The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-31
PIONEERS OF GALLAT|N.
Vice President Walter Cooper's Re-
port OF the Work He Has Done
for the Society.
A Precedent Which It Is Hoped
Al Like Officers Will Here
after Follow.
Stories Of tho Dangers E~ncountcred and
the Hardships Endured by u Few
of the Old-Timers.

tho Aardships Endured by = Few
of the Old Timers.
At the meeting of the Society of Montans
Pioneers in Helena last "week, it WAS the
general sentiment that tn Q membership OF
the society was not 30 largo rs it should be-
1t WAS felt that in each county there should
be an organization, and that the vioe-presi-
dents, of which each county has one,s should,
during the year, endeavor to get all the
members in possible. 1t is an honor roll
from which no Montana pioneer can afford
to be absent.
Some OF the vice-presidents recognized
what the duties of their office were, and at
tended to them; bat in a majority of cases
tkese officers made no effort to increase the
membership. Among the reports handed
In was one by Walter Cooper, vice-presi-
dent for Gallatin county. 1t sets forth the
duties of q vice-presidsnt in a very enter
tanning manner and may be e guide for the
officers of other counties during the COM
ing year. BY the courtesy of Secretary
Hedges The INDEPENDENT is enabled to pub
lish it 10 as a whole. 1t is dated Aug. %,
addressed to the president and secretary OF
the Society of Montana Pioneers, and 10 as
follows:
'sScar,ely knowing the duties of the
county vics-president of this society. l
have assumed that one of the main objects
of its organization was to gather informa-
ton concerning, and discover the where
abouts Of all persons who came to what is
now ths state of Montana, during the year
1904 .~I rrawfo,x fhorotn in nr1ar tn IHan-
tify them with the organization for the
general use of the society, and mutual
benefit Of the pioneers themselves; as we'll
az to preserve and secure historical facts,
that may be useful and valuable to the
state in the future.
81 find upon investigation that a large
number Of residents Of Gallatin county are
entitled to membership. having reached
what is now Montana during the year 1864
or earlier.
edward Hubbard of Bozeman, now oc-
cupying the position of iailer in this
county, is perhaps one of the earliest living
pioneers of the state; he was born in the
state of Virginia, is 55 years OF age-emi-
grated to Silkirk settlement, northwest
territory in the year 1854 at the early age of
IL. In 1855 he was ono of q trading party
who traded witt the Gros Ventres Indians
on Milk river, and continued in the trading
business in that vicinity for three years;
in 1858 he worked for the American Fur
company at Fort Benton; was Suffers clerk
for the Mullen expedition, and at the mines
on Gold creek in 1862; is an honorably
trusty man. and faithful friend.
"John s. Mendelhall. one of the most wide
ly known of our pioneers, went to Salt Lake
City in 1856. in 1857 he held the position Of
chief clerk for the firm of Gilbert u Gerish
dealers in general merchandise atSalt Lake
City; this firm sold the outfit to the train
from Arkansas, afterwards massacred at
Mountain meadows.
"Mr. Nendelhall recalls the ciroum-
stances, having had charge of the sale.
These unfortunate people reached Salt
Lake City early in the fall of 1857, and re-
manned some time debating whether to a k
mia: they finally decided to favor the
southern route and at once purchased sup
plies and started ON their fatal journey.
The dreadful massacre took place some
three weeks later at Mountain meadows,
the horrible details of which shocked the
civilized world. MIR. Mendelhall passed the
spot thirty days after the massacre, the
scene was beyond descriptions; the %scantily
buried bodies had been uncovered by
wolves, and lay scattered about the field
half devoured. Strong men as they gazed
upon the awful scene wept like children.
Ou6 uuUuI0u Auu tWSAJy lucu, WOlAGA ollo
children persisted there; slaughtered by
demons, white and red; women scalped,
and clasping in their skeleton arms the
dead bodies of their children were among
the sights before him, creating a lasting I'M
pressing upon his mind that thirty-fve
years Of western life could not efface.
"Mr. Nendelhall went from Salt Lake to
California in the fall of 1857 and returned
with Gen. johnson and remained in the
suffers department until the spring of 1862
when he came to Montana, reaching Lemhi
enrly in June, and Gold creek July Is. 1862.
He cast his lot in Gallatin county 1864, and
has lived there ever since; is the head of
one of the largest mercantile houses in the
state, has accumulated a comfortable for
tune.
"W. H. Tracy and Daniel E. Rouse both
arrived in Montana in 1862. and are among
Pease, Ira Il. Stanton, Hiram A. Stone, Il.
r. Menfee. JAS. H. Gallop and Sanford
Ruffner are all 1862 men, substantial and
we'll TODD farmers and excellent citizens.
II. II. Crawford and A.. Nichols also came
to Montana in 1862, and have lived most of
the time in Gallatin county.
"W. II. Babcock is one of the very early
settlers in the eastern portion of Gallatin
valley; owned at enc time part of the pres
emit site of Bozeman; has done much to de-
velop the resources of this county. He
came to Montana in 1862. John +. Work
nLo hilAseN cSily IL lco-s du0 LAS OooA
identified with the substantial interest of
Gallatln county for the past twenty years.
prominent among the pioneers of 1863
may be mentioned Nelson story, Of Boze-
man. Mr.. story was born in the state of
Ohio in 1888, arrived in Alder gulch in
june, 1863, and has since been identified
with the solid interests of the state; has
been extensively engaged in raising stock;
is also engaged in the milling and banking
business; he is president of the Gallatin
Valley National bank, and has accumu-
lated a large fortune. Mrs. Ellen Trent
Story, wife of Nelson Story, is also an 1863
pioneer. she arrived with her husband,
and has lived in Montana almost contin-
uously since.
Hon. Ward A. CockrilI is an 1863 man;
was born IN l843, and served one term in
the territorial legislature. Hon. Loren b.
Olds, late state senator from Madison
county. is now q resident of Bozeman: was
born in 1889; came to Alder gulch Oct. 20,
1868: served as q member in the lower house
in the territorial legislature in 1876, and as
n member of the council in 1883. Mr.. Odds
has been constantly operating in mines with
success.
"Rohecia Olds, wife of Hon. L. B. Odds,
is one of the lady pioneers of 1868, she ar
rived with her parents at Bannaok, Nov. 5,
1868; has since lived in Montana.
George W.. BeckhOrn, q prosperous far
ner In Gallatin valley, was born in 1896; he
arrived IN Bannack early in 1868 and is a
native of New York. Mr.. Beckhorn is
widely known as n great hearted, whole
son!eo bschs4or. The writer accidentally
found his cabin on the Boulder IN the win