History
Blackfoot City, the community served by Blackfoot Cemetery, emerged as an early placer gold-mining town on Ophir Creek in 1865. It quickly became the central hub for the entire Ophir mining district, a period characterized by rapid growth and development due to the gold rush. The broader Little Blackfoot River Valley, where the cemetery is situated near Avon, has a rich history dating back to the 1880s, influenced by significant infrastructure projects like the Mullan Road, constructed before the Civil War, and the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad in the early 1880s, which connected the region to larger transportation networks.
The cemetery itself, often referred to as Blackfoot City Cemetery, has burial records dating back to at least 1872, reflecting the early settlement and mining activities in the area. The historical context of the region, marked by mining booms and the subsequent establishment of towns like Blackfoot City and Avon, directly shaped the cemetery's development and the demographics of those interred within it. The presence of a town cemetery in Avon, as noted in historical accounts, underscores its long-standing role in documenting the community's past.
While specific details on its current condition and preservation status were not explicitly found, its historical significance as a pioneer cemetery in a former mining district suggests it likely holds remnants of early settlement patterns. The area's rugged terrain and the nature of ghost towns often mean that such sites are preserved in varying states, sometimes with minimal maintenance, reflecting their historical abandonment or transition.
Landscape and markers
The cemetery is a physical record of the harshness of the frontier. The dates carved into the markers tell a story of brief booms and sudden collapses, of winters that took the young and mining accidents that took the strong. To walk among these graves is to feel the immense weight of the past pressing down on the present landscape.
Who is buried here
The stones here tell the story of the settlement. Pvt Joel Darnell (2 Apr 1830 – 15 Nov 1896) John Bignell (1825 – 20 Jan 1871) Lucy Gawthorne Bignell (1824 – 1865) Charles Buckley (1832 – 7 Jul 1871) James M “Jim” Davis (17 Dec 1857 – 1902) Jefferson Davis (28 Nov 1860 – 21 May 1888) Dennis Fitzpatrick (1821 – 3 Mar 1872) George Washington Hankins (22 Dec 1867 – 12 Dec 1868) Mary Alvira Brainerd Hankins (15 Nov 1851 – 6 Jan 1869) James Bingley (unknown – Feb 1896)
Visiting
Blackfoot Cemetery is located in Avon, Powell County, Montana, with approximate coordinates 46.68000, -112.55200. It is associated with the historic Blackfoot City and the Ophir mining district. While specific road conditions and hours are not detailed, its location within the Little Blackfoot River Valley suggests it is accessible via local roads, likely unpaved in some sections, typical of historic sites in rural Montana. As a pioneer cemetery, visitors can expect to find historical grave markers, some potentially weathered, offering insights into the early community. It is advisable to check local conditions and land ownership before visiting, as pioneer cemeteries can be on public or private land with varying levels of maintenance and signage.