Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 145

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 145

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

of Belgrade; Virginia Montana is the wife of William Lutton, of Thompson Falls, Missoula county ; Albert Lee is a resident of Bozeman ; Della is the wife of Frank Perkins, of Bozeman; Edna, Edgar and James are deceased.

J OHN MERRY .- A miner of the early days in the far northwest, and having experienced in his own life all the hardships and privations, the alternate successes and failures, the dangers and disappointments, and the cruel tragedies incident to the period, John Merry, of Ten Mile, Lewis and Clarke county, Mont., is still hale and vigorous at the advanced age of seventy, and filled with the same indomitable spirit that characterized his young manhood. He was born at Sandon, near Scarborough, England, April 9, 1832, of families long resident in that country, and emigrated there- from when he was twenty years old. He located at Waterford, Mass., and engaged for two years at farming. In 1854 he removed to St. Anthony, Minn., at the time when the suspension bridge over the Mississippi was in process of construc- tion. There he followed farming and lumbering until 1860, when he went on a raft down the Mis- sissippi to St. Louis, and from there traveled over- land to Denver, Colo. He engaged in mining at Mountain City, in that state, for two years, and in 1862, induced by the excitement over the Salmon river gold finds, in company with five com- rades started with a team of oxen for that section ; but learning when they reached Snake river that the way was inaccessible, they changed their route to the old government trail leading to Deer Lodge and the British possessions. At Beaverhead river they heard of the prospects at Bannack, and made that point their destination, reaching the mines in August, 1862. Mr. Merry began placer mining and prospecting at Stapleton bar, locating and working a claim above the bar and using a wagon bed for a sluice. His success was fair, and in the spring of 1863 he went to Alder gulch and bought a claim which he worked with some profit. At this time the Indians were troublesome at Ban- nack and other points, but a treaty was made with them and they became more friendly. It was also at this time that the lawless element was arrogant and compelled the organization of the Vigilantes to secure any sort of order and protection. In 1863 Mr. Merry witnessed the killing of Mr. Coply

by a Mexican, and his speedy trial and execution for the crime. Plummer was at the height of his power as road agent and sheriff, and the culmina- tion came when he and nine of his comrades in crime were hanged by the Vigilantes. In the fall of 1864 Mr. Merry purchased a general store at Virginia City, but the same year sold his stock, went to New York city and remained until the spring of 1865, when he returned to Montana and began mining at Blackfoot City. In the fall he re- moved to Nelson gulch and engaged in placer min- ing. In 1869 he purchased his present ranch and went into the stock business, which he followed until 1876. In 1866 he married Miss Mary E. Hale, of Helena, who was born in Charleston, S. C., and in 1876, when the great reservoir on Two Mile broke, sweeping away all his possessions, Mrs. Merry was drowned in the flood. Mr. Merry then returned to Nelson gulch, and buying shares in some claims he resumed mining operations. In 1883 he joined the Coeur d'Alene stampede, reach- ing the grounds on Christmas day with only a piece of bacon for dinner, and found what many others found-nothing. He then returned to Minnesota, where he married Miss N. R. Thomp- so11, of Minneapolis, Minn. They returned to Montana and he went to mining in Nelson gulch, having a ranch about three miles away on Willow creek, where he built a house during the winter. She died on December 19, 1899, leaving no chil- dren. Since his return in 1865 Mr. Merry has followed mining and working on his ranch except, during the year 1900, when he went to Cape Nome. In the fall he returned to his home, where he has since passed his life in his simple unpre- tentious way, dealing squarely with all men and highly esteemed.

JOSEPH MEUNIER .- In connection with the political affairs of Montana the subject of this review has been an active and efficient worker, and his unflagging interest in the welfare of the labor- ing classes has made him a popular and prominent exponent of their cause. He served with dis- tinction in the lower house of the legislature, and his career has been such as to render him particu- larly eligible for consideration in a work of this nature. Mr. Meunier traces his lineage back to stanch French extraction, but the paternal and maternal ancestors were long identified with

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American history. Our subject is a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, having been born in the town of Dunham in 1854. His father, Joseph Meunier, was born in Vermont, whence he re- moved to Quebec the year previous to the birth of our subject, and there passed the residue of his life, being a speculator and farmer. He died in the year 1891. His wife, whose maiden name was Henriette Martel, was a native of Canada, and is now in Montreal. Joseph Meunier obtained his education through the public schools of his native province, supplemented by a three-years collegi- ate course in the beautiful old French city of Three Rivers, or Trois Rivieres, at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Maurice rivers. After leav- ing school Mr. Meunier engaged in the exporting of grain and hay, with headquarters in the city of St. John's, Quebec, where he eventually became a member of the commission firm of Arpin & Meu- nier, with whom he was associated for ten years, the enterprise being successful.

In the year 1887 Mr. Meunier came to Montana, located in Butte and engaged in the hotel business until 1892, when he disposed of his interests and became librarian of the Canadian Institute, a social organization, remaining as such until July, 1901. In politics Mr. Meunier has ever been a stalwart advocate of Democracy and an active worker in the cause since taking up his residence in Montana. At the general election of Novem- ber, 1900, Mr. Meunier was the candidate of the party for representative of Silver Bow county in the legislature, and was accorded a gratifying majority at the polls. He was one of the active working members of the Seventh general assem- bly and was assigned to various important com- mittees. He was chairman of the committee on federal relations and a member of the military committee. In the advocacy of the eight-hour bill and the company store bill he was earnest and persistent, and ever found arrayed in support of measures conserving the legitimate interests of the laboring man. His services have not lacked pop- ular recognition, and he is destined for still further honors in connection with the public and political affairs of the commonwealth. He is a man of strong individuality, taking an intelligent and live- ly interest in the questions and issues of the day and fortifying his convictions by careful study and investigation. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, in which he was reared.

On September 30, 1879, Mr. Meunier was united

in marriage to Miss Rosana Benjamin, who was born in the province of Quebec. She died in 1896, leaving five children, as follows: Benjamin, Bea- trice, Maximilian, Jeanette and Pauline Meunier.

THOMAS A. GRIGG, M. D .- In the sciences of medicine and surgery there are definite branches which alone may properly challenge the entire thought and attention of any one man for the entire period of his life, and thus it is that practitioners of marked ability in general lines have seen fit to direct their course to specialties, perfect- ing themselves in knowledge pertinent thereto and the practical work implied. Among these may be mentioned Thomas A. Grigg, M. D., who, while one of the representative members of the medical profession in Montana, makes a specialty of dis- eases of the eye, ear, nose, throat and lungs, and in these lines finds ample scope for his endeavors. In his finely-equipped offices in the city of Butte are the most modern appliances and accessories utilized in the diseases to which he devotes his at- tention, and from this headquarters his profes- sional services have been in requisition by patients from distant parts of Montana and from contiguous states.

Dr. Grigg is a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, born on February 11, 1861, the youngest child of Dr. William and William (Daugherty) Grigg, the former of whom was born in England, where he was reared, and he was educated in Lon- don. In 1826 he emigrated to America, locating on Prince Edward Island, where in connec- tion with medical practice he became extensive- ly concerned in ship-building, in which he accum- ulated a fortune. He was twice married, having nine children by the first and two by the second marriage. He died in 1881, at the age of eighty- one and his second wife passed away when fifty- six years of age.

Thomas A. Grigg, after a high school education, studied medicine under his father and other able physicians, continuing technical reading until 1883, when he attended the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania for four years and was graduated with honors. It has been said of this period of his life:

"The Doctor spared neither time nor money in acquiring a thorough knowledge of his profession, as is shown by letters of recommendation he has

2. a. Sig S.O. M. 1

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

from Profs. R. A. F. Penrose, D. Hayes Agnew, Provost William Pepper and others, men of world- wide renown, with whom he had the good fortune to be associated during his student and after life.

* In the fall of 1887 the Doctor lo- cated in Mahoney City, Pa., where he did a very extensive and successful practice as a physcian and surgeon for over four years, during which time he kept up his studies at the Philadelphia hospitals, much of his time being spent at the Will Eye Hos- pital and that of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1891 he received a special diploma on his spe- cialties, the eye, ear, throat, nose and lungs, from the Philadelphia Polyclinic. In 1892, at the sug- gestion of Dr. Pepper, on account of failing health, due to overwork, he came west and spent six months rusticating on Lake Chelan, Wash. In October, 1892, the Doctor located permanently in Butte. The people of this place, who are not slow to measure the worth, ability and integrity of strangers, soon found him to be a man well-trained in his profession, possessed of skill, good judg- ment and ability. He soon built up a lucrative practice, having the confidence of both the pro- fession and the laity. The Doctor is now well- known throughout this great state, as well as in the adjoining states, having successfully per- formed some of the most difficult operations in his branch of surgery."

Dr. Grigg retains membership in the American Medical Association, the Rocky Mountain Inter- state Medical Association and the state and county organizations and he is also identified with the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania and the alumni association of the university of that state. He is one of the collaborators of the Montana State Medical Association in contributions to the Medical Sentinel, published in Portland, Ore. He is a close student, original in thought and action, giving much attention to individual investigation and research, keeping in touch with the advances made in the sciences of medicine and surgery. He has valuable investments in mining properties and also owns real estate in Butte and in the state of Washington, his holdings being of unmistakable value. For some time he did special professional work for the government, and in 1900 he was ap- pointed a member of the board of United States examining surgeons for the pension department in Silver Bow county, and is now president of the board. Dr. Grigg exercises his franchise in sup- port of the Republican party, and fraternally he is 48

identified with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Fraternal Union of America, being examining surgeon for the Woodmen and the Fraternal Union. On August 20, 1888, Dr. Grigg was united in marriage to Miss Joanna S. Miller, who was born in the town of the Doctor's nativity, she being the daughter of John Miller, a prominent ship-builder. They have three children, Elmer Roy, Leon Allison and Joanna Ethel. The beautiful family home, a cen- ter of gracious and refined hospitality, is located at 823 West Broadway, and the Doctor and Mrs. Grigg are prominently concerned in the social life of Montana's metropolis.

A RTHUR W. MILES .- Mr. Miles occupies a distinguished position in the business and in- dustrial life of Montana, having contributed large- ly to the development of the state through well directed individual efforts. He was born at West- minster, Mass., on June 20, 1859, the son of Daniel C. and Mary Jane (Puffer) Miles, the former a brother of Gen. Nelson A. Miles, commander-in- chief of the United States Army. A. W. Miles was born in the same house as was his distin- guished uncle, whose guest he is on his frequent visits to the east. His grandparents in the agnatic line were Daniel and Mary (Curtis) Miles, both born in Massachusetts, as were the maternal grandparents, James and Lucy Puffer, who were of stanch old Colonial stock.

Arthur W. Miles attended the public schools of Westminster, and, matriculating in the famous Wesleyan Academy, in Wilbraham, Mass., was graduated therefrom in the class of 1878. He began teaching in the Westminster public schools, but at the end of his first term accepted the position of paymaster's clerk in the regular army, and was assigned to the command of Maj. G. W. Baird, with headquarters at Santa Fe, N. M. After one year he was promoted and transferred to Fort Keogh, Montana, arriving there in October, 1880. After two and one-half years of service Mr. Miles was relieved at his request, and engaged in the hardware business at Coulson, then a flourishing camp, and after a few months he removed to Bill- ings, where he erected the first store in that now thriving city. In 1882 he entered into a partner- ship with A. L. Babcock, as Babcock & Miles.

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Within the year 1883 Mr. Miles opened a store in Livingston. The firm opened a branch store at Gardiner, Park county, under charge of P. H. Tooley, a trusted employe. In 1886 they opened branch stores at Big Timber and Red Lodge, while later still a branch was established at Castle. In 1889 Mr. Miles erected the Miles block on Main street, Livingston, a fine, modern brick structure, steam heated and electric lighted, beyond question one of the finest blocks in eastern Montana. In 1891 the firm of Babcock & Miles dissolved, the senior member taking the stores at Billings and Red Lodge, while Mr. Miles maintained head- quarters in Livingston, with a branch store at Big Timber. The two gentlemen are still associated in the Babcock-Miles Hardware Company, in business at Castle, Two Dot and Harlow, P. H. Tooley, the manager, being located at Two Dot.

Mr. Miles has been president of the Livingston Milling Company for the past two years, and in 1900 he purchased the extensive lumber business of the Gordon Bros. Lumber Company in Living- ston, and is steadily expanding the scope of this important enterprise. The same year he pur- chased the livery business of G. W. Wakefield, and has in this line one of the best equipped establish- ments in the west, conducting a large tourist busi- ness in the Yellowstone National Park during the season. In 1900 he engaged extensively in the manufacture of brick, has added a large harness and saddlery shop to his hardware and farming implement business in Livingston, and he is also agent for the Rocky Fork Coal Company. In 1901 he erected the postoffice block in Livingston, the finest and most extensive block in the city. He is the owner of a large public hall in Living- ston, and of other valuable real estate here and in Miles City, Billings and Big Timber, Mont., and in Pasadena, Cal. Mr. Miles' capacity for detail and his executive ability are seemingly inexhaust- ible, and these attributes, coupled with tireless energy and correct methods, have placed him in the front rank of Montana's successful men, and his popularity is unmistakable. He has served as vice-president of the Livingston National Bank, is a director of the Park National Bank, and is serving his second term as president of the Mon- tana Implement Dealers' Association, while he is engaged in stockraising on his fine ranch of 840 acres on Shields river. He served two terms as mayor of his city as a Republican, his administra- tion meeting with unqualified endorsement. Frater-

nally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed the chairs, and also with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. On Decem- ber 19, 1885, Mr. Miles married with Miss Isabella M. Draper, born in Holliston, Mass., the daughter of W. H. and Sarah L. (Perry) Draper, represent- atives of old Colonial stock. Mr. and Mrs. Miles have had four children, Louise Gertrude, a student in Carlton College, at Northfield, Minn .; Daniel Nelson and Adena Josephine, at the parental home, and Perry, deceased.

TUGH J. MILLER, the present county attor- ney of Park county, is recognized as one of the representative members of the bar of Montana, having a thorough knowledge of the science of jurisprudence and having shown his ability in many a forensic contest. He was born on De- cember 31, 1866, at Genoa, Minn., the son of Rev. Hiram and Mary (Vaughan) Miller, natives of New York and Vermont. His grandfather, John Miller, was born likewise in New York, while the maternal grandfather, Daniel Vaughan, was born in Vermont. In the agnatic line the ancestry traces to old Scottish origin, three brothers hav- ing emigrated to America in early colonial days and locating in diverse sections of the colonies. Col. Miller, a descendant of one of the brothers, was an officer of the line in the war of the Revolu- tion. Rev. Hiram Miller was a clergyman of the Freewill Baptist church, but retired from his cler- ical position a score of years ago and thereafter was engaged in merchandising.

Hugh J. Miller, the second of five sons, after attending the public schools matriculated in the college at Rochester, Minn., where he continued his studies for some time and then engaged in pedagogic work in Minnesota for five years, prov- ing very successful as an instructor and dis- ciplinarian. While he was thus engaged the state authorities offered competition prizes for the best methods of instruction, and the school in which Mr. Miller was teaching secured second position. In 1889 he entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, graduating in the class of 1891, as LL. B., and he was ad- mitted to the bar of Michigan on June 10th of that year. He has a high standing and was recommended by the faculty for his able work as a student and his effective assimilation of the tech-

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nical lore of the law. He also completed a two- years course in elocution and oratory, under the efficient instruction of the distinguished Prof. Trueblood.

Mr. Miller came to Montana the year of his graduation, arriving in Livingston on August 14, 1891, and was admitted to the bar of the state on motion by the supreme court soon afterward. He was for about nine months associated with Allan R. Joy in the practice of his profession, after which he gave inception to his individual practice, in which he has been signally successful. In the fall of 1892 Mr. Miller was the successful candi- date of the Republican party for the office of coun- ty attorney, serving one term, when his private practice had so increased that he refused to be- come a candidate for re-election in 1894, but he was again elected to the same office in 1898, and was chosen as his own successor in 1900. He has · proven a most careful and able prosecutor, and has done much to protect the interests of the county. In the case of Danforth v. Alexander Livingston, county treasurer, involving the collection of a large amount of tax money, Mr. Miller repre- sented the defendant, meeting defeat in the lower court and promptly carrying the case before the supreme court, where the ruling of the inferior court was reversed, thus saving to Park county many thousand dollars. The decision rendered by the supreme court stands as a precedent in the state, and Mr. Miller has received high praise for the masterful way in which he presented his cause and secured the reversal.

Fraternally Mr. Miller is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, enjoying distinct popularity in these orders, as does he also in professional, business and social circles. On April 19, 1897, Mr. Miller was ap- pointed judge advocate on the staff of Gov. R. B. Smith, and served until the expiration of the gubernatorial term. On January 9, 1889, Mr. Miller wedded with Miss Georgiana Cole, born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the daughter of Oscar and Lavintha J. (Gordon) Cole. Her uncle, W. J. Gordon, one of the eminent citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, presented that city with Gordon Park, a property valued at upwards of $1,000,000, and recognized as one of the finest of the many beau- tiful parks which grace the Forest city. Mrs. Miller was assistant principal in the high school

at Livingston for several years, being a graduate of the Iowa State Normal School, at Cedar Falls, in the class of 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one son, Vilroy C., a manly youth, now attending the public schools, showing diligence and ability as a student, and having some claim to distinction as a juvenile bibliophile, since he has a library of nearly 100 books of his own selection and of the best class of literature. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are prominent in the social life of Livingston, and their residence is a center of gracious and refined hos- pitality.

JAMES H. MILLER .- Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry of illustrious order, and, as Macaulay says, it is certain that the man who takes no pride in the noble achievements of his ancestors will never achieve anything worthy of remembrance by remote descendants. Mr. Mil- ler is thus fortunate, while his own accomplish- ment has been worthy of his ancestry, for he has rendered to the nation the service of a loyal soldier, while in the peaceful vocations of life he has ever been animated by sterling integrity. He is today one of the representative stockgrowers of Jefferson county, and was born in the village of Durham, on the Androscoggin river, Maine, on July 7, 1839, one of the four children of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Webster) Miller, both of whom were also born in the village of Durham. His paternal grandfather was Joshua Miller, born in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland county, Me .. while his wife, whose maiden name was Ann Si- monton, was likewise a native of Maine. The paternal great-grandfather was a native of Ire- land, whence he emigrated to New England in Colonial days. His maternal grandfather. Wil- liam Webster, came from England to New Hamp- shire, and was a relative of Daniel Webster. He married Hannah Stackpole, a native of Maine, who was a niece of Lord Ashburton, the English diplomat, who negotiated the Ashburton treaty with the United States in 1842.

. James H. Miller passed his boyhood in the An- droscoggin valley, and attended the public schools, and later completed his education in the seminary at Lewiston, now Bates College. His father was a prosperous farmer, and James assisted in the work of the old homestead until August 7, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, Twentieth Maine Infantry, Col. Adelbert A. Ames com-

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manding. The regiment was sent to the Army of the Potomac, joining it in time to participate in the battle of Antietam. Thereafter it had numer- ous engagements with the Confederates, taking part in the battle of Fredericksburg and afterward in the Burnside campaign. It was at Chancel- lorsville and marched to Gettysburg, having fre- quent skirmishes en route. On the march they were detailed to assist the cavalry in preventing the Confederates from passing through the moun- tain gaps, and at Aldie, Va., Mr. Miller was wounded by a piece of shell, and was transferred to the Sixth Veteran Reserve Corps and sta- tioned at Camp Distribution. Here he was de- tailed as second leader of a band, and it may be said that he had manifested particular musical tal- ent from his childhood, and that before his en- listment he had taught music for several years, being also the leader of a band in Durham and of one in Lewiston. In 1863 he had been made ser- geant and after the battle of Antietam was promoted color sergeant. In 1865 he was transferred from Camp Distribution to Johnston's Island, in Lake Erie, where, on detached duty, he assisted in guarding the Confederate officers. In June he was transferred to Cincinnati, where he was dis- charged, as sergeant, on July 6, 1865.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 145

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