Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-03-07

tack against Sitting Bull. famous Sioux
leader and medicine man.
Incoming settlers following the course
Of the railroad then under construc-
ton, to a considerable number, were
diverted into the Rosebud valley. Many
homesteads were located, some of
which gre still occupied by the orig
inal settlers. The valley became popu-
lated with sturdy men and women who
survived the many dangers, vicisSitudes
and fortunes incidental to those early
days The history of their struggles
furnishes one of the most interesting
chapters Of frontier life.
Having determined upon the 1oca-
ton Of the division point, railroad Of
ficials opened negotiations with Joe
Gee with the idea of acquiring his
land. He was informed of the plan
Of the Northern Pacific Railway Co.
TO set I'D a new town. His land was con-
veniently located between two points,
which the company officials felt would
become important trading centerS in
the future. The formalities of the oc-
casion were observed. An alluring Of
fer was made, but the representations
made by company officials were futile.
Gee refused to come to any terms. An
other site had to be found for the
division point which the railway COM
pany deemed necessary in those early
days Of the slower-moving rolling
stock.
Tom Alexander had taken up al
homestead on the south bank of the
Yellowstone river about 10 or ii miles
west Of the mouth Of the Rosebud.
Gee had turned a deaf ear to the offer
for his land, but Alexander listened
with considerable interest to the prop
osition that a town and a railroad di-
vision point be set up on his property.
He yxyQC fVT7Yfrnccar3 fnu tfro sAe,crfF4414f4nc
The result was that Alexander sold
his land to the company, and it was
upon his homestead that the little city
OF Forsyth was built. The name me-
morializes Col James w. Forsyth of the
1th Cavalry, who became widely known
In southeastern Montana during the
troublous Indian warfare days.
Sam NewneS found Forsyth tented
city upon his arrival in May, 1882 |
Only one log shack stood on the main
thoroughfare. 1t was used for bakery.
He spent his first night with some |
companions standing behind a large
cottonwood tree. A group Of cowboys, |
taking Ilmbrage at some incident, were
engaged in Shooting up the town"
They rode up and down the main
street, taking shot at anything which
In their minds offered target. 1t was
not until late the following day that
quiet was restored with the arrival of |
a United States marshal.
Three men we're killed when a car
OF steel and lumber was wrecked in
the early part of July, 1882, at point
about four miles west Of Forsyth. One
OF the men was thrown into the spring
near the slough, which became known
thereafter as Dead Mans Spring" A
buffalo hunter by the name of Muir
ply set up small fort here, which
served to protect white travellers pass
ing that way.
A year after his arrival at Forsyth,
Newnes filed on a presumption claim
Of 40 acres. The log cabin which he
trail leading west from Forsyth, and is
one Of the Oldest landmarks in that
region.
While the development of the new
community was being left to the build
ers, events we're transpiring in the ter
rttory surrounding it. Hunting buffalo
became the principal pastime Of many
OF the settlers. The late Peter Jackson,
who made two jumps" from his home
in Tronjam. Norway, to reach the
Rosebud valley often related his ex-
perience of shooting 2,750 buffalo dur
ing one winter Incidentally, in the
spring Of 1878 on the American Fork,
jackson killed the largest bear ever
shot In the territory or state. 1t weighed
AtOSU VOuA4tlS- JdChoOLt a young man OF
"a, left Norway in the spring of 1869,
and arrived in Wisconsin in Septem-
Der Of that year, remaining two years,
and employed as a lumber jack. Hear
ing that gold had been discovered in
Last Chance gulch at Helena, jackson
came to Montana in 1871, remaining
there two years. In 1873 and 1874 he
spent most of his time hunting at the
head of the MuSselshell, near what is
now Harlowton. His hunting range