An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 142

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 142

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Since coming to Livingston Mr. Emmons has acquired considerable property. He owns several residences here, which he rents, and has a ranch in Nye City, forty-five miles from Livingston. On this ranch he is preparing to engage io stock-raising. Mr. Emmons is a member of all the Masonic bodies of Livingston, in several of which he has held official position, having served as High Priest of the Chapter for three years. Ile is also a member of the I. O O. F., I. O. G. T. and I. O. of M.

Mr. and Mrs. Emmoos have one daughter, Grace Lonise, who is now the wife of William Lind, of Livings- ton. Mrs. Emmons is a Seventh-Day Adventist and a clear and forcible expounder of her faith. She is the rep- resentative head of her creed in Livingston,-an ener- getic, effective worker, the friend of the needy and the good Samaritan to those in distress. She has the courage to put into execution ber honest convictions and dares to do right as she sees her duty regardless of public senti- ment. She is secretary of the Adventist Tract Society and treasurer of their resigned Montana mission work. She has been a correspondent of various newspapers in the State and elsewhere. An article from her pen in de- fense of an unfortunate young woman who shot her se- ducer, was copied extensively by the State and Eastern

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

found in the world. No native strawberries, raspberries and currants can surpass those of Montana; and besides we have proved our capac- ity to raise good plums and cherrics, and sn- perior pears and apples; and besides all that again they are to be tanghit the art, the pleasures and profits of farming; to raise wheat yielding eighty bushels per acre, oats fifty and barley forty bushels per acre; to make good old-fash- ioned farms; to raise horses, cattle, sheep and the best varieties of poultry.

Our college has undertaken to so educate our boys and girls that they will love the country

press. Editor Gordon, of the Yellowstone Journal, took occasion to say : "If Mrs. Emma Emmons should never put pen to paper again she has made a plea for woman- kind which even the eloquent R. G. Ingersoll might envy." The editor of the Bozeman Chronicle pronounced it "one of the most touching pieces of prose that have ap- peared for many a day ;" and the Livingston Post declared it a "literary gem." During the last four years the Ad- ventists have sold about $6,000 worth of their books in Montana. Mrs. Emmons is actively working for the good of her race, and more especially is she impressed with the duty of giving aid and comfort to the unfortunate ones who are seemingly forsaken by others. Those who know her best join in the praise of this good woman who bas done so much in her field of labor, even though per- ecuted at the time by many.

COL. WILLIAM TROTTER, proprietor of the Windsor Hotel at Boulder, Jefferson county, was born in Cannons- burg, Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1836, a son of William and Mary (Duncan) Trotter, na- tives also of that State. The father was a tailor by occu- pation, and both were members of the Presbyterian Church. They removed from their native State to Ohio, and afterward to Iowa, where Mr. Trotter died, at the age of seventy eight years. His wife departed this life at the age of fifty-three years.

William Trotter, the eldest in a family of six sons, he- gan life on his own account at the age of sixteen years, and went to Leavenworth, Kansas, with parties who were in search of a range for their stock. After spending two years in that State he returned to his home in Iowa; later accepted the position of overland stage driver from Burlington to Los Angeles; afterward drove to Pike's Peak, and also conducted stage stations on the overland routes for about fifteen years. During that time many of the prominent citizens of the United States stopped at his hotel, among them being Generals Grant. Sheridan and Custer. In 1872 Mr. Trotter conducted hotels at different places in California, spending one winter at Bakersfield, Kern county ; followed the same occupation

better than the city, the farm better than the store and counting room. Then and not till then can we expect Montana to produce as sturdy and noble a people as those who first came to our valleys and mountains. The Agri- cultural College has undertaken a great work,- to make farmers.

JEFFERSON COUNTY

has a wonderful showing of gold mines. The quartz mines of Jefferson county are very num- erous, and hundreds of them are yielding their regular annual products. Every foot-hill and mountain around the above named placers is

in Boise City, Idaho; afterward removed to Walla Walla; was proprietor of the Mecham station on the top of the Blue mountains, and from that place came to Boulder. Mr. Trotter became proprietor of the Windsor House when it was only a stage station, and the city at that time con- tained only one house, occupied by Captain Cook. A num- ber of years afterward he returned to Walla Walla, and then conducted a hotel at La Grange two years, after which he again came to Boulder. After serving as man- ager of the Boulder Hot Springs five years, he spent one year in Butte City, and in 1891 came to this city to take charge of the Windsor House. During his early history Colonel Trotter was division agent from Julesburg to Fort King, and during that time the now famous "Buf- falo Bill" (Col. William F. Cody) rode the pony express for him.

The Colonel has been twice married. July 23, 1891, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah Stafford, a na- tive of Iowa, and a daughter of Rev. Irwin, a Methodist minister of that State. Mrs. Trotter had three children by her former marriage, viz .: George, deceased ; Hattie, wife of Isaac Magers, of Minneapolis; and Mabel, wife of James Coberg. The latter has two children, Willie and Freddie, and both she and her sons reside with her pa- rents. Mr. and Mrs. Trotter also adopted a little girl io her infancy, Willma, who is now four years of age. Colonel Trotter has been a life-long Republican, and in his social relations is a member of the A. O. U. W. Near- ly his entire life has been spent in the great West, where he has witnessed many changes, and few men have a wider acquaintance on both sides of the Rockies than Colonel Trotter, the veteran pioneer hotel man of Mon- tana.

E. S. STACKPOLE, one of the representative citizens of Deer Lodge who came to the Territory of Montana in 1866, is a native of Maine, born October 27, 1834.

Mr. Stack pole's ancestors came to this country from the north of Ireland long before the Revolutionary war. His father, Peter M Stackpole, was born in the State ot Maine in 1805, and was named in honor of his mother

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

full of veins of quartz rich in gold, silver, cop- per, lead and iron. A thousand discoveries and claims have been located and recorded during this year. A few of these have been opened and made productive enough to place Jefferson in the front rank of our mining counties.

The Gregory, which in early days attracted all by its glittering ores of argentiferous galena streaked with crystals of antimony, still pro- duces its rich ores. The Alta, Comet, the Aqua Frio, the South Atlantic, the Emma, the Jo- sephine, Peerless Jennie, the Crescent, Copper Bell, Ida, Elkhorn, Queen, Holter, Little Emma,

the M. being for Morrill, ber maiden name. She was a cousin of Governor Morrill of that State. Peter M. Stack pole married Miss Mary Dow, a cousin of the eccentric and noted preacher, Lorenzo Dow. They became the par- ents of five children, E. S. being their third-born and one of the three who are still living. The father spent the whole of his life in his native State, his business being that of a manufacturer of woolen cloth, and his re- ligion that of the Friends or Quakers. He died in 1850. The mother, also a member of the society of Quakers, is still living, having attained her eighty fifth year and now being a resident of Amesbury, Massachusetts, where she is respected and loved by all who know her.

Edward S. Stackpole was reared in the " Pine Tree" State, attending the common schools there, and finishing his education at the Quaker College in Providence, Rhode Island. His first business venture was that of a merchant, in partnership with his brother, which partnership con- tinued two years. In 1860 he went to California, making the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama and land- ing at San Francisco. From that port he proceeded to Nicolaus, on the Feather river, where he clerked in a store four years. Next we find him in Idaho, again en- gaged in clerking and also interested in mining, and in 1866 he returned East to Cleveland, Ohio, to visit his people, they having in the meantime removed to that place.

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Stackpole crossed the plains to Montana, with the Fisk train, the trip covering a period ot ninety days and to him being a most enjoyable one. Upon his arrival here, he first located at Highland Gulch, where he was engaged in merchandising until 1870. At that time he became identified with Deer Lodge. Soon after locating here, he received the appointment of Post- master, which position of trust be filled most efficiently for fifteen consecutive years, during the latter portion of which period he was also conducting a drug business. In 1888 he went with his family to Tennessee, where they sojourned for a year and a half, at the of that time return- ing to Montana. Since his return, Mr. Stackpole has

Amazon, Eureka, Ruby and many others are contributing their treasures to swell the general output of Montana mines.

In the Upper Basin District, though some of the best mines have temporarily suspended operations, enough new ones have joined the list of producers to keep the ore wagons running to the depot at Remini. The Crescent is a con- stant producer of its beautiful ores of iron pyrites, galena, and sulphide of copper rich in gold and silver. The Sallie Bell, North Pacif- ic, Eureka, Ida May, Enterprise, Buckeye, Josephine, Red Rock, Monarch and Ontario,

been dealing in real estate and in mines, both on his own account and for others, doing a large commission busi- ness. In connection with his partner, Mr. Shaubut. he has platted and added to the city a beautiful tract of land, a portion of which is now on the market.

The subject of our sketch was married, May 5, 1872, to Miss Mary A. Mckinstry, a native of Indiana and a daughter of T. B. Mckinstry. The Mckinstry family also located in Montana in 1866, their journey hither be- ing made up the Missouri river. Mr. and Mrs. Stackpole have five children, all born in Deer Lodge, their names being as follows: Morrill Dow, Mary H., Jesse M., Thea F. and Harvey M. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Stackpole built the pleasant residence on First street in Deer Lodge, where they have since resided.

Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party. For the past two years he has served as Justice of the Peace, and at this writing, 1894, is the nominee of his party for the office of Treasurer of Deer Lodge county. In Ma- sonic circles he is prominent and active. He has served three terms as Master of the blue lodge and two terms as High Priest of the chapter, and has also had the honor of being Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Montana. Mrs. Stackpole is an Episcopalian, while he still main- tains his allegiance to the Society of Friends.

NICHOLAS NOE, manufacturer of carriages and wagons, Phillipsburg, Montana, has for the past sixteen years been one of the most successful business men of the town.

Mr. Noe is a native of Germany and possesses his full share of that energy and thrift so characteristic of his countrymen. He was born July 18, 1849, was reared, educated and learned his trade in his native laud, remain- ing there until 1875. That year he emigrated to America. After working at his trade in Iowa and Wisconsin a few years, he came in 1879 to Montana and located at Phil- lipsburg. Here he worked for wages until he became acquainted with the people and their methods of doing business. In 1886 he engaged in business on his own ac- count and since that date his earnest efforts have been

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

Duluth, Emma Nevada, Morning Star, Com- stock, Crœsus, Katie Leith, Little Anna, Young America and Grand Central are some of the regular producers of the Upper Basins. There are many others, like the Lady Leith, Obelisk, Comstock and Aryan, awaiting development to join the great number of producing mines in the Upper Basin District.

Cataract District has a number of producing mines, -- Copper Bell, Boulder Chief, Ida May, Bluebird, Overland, Hiawatha, Rock of Ages, Lightning, Ontario, Mount Thompson, Redemp-

rewarded with success. In connection with the manu- facture of carriages and wagons, he does a general black- smith business.

Ever since identifying himself with Phillipsburg, Mr. Noe has taken an active interest in all its affairs. IIe has purchased property and erected buildings and in this way has aided in its growth and development, his own residence being one of the attractive homes of the town. He is also interested in mining operations; is a stockholder in the Phillipsburg Mining Company. Mr. Noe is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in politics is an intelligent and active Republican.

Mr. Noe was married May 14, 1881, to Miss Ella Kerch- berch, a native of Wisconsin and of German descent. They have one child, a daughter, Hilda, born in Phil- lipsburg.

MOSES REEVES, one of the early Montana pioneers, was born in Canada, September 12, 1832, a son of Martin and Maude Louise (Dervisa) Reeves, natives of Canada, the former of Spanish and the latter of French descent. They had eight children, seven of whom are still living. The father died at the age of sixty-six years, and the and the mother survived until ninety-six years of age. They resided on a farm on the St. Lawrence river, below Montreal.

Moses Reeves remained at his native place until six- teen years of age, and then, in 1848 went to Chicago, which was then only a small plaee. Ile was employed as a baker two and a half years at that city. He next went to St. Louis and, in 1853, as an employe of the American Fur Company, came to Benton, Montana, where he be- gan trading with the Indians. He could trade a handful of beans and a butcher knife for a buffalo skin, or a blanket would buy three robes. Mr. Reeves was engaged in that occupation until January 1, 1854, then came on snow shoes with the Stephens expedition to Bitter Root, afterward returned to Benton, followed farming two years at Colwell, and then discovered the mines at the mouth of the Ponteray river, where he took out large quantities of gold. After traversing the country in every direction, during which time he was constantly among

tion, Mountain Chief, Captain Cook, Atlantis, Rose, Evening Star, Bullion, Silver King, Gar- field, Big Medicine, Humboldt, Nonesuch, Home- stake aud Lily. The Cataract District shipped fifty cars a month, which yield not less than $50,000, or a total of $600,000 a year. Vir- ginia Bell, Stella and East Pilot are producers.

Willow Springs District has several produc- ing mines, as the Ida, Iliff, Fairview and Ruby. The Ruby is yielding a carload of good ore a day, and the Ida is placing its ores ou the dump for the winter and free coinage. Bigfoot

the Indians, Mr. Reeves returned to the valley in 1860, and located on a farm two miles below Frenchtown. At that time he paid $12 per bushel for seed wheat, and $5 for seed oats, which he procured at the Mission. During the winter he carried the mail from Frenchtown Valley to Walla Walla on snow shoes, and was accompanied by an Indian. At night they slept on their blankets on the snow, and often suffered with hunger, having been re- duced to dog and mule meat at one time. Mr. Reeves was at Ft. Colville at the time of the destruction of Walla Walla. In 1862 he built the first gristmill in the Terri- tory of Montana, at Frenchtown, and for seventeen years he ground wheat for the settlers. In 1864 he purchased 160 acres of his present farm, located one mile west of Frenchtown, and to which he has since added until he now owns 400 acres.

Mr. Reeves was married in 1854, to Miss Leanon Brown, a daughter of Louis Brown. She died one year after- ward, and in 1857 our subject was united in marriage with her sister, Josett. This wife died in 1873, and in 1878 Mr. Reeves married Mettie Slocum, a native of Iowa. They have one daughter, Dora. Mr. Reeves was formerly a Democrat, but is now identified with the Peo- ple's party, and the family are members of the Catholic Church.

The following interesting reminiscences by Mr. Moses Reeves are related here in his own language:

"On the 17th April, 1854, I and a man named Pete Marchand left the American Fur Company, having be- come disgusted with the food-old dried buffalo meat- on which we had lived six months without tasting bread! Our intention was to join Sampree's party at Willow Creek (now Stevensville), who were bound for California. We had nothing but an old flint-lock gun, some bullets and powder. At Sun River we killed a deer. Came down Blackfoot river by ('adott's Pass. When we arrived about where Bonner now is we met six Blackfoot Indians with stolen horses. We thought our 'time had come,' sure! As we were traveling toward the camp of their enemies, the Flatheads, they made signs to come to them and we went. They asked us if we were from Ft. Ben-

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

District has the Bigfoot, Dodge, Grizzly, and other promising mines. The Elkhorn District is fully sustaining its good reputation for pro- ductive mining. The Holter is still a constant producer of bullion, and many other mines in the district ship their ores to outside reduction works. Among the producing mines in this district are the C & D, Elkhorn, Queen, Dun- stone and others. These mines ship some twenty to twenty-five car-loads of ore each week, which do not yield less than $20,000. The Elkhorn district is now producing at the

rate of $1,000,000 a year. There is a furnace at Elkhorn not now in operation. The Elkhorn mine is yielding some $36,000 per month in bullion.

Indian Creek has the Cyclone group, Patsy- watomie, Mineral Hill, Silver Wave and many others. Crow Creek District has a group of promising copper prospects on some veins in argillaceous shales. The Cherokee, Green Cop- per, Silver Reef and Henry belong to this group, and will at an early day rival the best copper mines in the country. Many claims

ton, and we said, 'Yes, and are very hungry;' and they said, ' We in a hurry,' and left. A little later on, just over a hill, we met some forty or more Flat-Heads (in pursuit of the Blackfeet), who gave us something to eat and horses to ride on.

"We finally reached Lieutenant Mullan's camp, but the party we had intended joining were gone. Here we four.d Clark and Adams (Lieutenant Mullan being absent), and they told us to wait for Mullan and go down to Dallas with him. After waiting two days, we started, intending to go down the Hellgate river in rafts. Here we had several hairbreadth escapes from death by drowning, by our rafts str king trees and going to pieces. Neither of us knew how to swim. We were obliged to give up the plan of going by water and started afoot. It was on this trip we suffered much from hunger, and had to kill and eat our remaining dogs. One of them had gone back to Mullan's camp at the time of our first accident in the river. We did not know where we were, but kept travel- ing, and finally we came to Horse Plains, where the first man we saw was Alexis Asslia, who took us to the Indian camp, where we were made welcome and told to stay as long as we wished. We were foot-sore, without clothing, and famished

" At Lieutenant Mullan's camp, when the dog came back, they thought we were drowned. Great was Lieu- tenant Mullan's surprise when, on his way to the Dalles, he heard of two white men being at the Indian camp. He sent word at once by his interpreter, Francois Saxon, for us to come to him, but we would not go. So he sent Father Hocken to try to persuade us to go back to Fort Benton, and we answered 'No: we'll die first.' Then he said, 'Come with us.' So, on the last of May, we started with Father Ilocken, Lieutenant Mullan (interpreter) and two Indians, and arrived at Ft. Colville on the 9th of June.

"It was Lieutenant Mullan that hired me to carry the mail, saying that I was the man he wanted, as, if it were possible, I would get through with it. I carried the mail from Benton to Walla Walla four years.

" A Memorable Hide-April 25, 1859, we started for Salt Lake City for provisions and the exchange of horses for .

cattle with travelers bound for California at Soda Springs. I and Canville Stringtoe went to Salt Lake City to obtain provisions, while the rest of the party continued on the main road. We succeeded in getting a wagon and some other things. At Thomas' Fork we heard that the In- dians were hostile and vicious, and at this point were a party of emigrants wishing to join a man named Buggy, a dealer in Kentucky horses, who was in advance with a large party. Ile asked whether any of us knew the road, offering $20.

"Deciding to go, I started at sunrise and rode a dis- tance of fifty-six miles, and caught Buggy at Soda Springs, who agreed to wait for the party. I returned to tell them, arriving at Fort Thomas bebore sundown, hav- ing ridden 112 miles on the same horse, which for feed had only a little picking of grass while I ate dinner.

"On our road home we were chased by Indians, who were trying to steal our horses, seven days and nights. We succeeded in eluding them, but were obliged to leave our wagon and equipments at Snake river. We kept the saddle on some of our horses all the time and slept by turns, none of us sleeping over three hours in twenty-four. On this trip my wife and sisters-in-law were with us."

HON. GEORGE DEMENT THOMAS, of Bozeman, Montana, was born on a farm in St. Clair county, Illinois, July 26, 1834. He is the third son and sixth child of Colonel John and Isabella Thomas, whose family consisted of five sons and five daughters.

Colonel John Thomas, of Belleville, Illinois, com- manded the Second Regiment of Illinois Volunteers in the Black Hawk war, in 1832, and ranked third in his command under General Whiteside. Our subject's father, a native of the State of Virginia, located in Illi- nois as early as 1817; his mother, a native of St. Clair county, Illinois, was the daughter of William and Mary Kinney, who emigrated from Kentucky and settled in Illinois before it was a State, their location being four miles east of Belleville. His grandfather Kinney lived on and cultivated a large farm for many years; was an influential citizen in southern Illinois at an early day, and at one time Lieutenant Governor of the State.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

have been located in the new White Hall Dis_ trict during the last year. The Beaver Creek has a number of mines which make regular shipments of their ores. The East Pacific, Iron Age, Little Bonanza, Park, Gold Dust, Aurora, Eclipse, MeClintock and a large num- ber not developed are in this district.

The H & H of this district is one of the best mines in Jefferson county. It is developed to a depth of 900 feet, and the length of levels is 5,000 feet. This mine has been a constant pro- ducer for many years. In 1893 it returned

George D. remained on the farm until he reached his majority. After he was twelve years of age he took an active part in the farm work and cheerfully performed his share of the labor, rendering valued assistance in planting the erops, which in those days were principally corn. As a corn-dropper he was an expert, dropping the most of the corn on his father's large farm, and the average acreage they devoted to this crop was from 100 to 300 acres. His father was a large land owner, and each year rapidly increased his holdings until in 1850 the crop reached 320 acres. In 1852 this acreage was all in wheat, the largest wheat erop ever cultivated there at that time: the harvest lasted over four weeks; and of the sixteen men employed to take care of the crop George was one among the best binders. He had assisted in fencing and breaking about 1,500 acres of his father's land previous to the year 1852. Having labored con- stantly on the farm, his mind had been much neglected up to this time, and, feeling the need of a better educa- tion, he entered Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, for the autumn term of 1852, and began a regular classical course, with a view of studying for a profession. Math- ematics, grammar, Latin and Greek were his favorite studies, and most of the time while he was in college he kept at the head of his class. His early training on the farm and his natural liking for agricultural pursuits caused him to change his mind in regard to a professional life, and in 1855, when in his sophomore year, he left college and returned to the farm.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 142

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