Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 112

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 112

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In the matter of politics Mr. Cline supports the Republican party and its principles, and takes a public spirited interest in all measures and enter- prises which make for the advancement and ma- terial prosperity of the county and state of which he is a pioneer. He has rendered efficient service as a member of the board of school trustees, being the present clerk of that body. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while Mrs. Cline holds membership in the order's auxiliary organization, the Daughters of Rebekah. He is also a prominent member of the Pioneer Society of the county, having been vice- president of the same in 1900. It may also be noted that he was one of the early prospectors in what is now the Yellowstone National Park; is thoroughly familiar with Montana and its history, and one of the stanchest admirers of the great commonwealth with which he became identified when it was the frontier of civilization.

October 23, 1884, Mr. Cline was united in mar- riage to Miss Carrie Webster, who was born in Iowa, the daughter of Alden Webster, who came to Montana in the spring of 1884, taking up his residence in Bozeman. Mrs. Cline is a woman of gentle refinement and marked accomplishments. She is an artist of ability, as is shown in the at- tractive paintings that greatly adorn their beautiful home, which is a center of gracious hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Cline are the parents of three chil- dren : Eva, Victor and Mildred.

JAMES R. COCHRAN .- Among those who have made their own way in the world from early childhood, who have surmounted innumerable obstacles, and ever had a deep respect for the dig- nity of honest toil and endeavor and been unflag- ging in industry is Mr. Cochran. His success is not of gigantic or sensational character, but it shows integrity of purpose and true manhood. He is known and is honored as an able and enterprising business man of Silver Star. James Roland Cochi- ran was born on January 4. 1869, in Delaware, Ind., the son of John J. and Rachel (Brammer) Cochran, both of whom were likewise born in Indi- ana. Of their five children, Mr. Cochran was the fourth. The father was a farmer, and both he and his wife died when James R. was a mere child.

Deprived of their fostering care he was early compelled to depend upon his own resources, and

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luis education in schools was very limited. He be- gan working on a farm when eleven, and when four- teen went to Labette county, Kan., where he was em- ployed at farm work for one year, then went to Kansas City, and worked on a farm in Missouri for eighteen months, and in 1886 he set forth for Mon- tana, arriving in Butte on the 24th of July, in a city of strangers and with his means at the lowest possi- ble point. Relying upon his own powers, Mr. Coch- ran soon found a position on a ranch, assisting in haying. He continued on the ranch a year and se- cured a position with the Colorado Smelting Con- pany, working on the flume. In the spring of 1889 he went to the Judith Basin with a team, but soon re- moved to Townsend, where he opened a photograph gallery, and thereafter traveled about the state as a traveling photographer. He returned to Butte, and after a time showed that he is a man of expedients, for he engaged in carpenter work. In this occupa- tion he lost the sight of his left eye, which was pene- trated by a flying nail.

This injury incapacitated him from September until the following spring, when he engaged in the manufacture of soft drinks, disposing of the busi- ness, however, at the end of one month. He then came to Silver Star, his cash capital being fifty cents at the time of his arrival. He secured a posi- tion as a stage driver, later was engaged in mining, and finally became a clerk in the general store which he now owns, which he purchased after one year's clerkship. He controls a good trade and is popular. In politics Mr. Cochran is an ardent Republican and in 1894 he was appointed postmaster at Silver Star, and is still in office. Fraternaliy he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Im- proved Order of Red Men, the Benevolent Protect- ive Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. On December 6, 1894, Mr. Cochran was united in marriage to Miss Addie B. Blackman, who was born in Silver Star, the daughter of the late George W. Blackman, of whom a memoir ap- pears on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran have one child, Hazel, born on August 24. 1896.

SA CORNFORTH .- One of the men who A came to Montana in the early pioneer epoch and who has ever since been identified with her his- tory, Asa Cornforth is now engaged in merchandis- ing at Rochester. Madison county, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a wide acquaintance

throughout the state. He was born at Waterville, Me., on April 9, 1830, the fourth of the five children of Robinson Cornforth and wife, both natives of Maine. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Corn- forth emigrated from England, and Robinson Corn- forth was the first of the family born in America. He was for many years a merchant, and his deatlı as well as his birth occurred in Maine. His wife, whose maiden name was Young, died when Asa was a child, and of her five children three are now living.

Asa Cornforth attended the district school win- ters and the rest of the time assisted in the work of the parental farm. When fourteen years old he ac- companied his father on his removal to Penobscot county, and remained on the farm in that locality until he had attained his legal majority, when he became the owner of a shingle mill and continued operations in the lumbering line until 1862, when he made the long journey to the Pacific coast, by way of the isthmus of Panama, and located in California until the spring of 1864, which year stands as the date of his advent in Montana. He located at Ban- nack, and engaged in placer mining. His positive nature and love of justice soon caused him to be- come a member of the memorable vigilance com- mittee, which meted out summary justice to the odious malefactors whose actions constitute practi- cally the only blot on the fair escutcheon of Mon- tana.

In the spring of 1865 Mr. Cornforth removed to Silver Bow county, located a placer claim in Ger- man gulch, on which he worked for a short time, and then took up his abode in Blackford City. Here he continued placer mining with good success, and was associated with three other miners in the construction of the bedrock ditch in Snowshoe gulch. Selling his claims he passed the winter of 1865-6 in Helena, working in the placer mines. In the spring he joined the stampede to Sun river, re- turning to the Dearborn river shortly afterward and was there compelled to stay five days on ac- count of severe snow storms. Upon again reaching Helena Mr. Cornforth resumed placer mining until May, when he worked at the head of Nelson gulch. until fall, then sold his claim and took up carpenter- ing, and worked on a quartz mill. Later at Union- ville he got out timber for the miners, who used the material in the construction of flumes and cabins. In 1869 he engaged in freighting between Helena and Fort Benton and continued at this employment until 1871. passing the winter in Boulder and com-

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ing to Jefferson valley, Madison county, in the spring of 1872. Here he located on a ranch near Iron Rod and followed ranching and stockraising until 1888, when he removed to the village of Deer Lodge, where he resided for three years. He next conducted a meat market in Sheridan for two years, and then, in November, 1891, he opened his present general merchandise store in Rochester, where he has since continued to reside and trade.

He has a large and representative patronage, and carries a well-selected stock. In politics Mr. Corn- forth has ever been a supporter of Republican principles, and was formerly an active member of the Masonic fraternity. He has never been an aspirant for political preferment. He has, how- ever, maintained an interest in the welfare of his village, county and state, and for more than fifteen years has been a school trustee. Mr. Cornforth has been twice married. In 1852 he was united with Miss Mary Trask, a native of Maine. She died in 1854, leaving two children-Mary E., the wife of Capt. Henry Geyer, now living in South America, and William A., who resides near Iron Rod, Mont. In 1856 Mr. Cornforth married Miss Louisa Spaulding, also born in Maine. Of their two chil- dren, Cynthia is deceased and Alma is the wife of J. E. Dickey, of Rochester, Madison county.

CHARLES W. COOK .- In a really distinctive sense there are few men in Montana to whom it is more appropriate to render a tribute in a work of this nature than to Mr. Cook, and his associate David E. Folsom, since to them attaches the dis . tinction of having been the first to make a definite exploration of the upper Yellowstone river, thus leading to government ownership of that mystic wonderland of the world, the Yellowstone National Park, whose natural marvels have excited the fervent admiration of thousands of people from this and other lands. On other pages of this work will be found a personal sketch concerning Mr. Folsom, and so intimately associated were the two gentle- inen in this great work of revelation that one can not but suggest in the perusal of either sketch recourse be forthwith had to a reading of the other, though a detailed description of their expedition is naturally laid outside the province of a publi- cation of this character. To them must due credit be given, however, in every work touching the history of the state of Montana and that of the

National Park. Mr. Cook is a native of the old Pine Tree state, having been born in Waldo county, Me., February 24, 1839, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth T. (Hussey) Cook, natives of Maine, where they passed their entire lives, the former having been a carpenter and builder by vocation and also conducted a farm. The paternal grand- father married a Miss Pope, likewise a native of Maine and representative of fine old Colonial stock. The original ancestors in both lines came from England, and both families were represented in the war of 1812.

Charles W. Cook received his early education in the schools of Kennebec, Me., and later continued his studies in the city of Providence, R. I., where he chanced to see Col. Fisk's report in regard to Montana, which induced him to start for the far western frontier. On reaching St. Joseph, Mo., he took a steamer, going as far as Omaha. From that point he proceeded overland to Denver, Colo., and thence drove a band of 125 Cherokee cattle through to Virginia City, Mont. There being only eight in the party, the danger from Indian attack was particularly great. They had six wagons and had made their way as far as Green river, near Fort Bridger in Wyoming, where they were stopped by a large band of Chey- enne and Sioux Indians, who finally held a council and decided that if the party would give them an ox they would allow them to proceed on their way. Mr. Cook accepted the terms of this proposition with utmost alacrity and promptly presented the red men with the desired steer. No serious trouble was encountered thereafter, and they arrived in Virginia City on September 22, 1864, having been nearly four months in making the trip from Denver. He remained in Virginia City until March, 1865. when he went to Last Chance gulch, the site of the present beautiful little capital city of the state, but a month later he went into Confederate gulch, where he was engaged in placer mining until 1870. also being in charge of the affairs of the diton company which supplied water to the placer mines. In the year last mentioned Mr. Cook was appointed receiver of the Gallatin mill, and held the position for one year. He then went to California and thence to Oregon from whence he drove a band of sheep through to Montana, arriving in October. 1871. the third band to be brought within the boundaries of the present state. In 1869 was made the Folsom-Cook exploration of the upper Yellow- stone, the third member of the intrepid and ventur-

C.W. Cook

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some little party being William Peterson, now of Idaho. This expedition led to a later and more extended one, a member of which was Nathaniel P. Langford, the first collector of internal revenue in the territory of Montana. Of the first expedi- tion Mr. Langford has written as follows :

"Nature seemingly delights in surrounding her grandeur and magnificence with difficulty and danger. Her wonders are hidden away from the busy haunts of man, are discovered at long intervals of time and only attain notoriety by constant war- fare with incredulity and unbelief. The wonders of the Yellowstone National Park were first brought to the knowledge of the people of Montana by David E. Folsom and Charles W. Cook. Mr. Folsom had often heard vague and uncertain rumors of the strange phenomena to be seen near the headwaters of the Yellowstone and Fire Hole rivers. He was told by occasional trappers that the Indians, taking counsel of their superstitious fears, believed that region to be the abode of evil spirits, and in their nomadic journeyings they care- fully avoided all near approach to it. This story so wrought upon his curiosity that in September, 1869, he and Mr. Cook made a partial exploration of the region to solve their doubts. Bewildered and astounded by the marvels they beheld, they were, on their return, unwilling to risk their repu- tations by a full recital concerning them to a small company whom their friends had assembled to hear the account of their explorations. Mr. Folsom, however, published a careful account of his expedi- tion in the Chicago Western Monthly for July, 1870, and this, with such information as could be gleaned from him, led to the organization of the Washburn exploring expedition, of which I was a member."

Suffice it to say that Messrs. Cook, Folsom and Peterson were absent thirty-six days, a period so much longer than had been originally contemplated that their friends were considering the project of organizing a searching party, thinking they might have been overtaken by disaster. Thus for all time will be ascribed a debt of gratitude to these hardy explorers whose was the privilege to first inaugu- rate the investigations which led to the establish- ment of our great national park, in which the entire country must take perpetual pride.

Returning in October from this notable expedi- tion, Mr. Cook passed the winter in Gallatin valley, and in the spring of 1872 he located on his present fine ranch property, which is situated ten miles

west of White Sulphur Springs, Meagher county, on what is known as the Townsend road. He here devoted his attention to the raising of sheep for some twelve years, when he disposed of the same and engaged in the cattle business. At the expira- tion of three years he resumed the sheep-raising enterprise, which now constitutes his chief branch of industry, and has had as high as 15,000 head. His ranch is a valuable one, comprising 10,000 acres, equipped with good improvements, including a fine residence, large barns and other necessary outbuildings, while a considerable portion of the land is available for cultivation. He is thoroughly progressive in his methods and commands the un- qualified esteem of all who know him.

In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republi- can, party, and has been called upon to serve as county commissioner and in other offices of a minor nature. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, in which he has passed the capitular degrees. On the 6th of June, 1880, Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Abbie W. Kennicott, who was born in the state of New York, the daugh- ter of James M. and Abigail (Wells) Kennicott, natives of Rhode Island and Connecticut, respect- ively. John B. Wells, an uncle of Mrs. Cook, was the author of the original work entitled "Every Man His Own Lawyer." Her eldest sister has a letter written by James Wells, her grandfather, to his father, on September 5, 1776, and penned while he was in camp as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, both the Kennicott and Wells families being of stanch old Colonial stock in New England. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of three children: Mary Elizabeth, Alice Josephine and Donald Hunter.

THOMAS L. COLBERN .- Descended from a sterling ancestry which came originally from Germany to the United States, Mr. Colbern is one of the most representative and enterprising ranch- men of the Gallatin valley. He unites in his im- mediate parentage two old families of the South, his grandfathers being natives respectively of Tennessee and North Carolina, who settled in Missouri in the early days of its history.

In Macon county, Mo., Mr. Colbern's life began in the month of September, 1873. His parents, Leonard P. and Catherine (Lydia) Colbern, were both Missourians by birth, and were engaged in

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farming. In 1874 they removed with their family to Oregon, making the trip overland, escaping trouble from the Indians, although at the time some of the tribes were on the warpath and were engaged in combats with the troops along the line. The train to which the Colberns were at- tached, by advice of the soldiers, took the Bitter Water route, and arrived in the Gallatin valley in safety. After a residence of six years in Oregon, they came to Montana, traveling again by teams overland. Soon after their arrival they bought the ranch which they now occupy, located about two miles south of Salesville, containing 560 acres, in addition to which Mr. Colbern has a one-half interest in some 720 acres more, which adjoins the homestead. Practically all of the land is under irrigation, and is fruitful in large annual yields of wheat, oats and barley.

Mr. Colbern, the immediate subject of this re- view, was educated in the public schools of Mon- tana, being only seven years old when the family arrived in the state. His older brother, Charles A., has a valuable stock ranch on Spanish creek, but he has remained on the homestead, and now has charge of it, his father having died there August 26, 1897, after a life of usefulness.

Mr. Colbern was married January 15, 1895, to Miss Etta M. Henderson, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, and daughter of S. J. V. Henderson, of Indi- ana. They have had two children, namely : Thomas H., now deceased, and Leonard J. In politics he is a Democrat, and in fraternal circles is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is in all respects a good, serviceable and highly esteemed citizen, a progressive and far-seeing business man, and a general favorite socially. His ranch is well located, highly improved, very pro- ductive, and has a high market value.

HON. TIMOTHY E. COLLINS, ex-state treasurer, first came to the territory of Mon- tana in 1864, and has since become widely known and closely identified with the best interests of the commonwealth. He is a native of County Cork, Ireland; born April 25, 1844, of ancient Irish an- cestry. He is a son of John and Julia (Holland) Collins, to whom were born two sons, Timothy and Jeremiah, now residents of Helena. In 1852 the family came to the United States and settled at Wabash, Ind. Here the father engaged in rail-

roading, which he continued until his death in 1863, surviving his wife for some years. Young Collins received his education in the public schools of Wabash, graduating from its high school in 1859, and later in that neighborhood he taught school for four years. In 1864, Mr. Collins made the long journey to Montana across the plains with oxen. There were twenty men and twelve wagons in the party. The Indians were then quite hostile and their train was several times attacked. They were repulsed on each occasion, but so per- sistent were their assaults and so troublesome did they become that the course of the train was de- flected and it went to Denver, Colo. Mr. Collins was prospecting for two months, but in the fall he came through to Bannack and from there to Vir- ginia City, Mont. Here he commenced a miner's life with moderate success. Finally, after examin- ing and working in a number of other placer mines, he came to Last Chance gulch, and worked for the scarcely living wages of $6 per day. Sub- sequently he went to Confederate gulch, and was one of the first to discover rich leads in the up- per district, where he took up several claims and secured considerable gold. This was one of the richest mining districts in Montana, not less than $10,000,000 in gold having been taken out within a radius of half a mile.

Here Mr. Collins engaged in mining develop- ments, and with others put in a flume at the lower end of the gulch. By this proving a failure, he lost much that he had acquired. About this time he had his first experience in Montana politics. In 1869 he was elected to the lower house of the territorial legislature, and in 1872 he was elected to the council and then re-elected. During the three years in which he had thus served his pioneer constituency, he had demonstrated that he was a man on whom they could rely at all times and in all places. He had won the confidence of the rough but honest miners ; and so, when he was ad- mitted to the bar in 1872, he soon found himself in possession of a lucrative practice. Following this he was elected clerk of Meagher county for four successive terms. He was chosen probate judge in 1876, and continued in this office until 1880, still holding his legal practice. Resigning the probate judgeship in 1880, with Aaron and L. H. Hirshfield and Charles E. Duer, he organized the Bank of North Montana at Fort Benton, and in 1889 this was made a national bank. While a resident of Fort Benton Mr. Collins was elected

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to the legislative council, and also a member of the first constitutional convention of 1884. A roster of the conventions of 1884 and 1889 would show a long list of the most distinguished names of Montana's history, and by no means the least of these would be Timothy E. Collins. In the founding of the prosperous city of Great Falls Mr. Collins was a prominent factor. In company with Mr. Wall he erected the first building on Center avenue and also the first brick block of the city. From the first he has been closely identified with its commercial prosperity, since 1887 has been a resident of the place and is a heavy holder of real estate in that vicinity. The First National Bank of Great Falls was organized by Mr. Collins, Col. C. A. Broadwater, L. G. Phelps, A. E. Dicker- man, C. M. Webster and others. Col. Broadwater, the first president, was succeeded by Mr. Collins, who held the position from 1887 to 1893, and he is now interested in the bank. He is also vice- president of the Great Falls & Canada Railroad: and vice-president of the Galt Coal Company, of Great Falls.

While in the territorial legislature he was one of the factors in organizing Cascade county, of which Great Falls is the county seat. It was not, how- ever, without great opposition that the measure was passed, but the ability and sagacity of Mr. Collins and other friends of the bill overcame all opposition and the organization was perfected. While serving in the two constitutional conven- tions Mr. Collins was chairman of the committee on finance, on revenue and taxation, and in the deliberations of these bodies he was active, ener- getic and efficient. His long experience in the af- fairs of the territory afforded him opportunities to give wise council to other members, and to see many of its wisest provisions embodied in the most admirable constitution which was adopted. Politically the affiliations of Mr. Collins are with the Democratic party,' and in 1892 he was nomi- nated for governor and was defeated by a very small plurality.

In 1874 he was married to Miss Lovina A. Hig- gins, daughter of Jonas Higgins, a prosperous pioneer merchant of Diamond City, and one of the locators of White Sulphur Springs. She is a native of Wisconsin, and came to Montana in 1873. They have four children : Mabel H., Lottie H., Walter E. and Timothy E., Jr. The artistic residence of Mr. and Mrs. Collins is on a commanding and eligible site on the west side, overlooking the city

and its beautiful environments. Fraternally Mr. Collins is a Mason and an Elk. In 1896 he was elected state treasurer and served in this responsi- ble position with credit to the financial interests involved. He was president of the First National Bank of Neihart up to 1894, and of the bank of Sand Coulee up to 1897. He has continued his mining interests in the state and owns and is de- veloping mines at Neihart and Barker. In past years Mr. Collins has been largely interested in stock, especially sheep. He was among the first to engage in the sheep industry in the territory. He amply demonstrated Montana's possibilities in this direction and for a number of years con- nected with the Severance Sheep Company, own- ing large flocks of sheep. From 1892 until 1896 he was a member of the state board of education. During his long residence in Montana Mr. Collins has won hosts of friends, by whom he is highly esteemed for his manly qualities, superior business judgment, kindliness of disposition and high in- tegrity of character.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 112

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