Old Missoula

August Troutwein Murdered – 1885

Information reached town yesterday afternoon that a young German named August Troutwein, living in the bend about eight miles below town across the river, had been found in the road near his place shot through the head. He had two sheaves of oats by him and had evidently been to his field to get a feed and was on his way back to his house. Who committed the murder is at present unknown. A small band of Indians were camped by his garden Wednesday evening and it is thought that possibly he had some trouble with them about their taking vegetables or other things and that they killed him out of revenge. There are also other theories in regard to the case which will be developed hereafter. The Indians thought to be implicated in the murder left the place yesterday morning. Troutwein was a promising young man about twenty-two years old. His father, who is working at Bennett’s ranch near Stevensville, was sent word immediately of the sad affair. – Missoulian.

The above article appeared in the Great Falls Tribune on September 27, 1885.

 

The Trautwein name has been spelled a variety of ways locally. August was buried in the Missoula City Cemetery and he is featured in the annual Stories and Stones event there.

The article below is from the Missoula City Cemetery website linked below:

//www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/399/Guidebook—Stories-and-Stones?bidId=

 

August Trautwein (1862-1885)

A murdered German Russian immigrant.

· 1862-Birth. August was born on September 27, 1862 in

Deutschland.

· 1855-Death. August was murdered on September 16, 1885 in Big

Flat Missoula at his homestead. (The death year on the marker is incorrect

per all legal accounts.)

· Translation of Marker: “Here lies August Trautwein born in

Deutschland on 27 Sept. 1862, murdered in Big Flat on 16 Sept. 1886”

· August was found at his home on Big Flat which was on the bend

of the river about eight miles below town. He had been shot. Two sheaves

of oats were lying by him which evidenced that he was returning from the

field. He was 22 years old. His father was working at the Bennett ranch

near Stevensville MT at the time of the shooting.

· The murder investigation determined that August had probably

been killed by one of the bands of Indians camped on his property. Initially,

it was believed that the Indians may have stolen vegetables from his garden and then killed

August after they were confronted. Citizen descriptions noted the group was of the Nez Perce

Indians from Idaho. A posse was rounded up and headed after the Indians before they could

arrive back at their reservation. The various Indian groups had separated with a small group

going through the Bitterroot Valley and a much larger group heading through the Frenchtown

Valley. The posse set out after the larger group of Indians. After a hard trek through the

mountainous region, they came upon the Indian band only to find they were the wrong ones.

These Indians were Flatheads, had all their papers in order, and did not match the citizen

descriptions. The posse then backtracked to the Bitterroot Valley to find the trail of the smaller

Indian band. The trail led them on an old trail leading from the Lou Lou (Lolo) to Mosse Creek

ferry and then Grave Creek. They went as far as Dan Woodman’s ranch before they spied the

Indians. Seven bucks were arrested and held in captivity in one of Woodman’s outbuildings.

Upon further inquiries, however, the Indians were released and no charges were filed. Other

theories were discussed but the case is believed to have never been officially solved.

The iron sign was a marker used by the Germans from Russia. The Germans migrated to the steppes of Russia where there were

no trees so they made iron markers. Most of these Germans were of Catholic faith. No two markers were ever alike. Most of

these crosses are found in prairie areas throughout the states where ever these German pioneers settled. This cross is the ONLY

one found in western Montana and is especially unique due to its enamel plaque. Information researched by Paulette Parpart,

Missoula Public Library historian.