A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 72

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

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Mr. Ford is affiliated with the ancient and august Masonic order, having filled nearly all the chairs and being past master of his lodge. He is inclined toward the Catholic faith, but is not a member of any church, believing that all are working toward the same end and that all are worthy of support. He is an out-of- doors man and is fond of hunting, fishing and foot- ball and of the last-named he is a player of prowess and renown, having been on Michigan's famous eleven. He is a fine judge of horses and is much interested in the equine species. He heartily subscribes to the state- ment that "He who loves a book never lacks a friend," and possesses a well-chosen private library. His law library is one of the finest in the state, consisting of over a thousand volumes. Nothing could exceed his loyalty to the state of his birth and no ordinary con- siderations could induce him to part from it.

Mr. Ford was happily married at White Sulphur Springs on Christmas day, 1908, Margaret Young, daughter of James and Margaret A. Young of Monti- cello, Iowa, becoming his wife. They share their at- tractive household with a small daughter, Helen Mar- garet. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ford are interesting pop- ular members of society and their home is one of the favorite gathering places of both older and younger generations.

The subject's father, William T. Ford, was born in Tennessee and came to Montana in the '6os, being among the early pioneers in Meagher county, where he located. He has encountered good fortunes here and has engaged in stock-raising and ranching throughout the intervening period. He takes an active interest in politics and is one of the most valiant of Republican party leaders. He served at one time as county com- missioner of Meagher county and also as mayor of White Sulphur Springs, and his public services have

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been such as have redounded to his own credit and the honor and profit of the people. The maiden name of his wife was Helen Foley, to whom he was married at Walla Walla, Washington. The elder Mr. and Mrs. Ford reside upon their ranch in a beautiful and ad- vantageously situated country home. They have five children living, Mr. Ford, immediate subject of this review, being the fourth in order of birth and the eldest son. Ida married William L. Jenkins and re- sides at Billings, Montana; Belle is still a member of the parental household and Arthur is a citizen of White Sulphur Springs.

WILLIAM J. HARTWIG is the owner and manager of the new Antlers Theatre, one of the finest play houses in the state of Montana. His genial manner and love of "a fair deal" make him popular with the laity as well as with the theatrical profession. He has served the city as alderman and was elected in 1909 to the Seventh legislative assembly of Montana, the Demo- cratic party being then in control of the state.

Mr. Hartwig was born December 8, 1861, in Brügge, Germany, and obtained both his elementary and high school eduaction in the city schools of Omaha, Nebraska. In the spring of 1879 he traveled by boat to Fort Benton, Montana, and thence by stage to Helena. In Helena he pursued his trade for four years, becom- ing about that time interested in the insurance business. Until 1905 he was solicitor for the Bankers Life In- surance Company of Des Moines, Iowa. In that year he formed a partnership with a Mr. Menth and estab- lished the grocery firm of Menth & Hartwig. For three years this business prospered, when Mr. Hartwig sold his interest to his partner that he might enter the candy company of Mr. A. Seiler. . The firm was later known as the Seiler and Hartwig Candy Company. The ensuing year, however, he resold his share of the firm to Mr. Seiler and purchased the Orpheum Theatre, and is now the owner of the Antlers Theatre.

Since 1882 Mr. William J. Hartwig has been in busi- ness for himself and every venture has proved suc- cessful. He is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World and the Lambs Club.

June 6, 1883, he married Miss Isabell Burke, and to them were born seven children, of whom the oldest, William J., Jr., died in early childhood, and those living are Raymond J .: Elizabeth : Wallace B .: Isabell. who married Heath Sutton, of Seattle, Washington; Charles H., and Wilbur J.

H. SOL HEPNER. Noteworthy among the able and successful attorneys of Lewis and Clark county is H. Sol Hepner, of Helena, who has a large and con- stantly growing legal practice in that city, his profes- sional knowledge and skill having gained for him the confidence of the people. A native of Russia, he was born, February 25, 1869, at Seiny, where his childhood days were spent. His father, the late Barnett H. Hep- ner, was born, reared and married in Russia, and while there was engaged principallv in railroad contracting. Immigrating to the United States in 1871 he lived a short time in Pennsylvania, thence moving to Colorado. Coming to Montana in 1879, he embarked in mercantile pursuits in Helena, opening a clothing store, which he managed until his death, in 1908. He sent for his fam- ily, who arrived in 1882. His wife, whose maiden name was Bertha Maizel, was born in Russia, and is now liv- ing at Helena. She has three children, one son, H. Sol Hepner, the subject of this brief sketch, and two daugh- ters, as follows. Jennie, wife of Louis Wigel, of Helena, Montana; and Lula, wife of Sylvain Levy, of New York City.

As a boy H. Sol Hepner attended the Imperial Pro- gymnasium at Tzaritzin, Russia, becoming proficient in the elementary branches of learning. After coming to

this country, he continued his studies in the public schools, readily acquiring a knowledge of the English language. Completing the full course of study in the grammar school at Helena, he was graduated from its high school with the class of 1885, being one of the first two boys in the city to obtain a high school diploma. The following five years he was employed in the Mon- tana National Bank at Helena. In 1889 Mr. Hepner entered the law department of the University of Michi- gan, at Ann Arbor, and at the end of two years was graduated therefrom. Admitted to the bar in 1892, he began the practice of his chosen profession in Helena, and as a lawyer has gained unmistakable prestige, his clientage being extensive and lucrative.

In his political affiliations Mr. Hepner is a sound Democrat, and takes an intelligent interest in public matters. From 1897 to 1899 he served as a member of the state legislature, and in 1909 and 1910 was county prosecuting attorney for Lewis and Clark county. He was his party's nominee for district judge in 1900, but was defeated at the polls. He is now city attorney of Helena. Fraternaly, Mr. Hepner holds high rank in the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, hav- ing served as grand master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Montana in 1903-1904. He is a member and past grand patron of the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star of Montana; a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias ; is also past exalted ruler of Helena Lodge, No. 193, B. P. O. E .; and a very prominent member of the Woodmen of the World, being the present head escort of the Head Camp of the Pacific Jurisdiction of that order, the jurisdiction comprising nine western states. Mr. Hepner is a thirty-second degree Mason, and is a member and past potentate of Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

On June 6, 1897, Mr. Hepner married Josephine Israel, and they are the parents of two children, namely : Clarie Algeria, born in 1900; and Harold Steffan, born in 1904.

FREDERICK W. KROGER, treasurer of Granite county and one of the popular and well-known young men in this section of the state, was born in Philipsburg, Granite county, on February 22, 1879, and has passed his life thus far in this city. He is the son of. Charles and Anna (Rusch) Kroger. The father was born in Holstein, Germany, and came to America as a young man. After visiting many states he finally settled in Montana, where he became well-to-do and prominent. He was in the mining business for many years and later engaged in brewing. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow and was among the best known men in the county. He died in 1898, at the age of sixty- five. He married his wife in Deer Lodge, Montana. She still survives her husband and is living in Philips- burg, where she has passed so many years of her life. She was the second white woman to live in Bear Town. They were the parents of four children, of which number Frederick W. of this review is the youngest born. The other members are as follows : Dora married Lawrence Hauck and lives in Philips- burg, where Mr. Hauck is postmaster and publisher of the Philipsburg Mail, as well as president of the First State Bank of Philipsburg. Walter H. is cashier of the First State Bank and lives in his home town. Henry A., who is married, lives in Philipsburg and is a ranger in the United States forestry service.

Frederick W. Kroger received his education in the grade and high schools of his home town. His first position as a wage earner was in a drug store in Philipsburg, where he continued for a few months, leaving the work to take up his high school studies. After his graduation from that school he followed various occupations in and about the town. He ran an engine, drove delivery wagons, worked in the mills

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Joseph Whitworth

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and did numerous other things by way of being em- ployed, until in the autumn of 1910 he was named for the office of treasurer for his county. He was elected, and since that time has been engaged in that office. Thus far his services have been all that might be wished for, and he has shown all the earmarks of a valuable official. Mr. Kroger is a Republican and has always evinced a lively interest in the affairs of the party in the county and district. He has been a city alderman, and previous to his election to the office of county treasurer, he was deputy county treasurer for two years.

Mr. Kroger is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Redmen, the Sons of Hermann, the Alumni Society of the Philipsburg high school, and he is a member of a volunteer fire de- partment in Philipsburg. He has been through all the chairs in the Alumni and the Order of Redmen, and at present is great sachem of Montana in the latter or- der. He was secretary of the fire department for sev- eral years.

On August 4, 1910, Mr. Kroger was united in mar- riage with Pearl M. Scott, daughter of John A. and Mary Scott, of Philipsburg. They have two children, Marian E. and Josephine.

WILLIAM B. CALHOUN, clerk of the court of Granite county, is distinctively a western product. Born in Utah, he has lived in Montana since he was two years old, and has grown up with the great state which lias made such rapid strides in progress in the past quarter century.

Mr. Calhourn was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October II. 1877, and is the son of James J. and Sarah A. (Powell) Calhoun. The father was born in New York state, but the greater part of his life has been spent in the west. He now maintains the family home in Philipsburg, where he has been engaged in mining ventures for a number of years. They were the par- ents of eight children, of which number five are living. Ethel is married to W. J. Boland and lives in Spokane ; Violet is the wife of E. B. Scott, and lives at Proctor, Montana; Chester J. is married and lives in Great Falls; Edward J. attends school in Philipsburg. Wil- liam B., who was the third child born to his parents, was as a boy a student in the schools of Helena, Marys- ville and Philipsburg, in which towns he lived as a growing youth. When he was two years old the family removed from Salt Lake City to Montana, first set- tling in Helena, and remaining for about six years. Then they removed to Marysville, where they continued to live for about four years, and in 1889 the family located in Philipsburg, where they have remained since that time. When William B. was a lad of nine years he earned his first money as an errand boy in Marys- ville. His next position was with a civil engineering crew some years later, and he was engaged thus when the Spanish-American war broke out. He gave up his work promptly and enlisted in the Third United States Volunteer Cavalry, serving through the war in that regiment. After the war he returned to Philipsburg and took employment in the bi-metallic mill, in which he continued for five years. His next position was in a grocery store as a salesman, where he remained for nine years. He left that position to fill that of clerk of the court, to which he was appointed when a vacancy appeared, and he has since that time remained in the position, which he has filled with all efficiency and in a manner most creditable to himself.

Mr. Calhoun is a Republican, and although he has no political ambitions he is not unduly active in the politics of the county. He was married at Philipsburg on March 20, 1902. to Miss Maggie Hickey, daughter of James and Mary Hickey, of Philipsburg, in which place Mrs. Calhoun was born. They have two chil- dren, James W. and Dorothy May, both of whom at-

tend school in Philipsburg. The family are attendants of the Methodist church, but not members.

JOSEPH WHITWORTH. The career of Joseph Whitworth is a splendid illustration of what independence, self- faith and persistency can accomplish in America. He is a self-made man in the most significant sense of the word, for no one helped him in a financial way and he is self-educated. As a young man he was strong, vigor- ous and self-reliant. He trusted in his own ability and did things single-handed and alone. He stands today as a successful business man and a loyal and public- spirited citizen. He is president of the United States National Bank at Deer Lodge and is half owner of the Bonner Lumber & Implement Company, two of the leading financial concerns in this city.

At Chesterfield, England, October 7, 1857, occurred the birth of Joseph Whitworth, who was brought by his parents to the United States in 1859, at which time he was an infant of but two years of age. George Whit- worth, father of Joseph, was born in England in 1821, and since 1857 he has been a resident of Utah, where lie is engaged in farming and the growing of fruits and beets. He married Mary Wheatley in England, and they became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Joseph, the immediate sub- ject of this review ; Florence, who is the wife of Elmer Loveland, of Collingston, Utah; George W., a farmer in the vicinity of Bancoff, Idaho; Herbert, engaged in the hotel business at Drummond, Montana; Michael, a farmer and stock-raiser near Chesterfield, Idaho; John, a rancher in the vicinity of Chesterfield, where Frank is likewise located. The mother was called from this life in 1881 and is buried at Brigham, Utah.

Joseph Whitworth was educated in the public schools of Boxalder county, Utah. At the age of thirteen years he began to help his father in the work and manage- ment of the home farm and when he had reached his legal majority he entered the employ of Pratt & Com- pany, cattle dealers, working for that concern in Wyo- ming for one year. At the expiration of that time he came to Montana, settling at Dillon, where he secured work as salesman for the John W. Lowell Company. He went to Silver Bow, Montana, for the Lowell Com- pany and continued to work for them until 1884, when it failed in business. Mr. Whitworth then came to Deer Lodge and for the next three years was in the employ of the Bennett Brothers Implement Company.

About 1886 Mr. Whitworth became connected with the Montana Improvement Company of Deer Lodge, as manager. This concern was later succeeded by the E. L. Bonner Company, of which Mr. Whitworth became a member. At the time of the death of Mr. E. L. Bon- ner in 1902 Mr. Whitworth assumed charge of the lum- ber yards of the Bonner Company, which was separated from the parent company and became the Bonner Lum- ber Company, and as such it has since been conducted. This company handles not only all kinds of lumber, but one of the largest lines of agricultural implements, ranch tools, vehicles and farm equipment in the state. Mr. Whitworth became vice president, treasurer and gen- eral manager of the Bonner Lumber Company when it was reorganized, a relation that he has since main- tained, and he has been the main factor in its success.

Mr. Whitworth was one of the organizers of the United States National Bank at Deer Lodge, the first and only national bank in Powell county. This bank was organized in November, 1910, and MIr. Whitworth became its first president, a position which he yet re- tains. The bank has enjoyed a rapid and substantial growth, and is regarded as one of the well-managed and conservative banks in this section of the state. He is recognized as one of the leading business men and citizens of the state of Montana and inasmuch as he owes his rise in business circles entirely to his own well directed endeavors, his success is the more gratify-

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ing to contemplate. During the past twenty-five years Mr. Whitworth has had but one vacation and that con- sisted of a month's tour of the northwest through Wash- ington and Orgeon. In politics he is a stalwart Re- publican and has served that party as chairman of the state central committee. For the past twelve years he has been a member of the Deer Lodge school board and for two years was a member of the city council. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and he has been banker of that organization since 1906.

In 1888 Mr. Whitworth was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Auschman, a native of New York. Mrs. Whitworth completed her educational training with a course of study in Germany. Six children have been born to them, as follows: Elmer George, who attended school at Deer Lodge until his graduation from the high school and then entered the University of Mich- igan, where he attended for a year, and he is now con- nected with the Bonner Lumber Company as assistant manager; William Joseph is a student in the Montana Agricultural College at Bozeman, where he is specializ- ing in electrical engineering; Katherine, a student in the Deer Lodge high school; Nita and Marie, both attending the public schools, as is also Edward Bon- ner, the youngest of the family.

Mr. Whitworth's residence in Deer Lodge was the first one built by Mr. E. L. Bonner in that city, and is one of the most substantial houses in that city of fine homes.

FRANK SANDERSON. The state of Illinois has done much for the upbuilding and settling of her sister state, Montana, in that she has contributed some of her stur- diest stock and her best citizenship to that end. Prom- inent among the goodly number of Illinois who have migrated to Montana, drawn by the lure of the west, is Frank Sanderson, born in Pike county, that state, on his father's farm, February 22, 1860, and there reared until the years of his young manhood.

Frank Sanderson is the son of Robert B. and Amenda (Shaw) Sanderson, the former of whom was born in New York state in 1826, and the latter in Massachusetts. Robert B. Sanderson passed away in the year 1871 at the age of forty-five years, but Mrs. Sanderson still lives in Summer Hill, Pike county, Illinois. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson, all of whom are liv- ing with the single exception of one. They are named below in the order of their birth: H. B., now living in Yellowstone county, Montana; Frederick, deceased; Frank, our subject; Clara, wife of Fred Shaw, living in Summer Hill, Pike county, Illinois; Mattie, the wife of C. O. Marsh, resident of Louisiana, Pike county, Missouri, and C. C., who like his two living brothers, is a resident of Yellowstone county, Montana.

Robert B. Sanderson came to Pike county with his parents while he was yet a young boy. His father was John R. Sanderson, a pioneer of Pike county, coming there from New York state and was a millwright, be- coming active in farming and stock raising ventures. At that time the county seat of Pike county was situated at the little village of Atlas, long since deserted. Jerry Adams, an uncle of Frank Sanderson of whom we write, owned the land on which the village of Atlas stood. The court house and jail, rudely constructed of hewn logs, were of necessity abandoned when the county seat was wrested away from Atlas, and Mr. Adams later made use of the buildings for a corn crib. Frank San- derson, then a mere youth, recalls the time when he helped his uncle crib corn in the one-time court house and jail.

Robert B. Sanderson followed in the footsteps of his father and continued the work of farming and stock raising on the old home place. There he spent his life and there he died in 1871.

Frank Sanderson spent his early years at home on the farm, attending the country school in the winter

and assisting with the farm work in the summer, as country boys have done from time immemorial. When he reached the age of nineteen years, he was anxious to get away from home and see some of the world and it was at Reno, Nevada, where he first located, that he got his first breath of life in that western land, where he was destined to eventually make his home. In Reno he secured employment at sheep herding, and in 1879, he came overland with a flock of sheep to Helena, Montana. The firm who employed him sold the sheep in Helena and he passed on to White Sulphur Springs. In the winter of 1877 he again herded sheep, but the following winter he was engaged in driving the stage between White Sulphur Springs and Fort Custer. In the spring of 1879, he entered the employ of Westbrook and McAdow on their farm near the present site of Billings. It is interesting, as a side light on western growth and progressiveness, to note that what is now the prosperous and growing city of Billings was then a veritable wilderness; a hunting ground for big game; and on the spot where the Congregational church of Billings now stands his brother H. B. Sanderson once shot an antelope.

In 1880, Mr. Sanderson and his brother, H. B., opened a blacksmith shop in Old Coulson, now a deserted vil- lage near Billings. They conducted the shop for perhaps a year and a half, and then returned to Pike county, where our subject engaged in farming and stock raising, a business in which he was in every way qualified to make good, in view of his early training and his valuable western experience. He continued thus until the year 1899, when his old longing for the west proved too strong for him and he returned to Yellow- stone county, Montana, where he had spent many busy years, and occupied himself in farming and sheep rais- ing, in which occupation he is still active and enjoying a very considerable measure of success.

During his residence in Pike county, Mr. Sanderson served his township capably for two years as a member of the school board, and also for three years as highway commissioner. He is a member of Ashlar Lodge No. 29 A. F. & A. M., and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is an adherent to the Republican princi- ples, true to the precept and example of his father.

November 23, 1881, Mr. Sanderson was united in matrimony to Carrie E. Miller, like himself, a native of Pike county. She is a daughter of S. G. and Asenath (Bemis) Miller, the former being a native of Ohio and the latter of Massachusetts. Both are now deceased. They were the parents of two children, Carrie Sander- son being their second child. Mr. Miller was well and favorably known in his section of Illinois, being a pio- neer of Pike county. He was a tailor by trade, but early in life turned his atention to stock breeding and general farming, being especially awake to the splendid possi- bilities of such an enterprise afforded by the exceptional facilities of that section. In his efforts in that direction he has been particularly successful.

Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson are the parents of five chil- dren, here named in the respective order of their birth: Robert B., married to Nellie Brodrick; Carl M., to Nellie Master; Richard H .; Neal D; and Frederick M.

CHARLES EDWARD DALTON has been a resident of Montana since he was twenty-one years of age, which came to pass in the year 1879. Previous to that time he resided in Bloomington, Illinois, where his father C. E. Dalton, conducted a book and stationery store. The elder Dalton was a native of New Hampshire, who immigrated to Illinois before the Civil war and was for forty years a merchant in Bloomington. His wife was Maria Prestwick, a lady of English birth, but a resident of America since her childhood. Her family lived in Providence, Rhode Island, and it was in that city that she was married to Charles Dalton. There were nine children born of her union with him, Charles,

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A history of Montana, Volume II, Part 72

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