Edward Charles "Teddy Blue" Abbott was a
Giltedge, Montana, cattleman, Fergus County school trustee, and author. The
papers (1865-1963) contain general correspondence; financial records, including
mortgages and taxes; clippings; photographs; legal documents; and writings. The
latter contains handwritten and typed drafts of his autobiography, We Pointed
Them North (1939). The general correspondence includes letters with co-author,
Helena Huntington Smith, concerning various aspects of the book's contents; and
a letter from Charles M. Russell.
Repository:
Montana Historical Society
Archives
225 N. Roberts PO Box 201201 Helena MT 59620-1201 (406) 444-4774 mhslibrary@mt.gov
Languages:
English
Sponsor:
Funding for encoding this
finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for
the Humanities.
Biographical Note
Edward Charles "Teddy Blue" Abbott was born
December 17, 1860, in Cranwich Hall, Norfolk County, England. In 1871, he came
to the United States with his father, J.B. Abbott. They went to Texas,
eventually purchased a cattle herd, and drove it north to Nebraska. Teddy Blue
settled with his family at the end of the Texas cattle trail near Lincoln,
Nebraska. In 1883, he entered Montana with a herd of longhorns, and two years
later, signed on with the DHS Ranch at Fort Maginnis. He became engaged to Mary
Stuart, daughter of one of his employers, Granville Stuart. The couple married
on September 29, 1889, and settled on the 3 Deuce Ranch at Giltedge. They had
ten children: Katie Anne (1890), Charles Edward, Jr. (1892), Mary E.
(1895-1904), William (1897-1897), Elsie Blue (1898), Granville S. (1901), James
(1903), William Robert [Robert] (1906), Teddie Blue [Ted] (1909), and Mary Inez
(1912). Teddy Blue Abbott was a longtime member of the Montana Stockgrowers
Association, he served six years on the Montana Stock Commission for Fergus
County, thirty years as a member of the Democratic Central Committee, and
sixteen years as a school trustee, and, in 1924, he was an unsuccessful
candidate for the state legislature. In 1938, Abbott collaborated with Helena
Huntington Smith (Mrs. Henry F. Pringle) on his autobiography "We Pointed Them
North," the story of his years as a cowpuncher on the Texas cattle drives and
his experiences on Montana's open range in the 1880s. Teddy Blue Abbott died of
pneumonia April 7, 1939, days after the book was published. Mary Stuart Abbott
was born February 2, 1870, in Deer Lodge, Montana, to Granville and Arbonnie
Stuart. She died February 5, 1967, in Lewistown. She spent her later years with
daughter Mary Inez Swanson Matejcek.
Content Description
The collection consists of five
subgroups: Teddy Blue Abbott Subgroup, Mary Stuart Abbott Subgroup, Mary Inez
Abbott Swanson Matejcek Subgroup, Robert and Granville Abbott Subgroup, and
Katie Stuart Subgroup. The Teddy Blue Abbott Subgroup contains ten series:
Incoming Correspondence (1889-1946, n.d.), Outgoing Correspondence (1888-1939),
Miscellaneous Correspondence (1909-1939, n.d.), Court Papers (1910), Diaries
(1887-1890), Financial Records (1907-1963), Legal Documents (1888-1941),
Writings (1938, n.d.), Miscellany (1888-1939, n.d.), and Clippings (1920-1939,
n.d.). The Incoming Correspondence includes letters from Abbott family members,
the Democractic Central Committee for Fergus County, Kenneth M. Ireland, Oscar
O. Mueller, D.J. O'Malley and Mary Alicia O'Malley, Margot Pringle, Charles M.
Russell, Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), Mary Stuart before she married
Teddy Blue, and Johnnie W. Young. The Outgoing Correspondence includes letters
to Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle) re their authorship of "We Pointed Them
North," and Mary Stuart before she married Teddy Blue. The Miscellaneous
Correspondence is neither to nor from Teddy Blue Abbott. Included is letters
between the U.S. General Land Office and the U.S. Land Office in Lewistown,
from publisher Farrar and Rinehart to Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), and
from James Fergus to the Lewistown "Argus" re the funeral of Mrs. Granville
Stuart. The Court Papers consist of the testimony of Stephen E. Suitor in his
trial for the murder of Tom Burke, and miscellaneous other papers re other
cases. The Legal Documents include mortgatges, warranty deeds, leases, recorded
brands, and a homestead certificate. Some plats and land descriptions can be
found in the Miscellany series. The Diaries series contains four diaires:
1887-1888, 1888-1889 (includes entries at the end from 1910, 1912, 1938, and a
list of his children and when they were born), 1889 (includes a list of wedding
expenses), and 1890 (includes an extensive list of expenses, some from 1889).
The Miscellany series contains 18 notebooks, which also include diary entries
and financial notations. The Financial Records contain check stub books
(1907-1923), insurance policies, promissory notes, tax statements, a list of
brands, and miscellaneous bills of sale, receipts, and invoices. The Writings
series consists of handwritten and typed drafts of "We Pointed Them North." A
promotional pamphlet for "We Pointed Them North" can be found in the Miscellany
series. Also in the Miscellany series is a campaign statement by E.C. Abbott as
a candidate for the state legislature, a legislative bill for the disposition
of strays, and precinct lists of registered voters. The Clippings series
contains miscellaneous newspaper articles by Abbott; obituaries of Abbott, and
of brother-in-law Edward Stuart and son Charles E. Abbott, Jr.; and historical
articles. The Mary Stuart Abbott Subgroup consists of a General Correspondence
series (1888-1951, n.d.), Financial Records series (1899-1948), Legal Documents
series (1909-1938), and a Miscellany series (1885-1934). Correspondents include
Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), Abbott and Stuart family members, and D.J.
O'Malley. Financial records include tax statements, bank statments, and Land
Office receipts. The miscellaneous legal documents include seed liens, crop
mortages, and land patents. The miscellany series contains an autograph book
(1885) and invitations (1918-1934). The Mary Inez Abbott Swanson Matejcek
Subgroup consists of a General Correspondence series (1931-1953), Court Papers
series, Financial Records series, and a Miscellany series. The correspondents
include Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle) and Jack Abbott. The court papers
consist of a subpoena (1949) and the financial records contain a tax assessment
list (1952). The miscellany series contains a sketching instruction book (1857)
and a sketchbook (n.d.) used by Mary and by James and Granville Stuart. The
Robert and Granville Abbott Subgroup contains two series, Incoming
Correspondence, consisting of a postcard (n.d.) from a friend to Granville
Abbott, and Miscellany, consisting of notebooks (1915-1919) of Robert and
Granville. The Katie Stuart Subgroup contains Katie Stuart's autograph book
(1881-1887). Katie Stuart was Mary Stuart Abbott's older sister. She died of
tuberculosis and the Abbotts postponed their wedding for six months out of
respect for her.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
by series
Acquisition Information : Acquisition Information:
available upon request
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection
Teddy Blue Abbott Subgroup
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Incoming Correspondence
Box/Folder
1 / 1
Abbott Family
(correspondents include J.B. Abbott, Annie Abbott, Frank Abbott, Jack Abbott,
Orland Abbott)
1889-1900, 1910, 1937-1938
1 / 2
A (correspondents
include Alliance Oil Company, A.E. Allison)
1890-1938
1 / 3
B (correspondents
include Barbara Bayne, Keith Blake and Company, J.J. Brennan, Mrs. E.E. Brown,
Bud and Daisy Burdett, Winnie Burnett)
1889-1939
1 / 4
C (correspondents
include Charles S. Caldwell, Marjorie Carter, Central Montana Production Credit
Corporation, E.K. Cheadle, Jo M. Colgan)
1898-1939
1 / 5
Democratic Central
Committee for Fergus County
1916
1 / 6
F (correspondents
include Farrar and Rinehart, Fergus County, First National Bank of Lewistown)
1900-1939
1 / 7
G (correspondents
include Gertrude Garrett, Carol O'Donnell Getz, Lou C. Gillett)
1937,
n.d.
1 / 8
H (correspondents
include A.W. Hammer, Hattie Hawkins, Robert L. Hedges)
1907-1941
1 / 9
Kenneth M. Ireland
1935
1 / 10
J (correspondents
include Mrs. W.H. Johnson, Hazel Gifford Julson)
1939-1942
1 / 11
Kemp family (postcard)
n.d.
1 / 12
L (correspondents
include Robert E. Latimer, T.J. Lauderdale, C.S. Lenair)
1937-1939
1 / 13
M (correspondents
include J. and W.C. Mackenzie, William Mackey, Thomas B. Marquis, Meri An
Mather, E.K. Matson, Valerie McLean Millard, George R. Milburn, Montana Board
of Stock Commissioners, Montana State Veterinarian M.E. Knowles, Mountain
Meadow Stock Farm, Oscar O. Mueller)
1896-1946
1 / 14
N (correspondents
include Mike Nettik, A.C. Nippert)
1928-1934
1 / 15
O (correspondents
include Budd O'Donnell, D.J. O'Malley, Mary Alicia O'Malley, Bert Orr)
1929-1939, n.d.
1 / 16
P (correspondents
include Parmley Billings Library, J.E. Pinkley, Margot Pringle, "The Producer")
1901-1938
1 / 17
R (correspondents
include F.M. Richmond, John E. Ritch, Minnie R. Ritch, C.O. Robinson, Charles
M. Russell, J.H. Rutter, L.H. Rutter)
1917-1939, n.d.
1 / 18
Helena Huntington Smith
[Mrs. Henry F. Pringle]
1937-1939, n.d.
1 / 19
Mary Stuart [later
Abbott]
1888-1889, n.d.
1 / 20
S (correspondents
include George A. Shirley, Marcus Snyer, Pink Simms, Mrs. Roy Stover, Eddie
Stuart)
1888-1939
1 / 21
T (correspondents
include Edmond G. Toomey, James M. Tucker)
1896,
1938
1 / 22
U (correspondents
include U.S. Farm Credit Administration, U.S. General Land Office, U.S. Office
of Indian Affairs)
1938-1939
1 / 23
V (correspondents
include Vigilance Club of Virginia City, Leonard Van Ess)
1938-1939
1 / 24
W (correspondents
include Glendolin Damon Wagner, Robert Walsh, Harold Warnes, Western Sales
Agency, Ruth Wiggs, Belle Winston, Wright Land and Investment Company)
1912-1938
1 / 25
Johnnie W. Young
1939
1 / 26
Unidentified
1910-1938, n.d.
Outgoing Correspondence
Box/Folder
1 / 27
To Helena Huntington
Smith [Mrs. Henry F. Pringle]
1938-1939
1 / 28
To Mary Stuart [later
Abbott]
1888-1889
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Box/Folder
1 / 29
Letters between U.S.
General Land Office and U.S. Land Office in Lewistown, publisher Farrar and
Rinehart to Helena Huntington Smith [Mrs. Henry Pringle], James Fergus to
Lewistown Argus re funeral of Mrs. Granville Stuart)
1909-1939, n.d.
Court Papers
Box/Folder
1 / 30
Testimony of Stephen E.
Suitor in his trial for the murder of Tom Burke; miscellaneous summons, etc.,
in other cases
1910
Diaries
Box/Folder
1 / 31
Diaries (includes
scattered later references, including births of children; also included is a
photocopy)
1887-1888; 1888-1889
1 / 32
Diaries (also included
is a photocopy)
1889;
1890
Financial Records
Box/Folder
2 / 1-6
Check stub books (25
books)
1907-1923
2 / 7
Insurance policies
(includes life insurance, fire insurance on ranch property)
1896,
1904-1922
2 / 8
Promissory notes
1890-1938
2 / 9
Tax statements
1889-1940
3 / 1
Miscellaneous (includes
bank deposit slips, list of brands, horse pasture rentals, bills of sale,
receipts, invoices, etc.)
1889-1963
Legal Documents
Box/Folder
3 / 2
Mortgages and warranty
deeds
1889-1936
3 / 3
Leases and recorded
brands
1888-1941
3 / 4
Miscellaneous (includes
homestead certificate, road notice, agreement for sale of mining interest, seed
lien, motor vehicle licenses)
1888-1936
Writings
Box/Folder
3 / 5
"We Pointed Them North"
(typed draft of introduction by Helena Huntington Smith)
1938
3 / 6
"We Pointed Them North"
(typed draft of chapters 1-2)
1938
3 / 7
Miscellaneous
handwritten articles (includes "Christmas at Fort Maginnis," "Story of a
Reformed Cowboy," "One Day on a Roundup," "The Texas Trail," "Forty Years a Cow
Puncher" [song], "'81 Trail," "Trail in '83," and untitled fragments)
n.d.
Miscellany
Box/Folder
3 / 8
Campaign statement by
E.C. Abbott as candidate for the state legislature
Miscellaneous
(correspondents include Anne Abbott, Winnie Burnett, Charles E. Abbott, Mrs.
David Nelson re Jesse Stuart, Martha Anderson Wakefield, John B. Ritch, D.J.
O'Malley, Charles Stuart, Hannah Armington, Norma Stuart Porter)
1888-1951, n.d.
Financial Records
Box/Folder
4 / 9
Tax statements
1899-1938
4 / 10
Miscellaneous (includes
bank statements, Land Office receipts, promissory notes, royalty statement)
1907-1948
Legal Documents
Box/Folder
4 / 11
Miscellaneous (includes seed lien, crop mortgage, land
patents)
Miscellaneous (correspondents include Jack Abbott, J.B.
Aubuchon, Howard Conwell Jr., Grace Harris, Ralph D. Hartman, Lucille Kennedy,
Charles J. Shields, Inez Schofield, Mrs. Tom Shaw, John L. Temple, Johnnie
Young)
1931-1953
Court Papers
Box/Folder
4 / 15
Subpoena
1949
Financial Records
Box/Folder
4 / 16
Tax assessment list
1952
Miscellany
Box/Folder
4 / 17
"My Ladye's 'At Home' Book," "The Voice of the Grass,"
an annotated dictionary
n.d.
4 / 18
Sketchbook (also used by James and Granville Stuart)
