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

Near its eastern border is the Cat
Greek oil field, from which the county
took its name.
PHTLLIPS-Origina a part Of old
Choteau county, Phillips was formed
in 1912 as a part of Blaine county. In
1915 it took on a separate identity. 1t
was named for Ben D. Phillips, a prom
inent woolgrower of that region, who
was also interested in some of the
Little Rocky Mountain gold mines.
PONDERA-Pondera county was Gre
ated from parts of Teton and Chouteau
counties in 1919 and is one Of the
homestead boom units. The name is a
contraction Of a tribal name of the
Selfish Indian people, who were named
by some Of the early French fur trad
ers the Pend GRIZZLIES, probably because
they wore ear rings, "oreille" being the
French for ear" The Pondera county
region is in the territory that was
defined by the Council Grove treaty
of 1855 as common hunting grounds
for tribes on both sides of the con-
tinental divide who came there to
hunt. The white Signer Of this treaty
was Isaac I. Stevens, and the site Of
the signing was In a grove several
miles west and north of the present
MisSoula-
POWDER RIVER - This county,
formed in 1919, was named for the
Powder river which drains most of It..
Powder river, in turn, was so called
because the fine black sand along its
banks resembled gunpowder.
POWELI--Named after John H.
Powell, member Of the Stuart party
which came to Deer Lodge valley in
1857. The party was returning from
California when indications of placer
gold prompted several members to re-
main in the country. Gold creek, in
Powell county, was the first gold dis
covery in Montana, the discoVerer be-
ing a FRENCH Canadian named Bene-
lessee, although 1t is claimed that
Granville Stuart holds that honor. The
county was formed in 1901 out of
part of old Deer Lodge county.
PRAIRIE-This county was formed
in 1917 from part of old Dawson
county The name was suggested by
the fact that most of it is grazing
territory, and was originally suggested
by a group of people in and around
Fallon as a means for gathering en-
thusiasm towards the creation Of a
new county. Terry, the county seat.
is named for an officer prominent in
the Custer campaigns.
RAVALLE-Formed from a part of
old Missoula county in 1893 and named
priest, who labored among the In
dams from 1845 to 1884. In this county
is the site Of st. Mary's mission, the
first permanent white settlement in
Montana. 1t was founded In 1841 by
Father De Smet, probably the greatest
of the earlier Montana contributors
towards the tanning Of the wilderness.
st. Mary's nourished for several years,
then was taken over by John owen,
Fort Owen about It. The ancient
church still stands today, and the mill
stones used by Father De Smet are
in the state historical collection IN
Helena.
HIGHLAND Ma homesteaders
were attracted by the plains and fer
tile valleys Of Richland county, and
the name suggests the character Of
the soil. The county was formed from
part Of old Dawson county IN 1914
ROOSEVELT -- Theodore Roosevelt
knew eastern Montana very wei In
the days of bonanza ranching, since
he owned and operated ranch Just
over the Dakota-Montana line at Me
dora. It Is not known whether he spent
any time IN the region later known as
Roosevelt county, but the name is very
appropriate since it was conferred the
same year, 1913, that Theodore Roose-
welt passed away. 1t was formed out
OF a part Of old Valley county, and
in the day of the great ranges sup
ported thousands Of head OF cattle.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT from Rosebud
river which drains q large part Of the
southern section Of the county. The
stream was named by Captain Clark
Of the Lewis and CLARK expedition be-
cause Of the number of roses observed
In the locality. The county has been