Individual Details
Thomas Graham
(9 Mar 1870 - 27 Jan 1940)
The Jordan Tribune, 1 Feb 1940, p1
"Tommy" Graham Goes Over the Great Divide
The community was saddened to learn of the death of Thomas Graham, which
occurred at his home in Jorday Saturday, Jan. 27. Mr. Graham had been in
failing health for the past year or more, and was bedridden most of the time
during the past several weeks.
Thomas Graham was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 9, 1870. He came to
American with his mother in 1880, his father having died a short time before.
After arriving at New York City, he came by rail to Junction City, east of
Billings on the Yellowstone river, and from there to old Fort Maginnis,
northeast of Lewistown.
Soon after his arrival in the Basin Mr. Graham worked in the old Spotted Horse
gold mine, near the present ghost town of Maiden, and in the spring of 1887 he
was range herder for McNamara & Marlow. He was later employed by Thomas
Cruse's N-bar outfit as representative of Oscar Stevens (2-bars) in the cattle
roundup. He was also employed by other large cattle ranchers in what is now
Fergus county. In 1889 he was again employed by the N-bar to wrangle saddle
horses. He served in the dual capacity of "rep" and "nighthawk" at the going
wages of $40 a month with board and saddle horses included.
Mr. Graham often spoke of his experiences on the range. Until as late as 1895,
most of what is now Garfield county was generally considered N-bar range. A
joint roundup, with N-bar-N, Corcle-bar, LU-bar, RL (reverse) and other
outfits, large and small, would usually start late in May at the head waters of
Big Dry creek and work down stream. Camps were established as they worked down
at the mouth of every sizeable tributary stream. At each camp they would
separate the cattle as to brands, and each outfit would herd their own stock.
The roundup would thus move down the Big Dry as far as the mouth of the Little
Dry, where a final roundup would be held, each outfit returning their cattle to
their own range. Small parties with pack horses would make branch roundups
into the Missouri breaks. There were a few buffalo here at that time, but Mr.
Graham said he never saw any. Roundups usually continued throughout the summer
until late in the fall. Spring roundups were for the purpose of branding,
etc.; in the fall for selecting beef for shipment to market. Unless unually
large, no animal was considered for beef until it was four years old or over.
In 1896 Mr. Graham was range rider for the DHS outfit, who were running 3,000
grade Hereford cattle north of Shelby. These cattle had been shipped in from
Nevada.
Mr. Graham related an incident of 200 renegade steers which broke out of the
railroad pens as they were preparing to load them for shipment. These steers
were referred to as "renegades" because they had escaped from roundups for
three or four years. Some Indians, wearing bright-colored blankets, climbed up
on the corral, and that scared the steers and caused them to break out of the
pen. It took cowboys three days to recover them.
In 1900 "Tommy," as he was called by his friends, quit punching cows, as, he
thought for good. He often said that a cowboy in those days had only three
ambitions-- to become a sheriff or deputy, to become the proprietor of a
saloon, or to run a livery stable. He realized this ambition in 1901 when he
purchased an interest in the "Damfine" saloon at Grass Range. Through a
misprint the name appeared on their stationery as "Damefino." He sold his
interest in the saloon in March, 1905, and the following year bought a livery
stable in Lewistown.
It was in that city, on Jan. 6, 1903, that he married Miss Pearl Blagg, whose
former home was in Dayton, Ohio.
Some years later he moved to Roundup where he again engaged in the saloonbusiness. In 1913 he decided to go into the cattle business, and chose
Garfield county as a field of operations because he believed it would always be
an open range. However, he arrived only a few months in advance of the first
wave of homesteaders and "squatters." He settled on a place about 39 miles
northwest of Jordan. His mother came out here a short time later and also
homesteaded. He purchased 55 head of two year old Shorthorn roan Durham
heifers at $60 and a registered two year old bull of the same breed for $125, a
dual purpose strain of cattle, desirable for both milk and beef. He intended
to build up a large herd but the surrounding country was homesteaded so rapidly
that practically all of his range was taken up by the time he had built up a
herd of 100 head. He sold off his cattle in 1928 and devoted his time to
farming.
Early last fall the family moved to Jordan in order that he might be accessible
to a doctor.
"Tommy" passed into the great beyond at 11 o'clock last Saturday. A large
concourse of sorrowing friends assembled at Community hall in Jordan Monday
afternoon as a final tribute to his memory. The Rev. T. L. Kurtz, pastor of
the Lutheran church conducted the service, following which the body was taken
to Pioneer cemetery for burial.
Mr. Graham is survived by his wife, one son, Thomas L. of Jordan; two
daughters, Mrs. Grace [Frank] Foster, and Mrs. Pearl [Elmer] Linebarger, of
Jordan.
Mr. Graham's friends recall many incidents in his life which were greatly to
his credit. His kindly disposition and loyalty won him a high place in the
regard of those who knew him best. Sympathy is extended to the family.
"Tommy" Graham Goes Over the Great Divide
The community was saddened to learn of the death of Thomas Graham, which
occurred at his home in Jorday Saturday, Jan. 27. Mr. Graham had been in
failing health for the past year or more, and was bedridden most of the time
during the past several weeks.
Thomas Graham was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 9, 1870. He came to
American with his mother in 1880, his father having died a short time before.
After arriving at New York City, he came by rail to Junction City, east of
Billings on the Yellowstone river, and from there to old Fort Maginnis,
northeast of Lewistown.
Soon after his arrival in the Basin Mr. Graham worked in the old Spotted Horse
gold mine, near the present ghost town of Maiden, and in the spring of 1887 he
was range herder for McNamara & Marlow. He was later employed by Thomas
Cruse's N-bar outfit as representative of Oscar Stevens (2-bars) in the cattle
roundup. He was also employed by other large cattle ranchers in what is now
Fergus county. In 1889 he was again employed by the N-bar to wrangle saddle
horses. He served in the dual capacity of "rep" and "nighthawk" at the going
wages of $40 a month with board and saddle horses included.
Mr. Graham often spoke of his experiences on the range. Until as late as 1895,
most of what is now Garfield county was generally considered N-bar range. A
joint roundup, with N-bar-N, Corcle-bar, LU-bar, RL (reverse) and other
outfits, large and small, would usually start late in May at the head waters of
Big Dry creek and work down stream. Camps were established as they worked down
at the mouth of every sizeable tributary stream. At each camp they would
separate the cattle as to brands, and each outfit would herd their own stock.
The roundup would thus move down the Big Dry as far as the mouth of the Little
Dry, where a final roundup would be held, each outfit returning their cattle to
their own range. Small parties with pack horses would make branch roundups
into the Missouri breaks. There were a few buffalo here at that time, but Mr.
Graham said he never saw any. Roundups usually continued throughout the summer
until late in the fall. Spring roundups were for the purpose of branding,
etc.; in the fall for selecting beef for shipment to market. Unless unually
large, no animal was considered for beef until it was four years old or over.
In 1896 Mr. Graham was range rider for the DHS outfit, who were running 3,000
grade Hereford cattle north of Shelby. These cattle had been shipped in from
Nevada.
Mr. Graham related an incident of 200 renegade steers which broke out of the
railroad pens as they were preparing to load them for shipment. These steers
were referred to as "renegades" because they had escaped from roundups for
three or four years. Some Indians, wearing bright-colored blankets, climbed up
on the corral, and that scared the steers and caused them to break out of the
pen. It took cowboys three days to recover them.
In 1900 "Tommy," as he was called by his friends, quit punching cows, as, he
thought for good. He often said that a cowboy in those days had only three
ambitions-- to become a sheriff or deputy, to become the proprietor of a
saloon, or to run a livery stable. He realized this ambition in 1901 when he
purchased an interest in the "Damfine" saloon at Grass Range. Through a
misprint the name appeared on their stationery as "Damefino." He sold his
interest in the saloon in March, 1905, and the following year bought a livery
stable in Lewistown.
It was in that city, on Jan. 6, 1903, that he married Miss Pearl Blagg, whose
former home was in Dayton, Ohio.
Some years later he moved to Roundup where he again engaged in the saloonbusiness. In 1913 he decided to go into the cattle business, and chose
Garfield county as a field of operations because he believed it would always be
an open range. However, he arrived only a few months in advance of the first
wave of homesteaders and "squatters." He settled on a place about 39 miles
northwest of Jordan. His mother came out here a short time later and also
homesteaded. He purchased 55 head of two year old Shorthorn roan Durham
heifers at $60 and a registered two year old bull of the same breed for $125, a
dual purpose strain of cattle, desirable for both milk and beef. He intended
to build up a large herd but the surrounding country was homesteaded so rapidly
that practically all of his range was taken up by the time he had built up a
herd of 100 head. He sold off his cattle in 1928 and devoted his time to
farming.
Early last fall the family moved to Jordan in order that he might be accessible
to a doctor.
"Tommy" passed into the great beyond at 11 o'clock last Saturday. A large
concourse of sorrowing friends assembled at Community hall in Jordan Monday
afternoon as a final tribute to his memory. The Rev. T. L. Kurtz, pastor of
the Lutheran church conducted the service, following which the body was taken
to Pioneer cemetery for burial.
Mr. Graham is survived by his wife, one son, Thomas L. of Jordan; two
daughters, Mrs. Grace [Frank] Foster, and Mrs. Pearl [Elmer] Linebarger, of
Jordan.
Mr. Graham's friends recall many incidents in his life which were greatly to
his credit. His kindly disposition and loyalty won him a high place in the
regard of those who knew him best. Sympathy is extended to the family.
Events
| Birth | 9 Mar 1870 | Glasgow, Scotland | |||
| Marriage | 3 Jan 1903 | Lewistown, Montana - Pearl B. Blagg | |||
| Death | 27 Jan 1940 | Jordan, Garfield, Montana | |||
| Burial | 29 Jan 1940 | Jordan, Garfield, Montana, Pioneer Cemetery |
Families
| Spouse | Pearl B. Blagg (1882 - 1966) |
| Child | Thomas L. Graham (1904 - 1969) |
| Child | Pearl Graham |
| Child | Grace Graham |