Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-07-12
BELIEF IN MINES
OF STATE MADE
PIONEER FORTUNE

with the passing Of Thomas r.
f Hickey, who died IN Butte In 1923,
there was severed one Of the few
remaining ties that bound Butte 70
its past. Thomas F. Hickey was the
last of four brothers, prOspectOrs
OF the late sixties and early seven
ties, whose names are indissOlubly
linked with the mining history Of
Butte.
Born in st. Lawrence county, New
York, the Hickey brothers came to
this territory following the Civil war
with unlimited confidence in the I'M
foreground wealth of Butte they set
their stakes and drove their discovery
shafts on claim after claim, a number
Of which are today among the largest
producers. A scrutiny OF the mining
records Of the county In the late seven
ties and early eighties will show, 1t is
said. at least one location bearing the
name Of Hickey for every page Of rec
ord Among the claims staked by the
Hickeys are the Diamond, Rock Island
Tuolumne and Lizzie, in addition to
the Anaconda and st. Lawrence.
Born In New York
Thomas F. Hickey was born Dec. r.
1874. He was the eighth child OF
Thomas and Catherine Curran Hickey,
natives of ireland, who had long previ-
ously settled in st. Lawrence county,
New York. He received his education in
the public school and at Fort Coving-
ton academy, from which he graduated
in 1888. He then engaged in numbering
for two years in Michigan. Then fol-
lowed a couple Of years as farmer
in New York. His three brothers, VIII
liam. Edward and Michael, had pre-
coded him to the west. Edward and
Michael located the Anaconda and st.
Lawrence mines.
Thomas was likewise tempted to try
his fortunes in the territories. He first
arrived in Butte but soon transferred
his activities to Helena, where he 10
Gated and afterwards sold the Empire
mining property He returned to Butte
In 1882. In 1884 he married Miss Julia
Finnegan, a native of Maine. They lived
happily together until death claimed
her in 1900.
Hickey maintained a constant inter-
est in mining up to his death. He was
associated with his brothers IN the
ownership OF the Lizzie Lode.
He was one Of the plaintiffs IN a
suit against the Davis-Daly company
for $4,000 for ore alleged to have
been extracted from the territory above
the 1O0-foot level Of the Lizzie. The
complaint stated that when the Lizzie
was sold Hickey and his associates re-
served all ores above the 100-foot level
and that Notwithstanding this reserya-
ton the defendant and its leasers had
entered the ground and removed much
valuable ore.
In addition to his connection with
the Lizzie and other mining properties
there he was president Of the Bayonne
Gold Mines, Ltd, of British Columbia, I
a property in which James w. Gerard, /
son-in-law of Marcus DAILY and former
ambassador to Germany, also was In
terested, and was director OF the
Copper g. Silver Mining Co.
Death came quickly to the 79-year-
Did pioneer He sustained a fall which
brought on a temporary attack Of
paralysis. He had tripped while walk
nR on the street. A nights rest was
sufficient, apparently, to restore him
o health, and the next day he attended
|. picnic with his daughter, Mrs. Fitz-
patrick, and his niece, Mrs. Sadie Lee.
he enjoyed himself greatly, it is said.
Later he was attacked with paralysis
N the right side. He soon became I'M
conscious and remained in that state
NTH death relieved him.
Thomas F. Hickey had many friends
among the old-timers and the later
arrivals In Butte. He Is said to have
possessed the ability to make and hold
riends. He was well known in Helena
s well as In Butte.
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Arnu,inn chickens and hogs To MN