James Willard Schultz
Encyclopedia
James Willard Schultz, or Apikuni, (born August 26, 1859, died June 11, 1947) was a noted author
, explorer, Glacier National Park guide, fur trader and historian
of the Blackfoot Indians. While operating a fur trading post at Carroll, Montana 47°34′25"N 108°22′24"W and living amongst the Pikuni
tribe during the period 1880-82, he was given the name "Apikuni" by the Pikuni chief, Running Crane. Apikuni in Blackfoot means Spotted Robe. Schultz is most noted for his prolific stories about Blackfoot life and his contributions to the naming of prominent features in Glacier National Park.
43°29′01"N 075°20′12"W to well-to-do parents, Frances and Philander Bushrod Schults [as it was spelled at the time]. The house where he was born is marked with a plaque as a New York State Historic Landmark. Young James enjoyed the outdoors and his father ensured he was mentored by experienced outdoorsmen and hunters in the Adirondacks during camping and hunting trips. He became an experienced shooter at an early age.
. He stayed at Fort Conrad from 1877 to 1885, and established a trading post there in 1880. During that time period he traded with the Pikuni
and Bloods and established another trading post at Carroll, Montana on the Missouri River
where he also traded with the Cree
s.
and Saint Mary Lakes region of what is now Glacier National Park guiding and outfitting local hunters. In 1885 he sent an article on the St. Mary Lakes to Forest and Stream
, one of his first literary efforts. At the time George Bird Grinnell
was the magazine's editor and he became intrigued with Schultz and the Glacier region. Grinnell solicited Schultz to outfit and guide him on a hunting trip in Glacier in September 1885. Although the trip was not a great success for Grinnell, he did kill a Bighorn
ram on a mountain near the Upper Saint Mary Lake with a single shot. Schultz promptly named the mountain Singleshot Mountain to honor Grinnell's feat. Thus began decades of Schultz naming features in the Glacier regions for clients, friends and to honor traditional Indian names.
for 15 years. He did not write his first book until 1907 at age 48. The memoir: 'My Life as an Indian tells the story of his first year living with the Pikuni tribe of Blackfeet Indians East of Glacier. In 1911, he associated himself with publishers Houghton Mifflin
who published Schultz's subsequent books for the next 30 years. In all, Schultz wrote and published 37 fiction and non-fiction books dealing with the Blackfoot, Kootenai, and Flathead Indians
. His works received critical literary acclaim from the general media as well as academia for his story telling and contributions to ethnology. Sometime after 1902, while living in Southern California, Schultz worked for a while as the literary editor of the Los Angeles Times
.
48°39′31"N 112°52′18"W near Browning, Montana
in the old burial ground of the family of Natahki, his first wife.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, explorer, Glacier National Park guide, fur trader and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of the Blackfoot Indians. While operating a fur trading post at Carroll, Montana 47°34′25"N 108°22′24"W and living amongst the Pikuni
Pikuni
The Pikuni are a Native American Group. They are part of the 'Blackfeet', a group who lived in the prairie areas of Montana. The area where the Pikuni lived bordered the Canadian and American Rocky Mountains. Other Blackfoot groups included the Nehiyawak, the Siksika, and others....
tribe during the period 1880-82, he was given the name "Apikuni" by the Pikuni chief, Running Crane. Apikuni in Blackfoot means Spotted Robe. Schultz is most noted for his prolific stories about Blackfoot life and his contributions to the naming of prominent features in Glacier National Park.
Early life
Schultz was born August 26, 1859 in Boonville, New YorkBoonville (town), New York
This page is about the town in New York. For other communities of the same name, see Boonville or for the village, see Boonville , New York...
43°29′01"N 075°20′12"W to well-to-do parents, Frances and Philander Bushrod Schults [as it was spelled at the time]. The house where he was born is marked with a plaque as a New York State Historic Landmark. Young James enjoyed the outdoors and his father ensured he was mentored by experienced outdoorsmen and hunters in the Adirondacks during camping and hunting trips. He became an experienced shooter at an early age.
Early years in Montana
As a young adult, Schultz moved to Fort Conrad, Montana, on the Marias RiverMarias River
The Marias River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 210 mi long, in the U.S. state of Montana. It is formed in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Glacier County, in northwestern Montana, by the confluence of the Cut Bank Creek and the Two Medicine River...
. He stayed at Fort Conrad from 1877 to 1885, and established a trading post there in 1880. During that time period he traded with the Pikuni
Pikuni
The Pikuni are a Native American Group. They are part of the 'Blackfeet', a group who lived in the prairie areas of Montana. The area where the Pikuni lived bordered the Canadian and American Rocky Mountains. Other Blackfoot groups included the Nehiyawak, the Siksika, and others....
and Bloods and established another trading post at Carroll, Montana on the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
where he also traded with the Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
s.
Glacier National Park
In the mid 1880s, Schultz began to spend more time in the Two MedicineTwo Medicine
Two Medicine is the collective name of a region located in the southeastern section of Glacier National Park, in the U.S. state of Montana. It has a campground alongside Two Medicine Lake. From the period starting in the late 1890s until the completion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in 1932, Two...
and Saint Mary Lakes region of what is now Glacier National Park guiding and outfitting local hunters. In 1885 he sent an article on the St. Mary Lakes to Forest and Stream
Forest and Stream
Forest and Stream was a magazine featuring hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Founded in 1873, it was the ninth oldest magazine in the United States....
, one of his first literary efforts. At the time George Bird Grinnell
George Bird Grinnell
George Bird Grinnell was an American anthropologist, historian, naturalist, and writer. Grinnell was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in 1870 and a Ph.D. in 1880. Originally specializing in zoology, he became a prominent early conservationist and student...
was the magazine's editor and he became intrigued with Schultz and the Glacier region. Grinnell solicited Schultz to outfit and guide him on a hunting trip in Glacier in September 1885. Although the trip was not a great success for Grinnell, he did kill a Bighorn
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
ram on a mountain near the Upper Saint Mary Lake with a single shot. Schultz promptly named the mountain Singleshot Mountain to honor Grinnell's feat. Thus began decades of Schultz naming features in the Glacier regions for clients, friends and to honor traditional Indian names.
Glacier features named by Schultz
- Divide MountainDivide MountainDivide Mountain is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. Divide Mountain is located south of Saint Mary, Montana on the border of Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation....
- Flattop MountainEast Flattop MountainEast Flattop Mountain is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. East Flattop Mountain rises to the north above Saint Mary Lake and is easily seen from the eastern entrance to the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the village of St. Mary, Montana....
- 48°44′22"N 113°31′16"W: 8356 feet (2,546.9 m) - Grinnell GlacierGrinnell GlacierGrinnell Glacier is located in the heart of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is named for George Bird Grinnell, an early American conservationist and explorer, who was also a strong advocate of ensuring the creation of Glacier National Park...
- Grinnell Mountain
- Grinnell LakeGrinnell LakeGrinnell Lake is located in Glacier National Park, in the U. S. state of Montana. Named after George Bird Grinnell, the lake has a opaque turquoise appearance from the rock flour which is transported to the lake from Grinnell Glacier. Grinnell Lake is accessible via the Grinnell Glacier Trail and...
- Going-to-the-Sun Mountain - 48°41′27"N 113°38′11"W: 9642 feet (2,938.9 m)
- Singleshot Mountain
- White Fish Mountain, originally named Yellow Fish Mountain by Schultz
Glacier features named for Schultz
- Apikuni Creek - 48°48′18"N 113°37′06"W, el. 4793 feet (1,460.9 m)
- Apikuni Flat - 48°48′05"N 113°38′03"W, el. 4869 feet (1,484.1 m)
- Apikuni Falls - 48°48′51"N 113°38′33"W, el. 5522 feet (1,683.1 m)
- Apikuni MountainApikuni MountainApikuni Mountain is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana....
- 48°50′11"N 113°39′14"W, el. 8989 feet (2,739.8 m)
Author
James Willard Schultz started writing at the age of 21, publishing articles and stories in Forest and StreamForest and Stream
Forest and Stream was a magazine featuring hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Founded in 1873, it was the ninth oldest magazine in the United States....
for 15 years. He did not write his first book until 1907 at age 48. The memoir: 'My Life as an Indian tells the story of his first year living with the Pikuni tribe of Blackfeet Indians East of Glacier. In 1911, he associated himself with publishers Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is an educational and trade publisher in the United States. Headquartered in Boston's Back Bay, it publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults.-History:The company was...
who published Schultz's subsequent books for the next 30 years. In all, Schultz wrote and published 37 fiction and non-fiction books dealing with the Blackfoot, Kootenai, and Flathead Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. His works received critical literary acclaim from the general media as well as academia for his story telling and contributions to ethnology. Sometime after 1902, while living in Southern California, Schultz worked for a while as the literary editor of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
.
Family
Schultz's first marriage in 1879 was to a Piegan Blackfeet Indian woman named Natahki—with whom he had a son named Hart Merriam Schultz, or Lone Wolf (1882–1970). Natahki died in 1903. Schultz's second wife, Jessica Schultz Graham, helped publish some of Schultz's works posthumously, such as Bear Chief's War Shirt.Death
James Schultz suffered from ill health for most of his last 30 years. Guiding in the rugged Glacier area took its toll physically. He suffered from incapcitatiing lung and heart infections. He was probably an alcoholic by today's standards. In 1931 he injured his spine and through treatment became addicted to morphine, but was able to break the addiction a year later. In 1942, he fell breaking his left leg and right arm. In September 1944, a fall at his home in Denver broke his hip and required major surgery to repair. His deteriorating health severely impacting his ability to write and concentrate. After moving to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming to be close to the native Americans tribes he grew up with, he suffered a fatal heart attack and died on June 11, 1947. He wanted to be buried in Montana and was laid to rest on the Blackfeet ReservationBlackfeet Indian Reservation
The Blackfeet Indian Reservation or Blackfeet Nation is an Indian reservation of the Blackfeet tribe in Montana in the United States. It is located east of Glacier National Park and borders Canada to the north. Cut Bank Creek and Birch Creek make up part of its eastern and southern borders...
48°39′31"N 112°52′18"W near Browning, Montana
Browning, Montana
Browning is a town in Glacier County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,016 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Browning is located at ....
in the old burial ground of the family of Natahki, his first wife.
External links
- Butterfly Lodge Museum
- National Parks Service's Man in Glacier -- article with mention of Schultz's various contributions