Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 37

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 37

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JOEL GLEASON .- The life of Mr. Gleason, of ) Glendive, Dawson county, has been one of sturdy industry and application, and his sterling integrity and honor have gained for him the confidence and esteem of the public, while a signal token of this comes from a distinguished source, as incidental to his long identification with the great railroad in- dustry of the country, as will be duly noted. He was born in Erie county, N. Y., on the 6th of November, 1844. His father, Childs Gleason, was born in Pennsylvania in 1804, and his death oc- curred in St. Joseph county, Mich., in 1850, his life having been largely devoted to agriculture. His wife, whose maiden name was Emeline Leon- ard, was born in Massachusetts in 1820 and reared and educated in that state. When she was eighteen years of age the family removed to Michigan and later to Ohio, and she passed the closing years of her life in Montana, dying at Glendive, in 1893, at the venerable age of seventy-three.

Joel Gleason is essentially a self-made man, his school education occupying only about one month's attendance at a public school when he was a child. A strong individuality, however, will make good the handicap of circumstances, and in connec- tion with the practical affairs of life, and through determined individual application, Mr. Gleason has gained a broad and exact fund of knowledge, and is today a man of intellectual strength and marked

mental acumen. He came into mannood under the invigorating discipline of the homestead farm in Michigan. In 1862 he commenced his long and notable career of railroading by securing a position as brakeman on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. One year later he became fire- man on the Michigan Central Railroad, in which capacity he remained four years, losing but eleven days time during that entire period, and that through accident. In 1867 he took charge of an engine, and thereafter for twenty-seven years he held the reins over the iron horse, always enjoying the confidence of the public and his employers. He was connected with the great system of the Michigan Central until 1878, when he was employ- ed by the Northern Pacific, and for ten years of activity, until 1888, he was in the advance work of construction, laying track westward from Mandan, N. D. Upon the completion of the Yellowstone division, Mr. Gleason was given the run from Glen- dive to Billings, "pulling" passenger engines Nos. I and 2. We must here make special mention of his courage and presence of mind under circum- stances that would have tried the mettle and nerve of the strongest man. On the 7th of September, 1882, he prevented a terrible accident on his run with a special train containing a number of distin- guished passengers on their way to Yellowstone Park. At ten o'clock at night, while going at a high rate of speed, he discerned, only a few rods in front of his engine, an open swith lead- ing to the banks of the Big Horn river. Real- izing the immediate danger he quickly reversed the engine and managed to stop the train with all wheels on the track, when a few more seconds would have launched the engine, train and pas- sengers into the river below. As a token of the appreciation of his presence of mind, cool nerve and rapid action by the passengers Mr. Glea- son carries a beautiful watch. On its back is en- graved the names of the donors, who were John Pender, a member of the British parliament ; Thomas F. Bayard, United States senator of Delaware; Abram S. Hewitt, a member of congress and ex- mayor of New York city; Henry H. Gorringe, a lieutenant in the United States navy ; Melville E. Fuller, chief justice of the supreme court of the United States; E. R. Hughett and C. H. Patton. The watch was accompanied by a testimonial let- ter which is a free pass for Mr. Gleason to travel on any railroad in any part of the civilized world. These valuable gifts were presented through

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Henry Villard, the well-known railroad magnate; and from him through Supt. Ainsley, to Mr. Glea- son at Glendive.

Mr. Gleason has ever given a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and in December, 1888, he left the employ of the Northern Pacific to enter upon the duties of the office of sheriff of Dawson county, having been elected to this position the pre- ceding month. He served one year when Montana was a territory and one year after it became a state. His administration gave such satisfaction that he was re-elected in 1890 and again in 1892, the entire term of his service occupying six years. For the past twenty years Mr. Gleason has been a regular delegate to the state Republican conventions in Montana, and he is a leader of the party in Daw- son county. Fraternally he is identified in Free- masonry with lodge, chapter and commandery, and has represented his lodge in all assemblies of the grand lodge for a number of years. At Three Rivers, Mich., on the 20th of September, 1873, Mr. Gleason was united in marriage with Miss Cora Millard, a native of that city and the daugh- ter of Elisha Millard, a pioneer and prominent citi- zen of that place, where he now resides, enjoying vigorous health, at the venerable age of eighty- eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason have three children, Guy, Howard and Claire.

Mr. Gleason has been largely engaged in the sheep and cattle business in Dawson county since 1886, and he has charge of the stock yards at Glendive. In February, 1897, in company with Joseph Ray, Jr., Mr. Gleason opened a grocery store in Glendive. In June, 1899, the business was reorganized as the Glendive Commercial Company, a general merchandize business, in which Mr. Glea- son is the largest stockholder.

JOHN S. GLICK, M. D .- In a work of this na- ture it is an essential of consistency that a memoir be entered concerning one of the pioneer physicians and sterling citizens of Mon- tana, who here followed the work of his noble pro- fession until the close of his long and useful life, honored by all who knew him. Dr. Glick was a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born at Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, on July 23, 1833, the son of Isaac and Mary (Sanders) Glick. When he was two years of age his parents removed to and settled permanently on a farm at Lower San-

dusky, now Fremont, Ohio, and grew up under the invigorating discipline of the farm, receiving in his youth such educational advantages as were afforded in the public schools of that locality. He early showed a distinct predilection for the medical profession, and at the age of nineteen he left the homestead farm and took position in a dental office, soon becoming an expert in that profession. This, however, did not satisfy his ambition, and while at work as a dentist he devoted all of his leisure time to the reading of medical books and works on surgery under the direction of a local physician. In 1858 he removed to Kansas, where he continued his technical study, but later went to St. Louis, Mo., entering Dr. McDowell's medi- cal college, at that time one of the most celebrated in the west and maintaining a high standard. Dr. Glick there thoroughly prepared himself for the work of his chosen profession and had estab- lished a high reputation as a physician and surgeon prior to 1862 when he removed to Denver, Colo. Dr. McDowell often called upon him to assist in delicate surgical operations, and often stated that he was one of the most accomplished and expert young surgeons he had ever known. In Colorado Dr. Glick was engaged in the practice of his pro- fession, both in a private way and in connection with various military posts. In 1863 Dr. Glick came to Montana, locating in Bannack, where he was engaged in practice about one year, and then removed to Virginia City, where he was associated with Dr. Benjamin Brooke for a short time. In the winter of 1864 he removed to Blackfoot City, in Ophir gulch, Deer Lodge county, where he re- mained until the fall of the following year, when he established himself at Helena, which continued to be his home until his death. He was ever a thorough student, and his professional conferes united in giving him honor as a particularly fine surgeon and a physician of ability, while he never lapsed in his observance of the true ethics of his profession. He secured a large and representa- tive practice, and his kindly and sympathetic na- ture endeared him to all who knew him, while his professional services were accorded as freely to those in poverty and distress as to those able to render him a large fee. He never refused his min- istrations to the poor and needy, and his noble heart and unbounded charity gained him the affec- tion of the community in which he lived and la- bored for so many years.

In politics he was a stalwart supporter of the

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Democratic party, but invariably refused to permit his name to be considered in connection with pub- lic office. He married a daughter of Judge Stew- art, andhis widow and three sons survive him, maintaining their home in Los Angeles, Cal. The Doctor had three brothers and one sister, of whom the only survivor is ex-Gov. G. W. Glick, proprie- tor of the Shannon Hill Stock Farm, at Atchinson, Kan., to whom we are indebted for much of the data concerning the life of the Doctor. He was a great traveler and close observer, and a gentle- man of high intellectual attainments, and well merits high place on the roll of Montana's honored pioneers and progressive men.

H ON. O. F. GODDARD .- A scion of an old Virginia family whose name was long promi- nent in both the civil and military annals of the Old Dominion, and whose progenitors were among the early emigrants from England, Hon. O. F. Goddard, one of the leading lawyers of Montana, resident at Billings, has demonstrated in his career of legal and public eminence the advantages of heredity coupled with native force, close and intel- ligent application.

He was born in Davis county, Iowa, in 1853, the son of Richard T. and Elizabeth (Tannehill) Goddard, who were natives of Ohio, but removed to Iowa in 1842, where the father was a successful farmer, and where he died in 1892. Two branches of the Goddard family came to America in early days, one settling in New York and the other in Virginia. It is from the southern branch that Mr. Goddard is descended. He has three brothers and three sisters living.

Mr. Goddard was educated in the public schools and Troy Academy in his native state, and at an early age began to teach school. While engaged in this occupation he began the study of law at Centreville, Iowa, under direction of his uncle, Judge Tannehill. He was admited to the bar in 1880, and began the practice of his profession at Corydon, Iowa, remaining there three years. In March, 1883, he came to Montana, located at Bil- lings, and at once entered upon the vigorous pro- fessional career which has distinguished him since his advent into the state. In addition to his gen- eral practice, which is extensive and of high char- acter in its clientage, he is counsel for the Northern Pactific and the Burlington railroads.

Politically Mr. Goddard has been a life long Re- publican, and a powerful aid in the campaigns of his party in Montana. He served as prosecuting attorney of Yellowstone county and assistant dis- trict attorney under Judge Blake during territorial days. In 1889 he was a member of the constit11- tional convention which gave the state her pres- ent constitution, and in that body displayed great legal and parliamentary ability. The next year he was elected to the state senate, where his already demonstrated statesmanship caused him to be made chairman of several important committees, one of which was the judiciary committee, upon which he served during both sessions of his term. In the session of 1893, by his ability as a parliamenta- rian he prevented the election of a Democratic United States senator on the last day of the ses- sion, and thus earned the applause of his party in all sections of the state. He was also chairman of the joint caucus of his party, and as such rendered it important service in both houses of the legis- lature. In fraternal circles Mr. Goddard is also prominent, being a valued member of all branches of the Masonic order from the blue lodge to and . including the Shrine.

He was married January 20, 1881, to Miss Alwilda Stephenson, a native of Ohio, but at the time of the marriage was living at Centreville, Iowa, where the marriage was consummated. She is the daughter of Dr. Stephenson, of that city. They have three children : Lora, Helen and Wilbur F. Mr. Goddard is still on the sunny side of life's divide; with all his faculties in full vigor, his laudable am- bition still unclouded, the esteem and confidence of his fellow men given him in full and unstinted measure, and his knowledge of law and of affairs, broad, ripe and readily available, there is promise of many years of great usefulness and honor before him.

G EORGE GOHN .- One of the sturdy pioneers of Montana, one who has witnessed the de- velopment of the frontier territory into a great and prosperous commonwealth, who is now one of the oldest citizens and business men of Virginia City, George Gohn deserves especial mention. He was born on March 28, 1834, in York county, Pa., the son of George Gohn, who was a teacher in his earlier years, and who later was a blacksmith, and who died on April 12, 1835. The paternal grand- father of our subject was a native of Virginia and

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a blacksmith. He married a Miss Deitz, who was born in Pennsylvania. The maiden name of Mr. Gohn's mother was Margaret Ruby, who was born in Pennsylvania, whither her father removed from Virginia, where the family was resident in the colonial epoch, representatives of it being partici- pators in the Revolution.

George Golin, the Montana pioneer, at the age of sixteen years devoted three years to learning the butcher's trade. In the employ of his uncle he ran market carts from Baltimore to western Pennsyl- vania, along the old Portage road, which had then become a portion of the Pennsylvania railroad system, the original portage road being a cog- road over the mountains. In 1856 Mr. Gohn came to Kansas by railroad as far as Cincinnati, and thence by steamer to St. Louis. On the site of Kansas City, Kans., he was located until April, 1859, when in company with three others he started with four yoke of oxen across the plains to Colorado by way of the old Sante Fe route, and arrived where Denver is now located on the 3rd of June. From Denver Mr. Gohn went to Golden City, and while in camp at Clear Creek saw Horace Greeley cross the river on the back of a mule. This was the first western trip of that distinguished statesman and journalist. George Golin devoted a summer to mining and prospecting and in the fall of 1859 returned to Denver and opened a meat market. The next summer he again prospected for gold, and in the fall opened a wholesale meat market at Central City for other parties, receiving seventy dollars a month and expenses for his services. He remained there until 1861, when he located at Nevada, Colo., and there opened a meat market for himself as this was a prosperous mining camp where large fortunes were made. In March, 1863, Mr. Gohn, with five others, started for Mon- tana, the party chartering a coach, which conveyed them to Salt Lake City, where they outfitted for Montana, and came through with four yoke of oxen and a stock of provisions. One of the party was the notorious Charles Forbes, so well known as a desperate road agent. Mr. Gohn arrived in Ban- nack City on the IIth of May, and there remained until June, when he came to Virginia City, arriv- ing on the 6th of that month. This was the year of the discovery of gold in Alder gulch, of which Virginia City was the leading camp. The first man Mr. Gohn met in Bannack was the Hon. Conrad Kohrs, whom he assisted to engage in butchering in Virginia City. In the winter of 1863 Mr. Gohn

returned to Colorado for his wife, who returned with him to Montana the next spring. He then opened the butcher shop, which he still conducts. This is one of the pioneer business houses of the state and one of the very few consecutively con- ducted from the early days. His shop was known for years as the Bull's Head market, but is now called the Metropolitan. Mr. Gohn was a member of the historic vigilance committee and was ac- quainted with many of the road agents who were executed for their evil deeds. Among them was the notorious Jack Gallagher, whom Mr. Gohn met in Colorado. He once encountered Gallagher on the Beaverhead river while on the way to Bannack with $2,600 in gold dust. Gal- lagher asked where he was going. Mr. Gohn re- plied that he was going to Bannack in search of work. This answer led Gallagher to think that Mr. Gohn was in hard luck and had no money, and they camped peaceably together for the night.

Mr. Gohn has always belonged to the Republi- can party, and has been called to fill offices of public trust and responsibility. He was assessor ol Madison county in 1871-2, was a county com- missioner from 1876 to 1880, served two terms as county treasurer, was a valued member of the city council and a school trustee for thirteen years, and was one of the board of trustees when the fine new school building was built. Fraternally Mr. Gohn is prominently identified with the Ma- sonic order, affiliating with Montana Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M., the second organized in the ter- ritory, and with Virginia City Chapter No. 1, R. A. M., and with Virginia City Commandery No. 1, of which he has served as eminent commander. He was master of his lodge two years, and he is also a member and was one of the organizers of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Gohn is a man of marked business ability and is today one of the most honored citizens of Madison county. On November 19, 1861, Mr. Gohn was united in mar- riage to Miss Anna Zweifel, a native of Switzer- land, and who accompanied her parents to America when she was eleven years old. The fam- ily first located at Taunton, Mass., later removing to Kansas and to Colorado, where Mr. Gohn met and married his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Gohn have four children : Mary Frances, who makes her home with her parents, is the widow of G. H. Rew, and has three daughters; George Edward married Mary Frances Vickers and has two children, resides in Virginia City, where he is in business with his

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father ; Philip Henry, assistant cashier of the Elling State Bank, in Virginia City, married Miss Hen- rietta M. Elling, daughter of Henry Elling, foun- der of the Elling Bank, and they have one daughter; Anna May, the younger daughter of Mr. Gohn, is the wife of Ira H. French, of Virginia City, and they have two sons. The family are prominent and popular in Virginia City.

G H. GOODRICH .- The progressive men of Montana who have taken hold of the com- mercial industries of the new commonwealth with strong and sinewy hands and compelled them to yield their due tribute to the comfort and happi- ness of man and the development of the com- munity, are entitled to great credit for their work, and cannot be too highly praised for the energy, endurance and breadth of view they have exhib- ited. In this number G. H. Goodrich is worthy of a high rank. His work in the commercial life of the state was vigorous, forceful and fruitful, and his social qualities endeared him to a large circle of admiring friends and acquaintances. He was born at Niagara Falls, N. Y., on November 29, 1858, the son of Gustavus E. and Maria C. (Hood) Good- rich, both natives of New York. The father was one of the builders of the Great Western Railway of Canada, now a part of the Grand Trunk. At a later day he had a responsible position with the Michigan Central Railroad. He was also, at one time, in the employ of the Illinois Central Railway. He is now living a retired life at Seattle, Wash.

G. H. Goodrich was reared and educated in Chi- cago. After leaving school he was employed for five years as inspector for a large wholesale hard- ware company. In 1882 he came to Montana, lo- cating temporarily at Wolfe Point, where he was employed by T. C. Power & Bro. Later he was in charge of an outfit of this firm at old Fort Peck for nearly two years. Subsequently he passed several months in the Coeur d' Alene country, Idaho, en- gaged in mining. Removing to Fort Benton in 1884 he had charge of a stage line for Power Brothers and also controlled their freight business and steamers on the Missouri river. In 1887 he made his home at Great Falls and opened a small lumber yard on the South Side. This was the nucleus of the great Goodrich Lumber Company which was organized in 1890 by G. H. Goodrich, E. G. Hanson, C. M. Shaw, Jane Byrne and R. E.

Stone with a capital stock of $50,000. The first officers were G. H. Goodrich, president; E. G. Hanson, secretary and treasurer, and C. M. Shaw, vice-president.

Their first office was on the South Side near the freight depot and Broadwater bay and in addition to their plant at Great Falls the company has oper- ated yards at Havre, Barker, Fort Benton, Sand Coulee, Chinook Belt and Collins. These were conducted for a number of years and proved prof- itable enterprises. The company handles annually from eight to ten million feet of lumber, doing a rushing business in every department of their line and conducting it all on an elevated scale of prob- ity, up-to-date methods and fair dealing. Recently Mr. Goodrich sold this business to the Great Falls Lumber Company, and removed to South Nor- walk, Conn., where he is engaged in business enter- prises conducted on the same lofty scale. He is still interested in real estate in various parts of Montana and in mines in the vicinity of Neihart. He is a Republican in politics, but takes no active part in party matters. Fraternally he is identified with the Order of Elks. He was married in 1893 to Miss Minnie Rowan, of South Norwalk, Conn.

A USTIN C. GORMLEY is the present county attorney of Cascade county. Aside from this he enjoys at present the unique distinction of having been born in Montana. In the thirty-three years of his life he has seen his native state grow from a comparatively unexplored territory to a common- wealth of magnificent and increasing proportions. Although not yet arrived at the meridian of life Mr. Gormley can retrospectively glance back over the history of Montana and truthfully say, "All of which I saw and a part of which I was." He was born at Helena, on April 23, 1867. His parents were James and Julia (Cook) Gormley, natives re- spectively of New Jersey and Illinois, who came to Montana in 1864. James Gormley was a merchant at Alder gulch in 1864 and 1865 and removed to Helena in 1866, where he continued in trade for three years and removed to Virginia City, where his death occurred in 1881. A few years before this he had sold his stock and had engaged in mining to a considerable extent. Previous to this period James and Julia Gormley had crossed the plains from Colorado with ox trains. There were born to them two sons and three daughters. The

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mother, Austin C. Gormley and two sisters are still living.

Austin C. Gormley was reared in Virginia City, where he learned the printer's trade, and for some time worked at the case on the Madisonian. In 1886 he went east and entered the high school at Ann Arbor, Mich., and also passed one year in the University of Michigan. He then joined the law . class of the same eminent educational institution and was graduated therefrom with high honors in 1891. He was admitted to the practice of law the same year, and afterwards passed another year at the university as quiz-master. He also represented the University of Michigan in the contests of the Northern Oratorical League, in which he was awarded first place. In 1892 Mr. Gormley returned to Montana, locating at White Sulphur Springs. Here he entered into a law partnership with N. B. Smith and the firm continued until June, 1897. From 1894 till 1897 he had served as county attorney at White Sulphur Springs. While serving as county attorney at White Sulphur Springs Mr. Gormley prosecuted the famous "Bill Gay," the case at- tracting as much attention as any other that has ever been tried in the state. This position he re- signed, removed to Great Falls in June, 1897, and associated himself in the practice of law with M. M. Lyter. The firm was continued until November, 1898, when Mr. Gormley was elected county at- torney of Cascade county. He was re-elected in 1900 and is now serving his second term. Mr. Gormley was married in 1898 to Miss Irene Spencer, a native of Helena and a daughter of Almon Spencer, who first came to Montana in 1865, and is now engaged in general merchandising at White Sulphur Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Gormley have one child, Margaret. Since arriving at his majority Mr. Gormley has affiliated with the Democratic party. In behalf of these principles he has energetically stumped the states of Michigan and Illinois, as well as his native state of Montana. Socially Mr. Gormley has, by his suavity of manner and speech, his intelligence and his upright bearing, gained an enviable reputation. Gifted with oratori- cal powers of a high order, he has won success on rostrum and in court, while, endowed with a gener- ous public spirit, he is doing his full share toward the advancement of the city's best interests. Popu- lar among his fellows, his success is but premoni- tory to higher stations for his occupancy, if his health and strength continues. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 37

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