A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 142

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

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Our subject was born in Eastport, Michigan, on No- vember 4, 1878. He attended the village school in his home town, and after leaving school, went into busi- ness for himself, handling merchandise and machinery. After two years in this occupation, Mr. Pearl again entered school.

He took a course in the normal at Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and graduated in 1906, immediately beginning his work as a teacher. His first position was at Bay City, Michigan, and the following year, he came to Butte to accept the place of principal of the Washington school. He filled this during 1907 and 1908. From here he was called to the Mckinley school, a new and larger institution, the principalship of which was vacant at the time. His management of this school was such as to command the respect and admiration of both its patrons and the six hundred pupils in his charge. There are eighteen rooms in the building, and this, under his leadership, was admira- bly equipped for efficient work. Mr. Pearl at the time of his departure from the Mckinley school in June 1912 was acknowledged among thinking men and women to be the fittest educator in Butte. His methods were of the most advanced and that they were effective is indicated by the fact the work of his pupils received the commendation of some of the leading instructors of the country. Mr. Pearl possesses the rare faculty of making comrades of the boys under his charge and at the same time maintaining most perfect discipline, and authoritative control. Through the voluntary tribute of love and admiration which his pupils pay him he achieves this control-never through fear.

Mr. Pearl's reputation as an educator is not confined to this city, but throughout the state he is known and esteemed for his service to the profession, which Mr. Eliot of Harvard declared had no equal among all the occupations of mankind.

In politics Mr. Pearl is an Independent. He belongs to the hine lodge of the Masonic order, is a member Vol. 111-30

of the University Club of Butte and vice-president of the Butte News Boys Club.

Mr. Pearl is typically a man of the great out-of-doors -to whom the greatest lure is :

"A trail to break, and a life a stake, and another bout with the foe."

Physically perfect and always in training his greatest joy is in the mountains. Answering the Call of the Wild he has temporarily left his profession to accept a responsible position in the government service in Glacier National Park, where he, in a different field, is "making good" in the best sense and scoring a record which proves his versatility as well as his ability.

No man in Butte has a wider circle of friends than Mr. Pearl and all of them hope that his absence is but temporary and that soon he will return to resume the work in which he has made such an admirable record.

CHARLES W. GREENING. Montana is exceptionally favored in the number of college men to be found in the ranks of her citizens. They are found not only in the professions, but also predominate to a remarkable degree among those engaged in the different avenues of commercial and industrial activity. Charles W. Green- ing, who has entered upon a business career at Melstone, Montana, as cashier and manager of the bank there owned by Wiley, Clark and Felton, is a college man; a graduate of law, energetic, capable and resourceful; a representative of that type of citizen so valued in a young and growing commonwealth.

Born at Grand Meadow, Minnesota, on July 26, 1882, he acquired his earlier education there, including two years of high school work, and then completed both an academic and collegiate course at Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, receiving from that institution his B. A. degree. Following that, he matriculated in the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis as a student in the law department and was graduated as an LL. B. He spent four years at Minneapolis and during that time not only completed his course in law but also gained a practical experience in the banking business as an employe in the Northwestern National Bank of that city. In 1908 he left Minneapolis and came to Montana, stopping for a few days in Miles City, where he made arrangements for opening the bank in Mel- stone, and in August of that year established the insti- tution of which he has since remained cashier and ac- tive manager. He has all the qualities that make for success-character, ability and practical knowledge-and during the four years that he has had charge of this business he has conducted its affairs in the most capable and acceptable manner.

Mr. Greening is a son of Charles F. Greening, a banker and real estate man at Grant Meadow, Minne- sota, and one of the well-known ment of that state. The senior Mr. Greening came to America from his native England when a boy and for many years has been a resident of Minnesota, where he has acquired pronti- nence in different ways. He has served as a member of the Minnesota state legislature and was the author of the present Minnesota herd law. As a veteran of the Civil war, who participated in many of the hard-fought engagements of that conflict, he is now serving as senior vice-commander of the Minnesota G. A. R. and he has also attained a high position in the Masonic order in that state. He has a strong civic pride, is a manı of generous impulses and large charity, and is deeply interested in all that touches the general welfare of his state, where he has made his life count for good in all its relations and is recognized as one of its most sterling citizens. He was married at LeRoy, Minnesota, to Clara Caswell, a native of Illinois, and to their union were born five children, of whom Charles W. is fourth in order of birth and is the only one lo- cated in Montata.

At Carroll, Iowa, on November 22, 1911, the junior

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Mr. Greening was joined in marriage to Miss Jewell Ross, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Ross of that city. Mrs. Greening is a graduate of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, is a lady of excellent attainments and is a very fine musician and reader. Both Mr. and Mrs. Greening are members of the Con- gregational church and the latter is also a member of the Ladies' Aid Society and superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Greening is president of the Mel- stone Commercial club, is also president of the school board, and in politics is alligned with the Republican party. Both are young people of high character and qualifications who have taken a place among the most esteemed people of their town and community. Mr. Greening predicts that Montana will be the Pennsyl- vania of the west, though on a much larger scale; for here are the same combination of resources, although their development is still in its infancy.

THOMAS FRANCIS SHEA was born at Emmettsburg, Iowa, June 22, 1878. He received his education partly at the public and high schools. He taught school for one year, having attained the age of eighteen, and then attended the normal school at the Highland Park College, at Des Moines, Iowa, graduating in 1901. He then taught in the Capital Park high school for one year, after which he pursued a collegiate course at the same college, graduating in 1904, with the degree of B. S. Following this course he attended Drake Uni- versity, where he specialized in law for one year. He then returned to his home city, Emmettsburg, Iowa, and was elected mayor. After one year, being anxious to continue his law practice, he returned to Des Moines, Iowa, and practiced successfully for two and a half years. Having the opportunity to join the firm of Sharnikow and Paul at Deer Lodge and believing a newer country would give him greater opportunities. he came to Deer Lodge and accepted the proffered position with Sharnikow & Paul attorneys. He re- mained with them one and a half years and then began to practice for himself. He has been very successful.

Mr. Shea is prominent in the Republican ranks and is active in behalf of the Progressive wing of the party and is proud of the fact. At the November election of 1912 he was elected county attorney on that ticket.

He was married November 17. 1910, to Miss Ella Cotter, of Deer Lodge, the daughter of Charles Cotter, a prominent mine owner and early settler. One child, Francis, was born of this union, on August 30, 19II.

The father of Mr. Shea, William Shea, was a prom- inent farmer, who lived in retirement at Emmettsburg for many years. He died in 19II. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Marv Martin.

Both parents were natives of Ireland. The mother still lives at Emmettsburg. Five children were born in the parents' family: Rose. the eldest, now Mrs. C. C. Egan, of Emmettsburg; William; the third child was the subject of this sketch; John Joseph, who lives at Deer Lodge; and Leo, who lives at Emmettsburg.

Mr. Shea is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the M. W. of A., heing clerk of the camp. His family are members of the Catholic church.

Mr. Shea is devoted to hunting and is a base ball enthusiast. and Mrs. Shea is fond of horseback rid- ing and out-door life. He is a stockholder in bank and city realty.

ALBERT SCHAAL. Among those who have identified themselves with the agricultural industry in Montana and who have been fortunate in securing land in fer- tile Dawson county is Albert Schaal. one of the lead- ing and progressive farmers of his section. whose magnificent property is located about ten miles west of Glendive. Although he is not a pioneer of this section, his arrival in Montana as an agriculturist hav-

ing taken place but a few years ago, the extent of Mr. Schaal's operations, and the remarkable success with which he has met, give him a prominent place among the agriculturists of Dawson county and give evidence of his ability in his chosen field of endeavor. He was born at Potosi, Grant county, Wisconsin, February 6, 1871, and is a son of George F. and Adolphenia (Kim- mich) Schaal.

George F. Schaal was born in Rittenburg, Germany, March 3, 1830, and when about eighteen years of age came to the United States on a sailing vessel which took ninety-seven days to cross the ocean. Landing at New York City, he remained in that city only a few days, when he went to Chicago and there secured em- ployment at seventy-five cents per day in a lead foundry. A short time thereafter he went to Galena, Illinois, and there worked on a barge on the Galena river, but subsequently removed to the head of the St. Croix river, in the lumber woods of Wisconsin, where for seven years he was employed in a sawmill. He then engaged in running lumber rafts on the Mississippi river through to St. Louis, and as far south as New Orleans, and after four years spent in this occupation started a shingle mill on the Wisconsin river. Sell- ing this enterprise, he located in Grant county, Wis- consin, where he carried on a lumber and stave busi- ness for ten years, but eventually gave this up to give his attention to farming and stock raising. He became one of the prominent men of his county, and at the time of his death, which occurred April II, 1906, was the owner of 1400 acres of valuable land. In 1863 Mr. Schaal enlisted in a Wisconsin volunteer infantry regi- ment, with which he served until the close of the Civil war, participating in fourteen battles and skirmishes and taking part in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. He was a prominent G. A. R. man, and in po- litical matters was first a Whig and later a Republican, while his religious belief was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. On December 20, 1862, Mr. Schaal was married in Wisconsin to Miss Adolphenia Kim- mich, who was born in the province of Baden, Ger- many, December 12, 1844, and to this union there were born twelve children, of whom seven are now living, namely: George F., living at Black River Falls, Wis- consin; August, of Glendive, Montana; Henry, living at Potosi, Wisconsin; Albert; William, of Glendive; and Edward and Gustav A. R., who live at Potosi, Wisconsin.

Albert Schaal secured his education in the schools of Wisconsin, first attending the Waterloo schools and later the Valentine School of Telegraphy, from which he was graduated with the class of 1894. At that time he gave his attention to buying and shipping cattle in Grant county, where he remained for three years, and then extended the business, buying in ten different states and shipping to Chicago, St. Paul, Omaha, and Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, Iowa. In May, 1908, Mr. Schaal came to Montana and for three weeks was en- gaged in classifying land for the Northern Pacific Railroad, after which for four months he served as superintendent of fence building for the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad. At that time he located on a homestead ten miles west of Glendive, where he has one and three-quarter sections of land, most of which is under cultivation. In 1910 he had the distinction of being the first man in Dawson county to plow 1,000 acres of land, and in 191I had 1,400 acres in flax and 400 acres in oats, his land paying him fourteen dollars per acre. Progressive in his opera- tions and possessed of modern ideas, he uses scientific methods in cultivating his land, and owns the best and most highly improved power farm machinery. The rapid and far-reaching success which has attended his efforts is an illustration of what may be accomplished in this section by a man of energy, industry and ability,

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and stamps Mr. Schaal as one of the leading agricul- turists of his district. In political matters he is a Re- publican, but he has been too busy to enter the public arena. During the winter months he makes his home in Glendive, but spring finds him at work on his ranch, where he is busily engaged until fall.

Mr. Schaal was married to Miss Lily Holt, who was born at Cassville, Grant county, Wisconsin, daughter of William G. and Amelia (Scharfenstein) Holt, the former a native of Charlottesville Court House, Vir- ginia, and the latter of Cassville, Wisconsin. Mrs. Schaal's mother died April 22, 1906, when forty-four years of age, having been the mother of twelve chil- dren, of whom seven are living, as follows: Lily, who married Mr. Schaal; May, the wife of B. F. Finecum, of Mona, Montana; Ross, also a resident of Mona; Anna, the wife of D. F. Finecum; Monea, living at home; Dorothy, attending high school at Cassville, Wisconsin ; and Donald, at home. Mr. Holt, who was left an orphan as a lad, accompanied his aunt, Mrs. Beach, to Wisconsin, and was there educated in the public schools. He became a newspaper man, in which business he continued for ten or twelve years, then turn- ing his attention to the manufacture of brick. Later he became a contractor and builder, and after the death of his wife removed to Dawson county, Montana, and engaged in the horse business in conjunction with general farming. While a resident of Wisconsin he served as police justice for many years, and in 1910 received the appointment as postmaster of Mona, Mon- tana, the first to hold that office there. In political matters he is a Democrat, and is widely and favorably known throughout his section of the county. Mrs. Schaal was given good educational advantages in the schools of Cassville, Wisconsin, and for nine months prior to her mariage, in 1908 and 1909, taught school in Dawson county, having charge of a district forty miles wide and eighty miles long. She is popular in social circles of Glendive, where she has many friends.

JAMES D. TAYLOR. A man of broad intellectuallity, thoroughly familiar with the law and precedents, J. D. Taylor, of Hamilton, Montana, has won a position of note among the leading members of the legal fraternity of Ravalli county, and as an horonable, courteous and loyal citizen he has the friendship and esteem of an ever-growing acquaintance. A native of Wisconsin, he was born, February 14, 1880, in Plum City, Pierce county. His father, the late William H. Taylor, was for many years an extensive and prominent stockman and meat packer at Niagara Falls, New York. In 1873, he sold out his interests in New York state and re- moved with his family to an estate in Plum City, Wis- consin, where he lived in ease and comfort until his death, July 15, 1903. He married Annie Zimmerman, a native of Switzerland, and she still resides at the beauti- ful family home in Plum City. Five children were born of their union, as follows: Dr. Joseph Taylor, of Kendrick, Idaho; Lena, wife of M. M. Kelley, of Spokane, Washington ; William H., of Sutersville, Penn- sylvania; J. D., the special subject of this sketch, and George, a civil engineer, also of Sutersville, Penn- sylvania.

Receiving his rudimentary education in the public schools of his native city. J. D. Taylor was graduated from the high school at Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, in 1898, and there was a teacher in the eighth grade schools during the ensuing two years. Entering the University of Minnesota in 1900, he was graduated from its law department in 1904, and after his admission to the bar was engaged in the practice of his profession at War- road, Minnesota, for four years. Coming to Montana in the spring of 1908, Mr. Taylor remained for a brief time in Missoula, while there making arrangements to enter into partnership with the late Charles M. Crutch- field, of Hamilton. The firm of Crutchfield and Taylor

being formed, Mr. Taylor located in Hamilton, and on the death of the senior member of the firm, succeeded to the well known and extensive business established by Mr. Crutchfield, a business which under the control of Mr. Taylor is constantly increasing in extent and importance.

Mr. Taylor is an Independent Republican in politics, and while a resident of Minnesota was appointed ap- praiser of state lands by Governor Johnson. On No- vember 5, 1912, he was elected to the office of county attorney, of Ravalli county by a plurality of three hun- dred and sixty. Fraternally, Mr. Taylor is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, be- longing to the blue lodge; and of the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks. He has accumulated property of value; owning agricultural lands in the Bitter Root valley and city realty.

In March, 1905, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Miss Florence B. Johnson, of Ellsworth, Wiscon- sin, a most estimable woman, whose tastes and pur- poses are in harmony with his own. Mrs. Taylor is a faithful and consistent member of the Episcopal church.

SEVER THOMPSON, although an American by birth, is of Norwegian parentage, both of his parents having been born in that country. His father, Ole Thompson, came directly from Norway to Polk county, Minnesota, where he purchased a tract of land which has since greatly increased in value. He is now one of the well- to-do farmers and dairymen of the vicinity. His mother, Christina Severson, left her native land to accompany the young husband to America. She became the mother of ten children, of whom all but one have reached maturity. Only three of the ten are sons. Thomas Thompson is still a farmer near his old home. His property lies in Buffalo county, Wisconsin. Elmer, the youngest of the family, has not completed his school- ing. He still desires, during his vacations at least, on the parental farm. Of the daughters, Stina is the wife of Anton Linden, a farmer of Polk county, Minnesota. Her next younger sister, Louise, is Mrs. Otto Serum, of Buffalo county, Wisconsin, while Severina, the third daughter, married Louis Ogaard, of International Falls, Minnesota. Mr. Ogaard is now chief engineer of Minne- sota. Mary Thompson is living at home and teaching in the schools of Polk county. Matilda, Mrs. Dan Danielson, lives on a neighboring farm, and Julia, like her sister Mary, has become one of Minnesota's teachers.

Sever Thompson, who carries his mother's maiden name, is the only member of the large family who has strayed far from his native state, but he has had no reason to regret the move that brought him to Montana. Mr. Thompson was born in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, on the twenty-ninth day of March, 1876. Until the age of fourteen, his parents remained in that county where he attended the district schools. In 1890, however, the family moved to Minnesota. After completing his sec- ondary school work, he entered the university of North Dakota, completing the entire four years' course. For ten years thereafter, he taught in the schools of Polk county, Minnesota, the present home of his parents, later taking up a claim in Minnesota. For the necessary two years he lived on and cultivated this claim, before accepting a position as cashier in the bank of Eldrid, Minnesota. During four years he filled this position, at the end of which time he resolved to gain a more accu- rate idea of his native land. In 1908, he came to Mis- soula, Montana, but remained only a short time, as he had resolved to spend at least one year in travel before choosing a permanent location. During this year of rest and sight seeing, he found no spot that appealed to him so favorably as had Montana. On his return, in 1909, he resolved to make his home in the Bitter Root val- ley, and, with this intention, he became cashier of the State Bank of Darby, in which institution he is also one of the principal stockholders. In addition to his bank stock, Mr. Thompson has amassed considerable

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real property in and about Darby. He is an Independ- ent in politics, voting for whomsoever he considers the right man for the office. In the local lodge, of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, he is, at present, act- ing as treasurer. The only other organization to which he belongs are the Commercial Club of Darby and the Scandinavian Brotherhood. Mr. Thompson's people were members of the Lutheran church, with which he has never severed his connection, although his wife is an Episcopalian.

MICHAEL BROWN. One of the leading members of the legal profession of Yellowstone county, Michael Brown, of the firm of Hathhorn & Brown, of Billings, has been a resident of this city for only four years, but during this time he has shown himself a conspicu- ous and faithful member of that great body of men, who, unobtrusively control the destinies of the state, a man wise in counsel, shrewd in management and fearless in the execution of plans which he believes will result in prosperity to the city, the state or the nation. During a long and useful career he has been intimately connected with the political and military history of various sections of the country, and his record today is without the slightest stain or blemish. Mr. Brown was born in Indian Creek township, Pulaski county, Indiana, April 20, 1841, and is a son of Ira and Sophia (Blew) Brown.

Ira Brown was born at Daretown, Salem county, New Jersey, October 30, 1813, and received his educa- tion in his native locality, his boyhood being spent on the farm of his father, William Brown. When he was twenty-one years of age he removed to Indiana, loca- ting first at Brookville, Franklin county, where he ob- tained employment as a farm hand. In 1839 he removed to Pulaski county, purchasing 160 acres of land from the government, and to this original purchase he added

from time to time, until he was the owner of 1,220 acres, located on the east bank of the Tippecanoe river, thirty-eight miles above the famous Tippecanoe battle- ground. When he first located in this section his nearest neighbor lived a quarter of a mile away, on the east side of the Tippecanoe river, and it was forty miles to the nearest settlement.

Ira Brown became judge of the probate court, a position he held for four years, was justice of the peace for nearly a quarter of a century, held nearly all the township offices, and was sent to the legislature of his state for one term. A great believer in the bene- fits to be derived from a good education, he assisted to build the first schoolhouse in his locality, was a stanch adherent of the free school system, and gave all his children educational advantages of an exceptional na- ture. He and his wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Brown was a Democrat until 1860, in which year he cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln, and from that time until his death, which occurred March 22, 1871, he voted with the Republican party. Ira Brown was married at Mount Carmel, Indiana, to Sophia Blew, who was born December 18, 1816, at Brookville, Franklin county, and she died March 3, 1899, having been the mother of eight children, of whom five survive.

Michael Brown was the eldest of his parents' chil- dren, and as a lad he assisted in cultivating the home farm. His early education was secured in the public schools, after leaving which he became a student in the county academy at Logansport, Indiana, and after one year of preparation there entered Franklin College, at Franklin, and afterwards Wabash College, Crawfords- ville. Leaving college in his sophomore year, he an- swered his country's call for troops and enlisted May 9, 1862, in Company C, Second Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, for the term of three years or during the war. His regiment, attached to the Army of Cumberland, was mustered out of the ser-

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 142

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