Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-10-07

the scene Of stirring events in the In
dian wars; 1t was a stamping ground
of the Cheyenne Indians, and the Gus
ter campaigns covered territory within
the boundaries of the present county.
It was one of the early ranching sec
lions of the state, and formed from
a part Of old Dawson county in 1901.
SANDERS-Named for one Of Mon
tana's outstanding pioneers, Wilbur F.
Sanders. 1t was formed In 1909 out OF
a part of old Missoula county. Wilbur
F. Sanders was a man cast In heroic
mould In the 1905 when Henry
Plummer and his cutthroat band OF
outlaws-called. strangely enough, the
"InnocentS' '-terrorized the gold dig
gings, it was Sanders who broke their
bloody reign. At the trial Of George
Ives, bandit and road agent and fol-
lower of Plummer, Sanders was special
prosecutor Near the end of the trial
he arose to his feet and, though faced
by dozens Of guns in the crowd watch
ing the trial, he calmly moved that
Ives be hanged. His heroism was the
turning point for law and order. Later
he was one of Montanas first United
States senators.
SHERmAN-This county was formed
in 1913, the name being chosen in
honor of the famous general and cav
airy leader of Civil war days who was
in command of the military forces
which operated against the hostile In
dians OF the west and Montana. Plenty
wood Is the county Seat-So named, not
because of forests, but because ranch
er discovered some scant material for
fire along a creek and thereupon des-
ignated the place as "Plentywood.
SILVER BOW-In the early days
four proSpectors, P. Allison, Bud Par
ker and Joe and Jim Easter, found
gold along Silver Bow creek. 1t was
in January Of 1864 and the sky was
overcast. In order to stake their claim
legally. they knew they must have a
name for the creek. While they dis
cuSsed the matter. the clouds cleared
bit and some stray sunlight fell
through, to CLINT upon the surface Of
the creek. This was at point where
the stream made a curve, and one
of the men said, 1T looks like silver
bow"
Silver Bow county is Montana's
smallest in area and largest in popula-
ton, and one Of the oldest since 1t
was formed in 1880 as the 18th among
Montana counties.
STILLWATER-Still county Is
drained by Saltwater creek, which
legend says was named by John M
Bozeman. The circumstances surround
ing the name are vague. The Bozeman
trail, as laid out by John Bozeman In
1864, crossed this stream by a ford.
The establishment Of the county was
in 1913, at the time of the homestead
boom.
SWEET GRASS-SWeet Grass creek,
which rises on the eastern slope of
the Crazy mountains and flows away
to the Yellowstone river, Is the inspira-
ton for the meaning Of this county.
Along its banks is found an abundance
of sweet grass, which gives off an
odor somewhat like that Of vanilla
Judge William @. Strong, when this
county was created In 1895, proposed
seat, named In somewhat the same
manner as Plentywood, county seat Of
Sheridan county.
TETON-So called because the head
waters of the Teton river are found
in this county. Lewis and Clark called
the river the ''Tanzy." from a plant
seen along its banks. Teton comes from
a French word meaning breast" just
how the name came TO be associated
with the river is difficult to say. The
county Is one of the older ones IN |
Montana, being organized In 1893
shortly after the westward extension !
Of the Great Northern railroad. Cho- /
teau Is the county seat.
TOOLE-JoSeph X. Toole was the 4
first governor Of the state Of Montana. /
This county, of which Shelby Is the 1
county seat, was formed at the very
peak OF the homestead boom IN 1914. I
It Is the site Of one Of the greatest
oil fields Ia the state. Shelby Is noted T
as the town which held a worlds
championship boxing match-Dempsey