Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 36

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 36

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Democratic ticket. He is a member of the State Medical Society, of which he was first vice-presi- dent in 1895, and of the Northern Montana Medi- cal Association. In the latter society he has filled all the chairs. Dr. Gelsthorpe was married on March 3, 1887, to Miss Nellie Naston, a native of Minnesota, who died in 1894. He was again mar- ried in Chicago in 1898, to Miss Cora Blodgett, who was principal of the south side schools of Great Falls for some time. The Doctor is a Mason, a member of the order of Elks, and of the United Workmen. Throughout his life Dr. Gelsthorpe has been a public-spirited and broad-minded man and has ever manifested a lively interest in political affairs. His mayoralty administration was emi- nently successful as was his treasuryship of the county. Among the citizens of Great Falls he numbers a host of warm personal friends and is well and favorably known throughout the state.

H ENRY S. GILBERT .- Among those who were intimately concerned in the stirring events of life on the frontier in the early days is Mr. Gilbert, who is not only one of the distinctive "old- timers" of Montana, but was, prior to locating here, a frontiersman of the far northwest. He is a native of the Keystone state, having been born in Berks county on December 31, 1833, the son of Henry and Lydia (Spang) Gilbert, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, where the father operated a gristmill and a woolen factory. The great-grand- father, Mr. Gilbert, emigrated from England to America in 1750, and his son, grandfather of Henry S., born in Pennsylvania, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Spang, the ma- ternal grandfather of Mr. Gilbert, belonged to a prominent family of Berks county and his father was a soldier of the Revolution, in which it was his good fortune to save the life of Gen. Nippen- burg, whom he accompanied to Germany after the declaration of peace. Through the aid and influ- ence of Gen. Nippenburg Mr. Spang made invest- ments in Prussia which made him very wealthy. He never returned to the United States, and the American heirs inherited nothing of his property. · Henry S. Gilbert supplemented the discipline he received in private schools in the academy at Boyertown, Pa., and engaged in teaching for a time and then learned the saddler's trade. He pur- chased the business of his employer and continued

it for two years, when, in 1854, he removed to La- fayette, Ind., and worked at his trade in that state for six months, and then he continued westward to Lawrence, Kan., where he engaged in contract- ing and building, taking contracts from the New England Aid Society. He also took up govern- ment land near Manhattan, Kan., with the inten- tion of engaging in agriculture, but in 1855 re- moved to Missouri, where he followed his trade until September, when he started for the Rocky mountains. Upon reaching Fort Laramie, Wyo., he engaged until 1859 in trading with the Crow and Sioux Indians, and also furnished supplies to emigrants. In the spring of 1858 he was sent to overtake Gen. Johnson's command, then pushing forward against the Mormons, and to supply the soldiers with rations. Mr. Gilbert found it inex- pedient to do this, and stopped at South pass, where he established a trading post and general store and for two years traded with the Snake In- dians. Their chief, Washakie, who was half Flat- head and half Snake, was a great friend of Mr. Gil- bert and gave him many tokens of his esteem. In 1859 Mr. Gilbert sold his store and established a trading post at the foot of the Rocky ridge, in Wyoming, where he built the first wooden house erected there. He traded with the Indians on Wind river until the fall of 1860, when he removed to Fort Bridger, and soon after established a store for Indian trade at Millersville.

On November 20, 1860, Mr. Gilbert was married at Millersville, Utah, to Miss Margaret McMinn, of Salt Lake City. She was born in Nova Scotia, whence she accompanied her parents to Utah. They were converts of the church of Latter Day Saints, but none of their children embraced the Mormon faith. After his marriage Mr. Bridger located on a ranch south of Fort Bridger, and soon after he completed a dwelling on the place. In the spring of 1862 there was an uprising of the Ute Indians, and, as they stole the horses and stock of the settlers and menaced their safety, Mr. Gilbert was compelled to abandon the ranch and return with his wife and their child to Fort Bridger. There he entered the employ of the gov- ernment, putting in a bridge at Ham's Fork, and later became associated with Judge Carter in a contract to furnish hay for the military posts, and to supply beef to the troops, and he was thus en- gaged until the spring of 1863. On August 12th he started for Virginia City, Mont., where he ar- rived on September 1, 1863, and engaged in min-

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ing. Prior to leaving Utah he had supplied the notorious Alf. Slade with wagon, oxen, etc., to bring freight to Montana and he continued to be the friend of Slade until his criminality was discov- ered and he was hanged by the vigilance committee.

Mr. Gilbert purchased two placer claims in Alder gulch, but these proved unprofitable, and he then erected the brewery at Virginia City, which is now the oldest in the state. He has kept the equipment of the plant up to the highest standard, has made improvements and additions as de- manded, and brews a superior product, which finds a ready local sale and also commands a large trade in the territory around Virginia City. He is one of the alert and progressive business men of Madison county and is highly esteemed. In politics Mr. Gilbert is an ardent Democrat, and he has served in positions of public trust. In 1880 he was elected county treasurer and held that responsible office for eleven years. He was assessor of Madison county in 1871, mayor of Virginia City for two terms and an alderman for six terms. Fraternally he is identified with Virginia City Lodge No. I, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert fifteen children have been born. All are living in Madison county, seven being mar- ried and established in homes of their own.

T THOMAS GIBSON is well and favorably known throughout Gallatin county, where he owns a valuable ranch near Central Park. Mr. Gib- son brought to its management ability, energy and industry of a high order and in the successful pros- ecution of any of Montana's industries these are necessary concomitants, and their application has invariably brought prosperity. Thomas Gibson was born in Pulaski county, Ky., on May 4, 1858, one of a family of four sons and five daughters. His parents, Andrew and Polly (Zachary) Gibson, and the paternal grandfather, Thomas Gibson, were residents of Kentucky, and in that state An- drew Gibson was a lifelong farmer. Until 1881 his son Thomas remained under the paternal roof, attended the public schools and materially contrib- uted to the labors of the farm. In that year he came directly to Gallatin county, Mont., and en- gaged in farming, later specially giving attention to sheep raising, which he continued for six or eight years.

During this time he purchased the Doc Cowan ranch and about 1890 changed from sheep to cat-

tle raising, giving particular attention to short- horns and wintering as high as 300 head. His landed property comprises. 720 acres, much of it thoroughly irrigated and capable of producing abundant crops. The breeding of horses has also been a favorite pursuit of Mr. Gibson. He is par- ticularly partial to speedy driving stock, and is rather averse to any one passing him on the road. Mr. Gibson on July 9, 1889, married with Miss Fan- nie Wright, of Kentucky, a daughter of Joseph Wright. The father passed away on February 4, 1901, and the mother resides in Gallatin county with her children. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibson five children have been born, Katie Glen, Francis, Madge, Joseph and Mary Helen. The family of Mr. Gibson are comfortably housed in a fine resi- dence that is surrounded by substantial outbuildings of the better class and everything indicates pros- perity. Cowan creek, which traverses the farm, is the fountainhead for its admirable system of irrigation.

RENJ. F. GIBSON .- A native of Somerset, Pulaski county, Ky., and born on December 24, 1848, the son of Andrew and Polly (Zachary) Gibson, also natives of Kentucky and descendants of old Virginia families, having by inheritance and training the distinguishing characteristics of the chivalry of both the old commonwealths, Benja- min Franklin Gibson, of Central Park, Gallatin county, is a valuable addition to the population of his adopted state. His father was a prominent

farmer and financier of Kentucky, where he re- mained until his death, in 1887. He was then and had been for a number of years president of the Somerset National Bank. He was also an exten- sive landholder of influence and had a high stand- ing in the community. Of his nine children Ben- jamin was the fifth. His early days were passed at the Kentucky home, working on the farm and attending school.

In 1872 when he was twenty-three years old, B. F. Gibson yielded to a long-continued yearning for something different in life from what he had experienced, and traveled by rail to Corinne, Utah, thence by private conveyance to the Gallatin val- ley, Mont., where he worked at freighting for three or four years, then invested in cattle and soon took up a homestead, where he now resides, later adding to his estate by purchasing railroad lands until he now has over 1,400 acres, of which all that

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is necessary is under irrigation. He has improved the place with a good residence, surrounded by beautiful shade trees and shrubbery, supplemented by a plentiful equipment of substantial and taste- fully arranged outbuildings. Here he lives the in- dependent life of a gentleman farmer, raising abundant crops of alfalfa and other grasses, and enough of the cereals to supply his own needs and a considerable quantity for an always ready mar- ket, giving special attention, however, to raising well-bred cattle and horses, shorthorns being his preference in cattle, of which he often has from 500 to 700 head. In 1877 his brother Samuel joined him in the business, and they have since been associated in it as partners. Mr. Gibson married on December 12, 1893, Miss Kate Wright, a native of Kentucky. They have two daughters, Effie and Adele, who add to the sunshine and charm of their happy home, wherein is graciously dispensed a genial hospitality.

H ON. PRESTON H. LESLIE, the last terri- torial governor of Montana and ex-governor of Kentucky, is a highly respected resident of Helena. He was born in Wayne (now Clinton) county, Ky., on March 2, 1819. His father Vachel H. Leslie, a native of Kentucky, was born in 1792, and married Sally Hopkins, of the same state, who was born in 1796. Her father was Den- nis Hopkins, born and reared in Georgia, but later a resident of Kentucky. To Gov. Leslie's par- ents were born ten children, all of whom attained maturity. The Scotch and Welch ancestors of this family were for many years residents of the south, and in the struggle for American independence patriotically served in the ranks of the "Old Con- tinentals, in ragged regimentals," as sung by the late Guy H. McMaster. They at first settled in North Carolina and Georgia, and later became pio- leers of Kentucky. The carly education of Pres- ton H. Leslie was obtained in Kentucky under the old field school system. Later he had the advan- tages of attendance at an academy in Adair county, and began the study of law in 1838 under Gen. Rice Maxey, an attorney of note, a general of militia and the father of Hon. S. B. Maxey, of Texas. In 1840 Judge Leslie removed to Monroe county, as on October 10, 1840, he had been admitted to the bar at Albany, Clinton county, and there began legal practice. Meeting with satisfactory clientage

he remained there until 1859. Later he resided in Glasgow, Barren county, until February 6, 1887, when he came to Montana.

Gov. Leslie was an old-line Whig until 1854. He then joined the Democratic party, and has ever since been unwavering in his fidelity to the princi- ples of that political party. In 1842 he was elected county attorney of Monroe county, Ky., and he served as such until he was elected to represent the county in the legislature in 1844. In 1850 he was again elected to the same position, and in 1852 he was chosen to the state senate, to which dignified body he was again elected in 1867, and during this second term he served as president of the senate. And now and here occurred a singular thing. That year there were vacancies in both the offices of the governor and lieutenant-governor, and by virtue of Judge Leslie holding the office of president of the senate he became governor of the state, and his inauguration occurred on February 13, 1871. Hav- ing served in this high office with rare statesman- ship he was elected governor by the people, receiv- ing a majority of over 39,000, a most gratifying compliment to his ability, integrity and popularity. On September 5, 1871, he was again inaugurated, and he served four years longer, exemplifying the same qualities of head and heart that had so won the hearts of the people. Official duties over, Gov. Leslie returned to his law practice in Glas- gow. After ten years of quiet professional life, in July, 1881, he was appointed by the gov- ernor to fill a vacancy in the office of circuit judge, and in September, 1881, he was elected by the peo- ple to succeed himself in this office also. In Sep- tember, 1886, Judge Leslie was appointed governor of the territory of Montana by President Cleve- land, and on February 8, 1887, he took the oath of office, and served with great acceptability until April 13, 1889. On March 1, 1894, Gov. Les- lie was appointed United States district attorney for Montana, and held that office until March I, 1898. Gov. Leslie has been for sixty-four years a member of the Baptist church, having joined Au- gust 2, 1838. He has frequently represented its local branches in state and national meetings, and has often been called to serve as chairman of their deliberative bodies .. He is recognized as a man of great executive ability, profound legal attainments and as a sagacious and wise man of affairs, and he is universally beloved for his many tender traits of lovable Christian character.

On November II, 1841, Gov. Leslie was mar-

Hon. P. H. Leslie

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ried to Miss Louisa Black, a native of Monroe county, Ky., who died on August 19, 1858. Of their seven children three are now living: Judge J. B. Leslie, of Great Falls; Mrs. Sarah E. Winn, of Santiago, Cal., and Mrs. C. T. Cheek. One child of this marriage, Dr. Joseph H. Leslie, died on December 13, 1900, from exposure in the great Galveston flood. On November 17, 1859, Gov. Leslie married Mrs. Mary Kuykendall, a native of Boone county, Mo., who died on September 3, 1900. They had three children: Mrs. Isabelle Shobe, of Helena ; Dr. R. M. Leslie, of Livingston, and Miss Emily T., who died on December 14, 1890.

ARREN C. GILLETTE .- Ere 1902 becomes a link in the chain of the past, four decades will have passed since Mr. Gillette came to Mon- tana. He has been not an unimportant factor in the development of the localities in which.he has resided, and is one of the worthy pioneers of the state, recognized as a prosperous stockgrower on Dearborn river in the vicinity of Craig. The men- tal, moral, social and material advancement of the state has ever received his support, and he has served in positions of trust and responsibility. Mr. Gillette was born in Orleans, Ontario county, N. Y., on March 10, 1832. His original American an- cestors were French Huguenots, who located in Connecticut. There was born in 1802 Orimel Gil- lette, father of our Montana pioneer, and his father, Caleb Gillette, was likewise a native of Connecticut. In early manhood Orimel Gillette removed to New York, where he married Miss Julia E. Ferris, born in that state. They settled . in Oneida county, where the father for many years practiced medicine, living to the age of four score years, his wife passing away at the age of sixty. Of their two sons and three daughters, Warren C. was the eldest, and is the only survivor. He has never married, nor did his sister, Eliza P., who was his housekeeper and devoted companion until her death in 1897.

Warren Caleb Gillette, after attending the pub- lic schools, pursued his studies in Oberlin College, Ohio, leaving that institution in 1850 and staying for a time in Columbus, after which he re- turned to New York and was a clerk in Oneida county until 1855, when he removed to Chicago and entered the employ of E. R. Kellogg & Co.,

wholesale hatters and furriers, continuing with this firm until 1859, when he engaged in the same line of business as a retailer at Galena, Ill., conducting the enterprise two years. In the summer of 1861 Mr. Gillette once more returned east and was en- gaged in the manufacture of furs in New York city until the spring of 1862, when the discovery of gold in Montana led him hither. His intention. was to make Salmon river his destination, and at St. Louis he embarked on the steamer "Shreve- port" and came up the Missouri, disembarking between the mouth of the Milk river and old Fort Union, as low water prevented further progress by boat. After remaining in camp about a week the party started overland to Fort Benton. Two days later they met a large band of Assinniboine and Crow Indians, and the younger ones were inclined to stop the party's journey up the river, while some of the older chiefs were in favor of the emigrants doing as they pleased. The Indians concluded to hold a council and determine the course to be pur- sued, which was held that night, but the emigrants had decided to return to their camp on Milk river, and in the morning turned their teams in that di- rection, whereupon the Indians informed them that they must go up the river, as the council had de- cided that they could do so, and they insisted that the white men ought not now turn back. So go- ing toward Fort Benton they arrived there in September, but soon went on to the old town of Montana City on Little Prickly Pear creek, where they went into camp, which they called Camp In- decision, because they here learned of the discov- ery of gold at Bannack, and waited here until they could send a delegation and learn the true state of affairs at Bannack and its attractions as a place of settlement. They, however, remained here until their belated supplies came to Fort Benton and they then transported them with mule and ox teams to Deer Lodge, once known as LaBarge City. Here M. Gillette purchased a cabin of C. A. Broad- water, intending to occupy it as a store, but as Bannack was far more prosperous he proceeded to Bannack, where he arrived in December, 1862. He brought his stock of goods, an assortment of miners' supplies, from Fort Benton to Bannack in three trips, bringing the goods in on pack horses. On one of these trips the Indians stole all of his horses while he was encamped on Sun river not far from the site of Great Falls. He re- covered nearly one-half of the animals, and ob- tained enough more from the American Fur Co.

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to enable him to continue his trip to Bannack. A year later he transferred his stock to Alder gulch, where gold was discovered in 1863, and was in gen- eral trade in Virginia City until 1865, being associ- ated with James King.

Upon the discovery of gold in Last Chance gulch they brought their stock to Helena, following the rush of miners thither. Here King & Gillette were in the freighting and mercantile business from 1865 until 1869, and were in partnership in mining oper- ations until 1877. These earlier trips were at- tended with great danger from both Indians and road agents and Mr. Gillette had plenty of ex- citing experiences and narrow escapes. He was one of the early promoters of placer mining at Diamond City, and a service of great public bene- fit was rendered by King & Gillette in their her- culean task of opening the toll road of ten miles down Little Prickly Pear canyon. The toll road saved the travelers on the road between Helena and Fort Benton from crossing Medicine Rock and Lyon mountains, as it went down the canyon on the present route of the Montana Central Rail- road. This important work was of inestimable value to the miners and other settlers. The avail- able equipment for the construction of this road consisted of two plows, for which they paid $175 each, and picks and shovels. The road was com- pleted in 1866 at a cost of $40,000 and this amount was obtained from tolls within two years. Later the travel declined, but the road was kept up until the expiration of the charter, in 1875. King & Gillette were among the largest operators in Confederate gulch, where they employed a large number of men in the construction of a bedrock flume, clearing up $10,000 in one season, but it eventually caused them a loss of $60,000. They closed their operations in 1877, and Mr. Gillette engaged in sheep raising, in which he has been engaged for nearly a quarter of a century, having now 12;000 acres of ranch land and raising sheep on a very extensive scale, his flock number- ing from 16,000 to 20,000 nead on the average. He gives preference to Merino sheep as best adapted to this climate. He has a fine ranch residence near Craig with modern improvements and facilities, and since the death of his sister he divides his time between this residence and Helena. The business is now conducted by the W. C. Gillette Co., Mr. Gillette having disposed of an interest in it and organized this company. Mr. Gillette is a stanch Republican, and he has taken a proper interest in

the public affairs of both territory and state. He was twice elected to the lower house of the terri- torial legislature, and was a member of the coun- cil, or higher deliberate body, for one term, and also a member of the convention which framed the present constitution of the state. In public office he gave evidence of wise discrimination and mature judgment, and his influence in the councils of his party has been ever helpful. Mr. Gillette gains and retains friends and his unassuming but suc- cessful career in Montana has honored the state.

ALVIN J. GLASS, section director United States weather bureau, at Helena, Mont., was born at Corvallis, Ore., November 1, 1858, the son of James R. and Jemima R. (Ritchie) Glass. The father, a native of Illinois, and a blacksmith, went to Oregon in 1852. His wife joined him there a year later with her family, crossing the plains with wagons. Her ancestors were active patriots of the Revolution. The paternal emigrant ances- tor of Mr. Glass was his grandfather, John Glass, a native of the north of Ireland, and a graduate of Oxford University, England, and in America he filled a professor's chair.

Elvin J. Glass was partially educated in the public schools of Corvallis, Ore. This education was sup- plemented by a course at the agricultural college at Corvallis, from which in 1878 he was graduated with the degree of B. S. For three years he then engaged in teaching, and on January 22, 1882, he entered the Signal Corps, U. S. A. The weather bureau was then under the supervision of the war department, and he held the rank of sergeant. Subsequently the bureau was transferred to the department of agriculture. From his first con- nection with it Mr. Glass has been with the weather bureau without an interruption. For six months he was stationed at Fort Meyer, Va., then the school of instruction for the signal corps. He was then sent to Cincinnati for a year, thence to Un- compahgre, Colo., where he had charge of the tele- graph lines operated by the government. He was then detailed to Fort Totten, N. D., where he had supervision over the military telegraph line and the weather bureau for four years and six months. From there he was dispatched to Portland, Ore., and was in charge of that important station for three years. He next went to southern Oregon, was in charge of an office and station, and upon

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its abandonment came east to Moorhead, Minn. Six months later he was promoted and detailed to Cairo, Ill.

In October, 1891, he came to Helena, Mont., where he was placed in full charge of the weather bureau station; organized the Montana section of the weather bureau and was appointed its section director. Since that time he has remained in Hel- cna, and under his supervision the station has de- veloped into one of the first class. Mr. Glass is a young man of marked ability and of broad, pro- gressive views. In Helena he has won the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances, and is universally popular. While in Portland, Ore., Mr. Glass was united in marriage to Miss Emma McDermott. She was born on a ship on the Mediterranean sea. Her father was buyer for a large mercantile house in London. Her family came to the United States when she was quite young ; she was educated in Michigan, going to Oregon in 1885. They have no children.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 36

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