Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 158

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 158

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

AMES M. ROBERTSON .- Among the pro- gressive citizens of the state is numbered Mr. Robertson, who, maintaining his residence in Boze- man, Gallatin county, has attained distinction and executed important work in civil engineering, and has held various official positions of public trust and responsibility. He was born near the city of Portland, Ore., on March 8, 1855, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth A. (Dodson) Robertson, the former a native of Washington county, Tenn., and the lat- ter born in the vicinity of Athens, McMinn county, Tenn. The father died in Bozeman, Mont., at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away in the same city, aged sixty-eight. Joseph Robertson early engaged in teaching school, but later became a farmer and was thereafter identified with agriculture for the remainder of his active business life. He was also a preacher of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, doing effective minis- terial work, ever ordering his life upon a high plane

820

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

of rectitude and honor. One of his four children died in infancy, the others still survive. The pater- nal grandparents of Mr. Robertson were John and Margaret (Register) Robertson, of whom both were born in Virginia and both of whom died at Mill Brook, Tenn., aged respectively eighty-four and ninety years. The original American ancestors came from Aberdeen and Glasgow, Scotland, near the close of the seventeenth century. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Robertson were Oliver and Elizabeth (Ely) Dodson, also born in the Old Dominion, whence they removed to the neighbor- hood of Athens, McMinn county, Tenn., where the former died at the advanced age of ninety-seven and the latter at ninety-three.

James M. Robertson was reared on the paternal homestead farm in California, whither his parents removed when he was a mere child, and his first scholastic discipline was received in a district school south of San Jose, and later he attended the public schools in San Joaquin county. Through his own efforts, paying his way by teaching mathe- matics and literature, Mr. Robertson completed a thorough collegiate course in Mansfield College, Tarrant county, Texas, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1878, receiving first honors, while the degree of Bachelor of Arts was simultaneously conferred upon him. Thereafter he devoted some time to the reading of law in Austin, Tex., but he has never followed this profession. His first practical experience as a civil engineer was in 1874, when he commenced surveying in Texas. In May, 1880, Mr. Robertson located in Bozeman, Gallatin county, which has ever since been liis home. He has followed civil engineering for the major portion of his time since he became a resi- dent of Montana, and has done very efficient ser- vice in this line, which has been one of great im- portance in connection with the development of the new state. He is thoroughly informed in the tech- nical and practical work of his profession and has shown marked executive ability.

In politics Mr. Robertson has rendered stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, his first pres- idential vote having been cast for Samuel J. Tilden in 1876. He has filled various offices in the county and city, having served for three terms of two years each as county surveyor of Gallatin county, while in 1885-6 he was city treasurer of Bozeman. In November, 1888, he was elected sheriff of Gallatin county, and giving a discriminating and efficient administration, was elected his own successor in

October, 1889. Mr. Robertson has also served in various appointive offices, deputy sheriff, under sheriff, deputy county treasurer, deputy county as- sessor. etc. At the time of this writing (June, 1901) he is incumbent of the office of deputy as- sessor. Fraternally Mr. Robertson is identified with Gallatin Lodge No. 6, A. F. & A. M., and the Order of the Eastern Star, and is also a member of the Pythagoras Lodge No. 2, Knights of Pythias. He is not married.

JOHN M. ROBINSON .- Discontent with the actual is the mainspring of human endeavor. It is seldom that the youth finds under the peaceful paternal roof the conditions which satisfy his heart's desire, and he goes abroad to seek them. Art, trade, professional life, entice some; to others the stormy, heaving ocean wears a winning smile; and even grim and horrid war has votaries. Any es- cape from what seems to be the tame insipidity of everyday life holds out a cordial hand which is often too eagerly grasped. The subject of this sketch, John M. Robinson, of Bozeman, illustrates in his varied and active career the truth of this general law. He was born in Rhea county, Tenn., May 5, 1843, the son of John M. and Hannah (Ernest) Kobinson, also natives of Tennessee. Mr. Robinson spent his early years in his native state on his father's farm, attending the public schools and working on the place until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Confeder- ate army, as a member of the Forty-third Tennes- see Regiment, under command of Col. James Gil- lespie and Lieut .- Col. David M. Key, afterward postmaster-general in the cabinet of President Hayes. The command was moved into Kentucky and took part in the battle of Lexington in that state. Mr. Robinson being in the quartermaster's department and having charge of a wagon train, retired through Cumberland gap into Tennessee and from there went to Vicksburg. He was in the thick of the fight there, taking part in all the battles of the siege, surrendering with the rest of the Con- federate army to Gen. Grant, July 4, 1863. He was paroled and marched to Mobile, Ala., and later was sent home. In August, 1863, the Federal troops having taken possession of the territory in which he was staying, and his health having been seriously impaired by his army service, Mr. Robinson re- moved to Indiana and improved the time by at- J

821

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

tending college until the spring of 1865, when he started for Montana, going overland to St. Joseph, Mo., where he and a company of others outfitted with a train of about thirty wagons and continued on their journey. At Cache la Poudre river the Indians tried to drive off their stock. They were prevented from doing this, but kept up a petty an- noyance for some distance. The train, however, arrived without casualty at Virginia City, Mont., August 6, 1865. Here Mr. Robinson spent a short time in mining, and then located in Gallatin valley. On this expedition he was accompanied by two of his brothers, Albert E. and Benjamin F. Rob- inson. After spending some years in the state, Benjamin returned to Tennessee in 1871, Albert in 1891, and both have since died ..

Mr. Robinson first homesteaded on Middle creek and engaged in farming. He has since added to his farm by purchases until it embraces about 700 acres. It is all under irrigation and has been brought by skillful farming to a very high state of productiveness. The principal crops are barley and hay, clover predominating. Being well fixed for the business and having a taste for it, Mr. Robinson at the time raised numbers of fine blooded horses, but of late years has confined him- self in this line mainly to draft horses, and his stud has a high reputation in this part of the country.

Mr. Robinson was united in marriage February 25, 1873, to Miss Florence Bickett, of Nodaway county, Mo., the daughter of Henry G. and Eliza (Wills) Bickett. Her paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, who settled in early life in Kentucky where her father was born and reared, removing to Missouri in 1855, remaining until 1864, when he started for Montana with an ox team and a number of cattle. Some of the cattle were stolen by the Indians, and the pickets of the train had many skirmishes with them from time to time. He located about six miles from Virginia City, on the Toll road, where he kept a store and eating house for several years, then followed min- ing for several years at Helena. He located a claim in Gallatin valley in 1866, but owing to the hostility of the Indians did not occupy the land until 1871. He then occupied it and remained there until September, 1888, when he died, one of the most respected citizens of the neighborhood. Mrs. Robinson was his only child.

Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have four children : Leonora; Edna F., now Mrs. Leslie E. Gage, of

Bozeman; Lester, a student at Bozeman College, and Wilbur, also a student at Bozeman. Mr. Rob- inson had been quite potential in the affairs of the county, and has faithfully served his people in several useful public capacities. He was county commissioner for four years, a school trustee for many years, a member of the state legislature in 1884, a member of the college board at Bozeman, and during a recent absence from the city was elected vice-president of the board. He is also president of the Farmers' Canal Company (in- corporated), which owns and operates the largest irrigating canal in the county, it being fifteen miles long and carrying 10,000 inches of water. He spent a number of years in mining on Emigrant gulch and at Radersburg, with fluctuating fortune, but in the main making headway and growing into prosperity and prominence. He now has one of the most conspicuous and elegant homes in the fa- mous valley which contains so many that are de- sirable. His is richly and artistically furnished, and is plentifully adorned with paintings in oil and water colors, the work of his artistic daughters, who have exhibited talent in this line which, if not genius, are closely akin to it. He is a genial host, an entertaining companion, a considerate and faith- ful friend, and a modest yet very capable and in- telligent public servant. His neighbors and friends look upon him as one of their best citizens, and throughout the state he has a high reputation for integrity, a knowledge of affairs, fine business at- tainments and all the graceful amenities of life. He also has a fine residence in Bozeman, where he and his interesting family spend the winter months. Both this and the country home are pro- vided with all the comforts and conveniences used in modern residences, and a full complement of the best outhouses. Mr. Robinson has not taken much interest in or given much time to the fraternal orders; but he is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and has a high regard for its teachings.

H TUGH J. ROGAN, of the enterprising firm of fruitgrowers and nurserymen, Rogan Broth- ers, is located on a beautiful and well improved ranch near Helena, Mont. The firm consists of the subject of this biographical mention and his brother, Patrick J. Rogan. Hugh J. Rogan, our subject, was born May 15, 1857. He is a son of Owen and Ann Rogan, natives of Ireland. In

822

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

1876 they came to the United States with their family, locating in Kenosha county, Wis. Here the parents continued to live until 1882 when they came to Helena to reside with their sons, Hugh, Patrick and John. They were parents of a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters ; but the members of the firm Rogan Brothers are the only ones living. Owen Rogan, the father, died May 20, 1893, and his wife, Ann, August 20, 1898. They were both members of the Catholic church. Politically Mr. Rogan was an active worker in the Democratic party.

Hugh J. Rogan was educated at Belfast, Ire- land, and in his nineteenth year came to the United States. The ocean voyage produced a lasting im- pression on the young and observant immigrant. He continued to reside at Kenosha county, Wis., until 1879, when he came to Montana. He made the journey overland, via Union Pacific route, Omaha and across Wyoming. Three days prior to crossing the Blackfoot reservation the Indians had killed many of the settlers, and left behind them a scene of desolation. In crossing Pleasant valley Mr. Rogan found the snow and ice four feet deep, and travel of every description was extremely dif- ficult. He arrived at Helena April 15, 1879. Be- ing an active, hustling character, Mr. Rogan soon found employment as a teamster, and served in this capacity for Sanford & Evans three years. In the spring of 1882 was laid the foundation of the future important enterprise. In company with his brothers, John and Patrick, he purchased eighty acres of land in Prickly Pear valley, and there the firm of Rogan Brothers began business. The land was but little improved and had upon it only a small frame house. The brothers took hold en- ergetically and rapidly extended the improvements, erected buildings and barns and enclosed a large outground. At the present time they have in- creased their farm to 215 acres. The cellar to the house was provided with a concrete wall twenty- eight inches thick. The brothers then commenced farming on a rather extensive scale, dealing in stock, hay and potatoes, raising all crops by irriga- tion, their water-right being one of the oldest and best in the valley. Since then the firm has given considerable attention to the cultivation of shade trees. They have found the silver leaf the most hardy, although they have experimented with all kinds, and are now raising soft maples. To the city of Helena they furnish large numbers of trees, many of them the most beautiful within its limits.

They have a paradise of shrubs and flowers, to- gether with an orchard of 200 trees. Concerning the question of apples it is the evidence of the Rogan Brothers that the Dutchess of Oldenburg is the leader of Montana. For a period of six years the brothers were engaged in the stock busi- ness on Sun river, which enterprise proved quite successful. Following the death of John Rogan in 1889, the ranch was sold in 1890, and all interest concentrated in the home ranch. Here the firm has a fine herd of Hereford cattle.

Fraternally Mr. Rogan is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which he was president for many years. He was also a delegate to the convention of that order at Trenton, N. J., in 1898. Politically the affiliations of Mr. Rogan were with the Democratic party, and he is now a member of the school board. On October 18, 1889, Mr. Rogan was united in marriage to Miss Ellen A. Lavery, of Titusville, Pa. She was born December 31, 1866, and was the daughter of Mur- tagh and Margaret Lavery, natives of Ireland, who came to the United States in 1863. They located in Crawford county, Pa., where they yet reside, engaged in the occupation of agriculture. The Rogan and Lavery families were neighbors in Ire- land. Mrs. Rogan was educated in the common and normal schools at Edinboro and she followed the profession of teaching for seventeen years. Mr. and Mrs. Rogan are parents of three chil- dren : Marguerite M., Mabel and Annie Mariė, twins, and John Paul Augustus. Both are active and devout members of the Catholic church. The story of the life of Mr. Hugh J. Rogan is one of al- most uninterrupted success since he went forth into the world for himself. He has encountered obstacles, but has overcome them. His rare business judgment, patience and industry has car- ried him on to a well-merited success. He is a man in whom the people of Helena and Lewis and Clarke county have confidence, and for whom they have the highest esteem and appreciation.

M OSES F. ROOT is one of the progressive and successful farmers and stockgrowers of Lewis and Clarke county, his well improved ranch being located on Canyon creek, twenty-two miles north of the capital city. Mr. Root is a native of the old Empire state, having been born at Victory, Cayuga county, N. Y., on November 9. 1853, the son of

823

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

William and Sarah Root, likewise natives of New York, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1893, his wife having passed away on Christmas day, 1889.

Moses F. Root received his earlier educational discipline in the public schools, and thereafter con- tinued his studies in Red Creek Seminary, but began to assist his father on the farm while a mere lad. At the age of eighteen years he set out in life by going to Wisconsin, where he was employed in the lumbering industry until 1873, when he re- turned to New York and again engaged in farming until 1877. That year, however, he disposed of his interests and came to Montana by boat from Bis- marck, N. D., to Fort Benton, and thence drove to Poorman creek where he engaged in mining with such meagre success that he soon found employ- ment on the ranch of William Negus, with whom he remained until the summer of 1880, when he obtained employment in quartz mining at Mount Pleasant and Bell mountain. In the spring of 1882 Mr. Root turned his attention to farming and stock- raising, giving' special attention to the raising of horses. He also ran the stage line between Helena and Lincoln, and that between Helena and Fort Benton. His home ranch of 160 acres is located twenty-two miles north of Helena, but he also leases and utilizes for stock purposes 600 acres and has 120 acres of his place available for culti- vation. He raises cattle and horses upon an ex- tensive scale, and his well directed efforts have been attended with excellent success.

In politics Mr. Root gives active support to the Republican party, and is at the present time post- master at Canyon creek. Fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. March 25, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Root and Miss Delia M. Negus, who was born in Virginia City, Nev., the daughter of William and Ann Negus, natives respectively of the states of Michigan and New York. They emigrated to the west and lo- cated in Montana in 1866. They first resided in Helena, where they remained two years, after which Mr. Negus removed to a ranch twenty miles north of the city and engaged in stockraising. He also operated the stage line between Helena, Lost Horse and Lincoln. His death occurred January 13, 1888, and his widow is now living on the ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Root have four children: William L., Raymond G., Florence V. and Irene M. Mr. Root is active in county affairs and has ever been

prominently identified in the improvement of the county roads, so necessary to prosperity in the community.

W ILLIAM ROGERS, a prosperous ranch- owner of Jefferson county, located near Finn, was born in Ireland, on February 10, 1836, the son of James and Catherine (Duffy) Rogers. The father, who was a son of Lawrence Rogers, was a coppersmith. William Rogers remained at home with his parents until he was fourteen years of age. During the succeeding six years he worked at various employments and, in 1856, at the age of twenty years, he came to the United States, landing in New York. In that city he re- mained two years, and then went to Missouri, lo- cating at St. Joseph. In March, 1860, he started with an ox team for Denver, Colo., and on his ar- rival in the Pike's Peak district he engaged in min- ing, which he continued with fair success until 1863. In that year he came to Bannack, Mont., and with- in three weeks joined in the stampede for Alder gulch.

Mr. Rogers followed mining at this place for three years. In 1865 there was another "find" at Confederate gulch, now Diamond City, and here he continued for another year to search for the elusive yellow metal. In 1866 Mr. Rogers located in Boulder valley, in Jefferson county. Turning his attention to farming and stockraising, he has there found the profit he had sought in vain in the sand and wash of the gulches. In 1850 Mr. Rogers was married to Miss Ann McIntee. They have had five children, three of whom, William H., Thomas and John F., have been removed by death. Their living children are Alice and Riley. Mr. Rogers has in his possession a very common, ordinary ap- pearing chair, which would sell for perhaps $1.50 if now at retail. This chair was built in Alder gulch in 1864, at a cost of $27 in greenbacks. Mar- tin Holter, now a resident of Helena, sawed the lumber for this historical chair.

EDWARD ROSE, who came into the world as a subject of the autocrat of the icy north, the Czar of all the Russias, was born in that country August 14, 1871, the second of six children of S. and Rose (Titkin) Rose, also natives of Russia and descendants of families long prominent in mer-

824

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

cantile life. He was a diligent student in the pub- lic schools of his native land until he was seven- teen years old. He then came to America and at- tended school in Ohio for a year. From there he removed to Chicago, where he engaged a few months in merchandising business and then went to Helena, Mont., where he arrived in 1889. His first engagement in the state was with A. Goldberg, of that city, with whom he remained for a time, and then took up his residence in Butte, entering into a partnership with H. Goldstein in general merchandising, Mr. Goldstein later selling out his interest to Mr. Rose, who has since then conducted it alone. He has been very successful, building up a large and continually expanding business with a patronage which he has bound to him by his strict integrity, an enterprise that keeps up with the pub- lic needs and a uniform courtesy and willingness to accommodate. While a modest and unostenta- tious citizen, he is held in high esteem for his ster- ling worth and genuine devotion to the welfare of the community. He has served as outer guard of Butte Lodge Knights of Pythias, and president of Butte Lodge of the order of Bnai Brith No. 420. In politics he is a Republican, but is not an active partisan.

PETER O. FALLANG .- Born May 18, 1846, at Gran Dioces, Hadeland, Norway, the son of Ole P. Fallang, a skilled carpenter and inventor who was in mechanical matters and in sweep of vision a quarter of a century ahead of his time, Peter O. Fallang, of Sweet Grass county, Mont., is entitled by natural inheritance to the position of prominence he occupies among his fellow citi- zens. His father died of cholera in 1853 when Peter O. was but seven years old, but he was care- fully reared by his mother, who was also a native of Norway and whose maiden name was Anne Halvorsen. Her father was a prosperous miller, and her husband's father was a leading farmer in his section of the country. The ancestors on both sides were longlived people, and stood high in the esteem of the community. Their son, Peter, attended the common schools until he was twelve years of age, when he entered the high school, from which he was graduated in 1861 at the age of fifteen. After leaving school he worked on the farm until 1865, meanwhile pursuing his studies and a carefully selected course of reading. On the first day of October, 1865, he entered the military

school of the regular army located at Christiania, and was graduated therefrom on July 31, 1868, at the age of twenty-two years. From early life he was distinguished for promptness in the discharge of duty, honesty and truthfulness, and by this means made warm and enduring friendships among his worthy associates and commanded the respect of his superiors. He has always been temperate in habits, careful in choice of companions and devoutly religious. At the age of thirteen he was seized with a consuming ambition to become an officer in the army, and to the gratification of this desire he devoted all his energies, supplying by hard work the deficiencies of financial equipment. He lived at Christiania as a soldier until May, 1873, when he resigned from the army and immigrated to the United States, proceeding at once to Rush- ford, Minn., where he remained until autumn. In October he went to Wisconsin and worked in the pineries in that state as a scaler during the win- ter. In the spring of 1874 he bought a piece of land in Black Brook, Wis., and removing his family thereto from Minnesota, lived there until 1878, and then returned to Rushford, Minn., where he was engaged in selling farming implements and machinery until 1881. In October of that year he started for Montana, and on his arrival located the place on which he now resides and which has been his home ever since. He has been engaged in rais- ing sheep, horses and cattle since 1883, and has improved his ranch with care and taste, expect- ing from his arrival to pass the rest of his life in the state.

Mr. Fallang is particularly well qualified for pub- lic life and has yielded to pressing demands once or twice to accept office, but has many times re- fused. He was one of the first county commis- sioners of Sweet Grass county, but insisted upon serving without pay and solely for the good of the people of the new county. He was also city marshal of Rushford, Minn., from 1879 to 1881. In Norway he was a non-commissioned officer and instructor in the military school until 1870, and was then promoted quartermaster, which posi- tion he held at the time of his resignation for the purpose of coming to the United States. In Mon- tana he was the originator and promoter of the Sweet Grass woolen mills, the first enterprise of the kind in the state. He has always been fore- most in support of every good idea for the develop- ment of material resources and the advancement of industrial interests and has rendered valuable

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 158

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