John A. Stemple History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 May be copied for non-profit purposes.USGENWEB Montana Archives John A. Stemple, a successful miner and an early settler of Montana, was born in Preston County West Virginia, March 16, 1834. His ancestors were early settlers of Virginia and were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. His father Martin Stemple, was born in Virginia July 27, 1796. The latter married Miss Caroline Bishop, a native also of thatState, and they had eleven children, six of whom still survive. The mother died when our subject was a small boy and the father departed this life November 25,1888. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. John A. Stmeple, the fourth child in order of birth, remained with his father until twenty-two years of age. In 1856 he went to Iowa, in the spring of 1860 he crossed the plains by way of Ogden to Oregon, and then to California. During the journey they had much trouble with the Sioux Indians, and on the Sweetwater River were attacked by 100 Indians. The emigrants corralled their wagons and succeeded in driving off the Indians. One emigrant was killed, but as the Indians carried off their dead and wounded it was never known how many were killed. After traveling through California, Mr. Stemple returned to Baker County, Oregon and engaged in mining near the Snake River. He afterward went to Portland, next to Victoria, thence to San Francisco, returned to New York via the isthmus, wentto Iowa in the winter of 1866 and the following spring came up the Missouri River to Montana. After following placer-mining at Trinity for a time, Mr. Stemple prospected in the Virginia Creek country and was elected to the office of Recorder, serving in that capacity until 1871. Later, while hunting at the head of Silver Creek, in the Gloster and Empire mills, he discovered quartz, located several valuable mines, built a ten stamp mill at the Whippoorwill Mine but in 1877 sold his interest there for $12,000. He next went to the head of Virginia Creek, where he erected what is now called the Stemple Mill, and that district was also named in his honor. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Stemple again sold his interest for $12,000. He is now connected with the Pigeon Company. He discovered the mine in 1876 and it is now considered one of the best in the mining district.Mr. Stemple was married January 4, 1876 to Miss Amanda Ann Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared from childhood in Iowa. She is a daughter of Peter Miller. They had four children, all born in Montana--Harry, Oscar, Eddie Roy and Mabel Alice. The eldest child, Carrie, died when seventeen months old. 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.