A Trip Through the Lower Valley and The Hoover Family

A New Northwest article on October 30, 1885 stated Deer Lodge Sheriff Jim McMaster took a buggy ride to Philipsburg with the New Northwest editor, James Mills and described the layout of the land and names of the residences from Gold Creek to Drummond: Benton Hoover, George Beeber, Thomas Stark, S. Leonard, Thomas Morse, Frank Morse, Thomas Griffin, Berry and Rider and John Edwards. 

As they continued on to New Chicago were the property of William Wallace, David Dunkleberg, William Periman, Prosser and Franzman and the Dingwall brothers. In New Chicago the merchandising was done by J.A. and J.B. Featherman and the Dingwall brothers. The McPhail brothers ran the Valley House, a very comfortable hotel; Prosser and Franzman were the blacksmiths; Featherman Brothers ran the meat market, “Zeb Haynes has a pleasant place of rest for the boys; Judge Ferguson keeps Watch and Ward, dispensing justice impartially to all. The large flouring mill of Morse & Co. now makes two grades of flour.” 

The article continued on after spending the night at the McPhail House, with McMaster naming the residents on Willow Creek: west of town were McPhail Brothers and Colonel Morse while further south the Willow Creek emptied into Flint Creek and the following residences were located: Louise J. Henderson, Joseph Henderson, Charles Tinklepaugh, Thomas and Jones, Thomas Buchanan, M. Dooley, P. Dooley, Angus McDonald, Gus Pearson, Paul Pellitier, P. Ryan, Jack Harrington, John Fahey, John Lannan, Mrs. Magone and Mrs. Nierling. As the buggy left New Chicago for Philipsburg the ranches were described “alternately on the right and left” as John A. Featherman, P. Brogan (bought from Oscar Gruwell), Hi Thomas (bought from Alex Long), Coulson’s, (the old Charley Cooper place), Peter Long, Frank Johnson, Alex Wight’s, John A. Featherman’s upper ranch, the three Heilman brothers (James, Edward and Joseph), the old Dan Gruwell garden ranch, Rory McRae’s Stone Station (Benjamin Horton was the postmaster), William Albright, James Butler, Dave Hennessey’s Boulder House, and off to the right of Stone Station was D.H. Mellan (sic) and James Byrne. 

Benton Hoover named above was actually Alfred Benton Hoover. When he died at the age of 88 on January 25, 1928, Benton was the oldest surviving member of the Montana Pioneers and had been so recognized at their last meeting. Benton had been living at the home of his son-in-law, Richard Hall, at the time of death. 

Mr. Hoover was born in Miami county, Indiana on April 24, 1840 and at the age of six his family moved to a farm in Iowa where Benton received his common school education. At the age of 19 he started across the plains to Pike’s Peak with three wagons and a group of ten men. On the trail the group received discouraging news about Pike’s Peak so decided to go to Nevada by way of Fort Laramie, Wyoming and Soda Springs, Utah. They arrived at Virginia City, Nevada in August 1859. One month after arriving there Mr. Hoover located a claim on what is now known as the Comstock Mine. Hoover took the first five tons of ore down the canyon to be shipped and mined in that area for almost eight years. 

Hoover came to Montana in 1866 and engaged in mining in Grizzly Gulch outside of Helena. He stayed in that area, mining until the fall of 1871 when he purchased a ranch in the Hellgate Valley above Drummond. Benton remained on that ranch until a few years ago when he moved into Drummond. Benton married Anna E. Miller of Missouri in 1884. Survivors were his wife, son Chester and daughter Mrs. Richard Hall all of Drummond. His funeral was held in Drummond with internment at the Valley cemetery. 

 Anna E. Miller Hoover born May 16, 1854 died on March 4, 1934 at the age of 80. Their son Chester born March 24, 1889 died at the age of 88 on February 21, 1978, just a month before his 89th birthday. Chester’s wife Ada, who was born October 26, 1890 died on September 14, 1940 at the age of 49. There is also an Infant Hoover buried in the Valley cemetery but the file has no birth or death date. 

Research revealed where Annie Hoover Hall died in Drummond after being ill for many months. Survivors were: her husband Richard Hall, son Chester and mother Mrs. Hoover according to the December 4, 1931 Philipsburg Mail. Born in 1893 Annie was only 38 years of age at the time of death. Richard died in 1954 at the age of 62. Records do not show any other family members buried in the Valley cemetery.