The 1893 Silver Crash

                                                     Magnolia Blvd in Granite, Montana 

The mining camp of Granite was resilient, surviving more than one mine closure. There were many merchants and numerous substantial buildings. Weinstein had a mercantile store and Cain and Thibault were Grocers in 1889,according to the March 14, Mail. Also branches were established and the D.J. Hennessey Store, remained in Granite through more than one downturn in the economy. An article in the September 14, 1893, Philipsburg Mail stated: “This firm was one of the first to locate in Granite and although the town had previous setbacks, they have staid loyally by and have not made a lot of money but also built up the confidence among permanent residents-a thing that cannot be attained by those who came here to clean up and get out-We hope for the Hennessey Company continued success and when Granite resumes its normal conditions again we predict for them and all other business men who staid with the town a greater season of prosperity than they have heretofore enjoyed. J.P. Sullivan was the store manager.” 

The story repeated in numerous articles was that a huge rush of people left Granite when the silver prices fell in 1893. Referring to Arthur R. Stone’s original article March 9, 1912 re-published in Following Old Trails “it was one of the interesting experiences of my life that I was present during the exodus of the miners from Granite Mountain…There were not enough vehicles to transport those who wished a ride down the mountain and many of them walked; trunks were piled high upon great hayracks and shipped down to the railroad station; there were tears in a good many eyes, for Granite people loved their town.” But I did not find him giving any numbers of those leaving. Researching the newspapers of the time, I found no report of an exodus, just a steady stream of people leaving to find another paycheck. On September 14, 1893,The Philipsburg Mail published a list of residents “who have gone away pending the monetary financial panic.” The list contained a total of eighty seven names. I do not know if the name listed represented an entire family or only the male of the household. 

Reading the newspapers of 1893, it was apparent there was a high level of anxiety before any actual word of the silver price crash. There was a run on the First National Bank, for $75,000, beginning Monday afternoon, May 21, 1893. Before the run on the bank other incidents occurred. First, (May 4th) M.E. Doe & Co., served an attachment, enacted by Sheriff John Cole, causing the Standard Theater in Granite to be closed on May 4, 1893. The stated liabilities of owners Risch and White were $2,000 to $3,000 and F.T. Wilson held a $2,000 mortgage on the building. The article stated the sheriff sale would probably not realize much more than the mortgage. The May 4, 1893 issue of the Mail is the first paper available for that year at the Montana Historical Society Research Library. Therefore the information I have may be less panicky than the population had demonstrated. But articles like the following made the mood seem upbeat: “Hynes and Lynch continued work on the Puritan Extension and their prospect is looking better every day. Also, the Board of Aldermen and Mayor-elect Allison requested the businessmen of town to shut down their stores during the hours of the Memorial Day parade. Acting Mayor Ringling stated he would personally ask the business men to close. 

Then, during the week of July 4, it was decided to cancel the Fourth of July celebration. The committee announced subscriptions would be returned to the donors, less the few dollars spent building the dance platform. The article stated the cancellation was due to the business depression, caused by the low price of silver. 

In contrast, The People’s Hotel, erected directly across from the Northern Pacific Depot, was opened the first week in July and a full column was written about the décor and convenience for the railroad clientele. The hotel was under the management of Albert Paquin a businessman known in the Coeur D’ Alene area. 

 A news article on July 27, 1893 stated: “Orders received during the week for closing Granite Mountain, Bi-Metallic, Combination and other mines in the district secondary to a slump in silver prices. In August, hope was being expressed that Congress would pass a Silver Bill to control the price.. They discussed the various bills and legislators supporting them, in a vague way. There was an article published regarding the Windom Plan being superior to the Sherman Law, because the plan proposed using silver as a money basis while retaining gold as the sole standard.

A rumor in May (1893) stated “the (First National) bank was unsafe and its doors were likely to be closed to its depositors. ”The depositors did not wait to question the rumor but immediately began to draw out their money and before the hour for closing arrived several thousand had been paid out on time certificates. During Monday night the rumor spread like wildfire and when the bank opened its doors on Tuesday morning the eager crowd stood in line to draw out their money. 

Apparently, Mr. Hyde transferred some of his stock in the First National Bank to Freyschlag, Huffman and Company, and after doing so he departed for a visit to the World’s Fair. He was the President in both Granite and Philipsburg branches of the bank. Monday night, the banker’s ordered and received another $100,000 from Helena and were ready to give out all money requested, even keeping the bank open so the day shift could remove their money after usual banking hours. By Tuesday evening there had been $74,600 paid out, but during that afternoon people began returning to re-deposit their money and by Wednesday evening nearly “two-thirds of that taken out the day before had been put back on deposit”. 

Then on July 6, published under the headline "Two failures", was a column that stated: “Last Friday our people were surprised when the fact became known that the large mercantile firm of Freyschlag, Huffman & Co. had closed its doors. The firm assigned to James H. King, cashier of the First National bank, the cause being the rapid decline in silver values and the consequent stringency of the money market. It is said that the action was taken to secure home creditors. The store remained closed until Monday, when it was again opened under the charge of the assignee on a cash basis. Then Saturday morning the still more startling disclosure was made that the First National Bank had suspended, and upon investigation this fact was found to be true, as a notice attached to the door testified “that owing to the stringency of the money market, consequent upon the low price of silver, and the drain upon the institution it had been found necessary to close its doors for a time until matters could be adjusted.” 

By July 13, 1893, the bank was closed with an auditor showing that the total assets were $194,000 in Securities and $124,000 in deposits and “The stockholders claim positively that every dollar owed to the depositors will be paid in full, no matter what the outcome”. It was rumored that Freyschlag, Huffman and Company, comprised of Hyde, Freyschlag, Dr. J.M. Merrell and James Patten, who were the head of the Granite Bank, owed the bank $66,000, “but the truth of the matter is that the sum is only about $3,000.” 

A short notice, printed under the Combination Notes, in the July 20, 1893, Philipsburg Mail, stated Freyschlag and Huffman had re-opened.” Then, “Freyschlag, Huffman and Company, was closed by attachment last Thursday night (September 28, 1893) and that extensive establishment is now in the hands of the sheriff. When the late crash first struck Philipsburg, this business, was temporarily suspended, but they managed to reopen about the first of August, by arranging for an extension of time on some indebtedness. The firm was heavily indebted to Hyde, Freyschlag & Co. the banking firm at Granite and owing to the failure of the First National Bank, in which the same parties as those connected with the Granite Bank were interested, and the subsequent and urgent request from the receiver of that institution for a realization of funds, the attachment was forced. It was preferred by Messrs. J.M. Merrell, Joseph A. Hyde, and James Patten, who composed the banking firm of Granite and who have claims against the store to the extent of $67,000 (October 5, 1893)". 

In October, the big news was the entire stock and property had been bought by Josiah M. Merrell. Merrell paid, at a sheriff’s sale $17,500 for the stock in the Philipsburg store; $7,500 for the stock in the Granite store; $300 for eight horses and $2,000 for stock in a warehouse. The buildings and real estate were to be sold in about two weeks, and it was estimated that the total for all stock and buildings would represent not less than $200,000. I did not find the sale of the property published in the newspaper, so it probably remained in his possession until his death on April 28, 1913 in California. His obituary stated he made a fortune from Granite Mountain which he sold at $45 a share. Walter Kroger managed Merrell’s assets after his move to California.

During the period of the silver crash a wage issue developed at the Puritan Mine. The Union Secretary of Granite Miner’s Union notified all underground workmen that if they were receiving less than $3.50 a day, they were to discontinue work immediately. The mine manager, John McKechney informed the Mail that he was making no attempt to reduce union wages.  Since the silver disaster had set in the workers had agreed to accept two-thirds of the union wage in cash and take a company certificate for the other one-third. This certificate would be redeemed by the company when the silver market was restored. The twenty men employed all had families and felt quite fortunate to continue working in the financial downturn.

Alluding to the financial situation, the Ladies Guild of the Episcopal Church stated they had helped at least two families who were in need and had set up a small fund to continue assistance for the families in need. They also stated it was known the people would not ask for help until forced to do so because of hunger.

By November 1893 preparations were underway for the Bi-Metallic Mill to do considerable work during the winter. Apparently a vast amount of tailings had accumulated in the past four or five years while milling only for silver and they planned to re-work them once they had the necessary equipment.

As this issue continued to be worked on by the mine manager, union leaders and the community, miners were sitting with out any work. Before long the Bi-Metallic employed twenty five men at $2.00 a day and the merchants of Philipsburg called a meeting to discuss whether or not they should get involved in the matter. There was much discussion, including town pastors explaining how business and wage earners run parallel courses and should not be interfered with by one and other. Finally the Knights of Labor explained they would assist any family that needed help, as they did not want anyone working for that wage. Needless to say, the men who had families with mouths to feed, saw the writing on the wall and knew if they were not wage earners they needed to become contractors. This way they would bear the risk as the mines could not continue to operate at the wages previously paid.

Later in January 1984 the Bi-Metallic announced work was to commence immediately and they were awarding contracts for the opening of the drain tunnel. The first division of the drain tunnel was awarded to David Balentine & Co. to work a distance of about 2,075 feet. The grading contract for the Bi-Metallic Mill was awarded to George Metcalf. The contract for stone work of the foundation to the addition was let to Joseph Tiefenthaler. The machinery for the luxivation plant would be furnished by Fraser & Chalmers of Chicago. The second division of the tunnel would be worked by the company. Colonel Hart of the Bi-Metallic stated the local residents would be given preference over outsiders for the jobs.

Wages continued to be an issue through out the next decade. There were frequent intervention of union leaders such as J.C. Duffy of the Granite Miner’s Union and the Silver Lake Union, which covered the workers at Gold Coin, insisting that workers must be paid $3.50 a day

In April of 1904, James Willoughby, the foreman of the Bi-Metallic for seventeen years, resigned. Shortly after Sam Arthur who was in charge of the tramway resigned. These resignations were followed by Dan Smith and William Willoughby. Julius Wiegenstein a former shift boss took over the foreman position. Then one year later, Granite Bi-Metallic officials announced the mines were worked out: “Famous properties that have made many men wealthy are to be abandoned. Tracks and pumps taken up and workings left to fill with water. The long predicted end has finally come. Granite will be dead, in fact too dead to skin, but this is accepted as a matter of course. The announcement that the end has come is really a relief to everyone. In the meantime the business men and property owners of Philipsburg are not losing any sleep. They will go right on doing business as if the Granite and Bi-Metallic mines had never been known.”

Obviously, the writer of the news article knew the mettle of the population. Booms and busts continued for many more years and sometimes they included the Granite and Bi-metallic re-opening.

 

 

The Discoveries at Cable Mountain

The mining property of Cable known as the Atlantic Cable Quartz Lode was located on June 15, 1867, according to the Montana State Highway Historical marker on Highway 1 on Spring Hill. The name commemorated the laying of the second trans-Atlantic cable. The locators were Alexander Aiken, John E. Pearson and Jonas A. Stough. They were camped on Flint Creek and their horses drifted off. In tracking then to this vicinity the men found float that led to the discovery. 

Machinery for the first mill was imported from Swansea, Wales and freighted by team from Corinne, Utah, the nearest railroad point. The mine operated with indifferent success until 1880 when extremely rich ore was found. A 500 foot piece of ground produced $6,500,000 in gold. W.A. Clark, paid $10,000 for one chunk of ore taken from the mine in 1889 and claimed it was the largest gold nugget ever found, stated Wolle in Montana Pay Dirt. While researching her book, Wolle visited the cable ghost town and stated three cabins were then occupied and the woman at home said the ore averaged about $18.00 a ton. But when they would strike a rich pocket it would assay from $100 to $1,000 a ton. The woman also told Wolle the first mill was rigged with a steam boat whistle that could be heard for 12 miles, on a clear day. Wolle stated the next mill was built by Plaisted and was not a complete success. A large amount of gold was unable to be recovered by the amalgamation process and passed down the canyon. Even with the loss, $30,000 was earned within a one year period. 

As close as I can interpret the articles researched, Plaisted built the Mill, known as the Wm. Nolan Mill. The property where the mill was built had a mortgage originally owed by James Brown II. James was the spouse of Fannie Brown and the father of Alex and Alice. The mortgage owed was for $1,725.76 and is now known as the Cable property. Plaisted caused this mill to be transferred to Brown to secure the above mortgage. Then The new Northwest, September 10, 1875, stated the First National Bank of Helena filed a summons against a group including Fannie Brown, Alexander Brown, Alice and Daniel Welch and George Plaisted, for the mortgage originally owed by James Brown II. Next, apparently William Nolan, the Helena Banker bought out the other parties, to get rid of the lawsuit and mortgage. Unfortunately, Nolan was not a skilled miner. He failed to properly timber the mine and in April 1869, the shaft sunk to a depth of 148 feet, caved in and completely closed the mine. I found no record of miners killed in the cave in, but found evidence of numerous lawsuits. During the next ten months, Nolan died and almost everyone left the camp. In 1878, it was reported there was only one inhabitant. 

As described in the paragraph about Plaisted, litigation was extensive and drawn out in the Helena court system. J.C. Savery, a brother-in-law of Nolan after lengthy litigation secured the entire property and struck another rich body of ore in 1883. As the story goes in Montana Pay Dirt, Nolan reimbursed his expenditures to the extent of $150,000 within thirty days. The total amount he was said to have mined up to 1891 was in the tune of three to four million dollars. A short news article in the Mail, stated James C. Savery, owner of the Cable Mine died August 20, 1905, at his home on Cable Mountain. He was buried in Des Moines, Iowa. 

During the time George Plaisted was at Cable running the mills, his wife operated the boarding house in the ‘Burg. After the cave-in he lived the rest of his life around the Philipsburg area and died January 13, 1900. His funeral was at his residence on the south side of Philipsburg. He was laid to rest between his wife and two small sons, in the Philipsburg cemetery, on January 15. 

Conrad Kohrs and Salton Cameron also worked a placer digging below the Atlantic Cable Mines, from 1871 through 1874. Kohrs constructed a ditch, costing $10,000 to work the placer and in the first year they washed out $18,000 in only eight weeks before winter set in. In the second year they earned $37,000. Then, in 1874, the water from the ditch Kohrs’ constructed was diverted to the Georgetown Placers In 1873, Wolle states, Salton Cameron erected a twenty stamp mill, with financing from a Helena banker, named L.H. Herschfield.. A one hundred ton lot of ore was worth $20,000, but his lead ran out and the mill shut down. There is still evidence of this venture..

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.

The rest of the Dingwalls, Plus Jack Nelson

           Jack Nelson photo cropped from the Jill Brody Book "Drummond: Ranch Life in the West"

Earl Duncan Dingwall was born on October 22, 1892 in New Chicago and was the only son born to Duncan and Lodema ( Lomeda). He attended schools in Granite county and graduated from Intermountain Union College in Helena, then went into the mercantile business with his father. When Duncan died Earl moved into the ranch home south of Hall and lived there until becoming ill and moving to a house in Drummond. He died at his home in Drummond after being ill for a year according to the February 7, 1936 Philipsburg Mail. An active member of the Masonic Ruby Lodge in Drummond assured him of burial with Masonic rites at the Valley cemetery, after a funeral service performed by Rev. Musket at the Methodist church in Drummond. Survivors were: aunt Mrs. Ella Baker of Rollins; cousins: Freeman Tinklepaugh and Mrs. Vatis (Eva Tinklepaugh) Page of Philipsburg, and cousins: Leona, John, William D. and James Dingwall of New Chicago. 

William and Catherine’s son, William Duncan who was born on October 26, 1881 died October 15, 1943 shortly before his 62nd birthday. He is buried in the Valley cemetery. William’s wife, Catherine died at the age of 86 on April 15, 1945, in Missoula. from pneumonia. She had lived 67 years on the ranch in the Flint Creek valley, before moving with her daughter into the Palace Hotel in Missoula on December 20, 1944. Born at Lawrence, Kansas October 15, 1858, Catherine (Kate) Price crossed the plains three times in her early life and at 18 traveled to Corinne, Utah and then by way of stage arrived in Montana in 1876. She lived both in Deer Lodge and then New Chicago (with aunt Lucy Coberly) until she married William Dingwall on December 20, 1877. Catherine was a member of the Montana Society of Pioneers and the Methodist Church in Drummond. Besides her children Catherine was survived by three brothers and three sisters. 

John Dingwall, the son of Catherine and William, was born on October 18, 1878 and died June 6, 1956 at the age of 76. He is buried at the Valley cemetery. The September 6, 1957 Philipsburg Mail District Court Notes stated: 

“At a session of the District Court on Tuesday September 3, Judge William R. Taylor approved the final account of Leona Dingwall and James A. Dingwall, executors of the estate of John Dingwall, deceased and signed a decree of settlement of said account and distribution of estate. The distributes were Leona Dingwall, James A. Dingwall and John Arthur (Jack) Nelson, each of whom received a one-third of the residue of the estate; the inheritance tax due the state of Montana was fixed at $2,208.10.” 

John Arthur (Jack) Nelson was born to Carl and Johana Peterson on December 5, 1920. Carl had a butcher wagon and sold meat to the ranchers, farmers and miners in the area. They lived on the Nelson place on the edge of New Chicago when Jack was born and then moved to what is now Verlanic’s next to the Dingwall’s. It was then that Jack began working for them and was basically taken under their wing. 

Onita was born to Henry and Ellen Kolbeck Sept.7, 1920 in Hall and began driving as chauffer for Leona Dingwall while in High school. She had met Jack in the first grade at Hall School. At the age of 21 they carved out enough time from their respective ranch chores during haying season and told their parents they were going to attend the State Fair in Great Falls. They were married there on August 6, 1942 and lived in Hall at the Heady house until the Dingwall’s built a house for them on the ranch. Born to Onita and Jack were Gordon and Joy (Wetsch). 

Leona (1879-1966) and James Dingwall (1885-1960) left the William Dingwall Company to Jack when they died. A beautiful Coffee Table Book was published by Jill Brody in 2004 titled “Drummond: Ranch life in the west” that carries many stories including Jack, Onita, Joy and husband Ron Wetsch’s life. in text and photographs. 

Jack died on August 2, 2010 and Onita moved about six or eight months later to Granite County Nursing Home where she died July 4rh 2012 at the age of 91. Survivors were: son Gordon and wife Mary, of Michigan, daughter Joy and Ron Wetsch of Drummond; Grandsons: Jon Nelson of Seattle, Shawn (Toby) Wetsch of Drummond, Justin Wetsch of Big Sky and four great grandchildren: Jacklyn and Trice Wetsch of Deer Lodge and Twins-Piper and Kameron Wetsch of Drummond. The Wetsch’s: Joy, Ron, Shawn, Toby and the twins continue operating the original Dingwall ranch that Jack and Onita dedicated their entire life to.

The Dingwall Brothers

The Dingwall brother’s were early pioneers of the New Chicago area. Brothers, Duncan, born March 31, 1847 and William, born October 14, 1844, in Ontario, Canada, immigrated as a young men. 

William first to Buffalo, New York where he worked as a clerk in a lumber company for six years, then decided to come west. He returned to Canada for a short visit with his family and then with brother Duncan traveled to Sioux City by rail. They then traveled overland on horse back to the Missouri River and booked themselves on a boat up the Missouri to Fort Benton. William and Duncan joined a group of 18 and engaged a freighting party to bring them to Helena,. They arrived at the bustling mining camp in 1868. After working for six months in Helena, Duncan went to Henderson Gulch where he was involved in placer mining for about three years. William remained in Helena and worked in the lumber business. 

Next, William and Duncan bought a herd of cattle and drove them into the Flint Creek valley in 1871. There they set up the Dingwall ranch which acquired more than 4,000 acres in the New Chicago area. Both brothers were members of the Montana Society of Pioneers. During the winter of 1873 the Dingwall herd of cattle scattered during a severe storm and Duncan froze his feet while rounding them up according to an article in the Missoulian on July 3, 1955. The result of the incident “was amputation”, but I never found any other reference to this fact. 

Duncan Dingwall was involved in the very heated election campaign of 1886 against the Sligh-Durand ticket for Montana State Senator. After Duncan won the election Sligh by manipulation went to Helena and occupied the Senate seat. The December 4, 1896 Mail carried the District Court happenings where:

”On Saturday the case of Sligh vs Reck came up at the district court. Dr. J.M. Sligh instituted injunction proceedings against G. J. Reck as county clerk of Granite county to restrain him from issuing a certificate of election to Duncan Dingwall as senator from Granite county. The case was ably argued by Honorable W. B. Rodgers, counsel for Dingwall and W. E. Moore of Philipsburg, counsel for Sligh. The court took the case under advisement and on Monday rendered its decision, in which the injunction was denied. Judge Brantly, in rendering his decision held substantially: …that Duncan Dingwall, having received a majority of all the votes cast at the last election, for that office, was regularly and duly elected as such senator and is entitled to receive a certificate of election from the Clerk of Granite county.” 

Dingwall won out and research revealed many notes in the Philipsburg Mail addressing him as Honorable Duncan Dingwall during 1897. Also found was the following: 

“Dingwall Brothers sold fifty head of cattle Monday last to a Helena firm for the smug sum of $2,125.00, or $42.50 a head.(March 5, 1897) The Philipsburg Mail posted a list of the county taxpayers who paid over $100 for the year 1896, on December 31. The Dingwall Brothers paid $665.24. As a comparison The First National Bank paid $827.63. The October 15, 1910 Mail published taxes owed by Duncan Dingwall as $287.00 and the Dingwall Brothers owed $290.33. Then in January 20, 1928 the William Dingwall Company was assessed $1,575.30 

Duncan was the first president of the Drummond Commercial Club when it was organized in 1912. Duncan married Lodema Tinklepaugh and they had son Earl D. He became an assistant to his father in the merchandising business a year before Duncan died from the effects of Bright’s Disease on November 9, 1919, at the age of 72. Survivors beside wife, son and brother of New Chicago, were brother Ewen of Lancaster, Ontario and an un-named sister at the same local. Internment was in the Valley cemetery. 

William took an active interest in republican politics and was elected Granite County Commissioner in 1908. He was chairman of the Board when the Granite County Court House was built in 1912 and was one of the organizers and stockholders in the First State Bank in Philipsburg and the Deer Lodge Bank and Trust Company in Deer Lodge. He died on the ranch where he had lived for the past 58 years on July 16, 1929, at the age of 84, after a short illness. His funeral was held at the family residence. Internment was in the Valley cemetery. Survivors were wife Catherine (Kate Price) and children: Leona, John, William and James. 

 None of the children married, but they took Jack Nelson under their wing. Jack inherited the asset after helping them run the Dingwall ranch, until their deaths.

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.

Flint Creek Falls and Georgetown Dam

 

The fertile meadows would not be in this valley if it wasn’t for the creeks that flowed into Flint Creek and part of that water source is from the Georgetown area. First known as Georgetown Flats and then known as the mining camp of Georgetown, the area was flooded when the Flint Creek Dam was built by The Montana Water, Electric Power and Mining Company. The company was owned by Paul Fusz et al, at the time the dam was completed. They bought out the previous owners and incorporated in May of 1899 with principal stockholders being: Paul A. Fusz, M. Rumsey, C. Jagels and L.M. Rumsey. These same persons were large stockholders in the Granite Bi-Metallic Consolidated Mining Company. The work of utilizing the water of Flint Creek was originally commenced in 1891. The expected outcome was to form a reservoir that would hold millions of cubic feet of water. At that time a crew of over 200 men were employed on the ditch and flume. The dam was built of solid masonry and was started at bedrock then extended from rim to rim of the canyon. A crew of fifty carpenters was hired at the town of Bonner in October 1899 to frame timbers for the Power House. The October 13, 1899 Mail, detailed the following: 

“The company is confident that it can depend upon about 3,000 inches of water for use from the Georgetown flats to the falls. To utilize this a covered plank flume nearly 6,600 feet long has been constructed. The flume is three and one-half by four feet in the clear and there are two tunnels, one 350 feet long and the other 700 feet. At the end of the flume is a penstock or tank with a capacity of 35,000 gallons, to be built. From the penstock a pipe 38 inches in diameter and about 1,500 feet in length will extend down mountainside to the power house. The penstock will be about 200 feet higher than the power house…[the fall of water is expected to create energy equal to about 2,500 horsepower]. Pelton water wheels …are high pressure and capable of a like number of generators. The power will be transmitted to the mill of the Granite Bi-Metallic Consolidated Company a distance of seven miles, over heavy copper wires and will be put into use by means of an electric motor at the mill. The site of the power station is a short distance below the Flint Creek falls and is almost perfect for the purpose…the company expects to have power generated by next February. The contract for lumber to be used in the construction of the powerhouse has been awarded and the electrical machinery is now being built by the Westinghouse Company. A large shipment of insulators has already arrived at the depot and the work of setting the poles will be commenced at once and be completed before the frost will interfere. The heavy copper wires which are to convey the powerful electric current will also be strung before snow falls and most of the outdoor work will be completed before the first of the year…Ultimately the electricity generated at Flint Creek falls will be utilized in the operation of the company mines at Granite and in lighting that town.” 

The dream became reality when power was finally generated in 1901. Remnants of the flume are still visible along the walls of the Flint Creek gorge and this little power plant furnished the Company and the local area well. Although a money pit, an upgraded plant continues to provide power. 

There were at least four ranches on Georgetown Flats before the dam was built. The Pullar Brother’s, Ike and John Sanders and W.T. Hull were relocated to Upper Rock Creek, apparently by Paul Fusz obtaining the Rock Creek ranch sites and consummating a trade. Also located on the southeast side was the remains of the Thomas Stuart Mill, built in 1873 and 1874 by Stuart and O.B. Whitford. The milling venture was said to be a loss to the men of at least $25,000 as their mine failed to yield high grade ore. This area is now known as the Stuart Bay. Thomas was the younger brother of James and Granville Stuart. The mill, built without any nails was still partially standing in 1924.

                               Thomas Stuart Mill Remains from The Circle Banner article in 1924

Reminiscing about the Philipsburg Women's Club Camping on Rock Creek

                Philipsburg Women's Club on Rock Creek 1904 from Fan Harrington Collection
 

 As I have stated earlier, I was graced with a large box of pictures and memorabilia from historian Fan Titus McKenzie Harrington, last year. In this box are a number of notes jotted down by Fan on the back of printed papers. I understand this frugality as I know how hard writing paper was to come by when I was a child and I continue to save every sheet of paper I receive, that has a blank side. This is used for all my research notes and thoughts. Fan was Chairman of the Granite County Seal Sale for the 48th Annual Christmas Sale to promote The Montana Tuberculosis Society in November, 1954. The paper had the TBA letterhead and stated: 

“Dear Granite County Citizens: Holiday Greetings. The season which brings out our best feelings of friendliness and unselfishness is again with us. Once again we appeal to you to continue your help in the Annual Christmas Seal Sale. Tuberculosis is no respecter of age, or race or creed. Here in Granite County this year, at a cost of $565.82 in Christmas Seal Funds, 1,718 people or 79 percent of our x-ray-able population were given tests by the x-ray mobile unit. Early discovery of Tuberculosis is the least expensive time [?type] of treatment. Therefore, less tax money is needed to operate the State Tuberculosis Sanitarium, The State Board of Health, Welfare and Rehabilitation Departments, if Tuberculosis is discovered and treated in the early stages. The enclosed seals are $1.00 a sheet. Please buy what you can. To those that help, we say, “Thank You.” Sincerely Yours; Mrs. Fan Harrington, Seal Sale Chairman, Granite County."

On the blank back side of three of these letters Fan jotted down in a somewhat rambling style the following:

“ some people, I am one of them, seem just to never know when to leave well enough alone. According to Hawthorne’s poem which begins- The dark and melancholy days are here- the saddest of the year this is the time to abandon hope while sitting down to await a long hard winter -but what does this optimistic elderly person do but let her mind wander back to the years where November meant an old-timer’s party with the Woman’s Club of Philipsburg acting as sponsors. Picture me there, as spending much of my time this last week looking over stacks of pictures many of them photographs of people I knew long ago. Some are snapshots which remind me of the occasions on which they were taken- Seeing pictures of a camp on Rock Creek just above the Wyman ranch was a source of joy for nearly sixty years to members of the group who as young people camped there each summer for several years. Today as one of the very few remaining members of this party I remember many of the details of those happy times. Every day the young men and boys cut and dragged in wood for the evening camp fire which blazed away far into the night as the voices of the group and visitors sang one old song after another. There was story telling also - many of them about the big one that got away for fishing was very good back in the good old days. The family of an English Clergyman camped down on Stony Creek one year and almost every evening they came to visit at out camp. Now it happened that one young man who came from out of town brought, what he thought would be a treat for all of us, a case of queen gage plums. They were so hard and so green that no one could eat them. How the boys did delight in passing baskets of plums to the English guests, who were too polite to refuse them and who strove mightily to eat and not show the facial expressions of their distaste from this bitter fruit.” 

The writing continues on into another string of thoughts I will share later. Because this was written in pencil and has many crossed out and re-worked sentences it takes some time to decipher. Fortunately this treasure trove of memories was placed in a cardboard box and put in a dark closet many years ago, so the paper and writing are still in remarkable good shape. I can only hope that by the time I get to the bottom of the box I will find notes jotted down on family histories I have been told she made while interviewing old timers.

The Wickberg's of The Lower Valley

Walter Wickberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Wickberg of Maxville was home on a furlough from the Navy, the first week of November 1918. Walter came to Maxville direct from Newport, Virginia where he had an assignment on one of the merchant ships. Previous to this assignment, he was twice across the pond on a convoy vessel. He said that on the first trip to France they sighted two submarines and destroyed both. On the second trip one more submarine was added to their success. Walter had enlisted one year ago last June and according to his appearance the Navy was agreeing with him. He had only fifteen days on furlough and had returned to Newport by the publication of the November 8th Mail. 

Walter’s parents, Louis and Sofia Wickberg bought the Jake Franzman ranch in 1902. Prior to moving to the valley the Wickberg’s had lived in Princeton. Many of the homes in Princeton were built by Louis Wickberg according to the Montana Standard July 5, 1976. They then moved to Helena where Louis worked at the Smelter until 1902. 

Louis was found dead at the Snow Cap mine on February 14, 1944. The mine was located about six miles east of Gird Creek at Stone. Walter Wickberg found his father and told the authorities he had accompanied his father to the mine to do some prospecting and development work. Louis went into the cabin to start a fire while Walter walked to the mine to inspect it. When Walter returned he found his father dead on the cabin floor. Coroner Wilson and Sheriff Bryan Hynes said the death was due to a coronary embolism and there would be no inquest. 

Louis was born in Sweden on May 10, 1862. At the age of 21 he immigrated to the United States and came directly to Montana. After working on a ranch and the smelter in East Helena, he left for a short time for Iowa where he operated a ranch. In 1889 he returned to East Helena and married Miss Sophia Lundgren. According to the obituary Louis and his wife moved to the Maxville area fifty two years before the time of his death (1892). Sophia died in Maxville in 1925. Louis’s life was spent in agricultural operations, mining and prospecting. Survivors were: sons: Walter and wife (Marie) of Maxville and Ryan and wife (Margaret) of Philipsburg; plus six grandchildren: Floyd, Mary and Dorothy of Maxville and Mildred, Marian (Tony) and Patricia Wickberg of Philipsburg. Louis was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery next to Sophia in Block 6, Lot 30 grave 3. 

Walter Wickberg (1895-1975) married Mary Johnson (1898-1983) the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Iver Johnson in Missoula September 4, 1923. Both families were residents of Maxville. Marie is buried next to her husband Walter in the Philipsburg cemetery. Ryan and Walter’s family are all buried in Block 7, Lot 28, graves 2,4,5,6,and 7. 

Marie and Walter’s daughter Marie Sigrid Wickberg was born February 1, 1926 at the family ranch near Stone Station (14 miles north of Philipsburg). She grew up with her siblings Floyd and Dorothy and attended school in Philipsburg. After high school Marie attended Everett Business School in Washington state during WWII. Immediately after the war she married child hood sweetheart Allen “Scotty” Morrison. To this marriage was born Gary (1946) Larry (1950) Russell (1954) and Jeannette (1957). Marie worked for 25 years as the Granite County Clerk and Recorder. She moved to Missoula to live in the Village during her last years and died December 8, 2011. Survivors were: brother Floyd of Missoula; sons: Gary of Alaska, Larry of Washington, Russell of Maxville and daughter Jeannette of Missoula and their spouses; 8 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. 

Margaret Durfee (1906-1986) married Ryan Wickberg (1898-1977) on February 20, 1926. She was a teacher at Stone at that time. Their infant son named Ryan died of pneumonia and was “several days old”(February 21-March 10) according to the March 18, 1931 Philipsburg Mail.. They had three other children: Marion (Tony) (1928-2015), Mildred (1927- 1973) and Patricia (1930- ). Margaret and Ryan are buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Louis and Sophia’s descendants from the Morrison family continued the family residence in Granite county. Marian known as Tony lived his entire life there except for his military service in the Army. Neither Floyd (who lived in Missoula) or Tony had children so they were the end of the Wickberg name in Granite county. 

Patricia married Cart Hamilton on April 9, 1950 in Philipsburg. They had two children: Judy (1952) and Dan (1956) before they moved to Missoula in 1962.    

Mildred married Ted Sauer and had two children: Bob Sauer and Margorie (Feback)..

The Durfee Name

The First Durfee to arrive in Granite County was Francis M. Durfee. He was born in New York, relocated to Colorado in 1861 and in 1864 arrived in Alder Gulch. His exact date of arrival to Granite county is not certain but persons attempting to take over claims of Francis are posted in the Montana Post on February 12, 1869 leading me to believe he may have left Alder Gulch before then. Newspaper articles have him prospecting near Clancy in September 1873 and according to the Helena Weekly, November 29, 1877, “F.M. Durfee. who furnishes lumber to the Philippsburgites, was in the city today. Mr. Durfee will leave for the West Side tomorrow.”(Note the correct spelling of Philippsburg.) 

 It is known that a Durfee (usually spoken of as a Judge) brought Annie Morgan to Granite county to care for an uncle with a drinking problem, and located them in a cabin on Rock Creek.. The story goes that Durfee had met Annie during travels between Fort Benton and Alder Gulch, but the dates are not certain. We know that Francis’ brother David who did become a judge arrived in Montana after he completed Law school and passed his Bar Exam, in 1882. He was elected Deer Lodge County Attorney in 1886 and served two years. Then he was elected the First Judge of Deer Lodge County in 1889 and served three years. It was not until 1897 that David was elected Judge for Granite county and then became Attorney for Granite county in 1900. He was also elected Mayor of Philipsburg in 1901. David’s election history was full of wins and losses. Losses for county attorney: 1904, 1908, 1920, 1938; Wins for County Attorney: 1906, 1910 through 1918, 1922 through 1936. 

Francis was very involved in mining and was often mentioned in the newspapers because of law suits over mine shares, such as the Sunrise Mine during 1894 and 1985 when McLure and Sherman were in a dispute about 95,000 shares that McLure, representing Combination Mining Company gave Sherman two $2,000 checks for and Sherman refused to present them to a bank for collection. The Montana Circuit Court refused the injunction against Sherman so he continued to hold his stock. Francis was a Trustee for Sunrise and was elected president according to the January 25, 1894 Philipsburg Mail. 

Francis had returned to Lorain County, Ohio in February 1882 to marry Miss Eve Eliza Rohrbaugh and the newly weds returned to Granite county where Francis set up ranching west of Philipsburg. To this marriage was born three children: Marion (1882- 1980), Ruby (1887-1904) and Leonard (12,1888 – 8,1889). 

The 1900 Federal Census shows the family living in South Philipsburg on Brown Street. They must have moved to town while still ranching as Francis was at the ranch dismantling a scaffold used to stack hay on July 31, 1901 when the “…framework refused to yield. Mr. Durfee then went on top and was in the act of loosening some braces when the affair collapsed. Mr. Durfee falling with the timbers, which stood thirty feet high….(he) suffered internal injuries and made his last will and testament before 4 o’clock when he passed away.” Mrs. Durfee and son Marion were at the bedside but Miss Ruby was in Anaconda and did not reach the bedside before his passing. Francis was 61 years, 10 months and 13 days of age and after a large funeral was buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

 Ruby became ill with tubercular meningitis in October and succumbed from the disease on October 28, 1904. Mother Eve, suffered severe grief over the loss of her husband and then her daughter and after contracting a severe cold never became well again. She died on March 3, 1907. She was a member of the Eastern Star and had become Worthy Matron in December, but was never well enough to attend to her duties. Survivors were son: Marion and brother and sister- in- law Judge David and Elizabeth Durfee. 

Marion married Myrtle Archmire from a local ranching family that was involved in the dairy business. David, either took over Francis’ Ranch or had his own beside Francis as token’s have been found on the Vietor ranch stating “Good one quart of milk E D Durfee”. Since there was no one named Ed this must have meant Elizabeth and David Durfee and given out during the time when the area was trying to become a dairy producing enterprise. 

                                      David Durfee Campaign photo in his Law Office 1936

David’s first wife Emelie did in 1902 and he then married Elizabeth Kelly who died in 1938. After David long career as Judge and County Attorney, he continued to practice law until he became ill in 1941. He died at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane on April 28, 1942.

On a Pleasure Trip To The Fair: The John D. McDonald's

John D. McDonald and his wife planned a trip in 1909 to the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition that was held in Seattle from June 1, 1909 to October 16, 1909. This was a World’s Fair publicizing the development of the Pacific Northwest. They made plans to stop over on Spokane to visit old time friends ( The Mangler’s) and that placed them as passengers on an ill fated train on July 31 at approximately 4:45pm that was hit head on near Caldwell, Idaho (small station about twenty-five miles east of Spokane). 

The accident occurred on the Coeur d’ Alene and Spokane Electric Railroad. Both of the trains were filled with tourists and others who had come to register for the Indian Land Opening. This Land Opening was occurring from July 15 to August 5 and the interested parties had only 22 days to register their desires. Of interest, is that the Coeur d’ Alene Land Office received 286,848 applications for 4,160 available claims. This exceeded the famous Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. 

The Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad Company that began in 1906, was an alliance of small, local interurban railroads linking Spokane and surrounding communities with Coeur d’ Alene. This interurban railroads usually had three or more cars coupled together. The cars had platforms in the front and rear with seating in the center section. These platforms were standing room only and no restrictions were placed on how many persons were allowed to board the cars. The Company was transporting 6,000 to 10,000 people a day on these trains to the land rush. Among the casualties were people from every state in the Union. The stated cause of the accident was that the motorman of the west bound train had orders from the dispatcher to pull out at Coeur d’ Alene and take a siding about three quarters of a mile down the track to let the regular east bound train pass. He passed the siding either because he missed it or thought he could make it to the next siding about another mile down the track. The motorman stated he understood he was to meet the other train about five miles from where the accident occurred. 

The motormen caught sight of each other when the trains were 800 feet apart, too late to prevent a collision. Train No.20 came to a complete stop in 200 feet and people in the lead car began jumping off the train. Train No. 5 attempted to stop but being so heavily overloaded they ran into the other train still traveling about 20 miles an hour. The impact telescoped the two lead cars into each other. This immediately killed 12 people and maimed more than 100 others. The final death count in the Spokane paper was 16 persons listed as dead and these names included Mr. A.B. McDonald and Mrs. A.B. McDonald of Drummond, Montana. 

By August 4th the McDonald’s had been correctly identified as J.D. and their bodies returned to Drummond. Their funeral took place the next day. “Mrs. McDonald’s breast was pierced by a large splinter and she probably never knew what happened.” stated the August 6th Mail article. Survivors were: Daughters Flo McDonald and Mrs. Frank M. Morse of Drummond; Mrs. McDonald’s brothers: M. Wylie of Drummond and I.H. Wylie of Hamilton and Alex McDonald of Butte was J.D.’s brother. 

They are buried in the Valley View cemetery under the names of John D. McDonald and Mrs. John D. McDonald. Who knows her first name? This is what I know about them. They were born and reared in Bruce County, Ontario and after marriage moved to Duluth and lived there eight years. Sometime after arriving in Montana, J.D became employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad: first at Bonita, then Bearmouth and lastly Drummond. The earliest news article was July 6th 1893 where John was one of the delegates elected to represent the Flint Creek District at the Helena Silver Convention. In 1894, he had unclaimed letters advertised in the Philipsburg Mail in August and in December he was one of the “old timers” that arrived in Granite the week of the 13th. In 1897, he came down from Gold Coin and stayed with his cousin Murdock for a few days and was able to find employment at the Sunrise in July. In December, 1899, he received a telegram regarding the death of a brother in Canada. By 1901 John was very active in “The Order of Washington” and performed as Floor Manager in their Grand Ball February, 22 at the Firemen’s Hall. He was installed as the Porter in the Home Forum Lodge #1884 on January 11th and installed as Sentinel in Union #65 on July 3rd.

Wiped From The Face of The Earth

                                       Pencil Drawing by Unknown artist of the Algonquin Mill

One hundred and twenty two years ago, the January 6, 1899 Philipsburg Mail headlined the following story: “With the closing hours of the old year disappeared one of the oldest and most prominent landmarks of Granite county. About 8 o’clock last Saturday evening the Algonquin mill and holding works at Hasmark were discovered to be on fire and within a short space of time the entire plant was reduced to ashes and nothing remained but the stone walls and a heap of ruined machinery. The blaze was seen a long distance and the mountains for several miles were lit up as bright as day. The night was comparatively dark, but fences and buildings across the valley were almost as plainly discernable as in bright daylight. The heat around the burning buildings was intense as the woodwork was very dry and burned like tinder. Live trees some distance up the mountain side caught fire from the heat, but they ceased to burn after the fiery element had ended its furious spectacle of destruction at the works. The property was owned by the Hope Mining Company and is a total loss, with no insurance. The Algonquin Mill and hoisting works were built during the fall and winter of 1879-1880, and the mill was first started up in February 1880. Mr. John Ainsley being master mechanic and chief engineer. It originally consisted of 20 stamps, dry crushing; six amalgamating pans, three settlers, and one revolving cylinder roaster, and had an engine of 150 horse power. The machinery was constructed in Ohio by Griffith & Wedge, and when started the Algonquin was the model mill in Montana. The cost of the mill was about $82,000 and the hoisting works about $15,000, as everything had to be freighted in and wages were high at that time. About 85 men were employed by the Company, which was originally organized in 1875. The officers of the company at the time the works were built were: H.A. stiles, President: J.H. Williams, Vice President: J.K. Pardee, Superintendent and General Manager: H. S. Showers, Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Hopkins was foreman of the mill and H.K. Fairgrieve the bookkeeper. About 32,000 tons of ore were crushed during the year 1880 and the mill was kept running at intervals until December, 1883, when it closed down. During the year 1892, Mr. John McKechney, then operating the Puritan mine, procured possession of the property and set about putting it in thorough repair. The shaft house was partitioned off for living rooms and office and equipped with steam heat and electric lights. Some new machinery was added, including a small engine and dynamo. When the panic over-took the country in 1893 the Algonquin mill together with the Puritan were among the Granite county enterprises that suspended operations and since that time the property has remained closed down. About two years ago it was sold under execution and the ownership passed to the Hope Mining Company. Just how the fire started is not known, but it was first discovered in the hoist, which was about ten feet distant from the mill and there being no water about the premises the entire plant was soon a roaring furnace. It is about the cleanest wreck ever seen--every particle of wood was consumed by the fire and nothing but ashes and iron remain. The shaft has caved in and for several days after the conflagration smoke was seem issuing from the pit. The town of Hasmark seems deserted since the disappearance of the works, but the old residents who never have lost confidence in the future of their camp feel that while the fire has played serious havoc some time in the near future a custom smelter will adorn the site formerly occupied by the Algonquin and the new ores from the many promising mines around Hasmark will be successfully treated at home.”

A Long Time Ago: Owen Family

Now me and my bud had been pitchin’ down hay 

To feed the cows for a night and a day 

We’d put down a lot, and we had a reason 

It was late in December, and the holiday season. 

We headed for home, and the snow it was deep 

Real tough for the horses, too deep for a Jeep. 

We was makin’ it fine, not too far to go 

When we found this here sleigh, stuck in the snow. 

It’s a real fancy rig, loaded plum full of stuff. 

And with night commin’ on it was gonta be tuff. 

The guy in the red suit said his chargers had flown, 

And left him a’ sittin’ out there in the snow. 

We shook out our ropes, and tied onto the sled 

We knew where to find him a good soft, warm bed. 

We took care of the horses, then helped him unload. 

We left the sleigh there, headed out for the road. 

We got in out bunks, and we sure slept tight. 

We didn’t wake up ‘till it plum turned daylight. 

The stranger had gone, and so was the sled. 

But the boxes and bags was all stacked on the bed. 

 He left us a note sayin’ thanks for the lift. 

If we’d look in the boxes, we’d all find a gift. 

My brother and me, we each had a surprise 

And the things for our sisters sure opened their eyes. 

There was pearls for our mom, and a hat for our dad. 

It turned out to be, the best Christmas we’d had. 

Sometimes we’re just guessin’ about how things will go. 

But we’re glad we helped Santa, when he was stuck in the snow. 

 (Authored by George Melvin Owen [1916-1999) 

 Melvin was one of eight children born to Charles and Geneva (Schenck) Owen. Charles and Geneva moved from Wyoming in 1910 and leased the newly bought 600 acre Groth Ranch, originally owned by R.R. McLeod, 2 miles south of Philipsburg. He traveled to Chicago to buy 100 head of cattle and always raised exceptional ones under the name Treasure State Herefords. Charles was a member of the District School Board but resigned when his youngest daughter Bernice (1906-2001) began teaching school as he did not want a conflict of interest to be assumed. Bernice never married. 

I am privileged to have in my possession from the courtesy of Charles grandson Don Scott, a booklet written by Naomi where she shares these facts to her grandchildren: Charles loved tea and working in his blacksmith shop. He loved to dance and could hitch-kick the top of a doorway! He wished to purchase the ranch and always got the response from Mr. Groth and later Mrs. Groth “Maybe next year”. He came to the conclusion “Next year” could be a long way off and in 1937 had been looking at a ranch in Bozeman with Lawrence Scott when he became ill. A letter received after Charles died described him as “Genuine all the way through. Never was there any pretense, any false front and false flattery in his makeup. …Even though his life was cut all too short, when measured in the comfort and happiness he had bestowed, it was many times longer and more useful than most of us will live.” by Editor of the American Hereford Journal in Kansas City. 

When Charles died in 1937, Ellery (1903-1969) and Melvin continued the ranch operation. There is an un-named infant daughter of C.L. Owen buried in Block 13, Lot 16, Grave 6 without a headstone. The rest of the family is buried in Block 28. 

Ellery married Genevieve Brew (1906-1969) on July 7, 1938 and their only child Arnold was born in 1939. After returning from the War, and resuming operations at the ranch, Ellery worked for the Forest Service and the Soil Conservation Department for several years and for Taylor and Knapp from 1958 to 1967. He died of ALS also known as Lou Gerhig’s Disease. Gen died of Cancer in 1969. They are both buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

                                   Photo Copied from the Booklet written by Naomi Owen Collins

Melvin, thirteen years younger than Ellery, married Ida Berry on November 1, 1942 and they had seven children: Carma, Ted, Kathleen, Cheryl, Charles, Douglas and Judy. I do not find any Montana information about Melvin after his marriage (in Arizona). He was living in Arizona when he died. 

The other daughters married as follows: Clella (1907-1975) to J.L. Scott; Mary (1910-1989) to John Truzzolina; Lois (1912-2004) to George “Buster” Metcalf; and Naomi (1920- 2003) to John (Jack) Collins. I know that in the forties and fifties, Jack Truzzolino (brother-in-law), and nephews Bob Metcalf, Owen and Don Scott worked on the ranch helping Ellery, Gen and Arnold with the haying.

Abundant Talent: Fred Geiger

                                            Fred Geiger from the Fan Harrington Collection

A question I have often had is how many talented people that lived their lives in Granite county were not able to live to their fullest artistic potential? Was this a loss to the individual and society or were they happy and fulfilled by their role in life? 

One such person is Fred C. Geiger who died when I was young but I knew who he was and continued to hear his name spoken after his death because of the memories he had left with people while performing for their parties, funerals and weddings. His mother Margaret Kisling, born in Bavaria on June 12, 1858, arrived in Philipsburg as a widow with seven year old Fred in 1885. Shortly after their arrival, Margaret married Marx Mohr and they operated the Cityview Ranch just west of Philipsburg. Born to this marriage were Wilhelm (1890-1890), Baby Marx and Baby Augusta (without headstones) and Alvina. Alvina married John Doering from Missoula and returned to the ranch to care for her mother while she was dying from cancer in 1918. 

From the time of Fred’s arrival in Philipsburg he was in the newspaper. There are more than fifty articles in the Philipsburg Mail covering the school honors and activities that Fred participated in. Every semester Fred was listed with awards in the Grammar classes and always on the honor role. He became active in the Literary Society when it was formed in 1896 and had speeches published that he delivered on the importance of Literary Societies. The first Federal Census records in 1900 list Fred as the step-son of Marx Mohr living with his mother and half sister Alvina at the age of 21. Frequent articles covered Fred debating both the negative and positive sides of current issues such as “Should Cuba be annexed to the United States.” Fred was elected to the position of “Critic” in 1896. By 1896 Fred was also actively involved in the dedication of the New School and delivered his essay on “Public schools in Washington’s Time” at the ceremonies during the entire month of February. 

From 1894 Fred was active in the Fire Department and was responsible to run up town to ring the fire bell as early as 1894. Most of the events Fred served on the Reception Committee or was the Floor Manager. He always sang at the Fireman’s gala events and usually was involved in at least 3 quartette every party. Often the group was Fred, Miss Lucy Paradise, Miss Mary Harrison and Walter Kroger during the school years and later he sang in an all male group that included Walt and Fred Kroger and L.A. Bulliard. At the Trades Carnival, Fred sang with Mrs. Carmichael and Mrs. A. Fairbairn and L.A. Bulliard. Examples of the songs he sang were: “The Welkin”, ‘Who Knows What the Hills Say” and all of the funeral favorites such as “An Old Rugged Cross.” Fred belonged to the Philipsburg baseball team and was always in the catcher position during the Philipsburg-Anaconda play-offs and the Miner’s Union Picnic when Philipsburg played against Granite. 

Parties were frequent after the group graduated in 1899 and in 1900 The Philipsburg Band was formed. Fred was designated Second Alto in the band and paid $75.00 for an Alto instrument and case that he received from the east September 7, 1900. I am assuming this must have been a saxophone. Research shows where Maude Hammond participated in the Literary Society in April 1896 and Fred married her in Missoula January 30, 1904. Maude gave birth to a baby boy on January 7, 1905. The baby died on January 11 and Maude who had developed Puerperal Fever died January 12, 1905. 

In my possession is a photograph of Fred with the Philipsburg Iron Works owners and employees at an unknown date. I know the business owned by the Bowen’s and Thompson was incorporated in 1895 and became Philipsburg Electric Light Company in 1908, so Fred was employed with them sometime during this period. 

The Federal Census in 1930 and 1940 have him identified as a miner and living with his wife Josephine. They were married in June of 1906 and did not have any children. Fred died at the age of 66 on June 20, 1947 and Josephine was moved to the Deer Lodge Nursing Home eight years before her death April 19, 1961. Father Courtney said the committal prayers upon her return to the Philipsburg cemetery. 

After his marriage to Josephine, newspaper content is absent about Fred in social, band or fire department activities. I know from local stories that he continued to sing and make music for his friends, but apparently no longer debated or volunteered. My question is left unanswered.

More Early Pioneers: The Hammond Family

Elizabeth Hammond McDonel’s father was William Hammond. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on November 26, 1822. He married Miss Jane House, in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania on December 14, 1845. After their marriage they moved to Wisconsin for sixteen years then immigrated to the Deer Lodge Valley. In 1875 they moved to Philipsburg, where he owned and operated local stages. William died February 23, 1896, at the age of seventy three years and three months, after being an invalid for two years. His funeral cortege began at the family home on California Street and traveled to the Methodist church, where services were held by Rev. Wm. B. Coombe, assisted by Rev. Charles Quinney and Rev. C.H. Grabe. The gathering then moved to the Philipsburg cemetery where he was laid to rest beside his wife Jane. William’s, obituary stated he left a valuable estate that would be divided among the children that survived him. 

According to the Philipsburg Mail, the stages William operated were: From Philipsburg to Drummond which he operated with James McDonel. He bought this route from a man named Taylor; From Philipsburg to Anaconda which he operated with Giles Brownell; and the stage line between Philipsburg and Granite, which he operated under the name Wm. Hammond and Company. 

Research found the obituaries of Elizabeth’s mother Jane and brother George. Jane cared for William for eighteen months while he was too feeble to assist himself and was at his bedside until only a few days before her death. She was sixty seven years of age and the day she died was their fiftieth wedding anniversary, December 13, 1895. Survivors were: her husband, her four daughters in Montana (see George’s obituary below) and son Tuecer in Wisconsin. The funeral was held at the Methodist Church on December 14, with Rev. Wm. B. Coombe officiating. She was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

According to his obituary in the Philipsburg Mail, George Hammond died at his parent’s home on March 22, 1890, after a lingering illness of five months, at the age of forty. He was an athlete and horseman with a world record for sprinting the 100 yard in nine and three-fourth seconds. He left a wife and daughter Maude; parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Hammond; sisters: Mrs. Joseph Hyde, Mrs. E McDonel, Mrs. Wm. Coleman and Mrs. W.J. Matthews of Philipsburg and brother Tuecer of Wisconsin. 

George’s daughter Maude, born in Philipsburg on January 31, 1884, graduated from the Philipsburg High School in 1901. She married Fred Geiger on January 30, 1904. Fred was also a Philipsburg native. After their marriage in Missoula, they took a short honeymoon and then established a home in Philipsburg. Maude gave birth to a baby boy on January 7, 1905, with puerperal fever developing shortly after birth. The baby died on January 11 and Maude died at 11 o’clock p.m., on January 12. A service at the home and graveside was performed by Rev. W.H. Pascoe on January 15. Survivors were her husband, Fred; mother, Mrs. M.O. Hankins and a number of aunts and cousins living in Philipsburg, Deer Lodge, Butte, Anaconda and Seattle. 

Fred then married Josephine Eiger in Butte in 1906. Although Maude’s obituary stated Fred was a Philipsburg native, he actually immigrated from Germany in 1885 at the age of seven. Fred will be discussed in another article. 

Elizabeth’s uncle, James Hammond was another prominent person in the community. He was one of the original locators of the famous Golden Sceptre group of mines in Quigley and received $10,000 for his share. He died while on a train between Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, on July 7, 1896. His physician had advised him to attain treatment at a Philadelphia hospital, after being in poor health for about one year. His brother-in-law W.P. Ketchum, from Milwaukie had come west to help James with his business interests and attended to his estate, as James still owned one-third interest in valuable mines adjacent to the Golden Sceptre mines. Born in West Newton, Pennsylvania in 1828, he came to California in 1850. By the mid fifties he had moved to Nevada where he made and lost a fortune in mining. In 1864 he came to Alder Gulch and then moved on to Henderson Gulch and Bearmouth. Next, he partnered with a man named Sloss in Arasta Gulch, near Georgetown, when Cable was in full swing. The August 6, 1896, obituary, in the Philipsburg Mail, does not state any survivors or the disposal of his remains. There is no record of burial in the Philipsburg cemetery. Research fails to find any Federal Census records of James. He must have always been busy prospecting when the census was taken!

Angus Alexander "Red Mac" McDonald

 

Another pioneer of Philipsburg was Angus Alexander McDonald, known as “Red Mac”. He was woven into all the fabric that created and helped Philipsburg survive. Angus came from a branch of the McDonald (MacDonald) family that emigrated from Scotland to Canada about 1775. 

Born August 15, 1842 in Alexandria, Glengary County, Ontario Canada, he came to Montana in either 1862 (obituary) or 1864 ( Pioneer Society). A.A. was successful in all of his endeavors, be it banking, ranching, mining or politics and he amassed a large fortune. His advice was sought after and valued. 

The first mining property I found him buying was in the monetary publications for Deer Lodge County in 1882: “February 6-John Ulery to Angus McDonald, for $850.50, undivided one-half of Mountain Boy Quartz Lode, undivided one-third of Ranchero Quartz Lode and undivided one-fourth Bowie Quartz Lode and undivided one-half Emerald Quartz Lode, all in Flint Creek Mining District. Sale made February 1.(New Northwest, March 10,1882). 

While collecting mining interests, A.A. built himself many enterprises and was always ready to develop new ones. In 1895 he went into partnership with L.C. Degenhart and Joseph J. Appel under the name of Flint Creek Meat Co. They opened a retail meat business on December 23, in the Hynes Building next to McLeod’s Shoe store. Ads in the Mail, stated they had a first class line of fresh, salted and smoked meats, consisting of beef, pork, veal, mutton, hams, bacon, poultry and fish; pickled and canned meats and dressed beef.. A.A. was the president, L.C. the treasurer and Joseph the manager. 

Articles in the Helena Independent in 1885, show where he was in Helena attending to business connected to the Diamond Hill Gold property, of which he was the principal owner. He had been offered $40,000 for the property, but would sell it for $200,000. Then in the same issue of the Helena Independent was an article stating: “Angus A. McDonald, a Philipsburg banker, is in the city today. His mission here is to meet a millwright from the coast whom he will let a contract for a forty stamp mill, which is to be erected on a gold proposition known as the Diamond Hill, in Indian or St. Louis Gulch…He has a small mill now working the ore, but finds it insufficient …The mine has been producing with this small mill as much as $400 a day” 

Angus and his wife bought the property owned by Northern Pacific Railroad in 1896 on Sansome Street and built the McDonald Opera House for a sum of $30,000. In 1916, I found where Otto Rinderknecht who had been in charge of the Opera House, surrendered management to Mrs. A.A. McDonald. The new manager was to be Angus Jr. Obviously this was A.A.’s nephew nicknamed “Sandy”, as Mr. and Mrs. McDonald did not have children. 

In 1889, A.A. was elected County Commissioner of Deer Lodge County and held that office until Granite County was created in 1893. At the closing of 1895, the Merchants’ and Miner’s Bank had capital of $50.000 with A.A. the president, F.J. Wilson vice-president, C.H. Eshbaugh cashier, C.E. Hymer assistant cashier and the Board of Directors were: M. E. H. Gannon, L.C. Degenhart, F.M. Durfee and August Greenheck. The assessed taxes in 1896 for the Merchant and Miners Bank were $784.86 and for A.A., as an individual they were $565.65. The Merchants’ and Miner’s National Bank went into receivership September, 1897 and the district court was presented the: “petition… to sell personal property. The property to be sold consists of the burglar proof safe and check punch, for which the H.I. Weinstein Company has made a bid of $508.00.” 

From about 1900 until his death, numerous articles state A.A. returned from a visit at his ranch on Willow Creek.. A.A. died April 2, 1910, at his home from pneumonia. Diagnosed with pleurisy one week prior, he became increasingly ill and when it was determined he had pneumonia, everything possible was done for the ill man, but to no avail. 

A. A. served as City Alderman, besides being the Mayor of Philipsburg and prior to his death had again been re-elected to the position of Mayor. He held membership in the Selish Tribe Improved Order of Red Men; Hellgate Lodge B.P.O.E.; the Montana Society of Pioneers and was a member of the Board of Managers for the Montana State Fair. Survivors were: his wife Susie, a niece and several nephews (not named in the obituary). The funeral was held at St. Philip’s Catholic Church and “was the largest ever seen in this city”. As a further mark of esteem, business houses throughout the city closed their doors during the funeral and everybody turned out to pay their respects. Unfortunately. I do not have any pictures of angus in my possession.

Historian and Postmaster: Clara McDonel

Clara Dell McDonel was born on June 6, 1879, in Philipsburg. She graduated from Granite County High School with the first graduating class of 1898. Her parent’s, Charles and Elizabeth McDonel moved to Montana in 1871, with their first two children: Robert and Mary. 

Charles was born on March 9, 1837 in Ireland and came to the United States at the age of seven. The family settled at Beetown, Wisconsin. As a young adult he came to California in 1862, then returned to his hometown and married Elizabeth Hammond. Charles died on August 28, 1906, after a short illness, at his home on Montgomery Street. He was taken ill after dinner at the Hotel on Sunday, where he ate cucumbers and ice cream. A physician was promptly called, but complications set in and he died on Tuesday. He had a history of kidney problems and had been weak since suffering pneumonia, two years before. Survivors were his wife, Elizabeth, son Robert, currently chief of Police and daughters: Miss Clara of Philipsburg and Mrs. John (Mary) Cole of Anaconda. Rev. A.S. Buell of St. Paul Methodist Church performed the service at the home of his brother James on Broadway.. (His brother James was the first Mayor of Philipsburg and died at the age of eighty four at his niece, Clara Dell McDonel’s home, November 18, 1927.) 

Clara’s mother Elizabeth, owned a millinery and Notions Store and in 1893 published a notice in the Philipsburg Mail stating “Mrs. E. McDonel would respectfully request those parties who have been stealing her wood for the past winter to please discontinue the practice, now that spring is approaching.” She obviously was an astute business woman with frequent sale ads in the local papers stating hats all at half price. Born in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania on November 23, 1846 to Mr. and Mrs. William Hammond, she married Charles McDonel during 1871, in Wisconsin. They left for the west, after the wedding, with a team of oxen and settled in Deer Lodge. Later they moved to Pioneer and then to Philipsburg in 1879. In her later years, she was the constant companion of her daughter Clara Dell McDonel. Elizabeth died at the age of seventy, from a heart condition on January 3, 1917, at the family home. Survivors were: son Robert, daughters: Clara and Mrs. John (Mary) Cole of Anaconda; nine grandchildren: John Elizabeth, Florence, Fan and Cathryn Cole of Anaconda, Mrs. C. C. Baker, Eva (May), Harold and Robert McDonel Jr., of Philipsburg; three sisters: Mrs. Joseph Hyde, of Seattle, Mrs. William Coleman, of Deer Lodge and Mrs. W.J. Matthews, of Butte; and one brother Mr. T.A. Hammond of Bloomington, Wisconsin. Elizabeth is buried next to Charles in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Miss Clara was very active in government affairs, including serving as Deputy Clerk of Court in 1901 and was nominated as Post Master of Philipsburg in April of 1916. She served in that position through WWI, but I have not been able to determine when or why she left the position. Clara ran for the office of County Superintendent of Schools in 1928, against long-term office holder, Lottie Irvine. Clara won the election 832 votes to 560. She ran unopposed the 1930 and 1932 election. She was President of the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers of Granite County, for many years plus served as their Granite County historian. Clara was the retiring Chief of Honor, in Hope Lodge No.7 on July 14, 1899, so must have been active at a very young age, being only twenty when she retired the position of Chief of Honor. 

In Albert Blumenthal’s book “Small Town Stuff”, he named a local woman Clara McDenry “…who is becoming recognized as the local historian…who witnessed the Golden Age which immediately preceded the panic of 1893”. Obviously this was the fictionalized name he gave to Clara, recognizing that she kept the towns history alive, during her lifetime. 

Clara died on March 11, 1933. The Women of Woodcraft, held a service at her home on Monday evening. Tuesday the cortege took the body to the First Methodist Episcopal Church, where Rev. McKnight officiated at an elaborate service. Last rites were said at the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Clara’s sister, Mary married the first sheriff of Granite County, John Cole. Her brother, Robert owned fine race horses and served as Marshall of Philipsburg 1895-1896 and was Chief of Police in 1906. 

 In the same issue of the Mail, as Clara’s death notice, it was reported thirty eight feet of snow had fallen at the Milwaukie Railway east portal on the Montana-Idaho border; also the 1933 Memorial Day celebration was held in the McDonald Theatre, because one foot of snow fell the day before.

 

                    Fan Titus McKenzie (Harrington) and son Forrest "Toasty" from 1976 Montana Standard

One of the joys of doing historical research is when a search about one person reveals a whole bunch of inter-relationships! I have always said that at one time most everyone in Philipsburg was related either by blood, marriage or shirt-tails. I have long known that Frances (Fan) Harrington was the daughter of Henry Forrest Titus, but did not know much about him. 

Henry was a very intelligent man, born in New Hampshire on February 2, 1857. He received his education at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden and then studied Law in Boston and came west to Helena in 1880, where he formed a law partnership with Judge Atkinson. In 1884, he moved to Philipsburg and was appointed Principal of the public schools. In 1885, Henry married Miss Sarah Burks, who was teaching in the schools. After one year, he resumed his law practice and was elected County Attorney in 1888 and served 2 years. In May of 1892, Henry was elected Mayor of Philipsburg and on March 20, 1893 he died of pneumonia at his home. Survivors were: wife Sarah, daughter Frances age 5 and son Forrest about one year old. 

Needless to say, Mrs. H.F. Titus was in need of a job. She returned to teaching and according to the October 30, 1895 Citizen Call, operated a private school in Philipsburg, when the area was without a school for a short period of time. The 1900 Federal Census shows Sarah had married John Harris and returned to being a housewife. Sarah died of Ovarian Cancer at St. Anne’s Hospital in Anaconda on December 12, 1936. Survivor’s were her husband John and the two children. 

Sarah’s father, George W. Burks, was involved in the apparel business and married Francis (Fannie) Wheeler September 20, 1860 in Mason County, Illinois. To the Burks was born: Sarah (June 28, 1861); Edward (?), George Orin (Nov.14, 1875), Frederick (1872-1945) and Lucy (1856-May 28, 1916). By 1900, the Federal Census shows George in Philipsburg, and we know Sarah married Henry in 1885; Lucy came to Montana in 1888 and married Addison Huffman in 1889; Frederick was Sheriff of Granite County 1916-1024; George O. worked for the Huffman Grocery in 1899. Therefore, somewhere between 1880 and 1900 at least five of the Burks’ arrived in Montana. 

Research has failed to find the death of Fannie. George was still working as a boot and shoe dealer in the 1880 Illinois Federal Census. Until this research, I failed to connect that Lucy, George O., Fred and Sarah were siblings, thus making the large Huffman family part of Fan Titus Harrington’s extended family. Fan would have been twenty nine when her aunt Lucy died after a gallbladder surgery. Survivors were husband Ad, sons: Rodney and Carroll and daughter Lottie. 

Frances “Fan” was born in Havana, Illinois February 14, 1887, so Sarah must have returned to her parents home to give birth to her. Fan’s brother, Forrest was born in Montana four years later. She married Roderick McKenzie, son of John R. McKenzie in 1909 and to this marriage was born Forrest “Toasty” in Idaho (Sept.18,1909-Sept.11,1971) Fan was widowed with an infant when Roderick, while working as a railroad engineer near Frenchtown, was killed on June 9, 1910. His funeral was in Philipsburg. 

I am uncertain what Fan did for a living before she married Jess Harrington June 16, 1920. The 1930 Federal Census shows Jess, Fan, and Toasty with Sally Storer, (16 year old niece of Jess) and Addison Harris, (22 year old adopted brother-in-law of Jess), also living in their household. 

Research revealed a fire at the Harrington house June 26, 1929. The loss was insured for $1,000 and the damage totaled $4,000. The fire was seen by Toasty on his way home; Fan was at the theatre and Jess was at work at the Mill (about three blocks from the home) when the fire broke out. The town came forward to assist the family as they lost everything, but the clothes on their backs. 

Fan was widowed again when Jess died in 1937. Over the years she had started collecting pictures and history of the area and by 1939 was holding picture album parties at her home. She became the librarian and wrote numerous articles for the Philipsburg Mail. Old timer’s remember parents sitting for her interviews. The June 5, 1976, Montana Standard carried a picture of Fan and Toasty with columns of history told by Fan. 

Her son, Forrest “Toasty’ served in WWII and Korea and married Anna Mason (also a veteran) from Hall in 1946. Children were: Rod and twins: Don and Dan. Dan died shortly after birth. 

Fan collected history of the area until her death from ovarian cancer on December 12, 1961. 

I have been fortunate to receive a large amount of her collected pictures in the recent months.