Jan. 27 – On this day in Montana history in 1928, news arrived that former Mineral County State Sen.

O.G. Willet had died the week before at a “leprosarium” in Louisiana. Newspapers reported that he was

the only “white leper” in the state. It was thought that Willet contracted the disease while serving in the

Philippines  during the Spanish-American War. His wife noticed a “white spot” on his face just after they

were married, and the couple lived an isolated life near Missoula for many years before going to

Louisiana.