Stewart, Lou Stocking, 1862-1942

Lou Stocking was born 3 Apr. 1862 in Denver, Colo., to Margaret Henry and John J. Uhle. After John Uhle died, Margaret married Winfield Scott Stocking on 16 Jan. 1864 in Boise City, Idaho Territory. Stocking, born in Michigan on 15 Mar. 1837, had gone to California in 1859 and prospected in Oregon prior to locating at Boise. After their marriage Winfield and Margaret, along with Lou, moved to Fort Benton in July 1865 where Winfield established a meat market and located a ranch on Teton Creek. During this time Margaret and Winfield had a son, John J. Stocking, and in 1871 they were joined at their ranch by Winfield's mother, Lucy (Bigelow) Stocking. Lucy remained with her son's family until 1875 when she returned to Chicago. Lou Stocking grew up on the family ranch and attended St. Mary's Academy at Leavenworth, Kan. Lou married Albert H. Stewart sometime after 1910. They spent their lives in Ft. Benton and Great Falls while Albert managed sheep ranches at those locations and Belt, Mont. By 1926, Lou Stocking Stewart had become very active in various clubs including, but not limited to Society of Montana Pioneers, Montana Federated Women's Clubs, and Grand Army of the Republic Woman's Relief Corps.

From the description of Lou Stocking Stewart papers, 1871-1941. (Montana State University Bozeman Library). WorldCat record id: 71058950

Lou Stocking, born in 1862, grew up on the family ranch near Fort Benton, Montana and attended St. Mary's Academy at Leavenworth, Kansas. She married Albert H. Stewart sometime after 1910. They spent their lives in Ft. Benton and Great Falls while Albert managed sheep ranches at those locations and Belt, Montana. By 1926, Mrs. Stewart had become very active in various clubs including, but not limited to, the Society of Montana Pioneers, Montana Federated Women's Clubs and Grand Army of the Republic Women's Relief Corps. Lou Stocking Stewart died on March 1, 1942.

John J. "Johnny" Healy was born in Ireland and came to Montana in the early 1860s and initially worked as a prospector. By 1869 he had begun trading with various Montana and Canadian Indian tribes, distributing whiskey from Fort Hamilton, an Alberta trading post he established which became commonly known as "Fort Whoop-Up." When the Canadian government closed his operation in 1874, Healy moved to Fort Benton and eventually became sheriff of Choteau County, a position he held until 1882. During his time in Fort Benton, Healy wrote a series of historical interest columns for the River Press which he titled "Frontier Sketches." Thereafter he traveled to Alaska where he was involved with a number of mining and mercantile businesses, and he died in Los Angeles in 1908.

From the guide to the Johnny Healy Frontier Sketches Scrapbook, 1878-1900, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)

Katherine Louisa "Lou" Stocking was born on April 3, 1862 in Denver, Colorado to Margaret Henry and John J. Uhle. After John Uhle died, Margaret Uhle married Winfield Scott Stocking on January 16, 1864 in Boise City, Idaho Territory. Stocking, born in Michigan on March 15, 1837, had gone to California in 1859 and prospected in Oregon prior to locating at Boise. After their marriage Winfield and Margaret, along with her daughter Lou, moved to Fort Benton in 1866 where Winfield established a meat market and located a ranch on Teton Creek. During this time Margaret and Winfield had a son, John J. Stocking, and in 1871 they were joined at their ranch by Winfield's mother, Lucy Bigelow Stocking. Lucy remained with her son's family until 1875 when she returned to Chicago and eventually her home in Elk Rapids, Michigan. Lucy returned to the Fort Benton area sometime prior to 1884 and remained there until her final return to Elk Rapids in the summer of 1885.

Lou Stocking grew up on the family ranch and attended St. Mary's Academy at Leavenworth, Kansas. She traveled to Michigan to visit her grandmother Lucy in 1883 and met other members of the extended Stocking family. Lou married Albert H. Stewart sometime after 1910. They spent their lives in Ft. Benton and Great Falls while Albert managed sheep ranches at those locations and Belt, Montana. By 1926, Mrs. Stewart had become very active in various clubs including, but not limited to, the Society of Montana Pioneers, Montana Federated Women's Clubs and Grand Army of the Republic Women's Relief Corps. Lou Stocking Stewart died on March 1, 1942.

From the guide to the Lou Stocking Stewart Papers, 1871-1941, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)