Holterman's latest book
I do not know how old Jack Holterman is. I don't know where he is right now . . . maybe New Zealand. That's what someone said. I do not know if Jack Holterman is working on any more books.
Several years ago I became quite upset because of rumors that Jack wasn't going to expand and rewrite his "Place Names of "Glacier/Waterton Parks."
Not to worry anymore. He has done it. Besides that there is another Holterman book out called "Who Was Who - In Glacier Land." Spent the last weekend reading it from cover to cover and now am on a second trip through. The folks at the Glacier Natural History office in West Glacier said the book was published locally with limited copies available. That's why it is priced at $39.95.
Any western history buff who is not acquainted with the unbelievable scholarship and writing of Jack Holterman is being cheated. I lack the words to describe the dazzling ability that man has to absorb historical facts, put them in order, and weave them into a spell binding narrative. I've done enough research and compilation of bibliographies to know Holterman is in a class by himself. Let's just open the new book to a random page and let me type a few paragraphs. Aha, it is page 227 which is relating the story of the Sandoval family.
"The grandfather of the family Sandoval, Isidoro, came north from New Mexico to the high Missouri, somewhere picking up a knowledge of the Shoshone language. He may have been a relative or companion of Loreto and Pablo. He must have been an engage', of American Fur Company about the time James Kipp established an outpost of the AFC at the mouth of the Marias in Montana (1831). He took a Piegan wife named Catch-for-Nothing and in 1833, was an informant to Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, the visiting naturalist.
". . . . . Sandoval became the right-hand-man for Alexander Culbertson when he took charge of Fort McKenzie during the terrible smallpox epidemic of 1837. But about 1840, at Fort Union he was murdered in cold blood by another engage' named Harvey, leaving behind him at least a little son and daughter.
His son Isidoro 11 was born about 1831 and on the death of his father must have been taken under the wing of trader Malcolm Clarke, while Malcolm was in charge of a fort on or near the Marias. The fort was under siege by Arikaras and the gates barred with Isidoro, a blind girl and Malcolm's baby daughter Helen all on the outside. The Arikaras shot the blind girl and wounded Isidoro several times before Malcolm and a French Engage' could rescue them. Malcolm found Isidoro on an island in the river. (See article "The Homing Bird.")
"Malcolm was married to Isidoro's sister. Good Singing by Father deSmet in June 1862. And Isidoro married a Piegan bride Margaret, daughter of Red-Bird-Tail. Like his father, Isidoro 11 became a skilled interpreter for AFC and also for the rival merchant princess of Fort Benton, T.C. Power and I.G. Baker.
"Isidoro had two sons by Margaret; Oliver born January 1862, and Richard born April 1867."
End of quotes: There was more tragedy for this family when Malcolm was murdered by relatives of his first wife Kakokima in August 1869. Isidoro 11 was killed in September 1881 during a drunken brawl at Depuyer. His children all did quite well. 'Oh yes! the murder of Malcolm was a direct influence upon causing the terrible "Baker Massacre" where peaceful Chief Heavy Runner and his followers were attacked by cavalry at a time of starvation and small pox. One other note-the beautiful high emerald lake below Ahern Pass and Mt. Merritt at the head of Belly River is named Helen, after Malcolm's daughter. There are pictures of that in my book "Glacier's Secrets" Vol. 11.
Thank you Jack Holterman . . . wherever you are.