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Updated 03/10/98
BASIN CITY *
page 661 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: BASSETT; HOPKINS; CALVIN; MURRAY; JACKSON;
LAWSON; ALLPORT
Basin City, the rival of the town of Cataract, was founded by Lawson &
Allport, in 1880, at the mouth of Basin creek, a tributary of Boulder River.
Among the mines of the district are the Mantle, Boulder, Custer, Independence,
Martin Maginnis, Rock of Ages, Nabob, Boston, Big Medicine, Susie Brown,
Mohawk, Mount Thompson, Captain, Cook, Mountain Chief, Custer, Saginaw,
Katie,
Silver Butte, Union, Clipp, Highland, Gib, and others.
Basin City was once a camp of enterprise, and had its full share in contributing
to the building up of the Territory. Owing to new and more easily worked
mines being discovered, Basin was left over, as it were, for the era, of
new development, new machinery and increased production. That it will eclipse
its olden greatness is only a matter of a short time. The business circle
is made up as follows: Thomas Bassett and Truman Hopkins, liquors; Amos Calvin,
hotel; T. F. Murray, general merchant; D. D. Jackson, postmaster.
The gold and silver ore mills at this mining point are worked.
BEAVER CREEK
page 652 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: BROOKS; CRAHN; MARKS; HANLAY; REYNOLDS; TUCKES;
MCPHERSON; SHOFFS; RIDGEWAY; KELLY; ROBINSON
Beaver Creek is the name given to the center of this great stock range. The
hamlet is 18 miles southeast of Helena, at the point where the water of the
creek is diverted into the two French Bar ditches. The name Beavertown is
also applied to this settlement, and under this name the census enumerator
credited the place with a population of 14 in 1880. The discovery of lodes
at this point and in the Park during the years 1878-9, added to the advances
made in mining, will doubtless lead to the development of this district.
The commercial ommunity is made up as follows: M. M. Brooks, carpenter; Crahn
& Marks, sawmill; Hanlay Bros., sawmill; C. Reynolds, hotel; Tuckes &
McPherson, hotel; J. W. Shoffs, meat market; W. H. Ridgeway, blacksmith;
John Robinson, wagonmaker, and J. N. Kelly, postmaster.
BOULDER VILLAGE *
page 649 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: WALLS; CASE; BERKINS; STEVENS; HEATON; HEALY;
JEFFRIES; MURRAY; DOUGHERTY; REINS; DEACY; SMITH; COOK; FARNHAM; DAVIS; WAVE;
THOMPSON; DORSETT; KELLY; WHITE;
ROHRBACKER; DOUGLASS; MILLS; BAILEY; RILEY; HOLT.
Boulder Town Company was incorporated February 8, 1865, almost three years
after the first settlement, with N. Walls, president, G. W. Case, secretary;
W. Berkins, Treasurer; H. Stevens, R. Heaton, and J. J. Healy, trustees.
The boundaries of the town were: "Commencing at the north side of boulder
crossing, on the Gillett road, thence north one half mile, thence west one
mile, thence south one half mile, thence est one mile to the place of beginning,
containing three hundred and twenty acres." The stampede from Gold creek
to the Boulder, which took place July 20, 1862, was the origin of the village.
The vicissitudes of the
village are known to every old resident of the territory. Until the revival
of mining the old town was almost forgotten, but with the new industrial
ear it has sprung once more into active life, and with so much earnestness,
that she won from the rival towns the County Seat. The population of the
village and vicinity in 1880 was 215. In July, 1883, the number of inhabitants
in the town was about 150. The business circle of the town in 1883 comprised
the following named citizens: R. W. Jefferies, T. F. Murray, Edward Dougherty,
William Reins, Williams Deacy, J. G. Smith, V. A. Cook, F. Farnham, proprietor
of the Boulder City Hotel. Boulder is the dinner station for three stage
divisions; one from Butte, one from Helena, and one from Dillon. In 1884-5
general stores were kept for V. A. Cook, J. E. Dougherty, R. W. Jeffries
and T. F. Murray; hotel by F. Farnham, saloons by W. Deacy and J. G. Smith,
livery by W, D, Northrup, blacksmith shop by W. Reins, and meat market by
Murray & Davis.
The Australian, Belle of Boulder, Amazon, Wall Street, Ollie, Chillicothe,
Emmett and Spencer lodes are all in this district.
The Amazon concentrating works, two miles from the Amazon, were erected in
1883 by Jacob Wave, the mill-builder. Henry Thompson was granted $2,500 by
the Legislature January 11, 1865, for the pursuit of G. Kelly, the murderer
of R. R. Dorsett and John White on the Boulder. Boulder Star Lodge, No.3,
I. O. G. T., was organized February 18, 1869.
The present number of members is fifty-one, including the following named
officers of the lodge: G. W. Rohrbacker, Elmer Douglass, T. B. Mills, J.
A. Bailey, G. A. Douglass, S. A. Riley, V. A. Cook, J. R. Holt and J. M.
D. Holt.
From Boulder City excellent roads diverge in every direction, east to Elkhorn,
southeast to Gallatin City, south to Dillon, west to Butte City, northwest
to Comet and Wickes, and north to Jefferson and Helena, the several distances
being: to Elkhorn, 15 miles; Gallatin, 40 miles; Butte city, 35 miles; Comet,
6 miles, Wickes, 9 miles; Jefferson, 12 miles; Helena, 32 miles. South of
Boulder City two and a half miles are the famous Boulder Hot Springs, a favorite
resort for invalids, the waters of which are held on high authority to be
a specific in cases of rheumatic an scrofulous diseases and highly beneficial
in nearly all chronic complaints. A large hotel building was completed at
the springs in 1883.
CATARACT
page 652 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: STUART; ANDERSON; MCIRWIN; THOMPSON; HAUSER;
BROWN; HATHAWAY; LAWSON; ALLPORT; SMITH
In June, 1862, a month after the discovery of the Bannack placer mines, the
Old Bar near the mouth of Cataract creek was discovered. The prospectors
worked the Old Bar until their provisions were exhausted, when they fled
to Bannack. Subsequently this claim passed into the hands of the Stuarts
and Reece Anderson, who erected their houses at the mouth of the creek, and
resided there with their families while working the placers. In 1864 the
McIrwin Brothers found rich ore 2 and «miles above the mouth of the
creek, but owing to the difficulty of working quartz at that time, they abandoned
the location.
Zach. Thompson's Company discovered the Big Medicine, the Susie Brown and
Mr. Thompson leads in 1873. The Mantle lode was struck by Smith in 1879,
and now belongs to S. T. Hauser. Brown and Hathaway sold the Boulder Prospect
to Lawson and Allport in 1880.
The numerous mines of this district now worked have been opened since 1880,
and are among the leading industries of the Territory. The population of
Cataract and Basin in 1880 was 99.
CLANCEY *
page 652 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: GILLETTE; BULLARD; HILL;
Clancey, fourteen miles southeast of Helena, is one of the business centers
of the county, settled in 1865. In 1879 this village was credited with a
population of 200, while, according to the census returns of 1880, the number
has fallen to 77. M. H. Hill may be considered the Pioneer Merchant of Clancey.
He carries on a general mercantile business, including hardware and drugs,
a machine and blacksmith shop, and acts as postmaster, assayer and metallurgist
in that district. The sawmill and ore hoister at this point are operated
by water power. Star of the West Lodge, No. 46, I. O. G. T., was founded
by Massena Bullard, May 29, 1874. The number of original members was 27.
F. L. Gillette was elected Lodge Deputy. Charter revoked in 1876.
The Jefferson Valley Woolen Mill was erected in 1879. This is a two story
stone building, 50 x 100 feet, supplied with first class machinery, and is
the pioneer of the woolen manufacturing industry in this Territory - the
introduction, as it were, to hundreds of large manufacturing establishments
which the Territory will sustain, and for which this county is so well
adapted.
COMET
page 661 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: PARKISON
Comet is the name of a settlement of 1869, twenty eight miles south of Helena,
just west of Wickes. J. T. Parkison is postmaster. The district is credited
with a population of about 300. The works at Wickes, Comet and Gregory have
not only added to the wealth and population of Jefferson county, but have
also given a strong impetus to prospecting.
ELK PARK
See WOODVILLE
FISH CREEK
page 562 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: BRUFFEY; COMFORT; JORDAN; GIST; RUNDELL;
BEALL; TUTTLE; CRISSMAN
Fish Creek, just east of Table Mt., is an old settlement, dating back to
the sixties, when prospectors looked north from Alder gulch to the quartz
hills of the Jefferson, and located there in 1865. The population of the
settlement, in 1880 was 12, now increased to 100. Geo. A. Bruffey is postmaster
at this point. (Vide Mining History.) Here a steam sawmill and crushing mill
are located.
Fish Creek Lodge, No. 5, I. O. G. T., was organized August 2, 1870, by Geo.
Comfort. The present membership is 50. Walter M. Jordan, Etta Jordan, O.
J. Gist, J. W. Rundell, John A. Beall, Mattie Tuttle, A. D. Beall, J. M.
Gist and H. M. Rundell hold the official positions from W. C.T. to W. I.
G. Waterloo Lodge, No. 48, I. O. G. T., was formed February 23, 1875, with
10 members. J. S. Crissman was the first deputy. Charter revoked in 1876.
GREGORY
page 661 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: FREYLER; CULLIVAN; THOMAS; RENSHAW; MENTRUM;
BRITT
Gregory, twenty four miles southwest of Helena, on the Prickly Pear, is an
old mining settlement, now ranking as a postal town.
D. Freyler & Son conduct a general store at this point; T. Cullivan and
Thomas & Renshaw, saloons; and Mentrum & Britt, the Gregory hotel.
The estimated population is sixty.
HIGHLAND GULCH
page 661 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
Highland Gulch was discovered July 25, 1866, and the Highland Gold Co.'s
mine started November 1, 1868. Cooley's Gulch was discovered September 4,
1866.
JEFFERSON CITY *
page 650 - From Leeson's History of Montana 1739-1885 published 1885
SURNAMES FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE: CULVER; NEIL; SOULE; McLAUGHLIN; FAY; CLEMENTS;
DENBOW; EYL; BERENDES; ELLIS; TAYLOR; DOUGLAS; BENJAMIN; RUDD; RUSSELL; HOLTER;
PATTERSON; KESSLER; WINTER; WHITSTONE; TICE; DEAFLIN; BLAKEMAN; BECKER; WEHR;
DELL; DILDINE; SANDERS; THOMPSON; MOULTER; CAMIX; REDDING; CAMPBELL; HAGGERTY;
SMITH; ALLEN; SHEENAN; AXE; RADCLIFF; MERRIMAN
The Jefferson Town Company was incorporated January 11, 1865, with Nathaniel
Merriman, John Radcliff, Allen T. Axe, and Philip Sheenan, incorporators.
The place was settled in 1864 by these men while en route from Alder Gulch
to Helena. Allen T. Axe discovered the Gregory lode, and there the party
located. In 1865 the legislature designated the new town as the seat of justice
for the county. Shortly after the district was organized a post office was
established with Nathaniel Merriman, postmaster. The first school was conducted
by Miss Sallie Allen, during the winter of 1866-7. She was the daughter of
"Dad" Allen, who kept a blacksmith shop after Frank Smith and John Haggerty,
the first blacksmiths. The first hotel was conducted by William Campbell,
and the first store by J. S. Redding; Gou Camix and A. H. Moulter were among
the pioneer business men of the village. A substantial school building was
given place to the pioneer school house of 1866-7., the Emerson House takes
the place of the first hotel, and even the blacksmith shop is modern compared
ith the old one, which was destroyed by the only fire that ever threatened
the village. The business circle of Jefferson in 1879 was made up of the
following named traders: M. B. Thompson, Emerson Hotel; J. G. Sanders, general
merchandise; Henry Dildine, general merchandise; Dell & Wehr, meat market;
Conrad Becker, blacksmith; Henry Blakeman, Blacksmith; Casper Deaflin, shoemaker;
Thomas D. Tice, barber shop; William Whitstone, Saloon and billiard hall;
Kessler & Winters, saloon, Conrad Becker, Saloon and billiards; Becker
& Co., livery stable; Jessie Patterson, lumber dealer; Holter & Russell,
lumber dealers; Dr. A. F. Rudd, Physician. Jefferson Lodge, No. 14, I. O.
G. T., was organized May 6, 1869, with Geo. Benjamin, L. D., but ceased working.
Jefferson Lodge, No. 33, was organized by G. A. Douglas, August 10, 1872,
with sixteen members. J. M. D. Taylor was the first deputy of this Lodge.
Charter forfeited 1873. The population of Jefferson in 1879 was estimated
at five hundred; in 1880 the number of inhabitants in the village and vicinity
was two hundred and ten. The business circle of 1884-5 is made up as follows:
Ellis & Berendes, general store; E. C. Eyl, General store; A. F. Rudd
and c. Denbow, physicians; Clements & Fay, hotel; Wm. Campbell, J.
McLaughlin, Wm. Whitstone, saloons; Soule Bros., livery; Wm. Neil, blacksmith;
John Culver, justice of the peace, and F. W. Ellis, postmaster.
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Updated 03/10/98