Hi all;
Here is something some of you may be able to use or at least find
interesting.
This is taken from:"Museum Memories" by Roy E. Millegan
EDWARD CARDWELL Jr.
Edward Cardwell Jr. was born in Glenarry, County of Antrim, Ireland in
July of 1831, number eight of ten children. Both of his parents died
before he turned 16.
A resourceful man, he saved enough money to come to the United States in
about 1848 where he learned the carriage painting trade in Rochester,
New York. Coming west, he plied this trade for three years with the
quarter master corp. at Ft Leavenworth, Kansas.
God then lured him to Pikes Peak in 1860 where he soon became a
superintendent for P.D.Casey, a prosperous miner. The call for gold
again saw his arrival in Virginia City, Montana in November, 1863 where
he formed a partnership with John Caplice and Peter Ronan. Most of the
mining was done near Adobetown. While around Virginia City, he witnessed
the hanging of notorious robbers by vigilantes.
Seeking money with which to purchase a ranch of his own, he drove
freight wagons, first between Corrine, Utah and Virginia City, Mt. Then
between Virginia City and Baker City Oregon. In 1875 he bought the first
320 acres on the North Boulder for about 1.75 per acre, this followed
with additional purchases as the years went by. Short horn cattle were
acquired for his ranch from the Horse Prairie area, south of Dillon,
while cayuse mares weresecured from the Bannack Indians near Ft. Hall in
Idaho. His brand, "7" on the left hip for cattle and "C" on the right
shoulder of the horse, soon became well known in the area.
One report showed that he owned 2,800 acres of land with another report
estimating it to be nearer 5,000. The ranch handled some 2,500 head of
cattle and over 1,000 horses. It was indicated that the ranch only put
up about 1,000 tons of hay, but at that time, there was "free range",
with no Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management.
Cardwell's range ran from Potosoi Hot Springs on the South, out of Pony,
to the Cataract Creek area, out of Boulder. Many cowboys were required
for the spring and fall roundups, which were a true part of the "Old
West".
Sometimes Indians, reported to have been Piegens, would help themselves
to his livestock. In addition to his ranch he planted some 250 acres of
wheat, barley or oats each year.
It was said that Cardwell was a "died-in-the-wool Republican", an
"ace"
of a manand public spirited. In a biography about him in the
"Progressive Men of Montana", circa 1902, it stated, "having a deep
interest in the development and progress of the commonwealth, it was a
foregone conclusion that his friends, recognizing his vigorous
intellectual powers and his inflexible integrity, should demand of him
service in important positions of public trust." Thus, Cardwell was
elected to serve in the ninth Territorial Legislature of 1876 and the
twelfth through the fifteenth sessions and then as the Jefferson County
representative from the eleventh district for the constitutional
convetion that brought Statehood to Montana in 1889. After 1890, he
served two terms as Montana State Senator from Jefferson County.
Shortly before his deatth on May 4, 1912, he moved to Yellowstone County
where some other members of his family were located. Never having
married, he took great interest in seeing that his nephews became
soundly established in the ranching or other business interests there.
There was a John Henry McConnell, a nephew of the senator, that worked
for Cardwell for several years before moving to Billings. The home, that
they resided in, is presently occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Al Felsheim.
Cardwell, a member of the Episcopal Church, was buried in the Boulder
Cemetery. Many a traveler remembered him well, recalling "the latch
string was always hanging on the outside," and all would receive a
hearty welcome.
In addition to serving his county and state, he served as a governor's
delegate to the Farmers National Congress at Niagra Falls in September
of 1903, and was a revered member of the "Montana Pioneers".
While on the ranch, his address was at first that of Cold Springs, then
Jefferson Island and lastly, Cardwell, the community which still bears
his name. The ranch belonged to the Harry Shaw family for many years,
now most of the property belongs to the Golden Sunlight Mines.
On April 5,1909 the name of the post office and local community was
changed to Cardwell in honor of the Senator. On August 8,1917 a plat was
approved, by the Jefferson County Commissioners, for a Town of Cardwell.
It was surveyed by C.D. Flaherty and presented by Edward and Benjamin E.
Cardwell, Nephews of senator Cardwell, and then owners of the
ranch.
All that remains there in Cardwell now is a couple of houses, a post
office and a pottery shop. We went through there a while back and
stopped to see how the town came to be named Cardwell.
Hope this is of interest to some of you,
Gary