Then and Now; or, Thirty-Six Years in the Rockies / Personal Reminiscences of Some of the First Pioneers of the State of Montana

The author compiles personal letters and reminiscences that trace decades spent in the Rocky Mountain country, recounting migration westward, prospecting and mining, and the gradual shift from rough frontier camps to settled communities. He documents encounters and conflicts with Indigenous peoples and military expeditions, offers vivid natural descriptions of rivers, canyons, and geothermal sights, and includes short sketches and testimonies from fellow pioneers. Threads on changing travel, ranching and mining practices run through the narrative, along with reflective observations on memory, loss, and the region’s transformation over time.