Maybe Should Have Been Named Deceit Not Hope

 

The following events have crossed my mind often as I have researched articles about this areas history. Granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com states “In 1873 Felix McArdle reported that the first 2000 feet of lode claims bought by The St. Louis and Montana Mining Company was almost worthless with the discoverers in some cases proving unable to even show the location of the ground. The names of these claims were: Gold and Curry, Ledger, W.B. Dance, Legal Cap, Wabus, Lord Byron, and Decope Chickoman. {Hector}Horton was the discoverer, but the lots sold were not his discovery lots, but other lots along the vein that belonged to {Reece}Anderson, {W.B.}Dance and {James}Stuart. 

According to a document in MHS {Montana Historical Society}, they attempted to sell this claim footage to the St. Louis and Montana Mining Co. for $100,000 in stock. The sale recorded in the courthouse is for $500 cash, but perhaps stock was a second, unmentioned “valuable consideration.” In any case, it would be understandable if Horton didn’t care to show the discoveries, because he had been cut out of the sale. One major claim is absent from the discussion-The Hope Lode. …This claim was not located by Horton, and was not located in 1864. It was located in July 1867 by Reece Anderson. 

However a December 17, 1905 Anaconda Standard stated that the honor of this discovery of the Hope mine actually belonged to Rory McRae of Stone Station.” 

“ When the St. Louis Company, which first purchased the Comanche claim on Hope hill began work on it, McRae was employed as a carpenter, his duties being to cut timbers for the mill, which was then in the course of erection. The Comanche was a rich claim, but the ore shoot was small and the mine soon ‘pinched out.’ McRae’s work brought him frequently to the top of Hope hill. Returning one evening. he picked up a piece of float rock which bore the unmistakable traces of mineral. He broke the quartz with his axe and on his way home showed the rock to Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart (sic) who were employed at the Hope office. Anhauser was the son of a St. Louis brewer and could not distinguish a piece of float from a keg of his father’s foamy product and Anderson and Stewart were equally as ignorant of mining. They ‘jollied’ McRae into the belief that the rock was not worth assaying, but ascertained the spot where McRae found it. 

That evening they showed the rock to Dr. Merrill, who was then the assayer at the Hope mill. Dr. Merrill at once pronounced the rock rich in silver. Before daylight the next morning Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart found the ledge, located the Hope mine and soon afterward sold the property to the old Hope Company for a good sum. The Hope was one of several lodes sold by the Stuarts, Dance et al, to the St. Louis and Montana in 1867 for $25,000. It is likely that part of the sale price was reimbursement for the purchase of the Comanche lode and other claims and part for the Hope itself, which proved to be an excellent mine.” 

The Federal Census, lists Rory as a farmer in 1880 and a miner in 1910. A news article in the December 20, 1887 Mail states “A tunnel is being run in the Boulder District by Dominick Mellen, Rory McRae and Will Albright. indications are good on the surface and when the tunnel is 200 feet the vein will be tapped at 300 feet.” Also, although his residence was at the ranch at Stone Station his family tree indicates he was living in Granite in 1905. All of this gives credence to the fact that needed income to support his family was earned by working in and around the mines and as most of the people in the area, had an interest in the industry. Did he realize he was spoofed out of a very rich mining claim or was the story just that…a story developed while the men were swapping tales over a few late night drinks? 

Rory was born Roderick Duncan McRae to Duncan and Margaret (Munro) McRae at St. Elmo Muskoka, Ontario Canada in February 1845. He immigrated to the US in either 1862 or 1866 and had an unclaimed letter posted in the Montana Post on November 15, 1866. Rory married Minerva Frances Burden on June 10, 1873 in Deer Lodge and to this union were born: Roderick Duncan Jr.; Margaret (Holton), William, John, Mary (Mamie) (Powell), and Minnie (Cyr). He retired from ranching at the Stone Station and lived for 13 years in Philipsburg before his death from Mitral Insufficiency on June 17, 1923. He was interred in the Philipsburg Cemetery.

A Really Good Friend Tried to Help

 

Percy W. Merrifield known always as “Perd” probably came to Granite County about 1888, which is when his mother Orphenia Niles arrived in Philipsburg, according to her obituary in June of 1905. At the time of Orphenia death, she was living with Perd and his wife Frankie (Porter) at the family home on Duffy Street. Of note, Percy was 50 years of age when his son Forrest “Buster” was born. 

Sometime after this they moved to the “Porter’s Corner” area ranch south of town where he built a massive barn, that at this time is still standing. 

                                                Perd's Barn, Photo courtesy of Pat Heimark

This article is about Perd and John Rundin a wood hauler who had made his home at Flint Creek Crossing for about 20 years. Accordiing to the Philipsburg Mail, John went into town with a load of cordwood on Saturday April 3, 1909 “and after delivering tied his team and visited for a time with friends. He imbibed perhaps a little too freely and fell asleep in a certain barroom. P.W. Merrifield found him there and decided to take the old man home, as he had done on several occasions before. 

Mr. Rundin was using a team of horses belonging to Mr. Merrifield and the two were old time friends. Mr. Merrifield got the team and wagon with the empty wood rack and then had several friends assist him in loading the old man on the wagon and started up the valley. After being out in the fresh air for a time Mr. Rundin became contrary and Mr. Merrifield had great difficulty in keeping him on the wagon and driving the team at the same time, Near the Snavely place, Rundin fell from the wagon and one of the wheels passed over him. Mr. Merrifield was unable to get him back into the wagon as the old man was hostile and wanting to fight. Mr. Merrifield then drove over to the schoolhouse {Trout Creek} where election was in progress and had several men come over and help put Mr. Rundin back on the wagon. 

He then proceeded toward camp and when within a short distance of the cabin Rundin again fell through the rack and the wheel passed over him again. Lee Metcalf in a single buggy followed a short distance behind the wood wagon and he assisted Mr. Merrifield in carrying the old man into the cabin and putting the team in the barn. Then the two drove back to the schoolhouse. They met J.B. Harris on the way to the power house and asked him to stop in and see how the old man was getting along. Mr. Harris found him in great pain and after making him as comfortable as he could, hastened to the power house and informed Mr. N.J. Mershon, who was with his wife, and they came down and remained with the old man nearly all night. They were unable to get Philipsburg by telephone to call a physician so Mr. Harris drove down early Sunday morning and put the old man in his buggy and brought him to town where he was received at Mrs. Bulger’s hospital; and everything possible was done for him, The old man did not know how he got hurt and blamed no one for it. 

John Runyon, which is said to be the correct way of spelling his name was a native of Sweden and about 65 years of age.” He died at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning, April 6, 1909 and had no known relatives. 

Perd continued helping people until October 25, 1957.

In Memory of a Peaceful Man

 

“Of human life, history records mainly, the bloody aspect. She delights in and expatiates on the doings and daring of violent men. The victor of marathon, the passage of the Granicus, the defense of Thermopile, the exploits of Hannibal, Achilles, Caesar, Napoleon, Enoch; these and the like are the staple of her theme. Heroes of destruction are preserved in bronze and stone (how else are we to remember them?) From this basis not even the sacred page of history is free. ‘Saul has slain his thousands, but David his tens of thousands’ and this shout of blood, of battle and triumph has rung echoing down the ages. Where then is the peace loving man’s place in the sun? Allen McPhail. Montana Pioneer, 94 years of age, departed this life at New Chicago last week. Civilization for one brief moment was halted while Time recorded the fact that a peaceful man’s work had been completed. In the interval every beating heart in the little community wailed. Stand Aside! while a monument to a man was being moulded to remain forever in memory! Thus as this warrior used the moment for his trumpet, the peaceful man uses the human heart. Here then is his place in the sun and death perpetuates it.” 

This statement was published in the January 31, 1930 Philipsburg Mail. Someone desired to let the history books know that a peaceful man had left this earth on Saturday January 25th. Born at Harrison’s Corners Ontario, Canada on August 8, 1836, Allen migrated to the gold fields of Colorado at the age of 24; then to Denver, and Boise, Idaho. In 1865, he arrived in Montana and settled in the fertile Flint Creek valley where he remained for 60 years. He first engaged in placer mining and in 1871 turned to ranching and had lived continuously on that homestead since. He was an esteemed member of the Society of Montana Pioneers and many attended his last rites. Pallbearers were: John Dingwall, Chester Hoover, Jesse Henderson, Daniel Atwell, John Brogan and Earl Dingwall. Survivors were his wife ( Rozenia Gasper), son Emery, three daughters: Miss Nettie, Mrs. J.R (Annie) Enman and Mrs. (Christie) Nakken and three grandchildren. 

He was laid to rest in the Valley cemetery..Sadly I do not have a photograph of this pioneer.

Was Justice Served

 

George (Terrell) Tyrrell came to Montana after the Civil War and lived in Philipsburg for about thirty years before he got into an altercation with John Ryan in the Philipsburg Brewery Saloon, and shot and killed him, on January 7, 1893, shortly after noon. 

The story goes that: “Ryan, who had been drinking heavily, went into the saloon and requested Tyrrell give him a drink; Tyrrell refused him and an argument followed. Eye witnesses say the two men were talking rather quietly together near a billiard table in the saloon when Tyrrell told Ryan to get out of the house; Ryan paid no attention to the request and Tyrrell stepped into the back room and got a shotgun; coming back with the gun in his hands he again told Ryan to leave the house and almost at the same time the gun was discharged and the entire charge entered Ryan’s face, just above the mouth, passing upward into the brain and killing him instantly….Since his confinement in the jail Terrell has become very despondent and has said that no one felt worse about the tragedy than he does….(He) is a veteran of the late Civil War. About three years ago he was attacked with rheumatism, which had incapacitated him from active work, and those who have known him for many years say he has grown old very rapidly of late and for some time has not acted naturally. John Ryan had also resided in these parts for several years and was known as a hard working man, but was most disagreeably abusive and quarrelsome when influenced by alcohol. When sober, however he was quiet and inoffensive. He leaves a wife and eight children….” stated the January 10,1895, Philipsburg Mail. 

John Ryan’s funeral was held at the family residence two days after the shooting and a large group followed his casket to the Philipsburg cemetery. His headstone gives a birth date of October 6, 1844 and an incorrect death date of January 4, 1895. His wife Mary is also in that grave without a headstone, according to City File cards. 

The coroner’s jury, composed of F.A. Taylor, James McDonel, J.C. McLeod, Conrad Wipf, M.E.H. Gannon and M.E. Edwards, returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts, and George Tyrrell was to be tried at the next term of court. 

Research found articles in The Mail in 1887 stating George who had recently worked at the Kaiser House Bar was assisting G.A. Kellogg in surveying The Hill and in April 1889 where he was “down sick with a cold” 

On January 17th George waived examination before the District Court so he was to be held in jail until his trial. 

The headline DEATH OF GEORGE TYRELL with the following story graced the March 14, 1895 Mail: “George E. Tyrell, who was confined in the county jail awaiting trial for the killing of John Ryan was found dead in his cell at 7:30 o’clock Monday morning, having succumbed to a violent attack of nervous prostration and physical exhaustion. For two weeks preceding his death Tyrell had been very weak and unable to eat or sleep [as] his nervous system became in a violent state. He was so feeble that on Wednesday last week when he was arraigned in court the bailiffs had to assist him up and down the court house stairs. Jailor C.H. Coy went to Tyrell’s cell about 7 o’clock Monday morning and found the sick man sitting on the edge of his couch in the act of putting on his shoes. After leaving Tyrell’s cell Mr. Coy made his usual morning inspection of the jail and returned to Tyrell’s cell about 7:30 to summon him for breakfast. On opening the cell door the jailor found Tyrell sitting in about the same position as he had left him a half hour previous only he was leaning against the bedpost and on approaching him he discovered the man was dying. Mr. Coy immediately summoned Under Sheriff Argall and they placed him back on the bed and as they did so he breathed his last. Dr. Power, after making an examination declared the death natural and no inquest was held…..The deceased was 56 years of age and a native of Illinois. He has been a resident of this state for a quarter of a century…no one seems to have any knowledge of his family connections, though it is said he has a brother in Waverly, Iowa who is an editor of a newspaper in that place….Tyrell worked at Hope Mill before his health failed him and of late had been barkeeper in various places in town. Tyrell’s trial was to take place in District Court yesterday.”

From Rough Neck To Law Enforcer

 

Gus McDonald Photo cropped from "Dirty Dozen" picture from Lou Ann Fessler Sichveland collectiom

Angus “Gus” A. McDonald (4-18-87 to 9-9-1962) was born to John and Louise. He attended the Philipsburg schools and Gus was one of the “Dirty Dozen”. One of the escapades the group was known for was when there was a dance in Drummond and without an easy method to get to the function, they borrowed a railroad car and easily pumped it down the valley to Drummond. Hearing about the missing car, the sheriff (Fred Burke) put out the warning that if the car was not back at the Northern Pacific Depot by morning, the known culprits would be hauled off to jail. The message did not take long to reach the young men and they hitched a horse to the car and pulled it back up the tracks and put it in its rightful place by morning. 

Gus enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 15, 1917, and while on leave according to the Philipsburg Mail, July 12, 1918: “An automobile party comprising Angus McDonald, Frank Fulkerson, Miss Esther Miller and the Misses Viola and Blanche Kneale had a miraculous escape Sunday afternoon when the machine they were driving in overturned just this side of the “Speedway” on the road to Anaconda. …Miss Viola Kneale had an arm broken and was rendered unconscious while the other members of the party were bruised and badly shaken up. Passing autos took them to a hospital in Anaconda where their wounds were attended to. The automobile was said to be going better than 60 miles an hour when it passed a raised culvert, which caused the machine to swerve completely around and struck a bank which caused it to turn over several times, pinning the occupants underneath. Passing autoists released them. Angus McDonald was driving the car which is badly wrecked.” 

Gus was discharged from the service on January 17, 1919. “Gus and his friend William G. Gregovich stood up for each other as witnesses when Gus married Blanche Kneale and Bill married Miss Elsa Brunn… at the parish House of St. Philip’s Catholic Church on December 24, 1920. Blanche was a teacher at Granite and planned to complete the school year… The two grooms would return to mining at Sunrise. .” I do not know when this marriage ended, but she was still Mrs. Angus McDonald, when she attended the funeral of her father, the week of April 9, 1926. 

During prohibition, in December,1922 ”…three stills, several gallons of whiskey and a large quantity of

corn, sugar, and corn meal were confiscated. One alleged moonshiner and one alleged bootlegger were placed in jail and warrants were issued for two other men. Two stills of eighty gallons and sixty gallon capacity were found going full blast in a cabin near Tower, about a mile northeast of Philipsburg, Tuesday afternoon. Five gallons of the finished product was confiscated and twenty four barrels of mash or about 1,200 gallons, destroyed. The operators of the two stills saw the officers coming and ran up the hill through the trees like a pair of frightened jack rabbits and got away, but warrants have been issued for their arrest. According to Sheriff Burks, the roar of the blast furnaces could be heard long before they got to the location of the stills. Both stills were operated by gas burners and pressure tanks. Four burners furnished heat for the eighty gallon still and two for the smaller still. Moonshine whiskey was running from the coils at a rate of five gallons an hour…” Of interest is the fact, none of the alleged moonshiners and bootleggers were named. 

It was almost a year later, the cases came to trial, in Judge George D. Winston’s court and one of the three charged was Gus. His charge was unlawfully manufacturing intoxicating liquor. The following jurors returned a verdict of not guilty: Fred Cyr, Maurice Weaver, George P. Nelson, W.F. Bentz (my Grandfather), Ernest Maehl (Angus’ grandfather), Freeman A. Taylor, Joseph McDougal, Vern A. Carnegie, Julius Swanson, James Mellen, W.A. Griffith and W.E. Metcalf. A poll of this group disclosed that two felt him to be guilty: Swanson and Griffith.

In 1928, apparently deciding to be on the other side of the law, Gus ran for Sheriff of Granite County and won with 742 votes against Nate Burt Sr. Gus continued winning the sheriff election every two years until he: “…quit his job as sheriff and has joined up with Uncle Sam to fight the Jap’s and other axis powers. McDonald joined the Army in Missoula Saturday [February 14th]” according to the March 6, 1942, Mail. 

On January 7, 1941, Gus had married Clarice Superneau and the Granite County Commissioners appointed Clarice to fill the Sheriff vacancy until the end of his term, stated the above paper. Other persons applying for the position were: H.B. Kaiser, Fred Cheeseman, Fred Superneau (who was under sheriff and Clarice’s brother) and Harry C. Herron. The Commissioners felt Clarice would otherwise be left without an income, with Gus leaving in this manner. 

Gus served as president of the Montana Sheriff and Peace Officers Association and won the individual police championship trophy for pistol shooting in Shelby in 1952. He was a member of the Northwest Championship Pistol Team from 1939 until 1942. To this marriage was born two children: Darell Gene on September 29, 1944 and Colette on August 22, 1947. They lived their entire marriage in the original house of Dr. Power and Darrel then lived there until his death in 2021.

Nicholas, Alex and Josephine Ringeling

 

Spoken of earlier as a Vigilante, N.B. Ringling (Ringeling) was in the headlines of the January 26, 1906, Philipsburg Mail, with the sale of mining claims in Butte. He held half interest in two placer mining claims near the Pittsmont shaft, for over twenty three years, and though it was considered of little value he had continued to hold onto the claims. The Amalgamated Copper Company, were co-owners of claims only 500 feet away. Mr. J. J. Stewart of Butte, agreed to pay N.B. $100,000. A cash payment was made as a down payment and the remainder was to be paid in four quarterly installments ending in 18 months. Although N.B. felt the price really too low he had the need to provide comfort to his aging mother, so agreed to the price. N. B.’s brother, A.B. Ringeling, was involved in the re-organization of the Philipsburg Silver Cornet Band and served as their secretary and as a trustee. In the same issue of the Mail, is the announcement, A.B. Ringling was elected president of the newly organized Stockmen’s Association. Vice president was Albert Shuh (Schuh), Treasurer A.A. McDonald and Secretary C.H. Eshbaugh. Next A.B. was re-elected as Chief of the Fire Brigade and because the treasury was in negative territory a committee was formed of Ringling, Fairbairn, and A.S. Huffman to revise the Fireman’s Hall rental schedule. This was where most of the town dances and social functions were held. Continued research reveals he was elected as an alderman, and he was elected president of the City Council at the May 3, 1897 Council meeting. 

Alex was also involved in mining in the Frog Pond basin as I found the following: “Mrs. A.B. Ringling left last week for the Frog Pond Basin, where her husband is engaged in mining. Mrs. Ringling contemplates remaining all winter.” Mrs. A.B. (Josephine) was born in Southington Connecticut on March 18, 1861 and arrived in Philipsburg in 1891. One year later she married Alexander and was very active in Philipsburg life. She became proprietress of the Grand Hotel and Restaurant, originally owned by Charles Stringle, in December 1896 and was often involved in catering meals for the Fire Brigade and Philipsburg Band where Alexander played Tenor Drum. Because of the “Times” she was always referred to as Mrs. A.B. and even in the census was listed as housewife, including after she became Deputy Montana Fish and Game Warden for the Philipsburg District. The Federal census states she had one birth but no living children. 

Death came to her from Pneumonia after she was fishing on Georgetown Lake on October 28, 1925. Her Death certificate lists her occupation as housewife even though she was still employed as the Fish and Game Warden, with maiden name and parents name listed as unknown. 

 Alex, educated as a Stationary Engineer was involved in Silver Mining and served many years as Chief of the Fire Brigade. When he became infirmed they altered his duties and continued electing him as chief. His death came October 8, 1928 at Yenter’s Hospital, in Philipsburg. 

Nicholas Berthoud Ringeling, “Montana’s oldest mining engineer and resident of Granite County for the last fifty years”, died on his ninety first birthday, at a friend's home at Georgetown Lake, February 6, 1940. Born in St. Louis Missouri on February 6, 1849, he was educated in Missouri and then attended Washington University. Next he traveled to Freiburg, Germany and attained a mining degree at their world famous mining school. In 1875, he moved to Butte and was an associate of Marcus Daly in the early 1880’s and ran a mining office with a partner named Kellogg. 

N.B. came to Philipsburg about 1890, opening a mining office and then, became involved with Hope Mining Company. During the years, he acquired many mining properties and in his later years spent his time working the claims. He was a very large, handsome man and his athletic build served him well as a fencer and boxer. He trained in his early years under a renowned English Boxing champ named Tom Allen. His horses, racing dogs and game cocks were the finest in the area and he made a handsome sight when he drove the streets in his Connolly Buggy. 

Because he never married, he lived alone in his residence on the upper end of Broadway, after his mother and two brothers died. A picture of him with the Barr Family and their daughter Kathryn Hoben shows a very large dapper man, dressed in a fur coat. Funeral services were held in Anaconda on February 8, with burial in the family plot at Mount Moriah Cemetery, in Butte, next to A.B and Josephine.

A Philipsburg Vigilante Affair

The Philipsburg Mail Archives had a short article in the May 25th issue about “The P'Burg Vigilante Case Thrown Out of Court” from 1888, which reminded me I had ran across that article years ago and could not find any follow up to understand the happenings. So I set about delving into the Library of Congress Newspaper archives. Seems that the Philipsburg news media did not really wish to discuss the happenings but other news papers in the state carried articles of the story. 

Almost a year earlier, the July 30, 1887 Livingstone Enterprise published the following article: “Between twenty-five and fifty masked citizens at Philipsburg last Friday morning before daybreak, took Louis Demars, Samuel Tolman and Fred L. Currie from their lodgings and marched them out of town. Near the outskirts of town a rope was put about the necks of the two former and they were drawn up but let down again, and admonished never to return to Philipsburg. Currie kept on walking but Demars and Tolman returned the same day and swore out complaints against a number of the alleged assailants, whom they claim to have recognized. It seems this trio had incurred the ill will of the citizens of Philipsburg, by jumping certain mining claims. Monday morning James Patten, Mike Shovelin, M. Burke, N.B. Ringling [Ringeling], Joe Napkey, L. Porter, Charles Porter, Joseph Valley, Hugh McDonald and Mark Sullivan charged with being implicated in the affair, were arraigned at Deer Lodge to answer the charges against them. They pleaded not guilty and the trial was set for Wednesday, when all but Chas. Porter were placed under bonds of $1,000 to appear before the Grand Jury at the next term of court.” 

 The July 28, 1887 Helena Weekly Herald stated: “The Philipsburg Affair. From Deer Lodge July 27-Special to the Herald-The case of the Territory against (The above named men) on the charge of riot, came up for trial before Judge Emerson this morning at 10 o’clock. The defendants are charged with complicity in the recent mobbing affair at Philipsburg and are the same that were arraigned last Monday. …When the case was called the prosecuting counsel withdrew the charge of riot and entered complaint against the defendants for assault with intent to do bodily harm. The case was then continued until this afternoon when the parties will have a hearing on the latter charge.” 

Research does not reveal the afternoon case, nor follow-up until The Butte Semi-Weekly Miner May 16, 1888 carried the following: “…The Ku Klux Cases so called because the indictments were framed and it was sought to try the defendants under the United States laws against conspiracy to assault which was framed during the reconstruction days, The offense alleged in the indictment is that the defendant, Ringling and others, in pursuance of a conspiracy entered a cabin of Sam Coleman and Louis Demars’, the owner and locators of the Charles Clarke (?Sp) No. 2 lode mine in the Flint Creek District and assaulted them with pistols, guns etc., put a rope around their necks and threatened to hang them, ordered them to leave and never return to the district and by force attempted to compel them to sign a deed conveying all of their interest in the mine to one of the attacking party….It having been decided previously that the defendants should be tried separately Mr. Ringling was arraigned and pleaded not guilty…a lengthy legal discussion followed and that the indictment was erroneous in that it alleged the witness was the owner and locators of the mine, which allegation was not borne out by the records.” 

 Apparently five people were the original locators and the argument was that although the defendants insisted the claims were located in May and that on July 22 they were deeded over to the two defendants, the deeds were produced but because they were dated August 1 they were ruled out. After about four hours of legal battling it was moved that the jury be directed to return a verdict of not guilty. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty and the prisoner was discharged and his bail returned. 

Obviously the other defendants cases were then dismissed as they had all been charged with the same offense. I am assuming since N.B. Ringeling had been a Mayor of Philipsburg and was very influential in his managing of more than one mining company, the choice to have his case go first held great weight. Most interesting is how a case of a mob threatening citizens with a lynching was manipulated to rest on the fact that the prosecution did not have a proper deed to the claim the dispute was based on.

Why Did Lonergan Kill Duffy

Because the prominent position and subsequent demise of Mr. Duffy was pertinent to the history of the area, I believe he is worthy of discussion.. The first reference found was: “J.C. Duffy and wife to Michael Day $800, placer claims No. 21, 22, and 23, finraes, tools etc., in Wilson District” in the New Northwest, September 10, 1875 edition. The wife listed here must have died prior to 1899, when he married Lena McDonald. 

The first reference I found of J.C., involved in the Miner’s Union was in the March 19, 1897, Philipsburg Mail: “J.C. Wilson, who was recently elected to the position of financial secretary of the Granite Miner’s Union, has resigned and in his stead James C. Duffy has been elected. No extensive mention of his qualifications is necessary to be made, as almost everybody in the county knows the gentleman and his ability to creditably fill the office is equally known.”

J.C. ran for the office of State Representative for the County of Granite, in 1898, on the Democratic ticket, but lost to L.C. Parker, 575 to 610 votes according to the Philipsburg Mail, November 18, 1898. 

 “Mrs. James C. (Lena Mae) Duffy died at the home of her mother, Mrs. A.C. McDonald, in Granite Feb. 5, 1900, after an illness of about three weeks. Mrs. Duffy was only seventeen years and eight days old… A child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Duffy several weeks prior, but only a short time was Mrs. Duffy permitted to enjoy the blessings of motherhood. When her father, the late A.C. McDonald, died two weeks before, Mrs. Duffy was very ill; her condition so critical that she was not informed of his death, although it occurred in the same house. Survivors were: her mother, husband, infant and two sisters. 

In 1910, J.C. was elected to the office of State Representative for Granite County, and about that same time he became the Deputy State Game and Fish Warden, for the local district. For no apparent reason a fellow Irishman shot and killed James, on a Saturday afternoon, January 8, 1916. 

The shooter, Michael Lonergan was a well known miner from Granite and employed by the Granite-Bimetallic at the time of the incident: “The shooting took place in front of the post office about 3:20pm, just after Duffy had left the post office with mail in his hand….As the shot rang out Duffy was seen to fall on the sidewalk and Lonergan stood near by brandishing a revolver. He was excited and said that he did it, but willingly gave up his gun to Herman Hauck, a clerk at the post office...Under-sheriff A.R. McDonald was less than a block away and took Lonergan into custody a few minutes later…The stricken man was carried into Jas. Sundberg’s place where Dr. Casey made a hasty examination. A bullet wound over the left eye showed that there was no hope. A few minutes later Rev. Father D. Meade arrived and administered extreme unction to the dying man. After the rites of the church were conferred, Mr. Duffy was removed to the Silver Lake Hotel where he passed away at 6:30pm.” 

A coroner’s inquest was held on January 16th and the jury brought a verdict of death from a bullet wound to the head inflicted by a shot fired from a revolver in the hands of Michael Lonergan. According to the article Mr. Lonergan, had been down from Granite a number of days seeking treatment for a bronchial condition and had been drinking alcohol at the time of the incident. He bought the gun and shells the day before and only one bullet had been fired from the gun at the time of Duffy’s death. 

 James, born in County Donegal, Ardsmore Turaconnell, Ireland on January 2, 1866 had lived in Granite for over twenty five years and was active in the Democratic Party. The funeral for James was on January 11, from McGurks’ Hotel (The Silver Lake) to St. Philip’s Catholic Church, where requiem mass was celebrated and then on to the Philipsburg cemetery with internment beside his wife Lena May. 

The preliminary hearing of Michael Lonergan was held in Judge Sayrs’ court (January 28, 1918). Lonergan was represented by Attorney W.L. Brown and Judge D.M. Durfee appeared for the state. The prisoner waived the right to testify in his own behalf. The trial on March 15, took two days to secure a jury and they returned a verdict “of guilty of murder in the second degree and left the punishment to be fixed by the court”. Judge Winston sentenced Lonergan, to the State Prison, for a term of not less than thirty years and not more than forty, on March 23, 1916. 

At this time Lonergan’s prison release has not been found.

Bi-Metallic and Degrees of Gray

 

The Bi-Metallic Complex Photograph from the Ted Antonioli collection

                                                                       Unknown date

One cannot recite the history of Granite County without speaking about the Hope Mining Company, the Granite Mountain Mining Company and the Bi-Metallic Mining Company which merged in 1898 and was presided over by Paul Fusz until his death, February 16th 1910. At that time Charles McLure, who had always been involved in Granite Mountain, took over the presidency. The Bi-Met was in the newspapers almost weekly-be it: The mill is running at full capacity; Jack Boyd and Hank Noble are accused of robbing the mills bullion room; or the mill announced they will be shutting down on Friday causing all local businesses to announce they will be going to cash only beginning next week. As recently as the 2010’s the Mill (albeit remodeled and restored) was back up and running. Although the ore being processed was first from the Drumlummon at Marysville and later ore from Canada, good paying jobs were again available to the residents. One of the last surviving Millwrights, “Wildmeat” put the mill back into running order and trained the new employees to practice this vanishing trade. 

Every time I visit the Mill or the “Brick Hotel” next door or look at pictures of the mill in my files I hear the lines of the poem “The Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg.” This writing was composed by Richard Hugo (1923-1982), who was born and died near Seattle, but lived for a period in Missoula and taught at the University. Hugo had a skill of capturing the essence of a community by driving to an area and spending one day there. This he did in Philipsburg in 1982 and published the following poetry in 1984. (I recommend the reader slowly read each line aloud and think about their ups and downs they have experienced, while digesting the words.) 

 You might come here Sunday on a whim 

Say your life broke down. the last good kiss 

You had years ago. 

You walk these streets laid out by the insane, 

past hotels, that didn’t last, bars that did, 

the tortured try of local drivers to accelerate their lives. 

Only Churches are kept up. 

The jail turned seventy this year. 

the only prisoner is always in, not knowing what he’s done 

The principal supporting business now is rage. 

Hatred of the various grays the mountain sends,

hatred of the mill, 

The Silver Bill repeal, 

the best liked girls who leave each year for Butte. 

One good restaurant and bars can’t wipe the boredom out. 

The 1907 boom, eight going silver mines 

A dance floor built on springs 

All memory resolves itself in gaze 

in panoramic green you know the cattle eat

or two stacks high above the town two dead kilns, 

the huge mill in collapse for fifty years 

that won’t fall finally down. 

Isn’t this your life? 

That ancient kiss still burning out your eyes. 

Isn’t this defeat so accurate, 

the Church bell simply seems a pure announcement; 

ring and no one comes? 

Don’t empty houses ring? 

Are magnesium and scorn sufficient 

to support a town not just Philipsburg, 

but town of towering blondes; 

good Jazz and booze 

the world will never let you have 

until the town you came from dies inside? 

Say no to yourself. 

The old man, twenty when the jail was built, 

still laughs although his lips collapse. 

Someday soon he says, 

I’ll go to sleep and not wake up 

You tell him no, 

you’re talking to yourself. 

The car that brought you here still runs 

The money you buy lunch with 

no matter where it’s mined, is silver 

and the girl who serves your food is slender 

and her red hair lights the wall. 

As a youngster attending school in Philipsburg, very few of the students came from “rich” homes and those of us on ranches out on the creeks, even though we had very little money always had meat potatoes and gravy. Most everyone charged their groceries and some of the kids in town were allowed to go into the store, pick out a candy bar and say “charge it.” Ranchers would pay their bill in full when the cattle were sold in the fall. I remember the “Cash Only” signs when the Mines and Mills would shut down. 

Often the miner stopped at the bar on his way home and the wife joined him, with the children sitting off in the back room. The man whose lips collapsed when he laughed always sat with his two buddies on the bench in front of the Bank and when the mines shut down, the town was very quiet. But there was still logging…then it shut down too. Now the product is the up and down of tourism and the Mill still stands.

 

Crew and probably management during repair of the Bi-Metallic Mill

Date unknown

Ted Antonioli collection

POW, Government Trapper and Search and Rescue

 

Frank Haacke Military photo courtesy Ann Allen

Located across the valley, near the base of the Antelope Hills six miles south of Philipsburg was located the Haacke place. Frank E. and his wife Emily “Pat” ( Kidder) Haacke settled there after Frank came back from the WWII prison camps. Originally, Frank’s parents Henry A. and Estella (Stella) Rose Whittier Haacke settled on a homestead on Little Trout Creek. He was the fourth of seven children born to Henry and Estella. Frank’s grandparents, David and Harriet Louisa (Phelps) Haacke, homesteaded outside of Stevensville at the base of the Burnt Fork Trail and were known to bring sacks of flour from their grist mill by a mule train over the Sapphire Mountains on what was then called the Bitterroot Direct Trail. This trail came from Burnt Fork through a pass and dropped down into the Stoney Gulch coming out on lower Rock Creek. Frank attended the East Fork School and one year in Philipsburg. He left school after the sixth grade and began working on the local ranches. He also did some rodeoing with his rough-neck peers. 

Frank joined the Army when WWII began and during the Battle of the Bulge was captured by the Germans. He escaped with some other prisoners after at least nine months in the camp and ran for the Russian lines. The Russians helped them get to the Americans. After being discharged in Maryland, he rode a Harley Davidson back to Montana, by way of Texas. A later article stated Frank spent time in California recovering before he returned to Montana. I remember when he arrived back in Granite county and was almost a skeleton. His daughter related to me that his weight was 72 pounds. He told about digging many tunnels trying to escape including one where on the escape night the prisoners were confronted with a note from the Germans saying “Boys, please stay for Christmas.” The prisoners were then locked into a “sardine packed box car with fellow prisoners that traveled for seven days…The day the train stopped and Frank’s feet touched the ground an Allied bombing raid began. It gave him his run for freedom.” He was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge, three major battle stars and a good conduct medal and released to find his way home. Named “Shell Shock” during WWII, he was on his own to find ways to cope with PTSD. 

An article written about Frank in the Mail, July 16, 1992 detailed his life after the war. During this period he trapped for the Government and contracted with the Walt Disney Productions to trap a bear for the starring role in “Yellowstone Twins.” Frank also raised at least one wild sheep, named Rambo. My father often hunted Mountain Lions with Frank and he always joined in with Dad, Ceal, Martha and others at the dances at “Uncle Tom’s,” where Frank played his fiddle. Frank became a member of the Montana Fiddlers and took first and second place twice in the Virginia City Fiddlers contest during his lifetime.

Numerous persons lost in the National Forest’s in Granite county were found by Frank and his bloodhounds. Two of those people I can recall. Gerald Barney’s body was found in the Fish Lake area after an extensive search and Duane Cape was more fortunate. At the age of fifteen, Duane went hunting on Mount Amerine and did not return to the car at the appointed time which triggered an extensive search. Duane was found at 4 a.m. sitting by a bonfire he had built to keep warm. After the Gerald Barney incident concerned citizens of Granite county formed a search and rescue committee. This group purchased a female bloodhound pup and presented it to Frank to own and train. The news article on December 13, 1957 stated that in three weeks a male pup would be presented to Frankie Haacke and he would be in charge of training that animal. Father Frank had many bloodhounds in his life. 

He ran for Granite County Sheriff on the republican ticket according to the May 21, 1954 Mail and lost to Nick Munis. Frank and Pat had three children before they separated and Pat remarried; they were: Frank H., Patsy (Bahsteter) and Wally who died July 4, 2007 in Umpqua, Oregon, at the age of sixty-one with nternment in the Philipsburg cemetery with Military honors on July 13. 

Frank suffered a stroke on the first day of hunting season in 1999. After a stay at Fort Harrison and some time with Patsy, he was admitted to Granite County Nursing Home and died on February 17, 2009 at the age of ninety-three. Besides his two children, Frank was survived by thirteen grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. .

Rock Creek-Beautiful Home but Unforgiving

In 1904 sixteen year old Frankie Barnes, was living on the Gillies ranch and had been there since the previous fall. Frankie fell off his horse crossing a branch of Rock Creek while going to bring in some cows Monday evening, May 30. The horse was found wet indicating a struggle getting out of the creek when found by Mr. Gillies. 

A full scale search was mounted but there was no sign of the young man and the horses tracks entered the creek at a point where the water was high, with a swift current. During the search, Lochie McDonald’s horse slipped and he almost drowned, but for August Greenheck who witnessed Lochie’s horse stumble and fall and was able to attach a rope to the fallen man as he held onto some overhanging willows and pull him to shore. After this occurred, the search was called off until the river receded. 

Frankie was the son of Charles Barnes who died in Granite County in 1891 and Mrs. Mel (Jane) Matheson, daughter of Benjamin Walters. He had attended school at intervals in Philipsburg but chose to live with his grandfather Benjamin, who lived on Rock Creek, so this made it impossible to continue attending school in Philipsburg. He started working as a hired hand at his aunt and uncle’s home (Mr. and Mrs. Gillies), in the fall of 1903 stated the June 3, 1904 Mail. 

The next news article concerning Frankie stated that Ike Sanders and his son ( article does not identify the name) were out hunting cattle when the young Sanders saw something in the water. He was unable to determine what it was, so rode into the current to investigate and found the body of Frankie submerged and caught on a log. Each time the current went over the body, the stump of his arm (which the current had caused the hand to be worn away) would come to the surface. Ike and son rode to the Gillies ranch and with the help of Mr. Gillies they were able to get the suspenders unhooked from the snag and pull the body to shore. Because of the cold water the body was well preserved except for the damage from the current during the fifty-six days it was submerged. The body was wrapped and anchored near the creek shore and the coroner was notified. An inquest was held the next day and the cause of death was determined to be from drowning. 

The body was brought to the “Allison undertaking establishment.” Rev. Butter conducted the service on July 26th with interment in the Philipsburg cemetery. Pallbearers were: Ralph McCleod, Holland Fairbairn, George Cartier, Lewis Brown, Lonnie Mitchell and Wingfield Brown, with nearly everyone from Rock Creek present according to the July 29, 1904 Philipsburg Mail. 

The Gillies and Walters’ families were related because Benjamin’s daughter, Annie Walters McCale (who had three children) married James Gillies sometime before their son Joseph was born in 1903. Unfortunately, Annie caught the measles while caring for the Pullar brothers who were neighbors and died May 6, 1911, at the age of forty-seven. Benjamin Walters was born in England in 1834 and came to Montana June 22, 1879. His first wife died in Indiana in 1874 and the second wife referred to only as Mrs. Walters, that he married in 1976, died at daughter Jane’s house in Philipsburg in 1899. 

Ben resided on Rock Creek until his death from Pneumonia December 14, 1914. Survivors were two daughter: Mrs. John (Jane) Phelps of Philipsburg, Mrs. Andrew Simpson of Missoula; Son: George of Granite; grandchildren: Ida Guinanne, George McCale and Midge McCale Martin. As referenced above the reader now realizes the McCale family tree also becomes involved as happens so often in the pioneer population of Granite county. This will be a good discussion in a future article.

Held up a Funeral

This was the Philipsburg Mail headlines on August 18, 1899, with the subtitle “Eccentric Proceedings of Two Intoxicated Men.” On Sunday Afternoon while coming from Garnet a team carrying the remains of Charles Cox “was held up by H. Triggs and Joe Morton, who had indulged in stimulants to the extent they concluded they owned the highway and were bosses of the road.” The men riding with the remains of Mr. Cox were J.R. Cox and W.T. Allison (Coroner) and the team was driven by an employee of Boyd’s Stables. 

 “Triggs and Morton who were traveling in a single rig overtook the body on the grade this side of Flint and in a rather unceremonious manner, with violent language, demanded that they be given the right of way forthwith and proceeded to enforce orders with the aid of a shotgun. The grade is narrow and there was not room at this point to turn out, but realizing they were in danger of being shot the driver lost no time in getting out of the roadway and over the grade. After passing the funeral party the drunken individuals halted and would not permit the funeral party to proceed for fully a half hour, and finally, after much persuasion on the part of Mr. Allison, they drove on, after using some very abusive language and terrifying the gentlemen having charge of the remains. County Attorney Josiah Shull upon hearing of the incident, promptly filed an information against the offenders and they were arrested and lodged in jail to answer a very serious charge. Triggs and Morton are both very well known here, having resided in the county for many years and it would seem liquor is entirely responsible for their conduct. A few months in the county bastion may have a wholesome effect.” 

 The men received a sentence of ninety days and fined $100 each for their conduct. 

Charles Cox had been a miner in the area for some time and research revealed that he was living in Tower in May 1897 and won a Cake Basket at a benefit there. He was found dead in his room at the McDonald Hotel in Garnet on Saturday August 12th, 1899. It was ascertained the death was the result of Heart Failure. He was about 33 years of age and his only known relative was his brother in Philipsburg, J. R. Cox. 

Following the above encounter the man was allowed to rest in peace after a funeral service at his brothers home, under the auspices of the Granite Miner’s Union of which Charles was a member. Unfortunately there is no headstone or record of Charles in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Seth and Ruby's Children

                                                           Seth and Ruby Bradshaw 1974

The following article is edited from the life story graciously shared with me by Dan Bradshaw. Verlin, the first born, attended the old New Chicago school just east of the railroad tracks on the old Mullan Road. He skipped the second grade, and went directly from the 1st Grade to the 3rd grade. The New Chicago closed down after third grade and he went to Drummond on the school bus to finish grade school and high school. After graduation he worked at a saw mill down near Bearmouth. Later. attended Montana State College in Bozeman for one quarter. Next he met Viola Mae Bierman and they were married August 6, 1949. They bought an old trailer house and located it on the ranch. Verlin went into construction and built, or remodeled, several homes in Drummond and in Helena. He also received his private pilot’s license; bought an airplane and did a lot of flying around Montana. 

They have four children, all born in Deer Lodge, Montana. 1. Verlyn Coleen (born: 6 July 1950; died 5 December 2010) 2. Robin Stuart (born 9 March 1952) 3. Andrew Mitchell (born 7 May 1954) 4. Thomas Matthew (born 15 February 1958).

Verlin decided to go on to College, so they moved to Provo, Utah and he attended BYU where he graduated in Civil Engineering and moved to Seattle; purchased a home and began working for The Boeing Company on the 747 airplane project for Boeing. He continued to fly his airplane. Boeing also sent him to California to work with a supplier for some of the 747 structural parts of the airplane, for about two years He continued flying his plane over California, Arizona and Mexico. Boeing took a down turn and Verlin lost his job, so went into business for himself running a nursery and landscape business which he sold after receiving his Engineer’s license from the State of Washington. 

The State of Washington required an engineer’s signature on architect drawings before the builder could proceed and inspect the homes during construction to verify they were building correctly. He was paid quite well for his expertise. While inspecting a home he tripped, He tripped, striking his head on the concrete foundation and was knocked unconscious. The incident caused him periodic seizures which needed long-term medication. 

Viola worked for the telephone company and her income helped them survive during the down times. In his later years, Verlin struggled with COPD, having to use oxygen and passed away at his home on September 30, 2009. 

Seth Daniel Bradshaw (always known as Dan) was the second child and born in the old Elmore Maternity Hospital in Missoula, Montana September 5, 1929 while the family lived in the old Bunker House. Dan attended the old New Chicago grade school for two years and then took the school bus to Drummond from third grade through High School and graduated in 1947. 

He worked on the ranch all of his young life After the family hay was harvested in 1947 he went to work for Mac Enman to help with his hay then went with Mac and another man to bring Mac’s cattle from their summer grazing area high up in the surrounding mountains. Next Dan went to work for Ora Carrocci, driving an old 1935 dump truck with mechanical brakes (which often did not work too well), hauling limestone from a quarry up the rattlesnake gulch. The next job was for Clifford Spencer cutting Christmas trees and then he went to Butte and enlisted in the Army Air Force which changed one year later to the United States Air Force. 

He was sent to Lackland Field, in San Antonio, Texas, for basic training; next to Scott Field, near Belleville, Illinois, for training in Radio Maintenance. After completing the Radio Maintenance training came Camp Kilmer in New Jersey to receive some shots and orders to go to Germany to serve with the occupation forces and shipped out in January of 1949, He disembarked in Bremen, Germany; then to Marburg to receive orders and was sent to Tulln Air Force Base near Vienna, Austria. Next was transferred to Celle, Germany, to support the Berlin Air Lift. 

After the Berlin Air Lift, Dan was sent to Fassberg Air Base for a couple of weeks to work with a group trying to find any information on the base relating to the V-2 rockets that Hitler dropped on England. Fassberg Air Base was highly classified during World War II because it was at that base that the V-2 rockets were developed. Next he was sent to Tempelhof Air Base in Berlin, Germany, for only a short time, then sent to a detachment in Braunschweig, Germany, to continue the support of the Berlin Air Lift, as it was still going on, even though it had officially ended a little earlier. T

The Korean War started in June of 1950 and all military personnel were frozen in the service, so that they could not get out of the service for an undetermined time. Dan re-enlisted in December of 1950 and remained in Braunschweig until his three year tour of duty was over in Germany. He was sent back to Bremen, and boarded a troop ship in January 1952, to go back to the United States. After 11 rough days on the Atlantic Ocean, Dan arrived in New York and traveled to Fort Dix in New Jersey to receive his new assignment. His assignment was McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington. After a few weeks he was sent TDY (Temporary Duty) to re-open Paine Field (now Paine Air Force Base) because the Air Force wanted to use it for training fighter pilots. The field had been closed after World War II. When that task was completed he was sent on TDY to Eniwetok in the South Pacific to support the Atomic Energy Commission in detonating the first Hydrogen Bomb, then re-assigned to McChord Air Force Base to complete his final years in the Air Force. 

Before being discharged he met Joyce Alene Haight in Drummond and they were married on 25 May 1953. After discharge Dan enrolled in Electrical Engineering at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana; graduated in 1957 and accepted a position with the Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington and engaged in graduate work in Electrical and Nuclear Engineering at the University of Washington. 

After acceptance to the Business School at the University of Washington, Dan changed his mind and took the Law School Admission Test and was accepted into the Law School at the University of Washington. During school Dan tool a leave of absence from Boeing and after receiving his Juris Doctorate returned to work for Boeing. They had four children, Suzanne Lynn who married Darcy Self, Carol Jean who married Blair Suddarth; Rodney Daniel and Robert Lloyd who married Joanne. They all have active lives at this time. 

Dan retired from Boeing in July of 1993. During retirement, Joyce and Dan served a Mission in the New Jersey Cherry Hill Mission with a major assignment to establish an Institute Program at Rutgers University. Some years later Joyce became quite ill and struggled for a couple of years and then passed away on March 25, 2018 with burial in the Tahoma Veterans Cemetery near Tacoma, Washington. 

Dan later re-met a girl he dated in High School in 1946-1947: Patricia Ann Wickberg from the lower valley. Pat had married Cart Hamilton and was widowed in 2009. Dan and Pat were married in Seattle on July 9, 2018 and are now living in Pat’s home in Missoula,

High School Sweethearts Together Again

                                          Patricia Wickberg High School Graduation Picture

Patricia Ann Wickberg graciously shared her life history with me recently and I will attempt to describe the picture her circle of life has painted. Although I covered some of her history in my books, Federal Census records were not available at that time and some news articles were not accurate. Born to Margaret Durfee and Ryan Roland Wickberg in 1929, her family tree was already well established in Granite County. Maternal grandparents were Marion C. and Myrtle Mae Archmire (Achamire) Durfee, pioneer residents. 

Marion’s parents were: Francis and Eva Durfee. Francis located in Alder Gulch in 1864 and “shortly after moved to the Flint Creek Valley” according to his obituary. The Durfee ranch where Marion was born west of Philipsburg became the married couples home and there Myrtle died at the age of 27 in 1909. The 1910 Federal Census shows Marion with son Francis age 5 and Margaret age 4. Marion brought in a new wife, Nina Streeter to become the children’s step mother during 1910.amd the Federal Census in 1920 shows the four members of the Durfee family still living in Philipsburg. 

Ryan Wickberg and Margaret were married on February 20, 1926. Pat was their third child, after Mildred Ruth, born in Philipsburg on December 7, 1926; and older brother, Marion Louis “Tony” “Buster” Wickberg born in Philipsburg on March 30, 1928. A younger brother, Ryan Roland born on February 21, 1931, came down with pneumonia a short while after birth and passed away on March 10, 1931. The depression hit a few weeks before Pat was born and Ryan moved the family to Phosphate, Montana, to work in the phosphate mine, when she was 3 or 4 years old. She started 1st Grade in Garrison then they moved back to Philipsburg to complete 1st through 8th Grade and Granite County High School with graduation in of May of 1947. 

After graduation, Pat worked in the County Agent’s office for a little over a year, then attended Business School in Butte, Montana, for a year and a half then came back to Philipsburg in late 1949 and worked for Taylor-Knapp. While in Philipsburg she met Clarence “Cart” Hamilton,(June 27, 1923), the son of Andrew and Hilda Hamilton. They were married in Philipsburg on April 9, 1950. Born to this marriage was: daughter, Judy Lorraine Hamilton (August 20, 1951) and son, Daniel Magnus Hamilton, (October 12, 1955). Pat worked for Taylor-Knapp until Judy was born. 

The family moved to Missoula in late 1962 where Pat worked for Western Montana Implement Company for about 10 years. Judy and Dan attended Prescott Grade School and both graduated from Hellgate High School.. Pat’s sister Margaret Saurer died in 1973 and Pat began working for Chuck’s Body Shop but fumes began to bother her, so in 1983 she quit and went to work for Garden City Nursery. She also volunteered at the Prescott School for about 20 years. 

Judy and spouse Alan Bradley have three children: Alan W., Kelcy, and Haley; Dan had Ryan and Rae. Pat has now been blessed with ten great grandchildren. 

Pat’s father Ryan retired as a school bus driver after 25 years of service and died on August 15, 1977 Mother, Margaret Wickberg joined him on September 3, 1986. 

Cart worked for the Anaconda Company, which later became Champion International and retired in 1986 as a Lumber Mill Superintendent then volunteered for 18 years for the Radio Reading Service and for 6 years as a Missoula Police Fingerprint Technician. Cart and Pat celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 9, 2000. In 2006 Cart, had a stroke and later developed throat cancer. They sold their home up the Rattlesnake and bought on Village Square in late 2006. Cart died on August 22, 2007 and Son Dan died in May of 2014. 

Pat moved into Village Senior Residence Facility in Missoula on February, 2015 after an ankle injury, with Haley and family renting her home. Brother Tony had died in January and Pat was the executor of his estate so spent a lot of time driving up to Philipsburg. Having enough of life at the Village she decided to move back into her home in March of 2018. 

During 1946-1947, in High School, Pat dated a man named Dan Bradshaw. They kept in touch off and on through the years. Early in 2018 his wife passed away and through a series of circumstances the two became reacquainted and before long the relationship became serious. Dan proposed, Pat accepted, and they were married in his home in Seattle, Washington July 9, 2018. Pat did not care for Seattle, so they returned to her home in Missoula in late August, 2018 and are living there, happily ever after!

                                                       Pat and Dan's Wedding Picture

Seth Bradshaw's Family Life

                                                                 Seth about age 12

I am grateful for Dan Bradshaw providing me with an extensive history of the Bradshaw family, from which this article was edited. Seth Stuart Bradshaw was born in Wellsville, Cache County, Utah, on 19 November 1902. He was the 6th of nine children born to Charles Hampson Bradshaw and Robenia Glenn Stuart. The children were: Mary (1/1/89-4/20/92), Charles S. (4/7/91-1/3/1974), Elizabeth (1/17/93-3/7/1979), Margaret (9/15/96-4/1/1979), Ethel (3/8/99-5/20/1971), Seth (11/19/02-10/21/1978), Allen (10/6/04-10/6/1904), Jessie 12/2/06-5/25/1988) and Sarah 11/11/09-1/12/2001) 

Seth’s father built a new home in Wellsville when Seth was 3 or 4 years old. They moved to White’s Valley in 1910. It was about 45 miles from Wellsville and took all day on a dusty old road. It is located about 16 miles west of Tremonton. His dad dry farmed, as there was not enough water for irrigation. He grew barley and other grain. He also had a steam thresher and a couple of headers to help with the harvest. There was a well on the property and he had a horse that went around and around in a small circle to pump water into a tank. Seth always wondered why the horse did not get dizzy and fall over, but he was a faithful horse, and did this every day all summer. 

Seth was just under 12 years old when his father died. He finished the 8th grade in Wellsville, and that completed his schooling. He did say that he was known as the little tough guy in school. When it came time to get shots for diphtheria, he laughed at the other kids who were crying. When it came his turn, they gave him the shot and he feinted. So much for being the little tough guy. He also said they burned the school house down so he did not go beyond the 8th Grade. 

After his father died, Seth went to White’s Valley to live with his brother Charles and his family In early 1919, Charles and family moved to Montana, so Seth went to live with an uncle in Tremonton and worked for him on his farm. He also worked in the sugar factory in Ogden for a while. Seth liked to ranch and owning his own ranch was something he wanted all of his life, so he decided to go to Montana and stay with his brother Charles and his wife and family for a while. Seth rode in a boxcar with some cows, horses, chickens and furniture that belonged to Charles.. He had a toothache all of the way to Montana. The train stopped at several places along the way and he had to feed the animals. They stopped in Garrison, Montana, and somehow the chickens got out, and he had to chase them all over town, and get them back into the boxcar. He did have some help. 

He arrived at Charles place on May 20, 1919 and worked there for a while. Next he stayed with Herb and Teen Leishman. They were old friends from Utah and lived in the old Robbins house up near the airport. The house has since burned down. Seth rented the place for one summer to put up hay. He used the horses that belonged to the Robbins. It was all dry ground, as the canal had not been yet built. Mr. Robbins taught him how to irrigate. 

His mother and younger sister Sarah (Sally) came to Montana in 1925 and stayed for a year. Those were rough times, as grain sold for only 10 cents per bushel. Seth worked for other ranchers in Granite County to try to save some money. He leased the old Fred Parker place before he was married. 

He met Ruby Stuart, a 2nd cousin, and they courted and were married on October 24, 1927 in Drummond, Montana. They left a few days later to be sealed in the Cardston Alberta Canada Temple. They drove his Ford Model T and camped along the way. They stayed with some relatives in Alberta while they were there, and were treated very nicely. They came back through northern Idaho, to Spokane and then back to Drummond. They lived in the old house around the hill, which Seth called the old Bunker house. 

                                                         The Old Bunker Hill House

The first four children were born while they lived in this house: Verlin, Dan, Keith and Allen. This was during the depression. Times were really tough. They lost the ranch in 1934 and then rented it back.  Seth always used to say that you could .......

While living in the Bunker House many male friends came to visit and get their hair cut, as Seth was a reasonable barber. He also cut all of his children’s hair until they left home. “The only difference between a good and a bad haircut was about three days.” While living at this house Verlin was told that if he could sneak up on the Hungarian Pheasants and sprinkle salt on their tales he could catch them. So being a kid, Verlin decided to try this at about 6 or 7 years old. After several tries, he could not get close enough to salt their tales, and gave up.  

Over the years all of the children had the usual chicken pox, measles, whooping cough, mumps and other childhood diseases. They were saved by eating Ruby’s soup. At the old Bunker Hill house, there was a ditch that ran along the southeast of the house. This was a place to play, and build dirt roads, and use imaginary cars that were actually rocks. Seth must have had a desire to be a cattle rider in a rodeo. He would tie a long rope to a calf and then put Dan or Verlin on the calf, and hold the rope as it ran in circles. Amusing to Seth while the boys usually were bucked off. One Christmas morning Seth told the children to come and see Santa’s sled tracks in the snow outside the front door. Verlin was convinced that he had no problem seeing them, but Dan was not convinced. 

Seth always had a few milk cows. Seth and Dan went up to get a load of hay for the cattle and on the way back a terrific thunderstorm came up. Seth stopped the wagon to open a gate and lightning struck the fence right close to where he was standing. He quickly got the wagon through the gate and ran the horses home. While at the old Bunker Hill house, Seth was injured and developed blood poisoning in one arm, which was serious. Doctor Wilcox, came out and put hot packs on the arm and after a few days he was okay. 

In the spring of 1935, Ruby was very pregnant and driving herself to Philipsburg to see the doctor. As she approached her sister Phyllis’s home, 10 miles from Philipsburg, she realized she would not make it to Philipsburg. They took her to the back bedroom in Ernest and Phyllis’s home, where Ernest helped deliver the baby. He said “I have helped deliver horses and cows, so I guess I can do this too”. This special child was Carol Ann, the only daughter in the family. 

       Front Row: Keith, Carol and Allen. Middle: Verlin and Dan. Back: Ruby and Seth holding Larry

After the “Bunker Hill” house, the family then lived in what was called the house on the corner. Located on the corner of Highway 1 and the old Mullan road, they lived there for a couple of years and Larry was born in this house While living at the house on the corner, Seth had a nervous breakdown. Jobs were scarce and so was money. It was a difficult time for many during the depression. In 1937 the family decided to go back to Utah and visit and this seemed to do the trick as after a few days Seth began to feel normal, so they returned home and he was not bothered with this malady the remainder of his life They moved from there to a house located about 50 yards to the south of his brother Charlie’s home. This was the house that was later moved to the ranch. 

He worked for Joe Mitton, on roads in northern Granite County, with 6 or 7 workers. Seth spent most of his time cutting their hair. In the boggy areas they would build the roads using rip-rap, where they laid poles along the roadway and filled the spaces with rocks and gravel. Seth also worked on homes in Drummond, running a horse drawn scraper to dig dirt out for a basement; Next for the WPA for a couple of years; then the Skalkaho Highway for a while using a horse and scraper (The scraper tripped one time, catching him under the chin, which knocked him out); then back to ranching and putting up hay for other ranchers. He had mowers, rakes, bull rakes, forks and other tools and would hire other men to help out. 

In 1939 he and Ruby borrowed money from the Federal Land Bank and bought the ranch where he lived the remainder of his life. He had now fulfilled the lifelong dream of owning his own ranch.

It is as if everyday is the last of days

Reading the January 19th Philipsburg Mail created many unsettled emotions for me. I have wandered around my home picking up and reading a lot of Montana books and Granite County history this past week trying to again accept the obvious fact that as I grow older, more and more of the history I value is being negated, altered and discarded. The book that helped me settle my feeling the best was “Montana High Wide and Handsome” by Joseph Kinsey Howard and published in 1943. 

Cited from page 327-28 “Montana will enjoy its role in all of this, next to being actually a frontier, there is nothing better than being the jumping off place for one. Ask St. Louis or Seattle, Omaha or St. Joe! Certainly frontiersmen will always be welcome, always feel at home when they hear the traditional greeting ‘get down and come on in!’ There will be room for adventurers here, In Montana everyone has a quarter of a mile (ten times as much space as the average American can claim for himself) in which to stomp about and shout, or just lie and look up at the vibrant blue-green sky. It always reaches just beyond the horizon and the horizon seems always to be still within Montana. Between the sky and the horizon edge is rainbow’s end. It is there the sun rests in intermission while the spirit dancers of the aurora thread their way silent and a-tiptoe, through the grave measures of their minuet: there too are the Sand Hills, where wander shades of dead warriors in perpetual pursuit of phantom buffalo. There is the goal of all the mysterious old trails---the green well watered pasture; the brimming reservoir; the never failing wheat. Even peace is there. The sky is so big that the newcomers’ mighty air transports roaring into the sunset will loom no larger than did the covered wagons creaking over a mountain pass. For an instant they will be noisy and important, and there will be a flick of flame on their wings, celestial tribute to gallantry; then the sky will be still again…save for the high chorus of color, which one learns ro hear after awhile. The sunset holds infinite promise. Fire sweeps up from behind the Rockies to consume the universe, kindles the whole horizon, and all the great sky is flame; then suddenly it falters and fades atop the distant peaks and the lonely buttes, ebbs and is lost in secret coulees. The Montanan is both humbled and exalted by the blazing glory filling his world, yet so quickly dead; he cannot but marvel that such a puny creature as he should be privileged to stand here unharmed, and watch. It is as if every day were the last of days. So Edward Arlington saw the mountain county: Dark hills at evening in the west, Where sunset hovers like a sound Of golden horns that sang to rest Old bones of warriors under ground, Far now from all the bannered ways Where flash the legions of the sun, You fade—as if the last of days Were fading, and all wars were done. But the sun’s fierce ecstasy will return tomorrow night. And next year.” 

Many banks failed in Montana and Granite county and especially during the depression. By 1939, the only banks were in Deer Lodge or Butte and caused great hardship for the people. Thus began a concentrated effort by merchants and ranchers to form their own bank. A four page document on legal sized paper is present in the family possessions of J.D. Kennedy, a Granite county rancher, Under-sheriff, Sheriff, State Representative and Senator, that was the original petition to establish this bank. The document dated October 26, 1939 contains the original signatures of 89 businesses, ranchers and citizens of Granite county. The names are all listed in “Mettle of Granite County Book Two” page 32. These people contributed their hard earned cash to buy shares in this institution and named it Flint Creek Valley Bank which opened in April, 1940. The major share holders became Board members and at the close of business December 31, 1940 a document shows $339,010.13 in Resources and Liabilities. Officers were: H.A. Featherman President, R.D. Metcalf Vice-president, B.G. Paige cashier and Clarice Superneau Assistant cashier. The Board of Directors were: J.D. Kennedy, H.A. Featherman, R,D. Metcalf, John Rodda and B.G. Paige. J.D. Kennedy was president of the bank for many years and until his death March 4, 1949. 

Blurring the history, around 2000 it became Granite Mountain Bank (not established in 1940 as the sign hanging over the door says). Some descendants still have their original FCV shares. This institution has now been sold to Citizen Alliance Bank. What is not written and remembered shall forever be lost. Question is: what will happen to all those shares people have held onto for decades?