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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