and finding some place where |
e could lodge, which was usually in
n clubhouse. r
After walking Is or 20 miles. we I
topped one day, just after noon. at 8
ute a farm house on the side of the 7
Dad for the purpose of trying to get 8
to eat. This was Jim's {
ay to provide. We went to the +
ouse and found three or four ladies' {
nd number of children, but no man /
as seen. Now Jim had gall the equal I
any man ever saw. He went n
round to the kitchen and Jim I
I'D that we wanted something r
eat One of the ladies said i
icy did not have anything to j
we us, that they were short of
rovisions themselves and peonle v
ere travelling by all the time and s