Old Missoula

The article below, written by R. M. Cobban, is from The Missoulian – special supplement Dec. 25th, 1902, held at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library – The University of Montana. Mr. Cobban, along with Sam Dinsmore, was instrumental in platting the Orchard Homes subdivision in Missoula. The Orchard Homes Country Life Club in Missoula has posted a short history that states  these men first purchased land in the area in 1900.

How We Can Support Our Families

The question of providing a livelihood for the loved ones dependent upon us, is one that confronts each individual. We are more or less creatures of circumstances. We are compelled usually to accept the first situation offered us which promises a livelihood. Often such employment is uncongenial, unhealthy and poorly paid. It is our duty to keep watch continuously of the opportunities presented whereby we may better our own and the condition of those dependent on us.

How quickly one-half of the day laborers of our land would throw up their job if they could but become the proprietor of a farm, with the independent life of a farmer. Such a life appeals to nearly every laborer as offering a much better living, more freedom with a hope of earning something more than a living and laying by a snug little sum for the time of need. Generally, however, the idea is associated with a farm of 160 acres of ground, but little thought is given to the small well tilled farm.

Few people realize to what an extent small farming has become profitable and it is to give this information that this article is written.

A small piece of land well tilled and carefully utilized will produce greater profits than many of the larger farms. This is due to the fact that, in order to cultivate and care for a large farm, one must select the crop that will require the least amount of work. This means the raising of hay, oats, or wheat. While the owner of the small tract gives his time and attention to the raising of vegetables and small fruits, and later on the growing of apples, pears, and such products as command the highest market price.

About eight years ago some energetic, active business men of Missoula, who were believers in the small farm proposition, purchased of H. C. Hollenbeck and Ferd Kennett two hundred and forty acres of land in the Rattlesnake valley, about two and one-half miles from Missoula, and, after constructing irrigating ditches to this ground, platted the same into five and ten acre tracts and sold them out. Much of this land was very stony in character, and the outlook to make anything of such property seemed very remote.

Many homes were built on these tracts, much small fruit was planted and grown, while nearly all of the purchasers planted the land into orchards. Today the prettiest drive near Missoula is through this section, which only a few years ago was a dry rock pile. Now, beautiful orchards and thrifty homes are seen on every hand. Prosperity has seemed to smile on the happy residents of this Acadian retreat. The lands have greatly increased in value, and comfortable livng is easily earned.

About four years ago another eighty acre tract was purchased, about the same distance west of Missoula. This tract is now occupied by the Missoula Nursery Company, William Dorsett, James Woods and Jasper Woods, and presents as beautiful a picture of thrift and plenty as one might hope to see.

Still further encouraged – the old Higgin’s ranch of four hundred acres was purchased. This tract had never been under cultivation, owing to the fact that the land had no water right. The promoters of this, the first “Orchard Homes” tract, went unhesitatingly to work at a great expense and constructed a large, fine canal to irrigate this land, and then divided the same into five-acre tracts. Thousands upon thousands of trees were planted; the grounds were cultivated; homes were built, where the year before was nothing but a dreary waste.

In 1902, over seventy of the five-acre tracts, thus laid out, were in cultivation, and a large number of happy homes established. Again the demand increased for such homes. The old Douglas farm of 169 acres, the Cook tract of 80 acres, and the Miller and Spurgin farms of 700 acres, were all purchased and divided up with a like result, and, later, the Garrett, Foley, McGraw, and Williams farm, consisting of 980 acres have been purchased and laid out, that homes might be supplied to the homeless.

The first question asked is what can be raised on a five-acre tract that will produce a livelihood. First, then, and among the most profitable [are] small fruits and the strawberry. A strawberry-bed set out in the spring or as late as the first of September, if properly cared for, will be in full bearing the following season, and it is no uncommon crop to sell $500 worth of berries from a single acre. Raspberries and blackberries are quickly grown and very profitable.

Our nearness to the large cities of the state gives us exceptionally fine markets. Celery is another profitable crop. One man has a patch of carrots, which he contracted for before grown at $8 per ton, and his yield has been at the rate of 30 tons to the acre. Potatoes are a good crop, often 4 or 5 hundred bushels to the acre are grown, the prices scarcely ever going below 50 cts. per hundred pounds, while often $1 a hundred or over is realized.

Nearly every owner of a small tract devotes a quarter of an acre or more to the poultry house and yard, where from 100 to several hundred chickens are raised yearly, and considerable revenue is realized from the sale of eggs.

Perhaps not one in three of these homes is sold to people who expect to make a living from  the land alone; many of the purchasers are businesses or men following the various trades. The tracts are so close to town that it is easy for the owner to go and come on a bicycle or with a buggy. Most of the small farms being supplied with these necessities.

When the owner is unable to find employment at his trade the small farm always gives him remunerative employment. If employed at his chosen trade then the garden, orchard and fowls assist largely in providing a good living and in increasing his savings account.

But, I am told, if such profits can be made from the small piece, why can I not increase it many fold by buying  a larger farm.

First, the investment in a large farm is considerable. One can not, under favorable circumstances, take hold of such for less than $2000, while the small tract can be undertaken for one-tenth of that sum.

Second, the history of most such places is that the owner finds himself with more than he can properly attend to, and so he neglects and his profits are gone. Then, too he must depend on hired help, which is usually hard to get at the time when needed most.

Third, in order to get the farm at reasonable figures you must be several miles from your shipping point, as the farms near town are held too high to allow of purchase by the ordinary workman. Usually the farmer is gone all day to market; his berries and fruits are jolted over rough roads for many miles, and, finally, when presented at market they are not worth one-half price. Not so with the small farmer close town.  A very large percentage of these people have a telephone in their house or neighborhood.  They can keep fully posted as to the markets. They can drive into town in the early morning, deliver their products in good condition, attend to a little shopping and be back home and at work in an hour or so. Then, too, the small farm close to town affords the advantage of schools, churches, university and city life.

While a good livelihood is being earned year by year from the sale of small fruits and vegetables and the larger fruits, such as apples, pears, plums, prunes, cherries, apricots, and quinces are coming on, and the results are beginning to be felt the second and third year from planting when cherries begin bearing; apples in a small way the third and fourth year, while the fifth year the product is considerable. A seven year old orchard should bear at least a box to a tree, and estimates are often made on double that amount. As the tree grows in size its bearing capacity inceases.

Single trees in the orchard of Mr. J. C. Lehson have borne seventeen boxes a season. An acre of ground will grow something over 100 trees, usual count about 108 to the acre though practically a little less. Good varieties of winter apples usually bring from $1 and upward to the box. Mr. J. C. Lehson, one of the largest orchard men in the vicinity, who stores his apples until winter, states that he realizes from $1.25 to $2 per box.

Eliminating the proposition of profit beyond a comfortable living, what pleasure there must be when once the home place has come into bearing; in cultivating the flowers and the green lawns at the front door; in watching the fruit develop daily from the time the first buds begin to swell until the last of the fruit has been gathered; what pride in going into the cellar and invoicing all of the fruits, cherries, pickles and wines stored on the shelves by the thrifty housewife; while the bins are groaning with the weight of the vegetables, all the product of the little home acreage. How the children love to roll in the grass, pick the rich flowers, and feed the brood of happy birds that nest in the well laden trees.

Thousands of men are working today in the cities of Montana where no such sight can be seen, where the sickly wife and the fretful children would be transformed and made happy if such a life could be theirs.

We are often asked if this class of farming will not be overdone. We answer, no. The State of Montana consumes 300 car loads of apples annually, while the product of the state is not above 40 cars, all other fruit in proportion. The fruit area in Montana is very small, being almost entirely found in the Bitter Root, Missoula and Flathead valleys.
R. M. Cobban

The short biography for R. M. Cobban below appears on the NWDA site – finding aid for R.M. Cobban – correspondence held at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library – The University of Montana.

Robert (Roy) M. Cobban was born on May 13, 1859, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where he learned the lumber mill trade. Robert’s father, William S. Cobban, was born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland. He moved with his family to Groveland, Massachusetts, where he met his wife, Mary Louise Hardy, whose parents were descendents of pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower. In the Kansas border disputes of 1852, William S. Cobban negotiated for the state of Missouri. He fought for the North in the Civil War until he was injured and discharged in 1864. After his injury, William S. Cobban returned to his lumber mill in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
After working at his father’s mill and attending school in Wisconsin, Roy Cobban headed to the West in 1880 where he homesteaded in western Montana and helped his brother, William F. Cobban, build a mill in Butte City in 1883. Roy Cobban was a foreman at the Montana Lumber and Produce Company until 1884, while his brother remained superintendent of the mill until 1886, when both sold out of the mill to devote all of their time to mining and real estate ventures in the area. William F. Cobban was very successful in the mining business, buying a mine with his business partner for $9,000 in 1890, and selling it six years later for $6 million. Several districts in Butte carried the Cobban name, reflecting Williams F. Cobban’s prominence in the city.
By 1886, Roy Cobban left the real estate business, sold the newspaper he owned in Butte, and focused all of his attention on his mine 15 miles north of the city. In December 1885, he began a correspondence with Alice Hardy of Groveland, Massachusetts, and by September 1886 they were engaged through the mail.