An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 120

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 120

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MERIDITH S. FIFER, of Butte ('ity, came to Montana in 1865, and has seen the wonderful changes in growth and development that have taken place since his advent to this region.

Mr. Fifer was born in the State of Missouri, January 12, 1844. His ancestors came from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania, where his grandfather, John Fifer, was born. He served his country in the war of 1812. He

islature and to the governor and justices of the supreme court, which was to be paid out of the Territorial treasury in addition to the compen- sation given by the United States Government.

One of the duties of this legislature was to pass an apportionment law, apportioning the members of house of representatives and coun- cil to the several counties and districts to be created by law. The legislature, late in the session, passed an apportionment law. The governor vetoed it, claiming it was in violation of the organic act. It failed of passage over his veto, and the legislature adjourned without making any apportionment of the Territory. This afterward resulted in much confusion, which the Democratic party rightfully claimed was the fault of a Republican governor and a Republican legislature.

Soon after the general election in September, 1865, Thomas Francis Meagher appeared at Virginia City, having been appointed by the president to the position of secretary of Mon- tana. About the time of his advent into the Territory, Governor Edgerton left Montana and went east, leaving General Meagher aeting gov- ernor of the Territory. Governor Edgerton did

married Miss Trump, and had six children, was a farmer and lived to be eighty-seven years old; his wife died at the age of seventy-eight years. The son, Jolin Fifer, was born in Virginia, in 1812, was married in Ohio to Miss Zelda Jane Smith, and moved to Missouri in 1838, where he was a farmer. In 1850 he made a trip across the plains to California. where he remained three years. Returning to his home he remained there until 1859, and again crossed the plains to the Golden State. Both times he made some money, but the second time he returned with only about $600.

HIe remained in Missouri until 1865, and, still having a desire to find gold, he came to Montana, bringing with him his family, then consisting of his wife and six chil- dren, and making the journey with horse teams. He purchased a farm of 480 acres of land in Deer Lodge val- ley, twelve miles from Deer Lodge, where he has since resided, meeting with fair success in his undertakings.

His son, Meridith S., the third-born in the family, was sent to private schools and afterward to the public schools

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not again return to Montana in an official capacity. General Meagher continued to act in the capacity of governor until Governor Edgerton's successor, Green Clay Smith, was appointed and reached the Territory in Octo- ber, 1866.

General Meagher, soon after entering upon his duties as acting governor, realized the con- dition the Territory was in by reason of the veto of Governor Edgerton of the apportion- ment law passed by the first legislature. The Territory was withont an apportionment law. While the general election law provided for the election of members of the legislature, there was no law that apportioned its members among the counties and districts, as contemplated by the organic act. The Democrats claimed and urged upon him that the power was inherent in him as acting governor to call the legislature together in extraordinary session by proclama- tion, to supply this defect in the law. The Republicans contended that he was powerless to act, and that Congress alone could give life to our legislative functions. He hesitated sev- eral weeks, and listened to the arguments of both parties, until in February, 1866, he

announced his final conclusion that the power rested in the executive branch of the govern- ment to convene the legislature together in extra session. Accordingly, in February, 1866, he made his proclamation convening the legis- lature in extraordinary session on the 5th of March, 1866. For this he incurred the bitter opposition and enmity of the Republican lead - ers; was denounced by them as an anti-admin- istration man, and a Democrat. His Excellency did not hesitate to say that the chief ground of opposition of the Republicans to the legislative call was the fear that when convened that body would repeal the extra-compensation law passed by a Republican legislature, under which the governor and judges were each drawing from the Territorial treasury 82,500 a year in ad- dition to their salaries from the United States Government. From this time on the Repub- licans ignored him, and placed him in the ranks of the anti-administration men.

The legislature, composed of members re- cently elected, convened in extra session March 5, 1866, in obedience to the executive proclama- tion, and soon after passed an apportionment law; and among other acts of legislation of a

after they were established. February 19, 1864, he was married to Miss Mary L. Dean, a native of the State of of Virginia and the daughter of George W. Dean, a cousin of Henry Clay Dean and a descendant of one of the old Virginia families. They came to Montana with his father, locating on a ranch of 160 acres of land in Deer Lodge valley adjoining his father's. After residing there five years he located 160 acres near Anaconda, lived there six years, leased his lands and came to Bnite in 1876. Ilere he engaged in teaming, making from $5 to $10 a day. In 1877 he located a mine at Centerville, which he named Old Glory. After prospecting there in order to develop it he sold his interest in it for $1,150. Next he followed gold mining at Bear Gulch, in Deer Lodge county, located leads and built a one-stamp mill with a five-ton capacity. This mine he still owns, and he has prospected since then. He has built a good brick residence in Butte, on the south side of Dakota street, which he now ocenpies, and he has also another residence in the city.

IIe is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in his political principles is a Democrat. Personally, he is a quiet, nn- assuming gentleman, who gives his whole attention to his own business.

THEODORE BEDARD, one of the prominent early settlers of Frenchtown, and one of the proprietors of the Western Hotel, was born at St. Mary's, Canada, Angust 22, 1843, and is of French extraction. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Canada. His father, Flavian Bedard, married Miss Celes, a daughter of Peter Ponton, and they had five children. The mother died at the age of thirty- six years, and the father survived until forty-seven years of age.

Theodore Bedard was reared to manhood in his native country, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1865 he crossed the plains from St. Louis to Montana with ox teams, consuming five months on the journey. After arriving at Alder Gulch, Mr. Bedard was engaged in making tools for the miners until 1869, afterward con- ducted a blacksmith shop in this city for a year and a

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wholesome character demanded by the people, it passed an act repealing the extra-compensa- tion law referred to. This brought upon the heads of General Meagher and the members of the legislature the united condemnation of the Republican press and leaders, though it met with the approval of the Democratic party and a large majority of the people.

A second and third session of the legislature was held at the call of Acting Governor Meagher, which the necessities and demands of the public seemed to make imperative. The acts of these sessions of the legislature were approved by the people, and were enacted in their interests. They were opposed by the Re- publican leaders, and especially by those who were affected by the repeal of the extra-com- pensation law imposed on the people by a Re- publican legislature. They went to Congress and asked for a law repealing the acts of these sessions, not because the laws were obno xions to a great majority of the people, but because they did not meet with the approval of Re- publican leaders. The latter organized a lobby, and sent W. F. Sanders and others to Wash- ington to get Congress to nullify these laws.

half, and then, in company with Edmond IIamel, em- barked in the stock business in Grass Valley. The firm have become prominent breeders of horses and cattle, also own 3,000 acres of valuable land, and are proprietors of the hotel and flouring mill. The hotel was built in 1870, and since 1882 has been owned by Messrs. Bedard & Hamel. They have become the leading hotel men of Frenchtown, are obliging and liberal in all their deal- ings, and are deserving of the prosperity they now enjoy.

July 10, 1869, Mr. Bedard was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Fanthaume, a native of Pennsylvania, but her ancestors were from Paris. They have had eight children, viz .: Theodore, Maggie, Henry, Addie, Alma, Florence, Joseph and Freddie. Mr. Bedard was form- erly a Democrat, but is now identified with the People's party, has served for many years as one of the Trustees of the school district, and has taken an active interest in all educational work. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and aided liberally in the construction of the beautiful church edifice in Frenchtown.

This was easy work with a Republican Con- gress, and in March, 1867, the act was passed nullifying all laws enacted since the adjouru- ment of the first legislative session. This re- pealing act of Congress wiped out all legisla- tion of a public character which had been en- acted since the adjournment of the first session, and resuscitated the extra compensation law. Chaotic confusion in public affairs was the re- sult. The people expressed their indignation throughout the Territory at this radical inter- ference with home government, while certain Republican office holders smilingly marched up to the crib and drew their back pay under the law they had thus revivified.

The work of re-organizing and bringing or- der out of this confusion brought about by the Republican party was at once commenced by the Democracy and carried to a successful is- sue that year. W. F. Sanders, who had been mainly instrumental in getting Congress to nul- lify our laws, was nominated by the Republican party that year as their candidate for Congress. James M. Cavanaugh, the nominee of the De- mocracy, was his opponent. The people signi- fied their emphatic disapproval of Republican

HON. O. F. GODDARD, of Billings, Montana, bears a name that is well known throughout the State.

Mr. Goddard was born in Iowa in 1853, son of Richard T. and Elizabeth (Tannehill) Goddard. His father was a well-to-do farmer. Young Goddard received a common- school and academic education, and at an early age began to teach school. In the meantime he began the study of law and was afterward a student in the law office of Tan- nehill & Fee, Centerville, Iowa. He was admitted to the bar in 1879, and entered upon the practice of his profes- sion at Corydon, Iowa, where he remained three years, and whence in March, 1883, he came to Montana and located at Billings. IIere he at once attracted attention as a young lawyer capable of winning his own way to the front in his chosen profession, and was soon in the har- ness with plenty of business. Ere long he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Yellowstone county and Assist- ant District Attorney of his district, these offices being maintained under Territorial jurisdiction. In 1889 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention, in which he

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methods by sending Mr. Cavanaugh to Con- gress by an overwhelming majority, and elect- ing a strongly Democratic legislature. When this legislature met, it again repealed the ob- noxious extra-compensation law, and re-enacted, in the main, the laws that had been nullified by Congress, and which were not interdicted by the amended organic act.

From the beginning the Republican party was unfortunate in its leadership. A conserva- tive and temperate course with the people in 1863 and 1864, followed by like policy later, would have given different results from a peo- ple who were disinclined to engage in heated political contests. But they were driven to- gether by proscription, bitter and vindictive de- nunciation and threats, and compelled to take up the gauntlet tauntingly cast at their feet. Without discrimination they were called rebels and traitors, and of late years it has been charged that Democrats early in the history of the Territory on one occasion attempted to tear down the American flag, and were prevented froni so doing by a Republican leader. It is well known that no such incident ever oceurred in the history of Montana.

Two years later the people re-elected Mr. Cavanaugh to Congress, defeating Mr. James Tufts, the Republican nominee.

The next race was between E. W. Toole, the Democratic nominee, and W. H. Claggett, the Republican. Mr. Cavanangh was a candidate for a third nomination. A bitter contest arose between the friends of Toole and Cavanaugh for the nomination, resulting in much dis- satisfaction and disaffection among the friends of Mr. Cavanaugh. This feeling was carried into the election, contributing largely to Mr. Toole's defeat. Mr. Claggett was chosen by a small majority.

Mr. Claggett was again nominated by his party in 1872, but was defeated by the Democratic nominee, Martin Maginnis. Major Maginnis was an efficient and active delegate in Congress, and became the recognized leader of the Dem- ocracy of Montana for a long term of years, de- feating Cornelius Hedges by a large majority in 1874, Dr. E. D. Leavitt in 1876, Sample Orr in 1878, W. F. Sanders in 1880, and Colonel Botkin in 1882.

From the very beginning, the Republican leaders, finding themselves unable to control

displayed great legal and parliamentary ability, and in 1890 was elected to the State Senate, where his wise statesmanship caused him to be made chairman of several important committees. He was on the Judiciary Com- mittee during the two sessions of the Legislature.

Mr. Goddard was elected by the Republicans of both houses of the Twenty-second Legislative Assembly to negotiate a settlement of the famous dead-lock existing in that session, and it was through his efforts that the set- tlement was arrived at and the Legislature organized. In the joint session of the Legislature in 1893 Mr. God- dard, by his ability as a parliamentarian, prevented the election of a Democratic United States Senator on the last day of the session, when members of his party had been debauched into voting for the Democratic candidate, and he thus earned the applause of all honest citizens of his State.

His great force of character and his clear and positive expression, together with his many other estimable traits, are destined to win for him still higher positions in a

representative capacity. His political affiliations have all these years been with the Republican party. In fraternal circles he is also prominent. He is a member of Alde- mar Commandery, Knight Templars, of Billings, and of Algeria Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Helena.

Mr. Goddard was married in 1881, to Miss Alwilda Stephenson, daughter of Dr. Stephenson, of Centerville, Iowa. They have two children, Lora and Helen, aged respectively eleven and six years. Mrs. Goddard is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a quiet, dig- nified and accomplished lady.

GILMON RIGGS, one of the founders of the town of East HIclena, Montana, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 5, 1836. His ancestors were English people, one of whom settled in Maryland long before the Revolutionary war. His great-grandfather, Molan Riggs, resided in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and there his son George, grandfather of Gilmon, was born. George Riggs was married in Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary Keller, a native of that State, and about the

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a majority of the voters, endeavored after every election in which they were defeated to set aside by some trick or technicality the will of the people as expressed at the polls. As the national administration was Republican, the Territorial officials were all appointed from that party. They had in their hands all the electoral machinery, and upon them depended the final canvass of the votes and the declaration of the result. Consequently a clamor was raised at each succeeding election by reckless Republican partisans only to be repressed by their own of- ficials, who in all these years never found the slightest pretext to throw ont returns or reverse in the count the verdict of the ballot-boxes. Indeed, in all those years the elections were con- ducted with a degree of purity and fairness that was almost ideal, and cannot again perhaps be approached. Here was a society, scattered in small towns, mining gulehes and ranch set- tlements, nearly every member of which was known to the others. It was an independent society. Almost every man was his own em- ployer. The small proportion of the population who were hired by others received high wages. All were above the necessity that in more

year 1800 they removed to Ohio and settled in Meigs county, being among its earliest settlers and there spend- ing the rest of their lives, his death occurring in his fifty- seventh year, and hers in 1864. They had a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Jeremiah D. Riggs, their fourth son, and the father of our subject, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, in 1811, and in 1832 was married there to Miss Isabelle Gilisbie, also a native of Ohio, born in 1816. They continued to reside on the farm on which he was born, there reared their family of eleven children, of whom five are still living, and on the old farm they spent the rest of their lives and died. He was a Presbyterian, and a Deacon in the church, while she was a Methodist. He died in 1875, she in 1884.

The subject of our sketch was the second born in his father's large family. He was reared at the old home- stead and was educated in the public schools, the Pomeroy Academy and the De Camp Institute at Downington. After completing his studies he began teaching and was thus occupied in the schools of Ohio until 1863. August

crowded communities leads some men to regard their votes as merchantable commodities: eon- sequently the use of money in elections was almost unknown, and the campaign funds of the respective parties rarely consisted of more than a few hundred dollars, collected from gen- eral subscriptions, while the expenditures of the candidates were limited to their personal ex- penses in traveling, and for their entertainment at points where they made addresses to the voters. The entire electorate of the Territory was not as large as that of a single county now is. The candidates knew most of them person- ally. In each district all the voters were known to the rest. No man could commit an offense against the election laws without its being known to all his neighbors, and bringing down upon his head the reprobation of the commu- nity and the penalties of the law. The few frauds that did occur were in the neighborhoods of the Indian reservations, and in the unorgan- ized communities, where the only authorities were the United States marshal and his depu- ties. As these were appointed by the Federal administration they were of course uniformly Republican; and in some instances the Indian

15 of that year he enlisted in Company B, Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with his company was in the campaign in West Virginia and Tennessee, under General George Cook. They joined the main army at Murfreesborough-or the Fourteenth Army Corps-and served with it until the close of the war. He participated in the battles at Chickamauga and Chattanooga and took part in the great charge which captured Missionary Ridge. He also participated in the series of battles that led up to the battle and capture of Atlanta, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea and back to Washing- ton, where it was his good fortune to take part in the grand review of the victorious army. During all his service in the war he never received a scratch. He en- listed as a private, and was mustered out a First Ser- geant.

The war over, he returned to Ohio and at Downington was engaged in merchandising until 1869. That winter he came to Montana, landing here February 22, 1870. After working for some time in the vicinity of where

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agents and the marshal co-operated together to swell the votes of the party which supported them, by rushing in the half-breeds and squaw- men to the precincts nearest the Indian agen- cies. But these were never of sufficient size to change in any way the result of the general election, and had more influence on the result of the election for local offices in the counties in which they were cast than in the Territory at large.

The governor, B. F. Potts, an extreme Re- publican, was a man who would countenance no attempt to manipulate the returns in the inter- ests of defeated and exasperated partisans, and the vote of the people as expressed at the bal- lot-boxes was duly carried out by the Federal officials, who, though not responsible to the people, were entrusted with the duties of mak- ing the returns. These officials also had. in their hands all the machinery of the courts of justice, and the fact that they never prosecuted or convicted any person for illegal voting was conclusive evidence that the elections were above reproach. Never but once in the history of the Territory was this fact legally ques- tioned and brought to a determination, and then

East Ilelena is now located, he bought 160 acres of land, for which he paid $1,600, and on this tract he farmed until 1888. That year, in connection with Mr. Clark, he platted the town of East Helena. The first season he sold $40,000 worth of lots. In platting this tract he reserved fifty acres on which his residence is located and where he is raising small fruits and vegetables, and besides this he still owns other property here. He has a perpetual water right of sixty-seven inches of water which supplies him abundantly.

Mr. Riggs was married in 1860 to Miss Julia Stuart, who died in 1888, leaving one son, Francis Marion Riggs, who lives in East Helena. In 1889 Mr. Riggs married for his second wife Miss Mary C. Woodyard a native of West Virginia, their marriage occurring in Downington, Ohio. They have one daughter, Mary Louise.

Mr. Riggs is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican. He came to Montana comparatively poor, and by his enterprise and good management has met with satisfactory success.

it resulted in the defeat and humiliation of the contestant. In 1882, Alex. C. Botkin, the Re- publican nominee, who was defeated by Martin Maginnis by a majority of about 1,500, filled the newspapers with a lot of groundless allega- tions, and followed these up by instituting a contest for the seat before the house of repre- sentatives. The Democrats gladly welcomed the contest, as it gave an opportunity to have all these charges investigated and determined. Mr. Botkin took his testimony, such as he could get. It was so trivial and general that Mr. Maginnis considered it unnecessary to take any except some in rebuttal in Custer county, where, in the interest of some candidates for county offices, as especially for county commissioners, some illegal votes were perhaps polled; though this was never established in subsequent legal proceedings against these officials. At all events, the result in the Territory at large could be in no way changed if the allegations were true, except in the slight reduction of Mr. McGin- nis' majority. Notwithstanding this Mr. Botkin was diligent in pressing his contest, and gath- ered what testimony he could. His lawyers argued his case before the elections committee

JOHN A. STEMPLE, a successful miner and an early set- tler of Montana, was born in Preston county, West Vir- ginia, March 16, 1834. His ancestors were early settlers of Virginia, and were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. His father, Martin Stemple, was born in Virginia, July 27, 1796. The latter married Miss Caroline Bishop, a native also of that State, and they had eleven children, six of whom still survive. The mother died when our subject was a small boy, and the father departed this life November 25, 1888. They were members of the Presby- terian Church.

John A. Stemple, the fourth child in order of birth, re- mained with his father until twenty-two years of age. In 1856 he went to Iowa, in the spring 1860 crossed the plains by way of Ogden to Oregon, and thence to Cali- fornia. During the journey they had much trouble with the Sioux Indians, and on the Sweetwater river were at- tacked by 100 redskins. The emigrants corraled their wagons, and succeeded in driving off the Indians. One emigrant was killed, but as the Indians carried off their

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 120

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