Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 44

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 44

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M ILES ROMNEY .- Among those who stand representative in connection with journalism in Montana and who wield a definite influence in public affairs through this medium, is Miles Rom- ney, the able and popular young editor and pub- lisher of the Western News, at Hamilton, Ravalli county. Mr. Romney was born in St. George, Washington county, Utah, on December 18, 1873, the eldest son of the nine children of Thomas and Annie (Wood) Romney, the former of whom was born in Illinois and the latter in England. In 1881 Thomas Romney brought his family to the Bitter Root valley of Montana and purchased a ranch near the present city of Hamilton, where he en- gaged in ranching for a full decade, when he sold the property to the late Marcus Daly, and it is now a part of the great Bitter Root stock farm owned by the Daly estate. Mr. Romney then purchased his present fine ranch property, located one and one- half miles north of Corvallis, where he is giving his attention to farming and stockgrowing.

Miles Romney received his early education in the public schools of Beaver City, Utah, and con- tinued his studies in the schools of Bitter Root valley until he was sixteen, when he took a full

course at a business college at Ada, Ohio, and was graduated with the class of 1891. Mr. Romney then entered the employ of the Missoula Mercantile Company in the Victor establishment, retaining this incumbency a few months and then teaching one term of school at Bannack. After a short in- terval of bookkeeping for a mining company he returned to the parental homestead near Corvallis, assisting in the work thereof for a year and then holding a clerical position in Hamilton. Here he purchased a half-interest in the Western News, and within a month acquired the full ownership of the property. He has since been both editor and publisher of the News, which is issued weekly, and is a powerful factor in molding public senti- ment and a valuable exponent of local interests.

The enterprise has been made a success by Mr. Romney, who has conducted it with ability and against many obstacles has stanchly directed its course. The News is the official organ of the Democratic party in the county, and has done much to advance the cause. The office is well equipped, modern in all respects, while Mr. Rom- ney is the owner of the building containing it. He inay well take pride in the success which he has won, for he assumed heavy financial obligations, which he has fully discharged, has paid for his of- fice building and his plant and also become the owner of a good ranch property near Corvallis. These conditions indicate his energy and forceful in- dividuality. He is one of the wheelhorses of the Democratic party in Ravalli county and a member of its state central committee. In 1900 he was a candidate for mayor of Hamilton, but was defeated by W. W. McCracken, a local banker. Mr. Rom- ney is now first vice-president of the Montana Press Association, and he is also a valued mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and senior warden of his lodge, while he is also identified with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. Immediately after the first call for troops at the outbreak of the Spanish- American war Mr. Romney raised a company for service, but the First Montana was filled with the National Guards of the state. Mr. Romney's com- pany was held in readiness, but no second regi- ment was organized.

On April 25, 1896, Mr. Romney was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Robbins, the daughter of Mrs. Susan E. Robbins, the owner of a fine ranch property near Grantsdale, Ravalli county. Mr. and Mrs. Romney have a son, Miles, Jr., born on December 6, 1900.

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N D. ROOT, one of the energetic, progressive and successful ranchers of Montana, residing near Whitehall, Jefferson county, was born at Stoughton, Wis., on November 24, 1861. He is the son of Horace G. Root, of Oswego, N. Y., and Louisa (Catlin) Root, a native of Iowa. The father, Horace G. Root, died November 4, 1900. His wife died many years ago, and Mr. Root was married a second time to Zilla Young, who sur- vives, together with two of the four children of the second marriage. At an early day the father came to Wisconsin, where he engaged in the stock business, and in 1864 he came as an early pioneer to Montana. He then resided here only until the summer of 1865, but made continuous trips between Wisconsin and Montana for a num- ber of years, with his home in Wisconsin, chang- ing this, however, to Windsor, Mo., in 1873. In 1864 he located the Milk ranch property, and later formed a partnership with Mr. H. H. Houghton (further mention of whom is found in another portion of this volume), which contained un- til 1880, Mr. Houghton then making Whitehall his permanent home, and looking after their joint undertakings in the absence of Mr. Root. In the spring of 1880 H. G. Root engaged in raising a fine grade of horses near Whitehall. He was elected county commissioner and served on the first board of Jefferson county.

N. D. Root was reared in Wisconsin and Mis- souri, where he attended the public schools and acquired a solid, practical business education. In 1880 he joined his father on the Montana ranch, coming up the Missouri and arriving at the ranch on June 26. Here he remained industriously em- ployed fourteen years, and in 1894 removed to Butte and engaged in a large dairy business, hav- ing his stock shipped into the city from the Milk ranch near Whitehall. He was the first person to ship milk by the Northern Pacific from Jef- ferson valley. He continued in this business until 1897, when he disposed of the enterprise, and from patriotic motives. War with Spain had been de- clared, and he came promptly forward in defense of the flag of his country. On April 28, 1898, at Helena, he enlisted in Company B, First Mon- tana Volunteers, under Col. Kessler, for service in the Philippines. He took part in the active ser- vice from the time the company left Helena, and in all the battles and skirmishes in which it was en- gaged. Up to the time he was taken ill he never missed a duty call. Following the last advance

on San Fernanda he was ill in his quarters when the Filipinos attempted to retake the city. His will conquered his sickness so effectually that he took a most active part in the defense, returning to the hospital after the two hours of severe fighting before the enemy retreated. Mr. Root said that he felt better after the excitement of the battle.

He returned home with the company and was honorably discharged at San Francisco on Octo- ber 17, 1899. After passing five months in Butte he again commenced operations on the Root ranch, and is now prosperously engaged in stock- raising and dairying. On February 11, 1888, Mr. Root was married to Miss Lillie Neubert, of Ken- tucky, daughter of Gustave Neubert, a German. Their children are Lydia Louisa, Eva, Kurt Nath- aniel and Arthur Tadd. Fraternally Mr. Root is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Independent Order of Foresters, having been through all the chairs of the latter. He is not yet in the prime of life, but may properly be classed with the pioneers of this banner com- monwealth, and he has passed through many event- ful scenes. He has seen the state emerge from territorial crudeness to its present magnificence, and he has played the part of one of the most earnest, industrious and progressive of her citi- zens and that of a brave defender of his coun- try's honor.

A B. ROSMAN, of Radersburg, Broadwater county, Mont., has proved one of the most successful mining engineers in the state, although he has not resided here only a comparatively short time. For two successive years, from 1886 to 1888, he followed ranching, but those years were unfortunate, the country suffering from a pro- tracted drought which occasioned a failure in that industry. Since his location in Montana, however, he has more than recovered from this disaster and is one of the most successful practical miners in the state. He is yet in the activity of mature life, having been born at Schuyler Falls, N. Y., on May 29, 1862. His father, Thomas F. Rosman, was born at the same place on March 14, 1824, is still living and has been a successful lumberman. During the Civil war he served three years in the Sixty-fifth New York Infantry, and was hon- orably discharged at the close of the war. His wife was Miss Jane Brown, a native of Shoreham, Vt., a daughter of Andrew Brown, a prosperous

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farmer of that town. Grandfather Rosman was a native of Grand Isle, Vt., where he was long in the cooperage business, and where the Rosman family has resided for several generations.

After a few years attendance at the public schools, Mr. Rosman learned the blacksmith trade, and later thoroughly and technically acquired a competent knowledge of engineering. In 1886 he renoved to Dakota, then an undivided state, pur- chased a ranch and engaged in farming, but owing to the dry seasons for two successive years his venture was unprofitable, and in 1888 he sold his property and journeyed to Montana, arriving in Helena on July 10, 1888, where he engaged in engineering. Mr. Rosman holds certificates, di- plomas, etc., entitling him a first-class engineer for Montana, Minnesota and the Dakotas, and for two years he had charge of engines and machinery at various mining camps throughout the state.

On February 17, 1890, he took charge of the me- chanical department at the Keating mine at Rad- ersburg, remaining there one year and then en- gaged in placer and quartz mining. This he has since continued, and now owns a half interest in the Congress mine, as well as interests in other valuable mining properties near Radersburg. On December 24, 1890, Mr. Rosman was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Bottler, of Constantine, Mich., the daughter of Mr. George Bottler, a native of Germany, who came to America as a young man, served four years in the Federal army, and at the close of the war removed to Montana, and ultimately made his home at Radersburg. To Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Rosman four children have been born, Bernard M., Bessie A., Goldie D. and Bryan W., deceased. The personal popularity of Mr. Rosman was evinced in 1890, when he was elected a representative to the state legislature as the Democratic candidate, leading his ticket handsomely. He has served for several terms as a school trustee, and is a prominent Odd Fellow, at the present writing serving as district deputy of that order.

E DWIN C. RUSSELL .- Among the alert and sterling young men who have taken advantage of the opportunities afforded in Montana and at- tained success is Mr. Russell, a representative far- mer and stockgrower of Carbon county. Each call- ing or business has its place in the scheme of hu- man existence, constituting the integral part of the

plan through which life's methods are pursued and man reaches his ultimate destiny. Montana has been highly favored in the personnel of her founders and builders, and from the early pioneer epoch to the present day there have been here found men of sterling character, animated by high principles and conserving the general good through well directed personal endeavor. Of this class Edwin C. Russell is a worthy representative of the successful and honored citizens of Carbon county.

Edwin C. Russell is a native of Meigs county, Ohio, born February 7, 1862, the son of Francis C. and Mary (Martin) Russell, the former born in New Hampshire and the latter in the Old Do- minion. The Russell family is of stanch old Colon- ial stock, the American ancestors having emigrated hither from England in the seventeenth century. At the time of the odious witchcraft persecutions in New England, Esther Russell, a member of this worthy family, was executed in Salem, Mass., be- ing burned as a witch. In that same historic old town was born the paternal grandfather of the sub- ject of this review, and the great-great-grandfather in the agnatic line was a valiant soldier in the Con- tinental service during the war of the Revolution, member of a Massachusetts regiment and an active participant in the battle of Bunker Hill.

David Russell, grandfather of Edwin C., removed to Ohio with his family about the year 1840, locat- ing in Meigs county, where he engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. There he reared his children, and one of the number was Francis C., father of our subject, who still retains his residence in Pomeroy, Meigs county, being a leading member of the bar of the state. In 1861, when the integrity of the nation was menaced by armed rebellion, he enlisted for service in the Union army, becoming a mem- ber of Company I, Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, under command of Col. Ewing. He soon entered into active service with his regiment, par- ticipating in several of the early engagements, serv- ing under Gen. Rosecrans in West Virginia. While attached to Gen. J. D. Cox's division he took part in the second battle of Bull Run ; later his regiment was attached to Scammon's brigade, and partici- pated in the engagement at South Mountain, or Fox's Gap, having made the memorable charge against the stone wall which served as a line of works for the Confederates. This brigade en- braced the Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry, of which the martyred President Mckinley was a member. At the battle of Antietam Mr. Russell's regiment

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was attached to Rodman's division, the commanding officer mentioned having been killed in the battle at this point. The regiment was then sent to join Gen. Grant's forces before Vicksburg, and took part in the first assault on the Confederate works. Here Mr. Russell became seriously ill and was sent to his home. On partially recuperating he was made a recruiting officer, and when his strength justified he again entered active service, becoming a mem- ber of the Fifth Ohio Independent Battalion of Cavalry, in which he held a major's commission, having come out of the Thirtieth Ohio Infantry with a captain's commission. After serving for some time as major of his command he was trans- ferred to the Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and took part in the later maneuvers of Grant's campaign, thus serving until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged with the rank of major. Returning to Ohio he has since been en- gaged in the practice of law ; has held numerous offices of public trust and responsibility served as judge of the district court and as a member of the legislature of Ohio, and recently elected for a sec- ond term. He was a close and intimate friend of President Mckinley, by whom he was appointed to select the sites of the monuments at South Moun- tain and Antietam. His brother, D. A. Russell, served throughout the war as a member of the First West Virginia Cavalry, being discharged with the rank of major.

Edwin C. Russell is indebted to the excellent public schools of the old Buckeye state for his early educational discipline, and after being graduated in the high school at Middleport he became identi- fied with the steamboating industry on the Ohio river, following it but one season. In the fall of 1880 he came to Montana, coming as far as Ogden, Utah, by rail and thence by stage to Bozeman. He was variously employed for the following two years, and in 1882 went to the Yellowstone district un- der engagement with Nelson Story, where he de- voted his attention to ranch work for several years. He then went to the Crow Indian reservation, of which Carbon county was then an integral part, -where he had practical charge of the Anderson "7 R" outfit of cattle for a number of years, finally withdrawing from this line and opening a livery business in the city of Red Lodge. At the expira- tion of one year he disposed of the enterprise and thereafter served one term as stock inspector, main- taining his headquarters at Billings. In April, 1893, Mr. Russell returned to Carbon county and

located on his present fine ranch property, eligibly located at a point nineteen miles northwest of Red Lodge, the county seat. His ranch is one of the best in this section of the state. He has made excellent improvements of a permanent nature, a consider- able portion of the tract being under effective irri- gation and yielding large crops of hay. He gives special attention to the raising of high-grade Here- ford cattle, usually having about 200 head, always receiving the highest market price for his beef cat- tle. In all departments of his ranching enterprise are given unmistakable evidence of his executive ability and careful attention to the details which make for success, and he is recognized as one of the representative operators in the line in the county.

In political matters Mr. Russell has ever been a zealous advocate of the principles of the Republi- can party, and has taken a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature. He has been a member of the board of school trustees of his dis- trict from the time of the organization of the county, and in 1898 he was the choice of his party for representative of Carbon coun- ty in the legislature of the state, being defeated through the political exigencies which compassed the notable Democratic victory in the state. He had previously been nominated by his party for this office, but had refused to accept the honor. He is well known in the county and to him is not denied the fullest measure of popular confidence and es- teem, as his course in all the relations of life has been dominated by absolute integrity of purpose and honorable actions. On September 1, 1889, Mr. Russell was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mur- ray, who was born in Middlesex county, Mass., the daughter of M. Murray, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States as a young man. He came to Montana with his family in 1883, locating first at Columbus, but later removed to the Rosebud basin, Carbon county, where he is now successfully engaged in ranching and stockgrowing. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are the parents of five children, name- ly; Mary, Lewis, Lelia, Charles and Francis.

JOHN RYE .- It assuredly cannot be uninterest- ing to note the varying nationality, early ad -- vantages and personal endeavors of those who have contributed to the development and worthy citizen- ship of Montana. Through indefatigable industry

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and well regulated efforts attaining a marked suc- cess, Jolin Rye is one of the extensive farmers and stockgrowers of Sweet Grass county, where he is considered a truly representative citizen and business man. Mr. Rye was born in Norway on March 20, 1852, the son of Erasmus Oleson and Bertha ( Peter- son) Rye, natives of Norway, where were born their two sons and two daughters, and where the father passed his life, his death occurring when his son was a mere boy. John Rye reached manhood under the discipline of farm life, receiving educa- tion in the public schools and when he was nine- teen years old, in 1871, he emigrated to America, passing a few months in Minnesota and then lo- cating in Wisconsin, where he was lumbering until 1883, when he came to Sweet Grass county, Mont., he took up a homestead near Melville, which has since been his home and field of endeavor. To the original homestead he has added two sections, part of it being government and part railroad land. The ranch has an area of 1,600 acres, and here Mr. Rye has been engaged in stockgrowing, raising cat- tle exclusively until 1885 when he began to raise sheep, having at times as many as 6,000 head, prin- cipally Merinos, which is his favorite. He also raises horses, devoting his attention to Normans, and having some very fine animals.

Mr. Rye has a most attractive ranch home, all the buildings being of substantial construction and well arranged. Everything about the place indicates the progressive methods of the proprietor. He has a thoroughly equipped workshop, where repairs may be made on his machines and implements. He has an irrigating ditch from the Sweet Grass river, three and one-half miles in length, and conveying 500 inches of water. Facilities are thus afforded for the effective irrigation of more than 600 acres, and Mr. Rye raises large quantities of alfalfa, and is making arrangements to double his hay crop. When he arrived at what is now the village of Big Timber Mr. Rye had on his car a bunch of cattle and some horses, and in order to unload them was compelled to make a chute of a wagon box, the rail- road company having no facilities whatever for that purpose. During the severe winter of 1886-7 Mr. Rye met with much loss of stock, and later his flock of sheep was decimated by scab, but by care- ful attention he soon retrieved his losses. He is well known in the county and has the confidence and respect of all. Mr. Rye's mother accompanied him to Montana, and was cared for by him with true filial devotion until her death in 1899, at the

venerable age of eighty-six years. His brother is now a resident of North Dakota. In June, 1875, Mr. Rye was united in marriage to Miss Lena Johnson, who, like himself, is a native of Norway, and they have three children, Richard, who is at- tending college at Moorhead, Minn., and Olga and Bertha, students in the public schools.

G EORGE W. SAMPLE, successful and pros- perous owner and active worker of one of - the finest ranches in Choteau county, Mont., was born near the town of Albany, Gentry county, Mo., January 18, 1847. His father, Andrew Sample, was a native of Morgan county, Ill., where he followed farming and freighting for a number of years, and then removed to Missouri and continued in the same lines there until his death, which occurred at Carthage in 1882. His mother, Sarah (Beeler) Sample, was born in Tennessee and died in Taney county, Mo., in 1880.

Mr. Sample secured what book education he re- ceived in the public schools of Gentry county, and after leaving them assisted his father in his farm- ing and freighting operations until April 23, 1864, when he left home and came to Montana, arriving at Emigrant gulch in August. There he engaged in mining until winter came, when he removed to Alder gulch and remained until January, 1865; thence to Last Chance mines and followed team- ing there until May, 1865, getting $20 a day for his work. From there he went to Benton, and for nearly twenty-five years was freighting between that town and Helena, Bozeman and Butte, in Montana, and Boise and Idaho Cities in Idaho. Some of his contracts show the high freight rates paid for hazardous trips in those days. He re- ceived seven cents per pound for freight between Benton and Helena, and on one trip in which he carried a consignment consisting mostly of nails for Foutz & Russell, of Virginia City, the rate was seventeen cents per pound. The trip lasted three months, and of the twenty-one men in his party, two were killed and a number wounded, and forty head of cattle were killed in the frequent encount- ers with hostile Indians. On another trip, made under contract with Gans & Kline, of Helena, to take a consignment of goods to the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, the rate was ten cents per pound for ox teams and eighteen cents for mule teams ; and on arriving at the railroad he

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purchased sixty head of mules. The goods were loaded at Benton on the Platte river, and reached Helena in four months time, the ox teams driven by Mr. Sample beating the mules by four days. This satisfied Mr. Sample that oxen were the su- perior and he sold the mule teams and thereafter freighted with oxen only. His outfit frequently hauled as high as 200,000 pounds on a trip. In 1880, looking forward to retirement from the ardu- ous work in which he was engaged, he took up a squatter's claim on the Judith river, Fergus county, and for twelve years was engaged in sheep- raising thereon as a side line. In 1892 he removed to his present ranch, located at Frenchman's ridge, twelve miles east of Fort Benton, where he has a fine place of 960 acres and is extensively en- gaged in farming and sheepraising. The greater part of his land is tillable and under cultivation, while most of the residue affords fine pasturage for his flocks.

In politics Mr. Sample is an uncompromising Democrat, and always takes an active part in the work of the campaigns. His party associates es- teem his counsel highly and his services as of great practical value. He is a member of Benton Lodge No. 25, A. F. & A. M., which he joined in 1880. Socially he ranks high as a congenial companion, a firm friend and an entertaining and hospitable host. In the civic and commercial affairs of the community his aid is substantial, his influence po- tential and his example inspiring.

A L.MON SPENCER .- Commanding uniform confidence and esteem, there is no man in Meagher county who occupies a more enviable position in industrial and social circles than Almon- Spencer, not alone on account of the exceptional success which he has achieved, but of the honora- ble, straightforward business policy he has ever fol- lowed. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is deter- mined in their execution, so that on this score his marked success in connection with industrial and mercantile enterprises of wide scope and import- ance may be taken as a natural sequel; but above these are the integrity of character and fidelity of purpose which have gained to him the respect of all with whom he has come in contact during the long years of his residence in Montana, of which he may be justly designated as a pioneer. Mr.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 44

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