Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 92

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 92

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).

1469

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

been successfully engaged in farming; he and his wife being members of the Dunkard church.

Silas A. Beachley obtained a common-school edu- cation in his native state and assisted in the work of the parental homestead until he attained his legal majority; and then, in 1874, began working for wages in the same line of occupation. In the fall of that year he went to Marshall, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming ; afterward he made a trip to Denver, Colo. In that locality he mined with fair success until the spring of 1877, when he came to Montana in company with John Boone, of Mis- souri. He first engaged in mining at Redbluff and was thereafter employed on ranches until the fol- lowing year when he made his way to the Yogo mining district, in the vicinity of Barker, Meagher county, where he was engaged in mining until 1882. Thence he went to Neihart where he re- mained until the spring of 1883 when he located in Great Falls and served as postmaster for two years under the administration of President Harrison. Thereafter he engaged in contracting and building, and also dealt in real estate. In 1897 Mr. Beachley located on his present ranch where, in addition to raising horses and cattle upon quite an extensive scale, he has a portion of his land under cultivation, securing excellent crops of hay.

On national issues he gives support to the Re- publican party, but in local affairs votes for men and measures instead of holding himself closely to strict party lines. On November 4, 1886, Mr. Beachley was united in marriage to Miss Lillia L. Rolfe, who was born in Vermont, the daughter of John and Lucia Rolfe, natives of the same state, where the father devoted his attention to agricul- tural pursuits. Mr. Rolfe was a stanch Republican in politics. His death occurred in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Beachley were the parents of two children : Pearl and Grace. Mrs. Beachley descended from the historic Rolfe family of early Virginia history, and was a niece of Hon. H. P. Rolfe, formerly of Great Falls. Her deathi occurred at Great Falls 011 August 13, 1901.

ALMORE BEAUDRY .- Within the confines of Montana are found many young men who have so taken advantage of the glorious opportuni- ties afforded as to win success. A worthy repre- sentative of this class is Mr. Beaudry, a leading stockgrower of Cascade county, his fine ranch being

located three miles west of Riceville. He was born August 26, 1863, in Montreal, Canada, the son of Alphonse and Exilda Beaudry, both of whom were devout Catholics and of brilliant French ancestry. Alphonse Beaudry was a lifelong farmer and with great ability held the responsible office of conserva- tor for two years. His death occurred in 1890 and his widow resides with her son, Roch, in Montreal.

Valmore Beaudry, at the age of thirteen years. entered L'Assumption College, completed a three years' business course and, in 1879, secured a po- sition in a grocery from which in the spring of 1880 he went to Chicago, where for a year he was a collector. In 1881 he went to Hancock, Colo., where he was timekeeper for the Denver and South Park Railroad until the spring of 1882, when he came to Fort Benton, Mont., and engaged in freighting. In 1855 he took up a homestead claim of 160 acres and a desert claim of equal area, and, after, placing thereon valuable improvements, he sold the homestead in 1894 to the Anaconda Coal Company for $3,500, and in 1895 he sold the desert claim to E. R. Clingan for $1,200. He had, how- ever, invested in other valuable land, and is now the owner of 1,480 acres, of which 300 are available for cultivation. He is diligently improving this property and attending to the raising of cattle, hav- ing on hand at this writing 175 head of finely graded stock.

In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Catholic. Mr. Beaudry is a hard-working man, who have shrewd business methods and plans, and is successfully carrying them out and acquiring wealth. He has the high esteem of a large circle of friends as an energetic and public-spirited citizen and a pleasant associate and neighbor.

L EWIS BECK, one of the successful ranchmen of Cascade county, where he has been engaged in the raising of livestock for the past eighteen years, has won a worthy success through his own efforts. Mr. Beck is a native of the fair northland, having been born in Denmark, on November 16, 1858, the son of Gustave and Mary Beck, both of whom passed their entire lives in their native land. The father was engaged in the mercantile business, and both he and his estimable wife were devoted members of the Lutheran church. The mother of our subject died in 1871, being survived by her husband, who passed to his reward in 1892.

1470

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

Lewis Beck obtained such educational advantages as were afforded in the public schools of his native land, but early became familiar with the practical duties of life. At the age of fourteen years he secured a position in a distillery and wine cellars, being thus occupied until 1879, when he determined to try his fortunes in the new world. He ac- cordingly set sail for New York, and after his arrival in America he made a trip through various eastern states, being variously employed. In 1881 he came to Butte, Mont., where he secured employ- ment at ranch work and was thus engaged until 1883, when he associated himself with Thomas Dailey in the operation of a ranch on equal shares. In the fall of 1889 he formed a partnership with Joseph F. Swarbrick and leased a ranch of 320 acres located in Boulder valley and engaged in raising cattle, starting with twenty head. There they con- tinued operations until 1893, when they located thirty-five miles south of Cascade, where they took up two desert claims and two homestead claims, comprising a total of 1,640 acres. This they sold it the spring of 1901, and by a second purchase the property is now owned by the popular passenger conductor of the Montana Central, F. M. Bingham. The enterprise was conducted in a careful and con- servative way, and the success of the interested principals was assured. Mr. Beck is thoroughly animated with the true American spirit, being ever loyal to his adopted country. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party.

JOHN BECKER .- Mr. Becker is one of the sons of the German empire, and, like others of his countrymen who have come to America and become identified with her industrial life, he has shown himself signally appreciative of republican institutions. He was born in Germany in Novem- ber, 1852, the son of Peter and Katherine (Don- langer) Becker, both of whom were born in Ger- inany. They came to the United States in 1869, locating near Washington, Wis., where the father engaged in farming until his death in 1880. His widow survives him and makes her home with her sons, John and Henry, near Big Sandy, Mont.

John Becker attended the excellent public schools of Germany until he came to America. Here, until 1882, his home was in the vicinity of Milwaukee, he making, however, occasional trips into other parts of the Union. He came to Mon-

tana in 1882 locating at Barker, Meagher county, where he was employed in the smelter for two years. Thence he went to Helena, and for the next two summers was employed in the construction of the Great Northern Railroad. In 1887 he helped to construct county roads in the vicinity of White Sulphur Springs, proving himself ambitious and energetic and ever looking forward to the establishment of himself in an independent posi- tion in the state of his adoption.

In 1888 Mr. Becker came to Choteau county and made entry on homestead and desert claims on Big Sandy flat, where he now has a fine ranch of 320 acres, the most of which is available for cul- tivation. Here he has since been successfully en- gaged in ranching and cattleraising. His ranch is located two miles south of the village of Big Sandy, which is his postoffice address. Mr. Becker has never married and makes his home with his brother Henry, who operates an adjoining ranch. In politics Mr. Becker is a supporter of the Republican party.

VAVIER BELLEADUX, recognized as one of the leading business men of Browning, Teton county, combines in his western experience and natural executive ability the elements that have. made his success possible. Though Mr. Belleadux has scarcely reached the prime of life, he might be termed a "young pioneer" of Montana, having come to the territory while a mere child and at an early day in its history. He was born in the territory of Dakota, at Yankton, on January 18, 1859. Here his father, Mitchell Belleadux, carried on both farming and freighting for twenty-five years. He was born at St. Charles, Mo., in 1836, and passed his last years at Fort Benton, Mont., and where he died in 1888. His wife, Cecil (Armeal) Bellea- dux, was born at Fort Benton in 1841, and now resides at Browning with her son, Xavier. The school life of our subject was comprised in eighteen months attendance at the frontier post of Fort Ben- ton, but by industry and application he has largely supplied this deficiency in his education, and is to- day remarkably well informed and of more than common intelligence. From eleven years of age he worked at various employments in Fort Benton and its immediate vicinity and also traded with the Indians.

In those days one of the most lucrative enter-

1471

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

prises was freighting, and from 1876 until 1885 Mr. · Virginia City, Mont., arriving there in June, 1866, Belleadux folowed this business in company with his father, and three years subsequently for him- self. During the succeeding six years he was em- ployed as a range rider and thus acquired a fa- miliarity with the cattle business that later proved very valuable to him. In 1891 Mr. Belleadux went to the Blackfoot reservation, Teton county, where, having carefully examined future possibilities, he secured in 1892, a squatter's right to 160 acres of land on the Milk river, which he improved and afterwards sold at a good profit. Between 1898 and 1901 Mr. Belleadux took up two 160-acre Indian allotment claims lying near the north fork of the Milk river, and this land he has since profitably devoted to stock growing. In addition to this lu- crative business he, in 1898. opened a livery stable in Browning, which he still conducts. At Fort Benton, in 1886, Mr. Belleadux was married to Miss Celena Durham, and their children are: Willie, Charlie, Warren, Greeley, Mabel and Celena.

W ILLIAM BENT .- The experiences of this well known pioneer of Montana have been varied and interesting in character, and few are there who were more intimately identified with the adventurous and exciting incidents which marked life on the frontier. In a work of this nature it is certainly incumbent that we make definite refer- ence to the life history of Mr. Bent, who is now one of the successful farmers and stockgrowers of Choteau county, his postoffice address being Har- lem. Mr. Bent was born on May II, 1846, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of William Bent, Sr., who was born in 1804 in North Carolina, and about 1842 came to the west. He was for many years a trader with the Indians and white trappers in the Arkan- sas valley and the southwest, and was the intimate friend and frequent companion of Gen. Fremont and Kit Carson. He died in 1869.

William Bent., Jr., received his education in a private school at St. Louis, and when Civil war be- came inevitable, his sympathies were with the south. In the spring of 1863 he enlisted in the Second Arkansas Battalion of Mounted Infantry, Confed- erate, with which he served two years, under Gens. Wheeler and Longstreet when they were opposing Gen. Sherman. Mr. Bent was wounded at the bat- tle of Chickamauga in 1864, and incapacitated for service for some time. After the war he came to

and there joining the volunteer Montana militia, with which he proceeded to Last Chance gulch, and after the militia was disbanded, to Fort Ben- ton. In 1867 he assisted in erecting Fort Brown- ing, and during 1869 he served as Indian inter- preter for the United States government and the trader James Stuart. In 1870 Mr. Bent was em- ployed at a trading post at Medicine Lodge, on the big bend of the Milk river, and the winter of 1871 he devoted to hunting buffalo and trapping on streams south of the Little Rocky and Bear Paw mountains. In 1873 he went to old Fort Belknap, where he was employed in the Indian service by the government as an interpreter until 1890, under the successive Indian agents, Reid, Clark, Capt. Buck, Fenton, Capt. Williams, Lincoln, Fields, Si- mons and Lieut. Macanny. For the succeeding three years he was similarly engaged at the new Belknap agency. He was next the government farmer at this agency for one year and thereafter was gov- ernment butcher there for two years. He then gave his attention to ranching and stockraising near Savoy, and in the fall of 1896 located on his present ranch at the mouth of Snake creek and about five miles southwest of Harlem, Choteau county, which village is his postoffice address. Here he has a well improved and valuable ranch of 400 acres and is successfully devoting his at- tention to cattle and horses and the production of hay, of which he secures large annual yields. Mr. Bent gives allegiance to the Republican party, and has ever been active in its ranks. In 1873, at the Fort Belknap agency, Mr. Bent was married to a woman of the Assinniboine tribe, and they have eight children, George, Louis, Mary, Lucy, Nellie, Emma, Ida and Florence, and all are at the paren- tal home.

When Gen. Miles was in pursuit of the Nez Perces from the southeast side of the Bear Paw mountains, Mr. Bent led the Assinniboine Indians against the Nez Perces from the north side of the Bear Paw mountains and along the south side of Milk river, thus detaining the Nez Perces long enough for Gen. Miles to catch up with them and bring on the battle of the Bear Paw on Snake creek, Mr. Bent with the Assinniboine Indians get- ting between the Nez Perces and Sitting Bull and the Sioux, who were then north of the Canadian line, causing Chief Joseph to surrender to Gen. Miles. In honor of the service Fort Assinniboine was given its name. Mr. Bent was interpreter for

1472

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

the commission that treated with the Indians for ferred on him the honorary degree of A. M. His the relinquishment of this great Milk river region, education was largely the result of his own exer- tions, as he paid his entire expenses at college by his earnings at teaching stenography, work- ing at the printer's trade and other useful occu- pations. His scholastic, critical and logical turn of mind peculiarly fitted him for educational and newspaper work, and it is not strange that in 1885 we should find him the principal of the Eden, S. D., public schools, and in 1886 one of the founders of the local paper, the Eden Echo. From the first issue until 1889 he occupied the editorial chair and was recognized as a skillful edi- tor and an attractive and convincing writer. Hav- ing devoted himself to the study of law he was admitted to practice at a session of the district court held at Canton, S. D., in 1887. all its mountains and valleys, the Indians only re- taining a small reserve in the center of their origi- nal domain. To secure this concession he labored hard and his great influence with the Indians was perhaps the deciding factor in gaining this bene- ficial result. Mr. Bent was also interpreter for ob- taining from the Indians the right-of-way for the building of the Manitoba, now Great Northern Railroad, through the Milk river valley, Mr. Bent, with Maj. W. L. Lincoln, then the United States Indian agent, working hard for the opening to settlement of this immense tract that was truly an Indian paradise of hunting ground. Here again the personal factor of Mr. Bent's influence had much to do with the result obtained. These and many other interesting incidents important to the history of this part of northern Montana, as yet unrecorded, but which can be narrated and vouched for, show the Assinniboines' trust in Mr. Bent and the beneficial work he has accomplished.

E DGAR GUILFORD WORDEN, Esq., was born on Kelley's Island, Ohio, May 5, 1860, the son of Oliver D. and Mary F. (Remington) Worden. On both paternal and maternal sides he descends from old and honored New England fam- ilies, his earliest American ancestors, Peter Wor- den, the emigrant, landing at Plymouth, Mass., from one of the first of the pilgrim vessels, the ship Ann, in 1623. His mother descends from early Massachusetts colony people. Oliver D. Worden was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., but passed the most of his life in Ohio, dying in 1880 at sixty years of age. His wife survived him, dying in 1897, aged seventy-six. They were people of in- , telligence, well read and highly cultured, and in all the relations of life they acted well and truly their parts. Their memory survives as a fragrant essence in the hearts of children and friends.

From early childhood Edgar G. Worden was a lover of books and a close student. At ten years of age he accompanied his mother to Iowa, attended the public schools and became a printer. He was prepared for college at Keosauqua, and entered Iowa College, at Grinnell, the oldest Con- gregational school of the state. From this noted institution he graduated in 1885 with the degree of Ph. B., and in 1893 his "alma mater" con-

His connection with Montana began almost im- mediately after the transfer of his editorial duties to other hands, for in May, 1889, he came to Helena. About one month after his arrival he received a clerkship in the United States land of- fice at that place, and a year later entered the office of Hon. A. C. Botkin and engaged in the practice of law. From that time he continuously pursued his profession at Helena until 1892, when he removed to the new county of Fergus, and located his residence at Lewistown, the county seat. His business increased rapidly, and in Feb- ruary, 1894, the law firm of Cort & Worden was established. These gentlemen own one of . the fine blocks of the young city and have capacious offices therein. Previous to 1896 Mr. Worden acted and voted with the Republican party, but from that date has affiliated with the Democrats on the silver issue. Fraternally Mr. Worden is associated with the Knights of Pythias, the Wood- men of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. At the present writing (1901) he holds the position of grand guide of the grand lodge of Montana in the last named organization.

On September 8, 1887, at Canton, S. D., oc- curred the marriage of Mr. Worden and Miss Kate Rogers, daughter of Willett E. and Eleu- theria (Wright) Rogers. Mrs. Worden was born in Whitehall, N. Y., and received her education at the excellent schools of Essex county, N. Y., and the high school at Plattsburg, N. Y., and later was graduated in the Chautauqua circle of the Chautauqua Summer School, for which she qualified while teaching. Mrs. Worden descends from the distinguished Connecticut family of

Edgar &Worden

1473

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

Rogers, who in early Colonial days made their home at Bradford, in that state. She and her hus- band have congenial tastes, and both are lovers of good books and judges of literary merit. Their library is well chosen and an extensive one.

L EGRE EREAUX .- Of sterling French lineage is this well known and honored pioneer citizen of Choteau county, and he has been identified with Montana from the early pioneer epoch until the present time, when the opening years of the twen- tieth century finds Montana crowned· with state- hood and giving evidences of prosperity, advance- ment and prestige in all lines of industrial activi- ties. Mr. Ereaux was born near the city of Mon- treal, Canada, in the year 1840, the son of Michel Ereaux, likewise born in the Dominion of Canada, where he devoted his life to agricultural pursuits until his death in 1880. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret LaVarr, passed the greater por- tion of her life in Canada, but died in Minnesota in 1850. The subject of this review attended school in his native province until he attained the age of eleven years, and in the early 'fifties went to Little Falls, Minn., where he gave his attention to farm work until 1863, in the fall of which year he set forth on the long journey across the plains. He passed a year in the various mining camps in this section, such as Bannack, Virginia City and Stinking Water. In 1864 he located upon a hay ranch in the valley of the Big Hole river. In the following year he built a toll bridge across the river, on the road between Virginia City and Deer Lodge, and in 1866 he sold both the ranch and the bridge. He was thereafter engaged for a year in freighting between Fort Benton and Helena, in 1867 he located on Sun river, across which, in 1868, he built what was known as the Middle bridge; in 1870 he re- moved to Augusta, likewise in Lewis and Clarkc county, taking up homestead, pre-emption and tim- ber claims in that vicinity, where he engaged in farming and stockraising until 1888. In that year Mr. Ereaux went to Cleveland, in the Bear Paw mountains south of Chinook, took up a squatter's claim and engaged in stockraising for two years, then turning the place over to his son-in-law, Albert Schultz. In 1890 he located upon his present ranch, at the mouth of People's creek, Fort Belknap Indian reservation, where he has 1,000 acres of fine land and where he holds precedence as one of the most 93

extensive growers of high-grade cattle and horses in this highly productive section of the state.

In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party. Mr. Ereaux is known and highly esteemed by almost every citizen in northern Montana, and to him is commonly applied the name of "Curly," which was conferred upon him when he was a young man, on account of his having worn his long hair in curls. At Fort Benton, in 1866, Mr. Ereaux was united in marriage to "Medicine Pipe," a woman of the Gros Ventre Indian tribe, now known by the christian name of Mary. Of the six children of this union two are deceased. All re- ceived good educational advantages and are highly esteemed in the communities in which they made their homes. Joseph died in 1887 at the age of eighteen years; Julia is the wife of Albert Schultz, who is now a successful rancher on the Fort Belknap reservation; Rosa is the wife of Benjamin Stevens, also a rancher on the reservation; Louis Ereaux died in his seventh year in 1886; Cecilia, who became the wife of L. Minugh, died in 1900; and Frank.

1 TIMOTHY W. ENRIGHT is one of the ener - getic and successful young stockmen of Valley county. Mr. Enright was born in Wabasha county, Minn., January 22, 1861, a son of Timothy Enright, who was born, reared and educated in County Kerry, Ireland. He left the Emerald Isle in 1853 and migrated to America, locating in Minnesota on the Mississippi river, the locality being subsequently named Enright Grand Encampment in honor of himself and his two brothers, the three having been pioneer farmers there. Timothy Enright, Sr., was a pioneer of Montana, arriving here in 1864, and engaging in freighting between Fort Benton and Butte and Bear gulch. He was accidentally killed on the road between the two latter places in 1870. While accompanying his freighting team of mules on horseback his horse took fright and threw him violently to the ground, inflicting fatal injuries. His wife, Catherine, also born in County Kerry, is now living with her daughter, Mary, in the old home at Kellogg, Minn.

Timothy W. Enright attended school a short time at Indian creek, in Wabasha county, but at the age of fifteen left home and for four years was em- ployed in lumber camps near Eau Claire, Wis. He engaged in the liquor business in Wisconsin from

1474

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

1884 until 1889, when he came to Montana, and, after one year at Great Falls, in 1891, located at Glasgow, Valley county, where the next year he filed on a claim on Porcupine creek, eighteen miles east of Glasgow, has developed a valuable property and is devoting his attention to the raising of horses and cattle under most favorable conditions. In politics he is known as an active Republican and an efficient campaign worker. Fraternally he is identified with Northern Light Lodge No. 33, K. of P., at Glasgow, and enjoys personal popularity. T. W. Enright was married to Miss S. Jennie Nagle, July 18, 1892, at the cathedral of St. Paul, Minn. She was born July 18, 1866, at Invergrove, Minn., and was educated at St. Mary's Academy in Mendota, Minn. She was the daughter of John and Ann Nagle, natives of Ireland. Her father was boru in the city of Cork in 1812, coming to America in 1832. Her mother was born in Dublin in 1827, came to America in 1843, and was married in Goshen, N. Y., in 1849, and came to Minnesota in 1856. She has since remarried.

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 92

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