GARFIELD COUNTY, MONTANA IS 100 YEARS OLD!

One hundred years ago in 1919, Garfield County and its county seat, Jordan, were organized. So, we needed to celebrate one hundred years of fine living. You can't have a centennial without a parade! And you can't have a parade in Jordan, Montana without horses. Our cousin Dave organized this wagon ride for us. The horses and wagon are Morris Ware's.

These horses are haflinger, a breed that comes from Germany. The Germans mostly use them for light harness work.

Morris is getting the  harness fixed. One time my Uncle Doc Dutton was telling my folks, "These kids now days don't know anything. They can't even hitch up a team!" I thought to myself, "I don't know how to hitch up a team." We didn't have a team on the ranch, so I never had the opportunity to learn.

 Cousin Dave Dutton helps Morris get hitched to the wagon.

Morris and Dave working to get hitched up.

We are hitched and ready.

We are loaded, hitched and ready to go down town to the parade. This country girl had never ridden in a wagon before and I was amazed at how rough it was. We were not even in rough country, mainly on a road and it was still rough. I am wondering how bad it was when Tom and Clem ran away with Mom and Dad, bouncing through the sage brush and pasture. Mom and Dad bailed out before they got thrown out, then they caught the team where they ran up against a fence and stopped. This run away did some damage to the wagon, as you can well imagine. So, they had to hitch Tom and Clem up to another wagon and  go on to the timber to get fire wood. This was in the early 40s when there was no phones, electricity or any of that other modern stuff, and they cooked on a wood and coal stove.

Two of Dave's grandboys--Lealan and Brady.

Nancy Dutton and Rosie.

Margaret Dutton, who is 94, and Rosie.

William and Lealan.

Morris Ware has the reins and Charlie Eike is riding with him. Christina Dutton is lining the boys out.

Dave Dutton will ride a horse with us in the parade.

Dean Dutton with Wiley and Lealan.

Parade Marshal, Mary Baker,  is the lady in the front passenger seat and she is 101 years young!

Dave Dutton

Brady, Christina, Rosie, Maggie,Dusty Eike Olson, Morris and Charlie.

Javon, Rosie, Nancy, Maggie, Margaret, Charlie's daughter.

Celestine Wheatcroft with Sandie Gibson representing SandSprings.

Model Ts are always in the parade. This one belongs to the Gibson boys, and Jim is driving.

This model T belongs to the Rich Ranch and Kenny is driving with his grandchildren riding.

After the parade, we went to the car show in Kariotis Park.

This is my favorite!!!

Jordan's oldest fire truck. We have come a long way from this, haven't we? The firemen would have to get to the fire early if they wanted to put out the flames with this one.

Isn't this just beautiful? I think Mary Baker, the parade marshal rode in this one.

I took many more car photos but we must move on to the matched bronc ride. The Match was started by Judd and Eva Twitchell 50 years ago, and it is always on Father's Day in the rodeo arena at our fair grounds right outside of Jordan. Judd and Eva have a big hand in pulling it off every year. I stood out behind the chutes to take these pictures, not the very best place to take pictures, but much better than the stands. I just tried to stay out of the way and shoot.

The colors and the Spangled Banner kicked off the event. Everyone is standing and the men have their hats off. 

The judge.

Every cowboy has his own little spot in the bull pen.

Pickup men doing their job.

Since I had to stand behind the chutes, I saw a lot of the behind the scenes goings on.

The chaps are beautiful.

Heading to the chute to saddle up.

This man just finished his ride and is going to hang his chaps up until the next round.

More chaps that are so pretty.

Taking a break in between matches.

The babies came too!

This is a hard working pick up horse.

Of course, we had class reunions, all well organized by local ex-students.  Thank you! Ours was at the fair grounds.

Glenn Hageman and Lynn Arney.

Carol Hellyer, Lynne Lufborough, Viny Lufborough.

Glenn Beacher

John Schlepp and Roy Milroy

Vern Pluhar

Christine Keltner and Alan Hooker

Tom Scott and Rachel Dutton

Dee Schlepp

Gay Billing Miller

Katie Hageman

Bev Murnion and Nancy Dutton

Christine Keltner and Mike Witt

Glenn Hageman and Steve Dutton

Jane Nelson and Bev Murnion

Clyde Saylor

Daniel Burgess and Christine

Eva Twitchell and Diane Hendry

Carla Carlson and Diane Hendry

Arlene O'Connor and Nancy Dutton

Jane Nelson and brother, Jim Gregg

Kelly Childers, Carol Hellyer, and Ross Childers

Lynn Arney and Richard O'Connor

Diane Hendry and Sam or Jeff Hendry

Carla Carlson and Barney Winter

Judy and Dale Bollinger

Jane and Frank Nelson

Gay Billing, Jeanne and Mark Astle

Katie Hageman and ?

Kieth Lilienthal, Harve Uthaug, Clyde Saylor, Glen Hageman, Virgil Hellyer

Katie Hageman and Carla Uthaug

Jim Greg, Barney Winter, Roy Milroy

Kieth Lilienthal and Harvey Uthaug

Katie and Carla with Clyde in the back.

Virgil Hellyer and Glen Hageman

Roy Milroy

Clyde Saylor

Class of 1966 back row: Mike Witt, Daniel Burgess, Diane Hendry, Alan Hooker is behind Bev Murnion, Lynn Lufborough, Gay Miller, Dave Dutton, Steve Dutton

Front Row: Donna Clark Williams, Eva Twitchell, Christine Keltner, Carol Hellyer, Sharon Billing.

Donna Clark, Eva Twitchell

Backrow: Bev Murnion, Alan Hooker, Lynn Lufborough, Gay Miller,Dave Dutton, Steve Dutton

Carol Hellyer, Sharon Billing

Gay Miller, Dave Dutton, Steve Dutton, and Sharon Billing

Tom Scott and Jeanne Astle

Class of 1965: Jeanne Astle, Vern Pluhar, Tom Scott, Glenn Beacher, Jane Greg

Front row:  Lynn Arney, Arlene O'Conner, Judy Bollinger, Roberta Stanaland

I posted several versions of 1965, so you should be able to find one you like.

And that is it! The Centennial of Garfield County, and Jordan, Montana. What a weekend. Thank you to all who made this possible, and I am sorry that I am getting this done a year later, but it is done.