A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 158

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

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On May 7. 1901, Mr. Wiprud married Miss Caroline Korum at Valley City, North Dakota. She is a daugh- ter of Arne Korum of Brandon, Minnesota. Six sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wiprud. They are: Arthur, Franklin, Roy Bismarck, Thomas Stener, Glen Benjamin and William Julius.

JOHN W. COBURN. An active and able member of the Montana bar, John W. Coburn has made a note- worthy record in his professional life . for so young a man, conducting the important cases of which he has had charge with ability and skill, and in a manner reflecting great credit upon himself, proving that the confidence reposed in his power was not unworthily bestowed. A native of Cherokee county, Iowa, he was horn. October 24, 1883, in Marcus, coming from sub- stantial and honored New England ancestry.

His father, G. F. Coburn, was born in Vermont, and among its rugged hills spent his youthful days. He subsequently spent a little while in Maine, but did not care to make that his permanent home. In 1878, at the age of twenty-one years, he married, and im-

mediately started with his bride for Iowa, which was then considered the "far west." He took up land, and engaged in general farming, and is still an honored and respected resident of Marcus. He married Mary Coburn who was born in New York state in 1857, the year of his birth, and into their household eight children have been born, five of whom are still living, as follows : Arthur A., engaged in farming in Iowa; Mrs. Pearl Crocker, of Iowa; John W., the subject of this brief sketch; Alva, an Iowa farmer; and Frances.

Acquiring his elementary education in the public schools of Marcus, John W. Coburn subsequently attended the Buena Vista College, after which he entered the law department of the state university, in Iowa, where he was graduated with the class of 1909. Locating at Cherokee, Iowa, in June, 1909, he remained there until March, 1910. The following summer Mr. Coburn went to South Dakota in search of a favorable opening, but not pleased with the outlook in that state he came on to Montana, locating at Cut Bank, a for- tunate step in his career, which he has never had cause to regret. As an attorney he has been successful from the start, through his own merits having won an assured position among the leading men of his profession in this section of the county, a county that he has every reason to believe is one of the very best in the state. A man of good business ability, Mr. Coburn has acquired considerable property, owning a homestead ranch.

Mr. Coburn married, June 29, 1910, in Cut Bank, Miss Marian Matby, a cultured and accomplished young woman, and their home is indeed a center of social activity. Politically, a Republican, Mr. Coburn, while living in Iowa, was clerk in the Iowa house of repre- sentatives, in 1904, 1906, and 1908. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mrs. Coburn also belongs.

DONALD A. CRITES. Since March, 1912, Donald A. Crites, who resides at Gildford, Montana, has been incumbent of the office of United States commissioner. He is most successfully engaged in the real-estate, insurance and collection business at Gildford, and in that connection is associated with Frank W. Lurcotte. He is possessed of remarkable executive ability and the success he has achieved in life may be traced to his own well directed endeavors. He is the owner of a fine homestead situated not far distant from Gildford and has been instrumental in promoting a number of business enterprises of local importance in this city.

At Drayton, in the province of Ontario, Canada, October 28, 1863, occurred the birth of Donald Angus Crites, who is a son of William David and Ann (Rus- ton) Crites, the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the latter of whom is a native of Ontario, Canada. The father removed from his native state to Canada in the early '6os and for a number of years was engaged in agricultural pursuits in the vicinity of Drayton, Ontario. In 1864 the family re- moved to Akron, Ohio, and thence near Kankakee, Illinois. In 1897 settlement was made in Bottineau county, North Dakota, and there the home was main- tained on a farm until 1910, when removal was made to Montana. William David Crites is a carpenter by trade but most of his active career has been devoted to farming enterprises. Since coming to Montana lie has homesteaded a piece of land in Hill county and he is engaged in the meat business at Gildford. His youngest son, Jonathan R., is associated with him in the conduct of the meat market. Mr. and Mrs. Crites became the parents of eight children, all of whom are living, in 1912, the subject of this review having been the first in order of birth.

Donald Angus Crites was educated in the public schools of Illinois, being graduated in the high school at Chebanse, that state, as a member of the class of 1875. He remained on the home farm with his parents

D. a. Crites.

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until he had reached his legal majority and then re- moved to North Dakota, where he pre-empted a grant of land in Bottineau county. He was engaged in di- versified agriculture and stock-raising in Bottineau county for a period of twenty-five years and during that time served as deputy sheriff of the county and as president of the board of the village of Willow City. When that village was incorporated as a city he served for one term as mayor and accomplished a great deal in the way of municipal reform. He came to Montana February 17, 1910, and located at Gild- ford, where he assumed charge of Carl Shaw's lumber business as manager. One year later he became assist- ant cashier in the Citizens' Bank of Gildford, retaining that position for six months, at the end of which he formed a partnership with Hiram Christianson to con- duct a hay, feed and sale business. In October, 1911, he entered into a partnership alliance with Frank W. Lurcotte to handle real estate, insurance and collec- tions. In March, 1912, he was appointed United States commissioner, a position he is particularly well fitted for. Mr. Crites has a homestead comprising three hun- dred and twenty acres, the same being located thirteen miles north of Gildford. He was an active factor in the organization of Hill county and has figured prom- inently in promoting various industries which have tended to boost the town to an appreciable degree.

In politics Mr. Crites is an uncompromising Repub- lican and he is an active factor in promoting the welfare of that organization. While a resident of North Da- kota he was urged to become candidate for the office of state senator on several occasions but refused to do so. In a fraternal way he is a valued member of Willow Lodge No. 47, Free & Accepted Masons, at Willow City, North Dakota, and he was worshipful master of that lodge for two terms. He is likewise affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America at Willow City. Mr. Crites is an intensely energetic man and one whose business methods have ever been above all reproach.

December 1, 1888, in Bottineau county, North Dakota, Mr. Crites married Miss Sarah Simms, a daughter of Thomas Simms, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Crites have three children,-Minnie is a popular and successful teacher in the public schools of Gildford, Montana; George Maxwell Crites is associated with his father in business; and Francis M. is a student in the high school at Gildford, Montana. In their religious faith the family are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

HENRY PAUL SAMUELL, attorney-at-law, Three Forks, Montana, was born in Mason county, Illinois, October 2, 1886. There he resided until about fourteen years of age and then, with his parents, removed to Jackson- ville, in the same state, where they lived for some six years. During their residence in the latter place he finished his public school education and following upon that entered Whipple Academy, from which insti- tution he was in due time graduated. Subsequent to that he matriculated in the Illinois College at Jackson- ville, where he remained for one year. Going then to Chicago, he accepted a position with the National India Rubber Company, and after a twelvemonth in that connection be entered the Illinois Wesleyan Univers- ity at Bloomington, Illinois, where he pursued his studies preparatory to the law and from which he received his degree. Mr. Samuell worked his own way through college and while at Bloomington he acted as advertising manager of the Daily Pantagraph, the old- est newspaper in the state of Illinois. After graduating with the degree of LL. B., Mr. Samuell hearkened to a long cherished ambition and wended his way to the far West, coming at once to Three Forks and here hanging out his shingle. The date of his arrival was August, IQ10, and in that short time of his residence here he has

won the sincerest liking and regard of the citizens, who recognize his signal worth and unusual ability.

Mr. Samuell is the son of H. B. Samuell, who like- wise is a native son of the state of Illinois. After liv- ing in that state nearly all his life, his son's eloquent praise of Montana so impressed him that he himself came in 1911, and this highly respected gentleman and his wife are now prominent residents of Wheaton, in the vicinity of which he has extensive ranching interests. Mr. Samuell, the elder, was for many years an agricul- turist, but in 1894 abandoned that industry and engaged in the mercantile field until 1896. In that year he was elected circuit clerk of Mason county and held that office until 1900, when he was appointed by Governor Yates chief clerk and assistant superintendent of the Illinois School for the Deaf at Jacksonville. After a year he was transferred to the Illinois Central Hos- pital for the Insane, where he acted as assistant super- intendent and at the same time was a member of the personal staff of the governor. In 1911 he retired and came to Montana. He was married in Illinois, the maiden name of his wife having been Sarah A. Estep. Henry Paul is the youngest of the four children of the Samuell family.

Mr. Samuell is a stalwart supporter of the men and measures of the Grand Old Party, in whose history and traditions he takes great interest and pride. He is by no means a passive partisan, but is a real fighter and at the present time is one of the county committeemen. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons, and in religious convictions he has inclinations towards the Baptist teachings. While in college he was a member of the National Greek letter fraternity, Sigma Chi, one of the strongest student organizations in the United States. He is associated with the Gallatin Valley Club at Boze man. He is exceedingly fond of football and while in college was for three years a player on the 'varsity eleven.

He is fond of reading. In this connection let it be stated that his fine office possesses one of the well chosen and comprehensive law libraries of the county. In 1911 Mr. Samuell had the honor of being elected secretary of the Eastern Montana Bar Association, an unusual distinction for so young a representative of the pro- fession. He has also served as secretary of the Three Forks Commercial Club. It is, in fact, safe to say that the county has no more prominent and popular young citizen.

Says Mr. Samuell: "The east has lost its charms for me. I am in love with Montana, because it offers brighter opportunities for energetic people than any other state. I never intend permanently to leave the state."

Mr. Samuell has not yet joined the ranks of the benedicts.

W. H. GRAY. In every profession there may be found men who have risen above their fellows and are acknowledged leaders, some on account of their long membership, others by proficiency in their calling and still others who have gained prestige for both reasons. In the last-named class stands W. H. Gray, of Libby, president of the Libby school board and of the Lincoln County Abstract Company, and one of the leading legists of his part of the state. Coming to this city in 1910, with many years of experience in law and juris- prudence, he gained instant recognition as an attorney of ability and a business man of integrity, a reputation he has fully maintained to the present time. Mr. Gray was born in Louisa county, Iowa, April 22, 1854, and is a son of William and Sarah (Stronach) Gray.

William Gray was born in England, in 1824, and was eight years of age when he came to the United States. Landing at Baltimore, Maryland, he made his way to Columbus, Ohio, where he started across the country in a wagon for Iowa, and after a long journey reached

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Louisa county, where the remainder of his life was spent in agricultural pursuits, his death occurring in 1888, when he was sixty-four years of age. His wife, a native of Maryland, came to lowa in young woman- hood, and was married to Mr. Gray in 1845. Her death occurred in Iowa in August, 1909, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years.

As a youth W. H. Gray attended the district schools of Iowa, and during the summer months assisted his father in the work of the home farm. The life of an agriculturist, however, did not appeal to the youth, who had his mind set on a professional career, and he accord- ingly entered the law department of the University of Iowa, where he graduated and received his degree in 1876. He at once entered upon the practice of his pro- fession at Columbus Junction, Iowa, that city being his field of endeavor until 1901, when he went to Des Moines. In 1903 he removed to Browerville, Minnesota, removing to Long Prairie, Minnesota, in 1906, and there continued in practice until 1910, which year saw his advent in Libby. Since that time Mr. Gray has built up a large professional business, and has been connected with some of the leading cases tried before the Lincoln county courts. He was the founder of the Lincoln County Abstract Company, of which he is president, Mrs. Gray being treasurer and Morris D. Rowland, vice- president and Mrs. M. D. Rowland secretary. He is at this time president of the Libby Commercial Club, and foremost in everything that promises to be of benefit to this rapidly-advancing community. Politically a Repub- lican, he is secretary of the county Republican central committee and serves as president of the Libby school board, and while a resident of Iowa served for a score of years as a member of the school board and for six- teen years as justice of the peace. Fraternally he is a blue lodge Mason, and his religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Gray was married (first) to Miss Mary Celia Gray, September 19, 1879, at Grandview, Iowa, who died April 1, 1882, at Grandview and was buried there, hav- ing been the mother of one child: Verna C., who mar- ried Mr. Wilcox, the principal druggist of Montrose, Iowa, and has four children. Mr. Gray's second mar- riage occurred May 29, 1883, when he was united with Miss Letitia Northey, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, and they have had two children: Lula H., born in August, 1892, at Columbus Junction, lowa, and now a teacher in the public schools of Libby; and Charles N., born in August, 1898, who attends the Libby schools. The Gray home in Libby is one of the modern residences of the city, and is a center of culture and refinement. Mr. Gray is known as a man of the strictest integrity in business matters, and as a lawyer who adheres to the ethics of his profession. Although he has not been a resident of Libby for a very long period he has demonstrated him- self a public-spirited citizen, and as such is welcomed into the circle of men who are endeavoring to ad- vance their community along the lines of education, morality and good citizenship.

DR. HENRY H. HALL. In May of 1910, Dr. Henry Hall first came to Three Forks, Montana. He arrived just as the town was being laid out and incorporated, thus becoming one of her first physicians in point of time as well as from a professional standpoint. His practice expanded with the town, whose growth has been almost phenomenal, her records now showing a population of fifteen thousand inhabitants. The future holds promise of realized ambitions both for the town herself and for the pioneer physician whose life is devoted to the service of her and her people.

Doctor Hall was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, on the twentieth day of September, 1879. His early schooling was received at Big Rapids, Michigan, after which he attended, for three years, Ferris Insti- tute, Chicago, a private institution. Upon completing

his course at this institution, he accepted a position with Reid, Murdoch & Company, wholesale grocers of Chicago, remaining with the house for three years before going to St. Paul, where, in 1900, he was called by the Northwestern Adjustment & Liability Com- pany. During the eight years that he continued in their employ he began, in a desultory fashion, his first study of the science of medicine. For the two and a half years that followed he was an employe of the St. Paul Loan & Collection Company. His evenings were still spent in the perusal of the texts which represented to him his life's vocation. This time he studied with more system, his work being under the direct auspices of the Minnesota State University at Minneapolis. After completing the required work he served for two years as interne in the city and county hospital of Minneapo- lis and one year in the same capacity at the St. Mary's Hospital, Superior, Wisconsin. In the autumn of 1909 he began the regular practice of medicine in Superior. While he met with deserved success for so young a physician he felt that the opportunities for a career of marked prominence would be greater in the newer cities of the west, hence he disposed of his established practice to begin again in Three Forks with the birth of the town itself. Thus far he has certainly had no cause to regret his decision or question his early judg- ment.

While still in St. Paul, Doctor Hall was married to Miss Louise E. Ballinger of that city. They are the proud parents of an infant son whom they call Homer B. Hall.

The doctor, unlike most men of his profession, is very active in the fraternal circles of his little city. He is a member of the blue lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, the Order of Moose, the Knights of Pythias, the Foresters and the Modern Brotherhood of American Samaritans.

Dr. Henry Hall is the son of Charles W. Hall, who was himself born in St. Lawrence county, New York. The senior Mr. Hall had been, in his younger life, active in the local politics of his community, serving his county and city in several offices. He is now a re- tired farmer and land holder in more than comfortable circumstances. His wife, the mother of the young doctor, was, before her marriage, Mary Stockwell, a native of Holland. She came with her parents to America when fourteen years of age. She died in her home in St. Lawrence county, New York, on the first day of April, 1893, leaving motherless a family of nine children, most of whom had reached their maturity. Clarissa Hall, the oldest daughter, is now married and living in Munson, Michigan. Everett, the first born of the sons, is an artist in Lemon, South Dakota. Lottie is Mrs. B. J. Hunt of Grand Rapids, Michigan, while Gertrude is the wife of B. R. Grant, a cousin of our late warrior and president of the same name. Laura resides in Michigan as Mrs. Charles Carter. The youngest boy, Ed, lives in Fargo, North Dakota, as does likewise his sister Jennie, Mrs. O. S. Clark. Anna, the young- est daughter, married Mr. C. J. Blackford of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

It is, certainly, an unusual decree of Fate to permit so large a family to remain unbroken through so many years and perhaps more remarkable yet that of all the nine, not one has chosen for himself a life of celibacy.

NATHAN HART. One of the first merchants and now the largest dealer in hardware and implements at Pol- son, Mr. Hart has been a pioneer at several places in the West, and has the spirit of enterprise which ventures for fortune in new places and in advance of the full tide of settlement. He has spent an active and prosperous career of more than a quarter century in the West and Northwest.

Nathan Hart was born in Highland county, Ohio,

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April 28, 1858. His father was James Hart, a native of Ohio and a farmer, whose death occurred in 1884 at the age of sixty-five. The mother was Jemima (Coulter) Hart, also a native of Ohio, and her death occurred in 1865. Of the four children Nathan was the youngest. He was educated in the country schools of his native county up to the age of eighteen, and was engaged in farming until he was twenty-five. He re- sided for a time near Decatur, Illinois, and in Iowa, and in 1886 became the pioneer merchant at Alliance, Nebraska, now a thriving city but then just beginning its growth. His career as merchant there continued fifteen years, and he was very successful. After selling out his interests he removed to the Black Hills district of South Dakota, residing at Lead, where he engaged in mining up to February, 1910. He was a member of the Hidden Treasure Mining Company, being manager of the company six years, and was fairly successful as a miner.

In 1910 Mr. Hart located at Polson, where he bought a lot on Main street, erected a store building 25 by 80 feet, with an adjoining two-story building 25 by 140, and opened the third hardware and general implement business in the town. At the present time he is the largest dealer in these lines in this county. Mr. Hart also owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres across the river from Polson, where he engaged in farm- ing and stock raising.

In the different communities where he has been a resi- dent Mr. Hart has taken an active part in the activities for progress and welfare. He served as treasurer of the Polson Chamber of Commerce two years until the pressure of business compelled him to resign. He is a member of the Elks Club at Kalispell and the Knights of Pythias at Alliance, Nebraska, and is Repub- lican in politics.

Mr. Hart was married at Lincoln, Nebraska, March 27, 1891, to Miss Josie Barry, a native of Wisconsin and daughter of Lawrence Barry. They are the par- ents of three children: Ray D. is associated with his father in business; Gertrude Beatrice and Jemima Wini- fred are the two daughters, both at home.

ISAAC S. MARTINE. The man of initiative is he who combines with a capacity for hard work an indomitable will and a determination to succeed. He whose name forms the caption for this review is a self-made man in the most significant sense of the word for no one helped him in a financial way and he is largely self- educated. He is most successfully engaged in the real- estate business at Conrad, in Teton county, Montana, and at the present time, in 1912, is the popular and effi- cient incumbent of the office of alderman.

A native of Brown county, Minnesota, Isaac S. Mar- tine was born April 20, 1876, and he is a son of Isaac S. and Elizabeth (Werring) Martine, the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the lat- ter in Minnesota. The father was a gallant soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted as a private in Company G, Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, shortly after the inception of the war. He was in the service of the Union for three years, at the expiration of which he settled in Minnesota, where he was engaged in farming operations during the remainder of his lifetime. He was summoned to the great beyond in 1897, at the age of seventy-one years, and his cherished and devoted wife, who still survives him, is living on the old homestead farm in Brown county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Mar- tine became the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this review was the youngest in order of birth.

Isaac S. Martine, of this notice, was educated in the public schools of his native place and in 1898 he was graduated in the Sleepy Eye (Minn.) high school. He remained at home on the farm with his mother until

1900, when he went to Kenmore, North Dakota, where he was engaged in the implement business for the en- suing five years. He was decidedly successful in a business way at Kenmore but in 1905, when the town was flooded by the river, he practically lost everything he had. In the summer of that year he went to Idaho, where he taught school for four and a half years, dur- ing which time he managed to save up a neat little sum of money. In 1910 he came to Conrad, Montana, arriv- ing here in the fall of that year, and he immediately opened up a real-estate office and began to invest and trade in city and farming property. He is now one of the leading real-estate men in Conrad, where his business dealings have ever been characterized by fair and honorable methods and where he is held in high esteem by all with whom he has come in contact. He is a stalwart Republican in his political convictions and was honored by his fellow citizens with election to representation in the city council. He is a member from the First ward and his term of office does not ex- pire until 1913. He is likewise incumbent of the office of deputy county assessor and has charge of the assess- ments at Conrad. He is a decidedly active worker in political and civic affairs. In a fraternal way Mr. Mar- tine is affiliated with Conrad Lodge, No. 80, Free and Accepted Masons, and he is likewise connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Knights of the Maccabees.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 158

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