Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-05-30
j. II. Sherburne's Life Is Recalled
BY Recent Big Fire at Browning

An historic western landmark was
claimed by fire when the SherbuTne
Mercantile Co. store was burned ct
Browning recently landmark estab-
lished BY q man who can be classified
readily as the cornerstone" Of that
Blackfeet reservation community.
Indian trader, friend and advisor, J.
H. Sherburne was held in high esteem
by both red men and white and he
did his full share in shaping the
colorful history OF the frontier. which
claimed him almost from the first.
The fire destroyed the store he had
labored to develop into one of Mon
tana's best, but his contributions to
community progress win march on
down the years and be a monument
TO his memory.
j. II. Sherburne was born at Phillips,
Me, and when 16 years old, migrated
to the then far remote state of Min
nesota, TO the extreme west end Of
the railroad. There he was employed
by a druggist, a miller and last.
storekeeper Later, after being called
back to his native state, his cousin,
AL Newman, invited him to go to Ar
kansas City, Kan, and help him start
a store there. He arrived in Arkansas
City in 1872. The population of that
town then numbered about 500 persons. !
About this time Sherburne's uncle, |
Daniel Beedy, was starting construc-
ton on a grist mill on the lower Wal
nut river Here he and Newman worked
briefly on the mill project, but soon
they resumed their plans to be mer-
chants.
After entering upon this business
they soon found they we're considerably
overstocked with many things, includ-
ing large Number of fine blankets.
In order to reduce this supply, Sher-
burne was picked as the victim to
go into the Indian territory, his wagons
loaded with the surplus merchandise
and trade it to the Indians for buffalo
robes which could be readily sold at a
profit.
He took three "four-up" outfits and
went among the Indians, disposing of
whatever he had, and bringing back
many fine buffalo robes which we're
AIKEN down the river and disposed of
n st. Louis. While on this trip Sher-
)urne's party came upon the remains
If a surveying party which had gone
nto the Indian territory to make the
original survey and establish markers
# the subdivision of lands.
The Indians, knowing that this par
y was doing the thing which would
dispossess them Of their
ands and hunting grounds, killed all
# the surveyors, piled their wagons :
md equipment In heap, then placed .
he murdered men on the pile and set ,
- NJ I'D netvv
anne upon this grueSome scene and ,
cit some uneasiness for themselves
nd their stock in trade, but the In /
ians seemed friendly and traded with |
hem until they made safe and sue 7
esSful return to Arkansas City.
The milling company In which Sher- 6
urne was interested made a contract g
nth the government for delivery of i
lour to old Fort Sill, In the interior 4
( Indian territory It was all deliv- 0
red by wagon over a distance of some I
10 miles as the crow flies but more h
Y slow wagon trains. In fording the
umerous streams, some Of the flour r
OF wet and was damaged. Therefore, 1t a
ras necessary to make a later trip h
} the fort to resack some of this flour k
nd adjust the damage done. v
AS luck would have 1t, it fell to "
herburne to make this trip. and for Il
he took Mr. G. Scott along Y
it'll him. e
They drove for days and days, final I"
making the return trip. Game was a
entiful. Great flocks of wild turkeys "
ere always to be seen on approaching p
he rivers. The countryside fringing II
le timber along the streams was tt
ack with them. 81
owes to P0nca IL
Sherburnes trips into the Indian n
untry resulted in his moving to Pom h
!, about 1876, where he established al
S own business as an Indian trader m
lder federal license. CT
1t was to Ponca that Sherburne now al
ok Mrs. Sherburne, his bride, and ca
ere they made their home. While bl
ere, five of their children were born. st
ere he learned to trade with the In I'll
ans and liked them. The Poncas tie
ught him their language, as well as M
N language. In fact when Indians OIL
d difficulty at the agency, they