Interviewer
Reverend W. Paul "Ned" Jones, Mrs. Jones, and William "Bill" Zelezny
Files
Description
Joseph “Joe” Zelezny talks about his experiences as one of the first homesteaders on Flathead Lake, near Rollins, Montana. He describes moving to the area in 1899 by covered wagon, building a log cabin, clearing the land, and helping build the schoolhouse. He talks about the difficulties in moving around the valley before roads were built, telling stories of travelling by wagon, horseback, and boat. He discusses a number of hostile interactions he had with Native American tribes in the area. He also tells the story of how Angel Hill, in Flathead County, got its name. Zelezny then talks about his experiences fishing and hunting, particularly bear hunting. He mentions his time in the Oklahoma during the land rush of 1889. Zelezny concludes by recalling his childhood in Nebraska, and his interactions with the Sioux and the Pawnee there.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Homesteading; Flathead Lake, Montana; Demersville, Montana; Kalispell, Montana; Rollins, Montana; Native American Tribes – Kootenai; Native American Tribes – Pawnee; Native American Tribes – Sioux; Bear hunting; Oklahoma land rush
Original Date
8-13-1954
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Settlers, Homesteaders, Ranchers, and Farmers Oral History Collection Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana-Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 210-001, 002
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
2 sound cassette (90 min.): analog + 1 transcript (32 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:58:13 minutes
Local Filename
OH_210_001_002.mp3; OH_210_001_002.pdf
Citation
Zelezny, Joseph, "Joseph "Joe" Zelezny Interview, August 13, 1954 and August 31, 1954" (1954). Montana Settlers, Homesteaders, Ranchers and Farmers Oral History Collection. 26.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mtsettlersandhomsteaders_oralhistory/26