Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 94

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 94

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deavoring to intercept the Indians before they reached Canada. In this they were unsuccessful, and returned to Fort Rice in October, 1864. Here they learned that a large overland train of emi- grants, coming to Montana under command of Capt. James L. Fisk, a brother of our subject, had been attacked by the Indians 150 miles west of the fort and were in danger of massacre. One thou- sand volunteers were called for to relieve the emi- grants, and Mr. Fisk's company was among the first to offer its services. Under the command of Col. Thomas, of Minnesota, they successfully ac- complished their mission and brought the emi- grants safely to Fort Rice. Many of these emi- grants are now residents of Montana. The vol- unteers then returned to Minnesota, and there continued in active service until the spring of 1866, when they were mustered out at Fort Snelling. It is said that Mr. Fisk is to-day the youngest mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic who saw service as a soldier "in the ranks" of the Union army of the Civil war.

Soon after his discharge, with his older brothers, Capt. Robert E. Fisk, Capt. James L. Fisk and Hon. Van H. Fisk, Mr. Fisk migrated to Mon- tana, arriving in Last Chance gulch in September, 1866. Soon after their arrival Capt. Robert E. and Andrew J. Fisk formed a partnership as Fisk Brothers, and purchased a printing plant which had been brought in on pack mules from Idaho the spring before, and in November, 1866, they began the publication of the Helena Herald, which they and Capt. Daniel W. Fisk, who joined the brothers in 1867, owned and controlled until July, 1900, when they sold it to the present proprietors. An- drew J. Fisk was the general manager and secre- tary of the company until 1898, when he received the appointment of postmaster of Helena from President Mckinley. The Herald, under the management of the Fisk Brothers, was the leading Republican daily and weekly newspaper of Mon- tana for more than thirty years.

During the administration of Gov. B. P. Car- penter, in 1884 and 1885, A. J. Fisk served as ad- jutant-general of the territory of Montana, and he has always taken a very active part in public af- fairs, and is one of Montana's valuable citizens. Fraternally Mr. Fisk is a very prominent member of the Masonic order, having joined it soon after reaching his majority. He has filled many of its official chairs, was master of Morning Star Lodge No. 5, for three years ; high priest of Helena Chap-

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ter No. 3, for two years, and was the first grand commander of the Knights Templar of Montana, to which high station he was twice elected. He also belongs to the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a prominent factor in its Helena lodge. On July 26, 1873, Mr. Fisk wedded Miss Clara A. Wilcox, daughter of the late Timothy Wilcox, one of the earliest pioneers of Montana. They have two children, Laura Loveland and An- drew J., Jr., now students of eastern colleges, dili- gently making use of their opportunities.

DAVID E. FOLSOM .- Whose was the first in- choate idea of reserving the wonderful do- main of the Yellowstone National Park as a govern- ment property, to be perpetually maintained invio- late for the delectation of all manner of men appre- ciative of the mystical grandeur of this now famous section, is practically placed beyond doubt, and the distinction must be ascribed to the honored pioneer of Montana whose name initiates this review and who still maintains his home in Meagher county. The Folsom-Cook expedition in exploring the upper Yellowstone river in the year 1869 must ever be given a place in history and to the three intrepid members of the little party can not be denied the maximiim of credit. Of Charles W. Cook, who accompanied Mr. Folsom on this memorable tour of investigation, an individual sketch appears on other pages of this work and the two articles may well be read in sequence, though no detailed account of their journeyings can consistently be incorporated in this compilation. Suffice it to say that Mr. Fol- som's published account of the expedition is care- fully preserved in a neat brochure issued by Na- thaniel P. Langford, who was at the time collector of internal revenue in the territory of Montana, the pamphlet having been issued, with a preface by that gentleman, in the year 1894 at St. Paul, Minn. From this preface we quote as follows: "Mr. Fol- som published a careful account of this expedition in the Chicago Western Monthly for July, 1870, and this, with such information as could be gleaned from him, led to the organization of the Washburn exploring expedition, of which I was a member. This expedition greatly extended the range of Mr. Folsom's discoveries, and the various accounts of its explorations, written by Washburn, Hedges, Trum- bull and myself, and published in the Montana

papers, the Overland Monthly and Scribner's (now Century) Magazine, with the additions made in 1871 by Professor Hayden, induced congress, in March, 1872, to set apart the entire locality as a national park. *

* * * Before we left Helena Mr. Folsom furnished us with a map showing his route of travel and imparted to us much valuable information and, as we afterward learned, dis- cussed with General Washburn the project of creat- ing a park, but I do not find that he ever published through the press his views on this subject."

From the above statement may be had sufficient corroboration as to our previous crediting of the honor of having been an originator of the idea of a national park to Mr. Folsom, though the thought was not held by him alone, but by many others of the sterling and representative pioneers of the state. With a few brief extracts from Mr. Folsom's report as published in the Chicago Western Monthly for July, 1870, we must needs close this interesting epi- sode in his career : "In 1867 an exploring expedition from Virginia City, Montana territory, was talked of, but for some unknown reason-probably for the want of a sufficient number to engage in it-was abandoned. The next year another was planned, which ended like the first-in talk. Early in the summer of 1869 newspapers throughout the coun- try announced that a party of citizens from Helena, Virginia City and Bozeman, accompanied by some of the officers stationed at Fort Ellis, with an escort of soldiers, would leave Bozeman about the 5th of September for the Yellowstone country, with the intention of making a thorough examination of the wonders with which that region was said to abound. The party was expected to be limited in numbers and to be composed of some of the most prominent men in the territory, and the writer felt extremely flattered when his earnest request to have his name added to the list was granted. He joined with two personal friends in getting an outfit and then waited patiently for the other members of the party to per- fect their arrangements. About a month before the day fixed for starting some of the members began to discover that pressing business engagements would prevent their going. Then came news from Fort Ellis that, owing to some changes made in the dispo- sition of troops stationed in the territory, the mili- tary portion of the party would be unable to join the expedition, and our party, which had now dwindled down to ten or twelve persons, thinking it would be unsafe for so small a number to venture where there was a strong probability of meeting with hostile

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Indians, also abandoned the undertaking. But the writer and his two friends before mentioned, be- lieving that the dangers to be encountered had been magnified, and trusting by vigilance and good luck to avoid them, resolved to attempt the journey at all hazards."

It may be said that Messrs. Folsom, Cook and Peterson started from Diamond City on the 6th of September, made their way to Yellowstone lake, now one of the most prominent features to be seen in the tour of the park, and after careful examina- tions and explorations started on the return trip. Mr. Folsom concludes his interesting and singu- larly valuable article with these words: "We had been absent thirty-six days-a much longer time than our friends had anticipated-and we found that they were seriously contemplating organizing a party to go in search of us." We now turn to a brief review of the life of Mr. Folsom, knowing that it will be read with great interest by his many old-time friends in the state and also by the younger generation.

David E. Folsom comes of stanch old New Eng- land stock, his lineage on either side tracing back to the Colonial epoch. He was born at Epping, Rock- ingham county, N. H., on the 15th of May, 1838, be- ing the son of Thomas and Saviah (Morrell) Fol- som, the former of whom was born in Epping, N. H., and the latter in North Berwick, Me. Our sub- ject received his elementary educational discipline in his native town and thereafter continued his studies in the Friends' boarding school at Providence, R. I., and in a seminary conducted under the auspices of the same noble religious body at Vassalboro, Me. He thereafter turned his attention to teaching and was thus engaged until he had attained his legal majority, when he left his home in the old Granite state and started for Minnesota, proceeding by rail- road as far as Prairie du Chien, Wis., and thence by boat to St. Paul. He remained about a year in that locality, engaged in teaching school, and then started for the Salmon river country, in Idaho. He made the overland trip with Captain James Fisk's first party, and upon reaching Montana he, withı others of the party, stopped in the Prickly Bear val- ley, about September 20, 1862, and there assisted in the erection of the first cabin in what was after- ward known as Montana City, a town which is now practically obliterated and deserted. He was en- gaged in prospecting until January 15th of the following year, but did not secure sufficient returns in that section to justify the continuation of his ef-

forts, and he and others then started for Bannack, where they passed the remainder of the winter. He thereafter continued prospecting in that locality un- til July, when he went to Alder gulch, where he prospected and mined until January, 1865, meeting with but moderate success. Mr. Folsom now aban- doning his mining operations and turned his atten- tion to ranching on Willow creek, utilizing the ranch now occupied by Mrs. Henry C. Harrison, her hus- band (now deceased) having been Mr. Folsom's partner and one of the same party in crossing the plains. Here our subject was engaged in farming for a period of four years, at the expiration of which he disposed of his interests and joined a govern- ment surveying party, in whose work he assisted during the summer of 1869, in the fall of which year he made the memorable trip through the Yel- lowstone park, as noted. It may be said, en passant, that he first sent his account of the expedition to the Harpers, who refused to publish the same, deem- ing its statements incredible, and it was afterward accepted by the Western Monthly, which emas- culated the copy, cutting out much which seemed impossible of credence but which gave noth- ing of exaggeration in fact. The origi- nal copy was lost for a number of years, but was eventually recovered. In 1870 Mr. Folsom continued his identification with surveying and in 1871 he returned to his New England home, where he remained about one year, returning by rail to Ogden and thence by stage to Helena. He now entered into partnership with Colonel DeLacey and was engaged in surveying enterprises until 1875, having surveyed in the valleys of the Musselshell and Smith rivers.

In 1875 Mr. Folsom returned to the east, and on the 7th of January, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy T. Jones, who was born in Gilmanton, N. H., the daughter of Benjamin Jones, city clerk of Lynn for a number of years. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Folsom we record that George B. died in infancy and that David M. was born in Montana in 1881. In this state also he received his public- school education, after which he was prepared for his university course under the instruction of a pri- vate tutor and was matriculated in Stanford Uni- versity, as a member of the class of 1902. His mother passes her time in California while he is there continuing his studies, while Mr. Folsom passes the winter months there.

In 1880 Mr. Folsom returned to the Smith river valley of Montana, where he took up a sheep ranch,

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where he has been ever since engaged in the sheep business on an extensive scale, having 6,000 acres located nine miles west of White Sulphur Springs. Mr. Folsom has been prominent in con- nection with public affairs of the territory and state and has given a stanch allegiance to the Republi- can party. In 1885 he was elected county treasurer of Meagher county and served five years, and was a member of the state senate during the Third and Fourth general assemblies. He has taken a lively interest in educational matters and all else that tends to conserve the progress and well being of the state, and this fact has not failed of popular recognition. He was appointed by Governor Smith a member of the capitol commissioners, but resigned this office in the fall of 1900, when he became the Republican candidate for governor of the state, being defeated by normal political agencies. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. In all the relations of life no man in the state is more highly esteemed than Mr. Fol- som, and none of the noble pioneers of Montana is more worthy of recognition in a work of this char- acter.

W TILLIAM FLANAGAN .- Seven miles to the south of the thriving little city of Cascade is located the ranch property of the subject of this re- view, who has been identified with the three prin- cipal lines of industry which give to Montana her pre-eminence-agriculture, stockraising and min- ing. In his present vocation he has met with ex- cellent success, and is to be classed among the rep- resentative agriculturists and stockmen of the state. Mr. Flanagan, who traces his origin to stanch old Irish ancestry, is a native of Jamestown, Russell county, Ky., where he was born January 22, 1836, his parents being John and Ruth Flana- gan, likewise born in the Bluegrass state, where the father was engaged in farming pursuits until 1850, when he became identified with ministerial work as a clergyman of the Missionary Baptist church, giving his services to the cause of the Master until the hour of his death, which occurred in Septem- ber, 1869, his devoted wife surviving him until February, 1889, when she too passed to her re- ward. William Flanagan obtained but ordinary educational advantages in his youth, his services being early demanded on the parental homestead. He continued to assist his father until 1859, when he made his way to California and engaged in

placer mining until 1863, when he went to Ore- gon, continuing his mining operations at Canyon City and in the Powder river district until 1873, fair success attending his efforts. From Oregon he proceeded to Idaho and mined on Snake river until the spring of 1874, when he moved to Deer Lodge, Mont., with the view of going to the Black Hills. He started out for that section, but the Indians manifested such great hostility that ' he eventually retraced his steps and located on a ranch near Butte, where he engaged in farming and stockraising for two seasons. He became sat- isfied that excellent opportunities were offered in this line of occupation and therefore came to Cas- cade county and entered two claims of 160 acres each, one being a pre-emption and the other a homestead claim, located seven miles south of Cas- cade ; and this tract, with forty acres which he has since acquired by purchase, constitutes his present fine ranch, 200 acres of which can be put under ef- fective cultivation. Mr. Flanagan began raising horses in 1898, and also devotes attention to rais- ing sheep and cattle, as well as to the raising of hay, in which last line he has carefully developed his ranch, making it one of the best in this section.

In politics he renders allegiance to the Demo- cratic party ; in religion he holds to the faith of the Christian church, as did also his wife. The mar- riage of our subject was solemnized on the 3d of August, 1879, when he wedded Miss Jennie Blane, who was born in Missouri, being the daughter of Edward and Anna R. Blane, natives of the same state, the father being a farmer and merchant by occupation. His death occurred in 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan five children were born, of whom Bertha and Jennie E. are deceased. Those who sur- vive are : John E., Albert S. and Merritt. The cher- ished and devoted wife and mother was summoned into life eternal on March 10, 1888, deeply mourned by a large circle of friends, who had decided appre- ciation of her many noble attributes.

J JAMES C. FITZPATRICK .- Incumbent of the responsible office of chief clerk at the Fort Bel- knap Indian agency and known as a man of ability and sterling character, it is but justice to enter in this work a brief review of the life of James C. Fitzpatrick. He was born in Hazelton, Luzerne county, Pa., on January 10, 1856. His father, James Fitzpatrick, was born in Pine Grove, Pa., on July

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4, 1830, and during the Civil war he rendered loyal service to the republic as first lieutenant of his com- pany, in the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry. During his service of four years he was advanced to the rank of colonel, making a fine record as a valiant soldier and commander. After the war he located at Hazelton, Pa., and was busy in railroad con- struction until 1868, when he engaged in the hotel business at Hazelton, and thereafter continued as a hotel man until his death, which occurred in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1889. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Maloy, was born in Philadelphia in 1827, and died at Hazelton in 1883.

James C. Fitzpatrick attended the public schools of his native town and continued his studies in an excellent private school at Kingston, Pa. After leaving school he was clerk in his father's hotel until 1887, and then was similarly engaged in va- rious commercial and summer-resort hotels in Penn- sylvania and New York for about nine years.

In 1886 Mr. Fitzpatrick became connected with the United States Indian service, first at the Crow Creek agency in South Dakota until the spring of 1890, when he went to Chicago and engaged in con- struction work for the Chicago General Electric Company until 1893, when he returned to his pre- vious position at the Crow Creek agency, remaining there until October, 1895, when he was transferred to the Belknap agency in Montana, where he has since discharged his responsible duties as chief clerk with discrimination and ability, gaining the esteem of all with whom he has had business or social relations. In politics Mr. Fitzpatrick sup- ports the Republican party, and his fraternal rela- tions are with the Masonic lodge at Chamberlain, S. D., where he was made a Mason in 1888, with the Illinois commandery of the Loyal Legion, he having joined this organization in Philadelphia in 1890, being transferred to the Illinois branch in 1893 ; he is also a popular member of Great Falls lodge of the Benevolent Order of Elks. At Harlem, Choteau county, in 1896, Mr. Fitzpatrick was united in marriage to Miss Mary Fitzgerald, who was born at Danville, Va., in 1867, the daughter of E. B. Fitzgerald, a representative of one of the prominent and influential families of the Old Dominion.

JOHN FLINDERS .- It may be interesting to note in the various sketches in this volume the different nationalties, methods of labor and the successful endeavors of those here represented.

Among the leading farmers and stockgrowers of Choteau county is Mr. John Flinders, who has held an influential position from the time of locat- ing his farm, now under a fine state of improve- ment. He is a native of old England, and was born in Nottinghamshire, December 7, 1854, the son of Henry and Maria (Challand) Flinders, the former a professor of music. Coming to the United States in 1865 he located in DeKalb coun- ty, Ill., where he remained until 1894 when he came to Chinook, Mont., where he now makes his home, his devoted and cherished wife having passed away in 1884.

John Flinders received his educational discipline in the public schools of DeKalb county, Ill., and was reared on his uncle's farm ; hence he early be- came familiar with many details which have proved of inestimable value to him in the prosecution of his present enterprise. At the age of nineteen years he went to Webster county, Iowa, where he purchased and effectively improved a farm and there engaged in agricultural pursuits for seven years. Later he went to O'Brien county, where he again purchased wild land and made a fine farm with all the improvements equal to his former home in Webster county. Seven years later, however, in 1887, Mr. Flinders moved to Montana, coming to the vicinity of Chinook, Cho- teau county, there being at the time not a single house to mark the site of the present thriving town of Chinook. He at once took up a claim of 160 acres, and another of 640 acres located on Clear creek, where he has since been engaged in general farming and stockgrowing with that thoroughly progressive method and the application of scien- tific principles to all the details of his ranching in- dustry which brings success to any undertaking. His entire ranch is now under fence and has excel- lent improvements of a permanent order, includ- ing a good house, barns, sheepsheds, etc .; while his system of irrigation enables him to secure ex- cellent crops. Mr. Flinders also has residence property in the village of Chinook, and owns a half- interest in the Hotel Chinook, erected at a cost of $25,000 in 1901. The hotel is conducted by Mr. Flinders and Mrs. Cook, his sister, upon the high- est grade, and is receiving a fine and well deserved patronage. Mr. Flinders has maintained partici- lar interest in the cause of education, serving as school trustee for a long term of years.

In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party ; in religion his faith is that of the

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Methodist church, being a member of the board of trustees and an active worker in the Chinook church of this denomination. Fraternally he is identified with the Bear Paw Camp, Modern Wood- men of America. The marriage of Mr. Flinders was solemnized in 1880, when he wedded Miss Mary Myers, daughter of Edward Myers, of Web- ster county, Iowa. Of this union three children have been born: Mabel, Leroy and Bertha.

EDMOND FOGARTY .- What might be termed five ranches combined in one, the whole com- prising 2,735 acres, located at Sandcliff, Choteau county, is the handsome property of the subject of this biographical sketch. The entire region of Bear Paw mountains affords no better equipped ranch for the practical enterprises of grain, cattle and sheep raising. Edmond Fogarty was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, on September 5, 1850. He is the son of Dennis and Catherine (Dunn) Fogarty, the father having immigrated to the United States in about 1837. Here he became a citizen of this country and returned to Ireland, where he was married. He was a merchant, farmer and hotelkeeper at different times in his subsequent career in Ireland, living in the town of Templetuohy, and was considered a success- ful business man. It was there that Edmond, the son, was reared and educated, receiving the advan- tages of the schools in his neighborhood and of which he made the best use. He served as a clerk in his father's store until 1873, when he came to the United States and settled in New York city, where he remained two years in a mercantile establishment in that metropolis. But being anxious to materially better his condition he went to California in 1876 and engaged in placer and quartz mining. Subsequently he removed to Sac- ramento, where for ten years he was in the em- ployment of Wilcox, Powers & Co. as a travel- ing salesman and rectifier, the firm being engaged in the wholesale liquor business. At the termina- tion of that period, in 1887, Mr. Fogarty came to Montana, locating in Fergus county, where, in company with his brother, John Fogarty, he en- gaged in sheepgrowing. Three years later the association was dissolved and our subject began business for himself in the same line, locating on his present ranch, or rather ranches, in the Bear Paw mountains, Choteau county. The prop-

erty comprises 2,735 acres, which includes five farms devoted to the culture of hay and some grain. Of this land 1,400 acres are fenced. He has a fine band of 10,000 sheep, besides numerous cattle and horses. On the home ranch, where he resides, is the Sandcliff postoffice, of which Mrs. Fogarty is postmistress. They were married in 1883, she being at the time Miss Jennie Alice Woods, daughter of Allen Woods, of Iowa. To them have been born six children, of whom Alice D., Edmond A., Arthur D. and Sibyl E. survive. Those deceased are George B. and Caryl. The fam- ily are members of the Catholic church. The political affiliations of Mr. Fogarty are with the Republican party. All of the valuable improve- ments on his ranches, houses, shops, barns and cor- rals Mr. Fogarty has made himself since he ac- quired the property.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 94

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