Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 111

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1374

USA > Montana > Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1 > Part 111

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Republican, and the latter in the Argus office. In 1864 the family established themselves in a per- manent home in Elgin, Ill., which the father soon left for the purpose of making another trip to the west. On this expedition he located the celebrated Emma mine, known to mining men of all coun- tries. His identification with mining thus caused Robert B. Chisholm to frequently pass back and forth between his home and the scenes of his min- ing operations. In the centennial year he located, and became the principal owner of the Centennial Eureka mine in Utah, which was placed in charge of his son, William W., now president of the Bank of Commerce, Salt Lake City. William W. Chis- holm really discovered the body of ore which made the Emma mine famous, since he, in company with a Swede minehelper, was engaged in drilling in the bottom of the shaft, and when the drill had passed through to a depth of about two feet it suddenly passed through and out of sight. This unexpected result led to the breaking away of the rock for the purpose of investigation, and they thus discovered the vast body of ore, from which the first silver ore was sent to Swansea, England, resulting in the sale of the mine by our subject's father for over $350,000. Later the property was purchased by an English syndicate, paying therefor several million dollars, this transaction leading to much litigation. The other great mine, the Centennial Eureka, paid $2,956,000 in dividends before it was sold, and at the present time negotiations are in progress for the sale of the property in England for a considera- tion of $5,000,000. It may be said without reserva- tion that Robert B. Chisholm and his two sons, William W. and Oliver P., have owned and devel- oped mines from Mexico to the Cape Nome dis- trict in Alaska, where the brothers now have valu- able claims. Not long ago Col. O. P. Chisholm was in British Columbia, and there encountered- a man who had gone into Canada from California in company with his father, Robert B. Chisholm, in 1865. One of his latest mining enterprises is an investment in a great deposit of corundum and aluminum on the shore of Lake Superior. He and Charles A. Towne, of Minnesota, are associ- ated together with others in the Minnesota Abras- ive Company, owning this property. Mr. Chisholm has photographs showing the immense ore beds in sight. One of them is 1,100 feet wide, one mile long and several hundred feet high. It is esti- mated that there are 150,000,000 tons of ore above the surface of the ground. This de-

posit contains twenty-four per cent. metallic alum- inum. It is without question the greatest deposit of mineral in the world.

The mother of Col. Chisholm died at the home in Elgin, Ills., April 26, 1878, at the age of fifty- nine years, and after the loss of his cherished and devoted companion the father disposed of the fine home and removed to California, purchasing a valuable place at Oakland, which continued to be his home until his death, June 30, 1891, at the age of sixty-nine years, his remains being taken back to Elgin, Ill., where they were laid to rest beside those of the wife and mother, who had been to him a devoted companion and true helpmeet. The maiden name of the mother of Col. Chisholm was Sarah Van Valkenburg, a native of Canada, being one of thirteen children. Her brothers were men of herculean proportions, all above six feet in height, and were considered veritable giants, so great was their strength. To Robert B. and Sarah (Van Valkenburg) Chisholm seven children were born, and of the number only two are deceased. Tracing the genealogy of our subject, we find that his grandparents in the agnatic line were William and Frances O. (Cowan) Chisholm, natives of New York, whence they eventually removed to Canada, and passed the remainder of their lives. To mark their last resting place, their only son, Robert B., erected to their memory an elaborate granite and marble monument at a cost of ·over $25,000, being one of the finest monuments in the entire Do- minion of Canada. The great-grandfather of the Colonel was Kenneth Chisholm, who came from Scotland to New York, where he passed the resi- due of his life, his death occurring in Delaware county. He was reputed to be a legal heir to the great Chisholm estates in Scotland, the same amounting to millions ; but being amply successful in his business he seemingly never cared to urge his claim to a share in the Scottish estates. His descendants have also been equally fortunate in the accumulation of wealth, and have not cared to seek the favors of inheritance, great though they might prove. The will of Kenneth Chisholm, bear- ing date of December 6, 1791, gave to his son Wil- liam, the grandfather of our subject, one-half his estate, the Colonel-having a copy of this interesting and aged document. Records extant also show that Kenneth Chisholm had a fortune in gold and silver plate, the same having been burned and lost dur- ing the war of 1812. Kenneth Chisholm married a daughter of Lord Frazier, and thus were com-

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bined two of the great estates of two notable fam- ilies in Scotland.

The maternal grandparents of Col. Chisholm were Cornelius and (Davis) Van Valkenburg, the name being ancient and historic, while its represent- atives in the various generations have been not- able for longevity. The maternal grandmother of our subject died at the age of ninety-three. She had two sisters who attained the ages of 103 and 105 respectively, so that it is evident that the Davis family were likewise long lived.

From the foregoing paragraphs it may be in- ferred that Col. Oliver P. Chisholm received his educational discipline in the various cities and towns where the family were at different times located, his advantages being those afforded by the public schools. The Colonel relates that his first mining experience came to him at the early age of six years, when he went "picking mineral" in Wisconsin-this term implying that the youngsters would visit the old dumps, particularly after a rain, and there pick up mineral, which they would carry to the smelter and receive a few pennies for their pains. At the age of nineteen years, while a resident of Elgin, Ill., Col. Chisholm enlisted for service in the war of the Rebellion, personally or- ganizing a company. As the original captain, Ed- ward C. Lovell, was superintendent of schools and could not give his attention to the duty, the Colonel absolutely affected .the organization of Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, with which he went to the front as sec- ond lieutenant. Because of the absence of both the captain and first lieutenant, our subject was in actual command of the company during the entire period of service, drawing pay as commander, and when mustered out, September, 1865, it devolved upon him to make the final settlement with the government in behalf of his company. He was the youngest commanding officer in the regiment at the time of his enlistment and discharge. Return- ing to the parental roof, he resumed work at the printer's trade in Elgin and Chicago, Ill., after which he was a traveling salesman for one year in the line of farming machinery.

On the 20th of June, 1870, Col. Chisholm was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Bishop, who was born in Illinois, the daughter of Dardanus and Saphronia J. (Steele) Bishop. Her maternal grandfather was Capt. Jonathan Steele, an officer in the war of 1812, who resided on the shores of Lake Champlain. Col. and Mrs. Chisholm became

the parents of seven children, of whom three are deceased : Charles B. is engaged in the practice of law in Chicago; Robert B. is studying music and taking a business and commercial course of study in the same city ; Oliver P., Jr., is a student in the College of Mechanics and Arts, at Bozeman ; and Sarah Alice is at the parental home. After their marriage Col. and Mrs. Chisholm removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he entered the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan. He left the college before graduation on account of private business in settling the affairs of the Emma mine in New York city. January 7, 1876, he passed examination before the supreme court of Illinois and was admitted to practice in all courts in the state. In August, 1871, he visited their celebrated Emma mine, in Utah, and found that one of their foremen was the late Marcus Daly, then employed at a salary of $5.00 per day. To-day his name is known the world over, and his career shows how great may be the transitions in individual life with- in a comparatively short period of time. Here was a man laboring under ground at a nominal salary, and within thirty years, at the opening of the twentieth century, he passed away, known to the world as a multi-millionaire.

In 1884 Col. Chisholm settled in Bozeman, where he had been sent, under appointment by President Arthur, as register of the United States land office, and here he has continued to reside, being one of the best known and most highly honored citizens of the state. He was elected a member of the state legislature of Illinois at the general election which placed Gen. Garfield in the presi- dential chair. The Colonel gave his support to the principles and policies of the Republican party up to 1896, having cast his first presidential vote for President Lincoln, then nominated for a second term ; but in the year mentioned he identified him- self with the free-silver wing of the party, giving his support to William J. Bryan, following the same course in the election of 1900. Frater- nally the Colonel is identified with and holds membership in William English Post No. 10, G. A. R., at Bozeman, having been a mem- ber of a post in Elgin, Ill., prior to removing to Montana. While residing in the east he was also identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was chairman of the Republican state convention of Montana when the split in the party occurred on the free silver issue. Mrs. Chrisholm is a member

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of the Congregational church, and the family hold a prominent position in the social circles of their home city.

The subject of this sketch may thus be seen to have played an important part in the history of the mining developments of the great west. He is known not only as one of the representative and progressive men of the state, but his wide business relations make him a conspicuous and familiar figure in commercial centers throughout the coun- try.

CHARLES CHARLTON .- The honored subject of this review acquired prominence in connec- tion with the agricultural and stockgrowing in- dustries of Madison county, where he maintained his home since 1864 until his death, October 27, 1901.

Mr. Charlton was born in Swardeston parish, county of Essex, England, on March 23, 1817, and accompanied his parents on their imigration to the United States when he was a boy. His father, Thomas Charlton, settled in Genesee county, N. Y., where he devoted the remainder of his life to agri- cultural pursuits. Our subject received his early educational training in his native town in England, and after coming to America he not only gave his attention to agricultural pursuits but learned the butchering business, to which he devoted his atten- tion for a number of years prior to coming to Mon- tana. In 1859 he started for Pike's Peak, Colo., where he remained until 1863, when he made the overland trip to Montana and located in Bevin's gulch, Madison county, where he engaged in the butchering business, supplying meat to the various camps. He conducted business both at Virginia City and Bannack. In 1864 he took up a tract of land in the Beaverhead valley, and there he main- tained his home for many years, his well improved ranch being located sixteen miles north of Dillon. From the early days he was more or less identified with mining operations, and was successful in some of his ventures.

Mr. Charlton was united in marriage to Miss Susan Pritchard, who was born at sea while her parents were enroute from England to the United States. During all the years when Mr. Charlton was in the mining districts of the western frontier his wife and children remained at Cleveland, Ohio, in order that the latter might have proper educa- tional facilities. Mrs. Charlton died in the beauti-

ful "Forest City" of Ohio in 1890, leaving three children-Jennie I., who is the wife of Benjamin Piegon, of Twin Bridges, Mont .; Thomas J., of Cleveland, Ohio; and Anna S., who is the wife of Oliver Pfoutz, one of the successful ranch men of Madison county. Mrs. Pfoutz was born in Cleveland, Ohio, where she received educational training in the public schools, after which she de- voted special attention to the study of vocal and instrumental music under the best of instructors, pursuing her studies under Prof. Stuart and devel- oping marked technique and grace of interpreta- tion. Her services as a vocalist were in demand in leading choirs of Cleveland and in concert work. On March 12, 1873, she was united in marriage to Dr. John J. Galentin, of Cleveland, whose death occur- red in 1881. Their one child, Gertrude, who was born May 30, 1877, is the wife of Fred C. Isitt, who is in business at Dawson City, Klondike. After the death of Dr. Galentin his widow determined to come to Montana and join her father, and in the spring of 1882 she purchased the first railroad ticket ever sold for passage from Cleveland, Ohio, to Dillon, Mont., paying $118 for the same. She has since made her home in Madison county, and here, on October 23, 1899, was solemnized her marriage to Oliver J. Pfoutz, who was born in Gettysburg, Pa., June I, 1863, and who has been engaged in ranching in Madison county since 1896, the year of his arrival in the state. After receiving a thorough common school education he learned the carpenter's trade, and then went to Aberdeen, Kan., where he followed that vocation for four years. In 1889 he went to Louisiana, where he was employed as a stationary engineer until 1892, and thereafter devoted his attention to rice culture until the time of his re- moval to Montana, in the year previously noted.

M ALCOLM CLARK .- The history of Montana, full as it is of stories of daring, danger, high- souled manhood, strenuous life and tragical death, will hardly present to the pen of the biographer the story of a character more lofty and courageous, a life more useful or a death more sad and dramatic than that of Malcolm Clark. He was the oldest child of his parents and their only son, born July 22, 1817, at Fort Wayne, Ind., at which post his father, Lieut. Nathan Clark, Fifth United States Infantry, was then stationed. When two years old his father was ordered to Fort Snelling, a post in

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the unbroken wilderness, the home of the family for eight years. Malcolm grew to be a handsome, bright-eyed boy, brave and venturesome, high-toned and manly beyond his years, and soon began to de- velop a passionate taste for riding and hunting. In all his wild life as boy and man he never knew fear, and seemed incapable of doing a mean or dishon- orable act. Mrs. Malcolm and her children were sent to Cincinnati to obtain the benefit of its excel- lent schools, and there Malcolm attended a classical school taught by Alexander Kinmont, a Scotchman of wide celebrity as an educator of boys. While at this school he developed forensic talent, and was considered the best speaker in the academy. All through life his gift of eloquence gave him power over those with whom he mingled. At seventeen he was entered as a cadet at West Point, where, owing to his early military associations and train- ing, he soon took high rank as a capable, well- drilled soldier, and was placed in command of a company. In this position he acquitted himself in such a way as to win the approval of his superior officers and the confidence of his fellow cadets. Be- ing dismissed from the academy for thrashing a cowardly cadet whom he had challenged to a duel for a gross insult, and who instead of accepting the challenge, took it to the commandant, he started for Texas to aid in her struggle for independence. On the voyage from New Orleans to Galveston the captain of the ship refused to keep his agree- ment with regard to furnishing ice and other nec- essaries for his passengers, thereby making their situation almost unendurable. After unsuccessful efforts to bring the captain to reason, young Clark took command of the ship, placed the captain heavily ironed, in close confinement, and ran the ship to Galveston. There he released his prisoner and went immediately to Gen. Sam Houston's quarters to give himself up for mutiny upon the high seas. The old veteran considered his action justifiable, and dismissed him with high compliments on his courageous behavior, and the populace bore him on their shoulders in triumph to his hotel. He soon received a commission in the Texan army, served faithfully until the troubles were over and then returned to the home of his widowed mother in Cincinnati. Not finding in that city business to his taste he obtained through his father's lifelong friend, Capt. John Culbertson, an appointment with the American Fur Company, and went to one of their stations on the upper Missouri. At this time he was just twenty-four years old. At the time of

his death he was fifty-two. So that more than half of his life was passed in the Indian country.

"The story of his life in the far west is well known. How he traded successfully among the Indians, in all cases studying their best interests ; how he came to be looked upon as a great and pow- erful chief; how he identified himself with them by marrying among them; how his deeds of daring, his many miraculous escapes, his rare prowess and skill and his wonderful personal influence over them, he obtained the dignity of a 'medicine man,' in whom they professed implicit taith and confi- dence ; and how, when the eager, grasping whites encroached upon their territory, seeing before them the fate that had befallen all other tribes among whom the white men had settled, they feared that this man whose hair had whitened among them would, in the coming struggle for mastery, take part with his own people against them, and made a foul conspiracy against his life, treacherously still- ing the heart that had beat with kindness and affec- tion for them-are facts well known in his beloved Montana and need not be enlarged upon here. Above all his errors and mistakes rises the memory of his unswerving integrity; his fidelity to his friends ; his high sense of honor between man and man ; his almost womanly tenderness toward those whom he loved ; his rare culture and refinement ; his affable, genial and courteous manners ; his hospital- ity and large-heartedness-all entitling him richly to

'Bear without abuse, the grand old name of gen- tleman.' "

W T ILLIAM ALEXANDER CLARK .- Pass- ing nearly all his years in Montana, Mr. Clark was born in the then small mining camp of Denver, Colo., on December 16, 1862. His father, George H. Clark, a native of Ohio, came to Colo- rado in 1860, the gold excitement then being at its height. A carpenter and builder, he worked in Colorado until 1864, when he located at Virginia City, Mont., and continued his trade in this state until his death in 1883. In 1862 he married Miss Catherine E. Daly, who was born in Ireland, and they had two children, William A. and Ella E., who died when sixteen. The mother is now residing in Virginia City. William A. Clark was but two years old when his parents took up their residence in Montana. He attained manhood in the frontier period and is a thorough Montanian. The first

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school established in the state was in Virginia City, and Mr. Clark was one of its students until 1881, when he entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Here he was graduated with the class of 1887, though he was admitted to the bar of Michigan in 1886. After graduation Mr. Clark returned to Montana, and was admitted to the bar of the territory the same year and in 1893 he was admitted to the Federal courts. He established himself in practice in Vir- ginia City in 1887 and has gained popularity in his profession and retains a large and representative clientage, being acknowledged an able advocate and a safe and conservative counsel. His practice is general in character, but he prefers the handling of civil cases and never presents a cause to court or jury without careful preparation. He is retained as attorney for many of the large corporations of Madison county and conducts their legal affairs with ability. He is also attorney for the Elling estate, one of the largest properties in Montana.

Mr. Clark is a strong supporter of the Demo- cratic party and an able exponent of its doctrines. In 1888 he was elected county attorney of Madison county, and by consecutive re-election held the of- fice until January, 1895. He was city attorney of Virginia City from 1891 until 1900. In Novem- ber, 1896, Mr. Clark was the candidate of his party for representative, was elected by a gratifying ma- jority and was an active and valuable member of the lower house. In 1898 he was elected to rep- resent Madison county in the state senate, and in this dignified body he made an enviable record. Mr. Clark accomplishes a large amount of labor in a short time. His power of application and his rapid handling of manifold details are rarely to be met with, even in the greatest masters of finance. He is president of the Red Lodge Bank, at Red Lodge, vice-president of the Elling State Bank, of Virginia City, and a director in the Union Bank & Trust Company, of Helena. Mr. Clark is a prominent Freemason, belongs to Montana Lodge No. 2, in Virginia City, has taken thirty-two degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry, and is a noble of the Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine.

/ ICTOR E. CLINE .- There are inherent qual- ities in some men that insure success in almost any undertaking, and this genius of adaptability has been well demonstrated in the career of the hon- ored Montana pioneer whose name heads this re-

view. A master of expedients, in his long and in- timate association with the history of Montana he has not failed to make the most of opportunities presented, and is today one of the representative farmers and stockgrowers of Gallatin county, the scene of his well-directed efforts for many years. Mr. Cline is a native of the beautiful Peninsula state of Michigan. He was born on a farm in Branch county, November 12, 1840, one of the eight children of Ephraim and Mary (Sheek) Cline, the former a native of Binghamton, N. Y., and the latter of Ohio. Their marriage was solemnized June 3, 1834. The father of our subject passed away March 2, 1872, his widow surviving until April 22, 1876, when she, too, was summoned to "that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." They were of sterling worth and signally true in all relations of life and command- ed the esteem of those who knew them. Ephraim Cline was one of the pioneers of Michigan, having joined an uncle there in 1832, his father having died in 1828. Mr. Cline eventually became a repre- sentative and influential farmer of St. Joseph coun- ty, owning a fine farm of 320 acres, located near the village of Nottawa. Mr. Cline was reared under the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the farm, and his educational advantages were such as pertained to the district schools of the vicinity. He contin- ued his studies in what was known as the State Academy, one of the early educational institutions of Michigan, located in the village of Colon, which lies between two beautiful little lakes. On leaving school he returned to the homestead farm and as- sisted in the work pertaining thereto until 1864. On April 15, of that year, Mr. Cline bade adieu to the scenes of his childhood and started for the territory of Idaho, of which Montana was then a part. He set forth in company with eight others, their equipment consisting of three wagons and horse teams. After leaving Omaha they were join- ed by others at the lower Platte bridge, and the typical overland train was duly organized, an experienced mountaineer and plainsman, named Hulbert, being chosen as captain, while a French- man who was familiar with the overland routes was appointed as guide. The long and weary journey across the plains was made by way of the Bozeman cutoff, the party having met Mr. Bozeman at the place where the organization was effected and learning through him of the new route which he had thus established. They started in ad- vance of Bozeman's party, and their train was thus

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the first to traverse the new route. On arriving at the Big Horn the party were delayed a few days on account of high water, and they awaited the ar- rival of Bozeman and his party, found a fording place and continued their journey to the Yellow- stone river, where the two companies separated. Mr. Cline arrived in Virginia City in August and there conducted a general merchandise business for about two months, when his stock was prac- tically exhausted. He then started with a few wagons for Salt Lake City, where he secured a stock of provisions, returning to Virginia City, where he arrived on the 12th of December and there passed the winter. On March 7, 1865, he started for Last Chance gulch, the site of the present capital city of Montana, and there passed the summer, being incapacitated for business by reason of a severe attack of mountain fever. In the spring he came to the Gallatin valley, turning his attention to farming, with occasional placer mining on Crow creek. Taking up a tract of land on Cherry creek, he remained during the ensuing winter and con- tinued in agricultural pursuits for a period of two years, but finally disposed of his ranch and again moved to Gallatin valley, taking up a liomę- stead claim, the same being a portion of his present fine ranch property, eligibly located three miles west of the city of Bozeman, county seat of Gal- latin county. Mr. Cline's brother, Benjamin F., had also taken up an adjoining homestead claim, eventually purchased by our subject ; also taking up desert land to an extent that increased his hold- ing to 480 acres, the entire tract being supplied with adequate irrigation and all available for culti- vation. He raises large quantities of oats, wheat, barley and hay. He also devotes considerable attention to the raising of high grade cattle and horses, keeping an average herd of about 100 head of shorthorn cattle and some fine speci- mens of the Clydesdale and Norman types of horses. For a period of four years he conducted an extensive dairy business, finally abandoning the same in order to give the regular farm work his undivided attention. Discriminating and progres- sive in his methods, he has gained high standing as a business man and representative citizen of Gallatin county, where he is well known and where he commands uniform confidence and es- teem by reason of his straightforward course and inflexible integrity of purpose. His ranch has the best of permanent improvements, and is managed with marked business ability.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 111

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago Publication date: [19-?] Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1374