Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1890-02-06
JOHN X. BEIDLER.
Col Sanders Pays an Eloquent Tribute to the
Brave Frontiersman.

Following is the major portion OF
the address delivered by Col. Sanders
at the funeral services OF y. Beidler:
so far a. Mr.. Beidler's early life j.
concerned the citizens OF Montana
| have come to know but little, ior Will,
| lac was "a man Ot brave heart, ii did
not comprehend the lessons OF his
boyhood or his fancy. TheeXperience>
of hi, youth and manhood were the
property of every man with whom he
came in contact, and we only know
that in one OF those beautiful valleys
IN the great state of Pennsylvania,
| renowned a. the abode of scholars,
orators and statesmen, the home oi
great industries, that widen out into
the beautiful State OF Maryland. he
first saw the light of day. No sooner
had he arrived at the years when he
was to look after himself, when the
| turmoil-. the rewards OF the west lured
him thlt her, and he went TO the Terri
tory of Kansas, even, perhaps, before
it was created and while yet "a portion
oi Nebraska. We all know the ques-
tions that influenced that settlement
in the early days, and | have no dispo-
,ltion to recall them further than to
say that in troublous time, that came
to that community in 1875 he was
then an active man. lie became ac-
qualnted with John Brown and Joined
the forces of the iconoclast. When
larger schemes and great audaclty
took possession OF that old man :
mind and influence found expression
which lured him from Kansas to
Canada ami finally to West Virginia
and his death, Mr.. Beidler went to the
west ern part of Kansas IN what Is now
the State of Colorado. lie was ON.
of the first and most active oi her
| pioneers. Thence. in 1868, he cam,
to what was then "a great part OF the
| Territory of Idaho, and for more than
20 years it has been my fortune to
know him intimately here. From tn,
first time ] met him. IN January, S6i
] speak whereo. | know. Stundin.
before an audience az large II, tins, IN
the open air, for three long, perilou>
and exciting days, engaged with my
fellow citizens, who were strangers to
me, i'll an inquiry as TO the perpetra
ton of the crimes in this then youn-
community. where the authorities ol
sllenced, my attention was directed to
a young man, scarce - years oi age
perhap. 80. He seemed willing to dis
charge every duty that nece,sitated
every hardship. II was not my for
tune to speak To him at that time. bu,
he PROFOUNDLY impressed me "a beins
IA man VINO comprehended the -ignli
cance OF the occasion; vino knew that
courage, activity and resolution We're
the supreme duties oil the hour, and
who was ready to enter upon their
discharge. | afterward met him IN
Bannack. lie came across the stree,
aud shook me by the hand and intro
duced himself. recalling the events IN
the trial oi Geo. Ives, ten days pre-
vIous. lie was then about To under
take "A perilous Journey toward salt
Lake. Dade him goodbye, not think
in-. perhaps, that | should ever see
hIn more. Ia the course OF "A week he
returned with AN early pioneer to
whom Montana owe, much, Mr.. Neil
liowie, and gave into my possession
"A highway robber, Enthusiastically iden-
titled IN AN attempt at robbery ana
marked with their bullets. II was the
sense of some that the roUber be taken
TO Baunack, but that proposition in
volved goins through the iormalitles