Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 65

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 65

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On April 8, 1884, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Denholm, who was born in Dewitt, Clinton county, Iowa, the daughter of Will- iam Denholm, a native of Scotland. Of this union four children have been born: George W., Phoebe E., Joseph D. and Annie J., all of whom remain at the parental home.

USTIN E. MORSE .- For nearly a quarter of - of a century Mr. Morse has been identified with the industrial life of Beaverhead county and is one of the leading stockgrowers of this sec- tion of the state and a representative citizen of Dillon. He was born in Ogle county, Ill., the date of his nativity being December 21, 1855. He was the sixth in order of birth of the eight children of Elijah R. and Elmira (Lowell) Morse, natives of the Green Mountain state, the latter's father having served in a Vermont regiment during the war of 1812. Elijah R. Morse was one of the pio- neers of Illinois, having taken up his residence there in 1853, and there devoted his attention to agricul- tural pursuits until his death, his wife also dying in that state.

Justin E. Morse grew up under the discipline of the homestead farm and his early education was that afforded by the district schools. ' Later he pursued his studies in the high school at Rockford, Ill., and thereafter entered a business college, where he was graduated in 1874. He taught several terms of winter school in his native county, and was also engaged in the fire insurance busi- ness in Rockford, being a special agent for the Rockford Insurance Company. In 1877 Mr. Morse moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he became associated with his uncle, J. W. Lowell, in the implement business. In the fall of 1880 he came to Dillon, Mont., and organized the Dil- lon Implement Company, in charge of which he continued for twenty years, the enterprise becom- ing one of the most extensive and important in the state. In 1900 Mr. Morse disposed of his interest and turned his attention to the livestock business, with which he is now extensively iden-

tified, raising cattle and sheep upon a large scale and having control of about 14,000 acres of land. He is a man of broad business and executive ca- pacity, and his career has been such as to re- flect great credit upon him and upon the com- monwealth.

In politics Mr. Morse has ever been a stalwart supporter of the Republican party. He has served with signal efficiency as chairman of the Repub- lican central committee of Beaverhead county. In 1899 he was elected mayor of Dillon and gave a most able administration of municipal affairs, his course being that dictated by the same busi- ness principles and judgment which conserved his individual success. He has also been a mem- ber of the board of school trustees, and for four years was a member of the state board of edu- cation, having been appointed by Gov. Rickards in 1893. Fraternally he is identified with Dillon Lodge No. 30, A. F. & A. M.

In 1886 Mr. Morse was united in marriage to Miss Florence Thorpe, who was born in Wiscon- sin, the daughter of Philip Thorpe, a Montana pioneer of 1863, and of this union three children have been born, namely: Blanche B., Alma T. and Howard E.

W ILLIAM MONTGOMERY .- As a member of the board of county commissioners of Beaverhead county, Mr. Montgomery has shown ability and discrimination in the direction of the affairs of the county, and is one of the energetic and successful men of the section where he is engaged in cattleraising and where he is the owner of a fine ranch property. William Mont- gomery was born in the north of Ireland in 1862, the fourth of the seven children of George and Margaret (Gibson) Montgomery, also natives of the Emerald Isle, where the father passed his life as a farmer. William Montgomery, when a mere youth went to the Dominion of Canada and for a short time was connected with railroad work. In 1871 he crossed the line into "the states," and located in Chicago, where for eight years he was employed in drug establishments. In the 'seventies he came to Montana and located on Horse prairie, where he was engaged in ranching until 1886, when he came to the Big Hole basin and took up claims and later purchased other land, as did also his brother. They have since been associated in

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business and jointly own 5,500 acres of land and raise highgrade cattle upon an extensive scale, feeding from 1,200 to 1,400 head each season, besides cutting a large amount of hay.

In politics Mr. Montgomery gives support to the Democratic party and has taken active part in public affairs. In 1896 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and served two years. After an interim of two years he was again chosen for this important office at the elec- tion of November, 1900. The great and needed improvements made in the county in the way of building bridges have been largely through his efforts, and under his official oversight the heat- ing plant has been installed in the court house and necessary improvements made at the county poor farm. He is an energetic yet conservative business man, and the official position which he occupies indicates that he has the confidence of the public. In 1895 Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage with Miss Celia Lennox, of Dillon, the daughter of one of the representative citizens of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have three children.

T THOMAS B. HUNT .- Born in New York city August 12, 1839, and leaving home at the age of twenty to brave the hardships of a rugged life, a rigorous climate and danger of death by wild beast or savage men, for the purpose of satisfying the adventurous spirit within him and making his own way in the world, Thomas B. Hunt, of Pony, Madison county, Mont., has richly earned the rest he is now enjoying at his comfortable home and the good opinion of his friends and neighbors. His father, Thomas Hunt, Sr., was a native of England, who emigrated to New York city in 1836 when he was twenty-two years old, and there did a thriving business for four years as a tailor. At the end of that time he removed to Cowlesville and there en- gaged in the same business for forty years. He is · now living with his daughter, Mrs. Henry Vail, in California. In 1836, just before he sailed for Amer- ica, he was married to Phœbe Poulton, also a native of England, who accompanied him to the new coun- try, shared his joys and sorrows for many years and then was called to rest. She died September 29, 1875, leaving seven children, of whom Thomas B. was the second. He received his education in the Cowlesville public schools, and, when he was twenty years old, left the paternal homestead and

went to Nevada City, Colo., did mining and quartz milling there for four years; then went to Denver, outfitted and came to Montana; went from there to Idaho, and after giving the neighborhood in which he located a fair trial, returned to Montana and lo- cated at Virginia City. There he mined four or five months, and then took up a farming claim on Upper Willow creek, Madison county, as did H. H. Mood, H. Hanson and J. W. Boles, who were with him. After locating his claim he went back to Vir- ginia City and about January 1, 1865, started with A. W. Pence on a prospecting tour, striking Silver Bow when the first placer excitement was at its height. From there Mr. Hunt went to Deer Lodge, and with A. W. Pence went to the Little Blackfoot country. While going over the divide they were overtaken by a blizzard on the summit of the moun- tain and returned to the foot of the divide and camped there for the night. In the morning the snow was two feet deep and still falling. They re- turned to Deer Lodge, but twelve days later, after the storm was over, started again on the same jour- ney, this time being joined by Charles Dorr. They went to what was afterward Ophir gulch, in its day the richest mining camp in the west. This tri- umvirate of hardy adventurers discovered good signs of gold in the gulch, and soon thereafter the town of Blackfoot sprung up, two miles and a half from the camp they established. In February Mr. Pence went to Deer Lodge and brought back with him William Norton, John Little, Preston Scott and Edwards Sanders. This made the camp known and about four weeks later it was stampeded, but as the thermometer stood at 40 degrees below zero for more than a month, not much work was done and many of the prospectors were badly frozen. In Oc- tober, 1865, Mr. Hunt sold one of his claims for $1,000, and trailed back to Willow Creek, passing through the present city of Butte when it consisted of two small cabins. He has remained in Willow Creek, now called Pony, from that time, farming and stock raising on a large scale, and living peace- fully and happily at his pleasant home a mile from the center of the town. He has a large and con- venient residence and the appurtenances of a well- regulated farm abode.

Mr. Hunt was married December 29, 1877, to Miss Carrie P. Phillips, a native of Danbury, Conn. She died September 20, 1891, without children. He has always been a Republican and active in party affairs. In 1879 he was appointed a justice of the peace and served three years. He is a member of

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Mount Madison Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he holds the office of vice-grand. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has been through the chairs of his lodge. Mr. Hunt has been eminently successful in his career in Montana, accumulating a goodly por- tion of worldly wealth and the cordial esteem and high respect of an. His vicinity knows no better citizen, and none has a warmer or a more sincere interest in the community.

JOHN A. MOORE .- When those who live in the crowded cities of the east learn by experi- ence and contact regarding the uniform success that has rewarded the efforts of the pioneer settlers of Montana, a higher appreciation of the men who bravely faced the perils of frontier life and wrested fortunes from the apparent wastes will be accorded. The pursuit of agriculture, with its kindred indus- tries, has ever been held as the foundation of a na- tion's prosperity, and Mr. John A. Moore can right- fully hold prominence in this line of industry, and his example is well worthy of emulation. Located in Gallatin valley, where he has made his home for a quarter of a century, he has gained the confidence and esteem of his fellow men and by progressive and persistent effort has found success. Mr. Moore is a native son of Missouri, where he was born September 22, 1849, a son of John F. and Hettie (Chestnut) Moore, the parents of four sons and one daughter. The parents were born in Laurel county, Ky., the great-grandfather of our subject on the paternal side having been a pioneer of that state. About the year 1870 John F. Moore re- moved from Missouri to Arkansas and engaged in farming, where he still maintains his home, being more than eighty-six years of age. His wife passed away about 1854. It was on the old Missouri homestead that John A. Moore, subject of this re- view, was reared, receiving such educational ad- vantages as were afforded in the public schools. He remained on the parental homestead until 1869, and was variously employed in Missouri until 1875, when he secured a team and wagon and with his wife started on the long journey to Montana, ar- riving in Gallatin valley on the 23d of July of the centennial year. He worked for wages in this vicinity until the following spring, when he pur- chased a tract of eighty acres located on Reese creek, six miles northeast of Belgrade, and the

property thus secured constitutes the nucleus of his present fine estate, which comprises more than 600 acres, accumulated by homesteading 160 and by purchase of the additional tracts. The entire ranch is under effective irrigation with the exception of forty acres, and the principal products are wheat, barley and oats, large yields being secured. Mr. Moore also raises excellent crops of hay and other minor products, gives much attention to fine cattle, swine and horses. The cattle are principally of the Durham strain, the swine of the valuable Poland- China breed, while his favorite breed of horses are Clydesdales. He has been very successful in his efforts by industry, definite application of means to desired ends and approved methods. On coming to Gallatin valley, Mr. Moore had but slight financial resources, but was well equipped with a sturdy physique and those attributes of character which bring success. His ranch is one of the best in this section of the state, the permanent improvements including an attractive modern residence and excel- lent outbuildings, in fact, everything about his ranch indicates care and enterprising methods. In politics Mr. Moore gives his support to the Demo- cratic party, maintains a lively interest in all that concerns the well being of the community, but has never aspired to public office.

On August 31, 1873, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Sarah F. Thomason, who was born in Scott county, Ky., the daughter of William A. Thomason, a representative of one of the pio- neer families of that state.

To Mr. and Mrs. Moore twelve children have been born, namely : Leila May (deceased), Samuel J., Clarence C. (deceased), William A., Allen R., Ilie F., Arda M., Russell A., Earl E., John W., Ena E. and Opa V.

Į ESSE B. MOORE .- Among those who have identified themselves with the agricultural in- dustry in Montana, and who have been fortunate in securing land in the fertile valley of the Gallatin river, is Mr. Moore, one representative farmer of Gallatin county, his fine ranch being located five . miles north of Belgrade, his postoffice address. Like many of the progressive citizens of Montana, Mr. Moore claims Missouri as the place of his nativity, having been born in Clinton county, August 27, 1844, the son of John F. and Hettie (Chestnut) Moore, both natives of Laurel county, Ky., also the

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birthplace of the grandfather of our subject, Nath- aniel Moore, whose father was one of the early settlers in that commonwealth. When a young man John F. Moore removed from his native state to Clinton county, Missouri, and for a number of years engaged in farming. In 1870 he removed to Arkansas and engaged in farming, where he is still living, having attained the venerable age of eighty- six years. His wife passed away about 1854.

Jesse B. Moore was reared on the old home- stead in Missouri, and his early educational privi- leges were such as were possible in the public schools of that period. When Missouri was torn by dissension and members of the household took. opposite sides in this terrible internecine conflict he remained loyal to the Union, and, on October 3, 1864, he enlisted in the state militia of Missouri for a term of three years, participated in a number of skirmishes, remaining in service until April, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge, owing to disibility resulting from a crippled arm. Owing to the fact that a large contingent of the residents of the state were bitterly opposed to the Union, life was made unpleasant and extremely dangerous to those who sympathized with the cause, and particularly those who had been in the military service of the Federal government. On account of this bitter feeling Mr. Moore crossed the river to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and there engaged as driver with freighting outfit across the plains to Colorado. As the freight did not arrive at the prescribed time the party moved farther into the interior to await its coming. While thus in camp the report was circulated that they were bushwhackers, and Gen. Curtis, who was in command at Fort Leavenworth, sent out a company and arrested the seventeen members of the little party. All were placed in the guard house, where they were imprisoned for nineteen days, unable to bring their case to trial, although confident of release if they could present their cause to the proper authorities. Col. Mortimer Moore, an old companion in arms of our subject, happened to enter the guard house, and on secing his former comrade, of whose arrest he had pre- · viously learned, he made an effort to discover on

what grounds the men were held in captivity. He finally went to the commanding officer and per- sonally vouched for him, and he was released after much red-tape formality. A few days later the others were likewise discharged. They then took charge of the freight, which had come to hand,

and the train started on the overland trip to Golden City, Colo., arriving in October, 1865. During the ensuing winter they were snowbound, and in the spring Mr. Moore engaged in ranching for three months, finally purchasing an interest in the business. While thus engaged they had trouble with the Indians, who committed many depredations and endeavored to run off the live stock.

In the fall of 1866 Mr. Moore returned to Mis- souri, and there his marriage to Rutha C. St. John was solemnized, February 1I, 1867. She was a daughter of William and Letitia (Hooper) St. John, natives respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee, who removed to Missouri in an early day and there passed the remainder of their lives, the father having been a successful farmer in that state. After his marriage Mr. Moore devoted his attention to farming in Missouri until 1882, when he started with his family for Montana, arriving in the Gallatin valley on the 3rd of June. He engaged for a time in carpentry and building ; also in farming, having rented a tract of land soon after his arrival. In 1885 he purchased a portion of his present fine homestead, and has added to the original tract until he now has 500 acres, 360 of which are under effective irrigation and highly cultivated, while water can be supplied for the greater portion of the remaining acreage. Special attention is given to the raising of wheat and hay, but Mr. Moore finds it profitable to diversify his farming operations, the great fertility of this sec- tion insuring excellent yields and good profit. His farm has modern improvements, including a fine residence, and is one of the attractive home- steads of this locality. He is a gentleman of individuality and business ability, and has so ordered his life in its relations to others as to re- tain the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. In politics he pays allegiance to the Democratic party, but is in no sense a seeker of public office.

Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Moore we enter the following brief record: Hettie Letitia and Minna Ella are deceased; Eva Carrie was the wife of F. G. Weber, of Chestnut, but passed away September 25, 1901, leaving two children; Tavia Belle became the wife of C. H. Rodgers, and is now deceased, having left one child; William J. is a resident of Chestnut ; Maggie Lou is the wife of G. L. Boothby, of Joliet, Mont. ; James and Myrtle are at the parental home; Thomas Frank is de- ceased ; and Byron and Almer are at home.

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EDGAR W. MORRISON .- This gentleman was one of the honored members of the bar of Fergus county, and the fact should also be noted that he is the only one of its members who has been called away by death. He was a man of fine intellectual attainments, ever animated by high ideals and his life was always an in- fluence for good. As a teacher, a clergyman and as a lawyer his influence was ever directed toward forwarding the best interests of his fellow- men, and though his life was ended in the prime of his manhood, his name is held in honor in the various communities where he lived and labored. Mr. Morrison was a native of Illinois, having been born in Girard, on the 13th of December, 1857, the son of Moses N. and Mary A. (Jones) Mor- rison, who came from Ohio. as pioneers of Illinois. The father was engaged in the drug business for years, and eventually removed to Oregon, where he died in 1883. His widow is now living at Lewistown, Mont., with her son Robert.

Edgar W. Morrison was educated in his native state, completing his literary training in Lincoln University, at Lincoln, Ill. In 1880 he came to the west, locating in Walla Walla, Wash., whence he later removed to Oregon, where he did zealous and efficient service as a clergyman of the Presbyterian church, he having prepared himself for the ministry while a resident of Illinois. He was in his ministrial work in Oregon for one year and thereafter was for one year principal of the public schools at Weston in the same state. Meanwhile he had determined to prepare himself for the profession of law, and went to Portland and there pursued a thorough course of study in the Portland law school, and was duly grad-

uated from that institution and admitted to the bar of Oregon. He was later engaged in legal practice in Portland for one year, continuing this in California, then at Grant's Pass, Ore. His health becoming seriously impaired he went to Arizona for the purpose of recuperation. For a number of years prior to his death he struggled with iron will against the steady progress of disease.

In the spring of 1891 Mr. Morrison came to Montana, locating in Lewistown, where he estab- lished himself in what became a successful prac- tice, meanwhile winning the esteem and confidence of his professional confreres and the unqualified respect of the community. He showed himself to be well grounded in jurisprudence and an able

advocate and counselor. He here continued the work of his profession until his death, which oc- cured on the 24th of January, 1894. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Morrison never mar- ried, but is survived by his mother and one brother, Robert, who lives near Lewistown.

PRESTON B. MOSS, president and principal owner of the First National Bank, of Billings, is a native of Paris, Mo., where he was born in 1863, a son of David H. and Melville E. (Hollings- worth) Moss. His paternal ancestors were from England, and removed from Virginia as pioneers to Kentucky. Some of them were also among the early settlers of Missouri. His father, David H. Moss, practiced law for a number of years, and was elected prosecuting attorney for his county, but, preferring a business and home life, resigned that office and devoted himself to the banking business. Preston B. Moss attended the public schools and the Kemper Family School at Boonville, Mo., passed one year at Harvard and finished with a year at Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After leaving school he passed a short time with his father in the bank, and then engaged extensively in the lumber business in southwestern Missouri. He came to Montana in 1892 and, locating at Billings, placed money in the First National Bank, became its vice-president, and in March, 1893, succeeded W. A. Evans as cashier, and in 1896 was made presi- dent. This strong and well managed institution was organized as a private bank in 1883, with W. R. Stebbins as president, and H. H. Mound as cashier. Soon after this it was made a national bank with a capital stock of $50,000, and this was increased in 1884 to $150,000. Mr. Stebbins was president of the bank three years, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Mound, who served until 1892.

In addition to his banking business Mr. Moss is engaged in sheepgrowing in Montana with very good success, conducted this line of in- dustry, as he does every other, with vigor, judg- ment and close attention to details. In 1889 he was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Wood- son, a daughter of George W. and Iantha (Jack- son) Woodson, of Paris, Mo. Mrs. Moss is a member of the Christian church. The father, a

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merchant, was related to ex-Gov. Jackson, of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Moss have five children -Woodson J., Cullie, Melville, Preston B. and David H. In his fraternal relations Mr. Moss is a member of the Masonic order, connected with the fraternity from the lodge up to and in- cluding the Shrine. In politics he is not active or closely identified with any party, being liberal and broad-minded, more concerned for the welfare of the community than the success of any party or faction.

JOSEPH E. MUSHBACH .- Among the prom- inent and popular citizens of Carbon county is the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph. He is of German lineage, his ancestry being traced to the early settlement of America, and of distinguished character. Mr. Mushbach was born in Sussex county, N. J., on August 12, 1851, being the son of Thomas B. and Elizabeth A. (Edsall) Mushbach, natives of the same county. The · paternal grandfather of our subject was George Mushbach, also a native of Sussex county, his father having emigrated from Fatherland to America in the Colonial days, locating in New Jer- sey. The maternal grandfather, Joseph E. Edsall, was a gentleman of influence and high intellectual attainments, was born in Sussex county, and was a member of congress from that district for two terms. In his early business career he was en- gaged in the manufacture of iron, and eventually became the owner of a large amount of valuable real estate in New Jersey. He was a son of William H. Edsall, an officer in the Continental army during the war of the Revolution, the original American ancestors having come from England and settled in New Jersey in early Colonial days. The parents of our subject con- tinued to reside in New Jersey until their death, the father passing away in 1857 and the mother in 1873. They were the parents of three children, all of whom are yet living. Thomas B. Mushbach was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Easton, Pa., for many years, and was one of the honored citizens of that state. Joseph E. Mushbach, to whom this sketch is mainly devoted, was educated in the public schools of his native county, and the discipline there received was supplemented by a course of study in the Connecticut Literary Insti- tute, at Suffield, where he was graduated as a mem- ber of the class of 1868. After leaving this institu-

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 65

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