"Here's to the Man with the Gold Pan"

The only known photograph of Jake Hoover, age 45, photo taken in Lewistown in 1894



Jake Hoover: ‘The Lucky Kid.’

Utica, Montana, during the homestead era, was a busy place, attracting some of the most familiar names you will find in Montana‘s history; Brother Van, Charlie Russell, Calamity Jane, Teddy Blue Abbott, and Millie Ringold, the brave and unforgettable African American prospector, who could never leave her beloved Yogo Town. Millie and her amazing story recently sparked a renewed public interest in the history of the long lost mining village and its inhabitants, following an archeological dig sponsored by the University of Montana and the Forest Service.

I’m a sucker for adventure stories. I can never get enough of the stories that inspire me to persevere, live life on my terms, and seek my own adventures every now and then. I very much admire the hunters, trappers, prospectors, and cattlemen who seemingly had no fear of the unknown. I have a genuine respect for the humble and scrupulous Native American people, the brave pioneers, the incredible determination and spirit of so many men and women from all walks of life, who, from the back of a horse, must have seen what resembles Heaven, in the foothills and mountains of an unsettled Montana.

I’m a sucker for those who dared to dream.

Out of all of the dreamers who followed their dreams to the Judith Basin, in my opinion, no one has lived a more phenomenal, adventuresome, and fascinating life than Jake Hoover, discoverer of the Yogo Sapphire.

It’s true that Jake Hoover’s story is often outshined by the legend of his old bunkmate and pal, Charlie Russell. During my childhood in Utica, I didn’t really pay a lot of attention to the written and spoken tales that centered around Jake Hoover. Charlie was the famous artist, Charlie is the one with the schools, businesses, parks, and even a rather expansive geographic area named after him.

I knew that Hoover discovered the Yogo Sapphire. I knew that he was a great trapper and hunter. I knew that my Great-Great Grandfather, George Trask, purchased Jake’s ranch on the South Fork of the Judith, in the 1890’s. I knew that George’s son, Bill Trask, had restored Hoover’s cabin later on. I remember when I first visited that cabin as a child, during a family reunion, this tiny log building where the two men resided. My excitement was inspired by the fact that Russell lived there. I was pretty indifferent to the fact that Hoover lived there, too.

I won’t try to compare Jake Hoover and Charlie Russell. Both are legends in their own right, both undoubtedly possessed exceptionally admirable character traits, and I am most definitely a big fan of Russell‘s art. Charlie attained more fame and recognition than Jake, but all evidence suggests that Jake didn‘t care if he himself became famous or important, he just wanted to do what he loved.

As I’ve learned more about Jake Hoover, I’ve realized that his story should be told often and enthusiastically to anyone interested in the history of mining or Montana. He possessed a certain genius that we simply will never see again.

Below is an article published in the Judith Basin Star, about 1920
Article and accompanying information taken from The Utica Book, One, published 1969

Jake Hoover

“Living in a small but comfortable cabin on the shore of Lake Union in the City of Seattle, the proprietor of a thriving boating establishment which is largely patronized by the wealthy fishermen of the Country Club, is old Jake Hoover, who discovered more rich mines in Montana than any other man, and who was called the best hunter in Montana in the old fur traffic and hunting days.
At the age of 71 he is still hale, hearty and active, and is considered the best fisherman of the Seattle inland lakes. He knows the fish of those waters as he knew the wild animals of Montana, their habits and how best to capture them, and the men of wealth in the city on the sound who are amateur fishermen know that a tip from Hoover on fishing matters is piscatorial gospel.
Jake Hoover is famous for several things. Back in the 1860’s when Jake came to Montana as a boy of sixteen from his home in Iowa, he was known as the ‘lucky boy,’ on account of his ‘luck’ in finding rich bars on the gold creeks. As a matter of fact, there was no luck about it for Jake had an innate genius for prospecting, and it was an infallible instinct for locating gold that kept many frequent discoveries of the yellow metal in new and unexpected localities.
Jake was a youngster and he was unsophisticated. He could find gold and always had a supply of dust, but he was just about as unfortunate in holding possession of good property as he was in discovering it. Men more worldly wise usually became interested with him in a strike and the ending of each business alliance was the same. The other man got the property and Jake started forth in search of a new bonanza. In 1866, he discovered Tenderfoot Bar, one of the richest placer workings in the Gold Creek district, but he did not profit much from the discovery. A number of the men of western Montana who founded great fortunes made their first ‘stakes’ from Jake’s discoveries, and it is said that W.A. Clark, himself, (Butte, copper) bought for a trifling sum from Hoover the first mining property that was the foundation of his wealth and mining.”

At some point while prospecting in western Montana , he partnered with a “Mr. Rich,” who had heard about Jake’s luck, and convinced him to join him in finding gold, offering Jake 50% interest in any strikes made. Jake, in the dead of winter, managed to extract some gold through the dirt floor of Rich’s cabin. Of course, Mr. Rich weaseled out of the deal and Jake was forced to walk away from an approximately $100,000 strike, a significant amount of money at the time. However, anyone who is lucky enough to own a prized Yogo Sapphire should be appreciative of Hoover’s failed western Montana business ventures, because his visionary gaze was diverted away from the Rockies, and toward the Little Belts, the home of the Yogo Sapphire.


Continued from article:
“In the early 1870’s Jake forsook the gold camps and went over into the then unexplored Judith Basin, where he was one of the earlies of the white hunters, trappers, and prospectors. With Bill Buchanan and one or two others, he discovered gold on Yogo creek, and in 1879, when the stampede to Yogo Gulch came and hundreds of miners were scattered up and down the gulch, Yogo Town and Hoover City, located only a few hundred yards apart, were rivals in the claim to the distinction of being called the metropolis of Yogo Gulch. Jake was the first miners’ recorder in the gulch.
Jake differed from most prospectors in that geological formations had no significance for him and he believed---and does today---that gold is where you find it, and that, while contacts in the presence of certain rock formation point in a general way to the presence or absence of metals, there are so often unseen and unexpected faults in formations that are not visible on the surface, that wealth in mineral form may be found almost anywhere.”


By 1880, virtually all of the creeks surrounding the prospecting villages in the Belts had been mined, and the miners scattered and went their own ways. Jake Hoover had by then purchased a ranch on the South Fork of the Judith, and made his living hunting and trapping, selling deer, elk, and bear meat to the ranches that were being established up and down the river. His prospecting days in the Little Belts were not over, however, and his two most important discoveries were yet to come; those blue pebbles and a fellow dreamer, a wandering kid from St. Louis, who found a friend in Jake when he needed it most.

More to follow about Jake Hoover’s discovery of the Yogo Sapphire, and his friendship with Charles M. Russell.

For in depth information regarding the history of sapphire mining in the Little Belts, an excellent book, ‘Yogo, The Great American Sapphire’ by Stephen M. Voynick is for sale in the Utica museum‘s gift shop. The museum also carries small baggies of Yogo Sapphire chips to sell at a very reasonable price of $5/bag. To find out more about these items, as well as other items for sale in the gift shop, call Barbara Twiford at 406-423-5208 or stop by the museum.

“The west is dead. You may lose a sweetheart, but you won’t forget her.”---Charles M. Russell

Since the Utica Museum officially opened its doors in 1970, people from all over the country and some parts of the world have taken the opportunity to view an important chapter in Montana’s history.

Not much about the area has changed in the past forty years. Utica is a ‘blink and you miss it’ kind of place. However, if ever the soul of a town has been captured in a building, that building would probably be the Utica Museum. The documents, photos, and artifacts born of an era that have captured the interest of the young and old are setting in their familiar places in the museum, waiting to be discovered by anyone who recognizes the value in knowing our area, state, and nation’s history.

The documents housed in the building, in my opinion, are among the most interesting and historically valuable items. There is a wealth of information; scrapbooks with newspaper clippings dating back to the turn of the 20th century, old ledgers, record books, schoolbooks, letters, family stories….the list goes on. Some documents and photos are still sitting in boxes, because there is simply no more room! Yet each item is very important. If you are interested in the history of the ‘Wild West’, Charlie Russell, Yogo Town, or if you simply want to find out more about your ancestry in the Judith Basin and Central Montana, chances are you will find something noteworthy here. In the near future, we hope to archive these important documents and photos electronically, and we will also continue to work towards eventually adding on to the building.

Over the past few years, foot traffic in the museum has decreased, and so have donations. The campers, hikers, and fishermen/women, who may have frequented the museum several times already, are driving by, and heading straight on into the mountains. There are a lot of folks, locally and around the state, who have not yet taken a stroll through the building, and we hope to spread our enthusiasm around to those who may not know what they‘re missing.

The membership of the Utica Historical Society is aging, (gracefully of course), I am the youngest member by twenty years or so, and a new generation of members is needed to ensure the continued operation of this important endeavor. New ideas are welcome, as are members of all ages. Membership to the Utica Historical Society is only $5 per year, and with it comes an opportunity to make a positive impact on your community and state.

Blogging is new territory for me. After discussion with other Historical Society members and some mentoring by my Grandmother, Barbara Twiford, I started to explore the notion of bringing the Utica homestead era to the internet era. After fumbling around with the idea of developing a website, I realized that a blog might be more appropriate to start with (appropriate as in user-friendly and descriptive). There are so many stories to tell, stories that, I think, have the potential to capture the interest of all ages. I don’t believe that I’m the best choice in telling some of the Judith Basin’s history, or the best choice when it comes to ’talking-up’ this wonderful museum. However, it’s a great privilege to combine two of my passions, writing and history, in order to promote such a beloved place. If I can stir up even a little more interest, it will be worth it to me. I plan to write about the various fascinating people who’ve called the area home, humorous stories, sad stories, happy stories, and strange stories. I will also publicize events, news, and photos on this blog and on our facebook fan page. In the future, hopefully a snazzy, professional website will be established in order to further promote the museum.

The Utica Historical Society also believes that Central Montana children benefit a great deal from learning about Montana’s history. The museum is officially ‘open’ during the summer weekends, but the door is open to the area children, or anyone, who would like to make an appointment and tour the building during the off-season.


For questions or information, call me anytime at (406)350-0450, or Barbara Twiford at (406)423-5208, or any member of the Utica Historical Society.

Be in Utica August 8th! The Vigilante Players are Coming to Town!

"The Hardest Working Theatre Company West 'O the Mississippi"

The Vigilante Players Present: Adventures on the Western Stage
A Western Vaudeville Entertainment by Greg Owens

Be in Utica August 8th to see this energizing and entertaining production!

Location: Utica Rod & Gun Club Community Hall
Time: 7 PM

Tickets at the Door: Adults--$15, Children--6-12 $8, Preschool--Free

Sponsored by the Utica Historical Society and the Fish Foundation.
All proceeds benefitting the Utica Museum.

Don't miss it!

The Utica Museum and Historical Society

Sometimes a place sticks with you.

I was reminded of that reality earlier this year, as I was sitting in the Utica Museum, listening to my fellow Utica Historical Society members discuss the continuing operation of the museum. I’d spent many hours in the museum as a little girl, admiring the old artifacts and pictures, trying to imagine what it was like to live all those years ago. Even as an adult, rarely has a year gone by without stopping at the museum, browsing through documents just in case I’d missed something. It would literally take decades to see all there is to see.

There are not many museums like the one sitting in Utica, Montana. The log building that stands in the middle of the once lively town holds the spirit of one of the most historically valuable areas in Montana. Charlie Russell found his artistic soul in the Judith Basin, an area that represented his boyhood dreams; adventure and heroism, cowboys and Indians, open spaces and fast horses. Countless other unforgettable characters have also passed through the town or called it ‘home.’

Thanks to the Utica Museum, the experiences, treasures, stories, and hopes of our pioneering ancestors will live forever. This is the reason I joined the Utica Historical Society, this is why I’m writing. My great-grandparents were original members of the U.H.S., and I hope that my own great-grandchildren will someday be able to pore over the artifacts, letting their imaginations run wild.

Mr. A.C. Stoutenberg was an early resident of Utica, and he was a driving force in making the Utica Museum a reality. He puts it into words better than I ever could:

From The Lewistown (Mont.) Daily News Dec. 23, 1962

“I was born July 28, 1892, in the Antelope Hills five miles south of Utica. I left this country in 1925 and returned to it again on a visit in 1960. I was greatly perturbed by the changes I saw in my old home town----changes that only time can bring.
My longings to preserve old things that I knew as a lad prompted me to purchase a tract of land in Utica that has on it one of Utica’s original structures. It housed Utica’s first store and post office. My reason for buying was to organize a historical society in Utica for the purpose of raising ways and means for building a museum in Utica. This I am still determined to do if I have to do it myself. Inasmuch as my wife and I realize this property mentioned herein is ours legally, we feel that morally it belongs to the people of Utica and therefore we are willing and ready to donate the land when we have an organized society.
I can’t help but look back on the pages of time that have passed and remember the dozens and dozens of old timers who have all passed to a better life. Among them “Kid” Russell, the cowboy artist, who I can remember around here when I was a small boy. I can’t help but feel that we owe these people a great deal because they were the ones who built this country. That is why I want to see this town preserved by building a historical museum. Every western state has a few remaining ghost towns that are conveniently located but none of them are more worthy of immediate attention than is Utica. But to retain them we must regard them as a memorial to our pioneering forefathers and to retain them is to act now. Unfortunately in numerous cases it is all ready too late.
America’s irreplaceable historical places and building are being threatened with destruction on an unprecedented scale. More and more Americans must awaken to this threat and take effected action to preserve all that we still can of our historical heritage. Some, of course, will ask why it is so important to save these old places.
Part of the answer will be found in the value of history itself. History shows how much we owe to the past sacrifices of others. Without history, nations or individuals cannot fully understand the present or wisely plan for the future. Remember, time and the natural elements have left many ghost towns beyond restoration.
I want the people of Utica to join me in making a solemn vow that this will not happen to Utica. It is still my earnest ambition before I leave this earthly existence to see a historical society established in Utica and a fine memorial in honor of those worthy men and women who pioneered and built this country.”


I think A.C. Stoutenberg would agree, that sometimes a place sticks with you.

The Society’s budget is small, but every summer, as it has for the past forty years, the Utica Museum enthusiastically opens its doors to anyone with an appreciation for the exciting history of Central Montana and the Judith Basin.

We hope that you'll stop by and support a true Montana treasure.