Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 6

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 6

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

committee and in other ways became an active working member. He gave support to the sugar bounty bill, which passed both houses, but which was vetoed by the governor. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.

H ON. MARCUS DALY .- The strong, true men of a people are always public benefactors. Their usefulness in the immediate and specific la- bors they perform can be defined by metes and bounds. The good they do through the forces they put in motion, and through the inspiration of their presence and example, is immeasurable by any finite gauge or standard of value. The death of any one of such men is a public calamity, because by it the country loses not only his active energy, but the stimulus and fecundating power of his personal influence. There is, however, some compensation for this loss in the memory of his services, the effect of his example and the continuing fruitful- ness of the activities he quickened into life.

The late Marcus Daly, of Montana, was such a man. To epitomize his life and character within the limits which this work allows is impossible to mortal utterance. The stalwart proportions of his living presence are vividly realized by the void his death has made. But less than most men intellectually his equal does he need the voice of eulogy. The clearness of his purposes, the soundness of his judgment, his ample sweep of vision, his tireless activity, his idomitable will, his mighty achievements, have impressed "the very age and body of the time," making his life a force which cannot die. If any ask of us the story of that life, we feel impelled to answer : "Here is Ana- conda-here is Butte-here is Montana; he was in large measure their architect and builder; they speak his record in enduring phrase-read that."

In an obscure rural hamlet on the edge of Bally- jamesduff, in County Cavan, Ireland, his life began December 5, 1841, and passed through boyhood into youth without incident worthy of note. He was one of six children, and probably to the casual ob- server was not distinguished from the rest by any striking characteristics. His education was nec- essarily limited owing to the size and circumstances of the family, and at the age of fifteen, yearning for wider opportunity, or yielding to the spirit of ad-

venture within him, or hearkening to the voice of great Nature calling her child to his proper field of labor, he resolutely braved the heaving ocean and set sail for the United States. He landed at New York and soon found work in a leather fac- tory in Brooklyn. The work was hard, but his fidelity brought him kind treatment, and by rigid economy he soon saved enough of his earnings to pay his passage to California. The Pacific coast metropolis was over-crowded with redund- ant population, and employment was not easy to get. Mr. Daly had no trade or other special prep- aration for specific work, but he was yare in almost any handicraft, and more than ordinary skillful in farm and garden work. He spent some time at these, and as a sort of all-round helper in placer mining camps, gradually drifting toward steady work in connection with quartz mining in Nevada. It was during these years of experimenting that he became acquainted with the late Senator Hearst, of California, at that time a persistent and hopeful prospector, but as yet without a secure foundation for his fortune. Their meeting and subsequent acquaintance and co-operation were full of advant- 'age to both. In 1876 Mr. Daly arrived at Butte as the representative of Walker Brothers, and bought for them the Alice mine, having an inter- est in the purchase himself. This new field of en- terprise gave scope and development to the most forceful traits of his character, which had hitherto lain dormant for want of opportunity, and brought them into full play. While directing affairs at the Alice mine with characteristic energy, the chance came his way to sell his interest in the property for $30,000, and he took it. He at once began organizing an association for the purchase of the Anaconda mine, which had attracted his attention as a promising silver yield squinting at copper. Here it was that his acquaintance with Mr. Hearst came into valuable and timely service. Messrs. Haggin and Tevis, members of a law firm in San Francisco, were active operators in mining prop- erties, and had an agreement with Mr. Hearst whereby he was to be on the lookout for good things in their line, and was to have a certain inter- est in everything taken by them on his recommen- dation. The proposition to buy the Anaconda for $30,000, with Mr. Daly holding one-fourth inter- est in the concern, was laid before these gentlemen, but they did not receive it cordially, having their hearts set on taking up a now forgotten property near Helena. Their expert reported favorably on

Maran Daly

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

this, and unfavorably on the Anaconda. Whereas, after repeated examination of both properties, Mr. Daly reported favorably on the Anaconda and un- favorably on the one across the range. His views finally prevailed and the quartette became the own- ers of the most celebrated copper mine in the world. The purchase of the St. Lawrence at a merely nominal price followed hard upon this, and numbers of other properties were soon added to the possessions of the infant organization which was destined to be, before long, renowned through- out the world as the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. The ownership was the essential fact. All that has come after is mere incident and detail. Having consummate faith in the properties acquired, and having taken hold of them with enthusiasm, it followed "as the night the day," that the great creator and builder laid all his enormous resources under tribute to their fullest and most profitable development. And the magnitude of his achieve- ment in this respect is marvelous. At that time the great smelting works of the world were at dis- tant Swansea, Wales, to which the first Anaconda ores were shipped. These works were the product of centuries of development ; and in reaching them he was obliged to compete with the Lake Superior output-a much higher grade of ores with the ad- vantage of being 1,200 miles nearer the works. He competed with this output successfully, and he did more. Within a score of years he erected works within his own territory surpassing those at Swansea both in extent and equipment for scien- tific treatment ; and during all this time he was re- ducing the lowest grade of ores found anywhere, and while doing it was paying the highest rate of wages paid anywhere in the business.

But this was not all. His gigantic enterprises inaugurated others throughout the state which swell her business totals enormously. The properties which furnish coal and lumber and other supplies for the smelting operations in Anaconda and else- where were in the main opened up through their energy. By the construction of the Butte, Ana- conda & Pacific line he revised railway traffic for western Montana, and saved both the busy mines at Butte and the busy smelters of Anaconda from destruction at a time of great financial depression. At his suggestion and through his initiative banks, railways, water-plants, electric light or irrigation systems, hotels, parks, hospitals and kindred insti- tutions, each one excelling in its class, became parts of the equipment of municipalities or coun- ties in the state. 2

But life had not for him stern and serious aspects only. He viewed some of its outdoor sporting phases in a genial spirit, through kindly sympathizing eyes, and saw in them an avenue of great and good results. In this line, as in all oth- ers, his plans were large and his standards high. He acquired a great body of land-some 18,000 acres-in the Bitter Root valley, and spent a fortune improving it and stocking it with the finest and fast- est horses. He made it famous as the greatest and most valuable horse ranch in the world, renowned wherever men love horses for the completeness and elegance of its appointments and the supreme excellence of its stud. Then he was as princely in his patronage of the turf as he was imperial in his mastery of mines. He loved horse racing for its own sake, and to carry that sport in America to its highest development was one of his ambitions. During his career as a turfman he won many fa- mous races, but these were not his glory on the turf. He raised the standard of its legitimate lines of enterprise, improved the atmosphere of the track, contributed to a higher sense of honor among its promoters, and stimulated the love of all that is best and noblest in the sport. Thus it was also with his agricultural operations at Bitter Root. He had one of the most notable landed es- tates in America. But far above all fiscal value was the impetus which his example gave to agri- cultural developinent in the Bitter Root valley and throughout western Montana, and the mar- velous fruits it has produced.

In the midst of all his great schemes, his manifest pleasure in their success, and his pardonable pride in the fact that capital in abundance was ready to bank on his judgment, all unsuspected the shadow of the destroying angel was hovering over him. Large-brained, large-framed, and brawny-muscled, his vigorous health, freedom of motion, physical independence and manly presence were his joy and pride, and a part of that full endowment of mind and body which gave him commanding rank. But when the fatal shaft came he accepted his lot without repining. What to most others would have been a warning to permanently quit active work, was to him the occasion for increased exer- tion and mental energy ; or at best a suggestion of needed rest to recuperate his forces for larger un- dertakings. He felt that his career was incomplete, his life-work was still unfinished, and the broken sword only made the combat closer. He fought death as an equal for every inch of time until worn out by hard conflict, he yielded at last to the con-

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

queror of all. At the Hotel Netherlands, in New York city, a few minutes after seven o'clock on the morning of Monday, November 12, 1900, sur- rounded by his immediate family, his brother Pat- rick, the Rev. Father Lavelle, rector of St. Pat- rick's Cathedral, Drs. Shrady and Brown, and Will- iam Scallon, of Butte, he calmly abandoned the struggle and yielded up his spirit.

Mr. Daly was married at Salt Lake City in 1872, to Miss Margaret Evans. They were the par- ents of four children,-Margaret, Mary, Hattie and Marcus Daly, all of whom are living at this writing (1901). Within the sacred precincts of do- mestic life the annalist may not ruthlessly intrude. Yet it is but just and will offend no propriety to say, that in the home relations Mr. Daly was blessed beyond most men-especially men of affairs. His devotion to his family was complete, and was rewarded by complete devotion in return. His private life was pure and upright. All his in- stincts were toward noble, clean and manly living. In this respect again his example was potential for good among all the thousands who knew and honored him.

Marcus Daly was a very remarkable man. The magnitude of his conceptions and his force of character cannot be overestimated. His sweep of vision was mighty and his will-power was tre- mendous. He threw himself into all his undertak- ings with a fixedness of purpose and a disregard of obstacles which compelled success. His life contains great lessons to young men beginning a career of honorable ambition,-none more impres- sive than this: That in our favored land industry and talents will overcome all obstructions. It is difficult to recall any other American whose career proves this fact more clearly than his. He entered upon life's ordeal with nothing to rely on but his own active and resourceful mind and his indom- itable will. The position from which he started to achieve all his success was humble and unpromis- ing. His way was beset with difficulties and disap- pointments. Yet over all obstacles he triumphed gloriously.

Of political ambition, in the way of official sta- tion for himself, he seemed to be entirely devoid. But nothing gave him keener pleasure than to be the Warwick of a contest. And a man so promi- nent in affairs, so earnest in thought and so ag- gressive in endeavor, as he was, could not wholly escape the acerbities and malignities of public life; yet he was himself earnest in conviction

rather than bitter in feeling, and stringent in judg- ment rather than illiberal in disposition. For he was great in generosity, as he was in all things else. In the matter of private charities he was princely- and royal in his silence concerning them. If every one for whom he did a kindness were to throw a blossom on his grave he would, sleep be- neath a mighty pyramid of flowers.

For twenty years at least he was Montana's fore- most and most commanding figure, contributing in what he himself accomplished and what he impelled others to do, more towards her growth and prog- ress than most if not all other men. Moreover, he was a loyal lover of the state, with undoubting faith in her future and unflagging zeal in her ser- vice. She is his enduring monument ; and in her people's heart of hearts his memory is enshrined.

(EORGE H. BAILEY .- Among the younger I members of the bar of Montana is numbered the subject of this review, who maintains his home and professional headquarters in the thriving little city of Red Lodge, Carbon county, Mont., and is known as an able and successful practitioner and the present city attorney.

George Howard Bailey was born on the parental farmstead in Washington county, Ohio, February 1, 1867, the son of George W. Bailey, likewise born in Ohio and a son of Seth Bailey, one of the pioneers of that state and a native of Massachu- setts, where the family was established in the early colonial epoch, the original American ances- tors having emigrated from the north of Ireland. The father of our subject has attained the vener- able age of eighty-four years (1901), a life long resident of Ohio. In his youth he entered Mari- etta College and graduating therefrom, matricu- lated in Lane Theological Seminary, at Cincin- nati, his intention being to prepare himself for the ministry. His health, however, became so seriously impaired as to compel him to abandon his plans, and he turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits, with which he has since been identified, being one of the honored and influential citizens of Washington county. He has ever shown an active interest in all that conserves the intellectual, moral and material well being of his native state. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah J. Stapleton, was born in Washington county, Pa., as was her father, Joshua Stapleton, the founders of the family

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

in America coming from the north of Ireland. The subject of this review is the only son, and the three sisters complete the family circle.

George H. Bailey was educated in the public schools of his native state; entered college, but owing to trouble with his eyes he was compelled to lay aside his school work. He traveled south- ward, finally was enabled to follow the course which he had planned in preparing himself for the practice of law, matriculating in the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and graduating with the class of 1894 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Laws. He established himself in the practice of his profession at Parkersburg, W. Va., where he remained one year, came to Montana and located at Red Lodge, where he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, retaining a representa- tive clientele. He is active and influential in local politics and a member of the Republican state cen- tral committee. He was the choice of his party for county attorney, but met defeat through nor- mal political agencies. He is held in the highest esteem by his professional confreres and others with whom he comes in contact in business or social lines. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Knights and the Woodmen of the World, in the last of which he has held the highest preferment.

On January 1, 1898, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Lissa F. Bailey, a native of Iowa, a daughter of Benjamin F. Bailey, who was born in Pennsylvania, but removed to Iowa where he de- voted his attention to agriculture. Our subject and his wife have a winsome little daughter, Dor- othy B. Mrs. Bailey is a graduate of the Univer- sity of Michigan, completing the literary course the same year that her husband was graduated in the law department. She is a lady of high intel- lectuality and gentle refinement, presiding with gra- cious dignity over the pleasant home, and is promi- nent in the social life of Red Lodge.

A LEXANDER M. BAIRD .- This veteran sol- dier and stockman was born in Scotland on February 4, 1845, and soon after his birth he was brought by his parents to the United States. His father, Charles Baird, was a brickmaker in Connecticut and New York until his death, which

occurred in Brooklyn in 1895. The mother, whose maiden name was Martha Wilson, died at Thomp- sonville, Conn., in 1858. Mr. Baird was educated in the public schools of New York city and Thomp- sonville, Conn. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany E, Fifth Connecticut Infantry, and was in service until the close of the Civil war, re-enlisting as a veteran in December, 1864. After the battle of Gettysburg, in 1863, his regiment was trans- ferred from the Army of the Potomac to the Twelfth Army Corps, and sent with Sherman to the sea. After the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston Mr. Baird went to Washington and from there on to his home. From 1865 to 1867 he was employed in Arne's factory at Hartford, then he enlisted in Troop F, First United States Cavalry, at Philadelphia, and came with it to the west. Dur- ing the next ten years he served in Oregon, Wash- ington, Nevada and Idaho, and in the wars with the Modocs, Piutes, Nez Perces, etc., without being wounded or on the sick list at any time. He rose to the rank of first sergeant and as such was mus- tered out of the service in February, 1878.

From 1878 to 1882 Mr. Baird was engaged in merchandising in New York city. In May, that year, he came to Dawson county and located a homestead on Beaver creek, six miles from Wibaux, where he is surrounded by an immense area of grazing ground, and for twenty years has been en- gaged in raising and shipping sheep and horses. For the past few years he has put his stock out on shares, but has not lost interest in the business and has been active in looking after it. In politics Mr. Baird has always been a zealous Republican, and as such was elected county commissioner of Dawson county in 1896 and re-elected in 1900. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows as a member of Wibaux Lodge No. 67.

AMES S. BALLARD .- In the far distant Pine Tree state was born the subject of this review, now one of the sterling pioneers of Mon- tana, and numbered among the successful and rep- resentative farmers of Gallatin county. Mr. Bal- lard was born in Augusta, Me., on October II, 1847, being one of the six children of James S. and Mary (McIntire) Ballard, both of whom were na- tives to the manor born, and representatives of prominent old New England families. Jonathan Ballard. the grandfather of our subject, was born in

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

Maine, his father having been one of the early pio- neers of that state. James S. Ballard, Sr., died on the day that his youngest child, the subject of this sketch, was born, being forty-one years of age at the time. He had devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and was a man of spotless integrity of character. His widow survived him but five years, passing away at the age of forty-five, and thus our subject was orphaned when a mere child.

James S. Ballard was reared and educated in his native state, where he remained until he had at- tained his legal majority. In 1868 he started west, was employed in a mercantile establishment in Iowa, and in April, 1869, he set out for Montana, coming as far as Ogden, Utah, by railroad and thence by the typical stage coach of the day to Vir- ginia City, where he arrived on the first dayof May. From there he soon removed to Highlands, Gallatin county, where he engaged in mining for two months, and then went to Helena and followed painting for three years. Subsequently he passed six years in Radersburg and vicinity, devoting his attention to mining, holding the position of foreman of the Little Giant mine, in which he owned an in- terest. He was quite successful in his efforts, and at the expiration of the period noted he came to Gallatin valley and purchased the ranch formerly owned by Judge Street. Here he turned his atten- tion to farming, which has since engrossed his at- tention, and in which he has been very successful, having a valuable and well improved ranch of 320 acres, the greater portion being effectively irrigated through his control of a ditch two and one-half miles in length, carrying 300 inches of water. He raises large crops of wheat, oats, alfalfa and clover hay, but devotes considerable attention to the rais- ing of Hereford cattle and Norman horses, and has some exceptionally fine specimens of each, his average herd of cattle ranging from 100 to 150 head. The ranch is most eligibly and picturesquely located at the base of Flathead foothills, about eight miles north of Belgrade, Mr. Ballard's postoffice address. He is one of Gallatin valley's suc- cessful and progressive men, and his estate gives evidence of his judgment, energy and scrupulous care. The ranch is equipped with excellent build- ings, including a comfortable and commodious resi- dence, and is known as one of the beautiful places in this garden spot of Montana. In his political proclivities Mr. Ballard is stanchly arrayed in sup- port of the Democratic party and its principles, and maintains a constant and lively interest in all that

concerns the well-being of the community. He has served for a number of years as school trustee. Fraternally he is a Master Mason. In 1899 Mr. Ballard made a visit to his old home in Maine, re- newing the acquaintanceships of youthful days and greatly enjoying the season of rest and recreation.

On November 14, 1875, Mr. Ballard led to the lıymeneal altar Miss Mary Tribble, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of William and Lavina Tribble, and has been his devoted companion and helpmeet during the ensuing years. Their union has been blessed with nine children, namely: Wil- liam, who is now a resident of North Dakota; Liz- zie is the wife of Henry Cloninger, of Gallatin val- ley, and Fred, George, Charles Grover, Roland, Annie Laurie and Edith and Eva (twins), all of whom are still at the parental home.

JUDITH BASIN BANK .- No better index of the financial and material prosperity of a com- munity can be found than in its banking insti- tutions, and in this respect it is gratifying to note in Fergus county the high standing of the Judith Basin Bank. It was organized in 1899, and duly incorporated under the laws of Montana, with a capital stock of $75,000. The official corps chosen at the establishing of the bank is still retained. Herman Otten, president ; David Hilger, vice-pres- ident ; George J. Bach, cashier, and W. B. Miner, assistant cashier. The officers are all resi- dents of Fergus county and are men of the highest standing. The bank opened for business on the Ist of May, 1899, and its history, though of short duration, has been one of signal success. A gen- eral banking business is transacted, and the institu- tion has a list of correspondents which gives it the best of facilities in exchange. In addition to its officers the bank's directorate includes H. Hodg- son, N. M. McCauley, Matt Gunton, Louis Landt and John Laux, all of whom are prominently iden- tified with the industrial activities of the county. The bank is one of Fergus county's solid financial institutions.

In the connection it is fitting that we enter a brief record of the cashier of the bank, George J. Bach, who was the princi- pal instrument in effecting its organization and who has administered its affairs with marked ability and discretion. Mr. Bach is a na- tive of New York City, where he was born on the

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

7th of October, 1868, the son of Jacques and Eliz- abethı (Meyer) Bach, both of whom were born in that state. Jacques Bach was for a number of years the proprietor of a hotel. He died in 1879, when his only child, the subject of this review, was but eleven years of age. The death of Mrs. Bach occurred in 1874, and thus George J. was doubly orphaned while still a child. His parents were of German lineage and were folk of sterling char- acter.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 6

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