Tireless Worker Without Judgment Sound and Business-like: Dr. Power

                                                                    Dr. W.I. Power 

                                      Photo cropped from group picture in Tex Crawley Collection

W.I. Power was a major contributor to Granite county history. He was born in Farmington, Michigan to Thomas H. and Lydia (Stockwell) Power on September 17, 1860, the fourth born of seven sons. According to “Progressive Men of Montana” “…His educational advantages were very limited, owing to the size and circumstances of the family; and besides a few weeks attendance at the public schools during the winter months for about three years, he obtained nothing in this line except what he worked out for himself- teaching school for a time and with the money earned working his way through higher grades until he was able to take a full academic course at the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing, where he was graduated in 1885, teaching and selling books during the vacations to defray expenses.” After his graduation William taught one year at Waterford and in 1886 he entered Detroit Medical College. 

He graduated in 1889 and spent a year as house surgeon in St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit before coming to Granite, Montana. He worked as an assistant to Dr. Sligh for two years for the Bi-Metallic Company’s hospital. Then in January 1892 he moved to Philipsburg and began his private practice there. Dr. Power married Miss Mary Williams Treveaille of Butte on January 27, 1892 in Granite. Mary came to Granite about 12 years before her death on April 5, 1897, when she succumbed to an un-named cause. Dr. Power quickly became involved in the community health issues as observed when he notified the public: “All persons living along streams where water is needed for general purposes are warned not to dump or throw manure or other refuse material into such streams as water so polluted is unfit for general use. W.I. Power M.D., chairman Board of Health for Granite County.” Philipsburg Mail, September 24, 1897. 

The following year Dr. Power married Mrs. Marietta Sewell of Paola, Kansas on September 12, 1898. That same year, Dr. Power was nominated for the state senate by the Silver wing of the republican party. He was defeated by Jerry Connolly by 30 votes. At the end of 1899, Dr. Power went east to study and took a graduate course in the New York City Post Graduate School, specializing in General Medicine. It was expected that he would re-locate his practice somewhere in the east. But obviously had a change of heart, as the May 4, 1900 Mail announced that Dr. Power had returned and was occupying the old office of Dr. G.W. Young in the McLeod-Doe block. He had also bought the C.F. Jacky residence at the corner of California and Kearney streets but the “consideration was unknown.” 

As the public health officer, it was documented many times, how he warned the public about the dangers of the flu epidemic, especially during WWI. Dr. Power served as Mayor for one term beginning in 1908 and served two terms as county coroner. He was a member and held offices in: The Masons, Royal Arch Masons, Eastern Star, Scottish Rites and Algeria Temple of Helena, Woodmen of the World, Lincoln Homestead, Brotherhood of America Yoemen and the Rotary. He was a member of the American Red Cross and served as county chairman for a number of years. In 1908 he was also “secretary-treasurer of the Eureka Mining and Development Company diggings in Quartz Gulch and brought home a few of the large gold nuggets.” Dr. Power ran on the republican ticket for State senator in 1910. The October 21, 1910 Mail carried the following descriptor: “…He has taken a leading position in every line of public or private business he has undertaken. he has been second-class in nothing; first class in everything. He is a tireless worker, with judgment sound and business-like, and therefore a leader in whatever he attempts to do. He has no superior in the extent his loyalty to the interests of the people of this county..” He lost the Senate seat by 6 votes to Democrat A.R. Dearborn (Pharmacist at Doe’s Drug Store). 

The April 26, 1929 Mail carried the sad news that Dr. Power was dead. In continuation of his community service, the Doctor was serving as the president of the State Bank at the time of his death. The cause of death was flu-pneumonia and had happened the day the paper was published. Besides his wife, Dr. Power was survived by a step-son Harry F. Sewell of California and two nephews. Funeral services were held in the Masonic Temple on April 29th and the body was then forwarded to Spokane for cremation.

Ability to Read and Write English

 

Students from Middle Fork School Circa 1928  Top Row L to R: Mary Helen Care, Alice Christensen, Chloe Carey, Cecilia Lyon, Winifred "Fett"  Sandin , Walter Bentz. Bottom Row: T.R. "Bus" Hess, Mary Sandin, Faye Lyon, Harry Bentz

Montana enacted a Compulsory Education Law in 1905 that basically stated that all children between the ages of eight and fourteen must attend a school for at least four hours a day, five days a week for a minimum of sixteen weeks during the year. If the child was of a younger age it was permissible for only two hours a day of schooling. The Law clearly states “The certificate shall be issued upon satisfactory proof of the age of the minor and a knowledge of his or her ability to read and write legibly the English language.” Once that certificate is issued a child over the age of fourteen cannot be mandated to attend school. The majority of students, especially rural were no longer attending school after the eighth grade. Those that were unable to obtain a certificate were forced either to continue attending school until they turned sixteen or break the law. By the 1950’s they had enacted laws that fined the parent daily if the minor did not attend school until the completion of the eighth grade. 

 As is often the case, laws were enacted with out providing the money for schools, teacher and learning material to be provided so it continued to be up to the families to find some way to comply to the law. As early as Granville Stuart time it is documented that he hired teachers to come and live with his family to provide schooling for his children and neighboring ranches. One of those teacher’s, Isabelle Brown, became his second wife in 1890, after Awbonnie, the mother of his children, died. 

 Granite County passed a bond issue to build the still operating school in Philipsburg in 1896 and prior to that Major William Graham and Mrs. Titus are known to conduct educational classes in the town. Rural families were expected to either move to town during school sessions or board the children with family or friends. 

 I have been unable to determine which country school was the first to be established in Granite county. I know the Cow Creek School started in 1912 with funding from parents and interested parties. The Trout Creek School was awarded a certificate that met Standards of Education in 1916, and was proudly supported financially by the surrounding ranchers. I possess a picture of Flint Creek School but have no reference to any date. Spring Creek school was started by the upper Willow Creek families after teachers had been hired by individual families and lived in their homes in the early 1920’s. Although my father states in his writing that he attended Rock Creek school, for his first grade, I believe he meant Spring Creek, as that would have been in 1927, and the first teacher I found a record of for Rock Creek was 1930. Dad (Harry Bentz), then attended Middle Fork School through the eighth grade. 

State funding for rural schools was first established in 1927 under the Common School Equalization Fund and revisited in the 1940’s. Although this still failed to provided adequate money it did begin the advent of one room school houses, usually constructed by the hard labor of the local parents; funded a meager wage for a school teacher (that often was boarded at a close ranch). Some of the schools had families with enough means to provide for the construction of a teacherage next to the school house, which was present at Porter’s Corner and all of them constructed a shelter for the horses to be stabled. Different families were responsible for providing firewood and kerosene for warmth and lighting and hay for the horses. Sometimes the students rode as far as 8 miles to the nearest school. Seldom did parents hitch up a team to bring the children to and from school. Students were responsible for purchasing their books and often shared one book among many students. 

Rural schools were to be closed in 1947, but parents on Ross’ Fork and West Fork were able to find Jewel Ball to teach, Kaiser and Carpp to provide the Ewing Bungalow for housing and the Berry House in the Sapphire Ranch meadow was converted into a school room for eight students. Helen Sanders attended first grade with her sister Naomi a seventh grader. I was in the first grade and my sister Rosalie was in the third. Helen Christensen was in the third and her brother Bill was in the fifth and Wesley Sutherland was in the sixth grade. Rural schools were all closed the next year and parents were given a stipend for gas to drive them to the Skalkaho Junction, now Hwy 1. School Bus service expanded to West Fork Bridge in 1950.

We're Glad We Helped Santa

 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 our 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. One of his off-spring, Melvin 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 in 1999. 

 I am privileged to have in my possession from the courtesy of Charles grandson, Don Scott, a booklet written by Naomi (Owen) where she shares these facts with her grandchildren:

Happenings of American Gem Mining Company

While discussing John Lucas I was reminded of many interesting facts about The American Gem Mining Company and the people who provided the financial investments for the operation such as Auguste B. and William Lane Ewing. The Philipsburg Mail on March 8, 1901 stated “Yield of sapphires on Rock Creek 35 miles south-west of Philipsburg for 1900 is 200,000 carats with 1,200 carats fit to cut.” Articles of incorporation for the American Gem Mining syndicate are on file at the Montana Historical Society and show the filing date as August 9, 1901. The capital stock was $300,000 and distributed as follows: D. Jankower whose address was listed as Philipsburg and was a noted gemologist from New York and London had 299, 996 shares; Paul Fusz whose address was Granite had one share; Moses Rumsey of St. Louis, Missouri had one share; Auguste B. Ewing of St. Louis one share and Charles McLure of St. Louis one share. The corporations five directors were: Jankower, Fusz, Rumsey, Ewing and McLure. Although often cited as investors W.E. Knuth of Helena and L.S McLure of San Diego are not listed in the filed corporation papers. 

 I will speak about the Rumsey family in a later article concerning the Rumsey mill. The Ewing family were from a prominent branch of Scottish people who immigrated first to Ireland and then to America in the 1700’s. Auguste born April 6, 1839, was one of William L and Clara Berthold’s eleven children. He married Mary Causland September 8, 1869, and they had eight children. His brother, William was one of at least two William’s that “went west” and was born in 1843. He married Mary Fleming in 1885. He became a banker and organized the State National Bank in 1885 and was on the Board of Director’s for years. He was the 25th Mayor of St. Louis from 1881 to 1885 and died in Vincennes, Indiana June 4, 1905 with burial in Calvary Cemetery. They had one son who is listed as William. 

The reason the Ewing name was so well known was the family built the Ewing Bungalow. This massive log structure was built on the Yellow Dog Sapphire Claim located on a five acre island of the West Fork just south of the Sapphire ranch upper meadow. The living room measured twenty feet wide and thirty feet long with two bedrooms and a stairway to the south; a full log sitting porch across the east end and a lean-to kitchen off the west end. The north wall had a solid West Fork River rock fireplace, floor to ceiling and a large “Old Fir” log split in half for the mantle with fir logs holding it in place. The wall logs were caulked with newspaper dipped in water and tapped into place then a small quarter round placed into the space. 

I know all of this because while my family was leasing the Sapphire Ranch in 1952 my parents bought the Ewing Bungalow from Walt Kaiser and Charles Carrp who were current owners of the property. The valuation was $3,000 and was occupied by the Bentz family until it burned down in 1959. This property is currently owned by Kenny Lutz and others and most of the beautiful trees are cut down and a large portion covered with gravel to withhold the weight of Kenny’s large heavy mining equipment. 

Communications in the Lucas files at the Montana Historical Society, disclose that the Ewing family in St. Louis were often concerned about the Huppmobile being cared for. It was used when they arrived to visit in the summer months. Registrations are on file from 1915 to 1924 for the vehicle. In the fall of 1918 and 1919 the staff such as Dan Smith in Philipsburg were reminded to put the vehicle up on blocks and remove the battery for the winter months. There is also a telegram sent on May 23, 1922 that directed Smith to “send the Huppmobile to Butte for painting - same color. Will send top material. Have ready by June 25.” Then on May 25 a second telegram requested “have huppmobile valves ground, seats repaired and other repairs you think necessary.” A third telegram on June 2, 1922 stated “Do not have top for Huppmobile lined.” These telegrams were all from C.G. Ewing. 

The Hupp Mobile was built in Detroit Michigan from 1909 through 1939 by the Hupp Motor Company. On August 31, 1934, “J.C. Yob states C.G. Ewing died Wednesday. He was the son of the original owner of the Philipsburg Mining Company. He was unmarried and is buried in St. Louis.” was published in The Philipsburg Mail.

 As I review the researched documents in my possession, items I hope that are of interest to the public come to my attention. A book titled “ LEDGER” was loamed to me by Edward Bohrnsen that had grocery lists dated July 26, 1905. A tool inventory for April 1 (of unknown year) for “Sapphire Property” and “sawmill outfit” Freight bills for E.R. Thompson; R.R. McLeod; John McKinzey (sic); L.P. Keely; S.H. Yerllnwood (sic), and W. M. Lawrance from July 29 through August 6, 1905. There are also notes for hay and eggs bought from E. Amerine for April, May and June 1906. This included three tons of hay for $21.00, twenty one dozen eggs for $4.20 on April 28; and ten more dozen on May 6, plus twenty seven dozen on May 30, for a total of $27.20. On June 1 they received more hay with the stack measuring thirty seven feet over, twenty seven feet wide and six feet long, plus eighteen dozen eggs for a total of $24.60. 

Other examples in this ledger are: American Gem received from Ike Sanders: June 9: 30 lbs of butter (20) $6.00 30 doz. Eggs (20) $6.00 June 16: 60 doz. Eggs (20) $12.00 22 lbs. Butter $4.40 June 23: 29 lbs Butter $5.60 June 30: 25 lbs. Butter (20) $5.00 30 doz. Eggs (20) $6.00 Total $45.00 Items of this sort are listed through 1907 from Amerine and Ike Sanders, plus lists titled Basin Gulch: Detter to ranch and Sapphire Camp: Detter to Ranch in 1907 which includes beef, eggs, tea, coffee, sugar, maple syrup and vegetables from April through October, totaling $506.52. Another page stated Sawmill: Detter to ranch and Morgan: Stoney Crick (sic) from June through October 1907 that includes staples, coal oil, nails, oats, wire screen, beef and vegetables for $182.58. 

There is a stable bill for horses staying overnight at Carmichaels from April through June 1912 which consisted of two to four horses almost every night. Obviously employees were riding to and from the mines and Philipsburg at a fairly steady pace. The amount of stable charges was questioned by C. Ewing when the bill was sent to St. Louis, as the charge was $2.00 a day per horse, for a total of 78 horse days. Entries for 1912 show supplies previously bought from Amerine were now being bought from Downing.

Lumber hauled from the sawmill to the Sapphire diggings was also listed for 1910 totaling 10,339 board feet. The next entries are for August through October, 1929 listing produce and again, through October of 1930 and 1931, which was probably bought from a vender coming from the Bitter Root Valley. A separate list is included for “Ewings.” Then in 1932 the produce is broken down into “for Company” and “Bohrnsen Bill.” The 1933 lists are again for “American Gem” and “for Mr. Ewing.” 

The year 1934 included fifty doses of Blackleg Aggressin. Edward Bohrnsen believes these were given to the calves his father bought and took to Willow Creek. The list also has one castrating knife and paid Bowles $10.00 for a colt on June 28, 1934. The 1935 list begins on March 25, buying bowls, plates and cups and on May 14 paid $5.00 for one broke horse. The entries end on November 17, 1935 for seventeen lbs. of cabbage and twenty five pounds of rutabagas for $1.35. 

The very last page of the Ledger stated: “the 8th of November took 1 violin lesson.” This notation is in Henry Bohrnsen’s handwriting. 

Finances were a frequent topic in the correspondence in 1918: “April 26, 1918 …see if you can get them (sapphire pickers) for $1.50 per day” stated a letter from Ewing to Dan Smith. On May 6, 1918 Ewing to wrote to W.T. Terrell, “hospital fee with Dr. Casey is $1.50 per season for each worker.” On September 4, 1918 is the document “….owing to unrest in the camp it was necessary to raise the wages 50 cents on the 15th of last month” wrote Terrell to Ewing. Ewing instructed Dan Smith on September 27, 1918 to “….tell Bohrnsen to do the work necessary on the 1600 feet of flume, this year.” Then on October 2, Smith stated “Mr. Bohrnsen was in yesterday and said he expected to operate for 2 weeks yet and then do some flume work” in correspondence to Ewing. On January 3, 1919 Ewing writes to W.T. Terrell, “….Please instruct Varholic the watchman at the camp to gather up the matrasses [sic] which are in the main log cabin and string them up to the ceiling so that the rats cannot get at them.”

Doesn't Cost Me Much to Live

Years ago, acreage, north of the current Munis Gravel Pit and just south of Andre Lane after the Fred Burr curve, was occupied by a happy man, named Sid Willis. My memory of Sid is him sitting in any friend’s house visiting and smoking a roll-your-own cigarette. Sid wore a large cuff in the bottom of his blue jeans and he would either put the ash from the burning cigarette into the cuff or flick it onto the thigh of his jeans and rub it into the denim. Sometimes the jeans were so well “ashed” that I am certain they would stand on their own. He loved to say, “It doesn’t cost me much to live…I feed myself, my horse eats grass and my dog eats horse turds” and then he would throw back his head and give a “Har Har Har” type of laugh. 

His Stetson hat had seen many years and the crown was sweat stained with many spots on the brim tattered. It was usually pushed back with his unruly hair hanging onto his high forehead. I so wish I had a of picture of this old codger to share with all of you. In Ray Ham’s book “Horses and Saddles” Sid is spoken of frequently as “Canner Joe” because he was the person that came when contacted to dress the dead animal. Sid then took the meat and bones to the dog food cannery. He also sold the skinned hides to the tannery for the making of horse hide robes. Ray said “Canner Joe was one of our local colorful characters. He was a clown in a way and didn’t even know it. One time he was in a saloon and a woman from back East was there and she was looking right at him, just cracking up a-laughing. He looked down to see if his fly was open; he didn’t know what she was laughing at. She finally stopped laughing long enough to say “ Where do you get those overalls with bow legs?” Ray goes on to say “Canner Joe was out to our place one night and he’d been drinking. We went out to the barn and he grabbed Smokey (wild buckskin colt) by the tail. Any other time, Smokey would have kicked him but this time, for some reason he didn’t. Canner Joe just hung on and laughed his goofy laugh, real deep: Yuk Yuk, Yuk.”

A story I have heard frequently is that the author Dan Cushman moved to Philipsburg to be close to his dear friend Sid Willis. This was supposed to be during the time Dan was researching the book “The Old Copper Collar” which was published in 1957. I found where Mr. and Mrs. Dan Cushman had a baby boy on March 13, 1953 in Great Falls and were expected to return to Philipsburg to live during the summer. The baby named Stephen James joined Bobby and Mary Lou. 

Sid lived in Granite county for more than fifty years before he was sent to the Cheyenne Soldiers’ Home in Wyoming. He lived in Wyoming for six months before his death at the age of eighty-four, during the first week of April, 1971. The house he lived in is still standing, though deteriorating rapidly. Each time I drive by I check to see if it is still standing. The chimney fell off a few years ago and I doubt the logs will stand up much longer 

 Born in England, where he received an inheritance, Sid came to the U.S. as a teenager. He served in the Army during WWI, then settled south of Philipsburg, buying the property with his inheritance. The obituary stated “there were no known survivors.” The funeral was conducted by the Wilson Funeral Home and pallbearers were: Ford Johnson, Bob McKinley, Adolph Andre, Forrest Merrifield, Barney Pickett and John (Pat) McDonald, with internment April 5, in the Philipsburg cemetery. This Sid Willis should not to be confused with Sid Willis the owner of the Mint Bar in Great Falls who was a friend of Charlie Russell.

Little Notoriety: John R. Lucas

                               John R. Lucas cropped from group photo in Tex Crawley Collection

Researching history I see many names written about that were important to the mining industry, but have never read anything speaking about John R. Lucas. Yet in the papers donated by the Antonioli family to Montana Historical Society Archives are 2.5 linear feet of documents having the perfect penmanship and signature of John R. Lucas on them. He was Superintendent for a number of years, in the St. Louis Mining Companies of Philipsburg. 

 An extensive grocery list for the Montana Grocery Company in Philipsburg on April 28, 1916 not only is neatly typed but also has the pencil written prices of the products as the order was being filled by the store. Examples are: 25 pounds of dried apples for $1.22; 100 pounds of onions $3.50; 50 pounds of corn meal $1.65 2-24#. (This must indicate that instead of 50 pounds the order was filled with two 24 pound containers); 5 cartons of matches for $1.00; 120 pounds of bacon for $22.00. All the available grocery lists demonstrate the food provided to the miners was hearty, nourishing and plentiful. They also indicate John supervised every facet of the business and finances. 

Lucas being astute in all the mechanisms of the mining business and the political world is apparent through out the documents preserved at The Historical Society. He kept Paul Fusz informed almost daily of the election results and squabbles over contested elections, such as when the shift bosses were accused of coercing the miners while voting. This issue was not debated at length in the Lucas documents but was a hot issue in the newspaper. James McGowan of Hall filed a contest with the District Court on December 6, 1904 when he lost the vote by seven votes to James Schoonover. The complaint stated the 200 Bi-metallic employees had been coerced, threatened and intimidated. Staff had told them that they would lose their jobs if they voted Republican or for George Metcalf. “Taking testimony before Justice is waived on account of repeated efforts of defense to block proceedings--the promised investigation causes much uneasiness in certain quarter”, was the headline over a full column article in the December 30, 1904 Mail. 

 Apparently Judge Connolly the county counsel and Judge Durfee who was Schoonover’s counsel were both unable to be present on December 27 for the scheduled hearing. Under the law, cases had to be certified by the Secretary of State before the Legislature convened. The papers in the case were forwarded to Helena. Mr. McGowan insisted he had an abundance of evidence to prove every one of the charges alleged in the complaint. Obviously the surprise was on McGowan, as Schoonover was seated and no follow-up article was printed in the January news. The Mining Company and Lucas were very concerned that the local and State legislators be Democrats and included letters of recommendation for appointed positions such as Game Warden. 

John was born April 15, 1866 at St. Louis, Missouri and came to Montana in 1892 to accept the assistant superintendent position with the Hope Mining Company.. In 1897 John married Madge Short. She died after giving birth to their son John J. in 1898. In 1903, John accepted am assistant supervisor position at the Granite Bi-Metallic Consolidated Mining Company. Ultimately, John had charge of the American Gem Sapphire Mines on West Fork, the Basin Gulch Placer Mines, the Hope properties and other company interests, according to the Mail April 20, 1917, because when Paul Fusz died in 1910 all the responsibilities including the Combination Mining Company became John’s concern. 

John was seriously injured on September 23, 1914, when his horses ran away, and left him suffering from head, shoulder and back injuries. Documents show his resignation as Director of Henderson Mining Company, February 15, 1915. Then on November 24, 1916 was a copy of telegram to John P. Meyers in St. Louis stating: “Due to the serious illness of Mr. Lucas he is not able to sign any checks….request authority for Mr. Holmes or myself to sign checks to pay the bills.” 

John traveled to Long Beach, California for treatment in a sanitarium there. His health did not allow him to return to his position and he died at Long Beach, California on April 14, 1917. John’s body was returned to Montana and escorted by the Missoula Lodge of Elks on the train to Philipsburg. They were met at the depot by the Philipsburg Elks and escorted to the Philipsburg Masonic Hall where the Philipsburg and Missoula B.P.O.E. performed a burial service. Requiem High Mass was on Monday at the Catholic Church with internment at the Philipsburg Cemetery. Survivors were: son, John J., working at The Anaconda Copper Mining Company.

The Outcome of Booze Versus Brothers

On December 22, 1899, The Philipsburg Mail carried the ghastly story of the Johnson brother’s quarrel. Apparently the three brothers had lived in the Antelope area about 4 miles west of Philipsburg for several years and were from Finland. They made a living by cutting timber into railroad ties and chopping cordwood. “About 4 o’clock Wednesday morning, John Johnson, a Finlander, accompanied by his brother Herman appeared at the sheriff’s office and informed Sheriff Metcalf that he had shot and killed his brother Jacob and had come to give himself up. …Johnson informed the sheriff that the brother Jacob had been to town Tuesday and returned to camp late very intoxicated and with a bad temper. He swore he would kill John and arming himself with a broadaxe, proceeded to chop his way into the cabin. John told him, if he would lay down the axe and come in to bed everything would be all right, but if he did not let up with the axe he would shoot. Jacob continued to chop and was making good headway when John got the rifle and shot through the door. The chopping ceased and when John and Herman opened the door to investigate they found their brother laying there, mortally wounded. They carried him inside and laid him on the bed where he soon expired. After hearing the story, Sheriff Metcalf locked John Johnson up, and in company with George W. Opp drove to the scene of the tragedy, where the dead man was found, as told by the brother. Another Finlander was found asleep in the cabin, and on being awakened informed the sheriff that he knew of no trouble and had heard no shooting. He did not know that a man was dead in the cabin or that anything out of the ordinary had taken place during the night. A coroner’s jury, composed of J.D. Hartwell, F.C. Walker, Frank Freschlag, Wm. Clawson, Archie McDonald and G. W. Opp visited the camp and inspected the premises…. It was found that he ball had entered the body on the right side of the abdomen and came out in the back near the left kidney.” 

John Johnson was about thirty years old and his brother was two years his senior. The Mail learned from John that he and his brother quarreled frequently due to Jacob’s temper when he drank. Jacob was the teamster and brought the product to market while the other two brother’s did the chopping.

 John’s trial was set for March 12th 1900, at which time he was tried for the killing of his brother.   Both the Johnson brother’s and many of the other witnesses spoke very poor English and so most of the testimony was given through an interpreter. Many people were called before a jury could be convened and so after 3 days the short trial began and a verdict was returned after one hour of deliberation. “The courtroom was packed when the jury returned with the verdict and when it was known that John Johnson was to go free there was joy among the Finlanders, who all seemed to favor John Johnson…The jury evidently took the view that the defendant had acted in self-defense when he fired the fatal shot that took the life of his brother.”

Maybe Should Have Been Named Deceit Not Hope

 

The following events have crossed my mind often as I have researched articles about this areas history. Granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com states “In 1873 Felix McArdle reported that the first 2000 feet of lode claims bought by The St. Louis and Montana Mining Company was almost worthless with the discoverers in some cases proving unable to even show the location of the ground. The names of these claims were: Gold and Curry, Ledger, W.B. Dance, Legal Cap, Wabus, Lord Byron, and Decope Chickoman. {Hector}Horton was the discoverer, but the lots sold were not his discovery lots, but other lots along the vein that belonged to {Reece}Anderson, {W.B.}Dance and {James}Stuart. 

According to a document in MHS {Montana Historical Society}, they attempted to sell this claim footage to the St. Louis and Montana Mining Co. for $100,000 in stock. The sale recorded in the courthouse is for $500 cash, but perhaps stock was a second, unmentioned “valuable consideration.” In any case, it would be understandable if Horton didn’t care to show the discoveries, because he had been cut out of the sale. One major claim is absent from the discussion-The Hope Lode. …This claim was not located by Horton, and was not located in 1864. It was located in July 1867 by Reece Anderson. 

However a December 17, 1905 Anaconda Standard stated that the honor of this discovery of the Hope mine actually belonged to Rory McRae of Stone Station.” 

“ When the St. Louis Company, which first purchased the Comanche claim on Hope hill began work on it, McRae was employed as a carpenter, his duties being to cut timbers for the mill, which was then in the course of erection. The Comanche was a rich claim, but the ore shoot was small and the mine soon ‘pinched out.’ McRae’s work brought him frequently to the top of Hope hill. Returning one evening. he picked up a piece of float rock which bore the unmistakable traces of mineral. He broke the quartz with his axe and on his way home showed the rock to Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart (sic) who were employed at the Hope office. Anhauser was the son of a St. Louis brewer and could not distinguish a piece of float from a keg of his father’s foamy product and Anderson and Stewart were equally as ignorant of mining. They ‘jollied’ McRae into the belief that the rock was not worth assaying, but ascertained the spot where McRae found it. 

That evening they showed the rock to Dr. Merrill, who was then the assayer at the Hope mill. Dr. Merrill at once pronounced the rock rich in silver. Before daylight the next morning Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart found the ledge, located the Hope mine and soon afterward sold the property to the old Hope Company for a good sum. The Hope was one of several lodes sold by the Stuarts, Dance et al, to the St. Louis and Montana in 1867 for $25,000. It is likely that part of the sale price was reimbursement for the purchase of the Comanche lode and other claims and part for the Hope itself, which proved to be an excellent mine.” 

The Federal Census, lists Rory as a farmer in 1880 and a miner in 1910. A news article in the December 20, 1887 Mail states “A tunnel is being run in the Boulder District by Dominick Mellen, Rory McRae and Will Albright. indications are good on the surface and when the tunnel is 200 feet the vein will be tapped at 300 feet.” Also, although his residence was at the ranch at Stone Station his family tree indicates he was living in Granite in 1905. All of this gives credence to the fact that needed income to support his family was earned by working in and around the mines and as most of the people in the area, had an interest in the industry. Did he realize he was spoofed out of a very rich mining claim or was the story just that…a story developed while the men were swapping tales over a few late night drinks? 

Rory was born Roderick Duncan McRae to Duncan and Margaret (Munro) McRae at St. Elmo Muskoka, Ontario Canada in February 1845. He immigrated to the US in either 1862 or 1866 and had an unclaimed letter posted in the Montana Post on November 15, 1866. Rory married Minerva Frances Burden on June 10, 1873 in Deer Lodge and to this union were born: Roderick Duncan Jr.; Margaret (Holton), William, John, Mary (Mamie) (Powell), and Minnie (Cyr). He retired from ranching at the Stone Station and lived for 13 years in Philipsburg before his death from Mitral Insufficiency on June 17, 1923. He was interred in the Philipsburg Cemetery.

A Really Good Friend Tried to Help

 

Percy W. Merrifield known always as “Perd” probably came to Granite County about 1888, which is when his mother Orphenia Niles arrived in Philipsburg, according to her obituary in June of 1905. At the time of Orphenia death, she was living with Perd and his wife Frankie (Porter) at the family home on Duffy Street. Of note, Percy was 50 years of age when his son Forrest “Buster” was born. 

Sometime after this they moved to the “Porter’s Corner” area ranch south of town where he built a massive barn, that at this time is still standing. 

                                                Perd's Barn, Photo courtesy of Pat Heimark

This article is about Perd and John Rundin a wood hauler who had made his home at Flint Creek Crossing for about 20 years. Accordiing to the Philipsburg Mail, John went into town with a load of cordwood on Saturday April 3, 1909 “and after delivering tied his team and visited for a time with friends. He imbibed perhaps a little too freely and fell asleep in a certain barroom. P.W. Merrifield found him there and decided to take the old man home, as he had done on several occasions before. 

Mr. Rundin was using a team of horses belonging to Mr. Merrifield and the two were old time friends. Mr. Merrifield got the team and wagon with the empty wood rack and then had several friends assist him in loading the old man on the wagon and started up the valley. After being out in the fresh air for a time Mr. Rundin became contrary and Mr. Merrifield had great difficulty in keeping him on the wagon and driving the team at the same time, Near the Snavely place, Rundin fell from the wagon and one of the wheels passed over him. Mr. Merrifield was unable to get him back into the wagon as the old man was hostile and wanting to fight. Mr. Merrifield then drove over to the schoolhouse {Trout Creek} where election was in progress and had several men come over and help put Mr. Rundin back on the wagon. 

He then proceeded toward camp and when within a short distance of the cabin Rundin again fell through the rack and the wheel passed over him again. Lee Metcalf in a single buggy followed a short distance behind the wood wagon and he assisted Mr. Merrifield in carrying the old man into the cabin and putting the team in the barn. Then the two drove back to the schoolhouse. They met J.B. Harris on the way to the power house and asked him to stop in and see how the old man was getting along. Mr. Harris found him in great pain and after making him as comfortable as he could, hastened to the power house and informed Mr. N.J. Mershon, who was with his wife, and they came down and remained with the old man nearly all night. They were unable to get Philipsburg by telephone to call a physician so Mr. Harris drove down early Sunday morning and put the old man in his buggy and brought him to town where he was received at Mrs. Bulger’s hospital; and everything possible was done for him, The old man did not know how he got hurt and blamed no one for it. 

John Runyon, which is said to be the correct way of spelling his name was a native of Sweden and about 65 years of age.” He died at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning, April 6, 1909 and had no known relatives. 

Perd continued helping people until October 25, 1957.

In Memory of a Peaceful Man

 

“Of human life, history records mainly, the bloody aspect. She delights in and expatiates on the doings and daring of violent men. The victor of marathon, the passage of the Granicus, the defense of Thermopile, the exploits of Hannibal, Achilles, Caesar, Napoleon, Enoch; these and the like are the staple of her theme. Heroes of destruction are preserved in bronze and stone (how else are we to remember them?) From this basis not even the sacred page of history is free. ‘Saul has slain his thousands, but David his tens of thousands’ and this shout of blood, of battle and triumph has rung echoing down the ages. Where then is the peace loving man’s place in the sun? Allen McPhail. Montana Pioneer, 94 years of age, departed this life at New Chicago last week. Civilization for one brief moment was halted while Time recorded the fact that a peaceful man’s work had been completed. In the interval every beating heart in the little community wailed. Stand Aside! while a monument to a man was being moulded to remain forever in memory! Thus as this warrior used the moment for his trumpet, the peaceful man uses the human heart. Here then is his place in the sun and death perpetuates it.” 

This statement was published in the January 31, 1930 Philipsburg Mail. Someone desired to let the history books know that a peaceful man had left this earth on Saturday January 25th. Born at Harrison’s Corners Ontario, Canada on August 8, 1836, Allen migrated to the gold fields of Colorado at the age of 24; then to Denver, and Boise, Idaho. In 1865, he arrived in Montana and settled in the fertile Flint Creek valley where he remained for 60 years. He first engaged in placer mining and in 1871 turned to ranching and had lived continuously on that homestead since. He was an esteemed member of the Society of Montana Pioneers and many attended his last rites. Pallbearers were: John Dingwall, Chester Hoover, Jesse Henderson, Daniel Atwell, John Brogan and Earl Dingwall. Survivors were his wife ( Rozenia Gasper), son Emery, three daughters: Miss Nettie, Mrs. J.R (Annie) Enman and Mrs. (Christie) Nakken and three grandchildren. 

He was laid to rest in the Valley cemetery..Sadly I do not have a photograph of this pioneer.

Was Justice Served

 

George (Terrell) Tyrrell came to Montana after the Civil War and lived in Philipsburg for about thirty years before he got into an altercation with John Ryan in the Philipsburg Brewery Saloon, and shot and killed him, on January 7, 1893, shortly after noon. 

The story goes that: “Ryan, who had been drinking heavily, went into the saloon and requested Tyrrell give him a drink; Tyrrell refused him and an argument followed. Eye witnesses say the two men were talking rather quietly together near a billiard table in the saloon when Tyrrell told Ryan to get out of the house; Ryan paid no attention to the request and Tyrrell stepped into the back room and got a shotgun; coming back with the gun in his hands he again told Ryan to leave the house and almost at the same time the gun was discharged and the entire charge entered Ryan’s face, just above the mouth, passing upward into the brain and killing him instantly….Since his confinement in the jail Terrell has become very despondent and has said that no one felt worse about the tragedy than he does….(He) is a veteran of the late Civil War. About three years ago he was attacked with rheumatism, which had incapacitated him from active work, and those who have known him for many years say he has grown old very rapidly of late and for some time has not acted naturally. John Ryan had also resided in these parts for several years and was known as a hard working man, but was most disagreeably abusive and quarrelsome when influenced by alcohol. When sober, however he was quiet and inoffensive. He leaves a wife and eight children….” stated the January 10,1895, Philipsburg Mail. 

John Ryan’s funeral was held at the family residence two days after the shooting and a large group followed his casket to the Philipsburg cemetery. His headstone gives a birth date of October 6, 1844 and an incorrect death date of January 4, 1895. His wife Mary is also in that grave without a headstone, according to City File cards. 

The coroner’s jury, composed of F.A. Taylor, James McDonel, J.C. McLeod, Conrad Wipf, M.E.H. Gannon and M.E. Edwards, returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts, and George Tyrrell was to be tried at the next term of court. 

Research found articles in The Mail in 1887 stating George who had recently worked at the Kaiser House Bar was assisting G.A. Kellogg in surveying The Hill and in April 1889 where he was “down sick with a cold” 

On January 17th George waived examination before the District Court so he was to be held in jail until his trial. 

The headline DEATH OF GEORGE TYRELL with the following story graced the March 14, 1895 Mail: “George E. Tyrell, who was confined in the county jail awaiting trial for the killing of John Ryan was found dead in his cell at 7:30 o’clock Monday morning, having succumbed to a violent attack of nervous prostration and physical exhaustion. For two weeks preceding his death Tyrell had been very weak and unable to eat or sleep [as] his nervous system became in a violent state. He was so feeble that on Wednesday last week when he was arraigned in court the bailiffs had to assist him up and down the court house stairs. Jailor C.H. Coy went to Tyrell’s cell about 7 o’clock Monday morning and found the sick man sitting on the edge of his couch in the act of putting on his shoes. After leaving Tyrell’s cell Mr. Coy made his usual morning inspection of the jail and returned to Tyrell’s cell about 7:30 to summon him for breakfast. On opening the cell door the jailor found Tyrell sitting in about the same position as he had left him a half hour previous only he was leaning against the bedpost and on approaching him he discovered the man was dying. Mr. Coy immediately summoned Under Sheriff Argall and they placed him back on the bed and as they did so he breathed his last. Dr. Power, after making an examination declared the death natural and no inquest was held…..The deceased was 56 years of age and a native of Illinois. He has been a resident of this state for a quarter of a century…no one seems to have any knowledge of his family connections, though it is said he has a brother in Waverly, Iowa who is an editor of a newspaper in that place….Tyrell worked at Hope Mill before his health failed him and of late had been barkeeper in various places in town. Tyrell’s trial was to take place in District Court yesterday.”

From Rough Neck To Law Enforcer

 

Gus McDonald Photo cropped from "Dirty Dozen" picture from Lou Ann Fessler Sichveland collectiom

Angus “Gus” A. McDonald (4-18-87 to 9-9-1962) was born to John and Louise. He attended the Philipsburg schools and Gus was one of the “Dirty Dozen”. One of the escapades the group was known for was when there was a dance in Drummond and without an easy method to get to the function, they borrowed a railroad car and easily pumped it down the valley to Drummond. Hearing about the missing car, the sheriff (Fred Burke) put out the warning that if the car was not back at the Northern Pacific Depot by morning, the known culprits would be hauled off to jail. The message did not take long to reach the young men and they hitched a horse to the car and pulled it back up the tracks and put it in its rightful place by morning. 

Gus enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 15, 1917, and while on leave according to the Philipsburg Mail, July 12, 1918: “An automobile party comprising Angus McDonald, Frank Fulkerson, Miss Esther Miller and the Misses Viola and Blanche Kneale had a miraculous escape Sunday afternoon when the machine they were driving in overturned just this side of the “Speedway” on the road to Anaconda. …Miss Viola Kneale had an arm broken and was rendered unconscious while the other members of the party were bruised and badly shaken up. Passing autos took them to a hospital in Anaconda where their wounds were attended to. The automobile was said to be going better than 60 miles an hour when it passed a raised culvert, which caused the machine to swerve completely around and struck a bank which caused it to turn over several times, pinning the occupants underneath. Passing autoists released them. Angus McDonald was driving the car which is badly wrecked.” 

Gus was discharged from the service on January 17, 1919. “Gus and his friend William G. Gregovich stood up for each other as witnesses when Gus married Blanche Kneale and Bill married Miss Elsa Brunn… at the parish House of St. Philip’s Catholic Church on December 24, 1920. Blanche was a teacher at Granite and planned to complete the school year… The two grooms would return to mining at Sunrise. .” I do not know when this marriage ended, but she was still Mrs. Angus McDonald, when she attended the funeral of her father, the week of April 9, 1926. 

During prohibition, in December,1922 ”…three stills, several gallons of whiskey and a large quantity of

corn, sugar, and corn meal were confiscated. One alleged moonshiner and one alleged bootlegger were placed in jail and warrants were issued for two other men. Two stills of eighty gallons and sixty gallon capacity were found going full blast in a cabin near Tower, about a mile northeast of Philipsburg, Tuesday afternoon. Five gallons of the finished product was confiscated and twenty four barrels of mash or about 1,200 gallons, destroyed. The operators of the two stills saw the officers coming and ran up the hill through the trees like a pair of frightened jack rabbits and got away, but warrants have been issued for their arrest. According to Sheriff Burks, the roar of the blast furnaces could be heard long before they got to the location of the stills. Both stills were operated by gas burners and pressure tanks. Four burners furnished heat for the eighty gallon still and two for the smaller still. Moonshine whiskey was running from the coils at a rate of five gallons an hour…” Of interest is the fact, none of the alleged moonshiners and bootleggers were named. 

It was almost a year later, the cases came to trial, in Judge George D. Winston’s court and one of the three charged was Gus. His charge was unlawfully manufacturing intoxicating liquor. The following jurors returned a verdict of not guilty: Fred Cyr, Maurice Weaver, George P. Nelson, W.F. Bentz (my Grandfather), Ernest Maehl (Angus’ grandfather), Freeman A. Taylor, Joseph McDougal, Vern A. Carnegie, Julius Swanson, James Mellen, W.A. Griffith and W.E. Metcalf. A poll of this group disclosed that two felt him to be guilty: Swanson and Griffith.

In 1928, apparently deciding to be on the other side of the law, Gus ran for Sheriff of Granite County and won with 742 votes against Nate Burt Sr. Gus continued winning the sheriff election every two years until he: “…quit his job as sheriff and has joined up with Uncle Sam to fight the Jap’s and other axis powers. McDonald joined the Army in Missoula Saturday [February 14th]” according to the March 6, 1942, Mail. 

On January 7, 1941, Gus had married Clarice Superneau and the Granite County Commissioners appointed Clarice to fill the Sheriff vacancy until the end of his term, stated the above paper. Other persons applying for the position were: H.B. Kaiser, Fred Cheeseman, Fred Superneau (who was under sheriff and Clarice’s brother) and Harry C. Herron. The Commissioners felt Clarice would otherwise be left without an income, with Gus leaving in this manner. 

Gus served as president of the Montana Sheriff and Peace Officers Association and won the individual police championship trophy for pistol shooting in Shelby in 1952. He was a member of the Northwest Championship Pistol Team from 1939 until 1942. To this marriage was born two children: Darell Gene on September 29, 1944 and Colette on August 22, 1947. They lived their entire marriage in the original house of Dr. Power and Darrel then lived there until his death in 2021.

Nicholas, Alex and Josephine Ringeling

 

Spoken of earlier as a Vigilante, N.B. Ringling (Ringeling) was in the headlines of the January 26, 1906, Philipsburg Mail, with the sale of mining claims in Butte. He held half interest in two placer mining claims near the Pittsmont shaft, for over twenty three years, and though it was considered of little value he had continued to hold onto the claims. The Amalgamated Copper Company, were co-owners of claims only 500 feet away. Mr. J. J. Stewart of Butte, agreed to pay N.B. $100,000. A cash payment was made as a down payment and the remainder was to be paid in four quarterly installments ending in 18 months. Although N.B. felt the price really too low he had the need to provide comfort to his aging mother, so agreed to the price. N. B.’s brother, A.B. Ringeling, was involved in the re-organization of the Philipsburg Silver Cornet Band and served as their secretary and as a trustee. In the same issue of the Mail, is the announcement, A.B. Ringling was elected president of the newly organized Stockmen’s Association. Vice president was Albert Shuh (Schuh), Treasurer A.A. McDonald and Secretary C.H. Eshbaugh. Next A.B. was re-elected as Chief of the Fire Brigade and because the treasury was in negative territory a committee was formed of Ringling, Fairbairn, and A.S. Huffman to revise the Fireman’s Hall rental schedule. This was where most of the town dances and social functions were held. Continued research reveals he was elected as an alderman, and he was elected president of the City Council at the May 3, 1897 Council meeting. 

Alex was also involved in mining in the Frog Pond basin as I found the following: “Mrs. A.B. Ringling left last week for the Frog Pond Basin, where her husband is engaged in mining. Mrs. Ringling contemplates remaining all winter.” Mrs. A.B. (Josephine) was born in Southington Connecticut on March 18, 1861 and arrived in Philipsburg in 1891. One year later she married Alexander and was very active in Philipsburg life. She became proprietress of the Grand Hotel and Restaurant, originally owned by Charles Stringle, in December 1896 and was often involved in catering meals for the Fire Brigade and Philipsburg Band where Alexander played Tenor Drum. Because of the “Times” she was always referred to as Mrs. A.B. and even in the census was listed as housewife, including after she became Deputy Montana Fish and Game Warden for the Philipsburg District. The Federal census states she had one birth but no living children. 

Death came to her from Pneumonia after she was fishing on Georgetown Lake on October 28, 1925. Her Death certificate lists her occupation as housewife even though she was still employed as the Fish and Game Warden, with maiden name and parents name listed as unknown. 

 Alex, educated as a Stationary Engineer was involved in Silver Mining and served many years as Chief of the Fire Brigade. When he became infirmed they altered his duties and continued electing him as chief. His death came October 8, 1928 at Yenter’s Hospital, in Philipsburg. 

Nicholas Berthoud Ringeling, “Montana’s oldest mining engineer and resident of Granite County for the last fifty years”, died on his ninety first birthday, at a friend's home at Georgetown Lake, February 6, 1940. Born in St. Louis Missouri on February 6, 1849, he was educated in Missouri and then attended Washington University. Next he traveled to Freiburg, Germany and attained a mining degree at their world famous mining school. In 1875, he moved to Butte and was an associate of Marcus Daly in the early 1880’s and ran a mining office with a partner named Kellogg. 

N.B. came to Philipsburg about 1890, opening a mining office and then, became involved with Hope Mining Company. During the years, he acquired many mining properties and in his later years spent his time working the claims. He was a very large, handsome man and his athletic build served him well as a fencer and boxer. He trained in his early years under a renowned English Boxing champ named Tom Allen. His horses, racing dogs and game cocks were the finest in the area and he made a handsome sight when he drove the streets in his Connolly Buggy. 

Because he never married, he lived alone in his residence on the upper end of Broadway, after his mother and two brothers died. A picture of him with the Barr Family and their daughter Kathryn Hoben shows a very large dapper man, dressed in a fur coat. Funeral services were held in Anaconda on February 8, with burial in the family plot at Mount Moriah Cemetery, in Butte, next to A.B and Josephine.

A Philipsburg Vigilante Affair

The Philipsburg Mail Archives had a short article in the May 25th issue about “The P'Burg Vigilante Case Thrown Out of Court” from 1888, which reminded me I had ran across that article years ago and could not find any follow up to understand the happenings. So I set about delving into the Library of Congress Newspaper archives. Seems that the Philipsburg news media did not really wish to discuss the happenings but other news papers in the state carried articles of the story. 

Almost a year earlier, the July 30, 1887 Livingstone Enterprise published the following article: “Between twenty-five and fifty masked citizens at Philipsburg last Friday morning before daybreak, took Louis Demars, Samuel Tolman and Fred L. Currie from their lodgings and marched them out of town. Near the outskirts of town a rope was put about the necks of the two former and they were drawn up but let down again, and admonished never to return to Philipsburg. Currie kept on walking but Demars and Tolman returned the same day and swore out complaints against a number of the alleged assailants, whom they claim to have recognized. It seems this trio had incurred the ill will of the citizens of Philipsburg, by jumping certain mining claims. Monday morning James Patten, Mike Shovelin, M. Burke, N.B. Ringling [Ringeling], Joe Napkey, L. Porter, Charles Porter, Joseph Valley, Hugh McDonald and Mark Sullivan charged with being implicated in the affair, were arraigned at Deer Lodge to answer the charges against them. They pleaded not guilty and the trial was set for Wednesday, when all but Chas. Porter were placed under bonds of $1,000 to appear before the Grand Jury at the next term of court.” 

 The July 28, 1887 Helena Weekly Herald stated: “The Philipsburg Affair. From Deer Lodge July 27-Special to the Herald-The case of the Territory against (The above named men) on the charge of riot, came up for trial before Judge Emerson this morning at 10 o’clock. The defendants are charged with complicity in the recent mobbing affair at Philipsburg and are the same that were arraigned last Monday. …When the case was called the prosecuting counsel withdrew the charge of riot and entered complaint against the defendants for assault with intent to do bodily harm. The case was then continued until this afternoon when the parties will have a hearing on the latter charge.” 

Research does not reveal the afternoon case, nor follow-up until The Butte Semi-Weekly Miner May 16, 1888 carried the following: “…The Ku Klux Cases so called because the indictments were framed and it was sought to try the defendants under the United States laws against conspiracy to assault which was framed during the reconstruction days, The offense alleged in the indictment is that the defendant, Ringling and others, in pursuance of a conspiracy entered a cabin of Sam Coleman and Louis Demars’, the owner and locators of the Charles Clarke (?Sp) No. 2 lode mine in the Flint Creek District and assaulted them with pistols, guns etc., put a rope around their necks and threatened to hang them, ordered them to leave and never return to the district and by force attempted to compel them to sign a deed conveying all of their interest in the mine to one of the attacking party….It having been decided previously that the defendants should be tried separately Mr. Ringling was arraigned and pleaded not guilty…a lengthy legal discussion followed and that the indictment was erroneous in that it alleged the witness was the owner and locators of the mine, which allegation was not borne out by the records.” 

 Apparently five people were the original locators and the argument was that although the defendants insisted the claims were located in May and that on July 22 they were deeded over to the two defendants, the deeds were produced but because they were dated August 1 they were ruled out. After about four hours of legal battling it was moved that the jury be directed to return a verdict of not guilty. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty and the prisoner was discharged and his bail returned. 

Obviously the other defendants cases were then dismissed as they had all been charged with the same offense. I am assuming since N.B. Ringeling had been a Mayor of Philipsburg and was very influential in his managing of more than one mining company, the choice to have his case go first held great weight. Most interesting is how a case of a mob threatening citizens with a lynching was manipulated to rest on the fact that the prosecution did not have a proper deed to the claim the dispute was based on.

Why Did Lonergan Kill Duffy

Because the prominent position and subsequent demise of Mr. Duffy was pertinent to the history of the area, I believe he is worthy of discussion.. The first reference found was: “J.C. Duffy and wife to Michael Day $800, placer claims No. 21, 22, and 23, finraes, tools etc., in Wilson District” in the New Northwest, September 10, 1875 edition. The wife listed here must have died prior to 1899, when he married Lena McDonald. 

The first reference I found of J.C., involved in the Miner’s Union was in the March 19, 1897, Philipsburg Mail: “J.C. Wilson, who was recently elected to the position of financial secretary of the Granite Miner’s Union, has resigned and in his stead James C. Duffy has been elected. No extensive mention of his qualifications is necessary to be made, as almost everybody in the county knows the gentleman and his ability to creditably fill the office is equally known.”

J.C. ran for the office of State Representative for the County of Granite, in 1898, on the Democratic ticket, but lost to L.C. Parker, 575 to 610 votes according to the Philipsburg Mail, November 18, 1898. 

 “Mrs. James C. (Lena Mae) Duffy died at the home of her mother, Mrs. A.C. McDonald, in Granite Feb. 5, 1900, after an illness of about three weeks. Mrs. Duffy was only seventeen years and eight days old… A child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Duffy several weeks prior, but only a short time was Mrs. Duffy permitted to enjoy the blessings of motherhood. When her father, the late A.C. McDonald, died two weeks before, Mrs. Duffy was very ill; her condition so critical that she was not informed of his death, although it occurred in the same house. Survivors were: her mother, husband, infant and two sisters. 

In 1910, J.C. was elected to the office of State Representative for Granite County, and about that same time he became the Deputy State Game and Fish Warden, for the local district. For no apparent reason a fellow Irishman shot and killed James, on a Saturday afternoon, January 8, 1916. 

The shooter, Michael Lonergan was a well known miner from Granite and employed by the Granite-Bimetallic at the time of the incident: “The shooting took place in front of the post office about 3:20pm, just after Duffy had left the post office with mail in his hand….As the shot rang out Duffy was seen to fall on the sidewalk and Lonergan stood near by brandishing a revolver. He was excited and said that he did it, but willingly gave up his gun to Herman Hauck, a clerk at the post office...Under-sheriff A.R. McDonald was less than a block away and took Lonergan into custody a few minutes later…The stricken man was carried into Jas. Sundberg’s place where Dr. Casey made a hasty examination. A bullet wound over the left eye showed that there was no hope. A few minutes later Rev. Father D. Meade arrived and administered extreme unction to the dying man. After the rites of the church were conferred, Mr. Duffy was removed to the Silver Lake Hotel where he passed away at 6:30pm.” 

A coroner’s inquest was held on January 16th and the jury brought a verdict of death from a bullet wound to the head inflicted by a shot fired from a revolver in the hands of Michael Lonergan. According to the article Mr. Lonergan, had been down from Granite a number of days seeking treatment for a bronchial condition and had been drinking alcohol at the time of the incident. He bought the gun and shells the day before and only one bullet had been fired from the gun at the time of Duffy’s death. 

 James, born in County Donegal, Ardsmore Turaconnell, Ireland on January 2, 1866 had lived in Granite for over twenty five years and was active in the Democratic Party. The funeral for James was on January 11, from McGurks’ Hotel (The Silver Lake) to St. Philip’s Catholic Church, where requiem mass was celebrated and then on to the Philipsburg cemetery with internment beside his wife Lena May. 

The preliminary hearing of Michael Lonergan was held in Judge Sayrs’ court (January 28, 1918). Lonergan was represented by Attorney W.L. Brown and Judge D.M. Durfee appeared for the state. The prisoner waived the right to testify in his own behalf. The trial on March 15, took two days to secure a jury and they returned a verdict “of guilty of murder in the second degree and left the punishment to be fixed by the court”. Judge Winston sentenced Lonergan, to the State Prison, for a term of not less than thirty years and not more than forty, on March 23, 1916. 

At this time Lonergan’s prison release has not been found.

Bi-Metallic and Degrees of Gray

 

The Bi-Metallic Complex Photograph from the Ted Antonioli collection

                                                                       Unknown date

One cannot recite the history of Granite County without speaking about the Hope Mining Company, the Granite Mountain Mining Company and the Bi-Metallic Mining Company which merged in 1898 and was presided over by Paul Fusz until his death, February 16th 1910. At that time Charles McLure, who had always been involved in Granite Mountain, took over the presidency. The Bi-Met was in the newspapers almost weekly-be it: The mill is running at full capacity; Jack Boyd and Hank Noble are accused of robbing the mills bullion room; or the mill announced they will be shutting down on Friday causing all local businesses to announce they will be going to cash only beginning next week. As recently as the 2010’s the Mill (albeit remodeled and restored) was back up and running. Although the ore being processed was first from the Drumlummon at Marysville and later ore from Canada, good paying jobs were again available to the residents. One of the last surviving Millwrights, “Wildmeat” put the mill back into running order and trained the new employees to practice this vanishing trade. 

Every time I visit the Mill or the “Brick Hotel” next door or look at pictures of the mill in my files I hear the lines of the poem “The Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg.” This writing was composed by Richard Hugo (1923-1982), who was born and died near Seattle, but lived for a period in Missoula and taught at the University. Hugo had a skill of capturing the essence of a community by driving to an area and spending one day there. This he did in Philipsburg in 1982 and published the following poetry in 1984. (I recommend the reader slowly read each line aloud and think about their ups and downs they have experienced, while digesting the words.) 

 You might come here Sunday on a whim 

Say your life broke down. the last good kiss 

You had years ago. 

You walk these streets laid out by the insane, 

past hotels, that didn’t last, bars that did, 

the tortured try of local drivers to accelerate their lives. 

Only Churches are kept up. 

The jail turned seventy this year. 

the only prisoner is always in, not knowing what he’s done 

The principal supporting business now is rage. 

Hatred of the various grays the mountain sends,

hatred of the mill, 

The Silver Bill repeal, 

the best liked girls who leave each year for Butte. 

One good restaurant and bars can’t wipe the boredom out. 

The 1907 boom, eight going silver mines 

A dance floor built on springs 

All memory resolves itself in gaze 

in panoramic green you know the cattle eat

or two stacks high above the town two dead kilns, 

the huge mill in collapse for fifty years 

that won’t fall finally down. 

Isn’t this your life? 

That ancient kiss still burning out your eyes. 

Isn’t this defeat so accurate, 

the Church bell simply seems a pure announcement; 

ring and no one comes? 

Don’t empty houses ring? 

Are magnesium and scorn sufficient 

to support a town not just Philipsburg, 

but town of towering blondes; 

good Jazz and booze 

the world will never let you have 

until the town you came from dies inside? 

Say no to yourself. 

The old man, twenty when the jail was built, 

still laughs although his lips collapse. 

Someday soon he says, 

I’ll go to sleep and not wake up 

You tell him no, 

you’re talking to yourself. 

The car that brought you here still runs 

The money you buy lunch with 

no matter where it’s mined, is silver 

and the girl who serves your food is slender 

and her red hair lights the wall. 

As a youngster attending school in Philipsburg, very few of the students came from “rich” homes and those of us on ranches out on the creeks, even though we had very little money always had meat potatoes and gravy. Most everyone charged their groceries and some of the kids in town were allowed to go into the store, pick out a candy bar and say “charge it.” Ranchers would pay their bill in full when the cattle were sold in the fall. I remember the “Cash Only” signs when the Mines and Mills would shut down. 

Often the miner stopped at the bar on his way home and the wife joined him, with the children sitting off in the back room. The man whose lips collapsed when he laughed always sat with his two buddies on the bench in front of the Bank and when the mines shut down, the town was very quiet. But there was still logging…then it shut down too. Now the product is the up and down of tourism and the Mill still stands.

 

Crew and probably management during repair of the Bi-Metallic Mill

Date unknown

Ted Antonioli collection

POW, Government Trapper and Search and Rescue

 

Frank Haacke Military photo courtesy Ann Allen

Located across the valley, near the base of the Antelope Hills six miles south of Philipsburg was located the Haacke place. Frank E. and his wife Emily “Pat” ( Kidder) Haacke settled there after Frank came back from the WWII prison camps. Originally, Frank’s parents Henry A. and Estella (Stella) Rose Whittier Haacke settled on a homestead on Little Trout Creek. He was the fourth of seven children born to Henry and Estella. Frank’s grandparents, David and Harriet Louisa (Phelps) Haacke, homesteaded outside of Stevensville at the base of the Burnt Fork Trail and were known to bring sacks of flour from their grist mill by a mule train over the Sapphire Mountains on what was then called the Bitterroot Direct Trail. This trail came from Burnt Fork through a pass and dropped down into the Stoney Gulch coming out on lower Rock Creek. Frank attended the East Fork School and one year in Philipsburg. He left school after the sixth grade and began working on the local ranches. He also did some rodeoing with his rough-neck peers. 

Frank joined the Army when WWII began and during the Battle of the Bulge was captured by the Germans. He escaped with some other prisoners after at least nine months in the camp and ran for the Russian lines. The Russians helped them get to the Americans. After being discharged in Maryland, he rode a Harley Davidson back to Montana, by way of Texas. A later article stated Frank spent time in California recovering before he returned to Montana. I remember when he arrived back in Granite county and was almost a skeleton. His daughter related to me that his weight was 72 pounds. He told about digging many tunnels trying to escape including one where on the escape night the prisoners were confronted with a note from the Germans saying “Boys, please stay for Christmas.” The prisoners were then locked into a “sardine packed box car with fellow prisoners that traveled for seven days…The day the train stopped and Frank’s feet touched the ground an Allied bombing raid began. It gave him his run for freedom.” He was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge, three major battle stars and a good conduct medal and released to find his way home. Named “Shell Shock” during WWII, he was on his own to find ways to cope with PTSD. 

An article written about Frank in the Mail, July 16, 1992 detailed his life after the war. During this period he trapped for the Government and contracted with the Walt Disney Productions to trap a bear for the starring role in “Yellowstone Twins.” Frank also raised at least one wild sheep, named Rambo. My father often hunted Mountain Lions with Frank and he always joined in with Dad, Ceal, Martha and others at the dances at “Uncle Tom’s,” where Frank played his fiddle. Frank became a member of the Montana Fiddlers and took first and second place twice in the Virginia City Fiddlers contest during his lifetime.

Numerous persons lost in the National Forest’s in Granite county were found by Frank and his bloodhounds. Two of those people I can recall. Gerald Barney’s body was found in the Fish Lake area after an extensive search and Duane Cape was more fortunate. At the age of fifteen, Duane went hunting on Mount Amerine and did not return to the car at the appointed time which triggered an extensive search. Duane was found at 4 a.m. sitting by a bonfire he had built to keep warm. After the Gerald Barney incident concerned citizens of Granite county formed a search and rescue committee. This group purchased a female bloodhound pup and presented it to Frank to own and train. The news article on December 13, 1957 stated that in three weeks a male pup would be presented to Frankie Haacke and he would be in charge of training that animal. Father Frank had many bloodhounds in his life. 

He ran for Granite County Sheriff on the republican ticket according to the May 21, 1954 Mail and lost to Nick Munis. Frank and Pat had three children before they separated and Pat remarried; they were: Frank H., Patsy (Bahsteter) and Wally who died July 4, 2007 in Umpqua, Oregon, at the age of sixty-one with nternment in the Philipsburg cemetery with Military honors on July 13. 

Frank suffered a stroke on the first day of hunting season in 1999. After a stay at Fort Harrison and some time with Patsy, he was admitted to Granite County Nursing Home and died on February 17, 2009 at the age of ninety-three. Besides his two children, Frank was survived by thirteen grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. .

Rock Creek-Beautiful Home but Unforgiving

In 1904 sixteen year old Frankie Barnes, was living on the Gillies ranch and had been there since the previous fall. Frankie fell off his horse crossing a branch of Rock Creek while going to bring in some cows Monday evening, May 30. The horse was found wet indicating a struggle getting out of the creek when found by Mr. Gillies. 

A full scale search was mounted but there was no sign of the young man and the horses tracks entered the creek at a point where the water was high, with a swift current. During the search, Lochie McDonald’s horse slipped and he almost drowned, but for August Greenheck who witnessed Lochie’s horse stumble and fall and was able to attach a rope to the fallen man as he held onto some overhanging willows and pull him to shore. After this occurred, the search was called off until the river receded. 

Frankie was the son of Charles Barnes who died in Granite County in 1891 and Mrs. Mel (Jane) Matheson, daughter of Benjamin Walters. He had attended school at intervals in Philipsburg but chose to live with his grandfather Benjamin, who lived on Rock Creek, so this made it impossible to continue attending school in Philipsburg. He started working as a hired hand at his aunt and uncle’s home (Mr. and Mrs. Gillies), in the fall of 1903 stated the June 3, 1904 Mail. 

The next news article concerning Frankie stated that Ike Sanders and his son ( article does not identify the name) were out hunting cattle when the young Sanders saw something in the water. He was unable to determine what it was, so rode into the current to investigate and found the body of Frankie submerged and caught on a log. Each time the current went over the body, the stump of his arm (which the current had caused the hand to be worn away) would come to the surface. Ike and son rode to the Gillies ranch and with the help of Mr. Gillies they were able to get the suspenders unhooked from the snag and pull the body to shore. Because of the cold water the body was well preserved except for the damage from the current during the fifty-six days it was submerged. The body was wrapped and anchored near the creek shore and the coroner was notified. An inquest was held the next day and the cause of death was determined to be from drowning. 

The body was brought to the “Allison undertaking establishment.” Rev. Butter conducted the service on July 26th with interment in the Philipsburg cemetery. Pallbearers were: Ralph McCleod, Holland Fairbairn, George Cartier, Lewis Brown, Lonnie Mitchell and Wingfield Brown, with nearly everyone from Rock Creek present according to the July 29, 1904 Philipsburg Mail. 

The Gillies and Walters’ families were related because Benjamin’s daughter, Annie Walters McCale (who had three children) married James Gillies sometime before their son Joseph was born in 1903. Unfortunately, Annie caught the measles while caring for the Pullar brothers who were neighbors and died May 6, 1911, at the age of forty-seven. Benjamin Walters was born in England in 1834 and came to Montana June 22, 1879. His first wife died in Indiana in 1874 and the second wife referred to only as Mrs. Walters, that he married in 1976, died at daughter Jane’s house in Philipsburg in 1899. 

Ben resided on Rock Creek until his death from Pneumonia December 14, 1914. Survivors were two daughter: Mrs. John (Jane) Phelps of Philipsburg, Mrs. Andrew Simpson of Missoula; Son: George of Granite; grandchildren: Ida Guinanne, George McCale and Midge McCale Martin. As referenced above the reader now realizes the McCale family tree also becomes involved as happens so often in the pioneer population of Granite county. This will be a good discussion in a future article.

Held up a Funeral

This was the Philipsburg Mail headlines on August 18, 1899, with the subtitle “Eccentric Proceedings of Two Intoxicated Men.” On Sunday Afternoon while coming from Garnet a team carrying the remains of Charles Cox “was held up by H. Triggs and Joe Morton, who had indulged in stimulants to the extent they concluded they owned the highway and were bosses of the road.” The men riding with the remains of Mr. Cox were J.R. Cox and W.T. Allison (Coroner) and the team was driven by an employee of Boyd’s Stables. 

 “Triggs and Morton who were traveling in a single rig overtook the body on the grade this side of Flint and in a rather unceremonious manner, with violent language, demanded that they be given the right of way forthwith and proceeded to enforce orders with the aid of a shotgun. The grade is narrow and there was not room at this point to turn out, but realizing they were in danger of being shot the driver lost no time in getting out of the roadway and over the grade. After passing the funeral party the drunken individuals halted and would not permit the funeral party to proceed for fully a half hour, and finally, after much persuasion on the part of Mr. Allison, they drove on, after using some very abusive language and terrifying the gentlemen having charge of the remains. County Attorney Josiah Shull upon hearing of the incident, promptly filed an information against the offenders and they were arrested and lodged in jail to answer a very serious charge. Triggs and Morton are both very well known here, having resided in the county for many years and it would seem liquor is entirely responsible for their conduct. A few months in the county bastion may have a wholesome effect.” 

 The men received a sentence of ninety days and fined $100 each for their conduct. 

Charles Cox had been a miner in the area for some time and research revealed that he was living in Tower in May 1897 and won a Cake Basket at a benefit there. He was found dead in his room at the McDonald Hotel in Garnet on Saturday August 12th, 1899. It was ascertained the death was the result of Heart Failure. He was about 33 years of age and his only known relative was his brother in Philipsburg, J. R. Cox. 

Following the above encounter the man was allowed to rest in peace after a funeral service at his brothers home, under the auspices of the Granite Miner’s Union of which Charles was a member. Unfortunately there is no headstone or record of Charles in the Philipsburg cemetery.