A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 13

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

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organized, in February, 1912, the Montana-Wyoming Land Company. This company, while but recently or- ganized, has had a remarkably successful career, prob- ably surpassing results achieved by any similar company in the state. Their sales during the first six months of existence exceeded a quarter of a million of dollars.

In his political views Mr. Gramling is independent, voting according to his own good judgment, without re- gard to party affiliations. He was formerly identified by membership with the Commercial Club of Salt Lake, Carbon county, and with the Commercial Club of Bil- lings, Montana. Fraternally he is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Fraternal Brotherhood of America.

Mr. Gramling married, April 20, 1887, at La Crosse, Wisconsin, Amy A. Hoffman, who was born in Wis- consin, a daughter of Frank Hoffman, who during his life was a man of much prominence in local and state af- fairs, and had the distinction of serving as a member of the first legislative assembly of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Gramling have one child, Ferne Amy Gramling, who was born in Butte, Montana, June 18, 1888. Miss Gramling is a woman of rare talent and accomplish- ments, and has acquired distinction in musical and theatrical circles, in addition to her superior vocal abil- ity having great talent as an actress. The quality of her voice is mezzo-soprano of singular clarity and rich- ness and yet timbrous in one of the longest ranges of any singer of the present day, sustaining perfectly three octaves and one tone without any apparent effort. To her natural and acquired musicianship she brings the invaluable gifts of rare physical beauty, an ardent tem- perament, histronic talent of a high order and a sympa- thetic adaptability which marks her as one of the most versatile of the rising young singers of America. The Musical Leader, commenting upon her treatment of se- lections 'from Goring Thomas' "Nadeschda," describes her voice as broad and beautifully poised, with perfect enunciation handled with absolute control of all her re- sources and a vitally strong and glowing example of cor- rect vocalism. Participating in a grand revival of "Martha" in Chicago, she achieved the hit of the per- formance. The Evening Post commented both upon the superiority of her voice and her "singularly matured comprehension of histronic requirements." Her first public appearance was with the Thomas Orchestra, in the Auditorium at Chicago, and she at once sprang into the favor of critics and public by the sheer splendor of her voice and her remarkable aptitude as an actress. Graduating from the Chicago College of Music, under the direction of Dr. Seigfeldt and the personal tuition of the famous Herman Devries, she won the honor medal over 116 contestants and a school of over four thousand students. Subsequently in the scholarship competition, open to the world, she won the diamond medal over 150 aspirants. Pope Pius X conferred upon her the much coveted Leo medallion in recognition of her voluntary and always brilliant services in the lead- ing Catholic cathedrals and churches of this country.

HENRY WASHINGTON STEPHENS. The proud record of being the oldest physician and surgeon in the city of Anaconda, belongs to Dr. Henry Washington Stephens, and in addition to having the oldest practice he has also one of the largest. Coming to the west when the country was new, he has grown up with it and has given of himself not only in a professional way, but along other lines of service for the betterment of conditions both politically and socially. Feeling the re- sponsibility to society which all educated men must feel today, and which is so truly one of the earmarks of the times, Dr. Stephens has ever placed himself at the call of the people, and in his various positions of public trust has shown himself to be a wise and able executor.

Dr. Stephens was born on the 17th of March, 1862, at St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of Peter Stephens. The

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FERNE GRAMLING.

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latter is a native of Kentucky, the year of his birth being 1833. When the strife between the north and south broke out, Peter Stephens was among the first to enlist, and served through the whole four years of the war as Captain Stephens of the Federal army. His command was Company B, of a Missouri regiment of cavalry. He is no longer in active life, being retired and living at Anaconda. His wife was Pernina Crank, a native of Ironton, Ohio, who died at the age of sixty- eight in Anaconda. Only two children were born to Captain and Mrs. Stephens : Dr. Stephens and his sister Anna, who is the widow of Charles Graham and makes her home in Anaconda.

The childhood and boyhood of Dr. Stephens were spent in St. Joseph, Missouri. Here he attended the public schools and was graduated from the high school in 1879. Having long since determined to become a doctor, he then took up the study of medicine at St. Joseph's Medical College, and after four years there received his degree of M. D. This was in 1883 and the next few years were spent in St. Joseph in the practice of his profession. That part of the country was fairly well settled and life for a struggling young physician was not easy, for in all old communities the professions, such as law and medicine, are apt to be over-stocked. The young man, therefore, determined to try his fortune in the west, and in 1887 came to Anaconda. He arrived in the town without even a dollar in his pocket, but with knowledge in his head and skill in his fingers. These possessions soon brought him a practice and it has grown until today he has one of the largest in the city and county. The doctor's sympathy with progress and with modern ideas was shown in 1900 when he went east and took a post-gradu- ate course in one of the New York medical schools. He specialized in obstetrics and was graduated from the school in the fall of 1900.

The appreciation and belief of the people of Ana- conda in the ability and honesty of the doctor was shown in 1898, when they elected him as an alderman. This was further emphasized when he was elected to the mayoralty chair in 1900 and served one term. During this term of service men realized, as they had never done before, how Dr. Stephens had learned to understand and estimate men through his long and intimate association with them as their physician. He clearly showed this wisdom gained through actual ex- perience with the souls of men in his admirable manage- ment of the city's affairs during his mayoralty.

In fraternal affairs Dr. Stephens is a member of the Knights of Pythias and has been through all the chairs of the Elks, being past exalted ruler. He is a great believer in the benefits to be obtained from athletics and enjoys nothing more than a good game of basket- ball or of baseball. He is the owner of a fine resi- dence and of other valuable city real estate.

Dr. Stephens was married on the first of January, 1888, to Katherine J. Allcott, who is a native of San Francisco. Dr. Stephens and his wife are the parents of seven children. Lucinda is a graduate of the high school of Anaconda and is now a teacher in the public schools; Ruth Phyllis is a graduate of the high school; and the younger children are Katherine Drucilla, Anna, Francis, Howard W. and Helen Virginia. They are a charming and cultured family and are prominent in all . the social and public interests of their home city.

JOHN SOCKERSON. Montana has furnished the oppor- tunities for many successful careers, and one that is noteworthy and deserves mention in this history is that of Mr. John Sockerson, of Basin, who has been identified with this region for a quarter of a century. Prosperity and many friends have come to him, and all his success is the result of his own efforts and character.

A native of Sweden, he was born near Stockholm

on the 13th of December, 1860, and was reared and received his education in that country. In 1880, when he was twenty years old, he immigrated to America, and at Manistee, Michigan, found employment in the lumber camps. During the next four years his industry and ability found favor with his employers, the Lewis Sands Lumber Company, which company in 1884 sent him up into the northwest to take charge of their saw mill and lumber camp on the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway at Maple Creek. This responsible place he filled for three years, and in 1887 decided to see and explore the northwestern country. Buying a team of mules, with wagon and outfit, he drove across country to Fort Assiniboine, and thence to Helena, Montana, where he arrived after a month's journeying. At Helena he engaged in the teaming and transfer busi- ness, and did very well at it for a year or so. He then sold out, and moving to Elk Park, engaged in the wholesale wood business, which he continued four years. It was then that Mr. Sockerson removed to Basin, where he has since been one of the leading citizens and business men. Within a year after his arrival he erected the first brick business block in town. He is. now one of the large owners of property both in the city and county, and also has substantial investments in productive mining property. Fraternally Mr. Sock- erson is affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and in politics is Republican.

WILLIAM COZENS SIDERFIN. The able and influential business men of Butte have no finer representative than William C. Siderfin, manager of Hon. W. A. Clark's mining and real estate interests in Butte district and Wallace, Idaho, with which interests he has been iden- tified since 1896. A native of Great Britain, he was born on July 4, 1863, in Lantrissant, Glamorganshire, South Wales. His father, Thomas Siderfin, a retired farmer, died at his home in Newport, Shropshire, Eng- land, in December, 1907, aged eighty-seven years. His mother, whose maiden name was Frances L. Cozens, died at Newport, Shropshire, in January, 1908, aged seventy-three years.

Brought up in his native country, William C. Siderfin received excellent educational advantages, being gradu- ated from one of the English colleges in 1881, and suc- cessfully passed the preliminary examination of the Incorporated Law Society of London in that year. Not meeting with a satisfactory opening in his chosen profession and being ambitious and hopeful, he im- migrated to Canada in 1884, and for three years was associated with the Grand Trunk Railroad, first being employed in the auditor's department, and later in the train service department. Coming from there to Butte, Montana, in 1887, Mr. Siderfin was for two years storekeeper for the Montana Union Railway. Accepting a position as storekeeper and bookkeeper for the Alice Gold and Silver Mining Company at Walkerville, Mon- tana, he retained that position from 1889 to 1895. He made an extended visit to his old home in England, and on his return to Butte in 1896 he entered the employ of Mr. W. A. Clark at the Butte reduction works. Dur- ing the first seven years of his employment there, he was assistant assayer and chemist. In 1904 he became Senator Clark's assistant general manager, and, prov- ing himself efficient in the performance of the many duties devolving upon him in that capacity, he was made successor to Mr. A. H. Wethey, who resigned his posi- tion in January, 1911.

In his political affiliations Mr. Siderfin is a Dem- ocrat, and religiously he is an Episcopalian. He is a Mason and is past master of Silver Bow lodge No. 48. A. F. & A. M., a Knight Templar and a member of the Scottish Rite. He is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Bagdad Temple, in Butte, and a member of the Woodmen of the World.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

At Butte, Montana, on January 10, 1900, Mr. Sider- fin was united in marriage with Alberta A. Hammer, a daughter of John G. Hammer of this city, and they are the parents of three children, all of whom were born in Butte: Dorothy Gwendolyn, born June 16, 1902; Evelyn May, born December 10, 1905; Marion Jean, born December 26, 1909, and Eric Cozens, born September 2, 1912.

JAMES DEERING, descended from Irish ancestry, and the youngest of six children, was born_ at Hancock, Houghton county, Michigan, January 29, 1876. During the early years of his life he attended the public schools at Calumet, Michigan, and at the age of eleven years came to Montana and first resided at Marysville with his parents and later became a resident of Helena, Montana. He attended the public school at Marysville and business colleges at Helena until 1893-1894, dur- ing which year he was a student of All Hallows College, a popular Catholic institution of Salt Lake City, Utah. He was graduated in the commercial course of this institution and upon obtaining his degree returned to Helena and entered a law office as a clerk and stenographer, which position he held for four years, during which time he read law. Thereafter he entered the government service as chief clerk of the United States land office at Helena, Montana, where he re- mained until August 1, 1902, when he was transferred to the United States land office at Great Falls, Mon- tana. He remained in the government service until June 1, 1904, when he resigned to accept the manage- ment of the office of the Collins Land Company at Helena, which position he still holds. He is one of the most prominent land attorneys of the state, being admitted to practice before the local land offices and also the land department at Washington, D. C. Mr. Deering is also president of the Collins Realty Com- pany, incorporated, which company deals extensively in lands throughout the state. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Brady-Collins Sheep Company and vice-president of the Marysville Gold Mining Com- pany, which latter company is the owner of extensive mining property in the Marysville district and he also personally owns other mining property in that district. In his political views Mr. Deering is a staunch Repub- lican and an active worker for the party, but has never had any ambition to become an office-holder himself. Religiously he is a Roman Catholic and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks and the Montana Club.

James Deering is the son of Maurice Deering, who was born in Ireland, in 1842, and departed this life at Great Falls, Montana, on October 3, 1903. The elder Mr. Deering was employed as a stationary engineer by the Drum Lummon Mining Company at Marysville for eighteen years. Before immigrating to this coun- try he married Bridget Duffy at Dublin, Ireland, and of this union six children were born, two of whom now survive, viz: Annie and James. Mr. Deering's mother and sister still reside at Marysville, Montana. During the early days in California, Mr. Deering, Senior, was employed as a stationary engineer by the Bodie Min- ing Company and came to Montana in 1883. He was very domestic in his tastes and habits, caring little for amusements, and, unlike most of his countrymen, was a staunch Republican.

James Deering was married June 30, 1904, to Miss Mabel Cochran, who prior to her marriage was a teacher in the public schools at Great Falls, Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Deering have no children. They reside at 710 Harrison avenue, Helena, Montana.

HEDLEY FLETCHER SMITH. To say that Mr. Smith has had an active part in the upbuilding of. Helena is no figure of speech, although it happens to be true in both a literal and a figurative sense, for the occupa-

tion of this progressive citizen of Helena is that of a contractor and he has had a share in the erecting of more than one of its notable buildings.

Mr. Smith is a Canadian by birth, being a native of Prince Edward Island. Here he was born on April 19, 1862, on the farm of his father, Isaac Smith. In the year 1817 Christopher Smith, the grandfather of Hed- ley Fletcher Smith, immigrated from Yorkshire, Eng- land, with his wife and infant son, Isaac. He was a civil engineer and when he came to Canada he engaged in farming, besides following his profession. His son continued in the same occupation and became one of the influential citizens of that district. He lived to be more than ninety years of age and died, "full of years and honors," in 1909. One of his brothers, the Rev- erend Matthew Smith, is now, at ninety-eight, still filling the pulpit of a church in New Brunswick. Age has had no power to sap the mental and spiritual vigor of this minister, and the Baptist denomination of New Brunswick regards him as one of the able leaders in the army of those who "climb the steep ascent to heaven, mid terror, toil and pain." Hedley Smith's mother was of Welsh descent. Her family came to America in the same year (1817) as that in which his father's people settled there. Anne Meyers was born in Canada, and died in Prince Edward Island in 1900, at the age of sixty. Her people engaged in farming and also followed the sea-faring occupations. Mr. Smith has inherited a large share of the sturdy quali- ties of his ancestors and has proved himself a worthy descendant of the race which has shaped the destiny of the western hemisphere.

The provincial schools of Canada provided Mr. Smith with his elementary education, and for a time after com- pleting his study there, he worked on his father's farm. Obeying the impluse which siezes most young men to seek newer country, he went a thousand miles or so to the west and settled in Winnipeg. He remained in that flourishing town for one year, and then moved to Cooperstown where he followed the same occupation he had been working at in Winnipeg, that of a cer- penter. At the end of three years, Mr. Smith left North Dakota, and in 1887 went to Butte. Half a year was then spent in the mining city of Montana, at the end of which period Mr. Smith came to Helena. He adopted the capital as his permanent residence, and has been engaged in business there ever since. Until 1905 Mr. Smith did not operate as a contractor, but was employed by other building concerns in various capacities of an executive nature. For nine months he was foreman on the Montana Club building. When the state capitol was in process of erection, he was for a year and a quarter in charge of the entire force engaged upon it, and of the private residences put up in this period. he was employed on that of W. G. Con- rad for eight months, as well as upon a number of other contracts. Since starting in the contracting business, Mr. Smith has been connected with many of the most important building enterprises entered upon in Helena during the last seven years. Among these mav be mentioned. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' home, the T. A. Marlow residence and a number of the well known office buildings recently erected, not to mention many private residences.

For twenty-two years Mr. Smith has been a member of Montana Lodge No. 1. I. O. O. F., and in that time has filled all the chairs. He also belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is much interested in politics, national and municipal, and gives some little time to such activities. At present he is serving his second term as alderman from the Seventh ward, and, polit- ically, supports the Democratic party. At the fall elec- tion of 1912, which was such an overwhelming Demo- cratic victory, he was chosen as a representative to the state legislation from Lewis and Clark county. He is

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a member of the Helena Commercial Club and the Lambs Club.

Mr. Smith's family consists of four members, besides himself. His eldest son, Walter Harold Smith, born in Helena in 1892, is now at work at his trade. The one daughter, Victoria Ruby, is attending business college in Helena, and Herbert N. is in the grades at school, being thirteen years of age. Mrs. Smith was formerly Miss Anne Catherine Gallagher. Her birthplace was Ireland, but she was reared in England. In 1891 she came to America alone and the same year was married to Mr. Smith at Helena. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are communicants of the Episcopal church. Both have a wide acquaintance in the city and are prominent in the various social and commercial activities of the capital. Mr. Smith has interests in a number of the enterprises of Helena and is a stockholder in the Conrad Bank and Trust Company.

ROBERT JOHN SCHWENINGER. The mining industry has attracted to its ranks men of the keenest intellect and most comprehensive business ability, the rewards possible to gain in this line of endeavor being a strong inducement to one who has energy and ambition of unusual degree. As the center of one of the richest mining districts of the world Butte has its full quota of successful mining operators, prominent among which must be mentioned Mr. Robert John Schweninger, who came here in 1887 and has ever since been engaged in mining and has assisted in opening up and operating some of the most valuable properties of the Butte dis- trict.

Mr. Schweninger has spared no effort to equip him- self with all possible knowledge by study and travel that would enable him to take his place as one of the most dependable mining experts of the country, and his present influential position in the industry is the direct result of years of persevering application to the study of the subject. His early education embraced work in the public schools, including high school, and a course in a business college at Painesville, Ohio, and this he supplemented later on with four years of personal study and experimentation in chemistry and assaying, in order that he might gain the fullest possible knowledge of metals and ores, and become competent to intelligently pass upon the value of mines and mine prospects. Pre- vious to engaging in mining work Mr. Schweninger followed the trade of cabinet maker and upholsterer, and spent twelve years in that line of business. He maintains an establishment in Butte, with offices and headquarters here.

Mr. Schweninger is a born manager of men and knows how to inspire their respect and confidence, while at the same time dealing familiarly with them. When he visits his properties he often takes off his coat and works by the side of his men, inspiring them with his counsel and good example. He is filled with en- thusiasm in regard to his chosen work and after hav- ing traveled extensively through all the western states. British Columbia and Alaska, states without reserve that Montana offers the best mining opportunities of all the places he has visited.

As his name indicates, Mr. Schweninger is of Ger- man extraction. He was born in New York City, No- vember 17, 1860, the son of John George and Caroline Schweninger, both of whom were born in Germany. They came to New York when young and were mar- ried in that state, lived there for a period, then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and finally settled at Painesville in the same state and spent the remainder of their days there. The father was a man of wide travel and had a fine education, his ahility as a linguist being especially marked. He was master of nine different languages and during his residence in New York acted as inter- preter for various foreign people in that city. His commercial and industrial activities in New York em- braced the sale and manufacture of furniture and he

also did some work as an architect. He reared a fam- ily of five children, the subject of this sketch having been second in order of birth. Robert John was six years old when the family moved to Cleveland, and it was four years later that they became residents of Painesville. From Ohio he first went to Colorado and remained there one year before finally settling per- manently at Butte.

Throughout the years of his residence in this city he has always evinced a great interest in all phases of the best elements in the life of the community and has taken an active part in promoting its higher moral in- terests. Although he has 110 interest in party politics, he is a believer in Republican principles and his in- terest in civic affairs is of the character that should be maintained by all high minded citizens of the best type. He is a member of the First Congregational church and contributes liberally to its support. The American Mining Congress knows him as an influen- tial member. Mr. Schweninger possesses unimpeach- able personal integrity, he is a gentleman of broad gauge, liberal and progressive in his ideas and methods and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

ALEXANDER C. RODGER. Among the native sons of Scotland who have become closely and worthily identi- fied with Montana is this well-known and representative member of the bar of Silver Bow county. Mr. Rodger came to Montana when a lad of sixteen years and here he has won distinct prestige in the profession for which he carefully fitted himself. He is one of the representa- tive members of the bar of Butte, the metropolis of the state and the secure place maintained by him in the re- gard of his professional confreres is indicated by the fact that he has served as vice-president of the Silver Bow County Bar Association. In the active work of his profession he is associated with Joseph Binnard, under the firm name of Binnard & Rodger, and they control a substantial and representative law business of gen- eral order.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 13

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