History
History of Circle and McCone County
by: Polly Wischmann
Eons ago the mighty dinosaur and the lush tropical vegetation grew and thrived on this very land. Coal, oil fossilized bones leaves and bulbs are proof.
A few spears and points of the ancient Folsom and Yuma man have been found in this area. There is a medicine wheel in the northern part of the county for us to ponder over. Scattered about the prairie and at the buffalo jumps are more recent Indian artifacts including, hammers, hide scrapers, awls, mano and metate (which are grinding tools).
The fur trapper and the buffalo hunter were next in the passing parade. Here the last million buffalo were slaughtered for their hides.
In 1882 the Texas longhorn appeared on the scene. Capital Syndicate (XIT), who owned 10 counties in Texas, ran cattle around the Redwater River until 1915. The headquarters of Home Land and Cattle Co. (N---N) was in the northern part of the county. They ran as high as 50,000 head in this section of the state. The company was owned by Niedringhaus Bros. of St.Louis, Mo. who made their first million in the granite ware industry. Other big outfits were the Pioneer Cattle Co. (CK), J.S. Day (Round Top T), Hubbard and Sampson (HS) and, of course, Mabry Cattle Corp. whose headquarters were on Redwater about a mile south of Circle. Mabry's cattle were branded with a plain circle and hence it became known as the Circle Ranch. They left, but the name stayed. The ranch site was used as sheep shearing pens, later a saloon appeared and left, and in 1905 Pete Rorvik started a little general store. Circle moved to its present location when the Great Northern platted this as a townsite in 1914.
In 1910 the homesteaders came and settled on about every half section of land. Every class, color, and creed came and settled in tarpaper shacks, sod houses, dugouts, etc., but many left again after the drought and hard winter of 1919. In 1919 this county was created and named after George McCone, who was senator of Dawson County.
In 1928, there was another influx of settlers who came when the Northern Pacific built a branch line to Brockway.
In the 1950's oil was discovered in the county and there has been activity in that field since.
In the last 20 years there has been much building in the county and in Circle. Circle has a new court house, hospital, post office, bank building, bowling alley, two new schools, REA building, telephone building, printing office, churches, Masonic Temple, VFW club, Memorial building with a small museum, and several new service stations and store buildings.
Circle and McCone County
Millions of years ago, the mighty dinosaur and lush tropical vegetation grew and thrived on this very land. Proof of this are the fossilized bones, leaves, bulbs, and throughout the county in different locations one can find plant and animal remains of different periods of geological time.
A few spears and points of ancient Folsom and Yuma man have been found. There are several tepee rings and a large ceremonial ring in the northern part of the county. Also scattered about the prairie and at the buffalo jumps are more recent Indian artifacts including points, hammers, scrapers, awls, etc.
A stone memorial on Ash Creek, 16 miles south of Brockway marks the sight of a minor skirmish the U.S. Army had with Sitting Bull and his Sioux warriors on December 18, 1876, where 122 lodges and over 500 mules and horses were captured.
The fur trapper and the buffalo were next in the passing parade and over a million buffaloes were slaughtered for their hides in this general area.
Eastern Montana is a region of high plains and few trees and discouraged explorations and discovery. Treeless regions wee of small worth to early pioneers and the hostility of the Indians discouraged settlement of this region.
In days past, McCone County contained several large cattle, sheep, and horse outfits. As a result of this heritage it is rich in history relating to this industry.
In 1882 the Texas Longhorn appeared on the scene. Capital Syndicate (XIT) who owned 10 counties in Texas, ran cattle around the Redwater River until 1915. The Home Land and Cattle Co. (N--N) Headquarters was in the northern part of the county and ran as high as 100,000 head. This company owned by the Niedringhaus Brothers of St.Louis, Mo. made their first million in the granite ware industry. Other large outfits were the Pioneer Cattle Co. (CK) around 45,000 head and the Hubbard and Sampson (HS) headquarters halfway up Redwater sold an average of 35,000 beeves a year. Charlie Russell, the famous Montana artist is supposed to have worked on this ranch. The Scott and Robertson Co. branded with Hat X ran cattle and horses on Timber Creek from around 1903 to 1912. J.S Day Co. branded with the Round Topped T and ranged on Redwater. The Mabry Cattle Corp. also headquartered on Redwater about a mile south of Circle. Mabry's cattle were branded with a plain circle and hence it became known as the Circle Ranch. The town of Circle was named after this brand. This ranch site was later used as sheep shearing pens, then a saloon appeared and in 1905 Pete Rorvick started a little general store. The largest sheep ranch was that of Tom Cotter who ranged south of Brockway on Duck Creek and ran as many as 20,000 head. At first all southern were trailed overland and it took the better part of a summer to complete the trail. After completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1884 these cattle were shipped north by rail to Montana and then trailed. Many deep trails along Redwater Valley are mute evidence of roundup wagons and early day travel.
The Homestead Law in 1862 gave the "squatters"right to file claim on the land which they occupied. "Dry-farming" became an important factor after 1900. Thousands of people of every class, color and creed came filed on homesteads. The peak of this movement was reached in 1910 and they settled in tarpaper shacks, sod houses, dugouts, etc. Many of the early settlers were the same cowboys who once rode and worked for the big ranches. The first Post Office opened in 1906. During the dry years 1917-1923, many of these homesteaders were forced to move out and the drought of 1935-1936 season also forced many to abandon their farms and move elsewhere.
After completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Glendive to Circle and Brockway in June 1928 several tracts of NP land were sold and a new group of people moved in with modern farm equipment. A big celebration was held with a parade, pageant of Indians, trappers, stage coaches, prairie schooners, etc. with an estimate of 10,000 people on hand to take in the event. The dry 30's with hot, dry weather and very little rain, grasshoppers and low prices caused another exodus of settlers. Many went to work at the Fort Peck Dam which was under construction.
After the townsite was plotted by the Great Northern Railroad, town lots were sold , and the entire town moved to the present location in 1914. At this time Circle was on the proposed line of the Great Northern from Sidney to Lewistown, but the line did not materialize. Norther Pacific Railroad built their line out of Glendive in 1928. The town is located on Section 10, Township 19, Range 48 and by 1919 there were 3 churches, 2 banks, 2 rooming houses, 2 newspapers, 2 doctors, 2 garages, a steam-heated hotel, several stores and 5 lawyers. Circle was incorporated in 1929 and soon thereafter the municipal light plant was established. Water System was completed in 1937 and sewer system in 1939. In 1930 the population was 519, in 1937 over 700, by 1960 it was 1,120 and at present (1973) 964.
The farm program encouraged restoration of rough and other land to grass, farming methods changed, rains became more plentiful, prices improved and McCone County produced high protein wheat and good barley in abundance. The water conservation program began its work in 1935 and is carrying out methods of water conservation.
In 1950 oil was discovered in the county and there has been activity in this field since.
Circle has modern bowling lanes, bank, implement and automobile dealers, adequate hotel and motel accommodations, trailer home parking and laundromats. Also swimming pool, golf course, tennis court, ball diamonds, multi-purpose park, picnic area with shelter and overnight camping and a play area for small children.
McCone County is a prairie country with lots of wide open spaces - beautiful for those who don't want to be "fenced-in".
So that you may better appreciate our area, our fine Museum has a wide variety of displays which you are sure to enjoy.
The climate is quite pleasant, daytime summer temperature is 85-95 degrees with winter temperatures in the 20's with more than 300 sunny days and low humidity. Average yearly rainfall is 10 - 14 inches with an average growing season from 90 - 120 days. The elevation at Circle 2,424. McCone County covers some 1,660,160 acres of which 265,000 are federally owned.
by: Polly Wischmann
Eons ago the mighty dinosaur and the lush tropical vegetation grew and thrived on this very land. Coal, oil fossilized bones leaves and bulbs are proof.
A few spears and points of the ancient Folsom and Yuma man have been found in this area. There is a medicine wheel in the northern part of the county for us to ponder over. Scattered about the prairie and at the buffalo jumps are more recent Indian artifacts including, hammers, hide scrapers, awls, mano and metate (which are grinding tools).
The fur trapper and the buffalo hunter were next in the passing parade. Here the last million buffalo were slaughtered for their hides.
In 1882 the Texas longhorn appeared on the scene. Capital Syndicate (XIT), who owned 10 counties in Texas, ran cattle around the Redwater River until 1915. The headquarters of Home Land and Cattle Co. (N---N) was in the northern part of the county. They ran as high as 50,000 head in this section of the state. The company was owned by Niedringhaus Bros. of St.Louis, Mo. who made their first million in the granite ware industry. Other big outfits were the Pioneer Cattle Co. (CK), J.S. Day (Round Top T), Hubbard and Sampson (HS) and, of course, Mabry Cattle Corp. whose headquarters were on Redwater about a mile south of Circle. Mabry's cattle were branded with a plain circle and hence it became known as the Circle Ranch. They left, but the name stayed. The ranch site was used as sheep shearing pens, later a saloon appeared and left, and in 1905 Pete Rorvik started a little general store. Circle moved to its present location when the Great Northern platted this as a townsite in 1914.
In 1910 the homesteaders came and settled on about every half section of land. Every class, color, and creed came and settled in tarpaper shacks, sod houses, dugouts, etc., but many left again after the drought and hard winter of 1919. In 1919 this county was created and named after George McCone, who was senator of Dawson County.
In 1928, there was another influx of settlers who came when the Northern Pacific built a branch line to Brockway.
In the 1950's oil was discovered in the county and there has been activity in that field since.
In the last 20 years there has been much building in the county and in Circle. Circle has a new court house, hospital, post office, bank building, bowling alley, two new schools, REA building, telephone building, printing office, churches, Masonic Temple, VFW club, Memorial building with a small museum, and several new service stations and store buildings.
Circle and McCone County
Millions of years ago, the mighty dinosaur and lush tropical vegetation grew and thrived on this very land. Proof of this are the fossilized bones, leaves, bulbs, and throughout the county in different locations one can find plant and animal remains of different periods of geological time.
A few spears and points of ancient Folsom and Yuma man have been found. There are several tepee rings and a large ceremonial ring in the northern part of the county. Also scattered about the prairie and at the buffalo jumps are more recent Indian artifacts including points, hammers, scrapers, awls, etc.
A stone memorial on Ash Creek, 16 miles south of Brockway marks the sight of a minor skirmish the U.S. Army had with Sitting Bull and his Sioux warriors on December 18, 1876, where 122 lodges and over 500 mules and horses were captured.
The fur trapper and the buffalo were next in the passing parade and over a million buffaloes were slaughtered for their hides in this general area.
Eastern Montana is a region of high plains and few trees and discouraged explorations and discovery. Treeless regions wee of small worth to early pioneers and the hostility of the Indians discouraged settlement of this region.
In days past, McCone County contained several large cattle, sheep, and horse outfits. As a result of this heritage it is rich in history relating to this industry.
In 1882 the Texas Longhorn appeared on the scene. Capital Syndicate (XIT) who owned 10 counties in Texas, ran cattle around the Redwater River until 1915. The Home Land and Cattle Co. (N--N) Headquarters was in the northern part of the county and ran as high as 100,000 head. This company owned by the Niedringhaus Brothers of St.Louis, Mo. made their first million in the granite ware industry. Other large outfits were the Pioneer Cattle Co. (CK) around 45,000 head and the Hubbard and Sampson (HS) headquarters halfway up Redwater sold an average of 35,000 beeves a year. Charlie Russell, the famous Montana artist is supposed to have worked on this ranch. The Scott and Robertson Co. branded with Hat X ran cattle and horses on Timber Creek from around 1903 to 1912. J.S Day Co. branded with the Round Topped T and ranged on Redwater. The Mabry Cattle Corp. also headquartered on Redwater about a mile south of Circle. Mabry's cattle were branded with a plain circle and hence it became known as the Circle Ranch. The town of Circle was named after this brand. This ranch site was later used as sheep shearing pens, then a saloon appeared and in 1905 Pete Rorvick started a little general store. The largest sheep ranch was that of Tom Cotter who ranged south of Brockway on Duck Creek and ran as many as 20,000 head. At first all southern were trailed overland and it took the better part of a summer to complete the trail. After completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1884 these cattle were shipped north by rail to Montana and then trailed. Many deep trails along Redwater Valley are mute evidence of roundup wagons and early day travel.
The Homestead Law in 1862 gave the "squatters"right to file claim on the land which they occupied. "Dry-farming" became an important factor after 1900. Thousands of people of every class, color and creed came filed on homesteads. The peak of this movement was reached in 1910 and they settled in tarpaper shacks, sod houses, dugouts, etc. Many of the early settlers were the same cowboys who once rode and worked for the big ranches. The first Post Office opened in 1906. During the dry years 1917-1923, many of these homesteaders were forced to move out and the drought of 1935-1936 season also forced many to abandon their farms and move elsewhere.
After completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Glendive to Circle and Brockway in June 1928 several tracts of NP land were sold and a new group of people moved in with modern farm equipment. A big celebration was held with a parade, pageant of Indians, trappers, stage coaches, prairie schooners, etc. with an estimate of 10,000 people on hand to take in the event. The dry 30's with hot, dry weather and very little rain, grasshoppers and low prices caused another exodus of settlers. Many went to work at the Fort Peck Dam which was under construction.
After the townsite was plotted by the Great Northern Railroad, town lots were sold , and the entire town moved to the present location in 1914. At this time Circle was on the proposed line of the Great Northern from Sidney to Lewistown, but the line did not materialize. Norther Pacific Railroad built their line out of Glendive in 1928. The town is located on Section 10, Township 19, Range 48 and by 1919 there were 3 churches, 2 banks, 2 rooming houses, 2 newspapers, 2 doctors, 2 garages, a steam-heated hotel, several stores and 5 lawyers. Circle was incorporated in 1929 and soon thereafter the municipal light plant was established. Water System was completed in 1937 and sewer system in 1939. In 1930 the population was 519, in 1937 over 700, by 1960 it was 1,120 and at present (1973) 964.
The farm program encouraged restoration of rough and other land to grass, farming methods changed, rains became more plentiful, prices improved and McCone County produced high protein wheat and good barley in abundance. The water conservation program began its work in 1935 and is carrying out methods of water conservation.
In 1950 oil was discovered in the county and there has been activity in this field since.
Circle has modern bowling lanes, bank, implement and automobile dealers, adequate hotel and motel accommodations, trailer home parking and laundromats. Also swimming pool, golf course, tennis court, ball diamonds, multi-purpose park, picnic area with shelter and overnight camping and a play area for small children.
McCone County is a prairie country with lots of wide open spaces - beautiful for those who don't want to be "fenced-in".
So that you may better appreciate our area, our fine Museum has a wide variety of displays which you are sure to enjoy.
The climate is quite pleasant, daytime summer temperature is 85-95 degrees with winter temperatures in the 20's with more than 300 sunny days and low humidity. Average yearly rainfall is 10 - 14 inches with an average growing season from 90 - 120 days. The elevation at Circle 2,424. McCone County covers some 1,660,160 acres of which 265,000 are federally owned.