Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 105

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > Montana > Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2 > Part 105

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In the spring of 1866 Mr. Luppold fitted out ox teams and started for Montana, having several In- dian fights on the way, being a member of Capt. Bailey's train. He arrived at Diamond City on the 4th of August, and there engaged quite success- fully in mining until 1871. He had mining claims in Cement gulch, which proving valuable he sold at a good price and in the spring of 1873 purchased a band of cattle, which he brought to his present ranch, four miles west of White Sulphur Springs. Here he has since continued successfully in the cattle business, controlling about 5,000 acres and having at times as high as 1,500 head. On his home ranch he has a first-class water right, good buildings and other excellent improvements. He also owns a fifth interest in the business of the Martindale Sheep Company, and is one of the progressive and successful stockmen of this fa- vored section of the state. Politically he gives his support to the Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with the Grand Army of the Repub- lic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man of genial nature and his friends are numerous, while his integrity is inflexible under all conditions. In 1873 Mr. Luppold was married to Miss Kate Kuarth, a native of Switzerland, who died in 1875 without issue. In 1890 he was joined by his sister Fiana, who presides over the econo- mies of the pleasant ranch home with a true hospi- tality, coupled with Germanic thrift.

G EORGE DALGLIESH .- In the city of Ham- ilton, province of Ontario, Canada, George Dalgliesh, the enterprising subject of this review, first saw the light of day on October 14, 1863, being the fifth of the eight children born unto Robert and Mary (Kelly) Dalgliesh, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. When he was six years old the family removed to Atchison, Kan., where he attended school until he was nearly fourteen, when he left home to earn a living for himself, which he began doing by herding cattle in western Kansas. When he was seventeen he 97

went into Colorado, herding the working stock of a railroad contractor, but after following this oc- cupation for a short time he returned to Kan- sas and remained there until 1880, coming thence to Montana and locating in the Bitter Root valley mear Florence, where he spent a year farming. But not feeling satisfied with the vocation of the patriarchs he quit farming at the end of the year and accepted employment as a clerk and sales- man in a store, advancing from this position at the end of another year to the proprietorship of a gen- eral merchandising business for himself, which he conducted successfully at Florence until 1899, when he sold out and removed to Bearmouth, where he conducted a similar enterprise for two years. He then removed his stock to Drummond and opened a mercantile establishment at that place, leasing at the same time for five years the Wind- sor hotel, which he is now conducting with great satisfaction to its patrons.

In politics Mr. Dalgliesl. is an ardent Demo- crat, and as such was elected justice of the peace four terms at Florence and one at Bearmouth. In fraternal relations he is identified with the Masonic order by membership in Oriental Lodge No. 28, at Stevensville, and with the Odd Fellows by mem- bership in Lolo Lodge No. 34, at Carlton. He was married September 11, 1895, to Miss Myrtle A. Holloway, daughter of Thomas and Mary Hol- loway, of Florence, where the marriage was sol- emnized. They have two daughters and a son, Frances, Campbell H. and Marian.

JULIUS DANIOTHY, by birth a Swiss, has achieved prominence as a successful cattle- grower and general ranchman in Choteau county, near the town of Cleveland. If any one can be termed a self-made man that distinction belongs to our subject. He was born in Switzerland on August 12, 1859, the son of Stephen and Catherine (Regle) Daniothy, the father being employed in the mail service of that country as the driver of one of the coaches. He served in this employment, involving a large degree of responsibility, for twenty-three years. Julius Daniothy, his son, was reared and received the rudiments of his early edu- cation in the town of Andermatt, Switzerland, principally in the public schools of his immedi- ate locality. But the struggle for life was up- hill work at that period, and at the early age of eight years he was compelled to work for the

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pittance of eight cents a day. Fortune, how- ever, favored him in some respects, and when he was fifteen years old he secured the appoint- ment as driver of one of the mail coaches, which he followed for the succeeding five years. How- ever it had been impressed upon his mind from early youth that the new world offered better ad- vantages to the ambitious young man of any coun- try, and in the spring of 1880 he immigrated to the United States. Nor did he stay his footsteps on the shores of Manhattan island, but bravely pushed on to the great northwest and was soon in Helena, Mont., working industriously for his uncle, John Daniothy, on the latter's ranch. Here he remained two years, subsequently going to the Judith basin, where he, anxious to do for him- self and become independent, engaged in grow- ing cattle on shares. He continued this business two years, and then entered the employment of Stadler & Kufman, of Helena, taking charge of their sheep and cattle, and he remained with them seven years. The success of Mr. Daniothy in after life dates from the time he located his present ranch, in 1892. It is in the Bear Paw mountains, comprising 400 acres all under fence. It is thor- oughly equipped with all necessary improvements and is a most eligible and valuable property. In 1893 Mr. Daniothy was married to Miss Katie, daughter of John Daniothy, of Helena. The wife and mother died in February, 1895, leaving a daughter, Katie. Politically the sympathies of Mr. Daniothy are with the Republican party, with- in whose circles he is an influential worker.

W ILFRED DALE, of Courts, Gallatin county, one of the most highly esteemed farmers in the valley, was born in Staffordshire, England, on March 17, 1850. His father Joseph, born in 1815, was also a native of Staffordshire, his mother, Elizabeth (Kane) Dale having been born in Ireland in 1810. In 1869 the family came from Stafford- shire, England, to the United States and located ten miles from Salt Lake City, Utah, where the father continued farming until his death in 1886, his wife dying in 1877.

The early days of our subject were passed in Staffordshire, where he was employed in the coal mines of that vicinity. In 1869 he came to this country with his family, and was, until 1879, en- gaged in farming in the east. Wilfred Dale and

his wife, Annie Courts, came to Montana in 1879, and in 1889 he took up 160 acres of land on Reese creek, Gallatin county. He took up 160 acres more in 1891, making his proofs in 1894 and 1899. To these 320 he added 400 acres in 1901 by purchase and the same year he sold his homestead and tree claims, 320 acres, to his oldest son, John James Dale. This land is well improved and thoroughly irrigated. The principal crop raised is wheat, although he is an extensive cultivator of hay and oats.

On November 4, 1873, Wilfred Dale and Miss Anna Courts, daughter of John Courts, well known i11 Gallatin county, and for whom the town of Courts was named, were married at McDuffs, four miles north of Salt Lake City, Utah. She is a native of Staffordshire, England, also. Her father came to Montana in 1864 and located on Reese creek. To Mr. and Mrs. Dale have been born fifteen children, of whom three, Wilfred Wil- liam, Sarah Jane and Zina Adelaide, are dead. The living are John James, George Alfred, Emma Elis, David Frederick, Wilfred Andrew, Lydia Ann, Caleb Milton, Rosa Maria, William Absalom, Cy- rus Mahlin, Carrie and Alice Ellen. The father of Mrs. Dale, John Courts, was born September 2, 1818, and died on March 19, 1887. Her mother, Elizabeth Courts, was born February 7, 1824, and died on September 25, 1893, leaving four children.

H ARVEY H. CURTIS is an excellent represen- tative of the progressive stockgrowers of Cas- cade county. He was born at Little York, Ohio, on January 20, 1844, the son of Daniel and Sarah Cur- tis, natives of the Buckeye state. In 1848 the par- ents removed to Peru, Ind., where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1866, when he migrated to Barry county, Mich., and purchased an excellent farm of 160 acres in the vicinity of Hastings, where he was engaged in general farming until 1875, when he returned to Indiana, and lo- cated at Bunker Hill, and lived retired until his death at the age of sixty-five. The mother of our subject then made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Anna Hedrick, in Iowa, until 1897, when she passed away at the age of seventy-one years. She was a devoted member of the Baptist church for many years. The father of our subject was a stanch Republican, in religion he was a birth-right mem- ber of the Society of Friends.

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Harvey H. Curtis was educated in the public schools of Peru, Ind., and assisted his father in the work on the farm. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Michigan, where he remained until 1871, when he located at Bunker Hill, Ind., and worked at the stonemason's trade until the spring of 1890. He then came to Cascade county, Mont., and took up a pre-emption claim of 160 acres near Evans, placing sixty acres under cultivation. In 1896 he added a homestead claim of equal area, and there devoted his attention principally to the raising of cattle, keeping a sufficient number of horses for the demands of the ranch.

He affiliates with the Republican party, but has. never been an aspirant for public office. He and his wife are members of the Seventh-day Adventist church. They occupy a position of prominence in the community. In 1865 Mr. Curtis was married to Miss Mary Jane Hutchins, of Wabash county, Ind., the daughter of Anderson and Mary Hutch- ins, both of whom were born in Ohio, birthright members of the Society of Friends. The mother died in Indiana in 1850; the father was a farmer by occupation and died at South Wabash in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis became the parents of nine children, of whom Anna and John are deceased. The sur- viving children are Ora M., Guy H., Herbert F., Nellie F., Halley E., Vina M. and Dimple D.

P HILIP THOMAS DAVIS .- To the town of Wickes, Jefferson county, in the territorial days of Montana, came Philip Thomas Davis. He at once engaged in mining. It was not exactly the same mining to which he had been accustomed in his native state and in Canada, but he easily fell into the ways of the Montana placer miner and met with fair success. He was born at Bradys Bend, Pa., on December 24, 1858. Both his father and his mother, Thomas J. and Dorothy (Williams) Davis, were natives of Wales who, coming to the United States in 1852, had settled at Brady's Bend, where the father was a coal miner and still resides. The second of a family of five children, Mr. Davis re- ceived his education in the public schools of his na- tive town, and from school attendance he went to Lethbridge, Canada, and in 1883 was engaged in mining in that vicinity with a fair degree of success. It was in 1886, three years prior to the admission of Montana into the Union, that he located in Wickes, and here also he was employed in mining. Four

years subesquently, in 1890, Mr. Davis removed to Butte, and from that time he has been constantly in charge of the city water works pumping station, and his practical experience has made him a valu- able man to the company. In Masonic circles Mr. Davis has attained high rank, and his prominence in this connection is recognized throughout Mon- tana. On August 17, 1882, he was made a Mason, taking his first degree in Garfield Lodge No. 559, at Dubois, Pa. In June, 1888, he joined Deer Lodge Chapter No. 3, and has twice officiated as principal sojourner and royal arch captain. At present he is steward of Butte council. In June, 1894, Mr. Davis joined Montana Commandery No. 3, and in 1895 the Algeria Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Helena. The Scottish Rite degrees (he is a thirty-second de- gree Mason) were administered to him in 1898 and in 1888 he had been made a member of Ruth Chap- ter No. 2, Order of the Eastern Star. Theologically he is a Spiritualist. Mr. Davis numbers a host of appreciative friends and is highly esteemed as a man of ability and sterling character.

A NDREW DAVIDSON .- There is an element of signal consistency in the fact that the hon- ored subject of this review has gained a position of prominence in a line of industry to which he was reared amid the hills and heather of bonnie auld Scotland and there is justifiable pride in birth and lineage through a long line of Scottish ancestors. Well schooled in the management of flocks ranging on the heather-girt hills of his native land, Mr. Da- vidson is today identified with the same pastoral line of enterprise, being one of the representative sheepgrowers of Valley county. Amid the beautiful Lammermoor hills of Scotland, where is laid the scene of that grand opera, Mr. Davidson was ush- ered into the world on May 4, 1852. His father, James Davidson, was born in Berwickshire, Scot- land, in 1810, and died in his native land in the year 1877. He was a shepherd by vocation and held po- sitions of trust and responsibility for twenty-six years under the same master, being a man of stanch- est rectitude and a worthy type of the sturdy Scotch- man. He married Margaret Melrose, who was born in the town of Haddington, Scotland, in 1811, and who died at Yadlee, parish of Stenton, in 1881.

Andrew Davidson, the immediate subject of this sketch, was educated in the Cranshaws school, in Berwickshire, where he continued his studies until

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the age of fifteen years, when he became a shepherd boy on the farm of Bluecairn in Lauderville, ten- anted by Nathaniel Hume, who had attained wealth by herding the fleecy flock in Galawater. He re- mained in this position for two and one-half years, and for the following six months was similarly em- ployed on the farm of James Maither, at Kedzlie. Mr. Maither, who had himself started out in life as a poor shepherd boy and who had acquired large wealth through his own industry, became a steadfast friend of the subject of this review, a friendship that has ever been held inviolate and is a source of gratification to Mr. Davidson, though far from his native heath. Eleven years previous to the death of his father, in 1877, Mr. Davidson went home to take his place as shepherd at Yadlee, a shepherd's house on the farm of Millknowl tenanted by William Creichton, and he retained this position for a period of eleven years. In 1882 he bade adieu to his native land, severed the home ties and came to America, lo- cating at Kankakee, Ill., in June, 1882, remaining there until April of the following year. Shortly after- ward he removed to Tama county, Iowa, where he rented a farm and conducted operations until the fall crops were secured, when he came on to Mel- ville, then in Gallatin county, there taking up his abode, and again became identified with the herding of sheep, and was thus engaged for two winters. In the spring of 1886 he purchased a band of cattle, and was thereafter engaged in the ranching and cattle business near Melville, now Sweet Grass county, until 1891, when he came to Malta, Valley county, and took up a homestead on the north side of the Great Northern Railroad tracks, near the town and near to the Milk river. To the original homestead, called Yadlee ranch, he has since added by purchase of contiguous tracts until he now has a valuable landed estate of 1,000 acres, and here he is engaged in the raising of sheep and horses, running an average of 8,000 head of sheep, his in- timate and practical knowledge and judgment of the industry assuring him abundant success.

In politics Mr. Davidson is a stalwart Republi- can and takes an active and intelligent interest in public affairs, keeping well informed concerning the issues and the questions of the hour. He has held the position of justice of the peace for seven years, is a notary public, and from 1892 until 1898 was clerk of the school board of district No. 2.

September II, 1885, Mr. Davidson was united in marriage, in the famed old city of Edinburgh, Scot- land, to Miss Isabella Proudfoot Ritchie, who was

born at the deanery in that city in the year 1858, being the daughter of James Ritchie, who was a provision merchant. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have seven children, namely : Jeanie Proudfoot, James Ritchie, Margaret Melrose Lyall, William Andrew, Lillie Vale, Clarence Goldie and Francis Elliot.

H ON. A. J. DAVIDSON .- No history of Mon- tana can be written without conspicuous men- tion of Hon. A. J. Davidson. Coming into the ter- ritory in 1863 with the earliest pioneers, he has "watched its growth through all its rapid industrial and political development, and has contributed his full share in bringing order out of chaos in this land of the mountains. When but a youth he drove an ox team across the plains from his Missouri home into Alder gulch, and since his arrival, no citizen has borne a part more worthy in laying strong and deep the foundations of the commonwealth and building up her institutions. Prominent both in the commercial and political life of the territory and state, he has never sought public position for himself, but has found a pleasure in aiding to make political reputations for others, himself re- maining in the background, devoting his time to his private business. He was born in the county of Franklin, Mo., August 13, 1843, the son of Samtiel M. and America A. (Billups) Davidson, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Alabama. He diligently attended the home schools but before he was twenty years old his imagination was filled with the dream of riches, caused by the reports of the almost fabulous discoveries of gold in the gulches of Idaho and Montana, and he deter- mined to seek his fortune among their golden sands. With an ox team and a necessary outfit he joined an overland train bound for the new Eldorado in the summer of 1863. After encountering and over- coming obstacles which would have discouraged most men, and surmounting difficulties in a manner that seemed impossible, the party, after three weari- some months of travel, came into Alder gulch in November, 1863. Mr. Davidson first engaged in cutting logs and timbers in the hills near Virginia City, and it is said that his handiwork furnished ma- terial for the residences of some of the first families of that city. He later engaged in placer mining in Alder gulch, and in 1864 established a miners' supply store at Highland, while in the spring of 1865 he joined the stampede to the new gold dis-

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coveries in Last Chance gulch, where he began mer- chandising in groceries and miners' supplies, main- taining establishments at Helena and Diamond Cty. He followed trading for several years with success, and in 1876 disposed of these interests, and pur- chased a large wholesale and retail harness and saddlery establishment in Helena, which he con- ducted with marked success until 1888. By this time he was interested largely in mining and real estate and in banking and livestock operations, and became one of the most prosperous, public-spirited and progressive business men of Helena.

Mr. Davidson has been one of the foremost lead- ers of the Democratic party in Montana for more than a quarter of a century. Never seeking politi- cal preferment, or desiring to hold any office, how- ever distinguished, he has ever been one of the most trusted advisors in the councils of the party, and has had much to do with framing its issues and shaping its policy. He has for many years been found in the front rank of every political battle. fighting loyally for those principles he held to be for the best interests of his state and the nation. He is considered by his friends as one of the old guard of the Montana Democracy, who can die in defense of their principles but know no sur- render to the enemy. He has been called the War- wick of his party and to his ability and skill as an organizer and leader is largely due the present su- premacy of the Democratic party in his county of Lewis and Clarke, as well as in the state. In 1888, in the last election held in Montana before its ad- mission as a state, Mr. Davidson was chairman of the territorial Democratic central committee. Al- though the party was defeated in that campaign, his services were of such a character that he was select- ed as the Montana member of the national Demo- cratic committee, and ably filled that position until 1896. In November, 1892, he was elected to rep- resent Lewis and Clarke county in the Third legis- lative assembly of the state. In that memorable session, during which an United States senator should have been elected, there was a continuous deadlock and no election was made. During this exciting period Mr. Davidson's unwavering loyalty to his party, and his heroic devotion to his duty and to his personal friends was shown conspicuously. Owing to severe rheumatism he was confined to his bed for many weeks and was physically unable to perform his legislative duties, but on each day for nineteen days he insisted on being carried on a stretcher to the legislative hall, to cast his ballot

for his candidate and his personal friend, Hon. William A. Clark. Owing to the action of bolting Democratic members, Senator Clark failed of an election at that session, but subsequently, and in large degree through the efforts of Mr. Davidson, he was elected.

Mr. Davidson was appointed by Gov. J. E. Rick- ards as a member of the capitol building site com- mission, and he assisted in locating the state house on its present superior site in Helena. The beau- tiful capitol building with its very commanding location, overlooking the valley and the magnifi- cent mountains t to the north, is a perpetual monument of the wise judgment of the members of this important commission. On April 5, 1874, Mr. Davidson wedded Miss Sallie Davenport, daughter of Maj. William Davenport, one of the prominent oldtime citizens and property owners of Helena. Only the youngest of their three children, Olive, Elizabeth and William Parberry, is now living. He is a student at that noted educational institution, Taft's School, in Connecticut: Mr. and Mrs. David- son have many friends and their home is a much frequented center of refined hospitality. Mr. Da- vidson has been for many years a Freemason, has held many official positions in the order, and in 1882 was elected grand master of the Masons of Montana, and in 1890 he was made the grand com- mander of the Knights Templar of the state. He has taken the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and was a charter member of Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Helena.

In 1888, and for several years after, Mr. David- son was at the head of the well known mercantile house of the A. J. Davidson Company, which main- tained headquarters in Helena, operating with branches in various cities and towns of the state. It did an extensive business in agricultural imple- ments, hay, grain, hides, etc., dealing both at whole- sale and retail, and its operations extended through- out Montana. Mr. Davidson is largely interested in livestock and is the general manager of the Em- pire Cattle Company, with ranges in the Milk River valley in Choteau county. This is one of the most prosperous stock companies of the state. At this writing (1902) Mr. Davidson is chairman of the executive committee of the Montana state commis- sion for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, to be held at St. Louis in 1904. It is the duty of this commission to provide for a suitable exhibit from Montana at this great exposition. To this high office and distinguished position he was appointed

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by Gov. Joseph K. Toole, in December, 1901. The work of the commission has progressed sufficiently to indicate that Montana will be represented in a manner worthy of her industries, and commensurate with her great resources.

JA AMES DAWSON .- Throughout the state of Montana the Dawson family has been long and favorably known, Andrew Dawson, the father of our subject, having located at Fort Benton as early as 1848, when Montana was yet a part of the unpeopled wilderness of Idaho, and its brilliant possibilities shrouded in obscurity. Andrew Daw- son was born at Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, Scot- land, in 1817. In 1843 he came to the United States and in 1848 became a partner in, and in 1855 general manager of the American Fur Company, with headquarters at Fort Benton, and continued thus employed until 1864. He then returned to Scotland, where he died on September 16, 1871. During his extended residence in Montana he was a prominent figure in its business, political and social life, having a wide acquaintanceship through- out the northwest and numbering a host of warm personal friends who will long cherish his mem- ory. His wife, Mary (Gerrard) Dawson, was born at Fort Benton of French ancestry, dying in 1856.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 105

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago Publication date: [19-?] Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1092