Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-03-14
Rev. John Pate Claims to Have Unearthed In
disputable Evidence That One Post Was
Located Near Mouth of Fisher River, the
Other at Mouth of Rainy Creek.
FIRST HOUSE BUILT IN MONTANA
BY WHITE MEN WAS HERE, IN 1903

there built log hut to protect
the trading goods and furs. That
was the first building erected
by white men in Montana" When
this was written Mr. Elliot had not
visited the district, but he has since
spent day in the neighborhood Of
Libby, and possibly has secured some
other data, which has not as vet been
published.
! In an article which appeared in
the Great Falls Tribune some time
ago tone of a series on Western
history Professor Paul G. Phillips.
OF the department of history, State
+ University, writes ON this subject
and | quote from his article: "The
first rivals of the North West Com
pany IN western Montana were the
men of the Pacific Fur Company
i whose chief post was Astoria near
the mouth of the Columbia river.
This company was financed by the
wealthy merchant, John Jacob Astor
of New York. The men in charge
planned a strong expedition into the
country Of the Kootenais and Selfish.
In the winter Of 1872 and 1878 John
Clarke was IN command, with head
quarters at Spokane House. He sent
Francis Pillet with six men to the
kootenai country, and Russell Farm
| ham and Ross Cox to the Selfish. On
the kootenai river just south Of the
49th parallel, was house built BY
Finan Mcdonald in 1908, and now
IN charge Of Nicholas Montour. Here
Pillett pitched his tent and began
to trade.
"Montour and Pillett sought In
every way to outWit each other. Each
! used every means to prejudice the
Indians against his opponent. There
| were threats of violence and shots
were fired but no one was killed.
The kootenai country was rich ia
beaver and both parties carried ON
large trade. In the spring of 1918
after winter of fighting Montour
and Pillett parted as good friends
After reading this article we took
the liberty of writing to Professor
Phillips as to his source of infor-
nation regarding the location Of the
post built by Finan Mcdonald, and
he very kindly favored US with the
following statements "My main source
OF information is taken from the
Coues edition Of the Henry-Thomp-
son journals. The map there indicates
the location Of this post as on the
Kootenai river just little above the
mouth Of Lake Greek, not very far
from where Troy, Montana, is now
located. This is on what David
Thompson called the Great Indian
Road
Our next authority on the location
of this post carries US further afieId.-
Professor Charles M. Cochrane OF
the Department of Greek and Roman
History, Toronto University, Toron-
to, Canada. Professor Cochrane is the
author Of most interesting volume
on David Thompson tone of the
Canadian Menin Action Series.) We
have had the privilege Of reading
this excellent work and Of being
struck with his knowledge of Thomp-
sons travels in the West. Before
reading this book it was in our mind
that the post was located below and
not above the Falls, and we had the
temerity to write DIR. Cochrane for
information on the matter.
Site Was Above Falls.
In most interesting and infor-
native letter, he communicated to
as his findings on the subject aud
these are to the following effect:
The reference in the Champlain
edition of the Thompson narrative,
makes it fully clear that the sits
If Kootenai Falls House was not, as
you appear to suppose, below the
falls, but rather above, and probably
IN the south bank of the river"
Mote: Professor Cochrane uses
he phrase "Kootenay Falls House."
md the Canadian spelling of Koo-
enai.|
Resuming he refers to the passage
n the Thompson Narrative.
These passages are:
(D Footnote by Tyrrell (page
"Thompson's note book shows thxt
dcDonald's first trading station
mong the Kootenais was established
n the autumn of 1908 mot 1901
1hen he built small log warehouse
ust above Kootenai Falls"
Footnote by Tyrrell (page 378):
That summer (1S08) Mcdonald ac- i
his chief eastward across
he mountains and on his return
he was given portion a
he trading goods and sent south
rard down the Kootenai river. He
ad gone but short distance downs
he river when his canoe was froxen
4 the ice, and he was obliged to re-
urn to Kootenae House (near Lak1
Vidermere in B. CD for horses. With
hese- he continued down to tn
'aIIs, where he built warehouse Tor
he goods and where he and his