Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 60

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1374

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self being promoted first lieutenant for "gallant and meritorious service in the field." His regi- ment led the advance of McClellan's army when it crossed the Potomac, and occupied a prominent position in the engagement at Snicker's Gap. He was at Warrentown when Gen. McClellan was relieved by Gen. Burnsides, and the regiment led the latter's advance forces to Fredericksburg, being in the Second Army Corps and in the division commanded by Gen. Couch, who constructed a pontoon bridge and thereby captured Fredericks- burg. Maj. Maginnis participated in the assault on Marie's Heights, where he received a slight wound in the side, his regiment holding the ground gained until the army was withdrawn across the Rappahannock. Later the regi- ment took part in the campaign of Chan- cellorsville, during which the Federal forces again crossed the river and carried Marie's Heights by assault, under Gen. Sedgwick, who held the ground until the army was again withdrawn across the river. The Second Army Corps was now commanded by Gen. Hancock, and followed Gen. Lee on his northern raid, leading the advance that eventuated in the battle of Gettys- burg. During this march the regiment was ac- tively engaged at Manassas and Thoroughfare Gap. At Gettysburg, where Gen. Sickles' line was broken, Gen. Hancock threw the First Minnesota into the breach to hold the ground until reinforce- ments could come up, and there was made the most fatal charge known in the annals of warfare, the loss aggregating eighty-three per cent. of. the men engaged. In Maj. Maginnis' company of thirty-four men, seventeen were killed and thirteen wounded. He was here made captain, and later was promoted to major of his regiment, in which capacity he led his command with Gen. Meade across the Rappahannock, participating in the bat- tle of Bristow Station. The regiment then accom- pained Gen. Grant to Cold Harbor, where Maj. Maginnis was assigned to the command of the Eleventh Minnesota, which reported to Gen. Thomas in Tennessee. He was now placed on de- tached duty, as provost marshal of that state, and assigned to the staff of the military governor, Andrew Johnson, afterward president of the United States. The Major later returned to his regiment, which took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. In June, 1865, at the close of the war, Maj. Maginnis was mustered out of service with the rank of major. His military career was

one of marked distinction, and to him attaches the honor attending those who offered their lives in defense of the nation's honor during the great- est civil war known to history.

After the war Maj. Maginnis was for a time editor of a newspaper at Red Wing, Minn., but determining to locate in the west, he organized a party of 140 men who, with forty wagons, crossed the plains to Montana, by the northern route, now the line of the Great Northern Railroad. The party arrived in Helena on September 1, 1866, and Maj. Maginnis engaged in mining on Indian creek and in Mitchell gulch until August, 1867, when he became editor of the Rocky Mountain Gazette, which was issued under his direction until 1872. The paper eventually became the Helena Inde- pendent, now recognized as the leading Demo- cratic daily of the capital city. In 1868 he joined the ranks of the benedicts, marrying with Miss Louise E. Mann, a native of Michigan. In 1872 Maj. Maginnis was elected territorial delegate to congress, defeating Hon. W. H. Clagett, and in 1874 he was elected his own successor, defeating Hon. Cornelius Hedges, the Republican candidate. By subsequent re-elections he remained in con- gress until 1884, serving six consecutive terms,-a fact signally indicative of the trust and confidence reposed in him by the people of the territory. More distinguished honors were to be his, however. He was a delegate to the constitutional conven- tion in 1889 which framed the present constitution of Montana, and took active part in its proceed- ings. It will ever stand to his credit as a high distinction in the annals of Montana that he was chosen one of the first two to represent the new commonwealth in the United States senate, his colleague being Hon. W. A. Clark. These duly elected senators were denied their places in the senate, the seats being awarded to Hon. W. F. Sanders and Hon. T. C. Powers. As congressional delegate Maj. Maginnis made a reputation that has not been surpassed in the history of that office, and succeeded in obtaining benefactions for the young and struggling territory which have so far not been equalled by all the legislation obtained by a full state delegation in both senate and house. He successfully abolished the Indian reservations which then covered the larger portion of the terri- tory. He procured appropriations from congress and caused to be established and built for the protection of the frontier these army posts : Fort Logan, Fort Keogh, Fort Custer, Fort Maginnis,

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Fort Assinnaboine and Fort Missoula; the assay office, at Helena, and the United States peniten- tiary, at Deer Lodge, afterwards turned over to the state. The only government buildings since erected in Montana are those at Fort Harrison, in the establishment of which he was an important factor. He procured many appropriations for the payment of depredation claims, the payment of the Montana militia claims and various claims of cit- zens beyond enumeration. He was active in the passage of land and timber laws for the benefit of the settlers, and took an active part in all general legislation, particularly affecting the western states and territories. One of the most important laws contributory to the development of the west, was the general right of way for railways across the public lands. This bill he drafted and carried through congress, and under it all the railways in the west, except the three chartered by congress, have been constructed. He procured the grant of lands for the university and other state institutions, and was active in procuring the ad- mission of the state. He was continually chosen as chairman of the territorial delegates who then had a committee of their own. Achieved a nation- al reputation as a debater in the house of represent- atives, and made notable orations at the national cemetery at Gettysburg, the soldiers' home in Washington, the reunion of the Army of the Poto- mac in Washington, the meeting of Democratic clubs in the Academy of Music in New York, and to the Tammany society at its hall in the same city.

When the difficulty arose between the state and the Northern Pacific Railroad Company as to title to mineral lands in the commonwealth, Maj. Maginnis threw the full force of his strong individu- ality into the work of securing to the state and the government the rights justly due each in the prem- ises, being made a special commissioner, and he secured the congressional appointment of the mineral land commission for Montana, whose work has recently been successfully completed. For his efforts in this case alone the Major merits the gratitude of the state. Maj. Maginnis has ever been a fearless advocate of the principles and poli- cies of the Democratic party, whose cause he has clone much to forward, through editorial utterances and influential participation in its councils. He has represented the party in many state conven- tions, was for years a member of the Democratic national committee and in 1896 was a presidential

elector from Montana. He is recognized as one of Montana's representative men and his efforts in its behalf will be held long in grateful recognition. The Major keeps alive his practical interest in his old comrades in arms by retaining membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion.

JAMES MANSFIELD is one of the sterling pioneers of Montana, has been conspicuously identified with her industrial development, and is recognized as an honored citizen of Beaver- head county. Mr. Mansfield is a native of the Emerald Isle, having been born in County Kil- kenny, on April 18, 1844, the son of Michael and Mary (Morrissy) Mansfield, natives of Ireland, where they passed their entire lives, the father hav- ing devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. When the subject of this review was but three years of age he accompanied his brothers and sis- ters to America, they locating in St. Louis, Mo., where James received his early education in the public schools and worked on farms in the vicin- ity. He remained in Missouri until March, 1859, when he started for Pike's Peak, Colo., in company with Daniel Flood and Patrick White. They had had some trouble with the Indians, but met no serious difficulties. He turned his attention to mining for two years in Colorado, but the discov- ery of gold at Bannack, Mont., prompted him to go to that section, arriving on the Ist of Novem- ber. There Mr. Mansfield gave two yoke of oxen and a wagon for claim No. 32, on Stapleton's bar, and devoted his attention to mining during the en- suing winter. In the summer of 1863, in company with seventeen others, he constructed a ditch known as White bar ditch, supplying water for the placers, where Mr. Mansfield con- tinued operations for a period of fifteen years. Within this time he was concerned in many of the stirring episodes that marked life on the frontier. He saw Plummer, Ned Ray and "Buck" Stinson after they had been hung by the vigilance committee, and was present on the occasion when the old brass cannon was fired into the cabin at Bannack, resulting in the death of the Mexican desperado who had there sheltered himself. In 1863 the wonderful discovery of gold was made in Alder gulch, the present site of Virginia City, and Mr. Mansfield was among the first to take up a placer claim in that district. He

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did not secure satisfactory returns from this claim and eventually presented it to Ed. Gallagher, who later took out a large amount of gold. Mr. Mans- field returned to Bannack, and in the spring of 1865 he went to Fort Benton with three teams to trans- fer freight from that point to Bannack. Prior to this he had paid $75 for fifty pounds of flour, but upon arriving at Fort Benton he found it selling at a low price. In 1866 he engaged in freighting from Salt Lake City to the mining camps of Mon- tana while his partners continued the mining busi- ness. On one occasion the Mormons at Brigham City attempted to run his cattle into the local pound that they might realize $5 as recovery fee, but he succeeded in thwarting the plans of the lat- ter day "saints." He continued to be engaged in freighting and placer mining thereafter for a period of five years.

In 1875 Mr. Mansfield took up a claim of gov- ernment land on Horse prairie, Beaverhead coun- ty, where he is successfully engaged in raising cat- tle and horses, having a finely improved ranch of 760 acres. His ranch is located one mile north of Grant, his postoffice address. In politics Mr. Mansfield has ever given his support to the Demo- cratic party, but has not been an active worker nor has he sought political preferment.

In the year 1887 Mr. Mansfield was united in marriage to Miss Annie Flynn, who was born in Ireland and became a resident of Montana in 1874. They have two children : James Nicholas, who was born in 1888, and Columbia, born in 1890. Both children are attending the public schools. The family have the esteem of the community and our subject is honored as one of the pioneers of the state and an enterprising and upright citizen of Beaverhead county.

J R. MARKS, of Townsend, while one of the early pioneer settlers of the state, is also the leading merchant of his home city. He was born in Elgin, Ill., on September 18, 1846, the son of James and Harriet (Hill) Marks, and a grandson of James Marks and Samuel Hill, both natives of New York. In 1830 the father of J. R. Marks re- moved to Chicago, and later engaged in farming near Elgin, Ill., until his death. Fresh from the public schools of Elgin, young Marks, at the age of eighteen years, in 1864, enlisted in Company K,

Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, as quartermaster's clerk. He joined the regiment at Springfield, from there it went to Memphis, and to Nashville, and then to New Orleans, and thence to Chicago, where Mr. Marks was honorably discharged in October, 1865. Returning to Elgin he passed the winter attending college, and in April, 1866, he outfitted for a commercial venture in Montana, carrying merchandise that would have a ready sale among the miners.

Mr. Marks came by the Bozeman route, and at Fort Laramie the United States troops stopped them until a train could be formed sufficiently large to battle hostile Indians in case of trouble, a precaution that proved to be eminently wise. While at the fort Mr. Marks went back five miles after some papers, mounted on an exceedingly fine white horse which the Indians were anxious to trade for, and a band of 100 followed him on his return to the fort. Mr. Marks refused all prop- ositions and retained his horse. At this period the Indians were negotiating a peace treaty with the government, but the terms were not exactly to their liking, and about a week later they went on the warpath in paint and feathers. But Mr. Marks' train of 100 teams and 500 men had a fair start and had no trouble. They, however, killed many trainmen and settlers, stealing their horses and cattle. The streams were greatly swollen, at Clark's forks the river was three-quarters of a mile wide, and they made rafts on which to cross. Dur- ing this hazardous crossing three of the party were drowned, and a large number of mules and several horses were lost. As a climax to these misfor- tunes Mr. Marks' entire stock of merchandise, worth at least $1,500, with $400 in money in a trunk, slipped from the raft, and everything was dashed to pieces at a bend in the river.

This loss was a well nigh crushing one, but the generous members of the party told him to come along with them, and they arrived in Bozeman on July 1, 1866. After visiting Diamond City and Confederate gulch, Mr. Marks went to New York gulch, where, on the advice of a California expert miner, he traded his horses and gave his note of $1,000 for a placer claim. One week later he dis- covered that this claim had been saited and he se- verely tricked. He then removed to Cave gulch, and was there during the sanguinary fight between "jumpers" and "owners" in which seven men were killed. In the fall he went to Current gulch, where a big strike was reported. After having spent two

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months in getting to bed-rock, with no returns, he went back to Diamond City and opened a bakery. But as soon as he stepped aside from the rut of a miner luck seemed to favor him. At Diamond City he secured an interest in claim No. 75 in Confederate gulch, and from this realized several thousand dollars. He then purchased a claim on Montana bar from which he realized $5,000. But he subsequently bought a claim up the main gulch and built a dam and "went broke." Later he took a contract to hoist dirt, in which he employed ten horses and ten men, and profitably continued this business for two years, at the same time keeping up the bakery.

In 1870 he purchased the Luihardy ranch in Missouri valley and also engaged to a considerable extent in freighting. In 1871 he had six ten-mule teams plying from Batten and Corinne to Helena. In 1874 he bought a stage line and took a mail contract, running each way daily between Helena and White Sulphur Springs (seventy-four miles), and requiring seventy horses. Mr. Marks also con- tinued freighting until railway competition made it unprofitable. In these enterprises he was successful, and. although not destined to dig a fortune out of the ground, by industry, pluck and ability he won financial prosperity. He also secured a profitable mail contract between Townsend and White Sulphur Springs, which he filled until 1899. When Town- send was first started, in 1883, Mr. Marks became a member of the mercantile firm of Tierney & Co. This firm also ran two saw-mills and erected the Townsend Hotel, in which Mr. Marks is still inter- ested. Later the firm was succeeded by the Town- send Mercantile Company. Mr. Marks is largely interested in the State Bank of Townsend, and owns four ranches in Missouri valley, aggregating 5,000 acres. He usually feeds 500 head of cattle, 200 horses and 3,000 sheep and sells annually about 500 tons of hay. In October, 1872, Mr. Marks was married to Miss Mary Maples, of New York. Her family had moved from New York to Wisconsin and later to Montana. They have had four chil- dren, Vera, who died at the age of four years; James, Vera and Harold, deceased. Fraternally Mr. Marks is an Odd Fellow, and has passed the chairs of his local lodge. In his share of the "win- ning of the west," the pathway has not been strewn with roses. But he has never laid down, never given up the ship, but with each new misfortune has risen stronger, more determined than ever and has won deserved success.

EDWARD CARDWELL .- Distinctively one of the pioneers of the west and an active partici- pant in many of the exciting movements which marked the early historical epoch of the western frontier was Edward Cardwell. Among those whose earlier reminiscences have a savor of these periods probably few who participated in them lived up to the full tension of the movements, while few sur- vived to look back and realize the dangers they had passed nor to witness the march of development. One of those whose memory links the stirring events of the early pioneer epoch and the magnifi- cent advancement and material prosperity of the west in the dawn of the twentieth century is Ed- ward Cardwell. He was born in the village of Glenavey, County Antrim, Ireland, on July 10, 1831, the eighth of the ten children of Edward and Nancy (Quigley) Cardwell, representatives of sturdy old Irish stock. Edward Cardwell, Sr., was a farm- er, a man of sterling character, but not wealthy. The latter's father was a non-commissioned officer in the British army, as were also five of his brothers.

Edward Cardwell, Jr., had limited privileges of education in his native isle, since both of his parents died before he was sixteen years old. He then emi- grated to America, where in the first years of his residence he passed through those vicissitudes usually met by the young emigrant without capital or influential friends. He was industrious, ambi- tious and self-reliant, however, and his courage did not flinch. His first permanent location was in Rochester, N. Y., where he learned carriage paint- ing, at which he worked for several years in Canada and New York. In the meanwhile he attended the Rochester high school, earning the necessary funds by working at his trade. Finally he accumulated $1,- 000, representing constant and assiduous labor and much self-denial, and in the spring of 1857 he trav- eled to Leavenworth, Kan. This was when the so- cialistic turbulence resulting from the ill feeling be- tween the Free Soil party and the more lawless border ruffians had begun to make the expression "bleeding Kansas" so appropriate, Leavenworth being one of the outposts of civilization. Mr. Card- well found work at his trade in the quartermaster's department at the fort for three years, after which he was induced to go to Pike's Peak, Colo., in the spring of 1860, by the alluring reports of its rich gold deposits. After prospecting for a time in the Pike's Peak district he became superintendent for P. D. Casey, a prosperous miner and one of the notable pioneers.

Edad hardwell

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The rumors of new diggings and rich prospects traveled with remarkable rapidity in the old days, so it came about that when the gold discoveries at Alder gulch became known Mr. Cardwell was among those who went thither. He arrived in the new camp on November 7, 1863, here meeting many his associates in Colorado. His early experiences were often interesting and thrilling. Mr. Card- well entered into partnership with John Caplice and Peter Ronan in mining at Central City, Virginia City and at Bummer Dan's bar. Within this time the road agents were menacing the life and prop- erty of all who came across their path, and Mr. Cardwell witnessed the hanging of Ives, Boonhelm, Gallagher and other desperadoes, executed by the vigilantes. After the execution of the highway- men Mr. Cardwell felt that he might safely venture on a visit to "the states," and with others he made the tedions trip of six weeks' duration to Salt Lake, and they left their wagons in Port Neuf can- yon, never trying to recover them. From the east Mr. Cardwell returned to Montana, and located in Jefferson county, which is still his home. He re- sumed mining and engaged in farming and stock raising, conducting one of the finest ranch proper- ties in this section of the state, it comprising 2,800 acres, while he raises cattle upon an extensive scale, being one of the leaders in this industry. His postoffice address is Jefferson Island.

Mr. Cardwell's name is familiar throughout the state, and we may truthfully say that no man in Montana can show a more unshadowed life in either public or private phases. Public spirited in his at- titude and having a deep interest in the develop- ment and progress of the commonwealth, it was a foregone conclusion that his friends, recognizing his vigorous intellectual powers and his inflexible integrity, should demand of him service in import- ant positions of public trust. He was a representa- tive in the territorial council in the Ninth assembly and member of the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth territorial assemblies, ever exerting a strong influence for good in the formative period of Montana's existence, bringing to bear that sturdy common sense and intuitive wisdom which are dominating elements in his character, while such was the appreciation of his services that he was chosen a delegate to the constitutional conven- tion which framed the present state constitution. At the first state election he was a Democratic candi- date for the senate, but the peculiar exigencies of the contest compassed his defeat. At the election of 20

1890 his name was again placed in noinination for the same office, and he was elected, taking his seat in the judicial body of the legislature and proving himself an able member, conferring dignity and honor by his presence and services. At the close of the assembly Senator Cardwell returned to his home in Jefferson county, where he ever extends a deep and genial hospitality, for his "latchstring" is ever outside and one is sure of hearty welcome from this pioneer, whose home is that of a typical bach- elor.

I M. MARSHALL .- Losing his father while yet an infant, I. M. Marshall did not reach man's estate without experiencing the hardship, sorrow and privation of orphanage. He was born at Bristol, in Ontario county, N. Y., on August 23, 1834, a son of Moses and Mary (Andrews) Mar- shall, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. His widowed mother was a resolute and resourceful woman, and, although deprived of her natural helper and protector, per- formed well the arduous duty of raising her young family and giving them a good start in life. She was the daughter of Capt. Andrews, a native of England, who emigrated to America and settled in Connecticut, and a hero of the Revolutionary war, who met a brother face to face during that conflict, the latter being in the English army. Mr. Mar- shall passed his school days in New York, and when he attained manhood went into Pennsylvania and remained there two years. Then he started west, got as far as Missouri, and, after remaining there a few months, came on to Montana. Prior to this time he had offered his services to his country as a soldier, but, owing to injury resulting from an accident of his boyhood, was not accepted. In his journey to Montana, he started to come up the Missouri, but as the party was nearly all the sum- mer in getting to Cow Island, the boats were there abandoned, and the rest of the trip to Fort Benton made by teams. It was a time when the Indians were very troublesome, and roving bands gave this party great annoyance, cutting the head lines of their boats, hanging on their rear and flank for purposes of theft, and not even hesitating to carry off an old man of the company who had walked a short distance away from the camp, and whose fate they could conjecture from the experi- ence of others whom the savages had held in cap- tivity. One man, whom they found on the river bank

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two days after their companion had disappeared, and who was entirely naked, related that the In- dians had stripped and prepared to burn him, but a halfbreed squaw interceded, and they finally showed him which way to run and bade him be off. He ran and reached the river, and had been there several days before they picked him up. An- other person whom they met had a somewhat similar experience. Two Indians and a white man captured him, took his gold watch and all his clothes, and then he got a chance and ran away and found his way back to the boat. In the Bad Lands the party was corralled by Indians, but was not further molested, and reached Helena, Mont., in the fall of 1869.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 60

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