A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 16

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

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On the 23d of February, 1905, at Anaconda, Mr. Hogan was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hagerty, a daughter of Dennis and Mary Hagerty, of Anaconda. Three sons have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hogan-John B., now in school, and James E. and Bartholomew D., who are not yet of school age.

FRANK WALKER. One of the well-known business men of Butte whose success in life has been the result of his own efforts entirely, beginning life's battle with practically nothing but his energy and ambition, he has done well whatever he has undertaken, whether as em- ploye or employer. Mr. Walker was born at Kern- ville, Kern county, California, September 3, 1863, and is a son of George P. and Amanda M. (Warden) Walker, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Texas. George P. Walker passed away in San Diego county, California, and his widow is now a resident of Los Angeles.

Frank Walker was the second in order of birth of his parents' nine children, and his education was secured in the schools of San Bernardino county. The greater part of his tuition, however, was obtained in the school of hard work, as at the age of thirteen years he was compelled to give up his studies and start to do his share in supporting the family, and even before this age he was kept out of school a great portion of the time. After several years spent in farming, Mr. Walker turned his attention to mining, and when sixteen years old was employed in the mines of San Bernardino county, where he continued to be engaged for a few years. On March 8, 1887, he came to Butte, and while residing here was employed in the mines until Novem- ber, 1895, prior to which time, however, and while em- ployed in the mines, he was engaged in the retail liquor business at Burlington, Montana, about three and one- half miles west of the town, near the Blue Bird mine, in which he had been first employed on coming to Butte. In 1889 Mr. Walker disposed of this business and pur-

chased the establishment of Costello & Rossiter, then located at No. 17 North Main street, but in the follow- ing February sold out and returned to the mines. For some time he was engaged in leasing and developing mining properties, but these were never of a very profit- able nature, and then for five years he was employed as a bartender for A. Wetzstein and King & Lowry. On March 1, 1901, Mr. Walker established himself in the retail liquor business at 12 West Park street, where he has since remained, and where he has built up the leading business of its kind in Butte, and one of the best known buffets in the northwest. No business house of this character anywhere has more modern equip- ment or is conducted on a more business-like and sys- tematic plan. Doing a business of more than $100,000 per year, carrying a stock of $25,000, with fixtures cost- ing upwards of $20,000, and employing fourteen men, are figures applicable to this business, which was started but a little more than a decade ago on a capital of $750.

In the management of his business Mr. Walker gives the closest attention to details, and never overlooks an opportunity to add to the attractiveness of his place or to improve the quality of his merchandise. He is the type of man who would have succeeded in any business he undertook, for being resourceful and original he has introduced a number of innovations that have not only proven popular, but have done much to dignify his busi- ness. His place of business is one of the show places of Butte. Here may be found one of the finest collec- tions of specimens of the taxidermist's art, minerals and curios in the United States, including finely mounted heads of elk, moose, mountain goats, eagles, etc., many of which have succumbed to Mr. Walker's prowess as a hunter.

The idea of having a ladies' day was original with Mr. Walker, and the great success of this innovation was shown when for several hours in the afternoon his store was open only to ladies, and nearly one thousand of the fair sex took advantage of the opportunity to view the magnificent collection referred to. He is the owner of a ranch of 6,000 acres, located near White Sulphur Springs, in Meagher county, Montana, which he devotes to the raising of hay and wheat, and in addi- tion has various city realty holdings, his residence at 410 West Granite street being one of the attractive residence properties of the city. From time to time he has interested himself in various business enterprises, and is considered a man of great business sagacity and absolute integrity.

In November, 1892, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Bertha M. Fleming, daughter of A. C. Fleming, a na- tive of New York state, who has been a resident of Butte since 1885 and is engaged in carpentry. Mrs. Walker's mother is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have had one child, Georgie P., born at Butte, August 8, 1893. Fraternally Mr. Walker is an Elk and an Eagle and is very popular with the members of the local lodges of these orders. In the life of this gentleman there is presented a lesson for the youth of today; something to be found in it of a nature encouraging to the young aspirant who without friends or fortune is struggling to overcome obstacles in his efforts to acquire a comfortable competence. Hard, persistent, untiring labor, directed along legitimate channels is bound to bring success, and this fact has been demon- strated in no better way than in the life of Mr. Walker.

ROBERT E. HAMMOND. An able lawyer and influen- tial citizen, Robert E. Hammond has been identified with Montana for a quarter century and for the past ten years has had his office and residence in the city of Havre. Like many successful men, he began life as a school teacher, was a teacher in Montana during

Franto Hacker

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the territorial period, and by individual ability and a fine integrity has attained his prominence.

Mr. Hammond was born in Boyd county, Kentucky, September 17, 1859, attended the public schools there, and then began teaching in his native county. In 1887 he came out to Montana and continued his work of teaching in this state. He then took up the reading of law with one of the well-known legal firms of Kali- spell, and was admitted to the bar in that city in 1902 and began his practice there. The following year he located in Havre, and has since acquired a generous share of the legal business of this city and vicinity. Mr. Hammond has the distinction of having been a member of the constitutional convention which framed the first organic law for the state of Montana in 1889. He represented Jefferson county in that body.

Mr. Hammond's father was Robert Hammond, a Virginian by birth, who came over the mountains into Kentucky and was connected with the iron industry there. He was born in 1822 and died in 1900 at Boulder, Montana, having come to this state during his later years. The mother was Rebecca (Gard) Hammond, a native of Pennsylvania who moved with her parents in Kentucky, where she was married. She died in 1881 in Ohio, where she is buried.

Robert E. Hammond was married at Radersburgh, Montana, June 12, 1889, to Miss Ella Ritchart, daugh- ter of John Ritchart, of Radersburgh. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are the parents of two children: Lillian, who was born at Radersburgh, July 7, 1890, is a grad- uate of the Hamline University; Maurice Eugene, who was born at Kalispell, March 18, 1903, is attending school at Havre.

Mr. Hammond is a member of the Masonic blue lodge at Kalispell. In politics he is Republican, and his church is the Methodist. During the busy years of his career in this state he has always been very fond of outdoor life, especially of hunting and fish- ing. He has many warm friends in different parts of the state, and has an unwavering affection for Montana and its welfare.

WILLIAM B. PYPER. The present United States Com- missioner at Havre, William B. Pyper, became a resi- dent of Montana while it was yet a territory, and has been identified with business and public affairs for many years. Born in Ontario, Canada, August 6, 1869, he was a son of George A. and Edith C. (Ball) Pyper, his paternal ancestry being Scotch, and his forefathers on his mother's side were Hollanders who had emigrated to America about the time of the "Mayflower" voyages. George A. Pyper, the father, now deceased, was born in Ontario, was a successful merchant and took an active part in political and public life. The mother, who was born in Ontario, where she still resides, is a descendant of the old Loyalist stock whose members received grants to lands in America from the crown, and about the time of the Revolution moved from the colonies to Canada.

Judge Pyper, the second of three children, attended the public schools of Woodstock, Ontario, until he was four- teen years old. From that time forward he has de- pended on his own resources for his advancement in life. On leaving school he was apprenticed to the drug- gist's trade, and served an apprenticeship of four years in Woodstock. In March, 1888, he came to the United States, first locating in St. Paul, but in the following September became a resident of Montana, which has been his permanent home, and the state above all others to which he gives his full loyalty. During the first year he was manager of the drug department for Churchill & Webster at Great Falls, and then became connected with a drug house in Missoula. In January, 1899, after having spent some time in several towns and cities of this state, he came to Havre, and was first employed as clerk in the store of A. J. Broadwater and H. W. String- fellow, but in January, 1902, established a business of

his own in this city. In 1904 Judge Knowles appointed Mr. Pyper to the office of United States commissioner, and at the time of taking up the duties of this position he sold his store, and has since given practically all his time and ability to the office and other places of public honor and responsibility. In April, 1904, he was elected police magistrate of Havre, and the next fall was elected justice of the peace, an office to which he has been re- elected and fills at the present time. In 1902 he also was county coroner.

As one of the leading Republicans in this section of Montana, Judge Pyper for the past twelve years has taken an active part in the county and state conventions, and for five years was chairman of the Chouteau county central committee. He is a citizen whose work and influence may always be counted upon to advance the best interests of his home city and state. For the past seven years he has been secretary of the Havre Cham- ber of Commerce. In fraternal affairs he was first master of Havre Lodge No. 55, A. F. & A. M., and is past grand patron of the Eastern Star in Montana. He was one of the organizers and has held office in the Havre Lodge of Elks, and is worthy president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church. Judge Pyper is owner of a stock ranch in Hill county, where he indulges his tastes for good stock and raises only blooded horses.

At Havre on July 8, 1908, he was united in marriage to Miss May R. Sanderson, daughter of George T. Sanderson, a prominent citizen of Havre. Mr. and Mrs. Pyper are the parents of one child, Edith M., who was born in Havre, February 17, 19II.

GEORGE T. SANDERSON. A resident of Montana for a quarter of a century and long prominent in public and business life at Havre, George T. Sanderson is one of the citizens who have done much for the development of this state since its admission to the Union. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Septem- ber 25, 1856. His father, John C. Sanderson, who was born in Ontario in 1830 and is still active in busi- ness, running a lumber yard at Jarvis, Ontario, spent most of his career as a railway builder. He was for a number of years superintendent of construction for the Great Western and for other roads between Niagara Falls and Winsdor. He married Mary Taylor, who was born in Ireland in 1833 and died at Jarvis in November, 1893. She came to America when a young girl.

George T. Sanderson, the oldest of their nine chil- dren, received his early education in the public schools at Galt, Ontario, where he spent most of his youth. He began the serious endeavors of life when still a boy, and has been the architect of his own prosperous career. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to learn the machinist's trade, spending four years with Goldie, McColloch & Company at Galt, after which he took a business course in a commercial college of London, Ontario. In 1879 he began learning loco- motive works at Hamilton, and thence came west to Winnipeg as machinist and locomotive foreman in the service of the Canadian Pacific. With that rail- road he spent six and a half years, until the spring of 1887, when he became master mechanic on the Mon- tana division of the Great Northern. For four years his residence was at Fort Assiniboine, but since 1891 he has made his home in Havre. Mr. Sanderson continued in the railway service in the responsible post of master mechanic until November, 1899, since which time he has been engaged in the land business.

Mr. Sanderson's name is often mentioned in the history of his home city. He was one of the first public school trustees of the town, and when the city was incorporated in 1892 he was one of the first alder- men elected to the council. He also served as mayor during 1896-97, and in April, 1912, was again elected

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alderman. He was vice president of the Havre Com- mercial Company seven years, is an active member of the Havre Commercial Club, and has been especially instrumental in bringing people to Hill company and establishing them on government lands. His fraternal associations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Elks.

Mr. Sanderson was married at Preston, Ontario, in 1882, to Miss Mary Smith, a native of Galt. They are the parents of three children: Mae is the wife of Judge W. B. Pyper, of Havre; Georgiana is the wife of Dr. J. S. Almas, of Havre; and John is the present assistant city engineer of Havre.

ANTHONY SHOVLIN. At the time of his death, which occurred on the gth of December, 1911, Anthony Shov- lin was the efficient and popular incumbent of the important office of treasurer of Silver Bow county, and the fact that he was called upon to serve in this fiscal office stands in significant evidence of the con- fidence reposed in him by the people of the county. He had maintained his home in the city of Butte for more than a quarter of a century, and during the major part of this period he was actively identi- fied with mining operations. He was a man who won for himself an appreciable success as a member of the world's noble army of productive workers, and his strong personality and admirable traits of char- acter gave to him secure vantage ground in the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow men. His was a staunch heart and one that pulsed in sympathy with those upon whom the burden of life rested more heavily than in justice due. His was an alert mentality, and he had fine powers of leadership in thought and action. His was an integrity of purpose that never permitted any compromise for the sake of personal expediency, and, all in all, he was a true man and one who ac- counted well to the world in service to the fullest measure of his abilities and powers. He had been in somewhat impaired health for several years before his worthy life came to an end, and the immediate cause of his death was a stroke of paralysis.

A scion of the staunchest of Irish stock, Mr. Shov- lin was proud to claim the fair old Emerald Isle as the place of his nativity. He came to America when a young man, to win for himself such success as lay within his powers of achievement, and he was one of the honored and representative citizens of the Mon- tana metropolis at the time of his demise. Mr. Shov- lin was born in County Donegal, Ireland, on the 4th of March, 1864, and was a son of Edward and Ellen (McNelis) Shovlin, both of whom still reside in that county,-venerable in years and honored by all who know them. The father, who is now an octogenarian, devoted his active career to agricultural pursuits and is now living retired in the enjoyment of the rewards of former years of earnest toil and endeavor. He came to America in 1880, his wife remaining in Ire- land, and here he remained for two years, at the ex- piration of which the lure of his native land proved sufficient to attract him again to its gracious bor- ders. Both are devout communicants of the Catho- lic church, in the faith of which they carefully reared their children, of whom two sons and two daugh- ters still reside in Ireland, and the other surviving children are Mrs. Patrick O'Donnell, of New York, and Mrs. Patrick Craig, who maintains her home in Butte, Montana.

Anthony Shovlin was reared to the sturdy disci- pline of the home farm and obtained his early edu- cational discipline in the schools of his native county. He remained in Ireland until he had attained to his legal majority, when, in 1884. he severed the home ties and came to the United States. He soon made his way to Arizona, where he remained about two years, and thereafter he was a resident of Nevada

for a short period. In 1887 he came to Montana and located in Butte, which city continued to be his home until his death and in which his activities were prin- cipally in connection with the mining industry. De- pendent upon his own resources, his sterling char- acter and strong mentality proved adequate to en- able him to make substantial advancement. He was one of the world's workers and there was naught of apathy or indolence in his career.

Well fortified in his convictions as to matters of public import, and essentially loyal and progressive as a citizen, Mr. Shovlin took an active part in poli- tical affairs in his home city and county and gave effective service in behalf of the cause of the Demo- cratic party, of which he was a stalwart adherent. On the 6th of November, Ig10, he was elected treas- urer of Silver Bow county, for a term of two years, and he was giving a most careful and admirable ad- ministration of the affairs of this important fiscal office at the time of his death, which occurred about nine months after he assumed the duties of the posi- tion. In an article written by the city attorney of Butte and published in the Butte Socialist on the day of the death of Mr. Shovlin, appeared the following significant statement: "In all of the cities and counties of Montana there is one treasurer who. is getting interest for his employer, the people, on its money. A working-man treasurer, Anthony Shovlin has a regular interest account in the States Savings Bank, and at the end of each quarter the interest on Butte's money is turned into Butte's treasury."

Soon after his arrival in Butte Mr. Shovlin became a prominent and influential factor in organized-labor circles, and he was a charter member of the local Knights of Labor. He was very active in the affairs of the Miners' Union and served as secretary of the local organization of the same in 1898-9. For sev- eral years thereafter he was the incumbent of the of- fice of tax collector, under the regime of James Meag- her as county treasurer, and he also served several terms as justice of the peace in South Butte. He was a communicant of the Catholic church and was a prominent and honored member of the local body of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was held in unqualified esteem in the city that so long represented his home, was kindly, companionable and generous and won staunch friends in all classes. He never married. His funeral was held from the Church of the Sacred Heart and called forth a representative gathering of all classes of citizens, who thus assem- bled to pay a last tribute of respect to one who had well merited their high regard.

RUDOLPH F. W. MOLT. Self reliance, energy, honesty, all these traits of character have been' instrumental in attaining for Rudolph F. W. Molt, of Billings, the re- markable measure of success which has attended his efforts, but, more than anything else perhaps, credit must be given the indomitable resolution that has been bestowed on his operations and caused him to forge steadily forward in the face of all difficulties and dis- couragements. The extent of the various enterprises in the sheep industry in Montana would no doubt prove a matter of astonishment to the residents of the eastern states, and the magnitude with which this business has been carried on by many of the progressive citizens of this formerly barren country is probably unknown to the majority who have never visited the Treasure state. One of the men who has proven this to be a profitable occupation is Rudolph F. W. Molt, who for many years has been successfully engaged in the sheep and cattle business. He is a native of the Fatherland, having been born in Klein Waabs, Germany, January 19, 1859, and is a son of .Hans and Louisa (Witt) Molt. Hans Molt spent his whole life in agricultural pursuits in his native country, where he passed away at the age of sixty-six

Rudolph AMbolt.

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years, while his wife died when she was forty-nine years old. They were the parents of seven children, of whom two are now living, Rudolph and Emma, the latter the wife of Frederick Paulsen, living in Germany. The Molt family has always been connected with the Luth- eran church.

Rudolph F. W. Molt received a public school educa- tion in his native country and came to the United States in 1886. In March of the following year he located at Billings, and here secured employment as a sheep herder, but in 1889 he engaged in the business on his own account, starting out in a small way and each year increasing the size of his flocks until he became one of the large sheep raisers of this part of Montana. His ranch is located in the Lake Basin country, the scene of many years spent in the sheep and cattle busi- ness, where he witnessed both success and reverses, and which holds for him many pleasant memories of the days he spent in this industry, and there he still owns 30,000 acres of land. He has lately disposed of his sheep and cattle, as eighty per cent. of this land is farm land, and the demand in Montana has become so great in recent years for agricultural land that Mr. Molt has concluded, like hundreds of others, that the grazing on the tillable land is about at an end, and hence the great portion of his 30,000 acres in the Lake Basin country will from now on be utilized in the farming industry. His abundant success has been brought about by pro- gressive methods, persevering labor and untiring energy, and his ranch is one of the finest in that locality, al- though he makes his home in Billings, at No. 318 South Twenty-ninth street. Mr. Molt is one of those who proved that the advantages of personal advancement in connection with the industrial life of Montana do not lack for appreciation. Coming from a foreign country and changing his line of occupation, entirely through his own efforts he has reached a measure of success that cannot be otherwise than gratifying, and he is now re- spected and esteemed as one of the foremost men of the Yellowstone Valley. He is a Republican in his political views, but he has never cared for political preferment.

In 1894 Mr. Molt was married to Miss Alvina Leh- feldt, who was born at Dennison, Crawford County, Iowa, a daughter of Rudolph and Mary (Witt) Leh- feldt. To Mr. and Mrs. Molt have been born three daughters, Emma and Bertha, both attending high school, and Alma, who died November 13, 1910, at the age of nearly twelve years.

THOMAS BAIRD. The qualities and attributes that go to make up the character of the successful man of affairs have always proved of great interest to the biographer and student of human nature, who invariably finds that perseverance and the ability to remain firm under misfortune play no small part in determining the out- come of a career. In this connection the life of Thomas Baird, president of the First State Bank of Stevensville, furnishes an excellent example of pluck, tenacity of purpose and determination, with which also is connected the ability to recuperate from misadven- ture. Today Mr. Baird stands in a foremost position among those who have accomplished results in the field of business and finance, and owes his enviable place entirely to his own efforts. Mr. Baird is a native of Canada, born March 27, 1863, in New Brunswick, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Snodgrass) Baird, farming people of New Brunswick, who still survive, being eighty and eighty-two years of age, respectively. There were seven children in their family: Robert, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in New Bruns- wick; Thomas; Isaac, also a farmer in New Bruns- wick; Mary, who resides on the homestead with her parents; Rev. Frank B., pastor of the Presbyterian church at Woodstock, Canada; Edward, a well-known merchant of Boston, Massachusetts; and Margaret,

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 16

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