A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 57

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

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Although all of the children have gone out into the world for themselves, Mr. Charles Wegner still re- tains his beautiful home at 415 Fourth street, South. He now has offices in the Phelps block. It was through his efforts and with his capital that the first two-story building of Great Falls was erected. It was built in August of 1885 and stands on the corner of Fifth ave- nue and Second street.

GASPARD DESCHAMPS. The part which the French people have played in the history and development of the whole United States has been at all times exceed- ingly extensive in its influence and important in its char- acter. While it is true that no part of the country is without its marks left by this sturdy and virile people there is, perhaps, no section more deeply indebted to French influence of the finest quality wielded by its early French tradesmen and settlers than the Northwest, and western Montana numbers among its most potent and desirable citizenry many of these splendid French pioneers. A typical representative of this class of early French settlers is found in Mr. Gaspard Des- champs of Missoula who for many years has been closely identified with the development and upbuilding of this part of the state, and is one of the most sub- stantial factors in the life of this community today.

Mr. Deschamps is a native of Canada, where he was born on the 8th of December, 1846, and in which coun- try his father, Antoine, and mother, Julia Marca, were born, lived throughout their lives, and died. He attended the common schools of his native community

and after completing his education went to Montreal and was for several years engaged in learning the blacksmith trade through a regular apprenticeship. During the long period that he was mastering the diffi- culties of his chosen trade the sum which he received for his time could scarcely be called wages, for it was a mere pittance of one dollar per month.

Mr. Deschamps was of an ambitious and energetic character and in 1865 when eighteen years of age although he did not know a word of English he boldly set out to make his fortune in the United States where opportunities were greater than in his native country. The first five years he worked at his trade in the New England states and during that time mastered the language and learned the different manners and cus- toms of the people of that section. He was at all times frugal and industrious and saved his earnings and when he again felt the irresistible desire for a change in his life and surroundings he decided to cross the conti- nent, and in 1870 went to San Francisco. Employment at his trade was found there for a time, but when in the spring after his arrival the gold excitement broke out at Cedar Creek, Montana, he in company with five other Frenchmen decided to make an effort to secure some of the precious metal and they set out for the excited district.

There were no railroads reaching that section at the time, and the party was obliged to make the trip by horseback from Walla Walla. The journey proved to be an interesting and exciting one, but they arrived at Cedar Creek without serious mishap. There they se- cured some claims and Mr. Deschamps worked at placer mining for two and a half years, during which time he was moderately successful and saved some money. When he had secured a considerable sum he sought out a location at the head of Flathead lake, near where the towns of Kalispell and Somers now stand, and in 1872 purchased some stock and went into the cattle business. While he has never ceased to retain his interest in this business and has ever since owned cat- tle and lands, after five years on the ranch at Flathead he went to Missoula, arriving here in 1877, and re- engaged in work at his old trade. A year later he was married to. Miss Denise Cyr, a native of New Bruns- wick, and in 1879 again went to live on a farm. this time locating at Two Creeks. In 1881 he removed his family to the home ranch at Grass Valley, and he has added acreage to the original farm by purchase from time to time, until now it contains six thousand acres and is considered one of the most valuable ranches in this part of the state. It is completely stocked with cattle and horses, and has a general farming equipment as well. Of late years the conduct and management of this big place has been in the hands of his two sons, Ulrich and Arthur, while Mr. Deschamps devotes his time to the management of his extensive carriage and implement business. This plant which he established in 1905 is one of the largest and best equipped in the state and handles a large product each year. Besides the two sons on the ranch Mr. Deschamps has raised three other sons and seven daughters, three of the lat- ter being now students at the famous college at Notre Dame, Indiana. The family is one of the finest to be found anywhere, the children being without exception a credit to their parents and their splendid training.

It is men of the stamp and character of Gaspard Des- champs who are the real bone and sinew of this great country and their value to the state and nation is too great to be adequately expressed. While Mr. Des- champs has been unaided by any influence or power other than his own indomitable will and pluck and energy and determination to succeed won large finan- cial rewards and is today a man of substantial wealth, this is but one of the measures of his ability and effi- ciency. In other respects also he has demonstrated his right to be reckoned as a leader among influential

Gaspard Deschamps

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men of this section and the potency of his efforts in the business, industrial and commercial worlds are indicative also of the strength of his personal charac- ter and his sterling worth as a man and a citizen of the highest type. Missoula may well be proud to claim Mr. Deschamps as one of its own best citizens and more men of his large caliber, liberality and progres- siveness would mean indeed a consummation devoutly to be desired.

PROF. OSWALD C. MORTSON, surveyor-scientist, and a recognized authority on the geological and mineral history of Montana, of which state he had been a resident for forty years, died on December 11, 1912, in Great Falls, at the age of seventy-one years. Cas- cade county well recognizes the fact that in the passing of Professor Mortson she has lost a man who con- tributed freely and without price a great share of his life to her upbuilding and does well to mourn his loss. In his capacity as surveyor his name may be found on practically every map which has been officially prepared for Cascade county, and as a mineralogist and collector of specimens his reputation is nation-wide, while his contributions to scientific publications with relation to the geology and mineralogy of Montana have been accepted as authority.

Oswald C. Mortson was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, in 1841. He came to the United States in 1864, and after spending some little time in the state of New York, he enlisted in the army in 1867, and gave eight years of his life in the regular service. He came to Montana in 1872 as a soldier and for two years was stationed at Camp Cook, near the mouth of the Judith river. Possessed of a remarkably scientific mind and ever a keen student of things scientific, he found ample field for the exercise of this tendency in his every-day life in Montana, and he made worthy use of his oppor- tunity and his ability.

It was in 1872 while engaged in surveying from Fort Benton to the Sun river that Professor Mortson dis- covered how rich Montana is in fossils, and he immedi- ately began the collection which is now, through his gift, the property of the Great Falls public library and which it is safe to say will make his name immortal in the state of Montana. Other collections which he has made up have gained much favorable comment at expositions in Chicago, New Orleans, Minneapolis, and St. Louis, but the collection which he gave to Great Falls far sur- passes in completeness and rarity any of these others, and is adjudged by authorities on the subject to be worth many thousands of dollars. Prior to the Cen- tennial exposition in 1876 he had made a most admir- able collection of mineralogy and geology specimens which at that exposition gained for him the distinction of being the pioneer herald of the natural resources of Montana in the mineral line.

Some three years ago the professor notified the Great Falls library of his wish to deed his collection to it, pro- vided proper arrangements would be made to care for it, and it is needless to say that the city was not slow to avail itself of the splendid generosity of the man. When the entire collection is placed, there will be found specimens of practically all Montana minerals, as well as the fossils of nearly all classes that are to be found in the state. The territory including Cascade county, however, is fully covered.

This unique but interesting character came to be one of the most familiar figures in Cascade county. He lived quietly and alone in his little cabin home, and while his earlier years were divided between surveying and specimen hunting, the closing years of his life were al- most entirely devoted to his research work and the preparation of articles for scientific publications. He was peculiarly reticent as to his family history, and lie formed no close associations in life, so that his closing years were passed without near companionship. For

years he lived in the little cottage at Seventh street South and Second avenue, and it was here that he was found by a friendly visitor on the Saturday following Thanksgiving day. The door of the cottage was fast and when an entrance was finally forced the old gentle- man was found in a state bordering upon coma. He was hurried to the Deaconess hospital, where every care was given him, but he failed to rally from the attack and death claimed him on Wednesday, December II.

Few there are, if any, in Cascade county who have not been attracted by the kindly but lonely old English gentleman, whose pride was great enough to sustain him through all his life without once divulging the facts of his earlier circumstances, and which was suffi- cient to restrain even the most indirect allusions to his parentage and history on the part of acquaintances. He was loved and honored by all who knew him, and his stupendous gift to the city of Great Falls bespoke bet- ter than could any words, his love and appreciation for the asylum he found in the honest hearts of those among whom he was thrown in Cascade county and Montana.

SIDNEY M. LOGAN. Not every son of an illustrious father has been able to achieve prominence, but in the case of Sidney M. Logan, of Kalispell, it would seem that the mantle of his father's greatness has fallen upon his capable shoulders. One of the leading repre- sentatives of the legal profession, he has held prominent public offices, and at all times has been a leader in movements calculated to be of benefit to his adopted community. Mr. Logan was born at St. Augustine, Florida, March 2, 1867, and is a son of Capt. William and Odelia (Furlong) Logan.

Capt. William Logan was born in County Louth, Ire- land, December 9, 1830, of Scotch-Irish parentage, being the son of Thomas D. and Margaret (Rohan) Logan, who passed their entire lives in Ireland. Of their family of three sons and five daughters, Captain Logan was the only one to emigrate to the United States. His father was a clergyman of the Church of England, a man of high intellectual attainments and force of char- acter. Of the sons it is worthy of record that Charles was colonel of the Sixty-first Highlanders, that Archi- bald was a captain in the British navy, Thomas is now a resident of Scotland, while Captain Logan, the other son, acquired national fame by his gallantry. William Logan completed his educational discipline in famous old Trinity College, where he graduated about 1847, coming to the United States in 1848. He located in New Orleans, where he first found work at railroading, continuing to advance until he became assistant engi- neer. He resigned this office and enlisted in Company I, Seventh United States Infantry, as a private, the regiment having been recruited in New Orleans for service during the Mexican war. Captain Logan served under General Taylor, on the Rio Grande, and later under General Scott, with whom he served until the fall of the city of Mexico, participating in all the en- gagements

in which his command took part. He contiued with his regiment as first

geant after the war, his regiment having been assigned to the work of guarding the fron- tier in Texas and New Mexico and to opposing the depredations of the Indians. The regiment finally sur- rendered to Gen. Kirby Smith, in 1861, at the com- mencement of the Civil War. Captain Logan was paroled and sent to Rouse's Point, New York, where he remained until the succeeding fall. He again entered the service in the spring of 1862 with the Army of the Potomac, and was with his regiment until the battle of Fredericksburg, where he was severely wounded in the shoulder and conveyed to the hospital at David's Island, in New York harbor, where he served as hos- pital steward after he had sufficiently recuperated. Prior to receiving his wound, Captain Logan had par- ticipated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Snecker's

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Gap. Having rejoined his regiment, he was commis- sioned first lieutenant thereof in 1864, and after the surrender of General Lee, he went to St. Augustine, Florida, where he served as quartermaster general until 1869, at which time he accompanied his regiment to Fort Steele, Wyoming, where it was engaged in construction work and in guarding the Union Pacific Railroad, then in construction. Captain Logan moved on to Fort Beaufort, North Dakota, in 1870, remaining at that station until 1872, which was the year of his advent in Montana, and here he was one of the number to take part in the Yellowstone expedition. Being still in the military department of the United States service, Captain Logan was called upon to show his mettle in conflict with the Indians, taking part in Baker's fight, near Billings, and was officer of the guard on the night when the attack was made by the hostile Sioux, at that time receiving honorable mention for effective service. From 1872 to 1876 he was stationed at Fort Shaw, doing recruiting service at Dubuque, Iowa, during the first two years of this time, and in 1875 he was com- missioned captain. In the centennial year he rejoined his regiment, was with General Gibbon in the Sioux cam- paign, and was on the ground where Custer was killed the day after that memorable disaster. Returning to Fort Shaw, in the spring of 1877, he was removed to Fort Missoula, then in course of construction, where he remained until he was called forth to accompany Gen- eral Gibbon on the expedition which culminated in the battle of Big Hole, August 9, 1877, where he met his death at the hands of a vengeful squaw. His death ended a career of signal honor and a valiant service of bravery and gallantry, when he was on the road to fur- ther promotion. His death was a distinct loss to the United States army, and it was deeply mourned not only by his companions in arms but also by a very wide circle of devoted friends. His remains now repose in the national cemetery on the Custer battlefield, having been removed to that sepulcher in 1882.

Captain Logan was married in Texas, in 1854, to Miss Odelia Furlong, a native of the famous old city of Strasburg, Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, whence she came to the United States, the family settling in Texas. To Captain and Mrs. Logan were born thirteen chil- dren; four sons and three daughters are now living; William R., now dead, was a resident of Helena; Frances, wife of Brigadier General Comba, of the Fifth United States Infantry, at Fort Sheridan, Illi- nois ; Thomas A., late of the Washington Infantry, and who was in active service in Manila, now dead; Maggie, wife of Maj. J. T. VanOrsdale, now at Fort Davis, near Ft. McPherson, Georgia, with the Seventh United States Infantry; Sidney M .; Katherine, the wife of J. W. Luke, of Helena; and Archie, who served as second lieutenant in the First Montana Regiment in the Philip- pines, and now living in Seattle, Washington.

A historian, in reviewing the career of Captain Logan, narrated the following: "A sketch of the life of Cap- tain Logan would not be complete without at least a passing reference to a romantic incident following his death at Big Hole. Captain Logan was descended from a Scotch family, one of his ancestors being the Bruce. Those familiar with the history of Scotland will recall the ambition of the Bruce to visit the holy lands, his death with that ambition unrealized, his request of the Douglas that, since fate had debarred him from the realization of his most cherished desire, the latter carry his heart to the scene of the crucifixion; how the Douglas, complying with the dying request of his chief, placed the heart in a silver casket and how sub- sequently, in a battle with the Saracens, he cast the casket into the thick of the fight, crying: 'Go first, brave heart, in battle, as thou were wont to do, and Douglas will follow thee;' how the heart and casket were subsequently recovered, pierced with a barbarian spear, and how the 'bleeding heart' has ever since been

a part and parcel of Scottish history and tradition. In that battle were two brothers of the name of Logan (originally Lagan, meaning a low place), Walter and Robert. One of them was killed in battle and the other subsequently married a daughter of Robert Bruce and granddaughter of the Bruce. From that time the Logan crest has been a heart pierced by a passion nail sur- rounded by a belt bearing the inscription In hoc majorum virtus. When William Logan started on his journey to America, his father gave him a seal ring which had been in the family for many generations. The seal was the family crest engraved and enamelled on a violet colored stone. During Logan's residence in Florida he became worshipful master of the Masonic lodge and when he moved north he was presented by his Masonic friends with a plain band ring covered with Masonic emblems in enamel. Both rings were on the little finger of his left hand until after his death. Captain Logan was killed very early in the Big Hole engagement, and shortly after his death the troops were driven back from the main battlefield to a timbered point, the bodies of the slain thus being left in the possession of the Indians. Captain Logan's body was stripped of its uniform, his scalp taken off, and the finger bear- ing the two rings removed by the Indians. His widow vainly endeavored for years to recover these rings, ad- vertising in the Army and Navy Journal and in the ter- ritorial newspapers. About three years after the fight a Nez Perce Indian was killed near the international boundary line by an Indian of another tribe, and the ring was found on his body. It passed from hand to hand until it finally came to the notice of 'Billy' Todd, in Fort Benton, who recognized it as the one formerly worn by his old friend, Captain Logan. He redeemed it from the old trapper who had it and sent it to the commanding officer at Cantonment Bad Lands on the Missouri river. An officer was sent to deliver the ring to Mrs. Logan at Helena, and since then the ring has been worn by William R. Logan, oldest son of the captain.

"For years no trace was had of the Masonic ring and all hope of recovering it was given up by the family. In 1900, however, nearly twenty-three years after the fight, while William R. Logan was residing at the Black- foot agency, a Piegan squaw entered his office to lay before the agent one of the many grievances with which the Indians are afflicted. On one of her fingers she wore a band ring much worn, but still showing faintly the outlines of many Masonic emblems. Mr. Logan immediately recognized the ring as his father's and easily succeeded in purchasing it from the old squaw, who gave this brief account of her connection with it: A few months after the battle of Big Hole, a hunting party of Blackfeet and Piegans encountered a party of Nez Perces near the Cypress Hills in northern Mon- tana and a brisk fight ensued in which a number of Indians were killed on both sides. Among the fallen Nez Perces was a buck who wore this ring. The finger was removed, precisely as the corresponding finger was removed from the lawful owner of the ring some time before, and was worn by the victorious Piegan until his death, when it came into the possession of his squaw, who in turn sold it to Captain Logan's son. So, after a separation of twenty-three years, the rings again rested side by side." Mrs. Logan still survives her husband and resides at Fort McPherson, Georgia.

Sidney M. Logan was three years of age when he accompanied his parents to North Dakota, and was ten years old when his father met his death. At that time the children were taken by their mother to Helena, she engaging in stock raising operations and laboring bravely to keep her little flock together. Until he was twenty years of age, Mr. Logan was connected with the cattle industry, but subsequently entered the law offices of Warn, Toole & Wallace, and in 1889 was admitted to the bar of Montana. He started practice in Helena,

Fon Hacker.

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later went to Seattle and in 1891 came to Kalispell, where he has since been engaged in practice, having a large and representative following. In 1892 Mr. Logan was assistant secretary of state, and from 1891 to 1896 served as county attorney of Flathead county. He was elected the fifth mayor of Kalispell in 1902. From 1906 to the present time he has been connected with the park commissioners, and it is due to his efforts that Kalispell can boast of one of the finest boulevard and park systems in the state. During his administration as chief city executive, Mr. Logan was largely instrumental in securing the Carnegie Library. He is a stalwart Republican in his political views, while his religious connection is with the Disciples church, and fraternally he is connected with the Royal High- landers and B. P. O. E., past E. R. of that order.

Mr. Logan was married June 25, 1890, at Helena, Montana, to Miss Cleora Stout, daughter of R. P. and Ella (Toole) Stout, and niece of ex-Governor Toole .. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Logan : Cleora, born in 1892, at Helena, a graduate of the high school of that city; Mary Luella, born in 1894, and now attending the Kalispell high school; Eula Odelia, born in 1896, and now attending the Kalispell high school; Sidney M., Jr., born in 1897, and now attending the Kalispell high school; and William R., born in 1898 and now attending the high school of Kalispell. A man thoroughly representative of the best type of citizenship, and one whose earnest endeavors have re- sulted in the founding and successful completion of a number of movements calculatci to be of benefit to his community, Mr. Logan commands the full respect and confidence of his community, where he and his family are widely and favorably known.

NOBLE M. WALKER was born in Helena on August 20, 1872. The first eight years of his life were spent in the Montana capital and then his parents moved to Wisconsin. After a stay of less than two years they returned to Montana, this time .taking up their residence in Butte. From here they went to Fort Benton and then in 1883 came to Lewistown and have since lived here continuously. Joseph C. Walker was born in Springfield, raised in Iowa near Keokuk. He first came to Montana from his home in Springfield, Illinois, in 1863. Like most of the settlers who came at that period, Mr. Walker engaged in mining but later he went into the lumbering business. He was married in Iowa to Miss Ruby A. Mason and they became the parents of three children. The other son, Joseph Walker, died in Lewistown where both the father and mother ended their days. Mrs. Walker passed away in 1896 at the age of fifty-six, and her husband twelve years later in his seventy-ninth year. Their one daughter, Margaret, lives in Lewistown.

Noble Walker went to school in Helena and also in Wisconsin. It was in the former place that he received the most of his education, taking both a school and a business college course. When he came to Lewistown he began his apprenticeship in the hardware business. He was with the Montana Hardware Company two years before he came with his present company, and his rise has been with the Judith Hardware Company. Starting as a clerk he rose to the position of stock- holder, officer and then manager of the company, which position he still holds. It took him just six years to climb this ladder, so that before he was thirty he was at the head of one of the large concerns of the Judith country. He was not altogether inexperienced in prac- tical business, as he had been a stockman before coming to Lewistown. Six years before he entered the employ of the Judith Hardware Company he had earned his first money herding cattle at the wages of $1.00 a day. This was fair compensation for a boy of fifteen and Mr. Walker studied the business from its foundation, just as he did later in the hardware trade. The Judith

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 57

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