The Thomas Party

Photographed by Rich Pfingsten, March 22, 2009

1. The Thomas Party Marker

Inscription. In 1866 William Thomas, his son Charles, and a driver named Schultz left southern Illinois bound for the Gallatin Valley, Montana. Travelling by covered wagon they joined a prairie schooner outfit at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, and started over the Bridger Trail. The train was escorted by troops detailed to build a fort (C.F. Smith) on the Big Horn River.

From the site of this fort the Thomas party pushed on alone. A few days later they were killed at this spot by hostile Indians. Emigrants found the bodies and buried them in one grave.

The meager details which sifted back greatly impressed William Thomas' seven year old nephew. Seventy-one years later (1937) this nephew closely followed the Bridger Trail by car and succeeded in locating the almost forgotten grave.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Exploration • Forts and Castles • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Notable Events • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 45° 44.109′ N,

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109° 42.864′ W. Marker was near Greycliff, Montana, in Sweet Grass County. It was on Greycliff Road (State Highway 10 at milepost 12.5), 1.9 miles west of Bridger Creek Road and Greycliff Road (Hwy 10), on the left when traveling west. Gravel pull-off along eastbound side of Highway 10. Greycliff Road is also known as I-90 Frontage Road. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Greycliff MT 59033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Montana’s Yellowstone Country.

It was also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named The Thomas Party (here, next to this marker); Montana's Jurassic Park (approx. 2 miles away); The Cattle Drive of 1866 (approx. 2 miles away); The Crazy Mountains (original title obscured)

The Thomas Party Marker with gravesite in background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rich Pfingsten, March 22, 2009

2. The Thomas Party Marker with gravesite in background

(approx. 2 miles away); The Crazy Mountains (approx. 2.1 miles away); Captain Wm. Clark (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Montana's Jurassic Park (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Great Highway of the Northwest: The Yellowstone Trail (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greycliff.

More about this marker. This marker is pretty well-worn and could use some repair work.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.

Thomas Party gravesite image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rich Pfingsten, March 22, 2009

3. Thomas Party gravesite

Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2010, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,841 times since then and 129 times this year. Last updated on March 22, 2010, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 22, 2010, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.