Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 106

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 106

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James Dawson, was born at Fort Benton, Mont., on December 19, 1854, and received a superior edu- cation. From 1858 until 1861 he was under the instruction of Father De Smet and Father Imoda at St. Ignatius, Mont., and at Walla Walla, Wash. In 1861 he accompanied Joseph Kipp (of whom a sketch appears on another page), to St. Joseph, Mo., where he remained until he went to England and Scotland in 1862. There he attended Birken- head College and supplemented and greatly en- larged and rounded out his education under pri- vate masters at Edinburgh. From 1870 until 1878 he was engaged in merchandising in Glasgow and- Edinburgh, and in the latter year returned to America and settled at Winnipeg, Manitoba, on a ranch, where he remained three years. In 1881 he removed to North Dakota, there continuing agriculture. Since 1885 he has been in Montana, energetically conducting merchandising, mining, etc., at Fort Conrad, Missoula and Blackfoot. At present he resides at Blackfoot, where he is the postmaster. In addition to his other prop- erty he owns a ranch of 640 acres near Two Medi-

cine lake, on the Blackfoot reservation, which is profitably devoted to stockraising. The marriage of Mr. Dawson to Miss Eliza Park, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, was solemnized at Winni- peg, Manitoba, in 1881. Their children are James Erskine, William and Harold, aged respectively fourteen, twelve and nine years, and two who died in infancy. An ardent Republican, Mr. Daw- son wields much influence in the party. While re- siding at Martina, Missoula county, he was post- master and was also a justice of the peace from 1890 to 1896.

JOHN A. DE BERGE, one of the progressive and successful builders, restaurateurs and hotel- keepers of Montana, located at Forsyth, has come to the position he occupies in the community as a business man of capability and a highly esteemed citizen through well directed efforts on his own part, unassisted by favors from friends or fortune, or by particularly favorable circumstances. He is a native of Kenosha, Wis., where he was born June 10, 1850. His father, Gothard De Berge, was a Frenchman by nativity and came to the United States in the 'forties. He made his home in Wisconsin, and there engaged in farming until his death in 1871. His widow, a native of Ger- many, died at Kenosha in 1872. Mr. De Berge was educated at the public schools of his native town and at St. Francis College, Milwaukee. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, and from then until 1876 worked as a contractor and builder and railroad carpenter in Texas, Colorado and Kansas. From 1876 to 1882 he was farming at Waukeeney, Kan. In 1882 he came to Montana, and for three years conducted at boarding car on the Northern Pacific Railroad, at the same time having charge of the bridges and buildings on the Yellowstone division. In 1885 he opened the Occidental hotel at Forsyth, and continued in charge of it two and a half years. During the next four years he was in the res- taurant business, but since 1892 he has been operating as a contractor and builder, with head- quarters at Forsyth. Throughout the variety of pursuits in which he has engaged Mr. De Berge has been steadily successful, establishing himself firmly in business and in the confidence and regard of his fellow men. He is a member of Hiram Lodge No. 52, A. F. & A. M., at Forsyth, giving the organization active and earnest support. He

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was married at Chicago in 1875, to Miss Marillus Becktenwald, who was born at Highwood, Lake county, Ill., in 1851. While a resident of Illinois he was a school trustee and on moving to Kan- sas was deputy sheriff and justice of the peace. Since making his home in Montana he held the posi- tion of justice of the peace in Custer county.

DEV. REMIGIUS DE RYCKERE .- In prepar- ing a biographical sketch it is gratifying to find in one's research a genealogical tree that has waved its lordly branches for generations over prominent historic figures, but it is far more satis- factory to find existing in the subject of the sketch heroism, nobility of soul, self-sacrifice and un- swerving faith and loyalty so closely intermingled in the warp and woof of his being that it tints the whole with such glowing beauty that "he who runs may read" therein the lesson of a successful life devoted unsparingly, yet without ostentation, to the betterment of others and the resulting promin- ence it gives a man to unselfishly follow the dic- tates of a humane and enlightened conscience. It is our pleasant task to make such a record of the Rev. Remigius De Ryckere, who came as a mission- ary priest to Deer Lodge in the summer of 1866, and who is now the dean of the clergy of the church of Rome in Montana. He was born in Emelghen in West Flanders, Belgium, on August 6, 1837, and his early years of simple living and earnest study fully prepared him for his successful theological course at the American college in Louvain, that most excellent school so well known in this country through the many learned priests and prelates it has trained for the American church.

Father de Ryckere was ordained in Europe in 1865 for the diocese of Nesqually, Wash., where he arrived in September of that year, but the follow- ing summer he was sent to Deer Lodge and en- tered upon the missionary career of toil and sacri- fice which has been and continues of incalculable good to Montana. His first service in Deer Lodge was held in a private house, but he soon began the erection of a chapel, and from that first church of the Immaculate Conception has gone forth a force of pious effort which has dotted the surrounding country with crosses and spires and brought under the guidance of these heavenly landmarks hun- dreds of straying feet and wayward hearts, who stand today honored members in the foremost

ranks of Christian, civilization. Days of toilsome travel through rain and snow, nights of sleepless weariness, dangers encountered on every hand from the wildness of that country, and the suspicion and treachery of the Indian as well as the reckless follies of the miner, all bravely met with unfalter- ing faith in the love and mercy of God, have woven themselves under his eyes into houses of prayer, lodges for the sick and suffering, homes for the or- phan and schools for the young, so that now only songs of praises, thanksgiving and peace rise where once was heard the wrangles of strife.

His first log church in Deer Lodge was re- placed by a stone structure in 1874 and since then he has established two very successful institutions in the city, St. Joseph's hospital and St. Mary's Academy, both of which have kept in touch with the advancements made in science and education, and have thus been a power for untold good. His missionary field at one time extended over a large extent of country surrounding Deer Lodge, but by unceasing effort and the persuasive elo- quence of true piety he has so stirred the hearts of the community that today churches with resi- dent priests are found in nearly all the outlying towns. Besides these visible tokens of the toil of years, which are only a merited tribute to his worth, we find Rev. Remigius De Ryckere enshrined in the lives and affections of countless numbers as the wise counsellor, the zealous priest and the unfailing friend, before which memorial costly tablets and emblazoned urns shrink into in- significance; and it is therefore most fitting that we here record his name among the pioneers who were the advance guards in a nation's growth.

JOSEPH DEMARS .- There are no rules for achieving success ; there are no rules for build- ing character, and thus the individual is ever the maker of his own destiny, and to the extent to which he applies his energies and abilities and takes advantage of the opportunities afforded in the tran- sition stages of his career, to that extent will suc- cess attend his efforts. The subject, Joseph Demars, stands as one of the worthy business men of the thriving village of Havre, Choteau county, and he has been essentially the architect of his own fortunes. He was born in Three Rivers, or Trois Rivieres, one of the oldest towns in Quebec, Cana- da, the date of his birth being August 24, 1845. His

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father, August Demars, was born also in Three Riv- ers, and there passed his life as a farmer, and his death occurred in 1871. His wife, whose maiden name was Maggie DeRosa, was likewise a native of Three Rivers, where her death occurred in 1852. Both were of sterling French lineage, the respective families having long been established in eastern Canada.

After leaving school he worked on the homestead farm until he was nineteen years old when, in 1864, he went to Wisconsin, where he was employed in farm work until 1870. He then came to the north- west and engaged in freighting to the various forts and also to other points of Montana, including Helena, Fort Benton, Missoula, Deer Lodge, etc., until 1876, when he located in Great Falls, where he resided for a short time. In 1877 he entered the employ of the Diamond R Freighting Company, at Fort Assinniboine, with which he remained until he took up a homestead claim on Milk river, about one mile from Havre, where he has since been en- gaged in stockraising, making a specialty of high- grade cattle and horses. He has been unflagging in his industry and has brought to bear qualities that have brought success, while he has gained the confidence and respect of his friends.

In 1890 Mr. Demars entered into a partnership with Zell Pepin. They opened a meat market in Havre, and this enterprise has proved successful, and they have conducted it with ability, securing the support of a good patronage. In Havre Mr. Demars has erected a modern and attractive resi- dence where the family entertain their friends with genial hospitality. In politics Mr. Demars is not an active partisan. He has attained success by hard work and many personal sacrifices and is to be classed among those who have contributed a due quota to the material prosperity of the community. At Fort Benton, Mont., in 1889, Mr. Demars was united in marriage with Miss Mary Anne Sovia, who was born at Winnepeg, Canada. They are the parents of five children : Georgia, Henry, Laura, Albert and Frederick.

SAMUEL K. DEVERILL was born at Green Bay, Wis., March 28, 1854. His parents, Hen- ry and Elizabeth ( Matthews) Deverill, were natives of England, but came to the United States when they were young and settled in Wisconsin. Later they removed to Chicago, where the father was a

commission merchant for a number of years. He died in Champaign county, Ill., in 1876. His widow lived until 1890, when she died at Oshkosh, Wis.

Mr. Deverill was educated in the schools of Wis- consin and Chicago, and at Upper Canada College, Toronto. After leaving school he engaged in the grocery business in Chicago in 1872, conducted it successfully for two years and then turned his at- tention to farming, which he followed for two years in Champaign county, Ill. After the death of his father, in 1876, he removed to Oshkosh, Wis., and engaged in packing beef and pork for the market until 1882. In the spring of 1883 he came to Mon- tana, settling in the Yellowstone valley, took up a homestead half way between Laurel and Park City, and in 1901 bought a school section adjoining Laurel. Since his arrival in Montana he has been extensively engaged in raising cattle and horses.

In politics Mr. Deverill is a Republican, and takes deep interest in the welfare of his party. He was assessor of Yellowstone county from 1888 to 1894, and in 1900 was elected commissioner for the county. These offices he filled with satisfaction to the public and with credit to himself. He was mar- ried at Oshkosh, in 1882, to Miss Dora Utter. They have two children : Rex and Kirkby.

E J. DEVEREAUX, now residing on an ex- tensive ranch in Teton county, on the Black- foot reservation, is one of the earlier Montana pioneers and one who has since wrought out financial prosperity in stockraising. He was born at Brewer, Maine, on June 15, 1832. His father, Elijah W. Devereaux, was of French and his mother of Scotch ancestry, both natives of Maine, the family having settled in New England in early Colonial days. Until he was fourteen Mr. Dever- eaux attended the public schools, acquiring a prac- tical business education. Soon afterwards he re- moved to the lumber districts of Minnesota, where he worked in the pineries. In October, 1863, he came to Montana, his initial point being Fort Ben- ton, and during the ten succeeding years he was en- gaged in mining at Virginia City, Blackfoot and other localities.

Possessed of an adventurous and enterprising spirit he went north in 1873 and began trap- ping and trading with the Blackfoot, Bloods and Piegan Indians, and was an active participant in the sanguinary conflict with the Sioux Indians

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at Cypress Hill in 1873. From 1875 until 1889 Mr. Devereaux divided his time between freight- ing and stockraising, being located at Fort Ben- ton. While here, with an eye to the possibilities of the future, he secured a ranch comprising 300 acres on Horse Shoe Bend. This was in 1877 and he sold the property at a good profit in 1899. In 1889 he secured claims amounting to 500 acres on Cut Bank river, Blackfoot reservation, and here, surrounded by vast free ranges, he is lucra- tively engaged in the raising of cattle. By his marriage at Fort Benton he is the father of six children, Spina, Henry, Charles, Annie, Abba and Jason.

REV. THOMAS E. DICKEY .- Among the more prominent of the elements that have trans- formed the wild Montana of the early days into the peaceful and law-abiding commonwealth that exists today must be considered the Protestant Episcopal church. Its early missionaries placed their lives in the care of the Creator, and unselfishly wrought out by painstaking labor of anxious minds and often wearied and suffering bodies the happy results we now witness in their numerous churches and their prosperous relations. They were far-sighted, broad- minded, liberal and generous. Their hands were al- ways ready to succor the weak and suffering, their good deeds were multitudinous, bestowed alike on saint and sinner, on the needy savage and the neces- sitous Caucasian. So unassuming have they been that little is left to tell the story of those who have passed to their final reward and only a few survivors exist from whom to gather the simple story of their lives to tell to coming generations of those who builded wisely and well in forming the christian civ- ilization of today. The first celebration of Divine service in Montana, according to the Protestant Episcopal faith, was held on Christmas day, 1865, in Virginia City, Prof. T. J. Tinsdale acting as reader. Thus, for nearly forty years, has this chris- tian leaven been working here for the building up of the right. The first Episcopal parish in Montana was organized in a private house in Virginia City on Sunday evening, March 17, 1867, as St. Paul's parish. In July thither came Bishop D. S. Tuttle, D. D., who assumed charge of the parish and the next November was chosen its rector, and with his advent began the active operations of the church in the territory. He soon had faithful assistants co- operating heartily with him, among them Goddard,

Prout, Foy, Gilbert, Dickey and others; and from 1867 dates the commencement of systematic and organized Protestant Episcopal missionary work.

Rev. Thomas E. Dickey was born in Lower Stew- iacke, N. S., on April 2, 1836, the son of Ephraim and Mary (Tupper) Dickey. His father was a large mill-owner, and a native also of Nova Scotia, his grandparents, however, being of Massachusetts Colonial stock, emigrating to the province from that state. His paternal grandmother was a Howard, and her husband, Col. Howard, was an active officer in the American army of the Revolution. The English family of Howard is one of the most distin- guished, tracing its descent from Hereward, the Saxon, a powerful opponent of William the Nor- man in his successful conquest of England in 1066. Mr. Dickey's parents died in Nova Scotia, the father in 1865, the mother in 1879. Of their nine children Eddy became a leading citizen of Elk River, Minn., and was killed in 1890 by the falling of a plank from a pile-driver. Benjamin has been an extensive lum- berman of Minneapolis for many years. Hannah (Mrs. Luther Munson) also resides in Minneapolis. Thomas E. came to Minnesota in 1854. The others yet live in Nova Scotia. Thomas E. Dickey was fitted for college at Minneapolis high school, and was matriculated at Jubilee College at Robin's Nest, Peoria county, Ill., in 1860. One year later the college was broken up by the larger number of its students (mostly Southerners) returning home on . account of the pending Civil war, and by the depart- ure of the manager of the school, Dr. Samuel Chase, to accept a chaplain's commission in the Federal army. Then for seven years Mr. Dickey attended the Bishop Seabury Divinity School at Faribault, Minn., and was graduated therefrom as B. D. in 1867. Entering the Episcopal ministry, he was placed in charge of a mission at Lesueur, Minn., where he remained until 1870, building a church at this place and one at Belle Plain. For the next two years he was in charge of the church at Austin, Minn., then crossed the continent to become a mis- sionary at Olympia, Wash., under Bishop Morris. Mission work took him to Suisun, Cal., a year later. From there he went to Silver City, Idaho, under Bishop Tuttle, and was the only clergyman in Owyee county. Here his wife's health failed, and, after a year of arduous pioneer labor, he was named by Bishop Tuttle pastor of the mission at Bozeman, Mont. Here a church had been es- tablished by Bishop Tuttle in July, 1868, when there were but seven women living in the place. Annual-

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ly from that time the bishop had made a visitation and the field was a good one for a vigilant and en- ergetic worker like our good missionary.

Preaching here his first sermon in Montana in October, 1875, Mr. Dickey went earnestly to work. The parish was named St. James and Mr. Dickey held services for some months in the Y. M. C. A. hall. He was determined to give the parish a church of its own, and built there, with his own hands, the second Episcopal church in Montana, himself selecting the site and paying for it. On this lot is now standing a beautiful stone church. In August, 1877, from Bozeman, Mr. Dickey went to Boston, Mass., as delegate from the Montana churches to the general Episcopal convention held in that city, and after the convention took mission work in an extended territory reaching along the Northern Pacific Railroad from Lake Detroit, Minn., to Bismarck, N. D. He made that trip of 240 miles twice a month and was in the truest sense a pioneer clergyman. On this territory there. is now in service one bishop and five clergymen. The churches at Castleton, Jamestown, Bismarck, Val- ley City, Grand Forks, Detroit, Wahpeton, Mayfield and others owe their existence to the care, indus- try and earnest christian devotion of this faithful missionary. In the spring of 1878 he was elected president of the Nebraska College at Nebraska City. After four years he resigned this office and · established the Bishop Whipple School at More- head, Minn. Here he erected a fine set of build- ings, but the result was disappointing. The sur- rounding country was largely peopled by Scandi- navians. The English school did not attract them, and in 1891 Mr. Dickey sold the school to the Scandinavian Society, which transformed it into Concordia College. Soon after this Mr. Dickey made his home in Kalispell, again engaged in mis- sionary work, founded Christ church in that then prospective city, and built a convenient church edi- fice which was opened for service in February, 1893. He held the pastorate for three years, ten- dering his resignation in 1896. He did missionary work in other parts of the valley, at Fairview and at Columbia Falls and that at the latter place still continues. He was called to Virginia City in the spring of 1897 and was in charge of St. Paul's church there, and of Trinity at Madison Valley until June, 1900, but is now residing in Kalispell.

Mr. Dickey has always been a Democrat in po- litical views, and since 1867 has held. membership in the Masonic fraternity. On February 15, 1870,

Mr. Dickey was united in marriage with Miss Helen M. Wright, daughter of Kent and Tammey (Fer- guson) Wright, a native of Shoreham, Vt. She was educated at Troy (N. Y.) Female Seminary. She has nobly shared the fortunes of her husband in his pioneer life, leaving a home in a civilized community, friends and congenial associates, to work with him in the almost trackless wilderness of the Rocky mountains, and ably has she aided him. The children of this marriage are four sons, Henry Whipple Dickey, chief bookkeeper of the Missoula Mercantile Company ; Charles Kent Dickey, book- keeper of James Conlon's large department store at Kalispell; Ellis Smith Dickey, material clerk in the superintendent's office of the Great Northern Railway at Kalispell, and Edward Dickey, manager of the grocery department of James Conlon's mer- cantile house at Kalispell.

NEIL DOUGHERTY, an adopted citizen of the United States, was born in Glenties, County Donegal, Ireland, on July 20, 1869, and is a self- made man in the truest sense of the word. When a child he attended the government schools, but the facilities were very meagre and his graduation early, for he began to work at herding stock when but ten years old, doing this labor faithfully for five years, thereby assisting his parents in the support of his younger brothers and sisters, and saving enough to pay his passage to America. He left his home for America in June, 1886, com- ing by Quebec and Montreal and on to Helena, Mont. Here he immediately found employment in carrying the hod at $2.50 per day. In a very short time he was engaged by the Kiley Brothers of Washington gulch to make hay at $45 per month and board. His next move was to Elliston, then consisting of only a section house, and he worked there on the railroad until the spring of 1887, when he returned to Helena and occupied himself in doing anything that presented itself for a year, when he saw a good opening in tak- ing contracts for digging cellars for the Pittsburg and Atlas blocks and Hugh Galen's and Sam Word's residences. On the conclusion of his con- tracts he engaged in burning lime and quarrying stone for James Kurvin until 1889 when he learned the stonemason's trade and became foreman for James Mason.

In 1890 he laid the foundation of his mercan-

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tile career by purchasing a wagon and team of horses and a bill of merchandise, selling his goods at the different camps in the vicinity of Helena. Meeting with unexpected success he soon enlarged his field, visiting nearly all the populated portions of the state. During this period he utilized his spare time in grading for the Northern Pacific on the Marysville and Rimini branches and for the Great Northern from Great Falls. In December, 1890, Mr. Dougherty located again at Elliston, which then contained four stores and fourteen saloons. Although an unfriendly feeling was soon manifested by the merchants, Mr. Dougherty de- termined to remain here, and rented a small store, and procuring both a merchant's and a peddler's license at once he commenced business. He was fortunate in securing the services of a capable Finland peddler, whom he sent to the various wood and mining camps, where the Finns were al- most exclusively employed. This proved a for- tunate engagement. Mr. Dougherty has in- creased his business until he is now the leading merchant of Elliston, and has the reputation of be- ing an excellent business man and always actuated by a high sense of honor.

In 1896 he was appointed postmaster of Elliston and has capably filled the office. He is an active worker in the Republican party and a member of the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias. On January 3, 1894, Mr. Dougherty married with Miss Mary Gallagher, a native of Ireland, who came to America at the age of fifteen years, the daughter of James and Mary (O'Malla) Gallagher, natives of Ireland, successful farmers in their own coun- try and members of the Catholic church. In the Gallagher family were six children, Thomas, Kath- erine, James, Patrick, Bridget and Mary. The father died several years ago and Mrs. Gallagher now resides with her children in Ireland. Mr. Dougherty's parents, Frank and Katherine Dough- erty (his mother's name was also Dougherty) were farmers in Ireland and Catholics. They had seven children; three died-one in infancy, two others, Fannie and John, in early life, and the parents are now dead, the father dying in 1901. The surviv- ing children, Patrick, Neil, James and Frank, are all residents of Montana. To Neil Dougherty and wife have been born four children: Frank E., James N., Della and Ella, twins. (Ella died in in- fancy.) The family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Dougherty is more than pleased with Montana, and never misses an opportunity to say a word in praise of the country.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 106

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