Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-08-26
RESTORE OLD
FORT OWEN

historic Fort Owen. established in
r. the Bitter Root valley in 1850 by
Major John Owen, which in its
day was the leading landmark in
western Montana for pioneers nay be re-
stored and maintained through Legislative
appropriations If the combined efforts Of
the Montana Society of Pioneers and the
Society of the Son and Daughters Of
Montana prove awaiting. At the state
gathering of the two associations at Mis-
soula Aug. 8. resolutions were adopted
and q committee appointed TO work for
the salvaging of pioneer landmarks Of
Montana and among them Fort owen
was designated.
History of Fort
The history Of the fort synchronizes
with the stories OF pioneer adventures
of early Montana. The fort was named
after its founder, Major John Owen. a
sutler in the United States army, who
came to Montana from st. Joseph, Mo,
with the Mounted Rifles" who were
ordered to Oregon. The soldiers travelled
as far as Snake river, where they were
forced to camp until the spring Of 1850.
Upon the resumption Of the march Of
the soldiers, Major Owen determined to
remain in that country and resigned his
sutlership.
Major Owen traded with wagon trains
en- route to the Pacific coast during the
ollillliiGi Va LOW III VI illC l1ll W lAlah
year he went to the Bitter Root valley,
where he planned making his home. The
pioneer Jesuit fathers who had done
much splendid work among the Flat
head Indians through their st. Mary's
missions were dealt several reverses and
the superior general Of the order COM
manded that the Bitter Root mission be
closed for a time.
Father Josef, who had charge of the
closing of the mission, leased the i'm
provements to Major Owen for the sum
of $500. The lease stated that the i'm
provements were to be returned to the
Jesuits within a period of three years.
The bill of lease and condition sale be-
tween Father Josef and John Owen was
| dated Nov. 8. 1850, and is the first writ
ten conveyance ever made within the
limits OF what is now Montana.
Upon acquiring the property Major
Owen enclosed the land and began farm
ing. He rebuilt the grist and saw mills
and in after years tore down the old
stockade OF logs, replacing 1t with q large
| and substantial fort Of adobes. The fort
was the gathering place for pioneers IN
times OF both festivities n danger
Wagon trains travelling through to the
Pacific coast always passed by the fort,
II they travelled through Montana. Major
Owen kept a large stock OF goods, which
he replenished yearly by making a trip
each summer to The Dalles. Ore, with
pack horses.
Threatened by Indians
The hospitality OF the fort was known
far n wide and Major Owen was ex-
tremely popular with both whites and
Indians. The Blackfeet Indians, who
were on the war path for many years
until 1855, frequently threatened whites
In the Bitter Root and Fort owen wa
in danger Of attack many times. In the
autumn of 1852 one John F. Dodson was
killed and scalped by the Blackfeet In
view of the fort.
Charles s. Warren in his Montana His
torical Contributions" states: In thu
spring of 1852 Samuel M. Caldwell dis
covered gold on what was then known
as Mill creek, nearly opposite Fort Owen.
In his Forty Years on the Frontier,
Granville Stuart frequently mentions
Fort Owen and happenings at the post
He recalls several incidents when travel
ers coming from the fort were always
heartily greeted to report the latest ma
tional and state events.