John B. Laurin History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 May be copied for non-profit purposes.USGENWEB Montana Archives John B. Laurin, the pioneer settler of the Ruby Valley and the founder of the town of Laurin, the county seat of Madison County, forms the subject of this article. John B.Laurin is a native of Canada. He was born in St. Martin, twelve miles north of Montreal, August 21, 1821 and isof French descent. His parents, Paul and Margaret (Charthran) Laurin were both born in Canada. The father was a merchant and farmer. He died at the age of eighty- nine years and his wife passed away in her seventy-ninth year. They were devout Catholics. Their family was composed of thirteen children, seven of whom, four daughters and three sons,still survive.John B. was the sixth born in this family. He was reared at his native place, his boyhood days being spent at work on the farm and in the store with his father. When he was sixteen he began learning the tanner's business and after working at it three years opened a leather and shoe supply store in the city of Montreal. This store he conducted two years. His next venture was in the Serefena Hotel, which establishment he ran five years, with fair success. In 1849 he crossed the plains to Utah. There he opened a store and also engaged in the stock business, raising, buying and selling,and for eleven years had a large and remunerative trade with the Indians.In 1863 it was that Mr. Laurin came to his present location in the Ruby Valley, Montana, his arrival being on the 15thof July. He was among the first settlers in this beautiful valley. Here he at once opened a miner's supply store andsoon found himself doing a successful business. Prices were high and goods in demand. In 1865 he wold flour for $160 per sack of 100 pounds, and he gave a good horse for a firkin of butter. The pioneers lived chiefly on beef and bread. When the land was surveyed he took a homestead and a pre- emption claim, together amounting to 320 acres and afterward from time to time as he prospered he added to his landed estate until he became the owner of 1700 acres in different parts of the valley. He continued in the mercantile and stock business until 1886. For forty years he was a successful merchant, a portion of the time conducting two branch houses in connection with his main business. As above stated, he founded the town which bears his name. From 1867 until 1886 he was its Postmaster and until 1875 he ran a hotel in the town. His stock business has already been referred to. At one time he had as high as 7000 head of sheep and he also had large droves of Shorthorn cattle. He still owns some fine horses of the Clydesdale breed.Mr. Laurin was married June 9, 1855 to Mrs. Adaline Boothe, a native of Canada and the daughter of Antone LaGris.She started to cross the plains with her husband, Mr. Boothe, in 1854 and while on their journey he was accidentally shot on the 16th of October and died on the 22nd of the same month. Her only child by her first husband died at the age of nine months. She and Mr. Laurin have reared fourteen foster children who are all alive and doing well. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.