Then and Now; or, Thirty-Six Years in the Rockies Personal Reminiscences of Some of the First Pioneers of the State of Montana

Through a series of heartfelt letters written to his young daughter, the narrator recounts his trek from the familiar farms of Illinois to the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains. He describes the exhilarating rush of finding gold in Alder Creek, the daily grind of mining camps, and the stark contrast between prairie schooners and the bustling streets of Great Falls. The voice is personal yet vivid, offering a snapshot of life on the frontier during the decades after the Civil War.

In addition to mining adventures, the collection weaves in tense encounters with Native nations, buffalo hunts across endless plains, and the rough camaraderie of early settlers. Readers hear anecdotes of stampedes, makeshift forts, and the solemn moments when the landscape shifted from buffalo to cattle. Altogether, the letters form a mosaic of daring, hardship, and quiet optimism that brings the early days of Montana to life for modern ears.