Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-11-15

Here IS an ancient 0OCumeut, VIII
ten SIS years ago by Granville Stuart
one Of the first white men to come
10 Montana. IL deals with the creation
Of Deer Lodge county, now only 8
fragment Of what II was originally
and stirring incidents Of those times
The city Of Deer Lodge, by reason Of
many counties that have since been
created, is no longer within the con-
fines Of the original county, but Is the
county seat Of Powell county.
July 4, 1876.
This county was created by the first
legislature of Montana on the second
day of February, 1865. Prior to that
time it had formed a portion of Mis-
soula county, which was organized in
1862 under the laws Of Washington
territory, of which it then formed a
part. Missoula county, at that time
embraced all Of that part Of what is
now Montana that lies west of the
Rocky mountains. On the third OF
March, 1868, congress created the ter
ritory Of Idaho out Of portions of
Washington, Oregon and Dakota,
which threw Missoula county, includ-
ing what was afterwards Deer Lodge,
into the new territory; and on the
18th of May, 1854, congress created
Montana out Of that part OF Idaho
living north Of the Bitter Root noun
tains and north and east Of the Rocky
mountains, and when the first Mon
tana legislature met at Bannack City
in December, 1864, they divided the
territory into counties, Deer Lodge
being one OF the number.
The name Of the county, valley and
town is derived from the Hot Spring
mound or butte near Belangers hotel
in the upper part Of the valley, which
was called by the Snake Indians 'the
White-TaiIed Deer Lodge" from the
fact that those deer (Cervus Virgin
ianus) being very abundant in the
swamps in that vicinity, and from the
resemblance that the mound bore to
an Indian lodge of a winters morning
when the steam rose from the hot
spring on its summit, like smoke from
a lodge.
Neutral Ground
The valley and county were a sort
of neutral ground among the sur
rounding tribes of Indians and were
not permanently occupied by any OF
them, at least during the historical
period. The cause of this would seem
to have been the frequent mcursions
of the Blackfeet, who were then very
numerous and overran all Of what Is
now western Montana, keeping the
mountain tribes, who by reason OF
fewer numbers and inferior arms were
unable to cope with them, in constant
terror The Blackfeet obtained fire.
arms at a very early period from
Hudson's Bay and other traders on
the Assinniboine and Saskatchewan
rivers, and seem to have been the most
aggressive and warlike Of all the tribes
of this region. From about 1904, at
which time the Americans first came
in contact with them, down to 1850,
their war parties ravaged the country
south and west Of them, frequently
going as far as Fort Hall and Boise
valley or Snake river.
Many were the fierce encounters
between them and the bands OF trap
oers that, under the leadership Of old |
Jim Bridger, Milton and William Sub
lette, wandered over this region in /
1uest of the rich harvest Of furs and |
oeltries that were then so abundant |
and easily taken. Often have they |
,wooped down upon the scattered par
lies Of trappers in the olden days and,
driving off all their horses, left them
20 reioin the main body as best they
Gould, fortunate If some did not lose
heir lives as well as their horses; and,
among the earlier settlers In Montana,
here are few who did not have to
MOURN the loss of many a good horse
1t their hands.
Indians Escape
Their last great exploit was the TAX
ng of 100 horses from within mile
# Deer Lodge city in April, 1854. The
,wners, John F. and James O. Grant,
Thomas Lavatta and a few others,
aised small party and went IN hot
pursuit. They overlook and surprised
he Indians while they were halted
or rest at spring near Birdtan Rock
,eyond the Dearborn river, but by bad
management let them all escape on
ONE six or seven Of the best horses.
iince that time they have almost every
ear stolen q few horses from the
icinity of Lincoln gulch and Big
,lackfoot valley in the northern part
f the. county, but west of the main ]
ange. Their raids are no longer fire.
uent, nor do they now penetrate far,
kept toward the Yellowstone, which
hey often visit.
There is reason to believe that the
IrSt white men who ever visited what
J now Montana were party from
canada under the Chevalier de la YER
ndrye, who, In 1912, seem to have
ONE up the Missouri river as far as
be Gates Of the Rocky mountains,
ear where Helena now stands, and
! (