Archives West Finding Aid
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Malphus A. Switzer Reminiscence, 1944
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Switzer, M. A. (Malphus A.), 1848-1947
- Title
- Malphus A. Switzer Reminiscence
- Dates
- 1944 (inclusive)19441944
- Quantity
- 1 item
- Collection Number
- Collection 0075, MtBC, us (collection)
- Summary
- The Malphus A. Switzer Reminiscence recalls the trip the Switzer family made from Michigan City, Indiana to Iowa in 1854, and then describes another trip, made in 1865, from Victor, Iowa to Virginia City, Montana Territory.
- Repository
-
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
- Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Malphus A. Switzer was born in Indiana on August 31, 1848, the son of Traver Branham and Susanah Walter Switzer. In 1865 the Switzer family traveled to Virginia City, Montana and established a ranching operation in the Ennis, Madison County, area. Switzer eventually took over the ranching operation and also operated a store in Jeffers starting in 1903. He died on February 1, 1947.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Switzer reminiscence, apparently dictated to his daughter, recalls the trip the Switzer family made from Michigan City, Indiana to Iowa in 1854, and then describes another trip, made in 1865, from Victor, Iowa to Virginia City, Montana Territory. On the latter journey, the family's route took them through Fort Laramie and Platte Bridge Station, Wyoming. Switzer recalls arriving at the later place just as the battle of July 26, 1865 occurred. The reminiscence describes other incidents along the trail involving Indian encounters and their results. The narrative ends with the arrival of the Switzer family at Alder Gulch on October 1, 1865.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Frontier and pioneer life-Montana
- Frontier and pioneer life-Wyoming
- Indians of North America-Wars-Wyoming
- Overland journeys to Montana-Personal narratives
- Pioneers-Montana-Biography
- Platte Bridge, Battle of, Wyo., 1865-Personal narratives
Family Names
- Swisher family
- Switzer, M. A.-(Malphus A.),-1848-1947-Family
Geographical Names
- Fort Laramie (Wyo. : Fort)
- Great Plains-Description and travel
- Michigan City (Ind.)
- Montana-History-19th century
- Victor (Iowa)
- Virginia City (Mont.)
- Wyoming-History-19th century
Form or Genre Terms
- Reminiscences
Kim Allen Scott, 2009
September 11, 2015
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
