Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 59

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 59

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Their ranch has been excellently improved with good buildings, and two streams run through the ranch and practically supply all water required to irrigate all of their land, though they have also access to a ditch from the Sweetwater river which sup- plies them 1,100 inches when required. The broth- ers showed much wisdom in the selection of their land, since there are few tracts in the state so effectively supplied with water. The results of their efforts in raising grain have been very satis- factory, and they are showing the great possibilities for general agriculture in the state, and their well- directed efforts have attracted attention and com- mendation. The gentlemen are progressive and enterprising, and retain the confidence and high regard of all who know them. On December 26, 1890, William Whalen was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Fitzgerald, daughter of Morris Fitzgerald, who was born in Ireland, whence he emigrated to Johnson county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Whalen consists of four children, Beatrice, Isa- bella, Geraldine and Romanus.

B URTON C. WHITE .- As a leading represent- ative of the activities of Fergus county we refer to Mr. White, who is extensively raising sheep and cattle, owning fine ranch properties and conducting his operations with consummate abil- ity and wise discrimination. He has gained pres- tige in other fields of endeavor as a teacher, a lawyer and by successful reformatory work in

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various state institutions, notably Elmira State Re- formatory, Montana State Reform School and Pennsylvania State Orphan School. Mr. White is essentially a man of power, having the faculty of leadership, and his results come as a natural se- quence. He was born in Allegany county, N. Y., on October 2, 1854, the son of Clark and Try- phena White, likewise natives of New York, where the father was engaged in combined farming and merchandising at the village bearing his name, being successful in his endeavors, and standing as a leader in his community. He was a stalwart Democrat, and incumbent of public offices of trust. His death occurred at Whitesville, N. Y., on July 18, 1900, and his wife surviving him until May 28, 1898. Their six children are Valentine (de- ceased), Nancy M., Burton C., Florence, Cora M. and Grace L.

Burton C. White received excellent educational advantages, having, after an attendance at the public schools, completed a course of study in the Mansfield (Pa.) Normal School, graduating there- from in the class of 1878. Later he took a post- graduate course in the same institution, while his scholastic discipline was rounded out by three years passed in the study of law at Elmira, N. Y. Mr. White remained at the parental home until he had attained his twentieth year, taking satisfaction in earning the money to defray his expenses at school, although his father stood ready to assist him and did so. Mr. White engaged in pedagogic work in the public schools of New York for two years, proving a peculiarly tactful and able teacher. He was also an instructor in the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, of Mansfield, Pa., later becoming one of the members of the legal profession at Elmira, N. Y., where he was elected recorder of the city for a term of four years.

After being admitted to the bar and successfully conducting work in the profession of law, in 1890 Mr. White came to Montana and soon thereafter located his present ranch, within three miles of the little village of Ubet. To his homestead he has added until he has a landed estate of 3,400 acres, while he leases 2,500 acres, used for grazing pur- poses. He has made excellent improvements upon his property, and a portion of the land yields large crops of alfalfa and a considerable amount of grain, but the chief feature of his industry is the raising of sheep, of which he now has 7,000 head, while the growing of high-grade cattle is also an import- ant factor of his operations. Thus it will be seen

that he conducts a business of wide scope and importance.

Mr. White was engaged in the practice of law at Lewistown, the county seat of Fergus county, from 1894 until 1896, both inclusive, while from April, 1897, until May, 1900, he was superintend- ent of the State Reform School at Miles City, Mrs. White serving as matron of the institution. He is unswerving in his allegiance to the Democratic party, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. On June 8, 1887, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. White to Miss Isadore N. McClave, who was born in Steuben county, N. Y., the daughter of Michael H. and Eliza McClave, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. Mr. McClave was for some time superintendent of the county farm near Bath, the county seat of Steuben county, and later was connected with milling. He is now retired from active business, maintaining their home at El- mira, N. Y., both being Methodists in religion, while he belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has ever given support to the Republican party. Five children have blessed their home; Phoebe M., Alida, Isadore, Carrie G. and Charles P. Mr. and Mrs. White have two children, Antoinette and Harold M., and the family ranks high in social life, and their home is one where a gracious hos- pitality is ever in evidence. Mrs. White is an act- ive church worker, and a communicant of Trinity church, of Elmira, N. Y.

W ILLIAM H. WHITE .- This enterprising ranchman and wide-awake business man, whose home is in Carbon county, Mont., not far from the town of Columbus, was born at Indian- apolis, Ind., November 6, 1854, the son of Robert and Rebecca White, natives of Maryland, who died in 1860 when their son was only six years old. He passed some years in the southern part of Indiana, and in 1872 enlisted in the Second United States Cavalry under Col. Palmer, being mustered into service at Louisville, Ky., and then transferred to Fort Sanders, near Laramie City, regimental headquarters. In the spring of 1873 they were ordered to Fort Ellis and there joined the company and remained until 1877. The service there brought them a few skirmishes with the Indians, but no serious engagements. Mr. White

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was one of the party sent to the relief of Gen. Custer, and camped on the night of June 27, two nights after the massacre, on the spot where the Crow agency now stands, they having been unable to make better time on account of high water and the difficulty of moving their artillery. At the mouth of the Rosebud on the way up they had three men killed. Mr. White's narrative of the massacre is graphic and interesting. He says Gen. Custer had made a forced march of thirty hours and reached the ground sooner than Gen. Terry wished him to, and then went into the battle with his men exhausted and no support. On the night of the 26th Mr. White's party marched until midnight in a violent storm and camped near the mouth of the Little Horn. At nine o'clock next morning the infantry came up, whereupon Gen. Terry led the advance up the Little Horn with the cavalry, but on meeting Crow Indians who informed him of Gen. Custer's fate, he again halted and waited for the infantry, and when they came up the whole force moved in the direction of the smoke which they saw. Toward night they saw a large party of men on a hill. Men in uniform with the national flag were plainly visible, and the general appearance led to the belief that they were some of Custer's men. Three men were sent forward to meet them. Arriving withing 200 yards it was discovered that they were Indians, dressed in uniforms taken from Custer's dead. The Indian camp was also visible and presented a scene of commotion. Lieut. Roe desired to charge them with his company, but Gen. Terry refused per- mission. The command was then moved up and camped within 500 yards of the Indian council. The next morning on breaking camp the column moved up the valley, but found the Indians gone. At this time Col. Bradley came up and reported finding the dead bodies of Custer and 191 of his men. Another body of men was then discovered on a hill further up the valley, which proved to be Gen. Reno's command, which soon joined us, and all were then under Gen. Terry. Fifty-two of Reno's men were wounded, which impaired the efficiency of the command, and kept us from fol- lowing the Indians. Mr. White saw but one dead white man whose body had not been stripped, scalped and mutilated. The Indians were mak- ing their way as rapidly as possible toward Can- ada, the troops in hot pursuit. The fight between them and Reno's command had lasted from 2 o'clock on the 25th to 4 on the 27th, when Terry arrived and relieved Reno.

Mr. White acted as scout in 1877, and in June was mustered out, after which he took up his resi- dence on Musselshell and remained until August, when he went to Fort Ellis and took charge of relief wagons going up the Yellowstone after the Nez Perces. He was following Gen. Howard and acted as guide on the first wagon train that went through the Yellowstone National Park. He passed some time on the Yellowstone and Still- water, and from 1883 to 1889 was ranching near Stillwater. In the latter year he moved into town and engaged in business which he continued until 1893. He now has 640 acres of low land, all suit- able for cultivation, one half being well watered, and water easily available for the other half. He has recently completed a fine modern residence of the Colonial style of architecture, which is well finished and equipped with all the usual con- veniences. He was married in June, 1878, to Miss Julia White, a native of Montana. Their children are: William H., now attending college; Mary E., who has been a teacher for some years; Minnie, Charles Francis and Cida Montana. They are all having the benefit of excellent educational ad- vantages and are apparently making good use of them, the family exhibiting unusual culture and intelligence.

DEV. THOMAS A. WICKES .- T. A. Wickes is one of the active business men of Boulder, where he is conducting a large mercantile business. He came into the state in i879, and has been an ac- tive citizen ever since. His ancestry were people of high integrity, one of them being Thomas Wickes of the Massachusetts colony of 1635, and one of the early settlers and original patentees of the town of Huntington, L. I., in 1666, while the grandfather of T. A. Wickes was a major in the Revolution and was a friend of Washington and later of DeWitt Clinton. His grandfather was Gen. Van Wyck Wickes, of Jamaica, L. I., at which place his father, Rev. Thomas Wickes, D. D., was born. He re- ceived a complete collegiate education at Yale Col- lege, where he graduated in 1834, and pursued his theological studies at Princeton, he being a mem- ber of the Presbyterian denomination. His theo- logical course was taken at the time when the dis- ruption of the church was approaching its climax, and, as his doctrinal views were in sympathy with the new school, he left Princeton and finished at New Haven, being thereby led into the Congrega- tional body. He was soon after called to the oldest

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Congregational church in Ohio, at Marietta. In that state he was a leading spirit in the organization of the state association and was its stated clerk dur- ing the twenty-nine years of his pastorate. He was an able and fearless preacher and did not shrink from denouncing the sin of slavery in the trouble- some times before the war. Dr. Wickes married Mary Antoinette Gunn, daughter of Rev. Alexander Gunn, D. D., of the Dutch Reformed church in New York city, and by this marriage he had four chil- dren, of whom Thomas A., born on May 13, 1848, was the youngest.

He was bereft of his mother when he was but a few days old. Marietta was his birthplace and his home for twenty-five years. There he received com- mon school education and a full college course, being graduated at Marietta College in 1869. Ill health prevented a contemplated theological course and he reluctantly allowed mercantile work to take its place. After two years he went to Jasper coun- ty, Mo., as administrator of his father's estate, to look after a large tract of farming land. Here for three years the stock farm engrossed his attention, after which he taught in Joplin, Mo. It was then that a call came to him from the First Congrega- tional church, of Pierce City, to become its pastor. He accepted the invitation, was ordained and passed two years in the work before he broke down and was obliged to travel for his health. In 1879 he received an invitation from his uncle, W. W. Wickes, of Brooklyn, N. Y., to remove to Wickes, Mont., where the uncle was conducting a mining and milling enterprise under the name of the Alta Montana Company. He accepted the invitation and removed to that place, arriving in September, 1879. There, after being associated in mercantile business with John Vawter for a year, he engaged in mer- chandising for a number of years without a part- ner. He also took an active part in religious work, and was largely instrumental in organizing a Pres- byterian church, preaching often and sustaining the work during his stay until 1884, when he made Hel- ena his home. Again failing health compelled a change of vocation, and while establishing stores in Boulder, Corbin and Basin, he personally took charge of large wagon loads of goods sent through Madison county, where he is well and favorably known.

While living in Boulder Mr. Wickes found op- portunity to work in his chosen profession and was instrumental in putting the weak, struggling mis- sion on its feet. He preached as its pastor for five

years, contributing his salary to the church build- ing fund until a beautiful church was built and paid for. He was married in Marietta, Ohio, on July 27, 1871, to Elizabeth D. Woodbridge, whose ancestors were New England pioneers of the Ma- rietta colony. Three children, a son and two daugh- ters, compose the family. The son, William Wood- bridge Wickes, was united in marriage with Miss Helen Stinson, of North Carolina, on July 27, 1896, and has two children, Margaret Stinson and Eliza- beth Woodbridge. He had five years training in Deer Lodge College at Oberlin, which qualified him to take the management of his father's business in Boulder, after a preliminary experience in Basin and Corbin. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church, a member of the Maccabees and the Wood- men and, by appointment in 1878, a notary public. The second child, Elizabeth Darling Wickes, is the wife of Frank M. Hope, to whom she was mar- ried on July 27, 1898. She passed three years at Oberlin College previous to her marriage. Mr. Hope was for eight years in charge of Mr. Wickes' interests in Boulder before resigning to become deputy clerk and recorder of Jefferson county. Mr. and Mrs. Hope have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth Hope. The third child, Mary Ward Wickes, is a graduate of the Boulder public schools and has had three years of study in Oberlin. All of the children are connected with the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and both vocal and instrumental music are not only enjoyed in the home, but participated in by the entire household. Politically Mr. Wickes affili- ates with the Republican party, while strongly sympathizing with the cause of Prohibition.

G EORGE J. WICKHAM, one of the earliest of the adventurous settlers who blazed the road into the treasure beds of Montana, is now a resident of Madison county, near Waterloo. He was born January 1, 1820, at Ithaca, N. Y., the son of David and Louisa (Hilliard) Wickham. The father was a farmer near Ithaca and in the family were three sons and three daughters. In 1840 David Wickham removed to Crawford county, Ohio, where he was a farmer until his death. In 1853 George J. Wickham removed from Ohio to Minnesota where he also en- gaged in farming until 1862. when he joined an ex- pedition bound for Montana, then a primeval wil- derness, the home of the buffalo, elk and Rocky Mountain sheep and the hunting and battle ground

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of the painted Indians. The company came by ox and mule train, taking the northern route under the guidance of Capt. Fisk, an old plainsman who es- corted many trains through from the eastern states, and gained great celebrity as an overland pilot. Capt. Fisk formed his expedition on military principles, appointing guards and pickets, and brought the party to quite strict discipline. On several occa- sions the Indians advanced upon them with hostile demonstrations, but never attacked them. On Sep- tember 10, 1862, the party arrived at Montana City. Soon after this Mr. Wickham removed to Bannack. Here he had an episode decidedly unique and excit- ing. Those who are at all familiar with Montana have read of the dreadful "road agents," at times more dangerous to life and property than were the Indians. Mr. Wickham had not been there a week when he discovered that the cabin next to his was inhabited by the notorious "Plummer gang," as

bold, reckless and treacherous a band of stage rob- bers and murderers as ever infested the west. Eventually most of them fell into the hands of the "vigilantes," and formed principal characters in "neck-tie" parties, but at this time this gang was in the full tower of its deviltry. It was by no means a pleasant surprise when Mr. Wickham fully real- ized the character of his neighbors. There were then nine in the party. Fortunately for Mr. Wick- ham the gang appeared to take his immediate prox- imity in a jocular spirit. At first they promptly re- lieved him of his money, but this they gave back with the quiet remark that it would be to his interest to say nothing about their location. Knowing that it would be certain death to disobey this command Mr. Wickham wisely remained silent. The prin- cipal and most lucrative business of this band was holding up stage coaches, at which they were ex- perts. So long as they remained in that vicinity they had things their own way. At last George Ives, a principal member, was captured and hanged, and the others scattered to different places. Mr. Wick- ham remained here until June, 1863, when he joined the great stampede of gold hunters to Virginia City and until fall was engaged in prospecting with in- different success. He then returned to Bannack, where he was thrown from a horse and broke one of his legs and sustained other injuries. By this accident he was laid up six months. Then in the fall of 1864 he joined the Silver Bow, Blackfoot and German gulch stampedes. For six months in the summer of 1865 he was collector of tolls on Par- son's toll road. Mr. Wickham passed the winter of

1865-6 in Salt Lake City, where he purchased cat- tle and brought them to Waterloo in June, 1866. He then took up a large tract of government land on which he made his home and has continued to occupy in cattleraising, to which industry he has recently added general farming. In October, 1866, Mr. Wickham was united in marriage to Miss Char- lotta Flannigan, a native of Iowa. They have four children, George J., William H., Mary M., all now residents of Stevensville, and Byron O. Mr. Wick- ham is a veteran "old-timer," a pioneer of pioneers, for he has witnessed the admittance of two states, Minnesota and Montana, into the Union. There are few now living who have experienced a more eventful and exciting career than he, but the early days of danger and hardships have gone into the shadows of the past, and he can now sit in the sun- light of prosperity in the full content of a life work satisfactorilly accomplished.

G EORGE E. WIEGAND, one of the successful farmers and stockgrowers of Sun River dis- trict, Cascade county, is another of the sturdy sons of the Fatherland who have cast their lot with the American republic and honored with their worthy efforts. He was born in Prussia, Germany, on June 6, 1841, the son of John G. and Caroline Wiegand, natives of Prussia, where the father followed the trade of shoemaking until his death in 1861 ; his wife preceded him into eternal rest in 1854. They were members of the German Evangelical church, and folk of sterling character. They became the parents of seven children, of whom Augusta, John, Eliza and another are deceased, while those who survive are George W., Henry and Mary.

George W. Wiegand attended the excellent public schools of his native land until attaining the age of fourteen years, when he began learning the trade of a butcher, and devoted his attention thereto until he was eighteen, when he severed the ties of the Fatherland and emigrated to the United States, lo- cated in the city of New York and engaged in the manufacture of cigars and the sale of other lines of tobacco with good success. In the year 1870 he came to Montana and established a brewery at .Sun River, which he conducted four years, when he determined to turn his attention to farming and stockraising. With this end in view he took up in this vicinity homestead, pre-emption and desert claims to the amount of 480 acres, and has devoted

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his attention to raising livestock and farming. He has been careful in his methods, has used much dis- crimination in the selection of his stock and the suc- cess has been gratifying and cumulative.

In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republi- can party ; in religion he clings to the faith of his fathers, being a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran denomination. On September 17, 1867, Mr. Wiegand was united in marriage to Miss Car- oline Hartcorn, who was born in the Rhine district of Bavaria, Germany, as were also her parents, Mi- chael and Elizabeth Hartcorn, of whose four chil- dren only Mrs. Wiegand and her sister Elizabeth are now living, the two brothers, John and Simon, being deceased. The father, who was a cooper by occupation, died in 1847 and the mother in 1881. All of the family became members of the Catholic church, of which Mr. Wiegand's children are also members. Of the nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Wiegand, Henry W. and Caroline are deceased; while the seven surviving are as follows: John, Julia, Fannie, Wilhelmina, Clara, Cornelia and Te- resa. The family have a pleasant home and are highly regarded in the community.

AMES M. WIGHT .- The descendant of a race of pioneers and himself a pioneer, James M. Wight has experienced all the phases of life and has exhibited all the salient characteristics of an early settler in a new country, and has contributed his due share to its growth and development. He was born in Hancock county, Ind., April 12, 1840, the son of Theodore and Elizabeth (Osborn) Wight, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. The paternal ancestors were originally from Scotland and settled in the United States in early times. They took a prominent part in the war of 1812, and the family has ever been connected in a leading way with the stirring events of American history. In 1831 the grandfather of Mr. Wight removed from Kentucky to Indiana, where he was a pioneer, and in 1842 removed to Illinois, at that time on the western frontier. In 1864 he made another move into the wilderness, settling in Mad- ison county, Iowa, where he passed the rest of his life engaged in farming and where he died.

In 1855 Mr. Wight's father removed to Iowa and took up a homestead on which he engaged in farm- ing, and after a career of usefulness and credit died. There was a family of seven children, only

two of whom were living at the time of his demise. Mr. Wight passed his boyhood days in Illinois and Iowa, remaining at home with his parents until 1860. He then engaged in farming and freighting on his own account, continuing in that neighbor- hood until 1865, after which he removed to Madi- son county, Iowa, and remained until 1884. He was married August 13, 1863, to Miss Mary Ettien, a native of Dauphin county, Pa., a daughter of John Ettien, of Lancaster, Pa., whose ancestors came from France. Mr. Ettien left a fam- ily of nine children, all of whom are enjoying excel- lent health. In 1884 Mr. Wight came to Montana and settled in Fergus county, where he remained until 1898, engaged in farming and stockraising. In 1898 he sold his property and bought his present ranch, located five miles northeast of Gebo. It is all irrigated and under cultivation, yielding good crops of wheat, oats and corn. He has a good herd of shorthorn cattle and a large number of Poland China hogs. Elbow creek runs through his plac ... giving him a sufficient supply of water. The place is well sheltered from storms and is improved with substantial modern buildings and well made fences. Mr. Wight has taken a deep interest in local affairs. He has been a school director for many years and has given his best mental powers and much of his time to educational matters in the county. He is a progressive, wide awake citizen, whose influence has been potential for good in the community where he lives, and is well esteemed by all classes of its citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Wight are the parents of thirteen children, all living: Harry, Fred, Ralph, Philip, Edd, Margaret, Dick, Burt, Elizabeth, Dicie, Jennie, Judith and William.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 59

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