An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 17

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 17

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There is one incident, however, connected with Mr. Dyer's life, that might well be treated by the pen of the writer of romance. Iu 1873, whilst an emigrant and when only twenty years of age, he met, won and married, at Plymouth, England, Miss Amelia Ann Skelly, a native of Cornwood. Devonshire, England, who like himself, was embarking to test an unknown fortune in America They together, from the elevated position of affluence and influence, to which they have so honorably and

Stanford, Huntington and Crocker railroad com- pany. But we must leave behind us the vague and romantic Apache-Comanche traditions,

" Where they shot gold bullets at the buffalo. "

Entering the lines of California we find them digging gold dust from the ground near Los Angeles generations before our invasion of Mex- ico. Pointing from there in line toward Mon-

worthily attained, can look back with satisfaction over, their lives, then united.

HARRY N. SYKES, a Montana pioneer of 1864, now an esteemed resident of Helena, who has done his share to- ward developing the resources of his vicinity and ad- vancing the general welfare, was born in Niagara county, New York, December 4, 1830. ITis ancestors came from England to America in an early day, settling in New England, in the history of which they played a promi- nent part, and from which place their hardy descendants have spread over the United States, carrying with them that determination and ability so characteristic of their forefathers, to whom and their co-partners is largely due the present status of this country among the nations of the world. Great-grandfather Nathaniel Sykes was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1730, his life being pass- ed amld the stirring scenes of Revolutionary times; and knowing the independent character of the family it is hardly necessary to state that he took his part with the colonists in freeing themselves from the yoke of monarch- ial domination. The musket with which he fought the British at Lexington is still a treasured heirloom in the family, while that spirit which it represents is also their heritage. This noble ancestor died in 1791, after having witnessed the fruition of his hopes in the independence of the American colonies. His son, Francis Sykes, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Manches- ter, New Hampshire, in 1763. He married Miss Rose Bishop, a descendant of an okl and wealthy New England family, and in 1794 they moved westward to Springfield, New York, which town they founded, and where they resided until their death, Francis Sykes in 1823, and his worthy wife in 1840. Of their eight children, Nathaniel Sykes, father of the subject of this notice, was born in Whitingham. Vermont, in 1794, and was carried by his mother on horseback to New York State. Nathaniel was the second child, and was reared in Springfield and mar- ried in Cheningo, in 1817, to Miss Elizabeth Seeber. She was born in Schoharie county, New York, in 1795, and was a descendant of the Dutch Knickerbockers, belong- ing to one of the oldest families of the Mohawk valley. Her grandfather, Jacob Seeber, was killed in the Revolu- tionary war while fighting for the freedom of the colonics. In 1835, the parents of the subject of this sketch re- moved to Chautauqua county, New York, whence they went, in 1846, to Van Wert county, Ohio. In 1857 they again moved westward, going to Missouri, where the wife

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

tana we come to General John Bidwell, of Chico. No man is more truthful and conservative in what he says and does. He still is with us- 1894-strong in mind and body and greatly honored, although he crossed the Sierra de Nev- ada mountains in a cart three years before Fre- mont came and six years before the famons dis. covery at the sawmill by Sutter's men. He was Captain Sutter's secretary for years before

and mother died in 1862. The father continued to reside there until his death in 1872, at the good old age of sev- enty-eight. He was an influential and worthy citizen, prominent in good works, and universally respected. For many years he acted as Justice of the Peace, and during the late war was a strong advocate of the Union. Of his four sons and three daughters there now survive three sons and one daughter, Eliza died aged eleven; Char- Jotte became Mrs. Perry Hull and died aged twenty-five; Francis was an officer in the Union Army, and was severe- ly wounded at Fort Donelson; he died in 1876. George resides in Miles City, Montana; Lorenzo lives in Vina, California; Harry N. is the subject of this sketch; and Jeannette, the youngest, who now resides in Montana.

Jeannette has had a most remarkable and eventful career, which savors of fiction but is intensely real. She was born July 29, 1833, and was married in Van Wert county, Ohio, in 1852, to Joseph W. Decamp. She re- moved with her husband, in 1855, to Minnesota, and thence, in 1861, to Fort Ridgely on the Indian reservation, where, in 1862, the great Indian massacre occurred. On August 17th of the last mentioned year, Mr. Decamp left the Fort for St. Paul, and on the following day Mrs. De- camp and her three children were captured by the In- dians. On the 19th of the same month Mr. Decamp re- turned to Fort Ridgely, which was for two weeks in a state of siege by the Indians. He was one of a company sent ont to bury the dead, about 1000 men, women and children who had been killed by the savages. While ont on this mission this company was attacked by the In- dians and, on September 1st, the lattle of Birch Cooley occurred, in which all but eighteen of the white men were killed. Mr. Decamp was wounded and carried lack to Fort Ridgely, where he died. After Mrs. Decamp had been in captivity for two weeks, subject to the tender mercies of the red skins, she was enabled by the aid of a friendly Indian to escape with her children in a canoe down the river, and returned to her parents in Missouri Some years later she married Rev. Joshua Sweet, at one time Chaplain of Fort Ridgely, and in 1867 they removed to Glencoe, Minnesota, where Dr. Sweet founded a church. He died in St. Paul in 1874, greatly mourned by all who knew him Ile was a man of talent and edu- cation, a prominent minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, who did much toward disseminating the Gospel

and after the discovery, is very faithful to the memory of his old fellow-pioneer and would not let him be robbed of one word of his deserved renown; yet he assures the curious world that he saw gold nuggets in the hands of the Indians long before the episode at the sawmill which thrilled the world and whitened the seas with sail.

It may not be out of the line of this history

in the Northwestern wilds. Mrs. Sweet has had five sons, three by her first marriage and two by the last one. Wel- lington Decamp, the eldest, is an esteemed resident of Spokane, Washington: Joseph Warren is a miner in IIelena: Benjamin E. lives in California; Charles N. is also in Spokane: aad Harry Whipple is now in Helena Mrs. Sweet has borne her trials and vicissitudes with Christian fortitude. She is a lady of marked refinement and culture, and enjoys universal esteem.

Harry N. Sykes, the subject of this biography, who has for a moment been obscured by his sister's virtues, was reared to manhood in the grand old State of New York, his young life being passed on the home farm and in at- tending the public schools of his vicinity. He accompan- ied his parents to Van Wert county, Ohio in 1846, where he was afterward married to Henrietta Decamp, a native of Licking county, the Buckeye State. In 1855 this young couple accompanied Joseph W. Decamp and wife to Minnesota, where Mr. Sykes settled on government land in the vicinity of Shakopee. Two years later, in 1857, Mr. Sykes and family returned to Ohio, where he engaged in lumbering, and later laid out the town of Middlepoint. In 1858 he went to Missouri, whither his parents had pre- ceded him, leaving his family in Knox county, that State. In the spring of 1859 he went to Pike's Peak, Col- orado, where he remained a season prospecting for gold. He then returned to Missouri, where he remained until the last day of February, 1864. Ile then started across the plains a second time: coming with Capt. James Fisk and a small company to Montana. On arriving at the Little Missouri river, the emigrants were attacked by a large number of Indians, and for three days the white men traveled and fought, twelve of the company being killed by the red men. The white men were finally sur- rounded by the savages, but during the night some of the company stole away and succeeded in reaching Fort Rice, where Gen. Sully had troops. Ile sent 800 men to the relief of the emigrants, and the Indians were driven off. Sixteen days elapsed before the soldiers arrived, during which time the emigrants suffered greatly from the harassment of the Indians.

Mr. Sykes then went down the Missouri river to Sioux City, Iowa, where he took a steamer to Omaha, Nebraska, thence crossing the plains to Virginia City, Montana, where he arrived in the fall of 1864. Ile mined here un-

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

to set it down that, according to a journal ex- hibited to Hon. Thomas Fitch, Grace Green- wood, myself and others by Brigham Young at Salt Lake City in 1871, the very first particles of gold dust discovered were discovered and were picked up from the mill tail by a Mormon and handed to Marshall. This journal, it is claimed, was kept by two Mormons of the disbanded

til 1865, aud then came to Helena, and in 1866 took up a ranch of 160 aeres in Prickly Pear valley, seven miles northeast of the capital. Until 1868 Mr. Sykes was en- ,gaged in freighting from Fort Benton, Montana, and other places to Helena. At this time his wife and two daughters eame ont to him, and after their arrival they settled on his farm near Helena. They were eighty-seven days in making the voyage up the Missonri river, owing to the shallow condition of the stream. His daughters, Lottie and Ida, are now married, the former to B. J. Townsend, a respected citizen of Helena, and the latter to J. J. Ellis, a prosperous resident of Great Falls. Harry E. Sykes was born on the farm near Helena, and is now managing that place for his father. The family made their home on this farm for a number of years, being greatly prospered, the father adding 160 acres to his or- iginal purchase and making substantial improvements on both farms. Iu 1887 the father bought a briek residence in Helena, where he and his wife now reside, surrounded by comfort and in the enjoyment of the society of their children and friends.

Politically, Mr. Sykes has been for many years a Dem- ocrat, but is now an active advocate of the principles of the People's party. Fraternally, he has been a Master Mason sinee 1856. Mrs. Sykes is a useful member of the M. E. Church South. The prosperity which has befallen this worthy couple has come through their united and persevering labor, supplemented by uniform uprightness and a just regard for the rights of others.

SAMUEL WORD, Helena, Montana, is one of the most prominent pioneers of the State.

He is a native of Kentucky, born in Barboursville, Knox county, January 19, 1837. His ancestors came to this country from Scotland and were among the early settlers of South Carolina, previous to the American Revolution. From two brothers who came from Scot- land and settled in South Carolina, sprang the stock of Words seattered through Virginia and most of the other Sonthern States. His more immediate ancestors settled in Virginia and Tennessee. William Word, Samuel's father, was born in Powell's valley, Tennessee, in 1808. He went with his father and family to Knox county, Kentucky, where he was reared and where he married Miss Snsan Boyd Banton, and where their son Samuel was born. William Word afterward resided for a num- ber of years in Somerset, Pulaski eounty, Kentucky, and in 1856 removed from there to Kansas, thenee to St. Joseph,

Mormon Legion who were making their way to Salt Lake after the Mexican war and who had stopped here for hire. The journal states in de- tail how the gold was found, handed to Marshall, passed on to Sntter down at his fort, and found to be gold, but not returned to them.

It further tells that they went out every Sun- day, when not kept at work by their employers

Missouri, where his death occurred, in the seventy-third year of his age. His wife survived him a few years, when she passed away, also at about the age of seventy- three. Both were devout Christians and firm believers in the teachings of Alexander Campbell. By occupation Mr. Word was a farmer, and at one time also owned and operated a tannery.

Their son Samuel early developed a taste for the study of law, and read in the office of Andrew J. James, after- ward Attorney-General of the State of Kentucky. While reading law young Word began to feel the need of a higher education. In order to obtain the funds with which to secure a college education he engaged in school teaching, meanwhile keeping up his law studies. After this he entered Bethany College, Virginia, where he remained until his health failed and he returned home. After recuperating for a while, he entered the office of Silas Woodson, of Missouri, afterward Governor of that State, and under his instructions continued the study until August, 1858. At that time he obtained a license to practice law, and entered upon his professional career at Oregou, Holt county, Missouri, where he be- came a partner of Colonel James Foster of that place. While he was successfully engaged in the practice of law there he became acquainted with the daughter of his partner, Miss Sarah Margaret Foster, to whom he was subsequently married. She was born in Clay county, Missouri, a descendent of Irish and Scotch ancestry, her father being a native of Ireland, and her mother, nee Hannah J. Thompson, of Scotch descent.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Word set ont for Idaho Territory and landed at Alder Gulch in the summer of 1863, and there engaged in placer mining. Alder Gulch at that time was the Mecea of every one who had heard of its golden wealth. Hundreds of miners were work- ing day and night in this guleh. Mr. Word, however, did not continue his miniug operations long, but turned his attention to the practice of his professiou in Virginia City, as Alder Gulch was afterward called. A year later he returned to Missouri, settled up his affairs there, and again made the trip to Virginia City, this time being ac- companied by his wife. Since that date he has been a resident of Montana, and his professional career here has been one of eminent success. He has become especially noted as a criminal lawyer. It has been said of him by another that he detested the quibbles and technicalities of the law, but had high and profound respeet for justice.

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

and found in the smaller streams and on bars from half an ounce to several ounces each time they went out. It is stated that the gold was . weighed by balances made of a little bar or stick supported in the middle by a string, a device known to all old prospectors, a dollar of silver weighing an ounce of gold.

Now this Mormon journal may be all a forg-

He has been known to enter upon the prosecution of au alleged criminal with the proviso that should he through the course of the trial become convinced of the innocence of the prisoner he would be allowed to withdraw from the case. As an orator, Mr. Word has great power and appears at his best before a large andience, where his eloquence rises with the occasion and holds his hearers spellbound.

In 1865 Governor Edgerton appointed Mr. Word Pros- ecuting Attorney for an unexpired term for the First Judicial District of Montana. After serving his time he was elected for the succeeding term of two years. For nine years he was the counsel for the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

It was Mr. Word who conceived the project of putting the famous Drum Lummon mine on the market. He secured its sale to an English syndicate. To the judg- ment and ability of Mr. Word, Mr. Jefferson Lowrey and Mr. Mallory is due the credit of giving an impetus to the mining industry of the Territory in 1884-5, their efforts gaining for it a world-wide reputation and bring- ing to the Territory a vast amount of wealth to be util- ized in the development of her mines, thus affording em- ployment to thousands.

To Mr. Word also largely belongs the development of the coal industry in Montana. The people of the Terri- tory had for years relied upon the forests for their fuel and no effort had been made to prospect the country for coal, gold and silver mining being the all absorbing in- (lustry. Mr. Word and Hon. Walter Cooper came into possession of the Rocky Fork coal fields and immediately set to work to utilize them. They succeeded in securing the co-operation of the following gentlemen: Samuel T. Hauser, llenry Villard, Thomas F. Oakes, James L. Platt and James B. Ilubhell. They secured the build- ing of a railroadl fifty miles in length from Laurel, on the Northern Pacific road, to Red Lodge, where the coal fields are located. Thus a new industry was opened up and there spring into existence large energies directed in a channel hitherto undeveloped in Montana. Since then other coal fields have been opened up and are being operated.

Mr. Word has all his life been identified with the Democratic party, has been an active worker in its ranks, and through his earnestness and eloquence has done much to bring victory to his party in Montana.

Mr. and Mrs. Word have four children, namely:

ery; but as its story may be new to the world it is given only for what it may prove to be worth.

The discoveries of gold from this place and date push rapidly in line for the first few years toward the far north, -Montana.

Bidwell's Bar, Shasta, Trinity, Jacksonville, Rogue river, and even as far as the north end

William, born in 1862, married Miss Alice Cowan, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Robert Lee, born in 1866, is a graduate of the Law Department of the Columbia College, New York; Charles F., born in 1871, is a graduate of Yale College; May, the only daughter, was born in 1875. Their home, which Mr. Word had built in accordance with his own ideas, is the embodiment of elegance and luxury, the grounds, the edifice and the furnishings all combining to make an ideal home. Mr. Word is one of Montana's hest citizens, one of her ablest lawyers and one of her most genial and social gentlemen. He has not only accumulated a fine fortune, but what is best he is also liberal with it and with it makes others happy and knows how to enjoy it himself. This brave pioneer has well earned and richly deserves his prosperity, and it is pleasant to know that while he has done so much to develop the resources of the great State in which he has so long resi led that she has returned to him such ample reward.

MRS. M. S. CUMMINS, Preceptress of the young ladies' department and professor of Latin and modern languages in the Montana University, has gained an euviable repu- tation among the educators of this State.

Mrs. Cummins was born at Jonesborough, Tennessee, May 31, 1854. She is of Pennsylvania-Dutch origin, but her ancestors, both maternal and paternal, have long been residents of the South. Her father, William C. Slemons, a native of Tennessee, married Miss Maria Dos- ser, also of that State. They reared a family of seven children, Mrs. Cummins being the fourth born. All are still living. The father was by trade a tanner and was engaged in that business all his life. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church; his daily life was in harmony with the creed to which he held, and in that faith he reared his family. He died in 1887, in the seventy-third year of his age. His widow is still living, having attained her three score years and ten.

Mary Stuart Slemons, for that was the maiden name of Mrs. Cummins, had at her sixteenth year obtained a good common-school education but, being ambitious to go be- yond that, she, through her own efforts, was enabled to take a course in the Augusta Female Seminary, of Staun- ton, Virginia, of which instition she is a graduate. Re- turning to Tennessee in 1874 she began teaching, and for nine years was principal and teacher of the Knoxville high school. While in Knoxville she became the wife of W. F. Cummins, a prominent merchant of that city. She

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

of the great Umpqua canon. Here the swift line of discoveries, having dwindled to almost nothing of valne, called a long halt.

Looking back and to the left of the line we see Gold Beach in the shadow of Cape Blanco where the Spaniard had anchored centuries be . fore in his search for gold and where Sir Fran- cis Drake also sailed, quietly setting it down in

met with marked success and took great pleasure in teach- ing and also found time to engage in other labors as well as to enjoy social pleasures. She was president of the Synodical Missionary Society and a State member of the Executive Board of Home Missions of New York, under the anspices of the Presbyterian Church. She also took a lively interest in and devoted a considerable time to a large mission Sunday school. A strong effort was made by her friends to have her take charge of school interests in Mexico. This, however, did not seem to her to be com- patible with other duties, and she declined.

In 1886, partly for a change of climate and partly to embrace the business opportunities afforded in a rich new State, she came with her husband to Montana. They settled in Helena, where they have since resided, Mr. Cummins being engaged in real-estate business, both on his own account and for others, and also being interested in varions mining enterprises, Soon after their coming to Helena, Mrs. Cummins accepted the position as prin- cipal of the high school, in which she ably served for five years, and which she resigned in order to accept her present position in the Montana University. During her residence in Montana she has attained high standing among the educators of the State, and has been chosen by them successively as vice president and president of the Montana State Teachers' Association.

In temperance work, too, Mrs. Cummins has taken a leading part. She is now serving her fourth year as president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in Montana. In 1891 she was commissioned by Miss Willard as National Organizer of the W. C. T. U. in Mon- tana. During her vacation months she traveled over a large portion of the State, organizing new unions, and partly as the result of that tour the banner presented by Miss Willard for the largest percentage of gain in mem- bership in the Western States was given to Montana.

It was in September, 1891, that Mrs. Cummins entered the Montana University in Ilelena, as preceptress in charge of the young ladies' department and as professor of Latin and modern languages. In her University work for the past two years she has given excellent satisfaction and has evinced superior endowments of both head and heart for this important position. . She loves her work and hopes in it to be able to accomplish great results. Mrs. Cummins, together with Prof. J. C. Templeton, also a professor in Montana University, has taken the inside management of University affairs.

his log, when at anchor in Drake's Bay not lar from the great bay of San Francisco, that gold doth abound far in the land. "

This gold beach, extending indefinitely up and down the ocean's bank above and below the old Spanish Cape Blanco, caused a mad but brief excitement. The gold was found at low tide, and after a heavy sea so very plentiful as to

ERASTU'S D. EDGERTON, president of the Helena Na- tional Bank, of IIelena, Montana, is a native of the State of Pennsylvania, born in Wayne county, December 9, 1852.

He traces his ancestry back to the English who landed from the first ship following the Mayflower. They be- came active factors in the settlement of the country and have always ranked as men of sound sense and good busi- ness judgment. His father, T. HI. Edgerton, born in Delaware county, in 1819, married Miss Louisa J. Pixley of Puritan stock flowing from Scotch ancestry. She was in many ways a remarkable woman, with great industry and perseverance. His father left merchandising and pur- chased a large tract of pine-timber land on the Delaware river, which with a small farm provided a comfortable in- come. He had three children living at the time of his death in 1879.

Mr. Edgerton, the subject of this sketch, the eldest of the children, had only a common-school education, helped somewhat by a private instructor in the person of a Pres- byterian clergyman. He read law in the office of Judge D. D. MeKoon at Middleton, Orange county, New York and on June 17, 1877, was admitted to practice at Pough- keepsie, by Justice Joseph Burmond. Soon afterward he removed to New York city, and entered the law firm of McKoon, Edgerton & Hartwell. While in New York he took a full course of law lectures at Columbia College, removing to Montana and settling at llelena in the early spring of 1882. IIe commenced the practice of his pro- fession in Angust of the same year; he organized and took the presidency of the Second National Bank, which position he retained until 1893. On August 3d, 1893, he was elected president of the IIelena National Bank, this being just six days after the closing of the doors of the two largest national banks in the town, representing about sixty per cent. of the entire banking capital and sur- plus of the city. He remained president of both banks until October 3, of the same year, when the two banks were consolidated.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 17

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