Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 36

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 36

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June 26, 1872, Dr. Parberry married Miss Ma- tilda Hampton, of Alabama, daughter of Manoah and Cynthia (Mitchell) Hampton, of North Caro- lina, a lady of whom too much good can not be said and one in every way worthy the man whose productive and honorable life shines forth in the early history of Montana. As a physician Dr. Parberry had pre-eminently the courage of his con- victions and advocated principles then greatly in advance of his time, but which strongly tint the

Yh. Parbensy

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trend of thought today, such as purity, simplicity, and an active out-of-door existence, either of hard work or of strenuous, exhilarating exercise. He believed that in a majority of cases the debility of the patient was curable through self-control, self-denial and active out-of-door life, rather than through the consumption of drugs, and unhesitat- ingly refused to administer medicine, often to his own loss financially, rather than assist nature to rebuild on a false foundation. As a man in business and social circles and as a philanthropist the state can show few equals. Shrewd, farseeing and ex- acting to the nicest details, he engineered success- fully the largest interests and safeguarded them from waste and loss; but as a benefactor he is gen- erous to a fault and gives with impulsive extrava- gance. He is ever a friend to the meritorious poor and nothing delights him more than to educate those who can not educate themselves, often asserting that a man can not better serve his country and a fellow man than by lifting him to a higher level through education and thus enable him to help himself. He does not wait for appeals to his benevolence, for his heart, trained to sympathy through personal suffering in the school of adversity, is ever on the alert to see the needs of those around him and to suggest the best way to meet them with the per- sonal effort of the needy. Happy and enduring is the state whose foundation stones have been laid by such true, broad-minded, judicious builders as Dr. William Parberry.

W ILLIAM GALLATIN NELSON, who en- joys the distinction of being the first white child born in the beautiful and picturesque Gal- latin valley, is one of the solid and substantial citizens of McLeod, Sweet Grass county, Mont. He was born on July 27, 1864, the son of John W. Nelson, a biographical sketch of whom ap- pears in this connection. He was reared and edu- cated in the Gallatin valley, and found profitable employment on his father's ranch, and, until he was of legal age, William Gallatin Nelson remained on the homestead, devoting a portion of his time to operating his father's sawmill and a mill of his own, which was conducted in connection with a threshing machine business.

In 1892 he closed out his interests in Gallatin county, which had been quite profitably prose- cuted, and went to Sweet Grass county with a herd

of cattle and settled on the Boulder river. He first purchased 160 acres of land and to this he has recently added another quarter section, and now has 320 acres, the greater portion of which is now thoroughly irrigated and otherwise improved, making it one of the best ranches in the county. The principal crops are timothy hay and alfalfa, and in former years he has raised good crops of grain. He usually winters from 150 to 200 head of fine Hereford cattle. In 1900 he purchased the Bramble ranch, one of the handsomest ranches on the Boulder river, which contains 320 acres, well irrigated by living springs. This property is devoted to timothy, redtop and alfalfa. Mr. Nel- son has recently discovered and located a coal mine in the near vicinity of his ranch, and has in operation one tunnel of 500 feet and another of 260 feet. On November 20, 1889, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Ebbie Banks, of Kansas. Their only child is John Leroy.

J JOHN W. NELSON .- One of the popular citi- zens and representative business men of Ravalli county is Mr. Nelson, who has attained a position of no little prominence in connection with industrial and political affairs, being essentially the arti- ficer of his own fortunes and having a some- what varied career, and yet one that has ever been regulated by integrity, energy and perseve- rance. John W. Nelson was born at McIndoe Falls, Caledonia county, Vt., on August 4, 1854, the second of the twelve children of William H. and Margaret Nelson, both Vermonters and repre- sentatives of old New England families. He is in- debted to the excellent public schools of Vermont for his early education and he continued his studies until he was eighteen, passing the last year in the high school. He then went to Boston and was a brakeman on the Boston & Maine Railroad.

In 1873 Mr. Nelson came to the Pacific coast and was connected with railroad work in California until 1879, having headquarters principally in San Francisco and Santa Cruz. In 1879 he went to Oregon, and thereafter was a conductor on the Northern Pacific Railroad on different runs and coming as far eastward as Helena. From 1887 until 1895 he was conductor on the Montana Union di- vision of the Northern Pacific, save for the two years he served as sheriff of Deer Lodge county, having been elected in the fall of 1892. At the

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expiration of his official term, in 1895, Mr. Nelson removed to Hamilton, and here he engaged in the clothing business, conducting the Valley Clothing Store, and also having other business interests in this city. He has secured an excellent supporting patronage, enjoys marked popularity and has an attractive home in Hamilton, the same being a center of genial hospitality. He gives his political support to the Populist party, and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias. In Novem- ber, 1887, in Butte, Mr. Nelson was united in mar- riage to Miss Emma Toland, the daughter of James Toland, one of the earliest living pioneers of the Bit- ter Root valley, having located in Stevenville in 1857. He is now a resident of Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have three children, John W., Hazel Ann and William James.

JAMES L. NEIHART, in whose honor is named the city of Neihart, Cascade county, is a man highly and justly esteemed for his progressive views, liberal, broad-minded opinions and devoted interest in the municipality in which he resides. It can be truthfully said that he has, in the course of many years, won the respect and confidence of all with whom he is acquainted, and the circle is a large one. He was born in Williams county, Ohio, September 1, 1851, the son of James and Theresa Neihart. The mother was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and the father of Lancas- ter, Pa. During the early years of his career the latter followed the business of a wheelwright, but later devoted his attention to farming, in which he achieved success. The parents were members of the United Brethren church ; the father was a stanch Democrat and served several successive terms as justice of the peace. He died June 16, 1881, and was followed by his wife, August 17, 1892. Seven children survive them, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Mary, Jacob, Nicholas, Jonah and James L., the subject of this biographical mention.

Although he diligently improved every educa- tional advantage that was offered him, it must be confessed that the scholastic lore he acquired in those early days was limited. However, he made good progress in his studies, and in after years was enabled to teach others. Until he was seventeen years of age he materially assisted his parents on the farm; but he longed for wider business experience ; accordingly he entered a general store

in the capacity of a clerk, at a salary of $20 per month. This salary was subsequently increased 10 $60; shortly afterward he was given the position of grain purchaser with a salary of $150 per month. In 1876 Mr. Neihart came to Montana, settling first at Bozeman; but the subsequent two years were passed at Alder gulch and Virginia City in mining enterprises. While at Bozeman he taught one term of winter school. The greater portion of his time, until the spring of 1879, was spent in pros- pecting. He then went to Fort Benton, and thence to the Highwood mountains, where he located a squatter's claim twenty miles south of the fort, upon which he remained until 1881, when he ex- changed it for horses and cash. Removing to the vicinity of Barker, Cascade county, Mr. Neihart again began prospecting and mining, but with no ap- preciable success, and, becoming dissatisfied, he re- moved to his present place April 15, 1882. Since then he has been heavily interested in mining, and in the various enterprises has gained success.

He was married December 14, 1889, to Mrs. Sarah E. Sutton, an estimable lady and the mother of three children, Ida, May and Henry Sut- ton, all members of her present family. She was born in California, her parents being John W. and Nancy Patrick. The mother was a native of Lou- isiana, and the father a Kentuckian by birth. He was one of the "'forty-niners," and at present re- sides in the vicinity of Augusta, Cal., at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years. The mother died April 15, 1899. Four children survive her.

To Mr. and Mrs. Neihart have been born one child, Myrtle. The parents are members of the Baptist church.

D ENNIS NEVIN .- Among the honored pio- neers of the great west was the subject of this memoir, who was prominently identified with min- ing enterprises in various sections and whose untimely death was the result of an accident at Butte city in the mine of which he was foreman. .

His widow long survived him, rearing her family and proving the strength and nobility of her na- ture, winning the love of a wide circle of friends and the reverence of her children, who may well "rise up and call her blessed." To her, as well as to the husband who proceeded her into eternal rest, is due a tribute in this publication. Dennis Nevin was a native of the Emerald Isle and a scion of stanch old Irish stock, the date of his

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nativity having been 1844. He received his edu- cational training in the parochial and national schools of Ireland, where he remained until he attained the age of twenty years, when he set forth to seek his fortunes in America. He first located in Massachusetts and attended the public schools of that state for a time. He was there employed for a few years and then removed to California, where he engaged in placer mining for a score of years. Mr. Nevin then removed to Vir- ginia City, Nev., turned his attention to the gro- cery business, and was more or less concerned in mining in that section. In 1884 he came with his family to Montana, locating in the city of Butte, becoming prominently concerned in her great min- ing industry. He was foreman of the Wake-Up- Jim mine and had been there engaged but a few months when he met his death as the result of an accident in the mine, passing away on Septem- ber 16, 1885. He was a man of high principles and inflexible integrity of character, and a devout member of the Catholic church. While a resident of Nevada he held for nine years the position of treasurer of the Miners union at Virginia City, and in 1882 he was elected treasurer of Storey county, that state. While in discharge of the duties of this office Mr. Nevin was held up by masked men, who covered him with revolvers and then made away with $8,000 of the county's money, locking our subject in the vault of his office and making good their escape. No blame, however, was attached to the treasurer.

In politics he gave his support to the Democratic party, in whose cause he took an active in- terest ; fraternally he was identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen; was a mem- ber of the Emmett Guard in Virginia City, Nev., and was known as a fine shot, his chief diversion being hunting, through the medium of which he found pleasure and recreation. In the year 1870 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Nevin to Miss Winnifred Donahue, who was born in Ireland and who, with her nine children, survived the husband and father. The responsibility which thus de- volved upon the devoted mother would have dis- heartened a less resolute and noble nature, but Mrs. Nevin never flinched nor wavered, and how well and with what great self-abnegation she planned and labored for the sake of her family none but her children can fully appreciate, while to her they will pay a perpetual tribute of rever- ence and love. Her death occurred on December

23, 1900, and the position she held in the esteem of the community is indicated in the following excerpts from articles appearing in the local press at the time of her demise :

"The year after her arrival in Butte Mrs. Nevin suffered the loss of her husband, the bereavement being a sad blow and the widow being left with a large number of children. She showed great en- ergy and ability, and during the following years conducted a boarding house on Summit street with success, and earned the esteem of all with whom she came in contact, either in a business or social way." Speaking of the funeral obsequies a local paper gave the following: "The esteem in which the deceased lady was held was reflected in the vast procession that followed her remains to the grave. So large was the number of friends who came to pay their last respects to the dead that every available carriage in the livery stables of Butte was pressed into service to convey the members of the wide circle of mourners to the place where the remains were laid to rest. The spontaneous tribute paid to the deceased by the citizens of Butte who had known her in life was too genuine to admit of mistake. It was the sin- cere sorrow of true friends, who deeply regretted the loss the community sustained when Mrs. Nevin was called from a well ordered life."

The services were conducted from St. Patrick's church, of which the deceased was a devoted and consistent member, and were very impressive in character, the solemn requiem high mass being read, and the remains were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery.

Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nevin two are deceased-Mattie and Francis- and the others are still residents of Butte, where they were reared and educated. They are: Mamie J., one of the first graduates of the Butte high school, and a member of the class of 1888, is now the wife of P. S. Sullivan, who is engaged in the hotel business in Butte; Martha R. is the wife of Thomas F. Sheehan, who is devoting his attention to the liquor business; George F. is a machinist, and holds the position of foreman in the Green Mountain machine shops, and the others of the family are Margaret E., William H., Charles P. and Winnifred. Charles completed his educa- tion in All Hallows College, Salt Lake City, in 1899, and is now timekeeper at the Never Sweat mine. William is also identified with the mining industry in this county.

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0 SWALD B. NEVIN .- The life of Mr. Nevin has been one of extreme contrasts, for he left a home notable for culture and refinement, in- duced through genealogical lines of patrician or- der to participate in the wild and adventurous life of the unsettled western plains and moun- tains where his experiences were of most interest- ing order. He was born at Helena, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., on February 2, 1845. His father, Benjamin Nevin, was born in County Down, Ire- land, on September 20, 1797, and on January 28, 1835, he married Miss Sarah Woodbury, born in New Hampshire on October 6, 1815. Of their four sons and two daughters Oswald B. Nevin was the fifth. An old family bible states that his grandfather was a John Nevin, born in County Down, Ireland, who married there Jemima Moor- head McMain on August 5, 1795. The bible was printed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1797, and on the inside of the folding cover is printed the name of Benjamin Nevin, with the date 1815. Mr. Nevin possesses finely executed portraits in oil of his grandfather and grandmother, showing the old time powdered wigs, ruffles, etc. Late in life John Nevin came to the United States, and here passed his closing years of life in the home of his son Benjamin, who was agent and representative of a wealthy Scotchman, who had a large grant of land in New York.

Oswald B. Nevin after receiving good educa- tional advantages under private tutors until he was about fifteen years old started upon his life of adventure in the great northwest by entering the employ of the Northwest Fur Company, and thus made his first visit to the territory that is now Montana, continuing thus occupied for five years and stationed alternately at Fort Benton and Fort Union. The employes carried their guns when- ever they ventured outside the forts, as the In- dians were ever ready to attack them and many met death at their hands. In 1863 Mr. Nevin went down the Missouri by flatboat, not being molested by the Indians, and proceeding to New York, entered the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he completed a course of study, receiving the degree of master of ac- counts. His diploma, which is displayed in his home, bears the date of February 29, 1864. After his graduation he was employed as a bookkeeper in Chicago for eighteen months, after which he passed through Minnesota, and went down the Red river from Fort Abercrombie to Fort Garry,

the site of the present city of Winnipeg, B. C. Here he outfitted with Red river carts, constructed entirely of wood, and started up the Saskatchewan where he followed hunting and trapping until the fall of 1879, within this time seeing no white men except when making trips to the trading posts and often remaining in the wilds two years with- out making a trip. The Indians were not hostile, and beaver, otter, mink, etc., were plentiful, while moose, elk, caribou, bears, wolves, etc., were in abundance.

In the fall of 1879 Mr. Nevin located on the American Fork, where he hunted for two years, after which he came to Sweet Grass county, Mont. Here he engaged in raising sheep, selecting the Merino type as his favorite, and his first clip of wool was sold to Hon. Paris Gibson at Fort Ben- ton, and he had to haul it 150 miles. In 1900 Mr. Nevin sold his herd of sheep of about 6,000 head, and is now exclusively raising cattle on an extensive scale, his ranch of 4,000 acres, purchased of Flowerree & Lowry, being located five miles southeast of the village of Melville. Mr. Nevin is a man of magnificent physique, standing six feet one and one-half inches, as straight as an arrow and endowed with great strength and en- durance. In his prime he weighed 220 pounds and was noted for his agility and fleetness. His brother, John H. Nevin, was six feet four and one-half inches in height, a model of virile strength. David A. Nevin, another brother, served four years as a captain of the Sixteenth New York Cavalry in the Civil war, and as judge advocate, dying in Panama.

Mr. Nevin is a thorough mountaineer and plainsman, and more than once he has shown United States scouts their way back to camp. He enjoys unmistakable popularity and is honored by all who know him. On January 15, 1894, Mr. Nevin was united in marriage to Miss Marion Tintinger, a native of Iowa, the daughter of Nich- olas Tintinger, one of the early settlers of that state. In the fall of 1900 Mr. Nevin was elected a county commissioner, and has already proved that he is eminently fitted for this important office. Politically he gives an unequivocal support to the Republican party, while fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Nevin was per- sonally acquainted with Sitting Bull, who fre- quently partook of his hospitality. He also knew the father of this doughty chieftain, the senior Sitting Bull, a hunchback, but possessing much

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virile strength and agility, while Sitting Bull, Jr., was a fine specimen of physical manhood. After the Custer massacre the Indians removed to Canada, whence bands used to return on hunting expedi- tions, the soldiers being ever on the alert to pre- vent depredations, and once Mr. Nevin saw a band of Indians crossing Milk river only a short distance from the headquarters of the command- ing general.

Red Lodge creek, twenty miles north of the city of Red Lodge. Here he has a fine ranch property com- prising 480 acres, his attention being principally given to raising high-grade sheep with gratifying success, his average band aggregating about 5,000 head. Mr. Newkirk is progressive and energetic in his policy, and has made the best of improve- ments upon his ranch, one of the most attractive in this section. A portion of the ranch is under ade- quate irrigation and yields excellent crops of al- falfa and hay. Mr. Newkirk also raises cattle upon a somewhat minor scale. In sheep he principally raises Spanish Merino and Cotswold types, which render him the best returns for his enterprise in this line. In all the relations of life his actions are characterized by inflexible integrity, and he thus commands the respect and high regard of the com- munity, being recognized as one of Carbon county's representative citizens. Upon the organization of Carbon county Mr. Newkirk was chosen the first clerk of the court, retaining the position for two years and rendering efficient service. In political proclivities he is a supporter of the Republican party, has shown strong interest in all matters that will promote the material prosperity of the county and state, being public-spirited to a marked degree. Fraternally he is identified with the ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has taken the ancient craft degree, being a master Mason.

H ENRY E. NEWKIRK comes of stanch old Colonial stock and his maternal great-grand- father was an active participant in the war of the Revolution, having been a valiant soldier in the Continental army. Mr. Newkirk located on his present ranch in Carbon county at a time when" said county was an integral portion of the Crow Indian reservation, and has forged forward to a position of unmistakable prominence among the representative farmers and stockgrowers of this sec- tion, his course having been such as to commend him to the unqualified confidence and good will of the people of the community, while he may be con- sistently termed one of the pioneers of Carbon county and one of its leading citizens. Mr. New- kirk is a native of New Jersey, having been born at Daretown, Salem county, on February 10, 1861, the fourth in order of birth of the eight children of Isaac and Frances (Stanger) Newkirk, natives of New Jersey, as was also the paternal grand- father, who bore the name of Isaac Newkirk. The father of our subject passed his entire life in New PATRICK NIHILL .- This extensive stock- man has been a resident of Montana since 1892. He was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, February 1, 1864, a son of Edward and Margaret Nihill, also natives of the Dominion, where the father was a successful farmer, and a Liberal in politics, and both are members of the Catholic church. They are the parents of eight children, of whom Patrick was the first born. Jersey, where he followed agricultural pursuits un- til his death, which occurred in the year 1888. Af- ter receiving excellent preliminary training in the public schools of his native county, Henry E. New- kirk became a student in Philadelphia, where he took a partial course. In 1881 he started for the north- west, his first location being at White Sulphur Springs, Meagher county, Mont. Soon after his ar- rival he became identified with the ranching indus- His educational advantages were very limited, for at the early age of ten years he was obliged to aid in supporting the family, with whom he remained until he was long past his majority. He then went into the southern part of the United States, and engaged in building railroads. In 1892 he came to Montana, and, locating in the Philbrook neighborhood, engaged in ranch work at a compensation of $35 per month, first in the employ of N. A. Lewis and later with C. M. Godell. try, and there continued to reside for a decade ; from thence he came to what is now Carbon county, the district then being a portion of the Crow Indian reservation. He came here in 1891, bringing a band of sheep which he had previously pastured in the valley of the Smith river, for several years the scene of his operations. Upon arrival in the new location he settled upon a squatter's claim, and when this portion of the reservation was thrown open to settlement he made permanent location on After following this occupation two years he de-

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voted one year to stage driving, and after that was three and a half years in the hotel business, six months at Philbrook, one year at Utica, and two years at Stanford. In 1898 Mr. Nihill pur- chased 1,000 acres of his present ranch, to which he has since added 500 more. His principal crops are grain and hay, which he raises in large quan- tities and of fine quality. He is also extensively engaged in sheepraising.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 36

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