Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-02-04
SEES DEPENDENCE
UPON LIVESTOCK
NE CEs SARY TO SUCCESS OF
NORTH MONTANA RESETTLE-
MENT WORK SAYS JAYCOx
Veteran COwman, Who Packed for
General Crook in Indian Wars and
Rode Plains for Years Believes Whole
HeartedIy in Rebuilt Range.

Success of farmers resettled in
Valley, Blaine and Phillips coun-
ties by the farm security admins
tration depends on livestock just
as success of every agricultural
venture in the history of northern
Montana has had its roots in the
cattle or sheep industry" w. w.
Taycox former Valley county
rancher and farmer believes.
Bill Jaycox is one of the few pio-
neers whose lifetime spans the de-
velopment of Montana. He saw 1t as
Indian territory and as the cattle
mans paradise. He was in Montana
when sheepmen arrived He was forced
out Of the stock business by home
steaderss. He turned to dryland farm
ing and went through the experience
from bumper crops to failures Now
he lives with his son. Harry D. Jaycox,
farm security client, on the Edwards
tract near Malta.
In 1875 Jaycox was a mule packer
with Gen. George Crooks expedition
against the Sioux and he perhaps
missed the fate of the Custer expedi-
ton by single day. Jaycox then went
to Wyoming, to become the first
sheriff of Natrona county. After one
term he decided to go to California
but. stopping at Ogden, changed his
Butte, Helena and Fort Benton. At
the latter place he was persuaded to
take over foremanship Of the Miner
livestock interests.
20 Years on Range
For 20 years he rode the north Mon
tana range. He knew all the oldtime
coWmen from Granville Stuart, Col
Charles A. Broadwater, Charley Rus
SELL Pat Tucker and Bob Coburn to
Liver Eating" johnson and other
characters.
After the Miner Cattle Co. quit that
range, Jaycox assisted with the clean
up Of the Bear Paw pool livestock. BY
1904 big cattle companies had ceased
to exist. Former coWpunchers were
going into the cattle business on a
small scale, convinced that northern
Montana was stil the cowman's
utopia.
Jaycox settled south Of Hinsdale,
locating at the edge Of the badland
He selected the site because |
settlers were moving into northern |
Montana and he was certain no one !
In his right mind would file on bad
lands fit only for grazing and con- /
trolled by himself and few neighbors,
who claimed the open range to the
Missouri river, go miles to the south. |
BY 1912 the land boom had started /
and homesteaders were swarming |
fit only for grazing. In a few years |
every vacant 40 acres was filed upon |
and plows. harrows and cultivators /
were stirring the soil
Good Crops for Time
Most Of the Jaycox neighbors
farmed during the summer and |
winter. Good crops were raised for t
few years but 1t soon became apparent I
that the Butte mines payrolls we're |
many a farm in eastern
Montana. Jaycox watched the grow
ing of successful crops and, because
ne was a gambler at heart and had no /
-ange for livestock, he turned to farm
Ing. Previous to the advent of the
homesteaders he had farmed In a
small way, raising wheat for a few
chickens and harvesting prairie hay.
He recalls raising 50-bushel wheat and
S5-bushel oat crops.
Good years became a thing Of the
past. Farmers acquired a few head of
livestock to help pay the bills, turned
hem out on the range and winds and
Insects ravaged crops. Water holes
Tried up.
About 1884 the resettlement admin
stration selection northern Montana
or a land utilization and resettlement
project. Submarginal lands were pur-
.hased and developed for range use.
Farmers on submarginal land were
,iven a chance to locate in the irTi-
,ated valley.
Believes in Rebuilt Range
Jaycox Is we'll aware of the read
ustment program In northern Mon
ana. He believes Fundamentally In
livestock and the future of a rebuilt