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.