The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-05
John S. MENDENHALL
An Interesting Sketch of His Eariy
Life in Montana
AMONG THE FIRST SETTLERS
Friends Who Shared With Him the
VicissItudes of Pioneer Days
Attended the Funeral of the
Veteran Trail GIazer.
Special Correspondence of the Standard.


John S. Mendenhall. who died here last
Saturday evening. was held from the
Episcopal church at . O'Clock this aft
ernoon and was the largest in the his
tory Of Bozeman The services were
conducted by Rev. +. y. Lewis. the
church being crowded and the street
near , : lined with the friends of the
deceased. The procession which left the
church after the services were over
was a half mile long, about 200 men
marching in line followed by - carri-
ages and cutters containing the friends
of the family were there TO pay their
last respects TO the dead. The long line
was led by the fire department fol-
lowed by the members of the Pioneer
society and Of the two Masonic lodges
then the hearse, the pan bearers and
friends of the deceased.
Mr.. Mendenhall was deputy grand
master of the Masons of the territory
Of Montana in 1871. lie was one OF the
first pioneers of the territory. coming
here when Montana's entire white pop
ulation did not number 80 persons. He
had been a resident of Bozeman for
more than 80 years, one of the most
universally liked and thoroughly re-
spected citizens Of this community. He
had served as county commissioner Of
Gallatin county a number of terms and
could have been elected to many Of
fees Of honor and trust, but he did not
care for these things. lie was always
a liberal and public spirited man. how
ever, a man who never sighted his
work but by his careful attention TO
his duties. built up one of the largest
businesses I'm this place. He leaves a
wife and one son. Samuel Mendenhall.
who will continue i'm the fine grocery
trade established by his father here.
Mr.. Mendenhall was GO years old in
L.
of Mr.. Mendenhalls old time friends
Mayor Frank l.. Benepe. Hon. Walter
Cooper. Robert L. Mcnefee Thomas
Lewis. John NJ. Robinson and John g.
Weaver Every business house in the
city closed from TO p. m. the hours
of the funeral and there was "A gloom
cast upon the whole city by the death
of this honest, upright citizen and pio-
neer.
Mr.. Mendenhall was born i'm Vevay.
Ind, from which place his parents
moved to Weston. Mo. and II was from
here in 1855 that Jack McndcnhalI"
then 10 years old. started for the great
and unknown West. lie got a position
as suffers clerk with Gilbert q Garrish
of Salt Lake city, leaving Leaven-
worth, Kan. I'm the spring Of 1855. for
Salt Lake. where he remained for two
years. In 1851 the Mormons enrolled
him as n mlitiaman, but gave him his
discharge in the fall OF that year and
he started south. went 10 San Bernar-
dino. Cal, from there north 10 San
Francisco, and shipped on a boat for
New York via Panama. He returned
TO his old home but left Weston. Mo. in
the spring Of 1858. went to Atkinson,
Kan. and again left for Salt Lake CITY,
making the trip on the old overland
stage. which ran once week from ST.
Joe, the trip consuming u days He
secured a position with Livingston.
Bell e. Co, and clerked for this COM
pany at Salt Lake until 1860. when a
body of troops being ordered up onto
Snake river. in Idaho. 10 form a post
upon the old emigrant trail. he was
placed i'm charge Of n stock Of goods by
Livingston, Bell x Co. and sent along
The troops were ordered back TO Salt
Lake City in the fall Of 1850. however
and I'm 1861 back 70 the states Mr.
Mendenhal then decided 10 leave early
I'm the spring for "A long prospecting
trip. In those DAYS gold was the star
Of Bethlehem which was leading pros
pectors into every part OF this great
wild country. to the exploration Of
every valley with the hope OF finding
rich placers. and this was what
brought Mr.. Mendenhall north into
Montana.
In the spring Of 1862. r. Menefec ~
this place and Jack Mendenhal left
with party Of % for Florence Wash.
intending 70 20 by way OF Snake river,
but they found that this route was not
open so early in the spring. and so
started north 70 sock n road over tho
mountains They left salt Lake city
May or 8. arriving 1T the present site
Of Blackfoot city. I'm Idaho. on the last
day Of May. where they crossed Snake
river. and on june 9 they arrived NJ
the former site Of the old Mormon fort.
Fort Lemlin. on Salmon river. Here
they found four men. John J. Hraly.
who Is now In Alaska. and the only
man Of this large party known % be
alive at this writing. aside from Mr.
Menefee being one Of them. They were
in an old cabin. with nothing TO eat.
and were upon tho point Of starving
These four men then Joined the party.
making % men In all. but after resting
and prospecting for seven DAYS here.
the party divided. Messrs. Mcndeuhall
and Menefee heading PARTY II n
men. which came east over the divide
for the first time Mr. Mcndanhan now
entered what was then the territory Of
Montana
The party from salt Lake city had
consisted Of seven bull teams. each
team consisting If six oxen. but ar Fort
Lemhi the wagons were all taken e.
pieces and thrown into the brush and
the extra supplies and provisions
cached in the ground. IUon returning
for these wagons that fan they found
all had been stolen. Pack saddle were
made. the oxen packed and four Of the
men on hors-f aek and the others afuIr
the march was commenced. The party !
had considerable trouble with the In
dams at Fort LeWhi. band ~ l@
bucks from the Flathaai country being .
down there for the purpose OF stealing .
horses from rho Snake Indians. and /
they ran of with the horses belonging /
To Neudenhall and Nauefee. They gat 1
their stock back. however. and al
though they had tried for long rlv. .
TO talk with the Indians. speaking % /
them in English. Snake EtE-aek and I
French. without making them under /
stand. by the happy thought ~ a /
F'renchman in the partly they loosed /
the tongues q the red men. The I