Old Missoula

W. B. “Jawbone” Smith, 72 years old, was found dead in a Missoula mud puddle near Polley’s lumber mill in 1914. Shortly after that an article in The Sunday Missoulian gave an intriguing picture of this poor man who was found “facedown” in the puddle not far from the center of downtown Missoula, with very little explanation of the circumstances of his death.
You quickly learn the writer knew plenty more about Smith while profiling him in a kindly way, but it was apparent that Smith’s story was a lot more complicated than the newspaper was willing to reveal. It turns out this man may have been destitute, but he was far from anonymous.

Here is what Smith’s Missoulian obituary said on Sunday, September 6, 1914:

 

SMITH WAS KNOWN AS “JAWBONE” YEARS AGO
Man found in a mud puddle identified as a race-horse character

Yesterday morning The Missoulian told of the death of a man, found face down in a muddy pool near the Polleys mill, whose name was supposed to be W. B. Smith. Yesterday the man was identified as a once-prominent racehorse man in western Montana, best remembered by his friends of years ago as “Jawbone” Smith.
In the late ’70s and early ‘80s, “Jawbone” Smith was known as one of the most picturesque figures in the rather vivid life of the village of Missoula. He was superintendent and pool-seller at the local track, and achieved notoriety and distinction in circles so unusual in character that nothing mediocre could survive there.
After quitting the racing game, Smith drifted to Hamilton and there entered oblivion. He was watchman for the Valley Mercantile company for years, and though he clung somewhat to old associations as long as Hamilton remained the center of the state’s racing map, he was out of the limelight and gradually was forgotten. The death of Marcus Daly brought Hamilton’s racing days to an end and “Jawbone” Smith became plain W. B. Smith, watchman.
It was sometime after this when Smith left Hamilton and went to Bonner to work for the Anaconda Copper Mining company. Only the old-timers remembered him, and but few of them could have recognized the picturesque “Jawbone” in the plain, unassuming mill-worker.
So W. B. Smith lived until his end. His friends declare that he was never a heavy drinker and scout [doubt] the theory that Smith fell into the pool while intoxicated. They believe that the old man, weak and lost in the darkness, stumbled down the bank into the muddy, mean exit from the world of race horses and sawmills in which he had for so long been going through a sort of death-in-life, old associations and friends gone, his name a mere memory no longer accorded him.
Arrangements for the funeral have been completed. Services will be held Tuesday afternoon at the Marsh chapel. Interment will be in the Missoula cemetery.

 

Another Daily Missoulian notice listed his pallbearers as Gaspard Deschamps, Frank Kern, J. Edward Smith and William Harley.

Deschamps and Kern were both prominent Missoula blacksmiths. J. E. Smith was listed as the proprietor of the Brunswick Hotel in Missoula in 1901, and was also known for supplying “liquid refreshments” in connection with local horse races. Harley ran a business on Woody Street.

 

A burial record from the Missoula City cemetery said that W. B. Smith was 72 years old when he died in 1914.
No relations of any kind were listed at his death.

 

The earliest recorded mention of W. B. “Jawbone” Smith in Western Montana was by the Missoula historian, Will Cave, in a long Daily Missoulian article in 1921 about mining at Cedar Creek, near Superior, Montana in 1871. Cave’s father, Alfred, ran a “mercantile business” near Cedar Creek and hired Smith to take them to Forrest City, a thriving mining camp near Cedar Creek.
“From Missoula we traveled by sleigh via the Mullan road to the ‘Mouth of Cedar,’ the driver being a William Smith, better known as “Jawbone” Smith, who died in Missoula but a few years since [1914].”

 

A search of old Weekly Missoulian newspapers reveals that W. B. Smith was elected a constable of the Hellgate township in 1875. It also found that he was an active citizen who was a friend and acquaintance of many important Missoula people.
Most importantly, in the early days he owned a Missoula horse ranch that was described in the Weekly Missoulian as one mile from town, “on the road to Deer Lodge.” That phrase alone tells you Smith had deep roots in the Missoula community. The original N.P. Railroad line ran through his property in 1883, not far from Rattlesnake Creek.
In one way or another, horses seemed to be the main focus of Smith’s life. For several years he frequently advertised that he broke and trained horses for hire. He also sold horses. One ad stated he was selling 200 horses.

 

Below is one of his colorful ads in The Weekly Missoulian in 1882:

 

HORSES BROKEN AND TRAINED
I am prepared to break or train horses to drive (double or single) with or without reins – so that they will be perfectly gentle for any person to handle.
HORSES TRAINED
To perform various amusing tricks – such as answering questions, (by bowing or shaking the head): to tell their age, (by showing their teeth): to lie down and roll over, and various other tricks.
HORSES BROKEN OF ALL BAD HABITS,
Balking, kicking, or running away,
SADDLE HORSES broken of all bad habits.
For particulars, call on or address:
W. B. Smith, Missoula, M. T.

 

He frequently dabbled in horse racing, which was a lot more extensive in early Missoula than is generally acknowledged. At different times he was the manager of horse races, including at the Missoula Fair Grounds on the 4th of July.
In the 1880’s he was also a well-known public auctioneer in the heart Missoula’s murky, turbid, opium fueled crime center, known locally as ‘Rotten Row,’ or West Front Street, often selling numerous goods from his “Furniture Emporium,” which was an auction tent serving basically as a secondhand store.
Here he was involved in many different types of transactions from selling used household goods from estate sales to new furniture items brought from Portland by rail. One of his more descriptive ads read, “Horses, Cattle, Household Goods, Real Estate, Mining Stock, Farming Implements, Etc., Sold on commission, and satisfaction guaranteed.”
Some of his nearby downtown competitors in 1883 were Eddy, Hammond & Co. (future Missoula Mercantile), Worden & Co. (Higgins & Worden)., Solomon’s Store, Caplice & Smith, Deschamps & Kern Blacksmiths, C. F. Hawkes & Co. Livery, J. L. Sweeney & Son Furniture, John McLean & Co., Furniture.
One of his most unusual sales involved the sale of the old Missoula bridge in 1883. A notice for that sale mentioned 300,000 feet of lumber, “much of which can be used for building purposes, all of which can be used as fuel – and upwards of a ton of bridging iron, consisting of balls, straps, bars, etc.” Sale terms gave the successful bidder 2 months to remove it.
Smith also traveled extensively around the area in support of his auction business, including trips to Butte and Anaconda. Apparently, he lived in Butte for a short time. One of his more interesting trips is featured on the oldmissoula website under the title “Journalistic Journeying -Missoula to Victor.”

 

Another fascinating picture of “Jawbone” Smith came to light from an unidentified Butte, Montana writer in a union newspaper called “The People” in 1901- Quoted below:

 

STORY OF “JAWBONE SMITH”
Reminiscences of a Noted Character of Western Montana.
A Conscientious Liar, All-Around Genial Fellow, and the Only Man Who Ever Beat A. B. Hammond in a Horse Trade – This Letter is Full of Interest.
It was my pleasure during the week to run across an old-time friend, who was in himself a whole characteristic host, torchlight procession and all. I knew him long ago in 1871, while “cubbing” on the old Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer [forerunner of Missoulian]. It was during those days that he honestly earned the sobriquet of “Jawbone Smith.” He was one of the most peculiar and dry “comedians” that ever spun a conscientious lie, and at the same time never cracked a smile. His avocations were of various and diverse natures. In the summer time he hauled wood, trained and traded in horses, in all of which he was considered a successful master, and during the cold winter months he played poker, another attainment in which for a number of years he proved eminently successful. Smith didn’t have any better luck than the average poker player, but he was one of the most accomplished “cut” changers, and biggest bluffers that ever sat at a table. It was during these times that his earnest demeaner stood him well.
But as every dog has his day, so did “Jawbone Smith.” After a long and unbroken chain of successes he at last ran up against his Waterloo. He was playing in a regular blooded game, where there was no limit, and the table was covered with all kinds of money. In the game was another old sport – as they were called in those days – by the name of Thompson, afterwards under-sheriff of the county, and long since laid to rest with the great majority. Thompson was a miner and used to spend his winters, like hundreds of others, in Missoula. Upon this particular occasion Thompson made up his mind to “turn a trick” on “Jawbone” by doing a little presto change of act on the cut himself. He succeeded and the result was that when the betting was over “Jawbone Smith” had every cent he possessed on earth in the stake pile. When the show down came Thompson raked in a young fortune, while Smith never uttered a word but simply took a chew of tobacco, got up from the table as unconcerned as if nothing had happened, left the saloon and for over twenty years never touched another card.
From this time on “Jawbone” Smith devoted his entire attention to horses and teaming and auctioneering. Although knowing his accomplishments in the horse trading line, it seemed as though almost any one who wanted to make a trade or have a sale would hunt up Smith. He did quite a business, seemingly, but some way or other could not get over the system of getting in his graft on the jawbone racket, and no one ever accused him of paying up a debt in a hurry unless he got “cornered” and had to. Every old timer in Montana knows about A. B. Hammond, the shrewdest business man that ever lived. Hammond prided himself upon the fact that he was never beaten in a horse bargain, and he was about right until he ran amuck of “Jawbone Smith.” Smith had previously asked of Hammond credit for a small bill in the latter’s store, which was abruptly refused. Undaunted and unabashed Smith went plugging on as though nothing had happened, but had it on his mind that he would get even with Mr. Hammond some day. That day came in the course of time. Hammond gave it out to the public that he wanted a fine driving horse or mare, both gay and gentle, for his family. In the meantime Smith had purchased a beautiful mare for $10, but it was on account of an ailment it possessed that I will not mention. But Smith knew that he could do business with this animal, and it was just his luck to have Hammond hunting for just such a bargain. Smith lost no time in hunting Hammond up. As it was convenient Hammond dropped into the stable where the mare was stalled, and after examining its teeth , feeling of the various weak spots usually known to horsemen, and viewing its symmetrical beauty, made a date with Smith to give the mare a trial drive.
“Jawbone Smith” had to get his mind to work in order to conceive some plan whereby to hide the mare’s weakness. A happy idea at last struck him. He secured a light spring buggy or a cross between a buggy and a wagon, filled the back part with a lot of old tin cans and anything else that would make an awful racket, then called Hammond. Upon jumping into the vehicle, Hammond remarked, “What the devil have you got all those cans in here for?” “Oh,” said Smith, “I just wanted to show you what a noise they will make, and how gentle the mare is.” “Jawbone” didn’t forget to keep up a good gait and run into every rock pile in his path. The din of the cans accomplished his object. “Well,” said Hammond, “How much do you want for her?” “Two hundred and fifty dollars,” answered Smith. After a little more examination Hammond says, “It’s a bargain; come up to the store and get your money.”
Smith got his money. It required a very little time for Hammond to take his family out for a trial drive. It required less time for him to walk the animal back home, turn it over to the yard man and then hunt up “Jawbone Smith.” It takes just this much time to say that before Smith was found Hammond concluded that he was properly sold, and when he did find the former, said, “You are the first man that ever caught me in a horse trade; let’s go and get a drink and say nothing about it. I will know one other place to look for a defect in a mare hereafter.” And “Jawbone Smith” said, “You will also know when to let a good man have a little credit the next time.” Hammond saw the point.

 

Deaf Horse

 

It’s likely that “Jawbone Smith” sold A. B. Hammond a deaf horse.
Wealthy Andrew B. Hammond was eventually the owner of The Missoula Mercantile and many other businesses, not only in Missoula, but also in Oregon and California. Locally, he was a hated figure by many of the residents and was often thought of as ruthless. Hammond’s main rival in Missoula, C. P. Higgins, was a beloved figure by many Missoulians and was noted for losing money while grubstaking his friends. Hammond was known to state that Higgins was an incompetent businessman.

 

“Jawbone” – The nickname seemed to have a couple of meanings in Smith’s day. In general, it referred to the use of friendly persuasion, as in haggling over the terms, or conditions of a sale or bargain. More apropos of W. B. Smith, it was also apparently used in reference to the use of credit, which Smith was accused of abusing. Regardless, the term seemed to attach to him several decades before he died.