Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-08-10
THE CAREER OF
7. E. NIXON
Well Known Fergus County Man Who
Was Pioneer in Many Wes-
tern States.
FIRST PACK TRAIN TO HELENA
1t Was Brought in by Him-TeIls of
His Experiences in the
Early Days.

" CoiIle lulO Last Cnance gulch in the
early days and one of the best knowr
old timers of Montana and Idaho. is
in Helena renewing old acquaintance.
preparatory to his departure TO his
new home in Oregon.
For the past seventeen years Mr.
Mckoin has been resident of Fer
gus county, living in the vicinity Of
l-eWlstoWn, but a short time ago de
cidEn to give up the stock business
and seek werner cline in which tC
spend the remainder of his days. Mr.
Mckoin and family will make theil
future nome at Grants Pass, Oregon
where Mr.. Mckon lived ten years
previous to his residence in the Lewis
town district.
For many years Mr.. McKoin made
his residence in Helena and during
his career conducted business in var
ious parts of the state. A pioneer OF
Oregon he can also be numbered
among the old timers of Montana
Idaho. Washington and other states
In 1852. Mr.. McKoin was a member
Of party which crossed the plains
from Missouri TO Oregon, arriving al
Z
periences with the Indians and afte,
much hardship. He was one of the
early settlers of the latter state an,
was prominently Unidentified in the
early-day fights with Indians there
Mr.. Mokoin is now drawing a pen
sion from the government in recogni
ton of his valuable services in the
pioneer history of Oregon.
Trip to Boise.
In The winter of 1862. Mr.. McKoir
and Jack Silvan. the latter another
well known old timer. left Walla walls
with a mule train heavily laden witt
merchandise and whiskey. They lief
about the middle of December and die
not arrive in Boise until some time il
March. The train consisted of IL.
mules and twenty men were employed
to assist in its management.
The snow was several feet dee,
when We reached Boise" said Mr.
McKoin. "but it was crusted ant
would stand the weight of man.
remember well when we were coins
over the big divide and the trail wa:
only wide enough for one outfit TO pas:
at a time. The trail wound around the
mountain and was so crooked that on,
might be encountered at every bend o
the trail. One Of our best men was
riding at the head Of the train ant
he met a man driving a bunch 0
horses, The latter would not turn out
but our man whipped out his 81,
shooter and told him to drive his hor
seS out OF the trail, as the snow woul,
hold them. Needless TO say he did Sc
He asked me how long the train wa
and I told him about three miles
which made him swear all the more
When we arrived al Boise it was i:
the dead Of winter and snow wa
everywhere. | hired an old shack il
which to put the goods and tapped
key of whisky for the boys. Soor
everyone in town had passed our Dlac.
and | had given them a quart mug o
/ whisky There was one man | remem
Der in particular He kept saloon !,
town and sold whisky over the counte,
at fifty cents a throw. He came III
and | offered him cup of whisky
but he turned back in astonishmen
and said he never could drink all that
| told him to go ahead that il woul,
not hurt him; that I drank five or 81,
quarts like that every day.
Early Days in Boise.
He soon went back to town and tolt
the crowd that there was the oddes
crowd up there he had ever seen
that there was a pack outfit the mem
hers OF which drank five or six quarts
of whisky a day each and that it was
better whisky than he sold. He sale
there were Mexicans, Indians ant
every other nationality mixed up il
the outfit
We'll We started up business there
and soon things We're fourishing
Boise was a great camp in those days
Flour sold for SIS a sack and bacof
was 81 pound. Common every daS
pants Went at from SIS TO $50 anC
everything sold proportionately high
In three months had cleaned up $40.
600 clear profit on what | had brough
in On the wagon train and then | pul
led out. One did not know what Il
charge for things in those DAYS. I
cost us about $40 to get 100 pound,
of flour 10 Boise and we got s75 fol
it"
Later Mr.. McKoin made othe,
trips with pack outfits into various
parts of Idaho and Montana. 1t wa,
early in 1865 that he reached Las
Chance eulch with a pack train. bein.
one OF the first to reach this vicinity
He was also in Bannack the same year
Mr.. Mckoine will leave for Town
send where he formerly had a ranci
and where he will visit relatives a few
days prior to his departure for hi
Oregon home