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Cedar Creek Gold Rush

The Cedar Creek Mining District is located in Mineral County, Montana, on the eastern slopes of the Bitterroot Mountains, south-west of what is Now the city of Lake Superior. The district includes Cedar, quartz and Trout creeks and their tributaries, which originate near the crest of the extension north-west of the Bitterroot chain. The creeks flow north to the Clark Fork River. Mineral County is bound by Missoula and Sanders counties and shares a border with the State of Idaho.

Mineral County

Mineral County encompasses 1.223 square miles. His land is 82% National Forest and is managed by the Forest Service of the United States. 3% of land owned by the State of Montana and 15% is privately owned. Mining County rich history lends its name.

Most of the county's topography is quite rugged with elevations ranging from 2500 to 8000 feet above the level seas.

There are 87 miles of the river, 650 miles of streams and more than 50 lakes, high mountain meadows compliment the countless waterfalls magnificent scenery and jaw drop.

The mining area of the county began to be developed following the construction of the trail Mullan in 1859. Before clearing and cutting of the trail, dense forests of giant cedars, ponderosa pine, hemlock, larch and fir makes travel through the area difficult and very dangerous. Captain Mullan forbade any of his men in search of gold, for fear that a "rush gold to "disrupt the construction of trails.

On September 11, 1865 the first two applications were filed on the River St. Regis. WW Johnson, who had worked as a surveyor on the Mullan Trail, has applied for gold, "Missoula Gold and Silver Quartz Ledge , And Peter Toft filed the "Silver Beaver and Silver Quartz Ledge." Sketchy historical records fail to indicate whether either claim was never actually worked.

History Of Cedar Creek Gold Rush The

In the fall of 1868, a French-Canadian prospector, Louis Barrette ran out of luck and dreams of working the gold fields of northern Idaho. Depressed and broke, he left for Camp French Canadian Frenchtown, Montana located along Mullen Road. Barrette hopes that the goodness of her fellow shelter through the harsh Montana winter.

Traveling to Idaho to Montana, Barrette followed the St. Joe River to its source in the mountains of Coeur d Alene. As he passed along the summit trail, he noticed a deep basin on the side of Montana, with its eye of gold prospector, was promising. But winter was moving and he needed Frenchtown to make before the fallen snow in the highlands prevented its passage.

Barrette firmly resolved that he would be put supplies and return to exploring the region in spring.

On his trip to Frenchtown, Barrette met Adolph Lozeau, a fellow French Canadian who operated a farm about five miles east of the mouth of Cedar Creek. Lozeau Forty Mile House was a stop for travelers Wayfaring along Mullen Road for two years. Lozeau prove to be a key figure in the saga of the Gold Rush Cedar Creek.

Fortune Barrette and circumstances delay the return to the valley of his dreams. It was not until late fall 1869 Barrette has succeeded in gathering the material and supplies and return to Cedar Creek. Barrette and his partner, Basil Lanthier, crossed the steep cedar clad Gulch on riding horses accompanied by a series of pack horses laden with provisions sufficient to last them for several weeks.

Barrette and departure Lanthier Frenchtown was no secret well kept. Rumors and speculation about the success of their exploration was common gossip. All ears waiting to hear of a strike new gold or other failure.

Tired but jubilant, the partners came to Cedar Creek, then continued upstream about four miles until they find a grassy meadow at the mouth of Cayuse Creek. Lathier went about configuring their base camp and Barrette towards the creek.

Lady Luck smiles! On October 9, 1869, coarse gold nuggets were discovered when the waters Cayuse Creek joins Cedar Creek. Taken from "Gold Fever" Barrette and Lanthier were dissatisfied with their prospects and were first determined to continue exploration Gulch for the rich concentrates.

Recognizing the inevitable scramble after news of their discovery was known, wanted find the best site in the region and play it before the rush swarm of gold seekers who would race in a strike had a chance to file claims in the region.

Finally, happy almost ten ounces of gold he has gleaned from two test holes, Barrette established his claim of discovery on the "Louiseville Bar", which is now within the mine's Cink.

It was late November. Winter entered the mountains and Lathier Barrette and supplies were running very low. Both prospectors back to the ranch Lozeau replenishment. They showed Lozeau gold and asked him to travel to Frenchtown for provisions. Barrette and Lathier knew that if they returned to camp speculators would follow them to their discovery.

News of the strike of the gold was more a secret that could keep Adolph. Loosened by liquor, "They found gold" has slipped from the mouth of Lozeau and the rush is on! At dawn the next morning, over 100 miners rushed frantically up and down the drain.

In early December, a meeting of the minor established Barrette Mining District and designated the city of Louisville on the claim of discovery Barrette as the district headquarters. Bad feelings arose when the newspaper Deer Lodge, "New Northwest" reported that the city of Louisville was named after Lozeau wife, Louise, not after Louis Barrette. Adolph Lozeau took credit for the discovery, when he was in fact no role in the strike partners.

As gold seekers from all across the territory run at Cedar Creek, the mining district Barrette moved to establish the rules for submission of applications. The length of a claim was limited to 200 feet with a width not to exceed 9 feet from the shoreline above the high water mark on each side of the creek. Each entrant was allowed a single claim, with the exception of Barrett, who has been authorized an additional request to the claim No. 1 discovery.

Word of a strike gold moves the wind and spread like wildfire. The strike on Cedar Creek was no exception. Gold seekers flocked to the frenzy. A correspondent for the North-West New newspaper, writing in Missoula, reported. "Missoula was wild for a week ". "Guards Hotel, merchants, clerks, idle men and idlers, have all disappeared ...».

This intense migration in a remote and restricted presented enormous challenges in the way of shortages of food and shelter. Soon 60 trains of mules paid the canyon from the sale of rubber boots, tarps, bacon and beans. Housing was inadequate with the majority of homes simply makeshift huts made from brush, branches and canvas. The newspapers of the region warned the gold miners to go "well dressed, fooled and folded.

The weather, food shortages and dangerous conditions did not discourage those who were affected by gold fever. In During the month of packed snow drainage was divided into plots around 2500 separate applications. Anger was high, violence was commonplace and demand the passage was rampant. Approximately 3,000 men winter this year in the ravine and was visited by three times that many more. That first winter they are men that as there were no women on the creek in 1869.

Saloonkeepers, blacksmiths and merchants were equally excited that the minors on Cedar Creek potential. New residents of Louisville, Mugginsville Cedar Junction and Lincoln City watched with joy that these ambitious entrepreneurs opened its doors. Mining camps arose and were quickly abandoned placering be moved in the district. HELENA The Daily Herald reported March 3, 1870 that, "Louisville had 680 houses, wages Cedar Junction 91. are $ 4 - $ 5 per day." Louisville ... ... Prospecting is running as high as $ 1250.00 a saucepan.

The neighborhood population has increased more than 10,000 by some estimates. In 1870, Forest City, on Cedar Creek itself, has a population of over 7000 and was considered a center of commerce for many towns in the region, including Missoula. As in any Gold Rush, the whiskey flowed, fortunes were made and lives were lost and never changed.

Production early Rush Cedar Creek was estimated to reach 10 million dollars. The gold extracted from Cedar Creek was particularly fine, gold was 982 fine was recovered and it was not unusual for him to be as high as 960 to 970 fine. When the strike Cedar Creek, Gold was trading at $ 20.50 an ounce. When applying the current price of gold to over $ 1,000.00 an ounce for the calculation, figures are indeed impressive. Minors are notoriously closed-mouth, but some have been known to boast, it is impossible to know the true value of the strike, but it was credible treasure and adventure awesome.

Cedar Creek has also had its share of mining in hard rock. The copper mine Amador was originally discovered in 1889 by cutting into a body of ore, 165 feet wide below the bed of Cedar Creek, but has not been fully worked until 1900. A townsite was put out 11 miles below the mine, with a line of railway connecting the two. Potential investors have been highlighted by train from the East and the shares sold in the mine and lots in the townsite. A foundry little has been built on Cedar Creek to process the ore. In 1919, the railroad tracks were removed for transporting the ore by truck. A large Part of the old rail bed is the foundation of the Cedar Creek road as it is today.

It was the mining activity gold along the creeks and their tributaries, nearly every year until the Second World War. From 1946 to today, a handful of hardy miners continue their quest for the elusive gold ore.

Welcome to Cedar Creek and you may find the colors in the bottom of your pan!

About the Author

Marlene Affeld has a passion for the environment and all things natural. A seasoned traveler, Marlene enjoys sharing her experiences with others. Visit Marlene's site at
Nandu Green
for Eco-Friendly living options.

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