Naef Brother's married Parker Sisters

The story goes that the J.A. Naef place was originally the Pleasant Schillings homestead. The property was bought by Naef in 1901. I do not know where Schillings was living when he was arrested in 1904 and 1906. Documents show the Schillings Homestead on Section 34 and 35, Township 5 in a 1914 printing and J.A. Naef as a registered voter living on Section 26 in The Mail, November 1912 voter’s list. It is a possibility that Schillings originally had all 3 sections. 

Of interest is research revealing court notices of D.T. Bowen versus J.A. Naef, set for Monday, March 20, 1916 in the Mail, March 10, 1916. Then I found a comment in the case of D.T. Bowen vs. John A. Naef where the jury found for the defendant (Naef) for a sum of approximately $6,000 in The Mail, March 24, 1916. Next I found under cases passed for the term was D.T. Bowen vs. J.A. Naef in the Mail, December 15, 1916. On the March 1918 court calendar “D.T. Bowen versus J.A. Naef, demurrer to complaint” was filed. Then in May 1918 I found where the D.T. Bowen vs. J.A. Naef damages were set for trial June 17, 1918. Unfortunately that was the last court notices printed in the Mail, until March of the next year. It is unknown what would be a case for that large a sum of money. D.T. Bowen at that time owned the original Kaiser homestead in Section 18, T.5. 

The three Naef brothers: John, H.R. (Roy) and Joseph (Jake) Naef, married sisters, Mary Ellen, Jennie and Minnie, the daughter’s of Thomas and Fannie Parker, of Anaconda. I found this reference in the obituary of Jennie Naef on January 20, 1911. She died at French Gulch and was survived by her husband, son and daughter. Sadly none of them are named in her obituary. 

J.A. (John) (1873-1929), married Mary Ellen Parker in Anaconda and shortly after their marriage came to Granite County. They had seven children. John, (age fifty-six) was working at a mine in Butte when found dead in his hotel room on May 29, 1929. It was believed he died in his sleep. Trying to earn a living wage on a homestead was impossible causing many to work away from home. Survivors were: wife Mary Ellen, children: Miss Ruth and Mrs. Florence Pickett of Philipsburg; Mrs. Grace Peterson and Howard of San Francisco; Asa, Lawrence and John of Philipsburg. 

Mary Ellen (1875-1932) was born to Thomas and Fannie Parker in Cedar Fort, Utah. After John died, Mary married T.J. (Tom) O’Connor in 1931, who was a rancher in section 10. Tom traded his place to George Stephen’s for the Stephens Hotel and they moved into town where Mary died a year later. Survivors were: husband Tom; her seven children; mother Fannie Parker and sister Minnie Naef of Anaconda. 

Of the Naef children: Lawrence “Bud’ Naef (1910-1939) married Ruth Owsley in 1934. On May 14, 1939 he was working at the Contact Mine east of Philipsburg when a jackhammer being hoisted to the surface fell off the cage. Bud who was working 100 feet below was hit with the falling hammer and died instantly. 

Howard (1898-1994) married Ruby Carnegie in the early 1920’s and moved to California. They had a daughter Helen. Howard was in the U.S. Army in WWII from September 9, 1942 to February 12, 1945 and they divorced in 1945. He returned to Granite County in 1950 and married Lola (Van Blarcum) Page, Metcalf in 1951 for a short time. Howard moved into the Norman Bohrnsen bunkhouse and then fixed up the Ike Sander’s house across the road. He lived there until he was moved to the Granite County Nursing Home in March of 1994. Survivors were: daughter Helen McIntyre and sister Grace Peterson (ninety-eight) of California; four grandchildren: and two great grandchildren. 

Florence, married Emmett Picket, who worked at the Haverty Garage, March 10, 1926. Grace married Andrew Peterson and their son (name unknown) died in the early 2000’s in a motor vehicle accident. 

Ruth married Fred Adams and after she died Eleanora the widow of Asa married Fred in 1980. 

John lived in California, with his wife Joy. 

Asa (1901-1957) married Eleanora Steber (1912-2005) December 3, 1933. Asa was six months old when the family settled on the ranch on Ross’ Fork. He lived with his young family on the Featherman Place on Middle Fork then became an employee of the Moorlight Mining Company which became Taylor-Knapp. After thirty-seven years for the company, ill health forced retirement five months before his death. Son Ronald (1934-2000) was a Navy veteran of the Korean War; daughter Marie Dean and son John (Judy Fessler) visit Philipsburg often.

Christensen's of Ross' Fork

Rasmus and Anna Christensen

In 1928 Rasmus Christensen bought the Carnegie ranch on Ross’ Fork of Rock Creek from the Kroger Bank (First State Bank). I am assuming the Carnegie children were unable to run the ranch and turned it back to the bank, after the parents died. 

Family history states Rasmus Christensen born in 1880, came to America in 1898. He returned to Denmark to marry Anna Mortensen and after Eli was born in 1902 they immigrated to Tacoma, Washington. They moved to Montana in 1908 according to Eli’s obituary. In 1919 Rasmus began his career with the Northern Pacific Railroad as a section foreman until he retired in 1945. Rasmus continued working on the Railroad after buying the Carnegie place and died at the Northern Pacific Railroad Hospital in Missoula after a short illness on October 29, 1957.

Alice, Eli, Carl, Francis with Baby Bob and toddler Ozzie sitting on the box

 Anna born in 1873 died in 1959 and is buried next to Rasmus. During their marriage seven children were born. The eldest, Constatine Eli Bessmere-Christensen was born in Denmark in 1902 and arrived in the United States at the age of one. In 1908 the family moved to Jens, Montana, then moved to Bearmouth in 1918. In 1928 Eli began working on the Barr Ranch north east of the Christensen place. Eli authored the book, Just watching the sunset, in 1975. While employed at the Hoben/Barr ranch (now the Bauer Ranch), Eli married a niece of Louise Barr. After a short time the niece (name unknown) left the ranch. After Tom Barr died on April 26, 1930, Eli stayed on at the ranch and married Louise (1884-1976) in 1944. 

In 1950 the ranch went bankrupt and they moved to Philipsburg. Eli worked as the janitor at the court house and on the rural mail route. In 1956 they moved to the Virginia City area, then returned to Philipsburg in 1960 and Eli resumed his position as courthouse janitor. As an active citizen Eli served as a county commissioner and then Justice of the Peace. His obituary stated he retired in 1967 but I found an Official Bond notice for him as Justice in The Mail, March 27, 1969. 

Eli married Annie Debree in Anaconda in 1981 and lived in Philipsburg until 1992 when they moved to Deer Lodge where he died on March 9, 1996. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Carl, Oswald, Robert; sister Anne Sullivan and infant brother Oscar and sister Frances who had died as a young girl. 

Rasmus and Annie’s son, Oswald H. known as Ozzie was born in 1911. He worked on the ranch with Robert (Bob) for many years until he married Mrs. Betty (Groves) Horrigan. After their marriage he moved into Philipsburg and helped her manage the Granada Theatre. Ozzie served in the U.S. Army in WWII and died in Philipsburg in 1982. 

Carl Christensen never married and lived out his later life in Kansas. 

Alice Christensen also lived a single life in the Seattle area and California. 

Violet married Frank Hertz who worked for the Milwaukie Railroad and they lived in Deer lodge. They had two daughters: Francis and Anne. She later married a man named Benasch. Her daughter Anne Findlay still lives in Deer Lodge, according to Joel Christiansen.

Robert L. (Bob) born November 13, 1913 spent most of his life on the Christensen ranch. He married Mary Helen Carey from the William M. Carey Ranch, located near the confluence of East Fork and Middle Fork, on August 19, 1937. They had four children: William (1938-2018), Helen (Loran) (1939-2019); James (1942), Steven (1950) and adopted Marilyn (Silva). 

Bob died of cancer on January 11, 1996 at the age of eighty-two and Mary Helen died at the Granite County Medical Center Nursing Home on November 28, 2006. Steven and his wife Ginger continued to operate the ranch until 2008 when they sold out and moved to White Hall. 

Christensen’s kept the Carnegie tradition of raising and slaughtering hogs. Neighbors would go to the ranch early in the day and the men spent the day slaughtering, while the women cooked and the kids played. One year us kids went to the slaughter and watched for a short time before the men shooed us away, so decided to butcher our dolls. We built an elaborate hoist, found a pot to dip the dolls in and brought out hot water, to complete the process. Grandma Christensen saw us hauling out the hot water and told Mom and Mary Helen. When they found us, we had successfully dipped the dolls and were cutting them up. My sister had a ceramic headed doll with eyes that rolled back. The hot water pealed the ceramic head, recessed the eyes and the stuffing fell out as we dismembered her. My rubber doll was not repairable after the hot water and dismemberment. We were all soundly spanked and had to throw away our dolls. I do not know about Helen, but Rosalie and I never had another doll.

The Glover and Carnegie Families of Ross' Fork

Southwest of Zeke’s Meadow on the Ross’ Fork is another meadow known as “Cow Camp.” This camp was built by Alex “Speed” Glover a local rancher. It was used as a round-up cabin for people with cattle grazing in the area in the summer and for trappers to use in the winter. In February of 1921 Alex and his brother William of Anaconda took off from the Glover Ranch to hike the fifteen miles to the camp. After about ten miles on the trail Alex told William he was not feeling well and to go on to the cabin and he would follow. William took the heavier pack and went on to the cabin. He built a fire and waited for a while, then became concerned. He walked back down the trail about four miles and found Alex dead in the trail. Knowing he could not pack his brother in the deep snow, Will walked to the J.A. Naef Ranch to get help. Naef helped him build a stretcher and they carried the body out to the ranch. Then they took the body by sled and wagon on to Anaconda. Only forty-six, he had ranched and trapped on Ross Fork of Rock Creek for the past ten to twelve years and was the son of Andrew Glover an early settler of Deer Lodge Valley. Survivors were: brothers Tom, William, Andrew and sister Mrs. William Nevin.  

Andrew “Dan” Glover and Miss Rosella Carnegie married September 25, 1916 at the Methodist parsonage in Philipsburg. Andrew died at his home in South Philipsburg on January 2, 1929 after a short illness from heart trouble. He moved from Anaconda to Philipsburg in 1915. After numerous jobs he and his wife had contracted to run the county farm a year before his death. Survivors were: wife Rosella, four small children, his sister Mrs. William Nevin and brothers, Tom and William. After services at the family home he was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery next to Dorothy Mae Glover who apparently was one of their children. 

The Carnegie ranch, was located in a meadow south west of the current Bauer (3-H) Ranch on Ross’ Fork. After Frank, Sarah and family moved to Rock Creek I found numerous articles in The Mail where the family came to town from Rock Creek plus events at the ranch, including a large hog being slaughtered on April 1, 1908 that weighed at least 500 pounds. 

On September 17, 1915, The Mail stated: “Sudden death came Wednesday (15th) evening to Frank Carnegie one of the best known ranchers and stock men of the upper Rock Creek district. Mr. Carnegie had just driven in from the ranch and after taking some things from the wagon at the home in south Philipsburg, was proceeding to take several cans of cream to the depot for shipment when he suddenly fell from the seat into the bottom of his wagon. George Higley was in the vicinity on horseback and saw the team starting off on a trot without a driver. After stopping the team he observed Mr. Carnegie lying in the wagon unconscious but still breathing. Summoning Merritt Robey [a trained nurse] who was passing by they drove hurriedly to the office of Dr. Power but when they reached there life was extinct. Heart trouble was the cause of death.” at fifty-five years and eighteen days of age. Frank had been ill for two years. Sarah, Ruby and Rosella had moved into town from the ranch so the daughters could attend school while Frank remained on the ranch with two sons. 

Born in Minnesota, Frank was a resident of Montana for more than thirty years. He first lived near Hall as late as 1893, then bought the ranch on Ross’ Fork. He was survived by Sarah and six children. Sarah was a resident of Montana for twenty-eight years and of Rock Creek for twenty years when she died February 9, 1919, fifty-four years and nine months of age. She had suffered from a kidney problem since August of 1918 and was by survived their children: Mrs. Ed Caruthers of Deitrich, Idaho and Mrs. Rosella Glover, Miss Ruby, Vernie, Emery and Irva of Philipsburg. The funeral at the Red Men’s Hall was conducted by Rev. W.H. Calvert with internment next to Frank. Emery (1895-1970) is buried next to them. 

The Glover Homestead was not recorded until February 6, 1941 by Rosella Glover (Grace, Jurin). Rosella received $30.00 a month “Mothers Pension” in 1935. She ran the County “Poor Farm” and married Louis Grace in 1936. After his death she married Chris Jurin. Rosella (1891-1985) became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1956 and worked at Granite County Medical Center for many years.

Schilling'Brothers were known to use their fists

Schilling’s Gulch is located above the old Carnegie/Christensen Ranch on Ross’ Fork. The gulch was named for Pleasant A. Schilling, who resided in the area for a number of years and sold to J.A. Naef in 1900. News articles on Pleasant were limited with one in 1890 showing lot 7 Block 2 in Philipsburg up for tax sale for $24.89 and another for delinquent taxes in December 1893 on a frame house on lots 1 and 2 in block 7 Weinstein’s Addition and 8 vehicles, 20 horses, 1 stallion and 1 cow for $26.91. 

In April 1887 Pleasant took offense at some remarks made by D.M. Durfee Esq and punched him. He plead guilty and was fined $10 and costs. Next in the March 25, 1904 Mail: “In the district court yesterday, P.A. Schilling was found guilty of horse stealing and his punishment was fixed at imprisonment for a term of one year in the state’s prison. The verdict of the jury was unanimous, and was arrived at after 18 hours of deliberation. After hearing the verdict the court ordered the sheriff to take charge of the defendant. 

Apparently Schilling did not believe that he would be found guilty. He begged the court for a thirty day stay so he could adjust his business affairs after the court passed sentence for one year at hard labor. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for the cost of the prosecution. He planned on filing an appeal before he went to Deer Lodge. In that same issue of the Mail, Schilling wrote a letter asking the population to not accuse him of what he was not guilty of. “I only ask what is due me! If you feel that I have not been a man with you, and my grief is your joy, then tramp me as low as you can. I remain a human being. Signed P.A. Schilling. 

Then a court case of the State versus P.A. Schilling for grand larceny scheduled for March 16, 1906 was settled and the action dismissed. This was the last mention of Pleasant until his brother Newton’s obituary. 

On the East Fork of Rock Creek was a ranch located on Meadow Creek in Sec.35, T. 5 N., R. 15 W., owned by Travis Newton Schilling. He was known by Newt. Newt originally lived in Walkerville and had a propensity to get into fist fights over young ladies as early as Thanksgiving 1890. When he could not win the fight he drafted a small army and went back to finish the war. This resulted in Newt being kicked unconscious and “was unconscious until he felt the surgeon’s stitches passing through his torn lip. Four of the group were arrested under a $100 bond.” When released from jail on December 22, he immediately “proceeded to dress out Billy McDonnell. McDonnell either got the worst or voluntarily quit fighting. Schilling is (again) under arrest.” 

On July 10, 1892, an article headlined “Rich, and Racey but not Rare, stated Newt was observed by Henry Rice‘…rolling out of bed with Catherine Rice” and when she refused to go to Virginia City with her husband a divorce was filed naming Newt as the reason. Catherine’s belongings were shipped to Pleasants home in Philipsburg and Henry Rice received the divorce and custody of their four children. Newt then moved to Granite County. Catherine’s fate is unknown. 

Ever popular, Newt celebrated his birthday in 1920 with almost one hundred guests who dined and then danced the night away. His obituary stated: “Newton Schilling well known pioneer rancher of East Fork of Rock Creek died early Monday morning [August 19, 1929], from injuries received at his ranch Thursday evening, when a team of horses ran away. Mr. Schilling had been working in the hay field and was unhitching his team for the evening when the accident occurred. He overlooked one tug which remained fastened to the rake and when he started to drive the horses to the barn, the tongue of the rake struck one horse, causing the run away... Mr. Schilling became entangled in the rake and was dragged a considerable distance. He was found unconscious and badly bruised.” He suffered a severe concussion, never regained consciousness and died at the age of seventy three. 

Born in Missouri on February 12, 1856, he came to Montana about 1889. Newt ranched on the East Fork for thirty-five years and belonged to the Selish Tribe of I.O.R.M. and the Pocahontas Lodge of Philipsburg. Survivors were: a sister in Texas; a brother in Missouri; and two nieces of Great Falls. Obviously, Pleasant had returned to Missouri after he served his sentence for horse rustling. Funeral services were held in Anaconda.

Early Settler's of Ross' Fork

Near the headwaters of the Ross Fork of Rock Creek on the south side of Mount Amerine is a valley named after Vesper “Zeke” Judy and sometimes referred to as Big Moose Meadows. The meadow was settled by Judy about 1898. Zeke was known to be a congenial host and spent every penny he could earn improving his tranquil setting. Every winter he worked in the mines around Philipsburg, to have money to improve the property in the summer. While working his fifth shift at the Algonquin Mine on May 9, 1922 Zeke was at the 600 foot level. When other miners heard a rock fall they ran to see what happened and found Zeke pinned under a corner of the rock. It took two hours of work with jacks and levers to get the body released. His funeral was at Carmichael’s Funeral Parlor and pallbearers were: Albert Forsman, Milo Hoyt, Frank Johnson, Emery and Vern Carnegie and Thomas Roberts, all from Ross’ Fork. Zeke was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Zeke’s Meadows was bought by Al Forsman from an unknown woman who was probably Zeke’s niece. Al apparently failed to pay the agreed price. Yeats later, without knowing the circumstances, Bob Christensen bought the meadow from Forsman. Bob asked Al a number of times for the title then realized there was a problem. He hired an attorney and took the case to court to obtain a clear title. Bob’s son Steve continued to pasture cattle during the summer in Zeke’s Meadow until selling the property in the spring of 2008. 

Another early settler, Harry Barber Smith came to Granite County possibly running from the law. Harry located his family in a remote meadow south of Medicine Lake near Ross’ Fork. The ranch is now known as the Forsman Place. The story goes that he would walk out to the J.A. Naef place (originally the Schilling homestead) and go to town with the Naef’s when they needed supplies. Right before a blizzard Harry left home to go to the Naef place. His wife did not become concerned until he had not returned a week later. She thought he was at Naef’s waiting out a storm. When she walked out to Naef’s and realized he never arrived a search was mounted, but his body was never found. Research fails to produce any articles about Harry’s disappearance. Mabel remained in the remote area for a time and then moved to the Flood Block in Anaconda where she raised Foster, Lawrence and Ione. She was the sister of Mrs. T.R. Bowen. News articles show her son Foster Smith was involved in a explosion at the Rock Quarry near Anaconda in 1896 but had only minor injuries. 

An article in the Mail January 19, 1917 stated: John Johnson of Anaconda a man employed by J. Forsman to feed stock on the H.B. Smith ranch on upper Ross’s Fork of Rock Creek, was found dead on Thursday of last week by Howard Naef, a neighbor, who visited the place. Johnson had evidently been dead several days as the stock in the barns had not been fed and horses were gnawing each other’s mane and tails and the wood of the manager and stalls. Heart disease is believed to be the cause of death. …Coroner J.J. Carmichael…decided that no inquest was necessary as death came from natural causes. 

Harry Smith’s daughter Ione married John Albert Forsman in August of 1926 and that is why the ranch is now known as the Forsman Place. John Albert Forsman died on June 24, 1951 at the age of fifty-six in the family home in Anaconda. He had been a rancher and at one time operated the Gold Coin Mine. The son of Joseph Forsman a pioneer resident John was born in the West Valley of Anaconda on April 22, 1895. He was buried at New Hill cemetery in Anaconda. Descendants of the original Forsman family continue to spend vacations and holidays at the ranch. 

Medicine Lake mentioned earlier was a Native American spiritual landmark. According to folk lore before the white man arrived in this area the Lake was used by the Indians for spiritual journeys. Fishing is very good in this pristine area and has been for many years. The area, according to a document in my possession, was a patented mining claim known as The White Swan Placer Mineral Location, in 1903. The claim was deeded from F.D. Sayrs to George Stephen Congdon in December 1921 and apparently was then a fish hatchery.