Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 118

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 118

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H ENRY W. LANGE .- The subject of this re- view is not only one of the prosperous and representative farmers and stockgrowers of Lewis and Clarke county, but he has also shown a spirit of distinctive enterprise by placing on the market a natural mineral water secured in the vicinity of his home and recognized for its wonderful remedial effects, particularly in the treatment of diseases of the blood. He has thus given inception to an in- dustry which is certain to be one of cumulative importance, and of great benefit to suffering hu- manity. Mr. Lange is a native of Bremen, Ger- many, where he was born on the 12th of March, 1849, being the son of Richard and Margaret Lange, both representatives of fine old German lineage and both of whom passed their entire lives in their native land, where the father was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. They were consistent and de- voted members of the Lutheran church, in which faith the father passed to his reward on the 9th of November, 1869, his widow dying in 1874.

Henry W. Lange, the immediate subject of this sketch, secured his education in the excellent public schools of his native province, and while a youth entered upon the active duties of life, securing em- ployment in a brick yard, where he continued until he had attained the age of twenty years, in the mean- time giving his wages to his parents. During the years 1870 and 1871, when Germany and France were involved in war, Mr. Lange rendered active service in the German army, and after the close of the conflict he was employed in sugar refineries until 1873, when he determined to leave his native

land and seek his fortunes in America. Upon ar- riving in New York city he engaged in the produce commission business at the West Washington mar- ket, and was identified with this line of enterprise until 1880, when he came to Montana and located on his present ranch, which is situated nine miles due east of the village of Augusta and three miles west of Rohner, which is his postoffice address. Here he took up a homestead claim of 160 acres and a timber-culture claim of equal area-250 acres of the tract are well adapted for cultivation, and Mr. Lange raises large crops of alfalfa, besides other products of the soil, though he has devoted his attention principally to the growing of cattle, in which his efforts have been attended with gratify- ing success.

Since the year 1896 Mr. Lange has devoted no little time and attention to the handling of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Water, secured from a mine called the "Mountain Chief," on the upper Sun river, near the Sun River Hot Springs, and showing the most effective of remedial elements upon the careful chemical analysis which has been made. He handles the water both in its natural form and by the precipitation of its constituents in mineral salts, which are sold in condensed shape and retain the efficiency of the original water. The water has gained marked prestige for its wonderful effects in the curing of hemorrhoids and other obstinate diseases of the blood and skin. To this en- terprise our subject gives his time and attention, while the ranch is managed by his son, a capable young business man. His business headquarters are now at 219-221 First avenue, south, Great Falls, where he has fine bath rooms and also gives mineral baths and keeps a large stock of his "Mineral Won- der" always for sale.

On the 6th of November, 1882, Mr. Lange was united in marriage to Mrs. Dorothea Sturen, who was born in Hanover, Germany, and who died August 8, 1896, leaving two children: Frederick W. and Anna.

JOHN LARGENT .- The subject of this review is now following the somewhat uneventful vo- cation of farmer and stockgrower, his well im- proved ranch being located immediately at the vil- lage of Sun River, Cascade county. He is one of the pioneers of this state, whither he came in the employ of the American Fur Company, in 1862.

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He can well recall many incidents and events which were far removed from the prosaic in character and his tales of the early days on the northwest fron- tier are interesting in the extreme. Mr. Largent claims as the place of his nativity the Old Domin- ion state of Virginia, where was cradled so much of our national history, having been born in Hamp- shire county on the 11th of March, 1839, the son of John W. and Mary J. Largent, who were likewise natives of that state, whence they removed to Peoria county, Ill., where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which oc- curred in March, 1861, he naving been an active Democrat in his political affiliations. His widow, who was a devoted member of the Methodist church, survived him many years, her death occur- ring in May, 1895.

John Largent received somewhat limited edu- cational advantages in his youth, since the schools in Illinois were of a primitive character at the time his parents removed to that section. At the im- mature age of nine years he began to assist his father in the farm work, remaining at the parental home until he attained his majority, when he set out in life on his own responsibility, this being in the year 1861, when he found employment with the American Fur Company, whose headquarters were at St. Louis, Mo. In this connection he boarded the old steamboat Spread Eagle, on which he was transported up the Missouri river to Fort Benton, Mont., where he arrived on the 3rd of July, 1861. He became a particularly skillful shot and was known for his prowess in hunting, having devoted his attention to this line for fourteen months after lis arrival and also served as the bearer of im- portant messages. His wages at the start were only $19 per month, but were soon advanced to $40. On the Ioth of March, 1863, Mr. Largent started for Fort Edmonton, British Columbia; and while the party were en route the Indians stole their horses and they were compelled to walk a distance of 200 miles, and during the trip pro- visions became so scarce that they were obliged to resort to horse-flesh for food. Mr. Largent was fairly successful in his search for furs and hides, and having purchased horses from the Hudson Bay Company, the party encountered no particu- lar difficulty in making the return trip to Fort Ben- ton. Here, after a month's visit at the mining camps at Bannack and Virginia City, he assumed a position as wagon boss for the firm of Carl & Steele, who freighted between the various mining

districts and also carried the freight for the gov- ernment military posts. He was thus engaged un- til 1866, when he returned to Illinois for a visit, coming again to Fort Benton in May of the follow- ing year. He then proceeded to Sun River with a stock of goods, of which he was a joint owner in association with the firm of Carl & Steele, pre- viously mentioned. He was thereafter engaged in merchandising and in freighting for the United States army posts ·until 1875, when he disposed of his interests in this line. Mr. Largent was associ- ated with Col. Johnson in his erection of the first buildings at the Blackfoot Indian agency. Later he took up pre-emption and homestead claims, whose aggregate area was 240 acres, of which he sold a portion, but reserving 120 acres, which con- stitutes his present ranch, at Sun River. A notable success has attended his efforts in the way of farm- ing and stockgrowing, and his ranch is one of the valuable ones of this locality, while he is personally held in the highest esteem as a man and as one of the pioneers of Montana. The political allegiance of our subject is with the Democratic party, and fraternity he is a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows.

On the 2d of March, 1869, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Largent and Miss Sarah E. Hughes, who was born in Illinois, being the daugh- ter of Pleasant and Mary Hughes, natives re- spectively of Missouri and Kentucky. The father was long a prosperous farmer in Illinois, where his death occurred in 1854. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Largent became the parents of five children, one of whom, Eva, is deceased, the others being Mary J., Sarah E., Ida B. and John H.

JOSEPH L. LARGENT, whose well improved stock ranch is located three miles west of Ulm, Cascade county, may well be designated as one of the pioneers of Montana, having located in the territory thirty-four years ago. He was born in Hampshire county, Virginia (now West Virginia), October 9, 1842, the son of John W. and Mary J. Largent, natives of the Old Dominion, whence they eventually removed to Illinois, where the father died in 1861. He followed lumbering and farming in Virginia, and farming in Illinois. He was a member of, and at certain times an active worker in the Democratic party. His wife survived him many years, her death occurring in March, 1892.

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

In the public schools of Peoria county, Ill., Joseph L. Largent received what little educational discipline fell to his lot, and continued to assist his father in his business operations until he attained his legal majority in 1863, when he engaged in coal mining near Peoria, to which he devoted his at- tention until 1867, and then went to Fort Benton, Mont., and finally to Sun River Crossing, Cascade county, where he joined his brother, John, and where he was for two years employed in outside work in his brother's mercantile establishment. In 1869 Mr. Largent came to his present location in the vicinity of Ulm where he took up a squatter's claim in company with three other men, whose interests he eventually absorbed. Since that time he has taken up pre-emption, homestead and timber claims, and has also purchased 2,000 acres, the ag- gregate area of his estate being now 2,500 acres. In the early days he devoted his time largely to the raising of horses, but eventually relegated this branch of the business to a secondary position, and now raises cattle upon a large scale. Mr. Largent has also placed a portion of his home ranch under very effective cultivation, securing from both of his ranches excellent crops of hay, with which he supplied Fort Shaw in the early days. He may well be gratified with the success which has attended his efforts and in the uniform esteem which is ac- corded him. Politically he gives his support to the Democratic party. On December 27, 1881, Mr. Largent was united in marriage to Miss Melinda E. Hornback, who was born in Missouri, the daughter of John and Eleanor Hornback, natives of Ohio. The mother died in 1887 and the father in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Largent are the parents of six children : Jasper E., Melinda J., Lewis B., Cyrus J., Ida E. and Elsie E.

PATRICK LAVELLE .- A native of Niagara county, N. Y., where he was born August 18, 1839, and having seen much of the turmoil of life in peace and in war, through effort and vicissitude, Patrick Lavelle has reached a peaceful haven in the great Treasure state, far from the home of his youth and in different lines of activity from those to which he was reared. His parents were An- thony and Mary (Hunt) Lavelle, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, where their respective families had lived for many generations. They were married in their native land and removed to America, locat-

ing at first in Canada, where the father worked on the Welland canal for some years. He then re- moved his family to Lockport, N. Y., where he made his home for a number of years and was employed on the Erie canal. He removed to Buf- falo, where he died in 1844, leaving a family of two children. The mother died in Canada a year pre- vious. After his father's death Patrick removed with his uncle to Clifton Springs, Ontario county, N. Y., where he received his education. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Albany in May. His first engage- ment with the enemy was the first battle of Bull Run, soon after which he was transferred to the command of Gen. Banks, and was engaged in all the battles of the Shenandoah valley campaign, lead- ing up to the battle of Winchester, where Banks was decisively defeated for the second time within a few weeks, and more than 2,000 of his troops taken prisoners, among them Mr. Lavelle. The prison- ers were marched 135 miles to Waynesborough, from where they were sent by train to Lynchburg, and after McClellan's retreat, were transferred to Belle Isle. In September, 1862, he was paroled and sent to his regiment at Harper's Ferry in time to take part in Burnside's move on Fredericks- burg, after which they wintered at Stafford Court- house. In the spring of 1863 Mr. Lavelle joined Hooker's advance on Chancellorsville, and took part in the battle at that place. His term of ser- vice had by this time expired, and he was dis- charged at Lockport, N. Y., in June, 1863, with the rank of corporal, which he had reached by pro- motion for merit. From then until the close of the war he served under Sherman in the construction department. After the war he returned to Clifton Springs, and two months later was induced by the oil excitement to remove to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1886.

His home was in Titusville, where, on December 25, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Maggie O'Brien, a native of Ireland, who had come to America when she was young with older members of the family. They have seven chil- dren : Mary, now Mrs. H. J. Calhoun, of Colum- bus ; Maggie, now Mrs. W. P. Adams, of Colum- bus; Ambrose, engaged in the cattle business ; James, also in the cattle business: Cecelia, now Mrs. H. I. Grant, of Columbus; Nellie, living at home ; and Agnes, now Mrs. Holt, of Columbus. From Titusville, Pa., he came to Montana with his

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family, arrived at Billings on April 17, 1886, and entered the employ of the Northern Pacific Rail- road, and in July was located at Stillwater, now Columbus. In 1888 he bought a piece of land and opened it up as a townsite, known as Lavelle's addition to Stillwater. In 1889 he built a hotel in the town and conducted it until March, 1899, when he sold it. In the meantime he had begun extensive operations in sheep and cattle, in which he is still engaged in partnership with his sons. He owns considerable real estate in Columbus, and has a fine residence. He has served as county commissioner and school trustee, and was his par- ty's candidate for the legislature in 1893. He is a popular and influential citizen, and has the esteem of all classes in the community.

M ILTON NORRIS .- No country on the face of the globe records in its annals the lives and deeds of those known as pioneers to so great an extent as does the United States. Here the pioneers of civilization were the Pilgrim fathers who landed on the stern and rock-bound New Eng- land coast, the sturdy Hollanders who settled in New York and adjacent states, the patrician Eng- lishmen who founded the "first families of Vir- ginia." After them came a generation of pioneers in the middle states, and gradually the tide swept westward across the plains and over the moun- tain heights to the land of the setting sun, and, lo! we have a continent redeemed from the wilderness by "pioneers." Montana pioneers demand no in- definite place on the pages of history, and this publi- cation justifies its claims when it perpetuates their memories.

Milton Norris is a native of Athens county, Ohio, where he was born on the 17th of October, 1835, being the son of Thomas P. and Abigail (Blaisdell) Norris, who came of stanch old New England stock, the former born in New Hamp- shire and the latter in Massachusetts. To them also came the distinction of being pioneers, since they removed to Ohio in an early day, and thence to Iowa in 1847, becoming pioneers there also, settling first in Lee and later in Decatur county, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father being a successful farmer. He was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. He died in 1861 and his cherished and devoted wife in

1886. Both attained venerable age. Of their eight children three are deceased, George, Jack- son and Belinda. Those surviving are Milton, Annie, Addie, Julia and Mary.

Milton Norris received limited educational ad- vantages. He assisted his father on the home farm until he had attained his legal majority, when he set forth on his own responsibility. He was engaged in farm, military life and mine work until 1864, when he left Iowa for Montana, driving an ox team and being accompanied by Daniel J. Winters, of whom a sketch appears on other pages of this work. After nearly three months they arrived at their destination, Virginia City, then one of the most prosperous camps known in the his- tory of placer mining: Mr. Norris here turned his attention to the making of spiling for the mines and in the fall engaged in mowing hay for a time and then made a trip to Salt Lake City, whence he returned with a load of freight in the fall of the same year. He now engaged in placer mining until 1872, with fair success. He then worked at carpenter work in the Missouri valley, near Dia- mond City, and was there engaged in ranching until 1885, when he removed to the Gallatin valley, where he followed the carpenter trade for eight years. For eventful experiences during these years, particularly in 1877, see sketch of Daniel J. Winters as before mentioned. In 1893 he lo- cated his present homestead of 160 acres five miles south of Rockford, Fergus county, and here he has since been successfully engaged in farming and stockraising. In politics Mr. Norris supports the Democratic party.

On the 9th of April, 1857, Mr. Norris was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Winters, who was born in Ohio, a sister of the Daniel J. Winters previously mentioned. Mrs. Norris died in 1861, prior to our subject's removal to Montana, leav- ing two children, Benton and Della, the former of whom is engaged in stockraising in Fergus county, and the latter the wife of Thomas P. Street.

Mr. Norris, when in Decatur county, Iowa, in 1862, enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fourth Regi- ment Iowa Infantry, and served actively six months during the Civil war in Gen. Sherman's division on the Mississippi river, sharing in the operations against Vicksburg, and received his discharge on account of sickness. Now, as his life's shadows are lengthening toward the eastern horizon, this worthy pioneer. and loyal patriot is quietly resting, cared for most tenderly by his son.

D. J. Winters

Mrs. D. J. Winters

Milton Norris

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

D ANIEL J. WINTERS .- It is with satisfaction that we place in this memorial work a sketch of Mr. Winters, who came to Montana in 1864, having 'made the wearying overland trip to Cali- fornia in 1853, and is distinctively entitled to the title of a pioneer of the Pacific coast. He will have reached the psalmist's span of three score years and ten by the time this work is issued from the press, but he yet maintains the vigor born of the free and open life of the plains and the mountains, and is now one of the most honored citizens of Fergus county. He is a native of Lawrence county, Ohio, born February 24, 1832, a son of Daniel and Re- becca Winters, natives respectively of Pennsyl- vania and New Jersey, and both early settlers in Ohio. In 1849 the family removed to Iowa, repeat- ing the pioneer experiences of Ohio, and there Daniel Winters engaged in farming and did a noble work as a minister of the Baptist church. He was a man of signal purity of thought, a Democrat in politics and held membership in the Masonic fraternity. He and his wife resided in Iowa until their death. Of their ten children five are yet living, George, Daniel J., Isaac, Minerva and Jane.

Daniel J. Winters had limited educational ad -. vantages and aided in the work of the homestead farm until he attained the age of eighteen, when he hired out to do farm work and teaming. In 1853 he left Chariton, Iowa, and drove a bull team across the plains and over the mountains to Sacra- mento, Cal., using three months and ten days in the trip. He devoted four years to teaming and in 1857, having returned to Iowa, he located as a farmer near Garden Grove in that state, and con- tinued as such until 1864, when he came to Mon- tana. He started on March 24 with ox teams and a drove of cows and extra cattle, and made the trip without serious encounters with the Indians, arriving in the Gallatin valley on July 20. Col. Bridger, for whom the early route was named, acted as guide for the party which came through seventeen days before the one with which Mr. Win- ters was connected. Mr. Winters passed the win- ter in the Gallatin valley and then removed to Helena, where he engaged in mining in Grizzly gulch and kept a boarding house. Flour com- manded a price of $125 per hundred pounds, and potatoes were seventy-five cents a pound. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Winters removed to Diamond City and in the spring he took up a squatter's claim in the Missouri valley, and there engaged in successful farming until 1869. In 1870 he went

to Oregon and purchased a drove of horses which he brought to Montana and sold, after which he returned to Washington territory and located near the site of Spokane. Here he remained three years engaged in merchandising, being one of the pioneers in that line in that locality. Selling out he purchased 300 head of cattle and a drove of horses and brought them through to Montana. He then located near Bannack and for three years gave his attention to stockraising, conducting also a successful meat business. At the time of the memorable Nez Perces war, in 1877, when Chief Joseph and his band crossed the state, Mr. Win- ters met with heavy losses from the depredations of the savages and the fear of the settlers, many of whom left their homes. He was then living on Horse Prairie twenty-five miles from Ban- nack, the family consisting of himself and his partner, W. L. Montague, Milton Norris, M. S. Herr, William Farnsworth, William Flynn and William Smith, the women and children having taken refuge in Bannack. Mr. Winters, Mr. Nor- ris and three other men were loading hay in a field half a mile from the house, when they saw two parties of Indians, numbering from fifty to sixty. Driving the team on a mad run to the house they found it surrounded and none of their companions were to be seen. While turning their horses toward the willows along the creek 200 yards away the Indians opened fire on them. Mr. Farns- worth and Mr. Smith were killed. Mr. Winters and Mr. Norris, after lying in the willows until night, started on foot for Bannack, which they reached at noon the next day with their bare feet full of prickly pear thorns. The two men in the house, Mr. Montague and Mr. Flynn, were killed in the attack on the dwelling by the Indians. The next day Mrs. Winters with a party of citizens reached the place, found the bodies of the two men in the house, and that of Mr. Farnsworth some distance away. The articles in the house, furniture, harness, etc., were destroyed, but one unusual thing in Indian warfare was this, the dead men were not scalped or robbed, and each body was covered with a blanket. Mr. Mon- tague had $200 in his pockets which was un- touched. The dead bodies of four of the men were taken to Bannack and buried, the funeral sermon be- ing preached by Rev. W. W. Van Orsdel. For a full account of Mrs. Winter's thrilling adventures at this time see Robert Vaughn's work, "Now and Then, or Thirty-six Years in the Rockies."

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

After these tragic events Mr. Winters returned to the Missouri valley, bringing his stock with him and locating about seven miles south of Diamond City. He resided there until the fall of 1883, when he located on Rock creek, southwest of Lewistown, Fergus county, and eighteen miles from that coun- ty seat. There he took up a homestead of 160 acres and engaged in farming, stockgrowing and gardening until 1900, when he sold out and re- moved to his other ranch of 200 acres, located fifteen miles northeast of Garneill. One hundred and sixty acres of this ranch are available for cul- tivation, and he is devoting himself to general ranching. Politically Mr. Winters supports the Democratic party. As an evidence of his early connection with the history of Montana it may be noted that he hauled the logs for the first cabin built in Bozeman. On October 15, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth L. Haw- kins, born in Hancock county, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Hawkins, natives re- spectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. They were early settlers in Ohio, where they passed the re- mainder of their lives, and were, in religious af- filiation, Baptists. Mr. Hawkins was a zealous Democrat. Eight of their eleven children are living. Mrs. Winters is a lady of refinement and culture and is one of the best types of the dar- ing and intrepid women who so ably aided their husbands in the dangerous and arduous labors of early pioneer life. Such persons are blessings to the communities where they make their home.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 118

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