Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 119

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 119

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profession. He began the active practice of den tistry at Susanville, Cal., and thereafter was lo- cated six months in Oregon, at Lake View.

Dr. Dungan then returned to California, where he remained a few months and then, in 1888, came to Montana, establishing himself as a dentist at Dillon, where he was located for twelve years, re- taining a representative support. On July 1, 1900, he came to Missoula, where he opened an office, and here he has gained marked precedence, by his high professional talent and his pleasing per- sonality. He has built up an excellent practice, having well equipped offices and standing thor- oughly abreast in his knowledge and practical application of the improved methods brought to bear in this important branch of surgery and mechanics. Fraternally Dr. Dungan is identified with the time-honored order of Free and Accepted Masons, retaining membership in Dillon Lodge No. 30. In the city of Butte, Mont., on April 16, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Dungan and Miss Florence E. Brown, who was born in the state of New York. Their two children are named Gladys Elizabeth and Harold Preston.

JAMES DUNCAN .- Among the successful J

farmers and stockgrowers of Madison county is Mr. Duncan, a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of the state, where he has passed the major portion of his life, as he came to the western frontier in company with his par- ents when a lad of fifteen years. He is of old Scottish lineage, and a native of the land of "brown heather and shaggy wood," having been born near Glasgow, on January 20, 1849. His father, Hngli Duncan, came with his family to America about 1856, locating in Maryland, where he resided until 1860, when he located in Kansas, where was the family home until 1864, though during this time Mr. Duncan passed three summers in Colorado. He brought his family across the plains to Mon- tana on the Bridger route, arriving in Virginia City on the 21 st of July. He at once engaged in placer mining in Alder gulch, and continued in the quest of gold for several years. He was then ordained as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was one of the pioneer clergymen of his denomination in the Rocky Mountain section. He held services in Butte and other towns and was

a presiding elder for one term. He preached the first sermon in the town of Sheridan. In addi- tion to his ministerial work he owned a good ranch on Ruby creek, and there engaged in farm- ing and stockraising. He died in the Ruby val- ley home in 1887, in the fullness of years, revered by all who knew him. He was a prominent Freemason, and was grand master of the grand lodge of Montana in 1883-4. He was survived by his wife, formerly Christina Young, who like- wise was born in Scotland, and died in Montana in 1895. Of their twelve children four are living, James Duncan being the second in order of birth.

James Duncan received his early education in the schools of Kansas, and after coming to Mon- tana he attended school in Junction for one-half day. The teacher had looked too often. "on the wine when it was red," and left his school in charge of Mr. Duncan while he went out in search of more exhilarating occupation, and thus the young man's scholastic training ended. Mr. Dun- can was identified with placer mining for twenty years, and he also did something in quartz mining. In 1872 he located on his present ranch, three and one-half miles southwest of Sheridan, his post- office town, and here he has 400 acres of arable land. and raises hay and grain and cattle and horses of high grade, giving special attention to Norman horses. Mr. Duncan is strongly ar- rayed in support of the principles of the Republi- can party, but he never held office, save in connec- tion with educational affairs. He is ever alive to the best interests of his county and state, and is recognized as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. He affiliates with Sheridan Lodge No. 20, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master and an enthusiastic member. On November 1, 1871, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Jeannette Gemmell, who was born in Utah, the daughter of James Gemmell, and of this union ten children have been born, Christina, Hugh, de- ceased, Charles Ruby, Andrew, Thomas, James, Hazel, Orlin and George.

R EV. HUGH DUNCAN .- A native of bonnie old Scotland and inheriting the characteristics of the sterling Scottish race, Rev. Hugh Duncan was born in Glasgow, on June 28, 1824, the son

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of Rev. James Duncan, a clergyman of the Pres- byterian church. Hugh Duncan worked in the mines of Scotland, from early youth until his emi- gration to America. After a day of hard work in the mines he would con his lessons by the light of a candle, reading good literature, and studying ever with a definite end in view. In the light of his accomplishments in later years' we cannot but feel that "the boy was father to the man," for the same independence in thought and action and the same perseverance characterized his life, and, as Tennyson has well said, "Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control-these three lead life to sovereign power." In 1852 Mr. Duncan emi- grated to the United States and secured work in the mines of Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1857, then removed to Kansas, where he made his home during the exciting epoch just prior to the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1864 he crossed the plains to Montana and located a claim on German Bar, in Alder gulch, and followed mining in that section un- til 1869. However, during this period he was not unmindful of the higher duties which de- volved upon him. He was associated with the Methodist Episcopal church, labored in mines during the week and preached each Sun- day. As he was the only clergyman in Alder gulch he was called upon to conduct all funeral ceremonies, and he organized the first Sunday school in the territory.

In 1869 he located on a farm of 160 acres in the Ruby valley, Madison county, where he engaged in farming and stockraising until his death, which oc- curred on September 16, 1887, in the fullness of years and well earned honors. He was uncompro- mising in his support of the principles of the Repub- lican party, and was one of the foremost Freema- sons in the state. He became a member of that fra- ternity while in Scotland, and was one of the nine Masons who organized the grand lodge of the territory of Montana, at Virginia City, in 1866. He was grand master of the grand lodge in 1883-4 and ever took a deep interest in the time-honored fraternity. He was also a Good Templar. In 1846, in Scotland, Mr. Duncan married with Miss Christina. Young, daughter of a Scotch miner. They had nine children, five of whom were born in Scotland, two in Kansas and two in Alder gulch, Mont. Those now surviving are James, Thomas, Sarah E., wife of James Galusha, and Flora.

MOS EASTMAN .- Classed with the sterling pioneers who have been eye-witnesses of the progress of this section of the Union, and one who has resided here for thirty-six years, Mr. Eastman has shown himself ever alive to the best interests of the state and has served honorably in positions of marked public trust and responsibility. He comes of the best New England stock, his ancestry tracing back to Colonial days. He was born in New Hampshire, on July 21, 1841, the fourth in a family of six children, of whom three survive. His parents, Thomas J. and Emeline (Wood) Eastman, were natives respectively of New Hampshire and Vermont. During his active life the father conducted one of the rugged hill- side farms of New England, and both he and his wife passed their lives in their native state. The discipline of the old homestead farm caused Mr. Eastman to wax strong in physical vigor, in independence of spirit and in self-reliance. He worked on the farm in the summer months, and in winter trudged his way to the little school house of the district.

In 1863 Mr. Eastman started westward, and en- gaged in farm work for a few months in Michigan. On December 20, 1863, he set forth on the jour- ney which was to entitle him to be numbered as a pioneer of Montana. Leaving Omaha in the spring of 1864 with a mule train, he earned his passage by driving a team. He passed the follow- ing winter in the Cache valley of Utah, and in the spring completed his journey, arriving in Nev- ada City, Mont., on May 14, 1865. He at once turned his attention to ranching, and with this industry he has ever since been connected. In 1869 he took up land near the present village of Twin Bridges, where he conducted operations until 1885, when he sold the place and bought his present fine ranch property; which comprises 520 acres and is located four miles south of Twin Bridges, his postoffice address. The place is well improved, and a large portion is under effective cultivation, large yields of hay being secured. He also devotes attention to horticulture, producing fine garden products. He also raises horses and fine Hereford cattle. His long experience and progressive methods make him a representative ranchman of the county, and he is one of its most highly honored pioneer citizens.

The political allegiance of Mr. Eastman is given to the Democratic party and he has ever been able to give a reason for his faith. In 1881 he was

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a member of the lower house of the territorial leg- islature and an active working member. This legislature segregated the county of Silver Bow from Deer Lodge. Mr. Eastman, however, op- posed the erection of the new county. In 1889 he was elected one of the county commissioners of Madison county and served in that important office four years, and was honored by being chosen chairman of the board. Fraternally Mr. Eastman is identified with the order of Freemasons, as a member of Westgate Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., at Twin Bridges, of which he is past master, and of Montana Chapter No. I, R. A. M., at Virginia City. On November 23, 1879, Mr. Eastman was married with Miss Maria Chris- tianson, who was born in Denmark. Their only child, Lillian, died at the age of fifteen years.

T HOMAS J. EASTRIDGE .- Among the rep- resentatives of the great ranching industry in Montana is Thomas Jefferson Eastridge, whose well improved and finely equipped homestead is located three miles south of the Twin Bridges, Madison county. Mr. Eastridge is a native of Mis- souri, from which Montana has gained many of her best citizens. He was born in Atchison coun- ty, on March 17, 1855, the fifth of the eleven children of Madison and Sarah (York) Eastridge. His father was a native of Kentucky and one of the early settlers in Missouri, where his death occurred, as did also that of his devoted wife, who was born in Illinois.

Thomas J. Eastridge early began to work in the cultivation of the farm and had such educational advantages as were afforded in the public schools. After leaving school he followed agriculture in his native state until 1883, when he decided to cast in his lot with the vigorous young territory of Mon- tana. Mr. Eastridge came at once to Madison county, and soon afterward purchased his present ranch, which comprises 160 acres, and which he has brought to high cultivation, and he secures large yields of hay. He also devotes attention to the raising of grain and horses and cattle. He has a comfortable residence, and, in addition to his ranching business, he is the owner of very promising mining interests in Georgia gulch. Mr. Eastridge is an unwavering advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, though he has never been an active worker nor an aspirant for

political office. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias as a member of Boulder Lodge No. 19, at Boulder, and also with White- hall Lodge No. 44, A. O. U. W., at Whitehall.

AVAN R. EDDINGTON .- A native of Ohio, where he was born February 2, 1834, the sub- ject of this narrative has chased "Dame Fortune's winning smile" through many localities in many lines of activity, and has succeeded in getting a goodly share of her favors. He is the son of Wilson and Hannah Eddington, of Welch ances- try, who settled in Ohio in 1806, where both of our subject's parents were born. They removed to Indiana in the fall of 1850, located in Delaware county, and engaged in farming during the re- mainder of their lives, achieving a fair degree of success. The mother was a member of the Ger- man Baptist church, which the father also at- tended. He held allegiance to the Democratic party in politics, and gave a due share of his 'time and energy to the advancement of every good enterprise for the welfare of the community. They had eleven children, of whom eight are still living, namely: Phoebe, Evan R., Thomas, Amanda, Frank, Minerva, Clara and Margaret. The mother died in August, 1894, and the father in September, 1899, at the age of ninety-two.

Mr. Eddington received only such limited edu- cation as a few weeks attendance each winter at the country schools of his neighborhood could furnish, being obliged to aid his father in clear- ing the timber and other work on the farm, re- maining at home until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1860 he left home and made his way to Pike's Peak, then the object of great attention everywhere on account of its gold boom. He made the trip overland, spending two months in the jaunt. On arriving at Hamilton he ·met some former friends from Indiana, and in com- pany with Wm. Gregory and Wm. Carls began mining in the placer grounds at Houser gulch. He devoted the summer to this enterprise and suc- ceeded in getting good returns from his labor. He wintered in New Mexico, and in the spring of 1861 was in the stampede to San Juan river. He followed mining at the head of this river, but did not meet with much success. The camp ran out of provisions and the company was obliged to pawn the wagons for fifty pounds of flour, after

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which they made pack saddles and used the cattle to transport their outfit to the Rio del Norte, at the mouth of which they camped on July 4. Near this point they found a beaver dam which contained many fish, and of these they made a feast. They traveled 160 miles, and returned to Colorado. In the latter part of the summers of 1861-2 Mr. Eddington was engaged in mining, but with very moderate success; so in the fall of 1862 he removed to Denver, and went to mining at Dry creek. In the spring of 1863 he came to Montana and, locating at Alder gulch, devoted his entire time from 1863 to 1876 to mining and prospecting with varying success. From 1876 to 1882 he gave his attention to prospecting for quartz, and in this effort was quite success- ful. In the spring of 1883 he located his present ranch, a homestead claim comprising 160 acres, and since then has given his attention to ranching and raising horses and cattle. Of his ranch 120 acres are fit for cultivation, and has been brought to a high state of productiveness. The ranch is located thirty miles northwest of Helena, and is well improved with good buildings and other necessary appliances. In politics Mr. Eddington is a Republican, but is not an active party worker, finding plenty of congenial employ- ment on his ranch. He is well esteemed through- out the county and wherever he is known.

JOHN C. ELDER .- We now have the privilege - of entering brief record concerning the career of one of the progressive and representative young business men of Choteau county, Mr. Elder being secretary and treasurer, and also general manager of the Harlem Mercantile Company, whose well appointed establishment is located in the thriv- ing little village of Harlem. Mr. Elder was born in the township of Wingham, province of Ontario, Canada, on October 8, 1874. His father, John Elder, was born in Quebec, in 1839, and there fol- lowed the miller's trade for many years, but is now living retired in Wingham. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Jane Clark, was born at Battersea on Lake Ontario, near the beautiful city of Kingston, in 1853, and she died in 1896, at Eveleth, Minn.

To the public schools of his native town is John C. Elder indebted for his early education, and he was graduated from the Wingham high school

with the class of 1890. He thereafter completed a thorough business course in the Central Business College, at Stratford, Ontario, and was there grad- uated in 1892. Mr. Elder then served two years' apprenticeship as a pharmacist in a drug store at Wingham. In July, 1893, he went to West Super- ior, Wis., where he was in the employ of the North- ern Pacific Express Company for one year, after which he was station agent at different points along the line of the Duluth, Missabe & Northern Railroad, being thus engaged for five years, and in the spring of 1897 he came to Harlem, Mont., as agent of the Great Northern Railroad, retaining this incumbency three months, and then being iden- tified with the ranching industry for a short inter- val in this vicinity.

In 1898 he entered the employ of the Harlem Mercantile Company, and after a clerkship of about eighteen months' duration he purchased a half interest in the business, of which he has since been manager and to whose interests he has given his best energies, with a resultant success which is unmistakable. He is straightfor- ward in his methods, alert and enterprising in his attitude, and has a genial personality which has gained to him the friendship and confidence of the public. In politics Mr. Elder pins his faith to the Democratic party, taking a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature, and was a delegate to the county convention of his party at Havre, in the fall of 1900. He is one of the trustees of school district No. 12. Fraternally Mr. Elder is identi- fied with the lodge of Knights of Pythias at Eve- leth, Minn., the organization of Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks at Great Falls, and the lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Har- lem. In the village of Chinook, Choteau county, on Christmas day, 1899, Mr. Elder was united in marriage to Miss Lenore Sipple, who was born at Winterset, Iowa, in 1875, the daughter of Frank Sipple, now deceased. To them two sons have been born, John J., the date of whose birth was November 4, 1900, and Kenneth F., born October 30, 1901.

L ILBURN C. EDWARDS .- A representative of prominent old families of Virginia, where the original American ancestors in both the agnatic and maternal lines located long before the Revo- lution, Lilburn C. Edwards was born in Carroll county, Va., on July 12, 1866, the fifth of the nine

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children of Jefferson and Elizabeth (Bird) Ed- wards. Jefferson Edwards was of English and his wife of Scotch extraction. John Edwards, the grandfather of L. C. Edwards, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father was a valiant soldier in the American Revolution. Jefferson Edwards and wife now reside on the old homestead in Vir- ginia.

Mr. Edwards resided in Virginia until he was eighteen years old, and he was educated in its public schools. Then his ambition led him to the new west, and in 1884 he became a resident of Montana, first locating in Virginia City, and then devoting four years to ranch work, after which he was for a year identified with mining at Virginia City and Sheridan. In 1896 he en- gaged in the hotel and livery business in Sheri- dan, and has since continued successfully in these lines of enterprise. He also gives special atten- tion to buying and selling horses. He has pur- chased large numbers of horses for the govern- ment, and has given satisfaction in his selection of the animals. Mr. Edwards is progressive in his methods, straightforward in all his dealings and enjoys marked popularity in the county and vil- lage where he makes his home. He owns valu- able realty in Sheridan and is also interested in neighboring placer mines.

A stanch supporter of the Republican party, Mr. Edwards has been an active local worker in the cause, and in 1899-1900 served as a member of the village council of Sheridan. Fraternally he is a popular member of Sheridan Lodge No. 20, A. F. & A. M., and Ora Plata Lodge No. 390, B. P. O. E., at Virginia City. On April 3, 1890, Mr. Edwards was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Ellison, born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of William Ellison, who is residing near New Castle, Neb. Mr. Edwards has one son, Fay, born April II, 1897.

EDWIN B. LAMME .- The subject of this re- view was born in De Kalb county, Mo., May 15, 1857, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people among whom he lives and whom he has served in many civil capacities. He is a son of Achilles and Elizabeth Jane (Oliver) Lamme, the former a native of Warren county, Mo., where he was born July 15, 1822, and the latter of Bates- ville, Albemarle county, Va., where her life began

November 28, 1828. The great-grandfather of our subject, Robert Lamme, was a native of Bour- bon county, Ky., of French descent. His eldest son, William T., was also born in Bourbon county, but removed to Warren county, Mo., in 1803. He was first lieutenant in Nathan Boon's company of rangers, and colonel of a regiment in the war of 1812. He married Frances Callaway, daughter of Flanders Callaway, and granddaughter of Dan- iel Boone, by whom he had ten children. Achilles Lamme, father of our subject, was the ninth child of Wm. T. and Frances Lamme. He was edu- cated for the medical profession at the St. Louis Medical College; but about the time of his grad- ation gold was discovered in California, and in 1849, instead of entering on the practice of his profession, he made his way to the land of promise by way of New York and the Isthmus. Return- ing to Missouri, he was united in marriage October 18, 1852, with Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Oliver Har- lowe, daughter of William Nicholas and Mary L. (Bates) Oliver. After his marriage he located at St. Joseph, Mo., and engaged in his profession and merchandising until the spring of 1865, when he started with his family for Montana, taking a stock of goods and embarking on the steamer E. O. Stanard. The boat was wrecked a few miles above Omaha, and he lost his entire stock of goods. The passengers were transferred first to the steamer Hattie May, and soon after, as the water was low, to the Deer Lodge. This brought them to Cow Island, from which place they came by teams to Gallatin valley, Dr. Lamme purchasing a farm twelve miles north of Bozeman. His part- ner, L. M. Howell, returned to St. Louis, and in the fall of 1866 returned to Montana, bringing a stock of goods. They built a store house on the farm and opened for business, which was con- tinued until 1869. Dr. Lamme then bought Mr. Howell's interest and moved the buildings and merchandise to Bozeman, where he became asso- ciated with John S. Mendenhall. While thus en- gaged in merchandising he did not wish to prac- tice medicine, and would not accept a fee for his services; but there being no other physician in the valley he attended the sick from motives of humanity and his well known kindness of heart, frequently driving thirty or forty miles on a trip. He continued merchandising until his death, which occurred December 22, 1888. In politics Dr. Lamme was a lifelong Democrat, but eschewed public office. He was obliged, however, to serve

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his people in several positions of trust, being a member of the territorial legislature one term, a member of the first city council of Bozeman, and held other offices from time to time. He was a high toned gentleman of culture, and his friends were numerous and in evidence. His death was looked upon as a general calamity, and he was uni- versally mourned throughout the valley. His wid- ow is still living in Bozeman. They were the par- ents of five children, all of whom are living, namely : Florence, the wife of Wm. B. McAdow: Edwin B .; Lora, wife of Francis K. Armstrong ; Frances and Georgia.

Edwin B. Lamme, the immediate subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Boze- man, supplementing their instruction with a com- mercial course in San Francisco. After leaving school he was associated in business with his father until 1882, after which he became connected with the Raleigh-Lamme Company and the Gallatin Valley Mercantile Company, remaining with them until 1895, but continued the business in his own name until 1901. He became a stockholder in the Bozeman Milling Company in 1895, and soon after was elected secretary and general manager, a position which he still occupies. In politics Mr. Lamme is a stanch Democrat, and has been the choice of his party for several positions of importance and responsibility. He was chairman of the board of county commissioners from 1886 to 1890; a member of the city council from 1898 to 1900; a member of the Bozeman school board for seven years; and in February, 1901, was ap- pointed by Gov. Toole a member of the executive board of the State Agricultural College, located at Bozeman. Mr. Lamme was married on Octo- ber 12, 1880, to Miss Susie L. Welch, a native of Huron county, Ohio, and daughter of William and Harriet (Booge) Welch, the former a native of Ithaca, N. Y., and the latter of Pittsford, Vt. They now reside in Bozeman, Mr. Welch having come to Montana in 1864, locating one of the first claims in Alder gulch. His wife and daughter fol- lowed him in 1871, and they all removed to Gal- latin valley in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Lamme are the parents of two children: Maurice Allison, born in Bozeman, September 5, 1881, and Clinton Edwin, born December 20, 1883. They and their mother are members of the Episcopal church of Bozeman. Mr. Lamine is a member of Pythagoras Lodge No. 2, K. of P., and of Bozeman Lodge No. 463, B. P. O. E.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 119

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