An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 47

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 47

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Dr. Hough, the third son and fifth child, attended pub- lic school for several years, and for two years had the ad- vantage of private instruction; but he is principally indebted to the personal care and instruction of his father for his education and general direction of thought. IIe left Jefferson City in 1864 and accepted the position of parser on a Missouri river steamboat, filling that position for three years. He was then transferred to the "Anchor Line," on the Mississippi river, and served as purser on '

and ravine from which the fatal fire had come. Five horses were dead, and six or seven others had arrows sticking into them. On the side of the mountain, in plain sight, were the Indians moving around among the trees and rocks. With the approach of day, the cowardly wretches had quietly retreated up the ravine to the side of the mountain out of danger, yet keeping in sight so as to wateh our every movement. We were in a most trying and desperate situation, surrounded by merciless Indians, hundreds of miles from the nearest white men, with the whole tribe between us and our homes, and with seven of our little band wounded-two fatally,

several steamers plying between St. Louis and Vicksburg for about two years longer, when he engaged in the com- mission business in St. Louis under the firm name of Butterfield & Hough. They did a large and lucrative business, through the acquaintance formed while he was engaged as purser on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Not being adapted to a mercantile life, and soon tiring of it, he withdrew from the firm and returned to his native town to engage in the study of his profession with his brother-in-law, Dr. George Bickerton Winston, one of the most eminent medical men in the State. Dr. ITough graduated at the Missouri Medical College, in St. Louis, Missouri, with high honors, in 1873. Ile began practice in St. Louis; was appointed assistant to the chair of sur- gery in the Missouri Medical College, and also lectured in the college on minor surgery. IJe was surgeon to the college hospital for three years. In 1878 he came to Butte, where he has since practiced his profession, with marked success, acquiring the reputation of being one of the most skillful physicians and surgeons in the State. Since coming to Butte he has held the offices of County Physician, County Health Officer, City Health Officer, surgeon to the Montana Central and Union Pacifle Rail- ways, and for fifteen years has been surgeon to the Sisters' Ilospital. Ile received the appointment of Sur- geon-General of the State under three successive admin- istrations, and is a member of the State Medical Society and of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, with the rank of Brigadier General.

While he was Health Officer of the City of Butte he brought the attention of the City Council to the condition of the water supply. This matter occasioned a very bit- ter and prolonged controversy, and through the influence of the Water Company Dr. Hough was deposed from office, the company hoping thereby to stop the agitation of the question; but the citizens of Butte had become so fully imbued with the correctness of the Doctor's ideas and recommendations that the changes demanded by him were brought about two years later.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

and three others severely. We gathered into a little knot to talk over the events of the night. and to ascertain the extent of our wounds. This done, I asked Jim (as our eaptain was familiarly ealled among us) what we had better do. He answered: ' Hlave a hot cup of coffee first; we will all feel better, and will then decide.'

" I forgot to mention that just at break of day, and as we were about rising to our feet, an In- dian sent a last arrow right into our midst, but from a greater distance up the ravine. Jim in- stantly seized his rifle, and started to eut him off from the mountain, by getting between him and those above, but he proved to quick, and escaped.

According to instructions, we proceeded to make a fire and prepare some coffee, although none of felt like either drinking or eating. Within a radius of thirty or forty feet of where Underwood and I had been lying, I pieked up forty-eight arrows, and the tents were completely riddled. Probably three hundred balls and arrows had passed through them.

" Having drank our coffee, we held a couneil of war or rather got together to hear what Jim suggested, which was that it would be hopeless to try to return to Bannack the way we had come, as we would not only have the blood-hounds up on the side of the mountain after us, but the

Dr. Hough was married September 22, 1891, to Miss Elizabeth Trigge Thornton, eldest daughter of the late Colonel J. C. C. Thornton, who was an officer of promi- nence in the Confederate army and figured conspicuously in the early history and development of Montana. Mrs. Hough is a niece of the late General A. W. Doniphan, of Missouri, of Mexican war fame. They have a son, whom they have named Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.

The Doctor belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the order of Elks. Politically, he is a Democrat, well informed in political economy and finance. In July, 1893, he was elected president of the Montana Free Coinage Association, and is now doing excellent work for the ad- vancement of the cause on which the welfare of the State and nation so much depends.

Personally the Doctor is a prepossessing gentleman of high character, dignified bearing, but cordial in manner and warm in his friendship. While he is deeply inter- ested in all public questions and prominent in the coun- sels of the State, he has always declined political honors, and regards his profession as his legitimate field. He is enthusiastic in all that pertains to the science of medicine and surgery, having devoted several winters to investiga- tion in the hospitals of New York, Philadelphia and Europe.

JOHN MURPHY, as his name indicates, is a son of Irish parents, and he dates his birth in county Limerick, Ire- land, December 25, 1835. lle has been a resident of Mon- tana since 1866, coming hither from California.

Mr. Murphy's early life was spent on the Emerald Isle, where he attended the public schools until he was thir- teen years of age. Ile then accompanied an uncle to America, his parents being both deceased. His passage from the Queen's dominion to the United States was made in an American sailing-vessel known as the Con- stellation, the cost of the young lad's passage being $2.50. Upon his arrival in this country he went to Moravia, Cayuga county, New York, where he became a member

of the family of Joseph Lee. Until 1858 he remained there working on a farm and attending the public schools. That year, at the age of twenty-four, he went to California. The first year of his residence in the Golden State he was engaged in ranching in Santa Clara county, and he subsequently mined in Siskiyou connty for some four years. In 1865 the Indians became troublesome in the Northwest, and in Oregon their depredations and bloodshed called forth a proclamation asking for volun- teers to render sate the homes of the whites. Mr. Murphy enlisted in the Veteran Corps, Fourth California Volun- teers, and was mustered in at Fort Yam Hill, Oregon, under Captain Lyman Scott. The command was sent to eastern Oregon to repulse the Snake Indians who were very troublesome. This insurrection ended, Mr. Murphy was mustered out at San Francisco, December 19, 1865, when he returned to Santa Clara county and remained there until the following spring. He then started for Montana, arriving at Mcclellan Gulch, Deer Lake coun- ty, in May, 1866. He engaged in placer mining there that season and was the original discoverer of quartz on that (McClellan) creek.

In the fall of 1866 Mr. Murphy visited his former home in New York, returning to Montana in the spring of 1867, via the Missouri river, the trip from St. Louis to Fort Benton, Montana, consuming sixty-two days. This was the first of fourteen visits Mr. Murphy has made to New York since his arrival in Montana.

When the placer season opened in the spring of 1867, he resumed operations in Mcclellan Gulch, and worked in that vicinity until the summer of 1881, when he dis- posed of his mining properties to a Michigan company. He then engaged in ranching immediately below Helena, where he remained until 1889, at which time he disposed of his property to a St. Louis man, and returned to Deer Lodge county. In Deer Lodge county he has large landed interests, and is engaged in stock raising in the Nevada creek valley. He is also largely interested in mining in various localities.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

whole Crow nation that we had passed three weeks before. Therefore, we would have to re- turn by the way of the South Pass and Fort Bridger, although it was some ten or twelve hundred miles, and part of it over a totally un- explored county, inhabited by the hostile Sioux, which fact Jim said . would prevent the red devils up there,' pointing to them, 'from follow- ing ns more than seventy-five or a hundred miles and we might by a scratch, miss the others.'

"The route being decided upon, we deter- mined to wait till noon or later to see the last of poor Watkins, Bostwick, and Bell, by which time we thought they would breathe their last. The other wounded, we thought, could all ride. We also decided that we would throw away all of our outfit bnt five or six days' rations, to lighten up the packs, for the purpose of riding our horses seventy-five miles the first twenty- four hours, the object being to get the Indians

Mr. Murphy was married in 1869, to Miss Ellen Smith, of Moravia, New York. Their only child, Smith Murphy, is now engaged in business in San Diego, California.

He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar and member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Wadsworth Post, G. A. R., of Helena. In politics, he has always been a Republican, and while in California, in 1860, was one of three men out of 300 who cast a ballot for Abraham Lincoln for President.

HENRY McCAULY, a farmer of Boulder valley, was born in McHenry county, Illinois, in March, 1835, a son of Thomas and Mary (Knowlan) McCauly, who were born and married in county Fermanagh, Ireland. One child was born to them in that country, which afterward died. In 1834 the parents emigrated to America; resided first in Canada, and then removed to McHenry county, Illi- nois, which was then a comparatively new country. The father purchased and improved Government land, and be- came one of the prominent and respected farmers of that county, where he continued to reside until his death. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCauly in Illi- nois, eight of whom are now living.

Henry, their eldest living child, was raised on the farm on which he was born, and received his education in the little log schoolhouse of that early day. In 1852, via the Nicaragua route, he went to California; followed mining successfully in Trinity and Nevada counties for a time, and then returned to the place of his birth, in Illinois. Mr. McCauly next followed freighting two years at Lawrence, Kansas. During the gold excitement at Pike's

following us too far from their main camp to return for reinforcements, should they succeed in surrounding us and compelling us to entrench ourselves. Jim then said it was important to show the Indians that we had ' good medicine,' and that . our hearts were not on the ground,' by challenging them then and there for a fight, stating that he didn't know whether they would fight or not; 'but that if it was Bannacks or Snakes, they would give us a brush;' but that ' he was not familiar enough with the Crows to know whether they would or not; but if they did, we had as well fight them there as any- where, and it would have a good effect ou them in their future attacks.' We then proceeded to throw away all but six days' rations and a few other necessary articles; and being all ready to start, we prepared for a fight, But before go- ing out, Gerry, Underwood, and myself, who belonged to the . fraternity,' had a little side Peak, in 1859, he crossed the plains to Colorado, and mined at Russell's Gulch, Cash creek, etc., from that time until 1863. He left Denver in the latter year, and arrived in Montana in March, 1864, after which he fol- lowed mining at Virginia City and Last Chance Gulch. In that year Mr. McCauly located land in Boulder valley, ten miles below the city of Boulder, where he was among the first settlers. The Indians were numerous and troublesome at that time. He built a log cabin on his land; engaged in stock-raising, and from time to time added to his original purchase, until he now owns 600 acres. His horses are of the Norman Percheron breed, and his cattle are Durhams.

Mr. McCauly was married, May 4, 1865, to Miss Bridget Clark, a native of New York city and a daughter of Cornelius Clark, a Montana pioneer of 1863. After com- ing to this State he located a short distance from MI. McCauly's home, where tie resided until his death, in 1893, at the age of seventy years. His wife still resides at the old homestead. Our subject and wife have six children,-Thomas II., Mary Jane (now Mrs. Robert Twigs), Annie, John, William and Cornelius. Mr. McCauly has been a life-long Democrat; has served his county as Assessor, and for eight years held the office of School Trustee. The family are devout members of the Catholic Church. In an early day Mr. McCauly assisted in building the Catholic church at Helena, and afterward built a church in his own valley. The family have many friends in Jefferson county, where they have resided for so many years.

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talk, which resulted in each one delaring that if he got mortally wounded, he would reserve one shot that should prevent unnecessary sacrifice of the party by remaining to defend a man that must soon die any way, and also to prevent tor- ture, if captured. In order to ascertain when we were mortally wounded, we agreed to have Jim examine and decide. On the other hand, we agreed to remain by and defend each other as long as there was hope of the wounded man living. This understood, we talked it over with Jim, and finally with all the rest, who all came to the same agreement.

" This fearful determination was prompted by our desperate situation, as it then seemed impos- sible for any of us to escape; but we all had a

JOHN REED has been a continuous resident of Virginia City, Montana, since June 20, 1863, and is one of the representative placer-mining men of Alder Gulch. With- out more than a passing notice of him, this work would be iucomplete. A review of his life is as follows:

John Reed was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1824. His father, Phelix Reed, was born in Bel- fast, Ireland, in 1788, and when he grew up he emigrated to America and settled in New Jersey. He was married in Pennsylvania, near the New Jersey line, to Miss Eliza- beth Clark, a native of New Jersey and also of Irish de- scent. After their marriage they removed to what is now a portion of the city of Philadelphia, where they re- mained two years and from whence they removed to Co- lumbia county, Pennsylvania, and purchased a farm. On that farm they spent the residue of their lives. Mrs. Reed died there in 1856, in the fifty-fifth year of her age. She was a Presbyterian, a woman of many excellent qualities, and was the mother of seven children, six of whom reached adult age. Mr. Reed died in his seventy- seventh year. Ile had been reared in the Catholic faith and was an honorable and industrious man. Of that fam- ily only three are uow living-two sisters and the subject of this sketch.

John Reed was next to the oldest in the family and was reared in his native county, attending the public schools in winter and working on the farm in summer. When he reached his majority he left the old farm aud secured employment in the iron mills, receiving 8712 cents per day and boarding himself at $2 per week. In 1848 he removed to Mercer county, Ilinois, and the following year to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was employed in rafting lumber on the Mississippi river. Ile at first worked for others and afterward for himself, and re- mained there until October, 1858, when he went to Fort

great desire for some of the party to do so, and report where, when, and how we had died. We felt absolutely desperate and reckless, yet determined that some of us should live to report our fate, if a brave resistance could do it.

" I doubt if there was a single one who thought he would be the fortunate one to es- cape; but there was no desponding or lament- ing-all were resolved to die fighting. Our captain said he thought about half of ns might live to tell the tale by keeping cool, sticking close together, and every man doing his duty. All being ready, we started in a single file for an elevated plateau about 300 yards off, and diagonally toward the Indians. A forlorn hope, indeed! but resolute and determined. Arriving

Riley, Kansas. On the 17th of May of the following year he started across the plains with ox teams for Pike's Peak, and reached Denver on the 17th of June, Denver then consisting of only a few log houses. The Gregory mine had been discovered a short time before, and to it Mr. Reed directed his course. IIe did his first mining in Rus- sell's Gulch, where he and some other parties were part- ners in a claim. They began work July 1 and worked until August 3, and during that time took out $2,000, after which they sold the claim for $1,000, thinking they could do better elsewhere. Going south, they found gold in paying quantities on the main fork of the South Platte, and there organized the Fair Play distriet, which was - strictly in accordance with its name. They mined there successfully, made other prospecting tours which were not successful, sometimes having plenty of provisions and at other times none, and finally, March 24, 1863, pro- cured oxen and wagons and started for Florence, Idaho, traveling by the old overland stage route to Fort Bridger. When they crossed the Snake river they learned that the mines at Florence were exhansted, and they also heard of the discovery of gold at Banuack. To the latter place they directed their course and arrived at Bannack on the 14th of June.

At Bannack Mr. Reed heard of the wonderful dis- coveries at Alder Gulch, so to this place he started on foot, carrying a paek of about fifty pounds. The distance is sixty miles. Reaching his destination on the 20th of June, he met two of the men with whom he had crossed the plains, and of them learned that the gulch a mile above the town was all vacant, so he took his mining tools and went up to see the country, going a distance of about three miles. There he camped and began to look for a show. The following morning he began to dig, and dug a hole thirteen feet deep, but the water soon filled it

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at the place he had selected for the fight, our captain went through the whole manuel of signs, calling them cowards, thieves, murderers, and everything else, and then defied them to come down and fight us. At first they signalled an acceptance, and began moving around, as though they were coming, but finally settled down again behind rocks and trees, evidently conclud. ing they would wait a better chance. After waiting until satistied they would not come, we returned to camp. It was now about three p. M., and Jim said we would soon have to start. Bell had given up all his valuables, and given me directions what to do with his property if I es-

up and he was obliged to select another spot. The next morning he began with renewed energy, at a point about twenty-five feet east of where he had worked the day be- fore. At ten o'clock he had got down nine feet, without water, and had struck the sloping rim rock and found the precious metal. Here he took out $180 to the pan of dirt. Hle and his partner weighed it to make sure of the exact amount. The men who were with him entered ground for their friends, and he took claims for his part- ners he had left at Bannack. One of the men mounted his pony at eleven o'eloek A. M. and started for Bannack, arrived there at daylight the following morning, informed the boys of their good find, and the next day by three o'clock they were all on hand. Mr. Reed and the men who were with him had kept themselves secreted in the brush until the others arrived. On the 4th of July, 1863, they organized their district and elected their officers, and here Mr. Reed has mined ever sinee. Ile now owns nineteen-twenty-fourths of the whole district comprising two miles of the gulch. From time to time, as other members of the company wished to sell, he bought them out, and during each summer he works successfully about thirty men. During his mining career he has taken out many hundred thousand dollars, which he has invested chiefly in Government bonds. Besides these bonds he has 400 acres of land, several pieces of property in Vir_ ginia City, and the pleasant residence in which he and his family reside.

Mr. Reed was married in 1882, to Mrs. Clara L. Hlatha- way, widow of Il. II. Hathaway. She was born in New York, and reared in Branch county, Michigan. Mr. Hathaway was thrown from his wagon and instantly killed in 1879. Ile was for a number of years in partner- ship with Mr. Reed.

Mr. Reed is identified with the Masonie fraternity, being Treasurer of the blue lodge, Excellent King of the chapter, and Treasurer of the commandery. He has been a consistent and reliable member of the Republican

caped; but when Jim felt his pulse, he expressed surprise at not finding him sinking; yet from the nature of his wounds, he could not hope for his life. On asking him if he didn't think he could ride, he expressed a willingness to try, saying he might go little ways at any rate. While helping Bell on a horse, poor Bostwick blew his brains out. Geery, who was sleeping with him, said that when Bostwick found he was shot, he asked him (Geery) to eock his re- volver and put it in his right hand, stating that he wanted to sell his life as dearly as possible; that he had not long to live, but would save some of the Indians. He was sinking rapidly,

party since its organization, but has never been an office- seeker. Ever since he located here he has been identi- fied with the best interests of Virginia City. During its early history, when it became necessary for the safety of the settlers to organize the Vigilant Committee, he joined it and thus rendered needed and timely aid in ridding the country of the lawless elass that had made this the seat of its murders and robberies. Indeed, his whole life has been one of industry and integrity, and by his many estimable qualities he has won the esteem of a wide circle of friends.

PHILIP E. EVANS, deceased, was for a number of years one of the honored residents of Montana.

Ile was born in Cooper county, Missouri, December 22, 1833. His remote ancestors were Welsh, but for many generations his people had been residents of America. Ilis father, Dr. Thomas Evans, was born and educated in Baltimore, Maryland, and removed from there to Missiouri in the early history of that State. He practiced medicine there up to the time of his death, which occurred in the seventy-first year of his age. Philip E. was the fourth of his family of eleven children, and was reared and edu- eated in his native State.

For several years Mr. Evans was successfully engaged in the mercantile business in Missouri, continuing thus occupied until the panic of 1857, when he failed. After his failure in business he turned his attention to farming, in which he was engaged when the civil war broke out. Hle was drafted into the State militia and a little later was elected Justice of the Peace, being released from the militia in order to serve in this office. Soon afterward he removed to Kentucky. While he was a Southerner in sentiment, he was opposed to the war and believed that it could and should have been avoided, and consequently had no desire to take part in it.

In 1864 Mr. Evans came up the Missouri river to Mon- tana and located on a ranch in Ruby valley, near where the town of Sheridan now stands. Here he obtained 160

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and refused to let us try to put him on a horse, saying that it was utterly useless, and would in- crease his sufferings for nothing, as it was im- possible for him to live. This was some time before, and the report of his pistol suprised me, as I supposed him to be in a dying condition. " Succeeding at last in getting Bell on a horse, we started slowly off, as of course he could not go fast. Riding up to Jim, I said I believed Bell would live. To which he replied that he feared not; that it was only a spasmodic effort, and that he would probably fall dead off his horse within an hour or so.

" As we began to move, the Indians mounted their ponies, and moved along parellel to us, but out of gunshot. Bell apparently got stronger;

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 47

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