Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 31

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 31

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His accumulated capital was being placed on loan, and, his genius for finance drawing him in that direction, in 1886 he sold the greater part of his stock and made a business of loaning money. He had large real estate interests in Great Falls and in 1891 he removed thither, and became president of the Great Falls National Bank, which was or- ganized in that year by John T. Murphy, E. G. McClay and himself. From that time his energies. have been given to conducting this important in- stitution, which has ably demonstrated his capacity for dealing with matters of "large pith and mo- ment," and he stands in the front ranks of the bankers and financial leaders of the

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

REV. JAMES ENGLISH .- One of the de- voted and zealous workers of the Catholic church, one who has been a potent factor in the af- fairs of St. Patrick's church, of Butte, is Rev. James English. The Catholic church has from its beginning had an important influence upon the religious and civic life of Montana, and among its younger representatives Father English well merits consideration. He is a native of Ireland, born in County Limerick, on February 9, 1872, third of the four children of Michael and Catherine (McKeogh) English, both of whom were born in Ireland, where the father devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and where his death and that of his wife also oc- curred. Father English, after educational discip- line in the national and parochial schools, matric- ulated in St. Patrick's College at Thurles, Tipper- ary, in 1891, and there he completed not only thor- ough classical and philosophical courses, but also his theological course, being ordained to the priest- hood on June 18, 1899, by the Bishop of Cloyne. After a vacation of three months Father English came to the United States, arriving in Helena, Mont., in September, 1899. On October 2 he came to St. Patrick's church in Butte, where Bishop Brondel had assigned him to the office of assist- ant priest. He has been zealous and successful in his ministrations and in the work of the parish, and the appreciation of his labors has not been lacking. He is a young man of genial personality and high intellectual attainments and popular with all classes.

ALMER E. ESSELSTYN .- One of the popu- lar and capable young officials of Carbon county is Mr. Esselstyn, clerk of the district court at Red lodge. He is a native of Jefferson county, Wis., where he was born November 8, 1864, being the son of Roderick McL. and Ellen M. (Strong) Esselstyn, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Jersey. The grandfather of our subject was Jacob Esselstyn, who was born in Holland; his wife was a daughter of Roderick McLeod, who was born in Scotland. In 1852 the father of our subject removed to Wisconsin, locating in Jeffer- son county, where his marriage was solemnized a few years later. In his youth he had learned the trade of mason, but did not follow it after his removal to Wisconsin, but engaged in agricul-

tural pursuits and conducted a music store at Aztalan. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he manifested his loyalty to the Union by en- listing in Company F, Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Davies, and pro- ceeded to the front with his regiment and partici- pated in many of the most notable battles of the war, including the engagements at Antietam and Vicksburg. He was wounded while in service, suffered much from the effect of his injuries, being practically an invalid until the time of his death, which occurred in 1879. He received an honor- able discharge from the service on September 13, 1865, having served during the entire period of the war.

Elmer E. Esselstyn, to whom this sketch is in- scribed, passed his school days in his native county and then went to Jackson, Minn., where he entered the employ of two maternal uncles who conducted a large general merchandise business under the firm name of Strong Bros. At the expiration of one year he removed to Minneapolis and held a clerkship in a general store for about two years. He then entered into partnership with Johnie Mur- phy, and opened a tea and fruit store in that city. By reason of ill health Mr. Murphy was compelled to go to California, whereupon our subject closed out the business and shortly afterward came to Montana, taking up his residence in Glendive in the month of October, 1885. Securing a clerical position in a general store, he held the same until tendered a position in the master mechanic's de- partment of the Northern Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at Glendive, and continued in the em- ploy of the company until the year 1900, having been promoted from time to time and retiring after fourteen years of consecutive service, within which time he was in the general office in the city of Helena for a period of eighteen months.

In politics Mr. Esselstyn has ever given alle- giance to the Republican party and taken a deep in- terest in public affairs of a local nature. He served for a number of years as school trustee and was honored by being elected mayor of the city of Red Lodge in 1892, giving a most capable and businesslike administration of municipal affairs and retaining the office for a term of two years. In November, 1900, he was elected to his present position as clerk of the district court, where he shows qualifications which have gained him a rep- utation for executive ability and absolute fidelity to the demands of whatever duties he assumes.

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Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Royal Highlanders, and is also first lieutenant of Company D, National Guard of Montana. His genial personality and his sterling characteristics have made him one of the popular young men of the county, and it may well be said that his circle of friends is large.

On December 31, 1890, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Esselstyn to Miss Laura C. Kagy, who was born in the state of Illinois, being the daughter of John M. Kagy, who is now one of the representative citizens of Bozeman, Mont. Mr. and Mrs. Esselstyn have a winsome little daughter Faie, who was born on October 15, 1892.

"IMEON ESTES .- The men and women who S

came to Montana in the early days and laid the foundation of the present great commonwealth are deserving of distinguished place ; in truth, the his- tóry of the state would be incomplete without def- inite recognition of their sacrifices and trials in overcoming. the difficulties which at that time seemed unsurmountable. And it is to this class that Mr. Estes strictly belongs. He was born in Lewiston, Me., on February 10, 1834. His father, David Estes, likewise a native of the Pine Tree state, devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, owning a farm near Lewiston. His grandfather emigrated from England in an early day, and his sons were numbered among the early settlers in the state. David Estes married Miss Mary A. Grant, a native of Maine, and of their ten children the subject of this review is the third in order of birth. Simeon Estes grew up under the strict teachings of his sturdy parents and such educa- tional advantages as were afforded in those days. He assisted in the work of the farm during the summer months, and in winter pursued his studies in the primitive public schools. After leaving school he learned the trade of painting, and in 1855, on attaining his majority, he severed the home ties and went to Mobile, Ala., believing that he might there find better opportunities for per- sonal success. He secured a position as overseer for Maj. Walker, then engaged in the purchase of damaged cotton, which was carefully reassorted and baled. Mr. Estes remained there until June, 1861, when he returned north, locating at St.

Paul, Minn., where he worked at his trade until 1863, when he started with the Fisk expedition for the great northwest. The company thus organ- ized by Capt. Fisk was a large one, and Mr. Estes drove what was known as the flag wagon. They encountered no serious difficulties with the Indians while en route and arrived in Bannack on August 23, 1863. On disbanding the party, Capt. Fisk presented Mr. Estes with four mules and a wagon, and left in his care a twelve-pound brass howitzer. Our subject opened a feed stable in Bannack, and was thus engaged when chosen to act as a mem- ber of the Vigilance Committee, through the ef- forts of which much was done to rid Montana of the desperadoes and outlaws who infested the ter- ritory. On New Year's night, 1864, while other members of the committee were in pursuit of Buck Stinson and Ned Ray, Mr. Estes, George Dart, George Van Horn, Conrad Bray and William Roe were sent to capture the notorious Henry Plum- mer, whose career in Montana had been marked by many atrocities, but had succeeded in being chosen sheriff of Bannack at a time when he was the leader of the outlaws. He also held appoint-

ment as United States marshal. Plummer was living with his sister-in-law, on Yankee Flat, and when Mr. Estes' party arrived at the house Plum- mer came to the door. He was immediately cov- ered with the guns of the party and pulled out of the door by Smith Ball. He was in his shirt- sleeves at the time, and asked permission to return for his coat. Ball, who was spokesman for the party, refused to let Plummer go for his coat, which hung on the bedpost, while his revolvers were on the bed, and the sister-in-law brought him the coat. He was led across Yankee Flat, and on reaching the opposite side of the creek he seemed to realize his position and begged for mercy. His plea met with no favor ; his captors knew his rec- ord and how many deaths and robberies he was charged with. He was taken to the gallows which he had built for the execution of a mur- derer, the rope was placed about his neck and he soon expiated for his many crimes. It was a very cold night, and the body was soon frozen stiff. Mr. Estes was also prominent in the capture of the Mexican desperado, Joe Pizanthia, for whom the Vigilance Committee had long been searching. He was finally discovered in a cabin, and Sheriff George Copley and his deputy, Smith Ball, went in after him. They covered him with their guns and ordered him to follow them out. After they had

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stepped outside he slammed the door and shot through the cracks, mortally wounding Copley and shooting Ball in the hip. Mr. Estes and George Dart of the Vigilance Committee then brought out the howitzer which Capt. Fisk had left in charge of the former, and three shells were fired into the cabin, one passing through and the other two ex- ploding inside. The Mexican was found on the cabin floor, having been struck in the head by a fragment of shell but still alive. He was taken out and hung by the enraged citizens and his body burned. In the early spring of 1864 Gov. Edger- ton engaged Mr. Estes to transport him and his wife from Bannack to Fort Benton. They made the journey with a four-mule team, and when within three miles of their destination were at- tacked by Indians. Seeing the party in the dis- tance Mr. Estes put his team into a run, but one of the leaders fell, the Indians being not more than three hundred yards distant. Stopping the team Mr. Estes instructed the party to barricade them- selves behind the wagon and prepare to fight, whereupon the Indians rode away. The preced- ing day the same war party had killed eleven men on the Marias river.

In the summer of 1864 Mr. Estes located what is now known as the Shineberger ranch, and there continued to engage in farming and stockraising until 1868, when he sold the property to Mr. Shine- berger and in 1871 purchased of Philip Lovell the Watson Station, being the stage station, post- office, hotel and general store on the old stage line between Salt Lake City and Fort Benton. For some time Mr. Estes had been missing small sums of money and various articles of merchandise from his store, the thefts being committed at night, and he suspected a certain man. There were then about 700 Bannack Indians camped near the store, and in order to detect the thief our subject in- structed his clerk to keep watch of the store on a certain night. Our subject went to bed about II:30 that night, but was soon aroused by his clerk, who said he had shot a man. Mr. Estes went into the store, and there found the dead maurauder to be an Indian. At daybreak he started for the Indian camp to see the chief, whose name was Tindoe. They had left the camp and were moving off, but Mr. Estes followed them and brought Tindoe back to the store. He had also sent word to a lieutenant who was stationed up the valley with about twenty soldiers. The set- tlers were much alarmed, believing the slaying of

the Indian would cause an outbreak. When the chief arrived at the station Mr. Estes showed him the dead body, whereupon Tindoe laconically said : "Indian no good ; he Shoshone, no Bannack ;" and, giving the body a kick, he remarked, "He all same dog." Mr. Estes sent a horse, saddle, bridle and blanket to the father of the dead Indian and gave the chief a pair of thirty-dollar California blankets, which appeased any ill feeling that may have been aroused. The chief told our subject to bury the dead man, and the next year the Indians came and held a dance around the grave, again alarming the settlers, but no trouble occurred.

Mr. Estes still continues his residence at the station, although it was abandoned as a stage post in 1880, when the railroad entered the state. He has a fine ranch of 450 acres, devoted to diversified farming and stockraising. He raises wheat, oats and hay, and has fine cattle and horses. Mr. Estes also has a fine apple orchard on his place, thus demonstrating that fruit can be successfully propa- gated in the valley. His home is located eight miles south of Dillon, his postoffice address. In politics Mr. Estes is one of the wheelhorses of the Democratic party, and has held various offices of trust and responsibility. He has been justice of the peace for twenty years, was a member of the territorial legislature in 1868, serving on many im- portant committees, and was postmaster at Wat- son Station for many years.

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Estes was united in marriage to Mrs. Rebecca Jackson, nee Billings, who was born in Maine, whence she came to Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, where her marriage to Mr. Estes was solemnized. She accompanied her husband to Montana, coming by way of Lander's cutoff and Soda Springs; her death occurred in 1880. On the 3Ist of March, 1881, Mr. Estes married Mrs. Har- riet (Wartham) Oliver, who was born in Spring- field, Ill., the daughter of Joseph and Rutitia (Scherer) Wartham, whom she accompanied on his removal to Utah when she was a child. She was the mother of two children by her first mar- riage : A. Albert and Mary Edna. Our subject and his wife have no children.

ILLIAM S. ERWIN .- Recognized every- where in Gallatin county as one of its thor- oughly up-to-date business men, Mr. Erwin has successfully wrought flattering results in ranching

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and stock raising. His father, George W. Erwin, was one of the pioneers of Illinois, having removed there from New York in 1839, locating in Schuyler county, which he made his future home. In the Mexican war he served gallantly under Gen. Win- field Scott in the United States army for two years, participating in many of the sanguinary battles of the war. With the declaration of peace he returned to Schuyler county, Ill., where he continued the peaceful vocation of a farmer until his death in 1894. His wife, the mother of William S. Erwin, Agnes (Corrie) Erwin, was a native of Schuyler county, and his paternal grandfather, Cornelius M. Erwin, was born in New York.

William S. Erwin attended the public schools, supplementing the instruction there received by at- tendance at Chaddock College, at Quincy, Ill., and by a complete business course at a commercial col- lege at Valparaiso, Ind. He found employment on his father's farm until 1886, when the attractions of the great west appealed to him and he came to the then territory of Montana and located in the Gallatin valley, Gallatin county. Here he found employment on farms and cattle ranches, and in 1890 purchased railroad land on the West Gallatin river, five miles from Belgrade, where he now has an estate of 200 acres, with an additional one hun- dred acres farther up the valley. All of this is practically under an excellent system of irriga- tion. The crop from which he derives his largest revenue is barley. Mr. Erwin has a handsome residence and most substantial outbuildings, every- thing about his place indicating prosperity. His superior intelligence and unimpeachable integrity have won the highest confidence of his fellow cit- izens, and he is esteemed by a wide circle of ac- quaintances. The domestic life of Mr. Erwin dates from April 19, 1894, when he wedded Miss Maisic Kent, of Gallatin county, Mont., daughter of James Kent, a native of Pennsylvania. In 1864 Mr. Kent came from the Keystone state and lo- cated in Gallatin county, where he passed from earth in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin have three interesting children, James Kent, May Agnes and Lewis George. Fraternally Mr. Erwin belongs to the Woodmen of the World, of which order he is a respected and influential member.

JOHN M. EVANS, one of the leading members of the bar of Missoula county, is a representa- tive of one of the pioneer families of Montana, whither he was brought by his parents so young

that practically he may be considered a native son of the state, though in fact he was born in Sedalia, Pettis county, Mo., on January 7, 1863. His par- ents, Philip E. and Mary B. (Powell) Evans, were born in Missouri and Virginia, in which latter state his original paternal American ancestors located in the early days, in the family being influential plan- ters and slaveholders, some of whom subsequently removed to Missouri. The Evans family is of Welch extraction. Philip E. Evans, a farmer and stock- raiser, removed from Missouri to Montana in 1864, making the overland journey with ox teams to Vir- ginia City. He engaged first in mining and later in farming and cattle raising near Deer Lodge, where his death occurred in 1889, and his widow is still residing. All of their five sons and five daugh- ters except one son, deceased, are residents of Montana.

John M. Evans attended the public schools of the city of Deer Lodge, after which he matriculated in the law department of the University of Missouri, where he was graduated in the class of 1887, and admitted to the bar of Missouri. Mr. Evans en- tered upon legal practice in Butte, Mont., in the office of Judge Dewitt, with whom he was associ- ated one year, after which he formed a professional partnership with Judge F. C. Webster at Missoula, this alliance obtaining for one year, since which time he has conducted individual practice. He is known as a forceful and capable advocate, hav- ing a ready command of expedients and showing an intuitive grasp of the salient points in any case. He marshals his facts with military precision and presents a cause with cogency of argument, while he is well grounded in the science and literature of the law.

Mr. Evans retains a representative clientage and is a worthy representative of the Montana bar. He has ever given an active support to the Demo- cratic party, taking a marked interest in the cause. He served as a member and chairman of the Dem- ocratic county central committee, and from 1889 until 1894 he served as police judge of Missoula, in 1894 he was appointed register of the United States land office at Missoula, in which office he served four years. He was nominated for county attorney in 1888, but was defeated by Judge Web- ster, his associate in practice. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. On June 11, 1889, Mr. Evans wedded Miss Helen G. Hastings, who was born in Cali- fornia and their two children are Beverly P. and John M., Jr.

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L O. EVANS, one of the representative young members of the bar of Silver Bow county, has been a resident of Montana from boyhood and has attained reputation in his profession, being a member of the firm of Forbis & Evans, of Butte, whose precedence in litigation concerning the min- ing industry is unmistakable and whose judgment in regard to mining law is considered practically authoritative. Lewis Orvis Evans is a native of Utica, N. Y., where he was born on August 31, 1871, the son of Owen and Emily J. (Church) Evans, both of whom were born in the Empire state, the latter descending from one of its promi- nent old families. They had four children, of whom Lewis was the second. In 1883 Owen Evans removed to Montana, locating in Helena, where he was for many years engaged in business and is now living retired, he and his wife having an attractive home on Ninth avenue.

L. O. Evans attended the public schools of Utica and continued his studies in Helena, being gradu- ated from the high school there in the class of 1887, when he was fifteen years old. He at once matriculated in the celebrated seminary at Caze- novia, N. Y., where he studied for two years, when he returned to Helena and entered the law office of Word, Smith & Word, with whom he continued his technical reading until 1894, when he was ad- mitted to the bar. He was in the active practice of law in Helena until 1896, when he entered the office of John F. Forbis, in Butte, for one year and was then admitted as a partner of Mr. Forbis, with the present firm title. This firm handles the legal business of the Boston & Montana, the Butte & Boston and several other of the largest mining corporations.

The firm has handled some of the most impor- tant mining cases litigated in the Union, notably the Larkin case, which was a cause celebre, and the members are known as able exponents of min- ing law, strong advocates and safe counselors, while they are potential factors in all branches of law. In the litigation between the Butte & Bos- ton and the Boston & Montana Companies vs. the Montana Ore Purchasing Company, Forbis & Evans have conducted all the cases for the two companies first mentioned, and in many Mr. Evans has had entire charge. He personally has mining interests of valuable order and finds his chief recre- . ation in outdoor sports and athletic exercises. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republi- can party.

A LBERT G. CLARKE .- Rising above the heads of the masses there have always been individuals distinguished beyond others,-men who by their forceful personality have commanded the respect of their fellows, and have shown those re- splendant virtues of a lordly race,-perseverance in purpose and a directing spirit which never fails to be obeyed. Among the men of the great west who have marked with deeds the progress of swift-rolling time, and whose names are kept green in the memory of those who had cognizance of their lives and accomplishment, Albert G. Clarke stands sharply out. He was conspicuously identified with the business interests of Helena and with the indus- trial life of Montana from its pioneer days, while his life was guided by the loftiest integrity and honor, and prolific in good works and kindly deeds.

Albert Gallatin Clarke was born in Terre Haute, Ind., on April 7, 1822, of Scottish lineage, his original American ancestor emigrating from Scot- land to Connecticut among its earliest settlers. His father, Thomas H. Clarke, was born in New York in 1793, and was for many years a prominent mer- chant of Batavia. He was drafted in the war of 1812, but secured as a substitute Thurlow Weed, who later became so prominent a historical figure. In Terre Haute, Ind., was celebrated the marriage of Thomas H. Clarke to Miss Mary Dickson, born in Ohio, in 1800, of German and Irish ancestry, and in that Indiana town they reared their six children, of whom only one is now living. The mother died in 1858 and the father on April 19, 1871. Albert G. Clarke received the education given by the public schools, and at the age of nine- teen started out to make his own way in the world, first going to Andrew county, Mo., where he was employed on a farm at $13 per month. He was industrious and economical and in 1849 his savings had accumulated sufficiently for him to open a small mercantile establishment at Savannah, which he conducted until 1858, when he went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he was similarly engaged until 1862, when he transported his stock with ox teams across the plains of Denver, Colo. In that little town he disposed of his goods at a fair profit, and the next year returned to St. Joseph. There, in 1864, he purchased a stock of hardware and crockery, and, loading it on ox wagons, set forth for Virginia City, Mont., where he arrived in due time and opened a store, which he conducted about a year and removed the stock to Helena, which was then assuming a position of some importance.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 31

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