Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 179

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 179

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JOSEPH H. TINSLEY, father of the foregoing, was born in Hopkins county, Ky., September 12, 1834. He was a son of Basil Tinsley, of South Carolina, and Mary Henry, of Kentucky. His father was married in Kentucky, lived there ten years and then removed to Missouri, locating in Grundy county, where he spent the rest of his life in farming-raising corn and tobacco. Mr. Tins- ley remained at home until 1851, then started farming on his own account, which he con- tinued in that state until 1864, when he left and came overland by ox teams to Montana, and took up a homestead on Willow creek, where he is still living. He has about 500 acres of fine productive land on which he annually raises good crops of hay and grain, and regularly feeds a herd of some 100 or more head of cattle. His ranch is well im- proved and in a high state of cultivation. He was married in March, 1855, to Miss Martha Thomp- son, of Kentucky, and their union has been blessed with six children, one of whom is deceased. Mr. Tinsley is a man of high standing and generally well esteemed in the community.

CLAUDIUS B. TOOLE is one of the pioneers of the state of Montana, prominently identified with the industrial life of this section of the Union, and is a representative of a family that has been most conspicuously concerned in the history of this

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commonwealth. Mr. Toole is a native of the state of Missouri, having been born in Savannah, An- drew county, on October 16, 1844. His father, Edwin Toole, was born in Kentucky, February 23, 1808, and in his youth removed to Missouri, where he eventually engaged in the practice of the law in Savannah and St. Joseph, winning marked prestige at the bar of that state, where he continued to make his home until 1885, when he removed to Helena, Mont., and lived in practical retirement until the time of his death in 1898. He attained the patriarchial age of ninety-one years. Edwin Toole married Miss Lucinda Shepherd Porter, who was born in Shelby county, Ky., in 1811, and was a member of the celebrated Porter family so promi- nent in the annals of Kentucky history. She died at Troy, Kan., in 1879, and of her ten children five are living. As to the conspicuous part taken by members of the Toole family in the industrial development and public history of Montana, we need only refer to the sketches of the lives of Hon. Joseph K. Toole, the présent governor of the state, and E. W. Toole, a representative member of the bar of the state, appearing on other pages of this work, the gentlemen mentioned being brothers of the subject of this review, as is also B. W. Toole, a leading merchant in the city of Billings.

Claudius B. Toole received his educational training in the public schools of Savannah and St. Joseph, Mo., and in private schools in the interior of that state. Soon after the Civil war was inau- gurated, Mr. Toole enlisted for service in the Con- federate army in 1862, becoming a member of the Missouri State Guards, at St. Joseph. He was in the command of Gen. Sterling Price for a period of two years. In 1864 he was captured at Iuka, Miss., while inside the Federal lines, but as he was attired in a civilian's suit of blue he man- aged to make good his escape, though not without much difficulty and hazard. On his return to Mis- souri Mr. Toole began the reading of law at St. Joseph, this being a profession in which the family has distinguished itself, and he continued his studies until he became eligible for admission to the bar of the state, of which he became a member in 1866. In the winter of that year he came to Helena, Mont., and thus gained title to being a pioneer. He remained in Helena for a period of two years, and in 1868 he removed to Kansas, and engaged in farming and stockraising for ten years and also operated a ranch near Helena, Mont., from 1875 to

1878. From 1881 to 1885 MIr. Toole was chief clerk at the Blackfeet Indian agency, under Majs. Allen and Baldwin, and thereafter served until 1889 as deputy collector of customs, under D. G. Brown, being stationed at Sweet Grass, on the Canadian line. At the present time Mr. Toole is a member of the state hoard of sheep commission- ers, which has supervision of the sheep industry in the state and through the interposition of which much has been done to protect and foster this great industry. In 1889 Mr. Toole located on Willow creek, in the Sweet Grass Hills district, Choteau county, where, with government claims purchased and with leased lands he now has a ranch of 5,000 acres, the same being known as the Diamond Wil- low Ranch, by reason of the handsome grove of willows which surround and beautify the homestead site. Mr. Toole controls Willow creek for a dis- tance of ten miles, and through this source and the water supplies from numerous springs in the sur- rounding hills the ranch is most effectively irri- gated at all seasons when needed. For the first three years after locating in Choteau county he de- voted his attention principally to the raising of cattle, but since 1892 he has made the sheep in- dustry his principal field of enterprise, running an average of about 6,000 head, while his herd of high-grade cattle usually numbers about 400 head. In addition to his extensive stock interests Mr. Toole also harvests large quantities of hay each sea- son, and devotes some attention to general farming and gardening.

In politics Mr. Toole gives allegiance to the Dem- ocratic party, and has been active in forward- ing its cause. He is a man of marked in- dividuality, is progressive in his methods, of gen- ial personality, and has gained the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He maintains a public-spirited attitude and is ever ready to lend his influence and aid to every cause or project tending to conserve the material prosperity and advance- ment of his county and state. At Albia, Iowa, in 1876, Mr. Toole was united in marriage to Miss Belle Hazlett Mullen, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of James Mullen, who was one of the pioneers of Iowa, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Toole have three children : Claudia, who is the wife of Cornelius E. Price, a successful stockgrower of Choteau county ; Edwin Bruce, who assists in conducting the home ranch; and Claudius Lucien, who acts as his father's private secretary.

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W ILLIAM P. TODD has no reason to regret locating in the beautiful Gallatin valley, Mont. His home is equipped with every comfort and convenience necessary to a successful prose- cution of agriculture and its various lines, and surrounding his farm residence are commodious barns and other outbuildings. He was born in Macon county, Mo., January 5, 1863. His parents, Hiram W. and Nancy A. ( Mitchell) Todd, were natives of eastern Tennessee. The paternal grand- father, Preston Todd, also a Tennesseean, removed with his family to Missouri many years ago, and became one of the prominent pioneers of the state. He was by occupation a farmer. Hiram W. Todd, the father, followed the same line of business until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he served some years in the army, returned to Missouri and re-engaged in farm work. On May 7, 1879, he left for Montana, by mule team, and was seventy- five days on the road. No trouble was experienced from Indians, but it was a serious matter to sup- ply the mules with feed. He went direct to Gal- latin county, and settled near the mouth of West Gallatin canyon, where for a number of years he engaged in farming, later removing to Elk Grove, nine miles west of Bozeman, where he remained until his death in 1893. A family of eleven chil- dren survived him.

The education of William P. Todd, our subject, was begun in Missouri and completed in the district schools of Gallatin county. Until 1885 he re- mained industriously at work on the homestead, and at that date engaged in business on his own account. In 1893 he secured a homestead in the Gallatin valley, section 22, township 2, south of range 4, east, and for five years operated this property successfully. In the year 1899 he dis- posed of this, and the following season purchased the "Jack Lane" ranch, one and one-half miles southeast of Salesville, comprising 240 acres, well irrigated and very productive for all kinds of cereals.

United in marriage on December 5, 1889, to Miss Addie A. Lemons, of Adair county, Mo., they be- came the parents of four interesting children : Hiram Lester, Ethel A., Thomas Baird and Car- rie M. Mrs. Todd is the daughter of T. G. Lem- ons, who came to Montana in 1879 and settled at the mouth of Spanish creek, Gallatin valley. For a number of years Mr. Todd served efficiently as school trustee. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Yeo-

men. Of the latter order Mrs. Todd is also a member. He is one of the most substantial citi- zens of Gallatin county.

JOSIAH H. TRERISE, assistant superintend- ent of the Montana Ore Purchasing Company, and recognized as one of the representative young business men of the city of Butte, is a native of the upper peninsula of Michigan, having been born at Central Mine, Keweenaw county, on July 26, 1869, the son of Edward H. and Emma Trerise, natives respectively of England and the state of Illinois. Edward H. Trerise came to the United States at the age of nineteen years and located in the great mining district of northern Michigan, where he found employment in the mines and eventually became superintendent of the Central mine. He continued his residence in Keweenaw county for several years, and there was solemnized his marriage. In 1878 he came west to Leadville, Colo., being among the first to reach that mining camp, and there he was installed as foreman of the Iron Silver mine four years, removing thence to New Mexico and locating at Georgetown, where he had charge of the Naiad Queen Mining Com- pany's interests. In 1890 he came to Montana and took up his residence in Helena, where his wife now makes her home. He was in the employ of L. Z. Leiter, the well-known Chicago capitalist, as a mining expert, having charge of the Madi- sonian mine, in Madison county, until his death in September, 1901. It may be stated that he was a representative of Mr. Leiter's interests ever since locating in Leadville.

Josiah Henry Trerise, the immediate subject of this review, accompanied his parents upon their several removals, being the eldest in a family of six children, and was ten years of age at the time of the family's locating in Leadville, Colo., then a primitive mining camp. There he attended a log- cabin school, walking two miles over the hills each day to con his studies in the modest little institu- tion of learning. After the removal of the family to New Mexico our subject was with his father much of the time in the mines, and thus he gained that intimate and practical knowledge of the de- tails of the mining industry that has so greatly conserved his success and advancement in later years. In 1887 he went to Dixon, Ill., where he entered a commercial college, completing a

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course, and later a thorough course in civil en- gineering, remaining in the college for a period of two years. Being thoroughly prepared by specific and theoretical study and by previous practical ex- perience, Mr. Trerise returned to New Mexico and became identified with the mining industry as a surveyor for his father. Incidentally, to perfect himself for the work to which he had chosen to direct his attention as a vocation, he took up prac- tical mining in all its details, without remunera- tion, and thus became an expert in the line. In 1891 Mr. Trerise came to Montana, locating in Butte, where he entered the employ of the Boston & Montana Mining Company under the able man- agement of the late Thomas Couch, in the capacity of chief mining engineer. In this position he con- tinued in the employ of Mr. Couch until 1897, and within this time he did some phenomenal work in connection with the development of the Com- manche mine. In the year last mentioned he be- came associated with F. Augustus Heinze, with whose mining interests he has since been con- secutively identified, being now assistant superin- tendent of the Montana Ore Purchasing Com- pany, the important corporation at whose head Mr. Heinze stands. He is a man of marked ex- ecutive ability and this, with his technical and practical knowledge, has made him a valuable fac- tor in the gigantic operations of the company, while he enjoys the confidence and esteem of both the officials of his corporation and those who are employed under his management.

Mr. Trerise has always taken a lively interest in political matters and has given strict allegiance to the Republican party, whose principles and poli- cies he ardently advocates. Fraternally he is a member of Silver Bow Lodge No. 24, B. P. O. E., in Butte. On February 22, 1895, was consum- mated the marriage of Mr. Trerise and Miss Anna Kingsbury, who was born in Sterling, Ill., the daughter of Asa and Margaret Kingsbury, natives respectively of Massachusetts and New York. Our subject and his wife enjoy a distinctive popu- larity in the social circles of Butte, and their home is one in which the refined amenities are ever in evidence.

W ILLIAM TROTTER .- One of the worthy pioneers of the west and conspicuously iden- tified with an industry that was one of the most im- portant in the early days, that of staging, in which

he operated extensively and successfully for many years, Mr. Trotter is a native of Washington county, Pa., born on November 20, 1836. His parents were William and Mary (Duncan) Trotter, the former of whom was born in Pennsyl- vania and the latter in Ohio. They removed from Pennsylvania to Steubenville, Ohio, remained ten ycars, after which they located at Bentonsport, Iowa, which was their home for many years. He was a tailor and the father of six sons. William Trotter received educational training in private schools in Ohio, and in 1854 became identified with stage driving, continuing at this for. many years. He first began his operations by driving a stage between Keokuk and Des Moines, later driving be- tween Leavenworth, Kan., and the western part of Missouri. In 1859 he joined Johnston's army, and drove an ambulance from Leavenworth to Fort Laramie, making the return trip four months later with government teams. In 1860, as teamster for Stebbins & Porter, he took a load of bacon and whisky to Pike's Peak, Colo., where he remained and again for twelve years was identified with stage driving at a time when it was attended with no little excitement and peril. While Mr. Trotter always carried a gun, he says that he preferred running to shooting, resorting to fire arms only when absolutely necessary. For two years, from 1855, Mr. Trotter was a teamster with the famous Van Amberg circus. In 1872 he removed to Idaho, and engaged in driving stage between Boise and Kelton, Utah. This stage line covered 500 miles, each driver driving fifty miles.

In 1876 Mr. Trotter came to Montana and lo- cated in Boulder valley in the hotel business, con- ducting the hotel at Boulder Springs for six years. The equipments of the baths were then unpreten- tious. Mr. Trotter had a spray bath, made from a gunny sack, and later improvements were made, a drygoods box being used as a bath tub, and it was fenced in for protection, no building being utilized. Some of the patrons took their baths without re- moving their "chaps" or spurs, so that a tub of porcelain or marble was hardly appropriate. Mr. Trotter later, and until 1890, conducted the Boulder House, formerly a stage station but which had been remodeled into an attractive hotel. After remain- ing out of business three months he again took the hotel and, re-naming it the Windsor House, conducted it until June 1, 1901.

Mr. Trotter was particularly fortunate in his stage driving experience of thirty-five years. His

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routes were for the most part in wild sections, where desperadoes were in abundance and hold-ups of frequent occurence. But in all his long experi- ence his stage was molested on only one or two oc- casions, when his passengers were robbed by the road agents, but no one was injured. Once when his stage was held up, a Chinese passenger dropped his "poke" in the straw on the bottom of the stage and thus saved its contents of four hundred dollars in gold dust. Mr. Trotter still maintains his resi- dence in Boulder, where he is held in the highest esteem. In politics he gives his support to the Republican party, while fraternally he is identified with the United Workmen. In June, 1877, he was united in marriage to Mrs. George Stafford, whose maiden name was Sarah Harris, and who was born in Covington, Ky.

H JENRY W. TURNER .- The new potency, electricity, or rather the old potency which has assumed such Protean characteristics within a few years, has laid the human mind under tribute for a new field of activities and has enriched our language with an entire new class of words. Among its devotees who have achieved distinction in that line is Henry W. Turner, of Butte, man- ager of the Butte Electric & Power Company. He was born at Madison, Wis., September 27, 1863, a son of Henry W. and Sarah (Noland) Turner, the former born in New York in 1836 and the latter in Michigan in 1837. The father grad- uated as an M. D., and served four years as a sur- geon in the field during the Civil war. In 1865 he located at Osage, Iowa, where he practiced his profession until his death, in 1876. His widow died at Butte, Mont., April 14, 1900. Mr. Turner was educated at the public schools of Osage, Iowa, and the Shattuck Military School at Faribault, Minn. In 1879 he settled at Ashton, Dak., and engaged in farming for eight years. In 1885 he took a course in shorthand at Yankton, and for a year was stenographer in the United States land office at Huron, S. D. In 1887 he went to St. Paul with the Thomson-Huston Electric Com- pany. He remained there two years and then went to Portland, Ore., as the North Pacific coast agent for the company. In June, 1891, he was transferred to Helena, Mont., in the same capacity, and in September, 1892, came to Butte to take the management of the Butte General Electric Com-

pany, a consolidation of the Silver Bow and Butte Electric Light & Power Companies, now known as the Butte Electric & Power Company. He is a prominent Freemason, holding membership in Butte Lodge, Deer Lodge Chapter, Montana Commandery, Butte, and Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Helena. He was married at St. Paul, Minn., in 1891, to Miss Mary N. Le Beau, a native of Chicago, Ill. They have one child, Frances Marie, born July 15, 1892.

LIENRY C. TURNER .- A product and one of its typical representatives, Henry C. Turner was born near Roseburg, in Douglas county, Ore., March 17, 1857, the son of James S. and Rachel A. Turner, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Indiana. They were among the heroic pioneers who crossed the plains in 1853, and lo- cated in Douglas county, where the father, in part- nership with his uncle, J. M. Eberline, built and operated the first sawmill. The partnership was profitable and continued until 1858, when Mr. Turner purchased Mr. Eberline's interest. Mr. Eberline then gave attention to running the lead- ing flouring mill of the county, better known as South Umpque mills. He was a very good friend to all the emigrants and for that reason is widely known. James Turner continued in the sawmill business until 1872, then disposed of it at a good profit and removed to Coos county, and there spent six years in the meat business. In 1878 he sold this and removed to eastern Oregon where he turned his attention to stockraising. In politics he was a Republican, in church affiliation a Metho- dist, and in fraternal relations a prominent Mason of high degree. He was an enthusiastic member of the order, rendered valuable assistance in spread- ing its influence in this far western country, and was instrumental in organizing lodges in Oregon at Brownsville and Oakland. He had ten chil- dren, and eight are still living: Elizabeth, David N., Joseph L., John F., Henry C., Phoebe H., Ida M. and James A.

Henry C. Turner remained with his parents un- til he reached his eighteenth year, and then began to make his own living. He learned the carpen- ter's trade and soon took contracts in building. This line he continued until 1878, when he became purchasing agent for a California stockman, with whom he remained until 1881. In that year he

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joined the stampede to eastern Oregon, and, secur- ing control of 1,000 acres of land, passed the next ten years in farming with good results. In 1891 he removed to Harney county, Ore., and engaged in stockraising, which he followed until 1899, when he sold out and began trailing horses, going to Idaho, where he remained through the winter and well into the next year. Not finding a location that suited him he drove his horses into Montana, arriving September 24, 1900. In the spring of 1901 he sold his horses, purchased cattle and his present ranch of 160 acres, to which he has added 640 acres of leased railroad land. A good part of his ranch is yielding excellent crops of hay, grain and vegetables. He depends principally, however, on cattle for his revenue, and in raising and hand- ling them is quite successful. His ranch is located near the Beartooth mountains, on Willow creek, twenty-six miles northeast of Helena. Here he conducts a ferry across the Missouri river which is a great convenience to the neighborhood and the traveling public. He was also influential in get- ting the Beartooth and Chestnut valley road lo- cated and built. Politically he is an ardent Re- publican.

On November 15, 1883, Mr. Turner was united in marriage with Miss Elmira B. Mckinney, a native of North Carolina and daughter of William and Hulda Mckinney, also natives of the Old North state, who moved to Oregon in 1881. While in the south her father was engaged in stock dealing and merchandising. He was active in Re- publican politics, and was sheriff of the county in his old home. Since 1882 he has been a success- ful Oregon farmer, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Baptist church. They have eight chil- dren, all living: Jessie O., Moses M., Elmira B., James D., Huldah M., William, Robert and Edith. Mr. and Mrs. Turner have two children : Clyde E. and Leta M. They have lived useful lives and are highly esteemed.

S F. TUTTLE is the present county treasurer of Jefferson county, and was born in Noble county, Ind., on July 21, 1848, one of a family of eight sons and four daughters. His father re- moved from Indiana to Marion and Warren coun- ty, Iowa, in 1849, where he remained engaged in farming and also conducting a saw mill until the spring of 1863. He then crossed the plains to

Denver, Colo., by ox teams, and from there to Humboldt by mule train. One incident of the trip was the fortunate escape of one of the party who permitted his team to lag and was cut off by Indians. The frightened mules stampeded and carried the driver safely to the camp. Going from Denver to Stockton, Cal., Mr. Tuttle remained there for the winter and in the spring he started for Montana with California horses, but at Salt Lake City traded his team for cattle, with which he made the journey to Alder gulch, where he arrived on July 8, 1864, and remained until the fall of 1866. Here he prospected and mined to a considerable extent, then removed to Fish creek, took up gov- ernment land and engaged in dairying, which he conducted until his death in 1870.

S. F. Tuttle and his brother purchased the old homestead which they conducted until 1896, when they disposed of it and removed to Whitehall, Mont., and engaged in the stock and mercantile business. Mr. Tuttle was also interested largely in the Jefferson Valley Trading Company, and one of its directors. He continued at Whitehall until 1900, when he purchased the Belcher ranch at Boulder, and made that the family residence. He still retains his interest in the trading company. He has an elegant residence, fine and commodious barns and a most valuable ranch of 320 acres, thoroughly equipped for the profitable pursuit of the industry in which he is engaged. At present his principal crop is hay, but he purposes shortly to raise blooded cattle. In 1873 Mr. Tuttle was one of the masculine principals of a double wed- ding, W. W. McCall being the other. Mr. Tuttle was united to Miss Derinda J. Butts, of Jackson county, Mo., the daughter of Jonas and Lowanna (Gist) Butts, natives of Jasper county, Miss. Mr. Butts was a planter and in 1863 removed to Ne- braska and later to Colorado and Montana, reach- ing Alder gulch in June, 1864. He resided at Helena for five years, from 1865, and followed min- ing. He then went to Pleasant Valley in Jeffer- son county and followed ranching, exchanging his mining property for cattle, and in this business lie continued until his death in 1873. His wife survived him ten years, dying in 1883. leaving three daughters. Ten children have come to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle: Arthur, on the ranch at Pleasant Valley; Frank W., killed by a frightened horse that fell upon him, crushing out his life; Cora, now Mrs. William Kincaid; an in- fant, deceased; Sherman F., attending the Wes-

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 179

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