Hi Jim, Copper mining was the chief reason many from the Beara settled in Butte,,,as that was the trade they knew. Why not try ancestry.com at your public library...Butte is in Silver Bow county. Try 1900 Federal census etc. Best of luck. Barbara<BR><BR><BR>**************<BR>New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out!<BR> (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000001)</HTML>