The Sagebrushers — JJM's diary of the July-August 1907 Yellowstone Park trip

--- page 1 --- # The Sagebrushers by James J. Murphy Murphy Press © 1994 --- page 2 --- **THE SAGEBRUSHERS** Jim Murphy's Travelogue through Yellowstone National Park Told in His Own Words --- page 3 --- [blank page — binding only] --- page 4 --- Dad's first trip to Yellowstone Park, the year before we were married. You could really make a good story of this if you wanted to do so. It's great reading, especially when I remember I was 'His Hon'! — Agnes (Bridget) Ruth (Kelly) Murphy --- page 5 --- [blank page — binding only] --- page 6 --- *Preface* Who would have thought they said "It was out of sight" almost a hundred years ago! That was just one of the many things I learned about my Grandfather Jim and the days and country he lived in. He seems like a wonderful human being — self-confident and friendly with even the briefest acquaintance, but not averse to some raucous fun at the expense of the "dudes." He loved his "grand" sights, so I also learned where my father got his love of sunsets. His warmth and gift of blarney attracted men and women alike. Jim Murphy seems like a fun guy. I wish I could have made the trip with him. Many thanks to Imelda Bryant for doing the original typing on — can you believe it — a manual typewriter! I truly know the effort it took. Someday I hope to set eyes on the original diary. I wanted to include a family tree, but I've long since lost the one I made in grade school and, I must confess, my memory is ill-suited to older names and relationships. If anyone can contribute a bit of family history, please write me and I'll send out addenda. - Dan Murphy, 1994 --- page 7 --- [Two oval portrait photographs with captions:] Jim Murphy | Aggie Murphy --- page 8 --- [Certificate of Marriage — handwritten on printed form] **Certificate of Marriage** Church of St. Lawrence O'Toole[?], Wilderville, Mont. This is to Certify That James Murphy and Agnes Kelly were lawfully Married on the 19th day of Oct., 1908, According to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church and in conformity with the laws of the State of Montana, Rev. Fr. Batens[?] officiating, in the presence of Charles Gallagher[?] and Mary Kelly Witnesses, as appears from the Marriage Register of this Church. Dated DEC 5th 1946 [Signed:] T. K. MacDonald[?], Pastor. NO. 212 © D. P. MURPHY CO., NEW YORK --- page 9 --- [Two certificates side by side] **Birth and Baptismal Certificate** DIOCESE OF Kerry. PARISH OF Eyires[?]. On examination of the Register of Baptisms of above Parish I certify that according to it James Murphy was born on 26th day of July 1883, and was baptized according to the Rites of the Catholic Church on 29th day of July 1883, in the Church of Eyires[?] by the Rev. J. O'Connell. Parents { Patrick Murphy / Ellen Lyne[?] } Sponsors { Michael Murphy / Catherine Murphy } (L.S.) Confirmed: [blank]. Married: [blank]. Signed Thomas McMahon, P.P. Given this 27th day of October, 19.71. at Eyires[?]. (Born in the townland of Sleane[?]) Veritas Co., Ltd., Dublin. --- **Certificate of Baptism** St. Patrick's Church, Butte, Montana This is to Certify That Agnes Bridget Kelly Child of John Kelly and Mary Chatham[?] born in Butte, Montana on the 29th day of June 1887 was Baptized on the 2nd day of July 1887 According to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church by the Rev. Henry J. van de Ven, the Sponsors being John Cadigan and Emma Mullaney as appears from the Baptismal Register of this Church. Dated December 6, 1946. [Signed:] M. M. English, Pastor. by [?] C. Molloy NO. 21[?] © D. P. MURPHY CO., NEW YORK --- page 10 --- [Naturalization Certificate] **United States of America** Petition No. 1872 Certificate No. 1712 In the District Court of the Second Judicial District ...of the... **State of Montana** In and for the County of Silver Bow To All People to Whom These Presents Shall Come: **GREETING:** Know Ye, That in the District Court of the Second Judicial District of the State of Montana, in and for the County of Silver Bow, on the 26 day of Sept., in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and Six J. J. Murphy, a native of Ireland, having produced the evidence, and taken and subscribed the oath required by law, and the affidavits required by Acts of Congress, entitled "An Act to regulate the immigration of Aliens into the United States", approved March 3rd, 1903, having been duly made and recorded, was admitted to become a citizen of the United States, according to the Act of Congress in such case made and privided. Witnesses: Martin Towey, C. H. Gallagher In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, at Butte, Montana, this 26 day of Sept., A. D. 1906 and in the year of Independence of the United States of America One Hundred and [crossed out: Twenty] & 30. William E. Davies, Clerk. By W. J. Thomas, Deputy. BUTTE MINER CO. PRINTERS --- page 11 --- The story begins in 1907 on the eve of Jim's twenty-third birthday. **Yellowstone National Park Trip** **by** **James J. Murphy** Party pairs: 1. Jim Murphy 2. Maud Sheehan 3. Tish Maloney {Jim's best friend} 4. Grace Dawson 5. Kate Cosgrove 6. Nell Cosgrove 7. George Archibald 8. May Konen 9. William Thoroway 10. Mrs. Wm. Thoroway 11. Owen Brinton 12. Ann Laughrin Cook and Husband: Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Charlie) Emerson Horses: Sandy, Ginger, Dwella --- page 12 --- <u>First Day, July 25, 1907 — Thursday</u> Rose at 5:30, reached Archibald's house at 6:30, started to pack our wagons and hitch our horses. The chuck wagon was started alright, both horses rearing and plunging like circus horses. But when it came to start with our horses, there is a different story. We had to hitch and unhitch a dozen different times. At last they broke an iron on our wagon. We had it fixed, and then sent for the owner of the horses and we prepared to lynch him — but watch the change! He switched horses, putting the white bronc in with our bay, and lo they walked off like a couple of lambs. We then drove to Konen's to get the girls. Mrs. Konen, in the meantime, had fixed up a light lunch for us. We then started at 11:30 am. Coming up the 18-mile hill, we had to have a farmer pull the chuck wagon up for a mile. We pitched camp about a mile this side of Bennell Ranch. <u>Second Day, July 26 — Friday</u> We rose at 6:30, left camp at 9 am. We passed through the little burgs of Silver Star (where I sent a postal card {to Aggie?—ed.}), Waterloo, Mammoth, Iron Pond, and Twin Bridges. Going west from Twin Bridges, we saw the old race track and --- ## Key extraction — Named individuals and places (pages 1–12) ### Travel party (the "Sagebrushers"), as listed on page 11: 1. **Jim Murphy** (James J. Murphy, the author) 2. **Maud Sheehan** 3. **Tish Maloney** — noted as "Jim's best friend" 4. **Grace Dawson** 5. **Kate Cosgrove** 6. **Nell Cosgrove** 7. **George Archibald** 8. **May Konen** 9. **William Thoroway** 10. **Mrs. Wm. Thoroway** 11. **Owen Brinton** 12. **Ann Laughrin** **Cook and husband:** Mr. and Mrs. Charles ("Charlie") Emerson **Horses:** Sandy, Ginger, Dwella ### Other named individuals (front matter, certificates, preface): - **Agnes (Bridget) Ruth (Kelly) Murphy** — Jim's wife ("Aggie"), the "Hon" - **Dan Murphy** — grandson, 1994 editor - **Imelda Bryant** — original typist - **Rev. Fr. Batens[?]** — officiating priest at marriage - **Charles Gallagher[?]** — marriage witness - **Mary Kelly** — marriage witness - **T. K. MacDonald[?]** — Pastor (1946) - **Patrick Murphy** — Jim's father - **Ellen Lyne[?]** — Jim's mother - **Michael Murphy** — baptismal sponsor - **Catherine Murphy** — baptismal sponsor - **Rev. J. O'Connell** — baptizing priest (Ireland) - **Thomas McMahon, P.P.** — signed Irish certificate - **John Kelly** — Aggie's father - **Mary Chatham[?]** — Aggie's mother - **Rev. Henry J. van de Ven** — Aggie's baptizing priest - **John Cadigan** — Aggie's baptismal sponsor - **Emma Mullaney** — Aggie's baptismal sponsor - **M. M. English** — Pastor (1946) - **C. Molloy** — co-signer - **Martin Towey** — naturalization witness - **C. H. Gallagher** — naturalization witness - **William E. Davies** — court clerk - **W. J. Thomas** — deputy - **Mrs. Konen** — provided lunch on Day 1 (mother of May Konen) ### Place names mentioned (through page 12): - Kerry / Eyires[?] / Sleane[?] (townland), Ireland — Jim's birthplace area - Butte, Montana - Silver Bow County, Montana - Wilderville, Montana (St. Lawrence O'Toole[?] church) - Archibald's house (Day 1 starting point) - Konen's (Day 1) - 18-mile hill (Day 1) - Bennell Ranch (Day 1 camp) - Silver Star (Day 2) - Waterloo (Day 2) - Mammoth (Day 2) - Iron Pond (Day 2) - Twin Bridges (Day 2) ### Key dates: - Jim's birth: 26 July 1883, baptized 29 July 1883 (Kerry, Ireland) - Aggie's birth: 29 June 1887, baptized 2 July 1887 (Butte, Montana) - Jim's naturalization: 26 September 1906, Butte, Montana - Marriage: 19 October 1908, Wilderville, Montana (certificate dated 5 Dec 1946) - Trip begins: 25 July 1907 (Thursday) — eve of Jim's 23rd birthday