Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 160

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 160

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On the 30th of May, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Strong to Miss Agnes M. Morrow, who was born in Colorado, the daughter of Malcolm S. and Jeannette Morrow, natives of the Dominion of Canada. The father was one of the pioneers of Montana, whither he came in 1864, engaging in

mining operations and also in the raising of stock, and for a few years he also successfully conducted a dairy business. In politics he was an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party and as a man among men he was held in uniform esteem. His death occurred June 13, 1891, while his wife passed away in 1880. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morrow were earnest Presbyterians. Mr. and Mrs. Strong became the parents of two children, Mabel O. and Jessie E. The devoted and cherished wife and mother was summoned into eternal life on March 16, 1896, deeply mourned by all who knew her. In her earlier life she held membership in the Presbyterian church, but in later years was a mem- ber of the Protestant Episcopal church.

B ATTISTA SUCCETTI .- Born in Lombardy, Italy, in 1850, a section of that classic land which gave to the world a great race of money lenders and transmitted its name to moneyed thor- oughfares of many great cities beyond its boun- daries, the subject of this sketch has wandered far from the land of his nativity and the occupation of his people in early days.

His parents were Anthony and Kate (Tamang- nio) Suceetti, natives of Lombardy and the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, three of them in Lombardy, and three, all sons, in Mon- tana. Our subject attended school until he was eighteen years old, working meanwhile on his father's farm. After leaving school he spent four years herding sheep and goats in summer among the hills and working on a log drive in the winter.

In 1870 he bade adieu to sunny Italy and sought the larger opportunities for freedom and prosperity offered by the United States. He first took up his residence in New Jersey, and was occupied two years in chopping eordwood in winter and making brick at Careville in summer. In 1872 he removed to Pennsylvania and worked three months on a ditch running out of Pittsburg. From there he made his way to Chicago, where he was employed as a stone mason, and then went to Eureka, Nev .. where he was employed at burning charcoal for about two years. The next two years he spent in freighting, and in 1878 was in Utah, chopping wood and doing other jobs. In 1879 he came to Montana, locating at Butte, where he chopped wood for several months, part of the time in Brown gulch, and also for the Silver Bow brewery, but

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obtained other work in the brewery, where he re- mained until 1881. After leaving the brewery he chopped wood at Yankee Doodle gulch, and later located near the present site of Laurel, before there was a town or railroad in that section of the coun- try. He homesteaded 1.48 acres, through which a large irrigation ditch now runs, enabling him to cultivate a good portion of the land and aiding him in raising on it profitable crops of alfalfa, oats, wheat, corn, potatoes and other vegetables. He has also started to raise fruit, and now has the promise of abundant success in the venture. In addition to his homestead he owns a third interest in another section of land, and has in fine flourishing condi- tion some sixty head of cattle. In politics Mr. Succetti is a Republican, and in religious faith a Catholic. He is well esteemed in his locality, and deserves the standing which he enjoys.

JOHN SUCCETTI .- The subject of this para- graph is a brother of Battista, and also a native of Lombardy, Italy, where he was born in 1848. He was not favored with much schooling, being early compelled to work on his father's farm and aid in supporting the family. In 1879 he came to the United States, making his way to Eureka, Nev., where he remained three months. He joined his brother in Butte and worked with him in the gulches, chopping wood, until 1881, when he lo- cated his present ranch as a homestead, which he has greatly improved, a large portion of it being devoted to the raising of alfalfa and timothy. He has fifty head of superior cattle, and is a prosperous and progressive citizen. He affiliates with the Re- publicans in his political relations, and is a Catholic in religious faith. Mr. Succetti has made himself agreeable and useful, and is held in high esteem.

H ENRY STRUCK .- This enterprising, pro- gressive and influential ranchman and stock - breeder, whose home is a model of thrift and neat- ness, well improved with excellent buildings, fences and other necessary appliances, and brought by skillful farming to a high state of cultivation, was born in Holstein, Germany, in February, 1841. His parents, James and Letta (Soel) Struck, were na- tives of the same place, and there died in 1850. He was educated in the schools of his native town,

and came to the United States in 1857, when he was but sixteen years of age and a lone orphan, settled at Davenport, Iowa, and worked as a farm laborer in that vicinity until 1883. In July of that year he came to Montana, and locating on the Mus- selshell he worked on the ranch of Ralph Berry for ten months. He then bought a flock of sheep and ran them on the Musselshell ranges for two years. In 1886 he bought a ranch in Lake basin, consisting of two sections of railroad land, where he was extensively engaged in the sheep business until 1891, when he sold the ranch to Alfred Thomas, and the next year located on his present ranch, two miles west of Park City on the Yellow- stone river and the Northern Pacific Railroad. His ranch comprises 1,200 acres, is all under irriga- tion, and with complete improvements makes a very desirable home. It is devoted to sheep and cattle, the latter being half-breed Swiss and the former high grade American Delaines.

Mr. Struck is essentially a self-made man. He has carved out his fortune by his patient industry, and has contributed substantially to the benefit of his section of the state by carefully aiding in im- proving the breeds and standard of stock therein. In politics he is a Republican.

Đ ANIEL SULLIVAN, one of the most exten- sive stockgrowers of Teton county, residing near Shelby, is a thoroughly selfmade man and an influential citizen in every respect. Since his advent into what was at the time the territory of Montana he has been an indefatigable worker, and with the exception of about a year passed in prospecting and mining has devoted his attention profitably to stock interests. Mr. Sullivan was among the first to recognize that for the man of limited capital the true resources of Mon- tana were in its farms and ranges, and he has fully demonstrated this undeniable proposition. He was born at Malden, Mass., on December 24, 1848, the son of Michael and Honora Sullivan. The father was born about 1821 in Ireland, and came to the United States in 1844, settling in Massa- chusetts, and in 1850 removed to Iowa county, Wis., where for sixteen years he was engaged in farming and mining. Since 1866 he has lived a retired life in Townsend, Mont. Honora Sulli- van, his wife, was born in 1821. Daniel Sullivan's educational privileges terminated when he was

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seventeen years of age, and in 1865 he accom- panied his parents to Montana, where for about a year he prospected and mined with his father in the vicinity of Diamond City, Bird Tail and other gulches. In the spring of 1866.they lo- cated a ranch in Missouri valley, where they re- mained until 1870, and Daniel conducted general farming and stockraising for nine years.

In 1883 he removed to Birch creek, Teton county, and worked a squatter's claim until 1885, when he located his present ranch four and one- half miles from the head of Marias river, and eighteen miles from Shelby. The original prop- erty comprised 480 acres, but to this has been added homestead and desert claims, until there is now under his control over 1,100 acres. One hundred and sixty acres lies immediately adjoin- ing the town of Shelby, and 320 acres is on the Cut Bank river, twenty miles distant. Upon the latter ranch Mr. Shelby makes his home, and here he extensively raises cattle and horses. On the best portions of his land he has been very suc- cessful in farming and gardening. At Helena, January 1I, 1872, Mr. Sullivan was married to Miss Levisa J. Raney, born in Wisconsin in 1856, the daughter of Herman Raney, who since 1865 has been a leading rancher and business man of Mitchell gulch near Helena. Mr. Sullivan's children are : Florence A., Daniel Frederick, Anna, John, Mary, Michael, Edward, Francis, Margaret and Bertha. In 1873 they lost Daniel, aged two and one-half years. Mr. Sullivan is an influential worker in the Democratic party and is wide awake to the leading issues of the day. Fraternally he is a member of Choteau Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M., and of Teton Lodge No. 45, K. of P., of Shelby. He is a good citizen and highly esteemed.

E LMER SUMMERS is numbered among the progressive young farmers and sheepgrow- ers of Yellowstone county, his well improved ranch being located in the beautiful Yellowstone valley, about seven miles northeast of the city of Billings, his postoffice address. He is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Noble county, Ohio, on July 1, 1861, the son of John and Harriet (Milner) Summers. He re- ceived his educational discipline in the public schools of Ohio, and continued on the parental farm until attaining the age of nineteen years. In

1880 he accompanied his father to Montana, go- ing as far as Bismarck, N. D., by way of the Northern Pacific Railroad; thence up the Mis- souri river by boat to the mouth of the Yellow- stone and up the latter river to Junction City, at the mouth of the Big Horn, the trip requir- ing about two months. Elmer Summers devoted his attention to riding the range for six seasons in the vicinity of Billings, and engaged in farm- ing at intervals. In 1892 he purchased his pres- ent ranch, and is successfully engaged in farm- ing and sheepgrowing, usually wintering from 3,000 to 5,000 sheep, while he secures an average annual yield of about 600 tons of alfalfa. He has been enterprising in his methods and is re- garded as one of the up-to-date men of the val- ley. He is one of the sixteen original owners of a large irrigating ditch, estimated to carry 4,500 inches of water secured from the Yellowstone river at a point about fifteen miles above Bill- ings. This exceptionally valuable improvement, which affords effective irrigation for a large tract of land, was completed at an expenditure of about $12,000, and is a credit to the projectors. The ditch extends down the valley as far as Billings, and covers a strip of country about two miles in width throughout its course. Mr. Sum- mers' ranch comprises about 170 acres, whereon he has erected a good residence and made other excellent improvements.

In politics our subject gives his support to the Democratic party, and in 1896, as the fusion candidate, he was elected county assessor of Yel- lowstone county for a term of two years, proving a capable and discriminating official. In 1895 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Summers and Miss Margaret Menley, who was born in San Antonio, Tex., being the daughter of C. L. and Sarah (Boykin) Menley. Of this union there are two daughters, Emma and Esther, who lend brightness and cheer to the family circle.

A LLEN D. SUTHERLAND is one of the pros- perous and enterprising ranchmen of Cas- cade county, residing on a most eligible ranch not far from Evans. He was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, on December 13, 1838, being the son of Donald and Katherine Sutherland. His paternal grandfather was William Sutherland, of Scotland, and his mother was the daughter of

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Roderick and Mary Morrison. Donald Suther- land, the father of Allen D., died in Nova Scotia in 1874 at the age of seventy-four, and there too his mother passed away at sixty-six years of age, and was buried at Cape Breton. Allen D. Suth- erland was educated in the government schools and learned the sailmaking trade, at which he worked industriously for thirty years. In Octo- ber, 1861, he came to the United States and in February, 1862, joined the United States navy. He remained in the navy until the spring of 1864, when he was honorably mustered out and today he receives a pension from the government.

Mr. Sutherland then resumed sailmaking at Bos- ton, Mass., for three years and then returned to Nova Scotia. During this visit he married in Nova Scotia Isabel Morrison, daughter of Allen and Christina Morrison, who were born in Nova Scotia. Following his marriage Mr. Sutherland continued work at sailmaking and also made sev- eral voyages at sea. In 1881 he came to Mon- tana, locating successively at Glendale, Lyon Mountain and Butte, but in 1883 returned to Massachusetts and again engaged in sailmaking until July, 1891, when he brought his family to Montana and located at Granite, Granite county, where he worked in the Granite mine until 1892, when he came to Great Falls and for one year was there employed in the smelter. In 1893 he home- steaded 160 acres of land, cultivating forty of it, and also raising cattle. In 1900 he added to his ranch 500 acres of railroad land, which he util- izes for grazing purposes. Since his permanent location in Montana he has been eminently suc- cessful, financially and socially. In all he now has 840 acres of land devoted to stock.

Mr. Sutherland is a conscientious member of the Presbyterian church, and has worthily held the office of elder. To him and Mrs. Sutherland eight children have been born, four they have buried, namely : George D., Christine F., Allen E. and Christina Orpha. The living children are George D. A., Katherine A., Earnest A. and Mary M.

JOHN B. SWARBRICK is identified with the stockraising and farming industries of Cas- cade county, and is devoting careful attention to the work in hand, his methods having been such as to secure success in the past and to augur for a still more promising future. Mr. Swarbrick is

a native son of the capital city of Montana, hav- ing been born in Helena November 27, 1874, the son of John and Helen Swarbrick. For reference to their history see sketch of J. F. Swarbrick.

John B. Swarbrick secured his early educa- tional training in the public schools of his native city, and while still a boy became identified with the practical affairs of life through assisting in the operations of his father's lime kiln until 1883, when he secured a position to work for wages on a ranch and was thus employed until 1896, gaining a thorough knowledge of the details of this important line of industry. In the year last mentioned he took up a homestead claim of 160 acres, and two years later secured a desert claim of 120 acres, his ranch being located thirty-five and a half miles south of Cascade, comprising 280 acres, of which 120 acres are susceptible of culti- vation. Since 1899 Mr. Swarbrick has taken cat- tle on shares, and in the enterprise as thus con- ducted excellent success has attended his efforts. He is a thorough stockman and is worthy of the confidence and esteem uniformly reposed in him. In politics he gives support to the Democratic party; in religion he holds to the faith of his fathers, belonging to the Catholic church.

I JOSEPH F. SWARBRICK .- In according rec- ognition in this compilation to those who have been prominently identified with the material ac- tivities which have conserved the progress and prosperity of the state of Montana, it is but fit- ting that mention be made of the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, since he has here worked his way to the forefront in connection with the stockraising industry, which is one of great importance. Mr. Swarbrick was born in the city of Davenport, Iowa, on the 23d of Septem- ber, 1863, being the son of John and Helen Swar- brick, who were natives of England, from which "tight little isle" they emigrated to America in their younger days. The father was both a shoe- maker and stonemason by trade, and to these lines devoted his attention until 1863, when he became numbered among the pioneers of Montana, en- gaging in mining operations in Alder gulch and in the Black Hills, eventually establishing a lime kiln at Helena, which continued to be his home until death ended his active labors, his demise occurring on the 19th of April, 1892. He was

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a member of the Catholic church, as is also his widow, who still maintains her home in Helena.

Joseph F. Swarbrick received excellent educa- tional advantages in his boyhood, attending the public schools of Helena, where he was reared to manhood. When a lad he commenced to as- sist in the work of his father's limekiln, con- tinuing to be thus engaged until 1889, when he formed a partnership with Lewis Beck, to whom individual reference is made on another page of this work, for the purpose of engaging in the cat- tle business on Boulder creek. Our subject thus passed the greater portion of his time out in the open country, where the best pasturage was to be secured for the stock, and eventually the firm took possession of their present ranch, which is located thirty-five miles south of the city of Cas- cade, and here they have since continued their stockraising on an extensive scale, having at the present time 300 head of cattle on their ranch, which is well improved. The young men started out for themselves without money or influence, and when this fact is taken into consideration their success is all the more significant and com- mendable, while their correct methods have gained and retained to them the confidence and respect of all with whom they have had dealings. Mr. Swarbrick is a Democrat in his political procliv- ities, and in religion his faith is that of the Cath- olic church, in which he was reared.

JAY W. SWEETSER .- Having an honored place in the esteem of his fellow citizens of Rosebud county, which he has earned by living ac- ceptably among them and successfully conduct- ing in their midst several lines of active and prof- itable business, and being a forceful and discrim- inating contributor to the advancement of any en- terprise that promises improvement for his com- munity, Jay W. Sweetser, of Forsyth, may with eminent propriety be considered a representative man of his section of the state. He was born at Faribault, Minn., on April 30, 1863, the son of Charles and Myra (Marcis) Sweetser, natives of Maine, where they were born in 1829 and 1836 respectively. They removed to Minnesota in 1855, where the father has been a successful carpenter and farmer. Their son Jay was educated in the public schools of his native town, and was on the farm until he was nineteen years of age. He

then came to Forsyth, Mont., and for two years was employed as brakeman on the Northern Pa- cific Railroad. In 1884 he bought a number of cattle, and in the same year took up a 160-acre claim on the Big Porcupine creek twelve miles from Forsyth, which he has since increased by purchase to 1,820 acres. This fine body of land is all under fence, and is adjoined by a large open range for his stock. He has it improved with the necessary appliances to carry on cattle and sheep- raising on a large scale, which he does, having us- ually about 6,000 head of sheep and 600 of cattle.

Mr. Sweetser is one of the pioneers of the Yellowstone valley whose progressive methods and public spirit have brought about the great development and productiveness of that portion of Montana. In 1887 he helped organize the Forsyth Mercantile Company composed of himself as president and general manager, and Messrs. Dar- neill and Northway as partners. Two years later the name was changed to the McRae Mercantile Company, and continued under that title until 1900, when the business was purchased by Harry H. Fletcher & Co. Mr. Sweetser owns and occupies a handsome residence in Forsyth, and also owns the building which is used as the court house for Rosebud county. It was originally a schoolhouse, but remodeled into a convenient building for the county. In politics he is a zealous Republican and gives the affairs of his party good attention and active service. He was married at Miles City in 1890 to Miss Molly O'Brien, who was born at Dallas, Tex., June 25, 1876. Their children are Eddie, Roy, Hazel Clarence and Charlie.

C APT. SAMUEL A. SWIGGETT, of Helena, is United States special deputy collector for the port of Great Falls, Mont., which is included in the district of Montana and Idaho, and since 1887 he has been closely identified with the in- terests of Montana. He was born in Dorchester county, Md., on May 19, 1834. His father, Will- iam H. Swiggett, a birthright Quaker, was a native of Delaware, and throughout his life devoted him- self to clerical work. He received his education, which was of a superior order, in his native state, and passed the greater part of his life, up to the time of his death, in Wilmington, Del. On June 27, 1873, he was married to Miss Henrietta M. Hurst, a native of Maryland, who died in George-

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town, Del., on February 13, 1847. During his eventful life he held several important appointive offices. The father of W. H. Swiggett was Aaron Swiggett, son of William Swiggett, born in Caro- line county, Md., in 1771. He served as a major in the Federal army of the war of 1812, and died in Sussex county, Del., on December 26, 1826.

Capt. Swiggett was one of a family of four sons and two daughters. The sons are all living, two of them being in Washington, D. C., and one in Kansas. In Maryland occurred the early boy- hood and education of the captain, but at one time he attended school in Delaware. Subsequently he learned the trade of a tailor in Cambridge, Md., and in 1852 he removed to Indiana, where he remained three years, coming to Iowa in 1855. He located at Blakesburg, was elected sheriff of Wapello county, Iowa, in 1869, and held the office from 1870 to 1874. In 1887 the manifold attrac, tions of Montana induced Capt. Swiggett to move further toward the setting sun, and in that year he came to this state, locating at Clancey, Jefferson

county. Within one year from the date of his ar- rival he was nominated for and elected a mem- ber of the last territorial session of the legisla- ture. He served on the committee on mines and minerals, one of the most important of the num- erous committees of that body. Capt. Swiggett continued mining in Jefferson county until 1889, when he was appointed by President Harrison as register of the United States land office at Hel- ena. In this office he remained for the full term of four years. In March, 1894, he was named by Gov. Rickards as register of the state land office. He was the first to fill that newly created office, and he served but two years, when he was removed by Gov. Smith because of his opposition to free silver. In 1896 the failure of the Merchants & Miners National Bank of Philipsburg, Mont., oc- curred. Capt. Swiggett was appointed its re- ceiver and within twelve months he closed up its affairs, paying to the creditors 100 cents on the dollar. For this prompt work the comptroller of the currency allowed him a handsome premium. This is a business record of which any man might well be proud. In August, 1898, he was appointed to his present position of United States deputy collector of customs.

During the Civil war Capt. Swiggett enlisted, in 1862, in Company B, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry. His army experience was one of extraordinary hardship and continued suffering. He was mus-

tered into service as first lieutenant, but was com- missioned captain soon after the company was mustered into the service. He served three years and one month in Arkansas and Tennessee, par- ticipating in the battles of Helena and Little Rock. At the fierce encounter of Mark's Mill his com- pany was surrounded and twenty-three killed and wounded. Capt. Swiggett and thirty-five men were there captured and imprisoned for fourteen months. Twice he made his escape, and once he succeeded in getting 150 miles from the enemy, but it availed him nothing, as he was recaptured. Again he reached a point 250 miles from the Con- federate guards, but was again taken and returned within the rebel lines. During this wearisome captivity he was confined in thirteen jails and pris- ons in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, and marched over 1,700 miles. Capt. Swiggett was the last soldier of the war to leave the stockade at Camp Fora, Tex. In 1895 Capt. Swiggett pub- lished a small volume entitled "The Bright Side of Prison Life," making his personal experiences the keynote of the narrative. It was finely pre- pared and edited and is very entertaining. It now has a circulation of over 2,000 copies. In 1856 Capt. Swiggett was married in Iowa to Eliza H. VanCleve, a native of Indiana. Five children were born to them. Two are now liv- ing, Levin V. and Gertrude, those deceased being Elfing W., Anna and Eliza. Their mother died in 1893. In 1895 Capt. Swiggett was married to Mrs. Florence (Gratble) Kelley, a native of Penn- sylvania. The Captain has been a lifelong Re- publican, casting his first vote for the first Repub- lican presidential candidate, John C. Fremont. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and numbers a host of friends and ad- mirers. He has been a constant and prominent member of the Baptist church since 1856.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 160

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