The Philipsburg Affair

 

The July 28, 1887 Helena Weekly Herald published the following account about their article in the July 23rd Daily publication concerning The North Granite Mining Company located in Philipsburg, and F.L. Currie who was the recent Superintendent. Mr. Currie “seen by a Herald reporter said the report of the occurrence as published in last evening’s issue was substantially correct; only he had not witnessed the alleged strangulation proceedings. The mob, however, had requested him to leave the town on account of various claim jumping projects in which they supposed him interested and desiring to vindicate himself, he talked freely with the reporter on the matter. 

Mr. Currie furnishes the following statement of the case: ‘In 1883 Thomas F. Hynes located the Katy lode. A bond was given on it to Lewis Demars but expired in 1884 without being taken up. In April, 1885, Hynes and his wife deeded the Katy lode to the former’s mother, Mrs. Honora Hynes for $1,000 and the title thereby passed to her. In October, 1886, Thomas Hynes and wife gave to Phil M. Saunders a bond on the property for $50,000 under which a company was formed and $8,000 worth of development work put upon the property. 

I was superintendent of the North Granite Company and found out about the above condition of affairs with that Hynes and his wife had given Saunders a bond for property not owned by them and that the claim was open to jumping. I explained the situation to Joseph Sorenson and he relocated the claim under the name of the Parrot lode, agreeing to transfer to the company for a small consideration. My object was to secure to the company a clear title to the ground so as to obviate any trouble if anyone else should jump it. I received no consideration for my share in the transaction and was simply working for the interest of the company. 

Sorenson relocated the ground about the 14th inst. and gave to Phil M. Saunders a bond for $500 and 150,000 shares of stock of the company formed to work it. There was a tacit understanding between Saunders and myself that 5,000 shares of stock, in the new company, which I acquired from personal expenditure in the former company, should be secured to me, also 5,000 shares to Wm. Weinstein and John Dawson acquired by similar means, which in a measure I considered myself responsible for. 

These were the only considerations stipulated in the transaction and they were merely mutual understandings between Mr. Saunders and myself, no written agreement was made. Throughout the transaction I acted with Mr. Saunders knowledge and consent, he approving of the relocation project as the best means to secure the safety of the property. After the affair was consummated I turned all of the papers to Mr. Saunders, who took them to Helena to consult his attorney on the situation. 

When he returned to Philipsburg I was discharged by him, as he alleged, on the expressed desires of the directors, who requested a change in the office after he had stated to them the occurrences of the past few days. What his statement was , I do not know. His authority was unquestionable and I was obliged to abide by it, condemned but not heard. 

There had been various rumors previous to this about my being interested with Lewis Demars and Samuel Tolman on the jumping of the Granite Belle, The Young America and the Nelson properties. These were without foundation, but in the heat and excitement resulting from them and the action, seemingly, of the North Granite Co. I was allowed to suffer a never to be forgotten indignity at the hands of men who personally were my enemies, regardless of jumping claims….’ ”. And that was the demise of Mr. Currie as Superintendent of The North Granite Mining Company.

Tidbits about Philipsburg Saloons

 

Saloons have been a large part of the town of Philipsburg since almost the beginning of the camp. Tradition was that Churches were established on the north slope, thus became named as Church Hill and the drinking establishments were located on the south side of Broadway. This tradition continued until the Brewery established their Pub in the Hyde/Sayrs building in 2012. 

Research shows that by 1870 there were at least five saloons and by 1875 Henry Inkamp, one of the first owner’s “ran the finest saloon west of Deer Lodge” according to The New Northwest. Sadly I have not found a name for this saloon. Besides Inkamp, Billy Lang, John Rains, M.O. Regan, Angus McIntyre, Dick Dickenson and Johnny Gerber operated saloons during the early days. Numerous deadly incidents have been documented as occurring in or near the drinking establishments and miners were often known to drink their sustenance saddled up to a bar instead of going home after their long and tiring shifts. Often the patron ran a tab and on payday a large portion went to their favorite watering hole. Bartenders were known to also take the patron’s check and retrieve it from the safe when the spouse showed up the next morning after payday. When the mines or mills were rumored to be shutting down the newspapers carried notices that establishments were going to cash only and bills needed to be paid in full before a published date. W

When I moved from West Fork to town, although I was underage, it was okay for me to drink in the bars, because I was married. Although we could vote, women were still viewed as property. I guess, if I did something wrong it would be my over 21, husband’s responsibility. T

The following topics about the drinking establishments will begin as I recalled them in the late 1950’s. LeRoy and Nancy (Miller) Owens have kindly assisted me in the stories, proprietors and names, to bring them up to date. At the east end of Broadway the first tavern as you headed west from Montgomery was the Antlers owned by Bill Crncivich “The Greek”. This establishment catered more to the casual person seeking entertainment but not looking for any trouble. Bill, with partners, Lum Wanderer and Roddy McRae, built a bowling alley on the second floor that became very popular in the community and created numerous bowling leagues. It also gave a lot of employment to the town youngsters, as pin setters. This task was a real serious responsibility for the youngster and earned deep respect amongst their peers. One had to be fast, accurate and able to get out of the way of very high speed bowlers to avoid serious injury. In the early 2000’s I ran into Bill at a local Pub in Troutdale, Oregon, reminding one of how small this world is. We had some good laughs of the P’Burg characters he could recall. A

After Bill sold, there were numerous owners including Phil and Dean Salois, Ron McComber, Pat Carlin, Joe Braach, David McRae, and Judy (Winninghoff) Loobey. Then Anne Filmore and partner renovated the entire bottom floor into Montana John’s Silver Mill with an upscale restaurant serving steaks, seafood and prime rib. It currently is named Zia’s and serves Italian fare. 

The west side of the downstairs building was the M and M bar, owned by G.J. Moorman and Ross Hayworth. My recall was a very dim lit establishment that did not take kindly to our young groups habit of buying a drink at one bar and walking up to the next bar to turn in the glass and order another drink, so we just skipped entering that door. 

The next Bar was the White Front with a long history from at least 1887 and a well established record of service to their clientele, even during prohibition. While named the Busy Bee during prohibition it is rumored client’s thirst was quenched in the basement. More than once the proprietor’s were served with papers detailing charges for bottles of alcohol being sold without charging state tax in the back alley etc. Research fails to reveal any outcome of the charges. Since the owner’s were upstanding citizens I am certain they were able to erase the offenses. Oral information and recall, thanks to LeRoy and Nancy Owens and Marlene Andre Chor starts with Peter Andre as the owner, with son Adolph “Dooley” taking over next. 

Dooley was recalled into service during the Korean conflict, so Bernard “Bumo” LeRoy took over for Dooley and Harry Hanifen helped. My Step Father-in-law, Helmer enjoyed the group of miners and mill men that congregated at this establishment. Next, LeRoy Owen and Scott Anderson took their turn. Dooley’s daughter, Marlene Andre Chor followed and after visiting the White Front during Flint Creek Valley Days and falling in love with the bar, Bill Mackley contacted Marlene wanting to buy. She was not interested in selling but told him to call back in the summer. Bill called back and ended up owning the establishment for a long period of time. T

The current owners, who also own the Sunshine Station (established long after my bar walks), are an LLC from outside of Granite County. 

On the southwest corner of Sansome sits the Cartier building that housed The First State Bank. Then was purchased by W.E Metcalf in 1931. First it had the Banquet café ran by Jack Keating then it became the Club Bar with Jack Polich and Art Taylor. The “bank vault” became a barber shop and then a women’s lounge. Next Cleveland A. and son Clevie Metcalf bought the property from W.E. and continued the operation as The Club Bar with Art Taylor. 

During our Broadway walk the women’s lounge was often operating as a “Crap Table” and many a paycheck was taken by the house, while a noisy, cigar smoking group of miners and upstanding business men rolled their dice. My father-in-law enjoyed this room with a grin from ear to ear on those special days. 

After the Metcalf’s sold the building there have been many renovations, numerous owners, including Bob and Dee Derosia and name changes. Sheryl and Keith Barkell are the current owners and operate under the name Bunkhouse Whiskey. 

South on Sansome was the Courtney/Pintlar Hotel with a quiet secluded lounge developed by Lorenz, as manager under the ownership of Agnes and Father Humphrey Courtney. This establishment was out of our social class, so to speak, therefore not included in the walk. 

Next on Broadway was the Silver Tavern, owned by Cleveland Metcalf and at some date Charles Anderson. George and Mildred McKee were the owners during our walks and showed great concern for their patrons. More than once George ran a tab on payday for my husband and gave me his paycheck when I stopped by in the morning. After the McKee’s, David McRae, then Joe Haggard were operators. When Jean Breeden became owner it was named the Hungry Buzzard. That building is now demolished. 

The last watering hole on broadway was the Rodeo Inn owned by George and Bye McLane. It could become a very rowdy spot and had a lot of history. LeRoy and Nancy recount Clyde Gregory “Hickory Nuts” being shot by Con Stage (a cook at the Brown Derby). He was very drunk and looking for Derosia at the Club but ended up in the Rodeo Inn. Needless to say when news reached the White Front, LeRoy closed and went home. The bar is now The Thirsty Dog.

Captain Tom Mitchel and Family

 

Tom Mitchell was born in Cornwall, England in 1858 and came to America at the age of twenty-three. He arrived in Granite during the winter of 1889 and worked at the Granite Mine as shift boss. Because of this position he was named “Captain Tom” and even at the time of his death was greeted thusly, by friends. Approximately thirteen years before his death he took up a ranch about three miles west of Philipsburg where he worked until his health failed. Tom then moved to Missoula and worked as the timekeeper for Polley’s Lumber Mill for about a year before he returned to Philipsburg. Thomas was a staunch republican during his lifetime and had been a resident, miner, and rancher in Philipsburg area for forty years when he died May 10, 1920 at his home in south Philipsburg after several years of illness. Survivors were: wife Susie, daughter Miss Mae and sons: Bert, Harold, and Jack of Philipsburg and James who was in South America. T

Tom’s wife, Susie, a resident of Granite and Philipsburg for 40 years, died April 11, 1930 at her home in south Philipsburg following a short illness of pneumonia with complications of old age. She was born in Beer Raven, County Cork, Ireland on October 17, 1854 and came while still a small child to America with her parents, locating in Calumet, Michigan. On July 3, 1890 she was married to Thomas E. Mitchell and they came direct from Calumet to Granite, Montana where they made their home until about 1910 when they moved to a ranch west of Philipsburg for several years, then moved to Philipsburg. Survivors were: daughter Mrs. Lou (Lillian Mae) Cunningham; sons: Bert E., Harold T. James D, and Louis G. (Jack) Mitchell and six grandchildren: Charles, Helen, and Kenneth Cunningham and Gordon and Tommie Mitchell all of Philipsburg and Merle Mitchell of California. 

Bert Mitchell was born in Granite on June 22, 1893. He was drafted on June 28, 1918 at the age of twenty-five into the U.S. Army. He fought in the Meuse Argonne Offensive in France from September 26, 1918 to November 11, 1918. Then he participated in the Occupation of Germany Territory from December 1, 1918 to April 8, 1919 and returned to the United States on May 21, 1919. He was honorably discharged on May, 27,1919. After working for years in the mines and never marrying, Bert became a boarder at Alice Olson Barbour’s home in Parkerville and was cared for by her until he died April 23, 1951. In the Olson family documents. there is a paper sent to Alice by the Veterans Administration May 21, 1951 that explained the attached form needed to be filled out to claim the “expenses of the last sickness and burial of the deceased beneficiary.” 

James who was born in 1897, was killed in a mine accident October 26, 1936 at the Algonquin. He was with Robert Hoehne and went to assist Harry Murray and Carl Steber as they were spitting a round of thirty-five holes on the 600 foot level. Apparently there was a delay due to wet fuses and the dynamite exploded. Murray and Steber were killed instantly and Mitchell was carried to the surface and rushed to Dr. Knight’s hospital where he died two hours later. James was married to Margaret Maehl on July 3, 1934 and is buried next to his parents in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Jack Mitchell’s given name was Gordon L. (Louis G.) He was born in 1898 and died in 1942 with burial next to Jim. Research fails to disclose his marital status. The other brother Harold was born in 1894 and married Lena Degenhart. He died in 1953 and his headstone is in block six near the other Mitchell’s. My internet fails to identify descendants. Can anyone provide information?

Hardships South of Mt Amerine

 

Harry Barber Smith, came to Granite County possibly running from the law. Harry located his family in a remote meadow southeast of Medicine Lake on the North side of Ross’ Fork. The story goes that he would walk out to the J.A. Naef place and go to town with them when they needed supplies. Right before a blizzard Harry left home to go to the Naef’s. His wife did not become concerned until a week later. thinking he was at Naef’s waiting out the storm. Walking out to Naef’s, she realized he never arrived and a search was mounted, but his body was never found, according to “Bus” Hess, in 2003.  

Mrs. Smith remained in the remote area for a time, then moved to Anaconda, where she raised Foster, Lawrence and Ione. I found in the July 30, 1915 Mail where “Mrs. Mabel Smith was in the city Tuesday from Rock Creek to visit at the home of her sister, Mrs. T.R. Bowen.” I also found in the Mail January 19, 1917: “John Johnson of Anaconda…employed by J. Forsman to feed stock on the H.B. Smith ranch… was found dead on Thursday of last week by Howard Naef.  Johnson had evidently been dead several days as horses were gnawing each other’s mane and tails and the wood of the manager and stalls.” 

Harry’s daughter, Ione married John Albert Forsman in August of 1926 and that is why the ranch is now known as the Forsman Place. Descendants of the original Forsman family continue family reunions at the ranch. 

On the south side of Ross’ Fork, south of Amerine is a valley named after Vesper “Zeke” Judy and sometimes referred to as Big Moose Meadows. The meadow was settled by Judy about 1898. Zeke was known to be a congenial host and spent every penny he could earn improving his tranquil setting. Every winter he worked in the mines around Philipsburg, to have money to improve the property in the summer. While working at the Algonquin Mine. May 9, 1922, Zeke was at the 600 foot level. Miners hearing a rock fall, ran to see what happened and found Zeke pinned under a corner of the rock. It took two hours of work with jacks and levers to get the body released.. Zeke was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Zeke’s was bought by Al Forsman from an unknown woman and apparently failed to pay the agreed price. Without knowing this Bob Christensen bought the meadow from Forsman. To obtain a clear title Bob had to take the case to court. Bob’s son Steve continued to pasture cattle in Zeke’s Meadow until selling the property in the spring of 2008. 

Southwest of Zeke’s is another meadow known as “Cow Camp.” This camp was built by Alex “Speed” Glover, a local rancher. It was used as a round-up cabin for people with cattle grazing in the area in the summer and for trappers to use in the winter. In February of 1921 Alex and his brother William, took off from the Glover Ranch to hike the fifteen miles to the camp. After about ten miles on the trail Alex told William he was not feeling well and to go on to the cabin and he would follow. William took the heavier pack and went on to the cabin. After a while becoming concerned., he walked back down the trail about four miles and found Alex dead. Knowing he could not pack his brother in the deep snow, Will walked to the J.A. Naef Ranch and Naef helped him build a stretcher and they carried the body out to the ranch. Then they took the body by sled and wagon on to Anaconda. Alex was 46 and had ranched and trapped on Ross Fork of Rock Creek for the past ten to twelve years.

The Creeks are a beautiful place, but very remote and test the very best of mankind!

Frankie and Perd Merrifield and Family

 Mae Francis” Frankie” Porter married Percy W.“Perd” Merrifield in 1902. He was born at Grand Rapids, Michigan on January 29, 1870 and came to Philipsburg at the age of eighteen. Perd worked for a time as a teamster. Perd’s mother Orphenia Niles died at her home in Philipsburg, on June 23, 1905 at the age of sixty-one years. A native of New York state, she had lived in Philipsburg over seventeen years. Survivors were: a daughter, Mrs. Gus Gleason, of Plains, Montana and a granddaughter, Miss Grace Bradshaw, who had been staying with Orphenia. The obituary indicated Mrs. Niles was living with Perd and Frankie in her home on Duffy Street, at the time death. 

                                                Perd's Barn Courtesy of Pat Heimark 2024

Frankie and Perd built the ranch, on the east side of the highway across from Porter’s Corner after 1905 and was most proud of his barn on the west side of the highway. In 1917 the Mail stated, Frankie collected $21.25 for the War Work Campaign and they paid $166.42 in taxes on the ranch in 1927. Their children were: Percy Forrest “ Buster” born August 11, 1919 and Joe born in 1932, who moved to Portland, Oregon as a young man. Frankie, sixty-eight years of age, died on February 3, 1949 and had lived all of her life in the Philipsburg area. Survivors: her husband Perd; two sons and daughter-in-laws: Joe of Portland, Oregon and Forrest of Philipsburg; two grandchildren: Peggy and Jamie; brother Joe Porter and sister Nova Bairen. Burial was in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Perd continued living on the ranch with son “Buster’ and his wife until death occurred while sitting in the kitchen, the week of October 25, 1957. Internment was in the Philipsburg cemetery next to Frankie. 

Their son “Buster” served as a PFC in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946, in the South Pacific and Iwo Jima. He married Shirley Heimark, the daughter of Ed Senior and they had a son Jerry before divorcing. Buster then married Clara Ann (Nicolaysen) Ferguson, on August 25, 1947, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Everett Nicolaysen. She brought daughters Jamie and Peggy (Margaret) into the marriage and Buster adopted them.. 

Peggy married James Puyear and after they divorced, she married LeRoy Durand. They had three sons: Bob, Don and Mike. The Durand’s lived in Anaconda, until their deaths. 

Jamie married Curtis Smith and they had three children: Angel, Susie and Jess, before they divorced. Curtis died in 2021. 

Research revealed the following article about Buster: May 17, 1940: ”Forest Merrifield and Harold Hooper of Porter’s Corner chased 2 men who filled up with gas and took off up the Skalkaho. Charles Carrp, working the grader for the State Highway, verified the men’s description when questioned by Merrifield and Hooper and knowing that the road was closed with snow higher up, he blocked the road with his grader. They got a gun at the Carey ranch and apprehended the men when they came back down the highway. The men named Chet Duncan and Gordon West, had stolen the car from M.D. Cahill in Butte. Deputy Sheriff Fred Superneau, took the men in custody when they were returned to Porter’s Corner, by Merrifield and Hooper. Unknown, until taken into custody by the deputy, the men were armed.” 

Buster drove the rural school bus on the Rock Creek route for more than twenty years, then operated Merrifield Arctic Sales until he retired in 1972. He was the school bus driver when I attended school and never drove the bus if it got forty degrees below zero. Thirty-nine was okay but we might freeze if the bus became stuck in the snow drift, that always occurred at the west end of Trail Gulch, if it was forty below. 

Buster died September 29, 1974 and is buried in Philipsburg. 

Jennie's Third Marriage and Descendants

 As stated in the previous article about Jennie Porter, she married Sidney Kelly in 1908. I recently found where he had sold his ranch on Fred Burr on January 25, 1907 to R.R. McLeod. This property adjoined McLeod’s ranch on the south side. Jennie and Sidney’s wedding was held at Jennie’s place November 9, 1908. Then on November 2, 1909 it was announced that the Curry ranch five miles north of Plains, Montana had been sold to Mr. and Mrs. S.A. Kelly of Philipsburg. They paid $10,000 for 320 acres and a modern residence. The couple were to take possession of the property in the spring. 

Sometime around 1915 Sidney and Jennie moved from Plains to Ledham, Washington where Sidney died in 1924 and Jennie died less than a year later on April 4, 1925. Her daughter Nova (Mrs. J.D. Birran [Birian}), had been with her since December. Nova continued living there until her death in 1954. 

I have often wondered what had happened to William Schuh’s children after their mother Ollie died. According to Federal Census records, in 1910 William H. was recorded twice: once at Grandmother Mary’s house in Philipsburg and then with his siblings at the Albert Schuh Trout Creek ranch with his wife Margaret and son Albert Jr. Obviously, childless at the time of Ollie’s death they had taken in her children and then had a son Albert afterwards, as he was 7 at the time of the census. Grandmother Mary had sold her ranch and moved to town in early 1910. 

I know that some of Jennie’s ranch was sold to August Greenheck in 1907, so have to assume that the rest of the property was split for Frankie and Joe as they lived across the road from each other at Porter’s Corner. According to the 1910 Federal Census Frankie married in 1902. I know that Frankie’s husband “Perd” Merrifield was living with his mother in Philipsburg when she died in 1905, so they moved to Porter’s Corner after that time. I also know, in 1946 Vince and Maxine Fessler bought a section of land across the lane from Joe Porter and moved the old Courthouse to that land. 

Frankie and Perd had 2 son’s, Joe and Forrest “Buster” and she died at their ranch in 1949, at the age of sixty eight. Joe went into the Army in 1917 and wrote many letters home to Frankie while he was in the Military and they were often published in the Mail. The letters are dialogued in the First Edition of "Mettle of Granite County" Chapter 7.

                                                  Joe and Esther Porter Circa 1930

Joe married Esther Dalton, who had a daughter Beatrice Webb, in April 1922 and she assisted him in the operation of Porter’s Corner. The “Roadhouse and store” was a well known hangout for locals and tourists alike and usually had music on the weekends with an ample dance space to enjoy. Now famous, Charlie Pride sang there in his early years while performing for the National Baseball Farm Team in Helena, that I believe belonged to the Oakland A’s. 

In 1927 a fight broke out between locals and Anaconda youths. A young Anaconda man died causing Joe to be charged with Murder. He was acquitted of the charge after a one day trial. By 1956, Joe and Esther had moved to town and the establishment was operated by Jim and Winnie Burns. Joe operated a small appliance and electric shop in Town for many years. Esther died in 1962 and when his nephew “Buster” Merrifield died in September 1974, Joe was a resident of the Solders Home in Sheridan, Wyoming. Joe died on October 8, 1974. and is buried by Esther in the Philipsburg Cemetery. I will continue discussing Frankie’s Husband and son Buster in the future.