Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Treasure State Lines

1975 - 2012

Great Falls Genealogy Society

November 2012 Volume 37—Number 2

Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Treasure State Lines Contributions to the GFGS publications are encouraged Great Falls Genealogy Society and can be in the form of articles, letters, or notices. Sub- missions can be made by e-mail: [email protected], or 301 2nd Ave N typewritten items (please, nothing handwritten) can be Great Falls, MT 59401 dropped off at the library or mailed to the Society.

MEETINGS. Monthly general meetings and programs Phone 406-727-3922 are scheduled the second Thursday of each month, Septem- E-mail: [email protected] ber through May, at 6:00 p.m. Guests and visitors are al- www.gfgenealogy.org ways welcome.

The Great Falls Genealogy Society was founded in GENEALOGY LIBRARY. The Genealogy Library 1975 as a non-profit educational and research organiza- is located on the third floor of the Great Falls tion. Membership is January through December. Dues Public Library. The genealogy library is staffed are $25 for individuals and $30 for couples. We encour- entirely by volunteers. Hours are Monday through age all members to participate in the activities and duties Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. of the Society. Members receive a monthly newsletter and the semi-annual publication in May and November, plus free use of our computers for research and access to RESEARCH POLICY. Our volunteer research staff is over 10,000 items - books, journals, CDs, and micro- available to do research on Cascade County and Great film. Falls records. Research will commence upon receipt of the fees; check or money order may be sent to our Great Falls BOARD MEMBERS: address. There are three research options: President Dennis Sugden -Option 1: a comprehensive search of the records Vice President Marie Berti at the Great Falls Genealogy Society library. A member of Recording Secretary Carol Ann Clark the Research Department staff will search appropriate obit/ Corresponding Sec. Margaret Lietz death card file index, local history books, Great Falls city Treasurer Pat Wardinsky directories, Cascade County directories, naturalization Trustees Janet Thomson index, people files and some early birth indices for which John Birkholz the fee is $25 per immediate family. Jim Lowry -Option 2: includes a thorough search of the re- cords at the Cascade County Courthouse including COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS: school census indices, probate indices, marriage indices, Library Diane Green civil judgment indices (includes divorce filings), for which Acquisitions Janet Thomson the fee is $25 per immediate family. Computer Jim Eayrs -Option 3: includes five research activities chosen Membership Pat Wardinsky from option one and two for a fee of $25 per immediate Obituary File Jim Eayrs family. Projects Diane Green Photocopies of obituaries, marriage license/certificates Research Julie Pepos and birth and death certificates are $5 each if ordered sepa- rately, $3 each if ordered with option 1, 2 or 3 (Note: Pho- PUBLICATIONS: tocopies of birth and death certificates less than 30 years Treasure State Lines old can be obtained only by the mother, father, spouse or The Falls Newsletter child of the individual of whom the record is requested). For additional information, contact the Research Depart- Notice and Disclaimer: Articles contained in these pub- ment by mail or at [email protected] lications may not be copied, published, or distributed for commercial purposes without the written consent of the GFGS. The editors reserve the right to edit contributions for length, substance, and grammar. The GFGS is not responsible for accuracy, errors, or omissions in articles submitted by others, but proven errors will be corrected.

Contents © 2012 All rights reserved.

i Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Items For Sale

Now available on CD CONTENTS

$19.95 each The Miner’s Peril…………………..19, 20 Mining Death Inquests…………..….21-24 Sun River Valley History Book…….….25 Montana Newspapers Online…… . 26-28 Cascade County, MT Cemeteries, Disc I - covers Old W.H. George Obituary…………….…...29 and New Highland Cemeteries in Great Falls. George Co. Funeral Home Records…30,31 23,297 burials, indexed to 1983 Great Falls Funeral Homes…………….32

Esther Combes Vance………………33,34 Hillcrest Lawn Memorial, 3,368 interments News from Yesteryear…………………35 Indexed to 1997 Early Settlers of Great Falls………… 36

Cascade County, MT Cemeteries, Disc II - covers

Mount Olivet—7,183 burials, indexed to 1990 Calvary—4,027 burials, indexed to 2003

Cascade County, MT Cemeteries, Disc III - covers 33 small cemeteries in Cascade County. From the Editor Choteau County, MT Cemeteries - covers 14 cemeter- ies in Choteau County 2012 has been a very busy one for the Society.

Teton County, MT Cemeteries -  Familysearch.org digitally imaged over 550,000 covers 15 cemeteries in Teton County records held in our library and has made them available on their website. Blackfeet Burials 1935 - 1999  Funeral home records on more than 12,000 indi- viduals was transferred to our library for re- 4,677 entries search. Extensive database includes names, birth, death,  Our 2-volume book, “Early Settlers of Great burial dates and places, family members, sources Falls was published in October and sales are

excellent

 A series of classes was held in January and a Buy any two CD’s for $29.95!! Family Heritage Fair organized in October  Membership for 2012 was an all-time high of 185  Janet Thomson was named Volunteer of the Year All orders:

Add $ 3.50 shipping and handling charge Thank you to all our members for their hard

work and continued support.

Printed copies available on request – price quote at time of order – due to fluctuating printing costs.

If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties. Library of Congress ISSN 1060-0337 Indexed in PERSI (Periodical Source Index Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

ii Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

The Coal Miners Prayer By W. Calvert

Each dawn as we rise, lord we know all too well, We face only one thing – a pit filled with hell. To scratch out a living the best that we can, But deep in the heart, lies the soul of a man.

With black covered faces, and hard calloused hands, We work the dark tunnels, unable to stand. To labor and toil as we harvest the coals, We silently pray “Lord, please harvest our souls.”

19 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2 THE MINER’S PERIL In the late 1800s and early 1900s, mining operations flourished in many areas of Cascade County. Miners and their families flocked to these places in search of steady work. There were deposits of gold, silver, lead and zinc to be mined and smelted-places like Hughesville, Barker, Neihart………. But, by far, the biggest operations were those of the coal companies, primarily in Belt and the Sand Coulee/Stockett area, known as “the Gulch”.

Coal is a heavy rock, so when a half-ton chunk Before 1914 mine owners were protected from falls from the roof of a mine, it generally crushes a miner to accountability for deaths on their property by common law. death or mangles his body so badly that death comes shortly The first concept of the common law was “assumption of afterward. risk” and this premise held that, by accepting a job, the Most Montana coal mining nowadays is open-pit miner accepted all the risk inherent in the work. So regard- strip mining, but in the underground coal mines of yore, less of any unsafe work conditions, the miner or his family roof collapses were the most common causes of death, de- had no recourse to seek compensation. Secondly, the spite stout bracing along the tunnels with timbers. “fellow servant” concept was that the worker accepted any Miners commonly poked long steel rods carefully risk caused by the faulty work of co-workers. The third at parts of the roof that looked suspicious, to bring loose common law concept, “contributory negligence” was proba- parts down safely before anyone was walking or working bly the most damaging to the miners and their families. beneath. They also sometimes poked at the working face This provision basically guaranteed that mine operators exposed b the most recent dynamite blast. In Montana, the could not be held legally responsible for any accidents. veins weren’t nearly as thick as the dangerous “high coal” Holding to these common law concepts required found in Utah mines, but nonetheless were high enough to not only proof of negligence on the part of an operator, but easily crush a miner as he was shoveling coal into a mine also that there had to proof of no negligence on the part of car adjacent to a just-blasted working face. the worker. With the miner being dead and evidence having Explosive methane gas wasn’t much of a problem been destroyed in the accident, it was all but impossible to in coal mines in Cascade County, most of which were sim- satisfy the requirement. In the case of death in the mines, ply dug into hillsides where coal seams were plainly visible. a family’s means of survival often disappeared. Dependents Even thought some mines extended for miles underground, of the deceased miner most likely had to move, or the wife the relatively flat floor made for easier ventilation than in make a hasty re-marriage. Sometimes the widow would be shaft-and-tunnel deep mines. forced to do other desperate things to survive and try to pro- More dramatic deaths from accidental explosions vide for her family. Compensation from the mine company of blasting powder and dynamite were less, but they did were basically non-existent and the only monetary assis- happen. Sometimes, a carelessly placed cigarette or cigar tance came from the union or fraternal organizations. It was was responsible. Occasionally, a charge failed to explode in many decades before court cases filed by widows and in- a hole drilled into the working face and a miner didn’t wait jured miners started going their way. long enough before looking to check the misfire. Generally, when a mining related death occurred, a Before the advent of tiny battery locomotives to coroner’s inquest was held to determine the cause of death pull cars in and out of mines, the mules and horses used for and any extenuating circumstances. The inquest files con- that purpose were no more predictable than the animals of tain statements from the company officials, witnesses to the today. If a teamster had to step off his “trip” of cars to clear event and any medical record or post-mortem examination. the track of a lump of coal or other obstacle, the animals In virtually every instance, the employee or a co-worker was might go into motion, crushing the driver between the cars found to have been negligent and the company operator was and the wall. Or the animals might’ve continued forward officially deemed “exonerated”. when the driver had fallen off the trip, perhaps reaching too These coroner inquest files far to reset a connector between the cars. can be quite extensive and are a rich Mine fatalities and crippling injuries customarily resource for the researcher. They are were not attributed to unsafe working conditions, which sometimes a supplement to the coro- would have made the mine owners responsible. In fact, ner books on file at the Great Falls coroner’s reports on such deaths usually included wording Genealogy Library, but most often holding companies harmless and blaming accidents on care- they are the only record of such inves- lessness of the workers. tigation.

The complete inquest files are located at The History Museum at 522 Second Street South in Great Falls, and are available for researchers to examine and copy. The names and notes on the following pages represent the inquest files and may not include all mining deaths that incurred if no official inquest was held. 20 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Last Name First Name Inquest Date Location/Remarks

Antonich Nicholas 22-Dec-1900 B & Smelter - exonerated Asken Emil 25-Oct-1920 Cottonwood Mining & Coal Co. Sand Coulee Atchison Wesley G. 18-May-1917 Anaconda Copper Smelter - Great Falls Ayers Charles F. 1-Jun-1897 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Bark Henry 10-Sep-1902 Anaconda Mining Co. - Belt - exonerated Baroni Philip 11/12/1899 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Barrow Charles 10/30/1893 Boston & Montana Smelter, concentrate Bartalutti Antonio 5-Feb-1908 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Bedosky Steve 6-Apr-1917 Cottonwood Mining & Coal Co. Sand Coulee Bejvl Anton 25-Jan-1918 Boston & Montana Smelter - Great Falls Berini Joseph 17-Feb-1903 Boston & Montana Mining Co. Bertochini Julius 9-Dec-1913 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Boomala Jacob 9-Jul-1898 Sand Coulee Coal Co. - exonerated Boris Michael 22-Oct-1917 Cottonwood Mining & Coal Co. Sand Coulee Botsford Morris K. 21-Dec-1920 Boston & Montana Smelter - Great Falls Breen W.J. 15-May-1908 Boston & Montana Smelter Great Falls Britch John 20-Jul-1905 Boston & Montana Mining Co. Bubnash George 3-Jun-1909 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Burch Ralph 12-Nov-1936 Giffen Mine Cerri James 3-Feb-1916 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Collins Alfred 22-Sep-1904 Boston & Montana Mining Co. Conrad Peter 8-May-1908 Boston & Montana Smelter Great Falls Conway John 2-Apr-1902 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Culkin Martin 8-Jan-1896 Mining accident, Belt Dalton Harry C. 31-Oct-1908 Boston & Montana Smelter-fault of railroad DeVangis Angelo 12-Dec-1921 Stockett #5 Mine DiMarco Constantino 27-Nov-1916 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Dyer Mike, Jr. 17-Oct-1905 Anaconda Copper Co. - Belt Erickson Peter 15-Sep-1900 B & Smelter Evangelisti Umbertto 20-Nov-1913 Lochray Coal Co. - Tracy Filpe John 25-Jun-1896 Castner Coal Co., Belt-exonerated Folgman Matt 8-May-1904 Rock Springs Coal Co. -Sand Coulee Ford Elmer C. 30-Dec-1916 Boston & Montana Smelter - Great Falls Fredrea Thomas 7-Feb-1899 Hughes Township Freeman Gus 23-Aug 1897 Sand Coulee Coal Co. - exonerated Gallagher Michael 28-Oct-1896 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated

21 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Last Name First Name Inquest Date Location/Remarks

Gallagher William 13-Dec-1898 Wright & Edwards Mine - Hughes Twsp. Grohe George 16-May-1908 Armington - mine train Grubisich Matt 21-Nov-1910 Boston & Montana Smelter - Great Falls Hackala Joseph 14-May-1895 Mine accident, Belt Hanyo Joe 5-May-1913 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Harbaugh John Robert 21-Dec-1918 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Harms Rudolph H. 22-Jul-1896 Castner Coal Co., Belt-exonerated Hayhurst William W. 2-Oct-1920 Anaconda Copper Smelter - Great Falls Hill/Liture Axel 14-Jul-1919 National Coal Co. - Sand Coulee Howard Russell L. 25-Aug-1911 Boston & Montana Smelter - Great Falls Ingham John 11-Jan-1897 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Jacobson Jacob 20-Dec-1901 Bull Dog Mine - Neihart Jakola Jacob 11-Dec-1920 Sand Coulee, Dec. 8, 1920 Johnson August 10-Aug-1908 Rock Quarry - Albright Johnson Gust Alfred 9-Mar-1897 Sand Coulee Coal Co. - exonerated Johnson John A. 1-Feb-1894 Mining accident,Sand Coulee Johnson John Gregor 30-Jul-1909 United States Gypsum Co. - Riceville Jones Jack 20-Oct-1898 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt Jones Samuel 25-Mar-1896 Castner Coal Co., Belt-exonerated Jurich Sam 20-Jan-1936 Sand Coulee 1.17, Francetich Mine Kaine Joseph 27-Apr-1919 Anaconda Copper Smelter - Great Falls Kajola Jacob 16-Jun-1897 Sand Coulee Coal Co. Kananen Charles 2-May-1912 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Kari Enoch 28-Dec-1918 Carbon Coal Co. Mine - Sand Coulee Kari Samuel 28-Jun-1913 Sand Coulee Kerr William 20-Jul-1904 Cottonwood Coal Mine - Stockett King J.W. 4-Jul-1897 Sand Coulee Coal Co. Knight William F. 29-Dec-1909 Mid Canon Knutson Knute 27-Arp-1892 Boston & Montana Smelter furnance explosion Kombol John 10-Aug-1908 Rock Quarry - Albright Korba Andrew 27-Jul-1902 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett-exonerated Koski Jonas A. 8-Jan-1907 Stockett - possibly mine accident Kraiesky Frank 13-Oct-1921 1/4mi. E. of Gerber, for Pierce Coal Co. Kuella Otto 1-Aug-1910 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Larsen Samuel 27-Feb-1900 Lewis Rock Quarry - Belt Leary Oiva 4-Sep-1934 Mine exonerated

22 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Last Name First Name Inquest Date Location/Remarks

Legatich Joseph 10-Aug-1908 Rock Quarry - Albright Lind Robert 16-Feb-1891 Lindsay David 21-Sep-1901 Sand Coulee Coal Co. - exonerated Lithgrow Robert 1-Jul-1905 Boston & Montana Mining Co. Lukach Michael 20-Jun-1902 Anaconda Mining Co. - Belt - exonerated Lunberg Maurice 20-Jul-1897 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Luoma Eric 20-Jul-1915 Tom Hendricks Mine - Carpenter Creek Luoma Jacob 4-Oct-1899 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Macki Leonard 6-Apr-1910 Belt MacPherson Archibald 21-Jan-1909 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Maki Jack 21-May-1909 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Maki Victor 15-Feb-1915 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Malone Patrick 30-Dec-1891 Boston & Montana Smelter, construction Manilla Lawrence 13-Dec-1898 Black Diamond Mine-Sand Coulee Maren Joe 21-Dec-1899 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Margurattai Frank 31-May-1910 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Markl Joseph 21-Oct-1918 Cottonwood Mining & Coal Co. Sand Coulee Martel George 9-Sep-1893 Fall of coal, Sand Coulee Martin Thomas 16-Dec-1899 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Mathews Arthur 12-Aug-1916 Anaconda Copper Smelter - Great Falls McCartney Charles 27-May-1916 National Coal Co. - Sand Coulee Michel John 20-Apr-1911 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Mike Theodore 20-May-1911 Jury advised safety precautions for others Montgomery Henry 12-Dec-1916 Anaconda Copper Smelter - Great Falls Morrison John P. 27-Apr-1919 Anaconda Copper Smelter - Great Falls Murray Richard 2-Nov-1897 Sand Coulee Coal Mine - exonerated Nalevanko John 3-Jan-1903 Cottonwood Coal Co.-Stockett Nordberg Gust 22-Jul-1920 Leaching Plant, Anaconda Copper Mining Co. Oshork John 17-Jun-1895 Mine accident, Boston & Montana Smelter Palmer August 10-Aug-1908 Rock Quarry - Albright Parac Nicholas 12-Sep-1913 Anaconda Copper Smelter - Great Falls Pattee Ira 8-Sep-1920 Moulton Mine - Neihart Pavlisin Andrew 6-Apr-1904 Stockett - #2 mine Pejko George 4-Dec-1936 Colone & Johnson Mine, Belt; 12.2 Pistoria Paul 9-Nov-1896 Sand Coulee Coal Co. - exonerated Pistoria Paul 7-Jun-1905 Cottonwood Coal Mine - Stockett Prudent Ernest 8-Feb-1897 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated

23 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Last Name First Name Inquest Date Location/Remarks

Quinn Harry 18-Oct-1901 Boston & Montana Smelter Quinn Terry 17-Jan-1929 Hughesville, St. Joe Lead Co. Reiber Wendal 21-Apr-1897 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Riley Frank 1-Nov-1899 Boston & Montana - negligence found Sado Mike 30-Aug-1901 Anaconda Copper Co. - Belt Seymore Do* 16-Aug-1892 Epileptic seizure, Boston & Montana Smelter Sharara Alfonso 12-Dec-1917 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Sherari Alfones 13-Dec-1917 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Sineizy Anton 12-Feb-1907 Boston & Montana Mining Co.-Belt Smolak Joseph 10-May-1897 Sand Coulee Coal Co. Stockbauer John 22-Oct-1898 Boston & Montana Smelter - exonerated Sturman Benjamin 13-Nov-1920 Moulton Mine - Neihart Sundberg Carl J. 25-Feb-1898 Suojanen Jacob 6-Jun-1917 Cottonwood Mining & Coal Co. Sand Coulee Svedic Ivan/John 31-Dec-1914 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Swanson Charles 25-Jun-1907 Galt Mine - Neihart Sward Patrick 28-Nov-1921 Neihart--Colsolidated Mine Swartz Mike 9-May-1905 Cottonwood Coal Mine - Stockett Szabo Mike 29-Aug-1907 Anaconda Copper Co. - Belt Tabaracci Frank 31-Oct-1913 Cottonwood Coal Co. - Stockett Tegtmyer Fred 1-Apr-1904 Neihart Tenney John C. 1-Apr-1917 Merkle Coal Mine - Belt Trigg James H. 15-Feb-1897 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Tuss Ivan 21-Jun-1904 Boston & Montana Mining Co. Vernon William Thomas 20-Apr-1917 Nelson Coal Mine - Sand Coulee Walkovick Lawrance 28-Aug-1899 Anaconda Copper Co., Belt-exonerated Wans John 16-Feb-1895 Fall of rock, mine, Belt Westman August 4-Aug-1919 Cottonwood Mining & Coal Co. Sand Coulee Wilder William 8-Jan-1909 Boston & Montana Smelter Great Falls Williamson John 15-Apr-1935 East Belt Mine Accident Wurula Jacob 25-Jun-1896 Castner Coal Co., Belt--exonerated Yeager Peter 15-May-1909 Boston & Montana Smelter Great Falls Zlatich Mike 22-Aug-1907 Boston & Montana Smelter - Great Falls

24 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

HISTORY AND FAMILY HISTORIES OF SUN RIVER VALLEY

In the beginning the Sun River Valley was rich, river bottomland with buttes, breaks, and lush meadows overflowing with buffalo, elk, deer and antelope; a haven for native American hunters, as has been proven by the arrowheads and bones found below the many bluffs used as buffalo jumps.

Soon the white men came: trappers and fur traders, and then those searching for gold, that was never found in the valley. Next came the settlers with huge cattle and sheep herds to the large valley , perfect for grazing lands.

Then came the freight wagons and stagecoach travelers, traveling between the steamboat port at Fort Benton to the state capitol in Helena and on to Walla Walla, Washington. Now protection was needed for the travelers, and a military fort was build at Fort Shaw. When the protection from Indians was no longer needed, the fort was turned into a school for Indian children, and the children came from many tribes. When that school was closed, some of the buildings were used by the Reclamation Bureau for offices and the other buildings were used for a public school for children of the many settlers coming to the valley.

The Homestead Act opened up land in 1910, and brought many families to the valley and the Fort Shaw Military Reservation. A railroad was soon built from Great Falls to Gilman in 1912 and later on to Au- gusta. The railroad established many small towns, which brought many more settlers, and soon the towns of Vaughn, Sun River, Fort Shaw, Simms, and Augusta were bustling communities. Willow Creek Dam construction was first started in 1910, then Diversion Dam and, finally, Gibson Dam in Sun River canyon was finished in 1929 and a sophisticated irrigation system was set in place to enable farmers to irrigate the land; and many more settlers came to live in the valley.

The Sun River Valley Historical Society is presently finalizing a book about the history of this valley, concentrating mainly on stories of the families who settled in the valley, telling their rich histories. The area and family histories include many pictures of the past and present.

If you are interested in learning more about the book, or purchasing this hard-cover book, contact the Society president: Burnette Batista, phone 406-965-3025, or email: [email protected], or Alice Heisel: [email protected]

25 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Thomson’s Montana Newspaper List

MONTANA NEWSPAPER AVAILABILITY FULL TEXT ONLINE Ancestry.com (Subscription Required) (free to members at GFGS library) CA=Chronicalingamerica.loc.gov; FREE GenealogyBank.com (Subscription Required) (free to members at GFGS library) Newspaper Archive.com (Subscription Required)

NEWSPAPER DATES AVAILABLE FROM: Anaconda Butte Miner 1908 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Anaconda Standard Sep 1889-Mar 1898-Jan 1900 CA Anaconda Standard Jan 1898-Dec 31, 1922 GenealogyBank.com ($) Anaconda Standard 1900-1914; 1927, 1928 Ancestry.com ($) Anaconda Standard 1900-1928 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Benton Record Feb 1875-May 1884 CA Bigfork Eagle July 2004- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Billings Gazette 1906-2007 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Billings Gazette Jan 1899-Dec 1909 CA Billings Gazette 1910-1977; some years missing Ancestry.com ($) Billings Gazette Oct 2009- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Billings Daily Gazette 1908-2007 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Billings Herald 1947-1951 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Billings Weekly Gazette 1923-1926 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Bozeman Daily Chronicle 1926 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Bozeman Daily Chronicle June, 1996- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Butte Anaconda MT Standard 1960 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Butte Daily Bulletin Jan 1918-Dec 1920 CA Butte Daily Miner 1879-1890 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Butte Daily Miner 1880-1881 Ancestry.com ($) Butte Daily Post 1932-1934 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Butte Inter Mountain Jan 1902-Dec 1903 CA Butte Montana Standard 2007 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Butte Miner 1876-1880 Ancestry.com ($) Butte Miner 1876-1914 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Butte New Age May 1902-Feb. 1903 CA Butte Weekly Miner Jan 1896-May 1901 GenealogyBank.com ($) Clark Fork Valley Press (Plains) Jan 2008- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits The Colored Citizen (Helena) Sep-Nov 1894 CA Culbertson Searchlight Jan 1909-Dec 1912 CA Daily Independent (Helena) 1874-1875) Ancestry.com ($) Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell) Sep 2004 GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell) 1916-2007 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell) 1911; 1917-1923; 1930-1977 Ancestry.com ($) Daily Miner, The (Butte) 1879; 1881-1885 Ancestry.com ($) Daily Missoulian Nov 1909-Dec 1914 CA Daily Yellowstone Journal Oct 1882-Dec 1890;Jan 1891-Dec CA 1894

Janet Thomson, Ed. D., Last Updated December 6, 2012 26 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Thomson’s Montana Newspaper List

NEWSPAPER DATES AVAILABLE FROM: Demersville Inter Lake Demersville, Flathead County NewspaperArchive.com ($) Fergus County Argus (Lewistown) Sep 1886-Dec 1904 CA Great Falls Leader June 1888-Dec 1889 CA Great Falls Tribune May 1885-Dec 1896 CA Harlowton News Feb 1909-Jan 1914 CA Havre Daily News Promoter 1925-1930 Ancestry.com ($) Havre Daily News Promoter 1925-1930 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Havre Daily News 1930-1931; 1936; 1971-1977 Ancestry.com ($) Havre Daily News 1930-1977 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Havre Daily Promoter 1925-1928 Ancestry.com ($) NewspaperArchive.com ($) Havre Hill County Journal 1935-1942 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Helena Daily Independent 1917-2003 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Helena Independent Jan 1889- April 1890; Jan 1891- CA Dec 1893; Jan-Dec 1894 Helena Independent Jan 1898-Dec 31, 1900 GenealogyBank.com ($) Helena Independent 1889-2006 NewspaperArchive.com ($)

Helena Independent Record 1948-2001 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Helena Independent Record 1964-1997 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Helena Independent 1875-1884; 1894; 1924-1942; 1954 Ancestry.com ($) Helena Weekly Independent 1893 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Helena Weekly Herald Nov 15, 1866-Nov 25, 1869 GenealogyBank.com ($) Herald (Billings) 1947-1951 Ancestry.com ($) Hungry Horse News (Columbia July 2004- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Falls) Independent (Helena) 1874-1948 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Independent Record (Helena) 2009- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Inter Lake (Kalispell) 2007 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Kalispell Daily Inter Lake 1909-1977 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Kalispell Inter Lake 1892-1909 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Lake County Leader & Advertiser Dec 2008- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Libby Herald Aug 1911-Aug 1913 CA Malta Enterprise Mar 1908-Dec 1916 CA Mineral Argus Aug 1883-Dec 1884; Jan 1885-Aug CA 1886 Missoulian Oct 2009- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Montana Herold (Helena) May 1893-July 11, 1901 GenealogyBank.com ($) Montana News April 1904-Jan 1912 CA Montana Nonpartisan Oct 1918-Dec 1919 CA Montana Plaindealer Mar 1906-Sep 1911 CA Montana Post Aug 1864-June 1869 CA Montana Radiator (Helena) Jan 27, 1866-Oct 13, 1866 GenealogyBank.com ($)

Janet Thomson, Ed. D., Last Updated December 6, 2012 27 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Thomson’s Montana Newspaper List

NEWSPAPER DATES AVAILABLE FROM: Montana Standard (Butte) 1900-2007 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Montana Standard (Butte) 1928-1930; 1934; 1938-42; 1950; Ancestry.com ($) 1956-1964; 1971-1977 Montana Butte Standard 1931-1937 NewspaperArchive.com ($) Montana Standard-Post (Butte) 1959-1966 Ancestry.com ($) NewspaperArchive.com ($) New North-West, The July 1869-April 1897 CA New West (Missoula) Mar 10, 2005- GenealogyBank.com ($) Philipsburg Mail April 1887-Dec 1901 CA Producers News April 1918-Dec 1922 CA Ravalli Republican Aug 1894-Dec 1898 CA Red Lodge Picket Mar-July 1890; Aug 1891-Dec CA 1901 River Press [Fort Benton] Oct 1880-Dec 1887 CA Rocky Mtn. Husbandman Nov 1875-Dec 1884 CA Ronan Pioneer Feb 1911-Dec 1917 CA Sidney Herald Jan 2001- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Suffrage Daily News Sep-Nov 1914 CA Sun River Sun Feb 1884-April 1885 CA Western News (Libby) August 2004- GeneaogyBank.com ($) Obits West Shore News (Bigfork) Mar 24, 2009- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Whitefish Pilot July 13, 2004- GenealogyBank.com ($) Obits Yellowstone Monitor Jan 1908-Dec 1912 CA

“A good newspaper is a nation talking to itself.” Arthur Miller

“People don’t actually read newspapers. They step into them every morning like a hot bath.” Marshall McLuhan

“Every time a newspaper dies, even a bad one, the country moves a little closer to authoritarianism…” Richard Kluger

“The newspaper is a greater treasure to the people than uncounted millions of gold.” Henry Ward Beecher

Typesetter from era of hand composition. Photo from Morning Oregonian, December 4, 1900, p.15 Janet Thomson, Ed. D., Last Updated December 6, 2012 28 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

W.H. George, State’s First Licensed Embalmer and Civic Leader Here, Dies

Great Falls Tribune , November. 4, 1955

Wade Hampton George, Realizing that an ambulance was badly needed in 78, Montana’s first li- Great Falls, George was the first to place one at the censed embalmer and a disposal of local physicians and hospitals, one of the Great Falls civic and busi- first in the northwest. ness leader for more than He was the first funeral director in Montana to use half a century, died in a automobile equipment in his business, never having local hospital Wednesday used horse-drawn equipment from his new building morning. His health had except, by special request, for the funeral of Charles been failing for the past M. Russell in October 1926. year and he had been hos- After conducting a mortuary here 45 years, George pitalized several times dur- sold his full interest in the W.H. George Co. Nov. 1, ing that period. 1947, to C.E. Saylor. Funeral service will be In 1928 George established the Great Falls Mauso- held at 2 p.m. Monday at leum, which was reorganized in January 1953, as the the First Methodist Church, Hillcrest Lawn Memorial, for the purpose of perpetu- Rev. Vernon Hanks will officiate. Entombment in ating the institution as a community memorial. George Hillcrest Lawn Memorial will follow. served as president of both organizations. Originally George was born June 29, 1877, at Arcola, La. 420 crypts were installed. Two new building were When he was 4, the family moved to Denver where opened this week bringing the total to about 1,800 young Wade attended school. Later he took a crypts. course at the Champion School of Embalming and A prominent exponent of good highways, George Sanitary Science in Chicago, graduating Nov. 20, was influential in the building of many state roads. He 1897. was for years chairman of the Good Roads Committee In 1900 he assumed management of Hermann & of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce. He was one Co., funeral directors in Helena, as Montana’s first of the founders and the first president of the Cascade licensed embalmer. Having worked in Helena two County Good Roads Assn. and had served as a director years, George bought the small established mortu- of the Central Montana Highway Assn. ary in Great Falls which was to be the foundation George was a life member of the local Elks Lodge of his enterprises. and was a charter member of the Rotary Club here. He That first mortuary was in a rented building at 409 also was affiliated with the Meadow Lark Country Central Ave, then on the outskirts of the business Club, Great Falls Shrine Club, Cascade Lodge No. 34, district, and was purchased from George Berthold. AF&AM Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, Mystic George and the former Susan K. Kline, a native of Shrine, Eagles, Modern Woodman, American Crema- Bloomington, Ill., were married July 23, 1903, at tion Society and American Cemetery Owners Assn. Helena. He also was a former member of the Montana Fu- In 1913 George erected a four-story building at neral Directors Assn., National Funeral Directors 417—419 1st Ave. N., in which he established a Assn., National Selected Morticians and Western new funeral home. The building also houses sev- Cemetery Alliance. eral business establishments and the Hampton Survivors are the widow, Susan K. George; a brother, Apts., in which the Georges have made their home. S. Larkin George of Great Falls, and a sister, Mrs. The apartment building was sold by George last Harry Bailey of San Diego. November to the Montana Bank, which in turn sold the property to Nels Thisted last April. George re- tained ownership of an adjoining building and parking area at 413-415 1st Ave. N.

29 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

The W.H. George Co. was the longest continually operating funeral home in Great Falls. (1902—1978)

In 1902 Wade Hampton George purchased the small mortuary located at 409 Central Avenue in a rented building. The previous owner, George Berthold had been in business for about two years.

In 1913 the business re-located to a four-story building erected by George at 417-419 1st Avenue North. When the property was sold in 1954, he retained ownership of an adjoining building and relocated to 413- 415 1st Avenue North.

In 1958 The George Co., now owned by C.E. Saylor, moved to a new building in the Country Club addition at Fox Farm Road and 10th Avenue South, and ownership was transferred twice more.

In 1978, under the name of Torman-George Funeral Home, the doors were closed after the last service on October 13th.

Over the 76 year span, the company served more than 12,000 individuals in their final needs.

GEORGE CO. RECORDS NOW AT GF GENEALOGY LIBRARY

Since the business shut down in 1978, the records had been in the possession of the O’Connor Funeral Home. Owners Steve and Carla Schnider have generously allowed us to move them to our library so that researchers can have better access.

In September, all known records of the W.H. George Co. Funeral Home were transferred to the Great Falls Genealogy Society, 301 2nd Ave. North in Great Falls MT.

After the society inventoried and re-organized the books, drawers and files, library volun- teers can now assist patrons in combing thru the many facets of the records. All are in- dexed alphabetically for ease of researching.

There are 35 books and over 20 file boxes that cover the period 1902—1978, well over 24,000 pieces of information relating to the deceased.

30 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

The value of the information in these records cannot be over-stated.

The forms vary for different time periods and are extremely interesting and informative.

Some of the fields include for the deceased:  birthdate  death date  birth place  nationality  occupation  residence history  religion  name of spouse  name and birthplace of father  name, birthplace and maiden name of mother More recent files may also list surviving relatives.

Even the smallest of details is noted:  expenses for flowers  transportation arrangements  preparation of the body  any clothing items purchased  correspondence

Additionally, the disposition of the body is included, along with loca- tion of cemetery plot, if local.

Disposition is very important because if the deceased was shipped somewhere else for burial, this may be the only burial record to be found. The Society has done extensive listing of all county burials, but would not have any record of those not actually buried locally. Also, in the case of a cremation where no burial took place, there may be no other record.

31 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

GREAT FALLS FUNERAL HOMES — 2012

Records similar to those of the George Co. are also available at these existing funeral homes

Lloyd, sons Dennis, Gary CROXFORD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY Lloyd Croxford and his wife, Patti came to Great Falls, Montana from Salt Lake City, Utah on April 15, 1930. Croxford Merrill mortuary began in a temporary building located at 307 1st Ave. North. Lloyd began construction of a beautiful English Tudor funeral home in September of 1930. The mortuary located at 1307 Central Ave. was opened for business in May of 1931 "It is an artistic addition to the city." (Great Falls Tribune 1931.) Two sons, Gary and Dennis were born. The family lived in a five room upstairs apartment in the fu- neral home for twenty-five years. Gary and Dennis became associated with the mortuary as funeral directors and the name was changed to Croxford & Sons Funeral Home. On Dec. 17, 1973 Lloyd, funeral director, civic leader, singer, religious man, died from a heart attack at the age of 73 in his home. Lloyd was active on the school board for nine years. He was a major fund raiser for the Boy Scouts and organized the Century Club. He was past president of the Great Falls Lion’s Club and a member of the Chamber of Commerce and YMCA for many years. His only two children, Gary and Dennis, became owner-operators of the mortuary. In 2003 Gary re- tired and Dennis became the owner. Since 1930, the funeral home has served Great Falls and surrounding communities. It is the only sec- ond generation, family owned, funeral home in Great Falls. Croxford's is considered the most beautiful older funeral home in Montana with its unique English Tudor design inside and out. It is a historical landmark on Central Avenue.

O’CONNOR FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY The O’Connor Funeral Home recently commemorated 100 years of service. In 1911, T.F. “Tom” O’Connor purchased the McAllister Funeral Home located at 701 Central Ave- nue. The original McAllister Funeral Home was at 209 Central Avenue. W.G. “Bill” O’Connor joined the business with his father following World War II. Upon the death of T.F. O’Connor, he became president of the firm and continued to operate the firm until his death. T.C. “Tom” O’Connor, son of Bill O’Connor, became associated with the firm in 1959, when the new facility was built at 2425 8th Avenue North. In 1978 O’Connor purchased George Co. Funeral Home. O’Connor Funeral Home is now owned by Steve and Carla Schnider, owners of Schnider Funeral Home.

SCHNIDER FUNERAL HOME Steve and Carla Schnider were both born and raised in a small farming community in northern Idaho, where they later married in 1977. As Steve developed his career as a mortician, they called several places home. No community, however, has laid a greater claim than Great Falls, Montana, where they’ve lived and raised their family for nearly thirty years. Steve managed several funeral homes, including O’Connor Funeral Home, which they now own, and Chapel of Chimes, now closed. In 2001 Steve and Carla founded Schnider Funeral Home, realizing their lifelong dream of owning a business and serving the community.

32 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

A Tribute to Early Society Benefactor, Esther Combes Vance

In November, 1976, the newly- We are now the largest, pri organized Great Falls Genealogy vately held genealogy library Society received a communication in Montana. from Esther with an offer of books to help the society establish a library. She and her sister, Ge- neiva Combes of Sidney had col- lected 187 genealogical publica- Our entire catalog of materi- tions. als can be viewed on our web- site: These materials ranged widely in www.gfgenealogy.org the geographic areas covered and included books on immigration, military history, census and re- search aids.

Society charter member Thelma Marshall and her husband, Art, made three trips to Missoula to collect the materials and turn them over to the society for the new, small one-room library at Paris Gibson Square.

From the original eight books the society had and the 187 books donated by Esther Vance and Geneiva Combes, our library has grown to have over 10,000 re- sources.

33 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

Genealogist, Pioneer Aviatrix, Business Woman

Esther Combes Vance was the first woman licensed to fly airplanes in Montana, and the twenty-second in the nation. She was born August 19, 1903, in Clinton, Indiana, the daughter of William and Dicy Pastre Combes. The family moved to Sidney, Montana, and in 1921 Esther graduated from Sidney High School. Four years later she received de- grees in both physical education and teaching from the University of Washington. In August 1925 she married Earl Vance, owner of a commer- cial flying business in Sidney. In 1928 Esther Vance became licensed first as a private pilot and then as a limited commercial pilot. The couple be- came a barnstorming team with Great Falls as their headquarters. She served as business manager and treasurer for Vance Air Service in Great Falls until the business was destroyed by fire in 1931. From then until Earl's death in 1944, she assisted him in a variety of jobs. After his death she moved to Missoula, Montana, where she worked in the registrar's of- fice at the University of Montana until her retirement.

Picture from Smithsonian, source unknown

Biograhical note from Montana Historical Society “Guide to the Esther Combes Vance Papers 1904-1977 Photo from “Montana and the Sky” 34 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

“All I know is what I read in The papers.”

Will Rogers

The Great Falls Tribune August 17, 1927, page 7 No Moonshine About This Snake; It Travels From Tropics in Car Of Bananas, Packs an Awful Scare

They had snakes down at the pro- warm to get rid of the reptile. It did duce house of Devine & Asselstine not even have time to bite him. Tuesday. News of the find spread rapidly Not the employees, the bananas. and there was a large crown of curi- And not of the B. V. era, but the ous onlookers on hand in a few min- regular old wriggle kind that don’t utes to view the reptile, but none know Mr. Volstead. could classify it. The reptile was found when employ- Oshey Devine, member of the ees were unloading a car of bananas firm, held to the belief that the snake and storing them in the banana room. belons to the boa constrictor family. It was the misfortune of Alfred Fitz- The reptile was preserved in a fruit gerald, an employee, to “find” the jar and an attempt will be made to snake, and he disclarimed all posses- learn more of its family. sion as soon as he located him. “It was about a foot long and the It was a cold day and the men most beautiful snake I ever saw”, unloading the car were working with Oshey declared. “We often find ta- their sleeves rolled down. Fitzgeral rantulas I the bananas, but this is the reached for a bunch of bananas and first case I have ever heard of find- felt something cold drop down his ing a snake in them. It gave the shirt sleeve. boys an awful scare, but did no dam- It took him less than half the time it age.” took the snake to get in where it was

35 Treasure State Lines Volume 37, Number 2

EARLY SETTLERS OF GREAT FALLS Stories about early residents of Great Falls, Montana 1884—1920

AVAILABLE NOW THIS 9 x 12, 2 VOLUME SET HAS OVER 900 PAGES AND IN- CLUDES

 FAMILY STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMIT- TED BY INDIVIDUALS

 INFORMATION ON EARLY RESIDENTS, COMPILED FROM NUMEROUS SOURCES

 COMPREHENSIVE HISTORIES OF THE CITY, EARLY NEIGHBORHOODS, PO- LICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS

 PHOTO SECTION

COST OF THE 2 VOLUME, SOFT-COVER BOOK

$ 39.95 A publication of the Great Falls Genealogy Society

BOOKS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE GENEALOGY LIBRARY (FOR ORDERS TO BE MAILED : ADD $ 6.00 POSTAGE COST) OR ORDER DIRECTLY THRU AMAZON.COM: $ 20.00 per volume ORDER FORM

______2 Volume Sets at $39.95 and will pickup at the Great Falls Genealogy Library

______2 Volume Sets at $39.95 plus $6.00 postage to be mailed to the address below—Total $45.95 per set (allow 3 weeks for delivery)

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MAIL TO: GREAT FALLS GENEALOGY SOCIETY 301 2nd AVE. NORTH GREAT FALLS MT 59401 For more information call 406-727-3922

36 Great Falls Genealogy Society NON-PROFIT ORG. 301 2nd Ave N U.S. Postage Paid Great Falls, MT 59401 Permit No. 10 Great Falls MT 59401 Return Service Requested