History of Southern Montana - Chapters 1-8



CHAPTER I.
EARLY HISTORY.
 
I would not attempt to write the history of Montana. History is simply his-
story, aud from personal experience, I know that he is a composite 
character that hears with many ears, and sees with imperfect vision, the 
multitude of things that have taken place during the fleeting years of his 
existence. 

Several people have given to the world a story of Montana. Some of these 
so-called historians have never breathed one breath of the pure air of our 
mountains and plains, nor gazed with rapture on the wonderful mountain 
peaks, that lift their heads toward the sun, bidding it wreath them with 
hues so glorious that they become wonderful pictures -- pictures that no 
painter in his right mind, would try to produce with any accuracy. They 
have never gazed on the beautiful lakes that lie embedded in mountain 
gorge nor listened to the song of the ruling stream, as it rushes gladly 
to join the river that is soon to mingle with the "Father of Waters," on 
its way to the great salt sea. Much has been said of such a nature, that 
it is contradicted by those who claim to know the facts. Much of it is 
true, and no fault can be found, other than that there was not enough 
detail to satisfy the minds of those who were more exacting. 

In my work, I shall try to give as many facts of actual things as have 
come to my knowledge, either by an examination of old records, or from 
personal talks with some of the men who helped to make the history of 
Southern Montana. I want to place before the people many things never 
before published; I want to give men credit for having helped in various 
ways, in the up-building of the State so many of us have learned to love, 
and into whose care we desire to entrust all that is left of us, when we 
cease to enjoy its many blessings. 

That I will leave out much that some of you will want to know, goes 
without saying, because we only choose those things that appeal to us, 
personally, as being apt to be of worth to others. Another thing, we 
cannot make this work too long, because our main object is to republish 
the book of Thomas Dimsdale, the first man to write the story of the 
thrilling days of 1863 and 1864. 

MONTANA. 

The name is of Latin origin, meaning mountainous. The La Verendrye were 
probably the first white men to see the Rocky Mountains in 1748, and no 
other known whites came until the Lewis & Clark expeditions in 1805. 

I am not attempting to write the story of the first settlement of the 
state, as that can be found in the several works already before the 
public. 

After the Mormons had settled Utah, and people had begun to cross the 
plains for the mines in California, some daring whites had settled in the 
Bitter Root, and near where Missoula is now. That the first man to take a 
wagon through Southern Montana was Emmanuel Martin, a Mexican, who, 
according to Judge Frank H. Woody, did so in the early fifties, there can 
be no doubt. 

There is no story of anyone to tell us who came to look on this section 
between 1806 and 1850. Trappers may have hunted on the extreme head waters 
of the Missouri, and have left no sign. 

The lone sentinel that has stood guard over this gateway to a new 
commonwealth, that saw the first white men as they pushed and hauled their 
boats up the Jefferson and Beaverhead; that saw them when they disappeared 
over the main range into Idaho, and gazed on the fragment that returned 
via the Big Hole, after having seen the glories of the Pacific, holds her 
secret as did the Sphinx of old. 

The same sentinel saw the trapper, if he came at all; saw Martin as he 
struggled with his wagon over a new roadway; she saw Captain Mullan in 
1858, as he wended his way on horseback down the lonely banks of the 
Grasshopper, until he, too, disappeared over the mountain pass at Monida. 
She saw that other party that found the first gold on the Big Hole, in 
1862 and watched in breathless awe, John White dig the first pan of dirt 
that was to change conditions, and furnish men to scratch her hide and dig 
for wealth in her own vitals. Yes, only a sentinel knowing, but not 
divulging, stands old Baldy, queen of a Montana range. 

That gold was found in Gold Creek is no part of this tale. What we desire 
to learn is who were the men that found gold in Old Beaverhead, the cradle 
of our state. In "The Story of Ajax," I saw, in my imagination, the 
protectors as they wended their way up Dehlonaga, and came to the headway,
ters of the Ruby. As Granville Stuart was considered an authority, I gave 
his version (with that of Lou Smith, also). As to the parties who were 
fortunate enough to find the first gold in paying quantities, Granville 
said Jack Slack and party. This has left the wrong impression on the pages 
of early Montana history, and I am only too glad to be the one to rectify 
it. 

About the 9th day of July, 1862, M. H. Lott, Hiram Conley and the Woods 
Brothers, followed up the North Fork of the Salmon river, to the head of 
the main divide between Idaho and Montana and on the 10th, they found gold 
on Ruby, or Pioneer Creek. Some of them stayed to open the ground, while 
the remainder left for Old Fort Lemhi to get their teams, which had been 
left there while they event out on their prospecting trip. Judge Lott was 
one of them that returned for the teams. 

You must remember that there were no roads in those days over the nearest 
trail that would take them back through the Grasshopper, into the Big Hole 
prairie, where they would have a possible chance of getting their wagons 
to the mines. The only way to keep their wagons from upsetting was to 
place both hind wheels on the same side of the wagon. This was done, and 
they succeeded in getting up the hill. They arrived safely at the new 
find, and at once put up a saw pit, andLott and Dave Dunkleburg proceeded 
to make the first lumber of Beaverhead County. On the 16th, they had 
sluice boxes set and were washing out gold. Lott believes these to have 
been the first sluice boxes. Granville Stuart claims that his party began 
in May, two months before. Judge Lott says he will not quarrel over this 
matter, because he wishes the honor to fall where due. 

Lott and Dunkleburg continued to saw for the trade, and sold at 30c per 
foot, and made $30.00 each per day, in this very, very trying 
occupation -- making lumber with a whip saw.,Judge said that Dave took the 
under side. 

The miners were taking out from $25.00 to $75.00 per day, per company of 
eight men. Only a short time after this discovery, others came and took up 
claims near them. Unfortunately, for the first men, they did not find the 
richest ground. There was at no time many men in Pioneer Basin. (See Judge 
Lott's story). It was no secret that Lott's party had found pay dirt. John 
White, the man who bound White's bar on Grasshopper, was hunting for Lott 
when he, on July 28th, panned the first dirt that was actually to change 
the conditions, and allow white men to take the place once only occupied 
by the Indians. As White's story has been told by Dimsdale and Langford, I 
shall not comment on it, or try to throw any light on it. I shall, 
however, give a copy of the laws that were adopted by the miners' meeting, 
for their guid- ance, to show that their desire was to live with some 
assurance of peaceable settlements of troubles that might arise. 

The news that diggings had been discovered on the Grasshopper, soon was 
wafted by the four winds of heaven, in every direction, and men, who had 
Florence in view, turned from that trail and came to cast their lots with 
the others in this new Eldorado. Stapleton had come and found a bar that 
was to be known by his name. 

Dr. Glick had left Colorado to mingle with the adventurous spirits of this 
section, and men, who were to fill big spaces in state and nation, had 
gathered, before a year had gone by at Bannack. 

No matter that Benetsee and the Stuarts had found gold in Deer Lodge 
Valley, the richer pay on Willard's Creek weaned them from their first 
love, and forced them, too, to take their abode in what was to become 
Montana's first capital. There were many adventurous persons in that crowd 
that were to lay a foundation for stories that, though true, would have 
better never been written. 

That men will gather where gold is found, we know full well, and as men 
are the makers of history, they must be made of peculiar stuff. It would 
have added little to the literature of this state, if all of these men had 
been good. The element that came to the gold mines in those days, that had 
no regard for the rights of others, has made the first settlement of 
Montana one of deep interest to the historian. I do not care to dwell long 
on them, as their lives have been well covered by Dimsdale and Lanford. My 
idea is to record some of the acts of men who came here -- really for 
gold -- but to live to build up a commonwealth, of which we are not 
ashamed. Soon after the gold excitement, we find that men must turn their 
attentions to other matters. Matters that had connection with, and would 
help to further the gold hunter, to make a success. Mines cannot be 
conducted to any great extent, with the gold pan, or even the rocker. 
Ditches, for ground sluicing, must be dug, and we find that it does not 
take long for these men to organize into companies in order to fetch the 
water to the claim. 



CHAPTER II. THE FIRST CHARTER. 

Harry Phleger got busy mighty early in the game, as we find that, "We, the 
undersigned, miners of the district Northwest on Grasshopper Creek, do 
hereby grant unto Harry Phleger, of the same place the full and exclusive 
privilege of running a ditch from a point commencing two miles above the 
upper end of the canyon, and running on the south side of Grasshopper 
Creek down to the south side of Grasshopper Creek, down to the east or 
lower line of district, for the purpose of supplying the miners of said 
district with cwater for mining purposes. 

The said Phleger may also carry water from said ditch across the 
Grasshopper Creek at any point he may think proper, for the purpose of 
supplying miners who may desire water. Provided that the said Phleger 
shall use reasonable dispatch and bring in water and complete said ditch, 
as soon as practicable. 

This grant or charter to take effect from the 30th day of August, 1862, at 
which time said ditch was marked out, and staked by said Phleger. 
Recorded September 23rd, 1862. 
J. HURST, Recorder. 
Per A. STANLEY. 

When you take into consideration that gold had only been discovered July 
28th, the above instrument shows that people had gathered in Bannack to 
such an extent that they had had time to organize into a little 
government, which was a true Democracy. The laws that governed those 
people at that particular time, were founded on common sense, and free 
from technicality. No lawyer was allowed to participate in the settlement 
of a dispute. Phleger, for some reason, sold on September 28th, one-tenth 
interest in above ditch, to Joseph Clark for $100.00; to George Copley, 
October 9th, two-tenths; and to McLean and Stapleton, one-tenth, November 
30th, 1862. This was no doubt done in order to get these men to help push 
the work. We find no record as to when this ditch was finished. We do know 
however, that it was not the first as, according to Augustus F. Graeter,* 
A. F. Graeter, A. J. Smith and George Copley took out the first mining 
ditch at Bannack. This ditch was taken out of Sage Brush Creek, and came 
to Yankee Flat, the water having been turned from Buffalo Creek into Sage 
Creek. This ditch was brought in for ground that these men had on the bar 
south of the flat. When the water was turned in, it came to a point on the 
hill near Bannack in good shape, but from there on the ditch was found to 
be up grade, and the water got sore -- at any rate, it refused to run up 
hill. W. C. Rheim drew what was probably the first cartoon in Montana -- a 
large pump, with George Copley as the motive power, trying .to force water 
up hill. It was really no laughing matter, a mistake of this kind, as 
everything was high in those days, and though a man was doing his work, 
the expenses were of some magnitude. The names of the miners that left an 
impress on the pages of that early history should not be forgotten. That 
John White discovered the gold on Grasshopper, there is no doubt, but the 
first man to pan out one dollar was Charlie Reville, No. 33, above disc. 

Note: Graeter is mistaken in this matter. James H. Morley had his ditch 
built first. [Ed.] 

He used the lid of a camp kettle for his pan. William Still was also a 
character in this party. "Still" was a nickname given him because he was 
so quiet. This name hung to him so well that deeds were made out to him in 
that way. E. D. Leavitt, 35, above august 30th, 1862. On the old records, 
of White's District, we find the following: John White has recorded one 
discovery claim, known as the first discovery on Grasshopper Creek. Said 
claim is situated at a point known as Cedar Tree Point, August 30th, 1862. 
Discovered July 28. 

R. T. HARRIS, Recorder. 

The first deed in Southern Montana was made on August 30th, 1862, when H. 
C. Lynch sold to John White, the discoverer of the gulch, Claim No. 44 
above discovery for $10.00 -- the very day when it was recorded. Different 
locations were known by the name of lucky finder. Jimmie's Bar was 
discovered by James Griffeths, or Adobe Jim, because he used to make adobe 
brick. It was one of' the best known on the Creek, and some of the men 
known to later Montana, and especially Beaverhead County, had claims 
there. 

William L. Farlin, who later was to put Butte on the map, had No. 12 below 
discovery, October 23rd, 1862. John C. Innes, still identified with 
Bannack, also had a claim. Judge M. H. Lott was on this bar. 

Areighi's Bar was discovered by John Areighi, William Roe and Jim Harby, 
september 16th, 1862. 

Geary discovered his claim early in August. A. F. Graeter took 19 below, 
September 1st, 1862. Barney Hughes recorded No. 6, below on Geary's Bar, 
October 14, 1862, and George Orr had No. 2 above. 

I find that one of the first purchases by a woman, of a mining claim, was 
when A. J. Smith and A. Stanley sold No. 17, below discovery on Geary's 
Bar, to Annette Stanley, for $20.00. 

Wash. Stapleton discovered the bar that was to bear his name, August 23rd, 
1862. This bar was on the south side of Grasshopper, just across the creek 
from the present town of Bannack. 

Con Kohrs had 45 above, October 24th, 1862
N. P. Langford 39 above, October 27th, 1862
R. C. Knox, 22 above, October 25th, 1862
Ase Stanley, 61 above, October 24th, 1862
Henry Zollor, 62 above, November 1st, 1862

These men were to make history for Montana. Kohrs was to become identified 
as a big stock grower, who was to own the famous Johnnie Grant ranch, near 
what afterwards was to become Deer Lodge, whose blooded cattle and horses 
were to be known all over the state, and he was also to become 
instrumental, with his half brother, John Bielenberg, in erecting, 1914, a 
beautiful building for the Y. M. C. A. in Helena. Langford was to record 
in the "Vigilante Days and Ways," some of the most thrilling episodes of a 
time, that was the wildest and most peculiar in the up-building of the 
west. Judge Knox was to become a Probate Judge in Butte years after. Ase 
Stanley was to become a merchant, and Henry Zollor was to be the first 
Treasurer of Beaverhead County, and probably the first in the state. Yes, 
those men. of Bannack were making history. Everyday they were making 
interesting reading. 



CHAPTER III. LUMBER.
 
The first lumber to be cut was in Lumber Gulch, that heads up near Blue 
Wing (so named for a quartz mine afterwards discovered), and comes into 
the Grasshopper between Bannack and Marysville. This was cut by a man 
named Cris -- a Dane or Swede. It seems a peculiar thing that on the 18th 
day of November, 1862, the Pioneer Milling and Mining Company located 
Godfrey's Canyon, and R. C. Knox, the Point oi Rocks, on Grasshopper, 
calling it Split Bock Mill Site. It also seems that William Sturgis had 
located the Point of Rocks three days before Knox, and we also find that 
Sturgis did not build the mill, but that John Carrico and John Scudder 
did, as there is a mortgage on record when 8turgis gave a mortgage deed to 
Carrico and Scudder, and describes it as a certain mill that he had 
purchased from said Carrico and Scudder. There can be no doubt but what 
Langford, Godfrey and Con Bray -- the Pioneer Milling Company -- got their 
mill up first, as lumber was hauled from Bannack to Virginia the next 
year. Sturgis' mill was in use on the creek after the Godfrey mill was 
dismantled. It consisted of an upright saw, that was not very rapid in its 
travels -- going up one day and probably returning the next. Book B. 
Bannack Dist., page 75. 

First Timber Reserved by William Sturgis. 

The owners of the Rock Point Mill, claim for the use of said mill the 
timber which is on the following described tract of land: Commencing at a 
stake on the north side of a small gulch, or ravine, running a south 
course across said gulch to a stake near the divide, or top of first 
slope, thence westerly, about two miles to stake, thence north one mile to 
a stake, thence east to place of beginning; said gulch comes out of the 
West mountain about one mile north of the Pioneer Gulch. The owners of the 
Rock Point Mill, also claim the exclusive right to a road, which they are 
making up said gulch. October 10, 1868. 

WILLIAM STURGIS. 

There is no man alive, today, who can tell who built the first house on 
Grasshopper. John C. Innes and Augustus F. Graeter, men that were there 
early in '62 cannot tell. It was several miles below the town of Bannack, 
where White found gold, and below a canyon that was impassable for wagons. 
When Bannack was located, owing to the rich bar found by Wash. Stapleton, 
there was a bar on the north side of the creek, that was the result of the 
material washed out of what was after to become Hang Man's Gulch. On the 
south side of the stream was a considerable flat, where most of the people 
camped, called later, Yankee Flat. That was to become the place where the 
town was to begin, but which, owing to the rich bars that were later to be 
found on that side, to become abandoned, as the tailings covered it. 

The Salt Lake road came down the hill that was just west of this flat and 
continued to be the main thoroughfare for years, until it, too, was to be 
washed down by Smith and Graeter, with their big ditch from Horse Prairie. 

People were too busy trying to make money to think of building houses, 
because, as Mr. John Innes said, "I came to Bannack on September 8th, 
1862, with Woodmansee Brothers' train, ten teams loaded with supplies. 
There was no house in Bannack. Neil Howie was with our party." 

As soon as it began to turn cold, all got busy, and just who was fortunate 
enough to get under a roof first, no one can tell, In building their 
houses, they would take any land not before preempted, and described it 
from some natural object, or from some claim already taken. As for 
example, "Conrad Kohrs claimed for building purposes 50 feet front, 150 
deep, on the south side of'. Main Street, opposite to Crawford's (this was 
Hank), lot, Bannack City, October 22nd, 1862. 

Henry Plummer bought, May 23rd, 1863, of Aug. V. Allen, lot No. 10, on 
Second Cross Street, in Bannack City, consideration $25.00. 

In this way Bannack began to grow, until October 6th, 1862, when a 
Townsite Company was formed by William Clancey, Henry Phleger, C. W. 
Howard, Ivan B. Moore, G. W. Stapleton, J. Russell, Samuel McLean, Joseph 
Hurst, William Gibson, E. B. Leavitt, J. W. Geary, N. W. Burns, W. H. 
Bell, F. R. Madison, W. C. Rheem, A. Hellman, George Gibson, Asel Stanley 
and A. J. Thomas, described as follows, to-wit: 

Commencing at a stake situated about one-half mile up Grasshopper Creek, 
and on the south bank from the flag staff, being at the south end of Happy 
Valley; thence rnnning three-quarter miles southerly to a stake; thence 
westerly at right angles one and one-half miles to a stake; thence 
northerly at right angles one and one-half miles to a stake; thence at 
right angles easterly one and one-half miles to a stake; thence southerly 
at right angles three-quarters of a mile, to the commencement point, 
containing 1,240 acres, be the same more or less lying and being on both 
sides of Grasshopper Creek. No claim to said land, or the water running 
through said tract, save for town purposes.
October 6th, 1862. 
NORTHWESTERN MINING DIST. 
JOSEPH HURST, Bec. 
Per G. W. STAPLETON. 

R. P. Eaton recorded a lot October 19th, 1862. James Stuart claimed his 
lot west of G. W. Stanley, October 21st, 1862. It appears that from 
October 19th, to October 22nd, was the busy time for locating building 
lots. Size of lots were 50x150. L. L. Blake chose his the 17th, and Bill 
Goodrich and G. W. Gallaway also on that date. While the first town lot 
that was described by a plat was taken by Cornelius Bray, December 1st, 
1862, as f.ollows: Iiot No. 14, Block 7, in West Bannack, northwest corner 
of Washington and Second Streets. N. P. Langford also took a lot the same 
day. Then we find that Jim Bozeman sold his lot and house logs on October 
24th, 1862, to Woody and Stuart. 



CHAPTER IV. THE LOST CITY 

Be it known that we, J. T. Connor, Sidney Edgerton, h. C. Miller, and 
George Chrisman, our associates and successors, have this day and by these 
presents claimed and taken possession of and claim the following tract of 
land, for a townsite, to be known under the name of Empire City, to-wit: 
Commencing on the east fork, a distance of one mile, including eighty rods 
on each side of fork, all in Beaverhead County, and we hereby give notice 
and declare our intentions to improve the said tract and to pre-empt the 
same by virtue of the laws of the United States, in such cases provided, 
wherever said land shall be subject thereto. 

Done at Empire City, Beaverhead County, Montana Territory, July 14th, A. 
D. 1864. 

Witness our hands,
J. T. CONNER,
SIDNEY EDGERTON,
L. C. MILLER.
GEORGE CHRISMAN.


No one can tell where this city (?) was. Probably the parties, owing to 
the peculiar manner of the description, lost it soon after, and were never 
able to locate it. Too bad. 

The town of Montana, now Argenta, was pre-empted by Henry Lovewell, once a 
partner of Senator W. A. Clark, James Doty, Samuel McLean, Edwin R. 
Purple, Gov. Z. M. Polinger, Sidney Edgerton, George W. Stapleton, A. K. 
Eaton, William H. Miller, William Beeker, Samuel W. Bachelder, G. Marvis, 
George Brown, Walter C. Hopkins, R. S. Peabody, Joseph A. Brown, Alex 
Mayhew, Tom Pitt, David. H. Hopkins, John P. Barttelson, Cyrus P. Gilbert, 
Col. Jarrow, Darius Hunkins, Frederick Butterfield, James Turfs, Nathaniel 
L. Davis, James Coburn, and William Babbet. 

People flocked to Argenta on account of the rich ore that had been found. 
It seems to be impossible to find the name of the party that discovered 
the first claim. We know that it must have been prior to June 30th, 1864, 
as on that date, C. I. Ream, J. A. Brown, A. J. Oliver, B. F. MeKay and 
Dr. E. D. Leavitt claimed 1,000 feet, as a water claim for milling and 
mining purposes. A very little placer mining had been done, even before 
that. 

The Marquis lode was the first that I can find on record, though no doubt, 
some other must have been located (I am told that it was the Legal 
Tender). 

William Becker claimed the Discovery on the Marquis, with the following as 
co-claimants: 

William Reeker, George Brown, William H. Miller, Prof. A. K. Eaton, J. 
Kennedy k J. G. Gill, W. F. Sanders, R. Armitage, L. C. Miller, Miss L. A. 
Darling, William Chumasero, G. E. Upson, F. M. Thompson, G. Morris, E. 
Marley, G. D. French, Harry Neil & Co., A. C. McMilland, Bartholomew, 
Elgin Moore, L. A. Gridley, S. Edgerton, T. C. Evarts. 

Located July 21st, 1864. 

Now, you must not become impressed with the fact that they found ore at 
Montana City, before they found it in any other place in the Territory. 
Our old friend, Orrin D. Farlin, commonly called "Quartz Farlin," a 
brother of William L. Farlin, of Butte fame, was a fiend for lode 
discoveries. On the 15th of October, 1862, the "Kammas" Lode was 
discovered by Orrin D. Farlin, which gives him the honor of having found 
and recorded the first claim containing ore, in the state. Nothing has 
been heard of the "Kammas" to lead one to suppose that Farlin was 
fortunate in its discovery. Next we find that the French Lode was located 
on November 2nd, by Ludin and Pequgnot. The Minnesota on the 9th, and the 
Dakota, November 12, 1862. 

We notice that P. Breakfast, a person who surely had one meal with him 
each day, located No. 8 easterly, from discovery on the French. 

The Dakota was to make history. It was on this lead that Frank Allen was 
to build the first quartz mill in Montana. It was discovered by Charles 
Benson, H. Porter, E. Porter and C. W. Place. Probably the first Sheriff's 
deed on record in Montana, was the sale of a certain piece of property, 
described as follows: The undivided one-quarter interest in and to claim 
No. 9, west, on the Dakota Lode, Idaho Territory, on August 3rd, 1863, by 
Henry Plummer, Sheriff, to Moses Burring and J. D. Ritchie, to satisfy a 
judgment of Moses Burris, Plaintiff, against John Ault. Execution issued 
out of the Miners' Court, Bannack District. We also find that Power of 
Attorney was given by H. Plummer, to George Chrisman, to settle with 
parties who owed him $3,500.00, on half interest in No. 7 Dakota lode, on 
December 27th, 1863, recorded January 2nd, 1864 -- eight days before 
Plummer was hung. If Henry had been wise, he would have left Montana. As 
to this particular matter, I can find no final accounting with the Probate 
Court of Beaverhead, by Chrisman. 



CHAPTER V. FIRST PROBATE JUDGE. 

The First Probate Judge of Beaverhead was the Hon. John C. Taylor. 

First matter of business: Notice of application of George C. Chrisman, to 
be appointed administrator of the estate of George Carhart. 

AMOS W. HALL, Clerk. 

May 16th, 1864, sufficient notice has been given of application for 
letters of administration, on the estate of George Carhart, deceased, to 
be granted by county to George Chrisman. 

Smith Ball: Sworn and testified that George Carhart came to his death by a 
pistol shot, about the 20th day of May, 1863. George Chrisman, sworn as 
administrator of estate of George Carhart, and says that he owned No. 7, 
west from Discovery on Dakota Lode, the value of said claim to be about $6,
000.00, also a ranch, but does not know the value of it. Claims of about 
$2,000.00 to $2,500.00 against estate, and without will. Andy Lutzi said 
that Carhart verbally gave some part of it (No. 7) to Henry Plummer, but 
does not know how much. The bond required was only $100.00. 

Note: May 17th is the exact date. [Ed.] 

The St. Paul was another lode. This was of importance, because of the 
names of the men who recorded claims. It was discovered and recorded 
January 30th, 1864, by John Marry and G. W. Biddle, with such men as Gov. 
Edgerton, Wilbur F. Sanders, Amos W. Hall, Armitage, David Morgan, E. D. 
Leavitt, Louis McMurtey, F. M. Thompson, John Creighton, Mary Burt, Phil 
Lovell, George W. Dart, 46 claims in all having been recorded. At this 
writing, it belongs to A. F. Graeter, et al. 



CHAPTER VI.
JEFF. DAVIS GULCH. 

In looking over the old records, we find that the miners were compelled to 
resort to almost any book they could find, no matter for what purpose may 
have been its former use. The oldest of these was the one used by the 
miners of Jeff. Davis Gulch. It was the property of A. Graham, who, in 
1856, was running the Graham House in Grand Gulf -- as we find March 27th, 
1856: William Olcott, Hors. pd. 15 cents.
P. Bellamy, s., pd. 70 cents.
Wm. Knight, dead head. 

There came a day in Jeff Davis Gulch -- to be exact, Sunday, July 4th, 
1863, when the miners of Prospect District wished to hold a meeting, and 
make laws for its government. You can imagine that the following took 
place. Some one said: "How can we record the laws we are about to make?" 
"Why, I have an old account book, that I had years ago, when I had a 
little hotel in Grand Gulf. It is no good to me." So, in that way, 
Graham's old Hotel hedger is today to be found in the vault in Old 
Beaverhead Court House, with the stuff that was of most vital interest, to 
the men who for years were to mine of the headwaters of Horse Prairie 
Creek. This man Graham was elected President of that meeting, and as such, 
signed the first 18 sections that were to help govern the district. On the 
18th day of July, a meeting was called at the request of certain parties 
(names not recorded), for the purpose of having a portion of the District 
set off from this district, to be known as Jeff Davis Gulch, and its 
drainage. 

The first quartz claim recorded in Horse Prairie, was by H. Monfortin. 
They held a miners' meeting, and framed laws to cover such claims. They 
considered it real estate, and not subject to forfeiture. No person was 
required to perform any work on a pre-emption claim, to enable him to hold 
it as real estate. 

COL. VITAL JERROT, President. 

We find the following very interesting entry: This is to certify that W. 
A. Clark has this day pre-empted claim No. 30, above discovery, on 
Solomon's Bar, Colorado Gulch, Prospect District, August 7th, 1863. 

Gus Graeter says: "I remember well seeing W. A. Clark, a little red-headed 
fellow, with his pack on his back, the day he left Bannack for Jeff Davis 
Gulch. He was wearing a soldiers' overcoat, with one of the tails gone, 
that was said to have been caused by getting too close to a camp fire, 
sometime when he was cold." 

This must have been about August 5th, 1863, W. A. was always a busy 
person, as we find that he had claimed the privilege of taking water out 
of the second gulch south of Jeff Davis, for mining purposes -- 17th of 
May, 1864. He also claimed by preemption, 100 feet down Colorado Gulch, 
below and adjoining Dutch Fred, May 20th, 1864. A little later, he ordered 
the recorder to declare this claim vacant. 

In a little book at Dillon we find that W. A. Clark was elected Recorder 
of Jeff Davis Gulch, and that on the 8th day of June, 1864, he made the 
following entry, to-wit: 

"Know all men by these presents, that W. A. Clark has this day pre-empted 
and recorded claim No. 9, above discovery, Jeff Davis Culch, Idaho 
District. 

W. A. CLARK. 

We also find a peculiar trade recorded in the same little book. W. Harvey 
to W. R. Perkins. 

Know all men by these presents, that I, W. Harvey, for and in 
consideration of one sorrel mule, have this day sold all my right, title 
and interest in claim No. 10, above Discovery, Jeff Davis Gulch, Idaho 
District, to W. B. Perkins. July 7th, 1864. 

Attest: W. HARVEY. 

W. A. CLARK. 

At this particular point, it is just as well to record what took place in 
Bannack, December 2nd, 1862. 

Buffalo Currency. 

"I, Joe Bowers, for and in consideration of the sum of seventy-five 
dollars, paid to me in hand, consisting of the following described 
property to-wit: One three-year-old pony, one pair of buffalo pantaloons, 
two buffalo coats, amounting in all to the sum above named, have 
bargained, sold, and delivered to Ed Hibbard and Frank Parish, No. 86 
above Stapleton Discovery." (Parish was hung January 14th, with Boone Helm 
and others.) To return again to Clark, we find that he helped to build the 
ditch out of "the gulch south of Jeff Davis," and he and Henry Lovewell 
sold their interest in Colorado Gulch, including Denver Ditch, February 
1st, 1865, to W. R. Vandruff. 

I do not believe that young W. A. Clark, the little red-headed man, 
working in the ground sluice in 1863 and 1864, in Jeff Davis Gulch, going 
home at noon and night to cook his frugal meals, ever dreamed that he was 
to become the man whose money was to go toward the proving of Butte as a 
mining camp; whose ability to scrap was to down Marcus Daly, locate the 
capital at Helena -- who was to become a U.S. Senator -- the biggest miner 
in the world, aud the one to build. the most expensive, private home in 
America. What a contrast! the cabin in Jeff Davis Gulch and the palace in 
New York City! 

Other men were connected with the mines in Jeff Davis that have left an 
imprint on the pages of our stories. 

Judge M. H. Lott, claim No. 1, on Dorsett's Bar, July 8th, 1863. 

W. B. Dance, also recorded on that day; William Roe, on July 10th, in 
Jack's Bar. Mart Barrett and Joe Shineberger bought of Henry Lovewell, all 
of his interest in Colorado Gulch, and Denver Ditch Co., May 10th, 1864. 

We find that Ray Woodworth, afterwards to raise the first crop in Madison 
Valley, pre-empted 27 above discovery in Solomon's Bar, July 11th, 1863. 
Also, Gus Craeter pre-empted No. 45, on Solomon's Bar, July 9th, 1863, and 
William Skelly, of Glen Gary, Fergus County, Montana, was one of the early 
miners. 

Probably the oldest deed, in its original form, in Beaverhead County, is 
one given on June 11th, 1864, at Jeff. Davis Gulch, when Freeman sold 
eight-ninth' of his claim on Dorsett's Bar, to I. Baldwin, et al., for 
which he received one horse and one mule, at a value of $300.00. The 
parties that owned the animals were to get the first money out of the 
ground. Said Freeman is to receive $100.00 out of every $1,000.00. The 
above named persons obtain from claims until he shall be paid the 
remaining $600.00. Freeman assigned his interest June 30th, 1864, to Vital 
Jerrot. As said Jerrot was the recorder, he left the little deed in the 
pages of Graham's old book. 

David Metlen sold his interest to Harrison Brown, in the Denver Ditch 
Company, on Solomon's Bar, March 7th, 1866. Both of these men are yet 
living on Horse Prairie. 

Solomon's Bar was named for Solomon Robinson, as the given name was as apt 
to be used as anything else, in those early days. 

We have taken a side trip to Jeff Davis Gulch to record some of the things 
that bear directly on subsequent history, as in it, was described to some 
extent, W. A. Clark. 



CHAPTER VII

In one of the oldest books of record, of Central District, Grasshopper 
digging, on a fly leaf, I find the following: 
"Maxwell Crosbie is my name,
Scotland is my nation;
And those two lines will tell my name,
When I am quite forgotten."

(On looking closely, we find, in pencil, almost too dim to decipher, that 
the book was the property of Maxwell, and Miss Vera Baker has kindly 
written with her typewriter that fact.) 

We find another matter that is peculiar. On the 4th day of April, 1863, a 
deed was given by David Thompson, et al., to James D. Doty, all in Idaho 
Territory. On the Fifth day of April, 1863, a deed was given by John Ault, 
to Jack Allport, all in Dakota Territory. There must have been some 
misunderstanding as to what particular portion of the United States they 
were in. 

Coal was thought to have been found near Bannack, and a company was 
formed, and 640 acres was taken up, on which some prospecting was done, in 
1865. It is now called oil shale. There was also a coal excitement in Old 
Pioneer Basin, on Ruby Creek, in the Big Hole, as several claims were 
located July 1st, 1865, by Dr. E. D. Leavitt, et al. Coal has, so far, not 
been an asset in Beaverhead County. 

I find that T. M. Ault sold to J. H. Morley claim No. 10, below 
Stapleton's discovery, Northwestern Mining District, September 18th, 1862. 
In connection with the above, I find the following: 

Know all men by these presents, that the undersigned, having formed 
themselves into an association, or company, to be hereafter known and 
designated as the Dakota Water Ditch Company, do from the date of this 
instrument of writing, claim for their own and special use and benefit 
(for the purpose of sale to miners), all the water of a certain stream now 
known as Horse Prairie Creek (with all or any of the tributaries of said 
Horse Prairie Creek, with all natural water running from springs on the 
ravines that their ditch may cross, wherein water may be found from rains, 
melting snows, or other natural causes), that may be found above their dam 
or above their line of ditch from said dam, to the terminus of said ditch. 
The said ditch to be brought into mining camp, now known as Northwestern 
District, and continued on down a stream known as the Grasshopper Creek, 
as far as aforesaid Dakota Water Ditch Company shall deem it necessary for 
the use and benefit of the miners generally. The aforesaid ditch to be 
brought in as soon as possible. 

Bannack City, 19th Dec., 1862, Da. Ter.
Signed
W. GRAHAM.
JAMES H. MORLEY.
H. M. MANDEVILLE.
T. R. PETCHER.
J. F. MORLEY.

This is probably the first claim to take water from one water shed to 
another in Montana. Those people did not do much more than make the 
survey. 

This man, James H. Morley, has left a most interesting diary, a copy of 
which, well type written, was sent to the Historical Society by his wife. 
He was probably the first Civil Engineer, or surveyor in Southern Montana, 
unless Walter W. De Lacey can claim the honor. He surveyed the ditch from 
Painter Creek, afterwards known as the Smith and Graeter Ditch, to 
Bannack. 

It was Morley that went with the party in the winter of 1863, and surveyed 
Gallatin City, on the Gallatin River, which they dreamed was to become the 
head of navigation on the Missouri. Though it was a little place, at one 
time, few could find the site at this day. 



CHAPTER VIII.
RANCHING. 

Mining was not the only thing to which these people turned their 
attention, as we find that Joe Wild took, for ranching purposes, land on 
the Grasshopper, a short distance above town, on the west side of the 
Creek, early in August, 1862. 

A. J. and G. W. Stanly claimed land, "Commencing at the mouth of a small 
brook about two miles above Stapleton's Bar, on the north side of 
Grasshopper Creek, 40 rods on each side of said Brook following the 
meanderings of said brook, in a northerly direction to a stake. Dated 
September 1st, 1862." On September 5th, they located the water of the 
brook. 

All of the valley of the Grasshopper was taken up, 1865, to a place 9 or 
10 miles north. 

Horse Prairie. 

Louis Dupuis took land on Horse Prairie, April 2nd, 1862, as follows: 

"Know all men by these presents, that I, louis Dupuis, claim for ranching 
purposes, 160 acres of land, situated on Horse Prairie Creek, commencing 
on said creek and running north 160 rods, thence east 160 rods, thence 
south 160 rods, thence west 160 rods to place of beginning." 

As Horse Prairie Creek is 80 or more miles long, one can see that the 
description is not very definite. Many other places were taken up on Horse 
Prairie, shortly after this. 

We find that Fortien had taken up a place near the crossing on the 14th of 
July, 1863, and that Martin Barrett and Joe Shineberger had on the 17th of 
that month selected land immediately west of Fortien. This ranch became 
well known as the Horse Prairie ranch, and was the one where the gray 
horse was kept. 

Martin Barrett lived on this ranch until 1911, or 48 years. He Built a 
fine two-story brick house, the finest in its day, in the county. He 
accumulated a fortune, and sold to John Peterson, a young Swede, that came 
to the Big Hole less than twenty years before, broke. Shineberger moved to 
Red Rock, and also left a fortune at his death. Barrett and Shineberger 
must be considered the first bona fide settlers on ranch lands in Southern 
Montana. 

Fortien's ranch was sold at Sheriff's sale, by Henry Plummer, November 
15th, 1863, for $367.00, to John Teters. 

Bird in Hand. Ranch. 

S. R. Mecklin located on a branch of Horse Prairie, called Dry Creek, 
August 25th, 1864. He probably thought that ranching would be safer than 
mining. He was right, but he did not stay long enough to find out. 

On Beaverhead. 

"F(rank) Ruff has this day recorded 160 acres of land for farming and 
ranching purposes, on the stream known as the Beaverhead, below the mouth 
of the Grasshopper Creek. Said ranch is the first located, and is No. 1, 
running down, November 8th, 1862." 

Joseph Wild, got wild, and took up the next claim. It is a strange thing 
that Ruff and Wild were to be the first persons to go into a wild, rough 
section of the country, and locate the first ranches. Why they left them I 
do not know, as there is no record to tell how they disposed of their 
places. 

James Gamble claims for ranching purposes 160 acres of land, situated at 
the forks of Rattlesnake and Beaverhead on the west side of the 
Rattlesnake, Bannack District, April 27th, 1863. This man came to Bannack 
on April 20th, 1863, with Hugh O'neil's train. John Y. Bishop was also in 
the same train. 

Richard T. Harris claimed 160 acres of land, near Picket, taking in both 
sides of the creek, on Beaverhead, a little above the mouth ofRattlesnake, 
September 3rd, 1864. On December 30th, 1864, Thomas W. Chapman I Company 
and J. R. Stems, took land on the Rattlesnake, located one mile below the 
Point of Rocks, on said Creek, commencing at a stake opposite a low gap in 
the bluffs on the north side. 

William Fox took up land on the Beaverhead, March 6th, 1865. No one could 
tell from the description where that land is now. 

Tom Selway took up land as follows: "Said land is on both sides of the 
Beaverhead river, and bounded on the north by bluffs and included the 
mouth of Blacktail Deer Creek." September 5, 1865. Prior to that time, 
Henry Burfiend. had taken up a claim, afterwards to become the property of 
Philip Thorpe. He did not appear to place the same on record. Henry 
Burfiend came to Montana from California, and mined in Alder Gulch. In the 
fall of 1864 he located a piece of land about four miles north of Dillon, 
and began farming the next year. He thinks he broke the first, piece of 
land with a plow. The plow was made by a blacksmith in Virginia City, but 
was not very good because it would not scour. 

Tom Selway broke some land the same year Burfiend broke his land. Henry 
Hayman -- called Little Henry -- had spaded up a, piece on the adjoining 
land near the river, and had sold his crop for $1,500. This was in 1864. 
In 1865, he bought a yoke of oxen of W. B. Carter, plowed and put in more 
land, but the grasshoppers ate him out, he became disgusted, and packed up 
and went to Oregon. Mr. Burfiend had a partner, named Frank Jacobs. Then 
seed was very high. They paid 25 cents per pound for seed oats and bought 
of Mr. Henneberry, one sack of seed potatoes, for which they gave $55.00. 
They had two loads of potatoes, which they sold in Bannack for 15 cents 
per pound. The grasshoppers ate the grain. W. G. Carter said that he 
believes that Burfiend was probably correct. In the winter of 1864, Carter 
camped close to where Dillon is now. The cattle were put between Blacktail 
and the river. The next morning, he said, "I had to go after them through 
snow knee deep. They had taken the back trail. I followed them up the 
river for some distance, through the brush. All at once, I came to a small 
park, and at a short distance, I saw a cabin. It struck me that it might 
be the home of some of the road agents, but soon a woman came to the door 
and threw out some dish water. I am sorry that I did not investigate and 
find out who she was. That was before any ranches had been taken up. I 
would have found out, but was afraid to go to the cabin." 

It is too bad that we could not have become possessed of this knowledge -- 
the name of the first woman to live on the Beaverhead. This was at a point 
between the home of Craig Cornell and the P. H. Poindexter ranch -- but 
over in the thick willows, near the river. 

James Kirkpatrick settled on land, on Rattlesnake, September 30th, 1865, 
and was quite extensively connected with the stock interests for years. He 
has resided in Montana for over fifty years. 

X. Renois and Amede Bessett located land on the Beaverhead, December 1st, 
1865, near the mouth of Rattlesnake. David Jones, on Rattlesnake, December 
6th, 1865. 

William Roe took a claim adjoining Bessett's December 15, 1865. James 
Ashbaugh, sometime prior to January 2nd, 1866, as I. W. Isle had a claim 
next to him on that date. 

On January 6th, 1866, William Sturgis located the land afterward to become 
the home of Phil Lovell. On the 8th day of January, 1866, Craig Cornell 
located as follows: 

Beginning at a stake on Blacktail Deer Creek, about three-quarters of a 
mile from its junction with the Beaverhead; thence running south one-half 
mile, etc., etc. Craig Cornell, the man who has lived almost 50 years on 
the same piece of land, or longer than any other man in Southern Montana, 
or probably in the state. 

G. W. Emrick took the land just below the mouth of the Beaverhead Canyon, 
January 10th, 1866. 

John Carrico, one of the prominent miners and discoverers of the mines in 
Bannack, located two miles below the Canyon, January 11, 1866, and John 
Carhart took the land next to him on the north, the same day. 

On October 16th, 1864, 0. D. Farlin located land on Birch Creek, about one 
and one-lialf miles below the canyon. Land had been located on the Big 
Hole the same year, on the bottom below Brown's bridge. 

Land on the Stinking Water. 

The first piece of land we find any record of was taken August 13th, 1863, 
by Boup, how, Ely R Company, a certain tract of land of 640 acres, 
situated and described as follows, to-twit: 

Commencing at a point where the Stinking Water empties into the Jefferson, 
thence one mile down said Jefferson; thence one mile south, and running 
parallel with the said Stinking Water Creek; thence westward to said 
creek; thence down said stream to place of beginning. 

This land is now in Madison County, though the record was made at Bannack. 
There is also a little mistake on the part of the locators. They had taken 
the Beaverhead for the Stinking Water, as the latter stream runs into the 
Beaverhead, and not into the Jefferson. 

Quite a number of those early locators continued to call the Beaverhead 
country -- home. They could not have found a fairer land than it, nor one 
that would yield to their efforts any greater returns.