Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 98

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 98

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Dr. Wirth studied denistry under the instruction of Dr. Walsh, of Winona, and having thoroughly mastered his profession, he made an extended pro- fessional tour, practicing in various places in the United States. In 1890 he located in Helena, and here he has since been in continuous and successful practice. In connection with his large and lucrative business as a dentist, Dr. Wirth is extensively en- gaged in mining, having interests in a number of valuable properties. Politically he is an active Re- publican and a worker of extraordinary ability dur- ing the campaigns. He never allows partisanism to cross the door of friendship, and his popularity among all parties and creeds is excelled by that of no other citizen. In 1899 he was elected alderman from the Seventh ward of Helena, which he at pres- ent represents. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of Broadwater Camp of the Woodmen of the World, of which he is consul. He is also treasurer of the state board of dental examiners, and a member of the Catholic church. In 1883 Dr. Wirth was united in marriage to Ella, daughter of Michael Mitchell. They have one daughter, Bessie.

A THOL F. WRIGHT .- Among the representa- tive citizens of Montana whose memories retain the record of her annals from the early pioneer days to the opening of the twentieth century, is Mr. Wright, who for nearly two score of years has been identified with the business life of the old city of Bannack and is still there engaged in mercantile pursuits, honored and respected as one of the sterl- ing pioneers of the state. Mr. Wright is a native of Parke county, Ind., where he was born November 6, 1839. His father, Edmund Wright, was born in Kentucky, whence he removed to Indiana about the year 1832, becoming one of the pioneers of the Hoosier state and there devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits until his death. He married Mary A. Ferguson, a native of Indiana, and they became the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this review was the eldest.

Athol F. Wright was reared to the sturdy life of the farmn and received his educational training in the public schools of his native county. He there con- tinued to be identified with agricultural pursuits un- til 1859, when he started for the west, stopping for a time at Paola, Kan. The same year he crossed the plains to Fort Union, N. M., as a driver in the out- fit of Majors, Russell & Waddell, government freighters. In the spring of 1863 he started with a party for Walla Walla, Wash., but while en route was informed of the discovery of gold at Bannack. Mont., then a portion of the territory of Idaho, whither he determined to go, joining the stampede of gold seekers. He made the trip by way of the South Platte to Julesburg, Colo. ; thence by the North Platte and Lander's cutoff to Montana, arriving in Bannack July 28, 1863, thus gaining title to being. one of the earliest pioneers of the state. He pur- chased placer claims on Nugget Hill and engaged in mining until the spring of the following year. In 1868 he established a bakery in Bannack, conducting the same until 1870, when he engaged in general merchandising, and has since been identified with this line of enterprise. He also has valuable quartz mining interests in Beaverhead county, now in pro- cess of development. Mr. Wright was concerned in many of the exciting events of the early days, aiding materially in the suppression of the notorious ban- dits, whose depredations and crimes rendered neces- sary the organization of the Vigilance Committee, with its summary mode of justice. He was present at the time of the arrest of Ned Ray, who was at a card table in the Bank Exchange saloon. The cabin of Plummer was just above and Stinson was at a

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cabin adjoining when taken, all of whom were hung.

In politics Mr. Wright has ever been a stanch ad- vocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and in 1878, though of conflicting political faith, he served as postmaster of Bannack during the admin- istration of President Grant. Fraternally he is a member of Bannack Lodge No. 3, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs. Mr. Wright is a bachelor.

TILLIAM WORWOOD, residing upon one of the most productive and best irrigated farms in Gallatin valley near Courts, has amply demon- strated the possibilities of Montana's agricultural industry. A man of superior intelligence and wide experience, he has brought to the building up of a beautiful home in Gallatin county that patient indus- try and clear judgment which accomplishes so much. He was born in Birmingham, England, on February 3, 1839. His father, John Worwood, a native of Brockmore, England, was born on January 16, 1815, and died on January 7, 1866. His wife was Miss Mariah Watton, born on November 13, 1813, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, and is now living in Bozeman. Concerning the maternal grandfather, Joseph Watton, there is an interesting historical reminiscence. He married Miss Elizabeth Hobson, whose father was proprietor of a farm, public house and livery stable. The stable business was con- ducted upon the novel plan of compelling every ap- plicant to take the horse nearest the door. This originated the expression, "Hobson's choice." The paternal grandmother was in girlhood Sarah Ash- ton.

Until he was ten years of age William Worwood lived in Birmingham, where he attended the public schools. In 1849 he accompanied the family to Rugby, where the father was employed by the Lon- don & Northwestern Railway as mechanical en- gineer. Here they remained until March 26, 1855, William continuing his studies in the famous Rugby schools, his principal tutor being William Tate, ed- itor of the Rugby Gazette. In 1855 the Worwood family came to the United States, going at once to Salt Lake City, Utah, by rail from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, then on the Ohio and Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Atchison, Kan., and thence across the plains. On the railroad journey occurred a collision of two trains. Although two cars were torn to pieces no one was seriously injured. From Fort Leavenworth the party contained about 3,000 Mor-

mons, and near Mormon Grove 800 died of cholera. Eight weeks Mr. Worwood lay ill in bed in a comatose condition. During this period he had a vision (the Mormon elders, at the request of his mother, having laid their hands on him) in which he saw and conversed with a person from the other world who told him that he should go safely through to Zion and he immediately recovered his health, renewing his journey next day. Near Atch- ison the party was surrounded by Sioux, and a Mrs. Palmer was accidentally shot and removed to Fort Laramie, the accident occurring from a gun in the hands of a Mormon. The Indians were peaceable and Captain Ballantyne gave them some provisions and allayed all trouble. This Mormon party arrived at Salt Lake on September 25, 1855, where Mr. Wor- wood remained two years, going to the Indian agency of San Pete county, Utah, continuing in that locality until 1860. He then removed to Nephi and engaged in various vocations until 1880, when he started for Montana, passing one winter in Idaho, where he taught school.

On his arrival in Montana he engaged in teach- ing on Willow creek, but in January, 1881, he se- lected his present home and became a rancher. One season he here raised 173 bushels of oats on 156 rods of land, and in 1882 he harvested the first crop of alfalfa cut in the Gallatin valley. Upon this prop- erty he has built about eighty reservoirs for irriga- tion purposes, and some of them are well stocked with mountain trout. He is much interested in irri- gation, and is in regular correspondence with the Bureau of Irrigation, at Washington, D. C.

Mr. Worwood on October 19, 1862, wedded with Miss Clara Jenkinson, of Staffordshire, England, born February 3, 1839, the date of her husband's birth. She is the daughter of William and Ann (Cotton) Jenkinson, natives of Staffordshire, who later settled at Salt Lake City. Ten children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Worwood, of whom six are living : William J., Louisa, now Mrs. Sharon, living on the Big Horn river ; Albert Ern- est, Lawrence Bertrand, Maud Alice and John Franklyn. Mr. Worwood has a splendid estate, a handsome residence, substantial outbuildings and everything around the place shows prosperity. He is a man of superior education and culture, of pro- gressive views and excellent business judgment, and he is the author of the most complete system of shorthand in existence, and was the first teacher in decimal arithmetic, and both systems Mr. Worwood says were shown him in a vision. Of his flourish-

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ing family he has just reason to feel extremely proud, and they, with him, enjoy the esteem of the people of the entire Gallatin valley. Although he arrived in Montana with a cash capital of only forty cents, he thinks that he has realized handsomely on his investment.

CHARLES E. WRIGHT .- Enlisted in the ad- D ministrative affairs of Carbon county are of- ficials of ability and utmost fidelity, and among the number is Mr. Wright, the present incumbent of the important office of county treasurer, and one of the progressive and successful young stockgrowers of this section of the state.

The beautiful old city of Philadelphia figures as the place of Mr. Wright's nativity, where he was born September 23, 1867. The family has been identified for many generations with the old Key- stone state, and there our subject's parents, Penrose and Lucetta M. (Sholter) Wright, were born, as was the grandfather, Joseph Wright. Penrose Wright passed his life in Philadelphia and vicinity and was one of the influential and honored repre- sentatives of the agricultural industry in that section until his death, which occurred in 1884. He was a man of distinct individuality and sterling character, his attitude ever public-spirited, while he maintained a particularly lively interest in educational affairs. His widow and four children survive him.

Charles E. Wright received his early education in the district schools in the vicinity of his home, and eventually he became a student in Swathmore Col- lege, at Swathmore, Pa., where he continued his scholastic discipline for two years, the death of his father requiring his presence at the old homestead. In 1886 Mr. Wright started for Montana, making Carbon county his destination, and soon after his arrival he engaged in the cattle business in connec- tion with the Dilworth Cattle Company; later he purchased his present holdings, consisting of 320 acres of deeded land, as well as thousands of acres of pasturage situated two miles east of Red Lodge and known as the "Mountain View Ranch," where he gives special attention to the breeding of regis- tered Hereford cattle, sparing neither time nor money. Among his herd may be found numerous prize winners selected from the most noted herds of Missouri and Illinois, and from this excellent source he breeds the finest type of beef cattle, and his ef- forts have done much to improve and advance this

important industry in this state as well as Wyom- ing; in fact, young breeding stock from Mr. Wright's "Mountain View Ranch" are greatly in demand, and he finds no trouble in disposing of the increase. In addition to the ranch mentioned he is largely connected. with the Rosebud Cattle Com- pany, located in the western part of Carbon coun- ty, between the East and West Rosebud creeks, which concern devotes much time to the raising of Whitefaces (Herefords), while in its pastures and on the open range may be seen splendid types of high-grade beef cattle.

In the year 1897 Mr. Wright became associated with others in the organization of the Carbon Mer- cantile Company, with headquarters at Red Lodge, conducting a general merchandise business ; and continued to be identified with this enterprise until 1897, when he disposed of his interests. In political affairs, of a local nature, Mr. Wright has taken a deep interest, such as should ever be shown by loyal citizens, and the confidence and esteem in which he is held in the county was manifested at the election of November, 1900, when he was the suc- cessful candidate for the office of county treasurer, the affairs of which he is now administering with the same care and discrimination which conserved his personal success. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks. On September II, 1901, Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Ida Lamport, who was born in Montana, being the daughter of Geo. T. Lamport, manager of the Bear Creek Coal Company, of Carbon county, in which he is one of the leading stockholders.

G EORGE A. ALLEN .- One of the fine estates of Park county is that owned by Mr. Allen, who has 1,000 acres located on Yellowstone river, twelve miles north of Fridley, his postoffice address. He is a young man of progressive ideas, marked public spirit and executive ability, who has been very suc- cessful in farming and stockgrowing. Mr. Allen was born at Jamestown, N. Y., on January 1, 1860, the son of Dwight M. and Jane Bradley (Lacey) Allen, both natives of New York, where the families had been long established. In 1864 his father re- moved to Warren, Pa., and thence to Montana, leaving his family in Pennsylvania and in the west he engaged in mining for about nine years, meeting with considerable success. He then returned to

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Pennsylvania and for three years he was a partner in the McLean-Hooper Sewing Machine Company, of Philadelphia. Returning then to Montana he made a permanent location here, devoting his attention to mining and merchandising.

George A. Allen was educated in Warren, Pa., in the public schools. In 1877 he went to Pittsburg, and entered the employ of his uncle, George S. Lacey, an extensive lumber manufacturer, and two years later started for Montana, by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Fort Benton, thence going to Helena, near which city he was engaged in ranching until 1885, when he took up a homestead in his present location. On his attractive ranch Mr. Allen has made exceptionally good improvements, having a commodious residence and other necessary build- ings, the equipment being thoroughly complete and up to date. His ranch is well supplied with water, 100 acres being under effective irrigation and he raises large crops of hay. Mr. Allen has also a fine orchard of more than 200 trees from which he secures a good yield of apples and other fruits. His particular attention, however, is given to the raising of cattle, he usually wintering from 100 to 150 head and breeding the shorthorn variety as a favorite. On January 31, 1885, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Brown, born in Johnson county, Mo., one of the five children of James M. and Nancy Elizabeth (George) Brown, likewise natives of Missouri, whence they removed to Mon- tana and locating on the Yellowstone river, where the father was engaged in ranching. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have one son, Clarence B., born on December 26, 1886.

TRA L. PHILLIPS .- The intense intellectual energy and restlessness of New England, after subduing its own region to fruitfulness, has been for generations seeking new worlds to conquer, and in this way has been of immense advantage in settling, developing and building up the vast territorial do- main of our country, and there is scarcely any por- tion of the north and west that has not been quick- ened by Yankee clergy and ingenuity. Prominent as a part of this New England element at work in the wilds of Montana was the late Ira L. Phillips, of Pony, Madison county. He was born at Red- ding, Conn., July 4, 1838, a son of George B. and Elizabeth (Lindley) Phillips, also natives of that state, where his maternal grandfather, Dr. Lindley, was a celebrated physician. George B. Phillips,

his father, made his home at Danbury, Conn., and carried on an extensive marble business.

After leaving school Mr. Phillips learned the hatter's trade. In his twenty-first year his eager ear heard a voice from Pike's Peak in distant Colorado, promising golden guerdon for the faith- ful toil of treasure seekers, and he hastened to that favored locality. He remained there a few years, was fairly successful in his quest, and would doubt- less have been very wealthy but for unfortunate litigation which robbed him of his profits. He returned to Connecticut, and in 1864 came to Montana, traveling overland in company with T. B. Hunt, in whose sketch, which appears elsewhere in this work, the incidents of the trip are narrated. Mr. Phillips followed mining a short time at Alder gulch without success, obtaining a mine there from Colorado parties in part payment for money ad- vanced. It proved to be worthless, and that fall he revisited the east, going down the Missouri river and on the trip having considerable trouble with Indians. In Connecticut, on May 10, 1865, he married to Miss Harriet Wheeler, of Monroe, a daughter of Amos and Mary M. (Molthrop) Wheeler. Her family had removed to Michigan as pioneers, and, after many years of life there, had resided in London, Ontario, for thirteen years. From there the father had gone to California, where he died, and the family had returned to Con- necticut.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Phillips came again to Montana, leaving his wife in Connecticut, and, after a six-months stay he went back by wagon train, and in 1866 brought his wife to Montana. They came with ox teams, and, although there were over 400 persons in the train, seven Indians sur- prised them at Big Horn, making three raids on them in one day, the first time taking some mules, the second some horses, returning the third time for oxen. In this attempt they got nothing, but shot two herders, one of whom died, but the other was able to go on with the party. Mrs. Phillips stopped where the town of Pony now is, and Mr. Phillips went on to Sheridan to look after his min- ing properties. They later located on Indian creek, two miles above Sheridan, where he engaged in mining for three years. He then opened a black- smith shop at Sheridan, continuing mining also. In 1882 he purchased the Webb ranch of 640 acres, three miles north of Pony, and engaged in raising stock and hogs. This he continued until the time of his death, which occurred February 18, 1898.

CHICAGO

The Phillips

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He was survived by his widow and three children, Harry, Samuel and George L., who live with their mother on the homestead, and Maud E., now Mrs. B. Tinsley, of Pony. Mr. Phillips was an active Master Mason, and a valued member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He stood well in the community, enjoying the esteem of all who knew him, and the cordial regard of a large circle of intimate friends. Mrs. Phillips has recently com- pleted a fine modern residence on the homestead, which is one of the desirable properties of the sec- tion, and gives evidence of skill and advanced meth- ods in its management.

C AMERON C. WYLIE, general agent, Equitable Assurance Society of the United States, with headquarters in the city of Helena, has been con- spicuously concerned with educational work in Montana, and has gained prestige as one of the rep- resentative business men of the capital city through that ability, forceful individuality, which insures ad- vancement. Mr. Wylie was born in Breamer, Iowa, on February 11, 1864, the son of Moses and Eliza- beth (McCartney ) Wylie, natives of Ohio, the form- er born December 1, 1819, and the latter March 6, 1822. Moses Wylie received a common-school edu- cation, first engaged in teaching, but soon turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, which he followed a few years, then identified himself with the agricul- tural industry, which he has since followed. His marriage to Elizabeth McCartney was solemnized on March 9, 1849, and in 1899 they celebrated their golden wedding. They became the parents of eight children, of whom five sons and two daughters are yet living, one of their number being Prof. William W. Wylie, of Bozeman, to whom specific reference is made on other pages of this work. The parents removed from Ohio to Iowa in 1855, thence to Kansas in 1867, and finally to Montana, in 1898, where they still maintain their home, both well pre- served in physical and mental vigor.

Cameron C. Wylie was four years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Kansas, where they located on a farmi in the vicinity of Winchester, Jefferson county, remaining until 1872, removing thence to Clay county, where our subject secured his preliminary educational training in the district school. In 1881, at the age of seventeen, he matric- ulated in the State Agricultural College, at Man- hattan, and continued his studies until his senior

year, when his health became so impaired that he was compelled to return to his home. He there- after engaged in teaching school at intervals until December, 1885. when he came to Montana, whither his brother, William W., had preceded him. His first occupation in the territory was with the United States geological survey, then engaged in locating the southern and western lines of the Yellowstone National Park. During the progress of this im- portant work Mr. Wylie held the position of assist- ant topographer, and as such it was his privilege to make a complete tour through the wonderful park, together with the Jackson lake and the Jackson hole country. They devoted four months to ex- ploration and surveying, and were finally compelled to cease operations on account of the heavy snow fall. In November, 1885, he engaged in teaching school at Fish creek, Madison county, and in the following spring taught a term at Iron Rod. After the close of the school he again made a tour through the Yellowstone Park, and in the winter of 1886-7 he engaged in pedagogic work near Bozeman. In May, 1887, Mr. Wylie entered into a contract with the Western Publishing House, of Chicago, and handled their specialties through the Pacific coast country, passing a year in California.

In 1890 Mr. Wylie located in Missoula, where he engaged in the real estate business as a member of the firm of Gilbert, Raymond & Wylie, from which he retired in the spring of 1892, and removed to Bozeman, where he acted as local representative of the Anaconda Standard, and also engaged in the reading of law in the office of one of the leading attorneys of Bozeman, remaining, however, only a short time. On March 20, 1892, he received from the state board of education appointment as assistant superintendent of public instruction, in which capaci- ty he served five years, with marked ability, resigning to accept his present position as general agent of the Equitable Assurance Society of the United States, whose business he has taken well in hand and greatly advanced the interests of this stanch old company in Montana. Mr. Wylie personally completed the entire compilation of the present school laws of Montana, receiving a vote of thanks from the state board of education for his careful and able services.

Politically his support is given to the Republican party ; his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, in which he was reared.

On June 22, 1892, Mr. Wylie was united in marriage to Miss Olive D. Lamont, who was born

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in the state of Illinois, the daughter of Rev. Hugh Lamont, residing in Missoula, Mont., at the time of the marriage being a clergyman in the Presbyterian church. He served in the war of the Rebellion, as a member of an Illinois regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Wylie have two little sons, Wilfred Lamont, born January 18, 1894, and Cameron Ellsworth, born February 25, 1896.

W T ALTER W. ADAMS .- Farmer, soldier, circus performer, railroad brakeman and conductor, miner, hotel proprietor, iceman, merchant and public official, and doing well in each capacity, Walter William Adams, of Columbia Gardens, near Butte, forcibly illustrates the oft-told tale of the variable- ness of American life and the great versatility of the American mind which can mold a shapely destiny out of any plastic conditions that fate may fling be- fore it. He was born in Utica, Oneida county, N. Y., on December 3, 1844. His father was William Adams, a native of New York, who after conducting successfully a large cotton factory for a number of years, quietly passed away in 1890. His mother was Laura, daughter of Miles Washburn, an enterpris- ing and prosperous farmer of the same state. Of the eight children in the family Walter was the third. He attended the public schools until he was seventeen, and then engaged himself as a laborer on a neighboring farm for "$6.00 a month and his keep," continuing in this employment until the Civil war called American valor to the field, and then he joined the Union army as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fourth New York Infantry. His choice of a regiment was fateful in that it took him where the fighting was fast and furious all along the line. Among the great battles in which he participated were Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Pine Tree, Seven Pines, Second Bull Run, Manassas Gap and Gettysburg. He was not wounded or captured during the war, and suffered no permanent harm from his long and arduous service.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 98

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