Cavitt and Ross Family in Early Days of Montana

This history was written by John William Cavitt, b. 6-20-1873, sometime before his death in March, 1927. Copied from the original edited in his handwriting by Helen Smith, daughter, July 23, 1969. The original sent on to Wilbur Cavitt, Kalispell, MT, nephew. Copy of text held by Lynnette Cattron, great-grandaughter of Wilbur Cavitt.

In the year 1864, sometime in April, a wagon train of emigrants left Van Buren, Iowa, bound for California. Among those of this train that have any connection with this story were John Cavitt, James H. Cavitt, Hannah Cavitt Ross, and her husband, Aaron Ross. Good progress was being made on their way, everyone was happy and all looked forward to the day they would reach the great state bordering the Pacific.

Upon reaching a point where traffic was carried on between Salt Lake City and Montana, the news was current of rich gold stirkes in Montana. Several emigrants of this train decided to quit the California trip and go to Montana instead, This caused sorrow in breaking up of friendly ties and separation of families, but with the spirit of the west they bade each other good-bye, wishing good luck with all their heart.

Aaron Ross and wife were among those that made the Montana trip. George Ross a brother had preceeded them the year before and Aaron Ross was in hopes of finding him when reaching the gold camps. They made their way to Virginia City and wintered there. In the spring of 1865 they joined the Gold rush to Last Chance Gulch, now the City of Helena. John and James Cavitt went through to California, reaching the Sacramento Valley late in the fall, and as this was the great drought year in that State, no feed was to be had. They were compelled to cut oak limbs from the trees so that the cattle could feed on the leaves. They succeeded in reaching the Clear Lake country in the Coast Range mountains. The only feed here was brush and not knowing how to live on browse, their cattle all died as a consequence.

The spring of 1865 John and James Cavitt with twenty others left California, crossing the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains, on the 20th of April. The were all on horseback, each leading a pack horse bound for the gold diggings of Montana to join the crowd in search for wealth. They reached Last Chance June 20, 1865, and met their sister, Hannah Ross, and her husband. Ross having acquired claim No. 17 they went in partnership on this, as new claims were scarce. Everything had been taken that was worth while. This claim was not rich but the ones above and below were full of gold.

This year, August 6, 1865, Hannah Ross give birth to a daughter named Montana Ross. The miners upon this occasion deposited a quantity of gold dust in buckskin sacks at her door; taking this method to celebrate the birth of the first child born in the camp. This girl grew to womanhood in the State of California, is married and now living at Santa Cruz. Finding mining not profitable and injurious to his health, on account of rheumatism, my father, John M Cavitt, bought a few yoke of oxen and began freighting from Fort Benton to Helena. He made good at this work and I have heard him tell a few stories while on this business.

One morning he went out after his cattle and as they had strayed quite a distance from camp he realized there was danger from Indians and highwaymen. He was not a coward, had served in the Army and had been honorably discharged for disability; but on this occasion he had forgotten his gun and happened to have more than $1,000 with him. Two men were riding towards him and his thoughts were that he would have to give up his money without a struggle. As they came within a hundred feet, one of them pulled out his Colt revolver, and asked my father if he had a gun. Receiving a reply in the affirmative he said he would like to borrow it as they had a steer down and would have to leave it, wishing to put it out of its misery, saying "This old gun of mine won't work." This news brought joy to his heart and taught him never again to lose sight of his own gun.