Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame
Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT 59717-3320
United States
Phone (406) 994-4242
Fax (406) 994-2851
http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/
University Archivist
spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 0170, MtBC, us
O'Neil, Elizabeth E.,
1859-1909
Elizabeth E. Busick O'Neil Reminiscence
and Photographs
1907-1939
1 folder
This Elizabeth E Busick O'Neil Reminiscence and Photographs
consists of one typewritten transcription of an original reminiscence composed by O'Neil
shortly before her death in 1907. The document describes her wagon journey from Omaha,
Nebraska, to Virginia City, Montana Territory, in 1863, and her experiences in Virginia City
and Diamond City from 1864 to 1877. The collection also includes twelve copy photographs of
the O'Neil family, the family burial plot at Diamond City, and Diamond City as it appeared
in 1924.
Collection materials are in English
Biographical Note
Elizabeth Busick was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 27, 1859. She traveled to
Virginia City, Montana Territory, with her widowed mother Mary Ann Moorehead Busick and
sister Emma in 1863. The family later moved to Diamond City where Elizabeth Busick married
John W. O'Neil in Helena in 1877, and they settled on a farm near East Helena. Mrs. O'Neil
died in 1909.
This collection consists of one typewritten transcription of an original reminiscence
apparently composed by O'Neil shortly before her death in 1907. The document describes her
wagon journey from Omaha, Nebraska, to Virginia City, Montana Territory, in 1863, and her
experiences in Virginia City and Diamond City from 1864 to 1877. O'Neil describes several
incidents which occurred during the journey, including encounters with Indians. The
collection also includes twelve copy photographs of the O'Neil family, the family burial
plot at Diamond City, and Diamond City as it appeared in 1924. Captions for all photographs
were provided by the donor.
This collection is open for research.
A typed transcript of an original reminiscence by Elizabeth E. O'Neil and twelve copy
photographs were donated to Special Collections on August 28, 1964 by LaVerne O'Neil of
Seattle, Washington. The present location of the original is unknown, but additional typed
transcriptions of the document were donated to the Montana Historical Society in 1956 and
assigned collection number SC 94.
This collection was processed 2009 August 27
O'Neil, Elizabeth
E.,-1859-1909
O'Neill family-Photographs
Diamond City
(Mont.)-History
Diamond City
(Mont.)-Photographs
Omaha (Neb.)
Virginia City
(Mont.)-History
Frontier and pioneer life-Montana-Diamond
City
Frontier and pioneer life-Montana-Virginia
City
Indians of North America
Overland journeys to Montana-Personal
narratives
Women pioneers-Montana
Photographs-Montana-Diamond City
Reminiscences-Montana
Home and
Family
Native
Americans
Overland Journeys
to the Northwestern United States
Pioneers
Territorial
Government
Women
Montana
Photographs
1
Reminiscence and photographs #1-12
#1
Mrs. [Mary Ann Moorehead] Busick taken before she left
on the Western journey, which is a reproduction of an old ambrotype
#2
Elizabeth O'Neil, the author, taken on her wedding
day
September 8, 1877
#3
Elizabeth Ellen Spiegel while she was a student at St.
Vincent's Academy, Helena, Montana, age about 15, taken
about 1874
#4
A group of girls taken during convent days. Emma
Spiegel is sitting in the middle of the group and Elizabeth has her hand on her
sister's left shoulder. The others are classmates
#5
A picture of the grave at Diamond City,
taken
about 1926
#6
One of the graves taken after repairs were made,
in
1939
#7
Picture of Deette Elizabeth O'Neil, the first-born
daughter, costume of
about 1882
#8
One of the two oldest girls, Deette Elizabeth and Emma
Frances, costume of
about 1886
#9
Picture of Diamond City taken
about 1924
The cabin at the far left was the last remaining cabin where an old miner lived until
several years ago
#10
Youngest daughter, Rachel Eny O'Neil, graduate, class
of
1918
Broadwater County, Townsend, Montana, age 18. Completed Scientific Course
#11
Picture of playhouse on the O'Neil ranch
#12
Montana scenery