During the heyday of homesteading in Eastern Montana one family group was well represented. This family centered around the "McClain ‘s". Benjamin Thomas, known as BT McClain and his wife Mary Ann (McLain) McClain had a son, two daughters, a nephew and daughter in law-to-be all settling in the community about six miles south of Willard, Montana.

As with so many of our family histories, we wait until all of the older generation are gone and try to research dates, names and events to prepare our written histories. Most of the oral history has been lost. We have been fortunate in that Roy McClain loved to speak about his ancestors and the various family members. It has just been this past summer that we lost this patriarch of the family. (Summer of 2000)

Not only did Roy enjoy recalling events of the past, he also enjoyed embellishing them for the sake of his listeners. I will include some of his stories and will let the reader determine fact from fiction.

BT was a third generation McClain in the United States. His Grandfather SA (Samuel Adam) emigrated from Ireland to Boston just before the Battle of Breeds Hill (commonly called the Battle of Bunker Hill). He was pressed into the military service, for which he later received a military pension. [ Roy's version was: That on arrival at Boston the local militia inquired if he would like to join forces or return back to Ireland. SA replied that he had more than a few scores that he would like to settle with the Brits and joined up.] SA later moved to PA. [Roy's version: Boston was primarily a Catholic town and he was told that it may be best for health reason if non-Catholics, Irish or not, would move on to a more accommodating climate]. It was in PA. that SA married and raised his family.

Peter L. was the only offspring that we are aware of from S.A. McClain. He was raised in Bucks County, PA, where BT was born. [Roy's version: BT's mother died when he was 14 years old, and Peter L. remarried an Amish women with more than a few kids. BT and his stepmother could not get along so BT. "pulled out" on his own.] The 1870’s found Peter L., his wife Mary and BT in the Cresco, IA. All indications are that they were farmers but not landowners. It was in Cresco, IA that BT met and married Mary Ann.

Peter L. and his wife Mary sold their Cresco Iowa property in 1876 and homesteaded in Spinks County, SD. They remained in SD till their death

Little is known about Willard except that he remained in the Cresco area where he was married and they had only one son, Vern. Vern married but had no children.

The oldest daughter, Cora had married Dave Martin in SD. Dave was a Canadian citizen, having been born in Wroxeter, Ont. Dave was the third son (the sixth of 13 children) born to David and Adelia Martin. David had emigrated from England and taken a claim on Crown Land which he farmed for many years. David's wife Adelia was his brother's step daughter. Adelia's mother Catherine Weatheral was a widow who moved from the United States with her family to Wroxeter Ontario, following the death of her husband.

Dave Martin was in the merchandising business while in SD; more related to farm implements and grain. Dave and Cora had a family of one daughter and four sons. All were born in Frankfort area.

BT's second son, Arthur was farming on rented land in SD. He was just recently married before moving to Montana. Again, little is known about his first spouse.

The second daughter, Ruby had married Wallace (Ped) Akers. They also lived in Spinks County. (Two homesteads were issued to the family Akers in the immediate area which the McClains lived. I’m uncertain as to Ped’s trade or occupation at the time he moved to Montana. It is reasonable to assume that Ped was a farm laborer

Frank Smith was a nephew of Mary Ann’s. He had been raised in the Preston MN. Area. As a single man he moved to Montana.

Anna Schade and her sister Gertrude were young single school teachers who moved from SD., These ladies were of German ancestry. They homesteaded just a couple of miles south of Duck Creek where the McClains, Akers, Martins and Smith were located.

Anna Schade did not join the family until a year after Arthur’s first wife, Mae had died. Arthur and Mae were the first of the family to arrive in Montana. They were building a homestead cabin when Ped Akers filed on his claim. The Martins, Ped and Frank Smith all headquartered from Art and Mae’s place. It was during that first winter that Mae became ill and died before she saw her first summer in Montana. It was in 1911 that Anna married Art McClain.

BT was almost fifty years old before owned a piece of land. Peter L. was approaching his 74th years before he had ownership of a farm. So it was little wonder that the kin were so anxious to establish "roots" at their younger age. Not to disregard the recent change in the Homestead Act which allowed filing on 320 acres, double that of previous offers; nor the vigorous promotion of the area by various groups and agencies. The unpredictable weather cycles of the area fooled most of the newcomers. Their first glimpse of the country was in one of the better cycles. It was in total delight that Ped Akers wrote to his wife and young son, who had remained in SD. while the cabin was built, of the wonders of the area and the expectation for their future.

This had been the nation's destiny ever since it’s birth. Even prior to the official formation of the United States ours ancestors were blazing their way westward. Whatever motivated these people to land on the shores of the US, be it political oppression, religious suppression, penal system reprieve, profit motive, forced labor, or maybe just the sake of adventure, all would be included in this westward movement. "Go West Young Men" was a phrase coined to encourage the development of the western regions of the young nation. It has been aptly applied to include frontiers other than just land development. It has come to be the slogan of those breaking forth to venture into other new areas. So few words carrying such impact. Sever your ties, venture out with room for growth, face the hardships and unknown, and build a life that would be unobtainable under the present conditions.

It has been said that the lands in eastern Montana should never have been open for homesteading; that the area was not suited for strictly farming, 320 acres was not adequate to sustain a family. This seemed to be proven out in the late 20’s and early 30’s when so many of the homesteaders were forced off their claims due to weather,

and/or economic conditions. Some truth and some fault lies in this claim. With the farming methods available at the time, 320 acres was more than adequate for a family. Only as the area developed, did the homesteaders realize that what they were told by the promoters and what they saw on the arrival to Eastern Montana was cyclical and that they would have to adjust to the area; the elements were not to be controlled. Thirty six sections to a township, half were deeded as railroad land, two sections as school land, thus sixteen sections available for homesteading. Thirty two homesteads in an area six miles square. Today many farm units are six miles distant from the closest neighbor. Sweat, blood, and tears were all part of this transformation. This is what the other side of the coin "Go West Young Men, Go West" had to offer.

Arthur and his young wife, Mae were the first of the clan to venture west to the then Custer County and file on a claim south of Willard, located on Duck Creek. Frank Smith, his uncle and a bachelor may have traveled out at the same time. But it is doubtful in that a much better claim was located just southeast which was taken by Ped and Ruby Akers. Art and Mae arrived in mid summer and proceeded to build a claim shack. Ped followed that fall after the harvest was completed in SD. They were joined by Dave, Cora, and their five children later that fall. Dave and Cora settled on a claim just east of Ped’s claim. Frank Smith settled on a claim just east of Arts and just north of Peds.

Without a doubt the entire clan used Art and Mae’s claim as the headquarters while they established their respective claims. It is not known whether the increased demands on Mae for space sharing and work caused her failing health. But Art and Mae returned to SD in the spring of 1910 where Mae died shortly thereafter. Art returned to his homestead after her death.

No oral history could tell the story as well as the written words of the letters preserved from Ped Akers to his wife, Ruby who remained in SD.

To his wife Ruby who had remained in SD while Ped established the homestead

Dearest Wife- Sunday

Baker, Mont.

I'm-as per expectation-head over heels in trouble-not serious. I guess, and then again it is.

Big crowd on the train that night-had to stand –arrived here at noon Fri. and started right out-$7.00 per & expenses for a livery. Went to the road house 17 mi. that P.M. and started bright and early next morning. Now a word of explanation on this country. There will be a big butte or 3 or 4 in a row and on each side for a distance of from 2 to 8 miles will lay some of the prettiest land you ever saw-a little rolling but not as bad as I expected-on top of the "nolls" they call them is a little sand and gravel but not enough so but what good grass grows in abundance, of course these buttes themselves are of volcanic origin and range all the way from 400 to 700 ft high with perpendicular sides so that one has to climb part of the way & walk part—they are a grand thing to look upon-and on top they are flat like a table, taking in an area of say from 10 to 30 acres of flat-from which one can obtain an excellent view of the whole country for 15 to 20 miles.

Well I & Dad found what we wanted-well satisfied-only it is "squatting land". Now to explain our difficulty-to hold this 320 acres each we have to plow a furrow around to mark it and drive location stakes on the comers and build a cabin-then we have 30 days to 60 in which to make a residence from, which time we have to live there until it is open for filing which will in all probably be in the winter some time. After filing we have the usual 6 mo. To leave if we wish.

Here is the way in which we had planned to do it, if we can hear from Arthur. That Dad doesn’t have to live here himself-but us boys Art & Oscar & I can hold this for him & ourselves-We had planned to build 3 small shanty’s & 1 good one small ones cost $20.00 each for material & large 2 room shanty costs $ 100.00 in which we could batch together and leave you women in S.D. for the winter.

This has to be done immediately for we are only assured of our selections until Monday night—have telegraphed Art and await his reply.

This land is being grabbed from every side and one has to push & grab to get anything at all good.

Show this to Oscar and if it suits him to depend on my judgment maybe he & I could stick even if Art & Dad don’t-would like to hear as soon as possible-a telegram would be best .I am "tickled’ with the land proposition if I can scrape money enough to put he & I there.

The prospects for holding something for David are pretty poor but we took our land so as to cover all we could for him.

I can hold 320 homestead & also hold 320 additional desert claim-just as good & just the same land-thru your name giving us if I want 640 acres in a bunch and all tillable

A desert Claim is all the same only one has to put on different improvements (consisting of a small reservoir and ditches (furrows) to show his intentions of tilling same.

Grandpa (name?) might be interested in that-Mother could take 320 acres at a cost of $75.00 total-She might be interested-We can get 2700 ft of Cedar poles per year-located 7 to 8 miles from our claim-Coal $1.50 per wagon load also 7 miles to haul same. I drove 2 days and have seen all this with my own eyes.

Drank just as nice water as you ever 1 ½ miles from my location out of a well 10 ft deep, just dug, that carry’s 5 ft of water. A creek within ½ mi. and never went dry. Guarantee wells from 10 to 26 feet that don’t go dry. I have explained the good parts and probably could write as many drawbacks if I took time but had better quit for this time. We will remain in Baker until Tuesday morning and then it depends upon our hearing from you folks or Arthur or not which way we go—to our claims to build shanty’s or home. Am awful lonesome for you and Donald sweethearts.

Your loving Husband, Ped P.S. show this to Mother and Grandpa.

Dearest Wife and Baby,, In Camp Oct. 14^th 1909 and frozen to death .

Am celebrating tonight just finished Mack’s cabin, (Art McClain ?) We’re quite proud of it-looks cute

Just hope mine looks as good and comfy when we get it done. We’ve been awfully long about this one-stalled by some bad weather. Went out Sunday and dug a cellar for ours. It’s seven x nine and 7 ft. deep. We’ll start building ours tomorrow if it don’t storm any more-this bad weather makes me grayheaded ‘cause I want to get home.

Hope Ed is hauling some of my grain ‘cause this bad weather is stopping or shortening my stay at home, shall not be able to stay there over two weeks now-when I do get back Don’t know what Dave or Dad is going to do yet-we haven’t got any mail for over 10 days-only one letter from my little wife in three weeks-"gosh" if I hadn’t been so busy I’d be crazy. I am chief cook & chief carpenter and boss of affairs in general – so you see my head and my hands are full as usual.

Am longing for a team so bad I don’t know what to do-have about $70.00 for horse hire-between us. That would buy half a horse. Mother is doing fine out here. Eating three big squares per- drinking lots, and feeling fine in spite of having caught a cold. This afternoon she walked 7 miles across the hills from where she boards to where we were working and felt fine about it. Has a half mile to go to bed yet.

Say, you’d be surprised at the change in Oscar-can’t hardly get him to do anything, and when he does get at anything he is so slow . I haven’t got any patience with him. Frank and Art can’t get him to do anything for them but he minds me-after a while. Am awfully glad Ed didn’t send that money by him-altho it cost me $1.30 for telegrams to get identified.

Some things about packing I wanted to talk to you—I don’t believe you can ship your canned fruit without having it freeze-we must have it be on the trail over night-and I’m doubtful of potatoes. What kind of stove will we have? Mack is shipping a heater and 2 burner gasoline-but gas-oh my-kerosene is 35 cents per gal. If I could once get the stuff here, I have a good cellar but-must hurry ‘cause I’ve got to go down the road with Mother and it is 8:00 o’clock.

Last night I had the darnest dream-that someone had got you away from me and was making you work yourself to death-Dad seemed to be to blame and I was having the awfullest fight-You must keep my little wife and boy healthy and safe for my return and this long journey and change. It’s quite serious and no joke as I have found out by now—we have some awfully nice neighbors-open hearted men and women, just my stamp. Must quit and go to the roadhouse. I have to get bread & milk & "lasses" tonight-Saw a wolf one night as I journeyed homeward and –say but I walked fast.

Good night honey –and write to me soon cause I’m longing –longing-it’s awfully hard to stay at work sometimes-dare not think

Love and Kisses. Ped

P. S. Mother gathered some "specimens" today to bring home-a rattle snake a sage brush and a lava rock, and a wild grindstone.

As required by law, the homesteaders had to make certain improvements to the land and actually reside on the property during the first five years. With these requirements out of the way the land was conveyed to the new owners. By this time, little doubt was left in their minds that they had "free land". The price extracted from many was far beyond a monetary value.

Those early years saw the formation of school districts, places of worship, community development and the stabilization of the individual units. Crops were seeded, some even harvested, babies were born, school teachers hired every youngster had to walk five miles to school, uphill going and coming, through two feet of snow, but not only was the land developed the people themselves were strengthened and developed. One only has to follow their descendants to see the traits instilled by these trials.

These same years were gentle to the new residents. Weather was not severe, virgin soils proved productive, and economic conditions were stable. By 1916 the majority of the homesteads had been "proved up" and a feeling of well being and prosperity existed. Now they had collateral for bank loans. So off to the banks they went. Little did these homesteaders realize what the weather, grasshopper infestation and the markets held in store for them.

No descendent of these homesteaders is without a story of the events which were to befall the area during the 20's and 30's. So many stories have been told about the "good times and the hard times, the extended credit and the foreclosures" that another is not needed.

BT and Mary Ann McClain purchased a hilltop place where they could look down the valley toward Art's place. BT passed away in 1925. Mary Ann lived to see her 98^th birthday.

Dave Martin sold his land soon after proving up; moved to Baker and later moving back to BT's place when his sons were engaged in farming. Later he moved to Finn, MT where he and Cora spent the later part of their lives.

Arthur and Anna McClain remained on Art's homestead after choosing to retain that unit and letting Anna's go for taxes. In later years the place was rented out; Anna spent many years teaching in the area, and Art spent much of his time "working out". This is the only homestead of the group which is still retained by family members.

Frank Smith lost his place and it reverted back to BLM Land. Not suitable for homesteading.

Ped and Ruby Akers lost their place through foreclosure (later to become the George Schettler farm) and moved to ND for a few years before moving to Deer Lodge where he and Ruby spent their remaining years.

Dave and Cora’s family were all born in SD, but all were raised in Fallon Co. Dayle married Victor (Andy) North the son of a homesteader from the Medicine Rocks area. They remained in the area. Russell Martin and Wesley Martin both left the aera in the early '30s, headed west to the woods of Idaho. Russell had married Marian Hanson a school teacher from Foresyth and Wesley had married Eloise McMillan from Scotsbluff, Neb. Wesley, Eloise and family spent a number of years in the Deer Lodge area before moving back to the Coeur d' Alene area. Russell and Marian moved to Calif. after leaving Idaho. Bernard married Mae Foltz, a school teacher who had came west in 1927 to teach in the Wills School. They remained in Fallon County. Norval Martin moved with Dave and Cora to western MT in the '30s settling in the Finn area. Norval later married Edith McCall and moved to the Idaho Pan Handle area.

Arthur and Anna McClain had son and a daughter born and raised in Fallon County. Roy attended normal school in Billings and returned to the area to marry Ariel Cox, the daughter of a homestead family. They remained in the area. Their daughter, Ila also received a teaching degree. She married Don Clegg a career military man. Needless to say, they moved to number of duty stations.

Ped and Ruby Akers had one son Donald who was born in SD. Another son Dace was born while in Fallon County. This entire family made their way out to Deer Lodge in the late '30s where they remained.

Roy attended normal school in Billings during the early '30s when finances were extremely difficult. He worked on campus for his board and room, and had little if any free time or money. On his return to Baker his father, Arthur, and Bernard Martin came in from Willard to pick