Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-05-21
FORT OWEN WAS
BUILT In 1910
By FATHER DeSATET
AS ST. BGARY'S MISSION;
SOLD IN 1850
Fort Was for Many Years the Center
of Commercial Activities i'm Western
Montana; Important Point on the
Road TO the BuffaIoes."

One Of the most interesting spots
in the history of early-day Mon
tana is old Fort Owen, established
by Father DeSmet as Sc. Bfary's
mission in 1BAe. The mission was
kept up until 1850 when the i'm
prOvements were sold TO Major
Owen. The bin Of sale, now in the
possession Of the State historical
library, bears the date, st. Mary's
mission, Fiathead county, Nov. 5,
1850, and is without doubt the first
written conveyance ever executed
within the limits of Montana
Daily journals of Thomas w. Harris,
the first real farmer in Montana, from
1862 to 1869, give detailed accounts OF
his farming operations on his ranch
lust adjacent to Fort Owen. This con-
stitutes one of the most valuable docu-
ments Of early date on agricultural
activities in the Bitter Root valley. 1t
is doubtful If there is a farmer today
in Montana who has covered the sub
ject more thoroughly and 1t would be
an encouragement to the preSent-day
tillers of the soil to note the difficult
ties encountered and overcome In his
daily round. He shipped fruit trees
from Walla Walla by pack train on
the backs of mules to the Bitter Root
valley, a distance of 400 miles, and
planted the first orchard in the now
famous Bitter Root valley. The thresh-
ing of wheat by the tramping of horses
over the straw, the grinding OF the
same into flour" by the mill impro
ViSed by Father Ravalh and improved
by Major Owen, the transportation of
the same to the mining camps, via
pack train, makes an interesting story
which is well authenticated by the
journals of Harris.
Sc t,rsfro11rIr1
with the remaining old settlers of the /
Bitter Root valley. He made many trips |
from st. Ignatius mission to st. Peters !
where the remaining walls and
the trees planted mark the abode of
the early Catholic fathers and later
the home Of the nuns of the Ursulne
order.
Fort Owen was an important point
in the SOS on the Road to the Buff
faloes," established by the Indians and
near Fort Owen via the Blackfoot and
to Fort Benton. This same trail
was often used by Governor Stevens
government survey party in 1853-54-55.
Lieutenant Mullen established Canton
ment Stevens short distance from
Fort Owen on the Bitter Root river
in 1853. Those were strenuous days
d1bCA cbCdl4ADOtt 4AdfA5db4O4AI
Of the upper Missouri river was es-
5abliShed as going concern.
Another industry sprung up in the
buying of Sore-footed and thin cattle
If the emigrant trains, taking them to
he grassy valleys of the Bitter Root
and Deer Lodge rivers, fattening them
here and then back to the overland
rails where they were traded once
more to good advantage for other lean
md worn-out cattle. Some of the men
Engaged in this work were Major Owen,
James and Granville Stuart, John F.
md James G. Grant, Joseph Lompre,
William Rogers, Ben and Jim Simons,
Ben KeiSer, Gabriel Prudhomme and
,thers.
Fort Owen was the commercial
enter of that time for the Bitter Root
alley with Fort Benton on the north,
Fort Hall on the south, and on the
mission for an intermediate point Be
ween the fort and these points the
'ack trains wended their weary way
Then the fur trade was declining and
he discovery of gold in the offing.
In a speech delivered several years
go by ex-Gov. Joseph M. Dixon, at
he pioneers banquet at MiSsoula, he
allied attention to the seemingly brief !
eferenceS OF the operations conducted
y the Gov. Isaac I. Stevens survey
arty for the government, the recon-
Nuisance for the Pacific railroad In
Histories of Montana are |.
ither very brief or entirely silent on
be subject. The published government
eport Of this expedition consists of
3 large volumes and furnishes q valu- ;
bic document In Montana history for /,
Governor Stevens and his able assis- ,
ant, Lieutenant Mullan, afterwards ;
aptatn, played an important part In !
fontana history through their sur
eys, reports, ETC., in connection with ,
his work. Fort Owen was a strategical
ONT on their route. !
Treaties With Indians !
In addition to the survey, Governor {
tevens was intrIsted with the i'm I
ortant task Of making treaties with {
ne various Indian tribes, not only for
ne government but between the sew !
raj tribes of the country through Y
hitch they travelled. Governor Stevens l
Tas appointed first governor of the
ay-f~ftoTsU 0f WASHINGTON and of tho I