The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-10-16

Montana, owen had served under
General Scott in the Mexican war,
campaigning from Vera Cruz to
Mexico City. Further details of the
lump in his life from the army to
the wilds of Montana are being work
ed on by Mr.. Dunbar and the war
department historians at Washing
ton. Mr.. Dunbar has been unable,
so far, to account for Ovens rea-
sons for coming up far north of the
regular route to California and set
Ting in what was then a vast will
derness. At any rate, Owen first
appears in his journals as an Indian
trader and seems to have speed
lily the esteem of all the surrounding
tribes. One of Ovens closest
friends was Victor, the great chief of
the FIatheads, whose grandson is
living on the reservation at present.
Owen took an Indian girl named
Nancy for his wife, and the story Of
his devotion and happiness is like a
leaf torn from a John Rolfe-Poca-
hontas legend. Nancy died aout
1868 and Owens grief and the re-
cord of his tender care are set down
in a way as to inspire great admir-
alton for the man.
Although the wagon trains of the
overland emigrants were continu-
ally attacked by Indians in the re-
gion of Fort Owen, the fort was at
tackled only once. This time a band
of unfriendly Snake Indians from q
distance, rushed the fort and killed
one of Ovens men.
Wa Gar In the Bitter Root.
TTThs1o ~ H. FAr4 N-vo., H. i'll |
a car. His word was law. He dis
pensed primitive justice and lavish
hospitality, while the provisions held
out. During the long winter OVENS
supplies would run out and the en-
try, mo More Meat" would be writ
ten in his diary. At all times, he
a like a veritable Santa Claus to
the Flatheads and the Blackfeet,
who would gather around the fort
in perishing weather and await the
bestowal of food and blankets upon
them. The Blackfeet and Flat
heads were extremely hostile to one
another, and Inadvertently gather
ed at the same time on one occasion.
Ovens influence kept peace, how
ever.
Made Trips TO Coast.
Several times a year Owen would
make up a pack train and disappear
in the wilderness, going to distant
destinations to obtain needed sup
plies. The fort had attracted other
settlers who come and established
their homes outside it. Many Of
these people are fathers and grand
fathers of people who now reside in
Missoula and Stevensville and Bitter
Root valley people. To supply these
settlers with provisions, Owen had to
make long and daring trips to the
Pacific coast settlements, through
unknown country infested with hos
tile Indians. He would be welcomed
back after many months, his pack
train loaded with ammunition, cloth
ing, axes, and kettles and other need
ed materials.
Used His Own Ink.
Ovens accounts of these trips,
written in ink he made himself,
tell of getting lost in the countless
mazes of uncharted mountains. At
one time he and his wife, Nancy,
became separated and were without
food and water for several days.
They finally found each other and
and managed to pull through.
Flour at % cents a pound. That
is one of the prices quoted by Major
Owen, who after the settlers arrived,
ground their flour for them in the
first commercial grist mill in Mon
tana. These facts and countless
others relating to the changes in
Montana from an absolute wilderness
to a civilized region are contained
in the diary.
Owen, with a wide KNOWLEDGE Of
the country, was called upon by the
engineers of the Northern Pacific
railroad in 1868, when it became
known that a railroad would be put
through, and gave valuable informa-
ton about the routes and general
geography of the country.
The final years of the great pi-
oneer were darkened by a great sad
ness. After Nancy died, his keen
mind relaxed and he lost his gener
al grip on things. Gradually his
mind became clouded. This fact does
not show in his journal, which O n
tinued until 1871. In his later years
Owen was cared for nv the