Deborde History, cont'd
remains of a buiding on the south side of Ten Mile Creek at Montana Avenue. The year was about 1920. The 1910 Census, Lewis and Clark County School District 33, lists Richard Cotter as 68.

Tommy Truskett -- A Welch miner that had a cabin built part way into the hillside near where the school house is today. He also mined in Clark's Gulch and had a cabin there.

Albert Stevens -- A war veteran, possibly Spanish American. He raised beautiful full-blooded horses.

Richard Conniff -- Only the name is known. He had a fighting rooster. The 1910 Census, Lewis and Clark County School District 33, lists William Conniff as 55.

Molly Byrd -- Married to Charles Cochran. Molly's father, John Byrd, had served in the Civil War and rode a horse to Montana after his discharge. He came first to Virginia City and later to York. It has been said that he built the first house in York. He sent for his family about 1862 or 1863 and his wife and five children joined a wagon train and came to York. The five children were Rose, Clara, Robin, Henry, and John. Joseph was born after they arrived and Mary (Molly) was born two years later on Beaver Creek.

"Bat" Smith -- He had two sisters who were school teachers. One was Alice and the other was Theo. None of the three were married until late years when Theo married Ora Guffey. Guffey had a son, Clarence, who operated the sapphire mine. Bat lived on the edge of the Jim Ball Basin and was widely known.

Mr. Hartop -- possibly he was a preacher. A story Annie DeBorde Jones told was probably about him. As a small girl, she was living in Jimtown and going to school at York. One day she was riding with Mr. Hartop in a horse-drawn buggy. The horse was a high-spirited stallion. There was a band of wild horses nearby with a stallion among them. The buggy horse became excited and ran away. The buggy overturned and killed Mr. Hartop. Annie said it was a very frightening experience, what with the man lying in a pool of blood, the horse neighing wildly and running in circles, and the small girl all alone and miles from anyone.

Lafe Elston -- Was a very accomplished artist. Perhaps he didn't rival Charlie Russell, but his style was the same and his work was exceptional. He was a heavy drinker and would often trade his art for booze. There was a miniature stagecoach and six horse team that he made. Each piece of harness was crafted in an authentic manner. Every detail of the coach and team were absolutely correct. The piece sat on a shelf over the back-bar at Wise's. No doubt it kept Lafe in whiskey for a long time. He also did oils, charcoals, and pen and ink sketches. There was a sketch he gave Clarence DeBorde. It seems it was about a packrat in a cabin that Lafe and Clarence shared for a short time. Lafe has a brother, Bud, that lives on South Howie Street and worked for the City. A sample of Lafe's work is depicted in a photograph at the end of this history.


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