An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 26

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 26

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and practiced in Malad City. He also served as clerk of the United States District Court, and on the Anti-Mormon ticket was elected County Clerk and Recorder, During his residence in Malad City he with others became largely interested in the manufacture of salt, the salt springs being located in the mountains about 100 miles north of Malad City. When he began this enterprise salt in Montana was worth $1 per pound. The business was remunerative and grew until they had from 250 to 300 head of oxen with which they conveyed their product to all the towns of the Territory. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built and brought cheap transporta- tion their business ceased to be profitable.

Mr. White became a member of the mercantile and banking firm of Sebree, Ferris & White, and followed the construction of the railroad to Butte, doing business at all the towns along the line of its construction. In 1881 they founded the first bank at Dillon, and Mr. White became its cashier. In 1884 they made it the First National Bank of Dillon. He continued in the position of cashier until 1888, at which time he became president, and has since remained in that capacity, managing its business in a most capable and efficient manner, carrying it through the great financial panic, bringing it out in better shape than at any other time in its history, and to-day it is ranked with the most success- ful financial institution of the State. In 1887 Mr. Sebree and Governor White started a bank at Colwell, and in 1891 they made a national bank of it. The Governor owns half of its stock and is its vice-president.

In 1880, Governor White and his partner purchased, for $12,500, the four hundred acres of land on which the beautiful city of Dillon now stands. They platted the town, and in September of that year had a sale of town lots from which they realized $14,000 in cash. Since then not a month has elapsed in which they have not made sales. Thus, they became the founders of the town, and since then have become its most prominent builders, they having erected a large proportion of the best buildings.

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in those days, and Walla Walla society was then, as it is still, of the best. What this fair town ever did to Mr. Bancroft that he should drag three men down three days' journey from where they were hung in order to hang the shame of their hanging around the neck of Walla Walla I don't know; though it may be because we did not like his books about "Native Races." It would be presumputons in me, a worn-out, old expressman, who don't pretend to know much ontside of the early life here, to infer that Mr. Bancroft, who writes histories of nearly every-

Truthfully may it be said that every brick in these sub- stantial buildings is a monument to Governor White's business sagacity and enterprise.

In politics he has always been a faithful Republican. When he came to Dillon, Beaver Head county was de- cidedly Democratic and had previous to this time elected Democratic officers. He was nominated by his party as the Representative of the Territorial Council, and was elected by a majority of 300 against one of the strongest Democrats in the county. During the session of 1882-3 he served most acceptably in that capacity. In acknow !- edgment of the valued service he rendered his party, as well as for his fitness for the position, President IIarrison nominated him for Governor of the Territory. The nom- ination was confirmed March 29, 1889, and he served until Montana was admitted intothe Union of States, by reason of which his term of office expired. IIe was a member of the State Canvassing Board, and in that capa- city aided in keeping the opposition from robbing the State of its franchise. Governor White also took an active interest in the incorporation of the city of Dillon, was elected her first Mayor, and has since served in that capacity for three terms.

He was married February 14, 1879, to Miss Lizzie A. Davis, a native of England and daughter of Hon. E. J. Davis, a prominent citizen of Idaho and a member of the Legislature. Mrs. White was reared in Idaho from her childhood. They have four children, all born in Dillon, as follows: Carrie, Emrys, Ralph and Greta. The family are members of the Episcopal Church.

While Governor White has for several years been as- siduously engaged in building the city of Dillon, he has also secured for himself an ample fortune, and in addi- tion to all this has by a life of upright integrity secured the good will and esteem of his fellow citizens. Surely such a life may be called a decided success.

JOHNSON & JENSEN is the title of a successful pioneer firm of the city of Great Falls, Montana. They are the founders of the Cascade Steam Laundry, owners of the controlling interest of the Montana Brewery, and also own a ranch near the city. The gentlemen who compose

thing, did not know what he was writing about.

" One thing more: The trails of Florence were not obliterated from February till May and made impassable, nor did any body ' suffer all the horrors of slow starvation.' The trails were not blocked at all. My express never missed con- nection for one single night; neither did Wells- Fargo, except once from snow blindness, when Joaquin Miller, who was on snow-shoes with the blinded messenger, took his pack of letters along with my own on his back and delivered

this firm are brothers-in-law, and, as they have kept their business identical since coming to Great Falls, it has been considered appropriate to give their history and business career in one sketch.

Messrs. Johnson and Jensen had for some time been turning their attention to the West, looking for a prosper- ous new town in which to engage in business. Great Falls was finally given the preference, and they came hither in 1887. The town had then just commenced to grow. They purchased two lots where their laundry business is now located, on First avenue, north, and erected a brick building, 30 x 50, with two stories and a basement, in which they began operations. They had occupied it only three years when it was found to be in- adequate in size for their rapidly growing business, and they erected a second brick building adjoining it, 22 x 100 feet, with two stories and a basement. In the rear of these buildings they put up a two-story frame house in which to board their hands. Their establishment is equipped with all the latest and most approved machinery for carrying on their large volume of business in the most successful manner. They use a fifty-horse-power engine. They were the second laundry firm in the whole country to use electricity to heat their rolls and flatirons. They also have their own dynamo and manufacture their own electric light. From the very first their business has been a success, and has increased in volume each year of its existence. In 1893 they became the purchasers of the controlling stock in the Montana Brewing Company, which has a large plant, with fine brick buildings, costing over $60,000. This they are now running day and night to its fullest capacity, turning out a superior article of beer, for which they find a ready sale. Their ranch of 200 acres is near the city limits. On it they are keeping stock and are making dairy butter, and here they also raise vegetables and poultry, in this, as in their other on- terprises, meeting with marked success. They own con- siderable real estate in the city. Indeed, every invest- ment they have made since coming to Great Falls has proved successful, and they are justly entitled to le classed among the foremost of the leading business men of the city.

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them to John Creighton, Wells-Fargo's agent, before taking our own letters to our office. As thousands of miners saw and cheered this gen- erous act toward the big rival express, there are still alive plenty to tell of it. This John Creigh- ton was a great character, and the richest and most popular man there, except Jeff Standifer, Jim Warren and such. He is now a banker in Denver. He was the first big merchant there to charge a dollar a pound for anything, and he never charged any more, and he never let any man 'suffer the horrors of slow starvation!'

Fred G. Johnson, whose name is first in the firm, is a native of Sweden, born December 19, 1858. His parents were Andrew G. and Sophia (Peterson) Johnson. They emigrated to Minnesota in 1866, came to Great Falls in 1887, and the father died in 1890, at the age of sixty-nine years. The mother still survives, now (1894) in her seventy-fourth year. They had two children, Fred G. and his sister, the wife of Mr. Jensen.

Mr. Johnson was six years old when he came with his parents to Minnesota. He was educated in that State, and was for a time in the draying business in Minneapo- lis. His arrival in Great Falls was just before the Great Northern Railroad had completed its line to this place. Since then he has been actively engaged in business in the city. He is now the secretary and treasurer of the Montana Brewing Company. Mr. Johnson was married in 1887, to Miss Emma Johnson. She was born in Indi- ana, and while she had the same name she was not re- lated to him. They have two sons and two daughters, namely: Frederick Leroy, Edna May, Myrtle Evaline and William Stuard.

Mr. Stuard R. Jensen, the other member of the firm, is a native of Denmark, born August 25, 1851. Ile comes of old Danish ancestry, and was educated in his native country, by his father, who was a schoolteacher. When our subject was twelve years of age, he came with his uncle to Wisconsin, and began life in America by work- ing on a farm at $8 per month. After two years he went to Minnesota and learned the cooper trade; but during the last two years of his life in Minnesota he was in the grocery business. He preceded Mr. Johnson to Great Falls. After remaining in the city during the summer, he wrote to Mr. Johnson to join him, and upon the latter's arrival in Montana they organized the firm and embarked in business, with the results mentioned heretofore in this sketch.

Mr. Jensen was married August 24, 1875, to Miss Selma Johnson. As stated above, she is the sister of his part- ner. They have two children, Adel and Walter.

Both gentlemen are Populists in their political affilia- tions. Mr. Jensen has represented the first ward of the

They tell this of him: An old friend had ar- rived, and, going early to the store, saw a man back in a dark corner, still rolled in his blankets.

"'Good morning, Mr. Creighton!'

"' Dollar a pound!'

"'But-ah, good morning, Mr. Creighton!'

". Dollar a pound: how much do you want?'

"' But-ah, good morning! Don't you know me?'

"' Dollar a pound. Damn it! Help yourself, and let me sleep!'"

" I am sorry that Mr. Bancroft did not know

city as Alderman for two years, rendering efficient service in that capacity.

The above, although a brief and imperfect sketch, will serve to show something of the lives of these public- spirited and enterprising men.

CHARLES D. HARD, a prominent citizen of Montana, whose residence is located near the Montana University, four miles north of Helena, was born in Rochester, New York, December 20, 1841. His ancestors, Scotch and English people, were among the early residents of Ver- mont, and his father, Lemuel W. Hard, was born there in 1805. Mr. Hard's mother, who before her marriage was Miss Mary Margaret Gray, was a native of Madison county, New York, and of Scotch origin. Her family re- moved to Chicago at an early day, being among the first settlers of that city, and Charles M. Gray being Mayor of Chicago at one time. The father died in 1887, in the eighty-second year of his age.

Charles D. Hard, the oldest of the family, was educated in his native city. In 1864 he went by the way of the isthmus to San Francisco, and accepted a position in the store from which supplies were distributed to the soldiers stationed at forts near San Francisco. In that position he remained three years. In 1867 he came to Montana with Mr. Obannon, who received the appointment as Registrar of the first land office established in Montana. Mr. Hard at this time received the appointment of Deputy Collector of Internal Revenues for the Fifth district of Montana, served a year in that office, and was then appointed Deputy United States Marshal. His principal duties in the latter office were to suppress the illicit traffic in whisky, which was carried on by white men with the In- dians and others, and as can well be imagined he had an arduous task on his hands, his life frequently being in danger. In the discharge of his duties he made many trips all over the northern portion of the country, taking with him an armed posse and making arrests of desper- ate, lawless men. During the four years he filled that office he succeeded to some extent in putting a stop to their lawless traffic. He was also special agent for the Interior Department for four years, and during this period

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at least a little about a few of the men of whom he writes so much; I cannot help calling atten- tion to the fact that Mr. Bancroft has gone far, very far to try and point out the depravity of the brave old pioneers in these mountains. There was not nearly the crime that he tells about. For example, he gives a list to "show the con- dition of affairs in Idaho and on the roads there in these times,"-p. 451-2, vol. 26, History of the Pacific States. Whether considered comedy, or tragedy, geography or biography, history or romance, these books of Mr. Bancroft's are a

became widely and favorably known by all the best peo- ple of the State.

Mr. Hard was married October 28, 1874, to Miss Mae L. Fisk, a native of Rochester, New York. After his mar- riage he purchased 160 acres of land and took a home- stead claim to eighty acres more, this being the property where he now resides, the whole cost of it being $1,000. He built a little home on his land, and soon afterward made a trip East in order to procure thoroughbred and trotting horses. He brought back with him ten fine brood mares and two thoroughbred horses, and at once became a successful breeder. He had the honor of raising in Montana the first registered thoroughbred, "Peek-a-boo," with which he won the first Derby race in Montana. He continued raising horses for many years. On this subject he is considered an authority.

When the question of locating and building the Mon- tana University was brought up, Mr. Hard, with his usual enterprise and liberality, offered to donate forty acres of his land, and the offer was accepted. He has since erected a commodious residence, built of stone, and in it he and his family are surrounded with all the com- forts of life. Ilis family is composed of four children: Carl B., Leila H., George Gray and Bessie Chester. With the means of higher education so convenient for his chil- dren, Mr. Hard feels amply repaid for his liberality to the college.

Mr. Hard has always been a reliable member of the Republican party. In addition to the offices already mentioned, he served as Under Sheriff of Lewis and Clarke county for two years, and also two years as Mar- shal of Helena.

JESSE ALLEN DOUGHTY, one of Helena's enterprising business men, dates his birth in Ilartland, Maine, May 21, 1842. Brief record of his life is as follows:

Mr. Doughty's ancestors on the paternal side were Irish, while on the maternal side they were English. Both were early settlers of America, and were partici- pants in the wars and early history of this country, one of his ancestors serving as a Colonel in the Revolution, and grandfather James Doughty being a participant in the

remarkable mixture. Take this one case or two more and let us leave the subject. Frank Gal- lager was not killed by Berryman in Idaho or on the road there. He was killed near the Dalles, on his way to that place from Cafion City. His murderer was the first white man hanged at Canon City. It is a long way froin Idaho to the Dalles. Take this from page 656, same book: writing of early life in Montana he says:

' Public meetings were called usually Sun- day, when some citizens were elected president of the district, miner's judge, sheriff, coroner.

war of 1812. Philip Doughty, the father of our subject, was born in Maine, May 7, 1811, and married Mahetable Allen, also a native of that State. He had in early life been a Baptist, but later became a Methodist. A ship carpenter by occupation, and for a number of years a sea- faring man, he later settled down to the quiet life of a farmer. In 1855 he removed to Iowa, where he owned and improved a farm, and whence, in 1879, he removed to Reedsville, Washington county, Oregon, settled on a farm, and there spent the residue of his life. He died in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and his wife, after surviving him five years, also died in her seventy- seventh year. They had a family of eleven children, of whom ten are still living.

Jesse A. was the fourth born in this family. He spent the first thirteen years of his life in his native State, re- moved with his parents to Iowa, and there worked on the farm in summer and attended school in the winter until he was eighteen. Then, in the spring of 1860, he started for California, being hired to drive an ox team across the plains to Salt Lake, hanling goods to the miners. From Salt Lake he and his party continued on to Placerville, California, making this part of the journey with their own team. The trip from Iowa to Placerville consumed five months. He remained at Placerville during the winter, and the following spring purchased teams and engaged in freighting from Sacramento to Carson City. This business he continued successfully for five years. He then turned his attention to prospecting, and was one of the discoverers of gold at Reese river, and for some time was more or less interested in mines. In the mean- time, however, he continued his freighting, selling Inm- ber at $250 per 1,000 feet, and hay for $250 per ton.

As showing the enterprise of the people at that time, Mr. Doughty says that he hauled fourteen wagon loads of lumber and hardware for a man, unloaded his train at the site for the building at nine o'clock in the morn- ing, and upon going around there at nine o'clock that evening he found the large building up, the shelves and stock in, and seven clerks selling goods.

Mr. Doughty next went to Bridger's Pass, on the over

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These courts, without hesitation, granted divorces and the judges performed marriage ceremonies without question." ( !! ) Does Mr. Bancroft insist that the first generation of Montana is illegitimate? I have only to say iu answer to this part of his Montana history that the women had not arrived yet; and as a rule you can't very well have marriages, or divorces either, till you have some women around.

The Society of California Pioneers is com- posed of men who came to California prior to the first day of January, 1850, and their male descendants. The proceedings hereinafter re- cited have been taken, therefore, after due and

land stage line, where he spent a year, dealing in cattle and horses. It was then about the close of the war, and the Indians were very troublesome, stealing much of his stock. On this account he was obliged to leave. Theu he returned to his friends in northwestern Iowa, married and settled on a farm of 120 acres, and resided in that vicinity for twenty-nine years. But still desiring to re- turn to the mountain regions of the West, he sold out and selected Helena as the best and most promising city in which to locate. Accordingly, in 1888 he established himself in the grocery business on the corner of Main and Seventh streets, Helena, where he conducted a suc- cessful business for two years and a half. Then he dis- posed of the store, and with others invested in the Big Ox silver mine, near Marysville. After the company had ex- pended $100,000 in its development the stringency for money caused them for the present to cease work. About this time Mr. Doughty embarked in the furniture and hardware business on Helena avenue, near the Northern Pacific depot, where he now has one store, 20 x 70 feet, full of hardware, and three large store-rooms, all on the ground floor, devoted to furniture.

It was March 20, 1866, that he was married to Miss Ester Rogers, a native of Connecticut aud a daughter of Samnel Rogers, of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Doughty have had seven children, four of whom died in child- hood. The others are Helen, wife of Robert W. Neill, a business man of Heleua: Mabel, wife of Asbury Owens, a contractor and builder at Spirit Lake, Iowa; and Mary, who resides with her parents.

Mr. Doughty has been a Republican all his life, aud for a good portion of his time while residing at Spirit Lake, Iowa, he held various offices iu his township, in- cluding one term as Mayor of the city. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and is at present War- den of King Solomon Lodge, No. 9, of Helena. Ile is also Past Chancellor of the K. of P., and their represent- ative to the Grand Lodge, and for the past five terms he has been Master of the Exchequer. In the winter of

careful deliberation, by men who are personally familiar with the true facts of early California history, and who have been actuated by a sense of duty to themselves and to posterity in cor- recting certain gross misrepresentations in re- gard to the men and events of that early period. These misrepresentations have appeared from time to time in the books commonly known as " Bancroft's Histories," and have heretofore passed unchallenged and found common public acceptance as authority for reviewers, and others who have written upon the subject.

The time has at last arrived when, in the judgment of the now old men who yet compose the majority of members of this society, the gross mis-statements in regard to men and events which these books contain should be

1866 he became a member of the Methodist Church, and for the past twenty-seven years he has been a faithful and active worker. He was Superintendent of the Sab- bath school for twelve consecutive years, and has been an official member of the church almost all the time. Immediately upon his arrival in Heleua he presented his letter to the church and soon after was elected one of the Trustees and a member of the building committee, and rendered material and efficient aid in the building of the fine St. Paul's Church edifice, the best in the city. He is now Treasurer of the church, is heart and soul in the work, and is considered one of the most useful pillars. As a business man he is obliging and enterprising, and is highly respected in the community in which he lives.

GEORGE BOOKER, a Montana pioneer of 1864, and one of Helena's best kuown citizens, is a native of St. Louis, _ Missouri, boru February 7, 1840. He is of German and French extraction, His parents, Charles and Mary Booker, are residents of Illinois, and in his early life his father was a merchant tailor.

When George Booker was thirteen years of age he left home to do for himself, and for some time clerked and did whatever else he could find to do. In 1859 he went to Denver, Colorado, and mined there in the placer mines and also learned the trade of bricklayer, at which trade he worked until he came with a mule team to Virginia City, iu 1864. After this he was engaged in freighting betweeu Virginia City and Fort Beuton, a distance of 210 miles, freighting being then a profitable employment. He received from 25 to 30 cents per pound for carrying freight, and usually handled about 2,500 pounds each trip he made with his four-mule team. This business he continued about two years. He came to Helena in 1866, his first employment here being as clerk for P. A. Ray. Then he turned his attention to the auction and com- mission business, in which he has ever since been en- gaged. He has sold at auction all kinds of properties, lands and pools, and has done more of that kind of busi- ness than any other man in the State of Montana, and is

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refuted, by the publication of the testimony of living witnesses, so that that testimony may go upon record and be perpetuated, and the real facts and truth of history be vindicated.

In all its proceedings upon the question this society has vainly sought to find a just motive on the part of the so- called "Historian " Ban- eroft for the astonishing mis-statements which he has given in his works. No exense, no cir- cumstance of palliation has so far been offered by him in the matter. This society can do no more, therefore, than to refer the whole subject to the deliberative judgment of a discriminating public, in the belief that the common verdict of that publie as well as that of posterity will be that such so-called "history " as that herein considered will forever be held to be unworthy of credence, and will deserve and find no place in the publie or private libraries of the world.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 26

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