The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-17
.Women Pioneers


mine. He was so exhausted by the heat
and fatigue of the days travel that he
would fall asleep at his post, and at inter-
walls through the night his watchful mother
would arouse him by gentle call from
her wagon. She did not sleep that night,
but kept watch in place of her boy, and
awakened him only when she feared he
would be discovered neglectng his duty.
His father was killed only n few nights
previous while on guard duty at the same
wagon.
To describe the striking and trying
scenes of Alder gulch in the "palmy days"
is hardly within the scope of this sketch.
To chronicle the acts of the vigilance COM
mittee; to describe the -four riots OF 1860.
when n citizens committee examined
each house to see If anyone had more
-four than was necessary to subsIst upon
until freight trains shall arrive in the
spring, and If n surplus was found 1t was
taken for those who had none; when the
miners meeting was the legislature. the
court and tho executioner; all these must
be done by the one whose task IT is to
write the early h story of Montana.
Gold was plentiful. Nearly S1OO,OooO0o
we're in time taken from this one gulch.
Provisions became exhausted during my
first winter IN Montana, an could not be
obtained, as Salt Lake City was the near
est supply point, and freight wagons the
only means of transportation; hence the
anon llous spectacle of community OF
20, 90 people, rolling IN wealth, and desti-
tute of The necessities of life.
In May, 1865, we move from Alder
gulch to Last Chance gu ch-now Helena
and settled upon farm, where we lived
g. ,ttIt 10
productive | have ever known.
The richer placer mining districts were
practically worked out by 1879. Prior to
1875, quartz IN ming and stock raising were
largely governmental. The intervening
years were the most trying in the history
of Montana, distinguished only by mem
cries of deprivation and disbursement.
People left tho territory in great numbers.
There was no market for the farmers
produce, as consumers were few, and
money was scarce, and produce rotted in
cellars or else was fed to the stock. 1t re-
CURED from four to SIX weeks to get mail
from the East. / ordered "A SOW
ing machine year before re-
ceived il. In 1855 -four was $3.50
per pound. We paid So each for chickens
to stock our farm. a wagon load OF cats
was brought into Virginia City and sold at
from So to $l5 each. we bought one for tho
children. prominent young lawyer
now chief Justice of Montana-had apples
for his wedding feast, that cost 81 each !;
the luxury being the occasion of much
comment. l mention these things not as
an exception, but to give an lea of the
conditions of the times, aud difficulties in
supplying tho most modest needs.
NY husband die 4 in Helena Jan. 6, 1877.
In January, 1889, moved to Butte CITY to
| Join my children, who had previously set
| tied there, attracted by the marvellous
quartz discoveries of that district. Butte
is now my home and shall ever be. am
/ 20 years of age; have been the mother OF
/ 10 children. seven of whom are still living.
| All of them are in Montana. l have AZ
direct descendants living, 80 OF
whom were born in Montana. Let
/ their heritage DO the wealth of
my experience. Let them reap the har-
vest sown by the pioneers in hardship and
exposure. A virgin empire spreads its
fruitful expanse before them ready to
yield a royal tribute to honest endeavor.
! To those who helped to hew the path to
civilization. greeting: May your reward
be commensurate with your trials. To
your progeny. blessing. Nav their pros
perity be the measure of their gratitude
TO you who laid the foundation.
MRS. ELLA MULvANEY.
was born in Knox county, Ohio, in the
year 1874, and was educated in n boarding
school in my native state. My maiden
name was Ella Huffman. came TO St.
Louis, Mo-, with INV parents in 1851. In
1855 we moved to Mills county, Iowa, and
| IN April, 1854, came to Montana. On the
| tourney we had some hardshlps with the
Indians and once a scarcity of water and
food for our stock. We then Travelled for
about two months without any trouble,
when we eau to what was called the
| "Sublet Cuton.n Here we travelled two
| DAVIS and nights over sandy desert .oI
So miles, without food or water for the
stock, except what We were able TO carry
in our wagons. When We came to Green
| river, the poor brutes were so famlshed
for water that they drank the first they
came to, which was strongly alkaline anc
caused the death of many Of them. While
we were preparing to cross the river. We
were attacked 10y Indians. They fired
three shots among the 80 men, womer
and children in the train, killing one
young lady. The oxen were badly fright
ened; one team, drawing n wagon con
tanning three SIN all chiilran ran into the
river. but no lives were lost.
| After four mont. OF hard travel wo ar
rived at old Fort Hall OF the Snake river
July -, 1864. where my father took what
was known as a homo station. We were
glad to get into a house. Ii was the frs
house had ever seen with dirt roof an
Twas really afraid TO venture in on &c
count OF the weight of so much earth owe
our heads.
In the spring of 1865 came TO Virgins
City, Madison couu y, Montana, and oil
Apri. II. 1866, l W IS m lrrisl TO I. b. MuI
vany of PcoriI, Illinois, and on the fol
lowing day we stared TO cross the rang
with team of mules to what was thel
called He'll Gate river, and after we ha'
arrived IN the He'll Gate valley, in orIe
TO get TO the mes, We packed our good
on the backs of small donkeys, TO be car
ried m this way distance of IS mile