Jan. 28 – On this day in Montana history in 1865 Montana Territorial government authorized the 84

brand and trademark. Thomas Pitt was authorized to use the “84” brand “on all his property, horses,

mules, cattle, hogs, sheep and all personal property of every description or species.”  The official

registration of brands came later. Why 84? Pitt was an admirer of abolitionist John Brown, and a line in

the famous song “John Brown’s Body” notes that his knapsack bore the number 84. It was said that Pitt

loved to sing the song in a booming voice, and the line earned him the nickname “84.”