Glacier County chief., 1940-04-05

water ran out and stopped washing
operations and Billy went on to French
gulch, where he struck gold, worked
for year, sold out and went to Arkan-
sas, where he spent winter In the
spring he went to Deer Lodge, was APP
pointed undersheriff and night watch
man, gave 1t up and opened billiard
hall, sold that and returned to Fort
Benton in 1872.
Elected Sheriff of Chouteau
There he went into the hotel bust
ness, but, soon was appointed, then
elected. sheriff of Chouteau county,
which at the time comprised an i'm
mense area. Benton Record of 1876
tells the story of five or six rough,
tough bullwhackers who went on a
drunk and tried to take over the town.
Sheriff Billy Rowe and his deputy,
Charlie Rowe, were awakened out of
sound sleep when the melee grew
beyond the bounds Of the citizenry.
According to the Record, the two men
took look at the situation, tossed off
their guns and waded into the bull
whackers. The miniature battle was
all in favor Of the two officers of the
law. and while couple of 'whackers
made their escape. four badly battered
men we're deposited in the jail to await
Judgment. Next morning an unsympa-
thetic judge relieved them of ali their
spare cash and sent the bullwhackers
upon their way pennileSs.
Charles Rowe gave up the Overland
in 1876, and took up farming, but re-
turned to the hotel business in 1888,
and IN the spring Of 1891 took over the
Grand Union hotel at the time one of
the largest and finest in Montana, in
which he continued for many years.
Billy Rowe, after serving as United
States deputy marshal and U. S.
mounted revenue inspector for a couple
of years, likewise went into the hotel
business. At the same time he took a
contract to carry the mail between
Fort Benton and Helena daily for four
years at $4,000 per year, and a special
contract to carry the mail between
Fort Benton and Fort Assinniboine for
two years at $4,000 per month. At the
time the latter contract was an es-
peclally dangerous one, for it was at
the time of the Sioux war and the
trouble with the Nez Perez Indians
Rowe soon sold his contracts for
s26, 700 and in the fall of 1884 began
buying horses. He went into the livery
business, and took up ranching and
he tried raising English Shire horses.
and paid as high as $500 for a stall
lion of that breed.
James H. Rowe and family came
west in 1878 to join his brothers. He
was in time to join in the stampede to
, the Barker mines WIFI lfle OLIleTS.
Three prospectors who located claims
in the district told Billy Rowe about
their find. according to Wearn Rowe.
son Of James, and Wearn Rowe says
that one evening his two uncles and
father were greatly excited. and that
night they made few preparations,
and the next morning were gone.
The brothers secured some good min
ing properties out of this stampede
Charles becoming half owner with T.
C. Power of the Flint Lock mines.
James Rowe later became assessor
of Chouteau county. which position he
held for several years. He died about
1893
Charles Rowe served Oh the Fort
Benton city council for several years
and later was elected mayor of the
city He took prominent part in coun-
ty politics, and aided in securing a bill
to permit the city to issue bonds for
waterworks. He had been in partner
ship with T. J. Todd in operating the
Grand Union hotel from 1891 to 1899,
when he retired. He died July 25th,
1902. at Fort Benton.
Billy Rowe lived to be almost IS
years old. dying at Fort Benton in
January, 1925.