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Domestic News
December 27, 1878
The New North West
Deer Lodge, Powell County, Montana
What is this article about?
Chronological record of 1878 local events in Montana's New North-West, covering judicial terms, mining news, deaths, diseases, politics, education, weather, and social happenings in Deer Lodge, Butte, Philipsburg, and nearby areas.
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CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD, 1878.
Some Events of Local Interest Recorded in the New North-West.
January 2, 1878.—Court adjourned after being in session from Dec. 8. Estimated expenses of term, $7,000. One hundred witnesses testified before Grand Jury and seventy witnesses testified in criminal cases before the court. Eighty jurors, regular and special, drawn and empannelled.
3.—Butte miners and millmen determined to contest order for wood seizures.
7.—Commissioners met and made tax levy of 25 mills for 1878.
9.—Man named McNamara found frozen to death near Blackfoot.
15.—Prisoners confined in jail attempt to escape.
February 1.—Project of Collegiate Institute laid before citizens of the county.
Stock of all kinds thriving in Deer Lodge Valley without feed except what they gather.
5.—Teachers' Institute convened at Deer Lodge. Lectures delivered by Revs. Clark Wright, Territorial Superintendent of Public Instruction, and M. N. Gilbert and by Prof. W. Egbert Smith. Adjourned on February 14th.
15.—Presbytery of Montana met in Deer Lodge.
16.—Major Wm. Graham, one of the oldest residents of the Territory of Montana, died at Philipsburg, aged 72 years.
Salt found on Upper Big Hole by Messrs. Granville Stuart and Rezin Anderson.
22.—Dudley, a prisoner confined in county jail, made his escape. Captured on 26th near Mouth of Bear.
March came in like a lion.
1.—Scarlet fever appeared in Deer Lodge county.
One-eighteenth interest in Gagnon Quartz Lode, Butte, sold for $5,000.
7.—Samuel Jensen working in Trout mine, Philipsburg, killed by a flying rock from a blast.
10.—Revival of the "Duello" in Deer Lodge by W. J. Cassidy challenging George Doll.
12.—Complaints of irregularities in mail service to and from Philipsburg.
17.—Scarlet fever appeared in Deer Lodge and public school closed immediately on its being known.
19.—Wm. Mahaffey, convict confined in Penitentiary, escaped from that institution. [Nothing has been heard of him since. Inquiries have been received the present month from Chambersburg, Pa., relative to him.]
22.—Grass growing nicely and every indication of an early spring.
23.—Letter from Butte, addressed to the editor of this paper, dated March 1st, reached its destination 24.—First thunder for year 1878.
Levengood school house, Upper Deer Lodge Valley, burned by an incendiary.
26.—Farmers in the valleys busily engaged in plowing.
And went out like one, too.
April 1.—No new cases of scarlet fever appearing, public school re-opened.
2.—Thos. Conroy, foreman of Penobscot mine, killed by falling down a 50-feet shaft.
4.—Mammoth gold brick from Penobscot mine cast. Value, $53,258.80 gold and $977.32 silver.
6.—Meeting of Collegiate Institute stockholders. Following officers elected—President, E. H. Irvine, Vice-President, W. A. Clark, Secretary, Thos. Stuart, Treasurer, H. H. Zenor.
8.—Murphy, Higgins & Co.'s cash drawer robbed.
Court convened April term.
9.—Fred Franke, a German carpenter, suicided at Silver Bow by blowing out his brains.
10.—Jerome B. Thomas had his hand and arm shattered by the explosion of a giant powder cartridge, in Upper Valley. Mr. Thomas died June 9th from the effects of his injuries.
17th.—Jessie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Clark, died.
May 3.—John W. Farley, foreman of Granite mining company, Pike's Peak, badly injured at that place.
May 6.—Transit of Mercury [Invisible.]
Suit against Pioneer Company decided in their favor.
11.—J. M. Fish, Warden of Montana Penitentiary resigned. W. W. Botkin appointed as his successor.
24.—Winter term of public school closed.
29—Walter Butler killed by cave-in drift near Yreka.
31—Rain storm and shower of worms in Deer Lodge Valley.
June 10—Miners employed on Alice and Lexington mines, Butte, struck on account of proposed reduction of wages.
Drunken Indians visit Blackfoot and threaten residents of the camp.
5—Captain A. Hartzo killed by a cave in his placer claim at Blackfoot.
26—Money-Order offices established at Butte and Philipsburg.
July 1—Ford, horse thief arrested on Lower Warm Spring Creek.
4th—Races on Olin's Race Course. Winning horses all from Pemberton's stables.
8—John Lynch and John Meyers found murdered in their cabin near Beartown; killed by a band of Nez Perces—Indians returning from British Possessions to Idaho.
12—Amos Elliott, Wm. Elliott and Jack Hayes killed on Rock Creek, near Philipsburg, by same band.
19—Reported discovery of rich diggings on Nevada Creek. [Bogus stampede.]
20—Thermometer 96 degrees in the shade; 118 deg. in the sun.
25—Chinaman beaten to death in Chinatown, Deer Lodge. Murderer escaped detection.
29—Total eclipse of the sun. First contact at 1.30; length of totality, three minutes; last contact, 3.51.
August 1—Work commenced on Institute and Bonner & Co.'s buildings, Deer Lodge.
5—Good crops in the Valley.
18—Harvesting season on.
Mr. Quinlan, Valley had 200 tons of hay destroyed by fire.
19—Butte Racing Association organized.
31—J. C. Robinson and E. S. Stackpole elected Trustees of School district No. 1, E. H. Irvine holding over.
September 2.—September term of District Court.
Meeting of County commissioners.
5—A. Elliott an old time resident of this place, killed by Indians in Colorado.
6—Money raised for repair of road from Sweetland's to Dog Creek station.
9—Collegiate Institute opened with a fair attendance.
13—Meeting of Deer Lodge county Democratic Convention at Court House.
21—Meeting of Republican County Convention at Butte.
22—E. B. Waterbury declines nomination for Council on Democratic ticket. R. T. Kennon appointed in his stead and elected.
23—Coaches on one-day time from Helena to Butte via Deer Lodge.
30—Winter term of Public school commenced.
October 1—Call for Workingmen's convention published.
4—First Abstract of Deer Lodge county assessment published—$2,341,268.
Walter B. Dance, for many years a prominent citizen of this county, died at Butte aged 58 years.
5—Meeting of Workingmen's Convention at Butte.
9—Races of Butte Association.
15—Benefit performance by Taylor Company for the Collegiate Institute.
19—James B. McMaster declined nomination for Council on Workingmen's Ticket.
29—Heavy wind storm in Deer Lodge. Wall of Bonner & Co.'s building and Court House chimney and fence blown down and Kennon & Zenor's store unroofed.
21—E. T. Huson declined nomination for Probate Judge on Republican ticket and Orren Emerson appointed in his stead.
22—Carroll Smith lost in Mountains southeast of Deer Lodge. Found himself and returned here on 25th.
A Henault killed in mountains near Deer Lodge by a falling tree.
December 2—December term of District court convened.
3—Dr. Anson Ford, P. M. of Butte, and one of the oldest residents of the camp and county, died at that place.
7—Jennie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Huson, New Chicago, scalded by falling into a tub of boiling water, and lived but three hours afterward.
16—Change of County Officers, viz—Board of Commissioners, County Clerk, Probate Judge, Public Administrator, Assessor and County Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Some Events of Local Interest Recorded in the New North-West.
January 2, 1878.—Court adjourned after being in session from Dec. 8. Estimated expenses of term, $7,000. One hundred witnesses testified before Grand Jury and seventy witnesses testified in criminal cases before the court. Eighty jurors, regular and special, drawn and empannelled.
3.—Butte miners and millmen determined to contest order for wood seizures.
7.—Commissioners met and made tax levy of 25 mills for 1878.
9.—Man named McNamara found frozen to death near Blackfoot.
15.—Prisoners confined in jail attempt to escape.
February 1.—Project of Collegiate Institute laid before citizens of the county.
Stock of all kinds thriving in Deer Lodge Valley without feed except what they gather.
5.—Teachers' Institute convened at Deer Lodge. Lectures delivered by Revs. Clark Wright, Territorial Superintendent of Public Instruction, and M. N. Gilbert and by Prof. W. Egbert Smith. Adjourned on February 14th.
15.—Presbytery of Montana met in Deer Lodge.
16.—Major Wm. Graham, one of the oldest residents of the Territory of Montana, died at Philipsburg, aged 72 years.
Salt found on Upper Big Hole by Messrs. Granville Stuart and Rezin Anderson.
22.—Dudley, a prisoner confined in county jail, made his escape. Captured on 26th near Mouth of Bear.
March came in like a lion.
1.—Scarlet fever appeared in Deer Lodge county.
One-eighteenth interest in Gagnon Quartz Lode, Butte, sold for $5,000.
7.—Samuel Jensen working in Trout mine, Philipsburg, killed by a flying rock from a blast.
10.—Revival of the "Duello" in Deer Lodge by W. J. Cassidy challenging George Doll.
12.—Complaints of irregularities in mail service to and from Philipsburg.
17.—Scarlet fever appeared in Deer Lodge and public school closed immediately on its being known.
19.—Wm. Mahaffey, convict confined in Penitentiary, escaped from that institution. [Nothing has been heard of him since. Inquiries have been received the present month from Chambersburg, Pa., relative to him.]
22.—Grass growing nicely and every indication of an early spring.
23.—Letter from Butte, addressed to the editor of this paper, dated March 1st, reached its destination 24.—First thunder for year 1878.
Levengood school house, Upper Deer Lodge Valley, burned by an incendiary.
26.—Farmers in the valleys busily engaged in plowing.
And went out like one, too.
April 1.—No new cases of scarlet fever appearing, public school re-opened.
2.—Thos. Conroy, foreman of Penobscot mine, killed by falling down a 50-feet shaft.
4.—Mammoth gold brick from Penobscot mine cast. Value, $53,258.80 gold and $977.32 silver.
6.—Meeting of Collegiate Institute stockholders. Following officers elected—President, E. H. Irvine, Vice-President, W. A. Clark, Secretary, Thos. Stuart, Treasurer, H. H. Zenor.
8.—Murphy, Higgins & Co.'s cash drawer robbed.
Court convened April term.
9.—Fred Franke, a German carpenter, suicided at Silver Bow by blowing out his brains.
10.—Jerome B. Thomas had his hand and arm shattered by the explosion of a giant powder cartridge, in Upper Valley. Mr. Thomas died June 9th from the effects of his injuries.
17th.—Jessie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Clark, died.
May 3.—John W. Farley, foreman of Granite mining company, Pike's Peak, badly injured at that place.
May 6.—Transit of Mercury [Invisible.]
Suit against Pioneer Company decided in their favor.
11.—J. M. Fish, Warden of Montana Penitentiary resigned. W. W. Botkin appointed as his successor.
24.—Winter term of public school closed.
29—Walter Butler killed by cave-in drift near Yreka.
31—Rain storm and shower of worms in Deer Lodge Valley.
June 10—Miners employed on Alice and Lexington mines, Butte, struck on account of proposed reduction of wages.
Drunken Indians visit Blackfoot and threaten residents of the camp.
5—Captain A. Hartzo killed by a cave in his placer claim at Blackfoot.
26—Money-Order offices established at Butte and Philipsburg.
July 1—Ford, horse thief arrested on Lower Warm Spring Creek.
4th—Races on Olin's Race Course. Winning horses all from Pemberton's stables.
8—John Lynch and John Meyers found murdered in their cabin near Beartown; killed by a band of Nez Perces—Indians returning from British Possessions to Idaho.
12—Amos Elliott, Wm. Elliott and Jack Hayes killed on Rock Creek, near Philipsburg, by same band.
19—Reported discovery of rich diggings on Nevada Creek. [Bogus stampede.]
20—Thermometer 96 degrees in the shade; 118 deg. in the sun.
25—Chinaman beaten to death in Chinatown, Deer Lodge. Murderer escaped detection.
29—Total eclipse of the sun. First contact at 1.30; length of totality, three minutes; last contact, 3.51.
August 1—Work commenced on Institute and Bonner & Co.'s buildings, Deer Lodge.
5—Good crops in the Valley.
18—Harvesting season on.
Mr. Quinlan, Valley had 200 tons of hay destroyed by fire.
19—Butte Racing Association organized.
31—J. C. Robinson and E. S. Stackpole elected Trustees of School district No. 1, E. H. Irvine holding over.
September 2.—September term of District Court.
Meeting of County commissioners.
5—A. Elliott an old time resident of this place, killed by Indians in Colorado.
6—Money raised for repair of road from Sweetland's to Dog Creek station.
9—Collegiate Institute opened with a fair attendance.
13—Meeting of Deer Lodge county Democratic Convention at Court House.
21—Meeting of Republican County Convention at Butte.
22—E. B. Waterbury declines nomination for Council on Democratic ticket. R. T. Kennon appointed in his stead and elected.
23—Coaches on one-day time from Helena to Butte via Deer Lodge.
30—Winter term of Public school commenced.
October 1—Call for Workingmen's convention published.
4—First Abstract of Deer Lodge county assessment published—$2,341,268.
Walter B. Dance, for many years a prominent citizen of this county, died at Butte aged 58 years.
5—Meeting of Workingmen's Convention at Butte.
9—Races of Butte Association.
15—Benefit performance by Taylor Company for the Collegiate Institute.
19—James B. McMaster declined nomination for Council on Workingmen's Ticket.
29—Heavy wind storm in Deer Lodge. Wall of Bonner & Co.'s building and Court House chimney and fence blown down and Kennon & Zenor's store unroofed.
21—E. T. Huson declined nomination for Probate Judge on Republican ticket and Orren Emerson appointed in his stead.
22—Carroll Smith lost in Mountains southeast of Deer Lodge. Found himself and returned here on 25th.
A Henault killed in mountains near Deer Lodge by a falling tree.
December 2—December term of District court convened.
3—Dr. Anson Ford, P. M. of Butte, and one of the oldest residents of the camp and county, died at that place.
7—Jennie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Huson, New Chicago, scalded by falling into a tub of boiling water, and lived but three hours afterward.
16—Change of County Officers, viz—Board of Commissioners, County Clerk, Probate Judge, Public Administrator, Assessor and County Superintendent of Public Instruction.
What sub-type of article is it?
Chronological Record
Local History
What keywords are associated?
1878 Montana
Deer Lodge Events
Butte Mining
Phillipsburg Incidents
Scarlet Fever
Indian Attacks
Court Proceedings
Political Conventions
Mining Accidents
Weather Phenomena
What entities or persons were involved?
W. A. Clark
E. H. Irvine
Granville Stuart
Rezin Anderson
W. J. Cassidy
George Doll
Samuel Jensen
Wm. Mahaffey
Thos. Conroy
Fred Franke
Jerome B. Thomas
Jessie Clark
John W. Farley
J. M. Fish
W. W. Botkin
Walter Butler
Captain A. Hartzo
John Lynch
John Meyers
Amos Elliott
Wm. Elliott
Jack Hayes
A. Elliott
E. B. Waterbury
R. T. Kennon
James B. Mcmaster
E. T. Huson
Orren Emerson
Carroll Smith
A Henault
Dr. Anson Ford
Jennie Huson
Major Wm. Graham
Walter B. Dance
Where did it happen?
New North West
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
New North West
Event Date
1878
Key Persons
W. A. Clark
E. H. Irvine
Granville Stuart
Rezin Anderson
W. J. Cassidy
George Doll
Samuel Jensen
Wm. Mahaffey
Thos. Conroy
Fred Franke
Jerome B. Thomas
Jessie Clark
John W. Farley
J. M. Fish
W. W. Botkin
Walter Butler
Captain A. Hartzo
John Lynch
John Meyers
Amos Elliott
Wm. Elliott
Jack Hayes
A. Elliott
E. B. Waterbury
R. T. Kennon
James B. Mcmaster
E. T. Huson
Orren Emerson
Carroll Smith
A Henault
Dr. Anson Ford
Jennie Huson
Major Wm. Graham
Walter B. Dance
Outcome
numerous deaths from freezing, accidents, mining incidents, violence, suicide, and disease; escapes from jail and penitentiary; injuries from explosions and cave-ins; property damage from fire, storm, and theft; political appointments and elections; economic transactions like mine sales and tax levies; resolutions of strikes, suits, and conventions.
Event Details
Compilation of dated local events in 1878 including court sessions and expenses, tax levies, deaths and funerals, mining accidents and discoveries, disease outbreaks, escapes, weather observations, political meetings and nominations, educational institutes and school activities, religious gatherings, infrastructure work, races, Indian threats and murders, strikes, and changes in county officers.