Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 71

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

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E DWARD O'NEILL .- One of the popular cit- izens of Dawson county, Mont., Mr. Edward O'Neill is not only prominently identified with the ranching industry, but has a record for faithful and efficient service as a railroad man. He has been in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad for fully three decades. This long service shows better than words the character of the man, while his per- sonality has won for him the esteem and confidence of the public. He comes of old Irish lineage, trac- ing back for many generations, and was born in Avondale, County Wicklow, Ireland, March 25. 1856. Both of his parents died when he was a mere child, and he has no tangible recollections. of either. At the age of eleven years he came to the United States and to St. Croix, Wis., with friends. After preliminary educational discipline he entered

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St. John's University near St. Cloud, Minn., and there completed his scholastic training. After leav- ing this school, Mr. O'Neill began his thirty years' term of service with the Northern Pacific Railroad. From 1871 to 1875 he was a fireman on a run be- tween Fargo and Duluth, and in 1875 was given an engine and ran between Brainerd, Fargo, Bismarck and Duluth, until 1882, when he was placed on a passenger run on the Yellowstone division, from Glendive to Billings, Mont., and then he and his family made their home in Glendive.

Mr. O'Neill was one of the first engineers to be assigned to a regular run on the Northern Pacific Railroad within this state, as when he came to Glendive the road was not then completed. He belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers at Forsyth.

Mr. O'Neill has erected a fine residence in Glen- dive, and, in 1899 he purchased a ranch of 400 acres opposite the town, on the north side of the Yellowstone river, and has stocked it with cattle and horses. This he is improving as expedience di- rects, and his intention is to give his three sons a good start in the stock business when they shall have finished their education, in which they are afforded the best advantages. Mr. O'Neill also owns a farm of 240 acres in St. Croix county, Wis. He takes a lively interest in local affairs, and is an active and valued worker in the ranks of the Demo- cratic party. At Erin, St. Croix county, Wis., on September 20, 1882, Mr. O'Neill was united in mar- riage with Miss Catherine Hagan, who was born in that town October 7, 1859. They have three sons, young men of distinctive promise : John Michael, born January 25, 1884; Edward Francis, September 14, 1885, and Desmond James, July 15, 1888.

L EWIS PENWELL .- One of the able young attorneys of the bar of Lewis and Clarke county, a native son of Montana and a represent- ative of one of its pioneer families, Lewis Pen- well was born in Diamond on July 24, 1869, the son of Oscar E. and Anna (Lewis) Penwell, na- tives respectively of Illinois and Nebraska. Os- car E. Penwell came to Montana in 1864, and in the Gallatin valley erected the first flouring mill of that locality, and operated it successfully for a number of years. Lewis Penwell attended the schools of Montana until he had attained the age

of sixteen, when he continued his studies at Ra- cine (Wis.) College. The privilege of foreign travel then came to him, and he passed a year in Berlin, Paris and other places on the European continent. During this trip he earnestly prosecuted the tech- nical studies necessary to become versed in juris- prudence, and upon his return entered the law department of Columbia University in New York city, where he was graduated in 1892; he also secured later a diploma from the New York Law School, where he took a post-graduate course.

He was admitted to the bar of Illinois in Chi- cago in the same year, and there was clerk in a law office until January, 1893, to familiarize him- self with the practical details of his professional work. He then came to Helena, and was asso- ciated with Judge Bach as clerk, and later went into partnership with ex-Chief Justice Blake, who had presided over the Montana supreme court, this experience proving very valuable to him and still more thoroughly fortifying him for that pro- fession in which he has met so signal and well merited success. He continued with Judge Blake until the latter was appointed to the district bench, after which he was for some time in partner- ship with Judge R. Lee Word, thereafter establish- ing an independent office and conducting an in- dividual practice. He is a careful student, a strong advocate and a safe and conservative coun- selor. He has been prominently concerned in much of the important litigation in the courts of the county and state, proving himself a worthy exemplar of his profession. He is also interested to a considerable extent in the sheep industry. In 1898 Mrs. Clara Avery, a native of Minne- sota, united in matrimonial bonds with Mr. Penwell.

Mr. Penwell has given to the Democratic party an unwavering allegiance, has done much to pro- mote its local interests and has been honored by it with official preferment of important order. He was a member of the lower house of the general legislative assembly of the state in 1897, and is now serving as assistant prosecuting attorney of Lewis and Clarke county. He is now (1901) chair- man of the Democratic county committee. He took an active part in the agitation which made Helena the capital of the state. Fraternally Mr. Penwell is a past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias; is exalted ruler of the local lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and is also identified with the Masonic fraternity.

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J JOHN B. CATLIN .- To have lived up to the full tension of life on the Montana frontier in the early pioneer epoch implies more than is usually realized by those who were not identified with its period of strenuous though isolated activity. It was a firm and robust epoch, and yet it was not lacking in the soft touches of idealism, else not ours would be the many tales of romantic interest which have fallen from the lips of those who here delved for hidden treasures. Every page of its history is instinct with life, bright with color and affluent of illustration, and by the record of the lives of the pioneers history is enriched and literature embellished. In a publication of this nature there need be nothing antithetical, and the review of each life history may stand upon its own merits alone, and yet form an integral part of the great composite whole which defines much con- cerning the inception and development of a great commonwealth. John B. Catlin, one of the sterling pioneers of Montana, was intimately identified with many of the stirring events of the early days and has rendered his quota toward the founding and material upbuilding of the state.

Mr. Catlin is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where he was born on June 21, 1837, the son of Sprague and Mary (Babcock) Catlin, who were born in New York and Vermont, respectively. Sprague Catlin, a blacksmith by trade, removed to Ohio in 1834, and there remained about five years, when he took up his abode in La Porte, Ind. There he resided for a number of years, and his death occur- red at Buchanan, Mich., in 1870. His widow, now venerable in years, resides in the home of her son, John B., by whom she is accorded the deepest filial solicitude. Of her two sons and two daugh- ters, the sons and one daughter reside in Montana, while the other daughter resides in La Porte county, Ind.

John B. Catlin passed his youth principally in Indiana, maturing under the discipline of the farm and receiving his education in the public schools. He continued to be identified with agriculture in Indiana until the period of the Civil war, when, on August 4, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty- seventh Indiana Infantry, and was in active service until July, 1865. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated in a number of the most notable battles of the war, among which were that at Franklin, Ky., in 1862, and various engagements in the ensuing winter ; then the memorable battles of Chickamauga and

Mission Ridge, after which his regiment became a part of Sherman's army in the celebrated march to the sea, and took part in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Buzzards' Roost, Peach Tree creek, the siege of Atlanta, and thereafter the engagements at Jonesboro, Ga., whence the command moved to Savannah and to Goldsboro, N. C., thence to the national capital, where it participated in the grand review of the victorious Union armies. Mr. Catlin received no wounds of more than a trifling char- acter during his entire term of service. He en- listed and served as a private until the fall of 1862, when he was made fourth sergeant, and after the. battle of Mission Ridge he was promoted commis- sary sergeant, while at Atlanta he was made cap- tain of his original company and as such was mustered out. From Washington he returned to Indiana, remained until the spring of 1866, then started for the northwest, crossing the plains from Nebraska and making the trip by the Bozeman route and the Platte river. Near Fort Reno the party had an encounter with a band of Sioux Indians, one man being killed and two wounded. At Fort Reno the party joined Nelson Story, of Bozeman, and his train and they had no trouble with the Indians between that post . and Fort Carney, from which point Mr. Catlin was one of a party of twenty-seven men who continued the journey in company with Nelson Story, fighting the Indians every day and traveling by night. They were fortunately equipped with modern firearms, and completed the trip without the loss of a man or any of their stock. They arrived in Virginia City, Mont., in December, 1866, where Mr. Catlin remained for a time, then with five other men he took a stock of supplies to near the mouth of Divide creek in Deer Lodge county, where they erected a cabin. They subsisted largely on game during the winter, elk, deer and other large game being plentiful, while mountain sheep were fre- quently killed from the cabin door. In 1867 Mr. Catlin went to Rocker, in Silver Bow county, and engaged in placer mining for three months with excellent success. Going then to German gulch, he continued mining until fall, and removed to Ban- nack, after which then made a trip through Idaho, Oregon and Washington, passing the winter on Puget Sound. The next spring he returned to Montana, arriving in Missoula in June and soon located on Gold creek, where he worked some placer claims with such poor success as to entail the loss of much of his previous accumulations. He then

Johan 13 ballin

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returned to Missoula county, where he has for the greater portion of the time since maintained his home. He was engaged in farming and stock- growing in the Bitter Root valley until 1880, thereafter conducting a hotel and livery business in Stevensville, Ravalli county, until 1889, when he was appointed Indian agent at the Blackfoot reservation. At the expiration of eighteen months he resigned this office, and in the fall of 1891 he was appointed receiver of the land office at Missoula, retaining this incumbency for four years. Since that time he has been engaged in the real estate business, and his operations have been of wide scope and importance, his knowledge of land values in the state being so certain and intimate as to make his interposition valuable to those desiring to either purchase or sell property. In 1897 Mr. Catlin was appointed United States land commis- sioner and served in this office for two years.

In 1877, at Skalkaho, then in Missoula county, Mr. Catlin organized a company of citizens to as- sist in putting down the Nez Perce Indian upris- ing under Chief Joseph, and he was placed in com- mand. They joined Gen. Gibbons and marched to Big Hole. The company originally consisted of one hundred men, but after two days' march so many turned back that when the forces met the Indians at Big Hole the company mustered only thirty-five members. Capt. Catlin did much scout- ing, and it was he and Lieut. Bradley who finally discovered the location of Chief Joseph and his party, They were located early in the afternoon, but the attack was not made until the following morning at daybreak. The command succeeded in getting between the Indians and their horses and held this position for three hours, waiting for day- light. The first Indian to bite the dust was killed by members of Captain Catlin's company, a herder who came within thirty yards of the place where Captain Catlin's men were concealed. The battle soon became general. The Indians were driven from their tepees but soon rallied and the soldiers had to retreat and finally to erect breastworks to avert a repetition of the Custer massacre. Capt. Catlin's company lost five men in the conflict and the company was later highly complimented by Gen. Gibbons for his valiant services. At one time during the fight Capt. Catlin or- dered his men to take a high vantage point covering the Indian village or camp and Gen. Gibbons rode up and succinctly inquired "Who in h-1 has given that order?" When Capt. Catlin re-

plied, "I did, sir," the General was so dumb- founded that he rode away without replying. Had it not been for the effective co-operation of the volunteer companies Gen. Gibbons and his entire command would have been wiped out in this memorable engagement, and that officer personally admitted the fact to Mr. Catlin. As this battle, the last engagement of importance with the Indians on Montana soil, was one of marked · historic in- terest and one which should be considered from as many viewpoints as possible in the interests of accuracy, it is deemed most proper to here enter a more detailed record given to one of our editorial corps by Capt. Catlin, which will be found in ap- pending paragraphs.

Mr. Catlin has been unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party, of which he has been an earnest advocate and supporter. Fraternally he keeps his interest in his old comrades in arms by maintaining membership in Fred Winthrop Post No. 11, G. A. R., at Missoula, and he is also iden- tified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The Captain enjoys a wide acquaintanceship, pos- sesses sterling integrity of character and is honored as a man, as a veteran of the great Civil war and as a pioneer of Montana.

At Waterloo, Iowa, on December 6, 1871, Mr. Catlin wedded Miss Elizabeth Taylor, born in Indiana, the daughter of William B. Taylor, and of this union three children were born, of whom two are living : Mary B., wife of Elmer E. Hershey, of Missoula ; and Arthur W., a civil engineer, who likewise is a resident of Missoula.

THE BATTLE OF BIG HOLE.

In the history of Indian warfare in the great west there is no record of a conflict of greater in- terest than that of the Big Hole, which occurred on August 9, 1877, and which may be called the final definite protest of the Indians of this section against the domination of white men. The history of this memorable battle, following hard upon the Custer massacre, has been written and every detail of action discussed, and yet it is necessary that the story of those who were active participants in the struggle be perpetuated, and it is our privilege to enter the account given by Captain Catlin who commanded the company of volunteers from the Bitter Root valley. The tale has been told many times and by many different persons, but there is no man now living whose statements are so nearly authoritative as those of Capt. Catlin, who par-

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ticipated in the fight and viewed its progress with the tactical knowledge of an experienced military man and with the familiarity with Indian char- acter and methods gained by long experience.

In the summer of 1877 word was brought to the settlers of Missoula and the Bitter Root valley that Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces and several hundred of his tribe were coming eastward through Idaho headed for the Bitter Root valley and the statement was made that they were killing all white persons whom they encountered and burning the property of the settlers on every side. The report was exaggerated but had a definite basis, for the savages had killed settlers in the Sweet- water valley, burned the ranch buildings and driven off the stock. Steps were forthwith taken to or- ganize local companies for the protection of the region on the route of the Indians. One company was organized at Missoula and another at Skalkaho, which was then in the same county. The fort at the Missoula military reservation was in process of building at the time, and Captain Rowan was there stationed with three companies of regular soldiers. Scouts sent out failed to discover signs of the ap- proaching Nez Perces, but soon afterward news was received that the wary and talented chief was coming down Lo Lo creek, and Capt. Rowan and his men, with the company of Missoula volunteers, proceeded up that creek and erected a barricade across the stream, hoping to hold the Indians in check and to deflect them from the valley. When Chief Joseph and his braves came up to this point a conference was held between him and the officers, Gov. Potts also taking part, who had come from Helena with a supply of arms. Chief Joseph as- serted that all he desired was that to take his party up the Bitter Root and over the range to the buffalo country, that he had no intention of molesting the settlers and that he would pay for all supplies and property taken while passing through the valley. He was refused permission to continue his journey and soon afterward made a feint of attacking the company, while the main body of his forces passed around the north flank of the company and went on up the valley. Captain Rowan did not then make an attack, as he realized that his force was entirely inadequate to make a successful stand, while Joseph was a strict disciplinarian and had his war- riors thoroughly trained. The Indians thus passed leisurely up the valley, trading with the settlers and paying for all they secured. When it was found that they apparently intended to do no harm in this

section, the local companies were disbanded and the volunteers returned to their homes. A few days later Gen. Gibbon and his troops passed up the valley in pursuit of the Indians, and a large number of citizens of Missoula county showed anxiety to join the command to punish the Nez Perces for past atrocities and depredations. A com- pany was organized in Shalkaho, and, as Capt. Catlin was familiar with Indian warfare and was a thoroughly disciplined soldier, he was called to take command. He consented to accept the position if a sufficient number would volunteer to justify his action, and he instructed them to assemble the next morning (August 4) at sunrise. Nearly one hundred were on hand at the appointed hour, fully armed and equipped, who at once took up the line of march and soon fell in with Gen. Gibbon's command. This gallant officer, however, had a su- preme contempt for volunteer soldiers, being a West Point man, and he received Capt. Catlin's company with slight enthusiasm and courtesy. In the light of subsequent developments he had good cause to be thankful for the interposition of these same disdained volunteers, while it is to be de- plored that he failed to show appreciation of their helpful services by mentioning them in his official report after they had unmistakably saved the day for him in the greatest fight in which he ever par- ticipated on the frontier. As Capt. Catlin inci- dentally remarked, "Had the general lived until the war of 1898 had closed he would have learned that the American volunteer is today acknowledged by all nations to be the best soldier on earth," and there is no palpable differentiation to be made be- tween the volunteer of today and the one of the Nez Perce war.

The command proceeded up the Bitter Root as far as the mountains. Here they discovered that the Indians had passed over their summit while the established trail ran around the base. Gen. Gibbon then requested Capt. Catlin to make a scouting ex- pedition over the mountains and, if possible, discover the location of the Indians and also the cause of the fire which was burning in Ross's Hole. of which the smoke was visible. During this time the main body of troops and volunteers would pass around the base of the mountains. Capt. Catlin at once set forth, but failing to find any sign of Indians they encamped for the night and dispatched a courier to bear the news to Gen. Gibbon. The trail now led them over the main range, and as the pursuit promised to be protracted, most of the

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volunteers returned to their homes, only thirty-five men out of the original one hundred remaining. Having rejoined the troops, Capt. Catlin and his company with them followed Chief Joseph across the main range, but before starting down the other side Capt. Catlin and Lieut. Bradley with a small company went ahead as scouts, and on the afternoon of August 8th they discovered the Indians in camp in Big Hole on the Wisdom river. They crept up to within a short distance and by climbing into trees secured a full view of the camp, which was on the opposite side of the creek, formed in the shape of a "V" and consisting of about eighty lodges, while below the camp was a herd of over 1,000 horses. They were so near the camp at one time that they could hear the squaws talking. Having fully located the Indians the party withdrew and went into camp, first sending a message and report to Gen. Gibbons. Late in the afternoon the main body came up, and the general decided to camp until night and then proceed under cover of dark- ness to a position as near the Indian camp as pos- sible, and to make an attack at daybreak the next morning. About midnight. the order to advance was given and, by careful maneuvering, the Gen- eral placed his entire command between the Indians and their horses. Supposing the animals to be strongly guarded, no effort was made to stampede them. The bottom land was covered with a dense growth of willows, while across the creek, where the Indians were encamped, the ground was prac- tically free from brush. The troops quietly made their way into the willows, Capt. Logan's company taking position on the extreme right and Lieut. Bradley and the volunteers on the left. A picket line, ten each of the volunteers and regulars, took position several rods in advance of the main body. Everything was in readiness nearly three hours before daylight. the attacking hour. The dogs about the Indian camp kept up an incessant barking, and Capt. Catlin states that it has ever been a source of wonder to him that the pickets were not dis- covered while assuming their position, as they were only a few rods from the camp. The three hours of waiting seemed interminable to the men in their cramped position, and as they lay waiting they could sce the squaws come out at intervals to add fuel to the fires. When the first rays of light appeared in the east, heralding the approach of day, one lone Indian left the camp in the direction of the horses. As his course lay directly through the picket line he was allowed to come within forty yards, when

he was shot down by volunteers. This was the signal for a general attack, and the troops opened fire along the entire line. In an instant everything was confusion in the Indian camp; the bucks rushed from their tepees clad only in the garments which dame nature provides and entirely unarmed. while in their midst were the squaws and children, many of whom were killed, as it was impossible to discriminate. The Indians were taken entirely by surprise, and without waiting to secure arms or clothing they fled for the willows on the opposite bank. The troops on the left, together with the volunteers, charged across the creek and into the camp. Here Gen. Gibbon ordered the lodges to be fired, and here much valuable time was lost, as they were covered with frost, while the majority were constructed of skin and could not be burned at all. On the right the troops could not make as rapid progress, as the brush was dense and tangled, and the Indians were afforded time to recover from their surprise and, with deadly effect, soon began to return the fire. The squaws seemed to be the first to recover their senses and Capt. Catlin tells of see- ing a buck running for cover, while his wife was following him up with his rifle and cartridge belt. which she had not forgotten to secure.

The division on the left were pushing the Indians from cover and along the bank of the creek and were thus rapidly making their way to the higher ground commanding the camp. From that vantage point they could have easily prevented the Indians from moving to their rear and have poured a deadly fire on those concealed in the brush. Just then Gen. Gibbon rode up and demanded who had given orders to take this position, his query being put in the words noted in the preceding sketch of the life of Capt. Catlin, who replied that he had given the command and then attempted to show the General the advantage of the position. Gibbon refused to listen, and ordered the soldiers to go back over the ground which they had gained. As it was fool- hardy for the few volunteers to attempt to hold the vantage ground, they reluctantly retreated. In the meanwhile the fight on the right had been a hand- to-hand conflict in the thick brush. Logan had been killed by a squaw, whose brother had just before met death at his hands after a fierce and close struggle ; Lieutenant Bradley had fallen on the left, and the Indians had now fully recovered from their consternation and were pressing the troops and volunteers on every side. In this extremity Gen. Gibbon ordered a retreat to a point of timber run-

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 71

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