Frederick J. Shultz History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 USGENWEB Montana Archives,maintained by burns@asu.edu Frederick J. Shultz, propietor of the Sheridan Hotel and an early settler of Montana, is a native of the province of Pummar, Prussia, born October 13, 1840, of Prussian ancestry. His parents were William and Mary Koupp Schulz. Early in life he was deprived of a father's aid and protection and when he was fifteen he accompanied his uncle to the United States, landing in New York city and going thence to Winconsin. In Wisconsin he worked at farming, his first wages being $3.00 per month and his board. He continued at farm work in Wisconsin until 1866 at which time he crossed the plains to Montana. He drove a team of oxen for his passage and walked nearly twice the distance. On this journey they saw plenty of game, deer and buffalo and were at times in danger of being run over by the latter as they came over the plains in great droves. Mr. Schulz shot a buffalo on one of these occasions. The Indians too,often menaced the party, but, the emigrants being provided with a Government escort, the Indians were kept at bay. After a journey of over five months, they arrived safe at Bozeman, Montana. Mr. Schulz remained there during the winter, he having secured a contract to dig a mill race. In the spring of 1867 he came to Alder Gulch and at firstworked in the mines for $5.00 per day. Later he got an interest in a claim and took out considerable gold. In this way he got his start. In 1869 he prospected without success at Gold Creek, worked for wages there for a time, thenwent to German Gulch in Deer Lodge County and secured a claim. This claim, however, did not prove a very profitable one, and his next move was to Ruby Valley, where he purchased a squatter's right to 160 acres of land twenty miles below Sheridan. After working it a year he sold out at a small advance over the price and in 1876 came to Sheridan. Here he formed the acquantance of Mrs. Julia McCoy, widow of Jesse McCoy, who had built the first hotel in Sheridan.She was the daughter of Mr. Philpat, a native of Southampton, England and when a little girl crossed the plains withher parents in the "hand-cart" emigration. This was in 1857. On the journey they got out of provisions and endured untold sufferings. Both her parents died of cold and hunger. Through the kindness of other members of the party she was taken to Utah, where she subsequently became the wife of Oliver Thomas, with whom she came to Montana in 1865. They had five children, namely, William; John, Katie, now Mrs. J. Moore; Ellis, wife of George Copp, County Commissionerof Madison County, Montana; and Rita, wife of Alexander Scott. Soon after the death of Mr. Thomas she became the wifeof Mr. McCoy, by whom she had two children, Gilbert and Charles, both at home with her. She and Mr. Schulz were married September 15, 1878 and they have four children, Harry, Burtie, Minnie and Frankie.Mr. Schulz has enlarged and improved the hotel and is managing it successfully, sparing no pains to make his guests comfortable and at home. In connection with the hotel, he also owns and runs a livery stable.Politically, Mr. Shulz is a Republican. He was elected on of the first Alderman of the city and is also a schooltrustee. He is a Past Master of the A.O.U.W. and has been the Finacier of his lodge during the past six years. 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.