Fairview history

Crossing the Yellowstone or Missouri River was difficult for the early pioneers. Although not exactly a safe way to cross the river, the ferry provided the means. In the winter, early settlers had to cross on the ice when the river was frozen over. Pioneers and men with teams and sleds gathered at the crossing in the middle of December when they got desperate for supplies. The crossings were handmade driveways down to the river banks on each side of the river. The men usually debated who would be first to cross the river and usually agreed that the single man should go first.

John Meadors operated a ferry at the present site of the Yellowstone Bridge, writes Elsie Grow, “In early winter when there was ice along both banks of the river, but water still flowing in the main channel, the ferryman would pull a row boat across the ice, then row you across to the ice, from there you would walk on the ice to the shore on the other side. In early spring it would thaw first along the banks, the ferryman would row you from the bank to the ice. He would drag the boat and you would walk across to the open water and then get back in the boat and finish your journey to the other side.”

In Mondak around 1906, the Mondak Ferry Co. was organized. According to an article from the Yellowstone News there was a great deal of dissatisfaction in which the ferry business has been handled. Ever since the ice went out the ferry accommodations had been rotten. The steam ferry had broken down when sadly needed, and the public was thoroughly disgusted. The newly formed company sold 1,000 shares of stock at $10 each and was expected to put both ferries in good condition and gave satisfactory service.

The Mondak Ferry Co. was not expected to bleed the public or charge exorbitant fares. A minimum rate was charged, and the ferry company assured the public that the rates would cover the expenses and maintain the boats. Poplar had the earliest ferry. It was used by the military before 1900. In 1908, an Indian named Black Duck put in a cable ferry at the Brockton crossing. This was a difficult place to operate a boat, due to sandbars with quicksand forming along the banks and in the channel. Black Duck gave it up and took his boat back up the river.

Bert Chase also used a cable ferry on the Yellowstone. The cable was a heavy steel strand rope strung across above the river and fastened to a tree or pole tower on each bank. Each end of the cable was anchored to a “dead man” underground. Heavy grass ropes on the pulleys, which slid along the cable, were attached to the windlass on the boat and could be loosened or tightened to change the direction of the boat. Poles were used to push it away from the bank. The river current furnished the power. At times a high wind would be too strong for the ferry to make it across. It was rarely used after dark because of obstacles in the river, floating logs, trees or debris, or sandbars.

The paddlewheel river steamers were more flexible than cable ferries. They slowly disappeared because of navigation problems, sandbars and landings. Among the last to operate the rivers of this territory was the Mandan. A snag boat operated by Capt. Grant Marsh. This relic continued for a short time after the Great Northern Railway bridges was constructed at Nohly and east of Fairview. The early cable ferries had to drop their cables so that the river steamers could continue on their way.

The ferry boat at Sioux crossing had been located at Glendive and was purchased by Andrew Nohly and brought down the Yellowstone by Joe Fletcher. It became the first ferry ever to operate at Sioux. It was sold to Raum and operated by Jim McCutcheon on the Missouri. Raum was killed in an accident which happened when he brought a load of oats down the hill and onto the ferry. The cable was lost when it was lowered for the expansion, a stern-wheel steam boat. The ferry was then sold to Wesley Cartwright. Harry Croy and West Willie bought an interest in the Sioux ferry. Two years later Harry bought out his partner and continued to operate until 1914.

“During those last years a man fell off the ferry boat and drowned,” explains Croy, “Another accident happened when a Maxwell car went off the boat. One fellow got out but the driver was Oscar Stienson and he didn’t make it. Later they found his body on the bank of the Missouri some distance below.”

It was then sold to Cartwright until Harry Croy bought an interest. The Sioux ferry changed hands several times until it was bought by Ed Darr who operated it until he was killed in an auto accident.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Information compiled from Courage Enough, Fairview News and the Yellowstone Times.