Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 122

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 122

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

until 1856. They then removed to Wisconsin, where the father was a farmer until his death in 1888. His widow resides in Wisconsin.

Richard Finley early became inured to the work of the farm, receiving a public school education, and followed this occupation until 1862, when he crossed the plains to Colorado and engaged in quartz mining at Central City until 1864, which stands as the year of his coming to Montana. He arrived in Virginia City on the 15th of July. He secured, and at once began operations, on placer claims in Alder gulch. He was in Virginia City in the days wlien the vigilance committees took the responsibility of ridding the country of its cut- throats and outlaws, and witnessed the hanging of Brady and Dolan. and also the placing of fifty lashes upon the bared back of one Kelly, who was .

accused of being an accomplice of Brady and who was sent out of the camp after this punishment.

Mr. Finley's health became impaired, and he dis- posed of his mining claims, and in 1878 came to the Ruby valley and took up his present ranch, one mile north of Laurin, his postoffice town. He has 170 acres of fertile land, has made the best of im- provements on his place and here devotes his at- tention to the raising of hay and grain and cattle, so directing his efforts as to have gained marked success. In politics he supports the Democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, while fraternally he is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees. On October 26, 1872, Mr. Finley was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Cummings, who was born in Ireland, the daughter of John and Delia (Kenny) Cummings.

JOHN FLAHERTY .- One of the successful stockgrowers of Jefferson county, where his postoffice address is Cold Springs, John Flaherty has been a resident of the northwest since the early pioneer days, when life on the frontier had not lost its exciting characteristics. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, on November 10, 1846, one of the five children of John and Elizabeth (Stewart) Flaherty, representatives of fine old Irish stock, who emigrated to America in 1851, locating in VanBurensburg, Montgomery county, Ill., where the father followed his trade of shoemaking until his death. John Flaherty passed his youth in Illinois, securing his education in the public schools. In 1865 he started for the west, coming

to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he engaged in teaming through the summer, returning to his home in the fall, where he remained during the winter ot 1865, his father passing away in the fol- lowing spring. He then started again for the west, having Montana in mind as his destination.

He came by way of Salt Lake City with an ox team, had no trouble with Indians and arrived in Virginia City on October 22, 1866. He remained there until January 10, 1867, when he joined the stampede to the Salmon river district in Idaho, going by Bannack and reaching his destination on February II. He was delayed ten days by storms, and then started for the diggings at Leesburg, Lemhi county, where he worked in the mines until August 15, when he started for Montana, coming by Salmon City, the north fork of the Salmon river and the headquarters of the Big Hole river, where, in company with fourteen others, he worked at placer mining in Homestake gulch. His efforts were attended with fair success and he remained about two months, and then started for Virginia City. The first day the party camped on the ground where Gen. Gibbons fought the Nez Perces. There they separated, and Mr. Flaherty started for Highland gulch, coming down the Big Hole river by French gulch, thence by the Mill creek wagon road, south of Anaconda and by Sil- ver Bow creek to Highland, whence he made his way to Virginia City, where he arrived Octo- ber 24, 1867. He went to work a few miles above that city in the Ore Cash mine, and two months later returned to Virginia City, after which he was employed about fourteen months on Cardwell's ranch at the mouth of North Boulder creek. There he joined his brother, who had been in this section from 1864. This was their first meeting here and both worked on this ranch until 1868.

In the spring of 1869 Mr. Flaherty purchased the Cottonwood ranch on North Boulder creek, where he has since been engaged in farming and general stockraising, successful in his efforts and wintering about 500 head of cattle and 100 horses. He is thoroughly progressive, using discriminaton in his methods, and holds and retains the respect and confidence of his friends. In politics Mr. Flaherty affiliates with the Democratic party. He has served eighteen years as road supervisor, and he has been on the board of school trustees of his county for even a longer period. In November, 1872, Mr. Flaherty was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Murray, who was born in Andrew

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county, Mo., the daughter of Robert B. and Re- becca (Yates) Murray, natives of Kentucky and Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Flaherty have had eight children, all of whom are living save one daughter. They are: Edward B., John T., Ida May (de- ceased), William A., Charles D., Richard M., George F. and James S. Flaherty.

SAMUEL H. FORNEY .- Existing ancient rec- ords designate a long and conspicuous identi- fication of the ancestors of Mr. Forney with the annals of the American history. His great-grand- father, in agnatic line, was John Forney, who emigrated from France to America in early colonial days, taking up land in Pennsylvania and paying William Penn one dollar for executing the deed. The maternal ancestors likewise located in Pennsylvania in Penn's time, and became members of the Society of Friends. Although the Quakers always insist on peace and discourage warfare, yet John Forney did yeoman service as a soldier in the Continental army of the Revolution. From him the descent traces through his son Jacob Forney, born in Berks county, Pa., and married Sarah Kane of the same county. They were parents of Jacob K. Forney, the father of Samuel H. Jacob K. Forney married Elizabeth McNeil, also born in Berks county, and of their five sons and four daughters, Samuel H. was the fourth in order of birth.

Samuel H. Forney was two years old when his parents removed to Jackson county, Iowa, in 1857, and there he attended school and, as he waxed strong in years and physique, contributed cheerful- ly more and more to the work of the parental farm- stead. In 1878 he made an expedition to the Black Hills, where he remained a short time, after which he came to Miles City, Mont., and assisted in build- ing Fort Keogh and engaged in freighting the en- suing winter. He then located in Fort Buford, where he secured an outfit and went to Choteau county and assisted in building Fort Assinnaboine, after which he continued freighting until 1881, when he secured a ranch on Pine creek, a tributary of the Yellowstone, later disposing of this property and purchasing his present ranch, located nine miles east of Fridley, his postoffice address. To his original purchase he has added until he now has 2,600 acres, and also utilizes a section of land which he leases.

Here he is engaged in the raising of a fine grade of horses and cattle, usually having from 100 to 150 head of cattle and from fifty to seventy-five horses. In cattle he gives special attention to the breeding of shorthorns, while in horses his favorite breed is imported Clydesdale, of which he has one of the finest specimens in the state. Mr. Forney is a man of mentality and marked force of character, and is impressing himself upon the in- dustrial life of Park county, being held in high esteem and occupying an influential position. Politically he gives his support to the Republican party, and fraternally he is a Master Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. On January 3, 1891, Mr. Forney was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Carrie Chase, born in Tioga county, Pa., the daughter of Edwin and Mary E. (Palmer) Robbins, natives of New York, the Robbins fami- ly being of good old English stock, while the Palmers trace their ancestry to the Pilgrims, Wil- iam Palmer being one of the historic passengers on the Mayflower in 1620. Mr. and Mrs. Forney have four children, Claude, Bessie, Alforetta and Inez.

M J. FITZPATRICK .- Commonly called the father of Anaconda, Mr. Fitzpatrick was one of the first and has been one of the most active and fruitful promoters of the enterprising and at- tractive little city. For nearly twenty years he has added to its growth and prosperity by his far- seeing and accurate business capacity. He was born at Dayton, Ohio, July 18, 1848, and was thoroughly educated in the excellent public schools of that city. Looking westward in his aspirations he left home in 1869, and, going to Iowa, passed two years there teaching school in Clinton county, after which he went to Colorado and there taught for some time, and afterward in Wyoming. Reaching Montana in 1880 he put in two years teaching in Warm Springs valley, where he also took up and improved a ranch. When Anaconda was started in 1883, he was one of the first busi- ness men on the ground, and has since been active and vigorous in pushing its development and prog- ress. 'For a year he clerked in a store, and in 1884 opened the Anaconda Real Estate and In- surance Agency, which for nearly twenty years has been one of the leading business enterprises of the city. In addition to his business contributions to the enlargement and aggrandizement of the city,

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he has served its people in several important public offices. He was a justice of the peace for six years, from 1884 to 1890; was a city councilman from the Third ward, from 1892 to 1898; and has been president of the school board since 1900. In fra- ternal relations he is also prominent, being a charter member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias and United Workmen of Anaconda, and has given to their interests the energetic service that characterizes his work in every public enterprise. In Clinton county, Iowa, in 1870, he married Miss Sophia Heller, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, in 1857, and they have two children: Cornelia K., now the wife of G. S. E. Wisner, the city clerk of Anaconda and cashier in the real estate office of Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Jesse S., who is married and living in Anaconda. They are well esteemed in social circles and dispense at the pleasant Fitz- patrick home a genial and graceful hospitality.

JAMES E. FOX .- Tracing his lineage through many generations of stanch Irish stock, and himself a native of the Emerald Isle, though he has passed practically his entire life in America, Mr. Fox is a successful ranchman and representative citizen of Choteau county, who has been promi- nent in the advocacy of the cause of the laboring man and in political affairs, and is known and hon- ored for his inflexible integrity. He was born in County Kildare, Ireland, on August 17, 1843, the son of John J. and Rosa (Hughes) Fox, both na- tives of Ireland, whence they emigrated to Amer- ica about 1849. For many years John J. Fox was a machinist in various cities of the eastern and middle states, finally locating in Chicago, where he conducted a grocery business for several years prior to his death, which occurred in 1876. His widow still resides in that city, which has been her home for many years and where she was living at the time of the great fire of 1871.

James E. Fox received his educational training in parochial schools at Bridgeport, Conn., and Rock Island, Ill. He began the active work of life in a clerkship in a mercantile establishment at Rock Island, where he was employed for sev- eral years. In 1863 the family removed to Chi- cago, and here Mr. Fox had a position in a whole- sale dry goods house for eighteen months, after which he held a clerkship in his father's grocery. In 1865 he returned to Ireland, from whose shores

he had departed when a mere child. While in Dublin Mr. Fox was held as a guest of Queen Victoria for four months, being suspected of hav- ing a hand in the Fenian movement then in prog- ress. After passing about two years in Ireland and England he returned to his home in Chicago, and in 1868 went south to Crawfordsville, Miss., where he was for a time concerned in the raising of cotton. In 1869 he located at Memphis, Tenn., where for thirteen years he was connected with the dry goods house of Lowenstein Bros., and he then entered into partnership with a member of that firm and conducted a coal business in that city for a year, and later was for two years there engaged in the furnishing-goods trade.

In 1881 Mr. Fox located in Minneapolis, Minn., where he was for four years a partner in the estab- lishment of D. C. Lowenstein & Co. In the spring of 1886 he came to Helena, Mont., and held a clerkship in the IXL bazaar until 1889, when he removed to Harlem, Choteau county, and located his present ranch, which is most eligibly situated on the Milk river, and in 1890 he went to Great Falls and there held a position in the clothing house of Thisted, Brosnan & Co., for three years, while for the next three years, as salesman and buyer, he was in charge of the dry-goods depart- ment of the Anaconda Company's store at Belt. Then was on his ranch for a time and was thereaf- ter employed for seven months in the mercantile establishment of L. Whitney & Co., at Carbonado. In 1899 he took up his permanent location on his ranch, which he has brought under excellent im- provement and now which comprises 400 acres of exceptionally arable land and is devoted to the rais- ing of hay and grain. The operations of his ranch now engage his entire time and attention, and from it hè secures excellent returns. Mr. Fox has led a life of consecutive industry, his career has been varied in character and his success has been achieved by worthy means.

Mr. Fox takes an independent stand in politics, and, through occupying responsible positions, has had considerable influence · in political affairs. While a resident of Memphis, Tenn., he was presi- dent of the local lodges of the Knights of Innisfail, the United Order of Workingmen, the Knights of the Red Branch and the Knights of Honor. He was president of the central committee of the Greenback party of Shelby county, Tenn., and sec- retary of the party organization of his ward in the city of Memphis. After coming to Montana he as-

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sisted in the organization of the Clerks' Union at Great Falls and was elected its first president in 1894. The following year he represented the union in its successful overtures to secure mem- bership in the Trades Council of Cascade county, of which he was chosen vice-president, serving one term, and thereafter being elected and re-elected president. At Helena, in 1895, he was prominent- ly concerned in the organization of the Trade and Labor Council of the state, being president of the preliminary organization. He has ever had the cause of the laboring man closely at heart, as is evident from even the data entered in this connec- tion, and he has been an active and potent worker in the cause. In Memphis, Tenn., in the summer of 1875, Mr. Fox was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Cunningham, who was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., and they are the parents of four children, Ella, Minnie, James E., Jr., and Susie.

A LONZO H. FOSTER .- In reviewing the char-

acteristic scenes and incidents of life on the frontier, Mr. Foster may well figure as an effective source of information, for his pioneer experiences were many and varied, while he has marked power as a conversationalist. He has been postmaster of Boulder, Jefferson county, since 1897, enjoys a distinctive popularity in the county, and is known as an able business man and honored as a sterling pioneer, having come to Montana when a young man. He was born in Mckean county, Pa., on September 27, 1835, the son of Daniel and Asha (Smith) Foster, natives of Camden, N. J., and the state of New York. The paternal American an- cestors in the agnatic line were three brothers, who came from England on the second voyage of the Mayflower, and a genealogical record was kept from the early days until a short time ago, when it was lost through the death of a cousin, and no trace of it has as yet been found. Daniel Foster removed from New Jersey to Pennsylvania to look after certain of his father's interests in large tracts of land in the west part of the state. There was celebrated his marriage and there was the family home for the greater portion of his parents' lives. They resided in Ohio two years, for an equal time in Indiana, after which they returned to Pennsyl- vania, and lived in Clarion and Jefferson counties the residue of their days, honored and esteemed by all who knew them. The father followed carpen-

ter and millwright work during the most of his active life.

Alonzo H. Foster received a public school edu- cation, and in 1854, being then nearly nineteen, he bought his time of his father, this action being taken voluntarily, as their relations were most cordial, and agreed to pay $250, to be paid by clearing twelve acres of heavily timbered land. Mr. Foster showed his executive ability by em- ploying others to do the work while he found re- munerative employment elsewhere to enable him to fully pay his father within one year. The next year Mr. Foster attended school, working nights and mornings for his board. For the ensuing three years he taught winters and in the sum- mer continued his studies in an academy, until he was granted a "professional" certificate, this being the highest grade then issued to teachers in Pennsylvania. He then removed to Pana, Ill., where he was in pedagogic work for five months in the winter of 1859-60. In the spring he started for Colorado, following an ox team the entire distance and arriving at South Clear creek, where he engaged in mining until February, 1863, when he went to Denver, and joined four others in outfitting for the trip to Montana. They left Denver on the 21st of February with one mule team, coming by Fort Bridger and via Soda Springs to the Snake river. In the party, which was greatly augmented en route, were William Ows- ley, Dr. W. L. Steele, James Vivian and William Roe. Aside from exciting experiences while raft- ing and crossing streams, and on hunting and fishing trips indulged in, the trip was uneventful.

They arrived at Bannack on April 23, 1863, and Mr. Foster soon betook himself to the famous camp of Alder gulch, and that vicinity was his stamping ground for nearly a decade. Upon his arrival he purchased an interest in a mine, worked it a few months with fair success and sold it in No- vember at a profit. He then returned east and the next spring again started for Montana. On this trip the party usually kept ahead of the Indians, but one day as they passed a point of interest an altercation between an Indian and a white man precipitated definite trouble, and the Indians forthwith went on the war path. They congre- gated in numbers where the trouble occurred and the following day hostilities were instituted in a most decided way, and emigrants and freighters from one to two days behind Mr. Foster's train were slaughtered indiscriminately, the fighting be-

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ginning at Morrow's trading place. Mr. Foster's horse was stolen, presumably by an Indian, and he was unable to recover it, although he made vigorous search. Mr. Foster was then engaged in the livery. business at Virginia City for eight years. While living there, but absent from home, the Vigilantes, organized for the protec- tion of the cummunity, and on his return he was made a member of the local vigilance commit- tee. One morning when starting from his lodg- ing place he was confronted by the not unusual sight of two men hanging from fence poles, thus expiating their crimes and serving as examples to other malefactors. Heroic measures were nec- essary then, and by no other means could Mon- tana have been cleared of the banditti that in- fested the territory.

Disposing of his livery business, Mr. Foster too merchandise on the road, selling it from a wagon, also taking orders for other supplies. He operated between Virginia City and Glendale and vicinity successfully in this enterprise for three years, when he located in Glendale and operated a stage line between Glendale and Melrose in Silver Bow county. He removed to Boulder in 1884 and with this place as headquarters ran a stage line from Wickes to Elkhorn and later freighted to Elkhorn, continuing this enterprise successfully until the advent of the railroad, when he turned his attention once more to mining, operating two iron mines, the Monarch and Mon- tana Central, four miles above Elkhorn, of which he was manager and an owner. He was thus successfully engaged for two years, .and in 1900 the mine was sold to the American Smelting & Refining Company for $15,000.

Mr. Foster is a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party, and has been active in promoting its local interests. In the early 'eighties he served as county commissioner of Jefferson county, and in 1897 he was appointed postmaster of Boulder, in which capacity he has since served with sig- nal efficiency. Fraternally he is identified with the United Workmen, and the auxiliary, the De- gree of Honor. On October 23, 1878, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Beard, born in Nebraska, the daughter of John and Re- becca (Miller) Beard, natives of Illinois and Ken- tucky, the father being among the pioneers of Montana, whither he came with his family in the early 'sixties. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have had three children, Frank and Emma, who are de- ceased, and Alonzo H.

REV. LAWRENCE BENEDICT B. PALLA-

DINO, S. J .- Not to a work of this nature is the privilege of entering more incidental rec- ord concerning the great and all pervading influ- ence which the Catholic church has exerted in connection with the history of the great north- west from that early epoch when the sun kissed a thousand hills and valleys as yet untrod by the feet of white men and when only the beasts of the field disputed dominion with the stalwart Indian brave, and yet from no compilation which touches the generic history of this section of the Union can there be eliminated frequent and appreciative reference to those noble emissaries of the gracious mother church who have here lived and labored for the salvation of souls and the furtherance of the Master's cause. From the earliest period until the present time, when the majestic twentieth century swings into the cycle of the ages, there have been found within the borders of the present state of Montana priests of the church who have lived lives of high consecration and utmost usefulness, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continu- ing instant in prayer, distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality," and with the utmost self-abnegation giving themselves and their lives to the work which stands for the only ultimate good in human life and accomplishment. The work of the early missionaries among the Indians was such as to merit a volume in record, for theirs it was to "condescend to men of low estate," "in weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness," ever holding to their mark of their high calling as servants in the vineyard of the Divine Master. Thus in this compilation will be found many refer- ences to the Catholic church and its zealous work- ers in Montana, and among the members of the priesthood in the diocese at the present time there is unmistakably none who has given more thought and study to the lives and labors of the early missionaries among the Indians, more careful con- sideration to the character and needs of these wards of the government in later years, and who is more of an authority in Indian history in the northwest than Father Palladino, whose minis- trations in Montana have already been protracted. over more than a third of a century and who is now in pastoral charge of St. Francis Xavier church and parish at Missoula. It is our pleasure and privilege to here enter a brief record con- cerning his life and labors.

Father Palladino is a native of Tilicto, a small

Rev. L. B. Palladino

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village in the Apennines some thirty miles from the beautiful and historic old city of Genoa, Italy, where he was born on the 15th of August, 1837, being the son of Julius and Magdalene (Ricci) Palladino, both of whom were born in central Italy, where they passed their entire lives, the former having been engaged in mercantile pur- suits. They became the parents of four sons and three daughters, and two of the sons entered the priesthood, while two of the daughters con- secrated their lives also to the service of the church, becoming members, one of a visitation or- der at Chambery, Savoy; the other of the Sis- ters of St. Dorothea. The subject of this sketch is the only representative of his family in America. Father Palladino received his early educational discipline in his native land and thereafter still further continued his studies in France. He completed his theological course in Monaco, and was ordained to the priesthood, at Nice, in May, 1863. He had become identified with the Society of Jesus when seventeen years of age, joining the order in 1855, at Massa, Duchy of Modena, Italy. Immediately after his ordination Father Palladino came to America, and his first location was in California, where he became vice-president of Santa Clara College, in the city of the same name. Later he was in- cumbent of the chair of Latin and Greek in Saint Ignatius College, at San Francisco. He contin- ued his labors in California until 1867, when he came to western Montana, which was then under the spiritual jurisdiction of the archbishop of Oregon, and was here assigned to the church mission on the Jacko Indian reservation, where he remained until 1873, laboring with unwavering zeal and devotion for the betterment of the con- dition of the Indians and for their spiritual and temporal welfare. Under his administration the mission was greatly improved in its material equip- ment and its system. He instituted the boys' boarding school and other noteworthy improve- ments and spared no effort or self-denial in fur- thering the interests of those to whom he min- istered. In connection with the work of the church in Montana Father Palladino has played an important part, and as one of the pioneer priests of the diocese his name is held in high honor by all classes of citizens, the writer of this article having listened to the most kindly and appreci- ative endorsements of the man, the priest and his work from many sources. In 1873 he came

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 122

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