This Month in Montana History: July

July 4th, 1803, 219 years ago: Under President Thomas Jefferson, America purchases 530,000,000 acres of land from France in the Louisiana Purchase. Although negotiations had been taking place months prior and the official territory was purchased on July 1st, it was first announced to the public on the 4th, coinciding with the 27th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is also worth noting that France only controlled a small portion of this land, with most of it still belonging to Native tribes.

July 4th, 1899, 123 years ago: Construction begins on the Montana State Capitol building in Helena. The design of the building was initially chosen through a competition, and while a winner was chosen, plans were halted after the only visible signs of effort after two years was an unexplained $40,000 debt. The building then was handed to Iowan architects Charles Bell and John Kent, who designed the center portion in the Neoclassical style to reflect the “American Renaissance” of the late nineteenth century.

July 6th, 1871, 151 years ago: Henry G. Rodgers is born in Illinois. Rodgers would serve as District Judge for the Fifth Judicial District of Montana from 1924-31, and again from 1936-1949. Most significantly during his terms was that he set the eligibility, duties, and privileges of women jurors in Montana.  

July 10th, 1905, 117 years ago: Colonel W. F. Sanders passes away in Helena at age 72 due to complications from cancer. Sanders served in the Civil War and came to Montana to recover from injuries sustained in battle. Here, he became a Candidate for Delegate to the United States Congress from Montana Territory in 1864, 1867, 1880, and 1886, and a Member of the Montana Territorial House of Representatives from 1873 to 1879. When Montana became a state, he became one of its earliest Senators, serving from 1890 to 1893. Most surprisingly is his work with the Montana vigilantes, serving as a prosecutor in their public trial. Colonel Wilbur F. Sanders was the prosecutor in the public trial against George Ives, a road agent, and became a member of the Vigilante Committee following the trial.  

July 11th, 1888, 134 years ago: Construction begins on the Jefferson Courthouse. County commissioners hired German architect John Paulsen to draw up plans based on styles of the Middle Ages (complete with turrets, semi-circular arches, and gargoyles) and contractor J.S. McKenzie to build the two-story monument with locally sourced granite and brick. It is one of the oldest courthouses in Montana still used for its original purpose.

July 19th, 1900, 122 years ago: Sidney Edgerton, judge and first governor of the territory of Montana, passes away in Ohio. Edgerton served as a US Congressman during the Civil War and joined the volunteer militia “Squirrel Hunters” during the 1862 invasion of Cincinnati by Confederate forces. He was instrumental in the separation of Idaho territory in 1864, causing President Lincoln to appoint him as governor of the new Montana territory. During his term, Edgerton also helped support the Montana Vigilantes, formed by his nephew Wilbur F. Sanders.

July 23rd, 1890, 132 years ago: Boulder organizes its first fire “company.”

July 30th, 1888, 134 years ago: Boulder organizes its first baseball club.

Information from the Boulder Age, Age Sentinel, and Monitor, as well as additional historic sources.Questions? Comments? Information to share? Visit The Jefferson County Museum, 5 N. Main Street, Clancy, MT, 59634. Open Fridays 1 PM to 5 PM and Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 4 PM or call to schedule an appointment at 406-224-5106. Conduct your own research at MontanaNewspapers.org.