A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 33

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

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Mr. Ray is of New England birth and ancestry. His father was born in Vermont, and his mother, Julia Griffen, at Waterbury, Connecticut. Her family had come to America in 1692, when the Salem colony were being troubled with imaginary witches; but as they settled on Cape Cod, they escaped that disturbance. They fought in the Colonial wars with the French and the Indians, and later in the struggle for independence. Julia Griffin was born in 1837 and died in 1859, two years after the birth of her son, Frederick H. Ray, who entered upon this life on August 3, 1857. The father, George H. Ray, remarried in 1860, and Amy Reynolds Ray, the step-mother, brought up the little boy with all the care and love of an own mother. This was the more needed, as the father enlisted in the Civil war, entering the 14th Vermont and serving two years. He was present at the battle of Gettysburg, and in some other engagements. Ill health forced him to leave the service, and so he was mustered out at the close of the two years. But the injury to his consti- tution was permanent, and in 1865 the illness contracted during his service in the army brought about his death, at the age of thirty-six. He was by trade a carpenter and mechanic, and he also conducted a large marble mill at Rutland.

The early death of George Ray made it necessary for his son to undertake the burden of self-support at an early age. He attended the primary schools in Rut- land, where he was born and at thirteen began to make his own way. This did not mean that he ceased to pursue his education, for he managed to combine work and study, and continued his schooling in the elemen- tary schools of Whitehall, New York and Petroleum Centre, Pennsylvania. His next step was to work his way through business college, and with that equipment he entered the Albany Medical College and paid his

expenses there. In 1882, Mr. Ray graduated from the school, but he never made use of his medical educa- tion though he became a post-graduate student in the University of Pennsylvania. In 1883 he removed to St. Louis, and there took up commercial work in the establishment of Curtis & Company, first as bookkeeper and then in the responsible office of credit man. Mr. Ray filled the latter position for six years, and then gave it up because he wished to go further west. Coming to Helena in the spring of 1889, he became secretary for the Parchen Drug Company, and was associated with that firm for ten years. In 1901 Governor Toole selected Mr. Ray to fill the office of assistant state examiner, in the discharge of whose duties he was occupied until 1908, when he was advanced to the posi- tion of chief examiner. The following year marked his appointment to the office which he now fills, that of register of state lands. In the Democratic party, Mr. Ray has been not only a worker, but the originator of numerous measures. In 1896 he was ardent in liis advocacy of bimetallism and he throws himself heart and soul into whatever cause he espouses.

Mrs. Ray is a native of St. Louis. Previous to her marriage, she was Miss Nellie Duffer of that city. Her father, Captain Duffer, was known to all the older resi- dents of the city, as he had been for many years a steamboat captain and was prominent in the commercial and political life of the city. The marriage of Mr. Ray and Miss Duffer took place in St. Louis, on November 28, 1888. No children have resulted from this union. Mr. and Mrs. Ray reside at 31 South Rodney street, a place much frequented by their many friends. They are members of the Unitarian church.

JOHN WILLIAM JAMES, a well-known and success- ful attorney of Anaconda, Montana, is a native of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, born May 12, 1868, son of John W. and Mary Ellen (Carmody) James. The father in carly life was engaged in farming in Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire, later a merchant in Illinois and the later years of his life were spent in lumbering in Wisconsin. His wife, the mother of John W. James of Anaconda, died when the son was an infant, and his father moved to Neodesha, Kan- sas, and died there when John William was four and a half years old. His father had remarried, and the boy was reared by his stepmother. She later married again and is the widow of Henry Doron. She gave to him the same loving care as if he had been her own child, and today he is gladly returning that interest, for this lady, who was formerly. Miss Sarah J. Kinney, is now living at the home of Mr. James in Anaconda, aged eighty- one.

At his boyhood home in Neodesha he attended the public schools and graduated in 1886. He began to earn his living at railroad work in the station of the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad at his home town, remaining there until 1889, when he came to Anaconda to accept a clerical position in the office of the Montana Union Railroad, later becoming chief clerk and remain- ing there until the great A. R. U. strike in 1894. Taking his savings from his wages he went to the University of Wisconsin and took up the study of law.

Mr. James came to Anaconda on July 10, 1896, and began to practice his profession. He was the first Re- publican county attorney ever elected in Deer Lodge county after the division of the county into its present confines. He was appointed United States commis- sioner by Judge Knowles and later by Judge Hunt, serving twelve years in that important capacity. He is a firm believer in Republican principles and is active locally in the affairs of the party. He is a director of the Ana- conda National Bank is an enthusiastic and consistent booster for Montana and for Anaconda in particular.

On January 23, 1897, Mr. James was married to Miss Almyra M. Little of Birmingham, Iowa. They have

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five children, Lois Harriet, Ruth, John William, David Ralph and Mary Martha.

JOSEPH J. APPEL, an enterprising business man of Philipsburg, has lived in Montana and the northwest for varying periods during the last twenty-five years, and consequently his opinion as to this region has much interest and value. "I have traveled," says he, "and have done business in every state in the Union, and in my opinion Montana beats them all. The peo- ple, the climate, the opportunities and conditions that are found here can not be equaled, and personally I favor Montana above all." His individual career is one more proot of the resourcefulness of the Treasure state.

Mr. Appel was born in the city of Rochester, New York, November 8, 1863, and finished his education there in the Catholic school. When he was about twenty-four years old he came west and spent about three years in various towns of Washington, engaged in the meat business, for which he had been prepared by experience in a wholesale meat firm of the east. From 1889 to 1894 he was a resident of Philipsburg, where he conducted the same business. He was then absent in the east at his old home about a year, returning to this locality for another year, after which he went on the road as traveling representative for the great business involved in the distribution and sale of meat products. During the next few years he traveled in every state, and few men in commercial life have seen more of the country than he has. Since 1908 he has been engaged in the retail meat business in Granite county of this state, first having a shop at Drum- mond, but since 1910 again entering business at Philips- burg.

Mr. Appel has various interests in the business and civic affairs of his home city. He controls the Mc- Donald Opera House and is proprietor of the Appel theatre and picture show, and to a large degree directs and furnishes the means of recreation to the people of the city. An ardent lover of baseball, he is now the manager of the Philipsburg Baseball Club. He took the responsible part in the organization of the Boulder Mining & Development Company, of which he is sec- retary and treasurer and owns a large share of the stock. The company owns seven fine claims, and will soon begin shipping ore.

Mr. Appel has had a busy career. His first wages were earned in a men's furnishing store at Rochester, two dollars and a half per week, and he gave this salary to his mother. This was when he was about fourteen years old, and he afterwards learned the machinist's trade. Finally he embarked in the whole- sale meat business, and thus found the line of work which afforded him his business career. He affiliates with the Improved Order of Red Men and the related Order of Pocahontas, in which he has held office, and also with the Elks lodge. He is an honorary member of the American Woman's League. Independent in pol- itics, he occasionally takes an active part in some local campaign. Sports of all kinds find in him a devotee, including hunting and fishing. He sometimes puts on the gloves for a friendly boxing bout. His diversions also include riding or driving, and the pleasures of music and the stage.

Mr. Appel was married in Louisville, Kentucky, July 5, 1901, to Mrs. Alice B. Weber, of that city. They are the parents of three children: Ruby and Fred J. are in school, and Margaret is the baby. Mr. Appel's parents were Joseph A. and Mary (Zimmerman) Ap- pel. His father, who was born in Germany and came to America when a young man, settled at Rochester and spent the rest of his life there, being engaged in the meat business and the buying and selling of horses and cattle. His death occurred in 1891, when about sixty years of age, and he is buried at Rochester. He

was married in Rochester, and his widow still resides there.

Mr. Appel's motto is: "Look right, do right, and if it goes wrong let it go; you can't stop it, but never quit, the whole world hates a quitter."

GEORGE N. FULLER was born in Nelson, Portage county, Ohio, on July 4, 1869. After completing his secondary education he entered Hiram College, famous as the institution from which President Gar- field graduated and of which he was afterwards president, as well as for its excellence as a school of moral and intellectual training. Mr. Fuller did not finish his course at Hiram uninterruptedly, as he came to Mon- tana in 1889 and worked for the Northern Pacific Rail- way as a surveyor. He worked on the survey of the branch from Logan to Butte, and, after a year and a half with the railroad, went back to Hiram to finish his course. He was nineteen when he came to Montana, and twenty-two when he left college. As the region( appealed to him, Mr. Fuller came back and settled at Bozeman. Here he and his brother, C. C. Fuller, engaged in the wholesale fruit and produce business for two years, but they were caught in the panic of 1893 and obliged to sell out their stock and retire from business. For one year after this Mr. Fuller worked as a grocer's clerk and then he entered the railway mail service. He began as.substitute, and it was then that he moved from Bozeman to Jamestown, North Dakota. This was his home for five years and it was here that he was married in the last year of his stay in that city. His bride was Miss Claudia Tinker, who was born in Nelson, Ohio. The marriage of Miss Tinker and Mr. Fuller occurred in August, 1899, and a few months later Mr. Fuller received a transfer in the mail service, and the young couple moved to Butte, Montana. After three years they moved to Helena, and in April, 1910, Mr. Fuller was appointed chief clerk of the railway mail service.

There were seven sons in the family to which George N. Fuller belongs. Two are dead and the others have devoted themselves to lives of service in the missionary field. William J. Fuller is a business man at Oberlin, Ohio. Marcus B. Fuller has been for years in India. Gerald M. Fuller has given himself to the home mission work. Columbus C. Fuller, his father's namesake, is a missionary in Africa. The father of these men was C. C. Fuller, a prosperous farmer of Ohio. He mar- ried Mary A. Bierce, a woman of rare qualities, a wife and mother. She died in the spring of 1885, and in the fall of 1899 Mr. Fuller was laid at her side in Nelson, Ohio.

George N. Fuller and his family are affiliated with the Congregational church. Two sons, Robert, born in 1902, and Edward, born 1907, complete the family circle.

DANIEL E. WHITE is the owner and direct manager of the Helena Trading Company, of Helena, Montana, located at Nos. 1335-37 Helena avenue. Here in the heart of the business district, he conducts a flourishing retail house carrying a vast assortment of general mer- chandise and employing a number of assistants to aid him in handling the trade.

Mr. White was born in Mohawk, Herkimer county, New York, on the eighteenth day of October in the year 1852. He was educated in the public schools of Auburn and Syracuse, York state, being compelled to discon- tinue his schooling at the early age of fourten that he might begin to become self-supporting. His first posi- tion was that of an errand boy in Syracuse. In this grocery store he worked for some two years, receiving the munificent salary of one dollar and fifty cents a week. He left Syracuse for Williamsport, Pennsylva- nia, where he secured work in a sash and door factory. After another two years he returned to Syracuse to act as carpenter's apprentice. He was now eighteen years of age. In his twentieth year he found employment in

Louis Johnson

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

the Porter Manufacturing Company. This work seemed to be more to his liking, as he remained with the com- pany for almost nine years before deciding to try his fortune in the west. In 1889 he migrated to Helena to ply his trade of carpentering, there being a great demand in the city for builders in all lines. In 1893-94 he engaged in pattern making at the Marysville Foun- dry and Machine Shop, and in 1895 established in Helena a small confectionery and cigar business. The begin- ning was small, but it was this modest start that has led to the present large mercantile concern that Mr. White now conducts. In 1903 he established the Helena Trad- ing Company. The house brings in a large income and Mr. White himself occupies a prominent place in the mercantile life of the capital city.

While still a young man in York state, Mr. White found the woman of his heart in the person of Miss Josephine Bishop, of Syracuse. She became Mrs. Daniel White on the fourteenth day of February, 1876, thus bringing a life valentine of which he has never ceased to be proud. As they have never had any chil- dren, Mrs. White has found leisure to become quite active in the life of her western home. They are both fond, too, of their library and a quiet home life.

Mr. White has shown much interest, from time to time, in the state of local politics, even serving his city in the capacity of alderman from 1900 until 1902. He is a prominent member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and also of the Knights of Pythias, and Wood- men of the World.

His father, Elijah White, was, like the son, a native of New York. Prior to the outbreak of the Civil war he was making good among the young farmers. After the call to arms he enlisted as an artilleryman, but was spared to serve his country for only six short months. While in camp at Newberne, North Carolina, he con- tracted yellow fever dying a few days later. This was in the second year of the war, 1862. He left a widow, Martha L. Sennett White, and two children-Frank E., of whom we have written, and a daughter, Mattie, who passed away in her nineteenth year.

LOUIS JOHNSON, foremost among the best known busi- ness men of Helena and prominent as a contractor and builder of some note, has achieved success as the result of his dominant will to advance in his chosen work, and his determination to do the best work possible at all times. His work is of that character which stands out, strong and true, as a monument to the sturdy traits of its builder, and when he is no longer putting forth liis effort in new structures, his work of past years will still stand erect and upright.

Louis Johnson was born in Nain, Wermland, Sweden, on November 3, 1863. He is the son of John Abraham- son, born in Sweden in 1832, and Stina Jonas, also of Sweden, born in 1831. The father died in 1876 at the age of forty-four years, while the mother lived to reach the age of seventy-four, passing away on Decem- ber 4, in 1905. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, Louis being the fourth in order of birth. As a small boy he was sent to the common schools of his native town and thus continued until he reached the age of fourteen years, and after that he did whatever his hands could find to do in the way of manual labor. He came to America in June, 1887, when he was twenty- four years of age. He first settled in North Dakota, do- ing farm work for several years. In 1889 he came to Montana and settled in Helena, where he was var- iously engaged up to 1891, when he began contracting in a small way, excavating for buildings, etc., and con- tinuing in this manner until 1894, when he secured his first big contract, which called for the grading of a road from Broadwater to Fort Harrison for Lewis and Clark county. From that time on his success as a contractor was assured and his reputation established. Since that time he has performed similar work for the

city, county and state to the amount of many thou- sands of dollars. He has paved some of the prin- cipal streets of the city and done a vast deal of side- walk construction for the city. He has handled a large amount of work for the city, county and the federal government, and is today regarded as the fore- most contractor of Lewis and Clark county. He is also owner of considerable real estate and large rent- ing properties.

Mr. Johnson is a Republican, and while he ordinarily takes no active part in political matters, he has on sev- eral occasions been the delegate of the party to city conventions. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. I Lodge of Helena, Mon- tana.

Mr. Johnson was married on August 3, 1906, to Miss Mary Dahlgren, of Swedish parentage, and four chil- dren have been born to them. They are Lillian Adena, born in Pasadena, California; Pearl Montana, and Louis Leonard, the two last named having been born in Helena, and Florence Marie.

JOHN AUGUSTUS HENSHAW was born in Cairo, Illi- nois, on November 18, 1869. His parents died when he was five years of age, and at the earliest possible time he began to earn his own living. When he was twelve he began life in earnest by entering upon an apprenticeship in a cooking and baking estab- lishment. He received a stipend of four dollars a week while learning his trade, and at the age of sixteen had practically learned the trade. When he finished his training he began traveling about, much in the fashion of the German lad who has learned his occupation and enters upon his "wander years" as a journeyman workman. During this period Mr. Hen- shaw worked in a great number of the larger centers in Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as Minnesota and some others of the states along the Mississippi. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul were among the cities in which he was employed, and in all of them he held the posi- tion of chef in hotels and restaurants of the very highest class. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Henshaw left St. Paul and came to Butte, where he has since lived and been in business until his retirement a few years ago. For five years after his arrival he worked for wages and in 1894 went into an establishment of his own. The firm name was the Davie-Henshaw Com- pany, and the place had previously been Davie & Holmes. The new company did a lively business for three years, and then ill health made it necessary for Mr. Henshaw to retire. He withdrew from the firm and went away for his health, remaining for one year. When he returned he opened a place of his own, the famed Whatley Cafe, which he conducted for twelve years. The superior cuisine of this restaurant added to its excellent service and soon spread its reputation in the city and Mr. Henshaw did a record business. There were two entrances to the cafe, one at the front and the other in the rear. At meal times patrons would stand in line at both doors of the building, waiting their turn to get in and be served. The crowd was handled with consummate adroitness and perfect system so that every one was served in a satisfactory manner. At the end of twelve years the proprietor was enabled to retire, much to the regret of the customers.

Mr. Henshaw is an advocate of the policies of the Republican party, but he is in no sense a politician. He votes from the standpoint of an American citizen promoting the measures which seem to him hest adapted to advance the welfare of the country, and is other- wise indifferent as to which party controls affairs. De- voted to America in general, he is especially loyal to Montana and any movement to further her progress and to add to her prosperity is sure to find staunch sup- port in Mr. Henshaw. Perhaps because he is a self- made man is one reason why he so appreciates the

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opportunities which Butte offers to those with initia- tive and industry. His acquaintance with the country is extensive, and it is his opinion that Montana, as a whole, and Butte in particular, are the most favorable places in the United States for new enterprises and in- vestments, and as a place of residence he declares that he prefers Butte to any spot on the globe.

Mr. Henshaw is now living a retired life, but like most men who have accomplished things and who have excelled in what they undertook he finds that inactivity bores him. He has the habit of working and he is not able to get over it so he has about decided that when he has rested a year or so he will again go into business. The cafe which he ran so successfully for twelve years is no longer in existence, but it was known throughout the west while in operation and it is remembered by hun- dreds with lively regret for its vanished viands.

In the matter of amusement Mr. Henshaw has a catholic taste. He is a great reader along a variety of lines and the theatre is an unfailing source of pleasure to him. His diversions are by no means confined to the indoor variety, for there is no sort of outdoor sport which he does not enjov, though his favorites are baseball and football. He will go far to see a game of either of these sports. None of the rest of his fam- ily have come to the west but have remained in Illinois and the adjacent states. This Mr. Henshaw regards as a lack of taste, but he is sufficiently enthusiastic re- garding the advantages of Montana to make up for all the rest. It is to such men as he that the state owes her rapid advance in recent years, for their industry is of the sort that not merely enriches them but pro- motes the development of the community.

HENRY G. PICKETT. The subject of the ensuing re- view is one of the successful citizens of Helena and is also a prominent clubman. Henry G. Pickett, who car- ries on an extensive business in real estate, insurance, loans and rentals, has resided in the west since young manhood and has been identified with Helena since the year 1889.

Mr. Pickett is one of the sons of the Badger state who have given to this part of Montana a particularly excellent brand of citizenship. His birth occurred at Granville, Wisconsin, October 29, 1860. His father, Henry S. Pickett, a native of Connecticut, was born July 14, 1816, and died August 6, 1892, at Fort Atkin- son, Wisconsin. He was by occupation a contractor and carpenter. The mother, whose maiden name was Clara M. Porter, was a native of Vermont, the date of her nativity being July 3, 1823. This admirable lady, now crowned with years and veneration, survives and resides at Helena in the household of her son, the subject. Henry G. was the only child born to the union of these people.

Mr. Pickett received his education in the schools of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, graduating from the high school in 1878. When his school days were finished he learned telegraphy and was engaged as a telegrapher by a trio of railroads, namely: The Great Northern, the Northern Pacific and the Chicago & Northwestern. He continued in this line of activity until 1883, or for three years after following the celebrated advice of Horace Grecley, "Go west, young man, and grow up with the country." He came to Montana while in the service of the western railroads, and, as previously men- tioned, his arrival in Helena was in 1889. His first position here was with the firm of Witherbee, Naples & Company, engaged in the real estate, insurance and accounting business, and he was thus occupied for a number of years in the capacity of an employe. He also became interested in mining, and filled the position of chief clerk in the bureau of agriculture under Cap- tain Mills.

In 1903 Mr. Pickett became associated with John M. Glass and they purchased the established business of the

Piatt & Heath Company, and deal in real estate, in- surance, loans and rentals, and today theirs is one of the leading real estate firms in the city, its offices being located at 29 West Sixth avenue. It is incorporated with the following officers: Mr. Glass, president; W. B. McClatchey, vice-president; and Mr. Pickett, secre- tary and treasurer. Mr. Pickett is everywhere regarded as one of Helena's representative citizens, ever loyal to her institutions and her welfare, and contributing by his own success to that of the city, his fine patriotism being a matter of "deeds, not words."

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 33

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