A HISTORY OF SAND COULEE, MONTANA 1880 THROUGH 1900 by George Irvin Erickson A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana December, 2008 ©COPYRIGHT by George Irvin Erickson 2008 All Rights Reserved ii APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by George Irvin Erickson This thesis has been read by each member of the thesis committee and has been found to be satisfactory regarding content, English usage, format, citation, bibliographic style, and consistency, and is ready for submission to the Division of Graduate Education. Dr. Mary Murphy Approved for the Department of History Dr. Brett Walker Approved for the Division of Graduate Education Dr. Carl A. Fox iii STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree at Montana State University, I agree that the Library shall make it available to borrowers under rules of the Library. If I have indicated my intention to copyright this thesis by including a copyright notice page, copying is allowable only for scholarly purposes, consistent with “fair use” as prescribed in the U.S. Copyright Law. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this thesis in whole or in parts may be granted only by the copyright holder. George Irvin Erickson December 2008 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to the History Department of Montana State University. I found the Professors more than willing to work with the non-traditional student I represent. I thank my graduate committee Doctor Robert Campbell, Dale Martin and above all my committee chair Doctor Mary Murphy. She understood that this thesis was a personal quest to present a history of the place I grew up in for the people I grew up with. I am thankful to Diane Cattrell for the part she played in my successful quest for a higher degree. Diane is a kind, patient member of the department. My sisters Margie Acre and Jacqueline Stepaniak read parts of the thesis and encouraged me every step of the way. My son Lincoln and his wife Sara also read parts of the thesis and offered constructive suggestions. Carla Workman of Centerville School also deserves my thanks for researching the Centerville school records. The MSU and Butte School of Mines libraries offered their facilities in a helpful manner. The Montana Historical Society Library at Helena was another gathering of helpful historians. I also thank the Cascade County Historical Society located in Great Falls. My time spent with the historical Society in Red Lodge produced great results. The State Health Department in Helena was most gratifying. They gave me several helpful tips on places I might find needed information. v TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................1 Sand Coulee’s Role in Industrializing the West ..............................................................4 Native People of Sand Coulee .........................................................................................8 Homesteaders ..................................................................................................................9 The Railroad ..................................................................................................................11 The Mining People .........................................................................................................12 Mining ..........................................................................................................................15 The Aftermath ................................................................................................................16 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 18 2. ANALYSIS OF 1900 CENSUS ...................................................................................21 Problems with Census Analysis .....................................................................................21 Physical Description of Sand Coulee ............................................................................21 Communication within the Coulee ...............................................................................27 Age Analysis .................................................................................................................30 Heads of Household ......................................................................................................33 School Age Children ......................................................................................................35 Miners ...........................................................................................................................38 Boarding Establishments ...............................................................................................44 Miscellaneous Census Facts .........................................................................................56 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................60 3. FINNISH IMMIGRANTS IN SAND COULEE ..........................................................64 Emigration .....................................................................................................................64 Work .............................................................................................................................70 The Company .................................................................................................................72 The Finnish Hall and Finnish Library ...........................................................................82 The Church and Temperance movement ......................................................................83 Knights of Kaleva .........................................................................................................87 Politics ...........................................................................................................................91 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................95 4. DIPHTHERIA, TYPHOID AND CHOLERA IN SAND COULEE .............................98 History of Medicine in Montana ...................................................................................99 History of Medicine in Cascade County and Sand Coulee .........................................101 Public Health ................................................................................................................104 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS – CONTINUED Description and Treatment of Typhoid, Cholera and Diphtheria ...............................109 Living Conditions in Sand Coulee ..............................................................................113 Chronology of Disease in Sand Coulee .......................................................................119 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................138 5. MINING, ACCIDENTS AND DEATH IN THE MINES ...........................................141 Organization ................................................................................................................141 Demand .......................................................................................................................141 Production ...................................................................................................................145 Mining ..........................................................................................................................162 Accidents and Death ....................................................................................................167 Stockett .......................................................................................................................190 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................198 6. CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................................203 REFERENCES CITED ...................................................................................................209 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Business Listings 1896-97 from 1896-97 City Directory ..................................23 Owners Noted to the Right. 2. Analysis of Foreign Born – 1900 Census .........................................................29 3. Native Born Analysis, State of Origin – 1900 Census........................................30 4. Age Categories – 1900 Census ...........................................................................33 5. Children in School – 1900 Census .....................................................................38 6. Coal Miners by Country of Origin – 1900 Census ............................................40 7. Coal Miners by State of Origin – 1900 Census .................................................40 8. Working Age Males and Occupations – 1900 Census .......................................41 9. Non Miner Jobs Connected to Mining – 1900 Census ......................................42 10. Mine Deaths in Sand Coulee by Date and Source ...........................................189 viii LIST OF FIGURES