Page 33 - MFM Aug Sept 2019

that the claim on the lead assigned to him, was not equal in was situated on the Little Sugar Creek, one of the tributaries
any respect to that of the others and having no recourse he of the River.
was compelled to submit to the award. My brother at one
time owned 160 acres of land on the site on which Golden, Like all others who claim descent from the old Dutch
Colorado, now stands, which he sold for $5 and is now worth families of New York and Pennsylvania, I am somewhat given
millions. Pfouts made and lost half a dozen fortunes. He to idle fancies, and possess a little of the leaven of superstition
traded an ox team and wagon for an interest in the Bobtail in my composition.
mine, which made him wealthy. The Gregory Extension
mine, which produced thousands, Pfouts had traded off for I have my lucky days, and good and bad omens, and keep
a Mexican mule and lariat. He remained in Colorado until very many observances with a great deal of fi delity. Friday is
the year 1860, when he returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, and reputed to be the most unlucky day of the week - but being
accepted a position as clerk in the Post Offi ce. He remained in born on that day, I have always imagined it the reverse with
the Post Offi ce until Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated President of me, and had I my choice, I would rather enter upon any
the United States. He then accepted a situation of bookkeeper important undertaking on Friday than any other days of the
and cashier in the Gazette newspaper offi ce in St. Joseph. He week.
remained in the offi ce until the month of May and when the
war of the Great Rebellion was inaugurated and Col. Cundiff The number nine is generally esteemed a lucky one, and
and myself were compelled to leave St. Joseph, he assumed being ushered into existence on the ninth day of the month, I
the position of one of the Editors and publishers of that paper. cannot divert my mind of the superstition that it was favorable
St. Joseph was occupied by Federal Troops, and their hostility for me in some way or another, but in what particular I have
to the Gazette newspaper on account of its antecedents and never been able to determine. It is said the Goddess Venus
its advocacy of States Rights doctrine, soon compelled it to presides over the destinies of all those born on Friday.
discontinue. He remained in St. Joseph until the spring of
the year 1862. When he accompanied my family to Denver I therefore console myself with the refl ection that should
City in Colorado. In the following winter he bought a farm in all my aims and aspirations in life prove a failure, my earthly
the southern part of Colorado, intending to engage in stock career was determined by the most beautiful of the ancient
raising, but being disappointed in the purchase of cattle, he deities-she who contended successfully for the prize of the
maintained them only until the spring of the year 1864, when Golden Apple with Inno and Minerva, upon which was
6
he went to Virginia City, in Montana. He engaged as a clerk inscribed, “For the Fairest.” I would not divest my mind of
with Mr. Samuel Russell and myself until the summer of the these happy superstitions if I could, for they aff ord me pleasant
year 1867, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Russell in subjects for day dreams and serve to relieve the monotony of
the mercantile business and remained there until 1868. My many a weary hour.
brother William was a prominent character in the early life
of Virginia City and Butte as a merchant and mining man [he My father resided at the mill on Little Sugar Creek until I had
died of cancer in Butte, MT on June 17, 1910.] attained the age of about two years. Although my recollection
does not date back to the time when we lived at the mill, there
are several incidents connected with our residence there
Chapter 4 worthy of mention in this history.
Of Myself -Paris Swazy Pfouts
My mother at one time, in an attempt to step across the head
In noting down the few commonplace incidents in my race of the mill, fell through and was immediately fl oated
uneventful life, I am infl uenced by no motive other than to the water wheel and carried around with it several times
expressed in the Explanation in the beginning of the book before she was rescued from her perilous situation. My father
namely: That my children may know, if they so desire, discovered her when she fell and ran to the lever and stopped
something of their father’s history. I am not vain enough to the wheel, after which he plunged into the tail race and
believe it will prove of interest, or even be read by, anyone brought here to the shore. The fright and severe contusions,
but a member of my own family, for I shall confi ne myself together with the water inhaled in her lungs, rendered her
to facts, and the narrative would ill serve a stranger to while insensible for a time, but proper restoratives soon returned
away an idle hour. I know that my memory, like that of nearly her sensibility and here usual good spirits.
all others, will pass away almost with my life, and after a few
yearly cycles, I will be remembered on earth no more forever. In a history of this kind, I do not wish to indulge in the
Some may ridicule what they deem my presumption, while marvelous or relate incidents which may appear incredulous,
I can feel naught but pity for their want of appreciation of but I cannot refrain from telling a snake story which I know
my true motives for writing a history of myself. I believe my to be true and which I have heard my father and mother both
children will feel grateful for the record I shall leave them, relate to their friends, with the solemn assuredness that it
and encouraged by this belief, I proceed with my undertaking. actually transpired under their own observation.

I was born on the morning of Friday, January 9, 1829, in the
southwest corner of Stark County, in the state of Ohio. The ---
place of my birth at the time was known as Pfouts’s Mill. This 5. Pfouts evidently refers to the “Apple of Discord” and confuses Inno
mill was built and owned by my father, George Pfouts, Jr., and with Eris.
Montana Freemason Page 33 Aug/Sept 2019 Volume 95 No .6