Individual Details
Edward J. Saylor
(13 Jan 1878 - 31 Mar 1958)
The Jordan Tribune, 16 Mar 1989
The Saylor people immigrated from Switzerland in the 17th century, settling
in Pennsylvania--- some going from there to Ohio, others to Virginia. Jacob
Saylor was born in Marion County, Ohio, as was his son, Lemuel Dunbar, father
of Edward.
Ed was born in Mankato, Minn., in January 1878, to Lemuel and Frances
(Dumbeck) Saylor, where he spent his younger years.
In 1896 he started getting itchy feet and could only see one direction---
west, so got enough money together for a train ticket and headed for Great
Falls, Mont. Upon his arrival there, he got a room at the old Minnesota House,
"a frame building that didn't slow the wind up much-- had no heat or water in
the rooms, and had a large, well patronized, outdoor toilet, well ventilated by
cracks on all sides." Ed soon went to work on a ranch in the Highwood
Mountains for rancher, San Philbrick, who taught him many things which were to
benefit him in this new country. He worked there until December of the
following year; then went back to Great Falls where he enrolled in a six month
business course.
When the Spanish-American War broke out in the spring of 1899, Ed and four
school buddies immediately enlisted in the Montana Volunteer Infantry, training
in Helena for a short time; then went on to Presido at San Francisco. From
there, Ed spent some time in the Philippines. Returning to Great Falls after
the war, he worked a short time in the smelter; then went back to Mankato to
visit his family. Montana was in his blood, though, so he soon returned and
rented a small farm about 40 miles southwest of Great Falls.
In the spring of 1904, Ed and his brother, Art, left Cascade Community and
traveled by covered wagon to Custer where Art spent the summer working, while
Ed went on to get a claim. When cold weather set in, they joined up and went
north to Dawson County where Ed had purchased a squatter's claim. (Land now
owned by J.E. and Ron Stanton).
They returned to Great Falls in 1905 after their livestock. There they met
Jim Barnes, who traded his ranch for cattle and joined them in their new
venture. In the spring of 1906, together with Barnes and his family, they set
out on a cattle drive never to be forgotten. On Memorial Day it rained--- and
continued raining for ten days! Rivers were all out of their banks. (They
were using boats on the Main Street in Jordan).
Lorene Heisel was born in Provo, Utah, in February, 1881; then the family
moved to Colorado where she spent her early years. She came to Montana in 1907
to stay with her brothers, Clarence, Art, Evan and Ren Heisel. Here she met Ed
and they were married in 1909.
Seven children were born to Ed and Lorena--- Richard, who died in 1939;
Daniel, who was "killed in action" in World War II; Frances, who worked for
many years for the Corps of Engineers and is now retired living in Walla Walla,
Wash.; John, who operated a small plane repair business in Buhl, Ida. and
passed away in Twin Falls in 1979; Kay Spencer, who lives in Billings; Ed Jr.,
who spent 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and is now retired and living in
Graham, Wash.; and Irven, who is still on the home ranch. All seven children
attended the Lone Tree School and graduated from Garfield County High School.
Things were not easy for a woman in those days-- water had to be carried in
and heated on the wood stove for drinking, bathing and cleaning. Clothes were
rubbed clean on a washboard (with soap which was made at home) and hung on the
line to dry. Lorena baked all her bread, cookies, and cakes, along with
canning the garden vegetables for winter use.
A large, two story house was erected in 1912-- one of the first frame houses
in the area. This was to be their home for the next 42 years.
As people left, Ed either bought the land from them, or for taxes, which
cost about 50 cents an acre, thus building his "160 acre homestead" into a
thriving ranch.
Ed and Art continued to ranch until 1954, when the ranch was sold to Irven
and Clara and Ed and Rena moved to town, where they lived until Ed passed away
in 1958 and Lorena in 1960. Art moved to California to live with a widowed
sister and died in 1971 at Orland, Calif.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Jordan Tribune, 5Jul1951
On Sunday afternoon, June 24, there was a family gathering at the Ed Saylor
home. The afternoon was spent visiting and talking about old times. A potluck
dinner was served at six o'clock. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Ed Saylor,
Arthur Saylor, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Saylor, Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Saylor and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Shawver and family, Mr. and Mrs. Irv Saylor and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Frank McKeever and family, Mr. and Mrs. Walt Saylor and
family, Lewis Saylor, and the guests of honor, Sister Regis and Sister Ann.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Jordan Tribune, 14Jul1955
Ed Saylor One of 11 Left of Co. A, First Volunteer Inf.
Of the 11 persons still alive of Company A, First Montana Volunteer
Infantry that fought in the Spanish American War, one is a local resident,
residing here in Jordan.
He is Ed J. Saylor, one of the original Montana Volunteer Infantry boys. He
served with Co. A back in 1898 when the company left Great Falls for the
Spanish American War.
In 1946 the outfit formed the Last Man's club of which there are only 11
persons remaining as members of the club.
The 11 surviving members now keep in contact with each other by mail. They
live in all parts of the U.S. now, from Florida to Los Angeles.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Jordan Tribune, 3Apr1958, p1
Edward J. Saylor, Pioneer Resident Passes Away
Edward J. Saylor, a Spanish-American war veteran and long time resident of
Garfield County died at his home in Jordan on Monday, March 31. He was born in
Mankato, Minn. on January 13, 1878. Mr. Saylor served in the Spanish-american
War and in the Phillippine Insurrection, the last veteran of that war from this
county. He was discharged in Great Falls and attended business college there.
About 1908 he cane to Garfield County, then a part of Dawson County, and took
up a homestead in the Lone Tree country near Brusett. He lived there until
about five years ago, when failing health caused him to turn the ranch over to
his son and make his home in Jordan.
On January 2, 1909, he married Rene Heisel in Forsyth, who was also living in
the Brusett country. There were seven children; Richard, who died in 1933,
Frances who lives in Walla Walla, Daniel who was killed in Italy during the
Second World War, John of Idaho Falls, Captain Edward of Spokane, Mrs.
Katherine Spenser of Billings, and Irwin of Brusett. There are twelve
grandchildren. His widow and five children survive. He also leaves two
brothers, Julius of West Salem, Ill., Arthur of Orland, Calif., and two
sisters, Sister Mary Regis of St. Helen's, Oregon, and Mrs. Martha Ridway of
Orland.
Mr. Saylor served for years as chairman of the ASC Board and was Chairman of
the Republican County Central committee until ill health forced him to retire.
Military funeral services will be held Saturday, April 5th and burial will be
in Steve's Forks cemetery, with the Rev. John Fitz of Miles City officiating.
CENSUS: 1920 U.S. Census, Garfield Co., MT; 1920; Blackfoot School District,
ED 118, Sheet 7A; Line 23-30; Wisconsin State Historical Society, Madison WI;
NOTES: Enumeration date 12Mar1920, he is age 40, born in Minnesota, in the
household are his wife, children, Richard L., Frances, Daniel, John,
and Katherine, and his brother, Arthur.
The Saylor people immigrated from Switzerland in the 17th century, settling
in Pennsylvania--- some going from there to Ohio, others to Virginia. Jacob
Saylor was born in Marion County, Ohio, as was his son, Lemuel Dunbar, father
of Edward.
Ed was born in Mankato, Minn., in January 1878, to Lemuel and Frances
(Dumbeck) Saylor, where he spent his younger years.
In 1896 he started getting itchy feet and could only see one direction---
west, so got enough money together for a train ticket and headed for Great
Falls, Mont. Upon his arrival there, he got a room at the old Minnesota House,
"a frame building that didn't slow the wind up much-- had no heat or water in
the rooms, and had a large, well patronized, outdoor toilet, well ventilated by
cracks on all sides." Ed soon went to work on a ranch in the Highwood
Mountains for rancher, San Philbrick, who taught him many things which were to
benefit him in this new country. He worked there until December of the
following year; then went back to Great Falls where he enrolled in a six month
business course.
When the Spanish-American War broke out in the spring of 1899, Ed and four
school buddies immediately enlisted in the Montana Volunteer Infantry, training
in Helena for a short time; then went on to Presido at San Francisco. From
there, Ed spent some time in the Philippines. Returning to Great Falls after
the war, he worked a short time in the smelter; then went back to Mankato to
visit his family. Montana was in his blood, though, so he soon returned and
rented a small farm about 40 miles southwest of Great Falls.
In the spring of 1904, Ed and his brother, Art, left Cascade Community and
traveled by covered wagon to Custer where Art spent the summer working, while
Ed went on to get a claim. When cold weather set in, they joined up and went
north to Dawson County where Ed had purchased a squatter's claim. (Land now
owned by J.E. and Ron Stanton).
They returned to Great Falls in 1905 after their livestock. There they met
Jim Barnes, who traded his ranch for cattle and joined them in their new
venture. In the spring of 1906, together with Barnes and his family, they set
out on a cattle drive never to be forgotten. On Memorial Day it rained--- and
continued raining for ten days! Rivers were all out of their banks. (They
were using boats on the Main Street in Jordan).
Lorene Heisel was born in Provo, Utah, in February, 1881; then the family
moved to Colorado where she spent her early years. She came to Montana in 1907
to stay with her brothers, Clarence, Art, Evan and Ren Heisel. Here she met Ed
and they were married in 1909.
Seven children were born to Ed and Lorena--- Richard, who died in 1939;
Daniel, who was "killed in action" in World War II; Frances, who worked for
many years for the Corps of Engineers and is now retired living in Walla Walla,
Wash.; John, who operated a small plane repair business in Buhl, Ida. and
passed away in Twin Falls in 1979; Kay Spencer, who lives in Billings; Ed Jr.,
who spent 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and is now retired and living in
Graham, Wash.; and Irven, who is still on the home ranch. All seven children
attended the Lone Tree School and graduated from Garfield County High School.
Things were not easy for a woman in those days-- water had to be carried in
and heated on the wood stove for drinking, bathing and cleaning. Clothes were
rubbed clean on a washboard (with soap which was made at home) and hung on the
line to dry. Lorena baked all her bread, cookies, and cakes, along with
canning the garden vegetables for winter use.
A large, two story house was erected in 1912-- one of the first frame houses
in the area. This was to be their home for the next 42 years.
As people left, Ed either bought the land from them, or for taxes, which
cost about 50 cents an acre, thus building his "160 acre homestead" into a
thriving ranch.
Ed and Art continued to ranch until 1954, when the ranch was sold to Irven
and Clara and Ed and Rena moved to town, where they lived until Ed passed away
in 1958 and Lorena in 1960. Art moved to California to live with a widowed
sister and died in 1971 at Orland, Calif.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Jordan Tribune, 5Jul1951
On Sunday afternoon, June 24, there was a family gathering at the Ed Saylor
home. The afternoon was spent visiting and talking about old times. A potluck
dinner was served at six o'clock. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Ed Saylor,
Arthur Saylor, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Saylor, Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Saylor and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Shawver and family, Mr. and Mrs. Irv Saylor and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Frank McKeever and family, Mr. and Mrs. Walt Saylor and
family, Lewis Saylor, and the guests of honor, Sister Regis and Sister Ann.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Jordan Tribune, 14Jul1955
Ed Saylor One of 11 Left of Co. A, First Volunteer Inf.
Of the 11 persons still alive of Company A, First Montana Volunteer
Infantry that fought in the Spanish American War, one is a local resident,
residing here in Jordan.
He is Ed J. Saylor, one of the original Montana Volunteer Infantry boys. He
served with Co. A back in 1898 when the company left Great Falls for the
Spanish American War.
In 1946 the outfit formed the Last Man's club of which there are only 11
persons remaining as members of the club.
The 11 surviving members now keep in contact with each other by mail. They
live in all parts of the U.S. now, from Florida to Los Angeles.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Jordan Tribune, 3Apr1958, p1
Edward J. Saylor, Pioneer Resident Passes Away
Edward J. Saylor, a Spanish-American war veteran and long time resident of
Garfield County died at his home in Jordan on Monday, March 31. He was born in
Mankato, Minn. on January 13, 1878. Mr. Saylor served in the Spanish-american
War and in the Phillippine Insurrection, the last veteran of that war from this
county. He was discharged in Great Falls and attended business college there.
About 1908 he cane to Garfield County, then a part of Dawson County, and took
up a homestead in the Lone Tree country near Brusett. He lived there until
about five years ago, when failing health caused him to turn the ranch over to
his son and make his home in Jordan.
On January 2, 1909, he married Rene Heisel in Forsyth, who was also living in
the Brusett country. There were seven children; Richard, who died in 1933,
Frances who lives in Walla Walla, Daniel who was killed in Italy during the
Second World War, John of Idaho Falls, Captain Edward of Spokane, Mrs.
Katherine Spenser of Billings, and Irwin of Brusett. There are twelve
grandchildren. His widow and five children survive. He also leaves two
brothers, Julius of West Salem, Ill., Arthur of Orland, Calif., and two
sisters, Sister Mary Regis of St. Helen's, Oregon, and Mrs. Martha Ridway of
Orland.
Mr. Saylor served for years as chairman of the ASC Board and was Chairman of
the Republican County Central committee until ill health forced him to retire.
Military funeral services will be held Saturday, April 5th and burial will be
in Steve's Forks cemetery, with the Rev. John Fitz of Miles City officiating.
CENSUS: 1920 U.S. Census, Garfield Co., MT; 1920; Blackfoot School District,
ED 118, Sheet 7A; Line 23-30; Wisconsin State Historical Society, Madison WI;
NOTES: Enumeration date 12Mar1920, he is age 40, born in Minnesota, in the
household are his wife, children, Richard L., Frances, Daniel, John,
and Katherine, and his brother, Arthur.
Events
| Birth | 13 Jan 1878 | Mankato, Minnesota | |||
| Marriage | 2 Jan 1909 | Forsyth, Montana - Lorene Heisel | |||
| Death | 31 Mar 1958 | Jordan, Garfield, Montana | |||
| Burial | 5 Apr 1958 | Steve's Forks, Garfield, Montana |
Families
| Spouse | Lorene Heisel (1881 - ) |
| Child | Richard L. "Dick" Saylor |
| Child | Frances Saylor |
| Child | Daniel D. "Dan" Saylor |
| Child | John Saylor |
| Child | Katherine M. "Kay" Saylor |
| Child | Edward Joseph Saylor |
| Child | Irven "Popeye" Saylor |
| Father | Lemuel Dunbar Saylor |
| Mother | Frances Dumbeck |
| Sibling | Wm. Saylor |
| Sibling | Arthur L. "Art" Saylor (1884 - 1971) |
| Sibling | John Saylor |
| Sibling | Claude L. Saylor (1885 - 1952) |
| Sibling | Julius Saylor (1887 - ) |
| Sibling | Martha Saylor |
| Sibling | Abbie "Sister Regis" Saylor |
| Sibling | Veronica Saylor |