THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES INDIAN AND WHITE IN THE NORTHWEST. RT. REV. JOHN B. BRONDEL, D. D. INDIAN AND WHITE IN THE NORTHWEST; or, A History of Catholicity in Montana. BY L B. PALLADINO, S. J., With an Introduction by RIGHT REVEREND JOHN B. BRONDEL, FIRST BISHOP OF HELENA. Illustrated with copious Photogravures. BALTIMORE: JOHN MURPHY & COMPANY, 1894. COPYRIGHT, 1894, BY L. B. PALLADINO, S. J. NIS TO HIS LORDSHIP, JOHN B. BRONDEL, D. D,, THE FIRST BISHOP OF HELENA, THIS HISTORY OF HIS FOLD is RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 1965188 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. Dedication iii Illustrations xiii Introduction by Right Eev. John B. Brondel, D. D., Bishop of Helena xix Pastoral Letter of the same on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Estab- lishment of the First Catholic Mission in Montana xxi Preface by the Author xxiii FART I, CHAPTER I. The Flat-Heads 1 CHAPTER II. How the Flat-Heads acquired the First Notions of Christianity Their First Expedition to St. Louis to obtain Catholic Missionaries 9 CHAPTER III. Unsuccessful attempt to establish Non-Catholic Missions among the Flat-Heads 13 CHAPTER IV. Other Expeditions sent out by the Flat-Heads to obtain Missionaries. 18 CHAPTER V. Father P. J, De Smet's First Trip to the Rocky Mountains 23 CHAPTER VI. Father P. J. De Smet, accompanied by other Missionaries, returns to the Rocky Mountains 29 V VI Indian and White in the Northwest. CHAPTER VII. St. Mary's, the First Mission in Montana Its Establishment, etc 32 38 CHAPTER VIII. St. Mary's Mission, Continued Father De Smet's Journey to St Paul, Oregon He goes to Europe for more Assistants, etc CHAPTER IX. St. Mary's Mission, Continued Death of Father P. Zerbinati, S. J. First Grist Mill and First Saw Mill in Montana 45 CHAPTER X. St. Mary's Mission, Continued The Mission is Temporarily Closed Its He-opening Father Joseph Giorda, S. J. Father A. Ra- valli,S.J 50 CHAPTER XI. St. Mary's Mission, Concluded Removal of the Flat-Heads to the Jocko The Founders of the Mission vSome noted Flat-Heads Chariot and the Garfield Treaty 59 CHAPTER XII. St. Ignatius, the Second Mission in Montana Its Establishment and Progress 68 CHAPTER XIII. Educating the Indian Means and Methods to Educate the Red Man Mission and School Work Necessity of Moral and Ma- terial Training 79 CHAPTER XIV. Educating the Indian President Grant's Peace Policy Contract Schools Commissioner Morgan's New System, etc 86 CHAPTER XV. Educating the Indian The Schools and the Training the Indian Needs 92 Table of Contents. vii PAGE. CHAPTER XVI. Educating the Indian Non-Sectarianism and Indian Education 105 CHAPTER XVII. St. Ignatius Mission, Continued The First Community of Sisters in Montana, and the First Indian Boarding School in the Northwest, 122 CHAPTER XVIII. St. Ignatius Mission, Continued The Author's First Experience of Indian Missionary Life Traveling under Difficulties A Singu- lar Confession Some other Incidents, with a Bear Story 133 CHAPTER XIX. St. Ignatius Mission, Continued Indian Boys' School and Kinder- garten 143 CHAPTER XX. Hon. George G. Vest, United States Senator, and the Schools at St. Ignatius 150 CHAPTER XXI. St. Ignatius Mission, Continued Rev. James Razzini, S. J., Visits the Missions of the Rocky Mountains Brief of His Holiness Pius IX to the Indians of St. Ignatius 154 CHAPTER XXII. St. Ignatius Mission, Continued Inventive Rapacity of Indian Agents Agriculture and Material Prosperity of the Indians on the Jocko Reservation, etc 157 CHAPTER XXIII. St. Ignatius Mission, Concluded The Founders of the Mission Death of Father Joseph Menetrey, S. J. Brother Vincent Magri, S. J. Closing Particulars from Rev. A. Kuhls 162 CHAPTER XXIV. St. Peter's, the Third Indian Mission Established in Montana The Blackfeet Tribes First Missionary Work among them The Fathers O. M. I. Father Nicholas Point, S. J. Difficulties Attending the Establishment of the Mission, etc 168 viii Indian and White in the Northwest. CHAPTER XXV. St. Peter's Mission, Continued Temporary Closing of the Mission- Events and Incidents of this Period, etc 179 CHAPTER XXVI. St. Peter's Mission, Continued Re-opening of the Mission Father Philip Rappagliosi, S. J 184 CHAPTER XXVII. St. Peter's Mission, Concluded Starvation among the Piegans Schools, etc 192 CHAPTER XXVIII. Holy Family Mission and Schools Establishment and Progress 196 CHAPTER XXIX. St. Paul's Mission Its Establishment Father Frederick Eberschwei- ler, S. J. St. Paul's Indian Schools Edifying Examples, etc.... 197 CHAPTER XXX. St. Labre's Mission Its Origin The Ursulines The Cheyenne Indians George Yoakum Schools Father A. van der Velden, S. J 203 CHAPTER XXXI. St. Xavier's Mission The Crow Indians Crow Cosmogony First Missionary Work Father P. Barcelo, S. J. Establishment of the Mission The Sword-Bearer Incident, etc 216 CHAPTER XXXII. St. Xavier's Mission, Concluded Mission and School Work Father P. Prando, S. J. Incidents, etc 226 CHAPTER XXXIII. Conclusion of First Part An Impending Calamity 234 Table of Contents. ix II. CHAPTER I. PAGE. Topography, Civil and Ecclesiastical Organization of Montana 257 CHAPTER II. Exploration and Settlement Expedition of de La Verendray Father C. G. Coquart, S. J. Miners' Courts Vigilantes, etc.... 262 CHAPTER III. First Missionary Work among the Whites The Hell's Gate and Frenchtown Settlements 268 CHAPTER IV. Mission of Alder Gulch or Virginia 271 CHAPTER V. Mission of Helena Last Chance Origin and Establishment of the Mission 276 CHAPTER VI. Mission of Helena, Continued The First Sisterhood for the Whites in Montana Hangman's Tree, and other Incidents 287 CHAPTER VII. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas 293 CHAPTER VIII. Mission of Deer Lodge First Missionary Work Rev. R. De Ryckere Church of the Immaculate Conception, etc 296 CHAPTER IX. Dependencies of the Deer Lodge Mission Butte Helmsville Phillipsburgh Granite Anaconda Stone Station, etc 301 CHAPTER X. Butte St. Patrick's Mission Origin of the Name Silver Bow First Resident Priest St. James' Hospital St. Rose, Dillon 305 Indian and White in the Northwest. CHAPTER XI. Missoula Mission of St. Francis Xavier Meaning and Origin of the Name Missoula First Chapel Progress of the Mission 312 CHAPTER XII. Frenchtown Mission of St. John Baptist First Laborers First Mission given in Montana Dependencies 323 CHAPTER XIII. Mission of Fort Benton Fort Benton in Early Days First Mission Work, etc 328 CHAPTER XIV. Sun Eiver Lewistown Great Falls 334 CHAPTER XV. Helena, Continued St. John's Hospital County Sick and Poor Conflagrations St. Joseph's, Missouri Valley, etc 337 CHAPTER XVI. First Episcopal Visitation of Eastern Montana The Big Hole Battle. 346 CHAPTER XVII. Some Hangings and other Incidents 353 CHAPTER XVIII. Pastoral Visitation of Western Montana Most Kev. Archbishop Charles J. Seghers 358 CHAPTER XIX. Eight Rev. John B. Brondel, First Bishop of Helena His arrival- Diocesan Synods, etc 361 CHAPTER XX. Dependencies of Helena Boulder Three Forks Bozem an White Sulphur Springs Marysville 367 Table of Contents. xi CHAPTER XXI. Miles City Glendive Billings Livingston St. Helena's Church Cemeteries, etc 372 CHAPTER XXII. Father C. Imoda, S. J. Father Bouchard, S. J. His Eminence Cardinal James Gibbons in Helena Mission by the Kedemptorist Fathers The Good Shepherd's Order in Helena 380 CHAPTER XXIII. Work and Travels of Eight Rev. John B. Brondel 391 CHAPTER XXIV. Necrology Vocations Some Exemplary Women Conclusion 394 AN APPENDIX, or Interesting Details on the Early History of Catho- licity in Montana. By L. F. LaCroix 405 REFERENCES ... 411 ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAITS. (PART I AND PART II.) Opp. Page. MOST REV. CHARLES J. SEGHERS ................................................ 358 EIGHT KEY. JOHN B. BRONDEL ...................... t ........................... i " " JAMES O'CONNOR .................................................... 346 Secular Clergy. REV. HONORE ALLAEYS ........................................ , ................... 326 " FRANCIS X. BATENS ....................................................... 370 " AMAT A. COOPMAN ........................................................... 376 " REMIGIUS DE RYCKERE ................................................... 298 " PETER DESIERE ............................................................... 302 " J. J. DOLS ................... . ................................................... 307 " CHARLES G. FOLLET ......................................................... 378 " FRANCIS D. KELLEHER ..................................................... 275 " A. H. LAMBAERE ..................... . ................... .................. 302 " E. W. J. LINDESMITH ....................................................... 373 " CYRIL PAUWELYN ......................................................... , 310 " VICTOR VAN DEN BROECK ................................................. 309 " H. VAN DE YEN (Group) ................................................... 366 " L. TREMBLAY (Group) ...................................................... 364 Regulars. REV. PETER J. DE SMET, S. J ....................................... . ........... 24 " PETER BARCELO, S. J ................................... . .................... 221 " PHILIP CANESTRELLI, S. J .................................... . ............ 160 " JOSEPH CATALOG, S. J ....................................................... 2 " RAPHAEL CRIMONT, S. J. (Group) ...................................... 366 " JOSEPH DAMIANI, S. J ....................................................... 191 " JEROME D'AsiE, S. J ........................................................ 56 xiii xiv Indian and White in the Northwest. Opp. Page. REV. ALEXANDER DIOMEDI, S. J. (Group) 366 " FREDERICK EBERSCHWEILER, S. J. (Group) 364 " GREGORY GAZZOLI, S. J 182 11 JOSEPH GIORDA, 8. J 50 " JOSEPH GUIDI, S. J 368 " CAMILLUS IMODA, S. J. (Group) 364 " FRANCIS X. KUPPENS, S. J 278 " JOSEPH MENETREY, S. J. (Group) 364 " GREGORY MENGARINI, S. J 31 " LAWRENCE B. PALLADINO, S. J xxiii " P. P. PRANDO, S. J 230 " PHILIP KAPPAGLIOSI, S. J 188 " ANTHONY RAVALLI, S. J 54 " JAMES EEBMANN, S. J 146 " A. VAN DER VELDEN, S. J 214 " LEOPOLD VAN GORP, S. J 288 MR. JOHN B. HAWKES, S. J 400 BROTHER WILLIAM CLAESSENB, S. J .' 62 " PASCAL MEGAZZINI, S. J 284 " JOSEPH SPECHT, S. J 60 Sisters of Providence. SISTER MARY OF THE INFANT JESUS 122 " MARY EDWARD 123 " PAUL MIKI 124 " REMI 126 Sisters of Charity from Leavenworth, Kansas. SISTER BENEDICTA 348 " BERTHA 290 " LORETTO 292 " MARY LIGUORI 352 " MARY XAVIER 350 MOTHER XAVIER Ross 294 Seculars. MRS. MARY LOUISA HANRATTY 402 " EXLEN NAGLE 402 " MATILDA GALEN 402 Indians. WAR CHIEF ALEE g4 CHIEF CHARIOT 66 FRANCIS SAXA 20 Illustrations. xv Opp. Page. PETER GAUCHEK AND LITTLE IGNACE (From a painting by George Catlin.) 22 FLAT-HEAD FARMER... 158 Groups. FATHER AND SONS. 148 CROW CHIEFS . , 216 PIEGAN CHIEFS 170 CHEYENNE FAMILY..., , 212 MISSIONS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, ETC. (PART i.) ST. MARY'S: Mission and Church 30 " " Stones of First Flouring Mill in Montana 46 " Monument to Father Ravalli ... 55 " " Signal of Successful Flat-Head War Party 4 ST. IGNATIUS: General View 68 " " Elizabeth Falls 70 " Glacier 72 " " Church, Exterior 74 " " Church, Interior 76 " " Indian Boys' School, Pupils 144 " " Specimens of English Composition and Writing by Indian Boy Pupils 146 " " Kindergarten 149 " " Saw Mill and Grist Mill 144 " Workshops and Printing Office 146 " Indian Boys' Band 145 " " Indian Girls' School and Parterre in front of Boys' School , 128 " " School Girls 130 " " Specimens of English Composition and Writing by Indian Girl Pupils 132 " " Laying Corner-Stone of New Church 162 " " New Church * 164 ST. PETER'S: Indian Boys' School 184 " " Interior of Boys' Chapel 185 " " Indian Boys 186 " White Boys' School 187 xvi Indian and White in the Northwest. * Opp. Page. ST. PETEB'S: Ureuline Convent " Indian Girls 192 Ursuline Nuns teaching their Indian Pupils 192 Pen Work by two Indian Girls 194 " " Sewing Room 194 " White Pupils 194 HOLY FAMILY'S: School House Blackfeet Pupils 197 ST. PAUL'S: View of the Mission 198 " " School Boys 20 " " School Girls 201 " Class of Calisthenics -. 202 " Gros Ventre Indians 203 ST. LABRE'S: School House 204 " " Cheyenne Boys 206 " " Cheyenne Girls 208 " " Interior of Ursuline Chapel 210 ST. XAVIER'S: Starting the Mission 224 " St. Francis Xavier's Church 226 " " Boys' School 228 " " Boys' Brass Band 229 " " Girls' Department 232 CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, ETC. (PART II.) HELENA: Catholic Hill 280 " Cathedral of the Sacred Hearts, Exterior 340 " Our Lady's Altar at the Close of the Month of May 342 First Diocesan Synod, Group 364 " Third Diocesan Synod, Group 366 " St. Helena's Church 378 St. John's Hospital 362 St. Joseph's Orphans' Home 338 " St. Vincent's Academy 362 " The Good Shepherd 388 DEER LODGE: Church of the Immaculate Conception 296 " St. Joseph's Hospital 300 " " St. Mary's Academy 301 Illustrations, xvii Opp. Page. BUTTE: St. Patrick's Church 306 " St. James' Hospital 311 " St. Patrick's Parochial School... 310 MissoULA: St. Francis Xavier's Church 314 " Academy of the Sacred Heart 316 " St. Patrick's Hospital 320 ANACONDA: St. Paul's Church ., 304 " St. Ann's Hospital 305 FORT BENTON : Church of the Immaculate Conception 330 St. Clara's Hospital 332 St. John Baptist's Church and Rectory, Frenchtown 324 St. Ann's Church, Great Falls 336 Our Lady of Lourdes, Marysville 371 St. Mary's Church, Livingston 376 St. John's Church, Boulder Valley 367 St. Joseph's Church, Missouri Valley 34$ Church of the Sacred Heart, Miles City 372 St. Juliana's Church, Glendive 374 St. Andrew's Church, Granite 302 St. Leo's Church, Lewistown 334 St. Joachim, Billings 375 Church of the Holy Rosary, Bozeman, Montana 368 Holy Family Church, Three Forks 368 INTRODUCTION. It does not usually happen that a historian can relate the primi- tive times of a barbarous country, not less than its complete trans- formation by the hand and magic touch of progress, and be likewise a personal witness of both its civilization and barbarism. Such, however, is the case with the writer of the first History of Catho- licity in Montana. An old-timer among the old-timers, the Rev. author speaks whereof he knows. He has lived among the natives ; has conversed with the first priests who, preceding the gold seeker by twenty-two years, shared with the red man his dried buffalo meat, his wild roots and berries ; and where he saw the nomads' wigwam stand, he saw alike the palatial mansion rise. The howling wilderness has blossomed under his eyes. It has been with him a labor of love, for over two years, each day deep into the night, to collect authentic documents, compare and study statements made, so as to be accurate in relating events and stating dates, which make a history reliable. And as a book which holds the dead letter, becomes almost living by the pictures of those it describes, the author has doubled the value of his work by many photogravures which adorn its pages. Whilst a welcome and valuable addition to the history of the country, the new book will be a surprise to the many who still consider Montana as belonging to the "Wild West." May its pages prove once more that Christianity and civilization go hand in hand and produce the happiest results. The reading of this volume will give reliable information con- cerning the growth of our State from an American desert into a flourishing commonwealth, and will show at the same time what xix xx Indian and White in the Northwest. a factor Catholicity was in the building up of Montana, admitted to-day to be the richest gold and silver producer in the country, and to contain the biggest mining camp in the world. I hope the volume may be perused with great profit by all who love material progress and spiritual growth. It will be interest- ing especially to those who study the nature of man, whether in his barbarous or civilized condition. JOHN B. BRONDEL, Bishop of Helena. PASTORAL LETTER Right Reverend JOHN B. BROOBL, Bishop of Helena, ON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST CATHOLIC MISSION IN MONTANA. JOHN BAPTIST BRONDEL, by the Grace of God and Favor of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Helena, To the Clergy both Secular and Regular, the Religious Communities and the Faithful of our Diocese, Greeting in the Lord. On the first Sunday of October, the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, we will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the establish- ment of the first Catholic Mission in Montana. It was on that day, 1841, that the first mass was celebrated at St. Mary's Mission in the Bitter Root Valley, Missoula County, where Stevensville is now situated. Father Peter De Smet, S. J., at the repeated requests of the Flat-Head Indians, had visited the country from St. Louis, Mo., the previous year. He returned in 1841, accompanied by Fathers Point and Mengarini and three Lay Brothers of the Society of Jesus, and began mission work among the Indians of the Rocky Mountains. Of this first band of missionaries one survives, Brother W. Claessens, living at present at Santa Clara, California. We may form an idea of what they went through when they came to these regions and lived here, and traveled over these mountains ; when civilization was not in existence and when the savages and xxi XX11 Indian and White in the Northwest. the wild beasts roamed freely over the land. We may also con- ceive what an element they formed in the founding of civilization, as they were always on the side of religion and social order. If to-day there is no Indian tribe that has not its churches and schools, if there is no community that has not its Catholic church, if there is no town of some importance that has not its churches, schools and hospitals, it is due in great measure to these heroic pioneers of Christianity. It is proper that we should celebrate this golden jubilee of Montana's Catholicity by thanking God for the graces of the true faith bestowed upon the aborigines and for those as well granted to the white population that has poured in the land during the later years. Gratitude to God for past blessings obtains new ones. We need the perseverance of the faithful, we need the conversion of the sinner, we need the light of faith for those who are still resting in the shadow and darkness of unbelief. To obtain all these favors and to render thanks in an appropriate manner to the Giver of all good gifts, we invite the people to receive the sacraments of penance and holy communion on Rosary Sunday. By our direction the Te Deum will be sung at the end of the divine service either in the morning or in the evening of that day and the prayer of thanksgiving is to be said every day at mass during the month of October. We further desire that the sermon of the day have for subject, " Catholic Missions." .... This letter shall be read at mass the first Sunday after its reception. Given at Helena on the 27th day of September, 1891, under our sign and seal and the countersign of our secretary. >J