MILDRED McALLISTER DAILY

From 'Fanning the Embers', published 1971, Range Rider Reps, Miles City, Montana

I was born in 1900 at La Grande, Ore., to William and Epsie McAllister. I came to Miles City with my mother from Oregon. My grandfather, Bud McAllister, put us on the train to join my father who had come on ahead with his brother, Reece. They brought horses to Montana that my grandfather had sold to his nephew, Tom McAllister. They were thoroughbred horses wearing the Lazy 6, -D brand. We arrived during the bad snow storm in May. 1908. It was a sight; huge drifts, tree branches broken from the trees by the heavy snow, the streets and wood sidewalks drifted full, all a world of white. We stayed at the Hyde Hotel until my father thought we could travel, our mode being by black team of horses and a wagon; it was mud and snow and made very difficult traveling. We got to Little Steve's ranch the first day and laid over there a day and then we were stuck many times on the 100-mile trip to the ranch on the Mizpah. The first thing I did when we arrived there was to ask which horse was mine, Uncle Tom gave me a white horse named Assinniboine and he was my friend and playmate from there out. When I went with the riders on roundup I would ride Nellie because she was surefooted and a fast runner. Besides that she would always take me home if I got lost from the others. I was just eight and I did get lost several times when I didn't watch and keep up with the herd. My other horse was Kid, a black horse and my favorite, and I had Sauntee, a good horse, I helped at the brandings and rode with the roundups when the wagons were camped at the ranch. I had a good horse there called Commodore, a roan and the best horse I ever rode. In those days we wore riding skirts, Stetson hats and boots. Mother and I rode in the parades at the Roundups in Miles City. That was the highlight of each year and a great event in our lives, as was the Fourth of July when we would go to the YT ranch, where there would be a celebration with races. bronc riding and a dance at night. Or it might be at Olive at the Paddy Smith Store and Dance Hall, or perhaps at the Thoet ranch for a dance. We went to Carney's for a St. Patrick's dance each year. We would tie a dress in a coat on the back of the saddle, tie a cake in a towel for carrying and ride miles to a dance. These would be mostly in winter as the boys were busy with the roundup during the summer and shipping in the fall. I wouldn't trade those days for anything. I went to the Foree school near what is now called Epsie. It was named for my mother when Carrie and Fred Trautman had the post office and store on Mizpah. I rode three miles to school and staked my horse near the schoolhouse. Some of my teachers included Winona Lewis (Bryand), Mrs. Ballah and later Mrs. Frank Ross. Mrs. Ross also taught our daughter, Lorraine, at a country school on First Creek. I also went to school to Mrs. Campbell. I boarded with the Art Yarger family on Powder River and attended school there several terms. I would ride home on Friday and back Sunday evening, about 25 miles. My childhood was spent on the F-E ranch when I wasn't at school. I was in Miles City for school during my second and third grades, my teachers Miss Austin and Miss Woods. Mrs. Musgrove was superintendent at the Lincoln School then.

Newman 0. Daily and I were married by Rev. Barstow in Miles City, May 12, 1920. We have two daughters, Mrs. Lorraine Schulze and Mrs. Jeanne Blair, and my son is Sammy Hudson. Our homestead on First Creek was about 17 miles from Broadus and later we bought the Bert Wilson ranch on Powder River. My brand is O-P .

We moved to Miles City from Billings in 1942, having lived there two years. We enjoyed our home here in Miles City among our many friends and do especially enjoy the "old timers".