The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-08-16

com a bountiful supply of facts
which picture wildly the life Of q
family which pioneered into Yellow
stone valley more than four years be-
fore Billings sprang into being: The
events in the Newman family during
that year were very routine, far from
being exciting. There were no Indian
raids, no shOOtings recorded, no
catastrOphes. But now, almost IS
years later, the record Of the daily
proceedings is especially interesting
because it pictures for the modern
mind how the nongold and nonad-
venture seeking pioneers lived.
From the diary accounts OF hunting
buffalo, deer and antelope, of having
Indians at dinner. of dances at the
various ranches, Of seeing a boat at
Huntley and of a trip overland to Boze-
man that took five days.
Mr.. Newman came into the Montana
territory in the early '70's. was a miner
at Butte for a number Of years before
and taking up farming near the south
bridge in 1878.
He had mere than a half dozen
children and vas one of the first farm
ers in the Yellowstone valley. His
home was a center for society events
in the early days. In 1879, a log cabin
on his property was turned into one Of
the first schoolhouses in the valley.
In the first pages of Mr.. Newman's
principal cities and states in the coun-
try. Montana was then a territory and
her population is given as 20,595. The
population of New York City is record
ed as 26,341. There were not over a
dozen words given for any n day.
They celebrated the New Year in
those days in the usual name with
H. ,,~,, mn H. 10
in the diary for Jan. 1, 1880 reads "all
went to Coulson to a dance at night
and had a good time" The main item
for January 2 was lam feeling sleepy
and not much doing"
The report for the next fews days
shows that a neighbor called and that
the boys were threshing wheat by hand.
On January 6, the boys went hunting
and got four deer.
big dance at Joe Danford's above Can
yon creek. Everyone had a great time.
The week passed with nothing unusual
happening.
January 15.-The boys killed nine
deer and got them home.
January 16.-The school board met
at the ranch. Saturday night the boys
lily visited at Joe Danford's.
January 21.-Al hands hunted n
telope and deer and killed %. Very
cold and everyone suffered from it. I
froZe my toes.
January 22.-Twenty antelope were
killed today.
January 31.-Had a visit from a
neighbor and all went to the dance at
Westbrook's at night.
February starts in cold with snow
and squalls. Threshing oats. Boys
went to Huntley.
February 13.-Friday. I sent $40 to
BoZeman for garden seed.
February 14.-Mr. Bishop called.
February 15-McKenZie Qater his
son-in-law) called. The next three days
were clear and cold. Mrs. Newman is
sick with cold.
February 19-All went to town and
got some newspapers to read. Had a call
from Uncle Billy Hamilton.
February 21.-Tom McGirl called.
February 22.-All home and had lots
Of Indians for dinner. Balance of week
cold. Boys hunting in hills and Ed
froze his feet.
First week in March was cold and
windy and everyone is home by the fire.
March 7.-Sunday. All went visiting
to the Bishops. All well.
March Z to 16.-Waiting for spring.
Cold but thawing. All staying by fire.
March 15.-Got some garden seed
from St. Paul. Spent much Of the
week cutting wood.
March 24.-Yoked the steers and
hauled oats.
March 25.-seeded some oats. River
opening up.
and Kinney.
March 27.-Dragging in oats. Next
day went hunting cattle and on March
% attended a law suit in town while
the boys plowed.
April 1 to 5.-Disagreeable weather.
April 6.-Neighbors' horses are stolen
by Indians. Got four of them back that
night.
April 6 to 8.-Pleasant weather. Men
are still after stolen horses. Mrs. Alling
Qater his sons mother-in-law) and
children here on a visit.
April 9.-Five Indians here for din
ner.
April lo:-Boys catch a lot Of fish.
Farming all week.
April 13.-Snow and cold and all in
house doing nothing. The cold snap
continues for the rest of the week. Went
visiting up at Canyon creek on April
10.
April 23.-Cold again and all hands
by the fire. Heavy snow the next day.
Everyone went to school meeting.
April 27.-Ffrst thunder and hail of
the season.
April 29.-Planted potatoes.
May 2.-Pleasant weather. Went I'D
to Canyon creek to visit the Brockways.
May 3.-Had a call from Anderson of
Coulson. Also a call from Ford. Plant
ing the garden today.
May 7.-Planted broom corn. Went
to town on school business.
May 8.-Boys went to town. Ed
bought a watch.
BUTTER AND CHEESE
Butter and cheese production in Mon
lana for the first half Of 1885 was less
| than fCs tho CANA noriNI n 1,oo. NM