The Bozeman courier., 1926-06-18

IN an enterprise CndL COuIIlDuL6u ma
terially to the earlier development
of Montana TerritOry-has been fur
ther glOrified this week when mon
ument to John M. BOzeman was un-
yelled in Pioneer triangle at Living
stOn.
The monument to the great trail
blazer, whose name already is Sc
cure in American history, as the /
founder of the Bozeman Trail and as
the courageous frOntiersman for
whom the city of BOzeman was
named, was erected by Charles Don
nelly, president of the Northern Pa
cific railway, under the auspices of
the Montana Society of Pioneers. 1t
was placed at Livingston because OF
the city's proximity to the place
where BoZeman died.
BOzeman was killed by renegade
Blackfeet Indians April 18, 1857, at
a point IL miles east of Livingston.
A plot of ground at this place has
been purchased by the Society Of Pi-
Oneers, a curbing placed around 1t,
and the exact spot marked to Indicate
where he fell victim of the redman's
treachery.
At the time Colonel BOzeman was
killed, his comrades buried him $50
feet from the place where he was
slain. Later on his body was moved
to Bozeman and a stone erected by
the late Nelson Story, Sr. Many who
knew the rtailblaZer were present
at the unveiling which was under
the direction of a joint committee OF
members of LivingstOn's Rotary club,
Kiwanis club and chamber of COM
merce.
Governor is Chairman
Mayor John Fryer of Livingston,
introduced Governor J. E. Erickson
who was chairman Of the program.
Frank Brown, secretary of the Mon
tana Society of Pioneers, delivered a
eulOgy to John BOZeman. Mrs. Beall,
of Bozeman, a pioneer resident Of
Montana, unveiled the monument.
Congressman Scott Leavitt spoke on
"Perpetuating the Memory of PiOn-
GERS" Dean A. L. Stone, head Of the
school Of journalism at the State un-
iversity and an active member of the
Society of Pioneers, gave a eulogy to
Montana pioneers.
Music for the program was fur
nished by Helena high school band,
champions of the state. The band
was on it's return trip from Denver
where it was featured at the interna-
tiOnal convention of Rotary clubs.
The monument is three feet, 10
inches square at the base and stands
10 feet, six inches in height. Its
base is of granite and rests upon a
concrete foundation while the upper
structure is of white Italian marble
and the inscription of dedication Is
in gold.
The inscription reads:
TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN NJ.
BOHEMIAN WHO WAS KILLED NEAR
LIVINGSTON BY THE BLACKFEET
INDIANS, APRIL 1S, 1867. ERECTED
JUNE II, 1925. BY CHARLES DON
NELLY, PRESIDENT OF THE
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY,
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
MONTANA SOCIETY OF PIONEERS.
Two streets meet at the apex o
Pioneer triangle in Livingston ant
form the main highway to Yellow
stone national park. Because of it
convenient placing, the monumen
will be viewed by thousands Of tour
lists who visit the park each summer
A Courageous TrailblaZeP
These tourists, whether they com
by rail or by automobile, travel
much easier and safer route than di
the intrepid gold seekers Of the sos
And they owe much Of this securit
to John M. BOzeman, for he had tn
courage to seek and establish a shOrt
er route from the middle west to tn
gold fields of what is now soutE
western Montana and northern ldah
than existed prior to that time.
doing this, however, he precipitated
series of Indian wars in which th
whites were vitOriOus.
Granville and James Stuart ha
made the first real discovery of gOl
in Montana on what is now Co
creek in Powell county, in May, 1S5
News of it had not gained much Gu
rency in pOpulous centers Of tn
country until after the Civil war vi
in progress. In 1861, Granvtl
Stuart wrote a letter to his brOthe
Thomas, then in Colorado territOT
urging him to come to Montana as
was believed that prospects for mi
ing the much sought yellow met
were better here than in COlorad
Thomas showed the letter to sever
lIlGuub anu the nO4I oHAAA6 q Re'@
Of II set out for Gold creek. In th
party was John M. BOzeman.
Bozeman left his wife and II
children at his home in COweta cOu
ty, Georgia, a few years before
cause of his strong desire for adve
ture. It was because of this desi
for adventure that he later devOt
his time to blazing a trail for en-
grants and freighters while 9th
men searched frenziedly for clail
that would make them rich.
By 1865, Montana had a pOpu
tion Of 10000 which had to be
and furnished with supplies th
were not produced in the territOl
according to E. A. BrininstoOl, in
"The BOzeman Trail" This pOpu
ton in the main was product
nothing but gold and was dependt
upon the outside for things to e
oIofhfnu IN WAR and cmmnIfna