An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 60

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 60

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General Howell's career has been one of the highest honor. Ile is still a well-preserved man in the full prime of life, and has secured what is far better than great wealth-a good name. Ile is richly deserving of the high regard lavished upon him by his host of friends.

DR. WILLIAM CROSBY RIDDELL, physician and surgeon for the Great Elkhorn Mine, also engaged in a general practice in Elkhorn, was boru in Vermont, December 14, 1863. Ilis ancestors came from Scotland prior to the Revolutionary war. His father, Henry G. Riddell, was born in Massachusetts in 1836, and is now a retired mer- chant at Somerville, Massachusetts. Ile married Miss Emily Crosby, a native of Somerset, Vermont, and they had three sons, all now living.

William Crosby Riddell, the second child in order of birth, received his education in Brattleboro, Vermont, and in the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, also graduating in the medical department of that university in July, 1886. Ile was soon afterward appointed by the Government as Physician to the Indian Training School

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

men from the pastoral steeps of Parnassus and like mountains. The Austrian Tyral, the Italian Piedmont, all such remote mountain places, have tolerated but slight interference from the first. The oldest republic in the world, San Marino, that keeps loaded cannon in her towns, and coins money, defied Napoleon when he was in Italy, and he good naturedly sent another cannon. William Tell's people, worried even of their own rulers and dukes and princes, laid down their titles and became commons more than half a dozen centuries ago. If this was disloyalty, it was disloyalty to themselves only. But they were simply falling in line with the

at Lawrence, Kansas, where he remained until 1889, and then accepted the appointment of surgeon of the Elk- horn Mining Company. The Doctor is still serving in that position. He is also the physician for the C & D Mine and the North Pacific Railroad, and also attends to his general practice in Elkhorn. Dr. Riddell is a mem- ber of the State Medical Examining Board, of the State Medical Association, the Lewis and Clarke County Medi- cal Association, the American Medical Association, and of the National Association of Railway Surgeons.

The Doctor was married March 30, 1886, to Miss Nana P. Braden, who graduated at Ann Arbor the same time as her husband. They have two children,-John Plummer and Martha. Dr. Riddell has passed the chairs in the A. O. U. W. and the K. of P., and is Examining Physician for the former order. In political matters he sympathizes with the Democratic party.

H. J. WACKERLIN, the hardware merchant of Fort Ben- ton, was born in Switzerland, March 18, 1848. His father, George Wackerlin, born also in that country, in 1824, married Miss Seomin Ruedey, and in 1852, emigrated to America, settling at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he en- gaged in the live-stock trade and spent the remainder of his life. llis wife died in 1892, and he in 1894. Only three of their eight children are now living.

Ilans J., the eldest child, was four years old when his parents came with him to America. He received his od- ncation at St. Joseph, and at the age of sixteen years, began the life of a merchant, first working in the drug business two years; next he began to learn the tinsmith and hardware business, working at it until he came to Montana, in 1867. Here he was first employed by Clark, Conrad & Miller a year; then he went to the small min- ing camp at Blackfoot, where he started in business for himself; and after spending two years there he went with Mr. Miller to Deer Lodge, and worked for him there three years. Then he visited Salt Lake City, returned to St. Joseph, remained there till the spring of 1873, mar

march of history and tradition. For as said before mountaineers have ever fretted under in- terference aud despised the nonsense of kings and courts, even though their own. Sweep Montana to-day as clean of residents as the Tyrian rock, and the incoming people from whatever course or whatever canse, will, in a quarter of a century, have the same republican spirit and object to interference and dictation from whatever party or power in Washington, that marked the conduet of Montana from the first.

On the preceding page it is noticed that the first legislature of this State incorporated

ried Miss Charlotte Redig, a native of Rheinfels, and with his bride, went up the Missouri river to Fort Benton. He opened his hardware business here in 1878, in which he has ever since carried a large stock and had a success- ful trade. In partnership, he has been associated with T. C. Power & Brother and the Conrad Brothers, while he himself has been the active partner, and thus the firm is one of the strongest in the State. They carry on both a wholesale and retail trade, and they have the only store of the kind in the city: and they also have a large and prosperous branch at Neihart.

Mr. and Mrs. Wackerlin have two children: Oscar I., who is now bookkeeper for the firm: and E lith, at home with her parents. Mr. Wackerlin has built a good res idence in Fort Benton, where he resides with his family. Ile is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F., is a thorough business man and an enterprising citizen.

HENRY CHAPPLE, a physician an I surgeon of Billings was born in Bowmanville, Ontario, in 1861, a son of Will iam and Jane ( Miller) Chapple, of English ancestry. The father was a farmer by occupation, also followed gokl- mining for a time in Australia, and his death occurred in 1893. Henry received his education at the Trinity Med- ical College, of Toronto, Canada, where he graduated in 1889, and in that year came to Billings, Montana. In April, 1889, he began the practice of his profession in this city, and became surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railroad, extending between Livingston and Forsyth.

Dr. Chapple was married in 1889, to Miss Mattie, daugh- ter of Alexander Murphy, who was a merchant by occu- pation. In his social relations, the Doctor is a member of Ashlar Lodge, No. 29, F. & A. M., also of the Chapter and Commandery of Billings, and of Algeria Temple, at Helena. He holds the position of County Coroner, and is a member of the State Board of Examining Surgeons. In political matters, Dr. Chapple sympathizes with the Republican party.

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the Historical Society of Montana. This society, though but miserably supported or provided for by the legislature, stands prominent in import- ance. Its books are not nearly as numerous, of course, as could be desired; but they are invalu- able, and only here can be found entire the story of " The Path to India." Think of a historical society, on the top of the Rocky mountains, having an active correspondent in the veritable Captain Bonneville, United States Army, -- the Bonneville of our boyhood! Irving's Bonneville!

I have not quoted generally from his " Ad- ventures" in Montana, and environs, because they are written by Irving from Captain Bon-

HON. GEORGE W. STAPLETON, a representative pioneer of Montana and one of the most successful attorneys now riesding in Butte City, a native of the State of Iodiana is, born on the 28th of November, 1834.

His father, Cyrus S. Stapleton, was born in Kentucky, in 1817, a descendant of an old South Carolina family, and married Miss Margaret Scott, a native of Kentucky and of Scotch ancestry. He was a physician by pro- fession. After his marriage he removed to Indiana and subsequently to Illinois, and still later to Iowa, where he continued to practice his profession till the time of his death, which occurred in 1890, in the seventy-third year of his age. His wife had died at the age of forty-six. They were worthy members of the Christian Church, and by their death left six children, of whom four are still living.

Their son, the subject of this sketch, the eldest of the children, was educated at Fort Madison, Iowa. Heread law under the guidance of Joseph M. Casy, in Lancaster, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1855. After con- tinuing in practice there till the spring of 1859, he crossed the plains to Colorado and followed his professiou there before the miners' courts, and before the circuit courts alter they were organized, until 1862, at which time he came to Montana.

In this State, at Grasshopper creek, he discovered the first gold found in paying quantities, and became one of the founders of the town of Bannack, which the miners desired to call Stapleton; but, as they were in the coun- try of the Bannack Indians he gave it the name of that tribe as most appropriate. After engaging in placer- mining there for some time, taking occasionally as much as 8:0 to the pan from selected dirt, he purchased a claim a mile below, and with a little pine-box rocker took out from $200 to $500 per day! In the spring of 1863 Alder Gulch was discovered, and he repaired thither. When he and his comrades had reached the Beaver-Ilead river, he wrote the laws by which they were to govern them-

neville's notes, and in Irving's stately language they miss that directness and point which seem to be the province of plain truth. Yet Bonne- ville was, or rather is, a graduate of West Point, and, like Lewis and Clarke, an officer of that army which never yet produced a liar, rogue or coward; and I dare say, if we could divest his wonderful "Adventures," written fifty years ago, of the garments of romance woven by Washington Irving, we would find only the cold, frozen truth. Yet his letter to the Historical Society of Montana, reaching up from the valley of Arkansas to the " Shining mountains," across a chasm of more than fifty

selves at Alder Gulch, and he went in with the first wagon that was ever driven there. In partnership with Colonel McLean he obtained several claims and took out of them vast quantities of gold, but, like most of the early miners, "got rid of it" in one way and another very freely.

He remained at Virginia City until 1865, and then, upon the discovery of Last Chance Gulch, he went to that point and took claims, but practiced law ; and. as the latter paid only about $900 a month and that was not sufficient to pay expenses, he proceeded to Ophir Gulch and tried mining there, but without success. Next he went to Ar- genta, in Beaver-Head county, and for some time tried quartz mining, with varied success, and also practiced law there.

In 1879 he came to Butte City. At that time most of the lawyers lived at Deer Lodge, as that was then the county seat. Here at Butte Mr. Stapleton was first a>so- ciated in practice with Judge Pratt, and this partnership continued until Mr. Pratt's death, which occurred in 1581, and then the firm of Robinson & Stapleton was formed, which has continued to the present time. Mr. Stapleton's practical experience in mining gave him superior ability as a mining lawyer, and his most profit- able practice has been in that direction. Bis firm is con- sidered one of the best law firms, and they enjoy a very large and lucrative practice. He continues still to be in_ terested in mining, aud he has a number of properties which, it is believed, will be very productive.

In his views of national questions Mr. Stapleton haa always been Democratic. He was elected to the Terri- torial Legislature four times, and during his time of service was Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. Ile was a member of the first code com- mission, and had much to do with formulating the laws which are now in force in this State; and he was also a member of the convention which framed the present State constitution. But he did not find that the holding

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

years, speaks for itself. It would seem as if it must be from another world; but this is only one of a thousand such things that this society is digging up.

CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE'S LETTER. " FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS.

"Dear Sir -- Reciprocating your very kind and complimentary letter and circular, I would re- mark with every disposition to assist you in preserving interesting data respecting our far West of early days, after an absence of nearly half a century I mast decline to review or at- tempt any addition to my journal; yet, as you appear to think the explorations of those days were only up to the Platte and down Snake

of office was as remunerative as his law practice, and consequently has declined to become a candidate, as he has often been urged, for public office, especially at a time when to be nominated was to be elected.

Mr. Stapleton has been a Mason for a great number of years: was a member of the first lodge in the State, namely, Virginia Lodge, No. 1.

At Argenta, in 1870, he married Miss Cora E. Meln- tosh, a native of Missouri and a daughter of William L. McIntosh, and of Scottish ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Staple- ton have had three children-one son and two daughters; but only the son survives. Guy W. was born in Bannack, and is now taking the law course at the University of Virginia, Charlotteville, Virginia.

Mr. Stapleton has built a fine residence, where he now resides with his family. By a life of uprightness and strict attention to the cases he has taken in charge, he has established an enviable reputation, and enjoys the respect and good will of all his fellow citiz .ns.

GEORGE WILBER CRANE, a successful merchant of Fort Benton, came to Montana in 1866.

Ile was born in Middlebury, Vermont, November 27, 1843, remotely of English ancestry. Ilis American an- cestry he traces back to the Mayflower, at Plymouth Rock. His great-grandfather, James Crane, was born in Connecticut, and rendered his country valuable service in the Revolution as a soldier and in the hazardous work of carrying messages, and was the trusted bearer of the death dispatches of Major André. After the Revolution he engaged in the quiet vocation of agriculture, and lived to be ninety-six years of age. It is said that very late in life he could vanlt into his saddle as actively as in the days of his youth. Ilis son, Ezra Crane, the grand father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Vermont, on the farm that had for a very long time belonged to the family. Ile lived on the farm on which he was born un til 1854, when he sold his farm and moved to East Green bush, New York, where he died in the seventy-sixth

rivers, it may be well for me to correct you a little in this matter. One of my parties was sent through the Crow country and came round by the north, and wintered with me on Salmon river; another party was sent south and win- tered on the shores of Salt Lake; another journeyed into the Utes country, farther south, until it met the traders and trappers from New Mexico; another went down Salmon river, to Walla Walla, on the Columbia: another to coast around the Salt Lake; being out of provi- sions it turned north, upon Marias river,# fol- lowed this river down west to the eastern base of the California mountains, where it empties itself into large flat lakes; thence westward, clambering for twenty-three days among the

year of his age. He brought up five chidren. His son, James Edgar Crane (Mr. Crane's father), was born at the same home, in Vermont, in 1818, and married Miss Eliza B. Corlew, a native of Springfield, Vermont. He also lived on the same farin, and, like his father, reared tive children, three sons and two daughters. In 1857 they emigrated to Illinois, and remained there till his death, in his sixty-second year, which occurred in Champaign county, in 1880, resulting from an injury received in a runaway. His wife has attained the ripe age of eighty- two years, residing now with her youngest son, in Jack- sonville, Illinois.

The subject of this sketch, the second child, attended school both in Vermont and Illinois, learned telegraphy at sixteen years of age, was employed as operator on the Great Western Railroad, in Illinois, and was attending school again when the news flashed over the country that Fort Sumter had been attacked. To the first call of Pres- ident Lincoln for volunteers to put down the rebellion he promptly responded, enlisting in the Lyon Guards, an in dependent rifle company, which was accepted by the United States Government. They organized at St. Louis, and were stationed at several points in Missouri. At the close of the term he was mnstered out and returned to his home in Illinois, and at onee became engaged in enlisting and forming Company 1, of the Twenty sixth Illinois In- fantry Volunteers, With this company he served in the Fifteenth Army Corps, the Army of the Tennessee, and for eighteen months of the time of his service was on detached duty in the Quartermaster's department, and be- fore the elose of his service was its chief clerk, and was mustered out of the service July 19, 1865, at Washington, District of Columbia. He was an active participant in the following memorable battles: Island No. 10, New Madrid, Farmington, siege of Corinth, luka, the battle of Corinth, October 3d to 5th, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson,

* Humboldt river.

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difficult passes of this elevated range, before it reached its Western or Pacific slope; thence to Monterey on the coast, where it wintered. In the spring the party going south turned the southern point of these mountains, on its way to the upper Rocky mountains; another party going west, down the waters of Suake river, to the base of the California range, turned southeast, and on the way home kept the divide, as near as practicable, between Marias river (now called Humboldt) and Snake; another party going north, round the Wind River mountains, followed the Po-po az-ze-alı, the Big Horn, and the Yellowstone down to the Missouri.

" The large clear stream in the valley imme- diately west of the South Pass was called by

Mississippi, and Missionary Ridge,-in which latter en- gagement his brigade covered themselves with glory by their gallant charge, which resulted in the capitulation of the rebels on the ridge. During the whole of his serv- ices in these hard-fought battles he escaped injury; but exposure seriously affected his health, and he has since been more or less troubled with rheumatism. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged and re- turned to his home.

For a short time he was employed on a railroad. July 10, 1866, he started for Montana, crossed the plains as far as Fort Kearney, where his party was caused to stop by the soldiers there, on account of the hostilities of the In- dians, who had just previously committed dreadful atroci- ties. Accordingly they wintered there. By spring their numbers had so augmented that it was considered safe to proceed. They reached Virginia City, Montana, Septem- ber 10,1867, and proceeded to, and wintered in, the Galla- tin valley. For four years he mined in the vicinity of Ilelena, in a number of gulches and mining camps. He made several raises, but "dropped" it all before abandon- ing the vocation of mining.

Ile was next engaged in agricultural pursuits for a time, and in the fall of 1873 began merchandising at Clancy, in Jefferson county, which he continued until March 5, 1889, when he came to Fort Benton, and opened a news and novelty store. As his business increased he enlarged his establishment, and at length opened a gen- eral merchandising trade, in which he has since con- tinued, doing a large and successful business. He now owns two residences, one of which he occupies. It is a brick house, with a mansard roof, commodious and hand- some, and located opposite the courthouse, on Franklin -treet.

Since coming to Fort Benton he has taken an active part in its welfare, and is considered an enterprising and liberal citizen. He is a stanch Republican: has been Notary Public since 1873, has been also Justice of the

the Indians and early trappers the Sis-ke-de- az-ze-ah, afterward Green river. I was the first to take wagons through the South Pass and first to recognize Green river as the Colorado of the West.

"I presume most of my men are dead, nor do I know where any one of them can be found, except Mr. David Adams, who was one of my principal men. About two years since, I met him at St. Louis, Missouri. He told me he was preparing a journal of his mountain experiences. I have ever looked upon him as a man of truth. Ile may give you much valuable information ; also the names of any of his companions who may be living. Mr. David Adams was then living on Sonlard's addition to the city of St. Louis.

Peace since 1886, City Councilman two terms, and Police Magistrate four years. In 1878, he was nominated by his party as a candidate for the Territorial Council. For fourteen years he has been secretary of the Masonic lodge at Fort Benton. He is also a member of G. K. Warren Post, G. A. R .; is also a K. of P., and Past Chan- cellor of the order.

February 14, 1877, he married Miss Julia Ione Payne, of Helena, Montana, who was born in New Mexico, the daughter of Rufus and M. E. Payne, of Kentucky, and they have had ten children, of whom five sons and two daughters are yet living, namely: Edgar R., Oliver B., Ezra L., George W., Jr., Julia Ione, Florence Elizabeth and James Payne.

Mr. and Mrs. Crane are charter members of the Epis- copalian Church, and have added in building their house of worship and in all the undertakings of their church. Mr. Crane is a very pleasant business man, enjoying the good will and full confidence of his fellow citizens.

IIENRY J. SCHREINER, the leading merchant and Post- master of Elkhorn, Jefferson county, was born in Ohio, in 1861. His father, John Schreiner, was born in Ger- many, but came to the United States when a boy, locating iu Ohio. In 1882 he came to Montana and engaged in business at Bozeman, but now resides on a farm at Town- send. Mr. Schreiner married Miss Margaret Scharff, a native of Ohio and of German ancestry. They have had eleven children, six daughters and five sons, all of whom are still living.

Henry J. Schreiner, the second child in order of birth, received his education in the public schools of his native place and in the Chickering Institute, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He learned the mercantile business in his father's stores, in Middleport, Ohio, and Montana, and prior to coming to Elkhorn clerked in his store at Wicks. He located in this city in 1888, and immediately purchased the mercantile stock of Theodore Furken, the pioneer merchant of the place. Since that time Mr. Schreiner

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" You say I had drifted from these scenes. Certainly not with my consent, for returning to my company of the Seventh United States In- fantry, at Fort Gibson, I heard it mentioned the United States (the Government I should say) was not pleased with the treaty made with the Prairie Indians. The Indians had assembled in large numbers, and becoming sickly, they dis- persed suddenly, thinking there had been some fonl play toward them. Under this belief, thinking my experience might be of some ser- vice, I felt it my duty to offer myself to go and bring in any chiefs the Government might wish to confer with, asking for the purpose my com- pany and only the remnant of merchandise, presents, etc., the commissioners had not dis-

has given his undivided attention to his store, keeps a large and general stock of merchandise, does business on a liberal basis, and has a large and remunerative trade. April 8, 1893, he received the appointment of Postmaster of Elkhorn, under President Cleveland's administration. He purchased a new and tasteful office outfit, and is making an obliging and prompt Postmaster.

In 188f Mr. Schreiner was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Rickerts, a native of Ohio. She is an efficient helper in their store and office. In political matters, our subject supports the Democratic party; and socially, is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F. He has passed all the chairs in the latter order, and has also represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge.

HION. CHARLES R. MIDDLETON, City Attorney for Miles City, was born near Afton, Washington county, Minne- sota, January 31, 1853, a son of Samuel and Mary (Colter) Middleton; paternal ancestry, Scotch; maternal, Irish. His father was the first Justice of the Peace in his dis- trict, in Washington county, Minnesota, where he had settled in 1849, and where he reared four children,-one son and three daughters.

Charles grew to manhood in his native State, but was educated at the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in the law department of which he graduated in 1881. Soon afterward he began the practice of law, at Stillwater, Minnesota, where he remained until 1884. In July, of that year, he opened a law office in Miles City. In 1885 he was appointed Deputy District Attorney, under Judge Blake, who was at that time District Attorney. Ile filled that position until 1886, when the office of County Attorney was created. He was elected City Attorney for Miles City, in 1888, and has been continuonsly re-elected ever since, and holds the position at the present time HIe was elected to represent Custer county in the Lower House of the Montana Legislature, in 1889, and the fol- lowing spring was elected to the State Constitutional Convention. IFe is a member of the Board of Trustees

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 60

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