Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 18

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 18

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AMES GORDON is one of the prosperous ranchmen of Jefferson county, who began Mon- tana life many years ago, in the primitive days of the territory as a miner. He is now located at Sil- ver Star on a large and valuable property. He was born at River John, Pictou county, Nova Scotia, on June 6, 1826, the son of David and Mary (Prin) Gordon. The father was a native of Nova Scotia and the mother of Switzerland. To them were

born four sons and seven daughters. James Gor- don was educated in the public schools, but early manifested a desire for a sailor's life, and on leav- ing school he shipped before the mast.

"Going to Liverpool he returned to St. John, New Brunswick, then sailed to Grenock, Scotland, crossed the Atlantic again to Charles- ton, S. C., thence north to St. John. Joining the ship Clyde for London he there changed vessels for a return voyage. The Clyde had arrived at St. John before him and he sailed in her for Hull, England, went to London, from there took a voy- age on the Mediterranean, landing at Trieste, Austria, returning at once to Chatham dock yards in England. From London he shipped for New Orleans, from which city he, then a master, took a packet to New York. Visiting New Brunswick he met a friend and joined him in a voyage in his new ship to Cardiff, Wales, from there taking coals to Liverpool. Then came a five-months voyage to San Francisco, arriving there on April 4, 1851. The crew deserting the vessel for the mines, Mr. Gordon took a run to the Hawaiian islands, re- turning to again take ship to East India via the Straits of Tamah to Burmah. In his three- months stay there he witnessed many cruelties of the natives in one of their uprisings, and on March 17, 1852, he sailed for England via the Cape of Good Hope, touching at St. Helena for water. Arriving at Falmouth, they had orders to go to London. After two months he went to Shields, Sweden, and to New York. On this voyage the vessel sprung a serious leak, and, sighting land, a vote was taken whether they should go to New York or make the nearest harbor. They took the latter course, putting in to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the ship was condemned. Going home for the winter, in the spring Mr. Gordon shipped for Boston, then to New York, and then on ship In- vincible to San Francisco. This voyage lasted IIO days, and here Mr. Gordon quit the sea."

Mr. Gordon arrived at San Francisco in 1853, and remained two years there, most of the time being employed by the Pacific Mail Company. He then, for the first time, engaged in mining, go- ing to Eureka, passing six years in that district with poor success. In 1861 he went to Portland, Ore., from there by steamer to Lewiston, going to Orofino mines, thence to Elk City, Idaho. Then he came to Montana, arriving at Florence on De- cember 27, 1862. Here he passed the winter, and the next fall he went to Walla Walla, Wash., and

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on the way there suffered much from a lack of pro- visions. Later he went to Boise City, in 1863, and then engaged in mining in Alder gulch until 1868 with varying success. Mr. Gordon first engaged in general farming, an occupation in which he has found conside. able profit, at Silver Star, in Madi- son county. Here he is largely interested in dairy- ing and stockraising on a valuable ranch of 560 acres, usually wintering from 200 to 400 head of cattle in addition to other stock.

In 1865 Mr. Gordon was married to Miss Han- nah Tuttle. Their four children are: Verina, William, James and Lucinda. For many years he has been a school trustee and once was elected county commissioner of Jefferson county, but re- signed. Fraternally he is a Freemason. The de- tailed life of Mr. Gordon would be one of the most interesting among the Montana pioneers. He has followed elusive fortune on land and sea, and it is a strong testimonial to the possibilities of Montana that it was in this state he was destined to achieve a most pronounced success.

J OHN S. GORDON, when but five years old, left his native land in company with his parents and came to the United States. He was born at Kilraven, near Gatehouse, Scotland, October 4, 1874, and spent a small portion of his childhood amid the scenes of that picturesque region. His parents were John and Anna (St. Clair) Gordon, natives of Scotland, where the father was a farmer and iron founder. When he came to this country with his young family in 1879, he early secured employment in the Walter A. Wood mowing ma- chine works, at Hoosac Falls, Mass., later repre- senting the concern as agent in the Dakotas. In 1884 he came to Montana, and in 1885-87 was head farmer at the Blackfoot Indian agency, with headquarters at the old agency on Badger creek. Thereafter he was engaged in freighting between Fort Benton and Depuyer for some months, and then went to Helena, where he was employed as head gardener at the Broadwater natatorium until 1889, when he was accidentally killed. His wife, to whom he was married in 1871, is still living, making her home in London, England.

Our subject came with his parents to Massa- chusetts in 1879, and after two years' residence at Hoosac Falls was sent to Canada for two years, and spent the next three following at his old home

in Scotland. Returning to America in 1886 he located at Depuyer, Mont., and lived there four years, removing from there to Choteau in 1890. He secured a limited education in the public schools of Choteau. After leaving school in 1894 he taught school for two terms in Teton county, near Choteau, and for the following four years was bookkeeper for Joseph Hirshberg & Co., of Choteau. In the fall of 1900 he was the Repub- lican candidate for treasurer of Teton county, and was triumphantly elected. Since his term began he has demonstrated excellent qualifications for the office and is discharging its duties with im- partiality to the citizens and due regard to the interests of the county. Fraternally Mr. Gordon is allied with the order of Masons, being a member of Choteau Lodge No. 44, and to Fidelity Chapter No. 18, of the Eastern Star, as well as being a member of Chevalier Lodge No. 12, K. of P. He is also a member of Cottonwood Camp No. 214, W. of the W. He was married October 4, 1899, at Choteau, to Miss Hattie Edgar, who was born at Schuyler, Neb., November 6, 1879. They have one child, an infant, named John Edgar. Mr. Gordon is a highly esteemed citizen of his neigh- borhood, and one of the influential public men of his county. He is yet young, and with his busi- ness capacity, his adaptability to public affairs, and the standing he has already secured in the regard of his people, has a very creditable and useful career before him.

A RTHUR V .. GIBSON, one of the most progressive and broad-minded citizens of Basin, Jefferson county, Mont., was born in Rich- land county, Ill., on February 26, 1862. His father, Mason Gibson, was a native of West Vir- ginia, who, when a young man, removed to Illinois and settled in Richland county, where he remained until 1867, when he went to Missouri and located in Cedar county, where he engaged in ranching and stockraising until 1885, when he settled in Lewis and Clarke county, Mont., where he re- mained until his death in 1887. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mason Gibson ten children, five boys and five girls, A. V. being the fifth child. The mother of Mr. Gibson, previous to her mar- riage with Mason Gibson in 1833, was Miss Polly Ann Stanley, a native of Kentucky. Her father's name was Hutchison Stanley, who had removed

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

from Kentucky to Richland county, Ill., where he was a farmer.

Arthur V. Gibson was educated in Missouri and in the public schools of Illinois. Returning to Missouri he assumed charge of the homestead, later removing to Montana where he engaged in freighting and the livery business, interspersing these occupations with mining. In nearly all of his business ventures Mr. Gibson has been gener- ally successful. He was united in marriage with Orphia A. Fuson, daughter of Dr. Fuson, of Rich- land county, Ill., who practiced medicine in Rich- land county for thirty-five years and 'until his death. In this practice he was succeeded by his fourth son. The elder Dr. Fuson was the father of twelve children, four girls and eight boys, of whom Mrs. Arthur Gibson was the fifth child. Mr. Gibson and his wife were married June 15, 1893. Their family circle embraces two daugh- ters, Bernice and Vivian. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. Politically he is a Republican and has ever manifested a lively interest in the various campaigns of his party. He is held in the high- est esteem by the citizens of Basin and by many others who are acquainted with him throughout the state. He is an excellent business man, ex- ercising unusual sagacity and the best of judg- ment, and, being a gentleman of the highest character, he enjoys the respect and confidence of all with whom he is thrown either socially or in a business way.

T `HEODORE A. GRAY .- The owner of 1,000 acres of good ranch land and the lessee of 640 more, on which he raises an average crop of 200 tons of hay a year, besides large quantities of grain, and has a fine flock of sheep, Theodore A. Gray, of Philbrook, Fergus county, has the com- fort of knowing that his prosperity is the result of his own thrift, industry and skill.

Mr. Gray first saw the light of day April 13, 1857, in Walworth county, Wis. His parents were Alexander and Tirzah Gray, natives of New York state, from which they emigrated to Wisconsin in 1844. There the father spent some years working at bricklaying, and the latter part of his life was a shoemaker. His death occurred January 15, 1870. The family consisted of six children, of whom Theodore was the eldest.

Theodore received little schooling, for he began

to work on a farm at the age of thirteen, receiving $5 a month, but pleased his employer so that he was advanced from time to time until his wages were $20 per month. In 1876 he came to Mon- tana, locating at Ten Mile gulch, where he was employed in ranch work by D. T. Goodell, at a salary of $45 per month until the spring of 1880, when he located his present ranch two miles west of Philbrook. When he took possession of it the buffaloes were still grazing on its borders. His claim was one that he pre-empted; he has added to it by purchase until it embraces 1,000 acres, and he has in addition a section of leased land. He utilizes all this in ranching and raising sheep, and is making a gratifying success of the business.

Mr. Gray is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Republican, and takes great interest in the success and welfare of his party. He is much esteemed as a good "all around" man and citizen whom everybody respects.

A LEXANDER C. GREENE. - The great stockgrowing and agricultural industries in Montana have a worthy representative in the per- son of Mr. Greene, who is one of the leading and extensive factors in these lines in Fergus county, where he controls a large tract of valuable land and where he conducts his operations with marked ability and discrimination. Mr. Greene comes of stanch old Quaker stock, and is a birthright mem- ber of the Society of Friends. He is prominent in local affairs and honored as one of the distinctive- ly representative men of this section of the state. Such men lend dignity to a publication of this or- der and by consideration of their careers the work finds its most ample justification.

Alexander C. Greene claims the old Empire state of New York as the place of his nativity, having been born in West Almond, Allegany county, on the 25th of September, 1857, the son of Abram S. and Mary P. Greene, who were likewise born in the same state, where the respective fami- lies were established in an early day. Abram S. Greene devoted twenty years of his early manhood to the tanning and shoemaking business in Al- bany county, N. Y., but eventually engaged as a pioneer in the heavy forests of Allegany county and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, at which he continued until his death, which occurred at Byersville, West Sparta, N. Y., on the 7th of

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March, 1901, in the fullness of years and honors. His devoted and cherished wife passed away in 1878 at the Byersville homestead, and they are survived by four children, whose names, in order of birth, are as follows: Emily L., Theodore S., Alexander C. and Egbert R. The father was a prominent and influential member of the Repub- lican party in his locality, where he was at various times incumbent of offices of public trust and re- sponsibility, including those of justice of the peace, county assessor and county commissioner, in which last he served for several terms. He was a colonel in the New York militia, and for a time held a captain's commission in the Civil war. Both he and his wife were birthright members of the Society of Friends, and their lives were ever in harmony with the teachings of this noble organ- ization.

Alexander C. Greene, to whom this sketch is dedicated, received excellent educational ad- vantages, having secured preliminary discipline in the public schools, after which he continued his studies in the academy at Angelica, Allegany county, N. Y., and thereafter completed a course in the Dansville Seminary. At the age of seven- teen he put his scholastic acquirements to the prac- tical test by engaging in pedagogic work, continu- ing to teach in his native state for seven years and then identifying himself with agricultural pur- suits.

In 1886 Mr. Greene decided to cast in his fortunes with Montana, whose fame was begin- ning to spread abroad, made his way hither and located in the Judith basin, where he took up a pre-emption claim, to which he eventually added 360 acres adjoining, and he was successfully en- gaged in the raising of cattle for four years. In 1890 he located a homestead claim twelve miles west of Utica, Fergus county, and later secured desert land to the aggregate area of 200 acres. At the present his landed estate comprises 3,200 acres, of which 1,000 acres is available for cultivation. He controls other lands in this section, bringing his total acreage up to fully 6,000 acres. In 1889 Mr. Greene associated himself with Messrs. Charles H. Perrine and Burton C. White in the raising of sheep upon an extensive scale, first as' Perrine, Greene & White, and later as the Buffalo Creek Sheep Company. This company now exists. Mr. Greene, however, sold his stock in the company on the 12th of April, 1900, to Mr. White, but he has since individually continued operations in the same

line. He now has extensive sheep interests, rais- ing a high grade of animals in this line, as he does also of cattle and horses. He has a distinct- ive capacity for affairs of breadth and importance, and his discrimination and excellent management have resulted in success unequivocal in character and which places him among the leading ranchmen of the state.

As a stalwart Republican Mr. Greene takes an active and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour, while he is prominent in the local councils of his party and in all that tends to conserve the best interests of his section of the commonwealth. He has never been an aspirant for political preferment. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Masonic order, holding membership in Lewistown Lodge No. 37, of Lewistown, Hiram Chapter No. 30, also of Lewistown, and he has passed the chivalric degrees in Black Eagle Com- mandery of Knights Templar at Great Falls. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Or- der of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. On Oc- tober 29, 1900, Mr. Greene was appointed post- master of the newly-created postoffice of Greene, Fergus county.

At Nunda, N. Y., on the 25th of September, 1876, Mr. Greene was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Perrine, of West Sparta, Livingston county, N. Y., a daughter of James and Elizabeth Perrine. (See sketch of Charles H. Perrine on another page.) Mr. and Mrs. Greene are the par- ents of five children, namely: Mildred, Archie, Ralph (deceased), Hattie (deceased), and James. Mr. and Mrs. Greene and their children have the sincere friendship of the community and merit this tribute in a compilation which gives representation to the honored citizens of Montana.

CHARLES H. GREGORY was born in Broome county, N. Y., May 27, 1861, the son of George L. and Eliza E. (Rikard) Gregory, natives of that state. The Gregory family came from England in Colonial times and settled in New England. The Rikards were of German ancestry. George L. Gregory made New York his home and was en- gaged in farming until his death, which occurred when he was but twenty-seven years old. The family, consisting of the widow and three sons, re- mained on the homestead, and Charles secured his education in the schools of his native county. In

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

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1881 he left home and spent one summer in Min- nesota, removing from there to Illinois where he engaged in railroading for a year and then re- turned to New York. He was married in April, 1882, to Miss Carrie E. Wrigley, a native of Lack- awanna county, Pa., and daughter of A. and Mary E. (Chase) Wrigley, the former a native of Eng- land and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory have five children : Floyd E., Harry W., Florence M., Charles A. and Helen M. After his marriage Mr. Gregory remained in New York state in the vicinity of Deposit, holding many posi- tions of trust in his home town and county for a few years, and then removed with his family to Lincoln, Neb., where he was employed for two years in the supply department of the Burlington Railroad Company. He then became timber fore- man for J. H. McShane & Co., occupying that position for three years, at the end of which he came to Montana and located in Carbon county, on Clark's Fork, four miles southeast of Gebo. After living there for a time he sold the ranch, took up his residence in Gebo and engaged in mer- cantile business and was also postmaster for three years, when he sold his interests in the town and located on his present ranch, having purchased the Indians' rights. The land is all under irrigation and is well adapted to the business of farming and stockraising. He has a fine property in a very choice location, and is a progressive, enterprising and intelligent farmer, and is a useful and highly esteemed citizen. He has always taken a deep in- terest in local affairs, and has rendered good ser- vice to his community in various ways. He has been a school trustee for a number of years, and in the fall of 1900 was elected to the legislature as one of the representatives of his county. His course in the legislature was highly commended and redounded greatly to the advantage of his con- stituents.

H JERMAN W. GRUNWALDT, secretary and treasurer of the American Brewing and Malt- ing Company of Great Falls, and a prominent resi- dent of that city, first came to Montana in 1895. He was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on April 13, 1867, the son of Henry and Emily (Behling) Grun- waldt, both natives of Prussia. The father was born on May 24, 1834, and the mother on Feb- ruary 5, 1828. Henry Grunwaldt came to the United States in 1857 and located on a farm near

Milwaukee. He followed this occupation for sev- eral years, and finally platted the property, which was adjacent to the city, into city lots, which sold rapidly, and is now retired from business in Mil- waukee.

Herman W. Grunwaldt was reared in Mil- waukee, received here his elementary education in the public schools, and the high school from which he graduated. At the age of seventeen he became connected with the shoe manufacturing company of Beals, Torry & Co., with whom he remained two years. He then went with Geuder & Paeschlet, leading manufacturers of tinware, and with this prominent firm he remained nearly nine years, principally engaged in office work. In 1895 Mr. Grunwaldt came to Great Falls, and was one of the organizers of the American Brewing and Malting Company, of which a history is given in another portion of this work. He was chosen secretary and treasurer, which position he has held ever since.

At Milwaukee in 1891 Mr. Grunwaldt was mar- ried to Miss Helen Lambrecht. They have no children. Mr. Grunwaldt has three brothers, Otto, Gustave and Emil, all farmers on valuable properties in the environments of Milwaukee. Politically the affiliations of Mr. Grunwaldt are with the Republican party, in which he is an in- fluential worker. He is not a member of any fra- ternal society. He is highly respected by all the numerous friends with whom he has been brought into connection, either in a business or social way.

TILLIAM GRILLS, a member of the board of aldermen of the city of Great Falls, who is recognized as one of its capable and enterprising business men, is a native of Canada, born on a farm near Toronto, on July 23, 1867. His father, William Grills, born in England, emigrated to Canada when a young man, and was engaged in agriculture near Toronto until his death, which occurred in 1871, when William was but four years of age. Although thus deprived of the care of a father, his widowed mother accorded him the most solicitous attention. Her maiden name was Hannah English, and she is of Irish extraction, and now residing in Manitoba, Canada, at a ven- erable age.

William Grills remained on the home farm until he had reached his legal majority, having received

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the educational advantages of the public schools of Toronto. In 1888 he came to "the states," lo- cating near Langdon, N. D., where, for three years he conducted a large wheat farm on shares. In the spring of 1891 he came to Great Falls, working in various restaurants for three years, becoming thoroughly familiar with the business, so that he was amply fortified for this enterprise when, in 1894, he opened the Palace restaurant on First avenue, south, which he successfully conducted for four years, when, selling it, he purchased a half interest in the Progress restaurant, which is most eligibly located in Second street, and the operation of this popular resort has been con- ducted under the firm name of Grills & Gardner. They exercise great care in catering to a discrim- inating patronage, and their place holds marked prestige for the excellence of its service.

In politics Mr. Grills is a stalwart Democrat, and has always manifested a lively and active inter- est in local public affairs. In 1897 he was elected to represent the Second ward on the board of alder- men, and was chosen as his own successor in the city council at the election of 1899, and again he was chosen to succeed himself for the third term in April, 1901. Mr. Grills was a charter member of Progress Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor, and he enjoys marked popu- larity in both business and social circles, and is a recognized factor in the business life of the city of his home. On December 31, 1895, in Great Falls, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Grills and Miss Annie King, whose parents are of Irish lineage, with their home at Fountain, Minn.

LIENRY GROVER .- It is much to the credit of a man to win from his friends and neighbors a complimentary nickname, which by common ac- ceptance is indicative of his character and stand- ing among them. There is oftentimes more in such a sobriquet sincerely applied and fairly earned, than could be otherwise expressed in para- graphs or pages. It is so in the case of "Honest" Henry Grover, of Hamilton, one of the most en- terprising and progressive fruitgrowers and farm- crs of the Bitter Root valley. Mr. Grover was born on February 5, 1853, at Ogden, Utah, the son of Jared and Eveline (Riddle) Grover, natives of Iowa and Tennessee. He was the first born of eight children and received his early education in

the public schools of Nevada, supplementing this with a hard and trying experience as a cowboy for ten years in that state and eastern California, after which he teamed and freighted for five years in the same locality. In 1882 he came to Montana and settled in the Bitter Root valley, three miles north- west of Hamilton, where he has since resided con- tinuously except three years when he was run- ning a stage.

Mr. Grover has a fine farm of 160 acres, a beau- tiful and comfortable home, and one of the best orchards in this section of the country. It con- sists of twenty acres planted with choice fruit trees, which are now in good bearing condition and yield annually large crops of the best fruit pro- duced in the state. He ships its products to all sections of the northern belt of the United States and southern belt of Canada, and realizes hand- some profits. In political fealty Mr. Grover is a Democrat and in fraternal relations a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he holds the rank of past master workman and been three times the representative to the grand lodge. He was married on December 12, 1874. at Big Pine, Cal., to Miss Mary E. McMurry, daughter of J. W. and Matilda McMurry, her father being a prominent farmer and merchant of that place. They have had seven children, of whom but these four are living, Inez M., Alvie M., Leland V. and Loretta. Mr. Grover has lived among this people one-fifth of a century and has so demeaned himself that now there is not one but does him reverence. His home is everybody's fireside who comes as a guest; his wife is the priestess of the house and the almoner of a gen- erous but judicious charity to those in need and the center of a refined social circle ; his children are the light of his home and the delight of his numer- ous friends. His life is passing profitably in use- fulness to his kind, his community, his state and his country.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 18

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