Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Dr. Don L. Byam Residence
Light timber framing with board-and-batten walls characterizes this early home original to the Nevada City townsite. Inside, the original, well-preserved, muslin-covered walls are a rare example of a frontier decorating technique. The cabin’s first occupants were Dr. Don Byam and his family, who came to Alder Gulch in 1863 after someone jumped their claim near Bannack. Elected judge of the miner’s court, Dr. Byam presided over the murder trial of George Ives, held on Nevada City’s main street in December 1863. Ives, convicted and hanged, was incarcerated during the trial in the small cabin behind the house. The trial was the catalyst for forming the Vigilantes. During the Civil War in Confederate-dominated Alder Gulch, Dr. Byam was a member of the anti-Confederate Union League of America. Clandestine meetings were held in the Byam attic. The Byams moved on and Samuel B. Wonderly next owned the house. He removed the original false front and added the gable as camp phase architecture gave way to the settlement period. Lawrence Fenner and his wife Amanda moved into the house in 1875. They remained in Nevada City long after almost everyone else had moved away. Fenner, a Union League activist and self-styled Vigilante like Dr. Byam, was a civil engineer and inventor. He obtained the US Mineral Patent on the Nevada City townsite in 1878 and was the first to dredge in the area using a method he invented. After Fenner died in 1915, Amanda stayed on and died here in 1930 at 84.
This property contributes to the Virginia City Historic District • Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior • In cooperation with the Montana Historical Society
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.
Location. 45° 18.409′ N, 111° 58.039′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is on State Highway 287, 0.1 miles south of California Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is a metal plaque mounted on a waist-high post and located by the sidewalk (boardwalk) near the southeast corner of the Byam House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1574 Montana Highway 287, Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Madison County Pioneers (within shouting distance of this marker); An Important Era in Railroad History (within shouting distance of this marker); History Wins! (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nevada City (about 400 feet away); Site of the Trial and Hanging of George Ives (about 400 feet away); Gallows Barn (about 500 feet away); Montana’s Oldest Standing School (about 500 feet away); Finney House (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.
Regarding Dr. Don L. Byam Residence. National Register of Historic Places (2002)
Also see . . .
1. Doctor Don L. Byam House. Montana Kids website entry:
The Byam house is prominent in historical photos of 1865. It had a false front at that time and two upstairs windows. The two windows were later boarded over and a single window placed in the center. The original windows still can be seen in the attic of the house today. The false front was also later removed to make it look more residential, in the 1870's. (Submitted on May 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Dr. Don L. Byam. Find A Grave website entry:
Byam arrived in 1863, more intent on mining than on Medicine. He was promptly elected judge of the miner's court. He presided at the trial of George Ives. Byam was assisted as judge by one man, and there were twenty-four jurors. The principals occupied wagon boxes placed on Main Street. The trail lasted three days in the latter part of December, 1863, and the jury found Ives guilty as charged. Judge Byam sentenced him to be hanged immediately and supervised preparation for execution. He watched the drop and quickly pronounced the man dead from a broken neck. Dr. Byam remained in the Madison County area as a Physician and miner until 1869. (Submitted on May 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4, 5. submitted on December 4, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 6, 7, 8. submitted on May 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.