Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 168

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 168

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S M. WILLS .- This interesting gentleman may not inappropriately be styled a son of battle, for he was born in Clarke county, Ky., on Decem- ber 25. 1847, in the midst of the Mexican war, and began active operations in the activities of life at the age of fourteen, by serving as assistant forage master for his father who was furnishing cattle for the Federal armies in the Civil war. His father, Eli B. Wills, was also a native of Clarke county, Ky., where he was born in 1812. He was a pros- perous and energetic farmer and stockraiser, and died in 1884, in Bath county, Ky., where was his home for many years and where his wife died in 1861. S. M. Wills received a limited education at the district schools, attending them in the winter and assisting his father on the farm with his stock operations in the summer. When the Civil war came they bought cattle for the Federal govern- ment, furnishing the troops of Gen. Thomas at Nashville and of Gen. Burnside at Knoxville, S. M. Wills holding the position of assistant forage master and moving the stock from Kentucky to the cities mentioned. After the war he remained on the home farm in Bath county, until 1869, and from that date was farming on his own account until 1871. From 1871 until 1874 he was connected with the Bath iron works; then tried running a sawmill, working for the Slate Creek Iron Company at Olympia, Ky., which he continued to do for a num-

ber of years. In 1884 Mr. Wills came to Montana, first locating at Glendive until he found a ranch to suit him, which he did twenty-five miles from the present town of Wibaux, and here he settled in 1885 as a member of and the manager of the Beaver Creek Cattle Company, composed of Col. Dodge, of Bos- ton, Philip and J. A. Moore, of St. Louis, and him- self. The business of this company was wound up in 1898, and from that time Mr. Wills has lived on a ranch two and a half miles north of Wibaux, on Beaver creek, which is one of the most substantially and comfortably improved, in the way of good buildings, fences, etc., to be seen in this unusually prosperous part of the state. Here he conducts the breeding of high-bred horses and cattle on a large scale, also the farming necessarily incident thereto. Fraternally Mr. Wills is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as a valued member of Wibaux Lodge No. 67. He was mar- ried in Bath county, Ky., in 1869 with Miss Sallie P. Warner, a native of that county, where she was born in 1853. They have had ten children, namely : Ceteous, wife of W. A. Orgain, the leading mer- chant of Wibaux; Lucy, wife of J. S. Bilyen, a prominent stockraiser of North Dakota; Mollie, wife of Eugene Randall, a prominent stockraiser near Wibaux, and Samuel, Vienna, Elizabeth, Sallie P. and Eva, who are still at home. A son named Travis died in Kentucky at the age of four and a half years, and another son at Wibaux in infancy. Mr. Wills has the satisfaction of seeing thriving and blooming around the results of his own activity, thrift and far-seeing business ken. It cannot be said that he was aided in his progress by favorable circumstances or any luck except that which indus- try, energy and capacity compel to come one's way. He is one of Montana's progressive men in the truest sense.

D T. WILLIAMS, of Radersburg, one of the most prominent stockmen of northern Mon- tana, has had a varied career in the country between the Pacific coast and his present location. His suc- cess is due to courageous enterprise often prose- cuted amid circumstances of great danger and hard- ships. He was born in 1835 at Neith, near Swan- sea, Wales, a son of Thomas and Rachel Williams, both natives and farmers of Neith. He sailed from Liverpool, England, for America on July 17, 1856, and arrived in Philadelphia on July 30. Going the next day to Miners Mills, near Pottsville, Pa., he

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was there employed for three months in the coal miines, then three months more at Johnstown, Pa., subsequently removing to Mason City, Va. In May, 1858, Mr. Williams started on his long jour- ney westward to Monte Cristo, Sierra county, Cal., where he engaged in gold mining with good suc- cess until 1863. Then he joined the stampede to Nevada, locating near Austin. Here for eighteen months he gained by steady industry more than average success. Returning to California he con- tinued mining until the end of the year, when, going to Austin, Nev., he purchased several teams and en- gaged in freighting to Salt Lake City. On Sep- tember Mr. Williams wedded at Toole, Utah, Miss Annie Davis, a native of Glamorganshire, Wales, whom he met at Austin. She was the daughter of William and Jane (Morgan) Davis, who had come to America in the family immigration in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had ten chil- dren, those surviving are Emma, now Mrs. Stone- house, residing in Chotean county; Nellie, a teach- er; David, Arthur and Elmer. Those who died were David, Hattie, Thomas. Edward and Nellie.

The early life of Mr. Williams on the plains was full of interesting experiences in evading and fight- ing the numerous and hostile Indians. While freighting in 1865 he had a showman, "Martin, the Wizard," for a passenger who gave entertainments at the forts and settlements along the route. Every- thing from rabbit skins to pumpkins was accepted in payment for tickets. He sold the accumulation at Salt Lake City, during his week's stand at Toole. He had a large "clean up," as his performances were well patronized. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Wil- liams started for Montana with two four-horse teams. He had a full complement of freight. and was joined by six teams at Snake river. At Camp- bell's creek they met a band of Indians who gave Mr. Williams no trouble, but showed a large num- ber of white men's scalps, which they exhibited on long poles. On May 6, 1866, Mr. Williams ar- rived at Deer Lodge. The river was quite high and the party experienced difficulty in crossing and it was necessary to swim the smaller horses. Mr. Williams then conveyed his goods to Elk City. They had to be packed fifteen miles of the way, but were sold at a good profit except a small lot which he left to be sold and from which he received 110 returns. Mr. Williams repeated his trip twice, then removed to Idaho and, after two years passed in horse and cattleraising, came to Montana, arriving at Radersburg in July, 1870, where he took up a

desert claim which he developed into his present homestead. By purchases he has increased its acre- age until his estate contains over 1,000 acres. Here he winters from 200 to 500 head of cattle and a large number of horses. Mr. Williams has been school trustee at Radersburg for fourteen years. Long ago in Wales he became an Odd Fellow, but, owing to enforced and continued absence from places where lodges were located, he has not lately affiliated with the order. His prosperity has come to him as the result of business thrift, sterling in- tegrity and unusual enterprise.

G EN. L. S. WILLSON .- Despite our advance in Christian civilization and the arts of peace, the world still turns, with almost universal adulation, to military heroes. Their achievements are showy and of a character to almost compel admiration, and besides, rightly or wrongly, they are usually sea- soned with some savor of patriotism or other devo- tion to the general weal. And in all truth, in our day, when men risk their lives in battle, they have some principle at stake which dwarfs personal con- siderations, and elevates, if it does not sanctify the canse ; so that they are worthy of a high place in public esteem and of honorable mention in all our chronicles. Conspicuous among this class is Brevet- Brigadier-General Lester S. Willson, of Bozeman. Mont., whose life has been largely consecrated to the public service both in war and peace. He was born at Canton, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., on June 16, 1839, the descendant of a line of illus- trious ancestors, reaching back to the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and was the immediate offspring of the marriage of Ambrose and Julia A. (Hill) Willson, the parents of seven children, of whom all grew to maturity and five are still living.

Gen. Willson was educated in his native county, beginning in the public schools and finishing at an excellent academy at Canton. After leaving the academy he passed two years as a clerk in the store of an uncle, and when the Civil war came on he offered his services in defense of the Union as a member of Company A, Sixtieth New York In- fantry, in which he enlisted in August, 1861, under Capt. William B. Goodrich. He was made a ser- geant in September, 1861, a second lieutenant in October, 1862, a first lieutenant and adjutant a month later, and was offered a captaincy on the

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day his commission as adjutant was received, but declined the promotion. In August, 1864, he was made a captain, in October the same year a lieu- tenant-colonel, a colonel the next May, and a brevet brigadier-general after he left the service, with rank from March 13, 1865, the last honor being con- ferred upon him from the recommendation of the two commanders of the Twentieth corps, Gens. Hooker and Slocum, "for gallant and meritorious service under Gen. Sherman at Atlanta." His early duty in the service was in guarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and in the Virginia campaigns under Banks and Pope in 1861 and 1862. He was later in the hardest of the fight at Antietam and again at Chancellorsville, where he was severely wounded and compelled to retire from active service for a time. He rejoined his regiment as the army was preparing to move for the Gettysburg cam- paign, but his wound broke out afresh and he was ordered to Washington for treatment. In Sep- tember, 1863, he went south with the Twelfth corps under Gen. Hooker, and participated in the battles of Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Pea-Vine Creek and Ringgold.

On November 24, 1863, largely through his ef- forts and personal influence, his regiment veteran- ized and re-enlisted, said to be the second one in the service to take this step. The next spring with the Third brigade, Geary's division, he took part in all the battles of Sherman's campaign, from Chatta- nooga to Atlanta, Savannah, Goldsborough, Ral- eigh, up to and including Johnson's surrender. During much of this time he served as aide, assist- ant inspector-general and assistant adjutant-general of the brigade. The Sixtieth New York and the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania divide the honor of having been the first regiments in At- lanta, and the first to unfurl their colors from the top of the city hall. As assistant adjutant-general, Mr. Willson was the first officer to enter Savannah at the head of his regiment, and received the sur- render of the city at the hands of Mayor Arnold. At the earnest solicitation of Gen. H. A. Barnum, commanding the Third Brigade, he carried his lieu- tenant-colonel's commission without muster from Atlanta to Goldsborough, remaining as assistant adjutant-general of the brigade. Until the declara- tion of peace he was in constant, every-day service, never leaving his command only on account of wounds ; and by his close attention to duty and re- sourcefulness in action, he stood high in the confi- dence of his several chiefs, Gens. Sherman, Hooker,

Slocum, Geary, Greene and others, and on many oc- casions was entrusted with peculiarly intricate and dangerous dutics. He was accredited as being a most faithful and intelligent officer, and of his regi- ment Maj .- Gen. George S. Greene has said, "It was one of the best in the service."

After the close of the war Gen. Willson was ap- pointed assistant quartermaster-general of the state of New York with the rank of colonel. The office had the adjustment of many large business matters with the railroad companies touching the transporta- tion of troops, supplies, etc., balances between the state and the general government, the disposition of accumulated supplies belonging to the state, and other matters of magnitude and importance in- volving large amounts of money. He resigned the office in March, 1867, to engage in business in Mon- tana, and has been in this state ever since, mining, merchandising, banking and other pursuits occu- pying his attention. From 1883 to 1886 he served as quartermaster-general of the territory with the rank of brigadier-general. He has always voted with the Republican party and been active in its campaigns, having served as a member of its na- tional committee and holding other important places in its organization. He was a member of the terri- torial legislature in 1868-69, and in 1900 was a can- didate for presidential elector for his party. Gen. Wilson was married at Albany, N. Y., on March 2, 1869, with Miss Emma D. Weeks, a native of Ver- mont. They had three children, of whom only one, Fred F., is now living. Gen. Willson is a Mason, a member of Bozeman Lodge No. 18, A. F. & A. M., and a charter member of the William English Post No. 10, G. A. R. He has filled most of its offices, and has been department commander of Montana. He also belongs to the Loyal Legion of the United States in the commandery of New York, and to the Republican Club of the city of New York.

G 'EORGE H. WILSON was born at Pottsdam, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., on January 15, 1866, the son of Ambrose S. and Julia A. (Hill) Wilson, the former of whom was born in Shoreham; Vt., and the latter near Canton, N. Y., both being of English lineage. Ambrose S. Wilson went to Canton when a boy with his grandfather, Reuben Wilson, and in that locality assisted his grandsire in clearing two farms heavily timbered with hard wood. He received his educational discipline in

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Canton, and after his school days devoted his at- tention to agricultural pursuits in New York until his death, on June 1I, 1872. His widow survived until 1886, her death then occurring at Canton, at the age of sixty-six.

George H. Wilson received his early education in the public schools of Canton, N. Y., and Brattle- boro, Vt. Leaving school when sixteen, he was for three years a clerk in a dry goods store in Brattle- boro, and in 1885 he came to Montana. Mr. Wilson located in Bozeman, which has been his home. For the first five years he held a clerkship in the mer- cantile house of L. S. Willson ; from 1890 until the close of 1891 he conducted a dry goods business, selling which he returned to the employ of L. S. Willson for three years. In 1894 he opened a grocery house at Castle, Meagher county, where he remained three years, and returned to Bozeman. and was thereafter employed for four years from 1897 as a salesman in the grocery of John S. Men- denhall, resigning that position to take charge of the grocery and clothing departments in the es- tablishment of F. L. Benepe, where he remained until April, 1901, when he was elected by the Rc- publicans city treasurer of Bozeman and manager of the city works. His eligibility for the office was duly realized and his personal popularity gained him a flattering endorsement at the polls. He has ever been an active worker in the Republican party and fraternally he is a member of the Pythagoras Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen. In the city of Bozeman, in 1887, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Florence Baker, who was born in Missouri. They have five children: Edwin, 'Herman, Walter, Glenn and Josie.

D R. ARTHUR C. WILSON .- County physician for Rosebud county, surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railroad and medical examiner for all the old-line insurance companies doing business in his town, Dr. Arthur C. Wilson, of Forsyth, is a very useful as well as a very busy citizen. He was born and reared in the province of Ontario, Canada, where he received both his scholastic and his pro- fessional training, being graduated from Queen's Medical College at Kingston in April. 1891, while later he was duly graduated from the Chicago Poly- clinic. He came to Forsyth, Mont., in November, 1891, and here he has since resided, building up a

large and representative practice. In 1894 he was married to Miss Ida May Tannehill, a native of Delphos, Ohio. They have two children : Beryl, aged five years ; and Donald Alfred, aged three. The Doctor is an Elk, a Mason and an Odd Fellow; widely known and universally esteemed. He is a representative man, giving close attention to public local affairs and substantial aid to every enterprise that advances and improves the community. He is a close student and keeps abreast of all modern thought and discovery in his profession. He takes interest in the Montana State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and other organiza- tions formed to widen the influence and scope of the science of medicine and perfecting the knowledge of its practitioners. The future shows a brilliant coloring for this faithful young physician.

NELSON A. WOLFE .- A conjunction of patri- otic circumstances attended the advent into the world of this prosperous ranchman and highly es- teemed citizen of Rosebud county. He was born at Prairie du Chien, Wis., on July 3, 1863, the day after the decisive battle of Gettysburg was finally won by the Union army. His parents were Andrew Nelson and Nellie (Gooch) La Bouty, but his mother later contracted a second marriage with H. C. Wolfe, and her son was reared and educated by him and assumed his name. His education was secured at night schools in Minneapolis and in 1876 he became an apprentice to a cooper, and passed three years in learning the trade. In 1879 he went to Brainerd, Minn., and there engaged in lumbering and also conducted a line of hacks for about seven years. In 1887 he came to Montana, locating first at Billings, going from there to the Crow reserva- tion to aid in erecting some of the brick buildings at the agency. In 1888 he removed to the Rosebud valley and ran a sawmill engine for A. P. Phillips for two years. In 1891 he bought a sawmill on Rye Grass creek and operated that for two years when he sold it to R. O. Vigors, in 1893 buying another of J. B. Jordan, which he moved from Tongue river to the east fork of Otter creek in 1895, at the same time there taking up a squatter's claim. Since then he has been successfully operating the sawmill in the manufacture of lumber and also engaged in raising cattle and horses, having purchased five sections of railroad land adjoining his claim in 1901. In politics Mr. Wolfe gives his support to the Re-

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publican party, and he has been postmaster at Ferris, in Custer county, since 1901. He belongs to the Woodmen of the World, holding membership in Lodge No. 354, at Miles City. He was married at Minneapolis, in 1880, to Miss Ida Belle Ahlgrin, a native of that city, where she was born in 1865. They have six children: Bertha, wife of Herman Gerdel; Fred, Nellie, Flossie, Floyd and Walter, all living at home.

W ILLIAM M. WOOLDRIDGE JR .- No man has done more to promote the interests of Valley county and its legitimate industries than this well known and highly honored citizen of Hinsdale. A man of strong individuality and force, quick to discern possibilities for definite progress and ener- getic in the handling of affairs of importance, his aid and influence when secured presaged success for the public good. Mr. Wooldridge was born in Brentford, a suburb of London, England, the date of his nativity being September 9, 1864. He is a son of William M. and Catherine Wooldridge, like- wise natives of England. When the son was three years old his parents came to the United States and located at Kankakee, Ill., thereafter removing to various other points. The father died in 1887, and the mother now resides in Cork, Ireland. In the public schools of Kankakee, Ill., Benton county, Ind., and Allen county, Ohio, W. M. Wooldridge, Jr., received his educational discipline, leaving school at the age of seventeen. Learning the art of telegraphy he went to Minnesota and entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad, and was station agent and telegrapher at various stations in Douglas, Wright, Benton and Stevens counties.

In 1884, when J. B. Cable took charge of the Rocky Mountain division of the Northern Pacific, Mr. Wooldridge was employed by that gentleman in the same capacity for four years. In the spring of 1888 he opened the first commercial office for the Montana Central at Great Falls, and the same year went to Dawes, now Chinook, where he was agent for the Great Northern for two years, and became the owner of a ranch near the town. He, however, abandoned this property, as it was then of slight value from the scarcity of water for irrigation. From Dawes he was assigned to Rimini, thence to Blossburg, being in the employ of the road for four years. In the meantime he was one of the pro- moters and organizers of the corporation which en-

gaged in the construction of the great Belknap irri- gating canal. He also effected the organization of the Milk River Improvement Company, in 1889, and secured a ranch of 640 acres, three miles north- east of Hinsdale. The corporation was capitalized for $25,000 with all shares taken. The chief func- tion of the company was to create and develop town sites along the line of the Great Northern Railroad, thus promoting industrial prosperity for this section.

Mr. Wooldridge has unlimited faith in the future of Hinsdale and of the great Milk River valley, and has done much to set forth the advantages of this favored and attractive locality as editor of several comprehensive brochures published by the Great Northern Railroad and widely distributed through- out the United States and Europe. His efforts have not lacked local appreciation and have been prolific of much good in furthering the development of the Milk River valley and attracting thither a desirable class of settlers. In politics he gives un- wavering allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias at Great Falls. At Evaro, Missoula county, Mont., October 20, 1885, Mr. Wooldridge was united in marriage with Miss Nettie E. Battles, who was born at Turner Junction, Ill., the daughter of Henry J. Battles, who died in February, 1893, at Brainerd, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge have three children : William M., Jr., Goldie Ruth and Earl Francis. The family home in Hinsdale is very atrractive and the center of gracious hospitality. Mr. Wooldridge is now station agent for the Great Northern Railroad at Hinsdale, having filled this position for the past two years.

FRED WILSON .- That industry and persever- ance in a definite purpose will not fail of due reward is shown in the case of Mr. Wilson, who has by his own efforts attained an independent position, being one of the progressive and success- ful young farmers and sheepgrowers of Valley county, where he took up his permanent abode in 1898. He is a native of Sweden, where he was born on June 17, 1865, both of his parents having died while he was a mere child, so that he has slight knowledge concerning his genealogy. He received his educational discipline in the public schools of the beautiful capital city of his native land, Stock- holm, and when fifteen years of age, in 1880, he came to America, and here has since applied him-

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self diligently and has reaped the rewards of hon- est industry. For more than fifteen years Mr. Wil- son was engaged in sheepshearing in the circuit comprising the states of Montana, Oregon, Califor- nia and Colorado, and that he finally selected Mon- tana as his home indicates his appreciation of the superior advantages here afforded. By his indus- try and economy he accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to engage in the stock business on his own responsibility, and thus in 1898 we find him a resident of Valley county. Here he took up homestead and desert claims on Cottonwood creek, at a point twenty-two miles from the town of Malta, and here, in addition to his well improved ranch of 360 acres, he has access to an almost un- limited open range for grazing purposes, and is en- gaged in raising a high grade of sheep, expanding his scope of operations as rapidly as circumstances justify. He is a Republican in politics and holds the respect of all who know him.

W ILLIAM WILLIAMS .- One of the attractive homes in the immediate vicinity of Helmville, Powell county, Mont., is comprised in the 538-acre ranch of "Billy" Williams, who, with his wife, both now in the evening twilight of life, are surrounded by every comfort that they may desire, and in the peaceful enjoyment of well-earned affluence. Wil- liam Williams was born in Wales, on June 19, 1830, the son of Thomas and Mary (Hughes) Williams, who were farming people and lifelong natives of Wales. It was in 1858 that William Williams came to the United States, being then twenty-eight years of age, ambitious, enterprising and full of hopes that were destined to reach fruition. He at first located at Kewaunee, Ill., where he labored faith- fully in the coal mines until 1863. The west ap- pearing very attractive Mr. Williams decided to try his fortune in the new lands: Accordingly he came overland in 1864, immediately securing employ- ment in the mines at Moose creek, where he re- mained until 1866, when he removed to Last Chance gulch, then in the full excitement of mining sen- sations. He passed some time in that vicinity and came to McClelland gulch where he continued placer mining with considerable success for thirteen years. In that long period of time Mr. Williams had done much in vigorously wresting fortune from the rich ground of the earth and from the rocks of a rug- ged wilderness, and had clearly earned a rest from

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 168

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