Civil War Veterans Part One

The history of patriotism in Montana is well documented. Prior to immigration to Montana a large portion of the population was involved in the Civil War. This is apparent in the disagreement over the name of the first territorial capital. D. Pace in 1962 writes in Golden Gulch: “Varina was the name chosen by some of the Confederate sympathizer’s among the miners;… Jefferson Davis being as much a hero to those whose sympathies were with the south as Abraham Lincoln was to the others, it occurred to the town company to name the new camp after Davis’s wife. ..Judge Giles Gaylord Bissell of Connecticut had been named Judge on June 12, 1863, whose sympathies were just as strong for the northern cause and Bissell legend, states The doctor struck his desk , exclaiming, “I’ll be damned if I’ll sign it that way”. Crossing out Varina he substituted Virginia, allegedly with the further remark that “…no such blot as this shall stain the honor of the camp.” 

Tombstones in the Philipsburg Cemetery, Valley Cemetery and newspaper obituaries, attest to the presence of these men who served in the early military and Civil War: John Jeffrey died at his home in Granite, Thursday April 18, 1890 of inflammation of the heart. A native of Cornwall England he came to Canada as a youth. He married Emma Will (?? unable to read) 1878 and they had three children, according to the Granite Mountain Star. There is no mention in his brief obituary about serving in the civil war, but his headstone in the Philipsburg cemetery is a Veterans headstone. 

Veteran, John Hart Williams, born February 16, 1842 near Richmond, Virginia, was the oldest of four children, but his obituary does not identify the names of his parents. His father died in 1848 and one year later his mother moved with the children to Missouri. At the age of nineteen, John enlisted in the Confederate Army and served throughout the war. In 1865 he came west across the plains and located in upper Deer Lodge valley where he took up a ranch on Racetrack creek and engaged in ranching and stock raising, according to the August 29, 1913, Mail. He married Annie Butcher in Colorado in 1877 and they raised one son and two daughters. About twenty years before his death, they sold the ranch and moved into Deer Lodge, for a short time, then moved to Philipsburg, where he worked in numerous positions, in the mines of Granite County. During the winter of 1912/13, he suffered from pneumonia and was not well after that. Seeking medical care, he had traveled to Deer Lodge, in July and died there, on August 26. After a funeral at the Christian Church, he was interred in the Deer Lodge cemetery. He was a lifelong member of the Christian Church; a Democrat; a member of the United Confederate Veteran’s and The Society of Montana Pioneers. Survivors were: his wife Annie of Philipsburg; daughter Miss Lucille Williams of Philipsburg; daughter Mrs. Harry A. Miller of Livingston and son Lytle L. Williams, an electrical engineer in Lewistown, Montana. 

A veteran who was an active person in early Montana history was Reverend George W. Jenkins. Born September 9, 1836 in Minersville, Pennsylvania to English parents, he spent his early years in Jackson County, Iowa, then in 1861, enlisted in Company M, Second Calvary and served until 1864, in the Civil War. He married Sarah E. King on December 28, 1865, at Andrew, Iowa. Employed as a newspaper man, he was granted his license to preach on August 13, 1859. The family came to Montana in 1888, where he spent his first five years, in the Methodist pastorate in Philipsburg and Granite and erected the churches in both places, plus the parsonage in Philipsburg. He also conducted religious services at Rumsey during this time, stated the August 16, 1890 Granite Mountain Star. 

He was serving his second year, as Pastor in Marysville, Montana, when he died four days before his sixty fifth birthday, on September 5, 1901. The Reverend was a member of Burnside Post Number 22 Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and all the old soldiers of Philipsburg attended his funeral. He was the father of six children: Mrs. G. S. Williams d.1896; Miss Cora, Wm. S., Mrs. D.R. McRae, Mrs. J.J. Carmichael, Miss Belle and foster-daughter, Mrs. C.M. Oates His daughter Maria had married John J. Carmichael, at the Methodist Parsonage with her father presiding on December 31, 1896 and in 1937, she came to Philipsburg to celebrate the fifty year anniversary, of the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal church, her father built, and gave the roll call of all the pastor’s that had served in the church.

Contributions to Granite County: The Boyd Brothers

The four Boyd Brother’s , John (Jack), Charles, Alex and Dave, were born into a family of six children in a ‘hard scrabble farm” near the town of Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Canada in the 1860’s. The brothers worked their way into Montana in 1880 as loggers and lumberman and between 1883 and 1886, according to the family history documented by a descendant Terry Kayes, were involved in building in Granite, Philipsburg, Ovando, Missoula and Anaconda. 

In Granite and Philipsburg, Charles opened up a slaughter house and retail meat market while operating a stage business. Alex was involved in the Livery business and as an avid ballroom dancer built a dance floor on the 2nd story of his livery stable. He was also involved in building the Haverty Garage. Prior to moving to Seattle in the 1908-09 time period, Alex also built a dance floor in Missoula. Charles  built a home and ranch on the Dirty Dick Creek, which is located just south of where the Forest Service buildings are now located. (If anyone knows how this creek was named I would love to hear the story). 

In 1894 Charles (age 34) married Anna Wyman (age 20) from the lower Rock Creek ranch and by the 1900 Federal Census they had 3 children: Clarence A. age 5, Edna age 4 and Carrol age 1. In 1897, Charles Shodair resigned his position as Philipsburg City Council-man and Charles was appointed to fill the position. In 1900, Charles was elected to fill the City Mayor position and served one four year term. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Bend, Oregon where they homesteaded and when he died daughter Carrol took over the operation. The ranch is now a National Historic site. 

The first news articles research found was July 20, 1893 stating “The Charles Boyd and Gus Lindstadt case occupied the attention of the district court last Friday and Saturday and up to late hours that evening. A large number of witnesses examined on both sides. Judge Brantly presided and the prosecution was represented by County Attorney W.L. Brown and Bob Smith, while W.B. Rogers and Judge McConnell appeared for the defendants. The trial was a long and tedious one and a number of pretty spicy remarks were passed between the attorneys during its progress. .. The case was finally submitted to the jury about 10:30 o’clock and in an hour brought a verdict of acquittal for Charles and Gus on stealing cattle from Angus A. McDonald.” Because of other cases I have ran across I am assuming that Charles and Gus ended up with the alleged stolen cattle because as both being butcher’s. The cattle rustler (s) saw the slaughter house as an easy way to get rid of evidence while also making money on the beef. Unfortunately unless they skinned the animal before bringing it to the slaughter house the brand would be there on the hide as evidence of ownership.

Research also revealed where Charles, Alex and Gus sold their interest in the Red Lion District on March 31, 1905 which was around the time all the brothers moved from the area. Alex and Dave moved their business to the Seattle area. I believe descendants of Dave continue operating a ranch in the Ovando area. It appears that Jack was considered a “black sheep” of the family and little history other than his escapades are available and those are absent in the family history.

Bi-Metallic Bullion and Jack Boyd

The Mail, September 1, 1899, headlined a major arrest when John (Jack) Boyd was charged in Butte with Grand Larceny. Boyd was charged with stealing retort from the Granite Bi-Metallic Mining Company where he had been employed as a watchman. The amount stolen ranged from $10,000 to $70,000. It was claimed retort had been missed for the past fourteen months and the company was aware it was being systematically robbed. Paul Fusz had offered Mr. Boyd a $500 reward to discover who the parties were stealing the retort. Detectives were also employed. Apparently Mr. Boyd visited Butte last week and: “…about the same time a quantity of retort valued at about $30,000 was found with Max Meyer which was identified as coming from the Bi-Metallic mill. It was this that caused Mr. Boyd’s arrest. Assayer Meyer has also been taken into custody and it is said the detectives are looking for other parties who are thought to be implicated. Two detectives arrived Tuesday and Mr. Boyd was taken to Butte Wednesday morning. 

The affair has caused a sensation in the city as Mr. Boyd had borne an excellent reputation and is a man of considerable prominence. He is the brother of Mayor Charles A. Boyd of this city and also of the well known liverymen, A.J. and David A. Boyd of this city and Anaconda.” 

The September 22, 1899 Mail stated that John Boyd was released on Bond for $10,000. The bond was put up by Kenneth McRae, Samuel T. Salverson, David A. Boyd and Alex J. Boyd. The outcome of this charge is unclear and failed to produce any more comments in the Mail. 

Then, I found a description of another robbery in the September 9, 1904 Mail: “A bold and desperate attempt was made between 12 and 1 o’clock Saturday morning to rob the bullion vaults at the Granite Bi-Metallic Consolidated Mining Company, where at all times there are stored several thousand dollars of silver bullion. Two men appeared near the retort room at the mill where the vaults are situated and there met watchman George Johnson. They ordered him to throw up his hands and upon his refusal to do so they knocked him down and beat him over the head with the butt of a revolver. The men then carried Johnson to a barn nearby and bound him hand and foot and gagged him also. The robbers then returned to the bullion room, where they met George McGuire, an electrician in the employ of the Montana Water, Electric Power and Mining Company, who had come into the room for some supplies for his department. He also was commanded to put up his hands. McGuire at first thought that the intruders were joking, but they soon convinced him that they were in earnest. McGuire was also knocked down and carried to the barn where Johnson lay bound and gagged. He as well was tied hand and foot and a gag placed in his mouth. 

The robbers then again returned to the bullion room and set to work to effect an entrance to the vaults where the bullion was stored. They had tools with them for breaking through the brick walls to the interior of the vault and tools also for boring the iron portions of the vaults and they worked vigorously at their enterprise for a time. In the meantime Johnson, lying gagged and bound in the barn, somehow managed to work his shoes off and slip the ropes from his feet. He then got out of the barn and gave an alarm. The robbers evidently saw their game was up and quit, leaving their work only started and the tools they had been using on the ground near the vault. They left not only their tools but also a number of sacks they had brought with them in which to carry away their loot. 

James Thompson and Arthur Smith were arrested the next morning, having been suspected of being connected with the affair. Smith has since been released, there not being any evidence against him, but Thompson has so far been unable to satisfactorily explain his whereabouts on the night of the holdup and is still in jail. Hank Noble and Jack Boyd have been arrested, the complaint charging them with burglary, for which they have been placed under $5,000 bonds each. A second complaint charging them with assault in the first degree has been preferred and $6,000 bonds each, making a total of $11,000 each in bonds. Both say they are innocent.” 

The final conclusion was both parties were found not guilty. Did the family name's influence the verdict?

Sacrifice of his life: Findlay McDonald

Findlay McDonald won the election for Sheriff, in 1896, with a vote of 922 against A.S. Huffman’s  905 votes. One of his first major events was when he arrested a man who called himself Robert Granville, May 5, 1897. The populous strongly suspected the man to be John Strader, alias Frank Morgan, wanted in Gallatin County for killing Deputy Sheriff Allen during an attempted arrest. He had exchanged several shots with Deputy Fisher and Dan Berry during a break in of the Berry's house on May 10, according to the May 12, 1897 Citizen Call. 

Sheriff Fransham arrived from Gallatin County and though not certain he was the same man, took pictures of the prisoner in the Granite County Jail, to show to person’s that were known acquaintances of Frank Morgan/John Strader. When arrested he had two six-shooters strapped on him “in self improvised scabbards” made from the boot tops of a sheep herder working for Davis and Williams, a few miles south of Garrison, who the day before had been robbed and roughly handled by Granville and his associate. The sheep-herder identified him, as one of the men who held him up and gave a good description of the other who escaped. It was determined by all, the man by whatever name, was a rough one and probably wanted for other crimes, if he was not the person who killed the deputy. At a hearing before Justice Berry of Drummond, he waived examination and was bound over to the next term of district court. 

Findlay was defeated by George Metcalf, for Granite County Sheriff, by one vote and the election results were contested in 1898. The case was set for a hearing on December 7, with D.M. Durfee as Findlay‘s attorney and W. Brown, the attorney for Metcalf. The election results were found to be correct and Findlay turned his office over on January 1, 1899. He ran again for Sheriff, on the Democratic ticket in 1904 and won, against Republican J.D. Kennedy, by a plurality of 161 votes. Findlay, was not the Democratic nominee, for sheriff in 1906; Robert McDonel, was and he lost to J.D. Kennedy. 

The year 1911, saw the former Sheriff Findlay McDonald, summoned by death. He died on Sunday March 5, 1911, after being an invalid for almost three years. On July 22, 1908, Findlay risked his life to stop a run away team in Drummond and was dragged for a number of blocks and severely injured. He saved the life of the lady driving the team, but “it may be said that it was at the sacrifice of his own life”. 

Findlay, the son of John R. McDonald and Margaret McPherson McDonald, was born in Glengary County, Ontario in 1859. He was fifty one years, ten months, and nineteen days old, at the time of his death. Raised on a farm, he attended school in Alexandria, then moved to Saginaw, Michigan and worked in lumber. After a couple of years he moved to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and again worked in the lumber industry. Next his interest turned to mining, with a move to Leadville, Colorado. Then after about three years he returned to his native land in Canada, and married Miss Mary McDonald, at St. Fenian’s Catholic Church, in Alexandria. They came west to Butte, on April 8, 1886, and arrived in Granite in 1888. 

He was responsible for helping to organize and was the first President of the Granite Mining Union, when it was founded in 1888. The next move was to Black Pine, with employment as the mine foreman, until 1896, when he was elected Sheriff of Granite County. His obituary states that he was re-elected in 1900 and 1902, being at the time of his death, the only sheriff serving three terms, which as stated above is not correct. Survivors were: his wife Mary, daughter Catherine (married to Arthur Lindstadt Jr., at that time a druggist in Butte). 

The next news article, found March 27, 1914, was: “Mrs. Findlay (Mary) McDonald has taken over the Royal Café in the Doe Block. Mrs. McDonald enjoys a wide reputation for excellence in the hotel business and no doubt will have a large patronage at her new location.” Previously, Mary McDonald, had operated the Stephens Hotel dining hall when Findlay died and apparently decided to expand.

Born in Alexandria, Ontario, in April of 1861, as Mary McDonald, she married Findlay and arrived in Philipsburg in 1889. She died July 4, 1927, from pneumonia and the funeral was held from her daughter, Mrs. A.W. Lindstadt’s, home on July 6. Survivors were: daughter Mrs. A.W. Lindstadt, four grandchildren: Catherine, Jean, Marian and Lois Lindstadt; three brothers: and one sister. She was interred next to Findlay in the Philipsburg cemetery.

A Rich History: The Metcalf Family

                     George, William, Lee, Cleve, Margaret, Molly, Robert and Sarah Metcalf circa 1920

George Metcalf, who leased and then bought John Yandell’s ranch was born to English parents in Brigham, Utah, March 4, 1857. George had four brothers and five sisters and left home at the age of fourteen. First he worked the mines around Utah for one and a half years then moved to Idaho and worked as a freighter using ox teams between Idaho and Montana. In 1876, George started his own freighting business in Virginia City, Montana and operated it until 1880 when he returned to Idaho where he freighted between Wood River and Challis. During this time he met Sarah Richards and after their marriage on September 18, 1880 in Malad, Idaho, they moved to Marysville, Montana in 1882. Next he worked a short time for the Anaconda Copper Company and then took a contract with the Butte and Gallatin Railroad Company in 1888. 

The family then moved to Philipsburg where he built a branch railroad from the depot to the Bi-Metallic Mill. He then engaged in hauling for the Bi-Metallic until 1893and it is believed that they moved back to Malad for a short period during this time period. It was during this time that the family moved to the Yandell Ranch on Trout Creek. 

Their children are as follows: George Leo, known as Lee born October 8, 1881, in Malad (d-1949); William E. born in 1883 (d-1950); Margaret in 1884 (d-1988); Mary known as Mollie born in 1887 (d-1984); Cleveland A. born in 1889 (d-1972); Robert D. born 1892 (d-1973), plus in the Philipsburg cemetery are C.E who died at the age of six months and twenty seven days on October 14, 1891; William Baby without a death date; Charles Baby without a death date and Baby Roy without a birth or death date. 

During George and Sarah’s lifetime they were very active in the Granite county society as evidenced from all the entertainment and organizations they participated in. George served as Sheriff from 1888 to 1902; served on the School Board in 1900 and in 1904 was elected as the State representative of Granite County. He won the State Senate seat in 1906 and served through 1913, when he lost the seat to the Pharmacist, A.R. Dearborn. George was a member and President of the Trout and Rock Creek Grazing Association in 1916 and for several years was President of the Philipsburg State Bank which he retired from in 1922 due to his health causing him to give up an active business life. 

He traveled to California for medical treatment and after having surgery failed to improve and died on May 20, 1923. His body was returned to Philipsburg where his funeral was held at son William’s home with burial in the family plot containing his infant children. 

After George’s death, Sarah’s daughter Margaret and her husband Reuben Huffman lived with her and she spent her winters in Idaho and California until 1938 when she returned to her ranch home and died there on May 28, 1938 after a brief illness. Internment was beside her husband and infant children in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

The Metcalf ranch, now consisting of 3,600 acres was sold in 1938 to Bill Studdert and became known as the Tee Bar Three ranch. In September 1957 Gary Cooper bought a “substantial interest in the 13,000 acre Tee Bar Three ranch” according to the September 20, 1957 Philipsburg Mail. Then the Mail stated on May 19, 1972 that the Flint Creek Land Company had bought the Tee Bar Three ranch comprised of 12,400 acres on April 1. The seller was Mile T. Quinn who had bought the ranch from Studdert in 1971. 

The Metcalf children became active members of the community with Cleve partnering and operating drinking establishments including the Club Bar which he bought from his brother William (George Cartier Building). The two brothers owned the Sanitary Meat Market and bought the City Meat Market in July of 1920. Margaret and brother William operated the Metcalf’s Confectionery beginning in 1908. Robert operated The Philipsburg Cash Grocery until he sold out to Vatis Page in 1918 and then lost about $30,000 from a fire in his M.D. Warehouse later that year. He won the mayor election in 1928 and served in that office for twelve years. He then moved to Arizona and when he returned bought a feed and grain store on lower Broadway. This later became the Sparky White and then the Bowen’s Service station. As evidenced above by this short synopsis, a large portion of Philipsburg business was owned and operated by the Metcalf family and their descendants continued this pattern for another generation.

The Weinstein, Hardy and Yandell Feud

Headlined in the New Northwest August 27, 1880 was a shooting at Hasmark over a lot that the well known businessman, Weinstein stated he owned. Apparently Weinstein planned on building a cabin on it. Wm. Hardy, who had recently bought Tom Patterson’s Saloon apparently offered Weinstein $40 for the lot and when Weinstein said he would sell it for $100, Hardy decided he had as much right to it as Weinstein and would “jump it” then proceeded to fence the property off. This action created a real fracas and resulted in John Yandell interceding, a fight breaking out and Hardy being shot, dead. 

According to the September 3rd New Northwest Coroner’s Jury proceedings Weinstein went to retrieve some tools and returned with Mr. Gillies and Mr. West “seemingly to build a house”. He pulled down one panel of the fence Hardy had put up and Hardy standing in the window of his house told him not to come on his ground (the lot in dispute), and was holding a gun. Hardy then came down to the area in dispute and repeated the command: “Do not come on my property.” Weinstein and his men then walked off the property and stood in the road. Jack Yandell then came running up the road and said “Weinstein hold the lot.” Then Yandell and Hardy began to “tussle” over the gun. The gun discharged; Hardy struck Yandell with the gun and Yandell fell out of the lot and ran across the street toward his cabin. “Hardy, meantime returned to his house, went in, closed the door and stood in front of the window in the west wall, the lower sash of which was raised about two and a half feet from the sill…” Yandell then came up the street with a gun in his hand and standing in the shelter of the house corner, raised his gun and shot without aiming his gun. 

Witnesses saw Hardy fall backwards from the window. The Coroner’s assessment written by Dr. C.N. Bowie stated: “William Hardy came to his death from a bullet penetrating the left breast two and a half inches to the right of the left nipple, the said bullet penetrating the heart, ranging obliquely upward and backward passing out of the body one inch to the left of the spinal column.” 

Dr. Bowie treated Yandell’s injuries which included a gash on the head about five inches long, a fractured skull; a lacerated tongue and loss of teeth. All witnesses present believed that Yandell was delirious from the head injury when he fired the fatal shot. 

Hardy had been in the Territory a long time where he was first employed by Caplice & Smith then worked for the Algonquin and most recently bought the saloon. It was believed he was in his forties. 

The next information found regarding Yandell was a September 12, 1889 Mail article describing “The invitation dance given by John Yandell at the residence on his ranch in upper Flint Creek Valley was one of the most pleasant social affairs that have taken place in this vicinity for many months. About twenty couples responded to their invitations, and not one had reason to regret being present. The night was perfect, and the drive from town to Mr. Yandell’s place, a distance of six miles over good roads, was also a rare treat to the many who seized the opportunity. Everything that Yandell could do to make the affair a success and for the comfort of his visitors was done. Good music was furnished for the dancers and a spacious floor provided. At 12 o’clock supper was served and not often have we had the chance to sit down to a more tempting spread…” 

On July 30, 1897 a notice was in the Mail that the Yandell ranch was up for a three year lease. and that John Yandell had departed Philipsburg for Seattle where he was seeking treatment from his Cousin Dr. Yandell for his ailments that had bothered him for some time. George Metcalf took up the lease in September of 1897. 

February 18, 1898 Yandell’s obituary was published in the Mail and stated he had been buried in Seattle about 10 days prior. John Sharp Yandell was born in Mississippi in 1840 and joined the Confederacy to fight in the Civil War. After the surrender of General Lee, he emigrated to Montana and had been involved in mining and ranching for the past 30 years. His only kin were the cousins in Seattle. 

The 320 acre Yandell ranch was advertised for sale by Henry Yandell M.D., beginning in July, 1900 and was bought by the current leaser and new sheriff George Metcalf according to the November 1, 1901, Mail.

Name Sake's of Henderson Gulch

As the story goes: “Big Joe”, “Little Joe” and “Young Joe” were the three men associated with the gold strike in the area now known as Henderson Gulch. The were Uncle, nephew and a man not related. 

Joseph (Young Joe) Henderson had lived in the valley for 61 years when he died on June 26, 1926. His obituary stated that he was born at Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada on October 17, 1846. At the age of 18 he left New Brunswick by ship at St. John’s for Panama. He walked across the isthmus of Panama, then took a Pacific coast ship to San Francisco. From there he traveled to Boise and onto the Kootenai Lakes in British Columbia. With a companion Dick Prince (the namesake of Princeton) he walked to Blackfoot City in the summer of 1865. By autumn they were in Henderson Gulch, where his uncle (with the same name) had mining claims. 

By 1871 Joseph had staked claim to a homestead and “preempted” tracts of land near New Chicago. Ivy Blood Hill (1962) stated that Young Joseph Henderson and Angus McPhail took up land on the east side of the valley where the ranches of William Enman and William Wilson were located at the time of her writing in 1962. In 1881 Joseph and the McPhail brothers drove a herd of cattle from Yakima, Washington into the valley. Young Joseph’s obituary stated this was the first herd of cattle in the area. Whether all three brothers (Angus, Archie and Allen were involved in the cattle drive is uncertain.) At some time Angus and Joseph sold their land to Archie and Allen. I do not know what happened with Angus as there is no record of burial either at Philipsburg or Valley cemetery for him. 

In March of 1878, Joseph (Young Joe) returned to New Brunswick and brought a new bride, Isabella Rebecca Henderson back home with him. They were married on March 12 and came by rail to Ogden, Utah and then by stage to Deer Lodge. Isabella Rebecca was born in St. John County, New Brunswick on November 17, 1850. She was the eighth of ten children. Joseph and Rebecca had six children. One died as an infant, but I do not find a marked grave for the baby. 

When Rebecca died on August 14, 1925, she was survived by Joseph, sons George (1881-1947) and Jesse (1883-1969) of Hall, Charles (1885- 1945) of Pennsylvania and Miss Mary (Hall) and Mrs. M.R. (Renee Henderson) Henderson of Hall; and five grandchildren. She was also survived by three sisters in Canada. 

Rebecca whose maiden name was also Henderson was an original member of the Methodist, Episcopalian Church in Hall and her Christian burial services were held there by Rev. Allan Haldeman, with burial in the Valley cemetery. The burial services for Joseph were also held at the Hall Methodist Episcopalian Church the next June, with Rev. Haldeman officiating. Music for his service was furnished by the Hall Choir composed of Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Talbott, Charles L. Clawson and Miss Elva Talbott. Joseph served one four year term as a county commissioner and did not belong to any organizations, except the Vigilantes during the territorial days, according to his obituary. 

I know that Rebecca and Joseph’s son Jesse married Glee Eloise (1887-1981) and they had children: Minnie Isobel (Pohlman), (1914-2005), Archie and Joseph. Young Archie married Margaret Bradshaw on September 1939. She was born to Charles and Elizabeth Bradshaw on June 3, 1916 in Utah and moved to the Drummond area at the age of three. When Margaret died on August 8, 2007, her and Archie were living in Lolo. Survivors were: husband Archie, sons: Richard of Idaho, Jim of Hall, Gordon of Texas and daughter Debbie of Lolo and brother Darrell Bradshaw of Drummond. 

I have not found any evidence of his uncle Joseph (Big Joe) Henderson or the unrelated Joseph (Little Joe) Henderson in the newspapers or Granite county census or cemeteries. 

Minnie Isobel Henderson was born on March 26, 1914 to Jesse and Eloise Henderson on their ranch near Hall. She graduated from Drummond High School then Dillon Normal School and received a Bachelor Degree in Education from The University of Montana. She taught kindergarten and first grade in Missoula for many years. She married Dolphy Orvin Pohlman at an unknown date. He preceded her in death. Minnie died on March 29, 2005 at the age of 91. She was buried in the Valley cemetery near her husband and parents. Survivors were: daughter Pearl Eloise Symonds of California and son, Dolphy O. Pohlman Jr. of Butte; five grandchildren and brothers: Archie and Joseph Henderson.

Rumors at The Ball

The April 1, 1881 New Northwest carried the details of a shooting that occurred in Philipsburg on March 25th. Deputy Sheriff McTague with the assistance of John Sullivan brought into Deer Lodge, “Elisha Reed who had shot and killed Eugene Garland. Both Reed and Garland were married men and Mrs. Porter had been living at the Reed residence. Apparently, at the evening dance, Garland danced with Mrs. Reed and also with Mrs. Porter. (This would have been shortly after Mrs. Porter became a widow due to her husband being shot and killed by Harry Conn). Reed continued drinking after the dance was over and wanted Garland to tell him what Mrs. Porter had said about the Reed family.”

Garland told him nothing was said and went on about his business. The next morning while Garland (who worked at Morse’s Butcher Shop) was busy delivering meat to the neighboring mining camps, Reed continued being upset and drinking. He finally found a person that knew nothing about the disturbance, who loaned him a gun on the pretense Reed was going to Georgetown to hunt mountain lions. 

Thomas McKay, a sworn witness in the murder stated: "About 1 o’clock p.m. March 25, 1881 Eugene Garland came in from peddling meat. I saw Reed coming up the street. Reed pulled out a six shooter and said to Garland: “I want you to get down and I will make you swallow the words you said last night.” Reed followed Garland into this room with the pistol in his hand. I heard them talking and in a minute I heard the pistol go off. Saw Reed come out with the pistol in his hand and exclaiming --- ---. Reed and Garland had some words last night at the dance. Reed had been waiting for Garland to come home all the forenoon. Reed had been drinking. I saw Reed and Garland talking this morning. Apparently Reed, his wife and Garland attended a dance the night before. After consuming a fair amount of alcohol a Mrs. Porter dancing with Garland made some comment about Reed’s wife. When Reed asked Garland about it the comment was denied. This angered Reed and he went looking for a gun the next morning. Reed found a person who knew nothing of the argument and was loaned a gun to go hunting lion’s at Georgetown. After the shooting Reed went from the scene of the shooting with pistol in hand to Mrs. Bradshaw’s where his wife was. Mrs. Bradshaw told Reed she was not there. While he was still talking to Mrs. Bradshaw the Deputy sheriff arrived and disarmed and arrested Reed."  

Almost immediately the citizenry became incensed about the cold blooded killing and the sheriff was concerned his prisoner may be lynched so he and John Sullivan put the whip to the team pulling the buggy with the prisoner in it and “had a keen run for the greater part of the distance for 12 miles, when night came on” and they moved the prisoner under the cloak of darkness to Deer Lodge. Reed was housed in the Deer Lodge Jail until the trial. 

An inquisition was held in the back room of George Morse’s Butcher shop with the following juror’s present: D.B. Jenkins (Foreman), E.D. Holland, George H. Kidder, N.H. Connolly, Charles Kroger, W.T. Allison. Their judgment was that “Eugene Garland came to his death by a pistol shot wound feloniously fired from the hands of Elisha Reed.” 

The May 20, 1881 New Northwest stated Elisha Reed escaped from jail on May 19 and the May 27 edition explained how it had happened. Jailer Lytle had left the jail without securing the cell door. Reed was found by James D. France who came to Virginia City from South Boulder stating that he had corralled Reed on the 13th of June and asked Sheriff Plattner in Virginia City to assist in bringing him in. Reed was returned to Deer Lodge according to the news accounts of June 17, 1881. Reed, during his escape had mailed letters to his mother and wife with instructions to send their replies to a Red Bluff address, so he must have planned on hiding in that area. 

Tried by a jury of his peers a verdict was returned Wednesday morning at two a.m. Reed was found guilty of murder in the first degree stated the New Northwest December 16, 1881. Reed, a father of three children, was sentenced on December 23, 1881 to twenty years in the Deer Lodge State Penitentiary. 

 Moral of the story. Be careful what you might make people think you are talking about while dancing at a ball.

Yreka, Reynolds City, Top o' Deep and Silver City

 Obviously Yreka was named prior to Garnet as the December 23, 1881 New Northwest carried an article about a robbery there. The headlines were: “Skipped-waiting for a verdict-in the woods.” With the following article: “Some weeks since the sluice boxes of McKivitt & Childs, Yreka, and the boxes of a Chinese company on McGinnis gulch were robbed, it will be remembered that Henry Jensen was arrested and confessed participation and that two other robbers, supposed to have the bulk of the money, escaped. On Tuesday Jensen’s case was called in court and nine jurors impaneled. When court met Wednesday morning and was ready to proceed with the case, Sheriff Strang came in and reported that the prisoner had just escaped. Undersheriff McTague had been walking Jensen and Ryan about the building and gave Jensen permission to go to the water closet while he locked Ryan in the cage. Jensen passed out of sight a moment and skipped. Although the alarm was instantly given and active search instituted Jensen is still at large and his case has been continued until next term. It was an inexcusable piece of carelessness that he was permitted to escape. Jensen has run with the Indians a great deal and is likely to make good his escape. He evaded the officers for weeks when wanted some two or three years ago and has friends who will help him." Extensive research has failed to produce any more information on Henry Jensen. 

Wolle in “Montana Pay Dirt” spells the Camps name as Eureka and describes Yreka as a gambling town, where the gamblers “often cleaned up more gold at their games than the miners did from their claims.” The April 7 and 14, 1882, New Northwest carried articles about a dead stranger found near Yreka in a deserted cabin on Days Gulch, a tributary of Elk Creek. Thomas Geagan found the body “in an old vacant cabin in Day’s Gulch.” Geagan on the 14th gave the following story: The man had spent the night with Schott and Geagan on Elk Creek about the middle of November. He stated he was a native of Scotland and had been working for the N.P. railroad near Edwardsville. He was known there by the name of “Scotty.” The body when found was ‘loathsome in the extreme, the arms and face being entirely denuded of flesh, supposed to have been the work of rats.” An inquest was held by G.W. Brock who was Justice of the Peace and Acting Coroner. The jury consisted of: Charles Schott, James Brennan, Patterson Armstrong, Alexander Hiland, Alexander Pearson and John Dolan. The verdict returned was in accordance with the above facts. 

I did not find a lot of references to either of the mining camps of Silver City and Reynolds, except The Missoula County News on February 17, 1886 stated: ”Mr. Tibbett, the agent at Drummond has three men at work at The Golden Gate at Reynolds City (five miles from Beartown). Assays are 163 ounces for gold and $10 for silver. Loomis and Stone own a very large and promising property next to the Golden gate."  

Wolle (Montana Pay Dirt) states they contributed to the “nearly $2,500,000 in gold taken out by 6,000 miners while the district was active.” References are made to frequent violence in claim jumping and that a meeting was held at Reynolds City in 1865 where an effective mining code was drawn up, alleviating the violence. November 28, 1865, Montana Post stated” “[an unknown person] amused himself, the other night [in Reynolds City] by profusely sprinkling one of the hurdy-gurdy floors with snuff, or cayenne pepper, or both. The girls stamped, and the boys stampeded; stamping and snuffing and sneezing and swearing, were momentarily the order.” 

Another Montana Post article from Virginia City stated that more than half of Reynolds City burned during a fire on the 18th of July 1867. The fire broke out at 3:15a.m. in Sam Ritchies butcher shop on Main Street in the center of town. The flames spread quickly to the two log buildings on each side; Boswell and Jones dealt in general merchandise and Johnny Gordon ran a saloon in the other log building. The flames then spread to the German shoemaker’s building, according to the Montana Post, August 17, 1867. 

Reynolds City population was never more than 500 but it yielded more than $1,000,000 in the two years it was active. The camp was named for Jack Reynolds an early miner who found “pay dirt” there, according to Cheney in “Names on the Face of Montana.” The post office for Top O’ Deep was established in January 1893 through August 1894 and Tillie Kreuzberger was the postmaster.