Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 189

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 189

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G EORGE T. BAGGS .- The leading attorney of Stevensville and enjoying a large and lucrative practice in Ravalli and adjoining counties of Mon- tana and Idaho, George T. Baggs has had a some- what picturesque political and professional career. He was born at the busy little grain and fruit mart

of Smyrna, Del., on January 1, 1857, the youngest of the four children of William H. and Sarah M. (Denning) Baggs. He attended the public schools until he was nineteen years old, and on leaving school began teaching, which he continued for two years. In 1877 he came to Montana, locating near Stevensville, where he worked on ranches, in wood camps and in gristmillls for wages, anywhere an opportunity offered or necessity demanded. In 1879 he left the territory, driving an ox team from Helena to Fort Benton and taking passage in a steamer to Bismarck, then on east by rail to his former home, where he served as assistant post- master under his father and began the study of law. In the fall of 1880 he entered the law department of the University of Maryland, completed the pre- scribed three-years course in one year, and was graduated in 1881. He began legal practice at Easton, Md., remaining there a year, when he re- moved to Baltimore and continued his practice in that city. In 1890 he was appointed United States consul to New Castle, New South Wales, by President Harrison, but resigned the office im- mediately upon President Cleveland's inaugura- tion, and again came to Montana, settling at Stevensville, where he has lived ever since and been actively engaged in his legal practice.

In politics Mr. Baggs has always been an ardent Republican, deeply interested in the success of his party, and willing to make any sacrifice of time or comfort for its welfare. While living in Baltimore in 1886, when Maryland was hopelessly Democrat- ic, for the sake of party organization he consented to lead a forlorn hope by accepting a nomination for the state senate, and was of course defeated. And in Montana, although not desirious of polit- ical honors, he has served his county as represent- ative in the legislatures of 1894 and 1900, and in 1877 he was thirty-one days in active military ser- vice against the Nez Perces Indians. Whatever his personal inclinations or interests, he has never withheld from the community, the county or the state any aid he could give to any good public cause. Mr. Baggs was married on October 9, 1895, at Helena, to Miss Agnes T. Towers, a na- tive of Ireland. They have two children, Dorothy and George Towers. Mr. Baggs is a prominent and useful member of the Odd Fellows, and is at this writing (1901) noble grand of Garden Valley Lodge of Stevensville. He finds relaxation from the more serious cares of business in the success- ful management of a ranch which he owns near his

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home town, and in the social enjoyments of his pleasant residence and large circle of friends. In his profession Mr. Baggs has high rank, in busi- ness he is successful and much esteemed, in his party councils he is influential and looked up to as a leader, and in social life he is regarded as one of the genial, companionable men whom it is a pleas- ure to commune with.

EDWARD H. GOOCH .- There are some men to whom difficulty is a stimulus and danger an inspiration. "Flowery beds of ease" would be to them dull and monotonous, if not intolerable. Men of action always find something to do. With an objective to reach, resistance is a pleasure and obstruction but a plaything. They move forward to the goal of their ambition and will not be turned aside. They are only conscious of their power with the passage of time and regard success as a legitimate result, scarcely thinking better of themselves because of it. Of this class is Edward H. Gooch, of Bozeman, one of the most extensive and prominent ranchers of the far-famed Gallatin valley, Mont. The traits which have made his career developed early in life. A wise observer would have picked him out among his schoolmates as one who would in time be master and manager of large affairs and prove a strong factor among men of progressive action.

Mr. Gooch "was bred in old Kentucky," in Bourbon county, where he was born June 6, 1857, one of the eleven children of William G. and Sarah Jane (Grimett) Gooch. His father was also a native of the Bourbon state, and his mother of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Gooch, in company with a brother, came to the United States from England, and settled in Flem- ing county, Ky., where he was extensively engaged in farming and stockraising to the end of his life. The father followed in the way thus opened, be- ginning in his native state, but in the early 'sixties removing to Pike county, Mo., and a few years later to Lynn county. He was an aggressive, vigilant, resourceful man, and full of business tact and energy, and won distinction in financial and official circles, as well as in the domain of agri- culture in his new home. He was elected judge of the county for two successive terms, and served as president of the Linneus bank for more than · eighteen years. His family consisted of five sons and six daughters.

Mr. Gooch spent his school days and young manhood on the homestead in Missouri, but the life did not suit his active mind. He felt that he had a higher destiny, and sought it in the far west. In 1880, when but twenty-three years old, he nerved himself for the struggle and started for Montana, traveling via the Union Pacific Railroad to Ogden, Utah, thence by stage to Butte, where he lingered for a short time and then proceeded to Bozeman. He engaged in freighting to various points along the Utah Northern Railroad, which was then building, continuing at this business for three years and achieving notable success. He then homesteaded his present location, about eight miles from Bozeman, near Middle creek. To the homestead tract he has since added, by purchase, 480 acres, making the present holding 640 acres, one square mile. Besides this he has purchased four and one-half sections of land (2880 acres) across the West Gallatin river near Salesville, par- ticularly well adapted to farming and stockraising, and only about five miles from his homestead. These bodies of land, with the appurtenant neces- sities for improvement to make them productive, gave their owner just the problem required to stimulate his zeal and employ his faculties to their best advantage. He has put the whole of the home ranch under irrigation at an unusual amount of labor and expense, at some places building large flumes to conveythe water ; but by means of this en- terprise he has raised the entire tract to a high state of cultivation, realizing from it annually immense crops of cereals and hay, the grain crop often amounting to as much as 21,000 bushels. On the larger ranch, across the river, part of which is under irrigation, he also raises large crops of wheat and hay; and on the portion which is de- voted to pasturage he has fine herds of shorthorn cattle, often as many as 350 head, and numbers of well-bred Percheron horses, being a firm be- liever in the wisdom of producing nothing in ani- mals but good breeds. When he settled on his homestead he found that all the water from the creeks near by, available for purposes of irrigation, was taken up. Nothing daunted, he set about to supply the deficiency. In partnership with J. D. Johnson, later adding J. J. Henry and David F. Lay, he built the Farmers' canal, conducting the water from the river near Salesville (fourteen miles) to the vicinity of Bozeman, carrying 7,000 inches and irrigating a large section of the land west of Bozeman. He also induced a number of

8. Hlooch

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farmers in the neighborhood to unite and purchase what is known as the Kleinsmith canal, extending from the West Gallatin canyon to three miles south of Bozeman, a distance of eighteen miles, and carrying 4,000 inches of water. He was one of the purchasing committee and a leading spirit throughout the enterprise. The canal was pur- chased for $22,500, and at his suggestion a stock company was organized by the purchasers, he being one of the principal stockholders and a di- rector in the company. He is also one of the stockholders and promoters of the Bozeman Milling Company.

The site chosen for the buildings on the home- stead is admirably adapted to the purpose. It is on a commanding elevation, southwest of Boze- man, and gives the observer a view of almost the entire valley. The residence is substantial and comfortable, and the outbuildings are ample, con- venient and well put up. They are all arranged with regard to a general artistic effect as well as to their every day utility. Mr. Gooch has also a fine residence in the city of Bozeman, which is oc- cupied by the family during the winter months, the summers being spent on the ranches, or in pleasure trips to various parts of the country.

Mr. Gooch arrived in Montana with but little means, but is now one of the wealthy and promi- nent men of the state. He is a living example of what a man of energy, thrift, sound judgment and superior natural ability can accomplish in this great state, which is in her infancy and now offers to all comers opportunity for advancement and prosper- ity, and to the craftsman a ready market for his product. Mr. Gooch stands high in the good opin- ion of his fellow citizens, and is a potential factor in every good phase of the life of his community.

W ILLIAM E. BAGGS .- Modest and unas- suming, but eminently successful and useful, William E. Baggs is a brother of George T. Baggs, of whom extended notice is given elsewhere in this work. He was born August 26, 1854, at Philadel- phia, the third of the four children of William H. and Sarah M. Baggs, who in his childhood re- moved to Smyrna, Del., where he attended the public schools until he was sixteen. At that age. he left the paternal roof and became clerk and salesman in a notion or fancy goods store in Phil- adelphia, leaving it at the end of the year to accept

a similar place in a grocery store. A year later he went to Clayton, Del., in the employ of the Kent County Railroad, serving two years as bag- gagemaster, and nearly as long as conductor. He gave up this place to become assistant post- master of Smyrna, under his father and, after act- ing in that capacity for a number of months, came to Montana in 1877, locating in the Bitter Root valley, and working nine years for Bass Bros., on their Pine Grove fruit farm, their ranch and in their office at Stevensville, where he was chief bookkeeper. At the end of his nine years of faith- ful service he went into business for himself at Stevensville, dealing in groceries, agricultural im- plements and kindred commodities. After two years of independent business he sold out and be- came a bookkeeper for a branch of the Missoula Mercantile Company at Stevensville. He re- mained with this company twelve years, and then became one of the principal corporators of the Stevensville Mercantile Company, which bought out the Missoula company and of which he was made treasurer. In February, 1901, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Stevensville, and severed his active connection with the mercantile con- cern.

Mr. Baggs has been a decidedly potential force in the politics of the county. He is a Republican, and omits no effort on his part which may aid his party, although he is not a bitter or offensive par- tisan. His interest in public affairs arises rather from an ardent desire for the welfare of the com- munity than from intense party prejudice. He is a gentleman of positive convictions, and strictly upright in his efforts to enforce them. He has served his people in all public capacities, as treas- urer of the city, school trustee and in other posi- tions. In religious affiliation he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and in fraternal re- lations he is identified with the Freemasons, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Degree of Honor and the Independent Order of Good Tem- plars. He was married in December, 1883, to Miss Lauretta, daughter of George W. and Louisa Dobbins, prominent farmers in the vicinity of his home, and they were the parents of one child, George M. Baggs, now sixteen years old. Mrs. Baggs died in the spring of 1887. In the winter of 1888 Mr. Baggs was married to Miss Mary L. Stoddard, of Stevensville. They have had five children, of whom three are living-Irene Emily, William Henry and an infant. To the du-

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ties of her beautiful home and to the rearing of her children Mrs. Baggs gives her chief attention, and finds the happiness of her life in the faithful dis- charge of those duties. Both she and Mr. Baggs are highly esteemed as good citizens, congenial companions and sincere friends.

CHARLES W. BAILEY .- Born and reared on a farm and following rural pursuits throughout his life until a recent period, Charles W. Bailey, the interesting subject of this sketch and now the popular clerk and recorder of Rosebud county, gathered stature, strength and fertility of resources which have thus far stood him in good stead in the battle of life. His life began at Detroit, Tex., on Red river, December 19, 1873. His parents, John and Samirius (Moore) Bailey, were natives of Ala- bama, where the former was born about 1822 and the latter about 1831. They removed to Texas when young and there the father followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1873, his widow surviving him a year, and dying in 1874.

Charles W. Bailey attended the public schools in his native place until he was thirteen, and then coming to Montana he found a home on the Mon- tana Cattle Company's ranch on Tongue river, where he worked during the summer months and attended school at Miles City during the winters for five years. The next year, 1891, he worked for the Y. T. Cattle Company ; in 1892 he was on the Terrett ranch. The next year he spent in the employ of the Murphy Cattle Company on the Crow reservation, and from 1895 to 1897 he was again on the Terrett ranch, which he had consid- ered his home for a number of years. In 1897 he bought a ranch of his own on Tongue river, con- sisting of 840 acres, and there industriously en- gaged in the cattle business until he was appointed clerk and recorder of the new county of Rosebud in the spring of 1901. In 1900 he had served as census enumerator of district No. 205, Custer county. In politics he is an ardent Democrat, deeply interested in behalf of his party and always active in its service. Fraternally he is allied with the Masonic order, holding membership in Yel- lowstone Lodge No. 26 and Royal Arch Chapter No. 36, both located at Miles City.

He was married at Salisbury, Mo., in 1898, to Miss Margaret May Duff, who was born in that state May 22, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have

large numbers of friends and are well esteemed in social life. They are active and serviceable in aid of every enterprise for the advancement of their section, and are warmly welcomed in any circle of social, moral or educational workers. Mr. Bailey's success has been steady, constant and gratifying ; and whatever he has achieved is the re- sult of his own assiduous, intelligent and conscien- tious efforts. He was left an orphan in infancy, and has had to make his own way in the world unaided by favors or adventitious circumstances of any kind. In his office he is winning golden opinions from all classes of the people by the fair, manly and intelligent way in which he is adminis- tering its duties and the consideration he exhibits for each of its patrons.

C HARLES A. BAILEY, who conducts a profit- able and well-equipped dairy farm near Big Timber, was born in Abingdon, Washington coun- ty, Va., on September 2, 1858. He is descended from a family that has for many years resided in that state, having originally come from Scotland. His parents were James and Sarah (Stickley) Bailey, both natives of Washington county, who had a family of two sons and four daughters. The paternal grandfather, Robert Bailey, was also a native of the same town, county and state.

The school days of Mr. Bailey were passed on his father's farm, where his life was eminently fru- gal and industrious. In 1875, at the age of seven- teen, he removed to Texas, where he was first in the cattle business and later in general farming. Disposing of his property in 1893, he came to Montana, and joined his brother, Joseph W. Bailey, at Big Timber, and they made their home on the ranch now occupied by them in the Yellow- stone valley, three miles below Big Timber. The first claim was a homestead of. 160 acres, but this property has been largely increased. The broth- ers are heavily engaged in cattleraising, short- horns being the principal variety. Through the ranch runs a ditch four miles long conveying 800 inches of water, which places the entire property under splendid irrigation, and which is controlled by the brothers. The principal crop is alfalfa, and it is no unusual thing for them to harvest 700 tons. Considerable attention has been given to hograising, which has found a source of consider- able profit.

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In January, 1880, Mr. Bailey was married to Miss Mary Brown, of Texas, daughter of William J. Brown, of Missouri. They have six children, of whom Dolly, now Mrs. Samuel A. McGee, resides in Denver, Colo. The others, living with their parents on the ranch, are James, Myrtle, Willian, Mabel and Russell. The fraternal affiliations of Mr. Bailey are with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. His fine home residence is surrounded by substantial outbuildings and other improvements, and everywhere there is an air of prosperity and refinement. Owing to the large supply of water Mr. Bailey is enabled to carry on quite an extensive dairy business in ship- ping cream and butter to Butte.

G EORGE W. BAKER .- Throughout the coun- ty of Sweet Grass, in which he resides, there is no more highly respected person than this gen- tleman, who is esteemed, not only for his many sterling qualities of head and heart, but for his superior intelligence and rare business ability. A New Englander by birth, having first seen the light on December 28, 1840, in Essex county, Vt., he is one of three sons born to Nahum and Clarissa (Cutting) Baker, of the same county. The paternal grandfather was Solomon Baker, who was born in the same county and there resided during his entire life. Nahum Baker subsequently removed to New York, and in 1857 to Minnesota where he remained until 1884, when he came to Montana where he re- sided with his son George until his death on No- vember 24, 1889, at the age of seventy-four years, ten months and twenty-three days. His wife sur- vived him until March 26, 1896, when she too passed away, aged seventy-seven years.

The early life of George W. Baker was passed in New York, where he employed himself on his father's farm and attended the public schools. In 1859, at the age of nineteen, he went to California and there followed mining with fair success, and in 1866 he went to Nevada, and was for the suc- ceeding fifteen years there engaged in mining and freighting. His advent in Montana in 1881 was signalized by his securing a claim and making a home in Sweet Grass county, now comprising 450 acres, well irrigated and of high productiveness. The principal lines of industry he follows are stock and alfalfa raising, in which he has enjoyed unqual- ified success, usually wintering 400 head of Here-

ford cattle. He has 100 head of fine Norman horses including a splendid stallion weighing 1,900 pounds, a thoroughbred, considered one of the finest in the state.

His home is an elegant two-story residence, with mansard roof and supplied with modern conven- iences, where he is surrounded with a large and interesting family. The outbuildings and equip- ments are of the most substantial description. Mr. Baker is a man who exercises a wide and be- neficent influence in the community in which he resides and whose confidence he has to the fullest extent.

Mr. Baker was married on March 2, 1876, to Emma B. Cowles, who was born in Danville, Dodge county, Wis., on August 7, 1850, the daugh- ter of Marcus and Deborah (Doam) Cowles, both natives of Jefferson county, N. Y. The father passed away on February 14, 1874, at the age of seventy-four. The mother was born on August 8, 1804, and died on April 20, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have four children, Pearl, now Mrs. Primus Bruffey, whose husband is a rancher on the Boulder ; Mabel, the wife of Mr. Elmer C. McCon- nell, residing on the East Boulder, and Ralph and Edna.

H ERMAN BALLMEIER .- The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany, where he was born December 24, 1850, the son of Frederick and Frederica Ballmeier, both of the same nativity. Their son Herman was educated in the public schools of his native land and remained at home until he was seventeen years old, working at in- tervals on the farm. In the fall of 1869 he came to the United States, locating in Monroe county, Wis., where he worked as a farm hand for a year and then traveled over the middle western states for a number of years looking for a suitable place to settle. In 1878 he purchased a farm in Weaver county, Minn., on which he lived for five years, at the end of which he came to Custer county (110w Rosebud), Mont., and in 1885 took up a squatter's claim on Rosebud river, twenty-five miles from Forsyth, on the Northern Pacific Railroad, to which he has gradually added until he now has a ranch of 3,440 acres in the beautiful valley through which that river flows. He is largely engaged in the raising of sheep, cattle and horses, having on an average 5,000 sheep, seventy-five cattle and twenty-five horses.

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In politics Mr. Ballmeier is a Republican. He was married in Monroe county, Wis., in 1878, to Miss Sarah Furbrenger, who was there born in 1858. They have four children, namely : Charles, aged twenty ; Louie, eighteen ; Albert, eleven, and Emeline, seven. Mr. Ballmeier has been success- ful in business and is well esteemed in the com- munity.

A LBERT S. BANTA is a worthy scion of an old Holland family whose members had long con- tributed to the progress and advancement of that enterprising country, his branch of which came to America and settled in Kentucky at an early date, imbibed the spirit of that progressive common- wealth, and his own career and achievements have shown the qualities for which his race is noted. He was born in Cooper county, Mo., September II, 1832, the son of Henry and Fanny (Carlos) Banta, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. His grandfather, Henry Banta, was a native of Holland and early settled in Kentucky. His father early removed, in 1861, to California, and remained there until he died. Elbert S. Banta spent the early part of his life in his native state, attending the public schools and assisting on the farm until 1853, when he left for California, returning in 1857. He went to Cali- fornia, overland, but returned by water, traversing the isthmus on foot. They encountered a severe storm that made the timber of their stanch steam- er, the Texas, creak, the captain having boxed his papers ready to throw overboard. Instead of go- ing to New York they finally put in to Norfolk, which they safely reached, while a vessel that they sighted in the storm was believed to have been lost, all perishing. The next morning after they landed, a trunk with a child bound on the top, drifted in; but alas! the little one was dead. In 1858 he went to Colorado, returning the same year.

In 1861 he with his wife, Mary F. (Foster) Ban- ta, removed to Colorado, and after spending a year in that territory, came on to Montana, starting to make the trip in wagons, but later cutting up for pack saddles a part of the wagons and abandoning the rest at Wood river, and from there on de- pended entirely on pack horses. They escaped serious trouble with the Indians, and on August 20, 1862, arrived at Fort Owens, in the Bitter Root val- ley, when Maj. Owens was in command. They re-

mained in that valley until March, 1863, and then removed to Bannack. While residing at Ban- nack, prospecting, an attack was made by the "road agents" upon the Indians in order to attract the attention of the white population, so that they, the "road agents," might rob the town. Several Indians were killed, among them "Old Snag," a chief. The whites knew that the Indians were friendly, knowing who had attacked them and would not believe that they would kill the people in the "Lower District," and would not go to pro- tect them. At night some one, proably a "road agent," cut off the arm of one of the Indians that had been killed; so the ruse failed. After remain- ing in Bannack a month, he removed to Gallatin City. The first Gallatin City (near the Three Forks, at the head of the Missouri river), on the west side of the river where, when Mr. and Mrs. Banta settled there, deer could be shot from their cabin window-was later abandoned for a newer Gallatin City on the east side of the river. The latter place has in turn been abandoned, mostly for Gallatin, a short distance down the river on the Northern Pacific Railway. In November, 1863, he went up the Jefferson, settling on Willow creek, where he lived and followed farming, stockraising and mining at Norwegian gulch until 1887, with the exception of two years spent in California. He then sold out, removing in turn to Elkhorn and Castle and there engaged in prospecting for a while, but without much success. So he again turned his attention to farming and stockraising, locating on Rocky Fork of Clark's Fork, a tribu- tary of the Yellowstone, about two and a half miles west from Carbonado in Carbon county. Here he has a fine modern residence and good barns and other buildings, fences, etc. His ranch is largely under cultivation and yields abundantly of grain and hay. His cattle are main- ly shorthorns and Durhams. The character of his stock, the general appearance of his property, and his standing among the people of his county all indicate that he is a progressive and enterprising man-one of the productive and beneficial forces of the community in which he lives.

In September, 1860, Mr. Banta was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Foster, a native of Virginia, and daughter of Norban and Jane (Ham- mer) Foster, of the same state. Their children are: Claude, a prominent farmer and stockman, near Carbonado; R. Lee married Miss Nettie Clark, and is following the same business as his

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brother and father, on Cow creek, near Carbon- ado; James N. is also engaged in ranching near his father's place, and Lula is the wife of Mr. Boyd, a successful rancher on Rocky Fork, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Two other sons, Henry and Lanius B., the latter a twin brother of Mrs. Boyd, are deceased.

E DWARD L. BARNES, late superintendent of the Diamond R mines, Neihart, Cascade county, and one of the most highly esteemed citi- zens of the place, is pre-eminently a self-made and successful man. To the enterprise of which he was at the head until September, 1901, when he resigned, he brought a long and varied business experience, which, combined with his high integrity, thorough- ly insured the permanent success of the enterprise. He was born in Westchester county, N. Y., July 3, 1846. His parents were Gilbert W. and Eliza- beth Barnes, natives of the Empire state. During the earlier years of his career the father was en- gaged in the iron business ; but later he entered the ministry in the Universalist church, and was an eloquent and successful preacher. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order and a Knight Templar ; politically a Republican. He died in 1897, his wife, the mother of our subject, having preceded him in 1890. They are survived by two children, Clara B. and Edward L.

Edward L. Barnes received an excellent edu- cation, having attended the public schools and uni- versities, and finally being graduated from the Free Academy of New York with honors. At the age of fourteen he entered a cotton and muslin commission house as an errand boy, at a salary of $50 a year, but by diligence and strict attention to business he won promotion and was made ship- ping and receiving clerk with a salary of $600. Owing to the failure of the firm with which he was connected our subject entered a hardware and house furnishing establishment, where he con- tinued three years at a salary of $500. At the opening of the Civil war he was inspired with pa- triotic fervor and enlisting as a private attained the rank of major in 1865, when he was mustered out of the service. He then entered into partnership with his father in the iron business, and this as- sociation was continued twelve years, when he re- moved to St. Louis in the capacity of assistant paymaster and general clerk. Subsequently he

was engaged with the La Clede Rolling Mill Com- pany, with which he remained until 1878, and then accepted the position of cashier with the C. T. Ewing Bank, at Thayer, Kan. In 1879 he became cashier for S. A. Brown & Co., lumber and grain merchants at Chanute, Kan., with whom he remained two years. Returning to Thayer Mr. Barnes engaged in the real estate and insurance business, in which lines he achieved an enviable success.

During the administration of President Har- rison, in 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Thayer, and later he edited and published the Thayer Graphic, a newspaper of considerable cir- culation and influence. He continued in editorial work until 1897, when he removed to North Caro- lina, and for a short period engaged in mining in that locality. It was in 1898 that Mr. Barnes came to Montana, where he spent the following year prospecting. In July, 1899, he accepted his late position with the Diamond R Mining Company, and under his supervision the works made rapid advancement.

On November 17, 1879, Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Etta L. Lyman, of Michigan, daughter of Leroy and Rosa H. Lyman, natives of Living- ston county, N. Y. For many years her father was engaged in the purchase and sale of cattle. To this union have been born two children, Bessie L. and Winifred R. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally Mr. Barnes is a Mason and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Select Knights and the Grand Army of the Republic. Politically his af- filiations are with the Republican party.

A BRAHAM L. BANK .- A native of the old Prussian city of Tilsit, renowned as the scene of Napoleon's treaty of 1807 and long prominent as a seat of extended commerce, where he was born on January 25, 1872, even in his childhood Abraham L. Bank was torn from his native land and transplanted, with his parents and the other members of the family, in the new world, at St. Paul, Minn. Here he attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old, when he entered the store of a leading watchmaker and jeweler at Omaha, Neb., and learned the trade at which he worked eleven years, during which he was also a student of the Omaha Horological Institute

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(school of optics), from which he was graduated in 1894, with the degree of Doctor of Refraction. In 1894 also he came to Montana and took charge of the optical, watch repairing and engraving de- partment of the jewelry establishment conducted in Butte by his brother, Simon Bank, continuing here until the fall of 1896, when he became man- ager of the jewelry department of the Hamilton Drug & Jewelry Company, at Hamilton. In April, 1897, he went into business for himself and is conducting a profitable and constantly increas- ing trade, carrying an extensive stock of valuable commodities, distinguished for fine quality and artistic workmanship.

Mr. Bank is an expert of high order in optics, having been an industrious student of the science and applying the theoretical knowledge to a thoughtful and intelligent practice. He is also a skillful and resourceful mechanic and withal a shrewd and far-seeing business man. These are the elements of a professional and financial suc- cess gratifying but not surprising to his friends. To skill in his art and thrift in his business he adds social qualities of an engaging character. He was married in Butte in September, 1896, to Miss Maude Coulter, daughter of John and Anna Coul- ter, and has two children, Josephine and Reginald. In political affiliation he is a Republican, and fra- ternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Maccabees. He is very progressive and has a fine home and valuable interests in real estate and financial institutions.

JAMES R. BARCLAY .- Beginning life for him- self at the age of eighteen and omitting no ef- fort necessary to make a successful career, apply- ing intelligence and business capacity to his opera- tions, James R. Barclay, of Carbon county, al- though yet a young man, is enjoying the fruits of his industry and thrift in a well-improved and com- fortable home and a firm place in the regard of his fellowmen. He was born in La Crosse county, Wis., April 16, 1866. His parents were James and Elizabeth (McCrindall) Barclay, of whom more specific mention is made in the sketch of William Barclay elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Barclay was educated in the schools of his natice county, and remained on the homestead un- til he was eighteen, when he determined to make his own way in th world, and engaged in farming nearing his home for two years. In 1886 he came

to Montana, and after passing a short time at Bill- ings, went to Red Lodge and prospected the Bear creek country, where he took up some land for the Rocky Fork Coal Company. He remained in that locality five years, at the end of which he con- ducted under lease the Harney ranch near Red Lodge for a year. He then located his present property, six miles south of Bridger, on which he has since resided. His ranch is all under irriga- tion and yields abundant crops of alfalfa, and he has a fine herd of Herefords on the range, a num- ber of Jerseys, and keeps a large flock of sheep. Mr. Barclay takes an earnest interest in public af- fairs. He has been school trustee for a number of years, and is president of the Dry Creek Ditch Association, which has a ditch three miles long carrying 1,000 inches of water. He was united in marriage March 12, 1889, with Miss Clara Hobbs, of Wisconsin, a sister of John G. Hobbs, of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. They have three children: Myrtle Clementine, Gracie Marie and Mary Elizabeth.

W ILLIAM BARCLAY .- Of sturdy Scotch ancestry, and bearing in his own makeup their best characteristics-sturdy where sturdiness is needed, wise where wisdom is essential, self- reliant, resourceful and ever alert, William Bar- clay, of Carbon county, Mont., exemplifies the high qualities of manhood which distinguish the makers and builders of the state. He was born January 3, 1861, in La Crosse county, Wis., a son of James and Elizabeth (McCrindall) Barclay, na- tives of Ayrshire, Scotland, where their families had for generations been prosperous and influ- ential. They came to America in 1851 and settled in La Crosse county, Wis., being pioneers in the state. There the father became a man of great prominence and influence, one of the forceful factors of industrial and commercial promo- tion in the community. He erected and con- ducted a large flouring mill, a cheese fac- tory, and a general store, and also had a model farm in the county, supplied with every de- vice for its work of the latest pattern known at the time, and improved with excellent buildings and fences. He died in 1900, aged seventy-one years. His widow is still living aged about seventy.

William Barclay passed his school days in his native county and remained there some years after leaving school. In 1883 he went to Minnesota,

HECKMAN BINDERY INC.

JUN 92 N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 189

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