Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 93

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 93

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W ILLIAM J. EVANS, of near Anaconda, was born March 18, 1828, the second of eight children born to Givon and Jennie (Jones) Evans, natives of South Wales. His father was a stone- mason, and immigrated with his family to Ameri- ca in 1849. He settled first in Iowa, later removed to Utah and then to California. After some years residence in California he returned to Utah, where he died at a good old age. Mr. Evans was edu- cated at the public schools of his native country, and remained with his parents in all their wan- derings until 1863, when he took up his residence at Bannack. Up to that time he had spent his life working on a farm ; but at Bannack he engaged in freighting from Utah to that place and Virginia City. This he continued to do for two years ; but in 1865 he located in Deer Lodge valley and settled on a ranch of 480 acres, where he still resides, im- proving its fruitfulness and beauty from year to year and increasing its annual crops and herds of stock, as circumstances permit.

He was married in Salt Lake City to Ann Mor- gan, a native of southern Wales, who was brought to America by her mother in her childhood. They have seven children, all but two of whom live around them on ranches, and are prosperous. A son and a daughter are in the state of Washing-

ton, winning the same substantial success there that their brothers and sisters have in Montana. Mr. Evans in politics leans to the Republican par- ty, but takes no part in its councils and seeks no office of its hands. He is content to perform the work laid out for him in his own line, and do his duty in an unostentatious way.

JOHN E. ERICKSON .- The legal profession in Montana has an able representative in this gentleman, who is actively engaged in the practice of law in Choteau, the capital of Teton county, and who has gained marked precedence through his ability and his sterling integrity of purpose. Mr. Erickson was born on March 14, 1863, at Stough- ton, Wis., while his father, Erick Erickson, was born in Norway in 1839, coming when a young man to the United States, where he believed were wider opportunities for individual accomplishment than his childhood's home afforded. He located in Wisconsin and devoted his attention to agricul- ture until 1864, when he removed to Greenwood county, Kan., where he has since continued farm- ing in connection with stockraising. His wife, Lena Alma, likewise a native of Norway, was met and won in Wisconsin, where their marriage was solemnized in Stoughton in 1861.

John E. Erickson secured his early educational discipline in the public schools of Greenwood county, Kan., and supplemented this by a course of study in Washburn College at Topeka, where he was graduated with the class of 1890. He began his technical preparation for his future profession of law by entering the office of Clogston & Fuller, leading attorneys of Eureka, Kan., there devoting his attention to the reading of the law with such devotion and power of assimilation that he was admitted to the bar of the state in 1891. He did not, however, enter at once upon legal practice but turned his attention to journalism, being editor and publisher of the Oswego County Chronicle, at Burlington, Kan., for eighteen months. In 1892 Mr. Erickson came to Montana and devoted about one year to traveling about the state. In the sum- mer of 1893 he located in Choteau, where he estab- lished a law office and has since been engaged in practice, retaining a representative clientage and being known as an able and conservative attorney and counselor. He has accorded a stalwart al- legiance to the Democratic party, and on its ticket

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was elected county attorney of Teton county in November, 1896. He was chosen his own suc- cessor in 1898, a decided evidence that he was giv- ing a signally able administration. Fraternally he is identified with Choteau Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M .; Chevalier Lodge No. 12, of the Knights of Pythias, and with Choteau Camp No. 210, Wood- men of the World. It was on June 2, 1898, Mr. Erickson wedded with Miss Grace Vance, who was born in Iowa, the daughter of Andrew M. Vance, an active participant in the Civil war, who is now a broker and insurance agent at Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson have one son, Vance, who was born on March 16, 1901.

JAMES B. FEATHERMAN .- Nothing tells more effectually in the battle of life, to which we all are born, than pluck, perseverance and un- yielding will power. These qualifications will ever make even adverse circumstances tributary to suc- cess, and wring victory from the very jaws of de- feat. Of the truth of this contention we have strong proof in the record of James B. Featherman, of Drummond, a prominent and successful ranch- man, merchant and politician. No fortuitous cir- cumstances or special favors of fortune opened the way to success in life for him. He was obliged to hew out his own path and make it as he progressed. He was born August 1, 1856, at Hamilton, Pa., the second of the twelve children of Jacob and Ellen A. (Stotz) Featherman, also natives of the Key- stone state, and attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old and then spent six months at an excellent seminary. After leaving school he worked at the arduous occupation of brickmaking for three years, and then at black- smithing for three more.

In 1878 he came to Montana and clerked four years for his uncle, John A. Featherman, at New Chicago, rising by merit and close attention to business to a partnership with the uncle. Two years later they opened a branch store at Drum- mond, and our subject took the active manage- ment of it, which he has maintained continuously since. Under his control the business has grown to great proportions and is firmly established in the confidence and regard of the people of the community, to whom it has become almost a necessity, meeting their wishes and supplying their wants with a readiness and completeness

which leaves almost nothing to ask. In 1878 Pres- ident Cleveland appointed him postmaster at Drummond, although he was an active Republican and a member of the county central committee of his party at the time, and active in its control. He still holds the office, and discharges its duties in a manner so generally satisfactory that there has been no effort to remove him. In 1896 he was ap- pointed county commissioner to fill an unexpired term, and at its close, in 1898, was elected to a full term and was made chairman of the board. In addition to their mercantile business he and his uncle are largely interested in ranching, in which they are as successful as in merchandising.

Fraternally Mr. Featherman is identified with the Masonic order, being a Master Mason, a com- panion of the Royal Arch, a Knight Templar and a noble of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In May, 1882, he was married at New Chicago to Miss Annie Gaspar. They have one child, a daughter, named Linda Ellen. During the Nez Perces war Mr. Featherman was a government storekeeper. He has always taken his place in the ranks of workers for the general good, and contributed his share of inspiration and substantial aid for every laudable enterprise.

J AMES ETTIEN .- By his thrift, industry and foresight, James Ettien has acquired ease, com- fort and ample substance to sustain him in his fur- ther endeavors to win dame fortune. He was born near Burlington, Iowa, on February 25, 1857, the son of John and Susan Ettien, natives of Pennsyl- vania who emigrated to Iowa in 1850. The father was a farmer who achieved a fair degree of suc- cess. The family consisted of nine children, of whom James was the seventh. When seven years old James was obliged to assist his parents in farm and household duties, and his schooling was neces- sarily neglected. He continued working at home until he was seventeen, and then hired out as a farm hand for twenty dollars a month. A year later he removed to the Black Hills, where he pros- pected, but with little success.

In 1877 he came to Montana, locating at Fort Custer. He engaged in freighting for a year and a half with good profits, enabling him then to take up homestead, pre-emption and desert claims amounting to 400 acres, near the famous Yogo

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sapphire mines, and begin their improvement in a vigorous way. He was one of the very first settlers in his section of Montana and has done much good work in developing the country and in making roads and other public improvements. To his original acreage he later added to his possessions until he had 640 acres, about half of which he placed under effective cultivation, and it is well watered and sup- porting large flocks of valuable sheep. The location is an admirable one, it being ten miles south of Utica, in Fergus county, and it is a most desirable property. Mr. Ettien sold this ranch to his brother, William, in August, 1901, Mr. Ettien is an . ardent supporter of the Democratic party. He was married on February 11, 1885, to Miss Olive S. Hockenberry, a native of Madi- son county, Iowa, and being the daughter of Mc- Elvy and Anna Hockenberry, the father being a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ettien is a studious man, seeking the fullest and latest knowledge on subjects belonging to his vocation, and applying with judgment and skill the information thus acquired. His marriage has been blessed with six children, of whom one died in in- fancy. The living are Elvy, Leslie, Vey, Susan and Amy.

W ILEY FARMER .- One of the pioneers of Cascade county who settled among the High- wood mountains while the site of Great Falls was still an open prairie, is Wiley Farmer, who was born in Dent county, Mo., on March 18, 1859, the son of Hiram and Mary Farmer, natives of Ken- tucky, who removed to Missouri in early years. All his life Hiram Farmer was a prosperous agri- culturalist, a faithful Baptist and a stanch Demo- crat. He died in 1863. Wiley Farmer, at an early age was called to give active labor in the cultivation of the homestead, and his school privileges were very limited. Remaining with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, he then rented the farm for one year. Then being impressed with the thought that the west offered better advantages than did the eastern country, he disposed of his Missouri property and came to Fort Benton, Mont .. via the Missouri river in 1882.

Having remained at the fort two months he went into the Highwood mountains and obtained his pres- ent valuable property by securing homestead and pre-emption claims, aggregating 320 acres, twelve miles northeast of Belt. Here he has since de-

veloped a fine estate, which is devoted to stockrais- ing and general farming. Upon his ranch he has for years run splendid herds of cattle and many fine horses. On May 14, 1881, Mr. Farmer was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Johnson of Tennessee. She was a daughter of William Johnson, native of the same state, a prosperous farmer and an active member of the Christian church, as was his wife who died in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer had ten children, two dying in infancy. The survivors are William, Effie V., Braxton F., Jeffrey, Lawrence, Louisa and Alfred M. The father belongs to the Christian church, as did the mother, who died on June 30, 1900.

0 F. FEATHERMAN .- Individuality and self- reliance are prominent characteristics of the American citizen everywhere in the land. The conditions of private life and the responsibility in public affairs, which are parts of the universal heritage, engender these qualities in the individual and their aggregate in the nation is supremely po- tential in making up the national character and record of our people. Oliver P. Featherman, treas- urer of Granite county, furnislies a fine illustration of this fact. He was born at Stroudsburg, Pa., February 1, 1869, the ninth of twelve children born to Jacob A. and Eleanor (Stotz) Feather- man, also natives of Pennsylvania, where the father was a prosperous and highly esteemed miller.

Mr. Featherman attended the public schools of his native town, following with a course at Fair- view Academy at Brodheadsville, and finishing with a year's instruction at Foresman's Teachers' Pre- paratory School. In 1885, after leaving school, he came at once to Montana, locating at Philipsburg, where he was employed as a clerk in a store in which his brother was interested as a partner until the fall of 1887, when he entered the business col- lege at Helena for a more thorough training in the art of bookkeeping. After finishing the course he went into a store at Drummond as clerk and salesman. In 1889 he was in the hotel business at Granite for a short time, but returned to Drummond and clerked until May, 1895, when he took a po- sition as deputy under Mr. A. S. Huffman, assessor, which he held for a year. After that he was book- keeper in the Merchants' and Miners' Bank at Philipsburg until the bank closed in 1897, but re- mained a few months longer working under the re-

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ceiver. In 1898 he took charge of the store of a Mr. Wilson during his absence in California, and upon Mr. Wilson's return again accepted a position as deputy under Assessor William Neu. In the fall of that year he was elected treasurer of Granite county, and in 1900 was re-elected, the only man who won on the straight Democratic ticket. In 1898 he polled the largest vote cast in the county, leading his brother, who ran on the Republican ticket for county commissioner, by one vote. He has always been active in political affairs, being under all circumstances an uncompromising straight Democrat. In fraternal alliances he trains with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, an organiza- tion in which he has taken a lively interest and to which he has rendered good service in its various leading offices.

Mr. Featherman was married April 5, 1899, at Butte, to Miss A. Harden Bacon, daughter of Frank and Martha (Cox) Bacon, of Peak's Mill, Kentucky. They have one child, Olive May, born July 13, 1901. As additional evidence of his inter- est in political affairs, it should be stated that Mr. Featherman was a candidate for clerk and recorder for his county in 1894, and was defeated at the elec- tion, only one Democrat on the ticket being elected that fall. In the community he is a man of high standing and has the esteem of all classes, both as a man and an official.

0 WEN FERGUS .- Considering the fact that enormous herds and extensive ranges for cat- tle in Montana are now mainly in the hands of syndicates and out of the control of individuals, the possession of 5,000 acres of land and 1,000 head of cattle stamps one as a rancher of unusual promi- nence. Such is the case with Owen Fergus, of Geyser, Cascade county, who is also one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men in that vicinity. He is a native of Ireland, born on De- cember 15, 1861. His parents were Edward and Anna Fergus, who came to the United States in early years and settled in Pennsylvania. Edward Fergus here became a railroad contractor and was engaged in lumbering for many years in this coun- try. In these operations he achieved considerable success and the family were always in comfortable circumstances. Politically his affiliations were al- ways with the Democratic party and he was a de- vout Catholic. He died in 1880.

Owen Fergus received an ordinary public school education which he greatly improved by home study. At the age of fourteen years he began a career of industry which has never flagged and at that early age he contributed materially to the assistance of his father. He was not of age when he came to Montana in 1881, but he had a man's mature thought and capacity for business, and he engaged in the stock business, on Shonkin river, sixteen miles south of Fort Benton, giving his principal attention to cattle. During the greater portion of three years he was employed in freight- ing, and in 1882 he removed into the Davis creek country on the south side of the Highwood moun- tains. Here he secured desert, homestead and pre-emption claims, and purchased 2,520 acres of additional land. To this property he has added until he now controls 5,000 acres, which are stocked with fine herds of cattle, sometimes numbering 1,000 head. He is also a large cultivator and pro- ducer of hay. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally a member of the United Workmen.

DOY L. FISH .- This gentleman is one of the many who have demonstrated that Cascade county is as well adapted to the raising of cattle as of sheep. The fine herd on his handsome ranch thirteen miles from Armington confirms this fact. Roy L. Fish was born on September 30, 1878, in Wisconsin, and is the son of Charles and Lucy Fish, the father a Canadian and the mother a native of Vermont. Charles Fish followed various occupa- tions in life, the principal one being stockraising. He came to Montana in 1879 and settled in High- wood, where he purchased a ranch. He left this property in charge of his brother Richard, and took a clerkship at Fort Belknap, where he was in the government service for nine years. Returning to Highwood he continued in the stock business until his death on May 30, 1890.

Roy L. Fish had a common-school education which was supplemented by nine months attendance at the Burlington (Iowa) high school. When nine years old he aided in the work of the farm, and at sixteen years of age he was employed at $25 per month and board by the neighboring farmers. He remained at home until 1899 when he purchased the ranch of 320 acres upon which he now lives. He is largely interested in the cattle business which he has found quite profitable. Mrs. Fish was in

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girlhood Miss Cora Bright, a native of Callaway county, Mo., daughter of Jesse and Mary Bright, both Missourians. Her father is a successful farm- er and stockman, and her mother is a member of the Christian church, while the political affiliations of the father are Democratic. Her marriage oc- curred on January 30, 1900. The first money Mr. Fish earned he invested in calves, and when he had reached the age of eighteen he had accumulated sufficient money from the enterprise to pay for one years' schooling in the east. He also attended the Great Falls Business College for one season. Later he rode on the roundup in the interest of H. O. Ling, and was, in connection with Capt. Rouse, employed for three years by the Fish estate at a salary of $40 per month. His sympathies and politi- cal activities are with the Republicans, and he stands high in the ranks of the intelligent and progressive citizens of the state. They have one daughter, N'ellie Edna.

UDSON A. FERGUSON, commissioner of the

bureau of agriculture, labor and industry of the state of Montana, is one of the well known men of the commonwealth, where he has been promi- nent in connection with political affairs, being vig- orous in intellect, aggressive in his attitude in pre- serving the integrity of public interests, and ever ready to defend the causes his judgment has led him to espouse. He comes of a family which has been long identified with America. His grand- father, Abram Ferguson, born in Columbia coun- ty, N. Y., was a shoemaker and a man of marked inventive ability, and incidentally it may be noted that he made a valuable improvement on the spin- ning frame utilized in the manufacture of woolen goods. He had marked military predilections, and was a valiant soldier in the war of 1812. George Ferguson, M. D., the father of Judson A., was like- wise born in Columbia county, N. Y., whence he removed to Michigan. He entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in one of its early classes, and there secured his degree of M. D. He began medical practice in Adrian, Lenawee county, Mich., as early as 1852, and ever since has ministered to the afflicted, being one of the able pioneer physicians of the state, where he has practiced his profession for over half a century. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Harriet Hendryx, and she was born in Ovid, Seneca county, where now is located

the famous Willard Asylum for the Insane. She received her education in Ovid Seminary, which was erected by her father, who was one of the California 'forty-niners. He remained in Cali- fornia for some time and was successful in mining and ultimately returned to his New York home. His wife in girlhood bore the name of Roberts, and she was of Dutch and Quaker extraction.

Judson A. Ferguson is a native of Michigan, and was born in Ovid, Branch county. He re- ceived his educational training at the county seat, Coldwater, pursuing a thorough course of study in the high school. He then learned the jeweler's trade, devoting his attention thereto for two and one-half years, after which he learned cigarmaking in one of the large establishments of Coldwater. Leaving Coldwater in 1877 he traveled as a jour- neyman at his trade through the eastern states to acquire a more intimate knowledge of business methods. In 1892 he came to Montana, locating in Missoula, and in 1898 he formed a partnership with A. P. Tietzen, in the tobacco trade and in cigar-manufacturing, the firm being Tietzen & Co.

In December, 1900, Mr. Ferguson withdrew from the firm and accepted his present office soon afterward, having been appointed by Gov. Toole on January 21, 1901, as commissioner of the state bureau of agriculture, labor and industry, and its affairs he has since administered with marked abil- ity. His eligibility to this office was augmented by the fact that he has long been an enthusiastic advocate of the cause of labor, a close student of economic, political and socialistic problems, and ever looking toward the amelioration of the con- dition of the laboring classes. Indeed, so zealous have been his endeavors that at the state con- vention of the Labor party in 1900 he re- ceived the nomination for governor of Montana, the only nomination made by the convention. Mr. Ferguson is a man of forceful individuality, and has done all in his power to advance the interests of those depending on their daily toil for a sub- sistence. He is well known throughout the state, and enjoys a distinct personal popularity. Mr. Ferguson has been for some years happily married, his wife formerly being Miss Kate Powers, of Og- densburg, N. Y., in which city she was educated. Her ancestors were among the early settlers of Vermont, and she is a sister of Hon. E. J. Pow- ers, who represented Missoula county in the lower house of the Montana legislature in the Fifth general assembly.

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A NDREW J. FISK, late postmaster of Helena, Mont., and now the assistant postmaster, is a native of New York, having been born in Cat- taraugus county, on January 8, 1849, the son of James B. and Teresa (Loveland) Fisk, both natives of New York and of English descent. When An- drew J. Fisk was seven years of age the family removed to Lafayette, Ind., where they resided until 1860, when they emigrated to the then fron- tier state of Minnesota, establishing their home near St. Paul. Mr. Fisk received the best part of his education in the public schools of St. Paul, and his vacations were passed at the beautiful summer resort of White Bear lake.

Having four brothers in the volunteer service of the Union army, representing the states of New York and Minnesota, and being also imbued with the patriotism then so universal, Mr. Fisk, in Octo- ber, 1863, before he had reached his fifteenth birth- day, enlisted in Company A, Second Minnesota Cavalry, and was soon in active service, assisting in quelling the Sioux Indian outbreak. The Sioux were then terrorizing the frontier settlements of Minnesota, and had massacred over 1,000 men, women and children, settlers in the western portion of the state. In 1864 his regiment went to the west, under that famous Indian fighter, Gen. Sully, to punish the savages for their depredations upon the settlements. Crossing the Missouri river near the site of Bismarck, the troops pro- ceeded to the bad lands of western Dakota, and here, about 100 miles from where is now the city of Dickinson, they engaged in battle with over 3,000 Indians, whom they defeated, killing many warriors and capturing the camp. Great quanti- ties of stores and supplies fell into the hands of the troops, with tons of dried berries and dried buffalo meat, then the chief sustenance of the savages, and many thousands of buffalo robes. These were ordered destroyed, and so great was the quantity that this work occupied two full days. The troops then proceeded further west in pursuit of the Indians, skirmishing almost daily, and for ten days or more they were on short rations. Striking the Yellowstone river about thirty miles east of Glendive, they there found awaiting them several government transports which supplied the hungry troopers with necessary food and cloth- ing. Crossing the Yellowstone river they con- tinued down the valley to Fort Union, then a trad- ing post of the Northwest Fur Company, there crossed the Missouri river and started north, en-

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 93

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