The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-09-22

Benton, which was the metropolis of
the state at the time, with probably
1900 or $500 people.
O'keefe's brother, G.. G. O'Keefe,
preceded "Uncle Dave" to Montana,
coming in 1859 and located in the
canyon west of Missoula which bears
his name. He was Joined in 1862 by
"Uncle Dave" O'Keefe and between
them they took up a section of land
in the canyon.
In the year before "Uncle Dave"
arrived, his brother had two or three
acres of land under cultivation, rails
Ing oats and potatoes. and at that
time there we're few settlers and only
a small number of them were rails
ing anything from the land. After
the first year of farming by O'Keefe,
the land of the two brothers was
leased in 1863 and 1864, but in 1865
"Uncle Dave" took charge of it again
and planted and raised between so
and so acres Of grain and also had
two or three acres in potatoes.
The potatoes were marketed in the
mining camp Of Bannack, Alder
Gulch and around Deer Lodge. OF
the wheat raised that year he sold
100 bushels in Helena at SIS a
bushel, while the rest of the 500
bushel crop was sold in the vicinity
Of Missoula at 81 bushel and pota-
toes from $3.50 to 81 bushel.
One of the interesting incidents OF
O'Keefe's early life in Montana was
in 1866, on the occasion of visit to
Fort Benton where he consummated
a h4 co1A ~ e nm Wounds
Of potatoes to be delivered there at
an agreed price of 20 cents a pound.
Further, through his ability to get
a signed contract on the deal, he got
the best suit Of clothes in Fort Ben
ton besides.
Mr.. O'Keefe was in Fort Benton
and, having keen eye for business,
decided he could sell some potatoes
there. He approached John Riplin1
ger, one of the officials of the Amer
lean Fur company, who was spending
his first year in Montana. Riplinger
promised to take 5000 pounds of po-
tatoes, to be delivered in Fort Ben.
ton. The fur company had large
force of men employed in trading
with the Indians and with winter
coming on Riplinger knew that pota.
toes would be needed. After closing
his deal with Riplinger, O'Keefe was
strolling around renewing old &C.
quaintances when he dropped into
the store Of Matt Carroll and George
Steele. A little talk with Carroll
brought out the information that he
had been making the deal with Rip
linger.
Carroll asked O'Keefe II he had g
written contract with Riplinger. but
he had not. Carroll then told Uncle
Dave" that II he could get a writer
contract out Of Riplinger for the
agreed amount, that Carroll woult
give O'Keefe the best suit of clothes
in the store. and the store was the
leading business house of Fort Ben
ton at the time.
O'Keefe hunted up Riplinger, whit
had gone to bed, but he had visions
of suit Of clothes, and decided tina
he wanted the contract. Riplingel
was routed out of his slumbers a
the hotel to talk to O'Keefe, ant
when the matter was suggested II
him. he was not in the notion of sign
ing q contract. "You know my wore
IL all right and that will take thu
potatoes at the price agreed upon
and know that you are on the level
too. and am depending upon you TO
the potatoes.''
OF course. that would have settles