A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 22

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

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Mr. Greenan's only lodge is the insurance order of the Woodmen of the World. He is, however, a man of most sociable disposition and has a talent for making and keeping friends. He has supplied the deficiencies of his early school advantages by much judicious reading, being especially fond of books of travel. His many

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friends throughout the state speak confidently of the bright political future, which they feel sure will be possible to Mr. Greenan if he wishes to seek preferment in that line.

HENRY NICKOLAI was born of German parentage, in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, on the twelfth day of December, 1866. His father, Joseph Nickolai, emigrated from Germany with his parents while yet in his early youth. They settled in Wisconsin, and preempted a forest claim which they cleared and cultivated. For his entire life, Joseph Nickolai devoted his energy to farming and stock raising in Wisconsin. He died in 1871, leaving a comfortable estate consisting mostly of ranch lands. His wife, Mary Nickolai, herself of German parentage, had lived since her childhood on a farm not far distant from the one owned by her husband's people. Both families were of devout Roman Catholic faith. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nickolai on their Wisconsin farm, four boys and one daughter. Christian, the oldest son, was for a number of years an agriculturist and stockraiser like his father. Quite recently, he has taken up con- tracting in masonry and makes his home in Arcadia, Wisconsin. The daughter, who with her mother bears the most beautiful name in the language, was Mrs. John Felshein of Cody, Wyoming. Mathew, the third son, has so prospered on his farm near Sac City, Wis- consin, that he is now practically retired. Jacob is mak- ing a success of his farm land in Buffalo county, Wis- consin. Mrs. Nickolai, some years after her husband's death, was married to his cousin, Jacob Meyer, and is living in Arcadia, not far distant from two of her sons.

Henry, the second of the boys, like his brothers, at- tended the parochial schools of Buffalo county. When fifteen years of age, he left school in order to assist his father with the growing work of the farm. Unlike most of his family, he was not interested in that line of work. Although he longed to learn a trade or a profession he remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age. At that time, feeling that the younger boys could assist in the care of the ranch, he set out for Montana. In the fall of 1888, he settled in Helena and began the study of the blacksmithing and the wagon maker's trade. Already he had much practical knowledge along this line, as the care of the farm machinery had largely fallen to his lot. In a sur- prisingly short time he had completely mastered every detail of the trade. By 1907 he had been able-thanks to his native German thrift-to accumulate sufficient capital to set up in business for himself. His start was, naturally, a small one-the establishment of a smithy with a wagon repairing department attached. His business is one of the most thriving in Lewis and Clark county. This is only one more proof that a pen- niless young man may succeed in that land where a man is judged by his worth alone, and success without assistance other than from within.

In 1895 Mr. Henry Nickolai was married, in the Catholic church of Helena, to Miss Mary Anderes. Miss Anderes was born in Pennsylvania although her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Anderes, were, at the time, living in Barnesville, Montana. Mr. Anderes was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, fighting through almost the entire struggle. At present he is living the life of the prosperous retired farmer. Mrs. Anderes finished her useful life some years since and was laid to rest in the Barnesville cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Nickolai are the parents of three little girls. Their oldest daughter, Margaret, passed away in her eighth year. Marie and Helen attend the parochial school of Helena. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nickolai are most loyal to the faith of their fathers. Mr. Nickolai is a member of the St. Joseph Verein and of the Wood- men of the World. In politics, he is a Democrat.

THOMAS KAIN, the president of the Kain Granite Company, though he has passed the milestone of three- score-year-and-ten in this earthly journey, has not yet slackened his pace nor relaxed the vigor with which he has made his way in the world.

Born in Scotland on March 14, 1842, he lived in that country until he was twenty years old. He attended the schools of Scotland, and also learned the trade of a stone cutter before immigrating to America. Here he first settled in Quincy, Massachusetts, where he re- sided for a number of years, following his trade as a journeyman. In 1888 Mr. Kain came to Montana, and here went into business for himself. He was the first to develop the quarries in this section, and has always been at the head of the industry in Montana. The quarries which he owns are located at Shingle Gulch on the Great Northern, and at Baxendale on the Northern Pacific. The cutting plant is in Helena; it is equipped with pneumatic machinery and is one of the most up-to-date in the country, having track connec- tions with both railroads.

The Kain Granite Company has its offices and sales- room at the corner of Seventh avenue and Jackson street. Its officers are Thomas Kain, president ; Henry Kain, vice president ; John Kain, manager; and William J. Fuchs, secretary. This organization has been in existence only since July 1, 1911. Previous to its in- corporation the company was known as Thomas Kain & Sons, and was conducted by Mr. Kain and his two sons, Henry and John. An average force of seventy- five hands is required to carry on the work of the com- pany, and in busy times this number is doubled. In the course of its existence it has furnished the stone for most of the principal buildings of the state, includ- ing the state capitol wings and a number of the most important office buildings; the court-houses of numerous counties throughout the state are built of stone from the Kain quarries, as are also many of the palatial homes of Montana's citizens. In connection with the quarries the company maintains a monumental busi- ness, which is the largest and most extensive in the state. They have erected mausoleums in many of the larger cities and are constantly called upon to under- take this class of work for families of prominence throughout the state.

The animating spirit of this extensive business is Thomas Kain, for fifty-eight years a stone cutter, and still an active worker. The veneration in which he is held by his sons, both as a father and as the head of the business, is an eloquent tribute to his ability. They regard his advice as the most valuable, and his decisions as final in all matters of business policy.

Mr. Kain is a man devoted to his home, and to his large circle of friends. Mrs. Thomas Kain was born in Liverpool, England, in September, 1846. She was married in that city on May 1, 1865, and has been the mother of thirteen children. She has done her share in helping her husband to achieve the success which his strict attention to the matter in hand and his in- itiative have made his.

HENRY E. CARSTENSEN. The proprietor of the Rod- ney Hotel was born in the city of Husem, Germany, where for several generations his family has been suc- cessfully engaged in business. His father, Peter Car- stensen, was born on October 19, 1823, and is still liv- ing in Husem having acquired a comfortable fortune which enables him to spend his later years in retirement from the mercantile life in which he was so successful. He never visited America, nor did his wife. Christina Peterson Carstensen, who passed from this life in 1907 at the age of eightv-one. Her father. Hans Peterson, was a well known liquor dealer of Husem, and he too lived past the four-score year mark, as he was born in 1800 and died in 1886. Henry Carstensen was born on October 4, 1867, and lived in the town famous as the

Thomas Tai Frances ann Kain

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

birthplace of the gifted author, Theodor Sturm, until he was seventeen. He attended the public school, and then learned the trade of cigar-maker before emigrat- ing to America; he settled at once in Chicago, where he secured work at his trade. In 1885 he left Chicago and went to Denison, Iowa, to work on a farm, and he remained there for three years. But Iowa was not enough west to satisfy Mr. Carstensen's desire for new country, so in 1888 he betook himself to Montana and the Prickly Pear valley, where he obtained work on the ranch of Huntley & Pruitt. Two years after he went . to the Flat Head country, but the locality did not ap- peal to him and his stay was of short duration.

When Mr. Carstensen returned from the northwestern part of the state he settled in Helena, and took a posi- tion as clerk for one of the larger mercantile houses. He remained here until 1903, by which time he had ac- cumulated enough capital to begin business on his own account. His first investment was the Atlas saloon, which he purchased in partnership with Mr. Peter Wagenbach, and they ran it for four years. The op- portunity to buy the Rodney hotel presented itself in 1907, and as it was a prosperous house Mr. Carsten- sen availed himself of the chance to make a wise invest- ment. His management of the place has been such as to continue to hold the patronage of the hotel, and to add to it in large measure. It has yielded him hand- some returns, and made him financially independent.

Mr. Carstensen's marriage occurred at Helena, on January 26, 1898, when Miss Minnie Loeb of this city became his bride. Two sons and one daughter are the issue of this marriage, all attending school. Ernest was born December 1, 1898; Leonora, in August, 1900; and George in March, 1902. Mr. Carstensen has one brother, John, who also came to America, and to Mon- tana.

Though a thorough American, taking active interest in municipal affairs and serving as councilman for the Second ward, Mr. Carstensen is also loyal to the land of his birth, and is known as one of the workers in the lodge of the Sons of Hermann. He is also a mem- ber of the Eagles and of the Red Men. In these circles, as elsewhere, he enjoys a high degree of popu- larity. He is aligned with the Democratic party. 1

CHESTER J. MURPHY. If history teaches by example, the lessons inculcated by biography must be still more, impressive. We see exhibited in the varieties of hu- man character, under different circumstances, some- thing to instruct us in our duty and to encourage our efforts under every emergency. And, perhaps, there is no concurrence of events which produce this effect more certainly than the steps by which distinction has been acquired through the unaided efforts of youthful enterprise, as illustrated in the life of Chester J. Murphy. It is one of the most encouraging facts that can anywhere exist that, in this country, a large pro- portion of those individuals who, by their activities, have attained a greater or less degree of eminence have risen by their own exertions. In this sketch there should be found something to encourage the exertions of those youths who, without fortune or influential friends, are struggling to overcome obstacles in the acquirement of wealth and position.

Chester J. Murphy, familiarly and affectionately known everywhere as "Chet." was born in Fayette county, Iowa, September 24, 1866, and is a son of Joseph and Cynthia (Alvey) Murphy. His father, a native of Ohio, died when Chester was five years of age, and his mother, who was born in Illinois, now lives at Glen- dive. There were two children in their family: Chester J. and Mrs. B. F. Dawson, of Glendive. Chester J. Murphy was given what advantages were gained in the public schools of Iowa, and at the age of eighteen years left his native state and went to North Dakota. One year later, however, in 1885, he decided to try his

fortunes in the Judith Basin, and succeeded in securing employment on the sheep ranch of Bower Brothers, with whom he continued to remain three years. At the end of that period he went to Neihart, in Cascade county, Montana, and until 1894 worked in the silver mines there, that year seeing his advent in Dawson county, when he settled on Burns Creek, thirty miles north of Glendive, and embarked in the horse and cattle busi- ness. From the very start Mr. Murphy's operations were decidedly successful, and as the years passed he kept adding to his herds and lands until he was uni- versally recognized as one of the most able and pro- gressive stockmen in the state. At this time he is the owner of 4800 acres of land, 2000 acres being under cul- tivation, and 500 acres being in wheat, flax and oats. In addition to vast herds of cattle, he has 300 head of English Shire horses, and all of his holdings have come to him as a result of his own efforts. Wealth and friends have been given him, and these he enjoys with- ont a trace of that offensive ostentation that has so often shaded the lives of other men, for "Chet" Mur- phy is one of the most popular men in Dawson county.

On January 1, 1907, Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Grace Skinner, a native of Iowa, and daughter of W. A. and Marietta (Hendrickson) Skinner, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. They migrated to Iowa during pioneer days, and there spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Skinner being a well- known newspaper man. Mrs. Murphy came to Mon- tana in 1893 and was a teacher in the schools of Glen- dive several years before being elected county superin- tendent of schools of Dawson county. She is a mem- ber of the Congregational church, and has been active in religious, club and social life, and like her husband has many warm friends in this section. Mr. Murphy is a member of Miles City Lodge, B. P. O. E. In his political views he is a Democrat, but has never allowed public life to interfere with his business interests, al- though often urged to become a candidate for official preferment. A typical Montana ranchman, with the busi- ness integrity and sense of honor that that title im- plies, his home and his business demand all of his attention, and the friendships that have been maintained throughout many years are in no danger of being severed by participation in the turmoil of the political arena.

CHARLES S. HAIRE, a member of the firm of Link & Haire, architects, and one of the best known men in his line of business in Montana, was born in Hamil- ton county, Ohio, in 1857, and is a son of George W. and Catherine (Porter) Haire, natives of that state also, whence his paternal ancestors came from the state of Virginia as early as 1796. His maternal an- · cestor came to Ohio from Allegheny City, Pennsyl- vania. George W. Haire was for many years county surveyor of Hamilton county, where he died in 1910.

After completing the public school course and grad- uating from the Cincinnati high school in 1876, Charles S. Haire followed the profession of a teacher for three years, and while thus engaged prosecuted his studies along the lines of architecture. Drafting in his native state occupied his attention until 1886, in which year he removed to Pocatello, Idaho, and there secured a position in his chosen work with the Union Pacific Railroad. In the following year he acted in a like ca- pacity with the Great Northern Railroad at Butte, Montana, and one year later he came to Helena. which has since been his field of operations. After he had spent some time with the real estate firm of Wallace & Thornburg. Mr. Haire began to give his whole time to architectural work and was engaged in pre- paring the plans and specifications for the Denver block, one of the finest business structures in the city. He also designed most of the houses in Lenox. the suburban addition to Helena. The fine business block

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of A. P. Curtain, the State Agricultural College at Bozeman, the Dillon Normal School and the Boulder Deaf & Dumb Institution were erected by him while he was serving two years as superintendent of build- ings for the state, and it was during his incumbency of that office that he did some of his best work. He also designed and superintended the erection of St. Vincent's hospital, the Parmly Billings Memorial Li- brary, the Ursuline Convent at Miles City, and numer- ous large and valuable dwellings. In his work Mr. Haire has showed that his training has been a long and thorough one. A certain individuality has given distinction to his designs, and his plans have always been characterized by their appropriate treatment.

On January 1, 1906, Mr. Haire formed a partnership with J. G. Link, of Billings, Montana, under the firm name of Link & Haire, and this firm is recognized as the leading one in its line in Montana. They main- tain offices at Helena, Butte, Billings, Miles City and Livingston. Among the principal structures designed by the firm may be mentioned the Silver Bow Club, the State Savings Bank building and the Silver Bow county court house at Butte; the east and west wings of the Montana state capitol building at Butte; the Montana Block at Missoula; the First National Bank building at Miles City; the present work on the state institutions at Boulder ; the Granite county court house at Philips- burg, and the Rosebud county court house at Forsythe.

Mr. Haire was married on August 7, 1889, to Miss Frances A. Corwin, a native of Ohio, and a relative of the Hon. Thomas Corwin, the eloquent orator and statesman. Minor Corwin, the father of Mrs. Haire, was engaged in merchandising until his death some years ago, and her mother, Martha (Morgan) Corwin, was a native of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Haire have one son, Thomas Corwin, who was born March 25, 1892, and is taking a course in architecture at Colum- bia University, New York.

HON. SAMUEL W. KELSEY. The pioneering impulse which led to the establishment of the Kelsey family in Montana, may be traced far backward, even to the grandfather of Hon. Samuel W. Kelsey, of Miles City, leading him from the South Atlantic coast to the in- terior of the United States and his descendants to the Rocky Mountain region. In their migrations the Kel- seys have left records of good citizenship behind them. having been industrious and law abiding, supporters of schools and churches, people of stability of character. Samuel W. Kelsey was born at Paxton, Greene county, Illinois, December 20, 1868, and is a son of Theodore B. and Rhoda N. (Gray) Kelsey, and a grandson of Thomas and Mary Kelsey.

Theodore B. Kelsey was born in 1834, in South Caro- lina, and died in Montana, January 30, 19II. He was three years old when his parents migrated to Indiana, where they settled in a wilderness, out of which they developed a farm before moving on into Illinois, and afterward pushed on farther west, into Kansas, loca- ting there just before the Civil war. Thomas Kelsey was first a Whig, then a Democrat and later a Republi- can. Theodore B. Kelsey assisted his father on the Illi- nois farm, accompanied him to Kansas and afterward moved from Kansas to Iowa, where he engaged in farming and also merchandising up to 1888, when he moved to Montana and located within three miles of the present site of Stacey, Custer county. He continued in the stock business, dealing in cattle and horses, un- til 1902, when he retired to Moorhead, where the clos- ing years of his life were spent and where he con- ducted a mercantile business until the end. In 1862, while a resident of Kansas, he enlisted for service in the Civil war and was a soldier in Company D, Twelfth Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Infantry, for two years and eleven months. He was then honorably discharged and was a valued member of the Grand Army of the

Republic. For a number of years he was identified with the Republican party, having voted for General John C. Fremont in the early days, but later he became a Popul- ist. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church. He married Rhoda N. Gray, who was born in Indiana and now is a resident of Moorhead, Montana. Seven children were born to them, six of these still sur- viving, namely: William H., living at Grand Forks, North Dakota; D. B., residing in Montana; Arthur R., a resident of Stacey, Montana; Samuel W .; Ettie, wife of Arthur N. Hotchkiss, of Moorhead, that state; and Frank T., also a resident of the above place.

Samuel W. Kelsey obtained his schooling at Aller- ton, Iowa, but entered business when only twelve years of age, making use of his vacations to earn money as a clerk in a confectionery store. Afterward he worked for his father and other farmers in the neighborhood until 1888. In the meanwhile the father had acquired a small band of cattle but had no land for pasturage and this led to the coming of the family to Montana. It was determined that the cattle should be driven to the range in Montana and arrangements were made for all the family to assist in this removal, with the exception of the two oldest sons who were otherwise engaged. After three months on the trail the family reached Stacey, Custer county, on April 6, 1888, and for sev- eral years afterward Mr. Kelsey worked, on sheep ranches and at farming in this neighborhood. In 1892 his brother, Arthur R. Kelsey, proposed that they should take a band of sheep on shares, and they prospered together in this enterprise on land some thirteen miles west of Stacey, until December, 1910, when a division was made, Arthur R. taking the cattle for his portion, and Samuel W., the sheep, and the latter interest has been continued up to the present time.

Mr. Kelsey now owns about 5,000 acres of well stocked land. In 1910 he removed with his family to Miles City in order that his children might have better school advantages, and here he has since been engaged in the real estate and livestock commission business. His poli- tical affiliation has always been with the Republican party. Formerly he served as a member of the school board at Brendenburg, Montana; in 1908 he was elected a member of the Montana state legislature, and during his period of public service he gave the same careful attention to his public responsibilities as he has given his own affairs for so many years. He is a broad- minded, far-seeing, intelligent man, and in the hands of such as he, Montana promises great things for the future.

Mr. Kelsey was married July 12, 1898, to Miss Amelia M. Miller, who was born on her father's farm near Shenandoah, Iowa, the oldest of eight children and one of the six survivors of the family born to her parents. Edward and Mary E. Miller. Mrs. Kelsey became an orphan when seventeen years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey the following children were born: Walter Em- merson, Austin Monroe, Marian Gray, Eugene Bass and Frances. Mr. Kelsey is a member of Yellowstone Lodge No. 26, A. F. & A. M .; Miles City Chapter, No. II. R. A. M .; Miles Commandery, No. 1I, K. T .. and Algeria Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Helena, Mon- tana.

JAMES H. LOOMIS, a resident of the state of Montana since 1888 and now serving his fourth term as treas- urer of the city of Philipsburg, is a native product of the east, born in Sandisfield, Massachusetts, on No- vember 7. 1840. He is the son of Alanson and Polly (Richards) Loomis. The father was born January 21, 1806, in Vermont. and lived in various eastern states during his life time. He eventually settled in Ful- ton, New York, where he was engaged in the tanning business. He died Tuly 22, 1874. while on a trin to Illinois, and lies buried at the old home in Fulton, New York. He married his wife March 20, 1827, in Ohio,

S. W. Kelsey.

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going from Connecticut to that state on horseback for the event. She died in Fulton, New York, August 2, 1862, aged fifty-two years. Eight children were born to this couple, of which number James H. was the seventh born and the youngest son.

When James H. Loomis was seven years of age his parents moved from Winsted, Connecticut, to Ful- ton, New York, which place he made his home until 1888. He was educated in the schools of Fulton and attended Falley Seminary. After leaving school the young man entered the general wood working business, and by degrees picked up a fair working knowledge of carpentering, and gradually worked himself into the contracting business. A singular fact in connection with his career is that he has never worked on salary for anyone. From his earliest working days he has been engaged in business on his own responsibility, and always with success. When he has twenty years of age he bought an interest in a furniture factory, and later acquired an interest in a machinery factory as well, in both of which he enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity. He suffered heavy loss by fire in 1888, which caused his removal to the west. For a time after locating in Philipsburg, Mr. Loomis engaged in car- penter work and some mining, but eventually gave that up, and for the past four terms has served as city treasurer of Philipsburg, a position which he has filled in a manner wholly creditable to himself and with all satisfaction to the people.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 22

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