A Celebration of Montana Rail

A day long event to draw public attention to return rail travel to Missoula.

Not very well organized or attended, but a fun opportunity for all of us to

dress up and prance around downtown. 

 Sarah Woody and Mary Gleim as they would never have been seen in public.

 Mr. Higgins regales the crowd about the virtues of
the railroad coming to Missoula.

 Waiting for speeches to begin.

Madame Mary Gleim sends a wire

Mr. C.P. Higgins

Daly Days 2009

The year is 1910 and the mansion is open to guests in celebration of

Daly Days. The usual staff of helpers is in attendance and some new 

faces grace the hallways and lawn of the mansion. 

The Law was in the area looking for horse thieves.

Rue Moore and his sidekick were back on the grounds looking for

trouble. Mr. Moore had been let go, but thought Mrs. Daly still

owed him some money.

There was a lovely lawn party in progress and many of the

visiting dignitaries were enjoying the grounds

The household staff found a moment or two to relax and enjoy

each other's company before they hustled off to see to their tasks.

Mrs. Daly and her guests enjoyed many happy hours relaxing on the porch

and visiting about all manner of things.

Mrs Daly caught wind of Mr. Moore's shinanagins

and put him straight to work picking up meadow muffins.

The young men were dapper and dashing as usual.

 We can see that Mr. Moore didn't strain himself with the work that MrsDaly requested.

The Nanny was hard at work in the nursery, as usual.

The Missoula Mafia was well represented in Hamilton.

A fun group of people, if ever there was on.

Fort Missoula Post Cemetery Stories in Stones

FORT MISSOULA STORIES AND STONES
FORT ELLIS RE-BURIALS

I’d like to share an interesting mystery with you today. It’s the story of between 37-39 bodies that were disinterred from the Fort Ellis Cemetery and brought to the Fort Missoula Post Cemetery for reburial. The mysterious part is, not all the bodies are accounted for in Post records and we don’t know exactly when they arrived.

Please notice the first row of headstones. Some stones are marked “2nd U.S. Cavalry”. Fort Missoula was never garrisoned by United States Cavalry Units. These are some of the bodies that were moved here from Fort Ellis, near Bozeman. And that is were our story begins.

Fort Ellis was established three miles east of Bozeman in August 1867, by members of the 13th U.S. Infantry. It was to serve as the northern anchor of a chain of forts on the Bozeman Trail. In 1869 the Infantry garrison was joined by four companies of the Second U.S. Cavalry. This battalion of cavalry would remain until 1884. The Infantry would leave in 1886 when Fort Ellis was abandoned.

The stones in question mark part of the 37 or 39, re-interments from Fort Ellis. We’ll get to the discrepancy in the number of bodies in a minute. In January of 1887, bids went out to move 39 bodies to the Fort Missoula Cemetery. The bids were to cover the costs for “furnishing all labor, transportation and materials required in disinterring, preparing for shipment and removing the remains now in the Cemetery at the late Post of Fort Ellis, MT, delivering to the Officers of the Quartermasters Department designated to receive them at Fort Missoula, MT. and re-interring the same in the cemetery at the last named post”.

12 bids were submitted. One notice indicated the bidder will “remove the remains and headboards or stones”. Another says “All headstones and headboards found in good condition I will save and deliver with remains”. The high bid for re-interment was $2,730 or $70.25 per person. The low bid, submitted by H.B. Palmer came in at $360 or $9.23 per person. This bid was received on March 17, 1887 and was, of course, awarded. This begs the question, was Palmer willing to do the job correctly for very little, or was he willing to cut corners wherever possible?

Fort Missoula Cemetery Burial Records show that 37 graves, moved here from Fort Ellis, have assigned Section and grave numbers. However, a list from the Dept. of the Army, Office of the Quartermaster, Washington D.C. dated 17 Aug. 1948, shows that there were 39 re-interments from Fort Ellis to Fort Missoula. There are two names on the 1948 list that are not on the Fort Missoula Cemetery burial record. They are “Infant Child Bean” date of death Oct 2, 1881 and “Citizen Adams” no death date shown. The 1948 list is the only list known to our researchers where these names appear. Interestingly, a 1940 map of the cemetery notes: “Grave 6A Section B shows imprint of a child’s grave and Grave 39 Section A shows imprint of an adult grave. No record of burial in either case.”

The imprints for the notations on the 1940 map are no longer visible. However, Grave 39 Section A shows that Pvt William Brummagien Co. D, 25th US Inf. was buried there on May 1, 1920. We do not know when his headstone was placed. There is no record on any of the burial lists we have that show that anyone was ever buried in Grave 6A, Section B.


We do show Fort Missoula received 22 soldiers, including two Medal of Honor recipients (Michael Himmelsbach and Harry Garland) whose stories are told elsewhere today. The rest of the transferred graves were for civilians and children.

The ranks among the soldiers include 5 sergeants, 1 corporal, 1 hospital steward and 15 privates. The civilians include 3 adult males, 2 adult females and 2 remains whose gender is not known. The children include 2 boys and 3 girls. The rest are not identified by gender.

Besides the 2 Medal of Honor recipients we have 2 other re-interments of interest.

The 1st individual is Sergeant William Baker. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland in 1832. We know nothing of his early life except that he had been an itinerant peddler prior to his enlisting on November 6, 1854 into Company F, Second Dragoons. In 1861 his unit became Company F, Second Cavalry. He earned his sergeant’s stripes in rough campaigning during the Civil War. He was a well seasoned Non-Commissioned Officer, experienced in dealing with all manner of men and experienced, as well, in conducting both traditional and Indian warfare. It is said the he was quiet, efficient and well-liked, and would have retired from his beloved company F as a senior NCO at the conclusion of a long and faithful service, had he not been shot dead by Private James Murphy on March 31, 1874 in the course of Murphy’s attack on a comrade in the barracks at Fort Ellis. Baker’s most notable duty in and around Montana, besides his work in the Indian Wars, was when he was the sergeant under Lieutenant Doane and in charge of the military escort that helped conduct the Yellowstone Exploration of 1870. This expedition, composed mostly of Montana men, was the first to leave an accurate record of the wonders of the future Yellowstone National Park.

The 2nd person of interest is buried under a headstone marked only as “U.S. Soldier”. This man’s name is not known. His unit is recorded as Company D of the 16th U.S. Infantry. His rank is shown as “Private”. His date of death is a vague “April 1860”.
This lack of specific information poses quite a mystery for many reasons. If he did, in fact, die in 1860, how did he come to be buried in the Fort Ellis Post Cemetery since Fort Ellis was not established until 1867? Also, the 16th Infantry never served in Montana until a detachment was sent to Fort Assiniboine from 1899 to 1902. As a matter of fact, when he died in 1860, there was no 16th regiment in existence. The last time, prior to the Civil War, that a regiment bore that number was during the War with Mexico, 1846-1848. If he was indeed a veteran of the Mexican War, he is certainly the earliest war veteran to be buried in this cemetery.

To our knowledge the oldest grave in the Ft Missoula Post Cemetery is that of Private William Gerick- (several spellings for this name- ) Company H 3rd US Inf. Sept.-26-1878

Our researchers have made inquiries to many military history sources and have not been able to determine the exact date or dates when the Fort Ellis remains were brought to the Fort Missoula Post Cemetery. One might have thought that their arrival would have been mentioned in the local newspapers; however no records have been found to tell us when the bodies were received by the Fort Missoula Post Quartermaster. One could imagine that the arrival of the two Medal of Honor recipients would have triggered some type of noteworthy ceremony here at the Fort which could have been mentioned somewhere in public notices. A search of Fort Ellis and Gallatin County histories has revealed no information on the date of disinterment for these people. Our researchers are still working to solve this puzzle.

Fort Missoula Post Cemetery

THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MUSEUM OF
MILITARY HISTORY
AND
THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM AT FORT MISSOULA

WILL PRESENT
“STORIES AND STONES”

AT THE

FORT MISSOULA POST CEMETERY

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009
1-3 P.M.

FREE

Learn about the history of the Post Cemetery,
and personal stories as we honor some of the men,
women, and children buried in the cemetery.
Just off South Avenue across from Big Sky High School.
Don’t forget to visit the Museums.

Stories and Stones 2008

Sarah (Lizzie) Elizabeth Countryman Woody
Born: January 6, 1853 in Yuba County California on Dry Creek.
Father: Horace Countryman, born Sept 8, 1824 in Cleveland OH Died in Columbus (Stillwater MT) at age 64, on January 15, 1898.
Mother: Elizabeth Payne, born Dec. 16, 1829. Died on Sept. 29, 1870 in Deer Lodge MT
Married: Franklin Hargrave Woody on December 10, 1871 in Missoula
Died: July 15, 1919 after a 3 month illness.
Cause of Death: Paralysis Agitans or Parkinson’s Disease
Children: Frank, Born: Dec. 1 1872, Died: Aug. 16 1945
Alice Mary (Allie M.) Born: July 2 1874, Died Jan. 24 1965
Rose Anna, born Dec. 19, 1876, Died Oct. 3 1878
Flora Payne, Born Nov. 3, 1879, Died: Early 1950’s
Ruth Emma, Born: Jan. 19 1881, Died: Feb. 14 1881
Rachel, Born: Aug. 25, 1884, Died: Oct. 4 1884
Robert Thomas, Born: Oct 17, 1885, Died: April 10, 1889
Beth Thomasine, Born: March 30 1889, Died: Feb. 24 1899
Rebecca, Born: Unknown, Died: Unknown
One of Missoula’s first school teachers The first Sunday school teacher The wife of Frank Woody who was the first postmaster and first mayor of Missoula At the time of his death, Frank Woody had lived in Montana longer than any white man. At the time of her death Lizzie lived at 328 West Pine Street.
1853 Sarah Elizabeth Countryman born in Yuba County CA to Horace and Elizabeth Countryman
1855 when Sarah was 1.5 years old the family moved via Isthmus of Panama to New York. From New York to Wadena Iowa 1
860 family moved to Marysville California (the trip took 6 months) 75 wagons, 5 women, 3 children. Horace Countryman was the captain of the outfit. According to a great grandson, Sarah fell into a camp fire and was badly burned. She lost the end of her little finger and injured her hip so that she walked with a limp and had to use a cane for the rest of her life.
1865 moved to Virginia City Montana. Horace put up the first quartz mill at Summit, built the Masonic Hall in Virginia City and a mill and Masonic Hall at Philipsburg. Horace rode from Stillwater MT (now Columbus) to Helena to carry the news of the massacre of Custer and his men. Sarah was a teacher in Philipsburg. She had few students but they were lively. In Iowa the teachers boarded with families on rotation. In Philipsburg, Sarah lived at home but at noon she was besieged to go home with the students for lunch. She went with a different student every day so that no one would have hurt feelings.
1869 the family went to Salt Lake City so Sarah and her brother could attend St. Mark's Episcopal school under the care of Bishop Tuttle. It took three weeks to travel from Philipsburg to SLC. Sarah was ill at that time.
1870 In March Sarah and her father came to Deer Lodge MT. Bitter cold trip. On another stage a group of Chinese men froze to death. The rest of the family joined them in June.
1870 on July 5th Sarah took the school at Missoula. It was the second term held at the school. In a letter written by Sarah Woody, she stated “There were 6 women in Missoula at that time.” This may be inaccurate. There appear to have been many more women living in Missoula at that time. The women wore heavy, linsey clothing in the winter and calico dresses in the summer. Almost all the clothes were handmade, with calico selling at 50 cents a yard. Sunbonnets were the popular millinery wear.
1870 Summer Mrs. Woody organized the first Sunday school. Among her pupils were Catholics, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Methodists. Adults as well as children attended her classes.
1870 Sept. Sarah's mother died in Deer Lodge and Sarah went back until the next spring.
1871 In the spring Sarah returned to Missoula.
1871 December 10 Sarah married Frank H. Woody. The Rector from Deer Lodge came to town to perform the ceremony.
1872 Dec. 1, Son Frank was born.
1874 July 2, Daughter Alice Mary was born.
1876 Dec. 19 Daughter Rose Anna was born.
1878 Oct. 3 Rose Anna died of morphine poisoning.
1879 Nov. 3 Daughter Flora Pyrena was born
1881 Jan. 19 Daughter Ruth Emma was born
1881 Feb. 14 Ruth Emma died of croup
1884 Aug. 25 Daughter Rachel born
1884 Oct. 4 Rachel died if scarket fever
1885 Oct. 17 Son Robert Thomas born
1889 March 30 Daughter Beth Thomasine born
1889 April 10, Robert died of scarlet fever
1899 Feb. 24 Beth Thomasine died of spinal meningitis
A Daughter named Rebecca was born and died young. No dates are known. Sarah and Frank were married for 45 years

Stories and Stones...coming soon

Missoula Cemetery
Phone: (406) 552-6070 Fax: (406) 327-2137
Email: cemetery@ci.missoula.mt.us
2000 Cemetery Road Missoula, Montana 59802
Web: www.ci.missoula.mt.us/cemetery


Stories and Stones Historical Tour
Sunday - October 26, 2008
12:30 - 3:30pm

One of Missoula's oldest cemeteries presents an afternoon of history coming to life through stories of individuals from Missoula's past. This is the Missoula Cemetery's seventh year of this vastly popular event for all ages!

Do you know that at the Missoula Cemetery you will discover..
¯ What three men founded Missoula?
¯ Who was the lone survivor of a renegade Nez Perce attack in Rock Creek?
¯ Who ran Missoula's Red Light District and still waves to 'her boys'?
¯ How Civil War veterans came to forever rest here?
¯ Who was Missoula's first schoolteacher?
¯ Why mystery surrounds the burial of a smokejumper/CIA operative?
¯ Who was the first Congresswoman in Montana?
¯ NEW** Which Sheriff lost his job for making moonshine?
¯ NEW** How a local poet portrayed the Montana ranch life?
¯ NEW** Which laundress was murdered by her husband in 1903?
¯ NEW** Who owned the first gas and grocery store in the Clinton area?
¯ NEW** Which UofM professor founded the Sigma Chi Fraternity?
¯ NEW** Which Missoula Mayor was also an eight-term Justice of the Peace?
¯ NEW** Barbershop's very best by the Five Valleys Chapter of Sweet Adelines?
¯ NEW** Which of Missoula's co-founders had a young wife who walked with a cane due to a campfire accident on the wagon train trip to Montana?
¯ NEW** Who has the only iron marker in all of western Montana? Along with so much more!

Volunteers will tell up to 40 stories. Visitors will be treated to live music, food, and fun! Come see individuals dressed in times of old as they capture your imagination by re-enacting people of our past. Stroll under the fall canopy of trees while being serenaded by music of bygone days. Admission is free with donations gladly accepted. Vendors will be on hand selling hot food and drinks.

Cemetery Contact for this event: Mary Ellen Stubb at 552-6070.
The following storytellers would be happy to talk about their roles for news coverage before the event: Kim Kaufman portraying Madame Mary Gleim - call 273-9036, Dr. Robert Brown portraying Captain Christopher P Higgins - call 728-3476, Marcia Porter portraying Josephine Dukes - call 258-3457.