Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 26

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 26

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In 1878, in Helena, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Cullen and Miss Caroline V. Stokes, who was born in Illinois, her father, Clarence B. Stokes, having been a prominent attorney of New York. Of this union five children have been born, Violet, Ernest, Grace, Lilian and Mary. The son, who is associated with his father in practice, is a grad- uate of the literary department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, later took a course at the Law School of Harvard University, and is a young man of signal force and ability.

H ENRY CUSHING .- Among the worthy pio- neers of the great northwest and representa- tive citizens of Dillon, there is none more highly

honored than Henry Cushing, now retired from ac- tive business, enjoying that otium cum dignate, the just reward of a useful and well spent life. Mr. Cushing is a native of the county of Norfolk, Eng- land, where he was born on January 17, 1834, that county having been the birthplace of his father, James Cushing, who was a shoe manufacturer, and of his mother, Dina Foster, whose father was an extensive manufacturer of brick. In the family there were eight children, of whom the subject of this review was the youngest. Henry Cushing re- ceived his educational training in the public schools of Norfolk county, and then devoted five years to learning the shoemaking trade, in which he became a skilled artisan. In 1855 he came to America, and after remaining a short time in Philadel- phia started for the west, crossing the plains with the primitive equipment common to the early emigrants and arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah, in October, 1855. The party of which he was a member had some trouble with the Indians near the south pass of the Platte river, losing all their cattle. They made overture to the chief of the band to return the cattle, agreeing to give him certain provisions in exchange. The chief con- sented to return the lost property, and the com- modities given him in exchange comprised two boxes of crackers, one box of pipes and six boxes of tobacco. Upon arriving in Salt Lake City Mr. Cushing established himself in the shoe business, in which he was there engaged for a period of twenty years, but devoted some time to prospect- ing in the Black Hills in 1864. In 1881 Mr. Cush- ing came to Montana, locating in Dillon, where he engaged in business until 1900, when he retired. In politics he has ever given his support to the Republican party ; his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church ; fraternally he was a charter member of Dillon Lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the official chairs, and of Dillon Lodge No. 7, A. O. U. W., in the organ- ization of which he was instrumental.

In 1855, in the city of Liverpool, England, Mr. Cushing was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Hewett, who was born in Norfolk. They became the parents of eight children, all of whom were edu- cated in the northwest, where the parents have so long maintained their home. William J. Cushing, a representative member of the bar of Beaverhead county, is mentioned in the appending sketch ; Lo- renzo, the second son, went to the Philippines as a member of a Montana regiment; Frank is en-

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gaged in the shoe business in Dillon; Edward is a barber in the same city; Harry is in Alaska, and Harriet is the wife of R. J. Moore.

ILLIAM J. CUSHING .- In the preceding sketch we have briefly outlined the life his- tory of that honored pioneer, Henry Cushing, the father of the subject of this review. William J. Cushing is recognized as one of the representative young members of the bar of Beaverhead county, and it is but consistent that he be accorded definite consideration among those who have added to the prestige of the bar of Montana. Mr. Cushing was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 25, 1876, and received his preliminary education in the public schools of Dillon, Mont., where his father took up his abode in 1881. Here he completed the prescribed course in the high school and was graduated as a member of the class of 1894. In the same year he entered the business college at Dillon, where he completed a thorough course and was graduated in 1895. Ambitious to continue his educational work he matriculated in the Montana State Agricultural College, at Bozeman, in 1895, and there devoted his attention to special studies until the following year when he entered the law department of the University of Denver and pursued his technical studies until 1898 and secured admission to the bar of Colorado. In December of the same year he was admitted to the bar of Montana and located in the city of Butte until the close of the year 1899. On January 2, 1900, Mr. Cushing opened an office in Dillon, and has since been established in the practice of his profession at this point, being thor- oughly devoted to the same, and gained a clientage of representative order. He makes a specialty of mining law, but is well informed on the general sci- ence of jurisprudence; is a close student, unremit- ting in his application and a young man who has shown much ability as an advocate and counsel. In politics he is an ardent Republican and has been an active worker in the party cause. He was the nominee of his party for county attorney of Beaverhead county in the fall of 1900, but was defeated with the balance of the ticket. His religious faith i is that of the Baptist church and fraternally is identified with the Im- proved Order of Red Men, being prophet of his lodge. Mr. Cushing finds diversion in hunting and fishing, which constitute his chief recreation,

He has done some prospecting. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war Mr. Cushing became a member of Company E, First Colorado Infantry, and was made first sergeant; but when the com- mand was mustered into the United States ser- vice he was rejected on account of defective vision. Mr. Cushing is one of the popular young men of Dillon, and his advancement in his profession is assured.

A NDREW JACKSON DAVIS, deceased, who was one of the most eminent financiers the northwest has ever known, was for many years a resident of Butte, Mont., in which city he con- trolled large interests and whose enterprises form an important portion of the history of the state. He was born in Wilbraham, Mass., April 25, 1819. In the opening years of the nineteenth century a young man emigrated from Wales to the United States, and settled at Wilbraham, where he resided until his death at the age of eighty years. This was Asa Davis, father of Andrew J. Davis and twelve other children. Andrew J. Davis had obtained a good common school education at the age of thirteen, and this was supplemented by an early business ex- perience in a dry goods house in the city of Boston. For several years he had looked upon the west as affording better opportunities for a young man than the more congested eastern states, and the young man adopted Horace Greeley's famous advice to "Go west, young man.” At the age of sixteen he was in business for himself at Madison, Ind., and some years later he was trading on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Here he laid broad the foundations of the immense properties that he subsequently acquired. Probably the first "chain of stores" established in any state were located at various points in Iowa by him in 1839, and he successfully operated them for a number of years. During the Black Hawk war Mr. Davis was in Iowa, and purchased from the Indians 800 acres of land on the west side of the Des Moines river, which he developed as a farm. This he retained until his death, and its possession is still in the family. During that time he was still further diversifying his industries by operating in milling and distilling. In 1852 he leased this large farm, and crossed the plains to California, where for a time he engaged in not very successful min- ing. He then returned to Iowa, but soon made a second visit to the Golden state, and explored the

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country north of Puget Sound. From there he came directly to Montana, in the summer of 1863. Before this Mr. Davis had sent into the state a large stock of merchandise, which he sold to mer- chants of the territory. He also engaged in freight- ing and merchandising for a number of years, and later became owner of two grist mills at Gallatin. In the winter of 1866 he took a stock of goods from Virginia City to Helena, and sent another stock into the Gallatin valley. The ramifications of his business increased rapidly. He introduced the first flouring machinery into the Gallatin valley. This was for the Gallatin City flouring mill, which he erected. Since 1864 he had been loaning money on Montana properties, and in so doing had ac- quired such financial interests that he felt obliged to remain and participate in the hardships of the new and rugged territory. By the non-payment of money borrowed on them numerous valuable prop- erties fell into his hands, and thus his business was constantly extending. He purchased the wrecks of twenty-seven mills, converted them into other es- tablishments, and continued to reap golden har- vests. He made the first land entry in Silver Bow district, received the first patent issued there and in 1876 furnished $80,000 worth of machinery for this district. In 1870 he built an extensive foundry at Helena. In addition to these widely varying operations he acquired ownership in a number of quartz mines, among them the Lexington. This proved to be exceedingly rich in both silver and gold. These diverse, extensive and complicated interests were handled successfully by the financial genius of Mr. Davis, who conducted all of them with marked ability, making a record for financial calent never exceeded in the northwest. As an ad- dition to his other multitudinous affairs, during this time he engaged extensively in cattle raising, he and his partner selling their property in that one line for $300,000. In 1881 Mr. Davis sold the Lex- ington mine to a foreign syndicate for $1,000,000 in cash. He retained a fifteen per cent. interest in the new company, and also by an agreement caused the syndicate to expend $613,000 in improvements. In 1881 also Mr. Davis organized the First Na- tional Bank of Butte. Before this he was a large stockholder in the First National Bank of Helena. In 1884 he became sole owner of the First National Bank of Butte, which he successfully operated until his death, March 11, 1890. During his latter years Mr. Davis acquired a number of mining claims. These he disposed of in 1887 to the Butte and

Boston Mining Company for $750,000, he retain- ing one-half of the stock of the new company.

Mr. Davis never married and his immense estate passed into the possession of his brother, John A. Davis. This sketch presents an outline of the ca- reer of one of the master minds of practical busi- ness. In many ways he was the greatest financier of the west. His cares and hardships were multi- fold, but his rewards were great. Some of his operations in Montana were Napoleonic in their breadth and amplitude. Doubtless he was the first millionaire of Butte. His career was one of contin- ual advancement from the time he, a youth of only sixteen years, embarked upon the sea of commerce at Madison, Ind. The business side of Mr. Davis was not the only side of his nature. His successful career was brightened by innumerable acts of gen- erosity and kindness. He was a ready and liberal contributor to a large number of charitable institu- tions throughout the country. By such deeds of kindness he brightened what might otherwise have been a lonely life. The results of his activities speak more effectively of his ability than can any words. He achieved triumphs such as have been won but by few men in America. He left behind a name second to none in the northwest for probity, force of character and business sagacity, and it will be long before his equal will arise in the spheres of his multitudinous operations.

JAMES H. DAILEY .- Among the alert and progressive young men who have cast their lot with the vigorous young commonwealth of Montana is Mr. Dailey, now holding the respon- sible position of state boiler inspector, an office for which he is eminently qualified by intimate profes- sional knowledge of mechanics and his wide and varied practical experience. He is a native of the city of Galesburg, Ill., where he was born on Sep- tember 22, 1860. His father, James Dailey, a blacksmith and engineer, was born in Pittsfield, Mass., whence he removed to Illinois about the year 1848, and then to Creston, Iowa, in 1873. He married Miss Anne Fields, likewise a native of Pittsfield, Mass., and they became the parents of five sons and one daughter, all of whom are living. Four of the sons became engineers, showing an inherent predilection for mechanics. James H. Dailey was educated in the public schools of Gales- burg, Ill., and Creston, Iowa, graduating from the

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high school in the latter city with the class of 1877. Having shown a natural aptitude for mechanics, his first practical work, however, gave slight scope for the utilizing of his talent. He started out to learn the printers' trade, but the "art preservative" demanded of him such close confinement that he abandoned the same and went into the boiler shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, where he learned boiler-making under the direction of R. Holloway, foreman of the shops. He became an expert in the line, but was eventually compelled to give up the work as his hearing was becoming impaired. He was then given a position as engine fireman on the railroad, was thus employed for five years and then assigned to the position of engineer, being thus employed at the time of the memorable strike of 1888, in which he and his three brothers lost their positions. Later Mr. Dailey was sent from St. Paul by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to take charge of their boiler works at Creston, Iowa, where he remained until February, 1891, coming thence to Helena to ac- cept the position of engineer on a dummy engine then utilized in the operation of the street railway system in the capital city. He remained with the company until the electric system was installed, and was the last man to run an engine over the old steam-motor lines. He was then given the position as engineer at the power house, but at the expiration of five months resigned to accept position as engineer of the Bailey building.

In February, 1897, Gov. Smith appointed him assistant boiler inspector of the state, and in this capacity he served through the four years of the gubernatorial term, traveling into all sections of the state and testing and inspecting all steam boilers utilized for any purpose. This position re- mained his until a richly merited promotion came to Mr. Dailey, on March 1, 1901, when Gov. Toole appointed him to his present position as state boiler inspector in recognition of his ability and effective services in the minor position. The com- mission thus held will continue during the four years' administrative term of Gov. Toole.

In politics Mr. Dailey renders stanch allegiance to the Democratic party; has been tendered va- rious offices, which he has invariably refused, hav- ing no desire to become a candidate for public pre- ferment. He is prominently identified with a num- ber of professional and social organizations, in each of which he enjoys marked popularity. He. has been a member of the Brotherhood of Locomo-

tive Firemen since 1883, being one of the oldest representatives of the order in the northwest, so far as years of identification are concerned. He has been master of Mt. Helena Lodge No. 423 for a full decade, and for twelve years has been a delegate to the biennial national conventions held in various sections of the Union. Mr. Dailey is a member of Helena Lodge No. 193, B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, and Helena Lodge No. 2, of the National Association of Stationary Engineers, of which he has been corresponding secretary for eight years ; and has been a trustee of the Red Cross Lodge of the Knights of Pythias for eight years.

On April 22, 1883, Mr. Dailey was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Corrigan, who was born and reared in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas Corrigan, a well known farmer of that state, having formerly been a contractor, in which connection he constructed the canal from Column- bus to Baltimore, Md. Mr. and Mrs. Dailey are the parents of two children : Myrtle M., born in 1893; and Ollie, born in 1897.

M AJ. W. DAVENPORT .- Again we are per- mitted to take under consideration the life history of one of Montana's honored pioneers, and one whose identification with her industrial life has been conspicuous and consecutive. Maj. William Davenport is to be recognized as one of the origin- ators of the sheep industry which now plays so im- portant a part in the material activities of the state, and in the development of the live stock business has taken a prominent and active part. Though he is practically living in retirement in the beautiful capital city of the state, he has interests which place him now among the most extensive sheep and cattle growers in Montana. Back to the Old Dominion runs the lineage of Major Davenport, for his grand- parents on either side were born in Virginia, whence they removed to Bourbon and Fayette coun- ties, Ky., becoming pioneers of that state and there maintaining their home until death.

William Davenport was born in Bourbon county, Ky., on January 17, 1823, and in 1825 his parents, Rice Bullock and Letitia (Musick) Davenport, re- moved to Missouri. Both parents were born in Kentucky and in the same year, 1797. In Missouri Major Davenport grew to manhood, having suclı educational advantages as were afforded in that pe-

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riod, and in 1849 he joined the throng of argonauts making their way to the new gold fields in Cali- fornia, and in that state he engaged in placer min- ing, but within the year following his arrival in the state he became interested in mercantile pursuits in Sacramento, with a branch store at Nevada City, but in 1851 he returned to Liberty, Mo., where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for a num- ber of years, and also engaged in farming for ten years. Disasters and vicissitudes incidental to the Civil war caused the loss of much of his property, and in 1864 he crossed the plains to Montana, arriving in Virginia City in September, and there devoting his attention to merchandising until March, 1865, when he removed to Helena. Here he first engaged in placer mining in Grizzly gulch, but in 1866 the mines became exhausted and he then removed to Diamond City, where he took up a new line of business and duties. He assumed charge of the stage and express office and also engaged in merchandising, keeping his residence there until 1871, when he returned to Helena and established his permanent residence.

Major Davenport, in 1871, became associated with Thomas A. Ray and A. W. Kingsbury and as Davenport, Ray & Co. they turned their attention to the sheep industry, and in that year also they bought the first band of stock sheep ever brought east of the Rocky Mountains, and they prepared to engage extensively in their new business. From this parent organization all the successive sheep · companies in Montana have sprung. The first band of sheep came from near Walla Walla, Wash. In 1874 Davenport. Rav & Co. leased 1,000 sheep to Frank Cooper, at a "lay" of one-half the wool and increase, and loaned him money with which to pay expenses. At the expiration of four years the com- pany received $14,500 as their share of profits and the 1,000 head of sheep which represented the num- ber originally leased. Mr. Cooper is still success- fully engaged in the same line of business and has accumulated a competence. Major Davenport is still one of the large sheep and cattle owners in Montana. He has contributed much to the devel- opment and upbuilding of the livestock industry in the state, throughout which he enjoys a wide ac- quaintanceship and among the residents of which he is highly esteemed. He is a heavy stockholder in the Choteau Land and Live Stock Co., was one of its organizers, while he is also one of the prin- cipal stockholders of the Big Sag Land and Live Stock Co., in whose organization he was an impor-

tant factor; and he is president of the Davidson- Parker Land and Live Stock Co. Major Daven- port was originally a Democrat, but he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, whose prin- ciples and policies have ever since received his sup- port. About 1867 he served by appointment for nine months in the office of the county commis- sioner of Meagher county, but he has never sought nor desired official preferment and the incumbency noted is the only one he has ever retained. Frater- nally he is identified with the Masonic order. In 1853 was solemnized the marriage of Major Daven- port and Miss Rachel Malone, at Liberty, Mo., she being a native of Shelby county, Ky., and of their seven children three now survive: Sally D., wife of A. J. Davidson ; Donnell and Pearl. Major Daven- port possesses superior business ability, sound judg- ment and spotless integrity. His Montana career has been successful from practically his initial venture in the state. In the community in which he resides he has the confidence of all, and throughout the state his name is synonymous with fair dealing and inflexible honesty. He is a man of command- ing presence, bearing his years lightly and standing as a marked specimen of physical strength and vigor, though now nearing the age of four score years. His title of major was acquired in the Civil war, when he served for a short time as major of a Missouri regiment.

I SAAC F. DAVID .- Although a native of Grant county, Wis., Isaac F. David came to live in Montana so early that he may be styled a product of the state. He was born February 22, 1871, a son of Christopher C. and Amanda David. (See his sketch on another page of this work.)

Isaac F. David is essentially a self-made man, having received little education except what he got in the harsh school of experience. From the age of eleven to that of twenty-five he devoted his time to the care of his father's cattle; and from that age to 1893 he was a cattle or range rider. In 1898 he purchased a ranch of 160 acres in the neighborhood of his father's property, it being the well known Babcock ranch. To this he has added a home- stead claim of 160 acres and now controls 640 acres of productive land, having made extensive addi- tions by purchase. He recently conducted a meat, fruit and produce store, which he sold to W. N. Abbott. He is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of

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Pythias, and gives both orders active and service- able support. In politics he is a zealous and ar- dent Republican, giving his time freely to his party and occasionally accepting a place in official har- ness, among them being that of constable, in which office he served acceptably several terms.

Mr. David was married July 19, 1898, to Miss Grace A. Davey, a Californian by birth and daugh- ter of John and Mary Davey, natives of England who settled in the Golden state in its early history. John Davey was a prominent Mason, and both he and his wife were active members of the Meth- odist church. He died in 1878, and his widow is making her home near Utica. Mrs. David is the only surviving child, and is herself the mother of one son, John C. David. She and her husband are members of the Methodist church, and both are well pleased with their present home in the great Treasure state.

G EORGE E. DAVIS .- Among the representa- tive citizens of Bozeman, where he holds the office of county commissioner of Gallatin county, and also that of city counsellor, is Mr. Davis, who has long been identified with the beautiful Gallatin valley. He was born in Aberdare, county Gla- morgan, Wales, on April 17, 1852, the son of Evan and Margaret (Jones) Davis. Evan Davis was born in Llancarvan, in south Wales, and came with . World. At Malad City, Idaho, of May 12, 1879, his family to the United States in 1856. They Mr. Davis wedded Miss Catherine Williams, born at Pomeroy, Ohio, in 1863, the daughter of John T. Williams, who removed to Malad City in 1877, and was an extensive stock grower. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had seven children, the fourth being George, who died in Spring Hill on November 9, 1889, at the age of six and one-half years. The surviving children are Evan V., Martha W., Margaret C., Cornelius, William J. and James Lawrence. stopped for a time in Ohio, and then went to Union county, Ky., where the father engaged in coal min- ing until his death in 1876. His wife, in girlhood Margaret Jones, was born in Wales, and there her marriage was celebrated in 1837. She died in Belleville, Ill., in 1857, when her son George was but five years old. After her death George E. Davis was placed in charge of his sister Margaret, the wife of James Smart, and he was reared in their home and educated in the public schools of Ohio, West Virginia and Montana. He accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Smart from Ohio to Ogden, Utah, in 1863, and in 1865 they removed to Malad valley, Idaho, and four years later took up their abode in Mon- tana, where Mr. Smart devoted his attention to farming and stock raising for nearly a decade.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 26

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