The son of Francois and Catherine Trotier Girard. His father was French Canadian and his mother American. Educated at St. Xavier Academy, St. Louis, MO. In 1848, he was hired as a clerk for the American Fur Company at Fort Pierre, Dakota Territory. In 1855, he went with Basil Clement to the headwaters of the Platte River. Carried mail to Fort Union, ND and Fort Rice, ND during the Civil War. Married Ree Indian, Helena Catherine Girard, and had 3 daughters: Josephine (b 13 July 1860), Carrie (b 4 July 1862), and Virginia (b 26 Feb 1864). Became a fur trader for the American Fur Co in 1865, and went into the trader business for himself in 1869. In 1872, he was living at Fort Benton, Montana, when hostile Blackfeet Indians killed 5 of his men. Had a son, Frederic Francis Girard Jr, with a full-blooded Piegan woman, Catherine. From July 1872 to 1883, he lived on a farm in present day Mandan, ND, supplying milk and vegetables to the Army at Fort Lincoln. In 1876, joined the 7th Cavalry as an Interpreter. During the Battle of the Little Big Horn, he was assigned to Major Reno's battalion, and hid in the valley for two days, after the rout of Reno's men, and survived the battle. Married Ella Scarborough Waddell, 15 Nov 1877 in Kansas City MO; they had 4 children. Died in 1913 of arteriosclerosis.
The son of Francois and Catherine Trotier Girard. His father was French Canadian and his mother American. Educated at St. Xavier Academy, St. Louis, MO. In 1848, he was hired as a clerk for the American Fur Company at Fort Pierre, Dakota Territory. In 1855, he went with Basil Clement to the headwaters of the Platte River. Carried mail to Fort Union, ND and Fort Rice, ND during the Civil War. Married Ree Indian, Helena Catherine Girard, and had 3 daughters: Josephine (b 13 July 1860), Carrie (b 4 July 1862), and Virginia (b 26 Feb 1864). Became a fur trader for the American Fur Co in 1865, and went into the trader business for himself in 1869. In 1872, he was living at Fort Benton, Montana, when hostile Blackfeet Indians killed 5 of his men. Had a son, Frederic Francis Girard Jr, with a full-blooded Piegan woman, Catherine. From July 1872 to 1883, he lived on a farm in present day Mandan, ND, supplying milk and vegetables to the Army at Fort Lincoln. In 1876, joined the 7th Cavalry as an Interpreter. During the Battle of the Little Big Horn, he was assigned to Major Reno's battalion, and hid in the valley for two days, after the rout of Reno's men, and survived the battle. Married Ella Scarborough Waddell, 15 Nov 1877 in Kansas City MO; they had 4 children. Died in 1913 of arteriosclerosis.
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