CITY & TOWN HISTORIEs

PIPESTONE

Big Pipestone, six miles west of Whitehall, was the seat of the placer mines of Worthington, Booth, Paul and others.  The Belcher ditch, carrying water from Fish creek to the mines at this point, a distance of seven miles, was the first step toward the true development of the district.  Pipestone Hot Springs, owned by W. B. Barnes, promises to be one of the leading health resorts of the future.  Little Pipestone, four miles west of Big Pipestone, was the name given to the placers of Dan Stanard, Baxter, the Tuttles and others.  The whole country along the Whitehall, Deer and Pipestone creeks offers advantages to the miner, stock-grower and even agriculturist, which have not been, so far, half developed.  The population of Pipestone and Fish creek in 1880 was sixty; of Pipestone and vicinity thirty-six, and of Pipestone Mts., ten.

Source: Transcription by Ellen Rae Thiel, from the book, History of Montana: 1739-1885, by M. A. Leeson, published in 1885; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org).

RADERSBURG

Radersburg, forty-eight miles southeast of Helena, where the old Bozeman stage-road crosses Crow creek, may be classed among the early settlements of the county in 1866.  The population in 1879 was 250, reduced to 169 in 1880 in the village and vicinity.  The valley of Crow Creek at this point possesses all the qualities to render it at once a rich agricultural and stock country.  This was for years the county seat, and here a court house and jail were erected at a total cost of about $26,000.  The quartz lodes, known as the Congress, Ohio, Keating, Leviathan, and Iron Clad, were yielding freely in 1879.  The Blacker Mill of 15 stamps, and the Ten-stamp Keating Mill, were most important contributors to the welfare of the district; while the system of ditches, operated and owned by William Quinn, afforded the necessary water supply to carry on the mining industries, as well as for the purposes of irrigation.

The business circle of the town in 1879-80 comprised: Frank Wells, general merchandise; J. E. Dougherty, general merchandise; J. R. Weston, drugs, tobaccos and notions; Charles Hosfeild, meat market and stock dealer; D. G. Warner, livery stable; Mrs. M. A. Parks, Central Hotel; Archie Macumber, hotel; S. S. Huntley, sheep-grower; P. B. Clark, sheep-grower; Charles Halleck, saloon; Mrs. J. W. Hamper, saloon and brewery; G. E. Norem, blacksmith, since deceased; F. M. Smith, blacksmith.  In 1884-5 the following named firms and individuals formed the list of business men: E. M. Batchelder, notions and tobacco, and postmaster; J. E. Dougherty and Frank Wells, general merchants; J. D. Ripley, hotel; Warner & Horsfield, livery; E. J. Ripley and A. H. Dougherty, liquordealers; Chas. Horsfield and Huntley & Clark, horses and cattle; S. Shull, -- Skinner, blacksmiths; R. Norem, shoemaker; Johnson & Suderburg, carpenters; D. G. Warner, Judge of Probate; A. H. Dougherty, deputy sheriff.

The first society organization at Radersburg was Mount Hope Lodge, No. 4, I. O. G. T., organized April 12, 1868, reorganized in September, 1868, with twelve members, H. C. Powers, Lodge Deputy.  Jefferson Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., was chartered November 1, 1870.  The Past Masters and Master Masons of this lodge in 1883 were: Charles Horsfeild, P. M.; Frank Wells, P. M.; H. E. G. Winters, P. M.; Benj. Townsley, P. M.; A. F. Bright, George Behrenger, J. C. Blacker, James S. Bullard, A. M. Easterly, John R. Gilbert, Charles G. Hallbeck, O. Brodock, G. B. Ballard, J. M. D. Taylor, Joseph E. Hassel, William Jewell, B. F. Lowrey, Alfred Myers, Isom Prewitt, Philip Roberts, C. E. Worden, A. W. Sederberg, John Johnson, Robert Horsfeild.

Source: Transcription by Ellen Rae Thiel, from the book, History of Montana: 1739-1885, by M. A. Leeson, published in 1885; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org).

ST. LOUIS

St. Louis, at the head of Crow creek, eight miles northwest of Radersburg, was a prosperous placer mining camp up to 1879, and offers to-day resources which will reward development.  Here the Little Giant and the Jaw Bone quartz lodes were worked, and the Lewis & Reese twenty stamp mill erected.  There is a church and a school maintained in this settlement.  St. Louis Lodge, No. 49, I. O. G. T., was organized by R. S. Clark, March 8, 1875.  The original members numbered eighteen.  W. L. Moore was elected first deputy.  Ceased work in 1879.

Source: Transcription by Ellen Rae Thiel, from the book, History of Montana: 1739-1885, by M. A. Leeson, published in 1885; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org).

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