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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91
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days and there on August 6, 1864, Walter M. was born. The United States government of- fered him an education at West Point Acad- emy free as a mark of distinction, owing to his birth. This he refused and received his edu- cation at Bozeman and at the age of eighteen started out in life for himself. In 1883, he moved with his father and brother to the upper Yellowstone and since that time he has been a resident of this section. He conducted a hotel at Gardiner for four years and one at Cinnabar for six years. He also handled large freighting outfits into the Park, to Cook City and up Bear Gulch to Jardine. At the present time he owns practically all of the town site at Cinnabar and is doing ranching in addition to his other affairs.
On May 4, 1896, Mr. Hoppe married Ella E. Fitzgerald, whose parents are mentioned in another portion of this work. To this union three children were born, Walter Paul, Febru- ary 1, 1898; Pearl M., November 19, 1902, and Mildred F. October 19, 1905.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoppe are both members of the Episcopalian church and in politics he is a stanch Republican. Mr. Hoppe is affiliated with the Odd Fellows and is well known in this portion of Park county.
WILLIAM E. LUKINBEAL, a rancher and general farmer at the mouth of Canyon creek, Yellowstone county, was born in Put- nam county, Missouri, November 10, 1856. His father, Andrew Lukinbeal, a native of Ohio, enlisted in Company B. Ninety-third Ohio Volunteers, in 1861, and was killed at the battle of Missionary Ridge. His father, Samuel, located in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1800, and fought in the war of 1812. He was one of the first settlers in the country. He came from Maryland, and was a farmer and blacksmith. His ancestors were of German stock.
The mother of our subject, Sarah E. (Houser) Lukinbeal, was born in Dayton, Ohio. After the death in the war of her hus- band she married George Holliday, and with him went to Brownsville, Minnesota, where she lived nine years, going thence to Ida county, Iowa, where she suffered the loss of her second husband. She is now living at Waitsburg, Washington. Her father was a German and her mother Welsh, the name of the latter be- ing Llewellan.
When a young man our subject went to Minnesota with his parents. He received a good education partly in Ohio and later in Minnesota, teaching school one term in Iowa. He then learned the machinist's trade. It was in 1877 that he came to Montana and settled in Prickly Pear valley, remaining two years, after which he took up government land in Beaver- head county, fifteen miles north of Dillon; on Birch creek. Three years he remained here and lost two children. He then moved back to Iowa, going thence to Ohio, where he followed his trade for ten years. Before going to Ohio, however, he had made a trip to California, passing about three years on the Pacific coast.
Returning to Montana in 1899 he remained one year in the Yellowstone valley, then fol- lowing another trip to the coast, he settled in his present location in January, 1903.
September 27, 1875, he was united in mar- riage to Catherine L. Thompson, born in New York. With her parents she moved to Iowa when a mere child, and here she was reared and educated. The marriage ceremony took place in Iowa, and she accompanied her hus- band to Montana. The wife's father was Wil- liam Thompson, a carpenter by trade, who also owned a small farm. He was of English ancestry. They have three children, Clara El- len, Ida I., and William E.
Mr. Lukinbeal's son W. E., Jr., and family are now living with him. He served in the Spanish War at Manila, being in Company L. Second Regiment of U. S. V. of Oregon.
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SAMUEL O'CONNELL, the proprietor of the Hotel Kenedy in Rosebud, is one of the pioneers of Montana and, as will be seen by the following epitome of his life, has been an active participant in the history making oc- currences of this state and in many other por- tions of the west. Born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, February 5, 1850, the son of Samuel and Mary ( Manny ) O'Connell, natives of Ire- land, he inherited much of the ready wit and brightness of mind so common in this branch of the human race. Although he was not spe- cially favored with opportunity to secure an education, still he was proficient in all those branches that made him ready for the ordinary occupations of business life. The parents came from their native land to St. Louis in 1832 and there remained until death. During his boyhood days in the time of the war, Samuel was messenger for Brigadier-General Myers, and when in 1867 he had started for Fort Ben- ton, Montana, on a pleasure trip, he found the general in Omaha, he was easily persuaded to give up his trip and again enter the employ of General Myers. He was sent to the western terminus of the Union Pacific railroad by the general and there was occupied as checking clerk for the government. When the road reached on from this point on the Platte to Cheyenne a regular quartermaster was put in charge and Mr. O'Connell returned to Omaha to take a position in the chief quartermaster's office, where he remained until 1869. Then he entered the employ of A. C. Leighton at the army barracks and was part of the time post- master for the barracks. Also he made a trip with Companies C and E of the Second Cav- alry to North Loup and the Little Blue where the soldiers were sent to protect the settlers from the raids of the Indians. While at North Loup he received a letter from Robert Wilson to take a position as trader's bookkeeper on the Yellowstone expedition and in 1873 he started from Omaha for this work. The steamer Western conveyed them to Fort Lin-
coln and about June 16, they left there with the expedition under Stanley and Custer. They went to the big bend of the Musselshell and returned overland to Fort Lincoln where the steamer Josephine under command of Captain Grant Marsh conveyed the sick and wounded down the Missouri. Mr. O'Connell was oc- cupied that winter at Fort Lincoln with Wilson & Dicky, fort traders. In the spring of 1874 he joined the expedition to the Black Hills, Seventh Cavalry under Custer, as bookeeper for Trader John W. Smith. In the fall he re- turned to Fort Lincoln and was employed in the store. During that winter he received word from Leighton to come to Fort Buford, but owing to the severity of the weather he could get no farther than Bismarck. Here he was promptly elected city clerk and served till July 1875, when he went on to Buford, whence he was soon sent to Post Jeauneau on the Milk river, eighty miles north of Fort Peck. He went as an employe of Leighton and Jordan and remained until the May before the Custer massacre, when he was transferred by his firm to Fort Peck. In the fall he was transferred back to Fort Buford and there remained till April, 1879, when he secured a permit from the government to open a post restaurant. This he conducted till the spring of 1882 when he came to Miles City and purchased property and erected a hotel. This was known as the Park Hotel and was burned in the fire of 1883. In 1884, Mr. O'Con- nell was elected county assessor and the next year he removed up the Tongue river and located a ranch, where he conducted a road house and raised stock. His place was at the mouth of Otter creek and was later sold to the government for the use of the Cheyenne In- dians. The next move was to Forsyth and three years since he established himself in Rosebud, where he is today.
In 1879 Mr. O'Connell married Miss Mary Butler, a native of Ireland and whose father, Walter Butler, was one of the pioneers of St.
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Paul, Minnesota. Many of the Butler family are prominent business men there today. To our subject and his wife the following named children have been born: Walter, a graduate of Gonzaga College, Spokane, Washington, and now with the Diamond Match Company in Chico, California; Mable, born near the mouth of the Yellowstone, a graduate of the Mt. Angeles College in Cascade county, this state and now a teacher in the primary depart- ment of the Rosebud schools; Jennie, Joseph, Catherine, and Leo, all at home.
Mr. O'Connell is one of the most genial hosts one could find, ever ready with bright wit and amusing tale of early days, or anec- dote of historic interest. He handles a ready pen and frequently the readers of the different papers are treated to a fine article from him. The editor of the history of this county was permitted by Mr. O'Connell to use several of his articles and they will be found interesting. In public matters Mr. O'Connell has always shown himself a patriotic and worthy citizen and his efforts in the different communities where he has resided have been instrumental in accomplishing much for advancement and improvement. A true westerner, filled with the progressive spirit of this grand republic, Mr. O'Connell has lived it out in all his acts and the result is he has won many hearty friends and is highly esteemed by all.
GEORGE T. YOUNG, deceased. The subject of this memoir was born in Fred- rickton, New Brunswick, April 2, 1855. His father, William Young, a native of Scotland, migrated to Canada when young and there married Miss Conway. They both died when George T. was four years of age and he went to live with his mother's sister. After receiv- ing a common schooling he began, at thirteen years of age, to learn the shoemaker's trade, at which he continued until he mastered it
thoroughly. When seventeen he went to work in the postoffice at Hartland, New Brunswick, continuing two years. Then he enlisted in the Canadian Mounted Police and went to the northwest. Two years later he left the police and took a position as finisher with the North Star Boot & Shoe Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After three years of this serv- ice, he came on to Montana, landing in Rose- bud in March, 1882, where he opened a res- taurant. Selling out later, he opened a restaur- ant in Livingston in the following November. Soon after he closed this business and opened a coal and wood yard and did a draying busi- ness. He continued in these occupations until appointed city marshal by Mayor Miles in 1890, which office he held until elected sheriff of Park county. So efficiently did he discharge the duties of that important office that three times he was elected by an appreciative con- stituency. His death occurred on November 9, 1900, being killed while making an arrest.
Mr. Young had married Miss Clara Shaw, the daughter of Samuel and Frances ( Birm- ingham) Shaw, natives of New Brunswick, where, also, Mrs. Young was born November 27, 1856, Hartland being the native spot. Mrs Young's father was postmaster of Hartland for twenty-eight years and was an influential and prominent man, having been in the field for parliament in 1870, supporting the conser- vative ticket. He died on Christmas day, 1887, his wife having died when Mrs. Young was five years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Young four children were born, Arthur Guy, September 5, 1880; George T., March 5, 1884; Clara M., May 23, 1886; and Vera E., on September 21, 1893. Mr. Young was a member of the Scotch Presbyterian church, while his widow is allied with the Free Baptists. Politically, he was al- ways a Republican and active. At the time of his death, Mr. Young left his family a com- fortable home in Livingston and a good ranch of two hundred acres six miles above town on the Yellowstone.
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An extract from the Livingston Enterprise of November 17, 1900, speaks of Mr. Young as he was known to those of his home place and we append a portion of it. "His official record is written on the pages of Livingston, and Park county. For twelve years, time has recorded each deed, each act, and today the record stands without a flaw devoid of blem- ish. In the business world, where man's word and honor are his passports, he had free entree. In the sacred circle of the family shone the happiest combination of the husband, father, and man. Whatever official duty presented it- self, it was executed promptly, conscientiously, fearlessly. Whatever business complication he encountered, it was met fairly and honorably. Whatever domestic relation required his at- tenion, it at once became a mission of love, de- votion and affection." So faithful and true a man as George T. Young could but leave an indelible impress upon the hearts as well as the minds of all and sincere tears of keen sor- row were freely shed on every hand when the awful stroke became known. Inexplicable, be- yond the ken of man, was the fatal occurrence that Providence allowed; one of those strange and mysterious dispensations in the pilgrim way of men which reason can never compass and to which only faith can bow in the assur- ance that "He doeth all things well," and the day will declare it in good time. But although departed from the scenes where so well known and loved, how powerfully his well spent life speaks and how charming are the pictures that fond memory will continue to bring to light the way till the happy reunion shall be con- summated on that bright day.
JOHN NICHOL, a farmer and stockman, residing nine miles southwest of Columbus, was born in New Glasgow, Quebec, Canada, September 19, 1847. His father, Abraham, was a native of Canada. His mother was Mar- garet (Smith) Nichol.
At the age of 17 our subject left home and went to Ontario, where he followed lum- bering, two years, and then went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he passed fifteen years in the woods. Thence, in 1879, he went to Lead- ville, Colorado, then in its palmiest days. His wife followed in 1890, and they lived there in Buena Vista two and one-half years. Thence they came to Butte, where he worked for fif- teen years. Leaving that city in August, 1893, he came to his present location, where he homesteaded 160 acres. He irrigated this land and then waited three years' for a crop. It was pretty up-hill work, and for several years it afforded a bare existence. He came here with practically nothing, and now has 100 acres which produce the various cereals in an abundance and in addition owns a fine band of cattle.
At Saginaw Mr. Nichol was married to Catherine Agin, born in England. Her parents came to New York state when she was eight months old. Her parents were John W. and Catherine (Neeland) Agin. Our subject has six children living, and one dead : John, Mai- mie (dead), William, Frank, Edward, Grover C. and Katie. Politically our subject is a Democrat.
JAMES HYM, a leading and prominent ranchman, residing fourteen miles northwest of Red Lodge, Montana, was born in Norway, June 1, 1867. The father and mother both came to Montana four years ago, and now live near Fishtail, on Rosebud creek, Carbon county.
Our subject is the third of seven children, all of whom live in Montana. Mr. Hyam was educated in Tranjon, Norway, and at the age of fourteen faced the world on his own ac- count. He came to Billings, Montana, and began working on a sheep ranch for Smith Brothers, on the Musselshell. Two years were
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passed on the range, during which time he studied English. On the ranch he passed seven years in all, and then sheared sheep for a couple of years, when he engaged in the sheep business on his own account in Meagher county. This he followed until twelve years ago, when he drove his sheep to his present place, which he purchased from a squatter. This gives him 160 acres of good land, besides a lease on a section of school land. Until six years ago he devoted his attention to sheep raising, when he disposed of his band, and en- gaged in raising cattle, hay and grain. At present he has 160 head of cattle, and last season raised 250 tons of hay. Twenty-five years ago he started with only his hands. He feels that he has done well in spite of some drawbacks, and has large faith in the future of Montana.
October 12, 1894, our subject was married to Jennie Harum, also a native of Norway. She came here alone to her brother, who lives here. They have seven children : Louis, Nels, Minnie, Edwin, Thelma, James and an infant.
Politically he is a Republican, and active in caucuses, conventions, etc. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
HIRAM B. BICKERDYKE was born in Glendale, Ohio, December 3, 1854, and now resides on his ranch at Ericson, Custer county. He is occupied with farming and stock raising and is a pioneer of pioneers of the west, having had, perhaps, as extended an experience in the various capacities of western life as any man found in the state. We would be greatly pleased to outline the details of his life, but will be forced to content ourselves with an epitome, as as they would fill a volume.
Robert Bickerdyke, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Yorkshire, England, came to America when a young man, it being 1832, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a pro-
fessor of music and in 1858 removed to Gales- burg, Illinois, where he lived but one year, his death occurring in 1859. He was a leader and director of music and his troupes were heard in all the large places of the land. He married Mary A. Ball, who was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and educated in Oberlin College. The marriage occurred in 1848 and in March, 1859, Mrs. Bickerdyke was left a widow. Shortly after that the terrible Civil War broke out and as Cairo, Illinois, was made a permanent camp both for supplies and men and as it was not fitted in a properly sanitary manner, sickness broke out and the suffering was extended and terrible. Dr. Beecher, a brother of Henry Ward Beecher, was pastor of the Congrega- tional church in Galesburg and called his flock together to find some way to aid the suffering and alleviate the sad conditions. Mrs. Bicker- dyke, then a widow, was a member of the con- gregation and she took heartily to the plan. Being a woman well acquainted with medicine, fitted by nature for the position of nurse, and possessing remarkable executive ability, she naturally was looked to from all sides, and she was urged to take entire charge of the relief stores and volunteers from Knox and Henry counties. In Dr. Beecher's church a Ladies' Aid society was formed which later merged itself into the Northwestern Sanitary Commis- sion, everyone joining together regardless of sect or belief. The sick were scattered all over, having poorly improvised shelter, unfit food and the sanitary conditions the poorest. With such a problem as this confronting her, Mrs. Bickerdyke took hold and soon had a system of distribution working well, sanitary mea- sures were brought into action and chaos gave way to well regulated service and men began to get well by leaps and bounds. The first commission was three car loads of provisions and Mrs. Bickerdyke was sent to Cairo in charge of them. From this time forward her work enlarged until the Northwestern Sani- tary Commission was recognized with their
HIRAM B. BICKERDYKE
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talented head, Mrs. Bickerdyke, was an indis- pensable aid to the government. Her name soon became famous all over the United States and while Mrs. Livermore, whose pen has pic- tured these details to the public, was the presi- dent of the commission, it was left to Mrs. Bickerdyke, largely, to formulate and execute the plans that followed with such rapid succes- sion and evident wisdom and judgment that the whole nation perceived the ministering an- gel that was raised up for the occasion. As occasion required the government furnished steamboats which were turned into hospital ships and Mrs. Bickerdyke was put in full charge of the Fannie Bullet to care for the wounded and sick after the terrible struggles at Forts Donelson and Henry and the adjacent battles. After this she was found at Shiloh and she did not abate her labors in all the Mississippi campaign. When Sherman was ordered to the sea she was put in charge of a steamboat to meet him and succor the sick and wounded, but about this time the Ander- sonville and Libby prisoners were released and she was directed to attend to then, as their distresses alarmed the nation and were far more than those of Sherman's men. Mrs. Bickerdyke was at nineteen hard fought bat- tles and her services were of the most valuable kind, as she was not only able personally to do what was needed but she had the ability to di- rect a whole corps of skilled and trained nurses and helpers. After the war she gave much at- tention to establishing soldiers' and sailors' homes and her whole life was given up to char- itable works.
Finally, at the home of her son in Bunker Hill, Kansas, in November, 1901, the sum- mons came for Mrs. Bickerdyke to come to the better land and peacefully she slept the sleep of the Christian. Again and again had the G. A. R. celebrated her birthday, and many were the loving tributes she received from all parts of the nation. On one occasion Mrs. Livermore writes to her as follows: 38
"Melrose, Mass., July 15, 1897. "My Dear Old Friend & Comrade :-
"I see by the papers that the G. A. R. of Kansas will celebrate your birthday on the 19th of July, when you will be eighty years of age. I wish I could be with you on that day. * * * The noble men of the G. A. R. cannot honor you too highly nor express too strongly their sense of the great work you did during the war. As I look over the long lapse of years to the sad days of the war I see that your army record, which was a record of service to the sick and wounded soldiers in camp hos- pital and on the battle field, transcends that of all other women. What a mother you were to them! How you labored for them and spent yourself in their behalf! I am glad they are grateful to you."
The state legislature of Illinois appropri- ated seven thousand dollars for a bronze mon- ument of Mrs. Bickerdyke and on May 22, 1906, it was unveiled at Galesburg with appro- priate ceremonies, some of the most prominent men of the nation rendering service in the pro- gram.
As our subject's father died when he was young and as his mother was so busy in these extended duties he did not see much of her during his childhood days, still he was well cared for and educated. In 1868 he came to the plains of Kan- sas and engaged in hunting and acted as guide for both private and military parties. He became very expert and rendered the gov- ernment most excellent service from Old Mex- ico to Canada and could the story of his deeds be told it would rival that of the famous guides whose names are household words in this country. He has traversed all the country of the west, knows it as he knows his ranch and his skill and cunning as a scout have sel- dom been excelled in the history of Indian fighting. Finally, Mr. Bickerdyke determined to settle down and although he first came to Montana to hunt, he liked the country so well
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he settled where we now find him and since then he has contented himself to raise cattle and do general farming. He is well known in Custer county and his life is as a loyal and substantial citizen.
MERRITT E. CONNELL, the assistant store keeper for the Northern Pacific at Liv- ingston, was born near Louisville, Kentucky, July 7. 1852. His father, Honorable Jesse Connell, was born in Kentucky, October 16, 1818. When arrived at manhood's estate he took up government contracting and made con- siderable money. Emigrating west he located in Kansas and for three years was a member of the legislature in that newly formed state. He was treasurer of Leavenworth county, Kan- sas, from 1868 to 1872, then was elected Judge in Bates county, which position he held until 1887, his death occurring on February 10. He married, March 28, 1844. Nancy Johnson, who was born January 1, 1825, and to them were born five children, Platt, Annie, Catherine. Merritt E. and Jesse. Our subject received a common school education and when eighteen, went west to Kansas and Colorado looking after his father's cattle interests. Four years later, he returned and moved to Missouri. In 1876, he came to Washington territory, pur- chased cattle for Ryan and Ryan and drove them through Cheyenne. In all he made four trips into Washington for this company. In the spring of 1880, he came to Montana with a cattle company. Cunningham & Ingersoll, and took charge of their entire outfit for three years. In the spring of 1884. he settled on a homestead seven miles east of Flathead and took up stock raising for himself. For four- teen years he continued, then sold out and moved to Livingston, it being 1898. The live stock commission business occupied him until 1903, when he entered the employ of the Northern Pacific.
On November 20, 1878, Mr. Connell mar- ried Kate Thompson, who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 15. 1859. the daugh- ter of William A. and Frances (Moore) Thompson, both natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Connell finished her education in the Liberty Academy for young ladies and then took up school teaching at the age of seventeen, follow- ing it until she married. John W. Thompson is a prominent real estate dealer in Missouri. Her oldest sister, Mrs. F. Moore, lives in Montana. The following named children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Connell, Jessie W., October 29. 1879; Merritt C., August 13, 1881; Mrs. Kate A. Whyette, September 26, 1883; Lannie W. and Lora M., twins, born July 14, 1885, the last married to Mr. Powell; Delbert L., born December 26, 1889.
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