Glacier County chief., 1939-01-27
Three Organizations of Old Time Range Riders Plan
To Rope and Brand Fast Vanishing Members of Clan

With one organization of old
time Montana range riders already
perfected, a second in swaddling
clothes and third proposed, the
men who roped, branded and rode
circle in the summers and holed up
in isolated line camps during the
winters in the SOS and zoos of the
last century are being hauled out
of their privacy to make bows to
an admiring public.
The Montana Cowboys association,
formed in Great Falls last year, has
membership of more than 200. Men
who worked as cowboys prior to 1910
are eligible for membership. To those
who rode before 1895, membership is
free. Members whose range experience
came later than that pay 81 year
dues William CBilD Shea of Great
Falls is president, and Ray Klau. Great
Falls. assistant postmaster, is secre-
tary. The association will hold its
second annual reunion and banquet
in Great Falls the latter part of
At Miles City a recent reunion and
banquet attended by more than $50
veterans of the COW camps was the
launching movement Of an organiza-
ton to be perfected in that section.
And now another organization of
early day cowboys is being planned in
the Billings district. sponsored by Will
liam Splan, former Cascade county
deputy sheriff and Glacier park guide.
and j. K. Ralston. a cowboy artist.
born in the Sun river district. The
Billings organization. it is stated. will
be not only for old-time range riders.
but for their sons and daughters.
Miles City Reunion
The Miles City reunion Of old-time
cowhandS was a notable affair, at
tended as it was by some of the most
experienced and widely known of
southeastern Montana's early day
cattlemen. among them Craig Nc
Dowell. IS. believed to be the only man
now living who attended the first an
nual convention of the Montana Stock
growers association held in Miles City
in 1884 He was given an ovation by
the banQueterS
A complete roster of all those at
tending was made. registration taking
place under the direction of Dale Will
der, Alva HERS and Newt Perkins in
the lobby of the Elks home. The gen.
eral committee in charge of the affair
was composed of Dale Wilder. Charley
Wiley. Harry C. Reed, Montana Bill"
Roberts and Sid Vollin.
The principal address was delivered
by T. w. (Chit) Carolan of Forsyth,
who reviewed the events of the DAYS
when cattle roamed over a free and
unfenced range. Mr. Carolan. son of
a former early day cattle operator, also
spoke of some of his own experiences
when he rode circle and followed the
mess wagons on roundups.
j. T. (ReO Carolan, father of the
guest speaker, came from Washington
with Loud's outfit in 1884. and was
wagon boss of the F'UF outfit for 10
years, later owning and running his
own COW outfit, the B-cross.
Letter From Holt
Greetings were read at the opening
of the program from several men who
were unable to be present Former Gov
w. Elmer Holt, writing from Seattle
Wash. recalled the days when he rode
to his fathers ranch on Pumpkin creek
where Ed Whitbeck now lives, and to
the 10 on the Mizpah, and WI on
Powder river
In those days my uncle John ran
the latter two brands. Ben Woodcock
was foreman for the WI and Joe Cole
ran the 10. Milo Cowles and Aunt
Rose were at the 10 where it was al
ways a special pleasure to visit. Mrs
CoWleS was always especially good to
the kids Ed Holt was there on the job
They were the days when there used
to be general meeting at the double
crossing on Pumpkin creek where I
have seen as many as Is wagons at one
time, and of course, this meant that
between 200 and 300 riders would start
on a circle.
Among those who come back wildly
are Sam Hotchkiss, foreman of the
Crosse: Charlie Van Dyke of the M