The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-23
JAMES HARNESS. DIARY.
A Valuable and Interesting Addition
to the Library Of the His
torical Association.
The Writer Game to Montana in
1862 and Ia Now Living
at st. Louis.
Father Ds smet and Ex-Gov. Hauser
Journeyed with Him First White
Woman to Visit Great Falls.

One Of the most interesting diaries in
the possession OF the Montana Historical
society ia that of James Hardness. received
by Col. W. j.. Wheeler yesterday from that
gentleman, who is at present residing in
st. Louis. In = letter accompanying the
diary Mr. Hardness says:
I'm the spring of 1862 I organized & COM
pany with the paid-up capital OF 100000
to trade with the Indinns aad miner in the
territory tributary to the upper Missouri
river. The company consisted of Joseph
LA Barge, james Hardness, John I. La
Barge, Eugene Jacard and William Galpir,
the firm name of La Barge, Hark-
ness d Company. Joseph and John B. La
Barge were she best pilots on the upper
Missouri river and William dalpin had an
intimate knowledge of the Indian trade,
having been in tho employ of Pierre Chou
teau, Jr., for many years. -
II knew that the river tapped that i'm
mense territory that now forms four states
and that in tho near future a lucrative and
extensive trade would be done with the In
dians, miners and settlers. The company
owned two good ates mboats, the Emile"
and the "Shrsvsport,' both we'll adapted
to that trade. We bu;lt a store at Fort
Benton which was we'll stocked. We also
built the first saw mill and grist mill in the
then territory of Montana. MY prediction
Of the great trade that would spring up has
been fulfilled q thousand fold. My object
in keeping the journal was ~two-fold-to
show tha daily progress Of the trip from st.
Louis to Fort Benton and for the informa-
ton Of my family in case Of my death; and
the facts and dates given therein are cor
rect as they were written ct the time OF
their occurrence. Il will be Of value to the
historian in the future and therefore | give
it to the Historical Society OF Montana for
publication" H.
In the diary Mr.. Hardness tells an inter
ssting story OF the voyage from st. Louis.
He was accompanied BY bis daughter Mar
garet. CAPT. La Barge, Who also brought
Robt. Lemon. Capt. Nick Wall. Father De
Smet. and Giles Fillsy and son Frank. of
Messts. Galpin, Larkpenteur and Dauphin,
Indian traders. got on board at different
points on the river and came up to Fort
Benton. The steamer Emile left ST. Lo1ia
on the 18th Of May, 1862, loaded with pas
sengers and freight for Fort Benton, and
AL COIAD hAy ntbA tAO oAIOy0ROLb, tAU ObuOE
boat belonging to the company. arrived on
the 18th day OF June, thirty-four days, a
very quick voyage. The steamers Spread
Eagle and Key West arrived a day or two
after. On the evening of their arrival at
Fort Benton the partners held a meeting
and resolved - build . fort q trading post
one mile and q half above the American
Fur company's fort, which they very soon
proceeded to do. and named it Fort La
Ba,ge. 1t was laid out 200 by 800 feet, tc
be a stookade. In the meantime they put
up large tents for storerooms, and trade
opened briskly. Madam La Barge and
Margaret Hardness drove the first corner
stake in laying out the new fort.
June 30 a party was made up to visit the
great Falls Of the Missouri. 1t consisted OF
Eugene Jacard (a partner), Father De
Smet, Giles Filley and his son Frank. Ma
dame La Barge, Miss Hardness, Mrs. Gull
bertson and her son Jack, W. G.. Hardness,
dotte. the guide. A day or more Was spent
visiting all the falls and in admiring their
beauty and grandeur, and then the party
returned. highly eratiied with their visit.
The above-named ladies are said to have
been the frat white women who ever visited
Paris Gibson has named ono of the public
parks at Great Falls "MarRarst square,"
In the meantime trade was good. On
their return nearly all OF the passengers
had gone to their destinations, Haussr and
| Wall to visit Gold Greek, whore James and
Granville Stuart and A.. Sterile Blake and
w. P. Meadow were running the FIRST sluice
boxes in mining for gold in Montana.
These gentlemen afterward went on to Ban
mack.
July 2 William Terry brought from the
mines 81, 400 in gold dust to Benton. He
same with Frank Worden's train to get the
goods which enme up tho river on the boats
for Worden u Higgins trading store at
Misseuln. Mai. VIM. Graham also came
along from Deer Lodge to buy goods.
July 8 Mr.. Hardness started with several
loads Of goods and arrived at John Grants
place (now Deer Lodge City, on the 23d,
and rented a store room from Chick Wall.
Here he built n trading post, which he
called La Barge City. Mr.. Harness stayed
there until October and then oturned to
St. Louis, and the ne1t year came up to
Fort Benton on his steamer Emile, with
more goods for his company.
His diary Rivsa n full history of his
second voyage and OF his trading opera-
lions in Montana, and will be read with
great interest when published by the His
torical society. Mr.. Hardness is still living
in st. Louis, with his family around him,
md enjoys his well-earned wealth, partly
made in the early and rough days of Mon
tana.
Go TO Parehen \ Co. for your grass seeds
fresi, and clean.
Mysteries OF the Court OF London, by g.. w.
NJ. reynolds in eight volumes, at The bee Hive.
Price 80 cents per volume