The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-19
AN OLD TIMER DEAD.
John b. Traxler of Sun River Passe
Away at the Hospital.

Great Falls, Jan. 1S.-John B. Trax-
Ter, an old-timer of the Sun river val
ley died last night at the Columbus
hospital in this city of gangrene of the
foot and leg. He was S. years of age,
and came to Montana 80 years ago, i'm
mediately settling near Sun river The
following excellent obituary of the de-
ceased has been written by the Hon.
Robert Vaughn of This city, who was a
life long friend of Mr.. Traxler:
John B. Trax!er is dead. 1t was in
1867 when I met him first: he had
come from Milligan's ranch to the
Prickly Pear valley. He stayed with
me that winter on the Ten Mile, chop
ping cord wood. In 1872, again at my
River farm and worked for me for six
years. When the Indians stole my only
team of horses and I had no money to
buy another one, John said: We'll, l
will let you have every dollar | have to
buy another team A friend in need
is friend indeed. He was for several
years a boss farmer for J. J. Healy.
The last twelve or fifteen years he lived
on his own little farm adjoining the
town of Sun River. He was elected for
several terms a justice of the peace for
Sun River district, which office he filled
to the satisfaction of the community
and with honor to himself. He was al
ways honest and upright in his deal
ings,
when J. J. Ellis one of his best
friends, came to me the day of his
death and asked me to read Mr.. Trax-
ler's letter, or his last will and testa-
ment, which he had written in his own
trembling hand at the time he was
seized by the grim hand of death, and
was told that the time was up, it was
to be seen that the first thing poor john
Tfaxler did was to make a list of the
few effects he had. with instructions
to sell them and pay the small bills
that he owed He asked to be buried in
a simple manner with a plain stone at
the head and foot of his grave.
He was saving, but was always
ready to help a friend if it was in his
power. He was temperate. + never
knew Of his taking any kind of liquor.
But for all this, he died pennless. Some
months ago he sold his home to pay
old notes he had been paying interest
on for many years. This with ill health
and hard times in general compelled
him to go to his sister in California,
and J. J. Ellis had given him a check
for $3.50 to pay his fare, but he was
taken sick and taken to the Columbus
hospital where he died. The check
of Mr.. Ellis was the only money he
had after finishing his course as an
Olu Timer III montana. but there Is this
to his credit, that he lived an honest
life.
He was about IS years of age He
was never married. He has a married
sister in California. He had fair edu-
cation and was very fond of reading;
was we'll versed in the history of great
men. He could name every president
of the United States and respective
terms of years that they presided, and
could name the governors of all the
states in the same manner. He could
locate the time of what happened years
ago with remarkable accuracy. When
he would enter into an argument he
was careful to have on hand plenty of
proofs Of his assertions; in this way he
would Invariably have his opponent
convinced that he was wrong. He was
always republican in politics.
To-day, his remains were taken to
the Sun River cemetery and there will
be buried by his old friends and COM
rades who honored and trusted him dur
ing life The news Of his death has
caused sorrow to all that knew him
in all parts of the state"