The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-08-31

James A. Talbot, founder of Col
umbia Falls, is dead. He lived "a
most adventurous career. He was
one of General Walkers men in
that swashbuckIer's Inflated at
tempt to take over the Nicaraguan
government, and escaped when the
expedition failed, by walking over
the Isthmus and taking ship for
South America. He mined for gold
in California and in Australia, and
was with the first rush of the ar
gonauts to Alder gulch in 1868.
He served as a member of the adj
visory board of the Vigilantes, and
was among the first to appreciate
the quartz possibilities of Butte
district, circumstance that made
of him a very wealthy man.
Mr.. Talbot was born in Meigs
county, Ohio, October 80, 1888. At
the age of IL he went to Missouri to
live and at the age of II he began
overland freighting to California.
This was some time before the fam
Gus rush of the "49-ers." Soon after
ward he took contract to haul mail
from Yuma to San Diego. He ac-
complished this by importing camels
for use in crossing Death valley.
1t is said that there are still des-
cendants of these camels, running
wild in the Arizona deserts.
Mr.. Talbot made several trips in
to old Mexico.
With General Walker he went into
Nicaragua on an expedition for the
purpose of taking over the Nicara-
guam government. Later he crossed
the Isthmus of Panama, making the
journey on foot and later went
around the horn of South America to
Australia in search of gold. He ira
veled extensively through South |
America but finally drifted back to
California, then to Nevada, where he
stayed at Carson City and Bannack. |
AT Alder Gulch in '63
In 1863 he went north to Montana |
and landed in Alder gulch and Vir-
ginia City in the boom days of 1868
and was present when five despera-
does were strung up by the Vigi-
lantes. While he never took an act
i've part in the work of the Vigil
antes, an organization formed to
quell the acts of bad men of that
time, he was a member of their adj
visory board.
He lived in Alder gulch for several
years and later moved to Columbia
Falls, where he opened J. A. Tai
bolts bank, which is still in exist
ence. He was charter member of
the Montana Pioneer society. He
retired some years ago, but contin-
ued his residence in Columbia Falls
until last October.
In 1875 he was married to Miss
Josie L. Ransdell, daughter of Joseph ,
Ransdell. The Ransdell family was
also known throughout Montana, and =
in Butte, having been :
among the earliest pioneers. Mr.. =
md Mrs. Talbot had seven children,
)nly two of whom are living at this Z
ime. During the years in Butte, Mr..
ralbott accumulated large amount
If property. O
Founded Columbia Falls j
Mr.. Talbot and his family lived at u
Columbia Falls for "a years. He can v
be called the father of this j
title western city. He gave to it the v
ed brick school house and gave the \
tate the site for the Soldiers home. Z
lie built the Gaylord hotel, and his u
amily made possible the Episcopal Il
hurch there. Mr.. Talbot was over
tx feet tall, wiry, erect, alert and
owerful. He was absolutely with II
ut fear and was respected and fear al
d throughout the territory of Mon
ana. AS one of his friends puts it.
he was man who would always a
o through with his friend" He was a
public spirited and generous citi-
EN- and quite large part of the for d
une he made was dissipated in help M
1g the friends of his early life and CT