Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 144

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 144

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In political affiliation Mr. Maynard is an ardent Democrat. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, being a valued member of Belvi- dere, Ill., Lodge No. 60. On the 3d day of Sep- tember, 1900, he suffered a great bereavement in the death of his mother, who was then summoned into eternal rest. In his new home Mr. Maynard is rapidly gaining ground, both professionally and in a personal way, being a desired addition to every social circle, and having a potential influence in regard to all matters of public interest.

H ENRY W. MARTIN, one of the forceful, energetic business men of Powell county, Mont., has attained success and prominence dur- ing his twenty-one years' residence in state and territory, his superior business ability, sound judgment, enterprise and mechanical skill hav-

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ing served to place him in the front rank of prominent Montanians. He was born in England in 1860, the son of Edward W. and Mary A. (Mor- · ris) Martin; the father a native of England, com- ing to the United States in the spring of 1863 and locating in Waukesha county, Wis., where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1896. He was a coal miner by occupation. His wife, the mother of our subject, was born in Wales, and was married to Edward Martin in England in 1856. She survives her husband and is now living at the family home in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1880 Henry W. decided to leave home and seek his fortune in the rapidly develop- ing northwest, his objective point being Mon- tana. On his arrival he turned his hand to what- ever he could find to do in the way of pushing onward. He drove freight teams, worked on rail- roads in various parts of the territory and Dakota, and at other occupations calculated to advance his temporal interests. By trade he is a stationary engineer, and has engaged in that line principally in the great mines of Montana. He thoroughly understands machinery and installed the huge plant in one of the big mines at Coloma. At present he is located on a most eligible stock ranch of 360 acres near Sunset, Powell county, settling there soon after the admission of Montana into the Union. He has been very successful and built up a magnificent business.

Mr. Martin has been twice married, first to Miss Ella Warner in July, 1891, a native of Mon- tana, much beloved by all who knew her. She was a daughter of W. O. Warner, one of Mon- tana's distinguished citizens. She died March 24, 1899. His present wife is Etta (Sanders) Martin, born in Iowa. She is the present postmistress of Sunset postoffice. By his first wife there were two children, Cora and Mabel. Politically Mr. Martin affiliates with the Democratic party. So- cially the family number a wide circle of friends throughout the county of Powell and are highly es- teemed by all.

JAMES J. MAYNE .- For the development of the great American northwest every country on the globe has been laid under tribute, and sturdy old England has sent her full quota. Among the valued and serviceable men of that quota is James J. Mayne, who was born in Corn-

wall county, April 14, 1844, where he lived and at- tended school until he was eighteen years old. In 1862 he came to America, landing at Montreal, Canada, and from there went to Lake Superior, on the United States' side, and secured employment from the government as commissary at a fort temporarily established to guard against depreda- tions by the Indians. In the winter of 1862-3 he worked in the copper mine known as the Calumet, in Houghton county, Mich. After ten months of service there he started on an extensive tour, going to New York, Cuba, Central America and Cali- fornia, for the purpose of finding a desirable place in which to follow farming. In 1863 he located in the celebrated Grass valley in California, and there worked in the Blue Lead placer mines for awhile. He then became interested in a quartz mill, which he worked with moderate success. In 1865 he removed to Virginia City, Nev., where he engaged in mining on the Comstock lode for four months at $4.00 per day. In the winter of 1865-6 he came to Last Chance gulch, Mont., where he bought a half interest in each of two claims, No. 12 and No. 13, paying therefor $800. The venture proved successful for a time, but worked out within a short time, and he then aban- doned the claims. In the fall of 1866 he went to Cave gulch to purchase claims, and reached that point in time to witness the shooting affair over jumped claims in which six men were killed. Fail- ing to find suitable ground under peaceful con- ditions there he went to Big Bend on the Salmon river, led thither by the gold excitement then pre- vailing in that neighborhood. There he resumed placer mining and engaged in other enterprises. He erected the first hotel in the camp and opened the first diggings on Napias creek. Ten months later, after an unprofitable experience in Idaho, he returned to Helena and resumed his mining oper- ations, continuing them at New York gulch until 1869. At that time, with a capital of $5,000, he abandoned mining and went into stockraising in the American Bottom, now known as Lake Sew- ell. In this enterprise he was most successful and continued to carry on a profitable and expand- ing business for a period of thirty years, when he retired and took up his residence in Helena, where he is now enjoying the fruits of a well spent life, secure in the respect and cordial regard of all who have the pleasure of knowing him. This was in 1899, but since that time he has sold out his vast interests.

U.S. Matthew

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

In politics Mr. Mayne is a stanch Republican ; in religious affiliation he is connected with the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows, both lodge and encampment ; the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. In the last he is a charter member of the first lodge organ- ized in Wickes, Mont. In public office he served his people long and well. For twelve years he was justice of the peace at Avalanche in Meagher county, and was the first assessor elected in that county. Mr. Mayne was the tenth of fifteen chil- dren born to his parents, Joseph and Priscilla (Jew- ell) Mayne. The father died in 1851 at the age of fifty-three and the mother in 1882 at the age of seventy-nine. They left twelve children surviving them, of whom nine are still living. Both par- ents were natives of England, and spent their whole lives in that country. They were men- bers of the Episcopal church, and prosperous as farmers.

In 1880 Mr. Mayne was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Johnson. Two children have blessed their union, namely : Mary Matilda, deceased, and James Jewell, who is still living. Mrs. Mayne's parents were Peter A. and Mary Johnson, mem- bers of the Episcopal church, of which she is also a communicant. Mr. Mayne considers his life a successful one because of the pleasures it enables him now to enjoy and of the good will his neigh- bors and acquaintances manifest toward him. In his opinion Montana is the fairest of the states, giving opportunity to all and ample reward for zealous and conscientious labor in every field of enterprise.

W TINFIELD S. MATTHEW .- More than three decades have passed since Mr. Matthew be- came identified with the industrial activities of Gallatin county, Mont., and thus is entitled to con- sideration as one of the pioneers of the state. As a citizen his course has been such as to establish for him a reputation as a capable and progressive farmer and business man, and well worthy of ut- most confidence and esteem. He served with sig- nal loyalty and valor in the Union ranks during the Civil war and is deserving of honor as one of the veterans of that great internecine conflict. His finely improved and attractive ranch property is located three miles northwest of Bozeman, which is his postoffice address.

Winfield Scott Matthew is a native of the state of Indiana, having been born in Washington coun- ty, February 27, 1848. His father, Thomas Mat- thew, was born in Virginia, a worthy representa- tive of one of the most prominent families of the Old Dominion. When a young man he removed to the Hoosier state, where he established himself in agricultural pursuits, to which he devoted his attention until his death, which occurred in 1880, at which time he had attained the venerable age of eighty years. He was one of the pioneers of Indiana, and there developed a valuable farm. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Melinda Case, also a native of Virginia ; her death occurred on the old Indiana homestead in 1852. Winfield S. Matthew was reared to farm life, wax- ing vigorous in mind and body under the sturdy discipline. His educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools in the vi- cinity of his home. He was a mere boy at the time when the dark cloud of civil war cast its pall over the national horizon, but his intrinsic patri- otism was thoroughly quickened. On the 16th of December, 1863, when not yet sixteen years of age, he enlisted as a member of Company B, Thir- teenth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Col. Johnson. It should be mentioned in this connection that three of his brothers also did gal- lant service in the Union ranks. Mr. Matthew was mustered in at Camp Noble, and thereafter ac- companied his regiment to Indianapolis, where they remained a fortnight, after which they were sent to Nashville, Tenn .; thence to Huntsville, Ala., where they were assigned to garrison duty for several months. The regiment then returned to Nashville, participating in the memorable bat- tle at that point, after which they proceeded to the city of New Orleans, and one week later to Mobile, Ala., taking part in the capture of Forts Spanish and Blakely. They then proceeded to Columbus, Miss., where they were stationed during the sum- mer of 1865, and on the 18th of November of that year our subject received his honorable discharge at Vicksburg, being mustered out as corporal of his company. Victory having thus crowned the Union arms, the youthful veteran returned to his home in Indiana, where he remained until the fall of 1867, when he enlisted in Company K, of the Thirtieth United States Regulars, with which he was sent to the west to assist in fighting the in- subordinate Indians. No serious engagements were had during his term of service, and he was

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discharged in the spring of 1869. Within the ear- ly part of the succeeding year Mr. Matthew started for Montana, embarking at Kansas City, on the steamer Viola Belle, for the voyage up the Missouri river to Fort Benton, where he arrived in due course of time. From that place he soon afterward went to Gallatin valley, where he turned his attention to farming, ultimately becoming associated with his brother, John T. Matthew, in the purchase of a tract of 160 acres from Henry and David Davis. The brothers thereafter con- tinued to be successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on their ranch for a period of four years, after which they sold out, and our subject returned to Indiana. That he had a definite object in view is evident when we make record of the fact that on the 5th of April, 1877, he was there united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Vellam, who was born in that state, the daughter of John and Sophronia Vellam, both of whom are now deceased, the father having followed his trade of cabinetmaking in Indiana until the time of his demise. Mr. Mat- thew returned with his bride to Gallatin county, and here were born their ten children, whose names, in order of birth, are as follows: Rose, Melinda, Violet, Florence, Clarence, Gertrude, Herman, Hollis, Emmet and Clement.

Upon his return to Montana Mr. Matthew pur- chased another ranch property in the Gallatin val- ley, one of the most favored sections of the state, and here he now has a valuable estate of 320 acres, under most effective irrigation and improved with a fine brick residence and other well-designed buildings required for the successful work of the farm. The homestead is located three and one- half miles northwest of the city of Bozeman, as has been previously noted. Mr. Matthew devotes his attention principally to the raising of oats, barley and hay, in which lines prolific yields are secured. He is thoroughly progressive and pub- lic-spirited, and is recognized as one of the repre- sentative men of the community, having ever con- tributed his quota toward its advancement and material prosperity. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is at the pres- ent time a member of the board of school trustees, in which capacity he has served with marked ef- ficiency and definite interest for a number of years. Fraternally he keeps alive his interest in and fel- lowship with his old comrades in arms by retaining membership in William English Post No. 10, G. A. R., at Bozeman.

JAMES MAULDIN .- The life of Mr. Mauldin has been replete with "ceaseless toil and en- deavor," and his career has been a rather unevent- ful one, but his energy and progressive spirit have enabled him to successfully conduct enterprises of importance and to obtain a worthy success. He is one of the pioneers of Montana, has been prom- inently identified with her productive industries and has contributed to the advancement and ma- terial prosperity of the commonwealth, while his course has ever been such as to retain the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow-men.

James Mauldin is a native of the state of Mary- land, where he was born on July 2, 1832, the eldest of the six children of John and Sophia (Simpers) Mauldin, also natives of Maryland, the respective families having been identified with the annals of American history from the early Colonial epoch. John Mauldin was engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Maryland and in mercantile business, and there he and his wife passed their entire lives. James Mauldin received his early educational training in the subscription schools, attending dur- ing the winter months and assisting in the work of the paternal farmstead during the summers. Going to Baltimore when eighteen years of age he served a three-years apprenticeship at harness- making; then made a trip into Virginia as agent for a book publishing house, but not finding the vocation suited to his tastes he returned to Balti- more and for a short time was identified with the cigar and tobacco business ; then in the dry-goods business in that city, but with indifferent success. His next adventure was in the shoe business, go- ing first to Wheeling, and thence to Columbus, Ohio, where he opened his shoe store in 1857. He conducted a successful business in Ohio's capital city until 1864. In the meantime he placed the store and business in charge of his partner, and went to Boston, where he secured an equipment and soon afterward established a shoe factory at Amesbury, Mass., from which to supply his stores in the west, having opened establishments in Cleve- land and Indianapolis, as well as continuing in business in Columbus. In the spring of 1865, having decided to come to Montana, then attract- ing considerable attention as a field of investment and business enterprise as well as a profitable mining section, he proceeded as far as Grinnell, Iowa, where he secured an outfit and brought his stock of merchandise overland to Virginia City, by way of the Platte river. He was accompanied

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by his brother, William T., whom he left in charge of the stock of goods in Virginia City, while he returned to the east to purchase additional sup- plies to be sold in Montana. On starting for the east in the fall of 1865 he walked from Virginia City to Bozeman, where he tarried a sufficient length of time to build a boat sixteen feet in length and eighteen inches deep, and then paid a man $25 to put the craft on his wagon and trans- port it to the Yellowstone river. Here the boat was launched and Mr. Mauldin, with seven others, embarked for the trip down the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers to Sioux City, Iowa. The voyage was attended with no little danger, as the Indians were liable to attack the party at any moment, but they adopted a plan which minimized the risk ma- terially. They would travel during the daytime and land on some island to cook their supper, after which they would embark and continue the voyage, eating the meal in the boat and after mak- ing progress until bed time would land again and crawl into the brush to sleep, thus avoiding the Indians. In the morning they would run down to another island and there cook their breakfast. This plan was followed successfuly for the entire journey, which was not without zest and pleas- urable interest. Eight days and nights were con- sumed in making the trip down the Yellowstone to the confluence with the Missouri. The party finally reached Sioux City, and thence Mr. Maul- din took a stage for Boone Station, Iowa, whence he made the remainder of the trip by railroad. While in the east he disposed of his manufacturing and retail business interests to his partners. He visited Chicago and Boston and purchased another stock of general merchandise, which he trans- ported by rail to Boone Station, and in the spring of 1866 loaded the same on wagons and started again to Montana. He proceeded to Omaha and thence to Fort Laramie, Wyo., and on to Virginia City, Mont., by way of the Bridger cutoff, where he arrived on the Ist of September, 1866. While en route his train traversed the Sioux Indian coun- try, encountering some little trouble with the red men, who stole horses belonging to the train. Mr. Mauldin was fortunately able to furnish cattle with which to bring the wagons through after the horses had been taken. The train corralled the cattle and maintained pickets every night. One member of the party was killed by Indians on Rock creek. Upon reaching Virginia City Mr. Mauldin sold a portion of his stock and stored the

remainder until the following spring, when. he took the same to the mining district on the Salmon river, Idaho, where there was a stampede of gold- seekers at the time, and there in Leesburg basin, he closed out his stock of merchandise, returning to Virginia City in the fall of 1867. He then se- cured another stock of goods, which was shipped by boat to Fort Benton, from which point he transferred the same to Helena, where he con- ducted business about one year, disposing of the greater portion of the stock and sending the bal- ance to Utah, where he exchanged the same for cattle, which he brought to Montana, locating in the Beaverhead valley, where he took up a tract of land. The next spring he went to California, and at the point where the city of Los Angeles. is now located he purchased 500 head of horses and thence drove them through to his ranch, where he began breeding cattle and horses upon quite an extensive scale, constantly increasing the scope of his operations. Four years later he brought to his ranch the first imported Percheron horses that ever came west of the Missouri river. Mr. Maul- din contributed materially to the improvement of grades and the general expansion of the stock in- terests of the state, and he continued to be promi- nently identified with this line of enterprise until 1898, when he disposed of his fine ranch property, and has since been practically retired from active business, though he finds that his capitalistic inter- ests demand his care and time to such an extent that he is by no means idle. He owns valuable realty in the cities of Butte, Helena and Dillon, in which last attractive little city he makes his home. He has banking and other capitalistic interests of importance, and is one of the substantial and rep- resentative men of the state. He passes the win- ters principally in travel. Politically, Mr. Mauldin supports the Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with Dillon Lodge No. 30, A. F. & A. M. He is well known throughout the state and enjoys marked popularity among the pioneers and others with whom he has been thrown in con- tact in a business or social way.

MOS MELTON .- In the pioneer days of A Montana the subject of this memoir became identified with its history, and his life was well spent in devotion to all the duties of citizenship and private associations, his record being as an

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open scroll, inviting the closest scrutiny. His was a character of great elemental strength; in- dustry, energy, absolute integrity and fidelity of purpose being predominating attributes of his nature, and it is needless to say that he com- manded the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was one of the early argonauts to the New Eldorado of California and was a genuine western man in spirit and in truth.

Mr. Melton was born in the state of Indiana, on the 22d of March, 1830, being the son of David and Christina (Pfrimer) Melton, the former born in Kentucky, of French parents, the latter in Ger- many. They moved from Indiana to Illinois in 1836. Our subject was a mere child at the time of ·his parents' removal to Illinois ; the father set- tling on a farm in Knox county, became one of the pioneers of that section, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits until life's labors were ended in death. To the somewhat primitive pub- lic schools of the period Amos Melton was in- debted for the educational advantages enjoyed as a youth, but continued to assist in the work of the homestead farm until 1849, when he joined the throng of gold-seekers wending their way across the plains to California. The long and weary overland journey was completed without untoward incident or difficulty, and upon arriving in the Golden state Mr. Melton turned his attention to placer mining, which he followed about three years with much success, and shortly afterward returned to Illinois and purchased a farm. Through loans and unfortunate investments he lost a considerable portion of his fortune, and on this account made another trip to California, going by way of the Isthmus of Panama, remained during one winter and returned to his home by the same route. He thereafter devoted his attention to his farm in Illi- nois until April 17, 1864, when he started for Mon- tana, accompanied by his wife and children. The trip was made with horse teams and by way of the Bridger cutoff. The train was under com- mand of Capt. Knight, and though emigrants both preceding and following had serious trouble with the Indians, the party of which Mr. Melton and his family were members escaped without molesta- tion. They passed the site of the present city of Bozeman, which was then marked by a solitary log cabin, and continued their journey to Virginia City, where they arrived on the 14th of July, 1864. Mr. Melton purchased a claim in Alder gulch, and at once began developing the same, securing good

returns. He subsequently purchased another claim and expended the output of the first in the developing of the second, which proved un- profitable. After devoting two years to mining, in 1866 came to the Gallatin valley, taking up a homestead claim located two miles northwest of his present homestead, and engaged in farming and stockgrowing for some four years, at the expira- tion of which he disposed of the ranch, purchasing from a Mr. Gregson his present fine homestead, comprising 200 acres, all being under most effect- ive irrigation. Here he carried on diversified farming, oats being the principal crop. On De- cember 23, 1893, Mr. Melton passed away, leaving to his family a valuable estate and the grand herit- age of a name untarnished by suspicion of wrong or shadow of evil. His widow still maintains her home on the old place, hallowed by the associa- tions and memories of the past. She is a sterling type of the noble pioneer women who came to Montana and endured the hardships and privations of frontier life, being self-abnegating and faithful and contributing in large measure to the progress of civilization and the development of a great state. The family home is noted for its refined hospitality, and the farm is one of the attractive places of this section of the state, being traversed by the East Gallatin river and situated four miles northeast of the village of Belgrade, the postoffice address. In politics Mr. Melton supported the Democratic party, and in all the relations of life he commanded uniform confidence and esteem.

April 3, 1856, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Melton to Miss Harriet Yarde, who was born in the vicinity of London, England, as were her parents, John and Mary Ann (Clements) Yarde. While still a child her parents immigrated to America, locating in the province of Ontario, Canada, where they remained five years, coming thence to the United States and making their home in Illinois, which continued to be their resi- dence until death summoned them. In that state occurred the marriage of Mrs. Melton, and as be- fore stated thereafter accompanied her husband to Montana. Of their children we incorporate a brief record, as follows: Cornelius is individually mentioned on other pages of this work; Clara is the wife of David Powell, who resides six miles north of Bozeman ; John has leased the old home- stead and has the management of the same; Har- riet L. is the wife of Moses Decker, of Spring Hill, this county ; Celia A. is the wife of Gilbert Stewart,

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 144

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