Half way between Roundup and Melstone, across the river and through the trees, is a tiny town of consequence called Musselshell. The town, the river, and the county all share the same name. Though few in number, Musselshell has stood through the years to remain a solid community.
In information gleaned from "Horizons o'er The Musselshell", a collection of historical stories from local families, the early families to the towns area were; John and William Cooley, who both married ladies named Carrie, Ezra Cartwright, (brother to John's wife), Thomas Akers, Jacobs brothers, Theodore Archer (married to John Cooley's oldest daughter), the Harvey family and the Turley family. These interesting family stories are available in the "Horizons O'er the Musselshell" for sale at the Museum.
According to the book, John Cooley's Carrie was the first white woman to come to the Musselshell Valley. The Native Americans held pow-wows nearby and traveled through their pastures. It is said in the account that Mrs. Cooley "took care of a Piegan Indian girl that became ill, until they (tribe) returned
for her." John Cooley was instrumental in furnishing supplies for the first Musselshell school, of which his three daughters and two Wallace boys were the first students.
"At one time Musselshell (the town), had two stores, three saloons, two hotels, two blacksmith shops, a real newspaper, a good stiff poker game, and dances that were attended by people from Canyon Creek, Pease Bottom, Grass Range, Forest Grove, Junction, or any place within sixty-five miles." Today, the town has a few handfuls of homes, a cute post office, two picturesque churches, volunteer fire department, and a well-kept old school no longer in use except as a community center, and an annual dinner theater fund-raiser used for the upkeep of the building.
Though I could not find information that tells when the town was established, John Cooley came to the Musselshell area in 1882. It seems as though that was previous to the formation of the town.
If looking for a drive in the country, keep the little town in mind. It is one of the most beautiful drives in the county, and there is plenty of wildlife to see along the way.
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