Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 211

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 211

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William 'M. Broaddus was born in Howard Coun- ty, Missouri, August 31, 1876, a son of John and Betty Broaddus, a sketch of whom is given else- where in this work. His educational training has come mainly through personal study and experience. On November 29, 1905, Mr. Broaddus was mar- ried at Miles City, Montana, to Miss Dixie Foster, a daughter of John and Eleanor Leah (Leach) Foster. Mrs. Broaddus was born at Salisbury, Missouri, December 27, 1876. Her parents were natives of England and were brought to the United States as young people on the same vessel. Mr. Foster is deceased, but Mrs. Foster survives and lives at Salisbury. Mrs. Broaddus was their only child, but they adopted the four children of her brother, and they are as follows: Timothy, who is an extensive farmer of Salisbury; Stonewall, who is a merchant of Humansville, Missouri; Fran- cis, who is a miller of Salisbury; and Christine, who married John Wheeldon of Moberly, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Broaddus have three children, namely : William 'M., Jr., Eleanor and John Haston.

In any other country the success achieved by the Broaddus brothers would be impossible, but the history of Montana shows many instances like these of young men who came West with no capital but their health and willingness to work, and who were given the opportunity to establish themselves in good paying lines of business. Of course, had these men not possessed the essentials of sound and reliable manhood and known how to take advantage of these opportunities they would have remained employes at a low wage. It is to their credit that having risen in the world they do not forget their former hardships, but remain sympathetic and are willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortu- nate than they.

HENRY B. MILLER was one of the founders and is vice president and the active manager of the Northwestern National Bank of Livingston. While he was one of the younger associates of a notable group of capitalists, including A. W. Miles, in

the establishment of this new bank in Southern 'Montana, Mr. Miller has for many years been identified with the financial history of Montana and has earned a reputation as a capable and ex- perienced banker. He has much of the genius for business which has been characteristic of his family both in Montana and in other states.

Mr. Miller was born at Clarksville, Missouri, May 3, 1881. His father, Henry B. Miller, Sr., was born near Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1822. When a young man he went to Clarks- ville, Missouri, and became interested in the build- ing up of the business enterprise of that section. He and a relative, John O. Roberts, built and op- erated the Imperial Mill at Clarksville, he was also interested as an owner in a local hotel and in the hardware business, and owned and improved a model farm near Clarksville of 420 acres. That farm was notable for its production and also for its high class improvements. Its water supply was furnished by an artesian well, there was a splen- did group of barns and other out-buildings, and a fine two-story brick house. Henry B. Miller, Sr., was an old-school democrat in politics and a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. He served in the Confederate army during the Civil war.

At Clarksville he married Martha L. Vaughan, who was born in that town and died there in 1903, having survived her husband since 1896. Henry B. Miller of Livingston is the older of two children, his sister Mary L. being the wife of Dr. C. R. Bankhead, a dentist at Clarksville.

Mr. Miller is a nephew of Jabez W. Vaughan, of Billings, and his maternal grandfather was Al- mond T. Vaughan. Almond T. Vaughan was born in Nelson County, Virginia, in 1827 and his an- cestry went back to the time of the Pilgrim Fathers. Almond T. Vaughan was a brother of George Vaughan, who during the Civil war was a Con- federate officer and was captured and condemned by the Federal Government as a spy. Just before leaving the White House for Ford's Theater, where he was assassinated a few hours later, President Lincoln, probably as his last official act, signed the pardon of this condemned Confederate officer. Al- mond T. Vaughan was taken to Lincoln County, Missouri, when three years old, and grew up in the famous district known as Pike County, Mis- souri. He worked as a Mississippi River steam- boat man, but his chief interest was farming near Clarksville. He went overland from Clarksville to California in 1850 and spent two years prospecting and mining, returning home around the Cape Horn. He made his first trip to Montana in 1879 with his son, Jabez, and as member of the party of United States troops visited all the army posts in the West. In 1906, then nearly eighty years of age he again came to Montana and drew a claim in the allotment of the Crow Indian Reservation. He died at the home of his son Jabez in February, 1907. Jabez W. Vaughan was born in Pike County, Missouri, in 1859, and spent portions of the year 1879-80 in Montana. In 1883 he brought his bride to Montana, locating at Billings, where for many years he was an active merchant and business man.

Henry B. Miller received his early education in the public schools of Clarksville, graduating from high school there. He spent his early years on his father's farm and was about fifteen when his father died. He then accompanied his mother and sister to California, spending two years in Los Angeles and Long Beach. After completing his high school education he entered the University of Arkansas, where he was a student for two years.

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In 1902 he graduated with first honors from the Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, Missouri. He was prominent in athletic circles, both at Ar- kansas and the Military Academy, playing on both the football and baseball teams. He also held a commission as captain in the Missouri National Guards for several years.

On coming to Montana in 1902 Mr. Miller entered the service of the First National Bank at Billings, beginning as messenger, and during the next five years, though earning his living, he was primarily concerned with learning the banking business in every detail. It was a thorough and splendid ap- prenticeship. For two years following he was deputy county treasurer of Yellowstone County, and then became first assistant cashier of the 'Merchants National Bank of Billings, a post he held five years. He entered the service of that institution when it was opened for business in March, 1909. In 1915 he was appointed receiver of the Farmers State Bank at Bridger, and before closing up the affairs of that institution came to Livingston in 1917 and assisted in organizing the Northwestern National Bank. He became its first cashier, and since January, 1919, has been vice president and. active manager. The president is Judge James E. O'Connor, of Livingston, and Arthur W. Miles, the first president, is now chairman of the board of directors.

Mr. Miller has been active in republican politics, serving as treasurer of the Central Committee of Yellowstone County several years. He is a vestry- man in the Episcopal Church at Livingston, and is prominent in both the Masonic and Elks orders. He is a member of the various bodies at Livingston, and for several years was inspector general of the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine at Helena. He is a past exalted ruler and honorary life member of Billings Lodge of Elks.

Mr. 'Miller during his school days formed the acquaintance of Miss Etta M. Rice, daughter of J. O. Rice, former president of the International Bank & Trust Company of Mexico City. Mr. Miller and Miss Rice were married in New York City in 1906. They have a family of six children : Henry B., Jr., born July 17, 1908; Jabez A., born June 30, 1909; James, a twin brother of Jabez; William Stephen, born in December, 1910; Martha Virginia, born in March, 1913; and Mary Betty, born May 29, 1917.

GEORGE P. PORTER. Apart from his many sound and recognized qualifications for the office there is historical consistency in George P. Porter being state auditor of Montana. He is one of the oldest native son's of the state, and was born in the City of Helena when it was little more than a mining camp and claimed little distinction from its dignity as the territorial capital.

Mr. Porter, who has had extensive business re- lations throughout the state in former years, was born at Helena February 17, 1869. He is of English ancestry. His great grandfather, Richard Porter, was born in London and died there, but for many years was a captain in the English navy, com- manding a war vessel. The grandfather of State Auditor Porter was also Richard Porter, a native of London. By appointment from Queen Victoria he was sent to Lower Canada as a custom house commissioner. About 1852 he settled in New York state, and for several years was cutter in a glove manufacturing establishment at Gloversville, being one of the first skilled workmen in an industry that

has since made Gloversville famous. About 1856 he moved to the middle west, and lived on a farm at Walnut, Illinois, until his death. Richard Por- ter married Mary Roquet, a native of France, and she also died in Illinois.

William Porter, who was born at London, was six years of age when his parents came to Canada, was reared and educated in New York and Illinois, but the principal field of his experience and achieve- ment was in the great west. His name is associated as a pioneer with both Colorado and Montana. In 1858 he crossed the plains to Colorado, and it is claimed that he was the first to display and sell a stock of merchandise in the mining camp now the City of Denver. Following closely upon the earliest pioneers he came to Montana in 1864, and settled in the Deer Lodge Valley of the old town of Stewart and engaged in the cattle business. In 1866 he moved to Helena, and for ten years was in the general merchandise brokerage business. His home was removed to Butte in 1876, and he engaged in placer mining on Silver Bow Creek, six miles from that city. His last years were spent in the Bitter Root Valley, where he lived from 1894 until his death at Woodside. In that period of his life he resumed farming and ranching. William Porter was a republican, a member of the Episcopal Church, was a prominent Royal Arch Mason, serving as the first high priest of Helena Chapter No. 2, was also affiliated with Helena Council No. I, Royal and Selected Masons, and was one of the organizers in 1858 and held the office of master of Denver Lodge No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He was also affiliated with Montana Lodge No. I, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Helena. During the Civil war he served as a member of the Home Guards at Denver. William Porter mar- ried Elizabeth Rice, who was born at Sandusky, Ohio, and died at Woodside, Montana. Jeannette, their oldest child, is the wife of J. L. Freeman, a farmer at Victor, Montana. Richard W. was a farmer and died at Butte at the age of twenty- eight years. Thomas L., who also made agricul- ture his work, died at Woodside aged thirty-six. Grace M., who died at Blackfoot, Idaho, was the wife of W. L. Hawley, a farmer at Blackfoot. George P. Porter is the fifth of the family and the youngest is Henry H., a farmer at Woodside.

George P. Porter acquired his early education in the schools of Helena and Butte, attending the high school in the latter city. His working experi- ence began at the age of fourteen as cash boy for the E. L. Bonner & Company at Butte. He served that well known corporation in various capacities, eventually being made assistant manager of the dry goods department. During that time he also studied and completed a course in the Butte Busi- ness College. In 1892 Mr. Porter became cashier of the Case, Gravelle & Erwin Company, dry goods merchants at Butte, and remained with that firm until 1907. For several months of that year he did some mining work in the newly opened district of Goldfield and Tonopah, Nevada, but toward the close of the year returned to Montana and at Mis- soula was employed by D. J. Donohue and the Mis- soula Mercantile Company as bookkeeper and cashier. He left the latter firm in 1912, and served as city treasurer of Missoula under appointment by the mayor, J. M. Rhodes, until May, 1914. For several months of that year Mr. Porter lived at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and kept books for a contractor, James Sheridan. At the outbreak of the World war he returned to Montana in August, and in April of the following year removed from Mis-

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soula to Butte, where he was in the general office of the Butte Miner until December, 1918.

Mr. Porter was elected state auditor of Montana in November, 1918, and has administered his offi- cial duties since January 6, 1919.

During the war, in addition to his duties with the Butte Miner Mr. Porter gave a great deal of time to various patriotic causes, making many speeches in Butte and other cities of Northwestern Montana, and is a member of the national organ- ization of Four-Minute Men. Mr. Porter was a charter member of the Butte Clerks' Union when it was organized under the Knights of Labor, and held his membership for twenty-seven years. This was probably the first clerks' union ever organized in the world. Mr. Porter is a republican, a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church, is affiliated with Har- mony Lodge of Masons at 'Missoula, of which he is a past master, with the Independent Order of Foresters at Butte, which he served as secretary seven years, and with Hellgate Lodge No. 383 of the Elks at Missoula. He is also a member of the Montana Pioneers Society and the Montana Sons and Daughters of Pioneers.

Mr. Porter and family reside at 200 North War- ren Street in Helena. He married at Butte in 1893 Miss Anna Demick, daughter of Elijah and Georgia (Teller) Demick, the latter now a resident of Kel- logg, Idaho. Her father, deceased, was a carpenter and builder, and for many years a resident of Butte. 'Mr. and Mrs. Porter have one son, Roger, born September 18, 1910.

BENJAMIN MCDONALD. A resident of Montana for more than half of his three score years, Ben- jamin McDonald furnishes still another illustration of the value of perseverance and industry in the working out of a successful career and the gaining of position and prosperity. This sturdy resident of the Garneill community of Fergus County has achieved his accomplishments in the sheep industry, being known as one of the prominent sheepmen of his part of the state and during his long and active career has always maintained a reputation for honorable dealing and sterling citizenship.

Benjamin McDonald was born in Ontario, Can- ada, March 10, 1860, a son of Robert and Emma (Robertson) McDonald, and he inherited their pioneer spirit. His father, a native of Canada, bore the hardships and privations incident to the clear- ing of a farm from the virgin forests of Canada, and experienced all the developing conditions from the log cabin stage to the ownership of a modern stone house. From the wilderness he hewed him out a home, and through industry and perseverance became one of his community's substantial men. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and died in that faith in 1875, when he was but fifty years of age. Mrs. McDonald, who was born in England, emigrated to Canada with her parents as a child of eleven years, making the voyage in a sailing vessel. She met her hus- band in the Dominion, and they became the parents of two daughters and four sons.

The third of his parents' children, Benjamin Mc- Donald, remained on the old homestead until reach- ing the age of twenty-five years. He divided his boyhood and youth between assisting his father in the work of developing the home place and attend- ing the public schools, and grew to sturdy manhood with a fair education and a splendid training in matters regarding farm work. His advent in Mon- tana occurred in 1889, on April Ist of which year he arrived by rail at Great Falls. At that

point he boarded a stage coach and went to the ranch of Bowers Brothers, working industriously and saving faithfully in order that he might send for his family. This he was able to do in the fall of 1891, when Mrs. McDonald, accompanied by her two elder sons, arrived by rail at Great Falls and were met by the stage, which carried them to Stan- ford. There was awaiting Mr. McDonald with a team, and the reunited and happy family drove out to U Bet and then to the ranch. Mr. McDonald continued to work for the Bowers Brothers during the following year, herding sheep on Spruce Creek in Fergus County, and then located near U Bet and entered the employ of George Jackson on the lat- ter's ranch. After a short time Mr. McDonald pre- empted 160 acres of land and subsequently home- steaded 160 acres and began operations on his own account.

It was largely due to the urging of Mrs. Mc- Donald that her husband entered the sheep busi- ness, in which he has since made such a success. She had faith in the business, and finally overcame the last of his objections when she agreed to herd the sheep if he would purchase them. Accordingly he put aside his scruples and invested in 300 head of sheep, and true to her promise Mrs. McDonald took an active part in the business of herding. Mr. 'McDonald gives his wife full credit for the share she had in starting him upon the road to fortune and also for the assistance that she has always given him in other ways. Gradually he developed into one of the prominent sheep ranchers of his county, and at times has owned as high as from 5,000 to 6,000 head, although at this time his band approximates but about 1,600 head. With his sons he owns in the neighborhood of 4,000 acres of land. He has never cared for public office, but votes the republican ticket, and attends the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in the movements of which he has been an active and generous supporter.

On May 8, 1882, Mr. McDonald was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Beard, who was born at Toronto, Canada, daughter of Marshall and Eliza- beth (McKee) Beard. 'Mr. Beard, who was born in Ireland, died at the age of eighty-four years, in 1912, and Mrs. Beard passed away when Mrs. Mc- Donald, the younger of her two children, was but two years of age. Mr. Beard emigrated to Canada in young manhood, and, settling in the wilderness, developed a good farm through his industry. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald three are living: John Arthur, who is engaged in the cattle business in Fergus County, where he is an extensive landholder; Marshall H., also a land- owner of this county, who married Miss Gertrude Raw and has two children, Wilbur H. and Frances Louise; and Lillian G., the only daughter of Ben- jamin McDonald, graduated from the Montana Wesleyan College of Helena, Montana, in 1919, and studied music under Walton Perkins of Chicago.

ANDREW C. BIRKLAND. It is difficult for the lay- man to appreciate the importance of the work accomplished by those men who are essentially an outcome of twentieth-century progressiveness, the civil engineers. No man can enter upon this im- portant field of endeavor without a careful and complete preparation if he expects to succeed. His training must include a sound knowledge of mathe- matics, physics, chemistry, hydraulics, mechanical engineering and electricity, while he must have a practical knowledge of geology, surveying and architecture, and be fully acquainted with the nature and strength of the materials which he may be called

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upon to use. Of the civil engineers of Montana who have risen to distinction in their profession, one whose achievements mark him as especially worthy of mention is Captain Andrew C. Birkland, former city engineer for three terms of Lewistown, and a veteran of two of this country's wars.

Andrew C. Birkland was born near Newark, Ken- dall County, Illinois, January 3, 1878, a son of An- drew and Anna (Alne) Birkland, natives of Norway. They were the parents of eight children: Martha, born in Norway, Arthur, Helen, Henry and Lewis, twins, Anna, Andrew C. and Clara. Andrew Birk- land came to the United States with his family in 1870 and located in Kendall County, Illinois, where he is still engaged in farming and raising stock. He is a republican. Andrew C. Birkland attended the public schools of Newark, Illinois, and after his graduation went to Beloit College, where he took a course in civil engineering and finished his engineering course in a two-year term in the University of Wisconsin. In July, 1899, he enlisted in Company B, Thirtieth Regiment, United States Volunteers, and was sent to the Philippine Islands, where he served for two years, until Feb- ruary, 1900. On his return to the United States he secured a position with the Lackawanna Steel Company as axe man on work being done near West Seneca, New York, and subsequently held positions with the Erie Railway Company, the Niagara Power Company, on the breakwater for the Government at Cleveland, Ohio, and with the Pennsylvania Railway Company. Next he was with the Florida & East Coast Railway Company, and then returned to the Pennsylvania Railway Com- pany, assisting in building the tunnel under the East River, New York. Coming to Fergus County, July 3, 1908, he took up a homestead sixteen miles northeast of Denton, and while living on this prop- erty and proving up also followed his profession as a civil engineer. In May, 1913, Captain Birk- land was appointed city engineer of Lewistown, and in May, 1915, received the reappointment, serving in that capacity for nearly five years, with splendid ability and to the satisfaction of the people of the community. On October 6, 1917, he received his commission as captain in the Officers Reserve Corps, and was ordered to active duty December 28, 1917, at Camp Lee, Virginia. On March 10, 1918, he was assigned to duty at Camp Sherman, becoming a member of the 317th Engineers Corps, sailed for France June 10, 1918, and landed at Brest, June 19, 1918. This was the First Corps of the First Army Engineers. From that time forward he was in the thick of the fighting on the western front, but came safely through and returned to New York City March 6, 1919, receiving his honorable dis- charge March 29th at Camp Sherman, Ohio. His return to Lewistown was the occasion for a great celebration on the part of the people who had come to know him and his sterling qualities, and a local newspaper described the welcome as follows: "One of the largest crowds ever assembled to greet a returning soldier, fresh from the battlefields of Europe, gathered at the Milwaukee depot to wel- come home Captain Andrew C. Birkland of the engineers. Captain Birkland had been in the service nearly a year and a half and the greater part of that time was spent on the western battle front. He was in the thick of much of the hard fighting, but came out of it all unscathed. The Elks' band paraded to the depot, followed by a long line of motor cars filled with friends of the returning offi -. cer. The escort turned up Main Street to the Army and Navy Club, where a reception was given, many

friends shaking his hand in warm welcome. Four little Birkland tots clung to their father's neck, and it was indeed a happy family that fate had brought together again."

Since his return from the service Captain Birk- land has resumed the duties of his profession and is building up a large clientele. His standing in his calling is high, as evidenced by the fact that he has served as vice president of the Municipal En- gineers Society. In political matters he is an ad- herent of the republican party. As a citizen of Lewistown he has been prominent in assisting good movements to a successful outcome, and his per- sonal popularity does much to advance the interests of any cause with which he allies himself.

Captain Birkland was married November 6, 1905, to Miss Jeannette A. Brombacker, who was born at Buffalo, New York, and they are the parents of four children: Grace H., Marion H., Ruth and Jeannette.

GEORGE MACE. It is as one of the real pioneers of the Yellowstone Valley that the name and career of George 'Mace are presented in this publication. Many experiences and achievements have given real distinction to his life. He came to Montana ter- ritory in the year that the nation was celebrating its centennial anniversary, and also in the same year that the famous Custer massacre occurred.

He was then twenty-eight years of age, and had lived rather strenuously during those early years. He was born in Erie County, New York, August 19, 1848. His parents were natives of England, and when he was seven years of age they returned to the old country and lived there until their deaths. Thus for nine years George Mace had his boyhood associations and acquired most of his limited school- ing in Buckinghamshire. Following the death of his parents, when he was about sixteen, he returned to the United States, and then followed a variety of circumstances and experiences that eventually led him to Montana about twelve years later. He worked as a farm hand, and also on railway con- struction. He helped finish the Union Pacific, the first transcontinental railway, and was a member of the force of bridge builders in Utah when the golden spike was driven uniting the eastern and western ends of that great steel thoroughfare. A few years later he was with the building forces of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway through old Indian Territory, and for a time was section fore- man of that line at Chetopa, Kansas.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 211

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