Montana’s 1st Apple and Missoula’s 1st Fruit Trees by Frank Woody
Montana’s First Apple and Missoula’s Early Fruit growing by Judge Frank H. Woody
I have, during the two years last past, interviewed a number of the oldest inhabitants of this portion of Montana, but singular to say, their recollection of the early attempts at fruit growing in this state is sadly at fault. Mr. Bass, in the paper referred to above, stated that in the fall of 1866, Philip Ritz brought a large number of fruit trees to this section of the country and sold them to different settlers in the Bitter Root valley. I am inclined to think that Mr. Bass is slightly in error as to the exact date at which Ritz brought the fruit trees into Montana. After interviewing such gentlemen as A. G. England, John R. Latimer, and others who were among the first settlers, I was unable to obtain any correct data.
I then interviewed Moise Reeves, one of the early settlers of the Frenchtown valley, and he informed me that Philip Ritz brought the first fruit trees that were brought into Montana, but in just what year he did not definitely remember; but stated that one year in the latter part of the sixties he sold his grist mill at Frenchtown to Philip Ritz and John A. Simms. That he sold it in the fall of the year. That Simms and wife remained at Frenchtown that winter, and that Ritz returned to Walla Walla, and came back the next spring with a pack train, with a large number of fruit trees as a part of his cargo. That he came by way of the Pend d’Oreille Lake up Clark’s Fork and Jocko to Missoula. I then examined the old and musty records of the county, and found in an old record book, the record of the transfer of the mill by Reeves to Ritz and Simms in the fall of 1866. Then if Ritz went to Walla Walla that same fall and returned the next spring with the fruit trees, then he brought them in in the spring of 1867. The only difference between this statement and that made by Mr. Bass is in the date of the arrival of the trees. Mr. Bass says the trees were planted out in the spring of 1867, and if they were brought up as Reeves says in the spring of 1867, they were undoubtedly planted that spring, so it seems to be established by satisfactory evidence that the first fruit trees brought into the state and planted were in the spring of 1867.
Trees in Bitter Root.
Some of these trees brought in by Ritz were sold in the Bitter Root valley, and I think some of them were sold to William and Cyrus McWhirk, and were planted in a plot of ground just below the mouth of the Rattlesnake Creek and between the present Front street of Missoula and Hellgate river, and my opinion is that some of these trees are still living and bearing. Mr. Reeves informs me that these trees were originally raised or started in a nursery in California, then shipped to Walla Walla where they were set out and cultivated until such time as they were brought to Missoula by Ritz. While I have no definite information, my best recollection is that one or two years after the time that Ritz brought the fruit trees to Montana, one Walter W. Johnson brought in from Walla Walla, a small number of fruit trees, a portion of which were planted on the ground owned by the McWhirks.
I think the next trees that were brought in were by the Bass Brothers in the spring of 1870, which were small trees or root grafts which came by mail. In 1870 or ’71, I am not certain which year, Jerry Fahey brought in on pack animals from Walla Walla quite a large number of fruit trees, and also the first Lombardy poplars of which I have any knowledge of having been brought to Montana. A large number of these poplar trees and also fruit trees were bought by James M. Minesinger who then lived on the farm now owned by John H. Lehsou. With the trees procured from Mr. Fahey, Minesinger started his orchard, and afterwards added to it from trees bought from other parties who came in later. Some of these trees are still growing and bearing good crops of fruit.
Cherry Trees Appear.
The next installment of trees brought into the state of which I have any data or recollection, was about 1873 or 1874, when a man came from Ogden, Utah, with a quantity of fruit trees, and among them cherry trees. The late Frank L. Worden, bought some fruit trees from this man, including cherry trees, which were planted in his garden on the ground where now stands the Western Montana National Bank in Missoula. I also bought some apple, plum and cherry trees from this same man, and one of the apple, and two of the cherry trees are still living, bearing trees in my garden on the corner of Pine street and Higgins avenue. I do not remember the name of this man who brought in these trees, or exactly what year it was, but my best recollection is that it was in 1874. I think that the next trees that were brought in, of which I have any knowledge, were brought in by J. A. Goodhue, who came here representing the Geneva Nurseries of New York.
In those early days fruit trees were somewhat of a luxury. I remember paying for some of the first apple trees which I bought, fifteen dollars a dozen, for three-year old trees.
As to the smaller fruits, such as currants, blackberries, etc., I have been unable to obtain any correct information, as to when they were first brought to the state, but I know that currants were growing in different gardens near Missoula in the early seventies. About ’75 or ’76 I attempted to cultivate some blackberries and procured two or three different varieties, but never made a success of it, as I found that they all winter killed and were not a success.
The foregoing is about all that I can learn about the early fruit growing in Montana, but taking what I have reported, in connection with the paper read by Mr. Bass at Stevensville, last year, I think they form about as complete a history of the early fruit planting in Montana as can be obtained.
Ate the First Apple.
In February 1894, I was on my way to California by the Central Pacific railroad, and after leaving Ogden, I met a lady in the Pullman who informed me that she had lived in the Bitter Root valley in an early day and had eaten the first apple that was raised in that valley. She told me that her name was Mrs. Josiah Smith; that she was the wife of an old packer who had settled on Ambrose Creek, a tributary to Three Mile creek and near the residence of the late T. W. Harris – Mr. Harris had attempted fruit raising – she said that Mr. Harris came to her house one day and brought her an apple, the first grown in his orchard and gave it to her. This is the history of the first apple grown in Montana as far as I can learn.
The information above is taken from The Daily Missoulian on January 20, 1904.