[Montana] [26 Photographs of Montana Hunting Excursion including Yellowstone, by pioneer German-speaking jeweler and miner C. B. Jacquemin]

Montana and Yellowstone: 1890s Outdoor Hunting Excursion Photographs by a Mining InvestorA nice group of original late 19th-century Montana and Yellowstone photographs, taken or collected by C.B. Jacquemin, a L. 24 original photographs, on original gilt-edged card mounts. Many with "Kodak Camera" printed logo and flower design on verso. Remarkably fine condition. In neat contemporary top-loading boards slipcase. Manuscript label on case: "Montana / (Jacquemin)" Montana and Yellowstone: 1890s Outdoor Hunting Excursion Photographs by a Mining InvestorA nice group of original late 19th-century Montana and Yellowstone photographs, taken or collected by C.B. Jacquemin, a Luxembourg-born jeweler and mining investor. The photographs bear contemporary captions in German identifying locations, notably several mining districts. The images present a varied portrait of Montana s rugged scenery, including views of the Big Hole River, Moose Creek, Ca on Creek, Helena, and the Vipond District. Mining interest is reflected in the captions identifying North Star Mine in the Vipond District, and Homestake in the Butte District. Several Yellowstone Park views capture the region s natural wonders, while scenes of Divide Creek and Red Mountain show remote mountainous terrain. Outdoor scenes depict figures engaged in outdoor exploration, with an image of a man named Jim Wills armed with a lever-action rifle, and men outfitted with camera and pack horse in the high country. Together, the photographs offer an evocative window onto the frontier landscape and mining culture of Montana in the 1890s.Charles B. Jacquemin, born in Luxembourg in 1839, immigrated to the United States around 1864-65 and settled in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in May 1865. He established a jewelry business in Council Bluffs that became a cornerstone of the local economy. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Jacquemin was a dedicated civic leader: he served on the school board for six years, was a member of the Young Men s Library Association, and held the office of mayor in 1875. In addition to his local commitments, Jacquemin ventured into mining investments in the western United States. Correspondence from 1890-1892 indicates that his company, C.B. Jacquemin and Company, was involved in business dealings related to mining properties in Montana. This involvement highlights Jacquemin's entrepreneurial spirit and his engagement with the economic opportunities of his time.The Jacquemin Mine in Montana, also known as the Golden Curry Mine, would seem to have been named for C.B. Jacquemin. The Golden Curry Mine is a copper, gold, and silver mine located in Jefferson County, Montana at an elevation of 6,401 feet.The Vipond mining district of Montana, identified in some of the photographs, is named after the Vipond brothers who settled in the area in 1868, quickly rose to prominence following their discovery of rich silver deposits. In April of that year, John Vipond filed the district s first mining claim, and by 1869 the brothers had developed the Gray Jockey mine, which ultimately yielded 22,789 ounces of silver from 2,161 tons of ore. The district s other principal producer, the North Star Mine, also contributed substantially to local output in the following decades. Today, the ruins of the Gray Jockey, visible from Quartz Hill Road, stand among the few remaining traces of this once-thriving silver camp.Places mentioned in captions:Montana: Homesteak [Homestake] wit C.B. Jacquemin [shows bearded man seated near boulders and trees with photographic equipment].Yellowstone Park (several views)Montana: Zimmer junge [?] auf der Jacd [shows two young men posing in the Montana wilderness on a hunting excursion.…