Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-04-20

81 900. and that was a great deal Of
money in those days. The spectacle
of a costly coach being drawn by oxen
caused much merTiment among the
frontiersmen and hardy miners they
met. Jeanette soon lost her shyness
and laughed along with the rest.
I knew If we held out, we were
sure to arrive at least in style" she
said as they plodded into Virginia
City, one September day in 1854.
The citizens crowded around, to ex-
anime and exclaim, and wonder not a
little But she sat quietly, with all the
dignity Of a queen. Although the jour
ney had taken over two months from
Denver to Virginia City, Jeanette still
retained her charm and pOise-and
learned to laugh at hardShips.
Their stay in that mining camp was
of short duration and in the early
spring of 1865 the little family moved
to Helena Helena in those days was
only a handful of Shacks and saloons
strung along the gulch-Virginia City
was the Montana metropolis IN 1865
Captain Parkinson intended opening
freighting route, with headquarters in
Helena.
The Parkinsons attended many early
day social events, among them a we'd
ding that was unique in several ways
Clara Hutchinson, daughter of Major
Hutchinson, proprietor of the Inter
national hotel, was married to Judge
William Y Pemberton. The wedding
took place in the hotel as well as the
wedding breakfast. The centerpiece on
the table was dish of applesl Apples
were as precious as jewels then-cost-
ing at least 81 each. No one ventured
to eat the fruit. but it was admired
and exclaimed about by everyone. In
a country where one apple was con-
versation, here was a whole bowlfuI
There was no dancing afterwards,
everyone just sat around and talked
and there were many guests. The up
per rooms of the hotel were unfinished
and not yet furnished, so when night
time came the guests did not sleep on
beds, but on the floors.
That year saw the Montana flour
famine. The price climbed up to the
amazing figure of 81 pound. BY now
the town boosted of two restaurants,
both making pies Before the famine,
the pies we're mainly crust and a sus-
picion Of fruit, but now 1t was hard
to say just what a pie did consist of.
Captain Parkinson saved the day when
he freighted In a load of flour from
Salt Lake and restored the great
American dessert to it's rightful place.
The burial of the Parkinson infant,
Argyle, was among the first funerals In
Helena. He was buried near the site
where the Central school now stands
and afterwards moved to Benton ave
nue. The first picture taken there was
Of this baby after death. Three other
children were born to the ParkinsonS
in Helena: William, Mary Virginia
and Margaret Belle. The Parkinsons
also constructed the first frame house
in Helena. Tt still stands-located on
Pine street.
One morning shortly after locating
IN Helena Jeanette and another lady
decided to take a walk before break
fast. They set out along the main
street, when even the main street
didn't amount to much. They walked
along talking together, near the foot
If the hills that run along one side
If the Prickly Pear valley. There were
many gulcheS and ravtnes along their
path and turning idly to glance up one
If them, Jeanette was Mortified to
zee the bodies Of two men dangling
rom a weatherbeaten old tree. Acct
iently they had stumbled upon hang
mans tree-and the VigilanteS had
been at work the night before. They
his was the first actual sight of it.
They needed no urging to return to
he city and felt no desire for further
sarly morning walks. This tree served
many times until Father Palladino
olved the way to effectively stop its
urther use by chopping it down.
Captain Parkinson became interest
d In mining in a little place called
He took out $4,000 In six
months and lost the vein. 1t was never
ound again and In the course of time
le put that amount and more into
rying to locate 1t again. His freight
ng operations were netting him a tidy
unit is said he cleared $4,000 one
summer, but the following year the
liver was so low that no boat was able
o pass beyond Cow island.
Built Two Mackinaws
In the summer of 1867 he built two {