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 78
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 78
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 78
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 78
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 78
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 78
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 78
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
On January 26, 1904, Mr. Brady married Sarah C. Gassert, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one child, Violet E., born April I, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Brady are both members of the Episcopal church.
In political affiliations he is allied with the Democrats and takes an active interest in the campaigns. Mr. Brady also is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. Since living in Montana he has traveled several times across the Atlan- tic to visit the old home place and has also kept himself well informed upon the questions
and progress of the day and is an energetic and substantial man.
FERNANDO LA ROCHE, an enterpris- ing ranchman of Carbon county, residing one mile from Dean, down the creek, was born in Niagara county, New York, city of Lock- port, on the Erie Canal. His father, Charles P., was a native of Pennsylvania, removing to New York with his parents when a child. He was a farmer and merchant. He came to Fort Benton, Montana. in 1880, and the same year he purchased a team and came overland to Sweetgrass Creek, where he took a homestead about eleven miles east of Big Timber, and here he engaged in the cattle business. In 1884 he returned to his old home in New York where he died in 1891. The mother of our subject, Hannah ( Raymond) La Roche, was born in Niagara county, New York, coming to Montana with subject in 1881. They came by rail to Sioux City, Iowa, and thence up the river by boat, on General Terry steamboat, 26 days to Junction, Montana, and then overland to the fine ranch of Mr. La Roche. Subse- quently she returned to New York, where she died in 1897.
In the public schools of Lockport our sub- ject received his earliest education, which was completed in the country schools of Montana. When he was seventeen years of age his par- ents returned to New York, but he remained in Montana. In his youthful days he was a cowboy, and was in the employment of "The 22" outfit, one of the most extensive in the territory. He returned to New York in 1887, and engaged in the employment of a street car company in Buffalo. He came to Billings, Montana, in 1894, but the following winter went to Michigan. In 1895 he purchased the ranch upon which he at present resides, and here he rears cattle and horses.
500
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
At Buffalo, New York, in 1891, our sub- ject was united in marriage to Eva Heiman, born near Lockport, New York. They have one child. Florence.
The greater portion of the life of our sub- ject has been passed on the frontier, and here he has endured many hardships and made con- siderable history in his eventful career.
On the way from Junction to the ranch Fernando was walking to better see the coun- try and fell a long distance behind. Start- ing to hurry up to the wagons he came sud- denly on a large band and camp of Indians. He was so scared he ran like a deer and some of the Indians after him. Finally he overtook the wagon, which was waiting, and there learned that the Indians were friendly Crows. But, Mr. La Roche remarks, "I did not know they were friendly when I was scurrying after that wagon."
When he was out with a friend taking a vacation in the Park he fell in with some horsemen looking for thieves who had stolen their stock. Our subject and his companion assisted them and finally the horses were lo- cated and recovered, and later by the aid of a U. S. marshal and a posse of men the thieves were apprehended.
MRS. ANNIE E. TOWN, although just beginning to enter the golden days of the years of her life, is, nevertheless, ripe in rich experiences in the west. and especially such as are most intimately connected with the his- tory of Montana and particularly with the Yel- lowstone valley. Having been a resident here since the days when the Indians were hostile and a portion of the time, too, when the his- tory making battle and campaigns were being fought and carried out, she speaks authorita- tively by personal experience of those days and incidents, as well as from knowledge gained by being a close student of history, both local
and general. Therefore it will be intensely interesting to the pioneers of this portion of the state to be privileged to read of her life and the doings of the days of her experience.
In the vicinity of Montreal, Canada, on April 5, 1845. Mrs. Town was born to Mark and Katherine (Ormsby) Walsh, natives of Mayo county, Ireland. It was near the old abbey of Mayo, on Christmas morning, 1810, that the father first saw the light and in his native land he was reared and educated. Be- ing aged twenty-two, he was fired with a spirit of energy and believing better opportunities awaited him in the new world, he came to America and soon thereafter he was in the contracting business and as such assisted in the construction of the famous suspension bridge across Niagara, under the supervision of the world renowned Roebling, later con- structor of the longest suspension bridge in the world, the Brooklyn bridge over East river, New York. His connection with the bridge at Niagara dated from 1853 to 1855, the year of its completion. Then he con- structed Fort Riley, Kansas, and after that built forts and posts all over the United States. He was well known to General Custer per- sonally and to many other noted people in the west especially. His last piece of work was the Santa Fe depot at Leavenworth, Kansas, where he had made his home for some time previous, on Broadway and Sherman. His death occurred in May, 1895. Twelve hours after his demise his faithful wife breathed her last and they rest side by side. It was a fitting close of a happy life, for from the day of her marriage in old Ireland, in 1841, she . had been a most faithful and beloved com- panion and helpmeet. Shortly after their marriage they sailed, it being June, 1841, to the New World, and Mrs. Walsh used often to speak of the days of her childhood, when the cuckoo came every morning to wake her from her slumbers with its rich notes at New Brook Gate. Three boys and three girls were
501
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the children born to this couple. A brother, M. J. Walsh, residing in Whiteworth, British Co- lumbia, and a sister, Mary C. Walsh, of San Francisco, being the only survivors besides our subject.
Mrs. Town commenced her education in New York state and remembers the school well, as the tuition charged was one penny per week. After that she studied in Portageville, New York, St. Louis, Missouri, and in various other places as her father's business took him from place to place and the family removed to these places until they finally settled in Leav- enworth.
At Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1861, oc- curred the marriage of Miss Annie E. Walsh and William Burke, a government contractor and a secret service man during the war. He assisted to build Fort Keogh and acquired a fine ranch in the vicinity of Miles City. His wife joined him in 1878, after having lived in Leavenworth exactly twenty years. This trip was made by rail to Yankton, Dakota, and thence by boat to Miles City, the whole occupying one month. Mrs. Burke was ac- companied by other parties to relieve the mo- notony of the journey.
To Mr. and Mrs. Burke three sons and two daughters were born of whom, one son, John F. Burke, lives in Anaconda, and one daughter, Mrs. Katherine May Shannon, dwells in San Francisco. In 1879 Mr. Burke was killed at the Powder river crossing known as Foley's stopping place. It was a dirt roof house and the roof fell in and killed him and a companion by the name of Smith. The family was at that time living in Miles City in very comfortable circumstances. Mrs. Burke was present when Miles City was laid out and is intimately acquainted with the con- ditions existing in those early days and re- members many interesting things connected with the movements then.
On December 2, 1880, Mrs. Burke mar- ried George H. Town at Miles City and in
1882 they removed to Billings. They arrived on November 7th, Billings' first election day. To this second marriage, one child was born, Mrs. Mary Harriett Connolly, whose husband is an expert grist miller.
Mrs. Town takes a pardonable pride in being personally able to discharge all the busi- ness responsibilities incumbent upon her in a satisfactory manner. She has been in Bil- lings practically since its start and although she has had many ups and downs she is able to spend the remainder of her days in all com- fort and have the joy of looking back on a well spent and eventful life. She is a pioneer, or, rather, the pioneer of Christian Science in Billings and is a delighted and deep student of their scientific and devotional literature, hav- ing progressed rapidly in this unique combi- nation of the spiritual and scientific.
Mr. Burke was a very trusted messenger for Custer and Terry and was a man of force and ability. Mrs. Town attended the dedica- tion of the First Church of Christian Scientists on June 10, 1906, in Boston, Massachusetts.
NATHANIEL HAYDEN resides about fourteen miles up the Rosebud river from For- syth, where he is conducting a large irrigated ranch, handling the same for Mrs. Sarah E. Straw, the owner. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on January 18, 1852, the son of Samuel and Matilda J. ( Kimble) Hayden, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Wayne county, Ohio, respectively, and now living in Boulder City, Colorado. Our subject received very little schooling as his parents were constantly on the frontier, moving to Colorado in 1863, and in fact Mr. Hayden has spent a large por- tion of his life on the frontier in a tent. He freighted the first load of Buffalo hides into Denver, it being 1866. In 1876 we find him in the Black Hills, at the beginning of the rush there and he remained in the vicinity of Dead-
502
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
wood until 1881, during which time he was prospecting, freighting, mining, etc. During that time he took a trip to Texas and had some thrilling experiences in fighting the Indians. In 1881 Mr. Hayden came to the Yellowstone valley and engaged in hunting for the railroad camps. When game became scarce he located on a ranch on the Rosebud river which he sold in 1884 and returned to the Black Hills and was occupied in freighting until 1887. In that year he journeyed again to Montana and for a number of years he was occupied in trap- ping and hunting wolves in the Rosebud valley and also did freighting. In 1905 Mr. Hayden secured a lease on the ranch where he now resides and is giving his entire attention to handling the estate which is a fine irrigated property.
In 1878 Mr. Hayden married Mrs. Cor- delia Hayes, who was born near Council Bluffs, Iowa. As will be seen by the fore- going Mr. Hayden has had much experience on the plains and in life that goes to make up the typical westerner. Being exceedingly fond of the chase, he became a very skilled nimrod and is as well experienced in hunting as per- haps any man that could be found in his section.
OSTEN E. HEREIM, whose home place is a quarter section of land twelve miles east from Absarokee on Red Lodge creek, is a native of Stavenger, Souden, Norway, and his birth occurred March 25. 1874. His fa- ther, Erek O. Hereim, is dwelling on the farm where he was born in Norway, being aged six- ty-four. He married Ingobar Arthoun, who died in 1900, aged fifty-two. Our subject is the fourth of nine children, being the oldest of those living. Has two sisters, Mrs. Matt Lindenow, and Christina, in Martindale, Mon- tana. The public schools of his native place
furnished his education and when fourteen he laid aside his books to take up the life of herd boy, following the same till the last two years in Norway, which were spent in the zinc mines. It was 1892 when he set sail from Norway for New York, whence he journeyed on to Big Timber, thence to Castle, and the day after arriving he was at work herding sheep and for two years stayed with one em- ployer. Then he was with M. T. Graude for five years and then worked for Perry Moore. All these years, Mr. Hereim was planning how to turn his savings, for he had been careful of his money, into a home. Later we see him in Carbon county and here he was principally engaged with the Arthoun Brothers until 1900, when he made a trip to his old home to visit. One month after he arrived his mother passed to the world beyond, but he had the great pleasure of a visit with her before that sad hour. The month before he made that trip home he had sent a ticket for his younger brother. Johannes, to come to America. Jo- hannes went on a trip to bid his grandparents farewell, and in crossing the river the ice gave way and he was swept under to his death. Mr. Hereim was decided to make his home in Nor- way, but finally he concluded to return to Mon- tana and when he arrived here he took a band of sheep with Arthur Arthoun and they han- dled them two years, doing well. Then he purchased the quarter section where he now resides and is fast bringing it in subjection to the plow and is making it a good home place. Mr. Hereim goes each shearing sea- son and by his own efforts is making prosper- ity for himself.
On July 21, 1901, Mr. Hereim married Miss Olena Tjoolina, a native of his birth- place. She came to the United States alone, her father being dead. Her mother still lives in Norway. The children born to this union are: Ingabor, born July 9, 1902: Ole, born March 16, 1904; and Orando O., born July
503
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
2, 1906. Mr. Hereim is an adherent of the Lutheran church and in political matters is Republican.
HECTOR McDONALD, proprietor of the Bear Gulch Hotel in Jardine, has had a most active and industrious career. His birth occurred in Milan, Canada, on April 12, 1862. His father, John R. McDonald, a well-to-do farmer, was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1816 and died in 1903. He married Miss Annie McLeod, a native of the same place as her husband, her birth occurring in 1824. She is now living in Milan, Canada. They be- came the parents of eleven children of whom Hector is the eighth. He was educated in the public schools of Milan and at fifteen started in life for himself, being engaged in Vermont until 1881, when he determined to see the west. Soon after arriving in Montana he en- tered the employ of the Western Union Tele- graph Company and remained with them for nine years. In 1888 Mr. McDonald took charge of the Northern Pacific Telegraph de- partment, with headquarters at Livingston. Two years later he went to work for the elec- tric light company in Livingston and remained with them for ten years. Then resigned to ac- cept the position as under sheriff. On Jan- uary 12, 1903, he removed to Jardine and be- . came electrician for the Kimberly Gold Min- ing Company. On March 1, 1904, he opened the Bear Gulch Hotel.
On December 10, 1890, Mr. McDonald married Miss Helen McLennan, who was born in Inverness, Scotland, August 28, 1864. Her father, Malcolm McLennan, was born in In- verness, Scotland, and followed the butcher business, his death occurring when he was sixty-nine years of age. He had married Miss Annie Campbell, also a native of Scotland and now living in Inverness. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, Clarence
E., May 23, 1892. They are all members of the Presbyterian church and stanch supporters of their faith. Mr. McDonald is a Democrat in politics, is affiliated with the Masonic lodge. the A. O. U. W., and several other lodges. He is achieving a good success in his present enterprise, is a genial whole-souled man and has won many friends in Montana.
Many men have boasted of numerous trips across the continent in the days of "Forty- nine" and those following, but, perhaps, few men, if any in the United States can be found who have actually walked from the Pacific coast to the Mississippi river. It certainly is a feat worthy of notice.
HENRY CHAPMAN is one of Mon- tana's pioneers and his experiences in detail would form a very interesting chapter in the history of the state. His father was a pioneer before him in the new and wild west, and there- fore all the days Mr. Chapman has so far spent have been more or less in pioneer work and experiences. Born in Douglas county, Ore- gon, October 25. 1855. he has never been east of Wyoming Territory and is a warm ad- mirer of the west with its boundless resources. His father, Addison B. Chapman, drove a team from Iowa to Oregon in 1854 and died in the latter territory in 1865. He had married Su- san Shoey, who died in Red Lodge September 9, 1905, aged eighty. Henry is the second in a family of five children, all of whom now re- side in Montana. His education was received in his native country and as early as seventeen he stepped from the parental home to try his fortune in the famous Klamath country. For one year he was at Fort Klamath, when he returned home and a year later he went to Fort Harney, engaging in the cattle business. His labors were bestowed there until 1881, in which year he went from Oregon to Wyo- ming Territory, still conducting the cattle and
504
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
sheep industry. He ranged his stock over into Montana considerably and was one of the first to drive a wagon through the country where he now resides, on Redlodge creek, ten miles west from Roberts. The country was then occupied by the Indians, whose reservations occupied most of it. His headquarters re- mained in Wyoming until 1892, when he set- tled on his present place, it having recently been thrown open from the reservation.
In November, 1896, Mr. Chapman married Miss Carrie E. Clark, a native of Unity, Maine, and who came west to join her brother, Elisha, who owned a ranch in the Judith Basin. One child has been the fruit of this union, Andye Leon, born January 22, 1899. On Oc- tober 15, 1905, while Mr. Chapman was ab- sent from home on business, this son sickened and died very suddenly and no, news of the sad event reached him until his arrival home. This was a terrible blow and a deep grief to his home.
Mr. Chapman has never affiliated him- self with fraternal orders, and although he takes the interest in political matters that be- comes the loyal citizen, he is not a partisan, nor does he seek emoluments of office. His principles are Republican and he is counted one of the substantial men. Mr. Chapman re- marks that the first winter in the country was spent in camp with his brother and J. R. Weaver on the Stinking Water, and they devoted their time to hunting elk. So plentiful were those animals then that it was no uncommon sight to observe bands numbering from five to ten hundred head. Often the day's count of game was fif- teen head apiece. Their nearest postoffice was Absarokee, eighty miles distant, and Red Lodge and the surrounding towns were not even thought of. For a portion of his time, Mr. Chapman also raised cattle in the Mis- souri valley. After coming to this section, where he is now located, he has given atten- tion to stock raising and farming and has
some fine bred animals at the present time. His horses are considered some of the choicest in this portion of the west. Although Montana is still far from having her resources all devel- oped, still there is such a wonderful change in the advancement of settlement and enterprise since Mr. Chapman came that he is the witness of some of the most rapid of Montana's thrifty growth and has had a good part in for- warding the same, as his labors as path finder and then as one who opened the wild by sub- stantial settlement have mingled with the ef- forts of pioneers who have in whole accom- plished the very pleasing results that now con- front the eye and senses everywhere in Mon- tana.
JAMES N. RANDALL, familiarly known as "Pretty Dick," resides twelve miles down the river from Gardiner and follows ranching. He was born in Birmingham, Iowa, June 16, 1866. His father, James J. Randall, was born in Bellefontaine. Ohio, in August, 1833, and followed general merchan- dising. His father, James Randall, the grand- father of our subject, was born in Indiana. The mother of James N. Randall was, in maiden life, Adeline E. Marquis, a native of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and born in March, 1835. She was the mother of thirteen children, nine boys and four girls, seven of whom are still living, our subject being the fifth child in order of birth. After attending the public schools until about thirteen, Mr. Randall started out in life for himself. He began work in a meat market in Ottumwa, Iowa, and continued there five years. Then he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and worked in a spice factory for a year. After that, he headed for Montana and in October. 1883, arrived here and at once took up work on a cattle ranch. For two years he rode the range and then moved to the upper Yellowstone and drove stage in the Park until
505
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
1889. In February, 1898, he located his pres- ent ranch and since that time has given his attention mostly to general farming. Since 1889, however, in addition to the other work mentioned, Mr. Randall has made a special business of guiding hunting and touring par- ties through the Rockies and is very familiar with all of the surrounding country. Every year he takes out a large English party, his reputation having become so well known, and he guides them to the best places for hunting and seeing the country. Year before last, they were successful in slaying some wild buffaloes, something that has not been done for many years heretofore.
On October 25, 1892, Mr. Randall mar- ried Dora A. Roseborough, who was born in Kansas, November 17, 1870. Her father, Lo- gan Roseborough, was born in May, 1847. and followed merchandising and farming. He married Susan Fitzgerald, who was born in Iowa in May. 1847. They were the parents of ten children, Mrs. Randall being the second one born. Mr. and Mrs. Randall have two children, Leslie W., born September 29, 1893, and Helen E., born June 30, 1897.
Mr. and Mrs. Randall are members of the Presbyterian church, while in politics, he is a Republican. Owing to the fact that Mr. Ran- dall has been on the frontier the larger portion of his life and has had vast experience in hunt- ing. prospecting, and so forth, he has encoun- tered many thrilling experiences and is a very interesting talker.
SELLECK M. FITZGERALD, a pioneer of the west since 1863. with an active life crowded full of various experiences from Col- orado to the British Columbia line, the subject of this article, is certainly to be mentioned as a genuine path finder and frontiersman. He is now residing on a fine ranch, two miles north east of Gardiner. His birthi occurred April
24, 1840, in Van Buren county, Iowa, his father being Ambrose Fitzgerald, who was born in 1800 near Richmond, Virginia. He followed farming and married Mary A. Long- well, born in Ohio in 1812. It is of great in- terest that her parents both lived until they were one hundred and three years of age. Af- ter receiving a common school education in Iowa, Mr. Fitzgerald gave his attention to general work until 1863, when he started out for himself, becoming captain of a train that headed across the plains for California. It is supposed that he is the youngest man who ever held that responsible position. They ar- rived in California in due time without hav- ing had any serious trouble with Indians or accidents on the way and Mr. Fitzgerald rented a farm. Owing to the terrible drouths of that year, he lost everything and in Novem- ber of 1864, he went to southern Oregon and engaged in the stock business. He was very successful in this venture and in 1872 drove his stock to eastern Oregon. The next year he took them through the mountains to Mon- tana, locating on the upper Yellowstone, and for over twenty years he has been in this val- ley. For sixteen years, he conducted a hotel in Gardiner and is today considered one of the well-to-do men of this part of the country.
On the 12th day of June, 1863, at Fort Laramie, while they were crossing the plains. occurred the marriage of Selleck M. Fitzger- ald and Mary A. Brown, a romantic wedding. and the fruit of the marriage should thor- oughly gratify even President Roosevelt, for they have become the parents of thirteen chil- dren. Mrs. Fitzgerald was the daughter of Ransom Brown, a native of Virginia, who married Sarah Cobb, a native of South Caro- lina. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fitz- gerald are enumerated as follows: Ambrose. March 13, 1864; Ransom, July 17, 1865 : Henry B., August 4, 1866; Eliza J., January 2, 1868: Mary M., January 18. 1869; Eva S., August 21, 1871 : Selleck M., August 3, 1872;
506
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Ida B., February 18, 1874; Ella E., May 23, 1875; Emma M., October 9, 1876; Jessie M., May 8, 1878; Pearl E., June 1, 1881 ; Babe, March 7, 1883. Nine of the children are still living and those left are all married.
Mr. Fitzgerald is a good stanch Republican and a member of the Elks. He takes great interest in educational matters and has been chairman of the board of education since its organization. A more hearty, energetic and hospitable person than Mr. Fitzgerald is hard to find in this section of Montana and he numbers his friends in a very wide circle
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.