BIOGRAPHIES

FRANK WILSON

FRANK WILSON. - One of the most extensive ranchers and stock dealers in Sweet Grass county, where he owns one of the finest ranch properties in the state, is Mr. Wilson, who merits specific consideration as one of the progressive men of Montana.  He is a native of Oswego county, N. Y., born on September 18, 1859, the son of James and Rebecca (Madell) Wilson, natives of Wales and Ireland.  They had five sons and five daughters.  James Wilson emigrated to the United States in the early 'fifties, locating in Oswego county; in 1864 he removed to Canada and followed farming until his death.  Frank Wilson remained with his grandfather in Ontario until 1868, when he returned to Oswego, and was for four years a driver on the canal.  In 1872 he went to Michigan and engaged in lumbering until 1881, when he started for Montana, coming by rail to Forsyth, Custer county, then the terminus of the road, and traveling over the state for two years, seeking a favorable location.

In 1883 he located in Big Timber, and was variously employed for three years, then passed a year at Fort Custer, returning to Big Timber and locating a ranch on Devil creek, where he engaged in raising horses until 1891.  He made Big Timber his headquarters for two years, continuing in the stock business, and in 1893 he purchased the James Deboid ranch on Boulder creek.  In 1898 he traded this property to C. O. Hathaway for stock, renting of him his ranch on Big Timber creek, where he now makes his home, having 1,400 acres of valuable and eligibly located land.  A large irrigation ditch was commenced in 1881 by David Riffle, and Mr. Wilson completed it.  This carries 400 inches of water, being one mile in length.  He has also completed another ditch, conveying 600 inches of water, more than a mile in length, and he has 250 acres under effective irrigation and devoted to alfalfa.  He has also begun a third ditch, on the west side of the river.  This will carry 600 inches of water, will be a mile and one-half in length, and afford irrigation to more than 400 acres.

Mr. Wilson has recently disposed of about 2,000 sheep and retains about an equal number.  He usually buys stock in the fall, which he winters and disposes of in March, securing by this method more frequent and satisfactory returns.  He handles shorthorn cattle, having more than 100 head, the majority of them being thoroughbreds.  He is very enthusiastic on this subject, exercising great care and discrimination, and has done much to improve the grades of cattle produced in his section.  When he has completed his third ditch he will add largely to his stock, and will figure as one of the most extensive dealers in the county, still following his system of feeding and selling, rather than raising or breeding.  Mr. Wilson owns a good dwelling and eight town lots in Big Timber, and he has some fine specimens of Percherons.  He has one horse, named Brigham, which he secured as a colt in 1887, now retired from active duty, and he states emphatically that this worthy old favorite is not for sale.  In the very prosperous condition surrounding his home, Mr. Wilson must certainly enjoy life.

Source: Transcription from the book, Progressive Men of the State of Montana, author and publication date unknown, page 1073, located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 27 June 2022.

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