Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 74

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 74

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).

to caring for and rearing the children, still con- tinuing to reside in Yates county, where eventually the mother of our subject consummated a second marriage, becoming the wife of John A. McLain. Her death occurred at the age of sixty-eight years. She was of English descent, and was a woman of sterling character, training her children to lives of usefulness and honor. She was a devoted mem- ber of the Methodist church, in whose faith she passed to the eternal.

David Prosser, to whom this sketch is dedicated, was reared to manhood in his native county and received a good English education in the public schools, his scholastic advantages being somewhat limited by being deprived of a father's care and assistance at the early age of ten years. He began caring for himself when a boy of twelve, but with true filial solicitude assisted his mother in the sup- port of the family. On attaining his legal ma- jority Mr. Prosser turned his attention to the trade of shipcaulking, to which he devoted his attention for thirty years, and also with the maritime service of the great lakes. He also learned the trade of stationary engineer, 'and for one season was em- ployed in a large distillery.

In February, 1844, Mr. Prosser was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Youngs, who was born in Yates county, N. Y., on June 22, 1826, the daughter of Benjamin and Sally (Hedges) Youngs, who were natives of New Jersey and New York, respectively, the former of Irish and the latter of English lineage. To our subject and his estimable wife five children have been born: Cecilia, wife of H. C. Gelder; John R., Horace A., Fred A. and Martin Van Buren. In 1878 our subject's son, Horace; came to Montana, where he worked at his trades of blacksmithing and carriage- making; and after two years, in 1880, he induced his parents to come to this state. Mr. Prosser arrived in Helena on July 9, 1880, and soon after- ward located on a ranch in Prickley Pear vallev, the place being located ten miles northeast of the capital city, and there successfully engaged in farm- ing and stockraising until 1898, when he rented the ranch and removed with his wife to Helena, which has since been their home. His ranch is a valuable one, and from this and other investments he realizes a good income and is enabled to live in ease and comfort after many years of earnest and honest endeavor. His success in life has not been a matter of accident, but is the positive result of well directed efforts, and to him may well be

375

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

applied the proud American title of self-made man. Mr. Prosser's political faith is strongly Demo- cratic. He has been a zealous supporter of the party from the time of securing his franchise, hav- ing cast his initial presidential vote for James K. Polk. In earlier years he was an active worker in the cause, and was called upon to serve in various township offices. For nearly a half century he has been identified with the Masons, having been initia- ted in 1853, and passed to the master's degree, the ultimate of ancient-craft Masonry. Mrs. Pros- ser, who has been to him a true companion and helpmeet during all the long years of their wedded life, still remains with him as the shadows begin to lengthen and denote that the span of life is nearing its terminus, while they rest secure in the esteem and affection of all who know them. Mrs. · Prosser has been a devoted member of the Metho- dist church since her early womanhood, and her life has been a bright exemplification of the faith which she professes. Mrs. Prosser's father accom- panied his parents to New York state during the Indian war, making the journey with teams. There he grew to manhood and lived until his demise in 1877. Her maternal ancestors also moved from New Jersey and settled in New York. Her grand- father Hedges was a blacksmith by trade. Dur- ing the troubles with the Indians he entered the service as a soldier, faithfully serving throughout the entire Indian war.

T THOMAS A. RAY .- One of the extensive sheepgrowers of Montana, and, by reason of his prominent identification with the industrial ac- tivities of the state, his prestige as one of the hon- ored pioneers of the state, and his position as one of the representative citizens of Helena, Thomas A. Ray is entitled to due recognition in this work. He is a native of Washington county, Ky., where he was born on March 27, 1829, the son of James and Sally (Hungate) Ray, both natives of Ken- tucky. The father was a stonemason and followed this vocation until 1844, when he removed with his family to Nodaway county, Mo., where he devoted his attention to farming until his death. He was in no sense a politician, never seeking either the honors or emoluments of public office, but living a life of quiet usefulness and rectitude. His wife also died in Missouri. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Ray was a soldier in a Kentucky regiment,

in the war of 1812, and the maternal grandfather was a colonel in the Continental army of the Revo- lution. He later participated in the Indian wars and died from exposure in 1812. James and Sally Ray had a large family of children, but only three are now living, a brother and a sister of Mr. Ray now residing in Nodaway county, Mo.

Thomas A. Ray accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri when sixteen years of age and five years later, upon attaining his majority, he went to California, where he remained four years, and then returned to Missouri. In 1863 he started on the long overland journey for the Treas- ure state of Montana, with an ox team. In August, 1864, he arrived in Virginia City, but did not at once plunge into the uncertain venture of mining. It is quite noticeable in Montana history that the ones who confined their attention exclusively to placer mining in the early pioneer days, are not the ones who carved a fortune for themselves from the rugged wilderness. The men who own the mines today are generally the men who sold goods or engaged early in the stock business. At Vir- ginia City Mr. Ray passed the first year buying cat- tle. In March, 1865, he came to Helena, and from that time has been an honored and representative resident of the city. Aside from his large cattle and sheep interests in the state, he has been exten- sively interested in mines and mining, and he is one of the heaviest stockholders in some of the best paying mines in the state. At one time he was heavily interested in the War Eagle mine, and on the sale of that property he engaged in developing other claims. In 1865 Mr. Ray built the first water system of Helena, bringing the water from Great Springs in Grizzly gulch, the enterprise being pro- jected and completed under title of Old Water Com- pany, and the original conduits were constructed from logs. In company with Maj. William Daven- port he operated this system for ten years, and eventually the plant was sold to R. S. Hale, who later sold it to the present company. In 1871 Mr. Ray formed a partnership with Maj. Davenport (further mention of whom will be found on other pages of this work) and with A. W. Kingsbury, under the firm name of Davenport, Ray & Co., from which originated the Big Sag Land and Live Stock Company and the Choteau Land and Live Stock Company. Of the latter Mr. Ray is now president, and he is also the individual owner of valuable ranches.

In Nodaway county, Mo., in 1854, Mr. Ray was

376

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

united in marriage to Miss Sophia Byers, who was born in Illinois, and they are the parents of nine children : Annie, wife of W. E. Frederick; Aurora A., wife of Thomas Davidson ; Sally R., wife of N. N. Davidson; Laura, wife of W. H. Clark; Varina L., Thomas B., Frank, Daisy, and Vera L. The first four of the children crossed the plains with their parents. Politically Mr. Ray has always affiliated with the Democratic party, not as an officeseeker but merely as a patriotic citizen, de- sirous of performing his political duties as such. He at one time served as sheriff of Nodaway county, Mo., and has won and retained the esteem of everyone with whom he has been associated in a business or social way.

H ERMAN GANS .- From the sources of true manhood all that is precious and permanent in life must ever proceed, and it may be said that Montana will ever owe a tribute of honor and ap- preciation to Herman Gans, the subject of this memoir. He was one who "stood four square to every wind that blows"; a man of great initiative power in business and one that attained a high de- gree of material success. But his sterling character and unfailing kindliness in all the relations of life were the qualities which gained the deepest of friendships and the esteem and confidence of his fellow men. Strong and influential among the men whose lives became a part of the commercial and industrial history of Montana, he also largely pro- moted general prosperity. Mr. Gans came from the picturesque old walled town of Neustadt, Bohemia, Germany, where he was born March 28, 1851, the son of David and Sarah (Glauber) Gans, natives of the same town, where they passed their entire lives and where the father was successfully engaged in the dry goods business for many years. In the family were thirteen children, and of this large number Mr. Gans was the sole survivor for a num- ber of years prior to his death. He received his early education in the public schools of his native town, and at the age of fifteen, in 1866, came to America in company with friends, one of his brothers having preceded him and located in the city of New Haven, Conn. Our subject joined his brother in that city and secured a clerical position in a clothing establishment, remaining four years. In 1869 he established himself in the boot and shoe business, but in the fall of the succeeding year dis-

posed of that interest and came to Montana for the purpose of visiting his uncle, who conducted a store at Fish creek. One year later he accepted a position with the firm of Gans & Klein, in Helena, Louis Gans being his uncle. He remained with the firm as a salesman for six years, when he was admitted to partnership and from that time until his death had immediate charge of the affairs of the concern, which comprised establishments in Helena and Butte that are the most important of the sort in the state, the lines of merchandise handled being exclusively clothing and men's furnishing goods. These two mercantile houses are of metropolitan character and the stocks compare favorably with those of the large concerns in eastern cities, both in quality and selection.

At the time of Mr. Gans' death the other mem- bers of the firm were his uncle, Louis Gans, of New . York city, and Henry Klein. They were also in- terested in large stock ranches in Montana, Wyo- ming, Nebraska and Kansas, and were concerned in the raising of sheep and cattle upon an extensive scale, being among the leading promoters of this industry in the west. The Butte establishment of the firm was opened in 1876, and Mr. Gans gave this his personal supervision, visiting the same each month and making the trip by stage, prior to the advent of railroads. For a number of years before his death he visited New York city semi- annually in the interests of the firm, and thus the greater part of the buying devolved upon him. The firm at one time maintained branch houses in Deer Lodge, Fort Benton and Diamond City, Mont., but the business was eventually concentrated in the Helena and Butte establishments. From even this cursory outline it will be seen that Mr. Gans was a man of fine executive ability, and one whose up- right methods gained the confidence and esteem of all. He was for a number of years vice-president of the Montana National Bank, of Helena ; was a director of the National Bank of Montana at the time of his death, and also treasurer and a member of the directorate of the Helena Power and Light Company. He invested large amounts in prospect- ing for ores in various sections of the state and was interested in a number of important mining properties.

Mr. Gans gave but little attention to party politics, but was thoroughly public-spirited in his attitude, readily lending his influence and giving financial support to any worthy and legitimate project looking to the advancement of the state. He

377

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

held membership in Temple Emanu-El, Helena, and was the first president of the congregation. Fraternally he was identified with King Solomon's Lodge No. 9, A. F. & A. M., of Helena, having been past master of the same; with Capital Lodge No. 2, A. O. U. W .; and socially was an honored member of the Montana Club. In the city of Helena, on October 19, 1881, Mr. Gans was united in marriage with Miss Alice Marks, who was born in Baton Rouge, La., whence she accompanied her parents on their removal to Diamond City, Mont., in the early days, and eventually the family took up · their residence in Helena. Mr. and Mrs. Gans be- came the parents of two daughters, Sadye M. and Dorothea H. The elder daughter graduated from the Helena high school with the class of 1900, and is now prosecuting her studies in the Madison Avenue Finishing School for Girls, in New York city, where she is devoting her attention to the studies of languages, music, art and history. The family home is a beautiful residence, and has ever been known as a center of gracious hospitality. This noble man and valued citizen died on Sep- tember 3, 1901, in Mercy Hospital, Chicago, where he had undergone a critical operation. He had been east purchasing goods, and while in Chicago was attacked with the disorder which resulted in his death. The news of his passing away was deeply felt in Montana, and his loss was held as a personal bereavement by the people of Helena. His remains were brought home and laid to rest with every mark of esteem and affection man can show to mortal man. He was a stanch friend, a loving and devoted father and husband; and, standing in the light of a life and character strong and prolific of honorable deeds, his death came with crushing significance. But it is believed his ex- emplary life will long be remembered and serve as a type worthy of emulation.

P ADOLPHUS RAGAN .- Left an orphan by the death of his mother when he was six years old, and that of his father when he was seven, Peter A. Ragan, now one of the trusted employes of the Montana Ore Purchasing Company, of Butte, has literally hewed out his opportunities and fought his successful way thus far through the world. He found shelter and a comfortable home for a few years after his parents died, in the family of C. W. Easley, in Sabine county, Tex., and then hired

out for a compensation of eight dollars a month and his board. Mr. Ragan was born in Sabine coun- ty, Tex., February 12, 1877. His father was Dr. J. H. Ragan, a native of Tennessee, a graduate of Memphis Medical College, and before the Civil war a strong advocate of secession, who removed to Texas and died there in 1884. By his first marriage Dr. J. H. Ragan had five children, and after the death of his wife remarried with Mrs. Crockett Quigley, whose maiden name was Mary Travis, and whose first husband died in the Confederate army. She was a native of Mississippi, and passed from earth a year in advance of her second husband.

P. Adolphus Ragan was the youngest of the four children born to the above union. As he had oppor- tunity he attended the public schools until he was twelve years old, and then went to work on a farm and in a sawmill, continuing in this service until he was eighteen, and then making an arrange- ment whereby he was able to work his way through an advanced school of Pecos, Tex. He followed this by a similar arrangement at the Douglas Insti- tute, an excellent private school, at Waco, and after leaving that he taught a public school at Lee's Mill near the town, thus earning money to pay for a teacher's course at the South East Texas College. Here he took part in the oratorical contest (an annual event at the college) and won by his efforts a medal, the highest honor conferred by the college. This was on May 19, 1899, and Hon. S. B. Cooper, then and now a member of congress from Texas, was one of the judges. After leaving college he taught a country school at Ford's schoolhouse near Newton, the county seat of Newton county, in the summer of 1899, and in the fall was elected principal of the Lee's Mill school, which he taught one term and gave up to take a business course in Central Business College, at Sedalia, Mo. This course, however, he was not able to complete.

He removed to Butte, Mont., in December, 1900, and accepted for a time a position as mailing clerk in the postoffice, then secured in that city employ- ment with the Montana Ore Purchasing Company and he has been with that company since. One can- not help admiring the resolute manhood and deter- mination with which Mr. Ragan has combatted averse circumstances and triumphed over diffi- culties which would have made an ordinary nature shrink from the effort or commending cordially the substantial success he has achieved. Such ex- amples are incitements to others, and do great good in the encouragement which they give. He is a

378

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

member of the order of Modern Woodmen of America, and in political relations affiliates with the Democratic party. His brother, D. J. Ragan, is the tax assessor of Newton county, Tex. The rest of the family are living in Sabine county in that state.

H ENRY C. REDING, of the Cedar View dis- trict of Gallatin county, a Southerner by birth, is one of the early Montana pioneers who have availed themselves of the favorable condi- tions offered by Montana's possibilities and agri- cultural resources. He was born in Randolph county, N. C., on July 12, 1838, the son of John and Diaz (Stead) Reding, who were born in that state, as was the grandfather, John Reding. The paternal great-grandfather was a Revolution- ary hero, having served with distinction under Gen. Washington through that war. John Reding, father of H. C. Reding, passed his life in North Carolina, where he was a successful planter, and here Henry C. Reding, one of a family of four sons and three daughters, passed his years to early manhood. The attractive pos- sibilities of the west coming to his knowledge, in 1864 he started for Montana, coming overland from Atchison, Kan. There were one hundred men in the party and the train was strong enough to prevent attacks by the Indians, who were quite troublesome, and although Mr. Reding's train had no serious difficulty, sanguinary conflicts occurred, both before and after they passed, and lives had been lost.

On August 20, 1864, Mr. Reding arrived in the beautiful Gallatin valley but remained only a few days, going thence to Virginia City. At this period gold was in almost every Montanian's mind. At Virginia City Mr. Reding remained four months and mined and prospected, and in December, 1884, returned to Gallatin county, and located near his present property, remaining dur- ing that winter, in the spring going back to Virginia City for two months, mining with in- different success. The summer he spent in the Blackfoot country in unsuccessful prospecting, and again in the fall he returned to Gallatin county. In 1885 he sold his property and en- gaged for two years in stockraising, near the Judith basin, then selling his interests in this en- terprise, he purchased the Miner ranch, adjoining his old home in Gallatin county, comprising 200

acres, and where he has since been profitably engaged in farming, the greater portion of his land being under irrigation. Mr. Reding also owns valuable property in Park county. While the principal industry of his Gallatin county ranch is stockraising, he also harvests fine crops of wheat, oats, rye and barley. He has a beautiful farm residence, substantial outbuildings and there is an orderly regulation about the ranch indica- tive of intelligence and a high order of business ability. Mr. Reding has been twice married, in June, 1872, to Mrs. Margaret Miller, a native of Tennessee, who died in 1884. Of their three children, Diza and Sadie are dead, John surviv- ing. On March 18, 1889, Mr. Reding married Mrs. Elvira Hatfield, of Spring Valley, Ohio, a daughter of Jeffrey Truman, a brother of Arthur Truman, whose sketch appears in another portion of this work.

G EORGE A. REDDING, son of Emanuel and Esther R. (McCoy) Redding, was born at Clancey, Mont., on May 4, 1872. The father was a most successful miner and came to the territory of Montana in 1864. He was peculiarly fortunate in his search for the hidden metals and dis- covered the King Solomon and the Old Dan Tucker mines, so famous as great producers of ores. George A. Redding remained at home through his boyhood years, and attended the pub- lic schools in the place of his nativity. In 1883 he extended his scholastic privileges to Helena, and was for some years a student in the Helena public schools. In 1889 he entered the Montana Business College, at Helena, gave strict attention to and made rapid progress in its commercial branches and was graduated with honors. He then returned to Clancey and engaged with his brother and father in operating the King Solomon mine, which they conducted with great success for many years. They also gave considerable attention to the Old Dan Tucker mine, which proved immensely valuable as a rich producer. The ore from this property was at first freighted to Corinne and from thence shipped to Fryeburg, Germany, for treatment, and some of it was sent to Swansea, Wales. Facilities for the treatment of metals had not yet been provided in the United States. In addition to mining Mr. Redding operated a sawmill for a number of years, and

379

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

· had large interests in lumber near Helena, which he disposed of in 1885.

In many other ways than mining and lumbering has Mr. Redding impressed himself upon the business interests of this section. He has been a civil engineer of skill, and in all his operations has shown vigor and enterprise and has cut a direct road to success. He is well known and highly esteemed in a business acquaintance that is not bounded by local lines. His political affili- ations are with the Democratic party. He takes an active interest in the campaigns, and is an influential worker for the party. On December 8, 1897, he married Miss Marie Samuelson, of Helena, daughter of J. A. Samuelson, a farmer of Rosedale, Neb. They have one son, Geo. A. Redding, Jr., and one daughter, Carol Alena. Fraternally Mr. Redding is a lodge and chapter Freemason, holding membership in King Solo- mon Lodge and Helena Chapter of Helena.

W " ILLIAM R. REEL .- Called from labor to rest in the full maturity of his powers, with all of his great enterprises in full operation and seeming to have many years of usefulness yet before him, the death of the interesting and ener- getic subject of this memoir was universally re- gretted throughout a large circle of admiring friends and acquaintances.

He was born near Greencastle, Ind., June 28, 1837, a son of William A. and Sarah (Murphy) Reel, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. In 1856 he removed with his parents to Pottawattamie county, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they remained until their death. Mr. Reel, our immediate subject, was reared on a farm in his native county, and received his edu- cation in the excellent public schools of Greencastle, Ind. After remaining with his parents for two years in Iowa, until he attained his legal majority, he engaged in mercantile business at Crescent City, Iowa, until 1864. In May of that year he started to Montana as a driver for a freighting outfit, and after arriving at Alder gulch engaged in placer mining. About a year and a half later he removed to Mill creek and engaged in quartz mining. In 1867 he went from there to Sterling and located some quartz claims in that neighborhood on Rich- mond Flat, among them the Monitor and Revenue properties, which he did not have money to develop,

but which afterward proved to be paying claims. His fortune in mining ventures was a varied one, but he continued in the business until his death. In 1870 he homesteaded 160 acres at Sterling, and the same is now part of the ranch which was his resi- dence. This comprises about 400 acres at present. On it he was for some years successfully engaged in stockraising, and during the later years of his life he also made money out of his mining opera- tions, especially by the sale of the Monitor. In the fall of 1876 Mr. Reel built a hotel at Pony, which was successfully conducted for a number of years by his wife. His death occurred May 7, 1898, after forty years of happy wedded life. He was married April 28, 1858, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Miss Eva M. Lawrence, a native of Enosburg, Franklin county, Vt., and daughter of Elias and Mary (Rice) Lawrence, the former a native of Troy, N. Y., and the latter of Burlington, Vt. Mrs. Reel's father was a mechanic, and for a number of years operated a large sash and door factory at Enosburg Center, Vt. His wife died in 1860, and he then removed to Iowa, where his children were living, and where he died in 1879, passing away at Magnolia, in Franklin county.

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 74

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