Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 25

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

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742

HISTORY OF MONTANA

with his three cayuse ponies he moved over to the Yellowstone Valley in the vicinity of Sidney, where he began building a ranch. He worked alone for a time while his wife employed her services in a res- taurant at Buford. The cayuse ponies were the foundation of Mr. Kelch's horse business. Their multiplication in time had the whole country black with horses. In a single year he branded more than 400 colts with the "Anvil-K," and at the climax of his business about 1,200 head bore that brand. His market was across the line in Canada and in Da- kota. For thirty-five years he continued the business and on the whole it was profitable. A remarkable instance of horse longevity is that one of his original cayuse ponies survived until 1918, and was then killed by lightning near Sidney.

Mr. Kelch's homestead was a quarter section, joining the land where later the townsite of Sidney was laid. He developed a farm almost without a neighbor in sight, and his permanent improvement gave him the comforts of a home until he retired from business. By purchase he also acquired title to a section of railroad land near Sidney. This he fenced and utilized as a pasture and some years later sold at a handsome profit.

On selling his railroad land Mr. Kelch felt free to take a vacation and get some enjoyment from his years of labor. Rigging up a team and outfit he and his wife loaded the wagon with their personal effects and started on a trip to the Pacific Coast, driving through to Portland, spending the winter at Eugene, Oregon, and thence proceeding to Lake Port, Cali- fornia, where the outfit was sold. From there they journeyed by train to San Francisco, and after re- newing some of his boyhood acquaintances Mr. Kelch returned to Montana and resumed his resi- dence in Sidney. Since then he has handled but little business. Mrs. Kelch was his constant and loyal companion for thirty-eight years, passing away February 22, 1918, aged sixty-one years, one month and four days.

Such is a brief outline of the experiences of one of the most interesting old timers in Eastern Mon- tana, and a highly esteemed citizen of Richland County. Politically Mr. Kelch is one of the few men still living in Montana who voted for Lincoln for president in 1860. He lived in Montana more than seven years before he was able to vote for president, but has always been loyal to the first party of his choice.

REV. WILLIAM PATRICK PHELAN. It is always a pleasure to revert to the life of a man who has spent his active years in the service of his fellow men, who, unselfishly, has sought to minister to those in need of spiritual guidance or physical succor, who, unmindful of the praise or blame of his fellow men, goes forward from day to day in the perform- ance of his humble duty, content to know that he is honestly following the dictates of his own con- science and doing the Master's will. Such a man is Rev. William P. Phelan, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Fort Benton, who for a number of years has performed a great and appreciated work among the people whom he is serving. A plain, hard-working, unpretentious gen- tleman, he never courts publicity, but has tried hard to build up a good congregation and, as all will agree, has succeeded admirably well.

William Patrick Phelan was born in Virginia City, Nevada, on May 1, 1882, and is the son of Robert and Catherine (Noughton) Phelan, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the father of County Tipperary and the mother of the City of Limerick. The father has been dead for a number of years,

and is survived by his widow, who now lives in Fort Benton, at the age of sixty-nine years. They were married in Virginia City, Nevada, and became the parents of three children, Margaret, William P. and John, the latter dying at the age of nineteen years. Robert Phelan came to the United States when about eleven years of age and received his educa- tion in the public schools of Indiana. In the pioneer days of California he went to that state and was one of the first there to engage in prospecting and min- ing. In those days there was a great deal of placer mining. Later he returned to Virginia City, Nevada, where he became interested in mining, and also had a hotel there, being identified. with that business up to the time of his death.

William P. Phelan received his elementary educa- tion in the public schools of Virginia City, Nevada, followed by attendance at All Hallows College at Salt Lake City, Utah. Then, having decided to de- vote himself to the ministry, he became a student in St. Patrick's College and Mento Marist College at Brookland, D. C. Completing his studies, he was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Ann, at Great Falls, Montana, on July 26, 1908. His first assignment was as assistant pastor of St. Pat- rick's Church at Billings, Montana, where he of- ficiated from October, 1908, to May, 1910, since which date he has been rendering splendid service as pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Fort Benton.

The cause of humanity never had a truer friend than in Father William P. Phelan. Always calm and straightforward, never demonstrative, his en- tire life here has been a steady effort for the worth of Christian doctrine, the purity and grandeur of Christian principles and the beauty and elevation of Christian character. In a summary as brief as this must of necessity be, one catches but a brief glimpse of the place he has filled and the influence which he has exerted in this community. Charitable and kind, he never loses an opportunity to say a helpful word to all with whom he comes in contact, and in all the circles in which he mingles he enjoys the high- est degree of respect and veneration because of his high character and accomplishments. Father Phelan is a forceful and impressive speaker, his pulpit ut- terances being characterized by vigor and fluency, as well as by logical and sound reasoning. With a keen understanding of the springs of human motive and action, he is kindly and tolerant in his judgment, and is therefore constructive in his attitude toward men and things. Because of his personal qualities and his genial disposition, he enjoys to a marked degree the confidence and esteem of the entire com- munity.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH. Fort Benton, probably the oldest white settlement in Montana, was established in 1846 by the American Fur Company, and named in honor of Senator Benton of Mis- souri. In the days before the railroad, Benton was very prosperous, being the mart of commerce and supply center for the whole upper Missouri country and all regions of the North. Here also the minis- trations of religion were dispensed at an earlier date than elsewhere. As early as the winter of 1846-7, Father Nicholas Point was in Fort Benton. From this date till 1855 we find no indications of any priest having visited the settlement. Then we find that Rev. James Croke, afterwards vicar gen- eral of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, visited the place, as indicated by the Baptismal Register. As no mention of Father Croke appears after Oc- tober, 1855, he appears to have remained only a short time.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

The next visitation to the settlement was made by Father Nicholas Congiato, general superior of the Rocky Mountain Missions, September 2, 1858, as shown by the Baptismal Records. The place was called by him Fort Campbell. A rival trading post named after the Campbells of St. Louis had been set up in 1846 and the place was known for a time as Fort Campbell. The earliest Mission Records designate the place under both names. It appears first on the records as Fort Benton in 1855 and as Fort Campbell in 1858 and as Fort Benton in 1860 and is thereafter designated by that name.

As shown by the Mission Records, Father De Smet visited the mission in 1859. In the spring of 1860 we meet Fathers Haecken and Imoda and in July Father Congiato again visits Benton. In the spring of 1861 Father Imoda again visits Fort Benton and again in October returns with Father Giorda. In the summer of 1862 Father De Smet visits the mission. From the fall of 1861 until the spring of 1866 the priests of St. Peters Mission paid occasional visits to Fort Benton, principally Father Giorda, Father Menetrey, and Father Imoda. The Baptismal Records show a couple of visits from Father F. X. Kuppens. From 1866 to 1874 the mis- sion was attended from Helena by Father Imoda and Father Van Gorp. Again in 1874 it is at- tended from St. Peters Mission by Fathers Imoda, Rappagliose and Guidi.

The first regular service was held in 1878 by Father Imoda. In 1878-9 Father Imoda built the Immaculate Conception Church, the first church edifice in town. From 1880 to 1883 Father H. Camp, S. J., was sent to the post and took charge of Fort Benton and dependencies. In 1883 the Benton people commenced the erection of a hospital, a substantial brick structure completed in 1884 at a cost of $12,000. In September, 1885, a colony of the Sisters of Providence arrived and opened the hospital, placing it under the patronage of St. Clare of Montefalco. In 1883 Father Camp was succeeded by Father Eberschweiler who held the post for four years. Father Tornielli was next in charge for two years. He in turn was succeeded by Father Casper Schuler and other Fathers of the Society of Jesus. About this time Fort Assiniboine, Shankin, Upper Teton and Highwoods were attended more or less regularly from Fort Benton.

The records show Father Monroe in charge from January, 1891, to July, 1892. Father Monroe was succeeded by Reverend F. X. Batens. His name first appears on the parish records in September, 1892. Father Batens was succeeded by Father C. G. Follet in April, 1893, Father Follet guided the spiritual destinies of the little parish from his ad- vent in April, 1893, till August, 1898. During his incumbency the dependencies of Fort Benton in- cluded Fort Assiniboine, Havre, Nehiart . (Lewis- town).

Father Follet was succeeded in August, 1898, by Father Piedenz who was succeeded by Father O'Brien in July, 1900. Father Peter Gallagher ap- pears on the records with Father O'Brien, but after December, 1903, seems to be the sole pastor of Fort Benton. In May, 1904, Father Follet is again as- signed to Benton, to be succeeded by Father Thomas McCormack in October, 1904.

In September or October, 1906, Father McCor- mack was succeeded by the Reverend Joseph Parker, and he was succeeded by the Reverend John Hen- nessey in March, 1907. Soon after Father Hen- nessey's advent the tentative plans for the new Im- maculate Conception Church took definite shape and a building and collecting committee appointed, con-

sisting of the following members: Chairman Jere Sullivan, Sr .; treasurer, F. A. Flanagan, members, N. T. Chinedlin, James Bartley, William Early, A. O. DeLorimer, and Dr. Carroll. As a result of the untiring zeal of the pastor and the devoted co-op- erations of the building committee the beautiful stone church of the Immaculate Conception was finished and blessed by His Lordship Rt. Rev. Mathias C. Lenihan on December 8, 1908.

Father Hennessey having been transferred to St. Ann's Cathedral, Great Falls, Father Donnelly was appointed pastor in the early spring of 1910 and was succeeded by the present incumbent in May, 1910.

In the following year Big Sandy, which had been attended only at long intervals, was visited and arrangements made for regular service. In July, IgII, the Altar Society was organized, officers elected and plans for the first entertainment out- lined. The first efforts were decidedly successful, as was every endeavor of these devoted women since. In 1912 and 1913 the first efforts were made to secure funds for the erection of the church. As the Catholics were very few the financial condi- tions of the land-seeker gave but little encourage- ment. However within a year and a half after the first start we were able to buy six lots in the choice part of the town, and December, 1915, saw a very neat and commodious frame church finished and the first Mass celebrated on New Year's Day, 1916. During 1916 the greater part of the debt was cleared. The years 1917 and 1918 will ever be memorable in and around Big Sandy. The complete failure of crops produced a condition bordering on poverty and consequently little could be done to secure funds.

The generosity and support of C. J. McNa- mara was a very great factor in our success in Big Sandy. Big Sandy having been placed on a solid footing, I next directed my attention to the little settlement of Carter. The first Mass was said in the early fall of 1911. We have a congregation of only twenty souls, men women and children. . This mission is attended regularly once a month. On September 10, 1913, the first Mass was celebrated in Geraldine. This was the first service of any kind held in the town. The following November the Altar Society was organized, officers elected and plans perfected for entertainment and supper, the first social event under the auspices of a Catholic society. In the following spring subscriptions were taken and collections made for the new church of Geraldine. At this time Catholics were few among the settlers, but the response was most encourag- ing. From June, 1914, till October, 1916, we were able to show a balance in the bank of $220.00; $500.00 additional subscription, and $500.00 promised from the Extension Society. In October therefore we had plans drawn for the substantial church that is now a source of pride for every citizen of Geraldine. In October Reverend Father Morgan assumed charge of the Mission.

The next mission to receive attention was High- wood. From very early days Highwood had re- ceived spiritual attention, but this was very irreg- ular. In 1914, however, Highwood began to be attended regularly twice a month, as was Geral- dine. In the early fall the Altar Society was or- ganized, officers elected, and plans for raising money for a building fund formulated. From the first the good ladies took the initiative, and when Father Morgan took charge in October, 1916, about $1,000 had been deposited in the Highwood Bank for the building fund.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

BENJAMIN J. BOORMAN. The interest excited in a man's career is due either to his experience or to his achievements or a combination of both. In the way of experience Benjamin J. Boorman of Great Falls has had an interesting variety. In achievement his work as a lumberman both as a manufacturer and dealer may speak for itself.

Mr. Boorman, who has a national prominence in lumber circles, and was one of the men who ap- peared on the program at the meeting of the Na- tional Lumbermen's Congress at Chicago in April, 1919, was born on his father's farm in Grant County near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, November 22, 1869. His parents, John and Eveline (Brodt) Boor- man, were both natives of New York State. His father was born in 1829 and died in 1909, while his mother was born in 1833 and died in 1905. Benja- min J. was the seventh of their ten children, four of whom are still living. John Boorman was a Wisconsin pioneer and cleared up a farm in the wilderness of Grant County, and earned his liveli- hood from the soil. He was a Baptist in religion and a republican voter in politics.

Benjamin J. Boorman while a boy on the home farm acquired only a common school education. When he was twenty years of age in May, 1889, he arrived in Great Falls, then a mere village in the new State of Montana. A seeker for oppor- tunities, he had to content himself with a job as messenger for the Rocky Mountain Telegraph Com- pany at 50 cents a day. At that time the average charge for meals was 50 cents each and lodging 50 cents, so that young Boorman was constantly in- curring a deficit in his finances as long as he worked for the Telegraph Company. The following year he was employed at a salary of $35 a month by the Great Northern Railway. The real opening to big- ger and better things came when he entered the service of the Holter Lumber Company at Great Falls in 1891. He was with that organization until 1898, and during that time not only accumulated a great deal of experience and knowledge of the lum- ber business in every detail but managed to save out of his meager earnings the capital of $250, which was his principal asset when he branched out in busi- ness for himself. In 1898 he organized the Boorman Lumber Company in Flathead County near Kalis- pell. He started with one saw mill, but subsequent years saw a rapid advancement and expansion of his activities and interests until they now cover many sections of Montana. He has nearly a score of lumber yards, also mills, and is a recognized expert in many phases of lumber manufacture and as a practical lumber dealer. He is one of the most prominent members of the Montana Retail Lumber- men's Association and for years has been one of the most popular speakers at lumbermen's conventions. Mr. Boorman has the distinction of being the first man to successfully dry kiln larch lumber.

From his original enterprise established at Kalis- pell in 1898 he began the process of expansion and branching out ten years later and is now presi- dent of the Boorman Lumber Company, operating at Helena and Belgrade; of the Boorman-Power Lumber Company, with plants at Power, Sims and Gilman; of the Home Lumber Company at Cascade and Ulm; of the Manhattan Lumber Company of Manhattan, the Chinook Lumber Company of Chi- nook, and the Shelby Lumber Company of Shelby. He is also president of the Northern Montana Lumher Company of Cut Bank, president of the Boorman Mercantile Company of Valier, Collins and Brady, president of the Western Retail Lum- bermen's Association and a director in the Lumber- men's Mutual Insurance Society.

Mr. Boorman served as a member of the Legis- lature in 1907 and 1909, and during that session was author of "The Eminent Domain" bill. He was a member of the Montana National Guard with Com- pany A of the First Regiment in 1889. He is a mem- ber of the Great Falls Commercial Club, is affiliated with Great Falls Lodge No. 34, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Kalispell Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Cyrene Commandery No. 10, Knight Tem- plars at Kalispell, and Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Helena. He is a republican and a mem- ber of the Congregational Church.

December 27, 1892, at Great Falls, Mr. Boorman married Miss Calista Depew, third among the four children of H. Y. and Sarah (Campbell) Depew, both natives of Canada, but residents of Michigan when Mrs. Boorman was born. Mr. and Mrs. Boor- man have one adopted son, Jack.

WALTER D. KEMMIS is a member of one of the earliest pioneer families in the vicinity of Sidney. It was in the year of 1884 that Thompson A. Kem- mis with his family made the journey by rail from Walker, Iowa, to Glendive, Montana, where they were met by a relative who freighted them to the Sidney community, arriving on the 2d day of March. The husband and father entered a quarter section of land on the Yellowstone River, a mile and a half south of where Sidney was afterward located, and there developed a ranch and farm and spent the remaining years of an active life.

Thompson A. Kemmis brought far less than $1,000 with him into his new home, and the first property he purchased was a team of horses and a wagon, two cows and a few chickens, and as rapidly as possible he drifted into the farm produce busi- ness. The market for his product was at Fort Bu- ford, about twenty-four miles distant, and the gar- rison at that time contained five companies of cavalry under the command of Major Bell, but the fort was later garrisoned by the Twenty-Fifth Infantry of colored troops. Although . Mr. Kemmis always fol- lowed the farm produce business, he also gradually drifted into the cattle industry as a beef producer, shipping his product to Chicago until he retired from the farm and moved to Sidney. His stock ran under the brand "T.A.K." on the left shoulder.

The pioneer home of the Kemmis family in Mon- tana was the proverbial log house constructed by members of the family, and this cabin did duty for some years, until replaced by a more pretentious dwelling of frame. The parents had children to edu- cate and Thompson A. Kemmis had much to do with the organization of the first school of the com- munity. The first term was held in the residence of William Meadors and was taught by Mrs. An- nette Meadors, who was succeeded by Mrs. Fair- field, she later becoming the wife of Granville Stew- art, one of Montana's important citizens. Walter Kemmis was one of Mrs. Fairfield's pupils, and he completed his schooling under her instruction.

Mr. Kemmis, Sr., was an active citizen of his locality in politics and other community matters and voted as a republican. He spent the vigor of his life in old Dawson County and was in sym- pathy with the movement to create Richland County. His name is enrolled among the honored pioneers of Montana and as one of its founders and upbuilders. His widow still resides in Sidney and has reached the age of seventy-one years.

Thompson A. Kemmis, who was born in Wash- ington County, New York, September 29, 1829, was descended from a colonial family of that region. He was a son of Samuel D. and Mary (Rood) Kem- mis. Samuel and Cornelius Kemmis, brothers, mi-

Dan

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

grated from Washington County, New York, and wintered at Detroit, Michigan, en route to Illinois, where they finally settled in Whiteside County. It was there that Thompson Kemmis grew to years of maturity and received his educational training. In 1853 he crossed the plains to California, but after experimenting with mining a short time he returned to New York by the Isthmus of Panama, in 1856, and resumed his farming operations in Illinois. Just before the outbreak of the Civil war he moved to Nebraska, and at Omaha enlisted as a soldier in the First Nebraska Cavalry. His services as a sol- dier were performed on the plains of the West, guarding stage lines, etc., from Indian attacks and the depredations of the Sioux tribe. He was dis- charged in 1865, having escaped wounds.

The wife of Thompson A. Kemmis, Jane E., is a daughter of John F. Betey, who migrated from his native state of Vermont to Iowa and became a farmer in Clinton County and later in the vicinity of Walker, Iowa. He came out to Montana follow- ing the advent of the Kemmis family, and he and . his wife now lie buried here. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kemmis are: Walter D .; John F., a farmer of Richland County; Thompson A., Jr., of Kemmis, Montana; Orra J., of Sidney; Phebe A., the first child of the family born in Montana, and who is now Mrs. William Goings, of Rockford, Illi- nois, and William C., just older than Phebe, whose death occurred in this state.

From the early age of fifteen until he started ranching for himself Walter D. Kemmis worked out as a ranch or farm hand, having herded sheep, punched cows, sheared sheep, cooked at ranches and for roundups, and carried mail between Glendive and Buford. He was born in DeWitt County, Iowa, January 28, 1870, and he contributed his wages to the family treasury until he came to the age of ma- turity, earning from seventy-five cents a day up as a shepherd and cowboy. The best wage which he received was as a sheep shearer, his record being 166 sheep a day of ten hours, making this record on the 4th of July, 1896. Sheep shearing was worth from 6 to 9 cents a head and he followed that occu- pation during the summer months from 1885 until 1899.

Mr. Kemmis started his independent career as a rancher within thirty feet of where the family stopped for their first dinner eaten in Richland County. His father purchased his team outfit from Austin Diltz, the owner of the farm where Walter now lives and on which he started on his business career, and the senior Mr. Kemmis left his two eld- est sons in charge of the personal property on the place while he found places for his numerous family of children. Walter Kemmis began his stock raising enterprise with a few cows and soon afterward secured a carload of yearling steers in Minnesota, and at once became a ranchman on a small scale. His homestead adjoined the Diltz ranch and his pio- neer dwelling was a comfortable log cabin, which sheltered him until a better one was erected for the reception of his wife, and this in turn gave place to his splendid frame house of nine rooms in 1914.

The history of the ranching industry of Mr. Kem- mis is that of a cattleman and farmer. In 1895 the feed problems confronted him seriously, and he began farming for the growing of feed. He crossed his high grade of range stock with the Durhams and Herefords and recently he engaged in the breeding of registered Shorthorns. The head of his herd of Shorthorns is one of the best registered animals in the county, and at the exhibition of the Tri-County Fair at Culbertson Mr. Kemmis won first prize as well as sweepstakes on this bull. He

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 25

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