A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 130

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

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SAMUEL BARKER. The substantial, useful, and es- teemed citizens of Butte have no finer representative than Samuel Barker, who, as mining engineer, is actively identified with one of the foremost interests of Mon- tana, while as a man of public spirit and intelligence he is prominent in the civic and social life of the city. He was born in England, May 17, 1869. His father, Samuel Barker, Sr., a life-long resident of England, met a tragic death in 1869, while he was yet in the prime of a vigor- ous manhood. He married Elizabeth Oliver, who was born in England and was a woman of much force of character, and excellent judgment. In 1874 she came with her only child, Samuel, to America, and for ten years resided in Virginia City, Nevada. Removing then to Butte, Montana, she has since continued a resident of this city, where she has a pleasant home and enjoys all the comforts of modern life.

Acquiring his rudimentary education in Virginia City, Samuel Barker completed his studies at the Butte high school. At the age of sixteen years he was appren- ticed to the firm of Kronberg & Hoff, civil and mining engineers, and under their instructions gained his first knowledge of the profession he is now following. He subsequently served another apprenticeship of four years with Wilson & Gillie, after which he entered the College of Montana, at Deer Lodge, from which he was gradu- ated in 1895 with the degree of M. E. Returning then to Butte, Mr. Barker was in the employ of Wilson & Gillie for six months, when, in December, 1895, he be- came associated with the Anaconda Mining and Copper Company as engineer, a position which he filled most acceptably until August, 1897. At that time Mr. Barker, in partnership with W. W. Pennington, acquired the engineering business of Wilson & Gillie, which they have since conducted ably and satisfactorily, being widely known as the leading mining engineers of the state. Mr. Barker has also mining interests of his own. the investments which he has made having proved of

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much value. He is prominent in mining circles, being a member of the American Institute of Mining Engi- gineers ; and a member, and the treasurer, of the Mon- tana Society of Engineers, which has headquarters in Butte. He is also a member of the National Geographic Society.

Politically Mr. Barker is an active worker in the Re- publican ranks, and is now serving his second term as alderman, representing the Sixth ward. Fraternally, he belongs to Mount Mariah Lodge, No. 24, is a member of Butte Consistory Scottish Rite Mason and Bagdad Temple of Shriners ; and socially he is a member of the Silver Bow Club. Religiously he belongs to the Pro- testant church.

In Helena, Montana, December 14, 1896, Mr. Barker was united in marriage with Blanche Stuart, a daughter of Samuel D. and Amanda J. Stuart. Mrs. Barker was born in Iowa, February 2, 1875, and as a girl received excellent educational advantages. Artistic in her tastes, her natural talents were early developed, and she is well known throughout the state as an artist of ability, her paintings, both in oils and in water colors, being much admired and in demand by lovers of art in its highest form. Mr. and Mrs. Barker have one child, Samuel Stuart Barker, whose birth occurred in Butte, Montana, December 31, 1903.

Beginning life with limited means, Mr. Barker has steadily and surely forged his way upward, climbing the ladder of attainments rung by rung, with scarce a drawback. And now, in the midst of his prosperity, he gives credit for his success in life primarily to cor- rect home influence, his mother's loving care and wise training, while as a business factor he is indebted for his success in life to his early association with Messrs. Wilson & Gillie, who were honorable and upright in all of their dealings and in whose footsteps he has fol- lowed as nearly as possible. Mr. Barker owns and occupies an attractive home at No. 845 West Galena street, a pleasant part of the city, while his business office is at No. 60 East Granite street.

CHARLES A. SMITH. As the mayor of Harlem since 1910 and the leading merchant of the city since its beginning, Charles A. Smith is eminently deserving of mention in a biographical and historical work em- bracing this section of the country. He has been so closely identified with the growth of Harlem and its every phase of development that to recount the details of the history of the city would be almost synonymous with a recital of the events of his life since the year 1889, in the autumn of which year he first saw what is now the thriving and prosperous city of Harlem.

Mr. Smith was born in Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, on May 14, 1855. He is the son of Adam L. Smith and his wife, Sarah Gano. The father was a native of Scotland, and it is entirely probable that the generous portion of Scottish blood that courses through the veins of Charles Smith has in a great measure shaped his destiny and which, blended with the blood of his American ancestors, has given him that sturdy charac- ter and directness of purpose that has been so potent a factor in his successful business life. Adam Smith came to America from Scotland as a young man, and from first to last was a dominant figure in the com- munity in which he made his home for so many years, and where he finally passed away. He was a prominent factor in Democratic politics in his county, was mayor of Xenia at one time, and was on other occasions sheriff and treasurer of his county. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served in the Seventy-fourth Ohio Regiment, and was wounded in action at the battle of Lookout mountain. He con- ducted a large contracting business in Xenia for many years, and his death occurred there in 1897. The mother is also deceased. They were the parents of eight sons and daughters: Samuel G., Frank P.,

Edward M. and George H. are all residents of Xenia, Ohio, where they were born and reared; Mary, who was the wife of Frank Method, died in 1884 at Xenia ;. Anna died in 1909, at Xenia, and James died at East St. Louis in 1900.

Charles A., who was the fifth born of the eight children, attended the public schools of his native town until he was thirteen years of age. He remained in the parental home until he was twenty years of age, and in the year 1875 left home to see the west. He first located in Bismarck, North Dakota, and dur- ing that winter chopped cord-wood in the vicinity of Bismarck. In the spring he enlisted in the govern- ment service as the driver of a six mule team going overland to Montana with the Custer expedition, and he was engaged in Indian fighting from then until 1881, seeing much active service and passing through many thrilling experiences. He helped to build Fort Keogh and Fort Assiniboin, and in the autumn of 1881 he left the service. Going to Wilder's Landing on the Missouri river, Mr. Smith started a trading post doing business with the Indians, and there he remained until the summer of 1884. When the gold excitement broke out he went to Alder Gulch, Mon- tana, where he engaged in mining until the latter part of 1885, after which he came to Fort Belknap and was there employed by Thomas O'Hanlan in his store. He remained thus employed until the spring of 1888, returning then to St. Paul's Mission where he worked on a farm until late in 1889. His next move took him to Harlem, and there he has remained continuously since that time. He began doing business in a wall tent, on a necessarily small scale, but with the ulti- mate growth and expansion of the new town, he en- larged his stock and finally built a substantial store. Today the establishment which Mr. Smith first con- ducted in a tent in the primitive village has grown until it is the largest mercantile house in the busy and prosperous city of Harlem, and Mr. Smith is known for one of the leading business men of the city, and one of its most prosperous residents. He has the distinc- tion of having built the first house in Harlem, or in Chouteau county. In addition to the splendid business which Mr. Smith owns in Harlem, he is the possessor of a number of valuable ranches in Montana, and some fine city realty. He owns a handsome home in the city, also. In September, 1910, Mr. Smith was elected mayor of Harlem, and in 1912 had the honor of being elected to succeed himself in that office. He has proved himself an able executive, and the affairs of the city have been capably handled throughout his administra- tion.

Mr. Smith is a Republican in his political faith and an active and influential worker. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Smith has been twice married. His first wife was Hannah Olsen, a native of Sweden, and of this union three children were born,-Hazel, Estella and Charles A., Jr. The latter is now a student in the Helena high school. In more recent years Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Emma Myers, a native of Pennsylvania. There is no issue of this latter union.

TED E. COLLINS. One of Montana's native citi- zens, it has been the lot of Mr. Collins to find his place in the business world of the state already created for him by the enterprise of his distinguished father, Jere- miah Collins. However, Mr. Collins' inheritance was not limited to material possessions, but he also is en- dowed with a goodly share of the initiative and the intellectuality of his progenitor, and he is one of the sons of eminent men who are not spending their days in the borrowed splendor of their fathers' prestige, but are rather availing themselves of their increased oppor- tunities to accomplish larger results.

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Jeremiah Collins was born in Ireland in 1850. When a mere child, he was brought to America by his parents, who settled on an Indiana farm in the days when that was "out west". At twelve, the boy was left without father or mother and at once began to shift for himself. He secured work on a neighboring farm, and whenever he could, he went to school. It is said that "whither a man desireth to go, thither his feet will carry him", and Jeremiah Collins desired to go to school. He not only managed to complete the work of the public schools, but earned enough to take him through the University of Indiana, from which he received his degree in 1873. After leaving school, Mr. Collins went into journalism and from the first he made a brilliant success of the profession. After some time spent with the Wabash News, Mr. Collins went to Logansport where he was employed on the Courier. Here in 1878. he was mar- ried to Miss Letta E. Fitzgerald, and together they came to the wild state, Montana, up the Missouri river to Fort Benton. Here Mr. Collins established one of the first successful newspapers in the state, the Fort Benton River Press, of which he was editor until 1889. By this time, other towns in Montana were beginning to become places of consequence and of promise. The floating population bent upon making a successful strike in the mines, was giving place to an element which had come to stay and to develop the country. Mr. Collins saw an opportunity to establish a newspaper at Great Falls, and accordingly the Great Falls Tribune came into existence through his enterprise, and he continued at the head of it until 1892. At this date, he gave up his journalistic work to engage in the compiling and writ- ing of a history of Montana. This was one of the first records of the progress of this commonwealth from the days of the Louisiana Purchase to the end of the ninety years following that fortunate investment. Mr. Collins spent a year upon this undertaking and when it was · finished, did not resume his newspaper work, as he was appointed receiver of public money in the gen- eral land office under Cleveland. At the expiration of his term in this office in 1897, Mr. Collins established the .Collins Land Company of Helena, one of the pio- neer land companies of the state, as well as one of the largest concerns of the sort in the Treasure state. At the present time, Mr. Collins, his wife and daughter, Lena Agnes Collins, are residing in Washington, D. C. Mr. Collins is engaged in managing the eastern branch of the Collins Land Company, of which he is president. Miss Collins is a graduate of the Helena high school, and also of National Park Seminary, one of the well-known girls' schools of the national capital.

With such a record before him to live up to, it will be readily understood that Ted E. Collins' task of mak- ing himself known in the business world apart from being his father's son, was not of the easiest, and that he has achieved it, is a sufficient commentary upon his abilities. Born in Fort Benton on April 20, 1884, he received his elementary education in the schools of Great Falls and Helena. After this, he spent a year in the famous Phillips Exeter Academy of New Hamp- shire, and the following three years in the New York Military Academy. He graduated from this school in 1903, and then went to the George Washington Uni- versity to take up the study of law. This he continued for a time in the University of Virginia, but finished at the George Washington. Mr. Collins did not begin the practice of his profession, as he became associated with the Helena branch of the Collins Land Company and its allied companies. In this organization he holds the office of secretary and treasurer. Another concern in which he is financially interested is the Marysville Gold Mining Company, and in this, too, he is secretary and treasurer.

On June 2, 1909, Mr. Collins was united in marriage to Miss Frances Austin Parker. The wedding took place at Seattle, Washington. One daughter, Helen

Fitzgerald Collins, was born to this union, on July 25, 1910.

In politics, Mr. Collins is Democratic. He is a mem- ber of the Montana Club, and both he and Mrs. Collins are of the number of the best-known and most popular of Helena's social circle. Mr. Collins' acquaintance with men of influence and distinction of the time, is not con- fined to his native state, but extends over a large part of the country. Though not yet thirty, he has taken his place with the citizens who make the city.

JACOB ALBRIGHT, who is proprietor of a clothing store in Virginia City, Montana, is a citizen of unusual prominence and influence in this section of the state. He has served his home community in a number of important official positions, among them being treas- urer of Madison county and state senator.

A native of the fine old Empire state of the Union, Jacob Albright was born in New Salem, Albany county, New York, July 17, 1860, and he is a son of Isaac and Hannah E. (Bradt) Albright, both of whom were born and reared in New York state, where the former is still living in 1912, nearing the age of eighty years, and where the latter died in 1911, aged seventy-seven years. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits during the major portion of his active career and he is now living in virtual retirement in New Salem, enjoying to the full the fruits of his former years of earnest toil and endeavor. He was formerly a prominent politician and holds a high place in the time-honored Masonic order in his home community.

The second in order of birth in a family of seven children, Jacob Albright was reared to adult age in his native place, where he attended the public schools and resided until he had reached his twenty-fourth year. He then, in 1884, came to Montana and located in Virginia City. During the first ten years of his resi- dence here he worked for a clothing house on a salary, but in 1895 he purchased the stock of his employers and he now has the only exclusive men's clothing and furnishing store in Madison county. In politics he is a stalwart Republican and he is an active worker in behalf of the party. In 1894 he was elected treasurer of Madison county and he served as such for a period of four years. In 1902 he was further honored by his fellow citizens with election to representation in the state senate, of which august body he was a member for eight years. During that period he was responsible for the passage of the present mining laws of Montana, which have been so satisfactory that they have never been amended or changed. He was the father of the bill creating an additional judge for the fifth judicial district. He has also served with efficiency as a member of the Virginia City school board.

In Virginia City, June 26, 1889, Mr. Albright was united in marriage to Miss Frances E. Gilbert, a daugh- ter of Henry S. and Margaret Gilbert, an old pioneer family in Montana formerly of Germantown, Penn- sylvania. Six children, three boys and three girls, have been born to this union, as follows,-Richard H., who was graduated in the Butte high school as vale- dictorian of the class of I911, is now a student in Cornell University ; Helen M., a graduate in the public schools of Virginia City, is now teaching school at Home Park; Florence J. was graduated in the Virginia City high school as valedictorian of the class of 1912; and Henry G., Aileen and Clifford W. are all attending the graded schools in this city. In religious matters Mr. Albright is a member of the Dutch Reformed church and the remaining members of the family are Episcopalians.

In a fraternal way Mr. Albright is a prominent Mason, having passed through the circle of the York Rite branch and being past master of blue lodge, high priest of Virginia Chapter, No. I, and eminent commander of Virginia Commandery, No. I. He is likewise a

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member of Bagdad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Butte, and is con- nected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which he is past exalted ruler. He is very fond of walking and of athletic sports, having been formerly a member of a local baseball club. He enjoys a good lecture and is exceedingly fond of theatricals, music and singing. He is a booster for Montana and says: "Montana is large and progressive. Her electric and water power will in time make an opening for the varied industries and her ranch interests will develop into one of the strongest features of the entire state." He has performed his full share in developing the interests of Montana and Madison county.

MARTIN J. HIGGINS is a native of Nova Scotia, as both his parents were before him, likewise the twelve brothers and sisters, who made up the rest of the household. John Higgins, was a farmer, who lived to the age of eighty-three, passing from this life on New Years day of the year 1910. His wife, Eliza Hay Hig- gins, daughter of William Hay, died in Nova Scotia.

Martin is the fifth of the Higgins family in point of age, and was born on January 12, 1861. He lived on his father's farm and attended country school until he was fifteen years of age, and then he was apprenticed to learn the trade of horse-shoeing. Four years were consumed in this training, and at the age of nine- teen, he set out as a journeyman horse-shoer, and worked as a subordinate for a period of five years, and then came to Montana. He reached Helena in 1884, and at once resumed work at his trade and later went into business on his own account in which he was experienced and his enterprise throve. Soon after his arrival Mr. Higgins began to enter into the activities of the Republican party and as his acquaintance in the city progressed, he became a man of influence in the local organization. Politics had always appealed to him, and now his established place in his business en- abled him to give some time to this absorbing avoca- tion. For four years, he was a member of the city council, and in 1908 was elected sheriff of Lewis and Clark county for a term of two years and was re- elected in 1910.

Mr. Higgins has been twice married. His first wife was Maria, the daughter of James Little, a native of Nova Scotia, but a resident of Helena at the time of her marriage. Her two children, Jack and Mar- geurite Higgins, were both born in Helena, one in Au- gust, 1891, and the other in 1894. In March, 1898, at Truro, Canada, Mr. Higgins was united to Miss May Frazier, the daughter of James Frazier of that town. Two children have been born of this marriage, William, in 1901, and Raymond in 1910.

Mr. Higgins is a member of the Presbyterian church, following the faith of his mother's people, who were of Scotch extraction, Mr. Higgins' maternal grand- father William Hay coming from Scotland to Can- ada. His father's father, George Higgins, was an Eng- lishman born, and became the founder of the Amer- ican branch of the family.

In lodge circles, Mr. Higgins has an extensive ac- quaintance, as well as a wide popularity. He is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Eagles, the Woodmen of the World, and of the Elks.

As a public officer, Mr. Higgins exhibits the quali- ties which one has a right to expect of one who has successfully met the world and made his own way in it single-handed. He discharges the duties incident to the position with the business-like system and thorough- ness that have achieved his success in commercial pur- suits.

JOHN HERSEY FAIRFIELD, M. D. Distinguished not only as the first physician to locate permanently at Great Falls, but as one of the leading members of

the medical profession of Cascade county, John Her- sey Fairfield, M. D., is eminently deserving of special mention in a work of this character. Coming from sturdy New England stock, he was born, August 17, 1856, in Saco, Maine. He is of English lineage, being a lineal descendant many generations removed of Stephen W. Fairfield, who emigrated from England to. America in colonial days.

His father, the late Capt. John W. Fairfield, was a native of Maine, and during his active life sailed the seas, being master of his vessel. He died in 1861, aged forty years. His widow, whose maiden name was Mary Hersey, was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1821. The year following her husband's death, she moved with her family to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and died, at Minneapolis, in 1894, aged seventy-three years. Of her four children, one died in infancy, one at the age of fifteen years, and two grew to years of maturity.

John Hersey Fairfield was educated principally in Minneapolis, attending first the public schools, and later the University of Minnesota. Taking up the study of medicine, he went to Philadelphia, and in 1880 was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania with the degree of M. D. The ensuing two years Dr. Fairfield was resid- ent physician at the Philadelphia Hospital, there gain- ing an experience that proved of inestimable value to him in after years. Returning to Minneapolis in 1882, the doctor continued his practice in that city three years, and in 1884 settled as a physician at Fort Ben- ton, Montana. In 1885 he located at Great Falls, being the pioneer physician and surgeon of this part of Cas- cade county, and has remained here ever since, having through his industry, natural talents and skill built up a large and most satisfactory general practice, his office being in the Ford block, while his residence is at 715 Fourth avenue, North. The doctor is a mem- ber of various medical organizations, including the Cascade County, the State, and the American Medical Associations. He is a man of excellent business abil- ity and judgment, and has acquired title to large tracts of real estate lying in and near Great Falls.

Politically Dr. Fairfield is an active worker in the Republican ranks, and was one of the organizers of the Republican party of Cascade county. He served as the second mayor of Great Falls, giving the city a clean administration. He was county coroner a num- ber of terms; was secretary of the County Board of Health in 1909 and 1910; and is now serving as sec- retary of the City Board of Health. Socially he is a member of the Electric City Club. Broad and liberal in his religious views, the doctor is a Unitarian in belief and practice.

At Aylmer, Ontario, Canada, February 20, 1894, Dr. Fairfield married Kate Arkell, a daughter of John Arkell, of that place, and they are the parents of two children, namely: Isabelle Wood Fairfield, born at Great Falls, September 18, 1898; and Jack W. Fair- field, born at Great Falls, October 19, 1900.

WELLINGTON D. RANKIN. Among the more suc- cessful of the younger members of the legal profession in Montana may be numbered Wellington D. Rankin, of Helena. Though not yet thirty, he has a large and growing practice. Mr. Rankin is a son of a Montana pioneer, his father, John Rankin, who was born in. Canada, on the 23d of October, 1848, having come to Montana in 1863. He first located at Fort Benton and then came across the plains and settled in the Bitter Root Valley. He was engaged in the lumber business in Missoula and was well known throughout this part of the state, as he was a bridge contractor, and the bridges he built across many of the streams are still standing .. He served in the numerous Indian wars which harassed the early settlers, and his death at the

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 130

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