Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-04-04
BY GLENDoLN DAMON WAGNER

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She was born at Red Wins
MINI, in 1861. In her fathers vein
courSed the ven for adventure WtthOu
which we would have had no settle
west. The call of the wild sounded lou
In his ears. When Josephine was stil
q small child, about 1867, he move'
with his family to Kansas plains. Their
he remained until civilization gradu
ally encroached upon the untame'
west, tanning its spirit, robbing it o
colorfui zest. And So itching for the eX
element of new lands, Joseph Mine
again turned his adventure hungr,
eyes westward, toward the Dakotas anC
Montana from whence came rumors o
red-blOoded men, Indian warfare, gold
and thousands of acres Of prairie lanC
to be had for the taking. Josephine
Miner was 13 years old at that time
Good schools for her and her brother
were factors to be considered. Then
too, there was another baby on the way
MRS. Miner wanted for herself and fol
them the security Of settled social
life and a home.
Consequently, Joseph Miner. born
pioneer, set off alone to conquer the
west, hoping to plant the roots Of 3
new home for himself and his family
He joined an immigrant train that
wendell its slow hazardous way across
the plains from Kansas TO DeadWOod
iOuS weeks with no news from him,
until, finally, came word that he had
arrived at Deadwood, but, on the heels
of that word, news of a terrible battle
In q valley known as Little Big Horn, {"
In which General Custer and his COM
mand we're wiped out by savage Red
men. The Miners knowledge OF west
ern geography was vague. Perhaps
DeadWood was in that Little Big Horn
valley. Perhaps the husband and father
had been victim of the awful mas
sacre. Back in Kansas the family could
only wait, hoping, fearing, praying, I'M
til a letter postmarked Bismarck
came by boat down the Missouri and
across Kansas plains, telling them he
was safe in little town out In Mon
tana Territory named Miles City, and
that he was making plans to send for
them at once. He gave specific direc-
tons for the difficult journey. They
were TO join an immigrant train to
the river and then take a boat up to
Bismarck, where he would meet them
and guide them to their new home on
Montana plains.
Five years were to pass before they
undertook that journey. Joseph Miner,
working hard at his trade as carpen-
ter in the booming town of Miles City,
managed to save $500, enough, he be-
neVed, to bring his family safely
through. A baby daughter had been
added to that family since his depar-
ture. Now he faced the grave problem
Of getting his money, a munificent
sum to him, representing so much toll
and sacrifice, to Bismarck, where 1t
could be mailed. Travel in those days
was not a simple matter Of boarding
q train or airplane. The trip from
Miles City to Bismarck must be made
on horseback, over vast stretches Of
plains where revengeful Redskins
lurked, and, much more to be feared
the powerful organization known as
Road Agents. But Miner owned a long
legged, white horse that could, he was
sure Outrun any Indian pony or band
Of Road Agents And so, with the money
IN his belt, q loaded gun IN his hol-
Ster, bacon and bareback In the blanket
roll on his saddle, he started on the
trip Somewhere between Miles City
and Bismarck he was robbed, mar
rOwly escaping with his life. Penniless,
he returned to Miles, to begin all over
again the task Of earning money to
bring his family 70 him
Meanwhile, he acquired town lots by
8 process the details of which are
somewhat vague to Mrs Decker There
was law or provision requiring the
erecting Of a building on lots before
they could be held. The term build
ing however, appears to have been
elastic Two logs planted in the ground
with beam connecting them or even
two crossed logs served the purpose.
And so Joseph Miner crossed two logs
On the lots he had selected and then,
between jobs, started building his
house. A two-roOm log cabin it was,
and, when the family did arrive five
years later, on one of the first trains
reaching westward to Miles City, Jo-
sephine remembers that the sod roof
was sprouttng grass, making the house
resemble funny little man with thick,
green hair.
The young girl must have inherited
her fathers adventurous spirit for
her dark eyes stin sparkle as she re-
lives in memory the early days of the
west. Young folks nowadays" she de-
clareS, don't know what real fun is"
When she arrived in 1882, Miles City
was a town Of about 1000 inhabitants.
already becoming known as the lead
ing horse and cattle market of the ,
west. The unpaved streets were hot and
dusty in summer, bleak and snow
bound in winter. Most of the business
blocks as well as the residences we're
log structures, the stores had wooden
awnings. For warmth the houses were
lined with canvass that beloved when ,
wind crept through chinks in the logs. ,
Board walks clattered to the tramp Of
cowboy boots The courthouse was made /
~ @4ecg eAAC doAA Va tA1AlA k}AA1C EJACc
planted deep in the ground and set
very close. In front of each store was
B httching rail. Main street boosted sew
sral town pumps, with watering troughS
for the horses. The fire department.
and fire was a constant menace to that |
town Of flimsy wooden structures
consisted of a volunteer bucket bril- i
gade Often the boys, later to become
brave leaders in municipal progress,
INDUCED in water battles, drenching, !
not only themselves, but any innocent i
pasSerby who Inadvertently Ventured
within range. One evening stands out ,
wildly in Mrs. Decker's memory be-
cause, on that particular evening she ,
was wearing her very best dress, q I
flounced skirt, gathered full at the ,
waist, covering many starched petit /
coats, the costume topped by a shirred !
net hat trimmed with pink ribbons and
plumes. AS she walked along, in all her I
finery, a deluge Of water soaked her /
and every one of those petticoats had /
10 be re-laundered. But" she chuckled, I
1T was in fun. We we're young and
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