ILLUSTRATIONS
| [1] | William Wesley Van Orsdel, known as “Brother Van.” |
| [2] | The Battle of Gettysburg. |
| [3] | A statue in honor of Sacajawea in Portland, Oregon. |
| [4] | Sitting Bull was dressed in full war regalia. |
| [5] | Historic Fort Benton, where Brother Van ate jerked buffalo meat. |
| [6] | Brother Van visiting a Blackfeet medicine lodge. |
| [7] | The ceremony of adoption into the Blackfeet tribe. |
| [8] | Indians were terrifying settlers everywhere. |
| [9] | Brother Van’s dispatch to the Helena Herald. |
| [10] | Chief Joseph, leader of the Nez Percés at Big Hole. |
| [11] | Dr. Thomas C. Iliff and Brother Van, who had many adventures together. |
| [12] | Brother Van was “hail fellow well met” with the people. |
| [13] | Brother Van shot the herd leader in the head. |
| [14] | The Van Orsdel Home for Nurses at Helena. |
| [15] | Great Heart with a Blackfoot brother. |
| [16] | A copper mine at Butte. |
FOREWORD
Grateful acknowledgment is hereby given for the interest and helpfulness shown by many people in Montana while I was collecting material for this book. To have known Brother Van better has been a joy, and to have met his beloved people “out where the west begins” has been a privilege.
The readers of this biography owe much to the Rev. George Logan and to the Rev. A. W. Hammer, both old-time friends of the pioneer missionary. From them have come stories and tales of adventure which could not have been forced from the boyishly modest preacher himself.
The story is sent out with the hope that through it some young people may add a new name to their list of heroes.
Stella W. Brummitt.