Forgotten artist and explorer brought to life in historic presentation

Gustavus Sohon, who helped map the Flathead Valley in 1854, is the topic Monday, Aug. 21 at the Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners program held at the Northwest Montana History Museum in Kalispell.

Fort Benton author Ken Robison, who specializes in neglected Montana history, is making the presentation.

German immigrant Gustavus Sohon was an eyewitness to several historic expeditions in the Northwest. He was involved in the 1853-1854 Pacific railroad survey, in territorial Governor Issac Stevens' treaty tour of 1855, the 1858 military campaign of Col. George Wright, and John Mullan's famous construction of a road between Fort Benton, Montana, and Walla Walla, Washington in 1859-1862.

Sohon played an increasing role in each succeeding expedition. Yet Sohon's involvement has been mostly forgotten and unappreciated.

Sohon was a jack-of-all-trades, an artist, a linguist, a topographer, a scientist, and an accomplished diplomat, says Robison. Fluent in German, French, and English, Sohon quickly mastered tribal languages and served as an official interpreter for two key Stevens' treaties – May 1855 near the Walla Walla River and July 1855 at Missoula.

But he is best known for his pencil sketches and watercolors. He roamed the Northwest and left detailed views of the spectacular mountainous landscapes, portraits of prominent tribal chiefs and a first-hand painting of the historic Hellgate treaty gathering of 1855 that created the Flathead Reservation.

Sohon also explored the Flathead Valley in 1854 with John Mullan. The expedition traveled up the lower Flathead River to Flathead Lake, and followed the Stillwater River and the Tobacco River to near present-day Eureka.

When Sohon's army enlistment ended, he again joined Mullan and worked in surveying and construction in building the Mullan Road. He then accompanied Mullan to Washington, D.C., to prepare the maps and illustrations documenting the new route.

Robison has written numerous books about Montana and the West, including Historic Tales of Whoop-Up Country. He previously explored the life of Fort Benton whiskey trader Johnny Healy at the June 2020 Posse meeting. His books will be on sale prior to the meeting.

The talk is the monthly presentation of the Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners, a local history group. It starts at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Northwest Montana History Museum, at 124 2nd Ave. East in Kalispell. Cost is $5 for the general public, with posse members and youths under 16 admitted free.