DECEMBER 2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Yellowstone Monitor, Dec. 18, 1913 The Life of Louis P. Kelly On October 21, 1898, L. P. Kelly purchased the Bob Moore Saloon from Robert Moore for $1500. The saloon still remains as one of the last buildings in Garnet. The Kelly Saloon was a two story structure with a false front (20 feet by 30 feet) built some time prior to 1898. It offered male orientated entertainment only. The saloon was one big room with a stairway leading upstairs to the Kelly’s living quarters. The bar was on the left-hand side of the room and may have been carved walnut with a brass rail. A large heater stood near the rear of the saloon, and table and chairs for card players were in the center area. An outside stairway also provided access to the upstairs. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly lived in an apartment above the saloon. In the big room facing the south was a kitchen range, cupboards, tables and chairs, a couch and Photo Courtesy of the McMillan Family Louis Kelly Photo Courtesy of the McMillan Family Mary Jane and Sarah several rocking chairs. The two bedrooms overlooked the street. Women and children seldom went into the saloons. Their entertainment was visiting each other and talking. Guests visiting Mrs. Kelly would call up to her via the outside staircase and then ascend the stairs to her apartment. Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
P a g e 2 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r The Kelly’s left Garnet in the late 1930’s and the saloon closed. This building has since been preserved. Lou and Sarah owned and operated the Kelly Saloon at Garnet from 1898 to the late 1930’s. Louis P. Kelly, was born in Canada in 1863, he met Sarah Ann McLeod in Indiana and were married in Garnet on May 25, 1899. Soon Sarah’s dad, Hector McLeod, came to Garnet and then Sarah’s sister, Mary Jane. Mary Jane McLeod married Mike Miller, a miner in Garnet, on January 13, 1907. The Miller’s lived in Garnet until 1912. Three of their children were born in Garnet, the third child, Fay Miller was born upstairs in the Kelly Saloon. In the 1910 census, Hector McLeod (widower), lived with Louis and Sarah Kelly above the Kelly Saloon and he was 76 years old. Louis Kelly died on April 16, 1938 and his wife died on June 17, 1940, both in Missoula, and were buried in the St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Missoula.—This article appeared in the June 2016, Garnet Preservation Association Newsletter. Courtesy of our friends Photo Courtesy of the McMillan Family McLeod sisters: Elizabeth, Margaret, Sarah and Mary Jane. at the Garnet Preservation Association, Find out more about them and their work or about visiting and supporting Garnet Ghost Town at: http:// www.garnetghosttown.org/ All Photos have been donated to the Garnet Preservation Assn., by the son of Fay Miller McMillan. Hugh and Anne McMillan. A big “Thank You” goes out to Hugh and Anne for their generous contribution. Margaret and Sarah (Steve Miller) Little Napa Lookout A major project for Northwest Montana Forest Fire Lookout Association in the summer of 2016 was replacing the stairs on the Little Napa lookout on the Swan State Forest. This was a complex carpentry effort – no right angles to be found! It took many weeks of work to tear out the old stairs, work on scaffolding to place beams to support new stair treads, hang the new stringers, place 2 tiers of new stairs, and build new railings. The results were spectacular! Thanks to the many participants: retired architect Daniel Revell who develPhoto Courtesy of the McMillan Family Louis Kelly and Fay Miller Photo Courtesy of the McMillan Family
P a g e 3 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r oped the plans, crew leader Chuck Manning, trusty volunteers Doug Berglund, Steve Penner, Eric Berglund and Rick Davis, and the staff at DNRC's Swan Unit for their support. The new stairs are at a much better pitch and so much safer! History of Little Napa Lookout: The Forest Service built the first lookout in this area in 1932 on Napa Point. It was a 30-foot wooden live-in tower. The Napa Ridge Fire destroyed it in 1937, and the lookout had to run for his life! In 1968, the State of Montana purchased a military surplus bus and modified it to include sleeping and cooking facilities, as well as a cupola that could be cranked up for use as a fire tower, and cranked down to travel. The bus was used from 1969-1973 at the Napa Point lookout site. It was tough to get the bus around the road switchbacks, and was especially perilous going downhill in the fall when returning to the station. In 1972-3 Montana DNRC developed “seen-area maps” and determined that more State protection lands were visible from the Little Napa location than from Napa Point. The current Little Napa lookout was pre-fabricated at Goat Creek. A road was constructed to the new lookout site and the lookout was assembled by Swan River Youth Camp Personnel.—This Article Appeared in the Spring 2016 Northwest Montana Lookout Association Newsletter-Courtesy of The Northwest Montana Lookout Association, For more info, visit their website at: https://www.nwmt-ffla.org/, Photos Courtesy of Chuck Manning, Doug Berglund and Kjell Petersen. HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: HUGH J. MILLER—County Attorney. What energy, industry and perseverance will accomplish for a young man when aided by good habits and a strict adherence to the highest rules of honor, is illustrated in the life of Park county’s present attorney—Hugh J. Miller. He is a native of Genoa, Minnesota, born December 31, 1866, receiving a very liberal education in the public schools at home. At the age of fourteen he worked on a farm in the summer and attended school in the winter. He taught his first school when seventeen, continuing in this capacity for five successive years. At the age of twenty-two he entered the University of Michigan, previously marrying Miss Geor
P a g e 4 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Hugh J. Miller giana Cole of Cedar Falls, Iowa, who was a graduate of the Iowa State Normal. Mr. Miller graduated from Ann Arbor in the class of 1891 with the honor of L. L. B. While at this school he also took literary work and a two years’ course in oratory under Professor Trueblood. Previous to his graduation, Allan R. Joy, attorney of Park county, Montana, had written to the faculty of that institution, requesting their recommendation of a student who had made a record. Out of a class of three hundred, Mr. Miller received the recommendation and accordingly accepted the proposal of locating at Livingston. Immediately after arriving, Mr. Joy put him to work on some of his most important cases, and after two months’ work showed his appreciation by doubling his salary. In the November election of 1892 he was given the office of county attorney, and November 8, 1898, was re-elected to the same office. During his first term, Mr. Miller came to the office with one of the largest criminal calendars that had ever been before the court, securing a large number of convictions during his first term of office, one being the murder case of Fields (Anderson) which was so extensively copied throughout the East, and by which the reputation of our subject as a criminal lawyer was at once established, this being the only conviction of murder in the first degree ever secured in Park county. During his law practice here he has been employed on sixteen different murder cases, among them being the famous cases of Bloom and Ladhoff, and John Burns, the slayer of Daniel O’Connell, by the eloquence of Mr. Miller, succeeded in impressing the jury that there was no malice in his heart, resulting in acquittal. In representing the defense for the highway robbers of the National Park stages he was complimented throughout the press on the talent shown as an able criminal lawyer. Since 1894 Attorney Miller has assisted, or been, the leading attorney in nearly every prominent criminal case in Park county, his greatest success being in the October, 1898, term of court, in which, of the seven criminal cases, he secured six convictions and one hung jury. It was claimed by those best informed on the subject that it was the greatest term of court in the county’s history in percentage of convictions secured, and that Mr. Miller was unexcelled in the complete preparation of his cases. While it is true that as a criminal lawyer he has been eminently successful, it is equally true that in his civil practice he has met with great success. Of the older residents of the county, it can be said that none have taken a more active part in trying to secure Eastern capitalists to assist in building up the county’s enterprises than its present attorney, having spent much time, gratis, in his correspondence on this theme—he having written over
P a g e 5 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r one hundred letters in one year. On April 19, 1897, Governor R. B. Smith appointed him Judge Advocate of Montana, with the rank of major, on his official staff. Thus each year, fresh laurels are being won by our present county attorney and although, today, he is one of her busiest citizens, his interest in the local and national public welfare are never neglected. ALEX LIVINGSTON—County Treasurer. For his liberal spirit and keen sense of right and justice the city of Livingston takes pride in presenting Alex Livingston to the public. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, August 12, 1860, and emigrated to Ontario, Canada, with his parents in 1862. In 1865 the family removed to the Blue Earth country, Minnesota, where they resided until the spring of 1870, when by the death of his parents young Livingston, in company with his grandmother and only brother, returned to Canada. At the age of seventeen he went back to Minnesota, remaining until the spring of 1883. As brighter prospects were offered him at Livingston, Montana, he came here and obtained a situation in the bridge and building department of the Northern Pacific railway. In the fall of 1887 he moved to Jefferson county, Montana, and engaged in the saw mill business for a time, returning to Livingston in 1889, where he re-entered the employ of the Northern Pacific in the same capacity as formerly. In 1896 Mr. Livingston was elected by the democrats to the office of county treasurer of Park county and re-elected to the same office in 1898. Since he has been called to public service he has acted as director on the school board of the city, also as alder man from the Third ward. His education was obtained in the public schools. His interest in the welfare of the laboring element is evident in many acts of generosity and courtesy, while his pride in his official duties is manifest in a system of well kept books that for neatness and completeness cannot be excelled throughout the Alex Livingston Residence of Alex Livingston state. Mr. Livingston is married, and resides in a beautiful home on the north side, which stands as a re
P a g e 6 ward of merit to his past industrious habits. GEORGE T. YOUNG—Sheriff. The subject of this sketch is a native of Fredericton, N. B., and was born April 2, 1856. He became a permanent resident of the United States in 1877, locating for three years at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and subsequently coming to Montana in 1880. He overtook the Northern Pacific railway at Glendive, working his way along with that enterprise until he reached Clark City in June, 1882. When the city of Livingston was incorporated, Mr. Young was appointed city marshal by Mayor Miles and elected to the same office soon after. G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r George T. Young He was elected to his present office as sheriff of Park county in November, 1894, since serving three terms. He was married to Miss Carrie Shaw, of Delno, Minnesota, in 1879, the family now consisting of four children. At his last re-election Mr. Young came out with his crowning majority. The longer he has been before the public the more his service has been appreciated. FRANK BELLER—Deputy Sheriff. The subject of this sketch is a native of the Keystone state, and was born in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1858. After receiving a good common school education he came west in 1876, and was located at St. Joseph, Missouri, for two years, subsequently coming up the Missouri river on the steamer Red Cloud to Fort Benton, Montana. His early life in this state was spent as a cowboy, being among the first rangers in the latter seventies in this upper Yellowstone region. Owing to this fact the life of Mr. Beller has been filled with thrilling scenes of the wildest and most daring incidents of pioneer life. In 1887 Mr. Beller was appointed deputy sheriff at Red Lodge by O. P. Templeton, the pioneer sheriff of Park county, remaining in this capacity until 1891. Again assuming the life of a range rider he took a vacation from official duties until 1895 when he was Frank Beller
P a g e 7 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r again called to service as deputy sheriff under George T. Young. January 1, 1899, he was promoted to under sheriff, but resigned this position Janu’ry 1, 1900, to accept the deputyship at Jardine. Mr. Beller has been a fearless officer, and has yet to meet with his first accusation of partiality. He likes a good story, and is always ready to do his share toward relating stories from his inexhaustible supply of narratives of the frontier during its lawful and lawless periods. He is a member of the K. of P. Lodge and Woodmen of the World. CHAS. ANGUS—Clerk and Recorder. Presenting, as he does, a combination of the scholar in a degree that is unusual in this country, Charles Angus, clerk of Park county, has both a military and civil record. He was born in England in 1844 and came to the United States in 1864, enlisting at once in the First Delaware Veteran volunteers, serving in Company I of that regiment until it was mustered out of service in July, 1865. While in the civil war he bore his share of the sweets and sour, coming out with an honorable discharge. He now worked for several years at railroading in Colorado and Wyoming, coming to Montana in 1877, when he again enlisted in the regular army, where he served with the second cavalry until 1882. After receiving his honorable discharge he came to Livingston, Montana, in December of that year and was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1892, when he was elected to the office of county clerk, and reelected to that office in 1894. On going out of office in 1896 he was appointed deputy postmaster, continuing in that capacity until 1898, when he was again Court House Charles Angus called to fill the office of county clerk. As a public servant Mr. Angus has proven his fitness by the number of different times that he has been called to this chair, giving additional satisfaction at each succeeding term of office. -Read More in Next Month’s Issue! Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Main Street- Meaderville, Montana, 1939. Meaderville, a suburb of Butte, Montana was named after Charles T. Meader in 1880. Meaderville is known Photo Courtesy Library of Congress for its Italian heritage, its yearly Christmas displays, and its volunteer fire department. The excavation of the Berkeley Pit destroyed the neighborhood in the late 1960s, early 1970s.
P a g e 8 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Miles City Christmas 1884 Miles City, Montana, looked forward to the holidays in 1884. On Christmas Eve, the Daily Yellowstone Journal instructed its readers to “Get the hinges of your jaws ready to warble “Merry Christmas” to friends and neighbors. And be sure,” said the Journal, “to clear your chimneys for the descent of Kris Kringle.” But not entirely in the Christmas spirit, the Journal recorded the final percentile grades of public school students, certainly embarrassing several like George Busch of the senior class who earned a 40, Kate Cupples who earned a 56, and others. Now that’s a gift for a parent—to have your child’s ill achievement published in the newspaper, and on Christmas Eve. On a more festive note, the Journal advertised the perfect Christmas present: The Missouri Steam Washer. No home, said the Journal, is complete without it. Patented in 1883, the advertisement claimed that the contraption was so simple to use that a ten-year-old could do the family wash in an hour. Wouldn’t the kids love that present! Or you could buy a buffalo coat for $15, or pantaloons for $1.50. And the Journal had some advice on sizing up the roasted Christmas turkey: “Don’t look in its mouth as if it were an old horse with a tooth ache,” said the Journal. “Just gently dislocate its wings. If it’s old and tough, you’ll have to tug pretty hard on the flappers.” When it comes to dessert, said the Journal, there will be no poison in your pastry if you use Dr. Price’s pure extract of vanilla. So shake the snow out of the Christmas tree and unhinge your jaws for Christmas dinner. –Ellen Baumler From Chronicling America, Library of Congress Ellen Baumler was an award-winning author and Montana historian. A master at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's true stories have delighted audiences across the state. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 701 Cedar ST, Anaconda, MT 59711 ©2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC. All rights reserved.
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