Montana oil and mining journal., 1937-12-18

@@N3N%-C~
Bozeman pass In the Belt noun
tains between the GaLlatin and the
Yellowstone rivers, was named by
George w. Irwin in the spring OF
1863. In the party with him at the
time were John Nj. Bozeman him
self and Samuel Word, names TO
cOniure with In MOntana's history,
and seven others
Irwin, first postmaster Of Deer
( Lodge, sheriff Of Silver Bow county
in the eighties and postmaster Of Butte
for several terms in later years, was
a mere STRIPPING at the time. Born in
Chicago in 1874, young Irwin had
drifted into Kansas during the border
ruffian days and was gradually head
ing further west. In the spring Of 1868,
at Fort Laramie on the North Platte
river in Wyoming, he met and became
acquainted with Bozeman, intrepid pio-
neer who marked the Bozeman emf
grant trail to Montana from the Platte
river.
Bozeman at that time had been en-
gagged to guide an emigrant train to
Montana, and Irwin joined the outfit.
When 100 miles north of Fort Laramie
a large party Of hostile Indians blocked
their trail and the emigrantS decided
to retrace their steps to Fort Laramie
and take the older and longer route
by way of the Sweetwater river In
western Wyoming.
Bozeman, Irwin, Word and seven
others, however, determined TO con-
tinue over the Bozeman trail, and did
so. They made a trip Of more than 700
miles through a country teeming with
hostile Indians. They underwent many
hardshipS and Travelled much by night,
but they ultimately reached their goal.
AS they went through the pass IN the
Belt mountains, Irwin named 1t Tor
Bozeman.
Irwin reached Alder gulch, Aug. %,
1863, and Immediately engaged IN min
ing. He became active in the affairs
of the camp and worked with the Wig
ilance committee, assisting both Capt.
Jim Williams Of the Vig1iantes ana
Colonel Sanders, the prosecutor for the
committee. He was present at the hang
ing of George Ives and numerous others
executed by the Vigilantes.
In 1865 Irwin was named clerk OF
the commission appointed to codify the
laws of the territory. In 1866 he was
made assistant collector Of internal
revenue with headquarters at Deer
Lodge. He was the postmaster at Deer
Lodge in 1866 and 1867.
During the years from 1871 to 1873,
Irwin had a government contract for
surveying Flint creek and Bitter Root
valleys. During the years from 1873
to 1875, he served as undersherin OF
Deer Lodge county under Sheriff
Charles S. Warren and in 1875 he was
public administrator Of the county.
In 1879, Irwin was clerk OF the second
judicial district court at Deer Lodge
and when the county of Silver Bow was
cut off from Deer Lodge county, he
moved the clerks office to Butte and
held it until he was elected as sheriff
of Silver Bow county in 1882.
All of these years Irwin also was
engaged In mining. He was Tor long |
time manager Of the Amy 81 Silver
smith mine at Butte was interested IN |
the Elkhorn mines In the Beaverhead
country and in placer mines at various
camps in the state. At the time OF the !
admission Of Montana to the union
he was United States marshal He was
appointed to that office by President |
Harrison and served as the last United |
States marshal under the territorial
setup and the first in Montana's state
hood. He resigned from the office In
At the time of his death In 1907 he
was serving his third term as post
master Of Butte.
Irwin was a conspicuous figure In the
NeZ Perce war IN 1871, DelnB q utSIiUSA
of the company commanded by Capt. |
Thomas Stuart Of Deer Lodge, COM
pany of volunteers formed to help the |
United States army detachmentS in
their battle with and subsequent pur-
suit of Chief Joseph and his tribesmen. |
Almost from the moment Of his ar
rival in Montana. youth not yet 81 !
years of age, Irwin took an active and
prominent part in public affairs and
became one of the most widely known
citizens in the state He made and lost
fortunes In the mining game, as did
a host of other early-dav residents.
While living in Deer Lodge he was
married to the daughter Of Thomas Fl. |
Irvine, a pioneer whose arrival in
Montana antedated by several years
the discovery Of gold at Bannack and |
Alder g1lch.