Page 240 - Cornelius Hedges Story

227 The Cornelius Hedges Story

Daniel Chase Corbin, arrived in Montana in 1865. He was active
in freighting, and ventures such as banking and mining. Joined in
organizing the Helena Mining and Reduction Company. In 1886 Corbin
built his first railway connecting the mines to the Northern Pacific.
Legal considerations led him to run the line east from Spokane rather
than west from Montana. During the next decade Corbin built a series
of lines connecting Southeastern British Columbia with the railways
passing through Spokane. Daniel Chase Corbin played a major role in
the growth and prosperity of Spokane, the economic and geographic
center of the Inland Northwest.
F. C. Deimling, Postmaster, Notary Public, member Territorial
legislature. Deimling became a Master Mason in 1866 in Virginia City
No. 1.

B. Piatt Carpenter, from New York. 1837. He graduated from Union
college in 1857, and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. In the same
year he was elected district attorney of Dutchess County, and in 1864
was appointed Internal Revenue Assessor for the 12th (now 16th)
Congressional District, holding the office until 1869. He was elected
a member of the New York state Constitutional Convention, and in
1872 of the Republican State Convention. In 1875 he was elected state
senator, and in 1877, declining reelection, was chosen county judge.
He was commissioned governor of Montana in 1884, succeeding Gov.
Crosby, and preceding Gov. Hauser.
William A, Chessman, arrived Montana in 1865. He went first to the
gold diggings at Alder Gulch (Virginia City), then migrated to Last
Chance Gulch (Helena). he was prominent in early mining operations,
and in 1875 built a bedrock flume which was used for reworking old
ground and tailings in Last Chance Gulch. He organized and became
president of the Helena Consolidated Water Company in 1889. He was
vice-president and one of the original backers of the Helena Electric
Street Railway Company, head of the Bald Butte Mining Company, and
had interests in cattle ranching. Chessman became a Master Mason on
8/10/1874 in Helena Lodge No. 3 he served as Worshipful Master in
1879, 1884, 1885 and 1886.
Henry Elling, opened a store in Virginia City with Julian Knight. Elling
later moved to Helena where he started another store. After 1873 he was
predominantly a banker. He established the Banking House of Henry
Elling, a private bank. He also helped organize banks in a number of
other communities. In 1899 Elling reorganized his Virginia City bank
as the Elling State Bank. He received his degrees in Virginia City Lodge
No. 1, in 1867. He served as Lodge Treasurer and Worshipful Master.
He was elected as Grand Treasurer in 1869 and again in 1870.