A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 116

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

USA > Montana > A history of Montana, Volume III > Part 116

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The early educational discipline of Lewis J. Dun- can was received in the public schools of Quincy, Illinois, to which place his widowed mother returned after the untimely death of the husband and father. At the age of seventeen years Mr. Duncan entered Hanover College, a Presbyterian institution at Han- over, Indiana, where he was a student in the year 1874- 1875. He then returned to Quincy, Illinois, where he took up the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1878, at the age of twenty-one years, and for the ensuing two years he continued in the practice of his profession at Quincy. He found the dry in- tricacies and prosaic work of the law not to his lik- ing, and accordingly retired from practice to accept a position in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company in the freight department at East St. Louis, Illinois, where he remained for some time. Returning later to Quincy, after a few months he assumed the position of bookkeeper for a hardware firm, and later with the extensive wholesale dry-goods house of Isaac Lessem & Company, with which con- cern he continued to be identified for seven years. In the meantime and after working hours, he pursued extensive studies in science, philosophy, belles-lettres etc., for self-culture, devoting at least one hour every night to this purpose, and at the end of five years had

qualified himself for the Unitarian ministry. On the Ist of March, 1899, Mr. Duncan accepted the pas- torate of the Unitarian church at Sheffield, Illinois, and this incumbency he retained for two years. He forthwith became an influential factor in connection with more generic work of his church and resigned his pastoral charge to assume the duties of field secre- tary for the Unitarian conference of Illinois. This important office he held for two years, within which time he accomplished admirable work, including the organization of several churches in various sections of the state. Among the most notable of these was the Church of Good Will at Streator, and of this church he accepted the formal pastorate in the autumn of 1893. He retained this pastorate five years. From Streator he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained for two years as lecturer of the Mil- waukee Ethical Society. After resigning this office he followed commercial pursuits for about two years, and at the same time conducted a number of study- classes in literature for adults-an avocation in which he has always delighted and in which he has been unusually successful.

In 1902 Mr. Duncan was called to Montana to take charge of the organization of the Unitarian church in the city of Butte, and his constructive ability and fine oratorical powers proved potent in the upbuilding of a representative religious organization. He served as pastor of this church until March 1, 1910, when he gave up his charge and withdrew from the ministerial profession, for the reason that his views were more ethical and theological and he believed that his powers for usefulness could be exercised more effectually out- side of the church. He had become deeply interested in the welfare of the laboring classes and identified himself closely with the Socialist party, with which he had been identified since 1902, and the principles and policies of which most clearly represented his per- sonal ideals and views as touching matters of public weal. He became secretary of the Socialist party in Montana and admirably manoeuvered the political forces at his command. He threw into the contest the full force of his splendid powers and well showed his capacity for leadership in thought and action. In 19II he was made the candidate of his party for the office of mayor of Butte, and on the 11th of March of that year he was elected to this office by a most gratifying major- ity, this being a signal victory for the party in the state. Mr. Duncan, while secretary of the Socialist party in the state, took an active part in bringing about com- pleter organization of the Socialist forces, and the new policies thus introduced have been pursued ever since and have increased the membership fully three hundred per cent. Mayor Duncan is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, with Federal Labor Union No. 12,985, of Butte, and holds membership in the Uni- versity Club in his home city.

At Quincy, Illinois, on the 26th of October, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mayor Duncan to Miss Kate Keath, daughter of Uriah H. Keath, who has long been one of the representative members of the bar of that city, where he still maintains his home, his wife, whose maiden name was Carrie Turner, hav- ing been summoned to eternal rest in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan became the parents of two children, Edith, who was born at Quincy, Illinois, in 1886, died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1904; Edwin, who was born at Sheffield, Illinois, in 1890, is now one of the electricians for the Great Falls power station, at Butte, Montana.

OLIVE P. BARBER has spent his life in the pursuits which we think of as being typically "western," as he has been familiar with frontier conditions ever since his boyhood. His grandfather, Isaac Barber, was one of the early settlers of Texas, moving to the Lone

1676

HISTORY OF MONTANA

Star State from Missouri by wagon. He is still a resi- dent of Texas and is now seventy-eight years old. A. C. Barber, the son of Isaac, was born in Texas in 1859, and, as he grew up, he continued in the cattle busi- ness, in which his father had started upon coming to the state. He had a large ranch near Florence, Texas, and was one of the leading stockmen of that section of the country. It was at Florence that Olive Barber, the subject of this sketch, was born, on March 12, 1883.

Until he finished the eighth grade, Mr. Barber at- tended the public schools at Florence, and then he gave up school to work on the ranch of a large cattle owner of that district. Riding the range was an occu- pation which had possibilities of adventure which ap- pealed to the young man. Thrilling experiences were not denied him, while he followed the life of a cowboy. There were lively skirmishes with cattle rustlers and with wild beasts to secure him against monotony, and by the time he was eighteen, he had a pretty thorough acquaintance with the vicissitudes of ranch life. It was at this age that he left Texas and, with his father, went to Wilsons Creek, Washington. His father conducted a hotel there for some time, and then moved to cen- tral Oregon, where he now owns and operates a large ranch, being both a stock raiser and a general farmer.

Olive Barber did not remain long in Washington, but went to Idaho, and in 1902 came to Montana. He first located at Great Falls, where he secured a position as driver for the Northern Express Company. After a year and a half in this position, he came to Butte and did clerical work for the Pacific Express Company until it was bought up by the American Express Company. When these two corporations were merged Mr. Barber was made manager of the American company in Butte, and he still holds that responsible position, and fills it to the satisfaction of his employers and their patrons.

On October 10, 1911, Mr. Barber was united in mar- riage to Miss Clara Lombard of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Lombard, are well-known citizens of Tulsa, where they still reside. Mr. Barber's maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Stapp, were born in Texas and still live there. His mother, whose maiden name. was Ida Stapp, is living and presides over her husband's home in central Oregon.

Like all good Texans, and many good Montanians, Mr. Barber is a Democrat in political policy. He be- longs to the Masons, and to the Silver Bow Club. He has the genial manner which characterizes the westerner, and particularly the southwesterner. As is to be ex- pected of one of his training, he is devoted to out-door life. Popular, cordial and capable, he is one of the younger business men of Butte whose future is full of promise, and whose work will be sure to find recogni- tion.

SAMUEL D. GOZA has been connected with the North- western Mutual Life Insurance Company in Montana for the past twenty-two years, and in that time has es- tablished a reputation that is more than state-wide. His accomplishments in the insurance field have been of a most pleasurable degree and have won high enco- miums from his company, as well as secured to him a valuable position as general agent for Montana and northern Wyoming. The nature of his work has brought him a far reaching acquaintance among men of affairs and his genial and always pleasing personality have won to him a circle of friends that is seldom the lot of any man.

Born in Bolivar county, Mississippi, October 21, 1866, Samuel D. Goza is the son of Samuel D. and Mary (Pickett) Goza, the former a native of Louis- ville, Kentucky, and the latter of Mississippi. The father was a planter of considerable wealth, and he served in the Confederacy throughout the war, in which he lost the major part of his possessions, and died in 1867. The mother died shortly after her husband, leav-

ing their son to the care of an aunt and uncle who cared for him until he was able to make his own way in the world. He was educated in the common schools of Leadville, Colorado, to which place the family removed in 1879, although his schooling was of a limited order at the best, his principal education coming to him in the school of experience. In 1888, when he was twenty- two years old, Mr. Goza went to Aspen, Colorado,. where he conducted a newspaper in the interests of the Harrison campaign until 1890. In that year he became associated with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company at Aspen and Leadville, later removing to Denver as district manager for western Colorado, and in that work he was more than ordinarily successful.

So satisfactory were his efforts that in May, 1902, the company offered him the position of manager for the state of Montana, a position which he accepted and. which he has since then filled successfully and satis- factorily. Since that time the company has increased his territory by adding the northern part of Wyo- ming, and he is capably handling the extended terri- tory and bringing up the standing of the company in the west in a most agreeable manner. Between Janu- ary, 1902, and January, 1912, Mr. Goza increased the business in effect in his territory from $3,900,000 to- $10,000,000, a most phenomenal increase in one decade.

The political persuasions of Mr. Goza inclined him toward the Republican party, and he has always sup- ported its interests in every campaign, until June, 1912,. when he became a supporter of the Progressive party. He is well versed in political lore and is in close touch with the leaders of the Republican party, from the greatest down to the least, although he has never used his power in that respect as an aid to office-getting, a thing for which he has had no desire or inclination, be- ing well content to conduct the affairs entrusted to him by his company and let politics be left to the politicians,. albeit he has always been true to his duties and respon- sibilities as a citizen, even to the uttermost. Mr. Goza has himself to thank for much of the prosperity which has come to him. Orphaned in infancy, he received but little schooling after he was thirteen years old until in- his young manhood when he attended Denver Univer- sity two terms, working in summer and paying his own. way through. He has always been a student and has accomplished more in the way of book learning than- many a college bred man with greater privileges but less ambition than Mr. Goza.

On February 9, 1890, at Leadville, Colorado, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Goza to Miss Etta Newby, the daughter of J. L. Newby, and Martha Wil- liams Newby, native of Indiana, having moved to. Colorado in 1876. Mrs. Goza was born February 9, 1872, in Iowa. Four children have been born to them,. two of whom are deceased. Those living are: Ned S. Goza and Samuel D. Goza, Jr.

MAX VITT. One of Butte's most substantial, pro- gressive and prosperous business men and one of the- best known and most highly esteemed citizens of the. community, Max Vitt has achieved success in life to the present time and is entitled to high credit for the excellent record he has made in business and in connection with the promotion of the general wel- fare of the several localities in which he has lived. But his success has come as the result of his own ca- pacity, industry and good management, and is not due in any degree to favoring circumstances or outside help. in any way.

Mr. Vitt is not a native of Montana, or even of the- United States, but he is as deeply interested in the progress and advancement of his adopted state and country as if he were, and as loval to their institutions as any of our citizens who were to the manner born. His life began in Baden, Germany, on May 8, 1864, and he obtained all the schooling he ever got in that.

1677

HISTORY OF MONTANA

country. When he reached the age of eighteen he came to the United States and located in Brooklyn, New York, where he went to work for one of the leading bakers of the city, and continued to work for him until he mastered the trade. He then moved to Hart- ford, Connecticut, and during the next sixteen years was in the bakery business for himself in that city.

During all these years, however, the West wore a winning smile for him, and at length the time came when he was unable to longer resist its persuasions. Accordingly, at the end of the period last mentioned he sold his interests in Hartford, and journeyed west- ward as far as St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained a short time, then came on to Butte, and here he has ever since resided, having arrived in the city in 1902. For six months after his arrival he worked at the Vienna bakery on East Park street, and then went into the employ of Horst's cafe, in whose service he was engaged three years, making a good record and winning hosts of friends.

By this time he deemed it advisable to try another venture in the bakery business on his own account, and he left the cafe and started, on Utah avenue, a union bakery, which he operated for one year. At the end of that time he saw a better opening and established the Manhattan bakery at 205 West Park, which he has conducted continuously and with success and profit ever since. He knows his business thoroughly and omits no effort necessary on his part to make its prod- ucts worthy of the highest praise and altogether satisfactory to his patrons. His shop has an excellent name in all parts of the city and enjoys a very large trade.

Mr. Vitt is a son of Pantuleon and Paulina (Maier) Vitt, natives of Baden, Germany, also. The father was an educator of considerable local renown, and for many years was principal of one of the important schools of his locality in the Fatherland. He died in 1905, at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother died in the same place in 1903, aged sixty-eight. They both stood well in their community and rendered it continued and appreciated service for a great many years, and when "life's fitful fever" was over with them, their remains were laid to rest with every manifestation of popular esteem and cordial approval.

Max Vitt was married in Hartford, Connecticut, on October 26, 1886, to Miss Anna Cliff of that city. They have five children: Joseph, who was born at Rock- ville, Connecticut, on May 30, 1887, completed his education at the Butte Business College; Karl, whose birthplace was the same as Joseph's, and whose life began on December 25, 1890; Emil, who is also a native of Rockville, and was born on December 13, 1891 ; Alice, who came into being in Hartford on August 2, 1894. and was graduated from the high school there after a full course of instruction; and Herbert, who was born in Hartford on January 2, 1898, and who is now a student in Butte's high school. Joseph, Karl, Emil and Alice assist their father in conducting his business, and are valuable aids to him, not only in the work they do, but also in the extensive trade they bring to the bakery by reason of their popularity in the city

Mr. Vitt is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in fraternal relations and a Socialist in political faith and allegiance. In his native land he passed through a thorough high school course of in- struction and then pursued a special course in survey- ing, intending to make that his profession in life. He has, however, found mercantile life profitable and satisfying to him, and by his industry, capacity and good management in it he has accumulated a com- fortable competency. His store is one of the finest in that particular line of business and his bakery is equipped with the latest improved machinery.

J. V. OWENS. Scholarly in his attainments, and of superior business aptitude and qualifications, J. V. Owens, of Missoula, is well known throughout Mon- tana as state manager of the business here associated with the Central Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa. He was born, January 19, 1865, in Kentucky, the birthplace of his parents, John Yates and Eleanor (Cunningham) Owens, who moved from that state to Kansas, where they spent their later years.

Brought up in Kansas, J. V. Owens acquired the rudiments of his education in the rural schools, and in 1895 was graduated from Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska, where, two years later, he was hon- ored with the degree of Master of Arts. Going then to Massachusetts, he took a special course in the Har- vard Law School. The ensuing four years Mr. Owens spent in Nebraska, having charge of the public schools of O'Neil, a position that hie filled ably and accept- ably. Coming from there to Hamilton, Montana, he there served as superintendent of schools until 1908, meeting with characteristic success in that capacity. Retiring from his profession as an educator in 1908, Mr. Owens sought more lucrative employment as an insurance agent, and having been appointed by the Central Life Insurance Company of Des Moines as their state manager for Montana has since carried on an extensive and highly remunerative business, his work taking him into all parts of the state, although he maintains headquarters at Missoula, where he has an attractive home.

Mr. Owens married, July 6, 1896, Marie Louise Burkhard, of Buffalo, New York, and to them three bright and interesting children have been born, namely: Marie, Frank and Harry. Fraternally Mr. Owens is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

DR. ASHER C. BIDDLE was born at Athens, Ohio, on the 3Ist day of March, 1873, of West Virginian parents. For twenty-six years he lived at Athens be- fore trying his fortune in the glowing northwest. He attended the schools of his native town and the Ohio University which is, itself, situated at Athens. Mr. Biddle was most anxious to become a professional man and from an early age had chosen the medical calling for his own. As he was one of a large fam- ilv of children, however, his father found it impos- sible to further aid him in his ambitions. Without difficulty. he obtained a teacher's certificate and taught in the Ohio schools until he was able to save enough to meet the tuition and other necessary expenses in one of the finest medical colleges the country affords. In 1900, he entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Baltimore, Maryland, receiving from that institution the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The next two years he spent in the city hospital in Balti- more and then set out for the west, arriving in Mon- tana in June when that state was in the full glory of her spring. Before leaving the east he had accepted a position as assistant physician at the state asylum situ- ated at Warm Springs, Montana. After making a study of nervous diseases in this institution, he left Warm Springs for Butte where he formed a partner . ship with Dr. George Wells. For two years, these young physicians worked together when Dr. Biddle decided that Lewistown offered greater advantages as the per- manent home of a progressive professional man.

Dr. Biddle although so late an arrival in Lewistown has won by assiduous industry and devotion to the interests of his patients, a remunerative practice with the most desirable clientele. He is a member of the Silver Bow Medical Association, the Montana State Medical Association and the American Medical Asso- ciation. He is also a member and one of the board of governors of the Judith Club. He takes little per- sonal interests in political matters not of local im-

1678

HISTORY OF MONTANA

portance although he is claimed as a member of the Republican camp.

Until within the last years, Dr. Biddle has permitted the love of his medical science to wholly absorb him. There came into his life, however, even a greater inter- est in the person of Mary B. Allen, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George B. Allen of Athens, Ohio. Miss Allen became Mrs. Biddle on the 25th day of January, 1911. Dr. and Mrs. Biddle had been friends. perhaps more than friends, back in Ohio in the home town of Athens. They were married in Omaha, Nebraska, where Miss Allen had been spending some months. They are now the delighted parents of a baby girl who came to them on January 14, 1912, Mar- garet.

Dr. Biddle, despite the many calls on his time, is now acting as health officer in Lewistown.

Dr. Biddle is the son of John F. Biddle who was born in West Virginia on the 27th day of February, 1841. For four years he saw active service in the Union army, his loyalty to his nation exceeding even his great love for his state of West Virginia. At the close of the period of tumult, he left the torn south for Ohio where he has since made his home. Until recent years he has farmed a large section of land near Athens but now is practically retired. Mrs. John Biddle the mother of the Montana physician, was, be- fore her marriage, Mary Kester of West Virginia, born on the 7th of April, 1843. Both Mr. and Mrs. Biddle still live on their Ohio farm. They are the parents of fourteen children of which the doctor is the sixth in line.

EDWARD A. SWEET, M. D., in his professional service has been prompted by a laudable ambition for advance- ment as well as by deep sympathy and humanitarian principles that urge him to put forth his best efforts in the alleviation of pain and suffering. He has gained recognition from the profession as one of its able representatives and the trust reposed in him by the public is indicated by the liberal patronage awarded him. Since 1902 Dr. Sweet has been engaged in the practice of medicine in Montana and since 1911 he has been a resident of Dixon, where he is rapidly gaining prestige as one of the best physicians and surgeons in Missoula county.

At St. Joseph, Michigan, December 23, 1877, oc- curred the birth of Dr. Edward A. Sweet, who is a son of Oliver M. and Mary F. (Crane) Sweet, the former of whom was born and reared in the state of New York and the latter of whom is a native of Illi- nois. Oliver M. Sweet was a pioneer in Montana and was one of the first merchants in this state. He settled at Bannack in 1861 and there conducted a gen- eral store for one year, at the end of which he re- moved to Virginia City, the famous strike at Alder Gulch having been made about that time. He was a merchant at Virginia City until 1874 when he sold out and established a store at Sheridan, Montana, remain- ing in the latter place for the ensuing two years. In 1876 his health began to fail and he returned east, going to St. Joseph, Michigan, where he resided until his demise, in 1884, at the age of forty-six years. His remains were interred at Centerville, Michigan. While in Montana he was a valued member of the Vigilantes and was a very prominent Mason. He was married at Virginia City, about 1864, and he and his wife became the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this review was the fifth child and youngest son. Dr. Sweet has one sister in Montana, Olive May, who is the wife of Charles M. Parr, a prominent attorney in the city of Butte. Mrs. Sweet survives her honored husband and is now a resident of St. Joseph, Michigan.

Dr. Sweet received his primary educational train- ing in the district schools of the famous Ruby valley,

seven miles from Virginia City, Montana. At the age of fourteen years he went to St. Joseph, Michigan, where he was graduated in the high school in 1897. He then returned to Montana and settled in the city of Butte, where he was employed in a drug store for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he went to Chicago, Illinois, there entering the Hahne- man Medical College, in which excellent institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He was interne in a Chicago hospital for six months and has since pursued a post-graduate course in medi- cine in that city. Dr. Sweet initiated the active prac- tice of his profession at Townsend, Montana, where he remained for two years and whence he removed to Red Lodge, where he was a practicing physician for one year. In 1907 he went to Ruby and after residing in that place for two years went to Wisdom, where he remained for four years. In 1911 he came to Dixon, where he is rapidly achieving distinction as a partic- ularly efficient physician and surgeon. He controls a large and lucrative practice in this place and in the sur- rounding territory and has accomplished some won- derful cures during the period of his residence here.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 116

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