Montana Senators

THOMAS C. POWER, of Helena, was born on a farm near Dubuque, Iowa, May 22,1839; received his primary education in the common schools, and took a three years' course in civil engineering at Sisisinawa College, Wisconsin; followed his profession summers, and taught school winters for three years; went with a surveying party to Dakota in 1860 and soon thereafter engaged in the mercantile business on the Missouri River, and continued in lhat business until 1867, when he located at Fort Benton, the head of navigation; was President of the "Benton P" line of steamers; also operated a stage line between Helena and Benton from 1878 to 1882; has been a successful stockgrower, as well as a merchant and trader; located at Helena in 1878, and now has varied interests throughout the State, including cattle, mines, mercantile and banking houses; is President of the American National Bank, of Helena, organized in 1890, and owns one of the finest business and office buildings in Helena, which bears his name; also a handsome dwelling; was a delegate-atlarge to the Constitutional Convention held at Helena in January, 1884; was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1888, and was nominated by the Republicans for Governor at the first State election in 1889, and was defeated by Joseph K. Toole, Democrat, by 576 votes; was elected to the United States Senate January 2, 1890, taking his seat April 16 following. His term of service will expire March 3, 1895. Senator Power was married February 13, 1867, to Miss Mary G. Flanagan, of Dubuque, Iowa, bringing his wife to Montana in 1868.

THOMAS HENRY CARTER, of Helena, the first Representative in Congress from the State of Montana, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, October 30, 1854; received a common school education in Illinois; was engaged in farming, railroading and school teaching for a number of years; studied law and was admitted to the bar; came to Helena, Mont., from Burlington, Iowa, in 1882, where he has since resided and practiced law; was elected delegate to the Fifty-first Congress on the Republican ticket from the then Territory, defeating W. A. Clark by 5,126 votes, and being the first Republican elected to that position since 1871. When the State was admitted to the Union Mr. Carter was the unanimous choice of his party for Representative, and was elected, defeating Martin Maginnis, the Democratic candidate, by 1,648 votes. He gained a national reputation in the Fifty-first Congress by his indefatigable work upon the floor of the House; was chosen as Secretary of the Republican National Congressional Committee for the campaign of 1890. Mr. Carter was again chosen by his party as their candidate for Congress, notwithstanding his urgent request that some one else be nominated, but was defeated by W. W. Dixon, of Butte, by a small number of votes. Mr. Carter was appointed in the spring of 1890, by President Harrison, to be commissioner of the general land office. His appointment was received with great satisfaction by the people of the west, who were aware that he was peculiarly fitted by his experience to administrate that department with intelligence and justice to all concerned.

WILLIAM WIRT DIXON, of Butte, who succeeds T. H. Carter as Montana's Representative in Congress, was born at Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1838, and at the age of seventeen began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of Iowa when in his twentieth year; practiced his profession in Iowa for one year, when he moved to Arkansas, where he practiced law another year; went to California, and from there to Nevada, where he practiced four years, coming to Montana in 1866; located first at Helena, but soon after moved to Deer Lodge, where he continued his practice for thirteen years; went to the Black Hills in 1879 ; returning to Montana three years later, he located at Butte, where he has since resided and practiced law. Mr. Dixon, like all Montanans, has mined to some extent; was elected to the Legislature in 1871, and in 1883 was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention held at Helena in January, 1884. He was nominated by the Democratic party to make the race with Carter for congressional honors, and was successful. Mr. Dixon was married to Miss Ida Wilson, of St. Louis, Mo., in 1874.

JOSEPH KEMP TOOLE, Governor of Montana, was born at Savannah, Mo., May 12, 1851; he received his early education in the public schools of St. Joseph, Mo., and afterward attended the Western Military Academy at New Castle, Ky., of which General E. Kirby Smith was Principal. After leaving college he studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Montana in 1869, the year of his arrival in this State; in 1872 he was elected District Attorney of the Third Judicial District of Montana, and was re-elected in 1874; in 1881 he was elected to the Council of the Twelfth Legislative Assembly from Lewis and Clarke County, and was chosen President of the body; he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, which met in Helena in 1884; was the same year elected Territorial Delegate to the Forty-ninth Congress, having Hiram Knowles, Republican, for his opponent; in 1886 he was again elected delegate, defeating Wilbur F. Sanders, now United States Senator. Mr. Toole was in Congress an indefatigable advocate of Statehood rights for Montana. After his congressional service he resumed the practice of law in Helena. In August, 1889, the first Democratic State Convention unanimously chose him as its candidate for Governor; he was elected October 1, 1889, over Thomas C. Power; he took his seat November 8, 1889. Early in 1890 he was united in marriage with Miss Rosecrans, at Washington, D. C, his wife being a daughter of General W. S. Rosecrans. {For Portrait, see Frontispiece.)

LOUIS ROTWITT, Secretary of State, is a native of Germany; was born July 23, 1838; came to America in 1857; served in Fremont's body guard during the war, and in 1866 came to Montana, where he has since resided. Soon after arriving in the Territory Mr. Rotwitt engaged in merchandising and mining, which business he followed until 1879, when he was called into public life. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the Ninth and Tenth Territorial Assemblies, and was County Clerk and Recorder of Meagher County from 1880 to 1889; was chosen by the Republicans to represent his district in the Constitutional Convention, and when the State was admitted to the Union a still higher honor was conferred upon him, being elevated to the office of Secretary of State, which position he now holds. Mr. Rotwitt is a most popular officer, and during his public career has gained a host of friends. He is a single man.

E. A. KENNEY, Auditor of the State of Montana, was born in 1844, at Guilford, Vermont; his parents moved to Meriden, Conn., a few years after his birth; he attended the public schools of that city and afterward attended Yale College; commenced the study of law, but the breaking out of the war changed his plans; entered the army in 1882, enlisting in Company F, Fifteenth Connecticut Infantry, serving through the war and retiring with the rank of Captain. Mr. Kenney was reappointed in the regular army at the close of the war and was stationed at Fort Macon, North Carolina, but resigned and returned home after serving a few months; again enlisted in the regular army at Philadelphia, in 1868, and was stationed with the Second Cavalry at Fort Ellis, near Bozeman; after serving five years received his discharge, when he, with Hugh Hoppy, established a trading post, on the present site of the city of Livingston; three months later sold out and went to Helena; went to Missoula in 1864 and commenced teaching school; taught school three years and a half, when he was elected Sheriff of Missoula County, being the only Republican elected; was married to Miss Pelkey, of Missoula, January 1, 1875. Mr. Kenney was City Marshal of Missoula for several years, and at the time of the convention held in 1889 to nominate candidates for the State offices, held the position of Chief of Police of Missoula ; was elected to the office of State Auditor upon the Republican ticket, and is the first occupant of that office after the admission of the State.

RICHARD O. HICKMAN, State Treasurer of Montana, was born in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky, on November 1, 1831, and was raised and educated in Sangamon County, Illinois. At the age of twenty he went to California and engaged in the mining, livery and express business. He remained in California until September, 1863, when, his health failing, he returned to Springfield, 1ll. On March 1, 1864, he fitted out with ox teams, laden with merchandise, and again started westward, arriving in Virginia City, Mont., in July following, where he resided until his election as State Treasurer.8 He was elected to the sixth session of the Legislature in 1869. la June, 1871, he was appointed Territorial Treasurer, which office he held until 1875, when the capital was removed to Helena and he resigned. In 1876 he was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Cincinnati, and was in the same year re-elected to the Legislature. In 1877 he was again returned by Madison County to the eleventh regular and extraordinary session of the Legislative Council. In 1879 he was one of the five members who went to Benton in order to break a quorum, and thus prevented the passage of exemption and subsidy bills in favor of railroads. He was again elected a member of the House for the thirteenth session, held in 1883, and then introduced the bill calling together the Constitutional Convention of 1884. In 1886 he was again a member of the Council and was chosen President of that body. In 1889 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention which assembled in Helena on July 4th, and was elected8in the campaign of the same year State Treasurer of Montana, which position he now fills. He was married in 1872, at Indianapolis, to Miss Maggie Perrill, and has two daughters.

HENRI J. HASKELL, Attorney General of Montana, was born July 20, 1834, at Palmyra, Somerset County, Me.; came to Montana June 24, 1882, and at the time of his election resided at Glendive, Dawson County; was a member of the House of Representatives in the Sixteenth and last Territorial Legislature, and represented his district in the Constitutional Convention in 1889; was elected Attorney General on the Republican ticket.

JOHN GANNON, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was born at Toronto, Canada, in 1842; when two years old his parents moved to Wyoming County, New York, where he attended the public schools and received the first courses in his education; he afterwards attended the State Normal School at Albany. At the breaking out of the war he answered the call and enlisted July 29, 1861, and served exactly three years in the Army of the Potomac, in the First Brigade, Second Division, Fifth Corps. When he again entered the walks of civilian life fie turned his attention to educational matters; he taught school in New Orleans in 1871-72, following which he taught for eight years in Texas, being Principal of the Third Ward school in San Antonio, Texas, in 1879. In 1880 he came to Montana and took up his residence at Glendale, where he was Principal of the public schools for three years, and the two years following held the same position in the Dillon schools, and was chosen County Superintendent of Schools for Beaverhead County; later he removed to Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, being Principal of the public schools there until his election to his present position at the first State election held October 1, 1889. He was nominated at the Republican Convention which met in Anaconda in August. He moved to Helena and assumed his duties on the admission. He is married and has an interesting family.

HENRY N. BLAKE, Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, was born in Massachusetts June 5, 1838; his schooling, begun in the public schools, was crowned by an especially honorable graduation from Harvard College, with the degree of C. E. B., in 1858; he enlisted in April, 1861. in the Eleventh Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served as Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant and Captain before the close of the war; he was wouuded at the battles of Bull Run and Spottsylvania Court House. He came to Montana in 1866, and was admitted to practice in Montana courts June 1, 1867; was appointed United States Attorney in 1869; was elected in 1871 and again in 1884 District Attorney for the First Judicial District; was appointed Reporter of Supreme Court decisions in 1872; served as a member of the Legislatures of 1874, 1880, 1882 and 1886; was appointed Associate Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court in 1875, and served till 1880; early in 1889 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Territory, and on the assembling of the first Republican State Convention, in August 1889, was nominated Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, and received a majority over Stephen DeWolfe at the election of October 1. 1889. He was married in Boston, January 27, 1870, to Miss Clara J. Clarke; two daughters were born, both of whom are living.

EDGAR N. HARWOOD, first Associate Justice, was born at Ellicottsville, Cattaraugus County, New York, in 1854. While very young his parents moved to Eastern Illinois, and later to Hannibal, Missouri. He studied law in the office of his brother at Hannibal. In 1882 he came to Montana and located in Yellowstone County. He was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1886. It was here he made his reputation as a lawyer, and the result was his election to the Supreme Bench on the formation of the new State.

WILLIAM H. Dewitt, the junior Associate Justice, was born in 1854, and came to Montana in 1879. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1875 and the Columbia Law School in 1878. Since he arrived in Montana he has resided at Butte, where he practiced law till last fall, when he was elected to the Supreme Bench. In March, 1883, he was appointed by President Arthur United States District Attorney, which position he held till 1885, when he resigned. He was elected District Attorney of Silver Bow County in November, 1886, re-elected to the same office in 1888, and was holding that position when he was chosen to fill the office of Associate Justice at the State election in the fall of 1889.

WILLIAM J. KENNEDY, Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court, was born at Bowmanville, Durham County, Canada, April 11,1851, of Scotch-Irish parentage; his education was acquired at the Canadian public schools; he came to Montana April 30, 1880, coming to the United States the preceding June; he made his home at Victor, Missoula County, and engaged in farming; he served as County Commissioner in Missoula County, and was on the County Board at the time of his election to the Constitutional Convention of 1889. After the convention he was nominated for Clerk of the Supreme Court by the first Republican State Convention, held at Anaconda in August, 1889. It maybe truthfully said that Mr. Kennedy neither expected nor solicited the honor of a nomination, but after having accepted, made the contest, being elected by one of the highest majorities.

HIRAM KNOWLES, United States District Judge for the District of Montana, was born in the year 1834 at Hamden, Maine, at the home of his grandfather, his father, who was a sea captain, being absent on a voyage at the time. When but two or three years of age his parents moved to Illinois, locating in Hancock (now Warren) County, where his father resumed the practice of medicine, for which he had been educated. In 1840 his parents moved to West Point, Iowa, at which time the Blackhawk Indians were as plentiful along the Mississippi as Indians have been in Montana for years past; In 1847 his parents moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where, during the war, Dr. Knowles had charge of one of the United States hospitals. In 1850 young Hiram, with his father, having survived the siege of cholera which raged with fury through Iowa in 1849, left for the Pacific coast, reaching Hangtown (now Placerville), California, July 22. His father purchased a stock of goods and opened a store about seven miles below Hangtown, and placed his son in charge, while he practiced his profession. The father8s health failing, they started on the return trip to the States, going by way of Central America, in which country they spent two months, during which time they, with a party of Americans, circumnavigated Lake Nicaragua. They reached home in March, 1851. Hiram entered college at West Point, but was taken sick and compelled to stop; afterward entered the Denmark Academy, from which institution he graduated; also attended Antioch College, in Ohio, two years; went to Mississippi in 1857, where he taught for about six months in the Pine Land Academy ; entered the office of Messrs. Rankin & Miller as a law student of Judge Miller; was admitted to the bar at Keokuk in 1859, and in the fall of that same year entered Cambridge Law School, at Cambridge, Mass., graduating in 1860; returned to Keokuk, and commenced practicing, and in 1862 came to Montana; was appointed District Attorney for Humboldt County, Nevada, by Orrian Clemens, a brother of 80Mark Twain," at that time Secretary and acting Governor ; was elected Probate Judge of that county; went to Idaho City in 1865, and with Frank Ganahl opened a law office, where they practiced until 1866, when Mr. Knowles again returned to Montana, being attracted by the reported gold discoveries at Elk Creek and Bear Gulch. Purchasing an interest in a mine at Deep Gulch, he worked all summer as windlassman. Having learned, about the time of leaving Idaho, that his mother was in poor health, and having received no news all summer, he sold out his interest in the mine and returned to his old home, but learned on the way that his mother had died. While in Iowa, undetermined as to his next move, he was appointed Associate Justice of Montana. He remained upon the Supreme Bench for eleven years and one month, resigning in 1879. Judge Knowles was married to Miss Mary L. Curtis, at Athens, Ohio, April 12, 1871, and moved at once to Dser Lodge, where they made their home until 1882. Six children, four of whom are living, have been barn to them. In 1881 Judge Knowles associated with him John F. Forbis, and practiced law at Butte until appointed United States District Judge by President Harrison, in 1890; was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1889, and was a prominent member of the Committee on Judiciary

ELBERT D. WEED, United States District Attorney for the District of Montana, was born December 1,81858, in Allegany County, New York, of American parentage. His parents moved to Wisconsin when he was but six years of age ; attended the district school, and afterward graduated from Lawrence University, at Appleton, Wis., with the class of 1880; attended the State University at Madison, Wis., taking a law course; commenced the practice of his chosen profession at Oshkosh, Wis., in 1881, where he remained until coming to Helena in 1883. Mr. Weed has been eminently successful at the bar, and has frequently been honored with responsible offices; was Deputy District Attorney for Lewis and Clarke County in 1885 and 1886; was Assistant United States District Attorney from 1886 to 1888, and when Montana was admitted as a State Mr. Weed was appointed by President Harrison as United States District Attorney, the commission being issued March 14, 1889. Mr. Weed is a single

JAMES H. MILLS, Collector of Internal Revenue for the District of Montana, was born at New Lisbon, O., December 21, 1837, of American parents. The removal of his family to Pittsburgh, Pa., enabled him to receive a common school education, which was later augmented by practical commercial experience. His first business venture was in the sale of timber in Elk and Jefferson Counties, which offered a field for profitable operation up to the commencement of the rebellion. On the call for men Mr. Mills enlisted in the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Early in his war service he was promoted to a First Lieutenancy, and later was breveted Major and Lieutenant-Colonel. Shortly after being mustered out of an honorable service he started westward, joining a party which started from Omaha, and, traversing the Tongue River and Bozeman route, arrived in Helena early in 1866. He mined for a time in Emigrant

Gulch, but in 1867 went to Virginia City and founded the Montana Post, the first paper published in the Territory. In June, 1868, Captain Mills located in Deer Lodge, and founded the New Northwest, which has grown until it is to day the strongest and most widely quoted weekly journal in Montana. Captain Mills has always been active in the Republican councils, but has never been a seeker of political emoluments. He was appointed Secretary of Montana by President Hayes, and after serving one term declined a reappointment. He served as a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and was nominated for membership in the Constitutional Convention of 1889, but withdrew his name to accept the position of Collector of Internal Revenue for this district, which comprises Utah and Idaho, besides Montana. He was commissioned June 4. During twenty-two years of active life in Deer Lodge County Captain Mills has become one of the best known men of the State, and no man commands more universal respect.

GEORGE O. EATON was born in Warren, Knox County, Maine, May 14, 1848; was educated at the public schools of Maine, the United States Military Academy at West Point, N. Y., and the Columbia College School of Mines, New York City. Served as private in Company " I," Fifteenth Maine Volunteers, in 1864-65, and as Second and First Lieutenant in Fifth United States Cavalry, 1873-81. During his service in the Regular Army his name was, upon two different occasions, sent by President U. S. Grant to the United States Senate, calling attention to "conspicuous gallantry" in Indian fights. During the last four years of his service in the Regular Army he was also engaged in the cattle business in Wyoming.Resigning from the army in 1881, he came to Montana, where he has since followed the business of mining. He was a member of the Montana Constitutional Conventions of 1884 and 1889, and a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago, 1888.He was appointed United States Surveyor-General for Montana by President Benjamin Harrison, in September, 1889.

GEORGE W. SPROULE, Clerk of the United States Circuit and District Courts for the District of Montana, was born in Petaluma, Sonoma County, California, October 27, 1858, of American parents. He attended the public schools of Petaluma until he was seventeen years of age, when he moved to Virginia City, Nevada, in the prosperous days of that great camp. He learned assaying, and was employed at the mines of the Consolidated Virginia and California until 187T. In 1877 he commenced the study of law, and in 1879 went to Bodie, California, where he acted for a time as Clerk of a Justice Court, but was afterward appointed Constable and Deputy Sheriff of Bodie County. Later, he was appointed Assistant Postmaster of Bodie. He removed to Portland, Oregon, in 1882, and was admitted to the bar in 1883. In 1884 he went to Eagle, Idaho, remaining there about a year. In 18So he went to Butte; was appointed Clerk of the Probate Court of Silver Bow County in 1886. When the State of Montana was created, and the attendant judicial positions made, Mr. Sproule was appointed Clerk of the United States Circuit and District Courts for this district, receiving his appointment in March. He is married. His politics are Republican.

WILLIAM F. FURAY, United States Marshal for the District of Montana. was born January 14, 1860, at Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio, of Irish parents. He attended country school six months each year until he was fifteen years of age. At the age of twenty-two he came West, and was employed as clerk in the offices of the Union Pacific Railway Company at Ogden, Utah. After eighteen months service with the railway he went to Omaha, where he purchased horses for the Military Bridge Company. He then moved to Anaconda, Montana, and for two years was chief clerk in the general merchandise house of St. Clair, Caplice & Co.; was appointed Deputy Clerk and Recorder of Deer Lodge County, and two years later was elected County Clerk and Recorder. On July 1, 1890, he was appointed United States Marshal by President Benjamin Harrison, succeeding George Irvin, II. Mr. Furay is what might be called a hard-working official, and takes unusual interest in his work. Politically he has always been a Republican, and active in party work. He is a single man.

JOHN EZRA RICKARDS, Lieutenant-Governor of Montana, was born in Delaware City, Delaware, July 23, 1848; is of American parentage; his education was obtained in the common schools of his native State, but Mr. Rickards gives to experience the credit for his knowledge and accomplishments; he has, since leaving his native State, resided in Pennsylvania, Colorado and California, coming from the latter State to Montana, arriving here in October, 1882. He is a merchant by occupation, and is prominent in Butte commercial circles He has taken an active interest in public affairs, first serving as Alderman in the Butte Council, and subsequently as member of the Territorial Council and in the Constitutional Convention. He was nominated by the first Republican State Convention for Lieutenant-Governor, being elected at the election of October 1, 1889. Mr. Rickards is prominent in fraternal and church affairs, fie is Supreme Representative for Montana of the order of Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was elected lay delegate to represent Montana in the last General Conference of the world, held in New York City in 1888. Speaking of this last named event, Mr. Rickards says: "This I consider the highest honor ever bestowed upon me." Mr. Rickards is married and has five children living, and three have died and are buried in Butte. Mr. Rickards is an enthusiastic Moutanian, and expects to end his days in Montana.

ALBERT L. BABCOCK, of Billings, Yellowstone County, who occupied a seat in the first Senate in session after admission, was born at Albany, N. Y., December 22, 1851; his father moved to Illinois, locating on a farm near Pontiac in 1856, where the now Senator passed his boyhood days ; attended district school during the winter months; at the age of sixteen went into a printing office as an apprentice, but abandoned the trade after awhile and secured a situation as a clerk in a country store ; continued clerking until he was twentytwo years of age, when with the small amount he had saved he commenced business for himself, meeting with success which has been continuous to the present time; came to Montana in May, 1882; was County Commissioner of Yellowstone County from 1885 to 1889, and was Chairman of the Board from 1888 to 1889; was elected to the State Senate on the Republican ticket at the first State election; was appointed Aide-de-camp on the Governor's staff, with rank of Colonel, by Governor B. Piatt Carpenter.

O. W. BAYLIES, of Ubet, Fergus County, was born at Southbridge, Mass., February 6, 1855, of American parentage. He was educated in the common schools of his native State. He came to Montana ten years ago, and for the last six years has been connected with the firm of Stephens & Baylies in the stock-growing business. He was elected to the Senate upon the Republican ticket in 1890, when he had his first experience in public life. He is a married man..

W. S. BECKER, of Glendive, Dawson County, was born in Salem, Dallas County, Ala., December 15, 1855. His parents left the South after the war and located at Aurora, 1ll., where the subject of this sketch received a common school education. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, and has ever since followed railroading, his present occupation; went to Wyoming at the age of twenty-two, and in 1879 was married to Miss K. D. Bosworth, at Sherman, Wyo.; removed to Colorado in 1880 and came to Montana in 1882; was elected to the Senate in 1889 by the Democratic party of Dawson County, and is serving with credit to himself and his constituents.

LAWRENCE A. BROWN, of Dillon, Beaverhead County, was born in Georgia in 1829, of revolutionary parentage. In 1850 he went around the Horn to the Golden Gate, and in 1858 was admitted to practice in the courts of California. From California he went to Nevada, and thence to Utah. He was the first Gentile to fill the office of Probate Judge of Tuele County, being elected, but only obtained the office after a prolonged contest; was afterwards County Attorney of Tuele County. He moved to Montana in 1879, and made his residence in Butte, and served that city as Attorney, but resigned before the expiration of his term. Subsequently he was elected a member of the fifteenth and sixteenth Legislative Assemblies, representing Beaverhead County. In 1889 he was chosen Senator from Beaverhead County, and sat at the memorable first session of the State Senate. He was a member of the Senate during a portion of its second session, but resigned on February 2d. He is a Republican; he is at present mining and farming in Beaverhead County, having been successful in both avocations; he is married.