News highlights of Maxville during the years

The May 28, 1915, Philipsburg Mail described a disastrous fire that occurred early Tuesday morning in Maxville when the saloon and nearby buildings owned by Axel Miller were burned to the ground. A log barn that belonged to R.R. McLeod also was burned. The fire was found at 3:30 a.m. and by the time of discovery was fully engaged. There was no water nearby and everything was consumed. The Miller family was in Philipsburg that night and learned of their loss when they arrived on the train the next morning. The loss was considerable as Miller stored a large amount of goods. The origin of the fire was not determined. Research shows the Axel Miller family living in Silver Bow by the 1920 Federal census. 

The September 27, 1929 Philipsburg Mail detailed a case in court where the State of Montana vs Jack Lee and William Spawn were tried by a jury in the District Court in Philipsburg. By the request of the defendants each was granted a separate trial. Each were charged with assault in the second degree and burglary. Lee was found guilty and given a three year sentence in the State Penitentiary. While the jury was out another jury was impaneled and the case of Spawn tried. A verdict of not guilty was found for Spawn. The two men were discovered by C.C. Varney a rancher at Maxville, breaking into a bungalow owned by R.R. McLeod. Lee pulled out a gun and shot Mr. Varney in the leg. Lee was described as 28 years of age and was said to have a wife in Helena. Spawn was several years younger and a resident of Anaconda. He was being held by the Sheriff of Granite county pending the arrival of the Sheriff of Meagher county, where he was suspected of holding up a gas station. 

A small chest or trunk was found under the floorboards of an old miners cabin on Boulder Creek near Maxville in 1932 and many stories were fabricated of what the trunk was and where it came from. The contents were so fragile that they could not be handled but resembled bank notes and other securities which were believed to be worth several thousand dollars. The contents were brought to the sheriff’s office and were under the care of Sheriff Gus McDonald. One of the theories fabricated was by M.E. Buck of the Montana Power Company who believed the chest was from the holdup of the Northern Pacific Train No. 2 that occurred near Bearmouth 20 years before and was connected to the arrest of a man named Frankhouse in an Idaho “Hurdy Gurdy.” 

Finally on Christmas day in 1932, the realms of the past opened up and Henry G. Price a Montana pioneer told the story as it really happened in the days of the ‘colorful two gun man’ of the old west. A letter was received by the Philipsburg Mail dated December 25, 1932 and revealed the following: “Mr. Price was a resident of Pike’s Peak creek seven miles south of Gold creek in Powell county. He states he is eighty years old and had lived in this community for 69 years. He had lived on Gold Creek for the past 60 years. The writer stated in his letter that he came to the Flint Creek valley in the year 1864 and from that year until 1875 he had occasion to be in and out of Philipsburg a great deal. He recalls that in the year 1875 a sensation passed over the entire United States by reason of a robbery of currency and securities which was perpetrated in Philadelphia. That same year three eastern men arrived in Philipsburg and proceeded to organize what was known as the Belmont Mining Company with offices at Philipsburg and in that connection began the erection of a quartz mill on the southwest side of town. Along toward the close of the year (1875), two detectives arrived in Philipsburg and identified the operators of the Belmont property as the thieves of the currency taken in the Philadelphia robbery. When they found that they had definitely located their men the detectives notified peace officers and the three would-be mine operators were captured in their rooms in the Captain (George) Plaisted boarding house in Philipsburg by Sheriff Warren and Deputy Sheriff Mike McShay.” 

Unfortunately research has not disclosed any further details about the men’s names or trial. I am also unable to locate an obituary or grave site for Henry G. Price.

 unable to locate an obituary or grave site for Henry G. Price.

The Maehl Family and Jim "The Mayor of Maxville"

                                               Ernest and Margaret Maehl's wedding picture

Agnes holding baby James, Carl standing on the right Marg  standing back left and Mary left front.

One of the long time residents and known as the “Mayor of Maxville” was James Maehl and his wife Grace (Collins). Jim was born near Porter’s Corner, south of Philipsburg, on September 17, 1916. and was the youngest of the five children born to Ernest and Margaret Maehl. 

Jim’s father, Ernest Maehl, moved from the Missoula area to a home near Porter’s Corner, in 1911 and is remembered by several major structures he built or worked on. Known jobs he worked are the Flint Creek Grade, with his son “Bud”; the wooden flumes built for the American Gem Mining Syndicate on the Skalkaho; the “Ewing Bungalow” originally owned by the president of the American Gem Mining Syndicate, and the Winninghoff garage. A number of people credit Ernest with building the stately Lawrence Hauck home, but there is no evidence of his involvement. 

Ernest was born on December 4, 1876 in Reese, Michigan and married Margaret Emily McGibbon. She was born on September 25, 1869 in Brantford Ontario, Canada to Daniel McGibbon, born in Scotland and Sarah Ann Mills McGibbon, born in Canada. The family history states she was sent to Laramie, Wyoming at the age of eleven or twelve to live with an uncle who had a sheep ranch. She may have returned to Canada as the 1900 census stated she came to the U.S. in 1896. In the 1900 census Margaret was listed as a servant for William and Elizabeth Cordiner. At an unknown date she moved to Missoula and was working for a lumber company in Missoula when she married Ernest Maehl on June 29, 1904. 

Their children married the following people: Sarah Agnes born May 14, 1905 (in Lolo) married John William McDonald, son of J.J; Margaret, born March 29, 1909 married Jim Mitchell July 3, 1934. Jim was killed in a mine accident on October 20, 1936. Margaret then married Robert Henry Lawry on October 29, 1941 in Philipsburg. She died at the age of eighty-five, on June 8, 1994 at her home in Philipsburg. They did not have any children; 

Carl, known as Bud was born on October 31, 1911 in Philipsburg. He married Edith Emma Hansen on March 4, 1938 in Deer Lodge (Her obituary stated May 4); Edith was born on January 27, 1916 in Arco, Idaho to Nels and Christine (Wilkinson) Hansen. Edith graduated from Dillon Normal school before moving to Philipsburg where she was the housekeeper for the Catholic Church. Bud assisted his father with many perilous jobs including the Flint Creek Hill road. Bud died on October 17, 1986 and Edith died on March 26, 1996, at the Anaconda Hospital. Survivors were: Children and their spouses: Carl (Karen) of Helena, Lois (Tom) Lowe of Oregon, Robert (Joyce) of Anaconda and Edith (Matt) Roberts of California; 

Mary born on April 14, 1914 married William Winfield Moore, March 27, 1941 in Drummond. William was born on September 5, 1900 in Clay Center, Kansas. William James Moore was born to them on September 29, 1943 in Butte. Mary died in 1971 in Philipsburg and William died in August 1974 in Helena; 

Their youngest child James born September 14 (according to baptismal record) or 16, 1916 near Porter’s Corner. He married Grace C. Collins on August 21, 1948 in Missoula. Grace was born in Dixon, Montana on January 20, 1920. 

Ernest died in 1951 at the age of seventy-five and is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. Survivors were: wife Margaret, the children listed above and grandchildren: John and Peggy McDonald, Carl, Lois and Robert Maehl, and Billy Moore. Margaret died in 1972 at the age of 103 and is buried next to Ernest. 

After graduating from the Granite County High School in 1936, Jim worked local jobs before serving in the military during WWII. Fortunately Jim’s son, Bill wrote a family history that included a detailed account of his fathers war experience. After being discharged from the service, Jim returned to Philipsburg and began working for Winninghoff Motors. During this time he met Grace Collins, daughter of Edward and Fannie (Cody) Collins. They were married on August 21, 1948 in Missoula, Montana. The couple then began building their “dream” home on the banks of Boulder Creek in Maxville. The couple spent their life together there. Three sons were born to the couple: David James was stillborn on July 1, 1950 in Missoula and is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery; William Cody was born November 29, 1954 in Missoula; Ronald James was born on August 24, 1956 in Anaconda.

The following chronology was documented by James’ son Bill: “James enlisted into the Army on October 10, 1941 and served in World War II in the South Pacific. He was 5’9” tall and weighed 144 pounds when he enlisted. His army serial number was 39603180. He served with the 41st Division, 186th Infantry Regiment and was with the 218th Field Artillery Battalion (10/10/1941 – 2/13/1942), 641st Tank Destroyer Battalion (2/14/1942 – 6/23/1944), and the 98th Chemical Battalion (6/24/1944 – 12/1/1944) 10/10/1941 

Inducted into army-Missoula, Mt. and travel to Ft. Lewis, Wa. 

Oct. 1941 Left knee blown-out in basic training. 1

0/16/1941 Transferred to Camp Roberts, Ca. for basic training. 

12/7/1941 Assigned to guard the west coast beaches near Grayland, Wa. 

4/22/1942 Left San Francisco with the 41st Division in convoy aboard the SS Matsonia. Early May, 1942 Convoy had to skirt major ship battles in Coral Sea. 

5/13/1942 Arrived Port Adelaide, Australia. 

5/13/1942 - 7/1942 Training at Puckapunyal, Australia. 7/1942 – 1/1/1943 Jungle training at Rockhampton, Australia. 

1/1/1943 Shipped with 41st Division aboard Bendigo to Port Moresby, New Guinea. Encountered heavy bombing while in port. Jan. 1943 Engaged in combat to secure Sananada. After allied troops got through the last enemy defense line, they found evidence of Japanese cannibalism (eating of American soldiers). 

Feb.-Mar. 1943 Landed on Palawan Island, completing the occupation by March 8th. Allied losses totaled 8,546 killed and wounded. 

Jan – April 1943 Engaged in the Owens Stanley Ridge campaign turning back enemy counterattacks. Rainfall of 10 inches per day in saw-toothed jungle range reaching a height of 13,000 feet. High temperatures and humidity near the coasts contrast with biting cold above 5,000 feet. Tangled growth requires a machete to cut through it. Knife edged kunai grass up to 7 feet high, reeking swamps full of leeches and malarial mosquitoes, and a slippery ground surface under dripping vegetation add to the formidable obstacle course. One group stumbled and slid 2,000 feet downhill in forty minutes; it took eight hours to recover the distance. 

4/14/1943 Survived intense bombing raid of up to 100 Japanese bombers while in port at Milne Bay, New Guinea. Witnessed bombs drop on either side of his ship and two transports sunk within his convoy. This memory and story never forgotten and retold often. 

July 1943 Return to Australia with over 35% of troops down with a active malaria. 

Late 1943 Back to New Guinea and island hopping with Higgins landing craft around the east end of New Guinea and northward to Bougainville, Hollandia, Wadke and Biak. 

4/17/1944 Invasion of Hollandia and Cyclops Airfield. U.S. casualties when the Hollandia campaign was officially closed were listed as 124 killed, 28 missing and 1,057 wounded. The Japanese losses were 4,475 killed. 

May 1944 Elements of the 641st Tank Destroyer Battalion supported the 41st Division with the 4.2 inch chemical mortars they had received while in New Guinea. The enemy feared this weapon. The mortar men then used phosphorus rounds which, when exploded, sent pieces of burning phosphorus into the enemy foxholes, forcing them back to exposed ground. The Americans then fired high explosive rounds again to decimate the enemy. 

5/27/1944 Landed and participated in the battle for Biak Island. The island was not completely secured until mid-July. The casualty figure for the U.S. at Biak was 474 killed, 2443 wounded and 7,234 non-battle casualties. The non-battle casualties resulted from malaria, scrub typhus, dengue fever, psycho-neurosis, and other afflictions. Total casualties numbered 10,151, approximately equaling the number of U.S. troops making the original landings (one of the worse [sic] battle fought during WWII). 

9/13/1944 Left Australia on ship headed back to USA. 

9/30/ 1944 James Maehl arrives back in USA. 

9/30 – 12/1/1944 Debriefing, civilian training at Santa Barbara, California. Comes down with first bout of chronic malaria. 

12/1/1944 Discharged at Fort Douglas, Utah. 

Jim was active in the VFW #1876 and the DAV Post #13 and often served as commander of the local Philipsburg VFW. Jim served on the Maxville District School Board (#6) from at least 1960-1966. Jim died on June 22, 2009 at the age of 94 and ¾ years of age. Survivors were his wife Grace, sons: Bill at Billings, Montana and Ron at Carson City, Nevada and their families which include 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. 

Grace worked for 33 years along side Jim at Winninghoff Motors as the primary bookkeeper and died

in her sleep at their home in Maxville on June 14, 2010.

 in her sleep at their home in Maxville, on June 14, 2010. To be continued…

"Macville" and R.R. McLeod

The above photo is at the Presbyterian Church with R.R. McLeod's coach and team. The men standing in front left to right are: R. R. McLeod, Angus Murray and "Doc" Power.

The little hamlet now known as Maxville located in the Flint Creek Valley on Boulder Creek was originally named Flint Spur on my 1895 Rand, McNally and Co. map. It then was called Flint City according to the October 13, 1911 Mail and was to be re-named Hennessy after it had been laid out and surveyed by V.O. Eastland. “The town site is now being platted and will shortly be filed with the office of the Clerk of Court in the city where lots will soon be for sale.” The property was owned by R. R.. McLeod and he believed these plots would make suitable places to build houses and businesses that would be operating due to the extensive mining in that area. The town would be “located from the railroad tract to the county road.” 

Apparently, by 1912 the residents decided to name it after R.R. McLeod when they applied for a post office and the application for Macville was mistakenly recorded as Maxville. The first Postmaster was Henry Bauer. Research does not reveal any other references to the town ever being called Hennessy. 

Robert Ross MacLeod, most often referred to as R.R. , was born August 15, 1858 in Cape Briton, Nova Scotia and immigrated to America either in 1879 or 1880. He married Miss Christina McLennan daughter of Duncan and Janette McArthur McLennan on March 13 1887 in Butte and she then returned to Nova Scotia for one year. The couple located in Philipsburg on her return. Their second child, Robert D. was born in August 1891 and died 19 days later on September 14th. His headstone, a marble lamb laying on a scroll, is located in Block 17, Lot 21, Grave 7 at the Philipsburg Cemetery. 

By January 1896, R.R. was the proprietor of The Rock Creek Stage which ran from Bonita to the mines in Quigley and in July the stage was held up by two masked men and robbed the driver of $35.00. In February the Mail announced that R.R. had a contract hauling machinery and supplies to Flint Creek Falls with eleven railroad cars arriving in Drummond that week for him to haul. 

According to the 1900 Federal Census the McLeod family included R.R.(42), Christina (39), Agnes (11), Jessie (7) and Anna Louise (4 months). The Mail announced Anna Louise’s birth on January 13th and stated the family lived in Parkerville. R.R. paid $215 in taxes for the year 1904. In June of 1905, R.R., F.J. Wilson and Percy Geirson were charged with seining fish in Stewart Creek on the Georgetown Flats and each fined $25. 

By September, 1905, R.R. was running as an Independent for the office of Sheriff and lost handily to J.D. Kennedy. By October “R.R. McLeod the well known contractor has obtained a lease on the Hughes and Peoples Iron Mines” with Charles Harding handling the mining and McLeod hauling the ore. In 1907 the Mail stated that McLeod owned the original Durfee ranch and had just bought the Ralph Kelly Ranch at Fred Burr. Then in 1910 McLeod sold 700 acres of ranch land at $40 and acre to G. R. Groth of South Dakota. (Groth leased this ranch to the Elery Owen family.) 

In 1915, daughter Jessie, age 21 went to Butte for “an operation that seemed unimportant” and died after the surgery on January 31st. She had been a student at Deer Lodge College and just recently accepted a position as telephone operator at Deer Lodge. Daughter Agnes, married Kenneth Hannah on June 18, 1913 in Deer Lodge and Louise the baby of the family married Harry Herron on November 28, 1919 in the Presbyterian Church. Harry worked at the Bryant Mines. 

R.R. was the owner of many buildings on Broadway by this time, thus the name “The McLeod Block” was a frequent reference. R.R. (Bob) died September 21, 1935 at the family home from Pneumonia at the age of 79. His obituary stated “ Besides ranching he was engaged in teaming and contracting and employed a large crew of men. He hauled the first machinery installed in the Granite and Bi-Metallic mines. About 25 years ago he retired from ranching and has resided part of his time in Maxville, where he had numerous property holdings, among them the town site of Maxville.” He was renowned for his ability to move large buildings. He was survived by his daughters: Mrs. Harry (Louise) Herron and Mrs. Kenneth (Agnes) Hannah, grandchildren and three brothers and two sisters. He was buried in the family plot Block 17, Lot 21, Grave 4. Christina died at her home on January 11, 1951 at the age of 90. and was interred in grave 3 in the family plot.