A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 9

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

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Mr. Cohen was energetic and ambitious, with a keen sense of business, and from the beginning his venture proved even more successful than he had dared to hope. He knew instinctively what his patrons of the west seemed to need and these goods he furnished, thus sav- ing the annoyance and delay of sending to the east for every small article of apparel. Under his clever man- agement his business so increased that in 1872 he was able to sell out his western interests and to return to New York with an income amply sufficient for his needs. In the following year he was united in mar- riage with Miss Yetta Poznanski. She was, like her hus- band, a native of New York City and was the daughter of Morris Poznanski, a merchant of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Cohen were married on the 22nd of January, 1873, when Mrs. Cohen was but seventeen years of age. For several years they lived in the American metropolis in comparative luxury, Mr. Cohen being engaged in no active business, but devoting himself to the looking after his investments. During the years of his pros- perity in the west he had purchased with his earnings stocks and bonds on the New York market, but a serious financial depression caused him to lose heavily. About this time the great findings at Leadville, Colo- rado, and the subsequent growth of that town was the uppermost topic throughout the country, and Mr. Cohen took his little family and with the remnant of his for- tunes started at once for Leadville, to retrieve, if pos-

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sible, his Wall street losses. Arriving in Colorado, he opened a large mercantile establishment, and with his former success accumulated another fortune, which he invested in real estate. Not anticipating the sudden slump, his savings again took wings and his second fortune was sadly depleted. He returned once more to New York City, there engaging in the retail merchan- dise business, in which he was fairly successful, but the western fever seized him once more, and with his family he removed to Helena, Montana, where, for nearly twenty years Mr. Cohen was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits, with only fair success. He then re- moved to Seattle, Washington, where he spent the few remaining years of his life, his death occurring on De- cember 8, 1908.

Samuel Cohen was an orthodox Jew and a member of the Synagogue, as were all his family. He was an enthusiastic Mason, and a member of Ancient Chapter, No. 1, of New York City. Politically he remained a Jeffersonian Democrat until the last.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cohen. Amy M. was born in New York City, on August 12, 1876; she is now the wife of Joseph Rosenthal, and they make their home in San Francisco. Another daughter, Mabel, was born in Leadville, and lived but two years. Lew Allen is the eldest son; Almont M. was born in Helena, Montana, ou the 30th of November, 1890, and is living with his mother in Seattle, Washing- ton.

Lew Allen Cohen, the eldest child of his parents, was born during his father's earliest. prosperity. He was born in New York, on January 11, 1874, and during his early years he attended the schools of his native city. Then came the ebb of his father's fortunes and he was obliged to continue his studies in Helena, after the removal of the family to the west. At the age of sixteen he felt it incumbent upon him to become self supporting, and he accepted a position as bookkeeper with the firm of Sands Brothers. In 1893 he was made department manager for the same concern, then the oldest established dry goods house in Montana. For fourteen years Lew Cohen was associated with this firm, and in 1907, upon the reorganization of the com- pany, he became president of the corporation, with Mr. S. J. Holzman as secretary and treasurer. This house is not only the oldest, but by far the largest of its kind in the state, employing more than fifty persons in the establishment, and it is evident that Mr. Cohen has inherited much of his father's business sagacity.

During the holiday season of 1900, he won for his wife Miss Yetta Feldberg, the daughter of Jacob Feld- berg, one of the pioneer families of the west. They have no children.

Mr. Cohen is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, King Solomon Lodge, No. 9, of Helena, Montana, Helena Lodge of Perfection, No. 4, Helena Consistory, No. 3, Helena Council of Kadosh, No. 3, and the Chap- ter of Rose Croix, No. 3. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World. He is a diligent worker in the Retail Merchant's Association and the Commercial Club, and he is known for one of the enterprising and pro- gressive business men of the state, who has the best interests of his city and community at heart.

GEORGE W. MORSE. A grand old pioneer in Montana and one who early served this commonwealth by dis- covering a number of unexplored points, such as Indian creek (now Radersburgh), Bilk Gulch and Weasel creek, is Colonel George W. Morse, who was long en- gaged in the cattle and ranching business in the vicinity of Drummond but who is now living virtually retired in this . place. He is intrinsically loyal and public- spirited in connection with all that affects the good of Montana and of his home community. He enjoys the distinction of having heen first presidential elector from

this state and he has attended every Republican state convention since his advent in Montana.

Colonel George W. Morse was born at Whitefield, Maine, December 2, 1838, and he is a son of Daniel and Mary A. (Norris) Morse, the former of whom was born in England, whence he came to America as a young man, and the latter of whom was a native of White- field, Maine. The father was a sea-captain, but made his home in the state of Maine, where was solemnized his marriage and where all his children were born. Mr. Morse passed to the life eternal in 1866, aged sev- enty-six years, and she died in 1880, at the age of seventy years. Both are buried in Maine. The Colonel was the fifth in order of birth of the six children born to his parents and of that number three are living at the present time in 1912.

The early education of Colonel Morse was obtained in the public schools of his native state. He earned his first money as a boy of eight years by dropping potatoes in the planting season. His salary was five cetits for a day's work; he was paid in pennies and as one of them was bad he really only netted four cents for his first day's work. As a youth he worked in a lumber mill for a salary of thirteen dollars per month and out of this meager pay he managed to save enough to start for the west. He paid his fare as far as the Mississippi river and from that place worked his way on a boat to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he resided and worked in a sawmill for the next four years, during which time he helped put in the first dam ever built across the Mississippi river. In 1856 he went to Lou- isiana and there was employed for one year in the tim- ber department of a railroad company. He later re- turned to Minnesota and thence went to Pikes Peak, where he remained until 1862, when he came to Mon- tana. He has since been a resident of this state except for a short time spent in Idaho, where he followed prospecting and mining. Returning to Helena in 1865, he prospected for about one year in the vicinity of that place and then joined the crowd as a prospector in the famous Sun River stampede. It was at this time, while out on one of his prospecting trips, that he discovered Indian creek. Subsequently he went to Reynolds City and there followed mining for some six years, during which time he made two other valuable discoveries that are to this day placed to his credit, namely, Bilk Gulch and Weasel creek. From this district he went to New Chicago, two miles from Drummond, and there pur- chased a ranch, engaging in farming and mining for a number of years. He recently disposed of part of his ranching interests and came to Drummond, where he engaged actively in the cattle business, buying and shipping stock to various of the largest markets. Since 1910, however, he has lived virtually retired, content- ing himself with giving a general supervision to his numerous interests in this section of the state. He is possessed of remarkable ability as a business man and although he has now reached the venerable age of seventy-four years, is still as active and energetic as many a man of half his years.

Colonel Morse received his title of "Colonel" while in Minnesota during the time of the Spinet Lake mas- sacre by the Sioux Indians. Governor Ramsey called for volunteers to subdne the Indian insurrections and eighty young men responded to the call. They orga- nized a company, and although these young volunteers did not see any active fighting, as the Indians had in the meantime disappeared, before disbanding they elected Mr. Morse colonel, and the title has stuck to him during the long intervening years to the present time.

In politics Colonel Morse is a stalwart Republican and he has served as county commissioner for a period of three terms. Hc is an ardent party fighter and was the first presidential elector from the state of Montana. He cast the state's vote for President. He attends all

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the Republican state conventions and is an active worker fornia; John L., living in Homer, Louisiana and Eliza- beth, the widow of J. Noland, living in Athens, Illinois. in behalf of party interests. Colonel Morse attended the organization of the Republican party in 1856 in the Sanford Ruffner began his educational training in private schools in Kentucky, and completed it in Mis- souri, after which he served a full apprenticeship of three years to the carpenter's trade. He worked at that vocation in Independence, Missouri, until 1860, in the spring of which year he started for Colorado with an ox-team, stopping the first season in California 'Gulch, the present site of Leadville, and going to Denver in 1861. He remained in that city until the fall of the same year, when he returned to Missouri, but again in the next spring turned his face toward the west, his destination being Carson City, Nevada. During this trip, which was made by ox-team, Mr. Ruffner experienced all the hardships, privations and dangers encountered by the sturdy pioneers. The wagon train which he had joined was a large one, having at least territory of Minnesota, and has ever since, with the ex- ception of 1896, supported the Republican party on na- tional issues. In 1912 he became allied with the Na- tional Progressive party, and served as a delegate to the convention in Chicago when the party was orga- nized and nominated Colonel Roosevelt for the presi- dency. He is a Knight Templar Mason, being a mem- ber of the Ruby Lodge, No. 36, at Drummond, but for many years had been a member of the blue lodge at Deer Lodge, and a noble of the Mystic Shrine, affiliat- ing with Algeria Temple at Helena. He is also affili- ated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is a member of the Society of Montana Pioneers, of which he has served as vice-president several terms. For several years he was a member of the school board at New Chicago, and while he is not formally con- . one hundred wagons, and the numerous men were kept nected with any religious organization he contributes liberally to the support of all the churches at Drum- mond, insisting that they are all good. Colonel Morse was an intimate friend of the late Colonel Sanders and was in service under him in many campaigns. He is interested in horse races and loves to see a good boxing match. He devotes a great deal of his spare time to reading, being particularly well informed on the politi- cal situations of the day.

In Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1877, Colonel Morse was united in marriage to Miss Mattie J. Milliken, a daugh- ter of Edward and Serfrances Milliken, formerly of Maine. Colonel and Mrs. Morse are the parents of two children, both boys: George A. is married and is en- gaged in the real-estate business at Drummond and Aviral P. is likewise married and lives in this place, where he is most successfully engaged in the general merchandise business.

Colonel Morse holds distinctive prestige as one of the good, grand and honorable pioneers who have made Montana one of the finest states in the Union. His entire life has been characterized by upright, honorable principles, and it also exemplifies the truth of the Emer- sonian philosophy that "The way to win a friend is to be one." He is a man of great philanthropy, but there is a modesty and lack of all ostentation in his work as a benefactor. In this day, when disinterested citizen- ship is all too rare a jewel, it is helpful to reflect upon a course of high-minded patriotism such as that of Colonel Morse. His genial kindly manner have won him the high regard of all with whom he has come in contact and he is sincerely beloved by all his fellow citizens at Drummond.

SANFORD RUFFNER. For more than half a century a resident of Gallatin county, Montana, during which time he has been a witness of the growth of this sec- tion of the country from the home of the red man and the haunt of wild animals to a center of commercial, industrial and agricultural activity, Sanford Ruffner, now retired and living in his home at 305 Bozeman avenue, South, is highly deserving of a prominent place among those who have assisted in making Mon- tana's history. During his long and useful residence here, Mr. Ruffner was engaged in various occupations, and while succeeding in a financial way, he also gained prominence in public and social circles, identifying himself with all movements which his judgment gave him to believe were for the benefit of his community. He was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, February 8, 1834, and is a son of Samuel Ruffner, a native of Pennsylvania, who fought in the War of 1812, after- wards removed to Kentucky, and in 1849 went to Mis- souri, where he was living at the time of his demise in 1869. There were nine children in the family, and Mr. Ruffner has two brothers and a sister now living: James, born in 1820, a resident of San Francisco, Cali-

under strict military order by the leader, Captain Anderson. Not long after their start they were warned of the perils that awaited them by the sight of smoking ruins, slain stock and massacred emigrants, and these grisly evidences of the activity of the hostile Indians caused the party to exercise the utmost vigilance, in spite of which one white man lost his life and many of the emigrant band were wounded in the almost nightly skirmishes with the savages. When they reached the Platte river, the little party voted to come to Mon- tana instead of Nevada, and took a route via the Landis cut-off, intending to locate on Salmon river, but, re- ceiving unfavorable reports of that locality, changed their course to Deer Lodge, where they arrived in September, 1862, and where Mr. Ruffner remained for one month. He then wintered in Bannack and worked at mining, and at his trade, until the fall of 1863. A short time prior to leaving this locality, Mr. Ruffner had done quite a large business in making coffins to bury the men that had died and were hung, and also built a scaffold for Sheriff Plummer to hang a man on, the sheriff subsequently meeting his own death on the same platform not long thereafter. During his mining days in the lawless camp, Mr. Ruffner was acquainted with many of the notorious gentry of the time, among them George Ives, Buck Stinson and others. During the fall of 1863 he outfitted and went to Salt Lake City for provisions, and so successful was he in this line that he made several trips, on the second of which, while on his return journey, he en- countered Judge Smith, who was making his way out, having been banished from the country. The lawless element, during the years of 1863, 1864 and 1865, was greatly in evidence, and Mr. Ruffner can recall numer- ous thrilling episodes that marked the times. He states that it was no unusual thing to be awakened by shooting during the night, and the first question in the morning would invariably be: "Who have you for breakfast?" Mr. Ruffner turned his attention to ranching in the fall of 1864, locating on a property on Bozeman creek, about two and one half miles from Bozeman, and continued thereon until 1906, in the fall of which year he and his wife and daughters, Stella and Leila, went to Spokane, Washington, to spend the winter with their daughter, Mrs. Harry K. Brown. After remaining there during the winter, they all went to Long Beach, Washington, and in the fall of 1907 returned to Bozeman and lived in their comfortable home at No. 318 Tracy avenue. In 1911 they moved to their new home at 305 Bozeman avenue, South, and on December 16, 1912, went to California to spend the winter.

On October 28, 1869, Mr. Ruffner was united in mar- riage with Miss Sara J. Switzler, of Salt Lake City, daughter of James L. Switzler, a native of Virginia. Seven children have been born to this union, namely: Olla M., the wife of Harry K. Brown, now residing

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at Berkeley, California; Charles S., county treasurer of Gallatin county, who married Grace Pound and has one daughter; Lester, who married Beatrice Schmall- housen; Stella A .. who was married December 16, 1912, to Raymond Baker, a partner in the Crown Scenic Studio, Bozeman; Leila, who makes her home with her parents; a child who died in infancy; and Fred- erick Eugene, who died at the age of eight years.

During the years of his activity as a rancher, Mr .. Ruffner displayed marked ability and business acumen, and his property of six hundred acres, in the Gallatin valley, was a model of neatness and prosperity. In addition to large crops of wheat, oats, barley and hay, he was successful in raising ·valuable cattle and sheep, his buildings were of the most modern and substantial construction, and he was looked upon as one of the leading ranchmen .of his district. A friend of educa- tion, morality and good citizenship, he allied himself with every movement for the public welfare, and served for a number of years as a member of the school board. He ever took a keen interest in both the Association of Pioneers of Montana and the Pioneer Society of Gallatin County, and is still highly valued in both, having served as president of the former in 1898, and of the latter in 1910.

SAMUEL T. HAUSER. Among the earliest pioneers in the van of advancing civilization in the northwest was Hon. Samuel T. Hauser, ex-governor of the ter- ritory of Montana, one of the forceful and energetic factors that brought fruition to the hopes of the most sanguine optimists concerning the welfare of this young commonwealth. To outline his career during the territorial and state epochs is to sketch much of the history of the country which he has seen emerge from the ruggedness of a wilderness to become the home communities of cultured, refined and progressive citi- zens, and when, in 1885, President Cleveland named him governor of the territory, the appointment called forth from the people of Montana uniform approval and endorsement.

Samuel T. Hauser was born in Falmouth, Pendle- ton county, Kentucky, on January 10, 1833. His early education, the foundation of wider scholastic attain- ments, was received in the public schools, and in 1854, when he was twenty-one years old, he removed to Missouri, where as a civil engineer he was employed by different railroad companies. Later he served as assistant engineer in building the Missouri Pacific and Northern Pacific Railroads, and was chief engineer on the Lexington branch of the former. the division extending from Lexington to Sedalia, Missouri, and he held this important office until 1862. In the earlier half of that year he came up the Missouri to Fort Benton, and in June crossed the country to the head- waters of the Columbia river, where he prospected for gold for a time. The same year he came to Bannack, then just opening its treasures to the industrious nlacer miner, and in the autumn he trailed down the Yellowstone over the Lewis and Clarke course. The history of this, the "Yellowstone expedition of 1863," the story of its hardships, its perils and its romance, is one of the most thrilling in the annals that chronicle the "winning of the west." and among that adventurous band of sturdy pioneers, opening to advancing thou- sands a new world, teeming with mineral wealth and affording perennial and luxurious pasturage for mil- lions of cattle and sheep, none was more indefatig- able, none braver and none more sagacious and re- sourceful than Governor Hauser. The history of this civil-military enterprise is preserved in the journal of Captain James Stuart and in the ably collated reminis- cences of Governor Hauser. There were fifteen men in the party. On the night of May 12. 1863, the party was attacked by Indians, and a number of the men were seriously wounded. Mr. Hauser received a

wound in the left breast, the ball passing through a memorandum book in his shirt pocket and lodging in a rib over his heart, the presence of the book saving his life. His intrepid bravery was shown on more than one instance during this trip, and of the expe- dition a local history has said that it "must certainly be credited with discovery of the Virginia mines and the opening of the Yellowstone country. Through it came the information and most of the enterprise which placed Montana a leader among the territories within a short time after the first American settlements were made." This was but one of the many distinguished services which Mr. Hauser has rendered Montana.

It was at once seen that a new leader of men had come to the territory and his abilities were speedily recognized. In 1865, in company with M. P. Lang- ford, Mr. Hauser organized a bank at Virginia City, under the firm name of S. T. Hauser & Company. But here his enterprise did not linger. Those were days of action, industry and push. Soon afterward he organized a mining company, and at Argenta he built the first furnace erected in the territory. He con- tinued the work of injecting life, strong commercial life, into various communities. He organized in 1866 the First National Bank of Helena, the St. Louis Mining Company at Phillipsburg, later the Hope Min- ing Company, and here was erected the first silver mill of the territory. Other financial institutions which sprang into being through his action were the First National Bank of Butte, the First National of Fort Benton and the First National of Missoula. Governor Hauser then associated himself with other enterpris- ing capitalists and built these railroads: Helena & Boulder Valley, Helena & Jefferson County, Drummon & Phillipsburg, Helena & Red Mountain, Helena North- ern, and Missoula & Bitter Root Valley. He also or- ganized the Helena & Livingston Smelting & Reduc- tion Company. Governor Hauser is a Democrat, and in the councils of Democracy his influence has been one of potency, while he has been an earnest and able exponent of and worker in the heat of numerous campaigns. In 1884 he was a delegate to the Dem- ocratic national convention, in which he was one of the committee to notify the nominees, Cleveland and Hendricks, of their nomination. In July, 1885, Presi- dent Cleveland named him as governor of the terri- tory of Montana, and he was its first resident gover- nor. After a service of eighteen months he resigned the gubernatorial office, his administration being one of signal discrimination and ability, one which con- served the best interests of the territory. In his fra- ternal relations Mr. Hanser is identified with the time- honored order of Freemasons. In 1871 Governor Hauser was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Far- rar. a daughter of a distinguished physician of St. Louis. Missouri, and of this union two children have been born, Ellen and Samuel Thomas. Jr. The fine presence of Governor Hauser and his manly char- acter have endeared him to all with whom he has met in business or social relations.

Governor Hauser's long connection with civil en- gineering led him into scenes that were often thrilling and sometimes involved personal peril. We will give one heretofore unpublished episode in his career that is replete with realism. It occurred a few months sub- sequent to the breaking out of the Civil war, and the scene was in Missouri, where the Governor was assisting in the construction of a railroad in some of the "back counties." He learned that a man was to be tried for his life by a justice of the peace. To Mr. Hauser this proceeding appeared strange and un- warranted, and with a friend who was a resident of the locality, he went to the "court." where they found a young man of not unprepossessing appearance charged with placing poison in a spring. There was no evidence whatever to indicate that poison had ever been put

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into the spring, but the court had evidently been con- vened to convict the prisoner, and this was done quickly. The condemned man was led to a neighbor- ing grove, a rope was thrown over a limb of a tree and he was asked if he had anything to say. He re- plied that he was innocent of the alleged crime, and requested that his mother might be informed of what he had said as he thus stood in the shadow of death. The pathetic incident and the wrong of it aroused the indignation of Mr. Hauser and he loudly protested that the proceedings were unlawful and that no justice court in the Union held jurisdiction over human life. Instantly a hundred malignant faces were turned toward the intruder on Missouri "justice," and he was vigor- ously cursed as a Yankee. His friend tried to explain 'that Mr. Hauser was a Kentuckian, but the mob was obdurate. At that instant his friend, a powerful athlete, suddenly pulled him from his horse in time to avoid his being shot by one of the guards, and then threw. him upon his horse and started homeward at a gallop. The daring efforts of Mr. Hauser were made in vain, and, as subsequently ascertained, an innocent man was lynched. Mr. Hauser wrote to Senator Vest, who was then publishing a paper at Boonville, Missouri, and in which he printed the let- ter. It in time found its way to that section, and as a result the Governor was warned to leave the country, but he remained and completed his work. This was but one incident of the many exciting and tragical scenes through which he passed in the old times, and it illustrates both his kindly qualities of mind and heart, and his courage. In conclusion we will briefly advert to his genealogy. His father, also Samuel T. Hauser, was born in North Carolina, and was gradu- ated from the university of that state in 1817, with the degree of A. B. A lawyer of eminence, he served with distinction on the bench of Kentucky, his later home, and where he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Kenneth, of that state. They had four sons and three daughters. The paternal grandfather of Governor Hauser was George Hauser, born in Ger- many, whence he immigrated to the United States prior to the Revolution, in which he served in the North Carolina troops, in which state he died.

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 9

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