DIARY: A handwritten diary of John X. Beidler, signed on the inside front page, circa 1884. Done in an "American Diary 1884" cloth bound standard book. The book's original handwritten entries are on dated pages with the weather and the location (even for the dates with no story). Writings are notations of events, meetings, financial transactions, etc. This appears to be his log book for actions of law enforcement. Beidler was a Deputy U.S. Marshal, as noted in the beginning of the diary.
The contents includes 24 lead-in information pages (almanac type), 10 pages of misc. info (addresses, time table, etc.) and 190 pages of written logs, starting on January 1, 1884. The final 30 pages are miscellaneous writings. Fabulous content from identified locations: Assiniboine, Ft Benton, Chinook, Deer Lodge, Butte, Helena, etc.
Comes in a custom false-book leather case. 7 1/4" x 3 ¼” x ½”; case is 8 3/4" x 4"x 1 ¼”.
Condition: Worn embossed cloth covers, spine loose. The front few pages were used later, by another person, circa 1895 as a ledger of sorts.
PHOTOGRAPH: Scarce, signed X. Beidler cabinet card. A desirable hand signed copy of a photographic image of X. Beidler. A portrait of "X", full length, seated, holding his Model 1876 Winchester rifle.
Image is 5 3/4" x 4" on a 8" x 6" card. The original signature, J X Beidler, is clear and crisp, the card has some slight damage but not affecting the image. Printed on paper (most likely newspaper print) from an original image. Hang loop attached to the obverse.
Includes notarized letter from Ron Lane / Betsy Lane who discovered the diary in 1962 in Three Forks, Montana.
Provenance: From the Montana History Collection of Jerry "Buzz" Nyhart.
Lot 106, Sold $15,340.
Brian Lebel's Mesa Old West Auction - January 23, 2021. Mesa, AZ.