An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 35

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 35

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

And oh, the rats, mice, vermin of all con- ceivable sorts in the mines! This spring- 1863-two of my former schoolmates who had been with me in Idaho, John Thompson and Jeff Blevins, set ont from Eugene, Oregon,

added to his original purchase until he now owns 800 acres, on which, in 1888, he erected a beautiful and com- modious residence.

Mr. Summers was married January 6, 1878, to Miss Judie Chaffin, a daughter of Elijah Chaffin. She was born near Fort Scott, Kansas, and came with her parents to Montana in 1864. To this union have been born six children-Mary M. (deceased at the age of three years), Viola Inez, Maggie F., Nettie Edith, Frederick and Her- bert L. Mr. Summers has been a stanch, lifelong Repub- lican, and while at Corvallis he received the appointment of Postmaster from President Arthur, which position he held three years, or until his removal from the town. Ile is a Master Mason and a strong temperance man.

HON. ROBERT T. WING, a Montana pioneer of 1863 and one of Dillon's most prominent business men, is of old English ancestry. His forefathers were early settlers of New England, and for many generations residents of the State of Massachusetts, where his father, George Wing, was born, in 1797, and where he was married to Miss De- borah Russell, of his own town. They had a family of five children. His death occurred in the fifty-sixth year of his age. He had been a ship-owner and a whaler, and in religion was a Quaker. His wife survived him and lived to be eighty years of age.

Robert T. was the youngest of the family. He was born in Yarmouth, October 19, 1837, was educated in the public schools of New Bedford, and when fifteen years of age began his business career as a clerk in a dry-goods and clothing store. Then he learned the heating and plumbing business in New York city, and from there in the spring of 1860 crossed the plains to Pike's Peak, where he prospected for a time, after which he pur- chased an interest in a claim in California Gulch. IIe mined for a year in California Gulch, and during that time took out considerable gold. We next find him at Buckskin Jo Gulch, near Leadville, where he continued to mine until 1833, when he came with mule teams to

with a wagon load of cats. Their cage was cap- sized in the Tembi pass at great loss of cats; and packers and teamsters passing that way for a long time told wild stories of weird Indian cries at night in that region; but a woman went ont one day with her children and quite a string of cats followed her home, and the strange weird screams were heard no more. Thompson and Blevins told me they sold their cats as fast as they could hand them out, at from $10 to $75 each, according to sex, color, condition and for- mer degree of servitude .- From the Journal of my Brother, John D. Miller.

And didn't the man wash his hands before he mixed the dough? Don't be inquisitive. Miners nearly all had long beards, and they had to wash their faces to get the bread-crumbs

Alder Gulch. There he was successfully engaged in mining for two years. Nearly all the excitement over the road agents occurred while he was there. He joined the Vigilantes and did his share toward ridding the Ter- ritory of the nefarions characters who had murdered and robbed the miners. During those two years eight of the desperadoes were hung. In 1865 he went to the Black. foot country, and was among the first to arrive there. He secured a claim and mined one season. His claim in Virginia City he sold for $1,000, and soon after the party to whom he sold it took out $1,700. From the Blackfoot country he returned to his home in the East, where he spent the winter. The following year he came back to Montana and engaged in silver mining at Argenta, in Beaver Head county, and spent considerable money in improvements and prospecting up to the fall of 1880. In 1881 he was elected on the Republican ticket to fill the office of Probate Judge, and served acceptably two years. Following that term he was elected Treasurer of the county, of which office he was the incumbent four years. In 1889 he was elected a member of the first State Legis- lature, of which he was an active and efficient member, serving on a number of important committees.

In 1888 Mr. Wing had purchased an interest in Mr. George W. Dart's hardware business. They organized a stock company with $20,000 capital, have since continued the business, and are to-day the leading hardware mer- chants of Dillon, doing a large and remunerative bnsi- ness. Their trade extends throughout their own and Madison and Jefferson counties, and also into the State of Idaho. Mr. George W. Dart was the founder of this establishment, and had by a most honorable course in business built up a large trade, which is now handled by the new firm. These gentlemen own a section of land, on which they raise large crops of hay and oats. They were among the organizers and stockholders in the Bea- ver Head Canal Company, which company has brought water from the Beaver Head river and irrigated eight

180

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

and the bacon-grease and the black tea out of their beards; and so you see they nearly all washed their faces, and of course their hands, too, when through with their meal.

Supper through with, one by one they pushed back, rose up-and how tall they were, how long their legs, arms, bodies-and drew a long breath. The silence was broken by a sly joke or two as each man slowly dug down into his pocket and dng up a piece of black "nigger heel." Watch him! The greasy sheath knife is wiped on the boot-leg or the rear flank of the "duck" breeches, the tobacco is whittled off slowly, the knife restored to its place, and then

sections of land. This enterprise cost $17,000. In all the enterprises intended to advance the welfare of the city they have taken an active part, and for their enterprise, their public spirit and their generosity they are justly ranked with the best of Dillon's citizens.

Mr. Wing is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is Junior Warden of the lodge at Dillon. He is also Secre- tary of the Pioneer Society of Beaver Head county, which he helped to organize.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BUTTE CITY, Montana, is one of the most substantial financial institutions of the State.

This bank was opened for business December 21, 1881, by A. J. Davis, Sr., J. A. Talbott and S. T. Hanser, with a capital stock of $100,000, and with officers as follows: A. J. Davis, Sr., president; S. T. Hanser, vice president; and Charles L. Dahler, cashier. In 1882 Joseph A. Hyde became cashier. A. J. Davis, Sr., purchased Mr. Hauser's interest in the bank in 1884, and before his death, which occurred March 11, 1890, he presented his bank stock to his nephew, A. J. Davis, Jr., who had for some time been connected with the institution. Thus the principal part of the bank stock passed into the hands of the younger Davis, who became cashier and who is still acting in that capacity. The present officers of the bank are: Judge Knowles, president; James A. Talbott, vice president; and A. J. Davis, cashier. From the time the senior Mr. Davis acquired a controlling interest in this institution up to the present it has met with continued and increasing prosperity. It sells exchange on other banks in all parts of the world and does a general banking business. Fur- ther mention of the president and other officers will be found elsewhere in this work.

A. J. DAVIS, cashier and principal stockholder of the First National Bank of Butte City, Montana, dates his birth in Rockford, Illinois, December 3, 1863.

Ile is a son of John A. and Theah J. (Boyd) Davis. His father was for many years engaged in selling goods in

slowly the crumbling tobacco is ground to dust in the heels of the palins and carefully fingered into the bowl of the pipe, pressed hard in place with the thumb, a coal of fire added and-puff, puff, puff! What would the gold miner here, aye, anywhere, from San Diego to Cariboo, have done without his pipe?

One by one they saunter ont and down to the store. Nail kegs, cracker boxes, even the conn- ter, are all crowded like a chicken roost, and there is no more silence. Gossip? No: gold! It seems as if it might be no later than the sixth day in this new world, and the woman is not yet made.

Chicago and other places, their home being in Chicago. He died in 1893. His widow is still living and a resident of that city, she being now sixty-one years of age. The sub- ject of this sketch, Andrew Jackson Davis, was their fourth son, their family being composed of seven sons and one daughter, all of whom are living except one son and the danghter.

Mr. Davis in very early life showed a disposition to make something and to take care of himself. While attending the public schools of Chicago he spent his mornings and evenings in work in stores and later in the Times office, and in this way paid his own way. His uncle, A. J. Da- vis, who had named the child after himself, and who had always taken an interest in him, admired his pluck and kindly offered to defray his expenses through business- college. The offer was thankfully accepted and young Davis entered upon a course in the evening session of Bryant and Stratton's Business College, Chicago, and made the best of his opportunities. In 1882, after having completed his course in this college, he came to Bntte City, Montana. At that time he was nineteen years of age. Here his uncle gave him a position as clerk and collector in the First National Bank of Butte, and in this position he performed his duty with the strictest fidelity and proved himself worthy of promotion. In 1884 when the senior Mr. Davis obtained entire control of the bank the nephew was promoted to assistant cashier, and in 1887 he was made cashier, which office he still retains. A short before his uncle died the latter gave to our subject ninety-five percent. of his $100,000 bank stock, and thus the cashier became the principal stockholder of the bank.

From the above it will be seen that Mr. Davis has been identified with the banking interests of Butte City ever since he arrived here. Ilis gentlemanly bearing, his strict attention to business and his honorable and upright dealings not only gained for him the love and handsome gift from his uncle, but they have also proved to his busi- ness associates and to all who know him that he is in

7Harles

181

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

Such was the genial, plain, simple and un- romantic miner, habits and heart. The unreal miner, the miner of romanee, of story books, was quite another creature; and he had quite another place to spend the evening-the saloon. But the one which I have been in duty bound to describe here is the only real one. I beg you to bear this truth in mind from title page to calophon. Rarely indeed did a real miner haunt the saloon or lower resorts that follow in his wake. True, he sometimes saw these places, knew them as an intelligent man should know his environment; he was strong enough in his own sense of integrity not to fear them, but he

every way worthy of all that his uncle bestowed npon him, Under his management the bank continues to do a large business, holding rank with the leading financial institu- tions of the State.

Mr. Davis was married in October, 1890, to Miss Helen M. Gaylord, a native of Waterbury, Connecticut, and a danghter of J. E. Gaylord, now a resident of Butte City and manager of the Parrot Silver and Mining property. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children, Andrew Jackson and Grace Theah. Mrs. Davis is a member and commnni- cant of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat and fraternally he is a Master Mason. They are among the most highly esteemed people of the city and occupy one of its delightful homes.

THOMAS H. CARTER, of Helena, was born in Scioto county, Ohio, October 30, 1854. He received a common- school education in Illinois. His early life was spent on a farm. Ile engaged in railroad work later, and from that went to school teaching. While engaged in that profession he studied law, and was admitted to the bar. Ile had located in Burlington, Iowa, bnt, not finding that field of opportunity which his energy demanded, he moved westward and came to Helena in 1882. Upon his arrival in Helena he immediately entered upon the practice of the law. IJe became associated with John B. Clayberg, and this partnership was continued for some years, the firm of Carter & Clayberg becoming one of the most successful legal firms in the State.

In 1888 Mr. Carter was selected by the Republican convention of Montana as its standard-bearer in the Con- gressional campaign. Montana was then a Territory. It had elected a Republican delegate to Congress but once in its history, in 1871. Hon. W. A. Clark, of Butte City was Mr. Carter's opponent in this contest, one of the most memorable in the history of the politics of the State. Mr. Carter was elected by a majority of 5,126 votes over his opponent. In the following year Montana was admitted into the Union, and the office of Territorial

did not eourt them-had little or no business there. And so let it be repeated and remein- bered that the real miner of Montana was, as a rule, not to be found anywhere, day or night, save in the path of duty.

As a fair sample of the early men of Mon- tana, their soberness, culture, capacity to attend to their own business, and above all their en- durance and dauntless courage, I quote here the journal of James Stuart, one of the discoverers of gold in Montana, and the first Sheriff. The manuscript is retained as one of the most sacred things in the archives of the Historical Society of Montana, and is published at length in the

delegate expired with the birth of the new State. Mr. C'arter was again called to lead his party, this time as a candidate for full Congressional honors. Ile was again elected, defeating Hon. Martin Maginnis, the Democratic candidate, by 1,648 votes. He was the last delegate of the Territory and the first Representative of the State of Mon- tana in the national Honse of Representatives.

Mr. Carter gained a national reputation in the Fifty- first Congress by his indefatigable work upon the floor of the House, and by those qualities of leadership which became manifest from the moment he entered the sphere of political action. His tireless efforts, and able appeals to the committees of the House in behalf of the various interests of his State, soon gave him a foremost place among the men who commanded the respect and confi- dence of that body. His executive ability was so clearly recognized that he was chosen secretary of the Republi- can Congressional committee during the campaign of 1890.

While engaged in his duties as secretary of this com- mittee, the Republican party of Montana assembled in convention at Bntte City, and for the third time nominated Mr. Carter as their candidate for Congress. This was done against his advice and contrary to his wishes; but he promptly suspended his work in Washington and re- turned to his distriet to assume for the third time in two years the brunt of political conflict. The Democratic party had in the meantime nominated Hon. W. W. Dixon, of Butte City as Mr. Carter's opponent, and after an ex- citing contest Mr. Carter was defeated by a close majority.

Upon the expiration of his term in Congress, in the spring of 1891, Mr. Carter was appointed, by President Harrison, Commissioner of the General Land Office at Washington. His appointment was received with uni- versal satisfaction throughout the West. The duties of the Commissioner of the General Land Office are clearly allied with the interests of the people of the West, and

182

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

first volume issued by that most laudable asso- ciation. The following is from his record of the Yellowstone expedition, which he com- manded early in 1863:

"Thursday, April 9, 1863 .- Our party started from Bannack City for the Fifteen-mile creek (now known as Rattlesnake creek), in squads of two and three. As soon as a man got ready he started for camp on said creek. I arrived there at 10 p. M., and found only nine men all told. We concluded to remain in camp to-morrow, so that we could get all the party together; then we will organize and start in good order. At the time I left town the inhabitants were nearly

all the worse for their experiments with old Jim Gammell's minie-rifle whisky. Did not have either horse or night guard, for there are no In- dians in this vicinity now. Traveled fifteen miles.

"10th .- Organized our company in the fore- noon while waiting for some of the men to find their horses. The form of organization adopted was as follows: ' Having determined to explore a portion of the country drained by the " Yel- lowstone," for the purpose of discovering gold mines and securing town sites, and believing this object could be better accomplished by forming ourselves into a regularly organized

its affairs are best administered by an official who is in touch with them-who knows their needs and necessities, and who can, by a practical knowledge of their condition, apply the law with enlightened exactness in whatever attitude their concerns approach judicial determination. Mr. Carter fulfilled these personal requirements admira- bly, evoking the commendation of friend and foe alike, His decisions were eminently wise, just and liberal, He left the office with a record which added fresh laurels to his fast-ripening fame as a public man.

Mr. Carter took a prominent position in the Republican national convention of 1892 as manager of the forces fa- vorable to the renomination of General Harrison, whose confidence, in a large degree, he possessed. Shortly after- ward he was elected chairman of the Republican national committee, which position he now holds. He resigned the Commissionership of the General Land Office for the purpose of devoting his time to the conduct of the na- tional campaign of 1892.

After the election in November, 1892, he returned to Montana and resnmed the practice of law. In addition to his law practice, he is interested in mining, real estate and banking operations.

Mr. Carter's rise as a lawyer and as a public character of prominence has been phenomenal. IIe was achieving marked success in his profession when called to the field of politics in 1888. From that time onward, his partici- pation in State and national affairs has developed in him a high order of statecraft, and gained for him a reputa- tion as a writer, orator, and leader of party organization and sentiment such as is rarely given to men of such brief prominence in public affairs. He is fertile in expe- dient, and meets every occasion with a full measure of equality. His originality, condensation, and force of ex- pression, his active, aggressive, and sanguine tempera- ment: his powers of physical endurance; his tact, sagacity and judgment; and his cordial and unaffected intercourse with men, are the instrumental factors of his success in

public life. As a lawyer Mr. Carter is in the forefront of his profession.

Mr. Carter married in 1886, Miss Nellie L. Galen. They have two children, both boys.

J. FRED LOEBER, the pioneer butcher and meat-market man of Butte City, is a native of Germany, born in 1840. His father was a farmer and dealer in horses.

Mr. Loeber was brought up and educated in his native land and learned his trade there. In his twenty-second year he came to America, first stopping at Frankfort, Nebraska, and forming a partnership there; but the crops were destroyed by the grasshoppers and he removed to Sioux City, Iowa, and obtained employment in the War Eagle House. April 27, 1865, he enlisted in the Omaha Volunteers, under Col. James Sawyer, and served on the plains keeping the Indians straight and making a road across the country from Sioux City, Iowa, to Virginia City, Montana. On arriving at the latter place his com- pany was disbanded, and he went to the Blackfoot country and engaged in driving stage to Deer Lodge and return for about seven months. Next he obtained a posi- tion in a meat-market at Blackfoot, which he filled for eighteen months. Then, going to Deer Lodge, he was employed in driving cattle from Deer Lodge valley to Deer Lodge, Blackfoot, Pioneer and Helena. At Pioneer, in the spring of 1869, he engaged in butchering, in part- nership with Conrad Kohrs, and continued in this busi- ness four years. Next he engaged in placer mining at Yam Hill, and then in quartz mining at the Bismarck hill, sixteen miles from Helena, for three years, but with- out success, and left there "broke."

Coming then to Bntte City, he engaged in his trade of butchering and in dealing in live stock. Prosperity came to him, and he continued in the business until 1882, at which time he retired.

In 1876 he built the Butte meat-market, in 1877 the California brewery, and since then the Loeber block on East Granite street, and for himself a good residence.

189

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

company, we hereby appoint James Stuart cap- tain, agreeing upon our word of honor to obey all orders given or issned by him or any sub- ordinate officer appointed by him. In case of any member refusing to obey an order or orders from said captain, he shall be forcibly expelled from our camp. It is further understood and agreed, that we all do our equal portion of work, the captain being umpire in all cases, sharing equally the benefits of said labor both as to the discovery of gold and seenring town sites. (Signed) James Stuart, Cyrus D. Watkins, John Vanderbilt, James N. York, Richard Mc- Cafferty, James Hauxhurst, Drewyer Under-

He has also two silver and copper mines in the Fourth- of-July district, -- the Four Johns and the King Solomon. Since 1882 he has been retired from active business, liv- ing comfortably on his income from rents and interest.

In 1872 he was first initiated into the mysteries of Free- masonry, in Deer Lodge, and was raised to higher degrees in Butte City; he is a Knight Templar and initiated into the Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He has held the office of Junior Warden in the Blue Lodge and that of King in the Chapter. In 1887 he became a member of the Terri- torial Militia, and was Captain of Company F. When the regiment was organized he was elected its Quartermaster, in which office he has served up to the present time. He has also been president of the Liederkranz, a German singing society in Butte, and in 1886 he organized an expedition for them to the National Park. About thirty individuals comprised the expedition, which was under his direct management and supervision; they were absent about five weeks, enjoying a good time. Dr. W. II. Dud- ley accompanied the expedition as its physician, and after their return he edited and Mr. Loeber published, in book form, an account of their trip. It is entitled "The National Park, from the Hurricane Deek of a Cayuse," is dedi- cated to the members of the Liederkranz and is a very interesting book. The publication of this little book is one of the evidences of the liberal and publie spirit possessed by Mr. Loeber.

All his life Mr. Loeber has been a Republican. IIe has served in the Common Council two years. He is a man of liberal impulses and is generous to a fault, and is well known to most of the pioneers of Montana.

June 18, 1882, he married Elizabeth Otto.

ALEXANDER METZEL, a pioneer of 1863 to Montana, and now owning one of the finest stock ranches in the State at Puller Springs, Madison county, is a native of York, Pennsylvania; born on the 14th of January, . 1835, of German ancestry on his father's side and of English on his mother's. ITis father, Thomas A. Metzel,

wood, Samnel T. Hanser, Henry A. Bell, Will- iam Roach, A. Sterne Blake, George H. Smith, Henry T. Geery, Ephraim Bostwick.' The fif- teenth man, George Ives, did not sign the agreement, because he did not overtake the party until next day, when it seems to have been forgotten. In the afternoon I had to go to Burr's ranch, on Big Hole river, after my roan horse. The rest of the party will wait until morning, to give the rear guard a chance to overtake ns.

"11th .- I stayed at Burr's last night. Blake also came there about dark. This morning he and I left Burr's and met the train about noon.

also a native of Pennsylvania, married Miss Hannah Mathews, and they continued to reside in York until their death. They owned and conducted the Metzel House there for many years. He died in 1858 in the sixty-sec- ond year of his age, and she lived to be eighty years old, departing this life in 1893. Mr. Metzel was married twice; by his first wife he had six children and by the second, eight. Only five of the family now survive.

Alexander, a member of the second family, was reared at his home in York until 1857, attending the common school and afterward learning the butcher's trade. In 1857, the year before his father died, he went to Iowa City, Iowa, and was employed there at $15 a month until 1860, and then crossed the plains to Pike's Peak. He carried on the butcher's business at Denver for several months, returned to Iowa City and proceeded on to Roek Island, where he obtained work as trimmer in a paeking house. Returning to Iowa City again, he purchased teams and took the family of his employer, who was then at Denver, across the plains to that city in the spring of 1861, and was employed there until the following winter.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 35

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