Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-02-20

Among the many names con-
nected with pioneer days, none IS
more familiar than that of Ben
Holiday, proprietor Of the Over
land Stage Co, that operated the
stage line from AtchisOn, Kan, to
the Pacific, during the early COS
with branch lines TO Boise, and to
Virginia City-the longest stage
line in the world. Yet while his
name was a household word, little
was known of the life of this re-
markable man.
He was Of Virginia ancestry of good
stock, but was born in Kentucky, and
when quite young moved to western
Missouri. Among his relatives were two
such prominent men as Gen. Andrew
Hughes and Frank p Blair.
It is reported that at one time in
Missouri, Holiday was himself stage
driver. However true this may be, he
soon gave up this enticing occupation
to enter business, and became one of
the prominent citizens Of western Mis-
souri,.
Carried $4,000 Stock Of Goods
In 1849 Holiday made the journey
to California; and in the same year,
he, together with a partner, carried
$4,000 worth of goods to Salt Lake
City, which sold at a profit because
Of the intercession in his behalf of
Brigham Young, who advertised both
him and his goods in a sermon, at the
Tabernacle. YOungs friendship for Hol-
laday dated from the surrender of
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young to
Gen. A. w. Doniphan, at which time
Holiday had expressed sympathy for
the condition Of the Mormon women
and children, and had tried to aid
them, Young said in his sermon,
Brother Holiday has a large stock
Of goods for sale, and can be trusted |
as an honorable dealer" This remark |
sold the goods and, 1t is said brought |
Holiday into the Mormon church, |
but on probation. only" For several |
years he was on the frontier, with |
headquarters at Salt Lake.
That Holiday made Salt Lake his |
gives color to the story |
OF his being connected in a way with /
the Mormon church, as at that time I
GentileS were not encouraged to take
up residence in the City of the Saints
All Investments paid OFF,
At 38 years of age, Holiday came
into possession of the Overland Stage
Co., which he acquired through max
ing loans, and the consequent fore
and began to operate it in
1861. Seven years later, he was the
owner OF Is Pacific steamships, trans
porting freight and passengers to ia
pan, China, Panama. and Oregon.
Every enterprise for many years in
which this man engaged brought him
wealth. 1t was not long before he had
house on Fifth avenue, New York
'ity; an office on Wall street; then
| palatial home on the Hudson
'Ophir Farm" later owned by White
aw Reid; and a home in Washington,
, ~ L. IT. +,
)lographer mgenuouSly admits, was
hat he might be on the spot when leg
station affecting his interests came
lefore congress.
In describing the Washington house,
he same writer speaks of the classics
hat adorned-probably in a literal
ense-Holladays fine library, and of
he works of art the house contained.
among others he enumerated two
rome lions, each costing $6,000l'
The artists name is not mentioned,
Tor other description given of these
ostly bronzeS except the number of
ollarS paid for them.
Holidays first wife was Miss Cal
ert, Of Platte county, Missouri. After
Ter death Holiday married a Miss
campbell Of Portland, Ore.
Bent on Accommodating Wealth
Holidays brother-in -law said of
i'm: His whole soul and mind were
ent on accommodating wealth" AL
hough this is undoubtedly true, he was
70 miser, as another testifies, who
new him well. Anxious to get the
est of every bargain, he would often
urn it, with all the profits, to some
riends or deserving man" In other
lords he liked to win the game, but
id not gloat over his success.
A votary of fortune, she, tickle as al
rays, at length altogether deserted
i'm, and Ben Holiday lost the great
r part of his fortune. This was partly
ue to Indian raids Of 1864-1866, when
is stage stations were burned, and his
took stolen. But his undertaking to
uild the Oregon & California rail-
Dad from which he expected to real
Y millinns was the main ca11sa of his u