Old Missoula

Worden Reached West By Way of Cape Horn

A man who was described as having a musical voice, who would take daring risks, who would travel around Cape Horn in search of adventure and who would bring a piano to the West by ox cart became a co-founder of Missoula.

This man – Francis Lyman Worden – once sold 1,500 ounces of gold for $65,000. He caused the city he founded to be called Missoula because he was too modest to let it be called Wordensville. He visioned his city’s future when he directed the building of a water system. In addition to assisting W. J. McCormick in the layout of lots on the North Side, Worden became one of the first stockholders and directors of Missoula National Bank which eventually became First National.

Chairman of Board

Although he devoted more time to his home and business career, he found time to become a member of the council of the First Legislative Assembly of Montana Territory, representing three counties. In 1864 he was elected to the office of county commissioner and became chairman of the board. He was also one of the originators of the Montana Historical Society.

Worden married Lucretia Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, in Frenchtown in 1866. The couple became parents of seven children. His first home was located south across East Main street across from Capt. C. P. Higgins’ residence on that part of the block now bounded by the B & H Jewelry Co. and McKay Art Co.

One of First Orchards

While living there he proved that apple, cherry and plum trees could be grown on the location. His was about the third orchard in Montana. Worden disproved the theory that hardwoods would not grow in the cold Montana climate by planting maples imported from the East. Later he built the Worden home on East Pine street.

Missoula’s cofounder was born in Vermont of Welsh ancestors in 1830. He was the oldest son of eight and began clerking at 14 in Troy, N. Y. He chose to be a merchant, and when he was 22 he made his way around Cape Horn to San Francisco.

Returns to Clerking

He spent a brief time in the land of the Argonauts and moved to Oregon to mine. He was there for the uprising of the Oregon and Washington Indians in 1855. After serving with a company of Oregon volunteers to suppress the uprising of the Indians, he returned to clerking in the Indian department under Gen. I. I. Stevens.

Being of a restless nature he soon went to Walla Walla, where he opened a general store. There he became the town’s first postmaster and in 1860 he formed a partnership with Capt. C. P. Higgins. It was the captain’s plan for them to trade with the Salish Indians in the Bitter Root Valley.

Brought Own Safe

The pair crossed the mountains with a safe which had solid steel walls, five inches thick. The safe proved to be handy later when members of Plummer’s gang – Skinner, Carter, Cooper, Zachary, Shears and Graves – gathered in the Worden store to loaf.

Worden and Higgins altered their plans to settle in the Bitter Root Valley and founded their store in Hell Gate. Possibly they altered their plans because they did not wish to interfere with Maj. Owen’s trade. Maj. Owen was a good friend of both partners.

Business Flourishes

The store flourished as gold was just being discovered in western Montana. Within two years Worden and Higgins opened a store at Gold Creek after discovery of gold there. In 1863 Worden directed the building of another store in Deer Lodge.

In 1865 the Hell Gate store was moved into a larger building at what is now Missoula. After 1868 the Worden Co. sold all its interests but those in the rapidly developing town of Missoula.

While in the midst of a busy life, with his plans for the city’s development but partially fulfilled, Worden died Feb. 5, 1887.