Deer Lodge - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Enoch Cross obituary request

volunteerMT — 2009-10-25 22:41:12Z

I may have found out something about your Enoch Cross:

From "The Anaconda Standard," published at Anaconda, Montana on Sunday, April 11, 1926:

LAKE COUNTY NEWS
Polson--April 10 . . . Petition for the distribution of the estate of Enoch Cross, deceased, was granted.

The above was one of many court actions listed. So, it may be that Enoch Cross was buried in Lake County.

Re: Patrick Francis Scott born in Ireland and died in Warm Springs, Montana

Ottzero — 2009-10-23 17:38:54Z

John Shorey Scott's sister Mae Belle was my grandmother. John lived with my grandparents in 1920.

Re: Anaconda school picture abt 1913-1914

JimGallagher — 2009-10-17 21:56:11Z

To martiroe,

I would love to see a copy of this picture. My grandfather and his siblings were kids in Anaconda on the dates you list. Please send me a copy to: gallagrrrr@aol.com

Thanks!

Jim

Re: Anaconda school picture abt 1913-1914

martiroe — 2009-10-15 04:04:19Z

Since my picture does not show any real details of the building (other than it's brick & a few columns), I can't verify that it's any of the church or school buildings.

Is there a local historical society that I can send a copy to? I appreciate your suggestion of the newspaper also.

Re: Anaconda school picture abt 1913-1914

volunteerMT — 2009-10-15 01:44:58Z

Some old school pictures taken from postcards have been posted on the following GenWeb site for Deer Lodge County:

http://deerlodge.mtgenweb.org/page1-enterdeerlodge.htm

When you see the link for schools, the first school is St. Peter's Parochial School, which has students out front. Is this the picture you are referring to?

I am sure that many people would be interested in seeing the photo you are referring to. You might consider emailing it to the local newspaper, the "Anaconda Leader" and ask them to publish it and see if readers can identify the people in the photo.

Re: Anaconda school picture abt 1913-1914

corinneberry — 2009-10-14 22:37:20Z

I would love to see the photo. My mother Emilie Emmons and her siblings were born in anaconda. Her brothers were probaly about the right ages to have been in the photo.

Thanks so much for your offer.

Anaconda school picture abt 1913-1914

martiroe — 2009-10-14 21:42:20Z

I have a postcard style picture of what probably is a school picture taken about 1913-1914 in Anaconda. The picture is of various ages of kids plus a few adults standing on the steps of a brick building. I'm assuming it's a school group and not a church group.

My husband's mother is a little girl (abt 6 or 7) in the picture - Elsie Fern Stout (b. 1907) and is the dau. of Harry Arthur Stout and Edna Fern Hotchkiss.

I would be glad to e-mail this picture to anyone who is interested - would like additional information on the picture - then would like to donate the original to historical society, etc.

POSTING OLD OBITS: Please give date of publication & name of newspaper

volunteerMT — 2009-10-12 19:54:42Z

I always appreciate it when someone takes the time and effort to post obits from long ago. However, to be helpful to those who might be researching those surname lines, I suggest that the poster not only name the newspaper, give the newspapers' locations, but most importantly, give the date of the obit!

These obits are much more helpful when the date of death can be established.

Obituary Ida Crosswhite

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-12 18:04:15Z

Kalispell Woman Strangles Self
KALISPELL, May 29 (Special)— Despondent because of ill health, Ida M. Crosswhite, 60, formerly of Anaconda, took her own life by strangling herself at the home of her brother, L. B. Crosswhite, four miles south of Columbia Falls early this afternoon, officials said.
Miss Crosswhite had been employed for 40 years by the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. at Anaconda but became crippled early this year and, after treatment in several hospitals, came to make her home with her brother.
She obtained a piece of rope from a trapeze which had been placed on her bed to aid her in pulling herself up and down in bed and strangled herself by tying this to her neck and the head of her bed.
Her brother stated that his sister had given up hope of recovery and felt she would be an invalid all of her life. The body will be taken to Anaconda for services and burial.

Miss Ida Crosswhite Funeral Is Saturday
Funeral services for Miss Ida Crosswhite, who died in Columbia Falls Wednesday, will be conducted Saturday afternoon. The body is expected this afternoon from Kalispell and will be taken to the Finnegan chapel. The services will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon in the chapel. Burial will be in the family plot in Hill cemetery.
A large number of relatives is expected in the city to attend the services.

Obituary Ida Crosswhite

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-12 18:01:30Z

Ida Crosswhite Claimed by Death In Columbia Falls
Miss Ida Crosswhite, faithful employee in the Anaconda Copper Mining Company purchasing department office for 41 years, died Wednesday afternoon in Columbia Falls where she was visiting her brother, Lawrence Crosswhite. She had been ill for several months.
Miss Crosswhite was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ben Crosswhite, old-time residents of the Anaconda region. Her father was employed by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company for many years. Miss Crosswhite was a stenographer, since June 5 1905, in the purchasing department at the smelter.
A nephew, Willis Crosswhite, also survives. Funeral services and burial will be in Anaconda at a time to be announced later.
Miss Crosswhite was born in the Deer Lodge valley on the Jergensen ranch. Her parents were pioneer residents of the valley. She attended the Academy in Deer Lodge. She was a member of the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers and attended many of their state conventions.
Surviving also are a sister-in-law, Mrs. Lawrence Crosswhite and a nephew, Joe Crosswhite of Columbia Fails; two aunts, Mrs. Henry Johnson and Mrs. Christ Jergensen of Anaconda; and several cousins.

Obituary Herbert W. Johnson

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-12 17:57:19Z

HERBERT W. JOHNSON PASSES IN HAMILTON
Herbert Wesley Johnson, born 28 years ago at Dempsey in the Deer Lodge valley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Johnson, prominent early day residents of that locality, died at 6 o’clock last night in Hamilton.
Mr. Johnson was very well known in this city. He attended school here and also in Butte. In 1925 he was married to Miss Clara Sullivan, a well-known. Anaconda girl. He then went to California, where he spent four years as mechanic for the Southern California Edison company of Los Angeles. He returned to Anaconda two years ago because of his health.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife and one son, Donald Herbert, 2 years of age; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Johnson of the Deer Lodge valley; two sisters, Mrs. Ed R. Lee of Butte and Erma D. Johnson of Anaconda; two brothers, Raymond of Anaconda and Hennes N. Johnson of Butte; an uncle. Chris Jergensen of the Deer Lodge valley; an aunt, Mary Crosswhite of Anaconda; three nephews, Norman E. Lee of Butte, Harold H. Johnson of Butte and William Prescott of Osawatomie, Kan.; five nieces, Katherine, Nettie May. Maurine Johnson and Neona Lee of Butte; Nadine Prescott of Osawatomie, Ran., and the following cousns: L. B. Crosswhite, Ida M. Crosswhite of Anaconda and Mrs. W. T. Parks of Wilmington, Cal.
No arrangements have been made is to the funeral.

Newspaper Article Chris Jergensen

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-12 17:53:04Z

RANCHMAN PREPARES TO GREET VISITORS

Chris Jergensen, Early-day Resident, Will Have Job for the Coroner If Plan Materializes.

ANACONDA, Jan. 5.—-.(Special)—
Chris Jergensen, one of the prominent old-time ranchmen of the Deer Lodge valley, was in Anaconda today to inform local authorities they were not to be surprised if they heard of an impromptu Fourth of July celebration shortly in the vicinity of his ranch near Warm Spring. While here the Irate ranchman purchased a late model Colt revolver, together with ammunition. Included in the latter were two boxes of shotgun shells loaded with large size shot.
“Conditions have reached a merry pass in my neighborhood.” he informed the officers. “where we never used to lock our houses at night, it now appears we can’t get a lock big and heavy enough to protect our cellars and barns.”
According to Mr. Jergensen, his home and that of John Verlanic, his neighbor, were visited by thieves Thursday night or Friday morning. A roothouse on the Jergensen ranch was broken into and 1,000 pounds of potatoes and cabbage taken. Not satisfied with the vegetables, the thieves gained entrance to a hen roost and stole 35 chickens. At the Verlanic ranch two automobile tires and some vegetables were taken.
“If I can get a bead on those fellows and explode some of this ammunition I have purchased for the purpose, you fellows won’t have to bother coming down—just send the coroner and undertaker,” he informed the officers.

Obituary Herman Julius Johnson

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-12 17:49:24Z

HERMAN JOHNSON IS LAID AT REST
Many Friends Turn Out to Pay Respects to Old Time Resident.
ANACONDA, July 16. (Special)
Last rites for Herman Julius Johnson, 81, pioneer resident of the Deer Lodge valley, who, died at his ranch home eight miles from Anaconda Wednesday, were conducted In Our Savior Lutheran church at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon.
The funeral cortege formed at the family home in the valley at 2 o’clock and proceeded to the church. The Rev. J. T Lonnquist, past pastor of the First Lutheran church, of which Mr. Johnson was a member, officiated at the services. Arthur Lindblad, accompanied by Mrs. Gerald Nagle, sang Lay My Head Beneath a Rose” and “Nearer, My God, to Thee” during the services. Many friends In Anaconda and from the valley attended the services. A profusion of floral offerings banked the casket. Interment was in the family plot in Hill cemetery. Active pallbearers were Max Kramer, Clarence Hendrickson, Gus Holmberg, Emil Pearson, John M. Swanson and H. F. Johnson.
Honorary pallbearers were Dave Howell, Joseph Kramer, Neal McKenzie, Axel Nordquist, George Johnson, Ben Peterson, Christian Jensen and Anton Swanson.
Mr. Johnson came to the Deer Lodge valley more than 60 years ago and resided here continuously since. Mr. Johnson came to America from southern Sweden in 1878. He was a steamboat fireman on the famous Missouri river boats between Bismarck, N. D., and Fort Benton before coming to the Deer Lodge valley.

PIONEER IS BURIED
Many Friends Turn Out to Pay Respects to HERMAN J. JOHNSON.
Many friends assembled in Anaconda yesterday to pay last respects to Herman Julius Johnson, 81, pioneer resident of the Deer Lodge valley who died on Wednesday. Interment was in Hill cemetery.

Obituary Lena (Jergensen) Johnson

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-12 17:44:48Z

Death Summons Mrs. L. Johnson, Montana Pioneer

Mrs. Lena Caroline Johnson, 85, Widow of Herman J. Johnson; Montana pioneer and one of the oldest ranch residents of the Deer Lodge valley, died Tuesday morning at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. (Erma) Carl E. Swanson, 1105 West Third. She had been ill the last two and one-half years.
Born in Carson City, Iowa, (Should read Crescent City, Iowa)April 4, 1868, Mrs. Johnson came to Montana with her parents in 1872 in a covered wagon, drawn by ox teams. Her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Lars Jergensen, homesteaded the old Chris Jergensen ranch in the lower valley.
The family is among the first settlers in the Deer Lodge valley. Mrs. Johnson attended a log cabin school there.
Mrs. Johnson recounted many early day experiences, remembering the Battle of the Big Hole when ranchers in the valley were warned Indians were coming and fled to the protection of Deer Lodge.

After homesteading the Jergensen ranch, Mr. and Mrs. Jergensen went to Iowa and returned with a team of gray mares. The horses, which were permitted to stray in the unfenced valley, wandered back to Iowa, Mrs. Johnson recounted. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were married in 1884. Mr. Johnson worked for the Jergensen’s, cutting hay by hand. They lived on the Walker ranch near Race Track for 21 years and in 1903 went to what is now the Ray Johnson ranch. Mr. Johnson died here in July, 1938.
Surviving relatives in addition to Mr and Mrs. Ed R. Lee, Seattle; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Hennes Johnson, Butte; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Johnson, Deer Lodge valley; a niece, Mrs. Mary E. (Jergensen) Parks, Long Beach, Calif.; 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
The body is at the Finnegan company funeral home.

Source: The Anaconda Standard, Monday March 25, 1952, Vol. VXIV No. 202

Obituary Chris Jergensen

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-12 17:38:12Z

Pioneer Resident Taken by Death
ANACONDA, June 30.— Chris Jergensen, widely-known rancher and resident of the Deer Lodge valley 72 years, was summoned by death at St. Ann hospital late Thursday night. He was a member of the Montana Society of Pioneers.
He was born in Goshen. Utah, April 29, 1865, and the following year passed through Montana with his parents en route to Creston City, Utah. (This should read Crescent City, Iowa) In returning east the family came north to Montana, traveled through the Bozeman pass to the Missouri river.
Several years later the family joined an emigrant train at Omaha and re-crossed the plains. They arrived In the Deer Lodge valley June 20, 1872. His parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Lars Jergensen, came to the United States in 1856 from Denmark.
The family was among the first to settle in the Deer Lodge valley. Mr. Jergensen attended a log cabin school on the present site of the Verlanic ranch. He was the only white boy in the class, the rest being Indians. Later he attended school at Willow Glen.
In the early days he attended sheep for the Thomas Brothers and herded his flock on the present site of the city of Anaconda. He operated a dairy business during the early days of the city and later engaged in farming, ranching and cattle raising. During his 72 years of residence in the Deer Lodge valley he lived in the same house.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Edna Jergensen; a son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. (Mary Ester Jergensen) W. T. Parks, and grandson Thomas Howard Parks, Long Beach, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Lena Johnson; several nephews and nieces, Mr. and Mrs. (Erma Johnson) Carl Swanson, Anaconda; Mr. and Mrs. (Nora Johnson) Ed Lee, Seattle; Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Johnson, Butte; Mr. and Mrs.
L. B. Crosswhite, Columbia Fans; Miss Ida Crosswhite, Anaconda; Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Johnson, East Valley.

Article from the Miner Newspaper

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-12 17:29:10Z

Early Days in Deer Lodge Valley as Experienced by Chris Jergensen, Ranchman

Anaconda Bureau.

Among the readers of the Miner is Chris Jorgensen of Warm Springs, one of the prominent ranchmen of the Deer Lodge valley. As a boy he arrived on the site of his present home in the spring of 1872, having made the trip overland with his parents from Iowa. At that time Butte consisted of only a few cabins and Anaconda was undreamed of.
Although that was many years ago, many incidents that happened are still vivid in Mr. Jergensen’s memory, and he has gone to the trouble of recording them so they can be published in the columns of his favorite Paper.

His story is as follows:

“In the spring of 1872 my father, mother, two sister’s, Mrs. B. F. Crosswhite of Anaconda and Mrs. Herman Johnson and I, in company with six other families, left Iowa via Ogden, Utah, crossing the Idaho desert and passing along the great salt lake trail, we finally entered the Deer Lodge Valley, June 20, 1872, most of the party settling at Race Track and Deer Lodge, while our family settled on Warm Spring creek. The only survivors of that party of men and women are Mr. and Mrs. Lars Beck, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Johnson, and Andrew Hendrickson of Race Track, while the children are grandparents today. Mr. Johnson built the first flourmill in this section of the country for the late Morgan Evans in 1873.

First Settlements

The first inhabitants we found along Warm Spring creek were a few French Canadians married to Indians. These French were very generous and hospitable, and I can never forget the kindnesses shown us. It was late in the spring when we came, and having nothing much but our bare necessities, we found it very hard to make a living. It was too late in the season to put in a crop and many times the French shared a beef with us. They made their living by dealing in ponies, which were driven to the north and traded off for buffalo robes. They also had quite a few’ head of cattle running on the open range the year around.
“What few white men living in this section were interested in placer mining. At that time Butte consisted of a few log cabins, homes of the miners. We took products to that place to sell, but generally it was disposed of to the men who worked in the mines on Silver Bow creek. Often father and I spent the night with John Humphrey who had a cabin near a large pine tree on West Broadway, picketing our horses where the fire station now is located. Anaconda wasn’t thought of in those days, the principal mining camps being Deer Lodge and German Gulch.”
“In 1872 father took up land adjoining the Alec Glover ranch where the city of Anaconda now stands. Thinking we were too far from civilization, he withdrew his rights which were taken up later by Major Baggs, and filed on a homestead near Warm Springs where we have remained ever since.

Night School In Shack

“The first school I attended was a night school, which was held in a log shack known as the Bullwhacker cabin and owned by George Barribow. My classmates were all half-breeds. I being the only White child. I shall never forget the teacher, he was a Canadian Frenchman named
Batiste Connell and the highest reader we had was the second. His brother, Leon Connell, who died some years later, built the first house In Deer Lodge. The day of his funeral all business houses were closed as a tribute to his memory. “We also had spelling bees when the older French joined in, for they were certainly very sociable neighbors. Our greatest task was that not one of the class, including the teacher, could pronounce the harder words so they were passed over, Shortly afterward the building was used for a dance hall and many good times the people enjoyed there on winter evenings. Several Butte people attended, among those being Jeff Lavell, the sawmill man at that time: Al Pierce and sister from the Hump, also Tom McTague of Deer Lodge. The music was furnished by Nels Jensen and Barry Eccleston of Gregson.
“The next school I attended was the Morgan Evans School, the first rural school In Deer Lodge County. It was some school believe me, The scholars ranging in age from 8 to 40 years. The building was a log shack, with dirt roof and the desks were slabs with the flat side up, also the seats and teacher’s desk. The blackboard was the only thing made of lumber. A writing school occupied the room in the evening and everyone was welcome, provided be brought his own candle. It was rather a hard journey for me, as I had to ride four miles, leave my horse at a neighbor’s and walk the rest of the way, which was about the same distance. Some of the most prominent people of Montana attended that school, among those being Mrs. George Welcome, Mrs. Harvey Showers, the late Mrs. Tim Callan, the late Charlie Jones and William R. James of Anaconda; Benjamin Phillips of Phillips county, and Mrs. Montana Savory, formerly of Southern Cross, who has the distinction of being the first white girl born In Montana.

Indians Grow Hostile.

“In those days there were many Indians, but they were very peaceable. Some years later they become quite hostile. In 1877, when they broke out, recalls to my mind an incident, which I will never forget. I had taken a young saddle horse on a Sunday and had gone to visit a friend several miles away. My visit was short, for in a while came the hasty news that the Indians had broken loose in the Bitter Root, and were coming up by the hundreds through the Deer Lodge valley, scalping and killing everybody in their path. We were told to pack up everything and hurry to Warm Springs for safety, where the women and children were to be put into the yard and the men to stand guard. Warm Springs was just a stage station at that time, which had been converted into an institution taking care of about 20 patients. My horse was running loose in the corral, and not being well broken, I couldn’t get the bridle on quick enough, but when I did I can tell you I sped like the wind. I passed women and children afoot fleeing to Warm Springs for safety, and some of them didn’t take time to pack up their belongings. Finally the good news came that the Indians had gone the other way, crossing the divide by Wisdom into the Big Hole. There were no telephones or telegraph so the only messages were carried by Indian scouts on horseback,
“That night a band of volunteers were rushed to Warm Springs to aid the settlers. The next day they gathered up all the horses in the neighborhood, without permission one being my saddle horse and started to meet the tribes. They met in Rig Hole and fought at the place known as Gibbons’ battle ground. The white men were greatly outnumbered and many were killed and wounded. Those of the settlers owning a wagon were requested to go to the scene of the fight and bring home the wounded who were rushed to Deer Lodge for aid. I remember 45 wagons passed my home. One of my neighbors brought over a soldier who had been shot in the leg. In his account of the battle, he said: “The Indians hid behind trees and fired, keeping the white men encircled in the opening. There was one gun with a particular report and every time it sounded a soldier fell. That Indian must have been some marksman. Finally the smoke became so thick, objects were invisible. I was lying beside a stream of water unable to move, when presently I perceived a small Indian child coming toward me with a long knife in his hand prepared to scalp me. I reached out and grabbed him, and held him under the water in the stream until life was extinct.
“To my surprise, my horse came back unscarred, but even though he looked as if he had had the worst of the deal, he was well broken. That horse later became the fastest horse in Deer Lodge County, and many old timers will recall the races she won in those days,

Interest In Racing.

“Court was held in a building where the Willow Glen school house now stands. The presiding justice was Judge Weir, and this day he was trying a party on a horse stealing case. During the trial the subject of’ horse racing was brought up and someone put up a bet against my horse. The track was marked out and the race began, Court adjourned until after the race, even the judge became Interested, My horse was the winner, She took the purses for many years, one race which was especially interesting was one Fourth of July at a farmers’ picnic, when she ran against ‘Blue Philly.’ a Deer Lodge horse, and ‘Grey Eagle’ from Silver Bow county, and won.
“Coming back to early day’s and, hunting experiences, I recall several which almost ended my life. The country was nothing but open range and land could he taken up for homesteading anywhere. Several thousand acres were occupied by swamps, brush, and springs, and were infested by all kinds of wild animals, The deer raised their young there, also the bears, which came down from the mountains to make it their summer habitation, Believe me it was some jungle. ‘Warm Springs creek and all the streams abounded In fish and I remember angling in the Deer Lodge river when there was a fish for every throw of the line.

Battle With Moose

‘‘The first incident I recall was seeing two moose crossing the prairie from one swamp to another, as were the habits of animals In those days, I killed one hut the other bounded up the creek a short distance, I also tracked and shot it once and It fell, but when I came up prepared to cut its throat, to my surprise It sprang up and started towards me. To save my self, I jumped into the creek, and although the water was not deep, it wasn’t altogether pleasant in winter.
I faced the oncoming animal and fired again, which took effect, the moose falling a few feet from me.
“I often hunted blue ‘grouse where the Anaconda smelter new stands, and one day, while hunting there. I had a thrilling experience. They flew up in enormous bunches and some of them lit in a large pine tree at the foot of the gulch. I was walking easily so as to secure a good shot, when I spied a blue grouse sitting up on a limb, I fired and immediately a large black bear jumped up in front of me from his nest of pine needles at the foot of the tree. The bear fled in one direction and I in the other, but I hesitated long enough to claim my grouse. When I reached my horse and was back in the saddle again I felt more safe. Some time later a large bear invaded a vegetable garden belonging to one of the neighbors. Pete Villencure, who had a, ranch adjoining Warm Springs. The, garden was something to be proud of, and indeed Pete was. One night his dog barked, and upon opening the door of his cabin, perceived a large bear devouring the vegetables of the garden, which was in front of the house. The bear appeared to, be quite calm and went on with his meal, bet Pete in his excitement grabbed his shot gun and fired closing the door immediately. The next day I happened along and to my surprise found the garden a total wreck. Bear tracks were in evidence everywhere.

Escape From Death

‘My closest escape from death, and the one which gave me the greatest chill, happened about a year later, it was a common occurrence for the bears to feast on young calves around the neighborhood and they didn’t leave either until they were satisfied. We had a garden also outside the window surrounded by a fence 18 by 15 feet connecting the house. The only opening was a small place by the door barely large enough to squeeze through.
‘One dark night we heard an awful commotion, indeed the whole house I shook. We remained in safety but when morning dawned, we heard the dog barking near the creek, close by our home, then thickly bordered with brush. The fence of the garden was lying flat on the ground nearest the door and the garden was in ruins, I was a little timid about tackling, the creature myself, but one of my neighbors had a gun so I sought his help. He had an old-fashioned needle gun, which had been procured at the time the Indians were on the warpath, to which he attached a bayonet. When we arrived at the place whence the bear was supposed to have entered the brush, we found he had disappeared. We tracked him down the path which led on the outskirts of the brush to Warm Springs, which I always thought was peculiar as generally the bears keep in the thick brush. He crossed Villeneuve house below, and continued on down the other side, to a place nearly opposite the mound at Warm Springs, where he went into a clump of willows, My partner went in after him, but I remained on the outside. It wasn’t long until I heard him, call, ‘Come on, he’s here, presently I heard the report of his gun, and the brush began to crack. The bear fled for the openings. When my companion appeared, he was trembling with fear, but we kept on the trail of the animal to see in which direction he had gone, for we felt there would be no more danger. As we were passing a bush about 300 yards farther, we got a glimpse of the bear standing up straight on his haunches. We came upon the creature so suddenly, it almost took my breath away, in fact we were both rather surprised. He was an enormous cinnamon hear, and I will never forget the look he gave us for I believe we both spied him at the same time. I happened to be the nearest to him, a distance of about six feet. As soon as my companion noticed him, he stuck the bayonet in front of me. There by saving my life, and in the wink of an eye, the bear sprang toward us with a terrible roar very much like the roar of an angry bull. He struck the bayonet with one paw and the man with the other, and grasped his face between his huge jaws. They tumbled to the ground at my feet, the bear on top. My hair went up on end, and I believe the gray hairs that I have now whitened at that instant.

Skull Crushed by Blow.

As quick as I could, I leveled the gun back of the bear’s shoulder, which was less than three feet, and fired. He rose up on his haunches and fell, but I dropped my gun and ascended t tree. How I climbed that tree was a mystery, for It was a small alder almost shorn of branches. The man had rolled into a pool of water and was suffocating, so I knew I had to climb down and pull him out, which was a hard task with the bear so near. He was lying beside my companion with his head between his paws as if he was sleeping. I picked up my gun and fired,
Twice, but due-to my nervousness, I believe my shots went wild. I discovered the animal dead, so I know my first shot, when I climbed the tree was the fatal one, striking the bear in the heart, which was particularly lucky as it happened, for he undoubtedly would have killed the two of us.
“The man was rushed to Deer Lodge, and treated by Dr. Mitchell, one of the founders of Warm Springs. but he was too far gone, his skull having been crushed by the blow the bear had given him,. Although I was a good shot, it ended my hunting experiences for a while. It was nothing for me to shoot the head off of a prairie chicken with a rifle. I realized the dangerous scrapes I had been in, so I layed off hunting big game for quite a few years. I
“In conclusion. I cannot overlook the days the stagecoach was used, hurrying over the roads with one or two passengers: the ox team drawing provisions from the nearest railroad, which
was over 500 miles away, the bull whacker trudging every step of the way; the jirk line driving six and eight span of horses or mules over dangerous, roads with only one line. All these things I have seen, which would look almost as strange to the people of today as did the first appearance of the automobile and aeroplane,”

Wales, claims to have the world’s tallest chimney, a smelting plant having built one more than two miles long up a mountain side and extending 100 feet above it.

APRIL 4, 1921

Source: Butte Miner, Butte Montana

Re: Obit: ZIGLER, Agnes, Dies 11 Jun 1961 in Deer Lodge County, MT

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-05 06:08:26Z

Thank you for all your work. I don't see any family connection here, but that is what I was expecting. Agnes may have been a friend or she may have worked for the lawyer and served as executrix when no family was left in Anaconda, which was the case here.

All of Edna (Brown) Jergensen's family (Brown) lived in or around Northampton, PA and the only Jergensen family was my great aunt Mary Parks, Edna's step daughter, living in Long Beach, CA at the time.

Obit: ZIGLER, Agnes, Dies 11 Jun 1961 in Deer Lodge County, MT

volunteerMT — 2009-10-05 03:19:00Z

1920 U.S. Federal Census; Montana; Deer Lodge County; Anaconda; Ward 5; Roll: T625_969; Page: 4b; Enumeration District: 30; Image: 866; Enumerated on 09 Jan 1920:

McCAVITT, James; head of household; male; white; 37 years old; married; born in Ireland; both parents born in Ireland; immigrated to U.S. in 1886; occupation: molder--coper smelter.
McCAVITT, Katherine; wife; female; white; 30 years old; married; born in Kansas; both parents born in Scotland.
McCAVITT, James; son; male; white; 7 years old; born in Montana; father born in Ireland; mother born in Kansas.
McCAVITT, Frances; son; male; white; 5 years old; born in Montana; father born in Ireland; mother born in Kansas.
ZIGLER, George; head of household; male; white; 25 years old; married; born in Missouri; both parents born in Missouri; occupation: repairman--copper smelter.
ZIGLER, Agnes; wife; female; white; 25 years old; martried; born in Montana; both parents born in Scotland.
(NOTE: These two families were living in the same household).

1930 U.S. Federal Census; Montana; Deer Lodge County; Anaconda; 5th Ward; Roll: 1255; Page: 6b; Enumeration District: 18; Image: 256.0; enumerated on 12 Apr 1930:

McCAVITT, James; head of household; male; white; 47 years old; married for past 25 years; born in Massachusetts; both parents born in Ireland; occupation: molder--foundry.
ZIGLER, Agnes; sister-in-law; female; white; 37 years old; married past 25 years; born in Idaho; both parents born in Scotland.
ZIGLER, George; brother-in-law; male; white; 35 years old; married past 25 years; born in Colorado; both parents born in North Dakota; occupation: repairman--copper smelter.
McCAVITT, James; son; male; white; 18 years old; single; born in Montana; father born in Massachusetts; mother born in Scotland; occupation: none listed.
McCAVITT, Frances; son; male; white; 16 years ols; single; born in Montana; father born in Massachusetts; mother born in Scotland; occupation: none listed.
----------
MONTANA DEATH INDEX:

ZIGLER, Agnes
Died: 11 Jun 1961 at 68 years of age
County(s) of Death & Residence: Deer Lodge County
Marital Status: Married
Index #: 181

ZIGLER, George
Born: 31 Mar 1895 (Social Security Death Index)
Died: 13 Jun 1969 at 74 years of age
Marital Status: Widowed
Index #: 2888
SS#: 516-01-7837 (Issued in Montana before 1951)
----------
OBITUARY

From the "Montana Standard," published at Butte, Montana on Monday, June 12, 1961:

GEORGE ZIGLER'S WIFE SUCCUMBS
ANACONDA---Mrs. Agnes (Ag) Zogler, wife of George (Shorty) Zigler, 317 E. Fifth, died Sunday morning in the State Sanitarium at Galen following an extended illness. She had been a patient there three months.

She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John M. Walker and was born at Sand Coulee near Great Falls, and came to Anaconda as a small child. She attended local schools and was graduated from Anaconda High School.

Mrs. Zigler was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was an ardent worker in its activities. She also was active in the auxilliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Women of the Moose and Women of the Elks.

Surviving in addition to her husband are two brothers-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Walters, Mrs. E.D. DeRusha and Mrs. Evelyn Morley, Denver; Mr. and Mrs. Dale Zigler, Santa Monica, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Zigler, Oroville, Calif., nephews, nieces and others.

The body is in the Finnegan Co. Funeral Home where friends may call beginning Monday afternoon. The body will be removed to the Presbyterian Church Wednesday morning where it will lie in state until 2 p.m., when the funeral services will be conducted. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens in the family plot.
----------
I hope that the above census data and obit may provide you with some information that is useful. I am not related.

Re: Family of Edna (Brown) Jergensen

volunteerMT — 2009-10-04 00:37:35Z

1952 ANACONDA CITY DIRECTORY (Polk):

ZIGLER, George A. (Agnes); lime operator--A.C.M. Company; householder at 317 E. 5th Street.

I am unable to find the surnames of Weigand, Hoch, Rasley or Clarence & Marvin W. Brown in this directory.
----------
1947 ANACONDA CITY DIRECTORY (Polk):

JERGENSEN, Edna Mrs.; householder at 205 Cherry St., Apt. #1.
----------
I am unable to find the other people. They may have resided out of the Anaconda city limits.

I did check the census data, and in 1920 they were living in Warm Springs and Chris Jergensen was working on a farm, so they may have lived outside the city limits.

I also checked the 1952 BUTTE CITY DIRECTORY to see if I could find any of those other names there, but I was unsuccessful. I will look further, but I am working on a new computer and I am unable (for some reason) to access some of my paid databases (old newspaper archives, etc.,), so I will try again later.

Re: McGRATH, Bridget, 72 -- Dies 26 Jul 1934 in Anaconda, Montana

volunteerMT — 2009-08-08 02:20:04Z

I checked the census data, and am unable to accurately identify either Bridget McGrath or Josephine O'Brien. Unfortunately, these are very common Irish names around Butte and Anaconda.

I suggest that you contact:

Clerk & Recorder
Deer Lodge County
800 S. Main Street
Anaconda, MT 59711
Phone: 406.563.4060

You can obtain a copy of Bridget's Death Certificate for $3.00 and often it gives the name of a relative who provided the personal information for the certificate.

I have copies of the 1909, 1936, 1941,1944,1947, 1952 and 1965 Anaconda City Directories. I already looked in the 1909 and 1936 directories, but didn't find either Bridget or Josephine's name. Usually wive's names are listed in parenthesis after the husband's name.

You could also contact the cemetery foreman:

Jerold Forkan
Deer Lodge County Courthouse
800 S. Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Phone: 406.563.4071

Mr. Forkan keeps a small card file of burials, and may have some personal information about Bridget's family listed. I don't know, but it's worth a try.

1910 U.S. Federal Census; Montana; Deer Lodge County; Ward 6; Anaconda City; Roll: T624_831; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 19, Image: 638; Enumerated on 16 Apr 1910:

McGRATH, Daniel; head of household; male; white; 45 years old; married one time for the past 25 years; born in Ireland (English), both parents born in Ireland (English); immigrated to U.S. in 1887; occupation: smelter laborer.
McGRATH, Bridget; wife; female; white; 44 years old; married one time for past 25 years; no children born to this marriage; born in Ireland (English); both parents born in Ireland (English); immigrated to U.S. in 1887; occupation: none listed.
DONOHUE; Patrick; roomer; male; white; 22 years old; single; born in Ireland; both parents born in Ireland; occupation: smelter laborer.

1910 U.S. Federal Census; Montana; Deer Lodge County; Ward 6; Anaconda; Roll: T624_831; Page: 11a; Enumeration District: 19; Image: 655; Enumerated on 22 Apr 1910:

O'BRIEN, Patrick; head of household; male; white; 39 years old; married first time for past 14 years; born in Ireland; both parents born in Ireland; immigrated to U.S. in 1887; occupation: smelter laborer.
O'BRIEN, Josephine; wife; female; white; 34 years old; married firrst time for past 14 years; 10 children born to this marriage--six children still living; born in Ireland; both parents born in Ireland; immigrated to U.S. in 1894; occupation: none listed.
O'BRIEN, Agnes; daughter; female; white; 11 years old; born in Montana; both parents born in Ireland.
O'BRIEN, Thomas F.; son; male; white; 8 years old; born in Montana; both parents born in Ireland.
O'BRIEN, Marguerite J.; daughter; female; white; 5 years old; born in Montana; both parents born in Ireland.
O'BRIEN, Joseph J.; son; male; white; 3 years old; born in Montana; both parents born in Ireland.
O'BRIEN, Nora C.; daughter; female; white; 6 months old; born in Montana; both parents born in Ireland.

MONTANA DEATH INDEX, 1907-2002:

McGRATH, Bridget
Died: 26 Jul 1934 at 72 years of age (born abt. 1862)
Index #: Ana 2335

O'BRIEN, Josephine
Died: 11 Jul 1925 at 49 years of age (born abt. 1876)
Index #: Ana 896
----------
1909 Anaconda City Directory:

McGRATH, Dan; laborer--Casting Dept. of the A.C.M.Company's Reduction Works; rooms at 615 Cedar St.

O'BRIEN, Patrick; laborer--Reduction Works; rooms at Beaudry Block.
O'BRIEN, Patrick E.; laborer--Reduction Works; rooms at 1017 E. 4th St.
----------
1936 Anaconda City Directory:

O'BRIEN, Thomas F. (Griselda); laborer--A.C.M. Company; householder at 214 E. Third St., Apt.# 5
----------
There are many McGrath and O'Brien families listed in these directories, but other than Thomas F. O'Brien, I can't connect them to the families you are looking for.

Re: Homer Bowles' 1931 suicide death

volunteerMT — 2009-07-07 17:43:54Z

You will need to contact:

Jerold Forkan, Cemetery Supervisor
Deer Lodge County Courthouse
800 S. Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Phone: 406.563.4071

Jerold has a card file listing all burials, and he would be able to tell you if Mr. Bowles was buried in Lower Hill, Upper Hill or New Hill Cemeteries. He may be out with the cemetery crews during most of the day, and you might try phoning after 3:00 p.m. MDT.

I hope you find the above information helpful.

Re: carrie stitt fred jackson

volunteerMT — 2009-06-03 22:34:31Z

I will try to research your grandfather Fred and his second (?) wife, Carrie, after I return from California.

Re: carrie stitt fred jackson

volunteerMT — 2009-06-03 19:41:33Z

According to the 1958 Anaconda City Directory, page 189:

JACKSON, Fred A. (Ann); janitor--Anaconda Company; householder E. 414 E. Commercial Ave.

I do remember this family. The oldest daughter was named Ruth (who died a few years ago) and she had a younger sister (in my class which graduated from Anaconda High School in 1957) named Bernice. I believe that Bernice lives in Seattle, but I don't know what her married name is. And they may have had a younger brother named Freddie. I remember that there were lots of kids in the family, and I still think of them everytime I pass by their old home on E. Commercial Street. I will see if I can find out more for you, but I can't do this until after June 15th, as I am going to be out-of-state.

Re: Mystery Man?

volunteerMT — 2009-04-06 01:04:09Z

I did not find a James Ellis in either the census data, nor in my city directories. The only Ellis families in these census' and books were listed. I would be inclined to think that whoever gathered the info for that 1896 directory made a mistake.

I graduated from high school in Anaconda in 1957.

Re: Mystery Man?

volunteerMT — 2009-04-05 23:03:38Z

I have found your mystery man!

1900 U.S. Federal Census; Montana; Deer Lodge County; Anaconda Township 5; Roll: T623_911; Page: 5b; Enumeration Distgrict: 12; Enumerated on 12, 13, & 14 June 1900:

ELLIS, George; head of household; black; male; born June 1859; 41 years old; married past 4 years; born in Virginia; both parents born in Virginia; occupation: smelter laborer.
ELLIS, Lizzie; wife; white; female; born July 1870; 29 years old; married past 4 years; three children born--three children still living; born in England; both parents born in England; immigrated to U.S. in 1880; occupation: none listed.
ELLIS, Mable; daughter; white; female; born Dec 1896; 3 years old; born in Montana; father born in Virginia; mother born in England.
ELLIS, Raymond; son; white; male; born June 1898; 1 year old; born in Montana (rest as above).
ELLIS, Annie; daughter; white; female; born Feb 1900; 3 months old; born in Montana (rest as above).

1910 U.S. Federal Census; Montana; Deer Lodge County; Anaconda; Ward 3; Roll: T624_831; Page: 4b; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 514:

ELLIS, George M.; head of household; mulatto; 49 years old; second marriage; married for past 13 years; born in Pennsylvania; father born unknown; mother born in Maine; occupation: smelter laborer.
ELLIS, Elizabeth; wife; female; white; first marriage; married for past 13 years; five children born; 5 children still living; born in England; both parents born in England; occupation: none listed.
ELLIS, Raymond J.; son; male; mulatto; 10 years old; born in Montana; father born in Pennsylvania; mother born in Maine.
ELLIS, Anna; daughter; female; mulatto; 8 years old; born in Montana (rest as above).
ELLIS, Birdella; daughter; female; mulatto; 6 years old; born in Montana (rest as above).
ELLIS, George E.; son; male; mulatto; 3 years old; born in Montana; (rest as above).

1920 U.S. Federal Census; Montana; Deer Lodge County; 2nd Precinct; Anaconda; Roll: T625_969; Page: 12a; Enumeration District: 24; Image: 744.

ELLIS, Elizabeth; head of household; female; white; 49 years old; widowed; immigrated to U.S. in 1891; became naturalized U.S. citizen in 1895; born in England; both parents born in England; occupation: none listed.
ELLIS, Raymond J.; son; white; male; 21 years old; single; born in Montana; father born in Virginia; mother born in England; occupation: smelter laborer.
ELLIS, Birdella Irene; daughter; female; white; 16 years old; single; born in Montana; father born in Virginia; mother born in England; occupation: house servant.
ELLIS, George E--this could be Everett or Aurette--pretty illegible); son; male; white; 13 years old; single; born in Montana; father born in Virginia; mother born in England; occupation: none listed.

1930 U.S. Federal Census; Montana; Deer Lodge County; Anaconda; first Ward; Roll: 1255; Page: 6a; Enumeration District: 13; Image: 112.0; residing at 113 rear N. Elm St.

ELLIS, Elizabeth; head of household; owns home valued at $700; female; white; 60; widowed; married for 35 years; born in England; both parents born in England; immigrated to U.S. in 1890; occupation: none listed.
ELLIS, Raymond J.; son; male; negro; 31 years old; single; born in Montana; father born in W. Virginia; mother born in England; occupation: loader at ACM Co. Reduction Works.
ELLIS, George E.; son; male; negro; 22 years old; (rest as above).
PARNELL, Birdella; daughter; female; negro; 25 years old; divorced married at 18 years of age; born in Montana; father born in W. Virginia; mother born in England; occupation: restaurant waitress.
PARNELL, Betty; granddaughter; 9 years old; female; negro; 7 years old; born in Montana; father born in Montana; mother born in Montana.
----------
1936 ANACONDA CITY DIRECTORY (Polk), Page: 117:

PARNELL, Mrs. Birdella; householder at 302 E. 3rd St.

Page: 53:

ELLIS, George; calcine loader--ACM Company--rooms at 113 N. Elm St.
ELLIS, Raymond J. (Lyle); calcine loader--ACM Company--rooms at 104 N. Cedar St.

1941 ANACONDA CITY DIRECTORY, Page 46:

DARNELL, Wm. (Birdella L.); householder 114 N. Elm St.

Page 54:

ELLIS, Eliz E. (widow Geo); householder read 113 N. Elm St.
ELLIS, George E. laborer ACM Co.; rooms at 113 N. Elm St.

1944 ANACONDA CITY DIRECTORY, Page 56:

ELLIS, Eliz E. (wid Geo.) householder rear 113 N. Elm St.
ELLIS, George E.; laborer ACM Co.; rooms rear 113 N. Elm St.
PARNELL, Walter A.; laborer ACM Co.; rooms 206 E. Commercial.

1947 ANACONDA CITY DIRECTORY, Page: 56

ELLIS, Eliz E. (wid Geo); householder rear 113 N. Elm St.
ELLIS, George E.; operator ACM Comnpany; rooms rear 113 N. Elm St.
ELLIS, Mrs. Lyle; maid at Mabelton Hotel; rooms at 410 E. Park St.

1952 ANACONDA CITY DIRECTORY Page 61:

ELLIS, George E.; operator ACM Co.; householder rear 113 N. Elm St.
ELLIS, Lyle (wid Raymond); rooms at 323 E. Park Ave.
----------
MONTANA DEATH INDEX 1907-2002:

ELLIS, Elizabeth
Died: 05 Dec 1948 at 79 years of age
Index #: DL 6334 ("DL" indicates Deer Lodge County)

ELLIS, George
Died: 27 Jul 1919 at 59 years of age
Index #: Ana 94 ("Ana" indicates city of Anaconda)

ELLIS, George
Died: 07 Mar 1960 at 53 years of age
Single--Never Married
County(s) of Death & Residence: Deer Lodge County
Index #: 64

ELLIS, Raymond
Died: 21 May 1936 at 38 years of age
Index #: Ana 2651
----------
It is interesting how the different enumerators listed their racial background on the census data; and it is also obvious that these enumerators often make mistakes, as can be seen by the obvious errors in listed places of birth.

To obtain Death Certificates on any of the above, you can contact the following:

Clerk & Recorder
Deer Lodge County Courthouse
800 S. Main Street
Anaconda, MT 59711
PHONE: 406.563.4060

Death certificates more than 30 years old cost about $3 and postage. Call to make sure.
----------
I hope you have found the above information useful.

Re: Thomas Wolfe - Obit & Death Certificate

volunteerMT — 2009-04-05 01:23:16Z

You can obtain a copy of Mr. Wolfe's Death Certificate by contacting the Dept. of Public Health & Human Services-Vital Statistics division. You may have to provide identification and your relationship to the deceased. Go to the following website and scroll down to where you can link to and print the form you need to submit:

http://vhsp.dphhs.mt.gov/certificates/ordercertificates.shtm...

I checked the 1930 census and learned that Mr. Wolfe was a patient at the Montana State Hospital for the "Insane."

Since was probably still a patient at Montana State Hospital at the time of his death, there probably was no obituary printed in the local papers. All old hospital records are housed at the Montana State Historical Society's Library and Archives, located in Helena, Montana. You can contact them and they will explain the process for obtaining some of the hospital's records. These records generally provide you with genealogical information. Go to the following website. You may have to phone to get more information about the process:

http://www.montanahistoricalsociety.org/research/library/req...

Good luck in your search. I hope you have found the above information useful.

Re: Spahl

volunteerMT — 2009-03-30 01:35:33Z

Hi George, I am the one who did the research for somebody several years ago. I personally remember the Spahl family, and my stepfather was a very good friend of the George Spahl who moved to Louisville, KY. They grew up together. If you give me your email address, I will send you a picture that has Genevieve Spahl in it. She was a member of the Croatian fraternity here in Anaconda. This was probably before her marriage to Mr. Ferkin.

Just respond to this post and put a space between each letter and/or number of your email address so that spammer programs cannot harvest your address and make mischief.

Lorene

Re: Braddy and Schalk

volunteerMT — 2009-02-24 02:51:49Z

In my first post above, I forgot to mention that I also checked the census date and could not find a Joseph Schalk, although there are several other Shalks in Anaconda. I then looked for Eva Braddy and Eva Schalk and did not find her in any state census for 1930.

Re: Braddy and Schalk

volunteerMT — 2009-02-24 02:49:22Z

This is a tough family to track down! I checked my 1909 and 1936 Anaconda City Directories, and census data for 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 and did not find them. And I conducted the searches using the spellings "Braddy" and "Brady." I only found Tony Braddy's WWI Registration Card:

Name: Tony Braddy
Address: 709 Cedar Street, Anaconda, Mont.
Age: 27 years
Birthdate: November 9, 1888
Birthplace: Ellington, Missouri
Employer: Anaconda Copper Mining Co.
Employer's address: Anaconda, Montana
Nearest Relative: Wife and children
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Claim Exemption? Yes, support of wife and kids
Physical Description: Tall, medium build, brown eyes, brown hair.
Physical Disability? None
/s/June 5, 1917
Anaconda, Deer Lodge County Courthouse, Montana

Thomas Wolfe - Obit & Death Certificate

kfamhis — 2009-04-04 12:17:33Z

Need help in finding obit for :

Thomas Wolfe
b Dec 1 1889 - Belleville, Saint Clair, Illinois
d Nov 18 1955 - Warm Springs, Deer Lodge, Montana

Married to Anna Muskopf Wolfe, she died in Illinois, they had two children: Annette Wolfe and Ruth Anna Montana Wolfe (no other info on children).

Would also like death certificate for Thomas Wolfe.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Thomas Wolfe - Obit & Death Certificate

kfamhis — 2009-04-05 03:36:30Z

Thank you so much. I will check into your recommendations.

Family of Edna (Brown) Jergensen

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-03 23:33:55Z

I’m stabbing in the dark here trying to find connections to the following people who were mentioned in the will of Edna Sophia (Brown) Jergensen, b.1879, PA d. 14 Sept. 1947, Anaconda, MT. The will was probated in 1952.

Edna's parents were Lewis and Amanda (Cope) Brown. (not in will)

Agnes Zigler, Exectrix
Mrs. John Weigand, Sister
Elizabeth R. Hoch, Niece (aka Lizzie)
Cora Rasley, Niece
Irma Rasley, Niece
Clarence A, Brown, Nephew
Marvin W. Brown, Nephew

And Mrs. Irvin Hoch, Easton, PA, I believe this to be Elizabeth (Lizzie) above.

Re: Family of Edna (Brown) Jergensen

LarryParks43 — 2009-10-04 21:36:54Z

Thank you for your help. I don't know the connection to the exectrix, Agnes Zigler, there may or may not be a family connection. The sister and nieces and nephews lived in Northhampton county PA.

Chris and Edna Jergensen owned the farm just west of Warm Springs State Hospital on the north side of highway 48, so they would not have been in the city directory.

Chris died in 1945 and Edna died in 1947.

Re: Jergensen relatives in Iowa?

LarryParks43 — 2009-09-14 20:00:21Z

It would appear that they only made the trip to Iowa to buy a team of horses. This obituary below does not prove anything one way or the other. I haven’t found any family that came to the US from Denmark with Lars and Maren (Mary) Jergensen, it could have been friends that they made on the journey. I’ve only started working on this line this year (09) so I am no authority.

"Death Summons Mrs. L. Johnson, Montana Pioneer

Mrs. Lena Caroline Johnson, 85, Widow of Herman J. Johnson; Montana pioneer and one of the oldest ranch residents of the Deer Lodge valley, died Tuesday morning at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Swanson, 1105 West Third. She had been ill the last two and one-half years.
Born in Carson City, Iowa, April 4, 1868, Mrs. Johnson came to Montana with her parents in 1872 in a covered wagon, drawn by ox teams. Her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Lars Jergensen, homesteaded the old Chris Jergensen ranch in the lower valley.
The family is among the first settlers in the Deer Lodge valley. Mrs. Johnson attended a log cabin school there.
Mrs. Johnson recounted many early day experiences, remembering the Battle of the Big Hole when ranchers in the valley were warned Indians were coming and fled to the protection of Deer Lodge.

After homesteading the Jergensen ranch, Mr. and Mrs. Jergensen went to Iowa and returned with a team of gray mares. The horses, which were permitted to stray in the unfenced valley, wandered back to Iowa, Mrs. Johnson recounted. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were married in 1884. Mr. Johnson worked for the Jergensen’s, cutting hay by hand. They lived on the Walker ranch near Race Track for 21 years and in 1903 went to what is now the Ray Johnson ranch. Mr. Johnson died here in July, 1938.
Surviving relatives in addition to Mr and Mrs. Ed R. Lee, Seattle; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Hennes Johnson, Butte; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Johnson, Deer Lodge valley; a niece, Mrs. Mary E. Jergensen Parks, Long Beach, Calif.; 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
The body is at the Finnegan company funeral home."

Source: The Anaconda Standard, Monday March 25, 1952, Vol. VXIV No. 202

Re: From Shaddow of Mount Haggin

LarryParks43 — 2009-03-04 20:05:07Z

William Thomas Parks, husband of Mary Ester Jergensen, born 19 Sept 1902, NE, died 18 Nov 1952, Long Beach CA. Their son is still living as of 2009. It was William Thomas Parks, who went by the name Tom, and worked for Shell Oil.

Mary was born 21 May 1899 MT and died 6 Sept 1974 in Long Beach CA.

Please contact me, I have a lot of info and photos to share.

Braddy and Schalk

broniste03 — 2009-02-22 20:34:12Z

I'm looking for anybody that is researching the Braddy family. I have a Clara D. Braddy that was born Aug. 30, 1916 in Anaconda Montana. Her father was Tony and her mother was Bertha (Ross) Braddy. She had a sister that i know of and her name was Eva Braddy who married Joseph Schalk. She (Eva) was born April 19, 1918. Hope somebody can help me. Thank you
Crystal

Enoch Cross obituary request

ck761 — 2009-09-23 19:20:54Z

Looking for the obituary of Enoch Cross:
Montana Death Index, 1860-2007
about Enoch Cross
Name: Enoch Cross
Age: 86
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Gender: Male
Death Date: 5 Feb 1925
Index Number: DL 1179
Source: Montana Office of Vital Statistics

Name: Cross
Death Date: 5 Feb 1925
Death County: Deer Lodge
Index Number: D L 1179
Source: Montana State Genealogical Society

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to figure out where he was buried.

Re: McGRATH, Bridget, 72 -- Dies 26 Jul 1934 in Anaconda, Montana

Cheryl_Croshaw — 2009-08-06 07:17:12Z

I am wondering if there is any information on survivors for Bridget McGrath. I believe that my great-grandmother Josephine McGrath O'Brien was her daughter. Any info on McGraths would be very helpful

Re: Spahl

Milton_Doles — 2009-03-30 14:43:01Z

Neither of these are my families. At the time i was helping someone else. The Stipec i was searching ended up in Scaramento Cal. They came from Bribir Croatia and there are scatterings of them in Great Falls,Lewistown,Butte,Anaconda St. Louis. That is, Bribirtsi. Not all Stipec. Spahlj looks to be Slovenian. Sovenia and Croatia are both great places to visit.

Re: Spahl

gspahl — 2009-03-29 23:50:30Z

Hi,
Sorry for the late reply but have just ran across your post from several years ago. If you are still doing research for the Stipecs I can certainly fill in quite a bit of detail as I am George and Mary Spahl's (of Anaconda, MT) grandson. I remember hearing the name Stipec over the years. I would be very interested as well in learning more about the connection between the Spahl's (formerly spelled Spalj, I believe) and the Stipecs. Hope to hear back from you!
Regards,
George R. Spahl
Durham, NC

Re: Mary K. GOTTWIG - Need obituary- d 16 Dec 1936 Deer Lodge

sherriestahl1 — 2009-02-17 19:03:33Z

Feel free to contact me off list. I'd really love to share with you some history. I am the village coordinator for Brunnental, where some of the Gottwig/Gutwig's came from.
Sherrie Stahl
sherriestahl@comcast.net

Re: Alice Elizabeth McGraw Huff

svarnedoe — 2009-07-30 15:39:07Z

That's my grandmother! She passed away in December

carrie stitt fred jackson

luvelydenise — 2009-06-02 13:51:50Z

Hi,
I am trying to find out information about Carrie Stitt who was born in 1904. I found out that she was married to my grandfather Fred Jackson in the 1930 census.

Fred Jackson was married to my Grandmother Anna Mundy Jackson and had 10 children with him. My mother is one of the ten.

I am wondering if Fred and Carrie ever had children together. If so, where are they.

Re: carrie stitt fred jackson

luvelydenise — 2009-06-03 20:15:02Z

The siblings were:

Andy
Thomas
Jerry
Johnny
Thad
Fredericka (my mother)
Ruth
Bernice Williams
Kathy
Cecilia

These are all of the children that Fred and Anna had together.

Re: carrie stitt fred jackson

luvelydenise — 2009-06-03 20:11:58Z

Yes. The children you are talking about are my mother's siblings. Unfortunatley, Ruth has passed on. I am interested in finding out if my grandfather Fred had children with Carrie Stitt. Did you know Carrie? My mother's mother and siblingings moms name was Anna.

I started out searching my grandfather and his ancestors when i came across my grandfather being married at one time to someone else. I did not mean to open up a can of worms but...............

Re: carrie stitt fred jackson

luvelydenise — 2009-06-05 11:43:54Z

Thanks for your help. Carrie was the first wife. Have a geat time in Cali.

Homer Bowles' 1931 suicide death

JohnMcX — 2009-07-06 20:52:56Z

I show that Homer was buried 28 Dec 1931 at Hill Cemetery in Anaconda. It's not clear if he's in Upper Hill or Lower Hill Cemetery. Any assistance appreciated.

Homer Bowles death article
The Anaconda Standard
26 Dec 1931
HOMER BOWLES DIES; REVOLVER FOUND NEARBY
Homer Bowles, 45, of 208 1/2 West Fourth Street, rear, was found dead in his home last night at 11:15 o'clock. The body was in an upstairs room near a bed with a .32-caliber revolver nearby. The bullet entered the right temple and came out the left side of his head.
A few minutes before he had told his wife that he was going to bed. His wife was just going to go upstairs when she heard a shot and rushed to the room. He is said to have been in a pleasant mood during the evening when Mr. and Mrs. Bowles entertained friends.
At other time of late, Mr. Bowles is said to have been despondent. He had been under a doctor's care for the last year.
When the body was found, Night Chief of Police Russell Osborne and Officers Steve Persin and Tom Donovan were called. Coroner Frank Gubbins was then summoned and took charge of the body.
Mr. Bowles was a resident of Montana for 28 years . He lived in Anaconda for the last eight years. Several years ago he operated the Five Mile Inn. He was born in Missouri. Besides the widow, Mrs. Marie Bowles, he is survived by a daughter, Maxine Bowles of Drummond, and a son, Bernard Bowles of Seattle, Wash., and a brother, Ira Bowles of Drummond.
During his residence in Anaconda he made scores of friends, who will sincerely grieve his death. The body is at the P. J. Finnegan company's chapel. Funeral arrangements have not been made. Coroner Gubbins stated after his investigation that no inquest will be held."

Re: Mystery Man?

Dianepayne62 — 2009-04-06 01:52:37Z

Hi,
Thanks for trying to help. My husband is related to the Ellis, Harris, & Evans families of Anaconda.

His parents are Herbert Evans and Ethel Harris. Ethel's grandparents are George Ellis and Elizabeth Everett.

Diane Payne
dianepay@aol.com

Mystery Man?

Dianepayne62 — 2009-04-05 02:38:19Z

Hi,
In the 1896 Anaconda Directory is a James Ellis
(Ellis, James; smelterman, Upper works; Rooms 403 East Front Colored). I can't find him in any other directories.

I am trying to find out more about him. Who is he related to? Where did he come from and where did he go?

In the 1896 Anaconda Directory is George Ellis
(Ellis, George; smelterman, Upper works; Rooms at 404 E. Front St.) This is probably George Martin Ellis who married Elizabeth Everett in 1899 in Anaconda. I have lots of information on this family line. George Ellis is African American.

However, I believe they might have been another George
Ellis in Anaconda who was white.

Any ideas or help with the mystery James Ellis would be appreciated.

Diane Payne
dianepay@aol.com

Re: Mystery Man?

Dianepayne62 — 2009-04-05 23:13:22Z

Hi,
Thanks for all your hard work. However, George is not the mystery. It is James Ellis that is the mystery. We are trying to find out if he is related to George.

A few years ago we visted Anaconda. The people at the court house are great! Lots of help.

My husband was born in Anaconda in 1957.

Diane