The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-06-17
PASSES DIVIDE AT GREAT
FALLS HOSPITAL THIS,
FRIDAY, MORNING
CAME HERE AZ YEARS AGO,
INDIAN TRADER AND
MERCHANT


morning at 200 o'clock at the
Deaconess hospital in Great Falls
where he has been receiving care
for the last three weeks and to
where he was accompanied by his
old friend, j. b Randall. Death was
caused by diabetes, a disease from
which he has suffered for years.
The whole community was shock
ed and ~saddened when word of his
death was passed about today, for
he has been identified with the de-
velopment of Wolf Point for near
1y fifty years, and was respected
by all and loved by many, both
whites and Indians.
a Distinct Personality
Mr.. Cogswell was a type of pion-
eer somewhat different from most
of those who figure so frequently
in descriptions of early days in
Montana. He was not a big cat
tie or sheep man, range rider, Wig
ilante, prospector or gun toter. He
came in close touch with all phases
of the changing West but his was
always the part of the neutral or
peace-maker. Quiet, discreet and
dignified he dealt with all sorts
of characters with a minimum OF
trouble. At II time Sitting Bull,
the famous fighting chief, made Wis
its to the log trading post on the
bank of the Missouri, just out
side Wolf Point, presided over by
Mr.. Cogswen for over As years. The
wiley destroyer of General Gust
er's command bore a feared name.
1--WE did not trust him inside the
store.' remarked Mr.. Cogswell
with a twinkle in his eye, a few
years ago. che had to do his trad
ing through a small hole in the
log wall while armed guards stood
near him with cooked rifles"
Through long years of close at
tention to business lie accumulated
a. modest fortune and as the town
and country developed he was gen
erous in his investments and con-
tributions to community enter
prises. He loved the spot where
he had lived so long and rarely
left it until failing health compel
led him to seek mild climates in
winter. Mr.. Cogswell was cheerful,
approachable and friendly though
retiring, and inclined to shun pub
1icity.
The name of Sherman t. Cogs-
we'll and the impress of his kindly
personality will live long. The PEG
Die of Wolf Point and community
will be proud to fit him into the
story of the past az the dean OF
our pioneers, a friend of all, n
outstanding benefactor.
Sherman T. Cogswell was born
Adrian, Michigan, January "a,
1865. and practically all his life
vas spent in Michigan and Montana.
He was the son of Richmond ).
and Lydia (Stretch) Cogswell, both
natives of Genesee county, New
York. The family lived lear Ad-
Ran until 1875, when they moved !
10 Danville, Tennessee, to make |
heir home. Sherman, however, re- {
NAMED at Blissfield, Mich, max [
ng his home with his sister, Mrs. |
Parker, while going to !
school. While on a visit to M1chl-
from Tennessee in 1882 his |
mother died. His father remarked I
later moved from Tennessee to t
WaIlula, Nebraska, where he died b
several years ago.
When Sherman Cogswell was a.
tout twenty years old, he received 0
invitation from Major Burton L
Parker, Indian agent at Poplar, to q
west and take charge of a p
chool of Indians at Wolf Point. o
t was in October 1885 that he ar Il
ived, coming by way of Glendlve "
nd Poplar. Glendive was the near tx
ST railroad station and it took Il
wo DAYS and a half to travel from "
here to Poplar by government
cam and wagon. The LoveJoy
anch. the Ed Moran ranch on the n
,edwater and the Day ranch, were ~
he only evidences Of white hab1-
alton that they saw on that trip,
ut there were deer, antelope w
oyotes in great numbers. This
yas Mr.. Cogswell's introduction to W
astern Montana which has been V
is home for nearly At years. He G
as seen the gradual transition OF 81
he country from its unfurrowed p
lid state to it's present develop
1ent. tC
School Teacher First d;
At the time Mr.. Cogswell reach g
d Wolf Point T. C. Power and w. o.
!. Shaw had trading posts here. 81
he government the year previous Ii
ad taken over the school from the n
Indian mission, and II