Walter Wickberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Wickberg of Maxville was home on a furlough from the Navy, the first week of November 1918. Walter came to Maxville direct from Newport, Virginia where he had an assignment on one of the merchant ships. Previous to this assignment, he was twice across the pond on a convoy vessel. He said that on the first trip to France they sighted two submarines and destroyed both. On the second trip one more submarine was added to their success. Walter had enlisted one year ago last June and according to his appearance the Navy was agreeing with him. He had only fifteen days on furlough and had returned to Newport by the publication of the November 8th Mail.
Walter’s parents, Louis and Sofia Wickberg bought the Jake Franzman ranch in 1902. Prior to moving to the valley the Wickberg’s had lived in Princeton. Many of the homes in Princeton were built by Louis Wickberg according to the Montana Standard July 5, 1976. They then moved to Helena where Louis worked at the Smelter until 1902.
Louis was found dead at the Snow Cap mine on February 14, 1944. The mine was located about six miles east of Gird Creek at Stone. Walter Wickberg found his father and told the authorities he had accompanied his father to the mine to do some prospecting and development work. Louis went into the cabin to start a fire while Walter walked to the mine to inspect it. When Walter returned he found his father dead on the cabin floor. Coroner Wilson and Sheriff Bryan Hynes said the death was due to a coronary embolism and there would be no inquest.
Louis was born in Sweden on May 10, 1862. At the age of 21 he immigrated to the United States and came directly to Montana. After working on a ranch and the smelter in East Helena, he left for a short time for Iowa where he operated a ranch. In 1889 he returned to East Helena and married Miss Sophia Lundgren. According to the obituary Louis and his wife moved to the Maxville area fifty two years before the time of his death (1892). Sophia died in Maxville in 1925. Louis’s life was spent in agricultural operations, mining and prospecting. Survivors were: sons: Walter and wife (Marie) of Maxville and Ryan and wife (Margaret) of Philipsburg; plus six grandchildren: Floyd, Mary and Dorothy of Maxville and Mildred, Marian (Tony) and Patricia Wickberg of Philipsburg. Louis was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery next to Sophia in Block 6, Lot 30 grave 3.
Walter Wickberg (1895-1975) married Mary Johnson (1898-1983) the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Iver Johnson in Missoula September 4, 1923. Both families were residents of Maxville. Marie is buried next to her husband Walter in the Philipsburg cemetery. Ryan and Walter’s family are all buried in Block 7, Lot 28, graves 2,4,5,6,and 7.
Marie and Walter’s daughter Marie Sigrid Wickberg was born February 1, 1926 at the family ranch near Stone Station (14 miles north of Philipsburg). She grew up with her siblings Floyd and Dorothy and attended school in Philipsburg. After high school Marie attended Everett Business School in Washington state during WWII. Immediately after the war she married child hood sweetheart Allen “Scotty” Morrison. To this marriage was born Gary (1946) Larry (1950) Russell (1954) and Jeannette (1957). Marie worked for 25 years as the Granite County Clerk and Recorder. She moved to Missoula to live in the Village during her last years and died December 8, 2011. Survivors were: brother Floyd of Missoula; sons: Gary of Alaska, Larry of Washington, Russell of Maxville and daughter Jeannette of Missoula and their spouses; 8 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Margaret Durfee (1906-1986) married Ryan Wickberg (1898-1977) on February 20, 1926. She was a teacher at Stone at that time. Their infant son named Ryan died of pneumonia and was “several days old”(February 21-March 10) according to the March 18, 1931 Philipsburg Mail.. They had three other children: Marion (Tony) (1928-2015), Mildred (1927- 1973) and Patricia (1930- ). Margaret and Ryan are buried in the Philipsburg cemetery.
Louis and Sophia’s descendants from the Morrison family continued the family residence in Granite county. Marian known as Tony lived his entire life there except for his military service in the Army. Neither Floyd (who lived in Missoula) or Tony had children so they were the end of the Wickberg name in Granite county.
Patricia married Cart Hamilton on April 9, 1950 in Philipsburg. They had two children: Judy (1952) and Dan (1956) before they moved to Missoula in 1962.
Mildred married Ted Sauer and had two children: Bob Sauer and Margorie (Feback)..
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