Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 52

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 52

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In politics Mr. Stewart is a zealous and influen- tial Republican, taking an active part in local po- litical affairs and aiding always in keeping up the spirit and organization of the party. And although he has not been a seeker of its honors or emolu- ments, his voice has been heeded in its councils and his influence has been felt in its contests. He was married at Bowmanville, his native town, in 1886, to Miss Arletta Gardiner, a native of Ontario, where she was born in 1860, and where she died in 1894. They were the parents of three children, namely : Roy N., aged fourteen, Gertie, aged thirteen, and Viola, aged eleven.

In his business relations, in public affairs, in so- cial matters and in commercial enterprises in his neighborhood Mr. Stewart is always to the front, and has the good will and cordial regard of his fellow citizens.

C HARLES F. STRAW .- Born near Winfield, Iowa, July 24, 1861, and reared and educated in that state, Missouri and Kansas, Charles F. Straw, of Rosebud county, Mont., is distinctively a product of the west. When he was seven years old his parents, O. H. and Sarah (Laukens) Straw, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively, who had settled in Iowa in their early life, removed to Sullivan county, Mo., where they were en- gaged in farming until 1874. In that year they moved to Kansas and later came to Montana, set- ·

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tling in the Rosebud valley in 1882. The father be- gan operations in the stock business, which he continued until his death in 1898. His widow is still living on the Pleasant Hill home, the only one they ever occupied in the state.

Charles Straw attended the district schools in Iowa, Missouri and Kansas until he was eighteen years old, when he began life for himself as a farm laborer near his home. In 1882 he accompanied his parents to Montana, and shortly afterward lo- cated a ranch in the Rosebud valley, ten miles from the Northern Pacific Railroad. To his original homestead of 160 acres, filed on in 1883, he has added 800 acres. He now has a very desirable ranch comprising 320 acres on the river bottom and 640 on adjoining hills and prairies, all of which is devoted to raising cattle and hay. His average herd of cattle numbers about 100. In addition to his ranch and stock business, he employs his teams in the summer in profitable freighting. In politics he is a Republican, but is not an active partisan. He was married at Minden, Neb., in 1886, to Miss Mabel Konkrigh, a native of Sigourney, Iowa. They have four children : Norvin, aged fourteen ; George, eleven; Ada, eight; and Bertha, two years of age.

W / ILLIAM O. STRAW is recognized as one of the representative ranchers of Fergus county, having an extensive and valuable estate. He has been very successful in his efforts, which have been directed with marked judgment and ability. He is a native of Maine, born in Piscat- aquis county, on the 10th of July, 1841, the son of David R. and Caroline C. Straw, both of whom were likewise born in Maine, and representatives of old families of New England. David R. Straw was a lawyer, a man of marked intellectual ability and an influential supporter of the Democratic party. Both himself and wife were devoted mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father passed away in 1875, his widow surviving him many years, her demise occurring in 1900. Of their twelve children six have passed away, Martha, Frederick, Nahum, Daniel and two who died in infancy. The survivors are: William O., Agnes M., David R., Gideon, Caroline and Henry.

William O. Straw, after educational discipline in the public schools, completed a course of study in the high school. Upon attaining his legal ma- jority he engaged in farming and stockgrowing

in Maine, where he continued operations for eleven' years. In 1885 Mr. Straw came to Montana and located on his present ranch, so that he has been a resident of Fergus county for nearly a quarter of a century. His finely improved place is located nine miles north of Ubet. Upon coming here he filed claims under each of the allowed forms of entry, and has since added 1,000 acres to his holdings, so that the area of his estate now reaches 4,000 acres. The greater portion of this great ranch is devoted to the raising of hay, of which enormous yields are secured, while various lines of grain are also raised. Mr. Straw also raises cat- tle and horses upon quite an extensive scale, and this branch of his ranching enterprise has been attended with gratifying success. Prior to 1898 he had given much attention to the growing of sheep. In politics Mr. Straw is an ardent supporter of the Democratic cause. His appreciation of the noble teachings of the great fraternity of Free- masons led him to identify himself with the order, and he has passed the ancient-craft degrees, and is now a valued master Mason.

On November 17, 1862, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Straw to Miss Agnes Hastings, who was born in the state of Maine, as were also her parents, John and Abigail Hastings. Both of these are members of the Methodist church, while Mr. Hastings is a Democrat in politics. Of their eight children three have died, the surviving ones being Gideon, John D., Moses M., Agnes and Daniel S.

C 'HARLES G. STUBBS, who is recognized as one of the progressive and successful business men of Helena, where he is engaged in the grocery trade, is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born at Stryker, Williams county, Ohio, on July 8, 1860. His father, Chauncey C. Stubbs, was born in the state of New York, whence he removed to Ohio in 1840, engaged in teaching school dur- ing the winter months and in the summers was em- ployed as a civil engineer. He came to Mon- tana in the pioneer days, making the long over- land trip in 1865. In 1867 he returned to Ohio for his family. He located at the mouth of Trout creek, which debouches into the Missouri river, and there established what was known as the Trout creek ferry. In 1871 he began the operation of Stubbs' ferry, constructing a road to the river at the point where the ferry was operated. The

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mother of the immediate subject of this sketch was born in Starke county, Ohio, her maiden name being Lavina Grant. She secured her education in the public schools. Her father was a prosperous farmer, and for a number of years was a success- ful school teacher. Charles G. Stubbs was a mere child at the time of his parents' removal to Mon- tana, and his early education was secured in the district school of Prickly Pear valley, his mother being his teacher during a considerable portion of the time. Later he continued his studies in the public schools of Helena, after which he turned his attention to the practical affairs of life, becoming associated with the mercantile trade. In 1887 he entered the grocery establishment of R. C. Wal- lace. Two years later he began an individual enter- prise, opening a drug store in the immediate vicinity of the Northern Pacific Railroad station in Helena, which he operated successfully about five years. He then added a general merchandise stock. At present he is engaged in the grocery business at 353-55 North Main street.

Politically Mr. Stubbs gives his allegiance to the Democratic party. In 1896 he was elected a member of the city council of Helena, as the can- didate of the Populist party, serving in this capac- ity for two years and proving a valuable member of the municipal body. He was chairman of the committee on city parks and cemeteries and was a member of the committee on printing. Frater- nally Mr. Stubbs is prominently identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Work- men, having passed the various official chairs in the two first mentioned. On April 27, 1886, Mr. Stubbs was united in marriage to Miss Anna R. Gremm, a native of Illinois, their marriage being solemnized in Helena. Mrs. Stubbs' father, who came to Montana in 1883, was a civil engineer by profession but became a farmer in Montana. To our subject and wife three children have been born: Senora, who was born in 1887; Linton C., born in 1894, and Helen, born in 1896. The chil- ‹Iren are attending the public schools of Helena.

J AMES SULGROVE .- Among the able and suc- cessful representatives of the bar of Montana is Mr. Sulgrove, the present incumbent of the of- fice of county attorney of Teton county, and well ·established in the practice of his profession in the

attractive village of Choteau. Mr. Sulgrove traces his lineage to stanch old English and Scotch origin, but is a native of the beautiful capital city of Indi- ana, having been born in Indianapolis on March 31, 1861. The family had long been established there, for Berry R. Sulgrove, the father of our subject, was born in Indianapolis on March 16, 1827, being the son of James Sulgrove, a whole- sale merchant, who was born in Germantown, Ohio, in 1805, the original American ancestors having come hither from England during the Col- onial epoch. Berry R. Sulgrove was for many years one of the most able and influential journal- ists of Indiana, being upon the staff of the Indi- anapolis Journal from 1854 until 1869, and there- after with the Indianapolis News until the time of his death, February 20, 1890. In early life he prac- ticed law for a time, but his prestige was gained in the province of editorial work, in which he held a high reputation as a forceful writer and as a man of fine intellectuality. In 1853, at Indianapolis, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Mary M. Jameson, who was born in Jefferson county, Ind., on April 29, 1829, her ancestors having come from Scot- land to America as early as 1700. She is now making her home with her son, the subject of this review.

In his youth Mr. Sulgrove pursued his studies in the public schools of his native city, graduat- ing in the Indianapolis high school as a member of the class of 1880, after which he began the technical work of preparing himself for that pro- fession to which he has since devoted his atten- tion. He entered the law office of Coburn & WVishard, Indianapolis, and under their preceptor- ship began reading law, later continuing the work with the firm of Florea & Wishard, and attending the Central Law School of Indianapolis, making such progress as to secure admission to the bar of the state in 1882. He was engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in Indianapolis until the fall of 1891, when he came to Montana, and in the spring of the following year he entered upon his profession in Choteau on the 18th of April. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Montana March 9, 1892, on motion of Judge Cornelius Hedges, of Helena. Mr. Sulgrove soon secured a representative clientage, and on the creation of Teton county, March 1, 1893, he was appointed county attorney and was elected to the office at the first regular election held in Novem- ber of the following year, as the candidate on the

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Republican ticket, having no opposition. He was re-elected in the fall of 1900, and is now serving with marked ability, ever aiming to conserve the best interests of the county and state.

Mr. Sulgrove has ever taken an active inter- est in political affairs, both in Indiana and Mon- tana, and during the past four years has served as chairman or secretary of the Republican county central committee of Teton county, doing much to forward the cause in this section of the state. Fraternally he is identified with Columbia Lodge No. 47, A. O. U. W., of Choteau. Mr. Sulgrove has shown himself an able advocate before judge or jury. He has been a close student of his pro- fession and is thoroughly informed in the science of jurisprudence and is a safe and conservative counselor. Through young men of such caliber and talent Montana is destined to maintain the high prestige of her bench and bar.

AMES S. THOMPSON, one of the distinctly J representative men of Livingston, traces his ancestry through a long line of American progeni- tors, while the lineage has stood for strong manhood and noble womanhood from the early colonial epoch to the present. Mr. Thompson was born at Burlington Flats, Otsego county, N. Y., on August 6, 1856, the son of Ellis C. and Elzama (Kelsey) Thompson, both natives of Otsego county, N. Y. The former, born July 14, 1824, was the son of James S. and Amanda (Colburn) Thompson, and James S., born October 13, 1801, was the second of the twelve children of William and Betsey (Pope) Thompson, the former of whom, born in 1777 and died June 7, 1850, was the fifth of the eight children of Elihu and Desire (Palmer) Thompson. Elihu Thompson was born on Sep- tember 5, 1741, and his marriage to Desire Palmer, born August 19, 1753, was solemnized on January 14, 1767. Elihu was the youngest of the nine chil- dren of William and Katherine (Richardson) Thompson, the former having been born on July 23. 1695, his marriage occurring on April 25, 1721. He was the eldest of the five children of William Thompson, who married Bridget Chesebrough, of Stonington, Conn., on December 7, 1692. Desire Palmer was the daughter of Thomas and Priscilla (Chesebrough) Palmer, the latter being the daugh- ter of Samuel and Priscilla (Alden) Chesebrough, while Priscilla Alden was the daughter of David

Alden, son of John Alden, who came to America on the Mayflower in 1620, and whose name is familiar in history and romance. Through the Palmers Mr. Thompson can claim connection with Gen. U. S. Grant, who descended on his maternal side from Walter Palmer, the founder of the Stonington, Conn., family, while William Chesebrough, the head of the Stonington family, was the first white man to settle in that ancient town, locating there in 1649.

James S. Thompson passed his youth in his native county, and prosecuted his studies in the public schools and West Winfield Academy and later matriculated in the Albany (N. Y.) Normal School, where he remained until June, 1879, when he taught one term in a high school in his native country, when the gold excitement concerning the Black Hills, Dakota, led him to resign his position and remove thither. He arrived in Dakota in the spring of 1880, and accepted a position in a general mer- chandise business, continuing with the firm about fourteen months, when he was prevailed upon to accept the principalship of the Lead City public schools, thus becoming the pioneer teacher in that locality, and he had to organize and superintend the entire school system in that place, and effected the work with ability, affording a satisfactory edu- cational organization. He held this position one year, and then went to Montana, where he arrived in March, 1882, locating at Coulson, where he conducted merchandising for a few months, after which he located in Livingston, where he has since been a merchant. After one year he was joined by his brother, William E., in a partnership with the firm title of Thompson Brothers. In 1886 their brother, Floyd A., was admitted to the firm, and not long thereafter the great increase in the business of the firm demanded more commodious quarters, and they erected their present building, a substantial and commodious brick structure, two stories in height and most eligibly located on Main street. The business was continued by the three brothers until 1900, when William E. sold his interest to his brothers, who have continued the enterprise under the original title. They are progressive business men, and have gained the confidence and support- ing patronage of all classes, enjoying both personal and business popularity.

In politics Mr. Thompson gives allegiance to the Republican party, and has been influential in its cause. He served on the board of aldermen of Livingston, while in 1889 the citizens of the county gave evidence of their confidence and esteem and

James IS Kompon

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appreciation of his eligibility, by electing Mr. Thompson to the First state senate, in which he served with credit, being one of the working mem- bers of the judicial body of the legislature. On August 6, 1884, Mr. Thompson wedded Miss Clara L. Parkhurst, born in New York, the daughter of Gould Parkhurst, distant relative of Dr. Parkhurst, the eminent Presbyterian divine. Mrs. Thomp- son was called from earth on April 13, 1887, leav- ing one son, Ellis Howard, now attending school in Livingston. In November, 1889, Mr. Thompson consummated a second marriage, he being then united with Miss Martha Draper, a native of Mas- sachusetts, and the daughter of William H. and Sarah Ellen (Perry) Draper, both springing from old Massachusetts stock. Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son are parents of four children : Milo Draper, Helen Ramona, Marjorie Elzama and James S., Jr.

CF 'HRISTIAN SWANZ .- Utica's well known blacksmith, Christian Swanz, is one of the most respected citizens of his locality. He was born at Nassau, Germany, April 17, 1863, the son of Christian and Mary Swanz, also natives of the Fatherland, where the father still lives, en- gaged in farming. The mother died April 21, 1863, leaving one child, Christian, as her survivor. She was a faithful member of the Catholic church, and died in its full communion. Her husband is also a zealous Catholic. Mr. Swanz, at the age of fifteen, entered a blacksmith shop as an ap- prentice, and worked at the trade in Germany until 1885, when he emigrated to America, locating at Helena, Mont. In that city he secured work in the employ of Cohen, Baker & Co., at a com- pensation of $5.00 per day. After a year and a half, he was employed for a year in the same line by Whitmore Brothers, and for the next six months by Weisenhorn. He then became man- ager for Charles Lehman & Co., at Cottonwood. In 1891 he removed to Utica and opened a shop of his own, which he has since conducted with stead- ily increasing business and profit. He is also a successful ranchman, possessed of 480 acres of land, of which about one-fourth is under cultivation, and generously supporting numbers of fine cattle. In all of his ventures since he came to Montana Mr. Swanz has been eminently successful, and has deserved his prosperity. He is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. In politics he 80

is independent, acting on his convictions without dictation from any party management or political leaders and for the right as he sees it.

Mr. Swanz was united in marriage June 17, 1885, to Miss Katie Blank, a native of Germany, daugh- ter of John and Mary Blank, whose respective families have lived in Germany for many genera- tions. Her parents were members of the Catholic church, and followed tilling the soil. Mr. Swanz was the second of their eight children. Her own marriage has been blessed with four children-John, Christian, Jr., Mary and Edward. She and her husband are devoted members of the Catholic church and useful residents of their community.

C ORNELIUS SWEENEY, a successful ranch- man of Broadwater county, came to the terri- tory when the Nez Perce Indians were killing what settlers they could and trying to drive out the others. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, on Sep- tember 25, 1851, the son of Patrick and Ellen (Gallagher) Sweeney, both born in County Done- gal. Previous to his marriage and before the Civil war Patrick Sweeney, the father of nine sons and three daughters, came from Ireland to Philadelphia, and for a time engaged in business. Returning to his native country he purchased a stock of Irish woolens, which he brought to this country and sold at a good profit in Philadelphia and the south and then returned to Ireland. Cornelius Sweeney re- ceived his education in the public schools of County Donegal and on April 10, 1871. at the age of twen- ty, he left Ireland and after a short voyage he landed in New York. He soon went into western Canada. where he was in the employ of a railroad company for a few months. Going to Peshtigo, Wis., he en- gaged in lumbering until the next spring, and for twelve months thereafter he conducted a stone quarry at De Pere, Wis. Subsequently he went to Escanaba, Mich., and after six months going back to De Pere, there remaining until the spring of 1873.

Mr. Sweeney then removed to St. Paul, and for six months engaged in railroading. It was a far cry to Texas, but down there he went, and until the spring of 1874 he was a conductor on the Texas Central. He then came back to St. Paul for an- other year, employed by the St. Paul and Duluth Railway. In August, 1875, he removed to Brain- erd. Minn., for the Northern Pacific. but in Oc-

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tober he returned to St. Paul, and was employed on a road running between that city and Hudson, Wis. The following summer he was again with the St. Paul & Duluth Company, but in the winter he made another trip to Texas, thence to Sedalia, Mo., where he was employed in running railway trains until the spring of 1877. Having returned to St. Paul, he came west, stopping first at Bismarck, but ended his journey at Bozeman, Mont. On his way up the Yellowstone the boat was fast thirty days on a sand bar. The party camped at the old stockade on the present site of Fort Keogh for two weeks, and then traveled to Bozeman on horseback. On the second day out Mr. Sweeney and his partner were joined by three other men and the next evening they ran into a Sioux camp. The horses of the In- dians were grazing and, as Mr. Sweeney's party were all well mounted, they had a fair start of the savages who, however, pursued them and several shots were exchanged. The chase continued for ten or fifteen miles before it was abandoned. The following day they met Lieut. Doan, who had charge of the Crow Indians, at the mouth of the Big Horn river. They were on the war path after the Sioux Indians. The Crows, said to number 12,000, had all their outfits, squaws, pappooses and 24,000 horses with them. Mr. Sweeney in- formed the lieutenant of the Sioux they had so recently encountered, and he said he would go after them, taking one of Mr. Sweeney's party as a scout. The night before Mr. Sweeney left Fort Keogh Gen. Miles had an engagement with the Sioux across the Yellowstone, and the party distinctly heard the firing.

Arriving in Bozeman in July, 1877, they passed a few days and came to Beaver creek. Here Mr. Sweeney engaged in diversified industries, farming, mining, carpentry, etc. In the fall of 1880 he lo- cated on his present valuable and finely situated ranch in Broadwater county (then Jefferson coun- ty), where he has since resided, surrounded by all the comforts of home. He has several times en- gaged in railroading in Montana, and he contracted for and did considerable work on the Montana Cen- tral Railroad. He also passed one year in Helena, engaged in quarrying stone and contracting with his brother. Since then he has devoted almost his entire time to cattle and stockraising with gratify- ing results. In October, 1884, Mr. Sweeney was married at Helena, to Miss Alice Quinn, a daughter of James Quinn, of County Donegal, Ireland. She had come to the United States with a brother and

made her home in Helena. Their four children are Agnes, now attending the Helena high school, Cor- nelius, Annie and Alice. Fraternally Mr. Sweeney is a member of the Catholic Knights of America and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Politically he is affiliated with the Democratic party, and is an influential worker during the campaigns. For a number of terms he has served as school trustee. He now resides near Winston, Broadwater county, and is universally esteemed.

G EORGE W. TALBOT is numbered among the progressive and successful stockgrowers of Cascade county, and as a conservative and dis- criminating business man has done much to aid in the development of this branch of industrial ac- tivity in the state. He was born on the paternal homestead in Montgomery county, Mo., on Novem- ber 22, 1858, the son of Isaac H. and Anna V. (Wright) Talbot, both representatives of pioneer Missouri families. The father was born of English ancestry in Montgomery county, on August 10, 1832, his ancestors coming thither from Kentucky, in 1810, being numbered among the earliest settlers. The mother was of Scotch and Dutch origin, and was likewise born in the same county in December, 1839. There their marriage was solemnized in 1856, and there they now reside.

George W. Talbot, after attending the public schools, supplemented their instruction in Mound College, at Mound City, and Central College, at Fayette, in Howard county, both in Missouri. He closed his school education when he was nineteen. and later engaged in the transfer business at Her- mann, Gasconade county, Mo., on the Missouri river, operating three boats in connection with the Missouri Pacific Railroad and being thus engaged for two years. He then located on his father's farnı in Montgomery county, where he bought and sold live stock for an equal length of time. In March, 1889, Mr. Talbot came to Great Falls, Mont., and in the fall, with Sanford Allen, purchased two bands of sheep, there being 2,500 head in each. The stock was placed on a ranch located five miles from Belt, on Little Belt creek.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 52

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