Montana History Wiki / Government and Law

Counties

The first Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Montana set the boundaries for nine counties in the Territory in 1865. These counties were Missoula, Deer Lodge, Beaver Head, Madison, Jefferson, Edgerton (later Lewis and Clark), Gallatin, Choteau, and Big Horn. Big Horn County was attached to Gallatin County for legislative and admnistrative purposes. Big Horn County covered almost 1/3 of the state, stretching from Canada to Wyoming. By 1889 this county had been divided into Dawson and Custer counties. Big Horn county ceased to exist until 1913, when a new Big Horn County was created. (Acts, Resolutions and Memorials of the Territory of Montana Passed by the First Legislative Assembly, 1865, p528-530; Roberta Cheney, Names on the Face of Montana, p22.)

The first lawsuit in Montana was held at Hell Gate in March, 1862, an action brought by "Tin Cup" Joe against Baron O'Keefe. A row broke out between the litigants while the trial was taking place. Guns flashed-and the court and jury took to their heels. "Tin Cup" had the better of the suit --or the heavy artillery. (Firsts; vertical file)

The first session of the Montana Legislature was held at Bannack, Montana on December 12, 1864. (Firsts; vertical file)

The first law signed by Territorial Governor Sidney Edgerton, and therefore the first laws passed in Montana, was an act to incorporate the Missouri River Rocky Mountain Wagon Road and Telegraph Company. It was signed November 27, 1864. (Firsts; vertical file)

The laws of the Montana Territory were first printed in 1866 under the supervision of Edward R. Neally by authority of Acting Governor Thomas Francis Meagher who was empowered by the legislative assembly on January 31, 1865, to have the laws printed. (Firsts; vertical file)

Hell Gate in Missoula County was establisehd in 1862 as a part of Washington Territory. This post office was in existence until 1866. (Montana Post Offices & Postmasters, Dennis J. Lutz, 1986)

The first public building erected by the State of Montana was turned over to the governor in March of 1894. The reform school, located in Miles City, was erected, under the provisions of an act approved March 1, 1893, by a board appointed by the governor consisting of J.W. Strevell, C.R. Middleton and H.B. Wiley. (New Northwest, Deer Lodge, March 24, 1894)