Archives West Finding Aid

The Stanton G. Fisher diary [typescript] contains a day-by-day account for the year 1875, and from August to December 1877. The entries, especially the first part, are brief statements of the events of the day. They are concerned with untying, trapping, stock raising, breeding and treading; business trips to Bozeman, Franklin, Malad, Corinne, and more frequently to Blackfoot; the cooperative efforts of all concerned with building the homes, corrals, fences, barns and store of the settlement. He refers to all individuals by name, but identification is somewhat difficult. Few words of explanation are given of persons or places, except in the account of the Nez Perce campaign. Through it all he tells of the constant battle with the elements and the various illnesses of himself and others and occasionally of the treatments.

The last part is the account of Fisher and his scouts during their enlistment of one month, 16 August to 17 September 1877, with General O. O. Howard in his campaign against the Nez Perce. Mention is given of Fisher's meeting in the National Park (Yellowstone) with the Radersburg party, who had been visiting the Lower Geyser Basin when confronted and captured by a group of Chief Joseph's Indians.