Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 62

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 62

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William F. Meyer, the subject of this review, received his education in the public schools of his native city and thereafter matriculated at Ripon College, where he completed the prescribed course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1882. Immediately after his graduation he came to Montana, first locating in the city of Billings, remaining about two months and then removed to

Park City, Yellowstone county, where he estab- tablished himself in the lumber business, also tak- ing up a homestead claim of government land in that locality. There he resumed the study of law, having previously inaugurated a careful course of reading in the same, and in 1884 he secured admis- sion to the bar of the state. He continued his resi- dence in Park City until 1889, when he disposed of his lumber business and live stock, but retained possession of his ranch until 1899, when he disposed of the property. In 1889 Mr. Meyer removed to Red Lodge, Carbon county, and here he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profes- sion, having gained marked precedence at the bar of the county and retaining a clientele of a distinctly representative character. In partnership with Messrs. John W. Chapman and Paul Breteche, the Senator engaged in the banking business in 1895. The last named gentleman dying in 1898, the insti- tution is now conducted by Mr. Meyer and Mr. Chapman as sole proprietors, and is known as the banking house of Meyer & Chapman. In 1898 the Senator erected the fine building in which the bank- ing business is now conducted, wherein he main- tains his elegantly equipped and commodious law offices. He is a man of great executive capacity and business ability, and his interposition in any en- terprise or undertaking of a public or private char- acter implies that it will be carried forward to de- terminate success. He is at the present time presi- dent of the Red Lodge Lumber & Hardware Com- pany, which controls an extensive and profitable business. His ability as a financier and thorough business man has not lacked for recognition in divers directions, and he has had the handling of large amounts of money for eastern capitalists, making a specialty of placing the same in long time loans on ranch securities. It was but natural that a man of such force, such sterling character and such unmistakable ability should be called upon to serve in offices of distinctive trust and responsibility with- in the gift of the people, and thus, in 1895, Mr. Meyer was the nominee of his party for representa- tive in the legislature, being accorded a hearty en- dorsement at the polls and proving an indefatigable and valuable working member of the legislative body. His zeal and ability in the cause of the Re- publican party made him a recognized leader, and further honors were conferred upon him at the gen- eral election in the fall of 1900, when he was elected to the state senate, and in the ensuing session again showed himself a worthy representative of his con-

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stituency and the state at large. In 1895, while a member of the lower house, Senator Meyer intro- duced the bill for the creation of Carbon county, and though the same met with strenuous opposi- tion, he brought his forces to bear in advocacy of the same and after a hard fight succeeded in having the county organized. As a member of the senate, in the general assembly of 1900-1, Senator Meyer, among many other measures, introduced and se- cured the enactment of the bill to prevent the slack of coal mines from being dumped into the streams of the various mining localities ; secured the passage of the bill imposing a tax on live stock brought in from other states for grazing purposes, being an important and valuable addition to the laws of the state; introduced the bill requiring the stock asso- ciation to publish a list of stray animals, this like- wise being enacted ; and he introduced the bill pro- viding for the acceptance of typewritten as well as printed briefs before the supreme court of the state, the object being to save large incidental expense to litigating parties, a measure overruled later by the supreme court as being in conflict with one of its rules.

On the Ist of July, 1884, Senator Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Alice C. Adams, who was born in Ripon, Wis., the daughter of Thomas Adams, who was born in the north of Ireland and who became one of the leading citizens of Fond du Lac county, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have one son, William F., Jr., who was born March 26, 1899. The family home is a beautiful modern residence, located in the north end of the city, and is recog- nized as the finest private house in the place and a center of refined hospitality.

CHARLES L. DAHLER, now residing at Hel- ena, has led in this state a busy, an eventful and a successful life. With the leading industries of Montana, mining and stock raising, he has long been closely identified, and is one of Helena's best- known business men. He was born in Prussia, near Dusseldorf, October 9, 1835. His parents were John M. and Mary S. (Engmann) Dahler. The family came from Prussia to the United States in 1839 and settled in Osage county, Mo. Here the father engaged in farming for many years, subse- quently removing to Cole county, where he died in 1897. aged eighty-three years. The mother died in 1847. They had two children-Charles L. and Mrs.

Bartman, of Missouri. The grandparents of C. L. Dahler also emigrated to the United States and lo- cated in Missouri, where they died.

Charles L. Dahler received his early education in the public schools of Missouri, and then entered the Jesuit College of Missouri, from which he was graduated. He then passed several years in that state, a portion of the time on the Missouri river as a steamboat clerk. In 1858 he went to Denver, Col .. crossing the plains to Leavenworth, Kan., with mule teams, the trip occupying forty-three days. Mr. Dahler remained at Cherry Creek (Denver), Col., until 1863, and engaged in running a ferry across the Platte river and in various other indus- tries. In 1863 he went to Salt Lake City with a stock of merchandise, and soon afterwards came to Bannack, Mont. He brought a train of ox teams and wagons loaded with salable goods, for while in Colorado Mr. Dahler had not been idle, but had prospered. At that period gold excitement was running high at Alder gulch and Virginia and Ne- vada Cities. In December of 1863 Mr. Dahler re- turned to Denver, where for several years he was agent for the Overland Stage Company. In May, 1866, Mr. Dahler came again to Virginia City, Mont., and, in company with Warren Hussy, opened a banking house there, another one at Hel- ena and one at Salt Lake City, all under the firm name of Hussy, Dahler & Co. The Salt Lake City Bank was continued until 1870, when it became the First National Bank; the one at Virginia City was continued until 1872. At that time Mr. Dahler as- sumed entire control of these financial institutions, later selling the Helena branch. The Virginia City bank was continued until 1879, when Mr. Dahler became largely interested in the gold mines of Sil- ver Star. Since then he has acquired possession of some eighteen rich and productive mines, among the best in the state.

Mr. Dahler was married in 1873 with Miss Mary Hudnall, of New Orleans, La. Her parents were John A. and Candace D. (Harrington) Hudnall, natives of Virginia and Indiana. They removed to New Orleans, as the father, John A. Hudnall, was a Mississippi river steamboat captain. They have eight children-Charles L., Hugo R., Frank J., Eugene T., Matthew J., Warren W., Jerrold J. and Alice C.

Politically Mr. Dahler has taken active interest in the Democratic party, but never sought political preferment. For twelve years he was county com- missioner at Virginia City, and in religion he is a

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Catholic. As one of the oldest settlers in the capi- tal city Mr. Dahler has established a reputation sec- ond to none. His long residence in territory and state has opened to him a wide field of acquaint- ances, and all speak of him in the highest terms. His life work has been a steady, yet conservative, advancement along safe and practical business lines, and the feverish excitements of early mining days never swept him off his feet. His financial ability, high character and honorable dealings have won for him the esteem and confidence of business asso- ciates and a host of personal friends.

D AVID W. MIDDLEMAS is identified with an important line of business enterprise in the city of Helena, being a member of the Helena Ice, Company, whose offices are located at 200 East State street. He is a man of progressive methods and business ability, and during the score of years he has been a resident of Helena has held the respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Middlemas is a native of Middleton, Nova Scotia, where he was born on August 25, 1856, being the son of John and Rebecca (Parker) Middlemas, both of whom were born in the same town. John Middlemas was a farmer by occupation, in politics was a liberal, and in religion was a member of the Methodist church. He was a man of sterling integrity and served for many years as a magistrate. The mother of our subject is of English descent and a represent- ative of old Massachusetts families, her great- grandfather in the paternal line having been a soldier in the Continental army and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Mrs. Middlemas now maintains her home in Midddleton, Nova Scotia. David W. Middlemas received his edu- cation in the public schools of his native town. In 1870 he went to Boston, where he remained until the centennial year, 1876, and then started for California, having learned the carpenter trade while in Boston, becoming a skilled workman. Arriving in San Francisco he was there engaged at his trade until 1880, when he came to Helena, arriving on June 15th. Here he was successfully engaged as a carpenter and builder until 1888, when he identified himself with his present line of enterprise, in which he has secured a large and representative patronage. Before the close of the succeeding year he consolidated his interest

in the ice business with those of Charles A. Black- burn, and they have since conducted operations under the title of the Helena Ice Company. Their facilities and equipment are excellent, and they supply the best of products to their many cus- tomers. Mr. Middlemas owns an attractive resi- dence in the city, and is also owner of large tracts where the ice ponds and storage house are located.

In politics he gives support to the Republican party ; fraternally he is prominently identified with the Masonic order, Mystic Shrine, and the An- cient Order of United Workmen. In Masonry his affiliations are with Morning Star Lodge No. 5 ; Helena Chapter No. 2, R. A. M .; and Helena Commandery No. 2, K. T. He has served as high priest of his chapter and as captain- general of the commandery. His religious faith is indicated by membership in the Baptist church, and he is a member of the board of trustees of the local organization. At Reno, Nev., on July 15, 1879, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Middlemas to Miss Ida L. Houston, who was born in Iowa, the daughter of George W. and Mary Houston, natives of New England. Of this union three children have been born, George N., Edith A. and May A.

G EORGE R. MILBURN .- A native of Washı- ington, D. C., and born on November 15, 1850, Judge Milburn is one of the seven sons of Benedict and Martha (Page) Milburn, natives respectively of Maryland and the city of Wash- ington. Benedict Milburn was a printer, for many years connected with the press of the national capital. Eventually he engaged in real estate oper- ations, to which he devoted his attention until his death, in 1885. His wife survived him, dying on January 1, 1889. He was a son of Jeremiah Milburn, who was born in Maryland. The ma- ternal ancestors of Judge Milburn were among the very early settlers in Virginia. George R. Mil- burn was reared in Washington, securing his pre- liminary education in the public schools, then entering Rittenhouse Academy, where he was grad- uated with the class of 1868. In the fall of 1868 he matriculated in Yale University, where he com- pleted a full course, graduating therefrom in 1872. After leaving the university Judge Milburn re- turned to the Federal capital, where he engaged

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in real estate operations, being associated with his father. Later he held a clerkship in the United States pension department, retaining this until 1880, when he went to Santa Fe, N. M., where he was admitted to the bar in February, 1881. He had previously completed a thorough tech- nical course in the law department of the National University, in Washington, being graduated in 1880.

While a resident of New Mexico Judge Mil- burn was in the government service, being clerk at the Pueblo Indian agency. In November, 1882, he was made United States special Indian agent, and was ordered to Dakota and Montana. In 1884 he built the Crow agency in Montana and was engaged in the inspection of the agencies of his jurisdiction until March, 1885. In Jan- uary, 1885, he permanently located in Miles City, Custer county, this state, and established himself in legal practice. In the same year he was elected as the first county attorney of Cus- ter county, in which capacity he served one term. In 1889 Judge Milburn was elected to the bench of the Seventh district of Montana, comprising Dawson, Custer and Yellowstone counties, and was chosen his own successor in 1892, his term expiring in January, 1897. The district is strongly Republican, but although Mr. Milburn always was a Democrat, he was elected both times. At the expiration of his second term he declined a re- nomination and resumed his law practice in Miles City, becoming prominently concerned in much of the important litigation of the eastern portion of the state. He continued in practice at Miles City until his election by a flattering majority to his present office, that of associate justice of the supreme court, in November, 1900, as the candi- date of the Democratic, Populist and Labor par- ties.

Judge Milburn was chairman of the Democratic central committee of Custer county in 1898 and has been a delegate to the state conventions of his party. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias as a member and past chancel- lor, and he is also past grand of his lodge of Odd Fellows and a member of the Montana grand lodge, while in the Ancient Order of United Workmen he is past master workman. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Or- der of Elks, holding membership in each of these orders in Miles City. On December 7, 1875, Judge Milburn wedded with Eugenie Prentiss Bliss, a na-

tive of Grand Rapids, Mich., and a daughter of Dr. D. W. Bliss, a brigade surgeon during the Civil war, at the close of which he located in the city of Washington, where he passed the residue of his life, his death occurring in 1889. Dr. Bliss was surgeon in charge of President Garfield at the time of the assassination of the president in 1881. To Judge and Mrs. Milburn four children were born, Paul Willard, Eugene, Roszelle and George R., Jr. The devoted wife and mother was called over to the activities that know no weariness very soon after the removal of the family to Hel- ena, her death occurring on January 8, 1901. The memory of her beautiful life rests as a benediction upon all of her many friends.

C B. MILLER, M. D., a leading and successful physician and surgeon of Helena, was born near Dillsboro, Dearborn county, Ind. He entered Moores Hill College, where he continued his studies for some time but did not graduate. Early in life Dr. Miller was both a miller and millwright, and also taught in the high school at Rising Sun, Ind. Here in 1860 he began the study of medicine and continued it until the breaking out of the Civil war. Promptly responding to the first call for troops Mr. Miller enlisted in Company E, Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service April 22, 1861. He participated in the battles of Phillippi, Bealington and at Carrick's Ford (where Gen. Garnett, the first general officer to give his life to his country, was killed), and was mustered out in August, 1861. The next winter and spring he attended the Medical College of Ohio, and enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, on August 19, 1862. In less than two weeks thereafter, at the battle of Richmond, Ky., he was wounded in the left side of the neck, and later through the right shoulder and lung, and was re- ported killed. When he was partially recovered he served as assistant surgeon of the regiment through the first assault on Vicksburg, at Arkansas Post, and then on the hospital steamer City of Memphis, engaged in transporting sick and wounded soldiers to northern hospitals. When the movement to in- vest Vicksburg was made Dr. Miller was assigned to duty in charge of the bodyguard of Gen. McCler- nand. On May 8, 1863, Dr. Miller was appointed assistant surgeon, U. S. A., and served at Grand Gulf, Young's Point and Vicksburg, most of the

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time as surgeon in charge of Gen. Prentiss hospital, by order of the medical director on the staff of Gen. Grant, later Surg .- Gen. John Moore. Af- ter the close of the war Dr. Miller resigned and returned to Indiana. He completed the full course at the Medical College of Ohio, and was duly grad- uated from that institution. He assisted in the or- ganization of the Dearborn County (Ind.) Medical Society, and served four years as its secretary. He then became its president, and was subsequently a member of the Indiana State Medical Society for twenty-eight years, and has been a member of the American Medical Association since 1874. Dr. Miller served as secretary, treasurer and president of the Lawrenceburg, Ind., school board from 1874 until his removal from the state. He was reared a Methodist, but inclines toward the Episcopalian faith.

Dr. Miller has ever been an enthusiastic Repub- lican. He distinctly remembers shouting lustily in 1856 for Fremont, the first Republican presidential candidate, and he cast his first vote for Gen. Grant. He served one term as grand regent of the Royal Arcanum of Indiana. For a number of years he was a surgeon of the Big Four and the Ohio & Mississippi Railways, and he aided in organizing the first association of railway surgeons, and for eight years he was secretary of the board of pension ex- amining surgeons, at Lawrenceburg, Ind. Dr. Miller first came to Montana in the spring of 1889 and located at Helena. For two years he served as chairman of the building committee of the Helena school board, during the erection of the high school and other buildings. In 1895 he was appointed one of the board of managers of the Montana Soldiers' Home, assisted in locating its site, served for three years as secretary of the board, and since as its president. For awhile he was secretary of the United States pension examining surgeons. Fra- ternally Dr. Miller is past ex-ruler of Helena Lodge No. 193, B. P. O. E., past noble grand of Queen City Lodge, I. O. O. F. (He has been an Odd Fellow since 1874.) He has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic from its organiza- tion, is a past commander of Wadsworth Post and past department commander of Montana, and is now its medical director. Dr. Miller practices gen- eral medicine and surgery, but as he is a skilled me- chanic he prefers surgery, although he refuses emergency work. In 1866 he was married to Miss Helen E. Wymond, and has one son, a college grad- uate (Ohio Medical) who is also a graduate of the

University of Strasburg, Germany. Dr. Miller is one in whom the people have great confidence. He possesses high integrity and profound medical abil- ity.

G EORGE L. MILLER, of Belgrade, Gallatin county, is a Montanian by birth who has ac- quired prominence and prosperity through the de- velopment of agricultural and stock industries. On October 24, 1865, he was born at Radersburg, Broadwater county, the son of Solomon and An- nie (Yates) Miller, natives of Indiana and Mis- souri. The paternal grandfather, Lemuel Miller, removed from Indiana to Missouri with his fam- ily and engaged in farming and from there, in 1864, Solomon Miller, his son, started overland for Montana by ox teams, and by successive ad- ditions the company at last numbered 450 peo- ple. It was fortunate that the train was so large, for they were greatly annoyed by hostile Indians and had engaged a number of pitched battle with them. Shortly after his arrival at Virginia City, Mont., Solomon Miller married, and making his home in Radersburg, was there for two years engaged in mining. He then returned to Mis- souri, but in 1868 came back and settled on South Boulder river, where for three years he was en- gaged in farming, going then to Radersburg and following mining two years. He then secured land on Dry creek, in Gallatin county, where he con- tinued ranching until his death in 1878. His wife' is now living at Josephine, Mont.

Their son, George L. Miller, was one of a family of five sons and two daughters, and re- ceived his education in the schools of the towns in which his parents from time to time resided. In 1889 he purchased a farm near Gallop in Gal- latin county, but soon disposed of it and bought his present place of 320 acres at Valley View, eight miles north of Belgrade. It is finely located, commanding a view of the beautiful Gallatin val- ley to the south and west. His principal crop is fall wheat, of which he raises large crops. He is also interested in horses, his favorite breeds be- ing Normans and Hambletonians. His handsome residence is surrounded with substantial barns, blacksmith shops and other outbuildings. The marriage of Mr. Miller occurred on March 12, 1891, when he was united to Miss Althea Conrow, of New Jersey, a daughter of Samuel Conrow, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this

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work. Their children are Emel F .; Earl, named after Paris Earl Gibson, of Great Falls; Zetta Grace, Lester G. and Lloyd. The fraternal re- lations of Mr. Miller are with the Woodmen of the World. For a number of years he has served as school trustee, and he is a man in whom his home community place deserved confidence.

W ALLACE L. MILLEGAN, one of Helena's oldest representative pioneers and a leading ranchman and stockgrower of the state, was born in Greene county, N. Y., on February 4, 1837. The story of Mr. Millegan's Montana life embraces much of the history of the territory and state. He is the son of James A. and Eleanor (Mead) Mille- gan. His father was born in Scotland, on July 25, 1796. With his early history is connected a ro- mantic yet melancholy incident. When but six years old he came to the United States with a brother and sister. While leaving the ship at New York city the family was separated, and James, our subject, was left alone in the new, strange world. In New York he grew to manhood, and served his adopted country in the war of 1812. After the re- turn of peace he followed farming, and early mar- ried a Miss Mead, who was born in Greene county, N. Y., on June 2, 1796. She was the daughter of Elisha Mead, of Revolutionary stock, and of Eng- lish parentage. They had one son, Edwin E., born · November 19, 1819, now living in Kingston, N. Y. By his second marriage he had eight children, Anne E., Phebe J., Dr. George W., now of Sparta, Wis., Stephen L. (deceased), James H., Joseph G. (de- ceased), Reuben A. and Wallace L. Their mother died at Sparta, Wis., in 1863, and in 1881 Mr. Mil- legan came to Montana to visit his son, Wallace L., but sixteen days after his arrival he died at the age of eighty-five years. He is buricd in the old ceme- tery at Helena. He was an old-line Whig, and his second wife was a devout Methodist.

Wallace L. Millegan was the seventh son, and when ten years of age removed with his parents to Wisconsin, then a territory. He worked on a farm, was educated in the common schools, and when eighteen began life for himself. He located in Ra- cine, whence he removed to Sparta, Wis., in 1858. From this place, on March 23, 1859, he, as one of a party of twenty people and ten ox teams, started for Pike's Peak, landing at Denver June 29 of that year, and on July 2 began digging for gold. They

came to the new Eldorado through Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Columbus, North Platte, Ash Hollow, the South Platte country and Denver, where there were only a few houses and those cov- ered with canvas. The party mined on Clear creek during 1859 and in 1860 went into an independent district, where Mr. Millegan worked a claim with considerable success. Here he first met Dr. W. L. Steele, now of Helena. In 1862 he was farming near Denver, and on April 14, 1863, set out on the then perilous .journey to East Bannack, Mont., where he had been but a short time when he joined the stampede to Alder gulch, then reported fabu- lously rich with the yellow metal. Mr. Millegan rode a large mule without a saddle to Virginia City, and his recollections of that overland tour are quite vivid. At Alder gulch he failed to locate a claim, and he went on up the Stinking Water. On the way, while attempting to alight from his mule, his foot caught in a cord and he was dragged some dis- tance and so seriously injured as to lay him up for a considerable period. On his recovery he returned to Bannack and mined during the summer in Buf- falo gulch and "struck it rich," taking out from dry diggings as high as $7 to the pan. On account of Mr. Millegan not working on the Sabbath day he had disagreeable experiences with "road agents." The road agent was then the worst pest of Montana society.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 62

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