Plentywood herald., 1935-02-21
L|17LE7ON LASA7ER
resident HERE In
1902 DIES MONDAY
Colorful Pioneer Passes AT
Oregon Home At
Age of 20

iCiity NVOd uAiOui I'D tiio WCCh tiiC
passing of one of its founders,
LittletOn G. Lasater, frontierSlnan,
rancher and pioneer settler OF this
section who died at his home In
Eugene, Oregon, Monday. He was
10 years old
Funeral services for the colorful
pioneer, born in the SOS of Confeder
ate stock, teller OF droll tales OF ex
periences encountered in 89 when
land-crazed emigrants, swarmed into
Oklahoma on April % when the ter
ritory was opened for settlement,
we're held at Eugene Wednesday,
Messages of coincidence were sent
from Plentywood to Mrs. Lasater
and the grieved family OF eleven
children, some Of whom were born
in the Oklahoma territory.
A native of Missouri and born
Oct 10, 1855 Lasater was destined
to be frontiersman. His father
was a veteran OF the Civil War and
fought with the Confederate army.
A wound received in battle resulted
in his fathers death. When young
man of 25, the call of the west, the
llt Ol a piOAccit olitl C0 tiiC UiOON III
his veins News Of the opening OF q
new territory comprising 100000
acres of land for settlers in the ter
ritory OF Oklahoma beckoned the
young adventurer. and together with
an older brother, started west
ward to be at the boundary line of
the territory ready for the opening
gun to signal for the mad scramble
for possession Of land. The historic
al day OF April %, 1889. when rhous.
ands of land seekers Crossed the line
into Oklahoma, and which is record.
ed historically In the book 'Cimar-
ron" has been vividly told by Lasat'
er.
In 1890 he married Mary Celia
Casey and settled in the newly open.
ed territory. 1t was later learned
that he and his brother had staked
out state land and were forced to re-
linuuish their land rights.
The desire to migrate farthur west
stirred the young man and In 1901,
together with his wife and small
children started for Oregon, and
settled near the present site Of Ell
gin.
Lasater had long been the triend
of Abe Malcolm Of Plentywood
Their friendship began with an ac'
quaintance in early days in Kansas
News Of Lasater's death from a
breakdown of the physical forces
due to advanced age coupled with
pneumonia, was told to Mr.. Malcolm
Tuesday.
Abe Malcolm came to northeastern
Montana in 1901. He wrote his good
friend Iasater Of his location, and
Iasater, desirous to settle In coun
try that would permit him to engage
in the ranching business on big
scale, came to what is the present
site of Plentywood. He decided to
settle here and in 1903 brought his
family from Oregon.
Land in this section had not yet
been surveyed. Settlers were entitl
ed to squatters rights. Lasater ac-
quired home along the Muddy river
just south Of the present site Of the
city 1t is related that the settle
ment of Plentywood was then seven
miles west OF its present site. The
pOSJOIllCG was hOSdIcu a. thC Ooou
man ranch.
The home Of Mr.. Lasater's was the
first shingled-roof structure in this
territory.
He engaged in ranching until
1911 and then established several
businesses in Plentywood and other
Sheridan county towns. Buying
property in 1922 at Eugene, Oregon,
he moved with his family from Plen-
tywood.
He made trips here on numerous
occasions to visit with his many
pioneer friends. His last visit was
In 1892, and in spite of his advanced
age, was the same rugged adventur-
er. relator of tales and singer of
frontier songs, which it is said would
fill large volume.
Relatives who survive are his wife
and eleven children, namely, Mrs
James Duncan, Aberdeen, Idaho
Mrs. Walter Dzeigal, Roseburg, Ore. /,
Mrs. E. C. Stonehocker, Mrs. Bert
Meet. Mrs. Leo. Davis, Mrs. Harold
Pilch, Mrs. Mervin Bilderbach, Mrs
Solomon Cuddyback, Mrs. Francis
Mulvey, all OF Eugene, Oregon;
Littleton Lasater of Marshfield, Ore.
and George Lasater OF Plentywood
who returned from Oregon last year
and is now living at the old ranch
home.