A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 48

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

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country was paramount and he desired to march to the front and help repel the foes of the government. He was sworn in and his name was placed on the muster rolls, but he was not permitted to remain in the service owing to his youth, he being only fifteen years old at the time of his enlistment. He received his discharge and at once sought employment, which he secured in a con- fectionery store, where he remained until 1863 when he and his brothers started a store in Liberty. They later had a store in Leavenworth, Kansas, and at Law- rence in the same state which they conducted until the close of the war. In 1865 the brothers extended their business to Las Vegas, New Mexico. By this. time Mr. Kleinschmidt and his brothers had acquired a good knowledge of the grocery business and felt able to compete in that line anywhere. In 1867 they deter- mined to try their fortune in the gold fields of Mon- tana and in the following year established a store of general merchandise in Helena, which was owned and conducted by R. H. Kleinschmidt and his brother Albert. This store was a success from its inception and estab- lished a record that is unsurpassed in the annals of commercial enterprise in Montana. Its prosperity con- tinued to grow with the passing years and established the character of Mr. Kleinschmidt as a careful busi- ness man and an executive of high and commanding ability. He possessed great sagacity and strong organ- izing powers together with his other business traits of recognized merit. The necessity for expanding the business he saw at a glance and it was not long before the firm had thirteen separate and distinct stores in dif- ferent parts of the state. In addition to this they added mules and cattle trains for the transportation of mer- chandise to points where needed. The wagon trains had a capacity of two hundred and fifty tons and con- sisted of about eighty wagons.

May 19, 1880, Mr. Kleinschmidt was married to Miss Amelia Mau, in San Francisco, a daughter of H. Albert Mau. They occupy a spacious and comfortable home in Helena, where they delight to entertain their friends and where Mrs. Kleinschmidt makes an ideal hostess. Mr. Kleinschmidt is an honored member of Wadsworth Post, G. A. R., is a Republican in politics and has always advocated the principles of that party, although he has never sought public office. He made frequent visits to the principal eastern cities while engaged in business and became acquainted with cosmopolitan commercial life and the conductors of big business, purchasing largely for his extensive trade in Montana. He found time to also make frequent visits to California and became familiar with the beautiful scenery and life of the Pacific coast. In 1872 he visited the Exposition in Vienna, Austria and the Centennial Exposition at Phila- delphia in 1876. After his marriage he visited in com- pany with his wife the greater part of Europe and en- joyed a most delightful time. They also made a tour of the United States in 1883 and extended their visit to Alaska. The Columbian Exposition in Chicago was. also visited and the Midwinter Fair at San Francisco and the Yellowstone National Park. Altogether Mr. Klein- schmidt has been one of the most extensive travelers. in the state and has gained much information and a knowledge of other peoples and lands that are a source of satisfaction and of pleasure. In 1908 he made a tour of Mexico in company with Mrs. Kleinschmidt, visiting the principal cities of that country.

His business has included every enterprise worth mentioning in the state of Montana. He owns exten- sive mining interests both in Montana and Idaho. In the latter state in the Seven Devils country he is the principal owner of what are considered the richest and most extensive copper mines in the world. He assisted greatly in locating the permanent capital at Helena and has contributed of his means in many other ways to- ward the advancement of his home city and has always- been a decided factor in the advancement of the state ..

Fred Gamer

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At the present time Mr. Kleinschmidt is not engaged in mercantile pursuits, having retired from that line some years ago. He still has large business interests in Helena and throughout the state that occupy his time and he is quite extensively interested in real estate. He is the owner of some of the finest city property, including the Granite block, a substantial structure on Main street. He is a conspicuous figure and a force in the affairs of his state and city and possesses many friends. He is active, energetic and contrives to derive a great deal of pleasure out of life.

JACOB M. SCHIFFMAN, of Butte, Montana, repre- sents that type of the well-bred foreign-born Ameri- can citizen whose inherited tendencies of industry and frugality have added so much to the growth and prosperity of our nation. He was born at Zoludok, in the province of Wilner, Russia, August 20, 1868, and is the son of the late Moses and Mary Schiffman of Zoludok, the former of whom was a well-known and wealthy dealer and exporter of lumber and grain of that city. Moses Schiffman was born in Zoludok in 1827, and after a long and active career, he died in his native city in 1907. He gained prominence and wealth as a dealer in lumber and grain, which he exported to foreign countries by the shipload. Mary Schiffman also a native of Lida, province of Wilna, Russia, born in 1841, and died there in 1901. It will thus be noted that the boyhood and youth of Jacob M. Schiffman were spent in the environment of a well- regulated home. He was educated in the public schools of Zoludok, and during his youth he assisted his father and in that manner gained a practical knowl- edge of the lumber and grain business, a knowledge that proved a valuable asset to him in after years.

In 1868, or when eighteen years of age, he resolved to seek his fortunes in the New World, and bidding farewell to his parents and his native land, he took passage for New York. He soon found employment at various kinds of work, for he was willing to engage in any toil that assured him an honest dollar. How- ever, he did not remain long in New York, as he learned that he could secure more work and better. pay in the West. His first stop on his way westward was in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained a short time and there learned of the many advantages await- ing an energetic young man in Montana. Therefore, within a year of his arrival in New York, he became a resident of Butte, and from the day of his arrival to the present time he has been convinced that nowhere else in this country are there so many opportunities open to the young man of merit as there are in Butte and its vicinity.

On his arrival there, Mr. Schiffman secured employ- ment in a small store, but he soon resigned his posi- tion to open up a confectionery establishment of his own. This business proved a success from the start and when he disposed of it in 1901, he was regarded as one of the successful confectioners of that city.

Mr. Schiffman decided that ere he again embarked in business he would see a little more of the New World, and made a prospecting tour to Central and South America. He found in those countries many opportunities for a man of large capital, but he found no place that suited him as well as Butte, and after an eight months' trip he returned there and again engaged in the confectionery business. He continued in that line until 1903, when he disposed of it at a large profit and became a traveling salesman for a cigar manufacturer. After one year on the road, he resigned his position to engage in the mercantile busi- ness at Gregson Springs, Montana. In 1903. Presi- dent Roosevelt appointed him postmaster at Gregson Springs, and he held that position until 1907.

As early as 1895. Mr. Schiffman had become inter- ested in mining timber and engaged actively in the

business at Gregson Springs. But believing the city of Butte to be a better location, he removed there and opened a finely equipped office in the Owsley building. Besides handling mining timber on an extensive scale, he also handles grain and hay in carload lots. His business has grown by leaps and bounds and among his many large customers is the Anaconda Copper Company of Butte, which he furnishes with all of its mining timber.

At Spokane, Washington, on October 11, 1910, Mr. Schiffman married Miss Nellie Kilburn, a native of Westfield, Massachusetts. She is the daughter of Charles Kilburn, also a native of Massachusetts and a prominent whip manufacturer. Mr. and Mrs. Schiff- man have a son, Moses J. Schiffman, born September 6, 1911.

Mr. Schiffman is a stanch Republican, and during campaigns he is ever alert and active in the interests of his party. He has served as a delegate to state con- ventions and is prominent in the councils of the party. Mr. Schiffman gives liberally to charity and is one of the directors of Jewish Charities in the city of Butte. He frequently contributes to the poor and lowly, quietly and without ostentatious display. While Mr. Schiffman devotes the most of his time and attention to his large and increasing business interests, yet he is fond of various sports, especially of hunting and fishing. He is prominently affiliated with several fra- ternal orders, having attained the 32nd degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the Masonic order and being a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Damon Lodge, Knights of Pyth- ias, at Butte, and of the Jewish society, the Indepen- dent Order of B'nai B'rith.

GAMER BROTHERS. Among the prosperous and en- terprising business men of Butte may be mentioned Messrs. Charles W., J. Fred. and E. Walter Gamer, who conduct the oldest established retail shoe store in Butte, and who are also proprietors of a thriving con- fectionery business in the same city. These gentlemen are natives of Montana, and are the sons of Fred and Emma M. (Fink) Gamer. The father was a native of Germany, born in Baden Baden, and he emigrated to America when he was a youth of seventeen years, coming with his parents and settling on a farm in the immediate vicinity of the city of Chicago. In that city Fred Gamer learned the shoemaking trade, and after the Chicago fire he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he took employment with John P. Fink, who operated one of the first shoe factories in Missouri, and who had a chain of stores located at various points in the territories. He was a man of excellent business ability, and he kept the shoe stores stocked with merchandise hauled from his factory by mule teams which he owned. He had stores in Denver, Georgetown, and other points in Colorado, and later operated stores at Deer Lodge and Helena in Montana, on every occasion the estab- lishment of his shoe stores following the discovery of gold in these places.

Fred Gamer was sent to Georgetown, Colorado, to take charge of one of these stores, and later, in 1868, was sent to Deer Lodge, Montana, and a little later to Helena, Montana, where he managed the Fink shoe stores. In 1873 he was married in St. Joseph, Mis- souri, to Miss Fink, as previously mentioned. She was the daughter of his employer, John P. Fink. Imme- diately following their marriage they came to Helena, the nearest railroad point to that city being Corine, Utah, and from there the trip to Helena was made overland by stage. Less than a year after their mar- riage, John P. Fink died suddenly in St. Joseph, and Fred Gamer purchased the Helena store from the es- tate. Some little time later, when ore was discovered in Butte, he started a branch store in the then mining camp. This store was a success from the first days: of

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its existence, and it has been in constant operation since that time, being the oldest store of its kind in Butte to- day. It has grown consistently with the development and growth of Butte, and is a representative and pros- perous shoe shop, which has been operated in its pres- ent location for more than thirty years. Besides oper- ating these two stores, Mr. Gamer owned and managed a horse ranch ten miles north of Helena for many years, in which business he was also successful and prosperous. The shoe store at Helena he eventually sold to S. L. Smithers Company, and the ranch was purchased by the Masonic fraternity of Montana, where is now located the Masonic Home for Aged Masons. The Butte store is still owned and operated by his two sons, Charles W. and J. Fred Gamer.

In 1906 the three sons enlarged their business inter- ests by launching a confectionery establishment at 133 West Park street. They have a thoroughly modern and sanitary plant where they make all the confections used and sold in the place. The store has proved a great success, filling a well defined want in the city, and is one of the most popular resorts in Butte today.

Fred Gamer and his wife became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters. They are here named: Milton A., Charles W., J. Fred, E. Walter, Ada M., and Sarah Emma. Milton A. died suddenly in April, 1912. Ada is the wife of W. R. Miles of Helena; Emma married Percy W. Holter, of the same city, where they now reside; Fred married Sophia Schwab, and Walter married Stella Goodnow, both being daughters of Helena families.

Early in 1911 Fred Gamer, Sr., met witli an acci- dental death in Anaconda, Montana. His widow still survives and lives in the old home at Helena, having lived in the same house since 1874. This home is lo- cated next door to the residence of W. A. Chesman on the one side and of Col. W. F. Sanders on the other, while Benjamin F. Potts, one of Montana's first governors, lived for many years directly across the street from the Gamer residence.

CHARLES CALLAGHAN. Since the days of the stage coach, when he drove between Bozeman and Helena, Charles Callaghan has been identified with pursuits of a varied nature, and through industry, energy and the ability to recognize and grasp opportunities, has ad- vanced himself to a position of prominence among the citizens of his community, where he is known as an excellent business man and a public official of irre- proachable integrity. Mr. Callaghan was born in Joliet, Will county, Illinois, April 22, 1850, and is a son of Pat- rick and Mary (Quinn) Callaghan, natives of County Monaghan, Ireland. Patrick Callaghan came to this country as a young man by sailing vessel, landing in New York and drifting thence to Illinois, where he opened one of the first stone quarries in Joliet. He con- tinued in the business until 1855, when he removed to Cass county, Michigan, there engaging in agricultural pursuits, and clearing a farm from the wildnerness. He died in 1859, at the age of fifty-five years, having been the father of eight children, three of whom are living: Charles; Katherine, the widow of John Glass ; and Thomas, a resident of Seattle. Mrs. Callaghan was married (second) .to Martin Gill, and two chil- dren were born to them: Edward and John J. In 1905 a family reunion, the first in twenty years, was held at the home of Mrs. Gill, in Seattle, Washington, and her death occurred October 27, 1910, when she was eighty-four years of age.

The boyhood days of Charles Callaghan were spent under the 'parental roof, but when he was sixteen years old he started working in the Ewing Hotel, Joliet, Illinois, where he spent two years. In the spring of 1868 he came west as far as Omaha, Nebraska, where he secured employment with the Union Pacific Rail- road, and was connected with its construction depart-

ment while the road was being built through to Wy- oming. He subsequently went to Ewing Canyon, Utah, where he was engaged in cutting wood for Camp Douglas, and later became a driver of a bull team, which he brought overland to Silver Star, Madison county, Montana. Arriving in the fall of 1868, he be- gan work as a miner in the Green Camel mine, and worked there until 1871, when he became proprietor of the Silver Star Hotel, a hostelry which he conducted for one year. In the fall of 1875 he resumed mining operations, but subsequently went overland to Nevada, and was engaged in mining and working in a smelter until the fall of 1878. At that time he returned east to Indiana, and in the spring of 1879 went to Pottawa- tomie county, Kansas, and followed farming for about one year. During the spring of 1880 he came to Mon- tana, and went up the Missouri river to Fort Benton, then to Three Forks, where he continued prospecting for about one year. During the summer and winter of 1881 and 1882 he drove the stage between Helena and Bozeman, and in the spring of 1883 established him- self in the liquor business in Three Forks, but disposed of his interests therein in 1892. From the fall of 1889 to 1895 he was also engaged in horse dealing, but in the latter year became identified with the ranching business in Gallatin county, having a property three miles from Bozeman. This he sold in 1899 to purchase another property thirty miles north of Bozeman, and also engaged in the livery business in this city, but sold out after one year. He still owns his ranch, the opera- tion of which he superintend«, and from 1902 to 1909 was engaged in railroad contracting, but since the lat- ter year has been practically retired from business pur- suits.

Mr. Callaghan is a stanch Democrat in his political views and in 1910 was elected county commissioner for a six-year term. He is giving the citizens of his com- munity an excellent administration and has demon- strated that he possesses abilities of a high order. With his family he attends the Roman Catholic church, be- longs to the Knights of Columbus, No. 1413, and also holds membership in Bozeman Lodge No. 463, B. P. O. E., and Bozeman Lodge No. 64 Woodmen of the World, in which he is very popular. Mr. Callaghan was married May I, 1883, to Miss Lucille B. Monroe, who was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Bridget Monroe, natives of County Gal- way, Ireland. Mr. Monroe came to the United States as a young man, and was married in Pennsylvania. After residing for some time in that state he removed to Pottawatomie county, Kansas, became a pioneer farmer, and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 1877, in the faith of the Roman Catholic church. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are still living, as follows :. Mrs. Callaghan, Rosa, Matilda, Agnes and Elizabeth, twins, Ellen and James. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan, nine are still living: Charles H., who mar- ried Hattie Lyons; William E., who married Mary McAtee; and Margaret, Mary, Agnes, Eugene, Law- rence, Leo and Anna.

EVERETT HIRAM BRUNDAGE. Among the men who have acted prominent parts in the business and finan- cial history of the Beaverhead valley, Everett Hiram Brundage, of Dillon, is conspicuous. Honored and respected by the people of city and county, he enjoys a large measure of public esteem, not alone on account of his prestige in financial circles, but also by reason of the straightforward business policy he has ever fol- lowed and the worthy standing he has achieved in the domain of private citizenship. Mr. Brundage, who has resided here since May, 1869, conducts the largest undertaking business in all the Beaverhead valley.

Mr. Brundage was born at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, April 13, 1863. When an infant he removed with his

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parents to Pennsylvania, where he remained until about six years of age. In May, 1869, they came west again, locating in Virginia City, Montana, where they re- sided for about nine years and then went to Sheridan, Montana, where they remained for some two years. In 1880, Mr. Brundage came to Dillon and he has been here off and on ever since that time. His first experience in business was in his father's machine shop at Virginia City and subsequent to that he was engaged in the printing business with his father at Sheridan, Montana. He then tried ranching for a time, experiencing the free life of the plains for over five years. He then came back to Dillon and again became identified with the printing business. He then became an editor, and for three years managed the Dillon Tribune, but he did not remain permanently engaged with the Fourth Estate, and at the end of the period above mentioned he embarked in the furniture and grocery business with O. E. Morse. Upon the demise of Mr. Morse he .de- cided to establish himself in business independently, and bought the furniture stock of the late firm. How- ever, at the time of starting in business he traded his furniture stock to another dealer and took over his undertaking department, and now conducts the latter department exclusively. He has a fully equipped and up-to-date business making use of the finest and most scientific mortuary methods, his, in truth, being the leading undertaking business in Beaverhead valley. He has also a special department for cabinet workframing, etc.

Mr. Brundage earned his first money as a boy at the age of about twelve years by herding the town cows during vacation time, and proved such an efficient capitalist that he made from fifty to sixty dollars a month. Thus his unusual executive ability was mani- fest at an early age. He is an active member of the Episcopal church, as is also Mrs. Brundage, and his political faith is that of the Republican party, al- though he takes no active part in politics. He is a Mason, being master of the blue lodge, and he has filled nearly every other office in the fraternity. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and has filled all the chairs in this organization. He finds his favorite diversion in hunting and fishing, being an expert with rod and gun, and he is an enthusiast on the subject of baseball; in fact he used to play the game and was at one time quite a hero among the fans. He is never happier than when listening to good music.

Mr. Brundage is one of the loyal sons of Montana, having absolute confidence in the future of the Treas- ure state and it has been proved that nothing could induce him to become a citizen of any other state. He once visited his father in California and the elder gentleman put forth many good arguments to get him to come there to live. Mr. Brundage, however, sang a little song, beginning,

"Take me back to old Montana Where there's lots of room and air,"

and proved impervious to all inducements.

He belongs to that typical American product-the self-made men, and has made his own way quite with- out assistance since the age of fourteen, and in him the fine results of industry, thrift and good manage- ment are very apparent, for he is one of the leading business men of Dillon.

Mr. Brundage was married in Montana, the young woman who became his wife being Louise C. Stau- daher. Four sons and a daughter have been born to the union: Everett D., born in Dillon, now resides in Butte; Hiram M., a native to Dillon, is associated with his father in business; Thomas, born in Dillon, died at the age of ten years; Justin, now attending school, as is Dorothy, the baby, are like their brothers,

natives of Dillon. Their home is a very popular and pleasant one.

Mr. Brundage's father, Hiram Brundage, was born in Canada, came to the United States when a boy and first settled in Indiana. He came to this state in 1863, and has ever since been in the west. During Indian war times he was telegraph operator at Bridger, driv- ing through the country under the escort of soldiers and assisting in getting the first telegraph line through to Salt Lake City. It was he who established the Dillon Tribune, one of the leading newspapers of Mon- tana. Now retired, he resides in Lower California, and enjoys universal respect. The mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Holiday, married in Penn- sylvania and died in Virginia City, Montana, where she is interred. There were five children in the elder Brundage family, the subject being next to the eldest. The remainder are located as follows: John is mar- ried and resides in Beaverhead county; Anna, now the wife of Thomas Shaw, resides in Madison county, Montana; Adelaide is married and makes her home in the state of Washington; an infant sister, Elizabeth. died at the age of two years.

HENRY BUCK. The story of the life work of Henry Buck, one of the best known and most influential citi- zens of the Bitter Root valley, is a thrilling narrative, the chapters of which mark the way from a little country school in Michigan to the ownership of one of the finest orchards in the state of Montana. Start- ing as a ranchman near Florence, some forty years ago, he reached a proud position of commercial suprem- acy by methods which in these days of higher criticism of business practice have never been assailed, and his achievements are ascribed by those who know him commercially to strict and conscientious attention to business coupled with honor and rectitude of a high order. Mr. Buck is a native of Ohio, having been born in Sandusky county, near Bellevue, August 13, 1846. and is a son of George and Susan (Shell) Buck, na- tives of Pennsylvania. Some time after their marriage, Mr. Buck's parents removed to Monroe, Michigan, and there Henry, the youngest of thirteen children, secured a primary and high school education, and sup- plemented this training with a year in Albion Commer- cial College, from which he was graduated in 1867.

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 48

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