A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 128

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883-
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

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Mr. Dersham was married at Glendive, Montana, June 17, 1886, to Marian Treat, daughter of Robert M. and Susan (Pritchard) Treat, the former a native of Con- necticut and the latter of Michigan. Mr. Treat came to Iowa from the east at an early day, and there en- . started an orange grove, hoping thereby to sometime listed in the Second Iowa Calvary during the Civil war, serving gallantly and receiving his honorable dis- charge when hostilities had ended. Following his mili- tary service, he returned to Iowa, where he followed farming until 1883, and in that year came with his fam- ily to Montana and settled at Allard, where his death occurred in 1886. In 1891 his widow married C. A. Haight and both reside at Terry.

Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Treat had a family of five chil- dren: Fred W., who died in August, 1904; Mrs. Der- sham; Elmer E., a'carpenter of Terry; Robert S .; and Philip P., who has a ranch and lives in Tallock creek, Rose Bud county. Mr. and Mrs. Dersham have had two children: Harold, who is engaged in business with his father; and Kathleen, who married N. A. Cole.

In his political belief Mr. Dersham is a Republican, although he has never sought public preferment, his time and attention having always been demanded by his private interests. He has at all times been ready, however, to support any movement which has promised to benefit his community or its people, and is known as a friend of morality, education and good citizenship. His wife is a member of the Christian church and his daughter (Mrs. Cole) of the Methodist church. Mrs. Dersham also belongs to Yellowstone chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, at Glendive.

GEORGE OSBORNE FREEMAN. George Osborne Free- man, receiver of the United States Land Office in Helena, son of George W. Freeman, was born, Febru- ary 10, 1866, at Battle Creek, Michigan, of honored ancestry, his lineage being traced in a direct line back to some of the most celebrated of the original colonists of New England. Genealogical records extant show that he is a lineal descendant of Captain Miles Stand- ish, whose story is told in verse by another of his de- scendants, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The im- migrant ancestor of the Freeman family was on En- glish knight, who came to America in the very early part of the seventeenth century, and subsequently served as assistant governor of the colonies. He had many illustrious descendants, the family being now represented in almost every state of the Union.

George W. Freeman was born and reared in Michi- gan. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil war he en- listed as a soldier, and served for four and one-half years, being under command of Generals Berry and Howard and accompanying Sherman on his march to the sea. When General Berry was killed by a shot fired from ambush, George W. Freeman was detailed to convey his body back to New York for burial, and while in that city he met and married Miss Silence Isabel Campbell, and with his bride returned to his regi- ment, where they spent their honeymoon in camp. She soon returned to her home in Baldwinsville, New York, while he accompanied his command toward the front.

While on a foraging expedition with some of his com- panions, Mr. Freeman secured as his share of the booty an old gray horse, which afterwards figured prominently in army affairs, for, the Federals being surrounded by the enemy, Mr. Freeman was sent for reinforcements. Mounting the old gray horse and pursued by the enemy, he rode a distance of fourteen miles in thirty-five min- utes, secured the desired help, and returned to the regi- ment, his speedy ride having saved the day for the Federals. At the close of the war the horse was taken to New York by the regimental surgeon (Dr. Hough- ton), pensioned, and subsequently lived to the age of twenty-nine years.

At the close of the conflict, Mr. Freeman, in associa- tion with Major Osborne, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, secured a position with the Freed- man's Bureau and was sent to Jacksonville, Florida. Taking up a homestead claim on the Indian river, he

amass a fortune. About three years later, becoming very active in politics and supporting the Republican principles, he became one of a party to protect the negro vote during the election in which Major Os- borne was a candidate for United States senator. His campaign work, called down upon him the wrath of the members of the opposing element, and Mr. Free- man shortly received a visit from the Kuklux Klan, who gave himself and family exactly two weeks to leave the state. Owing to the entreaties of his wife and children, he reluctantly returned to Michigan, leaving his home, plantation and orange grove behind.

Arriving in Michigan, Mr. Freeman secured a good position as a commercial traveler, and on leaving for one of his business trips assured his wife that he should surely be at home to spend his birthday, on the fifth of March, 1874, and that was the last that was ever heard from him. He was a Knight Templar, and the Masonic Order as well as his family, sought for him in vain, no trace of him ever being found. Mrs. Free- man, who subsequently passed away at the home of her son George, in Helena, Montana, was left with four children to care for, as follows: Eloise, deceased; Fred W .; Harry C .; and George Osborne.

Left fatherless at the age of eight years, George Os- borne Freeman received no educational advantages. Un- til eleven years old he was the main support of the family by selling papers, blacking boots, and running errands, his mother in the meantime devoting her time to learning the printer trade after which she continued to such support. His first position of importance was as messenger in the treasury department of the state of Michigan, at Lansing, with which he was connected for six years, serving under treasurers Wm. B. Mc- Cready, B. D. Pritchard, and E. H. Butler. He was promoted during the time, being advanced to the point where he practically drew lots with Charles A. Towne, who later represented Minnesota in the United States senate, for the position of chief clerk of the treasury. Mr. Towne being of age, and already useful in politi- cal ranks, and Mr. Freeman being a youth of seventeen years, with no political influence, Mr. Towne drew the coveted prize.

Mr. George Osborne Freeman, however, was offered a position with Mr. Butler, who was the principal owner and officer of the Mechanics National Bank of Detroit, but being imbued with the western spirit prompted by the mineral discoveries in the Coeur d'Alene country, he started west on a second-class ticket, intending to go to Spokane, Washington. Meeting, in Chicago, Hon. John S. Tooker, secretary of the territory for Montana, whose acquaintance he had previously enjoyed in Lan- sing, where Mr. Tooker was then mayor, he was per- suaded by him to locate in Montana, and on May 5, 1884, took up his residence in Helena.

Mr. Freeman's first employment in the city was as clerk in the Merchants Hotel, where he remained a

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month. The ensuing six months he was bookkeeper for the Kleinschmidt Brothers, and was afterwards for six years a clerk in the law office of Carter & Clay- burg. Going then to Washington, District of Columbia, Mr. Freeman served for a year as private secretary to Mr. Thomas H. Carter, Commissioner of the General Land Office in that city. Being then called home to participate in the litigation undertaken by the heirs of his father-in-law's estate against the executor, he was detained so long that in justice to Mr. Carter, who was deprived of his services as secretary, Mr. Freeman re- signed his position, and concluded to remain in Helena. In 1887 he was admitted to the Montana bar, passing an examination before Wilbur F. Sanders and Cornelius Hedges, and was engaged in the practice of his profes- sion in Helena for a year.

In 1888 Mr. Freeman became private secretary to E. D. Edgerton, who was then vice-president and manager of the First National Bank of Helena, and had full con- trol of his private affairs, remaining as his secretary until the suspension of the bank in 1896. Mr. Freeman was subsequently employed with the receiver of the First National Bank and the Merchants National Bank of Helena for a time, later becoming attorney for the Baer Gulch Mining Company of Jardine, Montana. In 1909 he received at the hands of Senator Thomas H. Carter the appointment of receiver of the United States Land Office at Helena, and the fact that he is now serving his third term in that position bears evidence of his ability and fidelity in the performance of the duties devolving upon him in this capacity.

Fraternally Mr. Freeman is a member, past exalted ruler, and present secretary, of Helena Lodge, No. 193, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and is a member, and senior warden, of Morning Star Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons. He is also secretary of the Masonic Home, located in Helena.

Mr. Freeman married, May 5, 1889, in Helena, Alle May Ricker, a daughter of J. C. Ricker, familiarly known as "Pony" Ricker, and they have four children, namely: Ricker, taking a course in architecture, decor- ating and designing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Marion Margaret; Gladys June; and Dorothy Isabelle.

. CHARLES H. BRAY. As secretary and general mana- ger of the Western Clay Manufacturing Company at Helena, one of the most important industrial enterprises in the state, Mr. Bray is recognized as a man of excep- tional talent and as an expert in the industry with which he is identified and should be accorded' specific mention as one of the progressive men of Helena and the state.

Charles H. Bray was born in Tavistock, Devonshire, England, August 8, 1864-a town noted as the birth- place of Sir Francis Drake and the poet, William Browne, who were contemporaries of the sixteenth cen- tury. His father, John Bray, was likewise a native of Tavistock, where he was employed in brick manufac- turing throughout his active life. He married Elizabeth Tucker, also of that town, and three children were born to them, of which number Charles H., of this review, is the sole survivor.

As a boy Mr. Bray attended the public schools of Tavistock until 1877, when he turned his attention to brick manufacturing. After a year he went to the north of England and there made a close and careful study of the various processes employed in the leading brick and clay concerns and thoroughly familiarized himself with all the details of the processes, so that he came to be known as an expert brickmaker. In 1880 he came to America, locating in Duluth, Minnesota, where he was associated with the Duluth Brick & Tile Company until 1882, in that year becoming connected with J. S. Mon- roe, under the firm name of Monroe & Bray, at Mandan, North Dakota, the new firm taking a contract to manu-

facture brick for the P. M. Granbury Brick Works. The partnership was dissolved in August of the same year, and Mr. Bray went to Jamestown, North Dakota, where he manufactured the brick for the courthouse and the First National Bank building. In the winter of 1882-3 he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and was employed in the survey between Superior and Ashland, and in the following spring took charge of the brick works oper- ated by a Minneapolis syndicate at Mandan. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Bray first came to Helena, and his first employment was in the manufacturing of brick for C. C. Thurston. During the winter of 1884-85 he was employed in the Drum-Lummon mine at Marysville and in the spring of 1885 he entered the employ of Nicholas Kessler. In 1886 Mr. Kessler purchased the Thurston Brick Works and placed Mr. Bray in charge of the plant. He retained the position of manager of the Kes- sler Brick and Sewer Pipe Works, and through his well directed efforts the enterprise expanded to magnificent proportions. When Mr. Bray assumed charge only common brick was manufactured and horse power was utilized. He introduced successively a plant for manu- facturing pressed brick, facilities for the production of ornamental brick and terra cotta, apparatus for making fire-proof products, a complete equipment for the manu- facture of sewer pipe, then for the production of fire brick and vitrified brick for pavements and sidewalks, and, finally, excellent facilities for manufacturing flower pots, lawn vases, etc. Thus the plant became equipped to manufacture all clay products except pottery. Each forward movement in the development of the plant showed the progressive spirit of the manager and his capacity for successfully handling all details of manu- facture. When Mr. Kessler died in 1908 Mr. Bray be- came a stockholder in the new corporation which was then organized. The name of the factory was changed to the Western Clay Manufacturing Company, and Mr. Bray was made secretary and general manager. Since its incorportion the plant has greatly increased its ca- pacity, having more than doubled its output. At present it is the largest concern of the sort in the state and its equipment is in keeping with this standing. The articles manufactured by the Western Clay Company include fire brick, paving and building brick, besides sewer pipe, tiling and fire-proofing. The output of brick alone is six millions annually. No institution in Helena stands higher as a commercial asset to the city, and the mate- rial produced grades up with the very best to be found anywhere.

In politics Mr. Bray is an adherent to principles and doctrines of the Republican party, and in 1892 the vot- ers of Lewis and Clarke county elected him a repre- sentative in the lower house of the state legislature. He served in the Third general assembly, and was made chairman of the committees on immigration and federal relations, and also served on the committee on railroads and transportation. He proved a dignified and efficient representative in his capacity as representative, and again in 1903 Mr. Bray served as representative in the Eighth general assembly. While a member of the latter body he introduced the bill that resulted in the law authorizing the organization of the Montana State Fair, which is rapidly taking rank as one of the most success- ful institutions of its kind in the country.

Mr. Bray has advanced to a high degree in Masonry, his membership being maintained in King Solomon Lodge, No. 9, A. F. & A. M., while he has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite, having been crowned a sublime prince of the royal secret; he is also a member of Algeria Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and his further fraternal affiliations are represented by his membership in the A. O. U. W., Capi- tal Lodge, No. 2; Helena Lodge, No. 192, B. P. O. E .; and Montana Lodge, No. I, I. O. O. F. He is also a member of Rocky Mountain Encampment of this order, and has served as noble grand of the lodge. In a busi-

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ness way he is a member of the National Brick Makers' Association. He is a member of the Protestant Episco- pal church and attends St. Peter's church.

Though a thorough American, Mr. Bray retains an affection for the mother country, and has been across the water five times to visit his native land. On one of these journeys he brought back his bride, Eliza Fletcher Bray, to whom he was wedded on February I, 1887. Three children have bee 1 born to them,-two sons and one daughter. Archie C. Bray is assistant manager of his father's brickyard, becoming connected with the es- tablishment upon his graduation from the Ohio State University in 1911. Charles Raymond followed his high school work with a course in a business college and is engaged in the business with his father, as a bookkeeper. Adele E. is attending the Helena high school.

SIMPSON MURRY WILLS. Known during the past fif- teen years as one of the leading owners and breeders. of standard-bred horses in eastern Montana, and as the owner of the famous "Open-A-Y-Bar" brand, Simp- SOT. Murry Wills holds deserved prestige among the stockmen of Dawson county, where for a long period he has been engaged in horse and cattle raising. Mr. Wills is a native of Clark county, Kentucky, and was born December 25, 1847, a son of Eli B. and Mary (Piersall) Wills. Mr. Wills' father was born in 1812 in the same locality, and there spent his life in agricul- tural pursuits, also engaging extensively in breeding fine lorses. He was an active member of the Masonic fraternity for many years and a stanch Democrat in politics, and died in 1887 at the age of seventy-five years. His wife passed away in 1871, having been the mother of five children, of whom three are now living: Simp- son M .; Melissa, the wife of Sidney Moore, living in Texas; and John T., a resident of Oklahoma.

The education of Simpson M. Wills was secured in the public schools of his native county, and early in boyhood gave evidence of possessing a true Kentuckian's love for fine hores. Whenever he could find time from the duties on the home farm, he could be found in the company of one or more of his equine friends, fond- ling them, putting them through their paces, exercising them, and breaking young colts, and his father, a great lover of animals himself, did not discourage the lad, but taught him much that was valuable. When the Civil war broke out, young Wills was such an excel- lent judge of horseflesh that he proved a valuable aid to his father, who was engaged in buying horses for the cavalry of the Federal army, and later they en- gaged in purchasing cattle for the government. When the war closed. Mr. Wills took up farming in Bath county, Kentucky, but always kept a number of valu- able horses on his place. On giving up his agricultural operations he became manager for the Bath Iron Com- pany, and later became connected with the Olympia Iron Company, a Kentucky firm, which later engaged in the cattle business in Montana under the name of the Beaver Creek Cattle Company of Montana. As man- . rer of this business Mr. Wills came to Montana in 1884, and later the business was extended into Custer county and the brand "Open-A-Y-Bar" adopted, which Mr. Wills still uses as his own, although since 1899 he has been engaged in the horse and cattle business on his own account. In 1904 he purchased 5,000 acres of land in Dawson county, some of which he has since sold, although he still owns 3.500 acres, a part being located near Wibaux, where he has 120 acres under cultivation and in alfalfa. Since 1909 Mr. Wills has made his home in Wibaux, but he has never lost his love for horses and makes frequent trips to his ranch, where he has about twenty head of standard-bred horses. In addition, he has six horses which he keeps in constant training, exercising them daily with his daughter. Eva, the baby of the family and an excel- lent horse-woman, who has frequently defeated her

father in a lively brush. Another daughter, Mrs. Pow- ers, when a young girl often rode her father's racing horses to victory in the Dakota and Montana circuits. Mr. Wills is considered one of the most successful breeders of high-grade animals in eastern Montana, and his advice and judgment are often sought in mat- ters pertaining to this subject. In 1910 he sold an animal to Judge C. H. Loud, of Miles City, Montana, a horse with a mark better than 2:20, which Judge Loud considers the best horse in Montana. Mr. Wills' extensive operations have given him a wide acquaint- ance throughout this section of the state, and he is very popular among the citizens of his county. In political matters he is a Republican, but has never cared to hold public office.

On August 24, 1869, Mr. Wills was married to Miss Sallie P. Warner, who was born in Bath county, Ken- tucky, daughter of Allen and Vienna (Clayton) War- ner, natives of the Blue Grass state. Mr. Warner, who was born in 1812, spent his days in farming in Ken- tucky, where he died at the age of seventy years, while his wife passed away when, sixty-eight years old. Of their seven children, three are still living: Elizabeth, who is the widow of John Carpenter; Travis; and Mrs. Wills. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wills, two of whom died in infancy, while the others are: Cetious. the wife of William A. Orgain, presi- dent of the William A. Orgain Company, the leading mercantile establishment of Wibaux; Lucy, wife of Joseph S. Bilyeu, also of Wibaux; Mollie, the widow of Eugene Randall, living in Wibaux; Vienna, the wife of Ernest Latham, of Baker, Montana; Samuel J., who married Maud Banker and is engaged in the cattle and horse business; Elizabeth, the widow of Roy Skidmore, of Custer county, Montana : Parish, the wife of Michael Power, of Beach, North Dakota; and Eva, who lives with her parents. Mr. Wills has eight grandchildren, of whom he is deservedly proud. The family is one of the best known in this part of the state, where its mem- bers have been unusually popular in social circles.

MARTIN GLEESON. The unusually efficient incumbent of the office of assessor of Powell county, Montana, is Martin Gleeson, who was elected assessor in the fall of 1910 and who has been a prominent and influential resident of .Deer Lodge, Montana, since 1884. Mr. Gleeson is a man of remarkable enterprise and initia- tive and he has won a fair amount of success in the various business projects to which he has devoted his attention.

In the city of Toronto, province of Ontario, Canada, May 16, 1864, occurred the birth of Martin Gleeson, who is a son of John and Bridget Marian (Heenan) Gleeson. both of whom were born and reared in Ire- land, whence they immigrated to Canada. John Glee- son settled in the vicinity of Toronto, Canada, where he became a farmer and stockman of note. He passed to the life eternal December 25. 1879, and his cherished and devoted wife died June 5. 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Gleeson became the parents of six sons, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated, -Michael is a merchant at Greenroad, Ontario, where he has been clerk of the district court for the past twenty years; Patrick is engaged in the general mer- chandise business at Toronto, Canada; John is a miller in Toronto: Edward is a ranchman and stock-raiser at Clairmont, Ontario; Cornelius has been employed in the mail department of the Canadian Pacific Railroad at Winnipeg, Canada, for the past twenty years; and Martin, the youngest son, is the immediate subject of this review.

Martin Gleeson lost his parents when he was a lad of but fifteen years of age. He attended the public schools of his native place un to that age and for the ensuing five vears was engaged in farm work and along other lines of employment in Canada. In 1884, having

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saved some money, he came to the United States, lo- cating in the city of Deer Lodge, where he was hotel clerk in the McBurney House for the following three years. In 1887 he was appointed deputy warden and guard at the State's Prison and he was incumbent of those offices for a period of sixteen years. He was then employed in the smelter at Anaconda until he became clerk and warehouse man for the Bonner Mercantile Company, continuing in the employ of that concern for one year. He then worked in the smelters for an- other year and was appointed deputy sheriff, serving in that capacity for one year. In the fall of 1910 he was honored by his fellow citizens with election to the office of assessor of Powell county, on the Democratic ticket. He is acquitting himself with all of honor and distinction in discharging the duties of his office and as a citizen his sterling integrity of character com- mands to him the unalloyed confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. He is a good Democrat and devotes his energies in a quiet way to furthering the welfare and progress of that party. His career represents that of an honest, hard-working man and he is recognized as one of the prominent and in- fluential citizens of Deer Lodge and Powell county, where he has so long maintained his home.

In September, 1899, Mr. Gleeson was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret Henneberg, a daughter of M. B. Henneberg, a prominent rancher and stockman who came to Montana in 1853 and settled in Ryan's Canyon. Mr. and Mrs. Gleeson became the parents of four chil- dren, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Leo and Marian, who are at home with their parents. The Gleesons have a pleasant home on the corner of Main and Pennsylvania avenues in Deer Lodge and in religious matters they are devout communicants of the Catholic church.

HUGH A. MCKINNON was born in Nova Scotia in the year 1861. His father had gone there from his native Canada when only a child, as his parents were pioneers in that new section of the country. The new locality was apparently a healthy one, and conducive to lon- gevity, for Mr. Mckinnon's grandfather lived to the age of ninety-six. His son, too rounded out a goodly number of years, as did also his son's wife, who lived to the age of seventy-five. Her maiden name was Sarah Campbell and she was born, married and died in Canada. Both Mr. Mckinnon's father and his grandfather were farmers, but he did not ever plan to follow that occupa- tion. After a course in the public schools of Canada, he entered a machine shop, intending to learn the pro- fession of mechanical engineering. He did not carry out this plan however, as at the age of eighteen he left the shop and went to sea in a merchant vessel. During the next five years, he visited all parts of the globe and col- lected an assortment of knowledge and experiences. In 1884. he decided to give up his sea-faring life and se- lected Montana as the place in which to settle. He had decided to learn the tinner's trade, and to this end, he entered the employ of Mr. F. S. Lang. When he had mastered the details of this business, Mr. Mckinnon spent five years working for wages and then concluded to make the venture of an independent business. His beginning was modest, but he soon gained a foothold, and has continued to enlarge and to improve his plant until now he owns one of the leading establishments of the sort in Helena. He is well known in the business circles of the city, and counted one of the substantial merchants.

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 128

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883- Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883-
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002