P a g e 7 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r John and Nan Marty Homestead Photo by Shawn Shawhan I first visited Montana in September 2006 when a cowgirl invited me there for a photography outing. The first old homestead we photographed was the John Marty place and I've returned there 6 or 7 times over the years to capture images of its changes. This posting will be my first of about four where I'll show you my photos and tell the story of John Marty and his homestead. Here is the beginning of the story: MARTY, John (Sec 6~l6-28) Joan Marty Smith, daughter of John Marty, contributed the following: “It is with great pride that I submit the following article about my parents. John and Nan Marty:” "John Marty was born at Sherrills Mount. Iowa, on May 4, 1888. His father was a farmer and when he died, John was needed to work on the family farm. Consequently. John's schooling ended at about the fourth grade. At the age of fourteen, he left home and bummed his way west on freight trains, working on farms and in logging camps. When he got to Spokane, Washington, around 1907, he helped build the Monroe Street Bridge which spans the Spokane River.” “These early years made wonderful stories which he told to anyone who would listen. His grandchildren were especially eager to hear ‘Grandpa's stories.’ In 1912 he came to Montana looking for land on which to homestead. Before he found such a place, he worked for W. J. Winnett raising hogs. Until I917 when the railroad came to Winnett, the hog crop was trailed to Grassrange for shipment to market. The drive was made along McDonald Creek with an overnight stop at the Teigen Ranch. When the hogs were allowed to roam at large during the winter. Some would bury unMain Door of the House Photo by Shawn Shawhan The Outhouse der the haystacks for warmth: but, still, many froze to death.” “John also freighted between Winnett and Grassrange using horses on the freight wagons. In winter it was necessary to walk along with the horses to keep from freezing. He rode the first train to Winnett in 1917.” “After filing on his homestead eighteen miles northeast of Winnett in 1914, he went there to live permanently in 1915. One of his favorite sayings was ‘When I lived on the homestead, I ate so many jack rabbits that every time the dog barked I ran under the porch!’ During World War I he spent a brief stint in the Army, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Camp Presidio. California.” “It was after ten years alone on his homestead that he met Annie Herbert, who would become his bride. She was from Sanderstead, England, where she had been born on May 20, 1889. A sharper contrast in back
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