An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 146

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 146

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The Ten Mile is certainly one of the most promising districts in Montana. In addition to the placer mining, many good quartz veins were discovered in an early day. Some of these, as the R. E. Lee, have been worked by spasmodic efforts for twenty years or more. From the be- ginning it showed a vast body of ore rich in sil- ver, lead and gold. The materials for a smelter were once shipped to Helena to be erected on this mine, but the project was abandoned and the material sold. Afterward the concentrator

In 1869 he purchased 160 acres of land four miles from the city, and he now has 640 acres altogether there, and his son now resides there, raising live stock. In 1884 Mr. Ramsdell built a good residence on East Park street opposite the Parrot.

In politics Mr. Ramsdell has always been independent, as he is indeed in all his thinking. He has attended to his own business closely, expecting other people to do the same! consequently he has been a peaceable, indus- trious and honest citizen, and wherever he is known he is highly respected.

He was married, at the date already mentioned, to Miss Clarissa Williams, a native of Logan county, Ohio, and the daughter of Walter R. Williams, and they have had three children, one of whom is deceased. The others are: Josie L., now the wife of James A. Talbot, of Bntte, a pioneer and a prominent banker; and his son Clayton is now (1894) thirty-nine years of age, and as stated re- sides upon the farm. Mrs. Ramsdell died July 30, 1892: she was born October 8, 1831. They had lived many years together. IJe had known her from infancy, as he was living with her father when she was born, and they were married when she was but sixteen years old. She was a most affectionate wife and mother, was greatly be- loved by all who knew her, and her aged husband feels her loss very deeply.

OLIVER W. SQUIRES, a respected Montana pioneer of 1863, now residing at Grantsdale, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, March 21, 1841. ITis ancestors were among the early settlers of New York, and his great grand- father, Abner Squires, was a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. The father of our subject, Ezra Squires, was born in New York, and there married Miss Marietta Hurd, a native of Connecticut and a descendant of one of the old New England families. After their marriage they moved to Ohio, and nearly their entire lives were spent in that State and Wisconsin. Mr. Squires died in Dakota, in September, 1887, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife departed this life at the age of forty-six years, leaving two children, a daughter, now Mrs. Henry Page; and the subject of this sketch.

The latter was raised to manhood in Madison county, Wisconsin. In 1860 he crossed the plains to Denver, Col

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was put np. This mine alone ought to yield a million a year. There are numerous other good mines around Rimini. Red Mountain is full of veins and tunnels. Peerless Jennie has an enviable record for its rich ores, and the Eureka is coming to the front as a large producer; and the Atlanta and a score of other mines are show- ing up rich ores enough to make the fingers of millionaires itch to handle them. And besides, the Josephine, the Crescent and other mines in the Upper Basin and its fire-clays all are and will be tributary to Rimini and Helena.

orado, which at that time contained only a few houses, and for the first two years was engaged in ranching stock. In May, 1863, he purchased 160 acres of the Cold Spring ranch, at Alder Gulch, Montana, where he fol- lowed stock-raising two years, and also conducted a stage station, having entertained all the old pioneers of Mon- tana. From there Mr. Squires came to the Bitter Root valley, purchased from the Government land near Ste- vensville, but one year afterward sold that place and came to his present location at Grantsdale, whence he was engaged in packing to Washington Territory. He next became interested in sawmilling, having built one of the first mills in the Bitter Root valley, at Corvallis, but subsequently sold that mill and bought and conducted two others. He received from $30 to $60 per thousand for his lumber. In connection with his sawmilling it be- came necessary for Mr. Squires to open a blacksmith shop, and, being a natural mechanic, he soon learned that trade. He has followed that ocenpation for about twenty years, and is now proprietor of a shop at Hamil- ton. Ile was one of the first blacksmiths in Missoula county, and at one time owned a shop at Corvallis. In addition to his other interests he owns town property in Grantsdale.

Mr. Squires was married September 13, 1871, to Miss Annie Bloodget. They have had five children, but had the misfortune to lose four in three days by the dread dis- ease of diphtheria. Their names and their ages at the time of death were as follows: Ezra, at the age of twenty years; Maryetta, aged fifteen years; Odelphia, eight years; and Ada, three years. Their only surviving child is Henry. Mr. Squires is Past Master Workman of the A. O. U. W. In political matters he was formerly a stanch Republican, but recently, on account of the free silver coinage question, has joined the ranks of the Peo- ple's party.

ANDREW LOGAN, one of the respected and enterprising citizens of Missoula, was born in Troy, New York, March 14, 1856. Ilis father, William A. Logan, was born in the north of Ireland, in 1823, at the age of seventeen years emigrated to Montreal, Canada, afterward went to New Orleans, and at the age of twenty years located in Troy,

The numerous masses of rich tin ore found in the placers of Upper Ten Mile, prove beyond all doubt the existence of those ores in the moun- tains above these placers. Stream tin and float tin follow the same laws as stream gold and quartz float, and thus prove the presence of veins above.

These facts show that nearly every stream and ravine which comes down the eastern slope of the main range of the Rocky mountains in Lewis and Clarke county from Holmes' Gulch on the northern border of Jefferson to Sun river,

New York. A few years later he married Miss Jane Reed Ferguson, a native of Scotland. They continued to reside in Troy, where Mr. Logan was engaged in various occupa- tions, and later in life followed merchandising. They had eight children, six of whom are now living. The father died at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother still re- sides in Troy, aged sixty-six years.

Judge Logan, their eldest child in order of birth was educated in his native city. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Bismarck, Dakota, afterward worked on the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers, and in the following spring came to Missoula, Montana. After arriving in this State, Mr. Logan worked at whatever he could find to do. From August, 1878, until 1882 he was engaged at the blacksmith's trade in Fort Missoula, and in the latter year opened a shop in this city, continuing in that occupation until 1889. In 1886 Mr. Logan was elected Justice of the Peace, became Public Administrator of Missoula county in 1888, after the admission of the State to the Union was elected Justice for a term of three years, and in 1892 was re-elected to that position. During his residence in Mis- soula he has been fully identified with the growth of the city, has built a good residence and several brick business buildings, and has been active in all enterprises for the improvement of the place.

January 11, 1880, Judge Logan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ford, a native of Michigan, and a daugh- ter of Richard Ford, also a native of that State. He was a Union soldier during the late war, and was one of the brave men who suffered and died in Libby prison. Mr. and Mrs. Logan have four children, all born in Missoula, namely: William A., Bertha A., Eva A. and Claude A. During his entire political life, Mr. Logan has been a consistent adherent to the Republican party. In his social relations, he is Past Master Workman and Financier of the A. O. U. W .; is Past Grand Master and Past Grand Reporter of the I. O. O. F. in the State of Montana, and is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. As a public officer Mr. Logan has performed what is considered his duty in a fearless manner, and his decisions have given good satisfaction. They have seldom if ever been reversed in the higher courts of the State.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

and every adjacent foot-hill and mountain, is full of quartz veins filled with ores carrying gold, silver and lead.

These mines have caused the erection of some thirty stamp mills, which carried over 500 stamps. Some of these mills are worn out, some are waiting for silver to recuperate; but a large portion of them are still running on ores carrying gold enough to make the work pay.

From the facts above stated, the region some thirty miles long and twenty miles wide with

JOHN H. SIMPSON, the first County Commissioner of Ravalli county, Montaua, was born in Monroe county, Missouri, April 4, 1858. His grandfather, Robert Simp- son, was born in Virginia, of Irish parents, who had just four days previously arrived in that State from their native country. They located on 320 acres of Govern- ment land, which is still owned by their descendants, the deed, signed by Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, being still in existence. Robert Simpson was raised to manhood in his native place and was there married to Miss Margaret Magee. They afterward removed from that State to Kentucky, where they were among the early pioneers, and in June, 1823, with four sons and four daughters, they went to Missouri. That State was then comparatively a wilderness. Mr. Simpson erected a log cabin and, as room was needed from time to time, he con- tinned to erect cabins until he had three in a row, all separate. Why he did not connect these his descendants are left to conjecture. As the country became improved and they grew in wealth they built a residence of walnut lumber, which is still in good condition, and owned by members of the family. Mr. Simpson was prominent in all the early affairs of his county and was a member of the first Board of County Commissioners. The family were old-school Presbyterians. Robert Simpson was born in Kentucky in 1818, removed with his father to Missouri in 1826, and remained on the Monroe county farm the re- mainder of his life. In 1824 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Adams, a native of Cooper county, Mis- souri, and they raised six sons, all of whom are still living and members of the Presbyterian Church, showing that the father was a man of worthy character and that he left a lasting impression on his sons. Mr. Simpson died February 24, 1871, and his widow still resides at the old homestead.

John H., the third son and the subject of this sketch, was reared to farm life. 1Ie began life for himself as a stock raiser and dealer, and afterward became largely engaged in buying and shipping cattle and sheep to Chi- cago. In the winter of 1883 4 he lost his property by a heavy decline in the markets. He then came to Stevens-

Helena near the center, is the richest gold re- gion on the continent. The comparative rich- ness of these mines has long been known to a few whose works followed their convictions in mining operations. Old placers are worked over for the gold, old mills are worn out and new ones erected to crush the gold-bearing ores of this area. This, too, is the region of sap- phires, tellurides and wood tin.

MADISON COUNTY.

In the early history of Montana mining Al- der Gulch followed close upon the heels of

ville, Montana, his entire possessions consisting of $1.50, but, possessed of an active and enterprising spirit, he be- gan life auew. Mr. Simpson first took the contract to build the railroad station at Stevensville, aud after its completion built all the stations on the road from Mc- Kean's Mill to Victor; next superintended the building of forty-four miles of country road in the Bitter Root valley, and then purchased from the Government a ranch of 160 acres, located fifteen miles south of Grantsdale. He has improved his place until he now owns a valuable farm. Since his appointment by the Montana Legislature as Assessor of the new county of Ravalli, Mr. Simpson has made his home at Grantsdale. The assessment of the county for the past year was $2,048,000, and the largest tax-payer in the county owns 10,888 acres of land in one body. The levy is sixteen mills on the dollar, and a half mill for stock industry.

Mr. Simpson was married Jannary 10, 1878, to his cousin, Miss Catherine A. Simpson, and they have three children: Mattie A., Nora B. and Joseph D. In political matters Mr. Simpson is a stanch Democrat, and has served as a member of the County Central Committee of his party. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

J. E. SWINDLEHURST, the efficient and obliging Post- master of Livingston, Montana, dates his birth in Ottawa, Canada, in the year 1865. IIe is a son of Joseph and Maria (O'Connor) Swindlehurst, the former being of Irish descent and the latter of English and French. They were married in New York; were for a time residents of Ottawa, Canada, and the year following the birth of our subject they removed to lowa, whence they subse- quently went to Minnesota. Their family, all of whom are living, comprises four sons and two daughters, namely: J. C., Thomas, William, Alvab, Hannah and Isabella.

His father a blacksmith and farmer, J. E. Swindle- hurst's early life was spent on the farm, and his education was obtained in the public schools. When quite young, his energetic and ambitious spirit was seized with a de- sire to come still further west, and we find him for a short time at Miles City and then at IIelena, where his

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

Grasshopper, while Virginia City and Madison were second in chronological order to Bannack and Beaver Head. The vast yield of gold from Alder soon attracted the people of the mountain regions to the camps on that gulch, and Vir- ginia City was built up by a prosperous people and soon became the emporium of trade, the capital of the Territory, and the center of social and refined life in the new mountain country, which soon became Montana.

Alder Gulch for sixteen miles from the sum- mit down was as full of men and active life as

experience in the mines, although brief, was long enough to satisfy him mines were not safe investments and that mining was not his forte.

Iu 1885 he came to Livingston, where he was employed by the Carver Mercantile Company, and, later, by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company as warehouseman. His business ability was soon recognized, not only by his employers but also throughout the town, and he was elected City Treasurer of Livingston, succeeding Charles A. Bing, and serving two years. He served as Chairman and Secretary of the Democratic County Central Com- mittee, and has been an active and effective worker for his party; was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee for Park county during the Presidential cam- paign of 1892. He was appointed Postmaster of Livings- ton by President Cleveland in April, 1893.

Mr. Swindlehurst was married, in 1894, to Miss Augusta Tandberg, daughter of Ebenezer Tandberg of Minnesota. They have had two children, Joseph, who died at the age of four years, and Katherine.

He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, and, fraternally, he is associated with Livingston Lodge, A. F. & A. M., both chapter and commandery, and is also a member of Algeria Temple, at Helena. He is one of the most active business men in Livingston, is a pleasant and entertaining converser, and is a courteous and oblig- ing gentleman.

HENRY H. GRANT, one of the founders of the pleasant village of Grantsdale, was born near Plattsburg, New York, September 11, 1838, of Scotch descent. The family trace their ancestry to the same origin from which the illustrious soldier, General Ulysses S. Grant, descended. The grandfather of our subject, John H. Graut, was born near Edinburg, Scotland, but when a boy he came to America, locating near Albany, New York. He was married at Alburg, that State, to Miss Lucy Douglass, also of Scotch descent, and they had nine children. Mr. Grant served in the war of 1812, and received an injury in the service which caused his death, at the age of forty-seven years. ITis wife survived him ouly a few years. Their second son, Douglass B. Grant, was born

an ant-hill is full of ants on a warm June morn- ing. Hundreds, yea, thousands, filled their purses and belts and secret pockets and grips with the shining dust and took their way by frail boats down the Missouri river and by the overland coaches via Ogden and Omaha to make glad their loved ones in their Eastern homes. But some fell on the way by the rifle of the "road agent" and the arrow of the hostile In- dian. Most of those who left, however, reached their homes in safety to rejoice the good wives and little ones or waiting sweethearts, and to

in Alburg, September 10, 1891. June 11, 1837, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Vaughan, who was born April 9, 1808, of Scotch and English ancestry, and had been a teacher of French and music for a number of years. They had two sons,-John N., now residing in the State of Washington, and Henry, our subject. The father followed merchandising at Chazy, New York, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred in April, 1866, his wife surviving until seventy-three years of age.

Henry H. Grant received his education in the public schools and academies of his native State. In 1866 he re- moved to Wisconsin, followed merchandising one year, was engaged in trading, and improving a farm in Iowa eight years, spent two and a half years in business in Salem, Oregon, cleared and improved a farm in Washington Ter- ritory, and in 1884 sold his property there and came to Montana. His first claim in this State was located near Corvallis, in the Bitter Root valley. After selling that land. Mr. Grant purchased 160 acres of his present farm from Charles Price, and also bought his and his father's in- terest in a flouring mill. Messrs. Grant and Price after- ward founded the town of Grantsdale, each platting forty acres, and the place was named in honor of our subject. It is located at the terminus of the railroad. Mr. Grant now owns 400 acres of land adjoining the vil- lage, where he has a good water right, a fine fruit orchard, and a comfortable residence. He also owns several good mining prospects.

In 1864, in New York, Mr. Grant was united in mar- riage with Miss Jane H. Burns, a native of that State. They have had ten children, viz .: Murry D .. Ella May (wife of O. C. Cooper, a merchant of Grantsdale), Arthur H., Gertrude F., Nettie J., Cora E., Bessie E., Lorena B., Charles H. and Ferdinand. Mr. Grant is Past Master of the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically, he was formerly a stanch Republican, but has recently joined the ranks of the Populists, and was nominated by that party as candidate for the State Legislature. He is a trustee of the Grantsdale schools, has taken a deep interest in the educational affairs of his

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add more comfort to their after lives. The large portion remained, attracted by quartz veins, by the golden sands, the glorious climate, the vast rich pastures and the abundant har- vest of garden and field, to lay broad and deep foundations of a great commonwealth. Many of our citizens who were then wielding the pick and shovel and rolling the wheel-barrow and piling away the troublesome boulders, are now wielding fortunes in other departments of business.

community, is a man of intelligence and ability, and is one of the leading citizens of the Bitter Root valley.

JEPP RYAN, the present Mayor of Miles City, elected in 1892, was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1858, a son of Matthew and Mary (Beresford) Ryan. His parents were natives of Ohio. Ilis mother's ancestry were English descendants from the noted family of Beresford, England. His father was born in Ireland. He represented his county in the Kansas General Assembly, and was for many years engaged in mercantile pursuits and varions speculations.

Young Jepp grew up as a farmer, and was educated at St. Mary's College, near Topeka, Kansas, where he re- ceived a practical business education. When eighteen years of age he, in company with his older brother, Matthew, traveled through the West, dealing in cattle. They traveled through Oregon and Idaho, in employ of a company. In 1881 they purchased stock and engaged in business for themselves in Montana, and located on the Mnsselshell river, 110 miles northwest from Miles City, in 1888. They were extensively engaged handling cattle when the winter of 1886-7 set in. They lost 15,000 head that winter! They are now largely interested in cattle and fine horses, being the most extensive producers of saddle and fast horses in the State. Their ranch is one of the finest in the State, well irrigated, and they produce an abundance of hay of all varieties. They are among the leading stockmen in Montana. The Mayor engaged in the hardware business in Miles City in 1891, and carries a large stock of hardware, agricultural im- plements and wagons, with a large warehouse near the railroad depot.

In Jannary, 1882, he was married to Miss Addie Carr, daughter of E. T. and Marguerite (Cubbnr) Carr, of Miles City. Iler parents were from the State of Kansas, father a native of " York State." Mr. Ryan and wife have two children, -- Lee M. and Samuel. He was reared under the influences of the Catholic Church.

THOMAS LIGHTBODY, the pioneer hotelman of Marys- ville, was born in New York, March 7, 1842, a son of John and Mary (Mockin) Lightbody, natives also of that State. Thomas, one of five children, two sons and five daughters, was raised on his father's farm, and was en-

From Alder the miners swarmed out into scores of neighboring gulches whose golden sands rewarded their unwearied labors with rich harvests of the precious metals; but many went into the quartz mines; and in a few years the Oro-Cache mill, the St. Louis mill, Seran- ton mill, Nelson mill, Christenot mill, John Howe mill, Branham's mill, Ward's mill, Roch- ester mill, Silver Star mill, Green Campbell mill, Kennet mill and a score of arastras were erected and were pounding, crushing and grind-

gaged in agricultural pursuits in the East on his own ac- count before coming to Montana.

After his arrival in this Territory, in 1871, he embarked in mining at Cove Gulch, Meagher county, where he met with fair success, and remained there about one year. Mr. Lightbody next worked for a mining company at French Bar about six years, then took a timber claim of 160 acres of land, one year later sold his claim for $20, and in 1879 came to Marysville. Thomas Cruse had at that time the only cabin in theplace. Our subject built a log boarding-house, 24 x 30 feet, on the side of Cruse Hill, and, in company with a Mr. Major, operated the mine, and also boarded the miners. About one year later he sold his interest to the Montana Company, and made a few thousand dollars by the transaction. Hethen cameto his present location on Whippoorwill street, built the Amer- can House, the first hotel in the town, and has the honor of entertaining many of the noted men of the country who came to see the great Drum Lummon mine. In 1883 Mr. Lightbody spent eight months in the East. He has located Black Diamond mine, on Cruse Hill, an ex- tension of the Drum Lummon mine, which he operates in company with the Messrs. McIntosh and Wilson. They have recently bonded it to the Montana Mining Company for $50,000. Mr. Lightbody also has the Mabel Lester mine on the same hill, which is considered very rich.

April 28, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Holden, a native of New York. They have two children,-Lester T. and Mabel Lena. Mr. Lightbody has been one of the builders of Marysville, is liberal in his business dealings, and is a good representative of the eariy pioneers of this city. History will petpetnate his memory as the first hotel man of Marysville.

HON. THOMAS P. CULLEN, Glendive, Montana. - In the success of this man we have an illustration of what a young man can accomplish in a few years, who has con- fidence, capacity and persevering pluck.

He was born in Ilighland, Wisconsin, in 1864, a son of James and Marguerite (Ford) Cullen. He received a common-school education. When eighteen years of age, he entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Com- pany as brakeman, and worked his way up to the position of conductor of a passenger train now on the Yellowstone

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

ing the ores of many rich veins of Madison county. Some of these mining enterprises live only in the memory of those who saw their op- erations and in the ruin of the mills, arastras and other works. Some have continued to the pres- ent time, and some of the mills have been moved away and are now working out fortunes for their owners in other localities. But not- withstanding all the vicissitudes that must at- tend a new and untried business, quartz mining lias continued in Madison. Old mills have been worn out, new ones have been erected and

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 146

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