JAMES AND JOHN AUCHINVOLE, Bio, Granite Co., MT Indexed and contributed for use in USGenWeb Project by: Wendy Garner USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. © 1998 by Wendy Garner. This file may be freely copied for non- profit purposes. All other rights reserved. JAMES AND JOHN AUCHINVOLE James "Big Jim" Auchinvole Born: about 1839. Place: French Canadian from British Columbia, Canada. Died: Place: Occupation: He was a miner and part owner of the Nancy Hanks Mine at Garnet, Montana. Married: Children: John Auchinvole Born: about 1840. Place: French Canadian from British Columbia Died: Place: Occupation: Miner. He was a miner at Garnet, Montana later taking up farming and ranching near Granger, Idaho. Married: he married in Granger, Idaho Children: They were French canadian brothers who moved to Garnet, Montana from the Caribou Mines from British Columbia, Canada. James and John Auchinvoile were two of the many eager men who came prospecting early in the days of the territory when much gold was yet to be discovered. In December 1898, after many years of separation, a reunion took place in Garnet and their stories were told in the Garnet Mining News, "Twenty-five years ago James Auchinvioile, now one of the owners of the famed Nancy Hanks, was running a little store in Yreka, then a small placer mining camp, but now abandoned. He had a brother John who had tramped with him from upper Canada to the Caribou mines in 1862, and to Montana some couple of years later. They were young men then, full of life, vigor and hope for the future. They place mined and rustled in the different placer camps of Montana for some years with but average success until as stated. Jim the oldest, was the proprietor of a little store. John was yet full of adventure and a desire to "look beyond". So one June morning in 1873 John shook his brother's hand an said, "Goodby, Jim, I'm going somewhere, I don't know just where, but somewhere," and John Struck out alone in the wide world which at the time before the advent of railroads, seemed twice the size it does now. He roamed here and there, over accompanied by this pick, pan and shovel, but then as now good miners were hard to find and John was not successful. At least his fortune was yet to be made when he wandered aimlessly into the beautiful valley or plateau in Idaho near Granger where he took up a farm and got married." He became well off in cattle, horses and money, and then came a longing to see his brother Jim. In the intervening years he had heard but little of him except that he was alive and still near the place where he had left him. The longing to see his brother increased until it became an passion no longer to be trifled with or carelessly dismissed, and a week or so ago he packed a small valise and started out to hunt up Jim. Last Saturday's stage brought the Garnet a large-framed man with shaggy eye brows, and a general well-to-do appearance but with the Garnet hotel and inquired of Neal McDonald if he knew a man named James Auchinvoile. "Yes", said Neal, who at once detected a striking resemblance, "and you are his brother". "Mr. McDonald kindly consented to go with him in search of Jim, whom they found at the Nancy Hanks hoist. Jim looked his brother over critically, shook his head and said, "You are not John; you are not half big enough for him". John slowly bared his wrist, showing a scar, and commenced detailing the circumstances when he received it in their boyhood days, but Jim becoming convinced, somewhat excitedly interrupted the story and grabbing him by both hands, rapidly began asking questions". "James Auchinvoile is part owner in the Nancy Hanks group of mines and now considered a wealthy man, while John is also well off, and as both are on the down hill side of life, but yet are young enough to enjoy it, they will, it is hoped by their friends, have the health to pass the remainder of their lives in joy and contentment". While working at the Nancy Hanks "Big Jim" almost lost his life in what would have been one of the most bizarre accidents of the time. The three were within thirty feet of the collar. They had extinguished their candles when in some manner the bell rope became wrapped around Auchinvole's neck. Unable to cry out, he was being dragged head downward from the bucket. His companions managed to grab him by the legs. This in turn might have dumped them all down the shaft; but Jim's struggles set off a furious clanging of the bell. An alert engineer leaped to the lever and disengaged the power. Stopped at last, tilted over the abyss, Ritchey managed to cut the rope with his clasp knife. It was in a half-hitch, so it had to be cut twice before the badly shaken man could breathe again. Perhaps to Auchinvole it seemed a portent. Sam Ritchey had already been looking for buyers. Auchinvole signed over power of attorney, leaving his share for sale as his partner wished. Bibliography: Cushman, Dan, 1964. Article, "Montana's Last Booming Gold Camp", Montana the Magazine of Western History, p 38-54. Garnet Mining News, 1898. Article, December 8, Volume 1, No. 10, page 1. Hammond, Helen 1983. Garnet-Montana's Last Gold Camp, Acme Press, Missoula, Montana.