A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 98

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

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Tennessee river the army turned towards Huntsville, Alabama, where it went into winter quarters, for the winter of 1864-65. At Huntsville, under orders of the division commander, camps were laid out, each regiment having a street to itself, and here were also built fine log cabins, each cabin to contain four men, and having a fireplace for heating and cooking purposes. The cabins were covered with "pup-tents" which the men had carried for shelter during stormy weather. "The chaplain of the regiment, E. F. Pettibone," relates the colonel, "rendered splendid service as a worker and builder of these cabins, and the officers and men worked as they had fought." When the camps of the division had all been completed, the Seventy-fourth Regiment was complimented by the division commander in a general order, as having built the best camp in the division. There they remained until March, when they were ordered to Blue Springs in eastern Tennessee, where the regiment was engaged in rebuilding the rail- road which the enemy had torn up. Here Captain Bryan had charge of daily details of about eight hun- dred men to make ties for the road, and it was at this point that the regiment was stationed at the time of General Lee's surrender to General Grant and the assassination of President Lincoln. Upon the receipt of the news of General Lee's surrender, there was a great jubilee in the evening, and the troops could not be prevented from firing a large amount of their ammu- nition. With the news of Lincoln's death following closely, the camp of rejoicing was turned into mourning ; no other experience of war had caused such general gloom.

Upon Col. Jason Marsh's retiring from the army by resignation on account of his wounds, he recommended to Governor Yates, Captain Bryan for promotion to the head of the regiment over the major, who was then and had been for some time on detached duty. On the day before the battle of Nashville, Captain Bryan rode to Nashville in company with Chaplain Pettibone, and upon their return Adjutant Potter notified Captain Bryan that a letter had been received from Captain Blakesley, who was on leave of absence and had visited Springfield and talked with the state officers in regard to promotions in the regiment, in which it was stated that the governor and adjutant general did not wish to promote one officer over another without the recommen- dation of the line officers then with the regiment, but would appoint such officer as might be recommended by a majority of the officers of the regiment. The adjutant further notified Captain Bryan that they had already held an election and had elected him unani- mously for such promotion and had forwarded the result of the election to the adjutant general of Illinois, and he received his commission as lieutenant colonel on arrival at Huntsville, Alabama, and later received his commission as colonel.

On July 4, 1868, at Dunlap, Iowa, Colonel Bryan was married to Fannie A. Bishop, daughter of Benjamin B. and Mehitable Bishop, pioneers of Iowa, residing at that time ou a farm near Dunlap. Miss Bishop was educated in the common schools of Wisconsin and had taught school for a time. Always a lover of animals, she became in later life proficient in the art of painting them, particularly cattle and horses. She died Septem- ber 21, 1904, at Lemon Grove, California, at the age of fifty-seven years, having been the mother of one child : Mary A., born in 1869, who died in infancy. Mrs. Bryan made many friends wherever she resided, and had been an affectionate and faithful wife for thirty-six years. She was a consistent Christian and a member of the Baptist church.

On October 25, 1905, Colonel Bryan was married to Miss Eveleen Kennedy, daughter of Cornelius and Mary Ann Kennedy, during their lifetime well-known resi- dents of Delaware county, Iowa, having for many years

resided on a farm near Colesburg, Iowa. Mrs. Bryan was educated in the public schools of Delaware county and at Lenox College, at Hopkinton, Iowa. She taught school for a time and then became a stenographer, the latter profession leading to the study of law, which she pursued for some time, followed by her admission to the bar of Montana, in which state she practiced for several years at Miles City. In 1905 she was admitted to the bar of California, and began the practice of her profession at San Diego, which she discontinued at the time of her marriage and has not since resumed it. She was a charter member of Custer Chapter No. 25, Order of the Eastern Star, at Miles City, Montana, and is a past matron of that chapter. She also takes an active interest in church work and women's clubs. Colonel and Mrs. Bryan have one son, Thomas James Bryan, Jr., born January 28, 1908, who was received into their home June 15, 1908, and legally adopted by them June 15, 1909. They reside in their beautiful home, "Casa Coronelia," at Lemon Grove, where they entertain many Montana friends.

GEORGE L. WILLIAMS. Nearly forty years ago, a young New Englander, inoculated with the desire for the West, crossed the North American continent to find for him- self whether it was all his imaginings had painted it, and roseate as are the dreams of youth, he found them to have been true. In other words, he followed the celebrated advice of Horace Greeley, "Go West young man, and grow up with the country." He is to be found today a worthy, progressive and generally re- spected citizen of White Sulphur Springs. He is typ- ically Western-democratic, independent, honest, enter- prising-popular with the law-abiding, feared by those whose business takes them into devious ways, for he is serving his third term as sheriff, and Meagher county has never had a more effective and faithful enforcer of the laws. The offender against the rights of society remembers uncomfortably that when George L. Williams starts after a man he gets him. In addition to his praiseworthy service in this most difficult and important of. public capacities, Mr. Williams is interested in ranching and owns a fine property, and is familiar with the natural resources of the state as are few men.

Mr. Williams was born in West Stockbridge, Massa- chusetts, February 7, 1861. He resided in the locality of his birth until about the age of sixteen years, and then started forth to seek his fortunes. He tarried in Michigan for about six months, pursuing various occu- pations and went from that state to Wyoming. There for one year he herded horses and then came on to Montana, reaching the state in 1881. He secured work herding cattle again and engaged in this life for about a decade, after which he embarked in cattle-raising and ranching for himself and he has followed this continuously ever since that time. He has prospered in marked degree and is now one of the large opera- tors of Meagher county. He is known throughout the length and breadth of the county and has contributed in marked degree to its development.

Mr. Williams is the son of Lorenzo Williams, who was born in Connecticut and made his home in that state until the outbreak of the Civil war. He was one of the gallant host who offered their services to their country in its hour of need, serving three years in the great conflict and losing his left eye in an engage- ment, after which he was honorably discharged. After the termination of hostilities, he located in Massa- chusetts, where he resided until his death, 1912. This much respected gentleman was in his younger days a wheelwright, but has followed farming throughout the greater part of his life, and was retired from the more strenuous activities of life. His cherished and devoted wife and life companion was before her marriage Jennie Lyons, and her demise occurred in June, 1911, at the

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age of seventy-three years. Both their remains are interred near the old Massachusetts homestead. There were six children in the elder Williams family, the subject being the second in order of birth and ' the eldest son. He has one brother in this state, Ira I. Williams, who resides on a ranch in Meagher county.

Mr. Williams received his early education in the schools of the Bay state. He disciplined his young strength to the labor of his father's farm and became very familiar with the many departments of agriculture. He earned an occasional small amount working for neighbors and always gave this money to his father.

In his political faith Mr. Williams gives hand and heart to the Democratic party, which he has supported since his earliest voting days. He takes an active in- terest in matters political and his support is deemed a very material acquisition. He was under sheriff for four years previous to his election to the main office. He was also sheep inspector at one time and has been a member of the school board. As sheriff he has had some wonderful experiences and has made many note- worthy arrests. One particularly important was that of the notorious outlaw Metzger, whom the subject, assisted by only one man, brought to bay in the moun- tains and landed him safely behind the bars. Metzger was tried, convicted and hanged. In fact, the sheriff's strenuosity in the performance of his duties is said to have a noticeable and salutary effect upon morals in the county.

Mr. Williams leans towards no particular church, but believes that all are working towards the same good end and is glad to give all what help he can. He is a prominent and popular fraternity man, belong- ing to the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In Oddfellowship he has twice passed the chairs. Mr. Williams is wholesomely inclined towards out-of-door life, is a renowned follower of Nimrod and equally fond of fishing. His home is adorned with a number of fine heads which he secured himself in the hunt. He loves the great American game-baseball, delights in horses and driving and always keeps some fine stock on hand. He owns a nice private library, well-selected and high class, and well enjoys a quite hour therein. He is one of the most loyal of the citi- zens of Montana, believing it the very garden spot of the world. Said he, apropos of this subject, "I have seen Montana go through various stages of develop- ment and am fully convinced that it is the best state in the Union." With Montana the lines are appro- priate,

"None knew thee but to love thee, None named thee but to praise."

Mr. Williams was happily married in Meagher county on his ranch, the date of his union being October 29, 1895, and the young woman who promised to share his fortunes thereafter being Effie Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fielding R. Smith, of Quincy, Illinois. They have two interesting children, both sons, as fol- lows: Earl and Fulton. Ira, the eldest son, died March 29, 1903.

PATRICK FENTON DOWLING. Among the men who began their careers at the bottom of the ladder in Mon- tana and have since attained independence in material circumstances and distinction as citizens, one whose name is familiar to hundreds of the mining men of the state, is Patrick Fenton Dowling, of Basin.

Born in Redfield, Oswego county, New York, on the 5th of November, 1861, and educated in the public schools there, at the age of twenty he came west and located in Butte, December, 1881. His first dollar was earned by shingling a barn for old Billy Thompson at Butte. He also did teaming and various other kinds of work, and then began working at day wages in the Alta minc. From this time his progress was steady and

sure. He was made superintendent of the Daisy Min- ing Company's properties at Cook City, then became manager of the Bonanza Chief mine, and later leased this property. In 1907 Mr. Dowling bought from W. A. Clark the Ruby gold and silver mine in Jefferson county, twelve miles from Basin, the purchase price being seventy-five thousand dollars. This mine has been a great producer and has made its owner independent. Under Mr. Dowling's management the mine has been finely equipped, and he resides during the greater part of the year near enough to give his personal direction to the enterprise, having a pleasant home at Basin. He is also owner of valuable city property in Helena. Mr. Dowling is a director of the Montana Life Assurance .Company.

In 1908 he was honored by election to the state legis- lature, and served one term. In politics he is a Demo- crat. Fraternally his affiliation is with the Masons, of which he is past master, and the Odd Fellows, in which he is a past grand.

Mr. Dowling's wife was, before her marriage, Miss Maggie B. Wells. Her father, Luke F. Wells, was among the pioneers of California. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dowling: Irene D., who is a graduate of high school and business college; Amy D., a student in high school; Eugene; Edna; Lelia ; George; and Ernest.

The father of Mr. Dowling was Michael Dowling, a native of Ireland, and who for many years was a sub- stantial farmer in Redfield, Oswego county, New York, where he is buried. The mother was Mary Cavanaugh, who was born in New York and is still living on the old home farm in that state.

JOHN MARTIN SEAMAN. Although a native of North Dakota, John Martin Seaman, of Livingston, has spent practically his entire life within the limits of Montana, for he came to this state when but five years of age, and still remembers the trip up the Yellowstone river on a wood-burning steamer. He is now one of the prominent and successful business men of Livingston, being proprietor of a first class pharmacy in the post office block, and has also joined in activities of a public and social nature. Mr. Seaman was born August 12, 1876, in Valley City, North Dakota, and is a son of Peter and Julia (Pursell) Seaman. His father was a native of Berlin, Germany, whence he came to the United States as a young man, and drifted to Minnesota. Later he located in Barnes county, North Dakota, and at one time owned the land on which now stands the city of Valley City, with 4,606 population. He engaged in railroad contracting on the Northern Pacific, along the line into Montana, and came to Clark City, now Livingston, Montana, in 1881. For some years he was engaged in farming and stock raising, and also built the first lime kiln in Park county in 1888. For a time he resided in Anaconda, but eventually returned to Livingston, engaging in the bakery and confectionery business for about five years and then locating in Butte. In addition to being the owner of considerable real estate in Butte, he continues in the cattle business, and has a large ranch near Boulder. He is a stanch Repub- lican in politics, and was the first postmaster of Valley City, while his religious belief is that of the German Lutheran church. His wife, a native of Ireland, passed away in 1900.

John Martin Seaman was the only child of his par- ents, and although he was but a mere child, well re- members the trip made by the family in 1881. They traveled as far as they could by rail, to Bismarck, North Dakota, then going up the Yellowstone river on an old wood-burning steamer to the present site of Miles City, and moving on to Clark City, now known as Livingston. In the public schools of the latter place,

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Mr. Seaman secured his early education, and this train- ing was supplemented by attendance at Northwestern University, Chicago. Graduated in the pharmaceutical class of 1898, he returned to Livingston and engaged in business, and has built up an excellent trade among the people in whose community he has spent almost all of his life. He has a well-conducted establishment, with every department complete, and numerous con- veniences for his large patronage. Added to a natural gift for his profession, he is possessed of progressive ideas, business ability, and a pleasant and courteous manner that has drawn to him many friends. His popularity was evidenced in 1906 when he was the suc- cessful Republican candidate for the office of alderman of the Second ward. In fraternal matters Mr. Seaman has associated himself with Livingston Lodge, B. P. O. E .; Zephyr Camp No. 151, W. O. W., and other societies.

In 1901, Mr. Seaman was married to Miss Agnes Main, who was born in Scotland, a daughter of James and Margaret Main, the former of whom died in 1910, while the latter survives. Mrs. Seaman is the fourth in order of birth of her parents' five children. She and her husband have had six children: John Martin, Tr., James who died in infancy, Aline Helen, Richard, Donald and Julia Elizabeth.

Ex-MAYOR WILLIAM C. WHIPPS. A man of versatile attainments and of superior distinction in Kalispell and extensive surrounding regions is William C. Whipps whose history is one of especial interest. He is of Eng- lish ancestry in early generations. His great-grand- father, Benjamin Whipps, a former slave-owner in Maryland, was among the very first white men to set- tle in Ohio. His father, Lloyd Whipps, also a native of Maryland and an Ohio pioneer, began life as a farmer but later became a hardware dealer. He was a Civil war veteran in an Ohio regiment and served with distinction during the Rebellion. Louise Grant Whipps, the mother of our subject, was a Virginian by birth, but was living in Ohio at the time of her marriage, her family also being among the early settlers of southern Ohio and remotely connected with the family of General Grant. Mr. Whipps died in 1902 at the age of 81. and Mrs. Whipps in 1865. Of their nine children William C. was the fifth.

He was born near New Lexington, Perry county, Ohio, on the 30th of August, 1856. His education con- sisted of the courses of the public schools of that place and some study in the high school. When fifteen years of age he went to Oberlin College and took a year's course in the commercial department and inci- dentally learned telegraphy. Returning home, he re- mained but a few months but left in 1872 for Nebraska which was at that time in the far west. He soon se- cured employment by the Union Pacific Railway and was sent to McPherson as operator. This place was located at the junction of the North and South Platte rivers and Fort McPherson was but a few miles away. Here a large garrison was maintained and this place was the home of Buffalo Bill (W. F. Cody), Texas Jack (Jack Omohondro) and Dr. W. F. Carver, the rifle shot. Mr. Whipps here became the intimate friend of all of these celebrities and soon was dubbed "Buf- falo Bill, Jr.," and was known by this appellation for several years afterwards. Fort McPherson was on the extreme frontier, and in the midst an Indian coun- try (the Pawnees, Sioux and Cheyennes) and the cen- ter of the buffalo region. The little town where the railroad station was located was peopled mostly by "bad" men, gamblers, horse-thieves and murderers, and Indian massacres of small white parties were of fre- quent occurrence. Mr. Whipps was the subject of several exciting adventures while located at this place and other places farther west where he was later lo-

cated. Space will not permit of their telling here. In 1875 he had been transferred to Sidney, Neb- raska, an important division point. Here also bar- racks were maintained and a regiment of soldiers kept. Always alive to opportunities of profit and adventure it was here that Mr. Whipps resigned his position with the railway company and joined a little party of five on an expedition into the Black Hills, over 200 miles away and in the midst of the Sioux and Cheyenne reservation, a most hazardous undertaking. The Indians, though not on the war path at that particular time were hostile and exceedingly averse to white men entering or com- ing upon their reservation, especially the Black Hills. Every pass and every trail were watched by them and the military also had instructions not to permit white men to enter the hills or go upon the reservation. Aware of this the little party of five stole out of Sidney at one o'clock in the morning of June 26, 1875. Travel- ing mostly by night and keeping hid during the day and undergoing many hardships and dangers, the party finally reached the hills and entered them and arrived at French Creek near Harney's Peak on July 16, 1875, being the first party to arrive there. Two or three other parties, one from Yankton, one from Pierre and one from Sioux City arrived soon after. Going on to Spring Creek the party located claims and com- menced work on them. Hardly had the party gotten started in active operations when, on the 29th day of July General Crook issued a proclamation ordering all miners and other white men out of the Hills, giving them until the 10th of August to vacate and get out. If found in there after the date mentioned they were to be made prisoners and taken to Ft. Laramie. As Gen- eral Crook had a large command in there at that time there was no recourse but to obey his proclamation. After dividing their supplies with others who had run short, the little party started on its return to Sidney and were reduced to starvation rations before arriving there, having nothing left for several days but a little flour. Thus summarily ended what might have been a profitable episode for Mr. Whipps and his party. Arriv- ing at Sidney Mr. Whipps again entered the services of the Union Pacifific Railway as agent and operator and was located at North Platte and later other places in Nebraska and Wyoming and for a time as train des- patcher at Cheyenne. Desiring a change Mr. Whipps applied for and secured a position as express messenger on the Union Pacific road and for a time was located in Omaha, Denver and later in Ogden and Salt Lake. in the spring of 1881 Mr. Whipps severed his connec- tion with the Express Company and went to Dillon, Montana, the then terminus of the Utah & Northern Railway, the first railroad to enter Montana, and accept- ed a position with the firm of Sebree, Ferris & White who were engaged in merchandising, banking and for- warding of freight. Mr. Whipps' position was with the Forwarding department and he soon rose to be the head bookkeeper and cashier of this department. The Forward- ing house and business was moved from terminus to terminus until the railroad reached Butte in the winter of 1881-2. Mr. Whipps then returned to Dillon and re- mained in the employ of the same firm and on January 3, 1883, was sent to Livingston, Montana, the then ter- minus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, to establish a forwarding business there. He managed this forwarding business and moved from terminus to terminus until the road reached Helena in the summer of 1883. He then severed his connection with Sebree, Ferris & White and accepted a position with the Merchants National Bank of Helena. He remained with this bank until the spring of 1891, having been advanced from bookkeeper to teller and the practical management of the bank in the mean- time. He left Helena on the 17th of March, 1891, for Demersville, the then metropolis of the Flathead coun- try and arrived there on the 19th of March. He there

Mahir

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

organized and started the Northwestern Bank of Dem- ersville which was the first bank to be started in what is now Flathead county. A little later he organized and started the First National Bank of Kalispell and erected the first brick building to be erected in Kalispell for the occupancy of the bank. He was its cashier and manager until 1898 when he severed his connection with it to accept the receivership of the United States Land Office, which position he held for over five years, capably dis- charging the duties of the office. Mr. Whipps next ven- ture was in the mercantile line which he has since fol- lowed and today he is the owner of one of the largest and handsomest furniture and house furnishing stores in Montana, conducted under the firm name of W. C. Whipps & Son. In 1904 Mr. Whipps erected the "Whipps Block" one of the largest and best buildings in Kalispell and occupied a portion of the building with his furniture emporium. Aside from the interests noted he has many others, including some of the finest summer home and fruit lands on the shores of Flathead lake, a tract of land adjoining the city of Kalispell, several ranches, etc. His summer home at Lake McDonald in the Glacier National Park was the first to be built there for private use. Years before the creation of the Park Mr. Whipps and his family had been spending their sum- mers at this beautiful lake. It was he, who in April, 1907, learning that the Forestry Department was nego- tiating for the sale to private parties of the timber on the shores of Lake McDonald, took the initiative in the creation of the wonderful Glacier National Park. Know- ing from observation that the denuding of this beau- tiful section of its verdant growth of timber meant its utter despoliation and ruin, he immediately took the mat- ter up by letter with the Montana senators and repre- sentatives in congress, with the Great Northern Rail- way, asking their cooperation, and with President Roose- velt direct. Describing the beauties, the magnificent scenery and wonders and the cool delightful summer climate of this grand region, and in the letter to Presi- dent Roosevelt mentioning the various kinds of wild animals, game and fish abounding there, he pictured the desolation that would result if the lumbermen were per- mitted to operate there and suggested that the entire region extending from the line of the Great Northern Railway to the Canadian boundary be created into a Na- tional Park and Game Preserve. No sooner had these letters reached Washington than a telegram came to the forestry superintendent at Kalispell telling him not to make any deals for the sale of any timber in the Lake McDonald region and soon thereafter Senator Carter introduced the bill creating the Glacier National Park. Thus was conserved to the American people for all time a resort and playground second to none in the world.

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 98

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