Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-03-20
Who Erected First
Butte Quartz Mill!
WRITER'S DIFFER ON SUBJECT or
WHO DISCOVERED FIRST
NINE

VINE buElt the first quartz min in
the Butte district? w. L. Farlin,
SAYS one writer. w. A. Clark, says
a second. Fariin started the mill
but Clark finished it, says q third.
But aceuxding TO eaxIy-d@y records,
the distinction Of establishing the
first quartz mill In Silver Bow
county belongs to II. Gassert -Os
Silver Bow Junction" Gassert also
claimed THAI he. In company with
Jacob Reding, discovered the first
silver mine in the Butte camp.
This honor, by the way, has always
been accorded TO wv. l.. Farfin who
dated his discovery back In 1866
while GasSert did not come TO
Butte until 1869 or 1870.
Farln, according to old records, in
June, 1886, discovered and located the
Trevona, which was then called the
Asteroid. BY roasting and amalgamat-
ing he produced bar Of silver weigh
ing one ounce, the first silver pro-
duced in the Butte district.
Claim Challenged
So GaSsert's claim to being the first
to discover a silver mine Is challenged,
by implication. at least. With regard to
the stamp mill Farlin did not, appar-
emily, claim the distinction of estab-
fishing the first stamp mill His bio
first "ten-stamp mill" Senator Clark's
biography says that he furnished the
means to complete the Dexter mill,
the first successful silver stamp mill"
Gassert, like dozens Of other early
day residents of the Butte district, had
led a life Of adventure. He was born
IN Benton county, Pa, April IA, 1871.
His father was a Frenchman and his
mother q German. When he was Is
his family moved to Minnesota-in
1857-when the west was in the raw
and Minnesota was regarded as one OF
the most western outpoSts of civiliza-
ton and likely to "go native" at any
moment. Young GasSert apparently got
himself Job on steamboat for 1t
develops that shortly after his familys
removal to Minnesota he was off on
trip down the Mississippi to New Or
leans and back. In 1859 he started for
pixies Peak" which in those DAYS was
another name for Colorado Just as,
later on, Denver" covered about every /
part Of Colorado east of the Continent
al divide. The Indians didn't take |
kindly to white penetration and made |
1t tough for Pixies Peakers. Gassert's |
party was compelled to turn back De- |
feat ranked and In 1861 he enlisted |
as first lieutenant In forces that had /
been raised to do battle with the Red
men.
Indian Fighter
He fought the Indians at Devils |
Lake and was severely wounded. After
five months in the hospital he was de-
tailed to the quartermaster's depart
ment in Tennessee He was mustered
out in 1865. During the war he had
charge "of the lumber yards and Of
the wagon and repair shops"
In 1866 he started for Montana. He
arrived in the Big Horn valley and
spent six weeks in that locality when
he was driven out by the Indians. The
Redmen chased his party clear across
the Yellowstone GasSert and his crowd
and build ferry boat so they could get
across the river" but they hadn't any
desire to mix with the Indians and
didn't begrudge the labor, in view of
the fact that, while building the boat,
the Indians were popping away at them
at every opportunity.
They finally got across the river and
built stockade out of their wagons.
This answered for time but when they !
for further retreat the In {
1ianS ran off the greater part Of their
stock. They managed to move with their
depleted supply Of animals, however, Ii
md reached Clark's Fork-where they I
had to build another ferry boat.
Turns Ferry Builder {
AG GIllS pOl1lb GdSSSEb GuIu6Q nuuOcI
md ferryman and might have con- {
inued In those occupations if the In I
iianS had let him alone. He was obliged ]
o move. He next appeared at Virginia I
City where he was active in mining, s
lunting and ferrying. G
'He built the first bridge across the 8
jefferson river at Silver Star" In 1869
lie removed to Silver Bow and here 8
'omeS his claim to the first. quartz 1
mill: t
Tn company with Jacob Reding Chez {