Glacier County chief., 1940-06-07

naming range of mountains, a can
yon and town for him.
American Fur Co.
Activities of the American Fur Co.
form the historical background of
northern Montana. This company was
being for many years the only stock
holder; but in 1922 a st. Louis branch
was formed and Pierre Chouteau Bar
nard Pratt and others were associated
as partners. Old Astorians of the ILL
fated Pacific Fur Co., were enlisted
and several former agents of Canadian
companies. including Kenneth McKen-
derburgh. Merger of the Northwest
company with the Hudson's Bay Co.,
had thrown some 900 clerks. traders and
trappers out of employment: and these.
mostly Scotchmen, were glad to Join
the new company.
In 1927 Kenneth Mckenzie came into
its service and was given charge of its
interests on the upper Missouri. About
1928 he built Fort Union IA miles south
east of the present town of Bainville
Mckenzie is declared by Chittenden
to have been the ablest fur trader the
employ. He made Fort Union the CEN
ter of large and successful operations.
To get a foothold in the Blackfeet
country. in 1882 Mckenzie enlisted the
aid OF a wandering trapper named
Berger, and established at the mouth
of the Marias. Fort Piegan-later Fort
Mckenzie and Fort Benton.
Fort CaSS was established at the
mouth of the Big Horn in 1882 to Sc
cure the trade with the Crows, but was
abandoned in 1885.
With Capt B. Young as master the
steamboat Yellowstone reached Fort
Union in 1882, with Pierre Chouteau
Jr.. aboard.
George Catlin. famous painter of
early day Indian life, visited Fort
Union in 1882
Prince Macmillan of .Wied-Neuwied,
whose journals OF travel in the Rocky
mountains are among the most valu-
able of early day records visited Fort
Union and later Fort Mckenzie in
1888. With him was Bodmer, young
Swiss artist. who illustrated Maxi
milian's travels.
In 1873" Alexander Culbertson arrived
at Fort Union. and in 1889 he succeeded
Mckenzie as factor For 30 years Cul-
bertson was the chief figure in upper
Missouri river affairs He tablished
Fort Lewis. five miles above the pres
ent town of Fort Benton. and Fort
Alexander. at the mouth of tine Rose
bud in 1912.
In 1874 Malcolm Clark, well known
in fur trade annals, was in charge Of
Fort Lewis Clark was succeeded for
a few months in 1886 by Charles Lar
penteur. whose biography, Forty Years
Fur Trader on the Upper Missouri"
is an interesting document of the time.
In 1864 Malcolm Clark settled on a
ranch in the Prickly Pear valley with
his Piegan wife and. family Here he
was slain by Indians in 1869. during
an outbreak of a Piegan band
In 1886 new trading post was es-
tabliShed by CulbertSon where the
town of Fort Benton now stands. 1t
was named for Thomas H. Benton
United States senator from Missouri
who had been the American Fur Co.'S
friend at court"
In 1854 Andrew Dawson, a Scotch
man, was placed in charge of Fort
Benton by Culbertson. In 1862 the COM
pany established a post on the north
bank of the Missouri, Is miles above
the mouth of the Musselshell It was
named Fort Andrew. for Dawson In
1868 Fort Andrew was abandoned and
new post founded Is miles above the
mouth Of Milk river. This was Fort
Gilpin.
In 1912 Angus Mcdonald. early Hud-
sons Bay Co. trader. established a
trading post seven miles southeast OF
the present Kalispell. After three years
Mcdonald moved his post to Post creek.
the fur trade on the western slope. was
last to pass from the picture in Mon
tana as a fur producer. Angus Nc
Donalds son, Duncan. died only few
years ago at his ranch home west Of
Flathead lake.
BY 1910 nearly all profit had van
ished for the independent trader. By
1850 the beaver dams were almost ex-
hausted, and even the less important
furs were hard to get.
Habit Is a mans best friend: also
his worst enemy. .rs.-.7 - = =