Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 40

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 40

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ing foreman of the bridge train from 1874 until 1876. In 1877 and 1878 he was clerk in the Sherman Hotel at Fargo, and from 1878 to 1880 he was freighting from Bismarck to the Black Hills. In the fall of 1880 he engaged in merchandising at Glendive, Mont., conducting this until 1887. Hav- ing passed the next two years at Williston, Dak., he came to Great Falls in the winter of 1889. From 1893 until 1895 Mr. Pontet was chief of police of Great Falls, and since that time he has been a trusted and popular employe in various mer- cantile establishments.

Politically Mr. Pontet is a Democrat, one who always votes the Democratic ticket and does not keep his politics for dress parade purposes. He is one of the best informed men in Montana re- garding local, state and national political affairs. Fraternally he is a past grand of the Odd Fellows and a member of the United Workmen. In 1882 Mr. Pontet was appointed by Gov. Potts county commissioner of Dawson county, and at the suc- ceeding election he was elected to the office for a term of four years. On November 7, 1881, he was married to Miss Meriam Ames, daughter of Adolphus Ames, a prominent farmer of North Dakota, where the ceremony was performed. The mother of Mrs. Pontet was a native of England. They have four children, Edward, Carrol, Frances E. and Ethel. They are bright and accomplished children, constituting a family of whom the parents are justly proud.

H ENRY A. PEASE .- Nearly two score years have passed since this honored pioneer of Montana became identified with the business ac- tivities of the city of Bozeman. During these years he has been known as one of its most reliable and enterprising merchants, and time has but bright- ened his reputation in business circles and among the representative men of the county. Mr. Pease was born in Licking county, Ohio, on June 3, 1838, the son of John and Margaret (Piper) Pease. The former was a native of Maine, and by trade a jeweler and watchmaker, following that voca- tion during his entire business life. He removed to Ohio in an early day, becoming one of her pioneers, whence he removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, when Henry A. was about one year of age. In the spring of 1854 he located in southwestern Missouri, which continued to be his home until

his death, at the age of sixty-seven, which occurred while absent from his home on a business trip. Margaret (Piper) Pease was born in Ohio, and died in Missouri when she was about fifty- nine years of age. By her marriage to Mr. Pease she became the mother of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. Henry A. Pease grew up under the influences of a refined and well disciplined home, receiving such educational advantages as were afforded by the village schools. He early began to prepare him- self for the practical duties of life, entering his father's shop at the age of ten years and there learning the trade of watchmaker and jeweler, to which he has devoted his attention for more than half a century. He continued to make his home with his parents until a short time after his mar- riage, which occurred March 4, 1855, being united to Miss Sally Chittim, who was born in North Carolina. They became the parents of two chil- dren: Ida, who is the wife of G. J. Steffens, and the mother of one son, Claud P., who is now asso- ciated with his grandfather's business ; and John, a most promising young man, who died at the un- timely age of nineteen. On the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion Mr. Pease encountered troub- lous times. He was then residing on the line between the north and south, a section which was devastated and pillaged by both armies. The result was that Mr. Pease was robbed of every- thing he had, and without recourse, and to his personal discomfiture he was held on suspicion. He was absent from home, at a place called Cali- fornia, Mo., and there received word that his store had been pillaged. Three months elapsed ere he was able to reach his home, many difficulties and dangers besetting his path, since both armies were in evidence in the section, and neutrality was scarcely countenanced. Mr. Pease accompanied Gen. Fremont's bodyguard for a time, but was finally cut off and captured by Joe. Shelby's men, who did not seem inclined to release him. At Lex- ington, Mo., he made a speech in protestation, which resulted in the sheriff of the county taking possession of his person ; but was then fortunate enough to secure his horse and saddle and make his escape. At Sedalia, Mo., he was recommended to Gen. Halleck as one to whom might be safely entrusted the carrying forward of a message to St. Louis, which he accomplished. Soon afterward he and his father took a small stock of goods to Hillsboro, Ill., and on April 3, 1864, our subject

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set forth with an ox team for the west, mak- ing the journey in safety and arriving in Bozeman in October. He settled first in Alder gulch, now Vir- ginia City, but eventually engaged in his regular business until 1882, when he removed to Bozeman, which has since been the scene of his well-directed endeavors. Here he has one of the finest jewelry es- tablishments in the state, the stock being large and select, while his skill has ever given him precedence.

In politics Mr. Pease is a Democrat, and, as nearly as he is able to recall the circumstances his first presidential vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas. He has ever taken an active and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the day, and has been called upon to serve in various offices of public trust and responsibility. He was at the head of the municipal government of Bozeman for one term, having been elected mayor in 1890. Mr. Pease is one of the oldest members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the state, and was deputy grand master of the grand lodge for two years. He became identified with the Gallatin County Pioneer Society at the time of its organization, and has ever maintained a deep interest in its affairs. Mr. Pease has been an active factor in the promotion of the general welfare of the city and county, always maintaining a public- spirited attitude, while his business methods are unquestioned. There has been no shadow of wrong or injustice on either his personal or business career, and no one in the community is more highly esteemed.

EWIS W. PECK .- This gentleman is not only

one of the representative ranchers and business men of Fergus county, but also has the distinction of being a veteran of the Civil war, in which he followed the old flag on many a southern field of battle, doing his part in defending the Union cause.

Mr. Peck claims Indiana as the state of his nativity, having been born in Jackson county, on the 8th of March, 1838, the son of William and Evaline Peck, the former of whom was born in Kentucky, and the latter in New Jersey, both representing prominent pioneer families of Indiana. At first a farmer, in later years William Peck was engaged in transporting pork to the New Orleans market on an extensive scale. He was an influential man of sterling character and excel-

lent business ability ; in politics a Democrat. He died in Indiana in 1849. His wife survived him many years, her death occurring in 1896. Of their seven children only two are now living-Lewis W. and Erastus W., now a resident of Great Falls, Mont.

Lewis W. Peck received good educational ad- vantages, attending the public schools and taking a course of study in Asbury University, at Green- castle, Ind. From the age of seventeen Mr. Peck engaged in farming until the time of the Civil war, when he enlisted as a member of Company B, Fiftieth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1861, with which he rendered service until trans- ferred in 1862 to Company F, Sixty-seventh Regi- ment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and with this he served until victory crowned the Union arms, hav- ing been an active participant in many of the mem- orable battles of the Army of the Cumberland, the battles around Vicksburg, the Red river campaign and at Mobile Bay and other historic engagements of the great civil conflict. He entered as a private and after the close of the war was mustered out as first lieutenant of his company, to which he was commissioned April 25, 1863. After his muster out he returned to his home in Indiana, and re- sumed farming until 1871. So unsatisfactory were the returns for his assiduous labors that he decided to locate in Kansas, but his trip to that state availed him nothing, and in May, 1872, he again returned to Indiana and remained with his mother for a short time, but soon came west to Colorado, where he engaged in mining. Here he was at- tacked with mountain fever, and once more made his way to his old home in Indiana, where he re- sided until 1881. He then proceeded again to Col- orado, where he remained one year and thence came through to Montana, by way of Salt Lake City. Coming to the Judith Basin, he took up a pre-emption claim about fifteen miles southwest of the present village of Utica, and resided there until August, 1882. Thereafter he had business interests both in Great Falls and the Judith Basin country, and divided his time between the two lo- calities until 1888. To Mr. Peck belongs the distinction of having erected the first building for business purposes in the present city of Great Falls. He now makes his home on his ranch on the head of the Judith river. This comprises 800 acres, of which 200 are available for cultivation. Mr. Peck has a most effective system of irriga- tion, controlling what is considered the best water

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right in the state. The business is conducted under the firm name of L. W. Peck & Sons. Mr. Peck is an active worker in the Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with the ancient- craft body of Freemasonry. It may be noted that Mr. Peck in 1894 found the first sapphire found in Fergus county, this being previous to the dis- covery of the Yogo sapphire mines.

The 7th of September, 1865, witnessed the mar- riage of Mr. Peck and Miss Mary E. Atkinson, she being a native of Washington county, Ind., and a daughter of Alexander and Mary Atkinson, who were pioneers of the Hoosier state, whither they re- moved from their native state of Virginia. Mr. Atkinson held for many years the office of county clerk and recorder, and was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party ; he was also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. He died in 1858 and his widow in 1860. Of their eight chil- dren only two are now living, Curtis and Ruth. The two surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Peck are William A. and Ruth (Mrs. Fred L. Stephens). William A. Peck still remains at the paternal home and is an able coadjutor of his father in the con- ducting of his business. Mrs. Peck died on the Ioth of February, 1872. Her memory remains as a benediction to those nearest and dearest to her.

San Francisco and performed the sad rites of sepulture.

Samuel J. Reynolds went to work in the mines when he was only nine years old, carrying tools for the men and doing such other jobs as he could, and receiving for his first month's work fifteen shillings. He continued at this employment until he was sixteen years old, picking up a little book- knowledge here and there at night schools. At the age mentioned he began to look toward the west with a vision which soon started him on the way to that great section of the country. Passing a few months in Pennsylvania, he went to Michigan, the mining regions of Lake Superior, and next to Virginia City, Nev., where he worked eleven years, a part of the time being engaged in putting in the large pumps now in use in the mines. In 1882 he came to Butte and went to work in the Lexington mill under Superintendent Kellogg, and becoming then and later a lessor of mines, which he selected with such good judgment that they gave good financial returns. When John E. Lloyd was elected sheriff of Silver Bow county he made Mr. Reynolds his undersheriff, which position he filled with great acceptability for nearly two years, when he received the appointment of warden at the state peniten- tiary, resigning as undersheriff to accept it. In 1892 he was elected sheriff on the Republican ticket and served four years and was re-elected in 1894. After retiring from office he became identified with the Boston and Montana Mining Company as su- perintendent of lessors, and held this position until his death. In all the departments of his multiform activity, Capt. Reynolds rendered good service and gave abundant evidence of superior judgment and an elevated standard of duty. No portion of his career was clouded by indecision or lack of nerve.

APT. SAMUEL J. REYNOLDS .- The la- C mented and untimely death (which occurred on the morning of August 5, 1901, at his late home, No. 7 West Pacific street, in Centerville, one of the promising suburbs of Butte) of Capt. Reynolds plunged the community into profound grief, causing even a display of mourning on the public build -. His noble wife, to whom he was married on April ings of the county. His was an eventful and in- 27, 1880, died on October 18, 1898, leaving two children : Archie, a son, a machinist employed by the Boston and Montana Company, and Mrs. Lillie Hughes, whose loving care supported him in his last moments, and attended his remains with deep and genuine grief to their last resting place. teresting career. He was born in County Cornwall, England, on New Year's day, 1850. His mother, Mary (Tippett ) Reynolds, died a few years after his birth, and in 1856 his father, William Reynolds, emigrated to America and settled at the Bruce mines in Canada and was later joined by his two Capt. Reynolds always took an active part and great interest in military affairs. While a resident of Virginia City, Nev., he organized the Washing- ton Guards and was chosen captain. He also served as captain of the Union Guards, of Butte, which was one of the well-known military companies of the state. At the organization of the First Regi- ment of Montana militia Capt. Reynolds was elected children. In 1859 he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia, and was there at the time of the great Cariboo gold excitement. He was successful in securing considerable wealth in his mining opera- tions, and died in San Francisco on May 22, 1880, as the result of a surgical operation. His son, Samuel J., then working in Nevada, hastened to

J.J. Rupeux

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colonel at a regularly called election under the law which was fairly conducted at Helena, but through partisan politics he was unjustly deprived of the commission. In the vigor and enthusiasm of his early and maturer life Capt. Reynolds connected himself with a number of fraternal societies. He was prominent in Freemasonry in all its branches and gradations from the degree of entered appren- tice at the foot of the mystic ladder, on up through the Royal Arch chapter, the commandery of Knights Templar, the Temple of the Mystic Shrine and the various stages of the Scottish Rite. He also belonged to the Odd Fellows, the Sons of St. George, the Foresters, the Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His remains were laid to rest under the beautiful and impressive cere- monial of the Masonic rites, which were witnessed by a vast concourse of his sorrowing friends and fellow citizens.

R OBERT L. PERKINS .- An unassuming yet unmistakably representative citizen of the thriving little city of Hamilton is Mr. Perkins, who is incumbent of the dual position of vice-presi- dent and manager of the Ravalli County Mercan- tile Company, which conducts one of the most im- portant enterprises in this section of Montana. Mr. Perkins was born at White Oak Springs, Barbour county, Ala., on February 4, 1866, the sixth of the seven children of John and Sarah A. Perkins, the former of whom, now deceased, was born in Georgia, and the latter, who is yet living in Ala- bama. Mr. Perkins was graduated from the high school when seventeen and took a business course in order to reinforce himself for the practical duties of life. Coming to Montana in 1885, Mr. Perkins passed one year at Stevensville, and then went to Helena, where he completed a six-months course in a local business college and was then em- ployed for six months in a clerical capacity in the Montana National Bank, in the capital city.

Returning to Stevensville, he engaged in the meat and produce business for four years, then, entering the employ of J. M. Johnson, of Hamil- ton, he remained in a clerical position for three years, at the expiration of which time he, with Thomas M. Doran, formed the firm of Perkins & Doran, and opened a grocery as the initial busi- ness enterprise, later a select stock of dry goods was added, and in 1899, Mr. Doran having with-

drawn from the business, hardware was also added. Finding that the industry demanded greater facili- ties as it increased in scope and importance, on July 1, 1901, the Ravalli County Mercantile Com- pany was duly incorporated, with a capital stock of $30,000, fully paid in, and with this official corps: T. A. Chaffin, president ; Frank E. Gage, secretary and treasurer, and Robert L. Perkins, vice-presi- dent and manager. The company's fine store is modern in equipment and secures a representative support throughout the country normally tribu- tary to Hamilton, and the interested principals are men of prominence and recognized personal and business integrity.

In his political proclivities Mr. Perkins is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, hold- ing to the Jeffersonian principles, and has never coincided with the views of Mr. Bryan as a repre- sentative of the Democracy. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of Ionic Lodge No. 38, A. F. & A. M., at Hamilton. On June 16, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Perkins to Miss Katie L. Doran, the daughter of Thomas M. and Annie (Summers) Doran, na- tives of Virginia and Missouri, and who are now prominent and popular residents of Ravalli county, where they have maintained their home for four years, and Mr. Doran was at one time associated with Mr. Perkins, as has been already noted. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have a most attractive residence of modern architectural design, and in its precincts obtains a generous and gracious hospitality, while the home circle is completed by their sturdy little son, John Doran, born on February 24, 1900.

JAMES T. POPHAM .- Born in the midst of the .Civil war and its blight, Mr. Popham has never- theless triumphed over early discouragements and made by his force of character and good busi- ness capacity a distinct place for himself among the progressive and serviceable men who have made Montana and are still expanding her great- ness. Mr. Popham's life began on August 15, 1862, at Paris, Mo. His parents were J. W. and Mary E. (Smithey) Popham, the former a native of Ken- tucky and the latter of Missouri. They had five children, James being the second. He alternated between attendance at the public schools and dili- gent work on the home farm until he was eighteen years old, then working on the farm for three

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years afterwards and also acquiring a good knowl- edge of the blacksmith's trade.

When he was twenty-one years old, in 1883, he came to Montana and farmed for two years four miles north of Corvallis, then went to Missoula, where he followed blacksmithing for a year as a journeyman. He then removed to Florence, en- gaged in the same business for himself and was very successful. Two years later he moved to Corvallis and worked at his trade for two more years. During the next four or five years he was successively engaged in farming on Willow creek, conducting a livery business and blacksmith shop at Stevensville, blacksmithing at Hamilton and later for eighteen months for Marcus Daly. He then turned his attention to fruitgrowing and bought a twenty-acre fruit farm one-half mile south of Corvallis and began a successful and profitable industry in which he is still engaged.

In politics Mr. Popham is an ardent and active Republican, always taking a lively interest and a zealous part in the affairs of his party. He was married in August, 1890, at Corvallis, to Miss Sarah H. Wood, daughter of George and Hettie Wood, her father being one of the prominent farm- ers of the Bitter Root valley. Mr. and Mrs. Pop- ham have an interesting family of five children, four of whom are living, David, Thomas, Ellen, Arthur, and all of whom are, like their parents, generally esteemed and admired. James, the fifth in order of birth, died on September 26, 1901, at the age of two years, six months and eight days.

C HARLES H. PERRINE .- All that stands for good citizenship is exemplified in the character and career of this representative stockgrower of Fergus county, which he has had the distinction of representing with marked ability in the lower house of the state legislature. He is a man of distinctive intellectual force and individuality and was born in Livingston county, N. Y., on September 21, 1855, a son of James B. and Elizabeth Perrine, natives respectively of New Jersey and New York, and hotlı are now living and in good health. James B. Perrine is a successful farmer in New York state, and an influential man in his community, taking an active part in political affairs. He was an ardent Lincoln Republican, but in later years finds himself more in sympathy with the progressive element of the Democratic party. His seven chil-

dren are all living, their names being: Cora E., Charles H., Mary A., Nettie L., Jessie S., Hattie H. and Charles H.

Charles H. Perrine attained manhood under the invigorating discipline of the homestead farm, and at the age of twelve years he began to contribute his boyish quota to the work of the farm, waxing strong in mental and physical vigor and thus lay- ing the foundations for a sturdy and well bal- anced manliood, representative of that great desid- eratum, "mens sana in corpore sano." After at- tending the public schools he matriculated in the state normal school at Geneseo, N. Y., where he was graduated with the class of 1878. He then entered the University of Rochester and completed the freshman year in that institution. After having secured these excellent scholastic advantages, Mr. Perrine engaged in pedagogic work, teaching his first school when eighteen and following educa- tional work in New York until 1881, when, as a young man of twenty-six years, he came to Mon- tana and taught one year in the public schools of Marysville. By this time he had formed an ade- quate idea of the advantages offered legitimate industry in this state, and determined to turn his attention to farming and stockgrowing. Accord- ingly he came to Fergus county and located eight miles north of the postoffice of Ubet, where he en- gaged in raising cattle and sheep. In 1889 he or- ganized the firm of Perrine, Green & White, which afterward became the Buffalo Creek Sheep Company. Mr. Perrine held the position of presi- dent of this company until January 15, 1901, when he sold out his interest. Since then he has been leading a less strenuous life though he is still inter- ested in the raising of sheep and thoroughbred cattle to which he brings to bear a mature judg- ment and well directed energy.

The principles and policies of the Democratic party have in later years gained the endorse- ment of Mr. Perrine, and he has been an active worker in its cause. In 1896 he was elected to represent Fergus county in the state legislature, and in that body made a record which redounded to his credit and to that of the constituency. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. On June 20, 1881, Mr. Perrine was united in mar- riage with Miss Phoebe M. McClave, who was born in the city of Elmira, Chemung county, N. Y., a daughter of Michael H. and Eliza McClave, and a sister of Mrs. Burton C. White, of Fergus county. In the sketch of the life of Mr. White, ap-

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pearing on another page of this work, will be found further reference to the parents of Mrs. Perrine. She and her husband are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are promi- nent in the social life of the community. They have two children, Percy and Ruth.

G EORGE H. PEW .- The subject of this sketch, was born at Spencer, N. Y., October 3, 1861, a son of George W. and Mary (Dodge) Pew, peo- ple of standing and prominence wherever they have lived. The father is a graduate of Cornell Univer- sity, and soon after leaving that institution he en- listed for service during the Civil war in a New York regiment, serving throughout the contest. On the conclusion of peace he engaged in farming near Ithaca, N. Y., until 1867, when he removed to Iowa and became a surveyor and school teacher.

George H. Pew was educated in the public schools of Iowa, and at the age of twenty he went to Grinnell for a year, and from there to Red- field, S. D., where he spent five years in extensive and profitable operations as a contractor and build- er. The far west, however, held out attractive in- ducements to him, and in 1887 he removed to Ta- coma, Wash., where he carried on for a year the same business engaged in at Redfield. His health failing he came to Montana, settling at Helena. In 1897 he removed to the ranch which he now occu- pies in Prickly Pear valley, and has since been en- gaged in farming and raising fine shorthorn cattle. He was married November 17, 1889, to Miss Mary Robinson, daughter of Elijah Robinson, and they are the parents of six children, namely : Charles H., George Raymond, Edith, Mary E., Richard and Franklin.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 40

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