Card of Thanks

   We desire to take this means of expressing our heartfelt thanks to all who assisted in the funeral services of our father, Arthur Morrison, who died January 30.  Especially do we wish to thank the members of the Grand Army, the Spanish War Veterans, for the kindly part they took in the funeral, the Rev. Thomas Ashworth and the Masonic lodge.  Being unable to be present at the funeral, it is certainly a great satisfaction to know that one may have friends to assist at a time of this kind, and we do so much appreciate all that was done.

(Signed)
The Family of Arthur Morrison

The Montana Standard
Butte, Montana
2/13/1934

ARTHUR MORRISON DIES

   Arthur Morrison, 84, died yesterday at a local hospital.  He had been a resident of Butte and vicinity for many years.  Surviving is a daughter at San Francisco.  The body was taken to the White mortuary pending word from the daughter.

The Montana Standard
Butte, Montana
1/31/1934

Names of Dead

   The name of the departed members of the Grand Army of the Republic whose graves will be decorated in the Mount Moriah and Catholic cemeteries today are:

Mt. Moriah cemetery—William Stevens, John Raley, W. J. Holmes, P. W. Clayburn, Thomas Sephton, Horeg Keeth, Thomas Griffith, Daniel Frakes, George Woodcock, Samuel Nikel, John Krangle, Chance L. Harris, A. Billis, R. P. Hopkins, E. W. Reese, Charles Murphy, George Powell, John Madden, W. W. Jones, Thomas Mulholland, Joseph Montieth, J. M. Reno, George Sample, J. Frank Bateman, Charles R. Hawley, A. A. Burton, Daniel Cameron, John P. Hale, David Charles, David Foltz, J. H. Wagner, C. D. Russell, M.  J. Chamberlain, L. F. Wyman, George Hunter, F. B. Harper, E. L. Lewis, E. W. Robins, E. M. Alderman, R. M. Benson, Herman Richards, E. W. Sandborne, A. W. Biddle, G. W. Emes, R. R. Keiler, Adolph Swade, Wm. Rohan, John Kogel, E. H. Scott, William Schultz, Harry Roberts, Charles Kollbacher, Hugh Kearney, Henry Siken, J. W. Williamson, Patrick Fox, George E. Beckwith, George G. Clark, George E. Elston, Thomas Swain, E. Abbott, E. R. Chase, E. McLaughlin, William Thomas, Charles Shaddock, J. W. French, W. H. Black, H. G. Gallahan, G. W. Farlin, A. B. Knight, LeRoy Doud, David Hoye, William Burton, Newell Demick, J. H. Humphries, John W. Miller, Thomas H. Baker, James B. Glover, John Conrad Runkle, C. D. Hyndman, S. H. Almon, J. M. Kellogg, George Hardy, E. H. Bruce and Peter Murphy.

   Catholic cemetery—Chris Hart, Patrick McMahan, Owen Thornton,  Michael Murphy, M. H. Twobig, John Grace, Con Sullivan, J. C. Cain, T. E. Clements, Patrick Sullivan, Miles Burk, W. A. Rogers, P. E. Maloney, Peter Conroy, James McManus, Patrick H. Coleman and Patrick Clark.

The Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
5/30/1908

Fatal Accident

 The Death of Charles Murphy

Butte—The death of our fellow townsman, Mr. Charles Murphy, the saddest event within our knowledge of the history of Butte, occurred on Saturday last. On Friday morning about 11 o'clock, while engaged at his usual duties at his saw mill, about seven miles from Butte, he started to cross to the opposite side of the main belt while the machinery was in motion, and in endeavoring to do so, attempted to pass between it, and when his left leg was partly over his right foot resting on the ground, must have slipped, throwing him upon the belt and carrying him rapidly until he was caught between it and the fly wheel and revolving once around the wheel he was thrown violently upon the ground. Then those present came to his aid it was found he had sustained severe injuries upon the lower part of his body. His clothing was torn almost off him and he was bleeding profusely from a deep cut across the groin. His right leg was pulled from the socket and he was otherwise injured. Medical attendance from Butte was immediately summoned and in a short time Drs. Whitford and Wheelock arrived at the scene of the accident and at once began to dress his wounds and give him every attention within their power. In a course of a few hours he was brought in a sleigh to his rooms in town, where, notwithstanding morphia was administered freely to lessen his intense suffering, he remained perfectly conscious up to the time of his death at 13:20 p.m. on Saturday, less than 26 hours after his accident.

Although aware shortly after the accident that he could not survive his injuries, his sufferings were so great that he neither gave instructions in relation to the settlement of his business affairs no expressed a wish as to the final disposition of his property.

Immediately after death, the Masonic Fraternity, of which Mr. Murphy had been an active and prominent member, took charge of his remains, which were removed to their hall, where they laid in state Sunday and part of Monday, during which time hundreds came to take a farewell view of all that remained of one whose memory had become universally endeared. The remains were first taken to Loeber's Hall where the beautiful and impressive services of the order were held.

The funeral procession, which numbered not less than 500, was the best mark of the high esteem in which the deceased was universally held. Each and all seemed to realize to the fullest extent the great loss the community had sustained in the death of Charles Murphy, and we doubt not that in the hearts of many it will leave a lasting impression.

The deceased was about 45 years of age, a native of Jasper, Steuben county, New York, and a son of Andrew and Isabella Murphy. About the year 1854 he moved to Wisconsin and remained there until 1862, when with a party from Ripon he started for this country and located in Bannack, where he engaged in the lumbering business. Being among the early pioneers of Montana and naturally energetic, he engaged himself actively in business at different times in several of the important mining camps of the Territory. In 1867 he came to Deer Lodge county, where he has resided continuously ever since. Among the first to come to Butte after the opening of her mines, he proved himself a public-spirited and generous-hearted citizen by his constant endeavors to advance the interests of the place. Butte especially owes him a debt of gratitude for the faith he showed in its permanency by investing largely of his means in various enterprises and inducing others to do likewise. His character here as elsewhere was that of a man of sterling worth and undoubted integrity, and in his death we sustain the loss of a valuable citizen not readily replaced. As a mark of respect to his memory the town has been draped in mourning and business houses generally have closed their doors.--Butte Miner, 16th.

The New North-West
Deer Lodge, Monatna
1/19/1877

Names of Dead

   The name of the departed members of the Grand Army of the Republic whose graves will be decorated in the Mount Moriah and Catholic cemeteries today are:

Mt. Moriah cemetery—William Stevens, John Raley, W. J. Holmes, P. W. Clayburn, Thomas Sephton, Horeg Keeth, Thomas Griffith, Daniel Frakes, George Woodcock, Samuel Nikel, John Krangle, Chance L. Harris, A. Billis, R. P. Hopkins, E. W. Reese, Charles Murphy, George Powell, John Madden, W. W. Jones, Thomas Mulholland, Joseph Montieth, J. M. Reno, George Sample, J. Frank Bateman, Charles R. Hawley, A. A. Burton, Daniel Cameron, John P. Hale, David Charles, David Foltz, J. H. Wagner, C. D. Russell, M.  J. Chamberlain, L. F. Wyman, George Hunter, F. B. Harper, E. L. Lewis, E. W. Robins, E. M. Alderman, R. M. Benson, Herman Richards, E. W. Sandborne, A. W. Biddle, G. W. Emes, R. R. Keiler, Adolph Swade, Wm. Rohan, John Kogel, E. H. Scott, William Schultz, Harry Roberts, Charles Kollbacher, Hugh Kearney, Henry Siken, J. W. Williamson, Patrick Fox, George E. Beckwith, George G. Clark, George E. Elston, Thomas Swain, E. Abbott, E. R. Chase, E. McLaughlin, William Thomas, Charles Shaddock, J. W. French, W. H. Black, H. G. Gallahan, G. W. Farlin, A. B. Knight, LeRoy Doud, David Hoye, William Burton, Newell Demick, J. H. Humphries, John W. Miller, Thomas H. Baker, James B. Glover, John Conrad Runkle, C. D. Hyndman, S. H. Almon, J. M. Kellogg, George Hardy, E. H. Bruce and Peter Murphy.

   Catholic cemetery—Chris Hart, Patrick McMahan, Owen Thornton, Michael Murphy, M. H. Twobig, John Grace, Con Sullivan, J. C. Cain, T. E. Clements, Patrick Sullivan, Miles Burk, W. A. Rogers, P. E. Maloney, Peter Conroy, James McManus, Patrick H. Coleman and Patrick Clark.

The Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
5/30/1908

The Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
4/10/1908

MONTANA PIONEER IS 
SENT TO ASYUM

Peter Murphy Carried Mail From Butte
to Camp in Highlands Thirty Years Ago

   Peter Murphy, a pioneer resident of Montana, who has for some time been ill and indigent, was examined yesterday in Judge Donlan’s court on a charge of insanity and committed to the state asylum.  For a time Murphy was an inmate of the county hospital.  He is a veteran of the civil war and is drawing a pension of $12 a month for disabilities sustained during the war.  Thirty years ago he was a resident of Butte and carried mail from this city to some camps in the Highland Mountains.

   It was stated that Murphy was evidently suffering from senile dementia.  At the county hospital the old man evinced an aversion to bedclothes and threw them all on the floor.  To keep warm he proposed to depend upon all the clothing he could lay his hands on.  When taken to the county jail he wore three out shirts, four coats, and an overcoat, and it was with difficulty that Murphy was prevailed upon to divest himself of any of his clothing.  At times at night he would jump up and down on his bed for hours at a time, shouting at the top of his voice.

   Simon Hauswirth has petitioned for letters of guardianship of the aged man in order that the pension money may be drawn to aid in paying his expenses at the asylum.

The Butte Daily Post
Butte, Montana
2/18/1908

FUNERAL NOTICE

   Murphy—The funeral of Peter Murphy will be held this (Sunday) afternoon at two o'clock from White & Krebs' undertaking parlors, services being conducted by the G. A. R

WHITE & KREBS
Funeral Directors and Embalmers
120 South Main Street
Independent Phone 1311

GEORGE W. NEWKIRK

   George W. Newkirk’s claim to be Butte’s oldest resident was never disputed.  On many occasions through many years, he has related to friends the story of how, in the fall of 1864, he was one of a party of five to camp in what is now Dublin gulch and to winter there.  Before the winter passed the little settlement that was the beginning of the great Butte of today had grown to twenty-six people.  There used to be others to tell a similar story to  corroborate Judge Newkirk’s narrative.  But with the years these have passed away, leaving the judge as the one undisputed oldest inhabitant.

   On Saturday Judge Newkirk passed away as quietly as he had lived.  He was not only the oldest, but one of the most unobtrusive and unassuming of Butte residents.  When he located in what is now Butte, there was not a soul here except the members of his own party, who arrived with him.  He saw Butte grow from nothing to a great, bustling metropolis of 75,000 people.  He saw many who arrived years after he did become fabulously wealthy.  He saw others who arrived years after he did become famous and receive distinguished honors.  He helped dig the first prospect hole in this district and he saw others acquire great mining properties and some of the prospects develop into the world’s greatest mines.  Others picked out choice sites and built great blocks and became wealthy.  But Newkirk did not become sore about it or sour or grouchy.  He was not envious or ill-natured.  He rejoiced in the good fortune of his friends.  He never pushed himself to the front or became tiresome in trying to force attention upon himself as the oldest citizen.  He seldom referred to his old history except when pressed for the story in a company of old friends.  He always told the story modestly and quietly, quite as a matter of course, and claiming no distinction for himself.  A quarter of a century ago his friends elected him police magistrate and that was his only political honor.

   Judge Newkirk did not acquire great mines or vast wealth or valuable real estate in Butte, but he won many friends and held them to the last.  In recent years he was reluctant to make friends among those who had just come to the city and preferred the companionship of those who, while not as old in residence as himself, could tell of the days when Butte had but a few hundred or a few thousand inhabitants.  Could he have looked into the future at the time that he wintered in Butte for the first time he might have made all Butte his own, with its unequaled mines and its priceless business corners.  Had he done so he might have become the richest man in the world, but he wouldn’t have been the same lovable, quiet, unostentatious, unassuming Judge Newkirk.

   Butte’s oldest inhabitant was a continuous resident of the city.  He never made his residence elsewhere.  He saw Butte in many ups and downs and in many vicissitudes, but he was not one of those to flee the city as soon as it experienced a little hard times.  His tastes were few and simple and he was satisfied with Butte and contented to remain here.  At long intervals he would make a little visit of a few weeks to some other point, but his residence was always in Butte.  It was characteristic of him that in his last illness he did not boast of his early residence of the mines and the wealth that might have been his; he boasted of the number of sincere friends who called to see him and who endeavored to cheer him up as his days were numbered and his long life feebly flickered out.  

Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
11/29/1915

GEORGE W. NEWKIRK, HONORED PIONEER, 
SUCCUMBS TO A BRIEF ILLNESS

   He died yesterday morning at 9:00 o’clock at St. James’ hospital after a short illness.  The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 at the family home, 516 South Montana street.  The details of the funeral will be announced in the morning.  

   Mr. Newkirk was known to a host of friends throughout the state.  He had

An Eventful Life

   George W. Newkirk was a native of Kingston, Ulster county, N.Y., where he was born March 1, 1839, the son of James C. and Eveline Newkirk, natives of Elmira, N.Y.

   When about 11 years of age he accompanied his parents in 1851 to Wisconsin, and from his early youth had been depending on this own exertions, but carved a successful career out of hard conditions and unfavorable circumstances. The route taken by his parent in coming west was from Kingston to Albany, and from there to Schenectady on a railroad made of wooden rails covered with scrap iron.  From Schenectady they proceeded to Buffalo by canal packet, and from there by boat over the lakes to Milwaukee, going thence into the interior of the state.

Ambitious Young Farmer

   After his arrival at Denver he worked for two months at his trade, and on Sept. 12 he set out to drive three yoke of oxen from Denver to Idaho (now Montana), reaching Alder gulch after a three months’ trip, and there passed the winter of 1863-63.

   In the spring of 1864, with 25 others, he came to what is now Butte, and in the spring of 1865 went to German gulch where he bought an interest in a mining claim and also located a ranch property in Deer Lodge valley.

   He returned to Butte in the autumn of 1866 and helped to build the first smelter (the Crude) and to sink the first shaft (the Parrott lode), which are now valuable properties.  He had numerous quartz locations, but sold them all for little or nothing.

   He mined with varying success at different places, among them at Pioneer gulch, for three years, near the town of Silver Bow, where he had placer ground of value. Since then he has resided continuously at Butte, except during two winters which he spent in the east at Chicago, New York and Boston.

Married in 1878

   Mr. Newkirk was married in 1878 to Miss Luella Beal, daughter of the late Dr. George Beal, who had a useful life and tragic death.

   Mr. and Mrs. Newkirk had one child, Guy B. Newkirk, who was born in 1879.  In the year of his marriage Mr. Newkirk opened a place which was popular with the best classes of people for 10 years, when it was destroyed by fire April 23, 1888.  The next year he received a wound in the foot which laid him up for one year.

   He was one of the old-timers of Butte, the first winter he resided here there being a population of 26 persons.

The Butte Miner
Butte, Montana
11/28/1915

BURIAL OF A VETERAN

 Henry Nickens, Who Had Served 
Long in the Army

    A funeral in some respects out of the ordinary occurred yesterday afternoon from Richards’ undertaking rooms, the deceased being Henry Nickens, who was a veteran of the army.  He was a colored man and in 1863 enlisted in the Forty-third Pennsylvania, being then only 19 years of age, and served until the close of the war of the rebellion.  Sometime after the war he entered the regular army as a private in Company I, Twenty-fourth infantry, and served continuously for 21 years, being a sergeant when mustered out.  The character on each of his successive discharges gave him an excellent reputation.  After being mustered out he came to Montana, where he had been for several years.  During his illness his pension check for $52.25 for the past quarter reached Butte, but the envelope was not opened until after his death.  So far as known the man had no relatives here and the check will be returned to the San Francisco pension agent for disposition.

   The services were conducted by the pastor of the A. M. E. church and were of an impressive character.  They were attended by a number of the members of Lincoln post and the interment took place in the Grand Army lot in Mount Moriah cemetery.

The Butte Miner
Butte, Montana
1/2/1899