The Weinstein, Hardy and Yandell Feud

Headlined in the New Northwest August 27, 1880 was a shooting at Hasmark over a lot that the well known businessman, Weinstein stated he owned. Apparently Weinstein planned on building a cabin on it. Wm. Hardy, who had recently bought Tom Patterson’s Saloon apparently offered Weinstein $40 for the lot and when Weinstein said he would sell it for $100, Hardy decided he had as much right to it as Weinstein and would “jump it” then proceeded to fence the property off. This action created a real fracas and resulted in John Yandell interceding, a fight breaking out and Hardy being shot, dead. 

According to the September 3rd New Northwest Coroner’s Jury proceedings Weinstein went to retrieve some tools and returned with Mr. Gillies and Mr. West “seemingly to build a house”. He pulled down one panel of the fence Hardy had put up and Hardy standing in the window of his house told him not to come on his ground (the lot in dispute), and was holding a gun. Hardy then came down to the area in dispute and repeated the command: “Do not come on my property.” Weinstein and his men then walked off the property and stood in the road. Jack Yandell then came running up the road and said “Weinstein hold the lot.” Then Yandell and Hardy began to “tussle” over the gun. The gun discharged; Hardy struck Yandell with the gun and Yandell fell out of the lot and ran across the street toward his cabin. “Hardy, meantime returned to his house, went in, closed the door and stood in front of the window in the west wall, the lower sash of which was raised about two and a half feet from the sill…” Yandell then came up the street with a gun in his hand and standing in the shelter of the house corner, raised his gun and shot without aiming his gun. 

Witnesses saw Hardy fall backwards from the window. The Coroner’s assessment written by Dr. C.N. Bowie stated: “William Hardy came to his death from a bullet penetrating the left breast two and a half inches to the right of the left nipple, the said bullet penetrating the heart, ranging obliquely upward and backward passing out of the body one inch to the left of the spinal column.” 

Dr. Bowie treated Yandell’s injuries which included a gash on the head about five inches long, a fractured skull; a lacerated tongue and loss of teeth. All witnesses present believed that Yandell was delirious from the head injury when he fired the fatal shot. 

Hardy had been in the Territory a long time where he was first employed by Caplice & Smith then worked for the Algonquin and most recently bought the saloon. It was believed he was in his forties. 

The next information found regarding Yandell was a September 12, 1889 Mail article describing “The invitation dance given by John Yandell at the residence on his ranch in upper Flint Creek Valley was one of the most pleasant social affairs that have taken place in this vicinity for many months. About twenty couples responded to their invitations, and not one had reason to regret being present. The night was perfect, and the drive from town to Mr. Yandell’s place, a distance of six miles over good roads, was also a rare treat to the many who seized the opportunity. Everything that Yandell could do to make the affair a success and for the comfort of his visitors was done. Good music was furnished for the dancers and a spacious floor provided. At 12 o’clock supper was served and not often have we had the chance to sit down to a more tempting spread…” 

On July 30, 1897 a notice was in the Mail that the Yandell ranch was up for a three year lease. and that John Yandell had departed Philipsburg for Seattle where he was seeking treatment from his Cousin Dr. Yandell for his ailments that had bothered him for some time. George Metcalf took up the lease in September of 1897. 

February 18, 1898 Yandell’s obituary was published in the Mail and stated he had been buried in Seattle about 10 days prior. John Sharp Yandell was born in Mississippi in 1840 and joined the Confederacy to fight in the Civil War. After the surrender of General Lee, he emigrated to Montana and had been involved in mining and ranching for the past 30 years. His only kin were the cousins in Seattle. 

The 320 acre Yandell ranch was advertised for sale by Henry Yandell M.D., beginning in July, 1900 and was bought by the current leaser and new sheriff George Metcalf according to the November 1, 1901, Mail.

Name Sake's of Henderson Gulch

As the story goes: “Big Joe”, “Little Joe” and “Young Joe” were the three men associated with the gold strike in the area now known as Henderson Gulch. The were Uncle, nephew and a man not related. 

Joseph (Young Joe) Henderson had lived in the valley for 61 years when he died on June 26, 1926. His obituary stated that he was born at Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada on October 17, 1846. At the age of 18 he left New Brunswick by ship at St. John’s for Panama. He walked across the isthmus of Panama, then took a Pacific coast ship to San Francisco. From there he traveled to Boise and onto the Kootenai Lakes in British Columbia. With a companion Dick Prince (the namesake of Princeton) he walked to Blackfoot City in the summer of 1865. By autumn they were in Henderson Gulch, where his uncle (with the same name) had mining claims. 

By 1871 Joseph had staked claim to a homestead and “preempted” tracts of land near New Chicago. Ivy Blood Hill (1962) stated that Young Joseph Henderson and Angus McPhail took up land on the east side of the valley where the ranches of William Enman and William Wilson were located at the time of her writing in 1962. In 1881 Joseph and the McPhail brothers drove a herd of cattle from Yakima, Washington into the valley. Young Joseph’s obituary stated this was the first herd of cattle in the area. Whether all three brothers (Angus, Archie and Allen were involved in the cattle drive is uncertain.) At some time Angus and Joseph sold their land to Archie and Allen. I do not know what happened with Angus as there is no record of burial either at Philipsburg or Valley cemetery for him. 

In March of 1878, Joseph (Young Joe) returned to New Brunswick and brought a new bride, Isabella Rebecca Henderson back home with him. They were married on March 12 and came by rail to Ogden, Utah and then by stage to Deer Lodge. Isabella Rebecca was born in St. John County, New Brunswick on November 17, 1850. She was the eighth of ten children. Joseph and Rebecca had six children. One died as an infant, but I do not find a marked grave for the baby. 

When Rebecca died on August 14, 1925, she was survived by Joseph, sons George (1881-1947) and Jesse (1883-1969) of Hall, Charles (1885- 1945) of Pennsylvania and Miss Mary (Hall) and Mrs. M.R. (Renee Henderson) Henderson of Hall; and five grandchildren. She was also survived by three sisters in Canada. 

Rebecca whose maiden name was also Henderson was an original member of the Methodist, Episcopalian Church in Hall and her Christian burial services were held there by Rev. Allan Haldeman, with burial in the Valley cemetery. The burial services for Joseph were also held at the Hall Methodist Episcopalian Church the next June, with Rev. Haldeman officiating. Music for his service was furnished by the Hall Choir composed of Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Talbott, Charles L. Clawson and Miss Elva Talbott. Joseph served one four year term as a county commissioner and did not belong to any organizations, except the Vigilantes during the territorial days, according to his obituary. 

I know that Rebecca and Joseph’s son Jesse married Glee Eloise (1887-1981) and they had children: Minnie Isobel (Pohlman), (1914-2005), Archie and Joseph. Young Archie married Margaret Bradshaw on September 1939. She was born to Charles and Elizabeth Bradshaw on June 3, 1916 in Utah and moved to the Drummond area at the age of three. When Margaret died on August 8, 2007, her and Archie were living in Lolo. Survivors were: husband Archie, sons: Richard of Idaho, Jim of Hall, Gordon of Texas and daughter Debbie of Lolo and brother Darrell Bradshaw of Drummond. 

I have not found any evidence of his uncle Joseph (Big Joe) Henderson or the unrelated Joseph (Little Joe) Henderson in the newspapers or Granite county census or cemeteries. 

Minnie Isobel Henderson was born on March 26, 1914 to Jesse and Eloise Henderson on their ranch near Hall. She graduated from Drummond High School then Dillon Normal School and received a Bachelor Degree in Education from The University of Montana. She taught kindergarten and first grade in Missoula for many years. She married Dolphy Orvin Pohlman at an unknown date. He preceded her in death. Minnie died on March 29, 2005 at the age of 91. She was buried in the Valley cemetery near her husband and parents. Survivors were: daughter Pearl Eloise Symonds of California and son, Dolphy O. Pohlman Jr. of Butte; five grandchildren and brothers: Archie and Joseph Henderson.

Rumors at The Ball

The April 1, 1881 New Northwest carried the details of a shooting that occurred in Philipsburg on March 25th. Deputy Sheriff McTague with the assistance of John Sullivan brought into Deer Lodge, “Elisha Reed who had shot and killed Eugene Garland. Both Reed and Garland were married men and Mrs. Porter had been living at the Reed residence. Apparently, at the evening dance, Garland danced with Mrs. Reed and also with Mrs. Porter. (This would have been shortly after Mrs. Porter became a widow due to her husband being shot and killed by Harry Conn). Reed continued drinking after the dance was over and wanted Garland to tell him what Mrs. Porter had said about the Reed family.”

Garland told him nothing was said and went on about his business. The next morning while Garland (who worked at Morse’s Butcher Shop) was busy delivering meat to the neighboring mining camps, Reed continued being upset and drinking. He finally found a person that knew nothing about the disturbance, who loaned him a gun on the pretense Reed was going to Georgetown to hunt mountain lions. 

Thomas McKay, a sworn witness in the murder stated: "About 1 o’clock p.m. March 25, 1881 Eugene Garland came in from peddling meat. I saw Reed coming up the street. Reed pulled out a six shooter and said to Garland: “I want you to get down and I will make you swallow the words you said last night.” Reed followed Garland into this room with the pistol in his hand. I heard them talking and in a minute I heard the pistol go off. Saw Reed come out with the pistol in his hand and exclaiming --- ---. Reed and Garland had some words last night at the dance. Reed had been waiting for Garland to come home all the forenoon. Reed had been drinking. I saw Reed and Garland talking this morning. Apparently Reed, his wife and Garland attended a dance the night before. After consuming a fair amount of alcohol a Mrs. Porter dancing with Garland made some comment about Reed’s wife. When Reed asked Garland about it the comment was denied. This angered Reed and he went looking for a gun the next morning. Reed found a person who knew nothing of the argument and was loaned a gun to go hunting lion’s at Georgetown. After the shooting Reed went from the scene of the shooting with pistol in hand to Mrs. Bradshaw’s where his wife was. Mrs. Bradshaw told Reed she was not there. While he was still talking to Mrs. Bradshaw the Deputy sheriff arrived and disarmed and arrested Reed."  

Almost immediately the citizenry became incensed about the cold blooded killing and the sheriff was concerned his prisoner may be lynched so he and John Sullivan put the whip to the team pulling the buggy with the prisoner in it and “had a keen run for the greater part of the distance for 12 miles, when night came on” and they moved the prisoner under the cloak of darkness to Deer Lodge. Reed was housed in the Deer Lodge Jail until the trial. 

An inquisition was held in the back room of George Morse’s Butcher shop with the following juror’s present: D.B. Jenkins (Foreman), E.D. Holland, George H. Kidder, N.H. Connolly, Charles Kroger, W.T. Allison. Their judgment was that “Eugene Garland came to his death by a pistol shot wound feloniously fired from the hands of Elisha Reed.” 

The May 20, 1881 New Northwest stated Elisha Reed escaped from jail on May 19 and the May 27 edition explained how it had happened. Jailer Lytle had left the jail without securing the cell door. Reed was found by James D. France who came to Virginia City from South Boulder stating that he had corralled Reed on the 13th of June and asked Sheriff Plattner in Virginia City to assist in bringing him in. Reed was returned to Deer Lodge according to the news accounts of June 17, 1881. Reed, during his escape had mailed letters to his mother and wife with instructions to send their replies to a Red Bluff address, so he must have planned on hiding in that area. 

Tried by a jury of his peers a verdict was returned Wednesday morning at two a.m. Reed was found guilty of murder in the first degree stated the New Northwest December 16, 1881. Reed, a father of three children, was sentenced on December 23, 1881 to twenty years in the Deer Lodge State Penitentiary. 

 Moral of the story. Be careful what you might make people think you are talking about while dancing at a ball.

Yreka, Reynolds City, Top o' Deep and Silver City

 Obviously Yreka was named prior to Garnet as the December 23, 1881 New Northwest carried an article about a robbery there. The headlines were: “Skipped-waiting for a verdict-in the woods.” With the following article: “Some weeks since the sluice boxes of McKivitt & Childs, Yreka, and the boxes of a Chinese company on McGinnis gulch were robbed, it will be remembered that Henry Jensen was arrested and confessed participation and that two other robbers, supposed to have the bulk of the money, escaped. On Tuesday Jensen’s case was called in court and nine jurors impaneled. When court met Wednesday morning and was ready to proceed with the case, Sheriff Strang came in and reported that the prisoner had just escaped. Undersheriff McTague had been walking Jensen and Ryan about the building and gave Jensen permission to go to the water closet while he locked Ryan in the cage. Jensen passed out of sight a moment and skipped. Although the alarm was instantly given and active search instituted Jensen is still at large and his case has been continued until next term. It was an inexcusable piece of carelessness that he was permitted to escape. Jensen has run with the Indians a great deal and is likely to make good his escape. He evaded the officers for weeks when wanted some two or three years ago and has friends who will help him." Extensive research has failed to produce any more information on Henry Jensen. 

Wolle in “Montana Pay Dirt” spells the Camps name as Eureka and describes Yreka as a gambling town, where the gamblers “often cleaned up more gold at their games than the miners did from their claims.” The April 7 and 14, 1882, New Northwest carried articles about a dead stranger found near Yreka in a deserted cabin on Days Gulch, a tributary of Elk Creek. Thomas Geagan found the body “in an old vacant cabin in Day’s Gulch.” Geagan on the 14th gave the following story: The man had spent the night with Schott and Geagan on Elk Creek about the middle of November. He stated he was a native of Scotland and had been working for the N.P. railroad near Edwardsville. He was known there by the name of “Scotty.” The body when found was ‘loathsome in the extreme, the arms and face being entirely denuded of flesh, supposed to have been the work of rats.” An inquest was held by G.W. Brock who was Justice of the Peace and Acting Coroner. The jury consisted of: Charles Schott, James Brennan, Patterson Armstrong, Alexander Hiland, Alexander Pearson and John Dolan. The verdict returned was in accordance with the above facts. 

I did not find a lot of references to either of the mining camps of Silver City and Reynolds, except The Missoula County News on February 17, 1886 stated: ”Mr. Tibbett, the agent at Drummond has three men at work at The Golden Gate at Reynolds City (five miles from Beartown). Assays are 163 ounces for gold and $10 for silver. Loomis and Stone own a very large and promising property next to the Golden gate."  

Wolle (Montana Pay Dirt) states they contributed to the “nearly $2,500,000 in gold taken out by 6,000 miners while the district was active.” References are made to frequent violence in claim jumping and that a meeting was held at Reynolds City in 1865 where an effective mining code was drawn up, alleviating the violence. November 28, 1865, Montana Post stated” “[an unknown person] amused himself, the other night [in Reynolds City] by profusely sprinkling one of the hurdy-gurdy floors with snuff, or cayenne pepper, or both. The girls stamped, and the boys stampeded; stamping and snuffing and sneezing and swearing, were momentarily the order.” 

Another Montana Post article from Virginia City stated that more than half of Reynolds City burned during a fire on the 18th of July 1867. The fire broke out at 3:15a.m. in Sam Ritchies butcher shop on Main Street in the center of town. The flames spread quickly to the two log buildings on each side; Boswell and Jones dealt in general merchandise and Johnny Gordon ran a saloon in the other log building. The flames then spread to the German shoemaker’s building, according to the Montana Post, August 17, 1867. 

Reynolds City population was never more than 500 but it yielded more than $1,000,000 in the two years it was active. The camp was named for Jack Reynolds an early miner who found “pay dirt” there, according to Cheney in “Names on the Face of Montana.” The post office for Top O’ Deep was established in January 1893 through August 1894 and Tillie Kreuzberger was the postmaster.