A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 150

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

USA > Montana > A history of Montana, Volume III > Part 150

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

Mr. Harris is actively connected with various indus- tries of his community, as well as in his old home in lowa, and he is prominent in business and social cir- cles in and about Great Falls. He is a Master Mason, having taken the third degree in Masonry, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen. He is a member of the Universalist church, and is an independent Demo- crat in his political views. He has served his town as treasurer.

On October 12, 1884, Mr. Harris was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary H. Arkell of Billings, Montana. No children have come into their home.

PETER E. CARRIER. One of the first men to appre- ciate the possibilities of the newly-opened and yet vacant townsite of Hingham, was Mr. P. E. Carrier, who has been the first and only postmaster of that now thriving town, and has been closely identified with its business development from the beginning. He was the third resident of the town and was the first to give practical effect to his faith in the future by erecting a building there. His substantial building was designed for a hotel, and he has been proprietor since its opening and has come to know, as landlord, nearly every permanent inhabitant who at some time or other has been the guest of his hostelry.

Mr. Carrier has had a long and prosperons business career, and is one of the forceful and public-spirited citizens of northwestern Montana. He was born on a farm in Houston county, Minnesota, July 5, 1863, and as a boy attended district school during three months in the year and got practical training as a farmer during the remaining months. Even while a boy he became a close student of agriculture, mastered the art of soil analysis and became an expert in farm ma- chinery, and on arriving at maturity rented a farm and engaged in farming on a very successful scale. He soon went out to South Dakota, where he preempted a quarter section, but the soil not being adapted to his purposes, he returned to his native state and con- tinned farming as a renter four years. .

His enterprise had already given him a good start in practical affairs, and his next venture was to take charge of a large force of men who were surfacing the roadbed of the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound line from Savanna, Minnesota, to St. Paul. This

1788

HISTORY OF MONTANA

task required four years, and at its conclusion he bought land in Twin Valley, Minnesota, where he erected a building and was engaged in the meat busi- ness for two years. He was in the same business at Knox, North Dakota, a year, and then took up a quar- ter section of land at Williston, North Dakota, which he proved up in 1906, and on which he had engaged very successfully as a farmer. During that time he had also bought a meat market at Ray, North Dakota, in a prosperous community, and did a thriving business there until he met with a serious accident. With two ribs and a shoulder broken, he was so disabled that he could not attend to business for some time. He con- sequently sold out and returned to Knox, North Dakota, where he built a hotel and was landlord there until 1909.

His thoughts had already been turned toward the northwest of Montana, a region as yet undeveloped and with splendid natural resources. In 1909 he came out along the Great Northern as far as the townsite of Hingham, his purpose being to file a claim for land in this section. As he was already a beneficiary from the homestead laws, he found that he could not again be a claimant, so his enterprise was turned into another direction. He bought some real estate on the new townsite, which was then in the midst of a vast prairie, and his building was the first real improvement. Then on the first day of January, 1910, he received appoint- ment as postmaster, and has since had charge of the local mail service in addition to his hotel and other business affairs. He is the owner of some fine farm- ing land in this vicinity, and does an extensive real es- tate business. As a citizen of Montana he has prospered from a material point of view, and is one of the most loyal and enthusiastic of the state's residents. He has long been an active worker in Republican politics, and is one of the leading Republicans of this portion of the state. He twice filled the office of justice of the peace in Anamoose, North Dakota, and in that capacity had some trying and also amusing experiences in imposing fines on the proprietors of the local "blind pigs." He has taken an active part in promoting the three-year homestead law, in the interest of which he has kept up a continuous correspondence with his congressman. and the measure has received the consideration of congress.

Mr. Carrier is a member of the Congregational church. He has all his life been an active man, and outside of business has found recreation and pleasure in hunting and fishing. He has hunted big game throughout the northwest country. He is a generous, high-minded citizen, and by his own character and personality has gained an influential place in his com- munity.

Mr. Carrier was married at Caledonia, Houston county, Minnesota, December 5, 1887, to Miss Ruth Simpson, daughter of Alexander Simpson, one of the pioneers of Minnesota. The four children born to their marriage are as follows: Mrs. Estella Sauter, now a resident of Hingham, who was born in Houston county, April 7, 1891 ; Elmer, born at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, August 27, 1893, now in business with his father; Bessie, now attending school, born in Norman county, Minnesota, November, 1897; and Floyd, born October 15. 1900. in Norman county, Minnesota.

Mr. Carrier's parents were William and Mary (Lewis) Carrier, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Hardin county, Ohio. The mother died in Minnesota in 1889 at the age of sixty. The father was a child when his family moved to Ohio, and he was married in Hardin county, after which he moved to Wisconsin and then to Houston county, Minnesota, where he was an early settler. He was a farmer, and during the Civil war enlisted at Fort Snelling, and served with Sherman's army and later in the campaign ending in the capture of Hood's army near Nashville. He died

on January 16, 1910, at the advanced age of eighty- two years.

LARS M. LERBERG. Many of the more capable and thriving business men of the Rocky Mountain states are of foreign birth and breeding, Norway furnishing the United States with some of its best and brightest citizens. Noteworthy among this number is L. M. Lerberg, a prosperous general merchant of Concord, Chouteau county. A son of Martin Lerberg, he was born, December 13, 1884, in Ringerick, Norway, where his earlier years were spent.

Having acquired a practical common school educa- tion in his native country, L. M. Lerberg began work on a farm. Desiring a more promising field of labor, he left home at the age of seventeen years, and, follow- ing in the pathway previously trod by so many of his fellow-countrymen, he came to the United States, join- ing friends at Ellendale, Minnesota, where he remained four years, becoming accustomed in the meantime to the ways of the new country. He subsequently spent sometime in North Dakota, clerking in stores in dif- ferent places. Deciding to engage in business on his account, Mr. Lerberg came to Montana, locating, in May, 1910, in Concord, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits, having built up a large and lucrative trade as a general mer- chant, his store being stocked with a choice line of goods.

Mr. Lerberg married, August 17, 1910, Miss Mabel Onnlane, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, a very pleasant and most estimable young lady. In his political affilia- tions Mr. Lerberg is a consistent Republican true to the religious faith in which he was reared, he is a member of the Lutheran church. He is fond of pleasure excursions to the woods or streams, taking great delight in both hunting and fishing.

ALBERT J. SCHMIDT. It is with particular gratifica- tion that the historian records the annals of a man whose advance to success has been accomplished by his own steady, determined endeavor. Albert J. Schmidt, was born November 10, 1880, in Travers county, Min- nesota. His early education was in the country schools, of which he had taken thorough and conscientious advantage. He has never weakened in his determina- tion to make a worthy name and fortune.

Well knowing that knowledge is power, he secured the next stage of his education in books and life by study in the state normal school at St. Cloud, Minne- sota. He thereafter entered the University of Minne- sota, where he completed a course in law. Realizing that the inexperienced lawyer has a period of waiting and of financial unproductivity, Mr. Schmidt conquered that difficulty to some extent and gave pecuniary host- age to the future by taking a homestead in North Dakota. In 1905 he began the practice of his profes- sion at Des Lacs, North Dakota, combining it with a loan business in the same place. He also carried on extensive grain-growing operations at Des Lacs, where he still retains extensive interests. His property hold- ings there include one thousand six hundred acres of farming land, one thousand of which are now under cultivation.

In 1909 Mr. Schmidt made a change of location, coming to Fort Benton, where he became associated with Grover C. Schmidt, a brother, as is elsewhere stated in this series of articles. He has rapidly made his way to the respect and popularity accorded him by Fort Benton citizens. He is now vice-president of the Farmers' State Bank of Des Lacs. In civic and polit- ical affairs he has been ever actively interested. On September 1I, 19II, he was appointed assistant prose- cuting attorney of Fort Benton and he is at present, in

Ses. W. Hendershott

1789

HISTORY OF MONTANA

1912, a candidate for alderman. Mr. Schmidt's biog- raphy at present can provide no details of a domestic nature, for he is as yet unmarried. He is, nevertheless, an important acquisition to the citizenship and public affairs of Fort Benton.

GROVER C. SCHMIDT. Prominent among the leaders of the business world of Fort Benton, Montana, is Grover C. Schmidt, senior member of the firm of Schmidt Brothers & Greely. He is an aggressive, clear headed type of the modern American business man, and his success has been won by his own efforts, and in the winning his methods have always been upright and honorable. The firm of which he is a member has a reputation for legal ability and authoritative knowledge, especially along the line of their specialty, which is all law pertaining to real estate and lands which is unsurpassed in the state of Montana. In addition to his large practice he also is interested in newspaper work and is in the real estate business on his own account. He has done much for the city of which he is a resident, and in whatever line he inter- ests himself, his interest is certain to benefit the matter in hand, and he is an ardent advocate of every measure that tends to benefit the city and her people.

Grover C. Schmidt was born in Traverse county, Minnesota, on September 16, 1885. His father is Jacob H. Schmidt, who now resides in Chokio, Minne- sota, where he is a prosperous merchant. He is a native of Germany and came to this country about 1871, first settling in Wisconsin. He married Mary A. Snyder, a native of Wisconsin. Ten children were born to Jacob H. Schmidt and his wife, of whom Grover C. Schmidt was the fifth. The latter was first sent to the Prairie public schools and later attended the public schools at Chokio, and the Brown's Valley high school, where his elementary education was com- pleted, his graduation from this school taking place in 1906. He then entered Hamline University at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he remained for some time before matriculating in the law department of the University of North Dakota, from which he was gradu- ated in 1909. In the fall of this year he removed to Fort Benton, Montana, and there entered the practice of law, forming a partnership with his brother, Albert J. Schmidt, the firm being known as Schmidt & Schmidt. They soon began to do the greater share of their work in legal questions concerning land, and presently developed a large practice. From this it was easy to drift into the real estate, insurance and loan business, and in this business the firm was known as Schmidt Brothers & Greely, W. T. Greely being the other mem- ber of the firm. On the first of April, 1910, Schmidt Brothers & Greely established the Chouteau County Independent, a weekly newspaper. The policy of this paper is Independent Republican, and the circulation in so short a time has risen to eight hundred. Similar success has attended Mr. Schmidt in his law practice, the firm of which he is a member doing the largest amount of business in this line of any law firm in the state. Mr. Schmidt has considerable money invested in real estate, owning 520 acres of land in township 23, range 8, in Chouteau county, part of which is under cultivation.

Politically, Mr. Schmidt is a Republican, but he has never taken an active part. He is unmarried.

GEORGE W. HENDERSHOTT. The hustling little city of Lavina, Montana, has many successful business enter- prises which are being conducted by progressive, alert and public-spirited young men, but none have gained a greater amount of prestige than that of Renshaw & Hen- dershott, which, although in existence only a short time. is already recognized as an important factor in the com- mercial life of the community. The senior member of :this concern, George W. Hendershott, who has charge

of the real estate and loans department, has been the architect of his own fortunes since he was a lad in knee trousers, and the prominent position which he holds among the business men of this section has been gained entirely through the medium of his own efforts. He was born December 10, 1879, in Clermont, Fayette county, Iowa, and is a son of William and Flora ( Shaf- fer) Hendershott, natives of Iowa, where they resided until 1909, since which time they have lived on a ranch in the Musselshell country in Montana. There were fourteen children in the family, of whom thirteen still survive, George W. being the fourth in order of birth, while three other sons and five daughters also live in Montana, as follows: Tilden H., Charles and Victor B., of Lavina ; Jennie B., who married William Drummond and resides in this city; and Sadie I., Rebecca, Ruth and Ora, residing at home.

George W. Hendershott attended the public schools and high schools of his native state, and when about fourteen years of age began earning money at whatever occupation he could find. He subsequently took a teacher's examination, which he passed successfully, and for six years was engaged in teaching in Iowa, but gave up the profession of educator to engage in the con- fectionery business. In 1909 he left the state of his nativity and came to Montana, settling in Lavina and engaging in the confectionery and restaurant business, but after two years sold his interest therein and engaged in real estate operations, realizing the fact that this section was soon to become a great agricultural, com- mercial and industrial center. In January, 1912, a part- nership was formed with F. E. Renshaw, under the firm style of Renshaw & Hendershott, and a general law, real estate, loan and insurance business is now carried on, Mr. Renshaw doing the legal work for the firm, while Mr. Hendershott takes care of the other end of the business. A progressive, alert and energetic busi- ness man, he has so conducted his operations as to benefit his community, realizing that the success of his business will be commensurate with the development and advancement of all lines of endeavor in Lavina. As a consequence, movements of a beneficial nature have found in him a stalwart adherent, and he has been a prime mover in advancing the settlement of this section. When he has found time from his business cares he has taken recreation in the form of hunting and fishing, horseback riding and automobiling, and he is also fond of theatrical performances, lectures and speeches. Fraternally, he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, in both of which he has held office, while in political matters he is a Democrat, and as one of the leading men of his community was appointed to the office of justice of the peace, in which he is giving universal satisfaction, and is now state central committeeman from Musselshell county.

WILLIAM C. POULSSON, who as organizer and secre- tary and treasurer of the Missouri River Lumber Com- pany has been an important factor in the development of Fort Benton's industrial resources, was born at Christiania, Norway, June 17, 1860, and is a son of Lauritz and Eleanor Elizabeth (Chambers) Poulsson. His father, a native of Norway, and a member of a well-known and historic family of that country, was born in 1828, and died in 1893, his business career having been spent as agent for a large London grocery con- cern. Mrs. Poulsson was born in 1832, at Newcastle on Tyne, England, survives her husband, and resides at Christiania. Their four children were: W. C .; Esther- dahl, residing in Norway; John, both well-known wood pulp manufacturers of that country; and Margareth Isa- bella, also living there.

W. C. Poulsson was given a collegiate education in his native land, and as a young man went to England and engaged in the mercantile business, continuing

1790

HISTORY OF MONTANA

there until he reached his twenty-first year. At that time he came to the United States, and for one and one-half years was identified with a large mercantile house, subsequently going to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a short period. His next location was Fargo, North Dakota, but in 1884 he removed from that city and went to Mayville, North Dakota, conducting a general store and hardware business until 1896, and from that year until 1909 identifying himself with the lumber business at the same point. Believing that he could find a larger field for his operations in Montana, Mr. Poulsson came to this state in 1909, seeking a location, and ultimately chose the city of Fort Benton, where, with a business associate, Mr. Elkins, he established the Missouri River Lumber Company in January, 1910. This has developed into one of the leading enterprises of its kind in the state, and now maintains branches at Loma, Geyser and Spion Kop, all doing an extensive business. Mr. Poulsson is regarded as one of the enterprising and substantial citizens of Fort Benton, and as a business man of distinct sagacity and executive ability, having materially contributed to the upbuilding of the city, in whose advancement he maintains a public- spirited interest. He is a Republican in politics, but has not entered the public arena, although while a resident of North Dakota he served as a member of the normal school board from 1894 to 1898. He belongs to the Lumbermen's Association, the Order of Hoo- Hoos and has attained to the Shriner degree in Masonry. His religious belief is that of the Episcopal church.

In August, 1884, Mr. Poulsson was married at Kil- bourn, Wisconsin, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Halberson, and they have four children: Mrs. Eleanor Elizabeth Best, born in 1886, at Kilbourn, Wisconsin, and now a resident of Chicago, Illinois, with one son, William Poulsson Best; Olive Georgia, born in Mayville, North Dakota, and now the wife of Lyle K. Miller, of Fort Benton; Miss Lillian, born in 1891, at Mayville, an able young business woman, who is her father's assist- ant; and Miss Marguerite, born in 1896, at Mayville, and now a student of the Fort Benton high school.

ROBERT LEE TAFT. Wide-awake and enterprising, Robert Lee Taft has achieved distinction in the financial circles of Teton county, being widely and favorably known as a director and the cashier of the First National Bank of Cut Bank, a position which he has filled most efficiently and satisfactorily for upwards of three years. He was born in Northfield, Minnesota, October 22, 1882, and was there brought up and edu- cated.

His father, Charles A. Taft, a native of the Empire state, followed the trend of civilization westward when young, locating in Rice county, Minnesota, near North- field, in the early forties. He was for many years one of the most successful and respected farmers of that locality. Having acquired a competency in his agri- cultural labors, he is now living retired in Montana, near Cut Bank. His wife, whose maiden name was Rosalia E. Bowe, was born, reared, and married in Ohio, where her birth occurred about 1842, in the same year that her husband was born. Of their union, eight children have been born, six sons and two daugh- ters, as follows : Ernest R., Guy H., Charles H., Severnius K., Robert L., Ara B., Mrs. Sylvia R. Aker- man, and Mrs. Grant Slocum.

Completing his early education in the public schools, R. L. Taft was for two and one-half years a telegraph operator at a small station on the Northern Pacific Railway. Going then to North Dakota, he was for two years assistant cashier of the National Bank at Mc- Henry, North Dakota, the ensuing year he was em- ployed in a bank at Kensal, that state; and the next three years was cashier of a banking institution in Columbus, North Dakota. Coming from there to Mon- tana in 1909, Mr. Taft has since been cashier, and one

of the directors of the First National Bank of Cut Bank, a position of trust and responsibility that he is filling with credit to himself, and to the entire satis- faction of all concerned. He is prominent and popular both in business and social affairs, and delights in athletic sports of all kinds.

Fraternally Mr. Taft is a member of Cut Bank Lodge, No. 82, Ancient, Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and is now serving as its secretary; and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Republican in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion.

Mr. Taft married, January 1, 1910, Ragna Kragerud, of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, and they have one child, Helen Ruth Taft, whose birth occurred January 22, 19II.

HENRY A. DYKE, the secretary-treasurer and man- ager of the Montana Culvert Company, was born in Stowe, Vermont, October 7, 1854. While he was still an infant, his parents moved to Wisconsin where they lived until he was about twenty-one years of age.

Then he went on the road as a commercial salesman and special representative of the Osborne Harvester Company. He traveled all over these United States, Canada, England, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries, looking after foreign agencies of the com- pany.

He continued in this capacity for six years, and then he made a connection with a wholesale house in Omaha where he had charge of the credit department. From here he went to Chicago and took a position as manager and secretary of a large corporation. After this he fol- lowed various occupations, chiefly as special represen- tative of eastern corporations.

He then came west and made his headquarters at Port- land and Spokane. His business there brought him into Montana and that is how he became a permanent resident of the state.

Mr. Dyke came to Missoula in 1909 and organized the Montana Culvert Company, of which he is secre- tary, treasurer and manager. It is the only institution of its kind in the state and operates over a vast territory. This great company was built up entirely through Mr. Dyke's personal efforts.

Mr. Dyke's early education was obtained in the dis- trict school in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, the high school at Berlin, Wisconsin, and finally at a business college at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

From his earliest years Mr. Dyke was never afraid to work and owes his business in life to his own energy and enterprise. When he was a boy of twelve years he earned two dollars a day by following a cradler in the harvest field. After this he learned the painters' trade and confined his efforts to scenery and high class fancy work. He followed this trade successfully until he was twenty-one years of age when he was forced to quit on account of ill health.

In religion M. Dyke has a leaning toward the Bap- tist church. He is a member of various organizations. He belongs to the Elks, he is a Mason and has filled every office in this organization. He is also a Knight of Pythias and has filled various offices in this lodge.

He is a Republican and takes an exceedingly active part in political affairs, in fact he is one of the party fighters.

Mr. Dyke is a baseball fan and never fails to root for his favorite team. He likes outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing, and is an intense lover of horses. He says: "Next to home and family, give me a good horse." He takes great pleasure in reading, theatricals and music.

Mr. Dyke is married and has one daughter, Hazel Fae, in whom he takes great pride. She is, a graduate of the Spokane high school and also of the sisters' academy at Missoula. She now resides at Spokane where she is a student of the academy. She won the first

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

A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 150

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