Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 86

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 86

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C `APT. D. GAY STIVERS, of Butte, although comparatively a young man, has had a varied and interesting experience both as a soldier and a civilian. All of his early life was passed amid the stirring scenes of military camps in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Dakota and Montana. He was born on February 10, 1869, at Fort Davis, Texas, his father, who was an officer in the United States army, being there stationed. (For family history, see sketch of Capt. E. J. Stivers, else- where in this work.) Educated first in the military schools and by private tutors, he also attended school at San Antonio, Texas, and took a full course at the Chicago high school, from which he was graduated in 1885. Soon after his gradu- ation he was appointed secretary to the manager of the Yellowstone National Park, a position in which he rendered faithful service. He then at- tended a medical school for one term, but not finding this profession compatible with his taste.

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he adopted that of law, and entered Columbia Law School at Washington, D. C., in 1891, remaining there for two years, while serving as private sec- retary to Hon. W. W. Dixon, Montana's repre- sentative in the lower house of Congress, under whose supervision he was conducting his studies. Accompanying him from Washington to his home at Butte, Mont., he completed in the Judge's office his preparation for the bar, to which he was ad- mitted in 1895. In 1897 he was appointed deputy county attorney for Silver Bow county, and was making an excellent record when the Spanish- American war broke out.

Fired with patriotic zeal and impelled by the thrilling recollections of former military service, when, as a member of the Texas Rangers, he had seen considerable active service, he at once resigned his civil office and vigorously began the organization of Troop I, Third United States Vol -. unteer Cavalry, known as "Grigsby's Rough Rid- ers," of which he was chosen captain. He was mustered into service May 15, 1898, and was or- dered with his company to Camp Thomas, Ga. On September 8, 1898, he was mustered out of service and at once returned to Butte and resumed the practice of his profession. In March, 1899, he was retained as one of the junior counsel for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. In ad- dition to his professional bent, he has decided qual- ities for success in business life and at one time owned cattle interests in Wyoming. Capt. Stivers was happily married on February 22, 1897, to Miss Susie F. McMonimon, a descendant of New York ancestors, but herself a native of California. She fell a victim to an epidemic of la grippe, and died three weeks after her marriage. The Captain be- longs to the Spanish-American War Veterans and to the Overland Club, of Butte, of which he is vice-president.

JASON W. STREVELL .- Among those men who stand representative in the personnel of the bar of Montana is Mr. Strevell, who is not only a prominent and able member of his profession but has been identified with the political and in- dustrial activities of Montana. He comes of the stanchest of colonial lincage, and was one of that notable coterie of pioneer lawyers of Illinois. He has been a resident of Montana for more than a score of years and is a leading citizen of Miles

City. He was born in Albany, N. Y., in the 'thir- ties, being a son of Harvey and Elizabeth (Lewis) Strevell, both of whom were natives of New York. Harvey Strevell was in early life a teacher, but later was a farmer in his native state, and was thus engaged until his death. His grandfather, Woolrick Strevell, was wagon master in Gen. Washington's army during the Revolution, in which he served until the close of the war with- out injury. He located in the state of New York more than a century ago. His wife was a niece of Col. Lyman Lewis, an officer in the Continental army of the Revolution. She became the mother of six children, of whom three are now living, Jason W. Strevell being the fifth in order of birth.

Jason W. Strevell was educated in the famous old Rensselaerville Academy, in Albany county, N. Y., and then began reading law with Peck- ham & Tremaine, prominent members of the Al- bany bar. In 1855 he removed to Illinois, was admitted to the bar of that state in the same year and was engaged in active legal practice at Pontiac for twenty-four years. He served as a Republican in the lower house of the state legislature for four years, as a member of the senate for the same period of time and was a member of the electoral college that elected Hayes to the presidency, and he was actively concerned in the first presidential nomination of William McKinley. He was a per- sonal friend of Abraham Lincoln and did yeoman service in securing his presidential nomination, having been a member of the Illinois legislature during the critical epoch of the Civil war. Since coming to Montana Mr. Strevell has taken little part in politics. Mr. Strevell is a Presbyterian, active in the cause of the Master, and is an elder in the local church of his denomination. He has been three times a delegate to the general as- sembly of the church and is a regular attendant of the synod and presbytery.

Mr. Strevell has been a close student, not only of books pertaining to law, but also of all works of the best literature. He has not denied him- self the advantages of travel, for he has made a tour embracing Turkey, Palestine and Egypt, as well as Europe. He was for some time largely interested in the live stock industry of Montana, to which state he came in 1879, but has closed out his interests. He is a director of the First Na- tional Bank of Miles City and the owner of valu- able realty in Montana and in Phoenix, Ariz., and Tacoma, Wash. On the 15th of August, 1858,

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Mir. Strevell was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Kelly, a daughter of Dr. John Kelly, a physician and surgeon of Lake City, Minn.

AMES C. STUART .- One of the honored pio- neers of Montana, with whose industrial de- velopment he has been prominently concerned, Mr. Stuart is deserving of specific consideration. The ranks of the brave boys in blue who followed the stars and stripes on many a southern battle field are being fast decimated by the ravages of time, and all honor is due to the memory of those who bivouac with the dead and the gray-haired veterans who remain. The subject of this review rendered valiant service to his country in the war . of the Rebellion, and of his life and its accom- plishment it is due that some permanent record be left. Mr. Stuart traces his lineage back to the heroic old Scottish clan of Stuart, and his an- cestry is one of which he may well be proud. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., on May 2, 1839, being the son of James and Jeannette (Houston) Stuart, natives of the beautiful old city of Glasgow, Scotland, where their marriage was solemnized. They came to America in 1821, lo- cating in Philadelphia, where the father was suc- cessfully engaged in the merchant tailoring busi- ness, at the corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets, until 1847, when his property was destroyed during the religious riots of that year. He then removed to Dearborn county, Ind., and purchased a farm, which was managed and cultivated by his sons, while he continued to follow his trade. He was the father of four sons and two daughters, and of the number five are now living.

James C. Stuart, our subject, completed his edu- cational training in the public schools of Indiana, and assisted in the work of the homestead farm until the thundering of rebel guns against the rant- parts of old Fort Sumter aroused in him a loyal and responsive protest. Upon the first call for volunteers, for three months' service, he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, under Col. Dumont, and the regiment at once assigned to West Virginia. A night march from Grafton to Phillippi was requisite, and the next day the regiment participated in one of the first battles of the war, at the point last mentioned, under Gen. Morris, a subordinate of Gen. McClel- lan. From Phillippi they advanced to Cheat Moun-

tain, driving the enemy from their entrenchments at that point, pursuing them to Carricks ford on Cheat river, where an engagement took place, and where Gen. Garnett, commanding Confederate forces, was killed by Frank Burlingame, orderly sergeant of Company E, Seventh Indiana. A large number of prisoners and artillery were captured, and Confederate forces badly routed. His term of enlistment having expired Mr. Stuart returned to Indianapolis, Ind., where he was mustered out with his regiment. A reorganization im- mediately took place, the greater proportion of the members of the regiment re-enlisting for a period of three years, Mr. Stuart becoming orderly sergeant of Company A. The regiment then returned to West Virginia and was in service in the mountain region for three months, after which they were transferred to Cumberland, Md., and attached to the division of Gen. Lander, and assisted in rebuilding the division of the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad between Cumberland and the Shenandoah valley, destroyed by the Confed- erates. Gen. Lander having died, Gen. Shields took command of the division, which then joined Banks' command at Martinsburg, W. Va., and they thence advanced up the Shenandoah valley, driving Jackson from Winchester and defeating him in an engagement at Kernstown. The move- ment was continued to Strasburg, where the divi- sion was segregated from Banks' command, and thence marched through to Fredericksburg, where it joined McDowell's command. In the meantime Jackson had slipped around McClellan's right and entered the Shenandoah valley, driving Banks across the Potomac, and the division returned to the valley. The advance was made on the south side of the river to Port Republic. After the bat- tle at Cross Keys, Jackson was crossing the river, and this brought about the engagement at Port Republic, in which Mr. Stuart was wounded and sent to Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, D. C., where he remained two months, after which he rejoined his regiment, which became a part of Pope's army, and participated in the second battle of Bull Run. After the reorganization of the army our subject participated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam; was with Burnside in the battle of Fredericksburg, being in Franklin's divis- ion, on the left. He next served under Hooker in the battle of Chancellorsville, and later participated in the famous battle of Gettysburg, in which he was with the First Brigade (known as the Iron

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Brigade), First Division, First Army Corps, which opened the fight. After this memorable conflict he participated in the movement in following Lee's defeated army back into Virginia ; fought the bat- tle of Mine Run, and spent the winter of 1863 at Culpeper Court House, Va. May 3, 1864, the army crossed the Rapidan and started on Grant's great campaign against Richmond. Mr. Stuart was taken prisoner near Hanover Junction, and thereafter confined in Andersonville prison about seven months, enduring all the horrors of that in- famous prison pen ; also imprisoned about four months at Florence, S. C., whence he was taken to Goldsboro, N. C., exchanged and sent to Annapolis, where he entered the hospital, suffering from scurvy. He weighed at this time 127 pounds, his usual weight being 200 pounds. When sufficiently re- cuperated he proceeded to Indianapolis, where he was mustered out, March 17, 1865, having served six months over the period for which he enlisted.

In 1865 Mr. Stuart removed to Quincy, Ill., and chancing to meet some persons who had just re- turned from Montana he was advised to go there for the benefit of his health. Accordingly, in February, 1866, he started for Montana by way of the Missouri river to Fort Benton, from which point he drove an ox team to Helena for Col. Broadwater. He thereafter engaged in mining at Hogan, and later at Radersburg, where he re- mained fifteen years, his efforts being attended with fair success. He then removed to Meagher county (1882) and engaged in stockraising. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster at Townsend, resigning in 1892. He removed that year to Winston, and with James S. Smith engaged in general merchandising until failing health led him to return to his ranch. He has since continued farming and stock-growing, having his original ranch in Meagher county and another in Broad- water county, where he maintains his home, the place being located twenty-two miles southeast of Townsend, his postoffce address. Mr. Stuart still holds mining property at Winston, and is being worked at the present time.

In politics he has ever been a stalwart Repub- lican ; and in 1870 he was elected to the council of the territorial legislature as representative for Lewis and Clarke and Jefferson counties. Frater- nally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined the order at Moore's Hill, Ind., in 1860. On November 17, 1880, Mr. Stuart was united in marriage to Miss

Carrie Maybell, who was born in Mineral Point, Wis., the daughter of Dr. Aaron Maybell. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart are the parents of five children : Robert W., Frank C., Jesse H., Nellie C. and Alex T.

W ALTER COOPER was born in the town of Sterling, Cayuga county, state of New York, July 4, 1843, and was the third son of Andrew H. and Sarah E. Cooper. His paternal grandfather was of Irish descent, and his grand- father on the mother's side was of Scotch descent. Both father and mother were from the town of Argyle, Washington county, N. Y. Argyle was founded by Donald McGillvra, great-grandfather of Mr. Cooper, and was by him named for his birth- place, Argyle county, Isle of Mull, Scotland, where he was born in 1723, and whence he came to America, first to Canada, as a private soldier in the British army. He served with Gen. Wolfe during the latter's campaign against the French, and fought under Wolfe on the plains of Abraham, September 13, 1759. This sturdy Scotch soldier gained an enviable reputation for courage and stability, and was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant September 14, 1763. The original discharge is now in the possession of the family.

After his discharge Donald McGillvra went directly to New York city, where he remained three years, and then located at the town of Hebron, in Washington county, N. Y. There he remained a number of years. Having espoused the American cause, he joined the Continental army, and entered the Revolutionary struggle. In 1789 he again settled in Washington county and founded the town of Argyle, where he died in 1812, aged eighty-nine years. George Cooper, grandfather of Mr. Cooper on the father's side, and Daniel McGillvra, son of Donald McGillvra, grandfather on the mother's side, emigrated from Washington county, N. Y., to the town of Sterling, Cayuga county, N. Y .. arriving April 27, 1827, and being among the early settlers in that section. George Cooper was of Irish parentage and served in the war of 1812, being stationed at Fort Oswego, where he was taken prisoner by the British squadron under Sir James Yoo, who captured the fortress in 1814.

Andrew H. Cooper, father of Walter Cooper, was born at Argyle, Washington county, N. Y., in 1813, and married Sarah E. McGillvra, daughter

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of Daniel McGillvra, at the town of Sterling, Cuyuga county, N. Y., October 30, 1832.

Sarah E. McGillvra was born in Washington county, N. Y., November 29, 1814. Mr. Cooper lived in the near vicinity of Sterling until 1845, when he emigrated with his family, consisting of wife and four sons, to Shiawassee county, Mich., where he died June 24, 1851, leaving a wife and six sons.

Shortly after the death of his father, at the age of eight years Walter was sent to Lansing, Mich., to live with a maternal aunt, with whom he lived three years. Becoming dissatisfied, he ran away, and hence we find him at the early age of twelve, working as a farm hand in the summer and in the lumber camps in northern Michigan in winter, depending upon his own resources. Mrs. Cooper had in the meantime returned to New York, taking her second and three younger sons.

The fall of 1858 Walter started west, reaching Leavenworth, Kan., in the month of November, where he passed the winter, doing such work as he could find to do until February, 1859, when he crossed the plains to Pike's Peak. In the spring of 1860 he joined a prospecting expedition to the San Juan mountains. The party left Denver, Colo., early in May, and visited Old Mexico. Returning to Colorado in the winter of 1861, our subject spent the summer and fall of 1862 near Colorado Springs, acting at times as scout for the First Colorado Regiment. In November, 1863, he started for Montana (then Idaho), arriving at Virginia City in February, 1864, and engaging in mining in Alder gulch. In May he became interested in a freight train, with which he started for Fort Benton to meet the steamboats, expecting to return to Virginia City with freight. During 1864 the water was so low in the Missouri river that little freight reached Fort Benton, and he was forced to return with his teams empty. Arriving at Virginia City in August, he disposed of his train, fitted out a team with supplies for winter, and passed the winter of 1864-5 in the Missouri river valley, spending his time hunting. In the spring of 1865 he engaged in mining with varying success until the fall of 1869, when he settled in Bozeman, Gal- latin county, Mont.

On the 19th of April, 1870, Mr. Cooper married Miss Mariam D. Skeels, only daughter of Nelson Skeels, of Boulder valley, Jefferson county, Mont. Nelson Skeels, father of Mrs. Cooper, was born at Columbus, Ohio, in 1822. His father, Reuben

Skeels, was born in the state of New York. Lanman Skeels, father of Reuben Skeels, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in the state of New York in 1753, and died near Columbus, Ohio, in 1804. The family has since resided at Boze- man. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have had one son and two daughters born to them, the son and one daughter having died in infancy; they have one daughter, Mariam Cooper, living, aged eleven years.

In 1870 Mr. Cooper engaged in mercantile pur- suits at Bozeman. He also engaged extensively in the fur business in 1872, giving this branch of business such energy and attention that, as a result of his efforts, Bozeman in three years became second in importance, in Montana, as a shipping point for fur robes and skins. Mr. Cooper in- vented and patented many improvements in fire- arms, and at one time manufactured the most fa- mous long ranger hunting rifle ever used in the west. He was selected as one of the incorporators of the city of Bozeman in 1883 and was a member of the first city council; was nominated for mayor of the city of Bozeman in 1888, but declined for business reasons. On the organization of the board of trade of Bozeman, in 1883, Mr. Cooper became its first president, serving two years. In 1884 he was elected to the constitutional convention as delegate at large, and was made chairman of the committee on privileges and elections. He was again elected to the constitutional convention in 1889 on the admission of Montana to the Union, and was made chairman of the committee on ap- pointment and representation. As chairman of this committee, Mr. Cooper reported and advocated the adoption of an article giving one senator to each county. The article was ratified by the convention, and became a part of the constitution, and is ap- preciated, being considered a safeguard against reckless legislation.

Mr. Cooper was selected as a delegate at large to the national Democratic convention held at Chicago in 1892, and served on the committee on credentials. Mr. Cooper was nominated as an elector on the Democratic ticket in 1892. He was elected president of the State Pioneer Society in 1892, serving two years, and was president of the pioneer society of Gallatin county in 1893. He served as a member of the legislature of 1895, and secured the passage of an act which made pos- sible the erection and equipment of the build- ings now occupied by the Montana State Col-

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lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. He was appointed in 1892 as a member of the executive board of the Agricultural College, serving six years.

When, in 1889, the city of Bozeman wanted a supply of fresh water for fire protection and do- mestic use, Mr. Cooper organized the Bozeman Water Works Company, and caused the construc- tion of the most perfect system of water works in the northwest. He became vice-president and one of the largest stockholders of the company. In 1884 he secured control of the coal fields on Rocky Fork, and, with his associates, brought about the building of the Rocky Fork & Cooke City Rail- way, and the development of this great coal field, with its limitless supply of coal. As an enterprise bearing upon the general welfare of the state it will doubtless rank among the most important achievements of the last three decades.

Mr. Cooper has, among other things, devoted some of his attention to mining. He organized, and is president, of the Bozeman Gold and Silver Mining Company. He was also instrumental in or- ganizing the Bozeman Milling Company, operating one of the largest flouring mills in the state, and was its first president, as well as its largest stock- holder.

Mr. Cooper is identified with many other enter- prises of a public and private nature. In politics he is a Democrat, and has taken a prominent part in the councils of his party since the forination of Montana as a territory. Mr. Cooper took an active part in the political affairs which agitated Mon- tana in 1898 and 1900. He conducted the pre- liminary campaign which culminated in seating the regular Democratic delegates at the Kansas City convention, July 4, 1900. Later he successfully conducted the preliminary contest by which the regular Democratic party secured control of the state convention, and he was made its chairman. He was elected by the state convention chairman of the state central committee, and conducted the great campaign of 1900, which resulted in a com- plete victory for the regular Democratic national and state tickets, and the election of a large ma- jority of the legislature, insuring the election of two Democratic United States senators.

THOMAS F. STEVENSON .- A scion of dis- T tinguished Irish ancestors who first settled in Washington county, Pa., about 1750 on land grant-

ed them by Lord Granville, and afterward moved to North Carolina, while some of the next gener- ation emigrated to Kentucky, where he was born on May 26, 1846, Thomas Franklin Stevenson is well worthy of the high place he holds in the esti- mation of his neighbors and of the success he has achieved. His father, Samuel H. Stevenson, a native of Iredell county; N. C., was a Presbyterian clergyman and educator. He was reared on the plantation belonging to his father, attending the public schools and having private instruction at home until he was twenty-one years old, and then taking a course at Center College in Dan- ville, Ky., where he was graduated in 1843. Soon thereafter he wedded Miss Minerva Frank- lin, a native of Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y., a daughter of Amos A. Franklin, whose father was a near relative of the distinguished Benja- min Franklin. He began active life for himself as an educator, teaching successfully for six years, then in 1854 relinquishing it and removing with his young family to Wisconsin. During that year and the next he attended the theological university at Danville, Ky., and was ordained a presby- terian minister in 1855 and given the pastorate of two churches at Clinton, DeWitt county, Ill.

Thomas F. Stevenson, his oldest son, a second cousin of ex-Vice-President Adlai H. Stevenson, was taught in the public schools of Illinois as long as his health would permit, but that failed when he was only twelve years old. When he was eighteen, however, his health permitted him to attend Granville (Ill.) Academy, for a few terms, and after this he engaged in farming on account of his health until 1865. He then had two years' instruction in the State Normal University, then was a teacher for a year, after which he resided in Hayworth until 1870, going from there to Gil- man, 111., where he engaged in successful farming until 1886. In 1886 also he came to Montana, locating at Bozeman and taking a clerkship in a mercantile house, continuing in that capacity until 1900, when he purchased the White & Patterson ranches five miles south of the city. They contain 320 acres and are well irrigated. Here he has since made his home and is making many im- provements preparatory to engaging in stockrais- ing on a large scale. His buildings are of good quality and well located, and the entire place shows good husbandry and fine taste.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 86

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