Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 30

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 30

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The place was abandoned and Mr. Barnes, thankful that their lives were spared, came north, first to Oregon, crossing the dreary Humboldt desert, and then on to Idaho in 1862. Here he mined 11: Boise basin with varying success until 1865 and then came to Diamond City, in Montana, where he resided until 1881. There his wife died in 1877. There also he was clerk of the court of Meagher county for a long time; and when the county seat was moved to White Sulphur Springs, his official duties caused him to remove thither. While living at Diamond City he had mining prop- erties in various parts of Montana, held large in- terests in Copperopolis before White Sulphur Springs had being, and was considered one of the best, perhaps the best, placer miner of the state. He was often employed as a mining expert and surveyor and as a prospector. The first years of his life at the springs he was prospecting for a mining syndicate. In 1887 he was one of the

H. H. Barnes

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

founders of the town of Castle, and gave it its name He was its first postmaster, holding that office six years. There he was superintendent of a large mining proposition. In 1886, ten years be- fore the gold excitement, Alaska attracted his at- tention and he went there, staying nearly a year. In 1893 his health began to fail, and his last work was done in 1898 as superintendent of the King mine in Diamond City. Going to California in 1900 in the vain hope of recovering his health, he bought a farm in Tuolumne county, his old home, but was taken ill on the day the conveyance was made and never recovered.

Anxious to be with his old friends at the Springs, he returned to Montana in July, 1900, and gradually weakened, despite the assiduous care of his devoted wife and friends until the end came, peacefully, on January 10, 1901. In 1884 he was married with Miss Alice S. Nichols, a New Hampshire girl, who came to the Springs in 1881 as a teacher. In 1882 she was elected county super- intendent of Meagher county, one of the first two ladies elected to that position in Montana, Miss Helen Clark, of Helena, being elected at the same time. His harmonious marriage added much to the brightness of the life of Mr. Barnes, and in the Christian life and work of his wife he took great pride. Mr. Barnes was a Freemason and an Odd Fellow. The former order he joined at Diamond City, and went with his lodge to the Springs when it was removed thither. His Odd Fellow mem- bership was with Helena Lodge No. I. At his re- quest a monument of rough granite marks his .resting place. On its face are carved the emblems of his vocation, a miner's pick and shovel, crossed, · with a miner's pan beneath containing a few gold nuggets. Mr. Barnes was proud in being an "old- timer," and highly valued his membership in the Montana Pioneer Association. His character was capitally drawn in the funeral sermon preached by Rev. W. S. Bell, in these words :

"He had the qualities of heart and of life char- acteristic of his class, hatred of shams, fidelity to friends, unswerving honesty, business integrity, all tending to make him respected and honored. As little bent into artificial forms as the mountains over which he roamed, as free of artificial re- straints as the air he breathed, he had little use for set phrases or so-called polite forms of speech. He was blunt, truthful, sincere. He was one who, as Garfield once said, would 'look the devil in the face and tell him he was a devil.' Like all 'old-

timers' he hated shams with the intensity of Car- lyle, despised pretence and cant, but none ever had greater reverence for true worth and piety."

1 AMES G. McKAY, M. D., C. M .- Who shall estimate the extent of useful service which a physician and surgeon renders to the community in which his life is spent? He goes about his way, unostentatiously and faithfully performing the daily duties found ever at one's elbow, affording to those who have the benefit of his ministrations solace in sorrow, relief in suffering, cheerfulness in gloom and often consolation in death. Such a public servant and benefactor is Dr. James G. McKay, one of the most active and best known practicing physicians and surgeons of Big Tim- ber. He was born at Winchester, Ontario, March 21, 1876, a son of William McKay and Minnie (Gillespie) McKay, the former born in Winchester and the latter a native of Aberdeen, Scotland. His paternal grandfather came to America as an orphan boy and located in Ottawa, Canada, where he secured employment in the service of Hamilton Brothers, who were conducting an ex- tensive lumber business. He rose by his merit and attention to business from one position to another until he became the head man in the firm's employ, and completed more than twenty years of useful service. His son, the Doctor's father, is a successful and prosperous farmer at Winchester, Ontario.

Dr. Mckay was educated in the public schools of his native city and at the Ottawa Collegiate Institute, from which he was graduated in 1893. He also attended the Kemptville high school at Ontario. In 1895 he entered the medical depart- ment of McGill University at Montreal, and after a full and exhaustive course of instruction, was graduated in 1899 with the degree of M. D., C. M. He began the practice of his profession at Pots- dam, N. Y., in association with his uncle, Dr. James S. Mckay. After three months spent at Potsdam, he came to Montana, locating in Big Timber after having spent some months at Miles City with another uncle, Hon. J. R. McKay, and then passed an examination before the state board of medical examiners at Helena. In his present home he was soon accepted by the citizens as a young man of great promise and capacity ; skillful and careful in his business and of sterling

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worth as a citizen. His affability and obliging disposition gained him friends rapidly, and his practice soon became one of the largest and most lucrative in the county. Although he is yet a comparatively young man, his standing in his pro- fession and in the good opinion of the people of his county is such as is usually only the result of years of faithful practice. Socially he is genial and entertaining-a desired addition to any com- pany. The fraternal orders of which he is a mem- ber are the Freemasons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

TILLIAM MCKEOWN, one of the most suc- cessful and prominent stockraisers of Jeffer- son county, Mont., is a resident of Jefferson Island and was born in Peterboro, Ont., Canada, on April 13, 1849. His parents were William J. and Jane (Cardwell) Mckeown, natives of Ireland, Mrs. Mckeown being a sister of Hon. Edward Cardwell, of Montana. The family emigrated to the United States but located in Ontario, where the father en- gaged in stockraising and died in 1883. The early life of William McKeown was passed in attendance at the public schools of Ontario, and after his school days were over he started to join his uncle, Edward Cardwell, at Virginia City, Mont. He made the trip up the Missouri to Fort Benton and ow- ing to a series of accidents the passage occupied sixty-three days. At the mouth of the Little Muddy they were attacked by Indians, who fired several shots at the pilot house and, while there were a num- ber of narrow escapes, no one was injured.

Arriving at Virginia City Mr. McKeown went with his uncle to his ranch on Jefferson Island, where he remained two years, learning by ex- perience the stock business as conducted in Mon- tana. He then returned to Virginia City and worked in the mines for one year. Meanwhile his parents had returned to Ireland and Mr. Mckeown made a trip thither to visit them. So well had he pros- pered in the new home of his adoption, however, that previous to his departure he purchased the ranch which he now occupies, and on his return to the territory he engaged extensively in stockraising and now usually winters from 300 to 500 head of cattle. He has been a school trustee for several years and belongs to the United Workmen. In September, 1891, Mr. Mckeown was married to Miss Ora Austin, daughter of W. W. Austin, M. D., of Selina county, Ill. She died on September

16, 1892, leaving one child, Lillian Chloe, and on December 2, 1893, Mr. Mckeown wedded with Miss Catherine Kitts, of County Renfrew, Ont., daughter of William Kitts, of Ottawa, Canada. Their two children are William George and Charles Greenless.

G EORGE McKNIGHT, one of the leading citi- zens of Townsend, can be said to be one of the prominent pioneers of the state, coming here in 1864, when he was only one year old. He was born in Johnson county, Iowa, in December, 1863, the son of Patrick McKnight, a native of Ireland, who, after emigrating to America, made his home in New York for a number of years, where he married a lady of Irish birth, Miss Winnifred Green. They made their first home in Richmond, Ind., where Mr. McKnight was employed at his trade, that of a blacksmith. After a year had passed they removed to Iowa City, in Johnson county, Iowa, where he worked steadly at his trade for several years, until he determined to go west. It was in 1864 that he went to Denver, Colo., in an ox train, shortly afterward, however, removing to Virginia City, Mont.

On their westward journey the party experienced no trouble with the Indians, then in great numbers on the plains. At Virginia City Patrick McKnight carried on general blacksmithing in partnership with one Walsh. In 1866 the partners removed to Helena, continuing the partnership until 1871. Mr. McKnight then returned to Missouri valley, locat- ing near the present site of Townsend, and here. he was prospered in the blacksmith business until 1879, working also three years in Diamond City. In 1875 he purchased the ranch about a mile from Townsend on which he so long resided and which he developed until it is now a beautiful property. He died on December II, 1895, leaving two sons and four daughters and his wife as survivors.

George Mcknight received his education in Townsend and Diamond City. From his youth up he has always taken a lively interest in stockraising, usually wintering from 200 to 400 head of cattle. For a number of years he has had and continues in full charge of the homestead. The family resi- dence is a modern edifice of elegant architectural design and the ranch is well provided with ample barns and necessary appurtenances to carry on the extensive stockraising business in which Mr. McKnight is engaged. There is a general appear-

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ance of prosperity about the place that is rarely seen in so high a degree in this portion of the west. Everything about the place indicates industry, su- perior business sagacity and prosperity. It is a home of which anyone might be proud.

M ATHEW MADISON .- In the personnel of Montana's population are to be found repre- sentatives of nearly all quarters of the civilized world. Sons of the far Norseland, whose sterling characteristics are in evidence wherever found, are here in evidence, and Mr. Madison is a notable rep- resentative. He is specially known among the pro- gressive farmers and stockgrowers of Carbon county, his ranch lying close to the line between that county and that of Sweet Grass.

Mr. Madison is a native of Denmark, having been born in Bornholm, April 20, 1858, the son of Peter and Margaret Madison, natives of the same district. In 1873 the father of our subject re- moved with his family to America, locating in Illi- nois, where he resided until 1899, when he came to Montana and settled on a ranch adjoining that of his son, but in Carbon county, where he and his wife now maintain their home. In the excellent public schools of his native land the subject of this review received his early educational training, and accompanied his parents on their removal to America. He remained at the paternal home about one year, and then en- gaged in farming for six years. Having accumu- lated some means he purchased a farm in LaSalle county, Ill., which he cultivated until 1881, meeting with fair success. In that year he disposed of his interests and came to Montana, where he has been a resident for two decades. He first located at White Sulphur Springs, Meagher county, making it his headquarters until the spring of 1893. Within this interval he was engaged in various pursuits ; he had charge of a large sheep ranch for several years, located on Willow creek, owned and operated by Dr. Parberry. He finally resigned this position and moved to the valley of the Stillwater river, Car- bon county, locating upon his present ranch, eight miles west of the village of Absarokee, his post- office address. He now has a valuable landed es- tate of 480 acres, situated on both sides of the Still- water river, which constitutes the dividing line be- tween the counties of Carbon and Sweet Grass, but in the latter is located his home. Upon taking up

his residence here Mr. Madison engaged in the sheep business, which he has successfully conducted, his average flocks aggregating 7,000 head. For the past year or more he has given considerable atten- tion to the raising of high-grade cattle, having now about 500 head. In 1894 Mr. Madison admitted his brother-in-law, Charles Rehm, to partnership in his business, under the firm name of Madison & Rehm, and this association still continues, his part- ner proving an able coadjutor. Our subject has made excellent improvements upon his ranch, includ- ing a modern two-story residence, good barns and other requisite outbuildings.

Mr. Madison gives but little attention to politics, his time being strictly devoted to his ranch and im- mense herds of sheep and cattle. On March 10, 1886, Mr. Madison was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Rehm, who was born in Illinois, the daugh- ter of Jacob Rehm, a native of Germany, whence he emigrated when a young man, locating in Illi- nois, where he has since maintained his home. Mr. and Mrs. Madison are the parents of four interest- ing children, namely : Cora Leona, Walter Mathew, Esther Viola and Lottie May.

JOHN McRAE .- This progressive, enterprising and public-spirited gentleman presents in his career as a business man and a leading citizen a pleasing theme for the pen of the annalist, and is a striking example of what is possible to industry in this land of almost boundless opportunity.

Mr. McRae was born in Scotland, January I, 1856. His parents were Donald and Margaret Mc- Rae, natives of Scotland, where the father was a prosperous farmer until his death, which occurred in 1878. His widow, the mother of our subject, is still living in her native land. He was educated in the schools of Scotland and came to the United States when he was twenty-five years old, locating first in Texas, where he was employed for about three years on the stock ranch of Adam T. Brown. In 1884 he came to Montana and worked for two years on a ranch on Tongue river. In 1886 he bought a ranch on the Rosebud river about fifty miles from Forsyth, where he was engaged in rais- ing stock for a period of three years, but sold the place to John Davidson. In 1889 he purchased the improvements on a squatter's claim a few miles farther down the Rosebud valley, which he has since made his home and added to his original pur-

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chase adjoining lands in the valley and on sur- rounding prairies until he now has a ranch of 5,980 acres, besides a pleasant homestead of 160 acres eight miles south on the Rosebud. He is one of the largest land and stock owners in this fertile valley, having immense herds of sheep and cattle, and harvesting large crops of grain and hay.

In 1897 Mr. McRae embarked in the mercantile business at Rosebud and Forsyth, conducting the business under the name of the McRae Supply Company. The two stores were consolidated in 1900, and the business has been continued at Rose- bud under the name of the McRae Mercantile Company, under the management of his nephew, Roderick McRae.

In politics Mr. McRae is a Republican, and takes was married in Ontario, Canada, in 1891, to Miss Catherine McRae, a native of that province. They have five children, namely: Maggie, Katie Lillie, Mary Catherine, Evan Douglas and Donald Ken- neth.

CHARLES E. MAHANA .- Taking advantage

of the opportunities afforded for enterprise in connection with the industrial activities of Fergus county, this gentleman has here been successful in his efforts, and is a leading stockraiser.

He is a native of Meigs county, Ohio, born on the 18th of March, 1855, the son of Asher B. and Mary E. Mahana, the former of whom was born in West Virginia and the latter in Ohio. Asher B. Mahana was among those valiant argonauts who went to California in 1849. He continued his family residence in Ohio, however, until 1853, when it was changed to Whiteside county, Il1., where Mr. Mahana devoted the remainder of his life to ag- riculture. In California he had been engaged in placer mining and in the sawmill business. He was a stalwart Republican, a Freemason, and with his wife held membership in the Christian church. Three of their seven children are deceased. Mrs. Mahana died in 1896, Mr. Mahana in 1898.

Charles E. Mahana, at the early age of nine, began to render assistance to his father, and re- mained at the parental home until he was of age, when he engaged in rafting logs and lumber on the Mississippi for one season and then engaged in farming in Whiteside county, Ill., until 1888, when he decided to come to Montana. Soon after his arrival here Mr. Mahana took up a pre-emption

claim on Casino creek, Fergus county, and engaged in stockraising until 1895, when he entered into partnership with John Nodson and purchased a ranch of 320 acres on Cottonwood creek, twelve miles south of the village of Cottonwood and eighteen miles from Lewistown. One year later Mr. Mahana purchased his partner's interests and has since continued farming and stockraising. One hundred and twenty acres of this ranch are avail- able for cultivation. His stock is now (December, 1901) fifty horses and 100 head of cattle. His chief production is cattle. In politics Mr. Mahana is a Republican.

an active interest in the affairs of his party. He ter of Zachariah and Mary Baker, both natives of

On the 12th of September, 1878, Mr. Mahana was united in marriage with Miss Emma Baker, who was born in Whiteside county, Ill., the daugh- Ohio. The father was a shoemaker and also gave careful attention to the raising of bees and fruit, in both of which lines he was very successful. He was a supporter of the Democratic party, and a member of the Universalist church, as was also his wife. His death occurred in 1885, his wife sur- viving until 1889. Of their thirteen children Ma- linda and Benjamin are deceased, the others being Jane, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, George, Zachariah, Mary, Emma, Dora, Altana, Frances and Cora B. Mr. and Mrs. Mahana have six children, Bert, Katie M., Nellie S., William C., Fred E. and Dora M.

A LEXANDER MACAULAY .- The land of Scott and Burns has given to America many energetic and progressive men who have helped in developing her resources and making them service- able to mankind, and among the number Alexander Macaulay, of Butte, stands high on the roll. He was born at Keith, in Banshire, Scotland, February 24, 1860. His parents were Kenneth and Jessie (Morrison) Macaulay, who came to America in 1883. The father was a fisherman in his native land, but in the United States, having settled in Alpena, Mich., was employed in the logging camps of that neighborhood until his death on August 15, 1901. His wife died at the same place in 1884. Their son Alexander was educated in the Free Church schools of his native town, and after his arrival in Alpena, Mich., in 1879, worked at the trade of harnessmaking, which he had learned in Scotland. On November 1, 1888, he came with his father-in-law, F. D. Spratt, and his brother, A.

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Spratt, to Montana, and worked in the well known gold and sapphire mines at Eldorado bar, about twenty miles from Helena. They worked these mines successfully for six years and then sold them to a syndicate. In 1894 Mr. McCaulay opened a harnessmaking establishment in Helena, which he conducted profitably until 1897. In that year he removed to Butte, bought the Chris. Jackey har- ness emporium, and has since then been in sole control of the establishment. He also holds an in- terest in the sapphire mines at Eldorado bar. In poli- tics he is an active Republican and takes an earnest and prominent part in political affairs. His frater- nal affiliation is with the order of Modern Wood- men, his membership being in Silver Bow Camp. He is also president of the Bankers' Union of the World, the Bobby Burns Club, of Butte, and a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was married at Alpena, Mich., in 1887, to Miss Ida E. Spratt, a native of Maine, where she was born in 1864. They have four children: Jessie Louise, Donald A., Cora and Francis Kenneth. Mr. Macaulay has been eminently successful in his busi- ness operations, and has secured a firm hold on the esteem of his fellow citizens. Both in private life and in a public way he has exhibited an elevated manhood, exemplifying the best elements of Amer- ican citizenship.

[ OUIS MARCOTTE .- The extensive ranch of 1,520 acres situated one mile west of Craig, in Lewis and Clarke county, is the property of the en- terprising Louis Marcotte. He is one of the earliest of Montana pioneers,. was among the first successful ranchers of the Prickly Pear valley, and is one of the state's progressive and successful inen. He was born at Two Martin, Canada, on August II, 1837, the son of Joseph and Amelia Marcotte, both natives of Canada. The father throughout his lifetime was successfully engaged . in agricultural pursuits. Joseph Marcotte died in 1844 and was followed by his wife in 1882, and both were members of the Catholic church. The son, Louis, at an early age began work on the farm and here he remained until he was nineteen years of age. Then he crossed the plains to Colorado, the trip occupying two months. He there engaged in quartz mining, receiving $1.50 per day and board, and in the spring of 1864 he drifted north to Montana with three other Canadians. They

drove three yoke of oxen on a journey which re- quired three months to complete it. Their initial stop was at Virginia City, but they soon pushed on with pack horses to the British possessions where Mr. Marcotte engaged in placer mining, receiving $5.00 per day and board. He remained there three months and came to Frenchtown, Mont., where he passed the winter.

In the spring of 1865 Mr. Marcotte made a trip to Silver Bow county, but the location did not please him and he came north to Blackfoot, then Hover gulch, and again engaged in mining for $5.00 a day, which was the prevailing price for that labor. In the fall of 1865 he was in Helena, and then moved over to Sun river. There was then a wild stampede to a certain section where report said a rich strike had been made, but Mr. Marcotte quietly wintered at Dearborn, and in the spring of 1866 he passed over to Canyon creek and mined during the summer. He passed the winter in Utah and in the spring purchased two teams and engaged in freighting, and also car- ried passengers to a number of points. In this lucrative business he continued three years. Eventually he disposed of his freighting outfit and returned to Montana, locating in Prickly Pear val- ley. Here he first became interested in the cattle business. Beginning with thirty head he at the end of the year removed to Sun river, near Hay- stack butte, for another year and then went to Dearborn crossing where he resided six success- ful years. He then went to Fort Benton, disposing of his stock interests for $7,830. He then engaged in an enterprise that netted him a considerable amount of money. He went to Oregon, purchased stock, mostly horses and cattle, and brought them to Montana, selling them at a handsome profit, and in this line he continued four years. His home is now on his present fine ranch, one mile east of Craig. He possesses the confidence and esteem of his neighbors, is a member of the Catholic church and an active Democrat.

Į SADORE MARCOTTE, a native of the prov- ince of Quebec, Canada, where he was born in 1836, is one of the successful and prosperous ranch- men of northern Montana, whose career illustrates in a forcible way the almost limitless possibilities of American manhood. His father, Godfrey Mar- cotte, was born at the same place and died there De-

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cember 25, 1859. He was of French descent, a butcher by trade, and a man in good circumstances ; of liberal views and a progressive spirit. His wife, the mother of our subject, Louise (LeSage) Mar- cotte, was also a native of Quebec, dying in 1845.

Mr. Marcotte was educated at the Brothers' School at Three Rivers, Canada, and after leaving school followed rafting on the St. Mary's river for five years. In 1860 he bought a farm in the prov- ince of Quebec and operated it for seventeen years. In 1880 he came to Montana and located a home- stead on the Teton river, twelve miles from Fort Benton, to which he has since added by various pur- chases at different times until he now has a fine ranch of 640 acres devoted to cattle raising and gen- eral farming, in both of which he has prospered greatly, and in them has found scope for the energies of a naturally active and inquiring mind.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 30

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