"In Years Gone By ... and More"

In 1964, as a Centennial Project, The Cottonwood Home Demonstration Club took on a project to gather information about the early homesteading days in the Simpson and Cottonwood areas. The book was titled "In the Years Gone By." The Introduction page includes a paragraph that explains the reason for compiling the book: "With each year that passes, we lose more of the old-timers, and it was our desire to print some of the tales and woes of the early homesteaders, while there were still some among us to recall those pioneering days. For we realize that much of this information has already slipped by us with the passing years."

Homesteading began with President Abraham Lincoln signing the Homestead Act in 1862. Originally, homesteaders had to be 21 years of age, male or female, as long as they were the head of their household, build a house and stay for five years. Settlers from all walks of life including newly arrived immigrants, farmers without land from the East, single women and former slaves came to meet the challenge of "proving up" and keeping this "free land." A total filing fee of $18 was the only money required, but sacrifice and hard work exacted a different price from the hopeful settlers.

Cottonwood is an area located about 23 miles northwest of Havre, Montana along "The Wildhorse Trail," called Highway #232 by the state. Simpson is farther northwest about 40 miles from Havre and five miles south of the Canadian border. The majority of the homesteaders started coming in 1910 and by 1914 most of the land had been claimed. By that time, the available acreage had been increased to 320 acres and the proving up period was three years. Of the estimated 700 homesteaders who came to the Cottonwood and Simpson areas, within 10 short years later, probably only one-tenth were still living of the original land. And it has diminished with each passing year.

All of the original homesteaders have passed on and most of the homesteader's children are deceased, also. It's really only the third generation that is left to tell the stories. When any of the homesteader's grandchildren meet up at social functions there are always the same questions. "Where is ... ?" Who was .... ?" When did ... ?" And "If we don't write this information down for our children and grandchildren .... who is?"

A group of willing workers met in November and again in January to make a plan for updating the book. The original book has just over 100 homesteader names. These were divided amongst the group according to relationship or personal connections. Initial members of the group are Arleen Morse Rice, Leroy Keller, Pete Velk, Julie Verploegen, Elaine Morse, Don Greytak, Sandy Patera Spinner and Ila Whaley McClenahan. They have set a deadline date of May 1, 2022, for compiling the information.

What will be included in the updated book?

• The original stories.

• Any information or stories that were not included in the original.

• Information on the second generation or children of the homesteaders.

• Brief history of the third generation or grandchildren.

• Although dates are good, and we want those, the group hopes family legacies will be shared.

Research is also being done on the churches, the schools, an anti-horse theft group, "Long" George Francis and the bootleggers. Long George Francis and the bootleggers were mentioned in many of the original stories.

People with any questions or information they would like to share can contact:

Ila McClenahan

43363 Rd. 140 N., Havre, MT 59501

406-398-5330, home phone; 406-945-3222, cellphone; email [email protected]