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.