The Wickberg's of The Lower Valley

Walter Wickberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Wickberg of Maxville was home on a furlough from the Navy, the first week of November 1918. Walter came to Maxville direct from Newport, Virginia where he had an assignment on one of the merchant ships. Previous to this assignment, he was twice across the pond on a convoy vessel. He said that on the first trip to France they sighted two submarines and destroyed both. On the second trip one more submarine was added to their success. Walter had enlisted one year ago last June and according to his appearance the Navy was agreeing with him. He had only fifteen days on furlough and had returned to Newport by the publication of the November 8th Mail. 

Walter’s parents, Louis and Sofia Wickberg bought the Jake Franzman ranch in 1902. Prior to moving to the valley the Wickberg’s had lived in Princeton. Many of the homes in Princeton were built by Louis Wickberg according to the Montana Standard July 5, 1976. They then moved to Helena where Louis worked at the Smelter until 1902. 

Louis was found dead at the Snow Cap mine on February 14, 1944. The mine was located about six miles east of Gird Creek at Stone. Walter Wickberg found his father and told the authorities he had accompanied his father to the mine to do some prospecting and development work. Louis went into the cabin to start a fire while Walter walked to the mine to inspect it. When Walter returned he found his father dead on the cabin floor. Coroner Wilson and Sheriff Bryan Hynes said the death was due to a coronary embolism and there would be no inquest. 

Louis was born in Sweden on May 10, 1862. At the age of 21 he immigrated to the United States and came directly to Montana. After working on a ranch and the smelter in East Helena, he left for a short time for Iowa where he operated a ranch. In 1889 he returned to East Helena and married Miss Sophia Lundgren. According to the obituary Louis and his wife moved to the Maxville area fifty two years before the time of his death (1892). Sophia died in Maxville in 1925. Louis’s life was spent in agricultural operations, mining and prospecting. Survivors were: sons: Walter and wife (Marie) of Maxville and Ryan and wife (Margaret) of Philipsburg; plus six grandchildren: Floyd, Mary and Dorothy of Maxville and Mildred, Marian (Tony) and Patricia Wickberg of Philipsburg. Louis was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery next to Sophia in Block 6, Lot 30 grave 3. 

Walter Wickberg (1895-1975) married Mary Johnson (1898-1983) the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Iver Johnson in Missoula September 4, 1923. Both families were residents of Maxville. Marie is buried next to her husband Walter in the Philipsburg cemetery. Ryan and Walter’s family are all buried in Block 7, Lot 28, graves 2,4,5,6,and 7. 

Marie and Walter’s daughter Marie Sigrid Wickberg was born February 1, 1926 at the family ranch near Stone Station (14 miles north of Philipsburg). She grew up with her siblings Floyd and Dorothy and attended school in Philipsburg. After high school Marie attended Everett Business School in Washington state during WWII. Immediately after the war she married child hood sweetheart Allen “Scotty” Morrison. To this marriage was born Gary (1946) Larry (1950) Russell (1954) and Jeannette (1957). Marie worked for 25 years as the Granite County Clerk and Recorder. She moved to Missoula to live in the Village during her last years and died December 8, 2011. Survivors were: brother Floyd of Missoula; sons: Gary of Alaska, Larry of Washington, Russell of Maxville and daughter Jeannette of Missoula and their spouses; 8 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. 

Margaret Durfee (1906-1986) married Ryan Wickberg (1898-1977) on February 20, 1926. She was a teacher at Stone at that time. Their infant son named Ryan died of pneumonia and was “several days old”(February 21-March 10) according to the March 18, 1931 Philipsburg Mail.. They had three other children: Marion (Tony) (1928-2015), Mildred (1927- 1973) and Patricia (1930- ). Margaret and Ryan are buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Louis and Sophia’s descendants from the Morrison family continued the family residence in Granite county. Marian known as Tony lived his entire life there except for his military service in the Army. Neither Floyd (who lived in Missoula) or Tony had children so they were the end of the Wickberg name in Granite county. 

Patricia married Cart Hamilton on April 9, 1950 in Philipsburg. They had two children: Judy (1952) and Dan (1956) before they moved to Missoula in 1962.    

Mildred married Ted Sauer and had two children: Bob Sauer and Margorie (Feback)..

The Durfee Name

The First Durfee to arrive in Granite County was Francis M. Durfee. He was born in New York, relocated to Colorado in 1861 and in 1864 arrived in Alder Gulch. His exact date of arrival to Granite county is not certain but persons attempting to take over claims of Francis are posted in the Montana Post on February 12, 1869 leading me to believe he may have left Alder Gulch before then. Newspaper articles have him prospecting near Clancy in September 1873 and according to the Helena Weekly, November 29, 1877, “F.M. Durfee. who furnishes lumber to the Philippsburgites, was in the city today. Mr. Durfee will leave for the West Side tomorrow.”(Note the correct spelling of Philippsburg.) 

 It is known that a Durfee (usually spoken of as a Judge) brought Annie Morgan to Granite county to care for an uncle with a drinking problem, and located them in a cabin on Rock Creek.. The story goes that Durfee had met Annie during travels between Fort Benton and Alder Gulch, but the dates are not certain. We know that Francis’ brother David who did become a judge arrived in Montana after he completed Law school and passed his Bar Exam, in 1882. He was elected Deer Lodge County Attorney in 1886 and served two years. Then he was elected the First Judge of Deer Lodge County in 1889 and served three years. It was not until 1897 that David was elected Judge for Granite county and then became Attorney for Granite county in 1900. He was also elected Mayor of Philipsburg in 1901. David’s election history was full of wins and losses. Losses for county attorney: 1904, 1908, 1920, 1938; Wins for County Attorney: 1906, 1910 through 1918, 1922 through 1936. 

Francis was very involved in mining and was often mentioned in the newspapers because of law suits over mine shares, such as the Sunrise Mine during 1894 and 1985 when McLure and Sherman were in a dispute about 95,000 shares that McLure, representing Combination Mining Company gave Sherman two $2,000 checks for and Sherman refused to present them to a bank for collection. The Montana Circuit Court refused the injunction against Sherman so he continued to hold his stock. Francis was a Trustee for Sunrise and was elected president according to the January 25, 1894 Philipsburg Mail. 

Francis had returned to Lorain County, Ohio in February 1882 to marry Miss Eve Eliza Rohrbaugh and the newly weds returned to Granite county where Francis set up ranching west of Philipsburg. To this marriage was born three children: Marion (1882- 1980), Ruby (1887-1904) and Leonard (12,1888 – 8,1889). 

The 1900 Federal Census shows the family living in South Philipsburg on Brown Street. They must have moved to town while still ranching as Francis was at the ranch dismantling a scaffold used to stack hay on July 31, 1901 when the “…framework refused to yield. Mr. Durfee then went on top and was in the act of loosening some braces when the affair collapsed. Mr. Durfee falling with the timbers, which stood thirty feet high….(he) suffered internal injuries and made his last will and testament before 4 o’clock when he passed away.” Mrs. Durfee and son Marion were at the bedside but Miss Ruby was in Anaconda and did not reach the bedside before his passing. Francis was 61 years, 10 months and 13 days of age and after a large funeral was buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

 Ruby became ill with tubercular meningitis in October and succumbed from the disease on October 28, 1904. Mother Eve, suffered severe grief over the loss of her husband and then her daughter and after contracting a severe cold never became well again. She died on March 3, 1907. She was a member of the Eastern Star and had become Worthy Matron in December, but was never well enough to attend to her duties. Survivors were son: Marion and brother and sister- in- law Judge David and Elizabeth Durfee. 

Marion married Myrtle Archmire from a local ranching family that was involved in the dairy business. David, either took over Francis’ Ranch or had his own beside Francis as token’s have been found on the Vietor ranch stating “Good one quart of milk E D Durfee”. Since there was no one named Ed this must have meant Elizabeth and David Durfee and given out during the time when the area was trying to become a dairy producing enterprise. 

                                      David Durfee Campaign photo in his Law Office 1936

David’s first wife Emelie did in 1902 and he then married Elizabeth Kelly who died in 1938. After David long career as Judge and County Attorney, he continued to practice law until he became ill in 1941. He died at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane on April 28, 1942.

On a Pleasure Trip To The Fair: The John D. McDonald's

John D. McDonald and his wife planned a trip in 1909 to the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition that was held in Seattle from June 1, 1909 to October 16, 1909. This was a World’s Fair publicizing the development of the Pacific Northwest. They made plans to stop over on Spokane to visit old time friends ( The Mangler’s) and that placed them as passengers on an ill fated train on July 31 at approximately 4:45pm that was hit head on near Caldwell, Idaho (small station about twenty-five miles east of Spokane). 

The accident occurred on the Coeur d’ Alene and Spokane Electric Railroad. Both of the trains were filled with tourists and others who had come to register for the Indian Land Opening. This Land Opening was occurring from July 15 to August 5 and the interested parties had only 22 days to register their desires. Of interest, is that the Coeur d’ Alene Land Office received 286,848 applications for 4,160 available claims. This exceeded the famous Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. 

The Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad Company that began in 1906, was an alliance of small, local interurban railroads linking Spokane and surrounding communities with Coeur d’ Alene. This interurban railroads usually had three or more cars coupled together. The cars had platforms in the front and rear with seating in the center section. These platforms were standing room only and no restrictions were placed on how many persons were allowed to board the cars. The Company was transporting 6,000 to 10,000 people a day on these trains to the land rush. Among the casualties were people from every state in the Union. The stated cause of the accident was that the motorman of the west bound train had orders from the dispatcher to pull out at Coeur d’ Alene and take a siding about three quarters of a mile down the track to let the regular east bound train pass. He passed the siding either because he missed it or thought he could make it to the next siding about another mile down the track. The motorman stated he understood he was to meet the other train about five miles from where the accident occurred. 

The motormen caught sight of each other when the trains were 800 feet apart, too late to prevent a collision. Train No.20 came to a complete stop in 200 feet and people in the lead car began jumping off the train. Train No. 5 attempted to stop but being so heavily overloaded they ran into the other train still traveling about 20 miles an hour. The impact telescoped the two lead cars into each other. This immediately killed 12 people and maimed more than 100 others. The final death count in the Spokane paper was 16 persons listed as dead and these names included Mr. A.B. McDonald and Mrs. A.B. McDonald of Drummond, Montana. 

By August 4th the McDonald’s had been correctly identified as J.D. and their bodies returned to Drummond. Their funeral took place the next day. “Mrs. McDonald’s breast was pierced by a large splinter and she probably never knew what happened.” stated the August 6th Mail article. Survivors were: Daughters Flo McDonald and Mrs. Frank M. Morse of Drummond; Mrs. McDonald’s brothers: M. Wylie of Drummond and I.H. Wylie of Hamilton and Alex McDonald of Butte was J.D.’s brother. 

They are buried in the Valley View cemetery under the names of John D. McDonald and Mrs. John D. McDonald. Who knows her first name? This is what I know about them. They were born and reared in Bruce County, Ontario and after marriage moved to Duluth and lived there eight years. Sometime after arriving in Montana, J.D became employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad: first at Bonita, then Bearmouth and lastly Drummond. The earliest news article was July 6th 1893 where John was one of the delegates elected to represent the Flint Creek District at the Helena Silver Convention. In 1894, he had unclaimed letters advertised in the Philipsburg Mail in August and in December he was one of the “old timers” that arrived in Granite the week of the 13th. In 1897, he came down from Gold Coin and stayed with his cousin Murdock for a few days and was able to find employment at the Sunrise in July. In December, 1899, he received a telegram regarding the death of a brother in Canada. By 1901 John was very active in “The Order of Washington” and performed as Floor Manager in their Grand Ball February, 22 at the Firemen’s Hall. He was installed as the Porter in the Home Forum Lodge #1884 on January 11th and installed as Sentinel in Union #65 on July 3rd.

Wiped From The Face of The Earth

                                       Pencil Drawing by Unknown artist of the Algonquin Mill

One hundred and twenty two years ago, the January 6, 1899 Philipsburg Mail headlined the following story: “With the closing hours of the old year disappeared one of the oldest and most prominent landmarks of Granite county. About 8 o’clock last Saturday evening the Algonquin mill and holding works at Hasmark were discovered to be on fire and within a short space of time the entire plant was reduced to ashes and nothing remained but the stone walls and a heap of ruined machinery. The blaze was seen a long distance and the mountains for several miles were lit up as bright as day. The night was comparatively dark, but fences and buildings across the valley were almost as plainly discernable as in bright daylight. The heat around the burning buildings was intense as the woodwork was very dry and burned like tinder. Live trees some distance up the mountain side caught fire from the heat, but they ceased to burn after the fiery element had ended its furious spectacle of destruction at the works. The property was owned by the Hope Mining Company and is a total loss, with no insurance. The Algonquin Mill and hoisting works were built during the fall and winter of 1879-1880, and the mill was first started up in February 1880. Mr. John Ainsley being master mechanic and chief engineer. It originally consisted of 20 stamps, dry crushing; six amalgamating pans, three settlers, and one revolving cylinder roaster, and had an engine of 150 horse power. The machinery was constructed in Ohio by Griffith & Wedge, and when started the Algonquin was the model mill in Montana. The cost of the mill was about $82,000 and the hoisting works about $15,000, as everything had to be freighted in and wages were high at that time. About 85 men were employed by the Company, which was originally organized in 1875. The officers of the company at the time the works were built were: H.A. stiles, President: J.H. Williams, Vice President: J.K. Pardee, Superintendent and General Manager: H. S. Showers, Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Hopkins was foreman of the mill and H.K. Fairgrieve the bookkeeper. About 32,000 tons of ore were crushed during the year 1880 and the mill was kept running at intervals until December, 1883, when it closed down. During the year 1892, Mr. John McKechney, then operating the Puritan mine, procured possession of the property and set about putting it in thorough repair. The shaft house was partitioned off for living rooms and office and equipped with steam heat and electric lights. Some new machinery was added, including a small engine and dynamo. When the panic over-took the country in 1893 the Algonquin mill together with the Puritan were among the Granite county enterprises that suspended operations and since that time the property has remained closed down. About two years ago it was sold under execution and the ownership passed to the Hope Mining Company. Just how the fire started is not known, but it was first discovered in the hoist, which was about ten feet distant from the mill and there being no water about the premises the entire plant was soon a roaring furnace. It is about the cleanest wreck ever seen--every particle of wood was consumed by the fire and nothing but ashes and iron remain. The shaft has caved in and for several days after the conflagration smoke was seem issuing from the pit. The town of Hasmark seems deserted since the disappearance of the works, but the old residents who never have lost confidence in the future of their camp feel that while the fire has played serious havoc some time in the near future a custom smelter will adorn the site formerly occupied by the Algonquin and the new ores from the many promising mines around Hasmark will be successfully treated at home.”

A Long Time Ago: Owen Family

Now me and my bud had been pitchin’ down hay 

To feed the cows for a night and a day 

We’d put down a lot, and we had a reason 

It was late in December, and the holiday season. 

We headed for home, and the snow it was deep 

Real tough for the horses, too deep for a Jeep. 

We was makin’ it fine, not too far to go 

When we found this here sleigh, stuck in the snow. 

It’s a real fancy rig, loaded plum full of stuff. 

And with night commin’ on it was gonta be tuff. 

The guy in the red suit said his chargers had flown, 

And left him a’ sittin’ out there in the snow. 

We shook out our ropes, and tied onto the sled 

We knew where to find him a good soft, warm bed. 

We took care of the horses, then helped him unload. 

We left the sleigh there, headed out for the road. 

We got in out bunks, and we sure slept tight. 

We didn’t wake up ‘till it plum turned daylight. 

The stranger had gone, and so was the sled. 

But the boxes and bags was all stacked on the bed. 

 He left us a note sayin’ thanks for the lift. 

If we’d look in the boxes, we’d all find a gift. 

My brother and me, we each had a surprise 

And the things for our sisters sure opened their eyes. 

There was pearls for our mom, and a hat for our dad. 

It turned out to be, the best Christmas we’d had. 

Sometimes we’re just guessin’ about how things will go. 

But we’re glad we helped Santa, when he was stuck in the snow. 

 (Authored by George Melvin Owen [1916-1999) 

 Melvin was one of eight children born to Charles and Geneva (Schenck) Owen. Charles and Geneva moved from Wyoming in 1910 and leased the newly bought 600 acre Groth Ranch, originally owned by R.R. McLeod, 2 miles south of Philipsburg. He traveled to Chicago to buy 100 head of cattle and always raised exceptional ones under the name Treasure State Herefords. Charles was a member of the District School Board but resigned when his youngest daughter Bernice (1906-2001) began teaching school as he did not want a conflict of interest to be assumed. Bernice never married. 

I am privileged to have in my possession from the courtesy of Charles grandson Don Scott, a booklet written by Naomi where she shares these facts to her grandchildren: Charles loved tea and working in his blacksmith shop. He loved to dance and could hitch-kick the top of a doorway! He wished to purchase the ranch and always got the response from Mr. Groth and later Mrs. Groth “Maybe next year”. He came to the conclusion “Next year” could be a long way off and in 1937 had been looking at a ranch in Bozeman with Lawrence Scott when he became ill. A letter received after Charles died described him as “Genuine all the way through. Never was there any pretense, any false front and false flattery in his makeup. …Even though his life was cut all too short, when measured in the comfort and happiness he had bestowed, it was many times longer and more useful than most of us will live.” by Editor of the American Hereford Journal in Kansas City. 

When Charles died in 1937, Ellery (1903-1969) and Melvin continued the ranch operation. There is an un-named infant daughter of C.L. Owen buried in Block 13, Lot 16, Grave 6 without a headstone. The rest of the family is buried in Block 28. 

Ellery married Genevieve Brew (1906-1969) on July 7, 1938 and their only child Arnold was born in 1939. After returning from the War, and resuming operations at the ranch, Ellery worked for the Forest Service and the Soil Conservation Department for several years and for Taylor and Knapp from 1958 to 1967. He died of ALS also known as Lou Gerhig’s Disease. Gen died of Cancer in 1969. They are both buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

                                   Photo Copied from the Booklet written by Naomi Owen Collins

Melvin, thirteen years younger than Ellery, married Ida Berry on November 1, 1942 and they had seven children: Carma, Ted, Kathleen, Cheryl, Charles, Douglas and Judy. I do not find any Montana information about Melvin after his marriage (in Arizona). He was living in Arizona when he died. 

The other daughters married as follows: Clella (1907-1975) to J.L. Scott; Mary (1910-1989) to John Truzzolina; Lois (1912-2004) to George “Buster” Metcalf; and Naomi (1920- 2003) to John (Jack) Collins. I know that in the forties and fifties, Jack Truzzolino (brother-in-law), and nephews Bob Metcalf, Owen and Don Scott worked on the ranch helping Ellery, Gen and Arnold with the haying.

Abundant Talent: Fred Geiger

                                            Fred Geiger from the Fan Harrington Collection

A question I have often had is how many talented people that lived their lives in Granite county were not able to live to their fullest artistic potential? Was this a loss to the individual and society or were they happy and fulfilled by their role in life? 

One such person is Fred C. Geiger who died when I was young but I knew who he was and continued to hear his name spoken after his death because of the memories he had left with people while performing for their parties, funerals and weddings. His mother Margaret Kisling, born in Bavaria on June 12, 1858, arrived in Philipsburg as a widow with seven year old Fred in 1885. Shortly after their arrival, Margaret married Marx Mohr and they operated the Cityview Ranch just west of Philipsburg. Born to this marriage were Wilhelm (1890-1890), Baby Marx and Baby Augusta (without headstones) and Alvina. Alvina married John Doering from Missoula and returned to the ranch to care for her mother while she was dying from cancer in 1918. 

From the time of Fred’s arrival in Philipsburg he was in the newspaper. There are more than fifty articles in the Philipsburg Mail covering the school honors and activities that Fred participated in. Every semester Fred was listed with awards in the Grammar classes and always on the honor role. He became active in the Literary Society when it was formed in 1896 and had speeches published that he delivered on the importance of Literary Societies. The first Federal Census records in 1900 list Fred as the step-son of Marx Mohr living with his mother and half sister Alvina at the age of 21. Frequent articles covered Fred debating both the negative and positive sides of current issues such as “Should Cuba be annexed to the United States.” Fred was elected to the position of “Critic” in 1896. By 1896 Fred was also actively involved in the dedication of the New School and delivered his essay on “Public schools in Washington’s Time” at the ceremonies during the entire month of February. 

From 1894 Fred was active in the Fire Department and was responsible to run up town to ring the fire bell as early as 1894. Most of the events Fred served on the Reception Committee or was the Floor Manager. He always sang at the Fireman’s gala events and usually was involved in at least 3 quartette every party. Often the group was Fred, Miss Lucy Paradise, Miss Mary Harrison and Walter Kroger during the school years and later he sang in an all male group that included Walt and Fred Kroger and L.A. Bulliard. At the Trades Carnival, Fred sang with Mrs. Carmichael and Mrs. A. Fairbairn and L.A. Bulliard. Examples of the songs he sang were: “The Welkin”, ‘Who Knows What the Hills Say” and all of the funeral favorites such as “An Old Rugged Cross.” Fred belonged to the Philipsburg baseball team and was always in the catcher position during the Philipsburg-Anaconda play-offs and the Miner’s Union Picnic when Philipsburg played against Granite. 

Parties were frequent after the group graduated in 1899 and in 1900 The Philipsburg Band was formed. Fred was designated Second Alto in the band and paid $75.00 for an Alto instrument and case that he received from the east September 7, 1900. I am assuming this must have been a saxophone. Research shows where Maude Hammond participated in the Literary Society in April 1896 and Fred married her in Missoula January 30, 1904. Maude gave birth to a baby boy on January 7, 1905. The baby died on January 11 and Maude who had developed Puerperal Fever died January 12, 1905. 

In my possession is a photograph of Fred with the Philipsburg Iron Works owners and employees at an unknown date. I know the business owned by the Bowen’s and Thompson was incorporated in 1895 and became Philipsburg Electric Light Company in 1908, so Fred was employed with them sometime during this period. 

The Federal Census in 1930 and 1940 have him identified as a miner and living with his wife Josephine. They were married in June of 1906 and did not have any children. Fred died at the age of 66 on June 20, 1947 and Josephine was moved to the Deer Lodge Nursing Home eight years before her death April 19, 1961. Father Courtney said the committal prayers upon her return to the Philipsburg cemetery. 

After his marriage to Josephine, newspaper content is absent about Fred in social, band or fire department activities. I know from local stories that he continued to sing and make music for his friends, but apparently no longer debated or volunteered. My question is left unanswered.

More Early Pioneers: The Hammond Family

Elizabeth Hammond McDonel’s father was William Hammond. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on November 26, 1822. He married Miss Jane House, in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania on December 14, 1845. After their marriage they moved to Wisconsin for sixteen years then immigrated to the Deer Lodge Valley. In 1875 they moved to Philipsburg, where he owned and operated local stages. William died February 23, 1896, at the age of seventy three years and three months, after being an invalid for two years. His funeral cortege began at the family home on California Street and traveled to the Methodist church, where services were held by Rev. Wm. B. Coombe, assisted by Rev. Charles Quinney and Rev. C.H. Grabe. The gathering then moved to the Philipsburg cemetery where he was laid to rest beside his wife Jane. William’s, obituary stated he left a valuable estate that would be divided among the children that survived him. 

According to the Philipsburg Mail, the stages William operated were: From Philipsburg to Drummond which he operated with James McDonel. He bought this route from a man named Taylor; From Philipsburg to Anaconda which he operated with Giles Brownell; and the stage line between Philipsburg and Granite, which he operated under the name Wm. Hammond and Company. 

Research found the obituaries of Elizabeth’s mother Jane and brother George. Jane cared for William for eighteen months while he was too feeble to assist himself and was at his bedside until only a few days before her death. She was sixty seven years of age and the day she died was their fiftieth wedding anniversary, December 13, 1895. Survivors were: her husband, her four daughters in Montana (see George’s obituary below) and son Tuecer in Wisconsin. The funeral was held at the Methodist Church on December 14, with Rev. Wm. B. Coombe officiating. She was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

According to his obituary in the Philipsburg Mail, George Hammond died at his parent’s home on March 22, 1890, after a lingering illness of five months, at the age of forty. He was an athlete and horseman with a world record for sprinting the 100 yard in nine and three-fourth seconds. He left a wife and daughter Maude; parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Hammond; sisters: Mrs. Joseph Hyde, Mrs. E McDonel, Mrs. Wm. Coleman and Mrs. W.J. Matthews of Philipsburg and brother Tuecer of Wisconsin. 

George’s daughter Maude, born in Philipsburg on January 31, 1884, graduated from the Philipsburg High School in 1901. She married Fred Geiger on January 30, 1904. Fred was also a Philipsburg native. After their marriage in Missoula, they took a short honeymoon and then established a home in Philipsburg. Maude gave birth to a baby boy on January 7, 1905, with puerperal fever developing shortly after birth. The baby died on January 11 and Maude died at 11 o’clock p.m., on January 12. A service at the home and graveside was performed by Rev. W.H. Pascoe on January 15. Survivors were her husband, Fred; mother, Mrs. M.O. Hankins and a number of aunts and cousins living in Philipsburg, Deer Lodge, Butte, Anaconda and Seattle. 

Fred then married Josephine Eiger in Butte in 1906. Although Maude’s obituary stated Fred was a Philipsburg native, he actually immigrated from Germany in 1885 at the age of seven. Fred will be discussed in another article. 

Elizabeth’s uncle, James Hammond was another prominent person in the community. He was one of the original locators of the famous Golden Sceptre group of mines in Quigley and received $10,000 for his share. He died while on a train between Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, on July 7, 1896. His physician had advised him to attain treatment at a Philadelphia hospital, after being in poor health for about one year. His brother-in-law W.P. Ketchum, from Milwaukie had come west to help James with his business interests and attended to his estate, as James still owned one-third interest in valuable mines adjacent to the Golden Sceptre mines. Born in West Newton, Pennsylvania in 1828, he came to California in 1850. By the mid fifties he had moved to Nevada where he made and lost a fortune in mining. In 1864 he came to Alder Gulch and then moved on to Henderson Gulch and Bearmouth. Next, he partnered with a man named Sloss in Arasta Gulch, near Georgetown, when Cable was in full swing. The August 6, 1896, obituary, in the Philipsburg Mail, does not state any survivors or the disposal of his remains. There is no record of burial in the Philipsburg cemetery. Research fails to find any Federal Census records of James. He must have always been busy prospecting when the census was taken!