Bancroft Works

Bancroft, Hubert H. Bancroft Works, Volume 31, History Of Washington, Idaho, and Montana, 1845-1889. San Francisco: The History Company. 1890.

1863 Settlers in Lewis and Clarke County, Montana

Nicholas Kessler, Helena, born in Germany, May 26, 1833, immigrated to the U. S. in 1854, going first to Ohio and then to Illinois, where he was in the grain, flour, and general produce business. In 1800 he went to Pike’s Peak, Colorado, where he mined in different localities until 1803, when he went to “Virginia City, where he kept a bakery and a drinking-saloon for a few months. In 1864 went home to Germany, returning to Montana in 1804 and establishing a brewery within two miles of Helena. He also made brick at the rate of 2,000,000 or 3,000,000 … Read more

1862 Montana Settlers, Forts and Valleys

Fort Benton Settlers in 1862 Andrew Dawson was Agent in Charge George Stull and M. Carroll, Chief Clerks Hunick, Sub-clerk Henry Bostwick and Francis Veielo, Interpreters Benjamin De Roche, Joseph Spearson, Charles Choquette, Peter Choquette, Michael Champagne, and Henry Robert, Interpreters and Traders Vincent Mercure and Joseph Laurion, Carpenters John Nubert, Tailor Henry Martin, Blacksmith George Weipert, Tinner Paul Longleine, Overseer of Workmen Antoine Burdeau, Clement Cournoys, Charles Cournoys, Charles Cunand, Edward Cunand, Milton Foy, Joseph Hule, William Keiser, John Largent, Joseph Lucier, William Truesdale, Isaiah Tremblez, Employees Daniel Carafel, a Freeman Philip Barnes and Henry Mills, Negro Employees James … Read more

1862 James L. Fisk, Minnesota Wagon Train

In August a train arrived from Minnesota, under James Reed, like the others, in quest of Salmon River, but willingly tarrying in the Beaverhead Valley; and several weeks later a larger train under James L. Fisk, which left Minnesota in July, by a route north of the Missouri, and was convoyed over the plains by a government escort. They were destined to Washington, but the greater part of the company resolved to put their fortunes to the test in the Rocky Mountains. The company consisted of 110 men, and an unknown number of women and children. Their names, so far … Read more

1859 Petition for Bitterroot County, Montana

In the winter of 1859 a petition had been addressed to the legislature of Washington by the settlers of Bitterroot Valley and the Flathead agency, to have a county set off, to be called Bitterroot County. This petition had seventy-seven names attached, and chiefly these of the Mullan wagon-road company, who could hardly be called settlers, although a few names of actual pioneers are to be found among them. The petition does not appear to have been presented until the session of 1860-1, when two counties, called Shoshone and Missoula, were created out of the region east of the later … Read more