The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-04
ONE BY ONE THEY co
This Time 1t Is the Honorable Pioneer
Charles Y. Rich.
DIED AT HIS BOHEMIAN HOME
He Was One of the Early Settlers
In Montana-A Sketch of His
Life and Adventures on the
Frontier-Respected Man.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Bozeman, April 1.-Charles V. Rich,
who might be termed one of the
fathers of the city of Bozeman and
who was the pioneer merchant of this
place, died at his home here this after
noon. Mr.. Rich was born in Canton,
N. Y, In 1882. moved to McHenry coun-
ty, ILL.,, in 1850, where he remained for
two years. and in 1852 he made the
overland trip to California, settling at
Shasta, where he ran a hotel and oper-
ated sawmill for five years. He then
returned to his home at Canton, NJ Y,
where he remained for four years, when
he in 1861 again visited California for q
year.
In the winter of 1866 Mr.. Rich was
holding a position in the quartermas-
ter generals Office of the state Of New
York, when he, Captain Fuller and
Gen. L. S. Wilson formed a company
to conduct a general freighting and
merchandise business in the west, the
firm being known as Fuller & Rich.
The excitement over gold discoveries
in Montana caused them to come to
this state. Mr.. Rich bought mules in
Iowa and QUILTED and bought stock
OF staple groceries at Omaha, leaving
thnb pidNC VII may Oh, 1000. line union
Pacific was built just 60 miles west OF
Omaha then, this party following the
surveyed line of that road, however
until they reached Fort Laramie and
at Fort Phil Kearney the troops
stopped all emigrants and formed them
into companies large enough to with
stand the attacks of the hostile Indi-
ans. Here Mr.. Rich was placed in
charge of a train three miles long, one
of the largest trains ever coming over
the route and one Of the last trains to
come over the old Bozeman trail, as 1t
was only through the wonderful ener-
gy of Mr.. Rich and his ability as a
leader that this party ever got through.
1T was almost a continual fight with
Indians the entire trip. Rev. Davis
Wilson and ]. II. Taylor, still residents
or Bozeman, were with Mr.. Rich on
this trip. General Wilson did not come
out until 1867. Messrs. fuller & Rich
began business in this valley in a wall
tent on the Penwell ranch, Bozeman,
at that time consisting of only six log
cabins and the Meadow & Coover flour
mill. Mr.. Coover induced Mr. Rich to
move his business to Bozeman, as then
In freighting groceries from Helena he
could haul the Coover flour over to the
wholesale houses then at Helena, and
so be loaded both ways. The fuller &,
Rich store was in two-story log cab
y
ing this city, which stood, where the
Masonic temple now stands, the upper
story of the cabin being a Masonic hall
at that time. Later Rich d Wilson
was the firm name of this company.
General Wilson having been the prin-
cipal owner but silent partner hereto
fore, and this firm erected the frame
building now on the corner of Bozeman
az Main streets at an expense of $4,000
at that time, although to-day il would
cost but $1,000 for as good a building.
Mr.. Rich still owns this property, the
Rich livery stable, one dwelling house
and the west half of the building now
occupied by the Wilson company. Mr.
Rich always attended TO the freighting
for Rich q Wilson, having charge of
the outdoor work, and ran freight
teams to Corrine, Utah, then the near
est railroad point, to Helena, the Crow
Agency, and had contracts with Fort
Ellis for the transportation of its troops
and supplies. Mr.. Rich was a powell
in those days, but everybody in the
freighting business, making fearful
drives and wonderful time, being al
ways the first man in with his outfit |
He would discuss a business move with |
his partner of an evening and If II
necessitated a trip to the Crow agency !
or Helena he would order his team at |
once and even though the night were |
~ thC ddi hNcl lt SldIl Oul lie 1
never put off anything until morning |
He often drove from Bozeman to Hell |
ena, 100 miles, in IL to Ii hours He /
was good trader. He saw everything |
and remembered distinctly the minu- |
test details for all time. His memory |
was something marvellous, and his bus |
mess ability in his best days was won
derful. He was a large man, weighing |
at one time 315 pounds. He was kind |
hearted and generous, despised a hypo- |
critic or anything undetermined or dis /
honest. He would give large amounts |
TO needy persons and always secretly, |
letting no one know from whom these /
gifts came.
Mr.. Rich was married to Miss Milne /
Taylor, sister OF ]. II. Taylor of this |
place, at Pierpont, n. Y, eight children /
being born into this home. OF these /
seven are dead, three having been /
buried In one grave in New York, ow-
ing to diphtheria. Mrs. Rich came 10 |
Bozeman in 1865, bringing with her Ed
win, the only child now alive, and then
baby hardly years of age The /
other little ones, born since. all died in
childhood. Edwin, who is a member
of the firm OF Boyle & Rich, plumbers.
with his mother alone surviving the
husband and father
Mr.. Rich had not been in business
since 1922, his early pioneer life having
Iulheu MS hedith- he never cared for
sleep or rest, when work was 70 be
done. and so overdid and broke down
his nervous system. His immediate
death was due to pneumonia. The fu-
neral will be from the Presbyterian /
church this afternoon at 2:30. the
funeral service to be conducted BY Rev.
Davis Wilson. who came West with
him in 1866, was at one time associa-
ted with him in business and has al
ways lived a near neighbor to Mr.. Rich
and been a close friend Of the family |