Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 138

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 138

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In politics Mr. Leggat is an unwavering Demo- crat, and is known throughout the state as one of its most able and resourceful politicians and party workers, but has never consented to accept office. For many years he has been known as the "War- wick" or "delegate maker" in his section of the state, and has been the real directing force in many a hot campaign. As a political fighter he is game and unrelenting, true to his friends as the needle to the pole, and to his opponents mer- ciless as long as they oppose him. For thirty- five years he has never failed to be a delegate to the territorial and state conventions in Montana. During the Civil war he was active in raising volun- teers for the Union army in the lumber districts of Michigan.

In 1891, at Bozeman, he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Black, a native of Indiana and daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of that state. They have one child, a son named Stewart, seven years old. In all his business enterprises Mr. Leggat has been eminently successful, but he has well deserved his success, having achieved it by his own efforts and native abilities. The latter are of

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a high order and would have brought him success and distinction in any environment, he being one of the masterful spirits who command circum- stances to their uses and make conditions their will- ing servitors.

P ETER LEVENGOOD, a popular and pros- perous ranchman near Anaconda, was born in Pendleton county, Ky., December 17, 1832. His father, also named Peter, was born in Pennsyl- vania, and grew up in that old state, but migrated to Kentucky when quite a young man, making the trip on a flat boat. On his arrival he lived for a time in a fort near where the city of Lex- ington now stands. This precaution was necessary because of the hostility of the Indians who were numerous in that locality. He married Cathar- ine Orr, daughter of a family of old settlers in Kentucky, and became the parents of seven chil- dren, Peter being the fourth. The school facilities of that early day were somewhat primitive, but such as they were he had full benefit of them. It was the custom of the district to take up a subscription among the residents for enough to pay a teacher for the winter months, the boys and girls working on the farms during the summer. The beneficiaries of these subscription schools had good times, to which they now look back with many pleasurable emotions. Out of them came not only the bone and sinew which built up the country, but from time to time, some live spark from the altar of genius-a prophet and leader among men, who gave distinction to his neighborhood and reflected credit on his training and sturdy associates.

In 1859 Mr. Levengood removed from Kentucky to Scotland county, Mo., and three years later to VanBuren county, Iowa. In the spring of 1864, longing for the frontier again, he started with a train of ox teams for Montana, coming by the north side of the Platte river, and reaching Vir- ginia City via the Bridger route, encountering many dangers from hostile Indians, who fired upon the party at times, and enduring the many hard- ships incident to such a trip. He divided his first year in the territory between mining and running a sawmill in Ruby valley. In June, 1865, he re- moved to Silver Bow and mined there and in French gulch. He settled upon the ranch on which he now lives August 8, 1867. His wife, who was Elizabeth McPherson, of Covington, Ky.,

did not accompany him in his wanderings. After his locating in Montana she went to St. Louis and April 14 took passage on a steamboat for Fort Benton, where she arrived July I and was met by her husband. They have seven children, all grown and married. Mr. Levengood's ranch annually produces large crops of hay, his staple product. The property was formerly a cattle ranch, and for years was the stage station on the cable road. It now consists of 740 acres and is in a high state of cultivation. The owner has seen the surround- ing country transformed from the wilderness to its present state of fruitfulness and beauty. He witnessed the very start of the city of Anaconda, and has observed with interest its subsequent growth and progress. All his family are mem- bers of the Church of the Disciples. In politics he is a Democrat, ardently desirous of the success of his party, but taking no active part in its man- agement. He has never held office, and would not accept one if it were offered. He is recognized as one of the most substantial and useful citizens of his locality.

T THOMAS LAVELL .- Push and pluck will tell in the battle of life wherever it is exercised, and scarcely any environment is sufficiently unfavorable to keep it down. This is strikingly illustrated in the career of Thomas Lavell, of Butte, who was born near Ottawa, Canada, December 14, 1853. His parents were Thomas and Bridget {Clifford) Lavell, natives of Ireland, who came to America when they were young and settled in the province of Quebec, Canada, where the father was successfully engaged in farming until his death in 1872. His widow survived him twenty-five years, dying at her Canadian home in 1897.

Mr. Lavell was educated in the schools of Ot- tawa, remaining at home until he was twenty years of age, assisting on the farm. In 1874 he came to Montana and, locating at Pioneer, then in Deer Lodge county, passed two years in the lumber busi- ness. In 1876 he and his brother Jeffrey settled at Butte and bought out the firm of Murphy, Roach & Co., lumber dealers, and successfully conducted the business until 1895. In 1885 they bought the Butte Transfer Company's business of Warfield & Hauser, with headquarters at 122 East Park street; and from that time Thomas had charge of the transfer business and his brother of the lumber business until the latter was sold in

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1895. Then Jeffrey moved to Oregon, and Thomas continued to conduct the transfer business, in which he is still engaged, having now the most extensive enterprises of its kind in the state. In all his business transactions Mr. Lavell has been prosperous. He has accumulated valuable busi- ness and residence property in Butte, and is inter- ested in some rich mines in the vicinity of the city.

In politics he is an ardent Democrat, but is not an active partisan or ambitious for official station. Fraternally he is connected with Silver Bow Lodge of Elks. He was married at Wood river, Idaho, in October, 1886, to Miss Malissa C. Black, a native of Missouri, whose parents were among the early settlers of that state. Five children have blessed their union: Thomas Eugene, aged four- teen ; Agnes Cecilia, eleven ; Charles Francis, nine ; William Bryan, four; and Marie, two years. Mr. Lavell is a good representative citizen and a fine example of the prosperous Montanian who has hewed out his own success in the state. His busi- ness is profitable, his standing in public affairs is deservedly high, his social position is assured and his family is interesting.

OLOMON I. LEVY .- So great and so far- S reaching was the excitement occasioned by the discovery of gold in California in 1848, that every civilized country was represented in the crowds who flocked to the coast of the Pacific. Even hapless Poland made her contribution to "The Forty-niners," a band of hardy, determined men who "crossed the plains" in 1849, heroically brav- ing privation, danger and death in the hope of securing a goodly store of the royal metal. Among this adventurous number was Samuel Levy, who, with his wife, Eva (Newfield) Levy, turned eagerly from the dying agonies of his stricken Poland to the rising hopes of the New World. He began his new career in San Francisco as a merchant, was attentive to business, industrious, thrifty and careful and prospered in his venture for nearly a third of a century, until he died in 1880.

There in the city of his adoption his son, Solomon Levy, was born on March 17, 1854, and there he grew to manhood, attending the public schools and finishing his education at a good commercial college. After leaving this college he worked or pleasured as the humor seized him until after the deatlı of his father, when he settled down to regu-

lar employment in the candy factory of Hass & Gruenhagen, of San Francisco, having previously learned the mechanical part of the business. He remained with this firm eleven years and then went to Plumas county and obtained employment with Cohn & Levy, in a general store, and here he remained two years and a half. From there he went to Woodland in Yolo county, Cal., and worked for a year for A. Marks & Co. in general mer- chandising. Tiring of this, he returned to his old home at San Francisco, but a few months later started in a new direction and arrived at Butte, Mont., about 1883. That town has been his home ever since. He has grown with its growth, and taken part in its affairs, especially as a conserva- tor of the peace, in a way that has made him one of its recognized institutions. In 1897 and '98 he was city jailor under Mayor Harrington, in 1900 deputy sheriff and special officer for the Mon- tana state base ball league, and again in 1901 city jailor of Butte.

He has always taken an active part in political affairs and is well known as one of the workers in Democratic ranks. He is an active and zealous member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows in both the lodge and the encampment and has held high offices in them. Mr. Levy was mar- ried in 1887 to Miss Nellie O'Dell, a daughter of John H. O'Dell, of Canada. They have two children, David V. (who died) and Annetta Whit- ford. Mr. Levy has performed his offcial duties with fidelity and fairness and in private affairs he has been square and upright and liberal in his dealings. All who know him respect him as a solid, serviceable citizen of integrity, of high char- acter and of an obliging and genial disposition.

TRA A. LEIGHTON, M. D., one of the repre- sentative members of the medical profession in Montana, has his residence and central field of endeavor in Boulder, Jefferson county, where he is successfully engaged as a physician and a sur- geon. The Doctor is a native of Maine, having been born in Pittsfield, on March 8, 1859, the son of Ira and Eunice (Tibbetts) Leighton, both of whom were born and reared in Maine, where the father was a farmer. Dr. Leighton secured his preliminary education in the public schools and Westbrook Seminary, where he was fitted for college and graduated in 1880, thereafter contin-

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uing his studies for one year in Bates College, at Lewiston, Me. He was next engaged in selling books in Illinois for about a year, after which he went to Ann Arbor, Mich., continuing his studies in the literary department of the University of Mich- igan for about six months, when he matriculated in the medical department and, after completing the prescribed course, being graduated with the class of 1885 and receiving his degree of M. D. His standing as a student and the proficiency he had attained are indicated by the fact that he was chosen out of a class of nearly seventy members to act as assistant to the professor of surgery in the university, and he remained in this capacity until his graduation, which occurred on June 25, 1885.

Having a brother in Boulder, Mont., he was persuaded to come to that city and establish him- self there as a physician. He arrived in Boulder on July 2, 1885, and here he has secured a prac- tice of representative character. The Doctor has held important professional positions, serving for about nine years as county physician, and as local surgeon for the Northern Pacific and also for the Great Northern, which positions he still holds, having been their incumbent for eight years. In addition he is medical examiner for the New York Life, the Equitable, the Mutual Life, the Bankers' Life of Des Moines, the Masonic Benefit Associ- ation and other insurance companies, besides of- ficiating in a similar capacity for the United Work- men, the Order of Pendo and the Foresters. He has also been physician at Boulder Hot Springs since 1885. Fraternally the Doctor is identified with the Masonic order and the Elks, in the lat- ter belonging to Silver Bow Lodge No. 240, at Butte. On December 29, 1886, Dr. Leighton wedded Miss Cora M. Hartell, born in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Jacob and Susan Hart- ell. Dr. and Mrs. Leighton occupy a prominent position in social circles, enjoying an unmistakable popularity.

AMES M. LEWIS .- The grand educational system in this country is the sheet-anchor on which the ship of state relies with hope and con- fidence. And no class of public servants through- out the land contribute more essentially and di- rectly to the common weal than those who con- trol and conduct the schools. They stand at the very fountain-head of public sentiment in its forma-

tive period, and thus have the best opportunity to give trend and tendency to its expression. Prof. James M. Lewis, deputy state superintendent of public instruction, is one of the most forceful, fer- tile, diligent and studious of the captains who con- mand the army of educators for the state of Mon- tana. He is a native of the little town of Marion Centre, Pa., where he was born June 6, 1863. His parents were David and Elizabeth (Griffith) Lewis, natives of the Keystone state, and is the sixth of their twelve children. His father was a much esteemed horticulturist and gardener, whose grounds, nurseries and greenhouses proclaimed him as a man of skill, culture and taste in his business. In his childhood Prof. Lewis removed with his parents to Illinois, and attended the pub- lic schools at Albany and Mineral Springs, finish- ing his course at the Albany high school, and later securing some needed special training at the North- ern Illinois State Normal School and a good busi- ness college. " During the vacations between terms he earned the necessary means of defraying his school expenses by teaching in the public schools around him. This business he continued as a regular occupation for a year in Illinois, after leaving school, and then removed to Kansas, lo- cating in Sherman county, where he took up homestead and timber claims. These he worked during the summer and taught school in the win- ter months. Some of his land is now part of the townsite of Edson, that county. From there he went to St. Paul, Neb., remaining a year in the interests of the O. E. Williams Publishing Com- pany, at Topeka, Kan. He then taught school at the famous Thunder Point, and one term at the Baliman school near that place. In March, 1892, lie came to Montana, settling at Columbia Falls, where he was principal of the schools for nearly six years, in the meantime studying law and conducting a profitable insurance business. From Columbia Falls he removed to Walkerville, a short distance north of Butte, and engaged in collecting, but continued his law studies with an office in Butte. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1898, and was at once appointed justice of the peace at Walkerville to fill a vacancy, and at the next general election was elected to the position for a full term. He discharged the duties of the office with general satisfaction to the com- munity at large, meanwhile practicing law as there was occasion. Before the expiration of his term he was appointed to the position of deputy super-

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intendent of public instruction for the state, an office which he now fills (1901) with credit to himself and advantage to the schools. He took up his residence in Helena in January, 1901, hav- ing a home of his own in the city, as well as two in Butte.

Although originally a Republican, since com- ing to Montana he has affiliated with the People's party, and was elected on the ticket of that party to the office of justice of the peace. He was the nominee of that organization for representative from Flathead county in 1896, but was not elected. In 1900 he was nominated by the People's party for the office of state superintendent and was en- dorsed by the Democrats ; but for reasons which seemed to him good and sufficient he withdrew from the ticket. In fraternal relations he belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America. In the last he is a charter member of his lodge. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist church.

Prof. Lewis was married August 9, 1888, at Ed- son, Kan., to Miss Nora Harris, a daughter of Albert and Laura Harris. Her father is a pros- perous farmer, and she was a classmate of Mr. Lewis at school and a graduate of the same in- stitution. They have two children : Inez L., twelve years old, and Duane K., ten. In con- nection with the accomplished and energetic chief of the department in which he is laboring for the common good, Prof. Lewis is doing excellent work in raising the standard and increasing the efficiency of the schools, elevating the morale, unifying the efforts of the teaching corps and broadening and intensifying public sentiment in behalf of the en- tire school system.

B ERT LISH, the subject of the following bio- graphical sketch, is a young man whose suc- cess in the cattle business in Montana is indeed noteworthy. His present residence is at Ovando, Powell county, where he has a fine ranch in the Cottonwood valley.

He is a westerner by birth, having first seen the light of day in Riverside, Cal., in 1872. He is a brother of Mrs. Frank Nelson and Mrs. Slocum, sketches of whom appear in another portion of this work, together with the ancestry of Mr. Lish. In 1872, at the age of six years, young Lish left

the Golden state in company with his father and the family. The entire force made quite a large party and they traveled with ox teams through Ari- zona, Nevada and Utah. In the latter territory the family lived for some time, but again took up the line of march and journeyed through Idaho. They encountered many stirring events during their prolonged pilgrimage, passed through quite a number of exciting experiences and finally lo- cated in Missoula county, Mont. It might be said that Mr. Lish was practically raised in Mis- soula county, where he received a common school education in the schools of that locality. In 1900 he came to his present residence in Powell county, at that period known as Deer Lodge, and is most comfortably situated upon a splendid cattle ranch and surrounded with all the conveniences for a suc- cessful prosecution of the business in which he has already achieved considerable prosperity. The property includes 240 acres, and he devotes his attention to the raising of cattle, horses, hay, etc. Although a young man Mr. Lish has had varied and practical experience in the business of farm- ing and stockraising, and his success will war- rant its pursuit as a life occupation. Mr. Lish was married to Miss Elsie Woodman, a native of Missoula, Mont. To them have been born two children, Ethel Irene and Elsa Edna Lish.

OHN F. LOCKE .- One of the extensive farm- ers and stockgrowers of Park county, where he is recognized as a representative man, Mr. Locke has conducted operations with signal dis- cretion and ability, and his success has been a due reward for his well directed efforts. He was born in Morgan county, Ky., on October 16, 1847, the son of James A. and Malinda A. (Buchanan) Locke, natives of South Carolina and West Vir- ginia. In the early 'fifties James A. Locke re- moved to Illinois, where he carried on farming two years, after which he continued this pursuit in Iowa for seven years, after which he resided in Bourbon county, Kan., for two years, then, in 1858. disposing of his interests he returned to Iowa and remained until 1890, when he located in Nebraska, where he died on September 12, 1900, at the ven- erable age of eighty-two years. His wife passed away while they were residing in Iowa.

John F. Locke continued his studies in the schools of Iowa until he was nineteen, when he

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learned the milling trade in Prairie City, to which he gave his time for about fourteen years. He then journeyed to Montana, making the trip over- land from Cheyenne, Wyo. The party was sev- eral times the object of Indian bullets, but no injury resulted. Mr. Locke arrived at the Crow agency in December, 1873, and after remaining there until spring, was thereafter a prospector for about three years, during this time sinking the first hole on the Hidden Treasure property, secur- ing excellent prospects, but not being able to de- velop them, as the property was on the Crow reservation. After his mining experience Mr. Locke located at Bozeman, where he was engaged in milling for two years, and then took up freight- ing, to which he devoted his attention until 1882, then securing the contract for teaming and re- moving the dirt from the Bozeman tunnel, being associated in this with John F. Work. They realized excellent profits and after the completion of their contract continued their partnership alli- ance, taking up land on the Yellowstone river in the vicinity of Elton, Park county, the ranch prop- erty now comprising about 1,500 acres. Mr. Work sold his interests in 1893 to Kermode & Davis, the former of whom purchased Davis's interests in 1900, so that in about 600 acres Mr. Locke has now joint ownership with William R. Kermode, to whom individual reference is made on other pages of this work.

At one time Mr. Locke gave especial attention to the raising of cattle and horses, having had fully 600 cattle and 300 horses, but of late he has changed to the raising of sheep, relegating the other lines to a secondary position. He is very enthusiastic concerning sheepgrowing, is giv- ing the industry a careful study, his bands of sheep varying from 3,000 to 10,000 head, while at the time of this writing he has on his ranch more than 6,000 head. He also raises large crops of hay and alfalfa, having a system- atic irrigation system by which an adequate supply of water may be placed on all the bottom land of his ranch. This is brought from Mission creek by a ditch four and one-half miles in length, which carries 1,250 inches. Mr. Locke is a loyal Republican and, while not an aspirant for office, he has served for many years as school trustee and maintains a deep interest in edu- cational work and all that tends to advance the community. He is identified with ancient-craft Masonry, having taken the master's degree. On

October 2, 1881, Mr. Locke was united in mar- riage to Miss Fidelia A. Stone, born in Cali- fornia, the daughter of Richard M. and Ellen (Hayes) Stone, natives of Virginia and Indiana, and who are now residents of Bruneau valley, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Locke have six children, Jerome G., a student in the State University at Bozeman; Roneta, attending the Livingston high school, and Irene, Herbert, Leoda and Esther, all students of the Livingston public schools.

A NDREW LOGAN .- Practical industry wisely and vigorously applied never fails of success, for the greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense and perseverance. The every-day life, with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunity for the acquiring of ex- perience of the best kind. In this field of daily ac- tivity Mr. Logan has won success, having a deep appreciation of the dignity of honest toil, and through this medium he has won a place among the representative business men of the city of Mis- soula, of which he served as mayor from Novem- ber, 1900, to May, 1901, while he still devotes his attention to his sturdy trade as a blacksmith. He has been honored with public offices of local dis- tinction, has marked precedence in several frater- nal orders, and is peculiarly worthy of consider- ation in this work. In the beautiful city of Troy, N. Y., on the picturesque old Hudson river, An- drew Logan was born on March 14, 1856, the son of William A. and Jane R. (Ferguson) Logan, natives of Ireland and Scotland. The father emi- grated to the United States when seventeen years of age, and soon after his arrival located in Troy. where he passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1888. There was solemnized his marriage to Miss Jane Ferguson, and of their children three sons and three daughters are still living, of whom An- drew and his brother, William J., and sister, Mar- gurett, are residents of Missoula.

Andrew Logan in his native city and in its public schools secured an excellent educational training prior to taking up the active duties of life, which he did by learning the blacksmith trade, to which he has ever since devoted his attention. In 1877, when he attained his legal majority, he left Troy and came to Bismarck, N. D., where

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he was employed at his trade on the steamboats running on the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. In the following year he came to Missoula, of which he may be justly termed a pioneer. After working for a time at his trade in an individual way, he was in the employ of the government at Fort Missoula for four years, but in 1882 he returned to Missoula city, where he opened a blacksmith shop, which he has conducted consecu- tively to the present time, also doing carriage and wagon work in connection. His high work- manship and personal popularity have secured and retained to him a representative patroil- age, and the enterprise has been successful from the start.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 138

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