History
Boothill Cemetery in Powder River County, Montana, is situated on a hill near the unincorporated community of Powderville. This historic burial ground was established around 1885. Before its formal establishment, the area served as a burial site for several U.S. soldiers who perished during the Powder River Expedition of 1865, though their graves remained unmarked. The cemetery's first recorded interment was John Church, a civilian who was shot and killed in Powderville on December 24, 1885. Since its inception, at least 15 individuals have been laid to rest here.
Powderville itself originated as Elkhorn Crossing, a vital stagecoach stop along the route connecting Deadwood, South Dakota, and Miles City, Montana. The community, though now largely a ghost town, played a role in the region's early development. The cemetery's name, 'Boothill,' is a common moniker for Western burial grounds where individuals who 'died with their boots on' (often violently) or as paupers were interred.
The cemetery is currently maintained by the Powder River County Historical Society, ensuring its preservation as a historical feature. While the town of Powderville no longer exists as a bustling community, the cemetery stands as a testament to the lives and events that shaped this remote part of Montana's history. Its current condition reflects ongoing efforts to preserve its historical integrity.
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. John Church (died December 24, 1885) – A civilian who was shot and killed at Powderville. Pete Ernest (died 1909) William "Bill" Mitchell (died 1912) Norman Orestad (1905–1996) Betty Kathleen Waite Keil (1921–2000) Dean Leroy Keil (1921–2004) Harry Brown Clark Lou Friend Boyd Fuller Allen Mallet Old Nevilles Dick Standifer Unknown cook Unknown driver Additionally, several U.S. soldiers from the Powder River Expedition of 1865 are buried in unmarked graves nearby: Private Andrew J. Baucom (died September 7, 1865) – Battery H, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery, died of wounds. Private Elijah Bradshaw (died September 7, 1865) – Company A, 12th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, killed in action. Private William Lucas (died September 7, 1865) – Company B, 12th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, died of chronic dysentery.
Visiting
Boothill Cemetery is located on a quiet hillside near the unincorporated community of Powderville, Montana, approximately 35 miles northeast of Broadus. The precise coordinates are 45°45′33″N 105°07′28″W, with an elevation of 2,933 feet (894 m). The cemetery is situated west of the present Powderville Post Office. It is maintained by the Powder River County Historical Society. Visitors can expect a small, historical cemetery with a few marked graves and monuments, reflecting its early Western origins. Road conditions to Powderville are generally accessible, though specific details on unpaved sections or seasonal accessibility would require local inquiry. The cemetery is likely on public land given its historical designation and maintenance by a historical society, but specific land ownership details are not readily available. There are no specified hours of operation, suggesting it is open to the public during daylight hours. No specific fencing or signage details were found, but its maintenance by the historical society implies some level of care and recognition.