An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 55

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Montana > An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 55

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In New York city young Fitschen obtained a clerk ship in a store, at $5 per month and board, and continued thus occupied for two or three years. During this time he attended uight school in order to learn the English language, and he also took a business-college course at night.

In 1861, with a desire to see the Golden State, he made the voyage by way of the isthmus of Panama to San Fran- cisco, landing there in April. He at once procured a sit-

277

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

them made their claims on the spot, and even participated in the tumultuous scenes they re- late. How, then, shall a stranger tell exactly what transpired when eye-and-ear witnesses so singularly fail to agree upon a verdict as to this fact or that? It seems the best I can do is to fall back upon that ponderous book, which is said to be as nearly correct as it is possible to be, " Leeson's History of Montana." I here quote his selection from the reminiscenees of R. Stanley, in the Helena Herald of 1882, sup- plemented by the historian's own observations:

" In July, 1864, mining was commenced on the bar, on the west side of the gulch, nearly

uation in a store and was employed in that city for two years. Then he sought the gold diggings in Calaveras county, where for some years he mined, meeting with only moderate success, however.

In 1866 he came to Moutana, arriving here on the 9th of June. At German Gulch he engaged in mining and butchering until 1870, and during the four years he was located at that place he was prosperous in his undertak- ings. He then became largely interested in buying and selling stock, going down into Texas and buying and bringing a large band of cattle to Montana and selling the same here at a good profit. In 1877 he turned his attention to the mercantile business in Butte City, and, in partnership with HI. C. Weebbald, for some years did a large wholesale and retail business, carrying all kinds of goods from a shingle nail to a silk dress, their store being located on Main street where the capitol building now stands. Theirs was the first general store in Butte City. In 1876 Mr. Fitschen went back to California on a pros- pecting and speculating tour, and two years later return- ed to Butte City. He then gave his attention to prospect- ing and mining in Montana, and still continues in this business. He is also largely interested in stock-raising and ranching. He now owns a valuable meadow farm at Steward. During his mining career he has owned several very valuable properties, among which may be mentioned the Elm Erloo, which he sold to W. A. Clark and from which has since been taken more than three fourths of a million dollars. IIe was also the owner of the Gold Ilill mine. This property he recently sold for $55,000, An- other valuable mine he once owned was the Self-Rising, which is now the property of the Colorado & Montana Mining Company. In Jefferson county Mr. Fitschen has several mines, one of which, the Custar No. 2, is consid- ered very valuable. He has refused $60,000 in cash for this mine.

While he has had, and still has, large holdings in var- ious parts of Montana, it is in Butte City where Mr. Fitsch en's chief interests are centered. In 1890 he erected

opposite where Taylor & Thompson's store stood in 1867, and the five men who worked there made each a fortune of $50,000 in two years. The first cabin, of one room, was erected in the middle of September, 1864, in the rear of the site of the St. Louis drug store, subse- quently opened by John S. Cowan. The second cabin was built above it by Reginald (Bob) Stanley, and the third by G. J. Wood, where Gans & Klien built their stone warehouse. By October 1 1864, there were five cabins in the town. About this time Capt. James L. Fisk's party or Minnesota train arrived in the Prickly Pear valley, also Capt. Holmes' party. Capt. the Exchange Block at No. 17 South Main street. This building is 27 x 100 feet, has four stories and a basement, and is one of the finest and most artistic buildings in the city. He also owns numerous other buildings in Butte. He was a member of the first electric-light company or- ganized here, and he has given his support to many of the leading enterprises which have brought about the development of this city and county.

Politically, Mr. Fitschen is a Democrat. From 1873 until 1875 he served as Deputy Sheriff of Silver Bow county. In 1892 he had the honor of being elected by his party to the State Legislature of Montana, and while holding a seat in that honorable body he introduced a number of bills which he believed to he of value to his county and the State at large.

October 19, 1876, Mr. Fitschen married Miss Ida B. Pfeifer, a native of Iowa. Their only child, a sou, died at the age of six years.

Fraternally, Mr. Fitschen is a member of the K. of P., and the A. O. U. W. He is Past Chancellor of the first named organization. .

JOHN S. TRUSCOTT. - This gentleman is a conspicuous illustration of the possibilities of the great West, and what pluck and perseverance will accomplish.

Ile was born in the State of Connecticut, in 1858, a son of Samuel Truscott, who was a Cornish miner and cap- tain of mines, and who prospected and opened many mines in the White mountains.

Young John grew up to be a machinist aud steam engineer, engaging in that business in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and New York.

HIe entered the United States Army, Fifth Infantry, General Nelson A. Miles' regiment, Company C, in the spring of 1879, and served in all the Western campaigns for five years, participating in the capture of the Indian chief, Gaul, on Poplar river. He was a non-commis- sioned officer. During his term of service in the army his leisure time was occupied with books; and when he left the army he had a practical education and was a competent bookkeeper.

278

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

G. J. Wood induced a number of both parties to stay at Last Chance, and many of those who went into the Prickly Pear returned shortly to this point. In October, 1864, the first election of members of the legislature was held here, when 200 votes were cast. Capt. G. J. Wood discovered the minutes of the miners' meeting, held at Last Chance Gulch. October 30, 1864, Mr. Wood was chairman, and T. E. Cooper secretary. Three commissioners-Capt. Wood, H. Bruce and C. L. Cutler, were chosen to lay ont the town, and adopt rules respecting pre- emption and occupancy. During the following winter there were 115 cabins erected in the

After his term of service expired he engaged in the bakery business in Miles City, in which enterprise he lost all he invested. In July, 1887, he, in partnership with one Berkil, engaged in a general merchandising business in Miles City. They started with less than $1,000. At times they were in debt as much as $35,000. Mr. Truscott was the business manager of the firm, as his partner was an invalid. In 1892 they shipped 213,000 pounds of wool, and on July 1st of that year sold their mer- cantile interest, having made $40,000 while engaged in the business. In 1891 Mr. Truscott invested in sheep. His ranch is thirty-five miles north of Miles City, where he now has 6,000 sheep. He also represents an Eastern wool commission house, for whom he buys and ships large quantities of wool. Ile also deals in real estate. His residence is on Tenth street, Miles City. He is a mem- ber of Yellowstone Lodge, No. 26, A. F. & A. M., Miles City, being Junior Warden of the lodge; also a member of Crusade Lodge, No. 7, K. of P.

He was married in 1885 to Miss Delia A. Jordan, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Jordan of Scranton, Pennsylvania. They have four sons,-William, Albert, Guy and Ilarry. His wife is a member of the Catholic Church. Politically, Mr. Truscott is a Democrat. Ile has been Alderman of the Second Ward, being the first elected under the Australian system in Montana. He is favorably known as a genial, social gentieman.

JOSEPH D. CONRAD, Postmaster of Marysville, and one of its highly respected early settlers, was born in Indiana, October 2, 1842. His father, Joseph Conrad, was born in Pennsylvania in 1801. Ile married Miss Lucy Griffin, a native of Ireland, who removed to Pennsylvania when "Jeven years of age. They had ten children, five of whom still survive. The father, a railroad contractor by occupa- tion, died in Indiana, at the age of seventy-five years, and hi- wife died a short time previous to his death.

Joseph D. Conrad, the second child in order of birth in the above family, spent his carly life in his native State. In 1865 he came to Montana. Ile crossed the plains from

gulch, and in February, 1865, Scott's addition to the town plat was surveyed east of Main, north of Broadway, and extending beyond Rodney streets.

"Second Meeting."-A meeting was held within the cabin of George J. Wood, October 30, 1864, for the purpose of appointing com- missioners to lay out a town, as well as to adopt a name for the settlement. The light- hearted disposition of the meeting is evidenced by the propositions then made to name the loca- tion. Punkinville, Squashtown, Tomahawk, Tomah, and sundry other mirth-provoking titles were suggested; but at length the name St.

Leavenworth, Kansas, and arrived in Virginia City Octo- ber 18, 1865, 180 days having been consumed in the jour- ney. The party consisted of eighty-seven men and five women. While camped on the Platte river they were at- tacked by 125 Sioux Indians, who withdrew after five of their number had been killed. Mr. Conrad arrived in Virginia City a poor boy, and his first experience in min- ing was at Helena, in 1867, but in the fall of the same year he took a claim at Independent Gulch. In the fol- lowing fall he returned to Helena, leased a claim and mined during the winter with fair success, in 1868 went to New York Gulch, but after working there eleven months lost all his previous earnings. Mr. Conrad then mined at the lower end of the gulch, and during the year 1869 took out large quantities of gold. During the fol- lowing year he mined at Oregon Gulch, but met with poor success; next accepted the position of clerk in the store of E. Ingersoll at Cave Gulch; while there he pur- chased an interest in a prospect, and after spending $4,300 on the same it proved a failure. From that time

* The account of the naming of the city of Helena, as given by Thomas E. Cooper, of Grafton, Dakota, is as follows: "Thomas Cowan, from Georgia, iu 1864, had a sluice, and was mining in Last Chance. On September 24, 1864, Mr. Cooper and company of prospectors and Captain Wood huilt a cabin, where the heart of the city now is. A meeting was called to organize the mining district, and John Somerville was chosen chairman, and Thomas E Cooper, secretary. The question of naming the town came up, and there being a great diversity of opinion as to the name the town should bear, and not being able to agree, the chairman, Mr. Somerville, got up and stated as follows: 'That he belonged to the hest country in the world, and lived in the best. State in that country, and in the best. county (Scott) of that State, and the best town ( Helena) in that county, and by the eternal this town shall bear that name.'"-Letter to J. H. Mills, June, 1885.

279

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

Helena was proposed by John Somerville, and to this and Tomah the meeting confined its at- tention, the proposition of Somerville, in its amended form, Helena, being carried by one or two votes. John Somerville is numbered among the dead; John Cowan, a native of Georgia, returned thither; but after a few years revisited the West, and was one of the pioneers of the Black Hills. D. J. Miller, a California ininer of 1850 or 1851, was one of the four who discovered Last Chance. He went to Philadelphia with John Dempsey, and is now a citizen of Alabama. John Crab, the fourth of the party, sold his interest in Last Chance and until 1876 our subject was employed in the store of Court Sheriff, and since 1879 has been a resident of Marysville. The place at that time contained two houses, which were occupied by T. A. Lightbody and S. F. Ralson. Mr. Con- rad embarked in the general mercantile business, and has been one of the factors in the building of the town. He has built a good residence in this city, and is inter- ested in mines in the Cruse Ilill, which are the richest in the State of Montana.

October 3, 1874, in Helena, Mr. Conrad was united in marriage with Miss Kate Miller, a native of Iowa, who came to Montana in 1874. They have three children,- Eddie, Lillian and Ralph. The two eldest were born at Cave Gulch, and the youngest in Marysville. Mr. Con- rad and his accomplished daughter conduct the post- office at Marysville in a very efficient and accommodating manner, giving good satisfaction to the department and to the patrons of the office. Our subject was prominent in the organization of the A. O. U. W. at Marysville, and they now have one of largest and best lodges in the State. He is a Past Master of the order, and has been three times the Representative to the Grand Lodge. Ile is also a charter member of the K. of P. In political mat- ters, Mr. Conrad votes with the Democratic party. Hav- ing resided in Montana since 1865, he has witnessed the great growth and development that has come to the State of his choice, and naturally takes a deep interest in every enterprise for the benefit of his community.

GEORGE W. MYERS, attorney at law, Miles City, is a lineal descendant of John Paul Jones. Ilis grandmother was Polly Paul, a relative of John Paul, who later added Jones to his name: hence John Paul Jones.

Mr. Myers was born in Andrew county, Missouri, March 1, 1851, a son of Ephraim and Nancy (Williams) Myers. Ilis father's mother was a Paul, born in Virginia, and lived to the age of 103 years. Our subject's mother was born and reared near Lexington, Kentucky. His father was a native of Virginia, an early settler in Missouri, and

took up a claim in Nelson Gulch, which prov. ing unprofitable, he left for the East the follow- ing winter."

In the vicinity of Last Chance Gulch the Cowan party drifted about, hunting, fishing, doing what they best could to find gold " a little further on," and at the same time keep body and soul together with rod and gun.

In the early fall, finding nothing better, they returned to the site of Helena, thinking this their last chance to make bread for the coming winter. They spoke of the place as the last chance; hence the hame Last Chance Gulch. The party consisted of twenty-five, when all was Judge of his district many years, and represented his county in both the Senate and Ilouse of the State Gen- eral Assembly. George W. was educated at public schools and at the State Normal School, at Kirksville, Missouri, and took a special course in law at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, under the noted Thomas M. Cooley; was admitted to the bar at Savannah, Missouri, in Judge Kelly's court, in 1875, where he practiced four years. His first case was a replevin suit. The counsel opposing was the present Governor of Illinois, John P. Altgeld, who started in the law profession at the same time and place as Mr. Myers. In this case Altgeld was defeated.

Mr. Myers came to Bozeman, Montana, in 1879, where he resided a year, and to Miles City in 1880, when he en- gaged in the live-stock business,-sheep and cattle, -- which he continued until 1888, when he again entered the law practice. He has a good business, being still largely interested, however, in stock and ranch property,

He was married September 6, 1877, in Wichita, Kansas. to Miss Mary Elberta Bowman, daughter of Frank and Francis (Wood) Bowman. IIer mother was a descendant of the famous Wood family, of Luray, Virginia, and rela tive of General Robert E. Lee. IIer father was a prom- inent land-owner, and her uncles are physicians, lawyers, and ministers. Mr. Myers and wife have two children living, -Mildred G. and Alma May. The second born was a son, Alfred, who died in infancy. Mr. Myers is a member of Crusade Lodge, No. 7, K. of P., at Miles City, and he is master of the work. In political matters he is a Democrat, but conservative. Mrs. Myers, in religion, is a Presbyterian.

DAVID R. PEELER, one of the representative business men of Marysville, was born in Missouri, June 15, 1853, and is of Pennsylvania Dutch extraction, his ancestors having settled in that State before the Revolution. His grandfather, David Peeler, moved to Missouri in 1817, and continued to reside in that State until his death, which

280

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

together discussing the Indian depredations that continually surrounded them, but that was only in times of threatened attack. Cowan had but four men with him when he really "struck it."

Some emigrants on their way to Alder Creek stopped at this their first mining camp in the latter part of September and went into winter quarters; but, strange as it may seem, the miners who were working what is now the streets of the richest city on the globe, did not know any- thing about what wealth lay in the deep placers which they had taken possession of, till the next year. This was because of the great depth of the new mines.

occurred in the ninety-third year of his age. The father of our subject, Alfred Peeler, the eldest in his father's family, was born in Missouri, in 1822. He married Miss Sally Williams, a native of Kentucky, who descended from one of the oldest families in that State. They had seven children, five of whom still survive. The father died at the age of forty-six years, and the mother is still living, aged sixty-five years.

David R. Peeler, the subject of this sketch and the eldest child in his father's family, grew to manhood in his native State. In 1873 he went to California, and at Virginia City, Nevada, began his life work, -- mining, milling and assaying. He was employed for a time at Bodie, California, and from there, in 1883, came to Marys- ville, Montana. Mr. Peeler was induced to come to this State by the Montana Mining Company, to take charge of the milling and assaying of the Great Drum Lummon Mine, and since that time has been constantly at his post of duty, rendering the company much valuable and re- liable service. He has been superintendent of the mills continually for nine years, is also an expert assayer, and it is his duty to sample the ore that the mill is working every hour and assay it every twenty-four hours. On ar- riving here it was a ten-stamp mill, but they now operate 110 stamps, and since Mr. Peeler's connection with the mine it is safe to say that thirteen millions of dollars in gold and silver have been taken out. The gold is sold at the United States Assay office at Helena, and the silver is sold to a retinery in New Jersey.

Mr. Peeler was married October 24, 1888, at Salt Lake City, to Miss Mary J. Winston, a native of Nebraska, but came with her father, P. J. Winston, to Montana in 1865. They have two daughters, Sadie M. and Lillian. In his social relations, Mr. Peeler is a member of the A. O. U. W. and of the K. of P., and politically is identified with the Democratic party. The family are highly esteemed in Marysville as people of refinement and high integrity of character.

Then Grizzly Gulch, Dry Gulch, and other neighboring camps, broke with dazzling splen- dor on the vision of Uncle John Cowan, of Georgia, and Last Chance gradually became almost as famous as Alder Creek. Meantime, Barber had discovered Silver Bow, some Ger- mans had opened German Gulch, and now the placer gold fields of Montana were all being tilled at once.

The great depth of the bed-rock all along the eighteen or twenty miles of Alder Creek had completed an array of derricks for lifting drift nearly the entire length of the mines. Each derrick had a tall shaft or beam like the mast

HON. JOSEPH E. MARION, of Frenchtown, is one of Montana's prominent pioneers, the date of his arrival in the Territory being 1861.

Mr. Marion was born in Contrecœur, county of Ver- cheres, province of Quebec, Canada, June 1, 1842, a de- cendant of French ancestry. His father, Amable Marion was a patriot of 1838, and the hardships he endured at that time finally resulted in his death, which occurred in his thirty-third year. He had been a merchant, and had married Miss Catharine Deschamps, by whom he had four children. Three of this number are still living. One son is a practicing physician of Seattle, Washington, and a daughter resides in Montreal. The widowed mother survived her husband a number of years, her death occurring at the age of sixty-six years.

Joseph E. Marion received his education at St. Mary's College, Montreal. When he was eighteen years of age he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and in the spring of 1861 hired to the American Fur Company, and was engaged to come to Fort Benton, his journey hither being made up the Missouri river and on board the Chippewa. Be- fore they reached their destination, however, the Chip- pewa took fire and was burned up. Twelve of the men on board were selected to go on foot to Fort Benton and secure conveyances for the rest of the passengers and the cargo. Mr. Marion was one of the twelve. This mission they successfully accomplished. Mr. Marion remained at Fort Benton that winter, sawing lumber and making boats, with which they took the furs down to Fort Union. From that place he and a number of others returned by steamer to St. Louis.

In 1865 he crossed the plains to Montana, landing at Virginia City, and there prospecting and mining until 1869. That year he went to the Kootenay mines, in the British possessions, where, however, he remained only a month. Coming back to Montana, he arrived at French- town in May, 1869, and soon afterward heard of the mines at Moose creek, Idaho, to which place he directed his course, and where he mined during the most of the sum-

gillarion

281

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

of a ship, and then a bowsprit; ropes and chains and clamps and stays. Denuded of alder trees and all sorts of verdure, the whole line and reach of mines looked like a line of schooners becalmed and only waiting for wind to hoist sail and blow away. Then the ten thousand miners down in the deep and warm pits! The clang and bang of sledge and pick and crowbar, the shouts of the men who filled the tubs calling to the engineers on the derricks; the cries of wild delight away down there as they "creviced" the golden dust from the blue and streaming bed rock! All this was now re-enacted at Last Chance, partly transferred to Last Chance in truth, gradually.

mer. In the fall he returned to Frenchtown. Deciding to locate permanently in Montana, he wrote to his wife to join him here She accordingly came West; they met at Helena, and from there came to Frenchtown, where they arrived in October, and where they built a house and opened a hotel. In the latter part of November, gold was discovered at Cedar creek. With a party of twenty- five he went to that place secured a claim and mined successfully until the fall of 1870. While at Cedar creek he was elected and served as Recorder. Disposing of his claim, he returned to his home at Frenchtown, and for some time was interested in various enterprises, in- cluding the stock business, in which he was quite suc- cessful. In 1872 he was elected Sheriff of Missoula county, in which position he served during the years 1872-3-4. At that time there was much lawlessness in the county, and his duties as Sheriff were frequently at- teuded with great danger. On one occasion, while try- ing to prevent the escape of a prisoner, Mr. Marion was shot through the arm, and carried the ball for eighteen years. While he was Sheriff, and for several years there- after, he continued his stock business. From 1877 until 1881 he had a store at Nine Mile, and, after selling it the latter year, he opened his mercantile business at French- town, which he still conducts. In the spring of 1893, he built a brick block, 30 x 100 feet, into which he moved bis stock of goods, and where he is doing a thriving business. Ilis whole business career has been attended with suc- cess.

During the greater part of his life in Montana, Mr. Marion has occupied some public position. His connec- tion with the Recorder's and Sheriff's offices have already been referred to. In 1879 he was elected a member of the Territorial Legislature, and served two years. In the fall of 1882 he was elected County Commissioner, and in that office he remained four years. Ile was elected a member of the constitutional convention in 1889, and in the fall of that same year was again selected as County Commissioner; has since been re-elected, and is now

The " tenderfeet" now come climbing up the mountains from the Missouri States, weary, worn, but eager to go to work. But mining, plain mining especially, like all sorts of goldl and silver mining, is one of the fine arts. The ablest man in strength and willingness to swing a pick or push the blade of a steel shovel through the ground, is simply in the way down in a pit among men who have served an ap- prenticeship.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 55

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1216