High School Sweethearts Together Again

                                          Patricia Wickberg High School Graduation Picture

Patricia Ann Wickberg graciously shared her life history with me recently and I will attempt to describe the picture her circle of life has painted. Although I covered some of her history in my books, Federal Census records were not available at that time and some news articles were not accurate. Born to Margaret Durfee and Ryan Roland Wickberg in 1929, her family tree was already well established in Granite County. Maternal grandparents were Marion C. and Myrtle Mae Archmire (Achamire) Durfee, pioneer residents. 

Marion’s parents were: Francis and Eva Durfee. Francis located in Alder Gulch in 1864 and “shortly after moved to the Flint Creek Valley” according to his obituary. The Durfee ranch where Marion was born west of Philipsburg became the married couples home and there Myrtle died at the age of 27 in 1909. The 1910 Federal Census shows Marion with son Francis age 5 and Margaret age 4. Marion brought in a new wife, Nina Streeter to become the children’s step mother during 1910.amd the Federal Census in 1920 shows the four members of the Durfee family still living in Philipsburg. 

Ryan Wickberg and Margaret were married on February 20, 1926. Pat was their third child, after Mildred Ruth, born in Philipsburg on December 7, 1926; and older brother, Marion Louis “Tony” “Buster” Wickberg born in Philipsburg on March 30, 1928. A younger brother, Ryan Roland born on February 21, 1931, came down with pneumonia a short while after birth and passed away on March 10, 1931. The depression hit a few weeks before Pat was born and Ryan moved the family to Phosphate, Montana, to work in the phosphate mine, when she was 3 or 4 years old. She started 1st Grade in Garrison then they moved back to Philipsburg to complete 1st through 8th Grade and Granite County High School with graduation in of May of 1947. 

After graduation, Pat worked in the County Agent’s office for a little over a year, then attended Business School in Butte, Montana, for a year and a half then came back to Philipsburg in late 1949 and worked for Taylor-Knapp. While in Philipsburg she met Clarence “Cart” Hamilton,(June 27, 1923), the son of Andrew and Hilda Hamilton. They were married in Philipsburg on April 9, 1950. Born to this marriage was: daughter, Judy Lorraine Hamilton (August 20, 1951) and son, Daniel Magnus Hamilton, (October 12, 1955). Pat worked for Taylor-Knapp until Judy was born. 

The family moved to Missoula in late 1962 where Pat worked for Western Montana Implement Company for about 10 years. Judy and Dan attended Prescott Grade School and both graduated from Hellgate High School.. Pat’s sister Margaret Saurer died in 1973 and Pat began working for Chuck’s Body Shop but fumes began to bother her, so in 1983 she quit and went to work for Garden City Nursery. She also volunteered at the Prescott School for about 20 years. 

Judy and spouse Alan Bradley have three children: Alan W., Kelcy, and Haley; Dan had Ryan and Rae. Pat has now been blessed with ten great grandchildren. 

Pat’s father Ryan retired as a school bus driver after 25 years of service and died on August 15, 1977 Mother, Margaret Wickberg joined him on September 3, 1986. 

Cart worked for the Anaconda Company, which later became Champion International and retired in 1986 as a Lumber Mill Superintendent then volunteered for 18 years for the Radio Reading Service and for 6 years as a Missoula Police Fingerprint Technician. Cart and Pat celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 9, 2000. In 2006 Cart, had a stroke and later developed throat cancer. They sold their home up the Rattlesnake and bought on Village Square in late 2006. Cart died on August 22, 2007 and Son Dan died in May of 2014. 

Pat moved into Village Senior Residence Facility in Missoula on February, 2015 after an ankle injury, with Haley and family renting her home. Brother Tony had died in January and Pat was the executor of his estate so spent a lot of time driving up to Philipsburg. Having enough of life at the Village she decided to move back into her home in March of 2018. 

During 1946-1947, in High School, Pat dated a man named Dan Bradshaw. They kept in touch off and on through the years. Early in 2018 his wife passed away and through a series of circumstances the two became reacquainted and before long the relationship became serious. Dan proposed, Pat accepted, and they were married in his home in Seattle, Washington July 9, 2018. Pat did not care for Seattle, so they returned to her home in Missoula in late August, 2018 and are living there, happily ever after!

                                                       Pat and Dan's Wedding Picture

Seth Bradshaw's Family Life

                                                                 Seth about age 12

I am grateful for Dan Bradshaw providing me with an extensive history of the Bradshaw family, from which this article was edited. Seth Stuart Bradshaw was born in Wellsville, Cache County, Utah, on 19 November 1902. He was the 6th of nine children born to Charles Hampson Bradshaw and Robenia Glenn Stuart. The children were: Mary (1/1/89-4/20/92), Charles S. (4/7/91-1/3/1974), Elizabeth (1/17/93-3/7/1979), Margaret (9/15/96-4/1/1979), Ethel (3/8/99-5/20/1971), Seth (11/19/02-10/21/1978), Allen (10/6/04-10/6/1904), Jessie 12/2/06-5/25/1988) and Sarah 11/11/09-1/12/2001) 

Seth’s father built a new home in Wellsville when Seth was 3 or 4 years old. They moved to White’s Valley in 1910. It was about 45 miles from Wellsville and took all day on a dusty old road. It is located about 16 miles west of Tremonton. His dad dry farmed, as there was not enough water for irrigation. He grew barley and other grain. He also had a steam thresher and a couple of headers to help with the harvest. There was a well on the property and he had a horse that went around and around in a small circle to pump water into a tank. Seth always wondered why the horse did not get dizzy and fall over, but he was a faithful horse, and did this every day all summer. 

Seth was just under 12 years old when his father died. He finished the 8th grade in Wellsville, and that completed his schooling. He did say that he was known as the little tough guy in school. When it came time to get shots for diphtheria, he laughed at the other kids who were crying. When it came his turn, they gave him the shot and he feinted. So much for being the little tough guy. He also said they burned the school house down so he did not go beyond the 8th Grade. 

After his father died, Seth went to White’s Valley to live with his brother Charles and his family In early 1919, Charles and family moved to Montana, so Seth went to live with an uncle in Tremonton and worked for him on his farm. He also worked in the sugar factory in Ogden for a while. Seth liked to ranch and owning his own ranch was something he wanted all of his life, so he decided to go to Montana and stay with his brother Charles and his wife and family for a while. Seth rode in a boxcar with some cows, horses, chickens and furniture that belonged to Charles.. He had a toothache all of the way to Montana. The train stopped at several places along the way and he had to feed the animals. They stopped in Garrison, Montana, and somehow the chickens got out, and he had to chase them all over town, and get them back into the boxcar. He did have some help. 

He arrived at Charles place on May 20, 1919 and worked there for a while. Next he stayed with Herb and Teen Leishman. They were old friends from Utah and lived in the old Robbins house up near the airport. The house has since burned down. Seth rented the place for one summer to put up hay. He used the horses that belonged to the Robbins. It was all dry ground, as the canal had not been yet built. Mr. Robbins taught him how to irrigate. 

His mother and younger sister Sarah (Sally) came to Montana in 1925 and stayed for a year. Those were rough times, as grain sold for only 10 cents per bushel. Seth worked for other ranchers in Granite County to try to save some money. He leased the old Fred Parker place before he was married. 

He met Ruby Stuart, a 2nd cousin, and they courted and were married on October 24, 1927 in Drummond, Montana. They left a few days later to be sealed in the Cardston Alberta Canada Temple. They drove his Ford Model T and camped along the way. They stayed with some relatives in Alberta while they were there, and were treated very nicely. They came back through northern Idaho, to Spokane and then back to Drummond. They lived in the old house around the hill, which Seth called the old Bunker house. 

                                                         The Old Bunker Hill House

The first four children were born while they lived in this house: Verlin, Dan, Keith and Allen. This was during the depression. Times were really tough. They lost the ranch in 1934 and then rented it back.  Seth always used to say that you could .......

While living in the Bunker House many male friends came to visit and get their hair cut, as Seth was a reasonable barber. He also cut all of his children’s hair until they left home. “The only difference between a good and a bad haircut was about three days.” While living at this house Verlin was told that if he could sneak up on the Hungarian Pheasants and sprinkle salt on their tales he could catch them. So being a kid, Verlin decided to try this at about 6 or 7 years old. After several tries, he could not get close enough to salt their tales, and gave up.  

Over the years all of the children had the usual chicken pox, measles, whooping cough, mumps and other childhood diseases. They were saved by eating Ruby’s soup. At the old Bunker Hill house, there was a ditch that ran along the southeast of the house. This was a place to play, and build dirt roads, and use imaginary cars that were actually rocks. Seth must have had a desire to be a cattle rider in a rodeo. He would tie a long rope to a calf and then put Dan or Verlin on the calf, and hold the rope as it ran in circles. Amusing to Seth while the boys usually were bucked off. One Christmas morning Seth told the children to come and see Santa’s sled tracks in the snow outside the front door. Verlin was convinced that he had no problem seeing them, but Dan was not convinced. 

Seth always had a few milk cows. Seth and Dan went up to get a load of hay for the cattle and on the way back a terrific thunderstorm came up. Seth stopped the wagon to open a gate and lightning struck the fence right close to where he was standing. He quickly got the wagon through the gate and ran the horses home. While at the old Bunker Hill house, Seth was injured and developed blood poisoning in one arm, which was serious. Doctor Wilcox, came out and put hot packs on the arm and after a few days he was okay. 

In the spring of 1935, Ruby was very pregnant and driving herself to Philipsburg to see the doctor. As she approached her sister Phyllis’s home, 10 miles from Philipsburg, she realized she would not make it to Philipsburg. They took her to the back bedroom in Ernest and Phyllis’s home, where Ernest helped deliver the baby. He said “I have helped deliver horses and cows, so I guess I can do this too”. This special child was Carol Ann, the only daughter in the family. 

       Front Row: Keith, Carol and Allen. Middle: Verlin and Dan. Back: Ruby and Seth holding Larry

After the “Bunker Hill” house, the family then lived in what was called the house on the corner. Located on the corner of Highway 1 and the old Mullan road, they lived there for a couple of years and Larry was born in this house While living at the house on the corner, Seth had a nervous breakdown. Jobs were scarce and so was money. It was a difficult time for many during the depression. In 1937 the family decided to go back to Utah and visit and this seemed to do the trick as after a few days Seth began to feel normal, so they returned home and he was not bothered with this malady the remainder of his life They moved from there to a house located about 50 yards to the south of his brother Charlie’s home. This was the house that was later moved to the ranch. 

He worked for Joe Mitton, on roads in northern Granite County, with 6 or 7 workers. Seth spent most of his time cutting their hair. In the boggy areas they would build the roads using rip-rap, where they laid poles along the roadway and filled the spaces with rocks and gravel. Seth also worked on homes in Drummond, running a horse drawn scraper to dig dirt out for a basement; Next for the WPA for a couple of years; then the Skalkaho Highway for a while using a horse and scraper (The scraper tripped one time, catching him under the chin, which knocked him out); then back to ranching and putting up hay for other ranchers. He had mowers, rakes, bull rakes, forks and other tools and would hire other men to help out. 

In 1939 he and Ruby borrowed money from the Federal Land Bank and bought the ranch where he lived the remainder of his life. He had now fulfilled the lifelong dream of owning his own ranch.

It is as if everyday is the last of days

Reading the January 19th Philipsburg Mail created many unsettled emotions for me. I have wandered around my home picking up and reading a lot of Montana books and Granite County history this past week trying to again accept the obvious fact that as I grow older, more and more of the history I value is being negated, altered and discarded. The book that helped me settle my feeling the best was “Montana High Wide and Handsome” by Joseph Kinsey Howard and published in 1943. 

Cited from page 327-28 “Montana will enjoy its role in all of this, next to being actually a frontier, there is nothing better than being the jumping off place for one. Ask St. Louis or Seattle, Omaha or St. Joe! Certainly frontiersmen will always be welcome, always feel at home when they hear the traditional greeting ‘get down and come on in!’ There will be room for adventurers here, In Montana everyone has a quarter of a mile (ten times as much space as the average American can claim for himself) in which to stomp about and shout, or just lie and look up at the vibrant blue-green sky. It always reaches just beyond the horizon and the horizon seems always to be still within Montana. Between the sky and the horizon edge is rainbow’s end. It is there the sun rests in intermission while the spirit dancers of the aurora thread their way silent and a-tiptoe, through the grave measures of their minuet: there too are the Sand Hills, where wander shades of dead warriors in perpetual pursuit of phantom buffalo. There is the goal of all the mysterious old trails---the green well watered pasture; the brimming reservoir; the never failing wheat. Even peace is there. The sky is so big that the newcomers’ mighty air transports roaring into the sunset will loom no larger than did the covered wagons creaking over a mountain pass. For an instant they will be noisy and important, and there will be a flick of flame on their wings, celestial tribute to gallantry; then the sky will be still again…save for the high chorus of color, which one learns ro hear after awhile. The sunset holds infinite promise. Fire sweeps up from behind the Rockies to consume the universe, kindles the whole horizon, and all the great sky is flame; then suddenly it falters and fades atop the distant peaks and the lonely buttes, ebbs and is lost in secret coulees. The Montanan is both humbled and exalted by the blazing glory filling his world, yet so quickly dead; he cannot but marvel that such a puny creature as he should be privileged to stand here unharmed, and watch. It is as if every day were the last of days. So Edward Arlington saw the mountain county: Dark hills at evening in the west, Where sunset hovers like a sound Of golden horns that sang to rest Old bones of warriors under ground, Far now from all the bannered ways Where flash the legions of the sun, You fade—as if the last of days Were fading, and all wars were done. But the sun’s fierce ecstasy will return tomorrow night. And next year.” 

Many banks failed in Montana and Granite county and especially during the depression. By 1939, the only banks were in Deer Lodge or Butte and caused great hardship for the people. Thus began a concentrated effort by merchants and ranchers to form their own bank. A four page document on legal sized paper is present in the family possessions of J.D. Kennedy, a Granite county rancher, Under-sheriff, Sheriff, State Representative and Senator, that was the original petition to establish this bank. The document dated October 26, 1939 contains the original signatures of 89 businesses, ranchers and citizens of Granite county. The names are all listed in “Mettle of Granite County Book Two” page 32. These people contributed their hard earned cash to buy shares in this institution and named it Flint Creek Valley Bank which opened in April, 1940. The major share holders became Board members and at the close of business December 31, 1940 a document shows $339,010.13 in Resources and Liabilities. Officers were: H.A. Featherman President, R.D. Metcalf Vice-president, B.G. Paige cashier and Clarice Superneau Assistant cashier. The Board of Directors were: J.D. Kennedy, H.A. Featherman, R,D. Metcalf, John Rodda and B.G. Paige. J.D. Kennedy was president of the bank for many years and until his death March 4, 1949. 

Blurring the history, around 2000 it became Granite Mountain Bank (not established in 1940 as the sign hanging over the door says). Some descendants still have their original FCV shares. This institution has now been sold to Citizen Alliance Bank. What is not written and remembered shall forever be lost. Question is: what will happen to all those shares people have held onto for decades?

Some Brave Young Men

 

           Joseph "Toby Joe" Marling USN died on the USS Arizona December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor

After research found that Granite County had fourteen Patriots lost in World War II, I found an article in the April 15 1949 Philipsburg Mail stating that Clifford O’Brian’s body had just arrived in San Francisco. His mother Mary O’Brian of Hamilton had received word that the body will be cremated in San Francisco and then the remains will be returned to her. Obviously the reason Clifford was not listed as a Granite County loss was because his mother had moved. Clifford a Seaman First Class in the US Navy was killed in action in the Southwest Pacific on December 2, 1943. He had been drafted from Philipsburg in April 1943 and received his basic training at Farragut, Idaho and then assigned to the Pacific Fleet. Born in Wallace Idaho in 1922 he came to Philipsburg with his mother Mary O’Brian as a young boy and attended the local schools. Before being drafted he had worked as a miner. I will not be surprised if I find more Patriots lost while continuing my research. 

In the same Philipsburg Mail in 1949 was the article describing the details of the return of Harvey Grant Edwards body. His funeral was scheduled for April 18th at the Wilson Funeral Home. Grant was the son of the late C.C. Edwards of East Fork and Mrs. Albertina (Miller) Gifford of Parkerville. He was killed in the invasion of Siapan on June 20, 1944 and was buried in a military cemetery in the Pacific area. His body had arrived in San Francisco in February according to a telegram received by his brother Bill Edwards. Grant was born August 27, 1919 in Philipsburg. He graduated from Granite County High School in 1938. As evidenced by the above two articles the War funerals continued long after the fighting ceased. 

Gordon Spunich, a local native wrote a wonderful article in the October 28, 2010 Philipsburg Mail about William Cuthbert, another of our lost patriots. Gordon’s daughter Lacey had been able to visit her uncle William’s grave at the Normandy Beach cemetery in France. Gordon had married Jill Beck a niece of William and heard all the war stories which he chose to research. The original story was that Bill had been killed in a bombing run over France on April 20, 1944. The family received Western Union telegrams confirming his status as Missing in Action and finally as Killed in Action. After many months the Army Air Force finally confirmed on August 9, 1948 that his body had been positively identified through forensic tests on a previously unidentified body. The body had been severely broken and re-buried at two separate locations before the final ID. The family was given the option of either having the body sent home at government expense or being buried in France. Bill’s parents (William and Blanche) made the determination and William responded in longhand “It is my belief that my son would want to be buried where he fell. After his body is moved to a permanent location (I) would like very much if I could be furnished with a photograph of his cross with his name on it.” (December 12, 1948) The photograph was never delivered. Gordon requested and received Bill’s military files and learned that he had died a hero trying to save his crew member and friend, the nose gunner. Bill was born in Alaska on May 9, 1919 and the Cuthbert family moved to Drummond in October 1929. Bill graduated from the Drummond High School in 1938 and joined the Army Air Force on February 1, 1941. He received training as a navigator and was a Second Lieutenant. He married Greta Vanderlan while in training and she gave birth to a baby boy on October 13, 1943. Bill never met his son and was shipped out to England with the Eighth Air Force in December 1943. Bill was awarded a Purple Heart and an Air Medal for his heroism and sacrifice. (refer to William's Photograph in the previous post)

The first patriot to fall from Granite county was Joseph Henry “Toby Joe” Marling a Seaman Second class USN, who was aboard the U.S.S. Arizona, on December 7, 1941. He was also the first person from the state of Montana to lose his life in World War II. Joe’s picture hung in the “Club Bar” for many years and Michael Stafford, Editor of the Philipsburg Mail in 2009, wrote an article on December 10th about residents recollections of Joe and the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. Michael unfortunately mis-spelled Joe's name as Marlin.  Joe’s mother was Mrs. Hazel Flansburg of Philipsburg. Joe was born in Missoula, Montana on July 26. 1923. He was eighteen years old when he became memorialized at the Honolulu, Hawaii Pearl Harbor Memorial Site.  

The November 23, 1945 Philipsburg Mail’s Headline:” The Air Medal Awarded Posthumously to Lt. Ralph Williams” carrying the story of another Patriot who was (and according to his headstone still is) Missing in Action. Ralph was the first born to Ralph and Susie (McDonald) Williams on May 13, 1917. Ralph graduated with honors from Granite County High school after being a star Basket Ball player. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in July of 1941 at Seattle. He was sent to Ellington Field, Texas for ground training. Then in April 1942, Ralph graduated from the Army Air Force Technical School at Kessler Field, Mississippi. He then served as an instructor at the Midland Advanced Flying School in Midland, Texas. Ralph was accepted as an Aviation Cadet in September 1942 and received his Silver Wings and officer’s commission at Altus, Oklahoma May 24, 1943. He was sent to the European Theater in September after a furlough where he visited his family in Philipsburg. 

A letter from the War Department reported him Missing in Action on February 3, 1944. At that time he was a co-pilot on an unnamed bomber. In March of 1944, Ralph’s mother, Mrs. Susie McDonald Williams “had received The Purple Heart Medal, awarded posthumously as a tangible expression of the county’s gratitude for his gallantry and devotion”. Extensive research has failed to produce a picture of Ralph. 

Henry Luthje, the son of Hans and Margaretha (Bohrnsen) Luthje, born May 6, 1910 was drafted at the age of thirty-one into the U.S. Army in March of 1941. His younger brother John had been drafted earlier and had a “nervous breakdown” due to the overwhelming number of people surrounding him. Having grown up isolated on Upper Willow Creek and attending small one room school houses he just could not accept the change in living situation. Because of the War Department rules of at least one male from every family being drafted, Henry became next in line because he was still single. 

In Anne D. Luthje’s book “Upper Willow Creek’ there are a number of letters written by Henry to Jennie Klaver while he was in training and overseas that show a great fondness between the two. When Henry came home on furlough in January 1944 he and Jennie were engaged. The last letter published in Anne’s book is dated December 4, 1944 from Henry to Jennie and the Luthje family received the dreaded visit from the Granite County Sheriff later that month. On December 12, 1944 the young man affectionately known as “Hen” had been killed in “The Battle of the Bulge”. Unable to return his body home he was buried in the Netherlands. Henry’s headstone in the Philipsburg Cemetery states” U.S. 5th Armd. Div. Co. C 15th INF. BN. Buried in Holland”. 

                                                                    Henry Luthje

A family by the name of Eakhorn adopted Henry’s grave in Holland. Another family on Upper Willow Creek was most anxious when they heard of Henry’s death as they also had a son they had not heard from for a long period of time who was serving in India. 

Peter Mungas, the son of Mary and George (Zatesalo) Mungas was born in Anaconda on November 18 , 1924. He attended the rural schools on Willow and Rock Creek and then High School in Thompson Falls. Peter then returned to the ranch on Willow Creek to help his father with the ranch. Peter was inducted into the service on March 23, 1944 and went into the Medical Corp. He attended basic training at Camp Barkley, Texas and then Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver and Bushnell General Hospital in Brigham, Utah. He was assigned to the 66th Field hospital and transferred to Camp Swift, Texas. From there he was sent over seas in February 1945. 

The July 27, 1945 Philipsburg Mail carried the headlines: Pfc Peter Mungas Dies in Burma”. Peter had been serving the Medical Corp in India and their unit was moving to China via the Burma Road. Peter was driving one of the trucks and on July 4, 1944, during bivouac Peter was under the vehicle greasing it. He asked a buddy to engage the starter while the vehicle was in gear in order to move the truck slightly forward. The friend accidently started the vehicle and the front wheel rolled over Peter’s chest. He died enroute to the hospital. The Honor Guard accompanied Peter’s body home and stayed with the family while funeral arrangements were made, carried out and burial accomplished in the Philipsburg Cemetery. Upper Willow Creek was now grieving the loss of two brave young men.

                                                                   Peter Mungas

The Massive Loss of Patriots

                                                           William Cuthbert 4-20-1944

As I began to write about the local boys going off to World War II, it quickly became obvious that the news articles were making the War sound pretty romantic and I was having great difficulty in determining the Patriots who were volunteering instead of being drafted. I found the following statistics for the entire United States on men who were Inductees: 1940-18,633 1941-923,842 1942-3,033,361 1943-3,323,970 1944-1,591,942 1945-945,862 1946-183,383 1947-0 

After 2,400 servicemen and civilians were killed at Pearl Harbor, our December Military Force grew to 2.2 million Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors versus the 174, 000 personnel in 1937. A total of 50 million men registered following the conscription guidelines in 1940 of ages 21-35 and then expanding from 18 to 65 . By the end of the War there had been 93,941 Americans held in War Camps in Germany. Of the 16 Million who served more than 120,000 were held at sometime, as Prisoners of War. 

In Japan 27,465 Americans were captured and 11,107 did not return home. 92,820 Americans lived to tell of their experiences with the Germans. In Montana the War casualties are listed as Dead from Combat 100; Prison Camps 8; Missing 9; Wounded 415; Released prisoners 25. These numbers include Army-Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. And the total number cited as Dead is 737 which does not total correctly. 

 As any of our Service Men know the Government records leave a lot to be desired and because a major fire happened at one of the record keeping facilities after the War, it is virtually impossible to recreate a large number of our World War II veteran’s records. There were 139 POW’s executed in Palawan (Philippines) in December 1944. Among the 27,000 POW’s in the Pacific over 77 American Military Nurses were “Angels of Baataan and Corregidor” during 1942-1945 and received little recognition. Most said they were just doing their jobs as they cared for the Allied POW’s in Santa Tomas and Los Banas Internment Camps there. I was privileged to met 7 of these Angels in full white nursing uniforms and capes at Washington DC, when Colin Powell spoke at the Vietnam Nurses Memorial Monument Dedication Ceremony on Veteran’s Day in the early 90’s. 

A major memory the civilians have about the War was the rationing of foods and essentials and the procurement of War Bonds. Remember there still was no Federal Income Tax to pay for the war effort. Rations of sugar was 2 pounds per month per person in America; 1 pound per person in France and 11 ounces per person in Italy. We also rationed Butter, eggs, spices, bourbon, meat, cooking oil, coffee, and canned goods. Spam became a very popular meat product. Chicory and Postum were coffee substitutes. All used oils were given to the butcher who rendered them for the making of explosives. By 1943 the United States had planted more than 20 million Victory Gardens, where the gardeners with green thumbs keep our population in fruit and vegetables. This was the time when Nucoa margarine became popular. Us kids fought over who got to mix the orange tablet into the white greasy brick to turn it into a yellow product that looked like butter. The dairy farmers had lobbied and placed a tax on margarine when it first appeared in the 1920’s and the law stated it could not be dyed to look like butter. So it was sold white with a tablet of dye and later placed in a plastic bag with a liquid pellet to be broken and mixed by squeezing the bag many times until the color was mixed throughout the greasy substance. 

My research has been able to determine fourteen Patriots from Granite County lost their lives sometime between 1941 and 1945. 

The first death was Joseph Marling Seaman 2c USN on December 7, 1941. His mother was Mrs. Hazel Flansburg of Philipsburg. 

Melville Burkholder serving in the USMC died on July 1, 1943 and his mother Mrs. Helen Burkholder lived at Bear Creek. 

Clifford O'Brian Pfc died on 12-2-1943 

Ralph Williams of the Arm-Air Force died February 2, 1944. 

William Cuthburt of the Army-Air Force died April 20, 1944; 

Peter Mungas, from the Army died July 4, 1944,

Harvey Grant Edwards, Army July 1944,

Steen Cook from the Army died October 24, 1944; 

Gilbert Chandler, Army Air Force lost his life November 11, 1944; 

John Pace Pfc USMC died December 2, 1944; 

Henry Luthje from the Army died December 11, 1944; 

Elmer Steffan from the Army died April 16, 1945. 

The remaining young men lost their lives either while missing or on unknown dates. They are: 

Henry P. Bradshaw, Army, Unknown date,

 Chester E. Watson, Army, unknown date,

 and Perry Morgan, Army. Unknown date.

Researching the lives of the young men that were lost in Granite County during WWII has been tedious as the Military Records are sparse and haphazard. Because the Philipsburg Mail has not been digitized past the 1920’s in the Library of Congress it is difficult to find in-depth obituaries for a number of these Patriots. Sadly, a number of them I do not know their family descendants to contact. So if you have any additional information it is welcomed. 

Henry Parker Bradshaw was born on July 25, 1920 in Utah and came with his parents, prior to his 7 year old sister Seda’s birth, to New Chicago in Granite County according to the 1930 Federal Census. His parents were: Charles S. and Isabel (Elizabeth Hendry Parker) Bradshaw and siblings were: Louise K. age 16, Margaret age 14, Charles age 11, Leda age 7, Galen age 4 and Baby Lowell all detailed in the 1930 Census. Henry entered the US Army Air Force in 1942 and was an Aviation Cadet in Belen Valencia, New Mexico and was training to be a fighter pilot when he lost his life on April 26, 1943. His body was interred at the Logan Utah Cemetery.

Gilbert E. Chandler was born May 13, 1921 in Sidney, Montana to Burton H. (1897-1965) and Mary Roserir Cottor (sp.?) Chandler (1901-1981). His siblings were: Lester Eugene Chandler (1925- 1959) and Melvin B. Chandler (1931-1977). Gilbert was working for Consolidated Aircraft in February 1942 and Enlisted June 25, 1942 in Salt Lake as a Private in the US Army. He died on November 11, 1944 and is buried in the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy. On the Tablet of the Missing he is listed as Sgt. 84 BOMB 5Q 47 BOMB GO (L) Montana. I have been unable to determine his connection to Granite County, except for his name being filed there in the Montana Military roll. 

John W. Pace was born in 1914 in Georgia. The 1940 Federal Census shows John at the age of 26 living in Detroit Michigan with his widowed father John Pace age 53, and siblings: 1 month old Claudette, 1 year old Marie, 3 year old Lavina, 4 year old Flossie and 20 year old Martha. I find John listed as a Private in the US Marine Corp and also in the Army Air Force, but no enlistment date. He was Killed in Action on December 2, 1944 while a Sgt. Gunner in Germany. He is buried in Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial at Saint-Avold Maselle, Lorraine France. I believe the reason he is listed as a Granite County Patriot is because his next of kin notified of his death was Martha Pace Baker (his sister) who lived in Drummond, Montana at the time of John’s death. His baby siblings Claudette and Marie are listed as being born in Michigan while the rest were born in Georgia. At this time I have failed to find sister Martha in any other records. Sadly the 1950 census is still not available. 

Elmer Emil Steffan was born in Pioneer on October 24, 1909 to Emil Charles (1874-1941) and Minnie (Steiner) Steffan Noble (?). The 1930 Federal census has Emil age 54 and Minnie age 49 with children: Elmer Emil age 20, Thelma age 18, Willard age 16, Montana age 14, Vernon age 12, Clyde age 10, Helen age 8. Ancestry shows that Esther was born in 1932 and Bertha was born in 1934. By the 1940 Federal census Emil is living widowed with Vernon and Willard on Broadway in Philipsburg. He died in 1941. In Ancestry I find Minnie Viola Steiner Noble born in 1888 and dying in 1968. There is no Minnie Steffan buried in the Philipsburg Cemetery. Archives show Elmer married Signe Elizabeth Hagen in Butte on March 1, 1938 and the 1940 census showed her age as 31 living with Elmer and child Shirley Ann age 1. The family was living at Pearl and Harrison in Philipsburg. Elmer died on April 16, 1945 in Epimal Vasges, Lorraine, France and the records show his children only as son Jerry Howard. Did Shirley die at a young age? Do any of the Steffan siblings families have a picture of Elmer or know his children’s history? 

As We Approach The Anniversary of World War II

 

While I was researching for Mettle of Granite County I collected research for World War II as I planned to add it to Book Three. Due to the amount of information I had, it was not feasible at that time to include another huge chapter so it went unwritten. Recently, conversations about WWII have surfaced and I have decided it is time to write the information that I already have and what I can add to explain to the younger population what that period of history was like and how patriotic the souls were that gave everything they could to protect our freedom. 

I was born eight months before the United States entered the war on December 8th 1941, a few hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Although young, I do have memories that I will add as this dialogue continues. Although the United States did not enter the war until after Pearl Harbor the country was not unaware of what was happening. Keeping this writing apolitical, there will not be any discussion about the reasons we had not entered sooner. 

One of the major happenings in Montana was the building of Malmstrom Air Force Base in 1939 when the War broke out in Europe. The concern about the war “caused the local Chamber of Commerce to contact Montana Senators Burton K. Wheeler and James E. Murray and request they consider development of a military installation in Great Falls….Great Falls, along with ten other northern tier sparsely populated sites was considered for heavy bomber-training sites. Construction began on Great Falls Army Air Base on June 2, 1942. The base was informally known as East Base since the 7th Ferrying Group was stationed at municipal airport on Gore Hill. Its mission was to establish an air route between Great Falls and Ladd Field, Fairbanks, Alaska, as part of the United States Lend-Lease Program that supplied the Soviet Union with aircraft and supplies needed to fight the German Army.”(Malmstrom Air Force Base Museum). 

Montana’s 163rd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, The Jungleers, was called to Active duty on September 16, 1940 for a one year training. That same day the Selective Service Training and Service Act of 1940 introduced the very first peacetime conscription in the history of the United States. This was for men from the ages of 21 to 45 years of age. Then on March 11, 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt established the Land-Lease Act allowing Britain, China and other Allied forces to purchase military equipment and defer payment until after the war was over. In August 1941, President Roosevelt signed an extension of service for six months that covered all the Americans who had been called up in 1940. This included the 162rd Infantry that was training at Fort Lewis in Washington state. 

Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941 and President Roosevelt declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941. Then on December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared War on the United States with the United States reciprocating and declaring War on Germany and Italy. This led to over 15 million American’s serving in our military from 1941 to the end of the War in 1945. More than 75,000 of those forces were from Montana. The 163rd Infantry Regiment served on the west coast until it departed to Australia in April 1942. They served as parts of the Southwest Pacific Command fighting in the Pacific Theater of WWII. They were recognized as the first U.S. unit to defeat Imperial Japanese Forces in the Battle of Sanananda, Papua, New Guinea in January 1943. This battle was been memorialized by a painting by Irwin “shorty” Shope (April 1943). 

Other noted Battles were: Gona, and Kumsi River; The New Guinea Campaign of 1944; Battles of Aitape, Wadke and “Bloody” Biak; The Southern Philippines Campaign 1945; Zamoanga, Sanga Sanga Island; Battle of Jolo and the key village of Calinan against seasoned Japanese troops. After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Regiment became an occupation force on the Japanese mainland until it was demobilized in Japan on January 1, 1946. 

The First Special Service Force was a joint US-Canadian special operations secretly formed in Helena, Montana at Fort Harrison in July 1942 to train for Operations Plough. This operation included plans to attach a hydro-electric target in German held northern Norway responsible for creating heavy water for Germany’s atomic bomb. The unit served in both the Pacific and European theaters in The Aleutians, Naples, Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, and The Rhinelands. They were inactivated December 1944 without losing a battle; with casualties equivalent to 137% of their strength. 

Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center was built at Camp Rimini just west of Helena. The sign directing you is located at the base of McDonald pass on Highway 12. An article describing the goings on at the Camp was published in the Carbon County News on October 15, 1943. “Technical Sergeant Johnny Eslick kicked off the brake, yipped ‘All right, take it up’, and we were bouncing along a mountain road behind nine Siberian Huskies. Johnny is one of the dog experts training teams for army sled work at the Camp Rimini war dog reception center near Helena. Perched on the seat of a stripped down Austin automobile, used in summer training, he talked about his teams. ‘The Army buys these sled dogs up in Canada and Alaska, and ships ‘em here for training. We train them all the time, although the job is really conditioning and teaching team work more than anything else’ Johnny continued. ‘In the winter we train them with the army’s all-purpose sled, built to carry supplies or wounded men, and to travel on either soft snow or ice.’ Near the adult fog area is the puppy camp filled with fat, sprawling husky pups, born into the army. They will take their place in the harness later on.” 

“Camp Rimini, commanded by Major E.J. Purfield of the quartermaster corps, has some 500 sled and pack dogs. Training the sled teams are such men as Sergeant Richard Moulton of Meredith N.H., who worked with Byrd in Anartica and the army in Baffinland; Corporals Edward Moody and Malcolm Douglas of East Orange N.J., both on Byrd’s last south pole expedition… They are selected for size, willingness and good nature. It takes about three months to train a pack dog, but when they are turned over to the army units they are qualified to carry 60 pounds of supplies or other items in rugged, cold mountain country. In the winter they pull a pulka, built on the principle of the Indian travois and fashioned so that the dogs have complete freedom of movement. Army dogs pull pulka loads equal to their own weight-an average of 150 pounds. And around sled dogs, there is one conversational taboo—nobody says “All right” unless he is starting a team! It’s the husky equivalent of “scram.’----as on sergeant who tossed off a casual “all right” to a companion, and ten pursued his team for 46 weary miles, found out” 

By 1943, all of the dogs were being sent to Robinson, Nebraska as noted when the April 16, 1943 Mail stated “Dogs from Granite county continue to find their way into the armed services via the War Dog Reception and training center at Fort Robinson, Neb. Another shipment of sled dogs was made to the training center on April 15 by the Granite County Committee of Dogs for Defense of which J.C. Harrah is the chairman. The shipment included 5 dogs meeting the government requirements as to weight, age, height and type.” 

Another important part Montana played in the War effort was the 7th Ferrying Command, which the Army Air Force organized, that trained bomber forces throughout Montana such as locations at Great Falls, Lewistown and Cutbank. These forces carried out the mission of providing aircraft and critical supplies to our allies over the Great Circle Route, which was a critical part of the Global War Air Operations. A number of these pilots were civilian women. By September 1942 the Army Air Force created The Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) and appointed Nancy H. Love the Commander. Eventually over 1,00 women completed flight training and after a lot of maneuvering the Air Force renamed their unit WAFS which stood for Women Air Force Service Pilots. In 1977, these women were finally recognized and achieved military active duty status for their service. Many were injured and some killed during the course of their service. 

The January 17, 1941 Philipsburg Mail carried the following headline “First Volunteer to leave on 22nd.” with this article ”The local board of the Granite county selective Service System met January 12 at 2pm. present were: George Mungas Chairman, Howard B. Craig acting secretary, and Utahna Meesom Clerk. During the meeting eight notices to appear for physical examination were prepared. When these have been completed 20 percent of the total number of registrants will have been classified. A total number of seven registrants have volunteered, but only four have qualified. The first volunteer, Virgil Charles Dilts, will leave for Fort Missoula on January 22, being the first man to be called from Granite county And so our Patriots began to serve their Country.

                                                Photo from Philipsburg Mail  August 24, 1945

Sayrs: Justice of The peace

The name Sayrs, is memorialized on the facade on the corner of Sanborne and Broadway, where the Philipsburg Brewing Company is now located. A picture in the small book by Charles Weitfle, titled Views of Granite, Philipsburg and Vicinity, shows the First National Bank building and the façade but the name on the facade is not Sayrs. It appears to be GAN: probably for Gannon and Neu. This block was originally owned by the Hyde family. 

The earliest I found reference to the Sayrs family was an article in the August 21, 1896, Philipsburg Mail, stating Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Sayrs expected to start on their annual camping trip. They would probably be joined by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Taylor. Frank, who was a great lover of fishing and hunting, said he could not allow a season to pass without taking his regular outing.

F.D. Sayrs ran for Justice of Peace, Philipsburg Township, in the city election, unopposed in 1908. Then on February 5, 1910, a note in the Mail, stated “Judge F.D. Sayrs asks the Mail to announce that he now has a supply of fishing licenses and is prepared to accommodate those boys who have been anxious to try their luck on the creek these bright sunshiny days. These licenses will be good for fishing and hunting for the entire year and those who buy one now will get the most for their money.” 

During the 1910 election, the article with election results began with the comment there was no great interest taken in the election and the vote cast fell considerably short of the registration. Judge D.M. Durfee, was elected as Mayor and F.D. Sayrs, was elected as Police Judge, unopposed with a total vote of 123 from all the wards. F.D. was again elected Judge in 1912 and was discussed in an article of the Mail, at that time. 

Judge F. Sayrs performed the wedding ceremony for Richard Hoehne and Doris Huddleston, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Huddleston, in the Rosalind district on August 23, 1920. Attendants were Mayme McLean and Francis Hoehne. Then in August 1928, he was paid $8.00 for canvassing election returns, by the Granite County Commissioners, in their August 4, meeting. Sayrs received 438 votes in the November election, when he again ran unopposed, for Justice of Peace, for the Philipsburg Township. In November 1930, he received 663 votes again, for the office of Justice of the Peace. 

Frank was born March 7, 1856, in Jackson, Michigan. As a young adult he was a Conductor on the Michigan Central Railroad. In 1887, he moved to Montana due to poor health and decided to remain in the healthy environment and open a business. On June 14, 1891, he married Amanda Erickson, in Philipsburg. Amanda, born October 29, 1866, in Skiro, Sweden, came to Laramie, Wyoming in 1886. She moved to Philipsburg in 1890. Amanda died December 16, 1934, at her home. An active member of Eastern Star, with affiliation to the Pearl Chapter, in 1895, she served as Worthy Matron in 1905. Survivors were: three sisters in Sweden, a sister Mrs. J.E. Johnson, in Laramie, Wyoming and her husband. Funeral services were conducted at the Masonic Hall, under the auspices of the Eastern Star, with Rev. A.J. Smith, officiating. Burial was in the family plot, in the Philipsburg cemetery. Pallbearers were: Angus McDonald, A.J. Murray, Erick V. Johnson, M.C. Durfee, Clyde Neu and John Hickey. There were no children born to this marriage. 

Frank died at the family home a few weeks later, on January 6, 1935, after being ill only a few days from Influenza and was buried beside Amanda. Frank served as the Philipsburg Justice of the Peace continuously from 1904 until his death at the age of seventy eight. He was a member of the Masonic Order for more than forty years. His funeral was conducted from the Masonic Temple by Flint Creek Lodge No. 11 A. F. and A. M. and assisted by Rev. A.J. Smith. 

So why is the building on Broadway and Sansome named after Sayrs? Researching the local history, Sanborn maps and census records I found that in 1900 Frank was working as a bartender and by 1910 was a Real Estate agent. He purchased the Hyde building in 1904, so was that in a failure to pay taxes, or foreclosure due to bankruptcy or a real estate deal? Was the purchase only the one building as it appears Gannon and Neu were housed in the rest of the block at that time. Since I do not live in the county this question will remain until someone researches the Court House records.

Hyde: Pioneer Banker and Community Investor

 Banking was an important aspect of any community and the name of Joseph A. Hyde, was prominent in the banking business. On January 10, 1895, it was announced in the Philipsburg Mail: “The annual election of officers of the First National Bank took place on Tuesday and resulted as follows: President, Joseph A. Hyde; Vice President, J.M. Merrell; Cashier, James H. King; Assistant cashier, Allan P. Bowie; Directors--Joseph A. Hyde, J.M. Merrell, James H. King, Dr. W.I. Power and Allan P. Bowie.” 

 Prior to this Hyde was associated with the Granite branch of the bank, which closed in 1893, and Hyde was associated with Freyschlag, Huffman & Co.’s store. On January 27, 1897: “Joseph A. Hyde, president of the First National Bank of Philipsburg, arrived from Deer Lodge last evening, and at once began the work of closing up the business of the First National, which will go into voluntary liquidation on February 10, with sufficient funds to meet all demands. As successors to the business of this institution, Mr. Hyde and Mr. King will at once open a private banking business, and will undoubtedly meet with success due them as business men of unusual ability. Mr. Hyde began the banking business in this city in January 1888, which he conducted as a private institution until January 1, 1892, when it was merged with the National Bank, with that gentleman as president, which honorable office he now fills. Mr. King has been the accommodating cashier of the First National Bank for a number of years, and by his close attention to business, together with his ability as financier, has assisted in making it one of the solid institutions of the state.” 

The next reference I found on the front page was: “Notice to Depositors. Having decided to discontinue the banking business, all customers are requested to call for settlement. Hyde & King Bankers, Philipsburg, May 26, ’97, “, Citizen Call. In another column of the same edition, also on the front page was this article “Hyde and King, Bankers, have decided to go out of the banking business in Philipsburg. See notice to customers elsewhere in the Call.” 

The first reference I found of the Joseph Hyde family was, “Born to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hyde, Deer Lodge, August 18, 1875, a daughter”, in the New Northwest, August 27, 1875. The Philipsburg Historic Walking Tour, states the Hyde Block, was built by Joseph and Mary Hyde, in 1888, and it housed the First National Bank, until the silver crash in 1893, which is in direct conflict with the previous articles, stating the bank closed in 1897.The Granite branch of the bank closed in 1893. Joseph Hyde died at his home in Seattle, September 25, 1921, according to word received by his niece Miss Clara D. McDonel. 

Joe traveled from Missouri to Montana in 1866, on a river boat and settled in Helena, for four years. He then moved to Deer Lodge, where he managed a hardware store. Next, for three years, he managed a livery business, with the late H.G. Valiton. Then, moved to Butte, where he managed a hardware business for three years, after which he sold his interest and became president of the Miner Publishing Company. Two years later, he became Cashier, of the First National Bank of Butte and served in that position for five and one half years. In January 1888, he came to Philipsburg and opened a bank, which was later incorporated as the Joseph A. Hyde Banking Company. In 1892, this was succeeded by the First National Bank of Philipsburg, with Mr. Hyde as president. He was a large holder of real estate, in Deer Lodge County and owned considerable business property in Butte…Married in 1873, to Miss Mary Hammond, daughter of the late Mr. William and Jane Hammond of Philipsburg. Survivors were: three daughters: Mrs. Alfred Ayerest, Mrs. Wilbur Strange and Miss Elizabeth Hyde; two sons: Joseph A. Hyde Jr. and Thomas Hyde, all of Seattle. His lodge affiliations were the Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias and the I.O.O.F. After retiring from business in 1903, he and the family moved to Seattle. 

There are two Hyde’s buried in the Philipsburg cemetery: E.B. “Doc” Hyde born November 19, 1852, died December 7, 1918 and Geo. W. Hyde born 1892, died 1939. E.B. (Doc) had a memorial written about him in the December 13, 1918, Philipsburg Mail. Following are the words used by F.D. “Sandbar” Brown in the eulogy. “If he accumulated no wealth it was because men of his type have no use for it...He envied the prosperity of no one. Of his means he gave help to the needy and without comment.”

J.J. Carmichael: Livery Stable and Coroner

    J.J. Carmichael at Livery Stable circa 1915 cropped from photo in Tex Crawley Collection

 The first news article found regarding .J.J. Carmichael was in the Philipsburg Mail, January 8, 1897: “John J. Carmichael and bride (Maria T. Jenkins) arrived from Stevensville, during the week and have taken up their residence in the house recently occupied by Dr. and Mrs. Wm. Ray”. 

Then, August 5, 1898, in the Mail: “Last Wednesday J.J. Carmichael found in his livery stable a bunch of skeleton keys--all kinds and sizes. This may have been a part of some burglar’s outfit, and the owner can have the same back by calling the Sheriff F.J. McDonald, in whose care Carmichael left the keys.” 

 Next I found where someone with a knife considerably damaged J.J. Carmichael’s bus harness. They cut a number of straps in order to get the ivory rings which served as ornaments. Mr. Carmichael had an idea who done the mischievous work and the guilty individual had better make himself scarce around the livery barn, stated the news article in the Philipsburg Mail, June 1, 1900. 

In my possession from the Tex Crowley Picture collection is a photo of J. J., Art Taylor, Wally Frost and Hank Roberts at the Carmichael Livery Stable, where J.J. is standing next to a massive stage coach, probably from this era. The January 22, 1915, Mail carried the following reminder concerning the risk of the times: ”Philipsburg this week had another fire scare and lucky escape from disaster which for a time seemed imminent. At 4:20 o’clock Tuesday morning the city was aroused by alarms of fire which started in the loft of J.J. Carmichaels, Kentucky Livery Stables, a large brick building on the south side of Broadway. The hay stored there was ablaze and the flames were coming through the ventilators in the roof. To those who saw it before the firemen got to work the building appeared doomed.” The building was owned by Valentine Jacky, of Missoula and insured, but only about $100 of damage occurred. One of Carmichael’s, best horses was kicked in the front leg, during the melee and a couple of trunks stored upstairs were burned, besides all of the hay. 

Sixteen people ran in the wide open election for County Coroner of Granite County, in 1914 and J.J. won with a plurality of nineteen votes. Then, J.J. ran unopposed for Coroner, of Granite County in 1916. In 1917, he continued picking up bodies as evidenced on June 19: “Coroner J.J. Carmichael was called to Bearmouth Monday to take charge of the remains of a man killed by a train on the Northern Pacific tracks three miles west of Bearmouth. Both legs were cut off and the neck was broken. The man was about twenty five years of age and unknown in this part of the country. On the body was found an I.W.W. membership card bearing the name of James Kinney. The remains were shipped to Philipsburg for burial.” 

Again in 1918, the official election returns show J.J. re-elected as coroner, unopposed with 205 votes, in the primary. 

J.J. (John) Carmichael died October 26, 1928, of pneumonia, after being ill a short time. Born in Aberdeen, Nova Scotia on January 27, 1865, the fifth of nine children, he attended schools in Nova Scotia and at the age of eighteen went to sea for two years. Next he traveled to the Northwest Territory for another two years, and then traveled to Montana, where he teamed in Helena and Butte, before returning to Aberdeen. A few years later, he returned to Montana and operated a stage line between Granite, Combination and Anaconda, for five years. His next venture was running a livery stable until automobiles took over the scene. Teaming again became his livelihood, with him building up a contract business for hauling ore. During this period he also operated the Funeral Parlor and filled the elected position of Coroner for the county of Granite, from 1914 until his death. J.J. and Maria were married on December 31, 1896 in Stevensville with her father presiding, according to the January 6, 1897, Citizen Call. To this marriage was born seven children, whom six, with his wife Maria survived him. They were: daughters, Mrs. Lyle F. (Alice Ruth) Wilson of Seattle, and Eunice and Margaret of Philipsburg; sons: Clayton and James of Philipsburg and Howard of California and two brothers: Murdock of Whitehall and Malcolm of Butte. The funeral was held from the Methodist Church, with Rev. Maris, performing the service on October 28. There are no pallbearers or statement of the funeral in the November 3rd, issue of the Mail. J.J. was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery, next to his son, Merle.(1900-1923).

McDougal: Patriot of World War One

 

                                                             Private John McDougal

The January 10, 1919, Philipsburg Mail headlined: “Another Granite County Boy Makes Supreme Sacrifice for His Country: Philipsburg was inexpressibly shocked Monday when word was received that John McDougal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald McDougal, had succumbed November 30, to wounds received in battle the latter part of October. (a recent letter received by his family had said he was doing well and planned on returning home shortly)…Now that he has given his brave young life for the country he loved we know that the splendid conception of what he considered was his duty to others would not permit him to cause his parents and family the least worry and that he shielded all thoughts of his wounds and sufferings as much as possible. 

We all knew John and liked him for his fine and true characteristics which our American manhood is imbued and we were unprepared to receive the saddening news so long after peace was declared. He is one of many of our boys who have fulfilled their duty to the final conclusion on the fields of France. He will not return home to receive the honors which would have been his right of conflict, but his memory will be the more revered for he gave up his life in the sacred cause of humanity…” He John, born February 4, 1889 was twenty nine years of age. Besides his parents he left to mourn his loss two brothers, Joe, in Philipsburg and Dan, who was in the Marine barracks at Hawaii, and one sister, Mamie. 

In the Philipsburg cemetery his large marble headstone reads: “In our country’s service Private John A. McDougal Co. A 104 infantry 26 Division A.E.F. Born in Butte, Mont. Feb. 4, 1889 Wounded in battle of Argonne Forest October 12, Died in Blois, France Nov. 20, 1918 Loved by all who knew him McDOUGAL” 

 A Poem written by Mrs. D.A. McDougal sent in to The Mail, after she wrote it December 20, 1918, was not published until January 10. 

 My Soldier Son 

I have watched for my boy in Khaki 

With his arm tied up in a sling 

For the wounds he got on the battlefield 

To me are a terrible sting. 

I have watched and waited and waited 

For he seems so far away, 

But a ship arrived last Sunday 

And I thought he’d be home today. 

I have sat today by my service flag. 

The one with the silver star, 

Thinking of him in the hospital, 

Away from home so far. 

I have prayed both night and daily 

For my boy to come home safe to me, 

But the hand of the cruel German 

Has made life a burden to me. 

So I’ll watch and wait for my loved one 

Till God sends him back to me, 

To trust in his infinite mercy 

Is all that is left for me. 

To the hearts that are weary and aching 

For their sons to return to them 

Will keep hoping and watching and waiting 

And trusting and praying to Him. 

The following letter was received by John’s mother, from C. Davies, Chaplain, describing the care provided to this young man: 

“Blois, France, December 14, 1918; Dear Mrs. McDougal: I suppose you know by this time through the U.S. government that your dear boy died on November 30, a few hours after I had written you. 

We never thought he would start so quickly, though his condition had suddenly become very serious. On Friday evening he was very weak and on Saturday morning when I saw the state he was in and fearing he would become unconscious I suggested the last sacraments which he received with much piety at two o’clock in the afternoon. Then he made the sacrifice of his own life “for my mother and the cause of the allies” as he said. At 3:30 I came back to him, said a few words and asked him if he heard me. He opened his eyes and answered “yes, Father”. I gave him a last absolution and waited. Half an hour later he passed away very peacefully. 

Well, dear Mrs. McDougal,…I am sure it will be a real consolation for you to know that your beloved son died well. From Heaven he will protect the dear mother he so often mentioned and one day you will meet again, not to be separated any more. 

Your son was really a very good man. We all loved him here and shall never forget the genuine smile we found on his face every time we approached the bed. “Rest in Peace” I pray you, dear Mrs. McDougal to accept my deep sympathy and believe me, Yours very respectfully, C. Davies, K. of C. Chaplain.”

How Did Montana and Granite County Happen

 

The history of the development of the county is a story within itself. This area was:

•  known first, before 1804, as The District of Louisiana (which included Montana East of the Divide) with the first capital being Biloxi, Mississippi until 1723, when the capital became New Orleans, Louisiana; 
•  which was renamed the Territory of Louisiana in 1805, with Vincennes the capital; 

• Then re-named Missouri Territory in 1812, with St. Louis the capital.  East of the Divide was conceded by Britain to the US in 1818 and west of the Divide was claimed by both countries.
•  Eastern Montana became part of Indian Country in 1821. 
•  Western part of Montana was ceded to the US by Great Britain in 1846. 
•  Next, Oregon Territory was created by Congress in 1848, with first Champoeg, then Oregon City and finally Salem, Oregon being the capital, in 1853. 
•  Eastern Montana was in Nebraska Territory after 1854, and Bellvue, Nebraska was the capital in 1854 and Omaha in 1855. 
• The western half of what is now Montana was included in Clarke County from Fort Vancouver to the Divide, when it was first Washington Territory in 1853; then Clarke was divided and the eastern side was named Skamania county, then Walla Walla county and then Spokane county 
• On December 14, 1860, Missoula County was created out of the eastern part of Spokane County and the seat of Justice was located at Hell’s Gate Road where Worden & Co.’s Trading Post stood and “embraced the present 1885 counties, of Missoula and Deer Lodge, west to the summit of the main range”. 
• Dakota Territory was created in 1861 and included eastern Montana, with the capital Yankton. 
• Then for an even shorter period western Montana, was included in Idaho Territory, in 1863, with the capital Lewiston. 
• The area finally became Montana Territory in 1864, with Bannack the first capital, then Virginia City in 1865 and Helena in 1875; 
• Then the State of Montana, Deer Lodge County in 1889, with Deer Lodge the county seat. 

Finally in March of 1893, the area became Granite County, with Philipsburg elected the county seat, November 1894, by the margin of 715 votes to Stone Station 272 and Drummond 186. 

If the United States Congress had possessed better knowledge regarding the geography of the western territories, Granite County would probably be in Idaho, instead of Montana. The Idaho Territory was shown in a map published by Alvin Jewitt Johnson, in 1863, to extend to the Continental Divide. 

All early maps name Fred Burr Creek as Burr Creek and Flint Creek is labeled as Flint River. Rock Creek is called both Stony and Rock Creek. Also the Hellgate, now known as the Clark Fork was called Arrowhead during the early 1800’s when the Hudson Bay Trappers were in the area and when Father DeSmet journaled about his travels through the area. 

While speaking about Montana politics, K. Ross Toole, in Montana: an uncommon land, described the territorial boundary change, because of Sidney Edgerton. Mr. Edgerton had been named Chief Justice of Idaho Territory, by Abraham Lincoln. When Edgerton recognized the immensity of the area he was intended to administer he: “Realized that the area east of the Bitterroot Mountains could never be effectively governed from Lewiston and that it should not be part of Idaho Territory…” Thus, Edgerton, W.F. Sanders, Con Orem and other influential parties petitioned Congress for a separate territory. 

Edgerton then traveled to Washington D.C. to present the petition and that is how Montana Territory came about. Lincoln named Edgerton the Governor, of the new territory. The proclamation signed by Lincoln on Wednesday May 26, 1864, carved out for future statehood more than ninety two million acres. The designated area was located roughly between the forty-ninth parallel on the north, the forty-fifth parallel on the south, the 104 meridian to the east and the crest of the Bitterroot and Beaverhead Mountains to the west. 

Unknown to the politicians, this vast area divided itself into at least two distinct areas. The eastern boundary was changed slightly in 1873 when Congress realized a small area of land just west of the 111 meridian had been left attached to Dakota in 1868, when Wyoming territory was created. Montana had always exercised jurisdiction over the area and it was physically separated from Dakota by hundreds of miles. 

The Flint Creek Valley, Lower Willow Creek and Rock Creek area are documented either incorrectly on early Washington D.C. maps and as unexplored on the Mullan Maps, first published in 1863. We know that Tom Adams grazed cattle in Flint Creek valley in 1858 and in 1861 the Stuart group took Milch cows into the valley to catch moose calves. Fortunately they did not see any!

Cowboys in World War One

 

I hope you enjoy this article: The May 31, 1918, Philipsburg Mail, announced Fort Keogh, was to be made into “one of two National Calvary Training Depots. The Fort is currently a remount station near Miles City where range horses are broken and sent to Eastern stations for finishing.” The article continued on to say several hundred bronco busters have been employed on the Fort Keogh reservation. 

Next, in the June 28, edition of the Philipsburg Mail, was the headline, “Montana Cowboys training horses for the army at Camp Lewis: let her buck”. The article described the actions at the remount as one continuous Wild West show. “The muster rolls of the companies of busters read like a program of one of Guy Wedick’s stampedes, and all the old champions are there, except Fanny Sperry, who is barred from being a horse soldier by reason of her sex, but who could do the work as well as any man in the service. Tom Three Persons, the Canadian half-breed champion of the world is there, and among the other busters are many who won fame at Calgary, Pendleton, Cheyenne, Missoula, Billings and Havre in the Wild West shows and rodeos.” 

The life of the horse is described in the following: “…Here the horses that go to supply the thousands of cavalrymen who are called into the service are trained for the hard duties that are before them on Flanders’ Fields. Immediately after the arrival of the horse at the remount station, he is inoculated against glanders. After that nothing but a German bullet can stop him. As the life of the average horse in action at the front is only 21 fighting days, it will be seen that our equine friends are doing their part in the war. And in the great struggle he serves two purposes. Alive, he smells the battle from afar off, like the war horses of old Israel, and rides into the thick of the fray with his head up and snorting defiance. Dead, if death comes to him quickly from shrapnel or rifle bullet, and the salvage butchers of the French commissary department get to his quivering carcass in time to make good meat of what is left, he goes into the pot and cheers and sustains our allies of beloved France.” 

The description of cowboys attempting to be foot soldiers is very colorful: “Most of the cowboys came into Camp Lewis in the draft and were transferred to the remount depot after having done some training service in the infantry. They couldn’t all be transferred immediately, of course, and those obliged to drill afoot for a time were in a hard way….You see, a cowboy is not built for purposes of pedestrianism. Years of riding get his legs properly squeegeed to fit the curves of the horses back; but the slant is wrong for walking. During the unfortunate moments of his life when it is necessary for him to walk, he teeters around precariously in boots with heels high enough to satisfy a broadway flapper on parade. The result is that in his maturity, while he has more legs and feet than a whale, they’re not much more use to him if you peel him away from a horse and call upon him to circulate around on his own. So a cowboy in the infantry has this in common with a fish in the Sahara desert: he’s manifestly out of place…They drilled around in flat heels for a few days, and the first free hour they got they stampeded for the remount and begged Captain Jackson for transfer to the remount depot.

 “Cap’n, I’d rather be shot at sunrise than walk on these feet o’ mine another day” one temporarily dismounted unfortunate declared tearfully. “If I knowed they’d shoot me for sitting, I’d do something to deserve it; but I’m afraid they’d make me stand up; and it’s too much for my brain to think of, standing on my feet and getting shot at the same time. They gimme shoes ‘thout no heels to ‘em, that set a man back on his spine so’s every time you step your back bone rattles like a box full of dice, an’ then they make me walk. That’s all. Just walk. Not goin’ no place. Just walkin’! Cap’n. there ain’t any place as far away as I’ve walked this week. No, sir. I walked my legs off clean down to the knees, an’ I’m working on the thigh bones now. I’m willing to die for my country, captain, but I jus’ naturally can’t walk for it. Please, you get me transferred up here where I can pour myself into a saddle and be human again!