The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-24
PIONEER GOlD-SEEkER AND IN
DIAN FIGHTER DIES AT
THOMPSON FALLS.
PNEUMONIA Provost ATAL
James c. lauehIn, Who Was One Of
Early Seekers After Gold in Cali
fornia and Montana, and Father of
First White Child Born in Denver,
Crosses the Great Divide.'
Special to The Daily Missoulian.

Special to The Daily Missoulian
Thompson Falls, March 23.---Death
closed a remarkable career when
James C. Laughlin, pioneer, gold seek
er and Indian fighter, died IN this
town today from the effects Of pneu-
| monia. Mr.. Laughlin was one of the
early fortune seekers 10 lrlye a Dull
team across the continent in search of
gold in California, had sailed around
THE Horn," crossed Panama, sought
gold in Montana, fought Indians and
was among the earliest settlers in
Thompson Falls. He was the first
white man to drive loao of potatoes
into Denver, and his son was the first
white child born in that city
An attack of grip was the indirect
cause of the pioneers death. About
10 days ago he suffered an attack of
the malady and was confined to his
home, about two and one-half miles
from this town. When he was con-
valeScing he went outside and got his
feet wet, as a result of which he ievel-
oped the more serious symptoms cf
pneumonia. Last Saturday the suffer-
er was brought to a local hospital and
his condition became gradually worse
until death relieved him about
o'clock this morning The deceased's
son, Denver, was with his father at
the time of his death and one Of his
daughters, Mrs. Daggett Of Missoula,
arrived here Sunday and remained all
day Monday. Not anticipating any
serious consequences she left Monday
night for her home.
Remarkable Career.
James Cost Laughlin was in his S2d
year, having been born in Circleville,
Ohio, July 2, 1927. When he was about
10 years Of age his parents moved to
Pulaski, Ill, where he grew to
manhood. Along with party of young
men Mr.. Laughlin helped to organize
a "bull train and joined the rush to
California at the time of the gold dis
covery in 1850. He worked there
about two years, accommodating $1,000
or $4,000, and during that interval
made three trips between California
and New York, twice around the Horn
and once crossing the isthmus of Pan
ANA.
One journey around the Horn he
made in a sailing ship and was 81 days
out Of sight of land. The route via
the isthmus of Panama was much
favored by the hundreds who flocked
to California in the years immediate
ly following the discovery of gold and
it was to the isthmus that Mr.. Laugh
lin next went. There he built a hotel
and had been there about year and
was just getting nicely started in his
new venture when he was stricken
with yellow fever known in those
days as Panama fever" Upon the
advice of physician he left there, go
ing to New York and leaving the
hotel in charge of friend. Arriving
in New York in the winter time the
fever quickly left him, but he had
scarcely recovered when he was in
formed that during his absence his
hotel at Panama was burned, leaving
him practically penniless.
During his residence in California he
served 80 days as volunteer in the
Rogue River war or Rogue River In
dian uprising.
Files on Homestead.
After losing his hotel he left New
filed on homestead near the city and
which is now part Of the great me-
tropolis. It was here that he met his
future wife, Miss Josephine Shoup, to
whom he was married in 1858.
When gold was discovered in Color
ado near Pixies peak he sold his land
near Chicago and Joined the stampede,
landing in Denver in 1859. He started
ranching and hauled the first load of
potatoes that there is any record Of
being taken into Denver by
white man. His first child, son
was born on February 26 1860, at
Denver, and was named after the city,
he being the first white child born in
Denver.
Then came the news of the gold dis
covery at Alder gulch and on May 1
1864 Mr.. Laughlin, with his family,
struck out by mule team. Arriving at
Alder gulch he conducted a boarding
house until the summer of 1865, when
he moved to Pipestone and started a
stage station, the first stage station to
be established between Alder gulch
and Last Chance gulch, now Helena.
He remained at Pipestone five years.
In the spring of 1870 the gold dis
covery at Cedar creek near the pres
ent town of Iron Mountain. was re-
sponsible for his next move and there
he placer mined and conducted a
butcher shop and hotel until the dig
gins" played out.
In 1872 he moved his family t. Para
disc valley and was living there when
the Nez Perce Indian war broke ou:
The Indians were troublesome ana
there being no school for his children
to attend, he left the Paradise valley,
going to Lolo and settling on
homestead which is believed to be the
same tract Of land that is n,w the
property of DR. Mills Of Missoula. Here
he Cto,-a6 for Rya 1,aorc