Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 112

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 112

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).

In his editorial work Mr. Hauck is clear, strong and direct, never seeking to evade the truth as he understands it, or hide it beneath the flower of rhet- oric. His paper has a great influence in the county.

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C OL. WILLIAM H. H. HEALY .- One of the honored pioneers of the west who has been in- timately identified with the annals of Montana since the early epoch, contributing his quota toward the work of development and legitimate industrial ad- vancement and retaining at all times the confidence and esteem of his fellow men, Col. W. H. H. Healy is now engaged in general ranching in Choteau county, his postoffice address being Hayes. He was born on January 20, 1844, at Adrian, Lenawee county, Mich., the son of Orson V. and Jane Healy, the former of whom was born in Montpelier, Vt., and the latter at Trout River, Franklin county. N. Y. Orson V. Healy was of German descent, and he was an expert bookkeeper, devoting many years of his life to mercantile pursuits. He died at Adrian in 1854, and his widow survived him only two years, dying in the same city in 1856. Mr. Healy of this review received his early educational discipline in the public schools of his native city, and completed a thorough course in Bartlett's Com- mercial College at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated in the class of 1859. He then entered the employ of the United States Express Company, in its Cincinnati office, and remained three years.

In 1862, with a six-mule team, Mr. Healy crossed the plains front Atchison, Kan., to Marysville, Cal., where he was employed by the Wells-Fargo Express Company for one and one-half years, and during the ensuing six years he devoted his attention to placer mining at Grass Valley, that state. His next oc- cupation was driving stage between Grass Valley and Nevada City, Cal., for two years. In 1871 the Colonel went to Nevada, where he was engaged in stockraising for two years, while front 1873 until 1875 he was merchandising and mining at Virginia City, that state. In the fall of 1875 he came to Bozeman, Mont., where he operated a threshing machine for a few months, and during the follow- ing winter was hunting and trapping on the Yel- lowstone river.

In 1877 he founded Junction City on that river, having there established a general merchandise and trading store, which he conducted for a short time, after which, in the spring of 1880, he re- moved to the Block Ranch trading post, where he associated himself with James Carpenter and John Fattig in merchandising for two years. In 1882 Col. Healy located a ranch at Maginnis crossing on the Musselshell river, which he operated until 1884, in the spring of which year he went to the Belknap Indian reservation, settling on a ranch on

Lodge Pole creek, where he has since maintained his home. Here he controls a fine ranch of 160 acres, well improved and devoted to general farming, horticulture and the raising of cattle and horses. When a young man Col. Healy learned locomotive engineering and in 1864 and 1865 followed that vocation on the Central Pacific. In politics he has always given unequivocal support to the Republi- can party, and he was postmaster at Musselshell postoffice from 1882 until 1884. At Musselshell postoffice, in 1881, Mr. Healy was united in mar- riage to Honknow (White Eagle), a woman of the Gros Ventre Indian tribe, and she died at Lodge Pole in 1893, leaving six children : John F., Harry X., Nettie Jane, Genevieve, Maude Isadore and Willie H. Healy.

JOSEPH E. HEIN is one of the sterling sons of the German fatherland who have contributed to the development of the industries of Montana, and due recognition should be accorded him with other successful stockmen of Teton county. Mr. Hein is a native of Kissengen, the famous water- ing-place of Bavaria, Germany, and was born on January 17, 1859. His father was born in the same locality and was there engaged in farming until his death, on July 10, 1866, at the age of fifty-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Shafer, was a native of the same place and there her death occurred in 1881. Until he had reached the age of fourteen years Joseph E. Hein attended the excellent government schools of his native town, and when he was a lad of six- teen he came to the United States, then being for two years employed at farm work in Illinois. From 1877 to 1880 he was identified with sheepgrowing near Canyon City, Grant county, Ore., and then he tried mining for a year in the Wood river district of Idaho.

Mr. Hein next located in Butte, Mont., where he was employed in mining for five years. In 1886 he came to Teton county, and on the dry fork of the Marias river made his home and secured three claims of government land, by homestead, pre- emption and desert-land entries, each comprising 160 acres, and to this original tract he has added adjoining lands until he now has a fine ranch of 2,200 acres. This he utilizes in the raising of sheep, cattle and horses, usually running about 8,000 sheep. He is thoroughly progressive in his methods and

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worthy of the success he has attained. Mr. Hein supports the Republican party, and fraternally he is a member of Mountain Meadow Lodge, Woodmen of the World, at Dupuyer, his postoffice town. On February 9, 1889, near Atlanta, Ga., Mr. Hein was united in marriage to Miss Zenlie Dooley, daughter of Mitchell Dooley, an extensive farmer and stock- grower of Georgia. They have one child, Lilian Violet.

G EORGE HERBERT .- The father of this sub- ject, John B. Herbert, was a native of Ger- many and an early emigrant to the United States. The mother, Martha Herbert, was born in England, coming to this country when she was quite young. They were residents of Franklin county, Pa., where George was born in 1833, the eighth in order of birth of their eleven children. He attended the public schools and worked on his father's farm until he was seventeen years old, then went to Franklin, Ky., where he attended school six years. After leaving school he worked on a Kentucky farm four years for wages, and followed the same occupation until 1863 in the neighborhood of St. Louis, Mo. From there he went to Salt Lake City, and for two years drove stage for Ben Holliday from Muddy Station to Green River. While in this perilous business he always went armed for road agents, and one night was attacked by them, but drove his stage away in safety, leaving the robbers behind.

In 1865 Mr. Herbert removed to Virginia City, Mont., then Alder gulch, and began mining for gold, of which he found considerable, but afterward lost it in mine speculations. In the fall of 1866 he went to Norwegian gulch, thirty miles west of Virginia City, where he mined until 1868. In July, 1867, in company with four others, he made a trip to what is now the Yellowstone Park, spending about three months prospecting. This was one of the earliest prospecting parties to visit that country and was attended with many dangers from the Indians, as well as many hardships and privations. In 1870 he prospected at Cedar creek, but without success, and the same year came to Gallatin valley and bought some land which he cultivated until 1879, then sold it and removed to his present loca- tion in 1880. But while farming in 1874, before he left Gallatin valley, he joined a gold hunting ex- pedition to Big Porcupine, on the Yellowstone, and had constant trouble with the Indians. The expedi- tion had to be fighting them nearly all the time. On

one occasion it was attacked by 1,500 of them in one body, but succeeded in repulsing them. In 1880 Mr. Herbert came to Laurel, as has been noted, and took up 160 acres of land, through which the Northern Pacific Railroad now runs. He has im- proved the land with a fine residence and other good buildings, and has brought it to a high state of cultivation.

In 1881 he was married to Miss Nancy Seright, a native of Illinois. They have six children, namely : George, Arthur J., Emma, Martha, Joseph and Henry, five of whom attend school at Laurel. Mrs. Herbert died in 1889. In politics Mr. Herbert is' an old line Democrat, but being personally ac- quainted with Mr. Lincoln before he was president, voted for him on personal grounds. In religious matters he favors a universal church. He is a wide-awake, progressive man, a good citizen, a firm friend and a generous neighbor ; broad-minded and enterprising in public affairs in his community and helpful in developing every resource of the county.

Ha [ARLAND J. HERRIN .- Among the alert and progressive young business men who are enjoying marked prosperity by reason of identifi- cation with the farming and stockgrowing indus- try of Montana, a place must be accorded to Mr. Herrin, who has achieved success through his own well directed efforts. Mr. Herrin is a native of Maine, having been born at Canaan, Somerset county, on the 31st of May, 1863, being the son of Daniel S. and Mary F. Herrin, who were born in the same state, where the father was engaged in farming until 1877, when he came to Montana, lo- cating at Clancey, Jefferson county, where he con- ducted a hotel and also engaged in the raising of cattle, so continuing until 1880, when he removed to the Blackfoot country, where he was identified with the same line of enterprise upon an extensive scale. In 1883 he and his two sons, Milford D. and Harland J., formed a partnership in the busi- ness, and this alliance obtained until the spring of 1887, when, by mutual consent, they made an equal division of the land, cattle and horses, and the third thus coming to Harland J., the subject of this sketch, was 320 acres of land, fifty-three head of cattle and twelve horses. His father and brother then formed a partnership association, which has ever since been continued. Harland J. is the young- est of the four children born to his parents, the oth-

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ers being Henry H., Anna M. and Milford D., and all are residents of Montana and are members of the Methodist church.

Harland J. Herrin received somewhat limited educational advantages, attending the public schools in a rather desultory way and in his boy- hood beginning to assist his father in the work of the ranch, so continuing until he had attained the age of twenty-three years, when his father gave him an interest in both land and cattle, whereupon the partnership previously noted was formed. In 1892 Mr. Herrin sold his tract of 320 acres for a consideration of $3,875, and then purchased a ranch of equal area, from Fred Lindevidel, paying $3,500 for the same and there engaging success- fully in farming and cattleraising until 1898, when he sold the ranch to Charles Winstrom for $6,500. From 1896 to 1898, both inclusive, he also con- ducted a butchering business, running meat wagons to all the mining camps in the vicinity and doing a profitable business in the line. August 12, 1899, Mr. Herrin moved to his present ranch, com- prising at the time 1,364 acres of fine land, which he purchased, the same being located four miles southeast of the village of Wolf Creek, and on the Missouri river. He has since added 1,120 acres to the area of his estate, this latter tract being utilized for the grazing of stock. The exceptional agricultural value of his ranch is indicated in the fact that 800 acres are available for cultivation, returning large crops, while he raises cattle of excellent grade and in large numbers, being recognized as one of the representative ranch men of Lewis and Clarke county. His political adherency is with the Repub- lican party, and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On the Ist of October, 1887, Mr. Herrin was united in marriage to Miss Mary T. A. Sanford, who was born in England, as were her parents, Thomas and Anna Sanford, who came to America in 1869, locating at Mosherville, Hillsdale county, Mich., where the father engaged in farming until 1871, when he came with his family to Montana, locating at the foot of Piegan gulch, where he has since been extensively engaged in the raising of cattle, being a stanch Republican in his political proclivities. He and his wife became the parents of eight children, of whom three are deceased- William, Julia M. and Rosa C. Those living are John, Mary T. A., Francis M., Lucia M. C. and Clara R. Mr. and Mrs. Herrin have one son, Harland Thomas M. Herrin.

NATHAN GIBSON .- It is with distinctive pleasure that a resume of the life of this vener- able and honored resident of Cascade county is herewith presented. Mr. Gibson was born in Ran- dolph county, N. C., July 1I, 1823, the son of John- son and America Gibson, natives of North Carolina, whence they removed to Indiana in the early days, bought lands of the government in 1830 and be- came pioneers in the vicinity of Indianapolis, now but eight miles distant from the old homestead. There they passed the remainder of their lives, the father having devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, at an advanced age. In the days of our subject's youth educa- tional advantages afforded in Indiana, then in the initial stages of development, were quite meagre, but he attended the subscription schools as he had opportunity, and was thus enabled to lay the foun- dation for that broad fund of information which has come to him through contact with men and affairs during his long and useful life. At the age of ten years he began to assist his father in the work of the farm, remaining at the parental home until he had attained the age of sixteen, when he entered the employ of an old Quaker, with whom he remained until 1844; in the following year he began to learn the trade of cabinetmaking, at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, which he later followed in Indian- apolis. In 1846 he volunteered for service in the Mexican war, proceeding at once to the front, and was in active service for fourteen months as a member of the First Indiana Regiment. He is one of the few veterans of that war now living. Upon his return to the north Mr. Gibson located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in work at his trade until 1849, when he was persuaded by David Woods, a prominent lawyer of Indiana, to join him in the long overland journey across the plains to California. There they arrived after various ad- ventures, and remained until the fall of the suc- ceeding year, meeting with fair success in their quest for gold; but Mr. Woods was murdered by the Digger Indians in 1850, although not at that time a partner of Mr. Gibson, having been elected an attorney for the mines. Mr. Gibson was mining in the rich district of Gold river interspersed with fighting expeditions against the Indians. Our sub- ject, after two successful years in mining, went back to Indiana and thence to Tennessee to visit his mother at Perrysville. Beer's History of Mon- tana (1885) page 231, says: In the winter of 1850 and 1851 an inventive miner of Nevada City made what was then considered a grand strike in the di-

Nathan Gibson

Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Evans

R. F. Gorham

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rection of the perfect in mining appliances. After weary hours of mental, as well as physical, labor he built and put into operation the 'Long Tom.' This was a great improvement over the rocker and bumper, and the latter were never again used where the Long Tom could be obtained and worked." This inventive miner was Nathan Gibson, the sub- ject of this sketch, and for that thing alone the whole mining world of the west should hold his name in perpetual honor. In 1852 he opened a cabinet shop in the old Quaker City of Richmond, Ind., where he was located until 1856, when he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he manu- factured the furniture for the first capitol building of the state, and then returned to Richmond, where he remained for a time and then set out in company with others, in 1859, for Colorado, where he mined with good success at Russell gulch for one season, later engaging in the freighting business until 1863, the date of his coming to Montana territory. He made the trip to the territory overland in a party with eleven teams, locating in Alder gulch, where he engaged in logging, being paid at first $15 per thousand feet, and later $30 for the same work; also furnishing wood, for which he received $24 a day. In 1865 he freighted a sawmill to Black- foot and took contracts for logging amounting to thousands of dollars. In the interval of logging he freighted from Fort Benton and Helena. Much of his time in the summer season was taken up in fighting the Indians, from whose depredations he suffered loss on several occasions near Fort Benton. Finally he located in the Crow creek district, where he and his son-in-law, Benj. Bembrick, engaged in raising cattle. By reason of the immense fire in Helena, in 1868, Mr. Gibson secured profitable em- ployment as a carpenter and cabinetmaker, and de- voted his attention to work at his trade for some time. The milk from his cow was in such demand at $1.00 per gallon that he procured more cows and for six years was profitably engaged in selling milk.

In 1874 Mr. Gibson entered into a partnership association with Mr. William Boston and they took a bunch of cattle to Chestnut valley, in Cascade county, where they remained until 1879, when Mr. Gibson sold out his interests in cattle. He was thereafter engaged in operating the ferry at Cas- cade for a period of six years and had some danger- ous encounters and exciting experiences. In 1883 Mr. Gibson located on a ranch fifteen miles east of the village of Cascade, now known as the Deep creek district, where he purchased a quarter sec-

tion and took up a homestead of 160 acres. He eventually acquired 160 acres additional and his son Lafayette took up a desert claim of 160 acres. Here he was engaged in stockraising and farming until 1896, when he laid plans to retire from active busi- ness, and it is gratifying to note that he can pass the twilight of an unusually eventful life in com- fort and ease. He is well known throughout the county and state and is honored as one of the worthy pioneers of the west.

In politics he gives unswerving allegiance to the Republican party. In October, 1853, Mr. Gibson was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Borton, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of Job and Anna Borton, natives of New Jersey. The father was engaged in the wholesale shoe business at Rich- mond, Ind. They were birthright members of the Society of Friends, whose noble teachings they ex- emplified in their daily lives. Both of them passed into eternal life many years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibson six children were born, and of this number only two are now living: Alice M., now Mrs. Will- iam McGee; and Lafayette. Those deceased are : Josephine, Laura, and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Gibson was summoned to her heavenly home in the summer of 1875, a loved and venerated lady.

RICHARD T. GORHAM .- In the beautiful Chestnut valley of Cascade county, at a point four miles south of the village of Cascade, was lo- cated the excellent ranch of the subject of this sketch, who is one of the representative men of the county, of which he had the distinction of being the first assessor, and in which he has been very suc- cessful as a farmer and stockgrower. He is now approaching the prophet's span of three score years and ten, but is still hale and vigorous, both in mind and body, and is far from giving the impres- sion of his real age. In 1901 he sold both of his ranches, retired from active business and took up his residence in Cascade village.

At Huntsville, Mo., on November 19, 1832, Richard T. Gorham was ushered into the world, being the son of Thomas J. and Burilla Gorham, both representatives of good old southern stock, the father having been born in Tennessee and the mother in Kentucky. Thomas J. Gorham was a planter by occupation and one of the influential men of Missouri, where he was an active worker in the Democratic party, in the gift of which he was

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twice elected a member of the state legislature. He and his wife were members of the Christian church, and were people of sterling character. The father of our subject died in 1854, in the prime of life, and his widow survived him by nearly a half century, her death occurring in 1897, at which time she had attained a venerable age.

Richard T. Gorham was educated in the public schools of his native state, and there remained with his parents until he had attained the age of twenty- five years, having been a valuable co-adjutor of his father in carrying on the work of the homestead farm. In 1849, at the height of the ever memora- ble gold excitement in California, our subject ac- companied his father on the long and perilous jour- ney across the plains, and in that state they en- gaged in the quest for gold, being quite successful in their endeavors, accumulating about $4,000 each before they returned to their home, in 1851. Four years later the subject of this review purchased a farm in Macon county, Mo., and there devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1864, when he came to Virginia City, Mont., then one of the great mining camps of the world, and in that local- ity engaged successfully in raising cattle until 1867, when he returned to Missouri and there tarried un- til 1872. He then disposed of his interests in that state and came to Cascade county, Mont., locating in Chestnut valley, where he purchased a tract of 160 acres, for a consideration of $800. In 1894 he added to his ranch by taking up a homestead claim of 160 acres. On this place, which has excellent improvements, he engaged in farming and stock- raising upon an extensive scale, his efforts in these lines not only having shown his capacity as a busi- ness man, but also the possibilities open in these branches of industry in the state.

In politics Mr. Gorham is a zealous adherent of the Democratic party, and on the creation of the new county of Cascade he was named in the bill forming the county as its first assessor, thus making him the first incumbent of this position. After serving the term he was elected to the same office on the Democratic ticket and served with general public approbation. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, having been made a Ma- son in McGee Lodge No. 164, Macon county, Mo., about forty-five years ago. In 1853 Mr. Gorham was united in marriage to Miss Lucy B. Allen, who was born in Missouri, being the daughter of Grant and Katherine Allen, natives of Kentucky and members of the Christian church, the father being

a planter by occupation. Mrs. Gorham passed away in 1886. By her marriage she became the mother of thirteen children, all of whom are living except five : Minnie, and four who died in infancy. The others are Wilmoth, Thomas J., Mollie, John, Charles, Grant, Walter and May B. In 1868 Mr. Gorham consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Martha S. Allen, a daughter of Charles and Caroline Allen, natives of Ken- tucky, who also died in 1901 at Cascade. The father was a physician by profession, and a member of the Masonic fraternity ; and he and his wife were members of the Christian church. Both have been dead for many years. Mrs. Gorham was a valued member of the Christian church, and a woman of marked refinement, the family home having been a center of gracious hospitality.

E LEAZER HILL .- There is scarcely to be found within the limits of Montana a more in- teresting or picturesque character than Eleazer Hill. His life has been full of adventure and crowded with stirring, romantic and tragical inci- dents. He was born in St. Joseph county, Ind., June 17, 1842. His parents were Jacob and Eliza (Smith) Hill, both of whom were born in Ohio and died at Arlington, Iowa. They removed to Mich- igan, then to Indiana and later to Iowa, the father being engaged in a variety of pursuits, among them shoemaking, making crockery, distilling and farming, being always on the frontier and re- nowned as a hunter. Mr. Hill secured only such educational advantages as were obtainable in a district school in his native county, which he at- tended for three winters. On December 15, 1861, at the age of twenty, he enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company F, Sixteenth United States Infantry, under Maj. Slemer and Col. Sibley, Fourteenth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, and served throughout the Civil war, being discharged June 2, 1865, at Fort Ontario, N. Y. He participated in most of the great bat- tles fought by that army, but was never wounded. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Chicka- mauga, September 19, 1863, and was held in cap- tivity eighteen months and eight days, being con- fined at Belle Isle, the Smith building, Richmond, and at Danville and Andersonville, being com- pelled to pass fourteen months in the last. Sixty- five men of his regiment were captured at the same

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 112

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