The first news article found regarding .J.J. Carmichael was in the Philipsburg Mail, January 8, 1897: “John J. Carmichael and bride (Maria T. Jenkins) arrived from Stevensville, during the week and have taken up their residence in the house recently occupied by Dr. and Mrs. Wm. Ray”.
Then, August 5, 1898, in the Mail: “Last Wednesday J.J. Carmichael found in his livery stable a bunch of skeleton keys--all kinds and sizes. This may have been a part of some burglar’s outfit, and the owner can have the same back by calling the Sheriff F.J. McDonald, in whose care Carmichael left the keys.”
Next I found where someone with a knife considerably damaged J.J. Carmichael’s bus harness. They cut a number of straps in order to get the ivory rings which served as ornaments. Mr. Carmichael had an idea who done the mischievous work and the guilty individual had better make himself scarce around the livery barn, stated the news article in the Philipsburg Mail, June 1, 1900.
In my possession from the Tex Crowley Picture collection is a photo of J. J., Art Taylor, Wally Frost and Hank Roberts at the Carmichael Livery Stable, where J.J. is standing next to a massive stage coach, probably from this era. The January 22, 1915, Mail carried the following reminder concerning the risk of the times: ”Philipsburg this week had another fire scare and lucky escape from disaster which for a time seemed imminent. At 4:20 o’clock Tuesday morning the city was aroused by alarms of fire which started in the loft of J.J. Carmichaels, Kentucky Livery Stables, a large brick building on the south side of Broadway. The hay stored there was ablaze and the flames were coming through the ventilators in the roof. To those who saw it before the firemen got to work the building appeared doomed.” The building was owned by Valentine Jacky, of Missoula and insured, but only about $100 of damage occurred. One of Carmichael’s, best horses was kicked in the front leg, during the melee and a couple of trunks stored upstairs were burned, besides all of the hay.
Sixteen people ran in the wide open election for County Coroner of Granite County, in 1914 and J.J. won with a plurality of nineteen votes. Then, J.J. ran unopposed for Coroner, of Granite County in 1916. In 1917, he continued picking up bodies as evidenced on June 19: “Coroner J.J. Carmichael was called to Bearmouth Monday to take charge of the remains of a man killed by a train on the Northern Pacific tracks three miles west of Bearmouth. Both legs were cut off and the neck was broken. The man was about twenty five years of age and unknown in this part of the country. On the body was found an I.W.W. membership card bearing the name of James Kinney. The remains were shipped to Philipsburg for burial.”
Again in 1918, the official election returns show J.J. re-elected as coroner, unopposed with 205 votes, in the primary.
J.J. (John) Carmichael died October 26, 1928, of pneumonia, after being ill a short time. Born in Aberdeen, Nova Scotia on January 27, 1865, the fifth of nine children, he attended schools in Nova Scotia and at the age of eighteen went to sea for two years. Next he traveled to the Northwest Territory for another two years, and then traveled to Montana, where he teamed in Helena and Butte, before returning to Aberdeen. A few years later, he returned to Montana and operated a stage line between Granite, Combination and Anaconda, for five years. His next venture was running a livery stable until automobiles took over the scene. Teaming again became his livelihood, with him building up a contract business for hauling ore. During this period he also operated the Funeral Parlor and filled the elected position of Coroner for the county of Granite, from 1914 until his death. J.J. and Maria were married on December 31, 1896 in Stevensville with her father presiding, according to the January 6, 1897, Citizen Call. To this marriage was born seven children, whom six, with his wife Maria survived him. They were: daughters, Mrs. Lyle F. (Alice Ruth) Wilson of Seattle, and Eunice and Margaret of Philipsburg; sons: Clayton and James of Philipsburg and Howard of California and two brothers: Murdock of Whitehall and Malcolm of Butte. The funeral was held from the Methodist Church, with Rev. Maris, performing the service on October 28. There are no pallbearers or statement of the funeral in the November 3rd, issue of the Mail. J.J. was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery, next to his son, Merle.(1900-1923).
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