Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-05-10

Libby, the county seat Of Lincoln
county Is one Of the oldest towns
In the northwestern part Of the
state. Although IL Is now lumber
center and Is widely known as a
tourists and hunters mecca, being
located about midway between
KaHispeH and Spokane, it owed its
early existence TO the discovery Of
gold, thereby earning its place IN
the category Of the historic towns
of Montana.
In 1885 this scenic, heavily timbered,
mountainous country had never been
trod by the adventurous feet Of the
white man, only as the lonely traveller
made his dangerous advent by way OF
the Highwater trail which then was
the only highway IN the north country.
1t led from the border Of civilization
In the east, westward, coming down 70
the Kootenai river on the south side
of what is now known as the Leigh
glIlch, where travellers forded the Koot-
enai and proceeded westward TO Walla
Walla, and other points on the western
frontier
The Highwater trail connected with
what is known as Buffalo Bill trail,
the latter trail running southwark TO
mines near Thompson Falls and on 70
Missoula.
Finds Placer Gold
IN the summer of 1885, a miner,
named Tom Shearer, while on pros
pecting trip, wandered off from these
trails into the Libby creek country
and there discovered rich placer gold.
Returning to his mining camp, sit
uated at the mouth OF Lyons gulcn
ON VermilliOn creek, he told his COM
panions of his rich find. Then, wishing
to avoid q stampede, he and B. F.
Howard secretly started out on the
Buffalo Hill trail to locate this placer
ground. Their deluded companions,
John Leigh, George Reider, Lawyer
Burton, Mart Corners, packer, and
Jimmy Powers, miner, led by Jan
Eisenberg, a scout, determined not 10
who had given them the slip, decided
to cross the range Of mountains di-
rectly, which they supposed separated
them from the land of gold, and thus
reach the placer ground on Libby creek
prior to the arrival of Shearer and
Howard. Thus began the race for gold
In this unexplored northwestern cor
ner of the state.
reached the summit in safety, but on
the opposite side of the range they
encountered a forest fire. They began
their downward Journey, meander1ng
around the forest fire, but when they
reached the base of the range, they
were entirely at sea as to where the
placer ground was located.
They established a camp and sent
out scouts day after day and at last
discovered a stream, which they de-
cided to ascend.
After long weary journey they met
a hunter and learned they were at
Pleasant valley, about so miles east Of
the placer ground, and received the
information that Shearer and Howard
had preceded them by fully weeks
time
Receiving directions from the hunter,
they landed safely at the coveted
placer ground, II days after their de-
parture from Vermillion creek. The
party staked out their claims, erected
cabins and started the first town OF
Libby, about 20 miles up Libby creek
from the present city.
In 1887 the town had grown to such
q size that George Good established ,
. grocery store and employed a pack
train to pack merchandise in to his
;
Prior to 1887 this much sought town !
and placer ground was reached by the /
Buffalo Bill and Highwater trails, !
leaving the latter at what Is widely i
Known as the Mcmillan ranch and also +
1y a trail from the south and west !
ly Way Ol Bull I1NCI hllQ Dull AahCg 4
hence eastward along the Kootenai
liver to its intersection with Libby \
,reek. +
Queen Of a Weman"
The late Mrs. Fields, who was for 4
many years an honored pioneer Of +
his country, was the first woman who +
anne into the Libby section over the :,
3uffalo Bill trail. Her companions on q
he trail, in conjunction with her hus- q