Saturday, March 9, 2024

Coloma: Another Mining Dream

 

Located about two miles from Garnet, the Coloma area was still being mined, when I researched it in the early 2000’s. The Fessler family owned claims at Coloma and continued to hold their inheritance. “Names on the face of Montana” spells the name Coloma, other literature I have found spells the name Colomo and Colma. The mining camp had a post office open in 1895 with Anna Richards as postmaster. The last year the post office operated was 1908. In 2010 the University of Montana, Archeology Department in Missoula was involved in an exploratory dig on Myrna Fessler Leipheimer’s claims and had many historical artifacts in their possession. Professor Timmons was the archeologist involved in the dig. 

Wolle, in “Montana Pay Dirt”, states she gleaned her information about Coloma from J.T. Pardee’s U.S. Geological Survey reports created in 1917 and 1918. The Granite County Map dated March 1987 shows Colomo, the Mammoth mine and Colomo cemetery in Powell county, but it is located within two miles of the Garnet ghost town, so was usually discussed in the newspapers of Granite county. Wolle stated “Several mines were located in 1886 along the main divide on Elk Creek two miles southwest of Garnet, and these have been worked sporadically, producing in aggregate $40,000 to $50,000 in gold. The camp of Coloma was liveliest at the turn of the century, while the Mammoth and Comet mines were in operation, and an estimated $200,000 was taken from the Mammoth property. Since then, the camp has been virtually deserted. 

Development of the Comet mine, …in 1905, by the Quantock Mining and Milling Company, resulted in small returns of gold. In 1916 a tunnel was bored to crosscut the Mammoth and other veins…. (and) in recent years most of the claims had been tied up in litigation (1951).The Pearl on the divide between Deep Creek and Bilk Gulch was reported to produce $20,000 in gold and copper.” 

Fifer, in “Montana Mining Ghost Towns” states that in the Coloma district, placer discoveries created a major rush in 1865, on Bivins Gulch and Elk Creek which caused the creation of Coloma, Reynolds, Springtown and Yreka mining camps. This reference states no more than $100,000 of free gold was mined, even though they had a ten and twenty stamp mill at Coloma. 

I found references referring to mines in Coloma on October 30, 1895, in the Philipsburg Mail copied from the Missoulian stating C.C. Eckert and E. Simpson had returned to Missoula last week from the Mammoth Mining Company property in Coloma. “They found the property all there and everything in good condition so far as the real and personal property is concerned. As yet Mr. Parker, who was to have been in Deer Lodge yesterday to adjust some claims against the company has not yet been heard from, but it is expected, that the claims will receive the proper attention and be disposed of in a few days.” 

 From 1930-1941, August Erickson was in the Garnet area and in his diary speaks frequently of working at Coloma, especially the Mammoth claims. I found earlier references to the Mammoth Mine on September 22, 1905 when the Drummond Call carried an article that identified the claim with a work force of about 20 men under the able management of Major R.L. Hornbrook. Development work was being done and the property was expected to put thirty men to work when the mill was opened. In that same issue was an article detailing that J.W. Moss the well known store keeper of Coloma was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Eastey and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Askman of Garnet to Lake Placid, in the upper Blackfoot country, on a hunting and fishing trip. 

The September 22, 1905 Call, stated the development work was being supervised by Mr. H. Salisbury. The group was comprised of 14 mining claims and owned by Philadelphia capitalists with Mr. H. Sieble Jr. the president. The development work consisted of an incline shaft bored to the 400 foot level. There were main levels at the 200 foot and 400 foot levels with development being carried at both of these levels. They were running a cross cut in the direction of the Mammoth mine (which belonged to the group) that would be 800 feet to reach the lead in the Miner’s Dream, believed to be one of the best claims. This would also assist exposing the lead in the Grouse, another promising claim of the group. There was a Huntington mill on the property that would handle between 15 and 20 tons of ore a day. 

September 29, 1905, the Call announced “several good properties around Coloma: the Clemantha, Cato, Crystal Springs, Valley” and others, which I will discuss later.

A Tough Hombre: Sam Clark

 

The March 15, 1925, Philipsburg Mail carried the story: Sheriff has leg amputated “Sheriff Sam B. Clark had his right leg amputated below the knee last Saturday morning at Dr. Knight’s hospital. The operation was performed by Dr. Knight. He was assisted by Dr. E.G. Wilcox of Drummond, Mrs. Veda Yenter, a nurse, and A. Price Townsend. 

Sheriff Clark broke several bones in his ankle a few years ago and it was apparently well until about two years ago when he injured it again while searching the hills for a trace of two lost children. His leg became gradually more infected and was endangering Mr. Clark’s health and recently his physician advised him to have the leg amputated. Mr. Clark stood the operation in fine shape and is now getting along nicely and it is believed that he will be able to receive visitors some time next week.” 

I know something of this story because A. Price Townsend always helped my Bentz grandparents with the summer haying. After supper Price would tell us kids stories and the story about amputating sheriff Clark’s leg was one of them. When I worked at the hospital in 1958 Doris Kemper, the Registered Nurse, administered ether to the surgical patients but apparently in the 1920’s alcohol was the chosen anesthetic. Price described sitting on Sam’s pelvis with his legs straddled over him on the surgical table. After putting a wedge between Sam’s teeth, Price would pour whiskey down his throat every time Sam tried to move while the two doctors sawed away on his leg. 

Sam was born to Sam M and Elizabeth Brown Clark in Warrensburg, Illinois on August 12, 1855 and married Molly E. Fults on July 3,1877. The 1870 Federal census lists him in Post Oak, Missouri and the 1880 census lists him in Pioneer City, Montana. In 1900 the census shows him working at the Sunrise Mine and in 1910, they were living in Philipsburg. Molly’s obituary states she arrived in Montana in 1881 and Philipsburg in 1882, where she remained until her death on May 20, 1932. They had a son Ernest B. shortly after arriving in Philipsburg and he died in 1915 at Thompson Falls while employed by the U.S. Forest Service. 

Sam worked as a laborer and miner most of his life but was interested in Law Enforcement and ran for sheriff of Granite County in 1912 with 318 votes to Dan McLeod’s 353 and Frank Morse’s 211 votes. Dan McLeod beat him again in 1914. In 1916, F. Burks was elected to the office. 

Sam began serving as Undersheriff, in 1922, during the moonshine era. He finally won the sheriff election in 1924, with C.A. Metcalf serving as Undersheriff for a period and then E. J. Muchmore. Harry Holland (from Drummond) and Freeman Tinklepaugh served as Deputies. Sam served through 1928 when “Gus” McDonald took over the office until he resigned in 1942 to serve in World War II. 

During the time serving as Sheriff, is when his leg was injured and after the surgery he was in less than prime condition until catching the influenza in late 1931. After two weeks of illness Sam died from Coronary Sclerosis and thrombosis on January 11, 1931 at the age of 76. Molly died four months later and they are buried next to each other in the Philipsburg cemetery. The pallbearers were the same for both funerals: S.R. Seelos, C.A. Metcalf, F.A. Tinklepaugh, A.J. McDougal, Charles McDonald and W.E. Metcalf.

Whitesides Property and Legal Issues

 

 The August 29, 1889 Philipsburg Mail in a column titled “Bearmouth Notes” stated: “The home of Andrew Whitesides, who resides about two-and-a-half miles west of Bearmouth is the pride of the section,… and anyone who has visited it will tell you there is nothing like it in Montana... The ranch is abundantly supplied with clear, cold water from Harvey Creek, which can be applied to any part of the farm when ever required. The dwelling is one of those old fashioned, comfortable log houses of western style, but with many modern improvements and additions and the roofs of which are almost completely covered with hop vines. A stream of the purest water runs through the yard and the whole place is completely surrounded by lofty shade trees, which have grown from the seeds planted by Mr. Whitesides some twenty years ago. Over forty acres of beautiful farm are devoted to garden purposes and produces almost anything that grows in temperate countries. At present the apple trees are so loaded with fruit that it is necessary to prop them up and the vegetables are so abundant, that what would be a surprise to some tables in many places, are being fed to the stock instead of grain…” 

An article June 20, 1904, concerning Whitesides was headlined “Whitesides Wins His Suit” with history of the lawsuit and the verdict: “In the district Court Monday evening Judge Napton announced his decision in the case of A.J. Whitesides vs E.B. Weirick et al, which was tried here during the September term of court. …The issue involved the title to and possession of the Whitesides ranch at the mouth of Harvey creek near Bearmouth. The case was called for trial October 1, 1903, and occupied the attention of the district court for three days. After hearing the evidence the court took the matter under advisement, and the decision was announced Monday evening. 

Summed up briefly the case is as follows: In 1894 the Montana National Bank of Helena, brought suit against A.J. Whitesides and his wife to foreclose a mortgage and the ranch was sold. Before expiration of the time allowed for redemption, on August 4, 1894, Mr. Whitesides got the Lannen brothers to advance $3,400 to redeem the property, with the agreement that the sheriff should make the deed to Lannen brothers to secure repayment of the money advanced, on April 4, 1900, Lannen brothers to have use of the ranch and cultivate the same for the interest on the money loaned. On April 18, 1900, the money was repaid, $2500 being raised by mortgaging the property to the State Savings Bank of Butte, by Whitesides and his wife. Lannen brothers instead of conveying the property back to Whitesides, conveyed the same to Mr. and Mrs. Julius Herman, Mrs. Herman being Whitesides daughter. Later Mr. and Mrs. Herman conveyed the homestead and some railroad land, one-half of which railroad land was claimed by Whitesides, to Morris and Forsyth for a consideration of $12,500. This was November 1902. Whitesides, the plaintiff, claims the transaction to have been a mortgage, and that all purchasers had notice that it was such. He sued to have the deeds cancelled from Lannen brothers to Herman and successors in interest, and for the possession of the property and for rents and profit. The defendants claimed to be purchasers without notice of Whitesides equities, and also that Whitesides failed to pay on April 1, 1900, and according to the agreement between Whitesides and Lannen brothers, that the transaction in 1894 was a sale from Whitesides and wife to Lannen brothers with an option from Lannen brothers to Whitesides and wife to re-purchase on April 1, 1900. Having failed to do so on the date named, it was claimed by the defense the option was forfeited. 

Judge Napton based his decision on fifteen separate findings of fact, and on the following conclusions of law: First—that the agreement date, August 4, 1894, between plaintiff and the Lannen’s was a mortgage. Second—that the sum was paid on April 18, 1900. Third—that the defendants had knowledge of the same. Fourth—that the plaintiff is the owner of and entitled to the possession of the lands described in the complaint as the homestead. Fifth—that the plaintiff is the owner and entitled to one-half of the land jointly with the defendants, described in the complaint as the railroad lands. 

Obviously this was not the end of the issue. The June 9, 1905 Mail carried the following article under the court notes: Whitesides vs Weirick et al., motion for new trial was argued by counsel and taken under advisement by the court.” Research failed to discover any conclusion of the court.

Bearmouth and Weaver Archeological History

 

A couple of years ago I wrote about the Fred Burr archeological dig and planned to write about some of the other research in the area but got off topic. The recent death notice of Joan Weaver reminded me that a fair amount of archival findings were present on the original George D. Weaver ranch in the Bearmouth district. 

The Master Thesis of Patricia Flint written in 1977 and on record at the University of Montana details geological and aboriginal history of the Clark Fork Canyon around the hot springs located near Nimrod and Bonita close to Bear Gulch which became known as Bear Mouth. Nimrod and Bonita were railroad designations and most of the landmarks are no longer visible. Flint states that ethnohistoric evidence indicates multi-tribal use of the Bearmouth area. The Semte’use were probably the earliest identifiable inhabitants and left most of the identified prehistoric remains. They inhabited the area before the introduction of the horse circa 1730 and used the area on a regular basis of the exclusion of most other tribes, until they were almost exterminated and merged with Pend de Oreille tribes. I have discussed the location and history of this tribe in articles that were not published in the Philipsburg Mail, but are online at Granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com for anyone interested in more detail. 

Numerous archeological digs are recorded on both sides of the canyon from this area as indicated by the state recording and designation of numerical identification. The Bearmouth pictographs are numbered 24GN1001; Medicine Tree Hill 24GN63; Tyler Creek 24GN2; Old School House Site 24GN115; Camel Slough Occupation Site 24GN116; Antelope Creek Occupation Site 24GN117; Talus Slide Burial 24GN64; Weaver Site 24GN3; Little Bear Creek 24GN4 and these studies cover research from the 1950’s forward. In Patricia’s Master Thesis she drew pen and ink drawings to record the artifacts discovered at the various sites but did not draw any of the pictographs. When Patricia did a presentation for The Granite County Historical Society in 2015 she had made cast replicas of some of the flint and faunal tools that had been recorded at these sites. By that time, Patricia had earned her Doctorate and was busy working in the Mesa Verde area in the Four Corners region. I was privileged to have a long conversation with her while we wandered the Flint quarry at the “Eye Brow site” near Henderson Gulch in the Flint Creek Valley. 

The Weaver site was first reported by the Hell Gate survey in 1954 when a basalt knife, flint scraper, eight basalt flakes and a flint chip were discovered. These were located on the George D. Weaver Ranch property. George was born in Glostershire, England on April 23, 1956 and immigrated to Canada at the age of fifteen. At sixteen he moved to Nevada to live with an uncle and began his mining ventures. In 1876 he travelled on foot from Corrine, Utah to Deer Lodge, Montana. He was involved in mining at Gold Creek and Bear Gulch plus worked for the Hope Mining Company, Black Pine and Combination. In 1908 he ”bought a splendid ranch near Bearmouth and engaged in the cattle business”, until 18 years before his death when he sold his cattle and became a sheep rancher. 

The 1910 Federal Census shows George at the age of 52 with wife Emily age 48, sons: G. Maurice 12, James 14, C. Gregory 11, and Harry 9. George was serving his sixth term as a Granite County Commissioner, when his death came after a long illness, at his home four miles below Bearmouth on December 28 1927. Survivors were his wife and four sons: G. Maurice of Philipsburg, James and C. Gregory of Bearmouth and Harry of Philipsburg; one brother James P. of Hall and two sisters: Mrs. Charles Quinney of Pendleton and Mrs. Herbert Margaret of Buenos Aires; five grandchildren; six nephews and four nieces. Services were performed by the Philipsburg Masons and he was buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Because of the need to keep the archeological sites from being destroyed by artifact seekers I have been careful to not describe exact locations. Many early sites were not as fortunate as the Fred Burr Site to be able to catalogue and make the findings available to the public to view. Please take advantage of the display at the Granite County Museum if you are interested in the artifacts that are representative of the Semte’use and other Salish and Nez Perce tribes.

A Mining Camp named Beartown

 

Bedrock was seventy feet below the surface and the streak of placer gold very narrow when the strike was discovered in Bear Gulch. The miners sank shafts and hoisted the dirt up to the surface where it was sluiced. This operation could only happen when there was water running from the melting snow in the high mountains, so the mining season was short. The miners tried to regulate the water flow by building reservoirs. The water was released a certain amount of hours per day. According to Wolle in “Montana Pay Dirt”, only two men amassed a fortune from the area. “Tom Keenan recovered $17,000 from his ground by drifting, during the season of 1867, and Tom Hennessy, having amassed $25,000, went to Alaska and retired.” The total amount mined from the gulch is said to be $1,000,000 in gold and silver between 1866-67 and 30 million by 1893. 

The gulch is just wide enough for the road and creek to run through it at the point where the camp was established, so people had to bury their dead up on the mountain side. It is said that only seven bodies were actually buried there because when the rains came or snow melted the bodies rolled down the mountainside. Two of the bodies buried there were said to be children and one a Chinese. I found references that Beartown bodies were reburied at Valley View cemetery near New Chicago.. The camp was a total of 450 feet wide and a quarter mile long and platted for four blocks, but miners paid no heed to the plat. “…with most of the buildings jammed against the hill on one side of its main street. Aside from dugouts and tents, it contained 17 saloons, several blacksmith shops, a brewery, livery stable, jail, slaughter house, drugstore, restaurant, Ball’s Hall, Abascal’s Generals Store and Gee Lee’s wash house.” Each miner built his cabin on his mining claim so they were spaced at 200 foot intervals above and below the town. 

Mike Flynn was a resident and prior to his death, partner’s promised to see that he had a decent Christian burial in Deer Lodge. When Mike died, during the winter of 1870, his body was rolled into a blanket and slung over a packhorse and a number of miners accompanied the body down the hill. When they arrived at Bearmouth part of the group found timber to build a coffin and the others went to Baron O’Keefe’s to borrow a wagon and a harness to put on two of the horses. Since the horses were not harness broken the going was not easy and it was late the next evening by the time they reached Pioneer Bar, where they stopped for a drink. Realizing that Flynn had not had a wake they arranged one, including candles and the coffin set on two beer kegs. By the time the wake was over many of the miners were passed out. 

Late in the day two of the miners rode on to Deer Lodge to arrange for a priest and dig the grave. It was almost dark by the time the rest of the party arrived in Deer Lodge. They quickly realized when they looked into the wagon that the coffin was missing. Apparently, the wagon hitting the horses hind legs as they came down a hill into the creek had caused the horses to bolt. The priest decided that everyone should spend the night in Deer Lodge and go looking for Mike’s body in the morning. It took some searching before the body was found as the coffin was standing on end in the creek bed. After the water was drained from coffin it was taken on to Deer Lodge cemetery where a Christian burial was performed. 

Beartown boomed during 1865 to 1869. 

Many left in 1870 believing that the gulch was worked out. But Joseph Abascal, his partner LaForcade and other hardy miners remained and continued to pan out the gold. Abascal was a Spaniard and LaForcade was a Frenchman, and neither spoke the others language so their ledgers were not readable to the other partner. By the mid 1870’s miners began returning with their families. Abascal was married to William A. Clark’s sister and Clark started out his career as a peddler traveling to Abascal’s store whenever he came to Bear. According to Wolle, Mary Pardee stated the major establishment was Pelletiers saloon. 

The only known law was an Irishman named McElroy who was sworn in as a justice of the peace by common consent, when the community found out that he knew legal terms. Being tongue tied when sober the person’s pressing charges made sure McElroy was drunk before they presented their case.

Nine Lives: Thomas McGuire

 

The January 25th Philipsburg Mail had an article in “From the Archives” that reminded me I had written about that same story in “Mettle of Granite County Book Three”. The article described a saloon fight in Garnet on January 1899 that resulted in serious stabbing wounds to Thomas McGuire. Mike and John Lavelle, Dan McPherson and Joe Irwin had all been arrested and were housed in the Philipsburg jail and the news stated “there was no hope in any chance of recovery for the stabbing victim.” 

Research at that time failed to find any follow-up or obituary for Thomas McGuire. Since the time, Book Three was published many avenues of online research has become available so I set out searching for what happened to Thomas and the men jailed. The following is what I found: The men accused were tried in District Court and acquitted, because it was shown that McGuire was “a quarrelsome man and always hunting for trouble.”

The Philipsburg Mail May 24, 1901, continued with the following story. “He (McGuire) had no doubt not profited by his experience in 1899 and continued his search for trouble until he again found it. There is very little sympathy for him this time, and it is generally accepted that Bumbaugh was justified in shooting his assailant. L.R. Bumbaugh of Garnet last Saturday afternoon shot and seriously wounded Thomas H. McGuire…of the Bear Gulch metropolis. Mr. Bunbaugh had for some time been in charge of the Mussigbrod mill at Garnet and several parties who had been discharged laid the blame for this on Mr. Bumbaugh and harbored a grievance against him on that account. Among those parties was Tom McGuire, who had the reputation of being a bad man. For this and other reasons Mr. Bumbaugh always carried a revolver when alone or at work at the mill at night. The night before the shooting, there was a dance at Garnet and McGuire, with others, celebrated the event by staying up all night and drinking, and this celebration continued well into the day—Saturday. About 3 o’clock that afternoon while Bumbaugh went after his lunch bucket prepatory to going on shift he was met on the street by McGuire and several others. McGuire was sporting for a fight and without much ceremony pitched in on Bumbaugh. He struck him and then clinched and was getting a strangle hold on him when Bumbaugh managed to get out his gun and fired. The ball entered McGuire in the breast and ranging upward lodged in the shoulder. Mr. Bumbaugh gave himself up to Constable Elkins and was brought to Philipsburg the same evening. He is now at the county jail awaiting a hearing.” 

The June 14th Mail continued the above story: “Mr. Bumbaugh’s hearing was postponed until the extent of McGuire’s injuries could be determined and since then he has entirely recovered,” McGuire declared his intentions to not press charges on Bumbaugh and in writing made an affidavit to relieve any blame toward the shooter so a hearing was scheduled for June 15th to “terminate the unfortunate affair.” 

The news article went on to say: “McGuire’s course is generally commended. It is a manly act and reflects credit upon him. It further shows he is a good man and willing to do what is right and just, but , like many of her good men, he has his faults and that evil influences at times get the best of him. He is willing to forgive and so is Mr. Bumbaugh and it is hoped they will continue to be the best of friends.” 

In 1900 McGuire was working as a teamster in Gold Creek according to the Federal Census. I then found a census from 1880 in Nebraska showing Thomas as 10 years old with his parents Michael and Alice, with an older sister and four younger brothers. Hours of research has failed to disclose any other Census data, death certificate or grave site. 

I had initially thought he may have been Stonewall McGuire’s great grandparent but cannot link any of the two families. So at this time, we still do not know if McGuire had nine lives or settled down to be a nice old man.

Flood of 1908 The Flood of 1908 Loraine Bentz Domine Granite County Historical Society In June of 1908 Drummond was the scene of a massive flood. After a three day snow, sleet and rain storm all the creeks in the area overflowed filling the canyons with many feet of water. The Northern Pacific Railroad tracks were washed out between Garrison and Drummond which blocked the main-line rail traffic for three weeks. Many Butte passengers were “marooned” in Drummond. In June of 1908 Frank Morse stated “it rained for forty days and nights”, in an account to Fan Harrington written up in the Montana Standard on July 5, 1976. Morse said: “…accompanied by Fred Maxwell, I walked from Drummond to within a few miles of Philipsburg. A train crew was working on a washed out track at six mile, and we waited for the men to finish their work then we would ride the train into town. The first morning H.A. Featherman, Lawrence Hauck, Otis Mercereau and a lineman, who was to repair the telephone lines, and myself started for Drummond on a railroad handcar. When we came to a washout one man splashed ahead through the water for a short way in order to stop the handcar if it got away from the men who were pushing it. The bridge at Drummond was washed away and there was no train service between Drummond and Philipsburg for six weeks. On the day of my wedding a few days later, water was within an inch of the floor level of the house where the ceremony was to take place. The piano which had been on saw horses and the parlor rug and furniture which had been removed in-case the room flooded were put back in place and the wedding was performed on schedule.” The June 12, 1908 Philipsburg Mail described the flood as the worst since the white man “..had set foot in this part of the state.” As bad as the damage was there was no loss of life and by June 12th the waters were receding, but fear was still present as the weather had warmed and caused the high mountain snows to start melting very fast. Flint Creek and Rock Creek were very high but the high bridges had withstood the rushing waters. Wagon roads everywhere were washed completely away, including the bridge at Stone over Flint Creek; the bridge at Jenkins ranch near Hall; at Drummond the south approach to the steel bridge across Hellgate was gone, leaving an eighty foot gap between the road and the bridge; at Bearmouth the county bridge across Hellgate was washed out which left Garnet cut off from the railroad. The only road open from Garnet on the 12th of June was the one over the mountain and Rattler gulch to Drummond. All other roads were able to be traveled on except Drummond, Stone and Bearmouth. The week after the flood started, County Commissioner John Duffy and a crew of miners went down to the pot hole (about 6 miles north of Philipsburg), and blasted out the reef of rock. They then graded a new road along the high ground so all could pass without any fear of the raging water. This flood was very similar to the one 16 years prior but the water higher and damages greater. The railroad track was washed out between Philipsburg and Drummond near the Franz ranch. The county commissioners rotated shifts at the rock reef, to keep teams from trying to cross that flooded section of road. No trains were able to travel the tracks for several weeks. The Philipsburg Mail June 5, 1908 estimated the number of travelers stranded at Drummond as 900. By June 12th the news was that everyone was doing okay for supplies in both Drummond and Philipsburg but all the train crews were idled except for the repair crews. There had been “..no mail, express or even a pound of freight for Philipsburg or Drummond and from present indications the branch line will be open for traffic at least a week before anything is moving on the main line.” A big washout was in Alex Wight’s field about 100 yards north of the bridge across Flint creek. The embankment was washed away for about twenty feet and gouged a hole ten to twenty feet deep. All in all, the tone of the day was cheerful and positive throughout the weeks of repairs detailed in the newspapers. As a result of the storm the flour supply in Drummond was exhausted and was replenished by a shipment brought from Philipsburg on a handcar. The merchants of Philipsburg ran out of sugar, ham and bacon, so these items were freighted from Anaconda by team. During all of this many head of livestock were drowned.

 In June of 1908, Drummond was the scene of a massive flood. After a three day snow, sleet and rain storm all the creeks in the area overflowed filling the canyons with many feet of water. The Northern Pacific Railroad tracks were washed out between Garrison and Drummond which blocked the main-line rail traffic for three weeks. Many Butte passengers were “marooned” in Drummond. 

In June of 1908 Frank Morse stated “it rained for forty days and nights”, in an account to Fan Harrington written up in the Montana Standard on July 5, 1976. Morse said: “…accompanied by Fred Maxwell, I walked from Drummond to within a few miles of Philipsburg. A train crew was working on a washed out track at six mile, and we waited for the men to finish their work then we would ride the train into town. The first morning H.A. Featherman, Lawrence Hauck, Otis Mercereau and a lineman, who was to repair the telephone lines, and myself started for Drummond on a railroad handcar. When we came to a washout one man splashed ahead through the water for a short way in order to stop the handcar if it got away from the men who were pushing it. The bridge at Drummond was washed away and there was no train service between Drummond and Philipsburg for six weeks. On the day of my wedding a few days later, water was within an inch of the floor level of the house where the ceremony was to take place. The piano which had been on saw horses and the parlor rug and furniture which had been removed in-case the room flooded were put back in place and the wedding was performed on schedule.” 

The June 12, 1908 Philipsburg Mail described the flood as the worst since the white man “..had set foot in this part of the state.” As bad as the damage was there was no loss of life and by June 12th the waters were receding, but fear was still present as the weather had warmed and caused the high mountain snows to start melting very fast. Flint Creek and Rock Creek were very high but the high bridges had withstood the rushing waters. Wagon roads everywhere were washed completely away, including the bridge at Stone over Flint Creek; the bridge at Jenkins ranch near Hall; at Drummond the south approach to the steel bridge across Hellgate was gone, leaving an eighty foot gap between the road and the bridge; at Bearmouth the county bridge across Hellgate was washed out which left Garnet cut off from the railroad. The only road open from Garnet on the 12th of June was the one over the mountain and Rattler gulch to Drummond. All other roads were able to be traveled on except Drummond, Stone and Bearmouth. 

The week after the flood started, County Commissioner John Duffy and a crew of miners went down to the pot hole (about 6 miles north of Philipsburg), and blasted out the reef of rock. They then graded a new road along the high ground so all could pass without any fear of the raging water. This flood was very similar to the one 16 years prior but the water higher and damages greater. The railroad track was washed out between Philipsburg and Drummond near the Franz ranch. The county commissioners rotated shifts at the rock reef, to keep teams from trying to cross that flooded section of road. No trains were able to travel the tracks for several weeks. 

The Philipsburg Mail June 5, 1908 estimated the number of travelers stranded at Drummond as 900. By June 12th the news was that everyone was doing okay for supplies in both Drummond and Philipsburg but all the train crews were idled except for the repair crews. There had been “..no mail, express or even a pound of freight for Philipsburg or Drummond and from present indications the branch line will be open for traffic at least a week before anything is moving on the main line.” A big washout was in Alex Wight’s field about 100 yards north of the bridge across Flint creek. The embankment was washed away for about twenty feet and gouged a hole ten to twenty feet deep. 

All in all, the tone of the day was cheerful and positive throughout the weeks of repairs detailed in the newspapers. As a result of the storm the flour supply in Drummond was exhausted and was replenished by a shipment brought from Philipsburg on a handcar. The merchants of Philipsburg ran out of sugar, ham and bacon, so these items were freighted from Anaconda by team. During all of this many head of livestock were drowned.

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Great Contributors to the Lower Valley: Piche Family

                                                             Photo from Philipsburg Mail 


Joseph Piche was born in Quebec and came to Montana during the mining rush. He worked in Butte and married Louise DeRosia who was born in the state of New York. After the marriage they ran a dairy outside of Butte. As their son Louis remembers the story: “There were twenty-one homestead lots to be drawn southeast of Drummond. One-hundred and fifty miners lined up in Butte for the drawing and his father drew lot number twenty-one. Their 160 acre homestead was located six miles southeast of Drummond. The property was two miles east of the Valley View cemetery. They were lucky enough to get an area that had water on the land.” Research revealed an article in the September 27, 1929 Mail that stated “Joseph Piche returned to Drummond Wednesday from the Gallatin valley where he had spent the last two months.” 

According to Louis (at age 99) the children born to Joseph and Louise were: Irene on March 9 (the year not recalled); she married a man named Pease and died at the age of 92; Gertrude was born on November 29 (unable to recall the year) and married a man named Udall. The marriage lasted one year because he did not work; Vivian was born on November 28, 1908. She married a man named Duell and died just short of her 100th birthday in 2008. Louis was born September 11, 1910; Ray Piche, the youngest and fifth, born on August 8, 1917 at the homestead east of New Chicago, received his education in Drummond and attended Modern Business College in Missoula. 

He enlisted in the Army and served 42 months in WWII. While serving in the Eastern Theater, Ray earned a Purple Heart. Ray, operated a Drummond service station for ten years; bought the Texaco station and ran it for twelve years; the liquor store for another twelve years .Ray married Audrey Hamilton in August of 1951 and she died in 2002. Ray died in Missoula on April 13, 2005. He was survived by brother Louis and sister Vivian Duell, both of Missoula and nieces and nephews. Military Honors were conducted at Valley View cemetery. 

Their mother, Louise DeRosia was born March 9, 1876 at Governor, New York. She moved to Butte, Montana in 1897 and married Joseph on May 10, 1898. Her obituary stated they moved to Drummond in 1909. Joseph died in 1946 and in 1965, Louise moved to Missoula to live with her daughter Vivian Woods and died June 28, 1967. Survivors were: daughters: Vivian, Mrs. Irene Pease of Missoula and Mrs. Gertrude Dodge of Polson; sons: Louis and Ray of Drummond. Internment was in the family plot at St. Mary’s cemetery in Missoula. 

Louis, was educated in Drummond. Then, after attending a barber school in Spokane, Louis bought Jack Peterson’s Barber shop at Drummond, in 1928. He ran the barber shop until drafted into WWII in 1942 at the age of 31. While in the military he served in the 48th Sea Bees and was in Korea. Louis was home on leave when Hiroshima was bombed in August; reported to California and was discharged on September 28, 1945. Louis sold real estate and insurance and in 1960 he worked with the county tax assessor Roy Greenheck and learned reclassification, which was a measurement of land productivity. About that same time Louis built the Big Sky Motel and operated it for six years, then sold the motel to Fred Holland. Louis married Edna Marsh on May 19, 1930. After retirement they lived in Apache Wells, Arizona and Big Timber, Montana. Louis moved to Missoula, after Edna died in 1967. He was a 30 year member of the Kiwanis, a member of the Elks and an avid bowler. Louis was anxiously awaiting his 100th birthday in September when I talked with him in May of 2010. Unfortunately he died in Missoula on July 23, 2010. Louis was buried in the Missoula cemetery. 

 In July of 2011 the Drummond Library received notice that the estate of Louis Piche had provided them a wonderful gift. The Library set up a September Night on September 13, 2011 to focus on Louis’ life and generosity. Louis had been a great friend of the library and realized the struggles they had. The funds were expected to be set up as an endowment and would only be used for extras, never for the general funding. The sum was expected to be about $25,000 a year for the next 25 years totaling about $625,000.

Tireless Worker Without Judgment Sound and Business-like: Dr. Power

                                                                    Dr. W.I. Power 
                                      Photo cropped from group picture in Tex Crawley Collection



W.I. Power was a major contributor to Granite county history. He was born in Farmington, Michigan to Thomas H. and Lydia (Stockwell) Power on September 17, 1860, the fourth born of seven sons. According to “Progressive Men of Montana” “…His educational advantages were very limited, owing to the size and circumstances of the family; and besides a few weeks attendance at the public schools during the winter months for about three years, he obtained nothing in this line except what he worked out for himself- teaching school for a time and with the money earned working his way through higher grades until he was able to take a full academic course at the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing, where he was graduated in 1885, teaching and selling books during the vacations to defray expenses.” After his graduation William taught one year at Waterford and in 1886 he entered Detroit Medical College. 

He graduated in 1889 and spent a year as house surgeon in St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit before coming to Granite, Montana. He worked as an assistant to Dr. Sligh for two years for the Bi-Metallic Company’s hospital. Then in January 1892 he moved to Philipsburg and began his private practice there. Dr. Power married Miss Mary Williams Treveaille of Butte on January 27, 1892 in Granite. Mary came to Granite about 12 years before her death on April 5, 1897, when she succumbed to an un-named cause. Dr. Power quickly became involved in the community health issues as observed when he notified the public: “All persons living along streams where water is needed for general purposes are warned not to dump or throw manure or other refuse material into such streams as water so polluted is unfit for general use. W.I. Power M.D., chairman Board of Health for Granite County.” Philipsburg Mail, September 24, 1897. 

The following year Dr. Power married Mrs. Marietta Sewell of Paola, Kansas on September 12, 1898. That same year, Dr. Power was nominated for the state senate by the Silver wing of the republican party. He was defeated by Jerry Connolly by 30 votes. At the end of 1899, Dr. Power went east to study and took a graduate course in the New York City Post Graduate School, specializing in General Medicine. It was expected that he would re-locate his practice somewhere in the east. But obviously had a change of heart, as the May 4, 1900 Mail announced that Dr. Power had returned and was occupying the old office of Dr. G.W. Young in the McLeod-Doe block. He had also bought the C.F. Jacky residence at the corner of California and Kearney streets but the “consideration was unknown.” 

As the public health officer, it was documented many times, how he warned the public about the dangers of the flu epidemic, especially during WWI. Dr. Power served as Mayor for one term beginning in 1908 and served two terms as county coroner. He was a member and held offices in: The Masons, Royal Arch Masons, Eastern Star, Scottish Rites and Algeria Temple of Helena, Woodmen of the World, Lincoln Homestead, Brotherhood of America Yoemen and the Rotary. He was a member of the American Red Cross and served as county chairman for a number of years. In 1908 he was also “secretary-treasurer of the Eureka Mining and Development Company diggings in Quartz Gulch and brought home a few of the large gold nuggets.” Dr. Power ran on the republican ticket for State senator in 1910. The October 21, 1910 Mail carried the following descriptor: “…He has taken a leading position in every line of public or private business he has undertaken. he has been second-class in nothing; first class in everything. He is a tireless worker, with judgment sound and business-like, and therefore a leader in whatever he attempts to do. He has no superior in the extent his loyalty to the interests of the people of this county..” He lost the Senate seat by 6 votes to Democrat A.R. Dearborn (Pharmacist at Doe’s Drug Store). 

The April 26, 1929 Mail carried the sad news that Dr. Power was dead. In continuation of his community service, the Doctor was serving as the president of the State Bank at the time of his death. The cause of death was flu-pneumonia and had happened the day the paper was published. Besides his wife, Dr. Power was survived by a step-son Harry F. Sewell of California and two nephews. Funeral services were held in the Masonic Temple on April 29th and the body was then forwarded to Spokane for cremation.

Ability to Read and Write English

 




Students from Middle Fork School Circa 1928  Top Row L to R: Mary Helen Care, Alice Christensen, Chloe Carey, Cecilia Lyon, Winifred "Fett"  Sandin , Walter Bentz. Bottom Row: T.R. "Bus" Hess, Mary Sandin, Faye Lyon, Harry Bentz

Montana enacted a Compulsory Education Law in 1905 that basically stated that all children between the ages of eight and fourteen must attend a school for at least four hours a day, five days a week for a minimum of sixteen weeks during the year. If the child was of a younger age it was permissible for only two hours a day of schooling. The Law clearly states “The certificate shall be issued upon satisfactory proof of the age of the minor and a knowledge of his or her ability to read and write legibly the English language.” Once that certificate is issued a child over the age of fourteen cannot be mandated to attend school. The majority of students, especially rural were no longer attending school after the eighth grade. Those that were unable to obtain a certificate were forced either to continue attending school until they turned sixteen or break the law. By the 1950’s they had enacted laws that fined the parent daily if the minor did not attend school until the completion of the eighth grade. 

 As is often the case, laws were enacted with out providing the money for schools, teacher and learning material to be provided so it continued to be up to the families to find some way to comply to the law. As early as Granville Stuart time it is documented that he hired teachers to come and live with his family to provide schooling for his children and neighboring ranches. One of those teacher’s, Isabelle Brown, became his second wife in 1890, after Awbonnie, the mother of his children, died. 

 Granite County passed a bond issue to build the still operating school in Philipsburg in 1896 and prior to that Major William Graham and Mrs. Titus are known to conduct educational classes in the town. Rural families were expected to either move to town during school sessions or board the children with family or friends. 

 I have been unable to determine which country school was the first to be established in Granite county. I know the Cow Creek School started in 1912 with funding from parents and interested parties. The Trout Creek School was awarded a certificate that met Standards of Education in 1916, and was proudly supported financially by the surrounding ranchers. I possess a picture of Flint Creek School but have no reference to any date. Spring Creek school was started by the upper Willow Creek families after teachers had been hired by individual families and lived in their homes in the early 1920’s. Although my father states in his writing that he attended Rock Creek school, for his first grade, I believe he meant Spring Creek, as that would have been in 1927, and the first teacher I found a record of for Rock Creek was 1930. Dad (Harry Bentz), then attended Middle Fork School through the eighth grade. 

State funding for rural schools was first established in 1927 under the Common School Equalization Fund and revisited in the 1940’s. Although this still failed to provided adequate money it did begin the advent of one room school houses, usually constructed by the hard labor of the local parents; funded a meager wage for a school teacher (that often was boarded at a close ranch). Some of the schools had families with enough means to provide for the construction of a teacherage next to the school house, which was present at Porter’s Corner and all of them constructed a shelter for the horses to be stabled. Different families were responsible for providing firewood and kerosene for warmth and lighting and hay for the horses. Sometimes the students rode as far as 8 miles to the nearest school. Seldom did parents hitch up a team to bring the children to and from school. Students were responsible for purchasing their books and often shared one book among many students. 

Rural schools were to be closed in 1947, but parents on Ross’ Fork and West Fork were able to find Jewel Ball to teach, Kaiser and Carpp to provide the Ewing Bungalow for housing and the Berry House in the Sapphire Ranch meadow was converted into a school room for eight students. Helen Sanders attended first grade with her sister Naomi a seventh grader. I was in the first grade and my sister Rosalie was in the third. Helen Christensen was in the third and her brother Bill was in the fifth and Wesley Sutherland was in the sixth grade. Rural schools were all closed the next year and parents were given a stipend for gas to drive them to the Skalkaho Junction, now Hwy 1. School Bus service expanded to West Fork Bridge in 1950.

We're Glad We Helped Santa

 Now me and my bud had been pitchin’ down hay 

To feed the cows for a night and a day 

We’d put down a lot, and we had a reason 

It was late in December, and the holiday season. 

We headed for home, and the snow it was deep 

Real tough for the horses, too deep for a Jeep. 

We was makin’ it fine, not too far to go 

When we found this here sleigh, stuck in the snow. 

 It’s a real fancy rig, loaded plum full of stuff. 

And with night commin’ on it was gonta be tuff. 

The guy in the red suit said his chargers had flown, 

And left him a’ sittin’ out there in the snow. 

We shook out our ropes, and tied onto the sled 

We knew where to find him a good soft, warm bed. 

We took care of the horses, then helped him unload. 

We left the sleigh there, headed out for the road. 

We got in our bunks, and we sure slept tight. 

We didn’t wake up ‘till it plum turned daylight. 

The stranger had gone, and so was the sled. 

But the boxes and bags was all stacked on the bed. 

 He left us a note sayin’ thanks for the lift. 

If we’d look in the boxes, we’d all find a gift. 

My brother and me, we each had a surprise 

And the things for our sisters sure opened their eyes. 

 There was pearls for our mom, and a hat for our dad. 

It turned out to be, the best Christmas we’d had. 

Sometimes we’re just guessin’ about how things will go. 

But we’re glad we helped Santa, when he was stuck in the snow.

                                                                                   (Authored by George Melvin Owen [1916-1999]) 

 Melvin was one of eight children born to Charles and Geneva (Schenck) Owen. Charles and Geneva moved from Wyoming in 1910 and leased the newly bought 600 acre Groth Ranch, originally owned by R.R. McLeod, 2 miles south of Philipsburg. He traveled to Chicago to buy 100 head of cattle and always raised exceptional ones under the name Treasure State Herefords. One of his off-spring, Melvin married Ida Berry on November 1, 1942 and they had seven children: Carma, Ted, Kathleen, Cheryl, Charles, Douglas and Judy. I do not find any Montana information about Melvin after his marriage (in Arizona). He was living in Arizona when he died in 1999. 

 I am privileged to have in my possession from the courtesy of Charles grandson, Don Scott, a booklet written by Naomi (Owen) where she shares these facts with her grandchildren:

Happenings of American Gem Mining Company

While discussing John Lucas I was reminded of many interesting facts about The American Gem Mining Company and the people who provided the financial investments for the operation such as Auguste B. and William Lane Ewing. The Philipsburg Mail on March 8, 1901 stated “Yield of sapphires on Rock Creek 35 miles south-west of Philipsburg for 1900 is 200,000 carats with 1,200 carats fit to cut.” Articles of incorporation for the American Gem Mining syndicate are on file at the Montana Historical Society and show the filing date as August 9, 1901. The capital stock was $300,000 and distributed as follows: D. Jankower whose address was listed as Philipsburg and was a noted gemologist from New York and London had 299, 996 shares; Paul Fusz whose address was Granite had one share; Moses Rumsey of St. Louis, Missouri had one share; Auguste B. Ewing of St. Louis one share and Charles McLure of St. Louis one share. The corporations five directors were: Jankower, Fusz, Rumsey, Ewing and McLure. Although often cited as investors W.E. Knuth of Helena and L.S McLure of San Diego are not listed in the filed corporation papers. 

 I will speak about the Rumsey family in a later article concerning the Rumsey mill. The Ewing family were from a prominent branch of Scottish people who immigrated first to Ireland and then to America in the 1700’s. Auguste born April 6, 1839, was one of William L and Clara Berthold’s eleven children. He married Mary Causland September 8, 1869, and they had eight children. His brother, William was one of at least two William’s that “went west” and was born in 1843. He married Mary Fleming in 1885. He became a banker and organized the State National Bank in 1885 and was on the Board of Director’s for years. He was the 25th Mayor of St. Louis from 1881 to 1885 and died in Vincennes, Indiana June 4, 1905 with burial in Calvary Cemetery. They had one son who is listed as William. 

The reason the Ewing name was so well known was the family built the Ewing Bungalow. This massive log structure was built on the Yellow Dog Sapphire Claim located on a five acre island of the West Fork just south of the Sapphire ranch upper meadow. The living room measured twenty feet wide and thirty feet long with two bedrooms and a stairway to the south; a full log sitting porch across the east end and a lean-to kitchen off the west end. The north wall had a solid West Fork River rock fireplace, floor to ceiling and a large “Old Fir” log split in half for the mantle with fir logs holding it in place. The wall logs were caulked with newspaper dipped in water and tapped into place then a small quarter round placed into the space. 

I know all of this because while my family was leasing the Sapphire Ranch in 1952 my parents bought the Ewing Bungalow from Walt Kaiser and Charles Carrp who were current owners of the property. The valuation was $3,000 and was occupied by the Bentz family until it burned down in 1959. This property is currently owned by Kenny Lutz and others and most of the beautiful trees are cut down and a large portion covered with gravel to withhold the weight of Kenny’s large heavy mining equipment. 

Communications in the Lucas files at the Montana Historical Society, disclose that the Ewing family in St. Louis were often concerned about the Huppmobile being cared for. It was used when they arrived to visit in the summer months. Registrations are on file from 1915 to 1924 for the vehicle. In the fall of 1918 and 1919 the staff such as Dan Smith in Philipsburg were reminded to put the vehicle up on blocks and remove the battery for the winter months. There is also a telegram sent on May 23, 1922 that directed Smith to “send the Huppmobile to Butte for painting - same color. Will send top material. Have ready by June 25.” Then on May 25 a second telegram requested “have huppmobile valves ground, seats repaired and other repairs you think necessary.” A third telegram on June 2, 1922 stated “Do not have top for Huppmobile lined.” These telegrams were all from C.G. Ewing. 

The Hupp Mobile was built in Detroit Michigan from 1909 through 1939 by the Hupp Motor Company. On August 31, 1934, “J.C. Yob states C.G. Ewing died Wednesday. He was the son of the original owner of the Philipsburg Mining Company. He was unmarried and is buried in St. Louis.” was published in The Philipsburg Mail.

 As I review the researched documents in my possession, items I hope that are of interest to the public come to my attention. A book titled “ LEDGER” was loamed to me by Edward Bohrnsen that had grocery lists dated July 26, 1905. A tool inventory for April 1 (of unknown year) for “Sapphire Property” and “sawmill outfit” Freight bills for E.R. Thompson; R.R. McLeod; John McKinzey (sic); L.P. Keely; S.H. Yerllnwood (sic), and W. M. Lawrance from July 29 through August 6, 1905. There are also notes for hay and eggs bought from E. Amerine for April, May and June 1906. This included three tons of hay for $21.00, twenty one dozen eggs for $4.20 on April 28; and ten more dozen on May 6, plus twenty seven dozen on May 30, for a total of $27.20. On June 1 they received more hay with the stack measuring thirty seven feet over, twenty seven feet wide and six feet long, plus eighteen dozen eggs for a total of $24.60. 

Other examples in this ledger are: American Gem received from Ike Sanders: June 9: 30 lbs of butter (20) $6.00 30 doz. Eggs (20) $6.00 June 16: 60 doz. Eggs (20) $12.00 22 lbs. Butter $4.40 June 23: 29 lbs Butter $5.60 June 30: 25 lbs. Butter (20) $5.00 30 doz. Eggs (20) $6.00 Total $45.00 Items of this sort are listed through 1907 from Amerine and Ike Sanders, plus lists titled Basin Gulch: Detter to ranch and Sapphire Camp: Detter to Ranch in 1907 which includes beef, eggs, tea, coffee, sugar, maple syrup and vegetables from April through October, totaling $506.52. Another page stated Sawmill: Detter to ranch and Morgan: Stoney Crick (sic) from June through October 1907 that includes staples, coal oil, nails, oats, wire screen, beef and vegetables for $182.58. 

There is a stable bill for horses staying overnight at Carmichaels from April through June 1912 which consisted of two to four horses almost every night. Obviously employees were riding to and from the mines and Philipsburg at a fairly steady pace. The amount of stable charges was questioned by C. Ewing when the bill was sent to St. Louis, as the charge was $2.00 a day per horse, for a total of 78 horse days. Entries for 1912 show supplies previously bought from Amerine were now being bought from Downing.

Lumber hauled from the sawmill to the Sapphire diggings was also listed for 1910 totaling 10,339 board feet. The next entries are for August through October, 1929 listing produce and again, through October of 1930 and 1931, which was probably bought from a vender coming from the Bitter Root Valley. A separate list is included for “Ewings.” Then in 1932 the produce is broken down into “for Company” and “Bohrnsen Bill.” The 1933 lists are again for “American Gem” and “for Mr. Ewing.” 

The year 1934 included fifty doses of Blackleg Aggressin. Edward Bohrnsen believes these were given to the calves his father bought and took to Willow Creek. The list also has one castrating knife and paid Bowles $10.00 for a colt on June 28, 1934. The 1935 list begins on March 25, buying bowls, plates and cups and on May 14 paid $5.00 for one broke horse. The entries end on November 17, 1935 for seventeen lbs. of cabbage and twenty five pounds of rutabagas for $1.35. 

The very last page of the Ledger stated: “the 8th of November took 1 violin lesson.” This notation is in Henry Bohrnsen’s handwriting. 

Finances were a frequent topic in the correspondence in 1918: “April 26, 1918 …see if you can get them (sapphire pickers) for $1.50 per day” stated a letter from Ewing to Dan Smith. On May 6, 1918 Ewing to wrote to W.T. Terrell, “hospital fee with Dr. Casey is $1.50 per season for each worker.” On September 4, 1918 is the document “….owing to unrest in the camp it was necessary to raise the wages 50 cents on the 15th of last month” wrote Terrell to Ewing. Ewing instructed Dan Smith on September 27, 1918 to “….tell Bohrnsen to do the work necessary on the 1600 feet of flume, this year.” Then on October 2, Smith stated “Mr. Bohrnsen was in yesterday and said he expected to operate for 2 weeks yet and then do some flume work” in correspondence to Ewing. On January 3, 1919 Ewing writes to W.T. Terrell, “….Please instruct Varholic the watchman at the camp to gather up the matrasses [sic] which are in the main log cabin and string them up to the ceiling so that the rats cannot get at them.”

Doesn't Cost Me Much to Live

Years ago, acreage, north of the current Munis Gravel Pit and just south of Andre Lane after the Fred Burr curve, was occupied by a happy man, named Sid Willis. My memory of Sid is him sitting in any friend’s house visiting and smoking a roll-your-own cigarette. Sid wore a large cuff in the bottom of his blue jeans and he would either put the ash from the burning cigarette into the cuff or flick it onto the thigh of his jeans and rub it into the denim. Sometimes the jeans were so well “ashed” that I am certain they would stand on their own. He loved to say, “It doesn’t cost me much to live…I feed myself, my horse eats grass and my dog eats horse turds” and then he would throw back his head and give a “Har Har Har” type of laugh. 

His Stetson hat had seen many years and the crown was sweat stained with many spots on the brim tattered. It was usually pushed back with his unruly hair hanging onto his high forehead. I so wish I had a of picture of this old codger to share with all of you. In Ray Ham’s book “Horses and Saddles” Sid is spoken of frequently as “Canner Joe” because he was the person that came when contacted to dress the dead animal. Sid then took the meat and bones to the dog food cannery. He also sold the skinned hides to the tannery for the making of horse hide robes. Ray said “Canner Joe was one of our local colorful characters. He was a clown in a way and didn’t even know it. One time he was in a saloon and a woman from back East was there and she was looking right at him, just cracking up a-laughing. He looked down to see if his fly was open; he didn’t know what she was laughing at. She finally stopped laughing long enough to say “ Where do you get those overalls with bow legs?” Ray goes on to say “Canner Joe was out to our place one night and he’d been drinking. We went out to the barn and he grabbed Smokey (wild buckskin colt) by the tail. Any other time, Smokey would have kicked him but this time, for some reason he didn’t. Canner Joe just hung on and laughed his goofy laugh, real deep: Yuk Yuk, Yuk.”

A story I have heard frequently is that the author Dan Cushman moved to Philipsburg to be close to his dear friend Sid Willis. This was supposed to be during the time Dan was researching the book “The Old Copper Collar” which was published in 1957. I found where Mr. and Mrs. Dan Cushman had a baby boy on March 13, 1953 in Great Falls and were expected to return to Philipsburg to live during the summer. The baby named Stephen James joined Bobby and Mary Lou. 

Sid lived in Granite county for more than fifty years before he was sent to the Cheyenne Soldiers’ Home in Wyoming. He lived in Wyoming for six months before his death at the age of eighty-four, during the first week of April, 1971. The house he lived in is still standing, though deteriorating rapidly. Each time I drive by I check to see if it is still standing. The chimney fell off a few years ago and I doubt the logs will stand up much longer 

 Born in England, where he received an inheritance, Sid came to the U.S. as a teenager. He served in the Army during WWI, then settled south of Philipsburg, buying the property with his inheritance. The obituary stated “there were no known survivors.” The funeral was conducted by the Wilson Funeral Home and pallbearers were: Ford Johnson, Bob McKinley, Adolph Andre, Forrest Merrifield, Barney Pickett and John (Pat) McDonald, with internment April 5, in the Philipsburg cemetery. This Sid Willis should not to be confused with Sid Willis the owner of the Mint Bar in Great Falls who was a friend of Charlie Russell.

Little Notoriety: John R. Lucas


                               John R. Lucas cropped from group photo in Tex Crawley Collection

Researching history I see many names written about that were important to the mining industry, but have never read anything speaking about John R. Lucas. Yet in the papers donated by the Antonioli family to Montana Historical Society Archives are 2.5 linear feet of documents having the perfect penmanship and signature of John R. Lucas on them. He was Superintendent for a number of years, in the St. Louis Mining Companies of Philipsburg. 

 An extensive grocery list for the Montana Grocery Company in Philipsburg on April 28, 1916 not only is neatly typed but also has the pencil written prices of the products as the order was being filled by the store. Examples are: 25 pounds of dried apples for $1.22; 100 pounds of onions $3.50; 50 pounds of corn meal $1.65 2-24#. (This must indicate that instead of 50 pounds the order was filled with two 24 pound containers); 5 cartons of matches for $1.00; 120 pounds of bacon for $22.00. All the available grocery lists demonstrate the food provided to the miners was hearty, nourishing and plentiful. They also indicate John supervised every facet of the business and finances. 

Lucas being astute in all the mechanisms of the mining business and the political world is apparent through out the documents preserved at The Historical Society. He kept Paul Fusz informed almost daily of the election results and squabbles over contested elections, such as when the shift bosses were accused of coercing the miners while voting. This issue was not debated at length in the Lucas documents but was a hot issue in the newspaper. James McGowan of Hall filed a contest with the District Court on December 6, 1904 when he lost the vote by seven votes to James Schoonover. The complaint stated the 200 Bi-metallic employees had been coerced, threatened and intimidated. Staff had told them that they would lose their jobs if they voted Republican or for George Metcalf. “Taking testimony before Justice is waived on account of repeated efforts of defense to block proceedings--the promised investigation causes much uneasiness in certain quarter”, was the headline over a full column article in the December 30, 1904 Mail. 

 Apparently Judge Connolly the county counsel and Judge Durfee who was Schoonover’s counsel were both unable to be present on December 27 for the scheduled hearing. Under the law, cases had to be certified by the Secretary of State before the Legislature convened. The papers in the case were forwarded to Helena. Mr. McGowan insisted he had an abundance of evidence to prove every one of the charges alleged in the complaint. Obviously the surprise was on McGowan, as Schoonover was seated and no follow-up article was printed in the January news. The Mining Company and Lucas were very concerned that the local and State legislators be Democrats and included letters of recommendation for appointed positions such as Game Warden. 

John was born April 15, 1866 at St. Louis, Missouri and came to Montana in 1892 to accept the assistant superintendent position with the Hope Mining Company.. In 1897 John married Madge Short. She died after giving birth to their son John J. in 1898. In 1903, John accepted am assistant supervisor position at the Granite Bi-Metallic Consolidated Mining Company. Ultimately, John had charge of the American Gem Sapphire Mines on West Fork, the Basin Gulch Placer Mines, the Hope properties and other company interests, according to the Mail April 20, 1917, because when Paul Fusz died in 1910 all the responsibilities including the Combination Mining Company became John’s concern. 

John was seriously injured on September 23, 1914, when his horses ran away, and left him suffering from head, shoulder and back injuries. Documents show his resignation as Director of Henderson Mining Company, February 15, 1915. Then on November 24, 1916 was a copy of telegram to John P. Meyers in St. Louis stating: “Due to the serious illness of Mr. Lucas he is not able to sign any checks….request authority for Mr. Holmes or myself to sign checks to pay the bills.” 

John traveled to Long Beach, California for treatment in a sanitarium there. His health did not allow him to return to his position and he died at Long Beach, California on April 14, 1917. John’s body was returned to Montana and escorted by the Missoula Lodge of Elks on the train to Philipsburg. They were met at the depot by the Philipsburg Elks and escorted to the Philipsburg Masonic Hall where the Philipsburg and Missoula B.P.O.E. performed a burial service. Requiem High Mass was on Monday at the Catholic Church with internment at the Philipsburg Cemetery. Survivors were: son, John J., working at The Anaconda Copper Mining Company.

The Outcome of Booze Versus Brothers

On December 22, 1899, The Philipsburg Mail carried the ghastly story of the Johnson brother’s quarrel. Apparently the three brothers had lived in the Antelope area about 4 miles west of Philipsburg for several years and were from Finland. They made a living by cutting timber into railroad ties and chopping cordwood. “About 4 o’clock Wednesday morning, John Johnson, a Finlander, accompanied by his brother Herman appeared at the sheriff’s office and informed Sheriff Metcalf that he had shot and killed his brother Jacob and had come to give himself up. …Johnson informed the sheriff that the brother Jacob had been to town Tuesday and returned to camp late very intoxicated and with a bad temper. He swore he would kill John and arming himself with a broadaxe, proceeded to chop his way into the cabin. John told him, if he would lay down the axe and come in to bed everything would be all right, but if he did not let up with the axe he would shoot. Jacob continued to chop and was making good headway when John got the rifle and shot through the door. The chopping ceased and when John and Herman opened the door to investigate they found their brother laying there, mortally wounded. They carried him inside and laid him on the bed where he soon expired. After hearing the story, Sheriff Metcalf locked John Johnson up, and in company with George W. Opp drove to the scene of the tragedy, where the dead man was found, as told by the brother. Another Finlander was found asleep in the cabin, and on being awakened informed the sheriff that he knew of no trouble and had heard no shooting. He did not know that a man was dead in the cabin or that anything out of the ordinary had taken place during the night. A coroner’s jury, composed of J.D. Hartwell, F.C. Walker, Frank Freschlag, Wm. Clawson, Archie McDonald and G. W. Opp visited the camp and inspected the premises…. It was found that he ball had entered the body on the right side of the abdomen and came out in the back near the left kidney.” 

John Johnson was about thirty years old and his brother was two years his senior. The Mail learned from John that he and his brother quarreled frequently due to Jacob’s temper when he drank. Jacob was the teamster and brought the product to market while the other two brother’s did the chopping.

 John’s trial was set for March 12th 1900, at which time he was tried for the killing of his brother.   Both the Johnson brother’s and many of the other witnesses spoke very poor English and so most of the testimony was given through an interpreter. Many people were called before a jury could be convened and so after 3 days the short trial began and a verdict was returned after one hour of deliberation. “The courtroom was packed when the jury returned with the verdict and when it was known that John Johnson was to go free there was joy among the Finlanders, who all seemed to favor John Johnson…The jury evidently took the view that the defendant had acted in self-defense when he fired the fatal shot that took the life of his brother.”

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Maybe Should Have Been Named Deceit Not Hope

 

The following events have crossed my mind often as I have researched articles about this areas history. Granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com states “In 1873 Felix McArdle reported that the first 2000 feet of lode claims bought by The St. Louis and Montana Mining Company was almost worthless with the discoverers in some cases proving unable to even show the location of the ground. The names of these claims were: Gold and Curry, Ledger, W.B. Dance, Legal Cap, Wabus, Lord Byron, and Decope Chickoman. {Hector}Horton was the discoverer, but the lots sold were not his discovery lots, but other lots along the vein that belonged to {Reece}Anderson, {W.B.}Dance and {James}Stuart. 

According to a document in MHS {Montana Historical Society}, they attempted to sell this claim footage to the St. Louis and Montana Mining Co. for $100,000 in stock. The sale recorded in the courthouse is for $500 cash, but perhaps stock was a second, unmentioned “valuable consideration.” In any case, it would be understandable if Horton didn’t care to show the discoveries, because he had been cut out of the sale. One major claim is absent from the discussion-The Hope Lode. …This claim was not located by Horton, and was not located in 1864. It was located in July 1867 by Reece Anderson. 
However a December 17, 1905 Anaconda Standard stated that the honor of this discovery of the Hope mine actually belonged to Rory McRae of Stone Station.” 

“ When the St. Louis Company, which first purchased the Comanche claim on Hope hill began work on it, McRae was employed as a carpenter, his duties being to cut timbers for the mill, which was then in the course of erection. The Comanche was a rich claim, but the ore shoot was small and the mine soon ‘pinched out.’ McRae’s work brought him frequently to the top of Hope hill. Returning one evening. he picked up a piece of float rock which bore the unmistakable traces of mineral. He broke the quartz with his axe and on his way home showed the rock to Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart (sic) who were employed at the Hope office. Anhauser was the son of a St. Louis brewer and could not distinguish a piece of float from a keg of his father’s foamy product and Anderson and Stewart were equally as ignorant of mining. They ‘jollied’ McRae into the belief that the rock was not worth assaying, but ascertained the spot where McRae found it. 

That evening they showed the rock to Dr. Merrill, who was then the assayer at the Hope mill. Dr. Merrill at once pronounced the rock rich in silver. Before daylight the next morning Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart found the ledge, located the Hope mine and soon afterward sold the property to the old Hope Company for a good sum. The Hope was one of several lodes sold by the Stuarts, Dance et al, to the St. Louis and Montana in 1867 for $25,000. It is likely that part of the sale price was reimbursement for the purchase of the Comanche lode and other claims and part for the Hope itself, which proved to be an excellent mine.” 

The Federal Census, lists Rory as a farmer in 1880 and a miner in 1910. A news article in the December 20, 1887 Mail states “A tunnel is being run in the Boulder District by Dominick Mellen, Rory McRae and Will Albright. indications are good on the surface and when the tunnel is 200 feet the vein will be tapped at 300 feet.” Also, although his residence was at the ranch at Stone Station his family tree indicates he was living in Granite in 1905. All of this gives credence to the fact that needed income to support his family was earned by working in and around the mines and as most of the people in the area, had an interest in the industry. Did he realize he was spoofed out of a very rich mining claim or was the story just that…a story developed while the men were swapping tales over a few late night drinks? 

Rory was born Roderick Duncan McRae to Duncan and Margaret (Munro) McRae at St. Elmo Muskoka, Ontario Canada in February 1845. He immigrated to the US in either 1862 or 1866 and had an unclaimed letter posted in the Montana Post on November 15, 1866. Rory married Minerva Frances Burden on June 10, 1873 in Deer Lodge and to this union were born: Roderick Duncan Jr.; Margaret (Holton), William, John, Mary (Mamie) (Powell), and Minnie (Cyr). He retired from ranching at the Stone Station and lived for 13 years in Philipsburg before his death from Mitral Insufficiency on June 17, 1923. He was interred in the Philipsburg Cemetery.

A Really Good Friend Tried to Help

 

Percy W. Merrifield known always as “Perd” probably came to Granite County about 1888, which is when his mother Orphenia Niles arrived in Philipsburg, according to her obituary in June of 1905. At the time of Orphenia death, she was living with Perd and his wife Frankie (Porter) at the family home on Duffy Street. Of note, Percy was 50 years of age when his son Forrest “Buster” was born. 


Sometime after this they moved to the “Porter’s Corner” area ranch south of town where he built a massive barn, that at this time is still standing. 




                                                Perd's Barn, Photo courtesy of Pat Heimark

This article is about Perd and John Rundin a wood hauler who had made his home at Flint Creek Crossing for about 20 years. Accordiing to the Philipsburg Mail, John went into town with a load of cordwood on Saturday April 3, 1909 “and after delivering tied his team and visited for a time with friends. He imbibed perhaps a little too freely and fell asleep in a certain barroom. P.W. Merrifield found him there and decided to take the old man home, as he had done on several occasions before. 

Mr. Rundin was using a team of horses belonging to Mr. Merrifield and the two were old time friends. Mr. Merrifield got the team and wagon with the empty wood rack and then had several friends assist him in loading the old man on the wagon and started up the valley. After being out in the fresh air for a time Mr. Rundin became contrary and Mr. Merrifield had great difficulty in keeping him on the wagon and driving the team at the same time, Near the Snavely place, Rundin fell from the wagon and one of the wheels passed over him. Mr. Merrifield was unable to get him back into the wagon as the old man was hostile and wanting to fight. Mr. Merrifield then drove over to the schoolhouse {Trout Creek} where election was in progress and had several men come over and help put Mr. Rundin back on the wagon. 

He then proceeded toward camp and when within a short distance of the cabin Rundin again fell through the rack and the wheel passed over him again. Lee Metcalf in a single buggy followed a short distance behind the wood wagon and he assisted Mr. Merrifield in carrying the old man into the cabin and putting the team in the barn. Then the two drove back to the schoolhouse. They met J.B. Harris on the way to the power house and asked him to stop in and see how the old man was getting along. Mr. Harris found him in great pain and after making him as comfortable as he could, hastened to the power house and informed Mr. N.J. Mershon, who was with his wife, and they came down and remained with the old man nearly all night. They were unable to get Philipsburg by telephone to call a physician so Mr. Harris drove down early Sunday morning and put the old man in his buggy and brought him to town where he was received at Mrs. Bulger’s hospital; and everything possible was done for him, The old man did not know how he got hurt and blamed no one for it. 

John Runyon, which is said to be the correct way of spelling his name was a native of Sweden and about 65 years of age.” He died at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning, April 6, 1909 and had no known relatives. 

Perd continued helping people until October 25, 1957.

In Memory of a Peaceful Man

 

“Of human life, history records mainly, the bloody aspect. She delights in and expatiates on the doings and daring of violent men. The victor of marathon, the passage of the Granicus, the defense of Thermopile, the exploits of Hannibal, Achilles, Caesar, Napoleon, Enoch; these and the like are the staple of her theme. Heroes of destruction are preserved in bronze and stone (how else are we to remember them?) From this basis not even the sacred page of history is free. ‘Saul has slain his thousands, but David his tens of thousands’ and this shout of blood, of battle and triumph has rung echoing down the ages. Where then is the peace loving man’s place in the sun? Allen McPhail. Montana Pioneer, 94 years of age, departed this life at New Chicago last week. Civilization for one brief moment was halted while Time recorded the fact that a peaceful man’s work had been completed. In the interval every beating heart in the little community wailed. Stand Aside! while a monument to a man was being moulded to remain forever in memory! Thus as this warrior used the moment for his trumpet, the peaceful man uses the human heart. Here then is his place in the sun and death perpetuates it.” 

This statement was published in the January 31, 1930 Philipsburg Mail. Someone desired to let the history books know that a peaceful man had left this earth on Saturday January 25th. Born at Harrison’s Corners Ontario, Canada on August 8, 1836, Allen migrated to the gold fields of Colorado at the age of 24; then to Denver, and Boise, Idaho. In 1865, he arrived in Montana and settled in the fertile Flint Creek valley where he remained for 60 years. He first engaged in placer mining and in 1871 turned to ranching and had lived continuously on that homestead since. He was an esteemed member of the Society of Montana Pioneers and many attended his last rites. Pallbearers were: John Dingwall, Chester Hoover, Jesse Henderson, Daniel Atwell, John Brogan and Earl Dingwall. Survivors were his wife ( Rozenia Gasper), son Emery, three daughters: Miss Nettie, Mrs. J.R (Annie) Enman and Mrs. (Christie) Nakken and three grandchildren. 

He was laid to rest in the Valley cemetery..Sadly I do not have a photograph of this pioneer.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Was Justice Served

 

George (Terrell) Tyrrell came to Montana after the Civil War and lived in Philipsburg for about thirty years before he got into an altercation with John Ryan in the Philipsburg Brewery Saloon, and shot and killed him, on January 7, 1893, shortly after noon. 

The story goes that: “Ryan, who had been drinking heavily, went into the saloon and requested Tyrrell give him a drink; Tyrrell refused him and an argument followed. Eye witnesses say the two men were talking rather quietly together near a billiard table in the saloon when Tyrrell told Ryan to get out of the house; Ryan paid no attention to the request and Tyrrell stepped into the back room and got a shotgun; coming back with the gun in his hands he again told Ryan to leave the house and almost at the same time the gun was discharged and the entire charge entered Ryan’s face, just above the mouth, passing upward into the brain and killing him instantly….Since his confinement in the jail Terrell has become very despondent and has said that no one felt worse about the tragedy than he does….(He) is a veteran of the late Civil War. About three years ago he was attacked with rheumatism, which had incapacitated him from active work, and those who have known him for many years say he has grown old very rapidly of late and for some time has not acted naturally. John Ryan had also resided in these parts for several years and was known as a hard working man, but was most disagreeably abusive and quarrelsome when influenced by alcohol. When sober, however he was quiet and inoffensive. He leaves a wife and eight children….” stated the January 10,1895, Philipsburg Mail. 

John Ryan’s funeral was held at the family residence two days after the shooting and a large group followed his casket to the Philipsburg cemetery. His headstone gives a birth date of October 6, 1844 and an incorrect death date of January 4, 1895. His wife Mary is also in that grave without a headstone, according to City File cards. 

The coroner’s jury, composed of F.A. Taylor, James McDonel, J.C. McLeod, Conrad Wipf, M.E.H. Gannon and M.E. Edwards, returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts, and George Tyrrell was to be tried at the next term of court. 

Research found articles in The Mail in 1887 stating George who had recently worked at the Kaiser House Bar was assisting G.A. Kellogg in surveying The Hill and in April 1889 where he was “down sick with a cold” 

On January 17th George waived examination before the District Court so he was to be held in jail until his trial. 

The headline DEATH OF GEORGE TYRELL with the following story graced the March 14, 1895 Mail: “George E. Tyrell, who was confined in the county jail awaiting trial for the killing of John Ryan was found dead in his cell at 7:30 o’clock Monday morning, having succumbed to a violent attack of nervous prostration and physical exhaustion. For two weeks preceding his death Tyrell had been very weak and unable to eat or sleep [as] his nervous system became in a violent state. He was so feeble that on Wednesday last week when he was arraigned in court the bailiffs had to assist him up and down the court house stairs. Jailor C.H. Coy went to Tyrell’s cell about 7 o’clock Monday morning and found the sick man sitting on the edge of his couch in the act of putting on his shoes. After leaving Tyrell’s cell Mr. Coy made his usual morning inspection of the jail and returned to Tyrell’s cell about 7:30 to summon him for breakfast. On opening the cell door the jailor found Tyrell sitting in about the same position as he had left him a half hour previous only he was leaning against the bedpost and on approaching him he discovered the man was dying. Mr. Coy immediately summoned Under Sheriff Argall and they placed him back on the bed and as they did so he breathed his last. Dr. Power, after making an examination declared the death natural and no inquest was held…..The deceased was 56 years of age and a native of Illinois. He has been a resident of this state for a quarter of a century…no one seems to have any knowledge of his family connections, though it is said he has a brother in Waverly, Iowa who is an editor of a newspaper in that place….Tyrell worked at Hope Mill before his health failed him and of late had been barkeeper in various places in town. Tyrell’s trial was to take place in District Court yesterday.”

From Rough Neck To Law Enforcer

 


Gus McDonald Photo cropped from "Dirty Dozen" picture from Lou Ann Fessler Sichveland collectiom


Angus “Gus” A. McDonald (4-18-87 to 9-9-1962) was born to John and Louise. He attended the Philipsburg schools and Gus was one of the “Dirty Dozen”. One of the escapades the group was known for was when there was a dance in Drummond and without an easy method to get to the function, they borrowed a railroad car and easily pumped it down the valley to Drummond. Hearing about the missing car, the sheriff (Fred Burke) put out the warning that if the car was not back at the Northern Pacific Depot by morning, the known culprits would be hauled off to jail. The message did not take long to reach the young men and they hitched a horse to the car and pulled it back up the tracks and put it in its rightful place by morning. 

Gus enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 15, 1917, and while on leave according to the Philipsburg Mail, July 12, 1918: “An automobile party comprising Angus McDonald, Frank Fulkerson, Miss Esther Miller and the Misses Viola and Blanche Kneale had a miraculous escape Sunday afternoon when the machine they were driving in overturned just this side of the “Speedway” on the road to Anaconda. …Miss Viola Kneale had an arm broken and was rendered unconscious while the other members of the party were bruised and badly shaken up. Passing autos took them to a hospital in Anaconda where their wounds were attended to. The automobile was said to be going better than 60 miles an hour when it passed a raised culvert, which caused the machine to swerve completely around and struck a bank which caused it to turn over several times, pinning the occupants underneath. Passing autoists released them. Angus McDonald was driving the car which is badly wrecked.” 

Gus was discharged from the service on January 17, 1919. “Gus and his friend William G. Gregovich stood up for each other as witnesses when Gus married Blanche Kneale and Bill married Miss Elsa Brunn… at the parish House of St. Philip’s Catholic Church on December 24, 1920. Blanche was a teacher at Granite and planned to complete the school year… The two grooms would return to mining at Sunrise. .” I do not know when this marriage ended, but she was still Mrs. Angus McDonald, when she attended the funeral of her father, the week of April 9, 1926. 

During prohibition, in December,1922 ”…three stills, several gallons of whiskey and a large quantity of
corn, sugar, and corn meal were confiscated. One alleged moonshiner and one alleged bootlegger were placed in jail and warrants were issued for two other men. Two stills of eighty gallons and sixty gallon capacity were found going full blast in a cabin near Tower, about a mile northeast of Philipsburg, Tuesday afternoon. Five gallons of the finished product was confiscated and twenty four barrels of mash or about 1,200 gallons, destroyed. The operators of the two stills saw the officers coming and ran up the hill through the trees like a pair of frightened jack rabbits and got away, but warrants have been issued for their arrest. According to Sheriff Burks, the roar of the blast furnaces could be heard long before they got to the location of the stills. Both stills were operated by gas burners and pressure tanks. Four burners furnished heat for the eighty gallon still and two for the smaller still. Moonshine whiskey was running from the coils at a rate of five gallons an hour…” Of interest is the fact, none of the alleged moonshiners and bootleggers were named. 

It was almost a year later, the cases came to trial, in Judge George D. Winston’s court and one of the three charged was Gus. His charge was unlawfully manufacturing intoxicating liquor. The following jurors returned a verdict of not guilty: Fred Cyr, Maurice Weaver, George P. Nelson, W.F. Bentz (my Grandfather), Ernest Maehl (Angus’ grandfather), Freeman A. Taylor, Joseph McDougal, Vern A. Carnegie, Julius Swanson, James Mellen, W.A. Griffith and W.E. Metcalf. A poll of this group disclosed that two felt him to be guilty: Swanson and Griffith.

In 1928, apparently deciding to be on the other side of the law, Gus ran for Sheriff of Granite County and won with 742 votes against Nate Burt Sr. Gus continued winning the sheriff election every two years until he: “…quit his job as sheriff and has joined up with Uncle Sam to fight the Jap’s and other axis powers. McDonald joined the Army in Missoula Saturday [February 14th]” according to the March 6, 1942, Mail. 

On January 7, 1941, Gus had married Clarice Superneau and the Granite County Commissioners appointed Clarice to fill the Sheriff vacancy until the end of his term, stated the above paper. Other persons applying for the position were: H.B. Kaiser, Fred Cheeseman, Fred Superneau (who was under sheriff and Clarice’s brother) and Harry C. Herron. The Commissioners felt Clarice would otherwise be left without an income, with Gus leaving in this manner. 

Gus served as president of the Montana Sheriff and Peace Officers Association and won the individual police championship trophy for pistol shooting in Shelby in 1952. He was a member of the Northwest Championship Pistol Team from 1939 until 1942. To this marriage was born two children: Darell Gene on September 29, 1944 and Colette on August 22, 1947. They lived their entire marriage in the original house of Dr. Power and Darrel then lived there until his death in 2021.