Neihart, Montana in the Late 1800s

Neihart, MT, before the railway was built in 1890. [CCHS 024.0011]

Cover of The Herald Souvenir, 1895

We present an account by Donald B. Mackintosh, originally published in The Herald Souvenir, Thanksgiving Number, 1895. Mackintosh came to Montana from New Brunswick at 40 years of age. Prior to his move to Montana, he commanded several ships and held a first class certificate from the British Board of Trade, as well as the American Shipmasters Association. Mackintosh was the first postmaster and merchant in Neihart, was the owner of the Hartley, Enterprise, Mogul, Canary Bird, Humming Bird, and other mines, and was the general manager of the Consolidated Mining Company.

The original Herald Souvenir may be accessed in the Promotional Materials Collection for Neihart, Montana, housed in The History Museum’s Archives.

Neihart History
D. B. Mackintosh

I have been asked to furnish a sketch of the discovery and early history of this camp. I find it impossible, in the limited space prescribed for this article, to do justice to all the men engaged in its discovery and early development. Gibbon has defined history as “A record of the mistakes, misfortunes and crimes of mankind.” Of mistakes and misfortunes, we have had our full share. But the camp was in communication with the outside world by rail before it furnished a case for the grand jury. I take this opportunity of thanking the small boys of camp for their care of my shack and its contents during the years that its doors remained unlocked.

Neihart was a product of the camp of Barker, or rather of the town of Fort Benton, the enterprising citizens of the latter place being largely interested in Barker. The Conrads, Downing, Werrick, and others were interested in the early discoveries of this camp. About the first day of July, 1881, James Leroy Neihart, John C. O’Brien and Richard Harley came into the gulch from Belt Park, and located the first discover, Queen of the Hills, and other claims, the Queen, I think, being located on the sixth of the month. They were soon joined by other prospectors, among whom are Paul Marcure, Jas. Keegan, S. H. Sutton, J. M. Carothers, Wm. Kane, Tuck Lambert, E. Mann, C. D. Ladd, Stephen Pierse, Chas. Higby, O. C. Mortson, Peter Fehrenbach, E. D. Tingal, F. B. Rafferty, Silas Beachly, John Lamb, Michael Powers, A. J. Briggs, Scott and others. John McLeod and the writer arrived on the last day of August, that year. Many of the above mentioned locators had already left for Barker. Later Wm. Crandall, Jas. Chamberlain, Wallace Bell, Dan. Buchanan, and others arrived and located claims. O. C. Mortson and the writer left camp on the 4th day of October, Chamberlain, and Bell on the 8th, they being the last to depart.

Looking south up Harley Creek from the south bank of Belt Creek trees. Road to the left leads to Neihart, road to the right leads to Harley Creek. [CCHS 024.0014]

On the first day of ’82, James Keegan and the writer re-arrived at the former’s shack at the head of Belt Park, intending to come into camp, build a cabin, and commence work. We were soon joined by a number of other prospectors, who had the same objective in view. The weather, which up to that time had been fine, turned suddenly stormy. Keegan and the writer remained in the park, the rest to Barker. After some days, Keegan went to the foot of the park where Chamberlain and Bell were then camped, and in attempting to return to his own cabin he was overtaken by a storm and perished withing two miles of his destination. He was kind-hearted, honest, and a most agreeable companion – the first of our community to cross the great divide. The hill, at the food of which he fell is still called Keegan’s Butte.

April 7, of ’82, most of the locators were in camp. That day we held our first town meeting, where Duncan McCowan’s house now stands. J. C. O’Brien, seated upon a rock, was chairman of the meeting, and I was secretary, lay at full length upon the ground. The secretary moved that the town be called Farragut, after the gallant admiral who bore that name. This name did not receive a second. Hamilton moved that it be called Neihart, which was carried. The limits of the town were defined by O’Brien Creek on the east, and Harley Creek on the west, thus perpetuating the names of the first discoverers. I was elected recorder and authorized to survey the town and locate streets and lots. Main street remains today nearly the same as then located.

The first log shack was built by Ed Tingal in what is now called Jericho. The same spring, we were joined by a number of men, who became permanent residents, adding materially to the development of the camp. Frank Marion, A. J. Hamilton, J. C. Wells, B. S. Fitzpatrick, Louis Bergeron, Peter Sylvester, Thos. Angers, Phil Walsh, H. J. Sanborn, and others. My partner, Sanborn, remained only a few months. He was the first notary public in camp. B. S. Fitzpatrick and Frank Stellabras located the mines which still bear their respective names. Fitzpatrick made a shipment of ore from his mine, the first shipment from camp, which was packed on horseback to the smelter in Barker.

Jericho, Montana and the road to Neihart, photographer L.B. Stark, 1893-1894 [CCHS 024.0001]

In June of ’82 the businessmen of White Sulphur Springs employed M. L. Sohmers to cut a trail from Sheep Creek into this camp. Later on, these same men contributed $1,100 toward building a wagon road from smith River to the head of O’Brien Creek which road was built by James Brewer, the men of Neihart building up that creek to join Mr. Brewer at his terminus. This was quite a heavy undertaking for the few men engaged in its construction. I do not now remember the names of all engaged, but I think James Chamberlain, B. S. Fitzpatrick, J. C. Wells, Thos. Angers, and Paul Marcure were the principal workers, each contributing about two months work to the road. The Contribution by White Sulphur Springs was a most generous act, as at that time, not a foot of ground in the new camp was owned or claimed by any one at that place.

In May, Daniel Dutro discovered and located the Benton group of mines on Snow Creek. In the latter part of June at a miners’ meeting over which Sanborn presided it was decided to make this an organized mining district. The chairman appointed Fitzpatrick, Crandall, Dutro, and another whose name I have forgotten, to draw up the requisite by laws, and report at the next meeting. The committee reported the following week; the bylaws were adopted, and the proceedings and laws were published in the River Press and the Rocky Mountain Husbandman. The bylaws were recorded at Washington D. C., but the proceedings were never recorded at the county seat; so, this still remains an unorganized district.

Railroad ore-loading dock in Neihart, MT [CCHS 024.0017]

In August, ’82, Rev. W. W. Van Orsdel, now Superintendent of North Montanan Mission of the M. E. Church, held the first religious service in camp. The meeting was held in a log cabin belonging to Joseph Hannah, then standing where Cooks’ furniture store now stands. But here I propose to digress. During my life I have attended two, to me, very impressive religious services. The first was conducted by a Catholic priest, on New Year’s Eve, ’72, on a passage from Liverpool to New York. A strong gale was blowing at the time. People are generally religious during a storm at sea but regain their normal state with the return of fair weather, and on reaching land are apt to be more than usually wicked. The good priest had to keep a firm hold upon the table with both hands in order to maintain his feet. He was well advanced in years, but upon that night the good Lord gave him special power, and his eloquent address had a lasting effect for good upon the lives of most of his hearers, perhaps upon all. The second was that afore-mentioned first sermon preached at Neihart—When this mountain glen first echoed man’s songs of prayer and praise to the great Creator. Both services were entirely free from tinsel, fuss or feather, and there was no visible presence of the golden calf of Jewish history. Saint Paul, or Peter in their working clothes would have felt perfectly at home, and in either would have given a front seat. But to business.

In the early eighties Neihart was not a very religious community. With the thermometer 40 degrees below zero the average Neihartite did not believe that in a future life he should be everlasting roasted merely because a rather distant relative had, unfortunately for mankind an inordinate appetite for fruit. But not withstanding this lamentable skepticism, the early settlers had most of the essentials of a Christian community. They entertained strangers to the best of their ability and lived in reasonable harmony with their fellow men.

Looking down Belt Creek from the Hudson Mining Company Smelter. Harley Creek Bridge in center foreground, photographer L. B. Stark. [CCHS 024.0009]

The first woman to visit camp was a certain Mrs. Leach. She rode horseback man fashion. Either this picturesque way of traveling or her husband’s propensity for interfering with other men’s claims, made Mr. and Mrs. Leach rather unpopular and their stay in camp was short.

Our supplies were brought from Barker, over the trail on horseback. Mr. Stockings, accompanied by his charming daughter and another lady visited the camp, whom Professor O. C. Mortson had the honor of entertaining. In October, James Chamberlain brought the first team and wagon over the range from White Sulphur Springs. The following winter many of the men left camp. Neihart and his partners and John Lind worked on the Queen of the Hills. Peter Fehrenbach worked on the Samson, now the London.

Early in the Spring of ’83, Philip F. Burns came over the range on snowshoes, and was lost in the woods three days and three nights without food. This spring was very stormy and wet. Judge J. M. Gray who has been for years our justice of the peace, came into the camp from Yogo, that spring, spending the night on the mountains in the snow and rain. Duncan McDonald, Duncan McCowan, Martin Barrett, and James Sites joined our community. The last while our hunting was attacked by a bear, and James Chamberlain made on of the finest rifle shots on record, killing the bear which stood over the prostrate form of Mr. Sites.

In August, the first freight team arrived in charge of Robert Menefee. It was a bull team belonging to J. O. Hussey of White Sulphur Springs and contained a load of supplies for M. L. Lohmire, who was working on the Massachusetts, now the Galt, then under the bond to Sam Hauser of Helena. During this summer, a wagon road was opened from camp to Belt Park via Harley Creek. Mrs. Joyce kept a station at the Dry Fork of Belt and served good food to the travelers on that road. Capt. Payne kept a shopping place at the food of the park, and Baldwin and Tate a similar place at the crossing of Sheep Creek.

In September R. C. Mills and Daniel McNeil arrived and established the first livery stable. Their arrival was an important event in the life of camps, as Mrs. Miller and her daughter, Mrs. McNeil were the first of the fair sex to settle among us. Professor Davis, the head of a party of N. P. Surveyors, visited camp. Mr. Hill of that party informed me that my shack was 5,500 feet above sea level. Capt. Thos. Couch, B. C. Kingsbury and Thomas Wall visited the camp, the latter for some years after serving as commissioner of Meagher County.

Louis Rotwitt, then clerk and recorder of this county, now secretary of state, and J. T. Anderson, now representative in the legislature both firm friends of this camp sampled our coffee and bacon. This autumn there was considerable activity in camp. Chamberlain, Wells, and Bell began work on the Montana Belle, and Minnehaha mines; James Sites and Hagh White on the St. Julien mine; Fitzpatrick, Hamilton, and others on their respective claims.

Reportedly the first grocery store in Neihart, MT, pictured on the left. This store first opened for business October, 1883. [CCHS 024.0019]

October 27, 1883, the writer opened the first store in Neihart. This was a small log building with dirt floor, the roof also covered with dirt. Poles served as shelves and a door did duty as a counter. The first stock of goods came from the firm of F. W. Reed & Co. of Barker. A few days after shipping the goods, that firm failed, and for some days thereafter there was a brisk and lively trade at the log shack, the general fear being that the lawyers would take goods from the camp. The freight rate from the Springs was 3 to 5 cents per pound; from Barker, 3 cents per pound. Anderson Bros. of White Sulphur Springs supplied the camp the coming winter with most of their rations. Wm. MacQueen, assignee for Reed & Co., supplied a considerable amount of goods. In December, ’83, J. C. E. Barker and uncle. A. Caldwell came into camp, the former to remain and take an active part in its development, the latter, much to our regret, soon join the great majority.

About April 1, 1884, Prof. Newborne of Boston and two others reached camp, and with J. C. E. Barker for the Hudson Mining Co., bonded the Mountain Chief from Milton Carothers and partners. In May, B. C. Kingsbury of Butte began work on the Queen of the Hills, on which mine he had secured a bond. This, with work progressing on the Bell, Mountain Chief and other mines mad the camp quite lively. There were several saloons with their usual accompaniments. Mrs. Bird opened an eating house in a log cabin with a tent attachment. Charles Crawford started a blacksmith shop and Henry Wilson a livery stable. Henry & Wright, then U. S. deputy mineral surveyors, opened an assay office. J. S. McLaughlin, Jonathan McAssey, Geo. L. Johnston, Mayer & Wilson, D. L. S. Barker, and other joined the community. These have all taken a more or less active part in the life and development of the camp.

Wm. Woolsey of Sheep Creek had the mail contract between the Springs and Barker, passing through Neihart; regardless of weather he supplied us with mail three times a week. Previous to July of ’84, we received mail whenever anyone chose to bring it, and dispatched it in the same manner. The sacs would be occasionally dropped along the way by a volunteer carrier, when the first one to find it would open it, as it was merely tied by a string. If bound his way, he would carry it through; if not, he generally hung it upon a tree by the roadside for the next man. In November 1883, a bag of mail was sent from Neihart to White Sulphur Springs, a distance of forty-two miles. It arrived at its destination in June of ’84, having spent the winter on the range.

Hudson Mining Company on the banks of Belt Creek, photographer L.B. Stark [CCHS 024.0012]

In June of ’84 James Chamberlain and partners shipped ten tons of ore from the Montana Belle and Minnehaha mines, to the Omaha smelter via the springs and Livingston. James Sites and I shipped five tons from the St. Julian. Frank Marion and Chas. Ladd shipped two tons from the Massachusetts. The cost of freight and treatment was $100 per ton. We received about $200 per ton clear on these our first shipments, not figuring on the expense of mining.

In October ’84, we had two agreeable political visitors. Hiram Knowles, then a candidate for Congress, now U. S. Judge, and Wm. H. Hunt, then a candidate for district attorney, now on the supreme bench of the state. Although the camp was largely democratic, and their opponents well known and popular men, the pleasing addresses of these candidates won all who met them that of 71 votes cast, Knowles received 56 and Hunt 49. At the time of their visit the camp was very dull, the Mountain Chief, I think the only mine employing men. Hence the small vote cast. Many of the men had gone on a stampede to the Little Rockies. Others had left for Butte and Maiden. The camp remained dull during the winter.

In April ’85, the Montana Belle and four other claims, now the Broadwater group, through Capt. Couch and J. C. E. Barker, were bonded to J. J. Hill and Charles Broadwater, Longmaid taking charge and employing a number of men. The camp was quite lively till in June, when the mines closed down.

In August of ’85, the winter went east, returning in April of ’88. Meanwhile, J. C. E. Barker for the Hudson Mining Company had expended a large amount of money on their property, besides building a smelter and concentrator. Louis Bergeron and partners had spent quite a sum on the Dakota. But shortly after my return, in ’87 the smelter and concentrator shut down, and outside of representing claims there was little work going on in camp.

Before going east, I had sold my store to J. C. Hussey. Several times the ownership changed. Hussey sold to C. W. Cook and Chas. Burchard, Cook to Burghardt. Burchard & Burghardt to Anderson Bros., and they to William Mueller. This last gentleman had begun business here in ’85. From ’87 to ’90. He kept the only store in town. He was certainly done more than any other man in the vicinity, during the hard years from ’87 to ’90. That his service was appreciated was shown by his election as county commissioner in ’89, receiving, with no exceptions, the entire vote of the camp.

The Moulton Mine, located on Rock Creek on the west end of Neihart, MT. [CCHS 024.0015]

In ’90, E. G. Maclay, T. E. Collins and others of Great Falls bought the Moulton mine from Jonathan McAssey and Adam J. Hamilton. The Sweeneys, Daniel Condon, Wm. Tierney, W. C. Leistikow, and others became interested in mining and town property. Geo. Roehl built and was running the Frisco, a first-class hotel. Geo. L. Johnston, A. M. Henry, and R. G. Wright were operating the Florence mine; the Barkers and Anderson, the Benton group; Hart, Donovan, Brennan and others the Cornucopia; Pierse Bros., Walsh, and Budge, the Ingersoll. Several other properties were being worked. There was general activity and prosperity in camp. December 4, ’90, the first newspaper of camp, the Neihart Herald, was issued with J. C. Wilson, an old timer and A. L. Crosson as publishers and proprietors.

The Frisco Hotel, Neihart, MT, first opened to the public in late 1890. [CCHS 024.0016]

In February ’91, T. E. Healey and associates, established a first-class sawmill six miles above town. During the summer, a number of business houses were established, and the town was incorporated. J. L. Neihart was the first mayor. Frame buildings were taking the place of log shacks. Overalls and blue flannel shirts were no longer the fashionable dress for evening parties. Foot rags had been discarded for socks.

On the 15th day of November, ’91, the completion of the railroad to camp was celebrated. The silver spike was driven by miss Mabel Brennan, daughter of Richard Brennan, one of our first family men. Among the distinguished visitors present on this occasion were Col. W. F. Sanders, Sen. Thos. C. Power, Hon. L. Rotwitt, T. E. Collins and E. D. Weed, the last named being orator of the day.