Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 115

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 115

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A LVIN A. CROSSMAN .- The vitality which so unmistakably marks the west springs from the infusion of young blood into its industrial, political and social life, and the young man is a distinctive factor in nearly every community. This is notably true in the virile young state of Montana, and in this publication, whose province is consideration of the progressive men of the state and its founders and builders, will be found mention of many young men who are conspicuously identified with its in- dustrial, political and official affairs. Alvin A. Crossman classifies under this category, as he is in- cumbent of the office of auditor of Silver Bow

county, and is administering the duties of the posi- tion with ability and discrimination. He was born on March 30, 1862, in Keokuk county, Iowa, the youngest of the four children of Joel and Cynthia (Marsh) Crossman, both of whom were born, reared and educated in the Empire state, and whence the father removed to Iowa in 1849, becom- ing one of its pioneers, and developing and culti- vating a farm. He was prominent in public af- fairs as a Republican. For thirty-seven years he served there as county surveyor. He came to Mon- tana in the early 'eighties, and here he resided until his death, which occurred in Butte on February 21, 1901. His active business life was devoted to farming and civil engineering, and he served at one time as a member of the board of commissioners of Silver Bow county. His wife died in Iowa on April 1. 1862.

Alvin A. Crossman was educated in the public schools of Iowa, supplementing this tuition by a course of study in the high school at Sigourney, the capital of Keokuk county, where he was graduated with the class of 1882. Soon after this he accom- panied his father to Montana, and soon afterward became identified with the great mining enterprises in Butte, with which he was connected for nine years, when he was engaged in the grocery business. for eight years. During this time he formed a wide acquaintanceship and gained a distinctive personal popularity, which had bearing on the support ac- corded him at the polls when he was chosen auditor of the most populous county in the state. In No- vember, 1900, Mr. Crossman's name appeared in connection with the candidacy for this office. His political belief is Republican, but at this election elements of expediency and policy swept away par- tisan lines, and Mr. Crossman's endorsement of the eight-hour movement as a Republican candidate procured his nomination on a Fusion ticket, and he received a majority of 364 over two other candi- dates for the office. He is giving a most satisfactory administration, he being thorough and discriminat- ing and having marked executive ability. He is a member of the Butte Clerks' Protective Union and the United Artisans, and his religious predilections are in favor of Christian Science, of which he has made a careful study. On November 26, 1891, Mr. Crossman was united in marriage to Miss Eva L. Denny, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Francis and Priscilla Denny, a promi- nent farmer and contractor of Iowa. They have three children. Clyde Edgar. Eva L. and Alvin L.

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/M. L. CROWLEY .- While the general use of the typewriter in the rush and hurry of our business life, has in a large measure depoetized pen- manship and thrust it from its once proud place as "queen of the arts," there is always something pecu- liarly attractive about the beautiful accomplishment and it can always find a ready market. William L Crowley, of Butte, was highly favored by nature with the agreeable conjunction of faculties-the power to conceive correct ideals and the skill to pro- duce them-so necessary to superiority in this species of handiwork. But the gift, although he has turned it to good account for revenue on oc- casions, is only one of the ornamental features of a mind which has strength for the sterner claims of business in abundance. He was born at Towanda, Bradford county, Pa., on May 1, 1865, the sixth child of Peter and Ellen (Keif) Crowley, natives of Ireland, who came to America in early life. The father first located in New York, and later settled in Bradford county, where he married and followed farming until he died in 1879, his wife surviving him but four years.

Mr. Crowley attended the public schools at Rome, Pa., until he was seventeen or eighteen years old, then entered Susquehanna College at Towanda, and after pursuing for a time the prescribed course of study, was engaged as teacher of penmanship in the institution, occupying this position for two years. He then worked on the home farm until 1884, when he concluded to try his fortune in the far west and made his way to Denver, Colo., and there was em- ployed as a bookkeeper and clerk until he was ready to go into business for himself, which he did a few months later by opening a commission house. But as the business was not to his taste he quit it at the end of a year and went to Ogden, Utah., where he was two years in the service of the California Pow- der Company, then after a short stay in Sacramento he was engaged in contracting and building at Red- ding, Cal. About 1887 he removed to Butte, and while he was awaiting business opportunities he conducted a confectionery store. In 1888 Mr. Crowley began the successful career in mining wherein he has acquired large mining interests in Montana, and also in Arizona adjoining the United Verda property of United States Senator Clark. He is also interested very largely in oil properties in Wyoming. In 1891, having put his mining and oil interests in such shape that they did not require all of his personal presence, he again began operations as a confectioner on North Main street and has

ever since been engaged in it, supplying to a grow- ing and appreciative body of patrons the beautiful and toothsome creations of his art, which not only tickle the palate, but contribute to a decided im- provement in the artistic taste of the community. In political relations, Mr. Crowley is a Republican of unyielding convictions and of zealous activity in be- half of his party, but he does not allow political af- fairs to interfere in any way with his business or with his personal friendships.

JOHN H. CURTIS, of the firm of Curtis & Majors, was born in the village of Tyrone, about eighteen miles from the city of Cork, Ireland, on October 26, 1839. At the age of ten years he, with parents, came to America and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he attended the Christian Broth- ers' College for many years. Before leaving school young Curtis was offered by Bishop Kendrick, of St. Louis, the opportunity to study for the priest- hood, which he declined, preferring a business life. At the age of sixteen years he was compelled to make his own living, and secured a place in a store at $8.00 per month, working hard all day. His edu- cation being limited he felt the necessity of a good business course and secured a scholarship in Jones' Commercial College at St. Louis, attending the night sessions until he graduated. After that it was comparatively easy for Mr. Curtis to obtain em- ployment in almost any kind of business. Young Curtis is the third of five children. In 1860 he be- gan the study of law, and after completing a course he was denied admission to the bar for his refusal, after examination, to take the iron-clad oath of allegiance, believing as he did and sympathizing with the cause of the Southern Confederacy, then being a member of the Missouri Cadets, a school organization, and in which he had been well drilled.

On May 10, 1861, he was captured at Camp Jack- son and paroled under oath not to take up arms against the United States government. But believ- ing there was no United States he gave his aid to the south until the close of the war. In 1866 the Montana fever seized him and he took passage on the steamer Waverly and landed at Fort Benton in May, 1866. Coming to Helena with but $5.00 in his pocket, he secured a clerkship in a grocery house and worked six months for his board until a va- cancy occurred, and finally succeeded to the position of bookkeeper at a salary of $250 per month and

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board. He remained with the house until his sav- ings enabled him to engage in the business for him- self in the fall of 1868. By close application to business he was very successful, and increased his facilities to meet the growing demand. In 1873 he visited his old Missouri home and there captured Miss Mattie Fant, of Fulton, one of the fairest daughters of Calloway county. They are the par- ents of four children : William H., George D .. Sophie M. and John H., Jr. Willie and Sophie died in early life, while George D. and John H. are able assistants to their parents. In 1878 Mr. Curtis retired from business in Helena, and with his family visited Old Mexico, owing to his wife's declining health. On her recovery he returned to Montana and settled in Butte in 1880, where he engaged in real estate and insurance with Green Majors, a son of the well-known Alexander Majors, long engaged as a freighter for the government. In the early days Mr. Curtis had several encounters with the road agents and Indians, but always managed to protect himself. His success in the city of Butte, where he has been engaged in the business for twen- ty-one years, is an assured fact, and he enjoys the confidence of numerous friends and a large patron- age. He was admitted to the bar in 1882, and was one of the first to help build the Catholic church at Helena, of which he is a member. He is a sound Democrat, and an active worker for any enterprise that promises well for the prosperity of the city.

The Standard of April, 1901, says: "Hon. John H. Curtis, who is being urged by the business men of this city to be a candidate for mayor, is one of the city's oldest residents and is the city's heaviest tax- payer, and has put up a greater number of blocks in the city than any other citizen. If elected he would make a splendid and admirable administra- tion."

W OLCOTT CURTIS .- It is eminently consis- tent that in this work be entered a memoir of this honored representative of one of the pioneer families of Gallatin county, for here he lived and la- bored to goodly ends. By industry and good man- agement he accumulated a fine property in Galla- tin county, and thus not only left his family well provided for in a temporal way, but also that best of all heritages, an unblemished name. Wolcott Curtis was born in Ruthland county, Vt., on September 21, 1838, a son of Joseph W. and Abigail (Hayward) Curtis, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire.

His father became one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, whither he removed in 1848 and where he was a farmer until 1863, when he once more turned his face westward and in coming to Montana gained title also as a pioneer of this now great and prosperous commonwealth. He made the jour- ney across the plains with his three sons, Wolcott, Robert C., and William W., the last mentioned having an individual sketch on an- other page. The tedious and perilous journey hither was made with horse teams, and, though parties preceding and following had serious trouble with Indians, the train of which Mr. Curtis and his sons were members escaped molestation. The father and three sons were among the first to make perma- nent settlement in Gallatin county, and here the father was engaged in farming and stockraising for three years, when he returned to Wisconsin, where he passed the remainder of his life.

Wolcott Curtis took up a tract of land in the Gallatin valley, now a portion of the present fine homestead, located about one mile west of Central Park and three miles from Manhattan, which is the postoffice address. The ranch now comprises 480 acres, all practically under irrigation and it is one of the most eligibly located and valuable places in this beautiful valley. Mr. Curtis made the best of improvements on the ranch, including an at- tractive residence, and here devoted his attention to farming and stockgrowing until his death, which occurred on December 10, 1886, since which time his widow has maintained her home here and con- tinned the enterprise inaugurated by her husband. The place is devoted principally to the raising of hay and oats, of which large yields are secured. Mr. Curtis was a man of noble characteristics, was thoroughly public spirited and held in the highest esteem as one of the prominent representative citi- zenis. His political belief was that of the Demo- cratic party, and in his religious faith he was a Methodist. It may be noted here that his wife's brother, Ralph L. Palmer, was a valiant soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, having enlisted on the first call for volunteers for three months' service, and thereafter re-enlisting for three years. He was first a member of the Third Wis- consin Regiment, and during his second term was a member of the Fourteenth Regiment, from which he received his honorable discharge as second lieutenant.

Mr. Curtis returned to Wisconsin in 1869, and there, on August 31 of that year, was solemnized

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his marriage to Miss Carrie A. Palmer, who was born near Buffalo, N. Y., the daughter of John W. and Henrietta (Boies) Palmer, natives of New Hampshire and New York, the latter being a sis- ter of ex-Governor Boies, of Iowa. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Curtis were Warren and Rose (King) Palmer, natives of England, whence they early came to America, the former first en- gaging in farming in New Hampshire and later in New York, in which state both passed the resi- due of their lives. John W. Palmer removed with his family to Wisconsin in 1850, and was one of the pioneers of that state, where he was engaged in farming until his death. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Curtis made their residence on the present homestead, which is hallowed by the as- sociations and companionship of years. Here Mrs. Curtis still maintains her home and is held in deep affection and esteem by her wide circle of friends. Of their children we enter brief record : Jessie A. is the wife of Herbert Baker, of Man- tan, this county; Paul W. is a resident of Dillon ; Lillian E. is the wife of Williard Halbert, of Fer- gus county ; Bishop Tuttle, named in honor of the pioneer bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church in Montana, is deceased; J. W. has the manage- ment of the homestead ranch; Sadie M. is at the old home: while Wolcott, Jr., is deceased.

CHARLES J. CUTLER .- As the American re- public stands to-day pre-eminent among the nations of the globe in its capacity for conducting affairs of great breadth and scope, so does the magnificent enterprise of the New York Life In- surance Company stand as a conspicuous ex- ample of the truth of this statement. The char- acter and extent of this undertaking is to be com- prehended only by the noting of its extraordinary business, successful management, accumulated as- sets and large surplus. Charles J. Cutler is gen- eral agent for this great insurance company, in which connection he has built up a large and prof- itable business. He maintains his headquarters in Butte, and is known as an able executive and a progressive business man, while he has made a reputation not confined to state boundaries as one of the most successful of underwriters.

Mr. Cutler was born in Chelsea, Mass., on Au- gust 15, 1861, the son of Nathan and Margaret (Mc- 38

Ginnis) Cutler, the former of whom was born in Scotland and the latter in Massachusetts, where their marriage was solemnized. The father fol- lowed a seafaring life, and at the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the United States navy, and was thus engaged when occurred his death, in 1865. Thus deprived of a father's care while a mere infant, Mr. Cutler was reared under the solicitious direction of his mother until nine years of age, when his mother died. He was then re- moved to Bay City, Mich., while he was still a child and was reared by another branch of the Cutler family on the father's side until about seven- teen years of age, when, after a common school education, he was for two years employed on a farm, then engaged in selling goods in the farming districts of Michigan a number of years ; finally extending his operations into other states and far-off sections of the Union. In 1881 Mr. Cutler went to Colorado, and was engaged for a time in prospecting in that state, as well as in Idaho and Montana.

Mr. Cutler became identified with the insurance business in 1884 with the firm of Mantle & War- ren, of Butte, and he has devoted much study and thought to this profession, carefully consid- ering the various plans and methods involved and becoming an authority on life insurance. From 1890 until 1892 he was located in Chicago, in the employ of the Equitable Life Assurance Com- pany, and in 1893 he again located in Butte, as the representative of the New York Life, for which company he is now general agent. Mr. Cutler is interested in several promising mining ventures in the state, and in his political allegiance he supports the Republican party, while frater- nally he is identified with the Masonic order, be- ing a member of Butte Lodge No. 22, A. F. & A. M., Deer Lodge Chapter No. 3, R. A. M .; Montana Commandery No. 3, K. T., and Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He was formerly a member of Company G of the Montana Na- tional Guards. Mr. Cutler holds the honor of being vice-president of the largest life insurance club in the world, the "$200,000 Club of New York," which title and honor was won by his having written the largest personal business for the New York Life Insurance Company in the year ending July 1, 1901, of any man west of the middle states. On June 5, 1894, Mr. Cutler was united in marriage to Miss Madiline Chatelle, who was born in Montreal, Canada, a represent-

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ative of one of the prominent old French families of the Dominion, and they have two children, Rhea Madeline, born April 1, 1895, and Margaret, born June 9, 1899.

W ILLIAM W. CURTIS .- Although born in the far distant Green Mountain state, Mr. Curtis has been identified with the interests of Mon- tana since his early manhood and the pioneer epoch and has shown himself possessed of those sturdy qualities which characterized the majority of those who solidly laid the foundations of the present prosperity of this great state, of which he may be classed as one of the founders and builders. The family has been one of prominence in Galla- tin county, and on other pages of this work will be found mention of his brother, the late Wolcott Curtis, one of the honored pioneers and prominent citizens of the county, where his death occurred.

Mr. Curtis was born in Mendon, Rutland county, Vt., on March 23, 1841, the son of Joseph W. and Abigail (Hayward) Curtis, the former born in Rutland county, while the latter was a native of New Hampshire, both being representatives of old New England stock. The father of Mr. Curtis was engaged in agriculture in Vermont until 1848, when he removed with his family to Wisconsin, where he was one of the pioneer farmers. There his wife died, and in 1863, in company with his three sons, he started with horse teams on the long and then dangerous journey across the plains to Montana. The company had no serious en- counters with the Indians, though they met sev- eral war parties and were only one day's journey in the rear of an emigrant train which was at- tacked with disastrous results. The father and sons came directly to Gallatin county, being the first to make permanent settlement in the Hamilton district, and here theyturned their attention to farm- ing and stockraising, both of which lines of indus- trial activity were then in embryonic state in Mon- tana. Three years later the father returned to Wis- consin, where he passed the residue of his days, his death occurring in 1885. He was a man of strong individuality and utmost probity, and his name is worthy of being inscribed on the roll of Mon- tana's honored pioneers. William W. Curtis made the trip east with his father and after a short visit in Wisconsin returned to Montana and took up a homestead in the Gallatin valley, an integral

portion of his present fine ranch property, which comprises 840 acres and is located four miles north- west of Manhattan, which is his postoffice address. In this favored section of the state he has one of the favored places, the land requiring little irri- gation and producing large crops of hay, while he has also engaged extensively in the raising of highgrade cattle, his average herd numbering about 500. The permanent improvements include a sub- stantial and commodious residence and barns, with other suitable outbuildings, and by his progressive methods Mr. Curtis has gained a due measure of success and is held in high esteem as one of the representative men of this county. In politics he accords allegiance to the Democratic party, and during his long residence in Montana he has shown an abiding interest in all measures and projects bearing upon the material and social prog- ress of the county and state, and is essentially pub- lic spirited in his attitude. On November 22, 1882, Mr. Curtis led to the hymeneal altar Miss Annie B. Cole, born in Carroll county, Mo., the daughter of Alfred Cole, a native of Ohio, who came to Montana in 1880, remaining here for a few years, after which he made a trip to Indian Territory, eventually returning to Montana, where his death occurred in 1897. The maiden name of Mrs. Cur- tis' mother was Mary Freeman. She was born in Pennsylvania and is now residing in Park county, Mont. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have an interesting family of four daughters and two sons, Irene, Queen, Laura C., Ouida, Thomas and Ernest C.

F RANCIS E. CURTIS, late of Butte, who ended a useful and productive life in that city on October 23, 1900, was born at DeRuyter, N. Y., on January 25, 1833. While he was yet an infant, the family removed to Fayetteville, in Onondaga county, and there he received his edu- ation in the public schools and academy. He learned the trade of carriage making, and, in 1855, having served his full apprenticeship, started for the west, stopping first at Kalamazoo, Mich., and going from there to Chicago, where he worked at his trade for one dollar per day. From Chicago he went to St. Paul and worked on a contract mak- ing cutters and light sleighs until he had $200 in the hands of the firm for which he was work- ing. Then the firm failed and he lost his sav- ings after which he started with a party for Pem-

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bina on the Red river of the North, where he re- mained for two years and then returned to St. Paul. In the spring of 1862 he joined an outfit of ox teams, with seventy-two men and a boy in the party, and made the trip overland from St. Paul to Montana, hiring halfbreed Indians to guide them across the country by Devil's lake and through northern Montana to Warm Springs in Deer Lodge valley, where the party disbanded and went to their several destinations. This was actually the first train to cross the country by the northern route, although the Capt. Fiske train, which was about a month behind them and fol- lowed their trail most of the way, escorted by United States soldiers, has always claimed to be the first.

At the separation in Deer Lodge valley, Mr. Curtis and a small party, among whom was Philip Lovell, now a resident of Beaverhead county, went to what is now Bannack City, then in eastern Idaho, and located. This was in the latter part of September, 1862, after which time Mr. Curtis resided continuously in Montana until he died. In 1866 he engaged in the stock business on Beav- erhead, and in 1870 changed his operations in this line to Jefferson valley. In 1883 he removed to Butte and engaged in the grocery business, con- tinuing that and his stock and ranching enter- prises until his lamented and untimely death. At Bannack, on October 8, 1864, Mr. Curtis was married to Miss Emma Whitcomb, better known as Emma Zoller. The ceremony was performed by Rev. George G. Smith, the first ordained Pres- byterian minister of Montana.

Mrs. Curtis was the daughter of Vitruvous and Mary Ann (Terfery) Whitcomb, natives of Eng- land, where she also was born. Her mother died while she was yet a child, and soon after, in 1845, her father emigrated to America, locating at Brook- lyn, where he continued the fur business in which he had been engaged in England, and also con- ducted a profitable crockery business until 1863, when he enlisted as a member of a New York regi- ment, playing the snare drum in the regimental band during the greater part of his service in the Civil war. After the war he returned to Brooklyn and engaged in the coffee business. During the later years of his life he was employed by his brother- in-law, Charles George, in a manufactory. The mother of Mrs. Curtis having died in England soon after her arrival in America she was adopted by Henry Zoller, with whose family she lived until

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 115

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