Diary of Louis Letellier Reveals Frontier Struggles 1850s
The article recounts Louis D. Letellier a Canadian French carpenter who joined a fur company voyage to Fort Pierre in 1850, enduring fever ague and cholera on the Missouri frontier. It notes his schooling discipline and journey from St Louis to the frontier with Peter A. Sarpy and Henri Picotte guiding hires.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Northwestern
South Dakota Historical Society
Louis D. Letellier
Fort Benton
Letellier
Quebec
Louis
United States
St. Louis
Buffalo
Chicago
Missouri
American Fur Co
Peter A. Sarpy
Fort Pierre
Henri Picotte
Sarpy
Elie Bedard
Hazardous Oakes voyage ends in Montana steamer legend
The steamer Oakes, a 75 foot stern wheeler built by James A. Talbot to haul coal from the North Fork, navigated the North Fork Flathead River in May 1892 with captains Steve Lereau and Christian Prestleye and a 12 man crew. The project, born from Talbot’s vision to spur rail and town growth around Columbia Falls, faced brutal rapids and seasonal floods. The derelict boiler rests under a Glacier National Park bridge, a relic of a bold but ill fated enterprise.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Glacier National Park
Flathead
Montana
Oakes
North Fork
Flathead River
James A. Talbot
Butte
Flathead Country
Columbia Falls
Talbot
Great Northern
Steve Lereau
Christian
Prestleye
Doyle
Claude Slemmer
Mike Shannon
Bob Hunter
Tom McDonald
Slim
Bad Rock Canyon
North Fork Oakes Disaster Ends First and Last Voyage
The steamer Oakes, on a perilous Flathead River run, capsizes after battling rapids near Canyon Creek. Crew members, led by Slemmer and Shannon, improvise rope work and rafts to reach shore as others drift toward Belton and Columbia Falls. Only two men, Mike Shannon and Claude Slemmer, survive to tell the tale.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Shannon
Hunter
Slemmer
Slim
Middle Fork
North Fork
Glacier National Park
Whitefish Mountains
Canyon Creek
Oakes
Christian Prestleye
Talbot
Flathead
Kalispell
Columbia Falls
Claude Slemmer
Slimmer
Belton
Tom MacDonald
Butte
Mike Shannon
MacDonald Creek
Belton Station
Aiittle
Soldier Shot by Billings Police After Escape Attempt
Lloyd H. Krohn a self described army sergeant AWOL from Fort Lawton Washington was wounded in Billings after fleeing from Patrolman Virgil Malone and Patrolman William Scott. He admitted thefts in Miles City and said he had been absent without leave for over 39 days and had disposed of stolen goods in Seattle.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Billings
Lloyd H. Krohn
Virgil Malone
Fort Lawton
Wash
Krohn
Miles City
William Scott
Malone
Seattle
Cyclone Turns Away Pest From Camp
Letellier recalls a cyclone striking at night as cholera patients were sheltered. Trees fell, two men stayed behind, but by morning the camp was cleared of immediate deaths and the pest seemed driven off. The account links English mastery to brutal discipline and a dramatic escape from disease.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Letellier
Fort Pierce Fortified Post Reveals Three Social Classes
Letellier details a wooden fort near Fort Pierce, measuring 174 by 206 feet with a 12 foot stockade and diagonal bastions. Inside were eight employee houses and shops, with residents divided into three classes led by the “white Indians” who spoke English and Sioux and served as interpreters and trade mediators. The feast tradition included dog stew served on guests’ own plates.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fort Pierce
Teton
Bad River
Letellier
Tax collections rise in Montana counties in 1941 second half
All Montana counties report higher tax receipts for the second half of 1941 than the same period in 1940. The statewide increase reflects growing revenue as counties collect more from property and other levies during the period.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana
Tick Death in Ouray Cabin Fire
Dominik Sighal was killed in Ouray Colorado when a wood tick embedded in his shoulder. While burning out the tick his clothing caught fire and he burned as he fled his cabin dying shortly after.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dominik Sighal
Ouray
Colo
Employment in Argentina Breaks Local Records
A report notes Argentina sees unprecedented job growth, with hiring across sectors shattering previous monthly totals. Analysts cite rising figures in manufacturing and services as the main drivers of the surge.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Argentina
Also Mentioned on This Page
Frontier
J. H. Ridenour
South Fork
Baby Canyon
Coram
Red Lick
Red Licks
Jim Talbot
Glacier Park Station
Shannon S
Mike
Ona Munson
Billings Police
Wappen
Gu Ens
Jeter Saat
Sunny Brook
Cheerful
National Distillers Products Corp
New York
Lydia E. Pinkham
Pinkham
NESCO
Nesco Products
Montana HarDware Co
Great Falls
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