Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 75

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 75

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Mr. and Mrs. Reel were parents of seven children, of whom only three are living, namely: May H., wife of Thomas Carmin, of Pony; William A., now living on the homestead and managing the ranch, and Charles E., engaged in the livery business at Pony. Those deceased are : Hattie E., Lulu, Louie and an infant.

In all the relations of life Mr. Reel met his re- sponsibilities in a masterful and conscientious manner, and exemplified in his whole career the best elements of American citizenship. Such lives as his are an inspiration and leave a lasting in- fluence for good behind them, as well as put in mo- tion forces while they live that are potential for the elevation and improvement of mankind.

JOHN J. REESE is one of the well known and estimable pioneers of Montana who have triumphed over the misfortunes of earlier days and unsuccessful mining ventures, and lived to enjoy the fruits of diligent and judicious atten- tion to agricultural interests. As proprietor of one of the handsomest farms in Gallatin county, near Courts, he is surrounded by all the com- forts of life and in the enjoyment of the regards

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of the people of his community. He was an eye- witness of some of the most tragical events of the early settlement. He was born in Wales on October 22, 1841, one of a family of five sons and two daughters. His parents were John E. and Mary (Davis) Reese, the former a native of Carmarthenshire, and the latter of Morristown, near Swansea, Wales. The paternal grandfather was Evan Reese, also of Carmarthenshire. John E. Reese came to the United States in 1856, when his son John J. was fifteen years of age, and located at Pittston, Pa., where for a year he was employed in the coal mines, thence removing with his son John J. to Illinois, the rest of the family remaining in Pennsylvania. Both secured work in the mines at LaSalle, and in 1858 they returned to Pittston, and the family home was changed to Scranton. In 1860 all started for Salt Lake City by ox teams, overland from Omaha, and, experiencing no trouble from In- dians arrived at their destination in October. For three years they engaged in farming, and then the gold discoveries in Montana attracted their attention and they came hither, arriving in Bannack on May 26, 1863.

Here Mr. Reese first heard Col. W. F. Sanders, attorney for the Montana Vigilance Committee, who was then prosecuting George Ives, the noted road agent and desperado. Mr. Reese describes the ef- fort as the finest piece of forensic eloquence he ever heard. His father having gone to Gallatin valley, Mr. Reese remained at Alder gulch until the fall of 1866, then rejoining his father and locating a ranch on Reese creek, so named in honor of his father. He secured a squatter's right and after it was surveyed took up a homestead claim. He has added to the property until he now has 300 acres of land, nearly all well irrigated and in perfect condition for successful crop rais- ing, wheat, oats and hay being the principal pro- ductions. He has also a promising young orchard of 350 trees. On November 19, 1864, Mr. Reese married Miss Polly Ann Anders, of Nauvoo, Ill. They have three children, John, a farmer at Bridger canyon; Mary Elmira, now Mrs. Edward Turner, of Springfield, Mo., and Emma Josepha, now Mrs. Samuel Esgar, of Bridger canyon. For the past seven years Mr. Reese has officiated as postmaster of Courts, was for nine years school clerk, for many years a school trustee and he has five times been elected justice of the peace. He is known among his intimate friends as

"Rocky Mountain Jack," and is a highly intelli- gent, progressive man. Among the many tragi- cal scenes which he has witnessed in Montana were the hanging of George Ives, Boone Helm, Club-Foot George, Frank Paris, Haze Lyons and Jack Gallagher, all desperate road agents exe- cuted by the Montana vigillantes.

T THOMAS REESE, numbered among the pros- perous and influential farmers of beautiful Gallatin valley, may well be considered one of the pioneers of the state, having accompanied his par- ents to Montana in 1863 when it was a part of Idaho. Mr. Reese is a native of Wales, born Sep- tember II, 1843. His father, John E. Reese, was born in Wales in June, 1818, and immigrated to · Pennsylvania in 1856. He was there engaged as a stationary engineer and in coal mining until 1860, when he started with his family and many other homeseekers for what is now Montana, mak- ing the long trip by way of Utah, arriving in Ban- nack in 1863, but was attracted to Virginia City by the excitement incidental to discovering gold in Al- der gulch. There Mr. Reese remained until the fol- lowing year, and in the fall of 1864 went to Gallatin valley, being one of the earliest settlers. He located on a tract fifteen miles north of Bozeman, on a stream that is now known as Reese creek. Here he extensively engaged in farming and stockraising until his death, which occurred March 21, 1900. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Davis, was likewise born in Wales April 20, 1811 ; she died at the old homestead in Gallatin county November 15, 1898.

Thomas Reese attended the public schools at Pittston, Pa., until seventeen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on the weary trip across the plains to Montana. Like the average young man he found much to enjoy on the journey, replete with new scenes and interesting incidents. During 1864 and 1865 he worked in the placer mines of Alder gulch and Deer Lodge, but joined his par- ents in Gallatin valley in December. The following year he located a claim of 160 acres, the nucleus of his present extensive and valuable estate, having added to the homestead by purchase of adjoining tracts until the area aggregates 1,240 acres. When it is understood that Gallatin valley is one of the most fertile and prolific agricultural sections in Montana, the value of his holdings may beimagined,

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and in the years to come largely increased. Mr. Reese utilizes 640 acres of his ranch for pasturage, the remaining 600 acres being devoted to agri- culture, the rich soil yielding enormous crops of wheat and oats, which are ever in demand in the local markets. He also raises large herds of cattle and horses, is known as one of the most substantial and progressive farmers and stockgrowers of this section, to whom is accorded that confidence and esteem which is the reward for a life of rectitude and usefulness. In order to afford his children the best of educational advantages, Mr. Reese maintains his residence in the city of Bozeman, and in 1892 purchased his fine residence property at 546 Babcock street, now the family home and a center of refined hospitality. In political affairs Mr. Reese maintains an independent attitude, en- dorsing their policies, measures and men which his judgment leads him to be worthy of his franchise.

The marriage of Mr. Reese was solemnized in the Willow creek settlement, Gallatin county, April 30, 1870, when Miss Mary Jane Green became his wife, she being the daughter of James and Margaret Green, the former one of the extensive farmers and stockraisers of that locality. Mrs. Reese was born in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, June 7, 1852, and accompanied her parents on their removal to Montana in 1864, their first loca- tion being in Alder gulch, whence they removed to their present homestead on Willow creek .. Mr. and Mrs. Reese were the parents of six children : Oliver Lee, born December 3, 1871 ; Melissa, born April 26, 1873, died June 13, 1877; Joseph Alma, born January 5, 1874; Arthur Quinton, born July 17, 1877; Thomas Lester, born August 28, 1882; and Maggie Jane, born July 13, 1888.

ILLIAM L. RENICK, M. D .- Tracing his ancestry back in an unbroken line to the cavaliers who settled Virginia and gave that good old state its characteristic features Dr. Renick to his M. D. can rightfully add F. F. V. Early in the nineteenth century, about 1819, his great-grand- parents removed into what was then an almost unbroken wilderness, but is now the prosperous and highly developed state of Missouri. They made their home near the site of Independence, in Jackson county, and there the family flourished for three generations, and William L. Renick

was born on August 31, 1869. He is the son of John T. and Ruth J. (Renick) Renick, who dwelt together, until the mother's death in 1873, in the house built by his grandfather, which his father still inhabits, pursuing the peaceful and in- dependent vocation of a farmer and stockgrower, although he comes of a martial strain, his pater- nal grandfather, Leonard H. Renick, having been colonel of one of the first regiments raised for the Confederate army of our Civil war, although owing to his advanced age of more than sixty- three years he was not long in the service. The father is not, however, without experience in the hardships of life, for early in the history of Mon- tana he freighted from the Missouri river to the Rockies and was in charge of the first train of supplies brought to Helena, employed for that service by Russell, Majors & Waddell, who were largely engaged in freighting.

The Doctor's childhood and youth were passed like those of other western country boys. He was reared on the farm, receiving perhaps better educational advantages than were usually allowed. There was an excellent school at Mecklin, near his home, and he was fortunate enough to secure the benefit of its instruction, and in 1888, when less than nineteen years old, he entered Odessa (Mo.) Male and Female College, from which he was graduated in 1890, with the degree of M. S. During his vacations he studied medicine with an uncle, O. F. Renick, M. D., a prominent physician of Butler, Mo. In September, 1890, he matricu- lated in the medical department of the University of Louisville, Ky., and was graduated therefrom with the degree of M. D. on March 14, 1892. He returned to his native town in December, 1893, and associated himself in medical practice with Dr. J. P. Henry, a gentleman of the old school, and eminent in the profession and a member of a distinguished Kentucky family. He was a grad- uate (class of 1843) of the old Transylvania Medical College, of Lexington, Ky., and although now past eighty years old, is still actively attend- ing a large and exacting practice.

In 1895 Dr. Renick, desiring special training, took a post-graduate course of instruction at the New York Polyclinic Institute, and in December, 1896, he came to Montana to live, locating in Butte, where he began an active practice, but in April following he went back to New York, and until September continued in the post-graduate schools and hospitals of that city. Since his re-

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turn to Butte he has secured a large, lucrative and growing practice, being recognized as a phy- sician of great skill and capacity, thoroughly scientific in his theoretical knowledge and emi- nently practical in its application. He is a gen- tleman of pleasing manners and attractive con- versational powers, a student, not only of what bears on his life work in a technical sense, but of all phases of human nature and whatever pertains to or proceeds therefrom. In the organizations of the profession he takes an unusual interest and to their work contributes an unusual share of intelligence, time and effort. He is a member the County Medical Society of Jackson county, Mo., of the State Medical Association of Montana, of the Rocky Mountain Inter-State Medical As- sociation, of the Mississippi Valley Medical As- sociation and of the American Medical As- sociation. He is also an active member and the corresponding secretary of the Silver Bow County Medical Association, and is head ex- aminer for the county for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company. His political affilia- tions are with the Democratic party, but he does not allow political considerations or ambitions to interfere with his professional work. On Tues- day evening, November 12, 1901, the Doctor was happily married to Miss Adah Davidson Roberts, of Butte, the nuptials being solemnized at the beautiful residence of Mr. Charles W. Clark, whose wife is the only sister of the bride.

RICHARD A. REYNOLDS .- One of the ster- ling pioneers and progressive stockgrowers of Montana is Mr. Reynolds, whose identification with the great northwest had its inception in the days when the war of the Rebellion was in progress. During that memorable period he rendered valiant service as a soldier in this section of the Union, whither his regiment came to assist in quelling the insubordination of the Indians, and lived up to the full tension of frontier life. He has contributed his quota toward the development of Montana, has ever been loyal to her best interests, and enjoys the consideration and confidence of the citizens of Beaverhead county, his fine home ranch property being located two miles south of the attractive little city of Dillon, his postoffice address. Though of foreign birth Mr. Reynolds has practically passed his entire life in the United States, his parents hav-

ing become residents the year of his birth, which oc- curred in Montgomeryshire, Wales, May 13, 1842, the youngest of ten children born to Owen and Margaret (Owens) Reynolds, representatives of stanch old Welsh lineage. On arriving in America in 1842 they located in Utica, N. Y., where the father engaged at his trade of blacksmith for a pe- riod of two years. In 1844 he removed with his family to Milwaukee, Wis., and in the following year to Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha county, Wis., where he purchased a farm and devoted his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1859, his wife having passed away two years previously.

Richard A. Reynolds, the immediate subject of this review, early began to contribute his labor to- ward the cultivation of the farm, but securing that educational discipline afforded in the public schools which he attended during the winter months. He was but fifteen years of age at the time of his moth- er's death, and soon afterward assumed the pe."- sonal responsibilities of life, leaving home and se- curing work on farms in that locality. In 1859 he found employment in the great lumber woods of Wisconsin, and was thus engaged when the in- tegrity of the Union was menaced by armed rebel- lion. In 1861 he volunteered for service in the Union army, but was rejected and continued to work in the lumbering districts until 1863, when the Indian uprisings in the northwest resulted in a call for volunteers to suppress the same. Mr. Reynolds accordingly enlisted in the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, becoming a member of Com- pany I, the entire regiment being made up of lum- bermen. Their familiarity with Indian character and methods made them particularly efficient sol- diers for service against the Indians and the regi- ment was assigned to the command of Gen. Sully and came to Montana, the Sioux, Blackfeet and Assinniboines being quite troublesome. The regi- ment remained in service until the close of the war of the Rebellion, being mustered out at Louisville, Ky., in 1865, having participated in many fierce conflicts with the red men. After his discharge Mr. Reynolds returned to northwestern Wisconsin, where he' remained until May, 1866, when he se- cured a wagon and four yoke of oxen and, as a member of a party of twelve, again set forth for Montana. Leaving Wisconsin on May 26, 1866, they arrived in the Indian country and joined a freighting outfit, with which they continued the journey. In the Black Hills the company were cor- ralled by Indians, and while the latter were making

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ready to engage in battle with the emigrants, Mr. Reynolds recognized the chief as one who had pre- viously been accorded government protection, through the interposition of his old regiment, the Thirtieth Wisconsin. He motioned to the chief to come out for a talk, and after a short conference he returned to his band and soon withdrew them without molesting the emigrants, not wishing to be reported to the government authorities. After pre- senting the Indians with tobacco, in token of friend- ship, the train moved on. While en route they passed many points showing unmistakable evi- dences that the Indians had killed members of pre- ceding trains and burned their wagons. After crossing the Big Horn river the party were again corralled by Indians, but after exchanging a few shots they were permitted to continue their journey, making the trip by way of Lander's cutoff. Mr. Renolds arrived in what is now Beaverhead county on November 10, 1866, and took up a tract of land on Blacktail Deer creek, the nucleus of his present fine ranch property. He here turned his attention to agriculture, but his success for the first three years was of a decidedly negative quality, his crops prov- ing a failure each successive year. In 1866 he paid from four to six cents a pound in gold dust for seed, but the entire crop was destroyed by grasshop- pers. In 1868 he gave up his farming operations and engaged in mining until the spring of the fol- lowing year. Early that spring he and John Bishop went to Oregon and brought through to Montana 1,400 head of range sheep for breeding purposes, the first band of stock sheep introduced into Mon- tana for woolgrowing purposes. From that time Mr. Reynolds has been prominently identified with the sheep industry and has prospered along this line. His wise selection of stock is shown by the absence of scab in his herd. Mr. Reynolds now controls 2,780 acres of fine grazing land in Beaverhead county, and in addition to the sheep industry he gives much attention to the raising of highgrade draft and driving horses and shorthorn cattle. His ranch is equipped with the best modern improve- ments, including a commodious and attractive resi- dence. He is known as one of the substantial and enterprising stockmen of this section of the state, and his course has been such as to win the confi- dence and esteem of the community in which he has made his home since the early pioneer days-more than the third of a century. His political support is given to the Republican party, but he has never sought nor desired the honors or emoluments of

public office other than serving as county commis- sioner and local offices, though his interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the county and state is definite and unflagging.

In 1871 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Reynolds to Mrs. Jennie Johnson, a native of Vir- ginia and the daughter of Watson G. and Judith (Boyd) Poindexter, a sister of Philip H. Poindex- ter, one of the leading farmers and stock- growers of Beaverhead county, to whom indi- vidual reference is made on another page of this work. Mrs. Reynolds' death occurred in 1884, and on January 26, 1887, our subject consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Della Thompson, who was born in Wisconsin, the daugh- ter of James S. and Leonora (Williams ) Thompson. Mrs. Reynolds received the best of educational ad- vantages, and is a woman of distinctive culture and refinement. She was graduated in the Merrill In- stitute, at Fond du Lac, Wis., and completed a course in the Wisconsin State Normal School, thus thor- oughly fitting herself for pedagogic work. She en- gaged in teaching in Wisconsin until 1884, when she came to Montana, locating in Beaverhead coun- ty, where she was installed as teacher in the Poin- dexter school until her marriage. She is also a tal -. ented musician, having completed a two-years course in the musical department of the North- western University, at Evanston, Ill., but previously prosecuted her musical studies under efficient in- structors. Her parents removed from Massachu- setts to Wisconsin, and are fine representatives of stanch New England stock of Colonial days. Her paternal and maternal great-grandfathers were active participants in the war of the Revolution, and her mother was in direct line of descent from Ethan Allen, of Ticonderoga fame. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds is one where the refinements of social life are ever in evidence, and the gracious hospital- ity extended to their large circle of friends is no- ticeable by the absence of ostentation.

YAVIER RENOIS .- The subject of this re- view is of pure French extraction, and he stands today as one of the pioneers of Montana who has been prominently concerned in the industrial activities of this section of the Union from early frontier days, while he has precedence as one of the leading citizens of the old city of Bannack, the original capital of the territory and the first town

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of importance in the state. Mr. Renois is a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, where he was born March 31, 1838, the youngest of the six children of . Ambroise and Louise (La Vale) Renois, natives of the same province. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, his wife passing away when the subject of this review was a mere child. The paternal grandfather of our subject was also born in Canada, whither his father emigrated from France. Xavier Renois received a common school educa- tion in his native province, having been reared in the home of his uncle, Clovies Renois, who took the child after the death of his mother. In 1862 Mr. Renois came west as far as St. Louis, Mo., but returned to Canada after a brief stay. In 1864, in company with his uncle, Clovies Renois, he started for Montana, making the journey across the plains and encountering the vicissitudes inci- dent to those early days. They arrived in Bannack and there the uncle established a general store, our subject assisting therein for two years, after which he was engaged for many years in carpenter- ing, contracting, stockraising, etc. He became one of the leading contractors and builders of Bannack, and erected most of the principal buildings, includ- ing the court house of Beaverhead county. He passed through the various stages which marked the development of Montana from the pioneer epoch to the present day, and is familiar with the scenes and incidents which characterized life on the frontier, having witnessed the summary appli- cation of justice by the Vigilance Committee and contributed his quota toward the suppression of the malefactors who infested the territory and menaced life and property. Mr. Renois still main- tains his home in Bannack, and is now devoting his attention principally to quartz mining for gold, silver and lead, having some valuable interests in this line and being prominently identified with the great industry which first gave Montana prestige. Politically he exercises his franchise in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party.

A LFRED E. GLOYD .- One of Montana's ster- ling "old-timers," anything written of this gen- tleman will be read with interest by his many friends. He was born in Walworth county, Wis., December 17, 1841. His father, Levi Gloyd, was a native of

"classic old Boston," whence he removed to Wis- cousin about 1840, and then devoted his active life to merchandising and to farming. His wife, whose maiden name was Clarice Parsons, was born in New York, and of their eight children Alfred E. Gloyd was the second and one of the five yet living. He received education in the public schools and in the high school at Delton, Wis. In 1860 he en- listed as a private in the Twelfth Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, when not twenty years of age, and was mustered into service at Delton, Sauk county, in September, 1861, and accompanied his regiment into camp at Madison, and then to western Mis- souri and to Leavenworth, Kas., where Mr. Gloyd was discharged from the service for physical disa- bility, resulting from illness. He did not regain his health until the spring of 1864, and he then started for the west. He came with bull teams across the plains to Salt Lake City from Wisconsin, stopping for the winter in Provo, Utah, and the next spring came to Montana, arriving in Virginia City on the 2d of June.

Mr. Gloyd engaged in placer mining in Alder gulch until fall, and then began prospecting in Brown's gulch,and was in this line of work until 1868, when he began teaming for the smelter at Argenta, later returning to Brown's gulch to work on his claims. He was next employed at Summit, and thereafter was in the employ of others or working for himself until 1877, when he went to Willow creek, where he conducted the hotel and stage station for three years. He disposed of this business in 1880 and returned to his home in Wis- consin, where he passed eleven months, returning to Montana in November, 1881. Soon after his return he was appointed under-sheriff of Madison county, and held this position for six years, under Sheriffs M. D. Platner and J. B. Caruthers, re- siding in Virginia City during this time. During this time Mr. Gloyd purchased a ranch in the upper Ruby valley, where in 1887, he took up his residence and devoted his attention to farming and stockraising until 1891, when he sold the property to C. X. Larrabee, and it now is a part of the Home Park ranch. In November, 1891, Mr. Gloyd made his home in the village of Laurin, where he has since been engaged in business. Mr. Gloyd holds membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and he is also identified with Virginia City Lodge No. I, A. F. & A.M., and with the Order of the Eastern Star. In politics he gives support to the Republican party. He has never married.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 75

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