Another St. Louis Man: Paul A.. Fusz

Paul A. Fusz's  investments are very important in Granite County history and his contributions continue to serve the citizens of the county. As a staunch Democrat his name was often cited in a positive manner by The Citizen Call newspaper, while he was raked over the coals by the Republican paper The Philipsburg Mail. Documents show where he was first treasurer of the Granite Mountain Company, then became president of the Bi-Metallic Mining Company. Soon after the Granite Mountain Company and Bi-Metallic Company consolidated in 1898 Paul was chosen president of the new company (Granite Bi-Metallic) and held that position until his death. 

Although he gave Granite as his permanent residence from 1889 he did spend intervals in St. Louis. A major development for the area was Flint Creek Dam built by the Montana Water, Electric power and Mining Company owned by Paul A. Fusz et al. The company was incorporated in May of 1899 with principal stockholders being: Paul A. Fusz, M. Rumsey, C. Jagels, and L.M. Rumsey, all major stockholders in the Granite Bi-Metallic Company. They bought out Baker and Harper who had struggled with a dam concept since 1891. The area known as the Georgetown Flats would be flooded with the dam and was ranched by four families. Fusz somehow acquired land in the upper Rock Creek Valley and moved the Charles and William Puller, W.T. Hull and John Sanders ranches from the Flats to the Valley. Fusz knew that if he could generate enough electrical power to run the Bi-Metallic Mill there would be consistency in operations and not only would the Company benefit but so would the employees who often had to be laid off due to lack of power. A secondary advantage to the dam was the preservation of irrigation water for the Flint Creek ranchers. Paul’s dream of generating power was realized in August of 1900 when the Dam and Power House were completed and “the use of steam at the Bi-Metallic was discontinued and electricity generated by the waters of Flint Creek seven miles distant was substituted.”

Documents in the archives at Montana Historical Society Research Library (donated by the Antonioli Family) show Fusz as a micro manager and very detail oriented especially in his operation of the American Gem Mining Syndicate on the West Fork of Rock Creek. Incorporated for $300,000 on August 1, 1901, members were: Paul A. Fusz one share, D. Jankower 299,996 shares, Moses Rumsey one share, Auguste Ewing one share and Charles McLure one share. Fusz took over presidency of American Gem along with his other duties. Prior to this, Fusz and McLure were also involved in direct operations of the Smith and Kent Property on Ross’ Fork of Rock Creek. Fusz Lake, in the Sapphire Range southeast of Stony Lake was named for Paul and is misspelled Fuse on the Forest Service maps. 

Paul was born in Hericourt, France in 1847 to Francis H. and Marie Regina (Tachaen) Fusz. They immigrated to America when Paul was six. As a youth, Paul worked for the firm Chouteaux, Harrison and Vaile of St. Louis as a billing clerk. At the age of 17, Paul and friends Butts and Cole ran away and joined the Confederate Army to fight in the Civil War. Fusz and Butts were captured by the Union Army while smuggling quinine and some valuable papers to the Confederates. Rather than surrender the papers they chewed them, then swallowed the debris. Butts was hanged but Fusz considered still a youth was sent to Jefferson City where he was imprisoned by a ball and chain. Later in life Paul bought up all the balls and chains he could find to assure he owned the ones that had restricted him. One of President Lincoln’s last acts was to issue a pardon to Fusz for his incarceration as a Confederate soldier. The day after the War ended Paul went back to work for his former employer and ultimately became manager of the company known as the Laclede Rolling Mills.

Paul married and became a widower about the time he moved to Montana. No children were born to this marriage. Devoted to the Great Army of the Republic (GAR) Paul was Major General for the Northwest Division of the Confederate Veterans and presided at conventions like the one at Helena, September 29, 1908. 

Long suffering from Pernicious Anemia, Fusz returned to St. Louis in the fall of 1909 and died there on February 16, 1910. His body, dressed in the uniform of Major General of the Confederate Army, laid in state at his brothers home, guarded by his 94 year old mother. Burial was at the Calvary

 Cemetery in St. Louis,  next to his wife.