Near Chinook in Blaine County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

McWhorter Stakes

Bear Paw Battlefield

Chief Looking Glass 2 / 18 stake image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019

1. Chief Looking Glass 2 / 18 stake

Inscription.

Erected by L.V. McWhorter, Yellow Wolf, White Hawk, Black Eagle, Many Wounds, Peo Peo Tholekt et al.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is September 30, 1877.

Location. 48° 22.787′ N, 109° 12.521′ W. Marker is near Chinook, Montana, in Blaine County. Memorial can be reached from Cleveland Road (Montana Route 240) near S-B Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chinook MT 59523, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Brave Warriors Chief Joseph's Band (here, next to this marker); No Place to Hide (a few steps from this marker); Nez Perce Encampment (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); We will stand our ground! (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bear's Paw Battleground (approx. 0.2 miles away); Surrender of Chief Joseph (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bear Paw Battlefield (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nez Perce National Historical Park (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chinook.

More about this marker. About 150 stakes are located on the Bear Paw Battlefield.

Regarding McWhorter Stakes. "...One of the easiest ways to explain the (McWhorter) markers is to show the Noyes

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Map. However, what I have is a large format paper copy. Thankfully we found that Montana State has a digital copy on their Montana Memory Project website.

https://cdm16013.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15018coll5/id/173

The original markers were wooden stakes. Yellow Wolf, White Hawk, Black Eagle, Many Wounds, and Peo Peo Tholekt, all survivors of the war returned with McWhorter a couple of times in the 20s and 30s to place the markers. They marked what was significant in their memory; where people camped before the attack, where people fought during the initial charge, where they defended for days in the snow, and some locations where people fell.
Between the battle and those folks returning, the new settlers in the area worked to ensure that the battlefield was preserved. The local surveyor, C.R. Noyes, produced a survey map of the entire battlefield in the 30s incorporating the stakes placed by the Nez Perce and surveying the soldier positions. They probably worked together on a couple of occasions but that is just my own speculation, I cannot recall if I've read that.
The metal stakes replaced the original markers. Noyes marked over 150 spots on his survey map. I believe the numbers on the stakes denote the survey station on top, and the stake number on the bottom. There are legends on his map for what each stake marks.
There

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019

2. Chief Looking Glass 2 / 18 stake

are a few spots where you can still find a wooden stake burned down to ground level near the survey markers." -- Casey Overturf, Lead Ranger, Bear Paw Battlefield, Nez Perce National Historic Park

Also see . . .
1. The McWhorter Era -- Big Hole Battlefield Administrative History, Chapter 3. McWhorter was a cattle rancher and historian who had an abiding interest in Indians. According to his biographer, McWhorter's reading of frontier history "convinced him that the American Indians had been 'cold-decked' . . . and their heroic defense of their homes and families constituted a true American epic." ... McWhorter was interested in recovering more details about the battle, believing that "Indian narrations are entirely different from that of the average white person." ... McWhorter made yet another trip in August 1935, this time with Sam Lott and Chief White Hawk. The main purpose of the trip was to restake the Bear's Paw battlefield. The original stakes from 1927 were in poor condition.... (Submitted on November 15, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. Lucullus Virgil McWhorter. Lucullus Virgil McWhorter McWhorter.gif Born January 29, 1860 Harrison County, West Virginia Died October 10, 1944 Prosser (North Yakima), Washington Occupation Farmer, Writer, Native-American-civil-rights advocate Language English Nationality US Education Self-educated Genre History, Anthropology
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019

3. Looking Glass Killed 6 / 116 stake
Subject Nez Perce War, Yakama Nation's culture and spiritualism, Nez Perce culture Notable works Hear Me, My Chiefs Yellow Wolf, His Own Story Notable awards Was given a name by the Yakama Nation, "Big Foot".[1] Adopted into the Yakima Nation and given another name, Hemene Ka-Wan (Old Wolf).[2] Spouse Adelia A. Swisher (married 1883)[1] C. Annie Bowman (married 1895)[1] Children Ovid Tullius McWhorter (born 1884)[1] Iris Oresta McWhorter (born 1886)[1] Virgil Oneco McWhorter (born 1888)[1] Lucullus Virgil McWhorter ... was an American farmer and frontiersman who documented the historical Native American tribes in West Virginia and the modern-day Plateau Native Americans in Washington state. ...he moved to the frontier of Yakima, Washington, in the eastern part of the state. He became a rancher and activist, learning much from his Yakama Nation neighbors and becoming an activist for them....His published studies were anthropological, documenting the culture and history of the tribes. (Submitted on November 20, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Chief Ollokot Fell September 30 1877 (stake 6 / 117) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019

4. Chief Ollokot Fell September 30 1877 (stake 6 / 117)

Bear Paw Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019

5. Bear Paw Battlefield

Noyes Map of the Bear Paw Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Montana Memory Project

6. Noyes Map of the Bear Paw Battlefield

Go to the website for the best copy of this map.

Chief Looking Glass image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown

7. Chief Looking Glass

Chief Ollokot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown

8. Chief Ollokot

C.R. Noyers Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019

9. C.R. Noyers Monument

In memory of
C.R. Noyers
Chinook Montana
1884 - 1965
Through his devotion and dedication the historical site and points of interest on the
Chief Joseph Battlefield
are preserved for future generations.
Dedicated by his friends
October 16, 1966

Lucullus V. McWhorter image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown

10. Lucullus V. McWhorter

Credits. This page was last revised on November 20, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 285 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 15, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 7, 8, 9. submitted on November 20, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 10. submitted on November 16, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.