June/July 2010 Dancer photo by Rhonda Lee
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Vol 26 No 5
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Sharing Stories and Secrets: Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers By Bernice Karnop Marjorie Gray, Highwood, and Mary Lou Garrett, Helena, both have ancestors who settled in Montana in the exciting gold rush days of the 1860s. They have something else in common. Pioneer women in their families kept secrets they feared would tarnish their reputation. Marge and Mary Lou belong to the Sons and
Daughters of the Montana Pioneers, a group to which only direct descendents of men or women who settled in Montana before December 31, 1868 may belong. Marge’s grandmother and grandfather were members of the Society of Montana Pioneers, and Mary Lou’s grandmother and aunts were members. The Society of Montana Pioneers organized in 1884 and the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers organized eight years later in 1892. Marge’s father, an avid history buff, told her it was a group she needed to be part of and bought her a life membership in 1962. She became active about ten years ago after family and ranching responsibilities slowed down and is now secMary Lou Garrett (l.) and Shirley Herrin from the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers dressed up in period clothing for the Helena History Fair in May 2009. [Photo by Bernice Karnop]
ond vice president. Mary Lou did not know about her grandmother’s membership until a little more than a decade ago. She joined Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers in 1987 and is now secretary/treasurer. About 500 individuals belong to the organization. A Chinese family from California seldom misses the annual convention. People from all over the United States belong, including young people right down to the babies. We have lot of baby members,” says Mary Lou. “People who are really involved just feel it is an honor to sign up family.” Last August more than 100 people gathered in Fort Benton to hear speakers tell about the “Birthplace of Montana.” They visited the old fort and cemetery and walked along the levy. Mary Lou was amazed to learn how many luxury items were brought up the Missouri on steamboats “from the states” and sold in Fort Benton. Marge Gray invited the group to a barbeque at the ranch her grandfather started 140 years ago - the Harris Land and Cattle Company - on Highwood creek. The ranch was honored by the Montana Stockgrower’s Association as a Centennial Ranch - one of the few in the state owned by the original family (Continued on page 42)