An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 98

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 98

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As to politics, Judge Galbraith was originally a Whig, and has been a Republican ever since the organization of that party, and was of course a strong Union man during the war of the great Rebellion. His wife died in 1883, and he has remained a widower. He has been a Free- mason since 1854.

WILLIAM T. ALLISON, a member of the firm of Allison & Sherman, furniture dealers and undertakers, Phillips- burg, Montana, is one of the leading business men of the town, and as such is deserving of some personal mention in this work.

Mr. Allison was born in Delaware county, New York, November 19, 1838. He is descended from English an- cestors who came to America long previous to the Revo- lution. His grandfather, William T. Allison, was a resi- dent of Sing Sing, New York, and was a farmer by occu- pation. He reared three sous and a daughter. The latter is still living at the old home place in New York, and is now eighty-one years of age. One of the sons also survives. Both Grandfather and Grandmother Allison lived to be seventy-three years of age. Their son Jeffer- son was our subject's father. He was born in Sing Sing, June 14, 1816, and married Margaret Paul, a native of his own county. They spent their lives and reared their family, five sons and one daughter, in the Catskill mountains of Delaware county, New York. His wife died in the forty-third year of her age and he lived to be seventy-fonr. Both were members of the Methodist Church and were exemplary Christians. Her death was the result of an accident and occurred the day after Lin- coln was assassinated. Their children are all living ex- cept one, Hiram, who died in the Union army during the Civil war.

William T. Allison was next to the oldest of the family. He was reared on his father's farm and educated in the district schools. In 1861 he went to Minnesota, where he worked at his trade, that of carpenter, and also did some farming. As the Civil war progressed and urgent calls were made for more troops, Mr. Allison enlisted, in 1864, in Company F, Eleventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,

"About the same time the Cheyenne and Ar- apaho agent in Oklahoma reported that during the autumn of 1989 and the ensuing winter rumors had reached that agency from the Sho- shones of Wyoming that an Indian Messiah was located in the mountains about 200 miles north

and served under General Thomas nntil the close of the war. He was engaged principally in skirmishing. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged and returned to Minneapolis, where he was engaged in con- tracting and building until 1870.

It was in 1870 that Mr. Allison came to Montana. IIe first located at Deer Lodge and there continued work at his trade, putting up a number of the best buildings in the town. Two years later he went to Washington Ter- ritory and engaged in placer mining in Yakima county. There he sank all his money. After that unfortunate venture he came back to Montana and this time located at New Chicago, where he built a shop and resumed work at his trade, remaining there until 1875. Since that date he has been a resident of Phillipsburg. IIere for six years he did the greater part of the contracting and building in the town, at times having a large gang of men working for him. Ile also did a great deal of work about that time. In 1881 he formed a partnership with G. V. Sherman in furniture business, and since then theirs has been the leading furniture and undertaking house in the city; in fact, they now have the whole husi- ness of the town to themselves.

Mr. Allison was married March 2, 1887, to Miss Rebecca A. Shull, a native of Auburn, Indiana, and a daughter of Ilenry Shull of that State. They have two sons, Jay Henry and Herman Thomas, both born in Phillipsburg. He and his family occupy one of the most pleasant homes in the city, planned and built by him.

Fraternally, Mr. Allison is a prominent Mason, being Iligh Priest of the Chapter and Past Master of the Blue Lodge. Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. Ile has been a member of the Masonic order at Phillipsburg for sixteen years, and nearly all this time has filled some one of its important offices. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R., being Past Commander of the latter. In political matters he is a Republican. He was a member of the first City Council of Phillipsburg and he also had the honor of serving as Mayor of the city. He and his wife are charter members of the Episcopal Church of this place, and he is one of its trustees. Thus it will be seen that in business, political and social circles he has been a prominent factor ever since he became identified with the town, and as one of its most worthy citizens he is held in high esteem by all who know him.

MARTIN BARRETT, a wealthy and influential farmer and stock raiser of Amesville, Montana, was born in county Mayo, Ireland, February 2, 1840, son of Thomas and Nancy ( McDonald) Barrett. His father was a farmer by occupation and died when Martin was seven years

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of the Shoshones; that prominent medicine men liad seen and held conversation with him, and had been told by him that the whites were to be removed from the country, the buffalo to come back, and the Indians to be restored to their original status. * In August, 1880,

old. A year later the widowed mother came with her family to America and settled in Canada, and there the subject of our sketch received a common-school educa- tion and learned the trade of tanner and currier, aiding materially in the support of the family until he was nineteen.

In the fall of 1859 young Barrett went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he hired out at whatever he could get to do. In 1860 he began driving an ox team in a train between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The following year we find him in Colorado, in quest of gold, which, however, he did not find, and there for a time he worked for wages. In 1863 he came to Montana and, with Joseph Shineberger, located his present place on Horse prairie, where they engaged in stock raising, Mr. Shineberger also engaging in mining. By mutual consent their partnership was dissolved in 1871, Mr. Barrett becoming the sole owner of the ranch. His place is not only one of the finest in Montana, but is also one of the most fertile. It now contains 3,200 acres. Mr. Barrett keeps an average of 1,500 head of cattle and each year cuts about 1,500 tons of hay.

August 6, 1867, Mr. Barrett married Miss Alice E. Cook, a lady of culture and refinement. Their home is thoroughly Eastern in all its appointments. It contains a magnificent library, is supplied with all the leading magazines and papers, has every evidence of refined ease, and is presided over in a most graceful manner by Mrs. Barrett, both she and Mr. Barrett being the personi- fication of hospitality.

Politically, he is a Democrat, and although he was elected and re-elected Councilman, he has ever refused public office, preferring to give his time and attention to his own affairs.

NATHAN SMITH, a well-known resident of Montana since 1867, a farmer and proprietor of the Garrison Hotel, and also Assistant Postmaster of Garrison, is a native of Pennsylvania, born May 22, 1832.

Mr. Smith is a descendent of both English and German ancestors. Ilis parents, David and Mary (Griffan) Smith, were born in Pennsylvania and spent the whole of their lives in their native State, the father being a shoe- maker and following the trade through life. They were identified with the Christian Church and were honored and respected by all who knew them. Of their family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, eight are still living, Nathan being the fifth in order of birth. The father passed away at the age of seventy-two years and the mother at al out the same age, she having preceded him at the age of sixty.

Agent Gallagher stated that many at the Pine Ridge Agency were crediting the report made to them in the spring that a great medicine inan had appeared in Wyoming whose mission was to resurrect and rehabilitate all the departed heroes of the tribe, restore to the Indians herds

Nathan Smith was reared and educated in Bedford county, remaining there nntil he was twenty-three. Then, in 1855, he went to California, traveling via the Isthmus of Panama. He spent about thirteen years in California, during that time, in 1858, making a trip to the Fraser river, without success, however, and the journey being attended with great peril. Previous to that time he was engaged in mining and afterward he was employed as a clerk in a store. In 1867 he came to Montana, making the journey by water to Walla Walla and thence on horseback over the mountains to Phillipsburg, where he engaged in the shoe business and continned the same un- til 1869. He then purchased an interest in a gold mine on Pilgrim bar, and, with a partner, mined until 1872, taking out from sixty to seventy thousand dollars, furn- ishing employment for some six to twelve men. In 1872 he sold his mining interest and again turned his atten- tion to the shoe business in Phillipsburg, where he con- tinued until 1877. That year he bought mining ground in German Gulch, and between that time and 1879 took ont about $5,000, after which he sold his interest for $1,000. Ile then came to Garrison.

After coming to Garrison Mr. Smith purchased 160 acres of land, and to this he has since added 120 acres more. Ilere he is raising wheat, oats, barley and vege- tables, and also keeps some cattle. In 1889 he became the proprietor of the Garrison House. In connection with the hotel business he runs a lunch counter at the station and is meeting with success in both. He also has a store here, and, as stated at the beginning of this sketch, is Postmaster of the town. In these varions enterprises he is ably assisted by his accomplished daughters.

Mr. Smith was married in 1871 to Miss Emma J. Rohm, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob and Mary Rohm, of German and French descent. They lived in their native State, Pennsylvania, until their death. Mr. Rohm was a miller, owning a flouring mill and farm to the time of his death. He and his wife were highly re- spected Methodists, brought up a large family, one of whom, Jacob Rohm, is a minister of the gospel in Illi- nois, and another, James Thornton Rohm, is a physician at Redding, California. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three daughters, all born in Montana, namely: Maude Josephine, Debora Sierra, and Alice Marion.

Mr. Smith is a member of the I. O. O. F., has passed all the chairs in the order, and is a Grand Lodge Repre- sentative. Ile has been a Republican all his life, but is now a Populist. For eighteen years he has served as Justice of the Peace, and since March, 1894, has been Postmaster of Garrison.

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of buffalo which were to make them entirely in- dependent of aid from the whites, and bring such confusion upon their enemies, the whites, that they would flee the country, leaving the In- dians in possession of the entire Northwest for all time to come. Indians fainted during the

THOMAS JOSEPH FARRELL, a Montana pioneer of 1864, and one of the most prominent stockmen of Madison county, is a native of Ireland. He was born in county Meath, February 10, 1843, a descendant of Irish ancestors, who were mostly stock-growers. His mother died at his birth, and when he was two years old his grandmother brought him to America. When he was thirteen he be- gan to manage for himself and was variously employed at different places until the spring of 1864, when he started from St. Louis for Montana. IIe drove a team and had a wagon loaded with canned fruits and other provisions, was six weeks in making the journey from St. Joseph to Salt Lake, and upon his arrival at the latter place he sold out at auction, crying the goods himself, everything he had, including his team and wagon. This was his first experience as an auctioneer.

Purchasing a prospector's outfit at Salt Lake, he started for Montana, but on the way met prospectors returning, and with them returned to southern Utah. The follow- ing winter he spent in the vicinity of Salt Lake, running a peddler's outfit, and in the spring he again started for Montana and arrived at Virginia City April 14, 1865. The price of a meal here was then in currency $2, and other things were proportionately high. After this he was for three months employed as auctioneer for Cook & Newell, at $100 per month. This ended his working for others, from that time on he being in business for himself. In those early days Virginia City was a lively mining camp. There were thousands of miners here and all kinds of business were running at full blast. On Sundays the streets of the town were full of people, and on that day Mr. Farrell had horses to sell at auction. Ilis method was to mount the horse he had to sell, ride him out into the crowd and cry him off while sitting on his back. It was said of Mr. Farrell that he never found a horse that he could not ride. At this time James II. Mills, the pioneer newspaper man of Montana, reported the following incident for his paper:

While Mr. Farrell was intent upon the sale of his horse, a good Methodist brother (Rev. Hugh Dunean, father of the present County Clerk of Madison county) was holding a meeting in an upstairs room. Both the preacher and auctioneer were talking loud. The preacher cried, " What shall a man do to be saved? "and at that instant the voice of Mr. Farrell was heard shout- ing, " Buy a No. 1 California horse." Later the preacher shouted, " What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" and the auctioneer's voice was heard ringing above the tumult of noise, " I am only offered $45: do 1 ear any more?"

performances which attended the recital of the wondrous things soon to come to pass, and one man died from the excitement. The effect of snch meetings or dances was so demoralizing that on August 22, 1890, when abont 2,000 In- dians were gathered on White Clay creek, about

In 1865 Mr. Farrell conceived the idea of raising fine horses, and from time to time as he got money he pur- chased good brood mares, and thus in a small way began the business in which he afterward became so promi- nent. Soon he and his partner got a ranch of 320 acres near Bozeman. Neither knew anything about farming in Montana. Instead of plowing the bench land they plowed the low land to save irrigation. The grain was slow to ripen, was caught in the frost and they lost the whole erop. The seed wheat had cost them $12.50 per bushel in gold and for the oats they paid $10 per bushel. The following year they put in 'eighty acres of wheat, and this time the grasshoppers took it all. Not dis- couraged, however, they sowed again, this time a larger crop, and to provide against the grasshoppers they put straw around the field. When they saw the clouds of grasshoppers coming they set fire to the straw, but in- stead of keeping them away the smoke only arrested their flight, and a third time the erop was lost. This dis- gusted Mr. Farrell. He and his partner dissolved, the latter taking the ranch, while for his share Mr. Farrell took two elks, three horses and a wagon and harness. He traded the elks to Colonel Foster for a horse and came to Virginia City to settle his business and leave the country.

When he reached Helena, however, he changed his plans and engaged in the auction business. There he did well, and in the fall came back to Virginia City and opened a livery business. In this he also prospered. Ere long he became the owner of town property and lands in Madison valley. He and his partner, O. B. Var- ney, purchased nine sections of land, have one of the finest horse ranches in the whole country, and at this writing are paying tax on 950 head of horses. Among the fine horses owned by them may be mentioned " Ben Lowman," "Dictator," " Forest " and " Gladiator." For a number of years they furnished the Government with cavalry horses. They are also largely engaged in the cattle and sheep business and have sold as high as 821,- 000 worth of cattle at one sale, and $6,500 worth of sheep at a time. Mr. Farrell is also largely interested in valu- able mining claims.

It is a fact worthy of note here that when Mr. Farrell first arrived in Virginia City, without money or friends, he saw a poster which read, "Vote for for sheriff." After reading it he said to the man with whom he was traveling, " I intend to be sheriff of this county some day myself." The prophecy came true. In 1873 he was nominated and elected to that position by the Demo- cratic party, and as the incumbent of that office he gave

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eighteen miles from the agency, to hold what they called a religions dance connected with the appearance of this supernatural being, the agent instructed his Indian police to disperse them. This they were unable to do. Accompanied by about twenty police the agent himself visited the place, and on hearing of his approach most of the Indians dispersed. Several men, how-

the highest satisfaction. In the meantime he was the owner of a large freighting outfit, and did an extensive business in this line. To him belongs the credit of hav- ing made the first road to the Yellowstone Park. That was just after he had made an excursion to the park with forty-nine of the representative men of Montana. He also has the honor of having been one of the organizers of Company D, National Guards of Montana. Of this com- pany he was at first elected First Lieutenant, but was afterward made Captain and received his commission from Governor Leslie. He has served as School Trustee and Alderman of Virginia City, and has taken an active part in the politics of the connty and State, having served as Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Madison county and also as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee.

Mr. Farrell was married July 29, 1876, to Mrs. Margaret Conway, a native of Ireland. They have three children, all born in Virginia City, namely : Bessie Jnlia, July 22, 1877; George Thomas, September 21, 1879; and Thomas J., Jr., October 7, 1884. They have a very pleasant home on one of the hills overlooking the town. Mrs. Farrell is a devout member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Farrell is broad and liberal in his religious views. Ile is a man of bright intellect and is wide and favorably known through- out the State of which he is a respected pioneer.

MONTGOMERY II. PARKER, Prosecuting Attorney of Jefferson county, also a member of the prominent law firm of Cowan & Parker, of Boulder, was born in Ken- tncky, September 16, 1856, and descended from good old Revolutionary stock. His family emigrated from England to Maryland, where the grandfather of our subject, Wil- son H. Parker, was born. He afterward became one of the pioneer settlers of Fayette county, Kentucky, where he owned a valuable farm. He married Miss Charlotte Ash- by, a daughter of Captain John Ashby, of Virginia. They raised four sons. The mother died at the age of sixty years and the father lived to the age of seventy-five years. Montgomery Parker, the father of our subject, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, December 16, 1821. Hle married Miss Nancy ITunt, a native also of that county, and a daughter of Wilson Hunt. The family are from South Carolina, and trace their ancestry to the Duke of Argyle, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Parker had three children. The father was a farmer by occupation, was a soldier in the Confederate army during the great Civil war. His wife was raised in the Presbyterian faith.

ever, with Winchester rifles in their hands, and a good storing of cartridges belted around their waists, stood stripped for fight, prepared to die in defense of the new faith. They were finally quieted.

" But the dances continued, and October 12, 1890, Agent Royer, who had just taken charge of the agency, reported that more than half the

She died at the age of twenty-nine years, and Mr. Parker survived until fifty-six years of age.

Montgomery H., the second child in order of birth in the above family, was reared to manhood in his native State. When quite yonng he began teaching school. and in that way earned the means to attend the Kentucky University at Lexington, graduating in the law depart- ment of that institution in 1879. In 1880 Mr. Parker lo- cated in Radersburg, then the county seat of Jefferson county, Montana, where he remained until the county seat was changed to Boulder, in 1883. In the fall of the latter year he removed to Meagher county, but in 1887 returned to Jefferson county and immediately began the practice of his profession with George F. Cowan, under the firm name of Cowan & Parker. This is one of the most prominent law firms in the county. In political matters Mr. Parker associates himself with the Demo- cratic party, has always taken a deep interest and active part in the offices of his connty, and in October, 1889, at the first election under the new State constitution of Montana, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, in which he is now serving his second term.

Mr. Parker was married June 4, 1884, to Miss Mittie M. Kennon, a native of Ohio, and a member of one of the old and respected families of that State. Two children were born to that union Kittie D. and Warren K. The wife and mother died December 16, 1888. June 1, 1893, in Washington, D. C., our subject was united in marriage with Miss Florence A. Watson, a daughter of Roderick D. Watson, of that city, and granddaughter of Major Wat- son, of Maryland. Mr. Parker was made a Mason in 1884, and is now Master of Boulder lodge, No. 41. Ile is also a member of the A. O. U. W.

OLIVER D. FRENCHI, Que of the oldest merchants of Virginia City, and a Montana pioneer of 1863, was born in Barnard, Vermont, April 13, 1824.

He is a descendant of early settlers of New England. On the maternal side his ancestry can be traced back to Roger Williams. His grandfather, Roger French, served as a soldier in the Colonial army during the Revolution, and was one of the earliest settlers of Barnard, Vermont, to which place he moved from Rhode Island, making the journey with oxen aud in the winter. He was one of the hardy pioneers of Vermont. Ile married Achisah Toby and they became the parents of eleven children. At the time of his death he was eighty-two years old. His wife's death occurred two years before his. Their son,

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Indians had already joined the dancing, and when requested to stop would strip themselves ready for fight; that the police had lost control, and if his endeavors to induce the chiefs to suppress the craze should be unavailing, he hoped for a hearty cooperation in invoking mil- tary aid to maintain order.

Harrison French, the father of our subject, was born at Barnard, Vermont, in 1796. He married Miss Eliza Drew, a native of Woodstock, Vermont, and daughter of . Dr. Stephen Drew, a descendant of an old New England fam- ily. To them were born six children, of whom five are still living. His wife died in the forty-first year of her age and he lived to be ninety-three years old. They were both Congregationalists.

Oliver D. was the second born in his father's family. He received his early education in his native town and when he was sixteen years of age went to sea. His uncles were ship owners and whalers, and on their vessels he made two voyages, which was enough to satisfy him with sea life. After this he and one of his brothers-in- law ran a grocery store in Brockport, New York, for three years, at the end of which time they closed out the business aud Mr. French went to Milwaukee, where he was in the flour and feed business a few years. In 1859 he crossed the plains with oxen to Pike's Peak. Ar- rived there, he engaged in mining for others, and, later, for himself, principally placer mining.

In 1863, hearing of the discovery of gold at Alder Gulch, he journeyed hither with a mule team, arriving in November and finding hundreds of miners at work. In company with three others, he purchased a claim, aud after they had improved it and taken out some gold they sold it for $4,000. He then went to Salt Lake, fitted up a freighting team and purchased and hauled flour and provisions to Virginia City. In this business he continued successfully for two years, at one time selling flour for $100 per sack. Although this was a money-making business it was one attended with many hardships. On one occasion Mr. French was snowed under at Snake river and his oxen died, but he purchased more, and, undis- mayed, proceeded.

In 1866, with J. D. Thomas as a partner, he opened a store in the gulch at Nevada. They had about $1,000 capital to begin with. After continuing there three years, they removed their stock to Virginia City, where they did business together for a number of years, after which they dissolved and divided the stock, Mr. French remaining alone in business until 1879, when he closed out. In 1880, in company with E. F. Johnson, he started the grocery business again, under the firm name of O. D. French & Company. This relation still exists and the firm is doing a prosperous business, their customers being chiefly miners.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 98

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