Bower Brothers Sheep Company Records, 1880-1907

Bower Brothers Sheep Company owned and operated in partnership one of the largest sheep companies in the state of Montana. Originally from New York, two of the Bowers, Arthur and Edward, arrived in 1880 to homestead on Surprise Creek located in the Judith Basin near Stanford, Montana. In September of that year, they made two purchases of sheep near Deer Lodge and drove the flock, numbering 1052 head, to their ranch. A third brother, Calvin, arrived from the East in 1881 and was taken into the firm which became known as Bower Brothers Sheep Company. The Bowers gradually increased their holdings, purchasing water rights, buying out homesteads, and leasing government lands. At one point, their 50,000 acres, extending toward Arrow Creek and Denton, ran more than 90,000 head of sheep annually. The wool from these flocks was freighted to Fort Benton and then East where it was in great demand by the large manufacturing houses. The company's holdings were sold in October 1907, to J.B. Long Company.