Mrs. John Lannen (Bridget Calvin) – Bearmouth Pioneer – 7,000 Acres
Death of Mrs. Lannen (1897)
An Old Pioneer Woman of Montana Passes Away To-Day at Bearmouth
She Enjoyed A Large Acquaintance,
Was Known and Loved by Many Will Be Buried at Deer Lodge Saturday
Mrs. John Lannen (Bridget Calvin) of Bearmouth died at an early hour this morning after a short illness coupled with old age. The news was received in Missoula with profound regret, for Mrs. Lannen was among the most respected women in this part of the state. She was a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and was at the time of her death about 65 years of age, a typical western woman. She spent over half a century or nearly the greater part of her life on the frontier. When less than 15 year of age she came to America and with relatives pushed out into the far west and for a time was a resident of Kansas, or that section of the Union. In 1865 she and her husband crossed the plains amid the usual hardships of such a trip and arrived at what was called Beartown the following year. Beartown was then in its palmy days, one of the prosperous gold placer mining camps of what is now the state of Montana. They located in a piece of land near the mouth of Bear gulch, at the intersection of Hellgate river, and began farming on a small scale, selling produce to the miners. She continued to live there until her death, covering a period of 31 years. Every man, even the hardest in the land, respected her for her many pleasing traits of character. None of her moments was wasted. She was a great worker indoors as well as outside; as a consequence she left a big estate, at the same time gave away thousands of dollars during her lifetime to the poor and unfortunate who came during the ups and downs of Beartown until the present day.
Few women in Montana were better known than Mrs. Lannen. She kept a hotel and for 5 years presided at the table. To Jew or Gentile she was the same kind soul, therefore her death will cause sorrow to all who have ever stopped at the Bearmouth hotel, even for one meal only.
On the farm, the stock seemed to appreciate the kindness of their owner, who, during the day was here and there among them.
Mr. Lannen died in 1889 and a son the same year. Two sons survive her, Edward and Chris, who were a consolation to the deceased in her declining years, but no more so than her two little grand daughters and two grand sons, the children of Edward, who have resided with their grandmother since the death of their mother. She also leaves a niece, Miss Stuart, who resided with the Lannen family for a number of years and to whom the deceased was as much attached as if she were her own daughter. She will be buried in the family plot in Deer Lodge. The funeral party will leave Bearmouth tomorrow evening, the funeral is to be held at the Catholic church at Deer Lodge on Saturday morning. Father Deryckerie officiating.
The above obituary appeared in the Daily Missoulian on July 22, 1897.
Mrs. Lannen’s property was at one time described as 7,000 acres.