An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 144

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 144

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480 acres, and also has a large free range for his stock. Our subject was married in Rhode Island, to Miss Ellen Calvey, also a native of county Mayo, Ireland. In the early days of Missoula county, Mr. and Mrs. Foley were the only Catholics at River Bend, and Father Ravalli often stopped at their home. They assisted liberally in the erection of the fine church edifice at Missoula. In political matters Mr. Foley was formerly identified with the Democratic party, but recently, with reference to the silver question, has cast his vote with the People's party. During his quiet but industrious life he has made hosts of friends.

CHARLES HENRY FLANAGIN, a Montana pioneer of 1864, and now a successful farmer in the Bitter Root valley, was born in Westfield, Medina county, Ohio, September 30, 1825. His great-grandfather was born in Ireland and subsequently emigrated to New York, where the father of onr subject, B. Flanagin, was born. He married a Miss Cook, a native of Connecticut, who died at the age of forty-five years. They had six children, three of whom are still living.

Charles II., our subject, was left an orphan at the age of sixteen years, and the care of his younger brother then devolved upon him. He worked at the carpenter's trade and at farming. At the age of twenty-five years he purchased land in Illinois, sold his property there in 1858, spent the following five years on a farm in Iowa, and in 1864 crossed the plains with horses to Montana. After arriving in this State Mr. Flanagin began mining at Bannack. Ile brought his wife and three children to Montana, and two years afterward was joined by the re- mainder of his family. Our subject subsequently came to the Bitter Root valley, where he was first engaged in hauling produce to the miners at Bannack; from the spring of 1865 until the following July, sold milk to the miners at Alder Gulch, and next purchased a toll gate on Jefferson river, where he also conducted a stage station. Ile often made as high as $500 in a day from his toll gate. Mr. Flanagin afterward owned a ferry-boat, which

Red mountain rears his imperial head, inter. sected with veins of precious ores, and where the R. E. Lee, the Peerless Jenny, the Eureka, Atlanta and a hundred other mines attracted two railroads and fostered the young city of Rimini.

A little further west is the Helena District, and then to the northwest are the Scratch- Gravel placers, and veins so rich that nature must needs make them small, and veins so large the gold was not sufficient to make them rich. Then come Iowa, Butcher-Knife and Spring Gulches, not so inviting in placers, but the sur-

he sold for $2,500. In 1866 he purchased a ranch in Jefferson county, Montana; from 1879 to 1880 owned and resided on a farm near his present location in the Bitter Root valley, and in the latter year bonght ont his present piece of 320 acres, located four miles south of Stevens- ville. In 1890 Mr. Flanagin built a good farm residence. Our subject was married at the age of nineteen years to Miss Mary Stringham. They had six children, four now living: Eliza, wife of Russ Wiley, of Butte, Mon- tana; Catherine, widow of a Mr. Sloper, and a resident of East Portland, Oregon; Mary, wife of a Mr. Hughes, of Wisconsin; and The wife and mother died in 1856. Two years afterward Mr. Flanagin married Mrs. Deland, nee Baldwin. She had one daughter by her former marriage, Elizabeth, who remained with Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan until her death, at the age of seven :- teen years. In his political relations, Mr. Flanagan is identified with the Republican party.

ANTONE HORSKY, a prominent farmer of Prickly Pear valley, near Helena, Montana, is a native of Austria, born July 1, 1852. When three years old he came with his father and family to America, first located in Iowa, four years later removed to Nebraska, and in 1866 came to Montana, Antone being fourteen years of age at the time they arrived here. They spent the winter in Helena, and in the spring of 1867 his father purchased two ranches of 160 acres each on Prickly Pear creek, to which place he removed his family. Here the subject of our sketch resided nine years. From the time he left home up to 1884 he was engaged in stock-raising and mining.

June 24, 1884, Mr. Horsky purchased his present farm, 320 acres, for which he paid $6,000 down, money he had earned and saved, and went in debt on the land for $2,000. He then purchased stock and machinery with which to operate his farm, going in debt for these, this, together with what he still owed on the land, amounting to $11,- 000. Prosperity from the start attended his efforts, and soon from the proceeds of his hay and horses and cattle

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rounding mountains are full of veins rich in gold and silver. The north fork of Ten Mile is the Seven Mile, whose bed is a continnous placer from the Seven Mile House to the Greenhorn and the main divide on both sides of the Mullan Tunnel. Next north, we come to Silver Creek, rich in placers, which come down from the Drum Lummon and other mines, for whose treasures two railroads laid their tracks up to Marysville. On the north side of Silver Creek comes Trinity, drawing its golden sands from the Gloster and Empire mines. North of Trinity are Canon and Lyons creeks, leading up to the Jay Gould

he was enabled to pay off his indebtedness. His lands are largely meadow. From his broad acres he cuts no less than 250 tons of hay per annum, and for it as well as his stock he has always found a ready market in Helena. He has made a specialty of the Norman Percheron breed of horses.

Mr. Horsky was married January 1, 1880, to Miss Mary Morave, a native of Austria. They have two children, Antone J. and Emory D. From his home a magnificent view of the city of Helena is obtained, he being located nine miles northeast from the city.

Mr. Horsky is a member of King Solomon Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of Helena, and is also a member of the A. O. U. W. Politically he is a Republican.

J. J. and F. H. NICKEY are dealers in real estate, min- ing stock and live stock at Billings. J. J. Nickey, the senior member of the firm, was born in Wisconsin, in 1845, his parents being natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject grew to manhood in his native State, where he receive l a good business education. During the late war he patriotically went forth in the defense of the Union, enlisting in 1861, in the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He now draws a pension for disability incurred in army service. After the close of the war he engaged in con- tracting and building. Mr Nickey finally came to Bill. ings, Montana, erected the Park Hotel in this city, which was destroyed by fire in 1886, and, in company with J. J Walk, built the present Grand Hotel In 188) he closed his hotel interests, and since that rime has followed the occupation noted in the opening of this paragraph.

Mr. Nickey was married in 1868, to Margaret Evans, a native of Wisconsin. Her ancestors were originally from Wales. To this union have been born five children. F. H. Nickey, engaged in business with his father, is twenty- four years of age, and is a bright and courteous young gentleman. He received a good business education, and has charge of his father's office at Billings, as the latter spends much of his time in looking after their mining nterests in Butte. The son has a bright future, is improv- ing his many opportunities, is well and favorably known,

and Stemple. From Lyons creek north, but few veins are known till we reach the promis- ing mines of Wolf creek. Several quartz claims have been opened on the Dearborn and others on the head waters of Sun river.

The mountains between the Prickly Pear valley and the Missouri have several promising prospects. East of Helena, in the mountains between Helena and Holmes Gulch, is a group of quartz mines and prospects. Of these the Humboldt has proved the most productive. In the limestone on the ridge above, and south, several claims have been located. The develop-

and is deservedly popular in business and social circles. The four younger children of Mr. and Mrs. Nickey are : Orren, aged eighteen years; Blanche, sixteen years; and Beulah, fourteen years Both father and son are Repub- lican in their political views.

B. Y. BLODGET, a successful and enterprising farmer of the Bitter Root valley, located three miles south of Grantsdale, was born in Ogden, Utah, in 1852. a son of Newman Greenleaf Blodget, who was born in Vermont, September 22, 1800. He spent his early life in his native State, and was there married. His wife died, leaving five children. Mr. Blodget was afterward married to Eliza, beth E. Reid, the mother of our subject. They then located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and in 1850 removed to North Ogden, Utah, where the father died in 1882. He was a farmer and carpenter by occupation, and was a Mormon in his religious faith. His widow is still living, aged seventy-four years.

Brigham Young, the eighth in a family of eleven chil- dren,-six danghters and five sons, -received his education in the public schools of Ogden. In 1871, at the age of nineteen years, he came to Montana, and engaged in freighting from Bitter Root to Corinne, and also over the entire settled portion of the Territory, continuing that occupation until the railroad was built. April 10, 1878, Mir. Blodget secured from the Government his present farm of 320 acres.

May 22, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Ada- line Josephine Blodget, a native of Montana, and a daugh- ter of Joseph Smith Blodget, of Utah. Although of the same name they were not related. To that union were horn four children, one of whom died in infancy, and a son, Horace Bliss, died at the age of twelve years. The surviving children are: Tyreen Ann and Newman Benja- min. The wife and mother died in 18-5. Mr. Blodget was formerly identified with the Democratic party but, on account of the silver question, has decided to join the ranks of the Populists. lfe is Senior Warden of the Masonic order at Hamilton, and Noble Grand of the I. O. O. F., of Grantsdale.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

ments of those back of this work created quite a stampede, which, however, soon ended by the limits of the field of operations.

Several branches of Ten Mile are rich in quartz veins. Ophir Gulch has several good quartz mines. Blue Cloud Gulch has some promising mines, and a ten-stamp mill was erected to work the ores of the Blue Cloud. The War Eagle, Golden Eagle, Sucker, Lincoln, and other prospects are in this gulch. Nelson Gulch, once famous for its rich placers, has sev- eral good quartz mines,-the Shober, Manassas, Sagamore, Robedeanx and Yellow Boy. Oppo-

JOHN BERTRAND CLAYBERG, of the firm of McConnell, Clayberg & Gunn, attorneys, Helena, Montana, is one of the leading and successful practitioners of the Montana bar.

He is an Illinoisan by birth, born near Cuba, Fulton county, October 8, 1853, a son of George and Elizabeth (Baughman) Clayberg, the former of Saxon, the latter of German, descent. Young Clayberg's early life was passed with his parents on a farm. In his youth he had more than average advantages for acquiring an education, and before attaining his majority was a good academic scholar, with a fair knowledge of Latin and French. Having a natural aptitude for the law, in 1871 he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, taking the full course, and was graduated in 1875. While there, as supplemental to his already acquired literary education, he took up selected important branches each year of his law course. During the last year of his term and the year succeeding graduation, he aided in a cleri- cal capacity the distinguished Judge T. M. Cooley, who at the time was the head of the law department of the university, in obtaining and arranging the data of that eminent jurist's works on Taxation, Torts and other works of highly important character.

IIis professional equipment being now complete, early in 1876 he entered into a copartnership in law practice with S. L. Kilbourne, of Lansing, Michigan, which connec- tion was terminated in 1878. He then became associ- ated with Robert J. Kelley, of Alpena, Michigan, with whom he successfully practiced till 1884, at which time he came to Helena and entered into practice with Hon. T. II. Carter. In 1889 Judge N. W. McConnell was ad- mitted to the firm. In 1891 Mr. Carter was elected to Congress, when his interest was purchased, and in 1892 the present firm was established. The practice of these gentlemen extends to all the courts of the State and the United States, and it enjoys a clientage second to no law firm in Montana.

As a general practitioner or counselor Mr. Clayberg takes high rank in the legal profession. He is cogent,

site Nelson is the Old Battle Ground, and in the foothills above are the Humboldt, Claggett, Old Dominion, Morning Star, Carrie, Flora, and sev- eral other prospects carrying copper and silver and gold. Colorado Gulch has a large number of quartz claims, some of them partially devel- oped. The King David, Hopewell, Ingersol, Baby, Trustful, Champlain, Banner, Princess, Sunnyside, Florence, B. & R., Cambria, Wan- derer and Gold Flake may be named as showing good ores.

Red mountain has a large number of mines, and a large amount of work has been done to

incisive and clear in utterauce, and his reasoning is in- spired by logic so forcible that his opponents rarely dis- lodge him; and in the preparation of his cases he is thorongh, mastering to the minutest detail every scintilla of evidence, in the arrangement of which it is said he displays the sagacity of a field marshal. As a counselor he is deliberate, pondering well the points as they touch parallels in his wide range of reading and practice, and, being somewhat conservative, reaches conclusions through a process of mental comparisons peculiar to trained thinkers. To his profession he is devoted, and is a close student in the literature of law. He is without political ambition, having never desired any, and having filled but a single official place, that of Attorney General of Montana, in 1891. During this same year the regents of the University of Michigan appointed him lecturer on mining law to that institutiou, a position he is eminently qualified to fill, as his practice since residing in Montana has largely been in connection with mining cases.

Socially he is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the order of Elks. Politically he is a Democrat, but is little interested in party affairs, further than the ex- ercise of franchise in the discharge of the duties in- cumbent upon good citizenship.

His marriage to Miss Kate C., daughter of C. Y. Ed- wards, was consummated in Michigan, September 10, 1878. Two sons grace their union,-Hobart L. and Ed- mund E.

JOHN H. RUMPING, one of the prominent mine owners of Marysville, was born in Hanover, Germany, August 24, 1854. His father, Colonel Phil Rumping, served as Colonel under the Hanover Government. He was a de- scendant of the great family of Windhursts, one of Ger- many's most noted families. His own name was Lum- desh, but took the name of the lady he married to en- able him to hold the estate on which they still reside. They have reached the ripe old ages of seventy and seventy-three years, respectively, and are still in the en- joyment of good health. One of their ancestors made his wealth as a dealer in lumber, and at his death endowed a

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develop them. Among them are the Legal Tender, Garfield, Gregory, Silver Reef, Saratoga, Emma, Granite, Mountain, Iron Cap, Iron Dollar, Ontario, Snowdrift, Aleada, Mizpah, and many others. Reed's Tunnel, Russel's Tunnel, Mer- rill's Tunnel and a large number of other claims are in Red mountain. On the mountain east of Rimini are the Atlanta, Gum-Boot Jim, Hunter and General Shields. The Atlanta has been mueh worked and large bodies of silver ore are found.

Below Rimini are the Capitol, Yellow Boy, Bonanza, Little Bonanza, Mae, Enterprise,

college with the proviso that his posterity should have a free scholarship in the same for four generations. Mr. and Mrs. Rumping had four sons and four daughters.

John H. Rumping, the subject of this sketch, came to America in 1870, at the age of sixteen years, after which he resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, until 1873. In that year he took passage on the Charles Mead for St. Louis, with the intention of going to the gold excitement at the Black Hills. Learning that the Government troops had compelled the emigrants to return, on account of the conduct of the Indians, Mr. Rumping accepted a posi- tion as engineer in a flouring mill, remaining in that city until the spring of 1878. Still desiring to reach the gold fields, he engaged at St. Louis as engineer on the Fon- tenelle, and came to the Cheyenne agency. Ile after- ward returned to Yankton, took merchandise to Fort Benton for the Government, and next came to HIelena to look for a position as engineer, but was unsuccessful. Hle then tramped to Silver creek, where he met the pioneer, William Brown, who gave him information in regard to the resources of the creek. Mr. Rumping first mined on Silver creek for John Brooks, afterward worked for Nathan Vestal at Penobscot, assisted in build- ing the Belmont mill, and next purchased an interest in a prospect which proved worthless, losing $260 in the transaction. Not discouraged by this failure, he invested his earnings in mining property, and became very suc- cessful. At one time he paid $250 for a one-sixth in- terest in a mine, and afterward sold his share for $12,500. Soon afterward Mr. Rumping purchased a one-third in- terest for $500 iu lot 48, of the Fabian placer claim, in which he sold his share for $1,200, also receiving a two- thirds interest in the Oregon placer claim. IIe mined on that property two years, and took out considerable gold. He now owns thirty-seven acres of placer land north of Marysville, 320 in Judea Basin, four miles below Stan- ford; two residences at Marysville, two at Belmont, has 2,000 shares in the Bald Butte, 25,000 shares in the Gen- eral Grant, one-sixth interest in the Secot Group, five sixths interests in the Shakopee, and a half interest in

Knickerbocker, Tin Horn, Morning Star, April Fool, Stonewall Jackson and Washington. Such are some of the mines and mining claims on the Ten-Mile and its tributaries. Many of them are producing mines which ship ores to mills and smelters.

The Helena Distriet, just west of the Broad - water, has many claims partially developed which promise well. The IIelena, Christmas Gift, Grass Valley, Syndicate, Consolidation, Hazel Dell, Cross Fire, Security. Sterling, Sil- ver Hill, Good Luck, Diamond R. In the mountains between North Prickly Pear valley

the Nile. Although Mr. Rumping has had many varied experiences in Montana he has held his own among the capable and successful mining men of the county, and has accumulated valuable mining property.

He was married in St. Louis, in October, 1876, to Miss Eva Specht, a native of North Vernon, Indiana. They have had four children, the eldest of whom, Mary G., was born in St. Louis, and the remainder-John Joseph, William Walter and Maud C., -- were born in Montana. The family reside in Marysville. In political matters Mr. Rumping acts with the Democratic party, but, al- thongh well informed on all the topics of the day, gives his time and attention principally to mines and mining. He has visited his relatives and his childhood home in Europe, but is a pronounced American citizen, in full sympathy with all that is American, and is only one of hundreds of thousands of Germany's brave sons who have come to this free land to make their own way in the world, and by their own efforts have become our most enterprising citizens.

McPHAIL BROTHERS .- Allen and Archie McPhail, prominent residents of New Chicago, are both early set- tlers of Montana, and as such we make personal mention of them in this work.

Archie and Christie (McIntosh) McPhail, parents of these gentlemen, were natives, respectively, of Scotland and Canada. Archie McPhail emigrated to Canada in his youth, was there married, and on a farm in that coun- try reared his family, passed his life and died, he being ninety at the time of death and his good wife living to the advanced age of ninety-two. They were devout mem- bers of the Catholic Church and their lives were char- acterized by honesty and industry. They reared a family of ten children, nine of whom are living.

Allen was their eighth child. He was born August 8, 1836, and was early in life inured to hard work on the farm, receiving only limited educational advantages. When he was twenty-four years old he crossed the plains to Pike's Peak, thence to Virginia City, ou to IIelena and from there to Blackfoot City. His brother Archie had

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and the Missouri river, are found the Silver King, Silver Brick, Deer Trail, Silver Cup and Golden Messenger. These and other prospects show the evidence of true veins in these moun- tains. Seven Mile, the western fork of Ten Mile, has the War Eagle, San Jose, Gem, Jen- nie Lind, Cheyenne Bill, Francis Spring, and many other good mines and prospects. On Greenhorn, a fork of Seven Mile, placer mining is still prosperous, and several promising quartz claims are located, such as the North Pacific.

preceded him to Montana, and after this they were to- gether in all their prospecting tours and mining enter- prises, visiting the various mining districts of the State and meeting with the usual miner's luck-sometimes suc- cessful and sometimes not. They were at Diamond City, Elk and Baunack, on the stampede to Salmon river and back again, and finally located at Phillipsburg, where they spent one winter cutting cord-wood for the St. Louis Company, at $6 per cord. Afterward we find them at Hudson Gulch, Highland Gulch, and again at Phillips- burg, and the following winter in Bitter Root valley, Returning to Hudson gulch, they mined there until the water failed, when they went to Pioneer and worked for wages. At Cedar creek they purchased mining land and mined and made some money. The next winter they spent at Missoula and the following summer at Pioneer. From Pioneer they came to their present location. Here they took claim to a tract of land and engaged in stock- raising, and at one time had 500 head of cattle. They have acquired other lands and are now the owners of a thousand acres, well improved with good residences, etc. In 1882 they built the Valley Hotel, which they are still running, doing a prosperous business.

Mr. Allen McPhail was married in 1879 to Miss Lena Cosher, a native of Maine. They have four children, all born at New Chicago, their names being as follows: Emory, Nettie, Annie and Christie.

Archie McPhail was born in Canada, August 21, 1837. Ile crossed the plains in 1862, driving a horse team to Omaha, and oxen from there to Montana, landing at Ban- nack soon after the discovery of gold at that place. He mined there until gold was discovered at Alder Gulch and was among others that rushed for that place. At Alder Gulch he mined until the following May, taking out considerable gold and being there during the exciting times with the road agents; saw some of them hung, When the excitement broke out over the discovery of gold at Kootenai, he went there and mined successfully returning in October to his home in Canada and taking a large sum of gold. This return trip was made to Walla Walla, thence to San Francisco and from there around to C'anada by water. After remaining at his old home two months, he again crossed the plains, this time with a

Marysville District is well known for the Drum Lummon, St. Louis, May, Pittsburg, Gold Hill, Louisiana, Big Ox group, General Jackson, Empire, Rose Denmore, Mayflower, Uncle Ben, North Star, South Montana, Peggy Ann, Cham- pion, Vanderbilt, Coyota, Florence, Irish Girl, Bell, Last Hope, Bull and Bear, Johnson, Rich- mond, Wood Chopper and Frankia. South and west of Drum Luinton are the T. H. Meagher, Bon Mahon, Star of the West, K. of S., Lewis, Montana, St. Louis, Prospect, Marble Heart,

mule team, his brother Allen coming with him. From that time up to the present the history of the two brothers has been almost identical. They began to keep hotel at New Chicago in 1879. In 1882 they were burned out, but immediately rebuilt and have since been catering to the public.

Mr. Archie McPhail was married in 1878 to Miss Annie MeCabe, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri. She came to Montana in 1864 and was before her marriage a popular and successful teacher. They have three children, John Allen, Roy Daniel and Newell Mathew.

The Messrs. McPhail are Republicans. They are typ- ical pioneers, generous and genial, and their whole- hearted hospitality makes their house a favorite stopping place.

DILLON MARCEAU, a Moutana pioneer of 1864, and now a successful farmer of Grass valley, was born in Canada, twenty-four miles south of Montreal, in 1837, and is of French descent. His ancestors located in Canada, where his father, Joseph Marceau, was born. He was married about 1832, to Miss Mollie Piedalue, and they had three children. Mr. Marceau participated in the Rev- olution of 1837-8, for which he was transported by the Government to Australia, and in addition to that great trouble the wife died and was buried on the day that the husband and father sailed. He was afterward released, and was again married, eleven children having been added to that union. Mr. Marceau is still living, at the age of ninety-two years.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 144

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