The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-10-22

~ ALIFoRNIA JOEL" What "a
wealth Of romance, adventure,
mystery, humor and pathos is
wrapped up in his well-remembered
name!
What stirring tales of the old from
tier could be related around a blaz-
ing campfire, if, among the hosts
of great frontier characters who have
''cashed in" and passed to their re-
ward in the happy hunting grounds
of Oblivion, old California Joe could
stem into the freight, with his stub
by briar pipe ablaze, and recount
some of his stirring adventures
through which he passed; or, II
Capt. Jack Crawford, the famous
''poet-scout'', could arise, and, amid
the crackle of the embers, recite
his well-known poem, California
Joel"
There seems to be little doubt that
California Joe was known far and
wide as one of the best and most
reliable of that army of keen-eyed
frontiersmen acting in the capacity
of scouts and guides during the In
dian campaigns of the late CO.'S and
early '7O's. His one fault, according
to the best authorities, was over
indulgence in liQuor-sOmetimes at
the very moment when his services
were in greatest demand. Yet, in
spite of this s~hortcoming, California
Joe's name is bound to go down in
history of the West as a plainsman,
guide and scout of great distinction,
and we'll deserving of a high place
on the scroll of fame.
Moses e. Miner was California
Joe's real name. He is said to have
been born in Stanford, KY, May 9Th,
1929, the descendant of a family
which emigrated from Yorkshire,
England, early in the eighteenth CEN
tury and settled in West Virginia,
later removing to Kentucky, where
Moses E. Miner was born.
Apparently conditions in Ken
lucky did not suit the elder Miner,
or else the love of adventure and
the desire to 'seek pastures anew,
lured him to Missouri. Likewise
there must have ben something about
Missouri which young "Mose" Mil
ner did not like, as at the age OF four
teen he ran away from home; remain
ing away two years. Just how he
engaged those two years we are not
informed, as there appears to be
nothing to record his wanderings
until he reached his majority.
Arriving at ~manhood's estate, Mos
es Miner fell in love with a pretty
little Tennessee girl named Nancy
Emma Watts, and although she wa
but thirteen years Of age, Cupid go
in his work and the couple were
married. History next records tina
the Youthful couple, on the day fol
lowing their marriage, packed thei
belongings and Joined an emigran
train for the California gold fields.
A story is told to the effect tina
while this wagon train was enrout'
to the Pacific coast, it vas attacked
by Ute Indians. No details are Civ
en-, save that young Miner was tax
en- captive, bound to the stake, an
the savages were engaged in tor
toring him, when his lusty yell;
brought a band of trappers to hi
rescue, and the Indians fled, leavin
their captive in welcome hands.
When young Miner arrived in Ca
ifornia he at once entered the die
gings' near Suffers Fort, and TO
the ensuing two years worked stead
ily as a miner, with what success
we are net informed, but prObabl
with the usual run of miners luck
erich today and poor tomorrow.
At the end Of two years he remove
to Oregon, where he operated a pacl
train service from Benton count
to the various gold mines in tn
northern part of the state.
At thirty years of age, we fin
Miner in charge of a packtrain
Walla Walla, Washington, and fro
there to the gold diggings in Il
Orc Elmo district. Here the idea
building a toll road entered Miner
head, and he constructed such
road from the gold mines to Moul
Idaho. an enterprise which must ha'
drawn great patronage, as it is sa
to have Melted him $4,000 in Il
ensuing two years. Whether Joe saI
ed down this nest-egg or spent
in riotOus living" is not on recor
But" you ask, chow did Min
acquire the title of California Joe?'
It came about in this manner
When Miner first appeared in v.
ginia City, Montana, he was accoi
ed by several persons, who, notii