Historic Stage Stop - Detailed Research Report

There was once a stage stop outside of present day Columbus, Montana. It started its use in 1875. The stage was used for transporting people and good across long stretches of land. Stagecoaches were important fixtures of the western life in the 1800s. In a way they helped shaped who and where we are today. cars , planes , and trains do much of that today, but if it wasn't for the stagecoach, we might not have have them. Because stages needed fresh horses and food for the drivers, they had to have stops to “refuel”. Towns often grew up around the stops.

Frank Quinn a prospector and miner, arrived and set up his homestead in the area of the stage stop on this ranch. In 1873, Quinn’s father in law, Horace Countryman, joined him and started a homestead adjoining Quinn’s property. The name of this area is still known as the “Old Quinn Ranch”. Countryman’s stage stop was built in 1875. Today, this location is known as the Stage Stop Ranch, and Jason Williams now owns it.

The Stage Stop is not standing any more and there is no trace of any pictures of it either which is depressing. People want to see pictures of the history that has been recorded and when there is no pictures of it some people don't even read it. We can't find the name of the stagecoach company either so that is disappointing as well. This part of Columbus, Montana people don't know much about, so we should let people know how this town was formed.

I think that we should put up a sign or board just to let people know what happened and what was there because of the man who built this town. This could lead to people being interested in the history that is in Columbus, Montana and many other things. This stage stop is a big part of history and should be recognized by many people, especially those who are in Columbus, Montana.

Part 2

I have found out information from my dad Jason Williams. I asked my dad Jason about how this place became a place therefore I found out the people who owned the land and how it became the Stage Stop Ranch. Jason took me out to the spot to show me where it was at.

I also went to the Museum of the Beartooths to find out more on the people who owned it. I spoke to Penny Redli who is the director of the museum. They have a file in their archives about Horace Countryman, and it is filled with newspaper clippings and copies from books.

I used the books “They Gazed The Beartooths” by Jim Annin to find out about the Williams family and their relation to Jason WIlliams.

Then I used the internet to see if I could find the name of the stagecoach that went through the land, did not have much luck there either, but I did find out the route it took to get from one place to another. I found a map that went through this area.

Part 3

The evidence that I have gathered for this research project is the people who owned the land before my family did, then I found out the route that the stagecoach took to deliver the passengers. What I tried to find is the name of the stagecoach itself but no luck there. Then comes Jason the owner of the land he gave me information on the people who ran the place before he did so that was a big help to putting this story together. We found out that the stagecoach went from Bismarck, South Dakota to Bozeman, Montana. We had also found out a lot of history of Horace countryman. If it wasn't for the stage coach we would not have the other vehicles that we have today. I have gathered some information from my dad and stuff that I didn't even need to have in this research project. I have been looking for the name of the stage itself but i have not had any luck there at all the only thing that I could find is this map below that shows where the stagecoach went. While I was looking for some pictures of the stagecoach I found some really cool pictures of Columbus, Montana back in the day but it was still had cars in it, so it was not in the stagecoach era so that did not help but it was very cool to find out what Columbus, Montana looked like back in the day. The evidence that I got from Jason is that there was a small battle there he did not know how or why it happened so that didn't get in this story.

Jason and I have dug up some artifacts. He really did not make a decision he just said let's dig it up that were there and plan to keep digging to see what we can find. We have found many bullets, horseshoes, parts to the building, and Jason’s dad found a gun. We still have some of the stuff that we have found. The day started out with nothing to do so jason said “let's dig up the Stage stop” so we took the backhoe to the stage stop and dug it up and found artifacts about it. We also took the medal detector and found the bullets and horse shoes.

The Bismarck, South dakota to Bozeman, Montana takes about 7 to 9 hours depending on how many stops that they had to make and how many break downs that they had. They transport all kinds of good like money, food supplies, mining supplies, and even people. This was the airplane and the cars of the west. In the books “They Gazed the Beartooths” I found out the people that had the land like Quinn. I found out that Horace Countryman Joined Quinn to make a homestead.

Part 4

All of this stuff that I had found out indicates that there was a Stage Stop on this Ranch. I have put so much of my time into this project because it is in our family and my family would like to know more about this. My dad has been a great help in this project, he helped me write this with some of his knowledge that his dad gave him. The issue is that people do not know about the history of Columbus, Montana and how it became a town, everyone should know how your town became a town. This should be put on a billboard for people to see.

The most important evidence that I have collected is the route that the stage took. The stage took the route of Bismarck North Dakota, to Bozeman Montana. Some other important evidence that I have collected is the images of where the stage stop was today. There are no images of the stagecoach or the stage stop in existence.

The information that should be put on the billboard is who built it and the route of the stage and who owns the land now. The billboard should be put on the top of the west hill 2 miles out of Columbus, MT. We should also include the history of how Columbus, Montana was built. We should also put some pictures of the route that the stage took and maybe we it was present day.

Another sophomore group that is doing a project on Countryman. “They want to put up a sign. Some of the historical pictures that we should include with the billboard is a picture of the map that shows the route that the stage took and a picture of Horace Countryman. If I had found a picture of the stage and the stage stop we would put them on the board as well, but I do not have any of those pictures to put on there.

The importance of the digs were to see what we can find. Jason said that they stored their valuable stuff in the outhouse to save it for later. Well, come to find out they left some stuff and we are digging it up and finding what was left behind. We have a branding iron that Horace Countryman used I believe but we are not sure. I found what looks like a hinge off a barn door.

Part 5

All of the research that I have done we should be able to put up a sign so people know about our research. We should be able to let people know the history of the stagecoach stop. In conclusion to this research we should put up a sign. In conclusion I have found that there was a was a stage stop there in the 1800’s. To this extent there are many artifacts that can prove that there was a stage stop from some of the things that we have found in the pictures below. The main source of where I got this information was from Jason. Finding out more is one of the goals that would take me deeper into this. To be able to let people know the history of this part of Columbus, Montana would be a great honor to Jason and to Dale “God Bless Him” and me, to let all my hard work pay off in the long run. The board would be a great thing to have, Just like the one down a Itch-Kep-Pe park in Columbus, Montana. How will we be able to get the sign we will talk to the highway department and see what will happen. I will talk to another sophomore group that has talked to the highway department.