Montana Pioneer Came to Billings in 1880 as N. P. Civil Engineer; Was Long Identified With Projects That Hastened Development of City and Surrounding Territory.
Henry Ward Rowley, prominent Billings financier and community builder, who had been a leader in the business and civic life of the Midland Empire since he came to Montana as a civil engineer with the Northern Pacific railway in 1880, died at his home, 106 Clark avenue, after a long illness, at 6:20 o’clock Thursday morning.
Nearly two months ago, Mr. Rowley was stricken with pneumonia and while he gradually wore out the attack, he was left with a weakened heart and dropsical conditions developed. He had been gradually failing for the last four or five days before his death. Mr. Rowley was 72 years old last October.
Private funeral services for the family only will be held at the Rowley residence at 1:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon, after which services will be conducted at the First Congregational church starting at 2 o’clock, with the Rev. W. T. Renison, pastor of St. Luke’s Episcopal church, in charge. Ashlar lodge No. 29, A. F. & A. M., will conduct committal services at Mountview cemetery, The private services at the home will be in charge of the Christian Science church.
From the early days of Billings, Mr. Rowley became the leader and directing force in the construction of community improvements and public utility projects which included the Big Ditch irrigation canal, and the first city water and electric power system. He was instrumental in the building of a number of business blocks, including the Northern hotel, and he was active in the banking field; both in Billings and Seattle.
Two Children at Deathbed.
During his illness; members of his family who live away from Billings have been here, although at the time of his death only two children, Hugh Rowley and Mrs. C. D. Rowe, were at his bedside with Mrs. Rowley. A son-in-law, Leslie F. Miller, was also here, Mrs. Miller having returned to Minneapolis about a week ago.
Out of respect to his memory, the Hilands Golf club, of which he was a member, postponed the interclub match with the Billings Golf and Country club from next Sunday until July 12. The Billings Commercial club, with which he had long been associated, paid respect by placing its flag at half mast.
Born In New York.
Mr. Rowley was born at Newton, in Oneida county, New York, on Oct. 1, 1858. His father was a farmer and lumberman. When he was 10 years old, the family moved to Farmington, Minn., where he finished his education in the public schools. He then attended the University of Minnesota, -taking courses in civil engineering.
Following his graduation, he accepted a position with the Northern Pacific railway as a civil engineer and came to Montana in the spring of 1880 to work on the surveys then being made for the Construction Of the lines through Montana. For the next -two years, Mr. Rowley took part in the building of the railway lines through Montana.
Shortly after the formation of the Minnesota and Montana Land and Improvement company by a group of Northern Pacific officials and stockholders, who purchased the land for the Billings townsite and a large acreage of farm lands in the Clark’s Fork bottom, Mr. Rowley entered Its employ.
When the company undertook the building of the irrigation canal to water lands from Park City to Billings, Mr. Rowley was placed in charge of the construction of the canals. Although the ditch was built on the gravity system with few engineering difficulties, the project was
the largest that had ever been undertaken in Montana up to that time, watering 30000 acres of land. Mr. Rowley remained in charge of the system for a year after the construction.
Active In Irrigation Work.
Many years later, he took an active part in the organization of the Billings Land and Irrigation company which built the irrigation system for the lands on the Billings Bench. northeast of Billings. After coming to Billings, Mr. Rowley had also been engaged more or less in the real estate business and in other local enterprises, He helped to interest Capt. Henry Belknap, a Boston capitalist who had extensive cattle Interests in northern Wyoming, in building the Belknap building.
In 1885, he became secretary and manager of the Billings Water Power company of which Captain Belknap -was the principal stockholder. The company under his active direction built the city water system which also furnished Billings with electric power and after its construction, he continued to manage it. A number of years later Mr. Rowley purchased the -controlling interest from Captain Belknap. The electric power system was purchased about 1904 by the Montana Power company. Mr. Rowley remained the principal owner and president of the water system until -1916 when it was bought by the city 7 of Billings and reconstructed into the present municipal water system.
About 1890, Mr. Rowley, with I. D. O’Donnell and others, organized the Suburban Homes company which took over the remaining properties of the original tcwnsite from the Minnesota and Montana Land and Improvement company. Mr. Rowley was president of this company and also of the Billings Realty company, which owned considerable town and suburban property in the, north and west part of the city. These companies still have considerable real estate holdings.
Leader In Banking Circles.
Mr. Rowley was one of the Organizers of the Merchants National bank, and served as one of Its directors. He was also associated as a director with -its successors, the Yellowstone Merchants National bank and the Midland National bank.
Mr. Rowley was one of the organizers of the Billings Sugar company. which was taken over by the Great Western Sugar company when the Great Western came in here less than a year later. The Billings Sugar company was organized with the view of aiding in development of irrigated lands in this area through cultivation of sugar beets.
He was also one of the directors and one of the largest stockholders in the First National bank of Seattle, which he assisted M. A. Arnold In Organizing. The bank of recent years was combined with others in the First Seattle Dexter-Horton bank of which Mr. Rowley was also a director. Nor a number of years, he was a director of -the Helena branch of the Federal Reserve bank of Helena.
In 1903, Mr. Rowley built the Northern hotel, which has remained under his supervision, one of the principal hostelries of the northwest. The lobby was rebuilt about 1912 and a third story was added later. Mr. Rowley was president of the Billings Investment company, the holding company for the hotel. Several years ago, the hotel was further expanded to take in the top floor of the adjoining Belknap building, owned by Mr. Rowley and M. A. Arnold.
In 1910, Mr. Rowley and J. B. Arnold organized the Rowley-Arnold company for the purpose of buying and owning real estate. The company built the Northern garage property which was recently told and at the present time owns a business block at the corner of Twenty-ninth street and First avenue north, the Marshall apartments and other city property. The organization also owns valuable irrigated land near Billings.
The Billings Traction company was organized by Mr. Rowley, T. A. Snidow and J. B. Arnold in September, 1911, with David Gunsberg, a Buffalo, N. Y., capitalist, as one of the principal owners. It operated a street car system in Billings for several years ~nti1 the growing use of automobiles made it unprofitable.
Among other local property interests of Mr. Rowley was the ownership of the building occupied by Vaughn & Ragsdale store. He was also a stockholder in The Billings Gazette. Throughout his long residence in Billings, Mr. Rowley was active in civic and community enterprises. He was elected to the first city council when the city was incorporated in1885 and he also served in the early days as a member of the school board.
He was a heavy contributor to various community organizations as charities. He took an active part the work of the Billings Commercial Club, and served at different times as director. He had been a member of the earlier chamber of commerce organizations in the city, serving both as president and director. He was leader in the activities of the Associated Industries of Montana.
He was a member of the Pioneers of Eastern Montana, and was greatly interested. in its work of preserving historical material, although he seldom spoke of his own part in stirring days of the frontier. He had been recently selected as a member of the executive committee to have charge of plans for celebrating the semicentennial of the founding Billings next year.
Was Ardent Sportsman.
In his early days, Mr. Rowley was an ardent sportsman and frequently took long hunting trips. He retain his interest in outdoor life in spite advancing years. After becoming connected with the banking business in Seattle, he established a summer home at Port Madison across the bay from the city. He was a member of the Rainier club of Seattle and the Seattle Yacht club and the Hilands Golf club here. Of recent years, he spent a month or two each winter in California but for the most part, spent the remainder of his time at Billings. Two years ago, he took an extensive trip through the east and by way of the Isthmus of Panama to Mexico and California.
Mr. Rowley was an active and life member of several Masonic bodies He had been a member of Ashland lodge, No. 29, A. F. & A. M., since 1891, filling the various offices, including that of worshipful master. He was a life member of Billings Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons filling the various offices, including high priest. He was also a life member of Aldemar commandery, Knight Templar, and had been elevated to the position of eminent commander. He was created a noble in the Mystic Shrine in Algeria temple in Helena, and with the formation of Al Bedoo temple in Billings, became a charter member here.
He gave liberally of his time at financial support toward the erection of the present Masonic temple, one time he was president of the board of directors of the Mason Temple association of Billings, having previously served on the board a director.
Mr. Rowley was married on May 1883, to Miss Harriett Meeker, who survives. They were the parents of six children of whom five are living: Mrs. Leslie F. Miller, Minneapolis, Mrs. C. D. Howe, Billings; Hugh Rowley, Seattle; Farr B. Rowley, Yakima Wash., and Henry N. Rowley, La Forest, Ill. Jules Rowley died while a small boy.
Contributed by Nancy R. Nissen, June, 2000
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