CITIES & TOWNS

D-J NAMES

Fish Creek

Fish Creek, just east of Table Mt., is an old settlement, dating back to the sixties, when prospectors looked north from Alder gulch to the quartz hills of the Jefferson, and located there in 1865.  The population of the settlement, in 1880 was 12, now increased to 100.  Geo. A. Bruffey is postmaster at this point.  Here a steam sawmill and crushing mill are located.  Fish Creek Lodge, No. 5, I. O. G. T., was organized August 2, 1870, by Geo. Comfort.  The present membership is 50.  Walter M. Jordan, Etta Jordan, O. J. Gist, J. W. Rundell, John A. Beall, Mattie Tuttle, A. D. Beall, J. M. Gist, and H. M. Rundell hold the official positions from W. C. T. to W. I. G. Waterloo Lodge, No. 48, I. O. G. T., was formed February 23, 1875, with 10 members.  J. S. Crissman was the first deputy.  Charter revoked in 1876.

Source: Transcription by Ellen Rae Thiel, from the book, History of Montana: 1739-1885, written by M. A. Leeson, published in 1885, page 562; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org).

Gregory

Gregory, twenty four miles southwest of Helena, on the Prickly Pear, is an old mining settlement, now ranking as a postal town.  D. Freyler & Son conduct a general store at this point; T. Cullivan and Thomas & Renshaw, saloons; and Mentrum and Britt, the Gregory Hotel.  The estimated population is sixty.

Source: Transcription by Ellen Rae Thiel, from the book, History of Montana: 1739-1885, written by M. A. Leeson, published in 1885, page 661; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org).

Highland Gulch

Highland Gulch was discovered July 25, 1866, and the Highland Gold Co.'s mine started November 1, 1868.

Source: Transcription by Ellen Rae Thiel, from the book, History of Montana: 1739-1885, written by M. A. Leeson, published in 1885, page 661; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org).

Jefferson City

The Jefferson Town Company was incorporated January 11, 1865, with Nathaniel Merriman, John Radcliff, Allen T. Axe, and Philip Sheenan, incorporators.  The place was settled in 1864 by these men while en route from Alder Gulch to Helena.  Allen T. Axe discovered the Gregory lode, and there the party located.  In 1865 the legislature designated the new town as the seat of justice for the county.  Shortly after the district was organized a post office was established with Nathaniel Merriman, postmaster.  The first school was conducted by Miss Sallie Allen, during the winter of 1866-7.  She was the daughter of "Dad" Allen, who kept a blacksmith shop after Frank Smith and John Haggerty, the first blacksmiths.  The first hotel was conducted by William Campbell, and the first store by J. S. Redding; Gou Camix and A. H. Moulter were among the pioneer business men of the village.  A substantial school building was given place to the pioneer school house of 1866-7, the Emerson House takes the place of the first hotel, and even the blacksmith shop is modern compared with the old one, which was destroyed by the only fire that ever threatened the village.  The business circle of Jefferson in 1897 was made up of the following named traders: M. B. Thompson, Emerson Hotel; J. G. Sanders, general merchandise; Henry Dildine, general merchandise; Dell & Wehr, meat market; Conrad Becker, blacksmith; Henry Blakeman, Blacksmith; Casper Deaflin, shoemaker; Thomas D. Tice, barber shop; William Whitstone, Saloon and billiard hall; Kessler & Winters, saloon; Conrad Becker, Saloon and billiards; Becker & Co., livery stable; Jessie Patterson, lumber dealer; Holter & Russell, lumber dealers; Dr. A. F. Rudd, Physician.  Jefferson Lodge, No. 14, I. O. G. T., was organized May 6, 1869, with Geo. Benjamin, L. D., but ceased working.  Jefferson Lodge, No. 33, was organized by G. A. Douglas, August 10, 1872, with sixteen members.  J. M. D. Taylor was the first deputy of this lodge.  Charter forfeited 1873.  The population of Jefferson in 1879 was estimated at five hundred; in 1880 the number of inhabitants in the village and vicinity was two hundred and ten.  The business circle of 1884-5 is made up as follows: Ellis & Berendes, general store; E. C. Eyl, General store; A. F. Rudd and C. Denbow, physicians; Clements & Fay, hotel; Wm. Campbell, J. McLaughlin, Wm. Whitstone, saloons; Soule Bros., livery; Wm. Neil, blacksmith; John Culver, justice of the peace, and F. W. Ellis, postmaster.

Source: Transcription by Ellen Rae Thiel, from the book, History of Montana: 1739-1885, written by M. A. Leeson, published in 1885, page 650; located on the website, Hathitrust Digital Library (http://www.hathitrust.org).

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