REYNOLDS ^;!x:Y^cr^ofi GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 1833 01746 5185

GENEALOGY B74.4 yi3876 1914

i^Siis

Vol. VII

/ ^ i

f I'^'h'^l

THE

ACHVSET GAZINE

X G9S985

Published by the Salem Press CaS ale m, Mass. US.A.

wilt JHassadjuscflrt JHarianitc.

A Quarterly cTVIagazine Devoted to History, Genealogy and Biography^

ASSOCIATED AXD ADVISORY EDITORS

George Sheldon, Dr. Frank A. Gardner, Lucie M. Gardner,

DKKRFIKLD, MA55. SALEM, MASS. SALEM, MASS.

Charles A. Flagg, Albert W. Dennis.

WASHiyOTOX, D. C. SALIM, MASS.

Issued in January, April, July and October. Subscription, $1.50 per year, Single copies, 75c

JAKUAST. 1914

Q^mxUxxiB 0f il|ts fssue.

THOMPSON IN CONNECTICUT C. Crozat Converse . 3

MICHIGAN PIONEERS Charles A. Flagg . 5

REMINISCENCES OF FOUR SCORE TEARS Judge Francis M. Thompson . H

COLONEL JOHN MANSFIELD'S REGIMENT . Frank A. Gardnor, M. D. . 32

CRITICISM AND COMMENT 44

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Entered as secondida^s matter March 13, 1908, at the postoflice at Salem, Mass., under the act of Congre"? of Slarch 3, 1879. Oilice of publication, 300 Essex Street, Salem, Mass.

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Count Rumford whose monument is proposed FOR Boston Common

A COPY OF THE GAINSBORO PORTR-MT

THOMPSON, IN CONNECTICUT

By C. Crozat Converse.

There are many towns in the United States called Thompson, but one is preeminent — that in Connecticut — because of its association with the family of Count Rumford, whose family-name it bears.

His real greatness already is historic, hence a portrait of him adorns the second volume of the County History of Massachusetts. The house of his grand-mother, Converse, at Woburn, Massachusetts — now bought and kept as a Rumford monument — is one of Woburn's show-places.

Here is a bit of Thompson-family biography:

Edward Conyers, founder, of Woburn, Mass., died in 1663. His daughter Mary married, in 1643, Simon, son of James Thompson, of Eng- land, who settled in Woburn in 1640. Sim.on died in 1658, leaving a large part of his estate to his wife, her father Edward, and her brothers. James and Mary Conyers-Thompson left a son Jonathan, whose son Ebenezer married Hannah Converse, whose son Benjamin became distinguished as Sir Benjamin Thompson and Count Rumford. Edward Conyers' son Samuel, who was, with his father a legatee of Simon Thompson, removed

4 MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE

in 1710 to Killingly, Conn., and became the first settler of Thompson, named so in honor of James Thompson.

This excerpt is from a newspaper report concerning the Royal Society of England :

"Nor must the name be forgotten of that Woburn, Mass., boy, Benja- min Thompson, who, after being a salesman in a store at Boston, school teacher at Bradford on the Merrimac, Major on the staff of Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire, then Under Secretary of State in Eng- land, General in the English Army, knighted by George III, Minister of War, and Grand Chamberlain and Field Marshal of the King of Bavaria, and Count of the Holy Roman Empire, was elected a member of the Royal Society, founded in that capacity the Royal Institution of England, and died as the husband of the widow of Lavoisier, the celebrated French chemist.

His memory is preserved in this land of his birth by the Rumford Pro- fessorship of Harvard University. The titles of nobility conferred upon liim by the Emperor of Germany and by the King of Bavaria were those of Count Rumford.

Another memorial of his busy life may be found in the Salvation Army. For it was he who as Minister of State in Bavaria devised and initiated that remarkable system of dealing with pauperism which was revived more than half a century later by "General," the Rev. William Booth, with such wonderful success.

It was, indeed, from reading about all that Sir Benjamin Thompson bad managed to accomplish in Bavaria in dealing with the problem ot pauperism that Gen. Booth derived his inspeiration for the foundation of the Salvation Army."

Certain members of the Converse family intend the erection of a copy of the Rumford statue in Munich to their distinguished relative, on Boston Common, believing that his career, under the most discouraging circum- stances, may encourage other aspiring Americans.

The writer has this matter in hand, and would be glad to have the active cooperation of all persons whom this magazine reaches, who arc interested in it

THOMPSON IN CONNECTICUT. 5

Hereunto is a facsimile uf the Patent of Nobility, approved by King George III. of Great Britain and of an outograph letter by Count Rum- ford to his publishers. A copy of the Gainsborough portrait of Count Rumford is given herewith, the original of which is owned by E. C. Con- verse, of Greenwich, Conn.

«/,'. .•;■.:.']■! I

MASSACHUSETTS PIONEERS, MICHIGAN SERIES.

By Charles A. Flagg

SiKES, Orrento Montague, b. Westhamp- ton, 1S15; set. Mich., 1837. Berrien Hist., 4S5.

Zenas, b. Westhampton; set. Mich.,

1837. Berrien Hist., 478.

SiLCOX, Mrs. E., set. Mich., 1854. Wayne Chron., 84.

SiLLiMAN, Amanda A. m. 1850? John Doud of O. Newaygo, 223.

Simmons, Ephraim, set. N. Y., 1800? Clinton Port., 524.

1., set. Mich., 1824. Wayne Chron.,

75-

Joshua, b. Dighton, iSoi; set. N. Y.,

180T. ^rich.. 1824 or 1825. Oakland Biog., 411; Oakland Hist., 332; Oak- land Port., 208, 602.

Simons, Marion, of Salem; b. 1850? m. Robert W. Lonsdale of Mich. Me- costa, 497.

Sines, Isaac, b. Berkshire, 1798; set. Mich., 1824. Washtenaw Hist., 506.

SxzER, Adelia S., Sheffield. 1830; m. 1849 iHenry A. Angell of ^lich. Lenawee lUus., 341; Lenawee Port., 393.

Charles F., b. Chester, 1833; set.

Mich., 1859. Lenawee IIlus., 87.

Emma L, b. Lee, 1853; m. 1S75 Wal- ter S. Westerman of Mich. Lenawee lUus., 86.

Skinner, Elias, b. Shelburne; set. N. Y. Genesee Hist., 351.

Hannah, m. 1830? Stillman Mon- tague of N. Y. Branch Twent., 717.

Harriet, of Williamstown; b. 1795?

m. Austin E. Wing of Mich. Monroe,

151.

Mary H., b. Roxbury, 1807; m. 1824

Ebenezer Davis of Mass., N. Y. and Mich. Lenawee Hist. II, 131.

Slade, Benjamin, b. Dartmouth, 1782; set, N. Y., Mich., 1835. Lenawee Hist. 11. 275.

Lavina D., b. Chelsea; m. 1855 John

Whittemore of Mass. and Mich. Kent, 1 167.

Phebe, b. Fall River; m. 1804 John

Hoxie of N. Y. and Mich. Lenawee Port., 1217.

Sl.\de, Sarah, b. Uxbridge, m. 1850? John Foss of Conn, and R. I. Bay Gansser, 698.

Slater, Leonard, b. Worcester, 1802; set. Mich., 1S26 or 1827. Grand Rap- ids Hist., y^; Grand Rapids Lowell, 51; Kalamazoo Hist., 286; Kent, 192, 800.

Slayton, Reuben, b. 1769; set. N. Y. Lenawee Port., 431.

Russell, b. Worcester, 179S; set. N.

Y., 1820, Mich., 1845 or 1840. Grand Rapids City, 1015; Kent, 777,.

Sloan, James, b. Townsend; set. Vt., 1800? Lenawee Hist. II, 241.

Thomas, set. N. Y., 1810? Gratiot,

274-

Slocum, Benjamin, b. 1786; set. N. Y., 1810, Mich., 1825. Lenawee Hist., II, 142.

Smith, b. Berkshire Co., 1787; set.

N. Y., 1816. Hillsdale Hist., 199.

Slosson, Ozias J., b. Great Barrington, 1805; set. N. Y., Mich., 1856. Osceola, 223.

Smalley, Rufus, set. N. Y., 1790? Vt Jackson Port., 232.

Smead, Elizabeth, b. 1817; rn- 1842 Ebe- nezer Fisk of Mich. Lenawee Port., 335-

Lavina, m. 1833 John A. Hawks of

Mich. Lenawee Port., 255.

Rufus, b. Montague or Sheburne,

1757; set. N. Y., 1800? Mich., 1834. Lenawee Hist., I, 2>2,7', Lenawee Illus., 124; Lenawee Port., 255. 335, 434-

MICHIGAN PIONEERS.

Smedley, Lois, m. 1830? John B. Clark of Mich. Clinton Port., 651.

Sallie, m. 1830? Silas O. Hunter of

N. Y. Muskegon Port., 267.

Smith, b. Ashfield, Apr. 6, 1770;

set. N. Y., 1812. Macomb Hist., 762. ■b. Adams, 17S3; m. John Tib-

bits of N. Y. and Mich. ' Branch Port .

629. Achsah, b. Chicopee; m. 1800? Levi

Chapin of N. Y. and Mich. Ingham

Hist., 317. Alice, b. Salem; m. James Marble

of Ind. Berrien Port., 707. Smith, Asa, set. Mich., 1854. Macomb

Hist., 712. Asa L., b. Boston, 1792; set. Mich.,

1825? Washtenaw Hist., 894, 1040. Ashley, set. N. Y., 1828. Gratiot,

683. -Austin, of Hampden Co., bought

land in Mich., [814. .\llcgan Hist.,

293- Chipman, b. Ashfield, 1817; set.

Mich., 1875. Washtenaw Hist., 1271. Clarissa, b. 1S02; m. 1827 James B.

Arms of Mich. Washtenaw Hist.,

I45I- Daniel, b. 1790? set. N. Y., 1810?

Washtenaw Port., 389. David B., b. Worcester Co., 1836;

set. Mich., 1842. Saginaw Hist, S31. Dean Uriel, b. Buckland; set. N. Y.,

1820? Macomb Hist., 8S3. Dollie, of Shrewsbury; m. 1787 Wil- liam Hobart of Mass. and N. Y. Jack- son Port., 604. Eaton, set. N. Y., 1S15? Mich., 1840?

O. Jackson Port., 222. Edward, b. Walpole, 1830; set.

Mich., 1842. Saginaw Port., 706. Edward C, of Hadley; set. N. Y.,

1844; d. 1847. Oakland Biog., 426. Elijah, b. Ware, 1772; set. Vt., N.

Y., Mich. Kalamazoo Hist., 423.

Elisha, b. Amherst; set. Mich., 18-56.

St. Clair, 683.

Elizabeth, m. 1856 John B. Dumont

of Mich. Kalamazoo Port., 728.

Emeline P., m. 1857 George W.

Carlton, of Mich. St. Clair, 671. Ephraim, Revolutionary soldier, set

Conn., iSoo? N. Y. Clinton Port, 809. Eugene, b. Amherst, 1S21; set.

Mich., 1836. St Clair, 683.

Smith, Eunice, m. iSoo? Joshua Parma- lee of N. Y. Hillsdale Port, 766.

— Ezekiel, set Vt, 1788, N. Y. ing, 160.

Lans-

George H., of N. Amherst; set

Mich., 1837. Calhoun, 137; Jackson Port., 451.

Gilbert, set N. Y., 1845? Midland,

2S8.

Hannah, b. N. Adams, 1783; m.

Gideon Ramsdell of Mass and N. Y. Lenawee Hist. I, 254; Lenawee Port., 637-

Henry, b. Worcester, 1798; set. N.

Y., 1803, Mich., 1833. Lenawee Illus., 272.

Henry O., b. Hatfield, 1817; set.

Mich., 1852. Macomb Hist., 672

— — Jabez, b. 1766; set. Canada, 1800? Jackson Hist., 1019.

Jane, b. 1767; m. Nathan Ball of

Vt and N. Y. Lenawee Port., 986.

Laura, b. 1805? m. Jeremiah Holmes

of N. Y. Midland, 208.

Levi Lincoln, b. Whately, 1826; set.

N. Y., Mich., 1866. Gratiot, 683.

Lorenza S., m. 1859 John McCurdy

of Mich. Jackson Port, 451.

Lyman B., set. Mich., 1836. Lake

Huron, 143.

Martin, set N. Y., 1830? Kalama- zoo Port., 449.

Marv, m. 1825? Jonathan White of

N. Y., 111. and O. Genesee Port, 464.

Mary, m. 1850? Augustus Lilley of

Mich. Kalamazoo Port., 954.

Mathias, b. Martha's Vineyard;

soldier in French and Indian war; set. Me. Berrien Port, 466, 528.

HJIJ.

8

MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE

Smith, Nathaniel, set. N. Y., Mich.,

1790? Lenawee Port., 1120. ■ Nicholas, of Stockbridge; set. N.

Y. 1789. Shiawassee. 529. Obed, b. Hawle>, 1796; set. N. Y.,

1814, III., 18^8, Mich., 1843. Lake Hu- ron, 209. Oliver M., of Northfield; set. N. Y.,

Vt. Jackson Hist., ■j2'j. Phebe, b. Adams, 1772; m. Darius

Comstock of Mass., N. Y. and Mich.

Lenawee Hist. L 37o. Reuben R., set. Mich.. 1835. Ma- comb Past, 105. Ruth, m. 1825? Aruna Fox of O.

■Clinton Port., 864. Sallie, b. 1790; m. Sylvester Shedd

of Mich. Berrien Port., 549; Berrien

Twent., 882. Samuel, b. Acton; set. Mich., 1829.

Branch Hist., 224. Samuel, set. N. Y., 1835? Kent.

1035- Samuel E., of Colerain; set. Mich.,

1835. Hillsdale Hist., 151. Seth. b. Dighton, 182?; set. N. Y.,

Mich., 1863. Macomb Hist., 712. Stephen, set. N. Y., 1800? Jackson

Hist., 928. Thomas, set. O., 1830? Kalamazoo

Port., 739. Wanton, b. Berkshire Co., 1776; set.

N. Y., 1783. Lenawee Illus.. 217; Le- nawee Port., 579. William, b. Dalton, 1794 ;set. N. Y.,

1820? Mich., 1837. Lenawee Hist. H,

289. William, b. Worcester Co., 1800;

set. Mich., 1842. Saginaw Hist., 831;

Saginaw Port., 684, 706.

William, Jr., b. Worcester Co., 1838;

set. Mich., 1842. Saginaw Port., 684.

William C, b. Dalton; set N. Y.,

.Mich., 1837 Hillsdale Port., 877.

Snow, Alonzo, b. 1810 set. N Y. 1820, Mich., 1832. Oakland Port., 736.

Ansel, b. Bridgcwater, 1784; set.

Mick, 1837. Kalamazoo Hist., 415; Kalamazoo Port., 866.

1824; m. 1845 Y. and Mich.

Dalton, 1797;

S.MiTH, Elizabeth, b. Boston; m. 1841 Lewis C. Gesler of Mich. Ionia Port., 319-

Sparrow, set. O., 1817. Detroit,

1269; Wayne Land., 820.

William W. b. Millbury, 1837; set.

Mich., 1S60. Jackson Hist., 72S.

SouLE, John, b. 1787 or 178S; set. N. Y., 1810? Mich., 1825. Macomb Hist., between 672 and 710, also S40.

Marcia, m. 1835? David Crapo of O.

and Mich.. Ionia Port., 736.

SouTHWicK. David, set. N. Y., 1800. Kal- amazoo Port., 738.

SouTifWORTH. James B., b. Flancock, 1816; set. N. Y., 1822, Mich., 1849- Branch Twent., 841.

Norman, of Hancock; set. N. Y.,

1822, Mich., 1850? Branch Twent., 805, 841.

Sarah I., b. Hancock,

.A.rteman H. Legg of N. Branch Twent., 804.

Sp.\fford, Thomas L., b.

set. N. Y., 1S13, Mich., 1836. Wash- tenaw Hist., 1351.

Sp.\rk5, Austin, b. Sheffield, 1798; set. N. Y. Hillsdale Port., 775-

Mary, m. 1830? Lewman Fox of N.

Y. Kalamazoo Port, 514.

SP.A.ULDING, Charles A., b. Middlebury, 1839; set. Mich., 1845. Branch Port, 2S9.

Ephraim, b. Townsend, 1801; set

Vt, Mich., 1845. Branch Port, 290.

Spe.^r, Sally, b. 1810? m. James Benja- min of N. Y. Genesee Port., 801.

Spencer, Elias T, b. Middlefield, 1815; set. O., 1840? Muskegon Port., 556.

Grove, b. 1803; set. Mich., 1835? d.

1887. Washtenaw Hist., 1231; Wash- tenaw Port., 475.

Ralph H., b. Tyringham, 1854; set

Mich., 1879. Grand Rapids Hist., 222; Grand Rapids Lowell, 713.

Sperry, Elizabeth, m. 1820? Ebenezer Andrews of N. Y. Ionia Port., 718.

Pamelia., m. 1S15? Patrick Gibbins

of Mass. Jackson Hist., 1141.

S. H. b. Berkshire Co., 1816; set

Mich., 1845. Jackson Hist., 906.

MICHIGAN PIONEERS

Mich..

1802: set. N. Y.

SiKER, Amos, b. Groton; set

1836. Ingham Hist., 478, 480. SrooMFR .Mien P., b

1830? Kent. 1272. Si-FfCUE. Annie E.. b. Great Barrinpton.

1840: m. 1870 Peter W. Carpenter of

Mich. Washtenaw Port.. 289. Elvin L.. b. Gill. 1830: set. Mich.,

1836. Northern M., 404; Traverse. 64. • Erastus, b. t8o6; set. N. Y.. 1810?

Mich.. 1852. Clinton Past.. 27. Tame'5, set. N. Y., 1810. Clinton

Past., 27. ^Tary. m. 1800? Jonathan Rowland

of N. Y. and Mich. .Hillsdale Port.,

Nancv.. b. 1794; m. 1810? Tames

Hi'^cock' of Pa. and Mich.. Wa^^hte-

naw Past, 481; Washtenaw Port.,

26-. Sppot't. Susan, m. 1813 Martin Town- send of N. Y. Branch Port.. 40T. SoT'TRFS. Nancv M . m. 1835? Benjamin

Davie-:. Kent. ^83. St^<~y. Con<:ider H.. b. New Salerr

N. Y.. t8i4. Lenawee Hist. T

Lenawee Port., 360. Harriet F.. of Concord: m.

Herman DeForrest of 'Nfas-.

Mich. Wayne Land., appendix, 29. Stafford. Henry H.. b. Boston. 1833;

set. Mich., 1856. Northern P., 633. T. L.. b. 1797: set. Mich., 1837.

Washtenaw Hist., 507. Stanley, Lois. m. 1790? Daniel Olds of

Mass., O. and Mich. Jackson Port.,

428.

Stanton. Hannah, b. 1807: m. Russel G. May of N. Y. and Mich. Cass Twent., 440.

Starkweather. Anna. b. Williamstown. T789: m. Gurdon Hovey of N. Y. and Mich. Macomb Hist., 826.

Stkadman, Matilda, m. 1820? Aretas Pierce of N. Y. Clinton Port., 832.

Thomas, set. N. Y., 1820? Mich.,

T858. Ionia Port., 697.

Stearns. Alanson. b. Goshen. 1800; set. Mich.. 1854. Muskegon Port.. 176.

set. ^T7:

t86- and

Stearns, Edwin b. Lanesboro, 1818; set.

Mich., 1S34. Jackson Hist., S14. Ezra, of Pittsfield, b. 1836; set.

Mich., 1S54 or 1835. Muskegon Hist..

116; Muskegon Port., 176. Hannah, m. Eri Whelan, of N. Y.

and Mich.; d. 1865. Branch Port., 362. Isaac H., b. Pittsfield, 1800? set.

Vt., N. Y.. 1820. Clinton Port., :^4i- James H. b. Berkshire Co., 1835;

set. Mich., 1851. Jackson Hist, 93i- Royal, b. Upton: set. N. Y., 1810?

Branch Twent., 674. Stebbins, Bliss, b. Wilbraham, 1777;

set. Vt., 1803. Lenawee Hist. I, 4935

Lenawee Illus., 225. Caroline, of Springfield; m. 1816

Wolcott Lawrence of Mich. Monroe,

244. Chauncy M., b. 1807; set. Mich.,

1832? Ionia Port., 312. Dimmis. m. 1825? Lyman Webster

of Mass. and Mich. Clinton Port.,

596, 971: Gratiot, 499-

Dorothv, of Deerfield: m. I770?

Lawrence Kemp, Sr. Northern P.,

473. Gaius P., b. 1805; set. N. Y., 1835?

Kent, 1344- Louisa, m. 1830? Rufus Densmore

of Mich. Gratiot, 49i- Mary, b. 1776; m. Wilson White of

N. Y. Jackson Port., 35i- Mary F. b. Worcester, 1848; m.

1872 Hamilton S. McMaster. Berrien

Port., 121; Cass Twent., 715- William, b. Springfield, I795; set.

N. Y. Gratiot, 548. Steele, Aurelia, b. Blandford, 1800; m.

Levi Noble of N. Y. Hillsdale Port.,

335- Stfvens, Abigail, b. Salibury; m. 1800?

Enoch Fifield of Mass., Vt. and Mich.

Jackson Hist., 626; Jackson Port.. 747- Betsev, b. 1818; m. William Castle

of Mich. Clinton Past., 204- Charles B., b. Centerville, 1858; set.

Mich., 1885? Wayne Land., appendix,

89.

lO

MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE

Stevens, George, b. Worcester, 1S31; set. Mich., 1S39. Hillsdale Hist., 229.

.Israel, set. N. Y,, 1S20? Lenawee

Port., 661.

Joseph, b. 1790; set. Mich., 1830?

Clinton Past, 204.

Mary Ann, b. 1S19; m. George Pe- ters of N. Y. Newaygo, 418, 475.

Ransom F., b. Lee, 1820; set. O.,

1831, Mich. Kent, 629.

Samuel, b. Worcester Co., 1793; set.

Mich. 183S. Hillsdale Hist., 229. Samuel, set. N. Y., 1830? Muskegon

Port., 317.

Silas, b. Southwick, 1755; set. N. Y.

Berrien Port., 406. Warren, b. Cheshire, 1809; set. N.

Y., Mich., 1S29. Hillsdale Port., 264. William W., b. Worcester Co., 1836;

set. O., 1840? Mich.. 1854^ Clinton

Port., 662. Stew.\rd„ Jabez, b. Paxton, 1770; set.

N. Y., 1810. Hillsdale Hist., 197. Stew.\rt, Anna, b. 1785? m. John C.

Bell of O. Gratiot, 682. Harvey, set. N. Y., Mich,, 181 1. St.

Clair, 717.

Ira, set. N. Y., Mich., 1830? Lena- wee Port., nil.

{To be Continued)

y. W:

REMINISCENCES OF FOUR-SCORE YEARS

By Judge Francis M. Thompson of Greenfield, Massachusetts

Including His Narrative of Three Teaks in the New West, During Which

He Took in 1862 a 3000-mile Trip From St. Louts up the Missouri, and

Thence Down the Snake and Columbia Rivers to Portland, and to

San Francisco. Returning in 1863.

.. (Continued from p. igo. Vol. VI.)

was said to be fully armed and thirsting for the life of the first Vigilante who should make his appearance. A party of three were sent to capture him. In mountain parlance, the Vigilantes "got the drop on him," and he surrendered without resistance, but refused to make any confession. A rope was thrown over the limb of a tree, and Graves being properly bound was forcibly mounted behind a Vigilante upon a horse, and when the noose was adjusted he exclaimed, "Good-by. Bill!" and put spur to the animal, and poor Bill was left dangling with a broken neck. The Vigilantes then took up their return ride to Alder Gulch, well satisfied that they had performed their duty as God fearing men. and thankful that in executing their mission, no member of the party had received any injury.

So far as known only one person remained Avho was suspected as be- ing an active member of Plummer's gang of road agents. The missing" man was Bill Hunter, who had by the aid of some guard, who did not believe in his extreme guilt, been allowed to escape through the picket line at Virginia City. It came to the leader of the Vigilantes that he was in hiding far up the Galatin valley. A party of volunteers, although it was mid winter and very cold, rode over the Madison divide, forded the Madison river, and coming to his place of hiding, allayed his suspicions

t. 15)

12 MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE

by claiming to be on a stampede to tind Barney Hughes new discover}', they returned to Virginia and made their report. Four Vigilantes were selected to pursue, capture, and execute tiie robber. The party were caught in a blizzard in the mountains, and one of the men came near drowning while crossing the Madison, but they succeeded in their mis- sion, and Hunter admitted the justice of of their action in his case.

For the present the great work of the Vigilance Committee was finished. Its reorganization and its activities in subsequent years occurred after I had left the country, and of those events I am not qualified to write. No person whose life has been passed under the protection of civil law, ad- ministered by just and upright judges can ever fully realize the chaotic condition of affairs as they existed in the territory in question, before the organization of the Vigilance Committee. No man's property was for a moment safe, and no person's life was weighed when the robbers thought it necessary to take it, in order to get possession of his property No prophet could foretell what a day would bring forth. Had I not frankly — perhaps foolishly, it might have been thought — told Dr. Howard, Lowry and Romaine, the exact condition of my finances as I rode with them to Bannack there is no doubt in my mind but that my bones would now be mouldering on the banks of the Deer Lodge or Big Hole. At the time the Vigilantes were organized, the country was terrorized beyond all conception. The remedy for this state of aflfairs was terrible and bloody, but it was most effectual, and in no other way could the incubus be removed. It seemed almost providential that the punishment dealt out by the committee should have been fully carried out without the loss of any life but that of. George Copley, and the wounding of Smith Ball by the Mexican. Jo Pizanthia. Mr. Copley was a native of Vermont, of pleasing and gentle manners, faithful to every duty and an excellent citizen. His sudden death was greatly lamented and quickly avenged. He was the only deputy sheriff holding under Plummer who was not a member of his gang.

Chief Justice H. L. Hosmer in his charge to the first grand jury or- ganized in Montana, Dec. 5, 1864, said : —

"Gentlemen of the Jury: The assemblage of a grand jury in this new Territory affords an opportunity for a casual survey of the interests com- mitted to its charge. The cause of justice hitherto deprived of the in-

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tervention of regularly organized courts, has been temporarily subserved by voluntary tribunals of the people, partaking- more of the nature of self- defense than the comprehensive principles of the common law. It is no part of the business of this court to find fault with what has been done, but rather in common with all good citizens to laud the transactions of an organization which in the absence of law, assumed the delicate and responsible office of purging society of all offenders against its peace, hap- piness, and safety.

■"Such societies originating in necessity have been in communities with- out law, and in which the penalties of the laws were not in proporton to the criminality of the offence. Their adaption to the necessities of new settlements has obtained for them an approbation so universal that they are the first measures resorted to by well intentioned men to free them- selves of that vile class of adventurers, which infest all unorganized com- munities, for the purpose of fraud, robbery, and murder. In no part of our country have they labored more efficiently than here. Nowhere else did they enter upon duties amid greater embarrassments. It was question- able even, when they commenced, whether they were numerically equal to the task. The sources of official power had been monopolized by the very class which preyed upon society. The greatest villain of them all, with hands reeking with the blood of numerous victims was the principal ministerial officer of the territory and had at his beck a band of wretches who had become hardened in the bloody trade, years before they came here to practice it.

in this condition of affairs there could be but one of two courses to pursue: to hang the offenders or submit to their authority and give the territory oyer to misrule and murder. Happily the former course prevailed and the summary punishment visited upon the few, frightened the survi- vors from the territory and restored order and safety."

f \.'.-'\ ■[

CHAPTER VI THE BEGINNING OF A NEW STATE.

After the termination of the reign of terrior, white winged peace settled upon the gulches, mining camps and settlements of the territory, and busy men began to think of other things than robbery and murder and the terrible work done by the Vigilance committee. When I had decided to take my goods to Bannack and had made ready a store for their reception, I received an invitation from Col. Darius H. Hunkins to build him a three room log house, at Alarysville. Col Hunkins had for- merly been a railroad contractor, his home being in Galena, 111. He came up the Missouri on the Emilie with the avowed purpose of getting as far as possible from the seat of war. and shipped up a large stock of clothing that he might have some business. He never opened a store, and I pur- chased his goods. He paid me five dollars per day while building his house, the timber for which was hauled from the mountains some four- teen miles up the Grasshopper. He was much pleased with his house when it was finished.

Once more the Miner's court, accountable to none but the people, re- sumed jurisdiction of all matters in dispute, and if its business was not accomplished with all the dignity and formality of courts of justice in the eastern states, the decision of its judges was nearly always popular, and satisfied the people for whose benefit the court was established.

One day when on the street in Bannack, to my surprise I heard my name called three times by an officer, and answering the summons I entered a cabin in which I found Judge Burchett holding a session of the Miners' court. I was called to act as a juryman on a civil action. For some reason only known to the others on the t^anel T was chosen fore- man. After hearing the evidence, the common sense rulings of the judge •on law points, and the arguments of the learned counsel, the judge gave the jury a laconic charge and was about to submit the case, when one of the jury, more used to the local practice than the foreman, suggested to

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:h« court that the case had been a peculiarly dry one, and that to relieve The monotony each of the litigants be ordered to pay one-half the cost of liquid refreshments for the court, officers, lawyers and jury. The sug- gestion met the hearty approval of the court and in due time the jury re- tired, refreshed, and took up the consideration of the case. After a short conference it appeared that the jury were agreed in finding for the plain- tifT. and I said, "Then gentlemen, I understand that we find for the plain- tiiT, Richard Joy." "What's that?" cried one. "Is Joy the plaintiff' Hell, no! i don't find for Joy! Tni for Peters! He's my friend!" and for Peters he remained and after four hours without more refreshments that Jury was discharged, not being able to agree with Peter's friend.

A half a century ago, the courts of Ohio did not compare in dignity and formality with those of Massachusetts, and yet chief justice Edgerton, an old practitioner in the Ohio courts was somewhat astonished at what '.MTcurred in the Miners' court of Bannack. His daughter, Mrs. Plassman, writes, "Shortly after arriving at Bannack my father strolled up Main street see the town, and coming to a building where a Miners' court \Nas ni session he went in. The judge seeing that he was a stranger, (and suspecting that he was the new chief justice of Idaho) invited him to the bench. The trial of the case proceeded, but not for long, it being inter- rupted by the suggestion by some of the parties that it was time for liquid refreshments. The court and every one present approving the suggestion an old darky (Frank Pope) was dispatched to a neighboring saloon for whiskey. On his return the court took a recess and a drink— several of Ihcm. in fact. When the supply was exhausted and the court and those ni attendance upon it were sufficiently stimulated, the trial went on, only to meet with a similar interruption in the course of a half hour or so."

This was the iniation of the new chief justice into the far western methods of legal proceedure.

Judge Edgerton had not been in Idaho territory more than three months before a suggestion was made that a new territory be organized »rom portions of eastern Idaho and western Dakota. Meetings were held at Virginia City and at Bannack, two thousand dollars was raised by "ubscription, and Judge Edgerton who had recently been a member of Congress, was induced to go to Washington and secure if possible the

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legislation necessary to work out this new scheme. The matter had been delayed by the operations for the extinction of Plummer's band of road ,agents. It was the middle of January, 1864, before the Judge was able to start for Washington, and the prospect of a winter trip to Salt Lake and overland, was not to be anticipated with pleasure. Every respectable man in the territory possessed more or less influence with the member of Congress from his old home district, and nearly every one used all the means at his command to promote the scheme which Judge Edgerton represented. Langford and Hauser and some others were already in Washington, and worked with good efTect with the judge, when he ar- rived. Large (juantities of gold in dust, ingots and nuggets, wa^^ exhibited in the halls of Congress, and then turned over to various banks to be placed to the credit of the business men of the mountains who owned it. Thanks to the Vigilantes, there was no fear of the road agents during its transportation. By a previous arrangement with the judge, I left Bannack on the 22nd of February for Salt Lake and the east, in company with Judge W. B. Dance and others. It happened that a few days before starting, in retorting a lot of gold which had been gathered by quick- silver, over a blacksmith's fire, that the crucible broke and the gold ran down into the cinders, making when congealed, a most beautiful spangle of the value of $1,500. This wonderful specimen Col. Hunkins purchased of me and requested that after I had exhibited it at Washington and at my home in Massachusetts, thar I should send it to his daughter in Galena, 111., for her to use as a mantel ornament.

Our journey to Salt Lake was made on horseback, and we drove some pack animals and spare horses. We slept in a cabin the first night out on our four hundred-mile trip, but not again until we reached Salt Lake city. If the night was very cold and windy, we built some little protection of brush to cover our heads as an ostrich is said to run his head in the sand, but otherwise our bodies were wrapped in our blankets and we lay on the ground with our feet converging toward the camp fire. We were fortunate enough to be able to cross the Snake river on the ice, the ludi- crous thing being the fact that the pack mules would make no efTort to Stand upon the" glare ice, and we had to attach lariats to them and snake them over like a sled. Two other large fast flowing streams we were

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obliged to cross by swimming. Stripping-, and swimming an icy stream in mid winter cannot be recommended as an agreeable diversion at the best, but what made our passage much worse was, the streams were frozen out to the swift water which ran like a mill race in the- centre of the river. One of our bravest fellows swam over taking with him a long lariat. Others followed, using the lariat for safety. After gathering wood and building a large fire, we attached our end of the lariat to a pack mule, and pushing him to the edge of the ice he was plumped in and the men helped him upon the ice on the opposite side, when he was towed to it. In this manner each animal was tow^ed over, and our bedding was rolled in an elk skfn and was taken over without getting wet to any extent. It is candidly admitted that these proceedings were a little trying to both man and beast. Even the animals were willing to stand upon the smoky side of a big camp fire. Two nights of this journey we were compelled to camp in deep snow in the mountains, with no feed for the horses. 1 rememocr waking one morning with a feeling of unusual comfort and warmth, to find that the whole camp was buried under about eighteen inches of fresh snow. We were all glad to see the glistening waters of the great Salt Lake ,and took up our quarters at the Sale Lake House, one of whose landladies was a daughter of Brigham Young. The long drawn out trip- from Salt Lake to Atchison, by the Overland stage was vexatious and trying. We awoke one morning to find that we had been sleeping in a coach since midnight, in front of a home station, because the driver who had brought us there, had neglected to fully awake the driver who was to take us forward. Although the morning was cold and frosty, there was one driver on the old Overland who was made warm, for I never heard Judge Dance wax more eloquent than on this occasion. The Indians were reported wicked all along the Platte, and we rode with heavy dragoon pis- tols lying in our laps ready for instant use. Hundreds of horses had been stolen along the line, and transportation was badly demoralized, but it was this or none, and we did the best we could.

When we arrived at St. Louis, dressed in moccasins and all our moun- tain toggery, we created quite a sensation at the Leland and the next morning the papers announced the arrival of a distinguished party from the mountains, loaded with gold. Three of our party pushed on imme-

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diately to Washington, where we at once commenced lobbymg for the passage of the bill for the organization of ^^lontana Territory. Being with Judge Edgerton, admitted to the floor of the House, we, or at least our gold nugget, became the centre of attraction to scores of the members and officials of the House, and several senators came over to see the re- markable specimen, which all thought was as nature had made it. We im- proved our opportunity to impress upon the members the necessity of the immediate organi;^ation of the new Territory. I was much aided by Hon. William B. Washburn, member from my home district in ]Massachusetts, and Mr. Upson from Michigan, a valued friend. In the discussion of the bill a question arose whether Idaho should retain the Flathead Lake and Bitter Root country, or that it should be included in the new territory. 'Governor Wallace of Idaho was a broad minded man and gave his assent Tthat the territory in question be included in the new Territory of Montana. When assured that the bill would pass, I signed a petition for the appoint- anent of Sidney Edgerton as governor of the new territory, and went to !New York, and my old home in ^Massachusetts. It was almost unani- anously the desire of the Union men of the mountains, that Mr. Edgerton should receive the appointment as governor, and all then in the east 'worked together for that purpose.

Mrs. Plassman writing of this time says, "Whether my father's ulti- mate appointment to the position was the result of his last visit to Mr. Lincoln, will never be known, but this is his account of the visit he made and the story he told."

"When the division bill passed, I went to the White House to make my farewell visit, as I had been in Washington for some time and was anxious to get home. On my way there, a gentleman told me that a •senator had filed a protest against my appointment as governor. On meet- ing the President I asked him if this report was true, and he said that it •was. I inquired if any charges had been made against me. He said, none, ttut that I had called the senator a liar. He insisted that it was the truth, .and if he (Mr. Lincoln) chose to appoint some one of the other applicants. •it would be satisfactory. As for me, I should return home and go t*^ mining, as Dorsheimer kept tavern." "Dorsheimer !" exclaimed Mr. Lin- coln. "Why I knew Dorsheimer! What was the story?" "Why Dor-

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"^hcimcr attended a convention at Utica hoping- to obtain the nomination as Canal Commissioner. He was defeated, and rising- in his seat, said, 'Shentlemen, I goes back to Pnftalo and keeps tavern, like hell.' I leit Mr. Lincoln laughing heartily at the story, and it was the last time I ever saw him. I did not hear of my appointment until I reached Salt Lake city.

During Mr. Edgerton's absence in the east, the historic stork alighted at the gubernatorial log cabin upon the banks of the Grasshopper, and left a little blue eyed baby girl, who was named Idaho, and became the idol of the capital town of Montana.

I spent a few happy weeks with my friends in old Massachusetts, but was unable to persuade the lady who afterward became my wife, to re- turn with me to the wilds of the Rocky Mountains. But her parents intrust- ed to my care her young brother, Lucius Nims, Jr., and when I again de- parted for the mountains I also took with me my brother, John \V. Thomp- son, and Newcomb Warner of Charlemont, Mass. At St. Louis I pur- chased a steam saw mill, a small stock of general merchandise and a large supply of Ynkee notions.

I shipped my goods by the steamer Shreveport and Mr. Warner and my brother took passage on the same boat. Needing a little