Philbrook is gone, but cemetery holds
memories |
| Hear the wind blow, bowing trees and
rippling grass. It rattles the fence around Philbrook Cemetery, whispering tales of other
days. This particular take is about the beginning of that windy yet restful spot between Hobson and Utica. The cemetery predates current Hobson by several years, but while the graveyard was deeded to that town in 1967 it still retains the Philbrook name. What was Philbrook? An old-time stage stop and settlement, said Helen Perrine. She's Hobson correspondent for the Lewistown News-Argus and volunteer librarian. Perrine referred to a wonderful little history, "Hobson - The Gateway to the Golden Grainfields," printed in 1965 by the Hobson Woman's Club. (You can find it at the Hobson Library.) Philbrook sprang to life March 14, 1881 some five miles west of Hobson's modern site. A wooden sign marks the spot on the dirt road to Ackley Lake. This explains that a man named Cleggs squatted on a quarter section of land by the Judith River. There he built a house and the customary saloon. E. J. Morrison soon bought out Cleggs, established a post office and named the place Philbrook in honor of his mother's maiden name. The place quickly sported two hotels, two stores, the saloon, a couple of blacksmith shops, a doctor's office, on Presbyterian church and a community hall. Stages rumbled through from Great Falls to Lewistown, and from Fort Benton to the Musselshell country. Of course, Charlie Russell was a frequent visitor who reportedly had his horse shod at one of the smithies. The old livery barn still stands along the road, so does the carpenter shop built by Tin and Dick Jellison. Philbrook was a regular hummer, but where there's life there's also death. A proper cemetery was required. So, certain citizens gathered on Dec. 29, 1890 to chose a location. Rachel Mikkelsen has the records of that first meeting. This Hobson woman is the cemetery's official record keeper. As such, she safeguards the original journal and receipt books listing century-old (and current) annual reports and payments received for lots. The book is worn and tattered, but the minutes of that Dec, 29 session are clearly legible. Clarence M. Goodell, J. P. Barnes, D. H. Cagle and W. S. Corwin determined to locate the graveyard about a mile east of the town. A second meeting was organized March 7, 1891 to establish lot prices. "It was $3 per lot back then, but we've recently raised it to $50. That's for two people." said Mikkelsen. The first person with the dubious honor of being buried there was Robert Murray. Mikkelsen's records list one Henry Ebner as the first man to buy a lot. He paid his $3 on June 12, 1891. Today, Mr. Ebner rests in the southeast corner of the cemetery. These Journals were kept for decades by the Goodell family. Mikklesen took over the job in 1973 from Myrtle Goodell Swanz, Clarence Goodell's daughter. Swanz wrote a piece about her family for the little Hobson book. She described her parents' diligence for keeping the graveyard in good repair. She recalled they "assumed the personal responsibility of caring for the cemetery and keeping it clean and free of weeds. "There were no morticians in those days, and when death visited the homes of the settlers, Mr. Jellison (the carpenter) often made the caskets, and Mother (Millie Goodell) finished and lined them." The story of a town may be read in the tombstones of its long-gone citizens. Wander about the Philbrook plots and you'll meet many worthy souls. Here's Mike Traskey, He was born in 1855 and arrived in the Judith Basin from Canada in the early 1880s. This man lived near the cemetery and part of his land was incorporated into it. Traskey raised Hamiltonian race horses and "long-legged bay horses," always keeping them in top shape. Never married, he was handy at carpenter work and later served as district road supervisor. Traskey died at his home in 1945. Over there is Cassandra Phelps. She was born in a Kansas farm house in 1879 and grew up to be a teacher. She married Walter Phelps, a Santa Fe engineer, in 1913. Two weeks later the couple took possession of a ranch south of Hobson. Never easy, ranching was particularly grueling in those days. After several years of drought, Walter's health failed. The pair bought a home in Hobson and ran a small honey business. Walter died in 1930. His wife kept on, teaching and immersing herself in the Hobson Woman's Club and Eastern Star. The lady died Sept. 1, 1965. Henry Brown was another Kansan. Born in 1864, he traveled with cowboys who taught him to read and write. Brown came to the Judith in the late 1890s. He and Clarence Goodell ran a stage line from Trout Creek to Lewistown, and along a few other routes. Brown died of tuberculosis in 1903. Goodell met his maker in 1917. Good people. The sort who deserve a pleasant resting place. Those in charge of Philbrook Cemetery have always made sure the grounds are maintained. The early years sowed their share of unmarked graves. Many of these were children cut down in turn-of-the-century diptheria epidemics. Members of Hobson 4-H helped make metal markers to cure that anonymity in the 1960s. A few years back, the Rocking JB 4-H Club built white, wooden markers for Memorial Day remembrances. The grounds have expanded considerably since the beginning, notably through the generosity of the Brading nd Watson families. Bill Gallagher, a 1921 Hobson High School graduate, donated funds several years ago to fence in the property. A renowned philanthropist, Gallagher died in Missoula last June. To this day the American Legion conducts regular cleanup parties, mowing the grass and keeping the plots spruce and tidy. Truth to tell, the old graveyard is in much better shape than its namesake. The Billings and Northern Railroad came through the basin in 1907 and located the present site of Hobson. The new town was named for S. S. Hobson, who bought the townsite land. When the post office was moved to Hobson in 1908, it sounded the death knell for Philbrook. Homesteaders came pouring in, and heated argument rose as to what to call the fledgling community. Hobbrook, Hobhill, Philson, Sonbrook and Brookson were titles soon abandoned. The name Hobson was made official July 12, 1912. Still, the handle of Philbrook has attained a sort of immortality, along with the many residents who repose in that windy but calm prairie cemetery. |
Mt Pioneers ©1998-2000 by Ann Kramlich All Rights Reserved. |
** Consent to post the stories and photos for non commercial use from the Lewistown News Argus was graciously granted by Dave Byerly owner and Publisher. These stories and photos may not be used by any commercial entity for any reason without consent from the Lewistown News Argus. |