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PIONEERS OF THE BOZEMAN COUNTRY GATHER IN ANNUAL CONVENTION Society Was Organized in 1803 and Walter Cooper Was First Presi dent to be Eligible to Member ship One Must Have Come to Mon tana 60 Years Ago. By Mrs. E. L. Houston The Pioneer Society of Gallatin county met for its twenty-ninth con vention in Bozeman on Washington’s birthday. As the years go by the death roll of members records the ab sence of some who have helped to celebrate the event the previous year, but this fact only seems to draw more closely together in the bond of friend ship those remaining pioneers, who braved the dangers of the plains nearly 60 years ago. Much of the pleasures of these social gatherings to the pioneers is the opportunity to renew the friendships of early days and talk over the experiences of their first years in the wild west. The Pioneers’ Society of Gallatin county is an organization distinct in itself, as there is no other organiza tion in the state so exclusive in its membership requirements. To be eli gible to membership, a man or wom an must have come to what is now Montana on or before December 31, 1864. When the Society of Montana Pioneers was organized, the require ment was similar to this, but the so ciety finally responded to the demand for extension of the time limit, and it was fixed at December 31, 1868. A clause in the constitution of the Gal latin county organization provides that upon the decease of any member of this society, his or her eldest son or daughter shall be eligible to mem bership. This was inserted to pro vide for the perpetuation of the so ciety after the real pioneers have died. Organized in 1893 The society was organized Novem ber 25, 1893, Walter Cooper being elected as first president. The other officers chosen at that time were George D. Thomas, vice president; J. D. McCammon, secretary-treasurer, and W. W. Alderson, corresponding secretary; these, with Charles An ceney, James H. Gallop, W. Morgan and W. F. Sloan, formed the execu tive committee. Mr. Cooper is the only one of these first officers still living. Mr. Cooper has twice served as president, and has served also as president of the Society of Montana Pioneers. The Presidents Those who have served as presi dents of the Pioneers’ Society of Gal latin county, in order of service are as follows: Walter Cooper, C. H. Waterman, J. H. Gallop, W. W. Ald erson, John T. Ingram, A. L. Corbly, Joseph M. Lindley, J. D. McCammian, Charles P. Blakeley, Henry Heeb, Mark D. Ledbeater, John McDonnell, Nelson Story, Thomas Lewis, Thomas Reese, Sanford Ruffner, Walter Coop er, W. D. Belles, John Work, Mrs. Fred Axtell, Mrs. W. J. Beall, Mrs. Fred Axtell and the present incum bent, N. P. Evans. Of those who have served at the head of the organization, Walter Cooper, John McDonnell, Nelson Story, Mrs. W. J. Beall and W. D. Belles are living in Bozeman, Thomas Lewis is making his home in Califor nia, and Mrs. Fred Axtell is spending the winter in St. Louis. All the others have passed away. First Reunion The first annual social reunion of the pioneers and their families after the county organization was formed, was held at the opera house in Boze man, Feb. 22, 1894, an important feature of the program being the celebration of the golden wedding an niversary of two popular pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. William Rea. Appro priate ceremonies were conducted by the Rev. Davis Willson, assisted by the Rev. L. B. Stateler, and the Rev. Frank B. Lewis, the latter, who is still a resident of Bozeman, having since been made an honorary mem ber of the Pioneers’ Society of Galla tin county. The other two ministers are deceased. An interesting program was rendered at this meeting, includ ing an able address by the persident, Walter Cooper, music by the Silver Cornet band and the Choral Union and other numbers. A banquet was served and a grand ball concluded the entertainment, many friends of the pioneers being invited to this affair. It is interesting to note that the only daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Rea, Mrs. William James, is now living in Bozeman. Her daugh ter, Mrs. Charles L. Anceney, whose husband is one of the young pioneers, Mrs. FE. L. Houston
Newspaper Details
Choteau Montanan
Choteau, Montana, US
Fri, Mar 03, 1922
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Calli S.
USA 12 Jun 2026
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