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Captain
John B. LaBarge: LaBarge City
| The death of Capt.
John B. LaBarge at Bismarck last Friday reminds us that Deer
Lodge City was originally called "La Barge City" and
was so noted on the maps of Montana for many years. |
Two friends of Captain John B. LaBarge, John S. Pemberton and Leon
Quesnelle, who were living in Cottonwood, believe the LaBarge, Harkness,
and Company should set up a mercantile establishment here in the summer
of 1862. LaBarge, Harkness, and Company was organized to trade with the
miners. They drew up a map of the townsite, had it surveyed and named it
“LaBarge City.” Harkness was in charge of the trading and took the
stock of miners’ supplies and trading goods to Gold Creek.
Upon deciding he did not like anything in the mountainous country
except the trout fishing, he left and gave away most of his stock and
sold what he could to John Grant.
When this area was in Idaho territory, Deer Lodge City was designated
the county seat and renamed Idaho City.
Information taken from the book
POWELL COUNTY:
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Written and edited by
Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation
Historic Action Committee
Dorene Courchene, Editor
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