An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 94

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 94

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Mr. Power was married, in 1883, to Miss Nellie T. Kelly, a native of St. Louis and the daughter of M. L. Kelly of that city. Their married life was a most happy one for five years, when, seven days after the birth of their first-born, her death occurred. This bereavement was a most sad one to the husband and her many friends, and Mr. Power has since remained single. Their little son, named John Merlin, is alive and doing well.

WILLIAM ALBRECHT, although a young man, is never- theless the pioneer furniture merchant of Great Falls aud oue of her most enterprising citizens.

Ile is a native of Germany, born December 12, 1863, son of Frederick A. and Sophia (Schmidt) Albrecht. Ilis

served in the regular army, indifferently well, but it was not till 1877 that the experiment of appointing Indian policemen to gnard Indians and watch ill disposed whites was seriously con- sidered. From the report of the United States Commissioner of Indian affairs for 1880 it ap- pears to have been a success from the first:

The practicability of employing an Indian police to maintain order upon an Indian reser- vation is no longer a matter of question. In less than three years the system has been put in operation at forty agencies, and the total force now numbers 162 officers and 653 pri- vates. Special reports as to the character and efficiency of the services rendered by the police have recently been called for from its agents by this bureau, and those reports bear uniform testimony to the value and reliability of the police service, and to the fact that its mainte- nance, which was at first undertaken as an ex- periment, is now looked upon as a necessity.

father was a merchant in that country and his grand- father Burgomaster of Rothenburg. The subject of our sketch was educated in his native land and was there en- gaged in the manufacture of furniture.

Learning that the United States afforded superior advantages for an ambitious and enterprising young man to attain success, he decided to cast his lot in this coun- try, and accordingly came hither, in 1882. His first loca- tion was at Detroit, Michigan, where he was for six months employed as bookkeeper. From there he went to Minneapolis, where he was employed by a firm engag- ed in the manufacture of billiard tables and bank furni- ture, and where he remained four years. After severing his connection with that firm, he traveled all over the Pacific coast and the Northwest, looking for a location in which to open business on his own account, and finally gave Great Falls the preference. That was in 1886 and this town was then in its infancy. Mr. Albrecht estab- lished his business at his present location, 111 Central avenue, beginning with a stock that cost him $1,000 in the East and almost that much more to freight it out here. From that small beginning his business has made rapid strides and has kept pace with the growth of the town. In 1887, finding that his business had increased to such an extent that a larger building was neccessary for its accommodation, he erected his fine brick block, 25 x 150 feet, and the three floors of this building are now stocked to their fullest capacity with furniture, carpets and up- holstering goods. This building was planned by him and is a model one in every respect. Mr. Albrecht now em- ploys six men in his establishment, and not only does a large retail business but also has a wholesale trade that extends throughout the northern part of the State.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

" Among the 32,286 Sioux who are gathered at eleven agencies-nine in Dakota, one in Montana and one in Nebraska-peace and good order have prevailed throughout the year. At Santee, Sisseton and Devil's Lake agencies self- support is nearly reached, the proportion of the subsistence for those Indians which is derived from the issue of Government rations being 35, 20 and 25 per cent., respectively. They are located in severalty, live in houses, wear citi- zen's dress, send their children to school, own farming implements and stock, and their crops during the past year will average ten bushels of wheat, five bushels of corn, and sixteen bushels

He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Turn-Verein, and in politics is a Democrat. He has served two years as a member of the City Council, is ever ready to aid all public enterprises intending to advance the interests of the town, and is justly ranked with its most enterprising young business men.

ALEXANDER GRAHAM, bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Billings, was born in the island of Islay, Argyle, Scotland, in 1850, oldest son of Walter and Elizabeth (McTavish) Graham. The father, formerly a prominent farmer and distiller, but now retired, is still living, aged eighty-three years. He raised eight children, two sons and six daughters, but four of the latter are now de- ceased.

Alexander Graham received a good business education in the schools of his native land. He afterward spent nine years in the counting-house of Richardson & Com- pany, wholesale sugar merchants and ship owners on the Clyde. At the age of thirty years Alexander came to the United States, and while surveying the field of oppor- tunities engaged in various occupations in Yellowstone county, Montana. Ile became identified with the First National Bank of this city in June, 1890. In 1892 he erected his handsome residence on Twenty-ninth street and Fourth avenue, which is one of the most beautiful and comfortable homes in the city.

In April, 1888, Mr. Graham was united in marriage with Mary E. Bailey, a daughter of S. J. and Alice (Gentholts) Bailey, whose father is a contractor and builder in Billings. Our subject and wife have two chil- dren, -- Walter R. and Neil B. In his social relations, Mr. Graham is a member of Rathbone Lodge, K. of P., of Billings, in which order he is also Master at Arms of the Grand Lodge of Montana; and he has also been Treas- urer of the Billings Division, No. 8, Uniformed Rank of the order, and Secretary of the Yellowstone Fair Asso- ciation. Politically, he is a stanch and active Republi- can. Mrs. Graham is a member of the Episcopal Church.

of vegetables to each member of the tribe, With snch crops, which would furnish ample support for a white man, even a partial issne of rations would seem to be unnecessary, but allowance must be made for Indian appetite and Indian improvidence, and also for what the Indian would consider mujust discrimination on the part of the Government, should their Great Father, while issuing rations to his wild and indolent children, entirely withhold them from those who are industriously endeavoring, in every way, to comply with his wishes. More- over, their surplus crops are largely invested in the purchase of farming implements, cattle, and

HON. JOSEPH KITHCART CLARK, superintendent of the Moultou Mining Company, Butte, Montana, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1842.

Mr. Clark is a son of John and Mary (Andrews) Clark, both natives of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. The father of John Clark, whose name was also John, was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, who emigrated to this country and settled in Pennsylvania soon after the Revolutionary war. He married a Miss Reed, of Chester county, Penn- sylvania, whose parents were also from the north of Ire- land. The maternal grandparents of our subject, William and Sarah Andrews, likewise came from connty Tyrone, Ireland, to western Pennsylvania, the time of their arrival in this country being in the early part of the present cen- tury. Sarah Andrews' maiden name was Kithcart. She was a descendant of the Cathcart family who were origi- nally Hugnenots, and the name became changed to Kith- cart by an error made by a register in the transfer of a tract of land. The Cathcart family emigrated from France to Scotland at an early period and later moved to the north of Ireland. Subsequently they emigrated to the United States, and different branches of the family settled in New York and Pennsylvania. The parents of Mr. Clark were married in Pennsylvania, and resided there until 1856. That year they removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, where John Clark died in 1873, at the age of seventy-six years. In religious belief he was a Presby- terian, and for forty years was an Elder in the Church. Mrs. Clark now lives in Los Angeles, California, and is nearly eighty-one years of age. They had eleven chil- dren, seven of whom are living, viz .: William A., Joseph K., Elizabeth Abascal, Mary M. Miller, James Ross, Anna B. and Ella E. The deceased are John Reed, George, Sarah Boner and Margaret.

The boyhood of Joseph K. was passed in a manner common with farmer lads, the public schools affording him means of education. He resided on the farm with his parents in Iowa until he was twenty. Then, in 1862,

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rounds of the Government buildings at intervals of fifteen or thirty minutes, which precludes the possibility of Government supplies being sur- reptitiously made way with.

"The police force have rendered varied and valuable and important sevice during the past year. Over thirty white men have been arrested by them: some renegades from justice from other States and Territories, and who have been turned over to the proper officials on their ar- rival for them; some for stealing Indian horses, introducing liquors on the reservation, trading for annuity-goods, larceny, &c., crimes against the United States statntes, and who, after a hearing before Chief Clerk Alder, who is a United States commissioner, have been com- mitted, and have answered for their offenses

In 1869 Alexander Mitchell and his two brothers crossed the plains with ox teams, spending three and a half months on the road. They came direct to the land on which they have since resided. Mr. Mitchell has added to his original purchase until he now owns a valu- able farm of 400 acres, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. During the Indian war of 1877, he and his brother Campbell enlisted under General Gibbons, and took part in the battle of Big Hole on August 9, in which many of the whites were killed or wounded. Mr. Mitchell escaped without a scratch, but his brother was killed. The volunteers purchased their own equipments. Mr. Mitchell received $7 from the Government for ser- vices rendered during that struggle.

January 6, 1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Nannie Summers, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Henry L. Summers, a native of Kentucky, whose wife, Mary O., was a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have two sons,-Henry Clay and Samuel Oscar. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of the Christian Church. So- cially, Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Masonic order at Stevensville, and in political matters affiliates with the Republican party.

MORGAN EVANS, one of the representative farmers of Deer Lodge valley, has been identified with Montana since 1864. As one of her respected citizens he is entitled to some personal mention in this work, and a resume of his life is as follows;

Morgan Evans was born in South Wales, on the last day of June, 1833, was reared and educated in his native land and there learned the trade of shoemaker. He was married in 1854 to Miss Ann Evaus, a native of his own country, and, although having the same name not being related to him. In 1836 they took passage for America,

before the United States conrt at Deadwood, Dakota. Still others have been arrested for intoxication and minor offenses, infractions of agency regulations, and, having been convicted before an improvised police court, have been -fined or imprisoned temporarily in the agency guard-house.

"In addition the police have rendered valua- ble general service in caring for Government property, Indian stock, preventing introduction of liquor, &c., and arresting returning 'Sitting Bnll' Indians, and preventing the departure north of ambitious young bucks from the agency, should they feel so inclined."

"Owing to jealonsy and prejudices among the different bands and tribes of Indians and mixed bloods on this reservation, our court of Indian

and after a voyage of seven weeks landed at Boston, whence they at once directed their course to Salt Lake.

Upon his arrival in Utah, Mr. Evans took claim to a tract of laud, and there carried on farming and worked at his trade until 1864. That year the gold excitement in Montana drew him hither. For some time he was en- gaged in freighting between Salt Lake City and Virginia City, a business which at that time paid well. He made four of these trips in 1864. He had several wagons, with three yoke of oxen to each wagon, and each trip required about six weeks. On each wagon he hauled from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds and received ten cents per pound for hauling, thus making from $1,500 to $1,600 per trip.

In 1865 Mr. Evans brought his family to Deer Lodge valley, took claim to a tract of land, and settled down to stockraising, his earnest efforts being attended with suc- cess. His herd of cattle increased until at one time he had 800 head. He also raised Hambletonian trotting horses, raising some which attained a record of 2:21 and 2:26. His present ranch comprises about 1,000 acres and is located four miles east of Anaconda. Here he raises large quantities of hay and grain. He has built a nice residence and otherwise improved his property and he and his family are surrounded with all the comforts of life. He also has property in Anaconda, having there erected several buildings, which he rents.

Mr. and Mrs. Evaus have nine children, namely: Gwenllian, who married David Evans and has five chil- dren; Sarah Ann, who is the wife of John Nelson and has two children; Margaret, wife of Morgan Thomas; Annie, married Benjamin Phillips, had one son, and is now de- ceased; Rachel, widow of Joseph Thomas, has two chil- dren; and Mary, William, Kattie, David and John M. at home.

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offenses and our police force are neither effi- cient nor worthy of any particular praise in dis- charging their duties. The Indians of Charlot's band of Bitter Root Flatheads removed here are the hardest to control. Raised among the whites in Bitter Root valley, and, the young men with no restraint upon them, lounging around saloons in various villages of the valley, upon coming to the reservation they thought they could carouse and dance as they did there. Some of the leaders of this band openly avow that they are opposed to having a court of In- dian offenses, or police to enforce the regula- tions governing the reserve, and that on an In- dian reservation the Indians should be free from the white men's laws. If the Indian dances are permitted here, the consequence will be demor-

In his political affiliations, Mr. Evans is a stanch Re- publican. He has rendered efficient service as County Commissioner, filling that important position for a period of twelve years. Few men are better known or more highly respected in Deer Lodge county than is Morgan Evans.

DR. EDGAR I. FLETCHER, of Boulder, was born in Ver- mont, March 29, 1853. The first of the family in this country, Thomas Fletcher, came from England to Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1850, bringing with him a patent from the king of England to a large tract of laud. IIe became one of the prominent early settlers of that locality. The family in this country now number 'about 15,000. The father of our subject, Edward Fletcher, was born in Grand Isle county, Vermont, January 6, 1819. He mar- ried Eliza M. Landon, a native also of that county, and they had ten children, of whom eight are still living. The mother died at the age of sixty-four years, and the father survived until seventy-two years of age. Mr. Fletcher was an honest, upright man and was a great in- ventor. He had the credit of being the first inventor of the self-regulating windmills, also invented the first iron water wheels, similar to the turbine wheel of the present day; but like many inventors, never realized much profit from these valuable inventions. The family for many generations have been members of the Congregational Church.

Edgar J., the fifth child in order of birth in his father's family, received his education in the public schools of his native State. He read and practiced medicine with his elder brother, afterward graduated in the medical depart- ment of the State University, at Burlington, and in 1879 began the practice of his profession in Dutchess county, New York. Two years later he became imbued with the

alization to a great extent. I have taken a de- termined stand against those dances and expect the Department to sustain my efforts."- Report of Flathead Agency.

"In a communication dated February 4, 1880, I had the honor to call the attention of the Commissioner to certain information which I was in receipt of, indicating a disposition on the part of Sitting Bull and his followers to come to an amicable arrangement with the United States Government, and also asking per- mission to visit him by anthority. In reply thereto I was ordered to abstain from any com- munication with him, as the Government did not wish to make any terms. Of course that ended the matter; but I am convinced that at that time a lasting treaty could have been

idea of coming to Montana, and arriving in this State en- gaged in raising horses, which at that time afforded large returns. He followed that occupation in Jefferson county, and later added a sawmill to his other business interests. In 1884 Mr. Flether was elected County Super- intendent of Schools by the Republican party. In 1888 he resumed the practice of medicine in Boulder, and in 1891, seeing the need of a hospital in this city, he erected a good brick structure on three acres of ground near the courthouse. He has all the necessary appliances for the care of the sick, and also gives the bichloride-of-gold treatment for inebriates and those afflicted with the opium and tobacco habits. Dr. Fletcher is now beautifying the grounds about the premises, and the property is a credit to the city of Boulder. In addition to his medical prac- tice he served for a time as physician to the Board of Health of Jefferson county.

The Doctor was married September 18, 1884, to Miss Emma H. Robinson, a native also of Vermont, and a daughter of Henry Robinson. To this union have been born four children, one of whom, Ruth, died at the age of four years. Those living are: Buel M., Wallace R. and Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher were formerly Congrega- tionalists, but there being no church of that denomina- tion in Boulder, they united with the Presbyterian Church after coming to this city, and are active workers in ad- vancing religious sentiment in their community. The Doctor has served as an Elder in the church, and also aided in the erection of a creditable brick edifice. He is thoroughly informed in the practice of his profession and takes a deep interest in alleviating the sufferings of the afflicted. He is highly deserving of the patronage he has secured, as well of the high esteem in which he is held in Jefferson county.

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made. Subsequently Sitting Bull sent me, in token of friendship, a pipe and hatchet, which were to be given me in case terms conld be made; otherwise to be returned."-Report of Pine Ridge Agency, 1880.

" When I took charge of the agency, July 7, 1879, I found a police force of ten men at Wolf Point, but at Poplar river the Yanetons refused to allow their men to go into such an organiza- tion, saying that they had their soldiers in the camp and did not want any others; but I at once went to work and organized a force ont of such men as I could get, and put them on duty whenever needed; but they were not very ef- fective, as they were afraid of the camp. The chiefs, seeing I was determined in the matter, at the end of two months came to me and of-

CHARLES SPEAR, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Yellowstone county, also a member of the grocery firm of Donavan & Spear, at Billings, is another instance of capacity well applied, and his well directed efforts are bringing him both prominence and profit.

He was born in Atchison county, Missouri, in 1860, a son of Willis and Jane (Ferguson) Spear. The father is a lineal descendant of Richard Clark, who came to America on the Mayflower, and is of German, Scotch, and Welsh ancestry. He was formerly a prominent farmer and stock- raiser in Missouri, but now resides in Wyoming. He served in the Federal army toward the close of the war, and his son, Wood Spear, was also a soldier in the defense of the Union.

Charles, the subject of this sketch, attended the common schools of his native State, and also spent a few months at the College of Montana, in Deer Lodge. In 1882 he was employed by the mercantile firm of the Paul Mc Cornish Company, at Junction, this State, and in 1889 came to Billings, after which the grocery firm of Donavan & Spear was organized. They have the only exclusive grocery house in the city. In addition to his other inter- ests, Mr. Spear is a stockholder of the Basin Sheep Com- pany, and they own 11,000 sheep. In 1889 he was elected to the office of County Commissioner, of which he has served as Chairman since 1892.

In 1886 he was united in marriage with Miss Frances Gruwell, a daughter of Oscar and Sarah (Bohannen) Gruwell. The father is County Commissioner of Yellow- stone county, and is also one of the prominent sheep owners of the State. Mrs. Spear was the second white child born at Fort Benton, Montana. To this union has been born one child, Clara. Socially, Mr. Spear is a

fered to fill up the force of twenty with their best men, each chief furnishing an equal quota. I accepted their proposition, and on the 1st of October reorganized out of part of the men the chiefs selected, and retaining those of the old who had proved faithful. The man I selected as captain, 'Stab Plenty,' was considered the bravest and also one of the wildest Indians in the camp, the year before stopping the labor- ers in the field from working; but ever since accepting the position, he has been faithful and obedient in every particular, trying to live and act like a white man, and I cannot speak too highly in his praise. November 29, 1879, the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs for- warded a telegram saying that if any Sitting Bull Indians came to the agency they must be

member of Ashlar Lodge, No. 29, and Chapter No. 6, Aldemar Commandery No. 5, F. & A. M., at Billings, and, politically, supports the Republican party. Mrs. Spear is is a member of the Congregational Church.

LOUIS BROWN, one of the early pioneers of Montana, was born in Quebec, Canada, March 7, 1821, and is of English descent. His grandfather, a sea captain, came from England to Canada, but was afterward lost at sea. Ilis son, John B. Brown, the father of our subject, was born in Canada, in 1793, and was twelve years of age when his father died. At the age of twenty-two years he married Miss Rosetta May, and they had sixteen children. Six of the children were still living in 1882. The father lived to the age of eighty-eight years, and the mother attained a good old age.

Lonis Brown, our subject, resided in Canada until eighteen years of age, and learned to read and write in a French school. After leaving home he went to Burling- ton, Vermont, where he followed farm labor, receiving only $12 per month. After his marriage they resided in Canada three years, afterward purchased land at Somer- set, next sold his land at that place and moved to Chicago, worked for wages about three years in southern Indiana, and in 1859, filled with a desire for gold-hunting, he crossed the plains to Pike's Peak. In 1860 Mr. Brown returned to his home, but shortly afterward went again to the mines, secured a claim, and during the three months of his mining experience, cleared $1,000. He then erected a good, two-story dwelling, but not long after- ward the mines ceased operation, the town was deserted, and he lost his entire savings. In 1863 Mr. Brown was joined by his wife who came across the plains with a freighter. Gold had just been discovered at Bannack, and they made the journey to that place with ox teams,

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treated as prisoners of war and surrender their arms and ponies; also, every one of them if fed must be made to earn his rations by work in some capacity for the Government. The latter part of January forty-one families came here from the north in a destitute and starving eon- dition, who turned over their ponies and guns, and I put them on the list and reported iny action February 6, 1880. From that time on to the last of April they kept coming in small parties and turning over their poines and arms till there were 1,116 in all-109 men, 209 women, 424 boys, and 374 girls-and they had turned over forty-three ponies, forty guns, and seven revolvers. Before coming here for two or three months they had been killing and

arriving in June, 1863, but remained only seven weeks Mr. Brown next farmed on the shares in Bitter Root val- ley two years; in 1865 came to Frenchtown, afterward mined at Blackfort, and then came again to this city, There was also another gentleman named Louis Brown then residing in this locality, and he was known as No. 1, and our subject No. 2. After returning to this place onr subject rented the farm of Mr. Brown No. 1, but afterward purchased a fine tract of land three miles west of French- town, on the Mullan road. In 1872 he sold his land and engaged in the cattle business in the Flathead country for the following three years. After returning to this city Mr. Brown bought and sold two ranches, and in 1885 purchased the section of land on which he now resides, from the railroad, paying $2 per acre.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 94

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