INTRODUCTORY


To the people of Southern Montana, the cradle of our State, to the men and women who bore all of the early hardships, who never flinched when a duty was to be performed; who drove the Red man from his hunting grounds, and the robbers from their roosts, I dedicate this short history of those early days. I want to thank Mr. Charles Beehrer, for throwing light on men and things never before published; Judge H. M. Lott, John F. Bishop, A. F. Graeter, John C. Innes, James Kirkpatrick and W. B. Carter for early day stories; F. L. Graves, Jr., for pictures; George R. Metlen for kindly help; Jay Baker and Charlie Conger for records; Mrs. Walter Scott of Armstead for information; Ed Hart of Virginia City, for valuable material which he alone could furnish; and particularly Miss Myrl Erwin for assisting in gathering information and preparing my manuscript for the printer; last, but not least, the many boys of Beaverhead who have made it possible by their words of encouragement and financial assistance, especially T. J. Murray, Harry Gilbert and Gov. B. F. White for the money with which to carry the work to a successful termination. Friendship is better than a bank because it purchases many moments of contentment unknown to him with gold alone. AL NOYES.

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