NOVEMBER 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Fergus County Democrat Dec. 5, 1911 L o w t h e r a n d C l i f t o n - R o u n d u p ’ s H i s t o r i c E n g l i s h m e n By Phyllis J. Adolph -This article was originally published in the Roundup-Record Tribune on Aug. 8, 1984 (PROLOGUE: It all began in the 1800s when a gentleman named Northfield purchased extensive holdings east of Roundup. In 1886 the NF brand was recorded and for years afterward those holdings were known simply as the “NF Ranch”. Northfield sold to Leslie C. Hill and Harold Lowther and they were partners until Cecil Clifton bought Hill’s share. Jack Herford bought the ranch from the Englishmen, sold it to Bob Leavens, who in turn sold it to Alex Brown. Brown and members of his family owned and operated it until it was sold to Arnold and Paul Johnson in the 1970s. The ranch is currently owned by a Canadian corporation with Leo Wheatley resident foreman.) Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Harold Lowther and Cecil Clifton came to the Musselshell Valley and built their long log house four miles east of Roundup just north of the Musselshell River and just south of what is now Highway 12. The house, built of native logs in 1884 (according to a carved stone found in one of the original fireplaces), contained four rooms at each end with a hallway running through the center. A stone fireplace was erected at each end of the building. Photo Courtesy of www.mtmemory.org
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