Granville Stuart, honored as “Mr. Montana,” played a pivotal role in the state’s formative years. He and his brother, James Stuart, were among the first to search for gold in the wilderness that would eventually become Montana. Their discoveries sparked the great Montana gold rush of the early 1860s after they wrote to their third brother in Colorado detailing their findings.

Granville was also actively involved in the bustling mining communities of Bannack in 1862 and Virginia City in 1863, where he was a key figure in the vigilante movement that quelled the infamous outlaw outfit led by Henry Plummer. Throughout his life, Stuart spent time in various industries, working as a sawmill operator, gunsmith, butcher, horse trader, rancher, and diplomat. Despite his busy career, he also served double terms on the territorial council, including one term as president. However, Stuart is best acknowledged for his contributions as a cattleman. He brought cattle to the Montana Territory in the early 1860s, and in 1879, he partnered with three others to establish the DHS Ranch, taking on the roles of superintendent and general manager. He set up the ranch headquarters on Ford’s Creek, not all that far from what is now Lewistown, Montana.

0:00 Intro
3:53 Stuart’s Stranglers
10:04 Battle Of Bates Point
15:07 A Vigilante Legacy


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