Henry Imkamp: Town Savior

Henry Imkamp could possibly be the one person that kept the town of Philipsburg from being relegated to the history books as a Ghost Town. In 1869, the Hope Mill experienced a recession and almost caused the death of the camp: 

“Its streets were empty, its buildings tenantless, the mines deserted. Silence and solitude reigned almost unchallenged. Of 1500 people, only three remained: Henry Inkamp, E.B. Waterbury and J.M. Merrill (Merrell). For one day Henry Inkamp was alone in camp. Alone in the little city with its hundred of closed doors and cheerless windows, the great mill towering like a specter of departed life and the broad street grass-grown and deserted.” stated the New Northwest August 27, 1875. 

Questioning whether it was one or five days, in the Philipsburg Mail on November 29, 1894 was the following article: 

“The familiar face of our former townsman, Henry Imkamp, was welcomed in the ‘Burg last week, having arrived from St. Louis, Mo., his present home, to attend to some business here. Mr. Imkamp is one of the pioneer settlers in Phillipsburg, and his association with the town is characterized by the fact that for five days in the early history of the place he was the only resident here. All the other settlers at that time has stampeded for the gold digging but Mr. Imkamp remained and for five days was “monarch of all he surveyed.” One by one the settlers came back and from that day to this Phillipsburg has gradually been going ahead. Mr. Imkamp, like several of his comrades, became rich, and now he lives in the height of luxury in St. Louis.” 

Henry Inkamp, born in Prussia came to Philipsburg as a merchant in 1867 and opened a saloon.. In the 1870 Federal Census, Henry was one 30 people interviewed in the 195 residences in Phillipsburg. At that date he was 37 years of age and worth $1,700. In the 1880 Federal Census Henry was still listed as a saloon keeper and married to Caroline with a one month old daughter named Lilla. The Pioneer Association records show that Henry arrived in Montana in 1856. He built the Imkamp building in 1887 as a business block. Various articles state that since 1890, businesses in the block have included a Gentleman’s Clothing Store, a Grocery and Fruit Market, a Tailors Shop, Doctor’s Offices, Printing Office, Utility Office and Post Office. Reviewing Sanborn Maps of 1890 through 1908, it is hard to determine which side of Broadway between Sansome and Montgomery, this would be, as the variety and buildings changed frequently 

Recent research found Henry Bernard Imkamp’s death record in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born on June 19, 1838 and died on October 16, 1898. Survivors were: wife Caroline (Doerge) and daughter Lillie. Cause of death was stomach ulcers and he is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery at St. Louis. His occupation is listed only as Saloon Keeper. Sadly he was never credited as an owner of real estate and town savior. 

In 1870, Purvine and Schnepel leased the mill and the town began to come back to life. Then in 1872, George Plaisted and Brown, leased the mill and ran a considerable amount of ore. Colonel Lyons crushed 500 tons of Trout Ore, for the Imperial Company that same year. 

Politically active citizen’s watching the camp of Phillipsburg survive for twenty more years, wrote articles of incorporation in October of 1890. Elections were held the first week of November, with a positive vote, formally declaring, it was now a town. This town, no longer supported by mining, has transformed itself into a tourist destination. I wonder if Henry could ever imagine that his keeping the town open has continued to be the impetus in residents and new comer’s blood now for 153 more years.