Old Missoula

Large Properties Near Missoula Change Hands

Big Sale of Fruit Acreage

Fruitdale Ranch in O’Keefe’s Canyon Is Sold to a Dakota Company.

That fruit lands in western Montana are in demand is evidenced by the sale of the big Fruitdale farm, owned by Messrs Black and Ray to a syndicate of North Dakota gentlemen headed by W. L. Nuessle. The purchasers have been figuring on this property for some months past and yesterday the deal was consummated. It is one of the finest farms in the state of Montana and the land is second to none as fruit land. The farm is located 10 miles north of the city and consists of about 2,100 acres nearly all of which is very choice land. There are now about 100 acres of orchard and during the coming year a large additional amount will be planted in trees. It is understood to be the purpose of the buyers to set several hundred acres within the next two or three years. The property is to be sub-divided and sold in tracts of 10 acres and upwards. The Dakota syndicate have a number of North Dakota farmers that they will bring out here and locate them upon these lands. There are also a number of our local people who are arranging to buy some of these tracts as soon as they are on the market. A large reservoir for holding flood water of the O’Keefe creek is now under construction and will provide an abundance of water for irrigation purposes. A number of other important improvements are contemplated. The cutting up of this large tract and putting the same under cultivation by a large number of small owners will be of great benefit to Missoula and vicinity and it will doubtless bring large returns to the owners. It is considered by orchardists that this land is peculiarly adapted to the growing of apples, pears, plums, sweet cherries and kindred fruits. It is also thought that peaches will do well there as the property is especially protected from the winter cold and is not subject to frosts. The price paid for the property has not yet been made public. The sale was made by the W. H. Smead company.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on October 17, 1909.

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Cannon and Nelson Buy Ranch

Missoula Business Men Purchase Wallace Ranch of 10,000 Acres

Frank Cannon, the former president of the Missoula Trust & Security bank, and Frank Nelson, one of the commissioners of Missoula county, have just concluded a deal by which they become the owners of one of the largest ranches in western Montana, the property purchased being one belonging to William Wallace of Gold Creek. The ranch consists of 10,000 acres and brought a price of $100,000. The purchase was first announced in The Missoulian several days ago.

The Wallace ranch is a well-known property which lies about five miles south of Gold Creek, reaching almost to New Chicago. It lies in Powell and Granite counties. The big tract, which is a compact one is about eight miles in length and has five ranch houses on it. Along with the land, Messrs. Cannon and Nelson purchased all the farming implements and machinery, and have concluded a deal with Mr. Wallace for about 700 head of cattle.

Last summer they purchased from John Keenan of Gold Creek a ranch of 1,800 acres, which adjoins the new property and makes a total acreage of 11,000 acres. It is the intention of the new owners to go into the stock raising business extensively. They will buy several hundred head of sheep and horses. The present plan is that Mr. Nelson will put in most of his time on the ranch and attend to its management, while his partner may spend the summers there.

Mr. Cannon, accompanied by Theodore Lentz, the attorney for the purchasers, went to Anaconda yesterday to consult with J. W. Smurr, who has the big task of making the abstract for the property. The abstract will be one of the largest ever made for western Montana property, as the large tract formerly consisted of a number of smaller ranches, each one of which has undergone many transfers. Rodgers & Rodgers, well-known attorneys of the Copper city, represented Mr. Wallace in the deal.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on February 6, 1910.

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