Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 123

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 123

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to Helena in charge of the work of a parish whose organization was scarcely more than nominal, and here he found ample scope for the exercise of his marked executive ability as well as his functions as a priest. During his regime the church edifice, which is now the cathedral of the Sacred Hearts in the capital city, was erected, while all branches of church work felt his in- vigorating influence. He remained in charge of the Helena parish until 1883, when the diocese of Helena was formed and Bishop Brondel was installed over it. Father Palladino was then re- called to and given charge of St. Ignatius mission and of St. Francis Xavier church and parish in Missoula, where he has since been located, with the exception of about four years, as will be duly noted. In 1867 he purchased the property in Missoula where the academy and hospital now stand, and this parish shows on every hand the result of his devoted and untiring efforts, while he holds the affection of his flock and the highest esteem of the entire community. In 1894 Father Palladino was called to the presidency of Gonzaga College, at Spokane, Wash., and this incumbency he retained for two years, after which he went to Seattle, where he was assistant priest of the Church of the Immaculate Conception for one and one-half years, while his duties also demanded his visiting many other sections of Washington in a missionary capacity. In 1899 he returned to the diocese of Helena and was again assigned to the parish in Missoula, where he was welcomed with unalloyed affection and enthusiasm by his people, and here he has since maintained his field of labor.

Father Palladino is a close and analytical stu- dent and a man of high intellectual atttainments. As a writer and speaker he is vigorous and force- ful, his diction being elegant and refined and his logic close and accurate. His personality is genial and unaffected, and he wins the good will and friendship of all with whom he comes in con- tact, at once impressing one with his earnestness of purpose and unreserved sympathy with his fellow men in all the walks of life, his sympathy and tolerance springing from an unfailing source.

Father Palladino has made a peculiarly careful study of the early history of the northwest, of Indian character and its springs of thought and action, and no man in the Union is better qual- ified to write accurately and entertainingly in re- gard to Indian history, in connection with which

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he is a recognized authority. In 1894 he pub- lished a signally valuable work entitled "Indian and White in the Northwest," which none can peruse without unfailing interest and appreciation, while it will ever stand as a classic in the line and as a valuable contribution to American his- tory. In 1900 Father Palladino issued another work, a small volume, entitled "May Blossoms," a series of beautifully expressed sentiments derived from Bible suggestion and representing the labor of a score of years. Of radically different order from the work previously mentioned, it breathes of beautiful spirituality and exalted thought, and touches the appreciative reader with the gracious softness of a benediction. It has received most favorable comments from both the religious and secular press of the country. In the midst of his "ceaseless toil and endeavor" Father Palladino finds time to contribute occasional articles of note to religious publications, and his life is one pro- lific in good works and kindly deeds.

L OUIS L. FOWLER .- The German element of our national commonwealth has been one of the most important in furthering the substantial and normal development and advancement of the country. Mr. Fowler is one of the prosperous farmers of Madison county who has attained suc- cess by energy, industry and excellent judgment. Mr. Fowler was born in 1857 at Baltimore, Md., being the youngest of the three children of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Fowler, both of whom were Germans. John Fowler emigrated to America about 1840 and located in Maryland, where he passed the remainder of his life.

Louis L. Fowler attended the public schools of Maryland, secured a good English education, and learned the carpenter trade, to which he devoted his attention for some time in his native state. In early manhood he came to Nevada, where he remained for two years, and then on to Montana, which state has since been his home and where success has attended his timely and effective efforts. Mr. Fowler did valiant service as a soldier while a member of Company I, First Cavalry, U. S. A., in the memorable Nez Perces war, under Gen. Howard, and received an honorable discharge on termination of his service. Upon locating in Mad- ison county Mr. Fowler turned his attention to ranch work, and in 1881 he secured a tract of

government land, which is a portion of his present fine ranch property, located one and one-half miles from his postoffice town, Cameron. He now con- trols 3,000 acres of land, raises excellent crops of hay and grain and also raises highgrade horses and cattle. He was never married. In politics Mr. Fowler exercises his franchise in support of the Democratic party, while fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees.

W ILLIAM P. FOX .- Among the alert and popular young business men of the little city of Sheridan, Madison county, is William P. Fox, who was born on July 10, 1860, in New York city, the eldest of the eight children of Peter and Louise (Bethausen) Fox. The father, a merchant tailor, later removed to Milwaukee, Wis., where he now resides. He was born in the state of New York and his wife in Cologne, Prussia. William was ten years old when his parents removed to Wisconsin, where, in Milwaukee, in 1873, he found employ- ment in a mercantile establishment for six years, when he took a position in a large department store in the same city, having charge of the woolens and being the buyer for his department. In 1880 he went to Indianapolis, Ind., and, with the mer- cantile house of A. Dickson & Co., had general charge of all goods received. In 1883 he engaged with the great house of Marshall Field & Co., in Chicago, and later entered the employ of Alms & Doepke, at Cincinnati, where he had charge of the shawl department for one year, and returned to Indianapolis and entered the employ of A. Dick- son & Co.

After two years he made a radical change of oc- cupation, going to a Texas sheep ranch owned by his brother. Later he was employed in a dry goods establishment at El Paso for one summer, and then was thirty months in the cloak department of San- ger Bros., at Dallas. In 1889 Mr. Fox went to St. Paul, Minn., and entered the employ of Mann- heimer & Co. In the fall of 188c he took charge of a store in Grand Forks, N. D., for one year, and was recalled to Wisconsin by the death of his father. In 1890 Mr. Fox came to Helena, Mont., and was in business one year for himself, then was employed in leading establishments in Butte and Phillipsburg. In 1893 he returned to Chicago, and in the spring of 1894 engaged as a traveling sales-

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man of dry goods, shoes, etc. On December 22, 1894, he opened a general store at Sheridan and here he has since conducted a very satisfactory business. He is a close and discriminating buyer, is thoroughly familiar with the business and his establishment is a popular one. He also has min- ing interests in Bear gulch. In politics Mr. Fox gives allegiance to the Democratic party, and fra- ternally he is identified with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of the Maccabees.

G EORGE B. FRANKS, a leading and enter- prising merchant of Whitehall, Jefferson coun- ty, was born in Fayette county, Pa., on May 25, 1857. His parents were Phineas and Nancy (But- termore) Franks, both natives of the above men- tioned county. Phineas Franks died on October 28, 1901, from injuries received in an accident, at the age of seventy-eight years. His paternal and maternal grandfathers were John Franks and George Buttermore, and each was a native of Fay- ette county, Pa. There were eleven sons and five daughters, thirteen of whom are living. The an- cestors of George B. Franks, on both the pa- ternal and maternal sides, took an active part in the Revolution, on the side of the colonies, and be- fore and after the war they were farmers, their property being not far from Connellsville, Pa.

In 1859 Phineas Franks removed from Penn- sylvania and located in Wayne county, Ohio, and after seven years of farming there he located in Noble county, Ind., until 1872, and then went to Marion county, Iowa, for a short time, thence going to Missouri and settling in Vernon county, where was the family home until the death of the mother, on January 4, 1873. She left two sons and one daughter.

During the serious depression of that period it appeared to Mr. Franks that the west offered better inducements to a young man than did the east, so in 1873 he came to Montana, locating tem- porarily at Bozeman. He had come to Corinne by railroad, and on to Bozeman with a freight outfit, arriving March 7, 1873. Here he profitably engaged in freighting and cattle driving between Corinne and Bozeman and Fort McLeod, which he continued twelve years. He then took up a ranch on the North Boulder river, near that of the Hon. Edward Cardwell, and engaged quite extensively

in the cattle business for six years, when he sold out and purchased the ranch on the South Boulder river where he now resides, and on which hie winters about 200 head of cattle.

Mr. Franks engaged in the meat business in 1892, having a commodious store in Whitehall, conducting this for three years. He then sold it to Tinsley Brothers, and gave his undivided at- tention to the ranch until May 1, 1900, when he bought back the meat business. Since then he has done an extensive business in butchering and the establishment is well equipped with every neces- sary facility for the enterprise. On July 2, 1888, Mr. Franks was united in marriage to Miss Ada Randall, who was born near Sheridan, Mont., on January 28, 1870, and is a daughter of O. E. Randall, of South Boulder. They have three chil- dren, Gladys, Isa and Jean. For a number of years Mr. Franks has served as school trustee and for two terms he was registration agent. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. His financial and social success is due to his strong personal traits of character and superior business ability. In the community in which he resides he is highly esteemed and he numbers many friends, even beyond the borders of the state.

TILLIAM H. FRANCIS .- Recognized as one of the successful and progressive stockraisers of Park county, where he has a valuable ranch of 480 acres, Mr. Francis is a native of Carroll county, Mo., born on February 20, 1846, son of James and Elizabeth (Cole) Francis, the for- mer a native of Edgar county, Ill., and the latter of Carroll county, Mo. James Francis early moved to Missouri, and thence joined the argonauts who made their way across the plains to California in the gold excitement of 1849. He engaged in min- ing somewhat more than a year, with sufficient success to prompt him to locate permanently in that state and he returned to Missouri for his family, but died a short time after his arrival, the inexorable summons frustrating the ambitious plans he had formulated. The family consisted of one son and one daughter, and the mother survived until 1856.

William H. Francis was identified with agricul- tural pursuits in Missouri until 1879, when he came to Montana, and locating in the Gallatin valley, operated a ranch for four years, after which

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he removed to Shields river valley, and secured a homestead claim of 160 acres, about seven miles from the mouth of the river. To this he has added 320 acres of railroad land, which he purchased, and here he has since resided, devoting his atteu- tion principally to stockraising and making a spe- cialty of the Angus and Hereford cattle, of which he always has a fine grade. He has done much to improve the livestock interests through his dis- criminating and progressive methods, and usually winters about 150 head of cattle, and his efforts have been attended with gratifying success. Though never an aspirant for public office, Mr. Francis has for the past fourteen years held the office of school trustee in his county, maintaining a lively interest in the cause of education. Politically he gives his support to the Democratic party, while fraternally he is identified with the American Yeomen. On December 15, 1866, Mr. Francis was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Freeman, born in Mis- souri, the daughter of William and Ann Freeman, natives of Ohio. The family circle has contained six children, Charles, Thomas and Oscar, all suc- cessful ranchers in the Shields river valley ; David, who remained at the paternal home; Mary, the wife of Guy Hunter, of Cottonwood, in the same valley, and Ethel, who is at home with her parents.

W A. FREDERICKS .- Born in Hastings county, in the province of Ontario, in 1830, and dying at Willow creek, Gallatin county, Mont., in September, 1879, in the half century of his life, Wellington A. Fredericks, saw men and events in many places and took his part in productive labor in various capacities, always doing well. His parents were John and Johanna Fredericks, natives of Ontario, but moved to Wisconsin and located within the present limits of the city of Madison, of which they were the first settlers and founders. The father there secured a tract of land and built a flouring mill. He then laid out the residue in town lots and gave them away to persons who agreed to build homes and live on them. This was the beginning of the present capital city of Wisconsin. Later being sued for damage done to the city by the water of his mill dam backing up and injuring certain property, he tore down the mill and left the city, and having secured a large tract of land twenty miles distant, again erected mills and gave away lots, thereby founding

the present town of Belleville, to which he gave the name of his native place in Canada. Here he remained until he died. Mr. Fredericks spent his school days at his home, remaining with the family until 1849, when he caught the "gold fever," then raging in all parts of the country, and traveled over- land to California. On the way he was laid up with fever in Humboldt valley, and the outfit were obliged to leave him behind. They left with him, however, a supply of provisions, and in two or three weeks he was able to follow and overtake them. He spent ten years in California and Ne- vada, where he built sixteen mills, and also built the dance hall on the single stump of a great red- wood tree. In all his ventures he was successful and prosperous. He had an interest in a quartz claim, however, which he traded on good pros- pects for town lots in San Francisco. But his title being defective he lost $10,000 in investments in addition to the time and money spent in litigation with a view to securing his rights. On his re- turn trip in 1859 he was married to Miss Sarah J. Gilbert, of Belleville, Canada, a daughter of Caleb and Sarah (Ross) Gilbert, and a granddaughter of Samuel Gilbert, one of the founders of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Freder- icks had two children who died in infancy, and another who died later. One son, Hiram Don, is living and aids his mother in conducting the farm. After marrying they located at Belle- ville, Wis., where he took charge of his father's flouring mill, saw mill and woolen mills, remaining until April, 1864, when he moved overland by mule and ox trains to Fort Ellis, where he built a sawmill and equipped it with machinery which he had brought with him. He sold this soon after- ward and built another on Dog creek in Deer Lodge county, which was also sold, Walker Brothers, of Helena, being the purchasers. He formed a partnership with John Grant in the same business, which he continued about a year. In 1866 he made a trip east and bought a large quantity of machinery which he sent up the river to Fort Benton, and with A. J. Davis erected a grist mill at old Gallatin City, which they were operating when Mrs. Fredericks arrived at that village by stage, she having remained at her home in Canada. They remained at Gallatin City until 1872, then removed to Helena, where they spent one year. From there they went to Willow creek, where Mrs. Fredericks and A. J. Davis as partners built and put into operation a grist mill. Mrs. Fredericks

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superintended the construction of the mill and tlefield. He was born in Susquehanna county, managed her part of the business after it was finished. But she and Mr. Davis did not agree in the matter and had several lawsuits over their differences; and finally in 1875 she brought an action to have the business wound up. The case was in the courts until 1884, and she then got a decree which enabled her to sell out. In the mean- time Mr. Fredericks died in 1879. In 1882 Mrs. Fredericks bought the ranch on which she now lives with a son, and together they have some 1,300 acres, about 600 of it being in the homestead, whichi is all under irrigation and produces fine crops of hay and alfalfa, and supports liberally their large herds of cattle which frequently number 400 head. It is a very desirable place, is well improved and is in capable hands for its full development, Mrs. Fredericks being a shrewd, clever and very ener- getic business woman. Her husband was a su- perior man, and when he died she took up the work and has pushed it forward with great energy ever since.

CHARLES D. FRENCH was born in Virginia City, Mont., on May 28, 1871, being the son of Oliver D. and Anna (Dow) French. In 1890 he became a resident of Butte and in 1892 and '03 he was deputy county clerk of Silver Bow county, and the next two years he passed in the law office of C. R. Leonard, following his service there with three years in the office of the Montana Ore Pur- chasing Company. In 1895 he was assistant chief clerk of the state house of representatives and in 1899 he was appointed to the office of United States internal revenue collector, which he still holds, administering the affairs of the office with general satisfaction to its patrons and the govern- ment. In politics he is an ardent Republican and has always since he attained manhood taken an act- ive part in the management and campaigns of his party, having frequently served as secretary of its city and county committees.

TEPHEN J. GAINAN .- No state in the Union can boast of a more heroic band of pioneers than this vigorous and prosperous young com- monwealth. Mr. Gainan is not only numbered in this brave company, but he has also followed the stars and stripes on many a southern bat-

Pa., on December 15, 1834, and is of stanch old Celtic stock. His father, James Gainan, was born in County Limerick, Ireland. When a young man he emigrated to America, locating in Penn- sylvania, where he was engaged in farming until his death, and there died also his devoted wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Burke, and who was likewise born in Ireland. They had seven children, of whom six are living, Mr. Gai- nan being the fourth of them in order of birth. Stephen J. Gainan was reared on the farm, and his education was given in the public schools. He remained at his father's home until he was twenty years old, when he was apprenticed to a stone cutter. In 1858 he removed to Chicago, Ill., and worked at his trade for four months in the then embryo city. From Chicago he went to Iowa and there worked at his trade. Mr. Gai- nan enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, in 1864, and soon proceeded to the front. He was in Sherman's march through Georgia to the sea, participating in many spirited engagements and remaining in active service until victory crowned the Union arms. He was mus- tered out in June, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa, and remained in Iowa until May, 1866, when he set forth for Montana, then a portion of Idaho.

He was a member of the "Pilgrim outfit," which came with teams and mules and horses and he stood guard often on the long weary trip, which was made by way of the Bozeman cutoff, and the party was ferried across the Yellowstone river by Capt. Bozeman himself. Mr. Gainan immediately secured employment at his trade on his arrival at Helena and received $7.00 a day for his services in laying stone. He remained in Helena only a short time, then went to Virginia City and be- gan to work, "stripping" for placer mines in Alder gulch, the great mining camp. He later helped to build the first stone quartz mill built in Mon- tana, and then erected a stone warehouse for Tootle, Leach & Co., and the building is still standing. He then built a stone mill at Summit and later erected one in Spring gulch. The follow- ing winter Mr. Gainan was employed in the mine, and in April, 1867, he joined the stampede to the Salmon river country, in Idaho. He purchased a wagon and two yoke of oxen, transported a party of miners to the new diggings, and then returned to Virginia City and as a stone layer helped in the erection of the Masonic building.

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Later he was employed on other substantial build- ings, including a fireproof warehouse for John Creighton, a pioneer business man of Montana and now an influential citizen of Omaha. He also worked on the government arsenal at Vir- ginia City, and in the winter cut wood in the forests of this locality. The highest wages he received at his trade in Montana was $8.00 per day and board. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Gainan purchased placer mines in Brown's gulch, and has worked in them for more than a quarter of a cen- tury, and still retains their ownership. In 1875 he purchased a ranch of 160 acres, nine miles west of Virginia City, and here he resides and is suc- cessfully engaged in the raising of hay and live stock. Mr. Gainan has ever been a stalwart Re- publican, while fraternally he holds membership in Frank Blair Post No. 6, G. A. R., at Virginia City. On January 13, 1863, Mr. Gainan was united in marriage to Miss Ellen McKernen, who was born in Ireland and accompanied him to Mon- tana. She died June 4, 1899, after a life of noble womanhood, leaving many friends to mourn her departure. Mr. and Mrs. Gainan had four sons and two daughters, Edward J., Stephen J., Eliza- beth, Joseph, deceased, Luella, Leo and Fay.

JAMES H. GALLOP .- Postmaster, justice of the peace, school clerk and general leading man in the community, James H. Gallop, of Gallop, the town being named in his honor, has the dis- tinction of being one of the best known and most esteemed citizens of the county. He was born February 10, 1834, at Scipio, Cayuga county, N. Y., a son of Jonah and Hannah (Frye) Gal- lop, natives of England.

His father and two uncles came to the United States in September, 1833, and located in Cayuga county, N. Y., but in 1840 removed to Michigan, settling in Ionia county, where the father re- mained until his death in October, 1850. He spent his life in farming, and at his death left a family of three sons and two daughters. Mr. Gallop, the immediate subject of this sketch, spent his school days in Michigan, remaining on the homestead until 1852, his mother dying there on Christmas day of that year. He then began working at the carpenter's trade, which he had previously learned. He worked at it in various parts of Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, engaged

principally in bridge building. On February 25, 1862, he started for Montana by way of New York and the Isthmus to San Francisco, and from there to Portland, Ore., then up the Colum- bia river to Fort Wallula, from which point he crossed the country to Walla Walla and there, in partnership with Arad Chidester, bought a pack pony and started for Florence. They got as far as Mountain house, and from there were obliged to pack seventeen miles on their backs. After conveying his own goods in this way, he engaged in packing for other people, and in a little while was making $40 a day at the business. After he had accumulated several hundred dollars he started prospecting in and around Florence, and joined the Buffalo Hump stampede. Before he returned from this expedition he passed through the Ross Hole country, the Big Hole country, to the Bitter Root and down the river to Fort Owen. There he bought some provisions, flour at $1.25 and tobacco at $2.50 a pound, and then proceeded down the river to Susan Fork trail, going over the locality where Magruder and party were murdered, and finally reaching Elk City. He returned to Florence July 3, 1862, spending the summer butchering at that place. In October he was held up and shot through the shoulder by a road agent named Peter Riggs, the ball being easily felt at this time. Later Riggs was hanged at Boise City, and confessed that he was the as- sailant of Mr. Gallop, who was supposed at the time to be carrying a large sum of money, but he had put it into a pack saddle, and the assault oc- curred while he was looking for his pony. That winter, being unable to work on account of his wound, he spent the time with friends in Oregon, and in the spring of 1862 went to Clearwater, on the river of the same name, and engaged in mining during the summer. In the fall he worked on a big ditch, and again spent the winter in Oregon. The next summer he again mined on the Clearwater, and in the fall started to Oregon, but when he got about fifty miles from the camp he bought nine head of milch cows and a dairy outfit. In partnership with John T. Silverwood and A. B. Chidester the purchase of the Montana house, six miles from the Clearwater bridge, was ef- fected, which they conducted during the winter with good profits. In the spring Mr. Gallop sold his interest in the property for $1,200 and went into the cattle business for Brown Odle. He put in the winter at Lewiston, making one trip to the

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 123

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