A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 134

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

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His father, Henry Smith, a native of Hartford, Con- necticut, was there engaged in the manufacture of brick

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for many years. He was very patriotic and public- spirited, and was a veteran of the Civil war, serving in a Connecticut regiment. He became somewhat noted as a manufacturer of brick. having one of the largest plants of the kind in the United States. He spent his last years in Springfield, Massachusetts, dying there in 1881, at the age of three score years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Doty, was born in New York state, and died, in 1871, in Hartford, Con- necticut. where her body was laid to rest in "God's acre". Her early ancestors were English, the founder of that branch of the family to which she belonged having been a Mayflower passenger, and Mr. Smith has now in his possession a snuff-box and a fan brought over in that vessel in 1620.

The youngest of a family consisting of seven daugh- ters and two sons, C. Henry Smith is the only member of the parental household living in the west, all of the others being married and most comfortably settled in homes of their own in or near their native city. Leav- ing the public schools of Hartford when but fifteen years old, he secured a position with a local hardware house as a traveling salesman. He had a natural apti- tude, however, for the business in which he so boldly embarked, being self-reliant and self-confident, keen- witted, and possessing the aplomb and savoir faire that won him friends at all times and in all places. Meeting with unquestioned success in his work, Mr. Smith won the reputation of selling more goods than any other man on the road, and continued the business for twenty years, his territory extending from coast to coast, in- cluding all of the large cities of the different states of the Union.

While traveling Mr. Smith was constantly taking notes in regard to the places which he visited, with a view of sometime making a permanent location. When ready to make a decision, Montana had by far the most points in her favor as a residential and business place, and he has never yet had a cause to regret that Butte was his choice for a home. Having decided where he should locate, Mr. Smith resigned from his position, and in 1906 took up his residence in Butte. Having previously formulated plans for his future career, he soon organized the Montana Sunbeam Light & Supply Company, becoming president of this organization. This company began business in a small and unpretentious way, but through the efforts, experience, wise manage- ment and good business management of Mr. Smith has been wonderfully developed, being today the largest industry of the kind in the world, and the productions of his factories are now sold in all parts of Europe, China, Japan and Australia, the greater per centage of the company's trade having been secured through the mail order system, one hundred and fifty thousand copies of the company's catalogues being issued semi- annually. This company has likewise several of its representatives traveling on the road, selling its pro- ductions throughout the United States.

The Rex Portable Bath Tub, introduced by the Mon- tana Sunbeam Light & Supply Company, is made of a patent metal that is practically indestructible, and is guaranteed as unleakable. It can be folded when not in use, taking up but very little space, is very easily opened and adjusted, and when in use it is as stationary as if it were installed by a master plumber. The heating tank is made of galvanized steel, and finished in blue enamel to correspond with the outside finish of the tub, while the gasoline reservoir that supplies the burner is fitted with an air pressure valve, which secures quick heating of the water. This portable folding bath tub is one of the greatest conveniences invented for use on the ranch, or in the small town that has neither sewer- age or water works, providing the rural householder with the comforts of a modern bath room. The Mon- tana Sunbeam Light Company of which Mr. Smith is president, makes a specialty of installing lighting sys-

tems for both indoor and outdoor lighting, and. have placed on the market a line of lamps that are unex- celled as regards beauty of design, simplicity of con- struction, durability and safety, being positively unex- plosive, and all bearing the approval of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, with no additional rate for home lighting. This company also carries a full line of gasoline vapor lamps, portable and table lamps, tanks and pumps, inverted and upright mantles, and sundries and glassware for all makes of gasoline lamps, being ever ready to respond to the demands of the public in its line of specialties.

The Montana Sunbeam Light & Supply Company has just completed the purchase of a brick building in South Butte, on Front street and California avenue, where it will move its plant within the next month, or as soon as the building can be remodeled to suit their requirements.

On June 7, 1899, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Helen De Laney, of Geneva, New York. Her father, a native of the Empire state, Frank H. De Laney, is a prominent contractor in Geneva, New York, where he and his wife are still residing. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one daughter, Frances Edna Smith, whose birth occurred March 7, 1911. Politically Mr. Smith is a Republican, although he is not active in public affairs. Fraternally he is an influential and interested member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and re- ligiously he belongs to the Presbyterian church.

A man of decided convictions, Mr. Smith is an earnest supporter of all beneficial enterprises, and has full con- fidence in the future of Montana, with Butte for its leading city. He is a lover of animals, and maintains a kennel of thoroughbred dogs, among which is the champion French bulldog, "Ripp Runinrt," A. K. C., No. 131,334, a prize winner over all competitors in the leading dog shows of the United States.

DR. GUSTAVE PITKANEN. Finland, the glorious lit- tle grand duchy which has withstood successfully the aggressions of Russia and maintained the freedom and independence of its people in the face of frightful odds aggregated to conquer them and reduce them to vas- salage to the grim autocrat of the icy North in Europe and Asia, is the land which gave birth to Dr. Gustave Pitkanen of Butte, who first saw the light of this world in that hyperborean region on February 29, 1864. There also he was reared and obtained his academic and pro- fessional education.

Dr. Pitkanen attended the common schools of his native land until prepared for higher courses of instruc- tion. He completed his education in the Alexander Imperial University of Helingsfors, and there also he acquired his professional instruction and preparation for work, being graduated from the medical department of the university in 1896. After his graduation he practiced his profession at Tammersfors, Finland, for ten years, the only interruption being a period of several months during which he pursued a post graduate course in clinics in Berlin in 1898.

Finland was agreeable to him and seemed to offer him prominence and prosperity in his profession. But there was a land beyond the sea that had a more per- suasive voice, a fuller hand of opportunity and a cordial welcome for all men of brain, brawn and en- terprise. It beckoned to him with a force that tugged at his heart strings and in time became irresistible. So, in 1906 he came to the United States and at once to Butte, Montana, on his arrival in this country, and in that city he has made his home ever since and built up the excellent professional and personal reput- tation which he enjoys and so richly deserves.

When he came to Butte Dr. Pitkanen formed a partnership with Dr. G. B. Makkyla, at that time a physician of note whose help would have been valuable to any stranger or young man struggling for recogni-

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tion. . The partnership lasted until 1907, when it was dissolved, and since then Dr. Pitkanen has conducted his practice alone. He is one of the most popular doc- tors in the city, has an extensive and lucrative prac- tice, has shown great knowledge and skill in his pro- fessional work, and has won the confidence and regard of the people of Silver Bow county by the excellence and high tone of his citizenship and strong devotion to their welfare.

Andrew Pitkanen, the doctor's father, was a farmer in Finland, where he was born in 1835 and died in 1893. The doctor's mother, whose maiden name was Helena Sundstrom, was also a native of Finland, born in 1829. She and her husband were married in their native land, and there she died in 1911. She and her husband gloried in the success of their son on this side of the water, and often felt like joining him in this land of freedom and boundless opportunity. But they never left their native heath, and at last, when "life's fitful fever" was over with them, they were laid to rest in the land hallowed by their long and useful labors.

Dr. Pitkanen was married in Finland in 1894 to Miss Hilma Johanson. She died there in 1905, leaving her husband and two children to mourn their irreparable loss. The children are Maria Helena, who was born in 1897, and Gustave Moritz, who was born in 1899. They are both now attending school in Finland. The doctor is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, and the Montana State and the Silver Bow County Medical societies. He also belongs to the Finland Medical Academy.

Although he is a comparatively recent addition to the intellectual and professional forces in Butte, he has taken an earnest and practical interest in the social life of the city. He is a member of the University Club, and wherever men or women, or both, congregate for social enjoyment, he is always considered a valuable addition to the company, and always justifies the warmth of his welcome by the radiance of his pres- ence and the wealth of his contributions to the en- joyment of the circle. Following the custom of his native land and the general tendency of its people, he is connected with the Lutheran church in religious affiliation.

Although a foreigner by birth and training, and but a few years a resident of the United States, Doctor Pitkanen is ardently devoted to the principles of gov- ernment in this country, and especially warm and help- ful in his support of every project designed to further the progress and improvement of that portion of it in which he lives. He is also, as all the people of his native land are, devoted to hunting and fishing, and takes advantage of every opportunity open to him to enjoy these invigorating outdoor recreations. He is prosperous in his business, stands well in the com- munity, has high rank in his profession, and is justly considered one of the best and most useful citizens of Butte.

HARRY K. JONES. One of the later recruits to the professional contingent of Butte, in the field of law, is Harry K. Jones, a member of the firm of Breen & Jones, of which Peter Breen is the senior partner.

Mr. Jones' ancestry dates back both through pater- nal and maternal lines to settlers of the Revolutionary day. He was born on the 4th of June, 1883, at Minne- apolis, Minnesota, and attended the public schools of that city until his eighteenth year, when he entered the law department of the University of Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1904. After being ad- mitted to practice, Mr. Jones followed his profession in Minneapolis for a short time, after which he located in North Dakota, where he was employed in the operat- ing department of the Great Northern Railroad Com- pany.

In 1906 he came to Butte. where he remained until the latter part of the year, when he removed to Helena, where he was connected with the legal department of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, until Novem- ber, 1910, when he returned to Butte and formed his present partnership with Mr. Breen, in Butte.

Mr. Jones was married on May 4th, 1910, to Miss Mary Hauser Kennett, of Helena, Montana, a daugh- ter of the late Samuel H. Kennett. Mrs. Jones' family is among the old settlers of that section and is socially prominent.

LOUIS P. DONOVAN. One of the representative younger member of the bar of Montana is Louis P. Donovan, who is junior member of the well-known law firm of Nolan & Donovan, which controls a large and important professional business and is recognized as one of the leading law firms of Butte, the metropolis of the state. The success and prestige which are his in his profession offer the best evidence of the ability and sterling characteristics of Mr. Donovan and he is one of the popular citizens of the community in which he has elected to establish his home and in which he is serving as chief deputy county attorney of Silver Bow county.

Mr. Donovan claims the fine old Hawkeye State as the place of his nativity and is a scion of one of its honored pioneer families. He was born in Franklin county, Iowa, on the 10th of February, 1880, and is a son of Michael K. and Margaret (McGinley) Dono- van, both natives of the Dominion of Canada, where their respective parents settled upon immigrating to America from Ireland. Michael K. Donovan was born in the year 1837 and was reared and educated in Canada, where he continued to maintain his home until 1852, when he removed to Wisconsin and established his residence at Ripon. He continued to be identified with various lines of business activity in that state until about 1868, when he removed with his family to lowa and numbered himself among its pioneers. He finally became one of the prominent and influential citizens of Wright county. He maintained his residence at Eagle Grove, that county, for many years and there his principal vocation was that of farmer. He was mayor of the town at the time of his death, which occurred on the 9th of March, 1909, and no citizen commanded a more secure place in popular confidence and esteem than did this sterling pioneer. His wife, who was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, in 1839, still resides at Eagle Grove and is held in affec- tionate regard by all who know her. She is a devout communicant of the Catholic church, as was also her husband, and of their children three sons and three daughters are living.

Louis P. Donovan is indebted to the public schools of Eagle Grove, lowa, for his early educational dis- cipline and was there graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1900. He was soon after- ward matriculated in the University of Iowa, at Iowa City, in which he was graduated in 1904 and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. In the meanwhile he had formulated definite plans for his future career and he was fortunate in being afforded the best of advantages in preparing for the work of his chosen profession. He entered the law depart- ment of the celebrated University of Wisconsin, at Madison, the capital of the state, and in this institu- tion he was graduated as a member of the class of 1906, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Thus admirably equipped for the practical work of the law, he decided to establish himself in practice in the great and rapidly progressing state of Montana. He arrived in the city of Butte on the Ist of August, 1906, only a short time after his graduation, and here he soon afterward formed a professional partnership with Arthur B. Melzner, under the firm name of Donovan

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& Melzner. His novitiate was not prolonged, as he soon proved his powers as a resourceful trial lawyer and effective counselor, and his firm gained a very satisfactory practice at the local bar. This alliance continued until the Ist of February, 1909, and there- after Mr. Donovan continued in individual practice until June 1, 1910, when he formed a most effective partnership with his present coadjutor, Timothy F. Nolan, under the title of Nolan & Donovan. The firm maintain well-appointed offices in the Silver Bow building and control a large and representative law business of general order, the while the same shows a constantly cumulative tendency, as both of the inter- ested principals are known as lawyers of fine ability and as men of impregnable integrity of purpose. On the 10th of June, 1910, Mr. Donovan was appointed to fill out an unexpired term in the office of chief deputy attorney of Silver Bow county and his effective service led to his reappointment for the full term, which will expire in January, 1913.

In politics Mr. Donovan is found arrayed as a stanch and effective advocate of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, in which he is a zealous communicant of the parish of St. Patrick's church in Butte. He is popular in the professional, business and social circles of his home city. At the time of this writing, in the spring of 1912, he is serving as grand knight of the local lodge of the Knights of Columbus and also as vice president of the University Club. He is likewise a popular mem- ber of the Silver Bow Club, another of the represen- tative organizations of the Montana metropolis. His standing in his profession and as a loyal and progres- sive citizen well entitles him to recognition in this history of the state of his adoption.

Mr. Donovan was married Dec. 26, 1911, to Sadie C. Donohoe, of Butte. At present residing at 533 W. Mercury, Butte, Montana.

WILLIAM R. KIRK. Prominent among the younger members of the legal fraternity of the Treasure state is William R. Kirk of Lewistown, whose natural talents and ability class him among the more successful attor- neys of Montana. A native of Wisconsin, he was born in Pepin county, July 29, 1884.

His father, William George Kirk, was born in New York state in December, 1836, and is now a resident of Everett, Washington. He served as a soldier in the Civil war, being for three years a member of Com- pany C, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was known as the "Eagle Regiment." He was dis- . charged on account of ill health, and on returning to Wisconsin was for many years engaged in general farming in Pepin county. He married Catherine E. Nesbitt, who was born in Canada, 1844, and died on the home farm, in Wisconsin, 1896. They were the parents of seven children, one of whom died in infancy. William R. being the sixth child in succes- sion of birth.

Obtaining his elementary education in the common and graded schools of his native county, William R. Kirk was graduated from the Menomonie Citv high school with the class of 1903. The ensuing year he attended the St. Paul (Minn.) Law College, and on his return to Wisconsin successfully passed the lar examination, being admitted to practice in all the courts of that state. Coming to Buite, Montana. in March, 1906, Mr. Kirk was for two years associated in his professional work with his brother, the late John N. Kirk, . when, in 1908, Judge George M. Bour- quin was admitted to partnership with the brothers, the firm name becoming Kirk, Bourquin & Kirk. This enterprising firm became widely known throughout Silver Bow county, and built up an extensive and ex- ceedingly lucrative business. John N. Kirk, the founder

of the firm, was born in Pepin county, Wisconsin, March 12, 1871, and was actively and successfully en- gaged in the practice of law in Butte from 1894 until his untimely death, while in manhood's prime, on Sep- tember 26, 1911, his death being a loss to the bar, to the community in which he had so long lived, and to the county and the state. After the death of the senior member of the firm he continued in the prac- tice in association with Geo. M. Bourquin, who in April, 1912, was appointed to the Federal bench. He removed his offices to Lewistown, Montana, June 1, 1912.

Mr. Kirk is a Progressive Republican in politics, and takes an active interest in local and national af- fairs. He belongs to both the State, and the Silver Bow County, bar associations, and is a member of the Silver Bow Club, and of the University Club, being prominent and popular in the social life of the city. He has assisted in the organization of different inining companies, and has mining interests of value.

LEON S. THURSTON. The public press of Montana, outside of the two or three largest cities, has no more conspicuous example of what a newspaper should be, both as to its contents and its business management, than the Stanford World. It is distinctively individ- ual, is clean and absolutely fearless in the publication of news and the advancement of the policies for which it stands, and in no town of the state of similar size do the business men give a local paper such generous support. The World has a large circulation through central Montana, and it has gained the one thing which above all others a newspaper should possess- influence based on confidence in the integrity of the paper's management.

The publisher of the World, Leon S. Thurston, in the public life of the state as well as in press circles has made a fine record in a few years and is attracting increasing attention from the older leaders in affairs. Energetic, progressive and courageous, he has stood for the right things, and through his paper and through his individual character he is exerting an effective influence in promoting progress of the right kind in his community and the state at large.

Mr. Thurston was born in Marshall, Minnesota, Sep- tember 27, 1885, and was educated in the public schools of that place. After his graduation from high school he began his first regular experience in newspaper work, and has never known any other vocation. His first work was with the Russell Review, but in 1906, when he was twenty-one, he came to Montana and has been a resident of the Judith basin ever since. For the first four years he was connected with a paper at Moore, after which he came to Stanford and bought the World, which in a short time he has improved and developed into one of the most successful country journals of Montana.

Mr. Thurston is a son of George H. and Viola A. (Waite) Thurston, who now reside at Moore, Mon- tana. Both were natives of New York state. The father throughout the period of his active life was a substantial farmer, and settled in Minnesota during the early development of that state. During the war he served as a member of the Fourth Minnesota Infan- try. He was one of the original Lincoln Republicans, and all his life he has been vigorous in supporting the principles which he believes to be right. For many years he has been one of the active members of the Presbyterian church. He and his wife were married in Minnesota, and they have chosen Montana as the place to spend their declining years. There were eight children born to their union, Leon being the fourth, and the others still living are: Corrington W., who resides with his family at Walla Walla, Wash- ington; Charles F. is married and lives in Stanford ; H. Stanley is a Stanford resident; A. Eugene, whose

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home is at Moore, is a student in the Montana State University; Ada is a high school student at Moore; and Mrs. Henry Burckhardt is a resident of Russell, Minnesota.

Leon S. Thurston was married at Billings, Montana, on March 12, 1909, to Miss Addie A. Goss. She is a daughter of Farnum and Sarah Goss, residents of Leroy, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston have a pleasant home in Stanford and are both prominent in local society. They belong to the Presbyterian church, in the work of which Mrs. Thurston is especially active. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, having been chancellor commander, and also with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic order.

As a citizen Mr. Thurston has been called upon for varied service in the public life of the community. He first held the office of justice of the peace and was United States commissioner for this district. But he has given up the office of justice of the peace as well as the United States commissioner to become mayor of Stanford, of which he is the present incumbent, being the youngest man elected to this office in the state, age twenty-six. He also ran for state represen- tative with the old Republican party and with it met defeat. At the present time he is precinct chairman of the Republican party, and has taken an active part in politics. He is himself a good speaker and has often presided in political and business gatherings. Mr. Thurston is typical of the average vigorous Amer- ican in being a baseball enthusiast, and is manager of the local team. He is also fond of hunting and other diversions.

Concerning his home state, this progressive and well informed young publisher says: "I believe in the future agricultural Montana as I do of money in the bank. There are probably few whose experiences have been more direct, practical or convincing than my own, and basing my assertions on these things I feel perfectly safe in predicting that Montana is des- tined to be the greatest agricultural state in the Union."

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 134

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