Day with Gran in Carbon County

I was always pestering someone with questions about the farms that my grandparents had from the time that the were first married, on. Eventually I wanted to know about their parents and their farms. Then that wasn't enough and I needed to know about their grandparents. Gran decided that we would spend a day driving Carbon County and I could see the areas, first hand. Andrew & Aven decided to stay with Landon & Lindsay and play. Being cooped up in Aunt Brenda's van for the day didn't sound fun to any of them, after all the driving we all did to get to Montana from Boston & Memphis! Uncle Lee and Luke decided to join us. Brenda was the driver & Gran did the narrating. Brenda was thinking that day!! She taped the conversation of us all talking in the van. This particular blog is from my memory of the day. I hope it matches the recording!

Bearcreek, Montana

Bearcreek is a very small town, between Red Lodge and Belfry, Montana. Here several of our family tales took place. Great-grandpa Brown's brother, Walter Brown was murdered here in 1923. During the summers, while Gran was growing up, Bearcreek was once the home of Uncle Harry & Aunt Lillian Walter. For a dime, Gran would take the one-car trolley called the "Galloping Goose," to Bearcreek from Belfry. While visiting her cousins Marie and Marian, the girls would sleep on the front porch.  

Today, Bearcreek is a great place to stop for coffee & pie. Don't forget to check out the wonderful Quilt store in the Old Bearcreek Bank. Bearcreek's historical road marker signs reminds us of a sad time in history when the local mine disaster affected everyone in the little town.  Most of the Walters mined in this area, at one time, for a short while.

Main Street Bearcreek, MT

The Old Sinnock Place - Belfry, Montana

After Matt and Hazel were married (1921), they rented this farm. This is the home where Bill (1924), Beulah (1925), and Verne(1927) were born.

(Uncle Bill says that he was born on the Wood's place, and that Uncle Matt (1928) was born here.)

Old Sinnock Farm

Facing Northwest to The Meeteetsee Trail Mountains is the view from the gate at the Chance Farm. On the other side of these mountains, is Red Lodge. It's not uncommon to see snow on the top of these peaks during much of the year.

The Chance Farm (my favorite)

The ditch that also served as a swimming hole for my Great-grandma Hazel

We braved the wilderness of the old farm to discover what was once the homestead of Walter grandparents. Secretly I was watching for ticks, snakes, and skunks and wasn't worried even a little bit about the homeowner catching us snooping! We passed through tall grass, weeds, and brush to get to the back door of the old cabin. There was still old farm equipment, which I photographed, left by our Great-grandparents. This was an adventure I'll never forget! 

An old barn left from the early days of the Walter family on the Chance Farm.

Remains of a wagon.

Uncle Lee pointing out the old plow. 

On the banks of the Clark Fork River, grow the yellow willow trees...

This log cabin of the Walter's, remains on the land. Over fifty years ago, Great uncle Merton decided to modernize the buildings on the farm. He built the new house over the shell of the log home underneath. Chance no longer has a post office, so it's difficult to find on the current Montana map. It's less than five miles from the Wyoming border, but with a wonderful mountain view, next to the flowing Clark Fork River. 

In Photograph:  Lillian (Freeman) Walter, Harry Walter, Matthew Brown, Wesley Walter, unknown woman, Eunice (McIntyre) Walter, Sarah (Skinner) McIntyre, Merton Walter, Bill Walter

  

The Gard Farm

The Brown family lived here, from the time Beulah was ages 6 to 16. 

Belfry, Carbon County, Montana. 

What a patriotic family! Photographed here: Ed, Bill, Matt Sr., Vern, & Beulah Brown at the end of WWII. Matt Sr. served in WWI. Beulah was just finishing her Nursing Education to go off to war, when WWII ended, 1945.

Gran's paternal great-grandparents

William "Cal" Calloway Adamson and his bride, Frances Ann Newcomb, married 7 Oct 1868 Bells Mines, Crittenden County, Kentucky. They were the parents of ten children, only five surviving to adulthood. Both Cal & Frances came from mining families - They grew up during the Civil War and were both orphaned in their childhood. They married when Cal was age 18 and Francis was age 14 They would have had a very hard life in the South, in mining-country. They left Kentucky in the early 1880's, seeking a better life out West. For awhile they lived in Indian Country (now Oklahoma) before homesteading in Carbon County, Montana. None of their sons, lived to adulthood to carry on the Adamson name. They were a couple that depended on one another and were dedicated to their marriage and family. Gran remembers her Grandma Adamson when they were on a trip to Oregon visiting family. She was getting ready for bed and sighing with tears in her eyes whispered, "Oh Cal..." She always missed him, after he died. They were married for 63 years. 

Great-Grandmother Frances Ann Newcomb Adamson 1854-1938 

Adamson Homestead

Land of: Francis Ann Newcomb and William Calloway Adamson

This house was also modernized with new siding, but underneath lies the original Farmhouse. The Adamson's raised five daughters in this tiny little house.

Gran was explaining to the home owner, what we were doing. She couldn't get over, how the renovation had improved the look of this old farmhouse.  Down the lane of this farm, and across the road is where Great-Grandfather Matt Brown Sr., the Englishman lived.  He married Nancy Louise "Lulu" Adamson.  All that remains of his home are a grove of trees.  Many years ago, the house burned down.

Gran's Parents

Wedding photograph of Hazel Grace Walter and Matthew Bell Brown

4 Sep 1921 Red Lodge, Carbon County, Montana

The last farm of Matt and Hazel Brown before they moved to town.

Current home of Matt and Eldora Brown

S. River Rd., Bridger, MT

The last farm of Harry and Edith Peterson before they moved to town.

Peterson Barn on the old farm, known as the Ames place.

The old barn still in use, is the only original building left on the farm.

The Brown Family & Peterson families became life long friends, when their children married. They lived next door to one another in town. In their final days, Edith Peterson & Matt Brown were in rooms next to each other in the hospital! When they passed away, a day apart. Ironically, the Peterson's and the Brown's are even buried next to one another.

Matt and Hazel Brown

417 Broadway, Bridger, MT

Harry and Edith Peterson

415 Broadway, Bridger, MT

Grandpa's Parents

Wedding photograph of Edith Oleta Kebschull and Richard "Harry" Harrington Peterson

27 Oct 1920 Bridger, Carbon County, Montana.

Originally the old farmhouse of Harry & Edith Peterson, that used to stand on their farm outside of Bridger. The homeowner moved the house into Bridger around 2006. We were able to see the original wood floors that had been beautifully redone. Entering the house, in the new kitchen, is Lee Peterson in 2007, while the house was in the middle of remodel.