The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-09-03
# at Jack" Jones, Famous Early-Day Hack
Was Also Montana Tonsorial Artist

60 down in history as Montanas
most famous hack driver, but also
siOnal tonsorial artists. Barbering
was Fat Jacks" first occupation
of record in Montana. Not because
he was a barber, becauSe he wasn't.
But the country seemed to need a
barber, so Jack became one. Most
of the men in the country at that
time had full cards n shaggy
hair. There was business in sight
on every hand if Jack could only
corral it, he thought, and Jack was
the sort who would try anything
once.
Jacks debut as a barber was made
in the town OF Deer Lodge, IN 1866.
His first customer was Judge Dixon, a
widely known early-day Montanan.
When the judge got out OF Jacks chair
that first time he didn't know whether
he had been shaved or a been the
subject of a surgical operation. But ne
was a good scout, and deciding 10 let
his beard grow after that, he gave Jack
some pointers on shaving n after
wards became one of his best customers.
Jones came to Montana in 1866 with
Green Clay Smith, who had just been
appointed governor Of the territory.
State Secretary Tufts and Col. George
Mclean were also members OF the
party. Jack was a member OF Governor
SmltIl S parry ptCduoe "! 1A!e A@eG '4oo
the governor was a friend OF Jacks
father. They came up the Missouri
river by boat, landed at Fort Benton
and proceeded to Helena. From there
Jack struck out for himself. He went
to Deer Lodge. The others of the party
went to Virginia City, which was the
capital of the territory.
When Jack reached Deer Lodge, John
Jones disappeared and Fat Jack be-
gan.
Jack was born in Skowhegan, Me.
in 1843. He served in the Civil war for
five years after which he went to wash
ington and entered the office OF the
uuartermaster general. It was from
there that he came to Montana.
In Deer Lodge he was Immediately
named Fat Jack" because OF his slim
build and cadaverous cheeks. he was
six feet tall and weighed about l8O
pounds.
After Jack got his barber shop going
in good shape in Deer Lodge he
branched out into a circuit riding
barber, visiting the mining camps at
Silver Bow, Rocker and Butte as well
as Deer Lodge. He tried to reach each
camp once a week, shaving and cutting
the hair of the inhabitants and losing
the next place. After a time he moved
his headquarters to Silver Bow, which
was at that time considerably larger
than Butte.
Jack charged so cents for a shave,
81 for a haircut, ST for a shampoo and
$3.50 for a bath, although it was not
always possible to get a bath just by
going in and asking for one. There was
a matter of carrying water for the
barrel in which the customer sluiced
himself. Jack didn't always deliver
baths on request.
He remained on his barber circuit
until 1869, when he joined the rush
to Cedar creek, a new gold camp n
Missoula county. Cedar creek PROVED
to be a good camp for two years. JACK
of the peace and was elected. receiving
ATS out of the Sis votes cast: History
has failed to record any of the cases
that may have come before him in
his capacity as camp jurist. Poster1ty, IS
the loser by reason Of that fact, tor
Eat Jack" never did anything That
wasn't of interest.
When Cedar creek died in 1871. Fat
Jack" went to Pioneer. The first thing
he did there was to lose all of his money
playing faro. He took out his false
Teeth. put them up for $50 and Won
enough to redeem them and more oe-
sides. From Pioneer, Jack returned 10
Deer Lodge. There ne heard OF n 1ne
lust developing into a silver camp: ne
wanted to go back, but said n a ne
never liked to return to a camp Whlcn
he had once quit. So he shook dice
with himself to see whether ne Wouid
90 to Butte or to the Black hills. Hls
left hand won so he started 1qr tne
then to ogden by stage where he took
tbo TTpion Pacific railroad.
He left Helena on Jan. s, 1910, Ine
dav the legislature met there for the
first time after the capital was re-
moved from Virginia City. From Ogoen
he went to Cheyenne and from the aG
to Custer City, Dakota. He remalnea
in Custer City and then returned TO
CHEYENNE where he remained until
March. Then he went to
dakota and ran a barber shop until
1878. In that year the competltlon N
the barber business became Keen ~
Deadwood and the price OF shaveS wa se
cut to Is cents. JACK sWoIs t fnn ,e ns
would never shave any, man ioI leo S
went to Denver.
Won $1,000 at Faro .
His l,,ck was good and he Leaned
IN 81. 300 playing faro, but ne "e1rS
~ M r. CHEYENNE and lost it all. IN
Ghevenne he met John Hoffman, WIZ
said that he was on his way IRON
Pennsylvania to California. Jack sict mt
duced him to throw away ms x ytIneo
the as os reached a meal station n near az
Dillon Hoffman had a chance TO 60
to work in the place. Coffee and sano-
wiches were sold for 81: ,o money to
WHICH Hoffman had staked him, bum-
ming rides and going afoot when otn inr
ally reached Butte in March, re lSa5;
Of ipe meal Station near Dillon until ne
h bad dh saved we'd $500. Then he went to V a,;t
einia City. Operators there found ouG
how much money he y, had s and PLAY playe a
him for a sucker. o Ihey f S1fG $500 o. He
worked eight days and cleaned up only My
500 a az" DAY: He remained until l,h he had i'd
$4,000, sold the claim TOR Wnat ne
z~A IN tho nilNn COnnGIN,