An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 110

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 110

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While in Virginia City, October 13, 1869, Mr. MeCauley married Miss Nevada Schriver, a native of Portland, Oregon, and a daughter of George Schriver, who is of German descent. Her mother was before her marriage a Miss Culberson, her ancestors being English. After his marriage he removed to German Gulch in Deer Lodge

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and Oriental Amethyst. They are harder and more brilliant than any other gem save the dia- mond. A company is now working or prepar- ing to work Eldorado bar and other plaeers near Helena for these precious stones.

There is what may be ealled a copper placer in a small stream in Jefferson county, between Jefferson City and Beaver station, as it was called in the old times. Our attention was called to it by the bright copper which coated the tires of the buggy and the horses' shoes when we drove through the stream. It was found that the water of the stream was thor- onghly impregnated with a solution of copper, and the sands in the bed of it were full of bright crystals of metallic copper. It may be possible

to work ont these crystals from the sands and to precipitate the copper from the water with profit.

There are some half dozen oil springs under the mountains west of Red Lodge. Experts say these springs are ready to fill our towns with oil and asphalt and our country homes with bright lights from home springs of coal oil.

Every one who has had the least experience in mining will at once admit the absolute neces- sity of timber and water in successful mining. We have rich placers never worked, because no water could reach them without enormous ex- pense. Hundreds of mines made good yields last year, for the large supply of water. Give water enough to run giants in our placers, and

county, where he secured a claim and where he mined for seven years, meeting with fair success. In a single day he took out as high as $100 from this claim.

In 1872 Mr. McCauley came to his present location in Big lIole valley, three miles north of Melrose. Ilere he took squatters' claim to a tract of land and engaged in farming and stock-raising, and from time to time as he was pros- pered he added to his original holdings until he is now the owner of 600 acres of choice land, which is utilized as a grain and stock farm. Ilis cattle are a cross of Durhanı and Herefordshire, while his horses are chiefly Norman- Percheron. Since coming to this farm he for three years ran a blacksmith shop in Butte City and did a successful business. Like most men who have ever mined, he still takes an interest in mining and has several good pros- pects for gold, silver and copper, all near his home. In time these mines will unquestionably become of great value.

Mr. and Mrs. McCauley have had nine children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Robert Lee, Rena Dale, May Belle, Rosie Edith, Daisy Lewella, Jeffer- son Flint and George Thurman. Both he and his wife are active and efficient members of the Presbyterian Church, and, in politics, he has until quite recently been a Democrat but is now independent in his views. He has several times been elected and served as Justice of the Peace.

FREDERICK C. WEBSTER, a successful member of the Montana bar, residing at Missoula, came from the East, having been born in Litchfield, Connecticut, October 17, 1850. His family originated in the north of England, emigrated to New England in the Colonial days and be- came prominent in the early history of this country, Noah and Daniel Webster both being members of the family. His pioneer ancestors went from Hartford to

Litchfield, cutting their way through the woods and be- ing among the first settlers of the latter place. The property was divided among the first settlers by lot, and Mr. Webster drew the farm which contained Chestnut IIili. On that farm he took up his abode and there many generations of the family have been born, the property still being owned by the Websters. Grandfather Benja- min Webster was born and spent his life at Chestnut llill. He lived to be ninety years old. Charles B. Web- ster, his oldest son, the father of our subject, was born there in 1823, and he, too, spent his whole life at that place, reaching his three-score years and ten. Charles B. Webster married Miss Lucinda Baldwin, a native of Connecticut, and they became the parents of two sons, Frederick C. and Wilbur F. The latter resides at the old homestead.

Frederick C. Webster graduated at Yale College in the class of 1873, with the degree of B. A. He then took a course in the Yale Law Department and also read law a year with Judge Edward Seymour, now Judge of the Su- preme Court of Connecticut. He was admitted to prac- tice in the courts of Massachusetts in June, 1875, and soon afterward came West, his first location being at Minne- apolis, Minnesota. After three years spent in that city he went to Colorado and became interested in mining at San Juan, and also in various other pursuits. From San Juan he went to Grand Junction, where he practiced law and was elected City Attorney. In 1884 we find him at Butte City, Montana, and three years later he came from that place to Missoula, with which he has since been identified. IIere he entered into a partnership with the veteran lawyer of Montana, Judge Woody, which associa- tion was continued until Judge Woody's election to the Bench. After this Mr. Wehster and Mr. Woody became partners, and are now doing business under the firm

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

millions in fine gold would be added to the an- nual yield of our mines. Give more water and the mines will give more gold. Nearly all our mines have water enough, and some more than enough, in the early part of the season, when the snows are melting and the spring rains fill the streams. Could the surplus be saved until the dry season came, the efficient working time might be so prolonged as to double the yield of gold.

Reservoirs and irrigating eanals have long been used for mining. These modes of inereas- ing and prolonging the supply of water were re- sorted to by our enterprising miners at an early day in the history of Montana mining, as shown by the old reservoirs in nearly every gulch, and by the numerous ditches which once conducted the waters along the hillsides of every valley.

name of Webster & Woody. As skillful lawyers and as men of the highest integrity they have gained an enviable reputation. In 1888 Mr. Webster was elected Proseent- ing Attorney of Missoula county. At the close of his term he was ie elected, and served altogether four years. He has since given his undivided attention to his law practice.

Mr. Webster was married, June 1, 1>89, to Miss Anna C. Bye, a native of Norway, and they have two children, Lucy B. and Frederick B, both born in Missoula. He built the residence in which he and his family reside.

In his native town, in 1873, Mr. Webster was made a Master Mason, and since then he has taken an active part in the affairs of the order. At this writing he is Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Mon- tana. He served as Master of Missoula Lodge, No. 13, twoyears; was the first High Priest of the Chapter in Missoula; is also a member of the Commandry at Butte City. Politically, he is a Republican.

HON. FRANCIS LYMAN WORDEN, deceased, was the pion. eer merchant of Missoula, having come to Montana in 1860. He was prominently identified with the growth and development of this city and also of the State, and was ranked with Montana's most enterprising and highly respected citizens. Of his life and ancestry we make record as follows:

The Wordens are of Welsh origin. Some representa- tives of the family were among the earliest settlers in New England and twelve generations of them have been born in America. Our subject's grandfather, Asa Worden, was born in Vermont in 1738. HIe reared a family of eight children and lived to be ninety years of age. His

But the mines are so numerons, and the amount of water for each so limited, that this system of supply can avail to a limited extent only for increasing the water and for prolonging the mining season, save by an outlay of money be- yond the means of private individuals. It is different with irrigation, for large streams can be utilized, and the same eanal can supply hun- dreds and even thousands of farins.

But nature has furnished the most efficient means of supplying our mines with both timber and water. Nearly all our mines are at or near our numerous mountain ranges, which nature has clothed with dense forests of pines. Na- Ture has also provided that every tiny leaf of all these pines should constantly by night and day, and in all seasons, give off moisture to be condensed into clouds which yield the showers

son, Rufus Worden, was born in Vermont, May, 8, 1804; married Susan Powers, and had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters; was an industrious and pros- perous farmer all his life; died in the seventy-sixth year of his age. Francis L. was the oldest son in this family.

Mr. Worden was born in Vermont in 1830, and attended school in Troy, New York, where, at the age of fourteen, he began clerking in a store. In the capacity of clerk he continued for seven years at Troy. In 1852 he went to San Francisco, California, and clerked there for about two years, but in the meantime he made a trip down the coast to Panama. From California he went to Oregon. There he mined one year and then started for Colville, but stopped at Snake river, and returned to The Dalles in Oregon, where he remained a short time, and while there participated in the Indian war of 1855. He spent nine months with the Oregon pioneers in this war. He was then employed as clerk in the Indian Department, under Isaac J. Stephens. Afterward he clerked for a short time at The Dalles. From The Dalles he went to Walla Walla and opened a store, soon after bought out the parties who had preceded him there, and thus became for a time the only merchant in that county. Ile was Postmaster of Walla Walla for two years. In 1860 he formed a partnership with C. P. Higgins, and they located in Hell Gate valley, four miles above the present city of Missoula. From this place they soon afterward moved their business to Missoula, their store being the first one in the town. In 1862 the gold was first discovered on Gold creek, and with the rush of miners to that point these enterprising merchants went there with a stock of goods, and conducted their store at that place until the following

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

and snows of our mountains. And besides, na- ture has pushed these mountains high into the cold regions, so that every wind that comes from the warm Pacific freighted with moisture is condensed into rain, hail or snow, to fill our mountain reservoirs. Such are the provisions of nature to furnish the water needed by the mines in our mountains.

The effects of forests on the supply of water were especially noticeable during the last ex- cessively dry season, while exploring the for- est elad mountains of the Little Belt and Judith ranges and the vast forest region around Cook City. Instead of dry streams which elsewhere told of failing water and the early retreat of the miners from their placers, and the herds of the stockmen from their usual summer ranges, in these forest regions the springs and streams were full.

year. Then they moved the goods to Deer Lodge and opened the first store in that town. In 1864 they became the pioneer mill men of the valley, built a sawmill and gristmill, and in 1866 completed a valuable milling prop- erty, which proved of great value to the settlers. In 1868 they sold their interests at Deer Lodge, and that same year, in partnership with Captain Higgins and IIon. W. J. MeCormack, Mr. Worden laid out 100 acres of the town site of Missoula. From that time they became the main factors in bringing about the present development of the city. It was throngh their efforts that ditches were made, pipes were laid and that an abundance of pure water was brought to the town. Mr. Warden continued his merean- tile business successfully all his life, his whole career being characterized by the highest integrity.

Ile was married at Frenchtown, Missoula county, Mon- tana, November 29, 1866, to Miss Lucretia Miller, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Ilenry W. Miller. Mr. Miller came to Montana with his wife and two daughters in 1862, settled on a farm near Frenchtown, and there died in 1869. His wife survived him until September 8, 1893, when she passed away in the sixty-fourth year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Worden became the parents of seven children, namely: Lucina L., who is now the wife of Frederick T. Sterling, Missoula, and has one child; Henry O., a business man of Missoula; C'arrie M., Louise M., wife of B. E. Bradley, of St. Louis; Frank L., Horace B., and Ruth M. Mrs. Worden and her unmarried chil- dren reside in the pleasant home in Missonla, which Mr. Worden built some time before his death. IIe died Feb- ruary 5, 1887. His private life was that of a true and de-

As we rode over these lofty mountains and along these deep valleys in the grateful shade of the "whispering pines," and noted every- where the gushing fountains and the sparkling streams, we could but remember the ancient proverb, "The largest rivers are eradled in the leaves of the mountain pines."

This is true in Asia, true in Africa, true in Europe and true in America. Wherever the mountain pines have been permitted to grow where the great God planted them the small fountains and the great rivers have continued to flow and make the lands fruitful. But where the ax has swept away these forests, the springs have dried up and the streams have left dry beds and the lands are covered with drifting sands, as is seen in Mesopotamia, Palestine and northern Africa, once the most fertile regions of the world.

voted husband and a loving and indulgent father. While in business and political cireles he has been missed, it is in his own home circle where his loss has been most keenly felt.

Of Mr. Worden's public life, we record that in 1864 he was elected to and served in the Territorial Legislature, rep- resenting the counties of Missoula, Deer Lodge and Cho- teau. Ile was also elected one of the County Commission- ers of Missoula county, and by that Board was chosen Chairman, in which capacity he served most faithfully. In 1875 he was again elected to the Territorial Legislature from Missoula connty, and in 1880 he was elected to the Legislative Council, being the only Republican elected to that body. Mr. Worden was a man who was largely endowed with those qualities of mind and heart that con- duce to make men esteemed and honored. He braved much danger in the early settlement of the country, and during his honorable business career won a degree of success to which he was most justly entitled. His good name and record are a credit to the State of which he was an honored founder.

IION. JAMES T. PHILLIPS, of Missoula, Montana, was born in Albany, New York, March 14, 1837. His ances- tors originated in England and some of his forefathers were among the early settlers of New England. His father, Washington Phillips, was born in Berkshire conn- ty, Massachusetts, in the year 1812. He was a graduate of Oberlin College, having studied there under President Finney: spent his whole life in the Congregational minis- try; died in 1872, in the sixtieth year of his age. ITis first wife, nee Eliza Tarbell, also a native of Massachusetts,

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

But how is it that these pine leaves feed the springs and mountain streams, and thus "era- dle the mighty rivers," and keep them flowing through the dryest seasons?

1. It is well known that the leaves of the pines, as well as the leaves of all other living plants, constantly give off into the air vapor of water. This vapor helps to form the clouds which so constantly appear on the mountains, and there furnish the frequent rains and snows 80 well known and ever expected in those high regions. These rains and snows help furnish the waters to keep up the springs and streams that feed the rivers.

2. These pines shed large quantities of leaves and twigs and cones every year, which cover the ground and keep it moist and cool by preventing the evaporation of the moisture.

3. This mulch of leaves and twigs and cones keeps the ground cool and moist and promotes

and the mother of our subject, died when the latter was only four years old. Mr. Phillips was afterward married again, but his second wife lived only a few years.

James T. Phillips received his education in the public schools. When a mere boy he began to support himself by clerking, and when he was fifteen he went overland to Santa Fe with a scientific surveying party in the employ of the United States Government. Their survey being complted, he returned home.

In April, 1861, soon after the firing on Fort Sumter, in an- swer to President Lincoln's call for volunteers to put down the rebellion; he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Massachu- setts Volunteer Infantry. IIe was at the first battle of Bull Run, and was mustered out when his time expired in the fall. Again he enlisted, this time in Company D, Eleventh Massachuseets Volunteer Infantry, and this time for nine months. At the expiration of this term, he re-enlisted, in the Second Massachusetts Volunteer Cav- alry, entering it as Sergeant in Company K. Heremained with this regiment from October, 1862, until the close of the war, and was discharged on Boston Commons in 1865. He participated in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek and numerous other smaller engagements, was slightly wounded on three occasions, had many hair- breadth escapes, and for his gallant service was promoted from time to time until he was in command of his com- pany.

After the war Mr. Phillips opened a drug store in Brook- field, Massachusetts, and some time later removed from there to Detroit, Michigan, where he became a commer-

the growth of mosses and lichens and grasses, which greatly increase the surface muleh, that, like a rich carpet of sponges, holds the waters and gives them up gradnally, and keeps up the springs and small streams which make the mighty rivers. This spongy coating varies in thickness from the fraction of an inch to sev- eral feet, as shown where fires have burned it up and exposed the logs and rocks it had covered.

4. In these forests the snow falls in great quantities, and in spring the sun and warm winds melt it less rapidly in the shade than in the open country; and the waters instead of running off and producing destructive floods as on our naked mountains, are absorbed by this spongy carpet and held as in reservoirs, which gradually yield them up to keep up the springs and streams through the long dry summer and antumın.

cial agent. For twenty-one years he was on the road, representing some of the leading wholesale houses-of Detroit. During this time he was a member of the Com- mercial Society, and was honored by being chosen its President, in which capacity he served one year. From Michigan he came to Missoula, Montana, in 1886, and opened a wholesale liquor business, which he has since conducted. He is now the proprietor of the Montana Saloon, and has a large patronage.

Mr. Phillips has been identified with the Masonic fra- ternity since 1861, and has since advanced in the order until he has attained the thirty-second Scottish Rite de- gree. Ile is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and, pol- itically, is a Republican. In 1889 he was elected a mem- ber of the Montana State Legislature, and has the honor of having served in the first State Legislature of Montana. He served two terms in that body. During that time he was a member of military and other committees. Since he took up his abode in Missoula he has accumulated con- siderable property here. He owns a nice home in the city and has built a brick block on Front street. He nat- urally takes a great deal of interest in military affairs. It was largely through his instrumentality that the Montana National Guards at Missoula were organized, aud of this company he was elected Captain.

Mr. Phillips was married in 1860, on New Year's Day, to Miss Mary J. Thompson, a native of Brookfield, Massa- chusetts, and a daughter of Avery Thompson of that State.

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This is nature's reservoir, spread everywhere under the pine forests to catch the water of every mountain side and valley, and to hold it for the dry seasons to follow. And this reser- voir, built by the great engineer of the universe, has no defects. Though built of tiny leaves, brittle twigs, flexible mosses, slender grasses and microscopic liehens, yet it is stronger than the walls of vast granite blocks tied and cemented by the rules of science. It never bursts and produces such floods as once carried ruin down the Ten-Mile and devastation and death to Johnstown.

In Florida and Louisiana it may be a pleasant sight to see the effect of the woodman's ax on the forests, and the planters' fires npon the jungle, letting the sunshine in npon the reek- ing soil; but in Montana the woodman's ax and forest fires destroy nature's reservoirs, and make

HON. EUGENE O. DUGAN, Mayor of Butte City and one of her active business men, is a native of St. John, New Brunswick, born March 24, 1862.

His father, John Dugan, emigrated from Ireland to America when a young man, settling in Boston, where he married Miss Annie Moriarty, a native of his own conn- try. He was a lumberman by occupation, and resided in the United States and Canada up to the time of his death, which occurred at St. John in the sixty-seventh year of his age. His wife still survives, being now (1894) sixty- five years old. They were devout Catholics. They had four children, of whom two are living.

Mayor Dugan, their youngest, was brought np to man- hood in his native town, and educated in her public schools. On starting out in business he was first in the employ of E. D. Jewett & Company until 1883. Then he spent nine months in New York, and then came on to Montana, arriving in Butte in 1884. Here he was book- keeper for Casey & Brophy until they dissolved partner- ship, and then he became a member of the firm of P. J. Brophy & Company, grocers, which relation he sustained until 1893, when, in connection with Mr. Jones, he en- gaged in the insurance and money-lending business, the firm name being Dugan & Jones. They represent twelve of the best insurance companies in the country, both American and English, and lend money for Eastern parties on real-estate security. They constitute a firm of the highest reliability and enjoy a large patronage. To a considerable extent Mr. Dugan is also interested in gold, silver and copper mines, some of which are being worked and pay well.

our mountains and hills barren wastes and fruit- ful sources of ruinons floods, -- when the waters of melting snows and storms all sweep down to all the valleys, leaving but little in the naked soil to supply the springs and streams. If one would see the difference, let him visit Cook City at the end of summer and feast his eyes with the glorious forests and perennial fountains on every hillside and the sparkling streams in every ravine and valley; and then go to Helena and see the mountains, once clothed with grand old forests and native reservoirs, but now hideous with blackened stumps and naked rocks, dry sands and pebbly channels, where, before the ax destroyed our forests and natural reservoirs, springs gushed and streams flowed to quench the thirst of the miner and wash his golden sands. But the natural reservoirs have been de- stroyed with the forests around Helena. Our

Mr. Dugan is a Democrat. In 1891 he was chosen a member of the city Council from the Second ward, being the first Democrat to gain that distinction in that ward. While serving in the Council he took a deep interest in the affairs of the city, exhibiting marked executive abil- ity. At the close of his teri he was made the nominee of his party for Mayor and was easily elected; and he is now serving with credit to himself and to the fullest sat- isfaction of his fellow citizens. During the first year of his Mayoralty grading and sewerage were done to the amount of $55,000; the new Library Building has been completed, which is a credit to the city: it cost, with fur- niture, $100,000, and the library already contains 16,000 volumes; and the Mayor has favored various other im- provements; and now he recommends the paving of Broadway and Main streets,-an improvement greatly needed; and his efforts in this line show the progressive. character of his administration of the city's affairs.

Mayor Dugan is a member of the Catholic Church and of the A. O. U. W. Ile is a man of energetic business talent, and during his residence in Montana he has made a wide and favorable acquaintance and has hosts of friends.

PETER HOE, a contractor and builder of Billings, was born in Norway, February 23, 1848, a son of Christopher and Rachel ( Moore) Hoe. The father was a sea captain. Peter attended the common schools of his native country until seventeen years of age, after which he spent two years in the Royal Agricultural College at Throndhjem, where he studied all branches of agriculture and me- chanics, and received a diploma. He had made himself

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 110

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