Captain John G. McLean

A short article in the Philipsburg Mail, June 27, 1919 announced Captain J.G. McLean’s death at the age of ninety-one on June 26th, 1919. The next week was published “Passing of an Argonaut…Born in 1830 in the town of Fall River, Massachusetts, he (Captain McLean) acquired in his early years the reputation of a skilled mechanical blacksmith. Before attaining his majority an obstacle arose that prevented his marriage with a sweetheart won when both attended a country school. The event culminated in the immediate enlistment in a party of adventurers outfitting in his city for the gold mines in California. Leaving his home in September 1849, he arrived in San Francisco, California, via Nicaragua, March 20, 1850. From there he went to the placer mines in Marysville, (and) established a shop. But the lure of adventure entered. With the abundance of money came no contentment to his mind. In the fall of 1856 he left for Honduras to join the filibuster Walker in the latter’s Nicaraguan campaign. Soon tiring of that he retraced his steps for the coast and ceaseless followed trails leading to mining camps along the Sierra’s. The fall of 1859, found him rocking the gold sand of the bars of the Peace River and prospecting the gulches of the Ominica. He followed the dim game trails through… the Canadian Rockies to the placers of the Cassier and Frazier. The spring of 1860, found him at work on the bedrock in the Elk Creek diggings in Idaho. Thereafter he prospected along the Clearwater and worked at his trade in Boise City and the Loon Creek diggings. It was while wintering the fall of 1863, in a tributary of the Snake that he heard of the discovery of gold at Alder. Despite the severe weather prevailing he at once started for the new Eldorado with saddle animal and pack horse. Being unable to secure good ground he rode away into western Montana to the placers at Bear Gulch in Deer Lodge County. At intervals he followed his trade in Reynolds Gulch and Deer Lodge city. He was horse shoer for the Diamond “R” Wagon Transportation Company while its trains were engaged in hauling merchandise over the Bozeman cut-off from Fort Laramie to the Platte. In 1872, he was with the Baker expedition into the Yellowstone valley and participated in the fight with the Sioux under Crazy Horse, upon the north bank of the river opposite Pryor’s Fork. The following year found him engaged in his trade in the City of Deer Lodge and in the spring of 1876 he came to Philipsburg to reside, as it proved, permanently. Upon the site of his last (blacksmith) shop stands the handsomely constructed building of the Masonic Society. In 1898, he became interested in the placers in Basin Gulch. He purchased a ranch on a tributary of Rock Creek and lived there several years… With a companion blacksmith, McLean returned to Philipsburg, and the two lived together until Landers passed away in 1918. His every want was provided for by Mrs. J.C. Lalor, the daughter of the James H. Mills, former Lieutenant Governor of Montana, during the territorial days. (She) drove from his humble home the shadows of privation and anxiety and prolonged his life well beyond the years allotted man to live.” 

This lengthy tribute failed to mention the following: The New Northwest, August 10, 1877, named forty nine individuals, from the Philipsburg and Granite County area that organized, when the band of Nez Perce Indians, under the leadership of Chief Joseph, were announced to be headed toward Montana. Twenty volunteers, from The Philipsburg Co. B First Battalion, under the command of Captain J.G. McLean, were the only volunteers, actually in contact with the Nez Perce during this incident. The Missoulian, stated that of the fifty-eight armed men who answered the call “only twenty--the Phillipsburg company--were ever at Rawn’s barricade (now known as “Fort Fizzle.”) These twenty volunteers, provided their own gear (muzzle loading Civil War muskets) and rode their own horses to the call for arms, when Chief Joseph was reported crossing the Bitterroot divide. T

The discussion stated: “While the main column of Nez Perces was crossing the trail, the company of volunteers from Phillipsburg, under Captain McLean, marched up to the Indian cavalcade, and actually passed through the heart of the Nez Perces, minus knowledge of them being the Indians they came to annihilate.” The men of Company B, First Battalion, Philipsburg, were: Captain J. McLean, First Lt. J.K. Pardee, J. Arthur, W.T. Allison, Second Lt. D.B. Jenkins, John Caplice, John Duffy, T. Baier, H. Horton, H. Lamb, G. Ternic, A. Lock, T. McKay, S. Lablain, J.H. Price, B.P. Tilden, J.M. Merrill, John Ulery, John Westfall, C.V. Timmons, and T.O’Conner.