Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 171

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 171

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B OYER BROTHERS .- From their early child- hood the lives of these interesting pioneers have been full of privation, adventure, stirring activity and productive usefulness. They were born at Coatesville, Chester county, Pa., Joseph J. on March 16, 1832, and William J. on July 16, 1834. Their parents were Nicholas and Mary H. (James) Boyer. The father died in 1838, when Joseph was six years old and William was four. The James family to which Mrs. Boyer belongs is of Welsh ancestry and has been prominent in the Quaker state from Revolutionary days. Among the family's national representatives were the post- master-general, Hon. Thomas L. James, and Hon. Francis James, brother of Mrs. Boyer, who was a member of the Pennsylvania senate from 1836 to 1840, and from 1840 to 1848, a member of the national house of representatives. The long and brilliant career of Mrs. Boyer's cousin, Hon. John Hickman, in congress is well known to readers of United States history.

The brothers attended the public schools as they had opportunity, and after leaving school Joseph learned his trade as a printer in Wilmington, Del., and worked at it in various places, including Balti- more, Annapolis and Cincinnati, being accom- panied to Cincinnati by his brother William. In the fall of 1854 William returned home, and Jos- eph went to Lawrence, Kas., taking the first print- ing press ever set up in the state. He con- ducted a newspaper called the Lawrence Free State during the historic troublous times in the territory. In the spring of 1855 William rejoined him at Lawrence and they worked together. Jos- eph was very active in the political contests of the day, and took part in numerous engagements with the advocates of slavery. In one of these several persons were killed, and all the survivors of the engagement were arrested, Joseph Boyer among them. They were placed on trial for murder, but escaped by breaking jail and making their way to portions of the territory where they were safe. After this he continued to take an active part in the

controversy until it was settled, and being a news- paper man, he was looked upon as a leader, and, as an intimate friend of James H. Lane, who was the real leader of the Free State party, and an ardent supporter of his views, he was undoubtedly enti- tled to this distinction. He was present at the burning of Lawrence, and at every other impor- tant event in the whole struggle.

William Boyer, having contracted a fever in the new country, returned to his Pennsylvania home in the fall of 1855 and remained until the fall of 1857, when, after a visit from his brother, they went again to Lawrence and assisted in organizing a party for prospecting and mining in the west. A Delaware Indian, who had been a guide to Gen. Fremont, and who claimed to have gold nuggets to the value of $200, informed them that on his return from Fremont's service, the Ute Indians who were not friendly to the Delawares, had chased him, and in escaping he had gone far off his course and reached a place where gold was abundant. This place is suppposed to be the present site of Cripple Creek. He said that in taking a drink at a spring he had found the nug- gets. Persons who knew the Indian vouched for his truthfulness, and the party contracted to pay him $18 a day to guide them to the place. The ex- pedition consisted of forty-eight men, one of whom was William Boyer. When they were ready to start the Indian refused to go, saying that he feared he might fail to locate the ground and that they would then kill him. They were obliged to go without him, and learned later that a party of Missourians had also started for the same place. Since then it has been a matter of controversy whether the Kansans or the Missourians reached the destination first, but it now seems to be con- ceded that the Kansans were ahead. The trip was a dangerous one, as the Indians were determined that not a gold-seeker should get back alive. They, however, were well armed, succeeded in preventing an attack, and arrived at Pike's Peak on July 4, 1858. They prospected for three weeks, camping in the Garden of the Gods. Four of the party, including William Boyer, climbed to the top of the Peak, a very dangerous and difficult under- taking, occupying two days and a half. Mr. Boyer and his companions were without doubt the first who ever reached the summit of the mountain. A Mr. and Mrs. Holmes started on the ascent the day before Mr. Boyer's party, but were passed by them and reached the summit one day later.

AmyBoyer.

Joseph f. Boyer.

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

Not finding gold in paying quantities, and hear- ing of great discoveries near old Fort Garland in New Mexico, the party made a tedious trip over the Raratoon mountains to that place, arriving in August and remaining through the month, pros- pecting and finding ancient diggings. But the re- sults were unprofitable, and hearing from a Mexi- can that the Cherokee company had located a good find near the site of Denver, at the Cherry creek diggings, they made their way thither, and, arriv- ing there September 20, 1858, they camped five miles above the location of Denver, and laid out a town which they named Montana City, that in a few months numbered some sixty cabins. Here the party disbanded, but William Boyer and some others here passed the winter and made good pay. Others moved down the river and laid out the town of Aurora, which became Denver. During the winter word reached the east of big strikes in this neighborhood, and a heavy emigration came in the spring, most of the emigrants stopping at Aurora. At this time Joseph Boyer joined his brother, who came from Lawrence. They met on July 4, 1859, at Central City, Colo., and went with a stampede to Tarryall in South Park. On their re- turn, Montana City having been abandoned, the cabins were turned over to the Boyer brothers, who made a ranch of the town site and used the cabin lumber for fencing. They spent the winter on the ranch, and in the spring William returned to Lawrence, and Joseph sold the ranch for $600, and went to South Park and bought some land and a claim in Galena gulch. William returned in the fall and they mined together, but without success. After two years of fruitless efforts they went over to Delaware Flats and mined with better luck. In the spring of 1863 they went to Denver, and soon after on to Montana. Before leaving Denver, however, they sold a town lot which they there owned for $30. They recently had the pleasure of reading of its sale for $115,000.

Making their journey to Montana in a train of thirty ox teams, they had no trouble with the Indians, and arrived without mishap at Alder gulch in October, 1863, and, going to Summit, put in the winter mining for wages, getting $7.00 and $8.00 a day, and they were probably the first to drift in Alder gulch. In the spring they bought two claims on German bar, below Virginia City, and worked them for a year. Then William went to Last Chance to inspect a lead and re- mained for some months prospecting. Joseph

meanwhile worked at German bar, but both had poor success. In the spring of 1866 they went to the Deep creek diggings on Hell Gate, and in the fall removed to Helena, taking up some placer property, where they found nothing. They con- tinued prospecting and mining at various places until 1871, when Joseph went to work at his trade in the office of the New Northwest, at Deer Lodge. That fall they came to Willow creek, and, on the advice of Dr. Stafford, selected their pres- ent location, Joseph homesteading and William pre-empting. They now have 480 acres on the Upper Willow creek, two miles east of Pony-a beautiful location, which gives them fine oppor- tunity for ranching and stockraising, in which they are extensively engaged, doing something also in mining. In the early days in Alder gulch and elsewhere the Boyer brothers took active part on the side of law and order, and witnessed many ex- citing episodes. In all their wanderings they have been true to their country by taking an intelligent interest in public affairs. W. J. Boyer was elected justice of the peace at Montana City in Colorado early in the fall of 1858, and served in that capacity until the spring of 1859, when his mining interests demanded all of his time. They in the early days were valuable correspondents of Philadelphia, Lawrence and other eastern journals, and the local papers of Montana have been glad to print their newsy communications. In 1879 as a member of the state legislature, Joseph took active part in defeating the bill to subsidize the Utah Northern Railroad into Butte. He has been a school trus- tee for a number of years. Both are highly esteemed by all who have the pleasure of knowing them. A sister of the Boyer brothers, Mrs. Mary C. Woodward, and her only child, Anna J., now the wife of Andrew Stewart, also live on their ranch. Mrs. Woodward was also born in Chester county, Pa., and came to Montana in the spring of 1872. She was married in 1865 to Philip W. Woodward, a veteran of the Civil war. She is interested in the ranch with her brothers.

R E. RAINVILLE, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Basin, Mont., is a native of Que- bec, Canada, having been born there on April 3, 1864, the son of Pierre and C. Rainville. He re- mained through early youth with his parents, and

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received his elementary education in the excellent schools of Quebec, and in 1878 he entered the Petite Seminary de Ste. Marie de Monnoir. From here he was graduated with honors, and he continued his technical medical studies at the Laval University, Quebec, being graduated there- from in the spring of 1890. He commenced medical practice at Marieville, county Roue- ville, Quebec, continuing there for two years. In 1893 he removed to Butte, Mont., and after establishing a fine clientage in two years, he lo- cated at Basin in 1895. He remained there until 1899, practicing his profession and also engaging in mining. He then went back to Butte where he remained until 1900, and again returned to Basin; where he has established himself well in the prac- tice of medicine and in the drug business.

In August, 1890, Dr. Rainville was married to Miss Alie J. Nadeau, daughter of Joseph Nadeau, of Quebec, the recorder of the court of appeals, and his wife, Josephine (Miller) Nadeau. To Mr. and Mrs. Rainville one child has been born, Joseph Frederick Euclid, whose life began at Basin in January, 1899. Fraternally Dr. Rainville is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Daughters of Hermann and the Modern Wood- men of America. Of the Ancient Order of United Workmen he is foreman, and medical examiner for all of these orders. He is also one of the trustees of the Basin fire department. Dr. Rainville is a most enterprising citizen and universally esteemed. In all that pertains to the welfare of his community he manifests a lively interest, and is popular in all circles.

ILLIAM E. THOMPSON .- One of Park county's representative citizens, one who has attained prominence in business life and promi- nently concerned with the development and material prosperity of the city of Livingston, is William E. Thompson, who was born at Burlington Flats, Otsego county, N. Y., on April 16, 1858, the son of Ellis C. and Elzama (Kelsey) Thompson, of the same county and representatives of fine old colonial stock. For a fuller genealogy see the sketch of Hon. James S. Thompson on another page of this work.

William E. Thompson secured his education in the public schools, West Winfield Academy and the Albany (N. Y.) Normal School, where he was graduated in the class of 1880. He taught one

term in a high school in his native county, after which he started for the Black Hills, his destination being Lead City, where he was principal of the public schools until 1883, when he resigned the position to come to Montana and join his brother, James S., who had located at Livingston. In that place they entered into partnership in general mer- chandising which they continued with excellent success until 1900. Mr. Thompson was interested in the erection of the Livingston flouring mills and was one of the chief promoters of the Livingston Coal and Coke Company, which has at Horr the largest plant of the sort in Park county. When he retired from the firm of Thompson Brothers, he engaged in real estate and insurance, and became the owner of the Albemarle Hotel and other valu- able properties in Livingston. He is one of the leaders in this line of enterprise in this section of the state and controls a large business.

He has always maintained a very lively interest in all that tends to the progress and material pros- perity of the state, and particularly of his home city, and animated by pronounced public spirit has given his influence and aid to every worthy project. In politics he is an active worker in the Republican cause, and he became a member of the first board of aldermen of Livingston at the time of its in- corporation, while in 1895 he was elected mayor and gave a most capable and satisfactory administra- tion. In the fall of 1900 Mr. Thompson received nomination for state senator from his district, but in the ensuing election met the defeat which at -. tended the party ticket in his county. He has at- tained high distinction in the Masonic order, having taken a thirty-third degree of the Scottish rite in which connection he is at the present time com- mander of the consistory of eastern Montana, while he has served as master of his lodge and as com- mander of his commandery of Knights Templar, while he is also a member of Algeria temple, Mys- tic Shrine. He is a member of the Livingston lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is highly esteemed in business, fraternal and social circles. At Binghamton, N. Y., on October 14, 1883, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Alice V. Chamberlain, daughter of Floyd and Helen Chamberlain, natives of New York and now living a retired life in Minneapolis, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have two sons, Albert C., now attending the Shattuck Military Academy at Faribault, Minn., and Ralph W., a student in the Livingston schools.

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

COL. J. C. C. THORNTON .- No thoughtful. being an only son, the hopes of his parents were man would ever attempt to explain all differ- ences of character and disposition by the circum- stances in which the individual man grows up, and but few would hazard the attempt to set bounds to their sway. That there is much in heredity, and the lessons of the fireside and the wayside during the formative period of life, all must admit. Birth and breeding will tell in the long run, in spite of all conditions, and qualities of superior manhood, of whatever kind, will be transmitted from generation to generation, disappearing at times, it may be, but always returning in the strain to which they belong.

The character and career of Col. John C. Cal- houn Thornton is an apt and forcible illustration of this fact. The son of Col. John Thornton, a native of Kentucky, who went to Missouri when it was a part of the remote American frontier, and who was there one of the leading spirits and most forceful men of his day ; and of Elizabeth, a daugh- ter of Gen. Stephen Trigge, of Virginia, a con- spicuous figure in the American army during the war of 1812, and whose father, Maj. John Trigge, was an officer of artillery under Washington and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, his ancestors were men of large mold and commanding attributes; and in his day, well did he sustain the responsibility which their exam- ple laid upon him. In April, 1820, his father re- moved with his young bride to what is now Clay county, Mo., and so impressed the community with his capacity and force of character that in the following December the governor appointed him judge of the court of Ray county, then newly or- ganized out of a portion of Howard county, and followed this January 4, 1822, by an appointment as judge of the court of Clay county, organized out of a portion of Ray. In August of that year he was commissioned colonel of militia after being chosen to the position by the Twenty-eighth Regi- ment, and from 1823 to 1829, while the trouble with the Indians lasted, he was busy with his troops repelling the attacks of the savages and pro- tecting the people of the state. He was a member of the legislature from 1824 to 1832, and was speaker of the house in 1828-30. His opposition to Jackson's anti-nullification policy defeated him in 1834, but two years later he was again elected by a large majority. He died on his farm October 24, 1847, seven daughters and one son surviving him. The son, Col. John C. Calhoun Thornton,

centered in him. At the early age of thirteen he lost his father, and was thereafter deprived of the valuable assistance and counsel he would have had from that source. His natural fortitude and self- reliance, however, triumphed over this misfortune, as it did subsequently over many untoward cir- cumstances, and kept him strictly in the line of progress and advancement for which he was des- tined. At the proper time he was placed under the care and special instruction of Alexander Campbell, president of Bethany College, Va., and soon rose to the head of his class. He was especially effective as an orator of great eloquence and logical force, and thereby came to be known as the "stump" speaker and leader of the Democ- racy in the college. At the close of his college course he studied law under the direction of his brother-in-law, Gen. A. W. Doniphan, of Missouri. He was admitted to the bar in due time, and at once removed to Leavenworth, Kan., and later to St. Joseph, Mo., where he formed a law partner- ship with the late Gen. J. M. Bassett. About this time the Civil war broke out, and being a man of strong convictions and loyal to his section, he abandoned his practice and all other business, and joined the armies of the Confederacy. He went into the Missouri State Guards under Gen. Ster- ling Price, and was first engaged in the battle of Wilson's creek, where he commanded a battalion in Gen. Slack's brigade, and was stationed on "Bloody Hill," where the brunt of the battle was felt and the heaviest losses were sustained. His gallantry and fine soldierly ability displayed on this occasion secured him immediate promotion from the rank of major to that of colonel, and the reputation on which his shoulder straps were that day won was gloriously sustained on many a hard fought field during the progress of the war. At the close of the contest he removed to Montana where his wife, whose maiden name was Lou- isa Clementine Archer, and whom he had mar- ried April 28, 1863, and his daughter, Eliza- beth Trigge, joined him in 1866, and found him en- gaged in business with his brother-in-law, R. W. Donnell, of Blackfoot. In 1867 he went to Deer Lodge and formed a law partnership with Lee J. Sharp and Thomas L. Napton, under the name of Sharp, Thornton & Napton, and afterward a simi- lar one with Robinson & Stevens. About this time he became interested in mining, and abandon- ing the law was one of the principal projectors and

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

constructors of the Rock Creek Ditch Company's mining ditches, built to convey water from Rock creek and adjacent streams to the Pioneer, Pike's Peak and Pilgrim bar placer gold mines. He also built the Race track ditch and afterward French gulch ditch, all in different parts of old Deer Lodge county.

In 1875 Col. Thornton removed with his family to Butte, where he engaged for a time in the prac- tice of law, but his mining operations requiring personal supervision he once more abandoned his profession and never again returned to it actively, but during the remainder of his useful, energetic and successful life devoted himself almost wholly to mining and its incidental pursuits.

He died in Butte after a brief illness, September 15, 1887, leaving a stricken widow and eight chil- dren to mourn their irreparable loss. The chil- dren are : Elizabeth, wife of Dr. C. P. Hough, of Butte ; John C. C., Jr., of San Francisco ; Mary D., wife of J. W. Forbis, of Butte; William T., of Butte; Adelaide T., wife of the late F. E. Corkett ; Lucile M., of New York; Caroline M., wife of J. G. Oxnard, of New York; Frances D., of New York.

Besides being a business man of unusual acumen and capacity, Col. Thornton was an industrious reader and close student, deeply interested in all public questions and the affairs of the community, but of so modest and retiring a disposition that he could never be induced to accept a public office of any kind. He was an ardent and unyielding be- liever in the principles of the Democratic party, and by its leaders was frequently urged to become their candidate for mayor, congressman, or some other exalted official station, but invariably de- clined.

In all the relations of life he was a type of the high-minded, upright, considerate and serviceable gentleman. Among the rich he was independent, self-reliant and dignified. To the poor he was courteous, kind in benefactions and cordial in sym- pathy. As a citizen no man stood higher or was entitled to a higher place in public estimation ; and in domestic life he was a veritable sunbeam, brightening and warming and stimulating all who came near him. He left a considerable estate which is ably managed by his widow and her son, William D. T. Included in the estate is the well known hotel of Butte, "The Thornton," con- structed at a cost of $200,000 and opened to the public in May, 1901. It compares most favorably

.with similar establishments of the country every- where, and is known as one of the finest in the northwest, conducted upon the European plan.

DETER THORMAEHLEN .- Numbered among the industrious and successful sheepgrowers of Choteau county, to whose progress he is con- tributing his quota by legitimate industry, Mr. Thormaehlen is properly given representation among other representative men of this section of the state. He comes of German lineage, being a native of Glueckstadt in the province of Holstein, born on July 25, 1868. His father, Ferdinand Thormaehlen, was born in the same province in 1840, and there he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits from his youth to the present time. His wife, whose maiden name was Gretchen Hasback, was born in Holstein in 1842, and is still living. They are numbered among the prosperous and honored residents of their native province.

Peter Thormaehlen received his early educational training in the excellent public schools of his na- tive place, and later secured scientific and technical training by taking a course of study of one year and a half in the agricultural college maintained in Hohemvestedt. He left school at the age of six- teen years and thereafter assisted in the work of the old homestead farm until he had attained the age of twenty years, after which he served three years in the German army. He then passed eighteen months more on the old homestead and then, in 1893, emigrated to the United States. He came forthwith to Montana, locating in Choteau county in July of that year. Here he purchased a squatter's claim on Birch creek in the Bear Paw mountain district, and was there engaged in sheep raising until 1896, when he traded ranches with Charles R. Henderson, and by this exchange came into possession of his present fine ranch property on the Black Coulee, on the southeast side of the Bear Paw mountains and about forty-five miles distant from the Great Northern Railroad station at Big Sandy.

Here Mr. Thormaehlen has a valuable stock ranch of 520 acres and is engaged in the sheep business upon a quite extensive scale, having about 3,000 head at this writing and prosecuting his enter- prise with that energy and ability which augurs well for still greater success. On the ranch large crops of fine hay are also secured each year. Under the

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work and influence of such vigorous and capable young men these more isolated and wilder sections of the state will soon become highly improved and up to the highest standard of attractiveness as places of residence. In politics our young citizen accords an ardent support to the Republican party. He is one of the popular and successful young men of the county.

CHARLES C. THURSTON .- For more than half a century the subject of this sketch has been building houses, providing for the comfort and convenience of men, contributing to the devel- opment and elevation of architectural taste, and pleasing the eye as well as sheltering the form. His work has been essentially and in every particu- lar constructive, and will live after him to proclaim itself to coming generations in his praise.

Mr. Thurston was born at Troy, N. H., January 13, 1828. His father, Leland Thurston, was a na- tive of Greenfield, Mass., but removed to New Hampshire when he was quite young. His ancestry was of good stock in England. When he grew up he was married to Miss Margaret Hutchins, of New Hampshire. They had nine children, of whom Charles was the oldest. He was educated in the public schools of Boston, took a course in a busi- ness college there, and then learned bricklaying, the trade of his father. At the age of twenty-two he left Boston and went to New York, where he carried on the business of contracting and building successfully for a period of twenty-five years. From there he was attracted to Elizabeth, N. J., where he found profitable engagements for a time. He then turned his face towards the setting sun and came west in 1875, locating first at Franklin, Idaho. He remained there one year, and then went to Cali- fornia for one year. In 1877 he went to Salt Lake City and spent a short time, removing from there to Butte, Mont., where he engaged in manufactur- ing brick and contracting and building for six years. He next lived at Helena, where he started the Kessler brick yard which he soon sold out to Mr. Kessler. He then removed to Anaconda, where he has continued to reside ever since, and has been occupied with large contracts in his line from time to time, always busy and always pushing his work as rapidly as was consistent with good workman- ship and durable results. Although carrying on his business on a large scale, Mr. Thurston has never

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 171

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