Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 92

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 92

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ings being ever well fortified, and he has given so effective an administration as to gain the confi- dence and respect of all and to insure his consecu- tive retention in the important office, whose duties are far more exacting than is generally imagined. Judge Walker is prominently identified with a number of fraternal organizations, and has held official position in each. Thus he is a member of Stephen Bayard Lodge No. 526, A. F. & M., in Pennsylvania, of which he is past master; has served as noble grand of his lodge of the Odd Fel- lows; has been commander of his post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is also identified with the Elks, the fraternal Order of Eagles, the United Workmen, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Shieks of the Orient and the Improved Order of Red Men.

On December 6, 1866, at Virginia City, Mont., Judge Walker was united in marriage to Miss Anna Dohs, a native of the historic old city of Worms, Germany, whence she was brought to America by her parents a mere infant, the family locating in the national metropolis. To them have been born five sons. and two daughters: Samuel S., who is ranching in northern Montana ; Edward S., Jr., who is connected with printing ; William B., a bicycle repairer ; John B., who served in the navy, on the United States ship Philadelphia, during the Spanish-American war; Julia Fiske, Clara K. and Fred D. -

H JON. L. A. WALKER, ex-secretary of state and now melter of the U. S. assay office at Helena, Mont., was born at Indianapolis, Ind., July 3, 1854. His parents were Jacob S. and Mary (Lupton) Walker, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1835 they removed to Indiana, where the fath- er, Jacob S. Walker, was long engaged in lumber- ing, and where he died in 1870. His wife survived him twenty-nine years, and died in 1899. Their two sons, H. L. Walker and Hon. L. A. Walker, now reside in Montana. The latter was reared in Indiana, his early education being received in the public schools. This was supplemented, how- ever, by a full course at the University of Indi- anapolis. Subsequently he was engaged in the house-furnishing business as a member of the firm of Walker Brothers. This enterprise was closed out in 1878, and he came to Montana as chief clerk in the United States assay office un- der Russell Harrison, and filled that posi-

470

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

tion with credit for seven years. Subse- quently he was with H. M. Parchen, whole- sale druggist, as bookkeeper, and. later he was secretary and treasurer of the North Mon- tana Cattle Company. In 1881 Mr. Walker was married to Miss Eugenie C. Acheul, of Helena. They have two children, Harry H. and Louise A.

Mr. Walker was appointed secretary of Mon- tana territory in March, 1889, and served in that office until the admission of the state into the Union, and for three days thereafter. Following this, in company with Dr. C. K. Cole and Mr. H. N. Willey, Mr. Walker furnished the Helena hotel, of which he soon assumed the management, which he has since continued. In August, 1897, Mr. Walker was appointed melter of the United States assay office, and he still holds that position. During the first state election of Montana Mr. Walker, as a stalwart Republican, took a promi- nent part in politics, and was largely instrumental in securing a Republican majority in both the sen- ate and house of representatives, and he has ever been a willing and influential worker in political campaigns. In 1894 he organized the State Hotel Association, was elected its president, and is now holding that office. The object of this associa- tion is the mutual protection of hotel keepers. For three years he was president of the Helena Board of Trade, and he is also a member of the Business Men's Association. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Elks.

H ON. ROBERT C. WALLACE, who has been an important factor in the upbuilding of Hele- na and the advancenient of her commercial inter- ests, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on February 26, 1837, the son of John and Agnes (Craig) Wal- lace. His father was liberally educated in the University of Glasgow, in both literature and medicine. With his wife and six children he emi- grated to America in 1844, Robert then being seven years old. He settled at Detroit, where he engaged in medical practice until 1869, when he moved to Berlin, Mich., and was the station agent of the D. & M. Railroad. He was continued in this capacity until advancing years made it impossible for him to attend to the duties of the position, and his strong physical powers continued his life to the age of ninety-three years, when, in 1895, he quietly went to sleep.

In the excellent public schools of the city of De- troit Robert C. Wallace received his education, and on leaving school he entered the employment of G. & R. McMillan, one of the largest retail firms of Detroit, with which he remained seven years. In company with his brother he opened a grocery store in Detroit in 1860. This enterprise . was continued successfully until the war clouds rolled up from the south, and news of the fall of Fort Sumter was flashed over the wires. Then with patriotic devotion on April 18, 1861, Mr. Wallace enlisted in the First Michigan Infantry, for ninety days' service. His term of enlist- ment over he returned to Detroit and resumed his business. But there was no peace in the land, and in 1862 Mr. Wallace again enlisted, this time in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, in the brigade that once rode with the late Gen. George A. Custer, the hero and victim of the Sioux Indian massacre on the Little Big Horn river. With the First Mich- igan Infantry Mr. Wallace served in the first battle of Bull Run, and later with the Fifth Cavalry he took part in the battles of Gettysburg, Wilder- ness, all the engagements during the thirty days' struggle, and in the bloody campaign around Pe- tersburg, Five Forks and Appomattox. He was taken prisoner at Hawkhurst Mills early in 1863, and was confined in Libby prison, at Richmond, but was exchanged in a few months and rejoined his regiment. He entered the service as a private. but for meritorious service he was repeatedly pro- moted, and at the close of the war was honorably mustered out with the rank of major of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry.

After the war Mr. Wallace was employed for a short time as a traveling salesman for a wholesale tobacco house, and later was clerk on the Dubuque and Ontonagon, steamers plying be- tween Detroit and Lake Superior points. But the west appeared to offer attractions superior to eastern vocations on land or water. In 1869 he came west and settled at Helena, Mont., and was employed in various occupations until 1871, when he started in business for himself, at first on a lim- ited scale. This increased rapidly in importance, and in 1873 Mr. Wallace formed a partnership with James L. Davis, which was continued for ten years with profit and prosperity, and since that time he has carried on trade alone. Besides his ex- tensive grocery operations he is largely interested in mining and ranch property. He is in the direct- orate of several of Helena's most important com-

471

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

panies, and among them are the Union Banking & Trust Company and the Elkhorn Queen Min- ing Company. In 1875 Mr. Wallace was married to Miss Ellen M. Shaw, a native of Michigan, who died on September 16, 1890. Their two children are David R. and Margaret. Mr. Wallace has al- ways affiliated with the Republican party, taken an active interest in its campaigns, served as Helena's first city treasurer, and in 1883 was elected to the territorial legislature. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Grand Army of the Republic, the United Workmen, the Loyal Legion and the Caledonia Club. Mr. Wallace's business career has been emi- nently successful, and his many friends will cheerfully testify to the high estimate in which he is held. His military career is an evidence of loyal- ty and personal courage, and his social and busi- ness life has been characterized by the strictest fidelity.

M AURICE A. WALKER, M. D .- A name that stands forth prominently in connection with the medical profession in Montana is that of Dr. Maurice A. Walker, who is a native of Maine, though the greater portion of his life has been passed in the West, with whose alert and pro- gressive spirit he is essentially en rapport. He was born in Levant, Penobscot county, on November 28, 1867, the son of James and Angie (Moseley) Walker, both of whom were born in Maine, and are now residing in Denver, Colo. When Maur- ice was two years old his parents removed to Bos- ton, Mass., and in its most efficient public schools he secured his early discipline. When he had at- tained the age of twelve his parents removed to Denver, and there he completed the high school course. In the meantime he had determined to adopt the profession of medicine, and in 1886, at the age of nineteen, he matriculated in the medical department of the University of Denver, where he completed a very thorough theoretical and prac- tical course, which effectually fortified him for medical and surgical labors, and he was graduated with the class of 1889, receiving his coveted de- gree of Doctor of Medicine.

In December, 1868, Dr. Walker had received appointment as house surgeon of the Union Pa- cific Railroad hospital at Denver, and served in that capacity until July, 1890, when he went east to Boston, and completed a post-graduate med-

ical course at Harvard College, which famous institution honored him with the degree of M. D. in 1891. He was appointed' associate surgeon of the Boston Emergency Hospital, and devoted two years to its service, having in the meanwhile established a good private practice in the classic old city. He finally returned to Den- ver, and became identified with the medical de- partment of the University of Denver as demon- strator of anatomy and lecturer on embryology, and was thereafter engaged as a medical prac- titioner in Denver, beginning private practice in 1893. In 1900 Dr. Walker located in Butte, and this city has since been the field of his able and ef- fective labors. He has been very successful and has secured a support of most gratifying order, while his popularity in both professional and so- cial circles is unequivocal.

His interest in all that pertains to his profession is constant and lively ; he is a close student of its literature, and retains membership in the Rocky Mountain Inter-State Medical Association, the American Medical Association and the state and county organizations. Dr. Walker now espouses the cause of the Democratic party as a stanch advocate of its principles, though he had previous- ly given his allegiance to the Republican party. Yet in affairs of a more purely local nature he is non-partisan. While a resident of Colorado Dr. Walker was prominently identified with various fraternal organizations, but of late the ex- acting demands of his profession prevent him from taking an active interest in them. He is a consistent member of the time-honored fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons and also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

JOHN W. WALTON, who bids fair to become - one of Montana's most prominent, as he is now one of her most respected citizens, resides on a handsome and productive ranch near Spring Hill, Gallatin county. He was born at Mt. Vernon, Lynn county, Iowa, January 12, 1868, the son of Alfred and Frances (Corbly) Walton, the former a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and the latter of West Virginia. The paternal grandfather was John W. Walton, of Lancashire, England, who came to America and settled in Canada, subse- quently removing to Philadelphia, where he was married and remained several years, going thence

472

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

to California, but returning east located in Lynn county, Iowa, where he remained until his death. His son, Alfred, father of our subject, continued farming in Iowa until the spring of 1881, when he removed to Montana, taking with him John W., then only a child. They located in Gallatin coun- ty and engaged in agricultural pursuits, the son remaining with his parents until 1894.

John W. Walton then began life on his own ac- count, and secured a fine ranch of 600 acres, in partnership with his father, the greater portion of which is thoroughly irrigated and susceptible to profitable cultivation. Through this land courses a beautiful stream, fed by mountain springs, never failing in its supply. Wheat is the principal crop, although Mr. Walton devotes considerable atten- tion to timothy, alfalfa and oats. He also raises some fine horses, particularly Percherons, Nor- mans and Morgans, and usually winters a herd of 100 shorthorn cattle.

The domestic life of Mr. Walton dates from June 13, 1894, when he was united in marriage to Miss Edith Cooke, of Minnesota. She is the daughter of William Cooke, a Pennsylvanian, who removed with his family to Montana and now resides at Bozeman, Gallatin county. Mr. and Mrs. Walton have four children : Clara, Alfred O., Lynn C. and Benjamin M. For a number of years he has served efficiently as postmaster, and for the past six years as school trustee. There is an atmosphere of general prosperity surround- ing the home of the Waltons, and they are all highly respected by the residents of Gallatin val- ley.

M RS. ELLA KNOWLES HASKELL enjoys the unique, but commendable distinction of being the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the state of Montana. She is a resident of Helena, and one of the city's most successful and eminent attorneys. Her parents, David Knowles and Louisa (Bigelow) Knowles, resided at North- wood, N. H., where she was born, and her father still resides, her mother having died when she was fourteen years of age. Her ancestors were Eng- lish, having emigrated from Old to New England early in the colonial settlement of America. Among them were farmers, mechanics, military and pro- fessional men, who during several generations filled positions of trust and honor. Surrounding the old homestead of David Knowles was the

"Knowles District," named in honor of the many eminent personages of that name who had for years resided in that locality. This brilliant and distinguished attorney was an only child. It is related of her that, as a little girl, she was ever an industrious student, and when only fifteen years of age she was graduated from Northwood Sem- inary. Subsequently Miss Knowles was matricu- lated at Bates College, at Lewiston, Me., from which she graduated in 1884, with high honors and with the degree of A. B. Later this same year her alma mater conferred upon her the degree of A. M. When she entered college in 1880, co-education. was being advocated and contested in New Eng- land, and only four girls had graduated from the institution. Thus she became involved in the bat- tle for co-education and was the first girl in the college to take part in public debate. She secured a prize in debate and also for composition and oratory, and was the first woman to receive such prizes. She was also the initial woman editor on the staff of the college magazine.

Under the direction of Burnham & Brown, at- torneys, of Manchester, N. H., she began the study of law. The senior member of the firm is now United States senator from New Hampshire. Ow- ing to failing health she was obliged to temporarily abandon her study, and acting on the advice of her physician, came to the mountainous districts of the west. In 1888 she accepted a position as teacher in the Helena Central school. At the ter- mination of the year she was elected principal of the West Side school, but resigned to resume her law studies. This idea appeared startling to her friends and to dissuade her from this course some of them resorted to ridicule, but to small purpose against one so firm of will and of such determin- ation of character. The Montana bar, too, was taken by surprise, and looked askance at the temer- ity of the young, but talented, lady. At the time there was no law in Montana permitting a woman to practice at the bar of the state. Concerning this condition, the Rochester (N. Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, on May 27, 1900, had this to say : "The statutes of Montana at that time pro- hibited the practice of law by woman. . Ella Knowles was determined in her resolutions, and set about the great task of having the law changed. By personal interviews with members of the legis- lature and a determination to win she was suc- cessful," and on December 26, 1889, she was ad- mitted to practice before the supreme court of the

Ella Knowles Haskell

473

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

state. She was also admitted to practice before the United States district and circuit courts on April 7, 1890. Thus she became the first woman lawyer of Montana, and the first woman to receive the appointment of notary public.

While the astute male members of the Montana bar were laughing at her heroic efforts to reform public opinion and destroy prejudice, the little lady began quietly, but determinedly, the practice of law. She met with more than ordinary success and has lived to become the peer of the ablest attorneys in the state. Her keen perception of fine points, her thorough knowledge of the basic prin- ciples of law, her command of language and elo- quence won the day. She gained bitterly contested cases from the ablest attorneys, and her reputation as a safe and capable lawyer was soon established. Her clientele embraced both men and women, a large majority of them, however, being men. Her practice has widely extended, and she has had cases from nearly every county in Montana.

In 1892 Miss Knowles was surprised politically. The Populist party nominated her for attorney general. When she learned the news she was in- clined to regard the matter either as a mistake or a joke. It was no joke, but a justly merited tribute to recognized talent. Her nomination was made unanimously, and without an opposing candidate. In regard to her campaign the Rochester Demo- crat and Chronicle said :

"She canvassed the state thoroughly, making over 100 speeches, and so close was the result between herself and Hon. H. J. Haskell, her Republican opponent, that the official ballot was resorted to to decide who was the winner. She lost by a few. votes, but her most creditable campaign showed that she was extremely popular with the people."

Speaking of her first case the Chicago Chronicle, of April 22, says :

"Mrs. Haskell, in describing her first case, has the following to say: 'After becoming a full fledged lawyer, but without a client, or any idea of anyone likely to throw even a $5.00 fee in my way. I started out to find some bills to collect. It was not a lofty aspiration and apparently nobody had any bills to collect in Helena, or had his own collector. I finally found a man who ad- mitted he had some old debts, but rather poohed at the idea of my attempting to realize on them. He said: "If you want to collect anything for me why don't you go out and collect my three um- brellas," it being a very rainy day. "I will," I said,

and before he realized that I was in earnest I had vanished. He had mentioned the names of the people to whom he had loaned his three umbrellas. I went to their residences and stated my purpose in coming. There was some consternation, but I returned to the merchant with the umbrellas, whereupon he objected somewhat emphatically, but I said "You told me to collect them and my fee is fifty cents." He gave me the fifty cents and the story was too good to keep, and before the mer- chant had made his peace with those three house- holds he had given me some bills to collect for him, and I soon had all of his legal business.'"

In January, 1893, Miss Knowles was appointed assistant attorney general, an office which she held to the eminent satisfaction of the people of the state for four years. During her service in this office she had charge of much important litigation before the interior department at Washington, D. C., and there she won for herself the reputation of an able and brilliant member of the legal profes- sion. She had sole charge of a case in which the state of Montana was interested, involving the title to school lands near Great Falls, to the value of $200,000, and she was for three weeks working on the case in the department of the interior. The secretary of the interior, Hon. Hoke Smith, before she left Washington rendered a decision awarding the lands in question to the state of Montana.

The political career of this distinguished mem- ber of the Montana bar has been eventful since the time of her nomination for attorney general. In 1896 she was a delegate to the Lewis and Clarke county Populist convention, and acted as secretary of the convention; she was also a delegate to the state convention and the national convention. She was the first woman elected as a delegate to a national convention from Montana. At the national convention, which was held at St. Louis, she was elected a member of the Populist national commit- tee, an office which she held for four years. In 1900 she was again elected a delegate to the Pop- ulist convention of Lewis and Clarke county, and to the Populist state convention. She took a very active part in their proceedings, serving upon con- mittees, and addressing the conventions upon mat- ters of importance. She took the stump tor the tus- ion ticket in 1896 and also in 1900, and passed some weeks in addressing audiences upon the political issues of the time.

Mrs. Knowles Haskell is interested in mining, being an owner in mining properties, and she has

474

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

successfully conducted several important mining deals. In 1900 she was a delegate to the Inter- national Mining Congress which met at Milwaukee, and was elected a member of the executive com- mittee of the congress.

She is a public speaker of singular power and eloquence, and her philanthropic devotion to the cause of true womanhood is unbounded. When it was once suggested to her that her field of ac- tivities was a somewhat unusual one for a woman she said :

"That I am interested in mining in various ways is not strange when you consider that I reside in one of the greatest mining states in the Union or even in the world.

"As to suffrage and the woman question, I am of the opinion that women should have the rights of electors as they are required to pay taxes. We cannot evade the tax collector or the revenue act, and if we support the government in times of war and peace with our money, we should have a voice in expending our contributions to the public funds. I believe in justice in all things, and if it was unjust for our fathers to be taxed by Great Britain without representation, it is unjust to tax the women of today without representation. I cannot see it in any other light. You ask me if I believe my sex will soon be represented in congress. There are plenty of educated, talented women who would do credit to their states in congress or anywhere else, and it may be that some of the suffrage states will send a woman there in the near future. If any of them do I shall expect that woman to be pos- sessed of unusual brain power and integrity of purpose. She will be a credit to her political party, for it is hard to break away from the custom that has prevailed for centuries, of electing only men to legislative bodies, and when a woman is chosen she will necessarily have to possess more ability than her male competitor. At least that will be the case at first. There is quite a strong suffrage sentiment in Montana, but such an innovation would probably be looked upon with favor in some sections and with disfavor in others, depending en- tirely upon the standard of intelligence of the par- ticular community." On May 23. 1895, Miss Knowles was united in marriage to Hon. H. J. Haskell, her Republican opponent in the campaign of 1892, further mention of whom will be found in this volume. On Mrs. Haskell has been bestowed the appropriate name of the "Portia of the Peo- ple's Party," and this is but a just tribute to her

eminent legal and oratorical abilities. The ob- stacles that she has encountered were, probably, greater than have confronted any other attorney connected with the bar of Montana. That she has so victoriously triumphed against the opposition of injustice and prejudice is in line with her whole successful career since she carried away the first prizes from her male competitors in Bates College.

R EECE BOWEN WAMPLER .- The de- scendant of a prominent old Virginia family, large in physique as forceful in intellectual, social and political influence, bearing an active and serv- iceable part in all public affairs and leaving their mark on the institutions and in the development of their section, Reece B. Wampler, in the new re- gion in which he has labored for the most of his mature life, has faithfully borne out the record of his ancestors, and in his own career has done them credit. He was born at Vincennes, Ind., March 21, 1852, a son of David Wampler, who had emigrated to the Hoosier state when it was still a part of the western frontier and there en- gaged in farming, at which he expended the rest of his life. Reece, the son, remained on the Indi- ana homestead until the spring of 1872 and then joined an elder brother, John B. Wampler, who had come to Montana in 1865. When John B. crossed the plains there was constant danger from the Indians, from climatic conditions, and from other causes arising from the unknown and un- settled state of the country. Yet, with the force of character and resolute determination, as well as the good judgment which have always charac- terized the Wamplers, John organized his little band of nine persons from Indiana, equipped with the necessary teams and other appliances, and bravely led them forward. On the way they fell in with other trains and soon had a formidable outfit which might have defied serious opposition to its advance. This, however, did not confront them. They arrived at Virginia City without mishap, and John Wampler settled at Silver Bow gulch, and engaged in mining, continuing at this until he died in 1885, leaving a widow and two children. The widow died in 1896 and the chil- dren are now a part of the family of their uncle.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 92

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