Old Missoula

 

“Old Jerry” Johnson, the venerable trapper

 

Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is a locally famous spot about a mile from U.S. Highway 12 as it winds down from the top of Lolo pass toward Lowell, Idaho. It is approximately 63 miles from Missoula. The springs were named for pioneer Jerry Johnson who trapped and built a cabin near there in the late 1800’s.

 

Local Mention [1895]

 

Missoula, June 8 – The friends of “Old Jerry” Johnson, the venerable trapper, who figured in the Carlin-Colgate episode last year and who returned last fall to the Clearwater country with one companion, are becoming alarmed over the fact that he may have perished during the winter. It is possible, however, that deeper snow than usual has delayed his return.

 

The above article appeared in The Anaconda Standard on June 9, 1895 p. 6.

 

 

The article below is from the U.S. Forest Service article – The Clearwater Story: A History of the Clearwater Forest by author Ralph Space – see Chapter 18 ‘Mining’. Ranger Ralph Space finished his career with the U.S. Forest Service as Supervisor of the Clearwater National Forest. He spent 90 years of his life in the Clearwater area, retiring in 1963.

 

Jerry Johnson and the Lost Mine

 

On September 26,1893 the Carlin Party reached the Lochsa River a short distance below the mouth of Warm Springs Creek. They were surprised to find four men there. Two were hunters and departed for Montana the next day. The other two were Jerry Johnson and Ben Keeley. They were building a cabin and planning to stay during the winter.

 

In his book “In the Heart of the Bitterroot Mountains“, Himmelwright has a chapter on “The Lost Indian Prospect and Jerry Johnson”. He writes:

 

“Six feet in height, with a powerful frame slightly bent by advancing years, black hair mixed with gray, jet black eyes, and a stubby gray beard, Jerry Johnson, the prospector, would arouse curiosity and interest anywhere. A Prussian by birth, he emigrated at an early age to New Zealand. There he became interested in mining, and since then he has devoted his life to prospecting for the precious metals in the wildest and most unfrequented regions of the earth, and occasionally acting in the capacity of guide, hunter and packer. Enthusiastically devoted to his work and often with no other companion than his faithful dog, he has searched for gold in the most inaccessible regions of the Cascades and Rocky mountains, and now, at the advanced age of 60 years, rugged from hardship and exposure, he still loves the isolation and solitude of the mountains, and is seeking with characteristic perseverance the long lost Indian Prospect.

 

“Many years ago, while Johnson was encamped in the heart of the Bitterroot Mountains, a half-starved Indian found his way to Johnson’s camp. The Indian was given food and shelter, and grateful for the favors shown him, before departure, in broken English and by signs and gestures, he informed Johnson he knew where there was “Heap Elk City, heap Pierce City”, meaning much gold, there being mines at the places named. Johnson at once engaged the Indian to guide him to the place.

 

“Returning to the nearest point where supplies could be purchased, he secured adequate equipment, and with one other man and the Indian started back into the mountains. The route taken by the Indian was along the Lolo trail to the warm springs. Here the Indian fell sick, but the party pushed on fifteen miles farther east to a small prairie which Johnson calls “The Park”. When they reached this point, the Indian became so sick he could proceed no further. Fearing he might die, Johnson got the Indian to tell him how the gold was found. This was quite difficult as the Indian could speak few words of English and had to convey most of the information by gestures. The story he told was substantially as follows:

 

‘A party of Indians were camped at the place they were journeying to, some years previously, and one of them being suddenly taken very sick, a “sweat-bath” was prepared for him. (Here the author describes the making and use of a sweat house.)

 

‘While preparing this sweat-bath, it was necessary to loosen and remove some white rock and while doing this, the Indians discovered that the rock was full of gold, or, as the Indian called it “Elk City”.

 

‘The Indian guide grew worse and weaker every hour, and Johnson being alarmed, took him in his arms and carried him to a more elevated position, where a view to the eastward could be obtained.

 

‘Which way from Here?’ Johnson Asked.

 

‘With his remaining strength, the Indian raised his arm and pointed to a peak covered with snow. “See snow”, he said. Then raising one finger, he pronounced the one word “sun” and rolled over on his blanket exhausted. A few hours later he died.

 

“Not discouraged by his ill fortune, Johnson and his companion buried the Indian and pushed on to the peak indicated to him and searched the country beyond and around the peak all that summer, but never succeeded in finding the old Indian camp. Since that time he has spent several summers fruitlessly in the same neighborhood, and is now passing the winter in that desolate snow bound region, hoping, early in the spring, to continue his search for the “Lost Indian Prospect.”

 

Such is the story of Isaac’s mine. I have heard various versions of it but this is the oldest and came directly from Jerry Johnson so I presume that it is the most authentic. Isaac’s complete name was Isaac Hill. He came from a family of white, Delaware and Nez Perce origin which lived near Kooskia. His grave has become somewhat lost, but a map I have which was made in 1894 shows his grave on top of the ridge about one and a quarter air miles southeast of Tom Beall Park.

 

A lot of people have searched for Isaac’s mine. Ben McConnell, Joe Ebberly and Bill Parry, early day Forest Rangers, it is said, looked the country over thoroughly. There were many others that did the same.

 

Another story that ties in with the Isaac’s Mine is that years ago some Indians were camped at what is now called Gold Meadows. They had some gold but refused to say where they had found it. That is how Gold Meadows got its name.

 

Jerry Johnson spent his old age in the Missoula vicinity and is buried at the Missoula Cemetery.