Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 185

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 185

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Mr. White is a member of the Montana Pioneers' Association, and takes a deep interest in its affairs. In politics he gives allegiance to the Republican party, and is honored not only as one of the pio- neers of Gallatin county, but as a man of signal in- tegrity in all the relations of life. He has been in somewhat impaired health for a number of years, but has not ceased to maintain active supervision of his farm and other interests. He also owns a fine residence in the city of Bozeman, where the family pass the winter months and the children are afforded superior educational advantages. On June 15, 1863, Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Pamley Roberts, who, like himself, was born in Cornwall, England, shie being the daughter of Matthew and Charity (Waters) Roberts, both natives of Cornwall, where the father was engaged in mining. He came with his family to the United States in 1846, locating in Lafayette county, Wis., where he passed the remainder of his days, passing away in June, 1871, his devoted and cherished wife dying in 1886. They became the parents of fifteen children, of whom ten attained maturity. Of the children we enter the following brief record: Ida

May is deceased ; John F. is individually mentioned elsewhere in this work; Matthew W. resides at Manhattan, Mont .; Harry, who was educated at Valparaiso, Ind., remains on the old homestead ; and Walter, who was educated in the same city as his brother, has a farm adjoining the parental home- stead ; he married Miss Frances Gertrude Roland, daughter of Hon. W. A. Roland, a member of the state legislature from Gallatin county in the last general assembly.

A DOLPH WETZSTEIN .- Holding high rank among the developers and builders of Montana, both in mining and mercantile lines, Adolph Wetz- stein, of Butte, has won his place by substantial service to the people in his various avenues of ac- tivity. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 22, 1865, the son of Max B. and Adeline Wetzstein, natives of Germany, where they were born in 1832. They came to the United States when they were young, and are now prominent residents of Cin- cinnati, where the father has been engaged in busi- ness since 1856. Mr. Wetzstein was educated in his native city, and in 1883 came to Montana, lo- cating at Livingston, where he was connected with his brother, Mentor, in the wholesale liquor busi- ness, but gave the greater part of his time and at- tention to mining industries. He was one of the "originals" at Cook City, and has still considerable property there. He was also one of the first to in- vade the Coeur d'Alene district, and his holdings in that territory promise to be in time very valu- able. At Thompson Falls, Idaho, he started a wholesale liquor business in partnership with Mr. Clark, under the firm name of Clark & Wetzstein, but after a short time sold his interest and returned to Livingston. In the 'eighties he developed a fine marble quarry near Gardiner, Mont., which he still owns, and which will be of great aid in the future development of the state. In 1894 he started a law- suit against the Boston and Montana Company for a fourth interest in the Comanche mine. This suit, which is still pending, involves millions of dollars and has become famous. Mr. Wetzstein identified himself with the wholesale liquor business soon after his arrival in Montana, but his principal ef- forts in the way of business have been in the di- rection of developing mines. He has extensive mining interests in various parts of the state and he is well known among mining men, who are his

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friends by hundreds, as men are in other walks of life.

In politics he is an ardent Republican, and in 1896 was the candidate of his party on the legisla- tive ticket of Silver Bow county, but in that year the Republicans had no show in the state, and the ticket was beaten. On April 11, 1894, he was married to Miss Fannie Shoenburg, of San Fran- cisco, Cal., a native of Oregon City, Ore., and directly connected with prominent families in San Francisco and Portland on both sides of her house.

S 'TEPHEN WHITE .- As one of the pioneers of Montana, one who witnessed some of the most sanguinary Indian tragedies in its history, and one who suffered many hardships in those days of toil, vicissitude and danger, Stephen White can now contrast those thrilling experiences with the peaceful surroundings of his present comfortable home in Gallatin county. He was born in Jo Daviess county, Ill., on August 22, 1854, the son of an Englishman, William White, who came to the United States about 1850, located in Illinois and engaged in farming until his death in 1862. Ten children survived him, all of whom attained mature years. Until 1866 Stephen White re- mained on the Illinois homestead, then started for Montana. The trip was made with ox teams, three wagons forming the nucleus of the train, but, they were joined by others en route. When they arrived on Powder river they had their first skir- mish with hostile Indians, the train guard having one man wounded by a shot. The wagon boss had gone ahead in search of a camping place and not returning, the captain sent forward a searching party of twelve men. This was surrounded by Indians and five of them were killed. The train then waited three days and was joined by other teams until there were 300 wagons. Then they went out to recover the bodies of the emigrants who had been killed and the first day found and buried threc. The next day they discovered the body of the wagon boss, horribly mutilated, with the head cut off, and also two other bodies. These they buried with simple funeral rites. As the train moved on other bodies of murdered plainsmen were found, but they experienced no further trouble, and arrived safely at Gallatin, having taken the Bozeman cutoff. Mr. White at once engaged in stockraising which he has continued

quite successfully. His home ranch comprises 640 acres, upon which he has a fine residence and commodious outbuildings. In 1899 he purchased the Comfort ranch of 320 acres, all under irriga- tion, six miles from Bozeman. This property is devoted principally to stockraising, and he usually winters between 200 and 300 cattle, Herefords be- ing his favorite breed. He also raises horses for his own use. On July 18, 1888, he was married to Miss Lenora Thompson, daughter of Milton D. and Nancy (Pilcher) Thompson, natives of Ohio. They had both come to Illinois when they were children with their parents. Here they remained after their marriage until 1864, when they started for Montana, stopping a few months in Missouri on their way. They came with ox teams, had no difficulty with the Indians and arrived in Virginia City in September, 1864. One month later they came to Helena, where Mr. Thompson conducted a grocery business for two years. The family then returned east for two years, and in 1869 came back to Montana via Fort Benton. They came from Fort Benton by coaches, through a country swarming with Indians, from whom they received annoyances, but suffered no fatalities. They re- mained in Helena a number of years, Mr. Thomp- son engaging in mining operations, and later pass- ing twelve years in Jefferson City. He is now, at the venerable age of eighty, making his home with his son on the Madison river. Mr. and Mrs. White have three children, Jesse, Elden and an in- fant.

J A .. WIEDERHOLD .- In the make-up of her social fabric Montana is not lacking in the sturdy German element which has ever been a powerful factor in the advancement of legitimate industry and the maintenance of law and good gov- ernment. One of the enterprising and successful farmers and stockgrowers of Choteau county, J. A. Wiederhold, claims the German empire as his fatherland, though he has passed the greater por- tion of his life in the United States. He was born in the old town of Hersfeld, on the banks of the river Fulda in the principality of Hesse-Cassel, on January 8, 1859. His father, Conrad Wiederhold, was born in the same place in 1833, and his wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Wilhart. is also a native of Germany, having been born in 1837. 'They now make their home near Geneseo, Henry county. Ill., where they located upon their emigra-

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tion to America in 1877. The father is there de- voting his attention to farming and stockraising and is a prosperous citizen.

J. A. Wiederhold attended the excellent schools of his native town until the removal of the family to America where he completed his education in the public schools of Geneseo, Ill. Thereafter he assisted in the operations of the homestead farm until he had attained the age of twenty-two years, when, in 1882, he cast in his lot with Montana, coming to Twin Bridges, Madison county, and being identified with farming and cattleraising in that locality until 1889, when he located on his present ranch on Dog creek and in proximity to the Bear Paw mountains, being twenty-four miles southeast of the village of Big Sandy, which is his postoffice address. The place is well improved and comprises 640 acres, and here is carried on diversi- fied farming and the raising of cattle and horses of high grade.

Prosperity has attended the efforts of the pro- prietor and he is enthusiastic in his expressions in regard to the industrial advantages of Montana. As a stalwart supporter of the Republican party he takes a lively and active interest in local affairs of political nature and fraternally he still retains membership in Charter Oak Lodge No. 87, MI. W. of A., in the city of Peoria, Ill. On November 24, 1892, at Peoria, Ill., Mr. Wiederhold was united in marriage to Miss Anna Faber, who was there born on November 23, 1860, the daughter of J. F. Faber, who long conducted successful merchan- dising and is now living retired. Mr. Wiederhold and his estimable wife have two children: John Frederick, born on August 21, 1893 ; and Margaret, born on October 12, 1899.

LMON J. WILCOMB .- One of the progressive

dising until 1849, when he joined the throng of argonauts making their way to the gold fields of California. In company with his brother he made the trip by the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in San Francisco before there was a single house erected to mark the siteof that populouscity. He remained in California until 1851, when, on account of the ill health of his brother, he accompanied him to the east. From 1851 until 1864 he operated a trading boat on the Mississippi river, selling the business in 1864 and returning to New Hampshire. He re- sided at Concord until 1872, when he came to Mon- tana and located at the mouth of Alder gulch, where he engaged in mining until 1876, when he began ranching in Beaverhead valley, where he now has his home, and is one of the influential men of Madi- son county. His father, Joseph Wilcomb, was born in Massachusetts, served as a private in a Massachusetts regiment during the war of 1812, and died in 1860. The wife of Eben Thornton was, before her marriage, Clara C. Page. She was born in Thornton, N. H., the daughter of Maj. Osgood Page, a major in the state militia and an influential man of that state, serving two terms in its legis- lature. A number of the family served in the Revo- lution and the war of 1812, and the lineage traces back to Col. Samuel Page, a member of the Conti- nental congress who rendered valiant service in the Revolutionary war.

Almon J. Wilcomb was but seven years old at the time of the removal of the family to Montana in the fall of 1872. After securing such educational advantages as were afforded here he went to Leba- non, Ohio, where he attended the Southwestern Normal Institute, and was graduated with the class of 1887. In 1889 he completed a course of study in a business college at Sedalia, Mo. Returning to Montana in the summer of 1890 he accompanied an engineering corps on the line of the Union Pacific Railroad. In September, 1890, he secured a position in the banking house of Hall & Bennett, at Virginia City, and there remained until the fall of 1898, when the firm organized the Bank of Twin Bridges and placed Mr. Wilcomb in charge as cashier, and this incumbency he has since retained. He has shown himself a capable executive and financier, and the bank is enjoying marked prestige and receiving a representative support.

A and capable young business men of the state and who is holding the responsible position of cashier of the Twin Bridges Bank, a solid financial institution, Almon J. Wilcomb has passed the greater portion of his life in Montana, where his father was an honored pioneer. Mr. Wilcomb was born in Thornton, Grafton county, N. H., on April 10, 1865, and descended from old Colonial stock. His father, Eben Wilcomb. was likewise a native of . In politics Mr. Wilcomb gives his support to the Republican party, and as secretary of the Republi- New Hampshire, who was educated in that state and the city of Boston, Mass., where, in 1845, he . can central committee of Madison county he takes took up his residence and was engaged in merchan- an active interest in the party's welfare, but his

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business responsibilities have been such as to render it impossible for him to consider political prefer- ment. Fraternally he is identified with Beaverhead Lodge No. 32, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed the chairs, and his religious faith is that of the Baptist church, of which he is a member. Mr. Wilcomb is financially interested in a fine cattle ranch of 1,600 acres and also is in the meat business in both Twin Bridges and Rochester. In 1894 Mr. Wilcomb was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Gilbert, born in Virginia City, Mont., where her father, H. S. Gilbert, settled in early pioneer days. Mr. Gilbert has been one of the leading men of Madison county, prominent in politics, and has served several terms as county treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcomb have a pleasant home in Twin Bridges, where a western hospitality is ever in evi- cence.

`HARLES E. WILLIAMS .- This honored pio-

neer of Montana and prosperous farmer of Missoula county comes of sterling old New Eng- land stock. He was born in Franklin county, Vt., near Swanton Falls, on December 26, 1841, the son of Joseph and Roanna (Buck) Williams, both na- tives of Massachusetts, whence they removed to Vermont, and there passed the residue of their lives, the father devoting his attention to agricul- tural pursuits. Their two sons were Charles E. and Alonzo. Charles E. Williams was reared 011 the old homestead in Vermont, with such educa- tional privileges as were given in the public schools. In 1858, at the age of seventeen years, he came to Kansas, locating in Leavenworth for a number of years, though absent much of the time engaged in driving freight teams from Leav- enworth to New Mexico, Colorado and Oregon, and while in this employment he met with many vicissitudes and extraordinary experiences, he escaped many serious encounters with the Indians.

In 1862 he went to Portland, Ore., and passed the winter, in the spring joining the rush of gold- seekers to the mines near Boise, Idaho, and there engaged in mining until 1865, when the discovery of gold in the Blackfeet district of Montana led to a stampede of miners to that section which Mr. Williams joined, but came only as far as Helena, and then engaged in mining in Tucker gulch, on Eldorado bar and in Basin gulch, owning one of the best mines in the last locality. He thereafter made Helena his home for some time, and engaged

in buying and selling horses, purchasing his stock in the Walla Walla country, and also trading with the Indians about Fort McLeod. In 1881 Mr. Williams came to Missoula county, bringing one "of the very first thoroughbred horses brought into this section of the Union. With this animal he won the purse of $1,500 offered for the best horse brought into the state, the competition being de- termined by a speed contest in Helena in 1876, the event creating much excitement throughout the territory and attracting widespread attention.

Upon arriving in Missoula county Mr. Williams located a ranch on Rattlesnake creek, two and one-half miles northeast of Missoula, and here he now has a finely-improved and valuable place com- prising 300 acres, devoted principally to the rais- ing of fruit and hay. On the ranch are more than 6,000 fruit trees, and here also are raised annually about 100 tons of hay. Mr. Williams has been one of the foremost in demonstrating the possi- bilities of fruit culture in this section, and the re- sults have been gratifying in the extreme, while his success has encouraged others to aid in the devel- opment of this important branch of industry. For some time Mr. Williams gave special attention to the breeding of horses of high grade, but in 1890 he disposed of his thoroughbred and standard- bred stock to the late Marcus Daly. In his polit- ical proclivities Mr. Williams espouses the cause of the Democratic party, but he has not taken an active political part and has never aspired to of- ficial preferment. On December 17, 1877, at Helena, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Will- iams to Miss Jennie Carr, born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of William W. Carr, one of the early settlers in Helena and who is now engaged in ranching on Deep creek, in Cascade county. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one son, Edward, who was born on February 3, 1883, and who is now at the parental home.

JAMES C. WIGMORE .- Madison county is fa- vored in having enlisted in the prosecution of her industrial enterprises men of distinctive en- ergy and business ability, and among them Mr. Wigmore has a high position. He was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., on April 8, 1855, the son of Daniel and Catherine (Hurley) Wigmore, the former of whom was likewise born in St. Lawrence county, where he was first a farmer and later a

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hotel keeper. His wife was born in Wales, whence her parents emigrated to the United States when she was a child. Of the family of seven children, James C. Wigmore was the second. He attended the public schools until he had at- tained the age of sixteen, when he began his inde- pendent career by securing work on a farm. In 1878 he removed to Illinois, and was identified with agricultural enterprises for two years, after which he went to Chicago, and secured a position with the Armour Packing & Provision Company for one year, when he cast in his lot with Montana, arriving in this state in 1880. He forthwith be- came identified with the ranching industry in the Madison valley, and in 1885 purchased 320 acres of land in this locality, his present ranch. It is most eligibly located, and has an excellent water right, through the medium of which effective irri- gation is insured.

Mr. Wigmore is engaged in diversified farming, raises grain and hay in large quantities and also clevotes special attention to cattle and fine horses. In 1899 he erected a fine two-story brick residence on his ranch, which is commodious and of pleasing architectural design and recognized as one of the most attractive ranch homes in the county. It is located three miles south of the village of Twin Bridges, his postoffice address. All other im- provements on the place are of the best order. In politics he is stanchly in line as a supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and frater- nally is identified with Knights of the Maccabees. On October 19, 1885, Mr. Wigmore was united in marriage with Miss Lilly Richmond, who was born in Madison county, Mont., the daughter of Reuben Richmond, who was born in Kentucky and became a pioneer of Montana in 1863. In his earlier years he taught school, and during the pioneer epoch in this state was occupied in mining and blacksmithing. Mr. and Mrs. Wigmore have seven children, Mary C., Inez B., Guy, Joy P., Blanche I., Dewey and Russell R.

J OHN W. WILLIAMS, in his pleasant home, near Salesville, Gallatin county, Mont., is sur- rounded by all that makes life worth living, and it is a matter worthy of note that there are few eastern localities more attractive or bearing more indications of genuine Montana prosperity. But our subject is a pioneer who has earned all of this,

as the following sketch of his life amply testifies, the story of a man who, on September 15, 1865, came to the territory with his wife, one child, three yoke of oxen, two cows and sixty cents in money. He was born in Giles county, Va., August 7, 1843, the son of John Burke and Mary E. (Hale) Will- iams, both born, reared and educated in Virginia, as were the paternal and maternal grandfathers, Williams and Hale. The great-grandfather, Burke, came from Ireland to America in Colonial days, and John Burke Williams, the father of our subject, had a cousin named Thomas Kirk, who was an active participant in the Mexican war. In 1846 John Burke Williams removed, with his fam- ily, to Livingston county, Mo., where he continued to make his home until his death, in 1853. While a farmer by occupation, he was a man of superior education, had taught school for a number of years, and had been a captain in the Virginia militia. The widow, and mother of our subject, remained on the Missouri homestead until her death, in 1885, at the age of eighty years.

John W. Williams, one of a family of six sons and six daughters, passed his school days in Mis- souri, and in the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service under Col. Clark, having been mustered in at Spring Hill, Livingston county. Subsequently he went to the southern part of the state and joined the command under Gen. Leonidas Polk. He participated in the battle of Lexington, but owing to physical disability returned home, took the oath of allegiance to the United States government, and remained in Livingston county until 1865, when he came, by ox team, to Montana. The route of the party was from Salt Lake and Green river, via Soda Springs, and on several oc- casions they were placed in peril by threatened attacks from Indians; but they came through without fatalities, arriving at Alder gulch Sep- tember 15, 1865. At this point Mr. Williams re- mained six weeks and then removed to Twin Bridges, passed the succeeding two years engaged in farming, returned to Alder gulch, and in April, 1869, came to the Gallatin valley. Here he se- cured a homestead at Elk Grove, two and one-half miles below Salesville, which he profitably con- ducted until 1888. He then disposed of this prop- erty and purchased land at the mouth of West Gallatin canyon. He has a tract of 560 acres, on which his residence is located, thoroughly irri- gated, and 640 acres additional lying one mile west. Both ranches are devoted to the cultivation

R.W. Williams

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of cereals and for purposes of pasturage. On the upper section Mr. Williams has seventy -five head of horses, some of which are fine specimens of trotting stock, in which he is deeply interested.

On February 18, 1864, Mr. Williams was mar- ried to Miss Margaret J. Cooper, of Livingston county, Mo., a daughter of Charles Cooper, a na- tive of Ohio. Her mother was Emeline Camp- bell, of Kentucky, and her father a farmer, but also engaged in the livery business. He served one year in the Confederate army, under Gen. Price, and was taken prisoner and confined at St. Louis for eight months. Some four or five hours after his return home he was called to the door of his residence and killed. This was in 1863. One of the assassins had followed him from St. Louis, but as about thirty shots were fired into the house it was impossible to identify the actual mur- derer. His wife, formerly Mrs. Kirk, was struck in the neck by a bullet, but not seriously wounded.

To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born nine children, viz: Mary E., now Mrs. C. W. Over- street, a sketch of her husband appearing on an- other page; Charles B., in the Canadian northwest ; Ira T., a farmer, residing near home, as is Jaines F., another brother ; Eva, now Mrs. Dudley, residing at Gebo; Paul, Edith, Lora and Maggie, at home.

Mr. Williams is an influential citizen of Gallatin county, and is held in the highest estimation. He served a term of four years as county commis- sioner, and has efficiently filled the office of school trustee for many years.

G EORGE WOODWORTH .- It is from the life record of the sterling pioneers that will be gleaned the material for the future historian of Montana ; and in the memoirs of this volume, all the essential data gathered during the lifetime of this distinctive class, the student of history and the his- torian will find a wealth of information collated to repay them for their search. Mr. Woodworth be- longs to that class of "old-timers" who cast their lot with Montana in the year 1865, and is now known as one of the successful stockgrowers of Beaverhead county. Mr. Woodworth takes just pride in claiming the old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity, having been born in Williams coun- ty, Ohio, August 31, 1845, being the seventh in a family of nine children, of whom eight are now living. His parents, Josiah and Maria (Snow ) Woodworth, were born in the state of New York,

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 185

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