A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 135

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

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SIDNEY J. RUNDLE has been an undeniable factor in the settlement of the agricultural districts of Mon- tana, and as such is deserving of much credit. Cer- tainly he is eminently deserving of some mention in this historical and biographical work, embracing as it does, the lives and works of those men who have been prominent and active in business matters pertaining to the growth of the state and the development of its resources.

Mr. Rundle was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on April 13, 1884, and is the son of James and Adeline (Pickel) Rundle, both natives of Ontario. James Rundle was a prominent farmer and land owner in Ontario, and well known in that country. He was twice married. His first wife, the mother of Sidney Rundle, died in 1884, and he later married Annie Frank. Of the first union four children were born, one of whom is deceased. The others are Cephas, a farmer in On- tario, Beatrice, the wife of Fred Curtis of Ontario and Sidney J. Of the second marriage there were five chil- dren.

Sidney J. Rundle was given the advantages of a common school education in the excellent schools of Toronto, and was graduated from the high school of that city in 1891. He came directly to the States and first settled in Kenmare, North Dakota, where he en- gaged in the real estate business,-a line which has always presented unusual attractions to him in which he has from the beginning been so signally successful. He became the owner of a large quantity of farm lands in Williams county, which he still holds. He remained there for almost five years, coming to Glasgow in 1906, where he immediately launched a real estate and abstract business, which has proved to be undeniably

successful under his able and wise management. It is an acknowledged fact that Mr. Rundle is the leading man in Valley county in his line of business, and he has undoubtedly accomplished more in the way of locating homeseekers on the farm lands of Montana than any other man in this section of the country. His ad- vertisement, "See Rundle," is one of the cleverest of ideas, and presents the opportunities of the great Treasure state in a manner most attractive, and cer- tainly productive of excellent results. He has his prin- cipal office in Glasgow, but maintains branch offices in Saco and Poplar, and in both of these places he has representatives who are personally familiar with every inch of available land in those vicinities. Not only is he successful in establishing the homeseeker on gov- ernment lands, but he owns and controls a vast acreage of lands already under cultivation, which are to be purchased on the most agreeable terms. He also owns considerable valuable Glasgow property. Mr. Rundle is one of the ablest business men known in this section of the country, and his natural splendid business qual- ifications are most admirably fortified by his engaging personality. He is alert, obliging and pleasant, and moreover, he is thoroughly posted upon the matters in which he is interested, and is able to inspire confidence which is never misplaced. His reputation for honorable dealings is one of his most valuable business assets, and has done more to establish him in the place he now occupies than any other characteristic. Mr. Rundle is at present serving Glasgow in the capacity of city clerk. He is a Republican and takes an active interest in the political preferment or honors. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, but beyond that he maintains no other fraternal affiliations.

In 1906 Mr. Rundle was united in marriage with Miss Florence May Heddon, a native of Ontario. They have two children,-Lawrence Sidney Rundle, and Helena Ruth Rundle.

DR. G. F. TURMAN gives promise of becoming one of the best known and most useful physicians in the great northwest. His heritage. his natural ability and his excellent education have fitted him to accomplish a great work for humanity. His profession is of his own choosing and to it he gives the best that is in him.

His father, E. G. Turman, was born in Virginia ten years before the great struggle in which her sons were compelled to choose between their state and their nation. Loyal to his state he lived always within her borders, working for reconstruction and endeavoring to build up her mercantile credit. In IgII, he passed away and was laid to rest in the town where he had spent his life. He left to mourn him, a wife and a son. He had married, in his early manhood, Emazetta Philips, a characteristic daughter of one of the old families of Virginia. It was she who taught her son that honor, honesty and hospitality have made the people of Virginia famous and will do much to bring success to the newer country of the west.

Young Mr. Turman was educated at the University of Virginia, graduating from the medical department of that institution in the class of 1905. For one year he served as ambulance surgeon and city hospital sur- geon in Richmond and then went to Missoula, Mon- tana where the opening for a general practice seemed more to his liking. In this thriving city, his ability as a surgeon as well as a general practitioner was at once recognized.

He is a member of the county, state and national medical associations and in 1900 served Missoula county as their public physician. Ambitious to be abreast of the times in all branches of medical science, Dr. Tur- man, in 1910, resigned this position to continue his studies in Vienna. After little more than a year abroad he returned once more to Missoula to resume his rapidly growing practice.

Frank H. M&earthy-

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Dr. Turman, although a person of wide reading and much general information, is neither a lodge member nor a politician. His entire time is at the disposal of those who are in need of his science. Up to the pres- ent time, he remains a bachelor, wed only to the pro- fession of which he is making so marked a success. She is, as of old, a most jealous mistress.

The traditions of the sunny south, the culture of the old world and the courage of the great west have produced in this young man a physician courteous in heart and manner, learned in his profession and equal to. any emergency that may befall him or the city of his adoption.

FERDINAND A. SILCOX. One of the more important bureaus of the National Department of Agriculture is the Forest Service, which has charge of the admin- istration and protection of the national forests, and likewise promotes the practice of forestry. As dis- trict forester Ferdinand A. Silcox, of Missoula, Mon- tana, has the management of one of the six districts among which the national forests of the United States are distributed, the territory of which he has control covering an area of thirty million acres. He was born, December 25, 1882, in Columbus, Georgia, and there grew to manhood. His father, Fredinand A. Silcox, Sr., was born in South Carolina, while his mother, Carrie A. (Spear) Silcox, was a native of Georgia.

Completing the course of study in the common and high schools of Columbus, Mr. Silcox entered Char- leston College, in Charleston, South Carolina, and was there graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1903. Going then to New Haven, Connec- ticut, he took a post graduate course in forestry at Yale University, securing the degree of Master of Forestry. Thus finely equipped for the work in which he was most interested, Mr. Silcox secured a position in the Forest Service, for a year being located in Colorado. Coming to Missoula, Montana, in 1906, he was for a time technical assistant in one of the forests, later being made an inspector, in that capacity becoming thoroughly familiar with all parts of the state. In 1908 Mr. Silcox was promoted, becoming assistant to Mr. W. B. Greeley, district forester for district one, which includes Montana, northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, northwest South Dakota, northern Michigan, northern Minnesota, and south- western North Dakota, with headquarters at Mis- soula. Energetic and enthusiastic, with a broad ca- pacity for organizing and directing, Mr. Silcox proved himself of great value to the service, and when, in May, 1911, Mr. Greeley was transferred to Washington, he was appointed his successor in the Missoula office. This district of which Mr. Silcox has supervision in- cludes all of the national forests of Montana and Idaho north of the Salmon river, some small forests in Michigan, two in Minnesota, two areas of land in North Dakota, and some in South Dakota, the district being extensive.

The Forest Service is mayhap of greater value and importance to our country than any of the other depart- ments of agriculture of note of the government. It directs the cutting of mature timher; aids the work of forest planting; supervises their protection; allots grazing privileges and issues grazing permits; divides the lands into sheep and cattle ranges; and has estab- lished a branch of products to further the more com- plete utilization of the products of the forests, a work which promises to be of inestimable value to the industrial and commercial world.

Mr. Silcox married, March 4, 1909, Miss Lonise Thatcher, who was born June 10, 1885, in Charleston, South Carolina, and a daughter of John Q. A. and Mrs. C. E. Thatcher.

FRANK W. MCCARTHY. As manager of the Havre Electric Company, Frank W. McCarthy is one of the prominent factors in the business and municipal affairs of Havre, and during his brief business career has made a very fine record for efficiency and high-principled citizenship.

Mr. McCarthy came to Montana six years ago, and was at the time a young man of twenty-three. He was born in Troy, New York, February 16, 1883, attended the public schools of his native city and gained his initial business experience there. In April, 1906, he arrived in Havre, but thence went to Butte and for two years was employed by the Hennessey Mercantile Company of that city. In May, 1908, he returned to Havre as book- keeper for the Electric Light Company, and three years later was entrusted by its stockholders with the office of manager. As executive head of one of the important public service companies of northern Montana he has made a very efficient record, both for the company and for the municipality and private patronage.

Mr. McCarthy's grandparents on both sides came to America from Ireland. Mr. McCarthy is the younger of two children born to John B. and Nellie (Whittey) McCarthy, both of whom were natives of New York state and now reside at Watervliet, that state. Both of them were born about the year 1854. The father is an old railroad man and is still in the business.

On October 19, 1908, in New York state, Mr. Mc- Carthy was married to Miss Kathrine E. Barry, a daughter of Bernard Barry. They are the parents of two children, Katherine E., who was born at Havre, August 9, 1910, and Janet Elizabeth, born July 25, 1912. The McCarthy home is one of the most attrac- tive in the city of Havre, and Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy have a large social acquaintance. They are both mem- bers of the Catholic church, and he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and is a trustee of the Order of Elks. In politics he is a Democrat. He is fond of the outdoor sports, and is one of the vigorous young citizens who are taking up the important responsibil- ities and larger affairs of the state of Montana.

JAMES WILLIAM LEEDOM. The metropolitan and up- to-date character of the city of Butte, Montana, is fit- tingly exemplified in the number of beauty of its restau- rants and cafes, one of the finest of which is owned and conducted by Mr. William Leedom. Mr. Leedom has spared no expense in fitting up his establishment ele- gantly and artistically with an eye to the comfort and ·convenience of his guests, and as his own chef caters to the desires of the inner man with an interest and success that cannot be assured when one must depend upon hired assistants to head that important part of a cafe's business. Leedom's Cafe is located conveniently in the downtown district and enjoys a large patronage which constantly increases. In the conduct and manage- ment of the business he is ably assisted by Mrs. Leedom, who gives her personal attention to the guests and trade in the front part of the cafe while her husband is in the culinary department, a portion of her duties including also the cashiership of the place. The unusual success of the business is due entirely to the ability and energy of these two indefatigable workers and the pride they feel in their achievements is worthy and pardonable.

Mr. Leedom' came originally from Carroll county, Mis- souri, in which locality he was born December 13, 1868, and spent the first eighteen years of his life. Mr. Lee- dom's father was a native of Ohio and the son of a min- ister who took his family to Missouri in an early day. The elder Leedom was a farmer by occupation and died in Carroll county, Missouri, in 1873, when his son James William, the only survivor of five children, was a lad of four years. The mother of Mr. Leedom still survives and makes her home with her son in Butte.

When eighteen years of age Mr. Leedom started west with the determination to carve a worthy career for

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

himself, and after spending one year at Kansas City, he located at Seattle, Washington, remaining there four years, being employed as chef in some of the largest hotels and restaurants of that thriving city. From Seattle he went to Spokane but was there only a short time before he decided to go to Butte and arrived here in 1894. Before setting up in business here permanently Mr. Leedom visited various other points to ascertain the opportunities they had to offer, for this purpose going to Kansas City, Salt Lake City, and several points in California, and was in the Goldfield country during the great boom there over the discovery of the big gold mines. He was in business for a short time at Missoula but finally decided that no city held the induce- ments for the establishment of a fine cafe that were found in Butte, and he accordingly secured his present place and has since 1908 conducted it continuously with marked success. Mr. Leedom is known as one of the leading chefs of the state of Montana and is an expert with no. superior in his line. He early learned the value of industry and thrift and recalls how he earned his first money as a boy of ten years plowing corn with one of the old style diamond plows, working twelve hours a day at the task, and receiving the sum of twenty-five cents a day for his arduous labor.

One of the evidences of the prosperity now being enjoyed by Mr. Leedom and his wife is the handsome automobile they own and drive. Mr. Leedom is exceed- ingly fond of all kinds of outdoor sports, is an ardent fisherman, a baseball enthusiast, and is one of the best skaters in this part of the state.

On September 13, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Leedom and Miss Francis iva Lewis, the daugh- ter of Joseph D. and Phoebe Lewis. Mrs. Leedom's father died at the age of fifty-five years in Bay City, Michigan, while her mother still lives at that place with one of her married daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Leedom are nrominent in leading social and religious circles of Butte and are members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Lee- dom holds membership in the Ladies' Woodcraft order.

As a citizen Mr. Leedom is public spirited and liberal, and lends the weight of his influence to the furtherance of all efforts that have for their object the advancement of the best interests of this city and state. He is a man of genial personality, of unimpeachable honesty and integrity ; and possesses a high order of business talents that make for his success in whatever capacity he bends his energies.

WILLIAM F. WILFORD. Seizing each opportunity as it came to him, and turning it to his best advantage, William F. Wilford, of Fort Benton, Montana, has risen from a poor boy to one of the most successful business men in this thriving city. He has not been afraid to take what to other people looked like a risk, but which he was far-sighted enough to regard otherwise. Enter- ing the automobile business as the pioneer in this sec- tion of the country, everything was against him, but his splendid business methods and his determination to suc- ceed, as well as the gradual change of the automobile from an article of luxury to one of necessity, militated in his favor, and success was eventually his. He has not devoted himself to his business exclusively, but has always taken an active interest in the public affairs of the community, and Fort Benton has no citizen who takes a greater interest in her welfare, both politically and socially.

William F. Wilford was born in Washington county, Minnesota, on the 24th of October, 1880. He was the son of John O. Wilford, a native of the state of Wis- consin. He was a resident of Baldwin, Wisconsin, for a number of years and was one of the most influential men in the town. He was interested in the meat and ice business, and at various times during his residence in this city was president of the town council. He moved

to Wisconsin from Minnesota three years after the birth of his son William, so that the latter grew up in his father's native state. John O. Milford married Vinelia Rutherford, who was a native of Minnesota, but their married life was not long, for she died in 1888, at the age of thirty-six. Three children were born of this union, of whom William was the eldest. .

Having received his elementary education in the pub- lic schools and the high school of Baldwin, he then matriculated at the University of Minnesota. He com- pleted a year of work in this institution, being at the end of this time eighteen years of age, when the Span- ish-American war broke out and for the time drove all thoughts of study from the head of this young man. He enlisted in Troop I, of the Fifth United States Cavalry. He was in the service for a year, being sta- tioned in Porto Rico. He was discharged on the 2nd of May, 1899, and then returned to the state where he had enlisted, locating at Faribault, Minnesota. Here he took up electrical and mechanical engineering, and received the offer of a position with the Sheffield Milling Com- pany, which he accepted. After working for this firm for two years, he went to Morristown, Minnesota, in the employ of the same company, remaining here two years also. His next position was in Owatonna, Min- nesota, where he became chief engineer of the Owa- tonna Gas and Electric Heating Company. After three years in this position, his work was adjusted so satis- factory that he was promoted to the position of man- ager, and altogether spent three and a half years in the service of the company. In October of 1906 he came out to Montana and located in Fort Benton, where he became superintendent of the Electric Light and Power Plant. For three years he remained in this position, and then in the spring of 1909 he entered the automobile business, in which he has been engaged ever since. When he entered this field there was only one machine in the town, now many are in use and a new car causes scarcely any comment, whereas it used to be an event to be discussed at length. He has a very satisfactory busi- ness and one which will continue to grow. He is sole agent for Fort Benton and the vicinity, of the Petrel, the Ford and the Redding cars, all of which have proved to be well suited to the country and the needs of the people in this locality.

The interest in military affairs which was aroused in Mr. Wilford through his Spanish-American war ex- perience has never died down, and today he is one of the most active members of the Montana National Guards, being captain of the company and one of its first members from Fort Benton. In politics Mr. Wil- ford is nominally a Democrat, that is, he votes the Democratic ticket in the national elections, but in the state and local elections he votes for the man whom he considers the strongest man for the place. This is the attitude of the western man so often, in contrast to the man of the east, who usually considers himself bound to vote with his party regardless of the qualifications of the candidate, and is one of the arguments that political economists advance as proof of their belief that there will be a break up of the great parties. In that case it is such men as Mr. Wilford who stand by their convic- tions and are not simply sheep following a leader, who will carry the country through the crisis. Fraternally, Mr. Wilford is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, belonging to Benton Lodge No. 25. He is a member of that organization which has meant much to the advancement of Fort Benton, the Commercial Club, and has ever been a valuable worker in this asso- ciation.

Mr. Wilford was married in Morristown, Minnesota, on the 10th of May, 1902, to Miss Monte M. Rhorer, the daughter of Samuel Benton Rhorer, who was a native of Minnesota. One son John Benton Wilford has been

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

born to this union, his birth occurring on the 19th of February, 1907, at Morristown, Minnesota.

JACOB RITTER. One of the youngest men in the busi- ness world of Fort Benton, who has achieved such suc- cess that it is thought fitting that a brief account of his activities should be incorporated within these pages, is Jacob Ritter. He is only twenty-five, but has had to support himself for a number of years and has gained an experience that many men of twice his age would value. Beginning in the humble capacity of a stenographer he is now general manager of one of the most successful enterprises in the state of Mon- tana. Such a gap was not bridged by magic nor in one leap, but by hard work, by devotion to the interests of his employers, and by a gradual advancement. He always took a deep interest in his work and put his best self into it, making himself invaluable to his company. His cordiality and the charm of his man- ner have won him many friends and it is safe to say that although he may seem to have climbed quite far on the ladder to success, yet twenty years hence he will look back upon these years as those in which he stood on the bottom rungs of this ladder, so difficult of ascent.

Jacob Ritter was born in Macomb county, Michigan, on the 20th of January, 1887. He was a son of Jacob Ritter, senior, who was a native of New York state. The ancestors of this side of the family came from Holland in the early days of this country and settled in Pennsylvania. Jacob Ritter, senior, saw service in the Civil war, and in the early seventies moved to Michigan, and located on a farm in Macomb county. Here he is living and pursuing the peaceful life of a farmer. His wife was Nancy Blocher, who like her husband was a descendant of Hollanders who had immigrated to Pennsylvania in colonial days. She was a native of New York state, and her marriage to Jacob Ritter occurred in New York in 1894. Young Jacob, then only seven years of age lost his mother, and thus grew up without a mother's care. He was the youngest of the boys in the family of seven. Of these children four were boys and three were girls, so the little fellow was well cared for, though it was not the same as a mother's love.

Having received his elementary education in the com- mon schools of Macomb county, he entered the Uni- versity of Valparaiso, at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he took a business course. He completed this course at the age of nineteen, and then turned his face west- ward, whither he had always been strongly drawn. Coming to Fort Benton, he accepted the first position which was offered him, this being a place as stenog- rapher with T. C. Power & Brother Company, Lim- ited, who were dealers in general merchandise. He filled this position nine months, and during this time labored to make himself as indispensable as possible. He succeeded and was next appointed bookkeeper, which position he filled for three years. On the first of January, 1910, he was made general manager and has held this position ever since. This business was established in 1867, and is the oldest firm of its kind in existence in northern Montana. The annual amount of business transacted amounts to something like three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, and abont twenty-two persons are employed. Mr. Ritter has the entire oversight of the business, and it is a big com- pliment to his energy and tact that he should be entrusted with such a responsibility, but he has been tried in the balance and not found wanting, and his employers watching the accuracy and care with which he performed his first duties began to watch him at this time and their expectations were fulfilled. In ad- dition to his duties as general manager, he is also secretary of the company.

Politically Mr. Ritter is an independent voter, believ- ing that the two great parties are now so nearly identical that the question lies no longer between parties but between men. He takes no active part in politics, being content to perform his duty as a citizen by cast- ing his vote at the polls. He is a member of the Masonic order, affiliating with the Fort Benton Lodge, No. 25, of which he is at present worshipful master, and he is also a member of the Commercial Club. His social life and his business take up the greater share of his time, for he is unmarried, and has no family ties.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 135

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