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I came across an interesting newspaper article at genealogybank.com dated 19 March 1885, which includes a reference to a visit to Chicago by my great grandparents, Ada and David Blacker.

–D. W. Fisk and wife, and Mrs. O. J. Salisbury, were registered at the Grand Pacific, Chicago, on the 13th. Among other Montanians booked at the same hotel were A. J. Davidson, Mrs. and Mrs. T. C. Power, Jno. W. Power, and Mrs. and Mrs. David Blacker.

Helena Weekly Herald
Thursday, Mar 19, 1885 
Helena, MT
Page: 7

The Grand Pacific Hotel was one of the first prominent hotels built in Chicago after the Great Chicago Fire in October 1871. The Hotel was known for its “Great Game Dinners” featuring exotic menus, a Chicago social institution for more than 50 years.

Notable celebrities who stayed at the Hotel included James A. Garfield in 1880 and Oscar Wilde in 1882. And one more interesting bit of information is that Standard Time was adopted at this Hotel on October 11, 1883.

As always, I became curious about the other “Montanians” referenced in the news article. Here’s what I learned.

On p. 1210 of the book entitled “History of Montana, 1739-1885: A History of Its Discovery and Settlement . . .”, Daniel W. Fisk (aka “D. W. Fisk”) is stated to be one of the owners of the Helena Herald, along with two of his brothers. He was “one of the early settlers, having come to the [Montana] territory in 1867.” He married Julia F. Walker, daughter of Major Robert C. Walker, at Helena in 1878.

I wasn’t able to learn much about “Mrs. O. J. Salisbury” but according to Geyser Bob’s Yellowstone Park History Service, Mr. Salisbury, his brother Monroe, and a gentleman named J. T. Gilmer purchased the assets of the Utah, Idaho and Montana branches of Wells Fargo & Co. in the early 1870s. By 1879, they were running stagecoaches into Yellowstone Park, and eventually became one of the most powerful corporations in the Northwest.

According to an article I located at grandlodgemontana.org, A. J. Davidson arrived in Alder Gulch in 1863 and moved to Helena in 1865 where he opened a wagon and saddlery business in 1876. His interests eventually included stock raising, real estate, and banking. And among his many other accomplishments, he was the first president of the Montana Club.

T. C. Power is listed on p. 502 of the book “History of Montana, 1739-1885: A History of Its Discovery and Settlement . . .” (see link above) as follows: “T.C. Power & Bro., freighters, contractors, agricultural implements, and proprietors of the Benton Line of steamers.”

My great-grandfather is mentioned twice in “History of Montana, 1739-1885: A History of Its Discovery and Settlement . . .” (see link above). The first time on p. 595 as follows:

The Muscleshell Range is one of the great stock raising districts of the Northwest. The principal stock men 1882-3 were: — The Montana Cattle Co., Northwestern Cattle Co., A. Lincoln, James Schmall, McGaric & Johnston, D. Blacker, W. Corkill, Andrew Cooper, R. C. Quaintance, R. W. Quaile, M. J. Settle, Hill & Hightower, Balch & Bacon, William Gordon, Collins & Klein.

History of Montana, 1739-1885: A History of Its Discovery and Settlement . . .
Michael A. Leeson
Warner, Beers & Company, 1885
p. 595

And on p. 650, as part of a discussion on the mining town of Radersburg . . .

Radersburg, forty-eight miles southeast of Helena, where the old Bozeman stage-road crosses Crow Creek, may be classed among the early settlements of the county in 1866 . . . The quartz lodes known as the Congress, Ohio, Keating, Leviathan, and Iron Clad, were yielding freely in 1879. The Blacker Mill of 15 stamps, and the Ten-stamp Keating mill, were most important conributors to the welfare of the district . . .

History of Montana, 1739-1885: A History of Its Discovery and Settlement . . .
Michael A. Leeson
Warner, Beers & Company, 1885
p. 650

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Source for information on The Grand Pacific Hotel can be found here.