Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 131

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 131

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

the islands of the sea. Fighting valiantly from day to day, even when seriously wounded refusing to desist for proper treatment, he rises by rapid promotion to the rank of captain, and at the close of his term of service returns modestly to the pur- suits of peaceful industry, when, in recognition of the sterling qualities of head and heart he had shown in every phase of his active and useful life, he is chosen by his fellow-citizens to an office of trust and great responsibility.

His story in detail is this : He was born in Ire- land April 12, 1869, the third of seven children of Peter and Annie (Flannigan) Greenan, both na- tives of Ireland, and both now laid to rest in her peaceful bosom. In boyhood and youth he at- tended the public schools in Ireland, and in 1886, when he was seventeen years old, he emigrated to America, landing in Boston, Mass., where he re- mained fourteen months, then went to Leadville, Colo., and worked in the smelting furnace. Two years later he came to Montana, locating at Ana- conda, and worked in the smelting furnaces there until the breaking out of the Spanish-American war, when he promptly enlisted as second lieuten- ant in Company K, First Montana Volunteers. He saw active service with this regiment all through the war in the Philippines, to the end of his term, receiving an ugly wound in the right side at the battle of Caloocan, which, however, did not keep him off the line for a single day, as he steadily refused to go to the hospital. In January, 1899, he was made first lieutenant, and in July of the same year was promoted to the rank of captain, and transferred to Company L, of which he was in command when he was mustered out of the ser- vice. Upon his return home from the war in 1890, he was nominated by his party, the Democratic, for the office of court clerk and recorder of the county, and at the ensuing election was chosen to the position by a majority of 840 votes, a striking evidence of the esteem in which he is held in the community, when it is remembered that his party was divided into two factions at that election.

In November, 1899, Capt. Greenan was married to Miss Bridget Dorian, a native of Wisconsin. They have one son, whom they have named De Wette, in honor of the brave and skillful Boer gen- eral of that name. The captain belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the only fraternal order in which he holds membership. He is well established in the confidence of his people and con- stantly growing in popularity.

OSEPH GRENIER is numbered among the -

prosperous and reliable farmers and stock- growers of Frenchtown valley, Missoula county, a locality given over almost entirely to people of French extraction, who have there formed a pro- gressive and harmonious community, reflecting credit upon those concerned and upon the state. Mr. Grenier is a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, born in 1849, the son of Joseph and Hen- riette (Carrier) Grenier, natives of the same prov- ince, and of stanch French lineage. The father is still living in Quebec at the venerable age of eighty years, he having devoted the greater portion of his active life to the carpenter's trade and to agri- cultural pursuits. The mother passed away from earth several years ago.

After receiving the educational advantages of the public and parochial schools of his native prov- ince, Joseph Grenier engaged in work on the old homestead for the greater portion of his minority, when he came to Montana and joined the French colony in Missoula county. He devoted his atten- tion to mining for two or three years, and in 1870 filed claim to his present ranch, which is most eligibly located one mile west of the village of Frenchtown. Here he now has 260 acres of rich and productive land, which yields large crops of grain and hay, while the owner devotes especial attention to the raising of cattle and sheep, having the best of facilities for conducting this industry and meeting with that success which is the just reward for his timely and effective efforts. He has made excellent improvements on his place, and is recognized as one of the substantial and reliable citizens of the community. In politics he sup- ports the Democratic party, and in religion he and his family are devout members of the Catholic church. In 1872 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Grenier and Miss Melanie Le Brun, who was born in Oregon of French parentage. They are the parents of six children, Joseph, George, Ed- ward, Charles, Moise and Louise.

CHARLES GRASS .- No section of the world has contributed to America an element of greater worth than has the German empire, and Mr. Grass has the distinction of being one of the sturdy sons of the Fatherland. He was born in Baden, Germany, on October 26, 1834, the elder of the two sons of John and Marion (Gweatley) Grass, both of whom were, as was also John Grass,

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Sr., the grandfather, born in Baden. At the age of twenty years, in 1854, Charles Grass, who had received excellent educational advantages in the government schools of Germany, where attend- ance is compulsory for eight years, emigrated to America, arriving at New Orleans, La., on May 4, 1854, thence proceeding up the Mississippi to St. Genevieve county, Mo., where he was engaged nearly two years in farming, when the gold excite- ment in California led him to that state.

He went to New York and voyaged thither ty the isthmus route, disembarking at San Francisco, thence proceeding to the mining districts, and there continuing his search for the precious metal for nine years, with varying success. Thereafter Mr. Grass traveled to Montana, stopping for six months in Idaho. While in Nevada, near Fort Lyon, he passed fifty Chinamen, and two days later these Mongolians were killed by the Indians, but the party with which Mr. Grass was connected passed in safety. He arrived in Helena, Mont., on November 24, 1866, making the final portion of the journey by stage coach. He. engaged in fairly successful mining in old Dry Gulch and also in Grizzly Gulch, until 1883, when he engaged in farming below the Flower-garden, later devoting his attention also to dairying, having purchased the Ellis property, in Lewis and Clarke county: Thus he continued until 1896, when he sold out and purchased the Langford ranch, located in Park county, about a mile and a half from the mouth of Shields river.

Here he has since been engaged in farming and cattleraising, having a fine property of 160 acres, of which seventy-five are under effective cultiva- tion, being thoroughly irrigated. He is known as a progressive and successful man, and is held in uniform confidence and esteem. In politics Mr. Grass is an independent, while he has in a fraternal way been identified with the Odd Fellows since 1866, having passed the chairs in the lodge, and also of the United Workmen, of which he became a member in 1882. On November 4, 1875, Mr. Grass was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hewitt, born in Pennsylvania, and they had six children, George, deceased ; Charles, Elmer, Ern- est, deceased, Mabel and Lillie. The devoted wife and mother was summoned into eternal rest on October 28, 1891, her death being deeply mourned by a wide circle of appreciative friends, to whom she had endeared herself by her gentle and kindly character.

D AVID GOLDBERG .- Prominent merchant, bank director and real estate owner of Butte, a man of travel and breadth of view, enjoying life as it comes because he has the elements of happi- ness in his well balanced and harmonious physical and mental organism, David Goldberg made a wise move when he emigrated to America, the land wherein he has found opportunity for the full and profitable exercise of his talents and the grati- fication of his cultivated tastes. He was born in Russia, on April 12, 1863. His father, Joseph Gold- berg, was a native of that country, and was there a prosperous landholder, merchant and distiller. His mother resides in Russia, her native country, the father dying there in 1876.

Mr. Goldberg was the oldest of five children. He attended the schools of Russia until he was sixteen, and then made his way to America, stop- ping for some years at Cleveland, Ohio, where he went to school and took private lessons at home. In his early manhood he took part in an uncle's large jewelry business, and was with him four years, then went into the same business in Cleve- land for himself, enlarging it from a small begin- ning until he had a wholesale as well as a retail trade. He sold out in 1883 and went to Salt Lake City, and after spending a short time there, re- moved to Butte in 1884, and started a jewelry store which he conducted with growing success until 1890, when he sold out and began investing in real estate in Butte, and also conducted a ticket brokerage. In both lines he achieved success by close application and intelligent attention to his business. But, whatever may have occupied his attention in a mercantile way, he has never closed his eyes to the advantages of the proper pleasures of life. In 1887 he made a trip to Europe, from which he derived so much advantage that he re- peated it in 1894 and again in 1897, this time tak- ing two years for his travels, and including in them an extended tour of the United States and Mexico as well as of Great Britain and the continent of Europe. His appetite for real estate grew and he was on the lookout everywhere for good deals. He bought good properties in Cleveland, and dis- posed of them at excellent profits. He also has valuable holdings in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and else- where.

But it is in Butte that he has done the most in real estate transactions, and made the most pro- nounced success. Conspicuous among his con- tributions to the architectural adornment of the

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town are the Goldberg building and offices, a five- story and basement block on Park and Academy streets, seventy-five feet by 106 in size, built by him at a cost of $150,000; the Jeffrey block on West Park street, near Main, also a four-story block of handsome proportions; the two-story block on East Park street adjoining the State Savings Bank; and the building he occupies on Main street. He has long been a stockholder and a director in the Silver Bow National Bank, and is connected in a leading way with other financial enterprises. In politics he leans to the Republican party.

Mr. Goldberg was married on March 12. 1890, to Miss Minnie Neuberger, a native of New York state. They have two children, Jeffrey, born in 1891, and Myron, born in 1894. Their home is the seat of a refined and generous hospitality, and a popular resort for their friends and acquaintances. In business and civic circles Mr. Goldberg is looked upon as a leading citizen.

CAMPBELL GILMER .- A veteran of both the Mexican and the Civil war, one who has been a resident of Montana over twenty years and who is venerated as one of the patriarchal citizens of Madison county, Mr. Gilmer was born near Greensburg, Green county, Ky., on June 7, 1826, the fourth in a family of eleven children, of whom eight are living. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Phillips) Gilmer, likewise natives of Kentucky, where the father was engaged in farming until 1833, removed to Missouri, becoming pioneers of that state, where Mr. Gilmer was a farmer until his death. Such educational advantages as were af- forded in the primitive schools of Missouri were taken by Campbell Gilmer, and here he was reared to maturity and engaged in farming. At the outbreak of the Mexican war Mr. Gilmer en- listed as a private in the First Missouri Cavalry, and went to the scene of conflict in Gen. Kearney's command. He was present at Santa Fe and joined in the memorable battle of Buena Vista, as well as numerous other engagements during his service of fourteen months, when he received an honorable discharge. In the Civil war his sym- pathies were with the Confederacy, and he became a private in Col. Wood's regiment of Gen. Price's command, with which he served nine months, when he was discharged by reason of seriously impaired health.

Mr. Gilmer resided in Missouri until 1880, when he came to Montana and located on his present ranch, which is on the Madison river, six miles from the village of Ennis. The place has an area of 220 acres, from which Mr. Gilmer secures ex- cellent yields of grain and hay. He also gives attention to the raising of cattle and horses. In politics he has supported the Democratic party for nearly half a century, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which both he and his wife are zealous and consistent members. On August 16, 1849, Mr. Gilmer was united in marriage to Miss Catharine D. Shannon, who was born in Kentucky, whence she removed with her parents to Missouri when twelve years of age. In 1899 occurred the golden wedding anni- versary of this devoted couple. Their mutual love and sympathy has sustained and strengthened them during their journey down the pathway of life. Of their union eleven children were born, as follows: Nancy J., born in 1850, became the wife of Capt. George M. Ewing, her death oc- curred in 1883; Elizabeth, born in 1856, became the wife of Robert Conway, and died in 1886; Emi- ly, born in 1857, is the wife of Robert Lyon, of Dickinson, N. D .; Elias, born in 1860, is a butcher at Norris, Mont .; John W., born in 1862, resides at Denver, Colo .; Mary D., born in 1863, is the wife of Frank Shriver, of Madison Valley ; William C., born in 1866, is associated with his father in the conducting of his ranch; Robert E., born in 1868, resides at home; Charles R., born in 1870, is a resident of Butte; George W., born in 1874, died when six months old, and Lena Kate, bori in 1875, is the wife of M. A. Switzer, of Madison Valley.

J JOHN F. GOETSCHIUS .- "Agriculture is the noblest of alchemy," says Chatfield, "for it turns earth and even refuse into gold, conferring upon its cultivator the additional reward of health." This old proverb has been proven true by the suc- cessful career of Mr. Goetschius, who is one of the representative ranch men of Madison county, where he has resided for a quarter of a century. His father was of German ancestry, but the family has long been identified with America. He was born in DeKalb county, Ind., on February 1, 1850, the fifth of the ten sons of Abram D. and Margaret (Sommers) Goetschius, the former of whom was born in New York and the latter in Pennsylvania.

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The father about 1830 removed to Indiana, and was one of the pioneers of the state, where he was a thrifty farmer. In the common schools of his native state his son John F. received educational discipline, following the usual life of the average farmer lad of the place and period, working on the homestead farm in the summer and in the winter attending school. Thus he continued to pass the years · until he was twenty-one, when he deter- mined to seek his fortune in the west.

Accordingly, in 1872, Mr. Goetschius came across the plains to Montana, which has ever since been his home and the scene of his industrious ef- forts. He located in the Ruby valley, in Madison county, in 1872, and two years later took up a tract of government land, which he later sold and pur- chased his present property. He has now a well- improved and arable ranch of 240 acres, the same being located two and a half miles south of the village of Laurin. The principal product is hay, of which he secures large annual crops and, from its sale, a satisfactory profit. In politics he has ever been a Democrat, and as a true citizen he takes interest in the well-being and advancement of his community and the state.

On December 15, 1858, Mr. Goetschius was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Whitmore, born in Wisconsin, the daughter of John Whit- more, a valiant soldier in the Union army of the Civil war, where he received a wound which event- ually caused his death. Mr. Goetschius and his wife are the parents of five children-Pearl C., who, completing her education in the State Nor- mal School at Dillon, has since been a very suc- cessful teacher ; Edith M., who also attended the normal school; J. Franklin and Grover C., who remain at the parental home, attending school; and Abram D., who died in 1897, at the age of twenty-eight months.

A P. GILLIES .- Of the expanding, harmoniz- ing, refining influences of extensive travel, and a large comparison of nations, climates and customs, acting upon a mind naturally strong and responsive, Archibald P. Gillies, ot Butte, furnishes a fine illustration. He was born in Canada on April 23, 1868, and in the one-third of a century which has passed since then he has been over nearly all of the globe that even a stroller cares to visit. He has heard and heeded the hoarse order

to embark for nine voyages across the Atlantic- has toured through all of Europe, and via the Suez canal, through India, China and Japan-has sailed around Africa from Mozambique on the eastern coast to the country of the Ashantees on the west- ern-has been over much of South America and Australia-has gone from coast to coast in the United States and visited the islands of the sea. In his wanderings he has seen the marvels of nature and the marvels of man-localities abound- ing in curious phenomena, and spots rich in his- toric associations-has gazed on the peaks of the Andes; the sulphurous flames of Kilauea; the porcelain towers of Canton ; the naked site of Troy, whose very ruins have vanished, leaving no monu- ment of her existence save in Homer's undying song ; and the pure skies, magnificent landscapes, awful canyons and inspiring battlegrounds in which our own green land rejoices.

Mr. Gillies is the offspring of a distinguished Scotch ancestry. The name Gillies means "sons of the Jesuit," although the family is an old Huguenot one which sought refuge from French persecution in Scotland at an early age. They owned extensive landed estates in Argyleshire and were among the most influential people in their section of the country, but these estates were lost through the murder of an heir by which they fell into the hands of a noted chief of the Campbells nicknamed "The Red Duke." But they were a bold, aggressive and resourceful people, who car- ried their vigorous qualities into every line of stir- ring activity, and wherever there was opportunity for manly self-assertion ; and the same spirit char- acterizes them to-day. The oldest church in Paris, called St. Gillies from their name, was built by some of them. Both grandfathers of our sub- ject were valiant soldiers in Wellington's army, and helped make the imperial eagles of France, which had once curveted proudly with the eagles of the Alps, go down in everlasting gloom and de- feat at Waterloo. His uncle, Hon. Duncan Gil- lies, for ten years prime minister of New South Wales, Australia, is president of the new Pacific Cable Company, which is about to lay a wire be- tween that country and Vancouver, British Colum- bia. His father, Neil Gillies, was born in the Scottish Highlands in 1819, emigrated to America, had a long, creditable and eminently successful career as a ship-builder, farmer, general contractor and politician, and died full of years and of honors in Canada in 1891. He built and owned the Gillies

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Opera House and the large wholesale houses on Gillies street in Kansas City, and also the town of Gillies in Nevada. In his young manhood he was married to Grace Paterson, mother of our subject, and daughter of John Paterson of Scottish High- land descent, a renowned ship-builder, a soldier at Waterloo as has been noted, and founder of the great manufacturing city of Paterson, N. J.

Mr. Gillies attended good district schools in Canada, and an excellent high school from which he was graduated in 1879. After his graduation he taught the model school connected therewith for a few months, and then pursued the study of art until he secured the degree of A. B. In 1883 he entered the service of the Dominion government as deputy postoffice inspector, and served in that capacity five years. During that time the oil busi- ness was engaging much of the commercial talent of the states near him, and believing it offered good opportunities for him, he started a broker- age in the unctuous fluid, handling both the illum- inating and the lubricating products of the rich fields in the states, enlarging his operations until he had an office in New York, and later one in Chicago, where he took charge of the western agency of the Kendall Manufacturing Company of Providence, R. I. In behalf of this agency he went on the road and made a very successful can- vass of all the Pacific coast territory. In 1896 he located in Montana, with headquarters at Butte, and began large operations in contracting and building throughout the state. He also engaged in mining, being the discoverer of stucco as a mineral deposit, which was at that time a new one in Montana. He did quartz mining also, and is now (1901) developing some promising coal mines in this state and Wyoming. In addition to these various enterprises, he has dealt extensively in timber limits and logging. While his commercial operations have been conducted on a large scale, they have been governed by prudence, good judg- ment and superior business sense, and have brought their logical result in large returns of money, reputation and public confidence and esteem.

Mr. Gillies is a member of the Order of Modern Woodmen of America, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In the latter he has served several terms as master workman. In 1900 he organized in Butte a castle of Royal Highlanders, of which he has been the secretary from the begin- ning. In politics he is a Republican, but is not an

active partisan. Mr. Gillies was married on Sep- tember 13, 1901, at Great Falls, to Miss Laura E. Smith, of Helena, the daughter of William and Catherine (Williams) Smith, pioneers of Helena, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Holyhead, Wales. After a long and useful life Mr. Smith passed away, and since then Mrs. Smith has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Gillies, who has been identified with social life in Helena in a leading way, has an excellent record as a graduate of the schools of this city.

JOHN E. GUNSTINE is one of the prosper- ous and prominent stockgrowers of Park coun- ty, his well improved ranch being located on the Shields river, seven miles from its mouth, while his postoffice address is Livingston. In the ag- natic line Mr. Gunstine traces his lineage back to stanch old Scotch-Irish stock, as his grandfather, John Gunstine, was born in the north of Ireland while his wife is a native of Pennsylvania. He early emigrated to the United States and became a pioneer farmer of Jefferson county, Ohio, after a previous residence in Pennsylvania, where, in Pittsburg, was born his son Lemuel, who married Elizabeth Watt, a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, and had a family of three sons and one daughter, John E. being the second child. Lemuel Gun- stine removed to the vicinity of Winterset, Madi- son county, Iowa, in 1862, where he was engaged in farming until 1869, when he removed to Storm Lake and passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1885, his wife having passed away in 1883.

John E. Gunstine passed his youth in Ohio, re- ceiving his education in the public schools and a private educational institution. He taught one term of school at Storm Lake, Iowa, after which he engaged in farming until 1883, when he deter- mined to cast in his lot with Montana, and arrived at Livingston on March 9, 1883. He immediately filed a homestead claim on 160 acres of his present ranch, and he added by purchase until he had 480 acres, but he presented 160 acres to his daughter, so that he now owns 320 acres. He has made a specialty of the raising of cattle with excellent suc- cess and he usually winters about 100 head. Mr. Gunstine is unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party, and as its candidate he was elected a member of the county board of commis-

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sioners in 1892, serving in this important office for the full term of four years.

He has also done effective work in the office of road supervisor, while his interest in education is constant and vital, this fact being recognized by the people who retained him in the office of school clerk for sixteen years. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, and is treasurer of his lodge. On July 3, 1873, Mr. Gunstine married Miss Elizabeth Kirkland, born in Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Andrew Kirkland, of Scotch-Irish extraction, who is now engaged in agriculture in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Gunstine have one daughter, Grace, now the wife of Lester E. Cozad, a successful young ranchman on the Shields river.

J JAMES GILLELAND .- While the population of the great American republic is quite cos- mopolite in character, there has nevertheless been developed an essentially American type. All parts of the civilized world have contributed to its citi- zenship, and not the least can be mentioned the sturdy sons and daughters of the Emerald Isle. Among those who have become identified with the industrial life of Montana and attained a due meas- ure of success through the benefices she offers to those who are willing to make definite effort is Mr. Gilleland; one of the representative ranchmen and prominent citizens of Gallatin county, his fine ranch property being located two and one-half miles south of Hyde, his postoffice address. Mr. Gilleland was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on October 4, 1849, the son of James and Martha (English) Gilleland, natives of the same county and who passed their entire lives in the old coun- try. There the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1852. He was twice married, and was the father of three children by his first wife; the subject of this sketch was the only child of the second marriage. James Gille- land remained on the old homestead until he had attained the age of seventeen years, and obtained such educational advantages as were afforded by the public schools of his native county. In 1866 he left home and started for America. He passed the first winter in the city of New York and then removed to New Jersey, where he served an ap- prenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and worked at it for six years, or until 1873, when he located in Missouri and there followed his trade for four

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 131

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