Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-08-13

Sun River. How far their prophecies
have proved true is witnessed by the
progressive city of Great Falls and the
quiet town of Sun River, which is
many times smaller than it was in
1885.
The Sun River Sun wa at first a
28-column paper, published by the Sun
River Publishing company with w. H.
Hanks as manager and David B. Hall
as editor. MI. Hall has been a CORE
spondent of the Rocky Mountain Hus-
bandman for a number of years and
many Of his articles have been ex-
tensively read and copied.
The first issue of the Sun River Sun
was published Feb. IA, 1884. Two
copies of this edition were printed on
white catin and are now in the pos
session of John Largent of Sun River,
and Lee Ford of Great Falls. The
paper continued under the partnership
until February, 1885, when Mr.. Hall
sold his interest to Mr.. Hanks. Mr..
Hanks edited the paper alone until
the early part of May, 1885. He then
sold it to David Lawrence and took
his printing press with him to Great
Falls and established the Great Falls
Tribune.
The Great Falls Tribune
The first issue Of the Tribune ap-
peared May IA, 1885. 1t was a weekly
paper Of four pages. April 3, 1886, the
Tribune Publishing company took over
the stock of the Great Falls Tribune,
having Will Hanks as president OF the
company and business manager.
Some time in May, 1886, the Tribune
became a daily paper and printed two
semi-weekly editions. The paped was
sold in 1887 to Jerry Collins Of Fort
Benton, editor of the River Press.
Hanks Prominent In Great Falls
Mr.. Hanks held many important po-
sitions and was a prominent figure IN
the early days Of Great Falls. After
sellingthe Tribune, he went into the
, real estate business, under the name
of Hanks e. Atkinson, the Office being
in the old Lapeyre drug store block.
In 1890 he entered the banking bust
ness as president of the Merchants
National bank of Great Falls. He was
also vice president of the Cascade Ma
tional bank. In 1888 he was elected
chairman of the board of county COM
misioners. Mr.. Hanks was treasurer
of the Great Falls chapter No. 8, r. A.
M. His home was in the east end of
Great Falls, now known as Valera
way, where he owned 10 acres of land.
William Hanks was born in Ohio in
1860 and came to Sun River by the
persuasion of John Largent, mi of the
first settlers of the valley, who thought
q newspaper was needed to help Sun
River progress. He was a man of pleas
ing personality tall, of fair complex
ion and had a smile for everyone. His
main fault seemed to be grasping for
that which was greater than he could
hope to finish to a satisfactory end.
His wife, whose maiden name wa Miss
Ink, was short and Of dark complexion
and well liked by her friends. They
had three children, all boys, one of
whom was i'll much Of his life and died
at the age of 6 years and 2 months.
He was buried in Sun River cemetery.
The career Of Mr.. Hanks Is more or
less shrouded in conjecture. He is re-
ported by some to have ranched for
a while in Prickly Pear valley near
Helena. When last heard OF about
1918, he was reported to be ranching
quite successfully in Mexico, a few
miles from the border of the United
States.
"Pick and PlOw"
Bozeman's first newspaper, the Mon
tana Pick and Pillow, was started Dec.
81, 1869, by H. N. Mcguire and Joseph
Wright, with Mr.. Mcguire as editor.
1t was a four-page, six-column paper
published every Friday, the price being
So a year, 81 for six months, 50 for
three months and 81 for six weeks. The
circulation was announced as $500.
A copy Of the first number, preserved
for go years by Mrs. w. j. Beall, n
of the early pioneers of Bozeman, a
past president Of the Pioneers society
Of Gallatin county and for many years
historian Of the organization, was re-
Gently presented to Mrs. E. L. Houston,
secretary of the Pioneers society of
Gallatin county, whose father, the late
w. w. Anderson, "a one of the pio-
neers furnishing funds for equipment
to start the paper.
Judge Mcguire, as he was known for
a number Of years before his death in
1903, having served a term as probate
judge of Gallatin county, began his
newspaper career by setting type in
Detroit. He engaged in newspaper
work in various ways in Chicago, st.
Louis, New Orleans, Denver, and Salt
Lake City before coming to Montana,
according to pioneer records. His first
venture in journalism in this territory