John R. Gerdts

History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

John R. Gerdts came to Montana in 1868 and is now one of 
the well-known and highly respected citizens of Deer Lodge.

He was born in Germany, March 29, 1838; was educated in his 
native land and there learned the carpenter's trade and in 
1858 when only eighteen years of age, set sail for America 
in the ship Othella, making the voyage in fifty-eight days, 
landing in safety at New York City--a stranger in a strange 
land and not knowing a word of the language of the 
country to which he had come to make his home. His first 
work here was in a grocery store at $4 per month and he 
remained thus employed fourteen months. Then he went to 
New Orleans, where he secured work at his trade on Rebel 
gunboats at $2 per day and remained there until the war 
began. He made several trips at sea, and learning that the 
Rio Grande was a good place for carpenters, he went there 
and remained until after the death of President Lincoln. 

He then took passage to New York, where he remained until 
he had spent all his money and he then shipped as carpenter 
on a steamer bound for New Orleans from which port he made 
several sea voyages.

In 1866 Mrs. Gerdts cross the ocean and joined him at New 
Orleans where they were married on Christmas Day of that 
year, the marriage ceremony being performed at South Church. 
Two months later they removed to Shreveport where they made 
their home until on account of her failing health, they 
sought a change of climate and came to Montana. They 
started north on the 1st of May 1868 from St. Louis, 
made the journey up the Missouri River to Fort Peck and 
from that place was a month in making the trip with ox 
teams to Fort Benton. They continued on to Helena, where 
he was employed in work at his trade at $6 per day. The 
next spring he started for the Cedar Creek stampede but 
met people 
returning who told him not to go and for two seasons he 
remained at Pike's Peak.

In 1870 they took claim to 160 acres of land at the mouth 
of Rock Creek, near where Garrison now is. Here they built
a home and made improvements and later sold out at a profit. 
Then they went three-quarters of a mile west of their first 
claim and took up another 160 acres and began again the 
work of improving a farm. They lived in a stable here a 
year before they built their house.

In 1877 he took 300 head of cattle to the Black Hills. 
She accompanied him and drove the team all the way, the 
journey requiring four months' time. The snow was deep, 
and the trip was attended with many hardships and dangers; 
but they reached their destination in safety and sold 
their stock for a price that gave them their first real 
start in money-making. In the spring they returned to 
their farm and he made another similar trip, while Mrs. 
Gerdts went back to Germany and brought her aged mother 
to this country. Her mother filed claim to 160 acres 
adjoining theirs, and lived with them up to the time 
of her death. They resided on their land until the 
building of the Northern Pacific railroad, when they 
sold out to the railroad company for $3000, Mrs. 
Gerdts retaining some town lots which she stillholds. 
It was expected that a junction and a town would be 
built there but that was not accomplished. After the sale
of the farm they purchased eighty acres four miles below 
it, and again began the work of improving and developing. 

To this eighty acres they have since added until they now 
have 720 acres, a choice and valuable property. Here they 
raised poultry and vegetables and made money. Mr. Gerdts 
has for years been interested in Shropshire sheep, now 
having between eleven and twelve thousand head in his 
flock. He has also given special attention to the raising of 
horses and Polled Angus and Holstein cattle.

Mr. Gerdts has forty-five acres of placer mining ground, 
and at one time, during the years 1876 and 1877 took out 
considerable gold.

In 1891 this pioneer couple retired from their farm and 
removed to a pleasant town in Deer Lodge where they have 
since resided. Since their removal to town, Mr. Gerdts has 
owned and conducted a cash grocery doing a successful business.

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