An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 99

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 99

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Personally, Mr. French is a man of the highest probity of character. He has acted with the Democratic party

"About the same time the Cheyenne river agent reported that Big Foot's band were much excited about the coming of a ' Messiah,' were holding ' ghost danees,' and, armed with Win- chester rifles and of very threatening temper, were beyond police control. A similar condi- tion of affairs existed among the Rosebud Sionx.

all his life, but his extensive business affairs have given him little time for political matters.

Mr. French was married July 14, 1870, to Miss Anna Dow, of Rockford, Illinois, and they have three children: Charles D., Oliver D., Jr., and Ira H. Mrs. French died in 1878, and in 1880 Mr. French married Miss Amanda Robinson, of Chebanse, Illinois.

MILES MIX, proprietor of the European Hotel at Mis- soula, Montana, is one of the most obliging aud compe- tent hotel men in the city.

Mr. Mix was born in Rootstown, Portage county, Ohio, August 30, 1851, a descendant of early settlers of that State. Grandfather Mix, a native of Scotland, emigrated to this country at an early day, and died in Ohio, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was a farmer by occupation, and during the Revolutionary war rendered valued ser- vice to his adopted country, serving in the ranks of the Patriot army. His son, Samuel R. Mix, was born in Con- necticut in 1812, and when he was nine years of age he removed with his father and family out to the Western Reserve, their location being at Rootstown. That was in 1821, and in Portage county Samnel R. Mix has ever since resided, now being ranked with its venerable citi- zens. In 1832 he married Miss Jane Case, and as the years passed by sons and daughters were born to them, ten in all, of whom only two are now living. The good wife and mother departed this life in 1862, in the fifty- second year of her age. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Church and her life was adorned hy many Christian graces.

Miles Mix is the youngest in the family. His early life was spent on his father's farm, his time being divided between work on the farm and attendance at the district schools. In 1868, when seventeen years of age, he started out in life on his own account, going first to Kansas, where he secured employment at farm work. In the fall of that year he enlisted in Company D, Nineteenth Kan- sas Volunteer Cavalry. At this time General Custer was in command of the Seventh Cavalry. These regiments served together in the Indian Territory and north western Texas, their mission heing to keep the Indians in sub- jection. Young Mix had enlisted for six months, but served two months longer, and during that time saw much of frontier life and Indian warfare. At the end of the eight months be returned to Ohio and began learning the jewelry business, at which he was engaged one year. Then on account of failing health he was obliged to seek a change of climate, and an occupation that was less cou-

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

"Agent MeLaughlin also reported from Standing Rock October 17, as follows:

"' I feel it my duty to report the present craze and nature of the excitement existing among the Sitting Bull faction of the Indians over the expected Indian millennium, the anni-

fining. Accordingly, in 1871, he went to Carthage, Mis- souri, where he served as Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Marshal. That part of Missouri was then infested with desperadoes, and his position was one requiring great courage and nerve, but in the performance of his duty he acquitted himself most creditably, and served there until 1875. That year he returned to Dodge City, Kansas, and took claim to a tract of Government land, twenty eight miles southwest of the town. This land was located on a Texas cattle trail and for miles around there were no inhabitants. Here he built a house and in it he and his young wife began their married life. They had some cattle, horses, hogs and poultry, and were just getting a nice start when the Indian troubles came on, many of the settlers being murdered in their homes. Mr. Mix and his wife barely escaped with their lives, the Indians taking every thing they had.

In 1879, during the Leadville excitement, Mr. Mix went to Colorado, first to Leadville but afterward to Salida. At the latter place he engaged in the hotel business, own- ing and running the Mix House until 1883, and meeting with very satisfactory success. In 1884 he came to Mis- soula county, Montana, and settled first at Belknap, where he purchased property and built a house, and where he met with disaster in the way of fire, again losing every. thing he had. In the fall of that year he came to Mis- soula. He did not remain here at that time, however, but weut to Salt Lake City and accepted a position as guard in the penitentiary. Later he received the appoint- ment of Deputy United States Marshal. This was dur- ing the time of the Mormon hioubles. He helped 10 arrest many of the Mormons, his experience there being filled with many exciting incidents. After fourteen months spent in Salt Lake City, Mr. Mix returned to Missoula, and with the interests of this city he has since been identified. In 1885 he built the bottling works, and for a year and a half was engaged in the wholesale beer business. In 1888 he built the main portion of the Eu- ropean Hotel, on the corner of Woody and Spence streets, and trom the first did a successful business. In 1890, his facilities being insufficient to accommodate his guests, he built a large addition to the house and made numer- ous improvements. The hotel is now lighted with elec- tricity, heated by steam, and is finished and furnished throughout with all the latest modern conveniences, both Mr. Mix and his wife giving their personal attention to the management of the house and the comfort of their guests. Besides the hotel they also keep the Northern Pacific lunch counter at the depot.

Mr. Mix is identified with the Republican party and with the Masonic fraternity. Since coming to Montana

hilation of the white man and supremacy of the Indian, which is looked for in the near future and promised by the Indian medicine inen as not later than next spring, when the new grass begins to apppear, and is known among the Sioux as the 'return of the ghosts.' They are

he has been prospered in his undertakings, has accumu- lated a competency and has gained the good will and con - fidence of his fellow-citizens.

JUDGE DORIC G. WARNER, one of the prominent early settlers of Montana, was born in Chenango county, New York, April 29, 1827. His ancestors came from Wales during the early history of the colonies, settling at New Ilaven, Connecticut, where his grandfather, Richard P. Warner, was born. Religiously they were stanch Pres- byterians, and one member of the family was a minister in that church. Many of the members lived to a very old age, one having reached the age of ninety-nine years: he died in 1891, of la grippe. The father of our subject, Adna Warner, was born in Connecticut, in 1797. He mar- ried Miss Lucia Carter, a native of Massachusetts, who moved to New York when a young lady, where she taught school, and was married in 1823. Six children were born to that union, all of whom are still living. The mother died at the age of eighty-six years, and the father departed this life at the age of eighty-seven years.

Judge Warner, their second child in order of birth, was reared on his father's farm iu New York, attended the county schools during the winter months, and com- pleted his education at the Oneida Seminary. He then spent two years as a clerk in a store in Mount Morris, Liv- ingston county, New York. In 1851, by the way of the isth- mns, he went to California; after landing at San Francisco went to Sacramento, and next to the placer mines below Coloma, on the south fork of the American river. Be- coming satisfied that the bed of the river was very rich, sixteen men undertook to flume the river one mile, ac- complishing the task at a cost of $80,000, and they took out gold very rapidly until the rainy season brought the work to a close. During that time they took out $104,000. While crossing the isthmus, Mr. Warner had an attack of the fever, from which he never fully recovered, and was advised by a physician to go East. He left Califor- nia with much reluctance, and returned to his home for one year. In 1854 he accepted the position of clerk in the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad office at Chicago, and was later made station agent at the city of Ilenry, Marshall county, Illinois.

While at that place, September 4, 1856, Mr. Warner was united in marriage with Miss Helen J. Cook, who was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1836. Her par- ents afterward moved to Ohio, and iu 1847 to Illinois, where they were among the early pioneers. Her father, Washington E. Cook, was for sixteen years County Clerk of Marshall county. Mr. and Mrs. Warner made their home in Illinois until 1868, but during that time spent

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

promised by some members of the Sioux tribe, who have lately developed into medicine men, that the Great Spirit has promised them that their punishment by the dominant race has been sufficient, and that their numbers having now become so decimated will be reinforced by all

one year in New Orleans. After the close of the late war they returned to Lacou, Illinois, where they conduct- ed a grocery store until 1868, and in that year Mr. Warn- er came to Montana, leaving his wife and only surviving child with friends. He came on the Union Pacific Rail- road to Cheyenne, thence by stage to Utah, and next to Helena, paying twenty-five cents per pound for his freight. After arriving in this State he opened a hotel at Jefferson Gulch, Deer Lodge county, where he was soon afterward joined by his family, then consisting of his wife and one son, Burton Cook, who now resides in Washington. The family remained at that place one year, and then conducted a hotel in the Blackfoot coun- try one year, or until the White Pine excitement took the people from that place. Mrs. Warner then returned to the States.

Onr subject came to Jefferson county, purchased a ranch at Radersburg, then the county seat of Jefferson county, pre-empted another quarter-section of land, and made many improvements on his property. He was joined by his wife and child, and they resided on the land until 1883, when the county seat was removed to Boul- der. Mr. Warner was then serving as Probate Judge of the county, and accordingly came to this city, but still owns his land at Radersburg. After locating at this place the Judge purchased 200 acres of land adjoining the town on the east, afterward became owner of . forty acres on the south of the town, and turned his attention to real estate and the improvement of the city. He has plat- ted a portion of both tracts, gave the city the land on which the substantial brick schoolhouse now stands, and also owned a part of the land on which the new courthouse is located. In 1885 Mr. Warner built a good residence on his land east of the town, where he now resides. He is a large stockholder in several valuable mines near Boulder.

In his early political career Judge Warner was a Whig, but since that party went out of existence he has heen allied with Democracy. While residing in Marshall county, Illinois, he was elected County Clerk, aud after coming to Montana was appointed Under Sheriff of the county of Jefferson, serving in that position three years. In 1880 he was elected Probate Judge, and in 1882 was re-elected to that office. After coming to Boulder he turned his attention more closely to his real estate, but recently has been induced to serve several terms as Jus- tice of the Peace, also as a member of the School Board. In 1848, in New York, Judge Warner was made a Master Mason in Mount Morris Lodge, No. 122; later he became a Royal Arch Mason, in Illinois, and also served as Sec- retary of the chapter at that place for seven years.

Indians who are dead; that the dead are all re- turning to reinhabit this earth, which belongs to the Indians; that they are driving back with them, as they return, immense herds of buffalo, and elegant wild horses to have for the catch- ing; that the Great Spirit promises them that

Mrs. Warner is still spared to her husband. Two children have been added to the family in Montana,-George E. and Lottie R. Mrs. Warner is a member of the Presbyter- ian Church of Boulder, and our subject was also educated in that faith. He has aided in the building of the churches and in all public enterprises of his town, has been a reliable and useful citizen of his community, and is held in high esteem by the people of Jefferson county, with which he has so long been identified.

HON. EDWARD SCHARNIKOW, a member of the State Legislature from Deer Lodge county, and a successful member of the Montana bar, is a native of New York city, the date of his birth being February 8, 1865.

His father, Edward Scharnikow, a native of Germany, emigrated to this country when a boy and settled in New York city, where he resided up to the opening of the Civil war. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Union army and went out as a member of the Eightli New York Volunteer Infantry, serving faithfully for three years. At the end of that time he was honorably dis- charged and returned to his occupation, that of carriage painter. In 1864 he married Miss Catharine Gerdts, a native of Germany who had come to America when a young girl. In 1868 they removed to Margaretville, New York, where they resided up to the time of his death, which occurred July 20, 1894, at the age of sixty-two years. ITis wife survives, being now fifty-nine. Both being faithful members of the Lutheran Church, they reared their family in that faith. All their children, four sons, are living, the subject of this sketch being the oldest.

Ile received his early education in the public schools, and at the age of fourteen went to West Hoboken, New York, where he completed a high-school course. After his graduation there he became clerk in an insurance office, and later was hookkeeper for a large lumber firm at Union Hill. In the spring of 1885 he came to Deer Lodge, Montana, and for two years was bookkeeper for firms in this city. Ile then began the study of law in the office of J. C. Robinson, where he remained two years, at the end of which time he went East and took a course in the Albany Law School, graduating in 1890. On the 22d of January, that same year, he was admitted to the bar. ]Ie then entered into a partnership with Judge Brantly, which lasted until the Judge was elected to the bench. Since then he has conducted a successful practice alone.

In the fall of 1892 Mr. Scharnikow had the honor of being elected to represent Deer Lodge county in the State Legislature, and in that capacity is now serving.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

the white man will be unable to make gunpow- der in the future, and all attempts at such will be a failure, and that the gunpowder now on hand will be useless as against Indians, as it will not throw a bullet with sufficient force to pass through the skin of an Indian; that the

In April, 1892, he was also elected one of the Aldermen of Deer Lodge, and in April, 1894, was re-elected, and has served for three years as Treasurer of the city. Ilis poli- tical affiliations are with the Democratic party. Both as a politician and lawyer he takes rank with the leading young men of the country.

Mr. Schariukow was married June 15, 1892, to Miss Mat- tie G. ITumber, a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, and the daughter of Robert G. Humber, a Montana pioneer and a resident of Deer Lodge.

GEORGE GREGSON, one of the proprietors of the Greg- son llot Springs, Deer Lodge county, Montana, has been a resident of Montana for three decades. A resume of his life is as follows:

George W. Gregson was born in Indiana in 1841. In 1856 he moved with his parents to Jowa, where he resided up to his coming to Montana in 1864. May 11, 1864, he and his two brothers, Eli and Jackson, and their brother- in-law, George Elliot, with several others, started on the long and tedious journey to Montana, traveling with ox teams and being four months and four days in reaching their destination. They stopped first at Alder Gulch and at once began mining, but did not meet with the success which they had anticipated. From there they went to Nelson Gulch, where they mined for wages, receiving $6 per day. In 1869 they came to their present location. These hot springs had been claimed by a man named Hulbert. He sold out to them for $60 and they took claim to 320 acres of land and in time secured title to the same. This property is now owned by George W. and Eli Gregson, who have improved it by erecting a hotel, bath house and several other buildings, and have made it a delightful resort. Among other attractions is the plunge bath. At the place where the water comes out of the ground its temperature is 175 degrees, and eggs will readily cook in it in five minutes. Analysis shows this water to contain great medical value, and people from all parts of the country come here to avail themselves of its curative properties. The Messrs. Gregson are carrying on farming operations and are also raising cattle.

Both these gentlemen are married. Mrs. Eli Gregson was formerly Miss Martha L. Higgins. They have no family.

George W. Gregson was married, in 1864, to Miss Tab itha Ashing, who died in 1877, leaving one daughter, lda, who is now the wife of James Sanders. January 1, 1882, Mr. Gregson married Miss Sarah J. Evans, a native of Salt Lake. They have four children, namely: Grover Cleveland, Robert Lee, George W., Jr., and Myrtle; be. sides Adel, the eldest, who died September 11, 1885.

The Gregson brothers are dyed-in-the-wool Democrats.

Great Spirit had deserted the Indians for a long period, but is now with them and against the whites, and will cover the earth over with thirty feet of additional soil, well sodded and tim- bered, under which the whites will all be smoth- ered; and any whites who may escape these

They are, however, neither politicians nor office-seekers, their whole time and attention being given to their own business affairs. Both are men of the strictest integrity and are held in high esteem by the people of Deer Lodge, where they have so long resided.

JOHN E. CLOSTON, deceased, came to Montana in 1866, and was for many years a good citizen and prominent stock man of the Ruby valley. A sketch of his life is as follows:

John E. Closton was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. March 19, 1821. His parents having removed with their family to Vermont when he was quite small, he was reared aud educated in the Green Mountain State. When he reached manhood he went to Iowa, and at Des Moines was subsequently married to Miss Hattic Stevens, a native of Bangor, Maine, and a daughter of Captain Benjamin and Sally (Piper) Stevens, both of the State of Maine.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Closton crossed the plains with oxen to Montana. Their journey was attended with great danger in crossing the swollen streams, as well as by the savage Indians bent on murder and plun- der; but they overcame every difficulty and at last reached Virginia City in safety. They brought with them,a stock of goods and a number of cattle. After selling out, they kept hotel at Rochester for two years, and in 1873 came to their present location in Ruby valley. Here they had a garden spot of thirty aeres, kept the stage station and built 'a hotel, and as the years passed by they were pros- pered in their undertakings. Here Mr. Closton died No- vember 24, 1881, of black erysipelas. He had served as Justice of the Peace for a number of years, was well known throughout the country and was highly esteemed by all.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Closton took charge of the hotel and farm, and such has been her judicious management that she has added to the property until she now has a fine farm of 400 acres. The year he- fore Mr. Closton died they met with a loss of about $3,000. A severe cloud-burst struck their part of the valley and in a few minutes swept away much of their property. Such a thing had not been heard of before, aud has not occurred sinee.

Previous to her marriage to Mr. Closton, Mrs. Closton had been the wife of Mr. Ordway, and by him had two daughters, Laura and Ida. When she came to Montana she left Laura with her grandparents, and brought Ida with her. Here the latter became the wife of Thomas Mahone, son of Dr. Mahone, of lowa. Mrs. Mahone is now a widow, and she and her only son, Charles, reside with Mrs. Closton. Their home is situated about two miles south of the town of Twin Bridges.

6 Halter

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HISTORY OF MONTANA.

great phenomena will become small fishes in the rivers of the country; but to bring about this happy result the Indians must do their part and become believers and thoroughly or- ganize.

"' It would seem impossible that any person, no matter how ignorant, could be brought to believe sneh absurd nonsense, but as a matter of

ROBERT FENNER, a Montana pioneer of 1863, now de- ceased, was born in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, November 23, 1845. His people were Swiss vineyardists.

Mr. Fenner remained in his native land till he was eight- een years of age, at which time he emigrated to Amer- ica and with an ox team came across the plains to Montana, landing at Alder Gulch. Here and in various other min- ing camps throughout the State he worked for wages and later on owned a claim of his own at Bear Town, where he met with fair success and where he was also for a time engaged in the restaurant business, Mr. Nissler, now of Silver Bow, being his partner in the restaurant.

Mr. Fenner was married November 28, 1871, to Miss Cathrene Hauswirth, a native of canton Bern, Switzer- land, and a daughter of John Hauswirth, a Montana pio- neer. She came to America in 1857, when five years of age, and was reared and educated in Wisconsin, remain- ing there until 1869, when she came with the rest of the family to Montana. After their marriage they settled at Top-O-Deep. The climate of that place, however, did not agree with her health, and in the fall of 1872 they re- moved to Deer Lodge, where he took charge of the brew- ing business of Mr. Valiton. In 1873 Mr. Fenner built for himself the Western Brewery, and, in partnership with Mr. Van Gundy, ran the business for a number of years finally disposing of his interest in it and removing to Butte City. At Butte City he became interested in the Sheridan mine and sank considerable of his money in its development. Part of this property is still in the family and is now regarded as being very valuable. The last two years of his residence in Butte City Mr. Fenner had charge of Mr. Nissler's brewery.

In 1883, when Anaconda was an embryo city, he came to this place and invested in property. Ile and his family occupied one of the first tenant houses in the town, and the date of their moving in being September 7, 1883. For two years Mr. Fenner was engaged in the saloon business here, and in 1885 he built the Anaconda Brewery, which he ran for two years. At the end of that time his brewery was destroyed by fire, the loss being abont $15,000, and no insurance whatever. His next venture was to build a soda factory, which he operated successfully up to the time of his death, July 16, 1891.

Mr. Fenner was a member of the Masonic fraternity, was in politics a Democrat, and was a man of the most generous impulses, noted for his readiness to lend a help- ing hand to all in need.

fact a great many of the Indians of this agency actually believe it, and since this new doctrine has been engrafted here from the more south- ern Sioux agencies, the infection has been won- derful, and so pernicious that it now includes some of the Indians who were formerly num- bered with the progressive and more intelligent, and many of the very best Indians appear dazed

HON. ANTON M. HOLTER. Prominent among the names of the brave pioneers who settled Montana is found that of Hon. Anton M. Holter, personal mention of whom will be found of interest to many. A brief biography of him, as prepared for publication in this work, is as follows:

Anton M. Holter was born at Moss, a small village on the eastern shore of Christiania Fjord, Norway, June 29, 1831. His father, Foin Holter, and his mother, Berta M. (Flóxstad) Holter, were both natives of Norway. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and his father was one of the first men in Norway to engage in whale fishing. It is supposed that he was lost at sea in 1839. His wife lived to be seventy-two years of age.

Anton M. was the third born in his father's family of five children, he having two older brothers and a brother and sister younger than himself. ITis mother being left with small means of support, he went to live with a maternal uncle, a farmer, in whose family he was reared, and by whom he was qualified to be confirmed a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church at the age of fifteen. At this time his greatest ambition was to become a sailor. His father's fate, together with the influence of his family, however, prevented such a career. He then began to learn the trade of blacksmith, but in less than a year he abandoned it for that of carpenter, at which he worked some three years, receiving $10 per annum and board.

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An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 99

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