Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-03-30

Rea went to Bozeman from Sheridan.
All canvassers were called from the
field. Mrs. Stewart returned to Iowa
with the body Of her husband. Since
all money had been turned over to Mr..
Stewart the men who had taken orders
were worried and blue. They were out
of work, and afraid they'd be discredit-
ed if the history they had promised
wasn't pushed to completion. The best
solicitors, those who had had good sue
cess taking orders, were anxious for
the work to go ahead.
Mr.. Stewart had had business rela-
tons with the publishing house Of
Warner, Beers, and had engaged M A.
Lesson as supervising editor for the
final work. Mr.. Lesson came TO Mon
tana, talked with those most familiar
with the work already done, but was
in doubt as to the best course. Rea.
who had lot of orders on hand and
others lined up, said, Let me have an
artist to make sketches, and 60 out foe
a few days to take orders. I'll show you
that the people want this book and are
willing to pay for it. You don't nesd
any financial backing. The thing viii
finance itself"
Lesson agreed to this, and Rea went
to Central Park. Within a week he
came back with 81 600 in cash, and
word that patrons everywhere were
crazy about the book They didn't wait
to be solicited, but hunted him up to
give him their orders His report
changed uncertainty to enthusiasm,
and plans were laid to go ahead. The
promoters organized the Territorial
Historical company, issued a new pros
pectus, expanded the biographical his
tory from 600 pages to 1000 and added
a general history of the territory.
Mr. Lesson was to compile the gen.
eral history This he did ably and
we'll He went to original documents
and old narratives. and his work made
the history Of 1885 one Of the best,
most reliable and most accessible source
book in existence for early Montana
material. He took offices in Helena,
surrounded himself with a competent
staff, and put a large force of canvas
sers in the field; and when he had ex-
hausted the material at his command
in Helena he went to Chicago for re-
search in executive and military papers,
books of travel, ETC., and made his first
compilation of the book there.
Mr.. Stewards death occurred on New
Years day, 1888. Mr.. Lesson came to
the territory in July Of that year. AS
those familiar with the book know,
Lessons history Of Montana territory is
followed by detailed history of the four
teen counties then organized; and this
IN turn by exhaustive biographical
sketches of residents and pioneers in
the territory, arranged by counties. BY |
the spring Of 1884 all this extensive |
mass of material had been collected, re-
Vised, complied and prepared for the I
printer. In May, 1884, the manuscript
was submitted to the publishers, a then
prominent Chicago firm.
This firm became involved in financ-
ial difficulties and had to relinquish |
the undertaking. The manuscript was
then turned over to Donahue and Hem
neberry Of Chicago, who pushed the
and printing vigorously.
Early In 1885 the work was turned over
to Warner g. Beers, and was completed
by them. II was q wen executed vol
une OF 1858 pages. more than double
what the first prospectus had called
for.
The next thing was to get staff OF