׉?4ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://ZdGcPE3zbhqp1ZOgq-54XXWQ4236YVvO2AJ9SYTP3xo`׉ 7cassandra://pKFriNHJnLderACl78_Ls9VXX1PvSLD-URXJJ_yud2k͌1`s׉ 7cassandra://JLinoAnkyIHTyMDGxSwscTgf7uROXSnZVDof-UTOraM)[`gwYаc]~Cט(u׈ˁDנgwYаc]~C̏ 9ׁH#https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ׁ ׁ Ј׈EgwYаc]~C׉EJANUARY 2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Harlem News, Dec. 27, 1935 Bannack– Part 3 The events leading to the creation of Montana as a territory are carefully recounted in “Montana: A History of Two Centuries” by Michael P. Malone, Richard R. Roeder and William L. Lang. They write: Sunlight illuminates a cabin in Bannack. (Photo by Rick and Susie Graetz) Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Idaho Territory was a geographic impossibility. The massive ranges of the Rocky Mountains divided the territory in half, and 1,000 miles separated Lewiston in the west from the far eastern extremities. Even in 1863, Idaho's population was shifting rapidly eastward across the Continental Divide to the mining camps on the upper Missouri. With good reason: the Bannack-Virginia City miners believed that Lewiston – hundreds of miles away over endless, snow-clogged mountain passes – could never govern them properly. Miners began agitating for the creation of a new territory to be split from Idaho along the crests of the Rockies. Fortunately for their cause, Judge Sidney Edgerton, the newly appointed chief justice of Idaho, arrived at Bannack in September 1863. Edgerton, a former Ohio congressman, was unable to proceed to Lewiston because of the approach of winter. He soon learned that the governor of Idaho had snubbed him by assigning him to the faraway judicial district lying east of the divide. Both Edgerton and his nephew, Wilbur Fisk Sanders, took up the settlers’ crusade to divide Idaho Territory. Edgerton personally knew the president and many congressmen, so the miners chose to send him to Washington, D.C., to press their case. Carrying $2,000 in gold, Edgerton ׉ 7cassandra://JLinoAnkyIHTyMDGxSwscTgf7uROXSnZVDof-UTOraM)[`gwYаc]~ĆgwYаc]~Cˁ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://FUOZRlfSq6PYY_TcQRve560GslBHrsJLhbI8oPr0oWA`׉ 7cassandra://g2SY8PFz5fLq3XnvzjC3addnLGH0L7GkteZuT7Sl9gQ͑`s׉ 7cassandra://h7bfK9w-sNwM6I3ezEi-BSN4VYX5DJ0Wmse3X04oLto'`gwYѰc]~Cט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://pmKdvWQAkfIzGsXdx9yURoMwIWfN9wCkBqkxbYbpFaM`׉ 7cassandra://Y9NzaBBSL4vBtBqOo9UCYXnvkVB7WbPPh4hOd3VrALo͠`s׉ 7cassandra://Cv470jbVoU0dwiJ1vlC2IBSB2MsMR4IZ-DyhcVFjfRU&p`gwYѰc]~CנgwYаc]~C9׉H/https://www.umt.edu/this-is-montana/default.phpGׁ ׁ rנgwYаc]~CHK9׉H/https://www.umt.edu/this-is-montana/default.phpGׁ ׁ rנgwYѰc]~CHE 9ׁHhttp://default.phׁ ׁ ЈנgwYѰc]~C 9ׁHhttps://www.umt.edu/thisׁ ׁ Ј׉E P a g e 2 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r headed east in January 1864. Meanwhile, the Idaho Legislature at Lewiston obligingly petitioned Congress to carve a new territory named Jefferson out of Idaho, with the dividing line along the Continental Divide and the 113th meridian, locating Idaho’s new eastern boundary just west of the Deer Lodge Valley. Edgerton’s friendship with President Abraham Lincoln led to his appointment as the first governor of Montana Territory on June 27, 1864. Facing the job of creating a government for the territory, his first order of business was to name Bannack the “capital.” The choice was simple – Bannack was where Edgerton lived, and he didn’t want to move. With the designation of the new territory, a Legislature was needed – another task for the governor. At noon on Dec. 12, 1864, Gov. Sidney Edgerton presided over the 20 newly elected representatives in Bannack for the first meeting of the Montana Territorial Legislature. After a joint session, the 13-member House reconvened in a two-story log building, and the seven-member Council (the future Senate) met in a smaller structure nearby. The precise location of the original “chambers” is not known, but early accounts place them in the vicinity of the Hotel Meade, which wasn't built until 1875. Even as the historical first session was nearing a close, Bannack’s political future looked bleak. The once easy-to-find gold was playing out, and folks were leaving. On Feb. 7, 1865, the lawmakers voted to move the capital to Virginia City, which grew out of the biggest gold strike ever in Montana at Alder Gulch on May 26, 1863. Virginia City retained first city status until April 19, 1875, when it too lost population and finally relinquished its title to Helena. During the territory’s initial 16 months of existence, Montana had no territorial secretary who could sign federal warrants. This meant the governor could not spend federal funds. As a result, Edgerton, hoping to someday be reimbursed, paid for much of the cost of establishing a government out of his own pocket. In late September 1865, a secretary finally arrived. Thomas Francis Meagher was appointed by Lincoln's successor, President Andrew Johnson, to be secretary of Montana Territory with an office in Virginia City. Edgerton turned the reins of government over to the new secretary, effectively making Meagher acting governor. Edgerton then left Bannack immediately to attend to personal business in Ohio and Montana concerns in Washington, D.C. President Johnson intensely disliked Republicans like Edgerton and seized this opportunity to get rid of him. Montana owes its size and name to the efforts of this gentleman from Ohio. Bannack would not have enjoyed its reign as first territorial capital and the distinction of serving as the foundation for the territory and future state of Montana if Sidney Edgerton hadn’t chosen it. Whatever followed in terms of government had its roots in the little mining camp on Grasshopper Creek. Catch next month’s newsletter for Part 4! Provided Courtesy of: University of Montana | Department of Geography | Rick and Susie Graetz Originally published on THIS IS MONTANA, an uncommon website. By means of photography, essays, maps, and much more, the University of Montana presents a vivid portrait of the beauty and uniqueness of the Montana. Check out more at: https://www.umt.edu/this-is-montana/ default.php ׉ 7cassandra://h7bfK9w-sNwM6I3ezEi-BSN4VYX5DJ0Wmse3X04oLto'`gwYаc]~C׉E P a g e 3 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: Cattle Raising in the Upper Yellowstone Region. The pastoral area of this region outnumbers the tillable lands at least ten to one, therefore our livestock products constitute the bulk of our agricultural wealth. It is especially adapted to stock growing, as it has a milder climate than any other portion of the state. The light snowfalls are soon melted or blown away by high winds, thus leaving the luxurious pasturage fully exposed, making a model winter range that is unexcelled in any other part of the northwest. As the Yellowstone river runs throughout the length of this region, its windings enclose fertile bottoms and narrow valleys, bounded on either side by a very rough and broken mountainous country, cleft by deep, winding ravines and narrow canyon-like valleys. The creeks that open into the river every few miles hold foaming torrents throughout the year. Some of the river and creek bottoms are thickly timbered with cottonwood, while the slopes are often covered with a growth of pine and cedar. In this manner of alternate growth the cattle find feed and shelter by equal protection in summer and winter. Our cattlemen think this is the best country in America for their interests, basing their opinion on the following facts: Our rangefattened beeves bring better prices than cattle from any other state that have been fed on nothing but natural grasses, and that cattle are here grown with less expense for care and less loss in numbers from exposure. Experts say that this right combination of food and climate makes perfect beef, as good, sweet, juicy beef cannot be grown either in a hot climate or in the opposite extreme. On this last theory there is no need of discussion, for experiments have proven its truth. Cattle raised by this method are hardier and endure the shipment to market with less deterioration in weight or physical condition than do those of different climates. Cattlemen here make no arrangements to feed or shelter their stock during the winter. Their ranges, being broken ground, cleft with frequent coulees and gulches allow shelter from heavy storms and sufficient grazing until the storm has subsided, after which they sally forth to pasture on the ridges and knolls, which the wind has made bare, or if necessary they can rustle through a foot or more of light snow to the abundant grasses that remain unharmed beneath. The cost of raising a steer to marketable age— four years—is variously estimated at from $4 to $9. In carefully managed herds it will probably average about midway between those figures. This cost arises chiefly from the wages and support of cowboys, and the cost of branding at “round ups.” When ready for market a steer on the range is worth from $40 to $55, according to the ruling standard of beef prices. When cattle were only worth $25 men got rich in this region, but since the advance in prices many have found themselves suddenly wealthy. ׉ 7cassandra://Cv470jbVoU0dwiJ1vlC2IBSB2MsMR4IZ-DyhcVFjfRU&p`gwYаc]~CЁgwYаc]~Cρ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://gh1IxwxiAALooMEs8FA8ZbsZMCNIScgadaAl4OPd-_8`׉ 7cassandra://yy14xcqMcVMW4B6O0ptJF0UMerTOGFjuWmDUQXLpjSY͌0`s׉ 7cassandra://nifLb8qMlI236Hi-1cMzfbOzAl8TV58dan4kA03MFcU%`gwYҰc]~Cט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://FQaJ04pHdyyYg8U9lohpDyw6GxHF3UQRecfkVpJy3yoT`׉ 7cassandra://GDi__e1lmjwMoTMeFVCXBntjuxanM3THcYnIfEmDxq8͖`s׉ 7cassandra://HcBDfyDtdSPuWhKJWbGv20mHL-28YcSbGStpd8xE1_4(|`gwYҰc]~C׉E P a g e 4 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r The Round-Up. The customary way of managing a band of cattle in these regions has been simply to brand them and turn them out upon the free and almost boundless pastures; while a more careful system is to employ herders—one man for every 1,200 or 2,000 head of cattle—whose duty it is to ride about the outskirts of the range, follow any trails leading away, and drive the cattle A Scene on Shields River back, seeking through neighboring herds for cattle that may have mistaken their companionship. They are “rounded up” only twice a year—in the spring, to brand the calves, and in the fall to choose the fat steers for market. At the spring “round-up” a few extra men must be employed for several weeks. During such time no person dares to go among the herds on foot. They have only been used to horsemen, whom they fear; but a person on foot causes a general stampede to the object of their curiosity, resulting in instant death to their victim. The Cowboy. It was formerly believed by residents in the older states that the cowboy was the most terrible creature to be met with throughout the region of his range. Although this was true with “dudes,” or offenders of the law who had gained their displeasure, in which case they took great delight in tormenting them, or in securing revenge to their own satisfaction. On the other hand, to those who met them pleasantly, or who passed by them in the “taking care of their own business, and letting others do the same way,” the cowboy could not be excelled in hospitality, joviality, or in performing the good Samaritan act if called upon. As to the patriotism and bravery of the cowboy, we find an example familiar to all, in Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the late Spanish-American war. To the tenderfoot it seems strange that education and politeness are predominating accomplishments of these rough rangers—many of them being college graduates; while despite the above facts, this peculiar rough and independent life on the range possesses an enchantment that cannot be overcome. WOOL GROWING IN PARK COUNTY. Of all the moneys that enter Montana none are so widely distributed and remain so permanently with us as do those of the sheep and wool industry. The wool here is unquestionably the favorite range-produced now thrown upon the market; there are climatic conditions that make it light and strong, and range conditions that keep it from sand or dirt, while the best of all there is a set of intelligent and progressive wool growers established here who see that everything is done that can be done to keep up and advance its reputation. ׉ 7cassandra://nifLb8qMlI236Hi-1cMzfbOzAl8TV58dan4kA03MFcU%`gwYаc]~C׉E P a g e 5 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r The history of the sheep industry of Park county does not go back many years, but such has been its growth that it stands second to none among the sheep producing counties of the state today. Every day we hear of new adventures in this direction, while those who are older in the business declare it to be the best investment that can be made, bringing, as it does, immediate and substantial returns. Confidence in this business as an investment cannot be shaken. It is a good substantial investment and, whatever the market changes may be, will always continue to be so as long as there is a call for mutton or wool. During the summer of 1883 nearly 200,000 sheep were driven into Montana, the upper Yellowstone region receiving the greatest percent of the number according to her size. At first they were only raised for home consumption, which was found in the local mining districts. By the advent of railway facilities the sheep ranches have no limit to the number or their flocks. In selecting a sheep range some care is taken to secure broken ground, comparatively free from brush, where the wind has unobstructed sweep in blowing the snow off the higher ridges, laying bare their feeding grounds. Instances have occurred here where an investment in sheep has paid 100 percent the first year, while on the other hand examples might be cited of almost entire loss of the investment in one year. In large flocks, where the utmost precaution is used to insure against loss, involving expense, a return of 30 to 40 percent is reckoned to be as certain as the interest on government bonds. The difference in the above perFreighting Wool cent of gain or less depends upon the climate, but conservative sheepmen prefer the latter method of caring for their flocks, rather than running the risks of a changeable climate. To the man with small capital no business presents greater attractions and advantages than wool growing, as profits are more immediate, if not quite as large as in the kindred industry of cattle raising which requires more capital in the beginning, and profits are not realized as soon or so often. It is a favorite method with the amateur to locate a ranch in a farming valley and pasture his sheep upon the adjoining upland. In this way the owner may support himself off the products of farming and allow the profits of his sheep to go toward the increase of his flock as long as he may desire. A corral must be built, into which the sheep are driven every night to protect them from the ravages of wolves, coyotes, or other dangerous animals; sheds must be provided to shelter the ewes during the lambing season, and hay gathered to feed the flock in case a heavy snow should lie on the ground so long as to threaten the sheep with starvation. Although the hay may not be needed throughout the whole course of a winter, yet the careful sheep grower experiences no loss in being prepared for any emergencies in his business. –Read More Next Time ׉ 7cassandra://HcBDfyDtdSPuWhKJWbGv20mHL-28YcSbGStpd8xE1_4(|`gwYаc]~CҁgwYаc]~Cс(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://lsnl-zO6G5H9LOf5Sj85ryYJkS5rNktS3WJDsQTtJtk(`׉ 7cassandra://rv0TDYYn7f22BHSKh-_GyU3HoW7zm50sp806spa6_UY͓`s׉ 7cassandra://XCu-O8PkUtxqbRS8X8g2Qj2PX_UDkgzfXpVqw5EoXlk( `gwYҰc]~Cט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://knZ8Cm74fzH_1VxFdnuVkvjWDQa4zFdhZMTT6yccFIcp`׉ 7cassandra://GdYb38Lz_mJQwXhbrjP6pT6pc8KSS9a5AJ065MMBXw0͞`s׉ 7cassandra://9XLraTTPysA6THsRaG3xSwgpXCT65JurJdt4gjsmgQY*`gwYӰc]~CנgwYҰc]~CqɁ9׉H*https://granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com/Gׁ ׁ rנgwYҰc]~CY 9׉Hhttps://www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3H59DtP6kFOypE2BOh-U2qM-2IJcaXHRQH9kWu3ygmemN4lVmSyL5oanE_aem_2_Wq88uSw2Z4UFi0q5GT2gGׁ ׁ rנgwYӰc]~C%9ׁH$mailto:ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.comׁ ׁ ЈנgwYӰc]~C_9ׁH%http://www.chroniclingamerica.loc.govׁ ׁ ЈנgwYӰc]~Clʁ 9ׁH+https://granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com/)ׁ ׁ Ј׉E P a g e 6 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r A Tale of Rory McRae The Federal Census, lists Rory McRae as a farmer in 1880 and a miner in 1910. A news article in the December 20, 1887 Mail states “A tunnel is being run in the Boulder District by Dominick Mellen, Rory McRae and Will Albright. Indications are good on the surface and when the tunnel is 200 feet the vein will be tapped at 300 feet.” Also, although his residence was at the ranch at Stone Station his family tree indicates he was living in Granite in 1905. All of this gives credence to the fact that needed income to support his family was earned by working in and around the mines and as most of the people in the area, had an interest in the industry. Is the following only a tall tale or did Rory ever realize he was spoofed out of a very rich mining claim or was the story just that…a story developed while the men were swapping tales over a few late night drinks? The December 17, 1905 Anaconda Standard stated that the honor of the discovery of the Hope mine actually belonged to Rory McRae of Stone Station. “When the St. Louis Company, which first purchased the Comanche claim on Hope hill began work on it, McRae was employed as a carpenter, his duties being to cut timbers for the mill, which was then in the course of erection. The Comanche was a rich claim, but the ore shoot was small and the mine soon ‘pinched out.’ McRae’s work brought him frequently to the top of Hope hill. Returning one evening. he picked up a piece of float rock which bore the unmistakable traces of mineral. He broke the quartz with his axe and on his way home showed the rock to Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart (sic) who were employed at the Hope office. Anhauser was the son of a St. Louis brewer and could not distinguish a piece of float from a keg of his father’s foamy product and Anderson and Stewart were equally as ignorant of mining. They ‘jollied’ McRae into the belief that the rock was not worth assaying, but ascertained the spot where McRae found it. That evening they showed the rock to Dr. Merrill, who was then the assayer at the Hope mill. Dr. Merrill at once pronounced the rock rich in silver. Before daylight the next morning Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart found the ledge, located the Hope mine and soon afterward sold the property to the old Hope Company for a good sum. The Hope was one of several lodes sold by the Stuarts, Dance et al, to the St. Louis and Montana in 1867 for $25,000. It is likely that part of the sale price was reimbursement for the purchase of the Comanche lode and other claims and part for the Hope itself, which proved to be an excellent mine.” ׉ 7cassandra://XCu-O8PkUtxqbRS8X8g2Qj2PX_UDkgzfXpVqw5EoXlk( `gwYаc]~C׉E`P a g e 7 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Rory was born Roderick Duncan McRae to Duncan and Margaret (Munro) McRae at St. Elmo Muskoka, Ontario, Canada in February 1845. He immigrated to the US in either 1862 or 1866 and had an unclaimed letter posted in the Montana Post on November 15, 1866. Rory married Minerva Frances Burden on June 10, 1873 in Deer Lodge and to this union were born: Roderick Duncan Jr.; Margaret (Holton), William, John, Mary “Mamie” (Powell), and Minnie (Cyr). He retired from ranching at the Stone Station and lived for 13 years in Philipsburg, before his death from Mitral Insufficiency on June 17, 1923. – Courtesy of the Granite County History Blog All that remains of Stone Station is this private residence. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The purpose of the Granite County History Blog (https://granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com/) is to share and seek information on the history of Granite County, Montana. In a few cases our topics will lap over into adjacent counties as mining districts especially do not respect the later boundaries imposed by politicians! It is a project of members of the Granite County Historical Society, an organization founded in 1978 by the late Barry Engrav of Philipsburg and now comprised of 8 members dedicated to preserving and interpreting historical documents, artifacts, and sites in the greater Philipsburg area. Our goal is to interest current residents, folks with family roots, and those with an academic interest in the area to add their knowledge to this blog as an ongoing project to deepen and in some cases correct the narrative of the people and events that shaped history in this part of Montana. The recent explosion of scanned historical documents onto the internet is making it possible to greatly speed up historical research, refine historical chronology, and deepen historical interpretation. Perhaps we are entering into a "golden age" of research into our past! Anyone with an interest in the Philipsburg area or Montana history is invited to discuss the topics of our posts, as well as their own data and sources, which we hope will create an ongoing dialogue about the area now known as Granite County. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Aug. 2- 1881: A trip up to Lion City, a distance of nine miles from Glendale, brings one to the cluster of mines owned and operated by the Hecla Company. Lion City is a busy camp, full of miners. Just above the town are the famous mines that have yielded such an immense amount of smelting ores. They are all being worked at present by the Hecla Company, and are producing well. The Company is working the Atlantis, True Fissure, Cleopatra, Cleve and other mines, all of which are yielding a good grade of smelting ore. On the Cleopatra mine, high up on Lion Mountain, new steam hoisting works are being erected. The business men of the town reported times lively and improving. "Old Mose," who knows, said the prospect was never more inviting. The property offered by Mr. Geo. E. Tarbell in a grand gift distribution to be drawn in Butte is located in Lion City. It is the best property in the town. Mr. Tarbell will announce, early in August, the day of drawing in Butte. Lion City and the mines are looking well, and there are no idle men in that camp. In fact, men are in great demand, and the wages paid are good, which is always the case in a prosperous mining camp. -From the Weekly Miner Newspaper (Butte, MT), Accessed via: www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com ׉ 7cassandra://9XLraTTPysA6THsRaG3xSwgpXCT65JurJdt4gjsmgQY*`gwYаc]~CցgwYаc]~CՁ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://fae-TIWeBGEKxQDzApxkob-V-vmJN8Z3x3kOYy6xzGEU`׉ 7cassandra://pQ1agR5CM2Rlp3Xe8j5wKPTt42rICubgmjtHtaWW5mA͐`s׉ 7cassandra://4j8hgglPNvEaEPmwyUjFK3DDmYX_AnmQV8wU2HvcmVo&`gwYӰc]~CנgwYӰc]~Cl̦!9׉H