Montana Medicine Show: John Bozeman's Town

Welcome to the Montana Medicine Show. I'm Derrick strong. Fourteen year old James Kirkpatrick described John Bozeman as a tall fine looking Georgian who had the looks and ways of a manly man. Bozeman guided wagon trains along the bloody Bozeman trail starting in the summer of 1863. As an afterthought he established a town site with William Bell and Daniel rouse the following year. It stood as Bozeman put it right at the gate of the mountains ready to swallow up all the tender feet from the east with their golden fleeces. Early promoters called Bozeman The Namesake the Egypt of America. The land was fertile well-watered soil and not far from several hungry mining camps. It became one of the earliest and most successful agricultural communities in the northern Rockies. Pioneer William Alderson described the area as one of the most beautiful and picturesque valleys that I ever beheld abounding in springs of clear water flowers and grass in abundance. Farmers came to the area expecting to make money he noted. Most were not disappointed

by September of 1864 the Montana Post reported that the Galton Valley was being fast settled up with farmers many of whom came to Montana as a better class of miners after quitting their original pursuits. They secure one hundred sixty acres of land on which they go to work in true farmer fashion. Although John Bozeman stray closed in 1868 this community still thrives. From KGO studios. I'm Derek Strom. Montana medicine show is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A private corporation funded by the American people.