Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 158

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 1144

USA > Montana > Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III > Part 158

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Jesse Walter Grant was born in Cherokee County, Iowa, on August 15, 1874, and is the son of Orrin and Emma (Gano) Grant. The father was a son of David D. Grant, who was born in Scotland and was brought to this country in childhood. He was reared in Ohio and there married a Miss Wood, by whom he had seven sons and three daughters, of which family Orrin was the first born. Orrin Grant was a native of Ohio, devoted practically his entire life to farming and his death occurred in Knox County, Nebraska. He is survived by his widow, who now resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Of their seven children Jesse Walter is the second in order of birth.

Jesse W. Grant was reared to the age of seventeen years in Iowa, and there secured a good practical education in the public schools. After going to Nebraska he devoted his time and energies to farm- ing, in the meantime completing his school educa- tion. When he attained his majority he began farming on his own account, following that line of work for six years. He then engaged in the live- stock business, buying and selling horses, which he shipped in large numbers from his stables at Bloomfield to various points in the East. In the spring of 1910 he came to Montana, settling at Ekalaka, which was then in Custer County, and there he engaged in the livery business. In the fall of that year he sold the stable, and soon afterward became deputy sheriff of the county under Sheriff Ben LaValle, serving as such during that year. He then engaged in buying and selling stock, handling war horses, and continued inspection of them at Ekalaka as long as the demand continued. Prior to this period he had shipped into this locality several train loads of cattle from Arizona, which added greatly to the supply of cattle in this locality. Though he has decreased his business along that line, he still handles many cattle on his ranch, where he has lived since 1910. He entered his homestead four miles northwest of Ekalaka. built himself a log cabin and then, after he had proved it un, he disposed of the place. During this period his farm- ing operations were very satisfactory, his crops being larger than he had expected.

While deputy sheriff Mr. Grant obtained an in- sight into the usefulness he could attain as an auctioneer after his official term had expired, and in this his expectations have been more than realized. for there is probably no more capable or successful

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auctioneer in Southeastern Montana than he. His strongest asset as an auctioneer is his accurate knowledge of the value of stock. He cries sales over a district of eighty miles, and at least $75,000 an- nually passes through his hands in this line.

Mr. Grant has had an important part in the development and upbuilding of Ekalaka. He was first connected with the Ekalaka Milling Company, whose plant was destroyed by fire in 1916. In the spring of 1919 he and H. G. Albert, under the name of the Grant-Albert Milling Company, erected a fifteen-barrel mill, roller process, where a fine brand of flour is produced. Mr. Grant took an active part in the creation of Fallon County, and later when Carter County was proposed he acquiesced in that also. He was mainly instrumental in the organiza- tion of the Fallon County Fair and Racing Asso- ciation, since changed to the Carter County Fair Association, of which is now president.

Politically Mr. Grant has always been an ardent supporter of the republican party, though in local elections he votes for the men he considers best qualified for office, regardless of party lines.

Throughout an interesting and active career duty has ever been his motive of action, and usefulness to his fellow men not by any means a secondary consideration. He has achieved much in an in- dividual way, but at the same time has proved him- self worthy as a factor in public affairs and as a citizen and business man of the utmost loyalty and progressiveness.

ALBERT SHERRILL, M. D. The world owes more to the medical profession and its exponents than to any other calling or class of men. The adherents of the healing art from earliest times have borne an important part in the history of their times, not only because of their services in caring for the sick, but in the councils of the nations, and as time has progressed their importance has increased, and deservedly so. The life of a physician is never one of ease. Not only does he have to devote years to preliminary training, but his studies are not com- pleted until he lays aside his duties, for medicine is one of the most progressive of the sciences, and each day brings forth new ideas and discoveries. To keep abreast of them requires study and ability, a broad mind and comprehensive reasoning. The sacrifices of a life devoted to the caring for the ills of humanity are many and varied, and never fully appreciated by the laity. Strength of character, de- termination of purpose, sterling uprightness and courage of the highest kind are some of the requi- sites demanded of a physician. One of the men of Montana who measures up to the highest stand- ards of his profession as outlined above is Dr. Albert Sherrill, who is now in charge of the Camp Crook Hospital, and who has been engaged in the active practice of his calling in this region since 1904.

Doctor Sherrill was born at Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 9, 1880, and springs from a family of agriculturalists, early settlers of Virginia and North Carolina. His father was Ston J. Sherrill, born in the same district as his son and who became a farmer and very prominent in the work of the Farmers' Alliance. Although he would not accept political office, he was always active in civic affairs. During the war between the states he en- listed for service, although only fifteen years old, by claiming that he had passed his seventeenth birth- day, and made a fine record for himself as a soldier at the fort on Cape Fear River, and later as a member of the Home Guards in the western part of North Carolina. The death of this estimable man

occurred near Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1909, when he was fifty-nine years old. Mr. Sherrill was married to Adelia Coffey, a daughter of Lee I. Coffey, a nephew of the renowned Indian fighter, Daniel Boone, and who died at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Sherrill died in 1898, having borne her husband two sons and two daughters, namely : Lee, who is a stockman of Carter County, Montana; Doctor Albert, whose name heads this review; Hessie, who owns and operates a drug store at Camp Creek ; and Mrs. Edna Morgan, who is also a resident of Camp Creek.

After taking a literary course at Davidson College Doctor Sherrill went to Richmond, Virginia and there took a full medical course, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1901. From there he came to Camp Crook and entered upon a general practice, and was thus engaged until 1917, when with the founding of the Camp Crook Hospital he was placed in charge.

The Camp Crook Hospital is an institution built by the people of Montana and South Dakota to supply the need for hospital service to the inland country lying between the Black Hills and the Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul Railroad on the north. It is located, as its name indicates, at Camp Crook, which community is on the state line be- tween Montana and South Dakota.

The hospital building cost $13,500 in cash, and was paid for by the public, shares being sold in it by subscription. It is operated by a Board of Trustees, with Dr. Albert Sherrill as manager. The people who so liberally subscribed for this hospital did so, without any hope or promise of financial return, merely as a public-spirited measure. As this institution was largely subscribed for by the people of Montana, it is eminently proper to include it among the important ones of the state, although South Dakota lays claim to it as well. Its object is to provide proper treatment for emergency cases both surgical and medical. There are two wards for the accommodation of three patients to each and five private rooms. Only graduate and registered nurses are employed, no training of nurses being connected with the institution. Under Doctor Sherrill's capa- ble management the hospital has made an enviable record and produced the results hoped for by the subscribers to its erection and maintenance.

Doctor Sherrill was married at Belle Forche, South Dakota, in 1903, to Miss Millie Todenhoft, a daughter of Frederick Todenhoft. Doctor and Mrs. Sherrill have a son, Ston, who is now ten years old. In politics Doctor Sherrill is a democrat, but, like his father, has not cared for public honors, although he was a member of the State Legislature for one session. He retains his membership in the South Dakota Medical Society and the Black Hills Medical Society.

WALTER H. PECK. Everywhere in our land men have been found who have worked their way from humble beginnings to places of leadership and high esteem in the material, civic and social world, and it has ever been one of the proudest boasts of our fair country that such victors are accounted of thousandfold more worth and value to the common- wealth than the aristocrat, with his inherited wealth, position and distinguished name. "Through struggles to triumph" appears to have long been the maxim which has held sway over many of our citizens, who by their inherent force of character and strong mentality rise paramount to environment. Thus it has been with Walter H. Peck, one of the enter- prising and progressive citizens of Carter County, who has exhibited great energy and rare judgment

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in all affairs in which he has been interested, so that the confidence and esteem which are accorded to him are but the just tribute to his worth.

Walter H. Peck was born in Cornwall, Con- necticut, on March 5, 1870, the son of Edward C. and Elizabeth M. (Frink) Peck. Edward C. Peck also was born at Cornwall, where the Peck family had been established since 1633. The family originated in England, and since colonial days every male member of the family has served his country in some war in which it has been engaged during our history. Edward C. Peck was too young for Civil war service, but his father was killed while serving in defense of the Union in that struggle, while his grandfather was killed while serving in the Mexican war under General Taylor. Both of these ancestors bore the given name of Henry, which was also the baptismal name of Mr. Peck's father, who had it later changed to Edward, so as to be distinguished from the others of the same name. His wife was also a representative of an old colonial family, the Frinks having been conspicuously iden- tified with the history of Litchfield, Connecticut, the old stronghold of Puritanism. In the main the Frinks were farmers, while the Pecks seem to have been mechanics. Edward C. Peck and his wife, who now live at New Haven, Connecticut, are the parents of three children, namely: Walter H., the immedi- ate subject of this review; Mrs. Carrie M. Bradley, of New Haven, Connecticut; and Frank G., who is in the employ of the American Paper Box Company at New Haven.

Walter H. Peck was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the public schools of Ansonia, graduating from the high school. In youth he learned the trade of a gunsmith, though he never followed it after leaving home. At the age of eighteen years, determined to plunge into the battle of life on his own account, he came to Montana, his first employment here being as a sheep herder for Reno Swift on the head of Alkali Creek, thirteen miles west of Ekalaka. He followed that calling for thirteen years, starting in at a wage of $20.00 a month and board, which was later increased to $45.00 and board. Mr. Peck came to this mountain- ous part of Montana chiefly on account of his health, which was completely restored by the out- door life and exercise. When he entered business for himself in Carter County he and his partner, Lorin W. Gilman, started in with horses and cattle, but their experience was not satisfactory and they were compelled to return to work on the range, Mr. Peck being employed by the "Hogeye" and the "101" and for a few months by Mr. Newberry. Finally Mr. Peck became a squatter on Little Beaver Creek, and as a rancher again formed a partnership with Mr. Gilman, handling cattle, horses and sheep. In this venture they were successful and prospered, con- tinuing together until 1901, when they divided their interests. Then, after a visit home, the first since he had come west, Mr. Peck was appointed deputy assessor of Custer County under Assessor Frank Crosby, with whom he served three years, followed by a year as deputy county treasurer under George Robbins, being field man in the east end of Custer County, having 8,000 square miles of territory. During one year of this period he held four offices, deputy county treasurer, deputy county assessor, deputy sheriff and justice of the peace. Traveling with another deputy sheriff, the two were enabled to collect taxes, assess property and hold court when- ever it became necessary.

When he left his official positions Mr. Peck en- gaged in the mercantile business in Ekalaka as a clerk for B. C. Charters Company, but in 1904 he opened up a business on his own account, in which

he continued until 1910, when he formed a partner- ship with William Nowbray: This copartnership existed until 1916, when C. K. Putnam, a silent partner, retired and the firm remained as the W. H. Peck Company until September 1, 1919, when the business was sold, since which time Mr. Peck has been devoting his attention to the Ekalaka Creamery and to his farm. He entered his homestead three miles north of Ekalaka, proved it up, and has im- proved it in a most substantial manner. The Ekalaka Creamery was established by Messrs. Mowbray and Peck, who still own and operate it. They have a capacity of 1,000 pounds of butter a day and turn out a superior product.

Mr. Peck is the oldest volunteer soldier in the World war in Carter County. He entered the Student Army Training Camp at The Presidio, San Francisco, and spent three months there. He re- signed to return home on account of his private business affairs, but he was called back on June I, 1918, and was commissioned as second lientenant, being assigned to Company C, Twenty-fourth United States Guards. He was for a time stationed around San Francisco, and was then slated for Siberia, but the signing of the armistice altered their plans just as the company was packed up and ready to embark for Vladivostok. Mr. Peck was discharged on Janu- ary 2, 1919, and returned home. On August 22, 1919, he was recommissioned in the United States Reserve, infantry section.

Mr. Peck has been married twice, first in what is now Carter County, on August 22, 1904, to Eliza- beth M. Foster, who died just a month after her marriage. She was a daughter of Samuel L. Foster, who came into Eastern Montana in 1884, spending his life here as a ranchman, and died in January, 1919. On June 11, 1910, Mr. Peck was married to Marguerite Campbell Cunningham, who was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in July, 1881, the daughter of John Cunningham, of Ansonia, Con- necticut, where Mrs. Peck was reared. She is the youngest of three daughters, the others being Mrs. Mary J. Davidson and Mrs. Jeannette C. Russell. To Mr. and Mrs. Peck was born a son, who died at the age of three months.

Politically Mr. Peck has been a life long supporter of the republican party, in whose interests he has been active, being a frequent delegate to county and state conventions. He has been an active and prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has received every degree of the order and has passed through all the chairs save that of grand master. He had the unique dis- tinction of holding at the same time the offices of grand patriarch and department commander, the only case on record in the history of the order in Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Peck are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Peck has acted well his part in life, and while primarily interested in his own affairs he has not been unmindful of the interests of others, as his efforts to advance the public good and promote the welfare of his fellow men abundantly attests. In every walk of life he is recognized by all classes as a high-minded, talented, courteous gentleman of integrity and true moral worth.

JOHN J. SWARTZ. To be descended from a long line of honorable forebears is a distinction all men cannot claim, although more than one plutocrat would give millions to be able to point with pride to a family tree bearing the names of some of the distinguished men of this and other countries. Pride of family and determination to live up to high stand- ards of morality set by noble ancestors are virtues which cannot be too highly commended, and they are

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possessed in marked degree by John J. Swartz, for fifteen years the efficient government representative at Hot Springs. Mr. Swartz's most cherished possession is a family tree dating back to an English ancestor in 1480, William Ball, lord of the manor of Barkham, England. From this tree Mr. Swartz is able to trace his relationship to Gen. George Wash- ington through his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Ball. Another ancestor, Joseph Ball, a cousin of George Washington on the maternal side of the house, was the owner of a large foundry in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, and through his turning its facilities to the manufacture of ammunition for the colonial troops much of the successful operations of the Revolution may be directly traced. The true American can appreciate Mr. Swartz's pride in his relationship to these great men, founders of the country he loves so dearly, in whose employ he now is, and to preserve which one of his children served during the Great war.

John J. Swartz was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, a son of Peter and Sarah (Boner) Swartz. After attending the public schools of his native state he took a two years' course at the Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, College, and then began travel- ing, visiting every state in the Union except Kansas and Oklahoma. Finally, fifteen years ago, he took the civil service examination, passing with a high percentage, and since then had been in the service of the Government, with headquarters at Hot Springs. During that period he has never had one of his reports returned for correction, nor have any of his orders been rescinded or overruled. This is a very remarkable record and one which reflects great credit upon his reliability and good judgment. Since casting his first vote Mr. Swartz has been a stanch republican, and intends to continue his support of that party, for he realizes now, as he has in the past, that the administration of the country's affairs under republican rule has been the best for all persons concerned. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church, of which he is an elder, and has been honored by this office for many years. His wife is equally consistent in her support of the faith of the Baptist creed.

Mr. Swartz was married to Mrs. Alice Headly, and they have the following children: Tasso W., Rollo G., John A., Frances Sarah, Alice E and Dwight A. The eldest born, Tasso W., was in charge of the Spokane Underground System Elec- tric Company of Spokane, Washington, when the United States entered the World war, and he en- listed in the ammunition corps, being first a second lieutenant, but rising until he was in command of his company. During the Saint Mihiel drive his company hauled 400 tons of ammunition and ren- dered the most dangerous kind of service. He is married, the maiden name of his wife having been B. Lee Lough, and they have a daughter, Gertrude Maria. Robert G. Swartz married Zeffa Kenneda, and was engaged in railroad work, with residence at Los Angeles, California, when this country called for volunteers for the ship yards. He was one of those who responded, and remained in the Govern- ment ship yards as long as there was need of his services. John A. Swartz married Marguerite Stonehouse, and is engaged in ranching in Montana. He has a son, Arthur. Frances S. married Rex Mc- Carter, and they live at Portland, Oregon, and have two children, Frances and Alice. Alice Swartz is in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany at Portland, Oregon. Dwight is also a resi- dent of Portland, Oregon, and is a workman at the ship yards at that point.

Few families of Montana have as good a record for constructive citizenship as has this one, and Mr.

Swartz and his sons are living up to the best ideals of American manhood and setting an excellent ex- ample for those who come after them to follow.

JOHN L. SLATTERY has gained prominent recog- nition in the public life of Montana, and at present is state senator from Valley County and an attor- ney of note in this community. He has been a resident of Montana since 1904, coming into the commonwealth from North Dakota, where he had spent several years with his uncle, W. E. Purcell, former U. S. senator from North Dakota, and he had come to the West from his native state of New Jersey, where he was born at Flemington on the 2d of September, 1878.

Michael Slattery, his father, was born at Water- ford, Ireland, but his mother, Margaret Purcell, was a native of Flemington, New Jersey, and of Irish parentage. Her father, Joseph Purcell, a building contractor, came from County Cork to the United States in 1854. He located in New Jersey, and spent the remainder of his life there. He and his two sons, James and John, were Union soldiers during the war between the states. James Purcell, who is now a resident of Pennsylvania, was confined for a time in Andersonville prison during that struggle. Michael Slattery was born in 1852, and his wife is three years younger, and their home is still at Flemington, New Jersey. In their family were the following children: Ella, the wife of Joseph Corcoran, of the City of New York; Joseph A., an attorney at Glendive, Montana; John L., the Glasgow senator; Richard P., of Flemington, New Jersey ; James L., assistant cashier of the American National Bank at Helena; Robert E., of Newark, New Jersey ; Mrs. William Earle, whose home is at Rutherford, New Jersey; and Purcell, at the old home in Flemington.

John L. Slattery spent the first' sixteen years of his life in the home at Flemington, and then joined his uncle, U. S. Senator W. E. Purcell, at Wahpe- ton, North Dakota, and prepared for college in the Red River Valley University. He had completed his high school training at Flemington, New Jersey, and on returning to the East, entered LaFayette College at Easton, Pennsylvania, and graduated from that school in 1901, with the degree of Ph. B. He was then ready to prepare for the profession he had chosen as his life work, and entered the New York Law School in the City of New York, but after one year there returned to North Dakota and read law in the office of his uncle.

Mr. Slattery was admitted to the bar of North Dakota in September, 1903, before the Supreme Court, and located for practice at Forman in that state in association with his brother, Joseph A. Slattery, the firm engaging in both law practice and the abstract business. In October of 1904 John L. Slattery came to Montana and was admitted to the bar on motion at Helena, and resided there with another uncle. R. R. Purcell, and was in his office a few months before locating at Glasgow. Mr. Slattery tried his first lawsuit in the police court of Helena. In Valley County his practice has covered all character of cases, many prominent as criminal cases and others as civil suits. He defended and secured the acquittal of young Armington for the murder of his stepfather, a case which aroused the county and created much sentiment for the child murderer. While serving as county attorney he prosecuted a number of murderers for attacking a homesteader and his family at night in an effort to run them out of the country, killing the man and a child and destroying the home, and some of these outlaws went to prison for their share in the crime. Mr. Slattery was twice elected to the office of county

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attorney, first in 1906 and again in 1912, serving two years in each term.

Mr. Slattery was reared in a home and community where democratic principles held sway, but when the time came for him to vote he cast a republican ballot, voting for Major Mckinley in 1900, and has supported the national ticket of that party since save when Colonel Roosevelt led the progressive repub- lican ticket in 1912. Mr. Slattery was elected to the Senate of the Legislative Assembly of Montana in 1918, succeeding Senator Hurd in that body. He was assigned to and made chairman of the committee on insurance, also served on the judiciary, education, water rights and irrigation, towns and counties com- mittees, the joint committee of the House and Sen- ate in consideration of the terminal elevator matter, and he was on a special committee to investigate the state educational institutions regarding the teaching of socialism, and a member of another special com- mittee to confer with a legislative committee of the State of Washington respecting soldiers' relief. He centered his attention upon education and the work of the judiciary committee. He helped draft terminal elevator bill, introduced a bill establishing an interest rate of 10 per cent and a chattel mort- gage bill requiring a copy of the chattel mortgage to be given the mortgagor at time of execution of note. He also introduced the bill extending the time in which farmers could pay their seed loans.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 158

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society Number of Pages: 1144

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 1144