Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-06-10

state legislature In 1889. The Arm which
he established is among the oldest in
the state. 1t Is said to be the first cor
poration in Montana, its charter having
been obtained from the first territorial
legislature.
A. M. Hotter. the empire builder, is
recognized az the father OF numbering in
Montana. He hitched a second hand
sawmill behind a yoke Of oxen at Denver
in the fall of 1868 and started out for
Ruby river In Madison county.
The journey OF more than 1000 miles
was completed against territorial obsta-
cles, including q holdup by George Ives,
the notorious bandit. n the transfer
of the mill machinery to q hand sled on
which the load was nipped along when
steep, snow covered mountain grades
were encountered.
When the machinery was set up so
many of the parts were missing that Mr..
Hotter had to fashion new parts In an
~improvised machine shop consisting Of
blacksmith bellows made of old rubber
coats, an anvil consisting OF q broadax
drixen into q stump, shafttng made from
iron wagon axles and betting from un-
tanned tx hides.
This primitive mill, operated by a To-
foot overshot waterwheel, sawed 5000
feet of lumber the first winter. From
then until 1893, when he sold out to
Marcus DAILY. MIR. Hotter operated large
lumber plants at Butte, Helena and
Great Falls.
The first steam boiler in the territory
was brought here by Mr.. Hotter. The
boiler is now on the ranch of Perry Strom
at Canyon Creek. The date of its manu-
facture is 1854.
Tells of Memorable Trip
Concerning the trip with the mill In
1858, memories of the holdup are record
ed by an article written by Mr.. Hotter
for THE Timberman," a Portland, Ore,
publication.
Mr.. n and I finally selected a
location for our sawmill." he wrote, and
after considerable hardship, we reached
the top OF the divide between Bevin's and
Ramshorn gulches where we went into
temporary camp December 7. with no
shelter beyond that afforded by a large
spruce tree.
"As the snow was getting deep and there
was no feed for stock I started the next
morning for Virginia City, ID miles dis
tant, hoping to sell them. Finding no
buyer I started to tak them out to the
ranch Of an acquaintance % miles down
the Sinking river. On the way I was
held up and robbed by George Ives and
his companion, Irwin. After I had COM
piled with Mr.. Ives command to hand
him my purse, / was ordered to drive
on. He still held his revolver In his
hand, which looked suspicious to me, sc
In speaking to my team l quickly turned
my head and found that he had his re-
volver leveled on me, taking sight at my
head. Instantly I lodged as the full
shot went, receiving the full force OF the
exploded powder in my face-the bullet
passing through my hat n hair. II
stunned me for an instant nj / stag
gered against the near leader. accident
ally getting my arm over his neck, pre-
venting me from falling.
Escapes With Life
Almost at once I regained my senses
and faced Ives, who had his pistol low
cred, but raised it with a jerk, pointing
it at my breast. I heard the click OF the
hammer but 1t missed fire. / ran arounc
the oxen, which became much excited
and my coming In a rush on the other
side scared them still more n they