The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-01-08
"FORTY YEARS ON THE FRONTIER" GRANVILLE
STUART'S BIOGRAPHY, VIVID CHAPTER OF WEST


were no more popular then !
than now. August &c, Hanged a
man named Arnett for running off
horses. His partner was shot while
he was dealing Monte"
On to Alder GuIch
In August, 1853, the Stuarts
moved to Virginia where James went
into the general merchandise bust
ness with w. B. Dance. Everything
was moved from the old camp. While
the rush was on at Virginia the
Stuarts seemed to consider the far
away fields greener. They were
a part Of two expeditions to the Vel
loWstOne; neither was successful.
However, some gold was found at
Emigrant. In June of 1854, James
Stuart went into business and start
ed a store at Deer Lodge, with Frank
WOrden, while Granville remained
with the store in Virginia. It will
be noted that when the Stuarts mar
ried, the close connection between
the brothers seemed to cease, and
thereafter the chronicle is carried on
by Granville. One misses James Stu
arts artless entries. Once after
James records several successive los
lngs at poker, he declares he must
quit gambling altogether" A few
pages later, however, he records
several more lOsings and finally a
winning. James had two children
and Granville nine by their Indian
wives. Some of these are well
known and prominent in the state.
: especially Granville's daughter. Hrs.
Abbott, Of Maiden, Mont, in Fergus
county.
The Rainbow Quest
Although Granville Stuart in 1916
writes uncOmplainingly, the dramatic
feature of his ventures is not fully
brought out. He visited every wealth
creating spot in western Montana and
was among the first. He was a DiO-
neer in Deer Lodge and Beaverhead
valleys, Gold creek, Silver Bow.
Butte, Philipsburg, Alder Gulch and
Last Chance. These were points
where he trOd countless fortunes un-
der foot; but fortune only flirted
with him. The farms, townsites.
mines and forests which today are
valued at millions were his for the
taking, but they were never his.
knew Stuart well and spent many an
hour with him; he gave me many a
Sunday story of tie early days. He
was a grave man and not subject to
the dissipation of the pioneers; his
heart was kind and his mind was
as gentle as his form was once strong
and verile. Indeed he was a leader
which his selection to various posi-
. lions shows. He was the first county
commissioner of MissOula county:
the legislature, etc. Little lines in
his writings stand out showing great
tenderness of heart. He would mo-
kill game for spOrt-Only for food
: When the larder was full, his hunt
ing ended. A sick horse or a veal
n cow, or a deserted dog claimed hii
serious attention. His camp was al
1t ways hOspitable and he displayed
e great federation and l~iberality.
e 1.-TWO neighbOrs-visited with m,
and stayed all night. Both were yer,
g drunk, but were alright this morn
- ing, etc" His Indian bride was no
merely his sqUaw; the journal re
cords his marriage. It can be seel
that among the handwriting, hard
fighting, irresponsible and often vi
ciOUs frOntiersmen, Granville Stuar
was a man of recognized class. Blu
his history is told with cOnspicuOu
modesty and he took the blows of ad
versity between the eyes without
mUrmur. He was always within touc'
of the golden fleece, but it was new
er his for keeps.
The details Of the two volumes ar
already so condensed that they wi
stand no more condensation, even i
la review. Most of the second vo.
Ume is devoted to the cattle bushes
and his unfortunate experiences
Doubtless, he acquired some none
in and around Virginia City, but OF
ly a relatively small part of tia
harvest of gold. He dismisses til
rise and fall of Alder Gulch withOJ
recording any great personal TT
III umph Of accumulation.
The Great Calamity
- In 1879 he enters into partnershi
n. in the cattle business with A.
n. Davis of Butte, Erwin Davis of Ne
ly York City and Sam Hauser, undt
lie the firm name of Davis, Hauser & @
y He owned a third interest and W;
lie elected superintendent and generi
a manager. The capital stock W;
Cd $50, 100000 and the firm brand "H
nd These last three chapters were CHAIR
n ing, one Of the best cattle stOri
- written. For a time the venture pro
- pered beyond the dreams of avariC
In 1885 they branded nearly 400
- calves in the spring roundup. II
company was re-incOrpOrated f
q 81, 100000. In the fall Of 1886 the
were than 100000 head
cattle on the already Over-crowdI
ranges. The Montana loss in t
winter Of '86-'87 amounted to mo
than 100000 to the state. st
4 arts outfit lost 6 per cent Of the
stock. Stuart writes:
oChar1oo Rueaa1I Was in ohoroo