Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Henry McCormick's Letters, 1872-1875 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Description |
Henry McCormick wrote six letters of his time spent in the Boulder Valley from 1872-1875. The letters describe the hardships of living alone and having his own homestead where he cared for numerous animals, gardened and preserved food. He also mentions some of his neighbors, encounters with Native Americans, and bears. Henry McCormick was born in Culfreightrin Antrim, Ireland in March 1827. He was the eldest son of Stuart McCormick and Mary Hunter. He had one younger sibling, Edward who was born in 1832. Henry married Catherine Collin in Culfreighton in approximately 1848. A child, Patrick was born early 1849 and died July of that year. Catherine also died about the same time. He emigrated to the U.S. around 1858. He spent some time in Boston, and appeared in Missouri in the census of 1860. By 1972 he had built a cabin in the Boulder Valley. He worked on his acreage alone until he died and was buried at Old St. Mary's Cemetery in Helena, Lewis and Clark County in 1875. Henry wrote these letters in the Boulder Valley to his family and friends in Ireland and England. Jan Moore, Henry's great great niece's great grandfather took the letters with him when he went to Australia in 1880. Jan Moore of Australia made copies of these letters and graciously sent them to our museum for all to enjoy the experiences of Henry McCormick from 1872-75. August 6th, 1875 was the last letter in the collection. This letter was to his brother and sadly, it may of been his last letter and they no longer heard from him. In this letter, Henry writes about Indians on the warpath, and the fight that ensued. The family story handed to my relatives was that they presumed he died either at the hands of Indians or as a result of a bear attack. |
Provenance |
Jan Moore |
Notes |
Henry McCormick wrote six letters of his time spent in the Boulder Valley from 1872-1875. The letters describe the hardships of living alone and having his own homestead where he cared for numerous animals, gardened and preserved food. He also mentions some of his neighbors, encounters with Native Americans, and bears. Henry McCormick was born in Culfreightrin Antrim, Ireland in March 1827. He was the eldest son of Stuart McCormick and Mary Hunter. He had one younger sibling, Edward who was born in 1832. Henry married Catherine Collin in Culfreighton in approximately 1848. A child, Patrick was born early 1849 and died July of that year. Catherine also died about the same time. He emigrated to the U.S. around 1858. He spent some time in Boston, and appeared in Missouri in the census of 1860. By 1972 he had built a cabin in the Boulder Valley. He worked on his acreage alone until he died and was buried at Old St. Mary's Cemetery in Helena, Lewis and Clark County in 1875. Henry wrote these letters in the Boulder Valley to his family and friends in Ireland and England. Jan Moore, Henry's great great niece's great grandfather took the letters with him when he went to Australia in 1880. Jan Moore of Australia made copies of these letters and graciously sent them to our museum for all to enjoy the experiences of Henry McCormick from 1872-75. August 6th, 1875 was the last letter in the collection. This letter was to his brother and sadly, it may of been his last letter and they no longer heard from him. In this letter, Henry writes about Indians on the warpath, and the fight that ensued. The family story handed to my relatives was that they presumed he died either at the hands of Indians or as a result of a bear attack. |
Collection |
Boulder Valley |
Caption |
Henry McCormick Boulder Valley 1875 |
People |
Henry McCormick Jan Moore |
Notes on Related Objects |
Henry McCormick's letters. |
Catalog Number |
2023.21.2 |
Year Range from |
1872 |
Year Range to |
1875 |
Date |
Circa 1970s |
Search Terms |
Boulder Montana Ireland Henry McCormick |
Subjects |
Letters Homesteader |