Sturgis left Little Falls in 1862 to pursue gold in California. Along the way, he stopped near Dillon, Montana. He built a stage stop and stage road there, which shortened the route from Salt Lake City to the northern part of Montana. He would build the first sawmill in the area in Bannack. He built another mill in Argenta, meaning at one time he operated two mills, a ranch, and a stage stop at the same time. Sturgis was in a party that discovered the Hecla lead mine.