An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 44

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 44

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Mr. Webster was married in 1884, to Miss Addie Pills- bury, the daughter of Governor Pillsbury of Minnesota. She was a most amiable young woman, and her untimely death, at the end of six months of happy married life, was a source of great bereavement to her husband and many friends. Eight years later, in 1892, Mr. Webster married Miss Helen Eloise Pettitt of Minnesota, daughter of S. I. Pettitt of Faribault, that State.

Socially, Mr. Webster is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Elks.

HON. LEE W. FOSTER, a Montana pioneer of 1864, and for many years one of Butte City's most respected and successful business men, is a native of the State of Penn- sylvania, born in Venango county, October 20, 1836.

Grandfather John Foster came to this country from the north of Ireland, and Grandfather Selders from Scot- land, and both became early settlers of Venango county, Pennsylvania. The former reared a family of eleven children, and died in the ninetieth year of his age, while the latter lived to the advanced age of 104 years. John Foster's son, John, the father of Lee W., was the fourth born in his father's family, his birth occurring in Ve- nango county in 1807. He was educated in Franklin, that county, and was there married to Miss Marcia Selders of that place. He was a tanner in early life, but later turned his attention to farming. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, and were honest and industrious people, respected by all who knew them. They reared a family of seven children. He died in 1860, and she survived him until 1865.

Lee Washington Foster was the third born in this family of seven. He was reared on his father's farm,

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

there. Some circninstances afterward led to the belief that Hillerman had murdered himn.

"20th .- Traveled twenty-eight miles. We were up by daylight; had breakfast, and started by five A. M. Where the road crosses Dry creek we found six mules and a horse, Fonr of the mules were tied together, two and two, and fastened to sage bushes. We untied and drove them along, thinking the owners must be ahead somewhere, and about two miles from the first water in Dry creek, now Hole in the Rock, we met two men on foot looking for them. They stated that at twelve last night all their animals, six horses and six mules, were stampeded. We found seven for them, so they only lost five horses. We stopped and had dinner with them, and let them have two horses to work, so they could make the trip to Bannack by traveling slowly. In the afternoon we traveled eight or nine miles, and halted for supper. After sup- per, we had intended to go about eight miles, but after going three miles we overtook our un- fortunate wagons again, and they bribed ns to stay all night with them on Lodge Pole working on the farm in summer and attending public school in winter. In 1859 he crossed the plains to Pike's Peak. For five years he mined there with fair success, but in a quartz-mining venture he had the misfortune to lose all he had made. From there he came to Virginia City, Montana, in 1864, and until 1871 was engaged in placer mining in German Gulch. In 1871 he opened his first store, a miners' supply store, and in 1874 he re- moved to Butte City, which at that time contained only about forty resideuces. His business increased greatly, keeping pace with the rapid growth and development of the town and surrounding country. Indeed, he sold goods all over Montana. For the accommodation of his business he built on Main street the first brick block in Butte City, it being 140 feet long, with a basement, and with a storehouse in the rear, fifty feet square. He did an immense wholesale business. Liter, he built the Foster Block on East Park street, and a large warehouse at the Northern Pacific depot, and, in connection with others, platted a portion of the city and built a number of dwellings.

In 1881 Mr. Foster invested in property in Riverside, California, where he now has a valuable bearing orange grove. He also owns fruit laud near llanford, that State,

creek (Pleasant valley ), by telling ns they would give us all the butter and eggs we could eat if we only would stay all night with them. That proposition struck ns right where we lived, and we incontinently camped, and they were as good as their word.

"21st .- Traveled twenty-eight miles. Started at seven A. M., and traveled until half past eleven A. M., making sixteen miles, and then stopped for dinner on the first creek after cross- ing the divide (Junction Station). Plenty of gnats and horse flies. Saw a few antelope; very wild. Our horses were too poor to do any hunt- ing, although we are starving for fresh meat. Jake Meeks passed while we were camped. He has been to Bannack City with four loads of flour, which was dull sale; had to store it until times are better. He told us there had been a big stampede from Bannack to some new dig- gings that have been struck on Stinking Water river. I am afraid it is our place that we found as we went ont in April. After dinner we traveled ten miles, and camped for the night on Sheep Horn Cation creek, near its month. Sorry having 300 acres in bearing peaches, prunes, apricots and grapes. In 1893 he raised 300 tons of raisins on this place. He also owns auother 300-acre tract, which he has recently planted to fruit trees.

During all these years Mr. Foster has been more or less engaged in mining, and still has large mining inter- ests. He retired from mercantile business in 1893, and since then divides his time between his handsome home in Oakland, California, and his residence in Butte City.

Mr. Foster was married in 1874, to Miss Jane R. Rez- nor, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one son, now seventeen years of age, and at school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

While he gave his strict attention to his business and was prominent in the business circles of Butte City for a number of years, Mr. Foster also took a commendable in- terest in the public affairs of the town, and did all in his power to promote its welfare. He helped to incor- porate the towu; was elected one of its first Aldermen and served two terms in that capacity, and was also elected and served for a number of terms as County Commissioner. In politics he votes for the candidates of the Democratic party.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

I have not time to go and look for my big Pow- hatan pipe, that I lost about five miles above here in April, 1858. The road to Bannack City passes down through the Red Rock valley and Horse Prairie. The old road by Blacktail Deer creek is played ont.

" Monday, June 22, 1863 .- Traveled forty miles. Some of the party thought they heard somebody driving horses last night, and conse- quently we were all up early this morning. It proved to be a false alarm, as we found onr horses all right. Started at five o'lock, and traveled until half-past ten A. M., when we halted for dinner above a point of rocks on Horse Prai-

rie creek. Passed a lot of gamblers camped on Red Rock creek. They are en route for Den- ver, via Salt Lake and Fort Bridger. After din- ner, packed up and pushed on to Banuack City, which we reached late in the evening. Every- body was glad to see us and we were glad to see everybody, altough our hair and beards had grown so, and we were so dilapidated generally, that scarcely any one knew us at first; and no wonder, for we had ridden sixteen hundred miles, and for the last twelve hundred without tents, or even a change of clothes."

Resuming our description of mniners' cus- toms, we will say that, passing over many new

THEODORE II. KLEINSCHMIDT, one of Helena's most active and successful men, is well known as the cashier of the First National Bank of Helena.

He was born in Prussia, August 2, 1839, son of Louisa and Frederick Kleinschmidt, Lutherans in religion, who had five children. His father, a tanner, came to America in 1840, and in 1843 the rest of the family set sail for this country, expecting to join him here and make this their permanent home. They were doomed to disappointment, however, for on the very day they sailed the father died, and when they landed in New Orleans the mother learned that she was a widow and that her children were father- less. She reared her family in St. Louis, where she still resides, being now past her eighty-third year. One by one her children died until now all have passed away ex- cept the subject of our sketch.

Mr. Kleinschmidt was reared and educated in St. Louis, where for some time he was employed as clerk in his stepfather's store, thus becoming thoroughly acquainted with mercantile business. May 2, 1860, he left his father's store to accept a position as bookkeeper in a savings bank in St. Louis, with which he was connected until 1862. That year he came out West to Colorado to represent his uncle's interest in a general mercantile business, the firm being Hananer, Erfort & Company, and in 1864 he came from Colorado to Montana with a stock of merchandise, making the journey to Virginia City with mule teams, and there opening his stock. He continued in the mer- chandise business there, however, only six months. He then disposed of his interests there and turned his atten- tion to placer mining, which he continued until the spring of 1865. During the following summer he ran a store at German Gulch, in Deer Lodge county, and in the fall he sold out and returned to St. Louis. On this return trip he made the journey from Helena to Atchison,-a distance of 2,400 miles, on horseback, riding the whole distance on the same horse. Ilis arrival in St. Louis was early in December. In the spring of the following year he came

back to Montana, making the journey from Atchison this time by stage, reaching his destination after twenty-four days and nights of uninterrupted travel.

Upon his return to Montana, he became interested with Governor Hauser and others in the organization of the First National Bank of Helena, with which he has ever since been connected.

Since coming to Helena, Mr. Kleinschmidt has been one of her most active and enterprising citizens, taking hold with a will, and giving his support to every measure that would conduce to her growth. He became one of the founders of the Helena Electric Light Company, of which he was treasurer; was one of the organizers of the Arte- sian Well Company; helped to organize the Northwest Cattle Company, and has long been largely interested in cattle, horses and sheep, and has been interested in mines and mining all over Montana. Besides this he has been treasurer of the Helena Building Association, the Helena Water Company, and the Spokane Ranch Company; is one of the directors of the Montana State Fair Association; is a member of the firm of Hill, Logan & Company, deal- ers in general merchandise; is president of the Micado Mining Company, and is president of the Bank of Towns- end. At three different times since its incorporation he has had the honor of being elected Mayor of the city of Helena, in which important position he rendered faithful and efficient service.

For many years Mr. Kleinschmidt has been an active member of the Masonic fraternity, blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery: has taken the thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite; is Treasurer of the Scottish Rite Lodge; and has been Treasurer of the Morning Star Lodge for more than twenty years. He is also Past Grand Chan- cellor of the Knights of Pythias; was one of the organ- izers of the Presbyterian Church in Helena, in which he has served for years as Trustee; and is president of the Helena Board of Trade, having served as treasurer of the same. During his long business career in Helena, Mr.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

discoveries of more or less importance when life went bnsily on day after day as described, we come to the quest for, and the finding of what might without irreverrance be pronounced, the Holy Grail. For many a good knight and true has drunk from that matchless mountain cup of gold and been made happy and blest.

The string of men roosting on the counter and kegs and sugar barrel down at the store had been busy planning or projecting a trip to the other side of the great divide, the Yellow- stone country.

The Indians continued to give trouble in spite of the daily inereasing number of new-

Kleinschmidt has invested largely in both city and coun- try real-estate. Among the numerous buildings he owns is his comfortable and attractive residence of brick and stone, in Lennox Addition.

Mr. Kleinschmidt was married in June, 1867, to Miss Mary M. Blattner, a native of St. Louis and a daughter of Jacob Blattner. They became the parents of six chil- dren, five of whom are living: Theodore E., Arthur B., Marie L., Eugene F. and Erwin H.

The history of this remarkably versatile man should not be brought to a close without some mention of his con- nection with the vigilance committee, and his record dur- ing the late Civil war. As president of the vigilance committee at German Gulch he aided in sustaining law and order and in ridding the country of the band of law- less marauders with which it was infested. Previous to this, in 1861, when the great Civil war came on, he en- listed in the Third Missouri Volunteers; was at Camp Jackson; served his time; was mustered out with his regi- ment; re-enlisted and was commissioned as First Lieu- tenant in Berger's Sharpshooters, but resigned his com- mission, and came to Colorado as above stated. He is of course a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and at present is Post Commander.

HENRY W. ROWLEY, secretary and manager of the Billings Water Power & Electric Light Company and one of the prominent young business men of this city, was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1858, a son of Nelson B. and Abigail (Coffin) Rowley. The father was a farmer and lumberman. When Henry was nine years of age his parents moved to Minnesota, where he grew to manhood, and received a good education in the common schools and the University of Minnesota. In the spring of 1880, when about twenty-one years of age, he was employed as civil engineer in constructing the Union Pacific Railroad, re- maining with the company two years. Mr. Rowley was next engaged with the Minnesota & Montana Land Im- provement Company, which purchased 30,000 acres of land

comers, and it was agreed that the party must be a large one. Large bodies move slowly and this was not an exception.

One word about the Indians. Sentimental- ists, honestly, too, had repeatedly told the world that the battlements of Montana were his last retreat, and all that sort of deviation from the exact facts. The truth is, he came here to steal and to fight; to kill and be killed. Lewis and Clarke tell us in their journal that they found the Shoshonees less than 100 strong. They found very few Indians from the lower Yellowstone to the upper Columbia; and these were all on the war-path, fighting one another.

from the railroad company, including the present site of Billings. They constructed the irrigating canal, thirty- nine miles in length, of which Mr. Rowley had charge of the survey and construction of the water way, and also continued in charge for one year after it was completed. After the organization of the Water Power Company, he was placed in charge of the construction and business management of the water works and electric plant. He owns valuable real estate around Billings, and has always taken an active part in the improvement of his city and county.

In 1883 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Meeker, daughter of Lewis Meeker, who was largely interested in flour mills in Minnesota. To this union has been born four children, viz .: Farr, Hugh, Helen and Harriet. Mr. Rowley is Senior Warden in Ashlar Lodge, No. 29, is Iligh Priest of Billings Chapter, No. 6, Captain General of Aldemar Commandery, No. 5, of Bil- lings, and is a member of Algeria Temple at Helena. He is independent in his political views.

ARTHUR G. HATCH, attorney at law, Big Timber, Mon- tana, has been a resident of this place for three years. He is a brother of Hon. George M. Hatch and Morton W. Hatch, editors of Big Timber Pioneer.

Mr. IIatch is not only a thorough law student and skill ful practitioner, but is also well posted on general subjects. lle is a courteous and obliging gentleman, is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a stanch Republican.

THOMAS J. MCNAMARA is one of Montana's respected pioneers, who came to the Territory in 1832 He is also one of the many good citizens that Ireland has furnished to the United States.

Thomas J. MeNumara was boora near the city of Lim erick, Ireland, in 1828 His parents were respected and well-to-do farmers. They reared a family of nine chil- dren, three sons and six daughters. Only five of this number are now living,-three in Ireland, one in Aus- Iralia, and the subject of this sketch in Montana Both-

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

I passed through here to what is now called Yellowstone Park, as set down previously, and returned in 1861, and saw no Indians except a few loafers about camp along the road and a few " sheep-eaters" in the park; black little- stub-and-twist fellows, friendly enough. They still used obsidian knives: at least their women skinned a mountain sheep, which one of the party had shot, with that. But the real Indian was not yet on the white man's path, in what is now Montana, above the buffalo line. He came after the white man came, came after him, after the sheep and horses. He had passed up and over and down the Rocky mountains, as his deeply-worn trails, of which Lewis and Clarke speak, still testify; but he did not prowl or hover about as he did sixty years after when the white man came. He was hunting for buffalo and his hereditary enemy,-that is, any other Indian he could find off his guard and on the minority side, and so despoil him of his horses, squaws and scalp. And yet, after all this com- plaining about Indians you might almost say

parents have passed away, the mother in her sixtieth year, and the father at the age of eighty-five.

Thomas J., the fourth child in his father's family, was educated in his native land, and remained there until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1851 he emigrated to America, making a voyage in a sailing vessel, and land- ing at New York city. For six months he was employed in the glass works there. In the spring of 1862 he went to Detroit, Michigan ; six months later to La Fayette, Indiana, thence to Crawfordsville, same State, where he was in railroad employ until 1854. That year he went to New Orleans and from there to San Francisco, California. He spent seven years in mines and mountains of California, either camping out or living in cabins, his fare being of the plainest. In 1862 he left California for the Florence excitement, but on his way to the mines there he learned that every square foot of claim had been taken, so he stopped at Elk City and prospected for about five months. From there he directed his course toward the Big Hole country, where he remained during the winter, and from whence, in the spring, he came to Alder Gulch. The first pan of dirt he washed at Alder Gulch yielded thirty cents worth of gold. He remained and continued mining for several years, meeting with fairly good success. IIe and three others took out of their claim in a single day $700,

they found,-they certainly led to the finding of Alder creek, the placer gold mine of the globe.

James Stuart, a born leader, had set out with a party to explore the Yellowstone from Ban- nack. The place of rendezvous, for such spirits as we have seen at the store, gathered from ser- eral such centers, was the mouth of Stinking Water. But some half dozen were tardy in coming, and the intrepid leader set out withont them, leaving directions that they should follow his trail. They did so, but in a few days were met and plundered by Crow Indians, with a threat of death if they did not return to Ban- nack. This they promised and attempted, but making a short diversion, they camped on a little stream fringed with pretty alder trees and with water-like pearls. One of the party washed a pan of dirt in this pearly water, as he squatted under the shade of an alder tree, while the others prepared their meager supper, and his fortune was made! His name was Fairweather. He had found a gulch that held nearly one hundred million dollars!

and he estimates that the whole amount taken from that claim was $50,000. Much of this amount, however, was spent in making ditches and in other development works. He was there during all the time of the trials and executions of the murderers and road agents; but while he saw what was being done he took no part in the troubles, quietly attending to his own affairs and beiug undisturbed by either the ruffians or the vigilants. In 1870, thinking his claim was about worked out, he left it and went to Cedar Creek, where he mined a year with moderate success. In 1871 he came to Missoula and turned his attention to the mercantile business, entering into a partnership with Thomas Williams. He continued as an active member of the firm for three years, and for three years longer was a silent partner. At the end of that time he lost all he had put into the business. Fol- lowing this experience he was for a number of years in the liquor business, but at present is living retired. He has accumulated considerable property at Missoula, among which is a business house and several residences.

Mr. McNamara was married in 1867, to Miss Annie Cunningham, a native of county Limerick, Ireland. She came to the United States in 1856. Both he aud his wife are devout Catholics. They aided materially in the building of the first Catholic Church in Missoula, and

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

CHAPTER XV.

FAIRWEATHER-ALDER-THE BIRTHDAY OF MONTANA-CITY LIVING- THE "TENDERFOOT"- INCIDENT AND ANECDOTE.

T is told of Fairweather that, after the first few pans of dirt, yielding from twenty-five cents up to several dollars to the pan, he straightened np as tall as a dwarf pine tree after a snow storm and casting his practical miner's glance up the gulch and down the gulch and across its deep, wide bed, with his two hands thrust down in his empty pockets, he said laconically and as if to himself, "She'll last till the cows come home."

Thus far the placer gold mines in the great new Northwest had been of brief duration. The very richest placers up to date, Salmon or Flor- ence, had perished under the persistent miner's hands almost like a fall of snow in springtime.

They were already partially abandoned. But this deep, wide, long gulch would last, "last till the cows come home."

This, the 1st day of June, 1863, may be set down as the birth-day of Montana. Up to this date, if we except those who herded abont the posts, missions and such like places, and they were largely half-castes and Canadinns,-the peo- ple of Montana were mainly in transit. It is not easy to give even an estimate of the popu- lation at this date, much less can a list of names be set down with any accuracy.

The truth is, hundreds of people, forming trains of immigrants for Washington, Oregon, Idaho mines and elsewhere, suddenly, and in a

also contributed largely toward the erection of their fine church edifice, which has recently been built here.

HON. SIMON R. BUFORD came to Virginia City, Mon- tana, in 1865, and is now one of the leading.business men of the place.

He is a native of the State of Missouri, and was born in Canton, Lewis county, March 2, 1846. He is a descend- ant of one of the old Virginia families. His father, Wellington Buford, was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1818, and when he reached manhood married Miss Amanda Staples, also a native of Richmond. They removed to Missouri in 1840, and there he became the owner of a farm. By trade he was a mechanic. He con- tinued to reside in Missouri until the time of his death, which occurred in 1888, in his sixty-eighth year. He and his wife reared fifteen children, and with one exception all are still living.

Simon R. was the third born in the above family. He spent the first nineteen years of his life in his native State, and then in 1865 crossed the plains with oxen, to Montana, being five months en route, and walking and driving stock most of the way. Virginia City was his objective point, and upon his arrival here he engaged in freighting between this place and Fort Benton. This business he followed for seven years. During all that time it was seldom that he ever slept in a house, his

wagon being his home both night and day. Freighting in those days was a profitable business and he made money at it. His next occupation was that of clerk in the store of Raymond Brothers. With that firm he con- tinued seven years, or up to 1878, at which time he opened his own store, under the firm name of Buford & Company, Mr. Henry Elling representing the company. For some years they did a large jobbing business, but since the building of the Utah and Northern Pacific Rail- roads their business has been of a retail nature. They still occupy the store in which they began business. Their career has indeed been one of marked success. From time to time they have invested their surplus funds in realty, and at this writing are the owners of several busi- ness buildings in the best part of the city, and also have ranch property to the amount of 3,000 acres on which they raise large crops of hay and grain, and where they are also largely engaged in the stock business, raising horses, cattle and sheep.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 44

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