An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 58

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 58

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Having completed his medical conrse, Dr. Murray en- tered upon the practice of his profession in the swamps of Mississippi, and continued there three years. He then came West to Colorado, where he practiced three years, and in 1885, came from there to Butte City. Here he at once established himself in practice, and has since met with eminent success. In 1890, seeing the need of a hos- pital in Butte City for the care and treatment of the sick, he devoted his energies to the founding of such an in- stitution, the result being the Murray-Freund Hospital, a boon to suffering humanity and a monument to the Doctor's skill and enterprise. This hospital is a fine building, 40x 100 feet, four stories high, and fitted and furnished throughout with all the modern conveniences for the comfort and successful treatment of the sick.

While Doctor Murray conducts a general practice, he makes a specialty of surgery in all its departments, and in this specialty has had sigual success, his fame as a surgeon extending far and near. Frequently he iscalled in consultation, both in general practice and in surgery. He is a member of the State and County Medical So- cieties, the State Board of Medical Examiners, and the Board of Railroad Surgeons, and he is also employed by all the railroad companies having lines running to Butte City.

Dr. Murray was happily married, July 24, 1889, to Miss Margery K. Kellsey, who was born in Ohio and reared and educated in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both the Doctor and his wife have hosts of friends in Butte City.

JOHN A. ROCKWELL, Police Magistrate of the city of Anaconda, Montana, is a native of Albany, New York, born October 12, 1856.

dealing in gold dust and digging in it for years.

It is conceded that the year of 1867 showed a marked decrease in the yield of placer gold, although the amount is set down in various publications at various figures, from $10,000,- 000 to $12,000,000; so that the world still re- ceived an immense commercial impetus from the source of the great rivers in the "Shining mountains." It is universally admitted in all publications that I can find of this date that the gold yield of Montana, up to the close of 1867, amounted to $02,000,000.

From a tabulated statement of water-ditches used for mining purposes in Montana, I learn

Judge Rockwell's ancestors on his father's side were English people who emigrated to America in 1728, and settled at Weymouth, Massachusetts. His great-grand- father, Justin H. Rockwell, was a veteran of the Revolu- tionary war. Elmond II. Rockwell, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1824. When a young man he removed to Albany, New York, where he was subsequently married to Miss Susan MeBride, a na- tive of New York city, the date of her birth being 1836. For many years he was a merchant of that city and is now living there, retired from active life. He and his wife have four children, John A. being the youngest, and all occupying honorable and useful positions in life. On his mother's side Mr. Rockwell's ancestry were Irish.

John A. Rockwell received his education in the public schools and the academy at Albany, and in 1876, when on the threshold of manhood, came West to make his own way in the world. ITis first location was in the Black IJills, where he was engaged in placer mining one year. Then he went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and clerked three years for the United States Government, and in 1880 he directed his course to Butte City, Montana, where he was engaged in mining up to 1883. At that time he came to Anaconda and aided in the survey of the town. Then for six years he was in the employ of the Anaconda Company, up to the date of the admission of Montana to Statehood in 1889, at which time he received the appointment of Justice of the Peace, and served in that capacity until 1891. That year he was elected Police Magistrate of Anaconda, in which position he is still acting, having been twice re-elected. As a public official he has per- formed his duty with the strictest fidelity and to the gen- eral satisfaction of his constituents.

Judge Rockwell has invested in city property and has erected several buildings, thus doing his part to advance the material interests of the place. Politically. he is identitied with the Democratic party. Personally, he is of pleasing address, always courteous and obliging, and is regarded as a man of the highest integrity of charac- ter.

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that she had in operation at this time 287 miles, costing nearly $1,000,000! The swift exeite- ment attending the discovery and development

of Helena and Butte, and also these enormous figures, make us glad to return to simpler pur- suits and less exacting estimates.

PART II. POLITICAL AND MODERN HISTORY.

CHAPTER XIX.

MONTANA TERRITORY -- THE FIRST JUDICIAL OFFICER-LAW AND ORDER-THE HIGH SOCIAL ELEMENTS OF THE SUMMIT EMPIRE-POLITICAL HISTORY-FUSING AND MELTING TOGETHER OF MEN.

W E must now leave the miners and turn baek and aside for a brief space to the legislative chronieles of Montana; but bear in mind, meantime, that the knights and noblemen of the pick and shovel and sluice-fork are, many of them, preparing to burn their sluice- boxes and descend into the earth, lamp in hand, and, elad in oilskin and rubber, in impetuous pursuit of the retreating gold and silver. Also bear in mind that the plowshare has already

made a broad, black mark on the tawny breast of Montana, and the mark is widening, length- ening day by day; also that the lowing of cattle is heard, for some immigrants having turned their bony brutes ont to die as winter eamne on, found them fat as they could roll in the spring. And now also there began to be little snow- storms of sheep on the tawny hill-tops. And also, just about the date of the political birth of Montana, her eyes were turned eagerly to-

HON. W. A CHESSMAN .- American biography has al- ways been considered one of the most fascinating studies, far surpassing in interest the same study in other lands,- the cause of this being the large proportion of self-made men included in our population; and especially is this true in the Western States. Among the successful men of Montana, there are none who have acquired wealth and position more deservedly then has William A. Chessman, president of the IIelena Cousolidated Water Company.

Mr. Chessman was born in Braintree, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, August 19, 1830. ITis early education was obtained in the district schools, and when on the thresh- old of manhood he followed the excitement of the times and went to California. Taking passage by way of Cape Ilorn, he arrived at San Francisco December 20, 1849, and soon was engaged in mining in El Dorado county. He followed mining in California for fifteen years, with vary- ing success, operating in El Dorado, Yuba and Tuolumne counties until the spring of 1865.

In 1865 Mr. Chessman came to Montana, and has since been identified with the interests of this State. His first location was at Alder Gulch, and subsequently he took up his abode in Helena. He acquired some of the min- ing ground in Last Chance Gulch, from time to time pur- chased other claims, and finally obtained possession of a large amount of mining property. These claims he worked for some time to advantage and then sold out the mining privileges for about $34,000, but retained the title to the land. In 1872 he purchased from Messrs. Trutt aud Atchi- son, the ditch for these privileges, the same being then in use, supplying water to miners,-oue known as the Hel- ena or Big ditch and the other the Yaw- Yaw ditch,-and in 1875 began the construction of a bedrock flume in Last Chance Gulch. This flume was completed in three years, at a cost of $30,000, and was used for the purpose of work- ing over the old ground and rewashing the tailings from the first workings of the rich Last Chance Gulch. This ground he continued to work until the construction of the

Mm A Choreman

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ward the East and the all-absorbing topic of a railroad in the old path of Lewis and Clarke was in every month. It surely begau to look as if the " northwest passage " and commercial road to the Orient was to be a solid fact. Jay Cooke, a Philadelphia banker, had floated the Government bonds with great triumph, with himself at the head of the Northern Pacific Railroad, with splendid andacity. The black horse cavalry of commerce was surely coming; and then the Indian,-the Indian who had come to the mountain-tops on the trail of the white man-must surely go. For he had withheld his bloody hand hardly one single day since the

Montana Central Railroad, the advent of which so en- hanced the value of this land that it was worth more for building purposes than for mining. In these operations Mr. Chessman acquired title to some 400 acres of ground lying at the mouth of Last Chance Gulch, much of which is now occupied by the city of Helena for depot grounds and terminal facilities.

After the placer mining was stopped, the water in the ditches was sold to the market gardeners and farmers in the lower portions of the valley for irrigating, and at the time of the organization of the Helena Consolidated Wa- ter Company, the interests were sold to this company. Mr. Chessman was one of the originators of the company and subsequently became president of it. This company was incorporated October 1, 1889, the other officers being as follows: vice-president, A. J. Davidson; secretary, J. B. Clayberg; treasurer, S. T. Hauser. The capital stock is a million and a half of dollars. Previous to the organiza- tion of the above named company, Mr. Chessman had or- ganized the Eureka Water Company, which furnished water to the lower portions of the city, and which sold out to the Helena Consolidated Water Company when the latter came into existence.

In addition to these interests, Mr. Chessmau has been actively engaged in other operations in the State,-notably mining and stock-raising. IIe is president of the Bald Butte Mining Company, vice-president of the Helena Electric Street Company, and is largely interested in quartz-mining in other parts of the State and in Idaho. For twenty-three years he has been connected with the Helena Fair Association; is a trustee of St. Peter's los- pital,'and has been identified with this institution ever since its organization. His various operations have been uni formly successful, and to-day he is rated with the wealthy men of the State. Ilis holdings are directly in the line of appreciation with the natural advance of the country. A large portion of his property is within the resident limits of the city of Helena, and will doubtless grow in value as the country is settled up. The Helena Consolidated Wa

piteous tragedy which we have recited from the journal of James Stuart,-red blotches in the snow and on the brown grasses here and there all the time that we have been with the miners at Alder Creek, Last Chance and Silver Bow.

So, bear all these things in mind; for while we pause a little time with the first legislature they, the plowshares, the sheep, the cattle, the coming railroads, the manufacturers, all are active factors in Montana.

The creative act of Congress, in May, 1864, had given Montana a dowry to begin life with -nearly 100,000,000 acres of land. Backed

ter Company, of which he is the president and a heavy stockholder, will probably control the interests of the necessary commodity for the city of Helena in the future, and with its growth increase in value correspondingly.

As a business man, Mr. Chessman is considered one of the soundest in the State. He is conservative, shrewd and careful, but withal genial and popular, and is still an act- ive participant in the business movements of the State.

Politically, he is a Republican. For five sessions he was a member of the Territorial Legislature, three of which were in the Ilouse and two in the Territorial Conn- cil. He was also a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion. Fraternally, he is an active Mason, having taken all except the thirty-third degree in that order. Ile is also a life member of the Society of California Pioneers.

Mr. Chessman is a man of family. Ile was married February 4, 1875, to Miss Penalope V. Newhall, of Galena, Illinos, and they have had three children, two sons and a daughter. One son is deceased.

CHARLES W. PRICE, a prominent stockman of Fort Benton, arrived in Montana, June 24, 1864.

Ile was born in Callaway county, Missouri, January 23, 1844. His first American ancestors emigrated from Wales to the colony of Virginia. His grandfather Price served as a soldier in the Revolution. His parents, Cyrus and Adeline (Dixon) Price, were both natives of the Old Dominion State. Charles W. was raised and educated in his native State, and was just twenty years oldl when he came to Montana, in 1864. He followed placer-mining at Virginia City a year, and at Helena two years, and in the fall of 1867 came to Fort Benton and engaged in trading with the Indians, selling them supplies and re cejving in return buffalo robes, wolf-skins and furs. This proving to be a profitable pursuit, he followed it for four years, up to 1871, at which time he turned his atten- tion to stock-raising, which he has since continued, in company with the Conrad Brothers. Of this business he has made a great success, having at one time 10,000 head of cattle. In 1550 he built a comfortable and pleasant

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against the British possessions to the north, what is now the Dakotas to the east, Wyoming and part of the Idaho boundary to the south, and Idaho's mountains to the west of her, she was at once a magnificent world to herself, and the third of all the States or Territories, next to California and Texas.

Sidney Edgarton of Ohio, later the Chief Justice of Idaho, was the first Territorial officer, his commission bearing date June 22, 1864. His secretary, Thomas Francis Meagher, a sol- dier and orator of Irish birth, and well-known in history, was not appointed till more than a year later,-August, 1865.

home at Fort Benton. He is a quiet, unassuming man who gives strict attention to his own business, is a reliable citizen and a good representative of the Montana pioneers of 1864.

October 22, 1880, he married Miss Mollie B. Conrad, a daughter of Colonel James Conrad, formerly of Virginia, and later of Great Falls, Montana, and sister of the Con- rad brothers, the partners of Mr. Price. Mr. and Mrs. Price have two sons, both born at Fort Benton.

JOHN E. DAVIS .- Prominent in the business circles of the State of Montana is found the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. To him be- longs the distinction of being the pioneer wholesale groceryman of Butte City. He is a nephew of Andrew Jackson Davis, deceased, a son of John A. Davis, and a brother of A. J. Davis, all prominent in the history of this part of the country, and mention of whom is found else- where in this work.

John E. Davis was born in Rockford, Illinois, July 24, 1858, and was reared and educated in Chicago. He began his business career when he was sixteen years of age, and for eight years from that time was connected with the real-estate business of E. A. Cummings & Company. In 1884 he came to Butte City, Montana, and, in partner- ship with his father, started their wholesale grocery business. The partnership continued until 1888, when John E. purchased his father's interest and became sole owner. He has since continued the business with increas- ing prosperity. He wholesales to dealers in his own city and does a large business throughont the southern part of the State. During the early years of his residence here he traveled extensively over the State, visiting every little hamlet and mining camp and thus establishing a trade which has since been uninterrupted, many of their earliest customers still dealing with the house. The fact that his old customers stand by him, is the strongest proof of Mr. Davis' honorable dealings and his popularity. He buys his goods for cash in the best markets of the United States and hence obtains the inside price on all goods.

And this brings ns to the consideration of a third and fourth element in the make-up of so- cial and political Montana. We first saw the gray and toil-worn veteran climbing slowly up the Rocky mountain steeps from under the set- ting snn, a pick and shovel on his back, a knife and pistol at his side. Then, after he had dis- covered gold and founded cities on the Great Divide, came the second element, the bright and brisk young men from away toward the sunrise. We have seen that these two elements were contentious, contradictory in training, age, experience and all else that goes to make up Montana; although each had in it the best

The brick building he occupies, at the northeast corner of Arizona and Park streets, was built by the firm and affords ample facilities for his extensive trade.

Mr. Davis was married in 1883 to Miss Tenie B. Irons, a native of Chicago, and the daughter of James Irons, of that city. They have two children,-Aggie and Tenie, both born in their beautiful home in Butte City.

In his political views, Mr. Davis is in harmony with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Silver Bow Club of Butte City.

NARCISSE LEDOUX, the proprietor of a saloon in Mel- rose, Montana, came to the Territory in the spring of 1862, and is therefore one of her earliest pioneers.

Mr. Ledoux was born in the town of St. Martin's, Lower Canada, January 10, 1833. His remote ancestors were French, but several generations of the family were born in Canada. His parents, John Baptist and Bridget (Mar- cille) Ledoux, were born and reared near Montreal. They had a family of twenty children, Narcisse being the seventeenth born and one of the twelve who reached adnlt years. John B. Ledoux was a carpenter and build- er. He took many important contracts for work and for many years did a successful business. To him belongs the distinction of having built the trestle work for the great bridge across the St. Lawrence river at Montreal. He died in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and his wife's death occurred a short time before his. Both were de- vout members of the Catholic Church.

Narcisse Ledoux started out in the world to do for him- self when he was twelve years old, and since then his life has been full of varied experiences, a detailed account of which would fill a volume. For three years he worked on a farm; for some time served as office boy in Montreal; in the spring of 1850 landed in Troy, New York, with $3 in his pocket and unable to speak one word of English. As he could get no work in Troy and as he had but little means, he slept out doors on a shed and for a week lived on gingerbread. Then he went to other points and was variously employed for several years, among other places

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which the East and the West had to give. The crowds did not go in the early days and the weak fell by the way; so that the beginning, like the beginning of Italy, England, Massachu- setts, Virginia, all lands famous in history, was great. It was a world's congress, up to which the whole world sent its ablest men.

" Your men must take your horses home with them; they will need them to plow with," said Grant to Lee, the day after the civil war was over. It was done, as the great, good sol- dier advised, mainly; but many who had worn the gray found themselves far this way from

being at Chicago, Joliet and St. Louis. In 1860 we find him accompanying an expedition up the Missouri river, the object of which was to build a quartz mill in Leg Gnlch, Colorado, where they landed after a journey of three months. After working there for two months he started out on a prospecting tour. This was the first of a number of prospecting tours he made throughout the West, many of them attended with great hardship and privation. He knows what it is to be snow-bound, sick and without provisions. When Alder Gulch was discov- ered he and twenty-three others went to that point. There he secured a claim from which he took out about $4,000 in oue year and which he then sold for $2,000. Although he was successful in some of his mining opera- tions, they were on the whole unprofitable. After he sold his claim at Alder Gulch he purchased a ranch aud ice house, and for some time was in partnership with Mr. Laurin. He was then variously occupied for several years-teaming, butchering, sawmilling, mining, etc; and while he seemed to be successful at times, these en- terprises nearly all ended iu failure. We may here state that Mr. Ledoux had a brother in Montana with whom he spent several winters.

Finally he engaged in the saloon business at Glendale, where he did a successful business for eight years and from whence he came to his present location at Melrose. Here he has continued in the same occupation. He has purchased buildings and lots in Melrose, has done much toward improving the town, and is regarded as one of its enterprising men. Besides the property he has accumu- lated here, he owns an interest in the Calumet and Heckla mines, in Silver Bow county, Montana.

In referring to his varied experiences in Montana, Mr. Ledoux stated that on one occasion, while making the journey from Glendale to Melrose by stage, he was sitting up with the driver and they were held up by robbers. The driver was shot. Mr. Ledoux leaned forward, grabbed the lines, and drove to Melrose. The murderer was ar rested, convicted and hung.

In his political affiliations, Mr. Ledoux is a Democrat.

their farms and horses. And thus The third strange new element soon began to pour into Montana. Then came the Northern soldiers, with their pockets stuffed with greenbacks, men who had fought under Meagher, the first secretary, and finally the acting governor of the State.

Oddly enough, these two new elements inelted together more readily than the other two. They were prepared to hate and despise each other as heartily as good soldiers can hate and despise opposing good soldiers; but this did not at all result. The sugar-maple man

JOHN MAGUIRE, Montana's popular theater man, is a native of Cork, Ireland, born December 4, 1840, of Irish parentage. He was educated in his native land, and after graduating at St. Colman's College, in his native county, came direct to this country. In 1861, at San Francisco, he entered the theatrical profession and acquired his knowledge of the dramatic art. He played with the Booths, Edwin Forest, Augusta Dargon, Matilda Heron, James Stark, Lawrence Barrett, John McCullough, and in fact all of that galaxy of theatrical stars that shed such luster on the early history of the California stage. Being a young man of culture and fine talent, he won his way rapidly to the front and was soon a recognized lead- ing man, playing "Armand Duval" to Matilda Heron's "Camille," and "Romeo" to Miss Augusta Dargon's "Juliet." About this time he made a trip to Australia, and there played with Barry Sullivan, Madame Celeste, Charles Mathews and other celebrities, acquiring honor and some wealth in the prosecution of his art. He is a pioneer manager throughout the Pacific coast States, and the second oldest in active management in the United States.

He has for many years been identified with Montana, and in 1888 he built the Maguire Opera House in Butte City, at a cost of $70,000, and in connection with the management of his own theater he also manages one at Helena and one at Great Falls, all being fitted and fur- nished with every comfort both before and behind the curtain. ITis travels throughont the West have long ago brought him into great favor with all theater-going peo- ple between the Missouri river and the Pacific ocean, and the residents of Montana have reason to congratulate themselves on account of his location among them.

Personally, Mr. Maguire is a man of kind and gener- ous impulses. He is fond of society and has made hosts of friends. In politics he was a Democrat up to the time James G. Blaine ran for the Presidency, and since then he has sympathized with the Republican party. He is a member of the Irish . American Club and makes his head-

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and the cotton-seed man really met for the first time, except on the battlefield, in Montana. The man who said " keow " and the man who said "nigger," the man who would have said "cow " but could not, and the man who could have said "negro" but would not,-these ele- inents of the new order of the new empire were face to face now, side by side now, in the " pur- suit of happiness " for the first time, and it was not six months before the blue and the gray were the best of friends. Men of all the four elements began to send for their wives and daughters; the four elements inter- married, rounded down their antagonistic cor-

quarters in their fine club rooms, where his leisure hours glide pleasantly away in the society of his most highly prized fellow-clubmen of Butte City.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 58

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