Silverbow County MT Archives Obituaries.....Ramsdell, Joseph R. 1898
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Teresa Taramasso califiadesigns@yahoo.com April 26, 2008, 8:51 am

The Anaconda Standard -- April 1, 1898
DEATH OF AN OLD TIMER -- JOSEPH R. RAMSDELL, ONE OF BUTTE'S EARLIEST SETTLERS.

Joseph R. Ramsdell, one of Butte's earliest inhabitants died last evening at 
the residence of his daughter, Mrs. James A. Talbott, No. 501 West Galena 
street. Up to last fall Mr. Ramsdell, although 73 years of age, had been rugged 
and strong in body as wells as mind, but with the beginning of last winter he 
failed gradually and steadily. He was troubled much with rheumatism, which 
greatly weakened him. During the winter he often lapsed into unconsciousness, 
from which his friends feared he would not waken, and was much of the time 
delirious. His relatives did not expect his recovery, although he would make 
occasional rallies and seem better for a few days.

Mr. Ramsdell was born June 24, 1824, in Ohio. Early in life he removed to 
Illinois, where he married and then moved with his wife to Missouri, where they 
lived a number of years, and where all their children were born. Mr. Ramsdell 
crossed the plains in the Pike's Peak excitement of 1859, went to Mexico and 
other places in the West, and entered Montana in 1863, locating first at 
Virginia City in Alder gulch. He came into Butte in October, 1864, in company 
with Tom Porter and Nathan Harrison. There was only one cabin in Butte then, 
but there was quite a little town at Silver Bow. Mr. Ramsdell, on Oct. 14, 
1864, located the Ramsdell-Parrot mine, the oldest mining location in Butte 
except the Original the Parrot and the Colusa-Parrot. Mr. Ramsdell remained a 
month in Butte and then went back to Alder gulch, got his 60 head of horses and 
returned to Butte, where he spent that winter.

In the spring of 1865 Mr. Ramsdell brought his family from Alder gulch and 
located in German gulch, and spent the year there prospecting--in German and 
Washington gulches. In the fall of 1865 he took his family to Salt Lake, that 
his children might have the benefits of the schools there. He remained with 
them at Salt Lake during that winter, and in the spring of 1866 he brought his 
family back to Butte, freighting up a lot of goods with ox teams which he had 
purchased in Salt Lake. He sold the supplies at Blackfoot, French gulch, Silver 
Bow, Deer Lodge and Highland. He landed his family in Butte, July 13, 1866, and 
in August of that year he built a little log cabin on what is now West Quartz 
street, a little east of the fire station. The cabin is believed to be the 
oldest building now standing in Butte. The logs for the cabin were hauled from 
Silver Bow. Mr. Ramsdell and his family lived there until late in 1870, while 
he worked The Ramsdell-Parrot and other mines. He worked the famous Alice mine 
of Walkerville, and in the fall of 1866 built Butte's first smelter. It was 
built in the gulch below the Ramsdell-Parrot mine, and has long since 
disappeared. He developed the Ramsdell-Parrot that fall to a depth of 100 feet.

In 1870 Mr. Ramsdell became manager of the station of the Gilmer & Sallsbury 
stage line at the crossing of the Little Blackfoot. While there Mr. Ramsdell 
bought a fine ranch which belongs to his estate. After a year at the station 
Mr. Ramsdell removed to this ranch, which is located six miles north of Deer 
Lodge. In 1876 he moved back to Butte and occupied the cabin once more. In the 
spring he built a more pretentious house on East Galena street, where he lived 
many years, until he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. James A. Talbott.

Mrs. Ramsdell died a few years ago. Besides his daughter, Mr. Ramsdell leaves 
two sons, Frank Ramsdell, who is agent in the Union Pacific office at Grand 
Island and Clayton Ramsdell, who lives on the ranch near Deer Lodge. 

Mr. Ramsdell was not only one of Butte's oldest inhabitants, but one of its 
best citizens, and during a third of a century that he lived in Butte, none has 
arisen to accuse him of wrong doing. He was a typical pioneer--a man of 
sterling integrity and unflinching courage. There is no man in Butte but will 
regret his death. The funeral will take place at 11 o'clock Saturday morning 
from No. 501 West Galena street.





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