Hide Article Text (OCR)
FORREST SMART AND NATHANIEL GODFREY WERE WELL-KNOWN SETTLERS IN REGION (B GRACE STONE COATES) ‘There figures in current social and business ‘news of the Twodot sec tion the name of Forrest Smart pres ent representative of a name notable among Musselshell valley pioneers. Mr. Smart lives on the ranch estab lished by Oscar G. Smart as a home stead in 1879. A local history of this region published at the turn of the century has this to say of the Smart properties: : 9 “Any stranger making his initial trip down the Musselshell valley, midway between Harlowton and Twedot, cannot help marveling at the beauty of a home scene at the ‘Pioneer’ ranch, whose buildings nestle among cottonwoods and willows, while the Musselshell river makes a grand background to the whole picture. This is the pioneer ranch of the Musselshell, first located by Oscar G. Smart in 1979 when he had the entire valley to chose from. “Previous to casting his lot on the Musselshell, Mr. Smart was a mining man, well known in many of the pio neer camps of the state, among them Alder, Last Chance and Emigrant guides. His first trip into the state ‘was made by boat up the Missouri river in the early “70's, “after securing himself this ideal home in 1884, Mr. Smart returned east, and, in order to complete his home comforts, secured Miss Alice Vining of Windsor, Maine, for his wife. She soon accompanied him to Montana, “After building up one of the finest home ranches in Meagher county, Mr. Smart died in 1899, leaving his estate to his widow. The ranch consisted of 12,000 acres of fine, cultivated land, well stocked and well watered, very amply supplied with buildings for all its requirements. One son was born to this union, in 1885, who now is re ceiving his education at Faribault, Minn. Mrs. Alice Smart has proven herself a woman of rare business talent, and no one would think this well kept ranch, with its thousands of acres, all tilled ,and everything running in per fect order, was under the dictation, care and judgment of a woman.” After the death of her husband, Mrs. Smart became the wife of Andrew D. Nichols. Her son, Forrest Smart, grad uated from the Shattock Military academy, Faribault, Minn., but return ed to the ranch to take charge there rather than accept a commission in the ‘United States army. At one time the ranch was stocked with 10,000 sheep, 3,000 head of cattle and 100 horses. When Mr. Smart enlisted for service’ during the world war, he sold off much of his livestock, and leased the property for three years. Mr. Smart married in 1908 Zelina B. Robertson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Robertson of Twodat, where Mr. Robertson had a stage line. They are parents of a large family, its members now grown and established in homes of their own. Not less well-known than the Smart “Pioneer” ranch is the Nate Godfrey ranch, long lost to the owner whose name it retains. Nathaniel Godfrey was one of the leading sheep growers in Meagher county, who came to Hay maker creek, five miles north of Two dot, to build himself a spacious home. He was born Aug. 19, 1859, at Cherry field, Maine, a descendant of one of the very old American families. He came to Montana in 1877 and tended sheep in Smith river valley. He returned to Maine, married Georgiana M. Twomb ley, and returned to Montana with his bride. He purchased a homestead of 160 acres and the original water rights on Haymaker creek. By industry he ex panded his ranch to 17,000 acres, with improvements to the extent of $40, 000. The expansion of his ranch is told in his first, and later, shipments of hay; the first, 15 tons; that of 1905, 500 tons. ‘Though not one of the Godfrey name remains on the old ranch, it still goes by the name, and older residents of the section remember the beautiful home and lavish hospitality of the original owners.
Newspaper Details
Fort Peck Press
Fort Peck, Montana, US
Thu, Aug 01, 1935
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Mike R.
CA 01 Aug 2026
Other Publications Near Fort Peck, Montana
Fort Peck Press
