Archive Record
Metadata
Title |
1875 COMET Legal Documents, A. M. Holter vs. George B. Russell (Original) |
Object Name |
Decree |
People |
Holter, A. M. Russell, George B. Russell, John W. Sanders, W. F. |
Scope & Content |
Folder 1: 1875 COMET Legal Documents, A.M. Holter v George B. Russell (Original) Four original documents and newspaper clippings with background info. Very difficult to read, hand written documents. FURTHER RESEARCH REQUIRED. 1) "Bill of Complaint": Holter vs. Russell for loan of $1,200 -Signatures of A.M. Holter & W.F. Sanders -Filed Jan. 29, 1875 by Holter and his attorney, W.F. Sanders; Payment due Jan. 25, 1875 (Four days late) -7.75"x12", 4 pages, front & back; some are connected, some aren’t. 1a) Also includes: Promissory Note Receipt—signed by George B. Russell (July 25, 1874); 7.75"x3" 2) "Summons": Holter v Russell for loan of $1,200 -Filed Feb. 8, 1875; 7.75"x12", 2 sheets, front & back, connected 3) "Decree": Holter vs. Russell for loan of $1,200 -Filed Feb. 17, 1875; Notes Jefferson County Sheriff, Radersburg Court. -7.75"x12", 8 pages, front & back, connected DOCUMENT: This is a significant document related to mining in the Comet (Basin) area of Jefferson County. It involves the famous merchant/capitalist A.M. Holter and a long-time resident of Jefferson County and discoverer of the Comet Lode, George B. Russell. Documents appear to include authentic signatures of Holter, Russell, and Holter's attorney, W. F. Sanders. The case was tried at Radersburg, Jefferson County. This case appears to begin with a loan made by Holter to Russell, with payment due on January 25, 1879. Four days after the due date, Holter filed a complaint against Russell for non-payment of the Promissory Note. It appears that Holter is interested in taking ownership in the Comet Lode in lieu of repayment by Russell. (Newspaper articles indicate that there is a question of ownership of the Comet Lode. Russell discovered and claimed the Comet, while Holter, an owner of the nearby Rumley Lode, believed the Comet was on the same vein as the Rumley. Unsure if these cases are directly related.) Summary (based on newspaper clippings): The Comet silver lode was discovered on June 5, 1874 by George B. Russell and his brother, John W "Jack". The Comet was located near the Rumley lode, owned by A.M. Holter and other prominent businessmen—including G.B. Russell.* (The Rumley was patented in 1872.) The Comet and Rumley lodes were located in "Boomerang Gulch" on High Ore Creek, nearest to Basin. In January of 1875, AM Holter commenced a lawsuit against G. B. Russell regarding the ownership of the Comet. (Holter appeared to assert that the Comet was on the same lead as the Rumley.) This lead to the shut-down of all work on the Comet until the lawsuit was settled, in August of 1875. (MUSEUM ORIGINAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS) The Russell Brothers were early Montana & Jefferson County Pioneers, arriving in Montana by 1862. They were both residing in Jefferson County at least by 1873 and lived most of the remainder of their lives in Jeffersonc County (Comet/High Ore), Jefferson City, Boulder, Wickes, & Basin. George died in 1888, while Jack passed away in 1898. |
Collection |
Mining |
Search Terms |
Decree Loan Lode Mine Mining Pioneers Silver Summons |
Catalog Number |
2019.233.1 |
Subjects |
Comet Mine |
Year Range from |
1862 |
Year Range to |
1888 |