Robert H. Childs
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 USGENWEB Montana Archives  

Robert H. Childs, one of the early Montana pioneers, was born 
in Virginia, June 22, 1836. His ancestors were 
among the early settlers of the South and his father, Richard 
Childs, was born in North Carolina, in 1808. At 
the age of eight years Richard went with his parents to Virginia. 
He was there married, in 1831, to Miss Margaret 
Snell, a native of that state and a descendant of one of the old 
Virignia families. They removed to Missouri in 
1846 and in 1849 crossed the plains to California. Mr. Childs 
began mining in Coloma, and at the end of the year 
returned to his family with $3,000 in gold. In 1871 he went to 
Missoula, Montana, where he died in 1876. His widow 
still survives, aged 64 years. 

Robert H. Childs, their third son in order of birth, remained in 
Virginia until nineteen years of age. In 1855 he 
crossed the plains to Claifornia starting from the Missouri River 
May 10 of that year and arrived at Downieville 
on August 10, the journey having been a safe and successful one. 
He mined in Shasta and Siskiyou counties with 
three others, taking out $400 in one pan of dirt and $300 in 
another, both on Scott's bar. Mr. Childs followed 
mining four years in Nevada, and while there, with others took 
out $1,500,000 which however, was used in paying 
expenses and lawing. He next went to Owyhee, Idaho, where he 
served as superintendent of a NY mining company one 
year, after which he became snowblind. In 1865 he began mining 
near Blackfoot, in Deer Lodge Co. Montana, where 
he had heavy drains for deprosptecting gulches, one of them 
costing $50,000 and the other which run to Lincoln 
Gulch, $30,000. The company was composed of fourteen men. After 
losing money in that enterprise, Mr. Childs 
purchased 400 acres of land near Florence, in the Bitter Root 
valley and in 1890 settled down to the life of a 
farmer. He converted that place into one of the most valuable 
farms in the county, and resided there twenty 
hears, when he sold it for $6,560. Since that time he has resided 
in Missoula, and is now engaged in running 
the Relaity House, one of the largest and best burnished boarding 
and rooming houses in the city. 

Mr. Childs was married Aug. 1, 1881 to Mary E. Kent, a daughter 
of Daniel Boyce, a native of Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Two of her brothrs were Union soldiers, one lost his life in the 
battle of Ft. Donelson. The other, H.H. Boyce, 
served through the enire struggle and for meritourious conduct 
was promoted to the rank of Colonel. For a number 
of years he has been proprietor of the Los Angeles Times. Mrs. 
childn's former was O.C. Kent, who left one son at 
his death, D.D. Kent, now of Missoula. 

Mr. and Mrs. Childs have two children--Harvey and Nora, both born 
in the Bitter Root valley. Mr. Child still
continues his interest in mining, owning the O.K. and Eureka lead 
mines at Cedar Creek, and has a fine gold 
prospect in the same locality. He has been a life long Democrat 
and both he and his wife are members of the 
Presbyterian church. 

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