An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 90

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 90

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Larned Swallow, the father of the subject of this sketeh, was an early settler in Maine, where he culti- vated a farm and ran a shop in which he manufactured axes, plows and rifles, besides doing the ordinary work of such shops. In this shop was manufactured the first cast-steel rifle ever made, a breech-loader, on which Hall's patent was obtained. This rifle was adopted by the Government and manufactured at Harper's Ferry for the army. He was often invited to assist in monlding the affairs of the young State. With other commissioners, he was appointed by the President of the United States to run and establish the northern boundary of the State of Maine.

Dr. G. C. Swallow was an early, active and successful worker in the shop and on the farm, where many im- provements over ordinary farming, such as irrigation and deep plowing, were adopted. Here he developed a fine physical structure and superior intellectual faculties. Just at this time men were beginning to unfold the long history of the earth as found in its rock record. George looked at the grand mountain ranges of his native State

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his whole regiment, and thence to the head- waters of the Little Horn, thence down the Little Horn."

It should be mentioned that Reno had been scouting and had found a big trail on the Rose- bud.

Custer marched up the Rosebud on June 22d, under the following orders, and it is pleas- ant to see how entirely he was trusted by his superior officers. All seemed to confide in his discretion and coolness as in his courage: Lieut. Col. Custer, Seventh Cavalry:

COLONEL :- The Brigadier-General Command- ing directs that as soon as your regiment can be made ready for the march you proceed up the Rosebud in pursuit of the Indians whose trail was discovered by Major Reno a few days since. It is, of course, impossible to give any definite instructions in regard to this movement, and, were it not impossible to do so, the De- partment Commander places too much confi- dence in your zeal, energy and ability to wish

and resolved that he would read their secrets and develop their treasures. In his experiments in the shop and on the farm many questions arose involving the principles of physics, chemistry and geology. These sciences, which he most desired to pursue, could be reached only in the senior year at our colleges. Between him and that coveted time were five long years of study upon mathematics, Latin, Greek, French and other subjects, of the value of which at that time, he could form no proper estimate. Nevertheless he resolved to pay the price, hardship though it seemed to him then. These five years of training and mental discipline gave a breadth and grasp to his intellect which otherwise it never would have received. Here was a fearful struggle of six years' study for a young man without money, save what he earned in teaching or in the shop.

At sixteen he became a teacher, and his success gave him the highest wages paid in the public schools of Maine and Massachusetts, where he was called to the most difficult schools. At the forge or in the school- room, whichever paid the best, he earned the money for the collegiate course. He graduated at Bowdoin College with high honors in 1843. Immediately he was made lecturer on botany and he delivered the first course on that science ever given in his alma mater to the senior class.

Soon afterward he was elected principal of the Hamp- den Academy, of which the lon. Ilannibal Ilamlin was then the president of the board of trustees. Hamlin sympathized with Mr. Swallow in the desire to have one school where men coukl study science without going

to impose upon you precise orders which might hamper your action when nearly in contact with the enemy. He will, however, indicate to you his own views of what your action should be, and he desires that you should conform to them unless you shall see sufficient reason for depart- ing from them. He thinks that you should proceed up the Rosebud until you ascertain definitely the direction in which the trail above spoken of leads. Should it be found, as it ap- pears to be almost certain that it will be found, to turn toward the Little Big Horn, he thinks that you should still proceed southward, perhaps, as far as the headwaters of the Tongue, and then turn toward the Little Big Horn, feeling con- stantly, however, to your left so as to preclude the possibility of the escape of the Indians to the south or southeast by passing around your left flank. The column of Colonel Gibbon is now in motion for the mouth of the Big Horn. As soon as it reaches that point it will cross the Yellowstone and move up at least as far as the parks of the Big and Little Big Horn. Of course its future movements must be controlled by circumstances as they arise; but it is hoped

through a full collegiate course. By the aid of the Hon. Elijah Hamlin, then in the Senate, the State made a grant of lands to endow the School of Agricultural Sci- ence, in 1848, the first in New England if not in the country.

In 1850 Dr. Charles T. Jackson, theu eminent among geologists, was making a geological survey of the south shore of Lake Superior for the United States. He invited Professor Swallow to assist him in that work. Some Government changes prevented a continuation of this survey; and about this time, too, Professor Swallow was invited to take charge of the Agricultural School of New York, but he chose the chair of geology and chemistry in the University of Missouri; and, as he examined the rich and varied resources of that State and saw the great need of a better communication among her farmers and horticulturists, in 1852 he published an exhaustive ad- dress to the people of Missouri, which led to the estab- lishment of the agricultural associations of St. Louis and Boone counties, quickly followed by similar organiza- tions in various parts of the State. As a result of his per- sistent labors in this direction, and in response to a memorial from his pen, the Legislature and the curators of the university, in 1958, located the State Agricultural College with the State University.

In 1853 Professor Swallow was appointed State Geol- ogist by Governor Sterling Price, which position he held for eight years and until he was driven from the field by the late war. A more lengthy notice than the limits of this work will allow would be necessary to do justice to the extent and value of his long labors in this extensive

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that the Indians, if upon the Little Big Horn, may be so nearly inclosed by two columns that their escape will be impossible. The Depart- ment Commander desires that on your way up the Rosebud you should thoroughly examine the upper part of Tulloch's creek, and that you should endeavor to send a scout through to Colonel Gibbon's column with information of the result of your examination. The lower part of this creek will be examined by a detachment from Colonel Gibbon's command. The supply steamer will be pushed up the Big Horn as far as the forks of the river are found to be navi- gable for that space, and the Department Com- mander, who will accompany the column of Colonel Gibbon, desires you to report to him there not later than the expiration of the time for which your troops are rationed, unless in the meantime you receive further orders.

Respectfully, etc., E. W. SMITH, Captain 18th Infantry. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

As bearing on the movements of the forces, here appear extracts from Major Reno's reports:

field. Suffice it to say that upon entering this work he called around him a corps of assistants of such signal ability as were rarely or never engaged at the same time in a similar work. Among them the names of Shumard and Lytton and Norwood stand pre-eminent. In 1855 his first report was given to the world; and so great was the interest awakened by this report, and so important were his contributions to geological science regarded, that he was elected a member of the leading scientific associa- tions of America and Europe. His announcement of the discovery of Permian rocks in America was new and startling to the geologists of both hemispheres. It pro- voked much discussion and was finally settled in the geological department of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, after a full discussion by the geologists of both continents, at the Baltimore meet- ing. Professor Swallow was then chairman of the geo- logical department of this association.

In 1865 the Professor was appointed to make a geolog- ical survey of Kansas, as preliminary to the railroad system of that State then to be inaugurated by a Congres- sional grant of land. His report gave a detailed deserip- tion of the rocks of easteru Kansas, including the Permiau and Carboniferous systems.

In 1870 the curriculum of the University of Missouri was greatly enlarged, embracing the departments of law, medicine and agriculture, and Professor Swallow was elected to the Chair of Agriculture and Geology; and soon afterward he was placed at the head of the department aud made Dean of the College of Agriculture, which position he held for twelve years.

As a recognition of his valuable services and his cou

"As we approached a deserted village, in which was standing one tepee, about 11 A. M., Custer motioned mne to cross to him, which I did, and moved nearer to his column, until about 12:30 A. M., when Lieutenant Cook, adjutant, came to me and said the village was only two miles ahead and running away. To ' move for- ward at as rapid gait as I thought prudent and to charge afterward, and the whole outfit would support me;' I think those were his ex- act words. I at once took a fast trot, and moved down about two miles, when I came to a ford of the river. I crossed immediately, and halted about ten minutes or less, to gather the batallion, sending word to Custer that I had everything in front of me, and that they were strong.

" I deployed, and with the Ree scouts on my left, charged down the valley, driving the Indi- ans with great ease for about two and a half miles. I however soon saw that I was being drawn into some trap, as they certainly would fight harder, and especially as we were nearing their village, which was still standing; besides, I could not

tributions to knowledge, foreign societies have presented him rare and costly scientific works. He has also re- ceived the highest diploma in medicine and the honorary degree of LL. D., while, by means of his reports, the large and rich mineral fields of southwest Missouri and southeastern Kansas, and the vast coal fields in northwest Missouri, eastern Kansas and southern Iowa, were brought to the notice of the world, thereby hastening the devel- opment of the exhaustless treasures of these regions.

In the Agricultural College, of which he was Dean, the sons of the farmers of the Mississipi valley were educated to become centers of influence for good in their widely separated homes. To the early toilers in the wide field of agricultural education, of whom Dr. Swallow is an honored representative, will helong in a good degree the eternal honor of devising and putting in successful oper- ation those means aud influences which are molding into goodly shape the progress and civilization of the com- mouwealth.

Dr. Swallow was one of a company who built at Argenta the first smelting and cupel furnaces in Montana, and the first silver mill in the State, at Phillipsburg. In 1867 he erected a twenty-four-stamp mill, adapted to both silver and gold, which is still running, at Butte. Since 1882 he has, as mining expert, brought out many mining proper- ties, all of which proved satisfactory to the purchasers. Governor Leslie appointed Dr. Swallow Mine Inspector. His two reports show a wonderful development of min- eral wealth in Moutana.

In 1844 Dr. Swallow was married to Martha A. Hill, daughter of Rev. David Hill, of the Virginia Methodist . Conference, Though raised iu her father's faith, when

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see Cnster, or any other support, and at the same time the very earth seemed to grow Indi- ans, and they were running toward me in swarms, and from all directions. I saw I must defend myself, and give up the attack mounted. This I did, taking possession of a point of woods, and which furnished, near its edge, a shelter for the horses; dismounted and fought them on foot, making headway through the wood. I soon found myself in the near vicin- ity of the village, saw that I was fighting odds of at least five to one, and that my only hope was to get out of the wood, where I would soon have been surrounded, and gain some high ground. I accomplished this by mounting and charging the Indians between me and the bluffs, on the opposite side of the river. In this charge, First Lieutenant Donald McIntosh, Second Lieutenant Ben H. Hodgson, Seventh Cavalry, and A. A. Surg. J. M. De Wolf. were killed. I succeeded in reaching the top of the bluff, with a loss of three officers and twenty-

she united her destinies with the man of her choice she joined the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an Elder. They have but one child, a charming daugh- ter, possessing rare gifts and accomplishments, who is now the wife of Col. A. M. Woodfolk, a distinguished law- yer of Chicago.

How much Dr. Swallow is indebted for his position and success in life to the devotiou aud rare good judgment of his beloved wife, no one knows so well as himself. Of the generous hospitality of that home, in which she has been the perpetual sunlight, the writer of this sketch knows from an experience of many years. In March, 1894, the Presbyterian Church of Helena celebrated the golden wedding of Dr. and Mrs. Swallow, in which event the church and people of the city greatly honored the aged couple.

ABNER ADAMS, one of the highly respected early pio- neers of Montana, resides in the Prickly Pear valley, six miles northeast of Helena. The facts in regard to his life and ancestry, as gleaned for publication, are as follows:

Abner Adams was born in Otsego county. New York May 12, 1829. He traces his ancestry back to English people who were among the earliest settlers of America. His great-grandfather Adams fought in the Revolutionary war. The Adamses had a farm in the town of Harwicks, where several generations of the family were born, lived and died, the land passing from one generation to the next. The name Abner was also handed down from father to son, from great-grandfather Abner Adams on down to the subject of our sketch. On this farm grand- father Abner Adams was born, resided sixty-eight years, and died, and his son Abner was also born there and also lived to he sixty-eight. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Diana Latin, was a native of Connecticut. She was the mother of five sons and one

nine enlisted men killed, and seven men wounded. Almost at the same time I reached the top, mounted men were seen coming toward us, and it proved to be Colonel Benteen's bat- talion, Companies H, D, and K; we joined forces, and in a short time the pack train came up. As senior, my command was then com- panies A, B, C, D, G, H, K and M, about 380 men, and the following officers: Captains Ben- teen, Weir, French and McDougall; First Lien- tenants Godfrey, Mathey, and Gibson; Second Lieutenants Edgerly, Wallace, Varnum, and Hare; A. A. Surg. Porter. First Lieutenant De Radio was in the dismounted fight in the woods, but having some trouble with his horse, did not join the command in the charge out, and hiding himself in the woods, joined the command after nightfall of the 26th.

"Still hearing nothing of Custer, and with this reinforcement, I moved down the river in the direction of the village, keeping on the bluffs. We had heard firing in that direction,

daughter, the subject of our sketch being next to the old- est, and one of the four who are still living. The mother died at the age of forty five years. Both parents were members of the Episcopal Church, and were people of high standing in the community.

When the subject of our sketch was four years old his parents removed to Cattaraugus county, New York, where they remained fourteen years, and from whence they removed to Janesville, Wisconsin. At Janesville his early manhood was spent, and there in 1854 he was mar- ried to Arabelle Wheeler, a native of Connecticut. After their marriage they settled on a farm, on which they re- sided until 1857, when they sold out and moved to Iowa. In Iowa Mr. Adams was engaged in farming ten years. He was a bricklayer by trade, and in addition to his farming operations he also did considerable building in Iowa.

'In 1867, with his wife and two children, Ella M. and Emma, Mr. Adams came up the Missouri river to Mon- tana. They first settled on Ten Mile river, near Holter's mill, and until the following spring he worked at his trade. Then he came to the Prickly Pear valley, and here he has ever since resided. The land in this valley was then all unsurveyed. He bought a squatter's right to 160 acres, for which he paid $700, and later paid $1,000 for another 160 acres. In 1885 he sold half of his land for $3,000, and it has since become worth much more than that. In 1882 he built the comfortable brick residence in which he now resides. While he has devoted much of his energies to the improvement of his land, he has also given much of his time to work at his trade, many of the buildings in Helena being the result of bis handi- work.

Mrs. Adams died of apoplexy in 1884, aged sixty years, and after remaining single seven years Mr. Adams

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and kuew it could only be Custer. I moved to the summit of the highest bluff, but seeing and hearing nothing, sent Captain Weir with his company to open communication with the other command. He soon sent back word by Lieuten- ant Hare that he could go no farther, and that the Indians were getting around him; at this time he was keeping up a heavy fire from the skirmish line. I at once turned everything back to the first position I had taken on the bluff, and which seemed to me the best. I dis- mounted the men, had the mnles and horses of the pack train driven together in a depression, put the men on the crests of the hills making the depression, and had hardly done so when I was furiously attacked; this was about 6 P. M .; we held our ground, with the loss of eighteen enlisted men killed and forty-six wounded, nu- til the attack ceased, about 9 P. M."

Here is Major Reno's report, or so much of it as applies directly to the approaching battle:

was married, April 20, 1891, to Mrs. Marguerite Machen, a native of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Her father, Jonas Hartzell, died in Pennsylvania, and soon afterward her widowed mother removed to Edgerton, Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1855. Both were members of the Presby- terian Church. Her mother took charge of the property, and reared her family of three daughters and two sons. Mrs. Hartzell was a descendant of the distinguished fam- ily of Downings, of London, England, from which Down- ing street in London took its name. She proved herself not only a kind and loving mother, but also a successful financier. At the time of her death, which occurred in 1886, in her sixty-seventh year, she was the owner of four good farms, and left one to each of her surviving chil- dren. Mrs. Adams was the youngest of the family. She still owns her valuable farm in Wisconsin. By her first husband she had one son, George Grant, who died in infancy; and one daughter, Blanche, who is uow the wife of S. T. Clark, a son of Rev. Robert Clark, and a Mason in good standing. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have two children-Clifton and Percy.

Mr. Adams has been a Master Mason since 1864.

ALONZO H. FOSTER, a Montana pioneer of 1863, was born at Smithport, Mckean county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 27, 1835, of English descent. His ancestors date their arrival in America at the landing of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock. Three brothers of that name landed here at that early date, all of whom became prominent in the early history of the settlement, and also aided in fighting the battles for independence during the Revolu- tionary struggle. The father of our subject, Daniel Fos- ter, was born in New Jersey, in 1796. He married Miss Asha A. Smith, who was born in New York, in 1806, and they had nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom five are now living. The father was a carpenter and millwright, and his business caused him to remove

HEADQUARTERS, SEVENTH CAVALRY,

CAMP ON YELLOWSTONE RIVER, July 5, 1876. Captain E. W. Smith,

A. D. C.and A. A. A. G .:

The command of the regiment having de- volved upon me, as the senior surviving officer from the battle of June 25th and 26th, between the Seventh Cavalry and Sitting Bull's band of hostile Sioux, on the Little Big Horn river, I have the honor to submit the following report of its operations from the time of leaving the main column until the command was united in the vicinity of the Indian village.

The regiment left the camp at the mouth of the Rosebud river, after passing in review be- fore the Department Commander, under com- mand of Brevet Major-General G. A. Custer, Lientenant-Colonel, on the afternoon of the 22d of June, and marched up the Rosebud twelve miles, and encamped. 23d .- Marched up the Rosebud, passing many old Indian camps, and

and reside in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio. But during his later life he returned to Pennsylvania, and died in 1862, his wife surviving him seven years. They were consistent members of the Methodist Church for many years.

Alonzo H. Foster, the fourth child in order of birth in the above family, was principally educated at the Bethle- hem Academy, and when a young man taught school during the winters, and worked at the carpenter trade in the summer. At the age of eighteen years he bought his time of his father, agreeing to clear twelve acres of land, the cost of which amounted to $200. Mr. Foster hired the work done with the money he received from teaching and the carpenter work. In 1860 the Pike's Peak dis- coveries took him across the plains to that country, where he mined for wages until February, 1863. April 27, of that year, he came to Bannack, Montana, worked for wages until gold was discovered at Alder Gulch, and then bought an interest in Nos. 19 and 21 at that place, where he worked until the following November, realizing about $4,000. Mr. Foster then returned home to visit his peo- ple, brought his own team and stock of goods to Mon- tana, after his arrival here was engaged in freighting during the remainder of the season, in the fall sold his outfit and conducted a livery stable at Virginia City eight years, was then engaged in running a fast freight line be- tween Glendale and Virginia City; later he owned a stage line between Melrose and Glendale, and during that time also conducted a transfer business. Iu 1885 Mr. Foster came to the Boulder valley, and conducted a stage line from Boulder to Elkhorn, also freighted from Jefferson to Elkhorn, carrying supplies for the Elkhorn Mining Company. Ile also hauled machinery and large quanti- ties of salt, and continued in that business until the rail- road was completed to Elkhorn. He next turned his attention to mining, purchasing a two-thirds interest in

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following a very large lodge pole trail, but not fresh, making thirty-three miles. 24th .- The march was continned up the Rosebud, the trail and signs freshening with every mile until we had made twenty eight miles, and we then en- camped and waited for information from the scouts. At 9:25, P. M., Custer called the offi- cers together and informed us that beyond a doubt the village was in the valley of the Little Big Horn, and that 10 reach it, it was necessary to cross the divide between Rosebud and Little Big Horn; and it would be impossible to do so, in the daytime, without discovering onr march to the Indians; that we would prepare to move at 11 P. M. This was done, the line of march turning from the Rosebud to the right, up one of its branches, which headed near the summit of the divide.

About 2 A. M. of the 25th, the scouts told bim he could not cross the divide before day- light. We- then made coffee and rested for three hours, at the expiration of which time the march was resumed, the divide crossed, and

the Monarch Iron Mine and the Montana Central Iron Mine, but afterward sold a half of his interest to Butte parties. Mr. Foster still retains a one-third interest in these mines, and is their manager. They have the best iron iu the State, large quantities of which is used by the smelters for flux, and they also send the product to Great Falls and East Helena. Mr. Foster is also interested in various other valuable mining properties, among them being the Silver Bow mine, which will ultimately bring large returns when developed. He has bought property and built a good residence in Boulder, where the family now reside.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 90

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