The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-13

retained For an account OF this inter-
esting event Montana is indebted to the
late Lieut. j. H. Bradley Seventh in
fantry, who. under the nom de plume
OF Cavalier" contributed to one OF the
early numbers of the Benton Record an
article entitled "A Plea for Fort Ben
ton" 1t was suggested by the name
taken by the publication mentioned,
the Fort" being omitted, and the gen.
eral tendency at that time to designate
the town Benton" instead OF Fort
Benton Ben s,,. The plea was en- e'1 ~ EN-.
article Lieutenant Bradley recited the
manner of the christening Of the old
fort, which happy event occurred on
Christmas eve. 1850. when Major Gull
bertson and his so or 20 subordinates
met to celebrate the occasion. In the
midst of the carnival that prevailed,
the governor addressed the assembly.
recounting the noble qualities OF one
Of Americas grandest sons, dwelling
upon his services in behalf OF the fur
company, and proposed that the post
from that time forward be known as
Fort Benton.
The proposition was assented to with
loud acclaim, and so 1t was For Ben
ton was named in honor of Thomas II.
Benton. the distinguished senator from
Missouri. who was attorney for the
company. and in that capacity. and
OtncTWlSes ndo leUQeTeQ NdlueQ 8cINICc
to these pioneers of the upper Missouri.
Besides thus supplying an account and
authority for the dedication OF this his
toric fort, tho article / have referred
to presents at the same time lively
picture of life under gala circumstan-
ces at one of these remote-from-civili-
zation trading posts. 1t shows at one
glance something of the character of
the bourgeoise; commanding. authori-
tative and influential, and OF the mot
ley rctinuc of 'retainers with which he
is surrounded voyageurs. trappers.
traders. hunters. interpreters. etc, all
Of careless. happy-go-lucky DISPOSE
gency is presented. as fearless as IT,
gers. The .bourgeoise. or governor. is
supreme in authority: no rule, no other
government but his. is known. Never
was the feudal lord more completely in
authority over his vassals. The stars
and stripes that float from the bastion
is a reminder that the government at
Washington may still live. but what do
they know OF its laws or care for Its
authority?
At Fort Benton there was employed
from so to 100 men, engaged in various
capacities, and quite number OF those
who were with the company in the SOS
are still in the land of the living. well
known and highly respected citizens of
the state. Charles Mortier. known as
"Old Man Rondi." died only recently
at Fort Benton, having resided in that
region go years. He was one of the
Kipp party that built a fort at the
Marias in 1881, and he also help to con-
struct Fort Benton. He was the last of
the voyageurs that antedate Fort Ben
ton. 1t is a fact somewhat remarkable
when the circumstances of The situa-
ton are considered, not overlooking
the treacherous character of the Black
fAat Fx.<.xx he f,f Heb 81
Fort Benton in 1876 until the discovery
of gold brought a new population to
the country, the Indians had not the
satisfaction of counting many "coups''
that included the denizens of the fort.
There were remarkably few violent
deaths. and, 1t might be added, deaths
OF any character. OF course IL was the
policy of the company to cultivate the
good favors of the Indians and to keep
on friendly terms with them, which
was successfully accomplished under
the sagacious management Of Alexand-
er Culbertson.
After Lewis and Clark. who were not
sojourners in, but simply travellers
through the country, the pioneers of
the upper Missouri river. and of what
Is now Montana. were Kenneth Nc
Kenzie, James Kipp and Alexander
Culbertson. A brief sketch of these men
ought to fit in Interestingly here.
MChtUZlt Is a maine the
fur trade from the time King Charles
chartered the Hudson Bay company.
He was never at Fort Benton, but IL
was he who as governor at Fort
Union, sent Kipp to the Marias to es-
tablish a fort and trade with the
Blackfeet. Mckenzie came to America
in the employ of Hudson Bay company.
He served before the mast" feached a
post of authority, and quit the COM
pany in 1920. He then started on an
exploration trip on his own account,
and in 1922 was located near st. Paul,
on the Mississippi river. In 1929 he be-
came a member of the American Fur
company, and in their interest went to
the upper Missouri, where he establish
ed Fort Union. He resigned in 1899,
and spent the rest of his days in st.
Louis.
James Kipp was the forerunner of
all the fur traders of the upper Mis-
souri,. Born of French parents, near
Montreal. March Is. 17ss. he left his
home in 1905 to become trapper and
hunter in the Red river country. In
1918 he passed to the upper Missouri
and entered the service of the Ameri-
can Fur company, having charge of
the trading post of Fort Clark at the
Mandan village (where Lewis and
Clark's party passed the winter of 1904
1909 and where he remained until 1880.
on the Missouri river from Fort Pierre
| to Fort Benton, he retired in 1866. and
became a farmer in Clay county. Mo.
| In 1876 he revisited the scenes of his
| former exploits and spent some days
at Fort Benton. Maj. Kipp in his prime
Is described as a man of powerful ply
| sique, six feet two inches in height. as
| straight as an arrow, and with brown
| hair and blue eyes. He was well edu-
Gated and kept a diary for 40 years OF
| his life and experiences among the In
| dians. which, unfortunately. was lost
| in the fire that reduced his home &c
| ashes in 1870. At the same time q
| large and valuable collection of Indiar
| curios, a museum in itself. was wholly
| destroyed. He died at Barry. Clay
| county. Mo-, July 2, 1880, at the ripe
age of 80. Joseph Kipp Of Northern
| Montana is a son and the only livins
| child of this famous pioneer. and has
many OF his good traits.
Alexander Culbertson was closely
/