Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 80

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 80

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Joseph, taking his bride and their effects on a single horse as was the custom in those prim- itive days, went from Dorchester to Monadnock No. 4, now Marlboro, N. H., where he settled on land purchased from the Indians. The couple reared nine children, of whom Thomas, the oldest, was born in 1783. In 1810 Thomas married Sally Clark, of Chesterfield, N. H., took possession of the paternal home and thereon reared a family

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of eleven. Of these the fifth son, Daniel Locke Tolman, born July 10, 1823, is the father of Mrs. Scott. In August, 1851, he married Maria Reed, of Keene, N. H., and in turn occupied the old family residence. Six children blessed their union. Mr. Tolman came to the west for the benefit of his health, locating in 1892 at Redlands, Cal., where he now resides.

Mrs. Scott's great-grandfather, William Clark, father of Sally Clark, was in the Colonial army during the entire Revolutionary war, being one of the first to enlist and among the last to re- tire. The great-grandfather Tolman was an in- valid and fumed because he could not go ; but his brother Benjamin was the first volunteer from Monadnock. He served a number of years, win- ning much local fame. One history speaks es- pecially of his courage and valuable achievements in "The battle which opened the bloody drama" (Lexington), and notes also that at Bunker Hill "he was in the thickest of the fight." Mrs. Scott is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Scott became the parents of four children, of whom three are living, namely: Faye Tolman Scott and Fern Tolman Scott, students at the Beaverhead county high school at Dillon, and Parke Tolman Scott, who is attending the public schools at Red Rock.

JAMES SELWAY .- The record of a well spent life is a glorious legacy to a man's children, and among the honored pioneers of the state long identified with the industrial life of Beaverhead county, the name of James Selway will ever be remembered for his grand work as a citizen, and the success which rewarded honorable effort, leav- ing as he did a fine estate to his widow and chil- dren, and the greater heritage of an unblemished record.

Mr. Selway was a native of England, having been born at Red Hill, Somersetshire, December 3, 1840. His father, James Selway, Sr., was like- wise born in England, whence he removed to Wisconsin and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He eventually returned to his native land for a visit, leaving his family in Wisconsin, and his death occurred while he was in England. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Maidment, was born in England, and in 1870 came to visit her children in Montana, where her death oc-

curred. In the family were nine children, of whom the subject of this memoir was the second son. Mr. Selway received his educational training in the common schools and an academy in Wis- consin, after which he went to Davenport, Iowa, for the purpose of learning the trade of ma- chinist. In 1864 he crossed the plains to Mon- tana, making the trip by way of Lander's cutoff. He first located at Bannack and engaged in placer mining, but later went to Virginia City and worked in the famous placer mines of Alder gulch. In 1870 Mr. Selway went to Beaverhead county and took up a tract of land which comprises a portion of the present homestead. Here he engaged in the raising of high-grade cattle, horses and sheep, and his efforts were signally prospered. From time to time he added to the area of his estate by the purchase of contiguous tracts, until the area was 1,200 acres. The ranch was equipped with the best of improvements under his able direction and is one of the valuable places in this section of the state, being one and a half miles north of Dillon, the county seat. In his political adherency Mr. Selway supported the Republican party, but was never an aspirant for official pre- ferment. His religious faith was that of the Methi- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Selway was sum- moned into eternal rest on January 22, 1899, se- cure in the esteem of all who knew him and honored as a good citizen and upright man. Mrs. Selway still retains her residence on the old home- stead, which is hallowed by the memories and associations of the past.

On December 30, 1874, Mr. Selway led to the altar Miss Eunice Ann Noble, a native of Dela- ware county, Iowa. Mrs. Selway is a lady of cul- ture and refinement, and in early years was a successful school teacher and so engaged at the time of her marriage. Mrs. Selway's father, Daniel B. Noble, was born in the state of New York, whence he removed to lowa in the early 'forties and thence to Montana in 1864. He engaged in mining in Madison county, and owned and oper- ated the Noble mine for years prior to his death, which occurred September 20, 1899. He married Minerva Peet, also born in the state of New York, her father having been an influential citi- zen of Farmersville, Cattaraugus county. He was an old-line Whig in politics and a devoted mem- ber of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Noble became the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Selway was the eldest and one of the six

James Selwy

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

now living. Her mother passed away Novem- ber 13, 1895, deeply loved by all who had been favored with intimate association with her. To Mr. and Mrs. Selway four children were born, namely : Herbert B., who was born August 22, 1876, is now a resident of Dillon and a promi- nent rancher and stockgrower of the county ; James Hawley, who was born May 31, 1879, married Miss Lavilla Hughes, and now has the practical management of the homestead ranch ; Luther N., born June 1, 1882, died January 27, 1883; and Eliza M., born June 30, 1883, is receiving the best of educational advantages, devoting special atten- tion to a business course. The family are prom- inent in the social life of the community, having a wide circle of warm and appreciative friends.

R EV. JOSEPH M. SETTLE .- A life conse- crated to the cause of the Divine Master and to the uplifting of men is one which touches the apotheosis of human possibilities for good, and in such a life Rev. Joseph Settle has been a zealous and profitable servant. Not only has he led many to the font of salvation, but it has been his to leave manifold material evidences of his successful labors. He has been the prime fac- tor in accomplishing a great and good work in the establishment of St. Paul's hospital in Butte and in furthering the cause of his denomination in that city. Rev. Joseph M. Settle is a native of Missouri, having been born in Ralls county, near Monroe City, on January 27, 1859, the son of John B. and Mildred A. (Bannister) Settle, the father having been born in Missouri, whence his parents removed in an early day from Kentucky. Al- though a mechanic, he has given his attention principally to agriculture and now resides at Mon- roe City, Monroe county, Mo. His mother was also born in Missouri, whither her parents removed from the Old Dominion, where their respective families had been established for generations-thus Dr. Settle in both branches comes of old southern lineage.

. Joseph M. Settle, the first-born of nine chil- dren, was educated in his native state. After a thorough course of study in the public schools he attended Central College, at Fayette, Mo., for two years from 1880, and then engaged in peda- gogic work. In the fall of 1883 he became an instructor in McGee College for two years, prin-

cipally teaching Latin. He had been pursuing the study of theology from his student days, having determined to devote his life to the minis- try, and in 1885 was ordained as a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church South, at once identifying himself with the Missouri conference. His first charge was at Edina, Knox county, from there he went to Eagleville, Harrison county, where he organized a church and remained two years. Transferred then to the Iowa conference, he labored at Lineville, where he rendered ef- ficient service, practically doubling the member- ship and building a church in one of the rural communities. He then returned to Missouri, and to a charge at Breckenridge, where a handsome church edifice was erected during his two years' pastorate. He next became pastor of the church at Albany, Mo. During this incumbency he was a member of the board which had charge of the building of the Northwestern Missouri College, a church institution, located at Albany. Later he had charges at Triplett and Mendon, Chariton county, his pastorate at Mendon continuing four years, where a fine new church edifice was built. Dr. Settle was then given charge of the church at Norborne, where he remained until 1898, when he came to Butte, Mont., which has since been his home. At Butte he took charge of the local church of his denomination, and at once began to canvass ways and means for furthering its work. One definite result of his efforts was shown in 1899, when was completed the beautiful and commodious new church edifice, costing $16,000, exclusive of furniture. Through his indefatigable and earnest labors the church organization was saved from the disintegration which was seriously threatened. He held it intact as an integral portion of the Methodist Episcopal church South, and in an extraordinary degree increased its membership.

At the close of his first year's ministry in Butte Dr. Settle saw the imperative demand for a hospital under evangelical management, and forthwith began to agitate the subject, and soon plans were formulated and actual work instituted. A commodious building was secured, and, on June 29, 1899, the work of remodeling it was insti- tuted, and in due time it was admirably arranged and equipped as a hospital. The best of accon1- modations and appliances are provided and a com- petent corps of physicians and nurses give it the best professional service. The patronage was large from the start, and it is apparent that an

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enlargement will soon be required to afford ade- quate accommodations. To this institution the title of St. Paul's hospital was given, and it stands both as a credit to the city and as a monument to the earnest labors of Dr. Settle, who gives his entire time to its service, although he is re- tained as associate pastor of the church to whose upbuilding he so largely contributed. In politics Dr. Settle gives support to the Democratic party, and fraternally he is a Freemason, a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 24, A. F. & A. M., while he has advanced to high degrees in the Scottish Rite bodies, and has passed the chairs in four of them. He is also chancellor com- mander of Oswego Lodge No. 9, K. of P., and a member of the order of Good Templars. He is a man of genial personality and unfailing cour- tesy, popular with all regardless of religious af- filiations.

On December 14, 1885, Dr. Settle was united in marriage with Miss Ella M. Owen, who was born in Missouri, daughter of Robert and Re- becca (Clauton) Owen, natives respectively of Ken- tucky and Tennessee, the latter tracing direct line- age to one of the noble families of England. Dr. and Mrs. Settle have four children, Francis E. M., Burton C. G., Lora M. and J. W. Holden.

W ALTER WASHINGTON DE LACY .- One of the most accomplished of the brave men who transplanted and carefully nurtured civilization in the west in "old time" days and who for many years was an honored resident of Helena, Mont., stands W. W. De Lacy. His parents were William and Eliza De Lacy, natives of Norfolk, Va., and his paternal grandfather, born in County Wexford, Ireland, was a descendant of Hugh De Lacy, the first Norman governor of Ireland under Henry II, in 1172. The family was from the time of the conquest (1066) entitled to bear arms in England and the deeds of its knights are traceable beyond the crusades. The maternal grandfather of W. W. De Lacy was William Charles Lee, long Eng- lish vice-consul at Oporto, Portugal, and the West Indies. Once a man of vast wealth ne impoverished himself by excessive generosity. He married a Portuguese lady, a descendant of Vasco de Gama, the noted explorer, who first traced the western coast of Africa and discovered, named and doubled the Cape of Good Hope. With his distinguished

wife, Consul Lee came to Norfolk, Va., in 1797, and the estate he there acquired is now possessed by his descendants. W. W. De Lacy was born at Petersburg, Va., in February 22, 1819. Early orphaned, he was cared for by two maiden aunts, and his first instruction was given him at their home by his aunt Mary, an accomplished woman, whose teachings well qualified him to enter St. Mary's Catholic College, near Emmetsburg, Md., when he was only fifteen, with a good standing in English, French and Portuguese studies. He graduated from this school in 1839, having acquired the Spanish language here as well as high grade in mathematics. At his urgent request an uncle sought for him an appointment at West Point Military Academy in return for the eminent service of his father in the war of 1812. The appointment was made, but it was soon revoked on the ground of an error of the appointing clerk, as a W. W. Lacy, a nephew of Gen. Winfield Scott, took De Lacy's place. It might have been no error, but a change of mind of the appointing powers. Pro- fessor Mahan, who was at the head at West Point, answered Mr. De Lacy's letter asking for advice how best to educate the youth for a civil engineer by telling him to send the boy along and he would instruct him privately. At West Point the youth recited daily to Prof. Mahan in higher mathematics, topography, surveying, etc., and also studied geometry and mathematical drawing under Capt. Bliss and Lieut. Eastman, associating with the cadets as one of their number. Here he completed the full courses perfecting him in civil engineering. For several months, in 1839, he did engineering work on the Illinois Central Railroad. Lack of funds stopped work and young De Lacy then en- gaged on the Iron Mountain Railroad. There he received an order from the United States war de- partment to present himself at Washington for examination for a commission. He passed the ex- amination satisfactorily, but did not present the certificates he had received from his West Point instructors nor the maps that he had made there. However, he was offered the assistant professorship in French at West Point, but insisting, on a com- mission he was commissioned captain a year later, . but resigned before he joined his regiment. He subsequently was professor of modern languages and mathematics in the United States navy, and for five years taught midshipmen on the men-of- war Pennsylvania, Marion and Ohio, visiting the West Indies, South America and Africa, then de-

Col. W. W. De Lacey

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clined a position at the Annapolis Naval Academy. After some United States survey work on Lake Superior, in 1846, he was employed by a syndicate to search for abandoned Spanish silver mines in Texas, then a savage wild. With a small band of Delaware Indians for an escort he made diligent search in the midst of dangers and discovered lead but no silver mines.

He crossed the Rio Grande and while he was in Mexico the United States declared war, and he took part in several battles as a United States volunteer. After peace was declared he had a number of thrilling adventures before he joined a party of United States engineers at San Antonio. Their destination was El Paso, but they wandered on the terrible staked plains for five days, without water. Their sufferings were so terrible that many became partially insane. Once Indians made an assault on the party, but De Lacy saw among them some of his friends and they were permitted to proceed peacefully. While visiting in New Orleans in 1850, Col. De Lacy was appointed to survey a railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and establish seaports. Then for three years he was employed at New Orleans on railroad work. In 1854 De Lacy aided in surveying the thirty-second parallel of latitude from San Antonio to San Diego, Cal., and in 1855 he made surveys along Puget sound. Then came the Yakima war in 1865-6, and Col. De Lacy promptly volunteered to fight them and within three months he was engaged in over a dozen battles between Seattle and Steilacoom. Afterward they had a battle with other tribes who had refused peace, wherein eighty-five Indians and five white men were killed and many wounded. Later the Colonel was engaged in making a trail from Whatcom to Thompson river, and during the Frasier river excitement he lived four days on pine bark. Upon his return to Whatcom he found him- self famous. The population had increased from 600 to 6,000 and he was welcomed with a salute of 100 guns and a public dinner. In 1859 he came with Lieut. Mullan to Montana, and while survey- ing lost his way, and one night made a solitary bivouac in Last Chance gulch on the site of Helena. On arriving at Fort Benton the surveying party met troops en route to the Pacific coast, and with thiem Col. De Lacy returned to Walla Walla where he was discharged in 1860. In 1861 he prospected for gold in Montana. In 1862 he outfitted a pack train for Walla Walla and came to Gold creek, Mont., and thence to Bannack and Fort Owen. In

1863 he explored Snake river and discovered Slio- shone lake, originally named "De Lacy," an honor conferred by Surveyor-Gen. Meredith, but some years later Prof. Hayden changed it to Shoshone. In 1864 Col. De Lacy laid out the townsite of Fort Benton, and returned to Bannack in time for the session of the First territorial legislature, and by its orders made the first map of Montana. In 1865 he laid out the townsites of Deer Lodge and Argentina. In 1867, during the Sioux war, he was appointed colonel of engineers by Gen. Meagher, and took through a supply train for the relief of Fort Smith, a perilous undertaking but accomplished in safety. From 1867 to 1871 he was engaged in the office of the surveyor-general, where he made maps for the Northern Pacific Rail- road and gave its officials much valuable informa- tion. In 1871 he surveyed the Smith river valley, and in 1872 that of Salmon river for the Northern Pacific, after which he engaged as a professor of civil engineering. In 1883 and 1884 he was city engineer of Helena, and in 1886 friends urged his appointment ās United States surveyor for Mon- tana, but Col. B. H. Greene secured the appoint- ment. Col. De Lacy was appointed chief mineral clerk and afterward chief clerk to the United States surveyor general, with office at Helena, and filled this office until his death, on May 13, 1892. Col. De Lacy was one of the incorporators and president of the Montana Historical Society, and a charter member of the Montana Society of Civil Engineers. He was also a prominent and beloved member of the Montana Society of Pioneers. He was a man of great generosity and contributed liberally to benevolent institutions, public enterprises and private charities. There is but one relative of Col. De Lacy in Montana, William De Lacy, a well- known and highly esteemed citizen of Helena.

.JOHN D. SEARS .- The father of the gentleman whose name heads this review, James Sears. was born on or near the historic field of Still- water, N. Y., where the Colonial troops under Gen. Gates defeated the flower of the army of Great Britain in one of the decisive battles of the world's history. He died at Manteno, Ill., in 1865. His wife, Clarissa (Waterbury) Sears, born in New Canaan, Conn., died at Millbrook, N. Y., in 1842. Mr. Scars himself was born in Delaware county, N. Y., on August 16, 1835, and

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after attending the district schools of Delaware and Broome counties served an apprenticeship of four years at the shoemaker's trade in Deposit, N. Y., following his apprenticeship with seven years service as a journeyman in that place. Dur- ing the next year he was located at Wilmington, Ill., and Dennison, Iowa, and in 1866 he went to Yankton, Dak., where he worked at his trade for about ten years.

The next five years he was prospecting and mining in the Black Hills. In 1881 he located at Glendive, in Dawson county, Mont., and en- gaged in the boot and shoe business, at which he was very successful, building up a profitable trade on very limited capital. But the mining bee got into his bonnet again, and he lost all his profits in the Couer d'Alene mines. Turning from this unsatisfactory labor, he began running sheep in 1887, on shares for Col. Hodson, with whom he was connected until 1899. In 1894 he bought and proved upon a squatter's claim on Sears' creek, in the Yellowstone valley, about forty miles from Glendive, which he has improved with good build- ings, fences, etc., and brought to a high state of cultivation. In 1899 he bought two flocks of sheep from Col. Hodson, and has since that time been successfully engaged in sheep culture and farming.

In politics Mr. Sears is an active and working Republican, ever zealous for the success of his party and taking his place in the ranks of its energetic promoters. He was married at the birthplace of his bride in 1847, Sanford, Broome county, N. Y., on December 28, 1865, to Miss Mary Anna DeVal. They have two children, Mattie, the wife of E. S. Bicker, a lumber merchant at Forsyth, Mont., and Bessie, the wife of L. D. Matthew, a rancher and stockraiser on Burns creek, in Dawson county. Mr. Sears has been very serviceable in developing the agricultural re- sources of his community and also in fostering and broadening its educational and social forces, He is looked upon as a leading citizen, and he has the respect and esteem of all classes of the people.

H ENRY H. SHARMAN, deceased, had a wide and varied experience in nearly all the gold and silver mining countries of the world, and many thrilling adventures on land and sea. He was born in Yorkshire, England, on September

I, 1835, the son of Samuel R. and Mary (Chip- pindale) Sharman, the father born in Yorkshire and the mother in Cumberland. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Sharman, was a Yorkshire- man and served in the English army under the Duke of Wellington. Henry H. Sharman, join- ing the first gold stampede to Ballarat, Australia, passed three years and a half in that faroff land. He then came to California and for four years resided in that state, Idaho, Colorado and Nevada. In the fall of 1865 he became a pioneer of Mon- tana, and here he dwelt for the most of the time until his death on April 21, 1892. In England he served an apprenticeship in the grocery busi- ness, and when in Melbourne he was in the same line for two years. Later he passed six months in mining, but returned to the grocery store, where ' he remained until he sailed for the United States. His principle occupation in California was mining, and on his arrival in Montana he took charge of Gurdon H. Campbell's store at Gallatin City, which he managed until the death of Mr. Campbell in 1878. Mr. Sharman then bought the business and conducted it until 1890, when he purchased a ranch in the Madison valley, where he resided until his death.

On November 30, 1878, Mr. Sharman was united in marriage to Mrs. Helen G. (Wilmot) Bevier, of Tioga county, Pa. She is the daughter of David D. Wilmot, of New York, and Mary (Allen) Wil- mot, of Cayuga county, N. Y. The grandfather of Mrs. Wilmot was a cousin of the Revolutionary hero, Ethan Allen, of Ticonderoga fame. The paternal grandfather was Uri Wilmot. To Mr. and Mrs. Sharman were born two children, Sam- 11el H. and Fred Wilmot Sharman. Mr. Sharman was often earnestly solicited to permit the use of his name in connection with public office, but he invariably refused to do so. He numbered a large circle of warm friends, was a valued mem- ber of the Masonic order and is fondly remem- bered by all who were fortunate enough to know him. In 1872 he made a visit to England, and re- turned the next spring on the ill-fated steamer Atlantic, which was lost off Meagher's Head, near Halifax, resulting in the death of over 400 pas- sengers. Mr. Sharman narrowly escaped, being taken ashore on a rope with the assistance of Second Officer Brady. The landing was made on a rock and Mr. Sharman there saw a gentleman, whose acquaintance he had made on the ship, in a freezing condition. He wrapped him in his

F. J. Shaffer

41 ₺

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

overcoat but he soon died. Mrs. Sharman still owns the homestead at Logan, which is now un- der the management of her son, Louis C. Bevier. She also controls another property, the George D. Thomas ranch, which is now under lease.

F ISK J. SHAFFER .- No compendium such as the one at hand could be said to have exercised the functions essential to consistency were there failure to revert to the life and labors of that well known and highly honored pioneer, Fisk J. Shaffer, who in pioneer days endured the vicissitudes and hardships so familiar to those who paved the way for future prosperity. In the capital city of the state he has long been a valued citizen, and as an architect and builder he has had an unmistakable part in the upbuild- ing and progress of the state. Thoroughly skilled in his profession, he has been called upon to exercise his ability in divers sections of Mon- tana, and in each instance has left a monument to his skill and cultivated taste. He was born at Centerville, St. Joseph county, Mich., which village, with its air of peacefulness, its deeply shaded streets and pleasant surroundings, the writer well recalls from a much later acquaintance- ship. Here the birth of Mr. Shaffer occurred on March 23, 1844, his parents being Thomas R. and Mary (Brown) Shaffer. In the agnatic line his ancestry is traced to German origin, his emi- grant ancestors having been early settlers in Penn- sylvania. There his grandfather, Thomas Shaffer, was born, and passed his life, attaining the age of seventy-nine. One of his eight children was Thomas R. Shaffer, whose birth was in 1813. He removed to Michigan in 1834, locating at Cen- treville, the state being then practically a primi- tive wilderness. Here he passed his life and died at a venerable age in 1891. His wife, Mary Brown Shaffer, was born in. Vermont, whence she came in Michigan, where she married Mr. Shaffer in 1841. She died in early life, leaving two children, F. J. being the only survivor.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 80

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