Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-12-02

Congregational Then the different
Masonic bodies were organized
The Lincoln was the first school.
FUNDS for both were contributed by
Frederick Billings.
Billings from the first was interested
IN mining. There was even some talk
Of building a smelter there.
The first building there was on the
lot opposite the Gazette office, by F.
B. Kennard On the same corner was
the wholesale saloon of L. H. FenSky,
and on the block east Of the Gazette
was the original courthouse On the
front we're several business houses that
IN the first big fire which DESTROYED
the whole east end of that block were
wiped out, including the bank, hotel,
courthouse and saloon. Where the tele-
phone office is now was the original
livery stable. owned by Wheatley
Bros. Where the Stapleton building Is
was originally a livery stable. The
present Grand hotel was one of the
first large hotels. The Belknap block
was the first business block and was
built and owned by Captain Belknap.
Colonel Rowley was the first railroad
capitalist to invest in city property It
was he who financed the first water
works and later on the first electric
light system.
Became Shipping Point
Billings soon developed as the largest I
shipping point in the state Of Mon |
Lara and northern Wyoming. Cattle |
and sheep were driven In long dis |
tances and loaded for eastern markets. I
For a number of years Billings was
the largest inland wool shipping point |
In the world.
P. ". Meadow. one of the first bust
ness men in the old town Of Coulson,
later on established business In Bill
lings, was one of the builders of the
streetcar system, handled real estate,
plating an addition to the town of
Coulson known as the Meadow addi-
Clon, later on developed the famous
Spotted Horse gold mine at Maiden
near where Lewistown Is now.
The land company laid out the town
IN two sections, 25-foot lots. They
started the price of lots at $3.50 and
gradually reduced as they went farther
oacK from the business lots. They con-
Llouted lots for all business purposes,
Inherent lodges. library, and set aside
PARKS for both north and south sides
They gave the block for the high
chool and for churches and Masonic
odge
AS the boom died out. the Northern
Pacific officials changed hands. and the
SlllngS people who had been in the
addle, had to take back seat and
ne new officials began changing ev-
ryCh1ng that the old board Of directors
lad anything to do with. That is one
I the reasons why the shops went to
livingston. For a number of wears the
anne OF Billings hardly appeared on
be railroad maps. In fact the station
Master at st. Paul, when the through
rains started for the west, would skip
he name Of Billings
One of the interesting characters
early days was Parmly Billings a
Dung man just out Of college who
anne west and located for a short time
y large horse ranch in northern
iontana. He came to Billings with
Is cousin, E. j. Bailry, and took over
he Minnesota Land Co. and also
andled the Frederick Billings prop
.ty IN the surrounding district. They
so opened up a private bank which
as originally the Bank of Billings.
Re Midland National. They were To-
tied opposite the library.
Parmly was a very energetic young
How and took an active part In mu-
lclpal affairs and the social doings
the town. In the forenoon he logged
, in cowboy clothes, true western
yle, but donned q derby hat for aft
moons. unfortunately, on a trip east
fore reaching home. had he lived,
tn his financial connections and his
ling for the west and his faith in
is particular valley, it is possible
at some great things may have been
complished for us through him.
All famous scouts banked around
'ulson OF early days, such men as
N Bridger, Colonel Cody, Yellow
me Kelly, Charley REYNOLDS. John
'zeman and X. Beidler and Liver
ting" johnson. an OF these men, ma
nally famed In their line at some
Rod Of their lives. lived, camped and
rked on the Yellowstone and es-
cially at the old trading post Of
ulsOn.
Of the above, Bridger and Bozeman
rhaps are two OF the most noted,
n being the founder OF famous
lis reaching from the middle west
the mines and mountain valleys OF
intana, and the one that we think
J most noted on the Yellowstone
9 Muggtns Taylor, who was one of
Custer scouts a& the battle and
aT Cn waG the man who brought
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