Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-09-18
THE PIONEERS OF MONTANA.
The Boys of '64" Meet at the Court
House
And Effect a Permanent Organiza-
tiOn.
Full Proceedings of the Important Meet
ing.
DAILY Herald September 10th. !

Pioneers of Montana that has ever assem-
bled for twenty years, occurred at tn
court house in this city to-day. 1t was
picnic" for the old-timers. About on
hundred were present, gathered togethe
from all parts of Montana, and many wer
the cordial grasps of hands by friends VIII
had not met before for many years, ant
some who had not seen each other sine
the exciting and trying days of '63 and g.
| in Alder Gulch. 1t was indeed happ,
gathering of " the boys" if we may so cal
the gray-haired, bald-headed, bearded men
who were the pioneers of civilization il
this great northwest. And as friend tool
friend by the hand many interesting rem
iniscences of early days would be recounted
and not infrequently tear would dim the
eye when the name of some old cOmpan
ion and friend would be mentioned wht
had passed away to the other land-haG
gone to prospect the great unknown coun
try-had been laid away to his long res
up in the gulch, on the mountain side o.
in the lovely valley. Truly, there are only
:" few of us LETT" still camping on the
trail" What tales could these pioneers
tell What history is contained in theil
lives Their days of pioneering are over
May their lives be peaceful and happy, and
may they reap an abundant harvest from
the seed they have sown.
The meeting was called to order at 1C
o'clock by Sam1 7. Hauser, who nominal
ed as President, Hon. James Fergus, OF
Meagher County, who was unanimously
elected.
Upon taking the chair, Mr.. Fergus said
GENTLEMEN: Twenty-Five years ago
to-day l crossed the place where Helena
now stands in company with David Bentley
With the exception of some agency build
ings on Sun River, and two or three half
breed cabins where Deer Lodge now stands,
there was not house between Benton and
the Bannock mines. The only denizens
here were large band of antelope A few
months later / crossed it again with Geo.
Beatty, now present. He was trying to
convince me there was hell somewhere
l have been trying to find it ever since
but l don't think it is in Montana We had
what my Christian friends call sheep and
goats, but we killed the goats, and that ac-
counts for the fact that us Old-timers are
all good people, or l would not have come
over 200 miles by private conveyance to
look into your kindly faces. We were from
the North and the South, from the East
and the West, were Yankees and South
erners, Union and Secesh, Federal and
Confederate, but the friction of intercourse
has rubbed off the rough corners. Now we
are all Montanians, and / am happy to
meet you. Although unused to presiding
over deliberate bodies, l would rather oc-
cupy this position than be President of
the United States. Again thank you.
DR.. Mussigbrodt, of Deer Lodge county,
and w. w. DeLacy, of Lewis and Clarke,
were elected Vice Presidents; John Potter,
of Gallatin, Secretary and Geo. w. Irwin,
H., of Silver Bow, Asst. Secretary, and the
gentlemen announced their respective
positions.
Col. Sanders being called for, stated
briefly the objects for which the meeting
was called the principal ones being to get
together the Pioneers of Montana for
mutual association, and to collect and put
in shape the early history of Montana.
Upon motion, committee on Constitu-
ton and BY Laws was appointed, consist
ing of Fergus, DeLacy, Mussigbrodt, Potter,
Sanders, Pemberton, Chumasero, Johnston,
Toole, and Jos. Brown.
Appropriate remarks at some length
were made by Sanders, Pemberton, Chum-
asero, DeLacy and Hauser.
Upon motion of Col Sanders, the follow
ing resolution was adopted:
Resolred, That all persons that were
within the limits of Montana on or before
May 26, 1864, and all persons who had
their way to what is now the Territory of
be entitled to membership in
this association.
The "Old-timers' were then requested
to come forward and sign the book. This
was done for the reason that some might
be called away from the city before the
next meeting.
Upon motion of Henry Whaley, of
Meagher county, the following motion was
adopted:
Resolred, That all ladies who were resi-
tents of the Territory on the 26th of May,
1864. or who were then on their way to
Montana, be declared members of this as
In order to give the committee on Con-
,titution and By Laws time to report, the
meeting adjourned until 10 o'clock to-
morrow Thursday morning.
Daily Herald September llth.]
The association of Old Timers met at
he court house at 10 o'clock this morning,
pursuant to adjournment, and was called
% order by the President, James Fergus.
The court house was filled.
The President stated that he was author
zed to invite all the "Old Timers to at
end social reuLiOn at the residence of
Anton NJ Hotter Mr.. Hotter, who was
present, arose to remark that for fear of . |
mistake, he would inform his old friends