Harry Phleger got busy mighty early in the game, as we find that, "We, the undersigned, miners of the district Northwest on Grasshopper Creek, do hereby grant unto Harry Phleger, of the same place the full and exclusive privilege of running a ditch from a point commencing two miles above the upper end of the canyon, and running on the south side of Grasshopper Creek down to the south side of Grasshopper Creek, down to the east or lower line of district, for the purpose of supplying the miners of said district with cwater for mining purposes.
The said Phleger may also carry water from said ditch across the Grasshopper Creek at any point he may think proper, for the purpose of supplying miners who may desire water. Provided that the said Phleger shall use reasonable dispatch and bring in water and complete said ditch, as soon as practicable.
This grant or charter to take effect from the 30th day of August, 1862, at
which time said ditch was marked out, and staked by said Phleger.
Recorded
September 23rd, 1862.
J. HURST, Recorder.
Per A. STANLEY.
When you take into consideration that gold had only been discovered July 28th, the above instrument shows that people had gathered in Bannack to such an extent that they had had time to organize into a little government, which was a true Democracy. The laws that governed those people at that particular time, were founded on common sense, and free from technicality. No lawyer was allowed to participate in the settlement of a dispute. Phleger, for some reason, sold on September 28th, one-tenth interest in above ditch, to Joseph Clark for $100.00; to George Copley, October 9th, two-tenths; and to McLean and Stapleton, one-tenth, November 30th, 1862. This was no doubt done in order to get these men to help push the work. We find no record as to when this ditch was finished. We do know however, that it was not the first as, according to Augustus F. Graeter,* A. F. Graeter, A. J. Smith and George Copley took out the first mining ditch at Bannack. This ditch was taken out of Sage Brush Creek, and came to Yankee Flat, the water having been turned from Buffalo Creek into Sage Creek. This ditch was brought in for ground that these men had on the bar south of the flat. When the water was turned in, it came to a point on the hill near Bannack in good shape, but from there on the ditch was found to be up grade, and the water got sore -- at any rate, it refused to run up hill. W. C. Rheim drew what was probably the first cartoon in Montana -- a large pump, with George Copley as the motive power, trying .to force water up hill. It was really no laughing matter, a mistake of this kind, as everything was high in those days, and though a man was doing his work, the expenses were of some magnitude. The names of the miners that left an impress on the pages of that early history should not be forgotten. That John White discovered the gold on Grasshopper, there is no doubt, but the first man to pan out one dollar was Charlie Reville, No. 33, above disc.
Note: Graeter is mistaken in this matter. James H. Morley had his ditch built first. [Ed.]
He used the lid of a camp kettle for his pan. William Still was also a character in this party. "Still" was a nickname given him because he was so quiet. This name hung to him so well that deeds were made out to him in that way. E. D. Leavitt, 35, above august 30th, 1862. On the old records, of White's District, we find the following: John White has recorded one discovery claim, known as the first discovery on Grasshopper Creek. Said claim is situated at a point known as Cedar Tree Point, August 30th, 1862. Discovered July 28.
R. T. HARRIS, Recorder.
The first deed in Southern Montana was made on August 30th, 1862, when H. C. Lynch sold to John White, the discoverer of the gulch, Claim No. 44 above discovery for $10.00 -- the very day when it was recorded. Different locations were known by the name of lucky finder. Jimmie's Bar was discovered by James Griffeths, or Adobe Jim, because he used to make adobe brick. It was one of' the best known on the Creek, and some of the men known to later Montana, and especially Beaverhead County, had claims there.
William L. Farlin, who later was to put Butte on the map, had No. 12 below discovery, October 23rd, 1862. John C. Innes, still identified with Bannack, also had a claim. Judge M. H. Lott was on this bar.
Areighi's Bar was discovered by John Areighi, William Roe and Jim Harby, september 16th, 1862.
Geary discovered his claim early in August. A. F. Graeter took 19 below, September 1st, 1862. Barney Hughes recorded No. 6, below on Geary's Bar, October 14, 1862, and George Orr had No. 2 above.
I find that one of the first purchases by a woman, of a mining claim, was when A. J. Smith and A. Stanley sold No. 17, below discovery on Geary's Bar, to Annette Stanley, for $20.00.
Wash. Stapleton discovered the bar that was to bear his name, August 23rd, 1862. This bar was on the south side of Grasshopper, just across the creek from the present town of Bannack.
Con Kohrs had 45 above, October 24th, 1862
N. P. Langford 39 above,
October 27th, 1862
R. C. Knox, 22 above, October 25th, 1862
Ase Stanley,
61 above, October 24th, 1862
Henry Zollor, 62 above, November 1st, 1862
These men were to make history for Montana. Kohrs was to become identified as a big stock grower, who was to own the famous Johnnie Grant ranch, near what afterwards was to become Deer Lodge, whose blooded cattle and horses were to be known all over the state, and he was also to become instrumental, with his half brother, John Bielenberg, in erecting, 1914, a beautiful building for the Y. M. C. A. in Helena. Langford was to record in the ''Vigilante Days and Ways," some of the most thrilling episodes of a time, that was the wildest and most peculiar in the up-building of the west. Judge Knox was to become a Probate Judge in Butte years after. Ase Stanley was to become a merchant, and Henry Zollor was to be the first Treasurer of Beaverhead County, and probably the first in the state. Yes, those men. of Bannack were making history. Everyday they were making interesting reading.