Page 32 - Nov 2020 JOA

multiple school districts, the College of
Montana, and the Montana Territorial
Prison. Granville’s connections with Samuel
Hauser also introduced him to federal
positions. Hauser was a close friend of Grover
Cleveland and secured Granville a govern-
ment appointment in 1893 where he served as
the Minister Plenipotentiary to both Uruguay
and Paraguay.
In addition to serving the positions
encompassed by all those titles, Granville
was an avid writer and historian who took
meticulous and detailed notes throughout his
entire life, recounting his travels, expeditions,
and settlements. He wrote several books on
the territory and history of Montana that were
so detailed and thorough that they are still
used by many scholars today. He is considered
to be one of the most prominent historians in
the Western United States.
A ledger of livestock brands used in the Montana
Territory written in Granville Stuart’s hand QGranville’s Activism

towns that were established in the following Because of his experiences along the
decades. While the brothers took advantage of Oregon Trail, Granville was an expert cattle
other prospecting opportunities throughout rancher above all else and knew better than
the territory in the years following, they never anyone the risks associated with it. Concerned
ventured too far from their home. about the questionable longevity of the town

at the hands of criminals, Granville took the
Member of the Government group of his own to stop criminals and thieves
QBecoming a Beneficial law into his own hands and formed a vigilante
who were out of control at the DHS ranch.
In Bannack, Montana, Granville befriended Known as “Stuart’s Stranglers,” Granville and
various prominent members of the mining a group of about 15 men launched a merciless A stunning collection of rifles and items owned by “M
and frontier community while owning and and extensive effort to find, capture, and Stuart’s Stranglers worked within the law of
operating a butcher shop there, and convinced ultimately execute as many criminals as they the land. Killing about 20 men in total,
them to take an interest in the small, but could get their hands on. Because of his Stuart’s Stranglers were fabled and famous for
growing, popularity of cattle ranching. One prominent status in multiple public offices, their excessive use of violence and hangings.
such figure was Samuel
Hauser, a railway and
mine developer who
was crucial to the
growth of the early
Montana Territory. As Sharps Model 1853 “Slant Breech” breech loading percussion sporting rifle
the first territorial resi- with documentation attributed to the 1863 Yellowstone Expedition
dent to be appointed
governor, Hauser aided
in the development of
Yellowstone National
Park and appointed the
first veterinary surgeon to the territory. Later,
Hauser and Granville, along with others,
established the Hauser, Davis, Stuart Cattle
Company and the DHS Ranch, effectively
introducing large-scale cattle ranching to
Montana. It was this newly formed fraternity One of the most historic and deluxe 19th century Winchesters known.
of connections and friends that propelled Legendary Montana Pioneer Granville Stuart’s John Ulrich master panel
Granville into public office. scene engraved, signed, and inscribed Winchester model 1876 lever action
Stuart served in numerous governmental express rifle: “The Boss Game Gun of All Creation” with factory letter
and community roles throughout his life
which included, but was not limited to, the
president of the Deer Lodge
Town Committee, chair-
man of the Deer Lodge
County Commission, a
lieutenant colonel in the
territorial militia, a state Described as a “historically significant national treasure,”
land agent, librarian, first this factory documented and iconic factory-engraved “One of One
president of the Montana Thousand” Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle inscribed to
Stock Growers Association, Montana Pioneer and Frontier Vigilante Leader Granville Stuart
and acting as a trustee for with extensive documentation, and pack saddle

30 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles