Gallatin County Organized

Phillip Thorpe, A. F. Nichols and D. H. Ketchum were appointed by Governor Edgerton as county commissioners of Gallatin County. The county was organized by these men at the Nichols' ranch near Gallatin City on March 11, 1865. W. M. Wright was appointed clerk. The commissioners were sworn in by Thomas Dunbar, probate judge, and the bond of the clerk was approved. The commissioners appointed C. D. Loutzenheiser as sheriff to serve until the election. J. B. Campbell, county treasurer, and George D. Thomas, county assessor, were appointed by the governor, and the bonds of all were approved.

First Officers Elected

The first officers elected on September 4, 1865, were: Thomas Cover, clerk; John S. Mendenhall, sheriff; P. W. McAdow, treasurer; John M. Bozeman, probate judge; George D. Thomas, assessor; Stephen Allen, superintendent of schools; F. M. Meredith, surveyor; J. H. Shober, district attorney; Phillip Thorpe, A. F. Nichols and D. H. Ketchum, county commissioners. On November 11, Thomas Cover resigned as clerk, and W. M. Wright was appointed in his place.

Other Early Officers

The second group of Gallatin County officers included: W. M. Wright, clerk; O. D. Loutzenheiser, sheriff; J. B. Campbell, treasurer; Thomas Dunbar, probate judge; George D. Thomas continuing as assessor, and the other officers holding for another year. The next group included: Stephen Sales, clerk; J. C. Guy, sheriff, holding office three years; A. Lamme, treasurer; Caleb Fritz, probate judge; B. M. Davis, assessor; F. L. Stone, superintendent of schools, holding the office nine years; George W. Link, surveyor; J. H. Shober, continuing as district attorney; J. H. D. Street. L. J. Beck and J. L. Noble, county commissioners.

Early Representatives

Members of the house of representatives from Gallatin County were: James Gallaher, 1865-1866; James Gallaher and J. R. Weston, 1867; Lester S. Willson and A. L. Shaffer, 1868; A. Lamme and V. A. Cockrill, 1869; C. M. Tate, 1870; A. B. Moore, 1874; R. P. Vivion, D. P. Hobbins, and Otho Curtis, 1876; W. L. Perkins, 1878; A. L. Corbly and Michael Hanley, 1880; Caldwell Edwards and H. J. Wright, 1882.

Territorial Council

Early members of the territorial council from Gallatin County were: F. G. Risk, 1865-66; Sample Orr, 1867; T. R. Edwards, 1868; J. P. Barnes, 1869; J. L. Noble, 1870; Phillip Thorpe, 1871; Owen Garrigan, 1872; Joseph J. Davis, 1873; J. J. Lewis, 1874; S. W. Langhorne and W. O. P. Hays, 1875; P. W. McAdow, 1876; W. O. P. Hays, 1878-1880 and George D. Thomas, 1882.

Gallatin County