The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-27
COL. CHESTNUT.

Col. Chestnut terminated in his death.
and on Saturday, escorted by the
Masonic fraternity and the band and
followed by long line Of friends, all
that remained of one Of the pioneers OF
the Gallatin was left with those "who
have gone before"
Born in 1884 in Ohio. his life proved
an eventful one-from collegein Indiana
to dry goods store from the counter,
to California in 1S48 from the mines to
Central America with Walker from
filibustering, to Kansas blown up in
steambo oats and jailed for high treason
during the border troubles" serving
during the war and graduating a colonel,
fate at last found him in Bozeman,
where. from 1867, his home was found.
When the writer came to Montana,
Col. Chestnut was reside mt of Bozeman.
He had even then possession of his
now celebrated coal mines, upon which
he had expended much labor and money.
In fact, for many years most, if not all,
his savings were invested in their devel-
opment but only to subject him to the
ridicule and jokes of even us who lived
here. Strange as it may now appear, he
thought and we thought the Chestnut
NINE" included all of the actual deposit.
/ call to mind no effort in those days to
discover even an extension of his claim,
and though he never at any time lost
faith in its value he made little if any
effort to locate any claim outside of the
limits of the original find. He shipped
coal to Helena, only to receive in return
newspaper squibs endorsing the building
and chimney-rock qualities of his fuel
and when he at last secured an order
from Fort Ellis, the coal was, most of 1t,
condemned as useless and carted out to
the waste-dump upon which it lies to
this day. But he never despaired his
prediction that the Rock Canon coal
would yet receive recognition was never
Withdrawn, and though he did not live
to see the gas works and the coke
market later development caused him
to foretell, he yet did live to see an inn
mense coal field developed and the
engines of a great railway driven by
means of the product of his original
mine. That this great deposit must
some day have been discovered admits
of no doubt, of course but that his
pluck and determination have left US all
in his debt, even his once strongest
chatter must admit-as he pioneered our
coal into recognition years before it
otherwise would have met it. He dies,
however, without ownership in the de-
posts, having not very long since dis
posed of his interest, which he did not
do until hundreds of locations had been
made, dozen mines placed in oper-
alton, and one of Montana's
greatest sources of wealth open
ell to the workman and the capital
list.
The writer is able to speak of him in
diligently, having known him well for
many years, and pays tribute to his
many good qualities. A man of much
ability well read in many ways.
quick, intelligent, open handed, free
spoken, soft-hearted, he was one en-
titled on many accounts to recognized
and creditable position in any commun-
ity. Years ago he told me to report to
him any case of worthy want, and
me that he would give in ameli-
Grafton of suffering, he did give, as l
and the recipients know. lido not name
them here,-they know who gave, and
they know that the head mark of his
grave bears the name of Chestnut
Col. Chestnut was never married, but
his life had had its romance, the end of
which sent him roaming over the earth,
he leaving behind him an aged father
and two sisters.
His history is familiar to all,-now in
business, then operating planning mill
now fat-boating supplies to the Indian
country; then working in his coal mines,
his life was ever one of energy and
adventure. 1t cannot be said he will
not be missed from among us, for he
was a standby of Bozeman, with which
his name must be associated as long as
coal is mined in our hills and "the mem
DRY of man goeth back to man." Seek
not his frailitles to disclose" but ,remem-
bering that circumstances help make US
all, rather let us bear in mind his good
deeds, his kindly ways, his enterprise,
from which we gained, and the last time
we shook in good will the hand of "the
old man Chestnut" we have at last laid
away in the home which claims us all.
.V.B.