Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 32

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 32

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Al Colarks

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

Here he was for a number of years associated in merchandising with Thomas Conrad, and later J. C. Curtin was admitted to the firm, the members of which continued to be associated in business until the death of Mr. Clarke. Their friendship and harmonious business relations have been in- violate during all these long years, within which time their mercantile enterprise attained gigantic proportions. During the later years of his life Mr. Clarke was retired from active business duty.

Mr. Clarke's business sagacity led him to real- ize that there was a great future for the stock- raising industry in Montana. As early as 1864 he brought 300 head of cattle across the plains, in- cluding a number of thoroughbred Durhams. He thereafter continued to be prominently interested in this branch of industrial activity, having at times as many as 6,000 head of cattle. He also accumu- lated much valuable realty, both in city and coun- try, and was largely concerned in the development of mining properties. His advice was held most valuable in business and financial circles, and his integrity was as an impregnable fortress. He was one of the organizers of the Montana National Bank, for a time its vice-president, and one of its stockholders until his death. Thoroughly a man of the people, Mr. Clarke was unwavering in his al- legiance to Democratic principles. but almost in- variably refused a political candidacy. One excep- tion was that for the office of county commissioner, to which he was elected and in which he served two years and resigned it, owing to the demands of his private interests. He was for more than half a cen- tury identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which he had advanced to the Knights Templar degree and he held official preferment in each of the Masonic bodies with which he was connected, while he aided in the organization of a number of Montana lodges. For nearly three score years and until his death he was a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church South, and carried his religion into every deed and action. He was for a number of years a trustee of the church in Helena, contributing liberally to its sup- port. On October 15, 1850, Mr. Clarke was mar- ried with Miss Ann Eliza Burns, who was born in Clay county, Mo., in 1825, the daughter of Jere- miah Burns, and of this union five children were born: Madora, wife of William B. Raleigh; of Helena; Charles A., a prominent business man of the same city; Albert G., a leading member of the Helena bar, and William H., of Chicago. Mrs.

Clarke died at Nebraska City, Neb., in 1865, while on the way to join her husband in Montana. In 1872 Mr. Clarke was united to Mrs. Sarah Meek, whose death occurred three years later, and in 1879 he married Mrs. Sarah C. Morgan, who died on December 9, 1896.

It has been well said that "Few men in Helena have lived a purer or more useful life than Albert G. Clarke." Death claimed this noble spirit on December 23, 1899, in the fullness of his years in a community to whose material and moral advance- ment he had largely contributed, and in his passing away the city of his home sustained the loss of one of its most valuable pioneer citizens.

JOHN H. FAIRFIELD, M. D., the oldest resi- - dent physician of Great Falls, Mont., is a native of Saco, Me., where he was born on August 17, 1856. His parents were John W. and Mary (Hersy) Fairfield, both natives of the Pine Tree state. The father was a sea captain, sailing on transatlantic voyages and between the United States and foreign ports. He died in Maine in 1860. Not long after his death his widow and family removed to Minneapolis, Minn. The pa- ternal grandfather, John Fairfield, was an English merchant, who came to the United States and passed his latter years in Maine, where he died. Dr. Fairfield was but six years old when his mother made the family home in Minnesota and he began the study of medicine in Minneapolis in 1876, and in 1877 he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where, after three years of diligent study, he was graduated with the class of 1880, with the degree of M. D. He then entered the Philadelphia City Hospital as resident physician, remained one year, and returned to Minneapolis, where he continued to practice his profession for another year.

In 1884 Dr. Fairfield came to the site of the fu- ture wide-awake and flourishing city of Great Falls. Then it was merely a townsite, but the few people there were full of hope and great expectations, and Dr. Fairfield established himself as the pioneer physician and surgeon of the city, and he has lived to witness a most satisfactory fruition of those early anticipations, for his practice has in- creased in due proportion with the growth of the town. For a few months Dr. Fairfield resided in Fort Benton, but in March, 1885, he returned to

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Great Falls where he has remained ever since. Here he has built up a most lucrative practice and thoroughly established himself in the confidence of the community. He has also devoted consider- able attention to sheep grazing, having purchased his first band of sheep in 1884. In 1895 Dr. Fair- field was united in marriage to Miss Kathrine Arkell, a native of Canada. They have two chil- dren, Isabel and John W. Dr. Fairfield regards the political situation from a Republican view point. He is a patriotic, broad-minded and pro- gressive man, with a lively interest in the welfare of his home city. He has been honored by an elec- tion as mayor of the city of Great Falls, and was among the first aldermen to be elected. He is now health officer of the city. He is a member of the North Montana Medical Association and of the State Medical Society. As he is one of the oldest physicians in the state Dr. Fairfield is well and favorably known throughout Montana. By all with whom he has been associated he is highly esteemed for his professional ability, sound, prac- tical judgment and conscientious motives.

JOHN H. FARMER (county surveyor of Lewis and Clarke county, and a resident of Helena) first came to Montana in 1886. He was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, August 21, 1854. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Jones) Farm- er, who died in Wales, their lifelong home. John H. Farmer passed his boyhood in England, and he received an excellent education in the Shrewsbury schools, which were founded under Edward the VI. Completing the full course, he was appren- ticed to Horton & Scott, civil engineers, of Bir- mingham, and served with them three years. In 1879 he came to Canada, and entered the employ- ment of the Canadian Pacific Railway, where he was engaged in locating and constructing lines in the western portion of the Dominion until 1886, when he made his initial visit to Helena. He then entered the employment of the Montana Central Railroad, ran the first location of that line from Great Falls to Fort Benton, and later had charge of the long tunnel on that line. One year later he removed to Utalı, and worked on a proposed rail- way from Ogden to Sioux City, Iowa, running the preliminary survey through Utah and Wyoming. At Salt Lake City he was chief clerk and draughts- man of the' Rio Grande Western, and had charge

of the construction of a portion of the line. Re- turning to Helena he passed one year in the office of the surveyor-general of Montana and since then has been engaged in mining engineering. In June, 1889, Mr. Farmer was appointed county surveyor by the county commissioners of Lewis and Clarke county, to fill a vacancy. Politically Mr. Farmer is a stanch Republican, and he mani- fests a lively interest in the county, state and na- tional campaigns. During his long residence in both the territory and the state of Montana he has formed a wide circle of acquaintances by whom he is greatly esteemed.

JOSEPH E. FARNHAM .- As chairman of the board of county commissioners of Custer coun- ty and as prominent in business and stockgrowing, a review of the life of Mr. Farnham is necessary to complete the record of the activities of that sec- tion of Montana. Joseph E. Farnham is a native of Concord, N. H., and was born on the 14th of June, 1853, the youngest of the six children of Hiram and Lucretia (Ramsdell) Farnham. The original American ancestors came from Wales to New Hampshire as early as 1725. Mr. Farnham attended the public schools and, securing a good English education, learned the carpenter's trade. He gave attention to this in his native state until 1883, when, as bookkeeper of the Concord (N. H.) Cattle Company, he came to Montana and located on a ranch on Tongue river, near Miles City. He was also and still is an interested principal in this company, which has ranches on Cottonwood creek and is conducting an extensive business in high-grade cattle. In 1886 Mr. Farnham located on a ranch on the Powder river and there resided until 1893, when he came to Miles City, which is still his home. Here he attended to the office work of several large cattle outfits, and, in April, 1901, purchased the insurance, real estate and live stock business of C. A. Wiley, which he has since conducted with success.

In Republican politics Mr. Farnham occupies a high position, and in the fall of 1896 his clear-cut methods of business and accuracy gamed him the nomination and then an election to the office of county commissioner of Custer county. He is now chairman of the board and has spared no ef- fort to advance the interests of the county. The board has constructed a new wagon bridge across

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Tongue river, erected a new superstructure on the bridge across Powder river, a steel bridge across Mizpah river and let the contract for a fine new bridge across the Yellowstone river. The three commissioners of Custer county were appointed by the legislature to adjust the boundaries of Cus- ter and Rosebud counties, the latter having been established in 1901.

Mr. Farnham is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a trustee and treasurer of the church in Miles City and superintendent of its Sunday school. On the 19th of November, 1885, Mr. Farnham was united in marriage with Miss Minnie E. Parmenter, who was born in Vermont. They have three children-Lucretia, born Decem- ber 16, 1887; Guy E., born July 26, 1893; and Scott, born September 10, 1898.

HARLES FINCH .- Native of Tipton, Cedar C

county, Iowa, where he was born August 5, 1859, a son of Jacob and Maria (Grantier) Finch, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Cat- taraugus county, N. Y. Charles Finch has known much of western pioneer life. His grandfather, John Finch, removed from Virginia to Ohio, and later to Iowa, where he was a pioneer and where he left an estate which is now occupied by some of his heirs. In 1855 Jacob Finch started to Cali- fornia, but prairie fires having destroyed the grass, he was compelled to return to Iowa, where he re- mained until 1864, when he came overland to Mon- tana, making the trip with ox teams. The party met large numbers of Indians, but had no trouble from them. They came by the Bridger cut-off, arriving at Norwegian gulch on August 10, 1864. Here Mr. Finch engaged in prospecting. Many travelers and callers journeyed through the place, none ever passing his cabin without eating. After vainly working for a month to strike a pay streak, he removed to Virginia City and went to work in Alder gulch, remaining until the spring of 1866, mining with tair success. During the flour riot he went after two sacks he had stored at Nevada, and was obliged to defend them with his revolver from two parties of angry men who thought he was going to use them for speculation. In 1866 he removed to Madison valley and engaged in ranching on Jack creek, but soon removed to Ster- ling and a few months later located on Upper Wil-

low creek, and took up the property now occupied by Henry Warner. He did not stay there long. His partner, Walters, a butcher, was accused of buying cartle which he knew to be stolen. A mob threatened them and killed Walters, which Mr. Finch always claimed was a gross injustice. After this occurrence Mr. Finch bought the placer bar in partnership with Dr. Stafford, on Nor- wegian creek, and worked it about four years with poor success. He then moved to Ferguson and soon after, on May 3, 1877, was killed by his horse fall- ing on him. He left a widow, four sons and a daughter. The widow's death occurred in October, 1900.

Charles Finch remained with his father's family till his father died, engaged in prospecting, farm- ing, freighting, etc., having his headquarters on the homestead at Ferguson until 1889, when he en- gaged exclusively in prospecting at Butte, Golden Sunlight, Iron Rod, Silver Star, and other places, with varying success. In 1890 he located in Norwegian gulch, and has remained there since. He had only moderate success until 1900 when he struck a rich vein which he has since worked with good profits. It is a rich property, the shaft is now down ninety feet, and the vein was from twelve to eighteen inches thick from two feet down. The ore runs as high as $350 a ton, the lowest yield being $10 a ton. Mr. Finch married May 2, 1892, Amanda L. Thoms, a native of Chicago, and daughter of Lewis Thoms, of Germany, who emi- grated to America and made Chicago his home. In coming across the plains Mr. Finch saw thous- ands of Indians and has since seen thousands more, but never saw but one Indian in a murder- ous mood, and that was at Sterling in 1867. One had been living in the back room of the Hyde butcher shop, and refused to assist in the work about the place, and during his absence Smith, When one of the firm, threw his blanket outside. the Indian returned and found out who had done this, he seized a long knife and stabbed it through the fleshy part of Smith's arm, whereupon Smith seized a stove hook and beat the Indian over the head. The Indian was never seen after that night, but some years later his skull was found. Mr. Finch is a wide-awake, progressive citizen, in the prime of life, full of vigor and energy, and with apparently many years of usefulness before him. He has the high esteem and regard of all who know him, and loses nothing in public ap- proval as time passes.

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EORGE W. FARR .- A worthy representa-

G I tive of the American type and recognized as one of the able and successful members of the bar of Custer county, and maintaining his home in Miles City, is George W. Farr. He was born on the parental farmstead in Hamilton county, Neb., on the 6th day of July, 1875, the fourth of the five children of Elias and Alvira (Butler) Farr, the former of whom was born in New York and the latter in Vermont, both families having been repre- sented by stalwart patriots in the war of the Revo- lution. Mrs. Farr is now deceased and her hus- band lives in Montana.

George W. Farr entered Hastings College, at Hastings, Neb., in 1890, and studied there one year, paying his expenses by his own efforts. He then was a student in a school maintained by the Methodist Episcopal church at Central City for one year, when he entered the Nebraska State Uni- versity, at Lincoln, and was graduated therefrom in the law department with the class of 1896, and was at the same time admitted to the bar of that state. In the fall of 1896 Mr. Farr came to Mon- tana and took up his location in Miles City, was admitted to the bar of the state and entered upon the active practice of law. His novitiate was of brief duration. He soon acquired professional standing and he has been concerned in much of the important litigation which has come before the courts in his county. He has shown marked power with criminal cases, and was retained in the defense in the Spotted Hawk case and other criminal causes of celebrated order. He has served as counsel for James B. Kempton in rail- road cases, defended and secured the acquittal of the Nichols boys, charged with assault, and has been retained in a number a of cattle-stealing cases which have attracted but very little public attention.

In politics Mr. Farr gives his allegiance to the Republican party. In religion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Woodmen of the World. In the Elks he has served as esteemed lecturing knight, and in the Woodmen as counsellor commander, holding this office two terms. On the 14th of September, 1898, Mr. Farr was united in marriage to Miss Claudia Seiver, who was born in Virginia, and they have two children-Elvira Claudia, who was born on the 16th of June, 1899, and Edgar Wilber, born August 22, 1900.

E "UGENE W. FISKE .- We of the twentieth century cannot afford to hold in light estima- tion the records which bear evidence of worthy lives and worthy deeds of remote ancestors, and he is fortunate who is able to trace his lineage through many generations and find in each a source of pride and satisfaction. The Fiske fam- ily is one of distinguished and ancient origin, the first mention in written record being in an ancient grant made by King John, May 1, 1208, wherein he confirms a grant of land to Daniel Fisc and others in Digneveton Park, Laxfield, county of Suffolk, England. The family modernized its name about 1199, and from public records it is found that Lord Symond Fiske, grandson of the above mentioned Daniel, was located in the manor of Stadhaugh, parish of Laxfield. He was born in 1399 and died in 1422, leaving a will. From this origin the various branches of the family have descended, and though the name has been of vary- ing orthography, there is but one family. Trac- ing the direct line of descent to the subject of this review, the records run from Lord Symond Fiske and his son William through five generations to Nathaniel, who was born in England, whence he emigrated in 1634, but died on the voyage. His widow and family, however, located in New Eng- land, and his son John settled in Watertown, Mass., where he died in 1691. The line then traces through his son, known as Dr. John Fiske, who located in Connecticut ; his son Benjamin was born in Milford, Conn., and removed to Rhode Island, where was born his son Job, in 1711, the last men- tioned being the great-great-grandfather of Eugene W., of this sketch. The great-grandfather like- wise bore the name of Job, and was born in 1767, while his son Jeremiah, was the father of John Manchester Fiske, the father of our subject. The family was granted the right to use a coat of arms by charter of confirmation from the Herald's Col- lege, England, in 1633. The motto is : "Macte

virtute sicitur ad astra." Records extant show that more than 300 representatives of the name served in the war of the Revolution, and more than 500 in the Civil war. Among the distinguished representatives of the family in a collateral line was Hon. Stephen A. Douglas.

Eugene W. Fiske, who is one of the leading contractors of the capital city of Montana, is a native of Boonville, N. Y., where he was born on March 8, 1851, the son of John M. and Eliza A. (Burgess) Fiske, natives of Boonville, and repre-

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sentative of pioneers of the Empire state. The father of our subject received his education in Boonville, and was there engaged in the manu- facture of carriages, sash, blinds, doors, etc., for many years. He is now deceased. In his native town Eugene W. Fiske secured his educational discipline, attending the private high school there conducted by Sebastian Duffy, graduating as a member of the class of 1870. He then found em- ployment in the planing mill and factory con- ducted by his father, and in 1872 went to Minne- sota, joined the engineering corps of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and was engaged in civil engineering for a period of four years. He then located in Minneapolis, where he held a position in a furniture factory, later taking charge of a flouring mill at Waseca, Minn., in the meantime taking a two-years course in bank bookkeeping. Eventually he engaged in the building business, working at the bench and acquiring a thorough knowledge of the details of the business. In 1883 Mr. Fiske located at Athol, S. D., where he engaged in contracting and building until the summer of that year, when he became station and express agent for the Dakota Cen- tral Railroad, a branch of the Northwestern system, retaining this position until the following spring, when he returned to Waseca, where he ac- cepted the office of manager for an extensive lum- ber company, retaining the position until 1888, when he came to Montana, took up his permanent residence in Helena, and engaged in general con- tracting, to which he has since successfully devoted his attention and erected many important build- ings. He is recognized as a man of marked executive and business ability, and his careful and conscientious execution of every contract has gained him prestige as a high representative in his line.

In his political adherency Mr. Fisk is identified with the Republican party ; his religious faith is that of the Protestant Episcopal church, being a communicant of St. Peter's church. Fraternally he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past captain in Patriarchs Militant of this order ; the Knights of Pythias, in which he is a past chancellor ; and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks ; the Lambs' Club and the Montana Club.

On December 30, 1880, Mr. Fiske was united in marriage to Miss Kate I. Bailey, who was born in Wilton, Minn., the daughter of P. C. and Avis

(Slocum) Bailey, both of whom were born in the state of New York. The father removed with his family to Faribault, Minn., in 1856, becoming one of the pioneers of the town, where he was engaged in the hardware business. His wife was a sister of Gen. Henry W. Slocum. Mr. and Mrs. Fiske are the parents of two sons and two daughters: Avis, a member of the class of 1902 in the Helena high school; Kenneth, Gertrude and Birnwood, who are attending the public schools of the capital city.

T THOMAS A. FITZGERALD, M. D .- As an able and worthy representative of the medical profession of Montana we must speak of Dr. Fitz- gerald as one of the progressive young men who contribute to the advancement of the common- wealth through great activity in their respective fields of endeavor. Thomas Allen Fitzgerald was born near Toronto, Canada, on January 29, 1868, the son of James and Anna (Carson) Fitzgerald, natives of Canada and New York. The father was for many years a merchant in Canada, but is now retired, with his residence in Toronto. His family is of Irish extraction, his grandpar- ents having been brought from Ireland to Canada in their childhood, being there reared to maturity and there passing their lives. James and Anna Fitzgerald were the parents of nine children, of whom the Doctor and his brother, Joseph H., are now residents of Montana.

Dr. Fitzgerald received his literary education at Port Hope, Canada, and, taking up the study of medicine upon leaving school, in 1884 he matricu- lated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Toronto, where he completed a thorough and exacting course, graduating in the class of 1889, receiving the degree of M. D. from Trinity Univer- sity in 1888. He was thereafter engaged in med- ical practice in Canada for three years, after which, in March, 1892, he came to Missoula, Mont., where he has built up a large and representative prac- tice as a capable physician and a skillful surgeon. He is a close and unremitting student of the best literature pertaining to the twin branches of medi- cine and surgery, and is a member of the Mon- tana State Medical Society and of the Niagara Medical Society of Toronto. He is a man of ge- nial personality and is held in high regard in both professional and social circles. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World and

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the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. On April 18, 1900, Dr. Fitzgerald was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary E. Metzrodt, who was born in Cheyenne, Wyo., and who adds to his home the charm of her gracious refinement.

D ANIEL A. D. FLOWERREE, one of the men of mark in Montana as a stockman, who for many years was a prominent resident of Helena, is a native of Missouri, born in Ralls county on May 19, 1835, a son of Kimp and Mathilda (Caldwell) Flowerree. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother of Kentucky and in their ancestry were united the Scotch thistle and the lilies of France. Mr. Kimp Flowerree removed to Mis- souri in 1833, and here for many years he was a planter, and in that state he died in 1881. His wife survived him six years, dying in 1887. Of their three sons and four daughters, ail now living, Daniel is the only one residing in Montana. His paternal grandfather was Walter Flowerree, who moved from Kentucky to Missouri in 1822, when the wildness and ruggedness of that state was akin to the condition of Montana in the pioneer days. Here he married a Miss Breckinridge, a member of that distinguished family of Kentucky which by its eminence has shed luster not only on that state but on the nation.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 32

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