Claggett Hill Trail

Power's friend spelled it Clagett, with one g. Elected Montana's delegate to Congress in 1870, William Clagett introduced the Yellowstone park bill in the House on December 18, 1871, as H.R. 764; the park act became law ten weeks later. The bill numbered just before it, introduced the same day, was also his: H.R. 763, to remove the Salish from the Bitterroot Valley. He lost his seat in 1872, and in 1889 he presided over Idaho's constitutional convention. Clagett Butte in Yellowstone carries his name with its single g.

What the plaque says

Claggett Hill Trail In 1866, the U.S. army established Camp Cooke on the west bank of the Judith River near its confluence with the Missouri near here to protect local settlers from Indian raids. Shortly thereafter, steamboat entrepreneur and trader T.C. Power built a small trading post near the camp to supply goods and services to the soldiers. Power named the post Fort Claggett in honor of his friend, William Claggett, one of Montana Territory's most respected politicians and capitalists. After Camp Cooke closed in 1870, Power built a second Fort Claggett east of the Judith River about two miles from this marker. Strategically located near a river ford, the fort obtained supplies from steamboats plying the Missouri and shipped out beaver pelts, buffalo hides and cattle to the "States." By 1884, this segment of the Claggett Trail was heavily used by freighters, cowboys, businessmen, Indians and miners seeking their fortunes in the nearby Judith Mountains. In the mid-1880s, Power and Gilman Norris formed the Judith Mercantile and Cattle Company with its head- quarters at Fort Claggett. At its peak in the late 1880s, Fort Claggett consisted of a store, hotel, saloon, warehouse, mail station, stables and sheep sheds. Although Fergus County has actively maintained portions of the Claggett Trail, this section exists unaltered and is representative of the late 19th century freighting roads.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• The Judith Landing — 0.9 mi
• Camp Cooke — 0.9 mi
• The Judith River Formation — 1.9 mi
• Fort Chardon — 2.0 mi