The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-03-10
Junior Women Enjoy
Talk ON Montana History

Members of the Junior Woman's
club. had treat Tuese ~ evening
when the Senior clubs program of
music and the play was repeated
for them, and then they were priv
|ileged to hear Supt. A. A. Wood of
the Libby schools talk on Montana
history.
What little business that was
necessary was quickly finished and
Mrs Harold Thomson, president,
turned the meeting over to Mrs.
Henry Smith, program chairman.
Mrs. Smith introduced the num-
bers and expressed the clubs ap-
probation.
Mr.. Wood has spoken to the club
before and each time the members
ask for a future date. Tuesday ev-
ening the early history of the ter
ritory and state was given.
II like to think on what would
have happened if two or three lit
tie incidents had been little diff
ferent in the early history of our
country" began Mr. Wood. I'VE
might be speaking French or sing
ing God Save the King if these
seemingly trifling arrairs hadn't
come out just as they did,
Montana history is divided into
several parts according to the oc-
equations and times. The first was
explorers and the fur trade, then
gold, cattle, and from 1890 on the
present era.
In 1903 the Louisiana Purchase
was made which included the east
ern half of Montana. Then in 1904
Lewis and Clark made their very
romantic trip with their As trained
men. The expedition lasted two
years and many hours could be
spent telling about it. 1t was q
quirk of fate that Charbonneau was
hired to guide them west of Man
dan and teok his wife SacaiaWes
with him. 1t was though she woulc
be handicap but she proved to bs
one of the biggest assets because O
her courage and loyalty.
When Lewis found it necessary tt
shoot a Blackfoot milan thief i
caused the sworn enmity of thu
Blackfoot tribe, causing much grie
in the settling of the country.
On Lewis and Clark's return tri]
they met Manuel Lisa who wa
starting to explore and Golfer re
signed from the expedition and wen
back with him to Montana. The,
founded Fort Henry and Golfer dis
covered Yellowstone park in 1906
When the fur trading was at it
height the English, Americans, am
Indians were all getting as much ter
ritory as they could and about tha
time DAVID Thompson, the grea
geographer, was hired to make
trip and separate the territories c
the Hudson Bay Company and tn
Northwest Company In 1908 wit
Finan Macdonald he founded pos
near Libby but there is. some dis
cussion just where it was becaus
it was used for such short time.
The Oregon Trail was establishe
and Montana was rather neglecte
until the coast had been fairly we
settled. The Flathead Indians ha
made a trip to St Louis in scare
of the White Mans Book" and {
result many missionaries cam
through but the Protestant one
weren't accepted because they lacke
the long robe. So Father De SIN
and others were among those TIL;
settled in Montana and did col
structive work with the Indians.
After gold was discovered in Ca
ifornia in 1894 and the excitemel
had died down, new fields we
found in Montana and Bannock, vi
,ginia City and Last Chance Gull
doomed In. one year Bannock
population raised from a few
10000 In 1864 prospectors came
far north as Libby creek.
MIR. Wood illustrated his talk
the blackboard, drawing maps shoy
ing the different territories, for
etc. The club enjoyed it so mu
that they wish him to continue
the same subject next winter.