Pioneer Trader Recounts Early Fur Posts Life
Francois La Rue, a half breed trapper and interpreter, described life along the upper Missouri in the early days. He recalled Sioux bands, Gros Ventres and Crees, and how traders faced constant danger as they rode the frontier, including an escape tale from a band of Sioux in the 1860s. The interview, from 1883, was preserved in a Montana scrapbook and recently rediscovered.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Francois la Rue
Gros Ventres
Canadian
Missouri River
Omaha
Charles B. Smith
Helmville
Wartime Tales of Fort Union and Sioux Conflicts
A 1848 1853 interview recounts life as an interpreter for Hudson’s Bay Co along the Missouri. The narrator describes dangers from Sioux Blackfeet Gros Ventres Crees and Assinniboines, a trader Pierre killed, horse thefts, buttressed by a dramatic escape from a Sioux war party with his French half breed ally and a Canadian companion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hudson's Bay Co
Missouri
Fort Union
Pierre
Evenin
Wood Mountain
Assinniboines
Gros Ventres
Gros Ventres Fort
Mandan
Fur Company
Saskatchewan
Sweet Grass Hills
Pa-wa-ka-we-gen
Salteaux
Follerin
Belly River
Vermillion Hills
Sasketchewan
Coulee
Governor Ayers Attends Montana Cowboys Reunion in Great Falls
Governor Roy E. Ayers and notable Montanans including Levi J. Burd and EH Guardi accompanied by Dick Sanderville join the Montana Cowboys association reunion and banquet set for February 24 in Great Falls. Serg. Matt Morgan of Havre customs service accepts invitation. Morgan formerly worked on Circle outfit and several historic ranches such as D K Circle and Circle C.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roy E. Ayers
Levi J. Burd
Browning Stockman
EH Guardipe
Dick Sanderville
Montana
Montana Cowboys Association
Great Falls
Matt Morgan
Federal Customs Service
Havre
Morgan
Circle
Canada
Old Book Reveals Pioneer Prices and Thanksgiving Supply
Records from 1877 show Overland freight from St Paul at 1.90 per hundredweight and Sugar at 20 cents a pound. Lemons a dollar a dozen, butter 35–40 cents, eggs 40 cents a dozen, and tea one dollar per pound. Various soldiers’ luxuries and a mid November Thanksgiving menu are detailed along Fort Buford.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Paul
Mondak
Mont
Fort Union
Leighton & Jordan
Fort Buford
Dakota Territory
Missouri River
Wolf Point
New York
R. H. Day
Sanders
Malaga
Huston
Roger Shows Em Roger Pryor in a Music Rehearsal
Roger Pryor, director of Gulf Screen Guild Theater and son of Arthur Pryor, demonstrates his trombone during a rehearsal. He remains a musician as a sideline while his main job is hosting CBS Sunday show. The piece also notes era prices for tobacco, candy, clothing, furs, tools, and goods, plus a brief obituary mention of Jacob Wertz.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roger Pryor
Gulf Screen Guild Theater
Roger
Arthur Pryor
Oscar Bradley
Screen Guild
Pryor
Richland County Water Conservation Efforts Expand Irrigation
Richland County farmers boosted flood and pump irrigation, building 103 stock reservoirs and developing 3,163 acres for flood irrigation since 1932. The program, led by Earl W. Bjork with help from Theodore Fosse, supports alfalfa and feed crops, improving rangeland use and livestock productivity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana
Richland County
Earl W. Bjork
Yvecur
Bjork
Theodore Fosse
Cascade County
Yellowstone
Bird Shelters Planned on Smith Lake by Flathead Group
Four bird nesting areas will be constructed on Smith lake by the bird committee of the Flathead Sportsmens association. Platforms eight feet square will be built a foot above the water, surrounded by willows to conceal nests. Ward Nichols chairs the committee as the area is deemed ideal for duck breeding with food ample but cover scarce.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Smith Lake
Flathead Sportsmens Association
Ward Nichols
North Dakota offices carry historic names tying to trading posts
The article recalls the John Thompson company trading post at Wolf Point with James Boyd, who once cooked at its camp there. It also mentions Peter Nelson and Fred Zach as perpetuated names in North Dakota offices, reflecting local memory of early enterprise.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North Dakota
Peter Nelson
Fred Zach
John Thompson Company
Wolf Point
James Boyd
Seed Growers Elect Halvorson President
In January at the Montana Seed Growers annual meeting, F. A. Halvorson of Lonepine was elected president. Harry B. Allen Volberg was named vice president, Ralph D. Mercer became secretary treasurer, and the board includes Hans B. Erickson Amos Umely Malta and John Kenny.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana
Montana Seed Growers Association
F. A. Halvorson
Lonepine
Harry B. Allen
Volberg
Ralph D. Mercer
Service
Association
Prattenon
Amos Umely
Malta
John
Also Mentioned on This Page
By Francois LA Rue
Cowboys
N. Y
Buford
Durham Tobacco
Munson
Harvey
W. B. Jordan
Jacob Wertz
Poplar
Swift
Conoco
Leertra
Ceca Ocha
Olear
Bend
C.J. Dean
N. E. Cor
Seed Growers
Halvorson
Enny
Bese
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!