The Building of West Fork Sapphire Mines Flumes

Anaconda Gulch is listed as the richest gulch by the Mt. Gov. DEQ site, but local knowledge and archive documentation show Sapphire Gulch, producing the most gems. The Web site, goes on to describe a sixteen mile wooden flume from Stony Lake being constructed to serve the McLure Placer, Aurora and twenty-two other claims in 1901 and credits these statements to “Expert Miner” McElroy in 1911. The cost was stated as $75,000.00. The article states the McElroy article is on file at DLNF. E-mail requests for the document have went unanswered. Staff at the Montana Historical Society Library interpret DLNF as Deer Lodge National Forest and contact with that office is unable to reveal any such document in their files. The following is what I have been able to research about the flume. 

A letter from J.R. Lucas to Paul Fusz of August 17, 1904 raised the question whether the flume was built in 1901. Lucas had a discussion in August 1904 with Joe Sorenson regarding the feasibility of an 18 inch wooden pipe being built, instead of a wooden flume. This would run from Stony Lake and Lucas discussed a wooden gate as a dam at Fusz Lake instead of a cement dam, because of the slide rock in that area. Foreman Sorenson also stated he was widening the road up Basin Gulch that fall. Then on September 4, 1904 the conversation continued “…In regard to flume from Stony Creek: he [Sorenson] suggests and I think his suggestion is right, that a “V” shaped flume from Stony Creek to Cralle Ditch would be the proper kind of a flume put in, having same properly braced.” As evidenced by the flume that still remains the “V” shaped plan was never carried out. The letter continued: “He also suggests that if it is possible for us to get a small saw mill up in there it would be much cheaper than hauling lumber. That is one of the things we have got to consider in building a flume. He states we can get a small saw mill up in that country at a very small expense, as there is plenty of timber sufficiently large to cut flume lumber out of it. However will take the matter up when you arrive.” Their conversation when Fusz arrived is not documented in files available. 

The Mail, August 31, 1906 stated: “The American Gem Mining Company which operates the Sapphire mines on the West Fork of Rock Creek has filed an application with the forestry department for a million feet of timber along the headwaters of the West Fork. The company proposes to build a ditch and flume eighteen miles in length and the timber is to be cut along the proposed line of the ditch, clearing a strip 100 feet wide. A portable sawmill is to be used to saw the lumber for the flume.” 

Rasmussen was foreman of Camp #1 which started the flume from Gem Creek with intake from Gem Creek and Little Gem Creek. Rhudy was foreman of Camp #2 which was the Main Flume on the West Fork of Rock Creek with intake at Spruce Creek and Dunshee Creek. 

On March 30, 1912 J.R. Lucas writes a request to P.C. Miller in Stevensville, Montana to submit a bid to AGMS for building a flume. Miller responded on April 1, 1912 and asked to be notified when “snow leaves so we can make definite estimates and bid.” The next correspondence I found was from J.R. Lucas to Blakeslee and Cheatham on June 3, 1912 which details that their company was “going to construct 8 miles of flume and dig 2 miles of ditch on the West Fork of Rock Creek….can either your Mr. Blakeslee or Cheatham come to Philipsburg and…run this survey line over and check it up?” 

The response on June 8 was a telegram stating someone would be in Philipsburg from the company either Sunday or Monday. Another hand written document from C.W. Cheatham recommends his brother J.N. Cheatham to be hired as the engineer of the flume and ditch digging and that he would work for $100.00 per month and expenses. Then, on July 30, 1912 J.N. Cheatham wrote to J.R. Lucas that “E.E. Rhudy started work on the 11th; G.E. Rasmussen started work on the 12th.”

J.R. Lucas requested on July 30, 1912 that Cheatham send weekly reports of the crews work so they can withhold 15% of the estimated wages as per original contract. Cheatham wrote Lucas on the same date “We need lumber delivered by the 31st as sawmill has not started.” Two documents sent to Lucas that were not signed, state the motor sent for the saw mill was the wrong size. 

Also on file are eight pages of “Monthly estimates of flume construction” for July 1912 through October 1912. The estimates describe the work in number of “bents” completed and itemized the costs: July: Main Flume starting at West Fork $ 425.05; E.E. Rhudy Foreman Main Flume starting at Gem Creek $ 620.50; G.E. Rasmussen Foreman - Intake from Gem Creek $ 9.50; Intake from Little Gem Creek $ 21.72 August: Camp #1 Rasmussen $1102.93; Camp #2 Rhudy $884.11 September: Camp #1 Rasmussen $1129.31; Camp #2 Rhudy $ 635.68 October: Main Flume $1,548.15; Intake at Spruce Creek $9.32; Intake at Dunshee Creek $37.23 Camp #1- 100% completed and Camp #2- 95% completed by November 1. 

On July 25, 1912 J.R. Lucas sent a request to Missoula Employment Agency requesting a sawyer capable of cutting 100,000 feet of lumber and a sawmill engineer. Then, on August 23 Cheatham wrote to Lucas in regard to the need for road work and that no one had authority to order supplies. Because of these problems the men were ready to leave if the situation was not resolved. He also requested another six or seven men. The situation must have been resolved, because in 1913 a request from Cheatham to Lucas for references, was responded to. Lucas gave Cheatham a positive reference for the period he worked for American Gem with the date being from April 1912 through December 1912. 

The amount of pay received by the flume crew is evidenced in a letter from J.R. Lucas to J.N. Cheatham the Supt. Of Construction dated September 19th, 1912: “Dear Sir: Calling your attention to time sheet covering Flume Camp No.2, E.E. Rhudy, we note that in three instances you have shown the total deductions to exceed the gross amount due the employe [sic].We refer to L. O’Brian, Martin McNulty and A. Miller…We have therefore altered your August time sheet to show as follows: L. O’Brian, wages due $4.87, Board deducted $4.70, Comissary deduction 17 cents; Martin McNulty, wages due $4.87, Board deduction $4.87; A. Miller, wages due $4.87, Board deducted $4.87. This leaves their accounts as follows: L.O’Brian owes the commissary 13 cents; Martin McNulty owes the board 48 cents, commissary 40 cents; A. Miller owes board 48 cents… (What) these employes [sic] owe should be included with the deductions of the September time sheets.” 

 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, was not explained in the archived documents. We know water became available and as a child, I saw pictures of the placer miners working with huge pipes with nozzles knocking people over by the massive water pressure being directed at the placers. Massive earth movement and tailing dams are evident, especially in Maley Gulch and Anaconda Gulch. The drop in altitude from the beginning of the flume to the gulches, created the head of pressure. As you drive east on the Skalkaho Highway, near the Stillwater turn-off, you can still see areas of flume clinging to the steep slide rock mountainside. Building and upkeep of flumes, plus ditch digging, without considering the employment of the placer mines, provided a substantial number of jobs for the people of Philipsburg and surrounding areas, prior to 1930. 

West Fork Sapphire Mines and Conrad Wipf

 

A constant issue in mining Sapphires was a water supply and references show in 1905 water problems were becoming severe as early as June 11. By August 9 “Jamieson’s laid off most of crew in Anaconda Gulch-no water and did not get any water from Fusz Lake. Eight men left to prospect and look for source of red sapphires” wrote J. Lucas to Paul Fusz. Communication on August 22, 1905 stated water was okay in Sapphire Gulch and on August 27 Lucas told Fusz “Cralle’s survey says we should continue the Cralle ditch to the North Fork of the West Fork of Rock Creek--that would give a good supply of water to both Basin and Sapphire [Gulch].” By June 19, 1905 Wipf had worked the lower Sapphire and obtained only 100 pounds of sapphires. “Last year that would have been 600 pounds-so he is going higher up the gulch” wrote Lucas to Fusz. Obviously the move was strategic as the final shipment on November 23, 1905 totaled 3,657.25 pounds and 3,641 of these pounds came from Sapphire. 

Later that year, Conrad’s son was hired to do ranch work after graduating from high school and a letter from Lucas to Fusz, on October 9, 1905 stated “Have Sandin and young Conrad Wipf stay on ranch at $35.00 a month this winter…” Stop work by October 18. 

Conrad Wipf was born at Marthalen Canton of Zurich, Switzerland on December 4, 1843 and came to America as a carpenter in 1868. He worked in Chicago then Iowa before coming to Montana in 1871. He worked at the Kleinschmidt Brother’s lumber yard in Deer Lodge. Then moved to the saw mill at New Chicago and in 1872 moved to Philipsburg. I found where contracts bids were requested for laying sidewalk from Botschieder and Wipf’s Carpenter Shop on Sansome to the new school house. The bids were requested by John A. Spencer City clerk and Julius Hansen Assistant clerk in the January 9, 1896 Mail. 

Conrad worked at the Trout Mine and then took up Placer mining for the next fourteen summers according to the Mail, November 5 1909 (1895-1909). During the winters, Conrad continued to work in the building trade and during the mining boom at Granite formed a partnership with T.G. Botscheider. They built an extensive business as contractors and builders. Conrad was defeated for the office of City Treasurer by James H. Loomis on April 6, 1908. He served as alderman in the City Council and as School Trustee for many years, plus was president of the District Board of Education and County Commissioner at the time of his death. Con married Elise Huber of Zurich, Switzerland in 1885 and they had one son Conrad Jr. 

Conrad Senior died on October 30, 1909 at his home in Philipsburg of stomach cancer, about one month after being diagnosed. Survivors were his wife Elise and son Conrad Jr. Pallbearers were: William Dingwall, William Stahl, John H. Williams, Nicholas Noe, George Albert and Walter Kroger. He is buried in the Philipsburg Cemetery. 

Mrs. Elise Huber Wipf was born September 11, 1852. She died on June 3, 1936 and is buried next to Conrad in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Conrad’s business partner Tom Botscheider born February 29, 1852 died February 21, 1940 just eight days short of his eighty-eighth birthday. Tom married Adelaide Durfee a native of New York in Philipsburg in 1884 two years after she moved to the area. I have been unsuccessful in finding Tom’s obituary, but Adelaide’s showed the marriage devoid of children, when she died on July 15, 1923 at the age of seventy. Tom and Adelaide are buried next to each other in the Philipsburg cemetery.

Anne Filmore was gifted a picture of Tom and Adelaide's marriage certificate when she acquired the building she made into the Silver Mill on Broadway and that picture is attached below.

g cemetery.

Early Lodges and Organizations and John Rains

 

 Lodge affiliation was a very important part of the early Deer Lodge/Granite County settlements, with the A.F. & A.M. Flint Creek Lodge chartered October 7, 1867. It was one of five lodges chartered at the Montana Annual Meeting held that year in Virginia City. Only Flint Creek and King Solomon of Helena were still in existence in 1951. The Flint Creek Lodge had twenty four members in 1869, according to Campbell “From the Quarries of Last Chance Gulch (1951). 

The I.O.G.T Band of Hope Lodge No. 20, was organized November 3, 1876 and Cable Lodge No. 9, was the ninth Lodge to be founded. The Order of Red Men was an early organization but I am not certain the date of inception. These male members dressed in garb that resembled Native American wear, according to their photograph history. Charter members of this Lodge arrived in the area prior to 1889. 

The Woodsmen of the World was another active organization that provided insurance to the members and is often referenced in obituaries with sums of $1,000 to $3,000 in payment to the deceased families. 

The Order of Eastern Star and Pocahontas were female organizations, with spouse participation who belonged to the Masonic Lodge. I believe the Pocahantas were the wives of the Red Men organization. 

The Churches had active organizations that provided assistance to families in need during the mining recessions. The Philipsburg Women’s Club was a very active group during WWI and The Red Cross fostered an active county association. The Sons of Herman and The Odd Fellows are other organizations spoken of through out newspaper articles. 

The Philipsburg Pioneer Association was founded in 1880 and included pioneers that had arrived in Montana on or before 1865; California on or before 1849; and Idaho on or before 1860. At the founding meeting there were nine bylaws adopted by the members of which I will quote two:

 “Sixth: we reserve the right to get decently drunk and to recognize a social game of cards, where money is not staked, as a necessary of our daily lives; 

   Ninth: we want no legal advice no long winded set of bylaws, nothing but good fellowship and lasting friendships; and as the flume is all clear, we lift the head-gate and start to work on discovery.” 

These bylaws were signed by the following pioneers: John Merrill-1848 California, John Rains-1849 California, John G. McLean-1850 California, George Plaisted-1850 California, Henry Imkamp-1856 California, M. Kaiser-1852 California, Eli D. Holland-1856 California, D.B. Anderson-1855 California, G.V. Sherman-1858 California, Daniel Session-1848 California, John Kaiser-1857 California, Angus McIntyre-1863 California, Mrs. Louisa Kaiser (I assume her date is the same as John’s), J.H. Monhart-1869 California, Wm. Hammond-1865 Montana, A.A. McDonald-1864 Montana, M.S. Caplice-1864 Montana, C.N. Freeman-1864 Montana, James McDonel-1864 Montana, Herman Kaiser -1865 Montana, David Simmons-1864 Montana, Frank D. Brown-1863 Montana, Joe Stahl-1863 Montana, Geo. E. Tyrriell-1865 Montana, Dan C. Morgan-1851 California, Sim Shively-1850 California, John W. Hall-1863 Montana.  A photograph of the document is in the Tex Crowley picture collection.

One of the above pioneer signatures John Rains, according to his obituary, was married to a sister of A.H. Porter, in 1882. I have been unable to find her first name, although her initials are listed on their children, Minnie and Johnnie’s tombstone as H.E. 

John Rains, born in Norway, died at the age of seventy seven, in Golden. He was vigorous until a few minutes before his death, when he suffered a pain in his side and in a few minutes was dead, on February 20, 1896. John immigrated to the United States in 1849; settled in California, then moved to Philipsburg in 1863 and resided in the area, working in various enterprises in which he made and spent several fortunes. The marriage produced seven children, with six of them and his wife buried in the Philipsburg cemetery, prior to his death. At the time of John’s death his only living daughter aged six was living with the George Brown family, formerly of Philipsburg, in Anaconda. The daughter had lived there since the death of her mother and was expected to inherit the estate.

Montana State Baseball League 1892

 

Recently on Face Book in the “I grew up in Philipsburg” group, Lee H. Graham posted a picture of a sweat shirt advertising the Philipsburg “Burgers” 1892 baseball team, he had found on the internet. Research by Joey Berreta found the Montana State Baseball League for 1892 and newspaper research found a couple of news articles. With a lot more digging the following has been documented. The Montana State League was a minor league baseball league that played various seasons between 1892 and 1925 as an independent league. The league consisted of teams based exclusively in Montana with the exception of 1909 when Idaho and Utah were represented. The state league played only 3 documented minor league seasons with several other times that have no professional records, according to Wikipedia and numerous Baseball historical documents and history books. 

In 1892 the League was a six-team Class B level minor league. This league played a split season with the Bozeman and Great Falls franchises leaving after the season’s first half on July 23, 1892. Bozeman left with a record of 10 wins and 8 losses and Great Falls Smelter Cities( this included Black Eagle) had 6 wins and 10 losses at the end of the half season. The final standings were: Helena 29 - 21; Butte 26-22; Philipsburg Burgers 22-23 and Missoula 18-29. Butte won the first half and Missoula won the second half title. The seasons best overall was Butte with Helena apparently forfeiting due to complaints about money and umpiring. 

Baseball Hall of Fame member Clark Griffith played for Missoula in 1892 and was showered with gold coins after the game and later bought property and built a home in Montana. After the season was over betting and cheating complaints were possibly the reason the league did not return in 1893. 

The team managers were: Helena- Con Strothers; Butte- Jim Powell; Philipsburg Burgers- Charlie Hoover; Missoula- ?Marin; Bozeman- B.E. Vaile and Great Falls Smelter Cities (This included Black Eagle)- ?Meilli. (The ? are because no first name were listed) 

The Philipsburg Burger players were: Manager Charlie Hoover, Pete Lohman, George McMillan, Tom Parrot, Harry Raymond and Guerdon Whiteley. Unfortunately there was no Federal Census performed in 1890 and so far I have not found any of the above Burger names in the 1880 Federal Census.  I will continue to search and if anyone has information about any of the above names please let me know. 

Can you imagine a person putting in a hard week of labor and then traveling to another town with very undependable modes of travel to play a game of baseball and return to work . As I am certain none of these men would have been able to spend a baseball season without continuing their hard labor, which was probably in the mines, mills and smelters.

A Noteable Resident : Lou Shodair

 

                                                                    Louis W. Shodair

Lou Shodair, had an early Grocery store in Philipsburg, with ads dispersed through-out the Philipsburg Mail, stating such things as:”Live and dressed poultry at Shodair’s”; “ Swiss Cheese at Shodair’s”; “ Lindberger Cheese at Shodair’s and “ Green Groceries at Shodair’s.” In January, 1895 was a notice stating parties indebted to L.W. Shodair were asked to call and settle their accounts with County Attorney Moore and save collection costs. In the same paper it stated Mr. and Mrs. Lou Shodair had left for the coast to spend a couple or more months in California. By December they had returned as Lou was elected to the office of Prelate in the Philipsburg Lodge No. 20, Knights of Pythias, on December 16. 

August 21, 1898. the Philipsburg Mail stated Mr. and Mrs. L.W. Shodair went by train to visit Yellowstone National Park. L.W., was elected to the Philipsburg City Council prior to 1897 and submitted his resignation for his position as Alderman at the May 3, City Council meeting, with Charles Boyd, elected by the Council to serve the remainder of Shodair’s term. The 1897 election, was very contentious, with a lot of verbal insults between the Independent Citizen’s and the Citizen’s Fusion parties. Lou was City Clerk, when he signed the notice stating the annual city election would be held on the fifth day of April, 1897. 

A social event sponsored by the Kings Daughter’s of the Presbyterian Church, was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L.W. Shodair, to say farewell to Miss Addie Arnold, who was returning to her home in Missouri, according to the December 18, 1897, Philipsburg Mail. 

On September 27, 1912, “L.W. Shodair, a former merchant of Philipsburg, was a visitor in the city, Monday evening, having come over from Butte to see about improvements in his building, occupied by the Crystal saloon and lodging house and incidentally, to visit some of his old time friends. Mr. Shodair for some years has resided in Los Angeles, California, coming to Montana occasionally on business during the summer. The recent fire on West Park Street in Butte brought him to Montana this time. He owns a block across the street from the fire and had a large plate glass window broken and sustained other damage, the adjustment of which required his attendance. 

On January 3, 1920, The Crystal Saloon caught on fire. The fire was discovered by Chris Larson, who alerted Fay Easterly, the proprietor of the soft drink parlor on the bottom floor. A space about two feet wide saved the Banquet Hotel, along with the iron shutters on the windows. All the furniture from the saloon was removed, except the stove, but the upper floor was a total loss. Mr. Easterly’s loss was about $2,000 and the loss to the building was estimated to be about one third of the building. Louis Shodair owned the building and it was assumed that Mr. Shodair would be able to remove the second story and put a flat roof over the storage room, making the building a one story. In February, L. W. Shodair, sent the Philipsburg Fire Brigade a check for $50, showing his appreciation for their work when the fire damaged his building. 

Headlines in The Mail , “L.W. Shodair Makes Donates (sic) to Home”, in February 5, 1937 stated “Of much interest to old time residents in the city is the announcement made this week by trustees of the Montana Children’s Home and Hospital at Helena, that Louis W. Shodair, of Los Angeles, had donated $50,000 to the home. The money will be used to furnish a new unit at the hospital on the grounds of the present unit. Mr. Shodair is a former resident of Philipsburg, having lived here some forty years ago…in the mercantile business.”

This hospital is still in operation in Helena with a multi-million dollars land trust from Shodair and is named Shodair Children’s Hospital. Louis W. Shodair died after a heart attack in 1940 at the age of 78, in California, with burial in Helena. He had originally arrived in Helena, Montana in 1891 at the age of 19.

Maynard Hunt: Engineer, Surveyor and Mapper

 

                                                                 Maynard H. Hunt

If you are looking up cemetery plots in the Philipsburg City Hall, Maynard Hunt’s signature, dated 1930, is on the Philipsburg Cemetery plot maps that are hung on swinging doors. Maynard credits the surveyors, Ackerman and Cralle, and the date as surveyed, October 1889. The scale is ten ft. equals one inch, which leads one to believe that Maynard had formal topography and drafting education. 

Maynard Harold Hunt was one of seven children born to William Henry and Lura Jane Jackson Hunt, on July 6, 1886 in Potosi, Wisconsin. He attended grade school and high school in Potosi. Because of his career as an adult it is assumed that he attained an engineering degree before moving to Philipsburg, Montana, and there is a newspaper account “Mr. Hunt, who is attending Bailie’s Commercial College at Dubuque, made a visit home Saturday” detailed in "The Hunt Connection" from the Grant County Herald Newspaper, but there is no date for the article. 

Some time after 1908: “with the building of the Milwaukee Railroad into Montana, William Henry Hunt, his wife, Lura and several of the children moved to Three Forks, Montana where his son Charles and Ben Reynolds had established a hardware business known as Reynolds and Hunt which opened its doors in 1908” states The Hunt Connection, 1980. In 1909 the name was changed to the Three Forks Hardware Company with the following announcement: “W.H. Hunt, the new member of the firm, is a man of sound business judgment." 

It is not known when the Mercantile was sold, but there are homesteads recorded in August, 1913 for Charles and on March 2, 1914, for William Henry Hunt, north of Three Forks in the Crow Valley, according to the Three Forks Herald, March, 4, 1910. 

I am uncertain when Maynard arrived in Butte, but family history states Maynard met Nora Hickey at a dance in the Miner’s Union Hall in Granite; experienced a whirlwind courtship and married her on May 24, 1917, in Drummond, Montana. Maynard continued working in the mines in Butte, Montana, for another year and then moved into the house with Nora and her mother Jane (O’Neil Hickey) and began drafting plans to build a large modern home on the property. These detailed drawings are in the possession of Grand-daughter Camille Engrav Jacobsen. 

Family members believe Maynard worked as a surveyor for the U.S. Department of Interior, Topographical Division while the mapping of the Patrick Quadrangle in the Flint Creek Mountain Range, was being done. This mapping covered the time period of 1895 to 1917 and Maynard had in his possession maps that he had been responsible for completing. Once he arrived in Granite he went to work for the Bi-Metallic Mining Company. He was in charge of all the leasers and drew maps for the company. He also had a history working for Moorlight Mining Company and leased in several mines. 

He and Nora were very social and not a week goes by in the Philipsburg Mail, during their marriage, that an item isn’t included describing a party or social happening at the Hunt household such as: “The next meeting of the Star of Compass will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Hunt in Kirkville addition”. Maynard was a member of the Masonic Temple and served a one year term on the School Board. 

Nora and Maynard (known to his friends as Mike) had three daughters. Florence Neil (Baker, Engrav), August 22, 1918, in Butte; Norma Jane (Howard) February 9, 1920, in Butte; and Wilma Eileen (Heimark, Christy), June 13, 1930, in Anaconda. There was no hospital in Philipsburg at this time. 

Maynard became ill in May of 1940, with pneumonia and died on the 22nd, at the young age of fifty four, leaving a wife, three daughters and a beautiful log home he had built on Frost Creek. The home is still standing, but has had extensive remodeling done on it,

Sheriff Candidate, Indian Agent and Prison Warden

 

Hugh O’Neil married Margaret Pitt Meredith in 1858. She was born to Joseph Meredith from London, England and Marguarite Pitt Meredith from Wales, in Glen Morganshire, Wales, on June 18, 1844. The family story states. “Margaret’s family was on a wagon train coming west, when they were attacked by Indians in what was believed to be present day Colorado. The only survivors were some of the young members of the wagon that had been hidden in the woods. These survivor’s, including Margaret, were picked up by a Mormon wagon train and “one of the Mormon men wanted to add her to his already numerous list of wives. The army was sent out to protect the wagon train after the Indian attack, found the children and Margaret met Hugh O’Neil, one of the army teamster men. They were married in Fort Bridger in 1858, by the military, then a Methodist minister they encountered (at an undocumented date or place) and finally by a Jesuit Priest.” I assume that the Priest was Father Giordia in Virginia City. 

Margaret is credited with being the first white woman to ride into Montana on horseback, in 1858. Margaret and Hugh had eight children: Jane, John, Mary Ellen (Ellen), Hugh, Mary, Adelaide or Adaline (Addie), Elizabeth (Liddie), and William (Willie).Willie died at the age of three years and five months, in 1877, from pneumonia. He is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

O’Neil ran for Sheriff of Deer Lodge County in 1865, on the Peoples Ticket and the election results were: Hugh O’Neil 788, Fred Burr, Democrat, 835, C.S. Williams, Independent, nineteen. 

Family stories tell of the family living on the Flathead Reservation when Hugh was an Indian Agent. It is possible that in 1871, during the time Agent Galbraith served he was removed due to Chief Charlo refuting the treaty and Hugh filled in until Peter Ronan was appointed in 1873. Documenting Hugh provided support for the Missoula sheriff is this news item: “Fight or Run---Last week W. C. Taylor took it into his head that he could run the town. He managed to do so until shut off by Hugh O’Neil and Sheriff Pelkey…He was put under $500 bonds for assault with a deadly weapon and disturbing the peace.” (Missoula Pioneer ,1871.)

Hugh was a Deputy Marshall for Missoula County in 1874 (Helena Herald). The New Northwest November 25,1881 states” Warden Hugh O’Neil returned from Helena Sunday…and brought over discharges for …” listing five prisoners. and stating the prison population would then be 62 convicts."   

Hugh and Margaret separated sometime after they moved to Philipsburg, in 1875. The Divorce document states the 26th day of August 1887 was the first date of publication and September 16, 1887 was the last date of publication notifying Hugh O’Neil that a divorce was being requested by Margaret. 

The New Northwest, in Deer Lodge stated: “Mr. Hugh O’Neil and H. S. Neal are building substantial residences. The latter is on the west side, near the bridge, and the former in the southern part of town”, on July 15, 1881. So, Hugh was living in Deer Lodge again in 1881, but in the Philipsburg items of The New Northwest, in 1882 was the statement: “…now under our new and elegant Kaiser House is the billiard hall and sample rooms presided over by Herman K., who as a very apt pupil of Hugh O’Neil, has attained such admirable proficiency, in the manly art as to make himself a terror to amateurs in the fist cuff line. Research does not reveal whether he left his new home and returned to Philipsburg or was providing tutelage to Kaiser, while living in Deer Lodge. 

Hugh, died of cancer at St. Patrick’s Hospital and was buried February 23, 1895, at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Missoula, Montana. The obituary had Hugh’s last name misspelled as O’Neal, but the history recited belonged to O‘Neil. “The deceased was a man of powerful frame in his younger days and many are the feats of strength, heroism, and endurance credited to him by his old time friends” (Citizen Call, February 27, 1895).

Hugh O'Neil Escapades Continued

 

The National Archives for Military Service Records is unable to find any record of service by Hugh O’Neil (12-17-2003). But records in the Salt Lake City Archives show Hugh O’Neil had an account for supplies at Fort Floyd, as did other civilian military teamster’s. These civilian men were given the title of Major so they could gain access to the military forts to pick up supplies. 

All accounts, be it historical documents, the two pictures we have or family documents, affirm that Hugh was a man of large proportions and possessed great strength and fortitude. This fact is further evidenced in his bare fisted boxing match with Con Orem, in Virginia City on January 2, 1865. A round by round description of all 185 rounds can be read in the historical writing titled The Frightful Punishment, written by Warren J. Brier, in 1969. The research for this book came from the published description of the pugilists endeavor written round for round by a reporter for the Montana Post, January 3-4, 1865. The story also includes the publicity leading up to the bout and other advertised and fought bouts of Con Orem and Hugh O’Neil’s in later years. 

Hugh was a heavy drinker and social person, known to light his cigars with a $10.00 bill when the children were in need of sustenance, as related by Jane O’Neil Hickey in 1931 in an interview with Winifred Griffith the daughter of Jane’s sixth child, Bertha. Hugh was a true pioneer and as such, a politician and negotiator. Such as, when his skills were instrumental in 1863 at Grasshopper Gulch, where he problem solved a rumor started by two Frenchmen that about two hundred Bannack Indians were stealing from a small group of miners. 

These two groups had lived close together all winter during which the Indians had kept the miners alive by sharing their stores of food. Some of the level headed miners convinced the Indians to move a little farther from Bannack, but some of the men went to the moved camp and found the Indians ready to fight. A couple of days later shots were heard and two Indians (one was the well liked Chief Snag), were found dead. The other Indians had departed. Hugh was: “furious and called the killing of the Indians a cowardly, dastardly act. Buck Stinson, who was later executed by the Vigilantes, took O’Neil’s tirade as applying to himself and said he was insulted. With a double- barreled shot gun filled with buck shot he set out one night to kill O’Neil. Friends of both men calmed him down and took away the gun,” according to the Jefferson County Sentinel. 

But Stinson carried a grudge. Fearing that the Indians would go on the warpath, a relief party was sent out to escort a freighter outfit from Salt Lake that was due with sorely needed supplies. Hugh was elected Captain of the group. When they came upon a group of Indians, all disappeared except three, which included Pete” and “Slim”, two Indians that had been employed with the freighter company. Buck Stinson and the other road agents in the party wanted to execute the Indians right there. Stinson it was believed would have killed O’Neil with a stray bullet during the execution. O’Neil was aware of the danger and the fact that the killing of the Indians could lead to an Indian war. O’Neil was able to convince all of the group, but the road agents, that the Indians were innocent and should not be killed. He negotiated that two of the Indians would be held and the other sent out to bring back the rest of the tribe. If they were peaceful and unarmed then the group agreed to let them go, otherwise they would all be killed. Only squaws, papooses and old men were found. Therefore, all the Indians were set free and hastened on their way to Idaho. The Indian war was prevented, but the road agents did not forgive Hugh O’Neil, and later one tried to kill him, during a boxing match in Helena. To be continued… .

Hugh O'Neil 1857 Arrival

 A pioneer of Montana and Deer Lodge/Granite County was my children’s Great-great-great grandfather, Hugh O’Neil. Born in Loughgee County of Antrim in Northern Ireland in 1831, he was proud of his family lineage and claimed descent from Red Hugh O’Neill. Hugh told his grandchildren of the banner of the O’Neil’s emblazoned with a bloody hand, and their battle cry “Red Hand to Victory”. Documenting that the descendents were in peril is recounted in a researched term paper for History 323, Hugh O’Neil, Montana Pioneer, written by Winifred M. Griffith, July 7, 1972. Ms. Griffith was the daughter of Bertha Hickey Fredrickson and a great- granddaughter of Hugh O’Neil. “He came to the United States as a young boy. According to the story he told his grandchildren, he got out of Ireland just one jump ahead of the British soldiers, who killed everyone in the immediate family they could catch. He came to America as a stowaway on a ship which landed in New York, where he almost starved to death before joining the Army. Although he was called Captain by the Irish miners, he probably was not an officer. It is probable that, like many another pioneer, he came out west with the army and took French leave of the military when gold was discovered in the area."

In preserved Montana history, the first mention of his name is in The Historical Sketch of Louis Maillet, which stated: “Maillet spent the summer of 1857 in the Bitter Root, part of the time working on the new Fort Owens. In November, Hugh O’Neil and a man named Ramsey came from Walla Walla, on their way to Fort Bridger. They wished to reach Colonel Johnson’s (Johnston’s) command, but were ignorant of the way, and moreover were afraid of the Mormons, who looked upon all gentiles as their enemies and feared the mountain men would induce the Indians to kill them and burn their property. O’Neil and his party therefore engaged Maillet to guide them to Fort Bridger. Traveling up the Bitter Root to Ross’s Hole, they crossed the main range and proceeded up the west side of the Big Hole Valley twenty miles. Crossing once more the main range to Salmon River, they came out near where Salmon city now stands. A few miles further up the river, O’Neil and Ramsey concluded to remain in camp among the willows and thick brushes, while Maillet went ahead to Lemhi to reconnoitre and find out if the Mormons were hostile….The Mormon’s tried to induce Maillet to remain with them (to no avail)…after leaving Lemhi the party traveled up the Valley twenty miles, crossing what was afterwards known as Grasshopper Creek (Bannack City). Proceeding to little Beaverhead, at the mouth of Blacktail Deer Creek, they met John Jacobs, an old mountaineer, who had a letter for Maillet which had been thirteen months on its way from his people in Canada….Jacobs gave such a terrible account of the Mormon scouting parties that O’Neil and his companions became discouraged and decided not to go on…O’Neil and Ramsey concluded to remain with Jacobs."

This account is continued in "A Sketch by Frank Woody", stating: “..in the fall of this year, Hugh O’Neil and a man named Ramsey, came to Hells Gate from the Colville mines on the Columbia River, and were employed by Mr. Brooks to put up two buildings with the timber cut the previous winter. These were the first houses put up in the Hell’s Gate Ronde” (now Missoula). Further research finds that one home was for Henry Brooks and the other one was for Neil McArthur. They also helped McArthur and his partner move their cattle to the newly erected buildings. But according to “Missoula, The way it was”, by Koebel (1972), the structures were never used as ‘a trading post, only as a stockyard for their livestock enterprise.” 

Hugh made it to Fort Bridger; became a teamster under the command of Colonel Johnstone, giving him the title Major and his story will be continued next week.

A Tale of Rory McRae

  

The Federal Census, lists Rory McRae as a farmer in 1880 and a miner in 1910. A news article in the December 20, 1887 Mail states “A tunnel is being run in the Boulder District by Dominick Mellen, Rory McRae and Will Albright. indications are good on the surface and when the tunnel is 200 feet the vein will be tapped at 300 feet.” Also, although his residence was at the ranch at Stone Station his family tree indicates he was living in Granite in 1905. All of this gives credence to the fact that needed income to support his family was earned by working in and around the mines and as most of the people in the area, had an interest in the industry. 

 Is the following only a tall tale or did Rory ever realize he was spoofed out of a very rich mining claim or was the story just that…a story developed while the men were swapping tales over a few late night drinks? The December 17, 1905 Anaconda Standard stated that the honor of the discovery of the Hope mine actually belonged to Rory McRae of Stone Station.” “ When the St. Louis Company, which first purchased the Comanche claim on Hope hill began work on it, McRae was employed as a carpenter, his duties being to cut timbers for the mill, which was then in the course of erection. The Comanche was a rich claim, but the ore shoot was small and the mine soon ‘pinched out.’ McRae’s work brought him frequently to the top of Hope hill. Returning one evening. he picked up a piece of float rock which bore the unmistakable traces of mineral. He broke the quartz with his axe and on his way home showed the rock to Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart (sic) who were employed at the Hope office. Anhauser was the son of a St. Louis brewer and could not distinguish a piece of float from a keg of his father’s foamy product and Anderson and Stewart were equally as ignorant of mining. They ‘jollied’ McRae into the belief that the rock was not worth assaying, but ascertained the spot where McRae found it. That evening they showed the rock to Dr. Merrill, who was then the assayer at the Hope mill. Dr. Merrill at once pronounced the rock rich in silver. Before daylight the next morning Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart found the ledge, located the Hope mine and soon afterward sold the property to the old Hope Company for a good sum. The Hope was one of several lodes sold by the Stuarts, Dance et al, to the St. Louis and Montana in 1867 for $25,000. It is likely that part of the sale price was reimbursement for the purchase of the Comanche lode and other claims and part for the Hope itself, which proved to be an excellent mine.” 

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

More of The Michael and Alida Norris Family

 

Michael (Max) and Alida Norris lived in Maxville when their daughter Fern was born on May 9, 1917. Fern married Jesse Golder Evans from Anaconda on June 20, 1935. Jesse, born on August 30, 1913, was a self taught mechanic, machinist and welder who began his trade at the age of 12. Jesse was also an early day pilot. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage before Jesse died May 12, 1998 at the age of 85. At the time they married Jesse was working as a mechanic and equipment operator on the Flint Creek Hill for Bernard and Curtis Construction Company of Helena. This project was a government work program, during the depression to increase employment opportunities. Later he worked for the same company in the construction of East Fork Dam. Jesse joined the Seabees and served in the Pacific during World War II. When Jesse returned from the War he worked some contract jobs, then bought Ellingson and Loobey Logging and operated that until 1960. Next, Jesse and Fern owned and operated Evan’s Repair Shop. Fern and Jesse had three children: Harold, Gerald and Joyce, who survived both their parents. Jesse was also survived by sister Helen Hemsley of Salt Lake City and brothers: Loren of San Diego and Carrol of Butte, plus five grand daughters and great grand children: Cody Larson, Karlin Larson, Jesse West, Joshua West and Hannah Harris. 

After living her married and widowed life in Philipsburg, Fern died on November 8, 2002 at her son Gerry and daughter-in-law Nanci (Kalstead) Evans home in Missoula, at the age of 85 and was buried next to Jess in the Philipsburg cemetery. Besides her children, Fern was survived by grandchildren: Stacey Nadeau, Vanessa West, Nichole Anderson, Janis Valencia and Julie Harris; 6 great grandchildren and her sisters Mildred McArdle of Anaconda and Irene (Susie) Smith of Seattle. She was preceded in death by her two brothers: Walter L. and Lawrence M. Norris. 

Mr. and Mrs. Walter (Skimmy) Norris lived at Stone on the family ranch when their daughter Sharon died of a ruptured appendix on February 17, 1951. Born on May 1, 1941 in Missoula, she lived in Philipsburg and Stone and was in the 4th grade when she died. I was in her class and remember our teacher taking us to Dr. Nesbit’s Hospital (next to Doe’s drug Store) to see her a couple of days before she died. Sharon was suffering from a 107 degree temperature, unconscious and severely dehydrated. Survived by her parents (Walter 1909-1981) and Virginia (1916-1987)), brother Jimmy, sister Dorlene, grandparents: Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Gresswell of Maxville; and the numerous uncles and aunts. Sharon and her parents are buried next to Lawrence (1911-1999) and Eva (1917-1992) Norris in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Mildred Norris, born April 24, 1920 in Philipsburg graduated from Granite County High School in 1938. She married George McArdle from Anaconda that July 2 and worked for many years for Safeway in Anaconda and Buttery’s in Missoula. She died January 17, 2006 at the Anaconda Community Hospital and was survived by: sister Irene Smith in Seattle, daughters: Irene McArdle of Colorado, Alida Chiddix of Anaconda and Patsy Anderson of Colorado; ten grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. Inurnment was in Mount Oliver Cemetery in Anaconda. 

Irene (Susie) Norris was born in Maxville in 1914 and on April 21, 1935 she married George Smith of Philipsburg. To this marriage was born three children. George died on August 26, 1966 in Seattle. Irene worked for and retired from J.C. Penney’s and died on September 5, 2008 in Seattle and was preceded in death by her son Milton Smith on April 19, 1982 in Honolulu. She was survived by her sons: Darrell and Gary; six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. I will discuss the other Norris family, who were car dealers in Drummond in a later article.

The Michael Norris Family Near Maxville

 

The January 24, 1902 Philipsburg Mail carried an article that described a lawsuit by Michael Norris against Montana, Water, Electric Power and Mining Company. After the court set a hearing date for March 13, 1902 the case was continued in District Court on March 20, 1903, June 5, October 9, October 30 and December 4, 1903. Finally on March 16, 1906 the jury returned a verdict for Mr. Norris awarding him $200 in damages. The following is a synopsis of what occurred: Several years ago Mr. Morris located a piece of land on Georgetown Flats under the Homestead Act. He built some fences, cabins, etc. and started out to improve the land. When the Electric Power Company built the Flint Creek Dam that backed up the water on the Flats, Mr. Norris’s land was inundated and remains so at the present time. His cabin and corrals being covered by about fifteen feet of water…About a year ago the court appointed a board of appraisers consisting of Hon. Duncan Dingwall, Commissioner Joseph Henderson and D.A. McPhail, all of New Chicago. These gentlemen viewed the premises and in due time made their report, which awarded Mr. Norris damages to the extent of $500. The Company appealed and at the March 16, 1906 trial succeeded in getting the amount reduced to $200. Of interest is that four families that had ranches on the Georgetown Flats were compensated by Paul Fusz by trading them similar ranch acreage on Rock Creek before the damned area was flooded. Information as to why Norris was not equally compensated is not present in any researched documents. 

A couple of years later, Bert (Burt) Lindgren, a resident of New Chicago suffered injuries after being kicked by a runaway horse on Friday (September 8, 1905). He was transported by Dr. Craven to the Missoula hospital after the doctor determined that his intestines had been ruptured. Surgery was performed immediately but Bert died the next day according to the Drummond Call September 15, 1905. He was 45 years old and a farmer by occupation living in the Flint Creek valley for many years. Survivors were a wife “and a family of young children. Only last June, Bert had taken out a $1,000 life insurance policy.” He was buried at the Philipsburg cemetery. 

 Next, I found on April 17, 1908 where “Mrs. B.M. Lindgren’s 2 year old baby was found dead in bed. Inquest to be held.” On April 24th the Mail reported that no inquest was held on the advice of the family physician as death was secondary to croup. The funeral was held on Sunday April 19, 1908. There is a Lindgren baby with a wooden headstone that is too weather worn to read in the plot next to Florence V. Lindgren who died October 1, 1899 at the age of 4 years and 23 days in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Mrs. B. M. (Alida) Lindgren a mother of four, married Michael Norris on February 2, 1909 at Rev. Father Moran’s residence in Philipsburg. After the wedding a sumptuous supper was served to the guests. The Lindgren children (Levi, Milton, Edwin and Alvida ) then had five half-siblings born to the Norris marriage (Walter, Lawrence, Mildred, Irene (Susie) and Fern . 

Alida Josephine (unknown maiden name) was born June 4, 1874 and came to Montana in 1892. She died March 23, 1937 and is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. Michael Norris was born in 1867 and died in 1946 and is buried next to Alida. Levi Edward Lindgren, died at his mothers home on March 22, 1920, at the age of 21. Born in Maxville October 8, 1898, he lived his childhood there and then attended Philipsburg Grade School and Granite County High School. Next, Levi worked at the Red Cross pharmacy for about a year and then joined his brother Edwin in the cattle business. He had been troubled with a heart problem for some time. Internment was in the Philipsburg cemetery. Future articles will detail the researched lives of others in this large family.

Man of Misfortune: Ed Heilman

 

The Citizen Call on January 27, 1897 carried the following story: “Reports reached this place [Philipsburg] last Sunday that Ed Heilman, the well known valley rancher, had been caught in a storm Saturday afternoon and was evidently buried in a snow bank somewhere between this place and his home, in the vicinity of Stone Station. The day was bitter cold, and as Ed had left here in his cart for home the day before, the story looked plausible. Anxious friends made diligent inquiry concerning the particulars, but nothing further than the first report could be learned until Sunday evening, when Jack Sullivan, who had come up from Dunkleburg Saturday, relieved their anxiety by telling what he knew about it. He related that on his return from Dunkleburg he stopped at Stone station about noon to take a short rest and say “howdy” to the boys. Shortly afterward the storm began and he mounted his horse for home. When about 300 yards this side of Stone he ran across Heilman’s horse and cart in the wild storm and not knowing the owner, led the rig back to Stone, where it was identified as Heilman’s. As advised he then took it to Lindgren’s place, and not finding the owner there, Billy Albright got into the cart and drove along the road in search of Heilman, where he was found at a neighbor’s home safe and sound, and toasting his shins. Before reaching Lindgren’s, Sullivan found a 100 pound sack of sugar which had fallen from the cart. Mr. Heilman is very much alive and cannot be killed off by the imaginative brain of the individual who put the first report, with its attendant horrors, in circulation.” 

The next information found regarding Ed Heilman was his conviction of stealing a calf owned by Frank Carnegie and H. M. Thomas in 1898. Ed was sentenced to one year in the State Penitentiary. His nephew Ed Powell was also implicated but escaped and was not caught until early in 1899. Apparently Powell skinned the calf for his uncle believing it was his property. When he heard that he was implicated he took off and traveled by horseback to the Bitter Root then onto Idaho where he sold his horse. He finally arrived in Salt Lake where he became ill with Typhoid Pneumonia and was under treatment for many weeks. After recovering Ed returned to his family in Butte and was arrested by stock detective J. C. Collins. 

Ed’s trial was on March 17-18, 1899. Powell testified that the killing was done in broad daylight and there was no attempt to hide any of the circumstances which gave him no reason to believe anything but that the animal belonged to his uncle. On Sunday, the jury returned with the verdict: “We, the jury in the above case find the defendant, Ed Powell, not guilty.” The outcome of the case was a surprise as citizenry had expected a very strong case being presented by the prosecutor as during the trial of Heilman most of the testimony tended to make Ed Powell the guilty party. 

Six years later, Edward H. Heilman was not as lucky as in 1897 and was killed on his way home October 8, 1903. His wagon rolled over him when it went off the grade between Bennett’s and Loughrin’s about 6 miles down the canyon from Philipsburg. Heilman stopped at Mrs. Franz’s place and picked up a calf he had bought. Near Loughrin’s place the team evidently got off the grade and the wagon turned over with Heilman being caught underneath. The team was caught about one-hundred yards away from the wagon. Patrick Loughrin was the first on the scene but Heilman was already dead. All Bennett and others kept watch over the body during a very cold night after Coroner Ray stated he would hold an inquest at 9 a.m. and for them not to touch the body. After the inquest they brought the remains to Allison & Sherman’s undertaking establishment. Mr. Heilman was 54 years old and unmarried.

Drummond Was On Fire

 

July 17, 1917 about 10 o’clock in the evening a $100,000 fire destroyed a large part of the business section in Drummond. “According to citizens of Drummond, the fire started between the Headquarter Saloon and Wells Brothers’ place and made such rapid headway that nothing was saved. Nearly the entire contents of the buildings with the exception of a few personal belongings was burned. The buildings destroyed were those occupied by the Faust-Bassett Mercantile Company, Asa Jenkin’s Lunch counter, Maurice James Saloon, Wells Brothers’ Saloon, H. Whitworth’s Saloon, Tong Ching’s Restaurant, Pat Clavin’s Saloon, Tim Hanifen’s Barber Shop, The J.H. Shannon Hotel, and Jens Madesen’s grocery; two buildings owned by Fred Howell were destroyed and one owned by Ambrose Alix was also burned. 

When the entire town seemed to be threatened a call for help was sent to Deer Lodge and Mayor Frank Conley with a crew of fifty men and fire fighting apparatus left for Drummond on a special train. The post office equipment and supplies, located in the rear of the Faust-Bassett Mercantile were saved and the office was open for business in the Pioneer Drug Store the next morning. 

Wednesday’s Missoulian has the following account of the conflagration: "Fire originating in a saloon destroyed the entire business section of Drummond. Kenneth Wilson, assistant cashier at the Drummond Bank was injured while trying to remove some furniture from a building (apparently a timber fell on him)…Lack of proper fire fighting equipment is given as the principal reason for the loss. The city offered only a small hose cart and this proved to be worthless and word was sent to Missoula for a fire engine of the Northern Pacific Railroad. By the time the fire engine arrived the fire had gotten beyond control. To prevent the fire from spreading to the residence section of the town, large quantities of dynamite were used to blow up a row of small shacks in the rear of the business district. It was thought for a time that the Northern Pacific depot, which lies across the street would be destroyed and more than 100,000 gallons of gasoline was removed from the building by citizens and N.P. workmen…” 

The 1985 edition of Philipsburg Territory has a picture of downtown Drummond and stated that “the original buildings in this photo were constructed before the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1890. The buildings are listed from left to right as Morse General Store, Roche Hotel, Hanifen Barber Shop, Pat Clavin’s Saloon, Chinese Restaurant and Rooms, Headquarters Saloon, Maurice James’ Saloon, Plummer’s Saloon and Featherman’s Store. This entire block on Front Street burned in 1917 and again about four years later. On the next block only the Palace Hotel and Turf Bar remain as evidence of the early days. There are many old buildings remaining in Drummond. Among them are the Community Hall, which was built by Plummer Royal prior to 1905 and was used as a roller skating rink with an ice cream parlor attached; the old grade school; the Catholic Church and Methodist Church. An old log barn near the Post Office was used to keep horses for the freight line between Drummond and Helmville. Clark Smith’s Realtor Office, which was built in 1895 by two sisters as a millinery shop, is almost in its original condition [the article did not name the sisters]. The old Milwaukee Depot which was built about 1908 was moved in 1982 to Fort Missoula for restoration.” 

The fire of July 17, 1917 must be the one Hugh Cumming refers to in his dairy entry for July 21 stating “Trying to save my diary, so much of it was lost in the fire.”

The Lyon Family of the Lower Valley

 

The Lyon family moved to Flint Creek valley from Utah on July 8, 1872. Mrs. E.F. (Smith) Lyon was believed to be the first white woman to make her home in the Drummond area. Mrs. Lyon was born in Rhode Island on March 11, 1854 and immigrated to Corrine, Utah as a young girl. After marrying Mr. Lyon they came to Montana. Mr. Lyon died in 1885 and I have been unable to find an obituary for him. When Mr. Lyon died Mrs. Lyon was left with the care of three small children. The May 21, 1896 Mail stated: “ Mrs. E.F. Lyon has completed her elegant new residences just below town and is now moving into the same.” Mrs. Lyon died at her home in Drummond after a lingering illness during the last week of February, 1920. Her reputation as a ranch manager was widely known and treated as one of the community legends. Survivors were: Son’s George of Anaconda and William of Drummond. Their son Arthur had died the year before in Missoula and his widow was still residing there. A brother and sister, Ed and Kate Smith of Evanston, Wyoming arrived to attend her funeral, held Sunday February 28th with internment at the Valley Cemetery. The Rev. T.H. Barker of Missoula officiated at the graveside service. 

The December 18, 1925 Mail announced that Drummond was a busy city on Wednesday with many folks coming from all parts of the valley to attend the Lyon sale. 

George Lyon died April 23, 1973 at the age of 90 in the Deer Lodge hospital. He was born January 9, 1883 in Drummond and attended the local schools. He married Ethel Perro on October 12, 1908 in Missoula. At that time the couple planned on living in Missoula. His occupations included operating the contracting business in Spokane, working at the rock quarry at Milltown and for several years operating the family ranch at Drummond. George retired several years before his death. George was preceded in death by his wife Ethel (Perro) on February 23, 1962. Survivors were his daughter Kathryn L. Smead of Drummond. The funeral was under the direction of Beck Funeral Home in Deer Lodge with Rev. Ray Estes officiating. George was buried in the Valley cemetery. 

Of interest is that the elder Lyon family (Arthur, Ella and William) are listed in the cemetery files as Lyon. Young George and his wife Ethel are listed as Lyons. I have failed to find any relationship between the Lyon family of Ross’ Fork of Rock Creek and the Lower Valley family. 

Charles R. Fortune resided on the Lyon ranch for 40 years and died at the age of 68, October 5, 1937 at Galen, from Consumption. Born in 1868, he came to Montana in 1894 from Salem, Missouri and lived first in Philipsburg and then moved to Drummond. He was buried in the valley cemetery and no other history is known about Mr. Fortune. 

Frank Morse and Sons

 

Frank D. Morse was president of the Drummond State Bank and served as the republican sheriff of Granite county from 1910 through 1912. Frank’s undersheriff was Sam B. Clark. Frank was elected Constable of the Drummond Township in November 1900 (Philipsburg Mail, November 1, 1900). He was also a deputy sheriff from 1898 through 1902 and 1906 through 1910. He died of a probable blood clot in the heart at his residence near Drummond on November 1, 1922. 

Born in Bradley, Maine on November 7, 1855, Frank came to Montana at the age of 22 and located in Philipsburg. At that time he was engaged in the lumber business. Next he re-located to Elk City and ran a general store for the company of Morse and Brogan. He next mined in Bear Gulch and then located on a 160 acre homestead near Drummond. During the years he added to the acreage for a total of 1600 acres in hay and grain, with many head of stock. The ranch was considered one of the most valuable in the lower valley. 

Frank was married May 5, 1883 at New Chicago to Miss Julia Gasper. He is not listed as a registered voter in November 1912. They had two sons: Verdine B. and Frank M. Both were married and involved in the mercantile business in Hall at the time of their fathers death. Other survivors besides his wife were a sister Mrs. James Rodgers in Helena and two brothers Melvin Morse of Bangor, Maine and George W. Morse of Park City, Utah (not to be confused with Colonel George W. Morse of the Drummond area.) The funeral was held from the ranch home to the Methodist Church in Drummond with Rev. Allan Haldeman conducting the service. He was assisted by Rev. T.H. Parker of Three Forks. Burial was in the Valley cemetery and no pall bearers were listed in the obituary. Frank was a member of the Macabee Lodge in Drummond and a past commander of that society. 

A.A. Peters bought the business owned by the Morse Brothers (The Hall Mercantile) in January 1920 according to the January 9th Mail (But the Morse brothers continued to operate the store.) The Granite County Commissioner minutes in January 1932 noted payments to the “Morse Brothers of $54.34 for supplies” bought by six different persons conducting business for the county. 

The Morse brother’s General Store in Hall was broken into on the 24th or early on the 25th of June, 1924 and a large amount of merchandise was stolen. The robbery was discovered by Frank when he went to open up the store on the morning of the 25th. An inventory of stock showed the robbery consisted of several pocket watches, three pair of shoes, and other small articles. The cash register was opened but they found only pennies. 

I found frequent references about Julia Morse in the papers such as when she returned to Drummond from Missoula May 26, 1927 after being a patient in the Missoula hospital for several weeks. The September 27, 1929 Mail noted that Verdine Morse, Donald Morse, Nevin Morse, Russell Willsey and Robert Miles were visitors in Deer Lodge on Wednesday evening to attend the Deer Lodge chapter of De Molay. 

The December 17, 1949 Deer Lodge News carried the death notice of Julia S. Gasper Morse. She died at her Drummond home. The death notice and headstone are in disagreement on her death date. The newspaper printed on the 23rd states she died on the 17th of December, 1949; the headstone states December 18th. Born May 8, 1861 at Surrey, Hancock county, Maine, Julia was the youngest of 7 children. At the age of 16 she traveled by stagecoach to California to live with her sister Mrs. Rodney F. Phillips. Several years later Julia came to New Chicago to live with her sister Rozenia McPhail. As stated above she married Frank on May 5, 1883. The wedding service was performed at New Chicago by Rev. W.A. Shannon a Deer Lodge pastor. The newlyweds settled on the ranch east of Drummond where they lived for more than 40 years. The remainder of her life Julia lived in Drummond. Julia’s funeral was held at the Methodist Church in Drummond with Rev. Warren Pardun performing the service. Internment was in the Valley cemetery. Survivors were: sons: Verdine B. Morse and his wife of Drummond and Frank M. Morse and wife of Hall; Grandchildren: Donald V. Morse of Wenatchee, Washington, Nevin B. Morse of Drummond, Julia Irene Smith of Long Beach, California, Fern Olson of Missoula, Edith Barker and Phyllis Steck of Helena, Flora Jean Olsson of Hall, Frances Paddock of Victor, Muriel Chartier of Missoula, Revel and Dalton Morse of Drummond; sixteen great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 

The 12year old son of Frank and Annabelle McDonald Morse drowned August 26, 1929 in Flint Creek near Hall. Carroll was swimming with friends on the Nelson ranch and as they were getting dressed to return home a Nelson let out a cry for help. Carroll was tying his shoe when the distressed call came and without thinking ran into the water fully clothed to save his friend. Carroll saved his friend and dragged him to the creeks edge where others helped Nelson out of the water. Carrol fell back into the current and went under in an area about 7 feet deep. The friends ran for help and Carroll was found about 30 minutes later. The coroner thought the youngster may have died from heart exhaustion due to the cold water and strenuous exertion, rather than drowning. The funeral was held at the Methodist Church in Hall with internment in the Valley cemetery. Rev. Miss Nellie Phillips officiated. Pallbearers were: Russell Lyon, Fred McRae, Ted Hughes, Glenn Robbins, Robert Miles and Russell Willsey. 

The accident notice and another news article announcing a Hero Award are in conflict as to the name of the distressed swimmer. One gives his name as Fred and the other states Carl Nelson Junior. The family had children by both names, but Frankie (Morse) Fickler states that Fred was the Nelson saved. The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced on November 1st that a posthumous award of a bronze medal was given to Carroll for saving his friend and that the medal would be mailed to his father Frank M. Morse at Hall, Montana in Granite County, according to the Popular Standard, November 20, 1930. 

Frank and Julia’s son Verdine Morse died on May 31, 1953 at the age of 68 and was buried in the Valley cemetery. He was listed as a registered voter on November 1, 1912 with the address of: Section 10, Township 10, range 12 W. 

Dalton Morse was the youngest of five children born to Verdine and Wanda Morse. He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II and returned to the Drummond ranch after his discharge. He married Pearl Farman in 1956. Dalton was a fire fighter with the Blackfoot Forest Protective association and worked for many of the local ranchers. When he died on November 13, 2009 at the Granite County Memorial Hospital, Dalton was the last survivor of his siblings: Verdine Edwin, Reul L, Muriel (Chartier) and Francis (Paddock). Wanda also preceded Dalton in death. Memorial services were held at the Drummond Community Hall on January 12, 2010. 

Verdine’s brother Frank and sister-in-law Annabelle McDonald Morse celebrated their fiftieth anniversary with an open house at their home in Hall in June of 1958. All seven of their children and families were present at the celebration. As noted in an earlier story, Annabelle’s mother and father Anna and Jonas McDonald were killed in a train wreck near Caldwell, Idaho on July 31, 1909, while enroute to the Seattle World’s Fair. 

Frank M. Morse died in a Missoula hospital on May 26, 1965. He was born on his parent’s (Frank and Julia Morse) ranch east of Drummond on October 6, 1886. After attending schools in Drummond Frank became the postmaster at Hall from 1913 to 1956. Frank was listed as a registered voter on November 1, 1912 with the address of Drummond. He also operated a mercantile business in Hall during the same period. Frank was a past master of Ruby Lodge A.F. & A. M. and past patron of Margaret Cummings Chapter of OES. Frank was survived by his widow and seven children: Donald V. of Wenatchee, Washington, Nevin W. of Drummond, Julia Smith, Edith Barker and Phyllis Steck all of Helena, Fern Olson of Missoula and Flora Jean Ollson of Hall and their families which included 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Twelve year old son Carroll preceded him in death. After a service in the Hall Methodist Church with Rev. Robert Lamphere officiating internment was in the Valley cemetery. Pallbearers were: Archie Henderson, Wilford Johnson, Robert Fischer, Robert Conn, Jack Nelson and Tim Hanifen. 

Annabelle Morse was born on April 24, 1887 in Gravenhurst Ontario, Canada to J.D. and Anna McDonald. At an early age the family moved from Canada to Bonita, Montana then moved to Drummond in 1900. She married Frank on June 8, 1908 and from 1913 until her death except for five years (1920-1925) she and Frank lived in Hall. Annabelle died at the age of 96 on October 23, 1983 at the Granite County Nursing Home. Survivors were 6 of her 8 children and their families. She was preceded in death by son Carroll (1929), daughter Edith (1979) and Frank (1965). Burial services were performed at the Hall Methodist Church with internment in the family plot at valley cemetery. 

Frank and Annabelle’s daughter Fern Elizabeth Morse Olson died May 25, 2008 in Polson, Montana at the age of 82. She was buried in the Sunset Memorial cemetery in Missoula. 

 It looks like the Morse Mercantile Store was operated by the Morse family until 1956. I have failed to find anything about the new operators at this time.

McPhails: Prominent Citizen's of New Chicago

Headlines in the April 29, 1910 Mail were: “FIRE IN THE VALLEY; The McPhail Hotel at New Chicago is burned to the ground.” The property owned by Archie and Mary Ann McPhail burned Wednesday evening April 27. The fire was discovered about 8:30 p.m. in the second story of the building. Neighbors quickly gathered to assist and about 35 people worked for several hours. Some formed bucket brigades and others removed as much of the belongings as they could before the roof caved in. The only water available was 50 feet from the house. The barn and other nearby buildings were saved. A few days before the fire an irrigation ditch that ran near the house had been closed off to let the area dry so it could be cleaned out. The cause of the fire was believed to be from a chimney. The building was erected 29 years before the fire after the previous hotel on the same spot had burned down. (This would make the hotel’s original start date prior to 1881.) 

The previous fire occurred in the dead of winter and the temperature was 20 degrees below zero. Archie rebuilt the hotel the next spring as it was a welcome place for the weary traveler on their way to “Old Bear.” 

Archie’s son, R. D. McPhail, assistant cashier at the Drummond State Bank married Miss Grace Hanifen of Garnet during the week of September 20th stated the September 27, 1912 Philipsburg Mail. The ceremony was performed in Butte at the Catholic Church with Rev. Father McCormick performing the ceremony. The attendants were Mr. and Mrs. Noel McPhail. The bride’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. H.T. Hanifen. The couple set up housekeeping in Drummond. 

 Archie A. McPhail died April 6, 1928 at his son Noel McPhail’s home in Los Angeles. Born in Canada on August 31, 1838, to Archie and Christie (McIntosh) McPhail, he came to the United States as a young man. Archie arrived in Montana by way of Pike’s Peak in Colorado and traveled from Fort Bridger to Bannock where he arrived on September 20, 1862. I have been unable to determine if he was the same person referred to as D. A. “Archie” McPhail, married to Matilda Schnepel Wenandy McPhail when she died June 8, 1888. I also found references to Archie McPhail having problems with A.H. Porter in 1893 and that Archie had married one of Porter’s sisters in 1890. 

 Archie’s wife, Mary Ann died in 1923 and a year later he moved to his son’s home in Los Angeles. Prior to that, he had always lived on a ranch near New Chicago that was settled in the 1860’s. He did some mining, but the majority of his efforts were in ranching and raising stock. The Society of Montana Pioneers (1899), stated that his occupations was a miner and stock raiser. The funeral was held in Drummond with internment at the Valley cemetery. 

Allen McPhail “…the oldest citizen of Granite county” died January 23, 1930 at his ranch home near New Chicago at the age of 94. Born at Harrison’s Corners, Ontario, Canada August 3, 1836, Allen went to the gold fields in Colorado as a young man. After living in Denver for two years he moved to Oregon and then Boise, Idaho. In 1865, Allen came to Montana and settled in the Flint Creek valley where he had lived continuously for the past 65 years. When he first settled in Montana, Allen engaged in placer mining activities. Then in 1871 he settled a homestead near New Chicago and engaged in ranching. He married Rozenia Gasper in 1879. Allen was an active member of the Society of Montana Pioneers and had a very nice eulogy written in the paper by “Sandbar” Brown’s son James: …Civilization for one brief moment was halted last week while Time recorded the fact that a peaceful man’s work had been completed. In the interval every beating heart in the little community wailed. Stand Aside! while a monument to a man was being moulded to remain forever in memory! Thus as the warrior used the moment for his trumpet, the peaceful man uses the human heart. Here, then, is his place in the sun, and Death perpetuates it. Internment was at the Valley cemetery. Survivors were; wife Rozenia, son Emery McPhail of Three Forks; Daughters: Miss Nettie McPhail a teacher in Missoula, Mrs. J.R. (Annie) Enman of Hall and Mrs. (Christie) Nakken of Drummond; one brother Chris McPhail of Harrison’s Corner, Ontario and three grandchildren. 

 Rozenia Gasper McPhail died on October 2, 1932 at the family ranch at the age of 86.

One Man Dead Another Hospitalized

 Following is the story the July 15th 1938 Philipsburg Mail headlined: Huebeck Dead, Deputy Sheriff Wounded in Shooting. This is a synopsis of the article: “One man dead and another in the Northern Pacific Hospital in Missoula seriously wounded Tuesday morning as the result of a shooting affray on an upper Willow Creek ranch 18 miles west of here. The dead man is John Heubeck a “hermit” rancher, who committed suicide by hanging himself on a rafter in the attic of his ranch home after wounding Fred Superneau, Granite County Undersheriff, four times, and later engaging in a gun battle with Angus McDonald, Granite County Sheriff. Superneau was wounded when he went to Heubeck’s ranch Tuesday morning to arrest Heubeck on a warrant signed by F.F. Redman, Forest Ranger, charging Heubeck with burning brush without a permit.” Fred knew Heubeck as his ranch was below the Luthje ranch and Fred was married to Anna Luthje, so when he presented John with the warrant and told him he needed to go with him to town, thought nothing about letting John go change his clothes. John came out of the bedroom with a pair of overalls draped over his arm which concealed a short-nosed 38 calibre revolver. John fired four shots at Fred with one creasing his “rib just under the heart, another passed through his right wrist, another his left arm and the fourth lodged in the upper right leg.” Hans Luthje heard the shooting and came to Fred’s aid, rushing him to Dr Knight’s Hospital in Philipsburg and he was then taken to Missoula. Hans notified Sheriff McDonald who notified the Silver Bow Sheriff asking for gas guns and headed for the scene. Butte Undersheriff Joe Boric and Deputy Carruther’s responded bringing the gas guns. When McDonald arrived at the ranch Heubeck fired at him and when he ran from the barn to the house was fired on a second time. McDonald then broke out a window in the house and hearing no shots peered inside to see Heubeck’s feet disappearing into the attic. After calling for the man to come out of the attic, McDonald pushed open the trap door and Heubeck fired again. He had already put the rope noose around his neck. McDonald returned fire with three shots: two going high and one hitting Heubeck in the cheek and then realized the rope had been tied to the rafter as Heubeck fell. 

Heubeck had lived on the ranch for 30 years and was survived by a brother in California. Fred’s wounds healed quickly and he returned to his undersheriff position. Fred was the son of William F. and Bertha Superneau who had moved to Philipsburg from Illinois prior to 1899. The 1910 Federal census show’s the family living in the Roslind district with Maynie, age 9, William Frederick age 7, Richard age 5, Laurence age 2 and Clarice an infant. Their son George died as an Infant in 1899. Fred married Anna Luthje at the age of 29 on March 9, 1927 and they had two daughters: Mildred died at the age of 17 January 1, 1949 and Shirley “Shammie” married Herbert Abbey. Fred worked as a Mill Man and was undersheriff for his brother-in-law Gus McDonald. When Gus went to fight in WWII his wife (Fred’s sister) Clarice was given the position of Sheriff with Fred remaining as undersheriff, until the term was up. Fred died of a CVA (stroke) on January 22, 1963 after being in St. Ann's Hospital in Anaconda for 2 days. All of the family are interred in the Philipsburg cemetery.

Letters From The Trenches in France

Vince Winninghoff wrote letters to his family during WWI that brought the realities of war home. Published in the Philipsburg Mail are the following: 

(August 30, 1918) The other morning they had quite a time around here and the Americans did fine work making the Germans more than pay for our losses which were very light, although a number of fellows were slightly wounded. In one place the Germans crept up real close with a liquid fire apparatus. The Americans heard a noise and just then the Germans shot the fire, but there was no one where they shot. This fire revealed the Boche and the Americans made short work of them, capturing a lieutenant and the apparatus, besides killing a couple and wounding more. The losses the Americans sustained did them more good than harm. It seemed to raise their moral 100 per cent and make them determined to get the Boche…We have lots of companions in the trenches. We have Frenchmen like in the picture. We talk with them and try to learn French and they try to learn English. Then there are the rats. If the allies had as many soldiers in the trenches as there are rats this war would soon be over. One ran up on the end of my gun while I was standing guard, and when you are sleeping rats play hide and seek on you as the little fellows did in the English story about Gulliver. And last but not least are the gray backs. Thousands of them! One sees fellows with their shirts off playing hunt the lice every day. At night while standing guard we hate the rats worse, for then while straining our ears to catch the slightest sound a rat will start running around on No-Man’s Land scaring us because we think it is a Boche. Sometimes as the day is breaking there won’t be a noise: even the boom and crack of gun is absent, then the birds will start singing. How beautiful it is one cannot imagine. And it is hard to realize that war exists. It really seems to me as if there are more birds on No-Man’s Land than any place else on earth…I am writing this in a dugout by candle light, and in a very poor position to write. Your Loving Son, Vince” 

(September 4, 1918 Somewhere in France) Dear Father; Just another short note but active hitch at the front. But it was quite different from the hitches before in that we had a different kind of foe to face. Here the German infantry did not put up much of a fight. Every chance they got they threw up their hands and hollered “Kamerad”. They said their officers went to the rear before the attacks, otherwise they would have been shot if they showed a white flag. But the artillery fire at times was a fright. The Germans threw over shells that would dig a hole big enough to bury several horses in. … The German soldiers seem to have come to realize that the Kaiser cannot win the war and he has lost all ambition to fight. This I believe is true with the exception of the artillery and some of the machine gun men. The latter will often stand at their posts pumping lead into you until you reach them, then they will throw up their arms and holler, “Kamerad, Kamerad”, but they are shown little mercy. This is something to much for anyone to stand, but those who give up decently are treated as men should be. …I saw my first areoplanes brought down. The first one came down in flames. It was an Allied plane and was flying over our lines. I don’t know what struck it, but all of a sudden a tongue of flame darted out behind her. The aviator started toward the German lines then he turned and started to come down. Our ante-aircraft hit a wing and tore it off. The German came straight down. His machine kept spinning this killing the momentum and he came down fairly slow… Well father, I’ll bid goodbye; Your loving son Vince. 

(April 13, 1928) announced the marriage of Vincent C. Winninghoff to Miss Anna (Anne) M. Brooks, on Monday April 9, in Los Angeles, California. Vince, had been working in a U.S. Post Office position in Los Angeles for several years. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Winninghoff, and after graduating from Granite County High School won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in either 1912 or 1913 and was rejected secondary to a minor eye condition. Not being able to serve as an American, he served in the A.E. F., in France in WWI. After an education at The University Of Montana he moved to California and is credited in the Family History as "conceiving and designing the automobile transmission and flowing rear axle for automobiles as we know them today." He is also credited with developing the Zip Code System for the U.S. Post Office which is still in operation today.  

William Seelos: WWII POW

 

                                                      William Seelos and "Montana Power"

Granite county demonstrated their patriotic spirit enthusiastically during World War II, just as they had in WWI, and not only lost sixteen of our young men, but had a number captured and held as prisoners of war. William Robert Seelos was one of those brave men. Born to Marie and Sebastian Seelos on May 22,1920 in Philipsburg, he joined his sister Marian and lived the life of a small town boy until his father was killed in a motor vehicle accident on December 21, 1934. This accident happened on what we called “suicide curve’ on Flint Creek Hill and as a child I remember my father pointing out Sebastian’s car mostly hidden by brush far down the steep hillside just west of the hairpin curve, whenever we drove to Anaconda for school clothes. I have to assume William moved into the role of “Man of the House” after this accident and assisted his mother any way he could. 

William enlisted at Missoula, Montana on August 18, 1941 (before America joined the War) as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corp. He progressed rapidly to becoming a B17 pilot, flying the “Montana Power” and on his 19th mission was shot down when hit with fighter flak on April 3, 1943 while flying to the ERLA Works in Antwerp, Belgium, MACR 15534. William parachuted unto Wuustwezel, north of Antwerp and was immediately captured as a Prisoner of War. He was interned at Stalag Luft I and was liberated at Stalag Luft VIIA (7A) on Moosburg, Germany by Patton’s 3rd Army and returned to Military control on July 6, 1945 He returned home to Philipsburg to spend a long furlough with his mother and after discharge from the Army-Air Corp moved to the Los Angeles, California. 

Of interest, his Philipsburg Mail obituary, May 26, 2005 stated : He died May 16, 2005 in Los Angeles and was 85 years old. He was raised in Philipsburg and attended and graduated locally. He served as a bomber pilot in World War II where he was shot down over enemy territory in Europe and was held as a prisoner of war until the end of WWII. Afterward William moved to L.A. to start a business. He is survived by his wife Mary and many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At present I have not identified his children.

Lower Valley Gun and Knife Fight Ended in Death

Philipsburg Mail headlines on December 30, 1910 carried the story that there was a tragedy at the Miller and Lockaby Ditch Camp on the afternoon of the 9th. The camp was located about three miles south of Hall in the Alex Wight field. Between three and four in the afternoon, Miller went after Lockaby with an axe and Lockaby shot to protect himself according to the report that Lockaby phoned in to the sheriff office, from Hall, before he started off on foot to Philipsburg to turn himself in. 

Lockaby arrived in Philipsburg in the early morning and County Attorney Moore and Judge F.D. Sayr took the morning train to investigate. At the time of printing the Mail had no other information as Lockaby did not wish to “make a statement for publication.” 

The January 6, 1911 Philipsburg Mail published the following: “…According to the testimony given at the inquest Geo. A. Miller and William Lockaby, {age 50} were partners in a subcontract on the Thayer Ditch, their camp being located several miles south of Hall. Miller tired of the job and Wednesday evening he and Lockaby settled up their affairs between them, Miller stating that he wanted to go to Idaho. Everything was adjusted amicably between them and all that remained to divide was a lot of groceries amounting to $24 and in which three parties owned equally. Miller did not want the groceries and told Lockaby he could have his share. Thursday morning Miller left camp to take the train to Drummond. On his way to Hall he met two men coming up who had been sent from the lower camp by another contractor to work at the head of the ditch. All three stopped and talked and the two inquired of Miller if he knew of a place where they could stop while working up there. Miller told them they might be able to stay with Lockaby as he was alone in camp. Miller went on to Drummond but on the afternoon train he returned and went back to camp. Lockaby asked what brought him back and Miller replied that he thought it over and concluded that the two fellows should not come to camp and eat up his grub and that he had come back to see that they didn’t. Lockaby started to cook lunch for Miller and while doing so Miller continued to talk about the two men, who then were out on the ditch at work, that he would kill them both before they should eat up his grub and that he would kill Lockaby too, if he took them into camp. The more he talked along this line the more violent he got. Lockaby tried to quiet him but it did no good and finally Miller stepped out of the tent to the wood pile and in a moment came back with a double-bit axe and made a pass at Lockaby who dodged the blow and jumped over the bunk. As he did so he grabbed up his gun and shouted to Miller to let up or he would shoot, but Miller kept on coming with the axe uplifted. Lockaby fired as he run until he had emptied the gun. He saw Miller fall just outside the tent but kept on going until he got to where the other men were at work. He told them what had happened and asked them to go and do what they could for Miller, and that he was going on to Hall to telephone the sheriff and give himself up. 

Miller was dead when the men reached the cabin, they covered him with a canvas and left things just as they were until the coroner arrived. Lockaby sent word to the sheriff from Hall that he was on his way to Philipsburg and arrived here early Friday morning. He went right to the Sheriff’s office and surrendered himself.” 

Judge Sayr acting coroner and County Attorney W.F. Moore went to Hall Friday morning, impaneled a jury; viewed the remains and the scene; and brought Miller’s remains to Philipsburg. The autopsy revealed Miller had been hit four times: once on his watch, one grazed his skull over the left eye, one entered the left breast and one entered the right breast, puncturing the lung. Both bullets were found under the skin on his back. The jury was comprised of: Frank D. “Sandbar” Brown, J.J. Carmichael, J.E. Barret, Peter Larson, William McRen and Napoleon Robishaw were satisfied that Lockaby was justified and had acted wholly in self-defense. “He was promptly given his liberty.” 

Nothing was known about Miller’s relatives so the remains were buried in the pauper section of the Philipsburg cemetery.