Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 97

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 97

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In 1878 Mr. Blevins was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Spurgeon, daughter of John Spurgeon, a prosperous farmer of Illinois. The marriage oc- curred at Fort Benton. It was then that Mr. Blevins began business for himself, purchasing an ox team and freighting between Fort Benton and Helena. He also secured a timber claim eight miles from the fort, to which he hauled cord wood. In 1879 he disposed of this property and took up another claim on Highwood creek, where he now resides. To this original ranch he has since added considerable land and wonderfully improved the property until he now has one of the best equipped ranches in the county, devoted to raising cattle and horses. Upon all political issues Mr. Blevins acts with the Democratic party.

L EWIS V. BOGY is worthy of distinct recog- nition as one of the able and progressive men of the state, and his career in Montana has been one of consecutive advancement, showing those charac- teristics of energy, discrimination and integrity of purpose which insure success in any field of en- deavor. He is at the present time the general manager and one of the leading stockholders of the Bogy Mercantile Company, which is conducting a very excellent business in the line of general merchandise in the thriving village of Chinook, Choteau county.

Mr. Bogy was born at Dunleith, Ill., on Septem- ber 10, 1859, the son of Charles and Cornelia ( Mc- Knight) Bogy, natives respectively of Missouri and Iowa. His father was a steamboat captain on the Missisippi river, but eventually abandoned navi-

gation and settled in Illinois, whence he subse- quently moved to Texas and devoted his attention to agricultural and allied pursuits until his death, in 1873. His widow survived him many years, her demise occurring August 11, 1900, having attained a venerable age. Our subject was reared in Illinois and Texas, attended the public schools in St. Louis, Mo., for a time, and later continued his studies in Texas, where he remained on the homestead ranch until the age of nineteen years. In 1881 Mr. Bogy came to Montana and entered the employ of T. C. Power & Brother, at Poplar Creek Indian agency, assuming a clerical position in the mercantile estab- lishment. Later he was made manager of the firm's interests at that place, retaining the same for a term of five years, after which he was em- ployed in their establishment at Fort Benton until 1887, when he was sent to Fort Belknap, where the firm also had a store. In 1889 he came to Chinook in the employ of the same concern, and continued to be thus occupied until April, 1900, when the Bogy Mercantile Company was organized for the purpose of conducting a general merchandise business, Mr. Bogy assuming the management. The enterprise has since been continued with marked success, our subject's experience, careful methods and personal popularity having been potent factors in advancing its interests. An excellently selected stock is car- ried, and patrons are always assured of courteous treatment and the best of service in catering to their demands for merchandise.

In politics Mr. Bogy maintains an independent attitude, while fraternally he is a member of Chi- nook Lodge No. 50, A. F. & A. M., and of Bear Paw Lodge No. 51, I. O. O. F. In religion he in- clines to the faith of the Catholic church, in which he was reared. In 1899 were solemnized the nup- tials of Mr. Bogy and Miss Grace Barrett, daughter of the late James T. Barrett, of Nevada. They have one son, Thomas V. Mr. Bogy takes an active interest in all that conserves the advance- mient of his town, and is honored as one of its enterprising and representative business men.

F RANK BOWES .- The advantages afforded in Montana to those who will put forth earnest and honest endeavor have been frequently exem- plified in connection with many of her resources, and in none more satisfactorily than that of stock- growing. In this line of activity Mr. Bowes has

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gained a notable success through his own efforts, and, from being in the employ of others, always rendering the best of service, he has attained an independent position, and is now one of the pros- perous ranchmen of Choteau county. Mr. Bowes is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in Orange county, N. Y., on September 24, 1855. His father was Fenton Bowes, who emi- grated from the Emerald Isle in early manhood and took up his residence on a farm in Orange county, N. Y., there devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his active life. His marriage occurred prior to leav- ing his native land; he died at Danbury, Conn.

Frank Bowes, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared under the sturdy discipline of the farm, his educational advantages being those afforded by the common schools in the vicinity of the old homestead in Orange county, where he remained until the age of seventeen years. In 1873 he determined to seek his fortunes in the far west. He had very little in a financial way; but with willing hands and a stout heart he was ready to rely upon his own efforts, believing that industry and honesty of purpose would "win out" in the end. He did not mistake in his premises, as results have clearly shown. He made his way to Oregon and thence to Washington, following such occupations as came to hand; and in 1880 he came to Helena, Mont., where he tarried about one year and returned to Washington. In 1884 he went to Deer Lodge county, where he was employed on various ranches, residing for a time in the city of Deer Lodge. He there served as a member of the board of aldermen, his election showing conclusively the respect and esteem in which he was held.

In 1889 Mr. Bowes came to Choteau county and settled on his present ranch, located one and one- half miles southwest of the village of Chinook in what is known as Milk River valley. He later secured another ranch in the same vicinity, and now owns and utilizes 640 acres, raising horses and cattle and conducting his business with ex- cellent discretion and unmistakable success. He is one of the representative ranchmen of the county, is genuinely popular, and is progressive and wide- awake in his methods. Mr. Bowes is a stock- holder in the Fort Belknap Canal & Irrigation Company.

Politically he is not guided by strict party lines, but in local affairs exercises his franchise for the

support of men and measures best calculated to advance the general good. In the year 1887 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bowes to Miss Margaret Umberland, of Deer Lodge, Mont., and they are the parents of three children : Katie, Will- . iam and Annie.

JOHANNES LEHFELDT .- A quarter of a cen- tury ago even the most sanguine of the residents of Montana had no idea of the great importance to be assumed by the agricultural and stock- growing industries of the state, and yet it is con- ceded today that the magnificent enterprises act- ive in these lines have contributed to the prog- ress and prosperity of the commonwealth to a degree second only to those pertaining to the de- velopment of her great mineral resources. Among those who have attained success and a position · of prominence in connection with farming and stockraising in Choteau county, is the subject of this review, whose well improved and valuable ranch property is located thirty miles southeast of the village of Big Sandy, his postoffice address. Mr. Lehfeldt claims the Fatherland as the place of his nativity, having been born in the vicinity of the famous commercial city of Lubeck, Hol- stein, on February 29, 1853. His father, Hans Henry Lehfeldt, was likewise a native of Germany, whence he emigrated with his family when about forty-four years of age, purchasing and locating upon a farm in the vicinity of Denison, Craw- ford county, Iowa, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1898. His widow now maintains her home at Denison. Her maiden name was Amelia Knak, and she was born in Germany about the year 1831. Of this union eight children were born, of whom seven are living at the present time, Mr. Lehfeldt having been the third in order of birth.

Johannes Lehfeldt attended the public schools in the vicinity of his old home in Germany until he attained the age of sixteen years, when he accompanied his parents in 1870 on their removal to the United States, and was thereafter identified with farming and stockgrowing in Iowa for a period of twenty-six years, his individual efforts having been attended wih success. In 1889 Mr. Lehfeldt came to Choteau county, Mont., locat- ing at Judith, on Arrow river, where he and his wife took up homestead and desert claims, the area

Johannes Lehfeldt

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of the ranch property now aggregating 640 acres. Here he has since been successfully engaged in raising sheep and the cultivation of a considerable portion of the place, producing large crops of hay and grain. The ranch is most effectively ir- rigated from a reservoir covering a tract of twenty acres, and is equipped with the best im- provements throughout, showing the care and dis- crimination used by the progressive and energetic owner. In addition to the home ranch Mr. Leh- feldt owns other valuable ranch property in this section of the county. In 1898 he purchased of M. F. Marsh a farm of 160 acres, which includes the greater portion of the site of the village of Big Sandy, on the line of the Great Northern Rail- road. In this village he has valuable real estate holdings, including the Spokane hotel, of which he is proprietor, together with a butcher shop, a blacksmith shop and seven private dwellings, to- gether with his own residence, a fine modern building of spacious dimensions and attractive architectural design. In the spring of 1901 Mr. Lehfeldt purchased a hay ranch of 160 acres, lo- cated three miles northeast of Big Sandy sta- tion. He is one of the representative men of this section of the state and one whose progressive spirit and business sagacity have enabled him to improve the advantages and opportunities offered, and thus attained a success worthy of the name.

In politics he gives unwavering support to the Republican party and its principles. At Denison, Iowa, on July 10, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Hanson, who was born in Schles- wig, Germany, in the year 1863, and who accom- panied her parents on their immigration to Amer- ica. Of this union seven children have been born, Hugo, Hans, Ella, Alma, Fritz, Carl and Olga.

G H. BLUMANKAMP .- Identified with the industrial enterprises of Choteau county for ten years, and now the owner of a fine ranch in the Milk river valley, G. H. Blumankamp is success- fully engaged in the raising of cattle. He was born on August 27, 1858, in the city of St. Louis, Mo., the son of George Henry Blumankamp, who was born in Germany, in. 1830, and emigrated to the United States when only nineteen. He rendered valiant service as a soldier during the Mexican war, then followed the trade of carriagemaker at St. Louis, where he died in 1896. His wife, formerly

Eleanor Meyers, was born in Germany in 1832. Her death occurred in St. Louis, in September, 1895.

After supplementing his public school education by a course of study in a German-English school at Beardstown, Ill., he was employed in farm work in Illinois for several years. In 1870 he returned to St. Louis and thence went to New Orleans, and in the summer of 1871 devoted his attention to har- vesting in Illinois. He then served four years as an apprentice at carriage painting, in St. Louis, and followed that vocation until 1883, after which he traveled as a salesman for Sharp's Chicago stump- puller. In 1884 he was employed in a wholesale hardware house in St. Louis, after which he re- sumed his trade, which he followed until 1887. He came to Montana in the spring of 1888 and purchased a ranch at the head of Careless creek, in the Snowy mountains. Selling this property in 1887, he was in the employ of the Galloway Cattle Company, at the head of Timber creek, for eighteen months. In 1888 he worked on the sheep ranch of E. K. Fitzgerald, on Roberts creek, after which he cut timber in that section for one season.

In 1892 Mr. Blumankamp came to Choteau county and was employed on the Parrott sheep ranch for three years. In 1894 he bought a half- interest in this outfit and continued its operation until 1899, when he made a trip to the east, and, on his return, located his present ranch, on Milk river, near Dodson station, on the line of the Great Northern Railroad. His place is most eligibly situ- ated, has an abundant supply of water for irrigating purposes, and has been equipped with good im- provements. The ranch yields large crops of hay, but is devoted principally to the raising of high- grade cattle. In politics he is a Republican, and a zealous supporter of its cause. On May 28, 1888, in his native city of St. Louis, Mr. Blumankamp was united in marriage with Miss Lydia A. Weber, who was born in Chicago, on August 1, 1867. They have no children.

JOHN B. BOOTH .- On Big Muddy creek, four- teen miles northwest of Culbertson, Valley county, is located the ably-conducted stock ranch of Mr. J. B. Booth, who has here carried on a successful business for the past decade. Mr. Booth was born in the town of Plymouth, Wayne county, Mich, April 25, 1854. His father, George W. Booth, a farmer by vocation, was born in the

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state of New York, and lived successively in Michi- gan, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa, his death occur- ring at Osceola, Iowa, on August 6, 1889. His wife, also a native of New York, whose maiden name was Helen Britton, died November 7, 1901. Of their eight children, five are now living.

Educated in the public schools of Michigan and Minnesota, John B. Booth, on laying aside his text-books, assisted his father in farming until 1873, when he left the paternal roof, going to Washington territory. There he was employed in the construc- tion of the Northern Pacific Railroad for three years, then was connected with the train service of the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad. In 1879 Mr. Booth located at Frazee City, Minn., where he be- came shipping clerk for R. L. Frazee in liis exten- sive milling business.

In 1881 Mr. Booth came to Miles City, Mont., and for three years hunted buffalo in that vicinity. From 1884 until 1886 he was employed on the Canadian Pacific Railroad, in British Columbia, and in the winter of 1886-87 worked on the Cascade tunnel on the Northern Pacific Railroad. The next spring he went to Williston, N. D., and conducted a stock farm until 1891, when he located on his present ranch and is now successfully engaged in raising sheep, cattle and horses. He gives a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and through his well-directed enterprises is contributing to the progress and prosperity of this section.

F RANK BOSTWICK, of Browning, Teton county, is not only a Montanian by birth, but his father was one of its earliest pioneers. Frank was born at Sun River Crossing, Mont., on De- cember 25, 1862. His father, Henry: Bostwick, was a native of St. Louis, Mo., born in 1829, who came to the country now Montana in 1845, when he was only sixteen. From 1859 until 1877 he served as a Federal scout, and before that he was long engaged in carrying the mail between Salt Lake City, Utah, to Deer Lodge Mont., then an ex- tremely perilous occupation. He was killed on August 9, 1877, in the desperate battle with hos- tile Indians at Big Hole. His widow, Mrs. Eliza- beth Bostwick, died at Fort Benton in 1897. Frank Bostwick received his education at Fort Benton and at St. Peter's mission, leaving the latter in- stitution when he was eighteen years old. He was then employed as a cowboy in Teton county

from 1877 to 1886, and from 1886 until 1890 he was engaged in the same business in the North- west territory. In 1892 Mr. Bostwick secured a fine ranch on Toad creek, lying between North and South Milk rivers, on the Blackfoot reserva- tion, consisting of 1,000 acres of land, all of which is fenced and otherwise improved. In addition to this he has the use of a free range, and the whole is devoted to profitable stockraising. At the Holy Family .mission, in 1887, Mr. Bostwick was mar- ried to Louise, a half-breed Indian girl, and to this union have been born four children, Henry, George, William and Annie, at this writing aged eight, six, four and two years.

W ILLIAM BOWLES, a native of the interest- ing town of Fond du Lac, Wis., interesting because of its extensive trade in grain, iron, lum- ber, etc., and especially on account of its great number of artesian wells, its good boating, fish- ing and other pleasurable accessories which make a popular summer resort, was born in 1858, the seventh of the nine children of Robert and Susanna (Stevens) Bowles. His childhood was spent amid scenes of inspiring beauty and commercial pros- perity, in striking contrasts with his present sur- roundings, but perhaps not more to his advan- tage or his taste.

His father was an Englishman by nativity who immigrated to the United States in his youth and settled in Wisconsin. There he met the comely daughter of the state who became his wife and shared his labors and triumphs through a long and busy life. Their son William, our subject, left home at the age of ten years and went to Jefferson county, N. Y., where he spent eight years in the public schools and secured a good education. After leaving school he spent a sum- mer in Illinois, returning to his home in the win- ter. In 1878 he went into lower Canada, up the Ottawa river to White Partridge, and worked in the lumber camps for about a year. Returning to Jefferson county, N. Y., he farmed two years for himself. He then removed to Fond du Lac, but only remained six months, going thence to north- ern Michigan in the spring of 1881, where he homesteaded eighty acres of land, cultivating it during the next eight years, although for five years he also engaged in railroading. The next three years were spent prospecting in the Marquette

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mining country of Michigan ; and in 1888 he came to Montana, locating in the Yellowstone valley, where he took up a desert claim of 160 acres, three miles east of Park City. This he has well fenced and irrigated, and ninety acres of it is under good cultivation, producing abundant crops of oats and alfalfa. He has also a productive apple orchard and several head of horses. His farm is improved with good buildings and makes a very comfortable and desirable home.

Politically Mr. Bowles is a consistent Republi- can, but does not allow party considerations to influence him in business or social relations, be- ing a gentleman of universal kindness and geniality of manner, with a warm heart and an open hand for every worthy person. He has a brother who is a farmer on the same section of land with him- self. Both of them are well esteemed and enjoy the confidence of all classes.

'HARLES BOYD .- From lumbering in the C woods of Canada to presiding over the affairs and destiny of an American city is a long stride in the advancement of a man, but it is one of such frequent occurrence in our history as to usually excite but little comment. It illustrates most forcibly the possibilities of American manhood and the opportunities afforded the worthy in this great country. The history here suggested is that of Charles Boyd, the mayor of Philipsburg, Granite county, who was born October 14, 1863, in the province of Ontario, Canada, the second of the six children of Alexander and Mary (Sharpe) Boyd, also natives of the dominion. At the age of fifteen he left the public school which he had hith- erto been attending and went to work in the lum- ber woods, where he remained for a year, after which he worked on farms and lumbered at vari- ous places in Michigan and elsewhere until 1883, when he came to Montana. In this state he spent the first five years working in Butte and other places at various occupations. At the end of that time he went to Philipsburg and engaged in team- ing and ranching for a year. Then, in company with his brothers, D. A. and A. J. Boyd, he built a large brick stable and engaged in the livery business, but at the close of the first year of business he sold his interest to his brothers and went into partnership with another brother, William, in butchering, a business which he is

still engaged in. He and his brothers also have a ranch of 640 acres near Philipsburg, on which they conduct an extensive business, and in it and their butchering they are very successful and real- ize handsome returns. Mr. Boyd has a fine home in the town, and is deeply concerned in every- thing that pertains to the welfare of the com- munity, his interests being identified with it and his natural tendency being toward progress and advancement. After serving a term as alderman he was elected mayor of the town in 1898, and in 1900 was re-elected. His fellow citizens find him to be an excellent executive and faithful and in- telligent in the discharge of his official duties.

In political affiliation he is a Republican, but party questions do not warp him in local affairs. Fraternally he is identified with the Red Men, the Foresters and the Woodmen of the World. He was married at Helena in August, 1893, to Miss Annie C. Wyman, daughter of Alfonso and Elizabeth Wyman, of Maine. They have four children, namely: Clarence A., Edna E., Carl and a baby boy. In business relations, in his official bearing, in social life and in general, Mr. Boyd illustrates the best traits of American citizenship, and is justly esteemed and held in high regard by his fellowmen.

J AMES BOYD .- Coming to Montana in 1865 when a mere youth, Mr. Boyd may well be des- ignated as one of the pioneers of the state, and his experiences in the early days were typical of life on the frontier. He is now one of the rep- resentative citizens of Valley county, and is post- master of Boyd postoffice, located on his ranch and named in his honor. Mr. Boyd is a native of New York, was born in Steuben county, Octo- ber 17, 1848, the son of Alexander Boyd, who followed his trade of wheelwright for many years in Wisconsin and Colorado, and died near Den- ver some years since.

James Boyd was reared on the farm of Joseph Spaulding near Janesville, Wis., having been brought by his parents to that state when a mere child. He gave a desultory attendance to the district schools, but in later years, through per- sonal application and active association with the practical affairs of life, he has acquired the best of educations. Crossing the plains to Montana in 1865, when but sixteen years of age, he made

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his way to Virginia City, Mont., and remained in that vicinity about three years. In 1867 he was detailed as a member of the Montana militia to carry the mail between Virginia City and Twenty- five Yard creek. In 1868 he went to Fort Benton as an employe of the Northwest Fur Company, and assisted in building Fort Browning and the post trader's store on Milk river. He returned to Fort Benton in the spring of 1869, and remained near there for two years, when he was employed by Durfee & Peck, post traders at Fort Peck, until 1875. In the fall of 1875 he was appointed deputy United States marshal under J. W. Buck, and held the appointment eighteen months. He joined Gen. Miles at Fort Keogh in 1877, acting as scout during the summer, and in the fall went to Wolf Point, on the Missouri river, where he was employed in the wood yards and in various other capacities until 1884. From 1884 to 1887 Mr. Boyd acted as interpreter at Fort Buford, and was engaged in various other occupations. He then went to Poplar, on the Fort Peck reservation, Mont., and was engaged on a government mail and messenger contract until 1895. In June, 1895, he located his present ranch of 160 acres seven miles from Culbertson, on the Big Muddy creek in Valley county, where he is engaged in stockrais- ing. In 1898 the postoffice of Boyd was established at his ranch, and he was made postmaster, an office in which he has since been retained. He gives an active and zealous support to the Re- publican party, and supports all measures for the advancement of his county and state. On May 10, 1891, Mr. Boyd was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Durand, their marriage being solemnized at Poplar, Valley county. They have one son, William Allison Boyd, who was born April 13, 1898.

W ILLIAM BRAUN .- A man of many occu- pations and startling adventures in some of them, looking upon human life under many skies and in numerous phases, born and reared in New York city, the seething centre of civilization and business enterprise in America, and spending the strength and energy of his mature years for the most part in the wilds of the west, William Braun presents in the record of his life a succession of changes and contradictions, yet all tending to one ultimate purpose, which could scarcely be equaled in any other country on the globe. He first saw

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 97

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