An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 96

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 96

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office he still retains; he is now the senior Captain of the First Regimeut and takes great pride in the fact, being in line for the Majorate. Ile is also a member of differ- ent lodges, such as the A. O. U. W., the Select Knights of the A. O. U. W., the National Union and the Royal Arcanum.

Captain Mueller has five children, three boys and two girls, and takes great pride in his family.

Being a business man of push and enterprise he never does things by halves; what he thinks worth doing at all he does with all his might, and of course is very popular and has hosts of friends in the State.

HON. JOSEPH A. HYDE, a citizen of Deer Lodge, Mon- tana, and president of the First National Bank of Phil- ipsburg, this State, is a native of Missouri, born in Savan- nab, May 8, 1847.

Looking back over the ancestry of Mr. Hyde, we fiud that his great grandfather, John Hyde, emigrated to this country from England, at an early day and settled at Litchfield, Connecticut, and there his son Chancelor, our subject's grandfather, was born in 1765. Chancelor Hyde married Miss Polly Birdseye, of that place, and they be- came the parents of nine children. Some years after their marriage they removed to the town of Junius, Sen- eca county, New York, where he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred in the eightieth year of his age. Philo Hyde, the fifth born in his family, is the father of Joseph A., his birth occurring at Litchfield, Connecticut, March 4, 1806. He married Miss Elizabeth Clarke, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, and they have had seven children, four of whom are living, Joseph A. being their fourth child. For many years Philo Hyde carried on the business of merchant tailor, continuing the business in Savannah, Missouri, after his removal to that place in 1846. He was for some years Postmaster of Sa- vannah, and he and his good wife are still honored resi- dents of that town, he having attained the advanced age of eighty-eight years.

was impossible to supervise and see that the seed thus given was put in the ground. An after-in- spection of the farms showed that only a small part of the seed had been planted; the greater part had been eaten, as might have been ex- pected.

There was much alarm and disturbance caused by the frequent raids made from across the line by Crees and half-breeds during the spring and summer months. As many as 200 ponies were stolen and run into Canada. In some cases pur- snit was given and encounters followed, result- ing in 1 Piegan killed and 2 severely wounded. The Crees are reported to have suffered greater loss. One of our Indian villages on Two- Medi- cine river, eight miles north of the ageney, was abandoned in consequence of these raids, the In- dians yet living in lodges near theagency, afraid to return to their homes and farms. Several

Joseph A. Hyde attended the common schools, and when thirteen years of age began to earn his own living by working on a farm at twenty-five cents per day. In 1864 he went to Omaha and clerked in a store during the summer. The following winter he spent at his home in Missouri and remained there until March, 1866, when he shipped as a cabin boy on the steamboat Bighorn to work his passage up the Missouri to Montana.

It was on the 13th of June, 1866, that young Hyde ar- rived in Helena. There he at once accepted a clerkship in the store of Clarke, Conrad & Miller, the senior mem- ber of the firm, Mr. A. G. Clarke, being his uncle. Mr. Hyde remained in that position for your years. On the 13th of June, 1870, he came to Deer Lodge, and here for four years he was a clerk in the hardware store of Mr. F. B Miller. He had always made it a point to save a portion of his earnings, and with what he had accumu lated he was enabled in 1874 to launch out in business for himself. With H. G. Valiton as his partner, he en- gaged in the livery business at Deer Lodge, which he continued until 1877. At that time he went to Butte City and entered into a partnership with D. N. Dellinger in the hardware business, in which he continued success- fully until 1880. He then sold his interest to his partner and accepted the position of president of the Miner Pub- lishing Company. In 1882 he was elected cashier of the First National Bank of Butte City, in which capacity he served for five and a half years, when, on account of failing health, he was obliged to resign and take needed rest.

In January, 1858, Mr. Hyde opened a bank in Philips- burg, which was soon afterward incorporated as the Jo- seph A. Hyde Banking Company. This was succeeded in 1892 by the First National Bank of Philipsburg, with a capital stock of $50,000. Mr. Hyde was elected its president and has since filled that important position, so managing its affairs that it has become an eminently suc-

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visits were paid us by United States soldiers who made search for these Crees, bnt unsnecess- fully. As a result of these alarms a check was given to house building and the cultivation and extension of their farms, which will take a long time to overcome.

Early in winter, from the reports of the kill- ing of cattle from the agency herd, a night guard was appointed, but was only useful in checking, not in preventing, the evil. A stop was put to the practice only by driving the herd near the agency and corraling them at night. The only palliation of this for this outrage was that the rations issued were not sufficient to prevent hunger. Only by this resource and the issne of the thirty tons of potatoes raised on the agency farm was fatal suffering avoided.

Two impediments to the success of Indian farming exist here: First, the inability of the Indians to break up the ground, stronger horses and more skill than they possess being necessary ; second, the necessity for more supervision and instruction while, planting, caring for, and reap-

cessful financial institution. J. M. Merrell, of Oakland, California, is its vice-president, and James H. King is its competent cashier.

Mr. Hyde has been a large land owner in Deer Lodge county ; has dealt successfully in real estate, and has erected a number of valuable buildings, among them being the Lizzie Block and the Little Joe Block of Butte City, his banking house at Philipsburg, and his palatial residence at Deer Lodge. His residence, built in 1888, occupies a valuable block on one of the best streets in the city, the grounds being spacious and attractive. On these premises he has one of the finest stables in Montana. Mr. Hyde is also interested in mines and mining.

From his successful business career, we turn to the home life of Mr. Hyde. He was married May 8, 1873, to Miss Mary Hammond, daughter of William and Jane Hammond, formerly of Wisconsin, and they have had seven children, of whom five are living, namely: Eliza- beth, Joseph A., Jr., Mary H., Lucy E. and Thomas P.

Mr. Hyde has been for many years an active member of the Masonic order, having attained its thirty-second degree. He is Past Grand High Priest, Past Eminent Commander, and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Montana. In the K. of P. he is Past Chancellor, and in the I. O. O. F. is Past Grand Representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge and Past Grand Master. Politi- cally, he is a Democrat. His party honored him with a seat in the Territorial House and also in the Council, where he served most efficiently and to the entire satis- faction of his constitutents. Thus in business, social and political circles does he occupy a prominent position, and throughout his whole career he has established and main- tained what is far better than wealth or position-a good name.

ing crops than it is possible for the limited agency help to give. The Indian will work if shown how, and he understands the benefit re- sulting. His imitative power is great.

The day school has been well attended through- out the year, and fair progress was made by the pupils, the number present often being above one hundred; yet the two teachers had no trouble in keeping order, and no urging was required to keep up the numbers, as the school is popular with the children.

A boarding school was commenced in Jann- ary with seventeen pupils, and continued with small alteration in number till the end of June, when a vacation was given. The benefit to the Indian children from constant attendance, and away from the dirt and evil example of lodge life, was evident in their rapid progress, es- pecially in English speaking, as this is much discouraged by Indians amongst themselves. The invariable evening recreation indoors was to repeat over again the lessons of the school- room.

COL. JOHN J. DONNELLY, of Fort Benton, Montana, was born November 15, 1838, at Providence, Rhode Island. He was educated in the common and preparatory schools of his native city, completing his education at the College of the Holy Cross, at Worcester, Massachusetts. Later he studied law in the office of Sylvester Larned, of De- troit, Michigan, and was admitted to practice in Novem- ber, 1860; but the stirring events of that period did not leave him time or opportunity to make a record at the bar.

In July, 1861, he entered the service of the United States as Captain in the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, serving until he was mustered out, at the close of the re- bellion, as Lientenant-Colonel of Volunteers. He took part in many of the principal engagements of that great conflict, and was twice wounded, at Corinth and Resaca. A braver soldier never drew his sword in any canse, and such is the testimonial of his superior officers and of the men who served under him.

At the close of the war Colonel Donnelly engaged in the wholesale grocery and commission business, at Savan- nah, Georgia, but in 1866 came North on account of the death of his wife, to whom he was married a few days before entering the service, in 1861.

Being in a reckless mood by reason of this affliction he closed out his business and drifted into the Fenian move- ment, which was then at its highest, becoming one of the most prominent figures in the subsequent "invasions " of Canada. In 1866 he joined Sweeney in the movement against Canada, and was in the fight in which the "Queen's Own" was worsted. Colonel Donnelly was the commander of the Fenian forces. In 1869 the next raid took place. General O'Neil was president of the organization as it then existed, and Colonel Donnelly commanding officer

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

The giving of the vacation was hastened by the parents of the boarding-school children, on one pretext or another, drawing them away,and the offered resignation of matron and assistant. The reasons given for their resignation were various, and not by any means satisfactory, the principal one being that " they were tired of liv- ing a civilized life, and wished to return to their old habits."

One of the most formidable difficulties in the way of the civilization of these tribes is their unreasonable heathen superstition. A house in which a death occurs must be at once aban- doned, and all the deceased's effects are promptly appropriated by the surviving relatives. Until these and other practices more senseless and cruel are given np it will be impossible to abol- ish their nomadic habits or permanently locate them.

The police are becoming more useful as they get familiar with their duties. During the year two were discharged for disobedience. As the service is popular the best men can be had to

of the troops. The battle of Pigeon Hill was the begin- ning and practical ending of this outbreak. Colonel Donnelly had 260 men iu his command, and was able to hold his position from 9 o'clock A. M. until sundown, with 2,300 men about and opposed to him. He had twelve men killed and seventeen wounded, being himself one of the latter.

After this he drifted West and was in the Red River rebellion, in which Louis Riel was the leader of the Half Breeds. This collapsed as quickly as the other move- ments, and Mr. Donnelly immediately came to Montana, locating at Fort Benton in 1872, where he has since re- sided.

Colonel Donnelly has served Choteau county as Clerk and Recorder and Probate Judge, and was elected from that county a member of the Twelfth Territorial Legis- Jative Assembly, being chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives. He has been engaged in the practice of the law since he located at Fort Benton, and is gen- erally looked upon as the Nestor of the bar of northern Montana.

JAMES L GOODWIN, a prominent farmer of Deer Lodge, Montana, has resided here for thirty years. A brief sketch of his life will be of interest to many, and is as follows:

James L. Goodwin was born in the State of Missouri, March 10, 1836. His ancestors came to America during the Colonial period, coming here from England and settling in Virginia. Both his Grandfather Goodwin and his father, James B. Goodwin, were born in the Old Dominion. His mother, whose maiden name was Mildred Powell, was also a native of Virginia. In 1831 James B. Goodwin moved to Missouri and settled on what was then the frontier, where he engaged in farming. IIe died in

fill the vacancies. Stricter discipline, less liberty to wander off, and more service to perform have increased the efficiency of the force.

After seeing the Indians of Montana on their slow bnt sure upward road, as a judge, police- man, a white man, if you please, we must pass on from this cart-load of massive tomes to a time when this new arm, the Indian police, served the country as bravely and well as ever did Saxon, pansing only to note that the loca- tion, area and even number of reservations had been, and still are, subject to some change, but always with the consent of the Indian and often to his advantage.

At each agency, where it has been found practicable to establish it, the reports of the In- dian agents show that the court has been en- tirely successful, and in many cases eminently useful in abolishing the old heathenish customs

Missouri, in the thirtieth year of his age, leaving a wife and five children. His widow some time later became the wife of Joshua Harrison, and during the war they removed to Illinois. Later, while on a journey to Texas, she died in Arkansas, at the age of fifty-one years.

The subject of this sketch was next to the youngest in the family, and was only three years old when his father died. His early educational advantages were limited and it may be said he picked up the education he has in the dear school of experience. When quite young he was thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood, starting out as a farm hand. The year he was eighteen he earned $75 and his board. He was married in 1859 to Miss Sarah Slocum, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Isaac Slocum of that State, he being of Scotch-Irish an- cestry. Her grandfather, Robert Slocum, was a soldier in the war of 1812.

In 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin crossed the plains with ox teams to Montana, coming with a train composed of thirty people and twelve wagons. While they were in the region of the Black Hills they were constantly har- assed by Indians, but finally reached their destination in safety. Upon his arrival at Cold Spring ranch, near Virginia City, Mr. Goodwin was employed to herd cattle for Thomas Gorham, who was captain of the company while they crossed the plains.

It was in February, 1865, that Mr. Goodwin came to his present location in Deer Lodge valley. Here he took claim to a tract of Government land, and is now the owner of 460 acres of fine land, well improved with good buildings, etc. For a long time they were unable to secure supplies at any place nearer than Deer Lodge. The few cattle they brought with them soon increased to a large herd.

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that have been for many years resorted to, by the worst elements on the reservation, to retard the progress and advancement of the Indians to a higher standard of civilization and education. The agent of the Nez Perce agency, Idaho, says: "The court and police force have worked wonders among this tribe. Friend and foe alike of the Indians in this vicinity acknowledge the same." The agent of the Western Shoshone agency, Nevada, says: "Its existence has been a preventive to the commitment of any serious offenses coming under its purposes." The agent of the Standing Rock agency, Dakota, says: "It is growing to be an important factor in the administration of affairs at this agency. Reg- nlar semi-monthly sessions of the court are beld, where all offenders are brought by the police for trial, and cases impartially decided by the court. A number of cases for violation of office rules have been tried during the year past, and the offenders punished either by fines or imprisonment in the agency guard-house,

While Mr. Goodwin affiliates with the Democratic party, he takes no active part in political matters. Mrs. Goodwin is a member of the Methodist Church at Deer Lodge. Both are highly esteemed in the community in which they live and are justly entitled to the success that has crowned their efforts in this fertile valley.

JOHN G. MORONY, Clerk of the Third Judicial District of Montana, is a native of this State, born May 27, 1869.

Mr. Morony, as his name would indicate, is of Irish descent. His father, Martin Morony, was born in Ireland in 1836, and emigrated to America in 1843, settling in Du- buque, Iowa, where he grew up and where he followed the trade of plasterer. During the Salmon river gold ex- citement he went to that country, and from there came in 1867 to Montana. His first location here was at Bear Gulch, where he engaged in placer-mining. In 1868 he returned to Hannibal, Missouri, and was married that same year to Miss Anna M. Sullivan, a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, and also of Irish descent. Immediately after their marriage Mr. Morony returned with his bride to Montana and settled at Bear Gulch. In 1870 he re- moved to Missoula county and purchased a farm and re- sided on it two years. From 1874 until 1890 he resided in Phillipsburg. In 1890 he took up his abode in Deer Lodge, and here he spent the residue of his life and died in 1892. The chief characteristics of his life were hon- esty and industry, and he was a devout member of the Catholic Church, as also is his good wife who survives him and who is a resident of Deer Lodge. They had six children, five of whom are living, namely : John G., whose name heads this article; Martin, of Anaconda; Daniel, in school at Helena; and Annie and Joseph, at home and attending school in Deer Lodge.

John G. Morony was born at Springtown, at the head of Bear Gulch, in Deer Lodge county, and as he was

and the decisions of the judges have, in every instance, been sustained by the better class of Indians, and usually accepted by the trans- gressor as just and proper. The present judges are members of the police force, but the judges of this court should be independent of that body, as it places the police officers in an em- barrassing position when obliged to arrest, try, and punish offenders. If there were salaries of $20 per month attached to the office of judge the best men among the Indians would be will- ing to serve in that capacity, as the service is becoming quite popular, and having these two branches independent of each other would add to the usefulness of both." The agent of the Siletz agency, Oregon, says: "I am well pleased with its workings. I have not had to reverse a decision made. The judges try in every case to do the right thing, tempering justice with mercy. I have every confidence in them. They solve questions oftentimes that are knotty for me." -- In. Com. Rept , 1885.

reared on the frontier his educational advantages were limited. Ile attended the district school a few months each year up to the time he was thirteen. Then he ob- tained a position in the notion store of J. W. Dawson, Postmaster of Phillipsburg, with whom he remained a year and a half. After that he was employed as book- keeper for Caplice & Smith and later as bookkeeper in the bank of Hon. Joseph A. IIyde, continuing in the lat- ter position two years. Then he worked in Granite for the Buskett Mercantile Co. Next he served for some time as Deputy County Clerk under J. F. Brazelton. In 1891 he was appointed Assessor of the county, and in 1892 was elected Clerk of the District Court on the Democratic ticket to the position which he is now filling.

B. F. HOOPES & SON, the leading hardware merchants of Boulder, have been identified with the history of Montana for many years. The father came to the Terri- tory in 1865, and the son has resided here since three years of age. B. F. Iloopes, the senior member of the firm, was born in Pennsylvania, April 30, 1830. Ilis father, David Hoopes, was born in Westchester, Chester county, that State, and afterward located where Beaver Falls now stands. He lived to the age of eighty years, and at his death left a family of eight children, five of whom still survive. He was a member of the Society of Friends.

B. F. Hoopes, his eldest son and third child, was born and raised in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, and in early life learned the miller's trade. In 1855 he went to Iowa, but after five years spent in that State returned to Penn- sylvania. The great civil war broke out soon afterward, and he enlisted in a Pennsylvania cavalry company, but after six months' service as a private was transferred to the Quartermaster's department, where he had charge of the supply trains from New Orleans to Nashville. After

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In the autumn of 1890 we find the once fam- ous disturber of the peace in Montana, Sitting Bull, established at Standing Rock Agency on the Dakota side of the Missouri. He was now nearing sixty years of age and had been fully half that time a formidable leader of wild red men. He lived in two little cabins in comfort and indolence, but was no longer rich in prop- erty or influence. As observed in his return from the British Possessions, he was still a true aborigine and surperstitions as a child. Still was he dauntless in spirit, reckless of results, and fearless as a lion in the face of danger.

The agent at that place and time in his re- port speaks of Sitting Bull as a coward. The man who would be so mean as to turn aside in

his official work to call this remarkable Indian a coward, has no right to be believed in this or in anything else; and it is some satisfaction to know that so soon as the sad affair which re- sulted in the death of the chief came to the ears of the president, his garrulous and mendacious offices were no longer required; but, lest I should fall into the same folly, and say more than in my line of duty here, I put entirely aside the acccumulated mass of accounts, con- tradictory in some cases, and give only the com- missioner's report of the conditions and the cause which led to the trouble.

It is something to know that this remarkable figure in the history of Montana fell not by the hands of those whom he had always counted as

returning from the war, Mr. Iloopes clerked in a mercan- tile establishment at his home until the spring of 1865, and then came up the Missouri river to Montana. After reaching Cow Island the water was so low that the steamer could proceed no farther, and they were obliged to continue the remainder of the journey with ox teams. Mr. Hoopes was engaged in business with his brother at Virginia City until the spring of 1866, and since that time has resided in the Boulder valley. He has pur- chased lands from time to time to the amount of 1,120 acres, and is one of the most prominent farmers and stock raisers in the county. In May, 1890, in company with his son William Penn, he embarked in the hardware busi- ness, purchasing what was known as the pioneer hard- ware store of the town, and under the son's management the business has increased until they now have the largest trade in that line in the county. They deal in general hardware, agricultural implements, wagonmaker's sup- plies and hard and soft coal.

B. F. Hoopes was married in April, 1861, to Miss Marcella R. Foster. William P., their only child, was born in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1862, and was brought to Montana by his parents wheu three years of age. He was raised on his father's farm, attended the public schools, and also graduated at the Iowa City Academy in June, 1884. He spent the remainder of that year in traveling through the Eastern States, arriving home December 24, 1884. He remained on the farm until the spring of 1888, when he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the Jefferson County Bank, now known as the First National Bank of Boulder. After filling that position two years, Mr. Hoopes embarked in his present business.

He was married January 1, 1886, to Miss Claribel W. Rhodes, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they have three

sons and one daughter: Helen, Franklin M., Thomas N. and William L. Both Mr. Hoopes and his father are strong Republicans in political matters, and the latter was elected and served two years as County Assessor of Jefferson county. W. P. Hoopes is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Boulder Lodge, No. 41, in which he now holds the position of Senior Warden, and has also passed all the chairs in the K. of P.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 96

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