Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 38

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 38

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UDGE J. B. LESLIE, of the Eighth judicial dis- trict of Montana, is a resident of Great Falls. He was born in Monroe county, Ky., on April 12, 1853. He is a son of Ex-Gov. Leslie, further mention of whom appears on another page of this work. Judge Leslie attended the schools of Glas- gow, Ky., and in 1872 matriculated at Washing- ton and Lee University, from which he was gradu- ated in 1875. He at once began the study of law, of which he has ever been a devoted and enthusias- tic student, in the office of his father at Glasgow, and was admitted to practice before the appellate court at Frankfort in 1876. He commenced prac- tice at Glasgow the same year and continued it suc- cessfully there until 1887, when he came to Great Falls, which city he has since made his home, and where he is loved and respected by a large circle of warm personal friends. He was associated in the practice of his profession with W. G. Downing from 1891 until he was elected to the bench in 1896, and to this dignified office he was re-elected in 1900. Politically Judge Leslie has been a lifelong Democrat, although he has never taken an active part in the operations, councils or campaigns of the party. He was married in 1881 to Miss Helen Trabue, of Glasgow, Ky. They have three daugh- ters. Throughout the Eighth district Judge Leslie has given universal satisfaction as a judge, and has won the esteem and confidence of all. As whatever of prominence he has attained was from the applica- tion of his own efforts, so by his integrity, his abil- ity, his industry he has established a character which adds luster to his renown. He is genial in his disposition and social in his tastes. His impar- tiality on the bench has merited the confidence of the bar and the respect of litigants. In the admin- istration of justice he is firm but not arrogant, deci- sive without being opinionated and conscientious in the discharge of every duty.

JAMES R. GOSS, one of the best known and ablest attorneys in the state, is a resident of Billings, Mont. He was born near New York city on April 17, 1849, and was reared and educated in Lorain county, Ohio. At the age of seventeen years, in 1866, he was matriculated at Oberlin College, Ohio, where he remained several years assiduously engaged in obtaining a valuable edu- cation. He commenced his law studies in 1873, and later entered the law department of the cele-

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brated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. From this excellent law class Mr. Goss was gradu- ated in 1876, and having been admitted to the bar, he at once began practice in Jackson county, Mich., where he continued for six years and in 1881 re- moved to Bismarck, then Dakota; the state had not been divided, and here he passed one year in legal practice.

In 1882 Mr. Goss came to Billings, Mont., where he has since resided and in the active and successful practice of law. He has served as county attorney and probate judge of Yellowstone county, and been president of the school board for six years. He was a member of the building committee which super- vised the erection of the Parmly Billings memorial library, which was erected in 1900-I, and was ap- pointed one of the first trustees of the library. Mr. Goss married, in Michigan, Miss Florence Lord, a native of that state. They have one child, Marion, now a student at Oberlin College.

Politically Mr. Goss has, since arriving at his majority, affiliated with the Republican party. In all the campaigns since his arrival in Montana he has taken a lively interest, and frequently stumped the state in behalf of the Republican ticket. He has been an active member of the Yellowstone Re- publican county central committee, and has wielded no little influence in party affairs. Fra- ternally Mr. Goss is a Freemason and an Odd- Fellow. Since the advent of Mr. Goss into Montana there have been advantages offered of which he has availed himself. There were also ob- stacles to overcome, and he went stalwartly to work and overcame them. To his perseverance, acknowl- edged legal ability and force of character he owes the financial and social success that he has achieved. Throughout the state he is well known and highly esteemed, and in his home city, among those who know him best, he numbers a wide circle of friends.

THOMAS J. GOWIN is one of the prominent and influential farmers and stockgrowers of Gallatin valley, and is held in high esteem as one of the sterling pioneers of Montana. Thomas Jefferson Gowin is a native of Johnson county, Mo., where he was born December 30, 1839, one of nine children born to Thomas and Melinda (Marshall) Gowin, natives respectively of Kentucky and Vir- ginia. The parents removed from Kentucky, locating in Johnson county, Mo., where the father

devoted his attention to farming and stockraising until his death, his wife also dying in that state May 7, 1899.

Thomas J. Gowin was reared to the sturdy dis- cipline of farm life, receiving his educational train- ing in the public schools and remaining on the homestead until attaining the age of twenty years. In 1859 he joined the stampede to Pike's Peak, Colo., and devoted three months to prospecting, without favorable results, and then returned to Missouri. He retained a longing for frontier life, however, and in 1863 he started on the long and hazardous journey across the plains to Montana. He drove a bull team, and made the trip by way of Colorado, thence to Fort Halleck, Fort Bridger and Soda Springs, making Bannack their destination. Mr. Gowin remained in Bannack but a few days, going thence to Virginia City, where he arrived August 15. 1863, and devoted his attention to mining for about four months; he then removed to Madison river valley and successfully engaged in ranching for two years. While residing in that section the notorious outlaw, Slade, afterward hanged by the vigilantes, was his neighbor for about six months, having headquarters about one-fourth of a mile up the valley. Slade was then engaged in freighting and was a good neighbor. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Gowin removed to Prickly Pear valley and engaged in freighting until fall, after which he went down the Missouri river, about three miles below the mouth of Beaver creek, and there operated a ferry for one year. While conducting the ranching business on Madison river, in 1864, Mr. Gowin had a partner who took charge of the ranch while he engaged in freighting, making a trip to Cache valley, Utah, being absent about three months. Returning by way of Fort Benton he saw in Virginia City the somewhat anomalous offspring of an Indian and negro. In 1866 Mr. Gowin came to Gallatin valley, and engaged in the express business, his route being from Virginia City to Gallatin City and Bozeman, transportation being afforded for passengers, mail and freight, a charge of fifty cents each being made for the carrying of letters. He continued in this line of enterprise until 1868, when he disposed of his business and re- moved to Sterling, Madison county, and for six months conducted a livery. He was variously en- gaged at Salt Lake City, Radersburg and on Willow creek, finally going to South Boulder valley and engaged in the cattle and dairying business for a year. He was in charge of the inail route from

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Deer Lodge to Highland, through Butte and Silver Bow for a short time and then returned to Missouri. The following summer, again returning to Montana, accompanied by his wife, he brought through a band of Texas cattle, which he wintered on Willow creek, but a number died on account of the severe weather and an insufficient supply of fodder. He again engaged in ranching and stock- raising on South Boulder river, also on Norwegian creek, Madison county, and in Jefferson valley, re- moving thence to Gallatin valley, where he remained six years, having a good ranch and being very suc- cessful in his operations. Selling out his interests he removed to Kansas, that his children might en- joy better educational advantages, and remained seven years engaged in farming and stockraising. He returned with his family to the Gallatin valley in 1886, and effected the purchase of the Wills ranch, located nine miles north of Bozeman, his postoffice address. By the purchase of contiguous land Mr. Gowin has increased the area of the home- stead ranch to 240 acres, but owns another ranch of 160 acres, located two miles north of the home place. The ranches are well watered through natural sources, Spring Hill creek running through the homestead and Ross creek through the upper ranch. No irrigation is required in the raising of grain, and recourse is had to it only for pasturage. The home is beautifully located, and the residence is one of the most attractive in the valley. Mr. Gowin has twelve acres balm of Gilead trees, the. first timber-culture claim patented in the state. The grove is a favorite resort for picnic parties and the annual meetings of the pioneer society of the county. In addition to the balm of Gilead trees, other varieties are to be found in this beautiful grove, including the wild plum, crab-apple, burr oak, etc. The family pass the winter months in Bozeman, with whose social life they are actively identified. In politics Mr. Gowin renders allegiance to the Republican party, and takes a lively interest in all that concerns the public welfare and the material prosperity of the county and state. He has served for eight years as a member of the board of school trustees.

On May 7, 1870, Mr. Gowin was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary McGuire, who was born in Pettis county, Mo., the daughter of William F. and Carrie (Johnson) McGuire, to whom five children have been born : James M., deceased ; Rosie is the wife of George Stimpson, now engaged in ranching on East Gallatin river; Joseph Custer is

mentioned on another page of this work; Nellie, deceased; and Bessie, who is attending school in Bozeman.

A UGUSTUS F. GRAETER .- Nearly forty years have passed since the subject of this re- view acquired residence in Montana, then con- sidered the frontier, and it was his lot to endure the hardships and privations of the pioneer epoch, to become identified with many of the stirring incidents which marked those early days, and a recognized factor in the progress and material prosperity of the commonwealth through legitimate industrial enterprise and well directed business operations. He is today numbered among the representative citizens and honored pioneers of the thriving little city of Dillon, the county seat of Beaverhead county, and well entitled to consideration in this work as one of the founders and builders of our great state.

Mr. Graeter is a native of the old Keystone state, Pennsylvania, having been born in Allentown, Lehigh county, July 29, 1834, the second in order of birth of the eight children of Augustus and Sarah (Hoffman) Graeter. Augustus Graeter was a native of Germany, where he was reared and educated, and whence he immigrated to the United States about the year 1820, locating at Allentown, Pa. He was editor and proprietor of a newspaper there, was married to Miss Hoffman, a native of Allentown and a representative of prominent old families of that state. The family removed to Warren, Ohio, when our subject was a child, and there the parents passed the remainder of their lives.

In the public schools of Ohio Augustus F. Graeter received his educational training, and on laying aside his text books became identified with agri- cultural pursuits until 1858, when he moved west as far as Florence, Neb., remaining until the spring of the following year. Securing a mule team and wagon he joined a company making the trip across the plains to Colorado by way of the Platte river route. He arrived in Denver the latter part of June, but went to the mines at Blackhawk, where he remained until the spring of 1862, meeting with fair success in his mining venture. He then started for the Salmon river country, in Idaho, where the gold excitement was then at its height. While en route the party saw many evidences of Indian depredations, but were not molested, though they anticipated trouble. They went by way of Lander's

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cutoff into Montana, and upon reaching Birch creek learned of the discovery of gold at Bannack and decided to make that point their destination. Mr. Graeter arrived at Bannack in the latter part of September, and secured work in the placer mines, only small diggings having been opened at that time. He continued to work in the mines during the fall and was compelled to send to Salt Lake City for his winter's provisions. He became associated with six other men in the construction of the Ban- nack ditch, furnishing the first adequate supply of water brought to the placer mines. The ditch was completed in the season of 1863, and he then began mining operations with vigor and earnestness, working claims in Buffalo and Humbug gulches. In 1864 he went to Virginia City and was engaged in mining in Alder gulch during one season, but in the summer of 1865 he prospected in the vicinity of the present capital city of the state and in the Blackfoot district. Mr. Graeter was a member of the vigilance committee and was in Virginia City at the time when Boone Helm and four other des- peradoes were hung. In the fall of 1865 he re- turned to Bannack, resumed mining operations, and also engaged in mercantile business, forming a partnership with A. J. Smith under the firm name of Smith & Graeter, which continued for a period of six years, when they closed out. Mr. Graeter still engaged in placer mining, but gave consider- able attention to ranching on Horse prairie, and his energetic efforts were attended with marked suc- cess. Recently he was interested in the operation of dredge boats in the streams near Bannack, the output of gold from that source being very satis- factory. He and his associates in the Gold Dredg- ing Company built the first dredge boat for this pur- pose ever constructed in the United States, and the same is still in operation, together with another, built later at Bannack. Mr. Graeter is a man of much business sagacity and indomitable energy, and his labors and hardships in the early days have not impaired his vigor in the least, few men in the state maintaining a more progressive attitude or more distinctively public spirit. His sterling integrity of character and his genial personality have made him popular in the various walks of life and he is well known among the old time residents and pioneers. Mr. Graeter is a member of the directorate of the State Bank of Dillon and has other important capi- talistic interests in the county. He has a fine resi- dence, where the family have maintained their home since 1895. In politics he has ever exercised

his franchise in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, but his extensive mining and stockraising interests have placed such demands upon his time and attention that he has taken no active part in political affairs or desired official preferment. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being identified with Bannack Lodge No. 16, A. F. & A. M., in which he has passed all the official chairs, being past master of the lodge.

On July 29, 1858, in Nebraska, Mr. Graeter was united in marriage to Miss Emily M. Drury, a native of Vermont and a representative of promi- nent old families of New England. Of this union two children were born: Luther D., born in 1862, is engaged in the grocery business at Dillon, and Blanche A., born in 1872, is the wife of C. E. Falk and resides in northern California. In 1880, while residing in Bannack, Mrs. Graeter was summoned into eternal rest, and on the 20th of September, 1881, Mr. Graeter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Taylor, who was born in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, the daughter of David and Eleanor (Sinton) Taylor, who became a resident of Montana in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Graeter have three children : Arthur, Edth and Sarah, all of whom are attending the Dillon public schools.

E H. GOODMAN, of Townsend, Broadwater county, Mont., one of the most prominent at- torneys of the state, has illustrated by his life work what pluck, energy and industry can accomplish. In his career many an ambitious young man, and many partially despondent older men. can see a worthy example. That he has made his way in life against great obstacles is but added proof of his in- domitable will and perseverance. Some of the hardest problems of life have been set before him and his present success shows how worthily he has triumphed.

The subject of this sketch was born at Meeme, Manitowoc county, Wis., September 14, 1854. He is the son of Thomas Goodman, of Scotch-Irish de- scent, although born in New York. There he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Roberts, a na- tive of Wales, Great Britain. From Wisconsin the family removed to Chicago in 1862. Here E. H. Goodman attended the public schools of that city for eight years. The family then removed to Wat- seka, Ill., seventy-five miles from Chicago, where

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they still reside, consisting of mother, two brothers and one sister.

In 1872 Mr. Goodman removed to Chicago, where he engaged in the brick business with his stepfather, remaining there three years. Then he returned to the farm and worked on the same in- dustriously in conjunction with other members of the family until 1879, when he sold out his interests and went to Valparaiso, Ind. Here for two years he attended the North Indiana Normal School, when, his funds running low, he engaged in the occupation of school teaching for a year.

Returning to Valparaiso, he re-entered the Nor- mal School, where he remained the following two years, securing his degree of Bachelor of Laws in May, 1884.

With the termination of his course at the Normal School Mr. Goodman went on to Emporia, Kan., where he formed a partnership with a party named Darling, and they opened a law office. At the out- set the young men found that it was not all that fancy had painted. They were poorly supplied with funds, business was not remunerative and the law partners soon reached a point where it was plain that something tangible must be accomplished in the way of obtaining money. A council of war resulted in the decision that Mr. Goodman should go out into the world and endeavor to make suffi- cient to tide them over the disheartening financial straits into which they had fallen. Meanwhile Mr. Darling was to remain at Emporia and attempt to hold the business together and keep the office open. But all was not easy sailing for our subject. He at first went bravely to work on a farm in order to secure funds with which to start him in the book business. Subsequently he secured an agency, can- vassed throughout central Kansas, but soon became again financially embarrassed, and then it was de- cided to sell out everything connected with the office except the library. They did so, and then both Mr. Goodman and Mr. Darling commenced teaching school, the former in Youngstown, Marion county, and the latter in McPherson county, Kan. They taught one term and in June, 1885, they both removed to Townsend, Mont. Here they recom- menced school teaching, Mr. Goodman in Town- send and Mr. Darling in Missouri Valley. In 1886 Mr. Darling recommenced the practice of law in Lewistown, Fergus county. He remained there two years, when the partnership which had been continued under so many adverse circumstances, was dissolved, Mr. Darling removing to California.

Our subject continued to teach school until the spring of 1888, when he, too, began the practice of law at Townsend.

In 1889 Mr. Goodman was elected to the Mon- tana legislature and served in the first and second legislative assemblies. During these terms he was ever active and zealous in the formation of Broad- water county, and by the bill creating the county he was made county attorney, which position he held for two years. In 1898 he ran for county attorney, and was defeated, but was subsequently re-elected in the November election of 1900. Up to the time of the presidential campaign of 1896 he had been a Republican, but at this period he joined the Silver Republican party and on its dissolution he cast his lot with the Democrats, with whom he has since affiliated. When the town of Townsend was first organized, as town attorney he formulated the ordi- nances of the town.

Mr. Goodman has been admitted to practice be- fore the superior courts of the states of Indiana. Kansas and Montana. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1886, has passed through all the chairs and is now grand master of the Grand Lodge of the state. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World, through all the chairs of which he has passed, and has repre- sented them in state camps.

Married June, 1888, to Miss Eva, daughter of E. A. Allen, of Diamond City, Ind. One child, Mary Zeberna.

AMES GRAY, M. D .- This is an age of spec- J ializing in professional and business lines. The medical profession has peculiarly felt this ten- dency, which is the result of legitimate causes. Formerly the physician was assumed to be an omnium gatherum of all information pertaining to medicine and surgery and allied department. This time has passed when any one man may assume to "know it all." The successful practitioner real- izes that he may devote a life time of thought and investigation to one or more branches of his pro- fession and still be far removed from the ultimate in knowledge and power of accomplishment. Thus it comes to pass that some medical men, after be- ing in the ranks of the general profession for a time, concentrate their attention upon some one depart- ment of it, and to this fact is attributable many of the most important advances in medicine in recent years. Of no specialist can this be said with great-

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er truthfulness than of the oculist. He has not only made great advances in his own field, but has been instrumental in throwing light on many diseases in the domain of general medicine. The specialist and general practitioner are not in con- flict, but are mutually helpful in a common work. Of this class is Dr. Gray, who makes a specialty of treatment of diseases of the eye, ear and throat. In this he is a recognized authority and has gained high reputation.

Dr. Gray is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, son of Alexander and Agnes Gray, both repre- sentatives of stanch old Scottish lineage. They em- igrated to Canada when James was a child and set- tled near Toronto. There the father died a num- ber of years ago, the mother of the Doctor being still a resident of Canada. Dr. Gray received his preliminary education in the public schools, and continued his studies for some time in Toronto University, and he also took a course in the To- ronto School of Science. He taught in the public schools of Canada for three or four years, and en- tered the medical department of McGill University at Montreal in 1879, and was therefrom graduated with the double degree of M. D. and C. M., and the highest honors in the class of 1883. Im- mediately after graduation, as the sequel of a con1- petitive examination, Dr. Gray secured an appoint- ment as one of the resident medical officers of the Montreal general hospital, the largest hospital in Canada and well known in Europe and America for its modern equipment and clinical advantages. After holding this position for one year Dr. Gray was selected from a number of applicants to be the medical superintendent of that institution. In this responsible position he gained a wide exper- ience and here was laid that practical foundation which has so signally contributed to his success. Although urged to continue in this office, Dr. Gray resigned the position at the expiration of about two years and established a private practice in Min- neapolis, Minn., where he soon built up a good general practice. In this he continued until 1891, when he withdrew in order to continue his studies in the direction of his present specialty. The suc- ceeding winter was passed in Dr. Knapp's excellent eye, ear and throat hospital in New York city, and then he continued his special study in Berlin, Vienna. Paris, London and Edinburgh. In London he held for nearly two years a position as assistant phy- sician in the Royal eye hospital at Moorfields, thus gaining unexcelled advantages, as this is the largest

eye hospital in the world. Upon leaving Moorfields his qualifications and ability to prac- tice his specialty were tully attested by the sur- geons with whom he had labored in clinical work.

Early in 1896 Dr. Gray came to Helena, where he established himself as an oculist and aurist, and here he is now, devoting himself to the treat- ment of diseases of the eye, ear and throat. His advice and services are often sought by his profes- sional confreres, whose confidence and esteem he holds in a large measure. He is one of the leading specialists of the state and has a large clientele. He is a member of the Ophthalmological Society of Great Britain, admission to which is a guaranty of high professional and personal standing. He is also a member of the Montana State Medical Asso- ciation, and was formerly identified with the Mon- treal Medical Society and that of the state of Min- nesota. Dr. Gray has never taken an active part in politics. He takes a deep interest in educational affairs and in the wellbeing of the community, and is popular in both professional and social circles.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 38

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