An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 39

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 39

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In 1862 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Annie Davis, and they had two children,- C. W. and An- nie. The wife and mother died in 1867, when the youngest child was only four months old. The son now owns two ranches near his father, in Flathead valley.

Mr. Berry has been a life-long Democrat. In his social relations he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, hav- ing been made a Master Mason on Scott river, in Califor- nio, in 1857.

IIe has traversed the entire West many times when it was an unsettled wilderness, inhabited by savages and wild beasts, and the change that has since come to this country is truly marvelous. In 1864 he camped where the city of Missoula now stands, but at that time the

of the country has entirely changed in today's travel. Very little gravel or boulders; clay land with bed-rock, very shallow; it is a species of sand-stone, with small veins of clear white quartz running through it in places. The gen- eral face of the country resembles the Green river region in eastern Utah, only the moun- tains are higher, and the plains not so wide, with broken clay hills and occasionally a crown butte. There is a range of snowy mountains south of us, and the craggy outline of the divide west, and a few points east of north is an isolated snowy mountain; in an eastern direc- tion there are no mountains to be seen. I

nearest inhabitant was four miles distant. In 1882 he was both Sheriff and Assessor of the county, which then con- tained an area of 200 x 300 miles, and his jurisdiction ex- tended over that great area of thinly settled country.

IULUS GREENLEAF DENNY, Prosecuting Attorney of Missonla county, Montana, was born at Bethel, Polk county, Oregon, February 19, 1859.

His parents, Aaron and Almira (King) Denny, were married, April 10, 1849, and soon after their marriage they made the long and tedious journey across the plains with ox teams, to Oregon. Upon their arrival there, they first took claim to a half section of land in Multnomah county, near where the city of Portland now is, and sub- sequently they removed to Polk county and settled near Bethel. In 1877 they went to Benton county, that State, where Mr. Denny built a sawmill and several schooners, and where he was largely interested in lumbering. Some time ago he went back to Polk county, and now resides at his old home near Bethel, being ranked with the re- spected pioneers of Oregon. His wife died July 13, 1892, in the sixty-fourth year of her age. She was a most devoted wife and loving mother, and had stood all the dangers and privations of pioneer life most heroically. While on their way across the plains, she stood guard with a Kentucky rifle to keep off the Indians while her busband took needed sleep. In every sense of the term she was a noble and heroic woman. She was born iu Indiana, in 1828, daughter of John King, of Tennessee. One of her brothers, John B. King, was a prominent law- yer, and was the author of several treatises on Federal law. Mr. and Mrs. Denny were the parents of seven sons, six of whom they reared to manhood, and five of this num- ber are still living.

Iulus Greenleaf was the fifth in the family. He was reared on his father's farm, and his early education was received in the schools of Bethel. In 1877 he applied for a cadetship at West Point, and secured the appoint- ment, but circumstances prevented his acceptance, and the

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killed two buck antelope in the evening, and then went up on a butte and saw the Yellow- stone river, distant about three miles. We have been traveling parallel to it all day. We saw a large grizzly bear and chased him into a patch of brush not over one hundred yards in diameter, which we surrounded and tried to drive him out, but could not do it, and none of us were foolhardy enough to go into the brush after him. Traveled fifteen miles.

" 25th .- Followed down the creek we camped on five miles to the Yellowstone; then down the north bank of same to camp on a small ereek coming from the northwest. Occasional bluffs of sandstone with sharp grit; low, rolling hills on both sides of the river; they are smooth on the south side and rocky on the north. No indications of gold; prospected in several places, but could not raise the color. Saw two bands of elk, some antelope, and I killed a white-tailed deer. Saw many prairie-dog towns to-day for the first time on the trip. Such great big fat "critters' running all over town barking bloody-murder, and their companions, little diminutive owls, sitting on the largest houses and viewing the hubbub with looks of the greatest gravity and wisdom. It made me feel

following year he was sent to the State University, where be remained one year. He then read law for one year in the office of Daily & Brother, alter which he entered the law department of the Willamette University, at Salem, Oregon, where he graduated at the head of his class, and with distinguished honor, in 1888. On the 12th of Sep- tember of that same year he was admitted to practice. He then came to Montana. He first stopped at Grantsvale and from there came to Missoula, arriving at the latter place late in the year 1888. Here he at once entered upon the practice of his profession, and in it he has since met with eminent success. The year following his location here he was the nominee of the Democratic party for Prosecuting Attorney, but was defeated by 200 votes, the successful Republican candidate being F. C. Webster. At the next election, however, being again the nominee for Prosecuting Attorney, he ran far ahead of his ticket and was elected by a majority of 600, and in this office he is now rendering efficient service

Soon after coming to

good to see them enjoying the excitement of strangers going through town. Blake and Bell caught some fine trout in the river this after- noon. I had always heard that there were no trout in the Yellowstone, but it is a mistake, for they are genuine trout. Saw where an old buffalo bull had been last night during the rain. Passed a small creek coming in on the south side from the southwest. While on guard, we often hear the meadow larks singing at all hours of the night. To-day we saw plenty of states crows and prairie chickens. The general course of the river is to the east. There are but few groves of cottonwood along it, as far as we have seen, and usually there are only a few scatter- ing trees along its course. The low hills on the south side extend from ten to thirty miles back to the base of a snowy mountain range, the general direction of which is south of east and north of west. In a north- ern and eastern direction there is not a snowy mountain in sight. Traveled fourteen miles.

"26th .- Soon left the river to go around a cluster of black, rocky bluffs extending four miles along the river; in six or seven miles crossed Rivers Across, so called by Captain Clarke from two streams which enter the river

Missoula he became a member of the law firm of Ste- phens, Matts & Denny, his partners being Judge W. J. Stephens and Hon. Elmer Matts. He continued a mem- ber of this firm for several years, doing a successful busi- Dess being retained on nearly all the criminal cases in the county, mostly on the side of the defense, but now as the public prosecutor. He has acquired a well-earned reputation as a criminal lawyer. Indeed, that is his forte. In 1893 he formed a partnership with Joseph M. Dixon, and the firm is now Denny & Dixon.

Mr. Denny was married, February 12, 1892, to Miss Beatrice T Reynolds, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of John Reynolds. They have one child, Robert M.

Since his location here, Mr. Denny has become thor- oughly identified with Missoula and Missoula county. He owns the residence in which he and his family live, and also has mining and other interests here. An effect- ive stump speaker and an enthusiastic campaign worker, Mr. Denny has rendered valued service to his party.

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exactly opposite to each other. Thence followed down the north bank to camp at Otter creek, erossing one small creek on the way. Opposite camp Bear river comes in, and two miles above camp, on the south side, comes in a small creek with plenty of cottonwood timber on it. The largest groves of timber are on the small creeks, where they join the river. There is some tim- ber on the high mountains, but from here it seems to be scrubby. We had some rain last night, and several hard squalls of rain and hail while traveling to-day. The character of the soil and rock is the same as yesterday, only there are more prickly pears; very miry, bad

ROBERT S. HALE .- Among the successful financiers of the State of Montana Mr. R. S. Hale, of Helena, is prob- ably oue of the most widely known factors, in and about that city, of all of her promoters. He is all native of Kentucky.

His father, Thomas Hale, a merchant of that State, moved to Liberty, Missouri, while young Hale was an in- fant. Here Robert grew up, attending the public school, and entered the William Jewell College, of Liberty. After leaving that institution he went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he engaged in the drug business with his brother, Thomas B. Hale, for a number of years, later moving to St. Louis, same State. In that city he joined an expedition to Montana, under the guidance of Captain Joseph Knight, and reached Virginia City in 1864. Here he engaged in the drug business, in a building he pur- chased. Alder Gulch was at this time in its palmiest days, and its business thrived with the prosperity of the camp.

In 1865 he came to Helena and started a branch drug- store, which he has continued to conduct ever since. In the meantime he became interested in the placer mines in the new camp at Heleua. In 1866 he bought out his partner, with whom he had been associated since 1864, and continued the business himself, building up an ex- tensive and lucrative trade at both stores. The oue at IIelena has been in operation ever since its establish- ment, and is now one of the leading institutions of the city.

In 1869 the Park Ditch Company was organized by S. T. Ilauser, A. M. Holter, Dan Flourree, R. S. Hale, T. II. Ray, A. M. Woolfolk and others. Their ditch is thirty-five miles long, including branches, running from Park lake to Ilelena. Park lake is a natural body of water, covering sixty acres of ground; is from twenty to forty-five feet deep: located some twenty miles or more west of Helena, and five from the main range of the Rocky mountains: and in the event of the supply now

traveling. Saw many elk and a few antelope; fresh buffalo signs, but no buffalo. Splendid feed for our horses, and the poor things need it badly enough. Saw plenty of grama grass since yesterday morning. We have seen many large buffalo wolves for the past two days; they serenade us every night. If ever I can get back to where I can get some good water to drink, I will be happy. All the water in this country reminds me of puddles in a brick-yard; it not only looks bad, but also has a nauseating taste; yet it seems to be healthy enough, for all of the party are in excellent health. I suppose a person would soon become accustomed to it,

being used for the city of Helena becoming inadequate to the demands of the people, this source will probably furnish an unlimited supply of pure water for them. The various partners in this enterprise were bought out by A. M. Woolfolk and subsequently the interest was ac- quired by Mr. Hale, who has since used the water for mining purposes. This water supplies all the mining facilities in Grizzly Gulch and Dry Gulch and in the Oro Fino Gulch, lying directly adjacent to the city of Helena.

In addition to his drug business, Mr. Hale has a prac- tical interest in placer-mining. He owns all the ground of any value for placer-mining purposes from the city limits of Helena to the head of Grizzly Gulch, some eight miles; and besides this he has three miles of mining ground in Dry Gulch and one and a half miles of the Oro Fino Gulch. This ground, which was very rich in early days, has been worked in spots in a crude way, but the larger portion of the gold still remains in the ground. Mr. Hale is using California Giant and a large hed-rock flume to work this ground, washing the gulches clean from rimrock to rimrock through this flume, and with his uulimited supply of water can dictate the values of all the placer grounds lying below him.

Besides his placer-mining interests, Mr. Hale is largely interested in various quartz mines throughout the State. Ile is president and a large stockholder of the Iron Mountain Mining Company, whose interests are in Mis- soula county; and he has numerous interests in other mines and prospects in various parts of the State. Mr. Hale has been an active operator in this city's realty. Ile has several brick blocks, including the Capital block on Main street and other valuable Main street properties, besides numerous residences and unimproved properties in different parts of the city. Mr. Hale is one of the most successful business men of the State, and is recognized as one of its solid financiers. Ile has money invested in many of the leading institutions, and is still actively en-

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so that good, clear, cold water would not taste right. The ground is almost covered with young grasshoppers. We can neither cook nor eat without having the grub seasoned with them. If they all live to become full-grown, they will devonr all the grass, and our horses will have hard times as we return. One kind of the cottonwoods are beginning to leaf out, and so are the cherry and gooseberry bushes. Traveled eighteen miles.

" 27th .- We had a hard shower of rain last night, after we had camped, but before we got supper; it then cleared off, and we have had none sinee, although several storms have passed

gaged in his mining operations and in attending to the various enterprises with which he has become asso- ciated.

FRANK W. WEBSTER, the pioneer grocery merchant of Great Falls, and one of her representative business men, is a native of White Water, Wisconsin, born October 21, 1850.

The Websters were among the early settlers of the State of New York, and great-grandfather, Samuel H. Webster, served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Webster's father, Thomas Webster, was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1824. He removed to Michigan in 1810, and was married there to Miss Anna Mandlin, a native of southern Indiana, by whom he had two children. His wife died in 1885. After her death, he crossed the State line into Indiana, where he has a farm and where he resides with his son, retired from active life.

Mr Frank W. Webster was educated in the public schools of Indiana, and remained with his parents until he attained his majority. In 1871 he became a clerk in a grocery store, and later was employed as traveling agent for a wholesale grocery house of Akron, Ohio. In 1881 he engaged in the grocery business in Jamestown, Dakota, in partnership with Mr. Orrin Churchill, which business they still continue, Mr. Churchill having it in charge. In 1887 Mr Webster came to Great Falls and opened a gro- cery establishment here. The firm keep a well-selected stock of goods, do a large and successful business, and have acquired the confidence and good will of the citi- zens.

Since coming to Great Falls, Mr. Webster has been thoroughly identified with its affairs and history, and has done minch to promote its interests. He built the com. modious residence which he and his family occupy. He is also interested somewhat in mines at Neihart, this State, and the firm of which he is a member has large tracts of wheat land in Dakota.

Mr. Webster was married, January 1, 1878, to Miss Ella 13

within a few miles of us while traveling to-day. The surface of the country has entirely changed again in to-day's travel. The clay still remains, but there is a different kind of sandstone, and there is more gravel on the hills. On both sides of the river the low hills are now thinly covered with yellow pine and cedar; there is also more cottonwood along the river and creeks. There are but little bottoms along the river, the low hills generally coming down to it. Two creeks came in on the south side to-day; one of them, I think, is dry; and we also passed tivo dry ones on the north side. Saw a small band of big horn or mountain sheep,

M. Pike, a native of Niles, Michigan, and daughter of Henry Pike of that State. They have one son, Henry, fifteen years of age.

Mr. Webster's political views are in harmony with the principles advocated by the Republican party. He has never aspired to office, and the only official position he has ever held has been that of school trustee. Ile and his wife are charter members of the Episcopal Church at Great Falls, and are active and efficient in sustaining it, Mr. Webster being one of its Wardens.

BENJAMIN F. STRANGE, a prominent farmer of the Bit- ter Root valley, was boru in Garrard county, Kentucky. His ancesters were among the early settlers of Virginia. The maternal grandfather, Jefferson Roberts, was a Cap- tain in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war, and rendered his country much valuable service. Jacob Strange, father of our subject, was born in Keutucky. By his first marriage he had four children. Ile was after- ward married in his native State to Miss Catherine Rob- erts, a native of Kentucky, and they subsequently moved to Kansas. Mr. Strange died in Brown county, that State, in 1856, at the age of sixty years, leaving a wife and five children, three sons and two daughters. During the following year the eldest son broke his back at a barn raising. In 1860 a severe drouth caused the crops to be a complete failure and the settlers became destitute of food. Mr. Strange and his brother William were obliged to go sixty miles with oxen to the supply station, provisions having been donated by the more fortunate settlers .of Minnesota and other States. The journey was made through a destitute country and they received only 150 pounds of graham flour. They afterward made a trip to Missouri, receiving 1,000 pounds of middlings. While re- turning home they became snowbound two weeks, and their oxen not being able to draw the load, they un- coupled the wagon, putting a part of the supplies on the front wheels, and leaving the remainder. After waiting for the thaw they found the rivers very much swollen,

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for the first time on the trip; also a few ante- lope, and plenty of wolves, prairie dogs, and prickly pears. After we camped, I went back into the hills, about a mile, to look for a buffalo, but, in place of them, I found fresh tracks of twelve horses going up the river. I suppose it is a war-party of natives, and, if so, I expect they will visit us to-night in search of our horses. There are plenty of geese and ducks along the river. Several of our horses seem about to give out, and, among them, ' Parkie,' Bell's mare. Saw grape-vines here for the first time since I left California. Camped in a small bottom near the river, under a steep bluff. Traveled fifteen miles.

and at one place the stream was surging against the bridge with such force that it seemed as if they must fall at any instant. While crossing, the wagon pole fell from the ring in yoke, ran under the planking and stopped the oxen. The bridge being narrow, they were obliged to un- yoke the oxen and carry the yokes and wheels back toextri- cate the pole. To add to their fright and anxiety the ac- cident occurred at night, and in the morning they learned that the bridge had gone down. The brothers at last reached home in safety.

In 1862 Mr. Strange enlisted for service in the late war, entering Company I, Thirteenth Kansas Volunteer In- fantry. Ile served to the close of the struggle in the Western Division, took part in the battles of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove and Van Buren, was in numerous skirm- ishes and participated in the running fight from Fort Gibson to a distance of 250 miles, in which there was considerable fighting every day. Mr. Strange received a sunstroke during that forced march, from which he was disabled during the ensuing winter, and has never fully recovered. After receiving his honorable discharge at the close of the war, he returned to his home in Kansas. On New Year's day, 1867, he was married to Miss Amanda Goff, and they continued to reside on a farm in Kansas until May 1, 1874. Four children were born to them in that State, one of whom, Franklin, died at the age of two years. With their three children, James A., Fred and William A., Mr. and Mrs. Strange came direct to the Bit- ter Root valley, arriving at this place $50 in debt. Mr. Strange first found work for two months at $40 per month, then purchased a team, wagon and harness, and located a ranch six miles north and one mile east of Cor- vallis. At the close of the first year he owned a good tram, three cows and had twenty acres of land fenced. lle sold that farm with the intention of leaving this country and loaded his goods on a wagon, but on calmer reflection decided to relocate, Mr. Strange then pur-

"25th .- Left the river to our right and went through the hills for about four miles to avoid a rocky point. After we came to the river again we had a splendid road down the bottom to camp. The river bottoms along here average about two miles wide. The cottonwood timber not so good as it was yesterday, but there is more scrubby yellow pine and cedar on the hills. I have not seen any fir timber since we left the divide. Along here, the timber only extends from one to ten miles back from the river on both sides. On the south side there is a snowy range parallel with the river, distant from forty to fifty miles, with high table-land, intersected by conleés, between it and the tim -

chased 160 acres of land six miles from Corvallis, for which he was indebted to the amount of $350. During the first year he raised grain, at 50 cents per bushel, suf- ficient to pay the entire indebtedness. In 1881 he sold that place and purchased 160 acres of his present farm, to which he has since added until he now owns 640 acres. Three hundred and twenty acres of the place is located three miles from his home. Mr. Strange is engaged in general farming, stock and fruit raising.

Six children have been added to the family in Mon- tana,-Luke, Sarah M., Mary C., John, Anna B. and Lu- ella. John died at the age of ten years, and the two eldest sons are married and reside near their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Strange have two grandchildren, Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Church. The former has been a life-long Republican, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His entire life has been one of unre- lenting toil, and he has not only secured a valuable prop- erty, but has the respect of the entire community.

MOSES MORRIS, a Montana pioneer of 1864, and one of her most widely and favorably known business men, was born in Prussia, May 5, 1844. His ancestors had long been residents of that country. Ilis father was engaged in mercantile business there up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was forty-four years of age. The Morris family was composed of ten children, six of whom are still living, and three sons and three daughters are residents of the United States.

Up to the time he was fourteen years old Moses Morris remained in his native land, attending school, and at that early age he emigrated to America. In this country he began his business career by peddling dry goods and no- tions, but as he did not like the business he followed it only a few months. In 1860 he traveled from Leaven- worth, Kansas, to Denver, Colorado, making the journey, a distance of 700 miles, on foot. At Denver he engaged in merchandising, and was there and at Pike's Peak until

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ber near the river. On the north side from where the timber runs out are nearly level plains as far as a person can see, and not a mountain in sight in the north and east. Saw only three antelope and four elk to-day; game is getting very scarce, and I fear we will have to do without fresh meat until we find buffalo. Lent Bell a horse, so his mare Parkie could rest. I am afraid she will go up the spout. I killed a very large eagle where we are camped to-night; therefore we call it . Eagle Camp." Underwood, Blake and Bostwick went hunting in the evening. Underwood killed an antelope. Hauser went into the river to swim across, but

1864. His brother was also here in business with him. In 1864, having saved some money, they sent to Europe for their mother, two sisters and the youngest brother, who joined them at Denver. In the meantime the business operations of these enterprising boys had prospered, and in addition to their successful business in Denver, they also had two branch stores in Montana. In 1863 a devas- tating fire at Denver burned them and others out, and the subject of our sketch injured himself while fighting the fire and trying to save property. Ilis brother came on to Virginia City and opened the store; he followed in 1864 and in 1865 they all located in Helena, where they opened a general merchandise business, which they continued un- til 1889. In addition to their large wholesale business in Helena, they were also engaged in stock raising and min- ing, and indeed, were interested in many of the various enterprises which have brought abont the development of the country. Their prosperity far exceeded their high- est expectations. Their venerable mother lived to be eighty-two years of age. Her death occurred at Denver, November 7, 1882.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 39

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