Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 43

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 43

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Mr. Mantle is one of the most effective speakers in the state. He is essentially an orator, and his persuasive voice on the stump has steadied the wavering lines in more than one campaign, and on occasions has snatched victory from the very jaws of defeat. In his business ventures he has had great success. In addition to his newspaper enter- prise, he has very extensive and valuable interests in mines and real estate, and is also connected with commercial institutions through which he gives employment to numbers of men, and thus directly and essentially adds to the sum of human happiness. As a citizen he is public spirited and active, con- tributing cordially his share of inspiration for any public improvement and bearing cheerfully his share of the burden. Morever, he is as liberal as he is prosperous. While he makes money he spends it generously. The poor receive his bounty, though the world knows it not. To the young who are struggling he tosses a line. To a friend who is crowded he opens a door. One of the most engag- ing and beautiful traits of his character was his filial devotion to his aged mother. He became her main reliance and support early in his life, and never wavered in the utmost consideration for her comfort as long as she lived. He built a beautiful home in Butte in which he lived with her, and wherein her slightest wish was supplied-almost anticipated-by his affectionate care, and her last years were cheered and brightened by his assiduous personal attention. She died in February, 1901, at the good old age of eighty-nine. Mr. Mantle is as captivating in social life as he is successful in business and potential in politics. Courteous in manner, ready in repartee, overflowing with mer- riment, adaptable to circumstances, a "good fellow" among lads, yet always a knight among ladies-le is the chief of his set, the life of any party. He has earned his place in the regard and esteem of the people of Montana, and it is justly a high one.

Of the benevolent societies so numerous among men, he has taken interest in but four-the Masons, Odd Fellows, the Elks and Knights of Pythias, in the last named he has been very active-was the first grand chancellor of the state, and has done

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much to promote the interests of the order. He is also a member of the celebrated Silver Social Bow Club of Butte.

F RANK HEISKELL .- Coming to Montana 111 1882 with no capital but a resolute heart, a sturdy frame, excellent health and spirits and in- domitable energy, Frank Heiskell has by the judi- cious use of these achieved a success surpassing that of many men who start with ample wealth and un- der favorable circumstances. He was born in Vir- ginia on February 21, 1860, the son of H. B. Heis- kell, of Monroe county, Tenn., and Rhoda (Farmer) Heiskell, of Virginia. His father settled in Virginia in early life and engaged in mining un- til about 1864. Then, having married, he returned to Tennessee and became a planter, an occupation he still pursues on the old place, being also a justice of the peace, an office he has held for over thirty years.

Mr. Frank Heiskell passed his school days in Tennessee, and in 1882, at the age of twenty-two, he started for Montana, traveling by rail to Dillon and thence to Bozeman. He then conducted oper- ations as a farmer on rented property until 1886, when he bought a ranch of 280 acres on the West Gallatin, which he still owns, and in June, 1897. purchased of J. L. Patterson 320 acres lying four miles southwest of Bozeman. All his estate is un- der irrigation with sufficient water and is in excel- lent cultivation. Barley is his principal crop, his average annual yield being nearly 13,000 bushels. He was married on November 5, 1894, with Miss Lucy Patterson, a native of Alabama, daughter of J. L. Patterson, a sketch of whom appears on other pages of this work. They have one son, James Patterson Heiskell, born on November 13, 1900. Mr. Heiskell is a fine type of physical and intellec- tual manhood, progressive and up to the times, an inspiring example of what ability, energy, native talent and superior judgment can accomplish when concentrated. His acquaintanceship is large, and throughout its bounds he is universally esteemed and respected.

F RANK HENRY .- As the law is the conserva- tor of the rights and best interests of all men, so must we look for its administration to men of thorough technical learning and utmost probity

of character. Among those who have conferred honor and dignity in the exercise of high judicial functions, as well as in the active practice of the law, is Judge Frank Henry, who has long served as judge of the Sixth judicial district of the state, it now comprising Park, Sweetgrass and Carbon counties. He was born on November 15, 1855, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Rev. James M. and Eliza- beth (Reid) Henry, the former a native of Greene county, Ohio, who served long and faithfully as a clergyman of the Christian church, being pastor of one church in Dayton for sixteen years, after which he held a charge at New Albany, Ind., for four years, and then removed to Chillicothe, Mo., where his death occurred in 1882, his wife passing from earth one year before his death. His father, John Henry, was born in Virginia, a representative of one of the old families.

Frank Henry secured his preliminary educa- tional discipline in his native city, and, as he had accompanied his parents on their removal to Chil- licothe, Mo., he here entered the law office of Luther . Collier, an able counsellor, and continued his read- ing of law with unabating zeal until 1877, when he was admitted to practice in all the courts of that state. He entered upon the active work of his profession in Chillicothe, and in 1878 was elected city attorney, filling the office a full term and gain- ing reputation as an able young lawyer. In 1883 Judge Henry came to Montana, locating in Liv- ingston, where he was successfully engaged in legal practice until 1886, when official preferment again became his by his election as county attorney, this being prior to the segregation of Park county from Gallatin and necessitating his removal to Boze- man. In 1888 he resigned the office and returned to Livingston, where he resumed practice. Recog- nition of his peculiar eligibility for judicial func- tions was not long denied, for on October 1, 1889, he was elected judge of the Sixth judicial district, then comprising the counties of Park, Gallatin and Meagher. His distinguished services on the bench have resulted in his retention in the office by suc- cessive re-elections, on two occasions without an opposing candidate, and in 1900 he was again chosen his own successor for a term of four years. He has served on the state bench for a longer period than any other incumbent with the one exception of Judge Hiram Knowles, now judge of the United States district court for Montana.

In politics Judge Henry gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally he is iden-

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tified with the Knights of Pythias. He has gained the confidence and respect of all classes of citizens, and his retention in his important office implies the conservation of the best interests of the state so far as regulated by his judicial acts in his district. He is thoroughly read in the science and techni- calities of law, having a comprehensive knowledge of jurisprudence and precedents, and his rulings have been at all times signally fair and im- partial, and have seldom met with reversal. He is a man of fine intellectual attainments, and enjoys the confidence and high regard of his fellow men. On May 5, 1880, Judge Henry wedded with Miss Julia Ballen- ger, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of Mer- rill S. Ballenger, born in Garrett county, Ky., on July 20, 1821, the son of Henry Ballenger, whose birth occurred in Rockbridge county, Va., and who married Lucy Jeffries, of Garrett county, Ky. Hen- ry Ballenger was the son of Eccles and Mildred (Hudson) Ballenger, the former a native of Cul- "peper county, Va. Mrs. Henry's maternal great- grandfather was William Jeffries, a native of Penn- sylvania, who married Jane Hardcastle, of Carroll- ton, Greene county, Ill., the daughter of Edward Hardcastle, of Baltimore, Md., who married Eliza- beth Reed, born in West Virginia, the daughter of Isaac and Jane (Hill) Reed, both natives and leaders of society of Virginia in the old colonial days. Judge and Mrs. Henry have one son, Mer- rill, born April 6, 1881, now a student in the Liv- ingston public schools. The family moves in those social circles where gracious refinement is ever in evidence.

S. HEPNER .- To the law have been turned many of the most brilliant minds, and the science of jurisprudence has ever held as its devo- tees men of strong mentality and indubitable prob- ity. Among those who confer honor and distinc- tion upon the bar of Lewis and Clarke county is H. S. Hepner, and it is fitting that a record of the salient points in his career be given place in this compilation, which has to do with those who stand representative in the various fields of human activ- ity in this section of the great state of Montana.

Mr. Hepner is a native of Russia, having been born at Seiny, on February 25, 1869. His parents were Barnett and Bertha (Maizel) Hepner, the father coming to the United States in 1871 to en- ter the military service, and being now a resident of

Helena, Mont. His early education was secured in Russia, where he attended the Imperial gymna- sium, at Tzaritzin, in Astrakahn province, near the Caspian sea. He accompanied his parents to Amer- ica in 1882, a lad of thirteen years. They came to Helena the same year, and here he entered the pub- lic schools, graduating in the high school with the class of 1885-a notable achievement for one of foreign birth and so slight familiarity with the Eng- lish language. The sterling elements of his charac- ter came thus early into evidence. After leaving school Mr. Hepner secured the position as book- keeper in the Montana National Bank, an incum- bency which he retained from 1885 until 1889. He matriculated in 1889 in the law department of the University of Michigan, completed the prescribed course and graduated with the class of 1891, hav- ing shown himself a close and indefatigable stu- dent. Returning to Helena after his graduation, Mr. Hepner at once entered upon the active prac- tice of his chosen profession, for which he was am- ply fortified by natural ability and scrupulous training. That he was marked for prominence in public affairs was shown in the fact that the young attorney was elected a member of the legislature of the state in 1896. Mr. Hepner is a supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and an active worker in the cause.

He was the candidate of his party for district judge in 1900, but met with defeat by a close vote. He is recognized as an able advocate before judge or jury, presenting his cause in a clear and concise way and relying upon argument and the presenta- tion of facts rather than upon verbiage or sentimen- tal dissertation. He gives a devoted allegiance to the time-honored order of Free and Accepted Masons, is a member of the grand lodge of the state, and now (1901) the junior grand warden of that im- portant body. He is identified also with the Mystic Shrine, the social adjunct of Masonry, and is a past potentate of Algeria Temple, and was chosen in 1899 as its representative to the imperial council at Buffalo, N. Y. In 1899 Mr. Hepner was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Israel, of Helena, and they have one child, Claire.

JAMES M. HERNDON .- There are many inter- esting incidents in the career of this honored pioneer of Montana, now a merchant of Virginia City, and many of the "old-timers" in Alder gulch

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will recall his noble wife and her deeds of kindness in the early days. Mr. Herndon is a native of Cooper county, Mo., born on June 23, 1833, the son of Rodney and Nancy (Fox) Herndon, both of whom were born in Kentucky. James M. Herndon, after a public school education learned the trade of carpenter and builder. He was one of the early pio- neers of Montana, having made the long overland trip in 1863. Here he worked at his trade and also at mining. In 1878 he engaged and still conducts a furniture business in Virginia City, in which he has been successful, and he is now one of the leading business men of the city. His religious faith is that of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, but, as there is no church of this denomination in Virginia City, Mr. Herndon attends, and is an earnest worker in, the Methodist Episcopal church. Early in 1864 he aided in the organization of the first Sunday-school in Montana, started in Virginia City when Alder gulch was still a bustling mining camp, and he was for many years its superinten- dent, and he was later for four years superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. Herndon has ever exercised a power for good in the community, has ordered his life upon a high plane of honor and rectitude and has enjoyed public confidence in a high degree. In politics he is a Democrat. On May 21, 1867, Mr. Herndon was married to Miss Sarah Raymond, born in Maryland, on September 7, 1840, the daughter of Daniel and Fitch Raymond, a native of Connecticut, and one of the most eminent polit- ical economists of his day. He published the first work on this subject in the United States. He was a graduate of Yale, a lawyer of eminence and for a number of years was editor of the Western States- man, at Cincinnati, Ohio, the paper wielding a marked power in the politics of the day. After his graduation at Yale he was connected at Washington with the United States treasury. In 1842 he re- moved to Ohio, where his death occurred in 1849. He was for nineteen years engaged in legal practice in Baltimore, attaining distinction at the Maryland bar. The maiden name of Mr. Raymond's mother was Rachel Hillhouse, and she was a daughter of Judge William Hillhouse, of New Haven, Conn. The Hillhouse family is one of the oldest and most distinguished of Connecticut. (See Appleton's Encyclopedia of American Biography.)

Mrs. Herndon, after a preliminary education in the public schools, continued her studies personally and covered a broad field of definite knowledge,

and in later years she availed herself of the Chau- tauqua course of study and was graduated at that school in 1889. In 1850, after the death of the father, she went with her mother to Scotland coun- ty, Mo., where was their home for fifteen years. Mrs. Herndon began teaching at the age of four- teen and taught in her home school during vaca- tions for five years, attending school winter months (or the school year) away from home and was very successful as an instructor. She taught in Missouri for five years after graduating in her high school course. In 1865 she started for Montana, accom- panied by her three children, W. H. Raymond, of Belmont Park, Winthrop Raymond, of Sheridan, and Mrs. Herndon, the latter being then twenty- four years of age. They made the trip in a light wagon drawn by a team of horses, while the freight was drawn by ox teams. Mrs. Herndon, however, rode on horseback. On their way their party saw many evidences of Indian hostility-stations and stage coaches burned and many places where emi- ' grants had been killed. That their train was not molested is probably due to the fact that the sav- ages were afraid of a portable steam engine, that they were bringing with them. They evidently im- agined this some new and invincible engine of de- struction. The party arrived in Virginia City on September 5, 1865, thus becoming veritable pio- neers of the state. Mrs. Herndon taught the first public school in Montana, and the trustees were Hon. Samuel Word, Capt. Rogers and United States Senator Millard, of Nebraska. This school was opened in Virginia City in 1866, and soon had an enrollment of eighty-one pupils. Difficulty was experienced in arranging a proper curriculum, on account of the great variety of text-books, scarcely two families having books of the same kind, while the base of supplies was so far off that no other provision could be made. Mrs. Herndon proved herself equal to the exigencies of the case and soon brought order out of chaos. Her name will be held in lasting honor by her students and the state in which she was the pioneer educator. Mrs. Hern- don was the organizer of the state's first Band of Hope, was for thirty-five years a Sunday-school teacher, and attended the first Sunday-school con- vention held in the state, at Helena, in 1886. She has been a member of the M. E. church south since a child of thirteen years. Her life has truly been one of devotion to good works and she has been true to her high ideals.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hern-

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don : Della L., born July 6, 1868, now wife of Frank Willcomb, of Laurin, Mont., has two chil- dren. She was a member of the first class gradu- ated from Deer Lodge College, Mont., and in 1895 she was elected on the Democratic ticket as super- intendent of public instruction for Madison county, the first female candidate to be elected to office in the county. Fannie F., born October 13, 1870, died on August 2, 1872; Grace, born September 29, 1872, is an accomplished musician. She graduated in music at Mrs. Adams' school, in Chicago, in 1898, and is now musical instructor in the Montana State University, at Missoula, where she also has a school of voice culture. In 1898 she accompanied her mother on an extended trip throughout the United States; Winthrop Hillhouse, born on De- cemver 30, 1876, pursued his studies in the Mon- tana Wesleyan University, at Helena, and was also graduated in a commercial college at Kansas City, Mo. He married Miss Lavina Wyatt, who died one ' year later, leaving a son, Frank Wyatt; Rodney Raymond, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Herndon, born on September 25, 1881, was graduated from the college at Independence, Mo., and now holds a po- sition in the National Bank of Commerce, in Kan- sas City, Mo.

RTHUR P. HEYWOOD, one of the brilliant A

young members of the Montana bar, is a high- ly respected resident of Helena. He was born in Brock, Nemaha county, Neb., April 28, 1869. His father, Charles F. Heywood, was a native of Eng- land; his mother, Susan (Starr) Heywood, who died in 1879, was born in Pennsylvania. Charles F. Heywood came to America from England in 1864, and located at Brock, and was a pioneer of that then territory. At present he is a Methodist clergyman stationed at Central City in Nebraska. He was a member of the Nebraska territorial leg- islature, and has served in both branches of the Nebraska state legislature.

Arthur P. Heywood received his education in the public schools of Nemaha county, and the col- lege at Central City, from which he was gradu- ated in 1890. He was after graduation a teacher for several months in Nebraska, then he came to Augusta, in Lewis and Clarke county, Mont., where for four years he taught school and studied law. On December 31, 1894, he was admitted to practice at Helena, and with Leon LaCroix formed the law firm of LaCroix & Heywood, which still

exists. In 1900 he was the nominee of the Repub- lican party for judge of the First judicial district, but the entire ticket went down to defeat. Fra- ternally Mr. Heywood is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, having "passed the chairs," and he is also a member of the grand lodge of Odd Fellows of the state. He is a young man of promise, and numbers many warm and ap- preciative friends.

GEORGE C. HIGGINS .- He whose name in- I troduces this review is recognized as one of the well-equipped and progressive young men of Montana, which claims him as one of her native sons. He was born in the county. of Missoula, on June 1, 1868, and the old adage, "a prophet is not without honor save in his own coun- try," is scarcely verified in his case, for the confidence and esteem in which Mr. Hig- gins is held in said county is manifested in that he has for two terms held the office of county treasurer, of which he is now incum- bent, discharging its responsible duties with mark- ed ability and to the satisfaction of the public. He is the son of Christopher P. and Julia (Grant) Higgins, both natives of the Emerald Isle, more specific mention being accorded them on another page.

After a preliminary educational training in the Missoula public schools he became a student in the famous Phillips Exeter Academy, founded in 1781 at Exeter, N. H. After leaving the academy he continued his studies in the University of Michi- gan, at Ann Arbor, for two years, then returned to Missoula, where he held a position in the Western Bank until 1893. Later by appointment he served for one year as clerk of the court in Missoula county, filling the unexpired term of F. McConnell. In 1898 Mr. Higgins was elected treasurer of the county, giving so excellent an administration that he was elected his own successor in 1900. He was a member of the building committee which had in charge the erection of the state university building at Missoula, and in every executive capacity in which he has acted he has proved himself emi- nently qualified. He is a typical representative of the alert and vigorous element of younger busi- ness men who will have an important influence upon the future of the state. In politics he is strongly in accord with the Democratic party, and

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his services in behalf of the cause have been timely and effective. He is not identified with any fra- ternal organization.

J UDGE NICHOLAS HILGER, one of the earli- est of Montana pioneers and a most prosperous and successful ranchmen, is among the highly esteemed citizens of Montana. He was born at Luxemburg, Germany, on October 28, 1831, the son of Daniel and Susannah (Ewart) Hilger. His mother was the daughter of Michael and Margaret Ewart, of Luxemburg. The father, Daniel Hilger, conducted a machine shop in connection with a vineyard in the old country, and in that vicinity Nicholas Hilger received his elementary education in the public schools. In 1847 his parents, accom- panied by their eight children and their grand- mother, came to the United States and settled at Buffalo, N. Y. Here Daniel Hilger purchased a farm near that city, upon which they resided until 1860, the grandmother here going to her last rest- ing place. They then removed to Minnesota and bought a farm adjoining Arlington. It was here that the wife and mother, Susannah Hilger, died.

It was in the public schools and Bryant's Com- mercial College of Buffalo that Mr. Hilger acquired his education. Before finishing his studies he made a trip to Minnesota, but soon returned to New York, in a short time, however, going again to Min- nesota, where for two years he was engaged in buy- ing and selling land. He located at Henderson, Minn., in 1856, and here, when he was twenty-six years old, he was elected justice of the peace, and also appointed a clerk in the United States land of- fice and the latter position he held two years. In 1857 he was appointed an assistant United Statesmarshal and took the census of Carver county and its ad- joining territory preparatory to the admission of Minnesota into the Union as a state. In 1858 he was elected county auditor of Sibley county, which position he retained by re-election until 1864. In 1862, the year of the terrible Sioux massacres in Minnesota, he was commissioned captain in the state militia and served through the Indian cam- paign, taking part in the battle of New Ulm. Capt. Hilger remained in the military service until 1864 and then resigned his captaincy and his office as county auditor, and joined General Sully's expedition against the Sioux, then on the plains of Dakota, along the Yellowstone and in eastern Mon-

tana. On reaching Montana Mr. Hilger, with the other civilians, separated from the soldiers and traveled westward until they reached the site of Helena. In speaking of the last memorable battle. in which the Sioux were defeated and driven into the Bad Lands, Judge Hilger says in his diary read before the Historical Society of Montana :

"The next morning (August 9th) at daybreak the command started forward. The Indians came on stronger than ever and attacked us on all sides. Close to the camp a high and rocky 'butte' rose above the surrounding country. Many of us climbed to its summit, from which vantage ground we could overlook the whole field of battle. Indian chiefs and commanders could be seen in all direc- tions, signalling and directing the movements of their forces. It was a sight one may never forget. About two miles west of us our front seemed to have been checked by the hostiles, while the reports of firearms and artillery indicated a desperate struggle .. About this time the rear of the train got in motion, and shortly thereafter the firing ceased. Soon a great cloud of dust was seen rising about two miles southwest of our advance, which, upon close inspection, proved to be a living mass of war- riors, with their families and herds, stampeding in a southeasterly direction into the Bad Lands and endeavoring to escape from their victorious and unconquerable enemies. We did not pursue them, however. Starting upon the journey from Fort Ridgely, Minn., we had been four months on the road, and arrived at Helena on September 21, 1864, after an experience the like of which few emigrants have ever been called upon to pass through or com- pelled to endure."

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 43

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