Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-04-05

With plans already under way
for re-rec0rding Montana brands
during the next year, 1t will be
recalled to some old timers that
the first brand book was published
In Montana by the Montana
StockgrOwers association. 'oTheo-
dOre Roosevelt, p. o. address,
MedOra, Oak. Range, Little mis-
sOuri from mouth of Beaver creek
Ia Middle creek" This, together
with the cuts of q couple Of fas
steers and a horse bearing the
brand "NFalseSe Cross" occupied
half mage in the first edition Of
the brand book of the Montana
gtOckgrOwers association, pub
Iished in 1885,
The book Is an interesting souvenir
of the early days Of Montana, con.
tanning the names, addresses ana
brands of all the leading stockmen
and livestock companies which at
that time maintained large herds OF
cattle and horses upon the ranges OF
this state, then unbroken by railroads
and division fences. 1t Is a book OF
All pages, bearing an engraved title
page and bound in red morocco with
q flap which closes 1t up similar TO
purse.
Theodore Roosevelt, who was then
riding the ranges looking after his
own herds. was frequent visitor in
Montana and he and other stockmen
of the territory of Dakot@ were then
members Of the Montana association.
HIS foremen, according to his brand
record in this publication, were Ferris
and Merrifield, the latter, A. W. Mer-
rifield. being remembered by Rooee-
welt when he became president by
appointment to the office OF United
states marshal for the district OF
Montana
Old Time CattIemen :,
The book bears the brands, and
data relating thereto, OF several hum
bred stockmen Of that time, among
those from northern and central Mon
tana thus recorded being David Au-
chard of Dearborn, George w. Barrow
Of Utica, Broadwater, McCulloh d
Co. of Fort Assinnibotne, s. @. Burd
of Choteau, Robert Coburn Of White
Springs, Nat Collins OF Cno-
teau, Arch Deamiston OF Roundup,
George FaIligan of Stanford, James
FERGUS g. Son Of Fort Maginnis, d. A.
q. Flowerree and Flowerree g. Lowry
of Helena, Ford g. Dunn Of Sun River,
Fort Shaw Livestock Co. Of Fort Shaw,
Hamilton g. Hazlett Of Choteau, Eli
g. LOwther Of Roundup, S. 8. Hobson
Of Utica, judith Cattle Co. Of Helena,
Judith Beef Steer Co. Of Fort Benton,
John Lepley Of Fort Benton, Miner
Livestock Co. Of Fort Benton, Il. p.
A6owrey Of Utica, Benjamin Rumney
81 Gainesville, Henry Sieben Of Flat
willow. VIII r. Strait of Roundup, !
STUART AZ Anderson Of Fort Maginnis,
The Benton a. st. Louis Cattle Co. OF
wort Benton, the Meriden Cattle Co.
II MusselShelI, the Musselshe1 Cattle
Go. Of Lsavina, the Parker Cattle Co.
u Albright, Ole ThoreSon Of Stanford,
Travis q Morris of Fort Shaw, Nelson |
5. True Of Utica, Robert Vaughn OF
SUN River, Conrad Wagner OF STAN
lord, John r. Wagner OF Stickney.
The officers of the association at
hat time were: Thomas J. Bryan,
lGiles City, president; B. r. Potts,
Townsend, first vice president; VIII
lam Harmon, Miles City, second vice
president; r. B. Harrison, Helena,
Iecretary-treasurer.
The executive committee, which
consisted Of members representing the
3 Montana counties and the territory
4 Dakota, was constituted as follows:
Beaverhead county-Dr. Azel Ames
Choteau county (then spelled with
mt one "u")-,John Lepley, Fort Ben
on; Jesse Taylor, Choteau; A. w.
SinRsbury, Fort Benton.
Custer counfy-Erank Robertsons
a0sebud: E 8. Newman, Miles City;
Zoe Scott, Miles City; J. ]. Thompson.