Why Wilma : Thomas Parks

When you drive west on the Skalkaho Highway over the Mungas Hill and down Trail Gulch to the valley, you arrive at the original Parks homestead. The house and barn were located on the left (south) side of the road just as you come out of the gulch.. The ranch was settled by Thomas and Mary (Wight) Parks in 1902. 

News articles state Catherine Wight was Tom’s sister. Research shows all of Catherine’s children listing her maiden name as Haeger and I now realize that Tom married Catherine’s sister-in-law. Because all of the ranchers from East Fork, Middle Fork, Ross’ Fork and West Fork, had to travel to Philipsburg to pick up their mail, Tom petitioned for and became a postmaster. He named his post-office Wilma and located the log building on the north side of the current Highway 38, in the box draw just west of the mouth of Trail Gulch. 

The post office was short lived and served from 1903 to 1905. The reason why he named the area Wilma obviously was left for us to ponder. I found where the Post Office Department was advertising for bids for carrying the mail from Philipsburg to Wilma a distance of eighteen miles twice a week in the August 11, 1905 Mail. The term for carrying the mail was from September 19, 1905 to June 1906. The schedule would be: leave Wilma Tuesday and Saturday at 7 a.m. and arrive in Philipsburg at noon. Leave Philipsburg at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Saturday and arrive at Wilma at 6 p.m. A bond of $4,800 would be required for each person bidding. Since the Post Office closed in 1905 one has to assume that there were no bids for the contract from September to June 1906. 

Tom was very active in Granite County and ran on the Democratic ticket for state representative in November 1908. He received a total of 381 votes; Hanifen received 455; George Maywood received 311; and Hugh T. Cumming the republican won the office with 488 votes. 

Tom was born in Clayborn County, Tennessee on July 29, 1846 and married Miss Mary A. Wight on his birthday in 1880. Two years later they moved to Montana and located on a ranch near Stone Station. They lived at Stone for ten years then homesteaded the property on East Fork. Tom died July 29, 1923 after suffering a stroke while he tended to the ranch irrigation. At the time, Tom and Mary were living in town and motored out to the ranch where he went to work on the irrigation ditches. When he failed to return to the ranch house at the expected time, Mary became alarmed and notified their daughter, Mrs. William (Lala Parks) Carey. She lived on the adjoining ranch just west of her parents. Tom was found on his side in a small irrigation ditch. He was unable to speak but conscious. A physician was summoned and the stricken man was brought to the family home in South Philipsburg. All measures were used to save his life, but were unsuccessful. 

Tom died on his seventy-seventh birthday and forty-third wedding anniversary. Survivors were his wife and two daughters: Mrs. William (Lala) Carey of the adjoining ranch and Mrs. Paul (Nellie Parks Hickey) Neal of Sandpoint, Idaho. The funeral was held at the family home in South Philipsburg on August 1. Rev. W.H. Calvert of Wibaux, Montana officiated. Pallbearers were: C.E. Kennedy, Claude Russell, Vatis Page, A.J. Murray, Dr. W.I. Power and Robert McDonel with internment in the Philipsburg Cemetery. 

Tom’s widow Mary A. Parks was buried next to him when she died in 1934. After leaving the ranch Mary resided at the home in Philipsburg until infirmities forced her to move to her daughter Nellie’s home in Sand Point, Idaho. Nellie was the widow of James Hickey who with his brother owned the Hickey ranch on Mungas Hill. Mary died in Sandpoint on September 30, 1934. Survivors were: daughters Lala Carey and Nellie Neal; nine grandchildren and one great grandchild (not named in the obituary) and sister-in-law Mrs. Catherine Wight. The funeral was held from the family home in Parkerville on October 2. Rev. Smith performed the service. Pallbearers were: Vatis Page, John Murray, C.E. Kennedy, Frank Richards, S.R. Seelos and Olaf Sandin. 

Thomas McLeary Parks (Photo from Joel Christensen Collection)

The Parks homestead ranch was bought by the Allen Webb family after Tom’s death in 1923. After Webb sold the ranch to step-daughter Annie (McCale) and Walt Sanders in 1948, the log post-office was moved across the road to the ranch and remained as a bunkhouse. The ranch house had been rebuilt and burned down in 1934. Neighbors helped rebuild it and that house was demolished a few years ago. At that time the log post-office was still standing. This property is owned by the same people that own the original Sandin ranch so no one lives on the homestead.

Spanish Influenza: Same song second verse?

Emergency Regulations providing for, among other things, the closing of schools, theaters and places of public amusement and prohibiting public gatherings upon the outbreak of influenza in any Montana community were promulgated Monday October 10, 1918, by Secretary W.F,. Cogswell of the State Board of Health. Governor Stewart and Attorney General Ford approved of the regulations stated Helena newspapers. 

The Philipsburg Mail announced: “Notice was published that all public places were closed due to the Spanish Influenza. Dr. W.I. Powers naming this an epidemic issued orders that all public places be closed until further notice. The schools were closed October 10th as was the McDonald Theater and the order also affected the churches"

The Mail goes on to state: “More than 100 cases of the dreaded Spanish influenza has been reported to the Philipsburg Health Officer, (Dr.) W.I. Power since the disease first made it’s appearance and he has issued orders to close all places of meetings, including the schools, churches, and even the public phone exchange…The influenza has already claimed two victims here and it is absolutely necessary that every one take all due caution and use all preventative measures to eradicate this menace to the community. 

“A matter of vital importance” headlined the article October 18th, describing local conditions in reference to the influenza epidemic as extremely serious. The physicians were taxed to the utmost to answer an unusual number of calls for their service and because a dearth of experienced nurses and similar aid it was absolutely necessary that each person co-operate with them in stamping out this disease as rapidly as possible. Strict orders had been given by the Board of Health that congregating for any purpose whatever must stop and the anti-spitting ordinance would be enforced to the letter. Gauze masks were being supplied by the Red Cross chapter and those person’s whose occupation exposed them to influenza were instructed to avail themselves of this article of prevention. For a mask call the Red Cross or Mrs. M.C. Ross. 

Dead from pneumonia was C. Dormet, who had arrived in Philipsburg, from Utah a month before to work in the mill. William Graham of Drummond was rushed to the Missoula hospital, on the evening of the October 17, but died in route. Also, Leland Lacey, who came to Philipsburg, from Hayden Lake, Idaho, about a month ago, became ill a short time ago and died October 17. The ages of these three young men were not given. 

Mrs. John Hickey (Effie May), succumbed to pneumonia on October 14, after an illness of a weeks duration, which began as the Spanish influenza. She was twenty three years old. The influenza epidemic continued and by November 9 had claimed the life of Harry Parfitt Jr., a thirty four year old married man with a ten month old son. Bob Wrightson, died the day of the Mail, publication and the funeral would be planned when word was received from his sister in Salt Lake. Influenza claimed the life of Leslie Bates, of Hall, while being treated in the Missoula hospital. Malcolm McLean died of influenza, in Butte, after moving there from Philipsburg, a short time ago. Services were held in Butte with interment in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Miles John, infant son of Ralph and Sue (McDonald) Williams, also succumbed to the influenza at the age of two and one half months, October 31.. George J. Egge, aged thirty four years and Mrs. Lucille (Perraut) McClellan, thirty one years old were victims of the influenza and pneumonia the past week. Egge’s body was to be shipped to North Dakota, accompanied by his sister. Mrs. Egge would also accompany the body if she was well enough to travel, according to the Philipsburg Mail, November 22, 1918. 

Two more Granite county residents died by mid November: Twenty seven year old, Hadley Morrison, a rancher in the lower valley who was survived by a wife and two small babies. The other victim was Mrs. Vera Mae (Hughes) Bowles, also twenty seven years of age and the mother of Maxine and Bernard. 

E.P. Rule, of Hall, died from pneumonia secondary to influenza, at the Butte hospital on November 30. His son Elisha was also stricken and his condition continued to be serious. He was survived by his wife, son Elisha age twenty one and daughter Della, age six. 

This pandemic was happening as the world was fighting in World War I, food was rationed, everyone was solicited to meet War Bond Campaign goals and there was no hospital in Granite County. The only difference from the situation today is every able bodied person was ordered to work because all the young men were off fighting the war.

Wight: Valley Pioneer Family

 One of the earliest articles found in the news about the Wight family was in the New Northwest and copied from The Standard April 2, 1897 stating: “Alex Wight of the lower Flint Creek valley is losing about 1,000 sheep a day due to lice. He needs to find new grass to move them to. He has 10,000 sheep and is the largest sheep ranch in this country.” 

The Mail on September 29, 1916 announced that Alex Wight had motored to Missoula in his new Saxon, demonstrating the family was involved with the rest of the population in the automobile craze of the time. 

Alex was born in Beverly, Ohio on October 14, 1842. At the age of 21 he came to Montana as an employee of Andrew Davis, who settled in Butte. They drove a herd of loose oxen and cattle as far as Atchison, Kansas then continued on with a wagon train loaded with merchandise to Virginia City. The wagon trip took four months and seven days and ended in Virginia City on August 7, 1864. During the next year Alex worked odd jobs and then took up a claim at Ophir Gulch. After working the claim for two months he sold it for $150 and worked for the owners of the gulch for a few months. Alex then bought an ox team and began teaming, first at Henderson Gulch and then Philipsburg. He had a contract with the Hope Mining Company to haul 600 cord of wood at $3.00 per cord. Alex increased his outfit to seven yoke of oxen and three wagons and made good profits. In 1869 he took his stock to the lower valley for the winter and ended up deciding to stay in the valley and begin raising stock. He lived in the valley continuously for the next 59 years and increased his land holdings until he was the largest land owner in Granite county with a total of 10,000 acres. 

The obituary stated : 

“Wight was a small man about 5 feet 3 inches with broad shoulders and deep blue eyes. He was one of six children. It is said he was a very stylish man in his youth and had many a spinster’s eye on him. When he was 48, he returned to Iowa to visit his parents and met Catherine who was 20 years old. He courted her and wrote to her after returning to Montana. In 1891 Alex returned to Iowa to marry Catherine. Catherine (Haeger) was born in Germany February 6, 1866. Her father was preparing to bring his family to America when he died of smallpox. Her mother left homeless with six children decided to make the journey anyway. Catherine and one of her sister’s grew up on her uncle’s farm, near Wight’s parents. Catherine lived an active life and died at the age of 80.”

 Alex Wight died at his home near Stone May 14, 1928 at the age of 85. At that time, Alex was the president of the Granite Bank of Philipsburg. Survivors were: widow Catherine; sons Francis and Ernest; daughters Mrs. Ruth Hockett and Mrs. Mary Jensen. His funeral was held at the family home near Stone and then at the Methodist Church in Hall with internment at the Valley cemetery.. 

“The funeral procession was one of the largest ever seen in this county and it was estimated that nearly 200 automobiles were in the procession when it reached Hall.”

Alex and Catherine had six children. Ruth Wight Hockett, Eliza [who died at the age of eight from appendicitis in 1901], Francis William, George, Mary Ella Wight Jensen, Ernest and Catherine [who died as an infant September 1907.] Catherine is buried in the Valley cemetery, but there is no record of George’s burial so I assume he was buried in Catherine’s family plot in Iowa. George died of scarlet fever or asthma while they were on a trip to Iowa in 1904. The family returned to their home from Iowa on January 25, 1905 according to the Philipsburg Mail, January 27, 1905. 

Ruth Wight circa 1916

Ruth Wight married S.W. Hockett June 2, 1917 according to the June 8 Philipsburg Mail. Hockett had been the principal of Granite County High School for the past year. Research revealed where they moved with six children from Oskaloosa, Iowa in October, 1934 back to the “old Allan McDonald ranch” near Hall. 

The 1940 Federal Census shows Ruth as head of the household with daughter Carol 17, son Stanley 16 and daughter Walchine ? 13. Research fails to reveal an obituary or death of her husband S.W. 

Ruth, born October 23, 1891 died June 6, 1993 at 101 years in Great Falls and is buried in the Valley Cemetery.

 Keeping with this longevity Ruth's sister, Mary Ella Wight Jensen a life long resident of the lower valley died at the Granite County Nursing Home on May 26, 2011 at the age of 109. Mary provided me with a lot of history from the lower valley when I was writing the" Mettle of Granite County" Books. 

Born on January 14, 1902, at the family ranch near Hall, Mary was their sixth child. She attended a one room school house in Stone for her primary education and boarded with a Philipsburg family to complete Granite County High School. The only time she was ever seriously ill was during a Scarlet Fever epidemic while boarding in Philipsburg and was quarantined “until she was either consumed by the disease or well enough to go home to the ranch to recover.” 

Mary graduated from Granite County High School in 1921 with the class of Dora V. Huffman (Pennington), Humphrey Courtney, Elsie Hauck, Helen M. Kennedy and Matilda Saurer. After high school Mary attended Normal School where she obtained her teaching certificate. She first taught in Nimrod, Montana where there were 5 children in a one room school. Later she taught at Stone and New Chicago with 21 children in a one room school consisting of all eight primary grades. 

Emery and Mary Wight Jensen circa 1926

In 1926, Mary married Emery D. Jensen. They first lived in Philipsburg where Emery worked in Philipsburg and Granite mines. Then they took over one of the three ranches that had been homesteaded by her dad, Alex Wight. After 35 years Mary and Emery turned the main ranch over to her daughter Lois and husband Stewart Hauptman. Mary, Emery and son Wight continued to keep a small herd of cattle and American Standard and Tennessee Walking horses. She had 41 years of married life with Emery before his death in 1967. 

 Emery Jensen was born on September 29, 1897 to Mr. and Mrs. Hans Jensen at Hall. He was educated in Hall. The couple operated the family ranch until he retired and moved into Hall. Emery was a member of the Ruby Lodge in Drummond and a past patron of the Margaret Cumming Chapter of OES 57; a member of the Drummond Kiwanis and the Deer Lodge Shriners. He died at the age of 69 at Hall on September 9, 1967, just short of his 70th birthday and was buried in the Valley cemetery. 

 Mary was an eighty plus year member of the Margaret Cumming Chapter of Eastern Star in Drummond. She rode horse, a four wheeler and snow mobiles until late in her 90’s. She was preceded in death by Emery and her daughter Lois. Survivors were her son Wight; 4 grandchildren: David Hauptman of Drummond, Dwight Hauptman of Alaska, Dan Hauptman of Hall and Ruth Hauptman Linfield of Helena; and 11 great grandchildren: Blake, Ben and Ross Hauptman of Drummond; Mary, Joseph, Gregory and Ben Hauptman of Alaska; Alec, Holly and Logan Hauptman of Hall; and Kelly Wilson of Helena. Funeral services were held at the Hall Methodist Church with burial in the Valley cemetery on May 30th. 

Another siblings of Ruth and Mary was Ernest Wight. He was born April 13, 1903 and married Phyllis Stuart (1910-2000). Their son Mark Wight, born August 4, 1963, died in a motor cycle accident at the age of 19 on July 23, 1983. Ernest died February 6, 1993 just short of his 90th birthday from complications of a gastrointestinal bleed at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula. He was survived by wife Phyllis and daughter Kathryn. Their oldest son William Stuart Wight, married to Carma, had died of cancer in 1984. All of the above are buried in the Valley cemetery. 

The Wight descendants continue to contribute to the history of the lower valley.

The Dirty Dozen

From Left to Right top Row: Percy Barney, Fanny Harris (lower Torso on Fence), Gus McDonald, Bob Kaiser, Big Mac McDonald, Walt Kaiser, Ed Kaiser (on horse). Bottom Row: Jim Young, High Pocket (Miles) Williams, John Schuh, Cecil Fessler, Pat Sharkey

A dozen young men of Granite County earned the nickname of the “Dirty Dozen” during the mid 1910’s. They were all born between 1885 and 1897. A group picture of them after they performed a rodeo at the Degenhart Ranch for the investors and relatives of the Granite Mountain Bi-metallic Mining Company shows very handsome spirited young men. It is assumed this picture was taken prior to World War I as research reveals most of them were drafted or signed up beginning in August 1917. Of interest, there is no record of any of this group graduating Granite County High School, probably secondary to lives of hardship and the War. 

While researching “Mettle of Granite County” books I read a story about a group of rough necks from Philipsburg desiring to attend a dance in Drummond and were unable to find transportation. Being ingenious they “borrowed” the Northern Pacific hand pump railroad car and quickly made it down the valley. When the pump car was missed Sheriff Fred C. Burks wired a notice to Drummond that the pump car was to be returned pronto or the men would be arrested. Finding it much harder to pump the car back uphill the clever guys hitched a saddle horse to the rig and made it back before charges were filed. The article did not mention any names, but “Pat” McDonald verified the story as one of the Dozen’s escapades. 

Research has failed to reveal Percy Barney. I did find a Percy Lawrence Brydon who was rejected for our Army June 1918 because he was a Canadian Citizen. 

I believe Fanny Harris was Frank B. Harris Jr. He was born to Frank B. and Charlotte Harris in 1898 and was one of seven children. He worked as a copper miner; married Agnes Murphy and had daughters Jean and Helen Harris. Frank died at Galen, Montana (Hospital) October 2, 1973 of lung cancer. 

John Schuh (1896-1953) was born to William and Ollie Schuh (who died in 1900). His father then married Jennie Porter with four children, in 1902. William died from blood poisoning in 1906 and I assume grandmother Mary raised Joe, his brother and two sisters. Mary sold 5,000 acres in 1910 and moved into Philipsburg where she died August 22, 1918. John was called by the draft for WWI August 16, 1918. In 1930 he was working in Deer Lodge as a Road Department Mechanic and married Esther Christopherson in 1940. He is buried in the East Helena Cemetery. 

Walt (1892-1980), Bob (1890-1982) and Ed Kaiser (1894-1977) were son’s of John and Jennie (Suppinger) Kaiser. Ed a veteran of WWI,WWII and the Korean Campaign served in the Navy. He worked many years for the State Highway department. Walt, drafted for WWI October 3, 1917, was co-owner of the Hardware store and involved with Charlie Carpp in the Sapphire Mines. He married Irene (McDonald) Bob received his draft notice for WWI August 24, 1917. In 1948, Bob married Beck Hess, Sandin. They are all buried in Philipsburg. 

Gus (Angus) (1897-1962) and Big Mac (John W.) (1895-1956) McDonald were son’s of John J. and Louisa (Kolkschneider) McDonald. Gus served both in WWI and WWII. He married Blanche Kneale in 1920 and Clarice Superneau in 1941. He served as a well loved County Sheriff from 1928 until he resigned to serve in WWII. Clarice (the only woman sheriff), served out the remainder of his term. They had two children: Darell and Colette. Big Mac, married Agnes Maehl in 1926 and continued running the original Schnepel/McDonald Ranch. They had two children: John W. “Pat” and Margaret “Peggy” (Collins). They are both buried at Philipsburg. 

Cecil Fessler (1895-1969) one of eight children born to Wilbur and Etta Fessler, moved to Oregon after WWI and became a logger. He and wife Velma (Abraham) had children: Gerald and Eva Faye. Cecil died in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Pat Sharkey ( 1893-1975) born to Grace (McGee) and James Sharkey, married Ina Fessler in 1918 and they had a son: Cecil. He was a truck driver and died of Colon Cancer with burial in Philipsburg. 

Jim Young (1895-1956) the son of Sam and Annie (Carten) Young was listed as a Boarder age 15 in the 1910 Census in the John Carmichael household, working as a farm laborer. He received his draft notice August 16, 1918. He became a miner and married Ida Barker June 30, 1934. They had Evelyn and James W. He is buried in Philipsburg. 

High Pocket (Miles) Williams (1890-1942) parent’s were Grant S.(Frank) Williams and Nellie Jenkins. He was employed in grocery stores and as a chauffeur. In 1913 He married Gertrude Madigan and later Marie (Amelia?) Smeberger. He died in Seattle, Washington. 

Tough, spirited men they were!

Desperate Deed: Ball Murder

October 12, 1908 in Drummond was the scene of a shooting that killed Fanny Ball “a sporting woman” also known as Mrs. Laura Fuller. The story goes that Thomas W. Howell a pioneer of the area, who was a widower aged 69, became enamored with Fanny about two years prior to the shooting. By “degrees” she obtained almost everything the man owned. After his money ran out she “induced” him to deed over to her several lots he owned in Drummond with the promise that they would build a house on the property and live “as happy as doves.” 

Fanny apparently bought some lumber and put it on the property to convince Howell she was serious and then as soon as he gave her the deed she sold the lumber and lots, converting the deal to cash and prepared to leave town. He became very obsessed with the situation and friends became concerned, telling Fanny to get out of his sight and leave Drummond. 

She did not leave fast enough and on the evening of October 12, Howell went to her apartment and boarding house located over the Headquarter’s Saloon and shot Fanny in the back of the head. No one downstairs heard the shooting and the first indication that something was wrong was when someone yelled “fire.” Mr. Bryan ran upstairs where he confronted Mr. Howell who said “I give myself up. I consider myself under arrest.” Bryan ignored Howell and ran past him looking for the fire. Then he came to Fanny’s room and saw through the open door her lying on the floor and he realized she had been shot int the back of her head. A crowd was quickly gathering and Bryan ran downstairs to contain the onlookers and Howell who was standing in the Saloon door. Bryan at once ordered a team and started with his prisoner to Philipsburg. Fanny lived but fifteen or twenty minutes after the shooting. 

Howell, born in England September 29, 1838, was an esteemed resident of Drummond and had lived there since 1872. The people who knew him well said he was the last man who would commit murder if in his right mind. He had two sons: nineteen and seventeen years of age. His wife had died in March of 1904 at the age of 45. Thomas had worked for years as the pump supervisor for the Northern Pacific Railroad on the division between Helena and Missoula. 

Tom’s mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Howell died January 16, 1899 at Drummond with her sons at the bedside. She was buried in the New Chicago cemetery. Born in London and a member of the Church of England, Mrs. Howell on January 2nd had celebrated her 81st birthday in the company of her sons “and though quite feeble owing to her ripe age she enjoyed good health.” Survivors were her seven children including three sons of Drummond- T.W., A.J. and C.J. Howell, all respected citizens of the county. 

Fanny Ball aka Laura M. Fuller came to Philipsburg in 1891, and moved to Drummond at an undisclosed date. She was about 38 years of age and considered thrifty so “accumulated a considerable amount of money.” Coroner Allison went to Drummond the next morning and after holding an inquest brought Fanny’s body to Philipsburg. Her brother was expected to travel to Philipsburg and accompany her body back east to Moline, Illinois. 

 Judge F. D. Sayrs arraigned Howell, the next morning and set a preliminary hearing for the following Thursday. George A. Maywood represented the prisoner. On December 4, Howell’s bail was fixed at $7,500. County Attorney W.E. Moore and Judge D.M. Durfee would conducted the prosecution. 

The March 12, Philipsburg Mail announced four days transpired while the selection of a jury was attempted. On the morning of the 12th the twelve man jury was finally filled with M.R. Stairs, Pat McGarvey, J.H. Morgan, G.A. Schoonover, Martin Senty, P.S. Carey, S.B. Clark, D. Daigle, W.E. Hunter, D.R. Murray, Fred Geiger and L.C. Degenhart. 

The March 19, Mail stated 

“On account of being insane, Thomas W. Howell of Drummond, charged with killing Mrs. Fannie Fuller, has been acquitted. The jury before whom the case was tried returned a verdict to that effect at one o’clock today…It now rests with the court what further action is to be taken.”

 Several physicians from out of town were being contacted as all the local M.D.’s were disqualified to determine the level of insanity. Natives of the area say the Mason’s were responsible for getting the insane verdict and transported Thomas to Warm Springs where he stayed a short time before coming back to the area. He died September 8, 1918 in Helena after a cerebral hemorrhage with burial at Forest Vale cemetery.

First Class Building (First Rock Creek School)

Flint Creek Rural School House Date unknown

Public schools were established in Philipsburg in the 1890’s. This was great for the children living in town but for those living miles away education was difficult to obtain. Some ranchers found someone to board their children with in town, so they could attend school. Others bought a second home in town and the wife lived in town with the children during the school year. Because most of the population was just making enough to survive on the homesteads many children were not able to attend school. Therefore the families came up with the idea to set up rural schools. 

At first, a group of parents got together and pooled their resources to pay a teacher wages. One ranch would contribute a bunk house or cabin for the classroom. Another would set up a room for the teacher to live in. The logger would provide wood for the school house heat. Someone with a good garden and root cellar would provide food for the teacher, if she was not furnished board with her room. Usually a teacher lasted one school year and then married one of the local single men. It was against the law for a married woman to teach school. The school year in the country schools was at the most only six months. The children began school as soon as the snow started melting about April and they attended school until haying season around the end of July. During school break everyone worked in the fields until the hay was all stacked. School resumed after hay season until the weather set in and the children could not make it to the school house horseback. All eight grades were taught in a single room by one teacher. 

The first news article found about a Rural school was in the May 13, 1898 Philipsburg Mail: 

“The Rock Creek school house is situated where the Ross’ Fork road crosses Middle Fork. The building is 18x30 feet, is built of logs. It has four windows and outside shutters to protect them when there is no school and one door and storm door. The roof is double boarded and the building has a first class floor, and in fact, it is first class all through. The following names are those that contributed towards its erection: Wm Clawson $64.09; P.A. Schilling, $68.75; T.N. Schilling $4.80; John Kaiser $12.75; A. R. Dearborn, $12.75; Daniel Arms, $12.75; Bimetallic Mercantile Co., $4.50; A. McIntyre, $1.80; Fred Albert, $4.80; Herman Price, $6.30; D.N. McDonald, $2.50; John Clawson, $4.50; Harry Ungersum, $12.00; Smith & Kent, $13.80; Calhoun & Son, $8.40; Frank Young, $2.10; Eli Sage, and partner, $6.00; Chas. Porter, $8.10; John Bowen, $4.90; Lew Anderson, $3.00; Fred Helaine, $3.00; total $202.40. One can readily see these people have the American spirit in them to build such as house. Too much credit cannot be given them in their endeavors. Wm. Clawson and P.A Schillings certainly deserve credit for the amount of labor and their unceasing perseverance until they had the house completed. If all the citizens of our county were as loyal to the cause of education, all of our young Americans would have a chance for a fair education. Educate your children and peace and harmony will prevail; if not retrogression will follow.” 

Named the Rock Creek school originally, this was later renamed as the Middle Fork School and served all the children of Ross’ Fork, Middle Fork and for several years East Fork, and the last few years, also West Fork. When the School Districts were formed a minimum number of students were demanded to keep a school open. The Middle Fork School was closed at the end of the 1946-1947 school year as the only children on Ross’ Fork were Helen and Bill Christensen. 

The last one room school house was located in the Sapphire Ranch meadow on West Fork, in 1947-1948., taught by Jewell Ball. Jewell and Bill were allowed by the Walt Kaiser family to live in the Ewing Bungalow. I attended my first grade there with Helen Sanders age five; my half sister Rosalie and Helen Christensen in third grade; Bill Christensen in fourth grade; Wesley Sutherland sixth grade and Naomi Sanders seventh grade. 

The Sanders family moved then from the Amerine Homestead to the Tom Parks ranch at the mouth of Trail Gulch and no district could qualify for a rural school. The School Board gave parents a token fee for fuel and they transported their children as far as 15 miles to Porter’s Corner to ride on the School bus. By 1950 the school bus driven by Forrest “Buster” Merrifield, drove to the West Fork Bridge and turned around. The final route then became over the Marshall Creek Hill to Rock Creek and south to the Skalkaho Highway and back to Philipsburg via Porter's Corner and Highway 10 A, which is now Highway 1.

                                                Middle Fork School Class of 1928-1929

Top Row: Mary Helen Carey, Alice Christensen, Chloe Carey, Ceal Lyon, Fet Sandin, Jean Lyon, Walt Bentz (out of picture). Bottom Row: Bus Hess, Mary Sandin, Faye Lyon Harry Bentz.

 Community Involvement Brings Quality Education 

 In 1893 Miss Abbie Wilkinson the Superintendent of Granite County Schools compiled a school census, which comprised the following school districts and numbers: Philipsburg-358 between 6 to 21 and 278 under age 6; Granite 222 over 6 and 168 under 6; Rumsey 46 over 6 and 5 under; Trout Creek 31 over 6 and 13 under; Black Pine 14 over 6 and 16 under; Princeton 12 over 6 and 11 under; Stone Station 34 over 6 and 12 under; Flint 36 over 6 and 23 under; Willow Creek 29 over 6 and 9 under; New Chicago 30 over 6 and 22 under; Drummond 54 over 6 and 17 under; Hoover 4 over 6 and 1 under; Valley 22 over 6 and 8 under. 

As you can see there was no recognition of children on any of the Forks or Rock Creek at that date. In November, 1894 Stella Engle, Ona Dingwall, Edith Carnegie, Nettie McPhail and James Dingwall were recognized as honor students at the New Chicago School. By 1897 the school Boards of Granite county had passed the Free Text Book Act which gave each district the right to decide whether to buy books at a discount or have the students buy their own. M.E. Doe began advertising School Text Books for sale on a cash only basis.

By 1894 there were 17 voting precincts which consisted of the same population as the school districts. Hoover and Valley were no longer; Philipsburg had been split into North and South; Alps, Rock Creek, Sunrise, Quigley, Mammoth, Royal and Bi-Metallic had been added. By 1906 Porter’s was added (named for A.H. Porter who had owned the property on both sides of Spud Hills that separate East Fork and Middle Fork and was killed in 1897), changing the Rock Creek School to Middle Fork and the Spring Creek School served the Upper Willow Creek and Rock Creek students. 

In 1908 Moose Lake was added but it represented only the residents of Moose Lake and Zeke’s Meadows. 

School teachers had to be single and were not provided with any luxuries causing high turn over. In May 1898 Miss Mary Harrison was hired to teach for four months at the (Rock Creek later Middle Fork) school. By June, she was replaced with Miss Pearlette Scott. Miss Stella Achmire was hired in April 1899. Fred Baxter then began teaching May 4th 1900. Miss Nellie Fahey also began teaching at Lower Willow Creek in March 1900. Miss Mand Pennell (G.B. Ballard’s niece) began teaching at Middle Fork (Porter’s) school May 1901 and took a month long vacation due to extreme heat August 2, 1901. 

Research revealed a front page article concerning the Trout Creek School in the June 2, 1916 Mail that described an exemplary school system. The following is a synopsis of the news article: 

 “The Trout Creek School in District Number 4 was visited by the State Rural School Inspector C.W. Tenney and awarded the degree of Excellence. The award was needed to become the first school in Granite County to be named a “Standard School” on May 17, 1916. This meant the school met all the requirements of the state and county departments of education. The teacher of Trout Creek, Miss Edith Featherman (Horrigan, Seavert, 1894-1983), was presented the standard name plate while many local parents, students and county school superintendent Mrs. Lottie Irvine, looked on. Refreshments were then served to the group that had braved the storm, blowing outside the school building. The trustees: Mssrs. Shoblom, Barker and McCrea assisted with the work done on the school grounds after a new building replaced the old log building a year ago. The grounds were planted and swings and teeters were built for the playground. The games played were so interesting, with the teacher participating, that supervision was un-necessary. The attendance rate of the students was exhibited on an attendance board. This display had increased attendance to a level needed to meet the standard requirements. Participation with other schools was met by putting programs on in conjunction with the Rock Creek students. New lights, a ventilator system and a sanitary bubbler were installed, plus primary equipment and library books were purchased. The old school building was turned into a stable for the students horses and a “first class well was dug.” 

The teacher had visited all the homes of the current students during the school year. 

“Volunteers agreed to keep the grass and flowers alive, so visitors will become interested in this being used as a community park, thus increasing the value of every farm in the Trout Creek School District.”

Edith Featherman married Frank Horrigan and they had a son Sidney before divorcing. She died in Santa Clara, California.

Old Man Rodda: Short on cash and long on offspring

Left to Right: Josie Walberg Parfitt, Young Ed Rodda, Mrs Walberg, Ed Rodda, Mary Hoyt Rodda, Arlene Rodda, May Bentz, Vernus Bentz, Al Rupp and James Rodda (circa 1930)

John Rodda Senior (1842-1916) became foreman of the Granite Mine in 1881. His son John Jr., born in Redruth, England on May 10, 1870, joined his father in 1886 and also worked at Granite. Mrs. Rodda and other family members came to Montana territory in about 1887. In 1889, they lived on the “Granite Companies Ranch” located about ½ mile west of Philipsburg. During this time, John Jr. homesteaded a ranch on lower Rock Creek. 

John Senior, born in Cornwall, England, became a coal miner and married in about 1868. He immigrate to Canada in 1870 and spent several years in the gold camps in Canada and the United States. The story is John would return to England every few years only to father another child and see the one born after his last visit. Mrs. (Cecilia Emma Phillips) Rodda finally packed up the children and came to Montana. One of the stories long told is that Mrs. Rodda ran out of money on her trip and telling her misfortune to another traveler, learned he was a friend of John. The traveler loaned her enough money to continue on to Philipsburg. 

John Senior died at the ranch after an illness of several months. The obituary stated “He found pleasure on his ranch and there lived in perfect contentment and came to town on only rare occasions.” Survivors were: wife Cecilia; sons: John, James, Sidney and Edward all living in Granite County; and three daughters: Mrs. Wm. (Annie) Wills (1873-1967) of Bonita, Mrs. Wm. (Heddie) Davey (Kinsman) (unknown B and D) and Mrs. H. (Cereta) Richards (Hickey, Applegate) (1878-1967) both living in California, and many grandchildren.  

Cecilia Emma (Phillips) Rodda,(1845-1934), married John Rodda Senior, in England in 1868 and bore seven of their eight children there. One daughter died at the age of two in England. Sidney Rodda 1880-1929 died of pneumonia in Missoula. Sidney was to marry Miss Bernie Rice, in the near future. Celia died at the ranch on lower Rock Creek. Survivors were three sons and three daughters. Internment was beside her husband John. 

Annie Rodda (1873-1967) married William K. Wills, June 9.1884 at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. John Rodda. They had: William, Ernest Roy and Lauretta (Tingley). Rodda taxes for the year 1912 were “Rodda, John and son $203.46” on their 16 section homesteads. 

John Senior had also homesteaded on Rock Creek, when Granite was closed. Edward was born on the lower Rodda homestead in 1889 and married Martha Hoyt, on September 23, 1912. They lived on the “Old Man Rodda’s” ranch where they raised three children: Edward, Arlene and Miles. Schooling the children in the rural area was difficult causing Edward to buy the home of Mrs. Nasslin, on the south side of Philipsburg “so they could make their home in the city during the winter” (October 27, 1916 Mail). Edward and Martha died in 1974 and 1978 in San Diego and are buried there. 

Young Ed (1913- 1973) married Miss Francis Smith in Butte, Montana on May 24, 1940. He joined the Army Air Force in 1942 and was discharged July 12, 1944. Edward married Ruth Irvine (1918-1979) in 1948.. After their marriage the couple moved to the John Rodda ranch. They had a son David and daughter Susan (Larner) and grandson Jody Larner. 

 Arlene married Elmer Lueck on November 30, 1938. The couple lived in Philipsburg and he worked at the Jenkins Garage. Research fails to disclose their history. 

Miles (1930-2015) married Janet Dingman (2014) October 4, 1952. They lived for twelve years on the lower ranch before electricity was brought to the ranch and had six children: Juanita Kay (1953-1955), Terri (Kreps), Carol, Peggy (Orr), Brenda Costillo, and twins Ken and Russ. After selling the ranch they moved to Arizona then Ronan, Montana where they lived their last years in a care facility. Their headstones are in the Philipsburg Cemetery. 

In the August 2, 1918 Mail: “Married in Butte on July 22, John Rodda (1870-1944) of Philipsburg, to Miss Annie Lyons of Albany, New York. The newly wedded couple arrived here last week after a very pleasant honeymoon spent at the coast. Research fails to disclose the fate of Annie. 

James P. Rodda (1874-1938) married Miss Edith Dowe of Butte, in Butte, September 1, 1920. The newlyweds were to live on the Rock Creek ranch according to the wedding announcement. In 1928 James P. Rodda ran independently as a write in against G.L. Atwater for Alderman of the second ward. He lost by a majority of two votes.. 

The Rodda family ranches were sold in 1960 to Matilda Wyman. This property was then passed into the hands of Bob Neal. Ed and Ruth remained on Rock Creek until 1965 when they moved into Philipsburg.

Nickel Harvey

Nickel Harvey and "Puppy"

Harvey Bauer, and five siblings (Aloyes, Kathleen, Robert, Alberta and Kenneth) were raised by their tiny, spunky mother Mary, after the death of father, Al, on July 27, 1918. The obituary stated Mary had a premonition and the family story was that Al had a young wild horse in the team of four and the horse had been acting up. Whatever was the cause of her concern, she did get Al to agree he would only haul one load of stulls for the Beaver Creek Mining Company in the morning. Then he would come home early to celebrate Harvey’s 11th birthday, which was that fateful day. About noon one of the team of horses returned to the house and Mary immediately notified neighbors, who took off looking for Al. They found him just above the old Altona Boarding House at the head of Browns Gulch. 

Apparently the ring came off of the neck yoke, near the wheel horse which caused the tongue to drop on a very steep part of the road. The coroners inquest believed Al was sitting on a piece of belt stretched between the bolsters and: When the front wheel struck a tree he lost balance and was thrown violently against the wheel and then the second tree was hit by the hind wheel, the shock throwing the body clear to the road. His watch was found on that side of the road, where the body struck the ground and it is probable that he was rendered unconscious for a while, as a heavy bruise was found under the right arm across the ribs. After coming to, he managed to cross the road where feeling faint he leaned against a tree for support, gradually slipping into the position in which he was found, life being extinct for some time. The watch stopped at 10:10 and this is thought to be the time of the accident. This watch is in the possession of Harvey’s daughter Karen Bauer Gresch. 

Al’s body was shipped to his home town of Medford, Wisconsin on July 29. Mary traveled with the body to Medford, accompanied by the six children ranging in age from eleven years to three months of age. Al was thirty-eight years of age and had lived in the Philipsburg area about six years. His obituary was difficult to find as the name is misspelled as “Bowers”. The obituary stated when Al and her first arrived in Granite County (1912), they homesteaded on Willow Creek and then moved into Philipsburg where Mr. Bauer operated a livery stable. 

In Kathleen Bauer Barlow’s recollections are these statements: “We must have spent one winter out there [the homestead] too as I remember coyotes howling and mountain lions screaming. By this time Dad had bought a saloon and restaurant in town. We lived in a sort of apartment near town and the saloon…After dad bought the saloon and restaurant, Mom would do some of the cooking and send it over to serve. Harvey and I would take his little red wagon with pots of soup and deliver it.” Karen Bauer Gresch, remembers her Dad, Harvey telling stories about Mary making big pots of soup and the children putting the hot soup in a wagon to pull it down to the business, where Al sold it to his customers for lunch. 

Harvey, the eldest, was enterprising from a young age which is how he became known as “Nickel Harvey.” There is a picture taken of him and his dog at about the age of five. A postcard made of the picture is dated 1912. The story goes that Harvey would take his dog downtown and find someone unsuspecting and ask them if they wanted to buy his dog for a nickel. If they agreed and paid a nickel he would take the money and walk away. When he got around the corner, Harvey would whistle for the dog and the two would run off with the nickel clutched in his hand. One day he approached a rancher with a wagon and team and asked if he wanted to buy the dog for a nickel. The rancher said yes; gave Harvey the nickel; put a rope around the dog's neck, tied the dog to the wagon and took off out of town. A very upset boy went in search of the sheriff D.A. McLeod and told him the sad story. Sheriff “Mac“ went after the rancher and obviously bought the dog back and returned him to Harvey. It is unknown if that was the end of his dog sales. 

Harvey (1907-1992) married Vernus Bentz in the early 1930’s and she died in January 1936. After World War II, Sgt. Bauer married Winnifred (Fet) Sandin (1918-2001) July 27, 1945.

The Sandin Family

The Sandin Women: L to R top row: Mary, Hilda, Annie. Bottom Row: Minnie and Elfie

The Sandin ranch home was located on the south side of Riva Ridge which is on the south side of Eagle Canyon. The original product was a homestead claimed by four brothers, Axel, Olaf (Ole), Bill and Louis J.( Jack). There is a probability that some of the sisters were also involved in the homestead. But at that time women were not often legally recognized. 

Lewis and Anna Sandin were born in Sweden and after having John (Louis), Axel and Oscar immigrated to America in 1880. The U.S. Federal Census for 1900 shows them living in Nebraska with John (Louis) 22 and seven other children: Tom (15), Hilda (13), Olaf (9), Mary (8), Minnie (5), Effie (Elfie) (3) all born in Nebraska. I do not know why William age 13, Oscar age 17 and Axel age 20 are not on this census record. Another son, Emil was born in 1902 and died in 1909. 

The homestead claim was recorded July 3, 1901 under Louis J. Sandin‘s name according to the Granite County Clerk and Recorder files. Over the years, other land was added to the homestead such as acreage from George Albers and section seventeen from August Greenheck. This brought the ranch property over Riva ridge and along the south side of Middle Fork. 

The 1910 Federal Census shows Lewis (Louis) age 32, Hilda age 22 and Olaf age 19 in Granite County in the Porter’s Corner Precinct that included Ross’ Fork. Axel age 30 and William age 23 were hired hands for Don DeForest. The assessed taxes in January, 1913 were $121.84 for L.J. and $122.12 for A.H. Sandin. 1920 news articles state Axel was still on the ranch in 1920. 

At least three of the Sandin sisters came west: Hilda (Johnson), Anna (Lindgren) and Mary. Anne Sandin married H. Milton Lindgren in Missoula on November 21, 1917. Mary Sandin was visiting at her sister home when she became ill and died of consumption. She was twenty-seven years, seven months and nineteen days of age according to her obituary in The Mail March 15, 1918. Her mother and two brothers had preceded her. Bill was running the Sandin Ranch stated the obituary. 

Louis (Jack) Sandin became a Citizen of the United States in 1911, while living in Granite County and died on his way to Stromberg, Nebraska on May 4, 1918. He was returning to Nebraska after becoming ill with pneumonia and the doctor advised him to change his climate and altitude. 

During the years the brother's interest were bought out until the sole owner was Ole and wife Beck (Hess) whom he had married on March 31, 1914. Ole was working at Southern Cross on March 15, 1918 though when his sister Mary died. Ole, Beck and daughters Winnie (26 months) and Mary (7 months) were in Mineral County (Superior) for the 1920 census living next to Beck’s parents, T.R. and Rebecca Hess. 

Axel Sandin married Emma Sutherland in Anaconda, Montana on December 17, 1914. After 1920, illness forced him to retire from the ranch and move to town. Axel died May 21, 1940 at his south Philipsburg home after a long illness. Survivors were his wife Emma, and son Lewis (1916-2000)); sisters: Hilda Johnson of California, Effie (Elfie) Carlson of Nebraska, Anne Lindgren of Washington and Minnie Sandin of Seattle; brothers: Ole of Rock Creek, William of Philipsburg and Oscar of Nebraska. 

Lewis and Mildred had three children: Raymond, Carole and Alta. Raymond and Elaine (Owsley) raised a family in Philipsburg and continue to live there. 

Ole Sandin born in 1890 died at the age of fifty-six in Seattle, in 1946. They had moved to Seattle for his health as Ole had suffered with a severe heart condition for several years. His wife, Beck (1895-1972) returned to Granite County after Ole died. She tried to run the ranch with her second husband Robert Kaiser whom she married in 1948. Realizing Bob was not a rancher Beck turned the ranch duties over to Bus and Grace Hess and moved into Philipsburg. The daughters Winifred and Mary by this time had moved away from the ranch. 

Mary Sandin (Kulaweic) died in Seattle on April 26, 1986. Winifred Sandin (1918-2001) known as Fet to her friends married my uncle Walter Bentz. They divorced and after World War II, she married my uncle-in-law Harvey Bauer (1907-1992) who was the widower of my aunt Vernus Bentz. 

When the Sandin Ranch was sold the acreage in Eagle Canyon was kept by Fet and inherited by daughter and son-in-law Karen and Tom Gresch. They reside in Washington, with a second home on the south side of Middle Fork in Eagle Canyon enjoyed by them and children, Thomas and Amy (Mason) and their seven grandchildren.

George Lyon Ranch on Ross' Fork and his family

George and Ida Lyon owned the ranch above John Naef on Ross’ Fork Road going to Medicine Lake. This family is not to be confused with the George Lyons family that lived in the Lower Flint Creek Valley. George was born in Idaho Territory October 2, 1886. His parents were from West Virginia and Wisconsin according to the 1930 U.S. Federal Census. At the age of eleven he traveled with his family by covered wagon to Montana. They settled first in Jefferson county and then moved to Butte in the early 1900’s. George married Ida Bachie in 1907 at the age of twenty.. She was nineteen years of age and born in Tacoma, Washington. Ida’s parents were from Switzerland and Washington according to the 1930 U.S. Federal Census. 

While in Butte, George helped lay the original sidewalks. He also operated a freight and mail route with his father between Jefferson Island and Mammoth. He moved to Southern Cross and Georgetown Lake in 1917 and then in 1922 to Ross’ Fork, where he engaged in ranching until 1969. 

George then sold the ranching business to Charles Nicely. George continued to live on the ranch and died there on April 11, 1971. He was preceded in death by Ida in 1953, son Jesse in 1943 and Arthur in 1959. Survivors were: daughters, Ceal Haggard, Jean Anderson and Faye Howrey of Anaconda and Shirley Wight of Missoula; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; brother James M. of Anaconda and sister Madge Des Jardin of Seattle. The funeral service was held at the Wilson Funeral Home with Rev. Kenneth Wooten of the Community Church presiding. Pallbearers were: Lum Wanderer, O.H. Christensen, Eli Christensen, Billy McLean, Robert Munis and Bob Neal. Honorary pallbearers were: Henry Hull, Charlie Anderson, Fred Splitt, Bob Christensen and Woodrow Carey. All of these men except Lum (the grocery man) were his neighbors on Rock Creek. George is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Jesse Lyons the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lyon, bought the Fred Splitt Place in Eagle Canyon on the Middle Fork after the 1930 Federal Census. Miss Erna Hoyendahl and Jesse were married in Anaconda during the last week of December 1936. Erna was the daughter of Olaf and Doris Hoyendahl of Philipsburg. She had attended Philipsburg schools and was a member of the Rainbow Girls. Wedding attendants were: Mr. and Mrs. Leonard (Jean Lyon) Anderson of Anaconda, Miss Anne Hoyendahl, Vernon Steffan and Art Lyons of Philipsburg. 

The marriage ended sadly. Jesse was cutting stulls at the Jow Kanduch camp west of Anaconda when he was taken ill. He died from a ruptured appendix at St. Ann’s Hospital in Anaconda, on November 1, 1943. Survivors were: wife Erna and two daughters: June Lorraine and Pauline Dora; his parents; and four sisters: Mrs. Leonard (Jean) Anderson of Anaconda, Mrs. Dallas (Shirley) Hosbrook of Drummond, Mrs. Forrest (Cecelia) Haggard of Rock Creek and Miss Fay Lyons of Rock Creek. Burial was in the Philipsburg cemetery, after services at the Masonic Temple. Erna then married James Hess of Nevada in June, 1945 and the girls grew up there under the name of Hess. 

 Arthur and wife Emily (McClain) moved onto Jesse’s property. They had a girl named Lesa Marjorie who lived with her grandmother Abbie McClain at Georgetown Lake. Art and Emily’s marriage was short lived with Emily living as a single woman on the “Old Fred Splitt” place until her death in 1989. 

 Ceal Lyon married Forrest Haggard in the early 1930’s and they bought the place Ritchmeyers’ were leasing, at the base of Kaiser Hill, near the confluence of Middle Fork and East Fork, right before the beginning of Eagle Canyon. Richtmeyers’ then bought the original Amerine Homestead from Walt and Annie Sanders and Sanders’ bought the Allen Webb Ranch (The original Tom Parks Homestead) in 1948. 

Ceal and Forrest had son George in 1934 who died as an infant; Lee, born in 1936 and Joe, born in 1938. Lee met his wife Sumiko while in the military. She died in 1989 and Lee was buried next to her when he died in 1997. Joe operated the White Front Bar for several years. He and wife Phyllis had a baby that died and Phyllis died in 1983. Joe was also married to Kathy Mehr. He moved to the Lolo area in 1978 and died in May of 2019. He was survived by wife Becky of 30 years; children- Jolynn, Leanne, Joe Jr., Sarah and Danielle plus grand and great grandchildren. 

Faye (Howrey) had a son Edgar and died in 2000 at Anaconda; Shirley (Wight) died at Missoula in 1993; Jean (Anderson) died at Anaconda in 2007. Gone is the Lyon Ranch. Most recently,  I am told the property was bought by the Country Music Star Kelly Clarkson and her husband.

The Kennedy Ranch on Kaiser Hill

I do not know when Bowen’s sold or willed the ranch to their son-in-law and daughter, Chauncey E. and Jessie Hoyt Kennedy. Jessie and Chauncey were married by Rev. H.F. Pemberton of the St. Paul Methodist Church at their home on Broadway on January 8, 1908. Chauncey was an employee of the Walker Commercial Company of Philipsburg according to the wedding announcement. 

I found where Chauncey’s legs were fractured when Jessie struck him with the family vehicle as he was opening the gate for her to drive through. After the accident, Jessie immediately drove him to the Murray Hospital, in Butte stated the Mail, November 21,1908. I also found articles that stated C.E Kennedy was appointed by the School Board as a judge for the school elections, such as in The Mail, March 17, 1922. 

Announced in the October 16, 1910 Mail was “Born to Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Kennedy in this city on Monday, October 12, a daughter” which referred to the birth of Fern. Their other children were: Eugene (Chauncey Jr.), Basil, Dale and Keith. Two year old Keith was accidentally shot with a gun while Jessie and the four boys were visiting the Bowen grandparent’s, at the ranch, on June 20, 1926. He was buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Chauncey and Jessie were still living in Philipsburg, according to the 1930 Federal Census. By the 1940 Census they were living on the ranch with Dave Bowen age 78 and Milo Hoyt age 58 residing in their household. 

Jessie died after a month long illness in the local hospital on February 28, 1955. 

Chauncey born in 1874 died in 1965 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena from a pulmonary embolism. They are both buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Basil, born August 28, 1912 married Miss Bessie (Elizabeth and also called Betty) Twiggs of Philipsburg in the Mountain View Methodist Church in Butte on August 14, 1937 They honeymooned at Yellowstone then made their home in Philipsburg. Don Dee and Karen Kennedy were born to Basil and Bessie before they divorced. Bessie died about 1978 in the Hi-Line area of Montana. Basil then married Utahna Measom on November 3, 1950. To this marriage was born Kal K., Luana and Jon Taylor. Jon was still born on February 22, 1961 and is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery Of interest, Utahna was a cousin of Jennie Ray Kennedy (Eugene’s wife). 

Basil lived in Philipsburg where he served as both deputy treasurer and treasurer. He then became the Montana State City/County auditor/examiner until he retired. After his retirement Basil served as a Granite County Commissioner. He died at the Granite County Hospital after a long illness on August 9, 1974. Basil was survived by his wife and four married children; thirteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. 

Basil’s son, Don Dee served as a Juvenile Officer and Chief of Police for Philipsburg in 1960. He married Margaret Reed from Anaconda in 1962 and they had two girls and a boy. Don Dee worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad Police until 1965 then tried mining, logging and carpenter work. He joined the Military and served from 1968 through 1970. He was Sheriff of Granite County from 1991 to 1998. Don Dee and wife Margaret continue to live in Granite County. 

On October 11, 1937, Dale Kennedy married Maxine Wickershime (Wickersheim) in the parsonage of the Methodist Church. This marriage was short lived and Dale then married Margaurite Lueck, daughter of Sheriff and Mrs. Fritz Lueck. In the early forties Dale and Margaurite took over operation of the Kennedy Ranch. A few years after their children Gail and Michael were born, they moved to California. Dale born January 15, 1916 died August 26, 1997 in California and was interred in the Philipsburg Cemetery. His headstone has a cowboy and horse engraved on it with the inscription “Gone Ranching with God.” 

Eugene (Chauncey Jr.) married Miss Jennie Ray daughter of Paul and Phoebe Wells, on October 21, 1937 and they made their home in Butte. Gene was a graduate of the Butte Business College and Jennie was a graduate of the Murray Nursing School. Jennie died in 1957 and is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Fern Kennedy married Dee D. Cooper on August 20, 1934 at the family residence in Philipsburg. She attended the State Normal School at Dillon and taught at numerous schools in Granite County, including the Rock Creek School. Mr. Cooper had been teaching at Granite County High School and had accepted a position on the White Sulfur Springs High School teaching staff, for the ensuing school year. 

The Kennedy ranch, in recent time, was sold to the Bauer Ranch and most of the buildings have now been torn down.

The Kaiser Homestead that became the Bowen Ranch

Another ranch located on the west slope of Kaiser Hill that looked out over the Ross’ Fork of Rock Creek valley and the 3-H ranch was the original Kaiser homestead founded prior to 1895 as research revealed “Herman Kaiser has gone to the Kaiser ranch on upper Rock Creek to remain for some time”( The Mail January 17, 1895). 

Kenneth Smith an Anaconda Dairy owner bought the homestead from Kaiser about 1897 with the dream of becoming a cattle baron in an area as good as the “Big Hole.” Smith believed that the B., A. & P. Railroad was going to be built from Anaconda to Hamilton right past the ranch in the next couple of years and that would mean he could ship beef directly from the ranch. When Smith’s dream became a bust he sold the Kaiser homestead to Dave Bowen. 

D.T. Bowen and Mrs. Dora Hoyt were married in Helena on April 27, 1898 and returned to Philipsburg the next day. Dora brought to this marriage four children: Basil, Jessie, Martha and Milo Hoyt. In February 2, 1900 Mrs. D.T. (Dora) Bowen had what was referred to as a hospital and was involved in providing care to the county poor. The County Commissioners awarded her the contract to provide care and requested a bond of $800.00 be filed before the contract was in effect. At this same time Dr. Wm. Ray was awarded the contract for supplying medical attendance and had to file a $1,500.00 bond. 

During the same year, I found articles that sometimes referred to D.T. and sometimes T.D. as being in town from the Ross’ Fork Ranch leading me to deduce the ranch was bought during 1900. In 1908 under the Court proceedings on March 6 was listed “David Bowen vs. Amelia Bowen notice of intention to move for a new trial.” But I am unable to find any follow-up to this matter. Then on September 25, 1914 was: “Emelia A. Bowen vs. David T. Bowen and Thomas Gravenitis; to quiet title to real estate. Cause was heard before Judge Patterson, Judge Winston being disqualified. Plaintiff failing to appear, defendants put in proof and the court ordered that judgment be entered in their favor. As discussed previously, Bowen also had a long running civil case with J.A. Naef. 

Dora’s son Basil Hoyt died from injuries at the Anaconda Round House on October 21, 1906, at the age of twenty-two years. During the night shift an engine and other cars came lose crashing into each other killing one man and Basil died a few hours later. He had worked at the Round House since spring. His funeral was held at the Bowen home on the south side of Philipsburg, confirming they continued a residence in town, while operating the ranch. 

Assessed taxes for the year 1927 were $259.10 for D.T. Bowen according to The Mail, January 1,1928 but the assets are not listed. 

Dora born December 23, 1850 in Pennsylvania died just short of her eighty-first birthday on November 12, 1931 in Philipsburg. She married Emory B. Hoyt prior to 1882 as that was the year Milo was born. They moved to Anaconda in 1886 then to Rumsey in 1881. Mr. Hoyt died in Rumsey in 1895. Dora and David Bowen were married in 1898 then took up residence at the Kaiser homestead ranch in 1900. Her funeral was held at son-in-law Chauncey Kennedy’s home in Philipsburg on November 14, 1931.

David, born in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1859 was a freighter in the Dakota Territories before he moved to Philipsburg and operated the Hoffman Hotel in 1888. A reference in 1925 stated Dave Bowen and his brother Jack Bowen built the Hoffman House by the Northern Pacific Depot in 1861. (the Depot was built in 1887). The article goes on to state they completed the building about the time the N.P. Branch came from Drummond to Philipsburg. Dave died in a local business November 1, 1941 after suffering a heart attack at the age of eighty-two years. 

Dora’s daughter Martha Hoyt married young Ed Rodda from Rock Creek in 1912. Her son Milo Hoyt born January 10, 1882 in Pennsylvania moved with his parents to Anaconda when he was four years old, then Rumsey five years later. He worked for the Forest Service for years and then returned to ranching. I remember him living in the bunk house at the Kennedy Ranch. Milo retired in 1945 and died after a long illness at the Granite County Medical Center on June 5, 1952. 

Daughter Jessie married Chauncey Kennedy on January 8, 1908. He was an employee of the Walker Commercial Company of Philipsburg. To be continued in the Kennedy Ranch article.

3-H Ranch and others co-mingled into Bauer Ranch

Tom and Louise Barr Circa 1920

Many of the original homesteads at the base of Mt. Amerine (Emerine) are now co¬mingled into what is known as the Bauer Ranch on Ross’ Fork. Some of this property was previously known as the Barr and then the Christensen Ranch. 

Louise Hoben after having Harold and Miss Katherine married Tom Barr and he bought the ranch in 1920. The assessed taxes in 1927 for Tom and Louise Barr were $179.02 according to the taxes published in the Mail, January 20, 1928. Miss Katherine Hoben married Rexford Samson on October 11, 1927 in the Methodist Church in Philipsburg. Prior to her marriage she had taught at the Middle Fork School according to her marriage announcement. 

Tom Barr died at the ranch on April 26, 1930. His death was secondary to pneumonia suffered during the winter. Tom was born in Ireland on February 19, 1878 and came to America as a young man. He followed the trade of plasterer for a number of years in New York and Pennsylvania. Then he moved west and worked in the Black Hills. When he located in Philipsburg Tom formed a partnership with Edward Miller and they worked as general contractors. This included leasing the Granite Bi-Metallic mine where they realized success. When the lease expired the partnership was dissolved and Tom bought the ranch on Rock Creek in August of 1920. Survivors were: wife Louise, a step-daughter Mrs. H.R.(Katherine) Sampson and step-son Harold Hoben both of Chicago and a sister Mrs. Madge Carter of Levenworth, Kansas. Funeral services were held at St. Philip’s Catholic Church by Rev. Father Casey. Internment was in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Louise then married Eli Christensen as was discussed in the Christensen family article. Local Information was that the price of the Barr/Hoben Ranch in 1948 was $14,000. This was when Harold Hoben bought the ranch from the bank after Eli and Louise went bankrupt. Harold the son of Louise Barr Christensen worked for the Mars Candy Company in Chicago. Almost twenty years later, Harold originally asked $300,000 and raised that to $500,000, when he sold to Bauer in 1967. 

Lorraine Hoben the daughter of Robert and Florence Smith of Chicago, Illinois married Harold on April 21, 1949. When Harold Hoben and his wife Lorraine (Smith) sold to Bauer they moved to Anaconda. Harold died later that year and Lorraine died at the age of ninety on February 10, 2005, in Anaconda. 

Other property, besides the Hoben Ranch (3-H) that now comprise the current Bauer Ranch are the O’Connor/Stephens Ranch and Reservoir; the Rupp/Shoblom, then Verlanic Ranch, originally owned by David and Ellen Helm and leased by my grandparents May and Billy Bentz in the late twenties through 1946; the Charles Gray place located on the south side of the Ross’ Fork Road; the Kaiser homestead (later owned by D. T. Bowen, then Kennedy) located on the Kaiser Hill on the east side of Ross’ Fork; and the Russell place which was in the meadow below the Helm ranch. 

I found where Helm’s lived in the area in 1920 when Adolph Helm was one of the students going to Missoula to attend the Montana High School annual track meet detailed in the Mail, May 13, 1920. Also, a news article revealed Ellen Helm died in Birmington, Washington on February 7, 1928. The article stated they were former ranchers on Ross Fork of Rock Creek. Ellen was born fifty years before in Sweden and was survived by husband David; daughters: Lillian, Alvira and Elsie and two sons: Theodore of San Francisco and Adolph of Philipsburg. Her son, Adolph married Emily Flickinger. Adolph died in 1983 and Emily died in 1992. They are both buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

The Stephens’ Place and Reservoir was named after George Stephens who was the original owner of the Stephens Hotel. Stories are that he traded Tom O’Conner the hotel for the ranch. The date O’Connor’s took over the Hotel is 1929. The date Stephens’ began ranching was about 1917 according to his obituary on August 13, 1937.

Bus Hess, recalled that a person named Vaughn leased the Stephens place before Ray Hess signed a lease in 1929. George may have operated the hotel while leasing the ranch and then moved out to the ranch after O’Connor took over the hotel. George’s wife Edna moved to California with the children in 1923 according to her obituary in March of 1939. George Stephens was the Philipsburg City Marshal and he submitted his resignation letter in the November 17, 1899 Mail. 

T. J. (Tom) O’Connor (1871-1943) left ranching and became the owner of the Stephens Hotel in 1929. Shortly after the transaction, his wife Ida B. (Kelley) died September 18, 1929. at the age of fifty. After Ida’s death Tom married Mary Ellen Naef, in 1931 and she died a year later. Tom also ranched on Trout Creek as I found where he sold his place located next to the Schuh ranch to the W. M. Montgomery and Company butchering firm of Anaconda in June of 1910. He received $40 per acre for the unstated amount of acreage.

The Bauer Ranch currently also owns sections of land on the Middle Fork, one of which was originally homesteaded by Charles Adams. Research shows where he paid $440.78 in taxes to Granite county for the 1927 tax year..

Where did the name Ross come from

In “The Philipsburg Story” authored by Robert Oakley in August 1981 it is stated that Ross Fork “was named for a prospector that frequented the drainage in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s.” I have researched for more than twenty years and found no one named Ross in this area at that time. Also the Fork was named before the eighties and nineties because Nez Perce Jones, (The New Northwest , July 19, 1878) references watching the Nez Perce Indians traveling up Ross’ Fork as he sat on top of what is now Mt. Emerine (Amerine) after he climbed the mountain to get away from the renegades. This tells me that the Fork was already commonly known as Ross’ Fork during Nez Perce Jones prospecting ventures. 

Continued research shows only two people named Ross entering Montana when it was virgin land or a Territory. Granville and James Stuart with friend Reece Anderson arrived in the Big Hole in October of 1857 and their journals speak frequently of a person named only “Ross” camped with Grant and Meeks and he was with the Stuart’s often in their travels including Deer Lodge and Flint Creek, but never do they speak of traveling on any Forks of what was then known as Stony Creek. This Ross almost drowned in the Big Hole and then a year later did drown crossing a stream in high water in the Flathead valley, in the early 1860’s. There is no one named Ross listed in the 1862-63 early settlers Census contained in Contributions Vol. I, 1876. 

The second person involved in Montana ‘s early history was Alexander Ross a trapper with the Hudson Bay Fur Company. Born at Nairnshire, Scotland in 1783 he immigrated to Canada in 1805 and in 1810 traveled to New York where he enrolled in the John Jacob Astor Pacific Fur Company. In October of 1813 the Pacific Fur Company was passed over to The Hudson Bay Company while The U.S. and Britain were involved in the War of 1812. Thus Ross spent most of his 15 years in the fur trade with the Hudson Bay Company. In 1823 Ross was tendered a new trapping route in the Snake River country. He began his duties early and had great difficulties obtaining adequate trappers at Spokane House. Traveling into the Flathead he continued hiring men, whose families usually traveled with them, ultimately totaling twenty five women and sixty four children. Against expert advise he decided to begin the trip down the Bitter Root in early March. By March 20th they had reached the area which is just south of present day Sula with heavy snow and about fourteen below zero. Until the 14th of April the group of men and their horses battled this valley to cross over the pass into the Big Hole. 

In Ross’ words “Making the road took the united labour of fifty men and two hundred and forty horses, with all the available means within our power, (most of the time trampling down snow that was ten feet deep) for twenty one days…and our supper at night depended on the good or bad luck of our hunters during the day.” 

 Ross named the area "The Valley of Troubles" and shortly thereafter it became known as "Ross’ Hole", as is the current map depiction. This “Hole” is located at the base of the Sapphire Mountains south of Sula. About fifteen miles from the top of the ridge on the eastern slope is located the source of the Ross’ Fork of Rock Creek. As you travel east on the creek you then come to the South Fork of Ross’ Fork which comes in from a south westerly direction and the Pintler Range. These waters continue on down Ross’ Fork passing the south side of Mount Emerine and dump into the West Fork about one-thousand yards from the confluence of the Middle Fork and the beginning of upper Rock Creek. 

Ross resigned from the Fur Company after he completed this difficult first Snake River trip in 1824 and moved to the Red River country in Canada. He became a popular politician and died in what is now known as Winnepeg in 1856. 

After a lot of research, conversations, heated discussions and thought, I have come to the conclusion that Ross’ Fork is named after Alexander Ross and his infamous Ross’ Hole. In Ross’ journals he discusses numerous ventures of him and his men traveling up the mountain sides while hunting and attempting to find another way out of the valley, during their twenty-one day ordeal. I imagine at least once they looked over the ridge into the Ross’ Fork area.

Abbie's Story

Abbie and Will McClain circa 1930

The following is a story told by Abbie M. McLain to Garnet Stephenson at Georgetown Lake in 1964:

 "I Abbie May Belyea McClain was born in the green timber land of New Brunswick, Canada Sunday afternoon of January 18, 1885..at 5:00 p. m…My father John Wesley Belyea was a hard working dairy farmer. My mother Mary Elizabeth Delong Belyea who was thirty-nine when I was born was a good farm woman. I was her tenth and youngest child. Four girls and five boys lived to maturity. One child died at birth. My father worked in the lumber woods in the winter. I was one month past five years of age when my father died of dropsy at the age of forty-eight. His body filled up with water and when it reached his heart he passed away…My brothers stayed home to finish paying for the farm. $300.00 was owed on it… 

I was twenty-three years old when in July 1908, my sister’s husband and oldest boy came to Missoula, Montana. The following March I helped my sister bring her seven children to Missoula... I fully intended to go back to New Brunswick where I had done housework for another family for seven years. I was young, pretty and had good clothes. 

I had blue eyes, a straight nose and cheeks that stole the bloom of the wild rose. I wore my hair in a large bun on the top of my head. I had a fancy pin in it. My tall, slim figure was clothed in dresses of the bustle-mutton-leg sleeve style. The better dresses had long trains that trailed behind. Women often carried the trains over their arms. Shoes were high top button style. 

I found a job doing housework in a place called Washington Gulch eighteen miles north of Avon. I worked there sixteen months, then I went to Missoula to work. I arrived in Missoula December 3, 1910. While I was in Missoula a neighbor, Mr. Gibson used to tease me about a Will McClain. I had never seen Will, but jokingly told him to invite Will down sometime. The Gibson’s had worked for Will and his brother Charlie on their farm in the Bitterroot. I found Will to be a handsome, blue-eyed man of medium build with dark curly hair. 

We had supper at Gibson’s then Will and I went to a revival meeting. A teacher named Lowry had meetings in a big tent across the tracks. We went to revival meetings often after that. I had been in Missoula exactly one year when Will and I were married December 3, 1911… 

Will was thirty-eight and I was twenty-six. I, the bride wore a brown suit with an ecru lace blouse. I paid $10.00 for the blouse. On my head was a brown velvet hat trimmed in front with blue net. We drove a buggy from Missoula to the ranch near Philipsburg. Will and I lived on the ranch from 1911 until he died January 26, 1949. Will and I worked hard and over the years we expanded the original ranch of 160 acres to 2,470 acres. 

We had three children. The first was a boy who died when he was ten days old. He was born January 29, 1913. Howard was born eleven months later on Christmas day, 1913. Emily was born December 6, 1917… To make a living we raised horses, range cattle, chickens and milked cows. We sold fifty pounds of butter a week…I have always been fond of chickens but Will never wanted to have any. I took some of my own money that I had earned and put away before my marriage and bought a dozen hens. Later I bought another dozen red hens. When Will saw that I could make money with them he built me a hen house… 

We milked one cow at first then Mrs. Belleview had cows she wanted to sell. We then bought more from Cleve Metcalf. Fourteen were the most we milked at one time. We both milked and after they were big enough the kids milked. After Howard was three years old, we had a hired man all of the time. 

The years have passed and I am an old woman. I have five granddaughters: Lesa Marjorie Lyon, Charlotte, Mary Etta, Lydia “Gail”, and Nellie McClain and one grandson George W. McClain. The ranch that I worked so hard to help pay for is still in the family. My son Howard operates it. I had my part in the progress of the west and now I relinquish the work to younger, stronger hands.” 

 Abbie lived a simple life consisting of hard work, harsh reality, and her legacy: the ranch and family including the Sheriff’s better half.