Most Prosperous Stockman: J.J. McDonald and Descendants

 

In a previous article I spoke of the Schnepel Ranch becoming the property of J.J. McDonald. John J. "Big Mac" and his brother Angus Alexander “Sandy” McDonald came from Canada to Philipsburg in 1883. They were cousins of Angus McDonald, who founded the Hudson Bay Fort Connah, near Post Creek in the Flathead area about 1855. 

                              J.J. and Louisa McDonald (Pictures from "Philipsburg: The McDonalds"

John met Charlotte Wilhelmine Josephine Victoria Louisa Kolkschneider, at one of the parties of that time and married her in January 1893. Known by the name Louisa, she had arrived in Philipsburg from Germany to stay with her aunt, Henrietta Schnepel in 1899. Matilda Wenandy, Henrietta’s daughter had died on June 8, 1888, and she was lonely so wrote to Germany requesting her niece to come and live with her. 

As soon as John and Louisa married they started ranching on the Schnepel Ranch and on April 8, 1899 they bought the ranch and to this day the property has remained in the McDonald family. John and Louisa had four children while living on the ranch: Susie, John William, Angus (Gus), and Louise. The youngest daughter Irene was born after they moved into Philipsburg in 1902. 

The October 6, 1905 Philipsburg Mail published the final court settlement of the Flint Creek Power Company versus the valley ranchers. John J. McDonald was adjudged four water rights: 130.6 miners inches [of water], appropriated October 23, 1886; 252.4 miners inches [of water], appropriated June 1, 1891; 96.2 miners inches [of water], appropriated 1872; 106 miners inches [of water], appropriated 1872. On June 5, 1908. 

“Four young horses were found lying dead in the South Montgomery street cut Saturday morning having fallen down the high embankment during the night, which was very dark and stormy. Investigation disclosed broken necks and backs. Two more colts were found in dying conditions at the ball grounds. Five of the colts all 2 year olds belonged to J.J. McDonald and one to S.L. Walker. 

John became “one of the most prosperous stockmen of southwestern Montana.” He suffered a long illness and died August 22, 1931 and is buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. Mrs. Louise W. McDonald died at 3 o’clock June 7, 1937 at her ranch two miles S.W. of Philipsburg after a long illness. She was born in Berlin, Germany October 16, 1870. Survivors were: two sons, Angus (Gus) and John W.; three daughters, Mrs. Ralph E. (Sue) Williams, Mrs. John H. (Louise) Cole and Miss Irene McDonald; two grandsons: Ralph E. Williams Jr. and John (Pat) McDonald; and two grand daughters, Arlette Williams and Peggy McDonald all of Philipsburg. Internment was in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Published in the Mail, August 6, 1937: “In the matter of the estate of Louise W. McDonald, deceased, the Court signed an order authorizing John W. McDonald and Ledora Irene McDonald, administrators with the will annexed, to manage and conduct farming operations upon said estate according to the usual course of business.” T

The oldest daughter, Louise was married to John Cole, the first sheriff of Granite County and they had a daughter Mary Louise, who married Henry Leo Tierney, in Butte on August 19, 1961. Mary was a graduate of the University of Montana and taught in the Butte Public Schools. 

Second born daughter, Susie McDonald attended Dillon Normal College after her graduation from the Philipsburg schools in 1912 and was a teacher prior to her marriage on June 15, 1916. The Mail detailed the marriage in two columns on June 16, 1916. “One of the prettiest weddings ever celebrated in Philipsburg….the flower girls, little Misses Catherine Lindstadt and Eunice Carmichael, dressed in white with touches of pink and bearing between them a huge basket of blossoms, the handles tied with satin ribbons. They made an exquisite picture, fair Catherine being a perfect foil to Eunice with her gypsy beauty…Mr. Williams was employed with the Philipsburg Cash Grocery and his bride was a popular teacher in the Philipsburg School District.” 

Ralph William’s mother died when he was an infant so his aunt Cora Jenkins, in Butte, raised Ralph. Ralph was elected to the position of Clerk of the Court for Granite County in 1924. Suzie became Deputy Clerk of Court in January, 1925. When Ralph earned his law degree, Susie assumed his Clerk of Court position. Their first son Ralph Jr. was born May 13, 1917 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in July of 1941. He “received his silver wings and officer’s commission on May 24, 1943 and was sent to the European theater of war. A letter from the War Department reported him missing in action on February 3, 1944.” He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. His headstone in the Philipsburg cemetery states “Missing in action. 

Ralph and Susie’s McDonald’s other children were: John Miles born August 13, 1918 and died at the age of two months and Arlette Irene born July 14, 1919. She married William Roy Gibson on September 23, 1939. Born to this marriage were: Sue Carol (June 10, 1941); William Roy (May 16, 1942); Ralph Edwin (August 23, 1952); and Steven Douglas (August 6, 1956). 

 Ralph died suddenly at the age of thirty-nine on October 1, 1935. Susie worked for the Montana Power Company until 1943 when she resumed teaching the third grade at the Philipsburg Grade School and continued teaching until her death on June 1, 1953. She was a Gold Star Mother, having lost her son Ralph Jr. in WWII. Susie was the correspondent for the Montana Standard and the Philipsburg Mail for a number of years. Burial was in the Philipsburg cemetery by her husband and son. T

The youngest daughter of John and Agnes McDonald, was Ledora Irene (1902-1977). After teaching school for fifteen years she married J. Walter Kaiser on October 2, 1937 in Thompson Falls. They did not have any children. 

John W. McDonald was born in Philipsburg in 1895, to J.J. and Louisa. He was educated in the Philipsburg schools and married Agnes Maehl in 1926. They lived in a log cabin, built by her father, on the McDonald Ranch, John W. and John Jr. “Pat” operated the ranch originally established by his parents. He served as trustee to Granite County High School for twelve years, plus was an active member and past president of the local Farm Bureau, being the first president of the Granite County Bureau. John was also a member of the Montana Stock Growers Assn; a Deputy State Brand Inspector; a member of the Flint Creek Water Users Association; chairman of the County Weed Control; and member of the Stock Growers Protective Association according to his obituary. 

John died suddenly after suffering injuries at the ranch while feeding cattle. He was trapped under falling bales of hay and died of the injuries in a Butte Hospital, January 20, 1956. Survivors were: wife Agnes, son and daughter -in-law Mr. and Mrs. John W. “Pat” McDonald Jr., daughter and son-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. (Margaret “Peggy”) Collins and grandchildren. 

 After John’s death, Agnes moved into Philipsburg. She served for fourteen years as the Granite County Clerk and Recorder and for twenty-one years as a volunteer for the H&R Thrift Shop. When Agnes died on June 21, 2005 she was the “matriarch of the upper Flint Creek Valley” having celebrated her 100th birthday just one month and one week prior to her death. Survivors were: brother Jim Maehl, son “Pat” and daughter “Peggy” Collins; sixteen grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren, Interment was in the family plot. 

Angus was the second son born to J.J. and Louisa in 1897 and enlisted in WWI in 1917 and was discharged in 1919. Gus served as Sheriff of Granite county from 1928 to 1942. He resigned to enlist in WWII and wife Clarice (Superneau) took over his post with her brother Fred serving as Under-Sheriff. Gus was discharged with a service connected disability in 1943. They had a son Darell (1944-2021)) and daughter Colette (1947). Gus served on the City Council and received many marksmanship awards. He died September 9, 1962. 

The children of John W and Agnes, “Pat”(1927-2017) and “Peggy”(1928-2019) continued the family tradition of ranching. After teaching for two years, Peggy married Thomas Collins in 1952 and they expanded and operated the original A.A. “Red Mac” McDonald Ranch on Marshall Hill. Their children are: Kay, Tom, Mike, Susan (Antonioli), Ann (Antonioli), Peggy (Shluter), Jo (Durgin) and Nancy (Ward). Tom died May 23, 2006. They are buried near baby son John. The ranch continues with Kay and family. 

Pat lived his entire life on the ranch and learned to fly airplanes at the age of twenty. He married Esther Johnson in 1953 and they raised eight children: John. Phillip, Scott, Mary (Ruffatto), Patty (Hobaugh), Maggie , Katie (Bruan), and Sady (Babcock). Pat was active in the Montana Stockgrower’s Association; president of the County unit of The Farm Bureau 1951-1953; and membership chairman of the Granite county unit of the Stockgrower’s in 1958. Pat was born at the family ranch in the same room as his father. He died at the Anaconda Community Hospital.

                                        John W. "Pat" Jr. McDonald (Picture from his obituary)

Esther, (1926-2020) was born in Seattle and was the first woman to earn a degree in Animal Husbandry at WSU. In 2004, WSU honored her as a Pioneer for Women in Agriculture. Forever a hard worker she gave her heart and soul to family. She always supported her community, especially the Granite County Museum and Cultural Center and in 2018 celebrated the Schnepel/McDonald Ranch’s 150th anniversary. 

Wenandy vs Schnepel: Grandma Wins!

I have spoken of Henry and Henrietta Schnepel frequently in previous articles. The John McDonald ranch is their legacy. Henry and Henrietta had a daughter Matilda born in Missouri in 1858. She married John D. Wenandy in Anaconda on September 11, 1877. Apparently the marriage was short lived as Matilda was back living with Mom and Dad by the 1880 Federal census with her 2 year old son, John Henry. 

Research fails to reveal when Matilda remarried, but by 1887 the news articles spoke of Henrietta, Matilda and her husband D.A. “Archie” McPhail moving to the upper ranch after Henry died in 1886. They built a beautiful large brick house that was enjoyed by Matilda for only a short time. Matilda was reported ill the last week of May and by the June 1, 1888 Mail “ The severe sickness of Mrs. Archie McPhail reported in last weeks Mail, culminated in her death last Friday afternoon about 5 o’clock. The article does not speak of her son John Henry, who would have been about 10 years old. 

On July 30, 1897 the Mail carried the following story: “Henry Schnepel, the adopted son of Mrs. Henrietta Schnepel, and James Edwards, both of this place, were captured on the Georgetown flats last Saturday by Stock Detective J.W. Collins, who caught them in the act of driving a band of 23 cattle towards the city… Schnepel and Edwards were lodged in jail and the stock were returned to their owners in that vicinity. The prisoners were given a preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace Burns in South Butte, at which time they were granted one week in which to summon witnesses in their behalf. Young Schnepel is very well known throughout this section…Henry is not yet twenty years of age and Edwards is about 30.” 

Research found in the March 19, 1897 Mail “…At the last session of the Grand Jury an indictment was found against a certain person, then in Granite County, charging him with cattle stealing. His arrest was ordered and bonds fixed at $1,000, but as yet the arrest has not been made, and until he can be found his identity is secret to the county officers.” 

The next weeks Mail stated “ while endeavoring to break a fractious bronco one day last week, Henry Schnepel was kicked in the face by the animal…” The August 13, 1897 Mail states “Schnepel arrested a second time, again for stealing cattle.” Then in October a letter was published from Henry and James denying guilt and stating they were not going to accept a plea bargain for an eighteen month sentence, as was being rumored. 

The June 25, 1900, Daily Intermountain carried the following article: "Schnepel Pardoned…Governor Smith pardoned Henry who was sent to the penitentiary last February for grand larceny . Convicted in October 1897 he secured a new trial and was out on bail when the supreme Court reversed the ruling and granted a new trial. J. Edwards was acquitted of the crime…” 

All was silent until Henrietta died, with her obituary on March 27, 1908 stating “the remains will be embalmed and held until the arrival of Henry Wenandy, Mrs. Schnepel’s grandson, who is on his way from Bend, Oregon…” 

                                        Henrietta Schnepel (Picture from "Philipsburg: The McDonald Family")

On April 3, 1908 was a statement reading” A will which was received this week is sealed but according to friends, Mrs. Schnepel bequeaths to her grandson $4,500 which he is to draw from the bank in monthly installments not to exceed $50…” In August 1908 was the headlines ‘He Wants it All” Henry had filed in Butte an action against all the named recipients of Henrietta’s will and insisted he had a right to everything that was left when Henry Schnepel died in 1886. The suit included John J. McDonald and his wife Louise, who were operating the Schnepel Ranch and had legally bought it on April 8, 1899. 

During the course of this lawsuit it was disclosed that Grandmother had basically bought Henry out of his troubles with the law and gave him some money to buy him out of his inheritance. Henry signed a release to any further claims. He moved to Oregon and set up a business, changing his name back to Wenandy. The legal wrangling continued until January 6, 1911 when it went to Federal Court. 

Finally on July 28, 1915 the Mail article states “McDonald Wins” After much to do the original Judge had been disqualified and Judge Rudkin of Spokane had ruled that Wenandy had received his benefits and now must abide by the rules…and had set aside all claims to the estate by settling for $3,000 in 1901. Obviously, “Cattle Rustling Henry” spent most, if not all of his inheritance, fighting against a very savvy Grandmother.

Cattle Rustling in 1897 and W.W. Royal Stock Detective

January 10, 1897 the Flint Creek Stock Association held a meeting in the school house at New Chicago. The meeting was called to order by president John A. Featherman with George Frennie acted as secretary. Mr. Featherman made a “very able speech” stating that the Association had done very good work in “running down and placing in the state prison three or four cattle thieves; but said there are others that ought to be in the penitentiary, and he had no doubt but that the association would be successful in hunting them down; but as the association was in debt in the sum of about $1,300, he thought it would be wise to dispense of the stock detective, which subject was discussed by the members.” 

Frank Carnegie stated “That as of yet the ranchers had not received any benefit from the association, and added that H.M. Thomas had lost some stock and that there were two cows found branded with the brand used by a man who owns the field in which the cows were found and he did not think the detective should be discharged until some action was taken by the association in regards to these two cows.”  

George W. Morse stated “That about two years ago he bought from W.W. Royal over one hundred head of cattle bearing a great number of brands, and among the numbers were two cows referred to by Mr. Carnegie. He said he bought them from Mr. Royal and the latter gentleman says that he bought them from Frank Hedstrom.” Mr. Morse thought it could be proved and all that could be made of the incident was a mistake. But if Mr. Carnegie or Thomas wanted to do anything they could arrest him (Mr. Morse). Then Mr. Morse stated “No man could have these two cows until he gets the money he paid for them and charges for their keeping for two years. 

The president concluded “the association will not commence action unless they have a case, and they will not consider this a cause of action.” William Dingwall said “He thought the committee had the power of retaining or discharging the detective” and it was so ordered, with the detective being discharged. 

The report showed that the association had reimbursed Royal $500 for his assistance in convicting “young Buchanan and Louie the Butcher” who were now serving sentences in the State prison and $800 was paid to Rodgers & Rodgers for attorney fees. 

In 1855, infant William W. Royal, with his parents, and Grandfather left Gardiner, Illinois for Oregon. Grandfather W.W. Royal was one of the first circuit riders of the Methodist Church and his father Dr. W.W. Royal ministered to the sick throughout Oregon. William, one of 13 children, arrived in Deer Lodge County at the age of twenty (1875) and taught school in New Chicago. 

He married Miss Christine Ley on April 28, 1910. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Mason of Hall, pioneers of the lower valley. At the time of the marriage, William was in business with J.J. Appel in the Granite County Meat Company of Drummond. William also hauled silver bullion from Philipsburg to Drummond prior to the railroad being built. 

Research is uncertain when William became involved with livestock, but it appears he was astute in this venture before he became the detective prior to 1897. When his sister Lily Royal McDonel left her homestead on Section 4, across the road from the Luthje Ranch on Upper Willow Creek, William and wife Christine moved onto the homestead. They had four children: Billie (W.W.), Dorothy, Lucille and Helen. 

Anne Luthje states in her book “Upper Willow Creek” that Christine was a vibrant redhead and loved parties. She was the hostess of many parties and dances. William was known by all the old timers, including the Luthje’s, to always have his horse saddled and ready. Research has never divulged the reason he was on high alert. William died on March 23, 1927 and is buried next to their son Billie (William W.) born February 7, 1913, who died at the age of twenty three days. 

If anyone knows the story of why his horse was always saddled or ever seen it bareback please let me know. I have often wondered how the different meat markets received their animals for slaughter and know of at least one circumstance where the Van Norman’s identified the carcasses of their calves in the Bauser slaughter House near Drummond in late March 1921. Bauser stated he bought them from Bert Mitchell and both parties were arrested for the theft.

Tidbits About Hasmark and the Algonquin

The discovery of prosperous mining was the reason for most of the settlements in what is now known as Granite County. Many of the important mining claims around the Upper Flint Creek Valley were staked in 1866. First being those found by Hector Horton and Financed by James Stuart et al. then according to Rossiter Raymond a party of prospectors on their way from Idaho to the Black Foot diggings staked numerous silver showings that started with the Comanche Lode. 

Ted Antonioli reconstructing the record believes the group was made up of Dan Brown and his brother Emanuel (Sandy), Charles Frost, Ben Franklin, John Edwards, Dan Chisholm, William Mathias, C.A. Bell and maybe others. These prospectors probably traveled from Idaho to the Bitter Root, then over the Burnt Fork Trail to Rock Creek then Flint Creek. Charles Frost promoted himself as being the leader, but Dan Brown was elected president of the assembly of miners. Born in Pennsylvania in 1819, Dan died on December 7, 1885 in Philipsburg and the Granite County Historical Society has placed a marker on his grave that was absent a headstone. T

These new mining claims were staked with reference as to their locations by referring to three different cabins: Horton’s near the Cordova (which became the Philipsburg townsite); the Brown/Franklin cabin or cabins (likely located higher up the gulch along Camp Creek next to the future Northwest Company Millsite also referred to as Cole Saunders smelter); and Mathias Cabin (possibly located in the future Algonquin mine yard.) 

After the Hope mine was located, the Poorman’s Joy, the Trout and the Algonquin were discovered. The Northwest Mill was built in 1875 and the camp of Troutville (Tower) grew up around the mill. The camp housed miner and mill workers with a boarding house and a storehouse, but there was no liquor sold in camp and it never had a post office thus is not named in “Names on the Face of Montana” by Cheney. 

                   Hasmark Geological Map from Emmon's Philipsburg Quadrangle circa 1913

Within a short time the Algonquin Mill was built at Hasmark, just one-half mile from Tower. Hasmark had a post office from April to August 1880 and then from 1892 through 1897 with Samuel Silverman as the postmaster. The name Hasmark was derived from two important men: H. A. Styles and Markle according to Cheney. By taking the initials of Styles; HAS, and adding these letters to the first part of Markle they arrived at the name Hasmark. 

                                    Hasmark and Algonquin Mill from Steve Neal Collection

Hasmark was short lived but Tower was important to the population even as late as 1918, when the Granite County Board of County Commissioners called for bids on May 20, to build new Tower Cliff Gulch Road 8,000 feet in length. The Northwest Company, controlled by Charlemagne Tower, A.B. Nettleton and other capitalists from Philadelphia built the Northwest Mill to treat the ore brought out of the newly discovered mines. The Northwest Company came about because A.B. Nettleton after meeting J.K. Pardee in Cottonwood, Utah convinced him to travel to Montana to look at mining property he held a bond on. They arrived at Philipsburg after a 700 mile stage ride and Pardee inspected the mines on Trout Hill, which included the Speckled Trout. His report was so satisfactory that Nettleton and his friends paid off the balance due on the bond. This bond worth $151,000.00 and other eastern capital was used to form the Northwest Company, with Pardee as resident manager. 

The Algonquin (called “The Gonk”) was referred to by Emmons in “Geology and Ore deposits of the Philipsburg Quadrangle, 1913”, as “located in the valley of Flint Creek a few rods west of Hasmark” and located by Dan Brown in 1866. It was sold shortly after being staked to Philadelphia capitalists that included Charlemagne Tower and A.B. Nettleton, also owners of the future Northwest Company. This mine was never really productive but the silver mill built on the site is credited by R. W. Raymond with producing $493,000 in 1881 and 1882. Most of the ore milled at this twenty stamp mill was likely from the Granite Lode (Emmons). 

                                                                Algonquin Mill Drawing

According to the January 6, 1899 Philipsburg Mail “…About 8 o’clock last Saturday evening the Algonquin mill and hoisting works at Hasmark were discovered to be on fire and within a short space of time the entire plant was reduced to ashes…” 

Hasmark had a census of 89 people in the 1880 Census and included Hector Horton: Brick Mason. Most of the population was male laborers but included the Hugh, Fisher, Reed and Showers families and 16 Chinese who were cooks, housekeepers and miners. T

The seven acres that comprise the Hasmark townsite are currently owned by Librarian Gina Vale and she has restored the building that was the saloon.

A Staunch Business Man: August Greenheck and his descendants

 

                                         August and Mary Dooley Greenheck on their wedding Day

Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1860 to Martin and Lucia Greenheck, August was the fourth child and first son, with two brothers born after him. Research fails to find any history of Gus (or his business partner Al Rupp) before arriving in Montana in 1891, where he became investor and businessman and rancher of Granite County for thirty-five years. Gus and Al Rupp had a butcher shop in Granite prior to the 1893 silver crash and moved their business down to Philipsburg according to notices in the Citizen Call and Philipsburg Mail on August 10, 1893. The next article I found stated that Gus had a meat market in Drummond and advertised in the May 21, 1896 Mail. Then an article in the April 29, 1898 Mail stated: “Gus Greenheck is contemplating the erection on his ranch below town a cold storage and slaughtering plant. His intention is to go into the wholesale butcher business. Bert Barr is in Mr. Greenheck’ s employ.” They must have continued in the butcher store business because in November and December 1910 they posted a notice in the Mail that they were going to begin the year 1911 on a cash only basis in their butcher shop. 

August was elected director of the Merchant and Miner’s Bank July 20, 1893 to replace Angus McIntyre and was re-elected on January 10, 1894. At that time A.A. McDonald, M.E.H. Gannon and L.C. Degenhart were also bank officers. He was a delegate to the Democratic Convention in 1900. Gus and Al Rupp kept busy buying cattle and sheep in their co-partnership that was published in 1896 and according to news articles was still in operation during 1912. 

He married Mary Teresa Dooley, daughter of Annie (Milroy) 

                                                           Annie Dooley Milroy

 and the late Mike Dooley on April 16, 1896 at the Cathedral in Helena. The Citizen Call May 26, 1897 announced when their son Roy was born “Mr. and Mrs. Gus Greenheck are rejoicing over the arrival at their home Monday [May 24] morning of a bouncing baby boy. Gus is doing as well as could be expected.” They added to their family two daughters: Augusta (Gussie) in November 3, 1898 and Lucille (Lucy) June 2, 1900. They were living in a house in Philipsburg in 1901. 

                                               Lucy, Roy and Gussie Greenheck circa 1920's

In 1907 Gus bought the William Schuh ranch on Trout Creek. The Greenheck family made their home there until he retired a few years before his death. Obviously, Gus was heavily invested in real land as the published list of current taxes owed for personal property in the January 24, 1908 Mail, stated, “Greenheck, August, 283 lots on Church Hill.” Some of this land was basically donated by Gus for the erection of the Granite County High School in 1910. The newspaper articles in April state the building site (numerous lots on Church Hill) was practically donated with the sum being slightly over $100. The building was completed in 1912 and when condemned and put up for sale,, daughter-in-law Lois Greenheck told the school board this could not be sold. Her knowledge was the land could only be used for a school. She was ignored and the property was bought by Joe Johnson and became his museum. 

Gus died in the Murray Hospital in Butte from complications of diabetes on March 28, 1926. Gus was living in Philipsburg since retiring. His son Roy had continued running the ranch. Gus walked down town on March 25 and back home then was found in a semi-conscious state by Roy that afternoon. He was taken to the Stephens Hotel where a doctor diagnosed him as suffering from a mild stroke. Dr. E.C. Rhodes was called from Butte and on the next day he was removed to the Murray Hospital in Butte, where he died two days later. His death certificate states “chronic Myocarditis-Coma; contributing factor Diabetes. Survivors were: his wife Mary; son Roy; daughters, Miss Augusta (Gussie) of Columbia Falls, Montana and Miss Lucille (Lucy) of Idaho Falls, Idaho; brothers: J.F. and Stephen Greenheck and a sister Agnes all of Fond du Luc, Wisconsin. 

The funeral was held at St. Philip’s Catholic Church on March 31 with the Rev. M.J. Bourke, officiating. Pallbearers were: Albert Rupp, H.O. Flickenger, M.E. Edwards, Frank Winninghoff, John J. Orr and Erick V. Johnson. He was buried in the Philipsburg cemetery and his wife Mary (Dooley) was buried alongside of him when she died at Idaho Falls, Idaho on September 30, 1948. 

Greenheck taxes for the year Gus died were listed: as the estate in care of Roy $243.88; Roy, Lucie and Gussie paid $277.72, and their N.P. Railroad Land was assessed $184.06, according to The Mail, January 20, 1928. 

After August Greenheck’s death, Mary and daughter’s Miss Gussie and Miss Lucy spent the summer at her brother’s T.L. and J.J. Dooley at Hall. Son, Roy had married Lois Michel on November 18, 1922 at the Presbyterian Manse with Rev. William R. Scott officiating. Lois was the daughter of Justus “Irvin” and Mary Josephine Seaman Michel. The Michel family moved to Philipsburg the prior summer to make their home on the Spence Ranch, in the upper valley. “Mr. Greenheck fears that friends will repay him for a charivari party he pulled off on a friend several years ago, so is keeping a horse saddled to head for the hills if he hears any sounds around the ranch,” stated an article accompanying the marriage announcement. 

Lucille married Bryan Ellsworth a business man of Idaho Falls in Butte on May 31, 1927. She had graduated from the Philipsburg Schools then attended the University of Wisconsin. Prior to her marriage Lucy had been teaching school in Idaho, according to the wedding announcement. Lucy died February 11, 1980. 

A news article stated that Gussie had married Harold E. Mitchell at St. Anthony, Idaho on May 20, 1927. They kept their marriage a secret for over a month according to the July 1, 1927 Mail. (Probably because teachers at that time were not allowed to be married.) According to the announcement, Gussie had graduated from Philipsburg schools and attended the University of Montana and University of Wyoming before teaching English and Dramatics in more than one Idaho school. Mr. Mitchell was a graduate of the University of Idaho and engaged in business in St. Anthony, Idaho. Gussie died on May 25, 1982. 

Roy had been active in running the ranch and carried on after his father died. By 1945, tiring of the rigors of ranching Roy and George “Doy” Winninghoff worked out a real-estate sell and exchange deal. The Greenheck family left the ranch to the Winninghoff’s and moved into the Winninghoff house on Sansome. 

I am not certain what employment Roy had before he was elected Granite County Assessor in 1950. Roy served in that position, except for a few weeks when he resigned the position to accept the Postmaster appointment in December of 1956. The position had been vacated by Allen McKenzie. The very day of his appointment Roy resigned the position and a week later was returned to the Assessor office. His postmaster resignation stated that the populace was very upset over his resignation and he realized the postmaster position would be too rigorous for his health. On the week of January 11, 1957 John “Pete” Winninghoff was appointed Acting Postmaster. T

To the marriage of Roy and Lois, three children were born: Joy Jean, Judy Fay and Robert Roy. Joy Jean graduated from Granite County High School and later married Ted Kocher in 1957. They are divorced and she continues to live in Helena. Judy Fay received her teaching degree from Western Montana College and then in 1963 (On Valentine’s Day) married her Valentine, Cliff Reed We lost her March 8, 2021 when she succumbed to injuries from a motor vehicle accident, in Greeley, Colorado. Survivors are her husband; three children: Karyl Elaine Smith, Christi Jo Knight and Jarrod Lee Reed; and three grandchildren: Rebecca Jean Smith, Kaitlin Elizabeth Knight and Brian Howell Knight and her siblings Joy and Robert. 

Robert Roy graduated from Granite County High School and went on to complete his Medical Degree. He married Dorothy White in 1967 and to this marriage was born four children. 

 Roy was in poor health for a couple of years and died at the age of sixty-two at his home on January 27, 1960 and was buried in the Philipsburg Cemetery after services at St. Philip’s Catholic Church. Lois continued an active social life in Philipsburg until her death in 1997 and is buried next to Roy in the Philipsburg Cemetery.

Expiated on The Gallows

In the John and Jane Hickey article I stated they had an adopted son Tom. The family story goes that Tom was taken in by the family while living in Granite when the young boy’s family was destroyed by a murder. The following news article is the only account research uncovered that may be about this incident. Tom became estranged from the family after John died and Tom decided he should have been heir to a mining fortune, which of course John never attained. 

"Martin Scott was a very powerful, six foot man, born on April 3, 1837, in Madison County, Indiana who enlisted with the Co. G. 17th Indiana Volunteers and went west in 1861. He began working as a wagon master after his discharge in Little Rock and married. His wife died seven months later in 1866. Scott then traveled up the Missouri River to Fort Benton where he began working as wagon master throughout Montana and then worked as a brakeman for a few years. He returned to work as a wagon master in Butte and married Mrs. McCluskey on July 5, 1886. In August they moved to Granite where he worked for John Hickey, while living in a tent. During that winter he chopped wood for the mines as it paid better money and built a house. Some men put up a tent close to their house and began “baching.” Mrs. Scott was seen going into their tent and coming out with a box under her arm which ultimately ended up being items she had stolen from the tent. The men left the camp but Mrs. Scott began drinking heavily and “was never the same woman to me after that.” 

On November 12, Scott stated he had been ill all summer and believed he was going to die when Mrs. Scott became very drunk and abusive. A neighbor came over and asked her to quiet down which made her even worse. “She swore at me and I slapped her across the mouth. She left and I saw no more of her until the next morning when John Hickey came and told me my wife had come to his house drunk and had stayed there all night; and neither he nor his wife wanted her there.” 

She returned home sobered up and all was fine until Monday when a constable came and told Martin he needed to come to his office as there was a complaint filed for assaulting his wife. Scott was fined $25 and was released to go find the money. He obtained $14 on Tuesday and on Wednesday went to earn more, returning home with his gun after dark. On opening the door, according to Martin, he was knocked over and fell into a bathtub. Getting up, he struck a person several times with his gun before fainting. Sometime later hearing groaning, Martin roused and found his wife very drunk lying on the floor. He insisted he had no idea she was injured until striking a light and saw she was lying with her head on some tools. Asking her where she got the liquor she stated “Tom the Butcher” brought it to her. Also that it was Tom who assaulted Martin when he came through the door. She then confessed to Martin that she had lain with Tom and many other men. 

The above statements were made by Martin in February after his arrest and trial. According to The New Northwest, Martin Scott, on November 18, 1887 was found by Officer McDonald and Thatcher “sitting on the bed in his cabin, with his rifle in his hands, and his wife lying on the floor near by, dead. Her head was terribly crushed as if by some blunt instrument, corresponding to the depressions which would be made by a splitting wedge and other tools which were lying covered with blood and hair, which witnesses testified were made by them and not the gun. There was also blood on the gun, which was broken.” 

Because excitement was high over the incident Deputy George Hammond took Martin to Deer Lodge to be jailed. The trial was held in the December court and was “fair, impartial and thorough and he made his own statement to the jury.” 

The January 6, 1988, New Northwest detailed the conviction and that he would suffer the penalty of death by hanging on February 17, 1888. The February 17th article detailed building the gallows and Martin’s description of the incident. His activities in the final 24 hours of life included stating “I know I have done wrong. I forgive all.”

 “The execution was perfect...pulse ceased 11:45 am.”

John "Rock Derrick" Hickey and his wife Jane O'Neil

                         Photograph cropped from a family photo of John and his 2 brothers circa  1860's

John Hickey was born in Whitefield, Maine on January 27, 1847 and left home at the age of sixteen. It is known that he was busy mining by 1867 at Bratten Bar in Pioneer. He was known as the strongest man in camp, according to H.M. Thomas and was dubbed “Rock Derrick” because he could lift and carry away a boulder that took two men just to roll it over. A tale told to his great grandson Roger Baker by George Brand was that John would pick up this large rock at Pioneer named after him and carry it 20 feet or so then challenge any man to try to move it by even ½ inch. The bet was always $100 in gold dust. George said no one ever beat “Rock Derrick” and that the $100 always ended up in the saloon next to the rock with drinks on the house. It was believed the rock weighed about 640 pounds. 

About this same time period, John appeared in full cowboy attire one day in Missoula and visited the Hugh O’Neil family. The story recounted by Jane O’Neil to her granddaughter Wilma Hunt Heimark Christy was “ She was about seven, playing outside where her father was cutting wood when a cowboy rode up. He was a real cowboy, too—big hat, boots, chaps, even a six-gun on his hip! He scooped Mamo (the children’s nickname for Jane) up and asked her name and age. She told him and he said “Well Janie when you are sixteen I am going to marry you!” Being only seven she quickly dismissed the comment. When the O’Neil’s moved back to Deer Lodge, Jane got a job at Georgetown and as told to Winnifred Griffith (1972), she had been promised to a man 25 years her senior, when John re-appeared. 

They were married at Georgetown Lake on July 17, 1877 with the Territory of Montana filed Marriage Certificate recorded October 12, 1877 by the Deer Lodge County Recorder. The 1880 Federal Census show John and Jane living next door to her sister and brother-in-law Ellen and C.L Degenhart at Georgetown mining camp. 

                                                          Jane O'Neil Hickey circa 1930

The family moved to Granite in 1884 and constructed the first family home there. The home was located at the foot of Whiskey Hill where most of the saloon’s and bawdy houses were located. As recounted to Wilma, Jane was very proud of her home and put up bright red drapes on the windows. After having a number of tipsy men knock at her door late at night and her having to start answering the door with her needle gun “in her hand so they didn’t get far”, she realized that the lantern light shining behind her red drapes was signaling them she was a “house of ill repute”, so down came her pretty red drapes. 

By May 1885, the family had been blessed with Alice, Sadie, Liddie and eight month old Minnie. Jane was making bread and she gave some of the dough to Alice who put it on a little wooden apple shaped dish to raise and she, Sadie and Liddie went out to play. Later they came back inside complaining of not feeling well. They had come down with Diptheria. Sadie died on the 17th, Liddie died four days later and Alice a week later. Minnie, the baby was also ill and on the day of the other three girls funeral she was at home with Grandma O’Neil when she began to choke. In desperation grandma stuck her finger down Minnie’s throat and was able to pull loose the false membrane that develops and chokes people to death when they suffer from Diptheria. 

In 1886, Kate was born and Tom was adopted. The family moved from Granite to a small cabin in Frost Gulch in 1888. This area later became known as Kirkville. John continued work as a miner with five more children added to the family. At the time of John’s death, February 10, 1911, he was still working a lease at Granite. The following was stated in his obituary: “Mr. Hickey had been ill since last November and his decline was gradual…His brave battle against death was characteristic of the man. …He never complained and was always hopeful of recovery, ever cheerful, and solicitous to the comfort of others, even during his most trying hours…He was a true type of that sturdy manhood which proved such a factor in the development of the west.” 

The obituary stated that John was survived by: Jane, five daughters: Minnie Anderson, Kate Lutz, Bertha, Ruth and Nora Hickey; son Neil and adopted son Tom, plus many grandchildren. “For them and especially the suffering wife, every heart in our community is filled with sympathy.”

The Hazards of a Newspaper Man: Lon Hoss

 

                                                   Photograph courtesy of Stewart Schultz

 In an earlier article I discussed “Dirty Politics” and one of the people swept up in the Sligh-Durand debacle was the editor of the Democratic newspaper in Granite County, known at that time as the Citizen Call. Leonidas Rohespierre Hoss, with assistance from his brother Abe began publication of the paper before 1893 and the name was legally changed to The Philipsburg Call in 1901. The paper had been known as the Philipsburg Call as early as 1897. 

                                 Photograph from the Fan Titus McKenzie Harrington Collection

A photograph of Esbaugh and Bailey’s stallions on Sansome street before 1900 shows the Call window sign next to a Bank in the Opera House Building. Then the 1904 Sandborn map shows the Call printing office on the east side of the back of the State Bank in the Hyde Building which is now the Brew Pub. 

Prior to the Sligh-Durand Campaign, Lon had lost $300 in the Helena Capital Campaign and was listed as one of the twenty three claimants for a total of $4,556.95 with interest from November 1894. Research failed to find an outcome to this lawsuit. Next, The Philipsburg Mail on December 4, 1896 carried an article stating: “The Mail wonders how the chairman and secretary of the Granite county Confusion Party will be able to answer the last question in the corrupt practice statement required to be filed by law. The question reads: “Amount of personal expenses and liabilities unpaid and promises unfulfilled.” Since it is said that the Sligh combination is short $900 and is unable to settle its bills, we presume it will have to be so stated in the statement: Promises unfulfilled, $300 to Lon R. Hoss of the Citizens Call, for carrying on as dirty a campaign as it has ever been the misfortune of any community to undergo.” 

The next article in the same issue titled Hoss’ Misfortune stated: “It is said that the Sligh confusion committee is short $300 as compared with its assets; also that of this amount, Lon R. Hoss, of the Citizens Call, is out $300, which he is unable to collect.” I am certain those sums of money were a large loss to a young man with a small business and an ever enlarging family. As prior to this date Lon attempted to receive an appointment as Postmaster with the following article in the January 25, 1894 Mail: L.R. Hoss wants to be Nasby “There is a general rumor around town which we suppose is founded on fact that Mr. Lon R. Hoss our contemporaneous co-laborer, is out for the Philipsburg postoffice; wants to be the nasby of the crossroads—in other words, is in the hands of his friends! We are afraid he has an uphill pull, not because we don’t believe him thoroughly competent to discharge the onerous duties of the office or that he would not do so in a creditable manner if he secured the plum, but Grover [Cleveland] has sent forth the edict that no newspaperman need apply..” An interesting fact here is Hauck, the owner and editor of The Mail, received the postmaster appointment in 1901. 

Lon, born in Montgomery City, Missouri June 12, 1865, eloped with Georgia A. Kelly in 1890 and was married on a train near Granite, Idaho. At that time he was working for The New Northwest Newspaper. His mother Caroline Hoss was a teacher of Georgia in Deer Lodge and her father was the United States Marshall and a strong Democrat. 

The 1900 Federal Census shows the Hoss family living in Philipsburg with children: Gwynne (8), Frederick (4), Robert (3), and Mary (1). They added Dorothy in 1903 and Abe in 1906. After failing to receive the postmaster appointment, Lon ran for Clerk of the Court and lost to Josiah Shull. Through out this period his health had been steadily deteriorating, probably from lead poisoning, and he spent considerable time traveling to hot-springs and treatment facilities. 

He campaigned for and received an appointment as private secretary to Governor Toole in April of 1901. His brother Abe took over the Call, which published through 1905. By 1906, Lon had been appointed Secretary of Agriculture, but was too ill to handle the responsibility. The family, with newborn Abe, moved to Portland, Oregon. 

Georgia first sold real estate and then life insurance to support the family. The 1910 Federal Census shows the family living in Portland. Lon died October 28, 1911 in Salem, Oregon which leads one to believe he was still involved in politics. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. 

The Portland, Oregon 1920 Federal Census shows Georgia with Dorothy age 17 and Abe age 13. She died April 15, 1860 in Portland, Oregon.

The Rest of The Crowley Family

 

                                                              "Tex" and his friends

                                                        From the Tex Crowley Collection

 (John) Arthur Crowley, Son of Daniel and Lizzie, born April, 1895, served in World War I and upon discharge from the service, married Lydia Marie Ryder, March 21, 1921 at Miles City, Montana and lived in Ravenna, Ohio until his death August 30, 1960. Before his military service, Arthur drove wagon’s and after discharge became an insurance salesman according to the 1930 and 1940 census records. They had a daughter Jeanne Eloise Crowley who is pictured with Tex Crowley in a picture July, 1982 in the Tex Crowley picture collection. 

(Henry) Arthur Crowley, son of Tom and Mary, was in training at the Naval Base at Mare Island ( near Vallejo, California), and was married to Miss Maude Edna Manhart, stated an article sent to the Philipsburg Mail, by a shipmate of Arthur’s and published August 16, 1918. Mr. Crowley would be leaving the naval base, sometime in September, for over seas duty. When he returned from overseas, they resided in California and had a son Thomas Arthur in 1921. Arthur worked as an electrician and lineman. Born in Montana on May 13, 1896, he died August 2, 1966 and is buried in California. 

(Herman) Daniel “Mugs” Crowley born to Daniel and Lizzie on May 18, 1890, attended the Philipsburg schools, and was called to duty in April 1918. He fought in three major battles: Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel and Lepschelds. He was a patient in Fort Harrison Veteran’s Hospital several times, while working as a rancher and teamster, after the war. “Mugs” never married and he made the final sacrifice on July 23, 1923 when he succumbed to the effects of Mustard Gas poisoning that he had received during his combat time, according to his obituary. Ironically his death certificate states Mitral Regurgitation with no contributing factors and was signed by Dr. Knight, not a VA physician. (This is something that always gives me pause as a retiree from the VA system. When this currently occurs the family does not receive benefits entitled to them and the battle over casually filled out death certificates is often never won.) Survivors were: his mother Mrs. Elizabeth and brothers: Arthur of Ravenna, Ohio and Louis “Tex” of Philipsburg. Burial was in the family plot in the Philipsburg cemetery July 25. 

Daniel and Lizzie’s youngest son, Louis “Tex”, born June 13, 1906, served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corp, during WWII for thirty-seven months in the southern Philippines and Western Pacific.. He loved the rodeo’s and spent considerable time following the professional riders. His employment was driving teams and later heavy trucks. Pictures show he loved his horses and dogs, A large collection of pictures, that were in the possession of LouAnn Fessler Sichveland belonged to Tex. He was Sichveland’s next door neighbor for years. Many of his collection state they were copied from Wilma Bruns. She took over the local historian task when Fan Titus Harrington died. 

A story often told by LouAnn was about Tex and his woodcutting. In his later years, everyday Tex sawed and split wood and carefully stacked it by his home. One day, LouAnn casually mentioned that he had enough wood cut that they could certainly use some of it that winter. His very firm response was that “He was going to need it all.” Evidence of this wood pile are in photo’s dating July 1982 on Poverty Flats. 

                                                 Tex and his niece Jeanne July 1982 

                                                     from the Tex Crawley collection

Even though a very large amount of stacked wood was remaining when he was taken from his home to a care center, this task provided him with purpose for a number of years. Louis “Tex” Crowley died July 19, 1996 in a Deer Lodge Nursing Home at the age of ninety. Tex was cremated and buried in Philipsburg.

An Accident Prone Man: Dan Crowley

                           Dan Crowley with a horse that pulled 7,200 pounds on a stone boat.

Dan Crowley (a freighter) was hit on the head and had his throat slit by a group of Italians, while on his way to C.J. Morgan’s camp near Stoney. The event was described in detail in the June 4, 1909 Mail. The men believed responsible for the attack went to the Wyman Ranch and told the rancher that the freighter had attempted suicide by slashing his throat. Mr. Wyman immediately went to the scene and found Dan still breathing. He obtained help from Richard Stingle at Quartz Gulch and Forest Ranger H.N. (Harry) Morgan. After bandaging the victims wounds they brought him by wagon to the physician’s house in Philipsburg. Sheriff J.D. Kennedy was notified and immediately rode out and arrested the four men: Louis Bobba and his son Antonio Bobba, G. Massoglio and Francise Bergamaschi. They were all arraigned with Bergamaschi and Massoglio released under the care of C.J. Morgan and the father and son were held in jail. The son was believed to be the one who wielded the knife. 

A three column account appeared in the Mail, on June 18, 1909 headlined “Crowley tells his story.” Newspaper text during that era was very descriptive so I will refrain from quoting the article. The men were tried by a twelve man jury convened in September. The father and son were found guilty and sentenced to five years in Deer Lodge. The charges were dropped on the other two men. 

Dan, continued to live an accident prone life and died from injuries he sustained when a big gray team owned by G.A. (George) Stephens’ turned a wagon over onto him on August 27, 1913. “Mr. Crowley was caught under the wagon, or was run over, no one knows which, it all happened so quickly …and he sustained fatal internal injuries….He died about 10 hours later.” After a funeral at his residence in the Church Hill addition, Dan was buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Dan, was born on December 25, 1854, in Ireland, arriving in the United States in 1882. He was a resident of Philipsburg for thirty years. He married Miss Elizabeth “Lizzie” Herman, in 1890. Lizzie was a niece of Mrs. Mary Schuh, who lived in the upper valley. Lizzie and Dan had three sons: Herman “Daniel” (1890) Arthur J. (1895), and Louis “Tex” (1906). 

Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Herman Crowley, born June 21, 1868, worked for the Woodcraft organization. I found frequent reference where she stated the amount of insurance the deceased family would receive. She died September 5, 1953 and was interred next to Daniel, in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

The Crowley family were early settlers in the Philipsburg and Granite area. Tom J. Crowley (Daniel’s brother) married Mary Delia Miller Sage, on June 2, 1895. They ran a boarding house on upper Broadway, in Philipsburg and took over the contract to care for the county poor and infirmed, in 1901. 

Mary, born on June 2, 1869, in Milhurd County Utah, came to Philipsburg with her parents, when quiet young (about 1882). The family lived in one of the cabins near Kroger’s Brewery, and then moved to the Bitter Root. On October 14, 1883, Mary married J. Riley Sage and the newly weds returned to Philipsburg. To the marriage, was born a son Clarence. In 1891, Mr. Sage died, leaving Mary a widow with a small son. Four years later, she married T.J. Mary died in a Butte Hospital, after surgery, on January 28, 1902. Survivors were: her husband, sons: Clarence Sage and Arthur Crowley, sister Orinda Riddle, living near Riverside and a brother living in Gebo, Montana. The funeral was at the family home with Rev. H.G. Wakefield, performing the service. Internment was in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Tom came to Philipsburg in 1885 and some time after Mary’s death, went to California, where he died on November 17, 1931 and was buried in California. 

In the Crowley cemetery plot block nineteen, lot thirty seven, graves one-eight there are headstones for Charles G. who died September 19, 1891, at the age of three years one month and one day and Edna M. and Edgar J., twins, that lived twenty two and twenty three days; dying on October 10 and 11, 1892, all children of D.P. and M.E. Crowley and there are file cards for a Baby Herman and twins Clarina and Carra but no dates or ages listed. There is also a Baby Mary Crowley, but no date or age, but I believe a child of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Crowley. Their son, Arthur, was born, weighing fourteen pounds, on May 13, 1896, in Philipsburg, according to the Philipsburg Mail. 

Some Citizen's of Black Pine and Combination

 

The Frost family, consisting of father Ralph, mother Mary (Boxsleighter) and four children: Ralph, Roena, John W. (Wally), and Bernice lived at Black Pine during the boom days. Mary and Ralph were married in 1882 and came west from Iowa in 1888. Mr. Frost was engaged in mining and died at Black Pine in 1893. In 1895, Mary married Blair King who was also a mill and mine man. 

To the King marriage was added two more children: June and Rosemary. The Mail on June 3, 1910 stated that Misses June and Tootsie (Rosemary) King of Black Pine were visiting their sister Mrs. J.P. (Bernice) Duffy in Philipsburg. Blair King, suffered from tuberculosis for five years before his death April 28, 1916. He had changed his occupation to farmer after leaving mining and mill work. 

Mary died at her home in north Philipsburg on November 12, 1932. Survivors were all six of her children and was the last surviving member of a family of thirteen children, All, but her, had lived out life in their native state of Iowa. Mary’s funeral was held at the family home with Rev. Earl G. McKnight of the Methodist Church officiating with internment in the Philipsburg cemetery. Her children resided at that time as follows: Ralph L. and J.W. Frost in Philipsburg; Mrs. John (June) McLeod in Mullen, Idaho; Mrs. James Bilbo in San Pedro, California; Mrs. John (Bernice) Duffy in Spokane, Washington and Mrs. T. C. Coburn in Whittier, California. 

 Mary’s son, Ralph died February 10, 1933 during a visit to his sister, June McLeod in Mullen, Idaho. Ralph was a rancher until his health failed and he had been an invalid for several years. He first lived with his mother and then his sister in Mullen. The funeral was held at his brother John W.’s home in Philipsburg with internment at the Philipsburg cemetery. Pallbearers were: C.E. Kennedy, Jack Guinanne, Jake Polich, Arthur Taylor, Angus McDonald and John McDonald. Survivors were the same as for his mother who died few months earlier. 

I believe Roena also went by the name of Edna but I have failed to find any records of her after the 1900 Census when she was six. 

                                                  Photograph from "The Granitonian" 1956
 

John Wallace “Wally” Frost was born in 1885 in Iowa and was only 8 years old when his father died. Wolle, in “Montana Pay Dirt”, quotes Wally as telling her it was not hard to get up a dance in the camp. “All you had to do was go out into the street and holler, ‘Let’s dance’. ” While working at the Bi-Metallic, Wally and Marguerite Steber slipped away from Philipsburg on June 16, 1916 and were married at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage in Anaconda. The newly weds returned to Philipsburg the next day and were “joyously serenaded by several parties of their young friends.” Wally was the second son of Mrs. Blair (Mary) King and the bride was the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Steber. Wally, was a fixture in the Philipsburg community and worked tirelessly as janitor of Granite County High School for at least fifteen years after leaving the mines.. He lived to be 85 and died in 1973. 

 Another miner, John Whelan lived for fifteen years at Combination. He died suddenly at the age of 70 on June 7, 1905. His friend James Bissett had visited with him over night on Tuesday and left the next morning with Mr. Whelan in his usual health. A few hours later Blair King ( the company’s watchman) stopped by Whelan’s residence to pick a package up that Mr. Whelan had asked him to mail and found him dead. He lived alone and was in charge of E. Christie’s property at Black Pine. The coroner went out and brought the body into Philipsburg, but an autopsy and inquest was deemed unnecessary as death was natural and probably due to heart failure. He had no known family and his estate consisted of $70.00 found on his person; $800 in the bank of T. Weinstein & Co. of Philipsburg; and some mining claims. Funeral services were conducted at the morgue and Philipsburg cemetery by Rev. W.H. Pascoe, with the M.E. Choir assisting with the songs. 

 According to his obituary Robert A. Hereford was one of the bookkeepers of Black Pine during its’ “Boom Days.” He died on January 15, 1943 at St. Josephs Hospital in Deer Lodge, at the age of 85. Born in Virginia on March 29, 1857, he came to Granite county in 1889. After working at Black Pine, Robert was employed for many years as a telegraph operator. His daughter, Mrs. Mildred Duggan and a sister, both .in Washington D.C. survived him.

Dirty Politics

 Duncan Dingwall was involved in the very heated election campaign of 1886 against the Sligh-Durand ticket for Montana State Senator. The political candidates from Granite county all visited Quigley in October, believing that this was an important voting element. They were greeted by the Quigley A.F. of L. Union president Elliott. The candidates were: Dr. J.M. Sligh running for state senator, J.K. Pardee a former state legislator now running for county treasurer, D. H. Dunshee of Combination and D.W. Hennessey of Flint running for county commissioners and Thomas Glina of Combination running for the state legislature. 

The Record announced the election results on November 14 as follows: J.K. Pardee as treasurer, Findlay J. McDonald as sheriff, Thomas Glina and Israel Clem as legislators, B. (or D.) H. Dunshee, James McDonel and D.W. Hennessey as county commissioners. 

During the election campaign the Mail published the following: That Boycotted Road “A gentleman, a former employee of the Combination company, has hauled into this office a copy of a notice served on him while in the employ of that company. It is an interesting little document and one which caused a great deal of adverse criticism at the time it was posted in various conspicuous places around Combination and handed or transmitted to employees. By reference to the boycott notice it will be observed that it applies to everybody excepting Frank Durand, D.H. Mellan [sic] and Hugh Mellan [sic]. These three gentlemen out of the entire county are the only ones permitted to traverse the road and do business in Combination. If the road had done anything to seriously impair the “general welfare of the community,” it does appear a little strange that the three gentlemen named above could traverse it without injury to the community. 

Following is the circular letter: “Combination, Montana, July 30, 1895 Notice is hereby given that on and after this date all residents of Combination as well as all employees of the Combination Mining and Milling Company will be expected to cease purchasing any meats, vegetables, produce dry goods, clothing or supplies of any kind, from any farmer, person or firm, from the lower valley adjacent to and driving over the road from Stone Station to the Combination Mine and known as the Stone Station Road. 

All persons hauling goods and supplies of any character over or in any way found traversing said road will not be permitted to sell or dispose of same in the Combination camp excepting Frank Durand, D.H. Mellan and Hugh Mellan. All persons in this camp will avoid the patronage of the Horton stage and whether employed or not are expected to live up to the letter of these instructions as we believe it is most reasonable and certainly worthy the co-operation of our employees and beneficiaries, and any and all violations or failure to comply will result most seriously in the general welfare of the community. 

This matter will receive the closest attention and we insist upon it most rigid enforcement. Combination Mining and Milling Co., F.H. Bird, Agent, by order of Chas. D. McLure, president.” 

The Mail continued: “There is not a business man in the county, nor a rancher, miner, laborer or anyone else who can afford to vote the Sligh-Durand corporation ticket if he believes in the free institutions of America. Remember that it is the same corporation tactics that are being used by Mark Hanna to defeat Bryan, that are being used in Granite county to elect Sligh. Down with the corporation ticket by voting the Dingwall ticket straight.” 

As a point of interest:Sligh owned 2,750 and Durand 4,602 shares of Combination stock. 

After Duncan won the election, Sligh by manipulation, went to Helena and occupied the Senate seat. The December 4, 1896 Mail carried the District Court happenings where: “Dr. J.M. Sligh instituted injunction proceedings against G. J. Reck as county clerk of Granite county to restrain him from issuing a certificate of election to Duncan Dingwall as senator from Granite county. The case was ably argued by Honorable W. B. Rodgers, counsel for Dingwall and W. E. Moore of Philipsburg, counsel for Sligh. The court took the case under advisement and on Monday rendered its decision, in which the injunction was denied. Judge Brantly, in rendering his decision held substantially: “That his court has no jurisdiction to pass injunctions… and Duncan Dingwall, having received a majority of all the votes cast at the last election, for that office, was regularly and duly elected as such senator and is entitled to receive a certificate of election from the Clerk of Granite county.” 

The reader is reminded that Granite county received its charter in 1893 and prior to that time was represented by Deer Lodge county, so this was their first election.

Black Pine and Combination

Black Pine photo from the Tex Crowley collection. Notice the warchman Frank Sprague's car. picture prior to the 1935 fire.

After extensive research I have decided to write about Black Pine and Combination together. Many of the articles do not separate the two as Combination was located at the mill in the bottom of Willow Creek Canyon two miles from the ridge where the Black Pine settlement was built. Both were Company towns so when the “Company” left so did the residents. 

Black Pine was originally occupied from sometime in 1882 through 1897. After the original discovery, little work was done for the next few years due to the high cost of road building. In 1886 James A. Pack leased the property and formed the Black pine Mining Company according to papers at the Montana Historical Society. The Company was composed of Pack, Josiah M. Merrill, Jospeh H. Harper, Frederick W. Flint, Aeneas McAndrew, Ralph B. Wallace and William P. Shyrock. The Company built the 10-stamp mill down the hill to the west in the Willow Creek Valley, which became known as Combination.. Pictures from the Tex Crowley collection show Black Pine as a string of cabins lining the east and west side of the dirt road. Other articles describe cabins also being in the trees to the west down the slope to Willow creek. The school house was located in Middletown Canyon and was operated in the summer months when it was safe for the children to walk to the building. Winters were severe and snow deep. Water was scarce on the ridge and was hauled by a horse drawn cart to Black Pine from Willow Creek, where the residents paid $1.00 for a gallon. During the winter most people melted snow for their needs. Because Black Pine was a company town there was no liquor allowed. Some articles stated this was because the camp was for family men. Needless to say most miners were not a dry lot so a settlement called “Whiskey Flats or Hill”, sprang up just south of the mine property. Seven or eight saloons and brothels made up this settlement. There was no cemetery in the area “because the miners preferred to be “buried in the ‘burg.” When a miner died the Miner’s Union closed the mines for the day and everyone accompanied the body to Philipsburg for the funeral. 

The original Company underestimated the costs and could not pay off their debts with the October 8, 1889 Mail advertising a Sheriff sale of 36 different person’s and businesses suing Black Pine Mining Company. The lawsuit was asking for $22,000 and interest which made an aggregate total of about $25,000 that had been advanced to the defendant company. Quoting the article:…”The company’s property consisting of the mines, hoisting plants and mill at Combination, has been attached and Deputy United States Marshall Wall arrived from Helena last Saturday and took possession. The suit it seems was precipitated through a disagreement among stockholders… The matter continued in court for some time and the injunction was at last made permanent with the result that the money paid in by those who had consented to the assessment was returned and the debt remained unpaid. Several watchmen have constantly been employed in taking care of the property and it seems at least some of them had difficulty in disposing of their time checks, even at a considerable discount. Thus the matter dragged along, the debt increasing everyday, and as there seemed no way for the several factions among the stockholders to agree upon a satisfactory settlement, the St. Louis Bank evidently grew impatient and attached the works.” 

                 Combination Mill Illustration by Muriel Sibell Wolle in "Montana Pay Dirt" , 1983

For three years the property has been idle, not because of good ore, but that some stockholders had an idea that they were being wronged and became hostile managers. In December some of the Company stockholders reorganized under Combination Mining and Milling Company and bought the assets being sold at the sheriff auction. This Company headed by Harper with Anthony H. Barrett, Patrick Talent, George E. Maule, Elliott H. Wilson, Henry Williams and Charles Goodale was capitalized at $600,000. In the fall of 1890 the unsettled silver market caused the closing of the mine for the winter months. But they did re-open in the spring. 

By 1891, Charles D. McLure from the Bi-Mettalic and Granite Mountain Mining Companies had acquired the majority of stock and by 1893, the officers of Combination were almost identical to the Bi-Metallic. The mine and mill operated until 1897 but even though the output was over two million ounces of silver, the Company was never able to pay dividends and had to assess each share a total over 35 cents during the next 10 years of operation. At the turn of the century, Charles was the primary owner. 

       Combination Mining Office Illustration by Muriel Sibell Wolle in "Montana Pay Dirt" ,1983

Following are news articles during the early years:

 

Miss Sadie Downs taught the Black Pine School during the spring of 1893 and according to the Philipsburg Mail was awarded a first grade certificate from the county the week of August 10, 1893. She was then elected by the school trustees to fill a position at the Philipsburg schools for the term beginning in September. Sadie was the sister of Suzi (Downs, Berthoud) Hull, wife of W.T. on Rock Creek. 

The January 2, 1896 Philipsburg Mail unpaid county taxes for the year 1895 that were in arrears: Joseph Racine for a house in Combination owed $2.64; Roe and Drake for a cabin in Combination owed $1.58; Joseph Reil for a cabin in Combination owed $1.57;Weinstein Estate for a lodging house in Combination owed $1.08 

On September 18, 1896 the Philipsburg Mail stated that Louis B., the infant son of Mrs. B.L. Schultz died the week prior and the body was taken to Butte for internment. He was one year and twelve days old. Mrs. Schultz had only been a widow for a few weeks when the toddler died. Mr. Schultz had died a few weeks prior in Combination. So far research has not found his obituary. 

In that same issue of the Mail was a story about J.S. Thorp being robbed of $200 by highwaymen on the road from Combination. Thorp was a grocery man and was returning to Philipsburg when two masked men blocked his way about 9 pm and ordered him to stop. He put his team into a run. This caused the robbers to begin shooting. One shot injured his lead horse and then a second shot hit another one of the team causing the wagon to stop. The robbers blindfolded Mr. Thorp and threatened him with a knife to his throat before he gave up his money. The article stated Thorp was probably also going to lose his two horses from their wounds. Further research of the newspaper does not reveal the highway men identified or on trial. 

There were four main shafts developed at Black Pine: The Barrett, Harper, Harrison and Lewis. From these shafts it is estimated that 2,135,000 ounces of silver and 1,411 ounces of gold were mined between 1881 and 1897. The ore was hauled through Middletown canyon to the mill at Combination by eight to sixteen horse or mule teams There it was crushed and the concentrates were taken out by William Gillespie’s eighteen head string of pack mules. Gillespie hauled in the freight from Philipsburg and hauled out the concentrate on his return trip. Some estimate the population during the boom time to be near 1,200 with three shifts of miners working every day of the week. 

The Western Mining History states there ultimately were eight vertical shafts, 3 tunnels, drifts, inclines and crosscuts by 1906; by 1974 all surface openings were closed except the Lewis shaft and Combination Adit. 

The May 5, 1887 Mail stated: “W.H. Presley who is running the boarding house at the Black Pine mines went to town during the week. He states there are 30 carpenters at work at the mill and that the strike was made in the west instead of the east drift, as incorrectly reported [in an earlier issue].” 

The July 17, 1890 Mail stated that John H. Price of Black Pine and John Ainsley of Philipsburg left on the train for a trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where they were to remain for a week or two. 

Combination Notes, July 20, 1893 Philipsburg Mail stated: “Mr. Christie is again in possession of the hotel; Combination is without a physician; Dr. Orr has gone to his home in Ohio. The mill shut down entirely last Saturday evening. Mr. Sherman, the genial superintendent, took a party of ladies through early in the afternoon, explaining things as he went along in a way to make them wonder. The whistles have ceased to blow at the mine. The work for the supply of electric lights has been completed since the shutdown. 

W.J. Carpenter published a notice in the Citizen Call on October 30, 1895 that stated: “Owing to the large amount of business that I am doing at Combination, it will be impossible for me to open my photography gallery in Philipsburg until November 5th. Also, in the same issue of the Call was the rumor that Wm. H. Robinson foreman at the Sunrise would be replacing J.T. Carroll as foreman at Combination. 

In 1897 low silver prices closed the mine; It re-opened from 1937-1974 then although individuals worked claims it did not open again until 1985 with final closure by Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company in 1988. The mine has 57 patented claims. in Sections 7,8,9,16,17, and 18. T.8 N, R.14W.