Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-01

/ GUllluCg WHICH bl1uEbAy lNEiGdlttI EACCs
trified the nation because Of the ele-
ments involved in the sangtIine battle
with the Indians.
One year later, IN 1877, Judge Allen
left Bozeman, coming down the Vel
Iowstone river IN q boat. Reaching the
mouth Of the Big Horn he stopped at
Ochetta where he lived for q period
later coming on to Miles City with his
family, including the infant daughter,
Sophie, born IN October.
The blood OF a pioneer coursed
through the veins Of Judge Allen His
association with Lee Travis in 1874 at
Helena and the establishment Of the
Newsletter gave him his first taste
Of the newspaper business. The News
Letter at one time was published as
the Montana Daily News, the fore
runner Of one Of the present publica-
lions In the capital city. His experience
with the Avant Courier at Bozeman
only served to wheb his appetite for
further adventures IN the field Of
journalism, from which experiences he
took an active part subsequently In the
political activities Of the state.
Miles City apparently did not offer
much In the way Of excitement when
he arrived to make that community his
home. It was struggling village de-
pendent upon the soldier trade from
Fort Keogh. he engaged In such pur-
suits as appealed to him, and learning
that the Northern Pacific railway sys-
tenn was building west out Of Bismarck
and was approaching a point about 80
miles east, he decided 10 move on and
reached the site OF the present city Of
Glendive In 1880, before the founda
tions Of the community were laid, re-
siding there almost TO the time Of his
death in the early part Of the present
century.
Judge Allen was considered a man
of brilliant attainments. he engaged IN
the newspaper business. Taking an ac-
tive part In politics, he became Mid |
die of the Road" Populist. He was
chairman Of the committee on reSolu- |
tons at the state convention held in
1892. He was the nominee In that year /
for the office Of secretary Of state, rum |
ming second on the ticket. He was also
q delegate to the Omaha National con-
vention Of that same year, and was
EA6CUCA 60 y AAlCAAICA Va tAAC AA4t4JAAdA
committee Of his party.
Locally, in olendive, Judge Allen also
engaged Ia the real estate business. He 4
acquired a tract OF land and laid out
Aliens addition. Litigation arose with
the Northern Pacific railway company.
the litigation was settled
in his favor. But the pioneer spirit still
dominated his life. Past sixty years OF
age, Judge Allen undertook another
venture into the newspaper field when
be established the first publication In
the former Alfred county, North Da-
kota, in association with "Old Bill"
Ndumby. The venture proved q failure,
as In 1901 that region was sparsely
settled. Shortly thereafter he met
tragic death. His home was at Dore,
Just across the Montana line in North
Dakota. He had been visiting with his
family, who made their home in the
winter at Old Fort, on a Sunday eve
aing. On the following evening he
boarded a train on the Great Northern
system which had been delayed on its
schedule, bound for Williston, where he
had some legal matters to attend to. :
A dispatch Of the tragic incident was
sent from CUlbertson to the Glendive
Record under date Of Feb. 2. It read:
Judge Allen, formerly Of Glendive,
vas frozen to death last night at VIII I
iston, N. D., In the terrific blizzard that /
PREVAILED throughout that region during 1
he past "a hours Judge Allen was an
'lderly man and was rather feeble.
When train No. on which he was |
iding pulled into Williston and stopped |
It the switch TO sidetrack for No. /, he
thought the train had arrived
t the station and stepped off the train (
N the opposite side from the depot.
4e wandered up the track about half :
mile and then he returned to nearly r
he place of starting, where he sue
umbed to the fury of the storm. The
Vind was blowing at the rate of rs
niles an hour. One could not see 80 feet
n the binding snow. l
A telegram had been dispatched to
Sheriff George s. Williams at Glendtve
o have grave prepared for him. He J
vas buried In the cemetery near the
ity with which he had been identified
ince the steel rails of the Northernl
'acific first united 1t to the outside
Torld and the whistles Of the locomo-
ives awakened the echoes Of the viii
erness." Judge Allen was known as the
Old Man" Of the Lower Yellowstone
nd when "the shadows of death en-
eloped him. there closed a life Of adj
enture which had begun when just s
ntering manhood's estate he had 4
houldered his musket and marched to \
be front TO avenge the insult offered
be flag at Fort Sumpter, continuing
through the settlement and develop
lent Of Montana until with the fore
lost wave of civilization he came and
ettled upon the eastern border of the
reat Treasure state"
Some 20 years later, then living at
airview, on Aug. 20. 1928, AIRS. Allen,
{ the age Of 81, pioneer woman OF
Tontana, passed on. The funeral was
Impressive, and interment followed In
he Glendive cemetery beside the body
I her pioneer husband. An excerpt
AIKEN from the Fairview News Of Aug.
D, 1923, says OF Mars. Allen: