CHOTSAU ACANTHA ...... mil...... | Anton Hotter Exhibited Pioneer Ingenuity in Erecting and | | Operating First Sawmill in Montana in Ramshom Gulch I i Near Virginia City; Was One of State’s Leading Citizens |
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIS ------g. By DR. THOMAS B. MARQUIS He bought some oxen and wagons, Author of “A Warrior Who Fousht Cuater,” though, and he loaded up with flour Miners Waiting and "Memoir* of a White Crow Indian." and nails. With these and the planTWO GUNS WHITE Log houses, for residence or for ing mill he set out for the journey back any other purpose, were the univer to the Montana home place. In the for Springtime sal structures for use in all of our Snake river country, in Idaho, heCALF was IS CALLED Gold miners in the Virginiadis City American pioneer regions. The ax, the stopped by heavy snowstorms at the trict are impatiently awaiting the com adze and the auger were the essen beginning of the winter season.NOTED He left INDIAN CHIEF WHOSE ing of spring, according to J. A. John tial tools of construction, often the all of his freight property in the HEADcustody ADORNS NICKEL, LAST OF son of Alder, Mont., a Butte visitor a only tools obtainable. This was the of somebody there and then put onRECOGNIZED a CHIEFS few days ago. case in the earliest days of Montana pair of skiis and proceeded alone over When warm temperatures start spring settlement But a long stride toward the snow until he arrived at the sawTwo Gwns White Calf, known for freshets and loose the frozen ground, a change in structural style here was mill in Ramshom gulch. many yean as the Indian whose head the territory which once resounded to made in the spring of 1864. During The oxen left behind disappeared,was on the buffalo nickel, well known the trend of Montana pioneers will be the preceding winter a sawmill had and most of the merchandise was neverto Glacier national park visitors andthe scene of intense mining activity. been set up in Ramshorn gulch near accounted for. But the planingprominent mill in the tours for the Great “Engineers representing large eaat- Virginia City. The prime factor in was brought by another freightingNorthern ox railroad, died at the Black- ern firms are already in the territory the enterprise was Anton M. Holter, train during the following spring.feet Indian The hospital a few days ago. where the Vigilantes stamped out who, during succeeding years became* remaining merchandisealso was He had an attack of fhi recently and crime,’ Johnson said. a prime factor In many ways for the brought. There were 26 sacks of flournever regained his strength. "They are sinking prospect holes and upbuilding of the territory and the and two kegs of nails. The flourFrom was the time Glacier park first scrutinizing every old pioneer ‘diggin’ state. sold in Virginia City at $100 per sack, for signs of gold that can now be se Holter had been an emigrant from and the nails were sold at $150 per keg cured by use of the modern dredge." Iowa to Pike’s Peak in 1859. After three —prices computed in gold dust, of The activity is centered in the TV years spent there he returned to Iowa. course. bacco Mountain range, sail. Johnson But in the spring of 1863 he hitched Word came of a quartz mill boiler Mining claims from Whitehall, Motile up his oxen and went again into Col and engine for sale at Bannack. Holter 50 miles south are being prospected. orado. There he heard of gold dis went there to investigate. He found Old Alder gulch from Nevada to Vir coveries in Idaho territory—the section the combination was of 25 or 30 horse ginia City will be turned over by huge of it which soon became detached from power. It had been made by the Law dredges this summer, Johnson4$0 - expe that territory and amalgamated into rence Machine company, in 1859. The Other claims, famous in the 70s whieib the newly organized Montana territory. American Fur company had shipped it will be worked, include the Eastonand An emigrant train was made up in from St. Louis to Fort Benton, by Missouri properties. Colorado to go into the northern plac steamboat, in 1862. Thence it had been ------4>------er country, particularly to Bannack and freighted overland to Bannack. Holter Virginia City. Holter and a man nam bought this boiler and engine for $1,- ed Evenson joined this train. These 200 in gold dust. He went back home, Blaekfeet Doubtful two men went into partnership and got ox teams, returned to Bannack, Over Proposed Plan bought a second-hand sawmill to bring dismantled the purchased machinery, with them. They left Colorado on the loaded the parts upon his wagons and of Self Government 16th of September, 1863. They arrived transported them to his industrial cen at their destination, the vicinity of Vir ter without any mishap. News of the conference of represent ginia City on Dec. 7 of that year. In With the planing mechanism ready atives of western tribes of Indiana at cidentally, the very next day after the ANTON M. HOLTER for use—the first such mechanism to be Rapid City, S. D., was eagerly await arrival Mr. Holter had an experience brought into Montana—the partners ed by the Blaekfeet at Browning. characteristic of that time and thatbegan with wagon axles as raw Hema and Holter had been acquaintedfelt themselves in position at the top Stories brought statements of doubt locality. As he was driving his oxenterial. Asto cutting implements theyin used the Pike’s Peak country. He of com the local lumber business. They of the plans proposed. On being asked a pasture for winter he was heldordinary up chisels. Much hindranceplained came bitterly when this acquaintancebranched out and set up a water power what he thought of the plan of pro and robbed of his purse by two outlawsfrom the original degree of temperingof past days broke into the lumbermill in March, 1865, at the mouth of posed self-government being urged, who afterward were among thosein the chisels that had to be experigame with an outfit that enabledColorado its creek, eight miles from Hel Charles Reevls, a full-blood Blaekfeet, hanged when the Vigilantes enteredmented with until the right degreeowners of to cut prices down toena, $140 thenand a new placer miningCHIEF eamp TWO GUNS WHITE CALF said: upon their form of social uplifting.tempering was discovered. Forless. the But his grumbling was notin heed Last Chance gulch.. The home of “We are getting to self-government The sawmill partners built first dressing-down a work they anchoreded, as the ever has been the case when mafice was kept at the original locationbecame in a park Two Guns, as he was pretty fast—we now hold by Indlane dwelling cabin and a blacksmith shop.axle in a way to hold it firmly inchinery place. has supplanted muscleRamshom in the gulch. Holter did muchcommonly known, spent his winters most of the offices in the county court In their shop they went at assemblingThen a strip of rawhide was encircledproduction of human needs travelingor desires. to and from the Helenatraveling saw for the Great Northernas house, the sheriff is a Blaekfeet and the parts of their machinery. Mr. Even-about it. One of the workers held theSome miners were digging inmill, placer to manage both places. Threeone of the group advertising the most park of his deputies are Blaekfeet. son was the supposed expert,two but projecting his ends of the rawhide.claims He in the side gulch next tostage that lines were running betweenand itsVir featnresk Simmers he spent Soon we may have a Blaekfeet as may expertness had not been well exercisedpulled the hands alternately, where thus the sawmill was located. Theyginia City and Helena that summer,the entire kmrist season receiving or of Browning, for George Kipp is a in making the purchase, for manywhirling of the axle first one wayneeded and more water than was availablewith a one-way schedule time ofand 15 entertaining guests at the en candidate at the election April 2. A» the parts were missing. The two menthen the opposite way. As it whirledin their stream, so they tappedhours. the trance hotel it is, the white men help pay the taxec engaged upon .inventingthe substitutes. partner worker applied the chisel.stream in the sawmill gulch above Lumberits prices began to drop. ComTwo Guns White Calf was born iuto keep paying for this government and First they whipsawed some boardsTedious to work—terribly tedious—butditch and thus compelled the mill ma 1872 at Fort Benton. He was of noblewe may, if we want, get all the offices use as a frame for a blacksmith belthey finally turned out in thischinery way the to come to a standstill forpetition lack in the Helena region birth,develop being the eldest son of White for Indians, but if we have our own lows. This frame they covered withfull needed supply of machineryof shafts.power. The sawmill partners edgot into a commercial warfare. The priceCalf, who was the last recognized government on the reservation then we material from old raincoats. Next theyThey dug a ditch to divert water fromminer’s court injunction. It.per worked thousand feet was cut to $100,chief to of the Blaekfeet. He is survivmight have to pay for all of it and We burned wood to fill a pit with thechar adjacent creek. At the lower endwith same satisfaction, but not $75, in toa $60, to $40. Much of the edHol by his brother, James White Calf: like it better as it is.” of the ditch’s flume they built a fully 16- satisfactory way. The minerster kept6s Evenson expanding hadhis been sister, on Mrs. Louis Two Stab, and ------------coal for use at the forge. For anfoot anvil overshot wheel. That was on to be taking water, stealing it whentheir no credit; their employes being bythe his wife, who Is the mother of Levi Funds ShouldDivided be they used the butt of a big broadaxtheir power plant. Then they bodygraded was looking, or when theymain sup creditors on account ofJ. accum Burd and Mrs. Phoebe Labreche. If the balance in a county’s pension having its blade edge buried intoa wagon the road to afford access toposed their nobody was looking. ulated A damage wages due. They began to fund for mothers is insufficient for top of a stump. mill from the main gulch road, suit the was brought against them, agrumble, judg then they began to clamor for payment of all the pensions due in any There was a shortage in belting,central so highway of that region.ment Some was rendered against them, andpayment. Holter bought outJohn Evenson P. O’Donnellmonth, Is the sum should be prorated they cut strips from untannedmen hides were employed to get outsome logs money and was collected on theby judg making some cash payment and as among all those entitled to receive the of oxen and used these, but withthen much to help in operating the mill.ment. Early But the warring competitorssuming all indebtedness. Then, as soleNamed Purchasingaid, Attorney General Raymond T. difficulty in damp weather. They heardin the spring of 1864 it begancame to turnto terms after a while. The minproprietor, Holtet assembled the Rains- Nagle rules. The opinion was request of somebody at Bannack, 80 milesout away, lumber to supply a pressingers needed public lumber, and this conditionhorn gulch employes and revealedAgent to for Montanaed by the Silver Bow county commis having some surplus belt material,demand. so contributed greatly toward an amicablethem his entire case. He informed themJohn P. “Jack” O’Donnell, forsioners. the It was understood the question Holter went to that place, walking muchHolter went to Nevada City, adjustment three of the differences. that by sacrificing his whole businesslast nine years assistant state purchashas arisen in many other counties. of the distance to buy it. The ownermiles down Alder gulch from VirginiaThe demand for lumber was he so could get the money and paying them, agent, was appointed purchasingNagle agreed with the conclusion of would not sell it, notwithstandingCity, Hol and arranged to open astrong lumber that buyers exercised theirand wits if they insisted upon paymentagent a hefew days agobyGov. Frankthe H. county attorney of Silver Bow, who ter offered up to $600 for a quantityyard there. The lumber soon beganin order to to meet their needs. The mainwould do that. But he pointedCooney. out held It would be unfair to pay some worth about $25 on the frontierarrive mar at this sales location. It wasroad in was watched to discover the apthat if they would stay with him, reO’Donnell, who succeeds J. E. mothers “Ed” the full amount due each of ket a year or so later. After his returntwo grades, one sold at $140 perproach thou of a load of lumber. Teamsquiring were only their board andMnrphy, keep and resigned, intends to them hold and the thus leave others without any they got hold of some pieces ofsand heavy feet and the inferior at $125stopped per at the sales yard or beforeallowing the the wages to accumulatepoet fur for only a short time. pensions. He had canvas and got a saddler to stitchthousand feet, payments in goldarrival dust, there, and every board takenther, he and they together couldannounced whip his intention of resigning------<§> ------strips of it in heavy plies fornot belting in currency. The monetaryfrom dis the transport wagon. Inout every the cut-price competitors andfrom then the department to become The as perfume of a rotse is an oily use. tinction was made in result of thesuch na instance payment was madeshare in the ensuing prosperity.sociated with a hrcwery at Helena. chemical, manufactured in the cells of Missing parts regarded as essentialtional monetary situation in fullthose at times the established prices. There were 18 of these creditor em The appointment was made as athe mat petals. Mother Nature Intended were gearing for the log carriagejust and after the Civil war. Paper moneyTwo competing sawmills enteredployes. the They took a vote onter ofMr. Hol- convenience to the office,this perfume the to attract insects to fer the track irons for its movementwas back worth approximately half asfield. much One tinned by water powerter’s was proposition. Seventeengovernor of them said. tilize the flowers. and forth. The inventing pioneersas gold ov money. Therefore, inowned paper by a man named Gamblesignified and a willingness to remain on------the