Placer Post Office and The Gillies Ranch on Rock Creek

Names on the Face of Montana states “Placer (Granite County) was a post office 1896-1898 with James A. Gillies as postmaster. Near Philipsburg, placer mining no doubt gave it it’s name.” A large population of miners were living on West Fork, Stony Creek and Basin Gulch during this period. The location was on Upper Rock Creek at the Gillies (Gillis)/ Province ranch. 

The story goes that the original land was bought by James Albert Gillies and Frank “Rock” Province from the Northern Pacific Railroad who was in bankruptcy and sent out salesmen to sell the railroad sections for $50.00 a piece. With this land they operated a dairy and raised stock. Rock’s job was to tend to the “manufacture of dairy products. He was a master hand and his butter and cheese were known to many of the housekeepers of western Montana” stated his obituary. Frank “Rock” Province, also known as Shorty was born in Italy about seventy-one years before his death on February 22, 1931. 

The Gillies Ranch was the third place to be settled on Rock Creek, in the mid 1880’s. It is known they were there when the Cornish Gulch fire burned in 1888 and the big ranch house was built in 1893. Mail articles reveal that the County Commissioners on June 6, 1895 audited and approved: J.A. Gillis work on Rock Creek Bridge $20.00 June 18th. Also, J.A. Gillis, of District No.12 was paid $5.00 for one man and a team and $3.00 for one man by the Granite County Commissioners for road bills (May 21, 1897). In the September 1898 election, Precinct Number Five voted at the Gillies house with James Gillies acting as election judge. 

In articles listing persons that paid more than $100.00 in taxes for the year: 1904 is Gillies and Province $158.06; 1912 is listed Gillies and Province $262.27; and Gillies, J.A. & F. Province for 1927 were $449.36. 

The wedding date of James and Annie Walters McCale is unknown but prior to December 3, 1899 when “Mrs. James Gillies visited her sister, Mrs. Simpson in Parkerville (Philipsburg Mail). Annie E. Walters, born in Pennsylvania in 1864, came with her parents to their homestead at Sluice Gulch, when she was very young. Before Annie married James A. Gillies she was married to William McCale and had three children: Ida, Mary (Midge) and George. To the union of James and Annie was born Joseph April 2,1903. 

The Pullar brothers caught the measles in 1911 and Annie, being a good neighbor went to their house to care for them. She caught the measles and then a cold. Annie died from the complications on May 6, 1911, at the age of forty-seven years and left eight year old Joseph motherless in a house full of men. 

The location of the ranch has always made it a geographical site, such as: “The Gillies Bridge”; “The stop over for the Rural Mail Carrier two nights a week”; “The location of the Forest Service Emergency Telephone; and often the only telephone on Rock Creek. 

                                                               Frank "Rock" Province

                                               J.N Gillies (Father), J.A. Gillies and Robert "Bert" Gillies

James Albert, born in Australia September 7, 1861 moved to Canada at the age of seven and at seventeen came to America (1878). First settling in Butte and then Philipsburg, he engaged in the teaming business, before buying the ranch. James died on March 15, 1930 at the Northern Pacific Hospital in Missoula. His brother, Robert “Bert” Gillies born in Canada in 1871 also died in 1930. He was a lifelong bachelor. It is known that he studied music at McGill University in Montreal. 

The headlines of the September 26, 1930 Mail are “Rock Creek Rancher Meets Tragic Death” Joe Gillies went searching for his uncle Bert when he failed to come to breakfast on September 22 and a shotgun was missing from its usual place. Joe found Bert about 100 yards from the house in a barn. Sheriff Gus McDonald was immediately notified and a coroners jury empanelled. Their investigation revealed: “A note was found near the body written upon the back of an envelope which read as follows: Shot myself, after skunk, I am in awful pain, Going to put myself out.” Apparently Mr. Gillies while hunting for a marauding skunk during the night met with a serious accident. Returning to his sleeping quarters and frenzied by pain he wrote the note and decided to take care of his misery. Bert was fifty-nine years of age and had lived in the Rock creek area for thirty-four years (1896). Joe told his son Bob that Bert’s dog was guarding his master when Joe found him and they had difficulty getting the dog to let anyone near the body 

Reminding everyone how strong our ancestors were, the Mail stated: “After Annie’s funeral Mr. James Gillies with his eight year old son, mounted his horse and returned to the ranch.” There must have been some type of estate left for Joseph when Annie died as the March 1, 1918 Mail on the March Court Calendar lists “Estate of Joseph Gillies, minor, … annual account. 

Young Joe was not the only youngster on the ranch. His Mom’s older daughter, Ida had traveled to Grand Forks, Canada where the Joseph Gillis family lived. (The Family name is spelled Gillis in Canada and Gillies in the U.S.) She planned to attend school there but instead fell in love with Mr. T.R. McKinley and married him on October 24, 1899. Mr. McKinley was the step son of Joseph Gillis and Ida was the step daughter of James A. Gillies. From this short lived marriage a son Robert was born in 1901. After this marriage failed Ida resumed the name of McCale until she married Jack (John) Guinnane January 18, 1905. After her new marriage Robert spent most of his time with Grandma Annie and remained at the ranch after her death. 

The following story confuses Robert (Bob) with young Joe: “Master Robert Gillies of Rock Creek was the hero in a runaway Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Gillies left his team standing in front of a store while he went inside on business and Master Robert was left in the sleigh holding the lines. Something frightened the horses and they ran away. The young man was not strong enough to stop them but he managed to keep them in the road until they tired of running and were ready to slow down. Then on the flat west of the depot he turned them around and drove back to town. The team crossed the railroad tracks only a short distance in front of the afternoon train which was just pulling into the yards. No harm was done.” Robert McKinley would have been about twelve and Joe almost ten at this time. 

Another priority issue causing the ranchers a great deal of financial stress was the wolf population, killing off or “hamstringing” their stock. According to the Granite County Clerk and recorder’s office, Albert Rupp et al, bought, in 1905, the appointment of bounty inspector for the Willow and Rock Creek area of Granite County. By 1912 Gillies, Rupp & Greenheck, Rodda and Province were all suffering huge losses to the wolf packs. In the Mail December 27, 1912 an article stated that: George Metcalf, Rupp & Greenheck, John Rodda, Gillies and Province set up a fund to pay a $75.00 reward “for each wolf killed during the next 30 days in the district south of Maxville embracing upper Willow Creek, Rock Creek, Trout Creek and upper Flint Creek.” In addition to the $75.00 bounty individuals killing wolves would also receive the bounty from the state of Montana. No small sum of money during that day and age. 

Young Joseph grew up to take over the Gillies ranch and met a young school teacher who came to teach at the Spring Creek School. Martha Murray, born November 28, 1905 in Missouri lost her mother at the time of birth. Her father was left with a motherless home so the grandparents raised Martha until she was five years old. By that time her father had remarried and in 1909 he moved the family to the Flathead Valley where eighty acres of land plots from the Indian reservation were available for veterans. Martha recounted to her children how they stayed overnight in Kalispell and then crossed the Flathead Lake on the “Klondike” and claimed their land at Round Butte. Joe and Martha were married at her parents home at Round Butte on February 15, 1927. To this marriage was born three sons: Jack in 1929, James in 1930 and Robert in 1934. Jack died as an infant and is buried in Ronan, Montana. 

                                                      Joe and Martha Murray Gillies circa 1927

Joe and Martha took over running the ranch after James, Bert and Frank died in 1930 and 1931. Life on Rock Creek was never easy, even after the automobile, because the rutted roads were either knee deep in mud or snow. If you could make it to town once a month it was a really big deal and stated in news articles along with Gillies Ranch temperatures. 

 Joe and Martha moved into Philipsburg in 1958 due to Joe being ill. When he recovered he worked on the East Fork Irrigation Project and then drove school bus for several years. Joe died January 27, 1987 and Martha joined him April 9, 1995 and is buried next to Joe in the Philipsburg Cemetery. 

Hard working ranchers enjoyed picnic’s, fish fries and dancing. Early on these were held at the Gillies ranch and Rock Creek School. Later, Uncle Tom built the dance hall and picnic grounds at the West Fork Bridge. One of my best memories was when the Gillies or Bohrnsen boys graciously asked this much younger girl to dance. To overcome the height difference they would let me stand on their well polished dress boots as we whirled around the floor. T

The Gillies sons, Jim and Robert, attended Rock Creek school for their primary grades and then as all the rural children did at that time, Jim boarded in Philipsburg to attend Granite County High School. When the rural schools closed in 1948 Bob began riding the school bus to High School in Philipsburg. At first, Bob had to find a way to the West Fork Bridge. Then the School District recognized they had to provide better service to the ranchers and began bringing the school bus over Marshall Creek Hill and making a loop up Rock Creek to the Skalkaho Highway over Mungas Hill to Highway 1 (Hwy 10 at that time) and on into Philipsburg. 

This route was driven by Forrest “Buster” Merrifield and he watched over us with eagle eyes in the rear view mirror. Bob, Joe Haggard, Wesley Sutherland and I were given assigned seats so we could not sit together and tell “Dirty” jokes. The school bus was a reliable service, but Buster refused to drive it when the temperatures reached forty below. He arrived on time at thirty-nine below but not forty. Often there was a three foot drift at the mouth of Trail Gulch and he would ram through it after having to back up a few times, but we never doubted he would get us to our destination. 

At that time in history the young men were drafted after they finished High School. Jim worked for a couple of years on ranches and doing construction work until he performed his Civic Duty in 1950. When Jim returned from his military tour of duty he was so very handsome in his uniform. He worked as a combat engineer rebuilding Germany and when he returned used those road building skills to work on the Marshall Creek Road, Trail Gulch and Kings Hill. 

Jim met Lorraine Grimes while she was working summers at The Sweet Palace in Philipsburg and attending Carroll College in Helena. I clearly remember the two gliding across the gymnasium floor at the Junior Prom when I was in the eighth grade. At that time everyone with a date or spouse attended the school dances. 

                                         Lorraine Grimes and James Gillies on their wedding day

They were married June 16, 1956 and Jim began work at the Scratch-All Mine. In 1958 he moved Lorraine and Karen on to the ranch in a modern home built south of the original ranch house. Jim and Lorraine had three daughters: Karen in 1957; Kathy in 1959; and Maria in 1962. The original ranch house was demolished in 1977 and a new house built at that site in 1986. Daughter Karen and son-in-law Sam Peterson moved into the new ranch house to assist Jim. They have a daughter Jenelle. Karen and Sam worked hard to continue the ranch productivity.

Jim and Lorraine’s daughter Maria married Jamie Conn and they live in Hall. They have two children: Danny and David. Danny and his wife Kiara have two sons: Riley and Dillon. Their youngest son David has recently moved to Missoula and is enjoying his independence. 

Bob suffered all of his childhood with severe atopic allergies exacerbated by allergens on a ranch. After graduating high school in 1952, he worked at logging; the Taylor and Knapp Mill with Vince and Stub Fessler; the Mill in Stumptown for Jess Evans; then in 1968 began hauling chips at the Mill in Bonner until he retired with his wife Alice at Mill Town. They bought property up Willow Creek east of the old Mungas ranch as a second home after selling the acreage he received on Willow Creek when Martha died (Bob, 2008). Alice continues to live in Mill Town and Bob is in a Memory Care Facility in East Missoula suffering from the late stages of Altzheimer’s. 

Jim worked from daylight and into the dark, twenty-four seven to keep the ranch producing and provide a living for his family with outside jobs and running a sawmill on the property in the 1960's. Lorraine died October 20, 2012 in a Care Facility in Anaconda and is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Jim proudly watched while the fifth and sixth generations of his family assumed the ranch responsibilities. Daughter Kathy (Kulaski) Graybeal had two children: Paul and Billie Ann. Kathy currently lives with Jim. Her son Paul Kulaski, wife Genevieve and children Sophia, James and Wyatt have taken over the major ranching duties. They built a nice modern house in 2016, just south of Jim and Lorraine’s home.

Jim died peacefully at the ranch on May 20, 2019 at the age of 88 years 8 months and 25 days. He was buried at the Philipsburg Cemetery on May 29, 2019. Jim was survived by brother Bob and his wife Alice (Milltown); Daughters: Kathy Graybeal, Karen Peterson and her husband Sam; Maria Conn and her husband Jamie (Hall); Grandchildren: Jenelle Peterson, Paul and his wife Genevieve Kulaski, Billie Ann Kulaski, Dan and his wife Kira Conn and David Conn; Great grandchildren: Sophia, James and Wyatt Kulaski; Titus Kulaski; Riley and Dillon Conn. 

The area of Granite County has been able to survive the economic ups and downs related to mining because the hard working ranchers keep a stable basis for taxation. Their hard working contribution needs to be recognized.

Sapphire Mines on the West Fork of Rock Creek

 According to the Western Mining World August 17, 1901(volume 19) sapphires were discovered on Rock Creek in 1892 by gold placer miners. The April 6, 1917 Philipsburg Mail credits Emil Meyer, as the person responsible for discovering the mines. He died of stomach cancer at Mrs. Bennett’s hospital in Philipsburg April 5, 1917. Emil was a native of Germany and seventy years of age. 

United States Geological Survey investigators reported in 1894 the sapphires “as exceedingly plentiful [sometimes] as high as sixty stones to a gold pan.” They describe the colors of Rock Creek sapphires as being of a far broader range of colors and containing a higher quantity of the milky pearlized ones which are known as star sapphires. 

William Knuth of Helena and William Moffet worked the area in 1899 and 1900 recovering 400,000 carats of rough sapphires according to the Mt.Gov. DEQ internet site. The September 1, 1899 Mail stated L.J. Moffat (Moffet): …has several men employed in his sapphire mines on the West Fork with satisfactory results. Some stones of rare brilliancy have been taken from these placers and samples sent to Tiffany & Co. at New York were pronounced superior to any sapphires found. Mr. Moffat has found some stones that were declared by experts to be real pigeon blood, which are very rare and more valuable than diamonds (Rubies). 

According to the March 16, 1900, Mail: “In his annual report, G. F. Kunz gem expert of the geological survey, makes reference to the beautiful sapphires of various colors … mined on Upper Rock Creek, the principal diggings being owned by L.J. Moffat and Emil Meyer. New York capitalists have for some time had an eye on these mines and it is probable that during the coming season sufficient capital will be invested to make the working of these excellent properties on a more extensive scale than heretofore possible.” 

The Mail, March 8, 1901 stated, “Yield of sapphires on Rock Creek, 35 miles South-west of Philipsburg for 1900 is 200,000 carats with 1,200 carats fit to cut.” The Mt. Gov. DEQ web site goes on to say that in 1901 Paul A. Fusz, Moses Rumsey, Charles D. McClure of St Louis, L.S. McClure of San Diego, David Jankower of London/New York, and W. E. Knuth of Helena incorporated under the name American Gem Mining Syndicate. Articles of Incorporation are in the Archives at Montana Historical Society and were filed August 9, 1901. The capital stock of $300,000 was distributed in the following manner. D. Jankower: 299,996 shares; Paul Fusz: one share; Moses Rumsey: one share; Auguste B. Ewing: one share; and Charles McLure: one share. The five directors were: Jankower, Fusz, Rumsey, Ewing and McLure.” Contrary to the web site L.S. McLure and W.E. Knuth are not listed on the incorporation papers. 

Records about the Syndicate show Conrad Wipf (1843-1909) was the foreman during the seasons of 1904 and 1905; Joseph Sorenson (d1916) foreman 1906-1911 with Axel Sandin filling in for 1910; Sebastian Seelos (1882-1934) foreman 1913-1917; Charles Carrp foreman of Basin Gulch 1916; Henry Bohrnsen after 15 years working the placer became foreman February 6, 1918. 

Water was always an issue and the available documents show multiple conversations between Paul Fusz and J.R. Lucas regarding building a flume. On March 30, 1912, Lucas wrote to P.C. Miller in Stevensville, Montana asking for a bid to AGMS for building a flume. P.C. Miller response April 1, 1912 was to be notified when “snow leaves so we can make definite estimates and bid.” Next from J.R. Lucas to Blakeslee and Cheatham on June 3, 1912 details their company was “going to construct 8 miles of flume and dig 2 miles of ditch on the West Fork of Rock Creek.” This feat was successful. The drop in altitude from the head of the flume to the gulches, created the head of pressure. As you drive east on the Skalkaho Highway, after the Stillwater turn-off, you can still see areas of flume hanging to the steep slide rock mountain. 

Whether there was only one main flume built, or if Stony Flume, Ewing Flume and West Fork of Rock Creek Flume are all different flumes and built at separate times, is not clear in the archived documents. Edward Bohrnsen recalled his father talking about staking claims and digging a ditch that is still apparent from Sapphire Gulch along the hillside toward the old Amerine Ranch in the late 20’ or early 30’s to extend the water source. 

The placer was worked from the time the snow started to recede until the high mountain water ceased to run and provided a working wage for many people in Granite county. 

After 1917 when Sebastian Seelos left, Henry Bohrnsen moved up to Foreman of the American Gem Mining Syndicate. An archived document stated “February 6, 1918, Mr. Seelos …will not be available for operating the sapphire diggings this year” and the reply on April 22, 1918 from Ewing to Lucas stated “We wish you to advise Mr. Bohrnsen and have him appoint a good man from his crew, to the position of explosives foreman.”

Finances were a frequent topic in the correspondence in 1918: “April 26, 1918 …see if you can get them (sapphire pickers) for $1.50 per day” stated a letter from Ewing to Dan Smith. On May 6, 1918 Ewing to wrote to W.T. Terrell, “hospital fee with Dr. Casey is $1.50 per season for each worker.” On September 4, 1918 “….owing to unrest in the camp it was necessary to raise the wages 50 cents on the 15th of last month” wrote Terrell to Ewing. Then Ewing instructed Dan Smith September 27, 1918 “….tell Bohrnsen to do the work necessary on the 1600 feet of flume, this year.” Then October 2, Smith stated “Mr. Bohrnsen was in yesterday and said he expected to operate for 2 weeks yet and then do some flume work.” On January 3, 1919 Ewing writes to W.T. Terrell, “….Please instruct Varholic the watchman at the camp to gather up the matrasses [sic] which are in the main log cabin and string them up to the ceiling so that the rats cannot get at them.”

Documents disclose, 411 troy ounces of gems from Mink Gulch sorted on January 16, 1919 and on February 26 a return reply values “entire shipment at 30 cents an ounce.” On March 14, 1919 documents place a value of $757.14 for 29,986 ounces at 30 cents per ounce. Then the document continues on with “we cannot understand how you arrived at your valuation. We have instructed Downing’s to correct the valuation before forwarding to Deshusses (In Europe).”

On April 14, 1919 Ewing writes Terrell “this to advise you that wages to be paid Henry Bohrnsen as foreman in Montana of this Syndicate for the season of 1919 is $170.00 per month and board.” In May and June there are a number of letters complaining that “the girls” are not doing a good job at picking the stones “either improve or get someone that can do better.” On August 21, 1919 correspondence stated “we note that Bohrnsen advises that wages will have to be raised 50 cents per day.” On October 13,1919 Smith reported “…Bohrnsen will stay at the ranch this winter.” Originally the Company had kept two caretakers at the ranch during the winter and closed down all other operations. Once Bohrnsen moved to the ranch full time there was no need for a winter caretaker.

Henry, after working as a laborer for American Gem for fifteen years, spent the next nineteen years managing the Sapphire Mines. During this period, Henry’s life changed from a bachelor to a married man when he wed Ruth Erickson Rau in 1925. Sapphire Gulch was the location of an upper camp where Ruth Bohrnsen and her son Raymond lived when she was a new bride. At that time, she cooked for the placer mining crew at Basin Gulch. Shortly after the marriage, all the bunk houses and other buildings were moved from Basin Gulch to the Sapphire Ranch on West Fork. Some of the buildings are still standing, including the office, ice house and barn. In the meadow, the Berry House still stands and was used as the school house when I was in the first grade.

On May 3, 1924 a request of total sapphires shipped from 1911 to 1922 by C. Ewing was “Have produced 1 million, 1 hundred fourty [sic] five thousand and nine hundred and fourty five ounces since 1911 to 1922 inclusive” (almost 36 tons). At the height of production there were at least two shifts working the placers and sometimes three. Indication that three shifts were working is documented from J. Yob to the St. Louis office on October 1, 1930: “Cold weather has caused Henry to cut off the 12 o’clock shift at Maley Gulch.” Receipts ordering carbide in twenty drums with a total weight of 2,120 pounds costing $12.01 with an additional charge of 35 cents for war tax, freighted every nine days, in May and June 1921, verifies the use of carbide for night work.

The Anaconda Standard April 1, 1925 stated American Gem “held claims equaling 4,000 acres.” The sapphire market was fickle and money became tight with no mining in 1934. Fortunately Henry had been reading the tea leaves and was prepared for the future. The rest of Henry and family life is documented in "Trading Sapphires for Cows."

                 Stony Creek Flume with C.W. and J.N. Cheatham standing in it during construction

Cabins originally at Basin Creek. They were moved to the Sapphire Ranch after Henry and Ruth Bohrnsen were married.

The Conn's of the Lower Valley

According to the late John A. Conn whom I had the pleasure of interviewing by telephone in 2012, Reuben, Joe and a cousin Seph Conn were the first Conn’s in the Flint Creek Valley. They joined a cattle drive from Texas to Montana and arrived in what was then Deer Lodge county in the year 1880. Reuben was born on December 20, 1856 in Jackson County, Missouri, so he was only 24 years of age at the time of his arrival. 

The first newspaper article research revealed was Archie McPhail selling a parcel of land to Reuben on October 13, 1882 for $75.00 (New Northwest). By 1884 he was active in the Democratic Party and was elected as a Democratic Central Committee member for New Chicago in September. Reuben was named a charter member of the A.O.U.W and elected trustee on March 20, 1885 according to the New Northwest. Appearing to be a social gentleman, Reuben was on the arrangements committee for the Grand Ball at the New Hotel in Drummond on January 31, 1885. In February Reuben et al sold 2/3 of the Eldorado Quartz Lode to Allen McDonald for $500 (New Northwest). 

Desiring the job of County Assessor, Reuben ran for nomination of the position in 1886 but lost the nomination to John King of Philipsburg. Continuing his community service he served as a juror during 1887 for the District Court and is listed as paying $50.00 for a saloon license and $16.66 for a gambling license in New Chicago on December 30, 1887 in the New Northwest. 

Obviously, he was involved in mining as the Helena Weekly listed Reuben as a delegate from New Chicago to the Montana Territory Mineral Land Convention on February 9, 1888. He then became a trustee of the Hattie Gold and Silver Mining Company in October 1888 according to the Butte Semi-weekly Miner. I think this should read “Hatta Gold and Silver Mining Company.” 

In February 1890, Reuben sold Lot 1, Block 6 in Drummond to J.A. and J.B. Featherman for $300 and John Edwards et ux sold Lot 4, Block 6 in Drummond to Reuben for $100. Reuben was appointed Postmaster of Dunkleberg, Deer Lodge County June 15, 1890 according to the Anaconda Standard and Philipsburg Mail. 

He was appointed a judge for the November 4, 1890 election to Precinct 29-New Chicago along with G.W. Morse and H. Prosser. The January 1893 Mail listed Reuben delinquent on taxes for $38.85 and then the December 1893 and January 1894 Mail listed delinquent taxes in the sum of $56.53 for house, fences, combine and farm machinery, 1 stud horse, 120 horses, 1 stock cow, and 20,000 ft of lumber. 

For reasons unknown Reuben and James Conn filed suit against J.H. Cole March 14, 1894. Next, March 22, 1894 the Dingwall brothers brought suit against Reuben (The Mail), but the charge or outcome was not disclosed in research. Also, a large group of land owners including Reuben were defendants in a water rights lawsuit in October, 1894. None of the defendants appeared in court and were denied any rights or interest in any water flowing in Willow Creek. 

August 28, 1896, Reuben was involved in the Democratic Convention as a delegate from Quigley. He had a Philipsburg address in 1898, then was again living in the lower valley in 1899. The last early newspaper articles found was where Reuben Conn of Hall filed bankruptcy in Helena on Wednesday May 24, 1905 according to the May 26, 1905 Philipsburg Mail. He had liabilities of $8,192.00 and assets of $250.00. 

Reuben died at his nephew J. Allen Conn’s home on February 16, 1937. J. Allen lived in the lower valley and was County Commissioner at the time of Reuben’s death. Mr. Conn was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Drummond and survivors were his nephews J. Allen and James E. Conn of the lower valley, niece Mrs. Freeman Tinklepaugh of Philipsburg and a sister Elizabeth Shull of Ronan and eight other nieces and nephews not named in the obituary. The funeral was held at the Methodist Church at Hall. Committal services were performed by the Masons at the Valley cemetery. 

Joseph Conn, who came to Montana with Reuben, died of Congestive Heart failure in New Chicago on April 1, 1882. According to the New Northwest, and his headstone he was 30 years of age. He is buried in the valley Cemetery. His wife’s name was Nevil and they had a daughter Josephine according to John A. Conn. His recollection was after the death, wife and daughter left the valley for parts unknown. 

No articles were found regarding Seph Conn. 

John Conn, born on June 6, 1856 in Missouri came to Montana in 1888 with his wife Mary and children. They lived in Deer Lodge until moving to the Flint Creek Valley in 1893. Daughter, Ethel Conn was born in Montana. They made their home in the upper Willow Creek Valley about 10 miles from Hall. 

At the time of John’s death on February 4, 1924, survivors were: his wife; daughters: Mrs. Freeman Tinklepaugh of Hall and Mrs. William Bryant of Idaho; sons: J. Allen Conn a member of the G.C.H.S. Board, and James E. Conn both of Hall; brother Reuben Conn of the lower Valley and sister, Mrs. Josiah Shull of Missoula. Internment was in the Valley cemetery. 

Mary Angelina (Dealey) Conn, widow of John died during the week of December 24, 1943. Mary was born in Lone Jack, Missouri on March 5, 1858. Her father was one of Quantrill’s Men and was killed in Texas. John A. Conn, in a 2012 telephone interview stated the only time she remembered seeing her father was when the Union Forces pushed the people into Kansas and burned their homes. He slipped into their camp to say goodbye. Survivors were her two sons J. Allen and James, both of the lower valley. Internment was at the Valley cemetery. 

The May 27, 1904 Philipsburg Mail stated James E. Conn was plowing a piece of ground on the “Old Nierling” ranch on Willow Creek when James’ plow unearthed a shoe enclosing a sock and the bones of a human foot. He immediately ceased plowing and went to Stone to telegraph the sheriff and coroner at Philipsburg. Sheriff McDonald and Coroner Ray arrived the next day and exhumed the remains. The body was not completely decomposed with pieces of flesh still attached to the bones of the hip, legs and arms. The shoes found were ones normally worn by miners with nailed soles and a single buckle. The clothing was a mackinaw coat and yellow woolen undershirt and drawers. The man’s hair was mostly gray. The only article found besides the body was a pocket knife. It appeared that a bullet had shattered the man’s cheekbone. The coroner estimated the body had been buried in about 6 inches of soil and then covered with a pile of manure. A jury impaneled by the coroner found the cause of death was unknown and the body was placed in a casket, transported to Philipsburg and burial was in the pauper section of the Philipsburg cemetery. 

The people in the Valley were prone to believe that the skeleton belonged to one of the group of men that hung out at the “James Campbell” place. Three years prior this was the headquarters for a party of gentlemen that were known for rounding up horses in different parts of the state and several shipments were made from Campbell’s ranch to eastern markets. When not rounding up horses the group amused themselves by playing cards and it was known that one of these games resulted in a fight that broke up the party. It was believed that the skeleton was a man killed during the fight and buried at the Nierling place which was less than a mile from Campbell’s. All of the men known to be at Campbell’s were traced and found to be alive except one. So the sheriff believed that the bones belonged to a man named Doyle. Before the paper went to print Doyle was found, therefore the skeleton went unidentified. Campbell retired from the horse business and began to raise hogs. The story went that he fattened the hogs with horse meat or whatever products were brought to him. “The business ended rather abruptly and Mr. Campbell sold his place and left the country in a matter of two days.” 

James E. Conn who found the body was born on November 2, 1881 in Missouri and came to Montana in 1891. He lived in Deer Lodge until a year later when he moved to the Valley and then settled on Willow Creek. James married Jessie Anderson (another early family in the valley) in 1907. 

Jessie died in 1941 and James died at a Missoula Hospital February 13, 1963. Survivors were: son and daughter-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Bob Conn of Hall and four grandchildren. James was buried in the family plot at the Philipsburg cemetery. 

James E. Conn was a brother of J. Allen Conn and uncle of the late John A. Conn. Mrs. Allen (Sarah) Conn died June 10, 1954 at the age of 66. Her husband, J. Allen Conn died on June 27, 1956 at the age of 78. 

The October 31, 1902 Philipsburg Mail detailed the story of William Fahey and his sister traveling to the Conn ranch for a visit on October 29th and saw Mrs. Nierling (Nerling) by the ranch gate, bleeding and in great distress. Mrs. Nierling told the Fahey’s that no one was home at the ranch as Mrs. Conn was at the John Conn ranch. The Fahey’s put Mrs. Nierling into their buggy and headed for the John Conn ranch. Enroute they met William Smith and he stated Patience Conn was not at the John Conn ranch, as he had just left there. Smith, Fahey’s and Mrs. Nierling all returned to the old Conn place and found a horrible sight. 

James Conn was lying on the floor cold in death with a rifle across his left leg and a bullet hole in his left eye. Mrs. Patience Conn, his aged mother, was lying on a bed with just a spark of life remaining and blood oozing from wounds about her head. The October 29, 1902 Philipsburg Call stated that the only witness, Mrs. Nierling was crazy and “…also an aged woman [who] is deranged and can give no coherent account of what happened at the Conn ranch yesterday.” 

Patience was the late John A. Conn’s great-grandmother and he provided family history and accounts of the newspaper articles in a 2011 Philipsburg Mail. The newspaper and family accounts state that Patience was killed by a hit to the head with a hammer and Jim was shot in the head. Mrs. Nierling was close to 80 years old at the time of the incident and had previously murdered a husband. The previous summer she had almost been committed to an “asylum.” 

 John A. Conn stated in the Mail that his great-uncle Jim had been kicked in the head by a mule back in Missouri and had been a little addled by that so may have had a hand in the episode. He believes James found his mother in a pool of blood and picked her up and placed her on the bed. James then committed suicide by shooting himself in the eye. The bullet lodged in the ceiling (personal communication with John A. Conn 2012). 

 According to the 2011 Mail account Mary Nierling married a man about half her age when she was 46. This was the first marriage recorded in Philipsburg and she murdered him a few years later. The October 29, 1902 Call related the story that Mary Nierling shot and killed her husband Henry twenty years prior to 1902. The article stated she was insanely jealous. Her husband went to the woods to get a load of wood and decided to “aggravate” his wife by fixing up a dummy made out of a shawl, a hat and some brush and securing it in the passenger seat of the loaded wagon. Mary was watching for her husband to come home and when she saw the dummy sitting beside him believed it to be another woman. She returned to the house and secured a shot gun, then commenced riddling him with buckshot before he could tell her it was a joke. 

She was tried for the murder in Deer Lodge and acquitted as Judge Hiram Knowles showed that Henry was a worthless fellow. Henry, a blacksmith born in Prussia, was only 23 years of age when he married Mary. 

 Apparently Patience Conn objected to anyone putting Mrs. Nierling in an asylum because she did not think her dangerous and had cared for her. After the murders and the inquest it was determined that she must be placed in Warm Springs and she ended up living out the rest of her life there. 

The home where Patience and her son James Conn lived was torn down to construct the Willow Creek Dam in the early 1960’s and according to John A. Conn the remains of the root cellar can still be seen on an island in the reservoir.  Patience and James Conn are buried in the Valley cemetery. 

The January 2, 1903 Mail, stated County Commissioner Chairman J.B. Featherman presided over a commission to “examine and inquire into the mental condition of Mrs. Mary Nerling, an aged woman, who since last October has been a patient at the county hospital in Philipsburg.” Mary was judged insane and taken by Sheriff Metcalf to Warm Springs the last week in December 1902. 

This was the closing chapter of the unfortunate incident at the Conn ranch where Patience Conn and her son were killed. The coroner’s jury failed to agree if it was murder or suicide, but Mrs. Nerling during rational moments at the county hospital had stated that she “put them to sleep.”

Dunkleberg

“Names on the face of Montana” states there was a post office established at Dunkleberg, Deer Lodge county near Warm Springs in 1890-1891. Reuben Conn was Postmaster. I have been unable to find the town on any maps but found a couple of incidents published in the newspapers related to the area. I believe the area was west of Pioneer and in what later became Granite county. “The Montana Atlas” has Dunkleberg Creek beginning in the northern part of Granite county east of a ranger station and running north then east across the Powell county line and draining into the Clark Fork, west of Perkins Creek just south of exit 162 on Interstate 90/Highway 12, near Jens. 

 David Dunkleberg was one of the early pioneers in the Flint Creek Valley and I assume that the Dunkleberg Ridge, Creek and Post Office were named after his family. The Montana Post, November 25, 1865 lists an unclaimed letter for David at Virginia City, Montana. The New Northwest, January 8, 1875 stated Mrs. David Dunkleberg was one of the happy recipients of a prize at the New Chicago Christmas Festival. David was on the Grand Jury in 1885 and 1886. 

I have been unable to find any obituaries for the Dunkleberg family but find David having surgery in Helena July 16, 1896 and his health being “very low” and friends not sure he would survive in the November 13, 1896 New Northwest. The headstones in the Valley Cemetery provide this information: Baby Dunkleberg was 21 days old at the time of death on October 15, 1880; an unknown Dunkleberg died at the age of 57 on November 12, 1896 ( probably David mentioned above); Mrs. Dunkleberg does not have a death date or age; Frank Dunkleberg was born in 1877 and died at the age of 52 on October 28, 1929; Paul Dunkleberg was 6 months old when he died on August 11, 1889; Cora Dunkleberg’s baby does not have an age or date of death. They are all buried in section I, but do not have grave numbers. 

The partial returns of the vote of Deer Lodge county on Friday November 16, 1888 published in the Philipsburg Mail lists Dunkleberg as a precinct but there were no votes cast for any of the offices from that precinct. In The New Northwest, February 26, 1897: ”Sterling Price has obtained a lease on the Irene claim in the Dunkleberg district which is owned by Dr. A.H. Mitchell of Deer Lodge and George Smith of Royal. Mr. Price will begin working on the property at once and judging from reports regarding the claim it is expected he will find it a profitable lease. (and) The Philipsburg Mail says Samuel Gates and James Weaver have recently bought a complete sawmill plant of 20,000 feet capacity per day and have erected it at Mitchellville, in the Dunkleberg mining district, and already have it running full blast.” 

December, 1898 the Mail stated” “Allard and Cranesville are representing their claims in Dunkleberg.” “Weaver and Thom have a full crew of men at work ...Wm. Debuhr, who is working the L.F. Periman’s mine—the Bryan—under lease, will ship a carload of ore by the first of the year, which will net $40 per ton. 

The January 13, 1899 Philipsburg Mail stated in a column titled “Musings from Dunkleberg” that:”This camp, which, along in the ‘80’s contributed not a little of the stock of white metal [Silver], cuts but very little ice in the mining reports of today. The hills which erstwhile resounded to the musical rhythm of the tool-sharpeners hammer, or the thunderous diapason of the frequent blasts, are now silent, save for the merry warble of the wood-hauler as he flits from tree to tree, or the long drawn howl of the prowling tie chopper as he answers to the shrill scream of his mate. Occasionally you will meet with a prospector who has hung up on his claims, hoping against hope that something will be done for silver, who, as he draws his tattered overcoat around his cadaverous form to hide the vacant places in his last year’s overalls, anxiously asks: ‘What’s silver worth.’ or ‘Is there any talking of opening the Injun mints?’ Some of them seem to have an idea that the Indian Mints are a kind of jackpot and that Uncle Sam has openers in his hands—if the goldbugs would only let him use them. Time was when on New Year’s Eve the hills were full of claim-jumpers, but this year not a solitary instance of relocating has come to our notice. L.F. Perriman’s mine, the Bryan, is the only shipper in the camp, and Frank ain’t losing any sleep over the Indian mints.”

P'Burg Nickname Directory

                                              In Memory of Chum

 In December, 2018, a native of Granite county (Bob Sanders), suggested on the Facebook group “I grew up in Philipsburg” that it would be fun to name all the nicknames known to the group but not identify the real name. Within a matter of a couple of weeks there were almost 400 names given. As the days went by names continued to be submitted. 

We know there was a tee-shirt sold for one of the Flint Creek Valley Days with a number of nicknames but at this time I have not viewed one of these shirts. Since the nicknames have been provided we have attempted to find out the given name and story behind each nickname. Obviously this will be a work in progress as some people are not able to recall the story. 

During the past most nicknames were usually accepted lovingly and not considered bullying or derogatory, which is not the case in this politically correct generation. So this article is published with the intent to inform and with great care to not embarrass or intimidate anyone or use obscene or derogatory names. Any person who asked their nickname not to be published were respected for that wish. 

I reviewed historical articles and added all of the nicknames found from the early history also. 

Group A 

Aeagle-- Jimmy Howard, because he had difficulty pronouncing the word eagle. 

Angel Boy 

Ajax-John Michael Courtney; named by Scott from Ajax Nerd in the Driver Ed film. 

A.R.- Senator Allan R. Dearborn. He was also a Pharmacist at Doe’s Drugstore in 1888-1911. (1856-1915) 

Archie-Eddy Moore 

Ashtray-George Andrews was a Pastor’s son and lived in the ‘Burg about 1963-64. He had a flat-top haircut and an “upper classman” chose to stub his cigarette out on the flat top…thus the name ashtray.  

Group B 

Babs-Barbara Miller 

Baldy-Larry Baldwin 

Barney Fife- Art Achershot when he was the Town policeman 

Barney- Clyde Pickett who played Santa Claus from 1950’s to 1970’s 

Barney- Patrick Dougherty a miner that owned a lot of property on Ross’ Fork of Rock Creek on the road to Medicine Lake (!851-1916) 

Barry-Joe Carnahan 

Basco-Don Schroeder

Beaner-Regina Leistko 

Bear aka Teddy bear- Barry Benson 

Bear-Gene Salois 

Beaver-Steve Immenschuh 

Beck-Rebecca Hess, because her mother was also Rebecca 

Beetle-Lee Page Jr. (1940-2018)

Beeler-Joe Braach 

Bert-George Schoonover
Bert-Robert Gillies rancher on Rock Creek 1871-1930

Bessie-Doy (George) Winninghoff when he and Carroll Huffman (Jessie) spent time on Rock Creek Bessie- Elizabeth Butler 

Bessie- Elizabeth Sprague McRae, mother of Beth (Elizabeth) McRae Winninghoff. 

Beth-Elizabeth McRae Winninghoff (1907-1998) 

Bibs-Eugene Noreen 

Big Bill-Bill Schneider 

Big Daddy- Frank Winninghoff (1861-1941) 

Big Jake- Steve Jacobson 

Big June- Mrs. Al Unger who was way smaller in stature than Little June Mrs. John Unger. 

Big Mac- Angus Alexander McDonald usually called A.A. Was Mayor of Philipsburg and owner of the McDonald Opera House with his wife Susie.(1842-1910) 

Big Pete-P.H. McDonald (1851-1926) 

Big Vic-A miner At ? 

B.J.-Barbara Jean McLeod 

Black Jack- Mike Conn from Hall who wrote an English Composition paper on a gambling episode with a man named Black Jack. 

Blackie- Fritz Leuck who was sheriff in 1952 and 1953 and had jet black hair and mustache. 

Blacky-Ned Neu because of his hair and mustache. 

Blinky-Cal Mazza 

Bobcat-T.R. “Bus” Hess (1922-2011) 

Boiled Pine Squirrels-Bob Munis 

Booger-Justin Braach 

Boom Boom-Leslie Smith when she was dating Alan Boomer 

Boom Boom-Jackie Boomer 

Boomer –Jim Lane because of his booming voice.

Boomer-John Roseboom

Bone-Chuck David Williams

Breaker by the Acre- Bill Baker 

Brocky-Fred C. Barocco a Stone Mason that worked on Georgetown Dam. He lived his later years with Spasse Wacheff until Spasse died. (1878-1963) 

Brooklyn- “Brook” and “Brookie” Tom Schneider 

Brother-Lee Page II 

Bubble head-Gordon Owsley
Bucko- K.L. Staninger owner of Eagle Canyon Ranch

Bucky-Lyle Graham 

Buckshot- Art Achershot 

Bud-Colleen Rose 

Bud- Ernie Mc Laughlin 

Bud Joe Kau

Buddy- Bud Braach 

Buddy- William Hunter 

Bugs- Terry Mickey 

Buggy- Terry Mickey 

Buggy-Bobby Tucker 

Bulldog- John Kennedy Olson because of his features and feisty demeanor 

Bullfrog- Martha Bohrnsen Brandon after the song “Freddie and the Bullfrog.” 

Bull Trout-George Mungas 

Bum-Jack Byam 

Bumbo-Bernard LeRoy 

Bumps-Bill Butler 

Bumbler- Bob Lane 

Bumpster- Jack Byam “The Bum when he fell into the Dumpster”  

Bunny- Delores Carey Furham 

Bus- T.R. Hess, shortened from nickname Buster when he was a toddler. Named after his grandfather. (1922-2011) 

Buster-George W. Metcalf 

Buster- Forest Merrifield lived by Porter’s Corner and drove the Rock Creek School Bus route. (1919-1974) 

Butch-Bob Untinen 

Butch-Richard Johnson (1950’s) 

Buzzard Queen-Jean Breeden who owned the Hungry Buzzard Bar after it was the Silver Tavern. She was also called Mean Jean and was married to David McRae for a short time. 

By Golly- Tommy Churchwell the town Barber 

 Group C 

Cabbage- Ed Lawry 

Cactus-Jack Courtney 

Canner Joe-Sid Willis who picked up all the dead animals and sold the meat to the cannery for dog food and the hides to Pacific Fur. 

Carbide- Wilbur Storer brother of Oliver (Poot) 

Captain-John G, McLean (1830-1919) 

Captain-Larry Veis 

Captain Cape-Duane Cape who was a Captain in the Army in Vietnam. 

Captain Video-Tom Guck 

Cart- Clarence Hamilton half brother of Roy Hamilton  

Cat-Dave McRae 

Ceal-Cecilia Lyon Haggard 

Carebear-Carey Aidy (?)

Charger- Brian Challinor 

Chauchy-Chris Goldsby

Cheeseburger-Bob Harris 

Cheeseburger- Johnny Welch 

Chick-Susan Kreig 

Chicken Coop- Henry ? who stole chickens during the depression and served time in jail for it.  

Chief-Bill Metesh 

Chili-Howard Naef 

Chipmunk-James Maehl 

Choop-Chris Godkin/Boydston 

Chrome Dome-Loren Luthje after he lost his hair 

Chuck—Charles McLure III 

Chuck-Charles E. Metcalf 

Chuckles-Chuck (Charles) Houtz 

Chum- Jerry Churchwell name used by his dad Tommy 

Chunk-Doug Benson
Circus Jim- James L. Hollenbeck who worked at the Puller Ranch on Rock Creek. He died from complications of a stab wound received at the Rupp /Greenheck Slaughter house in 1910.

Cleve-Cleveland A. Metcalf (1889-1972) 

Clevie-Cleveland R. Metcalf (1920-1961) 

Clod Ankle-Kenny Mehr 

Clyde-Shannon D. Heimark 

Coach Cleats-David Metesh 

Coke-Tony Kulaski  

Compressor-Tom Page when working at the Taylor and Knapp Mill 

Conklin-“Conk” Dan Schneider  CooCoo-Bruce Mason 

Cookie- Joan Webster Morrison wife of Dan 

Cookie-Susanne Morrison wife of Earl Goodsell
Cord-Larry Bowen

Corky- Harry G. Bentz Jr. because no one wanted to call him junior. 

Corky- Gary Haile named by his Grandfather Carroll Huffman from the cartoon Gasoline Alley.  Cowboy Joe-Joe Johnson taught kids how to count and say other things in Spanish.

Crab Apple-Jack Carico who ate anything he found in his traps. Lived on what later became the Fred Splitt then Lyon Place located right before Uncle Tom’s Cabin/Dance Hall on Middle Fork. Feuded when drunk with his room-mate Harry Smith re-fighting the Civil-War as Crab Apple was from the South and Harry from the north. They would hang from their saddles and shoot over the horses at each other as the horses raced across the field. He ran barefoot in forty below Zero weather to the Sandin ranch when he woke up from one of their drunks to find Harry froze to death. His family sent him money every year to come east to visit and he would make it too Butte then turn back home. One year he went further and died on the train (probably in the 30’s). No death records have been found (Stories from T.R. ‘Bus” Hess) 

Cucumber-? Joe Costello 

Curley- Dan Carlin 

Group D 

Dan-Andrew Glover married Rosella Carnegie and they ran the County Farm and Poor-House 

Dana Banana-Dana Gibson (Vincent) 

Dan-Herman Crowly 

Deacon-Delbert Yardly 

Dee-Delores Dunkerson 

Dee Dee-Dorothy Crnevich 

Deebert-Dee Schroeder 

Dettle-Dan McKenzie, His twin brother died shortly after birth; son of Toasty and Anna Mason and brother of Rod. 

Dewey-Kevin Learn 

Diamond Bill-Bill Hansen who owned Hansen Core Drilling 

Dicker- Richard Metesh 

Dingo-David Kroger

DK-Donna Kay Morrison 

Doc-Josiah Merrell Philipsburg Merchant and Investor.(d.1913) 

Doc-John P. Cunningham MD 

Doe-Dorothy LeRoy Moran Owens (see Dot below) 

Doe Doe-Doris Metesh

Dogman-David Riggs

Dolly-Dorothy M. (August 29, 1915-July 6, 2001) married to Leland Page Sr. 

Dooley- Adolph Andre 

Dot- Dorothy LeRoy Moran Owens owned a Soda Fountain by the White Front in the “50-60’s Double or Nothing-B.G. Paige 

Doughnut-Louis Mehr 

Doy and Do-ey-George Winninghoff worked with brothers Heck and Heinie at Winninghoff Motors until he bought the Greenheck ranch on Flint Creek (1897-1986) 

Duckboy-Rick Reh 

Dunk- Duncan McRae 

Dunk-Sheriff Scott Dunkerson

Dutch- Margery Winninghoff Metesh 

Group E 

Eddie Spaghetti-Ed Roseboom 

Egg Tycoon-Curtis Smith when he had a massive egg production company 

Ego-John Howard 

Elmer-Louis Salois 

Elroy-Ron Graham 

Emersome-Karen Anderson 

Ernie-Brett Hamilton 

 Group F 

Falcon-Dave Metesh 

Fan-Frances Titus Harrington McKenzie County Historian (1881-1961) 

Father Edgar- Tim Edgar 

Fat Pat-Pat Tatlinger 

Fats-Guy Kneale 

Festus-Paul Coble 

Festus Vince Fessler 

Fet- Winnifred Sandin Bentz Bauer 

Fink-Tim Mickey 

Finn-Harold Marjamaa 

Fish- Edward Morrison 

Fish-Tammy Schneider 

Fisher Jack from the Hogback- Joseph Case who was nursed back to health from Typhoid Fever by Annie Morgan on her homestead which is now a Forest Service cabin on Lower Rock Creek. (1846-1930) 

Flash-Spencer Huffman

Flap jack-Jack Minkler 

Flintstone-Robert Maehl 

Flip-Van Neitz 

Flossie –Florence Morrison McCale 

Fog Horn- Neil McDonald because of his deep voice. he was over fifty when he joined the Canadian Military because the US said he was too old. He died 1923 and was the father of Hugh J., Axel and Mrs. Hugh S. McDonald. 

Foghorn-Tom Schneider 

Foof-Justin Flahuarty 

Fosdick-Bobby LeRoy 

Foxie-Herman Lindstadt who owned the Granite Garage and sold Overland cars (1916), located across from the Hospital and next to Mrs. Chantry on Sansome. He and wife May VanNorman had Irene (Parker) and Connie who married Ed Kahoe, thus it became the Kahoe Garage 

Frankie-Frances Porter Merrifield 

Fred-Robert Maehl 

Freddy-Robert Maehl 

Freddy-Spencer Huffman 

Freddy the freeloader- Carroll Huffman 

Frenchy-DuWayne Forgette brother of Lorraine Forgette Barney and Fern Forgette Nicolaysen-Metcalf 

Fritz-Dwayne White 

Frosty-Wally Frost School Janitor 

Fudd-Elmo Coblenz 

Fuzz Buzz-Russ Morrison . 

 Group G 

Garbage 

Garr- Mary Morrison an Licensed Practical Nurse and midwife to the community in the 50’s (1872-1964) 

Geek-Harold Evans 

George-Ky Morrison 

Godfrey-Mel Wattula 

Goldie-Theodora Stevens Crossman Delp because she was a natural platinum blonde 

Goldie- Golda Davis McCale Webb  

Griz aka teddy bear-also Papa Bear- Bill Bayer then Doug Bayer 

Grizz-Scott Courtney; named by Coach Sullivan and shortened from Grizzly Bear 

Goldfish-worked at the Dorothy’s Café as a Cook and always looked out the window 

Gomer-Gary Morrison 

Gonk- Algonquin Mine 

Goober-David Metesh 

Goose-Don Dee Kennedy 

Goosem-Harry A. Featherman (1867-1954) Granite County Treasurer 1906-1910. 

Grasshopper-Louie Salois 

Gus- Angus McDonald (Sheriff two different times) 

 Group H 

Hambone-Kell Hamilton 

Hammerin’ Hank-Hank West who worked at Winninghoff Garage 

Hands- Jackie Gall 

Happy Jack-Jack Turney owned a service station across from the Andre house and where the City Hall now is. 

Heck- Francis (Frank) X. Winninghoff who owned Winninghoff Motors with brother Heinie (1892-1956) 

Heinie- Edward Robert Winninghoff who owned Winninghoff Motors with brother Heck (1906-1997) 

Hickory Nuts-Clyde Gregory who was shot and killed in the Thirsty Dog Saloon 

High Pockets-Miles Williams 

Hole in the head- hired hand that worked for Dr. Nesbit and had an indentation in his skull 

Honest Ron-Ron Anderson 

Hoople-Ralph Harris and Tom Harris
Hoot-Harvey Bauer as an adult because he wore a hat like Hoot Gibson

Horse-Tom Carlin; Tim Carlin 

Hot Wheels-Kell Hamilton 

Huck-Everett and Tommy Finn 

Huck-Larry White who married Vickie Morgan 

Huey-Barry Carnahan 

 Group I 

Itch-Edwin T. Irvine was unable to pronounce Ichabod Crane correctly when reading "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" in school and called him Itchabod so was forever referred to as Itch.

Ironhead-Randy Larson 

 Group J 

Jack-Gordon Mitchell (1898-1942) 

Jack-John E. Heimark J

Jack-Louis Sandin J

Jake-LeRoy Jacobson 

Jarhead-Dave Jardine 

Jeep- Bill Fischer who owned the Pintler Hotel in the 70’s. He was with a group camping. During the night they thought a jeep was coming through their camp then realized it was Fischer snoring so named him Jeep. 

Jessie-Carroll Huffman when he and George (Doy) Winninghoff were on Rock Creek 

Jo-Jo- Joseph Metesh (1958-1975) 

Jughead-Hugh Carlin 

June Bug-June Collins Saurers 

June Bug-June Sanders 

Judge-Wally Olsen was named that by “Mushy” and it came from “Drunk as a Judge.”Wally drank a lot and when he was doing the two steps forward and three steps back, Mushy would holler out “Here comes the Judge.” 

Judge-Hugh T. Cumming who owned the Moore Hotel in Granite and was the State Representative for Granite County 1908-1910; the Justice of the Peace of Elk Precinct and Mayor of Drummond. (1857-1948)

 Group K 

Katie-Catherine McDonald Lindstadt (1885-1945) 

Katsup-Shannon Heimark 

Kawliga-Cleo LaValley named after the song “Kawliga Was a Wooden Indian” 

Kay-Catherine Lindstadt Steber 

Kettle Belly-Tiny Larson 

Kermit- Phil McDonald
Kiamia-Ky Morrison after he and Larry had an encounter with some Black girls.

Kicky-Dick Johnson 

Kicky-Rick Collins 

Killer-Kevin Mason 

Kook- Bill Kulaski because he was “Kooky” 

Kook-Jeremy Mickey 

Kooks-Gary Kulaski 

Koopie-Maxine Ray Fessler 

Ky-Colin Morrison 

 Group L 

Laramia-Larry Morrison after he and Ky had an encounter with some Black girls.

Laz-Sandra Lazetick (Watulla) when she was a High school teacher. 

League of Nations-Mae Smith, Kammimura, Overly, Werning because of the various nationalities she married. Mae was the caretaker of Granite for many years and died there in 1969. 

Lee-Leo George Metcalf (1881-1949) 

Leebert-Lee Johnson 

LeeLee-Rita Immenschuh 

Legs-Shannon Clemons (Harding) 

Lindy-Granville S. Rice 

Lenie or Lennie –Jolene Yardley 

Lightening-Mike Wininghoff (1951-1999) 

Lip-Shannon Clemons (Harding) 

Lip-Nancy Miller (Owens) when in school 

Little Bit- Elizabeth Morrison 

Little Blinkey-Tom Mazza 

Little Eva-Eva Kurrti Bergamaschi Bentz LPN at the Hospital for many years 

Little Greek-Young Bill Crncevich 

Little June- June Unger married to John Unger a tall big boned blonde. 

Lizzie-Elizabeth Hermann Crowley 

Lo-ass-Lois Evans 

Lockie-Lauchlin McDonald (1864-1941) 

Loey-Lois Lindstadt McCarthy 

Lonnie-Lonette Kulaski 

Lornie- Herman Lawrence Hauck son of Herman and grandson of Lawrence, owners of the P’Burg Mail. (d.2011) 

Lottie- Charlotte Irvine School Superintendent 1906-1928. 

Lou-Louis Shodair Grocery store owner; Helena Shodair Hospital named after him 

Louie-Scott Anderson 

Louie-Louis Mann 

Louie the Lobster-Scott Anderson 

Little Mama- Theresa Iten Winninghoff (1863-1928) 

Lum- Lawrence Wanderer owner with wife Lucille of the IGA grocery store 

L.V. - Lavada Jean Bridgewater 

LV-Larry Veis sexton at the cemetery 

 Group M 

Ma-Marlene Andre (Chor)

Mac-Dan McLeod sheriff of Granite County 1912-1916. 

Mac-Ralph R. McLeod developer of Macville now known as Maxville because postal service mis-spelled the name. 

Machine Gun Charlie-Charlie Cyr 

Mable-Tom Mazza 

Maggie- Margaret Duffy Connors Sanders (1882-1935) 

Maggie Denny-Margaret Denise Haile McDonald 

Maggot- Bruce Mason after he returned from military service 

Magpie-also Mag- Al Morrison 

Magpie-Maggie McDonald 

Major-Hugh O’Neil (Sutler) These men contracted with the Military as teamsters in the 1800’s Major-William Graham (Sutler) “ Intellect and Pioneer Miner. 

Major-John W. Morse (Sutler) “ 

Mamo-Marion Hauck 

Mamo-Jane O’Neil Hickey who cared for many during the Diptheria outbreak when she lost three daughters at Granite. 

Mannie-Mary Anne Morrison 

Ma P. -Dora Huffman Penington High school teacher and principal for four generations. 

Marb 

Marlo-Rico Barkell 

Maroon Saloon- a car 

Mary-Mae Winninghoff (1915-1980) 

Mason-Justin Mason 

Max- Michael Norris who lived in Maxville 

McDugged-Doug Morrison 

McGurk-Pat Carlin 

Mean Jean-Jean Breeden owner of the Hungry Buzzard Tavern after it was the Silver Tavern; also known as Buzzard Queen.  

Meme- Marian F. Lindstadt Morrison wife of Donald (1915-1973) 

Michael-Melchoir Kaiser Owner of the Kaiser House 

Mickey-Gayle Morrison Hobaugh 

Mollie-Mary Metcalf-(1887-1984) 

Molly-Emily Petrovski

Monk-Lawrence Olson named because of his stature 

Monk-George Mungas 

Montana Pete-Pete Byam 

Moocher-Matt McCale 

Moose-Jack Hamilton 

Moose Lake Johnson- Martin Johnson (1862-1941) miner and hunting guide around Moose Lake who had a pet moose named Bosco. 

Mouse-Rona McOmber 

Mr. Bill-Bill Hellman 

Mr. Green Jeans- “Sparky” Arthur White when he was the school janitor 

Mrs. Murphy-Tom Page in older years

Mumbles-Both Jimmie Howard and son Jimmie Howard 

Munk-James Maehl shortened from Chipmunk 

Munie- John Munis 

Murphy-Merv Graham 

Mushy-Bruce Mason 

Murtz-David Munis 

 Group N 

Nabber-Nick Munis Sherriff 

Nattie- Ernest Mazza 

NATO-Art Degenhart 

Ned 

Nez Perce Jones-J.H. Jones who was involved in the McKay Gulch Massacre in July 1978. His three miner companions were killed by the Nez Perce Indians and Jones escaped by running to Mr. Baldy (Mt. Amerine [Emerine]) then back to the Schuh Ranch and into Philipsburg to warn the town. (1844-1926) 

Nickle Harvey- Harvey Baurer who as a child would sell his dog to people for a nickel then go around the corner and call the dog. He made the mistake of selling the dog to a rancher one day and the rancher tied the dog to his wagon and took off. Harvey went running to Sheriff McLeod crying. The sheriff tracked down the rancher and bought the dog back for Harvey. 

Nickle Nose- Adolph Andre 

Noisey- Lawrence Norris because he was so quiet 

Noonie- Anne Marie Budel 

 Group O 

Oakie-Harold Sanders 

Ollie-Norman Sichveland 

Ole-Olaf Sandin (1890-1946) 

Oly Joe-Joe Callahan 

Oreo- John F. Winninghoff named by Nancy Miller Owens when eating large amounts of Oreo cookies. He told his children it was because all he brought for camping was Oreo cookies. (1945-2001) 

Ozzie- Oswald Christensen (1911-1982) 

 Group P 

Paddy- Patrick Ward who owned the Senate Mine near Moose Lake 

Palm Beach- cleaned the Pool Hall When Nesbit’s owned it. 

Papa Smurf-Harold Evans 

Parsnips-Bob Munis 

Pat- John McDonald 

Pat-Martin Winninghoff (1905-1986) 

Patsy-Emily Kidder (Haacke) 

P dingle-John P. Cunningham M.D. 

Pee Wee- Charles Crossman 

Pedro-Mark Metesh 

Peg Leg- ? Donaldson 

Peg leg-John Luthje 

Pelican-Joe Costello 

Penny Poop-Penny Haile Forney 

Perd- P.W. Merrifield 

Perp-Richard Davis 

Pinecat-Elmer Lamprey a ranch hand who lived west of City Hall. 

Pinhead-Leo Graham 

Pinky- Leonard Eik Named because his Mom washed his white football uniform with a red sweater, so he had to play with a pink uniform the rest of the year. 

Piston Queen-Sue Sanderson 

Poncho- William Rogan son of Olga Terkla Rogan Minster 

Poncho- Ricky Morgan, brother of Barbara Morgan Brown (class of 1975) 

Pop Eye-Leland Hadley Page Sr. (August 31, 1911-April 12. 1994)

Polock Kid-Steve Graham 

Porkchop-LeRoy Owens 

Postmaster Pete- “Pete” John W. Winninghoff (1904-1972)Was postmaster and owned the Original Sweet Palace Candy Store and then Goode Shop Restaurant and Floral Shop on East Broadway. 

Potlicker-Scott Davis 

Poot- Oliver Storer and Carbide’s brother; sisters were Stella Holt, Margie Carlin and ? 

Poot-Bruce Mason

Poot-Larry Morrison 

Professor-Steve Sorenson 

Puddin’- Margery Metesh (1956-1994) 

Pump Handle-Bill McLean  

Putt Putt was also Tarzan- Lawrence “Sonny” Werning a man with probably Parkinson known then as “St. Vidas dance”

 Group Q 

 Group R 

Rabbit-Bobby Neitz 

Rabbit-Clyde Gregory 

Rainbow- Charles Gall who owned the Rainbow Inn located on the old Gregson Highway east of Anaconda

Randy-Eileen Heimark Baile who has now legally changed her name to Randy. Sister of Rusty daughter of Ed and Wilma Hunt Heimark Christy. 

Red- Elmer Swanson 

Red-Mike Carr 

Red Beard-Richard Johnson 

Red Cooper-Walter Cooper was married to Bea Campbell; they had many children; he worked in the mines 

Red Mack (Mac) –A.A. McDonald (1842-1910) Was mayor of Philipsburg and with his wife owned the McDonald Opera House 

Rene- Lorene Metesh 

Rhubarb-Randy Martin 

Rick o’ Shea-Rick Sharkey 

Rivet-Jim Miller because he always wore jeans with a bright copper rivet on the fly. 
Rock- Frank Province Rancher on upper Rock Creek (1860-1931) in partner ship with Bert  Gillies.

Rolly Eyes-Donny Harris 

Rome-Romedius Saurer (1864-1925) 

Rooster-John Howard 

Rosie-Rose Marie Winninghoff 

Roto Rooter-Rona McOmber 

Roundo-Oliver Kingrey named by Bruce Mason 

Roundo-Walter McLeod 

Roy-Leroy Sprague (1881-1951) 

Rubber Neck-Ben Owsley 

Rugged-Doug Morrison 

Runt-Bob Sanders named by Chuckie Houtz because of his small size when young. 

Rusty- Russell Heimark, son of Wilma Hunt Christy and Ed Heimark and brother of Randy. 

Dusty-David Heimark

  Group S 

Sage- George Hilborn 

Sandbar-Frank D. Brown who received the nickname thusly: The Henry rifle, predecessor of the present Winchester had just come into use and Mr. Brown grabbed the first one off the boat. The Henry was brass bound, held 16 cartridges of .44 caliber, with one in the barrel, and rim-fire---the cartridges, not the barrel. Mr. Brown was traveling along innocent like near the Missouri River one gladsome summer day and was jumped by about 20 red brothers, all howling for ruddy gore and riding hell bent for a taste of it. Mr. Brown rode his horse across the river at a convenient ford, leading his pack horse. On the side where he came out was a long spit of sandbar reaching into the river and Mr. Brown rode up the sandbar to the bank, tied his horses and walked back to the open. Lo! The poor Indian had a cheerful habit of drawing the fire from the white man’s smoke stick and then charging in before he could reload; a very disconcerting habit and predicated upon the proposition that the white man had a single shot rifle and all necessary to success was to dodge the first bullet and then wade in. With 20 Indians coming across the river whooping Mr. Brown was to be made an example of the habit the repeating gun not figured in the performance as the first let a whoop and headed for the white man. But Mr. Brown was a different kind of medicine than the red brother had ever met in his scalping entertainments as he kept right on firing while Indians kept tumbling to the sandbar in a most disconcerting fashion--the charge broke up and the Indians headed for the other shore, with seven down and Mr. Brown still shooting for good measure. Then he untied his horses filled the magazine of the little Henry and went on his blithesome way. “Hell”, said Mr. Brown some time after in discussion of the incident when friends commented upon the inequality of 20 Indians to one white man “I could a kivered the whole damn sandbar if they’d just kept comin’!” And thereafter he was known as “Sandbar” Brown---and that is the kind of hairpin “Sandbar” Brown was in the days of real sport! He went on to mining, real estate and to be the Secretary and Historian of The Montana Pioneer Society. 

Sandy-Angus A. McDonald brother of John J and Nephew of A.A (1862-1938) 

Sandy-Kaye Evan Sanderson (Speed’s brother) 

Sapphire King-Richard Stingle who had claims in Capron and Stoney Gulch in the 1890’s. Sarch/Sarge- Phillip Sarsfield Carey (1873-1958) who owned a ranch on Trout Creek now known as the Bill Christensen Ranch (his nephew) 

Scotty-Allen Morrison who was married to Marie Wickberg 

Scowl Face-Roy Hamilton 

Scrappy-Matt LaTray

Sealed Beam-worked at the Douglas Creek Mine 

Shrimp-Monte Sanders Marker because he was so small in stature. 

Shakey-Walter Phillips lived in Parkerville and had a small Park named after him. 

Shenanigans-Shannon D. Heimark 

Shooshie- Shirley Winninghoff 

Short Cord-Bob Budel 

Shorty-Lester Dean 

Shorty-Jody Yelton
Shorty- Frank Province also known as Bert rancher with Gillies on upper Rock Creek.

Shrub-Gary Parks 

Shrub-Travis Thomas 

Sis- Clara Reynolds Adams 

Sis- Mary Jane Lawry Johnson who was married to Walter “Tiny” Johnson 

Silver King-Joe Metesh 

Skeeter-Park McLure 

Skillet-Jack Miller  

Skimmy-Walter Norris who owned the Stone House north of Maxville 

Skinner-Walter “Tiny” Johnson when he was the Science Teacher and had a crew cut. The students thought he might skin them alive if they got in trouble. “If they only knew-his bark was tougher than his bite” (daughter Sue Abbott) 

Skip-Rod McKenzie 

Skip and Skipper- Don Durand 

Skipper- Gerald Barney who was married to Lorraine Forgette and became lost October 5, 1957. He died in the area between Middle Fork and Ross’ Fork in the Fish Lake area. He was found by Frank Haacke on October 13 about six miles from where Gerald had first began hunting.

Slim- Ernest Bronderslev

Slim Hambone- Felix Aiken who was a railroad enthusiast. The kids would sing "Hambone, Hambone where you been" and he would answer "Around the world and goimg again"
Slick Vic-Vicky Harding
Slud-Allen Lund
Smiley-Lynette Page  

Smitty- George Smith 

Smokey-George Sutherland who owned a ranch on West Fork of Rock Creek (1898-1964)  

Snoz-Albert Bauer because of his nose

Sox- Albert Morrison (1899-1973) 

Sparky- Arthur White who ran the service station on west broadway 

Speck-Joiner Mickey 

Speed-Alex Glover 

Speed- (Young) Byron Sanderson
Speed- Elwyn Kingrey

Sponge-Bob Saurer 

Sport-Bill Gallagher 

Spud and Spudly-Gary Parks 

Squeek Pearson-Gordon Ballard 

Star- Estelle Neu Huffman 

Star-Jay Kreig because of the Star on his brand of tennis shoes. 

Stetson-San Brown because he always wore a cowboy hat. 

Stretcher-Joe Braach 

Stoney-Stonewall McGuire (Sheriff) 

Stork-Dan Strahal 

Stu-Stuart Chaney 

Stu-Stewart Gray 

Stu-Sue Sweeny

Stub-Frank N. Fessler who bought most of the rural school houses when the county rural schools were closed. 

Stubby-Jacky Morrison after his brother (Doug) cut off his finger 

Stubby- Lenard Delaware because of his size. 

Stucco- Carl Maehl because of his building skills and passed down to his son Carl. 

Studly-Steve Graham 

Studebaker Bill- Bill Eckles 

Stumptown- nickname of the town of Tower because the trees were cut for lumber to build the town but the stumps were never removed. 

Stumptown-Walter Sanders who lived in Stumptown nicknamed to differentiate him from the Walter Sanders that owned the “Old Parks/Webb” ranch at the west end of Trail Gulch. 

Sully-Mr. Sullivan the Music teacher for many years 

Susie-Irene Norris Smith 

Swanny- David Swanson 

Swede-Leonard Swanson 

Swede-Evald Olsen because of his nationality. 

Swelter-Bruce Metcalf 

  Group T 

Tata-Carol Huffman Haile 

Taco-David Winninghoff 

Tarzan also known as Putt-Putt – Lawrence “Sonny” Werning who suffered from Parkinson’s  

Tater-Byran Butler 

Tater Tots- Jodi or Leon Parks T

T-Bone-John Welch 

T.C-Terri Collins 

Ted-Theodore Saurer (1921-2008) 

TeDo- Patricia Metesh 

Tex- Louis E. Crowley (1906-1996) 

Tex-Eric Kenny

The Blonde Indian-Bonnie Fiddler

The Buffalo- Bill Kempfer 

The Chisler- Adolph Andre 

The Duke-Chauncey Kennedy 

The Finn Falcon-Virgil Marjamaa 

The Greek- Bill Crncvich who owned the bowling alley above the Antlers Bar 

The Gwendolizer-GwenVise

The Indian-LeRoy Owens Pontiac (1957) 

The Lush-Ronny Naef 

The Sneakin Deacon-Delbert Yardly

The Stud duck-Jim Kistle
The Wop-Dennis Fortunati because he was Italian.

Thelma and Louise-Theresa Loobey and Carol Bohrnsen 

T.J.- Terry Jo Vietor 

Thunder-Bill Winninghoff (1943-2019) 

Thunder-Tim Stephenson 

Tickbeard-Mike Coble 

Ticket Queen- Shirley Finn because of all the tickets she sold 

Tiger- Lee Page II 

Timmy Z-Tim Torres-Housel 

Tin Grin-Spencer Huffman 

Tiny- Walter Johnson who was not Tiny in build.  

Tiny- Leon Lesly Larson who was not tiny in build 

Tiny- ? McLaughlin who threw the bowling ball so hard that the pin setters left the back of the alley before he threw the ball for fear of being injured by flying pins. 

Tizzy Lizzy- Jeanne (Mickey) Plima 

Toad-DuWayne Forgette 

Toph “Topher”-Christopher O’Grady  

Tom-Winas T. Hull Rock Creek Rancher (1851-1928) 

Tony-Marion Wickberg 

Tracky-Lee Tracy 

Tree- Thor Schiveland 

Tricky Dick-Dick Tunstill 

Tritone- a car 

Tuffy- Elmer Beatman married Bea Fessler 

Turkey-Terri Collins 

Tuss- Lois Morrison 

Two Bit Annie-Annie Cantaro 

  Group U 

Uncle Jim-James McDonel first Mayor of Philipsburg. (1843-1927) 

Uncle Tom- William T. Van Norman (1889-1982) owned the Dance Hall and picnic area just south of the West Fork Bridge on the Middle Fork of Rock Creek from 1929-1971. He also brought in income by trading in fur pelts, cowhides and deer hides with the local trappers and rancher. 

Ugly Bug-Colleen Byam 

  Group W

Wad-John Hoehne 

Wally- Waldo Haacke who later legally changed his name to Wally 

Wally-Mark Williams 

Wally-Wallace Frost 

Wart Hog-Mr.George Hail a Math Teacher in the “70’s 

Watson-George Mungas 

Whimpey- Billy Churchwell was the brother of Tommy and lived and worked at Echo Lake. 

Whisky Bill- William Terkla who died at the age of fifteen from an injury when struck by a bucking bronco at the Grade School Rodeo grounds on July 4th 1930. 

Whitey-Mike Costello because of his platinum blonde hair 

Whitey-Bob Williams 

Whitey-Bob White 

Wild Bill-Bill McCale because he loved to ride bucking horses. (1914-1987) 

Wild Bill from Parkerville-Bill Hellman named at the age of two 

Wildmeat-Davie Harris 

Willow Creek Hippie- John Luthje 

Willie-Wilma Hunt Heimark Christy 

Window Joe-Joe Callahan who did windows and siding and painted cactus on the town buildings. Wings-Lonette Kulaski 

Word One-Tex Crowley 

Wow-Dave Bowen
Wus-Leonard Bowen

  Group Y

Ya Banjinia-Mark Housel 

 Yard Stick-Dan Yardley 

 Yo Yo-Yolanda Taylor

  Group Z 

Zeke-Vesper Judy who was a miner and owned a mine beginning in 1898 near what is now called “Zeke’s Meadow” on Ross’ Fork of Rock Creek. Killed in a cave-in at the Gonk in 1922.

 Zelmo-Jim Beattie 

 Zip- Bryan Hynes (Sheriff) 

 Zip-Robert Steffan