Winas .T. and Susie Hull

L to R: Fred Burks, Winas T. Hull, Billy Calhoun, Ed Calhoun, Sam Oxley, Bill Pullar

North of the Ike Sander’s ranch was the ranch owned by W.T. Hull. Hull was another person moved from Georgetown Lake area by Paul Fusz. The earliest references found stated “Twenty acres of placer ground located on the West Fork of Rock Creek, May 11(1893) by J. Calhoun and W.T. Hull.” Then in December 1893 “W.T. Hull and partners have a gold prospect on Rock Creek they plan to tunnel this winter.” Weekly trips to town are recorded and “Messrs. Calhoun and Hull recently made a shipment of a carload of ore from their mine in the upper Rock Creek district, and another shipment is now being hauled to the railroad” in the December 19, 1895 Mail. 

W.T. served on a jury in December 1896 and January 1897. Then in May of 1897 “a quiet marriage ceremony was performed at the residence of Mrs. Susie Berthoud when the lady became the wife of W.T. Hull.” Although W.T. came to town weekly and often with step-son Bill it was not until January 10, 1901: “Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Hull of Rock Creek visited the city Monday. It was Mrs. Hull’s first visit to town for several years.” 

In the November 8, 1901 Mail. “W.T. Hull…made application for a patent for 18.01 acres on the Susie placer mining and dump ground claim bearing gold and sapphires and it is situated in the southeast quarter of Section 6, Township 6, north of Range 15 West, Granite County.” Then Frank E. Wileman of Granite filed notice in the United State Land Office in Missoula contesting the claim. Wileman alleged that the land was non-mineral and therefore not subject to the mineral claim of Mr. Hull. A hearing was scheduled for January 14, 1902, but I cannot find the resolution.

In the August 31, 1917 Mail “W.T. Hull has bought the Ike Sanders ranch on Rock Creek adjoining his old home place. Mr. Hull is now one of the largest land owners in the entire Rock Creek valley.” Also, Susie’s son Alex filed notice to make a three year proof under the new homestead law for an area in Section 27 and 28, Township 7, North, Range 15, West on September 10, 1914, No. 05470, with witnesses: Edward Sanders, George Van Norman, George W. McCale and Alex M. McDonald, stated the publication in the March 8, 1918 Mail. I am not certain what became of this homestead. I found a Notice for Publication on March 5, 1920 in the Mail for Winas T. Hull stating: “…on the 15th day of April, 1919 [filed] to purchase the lots 3,4,5,6, Section 6, Township 6 N, Range 15W and the timber thereon….” (Located west of Rock Creek and probably included some of Montgomery Gulch.) 

Research also found W.T. Hull was paid $20.00 a month by Granite County for an old age pension in June, 1925. According to his obituary, Winas T. (Tom) Hull, born in 1851 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania came to Butte, Montana around the age of twenty and worked at the Elm Orlu mine. A few years later he moved to “Brown’s Gulch at the Georgetown Lake area where he operated a dairy for a few years. Then he came to Granite county where he and his partner Mr. Fuller operated a large cattle ranch and dairy which was extensively known as the Hull and Fuller ranch. After the death of Mr. Fuller, Mr. Hull was engaged in the sheep business and also operated several mining claims on Rock Creek.” 

He was in good health until July 28, 1928 when he complained of indigestion. He continued his ranch chores as usual until July 30th when he got up at his usual time but chose to stay in the house and died about 11am. Winas was the oldest member of the Knights of Pythias in Montana, joining the organization in Pennsylvania. He was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery. Survivors were: wife Suzie, son Henry who was living in Butte and step sons: Alex Berthoud of Washington and William Berthoud of Missoula. 

Suzie born in 1862 in St. Louis arrived in Philipsburg about 1880. Prior to marrying Hull, Susie (Downs) was the wife of A. G. Berthoud, Harvard educated and Justice of the Peace of Philipsburg Township. He died on September 24, 1893, leaving Susie with sons: William, fourteen and Alexander, twelve. After Winas died Suzie went from Rock Creek to Butte and lived with son Henry where she died in a hospital December 30, 1933. 

Winas and Suzie‘s son Henry is buried next to his parents, but has no headstone. The Mail December 20, 1935 stated H.H. Hull age thirty-three died on December 19, shortly after being married. I have not found an obituary.