An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 121

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 121

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of the house, and the result was an unanimous report in favor of Mr. Maginnis, which did not reduce his majority by the elimination of a sin- gle vote, and dismissed Mr. Botkin's contest as being groundless and uncalled for. This com- inittee consisted of eight Democrats and seven Republicans. The Republicans were led by the distinguished lawyer, Rufus P. Rainey, of Mas- sachusetts, but it was no eight to seven decis- ion, for all the Republicans on the committee joined the Democrats in signing the report, and sent it to the house as their unanimous decis- ion. Nor was the action of the house of rep- resentatives less emphatic in rebuking the eon- testant and dismissing his case. The report of the committee on elections was adopted, as the Congressional Record shows, by an equally unanimous vote of the house of representatives. There were nearly 150 Republican members on that floor; but Mr. Botkin could not find one to cast a vote to sustain his allegations or sus- tain his contest. The house, like the commit- tee, unanimously rejected them. As a solace for this rebuke he was afterward allowed a lib- eral sum for the expenses of the contest, and

dead and wounded it was never known how many were killed. After traveling through California, Mr. Stemple returned to Baker county, Oregon, and engaged in min- ing near Snake river. He afterward went to Portland, next to Victoria, thence to San Francisco, returned to New York via the isthmus, went to Iowa in the winter of 1866, and the following spring came np the Missouri river to Montana. After following placer-mining at Trinity for a time, Mr. Stemple prospected in the Vir- ginia creek country, and was elected to the office of Re- corder, serving in that capacity until 1871. Later, while hunting at the head of Silver Creek, in the Gloster aud Empire mills, he discovered quartz, located several valu- able mines, built a ten-stamp mill at the Whippoorwill mine, but in 1877 sold his interest there for $12,000. He next went to the head of Virginia creek, where he ereet- ed what is now called the Stemple mill, and that district was also named in his honor. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Stemple again sold his interest, for $12,000. Ile is now connected with the Pigeon Company. He discovered the mine in 1876, and it is now considered one of the best in the mining district.

therewith himself and his attorneys no doubt rejoiced in the fact that the real object of the contest was attained.

In 1884, J. K. Toole was elected to Congress over his opponent, Hiram Knowles, who was the Republican nominee.

Again in 1886, J. K. Toole received the Democratic nomination for re-election to Con- gress. He was opposed by W. F. Sanders, whom his party put forward for the fourth time for this position, resulting each time in his defeat. Mr. Sanders was and always has been an unpopular leader in his party. Hle was domineering and vindictive. The venom of his tongue and pen was spent alike on friends and enemies. His personal and political abuse of his opponents solidified all opposition, while his rebukes and sarcastic criticisms of those who were disposed to help him engendered a lukewarmness that innred to his disadvantage. Prior to this election, the Manitoba, now the Great Northern Railway, was seeking to build into Montana, and had applied to Congress for a grant of right of way through certain Indian reservations. In this campaign Mr. Sanders

Mr. Stemple was married Jannary 4, 1876, to Miss Amanda Ann Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared from childhood in Iowa. She is a daughter of Peter Miller. They have had four children, all born in Montana,-Harry Oscar, Eddie Roy and Mabel Alice. The eldest child, Carrie, died when seventeen months old. Mr. Stemple is a member of the Baptist Church, and in political matters supports the Democratic party.

ALEXANDER P. GILLIAM, County Assessor of Jefferson county, and one of Boulder's enterprising business men, was born in Asheville, North Carolina, February 13, 1857, a son of William and Elizabeth (Porter) Gilliam, also na- tives of the South. During the late war the father served as a carpenter in the Confederate army, and was killed by a bushwhacker soon after the close of the struggle, leaving a wife and five children. Mrs. Gilliam survived her husband only a short time.

Alexander P., the third child in his father's family, re- sided with his uncle, W. Y. Porter, after the death of his parents. When only thirteen years of age he started in life on his own account, having received only a limited education, but afterward spent ten months at the Peabody

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was charged with having opposed this grant, and having largely contributed to its defeat. This, added to his personal unpopularity, sup- plemented by the personal popularity of his opponent, who had made an efficient member of Congress, brought upon him a Waterloo, that, up to that time, had had no parallel in the history of elections in Montana. Mr. Toole was elected by a majority of over 3,700. He served his people in Congress with marked ability during this term. It was mainly through his efforts that Congress passed the act ad- mitting Montana into the Union of States.

In 1888, Mr. W. A. Clark was made the standard bearer of the Democracy against T. H. Carter in the race for Congress. Mr. Clark did not ask for, nor did he want, the nomination. It was pressed upon him much against his will, and after repeated declinations on his part. He was defeated by Mr. Carter. He was the victim of treachery in his party. In some way he had incurred the displeasure of J. B. Haggin, who was at the head of the Ana- conda Mining Company, and the local manager of the company was instructed by his superiors

Academy, in the Susquehanna valley. Previous to that time he had been employed as a clerk, and after leaving college followed the same occupation in a grocery house at Spartanburg, South Carolina. At the age of nineteen years he owned a small grocery business. In 1877 Mr. Gilliam went to Helena, Texas; in 1879 engaged in the lumber business in Eastern Oregon; in June, 1881, left Walla Walla on horseback for Butte City, where he fol- lowed freighting with mule teams; in 1883 took a drove of horses to the British possessions, and in 1884 located at Elkhorn, Jefferson county, Montana. While at the latter place he followed freighting, and was also engaged in the livery, coal and wood business. In 1889 Mr. Gil- liam was elected Assessor of Jefferson county, after which he moved to Boulder, and is now serving his second term in that office. When elected Assessor of Jefferson county he received a majority of only six votes, but at his re- election had a majority of 448 votes over the Republican candidate. He purchased Mr. Walter's interest in the Walter & Maxfield meat business in 1883, and the firm is now known as Maxfield & Gilliam. They have the only meat market in Boulder.

to defeat Mr. Clark at all hazards. The man- ager himself was a professed Democrat, and throughout the campaign gave Mr. Clark and his party friends assurances that the undivided support of his company would be given to Mr. Clark. This was given out with apparent zeal up to the day of election, when orders were given to its several thousand employees to sup- port Mr. Carter, resulting in Mr. Clark's de- feat. Several other agencies of a smaller char- acter contributed more or less to this result. But the chief responsibility for Mr. Clark's de- feat rests with the Anaconda Mining Company, and is largely chargeable to the treachery of its manager.

This is the first time that the Anaconda Mining Company showed its hand in politics affecting the Territory at large. Its manager was much flattered with its exhibition of power, and his ambitions to become a political boss attained such proportions that his company at once entered the arena of politics, and became an important factor in subsequent political con- tests. Encouraged by success in most of its political ventures, it conceived the idea of get-

In his political relations, Mr. Gilliam has always been a stanch Democrat. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. By an honorable and upright course in business, Mr. Gilliam has justly earned the popu- larity he now enjoys, and has always taken a deep inter- est in everything for the good of his community.

J. A. BEUSCHLEIN, proprietor of the Bon Ton, the lead ing hotel of Marysville, was born in Dubuque, Iowa, Sep- tember 20, 1855. His father was a native of Baden and his mother of Bavaria, Germany, but they came to Amer- ica when young, and were married in Dubuque in 1854. They had six children, four of whom are still living. The mother died at the age of fifty-six years, and the father at the age of sixty-four years.

J. A. Beuschlein was taken by his parents to Minneap- olis when six months old, where as he grew up he re- ceived his education, and also learned the baker's trade. He followed that occupation in Minneapolis eight years.

In the spring of 1879 he was induced by the Winster Brothers to go with them as cook on a construction train on the Northern Pacific Railroad, where he remained four years. Mr. Beuschlein was next with the same

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ting control of the machinery of the State gov- ernment, and to that end has directed its ener- gies for the past three years toward securing the location of the seat of the State government at the town of Anaconda, a village situated near the southwestern boundary of Montana, and which is mainly owned by those who control the Anaconda Company.

The question of the location of the capital of Montana was submitted to a vote of the people at the November election, 1894. Immense sums of money were expended by this company in this contest; every influence that could be reached was enlisted regardless of cost. With immense wealth at its back, its agents were lavish with money, and no agency, whether newspaper or other, that could be influenced with money, was overlooked. It seems, how- ever, that the good people, who have the inter- ests of the State at heart, are in the majority. Fearing that if this company once got its cor- porate hands on the throats of the people, all interests, political and otherwise, would be sub- ordinated to its wishes; that the material interests of the country would be paralyzed, and the growth and prosperity of a promising

gentlemen in the East until 1887, then accepted the posi- tion of cook for the Cokedale boarding house, for the fol- lowing year was engaged as cook for the Winster Broth- ers at the East Pacific mines, afterward worked for the Great Falls Smelting Company, and in 1891 came to Marysville. After arriving in this city Mr. Benschlein successfully conducted a hotel one year, and then pur- chased the Bon Ton hotel. Since becoming proprietor, he has made the house the leading hotel of Marysville, and it is now patronized by the best people of the town and the richer class of the traveling public. Mr. Beusch- lein is assisted in the management of the hotel by his wife.

He was married September 23, 1885, to Miss Alice Ladd, a native of Minneapolis. They have two daughters -Minnie and Gale. In his social relations, Mr. Beusch- lein is a member of the A. O. U. W. at Marysville. He is a capable, reliable and enterprising business man, and the family have secured the good will of the people of this city.

young State would be retarded, the people of Montana, at the election just over, sat down upon the pretensions of this corporation, and served notice upon it to keep its hands out of politics in the future.

The admission of Montana into the Union in November, 1889, necessitated another general election to elect State officers and a member of Congress to represent the State in the Federal Congress. T. H. Carter again ran, and was opposed by Martin Maginnis. The former was elected. J. K. Toole was elected governor, and members oi the legislature were chosen in the several representative and senatorial dis- tricts to serve in the first legislature assembled under our State organization.

Here must be written a brief chapter in the history of politics in Montana, that no citizen familiar with the facts can attempt without a deep sense of humiliation. Posterity will bow its head in shame as it views the blotch on Montana's escutcheon, placed there by ambi- tious politicians, whose desire for honors and emoluments was greater than their respect for the laws and the forms thereof.

The returns of elections in the several coun-

HOWARD H. ZENOR, one of the pioneer business men of Deer Lodge, Montana, was born in Indiana, January 27, 1843.

Mr. Zenor is of German descent. Some of his ances- tors came from Germany to this country at an early day, settled in Pennsylvania, and were prominently identified with the early history of that State. Elijah Zenor, the father of our subject, was born there in 1818. When a young man he emigrated to Indiana, being among the pioneer settlers of the Hoosier State, and there he was subsequently married to Miss Elizabeth Rose, a native of east Tennessee. They had a family of six children, all now living except one, and Howard H. being the oldest. Both father and mother were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and by occupation he was a carpenter and cabinetmaker. He died in the forty- eighth year of his age and she was thirty-five at the time of death.

Howard H. Zenor was educated at Bowling Green, Indiana. He was eighteen at the time the civil war burst

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ties, certified to the county canvassing boards, showed that the Democrats had elected a majority of the legislature on joint ballot; and, as two United States senators were to be chosen by the legislature soon to assemble, it was ap- parent that such choice would be made from the Democratic ranks. This was more than the half score of Republican leaders, who had aspired to senatorial honors, had anticipated, and at once a few of the leaders of that party entered into a conspiracy to defeat the will of the people, and secure to themselves, by fair means or otherwise, the fruits of victory that belonged to the Democracy. Looking around them, they discovered that in Silver Bow county there was a precinct, numbered 34, that had · been created by Republican county commis- sioners under the belief that it would give a Republican majority, instead of giving a Re- publican majority, gave a very large Demo- cratic majority, which, if counted, elected all but one of the Democratic candidates for the legislature, but if not counted, Republicans enough would be elected to change the re- sult on joint ballot in the legislature.

The returns from Precinct 34, with the poll- books, were certified by the judges of election

upon the country, and in answer to the President's first call for volunteers he enlisted, in April, 1861, in Company F, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in one of the first three regiments that left the State to go to the front. At the battle of Winchester, Virginia, he received a gunshot wound in the leg that caused him to go on crutches for fifteen months. After that he went with the army to New Orleans, in the capacity of sut- ler's clerk, and continued thus occupied until the close of the war.

After the war Mr. Zenor came up the Missouri river to Montana and landed at Fort Benton, June 2, 1867. He spent a short time at Helena and from there came to Deer Lodge, where he was soon afterward appointed Deputy County Clerk. Later he served a year and a half as clerk of the Probate Court and at the end of that time was appointed County Clerk and Recorder, which office he filled two years. IIe then engaged in placer- mining at Uncle Ben's gulch in Deer Lodge county, and

in due and regular form to the county canvass- ing board. There was no irregularity about these returns, and all that the county canvassing board could do, or under the law had the right to do, was too add up the returns and declare the result. This they did, including the re- turns from Precinct 34, which showed the elec- tion of Democratic candidates. They did not sign the abstract until compelled so to do by writ of mandate from the court. The whole returns of the county were tabulated and added before any objection was made. After all this had been done, and they had received, accepted and tabulated the returns from Precinct 34, an objection was made to counting that precinct, and a motion made to cast it out. Two of this returning board were Republicans and extreme partisans; one was a Democrat. There was no more reason for casting ont Precinct 34 than for any other precinct. The return from Pre- cinct 34 was made out in conformity with law, and was less objectionable than the returns from several other precincts. To throw ont any other precinct than 34 would not affect the re- sult in the same way. It became necessary then to do something with this precinct. The matter was held under consideration by the

continued mining three years, his labor being attended with small returns. His next venture was in the hard- ware business at Deer Lodge, in partnership with R. T. Kennon. That was in 1873. They continued in business together until 1886, at which time Mr. Kennon retired and M. W. Trask took his place in the firm, the name be- ing changed to that of Zenor & Trask. This firm is still doing a most successful business. To Mr. Zenor belongs the distinction of having been in the hardware business here longer than any other man in the city. They own the building in which their store is located. Like most of the prominent and successful business men of Mon- tana. Mr. Zenor has from time to time made investments in mining property and is now the owner of various valu- able quartz mines.

He was married February 16, 1873, to Miss Helen M- Witter, a native of Vermont, and they have one child, Howard M., born in Deer Lodge, and now attending

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returning board for several days. Meanwhile, all the influenees and power of Republican leaders was brought to bear upon the board, most prominent among whom were those who afterward profited by the infamy that was com- mitted. It has long sinee been the established law that the duty of returning boards is con- fined to tabulating and adding up returns that have been properly certified to them. Their work is purely clerical as to returns properly certified. There was no informality in the re- turns from Preeinet 34. There was in the re- turns of other precinets in the same county, that were before the same board, but no notice was taken of them. It would not do to touch them, as they had given Republican majorities. This county board finally cast, out the returns from Preeinet 34 without any substantial rea- sons therefor. The result, however, as tabulated and footed up, and signed by the board under the mandate of the court, was duly certified by the county elerk, and delivered to the State re- turning board on November 7, 1889. Prior to that, however, the clerk of Silver Bow county, on the 31st day of October, 1889, delivered to the State returning board the certified returns, as tabulated by the Silver Bow returning board in the first instance.

school in the East. The comfortable and attractive residence he and his family occupy was built by him in 1881.

Politically, Mr. Zenor is a Republican. He is a member of the G. A. R., and has served as Commander of his Post at Deer Lodge.

THE MISSOULA MERCANTILE COMPANY, with headquar- ters at Missoula, is the largest institution of the kind in the State of Montana.

It was organized in 1876. The old business of Bonner & Welsh was purchased by Bonner, Eddy & Hammond. The firm became Eddy, Hammond & Company, and con- tinued in that form until 1885, at which time the business had grown from $40,000 per annum to an annual business of over $1,000,000. At this time the members of the firm, finding their time considerably occupied with the busi- ness of other corporations which they had organized

The State returning board met on Novem- ber 1, 1889, and adjourned from time to time during the greater part of November, before making np their decision. The State return- ing board consisted of the governor, the chief justice and one other. Some apology might be offered for the mistakes and shortcomings of the ordinary member of county canvassing boards, who is not supposed to be learned in the law; but what exeuse can be offered for the glaring and egregious transgressions of the law made by one who had officiated in the capacity of chief justice of Montana? What did the board do with the Silver Bow returns, as certified to them by the clerk of that county ? All the power it had under the law was to deal with the returns as certified to them by the several counties. The board possessed no judi- cial power. Its duty was purely ministerial, and, while nothing appeared upon the returns of Silver Bow county showing an informality or illegality affecting the vote of any one pre- cinet, it nevertheless took upon itself to elimi- nate the vote of Precinct 34 from its results. This board say in their certificate that the ab- stract from Silver Bow county was not duly and properly certified, and yet they count the vote of all the preeinets except 34. If the

during the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad, such as railroad building, banking and lumbering, con- cluded to incorporate the mercantile business and interest employes of the firm in it. The capital stock of the orig- inal corporation, in 1885, was $250,000. In 1887 it was in- creased to $300,000; in 1889 to $600,000; and in 1891 to $1,200,000. The brick store-building in Missoula is 230 x 135 feet, two stories and basement, and in addition to this they have large warehouses. The store is divided into the following departments: clothing, dry goods, boots and shoes, furniture, agricultural implements, hardware, gro- ceries and liquors,-each department finished and fur- nished in the latest and most approved style and presided over by men of ability and experience in each line.

Mr. A. B. Hammond is president; C. H. McLeod, man- ager; H. T. Van Wart, treasurer; and G. Mosier, secre- tary. The firm also have large branch stores in Corvallis,

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abstract was good for precincts 1, 5, 10, 20, and 30, why was it not good for Precinct 34? This board offered no reason for thus acting, but did their infamous work by main strength. The result was that this board assumed to give certificates of election to members of the legis- lature elected in the several counties, and, among others, to the Republican members in Silver Bow, that were chosen by the elimina- tion of the vote of Precint 34.

The county clerks of each county, acting in obedience to the law, issued certificates of election to the members elect to the legislature, as to all other county officers. In Silver Bow. county certificates were issued to the Demo- cratic members, who, as appears from the re- turns, was elected with the 34 precinct vote. Thus two sets of certificates were outstanding when the legislature was convened.

On November 8, 1889, the president of the United States signed and issned a proclamation declaring Montana a State in the Union. On November 11, 1889, Governor J. K. Toole, who had been elected and qualified as gov- ernor, issued a procl mation convening the first legislative assembly at Helena, pursuant to the act of admission, on Saturday, November 23, 1889, at 12 o'clock, noon.

Victor, Stevensville and other towns. They do a vast business, are most liberal in their terms and methods, and have been an immense aid to the growth and develop- ment of western Montana.

ASA H. SLOAN, deceased, was born in Ohio, October 26, 1822, a son of Stephen and Rachel Sloan. They were the parents of twelve children, only one of whom is now living. Asa H. grew to manhood in Missouri, and was there married, March 9, 1848, to Miss Mary A. Douglas, who was born in Ohio, December 18, 1827. She is a daughter of Patrick Douglas, a respected Ohio farmer. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sloan located on a farm in Clinton county, Missouri, where they resided ten years. Mr. Sloan had learned the cabinet-maker's trade in his youth, and followed that occupation with his farm work. Seven children were born to them in Missouri, viz .: Luella S., wife of Lemuel Bayers, and resides near

Grave questions arose as to who had the proper certificates of election as members of the house of representatives elect. The Democrats held certificates of election issued by the re- spective county clerks under the Territorial statute, and the Republicans held certificates issued by the State returning board. No place at the capital was designated by law in which the Legislature should meet, and none was named in the proclamation of the governor of November 11. The two rival bodies had de- clared their intention of occupying the county courthouse.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 121

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