The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17

me shudder when I think of the fami-
lies who, at one time the wealthy class
Of Montana, are now cropping against
the dark walls of adversely in the
hopes that another fortune may happen
along their way. Such as these can
claim my sympathy and best wishes.
II have made two or three fortunes
III this state, and while I am a few
PAGES from the goal Of another, pro-
pose to make it before I say farewell
to the greatest state in the union. The
opportunities are as frequent now as
ever, and as the boys say, am Johnnie
on the spot right here in Butte"
Then the lady told of her many sue
cessful business ventures in this city.
Years before she came here she was
considered one of the wealthy stock
growers of the state She used to talk
cattle and horses with Con Kohrs and
the Bielenbergs. She traded horses
with the crafty and doughty old herds
men of the plains of southern Montana,
and it is said Of her that she seldom
took the bad end of a bargain. She
was an expert horsewoman and used
to find it delightful pastime to "bust
bronchos" on her ranch They tell a
story as follows: She used to ride a
lively charger, the envy of all the
rangers. One day Billy Pfouts of
this city, then a resident of Madison
county, called at the Butler HOMESTEAD
to borrow saddle horse. Mrs. Butler
granted him the privilege but few 9th.
ers ever enjoyed. She let him take hel
riding horse. Mr.. Pfouts saddled the
horse and mounted. 1t was a flash of a
start. In about two seconds Pfouts
was rolling on the ground and the
horse was proudly canterlng back to
the barn. Take your gol darned cay.
use; he's no good" and the man who
was looking for a saddle horse con-
Guided that he would walk.
Speaking of her first Christmas in
Montana, Mrs. Butler said: LAS we had
the biggest house in Emigrant gulch
we concluded to give a dinner to some
of the party, those who had no wives
to cook their dinners. There were about
two dozen in the dinner party, includ-
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Rice and daugher
Miss Rice, who afterward married Cap.
tain Stafford of Canyon Ferry, August
| Archambeault, Frank Sinsin, Charles
| Boiler George Davis, cousin of Mr.
| Woods, and Mr.. and Mrs. Hardesty
| We had elk and antelope meat, pc.
! tatoes and pies. OF these we had plenty
but the variety, looking back from
| these days, was very limited. wasn't
| It? But the miners thought it was the
grandest bill of fare they had ever
seen. Some of them had been doing
| their own cooking for several years or
| the plains and in California"
The next Christmas Mrs. Butler at
| tended a dance in Virginia City, the
| first dance ever given by the Masonic
| order in Montana. She had never seer
| a white woman dance before that
| night. She had come from California
| and during her stay there had not at.
| tended a dance. She was raised In the
| South, where, in those times, only the
| colored people danced. So in Virgins
| City she danced for the first time II
her life, and Con Kohrs was her part
| ner in a plain quadrille.
Mrs. Butler came to Butte In 1871
| and at that time there were but few
! women in the city. She built tht
brick apartment house in West
| Broadway which bears her name
Reverses have removed much OF
the valuable property which moi
long ago this energetic, am
| bilious woman paid taxes upon. A
few years ago she owned a string OF
race horses, and much Of the misfort
une which has come her way is di
| rectly traceable to the racing stable
A prominent business man said of her
I'm future days, when incidents II
! the life OF Mrs. Butler shall be recalled
| in memory, some men and women viii
| pause to reflect. They will recall tina