Civil War Patriots in Granite County

                             Patriot Son of America and Grand Army of the Republic members 

                     standing in front of first courthouse in 1892 from the Fan Harrington Collection

The history of patriotism in Montana is well documented. Prior to immigration to Montana a large portion of the population was involved in the Civil War. This is apparent in the disagreement over the name of the first territorial capital. Varina was the name chosen by some of the Confederate sympathizer’s among the miners; even though they were far removed from the battlefields of the Civil War these men were, for the most part, intensely interested in the conflict and had definite allegiances. Jefferson Davis being as much a hero to those whose sympathies were with the south as Abraham Lincoln was to the others, it occurred to the town company to name the new camp after Davis’s wife. The papers were presented to Dr. Bissell (Giles Gaylord Bissell of Connecticut had been named Judge on June 12, 1863), whose sympathies were just as strong for the northern cause. According to the Bissell family legend, the doctor struck his makeshift desk and exclaimed, “I’ll be damned if I’ll sign it that way”. Crossing out Varina he substituted Virginia, allegedly with the further remark that “…no such blot as this shall stain the honor of the camp.” 

Other definite feelings, regarding the beliefs of the north and south, were apparent in the Montana Territorial Assembly of 1872. Section 34 stated: "The education of children of African descent shall be provided for in separate schools…” Plus the Montana Legislature passed, without comment the following law: “Every white male inhabitant over the age of twenty one years, who shall have paid or be liable to pay any district tax, shall be a legal voter at any school meeting, and no other person shall be allowed to vote.” The interesting fact is, individual opinion was allowed to be held, while the hardy individuals worked for the common good, of the land they were settling. 

Tombstones in the Philipsburg Cemetery, Valley Cemetery and newspaper obituaries, attest to the presence of military men living in Granite County, who served in the early military and Civil War and the attached picture, although names are not included portray 41 men who were either Patriotic Sons of America or Grand Army of the Republic members. Although hard to read I believe the date on the picture is 1892. The picture was taken in front of the first Granite County Court House. 

In my years of research I have been able to identify 30 men who may be in the attached picture. They are: John Jeffrey (__-1890), John Hart Williams (1842-1913), Rev. George Jenkins (1836-1901), J.K. Pardee (1842-1914), Albert Tinklepaugh (1845-1920), Lawrence Pence 1840-1916), L.C. Degenhart (1843-1922), Robert Anderson (1845-1928), John A. Periman (1845-1929), Francis Thomas (1833-1921), Joseph Case (1846-1930), Eilisee E. Thibault (__-1920), J.H. Loomis (1840-1914), Elijah Powell (1845-1899), John A. Spencer(1844-1921), Norman A. Eddy (1848-1917), John Hendrickson Sr. (__-1901), Thomas Long (1839-1917), Rodney Charles (1843-1917), L.A. Matthews (__-__), Paul A. Fusz (1847-1910), Charles Weitfle (1826-1921), William Irvine (1842-1901), T.R. Hess (1844-1926), F.D. “Sandbar” Brown (1845-1931), Henry “Hank” Snyder (1850-1928), George Terrell (__-1895), Samuel Sprague (1835-1899), Bernard Dougherty (1848-1916) and John Buhler (__-__). 

One thing is certain, without these men of staunch character and unfailing Mettle, Granite county would not have been what it was and their descendants have contributed to what it now is with continued undying patriotism.