Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 165

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 165

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EDWIN W. WADDELL .- Deeply interested in all educational and moral questions, and ex- hibiting an active and intelligent public spirit in regard to whatever contributes to the advance- ment and welfare of the community, Edwin W. Waddell is one of the most enterprising and useful citizens of the section in which he lives. He

was born on February 4, 1856, at Springfield, Ill., the son of Alfred and Sarah A. Waddell, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Ohio. From Springfield when he was twelve years old he removed with the family to Greenfield, Mo., where he attended school four years longer, then working on his father's farm until he was twenty- one (at that time he with the rest of the family made their home in Fort Scott, Kan.), and then he engaged in farming on his own account until 1881, when he came to Montana, farming one year in Beaverhead valley, one at Toston, and four at Townsend for Gov. Potts and ( Russell) Harrison on their ranch. In 1886 he removed to the Bitter Root valley, where he has been since engaged in ranching, stock and fruit raising, and giving close attention to all public matters of a local char- acter. His ranch is about a mile and a half west of Hamilton, in one of the most fertile sections of the valley, and is in a high state of cultivation, well improved with good buildings, fences, etc. Mr. Waddell has been long a school trustee, and was the moving spirit in securing a schoolhouse in his neighborhood, donating the land for its site and grounds, and contributing materially towards its erection. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was mar- ried at Grantsdale in 1889, to Miss Emma With- ers, daughter of Andrew Withers, a resident of Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Waddell have · five chil- dren, Albert F., Blanch, Wilford, Glessie and Marie. Their home is a popular resort for their numerous friends.

C 'HARLES B. WALKER merits representa- tion in this work as one of the alert and suc- cessful farmers and stockgrowers of Cascade county, and his success is all the more gratifying from the fact that it has been achieved entirely through his own efforts, while he has ever held to those high ethics of life which deserve ob- jective confidence and esteem. Mr. Walker is a native of Memphis, Mo., where he was born on the 9th of September, 1861, the elder of the two sons of John and Anna Walker, natives respec- tively of England and the state of Indiana. The father acquired the trade of cabinetmaking in his native land, and came to the United States when a young man, and here continued to follow his vocation until his death, which occurred on the

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3Ist of October, 1869. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring on the 14th of April, 1896. Both were members of the Baptist church and were people of intelligence and ster- ling character. Joseph N. Walker, the only brother, is an osteopathist of Burlington, Iowa.

Charles B. Walker was deprived of a father's care and assistance when he was a mere lad, and his educational advantages were limited, but he availed himself of such opportunities as were af- forded, and received a common school training. At the age of fourteen years he found employment in a photographic studio, and two years later be- gan to serve an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade, perfecting himself in the same and con- tinuing to follow this vocation with but slight in- termission until 1892. During the memorable gold excitement in the Coeur d'Alene district in Idaho, in 1884, he went to that section and there associated himself in the hardware business with Charles Cooper. The venture proved a fail- ure, and at the expiration of four months they closed it out, our subject having lost all he had invested in the enterprise and having also in- curred an indebtedness in the connection. He was not disheartened by this poor success and set valiantly to work to retrieve his fortunes. He came to Sun river valley, Cascade county, and here formed a partnership with James Gibson and again engaged in the hardware business. Fortune favored this enterprise, and through his connec- tion there Mr. Walker was enabled to pay off notes outstanding against him to the amount of $3,000. He then took up desert claims to the amount of 291 acres, his ranch being located eight miles west of Fort Shaw, at the west line of Fort Shaw military reservation. Mr. Walker has here been consecutively engaged in the raising of cattle and hogs, in the former line having conducted oper- tions upon quite an extensive scale. He has also raised large crops of hay upon his ranch, and has the distinction of having been the first to intro- duce alfalfa in his section of the state, the results showing the wisdom of his action in the premises. In politics Mr. Walker accords an unswerving allegiance to the Republican party and the prin- ciples and policies for which it stands sponsor. In 1894 he was commissioned postmaster of Kep- ler postoffice and still is in office. Fraternally he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Work- men and the Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 26th of December, 1887, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Kate M. Hepler, who was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Henry and Hannah Hepler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of England. The father was engaged in work at the carpenter trade in Pennsylvania, and in 1881 he came to Mon- tana, locating in Helena, where he remained until 1883, when he removed to Fort Benton, and in 1884 he came to the Sun river valley, in Cascade county, where he has since been engaged in farm- ing and stockgrowing. He is an active and en- thusiastic Republican, has taken the royal arch degrees in the Masonic fraternity and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Of their six children four are still living, namely : Lillie A., Kate M., Mary L. and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have one child, Harold N., who was born in 1889. They are members of the Methodist church and enjoy a distinctive popularity in the community, their pleasant home being a center of gracious hospitality.

C `HARLES F. WALKER .- No city in Montana furnishes better examples of men who by reas- on of business enterprise and up-to-date meth- ods have succeeded in making their mark in the business world than does Anaconda. Those who continue to pursue the old-time business methods of the western country find it difficult to com- pete with these modern knights-errant of the com- mercial world. The old-time merchants who pros- pered during the years of the ox train and stage coach are passing away with those characteris- tics of a past civilization. As the railroad train and electric lights have taken the place of the mule wagon and the tallow dip, so the modern merchant, prompt in his dealings and careful of his credit, is driving out the slow and careless methods of former days. Among the prominent and successful merchants of modern thought and enterprise who have come to Montana in re- cent years is Mr. Charles F. Walker, of Anaconda, the general manager of the extensive grocery es- tablishment of James L. Hamilton. Since Mr. Walker took charge of this business in 1885, he has been in complete control and has systematized and enlarged it, until, one of the leading commer- cial houses of western Montana, its business con- nections now extend throughout the state.

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Charles F. Walker is a native of Wisconsin, born near Rockbridge on May 10, 1859. His father, John F. Walker, was one of the early set- lers of that section, having established his home there in 1855. He was a native of Erie, Pa., where he was born in 1831. For many years he was a successful and prosperous farmer in Richland county, Wis., and has now retired with a com- fortable fortune and is residing at Richland Cen- ter, Wis. The mother of Mr. C. F. Walker, who is a native of Vermont, is also living, and the worthy couple are passing the evening of life in ease and comfort after their busy years of act- ivity. Charles F. Walker received his academical training at the schools of Richland Center and Rockbridge, Wis., and on leaving school his am- bition led him to commercial pursuits and he en- tered into a general store at Richland Center, in a clerical capacity. Here he remained for two years, and became thoroughly conversant with the details of the business. Then resigning this position, he accepted a position in a drug store in the same place at an increased salary. After an experience of over two years in this department of commercial activity he resigned to try his for- tunes in the new country. Arriving in Anaconda in the fall of 1885, when that place was having phenomenal growth, he became associated with Mr. James L. Hamilton, and was soon placed in the responsible position which he still occupies. He is a successful manager, a careful and conserva- tive business man, and has strongly impressed himself upon the commercial life of western Mon- tana. Politically he is affiliated with the Republi- can party, and takes an active and leading inter- est in public affairs and in all measures calculated to benefit the city where he resides.

A LBERT E. TRAVIS is numbered among the successful young ranchmen of Montana, where he has passed the greater portion of his life, and he has attained prosperity through his own efforts and well directed industry, his well improved ranch, of 120 acres, being located one-half mile west of his postoffice village, Canyon Creek, Lewis and Clarke county. Here he is engaged in farming and stock- growing, much of his place being available for cul- tivation. His progressive attitude and unflagging energy are certain to make his success cumulative in character. Mr. Travis was born in the city of

Bristol, England, on April 18, 1865, the son of Samuel and Celia Travis, of sterling old English lineage, both parents being members of the Es- tablished church. The father devoted the greater portion of his active business life to his trade of engineering. He came to the United States in 1849 and spent a number of years in California, and as a successful miner from 1851 until 1862, when he returned to England and continued engineering un- til 1867, when he again came to America, locating in Pennsylvania, where he followed coal mining until 1871, in which year he came to Helena, Mont., and engaged in mining in Canyon creek, later form- ing a partnership with his two brothers, Philemon and George, and the firm continued mining for some time in the vicinity of Canyon creek, and he eventually became proprietor of a general store in Virginia City, Nev. In 1878 he removed to Butte, where he continued as a merchant until his death, on January 2, 1901. He always gave his support to the Democratic ticket. His widow now inakes her home in Helena.

Albert E. Travis received rather a limited edu- cation by attending the public schools of Helena in an irregular way, and at the early age of nine years he securéd a position as "pick-boy" in the mines at Virginia City, Nev., thus continuing for two years and receiving $3.00 per day for his services. Becoming dissatisfied at home, he went to work on the round-up, continuing in this occupation until 1887, when he was given charge of the Toole outfit and stock, taking the cattle to the Sweet Grass hills, near the Piegan agency. While there he witnessed the battle between the Crees and Gros Ventres, who arrayed themselves against the Piegans on account of the stealing of horses, and the Indians settled the difficulty in their customary manner. Mr. Travis was thus engaged until 1889, when he located in Butte, where he was a machinist until 1890, when he abandoned the work, as the fumes from the smelters impaired his health. He thereafter engaged in mining at Rimini for wages from 1894 until 1899, when he contracted to transfer the mails in Helena, and since the expira- tion of this contract he has devoted his attention to ranching. His political proclivities are stanchly Democratic. On March 11, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Travis and Mrs. Lizzie Mullane, who was born in Montana, the daughter of William S. and Ann Negus, natives of Michigan. Her father followed farming and stage driving, having ing come to Montana from Nevada in 1866, and

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here passing the remainder of his life, his death oc- curring in January, 1887. He was an active Re- publican and his religious faith was that of the Methodist church. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife is now Mrs. Ann Negus. She is now living at Canyon Creek, the old home. Mrs. Travis has one daughter by her first marriage, Margaret A., and of the present union two children have been born -- William E. and Shirley E.

LBERT WARD, one of Montana's pioneers,

was born January 31, 1842, in Shelby county, I11. He is a son of James and Elizabeth L. Ward, natives of Kentucky and Ohio. James Ward was a successful farmer and a strong Republican in po- litical faith. His wife was a devoted member of the Christian church. She died in 1867 and was survived by her husband, who died in 1869. Al- bert Ward attended school winters and worked in- dustriously during the rest of the year on the home farm until he was twenty years old. He then started for the west and an independent life and living, coming to Montana in 1864, in an ox cart, via Omaha, through Landreth's cut-off. He es- tablished himself on his arrival here in Virginia City, where he engaged in mining at Alder gulch, then famed for the richness of its auriferous de- posits. Later he went to Walla Walla and Port- land, Ore., traveling with pack horses. At Gal- latin Valley he engaged in ranch work at $50 per month for Penwell Bros. They later failed and Mr. Ward lost all the money due him, leaving him practically penniless.

In the spring of 1865 he returned to Alder gulch, secured a claim and went to mining with encour- aging success until October, when he went to Hel- ena and passed the winter. In 1866 after some placer mining he put up hay for the Canada ranch in Prickly Pear valley, receiving $3.00 a day and board, passing the next winter hunting on Prickly Pear creek. In 1867 Mr. Ward moved to Old Missouri and put up hay here at good wages, and passed that winter also hunting with George War- ner. Mr. Ward then left for Oregon on his way to Alaska, but changed his plans and in August started for Humboldt Wells, Nev., overland, the trip lasting thirty days. He then mined in White Pine, his partner, William Wright, devoting his attention to freighting, each meeting with success. On July 4, 1869, Mr. Ward returned to Helena and

prospected over the Diamond and Yellowstone dis- tricts, spending the winter in Bozeman.

In 1870 he returned to Helena and his prospect- ing, and in the fall went to Canada where he successfully engaged in wolf and buffalo hunting, his partner being Oliver Cary. The party of fourteen killed 300 buffalo and 4,500 wolves. The next four years were passed in mining in various Montana gulches, and in 1877 Mr. Ward took up a homestead claim of 160 acres near Helena, which he subse- · quently sold for $7,000 and removed to one of his present ranches, ten miles south of Augusta in Lewis and Clarke county. This consists of two claims of 160 acres each, 100 acres being fine, arable land. Mr. Ward also owns another ranch of 540 acres upon which he now resides, fourteen miles south of Augusta. His time is given to ranch- ing and stockraising and he is very prosperous. Mr. Ward married on June 2, 1889, Miss Flora Whitely, a native of New York, and a daughter of John and Bettie Whitely, also natives of New York. They are both Baptists in religious faith. Her father, who died on January 22, 1879, was a wagon- maker, a devout member of the Christian church and a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have had three children, one dying in infancy. The others are James E. and Albert R. Ward. Mr. Ward is a Republican, influential in the party's local councils.

F RED D. WALRATH is not only a prominent rancher and cattle man of Lewis and Clarke county, but also one of the most popular Demo- crats in the vicinity of Augusta. He is a native of Wisconsin, born at Sparta, Monroe county, on April 30, 1858. His parents were Frederick F. and Alvira Walrath, natives of New York who came to Montana in 1873. They located at Sun River crossing, where the father followed black- smithing. In 1879 he secured a homestead claim on the site of Augusta, and divided it into town lots which he disposed of at a good profit. He was a member of the Methodist church and a Royal Arch Mason. He died on April 27, 1894. His widow resides at Augusta with her daughter, Mrs. William Barnard. Fred D. Walrath was educated in the public schools in the neighborhood of his early home. From the age of thirteen he followed the business of herding and general ranch work, and for twelve years he was in the employ of D. J. Hogan, Daniel Flowerree and Con- rad Kohrs. In 1883 he purchased a freight team

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and transported goods between Helena, Augusta and other points, meeting with fair success. He was energetic, wide awake and a "hustler."

Mr. Walrath purchased his present ranch com- prising 160 acres, in 1890, for $400, but it is largely increased in value, he having made numerous improvements. It lies fifteen miles southwest of Augusta, in a most eligible situation. Recently he has added 300 acres to the property, seventy- five acres of which is susceptible to cultivation. In horse and cattle breeding he has been eminently successful. On June 28, 1883, Mr. Walrath was united in marriage to Miss Katie L. Patrick, a native of Walla Walla, Wash., daughter of John W. and Nancy Patrick, whose parents were na- tives respectively of Kentucky and of Philadel- phia, Pa. Mr. Patrick was a successful miner, coming to Montana as early as 1838 with a con- tingent of the Hudson Bay Company. Mrs. Pat- rick died on April 15, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Wal- rath have two children, Delbert F. and Alvin W. He is an Odd Fellow and Mrs. Walrath belongs to the Daughters of Rebekah.

S ULLIVAN H. WAREMAN is recognized as one of the leading stockmen of Cascade county, his ranch being located seventeen miles east of Belt, and nine miles east of Cora. Here, in partnership with Mr. Edward Sutter, his brother-in-law, he has 800 acres of land, well improved and stocked with a fine herd of cattle. He was born in Venango county, Pa., on May 5. 1857, the son of John and Nancy Wareham. The parents were both Penn- sylvanians, and the father was a stone cutter, and fraternally an Odd Fellow, while politically his affiliations were with the Republican party. Both parents were members of the Church of God, and the father's death occurred May 27, 1892.

Sullivan H. Wareham in early life assiduously devoted himself to his books in the district and high schools, and by study and discriminate reading ac- quired a fine education. Up to the attainment of his majority he assisted his parents by his labor, and in 1878 commenced the reading of law, as his tastes decidedly favored a professional life. His legal studies were interrupted by his impaired health, which deflected his activities into other channels. Coming west he located in Cedar county, Iowa, near Davenport. Here he engaged for several years in light occupations suitable to the delicate state of

his health, and in the spring of 1881 he came to Montana and settled in the heart of the Highwood mountains. In June, 1881, Mr. Wareham secured a squatter's claim, and then gave his time to pros- pecting. He was fairly successful and says that he would have done exceedingly well had his money been sufficient to defray the necessary expenses. Later he disposed of his claim and secured land in the Judith basin and entered extensively into the sheep and cattle business, and also became a practical sheep shearer, in which occupation he passed eleven years.

During a portion of this time he was in partner- ship with his brother, VanBuren Wareham, but this association was dissolved by mutual consent, and they disposed of the ranch for $9,500. Mr. Wareham reserved a portion of the stock and soon settled on his present location, seventeen miles southeast of Belt, on a ranch comprising 800 acres. On October 20, 1889, Mr. Wareham was married to Miss Anna Sutter, a native of Austria, daughter of Frank and Wilder (Dufik) Sutter, both Austrians. In early life Mr. Sutter came to the United States and settled in Nebraska, where he was long engaged in farming. Mrs. Sutter died in April, 1890, and in 1898 she was followed by her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Wareham have had five children : Vernie, deceased ; Dayton, Benton, Annie M. and Marshall. Mr. Wareham became an Odd Fellow years ago, and he is a strict Seventh-day Adventist in re- ligious conviction. He is independent of all polit- ical parties.

S AMUEL E. TRAVIS is a native of the city of Bristol, England, where he was born on June 11, 1866, the son of Samuel and Celia Travis, to whom individual reference is made in the fore- going sketch of our subject's brother, Albert E. Travis. Samuel E. received a common school educa- tion, and began his individual effort at a very early age, having been brought to America by his par- ents while he was a mere infant. After the family located in Helena, Mont., he remained one year in the family of Homer Hewins, and thereafter made his home with William Ervine for seven years, as- sisting that gentleman in his placer mining opera- tions near Helena, also working in connection with the timber business. In 1883 he returned to Helena, and here secured a position in the mercantile es- tablishment of John T. Murphy, with whom he remained one year, after which he assisted his

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brother, Albert E., in the handling of his mail con- tract until the summer of 1899, when he joined the stampede of gold-seekers and made his way to Alaska. There his success was of a distinctly nega- tive character, and in the fall of the same year he returned to Helena, with more experience than money. He has since assisted his brother in his ranching operations, the place being located one- half mile west of Canyon creek, Lewis and Clarke county. Mr. Travis gives his support to the Demo- cratic party.

C S. WATTERS .- A representative ranch and stock man of northern Montana, whose ad- dress is Highwood, Choteau county, Mr. Wat- ters is a native of the county of Butler, in the state of Pennsylvania, where he was born on March 25, 1862, being the son of James and An- nie (Lowry) Watters, both natives of Ireland. The parents emigrated to America soon after their marriage in 1831, and settled in Pennsyl- vania. Here the father engaged in farming, be- ing at one time the owner of 135 acres of land at Calary Junction, and upon this the town of Calary is now situated. In politics he was a member of the old Whig party, and when that organization ceased to exist he allied himself with the Repub- lican party. Mr. Watters attained manhood in the Keystone state, and received his early educa- cation in the public schools of that common- wealth. At the age of seventeen years he left school, and came to Minnesota, subsequently re- moving to the city of Hudson, Wis., and still later he became a resident of the city of Ellsworth. At this place he purchased a team of horses, and drove overland to Bismarck, N. D., from which place he afterwards embarked on a Missouri river steamer with his team, and came westward to Fort Benton, where he arrived in the summer of 1882. He then proceeded to the lower ferry of the Missoula river, where he engaged in cutting ties for the Northern Pacific Railway, which was then constructing its main line through Montana. Returning after this to Fort Benton, he went to the vicinity of Highwood in the fall of that year, and continued to abide there up to the winter of 1884, when he was there married with Miss Mary Stoner, the daughter of Christian Stoner, a prominent ranchman of that section of the coun- ty of Choteau. To their union have been born five children, Charles L., Effie L., David C., Wal-

ter Clifford, and Lottie P. Mr. Watters re- mained at Highwood for about one and one-half years after his marriage, and then returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming for four years. He there also became interested in the oil business, meeting with con- siderable success. At the end of four prosperous years he disposed of his farm and business in Pennsylvania, and returned to Montana, where, in 1893, he purchased his present ranch at High- wood, and has since been engaged there in the ranch and live stock business. His father died in Pennsylvania in 1887, his mother surviving her husband until 1898.

Mr. Watters is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and the family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a stanch member of the Republican party, and a loyal advocate of the principles of that political organization, and is a highly respected citizen of the community where he maintains his home.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 165

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