Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 69

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 69

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Mr. Oyler was reared on the old farmstead in Missouri, receiving such educational advantages as the place and period afforded. He was not twenty years of age when the horrors of civil war engulfed the country, but his intrinsic patriotism led him to tender his services in defense of the Union. On June 18, 1861, Mr. Oyler en- listed as a private in Company I, Twenty-first Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Col. Moore com- manding, and was thereafter engaged in scouting duty until the battle of Shiloh, in which his regi- ment took an active part, also in the engagement at Corinth, then returned to Missouri, where it followed Price on his famous raid. He followed the fortunes of his regiment and he was honor- ably discharged at Nashville in 1864, having served six months beyond his three years term of en- listment. Returning to Missouri he re-enlisted in Company G, Fourteenth Missouri Cavalry, Col. Gravely, the command going to the plains and stationed along the Sante Fe road to fight the hostile Indians ; but a treaty was made and trouble avoided. He returned with his regiment to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and was there honorably discharged in October, 1865, returned to Missouri, being in the city of St. Louis when news was received of the assassination of President Lincoln. Mr. Oyler passed the winter in Missouri, and in the spring of 1866, started on the overland journey to Montana, driving a team of oxen. The party had no encounters with Indians en route, but previous trains were not so fortunate. They crossed the ferry at Big Horn, the boat being a dug-out, used to transport the wagons, the oxen being made to swim. Upon returning for other portions of the outfit they transferred a number of Cheyenne Indians across, everything being over before night. Soon afterward a large mule train arrived on the opposite bank, but before morning the Indians had made away with every mule in the outfit, leaving the emigrants with only their wagons. The company continued its journey to Gallatin valley, arriving in Bozeman on the 25tlı of July, where they disbanded. Mr. Oyler and two companions proceeded to Helena, remained but a short time and then returned to Gallatin valley, where Mr. Oyler was employed by John Nixon. In the spring of 1867 he worked for Philip Thorp and remained with him the following sum- mer. In the spring of 1868 he went to the Crow creek mining district, engaged in mining in that vicinity for two years, but his success being of a

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negative character he returned to Gallatin valley and took up a claim of 160 acres and engaged in stockraising for seven years, but later turned his attention to the sheep business, engaging therein extensively until 1896, having an average of 4,000 head. In the year noted he disposed of his sheep and again turned his attention to the cattle busi- ness, which has been his principal field of indus- trial operations ever since. Mr. Oyler now has a valuable ranch of 1,600 acres, upon which he raises large quantities of timothy, a portion of the tract being under irrigation; but the larger amount, being low bottom lands of great fertility, requires no irrigation, the confluence of the East and West Gallatin rivers being on his ranch. He raises principally shorthorn cattle, and usually has about 300 head. He has been successful in his efforts, and his integrity and honesty of purpose have gained the esteem and good will of all who know him. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and maintains a lively inter- est in his old comrades in arms by retaining mem- bership in the Grand Army of the Republic.

In a reminiscent way it may be stated that in 1871 Mr. Öyler had on one occasion started out to call at the home of his neighbor, John Nixon, and noticed a band of Cheyenne Indians not far distant. Mr. Nixon lived only a quarter of a mile distant, and just as our subject passed around a bend in the road he saw the savages moving rapidly about his neighbor's house, but on approaching nearer, not supposing anything was wrong, he discovered that Mr. Nixon had been shot by the Indians, who made away with his horses. Mr. Oyler at once assembled a party of settlers and started in pursuit, but after pro- ceeding many miles over the mountains, down Big Timber and across the Yellowstone, they finally abandoned the chase, finding it impossible to overtake the miscreants.

On December 24, 1882, Mr. Oyler was united in marriage to Miss Annie J. Perks, a daughter of William Perks, concerning whom an individual sketch will be found on another page of this volume, and of this happy union six children have been born, namely: Henry J., Fontie, Robert, Maud, Benjamin and an infant daughter.

H ON. HENRY M. PARCHEN, former presi- dent and manager of the Helena Power and Light Company, and one of Helena's most liberal

and enterprising business men, was born in Prussia on June 13, 1839, the son of George and Mary Parchen, also natives of Prussia. The father, as was also the grandfather, was both a miller and the mill owner. In 1848 the family came to the United States and first settled at Townline, near Buffalo, N. Y. Here they resided until 1861 when they removed to Richardson county, Neb. Here George Parchen purchased a farm and engaged in 'agriculture until his death in 1895. Of his four children three are living. Henry M. Parchen was the youngest of these children. He remained at home until he was fourteen years of age, and his education consisted of instruction in the public schools and a thorough course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Buffalo. Upon leaving that college he was a clerk at Townline until 1857, when he removed to Marshall county, Ind. Here Mr. Parchen re- mained until 1858, and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1862 he removed to Denver, Colo., and was a bookkeeper in the Planter's House. The following spring he took charge of the Mas- sasoit House, at Central City, for himself, and in this business he continued for some time. In July, 1864, Mr. Parchen first came to Montana, where he was employed as bookkeeper in the mercantile house of Erfurt, Busch & Co., at Virginia City, until 1865, when, in company with Dr. Wernigk and Louis Keysser, he opened a drug and grocery store at Helena. Later the firm of Parchen & Painter was formed by him and W. S. Painter. This did an extensive whole- sale and retail trade, reaching out in all direc- tions throughout the state. As business increased branch stores were established at Deer Lodge and other points. In 1874 Mr. Parchen purchased his partner's interest and continued the business with constantly increasing volume and profit as H. M. Parchen & Co., and under his able, sa- gacious and judicious management it has become the leading wholesale and retail drug house in Montana.

In the building of the three branch roads of the Northern Pacific from Helena Mr. Parchen was largely instrumental. He is also a director and heavy stockholder in the Helena Gas Company, the Electric Light and Street Railway Company. and when their consolidation was effected he was president of the new organization from 1894 until 1900. In addition to his connection with these important industries, which are of so great ad-

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vantage to the city of Helena, he is largely in- terested in mines and smelting works and is a heavy holder of realty in and about the city. Mr. Parchen has founded many enterprises cal- culated to promote the growth and development of this section of the country, and it is this ceaseless enterprise and progressive spirit that has won for him warm encomiums from the cit- izens of his home city and the state at large. As one of the organizers of the Helena Board of . Trade Mr. Parchen was prominent, and he was honored with its initial presidency. He is also a large holder of land, cattle and sheep in Cas- cade county, connected with the Cascade Land Company. Before the Civil war Mr. Parchen affiliated with the Democratic party, voting for Stephen A. Douglas for president in 1860. Since the second election of President Lincoln, how- ever, he has been a stanch Republican and has been chosen by that party to positions of honor and trust. For three years he was a county commissioner of Lewis and Clarke county and he also served in the twelfth session of the terri- torial legislature. Fraternally Mr. Parchen is prominent in Masonry in both the York and Scot- tish rites, and for twenty-nine years he has served as grand treasurer of the grand lodge of the state. In 1872 he was united in marriage to Miss Emma D'Acheul, born in St. Louis, Mo., of French parents. They have four children, Adele M., Henry G., Albert D. and Ruehling A. Finan- cially, politically and socially the career of Henry M. Parchen has been eminently successful. He has carved his way to prominence and fortune by force of character and the best of business judgment and the highest integrity. His name throughout Montana is a synonym for square dealing and honesty. Socially he is one of the most agreeable of men and his popularity in all circles is unbounded. As one of the most re- spected and influential citizens of Helena he num- bers a host of warm personal and business friends.

HARLES H. PADLEY .- The capable in- C cumbent of the important office of sheriff of Beaverhead county is Mr. Padley, who has given an administration which reflects credit upon him as an executive, and it is with satisfaction that we incorporate in this volume a brief review of his career.

Mr. Padley is a native of the state of Delaware, having been born in the city of Dover, August 22, 1858, a son of James and Annie (Beck) Padley, natives of Lincolnshire, England, of stanch old English lineage. The father came to America about the year 1845, locating in Dela- ware, where he devoted his attention to agri- cultural pursuits for a long term of years and where he still resides. His wife also came to the United States in 1845, accompanying her parents, who located in Delaware, where her marriage to Mr. Padley was solemnized. They became the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, and one of nine still living. Charles H. Padley se- cured from the public schools of his native state his early education and assisted in the work of the homestead farm for some years after leaving school. At the age of eighteen years he removed to Illinois and engaged in farın work for a period of two years, diversified with employment in a meat market at Oregon, his object being to thoroughly learn the butchering business. He was identified with this line of business at Oregon for ten years and then removed to ·Foreston, Ogle county, Ill., where he purchased a market and conducted the same until the spring of 1885. On the 18th of April of that year he arrived in Dillon, Mont., and effected the purchase of an established butchering business, to which he has since given close attention, catering to a large and representative patronage. He has gained dis- tinctive recognition as one of the leading business men of the thriving little city, his acquaintance- ship throughout the county being wide and his personal popularity unmistakable.

Mr. Padley has ever rendered an unwavering allegiance to the Democratic party and its prin- ciples, and in Dillon has been called upon to fill various offices of trust and responsibility. He was elected as a member of the board of alder- men in 1889, and re-elected for three terms. In 1894 he was elevated to the chief executive of- fice, being chosen mayor of Dillon and giving a discriminating, economical and businesslike ad- ministration of the city's affairs. In 1896 he was elected sheriff of Beaverhead county, and the popular verdict at the expiration of his term was that no incumbent had ever given a morc capable and satisfactory service. In 1899 the sheriff of the county resigned his position, and in casting about for an eligible successor it was but natural that

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Mr. Padley should be selected for appointment to the office for the unexpired term. At the regular election in the fall of 1900 he was elected to the office, and his tenure of the same is certain to redound to the interests of the county and to the conservation of law and order. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Improved Order of Red Men, having held office in each and being past sachem of the latter at the present time.

On October 18, 1883, Mr. Padley was united in marriage to Miss Nellie May Potter, who was born in Illinois, the daughter of Calvin and Mary Potter. They are the parents of one son and one daughter, Delaware, born October 10, 1885, is at present a student in the Dillon high school ; and Maud, born March 15, 1887, is a pupil in the public schools. The family are highly esteemed in the city of their home, and take a part in the social life of the community, the pleasant family residence being a center of unreserved hospi- tality.

M ONTGOMERY H. PARKER, one of the most eminent members of Montana's ju- diciary, is a resident of Boulder, Jefferson county, and judge of the Fifth judicial district. His an- cestry antedates the Revolutionary stock of Amer- ica, as on his mother's side it is traced to the early Duke of Argyll, Scotland. On his father's side the family were English, having emigrated to Maryland at an early Colonial day. Here his grandfather, Wilson H. Parker, was born. Sub- sequently he moved to Fayette county, Ky., where he owned a valuable plantation and was recog- nized as a leading citizen. He married Miss Char- lotte Ashby, a daughter of Capt. John Ashby, of Virginia, and had four sons. At the age of sixty-five the mother died, her husband surviving her ten years. The father of Judge Parker, Mont- gomery Parker, was born in Fayette county, Ky., on December 16, 1821. He married with Miss Nancy Hunt, daughter of Wilson Hunt, also of Fayette county. Montgomery Parker lived long on his Kentucky plantation and held a high posi- tion in the community for his strong character and great ability. During the Civil war he served in the Confederate army. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker three children were born. Mrs. Parker was a woman of strong and deep religious con- victions, belonging to the Presbyterian church,

and her untimely death, at the age of twenty- nine years, was felt as a loss to the entire com- munity. Her husband survived her until he was fifty-six years of age. They had three children.

Montgomery H. Parker was born in Fayette county, Ky., on September 16, 1856. He passed his youth and early manhood in Kentucky, and was a witness of and an occasional participant in the many stirring scenes that have contributed to make portions of the state classic ground. With the free-handed, hearty hospitality of old- time Kentuckians he was early made familiar, and this entered into his own nature and largely accounts for his many generous traits of char- acter. After an excellent elementary education he entered the Kentucky State University. To the system and methods of this splendidly endowed institution he brought the same studious assid- uity that had marked his progress in the public schools and in 1879 he was graduated with high honors. With all of the energy of his nature he engaged in the study of law in the office of Smith & Stoll, at Lexington. He soon realized that the added benefits of a collegiate law course would prove of incalculable advantage, and the same year returned to the State University and entered the law department, than which there is none better in the Union, and was graduated twelve months later. Thus thoroughly equipped he was immediately admitted to practice.

Judge Parker came to Montana in 1880. He fully realized the unsettled conditions of the new country and the people with whom he had cast his lot, but with far-seeing sagacity he also saw a glowing future for the territory and with the people he was content to labor and to wait. At first he lo- cated in the Missouri valley, satisfied to begin his life work in a far humbler capacity than was encom- passed by his youthful ambition. He taught school near Townsend, at that time in Meagher, now Broadwater county. For two years he re- mained there and in 1882 located at Radersburg, Jefferson county, then the county seat, and so affording better opportunities for the practice of law. He remained there three years, during which time he built up a successful and lucrative prac- tice, but in 1887 he removed to Boulder, which became the county seat, where he has since re- sided and for ten years was associated in prac- tice with George F. Cowan.

In 1889 Judge Parker was elected county at- torney for Jefferson county, and re-elected in

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1892, serving in all five years. For a period he also held the office of resident trustee of the State Deaf and Blind Hospital. 111 1896 he was elected judge of the Fifth judicial district, since which period he has served with eminent judi- cial fairness and distinction. Politically Judge Parker has been a lifelong Democrat, and has taken a prominent place in the counsels of his party. His advice has invariably been accepted with confidence, and results have proved the wis- dom of his course, his knowledge coming from experience in political affairs. He is a valued Freemason and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In 1884 he was united in marriage to Miss Mittie M. Kennon, a native of Ohio, who died on December 16, 1888. Their two children are Catherine D. and Warren K. On June 1, 1893, Judge Parker was again mar- ried to Miss Florence A. Watson, who was born at Richmond, Va. The life of this eminent jurist and useful citizen has been one of great activity and unceasing devotion to his profession. The pro- nounced success that he has achieved is amply merited and he has the highest respect and es- teem of all with whom he has been associated socially or in a business way, while legally he ranks with the leading minds in Montana juris- prudence.

JOHN CAPLICE .- When the nineteenth century had scarcely more than passed its first quarter mark, there came into the world, in 1829, in famous old County Tipperary, Ireland, a boy destined to see much of the world's sorrow and men's struggle for supremacy and to win his way triumphantly through the contest to consequence, honorable re- gard and commanding affluence at the beginning of the twentieth century. This was John Caplice, of Butte, a wholesale and retail liquor dealer, who has conducted mercantile and industrial enterprises of enormous proportions and made and lost large for- tunes with almost the regularity of a fixed habit. His father, Thomas Caplice, was a well-to-do agri- culturist and stockbreeder of the Emerald Isle, who died there and was peacefully laid to rest in one of her beautiful valleys. His mother was Mary Augusta Mulcahy, a native of County Limerick, the daughter of a man of martial race who keenly felt the wrongs of his people and rose against their oppressors in the revolt of 1798.

Mr. Caplice was the eldest of three children, and

losing both his parents in early life, he was reared by his grandparents who sent him to school when he could be spared from work until he was twelve years old, when he determined to make his own way in the world. At the age of twenty-one he emi- grated to the United States and hired himself to a farmer near Philadelphia. Four years later he took up his residence on Fox river, Ill., and engaged in farming with a view to purchasing land and making there his permanent home. But the country was new and undeveloped, there were pestilential marshes undrained and other conditions prejudicial to health, and in the fall of 1854, after he had put in his first crop, there were not enough well people to take proper care of the sick, so he determined to go further west, and located next at Newton, Iowa. Here he leased coal banks and mined the "dusky diamonds" until the spring of 1856, when he went to Sioux City and took up land near the place just as its first streets were laid out. Being called on to defend his title, he spent all his money and lost the case. He then went to St. Joe, Mo., and worked for a man who had three boats on the river. In three months he bought the outfit and with it and some additions he made did an extensive and profit- able business until 1861. At that time he had a large amount of cut wood on the levee and all of it was confiscated under the emergencies of war. He was a member of the "Emmett Guards," in the state militia, which was ordered into service at Camp Jackson, but as the men were divided in their al- legiance between the north and the south, many resigned their membership, among them Mr. Caplice, who then engaged in freighting to Denver until August, 1863. He delivered his last load of freight to Mr. Pullman, of Pullman car fame.

Alder gulch was then claiming attention and creating wild excitement, and with the keen and quick perception of proffered opportunities which has always characterized him, Mr. Caplice took six mules, four horses and two wagons and loading up with merchandise, particularly grain, liquors, candles and cured meat, he made his way rapidly to Bannack, Mont., via the Cherokee trail, and sold his stock at a handsome profit and with the proceeds purchased a log house and began extensive operations in merchandising and mining. In 1865 he removed to Henderson gulch and continued his merchandising at Emmetsburg. The miners who were digging a big ditch there were without money to continue work, and as a matter of business and public , spirit as well, he pledged his credit and

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available capital to complete the ditch and realized well from the venture. He had a large store there and another at McClellan. In 1869 he started a branch store at Cedar creek in Missoula county, doing a business of over $200,000 in that one store and losing in it fully $30,000. In 1874 he started a store at Phillipsburg, occupying the principal house in the town for the purpose, and in 1876 another at Missoula city. From these he later withdrew and opened up in trade at New Chicago and finally, in 1878, he sold out there and settled in Butte. From that time this has been the head- quarters of his business, which has always been con- ducted on a scale of great magnitude, he at one time having five stores in Missoula and Deer Lodge counties and carrying credits of over $200,000 on his books when there were no values in the state. When the Union Pacific Railroad was building the citizens of Butte decided that the road should not be built into that city, but Mr. Caplice determined that it should. He received $5,000 from the rail- road company and raised enough in addition to purchase the right of way and brought the road into town. He also purchased a store and some teams there of Walker Brothers of Salt Lake City, paying $40,000 for them, which represented the profits he expected to make out of a wood contract he had made with the same firm.

Later he became associated with A. W. McCune in the well known firm of Caplice & McCune, with headquarters at Walkerville. Through the enor- mous business of this firm it became recognized as the most extensive and successful promoters of industrial enterprises in the northwest. Among the important contracts they completed was the one with the railroad company in which this firm built the railroads to the mines on Butte Hill, and also those from Stuart to the different smelting works in Anaconda. Later the firm contracted to supply 300,000 cords of wood to the Anaconda Company, and, as a guarantee of performance, it was obliged to furnish a bond of $50,000. The enterprise took all the capital the firm could raise, but they put 250 men and eighty teams to work in the woods and kept them there for two years, cutting and hauling wood, constructing roads and building mile upon mile of flumes, and erected blacksmith, wheelwright and other shops. By this time they had accumulated more than 70,000 cords of wood and had placed about 50,000 cords upon the dump without having received a dollar. They then began to get their pay in checks of $50,000, when Mr. Caplice was forced

to sell his interest in the contract for less than lic had invested, because he refused to stultify his po- litical convictions and go into the woods and de- mand that his men support Thomas H. Carter in a political contest then in progress in which Mr. Caplice enthusiastically espoused the other side and the cause of William A. Clark. As a demonstration of the positive character and honest convictions of Mr. Caplice, in politics as in every thing else, it is only necessary to state that this contract after- wards paid $500,000 in dividends to those who held it. As it was almost entirely due to the individual capital and credit of Mr. Caplice that the successful carrying out of the contract was made possible, the above striking illustration of his inflexible integrity and honesty of convictions is all the more marked.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 69

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