The Carey Family: Engineer, Millwright, Homesteader and Politician

William P. Carey, originally a stationary engineer with the NP Railroad, came with his family from Elkhorn, Montana in 1890 and located in Rumsey where William accepted a job as engineer at the Rumsey Mill. When the mill closed he relocated to the Trout Creek homestead. William’s wife, Ellen or Helen (Grady) was born August 3, 1849 in Indiana. She lived in Montana from 1883 until she died on July 18 1899. She had suffered for three years from kidney and liver trouble. Their only daughter (Gertrude) died on December 3, 1906 of pneumonia. She died at the Emmett Carey home where she had kept house for her brother. Gertrude, born in Elkhorn, Montana on February 15, 1887, was escorted by her high school classmates on her journey to the Philipsburg cemetery. 

William Carey made his home at the ranch until his sons grew up, then left them in charge of the place and sought employment in his trade as a mill engineer. For a number of years William was engineer of one of the big sawmills west of Missoula and other places. Prior to becoming ill he held a position in Utah. William came back to the ranch to recuperate but his health did not improve and he was brought to town so medical attendance could be provided at the Silver Lake Hotel, where his end came at six o’clock Saturday morning December 4, 1909. 

A native of Tipperary, Ireland William was survived by five sons, William, Emmett, Sargent, Thomas and George who all resided in the upper valley. After a service at the Catholic Church internment was in the Philipsburg Cemetery next to his wife and daughter. 

George Carey born October 19, 1880 died February 4, 1945. He is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. At this time I have not found an obituary for him. 

I found a marriage license issued to S.W. Carey and Ida L. Smith for May 4, 1893 but no marriage notice in the newspapers. There is a possibility Sargent’s middle initial was W, even though many articles list his initials as P.S. 

Photo from Tiny Johnson

Sarge, was believed to be the last surviving member of the Old Rumsey Mill crew (Tiny Johnson). Although most of his years were spent on the Trout Creek Homestead and his tax assessment for 1927, was $246.50, Sarge (1873-1958) lived on the south side of East Fork on the Bill Carey Ranch when I was a child. His headstone is engraved “Philip Sarg”. His great-great nephew, Joel Carey states that the family called Philip "Sarch" and he believes the Haacke family began calling him "Sarge".  So when he died, nephew Woodrow put "Sarge" on the tombstone because that was the name the citizenry knew him by.

 Miss Gertrude Maurer married Emmett Carey at their cozy home on California Street on January 17, 1907. Mr. Carey the son of W.P. Carey was employed at the Walker Commercial Company of Philipsburg. With the headline “HAD CLOSE CALL” the following incident is recounted in the Mail April 18, 1913: 

 “Mrs Emmett Carey and Mrs. Oscar Nelson had a rather exciting experience Sunday evening, April 13, while returning home from Georgetown flats where they had spent the day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Strom, Mrs. Nelson’s parents. The ladies were accompanied by their five small children and were driving a team of heavy work horses belonging to Mr. Nelson, hitched to a sleigh. There is much snow up there and a sleigh is better to get around than a wagon. At the head of Trout Creek the road crosses a dry gulch which was filled with snow and slush ice. They had crossed it in the morning and it was alright, but the day had been warm and when they drove into it on the way home the horses broke through and got down in the water and became tangled up in the harness. Mrs. Nelson attempted to free the team and was thrown into the water but managed to get out. Then the two ladies removed the children from the sleigh to high ground, and while Mrs. Nelson and her children stayed there, Mrs. Carey carrying her baby ran all the way to her home to call [for] help. By the time Mr. Carey reached the scene of the accident one horse was drowned and the other while still alive was so badly chilled in the cold water that it died after being pulled out. Mr. Carey had to wade into the water nearly up to his arm pits to get the horses loose from the sleigh. The accident happened about 6:30 p.m. and it was nearly 10 p.m. when Mr. Carey returned home, pretty much chilled himself…. The team was valued at $400.00.”

The Mail, September 14, 1917, stated Emmett Carey sold his Trout Creek ranch to Mr. Sutherland of Arlee, Montana. Research did not reveal anymore articles discussing the Emmett Carey family. 

Thomas Carey (1882-1944), was a active political figure in the State of Montana. Born in Livingston, Montana, the family moved to Elkhorn sometime after his birth and in 1890 the family located in Rumsey. As a young man Thomas lived in Anaconda where he was president of the Mine, Mill and Smelterman’s Union and president of the Hibernian Lodge of Anaconda. As an active Catholic he studied at Carroll College in Helena and was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters in Helena. Thomas became a resident of Helena in 1920 and was first elected to the position of State Treasurer, in November 1928. He was elected to the Montana Railroad and Public Service Commission in 1932 and served until 1939. In 1940 he was again elected to the office of State Treasurer a position he held at the time of his death, in a hotel room in Spokane, Washington. 

Lala and Bill Carey Circa 1930's from Joel Christensen Collection

William M. (Bill) (1878-1963) born in Bloomington, Illinois, homesteaded in 1900 on the east side of Eagle Canyon and spent his entire life running that ranch. Bill married Frances Blanche “Lala” Parks (daughter of Tom and Mary (Wight) Parks) on January 3, 1906. Bill and Lala became parents of seven children: Woodrow, Paul, Lawrence, Mary Helen and Chloe lived to adulthood. He received assistance running the ranch, from his children as he aged. A write up in the January 6, 1956 Mail described the party celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Neighbor, Opal Richtmyer had decorated a large cake for the occasion. 

Obviously the Carey Brothers ran a large establishment even in the early years as evidenced by taxes: In 1912 the Carey Bros. taxes were $318.95 and William was assessed $299.78 for the year 1927. 

Bill died after a lengthy illness at St. Ann’s Hospital in Anaconda. Survivors were: wife Lala; sons, Paul, Woodrow and Lawrence; daughters. Mary Helen Christensen of Ross Fork of Rock Creek and Chloe Owens of Miami, Florida; and fifteen grandchildren. 

Lala (Parks) Carey (1883-1964) was born at Stone to Thomas and Mary (Wight) Parks. She moved with her family to the Park’s East Fork homestead in 1902. Lala taught school as a young woman at the East Fork School prior to her marriage to William. She was an ardent gardener; belonged to the VFW Auxillary and was of the Methodist faith. Of their seven children, two died in infancy. I know that at least one, “a girl” was buried in the side yard of the Carey ranch. I was playing baseball with the Christensen and Carey kids, when we got in real trouble from Lala for moving a stone to make it home base. I remember sobbing to my mother that we would have never moved the stone if we had known it was a headstone. 

Lala, died at St. Ann’s Hospital in Anaconda after being a patient there for six days.  

The Bill Carey children continued to contribute to the ranching community: Lawrence W. P. Carey (1907- 1967) served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army in WWII. He lived his life on the Bill Carey ranch. His brother Thomas “Woodrow” Carey (1914-1997) lived on the ranch his entire life. 

F. Paul Carey(1910-1975) wed Mrs. Olga (Terkla) Rogan in 1936 and had a daughter Delores “Bunny” (Fuhrman). Paul then married Valerie Sheldon a local school teacher and they had seven children. Paul worked outside the ranch to bring money home to assist with running the ranch business. Daughter, Delphine (Driver) shared, that Paul worked on the tunnel under Moose Lake as one of his many jobs. 

Chloe (1916-2003) married Rex Owens in 1936 and they had a son and daughter. Chloe died in Missoula. 

Mary Helen, (1918-2006), married Robert Christensen on August 19, 1937. They celebrated their fifty-eighth anniversary prior to Bob’s death. Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers, sister, daughter-in-law Rosalie and grandson Jeffery and two infant siblings. Survivors were: Helen (Robert) Loran of Walla-Walla, Washington, William (Sharon), James (Jan Ritschel), Steven (Ginger), all of Granite County and adopted daughter Marilyn and husband Albert Silva of Anaconda; plus 14 grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. 

Many of the properties were sold after Mary Helen died. The new owner demolished all the buildings including the original homestead cabin. I do not know what happened to the baby grave(s)?