THE GENERAL JOHN GIBBON ARCHIVE CONCERNING PROPERTY IN HELENA, MONTANA
THE GENERAL JOHN GIBBON ARCHIVE CONCERNING PROPERTY IN HELENA, MONTANA
(Gibbon, General John) An archive belonging to General John Gibbon concerning his Montana properties. John Gibbon (1827-1896), an officer in both the Civil War and the Indian Wars. He fought at the Battle of Antietam and commanded the 2nd Division of the II Corps at Gettysburg. It was this division at Gettysburg which bore the brunt of Pickett's charge. He further went on to become a Major General during the Indian Wars and led the Department of the Platte in 1884. From 1885-1890 he was head of the Department of the Columbia and the Military Division of the Atlantic until his retirement the following year. Of particular interest in this archives is that his first command was during the Sioux War and the Nez Perce Wars throughout Montana Territory. As such George Armstrong Custer was under his command during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
The Gibbon archive which is offered consist of eight items dating between 1875 and 1900, each relating to John Gibbon's property and the proof of said property so that the property would be transferred to his widow and estate after his death in 1896.
1. DS. 1 page. 9 x 15 inches. November 30, 1889. Washington. This document is the "Patent for Deresh Land near Fort Laramie, W.T.." Signed by President, Benjamin Harrison (the presidents signature not in his hand, but probably secretarial). The deed asserts, "Whereas John Gibbon of Vancouvers Barracks, Washington Territory, has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Land Office at Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory whereby it appears that full payment has been made by said John Gibbon....for the west half and the east half of section twenty six in township thirty north of range seventy two west of the Sixth Principal Meridian in Wyoming Territory, containing four hundred and eighty acres..." The document contains the seal of the United States General Land Office whose responsibility was the surveying, platting and sale of western public lands.
2. A typed letter, 6 x 8 inches, dated 10/22, 1896. Helena, Montana. The letter was sent by H.F. Tilton, City Treasurer and Collector of Helena, Montana.
It reads:
Office of CITY TREASURER. ROOM 6, CITY HALL.
HELENA, MONTANA 10/22 - 1896
Book 1 page 80 line 21. Mr. Gen'l John Gibbon Estate;
Dear Sir:
Your city taxes for the year 1896, amounting to $21.40 plus $3.00 for special street tax, if you are under 45 years of age, are now due and payable at this office. If not paid on or before 9 o'clock P.M. December 31, 1896, the law adds 10 per cent to the amount; and if not paid February 12, 1897, the property on which such taxes are delinquent will be sold for taxes, in pursuance of the provisions of the city ordinances.
Yours truly,
H.F. Tilton
City Treasurer and Collector
3. 7 x 10 inch freed hand drawn map of Helena. Unsigned and undated. Drawn with brown ink, it divides Helena into sections and indicates land ownership of certain sections and shows boundaries and bodies of water. This map pairs with an 1899 drawing on Helena court house stationary from 1899 which shows Gibbon's property in Helena in reference to other properties and boundaries. The latter drawing indicates that Gibbon owned a 10 acre plot and a bordering 10 acre plot was owned and then sold by Gibbon.
4. 2 page letter on the stationary of the Supreme Court of Montana. Wm. H. Hunt . 8 x 10 inches. March 13, 1900. Helena, Montana.
Letter in full:
My dear Miss Gibbon;
Had I known you were in Washington I would have done myself the pleasure of calling, for I was there 3 weeks ago for a few days. On my return I found your letter and was surprised the abstractor had not sent you a letter. He gave me this annexed diagram and says that the front portions of lots 5 and 6 Block 14 appear as the Gibbon estate property, but the major portions of both said lots belong to the Broadwater estate. He says though that there is a number of lots where your fathers estate owns but a part, and the Broadwater a part, where the Broadwater people have asserted no claim and that in these several instances in his opinion the advantage is with the Gibbons estate. Such being the case you are paying on certain lots you only partly own while the B. estate is paying on lots 5 and 6 which they only partly own.
The remedy for all these inaccuracies is a partition deed whereby exact property rights can alone be defined. To secure this would require some pains on the part of the several executors who after examining titles could exchange conveyances or secure partitions by order of court.
The property is not valuable at present. But it would be for Colonel Woodruff to take the matter up and, if he thinks it worth the expenditure,
to secure the proper evidences of legal title and give the same. But you need not worry over the omission to pay on logs 5 and 6 Block 14.
Muffy tells me he has no charge to make at all. Gertrude goes to Washington for Easter and will see you then we hope. With my compliments to your mother, I am,
Sincerely yours
William H. Hunt.
An interesting letter concerning the disputes concerning land in the thriving city of Helena. The Broadwater estate would have belonged to Charles Arthur Broadwater (1840-1892), a railroad, real estate and banking magnate. Colonel Charles Woodruff (1845-1920) was a fellow veteran of the Great Sioux War and the Nez Perce War. The letter was addressed to Frances Moale Gibbon (1856-1952) who was Gibbon's only unmarried daughter.
William Henry Hunt (1857-1949) was a justice of the Montana Supreme Court form 1894-1900 and later a federal judge and governor of Puerto Rico.
The remaining four documents of the archive are (5) a pencil written description with a map of Gibbons 2 10 acre sites. Titled Sec. 24 - Twp. 10N. R. 4 West retaining the signature of Judge Hunt. (6). A partially written / printed document stating :On Library of Congress - Copyright Office, Washington that "Be it remembered that on the 20th day of September, anno domini 1894, John Gibbon of the United States has deposited in the Office the title of a Book the title or description which is in the following words, to wit. ALASKA by Gen. John Gibbon, U.S.A. (7). A printed / written document stating in part "This Indenture made the first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred ninety one between John Gibbon and F. M. Gibbon his wife of the city of Portland, State of Oregon the parties of the first part and Charles W. Borup of Fort Custer, Montana the party of the second part..…"
(8). Partially printed / written "This Indenture, made the thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy five between William Chumasero and Mary E. his wife of Helena Montana Territory and John Gibbon of Fort Shaw in said Territory...."
The archive is in very good condition.
