CITIES & TOWNS

Big Timber

Big Timber is located on the main line of the Northern Pacific railroad, just west of the geographical center of the county.  This location made Big Timber a natural business center that drew traders from great distances.  The town was named after the old Big Timber stage station at the mouth of Big Timber creek.  Big Timber came into existence at its present location in 1883.  During the late 1880's the population of the town never exceeded 200 residents.  However, it became noted as one of the largest wool markets in the United States.  C. T. Busha and Joseph Hooper established a wool house in 1885.  Another early business in the town was a meat market, started by Daniel Hogan.  The first church services were held in the town in 1884, by Rev. Alfred Brown.  Mrs. Ellen DeWitt Hatch formed a Sunday School, which she led for a number of years.  In 1891 Jacob Halverson erected the Grand Hotel, and the Oxford Hotel was built by W. L. Shanks.  The First National Bank was opened the same year.  In 1896 the Pioneer Milling Company, a flour mill, and the Big Timber Electric Light and Power Company were established.  By 1900 the population had grown to 438 individuals.  Big Timber was incorporated in 1902.

Source: Abstract from the book, An Illustrated History of the Yellowstone Valley, published in 1907; located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 19 June 2022.

Grey Cliff

Ten miles southeast of Big Timber is the post office and station of Grey Cliff.  The town came into existence as a railroad station in 1894.  Prior to the ceding of a tract of land by the Crows in 1892, this part of the county was on the reservation.  In 1894 a surveying party, led by Harry Ralph, was charged with locating depot grounds for the Northern Pacific railroad along the former Crow land.  One of the points selected by the surveying party was Grey Cliff.

Source: Abstract from the book, An Illustrated History of the Yellowstone Valley, published in 1907; located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 19 June 2022.

Howie

Howie is the name of a country post office located on Sweet Grass Creek, twelve miles northeast of Big Timber.  The town was settled in 1877, making it the oldest settled community in Sweet Grass County.  In the early days a post office was established near the mouth of the creek.  A school was established here in 1881.  In 1886 a Norwegian church was organized with services being held at the school.

Source: Abstract from the book, An Illustrated History of the Yellowstone Valley, published in 1907; located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 19 June 2022.

McLeod

McLeod is the name of a post office on Boulder Creek, twenty miles southwest of Big Timber.  It is on the stage and mail route between Big Timber and Contract.  The post office was established in 1887, and was named in honor of W. F. McLeod, who came to the Boulder valley from Oregon in 1882.

Source: Abstract from the book, An Illustrated History of the Yellowstone Valley, published in 1907; located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 19 June 2022.

Melville

The second largest town in Sweet Grass County is Melville.  It is located on Sweet Grass Creek, twenty miles north of Big Timber.  The town was founded in 1882, when H. O. Hickox opened a store there and named the place Melville in honor of Lieutenant Melville, of Arctic fame.  By 1888, Melville consisted of a  saloon, school, church, general merchandise store, sawmill, blacksmith shop and harness shop.  The townsite was platted by Mr. Hickox on November 21, 1904, and since then several residences have been built.

Source: Abstract from the book, An Illustrated History of the Yellowstone Valley, published in 1907; located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 19 June 2022.

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