Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-04-03

Dakota, although the fort was located
so near the Montana line that for
years it was thought to be in what
is now Montana. Part of the stockade
was practically on the Montana-Da-
kota line. 1t hardly seems necessary
to meet such criticism, for beyond
doubt stock must have been on one
side of the line as much as the other
in all probability. To such, therefore,
as may be inclined to exclude consider
alton of Fort Union. here are addi-
tional facts, which show that cattle
were to be found much farther up
the Missouri river in what Is now Mon
tana as early as 1888. This appears
from the writings of the great natural
ist. John J. Audubon, who visited Fort
Union in July and August, 1843. Here
is information about the cattle which
were at the mouth of the Marias river
in 1888.
Fort Mckenzie. by Alexander Gull
bertson, Aug. 7, 1833.-The fort was
built by me, Alexander Culbertson.
{. In the southeast corner is a large
barn. 60 by so feet, capable of holding
sufficient hay for all the cattle and
horses of the fort. The stock OF the
fort consists of 30 to 40 horses, 10 or
IL cattle and number of hogs. Fort
Mckenzie boasts of one of the most
splendid Durham bulls that can be
found in the United States or terri
tories"
This old Fort Mckenzie was about
at what is called Brule Bottom, and
was succeeded by Fort Benton in 1886
1t was on the north side of the Mis-
SNl1rl about civ roi1as q HNHya tho rr,ni,tt,
of the MariaS
The next reference to cattle in Mon
tana seems to occur in the Life and
Travels of Father DeSmet Among the
North American Indians" by Chitten-
den and Richardson.
At Stevensville in I841
In an address prepared by the late
Judge Woody of Missoula, he men
tons that there were cattle at ST.
Marys mission present day Stevens
vile. Mont) in 1841. Father DeSmet
went to Colville, Wash. in that year
to procure seeds as well as cattle, but
a careful investigation of his writings
does not show that there were any
cattle at the mission until in the year
1886. Father DeSmet says as follows
THE stock on this farm at present
September, 1846), consists of about
40 head of cattle. a fast increasing
herd of hogs and a prolific progeny
of domestic fowl"
1t is a fact that there were cattle
at Fort Colville. Washington territory,
long before this time. but none seem
to have been brought over to Bitter
Root valley until 1846.
In Capt. John Palliser's excellent
journal entitled SOLITARY Rambles Of
a Hunter" published in London In
1853. there are some references to
cattle at Fort Union which are inter-
esting, as they indicate that good stock
was bred there, in these early days.
In this work is found the following:
odd Mr.. Kipp dather Of Joe Kipp) !.
thinking to give all the employees and
voyageurs Of the fur company at Fort
Union great treat, had for some
time previously been fattening up q
very nice small-boned heller COW.
which was killed in due time. in prime
condition. AL who had been reckoning
on the treat this would afford them,
sat down In high expectation Of the
ensuing feast; but after eating q little
while In silence, gradually dropped Off.
one by one, to the bison meat which
was also on the table. and were finally
unanimous In eondemning the bed.