Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 52

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 52

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Mr. Thomson is a republican in politics, and be- sides his membership in.the Rotary Club he is affil- iated with Silver Bow Lodge No. 48, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Butte Lodge No. 240, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, Butte Camp No. 153, Woodmen of the World, and the Royal High- landers. His modern home is at 800 South Jackson Street.

In 1895, at Butte, Mr. Thomson married Miss Mary E. Kraft. She was born in York, Pennsylvania, and died at Butte in 1906. She was the mother of two daughters, Sophia and Mary, the latter a junior in the Butte High School. Sophia is the wife of Ray Loomas and lives at Butte. Mr. Loomas, now deputy city treasurer, was an American soldier over- seas, participating in the Chateau Thierry, Argonne Forest, St. Mihiel drives, was three times wounded, and received the Croix de Guerre. Mr. Thomson married for his present wife Miss Bessie Mae Kel- sey, a native of Butte, and daughter of John and Susan Kelsey, pioneers of the city. Her parents still live there, Mr. Kelsey being prominent in finan- cial affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have one daugh- ter, Susan, born March 11, 1916.

ROBERT J. BALL. No man who has lived in the Flathead country has been better known or more highly esteemed than Robert J. Ball. His life has indeed been a busy and successful one and fraught with much good to his fellow men, for, while earn- estly laboring to advance his own interests, he has never been neglectful of his larger duties to the public, and his record is eminently worthy of perusal by the student who would learn the intrinsic essence of individuality and its influence in moulding public opinion and giving character and stability to a com- munity.

Robert J. Ball was born in England, August 18, 1856, and is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Fisher) Ball. When he was twelve years of age, the family came to the United States. He never attended school after leaving England, but being always a great reader he is one of the best informed men in Flat- head County. The family first located in Salt Lake City, the son Robert eventually going to various places in Nevada, where he remained until 1880, then going to Butte, Montana, taking a freighting outfit with him and remaining in that vicinity working for the Alice Mines until coming to the Flathead country, where he located in 1884. He pre-empted 160 acres of land, located five miles south of where the town of Kalispell now stands. At that time the only nearby place was Selish, which also was a postoffice, and to which people came for mail from points as far distant as the Canadian line. The country at that time was sparsely settled, Indians, miners and hunters being practically the only oc-

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cupants, while wild game was exceedingly abundant. The first school in the Flathead country was held in the location cabin of D. J. Lambert, the first teacher being an old trapper named Robinson. After locating his land Mr. Ball remained one summer, during which time he built a good cabin and made other improvements. He then went to Butte and engaged in mining until the following spring, when he returned to the ranch. About this time he was married, and his wife came to the ranch and re- mained during the last six weeks prior to proving up on it, while he returned to Butte, where he was employed as overseer in the smelter of W. A. Clark. In 1893 they decided to make their permanent home in the Flathead country, and from that time they devoted themselves heart and soul to their farm. The country was still almost unoccupied, and Mr. and Mrs. Ball found that they were compelled to adapt themselves to surroundings and conditions to which they were unaccustomed. Persistent and ju- diciously applied energy had its rewards, and Mr. Ball was enabled from time to time to add to his original holdings until his estate amounted to 480 acres, comprising as fine a farm as there was in the valley. The original log cabin home was re- placed by a comfortable and attractive residence, and during the subsequent years they realized the fulfillment of their earlier hopes, so that at length they felt able to lay aside the labors of the farm and enjoy that rest to which their years of labor had entitled them. In 1916 they sold their old home place and occupied a modern home which they had erected across the road from the old homestead, and there they are wisely spending their latter years in quiet and contentment.

On November 5, 1885, at Helena, Montana, Mr. Ball was married to Jennie Claflin, who was born in Charlotte, Michigan, the daughter of B. I. and H. B. Claflin. She attended the public schools of Michigan, and then Olivet College, where she was graduated. She had prepared herself for the voca- tion of a school teacher, and sometime prior to her graduation she had applied to the Missionary Society for employment as teacher. At this time she re- ceived a call to the "New West," under the super- vision of the Congregational Church and, accepting, was sent to Bountiful, Utah. She taught school there three years and one year at Heber, Utah. She then returned to her home in Michigan for a visit. Later she met Mr. Ball in Helena, Montana, and their marriage occurred there in the fall of 1885. Mrs. Ball passed away July 18, 1920. She possessed a very beautiful character, and was a true Christian woman and much beloved by friends and neighbors. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ball, but out of the kindness of their hearts and their love for children they educated and assisted in starting in life fourteen boys and girls, feeling that in this way they could start them in life right fitting them for true American citizenship, they were performing a real service to their country and humanity. The home has always been noted for its spirit of hospitality, the latch-string, figuratively speaking, ever hanging on the outside, and none in distress have ever left their door empty-handed.

Politically Mr. Ball is a stanch supporter of the republican party, while Mrs. Ball, who believed that every woman should exercise her right of franchise, also believed that the fitness of every candidate should be considered as of more importance than party affiliations. Mr. Ball attends the Presby- terian Church at Kalispell, of which Mrs. Ball was a member. He has always been deeply interested in the welfare of the schools in his neighborhood, as was also his wife. When they first came to Flat-

head there was but six weeks of school in each year, that being at Demersville. Their homestead was not included in any school district, though they were claimed by both Demersville and Brocken. They finally proposed to unite with Demersville if the later would move their schoolhouse to a more central location, which was done. Mrs. Ball's ex- perience as a teacher qualified her to take an active interest in matters educational and the voters of the district, recognizing her fitness, elected her a mem- ber of the school board, which position she filled for several succesive terms. For fifteen years Mr. and Mrs. Ball opened their home for Sunday school work, thus promoting and encouraging a work that would have suffered without such support. Mrs. Ball herself invited and gathered the young into the school and acted as its superintendent for some time.

In 1915 Mr. and Mrs. Ball took an automobile trip through the states of Washington, California, Oregon, Nevada and Utah, and enjoyed the delight- ful scenery and historic spots of these localities.

FRANK REID came to Montana in 1880, arriving at Virginia City on July 2nd of that year. He was then nineteen years of age, and his knowledge of the world was largely confined to that gained on a farm in the Hudson Valley of New York State. He quickly adapted himself to the circumstances of Mon- tana, and during the period which has since elapsed has become one of the most extensive land owners and stock raisers of the Twin Bridges community.

He was born at New Scotland, Albany County, New York, December 21, 1861. His Scotch an- cestors were colonial settlers in the Hudson River Valley. His grandfather, John Reid, was born in Albany County in 1788 and spent all his life as a farmer there. He died at New Scotland in 1874. On February 23, 1820, he was commissioned lieu- tenant of a company in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment of New York State Infantry, and on May 23, 1823, was made captain in a Battalion of Rifles in the County of Albany. An old powder horn which he carried is now owned by his grand- son George Reid of Twin Bridges. This powder horn was made by an Indian boy at Lake George and bears the date August 31, 1758. George 1. Reid, father of Frank Reid, was born at New Scotland, New York, in 1820, spent his life there as a farmer and died in 1871. He was a republican and member of the Dutch Reformed Church. His wife was Anna M. Fuller, who was born in New Scotland in 1827 and died there in 1908. Frank Reid was the seventh and youngest of their children. John G., the oldest, was for fifty years an employee of the Erie Railroad and is now retired on a pension at Jersey City, New Jersey. Catherine, the second in age, died at Coemans, New York; Orcelia died at New Scotland; Louisa is the wife of David T. Hurst, a farmer at Guilderland Center, Albany County, New York; Gershum Fuller is on the old home farm in New Scotland; Hannah died at the age of twenty- two months.

Frank Reid left school at the age of eighteen, and soon afterward came to Montana. The first two years of his residence in this territory he worked at the mines, did teaming and also contracting. In 1882 he went to Butte and spent a year with the Bell Mining Company. Returning to Virginia City in 1883, he operated with that town as his head- quarters until 1890, engaging in mining and teaming. He became a resident of Twin Bridges in 1890 and since then his interests have been growing and ex- panding in the ranching industry. With A. J. Wil- comb he owns 1,700 acres, with his son Alvin is owner of an 800-acre ranch five miles northt of Twin

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

Bridges, has another place of 340 acres in Nezperce Basin, has 200 acres seven miles northwest of Twin Bridges at Rock Springs, and also has 200 acres west of Silverstar on Cherry Creek. With his sons Mr. Reid runs as high as 13,000 head of sheep in a season, and is also operating extensively in cattle and horses.

At Twin Bridges besides his modern home on Seventh Avenue he owns a brick business block on Main Street and several dwelling houses, while Mrs.' Reid is half owner of the hardware store block at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Main Street. Mr. Reid's affairs have been greatly prospered in Montana and he also stands high among his fellow citizens and in social circles. He has been a man of influence in behalf of the republican party and of good local government, and several years ago was a candidate for county commissioner. He is a director and stockholder of the First National Bank at Twin Bridges, and is secretary of the Farmers Elevator Company. He is affiliated with Westgate Lodge No. 27, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a former member of the Knights of the Mac- cabees and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

On December 29, 1886, at Butte, he married Miss Margaret Gilbert, daughter of one of the famous pioneers of Montana. She was born at Virginia City February 26, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Reid have three sons, two of whom were in the World war. Almon Gilbert and Alvin F. are twins, born April 8, 1888, while George Henry, the youngest, was born June 5, 1895. Almon Gilbert enlisted June 24, 1918, was sent overseas after a brief period of training in August, and went over the top in the great battle of the Argonne Forest on the 26th of September. He was mustered out June 23, 1919, and is now a part- ner in the ranching business with his father. Alvin F. Reid lives on his ranch six miles north of Twin Bridges and is individual owner of 400 acres. He married Norma E. Cornforth, and they have two children, Helen May, born January 11, 1913, and Charles, born May 21, 1917. George Henry Reid was drafted September 3, 1918, was sent to Camp Lewis, thence to Camp Fremont, California, to Camp Mills, New York, and finally to Camp Hill, Virginia, and was mustered out April 2, 1919. He is now assisting his father in the latter's varied business affairs. Mrs. Reid, who is one of the oldest native daughters of Montana, was educated in the public schools of the territory, in a private school at Virginia City, and taught school for four years in Madison County before her marriage. She is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Her father, the late Henry S. Gilbert, was born in Pennsylvania in 1833 and died at Virginia City in 1903. He was a native of Berks County, son of Henry and Lydia (Spang) Gilbert, both also na- tives of Pennsylvania. Henry Gilbert, Sr., operated a grist mill and woolen factory. The great-grand- father of Henry S. Gilbert came from England to America in 1750, and one of his sons, born in Penn- sylvania, was with the American forces in the war for independence. Henry S. Gilbert had a common school education, attended the Academy of Boyer- town, Pennsylvania, and for a time was a teacher. He learned the trade of saddler, bought the busi- ness of his employer, and continued it for two years. In 1854 he moved to Lafayette, Indiana, worked at his trade six months, and then went on to Laurens, Kansas, at that time the center of the great free state struggle in Kansas. He was a contractor and builder and took up Government land near Manhat- tan, but in 1855, probably due to the disturbed con- dition of affairs in Kansas, moved to Missouri, where he worked at his trade for a time. In Sep-

tember of that year he started for the Rocky Moun- tains. On reaching Fort Laramie, Wyoming, he re- mained until 1859 engaged in trading with the Crow and Sioux Indians, and furnishing supplies to the overland emigrant trains. In the spring of 1878 he was sent to overtake General Johnson's command, then pushing forward against the Mormons, for the purpose of supplying the soldiers with rations. Being unable to reach the forces of General Johnson, he stopped at South Pass and established a trading post and general store and for two years traded among the Snake Indians. Selling his business in 1859 he then established a post at the foot of Rocky Ridge in Wyoming, and built the first wooden house there. He was a trader among the Indians on Wind River until the fall of 1860, when he removed to Fort Bridger and established a store at Millersville.

At Millersville, Utah, November 20, 1860, he mar- ried Margaret McMinn, of Salt Lake City. She was a native of Nova Scotia, and from there as a girl accompanied her parents to Utah. They were converts to the church of the Latter Day Saints, and their children embraced that religion.

After his marriage Henry S. Gilbert located on a ranch south of Fort Bridger, and remained there until the spring of 1862, when, owing to an uprising among the Ute Indians, who menaced the safety of all the people in that community, he abandoned his ranch and with his family returned to Fort Bridger. There he entered the service of the Government, putting in a bridge at Ham's Fork and subsequently with Judge Carter took a contract to furnish hay for the military post and beef to the troops.

August 12, 1863, Henry S. Gilbert started, for Vir- ginia City, Montana, and arrived in that pioneer mining post on the first of September. He bought two placer claims in Alder Gulch, but their working proved unprofitable. He then erected a brewery at Virginia City, the first in the state. He conducted that as a very successful business for a number of years, and his output had a large demand over all the country around Virginia City. He was a resident of Madison County forty years and always regarded as one of its most alert and progressive citizens. He was an ardent democrat, and in 1880 was elected county treasurer, an office he held for eleven years. He was assessor of Madison County in 1871, served two terms as mayor of Virginia City, and six terms as alderman. He was past master of Virginia City Lodge No. 1, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

The widow of Henry S. Gilbert is still living at Virginia City. She was the mother of fifteen . children, whose names are briefly noted as follows: Frances, wife of Jacob Albright, proprietor of a men's furnishing store at Virginia City; William Henry, a miner in Alaska; Mrs. Frank Reid; Clara, who lives in Virginia City, widow of Frank Foster; Amelia, twin sister of Clara, is the wife of Edward Trout, a miner and present city marshal of Virginia ; Elizabeth, wife of A. J. Wilcomb, the Twin Bridge banker; Walter, who died in Virginia City at the age of twenty-one; Linnie and Ethel, unmarried, and living at San Francisco, as is their sister Helen ; Cora, unmarried, a resident of Virginia City; Lewis and Valentine, both of Virginia City; May, wife of George P. Leineweber, a merchant at Alder; and Sarah, wife of James H. Powell, of Butte.

WILLIAM J. MACDUFFIE is manager and one of the partners of the leading hardware business at Twin Bridges. Before entering his present business he was an expert tinsmith, a trade he learned while a boy and which he followed for a number of years in his native state of Wisconsin.

Mr. MacDuffie was born at Rio, Wisconsin, March

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

II, 1882. His people were originally Scotch but came from England to the United States. His grandfather, John MacDuffie, was born in 1804 and was one of the earliest settlers of Southern Wis- consin, clearing up a farm in Walworth County, long famous as one of the best agricultural counties in Southern Wisconsin and noted as a great dairy center. He died at Rio in 1891. John Walworth MacDuffie, his son and father of William J., was born in Walworth County, Wisconsin, in 1833, fif- teen years before Wisconsin became a state. After his marriage he lived on a farm in Rio and in 1912 retired to Seattle, Washington, where he remained three years and since then has made his home in different localities but is now a retired resident of Seattle. He served as a justice of the peace at Rio, and from that community he enlisted in the Third Wisconsin Cavalry during the Civil war and for three and a half years fulfilled all the require- ments of a brave and capable soldier. He was in many of the battles of that great war, was with Sherman on the march to the sea, and was twice wounded, once seriously in the hip. He married in Pennsylvania Mary Carter, who was born in that state in 1857, and died at Seattle in 1914. Howard, the oldest of their children, is overseer of an iron ore mine at Ironwood, Michigan. Maude is the wife of Charles Tillotson and lives at Chicago. Adelaide is the wife of Thomas Carter, a fruit grower at Seattle. Alice is the wife of William Yale, owner of a large steam laundry at Duluth, Minnesota. DeWitt is a rancher at Belt, Montana. Harriet, who died at the age of thirty-eight, was the wife of D. H. Taylor, a traveling salesman with home at Missoula. William J. is the seventh in age. Roy, the youngest, is a railroad engineer with home in Florida.

William Joseph MacDuffie received his education in the public schools of Rio, Wisconsin, graduating from high school in 1900. For four years he was an apprentice at the tinner's trade, and then going to Alma, Wisconsin, worked as a tinsmith for ten years and two months. In 1910, on coming to Twin Bridges, he worked for George Dess and D. H. Taylor, and in November, 1918, bought his present store at the corner of Main Street and Fourth Ave- nue. Besides a good stock of hardware he also handles groceries. The business is incorporated with Fred C. Seidensticker and wife, respectively, presi- dent and vice president, and Mr. MacDuffie as active manager.

. Mr. MacDuffie is a republican in politics and is affiliated with Alma Camp No. 760, Modern Wood- men of America. He married at Alma June 15, 1905, Miss Julia Stohr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Stohr. Her mother lives at Alma and her father, who was a carpenter by trade, died there. Mrs. MacDuffie is a graduate of the Alma High School and is a member of the German Reformed Church.

HARVEY FREDERICK JACKSON. During a residence in Montana of thirty years Harvey Frederick Jack- son has had a varied and extensive experience in the mines, as a merchant, rancher and real estate dealer. He has developed the leading real estate business at Twin Bridges, which has been his home for the past five years.

Mr. Jackson was born at Logansport, Indiana, March 21, 1863, but spent most of his early life in Iowa. His grandfather, John A. Jackson, was descended from ancestors who were pioneer settlers in Kentucky, and he spent his active life as a Ken- tucky farmer. Noah M. Jackson, father of Harvey F., was born at Logansport, Cass County, Indiana,

in 1831, and as a young man became a wagonmaker by trade. He married at Logansport, also did some farming in that section of Indiana, and in 1863 moved to Iowa, and had a farm in Union County where the present town of Thayer is now located. He died at Thayer in 1907. For twenty-six con- secutive years he served as justice of the peace at Thayer, and one term as county commissioner of Union County. Politically he was a republican 'and was a very active member of the Christian Church. He also belonged to the Odd Fellows. Noah M. Jackson married Phoebe Gripp, who was born in Indiana in 1835 and died at Thayer, Iowa, in 1884. Of their children Harvey F. was the fifth. Sarah. the oldest, lives in Nebraska, widow of Peter Walters, a farmer in Iowa and Nebraska; Mary re- sides in Union County, Iowa, widow of Elias Day, a farmer; John A., a farmer near Hopeville in Union County, Iowa; Launa, who married West Walters, a farmer, and both died and are buried at Afton, Iowa; J. M. Jackson is a real estate broker at Kan- sas City, Missouri; Nora is the wife of Walter Wake, a farmer at Afton, Iowa; Mrs. Emma John- son is the wife of a farmer at Lincoln, Nebraska ; and Mrs. Laura Lewis is the wife of a farmer and carpenter at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Harvey F. Jackson was educated in the rural schools of Union County, Iowa, and lived on his father's farm there until he was twenty-four years of age. When he came to Montana in 1888 he lo- cated at Dillon and was employed as a smelterer at the mines for five years. One year he was proprie- tor of a hotel at Bannock, and in that town he erected a building and stocked it with general mer- chandise and for sixteen years commanded the bulk of the mercantile trade in that community. He was also postmaster during the greater part of his mer- cantile career. He first became identified with the Twin Bridges community as a farmer in 1912. He left here and for one year was engaged in selling mines in old Mexico. In 1915 he came to Twin Bridges and engaged in the real estate business, and has made his business, conducted as the Superior Land Company, the chief establishment of its kind in that part of Madison County. He handles ranches and city properties. He individually owns a val- uable place of 360 acres two and a half miles south- east of Twin Bridges. This is irrigated land, and is used both for grain and stock production. Mr. Jackson lives on his ranch and he also owns con- siderable real estate at Twin Bridges.

Politically he is a republican. He married at Afton, Iowa, in 1888, Miss Cora Tash, daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Weter) Tash the latter living with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. Her father, deceased, was a farmer in Iowa. Mrs. Jackson was educated in the Normal School at Afton, Iowa, and was a teacher in that state before her marriage. They have two children: Donald T., born March 28, 1903; and Dorothy, born May 28, 1907.

WILLIAM RUPPEL, a Montana pioneer, long identi- fied with the practical side of farming and stock raising, is a resident of Twin Bridges and is now giving his chief time to the management of the Farmers Elevator of that city.

He was born in the Province of Hesse, Germany, February 22, 1856. His parents were Henry and Margaret (Jacob) Ruppel, natives of Hesse, and Henry spent his active life as a farmer. Henry Ruppel served with the German army in the war against Austria in 1866. He and his wife died at the same time and were buried together. William Ruppel had a good education in the German schools, worked on the farm and on coming to America went

MR. AND MRS. ROBERT NORDTOME AND SONS MILFORD AND CLIFFORD

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

from New York west to Iowa. He was one of a family of ten children, most of whom remained in Germany. He was the second in age, Valentine, the oldest, being a resident of Germany and a farmer. The third in the family, Adam, is a merchant at San Francisco, California. He was named for his uncle Adam Ruppel, who was one of the pioneers of Minnesota, going there while a member of the United States army in 1856. He served during the Indian uprising in Minnesota and was a business man and school teacher. The other children of Henry Ruppel and wife were: Margaret, Henry, Peter, all still in Germany, Jacob, a retired farmer at Twin Bridges, Catherine and Mary, both in Ger- many, and Frederick a farmer at Vulcan, Alberta, Canada.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 52

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