Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-09-30

eastern Montana. Daniels had much to
do with the early life of Scobey
Daniels county was created as a sub
| division Of Sheridan county, and at
various times the territory included
within its boundaries has been part
of Valley county, Dawson county and
the original Big Horn county.
DAWSON-Andrew Dawson, in whose
honor this county was named, was an
employe and leader in the work Of
the American Fur Co. during its last
years in Montana He was factor at
Fort Benton, head of navigation on the
Missouri Dawson county Is carved
from the old Big Horn county, which
passed off the map IN 1869, most of
its territory being taken over by DaW-
son. Dawson is 18th in age among
Montana counties.
DEER LODGE-This county was Gre
ated as one Of the original nine coun-
ties In 1865, and was named for q
prominent conelike butte which is now
included within the grounds of the
Warm Springs hospital. From the top
of this cone issues hot water and
steam. The Shoshone Indians called
this natural feature the Lodge of the
White-tailed Deer" because so many
of the animals frequented the locality,
especially in the winter. Deer Lodge
county existed first in the territory of
Idaho having almost the same boun-
daries as today.
Miners Clerk HOnOred
FERGUS-The clerk of the first
miners gulch government organized In
Alder glllch was James Fergus, re-
garded as one of Montana's most inn
portant pioneers He took a prominent
part in the work of the vigilance COM
mittee In 1868 and later. The Fergus
family were early settlers In the region
north of the present site Of Lewistown.
They were ranchers on a large scale,
and James Fergus was one of the lead
ers who helped to organize action
against thieves and ruStlers in thai
region. He stood always for law and
better government, even though he was
connected with certain movements
whose methods Of achieving law we're
not ethicaIIy lawful. Fergus county
was Montana's 14th, created In 1885,
FALLON-The name of Fallon takes
its genesis from O'Fallon creek, a.
small stream that has source in north
ern Carter county and flows through
Carter, Custer and Prairie counties.
1t has confluence with the Yellow
stone river about six miles east Of
Terry. The creek was named in honor
of Mai Benjamin OFallon, who first
of the United States government. He
was member Of the party Of General
Atkinson who commanded the first
military expedition to carry
the prestige and authority Of the
United States government among the
Indians of the region which later be-
came Montana.
FLATHEAD-When subdivision OF
the old Missoula county was made
necessary by the extension of the Great
Northern railway to the Pacific coast
In 1893, and the subsequent develop
ment of the northern and western
parts of the state, Flathead county was |
formed. 1t was named after the Flat |
head, or Selfish, Indians. The meaning !
Of the term Is obscure, since this tribe |
did not practice the habit OF flattening !
of heads, as did some tribes Of the |
Pacific coast. The original home of the |
Selfish was the Bitter Root valley, but /
they were moved later when the white |
men became dominant in the country /
to the Jocko reservation, later renamed |
the Flathead reservation, north Of |
Adissoula.
GALLATTN-The principal river Of
The county gives 1t its name. The CAL
ATTN, with the Madison and the Jeffer-
SON, combine at Three Forks to form
The Missouri. 1t was named by Lewis
and Clark after Albert Gallattn, sec
rotary Of the treasury In the cabinet
If Pres. Thomas Jefferson who spOn-
,ored and handled the financing OF
he Lewis and Clark expedition. CAL
attn county was first created as q
county by the Idaho legislature in 1854
md in 1855 Was made one OF the or
ginal nine counties of Montana ter
7tory. It's original county seat was
7allatin City, close to Three Forks.
3ozeman Is county seat today.
HOn0rs Maxtyred President
GARFTELD--Name Is taken from
James A. Garfield, our second mar
yred president, who was shot by an
assassin July 2. 1892 The county was
orned In 1919 out OF part of what
lad been old Dawson county, one Of
group Of seven that hurried TO get
heir county division projects through
hat year before a change IN valuation
or new counties took effect the fol-
owing year.
GLACEER-In 1920 the valuation for