This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Pioneer Martins First Settlers on Upper Marias River
In April 1884 James Martin and family became early ranchers on the upper Marias while Blackfeet raids troubled stock. Neighbors include Henry Powell with an Indian family and Joe Kipp at Fort Conrad. The Martins built a cabin addition, endured smallpox graves, and traded with local Indians, feeding raiders to avert conflict. Fort Benton and nearby posts anchor this frontier tale of settlement, danger, and resilience.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Martin
Upper
Marias River
James W. Schultz
Henry Powell
Fort Benton
Montana
Powell
Barney Ausburn
Martins
Marins
Ausburn
Martin
Rocky Mountains
Milk River
William Turner, Sr
William
James
Mgr. Martin
John Zimmerman
Marias
Square Butte
Pan
Lyg- Sol Abbott
Sorrell Horse
Willow Rounds
Abbott Joe Powell
Abbott
Mucksimun
Abbott Place
Sullivan Ranch
Abbott and
Joe Hughes
James Willard Schultz
Nah-tah-ki
Coulee
Schultz
Medicine Nose
Toole County
Hart Merriam Schultz
Joe Kipp
Fort Conrad
Dry Fork
I. G. Baker and Company
Fort Macleod
Kipp
James Kipp
American Fur Company
The
James McDevitt
Blackfeet Reservation
B. T
Taylor
Schultz Coulee
T. S
Martin Boys
Healy
Chateau
Willow Rounds Ford
Miller’s Coulee
Healy Coulee
Wallace Martin
Wallace
Canada
Frank McDermott
Clark Brothers
Martin Place
McDermott
Mrs. Martin
Father
Badger Creek
the Marias
John Grochon
Bill Johnson
Diamond Willow Ranch
West Butte
Grochon
Johnson
Spring Coulee
Stone House
Rocky Springs
Hank
Mickey O'Leary
Texas
Barney
Marsh
Sol Abbott
Olaf Field
Great Falls
Great Northern
Shelby
Charles
Harry
Jessie Martin Pruett