Historical Fort Missoula

33. Early Settlers

Some of the earliest Missoula settlers include David Pattee, who, in the spring of 1858 moved from the Bitterroot to the Missoula Valley. Here he took up farming in what is now Pattee Canyon south of Missoula. Also arriving in the Missoula Valley in 1858 were several other men. One of these was Robert Pelkey. After establishing a farm here he returned to St. Louis to get his family. Another man to come to the Valley was Captain Richard Grant. He had been an officer in the Hudson's Bay Company. Captain Grant and his family farmed a portion of land near the creek, which now bears his name.

Two French Canadian men, Baptiste Du Charme and Louis Brun built farms near what is now Frenchtown. Other Frenchmen followed and in 1864 the town of Frenchtown was established.

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