Page 32 - MFM July 2019 W

Pfouts lived to the age of 81 years; he died in 1910 at the Pfouts pays tribute to the memory of his father, no reader can
home of his youngest son, George. It was this son who gave the fail to be moved almost to tears. The Grand Lodge of Montana
manuscript to the Grand Lodge of Montana, rightly believing is happy to present this great work for the enjoyment and
that body to be the proper custodian of so important a bit of bene t of all Americans.
American history.
One must admire Pfouts’s modesty as well as his candor. An Explanation
He writes brie y about his four great honors: First Master of
Denver City Lodge of Masons under Colorado charter; First by Paris S. Pfouts
Master of Virginia City Lodge; First Chief (President) of the
Vigilantes, and First Mayor of Virginia City. The following brief sketches of the lives of my immediate
ancestors were written in my leisure moments early in the year
Pfouts wastes no words in telling about his unfortunate 1868, for the bene t and instruction of my children, should
clash with the then Grand Master of Masons in Colorado and curiosity of any other motive ever prompt them to ascertain
being removed from his o ce because of his sympathies for all that is possible to learn of their ancestry.
the cause of the Confederacy. Records of the Grand Lodge
of Colorado bear out Pfouts’s account in all respects, and it Although in my investigations I have not learned of a single
appears, after the lapse of more than 100 years, that Pfouts member of either branch of my family having occupied any
was indeed the victim of rancor provoked by fratricidal strife. conspicuous station in life, or been known even outside of
his own circle of acquaintance, still I entertain the greatest
But in contrast, let it be said that Pfouts’s espousal of the reverence for all them all, and hold their memory in the
Southern cause did not blind him to his duty as a citizen of profoundest veneration. I have always felt a deep interest
the United States. Virtually all members of The Innocents in everything connected with the history of my family, and
were Secessionists; the great majority of the Vigilantes were have treasured in my mind with great reverence for them all,
strong for the Union. Pfouts never hesitated to obey the and hold their memory in the profoundest veneration. I have
Vigilantes’ famous command, “Men do your duty,” and he always felt a deep interest in everything connected with the
was instrumental in the execution of more than a score of history of my family, and have treasured in my mind with
Southern sympathizers who had been convicted in open trial great care many little incidents in the lives of my ancestors,
of murder and robbery. which would be thought unworthy of notice by anyone save a
member of our own family.
History records the fact that Pfouts was elected Mayor of
Virginia City by a narrow marginover John J. Hull (the rst Believing I am not singular in this desire to possess a
Grand Master of Montana). In the campaign Pfouts was knowledge of the history of my family, I have endeavored in
outspoken in his support of the Confederacy; Hull let no these few pages to bind together the few fragments I have
opportunity pass to preach the doctrine of the Union Forever. collected of the lives of those who have gone before for the
When the Grand Lodge of Montana was organized on January bene t of those who may come after me. The satisfaction I
24, 1866, in Virginia City, the rst Master of the Territory’s have derived from pursuing my research has fully repaid me
rst Lodge was not in attendance. Pfouts says nothing in his for the labor I have expended in making them, and if but a
memoirs about the convention. Therefore it would be idle, single one of my children nds pleasure in the perusal of what
more than 100 years later, to speculate upon his reasons for I have herein written, then will I be more than compensated
absenting himself from such an important meeting. for the little time occupied in recording the results of my

Pfouts did not remain long in Montana after the Vigilantes investigations.
had established law and order. He returned to St. Louis in
June 1867, to establish a wholesale grocery business and from It is di cult to learn facts regarding men who have lled
there, moved to Texas. In 1877, and embarked in a lumber the brightest pages in the world’s history-how much more
mill at Gladewater. In 1877, Pfouts a liated with Tannehill di cult than to ascertain anything reliable of those who were
Lodge 52, in Dallas. Pfouts acquired half interest in the Dallas unknown to fame and who was almost forgotten ere nature
Herald newspaper and became its Editor and general manager spread her given mantle over their graves.
and publisher from 1878 through 1885. He continued to be an
active Mason in Dallas. For this reason, I have been compelled to say but little in
regard to my more early progenitors, and there are periods
Readers will note with enjoyment Pfouts’s description of the even in my father’s life which I pass over reluctantly for want
journey with his family and $20,000 in gold dust concealed of correct information regarding them.
in the stagecoach, and his feeling of relief when that fortune
was safe in the strongbox of the boat which was to take this I do not claim for these sketches that they are even passably
remarkable man, his family and his wealth from Fort Benton, good in either style or diction- but I do maintain that they are
Montana to St. Louis, Missouri. But Pfouts left a most human as nearly correct, in every particular, as it was possible for me
document - intended, as he says, for the edi cation of his to render them with the little data at my command. It is hardly
children-but now, brought to light and presented to the public; necessary to say in conclusion that they were written only for
it becomes a welcome antidote for the current ood of higher the perusal of my children at some future day, and, it may be,
criticism, pornography in this multi-syllable words, and in part, for my own amusement during hours of idleness.
Montana Freemason Page 32 July 2019 Volume 95 No. 5
downright treason. It restores faith in human nature, and when