Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-11-14
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Of Fa1honuI Hn111nS ZmspuM by The GizMW m'

As a general thing the pioneers of
Montana were not gifted with mag
nation. This is shown by the names
they gave to their towns, and to rivers.
mountains, etc. Occasionally they were
wise enough TO keep the Indian names
or their translation for natural OBJ
Jects, but this was exceptional. In
consequence We have numerous Old
Baldies, and appellations derived from
the internal regions and its ruler.
Towns were named for persons, or
some place east, west, or down south
They had to be designated, and that,
too, speedily, with little regard to fit
ness, and the majority of little burgs
were burdened with the additional
city" that indicated vaulting ambi-
ton.
When enough inhabitants had gath
cred in Alder gulch to warrant its be-
ing known as town, some one of a
sentimental turn of mind and devotion
to the Confederate cause, gave it the
name OF "Varina" in honor of Mrs.
Jefferson Davis. 1t possessed the de-
usual and euphonic, but when it came
W NC d lhaltei VI leCOIu, IL met It's
Waterloo.
A case came up for trial before a
judge who was strongly in favor of
the union. and who was likewise, it
seems, given to profanity. The name
"Varina" was offensive to him. and
he declared with an oath that it should
not deface his records. Accordingly
he erased it, and wrote in its place.
Virginia City" and Virginia City it
remains to this day.
1t was unfortunate for Montana that
1t became a territory during the Civil
war, as the factional spirit this en-
gendered retarded the progress of the
new domain.
In order to understand the early
history Of this state it is necessary to
realize the conditions surrounding its
infancy. The natural inference would
be that because of its location, Mon
tana must have been in sympathy with
the rest Of the north. But such was
not the case. The majority of those
who first came here arrived via Colo
RADIO from Missouri, and were strongly
southern in sentiment: many of them
having served in the Confederate army.
1t will be remembered that Missouri,
much against the will Of its native
inhabitants, was kept in the union
by the German element, which was
overwhelmingly on the side of the
north A slave state, it had long been
engaged in border warfare with the
neighboring state of Kansas, and its
people did not intend to submit tame
ly to northern domination thus forced
upon them. Some of them, like Mark
Twain. enlisted in home companies;
others joined the southern army; and
still others sought more congenial sur
roundings in the wilderness. A few of
the latter had suffered from the forays
of northern soldiers.
One such was a driver in a wagon
train from st. Louis, that Travelled
with a party through Lander's cutoff.
He was a gentle soul, VINO could never
have harmed anyone. He had the
longest neck due it was said, to his
having been hung up three times at
brief intervals by union soldiers.
It is stated in one Montana history
that the southern men who came here
did so to escape being drafted into
the Confederate army. So far is this
from truth that large number had
served in it, or tried to do so, and
failed, like Mark Twain. One Of these
was Col John Rogers, an elected men,
Der of the first Montana territorial
legislature, but who resigned as he
could not take the "ironclad oath"
required OF all officials, that they had
never borne arms against the govern
ment. This case of Colonel Rogers
caused the first clash between Gov
ernor Edgerton and the legislature,
and occasioned much bitter feeling.
Out of this grew the claim that the
governor was arbitrary and dictatorial,
although it is difficult to see how he
could have done otherwise as it was
his duty to observe his official oath,
even at the risk of antagonizing the
majority of the legislators.
Those Missourians were no cravens,
but they refused to fight for a cause