Glacier Chief, February 6, 1942
Mountain Chief, 94, and last hereditary chief of the Blackfeet Indians, who died at his house on the reservation Monday, was buried Wednesday in the cemetary here following funeral service at the Church of the Little Flower. Mountain Chief, blind and confined to his home for some years, but otherwise in good health, died suddenly after complaining of having difficulty in breathing. He had been about his yard shortly before and succumbed quietly while lying on his bed. Mountain Chief was born on Old Man River in Canada in 1848 and remembered the Treaty of 1855 of which his father was a signer. he was present at the time it was signed. by this treaty all the land south of the Missouri River claimed by the Blackfeet in Montana was given to the United States. He was known as a great warrior and, according to Dick Sanderville, took part in a great many Indian fights during his lifetime. He met also many of the Presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, McKinley, Wilson, Taft, and Queen Marie of Rumania. He participated in the sale of land which is now Glacier Park to the government. Mountain Chief was friend of General Hugh L. Scott. In 1930 he had his last visit with the general at the International Peace Conference of the Indian tribes at Browning, when the universal sign language was recorded on movie film under the direction of Scott. He is survived by his son Walter; daughter Rosie Mad Wolf; and four grandsons: Peter Stabs by Mistake, Patrick Marceau and Joe Mountain Chief, all living near Heart Butte, and Aloysious Red Fox. who is in the army in Alaska. There are 14 great grandchildren.
February 20,.1942
A large group of men from here went to Great Falls last week where they took an examination for the army. Among the men who went were Harold Scriver, Les Aubert and Jim Whitecalf.
April 10, 1942
Through the WPA, John Clarke makes 6 figures, 2 sets of three: one on the changes in Blackfeet clothing and the other on preparing a hide. These are in the Museum of the Plaiins Indian.
April 24, 1942
Funeral services for the late John Franklin Bird, 93, venerable Montana pioneer, who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrrs. L. J. Momberg on Thursday, April 16, were held at the Methodist Church Saturday afternoon with Rev. Allen O. Wilcox officiating. Browning Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. Interment was made in the Browning Catholic Cemetary beside the grave of his wife. The following obituary was prepared by Mary B. Salois: The death of Mr. Bird removes from the community one of the real pioneers. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, Dec. 11, 1848, where he lived until he attained manhood. At the age of 20 he came West and engaged in freighting in the eastern part of Montana Territory, following the route from Bozeman to the Canadian border. His real purpose in coming West was to engage in prospecting. He and Mr. Phemister spent a number of years prospecting for gold in the country that is now Yellowstone Park and adjacent territory. He was among the early freighters out of Ft. Benton, hauling freight to the old government Fort Logan. One one particular trip as he was returning north word reached him that General Custer’s Command had been wiped out by the Sioux on the Little Big Horn. He had been hauling supplies to the old 7th Cavalry. Mr. Bird was a close friend of the late Paris Gibson and well remembered the time when Mr. Gibson, being peeved at the people of Ft. Benton, told them, “I’ll leave this town and start a real town somewhere else.” His statement became true as he started Great Falls. Mr. Bird hauled the first freightload of furniture and supplies to the original Park Hotel in Great Falls. In the year of 1880 he was married to Mattie Mad Wolf Woman, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe. They made their home in Choteau for a number of years and later moving to the reservation. Their first home here was at Old Agency, where he was in charge of the goernment herd of cattle. The family moved to a ranch on Willow Creek which later became the Methodist Mission. Their next house was about a mile down the creek which within a sort time became the Blackfeet Agency of today. Later the family moved to a ranch on Cut Bank Creek where they lived for many years. During his more than 93 years, Mr. Bird saw many changes in the ways of life. He watched and took part in the development of the community. He often remarked he never thought he would see the day when he would watch airplanes in the sky, automobiles on splendid highways which took the place of the old treacherous trails, electric lights that took the place of candles and all the wonders that always thrilled him. He said it was a long way from driving a bull team on a freight wagon to these days of everything modern. His later years were spent in ranching and he and Mrs. Bird lived for many years on what is still known at the old Bird ranch on Cut Bank River. On a trip about seventeen years ago to Yellowstone Park, he was shown many of the well-known sites. when the party came to Old Faithful geyser, he stood looking at it for some time and then remarked, “It looks just like it did 45 years ago. It spouts out just the same.” Survivors include 4 daughters and 6 sons, who are: Mrs. Dave Higgins, Mrs. L.J. Momberg, Mrs. Andrew Keller of Browning; Mrs. Martha Hans of Niobrara, Nebraska; Sampson, Charles, Johnson, Harry, George and Oscar of Browning; 40 living grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; a sistser Mrs. Mary Odneal of Sprague, MO, and nephew, Charles Moreland of Lewiston, ID.
May 1, 1942
The Sherburne Mercantile burned.
Mary Salois begins to have a War Mother’s Column.
Bill Show donates a yearling steer to the War Mother’s auction.
June 5, 1942
War mothers: We hear from Harold Scriver PFC that he’s undergone basic training and finds army life is alright but no monkey business. He is glad the Browning War Mothers are doing their bit for the boys and says that the boys having no mothers of their own are indeed lucky to find they can call on several mothers to make life in the service happier for them.
June 26, 1942
Footprints of sign-talkers dedicated. Dedication of the footprints on the lawn of the Museum of the Plains Indian which commemorates the historic Conference of Northwest Indians at Browning in September, 1930, called for the intertribal demonstration of the sign languages, is scheduled for 2 o’clock on the afternoon of June 30 on the Museum lawn. A prominent part of the program will be taken by some of those who took part in the original conference. Most of the participants in that council are now dead. However, James Whitecalf, Richard Sanderville (Chief Bull) and Mr. F. C. Campbell of the original group, whose footprints appear in the circle of bronze tablets will participate. Plans are being made for the Indians from the encampment north of the museum to attend in a body.
July 17, 1942
Private Eddie Big Beaver, Jr. was in Australia.
August 28, 1942
Dandy Jim dies. (Jim No Chief -- son of Calf Shirt and Stikes Once)
October 9, 1942
Fred Campbell obituary.
November 6, 1942
Culbertson story.
1943
January 1, 1943
Dick Sanderville organized dance in honor of Browning War Mothers.
February 26, 1943
Miss Hazel Overdahl Bride of Harold Scriver
The marriage of Miss Hazel Overdahl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O.J. Overdahl, to Corporal Harold T. Scriver, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.E. Scriver, was solemnized at a ceremony in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Cut Bank last Saturday at 4:30 P.M. with the Reverend Y.L. Yivisaker officiating. Family members and a few intimate friends were in attendance. Attending the couple were the groom’s mother and his brother Robert. Later returning to Browning, the couple attended the annual Washington’s Birthday party given by Glacier Lodge No. 147, AF&AM. The bride is employed as bookkeeper for the Browning Merc. Co. Residing since early childhood in this community, she attended Browning High School until 1936 when she entered service of her present employer. The groom entered the armed forces last year and is a non-commissioned officer at Camp Hood, Texas. He is a graduate of Browning High School. He also attended the Montana State College at Bozeman and Kinman College at Spokane. Arriving home last Thursday to enjoy his second visit since entering the service, he began his return to Camp Hood Wednesday.
April 9, 1943
Faithe Sherburne is engaged to Bill Bercovich.
June 12, 1943
Mrs. Alton Lee is visiting -- she is daughter of G.V. Johnson.
Renshaw is police at the air base.
Aug. 6, 1943
“Primitive American Commandos” published by John Ewers.
Mrs. Buzz Lutts is daughter of Elsthehagen.
.Browning Chief, 1944
September 15, 1944
Pvt. John McKay seriously wounded in action in France with heavy artillery. Has been in European war zone for a year.
November 3, 1944
“The lambs of Tom Kipp of Blackfoot weighed approximately 87 lbs. each and were a close second [to Frank Conway’s]. Contrary to the usual situation, the prairie lambs outweighed the lambs that were grazed in the mountains.”
December 1, 1944
Pvt. Eddie J. Big Beaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Big Beaver, Sr. of Browning, is due to arrive soon in the US on furlough from the Atlantic-Pacific war zone. Pvt. Big Beaver has served 36 months in the Army Field Artillery Corps.
1945
February 2, 1945
Norma Ann Elsethagen, Bride. Mrs. Harold Scriver was Matron of Honor, wearing a delphinium gown with sequin waist-length jacket. Five years earlier that was worn by the bride’s sister as attendant to Mrs. Lutz.
February 9, 1945
Marine Private First Class John J. Kipp carried a captured and starving 60 lb. Jap on his back up a 300 foot coral cliff. John is 6’2” and heavily built.
May 4, 1945
Selden Frisbee promoted to Major.
June 15, 1945
Maj. Gen. Wm. H. Gill, commander of the 324 (Red Arrow) Division, announces that the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines has awarded the Philippines Liberation Medal to Private Calvin C. Augare of Browning, MT. Pvt. Augare entered the army in April, 1943, and came overseas in October of the same year, assigned to the 32nd Division, veterans of Buna, he saw his first combat action at Saidor, New Guinea. He participated in four succeeding operations and is fighting at present among the mile-high ridges of the Caraldallo Mountins in Northern Luzon. Pvt Augare is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Augare and the husband of Mrs. Theda LaBuff Augare of Browning, Mt.
July 27, 1945
A 4-article series on oil geology begins.
August 3, 1945
Cptl. James Gerard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gerard, Sr., has been given an honorable discharge at Fort Douglas, Utah, according to a PR release. Captain Girard wears bronze stars for three campaigns in North Britain, Luzon, Leyte, and Mindinaos. Incidental to his 34 months service overseas, he is authorized to wear the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbons, American Defence Ribbon, Phillipine Defense Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal.
Pfc. Jack Heavyrunner Escorts Correspondent
Pft. Jack HR, who is with the 32nd Infantry Division in the Pacific, was a member of a patrol that escorted two distinguished war correspondents over the bloody battlegrounds along the Villa Verde Trail in northern Luzon’s Caraballo Mountains. The correspondents, “Doig” Disbrow, nationally known feature writer, and Keo Amelian, owner and reporter for radio station KLEU, Erie, Penn., wanted first hand information on the 120 day battle fought by the 32nd (Red Arrow) Divison to secure the 22 miles of mountain trail through the heart of Japanese resistance to Santa Fe. The visitors also wanted to see action. The patrol spent the day in combing the brush and timber covered canyons and gullies tryiing to make isolated pockets of Japs stand and fight. Towards evening when the party was descending the dizzy curves of the Villa Verde road, a Jap sniper fired on the car carrying the correspondents. Bullets whipped through the air and over the vehicle but no one was injured.
August 10
Big headline: Japs Give Up!
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