A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 102

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883-
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

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Two years after his marriage Mr. Needham decided to follow the example of his forebears, and to try his fortune in a new country. Accordingly he came alone to Montana and secured a position in the lively mining town of Anaconda as weigher for the Anaconda Com- pany. While in charge of the concentrator he weighed some of the first ore brought in, and for a year he worked for the mining company. He then decided that he would cast his lot in the state, or rather in the territory, of Montana, and he brought his wife to the place and also left the mine to resume the work with which he was most familiar. Entering the Foster Estes Mercantile Company as manager, he remained with the firm for thirteen years, having entire charge of the dry goods department. He then came to White- hall and for a period of three years was with the Mc- Kay & Carmichael Mercantile Company here. Mr. Needham then went into business for himself, and or- ganized the Whitehall Trading Company, of which he is the head. It was not long until he bought the dry goods and the clothing departments of the store in which he had been employed, and his business is now one of the largest and most lucrative in this section of the country. When it is stated that Mr. Needham has attained his present position through his own unaided efforts, no further comment upon his efficiency and business acumen is necessary. He has had the trying experiences which are the portion of the early comers into undeveloped regions, but his confidence in the country has never failed.

Mr. Needham does not confine his activities in the agencies which make for the progress of Whitehall entirely to the commercial field. He is a member of the Episcopal church and an active worker in that body. A man of rare strength and nobility of character, he possesses also the charm of manner which is so strong a factor for popularity, and the combination of these traits makes him a powerful influence in every move- ment for the upbuilding of the city along every line: In the secret orders Mr. Needham belongs to the Masons, and he takes no small interest in lodge mat- ters. At present he is secretary of Whitehall Lodge, and he is also a past master. Civic matters, too, claim a good share of his attention, and he is active in the councils of the Republican party. With all his various occupations he finds time for recreation out of doors, and his ideal of a day off is to shoulder a gun and to stalk some Montana game.

Mr. and Mrs. Needham have four children and three grandchildren. The eldest son, Arthur Joseph Need- ham, has a son, whose baptismal name is also Arthur. Livingston is the home of the younger Needham fam- ily. The older daughter, her mother's namesake, is also married and has a son and a daughter. She was born in 1885, two years after her brother. Her hus- band is Mr. John I. Johnson, station agent at Spencer, Idaho, for the Oregon Short Line. John Estes Need- ham, aged twenty in 1912, is associated with his father in the store at Whitehall, and Dorothy, the youngest is still in school. The young people share in the popu- larity of their parents and bid fair to fill as honored and as useful spheres in the community. Theirs is a heritage of not merely worldly substance but of high principles and of neighborly kindness, the essentials of happy living.

THOMAS J. WALKER. An eminently esteemed and useful citizen of Butte, Montana, Thomas J. Walker is not only an able representative of the legal frater- nity of Silver Bow county, but is prominently identi- fied with public affairs, having served two terms in the state legislature and being now county attorney. A son of David Walker, he was born March 25, 1878, in Plymouth, Pennsylvaia, of excellent Irish ancestry, his paternal grandfather, Lieutenant William Walker, who immigrated from Ireland to the United States, having served as an officer in the Civil war.

Born, reared and married in Pennsylvania, his birth occurring there in 1844, David Walker came with his family to Montana in the early eighties, and was sub- sequently identified with the mining interests in and around Butte until his death, in 1902. He married Ellen Commerford, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1851, a daughter of John Commerford, who was born and bred in Ireland, and on immigrating to America settled in the Keystone state. She is still living in Butte, and is the mother of the following children: Thomas J., with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned; Frank C. Walker, a lawyer now employed in the office of the county attorney, in Butte; Katharine T., widow of John W. Cotter, a well-known attorney of Butte; Mary, wife of Glenn B. Harrington, a prom- inent real estate dealer of Spokane, Washington; and Nellie Walker and Marguerite Walker, attending school in Butte.

Obtaining his preliminary education in the public and parochial schools of Butte, Thomas J. Walker con - tinued his studies in Salt Lake City, Utah, at All Hallows College. Subsequently entering Georgetown University, he spent three years in the classical course and then entered the University of Virginia, where he was graduated from its Law Department, with the degree of LL. B., in 1902, and immediately began the practice of his chosen profession in Butte, where he has met with noteworthy success, having been a leading factor since in the courts of the state. For three years after becoming a full-fledged lawyer he was associated with the well-known firm of McHat- ton & Cotter, but since 1905 he has been in partner- ship with Edwin M. Lamb, and has won a substantial patronage, his practice being extensive and lucrative.

Politically Mr. Walker is a sound Democrat, and in- fluential in the party. He represented his district in the state legislature during the term of 1905 and 1906, serving with acceptability. In 1908 Mr. Walker was elected attorney of Silver Bow county, and in that capacity proved himself so capable and efficient that his constituents gladly returned him to the same office in IgII.

Prominent and active in social and fraternal organ- izations, Mr. Walker is a member of the Country Club: the Silver Bow Club; the University Club; the Lambs' Club; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Order of Eagles; and the Knights of

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Columbus. Religiously he is a consistent member of the Roman Catholic church. He is an ardent sports- man, fond of fishing and hunting, and has been partic- ularly successful in bringing down big game.

Mr. Walker married, June 7, 1905, in Helena, Mon- tana, Maud Galen, whose parents, Hugh and Matilda Galen, were early settlers of Helena, and there spent the last years of their lives.

HENRI J. HASKELL. From the time of the dark days of the great Civil war, in which he acted as a loyal soldier, Henri J. Haskell has done much for each com- munity in which he has lived, this fact being attested by the warm regard and high esteem in which he is universally held. Mr. Haskell was born in Palmyra, Somerset county, Maine, July 20, 1843, and is a son of Aretas and Sophia (Hathorn) Haskell. The early edu- cation of Henri J. Haskell was secured in the Maine Central Institute, at Pittsfield, and when he was nine- teen years of age, in July, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, First Maine Cavalry, joining the Army of the Poto- mac. On securing his honorable discharge, March 31, 1865, he returned home, and after he had recuperated from his wound, engaged in working on his father's farm. In 1867 he left his native state and went to California, where he began to read law in Marysville, with the law firm of Eastman & Merrill until his admit- tance to the bar in that city in 1875. He then continued in practice alone for one year, when he returned to his native state and practiced law in Pittsfield until 1882, which year saw his advent in the little city of Glen- dive, Montana, which has since been his home.

In 1883 Mr. Haskell was appointed deputy clerk of the Third District court, an office which he held until 1886, and in 1887 was appointed deputy district at- torney. In 1888 he was elected county attorney, and he subsequently became a member of the First territorial house of representatives, sixteenth regular session, end- ing in March, 1889, as well as of the constitutional convention.

In 1889 Mr. Haskell was elected attorney general of the state, serving three years during his first term and being reelected to a term of four years. In 1884 he was appointed local attorney for the Northern Pacific Rail- road by his friend, Wilbur Fisk Sanders, a position which he held until 1889, and since that year has been engaged in general practice.

In 1868 Mr. Haskell was made a member of Medidian Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M., at Pittsfield, Maine, and later, in 1885, he became a charter member of Glendive Lodge No. 31, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master. He is also identified with Yellowstone Chapter No. 5, R. A. M., at Glendive, of which he is past high priest; Damascus Commandery No. 4, K. T., of which he is past eminent commander; and Algeria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .. at Helena. Montana; and Chapter No. 5, O. E. S. In politics he is a Repub- lican.

In June, 1883, Mr. Haskell was married to Miss Nellie Towle, a native of Enfield, Grafton county, New Hamp- shire. and two children were born to this union, both of whom died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Haskell married Ella Knowles, who died in 1910, without issue.

FRANCIS F .. FOOTE was born in Ithaca. New York, June 16, 1857, and resided there until 1882, when he came to Montana, settling first in Helena. He re- mained there only three months and then came to Dil- lon, reaching here in May, 1882. This has been his home since that date. After a few months in Dillon he took charge of the Tribune and has managed it continuously all these years. At first it was a very meager plant and only a small four-page paper. To- day it is well equipped and is one of the most modern newspaper plants in the state, as well as one of the

leading papers. Mr. Foote has followed newspaper work all his life, and through his own personal efforts and ability has built up his present business. He has made his own way absolutely.

His first work in the printing business and where he learned his trade was with Andrus McChain and Lyons in Ithaca, New York. But previous to this he earned his first money as a boy working in a grocery store. His early education was received in the public schools of Ithaca and in the night schools. . He at- tended lectures in the evenings.

Mr. Foote is a Republican and is very active in the councils of the party, but he positively refuses to ac- cept office for himself, as his business takes all his time. His paper by its admirable quality reveals the . fact that it receives the steadfast attention of its manager. Mr. Foote is an enthuiastic lover of music.

He was married in Ithaca, New York, April 15, 1880, to Miss Ida May Massey, daughter of Jacob and Fanny Massey of Ithaca. Mrs. Foote belongs to various societies and is an active member of the Bap- tist church.

Mr. Foote's father was Christopher J. Foote, who was born in New York. He ran canal boats on the Erie Canal from Ithaca to New York. He died in May, 1879, at the age of sixty-nine, and is buried at Ithaca. The mother was Abigail S. Foote, who was born June 26, 1816, and died November 12, 1874. The father and mother are buried side by side in Ithaca. There were five children in the elder Foote family, all boys, the subject of this sketch being the youngest.

WILLIAM HASKILL ORR was born in Sherbrook, Canada, on February 5, 1859. His father, Samuel Orr, was a Scot of the city of Glasgow, who came to Canada in his youth, and took up the occupation of farming in the new country, continuing in that occupation until his death in 1906, at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. Orr was married to a young woman who like himself, was born on the other side of the Atlantic, Miss Maryan Johnson, a native of Wales. She was three years his junior but she passed from this life in the same year in which her husband did, and they are buried side by side in Sherbrook. They were the parents of four girls and six boys, and the subject of this sketch is the ninth of the family in point of age.

Mr. Orr attended school in the district where he was born, and at the age of fourteen began his commercial career. He earned his first money at this time carrying water for the Quebec Central Railway. For this serv- ice he received twenty-five cents a day. At the age of eighteen, he graduated from the Sherbrook high school, and the same year left his native place and came into the states. He first settled in Colorado, where he worked for the Boston-Colorado Smelting Company, having a position in their assaying office. He remained with this concern for five years and then came to Montana and began a contracting business in Helena.

The twelve years which Mr. Orr spent in the capital were eventful and prosperous ones. He soon gained recognition as a business man of unusual acumen and was also prominent in the civic affairs of the com- munity. He held the offices of street commissioner, building inspector and inspector of weights and meas- ures while residing in Helena. The Republican party found in him one of its strongest powers, and the organization was prompt to employ his talent for or- ganization and leadership. More than once he was called upon by his party to serve as chairman of the central committee of the county while a resident of Silver Bow, and previous to that time while residing in Lewis and Clark county, he several times filled the same office there.

Mr. Orr left Helena to accept a position in Butte

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with the Great Northern Railway. He had charge of their coal industry, and the vast volume of business which they did both in the wholesale and in the retail lines, was under his exclusive management. His work attracted attention of the O. R. & N. Company, and they induced him to leave the Great Northern to be- come their traveling agent. He was to look after their coal claims in four states, Montana, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. After some time with this company Mr. Orr decided to go into business for himself, and ac- cordingly he opened a real estate office, and for a num- ber of years has been engaged in this line of work, dealing chiefly in farm lands. It is superfluous to say that he has been successful in this undertaking. In fact his business absorbs so much of his time and at- tention that he has ceased to take any active part in politics, but none the less, he is regarded as one of the able counselors of the party, and he is frequently called- into consultation by the leaders who profit by his wisdom and his experience. James A. Garfield was the first president for whom Mr. Orr cast his vote, and he has done a generous share ever since that time to- ward placing the candidates for office into the various posts which the Republican party has filled.

Not only in politics but in lodge circles Mr. Orr has become known for his enthusiasm and his willing- ness to work for the good of the order. He belongs to the Elks, in which body he has passed through all the chairs and is past exalted ruler of the Helena Lodge, No. 193. In the Masonic order of the same city he is a member of Myrtle Lodge, No. 3, and a past chancellor, and in the Queen City Lodge of the Odd Fellows he is a past master. Mr. Orr is a member of the Episcopal church, as is befitting a native of Canada, but he does not find time to take a very active part in the work of that denomination, though he is genu- inely interested in its progress and always ready to advance its interests. His career has been one of achievement and of effort, and he can truly be said to be a contribution to the development of the country.

HENRY A. MEYER was born at Hanover, Germany, on February 1, 1864. He lived in the famous German city until he was fourteen, and in its superior schools laid the foundation of his education. The family came to America in 1878, and Henry continued his schooling in the city of New York until he was six- teen. Here, too, he took his first position as a wage earner, that of clerk in a grocery store, and he kept it until he came to Montana in 1882.

It was in 1883 that Mr. Meyer first embarked in the hotel business, and from the first he made a success of it. A good hostelry is an immense business asset to any community, but in a country where transients and pioneers make up so large a proportion of the popula- tion as in the northwest, the man who feeds and shel- ters the sojourners satisfactorily is nothing short of a benefactor. Mr. Meyer commenced his career in this line with Jacob Tietjen, at Helena, in "The Golden Spike," and the partnership lasted for one year. Mr. Meyer then sold out his interests and went to work for I. Marks, with whom he remained for four years. At this juncture, he was prevailed upon to accept the posi- tion of steward for the Montana Club, and in February, 1889, entered upon the duties of that office. He thus served until August 1, 1903, when he and Mr. Peterson secured a lease on the Helena Hotel. For three years they conducted the place with profit to themselves and satisfaction to their patrons, and then Mr. Meyer bought out his partner. Mr. Meyer's next step was to organize the Capital City Hotel Company, and he continued to run the Helena hotel until the lease expired in 1906. It was at this time that he bought the Grandon Hotel, which is known as one of the finest in Montana. It was one of the first high grade hotels in the state, and, un- like many an old-time favorite, has not been left behind Vol. 17-22

in the march of improvement, but, under its excellent management, maintains the reputation of its best days. Another enterprise of Mr. Meyer's in 1907, was the opening and remodeling (as manager) of the famous Broadwater Hotel, owned by Mr. James Breen and others. This hotel was operated in connection with the Broadwater amusement park during the summer months, and as many were attracted by the remedial benefits of the famous hot spring, as well as by the summer resort features, the hotel had a large patronage. Mr. Meyer is one of the very best hotel men in the state, as well as one of the most popular.

Mrs. Meyer was formerly Miss Sarah Wood, a popu- lar young woman in Helena society. Her marriage to Mr. Meyer took place in Helena on October 7, 1891. There have been three children born of their union; Jesse Henry Meyer, July 30, 1892; Elona Marie, March 17, 1894, and Hobert John, August 13, 1896. The eldest boy is a graduate of the Helena Business College and is now steward of the Grandon Hotel; the daughter is in high school, and the youngest is in the grades.

Mr. Meyer had three brothers and the same number of sisters. One of the latter is dead, Miss Wilhelmina Meyer. Of the others, Ferdinand lives in New York City, as does also Richard. Mary and Katherine re- side in New York, and John resides in Germany with his mother, Marie Swanamann Meyer. She is now seventy-two years old, as she was born in 1840. Her lamented husband, Hartwig F. Meyer, was born in Ger- many in 1832, and died in that country in 1883. He was a farmer and a soldier, as his ancestors were before him, one having been in the battle of Waterloo.

Mr. Meyer is a man of some influence in the Republi- can party, though he has not much time for political activities. He served as alderman from the Seventh Ward from 1901 to 1903. In the lodges he is prominent and popular. He belongs to the Elks, the Eagles and to the Woodmen of the World, besides having taken all degrees in the Masonic order, and being grand treasurer of state in the order of Odd Fellows. He has long been one of the enthusiastic members of the Montana Club, whose affairs he administered so well in earlier days. Both Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are communicants of St. Peter's Episcopal church, and here as in all circles in which he mingles, Mr. Meyer has a gratifyingly long list of friends. Montana claims him as one of her repre- sentative business men, and he is, of course, a thorough Montanian.

FRANK D. SAYRS, prominent in real estate and in- surance circles and police magistrate and justice of the peace in Philipsburg, was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, on March 7, 1855. He is the son of George M. and Mary J. (Ferris) Sayrs. The father was born in New Jersey, and settled in Michigan as a young man, locating on a tract of government land and de- voting the remainder of his life to the improving and working of the farm thus gained. He died in 1858, at the age of fifty-five years. His widow still survives him and lives on the old home place which her father filed on from the government in 1836, and of which she eventually became the owner. They were the parents of two children, Frank D. being the younger. The other, Mrs. Emma Connolly, lives at Hammond, Indiana.

The early education of Frank Sayrs was received in the district school of his locality. In that day the free institution was not yet in vogue, and the schools, such as they were, were maintained by a pro rata sub- scription by the parents of the children. He remained at home until he was nineteen years of age and then went to work on the Michigan Central Railroad, con- tinuing in that manner for eight years. During the last five years of his service with the Michigan Central he worked in the capacity of a conductor, and when he came west, after eight years with the Michigan Cen-

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tral, he entered the same line of work for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He took his first train out of Glen- dive in May, 1882, and has been a resident of the state of Montana continuously since that time. He con- tinued with the Northern Pacific for five years as a conductor, after which he came to Philipsburg, since which time he has made this place his home. The first year he was located in Philipsburg Mr. Sayrs engaged in the clothing business. He sold out in a year's time, however, and thereafter devoted his undivided atten- tion to mining interests for a number of years. His next business venture was in mercantile lines again, and he followed that business for a matter of seven years. For the past eight years he has been engaged in real estate and insurance and conducts a thriving trade in these lines. He maintains his offices in the Sayrs Building, of which he is the owner.

Mr. Sayrs is a Democrat and is always up and do- ing in the interests of the party. He is justice of the peace and police magistrate in Philipsburg, offices which he has held for the past four years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Jackson, Michigan, and is associated with Jackson Lodge, No. 17, Jackson Chapter, No. 3, Jackson Council, No. 8, and Jackson Commandery, No. 9, Knights Templar. He became a Master Mason in 1878 and a Knight Templar in 1880. He also retains his old time membership in the Or- der of Railway Conductors, although it is many years since he has been out of the service. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is prominent and active in all matters tending to enhance the general warfare of the community. Mr. Sayrs is a man who has done a considerable traveling in his day, and he is enthusiastic in regard to the superiority of Montana over other states and countries. He says that from Alaska to Chile, he saw nothing to compare with the state of Montana in climate, hospitality, business oppor- tunities, and all qualities of excellence.

Mr. Sayrs was united in marriage with Miss Amanda L. Erickson at Philipsburg on June 14, 1891. Mrs. Sayrs is a native of Sweden. They are members of the Eastern Star, Pearl Chapter, at Philipsburg, and Mrs. Sayrs served as worthy matron in 1904 and has held offices in the Grand Chapter.

LAWRENCE HAUCK. There is perhaps no more pop- ular or better known man in Philipsburg than Lawrence Hauck, a resident of the state since 1882, and of this city for the greater part of the time since then. Mr. Hauck is actively connected with a number of the more important enterprises known to the city, and has been postmaster since 1899. He is president of the First State Bank of Philipsburg, established in April, 1912, and a principal stock-holder in the institution; he is president of the McClees Jewelry Company, and editor and proprietor of the Philipsburg Mail. In his various business associations he has won to him- self a prominence commensurate with the importance of these several industries, and stands high in the es- teem and regard of the community with which he cast in his lot more than a quarter of a century ago.

Mr. Hauck was born in Germany, on December 22, 1867. He is the son of John and Lena (Koetzner) Hauck. natives of Germany, who have there passed their lives. The father is in the government service and has been for many years, in the capacity of road master. The wife and mother died in 1873, at the age of forty-four years. Of their four children Lawrence Hauck was the second born. One sister, Mrs. F. F. McSpadden, lives in Missoula, Montana.

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 102

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883- Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883-
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002