A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 65

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

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On July 1, 1883, Mr. Watkins was married to Miss Annie Garrett, who was born at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and she died August 15, 1893, having had three children, namely: Ray G., Mary L. and Beulah G., all living in Billings.

HENRY A. FRITH. In the early days of the west the more favored districts drew to themselves the men of greatest ambition, foresight and sagacity. These sought the fields that held out to them the most in the way of promise for the future, and settling there bent their energies to laying the foundation of prosperity for them- selves and their posterity. Thus it is that the Yellow- stone valley was fortunate in its pioneers. They were not only of sturdy stock fit to endow their descendants with the physical strength to build up a great com- munity, but they were also above the average in mental grasp and moral fibre. They were able to discern the opportunities which the region held forth, and possessed the sound judgment, ability and courage to direct these to their full fruition. One of the early settlers of the Yellowstone valley, and now a leading member of the legal profession, is Henry A. Frith, of Billings, who is serving his seventh term as referee in bankruptcy for the fifth district of the state. The adventures which have becn crowded into Mr. Frith's life make his biography

seem more like fiction, and a number of sections have at various times claimed him as resident, but through- out his career his aim has been ever upward, and today there is no more honored member of the Montana bar.

Born in bonny Scotland, in the busy city of Edin- burgh, Henry A. Frith comes of a fine old Scotch family. His parents were Henry. A. and Christina (Monroe) Frith, and from the former, who was a caricaturist, he inherited some talent for drawing, and when he was only eleven years of age began to learn heraldic painting and japanning, devoting his attention thereto for two years. Subsequently he served an apprenticeship of seven years in lithographic printing, the last year in London, and was also for two years connected with the artillery division of the Scottish militia in Edinburgh. During the spring of 1868, Mr. Frith left his native country for the United States and after landing in New York was for six months employed as a lithographic printer. He then went to Washington, D. C., where he enlisted in the. Twenty-ninth United States Infantry, which subse- quently became the Eleventh United States Infantry, and the regiment was sent to Texas, where it was en- gaged in keeping order during the reconstruction period. After securing his honorable discharge, Mr. Frith he- came associated with the semi-military organization known as the State Police of Texas, under Governor Davis, and was in the division commanded by Adjutant- General Davidson. In this service he was wounded sev- eral times and had many thrilling experiences and nar- row escapes from death. On one occasion he was nearly lynched, and it was only through the quick action of the sheriff and several of his deputies, assisted by a number of the leading business men, that his life was spared. Unknown to Mr. Frith, the mayor and city marshal of Hearne. Robertson county, had been at- tacked and driven into the mayor's office where they barricaded themselves against three desperate men bent on murder. Mr. Frith chanced to sit down in front of the mayor's office when one of the desperadoes drew a revolver on him. Mr. Frith managed to knock this out of his hand but was severely wounded by the re- volver of another of the trio, while the third attacked and wounded him with a knife. Before they had over- powered him Mr. Frith shot one of the party, and he then consented to be confined in jail. It was during the night that Mr. Frith came near being lynched. Sub- sequently he was taken to the county seat and there released and he remained in the service for another year, resigning in 1872 to teach a negro school, where he was compelled to sit all day with a large revolver on the desk at his side to guard him from attack, his life. having been threatened time and again.

After teaching for about a year, Mr. Frith returned to the western part of the state and reenlisted in his old regiment and company, and during 1873-1874 served for six months in the field under General Mckenzie, against the Indians. In 1875 he was under A. W. Greeley, of Arctic fame, then attached to the signal corps, and remained in Texas until the time of the Custer massacre, when the regiment was ordered to Montana and stationed at Standing Rock during the winter of 1876-77. The regiment participated in the disarming of the Sioux, and in the following spring proceeded into what is now Custer county, where it established Forts Keough and Custer under General Miles. Mr. Frith was present when this general inter- cepted the Bannack Indians while en route to the Yel- lowstone National Park, in the fall of 1877, and they encountered eighty Bannacks at what is now known as Bennett Creek, named in honor of Captain Bennett who was killed in this fight. The Indians were en- trenched on this creek and at early dawn the troops surprised and opened fire on the savages, capturing thirty-six of them and all of the horses, and the pris- oners were brought to Fort Custer. Mr. Frith there secured a three months' furlough, at which time he lo-

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cated a United States homestead near Huntley, Yellow- stone county, and at the expiration of his furlough was. honorably discharged and engaged in ranching on his property, also conducting a general store near Huntley.

In 1879 when the Yogo mines were discovered, Mr. Frith went over to the Judith river and devoted his attention to mining operations and general merchan- dising one year, during this time being deputy recorder of Yogo mining district. In the winter of 1880, Mr. Frith established a winter trading post and built the first house and stockade on the north side of the lower Musselshell river, returning to Huntley in the spring and going again to Musselshell for the winter and then coming again to Huntley to look after his business dur- ing the following summer.

In 1892 Mr. Frith commenced the study of law in the Sprague Correspondence School of Law, of Detroit, Michigan, and after disposing of his Huntley interests,. in 1894, he matriculated in the Kent College of Law, at Chicago, completing a thorough course and grad- uating in the class of 1896. He then obtained permis- sion to practice in all the courts of Illinois, and returned to Montana, in the courts of which state he was admit- ted to practice in June of the same year. He at once opened an office in Billings, and is now located in the First National Bank building. He is now serving his seventh term as United States referee in bankruptcy for the fifth district of the state, to which office he was first appointed June 23, 1899.

Mr. Frith married Helen G. Miller, in Anaconda, Montana. on the 24th of April, 1905. Mrs. Frith is a charming woman, of considerable intellectual gifts and is president of the Woman's Club of Billings, as well as being prominent in the social affairs of the city.

Mr. Frith was one of the organizers of the Pioneers' Association of eastern Montana, of which he has been the secretary since its inception. Mr. Frith's immediate success in his chosen profession proved him to be an able lawyer and his rise has been rapid. He possesses a keen and analytical mind and a broad and compre- hensive mental vision, enabling him to grasp the funda- mental and basic elements of the subject under consid- eration. He has served as counsel in some very im- portant litigation, and his superior merit has obtained the recognition that it deserves. Ever since taking up the practice of law in Billings and making his resi- dence here, he has been constant and untiring in his en- deavor to promote the city's best interests and has given his support to all measures for the public benefit. In political matters he is an independent, and although for fifteen years his sympathies have been with Demo- cratic principles, he has on various occasions exercised the right to give his support to the candidates whom he deems best fitted for the office.

JOHN E. DAWSON has been identified with com- mercial enterprises in one capacity or another since his boyhood, and has acquired a thorough knowledge of the business, which has made possible the high standing he bears in mercantile circles in Glasgow and Valley county. In addition to the prestige which his business operations have brought to him, Mr. Daw- son is further honored in that he is mayor of his city. having been elected to the office in 1909 and re-elected to succeed himself in 1911. That he has further evi- denced his ability in executive capacities is an accepted fact in Glasgow, and he is known for one of the most valuable citizens in the community.

Mr. Dawson is a native product of the state of Montana, born on the 27th day of December, 1876, at Boulder. Montana. He is the son of Thomas and Mary ( Smith) Dawson. The father was a pioneer of Last Chance Gulch, and an early stock raiser of Boulder vallev, and is now living in Boulder, Mon- tana. The wife and mother was a native of Wisconsin and was one of the first students to attend St. Vincent's

Academy at Helena. Four sons were born to theni. William W., the eldest, is a stock raiser and horse- man in Boulder valley; Thomas F. is connected with the Great Northern Railroad Company, and is located at Hinsdale, Montana; Peter J. remains with his par- ents at Boulder, and Join E., of this review, resident of Glasgow.

After completing the curriculum of the public schools of his native town, John Dawson attended the state college at Bozeman, Montana, specializing in a course in commercial study. In 1896 he began his first work as a clerk with the Hennessy Mercantile Company of Butte, with which firm he remained for one year, then accepting a similar position with Case, Gravell & Erwin Company, also of Butte, and he remained with that firm until 1900. In that year he left them to take a more responsible and lucrative position as de- partment manager for Thomas O'Hanlan Company of Chinook, and he continued with that firm for a period of six years. He next came to Glasgow to take charge of a department for the Lewis-Wedum Company, his association with that firm beginning in the spring of 1906. In the autumn of the same year Mr. Dawson acquired, by purchase, an interest in the firm, and he has since continued as one of the partners, his previous wide experience and his well developed natural abili- ties in merchandising making him a valuable addition to the personnel of the firm.

Mr. Dawson has always been a public-spirited man, taking a hearty and genuine interest in all civic mat- ters, and not denying a share of his time and atten- tion to matters of a public nature. In that respect, while a resident of Chinook, Mr. Dawson served that city as a member of the council, and since his residence in Glasgow has acted in a similar capacity, in addition to which he has so far proved himself a part of Glas- gow and her interests that he has been twice elected to the mayoralty of the city, as mentioned in a pre- vious paragraph. On the whole, his life in this com- munity has been thus far one of the greatest useful- ness, and Glasgow recognizes in him one of her worth- iest citizens. Mr. Dawson is a democrat and is active and prominent in local politics. He is invariably to be found present at the county conventions of the party, his prominence in business circles being not less marked than his popularity in political and social affairs. His circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaint- ances, and he is one of the most widely known men in the state.

In 1902 Mr. Dawson was united in marriage with Miss Mamie J. Ross, a native of Nova Scotia. She is the daughter of George Ross, a pioneer farmer of Milk river valley and a man of no little prominence in that section of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Daw- son are the parents of one child, Edwin Kenneth Daw- son.

JOSEPH WESLEY CROWELL was born in Montana, has always lived in this state, and intends to die in it, in due time, being still a young man. Helena was his native city, and he was born in the historic year of 1876, on June 19. His father, Joseph Wesley Crowell, Sr., was an Ohioan, born at Cincinnati, and he began his venturous career in the year of 1840. He moved to Nebraska in time to join the volunteers from that state in the Civil war, in which he served during the whole four years. At the age of nineteen he was married to Hannah Lundwall, who had come to Amer- ica from Sweden at the age of seven with her parents, Henry and Hannah Lundwall. The family settled in Omaha, and Henry Lundwall also served in the Civil war and was wounded while in action. There were fourteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crowell, seven daughters and seven sons, Joseph W. being the tenth in point of age. Mr. Crowell, Sr., came to Montana in 1862 with a bunch of government horses. He first

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stopped at Corinne, went from there to Bannack City, then to Bozeman and finally to Helena, where he is still living. His wife died in Bozeman at the age of eighty-two and is buried there. Her father died from the effects of the wound received in the war and was buried in Omaha. Ever since coming to Mon- tana, Mr. Crowell has followed mining, and though not now actively engaged in that occupation, he still has interests in it.

Joseph W. Crowell, Jr., spent most of the first twenty years of his life in Helena, receiving his edu- cation in the schools of that city. From Helena he went to Havre, where he engaged in the business which he had followed in his native city. In Helena he had worked for a bill posting company, and when he moved to Havre he went into the same line of business, but this time for himself. As division point of the Great Northern Railway, the city furnished a good field for the theatrical and bill-posting enterprise, and Mr. Crowell remained in this town for seven years, and in that time had saved up $5,000. Unfortunately, he was acting as his own banker and safe deposit guar- dian, a trunk representing the safe. A fire destroyed the building, and the trunk with it. Fire protection was inadequate in that place, and it was impossible to rescue anything.

It was exceedingly discouraging to see the fruits of his seven years' toil go up in smoke, but Mr. Crowell is a real Montanian, and felt that the only thing to do when he had lost his money was to get busy and make some more. Accordingly, he came to Butte in 1897 and took charge of the Montana Bill-Posting Company under Charles Schatzlein. Since that time Mr. Crowell has been continuously in this city, and in the employ of the same concern. When he took charge of the business the company had only wooden boards, but now they have supplied themselves with steel ones. Under Mr. Crowell's management the busi- ness has been built up to one of the finest in the west, and theatrical agents declare that they get better serv- ice here than in many of the great cities. This is not surprising, as Mr. Crowell has devoted his entire time to this business, and he brings to it characteristic Montana initiative. Another of Mr. Crowell's inter- ests is as advertising manager of the Broadway The- ater, the leading play house of the city.

In politics the Republican party receives his support, and also his active interest. He is a strong factor in the local organization and is well known in the councils of the party. In the fraternal orders he be- longs to the Woodmen of the World. Both he and Mrs. Crowell are members of the Methodist church, and loyal supporters of all its enterprises.

Mrs. Crowell was formerly Miss Dora Springel, of this city. Her father is Mr. Jacob Springel. who conducts a ladies' tailoring establishment in Butte. Miss Springel was born in Chicago, but came to Butte when a child and has grown up here. She was mar- ried to Mr. Crowell in 1908, and they have one child, Rosa, now two years of age. Mr. Crowell is a self- made man in the truest sense of the word and he has every reason to take pride in his achievements.

ALBERT J. GALEN. One of the distinguished lawyers of the state, Albert J. Galen, attorney general of Mon- tana, is in truest sense indigenous to this common- wealth. He is the son of one of the powerful, sturdy pioneers who laid the paths straight and clean for present day progress and prosperity. His father, an Irishman in point of nativity, cast his fortunes with Montana many years before it was admitted to state- hood; played an important part in the vigorous life of the new country and died wealthy and widely known. His qualities of courage, determination and magnificent executive ability have been transmitted to his son, the subject, who stands an ornament to his

profession, as well as one of Montana's most valued public officials and a commanding figure in the affairs of the Republican party.

Mr. Galen was born on a ranch near Three Forks, Jefferson county, Montana, just at the head of the Missouri river, the date of his birth being January 16, 1876.

The Honorable Mr. Galen received his education of a preliminary character in the parochial and public schools of Helena. In September, 1889, he entered Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana, as a student in the preparatory department and in due time entered the college proper. Having come to the decision to become identified with the legal profession he matriculated in the law department of that institu- tion and was graduated with the degree of LL. B. with the class of 1896, being admitted to the bar of the state of Indiana. He then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and took a special course in law, the next year receiving a degree from that univer- sity and being admitted to the bar of Michigan in 1897. He returned to Montana in August of that year and was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Montana and also before the federal courts of this state. He thereupon entered formally into the prac- tice of his profession in Helena. He was admitted to practice before the United States supreme court at Washington, D. C., in June, 1897. His attainments were from the first recognized as of paramount excel- lence and his election in November, 1904, as attorney general was a most appropriate circumstance, and his services were of such character that they received the eloquent approval of re-election in November, 1908, his term to expire Jannary, 1913.

Mr. Galen since earliest voting days has given hand and heart to the Republican party and has ever been ready to do all in his power to bring about its suc- cess. He is an active worker in national, state and local affairs and very influential in party councils.

Mr. Galen was married in Helena, February 2, 1898, the lady of his choice being Miss Ethelene Bennett, daughter of Willard Bennett, a native of Ontario, Can- ada. They share their home, which is modest though hospitable, in Helena, and is presided over by a mis- tress of unusual social grace, with one son, James A. Galen, born in Helena, May 5, 1902. Their residence is at 609 Spruce street.

Fraternally Mr. Galen is a member of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, and the Montana Club of Helena.

CHARLES A. BURG. A man who both as a public official and as a prominent citizen has been an impor- tant figure in molding the municipal history of Living- ston, Montana, is Charles A. Burg, for fifteen years postmaster, during which time he has rendered the city excellent service and has been largely instrumental in inaugurating and carrying forward movements for the benefit of the postal system. Mr. Burg was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, January 8, 1849, and is a son of Mayer and Mary Ernestine (Boss) Burg. natives of the Fatherland. His father, who owned a large tannery, was extensively engaged in contracting for the German government, and became one of the prominent business men of his province. He and his wife were faithful members of the Hebrew church, and were the parents of five sons, of whom two survive: Charles A .; and Ludwig, the latter a resident of New York City.

Charles A. Burg was given the advantages of a mili- tary education, first attending a school at Marienwerder, and subsequently going to the artillery academy at Neisse. He was twenty years of age when he came to the United States, and, finding his funds very low on reaching New York City, worked for a time in a brick yard, thus earning the means with which to travel to

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St. Anthony (now East Minneapolis), Minnesota. He was there employed by Capt. S. S. Brown and for a short time worked in the lumber woods, but subse- quently went to St. Paul to accept a position in the United States quartermaster's office, for which his early training had qualified him, but in 1872 removed to Bismarck, North Dakota, and later engaged in operating a wood yard on the Missouri river. In Au- gust, 1876, he located on the present site of Miles City, and during the winter of 1876-7 was employed in cut- ting wood for the United States government, but re- tired from that occupation to associate himself with Capt. Charles Savage, who was engaged in the general merchandise business. Mr. Burg continued in this line until 1882, in which year he removed to Clark City, now Livingston, arriving here ahead of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Until 1890 he was engaged in a general merchandise business, then being appointed United States Land Register at Lewistown, by President Benja- min Harrison, an office which he held four years. In 1894 he returned to Livingston and re-engaged in busi- ness as a merchant, and enjoyed a continued success until June 14, 1897, when he was appointed postmaster of Livingston by President Mckinley, receiving suc- cessive re-appointments in 1901, 1905 and 1909. He has also acted in various other official capacities, having been the first city treasurer of Livingston in 1880, be- ing a member of the school board for three years, and acting as a member of the first directing board of the Carnegie Free Library. He was one of the first to be- come a member of Livingston Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M., Livingston Chapter No. 7 R. A. M. and St. Ber- nard Commandery No. 6, K. T., and also belongs to Particular Consistory No. I, thirty-second degree, and Algeria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Helena; and the Sons of Hermann. His political views are those of the Republican party, and he has been firm and steadfast in his loyalty to its principles, but he has never been ani- mated by any controversial spirit that would antagonize those of opposite political belief. Consequently he has hosts of warm friends and supporters among his politi- cal opponents, and their votes have been freely given him when he has been a candidate for office. Mr. Burg is possessed of great executive ability, and the keen business and financial foresight that character- ized his personal activities have been brought to bear with beneficial effect on the affairs of the government which he has served so long. He is a striking example of that class of foreign-born citizens who go to make up all that is best in American citizenship, and as such merits the respect and esteem that is universally ac- corded him.

On January 17, 1880, Mr. Burg was married to Miss Cynthia Weymouth, who was born in Vermont, daugh- ter of Judge Weymouth, for many years a distinguished member of the Minnesota bench. Mrs. Burg died April 4, 1901, having been the mother of four children, namely: Ernestine, wife of Adelbert M. Alderson, editor and proprietor of the Livingston Post: Alfred G., who is living in North Yakima, Washington; Charles C., associate editor of the Livingston Post; and Kate S., who is attending school. Mr. Burg was mar- ried (second), in Livingston, November 4, 1903, to Miss Ida B. Fitzgerald, daughter of S. M. Fitzgerald, of Gardiner, Montana, and to this union there has been born one son: Mayer, who is attending school. The family home is situated at No. 309 South Second avenue.

DUNCAN A. MACLEOD. Since the year 1888, Duncan A. Macleod has been identified with the livery business of Belt, and with the passing of the years has come to be known as one of the representative and solid citizens of this place. He is well and favorably known through- out the county, and his acquaintance extends through various sections of the west, in which he has spent the

best years of his life. A man of many admirable qual- ities and sterling traits of character, he possesses the esteem and friendship of a large circle, and his business success is one of the direct results of his genial and kindly nature, combined with the high order of integ- - rity which is his.

Mr. Macleod was born in Canada on the banks of the St. Lawrence river, and reared near Ottawa city. His birth occurred on March 4, 1855. He is the son of Alexander MacLeod, a native of Scotland who came to Canada in the forties. He was a farmer and stock raiser, and passed his life there in that business, his death occurring in 1895, when he was sixty-five years of age. The mother was Catherine McCrae, also a native of Scotland who came to Canada in her early days and there married Mr. Macleod. Six children were born to them, Duncan A. Macleod being the second born. He was educated in the common schools of his native town and also attended the high school, leaving off his studies at the age of fifteen. He came to Montana for the first time in 1876, when he was twenty-one years of age, and settled at Fort Benton, there following the freighting business for six years, and in various parts of Montana and Wyoming. In the winter of 1886-88 he went to Alaska, where he en- gaged in mining and prospecting. He was fairly suc- cessful in his mining ventures and remained there until October, 1888, when he once more returned to Mon- tana, coming direct to Belt, where he entered the livery business; in that business he has continued with all success ever since. He is also interested in the ranch- ing business and operates No. 480 ranch in Belt town- ship, Cascade county, with a high degree of success and prosperity. He is one of the incorporators of the State Bank of Belt, is vice-president of the bank and one of its stockholders. He has been deputy sheriff for the past sixteen years, and is a Republican in his political affiliations, although he takes no active part in the political life of the county. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. The degree of success which Mr. Macleod has achieved may with all fairness be attributed entirely to himself, for surely his own efforts have been the main factor in the advancement of his interests. He began the serious business of life as a boy of fifteen, and has since that day been in the truest sense the architect of his own fortunes.

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 65

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