The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-10-29
carving in later years called the lake,
Lake Macdonald.

-. carving in later years called the lake,
Lake Macdonald.
Manager of Post
In 1867, at the age OF Is, he wa
given the operation of the Hudson's
Bay trading post on Post creek and
conducted its business until the post
was closed by the international agree:
ment Between the United States and
Canada.
While in charge of the Hudson's Bay
most. MacDonald learned that many
of the hunters and trapperS had
travelled through Marias pass. He be-
came interested in the tales of pros
pectors' gold strikes and the Indian
Stories of mineral lode. In the winter
of 1873, in the company OF seven Pend
Oreille Indians, Macdonald made his
first trip through MariaS pass. Inc
partv Travelled on snowshoes and headed
for Flathead lake. They were forced,
however. to turn back to the main
camp on Marias river. ,
The fabulous stories OF mineral
wealth continued to pour in, n IN
1878, Macdonald, in company VIII
started at Flathead lake and travelled
again through Marias pass. Ihey
crossed the divide and continued on to
Upper Two Medicine lake, where they
camped two nights. Macdonald cllmned
to the top of the continental dlvloes,
but his exploration yielded no sign OF
the mineral lode. He returned home
oniv to make another trip through
Narias pass the following year IN com;
panv with Robert McGregor Baird and
David Ffnlay. This prospecting "Trip
likewise was unsuccessful.
Later he took part in war against
he Blackfeet Indians. In 1877 he wrote
A history of the Nez Perez Indians.
Previous to this he was hlred by Inc
Northern Pacific railroad as an 1T
terpreter and he had a tie conGract
while the road was under constructlon.
Ali through preliminary. days OF the
survey and later days OF constructor
of the railroad through western Mon,
tana. he was an intimate frleno ana
adviser of officials in charge OF on
struction. He was OF greatest serves
in helping to select routes 'lnousi
mountains.
Married to Louisa Quill
Macdonald was married in 1876 to
Louisa Quill. a young Indian girl. She e
died in 1928. In memory of her, the
highest peak in the national bison
reserve at Dixon was recently, nanleo
Quill by Prof. Morton J. Elrod o. ciie
State university of Montana. inere
we're two children. a daughter, Mary,
Mo died at St. Ignatius at the age
of 4. and Peter, who died when "a.
After the close of the trading posi-
i, 1870 Macdonald engaged in stock
raising. operating pack trains ior JIG
HIldson's Bay Co., and from tlme 10
was occupied at placer n quaIes
mining. When the Great NorIIeiaa | for
10 obstruction were shipped by n
N ! Pacific railroad to Ravalll
ond from there were taken by sIage
70 F1athead lake and across by oarge
~ Somers. During his active years ne
had large herds of cattle, Whlch Ioa1iieo
at will through western Montaha'
A Leading Pugilist
For many years we" g q
leading figure in re spoes i His Greatest
y for fame occurred in 1883 when
be defeated Jack Rollins, after ~
rn of fighting in the oldS Miye
onera house, Helena, May 49, ~;
Peter Mccoy, who had been accEa33a aa,,
middleweight champion IN nssoo ~
MccoV won the fight but it required
81 roEnds to beat Macdonald. AZ t NE
t;n,e MacDonald was % year Old, SlA
feet tail and weighed 1856 pounds:
He was an authority on Indlan
,eoends customs. and early WARFARE;
AZ one time he interviewed White BHo
of the Bears Paws and M M
to confer Win OlllCidlo Seiio ~
United States to induce that cnlel 70
surrender. He entertained Chlet joseph
When the latter was either on his way
tn Coryille or to Washington, ~: v:
Because Macdonald was a Ne ef
Perce. it is likely he learned more OF
what took place on Snake creek IMAM
many other authorizes.
He generously deposited most OF ms
papers and relics Of historical interest,"
With the Montana historical society;
vet he kept some keepsakes That coulo
be seen on calls at the pioneers nome
After the death of his wife, Mac
Donald became restless. He was o1seit
found in Missoula or in towns on the
reservations. He was continually re-
ceiving letters from students OF we s :
of the United States and Canada
In 1929 he was the Oldest pioneer
to attend the state pioneers conven1
ton at Butte. No man in Montana
knew better the early history OF Mont
tana nor traditions and charcter OF
Indians than he. :
WIPE HITS .