Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-05-18
THE PASSING
OF JOHN DAY
One Of the old-Timers of the Country
Crosses the Great Divide After
a Short illness.
FIFTY YEARS IN THE WEST
He Came to California in so and Has
Lived in Many states-FuneraI
This Afternoon.

John Day died at the county hos
pital at IL o'clock Monday morning.
Could that simple statement be made
in many different parts of the west
fIom southern California to Puget
sound from the coast TO old Diamond
City there would be hundreds of old
timers-men who formed the fearless
vanguard OF that hardy host which
came across the plains to reclaim the
great west from savagery TO civiliz-
atlon-who would read IL with a feel
ing OF sincerest sorrow. Ii would be
another of those now frequently re-
curing reminders that the day is
slowly but surely drawing near when
the last of that heroic band will join
his comrades on the "other side"
From the best data which is at hand
John Day was born in Westchester
county, New York, in 1918. making
him Sc years of age. Some Of his
friends in this city think that he was
not that old, but that in his declin-
ing years his memory became defec-
tive to the extent of remembering
his exact age. In 1852 he left his
eastern home, and, after facing the
dangers of a long and tedious trip
across the plains, arrived in the land
of gold in 1853. After following the
business Of a placer miner for sew
eral years with varying success, he
went north and spent a number of
years on Salmon river, Idaho. While
in that country he became noted as
one of the most fearless Indian fight
ers in the west and won from his red
adversaries the complimentary So
briquet Bad Medicine" w. w. De
Witt, OF this city, knew him in the
Salmon river country and says that
a Drawer man than John Day never
lived.
From Salmon river he went to Ore
gon and nee more engaged In the
mining business. He located some
good claims and, together with his
partner, cleaned up a comfortable
fortune. But the partner was IN
trusted with the mission of taking the
treasure from the mountain camp to
a nearby city and from that day was
never seen by Day having evidently
skipped out of the country, not only
with his own share of the gold, but
with that of his partner, Day, as well.
In 1871 he came to Montana, settling
down in the then booming camp OF
Diamond City. Later he moved to
Whites gulch, where he followed the
carpenters trade, only occasionally
trying his hand at his old trade, min
ing. He accumulated some property
and in 81 came to the Judith, bring
ing over a fine bunch CT horses. He
settled on Buffalo creek and later
took up the ranch now owned by
William Gordon. He prospered fairly
well until the hard times OF '92-3 made
him a bankrupt.
Although he was reaching a time
OF life when he could no longer dc
much towards contributing to his owl
support by the usual manual labor
he was blessed with good and true
friends, who saw that he wanted fol
nothing. For the last ten years Of
his life he made his home with Geo
Gordon, Posey Ellison and r. w. Cliff
ford, respectively, and his own rela
tives could not have treated him bet
ter.
A few weeks ago he complained o.
one of his feet paining him and Wa!
brought to this city. Being a mem
Der of the Masonic lodge he was TAX
en- care of by that order. He was a
the Hoffman House for a few days
but on the advice of a physician wa'
moved to the county hospital. Ont
of his feet became affected with bloot
poisoning and it was necessary t.
amputate it Saturday e For
few days after the amputation hi
seemingly rallied but the shock wa'
too much for his system and he fin
ally had to give up the struggle Il
the foe which all must meet and L
which all must succumb.
The Masonic lodge took charge o
the body, bringing 1t in to the lodg'
room. where II will remain until
O'Clock this afternoon, when the III
neral services will be held In thu
: Presbyterian church with the Rev
Pfaus officiating. Interment will b.
made in the city cemetery under tn
auspices Vi the Ndoouit oiuti' %"
burial was delayed in order to per
NIT his old friends from Buffalo creel
> and vicinity to be present.
No words of eulogy "a add to tn
I. affection in which the memory o
John Day will be held by all VIII
7 knew him. "He gave away enougl
! to make him many times a rich man,
] said one of his friends who ha'
known him for over thirty years. N
man ever went to John Day with
reasonable request and had II refus
ed If John Day could possibly gran
it. He gave half a century Of hi
life to the west. and to such as h
does the glory of western achieve
ments belong. He was never maj
ried and was bound to no one in hi
adopted homes by the ties OF blood
but he never lacked a friend to uT
hold the integrity of his character 0
to extend a helping hand when h
was down. Buried in a land thou'
ands of miles from his birthplace, h
yet sleeps among his friends and hi
grave will be kept green by the hand
of those who loved him even as broti
er loveth brother.
MINERS WILL CELEBRATE.