An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 102

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Montana > An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 102

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Of course he has a considerable trade in other towns

Circling Bear, Black Bird, and Circling Hawk of this agency, Spotted Elk (Big Foot) and his lieutenants of Cheyenne River, Crow Dog and Low Dog of Rosebud, and any of like ilk of Pine Ridge, would end all tronble and uneasi- ness in the future.'

"The agent at Cheyenne River reported

besides Butte City. Ile has also been largely interested in mines in Montana, Idaho and British Columbia, and was one of the organizers of the Silver Bow Electric Light Company. For some years also he was president of the Butte Water Company. He has erected a number of large buildings in the city, thus demonstrating himself to have been an active factor in the material interests of the place and in the building up of Butte.

IIe is liberal and enterprising, has many friends and is a favorite with a large portion of the community. IIe has passed through all the degrees of Freemasonry, just now reaching the thirty-third degree of the Scottish rite. Ile is also a member of the B. P. O. E., and K. of P. In his political connections he is a Democrat. He twice was elected Mayor of Butte ('ity, and he also has the honor of being elected a member of the First and Second Legis- latures of the State.

FREEMAN P. TOWER, A. M., D. D., president of the Mon- tana University, is a native of Connecticut, born at East- ford, February 13, 1838.

Dr. Tower is of English origin. Ile is the seventh gen- eration in a direct line from John Tower, who emigrated from England to this country in its early history and set- tled at Newtown, near Boston. The Towers have been a family of clergymen and business men. The Doctor's father, Charles Tower, was born in Massachusetts in 1779, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Pratt, was the daughter of Freeman Pratt, of Southbridge, Massa- chusetts. Freeman Pratt was one of the first cotton man- ufacturers of New England. Charles Tower and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom only five are now living. IIe reached the advanced age of eighty- nine years, and his wife died at eighty. In their younger days they were members of the Congregational Church, but afterward became Methodists, and died strong in the Christian faith.

Dr. Tower was the eighth child in his father's family. He was educated at Middletown, Connecticut, where he gradnated in 1863. Ile then united with the New York East Methodist Conference, of which he remained a mem- ber twelve years, as preacher in charge of the Taber- nacle Church at Brooklyn, Sand Street Church at the same place, at Norwalk, Connecticut, and other places. Then he was transferred to the California Conference and was stationed at Alameda, where he remained one year, at the end of that time being sent by the bishop to Salem, Ore- gon. He was pastor of the church at Salem three years, and during that period built the fine church edifice there. lIe then became connected with the Willamette Univer

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some little excitement regarding the coming of an Indian . Messiah,' as did the agent at Pine Ridge agency, who also expressed his be- lief that it would soon die out without cansing trouble.

" After receiving later reports, already men- tioned, which showed that ghost dancing was becoming a serious element of disturbance, the office instructed the agents at Standing Rock,

sity, and for teu years, from 1879 to 1889, was its agent and educational lecturer. In 1889 he was elected presi- dent of the Montana University, in which position he has since rendered efficient service.

In 1863 Dr. Tower married Miss Julia A. Cleveland, a native of Warren, Massachusetts. They have had three children, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving child, Olin F., was born March 19, 1872, and is a graduate of Willamette University.

When the war broke out Dr. Tower enlisted under the first call for 75,000 men, but the quota being full his com- pany was disbanded, and as he was a minister he revised his decision and took no further active part in the war. In his political views he is independent. All his life his attention has been given to religious and educational af- fairs. He is a logical and forcible speaker and has a fine voice for effective pulpit oratory.

EDMUND WHITCOMB dates his arrival at Bannack, Montana, April 27, 1863, and is consequently classed with the pioneers of this State. A brief sketch of his life is herewith presented.

Edward Whitcomb was born in Ashland county, Ohio, November 23, 1837. His remote ancestors were Germans. John Whitcomb, the father, was born in Maryland, in the year 1802. When quite young he went to Pennsyl- vania to reside, and there, about 1827, was married to Miss Mary Draughbaugh, a uative of Germany. They continued to reside in Pennsylvania until 1837, when they removed to Ohio and settled ou a farm. There Johu Whitcomb died in 1886, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His widow passed away, two years later, in her seventy seventh year. Five of their ten children are still living.

The subject of our sketch was the third born in his father's family, and was reared to manhood at the old homestead in Ohio. His common-school education was supplemented by a course at Ashland Academy, which he attended two terms. He went to Kansas in the spring of 1860, and from there, in 1862, to Colorado. At the latter place he was engaged in mining and lumbering.

When leaving Denver he and his party left at a time when considerable snow was remaining in the ravines and cañons, in which places they had to shovel snow day after day. On leaving old Fort Bridger for Salt Lake City the snow was capped by a liard crust, which made traveling exceedingly difficult. The night before arriv-

Crow Creek and Lower Brule, Rosebud, and Pine Ridge Agencies, to exercise great caution in the management of the Indians, with a view to avoiding an outbreak, and, if deemed neces- sary, to call upon this office to secure military aid to prevent disturbances.

" Agent Royer, of the Pine Ridge Agency, was especially advised, October IS, that Major- General Miles, commander of the military di-

ing at Salt Lake City they camped in snow fifteen inches deep, while crossing the summit to the city. Every- thing had the appearance of spring, the grass being green and some people preparing their gardens. This was the most sudden change in temperature that Mr. Whitcomb had ever experienced.

After spending fifteen days in Salt Lake City the party left for Bannack, then included in Idaho Territory, and arrived April 27, 1863, camping on Bannack flats. Two hours later the "road agents " (highwaymen) commenced killing Bannack Indians, Old Snag, a crippled Indian, being their first victim, and they killed three others, al- leging that the Indians had made a statement to the effect that the eleven miners who had left Bannack the preced- ing autumn would never appear alive again.

Mr. Whitcomb went with the stampede to Alder creek, and remained there until August 10. Then, with Colonel W. W. De Lacy and party,-forty-four men,-started for Snake river. It was falsely reported that gold diggings were on the south fork of that stream.

The party disbanded, some returning to Bannack aud Virginia City (Alder Gulch), and Mr. Whitcomb, with four men, went to Yellowstone lake, by way of the head of the Madison, passed on down through Yankee Jim's canon, and crossed to East Gallatin, arriving at Virginia City November 17.

During the following winter and spring the "road agents " " got in their work." Mr. Whitcomb wintered on Vivian Guleh, twelve miles from Virginia City, saw George Ives, the first one hung,-five in Virginia City before breakfast, one in Nevada City, one punished with fifty lashes, and later several hung in Helena City.

At the commencement of the Civil war, while in Kan- sas, Mr. Whitcomb belonged to the militia, organized for home protection. He was acquainted with Captains Chandler and Cleveland,-the latter a dashing young "Jayhawker,"-and the four Wilson brothers,-all a terror to the peaceable settlers. It was while he was in Kansas that that section, suffering drouth, received aid from every State in the Union.

The most of the time during his first seven years in Montana, Mr. Whitcomb was engaged in placer mining. At Silver Creek, where the miners had good sluicing, they averaged in gold-dust about $15 per day to the mau. In the meantime, in 1865, Mr. Whitcomb had pre-empted 160 acres of meadow land, twelve miles from Helena,

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vision in which the agency was situated, also chairman of the commission recently appointed to negotiate with the Northern Cheyennes, would shortly visit the agency, and that lie would have opportunity to explain the situation to him and ask his advice as to the wisdom of calling for troops.

" October 24, 1890, this office recommended that the War Department be requested to cause

which he still owns. When he retired from the mines, in 1869, he located the farm on which he now resides, it also comprising 160 aeres. This property is just south of the Montana University. In 1890 he sold 145 acres of his land for $29,750, and gave ten acres to the college, re- taining five acres for a home place. lle also gave $250 in cash to the college. At this writing, 1893, he is erect- ing a fine briek residence on his land, one of the best in the valley. With what he has accumulated by years of toil and good management, he is now able to live com- fortably without work, and has partially retired from active business.

Mr. Whiteomb was married June 29, 1871, to Miss C'ath- arine A. Durgen, a native of Maine. She came to Ban- nack in 1862, being among the pioneer women of the place, and narrowly escaped being killed in the great In- dian massacre of that year. She died in 1888. Four years later Mr. Whitcomb was again married, this time to Mrs. Margaret Kitson, a native of Massachusetts. She had three children, Mary, Walter and Charles, by Mr. Kitson, and she and Mr. Whitcomb have one daughter, Effa May. Mr. Whiteomb and his first wife adopted a son, John Edward Whitcomb, who is now in his seven- teenth year.

Mr. Whiteomb is a member of the 1. O. O. F, and in politics is a Republican, but he is a man who thinks for himself and is quite independent in his political action. Most of his attention has always been given to his own business. Ile is a capable and intelligent farmer and stoekman and has made a success in life. One of Mon- tana's worthy and highly reliable pioneers, he has resided here during her whole history, has grown with her growth and has prospered by her prosperity.

WILLIAM B. MORRISON, secretary and treasurer of the Helena Lumber Company, Ilelena, Montana, was born in St. John, New Brunswick, July 25, 1863, and spent the earlier years of his life there, where he received his edu- eation, graduating in the grammar school. When he completed his education he engaged with a wholesale firm, dealers in groceries and importers of West India goods, until 1887, when he came to Montana, locating in Missoula and accepting a position with the Missoula Mer- cantile Company. He remained there until 1889, when he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Helena Lumber Company and removed to Helena, where he is in charge of the business at this point. This company is

Sitting Bull, Circling Hawk, Black Bird, and Circling Bear to be confined in some military prison and to instruct the proper military au- thorities to be on the alert to discover any sus- picious movements of the Indians of the Sioux agencies.

" Early in November reports received from the agents at Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and Chey- enne River showed that the Indians of those

a branch of the Big Blackfoot Milling Company, at Bon- ner, their plant being the largest between St. Paul and Tacoma, with a daily capacity of 150,000 feet of lumber. The product of the Bonner plant goes to all points in Montana, the Dakotas and Idaho. The IIelena branch is one of the most important, its volume of business being very large and requiring careful supervision, which it receives from Mr. Morrison, who, although a compara- tively young man, is in every way conversant with the minutest detail of the business and is recognized as well qualified for the position he fills.

('HARLES WALTER, the active business partner of the Ilenry Elling mercantile establishment of Sheridan, Mad- ison county, Montana, is an enterprising young business man of more than ordinary ability. Briefly given, a sketch of his life is as follows:

Charles Walter was born in Germany, March 29, 1859, and was educated in his native country. In 1873, then a boy in his 'teens, he emigrated to the United States, went direct to Iowa, and there secured employment as clerk. Four years he elerked for the same firm. Then, taking Horace Greeley's advice,-"Go West, young man,"-he came to Butte City, Montana, where he remained a short time, and from there went to Virginia City. At the latter place he accepted a clerkship with R. Vickers & Company, in which he continued eight years. In 1889 he came to Sheridan. The firm of Elling, Parmater & Scott was then doing business here, and upon Mr. Scott's re- tirement from the firm, Mr. Walter was taken in as a partner. Three years later Mr. Parmater also retired from the business. Since then it has been conducted under the firm name of Henry Elling & Company, Mr. Walter being the resident partner and sole manager. In 1890 this firm built at Sheridan the best briek store in the county, or, perhaps in the whole State, it having been planned by Mr. Walter. It is 28 x 80 feet, with basement under the whole, and with gallery extending on three sides of the salesroom, the building being a model both for convenience and beauty. They also have a large warehouse in connection with their store, built for the purpose of storing grain and surplus stock. They handle large quantities of general merchandise of every descrip- tion, including drugs, Mr. Walter having learned the drng business in Iowa.

Since coming to Montana, Mr. Walter has interested himself to a considerable extent in ranching and stock-

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agencies, especially Pine Ridge, were arming themselves and taking a defiant attitude to- ward the Government and its representatives, committing depredations and likely to go to other excesses; and November 13 this office rec- ommended that the matter be submitted to the War Department, with request that such prompt action be taken to avert an outbreak as the

raising. Recently, however, he has closed out that part of his business in order to devote his time exclusively to the establishment above referred to. He also holds a large amount of valuable mining stock.

Mr. Walter was married April 15, 1893, to Miss Elnore Legris, a native of Canada and a niece of Mrs. J. B. Lau- rin, of Laurin, Montana.

While his political associations are with the Democratic party, he is not pleased with its attitude on the silver question, he being decidedly in favor of the free coinage of silver. He is one of the first Aldermen of Sheridan. Fraternally, he is identified with the A. O. U. W. and the I. O. O. F., and of the latter organization at Sheridan he is a Trustee.

JOSEPH PENNINGTON, a Montana pioneer of 1863, a prominent stock-raiser, and owner of the Golden Pacific mine, was born in Kentucky, March 29, 1835. IIe is of English and Scotch descent, some of his ancestors being among the early settlers of Sonth Carolina, where his father, Joseph Pennington, was born in the year 1800. The senior Joseph Pennington removed from South Caro- lina to Kentucky when a young man, and was there mar- ried to Miss Leticia B. Owens, a native of that State. Her father, Henry Owens, was born in Maryland. They had a family of thirteen children, of whom seven are still living. About the year 1843 they removed to Missouri and settled on a farm, where Mrs Pennington, now in her ninety-sixth year, still resides, Mr. Pennington having passed away several years ago. Ile was a school-teacher and farmer by occupation, and his religious faith was that of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Pennington is also a Baptist.

The subject of our sketch was their seventh born. Ile was reared to manhood in Missouri at a time when school advantages were limited and therefore the greater part of his education was obtained in the dear school of ex- perience. In 1854 lie crossed the plains to California and mined in Shasta county, meeting with fair success. After two years spent in the Golden State he returned to Mis- sonri, and there, April 24, 1857, was married to Miss Delila Fine, daughter of Levi Fine, of Tennessee. After his marriage he settled down to farming in Missouri and remained there until 1859, when he again crossed the plains, this time to Colorado. After prospecting through- out that section of the country for six months and without success, he returned to Missouri. In 1863 we again find him on a journey across the plains, his objective point

emergency might be found by them to demand. On that day the President of the United States addressed the following communication to the Secretary of the Interior:

"' Replying to your several communications in regard to the condition of the Indians at the Sioux and Cheyenne agencies, I beg to say that some days ago I directed the War Department

being Oregon, but after hearing of the discovery of gold at Bannack and Alder Gulch he changed his course and came hither. He was three months in making this trip. After his arrival in Ruby valley he took claim to a tract of land which afterward became known as Cold Spring Ranch, located eighteen miles west of Virginia City. lIere he built a log house and kept a stage station and entertained many of the travelers on their way between Virginia City and Bannack. Not only the best pioneers of Montana stopped with him but also the highwaymen who began to infest the country were entertained at his station. After residing at that place twelve months he he sold out and located another tract of land on Ram's Horn creek, two miles further east in the same valley. A year later he removed to a point one mile below Twin Bridges, where he remained seven years, and from whence in the fall of 1879 he came to his present property, a fine ranch of 320 acres. Here he is engaged in raising grain, hay and stock, his horses being principally of the Cleve- land Bay breed and his cattle Durham.

During his residence in Montana Mr. Pennington has all the time been more or less interested in mines and mining. IIe now owns nine good gold prospects, all in Rochester district, some of them within three miles of his home. Ile is now operating the Golden Pacific, which mills from $10 to $30 per ton and which is considered a very valuable property. Ile has built a five-stamp water mill. In all his mining operations he is in partnership with his stepson, T. J. Bird. Mr. Bird is married and has four children, one of whom, Joseph Pennington E. Bird, resides with Mr. and Mrs. Pennington.

Mr. Pennington has all his life been a strong adherent of the Democratic party, but he now differs with his party on the silver question, he being in favor of free coinage of silver. During his long residence in Montana he has interested himself in educational matters, has helped to organize several school districts and has often served as Trustee and Director.

JUDGE JOHN YOUNG BATTERTON, of Deer Lodge, Mon- tana, was born in Boone county, Missouri, October 22, 1826.

The Judge is of Scotch descent. Some of his ancestors settled in Virginia previous to the Revolutionary war and they were subsequently among the pioneers of Ken- tucky, his grandfather, Moses Batterton, having been born, reared and married in the latter State. The lady he married, Anna Corlew, was of French origin, her peo-

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to send an officer of high rank to investigate the situation and to report upon it from a mili- tary standpoint. General Ruger, I understand, has been assigned to that duty, and is now prob- ably at, or on his way to, these agencies. I have to-day directed the Secretary of War to assume

ple also being among the early settlers of Virginia, and later removing from there to Kentucky. Moses Batter- ton and his wife had nine children, their second child, Lemuel Berket Batterton, being our subject's father. The grandfather lived to be seventy-five years of age, surviving his wife several years.

Lemuel B. Batterton was born in Kentucky, in 1801. IIe removed to Missouri when a young man, and was one of the pioneers of that State. There he was married to Miss Mary Lynch, who was descended from Welsh and German ancestors. He spent his life in Missouri as a farmer and carpenter, and he and his wife had a family of ten children, of whom five are still living. The father died at the age of seventy-two, and the mother in the sixty-seventh year of her age. Both were earnest Chris- tians and consistent members of the Baptist Church, as also were Grandfather and Grandmother Batterton and others of the family.

Judge Batterton was the second of their ten children. He was educated in the public schools and in the State University of Missouri, and followed the profession of teacher in the public schools for ten years. He also served as Superintendent of Instruction in his county. Later, he was elected and served as Probate Judge. He was also elected County Judge, and while serving in that capacity was the presiding Justice of the court. During all these years he also carried on farming and stock- raising.

Judge Batterton was married July 6, 1854, to Miss Eliz- abeth Young Turner, native of his own State, and they had eight children born to them in Missouri. In 1877, re- signing his position as Judge and settling up his affairs in Missouri, he removed with his family to Montana. IIis eldest daughter, Ada, had married Mr. Harvey T. Mahan, and they also came with the family. All settled in Deer Lodge, the father purchasing a small farm al- most within the corporate limits of the city, where he has since resided. Soon after his arrival in Deer Lodge county he was elected one of the County Commissioners, in which capacity he served most efficiently for ten years. Ife is now in a measure retired from active life. Of the other members of the family, we record that the second daughter, Mamie T., is a popular and successful teacher; Zona is the wife of S. C. Kenyon, and resides in Boze man; Sallie A. is teaching in the public schools of Boze- man: James is a jeweler in Idaho; Bettie, at home; Lennie May, also engaged in teaching: and John Y., Jr., the youngest of the family, is still a minor.

The Judge and his wife and nearly all their family are members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Democrat; fraternally, a member of the Masonic order.

a military responsibility for the suppression of any threatened outbreak, and to take such steps as may be necessary to that end. In the mean- time, I suggest that yon advise your agents to separate the well-disposed from the ill-disposed Indians, and while maintaining their control

THE CONRAD BROTHERS, prominent bankers and busi- ness men of northern Montana, having banking houses at Great Falls and Kalispell, are pioneers of Montana. They came to the Territory and settled at Fort Benton in 1868 when they were boys, one eighteen years old and the other twenty, and have ever since been intimately identified with its growth and development. In all their business enterprises they have been partners and their lives have been closely blended.

William G. Conrad, the senior brother, was born in Warren county, Virginia, August 3, 1848: and Charles E. Conrad, May 20, 1850. They are of German and English descent. Their ancestor, Joseph Conrad, emigrated from Germany to America in the early settlement of the colonies and located in the Shenandoah valley. ITis posterity were prominent in colonial days as well as later in the history of this country. The father of these gentlemen, Colonel James W. Conrad, was born in War- ren county, Virginia, in 1812, and was married in his native State to Miss Maria S. Ashby, a native of the Old Dominion, born in 1827, and of English descent. She traces her family history back to John Ashby, who was a subject of King Charles I. of England, and who was among the first Englishmen that landed in Virginia. IIer great-grandfather, also named John Ashby, was a Captain with General Braddock when the latter was killed near Pittsburg, and her grandfather, Benjamin Ashby, and of Virginia's most honored sons, served as an .officer during the Revolutionary war, 1776. Colonel James W. Conrad and his wife had a family of thirteen children, all born in Virginia, and eight of that number are still living. He owned a large plantation, served for some years as Judge, and was also Colonel of the State militia. IIe and his wife were life-long Methodists. In 1874 they removed to Montana and located at Fort Ben- ton, where he retired from active business. His death occurred July 18, 1894, at Great Falls, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a man of many excellent traits of character and was honored and esteemed by all who knew him. His good wife is still living and is greatly beloved by her children and grandchildren, and, indeed, by all who knew her.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 102

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1216