Adolph LaSalle
History of Montana, by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

Adolph La Salle, of Helena, came to Montana in 1866 and as 
one of her pioneer settlers is entitled to biographical 
mention in this work.Mr. LaSalle was born in Canada, near 
the city of Montreal, September 16, 1844. He is of French 
descent, his ancestors being among the first settlers in 
Canada. He is a direct descendant of La Salle, who 
explored the Ohio and traversed its territory in 1679 
and who in 1680, in company with Father Hennepin, 
explored Minnesota by way of the Mississippi River as 
far north as St. Anthony's Falls near the present city 
of Minneapolis. The Mississippi was revisited by 
LaSalle in 1682, when he explored it to its mouth 
and took possession of the surrounding tributaries 
and country in the name of France and gave it the 
name of Louisiana. In 1685 under t he leadership of 
LaSalle, the first Frenchsettlement was made in Texas. 
After seeing the colony in a thriving condition, this 
explorer retraced his course and sailed up the great 
river he knew so well, crossed the St. Lawrence into 
Canada, and settled down in the town of St. Michael 
D'Yamaska, in the province of Quebec. The older of 
two sons, Adolph LaSalle was reared on his father's
farm and was educated in private schools and in his 
sixteenth year left home and went to Illinois, where 
he had an uncle who was engaged in the manufacture 
of brooms, and by whom he was employed for wages. He 
was at work for his uncle when the Civil War broke 
out. In December 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Ninth 
Illinois Cavalry. He fought under Shermanin the Third 
Brigade, Sixteenth Army Corps and participated in 
numerous engagements. Most of the time he served as 
chief bugler. After his three years' term of 
enlistment expired, he re-enlisted and remained 
in the service until the war closed, being mustered 
out in October 1865.The war over, Mr. LaSalle 
returned to Henry County Illinois and in March 
1866 went to St. Joseph Missouri thence to Nebraska 
and from there across the plains to Salt Lake City. 
The company with which he traveled left St. Joseph 
on the 15th of March and arrived at Salt Lake City 
on the 3rd of July. On the 4th of July they started 
for Helena, arriving at their destination on the 
17th of the same month and camped on what is now 
the Lenox addition. After resting a few days, Mr. 
LaSalle went down in the valley and was employed 
by Phillip Miller. Later he worked in the Union 
mine. In May 1867, the Idaho excitement induced 
him to try his luck in the mines there, and for 
some time he was engaged inmining on the Salmon 
River. Not meeting with success, however, he 
returned to Helena and worked at mining, receiving
$4 per day. By saving his money during the summer, 
he was enabled in the fall to purchase an interest 
in the lime business, and remained in that until 
1869. In the meantime he had purchased in the 
Prickly Pear Valley, six miles from Helena, a 
farm of 160 acres. In 1869 he sold his lime business 
and moved to his farm to the improvement of whichhe 
devoted his energies and prosperity attended his 
earnest efforts. In 1872 he purchased 160 acres of 
adjoining land. On this tract one of the finest 
farms in the valley, he has since been engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, his chief crops being hay, 
oats and potatoes; he is also engaged in extensive 
rearing of horses and cattle. His land is supplied 
with an abundance of water for irrigation and 
pasture. Mr. LaSalle has also purchased property 
in the city of Helena and erected a fine brick 
residence thereon, his time being divided between 
his home in the valley and his residence in the 
city. April 29, 1880 Mr. LaSalle was married to 
Cora Jane Richard, a native of Massachusetts and a 
daughter of NelsonRichard. They have three children, 
two of whom, a son and daughter, died at the ages of 
eight and four, respectively. Mary Francis is the 
name of their living child.

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