A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 115

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883-
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 970

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

quaintances. He is a Democrat in his political allegi- ance but has never had any desire to enter the turmoil of practical politics. Mr. and Mrs. Greden are mem- bers of the Catholic church.

The year 1908 bore record of the marriage, on the 3rd of June, of Mr. Greden to Miss Norah O'Keefe, who was born in the state of Massachusetts but reared in the west. She is a daughter of Timothy and Ellen (O'Brien) O'Keefe, who were pioneers of Nevada and who have been honored residents of Butte, Montana, for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Greden are popular factors in the social activities of their home city and their family circle is brightened by their fine little son, John J. who was born on the 6th of April, 1909.

ALBERT H. LILLEY, M. D. Admirably fortified in the learning of his chosen profession and known for marked ability in the application of his knowledge, Dr. Lilley is recognized as one of the representative physicians and surgeons of Montana and is established in a substantial and important practice in the city of Butte, where he is popular alike as a loyal and pro- gressive citizen and as a physician of marked ability

Dr. Albert Henry Lilley claims the old Bay state as the place of his nativity and is a scion of families early founded in America. He was born at New Bed- ford, Bristol county, Massachusetts, on the 8th of December, 1878, and is a son of Dr. William A. and Mary (Robnolt) Lilley, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in Pennsylvania. The father was for forty years engaged in the practice of medicine at New Bedford, Massachusetts, was known as an able and devoted representative of his profession and was a citizen of prominence and influence in the com- munity, where he ever commanded the fullest measure of popular confidence and esteem. He was summoned to the life eternal in 1909 and his widow still resides at New Bedford.

The public schools of his native town afforded Dr. Albert H. Lilley his early educational advantages, which included the curriculum of the high schools and that of the Mosher preparatory school, an ex- cellent institution in which he completed his academic training. A perhaps inherent predilection led him to adopt as his vocation in life that profession which has been signally dignified and honored by the long and faithful services of his father, and he was afforded the best of advantages in the prosecution of his pro- fessional studies, which were initiated under the effec- tive preceptorship of his father. He finally entered the medical department of historic old Harvard University, and in the same he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902, with the well-earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. After his graduation Dr. Lilley passed a few months in active professional work in associa- tion with his honored father, and in this connection he gained varied and effective clinical experience. In the meanwhile he took unto himself a wife, and on the 14th of October, 1902, he arrived with his bride in Butte, Montana, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged in the general practice of his profession, though he gives special attention to the surgical branch of the same, in which his skill has been attested in manifold operations, both major and minor. His graduation, marriage and initiation of practice all occurred in the same year and indicated his command of exigencies and his well-ordered plans for the future. In the Montana metropolis he has gained the high regard of his professional confreres and also of the general public, and he is essentially broad-minded and public-spirited in his civic attitude. He is identified with the American Medical Associa- tion, the Montana State Medical Society and the Silver Bow County Medical Society, and he keeps in close touch with the advances made in both depart- ments of the profession to which he gives unfaltering

allegiance and in which his success offers the best voucher for his ability. In politics he gives his support to the Republican party. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and holds membership in the Silver Bow Club, one of the representative civic organiza- tions of Butte.

On the 23d of August, 1902, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Lilley to Miss Emma T. Coffin, who was born on beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada, and she is a popular factor in the social activities of of her home city. Dr. and Mrs. Lilley have a win- some little daughter, Mary Elizabeth.

IKE EUGENE ODELL PACE is a young Montana attor- ney of no small ability. As a Democratic politician of the progressive school he is in much demand as a pub- lic speaker. His growing practice, however, precludes his giving much personal attention to the political game.

He was born in Hamilton, Caldwell county, Missouri, in 1873. When two years of age his parents with their four children moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where the older children, two boys and a girl, immediately entered the public schools. The youngest son, Ike Eugene Odell, after completing his elementary education entered the department of liberal arts in the University of Nebraska. After completing this course the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him. The follow- ing autumn he was admitted to the law school of the same university, from which he was graduated two years later.

While in college Mr. Pace was one of Nebraska's star athletes, wearing an "N" through almost his entire uni- versity career. He was captain of the university foot- ball team in one of its record years. He was at one time also the captain and manager of the base ball nine. It was during his college days that he first became interested in military affairs. Brigadier General Per- shing was in command of the military department of the university, and according to Mr. Pace and his com- rades, few better soldiers ever honored a country with their services. It was largely through his influence that so many of the young men of the Nebraska University discontinued their studies and sacrificed their ambitions at the first call from Washington in 1898.

During the Spanish-American war, which followed, he was appointed drill master of the regiment of which Mr. William Jennings Bryan was colonel. At one time during his service, when the adjutant was ill of a fever, Mr. Pace was given charge of the adjutant's head- quarters. It was in the evenings of these months when Mr. Bryan spent his leisure in Pace's tent that the warm friendship sprung up between them. This friendship has weathered all of the intervening years, and still remains as genuine as in 1898. Mr. Bryan resigned before the close of the struggle, and the regiment went to Cuba under General Vifquain, Mr. Pace remaining until it was finally mustered out, being at that time a lientenant.

Mr. Pace doubtless inherited his taste for military affairs from his father, Lewis Clarke Pace, who was a distinguished colonel during the Civil war. Mr. Pace, Senior, was a West Virginia, having been born in that state in 1837. Following the desires of his parents, he graduated from a theological seminary and served as pastor of several Methodist parishes. In after years he engaged in the wholesale paper business in Lincoln, Nebraska. During the war of the Rebellion he was colonel of the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry. In the battle of Shiloh he was severely wounded and finally captured. Once, later on in the war, he was captured, but released when an exchange of prisoners was effected.

After locating in Lincoln, Nebraska, he became much interested in politics, being an enthusiastic silver Repub- lican. It was Mr. Pace who made the speech which seconded the nomination of William J. Bryan for presi- dent in the convention of Silver Republicans held at St.

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Louis in 1900. He is still active in the political affairs of both Nebraska and Montana, being much in demand as a public speaker. Although he has never changed his legal residence from Lincoln, his business interests are largely in Montana. Each summer he spends in the lat- ter state on business connected with the Pace Woods Improvement Company, of which he is one of the origi- nators. He is almost as well known throughout Mon- tana as in Lincoln.

His wife, who before her marriage was Vashti Jane Odell, was born in Evansville, Indiana, in 1844. Her parents moved to Carmi, Illinois, when she was yet a child, and it was there that she met her future husband. She is domestic in her tastes and devoted to her Lin- coln home. It is perhaps her loyalty that has held Mr. Pace a resident of Nebraska. They are the parents of three sons and one daughter, of whom Ike Eugene Odell is the youngest of the family.

After his return from Cuba young Mr. Pace began the practice of his profession. So soon as this was well established he turned his attention to the yet more im- portant affairs of life. On the twenty-fourth day of September, 1902, he was joined in marriage to Miss Flora Roberts, a girl prominent in Lincoln, the daugh- ter of Mrs. Isabel Roberts. The father died during the infancy of his daughter. Mrs. Roberts, however, being competent and efficient, was able to educate the family through her own efforts. She now resides in Chicago.

Ever since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pace have been counted among the popular residents of White- hall, Mr. Pace having practiced here for two years before bringing his bride to the west. Although a good lawyer and, like his father, a ready speaker, he has many outside interests. Since his boyhood he has shown great business acumen, his first money was earned in Lincoln, when at the age of seven he started raising chickens for the local market. At the present time there is not in the entire valley a man so well informed as to the land condition and values. It is, perhaps, largely owing to his training in the athletic sports and his soldier life in the open that Mr. Pace still finds ranch development as attractive as the rou- tine work of the law office. Though known to be one of the most able attorneys of Montana, he also holds the record of having developed more ranches than any other one man in this section of the country, having brought under cultivation some twenty large tracts of land.

He has never lost his fondness for out-door sports, time and the grind of the law alone preventing his still taking some part in them. His interest in politics is ac- tive, but he might almost be called an independent in his views. He, however, affiliates with the Democratic party. He was the prime mover in the organization of the Jefferson County Fair at Whitehall, which held its first exhibition in 1912. He became the first manager of the organization.

Although not excessively orthodox, he has never com- pletely severed his relation with the Methodist church, to which his father and his grandfather were so devoted. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, but aside from this is a member of no other secret order, his extensive law practice con- suming many of his evenings as well as his days.

Mr. and Mrs. Pace are active in the social as well as the commercial life of Whitehall. They have recently completed one of the most attractive residences of the city, where with their young son, Clarke Roberts Pace, aged eight, they are at home to their friends.

RICHARD C. MONAHAN, M. D. A skilful, active, and highly esteemed physician and surgeon of Butte, Rich- ard C. Monahan, M. D., has built up an extensive and lucrative practice in this thriving city, and is fast win- ning for himself a prominent and honorable name in the medical profession of Silver Bow county. A son of the

late John Monahan, he was born, July 6, 1876, in Clin- ton county, Iowa, of Irish ancestry. The founder of the branch of the Monahan family from which he is descended immigrated to this country from Ireland in colonial days, and having offered his services as a soldier during the Revolutionary war was killed at, the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 16, 1775. The doctor's paternal grandfather migrated from the States to Canada, being among the first trail-blazers and lumber merchants of Ottawa, Canada, where he lived for three years, during the first two years of his life in that region seeing no white man.

John Monahan was born in Canada, but spent a large part of his life in Iowa, where his death occurred, July 4, 1906, aged sixty-eight years. During the progress of the Civil war, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and saw much service under two famous commanders, General Logan and General Grant. He was at the front in several engagements of note, including those at Vicksburg, Cold Harbor, Mis- sionary Ridge, Arkansas Post, and the Wilderness, serving three years, and being five times wounded, but never taken prisoner. At the battle in Arkansas Post, one hundred and fifteen men belonging to his regiment were killed, and many wounded. At the siege of Vicks- burg, he received wounds from which he never fully recovered. He was subsequently promoted to com- mander of Baker Post, in Clinton, Iowa, and also had national honors conferred upon him. After the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits as a dealer in heavy hardware in Iowa and as a merchant met with much success. He married Ann Powers, who was born in Rockford, Illinois, December 25, 1856, and to them eleven children were born, of whom ten are living, five sons and five daughters, the doctor being the third child in succession of birth.

Acquiring his rudimentary education in the public schools of Charlotte, Iowa, Richard C. Monahan con- tinued his studies for three years in the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, and in 1900, after a four years course, was graduated from the medical department of the University of Illinois with the degree of M. D. The following two years Dr. Monahan remained in Chicago, Illinois, being an interne at Mercy Hospital, the Chicago Eye and Ear Infirmary, and in the State Charitable in- stitutions, his experience in that city having been of great value to him. Coming to Montana in 1902, he has since been active and successfully engaged in the prac- tice of medicine and surgery at Butte.

In 1898, during the Spanish-American war, the doc- tor enlisted in the Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served at Chickamauga under Major Frank G. Lydston, seeing, however, no active service, and was subsequently commissioned as captain in the medical corps of the Second Montana Regiment. In 1907 Dr. Monahan was first commissioned surgeon general, be- coming a member of Governor Toole's staff, and he is now surgeon general of the state of Montana, and has annual service in the medical and surgical departments of the government schools. He is likewise local sur- geon for the Oregon Short Line Railway, and chief ex- aminer for the North Western Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1910 the doctor was the Republican nominee for representative to the state legislature, but was defeated by twenty-nine votes, and was also a candidate for the mayoralty nomination in 1911.

Dr. Monahan belongs to the Silver Bow Medical So- ciety, of which he was president in 1908; and to the State Medical Society, which he served as second vice- president in 1908 and as .first vice president in 1911. He is a member of the University Club, and of the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks.

The doctor married, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 4, 1908, Marie M. Maguire, who was born in Utah, a daughter of John and Mary Maguire. Two children

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have blessed the union of Dr. and Mrs. Monahan, namely : Dorothy, born May 5, 1909, who died June 21, 1909, and Evelyn, Mary, born April 11, 1910.

GEORGE H. BELCHER, manager of the Slayton Mer- cantile Company, of Lavina, Montana, stands in the front rank of the many self-made men of this section, and in enterprise, energy and progressiveness is second to none. Starting his business career at the age of fifteen years, he has been the architect of his own for- tunes in a marked degree, and is now recognized as one of his community's substantial business citizens. Mr. Belcher's birth occurred in Gallia county, Ohio, May 9, 1880. His father, Dr. John W. Belcher, was a native of Virginia, and for many years was a well- known professional man in Ohio, where he had his last home, although his death occurred in Montana, in his sixty-seventh year, while visiting his sons. He was married in Ohio to Mary A. Stewart, who survives him and makes her home in her native Buckeye state, and they had a family of seven children, George H. being the sixth in order of birth and the youngest son. Three other sons now live in Montana : John F., who is mar- ried and lives at Irene: William P., married and a resident of Foster; and Ralph H., who is single and a citizen of Billings.

The education of George H. Belcher was limited to attendance at the public schools in Ohio, after leav- ing which, at the age of fifteen years, he began working in a store as clerk, and so continued for four years. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits, but after two years went to West Virginia, where for a short time he was identified with mercantile pursuits. In 1902 he came from West Virginia to Montana, first settling at Billings, and during the next year drove a merchandise wagon all over the surrounding country, meeting with a fair measure of success. Subsequently he located in Roundup, there forming a partnership with his brother, under the firm name of Belcher Brothers. One year later a branch store was opened in Lavina, both estab- lishments being conducted for a year, when the business was moved to Lavina and conducted for four years and then sold to D. W. Slayton, the new firm of Slay- ton Mercantile Company being established and incor- porated. Mr. Belcher then bought an interest in the concern and became its general manager, a position which he holds at the present time. This venture has proved an unqualified success, the credit for which must be given to Mr. Belcher's tireless industry, financial integrity and personal attention to details, in connection with his long experience in mercantile pursuits. He is treasurer of the Lavina Commercial Club, a position which he has held since its organization, and has mani- fested a deep interest in educational matters, being a member of the school board, of which he was at one time chairman. In political matters he is a stanch Democrat, but takes none other than a good citizen's interest in public affairs. That he believes fully in Mon- tana land as an investment has been shown by his pur- chase of a fine ranch, located near Lavina, which he devotes to the raising of stock. Although not a mem- ber of any religious body, he leans towards Methodism, and Mrs. Belcher is president of the Ladies' Aid Society.

On July 3, 1901, Mr. Belcher was married to Miss Bessie M. Mossman, the estimable daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Mossman, of Waterloo, Ohio, and three children have been born to this union : Rollin M., who is deceased; and Robert M. and Mabel E.

JOHN B. AMOS was born in Gainesville, Texas, on the 24th day of December, 1879. His father, Charles B. Amos, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, is at present a resident of Princedale, Arkansas, where he is man- aging a large estate. The Amos family came to Amer- ica from England and settled originally in West Vir-

ginia. Samuel Murrell, maternal great-grandfather, fought in the War of 1812.

Mr. Charles Amos married Miss Huntly Murrell of Warren county, Kentucky. Miss Murrell's people were of Scotch English descent. They settled in Kentucky in an early day, her grandfather preempting on a thou- sand acres of land. Most of this land is still in the possession of the Murrell family. Mr. and Mrs. Amos were married in a little country church at Mount Olive, ten miles north of Bowling Green. Both being born and bred in the Blue Grass State, it was always to them the dearest, and here most of their seven children grew to manhood and womanhood although business concerns caused them to reside for a time in both Texas and Arkansas. They were a closely united and devoted family until the death of the mother in 1892.

The oldest daughter, Alma, is now teaching in the schools of Oakland, Kentucky. Katherine, now Mrs. William Rowland, is a resident of Woodburn, Ken- tucky. George M. is the treasurer of the Mutch & Young Company of Butte, Montana. He is as yet un- married. The next brother, Charles, associated with the same company in the capacity of secretary, was married on the 12th of December, I911, to Miss Lucy Vivian, a daughter of Morton Vivian, who came west from Missouri. Joseph C. B. Amos, a bookkeeper by profession, is with the C. & A. Mining Company in the capacity of bookkeeper. His headquarters, at the pres- ent, are at Bisbee, Arizona. Henry S., the youngest member of the family, is employed as clerk in the large mercantile business of Butte, Montana, of which his brothers now own a controlling interest.

John B. Amos was the third born of the seven chil- dren. Although born in Texas, he spent his early life in Woodbury, Kentucky, where he completed the course in the local high school. After teaching a term in one of the district schools of the county, he went to Bowling Green and took a course in the business college there. In July, 1902, he followed the advice of the great Greeley, "Go west, young man, and grow up with the country!" This he literally did and since 1902 both Mr. Amos and "the country" where he located have made an astonishing growth. The particular part of the country is Butte, Montana. Im- mediately upon arriving, he obtained employment in the mercantile firm of Mutch & Young, a firm that had been in operation in the same location for something like ten years. So intelligently did he grasp the busi- ness and so thoroughly had he won the confidence of his employers that when, before the close of the year, the firm incorporated, he was permitted to invest his savings and to become an active member of the com- pany. He now doubled his efforts and devoted his entire time and ability to the betterment of the firm. Nor did his efforts go unrewarded. So great was the confidence of his fellow stockholders that upon the death of Mr. Alfred K. Young, in November, 1903, Mr. Amos was in the following June chosen president and general manager of the establishment. Mr. Young had held that position for many years and had built up the business to its large proportion. He thoroughly participated, however, in the confidence shown by the directors in choosing for his successor young Mr. Amos, who had been with them but twenty-three months and whose financial interests in the company were, naturally, not of the largest.

John B. Amos did not for a moment permit those associated with him to doubt the wisdom of their judgment. Since the time of his election, now nine years ago, the business has been rapidly increasing in volume. The firm is doing an annual retail busi- ness in grain, hay, feed, furnishing goods, groceries, etc., that amounts to over one hundred thousand dol- lars. They are now one of the largest retail establish-

JohnBAmos.

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ments in the city of Butte and do decidedly the biggest business in the neighboring district.

When Mr. Amos was given the direct management of this company, his first thought, as it had always been, was of the old home back in Kentucky. As soon as it was possible he sent for his three younger brothers and gave them an opportunity to "make good" with this big house. Following the example of the brother who had blazed the trail, they needed little or no urging along this line and are now, as has been elsewhere stated, treasurer and secretary of the firm, respectively.

The Amos brothers are, like most good Kentuckians of their blood, Jeffersonian Democrats in their political affiliations though none of them have taken an active interest in the politics of their adopted state. Mr. John B. Amos still retains his membership in the Pres- byterian church. He has never taken upon himself the responsibilities of marriage.

By dint of his untiring effort and his southern diplom- acy and optimism, he has created, not only for himself but for those nearest to him, a position enviable in the western business world. To those who have fol- lowed it as diligently as has Mr. Amos, the advice of the great eastern journalist has not been in vain,

Mr. Amos resides at 744 E. Mercury street while the business house of Mutch, Young & Company is situated at 930 Talbot avenue.

LEWIS J. DUNCAN, mayor of Butte, was born in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, on the 4th of May, 1857, and is the son of Edwin and Emma S. (Fran- cis) Duncan, the former of whom was born in the state of New York, of staunch Scotch lineage, and the latter of whom was born in England, whence she came with her parents to America when she was ten years of age, the family home being established at Quincy, Illinois in which state she was reared to maturity. Ed- win Duncan removed to Missouri when a young man and there held various positions of trust. His mar- riage was solemnized in St. Louis, that state, where he continued to maintain his home until his death, in 1860, at the age of thirty-two years. Of this union were born two children, of whom both are now liv- ing. Mrs. Emma S. (Francis) Duncan was born in 1832 and lived to a venerable age. She passed the closing years of her life in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she died in August, 1909. In 1867 she contracted a second marriage, becoming the wife of Samuel Wood, and of this union two children were born.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 115

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883- Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 970

Author: Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, 1883-
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 970