Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-02-14
(By MRS. NJ. E. PLASsMANN)

W 1890
TWO of the most prominent residents
of Virginia City in 1864 65 were the
= twin brothers, Aaron and Nat"
Stein. The former held an official posi-
ton and the latter was widely Known
throughout the. territory because Of his
being agent for the Overland stage line,
then Montana's means of rapid transit.
1t was not alone those who made a
journey by stage who were brought in
contact with the stage agent; but all
who sent or received express packages.
Then there were the numerous employ
ees of the company who looked to the
agent for direction. A man who could
be absolutely relied upon was necessar-
lily chosen for this place.
In Virginia City, the stage agent was
also a banker INC conducted any other
business undertaken by the company.
1t speaks well for Mr.. Stein that he had
the confidence and esteem of all classes
In a community where few men were
trusted.
l did not know Mr.. Stein while he
was in Montana, but met hin in 1878,
when I was detained for a few days in
Corrinne on my way with my cousin,
Colonel Sanders, to Helena.
Corrinne was then the southern ter
minus of the Montana stage line, which
had passed into the hands of Gilmer.
Salisbury and company. Mr.. Stein was
at that time a banker there, his former
experience admirably fitting him for the
place.
The hotel at Corrinne was a ram
shackle affair, and the room given me
had plenty of ventilation through the
cracks where shrunken boards admitted
light and air; and permitted the occu-
pant to watch passers-by, and these to
note what was going on within. Pri
vacy, under such circumstances, was out
of the question. There being no stove
in my room, or other means of heating
it, although the February cold depressed
the mercury far below the freezing point,
! spent an uncomfortable night, and on
Weakening in the morning, ! found the
Wolf robe covering me was white with
frost.
that day Colonel Sanders having been
called further south by business, he
asked his old friend Nat Stein to look
after my comfort during his short alb
sence. Through Mr.. STEMS influence
I was transferred TO the best room in
the hotel. It's sole drawback was that
one could hear everything said in the
barroom below.
The fare at the hotel was worse han
that Of the stage station described by
Mark Twain in "houghing It," This,
Mr.. Stein enabled me temporarily TO
forego, through the generous entertain
ment provided by some of his friends.
1t was in this way | became acquaint-
ed with Nat Stein and found him in
every respect the gentlemen he was
represented to be by all who knew him.
A native of Iowa, at an early age he
drifted Town to st. Joseph, where he
entered the service of the Central over
land California and Pixies Peak Express
company as express messenger to Den
yer. THE messengers in charge of the
express says the writer of The Over
land Stage to California" from which I
quote, were the poorest paid men IN the
employ of the stage company. They
were obliged to ride outside on the box
with the driver six days and nights With
out undressing. and exposed To all kinds
OF weather They received s62.5O a
month, and meals free OF the road, but
they were idle-that Is had q lay over
nine days out of every three weeks, 50
that their real working time was some
what reduced and their days 81 exposure
that much lessoned.'
And again The position 81 express
messenger was one OF the most re-
sponsible places held by the army 81 eln-
ployees on the stage line. Tho me en
gers were entrusted with the safe Keep
ing OF the treasure and other valuable
packages transported back and forth, and