Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-06-01

Mrs. Stateler escaped injury when the
wagon rolled over twice. The horses,
badly shaken, escaped serious hurts,
and soon the wagon was repaired for
the journey. One Indian scare ended
happily. One morning the train found
Indians camped close by and Bridger
and some unarmed men went to inter-
view them. The Indians, also unarmed,
came to meet them.
ShoshOnes Welcome Bridger
Bridget Bridgeri" the Indians
yelled when they recognized him.
There was happy reunion of red
men and the old wilderness man. The
Indians were Chief Washable, ever the
white mans friend, and his ShoshoneS.
At the end Of the trail Rev Stateler
found no place available to him in
Virginia City and located at Norwegian
gulch, IS miles to the northeast, where
he built a permanent camp and began
preaching to the some 800 miners
The Statelers had brought cattle,
and Mrs. Stateler made and sold 800
pounds of butter to the miners during
the summer at $50 a pound gold dust,
or SO a pound greenbacks. This pro-
Wded for the family's needs
Rev. Stateler organized the first
Methodist society In Montana, and
preached at the various mining camps
for some time. He reported his loca-
ton to his old conference, telling OF
the need for his work and appealing
for men and money. No response
Montana was too far away to interest
folks back IN the states with a war
on their hands. He did receive the title
and the honor Of presiding elder. with
only himself to preside over He sought
better fields in Oregon In 1866.
In 1857 he received appointment as
superintendent Of missions for Mon
tana and Colorado, indicating the lack
of knowledge of the west which guided
his old Kansas conference. Returning
to Montana. Rev. Stateler located at
Willow Greek, on the Jefferson river,
and preached In the mining camps
He succeeded IN having sent to Mon
tana a number Of young ministers,
often paying their expenses from his
own pocket From this start he laid
the foundations Of Methodism in
and lived to see the church
an influential agency throughout the
mountains.
In Montana. as In Missouri and Kan
sas, the preachers family made their
own living, and preaching brought only
meager compensation. After the work
was on sound basis and bishop on
occasion visited Montana, Rev. Stateler
was placed temporarily in the most
position Of his life: but
the matter ended in a joke appreciated
BY everyone.
Bishop Marvin Of the western con-
ference was in Helena Tn 1871, holding
an informal conference. The various
ministers we're making their reports /
The good bishop had a keen sense Of I
1umor. He had visited only recently at .
he Stateler home.
Asked how much he had received for 4
he year, Rev Stateler answered. I
Forty dollars. sir" The bishop was
lot satisfied
II heard someone say you had got
EN- more than that"
The good minister admitted that he
rad received a sack Of flour from a
friend, and 80 cents from q non
:hurch source. The bishop persisted
hat the amount must have been
greater, ON the information he pos
essed, and Stateler went umcomforta-
Wy through q third degree. When 1t
'ecame too painful the bishop re-
marked:
when was at your home sister
3tateler told me she had supported
me preacher tn tbs field this year: