Wibaux

Travel Montana

A view from 1939:

WIBAUX (pronounced Weebo), 11 m. (2,634 alt., 619 pop.), the seat of Wibaux County, is in a deep coulee (valley) on the banks of Beaver Creek. This otherwise leisurely stream in spring becomes a flood. Several times its waters have partly submerged the town. The atmosphere of the town is reminiscent of the days when bawling cattle and hard-riding cowboys raised clouds of dust in its narrow streets.

The stories of "shooting-up-the-town" that persist in many western places have real foundation here. Cowhands in from the range for a spree often amused themselves and disturbed the peace of less high-spirited citizens by reckless exhibitions of skill with firearms. It is said that a Wibaux storekeeper once built an excellent sidewalk in front of his store by driving into the ground the empty cartridge-shells he picked up where the boys "broke their guns."

Both town and county were named for Pierre Wibaux, who settled here in 1883. His humor and sagacity are remembered in local legend. According to one tale, a Chicago packing plant once contracted with him for a fall shipment of cattle at a specified price. By roundup time the price had dropped, and the compariy refused to live up to its agreement.

Certain that the contract was binding, Wibaux shipped his cattle to Chicago, sold to other buyers at the prevailing market price, and sent the packer a bill for the deficit. Payment was refused. Wibaux brought suit, and took a coachload of cowboys to Chicago to appear as his witnesses. "Have a good time, boys," he said. "Spend as much as you like. That company will pay for your entertainment." The boys needed no urging. They painted Chicago a rich cattle country red. Wibaux won the suit and the packing company was compelled to pay a large bill for "expense of plaintiff's witnesses."

The blizzards of 1886-87 wiped out Pierre Wibaux's herds but he found new backing in France, and lived to see the day when he owned 75,000 head.

Ranchers far distant from the railroad used Wibaux for a shipping point. Theodore Roosevelt drove his stock here from Medora, N. D., because of the town's large loading pens. In a single year, 1,500,000 head of sheep were shipped from here.

Source: Montana: A State Guide Book; Compiled and Written by the Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Montana; September, 1939.