Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-12-16

Among the pioneers Of Montana
there were no more picturesque
figures or more typical frontiers
men than the late James HI. Ken
NEEDY, better known I'm the vicinity
Of Belgrade as "UncIe Jim" Ken
nedy. His death a number of years
ago removed one Of the old style
Of pIainsmen who were the real
trailbIazers of the west.
Uncle Jim Kennedy was noted for
one of the most extraordinary featS
in the annals Of the western wilder
ness. In the year 1853 he travelled from
the Mississippi river to the Pacific
coast in the region on foot and alone.
passing through the country Of the
hostile Sioux and the other plains and
mountain tribes. lodging death q hum
dred times. He carried a blanket, a
frying pan and flint and steel for
kindling his campfires, and his only
protection against savage Indians and
Henry rifle He left his frontier home
in Clayton county, Iowa, in May and
reached the Pacific coast in August,
On this trip he swan every stream
that was too deep to wade, crossed
the main range Of the Rockies by
the aid of an old map made by the
famous Kit Carson and without a
single companion successfully COM
pleted a journey that was considered
a hazardous enterprise for well-guarded
wagon trains
Fought Indians in Oregon
Upon his arrival in Oregon, Ken
nedy found a job splitting rails, and
before the end of the winter of 1883
1854 had split 10000 rails, as pay for
which he was given his board and
a horse. saddle and bride. In the
spring he rode his horse 400 miles to
California, spending several months on
the trip in fighting Indians as MEM
Der of the Rogue river expedition, to
death he claimed the state of Oregon
still owed him $3.50 for his services
under the agreement made with the
leaders of the expedition.
When near the southern boundary
of Oregon, the officer commanding
the forces of frontierSmen asked for
volunteers to carry dispatch to the
town of Eureka, Calf The way lay
through the very midst of the hostile
Indians Kennedy and his partner
were the only men who offered to at
tempt it. AS they left their comrades
the officer in charge shouted after
had suffered for many months from
Indian raids, had offered a reward of
$3.50 for the first Indian scalp brought
into the town.
At the time the Klamath and the
other Indian tribes in that section
were constantly on the warpath, and
they had committed such terrible dep
relations among the settlements of
whites that the latter thirsted for re-
venge. It was case of war to the
death between any white men and the
y 11nt tsrFt ,,.A..
given or asked. Kennedy and his part
ner had had enough experience in
Indian fighting to realize the peril
that their journey entailed, but they
also had the advantage of knowing
every trick and turn of Indian war
fare.
Duel With Redskin
They had gone only few miles on
their way, when, in a mountain pass
Kennedy spotted a Klamath brave on
Calling to his companion
10 follow him, he started toward the
indian at a gallop. AS he drew near,
Kennedy swung himself over on the
right side of the horse just as the In
dian fired. The bullet went wide. and
Kennedy's partner, firing at almost the
same moment, brought the warrior to
The ground. Finding him dead, the /
white men scalped him and proceeded |
along the trail.
BY detouring from the travelled trail, |
hey managed to reach Eureka with !
1ut further adventure, and rode into /
he town with a flourish and with half |
If the Indians scalp tied to each Of
heir brides.
Some of the people in the camp saw
hem coming, and the whole town |
,urned out to welcome them. The |
bounty was promptly paid and they
we're given a great ovation.
Kennedy remained in California UNI
III 1856. when he sailed for South /
America, going from there to New
York and finally journeying to Min /
1esota where his parents were then /
living. He afterwards went to Kansas, /
where he lived until 1884, when he
started overland for Montana. He /