Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 67

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 67

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Maclay always affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. Never an office seeker, he devoted his entire attention to business. His career was crowned with financial success. He was true to his ideals and possibilities. Strong in his individuality, he was an energetic factor in public and private progressive movements, in general and individual benefactions, while his sterling integrity and many

338

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

traits of fine character will cause him to be long remembered. Mr. Maclay was married to Miss Blanche Murphy, a cousin of his partner and a daughter of Joseph Murphy. Their surviving children are Theodora J. and Edgar G.

T HEODORE NORMAN .- In the "garden of Montana," lying in the beautiful Gallatin valley near Bozeman, there is no one more highly esteemed than Theodore Norman. He is a notable example of what can be accomplished by industry, connected with an intelligent appli- cation of business principles. Born on February 15, 1841, in Clark county, Mo., he is the son of John and Margaret Norman, both natives of Pennsylvania, and parents of five sons and one daughter. John Norman in early manhood lo- cated in Clark county, Mo., and industriously con- ducted agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred while Theodore was a small lad. Thrown thus early upon his own resources the latter was deprived of the advantages usually offered in education. He labored in whatever employment that came to him and in 1857 made the trip to California with bull and mule teams and while in camp at Castle City rocks near Salt lake, he first saw Gen. Lyons, who was early killed in the Civil war at the battle of Wilson's creek, Mo.

In the vicinity of the great Comstock silver lode Mr. Norman lived for a short time in Long valley, one of the beautiful and picturesque spots in that romantic vicinity. He then went directly to Red Bluff, Cal., where he was for fourteen years engaged in farming. He then sold the property and removed to Los Angeles, thence going to Missouri on a visit. The summer of 1870 will ever be memorable to Mr. Norman as dating his first arrival in Montana. He prospected at Cedar creek for a time, and then went to Helena and found employment in freighting. His first venture in the Gallatin valley was by renting, he finally purchasing a farm on Middle creek, where he resided four years, then disposing of it and leasing a ranch on Reese creek, where he passed one season. The initial crop was handled in partnership with Charles S. Penwell, whose interest Mr. Norman purchased, and he now con- trols the entire 320 acres which is practically all under irrigation, and devoted to the raising of wheat, oats, barley and hay.

To Miss Josephine L. Gee, of the Gallatin valley, Mr. Norman was married on February 22, 1877. She is the daughter of Noah Gee, a native of England. To this union have been born nine children, three of whom, Marvin Theodore, Charles W. and John S., are deceased. The living are Margaret Alice, attending the Bozeman art school with Mrs. Marshall; Chauncy T., Frank A., Llewellyn A., Hugo W. and George Dewey. In addition to his beau- tiful ranch Mr. Norman has a fine plot of six acres near Bozeman, on which is a brick residence of modern design and construction, and here the family passes the winter months, thus affording the children opportunity to attend the superior schools of that city. For many years Mr. Norman has served as school trustee, and in the 'nineties he was the vice-president of the Bozeman Milling Company, in which he is now a stockholder. It is universally acknowledged that he has one of the most valuable farms in the Gallatin valley. At present he conducts a modest dairy business, is a member of the Farmers' Institute and a recog- nized authority on dairying. Numerous articles from his pen have appeared in the local papers that have been read with interest and are replete with value. The stock to which Mr. Norman is most partial are shorthorn cattle, Norman horses, Poland China swine and Plymouth Rock poultry. Fraternally he is a valued member of the Masonic brotherhood.

D ANIEL C. MACKAY .- In the agnatic line Mr. Mackay comes of old Scottish stock, and on the maternal side his genealogy traces back to England, and he is numbered among the progressive, successful stockgrowers of Custer county, a citizen of sterling character and busi- ness ability. Mr. Mackay is a native of Canada, and was born in the Province of Ontario, on the 8th of August, 1849, the eldest of the eight chil- dren .of Rev. Adam and Elizabeth (McDonald) Mackay. Rev. Adam Mackay was born in Scot- land, and crossed the ocean to Canada about 1832, and there passed the residue of his days in the work of his noble profession, that of a clergyman of the Presbyterian church, in which he filled important charges in the various parts of the Dominion. His wife was a native of Canada, who descended from English ancestors settling at an early day in Canada.' Their son Daniel had the

339

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

beneficent influences of a cultured and refined home in early life, his training being under the direct supervision of his parents until the death of his father, this event occurring when Daniel was a mere lad. He was thrown into practical life for himself when sixteen, and for more than a dec- ade he was employed in lumbering in Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois.

About 1876 Mr. Mackay came to what is now North Dakota, where he engaged in farming. In 1881 he turned his attention to hunting buffalo, and thereafter was engaged in farming and stock- raising until 1886. In that disastrous year he lost ninety-five per cent of the cattle which he had accumulated in the four years of his residence in Montana, where in the fall of 1882 he had located in Custer county. In 1891 he purchased his present ranch, on Fallon creek, twenty-four miles north of the village of Ekalaka, which is his post- office address. Here he has a well improved property and is successfully engaged in raising sheep and horses. He conducts operations upon a large scale, and is recognized as one of the rep- resentative men of this section. On his ranch Mr. Mackay runs an average of seven thousand sheep and has about one hundred and fifty horses ; much of the land is available for cultivation and good water privileges are controlled. In politics he gives allegiance to the Republican party, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, in which he was reared.

CORNELIUS B. NOLAN, ex-attorney-general of Montana, and senior member of the eminent law firm of Nolan & Loeb, Helena, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, on December 24, 1855.

He is the son of Barnard and Catharine (Hickey) Nolan, both natives of the same county. The father died in 1886, two years later his widow passed away. Of their six sons and three daugh- ters five sons are now in the United States. Cor- nelius B. Nolan remained upon the County Lim- erick farm until he was eighteen years of age, la- boring assiduously, but devoting such spare mo- ments as he could secure to the acquisition of knowledge, for he was always from early childhood a close student, and the slight advantages of short winter terms of the schools of the county did but whet his appetite for books. . Subsequently he took a full course at an

academy at Dublin. In 1873 he came to the United States, stopping at first at Owego, N. Y., for four years. Here he also attended school (in perhaps the same noted academy that gave instruction to Tom Platt, Gen. Tracy and John D. Rockefeller) and added to his scholastic attainments gained in Ireland the advantages of American educational methods. In 1877 he removed to Port Allegany, Pa., and for two years he was foreman in a leather house.

In 1879 Mr. Nolan, at St. Louis, Mo., entered the office of Robert R. Foster, and studied law dur- ing the following year, and in 1881 entered the St. Louis Law School, from which he was graduated in 1883 and was immediately admitted to practice be- fore the district courts of Missouri. Prior to this period he had studied stenography, at which, when he was subsequently in Chicago, he worked at for three years in a large wholesale house. In 1886 Mr. Nolan came to Montana, and to Helena, to en- ter in the office of the general manager. of the freight and passenger service of the Northern Pa- cific Railroad. But he was soon appointed official stenographer of the First judicial district, an em- ployment more in harmony with his nature, and one affording him excellent facilities for advancement in the profession he now so notably adorns. The First district then embraced Lewis and Clarke, Jef- ferson and Beaverhead counties. Judge W. W. McConnell, and later Judge Newton N. Blake, were the presiding judges. Mr. Nolan filled that posi- tion with credit up to 1889, when he was nominated and elected by his (Democratic) party county at- torney for Lewis and Clarke county. In this office he served by re-election for five years. In 1884 he was nominated for the legislature, but the entire ticket was defeated. In 1895 occurred his marriage with Miss Harriet Shober, of Minnesota. In 1896 he was nominated for attorney-general, and to this high office he was elected and in it served effectively for four years, until January, 1901. Mr. Nolan is a well poised, progressive and self-reliant man. His career has been eminently successful, and he has won his way by undeniable talents and legal acu- men. He is an eloquent speaker, of fine presence and pleasing address, and is highly respected by all with whom he has been associated, either in a per- sonal or business way. Fraternally he is a member of the Helena organizations of lodge, chapter and commandery of Freemasons, and is also a member of Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine, of which he is a past potentate.

340

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

M ONROE NELSON. - The father of Mr. Nelson, who was born in Henry county, Iowa, on February 1, 1861, was John W. Nelson, a native of Ohio who emigrated from that state when he was young, and came to Montana with his family in 1864. He camped in the Gallatin valley for a short time, and then took up a ranch and made his home on the West Gallatin until 1875, when he sold and removed to his present location on the East Gallatin, buying the prop- erty of Samuel Beck, and now has a valuable ranch of 340 acres, all under irrigation. The son, Monroe Nelson, passed his youth in the Gallatin valley, working on his father's farm and gradually enlarging his interest in the work as he grew up, until 1879. When he was eighteen years old he worked for the Montana Cattle Company and in 1880 worked for Dan Flowerree & Lowry on the cattle range, and in 1881 took charge of G. R. Wilson's cattle, remaining with him five years, most of the time in the Musselshell country, continuing in that business until 1886.

In this year he took full charge of his father's · ranches and has been in control of them ever since. His industry and good judgment have taken advantage of all natural advantages for productive cultivation, so that his crops are gratifying in abundance and in quality. Wheat, oats and barley are the staple crops and he often raises more than 15,000 bushels in a season. He is a thoroughly practical farmer and knows how to keep a wise succession of crops and the most skillful tilling, and the appearance of his fields in general and in detail prove these facts. Mr. Nelson was united in marriage on August 6, 1884, with Miss Sarah Walker, a native of Indiana, daughter of James Walker, a leading farmer of the Gallatin valley. Three children have been born to them, Edna, deceased; Clarence and Fred. Mr. Nelson has been an important factor in the public life of the community, serving acceptably as school trustee for many years, and giving his time, counsel and substantial aid always to worthy enterprises. He is a member of the Order of Woodmen of the World, and has a pleasing and useful connection with many of the social features of his section of the state.

EDWIN NORRIS .- As one of the represent- ative members of the bar of Montana and one who has held distinctive preferment in the

gift of the people of the state, there is eminent propriety in according specific recognition to Mr. Norris in this work. He is a native of the beautiful old state of Kentucky, having been born in Cum- berland county, August 15, 1865. His father, W. W. Norris, was likewise born in Kentucky, of stanch old southern stock, and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. The paternal grand- father of our subject removed from Lancaster county, Va., to Kentucky in 1804, his father having been an active participant in the war of the Revo- lution. The religious faith of the family in the early days was that of the Cumberland Presby- terian church. On the maternal side Mr. Norris His springs from Revolutionary ancestry. mother, whose maiden name was Martha Nunn, was born in Kentucky, whither her parents re- moved from the Old Dominion. Her mother was a member of the well-known Alexander family of Virginia, representatives of which were promi- nently concerned in supporting the cause of the colonies during the war of the Revolution. The parents of our subject are now living, and of their three children he is second in order of birth.

Receiving his early educational training in the public schools of Kentucky, at the age of seventeen Edwin Norris matriculated in the Southern Nor- mal School, at Bowling Green, in 1883, graduating therefrom with the class of 1886. After gradua- tion he made practical application of his acquire- ments by engaging in pedagogic work, devoting his attention to teaching for a period of two years. Having determined to fit himself for the legal pro- fession, he devoted his attention during the even- ing hours and other leisure moments to the read- ing of law while still engaged in teaching. In December, 1888, Mr. Norris arrived in Montana, locating in Dillon, where he continued his legal studies under the direction of ev-Gov. R. B. Smith, and such was his devotion to study and power of assimilation that he secured admission to the bar in October, 1889, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Dillon. His ability as a lawyer soon won recognition, and he is now recognized as one of the leading members of the bar of Beaverhead county, his success being the result of well-directed effort and thorough knowledge of the science of jurisprudence. He is retained as attorney by several prominent corporations, including the State Bank of Dillon and a number of mining companies. He also has personal in- terests in valuable mining properties, and is a

341

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

stockholder in the Highland Water Company, of the Big Hole basin.

In politics Mr. Norris is a stalwart supporter of Democratic principles and policies, and has been an active and effective worker for the cause. He served for five years as city attorney of Dillon, is a member of Beaverhead county high school board, and in September, 1900, was appointed by Gov. Smith as a member of the local board of managers of the state normal school, located in his home city, a position he still retains, having been reappointed in 1901 by Gov. Toole. Having unmistakable hold upon the confidence and esteem of the people of Beaverhead county, and recog- nized as a man peculiarly eligible for position of public trust and responsibility, in 1896 Mr. Norris was made the candidate of his party for represent- ative of Beaverhead county in the state senate. He was elected to this position by a satisfactory majority and became one of the active and valu- able working members of the upper house. Dur- ing the first session he assisted in framing the present insurance law of the state, vigorously urging its enactment ; also the inheritance tax law, both of which are recognized as valuable additions to the statutory code of the state. Upon the assembling of the senate for the second session of the Fifth legislature Mr. Norris was unanimously chosen president of that body. During this ses- sion many matters of great importance came before the senate, the most notable being that in connection with deciding as to the senatorial term, or the holding-over prerogatives of members. He was chairman of the committee on privileges and elections when this important matter was eventually decided. During his entire term Mr. Norris was chairman of the judiciary committee, and as president of the senate served as governor of the state from January 14, 1899, until March IO, of the same year, both the governor and lieu- tenant-governor being absent from the state dur- ing this interval. His ability as a legislator and executive and his inflexible integrity in all the relations of life have marked him as eligible for still higher political preferment, and his name has been prominently mentioned in connection with the gubernatorial office, which he would not fail to dignify and honor through his able and discrimi- nating service. Fraternally Mr. Norris is iden- tified with the Masonic order, retaining mem- bership in Dillon Lodge No. 30, A. F. & A. M., and enjoys marked popularity in professional, business and social circles.

April 19, 1892, Mr. Norris was united in mar- riage to Miss Betty Wilkins, who was born in Bowling Green, Ky., where her ancestors located in the opening year of the nineteenth century, being of stanch Revolutionary stock.

I UCIUS NUTTING, M. D .- For more than twenty years a resident of Montana, and dur- ing that time contributing his best efforts to the ser- vice of the people in alleviating their sufferings and aiding in building up the industrial interests of the state, Dr. Nutting may not inappropriately be con- sidered one of the forceful and productive men who have made the history of the northwest and re- deemed an immense section of country from savage wilderness. He was born in Massachusetts, May 27, 1822, the son of Bryant and Matilda (Belden) Nutting, natives of the same state. He attended the common schools and also was a student at the famous old "red school house at Hatfield." After- ward he passed four years at Knox College, Ill., where he took a thorough classical course. On leaving school in 1846 he returned to Massachu- setts and attended a course of lectures on medicine, following that with a course at Rush Medical Col- lege, Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1849. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in Illinois, but after a short time re- moved to California and engaged in mining. There he was attacked by rheumatism and was obliged to return to Illinois, where he resumed the practice of medicine and continued it for six or seven years. In 1858 he removed to Kansas and engaged in farming for twenty years, within which the grass- hoppers and successive drouths gave him consider- able trouble. In 1879 he removed to Arizona, but finding the climate unfavorable to his health he re- turned to Kansas, and a few months later came to Montana. He located sixteen miles above Billings, on the Yellowstone, and engaged in farming until 1894, when he removed to Bozeman, which has since been his home.

In politics Dr. Nutting has always been a consis- tent and zealous Republican. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners of Yel- lowstone county after the admission of Montana into the Union as a state. He was also for many years a trustee of Highland University. While living in Kansas, in 1862, he belonged to the state militia and took an active interest in its welfare. In church relations he is a Presbyterian. He was

342

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

united in marriage on April 24, 1849, with Miss Elizabeth Allison, a native of Washington county, Pa., the daughter of William Allison, a prosperous farmer of that state, who removed with his family to Illinois about 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Nutting cele- brated their golden wedding in 1899, and after two years more of happy wedded life she died at Boze- man on the morning of October 6, 1901, at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Nutting was a very remark- able woman, and bore with courage and with un- complaining fortitude the many hardships and pri- vations of a pioneer woman's lot on the frontier. She was a lover of books, of music, of birds and of flowers, and made her successive homes beautiful with them, and spread their refining influence around her wherever she happened to be. Six chil- dren survived her: Mrs. Julia Cowan, of Spring- field, Ill .; Wilder, manager of a large coffee planta- tion in Mexico; Lucius A., William B., Roy H. and Lillie, all residents of Montana.

TILLIAM B. NUTTING is a descendant of an old Massachusetts family, long distin- guished in the history of that state, whose ancestors sought an asylum from persecution in the New World early in its history. He was born in Doni- phan county, Kan., September 3, 1861, the son of Dr. Lucius Nutting, a native of Massachusetts, a sketch of whom precedes this review. His mother was Elizabeth Allison, a native of Pennsylvania, who, after a long and creditable record of useful- ness to her family and others, died in Bozeman, Sunday morning, October 6, 1901, nearly eighty years old. Mr. Nutting passed his school days in Kansas, and at the age of fifteen removed to Dodge City, where he spent a year and then removed to Leadville, Colo. There he engaged in mining for five years, came to Montana in 1881 and located on the Yellowstone, where for nine years he was occupied in ranching. At the end of that period he sold out, and removing to near the Wyoming state line he began operations in stockraising, which grew to great proportions, including large numbers of shorthorn cattle, horses and sheep of superior breeds. In 1886 he organized the Bennett Creek Sheep Company, and for three years was its gen- eral manager. He then started a livery stable and lumber yard in Red Lodge, and conducted them successfully for four years, still holding his inter- ests in the Bennett Creek Company. He sold his

livery stable and lumber yard at the end of four years, purchased the rest of the stock of the Bennett Creek Company and managed the enterprise hin- self for three or four years. He then sold out and removed to Red Lodge, where he has since resided and been engaged in real estate, which he has car- ried on extensively. He is also interested in the Bridger Lumber Company, at Bridger, of which his brother, Roy H. Nutting, is the manager and active head. During the spring of 1902 the Red Lodge State Bank was organized, Mr. Nutting be- ing active in the establishment of the same as one of its principal promoters and stockholders, and was elected as its first president. The bank opened its doors for business April Ist, having a capital stock of $20,000, J. N. Tolman being vice- president, and L. O. Caswell, cashier.

Mr. Nutting has always manifested a lively and intelligent interest in local affairs, and has allowed no public enterprise to languish for want of his support and the stimulus his influence and active aid could give it. In 1900 he was elected a county commissioner for Carbon county, and was made chairman of the board. Fraternally he is connected with the Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. He was united in marriage April 9, 1888, with Miss Eva C. Sellers, a native of Kansas, and daughter of Samuel Sellers, who removed from Kansas to Texas, and in 1880 came to Montana, locating on the Yellowstone, where he engaged in the business of raising stock. Mr. and Mrs. Nut- ting have one child, a son named Roy Allison Nut- ting.

F "RED J. NYE .- One of the distinctively pro- gressive business men of the capital city is he whose name introduces this paragraph, and it is worthy of note that he has worked his way to determinate success through his individual ef- forts, ever maintaining that high standard of in- tegrity and honor which is characteristic of the German race, of which he is a representative. Mr. Nye was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1855, the son of John W. and Elizabeth (Becker) Nye, both natives of Prussia, where the respective families had maintained abode for many genera- tions. His parents emigrated to America in 1856, locating at Marietta, Ohio, where the father was engaged in agriculture until his death, the mother still being a resident of that city.

Fred J. Nye may be almost designated as a

343

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

native son of the American republic, since he was but one year old when his parents came to this country. He was educated in the public schools of Marietta until he was fourteen years of age, in the meanwhile lending his aid in the work of the farm. He was then apprenticed to the har- nessmakers trade, in which he became a skilled workman, continuing to be employed in the line at Marietta for three years. In 1870 he went to Emporia, Kan., and worked as a journeyman for two years, continuing his way westward to Denver, Colo., in 1872, and from that city to Colorado Springs, where he remained until the centennial year, 1876, when he again went west, stopping for a time in Omaha and then proceeding to Saginaw, Mich., which continued to be his headquarters until 1877, when he returned to Omaha, from which city he made his way to Evanston, Wyo., where he was engaged in business upon his own responsibility until the fall of 1883. He arrived in Helena in 1884, and established the harness and saddlery business, which he has since con- ducted very successfully. He was associated in business with Loyal W. Spencer until 1890, as Spencer & Nye, but then purchased his partner's interest and has since conducted the business alone with satisfactory results.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 67

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