Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 84

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 84

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On July 27, 1886, Mr. Spear was united in mar- riage to Miss Frances Gruwell, daughter of Hon. C. O. Gruwell, of Billings. They have four daughters, Clara, Dora, Gladys and Frances.

ILLIS SPEAR .- One of the sterling pio- neer citizens residing in Billings, Yellow- stone county, Willis Spear is one of the few sur- viving veterans of the Mexican war, and was also one of the California argonauts of 1849, while his life has been one of usefulness and honor. He is now living retired from active labors, having well earned rest and repose in his declining years. Mr. Spear was born in New York on January 12, 1824, son of John and Polly (Osborn) Spear, the former of whom, a farmer, was born in Con- necticut, on February 24, 1788, and whose death occurred in 1886, at the remarkable age of nine-

ty-eight years. His parents were David and Mary (Clark) Spear, and the latter was a lineal de- scendant of Richard Clark, who came to America on the Mayflower in 1620. The maternal grand- parents of Mr. Spear were Moses and Mary (Shaw) Osborn, the former being a miller in Hartford, Conn. Six months after his birth Mr. Spear's parents removed to Ohio, locating on the shore of Lake Erie until 1834, when they removed to Wood county and thence in 1837 to Noble county, Ind. Willis had in the meantime secured such education as he could in the primitive log school houses, and he then served an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, becoming a skilled work- man. In 1839, at the age of nineteen, he left home and secured employment on a Mississippi steamboat and was identified with river naviga- tion in various capacities until 1847, when he en- listed for service in the Mexican war in the quar- termaster's department and serving until the close of the conflict.

In 1849 he joined the throng of gold seekers going to California, making the trip by way of Texas and the southern route, and making his way to the gold diggings, where he was engaged in placer mining for a short time. He then went to San Francisco, where he worked for one year for Nathaniel Gray, an undertaker. In 1851, he entered into partnership with Jonathan P. Adams, purchased a sloop and for two years they engaged in freighting on the bay, when he sold his interest and in 1853 he returned to Indiana for a visit and thence went to Iowa, whither his parents had re- moved in 1846. There he engaged in farming until 1855 when he removed to Nodaway county, Mo., where he devoted his attention to farming and operating a sawmill. In 1860 he removed to Atchison county, where he owned and conducted a flouring mill for three years, after which he re- sumed farming operations and continued in this industry in Missouri until 1874, when he came to Montana, locating in Deer Lodge county, where he engaged in ranching and also conducted a hotel. In 1883 he removed to Sheridan county, Wyo., where on a large tract of land he engaged successfully in stockraising on an extensive scale until May, 1896, when he resigned the manage- ment to his sons and removed to Billings, where he has since made his home. In politics Mr. Spear is one of the veteran members of the Re- publican party, whose principles he has supported from its organization, and he takes justifiable pride

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in his allegiance to the "grand old party." While a resident of Missouri he served four years as postmaster at Sweet Home, Nodaway county, and a number of years as school trustee and also as constable. Fraternally he is identified with the Patrons of Husbandry, commonly designated Grangers. On October 17, 1853, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Spear to Mrs. Jane Wood, of Hamilton, Ind., she being the daughter of Jonathan and Catherine (Richie) Ferguson. She has two children by her first marriage, McKin- ley (deceased), and Lorında Jane, the widow of Christopher Schneider, of Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Spear have these children: Oceanna is the wife of L. M. Hoyt, of Bozeman, Mary is the wife of Paul McCormick, of Billings, John is de- ceased, Charles E. resides in Billings, Willis M. is on the ranch in Wyoming, Emma L. is the wife of J. S. Dewitt, of St. Anthony, Idaho, and William H., who is associated in the management of the Wyoming ranch.

IJ ON. WM. O. SPEER .- In the ancestry of this honored citizen, eminent jurist and distin- guished public servant of Montana, the blood of two peoples, forever and everywhere renowned for their love of liberty and their great industrial enterprise, is commingled. His paternal grand- father emigrated to the United States from the north of Ireland soon after the close of the Revo- lution, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he be- came an industrious and prosperous farmer ; and where, after a life well spent in the service of church and state, he was called to rest. He was a lay member of the Covenanters' church, and took a leading part in forming and establishing the new division of that denomination. The Judge's father was Robert Speer, a native of Pennsyl- vania, where the Judge was born August 26, 1846, and his mother was Charlotte (Covert) Speer, of Butler county in the same state, whose forefathers came from Holland, settled in America at an early period, and made a glorious record in the strug- gle for the independence of their adopted country. In 1855 Robert Speer and family removed to Dav- enport, Iowa, where he prospered as a carpenter and builder until his death, which occurred Jan- uary 28, 1896. Of their seven children Judge Speer was the eldest. He received his education principally at Davenport, and was noted in his

school days for studious habits and a keen desire for knowledge. After leaving school he read law in the office of Brown & Campbell, well known throughout their own and adjacent states as coun- sellors of learning and power. He was admitted to the bar in 1874 and immediately began legal practice.

From the very beginning success attended his efforts, and soon offers of partnerships came to him from older members of the bar. He formed one with N. Samuel Mitchell, which proved of mutual advantage, and was continued until the Judge decided to come west. This he did in 1880, locating at Butte, where he began a professional and political career which has been a source of honor and profit to him and of great and important service to the state. Only two years after his ar- rival in the city he was nominated by his party for the office of district attorney. He made a brilliant canvass, but was unable to overcome the . large adverse majority, and was defeated by W. Y. Pemberton. In 1884, however, he was elected a member of the territorial house of repre- sentatives, and rendered distinguished service as chairman of its judiciary committee. In 1887 he was elected city attorney of Butte, and was re- elected in 1888. In 1889, however, he was de- feated for the same office by the late Frank E. Corbett. The next year he was appointed the superintendent of the census for the state, by the federal government, and in 1892 was nomi- nated for judge of the Second judicial district of Silver Bow county. He was successful at the elec- tion, defeating W. Y. Merrill, served out his term of four years, and retired from active connection with the legal profession.

Politically Judge Speer always affiliated with the Republican party up to 1896. He then iden- tified himself with the Silver Republicans. The public interests of his home locality have ever had his close, intelligent and serviceable attention. Nothing that he thought could be of advantage to the community failed to enlist his earnest and vigorous support. He is practically the father of Silver Bow county, having been one of the most active and enthusiastic promoters of its organiza- tion, calling the first meeting at which the project was considered, and never ceasing in his forceful efforts until the desired end was attained. During his term of office as city attorney of Butte, he, in effect, re-created the city, transforming it from a state of general lawlessness to one of decency and

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order, and establishing it fully under a systematic municipal government. Prior to his time the or- dinances had been conflicting and many of them carelessly drawn, so that there was want of the necessary unity of purpose and harmony of im- port to make them effective.

Judge Speer was married January 10, 1895, to Mrs. Lina H. Koehler, a native of St. Louis, Mo. He has never given much attention to fraternal so- cieties, but is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Since his retirement from the bench he has devoted himself particularly to looking after his business interests. In 1899 he erected the Princeton block, one of the finest residence properties in the city, as well as the first modern flat building erected in the state. The sun of life for this interesting gentleman is yet at its meridian height, but he can see blooming and fructifying around him a portion of the primeval wilderness which he has helped to make radiant with the presence of ideas-to plant and people with benef- icent activity and enduring joy-its chaotic con- ditions now brought into harmonious and sys- tematic fertility, its stores of hidden wealth re- vealed and fashioned to multiform beneficence, its social and political fabric founded on a firm basis looking to the greatest good for the greatest number: and can feel the comfort which must spring from the certainty that he has borne his full share in producing these results.

L ORENZO WINCHESTER STACY .- Among the extensive stockgrowers of Montana is Mr. Stacy, now a resident of Miles City. From his boyhood he has been familiar with the free life of the plains and mountains, and had many thrill- ing experiences and interesting episodes during his long career in the west. A brief review of his life history will be read with interest and will be a perpetual memorial of his life and its accom- plishment. The original American ancestors of Mr. Stacy were early English settlers in the Mas- sachusetts colony and some of them were active participants in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Stacy himself was born in Athens county, Ohio, on the 24th of August, 1850, the fourth of the five children of Joel and Sally A. (Elston) Stacy, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts

and the latter in Pennsylvania. Joel Stacy was an early settler in Ohio, a pioneer farmer, where he developed a fine farm and passed the residue of his life. His death and also that of his wife oc- curred in the early 'sixties. Of their five children three are now living, namely: Mary Frances, wife of W. H. Vorhes, Nelsonville, Ohio ; Orinda, wife of N. I. Dixon, Longstreth, Ohio, and Lor- enzo W.

Lorenzo W. Stacy left school at the early age of twelve years, then accompanying his brother Webster to Kansas, and engaging in the hunt- ing of buffalo on the great plains of the interme- diate west, the two having their own outfit. Here the boy waxed strong in spirit and physique, and his naturally self reliant nature was strengthened. Later he engaged in trading with the Indians, establishing himself at a post in the panhandle of Texas. It may be of interest to here note that Mr. Stacy secured a buffalo calf which he raised, making it a pet. After it was a year old the ani- mal traveled with the party, and when camp was made it would often find its way during the night to Mr. Stacy's head and waken him by its grunting, not being satisfied until it had accomplished this result. It would follow him any distance and, if strangers approached, would put its head under his arm and resent emphatically any attempt to touch him. He kept this buffalo until he arrived at Dodge City, Kan., when it caused trouble by uprooting and despoiling the gardens of the set- tlers, and it was necessary to picket it with a rope, with which it finally became entangled and was thrown so as to break its neck. Mr. Stacy suc- cessfully traded with the Indians in the south- west, and effected a personal treaty with the Arapahoes and Cheyennes, which was known as the Stacy treaty. The circumstances of the treaty are these: His trading party was surrounded by about 2,000 Indians at Paladora Canon, in 1873, and the United States marshal warned Mr. Stacy to fly, but with six employees he had come especially to trade with the Indians, and his tenac- ity and intrepid daring prompted him to carry out his object. After he had been thus warned Mr. Stacy at once determined to have a talk with the chief, Powder Face, made his way to the Indian camp and passed through the entire band of howl- ing savages to the chief's tepee. Here he dis- mounted and was immediately attacked by the chief's dog, which bit his left leg nearly to the bone. Mr. Stacy, however, explained his situation

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and intention to the chief, who called a council. At this the Indians sat in a circle and finally the chief handed Mr. Stacy the pipe of peace, which he puffed with due solemnity, being much en- couraged by this action. He invited Powder Face and his squaw to dinner the next day and gave them a good meal, and the doughty chieftain then made a treaty to this effect : That his people would thereafter trade with the brave white man with- out molesting him. Powder Face further mani- fested his good will by tanning robes for him. When the Indians left that section in the follow- ing spring, Powder Face and his wife presented Mr. Stacy with a fine suit of Indian clothes, a big shawl and a pair of shoes, and a silver finger-ring. The chief always continued a strong friend of Mr. Stacy, and lived to a venerable age, dying about 1892.

After trading with the Indians for three years Mr. Stacy engaged in the cattle business in the Indian territory, and had an extensive range under fence. He disposed of his interests here in 1882, and the next year came to Montana. In the fall of 1883 he went south and purchased cattle, which he trailed through to Montana, arriving in August, 1884. He located on the range between the Powder and Tongue rivers, and often ran 5,000 head of cattle. He handled thousands of cattle each year until he sold out in 188y. He did not. however, withdraw from the cattle business, and has still large herds. He utilizes the range be- tween the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, in Custer county. In this industry he is connected with the Swifts, of Chicago, South Omaha and Kansas City, the Custer county herd bearing the brand of "L. U."

Mr. Stacy is a director of the State National Bank, of Miles City, in which he is a large stock- holder, is interested in the mercantile business of Lakin & Westfall and is the owner of improved business and residence properties in Miles City, where he makes his home in a commodious and attractive residence of modern architectural design and conveniences, one of the best in the town. The family pass their winters in Florida or Cali- fornia. In politics Mr. Stacy is a Republican, and takes interest in the public welfare and the ad- vancement of the state, but has never sought pub- lic office, being distinctively a business man. On the 6th of December, 1888, Mr. Stacy was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Hotchkiss, who was born in Connecticut, the daughter of Steven

G. and Augusta (Stevens) Hotchkiss, of old New England stock. To this union have been born four children, Edward W., Florence, Lorenzo Win- chester, Jr., and Frances May.

- SAAC S. STAFFORD, M. D .- From their ear- liest appearance in English history the Staffords have been a courtly race, numbering fair daughters with all the graceful attributes of refined and ele- vated womanhood, and brave sons of stern convic- tion, ever willing to stake their life and all on their belief. The progenitor of the family on English soil came with William the Conqueror and dis- tinguished himself at the decisive battle of Hastings, where the Saxon rule was crushed. From that time the name of Stafford has been prominent in all events of importance noted in English chron- icles. The family was loyal to the Stuarts, and its head, Thomas Stafford, espoused the cause of the Pretender in 1715 and was active in raising the country in his interest. But when the cause was lost at Derwentwater and Preston, he took refuge in America, settling in Massachusetts. This Thomas Stafford was the great-great-great-grand- father of Dr. Isaac S. Stafford, of Pony, who was born in Chenango county, N. Y., on June 1, 1829, son of Isaac and Lucy (Seymour) Stafford, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Otsego county, N. Y. His grandfather, Isaac Stafford, and his great-grandfather, John Stafford, were natives of Rhode Island. The grandfather espoused the cause of the colonies in the Revolu-

tion, and was conspicuous on the glorious field of Bennington under General Stark. The father lived in times of peace, and followed the quiet pursuit of an agriculturist in New York, where he married and made his home until 1856, when he removed to Illinois, where he died in 1883 at the age of eighty-six, leaving six children.

Dr. Stafford began his education in the public schools of his native county, then attended the excellent academy at Oxford, N. Y. He there be- gan the study of medicine, continuing it in St. Louis, and was graduated from the St. Louis Medical College in 1855. He entered upon medical practice at Grafton, Ill., but one year later removed to Courtland in the same state where the next two years were passed. In 1859 he joined the stampede to Pike's Peak, where he remained until 1863, prac- ticing his profession, mining, and performing the

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thousand other services required of a professional man in a new country. In 1863 he made a visit to Illinois, and in the spring of 1864 he came to Montana, making the trip from Courtland, Ill., by horse and mule teams. The train was small, but by good management kept ahead of the Indian troubles all the way, and arrived at Virginia City June II. The Doctor located at Alder gulch and passed his first year in Montana in prospecting with no great success. The next year he did better at McClel- lan's gulch, and so he continued prospecting in connection with his practice, at various places, in- cluding Snake river, until 1868, when he located on Norwegian creek, and for three years followed mining for himself, but with only moderate suc- cess. The next two years he practiced medicine at Sterling, and in 1873 took up a ranch on Upper Willow creek on which he conducted profitable stockraising for a number of years. then sold it and removed to Pony.

Dr. Stafford was married in November, 1875, to Mrs. Annie M. Young, a native of Ohio, at the time of the marriage a widow with several children. The Stafford children are Lucy, now Mrs. W. O. Peck, of Pony, and Isaac S., Jr., a resident of British Columbia. By his unvarying interest in public affairs, and by his valuable public services in official stations, the Doctor has carried out the tra- ditions of his family and found scope for some of the better phases of his own intellectual make-up. He has been a member of the legislature, a school trustee and clerk, and has served in other public capacities, always with credit to himself and benefit to the people. In fraternal, relations he is identified with the Masonic order. The life of a Montana country physician when Dr. Stafford began practice here was full of toil and called for stern endur- ance. The day's work, and often that of the night. covered many miles of hard riding on horseback, in storm of wind, or rain, or snow, over bad roads or where there was none, through a wild country, to visit families remote from towns and from one another. Their hardships and adventures, though thrilling to us in the recital, seemed to the physi- cians in the experience only the regular and natural features of their daily vocation. They were sturdy men, inured to toil and exposure, and knew no other life. Moreover, nature, distributing her fa- vors with a system of constant balances and compen- sations, gave them through their very hardships a flexibility of function and a toughness of fibre which kept them in condition for their work, and

enabled them to continue it long and do it well. Doctor Stafford may properly attribute much of the vigor of body and mind and elasticity of spirit which he now enjoys to his continued exercise on horse- back during the long period of his practice.

E MIL STARZ .- Among the progressive busi- ness men of Helena is Emil Starz, for he holds distinguished prestige in the ranks of chemists and pharmacists. The great German empire, where sterling character and thorough education are ever held in the highest estimation, has contributed in a a large degree to the best citizenship of the Ameri- can republic, and Emil Starz, himself a native of Germany, descends from fine old German families long identified with the annals of the magnificent empire. He was born in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, on September 18, 1865, the son of Jacob John and Julia (Schick) Starz, the former of whom was born in Stuttgart and the latter in Heilbronn, and her father was an officer in Napoleon's army during the war in Russia and the retreat from Moscow. Jacob J. Starz, in the government postal service of Germany, was an officer for forty-five years, and he is now living in the famous Black Forest district.

Emil Starz entered the gymnasium in Stuttgart at the age of eight years and there continued his studies until he had attained the age of fourteen, when, in 1880, he entered a large pharmaceutical es- tablishment at Reutlingen where he served a three-years apprenticeship, still continuing his studies and attending school at such hours as his duties permitted. He devoted himself assiduously to his profession, and was finally graduated as a pharmacist with high honors. He continued as a clerk for three years, and then in the Polytechnic high school continued his studies three years, spe- cially devoting himself to chemistry and kindred branches. At the end of his course he passed the government examination, receiving so high a standing that he was exempted from military service after one year. Then in the city of Mann- heim, Baden, he was employed in a drug store for a time, after which he was thus engaged in Esslingen, Wurtemberg, where he remained until 1891, when he responded to the overtures of an uncle living in Montana and decided to come hither. From New York he came directly to Helena, where he established a drug store and a finely equipped laboratory, the first in the state.

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Continuing in these lines of enterprise, Mr. Starz has held precedence in his profession, of which he is one of the ablest exponents in the state. He is a member of the American Pharmaceutical and the American Chemical associations, and of a simi- lar organization in Germany. In the Montana Pharmaceutical Association he had the distinction of being a member of the first board of pharmacy in the state. Mr. Starz has given much original research and investigation in lines incident to chemistry, in which his dictums are practically au- thoritative, so broad and exact is his knowledge of them. He invented a wine tester, whose practical value was so manifest that it was patented and speedily sold to a large eastern manufacturing house. He has a deep interest in the flora of Mon- tana, and accumulated one of the finest collections extant which he generously presented to the College of Pharmacy at St. Louis, Mo. Fraternally Mr. Starz is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Freemasons, and in politics gives his support to the Democratic party. Since coming to Montana he has made two visits to his fatherland. In August, 1893, while in Germany on a visit, Mr. Starz was united in marriage to Miss Thekla Leins, who like himself was born in Stuttgart. They have two children, Oscar and Elvira.

HARLES W. CANNON .- The exigencies of C life on the frontier of a new country required and developed unusual elements of physical and moral character in the people who settle it. For the conditions with which they have to deal are unlike those of other sections, and are practically unprovided for by the rules of conduct growing out of ordinary experience. And nowhere in the world has there appeared a race of men and women more hardy, more resourceful, more te- nacious of purpose, or more prolific of wonderful achievements than the pioneers of America. With undaunted courage they stepped into the heart of the primal wilderness, and true lords of the heritage, as they were, commanded its untamed conditions to "stand ruled."

Of this heroic type is Charles Wesley Cannon, of Helena, one of the first, one of the most daring and one of the most serviceable of Montana's great race of pioneers. From what is known of him, the judicious chronicler would expect to find in tracing his genealogy men of large mold and great

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 84

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