A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 111

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

USA > Montana > A history of Montana, Volume II > Part 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Charles Barker married, in Montana, Mary Link, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, and as a girl came across the plains with her parents in a wagon. The trip was long and dangerous, hostile Indians frequently besetting their path. On one occasion, while the wagon train was halting, Miss Mary took it upon herself to visit a nearby Indian camp for the purpose of trading supplies, such as soap and other sundries, for furs. On leaving the camp she was followed by an Indian buck, who, as she hastened her steps, started for her on a run. Fear aided her in her flight, and she reached the train completely exhausted, but safe from her pursuer, her experience on that day never being forgotten. Ten children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barker, namely: Minnie, wife of Finley McClintock, the oldest rancher in Rockville, Montana; Sophia, wife of David Watson, of Cabot, Pennsylvania: John, of Canyon Ferry, Mon- tana; Frank, engaged in blacksmithing in Joliet, Mon- tana; Clara. wife of Charles Shaw, of Townsend, Montana: Charles, a mine operator in Stark, Missoula county ; Edward, a rancher in Roberts, Montana; Ada, a stenographer in Townsend; Ralph, living with his mother on the home ranch; and Elizabeth, the special subject of this brief personal review. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Barker became the wife of E. L. Earl, a successful rancher.

Scholarly in her tastes and ambitions, Elizabeth Barker received excellent educational advantages, after leaving the common schools attending the Townsend high school, and the State Normal School. Entering then upon a professional career, she taught school most successfully for eight years. five years being associated with the public schools of Townsend, and for three years teaching in surrounding towns.

In the fall of 1910, Miss Barker. whose reputation as an educator was well known, had the distinction of being nominated as superintendent of the schools of Broadwater county. and was elected as a nominee of the Republican party, notwithstanding that the county is strongly Democratic, her splendid record as a scholar and teacher, and her courteous, pleasant man- ner, being without doubt responsible for her victory at the polls. Her service since accepting her present position has been equally meritorious, reflecting credit upon her ability, discretion and judgment. Under Miss Barker's supervision the schools of the county have made progress in many directions, ranking high among similar institutions in the state, and she is

1215

HISTORY OF MONTANA

deservedly popular with teachers, pupils, parents, and with all interested in educational matters.

HON. ALBERT L. BABCOCK. It is given to few men to witness during their mature life such a transforma- tion and to participate along so many practical lines in the erection of such a city as Billings as has been granted to the Hon. Albert L. Babcock, one of the most versatile and enterprising business men and bank- ers of the city, who, aside from the engrossing cares of extensive private interests, has found time to serve his fellow citizens with distinction in various public trusts. Born at Albany, New York, December 22, 1851, Mr. Babcock is a son of William C. and Julia (Lawrence) Babcock, natives of New York and descendants of families, members of which had for many years been prominent in civil and military history. The family removed to the then far west in 1856, taking up their . abode on a farm near Pontiac, Illinois, where the father, William C. Babcock, was engaged in agricultural pur- suits for a number of years and later moving to Pontiac, engaging in the mercantile and grain business until his death, February 14, 1876.

Albert L. Babcock was reared in his native vicinity and his education was secured in the district school near his father's little farm. Like most farmers' sons, he was engaged in the work of the farm during the summer months, but when he was fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to the printer's trade, working for several years in the office of a country newspaper. This vocation, however, did not suit the ambitious youth who chose instead a mercantile career, and was s0011 a salesman behind the counter of a country store. Thrifty and industrious by the time he had reached his majority he was possessed of several hun- dred dollars saved from his wages, and with this capi- tal added to the savings of a young man friend, he entered the field of business on his own account in 1873, engaging in the grocery business at Pontiac under the firm name of Babcock & Lobdell. Although he had only the experience he had gained as a clerk, he made a success of his initial venture, and continued to carry on that business until 1882, which year saw his advent into Billings, his keen foresight, which has characterized his life ever since, having told him that great opportunities awaited those who had the ability and the courage to establish themselves in the new city. In partnership with A. W. Miles, now of Living- ston, this state, the two young men opened a small hardware store and tinshop, and as finances permitted and the trade demanded, additions were made to the stock and facilities, and in 1892 the venture had grown to such proportions that a stock company was formed, the A. L. Babcock Hardware Company thus having its inception. This eventually developed into one of the largest wholesale hardware houses in the middle west, and Mr. Babcock remained its active head until 1903, in which year he disposed of his interests to outside parties and later organized the Babcock-Fraser Com- pany, of which he has since been president. In 1895 Mr. Babcock erected the Yellowstone Valley flouring mill, with a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels per day, which was increased to two hundred barrels per day when the mill was incorporated under the style of the Billings Milling Company, of which lie was the president. The greater part of the product of this mill was sold in Montana, but the business also had a large business outside of the state. In 1910 this company was succeeded by the Russell Miller Milling Company of Minneapolis. In 1895 Mr. Babcock erected the Billings Opera House, in company with other pro- gressive men, and he was manager thereof until 1906. During 1907 the Babcock office and theatre building was erected by him, one of the finest business blocks in the state. In this is located one of the handsomest theatres to be found in the west, its appointments being luxurious and its facilities modern in every respect.

In 1895 Mr. Babcock was the organizer of the Billings Telephone Company, of which he was the president until it was sold to the Bell Telephone Company. He was also one of the founders of the Yellowstone Na- tional Bank, served two years as its vice-president, and in 1893 was elected to the office of chief executive, and has acted as such to the present time. For some time he conducted a branch of his hardware store at the Crow Agency, Montana, and was president of the Babcock and Miles Company, at Two Dot, Meagher county. His interests have been of a varied and ex- tensive nature, but he now gives the greater part of his attention to enterprises of a financial nature.

Politically, Mr. Babcock has always been a stanch adherent of Republicanism, and his activity in public life has been only equalled by his prominence as a business man. He has been chairman of the county central committee during a number of campaigns, served as chairman of the board of commissioners of Yellow- stone county from 1885 to 1889, and was elected as the first senator from Yellowstone county in the first legislative assembly upon the admission of Montana to statehood in 1889. He served in the lower house from 1892 to 1894 and again in the senate from 1894 to 1898, acting as an influential member of the com- mittee on arid lands and other important bodies. In addition he served on the military staffs of Governors White, Toole and Richards, with the rank of colonel. Mr. Babcock has found time to take a decided interest in fraternal work, and holds membership in the lodge, chapter, commandery and Mystic Shrine of Masonry, filling various chairs in a number of these, and being elected grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templars of Montana in 1894. He also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and served for some time as exalted ruler of Billings lodge when it was first organized in 1897.

On September 12, 1877, Mr. Babcock was united in marriage with Miss Antoinette Packer, of Pontiac, Illinois, and one son has been born to them. It is seldom that the son inherits the father's sterling quali- ties, but it looks as though his father's mantle has fallen upon the younger man's shoulders. He is a graduate of Shallock Military school, of Minnesota, and of the University of Chicago. On January 1, 1907, after having a number of years of experience in the A. L. Babcock Hardware Company's offices, he was elected vice-president of the Yellowstone National Bank, which position he now holds and he also served in a like capacity for the Babcock-Fraser Company. On January 3, 1901, he was married to Miss Josephine Twyman, of Chicago, and they have had two children: Lawrence Twyman and a little daughter, Caroline Antoinette.

J. HARRIS RUSSELL, M. D. One of the leading votaries of the healing art in Montana, with a thor- oughly established reputation in his profession, is Dr. J. Harris Russell, of Cascade, proprietor of the Cascade Hospital and of the only retail drug establishment in the city, who has also given the city the benefit of his abilities in the line of public service. Dr. Russell, like many others of Montana's successful professional men, came from the state of Maine, having been born in Aroostook county, June 29, 1862, a son of Henry and Easter (Crouse) Russell. His father, a native of New Brunswick, spent his life in farming, and died at Norway, Maine, in 1906, when eighty-two years of age, while his mother, born in June, 1837, in New Bruns- wick, still resides at Norway. Twelve children were born to them, the doctor being the fifth in order of birth, while three children died prior to his birth.

J. Harris Russell was educated in the public and high schools of Washburn, Maine, graduating from the latter in 1879. In 1880 he made six voyages across

1216

HISTORY OF MONTANA

the Atlantic, spending considerable time in England and on the continent. The doctor was in England when the sad news of the assassination of President Garfield was announced to the world, and never will forget the impression made upon him at that time by the profound sympathy and deep regret expressed by the English people in general. Another incident of national inter- est which occurred during one of his visits to England in the same year was the winning of the derby by Iroquois, the first American horse to win that event. While in France he became acquainted with a Mr. John- son, a Minnesota importer and breeder of Percheron horses, who was purchasing agent for M. W. Dunham of Illinois. Of him he learned of the great opportuni- ties in the west for young men, and accompanied him to Illinois where he staid one year and then in 1882 came to Beaverhead county, and located near Dillon where he secured employment as a cowboy on the range for Poindexter & Orr, which occupation he fol- lowed for eight years. At the end of that period he came to Great Falls and erected the first greenhouse in that city which he conducted until 1893, and then spent four more years near the same city at market garden- ing. In 1897 he returned to the east, and in 1900 entered the Maryland Medical College, from which he was graduated in June, 1904. He remained in the practice of his profession for one year in Baltimore, being assistant demonstrator of obstetrics in his alma mater and chief of clinic to the chair of diseases of ear, nose and throat. On his return to Montana, he lo- cated first at Fort Benton, where he was engaged in prac- tice for two and one-half years and was surgeon to St. Clare hospital and county physician of Chouteau county, and since that time has resided in Cascade. His skill in his chosen profession was soon recognized, and his business has grown from the start, each year showing a healthy increase. The Cascade hospital is a well organized institution, and under the doctor's able man- agement has become a leader in its field. In the line of public service Dr. Russell's activities have been such as to give him a foremost position among those who are aiding in developing the city's interests. He is acting in the capacity of alderman of the first ward, pure food inspector and health officer, and has given to each his best energies. He is a member of the Cascade County Medical Society, the Montana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and is fra- ternally connected with Euclid Lodge No. 194, Madison, Maine, A. F. & A. M., Somerset Chapter No. 15, Skow- hegan, Maine, and De Molay Commandery, K. T.

Dr. Russell was married (first) at Great Falls, Mon- tana, August 3, 1891, to Miss Rose Bradley, of North Dakota, daughter of H. M. Bradley, of Rutland, North Dakota, and she died in 1901, having had two chil- dren: Harold, born May 16, 1893; and Vernon M., July 1, 1897, both at Great Falls. On September 5, 1906, Dr Russell married (second) Fort Benton, Mon- tana, Miss Bertha Morrow, daughter of Malcolm Mor- row, a native of Montana, an old pioneer stockman of Rock Creek, Montana.

HON. WILLIAM F. MEYER. The untimely passing of Hon. Wm. F. Meyer on the 25th day of October, 1912, at Butte, Montana, cut short a career of large public use- fulness on the part of one of Montana's most loyal and best loved citizens. For almost twenty years past his energies have been devoted to public life as the serv- ant of the people and he was serving in the senate at the time of his death, as well as being the Republican candidate for Congressman from his district. During his active service, many far-reaching improvements came to the state as the result of his untiring work in the senate, and no session passed unmarked by effort of his to improve conditions in his district.

Born in Ripon, Wisconsin, on March 3, 1857, Wil- liam F. Meyer was the son of George W. and Bertha W. (Higginbotham) Meyer, natives of Hanover and

Westphalia, Germany, respectively. George W. Meyer was the son of William E. Meyer, who was a captain in the Germany army and served under Blucher and participated in the Battle of Waterloo. In 1848 George Meyer came to the United States, taking up his resi- dence in the state of Wisconsin, which has been so heavily settled by sturdy German stock of a high order.

William F. Meyer was one of a large family of eleven children. He received a good education, however, his common school course being followed by attendance at Ripon College, from which he was graduated in 1882. He came direct to Montana after finishing his studies, settling in Billings, soon after which he removed to Park City and there opened a lumber yard. He also filed on a government homestead, which he proceeded to improve, and in the leisure hours devoted himself assiduously to the study of law. Two years later, so well had he applied himself to his task, he was ad- mitted to the bar, and almost immediately he removed to Red Lodge, there engaging in general practice, and continuing to make this city his home until death called him. For a time he was associated in a partnership with J. W. Chapman and Paul Breteche in the banking business, that association having been formed in 1895, but upon the death of Mr. Breteche in 1898 the institu- tion was continued under the name of the Banking House of Meyer & Chapman, these two gentlemen being the sole owners. In 1898 Mr. Meyer erected a mag- nificent brick building in which the bank found its home, and there also Mr. Meyer maintained his law offices. In later years they established two branch banks,-one being a private bank at Belfrey, and the other a state bank at Park City.

Mr. Meyer's public career began in 1895 when he was elected on the Republican ticket to the state senate from his district. In 1900 his re-election followed, and it was during his term of office that he introduced the bill creating Carbon county,-a fact which caused him to be known thereafter as "The Father .of Carbon County." Not this bill alone may be laid at his door, but he fathered many of the most important bills that were presented and passed in the state senate in the last decade. He introduced, among many others of equal importance, the bill to prohibit the slag of coal mines being dumped into the streams, and he also in- troduced a bill imposing a tax on cattle brought in from other states. He was serving his district as senator at the time of his death, and was the candidate of his party for congressman from his district.

On July 1, 1884, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage with Miss Alice C. Adams, the daughter of Thomas Adams, who was born in the north of Ireland, and who was a resident of Fond du Lac county at the time of his death. Mrs. Meyer was born in Ripon, Wisconsin, as was also her husband. One child was born to them: William F. Meyer, Jr., born March 26, 1899.

Mr. Meyer was a member of the Benevolent Protec- tive Order of Elks, with affiliation in Bear Tooth Lodge No. 534, and of the Masonic fraternity, Royal Arch degree.

The Daily Gazette of Butte, said in part concerning the funeral of the late senator: "Braving in solemn silence the blizzard of yesterday. an immense con- course of citizens with saddened hearts wended their way through the storm to the open grave on the hill and there witnessed the last ministrations of human hands and hearts as the casket containing the mortal remains of the late Senator William F. Meyer was tenderly consigned to Mother Earth. The funeral took place from the family residence on Hauser avenne and despite the inclemency of the weather hundreds turned out to pay their last respects, and people came in from all over the country silently to honor the memory of the dead legislator. The Masons of Billings and the Bar of Yellowstone county were represented two-score strong. Following out the wishes of the bereaved widow, the services were extremely simple. The obsequies were

S. Fr. Tratar

1217

HISTORY OF MONTANA

conducted at the house and at the open grave by the Masonic bodies of Red Lodge and Billings, and the local lodge of Elks also turned out in a body. The four Protestant clergymen of the city officiated jointly. Hon. John M. Evans of Missoula, Democratic candi- date for congress, attended the funeral, accompanied by Hon. T. J. Walsh of Helena, candidate for the United States senate. Other prominent people in at- tendance were Mayor W. J. Deegan, of Cody, Wyom- ing; Col. O. F. Goddard, Judge J. R. Goss, Judge George W. Pierson and A. C. Logan of Billings, and Judge C. L. Crum, of Forsyth. Standing beside the casket of his dead friend and late political opponent, Mr. Evans pronounced a splendid eulogy. It was an oration feelingly delivered and high in the praises of the sterling virtues of the dead statesman. Mrs. Meyer has been deluged with messages of sympathy and con- dolence from prominent Montana people and from cit- izens of note abroad, and all Carbon county mourns the demise of its most distinguished lawyer and illustrious public man."

JOSEPH HAGAN. One of the thriving and well man- aged concerns which add in material fashion to the general prosperity and commercial prestige of the city is that of Joseph Hagan, proprietor of the Model Laundry. Although still a young man in years he has given unmistakable evidence of no small amount of executive ability and the business has experienced a sound and wholesome growth. In the legitimate chan- nels of industry he has won the success which always crowns well directed labor, sound judgment and untir- ing perseverance and at the same time he has con- cerned himself with the affairs of the community in an admirably public-spirited fashion.

Mr. Hagan comes of the stock which is generally acknowledged to be among the most intelligent, patri- otic, industrious and upright of our great and won- derful cosmopolitan population-the Swiss. His birth occurred in the small, but interesting republic of Swit- zerland on June 30, 1880. When an infant of two years he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, who came almost immediately westward and settled in Bozeman, Montana. In the public schools of that place he received his early education, and subsequently entered the Montana State University, where he specialized in commercial lines, becoming an expert in bookkeeping and accounting. At the age of eighteen years he secured employment in the building of the Bozeman steam laundry and at its completion he secured work in the establishment and learned the many details of the laundry business. In 1909, he concluded to make an independent venture in this business and organized and built the Model Laundry Company, of Missoula, of which concern he is president and general manager. This laundry lives up to the full significance of its name and is modern and well equipped in every way, the quality of work done being of the highest char- acter. The subject owns the major portion of stock, and also has a half interest in association with his brother John Hagan, in a laundry located in Seattle, Washington. He has made his way unaided and belongs to that typically American product, the self- made man. He is popular in this city, being recom- mended by his honorable business methods and pleas- ant, courteous manners.

Mr. Hagan's father, John Hagan, late of Bozeman, is deceased. The maiden name of the mother was Mary Koop, and her father, Joseph Koop, was among Montana's earliest pioneers, having preceded the Hagans to America. The immediate subject of this review is unmarried.

WILLIAM W. WATSON. A man of unflagging energy and 'enterprise, with a remarkable aptitude for business affairs, William W. Watson, of Lewistown, is keen and

alert to take advantage of opportunities, and as head of the Crescent Electric Company is identified with one of the large and solid concerns of the city. A native of Wisconsin, he was born in Madison county, April 30, 1863.

His father, the late William H. Watson, was a native of Geneva, New York, where his earlier life was passed. He subsequently moved to Wisconsin, from there going with his family to New Jersey, which was his home a few years. Returning to Wisconsin, he lived in Mil- waukee until the spring of 1882, when he settled in Mon- tana, becoming a pioneer resident of Lewistown, where he was actively engaged in the lumber business until his death, August 17, 1894. A man of intelligence and abil- ity, he became prominent in the public affairs of Mon- tana, and served as a member of the constitutional convention. He married Maria Woodbridge, who was born in Connecticut, and now resides in Lewistown. Five children were born of their union, William W., the subject of this sketch, being the third child in succes- sion of birth. The two daughters are living in Mon- tana, Louise being the wife of L. W. Reeder, of Lewis- town; and Alice being the wife of G. M. Stafford, of Helena.

But five years old when his parents removed to New Jersey, William W. Watson there gleaned the rudiments of his education, attending the public schools until ten years old. He subsequently completed his early studies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, attending the grammar and high schools, and the Spencerian Business College. Be- ginning his career then as a wage-earner, he worked nights in the office of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Milwaukee, receiving twelve dollars a week salary, and later was connected with the Northwestern Telegraph Exchange. Leaving Milwaukee in May, 1883, Mr. Watson came to Montana, where he has since re- sided, being firmly convinced that the business oppor- tunities and resources of this state exceed those of any other state in the Union. For a while he was asso- ciated with his father in the lumber business, owning and operating a saw mill at Reedsfort. Coming from there to Lewistown, he was for a while engaged in cattle dealing and ranching, but when the opportunity occurred he embarked in the electrical business, becom- ing connected with the first company organized in Fergus county. In this capacity Mr. Watson constructed the first telephone lines that were introduced into Lewis- town, connecting this city with Big Timber and Great Falls, making a good record for himself and revolu- tionizing business affairs. During this period he was also associated with the first lighting company organ- ized in this section of the county, and installed the city's first electrical light plant. In 1909 Mr. Watson estab- lished the Crescent Electric Company, of which he has since been at the head and in its management has been eminently successful.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 111

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