The Bozeman courier., 1927-07-22
Mainly About
Montana Women
CBy MRS. NJ. E. PLAssMANN)

~HERE are few men and fewer wom-
en- who have had the rich and
varied experiences of Mrs. Harriet
Lewis Kinney, now and for many
years a resident of Bozeman, Montana.
Hers has been a remarkably eventful
life. and a brief sketch of it cannot fail
to interest women of today, who enjoy
stories of pioneer life.
Mrs. Kinney is the daughter of DR..
William Lewis, who was sent in 1843 by
the American Missionary society, to
Leech Lake, Minnesota, then a station in
his bride he journeyed to La Pointe, now
Duluth, where he left his wife until he
had built a house for her reception.
Their initial place Of departure from
Ohio was Cleveland, on Lake Erie. A
glance at the map shows that they passed
through Lake Huron, Sault Ste. Marie, to
the extreme western point Of Lake
Superior, appropriately n m e d IL a
Points," which, like many early names
never should have been changed.
On reaching Leech Lake, the mission
ary doctor and his young wife were
farther removed from civilization than
one would be today in the center OF
Africa. They were surrounded by In
dians, their only white acquaintance at
first being traders with the Indians
like Mr.. BOrup, whose name is familiar
90 all MinnesOtanS, and who made fire.
quent trips between Leech Lake and La
POinte.
The new house contained no furni-
ture that was not handmade, bed, chairs
table. all being the product of DR.. Lewis
ingenuity and labor. This frontier home
was the birthplace OF the little Harriet
who came to gladden. the Lewis house
hold in 1845. Her mother being unable
ID nurse her was obliged to enlist the
service Of a Chippewa woman as we
nurse for her baby.
IN addition to the discomforts anC
DrivatiOns Of living so remote from
white settlements, was the danger from
indians The ChippeWaS were SWOrl
enemies Of the Sioux and war parties o
the hostile tribes as they surged bacl
and forth placed the whites in leopard
who ChanCed to be in their path.
The tribe Of Chippewas living at Leecl
Lake bore the name Of "Pillagers" 10
the excellent reason that they StoI
everything in sight. They were not de
sirable neighbOrs thought DR.. Lewis, VIII
decided TO 60 north to Red Lake, abou
five miles from Little Falls, fOrmerl
Fort Ripey, where was stationed at tina
time one company OF soldiers.
At first the little daughter Of tn
missionaries studied with her parents, a
was customary in those days even i
CLe East Children were expected
learn the rudiments of reading an
arithmetic at home, if their parent
knew enough TO teach them lawn
taken this first step in education, tn
small Harriet was advanced to a re'
school taught by her mother, and late
studied under another teacher who We
q graduate Of Mount HOlyOke
On reaching the age OF Is years, sE
was sent to her mothers former home ;
TaIlmadge. Ohio, where she attended tt
academy, a school renowned thrOughOI
that section Of the country, cOmpletir
her studies at Oberlin college.
For three years, beginning with the la
wear OF the Civil war, Harriet Lew
caught in the Freedmen's schools Of tt
SOuth-not a pleasant occupation
any means. as those engaged in this Sc
vice were generally Ostracised by II
surrounding white residents.
IN 1870 occurred her marriage
Edward Kinney, a civil engineer, th'
engaged in railroad construction
Missouri 1t being impossible for n
Kinney to leave his work even to
married, a compromise was effected, t
brtde-tO-be coming East from Californ
and the ceremony taking place at Tab
Iowa.
The wife Of a civil engineer is assur