A DEER LODGE RESIDENCE

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A DEER LODGE RESIDENCE

Some eighteen months ago, Mr. N. J. Bielenberg bought that fine piece of ground in Deer Lodge on which the former dwelling of Hon. Wm. H. Clagget stood. About April 1st, 1883, he commenced the construction of a residence on it. To-day it is practically completed, and is carpeted and being furnished. The building, we believe, is the best in Montana in some respects, and a such is worthy of special mention. It is 47 x 53 feet in dimensions, exclusive of the two story bay window extentions, has a seven foot basement, the first floor having 13 1/2 and the second floor 12 foot ceilings. The lower stone foundation walls are 40 inches thick, contracting to 24 inches. The first story brick walls are 18 inches thick and the second story 14 inches, with air space through out. There were used in the walls 343 perch of stone and 71,000 brick. The building contains thirteen rooms on the first and second floor. Three of the front rooms, including parlors, 17x12 feet, dining room 18x22 feet; living room 18x20 feet; kitchen 18x18; and the other chambers are 16 or 18 feet square. A hall-way, almost as big as an ordinary house. extends the entire depth of both stories and the partition walls are supported on solid stone walls in the basement. There are 52 windows in the building, all of large American double-plate glass, with inside shutters. On the front and sides large verandahs are yet to be placed, and will be reached by flights of broad, cut-stone steps. The building is heated by a hot-air furnace in the basement, which heats the entire building with about the same consumption of fuel as is used in the large size box stoves. The building requires 700 yards of carpeting, which is laid in Brussels, plush, velvet and ingrains. The furniture, which was purchased in Chicago and shipped by car-load, cost, with the carpeting, over $6,000. We asked Mr. Bielenberg how much the building cost. He said he could not recollect, but he recently insured it for $20,000. The plans for the building were drawn by Col. Knox, of Butte; the brick and stone work was done by McCherry & Chapleau and the carpenters were employed by the day. Kennon & Zenor put on the tin roof, and Steinberg, of Butte, did the painting and graining, which in the interior is principally oak and walnut. Each of these artisans has done most excellent work. The building stands on a commanding situation, in the centre of spacious grounds, with a beautiful grove of trees on the west, and the liberal-handed owner will doubtless inclose and beautify the grounds to correspond with the building. We congratulate him on having the finest residence we have seen in the Territory, and Deer Lodge on having a citizen who has the will and the means to build so beautiful, durable and commodious a residence. 

(The new North-west. (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, March 07, 1884)

Alma Margaret Bielenberg Higgins

 

 Bielenberg-Kohrs Family Reunion

July 14 - 17, 2016


If you could confirm your attendance with an email to Don Kohrs (donaldgkohrs@gmail.com), that would be great.

Also, if you could confirm your attendance on the mini-van tour, that would be helpful, so we know how many vans to reserve from Hertz. 

1) Thursday –July 14^th   Casual gathering of those cousins who arrive on Thursday,  we shall meet and greet at the G-K Ranch between 3 pm - 5 pm followed by casual dinner at the Broken Arrow

2) Friday – July 15^th  Mini Van Tour Day - Visit several Bielenberg-Kohrs gold mine site (The Cable and Gold Creek) 

Our one day trip will include a visit to a Bielenberg-Kohrs mine-site named "The Cable" near Georgetown Lake, then on to Philipsburg for a few hours, then to another Bielenberg-Kohrs mining site "Gold Creek" and eventually return to Fairmont.   

Here is the schedule: Meet in the lobby of the Fairmont Hot Springs at 8:15 AM. Leave Fairmont Hot Springs at approximately 8:30 AM.  Get to Philipsburg about 11 AM after a visit to a mine-site near Georgetown Lake. Lunch in Philipsburg, visit the Granite County Museum and Cultural Center or sapphire panning (both located in Philipsburg) depending on interests.  Leave Philipsburg at 1 pm. Arrive at Gold Creek dredge at 2 pm. Look around Gold Creek for a couple hours. Leave at 4 pm. Back to Fairmont at 5 pm

 
  

Here is the Route:  Twenty-five miles south of Deer Lodge at Opportunity is the gateway to the picturesque Pintler Scenic Route. This must-see drive offers 60 miles of sweeping vistas over mountain passes and gentle sage covered hills, past the historic copper smelter town of Anaconda, along the shores of Georgetown Lake, to the quaint mining town of Philipsburg and the nearby ruins of the ghost town of Granite.

Dinner at Barclays II

 

 3) Saturday – July 16th Take in Deer Lodge: American Women's League Chapter House/ Grant-Kohrs Ranch/ the WK Kohrs Memorial Library/

Visit American Women's League Chapter House

11 AM -12 PM   Visit the Deer Lodge Woman's Club:  An organization inspired by Alma Bielenberg Higgins and club built with the financial support of her father Nicholas Bielenberg as a memorial to his daughter who passed away at the age of 21, Augusta Kohrs Bielenberg.

Meet at the American Women's League Chapter House located at 802 Missouri Avenue, Deer Lodge, Montana at 10:45 AM for the tour. 

Visit Grant-Kohrs Ranch

1:00 PM- 3:00 PM
Haying with Horses: Come out and watch haying demonstrations using historic horse drawn implements.

Talk at the William K. Kohrs Memorial Library –Meeting Room

3:30 PM– 4:30 PM    Alma Bielenberg Higgins

We will learn about the life of Alma Bielenberg, daughter of Nicholas J Bielenberg.  Alma Bielenberg organized the planting of the White House (Washington D.C.) living Christmas tree in 1924, was one of the leaders who began the School of Forestry at the University of Montana in Missoula, began a National Garden Week in 1923, led the landscaping of the campus of the Montana School of Mines (today’s Montana Tech) in 1929-30. Presentation by Norman DeNeal, President of the Anaconda Garden Club.

For more about  Alma Bielenberg Higgins see the following:

Alma Higgins

Butte History

Alma Margaret Bielenberg Higgins

Food and drink is permitted in the Kohrs Library Meeting Room, so grab a sandwich, snack, healthy beverage and come to the library for the talk

Dinner at Broken Arrow

4) Sunday – July 17^th

Take in the Grant-Kohrs Ranch

Just a side note : The Anaconda Art in the Washoe Park is held  July 15, 16, & 17, 2016, Anaconda, Montana.  Some 80 juried booths will offer fine art, photographs, sculpture, stained glass, wood decorations and furniture, clothing, jewelry, candles, wreaths, antler art. No commercial items are allowed.

Beyond the subject of the Bielenberg-Kohrs Family Reunion, we hope you might consider supporting the Grant-Kohrs Ranch Foundation with a small donation.

The Grant-Kohrs Ranch Foundation (GKRF) provides resources to help the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site tell the cattle-ranching story of the American West.

The GKRF is the official fundraising partner of Grant-Kohrs Ranch, and is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization.

Mail your completed form with your donation to:

Grant-Kohrs Ranch Foundation

P.O. Box 789

Deer Lodge, MT 59722

For more information visit us on the web at www.GKRF.org

GRANT-KOHRS

RANCH FOUNDATION

Supporting America's Ranch

Warren Eugene  and Clara Emily (nee Bielenberg) Evans

Warren Eugene Evans, the son of Lukeman  (Lumen) F. Evans and Isobel Jeffery. Warren E. Evans was a Montana pioneer, a Powell County Clerk and prominent citizen of Deer Lodge who came to Montana with his parents when he was fifteen years old.  He was a member of the Montana pioneers and the Anaconda Elks lodge.

Born Feb 24, 1855 Rochester, Ohio - Died December 15, 1935, Deer Lodge, MT.

 Clara Emily Bielenberg, the daughter of Charles P. H. & Mary (nee Wilhema) Bielenberg was a public administrator of Powell County Montana since 1916 and owner operator of the Powell County Abstract Company. She was born and reared in the home in which she made here residence until her death. She attended public schools in Deer Lodge and graduated with a degree in Music from Rowland Hall at Salt Lake City in 1886.  She was a member of the Sons and Daughters of Montana pioneers, the American Legion auxiliary, Floral Chapter No. 46, Order of the Eastern Star and a charter member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Born Oct. 24, 1870, Deer Lodge, MT. - Died July 23, 1950, Deer Lodge, MT.

Children of Warren Eugene  and Clara Emily (nee Bielenberg) Evans

AGNES MARY EVANS (1889-1950)

CHARLES LUKE EVANS (1890-1920)

HUGH KIRKENDAL EVANS (1893-1941)

CONRAD KOHRS EVANS (1900-1979)

GRANT REUNION and TEA

GRANT REUNION and TEA

In the mid 1700s our Grants left Scotland and arrived in Canada. In the two hundred and fifty years since, areas of our history became clouded, confused and even lost.

An interest in culture and history resulted in a decades long attempt to fill the many gaps. One of the persistent questions was, “Are ‘our’ Grants related to the Cuthbert Grants?”

In spite of the advances made restoring our history, it was not until the introduction of DNA testing that a definitive answer was provided. Some of our male Grants and some male descendants of Cuthbert Grant agreed to join the Clan Grant DNA Project. The results of those first tests declared there was “less than a 5% chance of a common ancestor in the last 4-500 years”. Effectively, the question was answered with another question: “If we’re not related to the Cuthbert Grants, who are we?” The same DNA results answered: We are the same line as the Chiefs of Grant. More specifically, we are the Glenlochy line (aka the MacRobbies) which traditionally holds that we descend from an illegitimate son of Robert Grant the Ambassador.

In 2011, the current Chief of Grant, Sir James Grant, stated his intention to visit Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in July of 2012, to officially include the Cuthbert Grants as a Sept of Clan Grant.

Following that announcement, a request was made for an audience between our Grants and our distant kinsman, the Chief of Grant. The result is the Grant Reunion Tea with guests of honour, Sir James Grant the Lord Strathspey and Mrs. Judy Lewis; Friday, July 13, 2012, at the Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba. After a 250 year separation between our Grant families of Scotland and those of North America, this occasion is genuinely an historical reunion.

This reunion is open to all descendants of William Grant of Trois-Rivières and his relations. If you are uncertain whether you are a member of this Grant family, perhaps the website, http://www.william-grant-of-trois-rivieres-genealogy.ca/index.html , will help.

If you wish to attend this reunion, you will need to register. Please complete and return the following pages with your payment to: <---LINK

Anita Grant Steele

34 Hart Crescent

Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Y1A-4R4

Phone: 867-667-4675

E-Mail: anitas@northwestel.net

In the near future, these pages will be displayed on the above website and on Facebook.

Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Nominee: Charles P. H. Bielenberg

CHARLES PETER. HENRY BIELENBERG

Born: 1 May 1846 in Holstein, Germany- Died: 31 Oct 1924 in Deer Lodge, Montana.

Charles Peter Henry Bielenberg was born in Wevelsfleth – a fishing village in the province of Holstein – at that time a possession of Denmark, - now Germany, on May 1, 1846. In July 1854, the Bielenberg family immigrated to the United States and settled in Davenport, Iowa. Charles Bielenberg attended the public school of Davenport Iowa until 1864. On May 7, 1864, at the age of eighteen, Charles enlisted in the 44^th Regiment Infantry Iowa Volunteers. He was mustered into the U. S. Army on June 1^st, 1864 in Davenport Iowa (1). The 44^th Regiment did garrison duty at Memphis and La Grange, Tennessee (2). At the end of his enlistment on September 15, 1864, Charles Bielenberg returned to Iowa. On January 21, 1865 he re-enlisted, this time in the 8^th Regiment Infantry Iowa Volunteers. He was deafened and taken ill during the bombardment of Mobile Alabama and the siege of Spanish Fort. In August 1865 he was hospitalized at Montgomery, Alabama from August-October and was sent back to Davenport to recuperate. He was honorably discharged on December 18,1865 (1).

At the close of the war, Charles Bielenberg headed west to seek his fortune in the Montana Territory where his half-brother, Conrad Kohrs, and his twin-brother, John N. Bielenberg and his youngest brother, Nicholas J. Bielenberg had begun to establish themselves. In the spring of 1866, at the age of twenty, he traveled to Montana by way of steamboat departing from St. Louis up the Missouri River and arriving at Fort Benton of the Montana Territory. Having no money to pay expenses for any other means of travel, Charles Bielenberg walked to Helena, arriving there on June 10, 1866. From Helena he went onto Virginia City to be employed in one of Conrad Kohrs’ butcher shops butcher shop for three months. In the fall of 1866, Charley Bielenberg came to Deer Lodge and opened the “City Market” butcher shop, with Nicholas Bielenberg and Conrad Kohrs as partners in the business. Here he went into the butchering and meat cutting business and operated the City Market in Deer Lodge for 30 years (1). In 1873, Charles Bielenberg become associated with his twin brother John Bielenberg, engaging in the stock business, raising horses and cattle. The firm of Bielenberg & Brothers was known all over the Territory. Their stock was of the highest grade, and always brought the best prices in Chicago, to which they shipped each year several herds (3).

Charles Bielenberg remained in the cattle business with his twin brother Johnny Bielenberg, until John's death in 1922. It was shortly there after that Charles Bielenberg resigned from his position as foreman of the Kohrs & Bielenberg ranches. It is said that Charles furnished many free cowhides for floor coverings in miners shacks and cabins. The ranch was known as the Bielenberg and Brother (1). Mr. Bielenberg was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G. A. R.) of which he has been patriotic instructor for several years, the Society of Montana Pioneers, the Elks, No. 289 of Anaconda and the Kiwanis club of this city. His position as patriotic instructor of the Grand Army was a beloved duty to him. Having the financial means he considered himself better able to bear the expenses of spreading patriotic doctrine around the state than the Grand Army with its dwindling membership (3). Mr. Bielenberg was married in 1869 to Miss Mary Wilhelma, of Iowa, and has three children: Clara, Katie and Charles O. Bielenberg (3). A room was set aside as the Patriotic Room in the Powell County, Courthouse in his honor and the G. A. R. He furnished a grand piano (square Steinway) in the room for public use. The piano remained there until 1964 when the room was needed for other purposes. His patriotism also was evident when he enlisted in Captain Stewart's Company No.12, August 12-24, 1877, for the Nez Perce Indian uprising .In an application for a Civil War pension he listed as distinguishing marks and scars a : scar on left forearm from a bite by a pet bear (1).

References

1. Dreams Across the Divide: Stories of the Montana Pioneers

2. Scott County Men in the Civil War. Retrieved 12 April 2010 from
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/civwarrosters.htm

3. Col. Charles P. H. Bielenberg, Noted Character, Is Dead. Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana. November 2, 1924.

4. Deer Lodge Notes; Anaconda Standard,: 11-02-1922; Volume: XXXIV; Issue:60; Page: 4; Anaconda, Montana