USA > Montana > Yellowstone County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 64
USA > Montana > Park County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 64
USA > Montana > Dawson County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 64
USA > Montana > Rosebud County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 64
USA > Montana > Custer County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 64
USA > Montana > Sweet Grass County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 64
USA > Montana > Carbon County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 64
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In 1885 Mr. Wesch was joined in wedlock with Bertha George, a native of Germany, who died at Hot Springs in 1900. In April. 1901, he was mar- ried to Hermina George, sister of his first wife. Her father was a native of northern Germany, and passed from earth in South Dakota. Her mother, Amelia (Wetzel) George, lives with our subject. The latter has two brothers, Valentine and Tobias, both in Germany. He has two sisters, Rosina and Adelhite, living in Germany. His wife has one brother, Paul.
Politically our subject is a Republican, but not an active partisan. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Eagles, A. O. U. W., Yeomen, and Mountaineers. Mr. and Mrs. Wesch have four children, Rosa, a graduate of the high school, Walter, Leo and Florence.
HON. GEORGE A. BRUFFEY, one of Montana's earliest pioneers and most indus-
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trious state builders, is residing about ten miles southeast from Livingston where he is en- gaged in general farming with stockraising and dairying. He was born in Virginia, September 24, 1842, the son of John and Elizabeth ( Call) Bruffey, both natives of Virginia, also. The father's father, Patrick Bruffey, was a native of Old Dominion State and was sheriff for many years. On the father's side of the house they came from French extraction and were early settlers in the colonies, but they have married into Scotch and Irish since those days. Mr. Bruffey's mother was the daughter of Wil- liam and Emily Call, who owned Augusta county as their native heath. On this side of the house came many patriots of the Revolu- tion, William Call being one of them. He died in 1859, aged ninety-five. He was in the Rev- olution as well as a soldier in the war of 1812.
When George was two years old his father moved to Iowa and there he received his edu- cation before he attained his eighteenth year. At that time he began life's duties for himself and for two years he was engaged in buying cattle, sheep and hogs in western Iowa. Two years later he came west and traded with the Indians in 1862, we find Mr. Bruffey manufac- turing brick in Colorado. In the fall 1863, in company with forty others. he made his way with ox teams to Akter gulch and there mined until 1866 when he removed to Jefferson river and began farming. The grasshoppers ate up his crop so he abandoned that venture. Next we see him herding cattle and in 1867 he built a toll road from Butte to Boukler City, which was a total failure. The following winter, however, Mr. Bruffey got a start by wintering freighting stock and came out in April, 1868, with one thousand dollars capital. He pros pected all summer and later went to mining in Silver Bow and made another thousand dol- lars. In August, 1869. in company with Har- rison Jordan, Mr. Bruffey opened a cheese fac- tory and followed that vocation for six years, establishing. in the meantime. the Fish Creek
Station. In 1889, Mr. Bruffey removed to Park county and located his present place and since that time he has been occupied as stated in the beginning of this article.
On February 12, 1871, Mr. Bruffey married Miss Matilda J. Ridlen, the daughter of. Wil- liam and Malinda ( Devore) Ridlen. The Rid- len family settled in Maine in 1650. To this marriage have been born the following named children : Margerie S., November 24, 1871; Almedia I .. March 22, 1873; Primees A., No- vember 21, 1874; Silvia S., February 1, 1877; Fatima. September 15, 1878; Memrous E., June 21, 1880; Emma J., June 17, 1882 ; Lora A., May 22, 1884; G. Minot, March 1, 1886; Elzina S., May 31, 1888; and Ruth M., Jan- uary 10, 1893. All of the children are living ex- cept Ruth, who was slain by an infuriated bull, July 19, 1905.
Mrs. Bruffey is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Bruffey is an active Democrat, was at the Kansas City convention, 1900, with WV. A. Clark, and is usually a delegate to the state conventions. In 1874 he was chosen to the lower house and in 1896 he was again sent to the same position. He was in the legis- lature that authorized the erection of the state capitol and was present at the laying of the corner stone. Also he was present at the spike driving on the Northern Pacific. Mr. Bruffey has been postmaster at Bruffey postoffice for sixteen years, and served as postmaster at Fish Creek on Salt Lake Road from 1874 to 1889. He is a well known citizen of Park county and one of the leading men of enterprise in this section of the state.
JOHN W. KRISE, living five miles south from Livingston, in Spring Basin, is one of the early settlers in this county and has been a a continuous resident here since the date of his immigration. His occupation here has been farming and stock raising, although by trade
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he is a skilled miller. He was born in Penn- sylvania, on February 25, 1840, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Krise, both natives of the Keystone state, also, the former born in 1810 and the latter in 1811. His paternal grandsire, Philip Krise, was also a native of Pennsylvania. The father of John W. was a miller and followed his trade all his life in his native state. During his young days our sub- ject received a good business education and also perfected himself in the milling busi- ness, and as early as sixteen was installed as a full master of the business. At that time he began life's duties on his own responsi- bility and followed his trade until 1881, when he came to Montana and settled in the Gal- latin valley, ten miles west from Bozeman. Three years were spent there and then came a move to Park county and he selected a portion of his present estate as his homestead and here he has bestowed his labors since. Prosperity has followed him, for he has been thrifty and industrious and he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, well improved and valu- able.
In 1857, Mr. Krise married Miss Margaret K. Smith, the daughter of John Smith of Pennsylvania. who followed carpentering. Three children were born to this marriage and only one of them is now living, Mrs. Jennie M. Rowe. She resides in Livingston and has two children, one daughter and one son.
For nearly fifty years Mr. Krise and his faithful wife traveled along the pilgrim way together and then, on the 25th, of November, 1904, she was called to the world beyond. She was a Christian and belonged to the Congrega- tional church with her husband. Mr. Krise is a Republican and belongs also to the A. F. & A. M. He is a member of the G. A. R. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Seventh Penn- sylvania Volunteers and after the war enlisted again, this time in the marine service and served four years. Mr. Krise is known far and
near as one of the substantial men of the county and is enjoying the competence his wise labors have provided.
DAVID PEDEN, the efficient superin- tendent of the county poor farm, located some four miles east of Miles City, in Custer county, is one of the well known men of the county and has earned a good reputation by his consistent and careful walk in business and social lines. He is a man of good executive ability and was appointed by the county com- missioners to this important position in 1900 and has manifested capability in the discharge of the duties incumbent upon him in this ca- pacity since that time. The management of the farm is excellent and the care of all the inmates is wise and done to the satisfaction of all taxpayers and Mr. Peden is to be recom- mended for his good work.
In the vicinity of Edinburgh, Scotland, November 25, 1867, David Peden was born, being the son of Jolin and Ellen (McFadden) Peden, both natives of Scotland and now living in Custer county. The father came to the United States before our subject was born and then returned for his family. They first came to Baltimore and later migrated to Michigan, where our subject was reared and educated. After the family had dwelt some years in Michigan they journeyed on west and finally landed in New Mexico, and thence they came to Montana. David was but a small boy when they all came from Scotland and he well re- members the various places the family dwelt. It was 1888 when he went to New Mexico and there he followed cowboy life for several years. Finally in 1892, he was employed by the Con- cord Cattle company to assist in bringing a herd of two thousand eight hundred and sixty head of cattle all the way from New Mexico to Montana and three months were consumed in this hard task. So well did he like Custer
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county that he determined to remain here and here he has been since. He remained in the employ of the Concord company until he was appointed to his present position and since that time he has given his time to the management of the county farm, also handling the famous imported French stallion, Boygodis.
In 1887 Mr. Peden married Miss Lettie Nelson the daughter of George and Belle (Brown) Nelson, all natives of Scotland and immigrants to this country when Mrs. Peden was a small girl. The children born to this union are Julia, Earl, and Agnes. Mr. Peden is a member of the Masons, Yellowstone No. 26, Blue Lodge, and is a progressive and up-to- date man and loyal citizen.
It is of interest to note the recent ex- perience of their oldest child, Julia. At the time she was still under fourteen, as she was on her way to school, she discovered a bridge on the Northern Pacific was burned down and knowing it was about time for the passenger. she ran at once back home, saddled her pony and rode at top speed to meet the train. She caught it as it was about to pull out of Miles City and told the conductor her story. The railroad officials highly commended the deserv- ing act of the plucky girl and to show their appreciation gave her one hundred dollars.
JOHN O'BRIEN, one of the respected and esteemed citizens of Dawson county, is at the head of a nice general merchandise bus- iness at Newlor .. In addition to this he owns a section of valuable land, handles from one hundred to two hundred head of cattle and a small bunch of sheep. For a quarter of a cen- tury he has been in this locality and has so manipulated his business that he has not only prospered exceedingly but has won the con- fidence and good will of all who know him. John O'Brien was born at Covington, Ken- tucky, on March 12, 1850, being the son of
J. H. O'Brien, a carpenter. The latter was born in Ireland in 1826. Was there educated and came to the United States in 1845, locat- ing in Brooklyn, New York. Two years later he went to Kentucky and at the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted in the Eighth Ohio Cavalry and served through the entire conflict. He was honorably discharged, then settled in Tennessee where he died in 1870. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Ohio and there remained the first sixteen years of his life. Then he enlisted in the regular army, it being 1866, and was sent to Florida in November of that year where his command remained one year. After that he was transferred to Fort Steele on the North Platte river and remained one year, then went to Fort Buford, Dakota, where he continued until his honorable discharge came in 1870. For six years following that he was occupied in various kinds of enterprises along the Mis- souri river in Dakota, and in 1876 went to the Black Hills he had intended to remain, but, owing to ill health contracted there, he came to the Yellowstone valley and drove stage. After one year of this work he was employed in a store at Fort Buford for eight months. Finally, in 1880, he came to Newlon, Montana and opened a mercantile establish- ment and also engaged in farming and stock raising and for twenty-six years he has contin- ued steadily in this enterprise, giving his skill, wisdom and undivided attention to that.
On August 11, 1881, Mr. O'Brien married Miss Ellen Kennedy, who was born in Penn- sylvania in 1852. After receiving her educa- tion from the public schools there. she went to Chicago, later to Minnesota and later to Dakota and in the spring of 1880 came to Montana. Mr. O'Brien was called to mourn the death of his wife in May. 1904. She had borne four children, two girls and two boys and only the sons, George T. and James D., are now living. They are with their father at
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Newlon. George T., being now married, is an active member of the firm.
Mr. O'Brien is a Democrat in politics al- though not very active and an adherent of the Catholic church.
He has a fine stock of merchandise of over five thousand dollars and is a substantial, up- right and candid business man.
OLE BIRKELAND is the proprietor of nine hundred and sixty acres of fine land which lies five miles southwest of Greycliff, seven hundred and sixty acres of land which was hundred are now under the ditch. When he first came here he was practically without money, but succeeded in getting hold of one hundred and sixty acres of land which was improved with a little fourteen by sixteen shack and he faced the problem of supporting the family upon a ranch and improving the same without any capital to start on. How well he has succeeded is very evident from the above estimate of his land holdings. Few men have done better and few men are more capable when it comes to the question of "do- ing things" as our President so frequently speaks of. An outline of Mr. Birkeland's life will be interesting and instructive to any young man who is starting in life in the face of obstacles. He was born at Stavanger, in the western part of Norway. December 9. 1868, and his parents. Osten and Metta (Olson) Birkeland, were natives of the same place and there reside now, the former sixty-seven and the latter seventy-seven years of age. The father followed farming and practiced as a veterinary, being also a practical horticulturist.
Our subject is the third of six children, four of whom still live, he being the only one in this country. After obtaining a good busi- ness education in the common schools, he was apprenticed at the age of fourteen years for three years to learn the shoemaker's trade.
At the end of one year, he bought himself out, as the phrase is, which means that he had so thoroughly learned the trade that he was enabled to start a shop for himself, and in order to do that he had to reimburse the man he was working for, for the two years time of apprenticeship yet to serve. Then he opened a shop and conducted it for three years. After that, he turned his attention to carpentering and followed that and contracting in company with a brother, from whom he learned the finer points of architectural work and this occu- pied him until he left for the United States. In connection with it, he also bought and sold stock. He had a good business but his desire to come to the New World was so strong that he disposed of everything and on May 27, 1895. he landed in Halstad, Minnesota. His first work was contracting for a bridge in Norman county, after which he wrought for wages until March, 1896, when he came to Bigtimber, landing there with sixty-seven cents. He immediately went to work carpent- ering and soon afterwards went out on a sheep ranch, where he was occupied for two years, after which he bought his present place. It was very difficult for him to get a start but he succeeded in getting a bunch of sheep on shares and after three years of very hard work he had a bunch of his own. In addition to his land holdings as mentioned above, which are well improved, he has considerable stock, such as cattle and horses and twelve thousand head of sheep. His irrigated land produces four hundred tons of alfalfa annually and his is an exceedingly beautiful place.
On June 4. 1898. Mr. Birkeland married Mrs. Inga ( Hoyem) Halverson, the daughter of J. and Oline Hoyem, natives of Norway, where the widowed mother lives, the father having died some time since. Mrs. Halverson had two children by her former husband. Rona and Ingra Halverson. To our subject and his wife, three children have been born, Olga, Eystean and Lulu.
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Mr. Birkeland is an active Republican. He takes an especially keen interest in school mat- ter and was the principal mover in the organi- zation of District No. II.
In religious persuasions, he and his wife are members of the Lutheran denomination.
Mr. Birkeland has certainly shown him- self to be an energetic, progressive man, and the success he has wrought out stamps him as a first-class financier, being now one of the substantial men of the county.
SIDNEY F. MORSE, city clerk of Bil- lings, Montana, was born in Gilmer, Lake County, Illinois, July 16, 1850. His father, Abial, was a native of Pomfret, Vermont, and his grandfather, who served in the war of 1812, of Massachusetts. His great-grand- father Morse was a veteran of the Revolution. The old Morse family. highly distinguished, came from England at an early day. From this branch descended Professor Morse. in- ventor of the electric telegraph. Although widely scattered the descendants are still prominent in business circles, bench and bar.
Sidney F. Morse received his early educa- tion in the common schools of Illinois, also attended the Clark Seminary, now Jennings Seminary, at Aurora, Illinois. From the age of 17 until 21 he taught school. In 1873 he moved to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where for six years he was engaged in business. He came to Montana in 1879. locating at Martins- dale. Meagher county, where he built and op- erated the first sawmill in the Musselshell val- ley. In 1884 he removed to a ranch in what is now Fergus county, Montana. He continued ranching until 1888, when he removed to Bil- lings. Until 1893 he was cashier and local agent of the Northern Pacific railway com- pany at Billings. In 1892 was elected treasurer of Yellowstone county. serving two years. He afterward served one term as coun-
ty clerk. He then accepted the position of cashier of the First National Bank of Billings, remaining in that position four years, resigning on account of ill health. He was nominated for the legislature in 1902. The result was a tie vote, and the governor called another election in which he was de- feated by one vote. In the spring of 1903 he was appointed chief of police at Billings. re- signing at the end of the term, and was then appointed city clerk.
On attaining his majority Mr. Morse was married, February 19. 1871. at Wauconda, Lake county, Illinois, to Eliza B. Anlt, born in New Orleans, March 14, 1850. Her father, Andrew J. Ault, died in Mississippi. He was a graduate of West Point, but owing to ill health was not in the army. Her mother was a native of New York, and died when she was an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Morse have three children, William H., Frank A., and Earle G. who were soldiers in the Spanish war. Mr. Morse has one sister, Martha A. Clark, of Libertyville. Lake county. Illinois. Mrs. Morse has one brother and one sister, Dr. Andrew J. Fox, of New York City, ( Fox be- ing his adopted name) and Mrs. Anna O. Ford, of Chicago. Mr. Morse is a member of Ashler Lodge No. 29, A. F. & A. M., of which he is Past Master, and has been deacon in the grand lodge. He is Past High Priest of Bill- ings Chapter, No. 6 R. A. M., and a member of the Eagles. He is Past Patron of the O. E. S., Edna Chapter 15. and his wife is P. M. of Edna Chapter No. 15. O. E. S. Politically he is a Democrat.
CHARLES L. HARRIS, one of the lead- ing land attorneys of Montana, and at present residing at Billings, was born at Port Ludlow. Jefferson county. Washington. February 5. 1872, the son of Frank and Elizabeth ( Skill- beck-Waters) Harris. The father was a native
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of New York, dying on Puget Sound in 1894. He represented his county in the territorial legislature, and was one of the prominent and leading members of the house, serving as chairman of several important committees, among which were ways and means and cor- porations. He erected one of the first sawmills on the sound, and was for many years a well known and highly respected citizen of that locality.
The mother of our subject was a native of England, and was married to James Wat- ers, they located upon the sound, where he afterwards died. By her marriage with Wat- ers she had one son now residing at Pasco, Washington, James Waters. July 4, 1871. she married Frank Harris, the father of our , subject, separating from him about eleven years thereafter. At that period they were engaged in the hotel business at Ainsworth, Washington, during the time of the construc- tion of the Nothern Pacific Railroad, the father also being master mechanic of the ma- chine-shops of that company located at Ains- worth. He was one of the supervisors of the construction of the famous "Doctor Baker Railroad" between Walla Walla and Wallula Junction, Washington, in the days when two by fours and scrap-sheet iron constituted the rails. Leaving the employ of the road he en- gaged in the sawmill and lumber business in the Blue Mountains and Pomeroy, Washing- ton, and upon leaving there he went to Ains- worth, Washington. In 1884, she moved to Pasco, and conducted the Pasco, Windsor and other hotels until the fall of 1905. She has retired from active business and resides at Pasco with her son. James Waters.
In the public schools of Washington our subject received his elementary education, af- terwards studying law with Judge N. T. Ca- ton, one of the best known ond ablest attor- neys of the big bend country in the State of Washington. Mr. Harris was admitted to practice June 4, 1895, at Walla Walla, Wash-
ington, and later in the Supreme Court of the same State. He followed his profession at Pasco for three years, where he was elected county attorney before he was of age, and on that account could not legally qualify for the position. Twice he was a Republican candidate for the legislature in 1894 and 1896, and was one of the leading and active Republicans of that county-Franklin-which at the time men- tioned was overwhelmingly Democratic. Mr. Harris has made a specialty of land and real estate law, and enjoys the reputation of being one of the best land attorneys in Montana.
It was in 1898 that he came to Billings where for one year he engaged in commercial business, and then resumed the practice of law. In 1901 he served as deputy clerk of the dis- trict court resuming the practice of law, in 1902 he was elected county attorney and served one term. He did not become the candidate of his party for the second term, but took up general practice, making a spe- cialty of real estate and land law.
July 4, 1897. our subject was united in marriage to R. Irene Crane, of North Yakima, who was born at Freeport, Illinois. The cere- mony was solemnized at Pasco. Her father James, W. Crane, died at North Yakima, Washington, in 1902. They have one child, Charles F., born March 30, 1898. Mr. Harris has no brothers or sisters, but one half brother, James Waters, of Pasco, Washington. Fra- ternally our subject is Past C. C. Knight of Pythias. at Pasco, a member of the Eagles, A. O. U. W., Royal Highlanders, and Brother- hood of American Yeomen. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church.
JOSEPH Z. NORTHWAY has served the county of Rosebud in an official capacity for a long time and is one of the respected citi- zens of this portion of Montana. His birth occurred in Orwell, Ohio, in 1861, his parents
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being L. P. and Esther ( Chandler) Northway. in 1892, and he decided it was the place for The father followed farming and brought his him to locate and accordingly the next year he hitched up his team at Butte and drove over. Many had overlooked the claim that he now occupies owing to it being covered with under- brush and some timber. He secured it and went to work clearing off the brush. It proved to be extra fertile land and he is now getting an average of five tons of alfalfa per acre, having one hundred acres under the ditch. Mr. Hooper has a fine orchard which is doing splendidly and he is very sanguine regarding the future of this portion of Montana as a fruit country. family to Minnesota in an early day, in which state our subject was reared and educated. In 1883 Joseph Z. came west to Montana and la- cated where Forsyth now is, it then being but a town in embryo. He was soon riding the range for cattle and continued the same busi- ness for five years. Then he acted in the Ca- pacity of clerk in a general merchandise estab- lishment and one year later went into the sheep business for himself. Five years he was oc- cupied thus and then went to clerking again, continuing that until 1902. In that year he was nominated for sheriff of Rosebud county and as promptly elected, being the second in- cumbent of that office. After a term of two years he was re-elected and served till 1906. when he was again chosen for the office by the people. In political matters, Mr. Northway is a Republican and is a man alive to the issues of the day. He has shown himself a very ef- ficient officer and as an executive of the law, he shows those qualities which commend him to the admiration of all law abiding and make him feared by those who would disturb the quiet of the community.
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