An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 108

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 108

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fill your hair and blankets with cold shivers, and your limbs with rheumatic twinges, and dark clouds often obscure the sky and threaten an infant deluge.

No matter what the obstacles, no matter what hardships must be endured, the love of gold is stronger than all. It turns rivers from their channels, drives tunnels through the very heart

traz, a girl he had known from childhood; but his church, the Catholic, would not allow it unless he paid $1,600 for a "dispensation " to permit it. Being an American citizen, Mr. Deletraz asked the advice of the American consul there, who advised him to take his cousin to New York and be married there. This advice he followed, and he returned to Fort Benton, where he now enjoys the com- forts of a beautiful home, the premises being adorned with flowering plants of his own setting.

In his early life Mr. Deletraz was a scientific billiard- player, but of course, his long sojourn in the wild West has prevented him from the enjoyment of the game.

In 1855, in Oregon, he participated in the Indian war, in which twenty-nine white men were killed. He suffered many severe exposures and had many narrow escapes; but now the thought of all his trials of the past only heightens his present joy.

CHARLES OTTO has long been a resident of Montana and is well known here. For a number of years he has been identified with Missoula, where he now lives. Of his life we present the following sketch:

Charles Otto was born in Baden, Germany, November 26, 1838, the son of German parents, his father being a large lumber dealer in that country. It was on the 2d day of August, 1855, that young Otto landed on American soil, he being then a lad of seventeen years, starting out to make his own way in the world. From New York city he went to Cincinnati, where he obtained employment in a brewery and where he became thoroughly familiar with all the details of that business. In 1857 we find him at Springfield, Illinois. There he worked on a farm during the summer and at the cooper's trade in winter. In 1859 the Pike's Peak excitement and his love for ad- venture brought him out West, and he turned his atten- tion to mining. In the mines, however, he made no more than wages, and as the occupation was not altogether suited to his taste he sold his claim and crossed the plains to California. He remained in California until 1863, his time being divided between mining and working in a brewery. His mining experience here was more success- ful than it had been elsewhere. Indeed, he found some pieces of gold that were worth from $60 to $70. In 1863 Mr. Otto went to Virginia City, Nevada, and secured em- ployment in the Philadelphia Brewery; but the elose con- finement did not agree with his health, so he left the brewery and began hauling quartz from Gold IIill to Carson river. He remained in Nevada until 1866, wheu he came to Montana, landing at Helena on the 9th of June

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

of the mountains, and nothing but the central fires of the earth can drive the miner from fol- lowing the veins of ore down to where the fur- naces of Vulcan pour ont rivers of gold and silver and platinum. This love of gold and gems has been common to all ages since the days of Tubal Cain. It is a characteristic of all peoples and all classes of peoples. Kings and peasants have labored for the precious metals and the glittering gems. Solomon sent a Tyr- ian fleet to Ophir for gold and precious stones,

and camping on Rodney street. At that time there was but one residence in the town.

Mr. Otto had come to Ilelena with a freight train, bringing with him 400 pounds of tobacco, expecting to sell it at a large profit, but as the market was already supplied he made nothing on his venture. Again he turned his attention to mining. He worked at Confeder- ate bar and at other places, but the cost of provisions was high and he did not make much. In the spring of 1868 he removed to Radersburg, where he worked for $4 per day on the night shift. After this he prospected with a company in the Big Dry Gulch, but as he met with but little success he went to Cable City and began haul- ing quartz to the mill below the town. In this occupa- tion he continued until December, when he returned to Helena. In Helena he for a time worked for a contrac- tor, was afterward employed in sawing ice for John Horsky, drove a beer wagon three years, and then for three years and a half worked in the brewery. Still later he worked in a brewery at Phillipsburg and one at Deer Lodge. July 12, 1877, he arrived in Missoula, and on the 19th of that month began working in the brewery of John Hughes. In 1879 he purchased the brewery, and con- ducted the business successfully until 1885, when he sold out, his successors being Wagner & Pelekan. After that he turned his attention to real-estate deals. In company with other prominent citizens of Missoula, he purchased a valuable traet of land on Front street, a part of which has been sold and the rest improved. Mr. Otto has de- clined $10,000 for the property he still owns on Front street. He also has a ranch on Miller creek, six miles from the city. He was one of the founders of the West- ern Missoula National Bank, and in this institution has since been a stoekholder and a director. While he has in a measure retired from active business, he is giving some attention to the raising of fine fruits, among which are apples, pears, cherries and plums.

Mr. Otto is a charter member of the I. O. O. F. at Mis- soula. His political views are in harmony with the prin- ciples advocated by the Democratic party, with which party he has been identified ever since he east his first presidential vote.

and Ferdinand and Isabella sent Columbus to unknown lands in search of them. The Czar of Russia employed Sir Roderick I. Murchison, of England and Dr. Vernsuill, of France, two distinguished geologists, to prospect the Ural mountains for precious metals and other valuable minerals. In fact, all the geologists employed by governments and States have been general prospectors. Dr. Hayden, his associates and their successors were in the main prospectors.

These numerons other facts in the history of

L. B. WELLS, of Helena, Montana, was born in Mt. Morris, Livingston county, New York, May 10, 1842. His early life was spent in Buffalo, from which place he went to Michigan with his grandmother, who located in Grand Rapids. Here he embarked in the grocery business, op- erating very successfully for a number of years. During the war he became sutler, feeding the Government troops at Grand Rapids. In 1866 he sold his grocery business and moved to the West, locating at St. Joseph, Missouri. In 1863 he married Miss Laura J. Gordon, a daughter of one of the pioneers of Michigan, Mr. Gordou having come to Grand Rapids in 1833, and was the pioneer lumberman of the famous Grand Rapids lumber district, furnishing the lumber for the first frame building erected in Grand Rapids.

Mr. Wells remained in Grand Rapids with his wife until 1869. On the 13th of July of that year he embarked on a steamer up the Missouri river, and after an adventurous trip through the country of hostile Indians and an en- counter with the Sioux near Fort Peck, they reached Cow island on the upper Missouri that fall. From this point they were transported by teams to Fort Benton. At Fort Benton they bought an ox team and proceeded to HIelena, Montana. Here they remained for some time, looking around in the new country and finally went up to Greenhorn, where Mr. Wells became interested iu some quartz mines. They built a mill at this point, but the conditions were crude, with no facilities for securing machinery, and with the primitive methods then in vogue the quartz venture was not a success. So he returned to Helena, and with his wife embarked in the millinery business, which they operated very successfully for many years. During this time Mr. Wells was actively interested in all the movements of this exciting period. He was a member of the Vigilance Committee and took part in the various manœuvers of that day and time. While en- gaged in the millinery business Mr. Wells continued pros- pecting and discovered and located many quartz lodes, some of which have since proven very valuable. In 1876 Mr. Wells embarked in the greenhouse business and built up au extensive and lucrative establishment, now ably managed by his efficient wife, who survives him.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

the profession show it to be an honorable call- ing, if not a profitable one, whether those en- gaged in it be called geologists, mining en- gineers, mining experts or prospectors.

The means used in search of valuable minerals are very various. Some are based on sound knowledge, some on baseless theories, and some ou superstitious notions and supernatural agen- cies.

A few prospectors have called upon the spir- its to aid them in their search. Whether the

In July, 1890, Mr. Wells was fatally injured, while riding near Ilelena, by a runaway team belonging to a Chinese market gardener. Mrs. Wells was severely in- jured by this accident, but recovered, and since the death of her husband has managed and operated the green- houses and extensive real estate holdings, which had been acquired by Mr. Wells and herself before his death. The Wells conservatories are now the most extensive and perfectly equipped greenhouses between St. Paul aud the coast. They consist of a plaut of seven houses, all in active operation and fully stocked.

With the locating of the permanent capital at Helena, and the permanent establishing of Fort Harrison, Low under construction, these conservatories bid fair to be- come a valuable and lucrative investment. Mrs. Wells by her able management has gained a wide circle of patrous, and with the natural growth of the Capital City will doubtless continue to supply the State of Montana with au abundance of floral beauty.

HON. LUKE D. HATCH, one of the representative citi- zens of the Bitter Root valley, dates his arrival in Mon- tana in 1866.

Mr. Haich was born in Mason, Cass county, Michigan, October 3, 1844. His people were among the early set- tlers of Bangor, Maine, and took an active part in all the affairs of the colonies. They were represented in both the Revolution and the war of 1812. His grandfather, Noah Hatch, was born in Massachusetts. He was an honest and well-to-do farmer, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He and his wife had a family of sixteen children, ten of whom reached adult age, four of that number still surviving. The property owned by the Hatches at Bangor has descended through several gen- erations and is sill owned by members of the family. Ezra Hatch, the father of Luke D., was born in New York, February 2, 1812. He was married, in 1839, to Miss Sarah Maria Allen, who was born in New York, January 6, 1818. a descendant of Ethan Allen of Revolu- tionary fame. Both the Hatches and the Allens had moved to the Territory of Michigan in 1833, and it was there in Mason, Cass county, that Mr. Hatch was married. He and his wife reared a family of six children. He was a stonecutter by trade, but was also for some time en-

spirits have been efficient and profitable assist- ants in this work, I know not; but it may be proper to say that, from what we have learned of the subject, we have very decided impres- sions that the spirits thus employed are not very good prospectors, and that those who have employed them have derived very little satis- faction from such business relations. Some prospectors have also used persons known as " clairvoyants," or people so clear-sighted that they can see things hidden from the sight of

gaged in farming, and later in life turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. In 1849 he was among the gold- seekers that went to California, and in the new El Dorado he met with good success, returning to his home atter an absence of about a year and bringing with him about $16.000. Ile died in 1856, and his wife in 1869. Both were earnest Christians and members of the Presbyterian Church.

Luke D. llatch, the third-born in the above family, spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Michigan and received his education in the public schools. He was a lad of sixteen years when President Lincoln made his first call for volunteers to put down the great rebellion; but. boy that he was, he was imbued with the patriotism of his illustrious ancestors; was eager to enlist, and his name was enrolled in Company E, First Regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was at once sent to the front, his service being with the Army of the Po- tomac. His term of service having expired, he re enlist- ed, August 2, in the same company. After being in active service in the Army of the Potomac two years, dating from the time of his second enlistment, he again enlisted, as a veteran, and served in the same army through all its reverses and its glorious victories until the conflict was ended by General Lee's surrender. Dur- ing his service he participated in no less than forty bat- tles; was twice wounded, and from time to time was promoted until, when he was mustered out, he held the commission of Second Lieutenant. A braver, truer sol- dier than young Hatch never faced the enemy's fire.

The war over, Mr. Hatch returned to his home, and for one year was engaged in farming in Michigan. Then he sold out and came across the plains to Montana, making the journey by the Bozeman route. The Indians were very hostile that year and frequently made attacks upon the party with which Mr. Hatch was traveling, but they longht their way through and landed safe at Alder Gulch. There he mined until the fall of 1867, meeting with some . success. On account of the illness of his father, he re- turned to Michigan, and that winter his father died. Our subject remained at the old homestead until the fall of 1868, and on the 11th of December of that year he was married to Miss Emma Adelia Vantril, a native of Elk-

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

common people; but we have no proof that they have ever been successful prospectors.

Some natural agencies are used in this search for gold and silver, about which we know very little, save they are unknown to science and cannot be investigated by scientific methods The divining rod is used, and some nameless things which are concealed from the eyes of unbelievers by some opaque covering, which places them with the "unknowables." We have known no discoveries of valuable mines by such agencies. Divining rods have claims to our

hart county, Indiana, her people having moved to Cass county, Michigan, when she was six months old. Mr. Hatch remained in Michigan until after the death of his mother, which occurred in 1869, and then he and his wife removed to Missouri. IIe made his home in the latter State until 1881, in the meantime making several trips back and forth to Montana and carrying on mining operations. In 1881 he brought his wife and son to Mon- tana and they hecame permanent residents of Stevens- ville. Since that time he was for three years a member of the mercantile honse of Eddy, Hammond & Company, but the most of his time and attention have been given to mining operations. He is interested in both gold and silver mines, and owns considerable property in Stevens- ville, among which is the pleasant residence in which he and his family reside.

Mr. and Mrs. Hatch have had three children, Frank Clyde being the only one living, the other two having died in infancy.

Fraternally, Mr. Hatch is a member of the A. O. U. W., the G. A. R. and the Masonic order. Ever since he was a voter he has been identified with the Democratic party. In 1389 his fellow.citizens of Missoula county elected him a member of the Territorial Convention which formu- lated the State Constitution, and in that body he served most efficiently.

IION. ROBERT FISHER, Registrar of the Land Office at Missoula, Montana, is ranked with the worthy pioneers of this State. Of his life we make record as follows:

Robert Fisher was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1827, his forefathers having long resided in that city. His remote ancestors were English people. Richard Fisher, his father, was born in Philadelphia in 1795; was twice married, his second wife, nee Margaret Johnston, the mother of our subject, being also a native of Philadelphia, she being of Irish descent. He was a successful florist, had made several trips to England in connection with his business, and at the age of forty-five, being in ill health and hoping that a sea voyage and change of climate would be of benefit to him, he started again for England. Ile was destined, however, never to

serious consideration, simply because there is some testimony that they have aided water witches in finding water. What virtue they possess, or whether they possess any, is wholly unknown to science, for science knows nothing about the " unknowable." But there is no mys- tery about their mechanism, and any one can make a divining rod with a jack-knife. Cut a forked green stick from one-quarter to three- eighths of an inch in diameter and eighteen to twenty inches long, the forks equal in size, and cut twelve or fifteen inches long, and you

reach that country. Being taken severely ill on board the vessel, he died and was buried in the great deep. Ile left a widow and six children, two of the latter being by his first wife. The mother of our subject died in her forty-second year.

Robert Fisher was reared in his native city, receiving his education in her public schools. Upon leaving school he accepted a clerkship in the mercantile house of Lev- ick & Jenkins, with whom he remained six years. Then he went South, and until 1852 was in Nashville, Tennes- sec. In March, 1852, he sailed for California, making the voyage by way of the isthmus of Panama, and on board the Golden Gate steamed into the port of San Francisco on the 22d of May. The attraction which led him to California at that time was the reputed wealth of her gold mines, and upon landing at San Francisco he at onee directed his course toward the mines. At Downieville he had his first experience in mining, afterward he was at El Dorado and Ilangtown, and for eight years he con- tinned his mining operations with unabated zeal. During that time he met with all the privations and varied ex- periences of a California miner-sometimes short of "grub," and at other times being rich. The largest nug- get he found was near Cold Springs. At that place he and two others took out $324 in one day.

In 1860 Mr. Fisher went to Carson City, Nevada, where he was engaged in merchandising six years. Then he sold out his business and came to Summit, Madison county, Montana, and after a brief experience in the mines at that place he came to Ilelena and purchased a claim in Grizzly Gulch. In the fall of 1866 he removed to Springville, Jefferson county, where he pre-empted a farm, and where he was engaged in mining and also ear- ried on a livery business. He remained there until 1881, and during that time made several valuable investments. In company with two others, he was owner of the Iron Age mine, which they sold for $30,000. In 1881, accom- panied by his family, Mr. Fisher made a trip to the At- lantic States, and upon his return West he located at Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he was engaged in the ice business. His wife was at that time in poor health, and

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will have a divining rod of the approved form. It is used by grasping a fork in each hand so the large end of the rod will be np. Holding it in this position, walk over the ground where you want to find water or gold or silver, and, when you come to either, the large end of the rod will turn down; and the more you hold it still, the more it will turn down till it points to the water or gold or silver. The favorite wood

it was on her account that he went to New Mexico. Upon her recovery they returned to their home in Jeffer- son connty, Montana, and continued to reside there until 1891, when President Harrison appointed Mr. Fisher Registrar of the Land Office. This appointment necessi- tated his removal to Missoula, whither he came with his family and where he has since resided.

During Mr. Fisher's residence in Nevada he was thrice elected a member of the Territorial Legislature, and served in the sessions of 1862, '64 and '66. In 1871 and '73 he was a member of the Territorial Council of Mon- tana. He was also elected and served in the first State Senate of Montana. ITis whole career has been charac- terized by the highest integrity, and his official service has been such that it reflected credit on him and also on his constituents. In his early life he was a Whig, but when the Republican party was organized he became identified with it and has since been a faithful adherent to its principles.

Mr. Fisher was married April 6, 1864, in Placerville, California, to Mrs. Nannie J. Egleston, a native of Vir- ginia, the widow of George Egleston and the daughter of Peter Butler. Mrs. Fisher had three children by her first husband, all of whom are deceased, and she and Mr. Fisher have had four children, three having died in in- fancy. Their only surviving child, Annie Vestus, is the wife of George Ilansinger.

S. G. RAMSEY, Sheriff of Missoula county, Montana, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 22, 1852. He is of Scotch descent, his ancestors having emigrated from Scotland to this country and settled in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Isaac Ramsey, his grandfather, was a resident of Montgomery county, and by profession was a schoolteacher. In religion he was a Baptist. He lived to be eighty years of age. In his family were four sons and two daughters, one of the former, Samuel W. Ramsey, being the father of our subject. Samuel W.

Ramsey was born in Philadelphia in 1822. Ile spent his whole life on a farm in his native State, and died there in 1870, in the forty-eighth year of his age. His wife, nee Sarah Gilbert, a native of Delaware, survived him twenty-one years, her death occurring in 1891. They had a family of five children.

S G. Ramsey attended the public schools of his native city. In 1870, after his father's death, he began work in the telegraph office of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- 34

for the divining rod is witeh-hazel; the peach and common hazel are sometimes used.

My authority for the form and manner of using the divining rod is Baron Alexander von Humboldt. When the anthor of Kosmos was in this country and was one day walking out with Professor Parker Cleaveland, the distin- guished father of American mineralogy, they came upon a cluster of witch-hazel. "Ah!"

road Company, where he remained one year, after which he was employed as brakeman and later as conductor by the same company. In 1873 he severed his connec- tion with that company and entered the service of the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicage Railroad as telegraph operator, from which position he was promoted to that of train dispatcher. IIe resigned his position with that company in order to accept that of manager of the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company. In the mean- time he had made himself proficient in stenography, and in 1877 went into the office of the general manager of the Pennsylvania Railroad as private secretary, remain- ing in that capacity until August, 1883. Then, on account of failing health, he went to Colorado, where he entered the employ of the Union Pacific as agent and operator. This position he hekl until June, 1886. Then he accepted the position of chief clerk to the receiver of the Shen- andoah Valley Railroad at Roanoke. From there in August of the same year he came to Drummond, Mon- tana, as night telegraph operator for the Northern Pa- cific Company. Two weeks later he was transferred to the office of the superintendent of the Pacific division at Tacoma, where he was employed as chief clerk. On the completion of the Cascade division in July, 1887, he was promoted to the position of assistant train dispatcher at Tacoma, and in February of the following year to that of chief dispatcher of the Cascade division. From this latter position he was transferred to that of chief clerk to the assistant general manager of the Western division, the duties of which office he performed until the re- organization of the company necessitated the abolish- ment of the office of assistant general manager at Ta- coma and the creation of the office of assistant general superintendent at Helena. Mr. Ramsey then occupied the position of chief clerk under superintendents N. D. Root, M. C. Kimberley, and G. W. Dickinson. In Octo- ber, 1888, he was promoted to acting superintendent of the Idaho division, with headquarters at Sprague, Washington. His appointment was confirmed and he was made superintendent, January 1, 1889. In April, 1890, he was transferred to the office of superintendent of the Rocky division of the Northern Pacific, with headquarters at Missoula, and this position he filled with ability until May 10, 1892, when he resigned and accepted the nomination of the Democratic party for Sheriff of Missoula county. Ile was elected to

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 108

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