Archives West Finding Aid

The Little Ben Quartz Lode, located south of Harlem, Montana, was first discovered on January 1, 1892, by Robert M. Orman, and contained gold and silver and other precious metals. On August 17, 1893, Orman discovered the August Quartz Lode just north of the Little Ben. In April 1901 Orman deeded his interests in the Little Rockies Unorganized Mining District to Louis V. Bogy, in trust for Thomas C. Power and his heirs. The claim included the Little Ben, the Surprise, and the August. In February 1908 the claims were sold to Louis Goslin, who in turn deeded the properties to the newly incorporated August Mining Company in 1909. The federal government granted claims to the August and Little Ben mines in 1912. The next recorded change in ownership came in the early 1930s when the company was sold to Norman B. Holter of Helena, who reorganized the property as the Little Ben Mining Company. The new company was incorporated on June 3, 1932, with a capital stock of 120,000 no-par value shares. The directors of the company were T.B. Weir, George T. McGee, and James T. Finlen. John J. Mitchke served as the company's secretary-treasurer. The company kept offices in both Helena and Landusky and held over 540 acres of patented and unpatented claims. In 1933 the Little Ben Mining Company increased its capital stock to $600,000, divided into 120,000 shares with a par value of $5.00 each. Managers of the company's mines through the years included Frank B. Bryant, Frank H. MacPherson, P.A. Wickham, and G.C. Worthington. In 1940 the company began to encounter financial problems and in June 1942, all operations at the mines ceased. At that time the Board of Directors held a special meeting with the stockholders and their proxies and authorized the disposition of the property and assets of the corporation. Liquidation was started with the first of three payments to stockholders issued in December 1942. The final payment was issued in October 1944.