Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 90

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 90

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

garded as one of the valuable ranch properties of this section of the state. Here Mr. Auchard has been very successful in raising live stock, in which he has operated upon an extensive scale, and in the matter of raising grain and other farm produce his success has been gratifying. He has had on, his ranch as high as 1,000 head of horses and 300 of cattle, and in both these lines has shown excel- lent judgment and discrimination in handling the stock. He began with nothing in the way of financial reinforcement when he came to Mon- tana, and on this score he felicitates himself the more on the success which has attended his efforts. In his political opinions Mr. Auchard maintains an independent attitude, voting for men and meas- ures rather than clinging to strict party lines. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and is also a member of the adjunct organization, the Order of the Eastern Star.

In the year 1857 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Auchard to Miss Catherine A. Lamb, who was born in the state of New York, the daughter of Peter and Tamar Lamb, natives of Vermont, the former of whom was a farmer by vocation, his death occurring in 1870, while that of his wife oc- curred in 1866. Mrs. Auchard died in March, 1866, leaving three children-Ida A., Emma and Williard J., and on the 26th of October, 1871, Mr. Auchard consummated a second marriage, being then united to Mrs. Helen Nellis, widow of Edgar Nellis. By her first marriage Mrs. Auchard be- came the mother of three children-Mina A., Ad- die M. and Janes J. Nellis. Mrs. Auchard was born at North Bay, N. Y., on the 22d of Septem- ber, 1836, being the daughter of Jonathan and Ef- fie Janes, both of whom passed away in the year 1880, the father having been a farmer by occupa- tion and both having been born in the Empire state. Mr. and Mrs. Auchard have one child, Rita H.

JAMES W. AUSTIN .- The tales of the early days in Montana read like a romance to those who have never encountered similar experiences. But it was far from romance to the sturdy pioneers in their search for the precious metal or in their at- tempts to utilize the range for the raising of live- stock. That reward was not denied to all is evi- denced by the life and record of James W. Austin, one of the representative farmers and stockgrowers of Cascade county, his well improved and ably con-

1459

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

ducted ranch being located six miles south of the village of Cascade, in Chestnut valley. James W. Austin was born at Palmyra, Wayne county, N. Y., October 18, 1839, the son of Thomas and Julia Austin, the former born in England and the latter in the state of New York. The father was for many years engaged in the butchering business, operating markets in the various places where he lived, but he is now retired, and in his venerable age is making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Hays, of Great Falls. He is a member of the church of England; in politics has ever given a stalwart support to the Democratic party. The mother, whose demise occurred in 1845, was a mem- ber of the Methodist church.

Our subject was educated in the public schools of the Empire state, whence he accompanied his father in 1852 on his removal to Indiana. In 1859 he crossed the plains to Pike's Peak, and there engaged in herding stage mules and in mining up to 1863. About this time occurred the memorable stampede to the Bannack mines, and Mr. Austin joined the rush, being in the party with Sidney Edgerton and Col. W. F. Sanders, the former of whom was appointed by President Lincoln the first territorial governor of Montana, while Col. Sanders became one of the most notable figures in the history of the territory and state. In 1864 Mr. Austin went to Last Chance gulch, where he found the nucleus of the present city in fourteen log cabins, and en- gaged in mining, taking up a placer claim two hundred feet in length. He there continued opera- tions until 1870, when he located on his present ranch opposite the Missouri river from Hardy, Cas- cade county, taking up a pre-emption and a home- stead claim of 160 acres each, located in Chestnut valley. Here he has been successful in farming and stockraising, and is held in the highest esteem as one of the pioneers of Montana and a man true in all the relations of life.

In the year 1870 was consummated the marriage of Mr. Austin and Miss Emma Jacobs, who was born in Utah. They became the parents of six children, of whom two are deceased : Thomas and Ernest. Those living are George M., James W., Julia V. and William S. Mrs. Austin died on April 3, 1884, and on October 19, 1884, Mr. Austin was united in marriage to Miss Buena Vista Warden, who was born in Missouri, who bore him three children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being George C. and Grover Cleveland Austin. In February, 1887,

the mother of these children was summoned into eternal rest, and on the 8th of October, 1890, Mr. Austin consummated a third marriage, being then united to Miss Margaret Washington, who was born in the state of Virginia. They are the parents of four children: Sarah L., Alfred W., Thomas G. and Nettie C. Mr. and Mrs. Austin are mem- bers of the Christian church ; in politics our subject gives his support to the Democratic party.

JOHN S. AXTELL is descended from an old 2 family long resident in New Jersey, where lie was born September 3, 1843, at Morristown, named for the great financier of the Revolution, and where his father was a successful contractor and builder. There were eleven children in the family, John being the sixth. Mr. Axtell had scarcely more than entered the public school at Morristown, when his parents removed in 1849 to Detroit, Mich. Hc attended the schools of that city until he was eighteen years old, and during the second year of the Civil war enlisted in a company of Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, under command of Col. Gray. He entered the service July 6, 1862, and was mus- tered out just three years later ; returned to Michi- gan and went to work at his trade, bricklaying, which he had learned with his father in the intervals between school sessions before the war, and con- tinued at that occupation at different places until 1874. In that year he came west and located at the Fort Hall Indian reservation, Idaho, where he se- cured employment in the service of the government, having charge of a farm under direction of the Indian agent for a year, the next working for the post trader. In the fall of 1877 he came to Mon- tana, located at Bozeman, served as office man four years with Messrs. Ellis & Davis, general mer- chants, then an equal length of time for Lester S. Wilson, an extensive dealer in dry goods and cloth- ing. After that he was employed by Messrs. Wake- field & Hoffman in the Yellowstone National Park, they having a contract with the National Park Transportation Company, with head office at Mam- moth Springs; remained with them three years and came to Timberline, Gallatin county, where he entered the employ of C. W. Hoffman & Co., taking charge of their general store until 1889. The next year lie removed to Granite and took charge of the office of Frank Durand, wood and timber contractor for the Gran-

1460

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

ite & Bi-Metallic Mining & Milling Company. He remained with this company until he was elected public administrator for Granite county in June, 1896, being at the time located at Philipsburg, whither he had removed from Granite in 1892. Since his election he has done considerable work for various firms as an expert accountant.

In politics Mr. Axtell is an ardent Republican, always making himself useful to his party and con- tributing valuable service toward its success. Fra- ternally he is allied with the Masons through blue lodge, chapter and commandery, and the female adjunct, the Order of the Eastern Star. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and William English Post, G. A. R. He was mar- ried at Rockford, Mich., November 17, 1873, to Miss Lela Z. Corbus. They have one daughter, Winifred Reeve, now the wife of Mr. W. G. Mosteller, of Los Angeles, Cal., where she now resides.

S O. BACKUES .- Another of the young and progressive men of Montana is Mr. Backues, who owns a fine ranch property near the village of Malta, Valley county, and is prominent in the mer- cantile life of the town, being interested in a suc- cessful hardware and furniture business.

Mr. Backues is familiar with the life of the plains, having grown up under the influences of the great west and southwest, born a native of Llano county, Texas, April 27, 1872. His father, Sanford Backues, was likewise born in Texas, there passed his entire life, and was a fine repre- sentative of one of the pioneer families of the Lone Star state. He was a rancher and stockgrower by occupation, and a successful and influential gentle- man. His death occurred February 13, 1875. His wife, whose maiden name was Alcimeda Beaver, was likewise born in Texas, and her death occurred June 14, 1891.

S. O. Backues, the subject of this review, re- ceived his early education in the public schools of his native state, supplemented by a course of study in St. Edward's College, at Austin, Tex. Leaving school at the age of sixteen he associated himself with his brother J. W. in the cattle business, utiliz- ing the open range in Llano county, and thus con- tinuing operations for a period of four years. In February, 1892, Mr. Backues came to Billings, Mont., and was thereafter engaged in riding the range in that section for two summers. In March,

1894, he came to Malta, Valley county, and there- after was riding the range for three years as an em- ploye of the Bloom Cattle Company. In the fall of 1897 Mr. Backues engaged in the cattle busi- ness on his own responsibility, taking up a squat- ter's claim on the Missouri river, at the mouth of the Musselshell, where he did a successful business until 1899, when he sold his interests in the ranch and cattle to Coburn Brothers. In the fall of the same year he took a homestead claim one-half mile south of the town of Malta, where he has continued the enterprise, gradually expanding his operations as expediency justified. February 14, 1900, Mr. Backues entered into a partnership as- sociation with L. M. Guthrie, and established a fur- niture and hardware business in Malta under the firm name of the S. O. Backues Mercantile Com- pany. They have secured an excellent patronage from the territory naturally tributary to this thriv- ing town. In politics our subject is a stalwart Democrat ; fraternally he holds membership in North Star Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M., at Glas- gow, Montana.

At Austin, Tex., September 22, 1897, Mr. Back- ues was united in marriage to Miss Dell L. Hardin, who was born in Burnet county, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Butler Hardin. Mr. and Mrs. Backues have two children-Geneva May and Kitty.

CF 'HARLES N. BAIN is a native of Iowa, born near Brighton, Jefferson county, No- vember 5, 1870, a son of Monroe Z. and Annie Jane (Nelson) Bain, the former a native of Charles- ton, S. C., and the latter of Iowa, her death oc- curring at the old homestead in Jefferson county in 1880. The father of our subject accompanied his parents on their migration to Iowa, being a mere boy. at the time, and the family was numbered among the pioneer settlers. They located in Hen- ry county, and later removed to the county of Jef- ferson, where he has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits, being one of the honored and prosperous farmers of that section.

Charles N. Bain, subject of this sketch, attended the district schools in the vicinity of his old home in Iowa until he reached the age of fourteen years. In 1884 he came to Stanford, Fergus county, Mont., and there he obtained employment on the ranch of his brother Frank, a specific mention be- ing made of his brother on other pages of this

1461

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

work. In the fall of 1888 he engaged in the sheep and horse business, locating a ranch on Wolf creek, in the Judith basin, Fergus county. From 1889 until 1892 he did a large and successful business in the breeding of horses and sheep, and from 1895 until 1898 he was engaged in shipping stock from Montana to Montgomery, Kane county, Ill., where he winter-fed the same for the eastern and Chicago markets. He was one of the heaviest shippers and buyers of feeding sheep at the great stock yards of Chicago, located on the C., B. & Q. Rail- road during 1897. In 1898 Mr. Bain came to Val- ley county and located on a ranch of 320 acres, on the Fort Buford military reservation, took up a homestead claim of 160 acres adjoining the town of Culbertson, and a desert claim one and one-half miles east of the town. His ranch property is en- tirely devoted to the raising of cattle and horses. He was quite extensively engaged in the sheep business from 1898 until 1901, but in June of the latter year disposed of his stock in this line to the Minnesota & Montana Cattle Company. He has made good improvements on his ranches, is ever alert to expand and improve his enterprises, and is one of the popular young men of this section of the state.

Mr. Bain takes a very active interest in political affairs, and is one of the wheelhorses of the Re- publican party in this section of the state, having been one of the zealous workers who brought Val- ley county into line in support of the Republican ticket in the election of November, 1900. Frater- nally he is a member of Argus Lodge No. 514, I. O. O. F., at Montgomery, Ill., having become a member of the same in the year 1893.

C HARLES M. BAIR .- This successful and en- terprising ranchman of Yellowstone county is a descendant of two of those old Pennsylvania Dutch families who have given so steady and thrifty a trend to the development and rural life of the Key- stone state. He is a native of Paris, Stark county, Ohio, where he was born June 18, 1857, the son of William and Mary Ann (Unkifer) Bair, also born in Stark county, Ohio, where they were profitably engaged in farming, and where they both died, the former in 1875 and the latter in 1892.

Charles M. Bair attended the schools of his na- tive town until he was fifteen years old. In 1877 he migrated to Jackson county, Mich., where he

worked on a farm for two years. In 1879 he en- tered upon his career in the railroad service; and beginning as a brakeman on the Michigan Central, he soon rose to the position of conductor and re- mained in the service of that road until 1883. He then came to Billings, and during the next eight years was conductor on the Northern Pacific, run- ning between that city and Helena. In 1890 he went into the sheep business on the Musselshell, buying a ranch of 8,000 acres near Lavina, fifty miles northwest of Billings. This he sold in 1893, and since that time has handled his sheep on the ranges surrounding Yellowstone valley, averaging from 10,000 to 40,000 head. In 1894 he bought some ranches west of Billings, aggregating 500 acres, which he devoted to hay and grain for his stock, but which he sold in 1898.

In politics Mr. Bair is a Republican, and takes a prominent part in local public affairs. Frater- nally he is identified with the Masonic order in its various branches up to and including the Mystic Shrine, and also the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was married in Chicago December 25, 1886, to Miss Mary Jacobs, a native of St. Johns, Mich., where she was born July 12, 1861. They have two children: Alberta Monroe, aged six, and Margaretta Estella, aged twelve.

J G. BAIR, the leading attorney of Choteau, Teton county, has attained an enviable position in the legal circles, not only of his home city but of Montana. Coming to the commonwealth about the time the territory became a state, he has proved an important factor in the wonderful development of its resources and has formed many appreciative friends. A native of Berkeley county, W. Va., he was born on December 4, 1860, the son of William and Eleanor (Griffith) Bair. The father was born in 1831 in Perry county, Pa., removing when a young man to Virginia and thence to Lawrence county, Ind., where he died in 1881. His wife, the mother of Mr. Blair, was born near Winchester, Va., in 1834, and is now living at Bedford, Ind., at the age of sixty-six years. J. G. Bair was finely educated in the public schools of Gerrards- town, Va., and Lawrence county, Ind., the Male and Female College of Bedford, Ind., and the Southern Indiana Normal College, of Mitchell, Ind. Follow- ing his career at the latter institution Mr. Bair studied law in the office of Newton Crook, of Bed-

1.462

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

ford, and was admitted to the bar of Indiana in that city in 1886, with a good standing.

In the fall of 1889 Mr. Bair came to Great Falls, Mont., and the next summer was city editor of the Great Falls Leader, filling this responsible po- sition efficiently. He then removed to Choteau, where he became principal of the city schools, con- tinuing in this office three years. Upon the crea- tion of Teton county he was appointed county su- perintendent of schools, a position he filled very satisfactorily for two years and during that time and since he has been successfully engaged in the practice of law.

The identification of Mr. Blair with fraternal orders has been prominent. He was a member of Bedford Lodge No. 14, A. F. & A. M., of Bedford, Ind., where he was made a Mason when twenty-one years of age, dimitting there to become a charter member of Choteau Lodge No. 44, in 1892. He belongs to Royal Arch Chapter No. 28, Black Eagle commandery of Great Falls, to Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Helena, to Fidelity Chapter No. 18, Order of the Eastern Star of Choteau, also to the Choteau lodge of Odd Fellows, and to the Rebekahs. He is a member of Cottonwood Lodge No. 210, W. W., Choteau, and of Tunnelton Lodge No. 168, K. of P., of Tunnelton, Ind. On Septem- ber 1, 1886, Mr. Blair was married to Miss Mary B. Ramsey, born near Bedford, Ind., in 1865, the ceremony having been performed at Heltonville, that state. They have no children.

F RANK BAIN is one of the enterprising and successful merchants at Culbertson, Valley county, who came to Montana when a lad of twelve years and has been well identified with the various lines of industrial activity typical of this section. He is the architect of his own fortunes, and assumed individual responsibilities when a mere boy, hence he is deserving of much credit for the good showing he has made as a man of integrity and industry, and an outline of his life history will be perused with interest by his many friends in Montana, where he has passed the greater portion of his life.

Mr. Bain was born at Mount Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa, October 21, 1860, being the son of Monroe Z. Bain, who was born near the city of Charleston, S. C., whence he accompanied his parents on their migration to Iowa, where they were pioneer settlers. They settled first in Henry

county, the father of our subject afterward re- moving to Jefferson county, where he has since devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits with much success. His wife, whose maiden name was Annie Jane Nelson, was born in Iowa, but she died at the homestead farm in Jefferson county in 1880.

Frank Bain, the immediate subject of this review, attended the district schools in Jefferson county, Iowa, until he had attained the age of twelve years. In 1872 he accompanied his uncle, John Nelson, to the Gallatin valley, Mont., where for six years he did a man's work on various ranches and received a man's pay. He was for four years in the employ of Henry H. Heeb, on the West Gallatin, and for the following two years in the employ of Harvey Wells, on Reese creek. He worked on the cattle ranches of John Nye and Charles Aukney, and in the summer of 1876 he was night herder for Single- ton Buford, at Fort Carroll. In the fall of 1878 Mr. Bain went into the cattle business on Flat creek, Lewis and Clarke county, in the valley of the Dear- born river, where he remained until the fall of 1879, when he located on Shonkin creek, in the Highwood district of Choteau county, near Fort Benton. He continued in the cattle business until 1883, went to Judith basin, Fergus county, and the following year sold his cattle to the Oxley Cattle Company, and thereafter devoted his attention to the raising of sheep and horses. In 1891 he sold his ranch and stock, and in 1892 moved to Neche, Pembina county, N. D., and engaged in the general merchan- dise business for three years, the five years follow- ing conducting a similar enterprise at Mentor, · Minn. In June, 1901, Mr. Bain returned to Mon- tana and established his present mercantile enter- prise at Culbertson, Valley county. He carries a large and select general stock, especially adapted to the wants of his numerous customers. In politics his support is given to the Republican party. Mr. Bain is a man of genial nature and has the faculty of gaining steadfast friends. He is a distinctive acquisition to the business circle and a recognized factor in the progress of the town where he has taken up his residence.

B ANNATYNE BROTHERS. - With 4,820 acres of their own and 640 acres of state and school lands which they have leased, making a ranch extending eight miles along the Teton river and covering several miles of valley and bench in

1463

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

breadth, on which they are regularly raising and feeding flocks numbering 16,000 sheep of superior breeds, this firm, consisting of Charles and Neil Bannatyne, is among the largest ranch owners and sheepraisers outside of the incorporated com- panies in the state of Montana. The brothers are natives of Arran, Buteshire, Scotland, and de- scendants of families long established on Scottish soil. Charles was born on October 6, 1857, and Neil on December 25, 1862. Their father, Alex- ander Bannatyne, was born in 1812 and died in 1873. Their mother, Elizabeth (Robertson) Ban- natyne, was born in 1818 and is still living at the old home. The boys were educated in Arran and each came to the United States when he was twen- ty-two years old, Charles in 1879 and Neil in 1884. Charles came to Montana by way of Fort Benton and first located at Sun river, where he worked for two years in the timber districts. In the spring of 1883 he took a drove of cattle to Teton valley, and the next year, being joined by his brother Neil, they formed a partnership in the cattle business which continued two years.

In 1888 the brothers took up homestead, desert and pre-emption claims, and have since added largely to these by purchase, having now the con- trol of 5,460 acres of land. For the last twelve years they have been extensively engaged in sheep- raising, producing only high-grade animals and exercising every method to maintain the highest standard. They have usually from 15,000 to 20,- 000 sheep on their ranch, enough of this being un- der good cultivation to produce the necessary feed, and which is well supplied with water from four reservoirs, each covering forty acres and located near their different sheds. They also raise small droves of horses and cattle. All the products of their ranch have a high rank in the markets and their operations are yielding them an annual in- come of pleasing proportions. The brothers are both unmarried, and are ardent Republicans in politics. Charles has served for a number of years as judge of elections in Perrysburg precinct of Teton county where they live. He belongs to St. Molio's Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Lamlach, Scot- land, of which he was made a life member while on a visit to his old home in 1899. These gentlemen are genial and companionable in social life, accu- rate and upright in business, obedient and defer- ential to the law and its authorities, public-spirited and progressive in matters of public interest and diligent and faithful in the duties of citizenship.

W ALTER S. BARRETT is a prominent Mon- tana pioneer of wide and varied experience and one of the best known men of Augusta, popular with all and highly esteemed as one of strict integ- rity and sound business judgment. He was born in Duchess county, N. Y., on January 14, 1831, the son of James C. and Maria S. Barrett. The father followed teaching during his life and was politically in sympathy with the Democratic party. The par- ents were both members of the Baptist church. The mother died in 1836 and the father in 1891. Walter S. Barrett, at the age of ten years, began to provide for himself and his first employment was at farm work at $4.00 per month. When he was eighteen he went to learn carriagemaking which he worked at for three years and in 1854 went to Il- linois. There he followed his trade, but was soon attacked by the "Kansas fever" and left for the west. He was in Omaha at the time of the "wild- cat bank panic," and during the great Pike's Peak stampede. Mr. Barrett engaged in freighting from Omaha to Denver, and experienced many vicissi- tudes and hardships, hesides troubles with Indians. In the course of a battle with the hostiles, in which he participated, one white man and several Indians were killed. For a time he was employed on the Overland mail route, and this occupation by no means lessened his dangers.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 90

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