Eugene Smith came to Montana Territory in the late summer of 1883 to work as a mining engineer and superintendant of the Judith Mining Company which was based in St. Paul, Minnesota. This company was merged into the Collar Mining Company, also largely owned by St. Paul residents. These mines were close to Maiden in Meagher County, Montana. Smith remained as Superintendant and "watch dog", becoming part owner, until late 1886. By this time the company had reorganized as the Skookum Mining Company. At that time the company failed and in 1887 Smith became superintendant for the San Francisco Consolidated Mining Company which had reorganized in August of that year. The San Francisco group was based in St. Louis, Missouri, with its mines in the Philipsburg, Montana, area. This company was also poorly financed and was struggling for its existence at the time of Smith's death in February 1890.
From the guide to the Eugene Smith papers, 1857-1927, (University of Montana-Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)
