The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-04-06
FIRST GOVERNOR
POOR POLITICIAN
EDGERTON HAD BITTER QUAR-.
REL WITH FIRST COUNTY
OFFICIALS APPOINTED
County Commissioners Refused to
Gust Recorder at Executives Or.
der, So Latter Appointed "Rump''
Board, Which Was Knocked Out
by Territorial Court.


Board, Which Was Knocked Out
by Territorial Court.
Montana has seen some exciting
events in connection with its political
history, and at times the state has
been rocked by VIOLENT political feuds
such as the Clark and Daily fight
and the long-drawn out battle be-
tween Heinze and the Amalgamated
Copper company, which permeated
every section of the state and became
an issue in every country.
In fact political scraps in Montana
dated from the organization of the
territory in 1864, when Sidney Ed
gerton, who came to the new terri
tory from Idaho, where he was Chief
Justice, to become first governor, is
sued his proclamation from Bannack,
ordering an election of members of
the legislature. One of the merriest
battles involved the first county Of
ficials of the newly created Edger-
ton county, which has since become
Lewis and Clark county, and WILDER
r. Sanders, nephew of Governor Ed
gertOn and one of the most famous
of Montana's pioneers
When Edgerton county was Great
ed, the governor nominated set of
county officers, and the nominations
were confirmed by the territorial SEN
ate or council. Among these were j.
B. Stewart, Judge; G. j. Wood, sher-
iff; Henry Eastman, clerk and rec
order.
The diary of Nicholas Hilger con-
tains all interesting account of the
political difficulties that began in
this county at once, which has never
previously been published. 1t appears
that after making the appointment of
above-named officials, Governor Ed
gerton was not wholly satisfied with
his selection of a county clerk and
recorder, and as a result, the govern
or's nephew. Colonel Sanders, who
was acting in the capacity of secret
art to the governor, appeared at the
recorders office at Silver City and
demanded possession of the records
of the county. He was accompanied
by one H. Harding, who produced an
appointment as recorder signed by
the governor.
Clerk and Recorder Henry East
man declined to yield the office and
records. This happened in April,
1865, and the same month the coun-
ty commissioners, consisting of NAL
colin Clarke, A. j. Wells, and j. w.
Rhodes, met and refused to recognize
the legality of Harding's appoint
ment by the governor and ordered
Eastman to retain the office and rec
ords.
Gets a Mandamus.
When the commissioners refused
to recognize Harding, Colonel San
ders proceeded to secure writ of
mandamus from the local court, and
Sheriff Wood forcibly took the rec
ords and delivered them to Harding,
who then took possession of the Of
flee. Governor Edgerton then an
nounced the appointment of new
set of county commissioners, consist
ing of Lee Markham, who refused to
serve and was succeeded by Corne-
Illus Hedges, j. G. Sanders and Dan
Carpenter. This board of commits
sioners organized at Silver City, and
for some weeks two sets of county
commissioners were transacting bust
ness.
Eastman did not give up the fight,
however, and took his case up to the
territorial court at it's first session
in September, 1864, and decision
was given by Judge Munson in favor
Of Eastman and against Harding. AS
a result the trump" board of county
dsbanded and Hard
ing, who had collected some $4,000
in fees while acting as clerk, left the
territory
1t was partly as a result of this
squabble between the governor and
his appointees that the name of the
was changed from Edgerton
TO Lewis and Clark and Governor Ed
gerton left the territory.