A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 36

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

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On January 9, 1901, Mr. Smart was married to Miss Grace Anderson, of New Brunswick, and they have had two children: Harold D. and Marian F.

DON. CALDER is an old and prominent resident of Butte, where he has maintained his home and busi- ness headquarters since 1889. He holds prestige as being the second oldest merchant tailor in Butte or Montana and has occupied his present place of busi- ness for the past eighteen years. Mr. Calder was born in the parish of Creisch, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, the date of his nativity being the 26th of December, 1867. He is a son of Alexander and Catherine (Murray) Calder, the former of whom is deceased. The father passed his entire life in the land of hills and heather and he was a farmer by occupation. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this review was Don. Calder,' a soldier in the English army and a partici- pant in the War of 1812, he having been present at the British surrender at New Orleans, on January 8, 1815.

To the public schools of his native place Don. Calder is indebted for his rudimentary educational training. As a young man he entered upon an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade and after he had reached his legal majority he immigrated to America, coming to this country in 1888. After a short sojourn in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he came to Butte, where he at once en- gaged in business for himself and where he has achieved a most remarkable success as a merchant tailor. He is decidedly progressive and turns out his work in ac- cordance with the very latest eastern styles. While Mr. Calder does not take an active part in public affairs, he is ever on the alert to do all in his power to advance progress and improvement and in politics he gives his support to the Democratic party. He is affiliated with the Scottish Rite branch of Masonry, and has attained to the Knight Templar degree, and is also a valued and appreciative member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is connected with the St. Andrew's Society and is president of the Butte branch of that prominent organization.

At his native parish in Scotland, in the year 1897, Mr. Calder was united in marriage to Miss Jane Chis- holm, likewise a native of Sutherlandshire, Scotland, whence she returned to America in 1897 with her hus- band.

JOHN BENTON LEGGAT. The ancient and honorable order of Free and Accepted Masons appeals with great power to the judgment and imagination of millions of men in all parts of the world, and enlists their ardent devotion and their loyal service in its behalf. But no-

where has it a more zealous, enthusiastic and genuine . adherent and devotee than the city of Butte presents in the person of John Benton Leggat, who is known all over this country in Masonic circles as one of its highest types of members and best representatives. The true spirit of Freemasonry pervades his life and governs all his actions toward his fellow men, and in the fraternity itself his usefulness long ago passed ordinary bounds and began to spread over all the interests and branches of the fraternity in every part of the country.

Mr. Leggat is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, where his life began on April 1, 1869. His father, Alexander J. Leggat, was born in Scotland and brought to the United States by his parents when he was but two years old. The family located in Albany, New York state, where Alexander grew to manhood and obtained a common school education. His family then located in Grand Haven, Michigan, where Alexander became quite prominent in business enterprises. At the begin- ning of the Civil war he enlisted for the salvation of the Union in a Michigan regiment, with which he served to the conclusion of hostilities.

After the war he located in St. Louis, where he founded the house of Leggat, Hudson, & Company, manufacturers of plug and smoking tobacco. The busi- ness of the firm was started in 1866 under the name given, but the style of the firm afterward became Leggat, Hudson & Butler, and later Leggat & Butler. Mr. Leggat sold his interests in this business in 1883, and became the president of the St. Louis Shovel Com- pany, which position he filled until his death in Febru- ary, 1886, at the age of fifty-two years. His remains were interred in the family burial lot in Bellefontaine cemetery, one of the most beautiful and highly im- proved "cities of the dead" to be found on the North American continent.

The mother, whose maiden name was Ruth Frances Benton, is still living in St. Louis. She was born in Mendon, Adams county, Illinois, the daughter of Abram and Sarah (Chittenden) Benton. Mr. Benton was a prominent and influential merchant and land owner in that city and county, and her marriage with Mr. Leg- gat took place there in 1866. Five children were born of their union, three sons and two daughters. John Benton Leggat was the second child and first boy in the family.

Mr. Leggat obtained his academic education in the public schools in St. Louis, completing it with a three- years' course of special theoretical and practical work in the Manual Training school, a branch of Washington University, from which he was graduated in 1886. He then matriculated in the department of mining engineer- ing of Washington University, and pursued its course of study with diligence until June, 1889, when he came to Butte to do certain work in connection with the min- ing industry and to look up the mining interests of his father's estate. In the following October he returned to St. Louis to finish his course in mining engineering, which he did during the term of that winter and spring, and in 1890 he was graduated from the university with the degree of Mining Engineer. On receiving his di- ploma he came again to Butte, and there he has resided ever since, busily occupied in the practice of his profes- sion. His work in this field has been mainly operating in connection with properties of his own or under his personal supervision. But he has also done consider- able professional work for large corporations in Mon- tana and Nevada.

Mr. Leggat is neither parsimonious nor prodigal in the management of his affairs, but is both judiciously care- ful and judiciously liberal, having been industrious and frugal from his boyhood. The first money he ever earned he received when he was a boy twelve years old, and he got it for work in connection with the opera- tion of a threshing outfit on his grandfather's farm in Illinois, for which he was paid at the rate of fifty cents

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a day. He worked during his school vacations both in his father's tobacco factory and in the shovel works, as it was his father's intention for the son to learn and carry on the business in his more mature years.

On November 6. 1901, Mr. Leggat was joined in wed- lock with Miss Hebe M. Ashby, of Helena, Montana, where the marriage took place. Mrs. Leggat is a native Montana girl, daughter of Shirley C. and Emma (Camp- bell) Ashby, residents of Helena, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Missouri. One child has been born in the Leggat household, a daughter named Hebe Frances, whose life began on August 14, 1902, and who is attending school, dividing her time between a public school in Helena and the Mary Institute in St. Louis, Missouri, at the latter of which she is pursuing a classical course.

In political faith and activity Mr. Leggat in a Demo- crat, and in behalf of his party he takes an earnest in- terest and a zealous part in public affairs. In church relations he is a Presbyterian, and in fraternal life an enthusiastic and prominent Freemason, as has been stated. In fact, if he has in life any object of special devotion outside of his family it is this great fraternity. He has ascended its mystic ladder to the very top in the York rite, and to the next to the last round in the Scot- tish rite, being a Knight Templar in the former and a thirty-second degree Mason in the latter. He has also taken the side or ornamental degrees in his progress, being a member of a Council of Royal and Select Mas- ters, a Knight of the Red Cross of Constantine and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. In the branch of the fra- ternity last named he holds his active membership in Algeria Temple, Helena, and has honorary membership in Bagdad Temple, Butte. When he was made a Noble of the Mystic Shrine Algeria Temple in Helena was the only one in the state of Montana. He was potentate of this temple in 1905, and for the past twelve years has been one of its representatives in the Imperial Council of North America. His honorary membership in Bag- dad Temple came to him in a way that was highly com- plimentary and pleasing. It was conferred at the official constitution of said Temple in 1911, when Mr. Leggat assisted the Imperial Potentate of North America as Imperial Marshal; and for his assistance and advice in the organization of this new temple presented him with an official certificate of his membership. This val- ued document was engraved on a heavy copper plate inclosed in a solid electrolytic copper frame, the copper for both being mined in Butte and the frame being manufactured in that city. Mr. Leggat cherishes this testimonial of the regard of his fellow Nobles as one of his most appreciated possessions, as it is signal proof of the high esteem in which he is held in Shrine circles. But all who know of the facts in the case agree that the testimonial was wisely and worthily bestowed.

Mr. Leggat has held exalted offices in all the branches of Masonry to which he belongs. He was made a master Mason in 1896. In 1906 and 1907 he was grand high priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the state of Montana, holding both offices at once, a very unusual occurrence in Masonic history. He is at this time (1912) representative in Montana of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Penn- sylvania, the largest Templar jurisdiction in the United States. During the last three years, he has also been personal representative for the state of Nevada of the grand master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States.

From his youth Mr. Leggat has been enthusiastic over fraternal societies. He organized the first Greek letter fraternity at Washington University in St. Louis when he was a student in that institution-the Gamma Chapter of the Phi-Delta-Theta organization, which has chapters in colleges and universities all over the country. He is a member of Butte Lodge of Elks No.

240, and has belonged to the Silver Bow Club for twen- ty years or more: In addition, he is a non-resident mem- ber of the Montana club in Helena and the St. Louis club in St. Louis, Missouri. He is devoted to tennis, and was at one time its state champion. He also takes a great interest in baseball and football, and during his college days was a good player of said game.

Warmly interested in the welfare of his fellow men, and the organizations among them which are potential in promoting it, it is inevitable that Mr. Leggat should be earnest and enterprising in his support of all under- takings involving the progress and improvement of his home city and county. Nothing of value in this behalf goes without his active and judicious aid, and his coun- sel in reference to such matters always has weight, for it is based on intelligence and good judgment. His worth, high character, public spirit and genuine devo- tion to the public weal are well known wherever he is, and everywhere he is highly esteemed as a man whose life is above reproach and whose citizenship is excellent and highly representative of the people among whom it is exercised.

CHARLES E. CONRAD. Many lives have entered into the foundation of the state of Montana, and none of them is more worthy to be considered in a history of pioneer personality than the late Charles E. Conrad of Kalispell. Those who have come and enjoyed the splendid prosperity of the later era, however impor- tant their own contribution, have all owed a great debt to the pioneers who first tested the capabilities of soil and climate, who faced the hardships " of existence, when only the strong and brave could remain, and who laid the foundations of a goodly civilization and permanent prosperity. It was the life accomplishment of the late Mr. Conrad to gain a foremost place in the general business enterprise of the northwest. He was one of the settlers here when the Indians and military posts and trapping establishments were by far the most important features of the industry and commerce of the country. He had his training in this pioneer school, and from the crudities of that early period he gradually, with the expansion of the country, grew in his own character and capabilities, until he held a commanding place among the big men of Montana. His death, which occurred November 27, 1902, marks the passing of one of the best known men of Montana, and one whom contributions to the development of the state had a more than ordinary value.

Charles E. Conrad was the younger brother of Hon. William G. Conrad of Helena, and was throughout his career in Montana closely associated in business with this well known citizen of this state. On other pages of this work will be found the history of William G. Conrad and for many of the details concerning the business enterprise of the brothers, the reader is re- ferred to that place in this work.

Charles E. Conrad was a native of Virginia, born in Warren county, May 20, 1850, a son of James W. and Maria S. (Ashby) Conrad. The family is of old colonial stock, and the Conrads were originally from Germany, from which country the first ancestor came to America, and located on the Atlantic slope among the original colonies.

It was in a typical Virginian home of about the Civil war time that the late Charles E. Conrad was reared and spent his boyhood. It was part of the atmos- phere of the home that the children should be taught all the practical virtues of life, honesty, integrity and uprightness in word and deed, and together with these home advantages the children were also afforded the best obtainable facilities for book education. Mr. Conrad, therefore, attended school up to the time he was sixteen years of age, and at that date left home and began his career in the state of New York, where

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he served for eighteen months as a clerk in a general store. That was a period in the history of American states when the ambitious had no need to confine themselves to the monotonous life of the east, pro- vided their courage and spirit of enterprise was suffi- cient to conduct them into the great and almost un- explored world of the west. It was under the guid- ance of this westward lure and spirit of adventure that Charles and his brother William, in 1868, started for the west.

From Cincinnati they journeyed down into the Ohio river to St. Louis, and from that point followed up the great Missouri by steamboat and overland trail to Fort Benton, one of the uppermost of the northwestern military posts and a distance of more than four thou- sand miles from the starting point of these brothers. Fort Benton then occupied a peculiarly important place in the commercial as well as the military activities of the northwest. This strategic position is more clearly explained in the historic chapters of this work, and need only be alluded to at this point. Here was lo- cated the principal commercial establishment and out- fitting concerns, which directed or were interested in the great trading commerce which then extended not only throughout Montana, but across the Canadian border into the domain of the Hudson Bay Company. Probably chief among these great mercantile establish- ments at that time was I. G. Baker & Brother. With this trading establishment, the Conrad brothers became identified as clerks, and continued in that capacity until they bought the interest of the junior partner some four years later. Then for four years the busi- ness was continued under the name of I. G. Baker & Company, and at that time the Conrad brothers be- came sole proprietors. In the article concerning the career of William G. Conrad is sketched the growth of this remarkable enterprise, and its ramifications throughout the region of the northwest. The brothers gradually extended their operations and engaged in banking, cattle raising, merchandising, manufacturing, lands and agriculturals, and in almost every activity which has dominated this country since pioneer times. In Canada the business included trading posts and extensive mercantile operations over all the territory then comprised under the dominion of the Hudson's Bay Company and the Royal Military Posts, which were here and there scattered throughout the region now included within the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Mr. Conrad, through these large business opera- tions, acquired all of the results which are popularly included under the terms success and prosperity. Since the facts of his business career are so intimately con- nected with industries and enterprises which receive attention on other pages of this work, and which will be. found sketched under the name of William G. Conrad, it is unnecessary to continue the interests of Mr. Conrad's life further in that connection. He pos- sessed the character and capacity for large under- takings, and along with this quality, he also had the faculty of leadership among men. In private life he was notable for his ability to command friendship, as in business affairs for his capacity in performing large undertakings. His genial personality made him the favorite of a great host of associates, including prac- tically every man of prominence in the northwest from the late sixties until the time of his death. It was inevitable from the fact of his pioneer experience that he should be democratic, and was also accessible alike to rich and poor. His generosity was in many ways typical of the familiar estimate usually placed upon western plainsmen. Having a large record of practical accomplishments, he was still always modest, and utterly without pretense, having none of that quality which causes men to assume to be better and greater than they are. As a citizen he performed his duty everywhere and at every time as he understood his

duty, and in accordance with his principles of civic conduct.

In private life he was equally true to his convic- tions, and to his sense of loyalty to his fellow-men. He was never prominent in public life from an official standpoint, though always an active Democrat, and often taking an influential part in promoting party success. He had the distinction, however, of serving as a member of the convention which formed the first constitution of Montana. In that capacity he gained a place properly merited of being among the founders and creators of the present state of Montana. Fra- ternally he was a Mason, and held his lodge member- ship at Kalispell.

Mr. Conrad was married on January 4, 1881, to Miss Alicia D. Stanford. Mrs. Conrad, who survives, was a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a daughter of James Stanford. The three children of the late Mr. Conrad and wife were Charles D., Catherine and Alicia.

CHARLES R. LUSHER has had an unusually eventful career during his lifetime thus far, having resided in various states of the Union in the middle west, south and far west. He arrived at Conrad, Montana, in 1911, and is now the owner of one of the largest and finest department stores in the city. He is a man of splendid initiative and remarkable energy and his suc- cess in life is on a parity with his well directed efforts.

A native of the fine old Hoosier state, Charles R. Lusher was born at Laporte, Indiana, March 9, 1870, and he is a son of John and Cynthia (Garland) Lusher, the former of whom was born in Switzerland and the latter in the state of Ohio. The father was reared to maturity in his native land and came to America in the early '50s, settling in Indiana, where he was a pioneer among the Indians and where he began busi- ness as a merchant. For the past ten years he has lived virtually retired from active participation in busi- ness affairs and he is now a resident of Chicago, where he is passing the closing years of his life. His cher- ished and devoted wife was called to eternal rest in 1888.

The youngest in order of birth in a family of five children, Mr. Lusher, of this notice, was educated in the public schools of Indiana and he was graduated in the high school at Elkhart at the age of seventeen years. His first employment was with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company as fireman, which position he held for four and a half years, at the expiration of which he was made engineer on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. He was engineer for two and a half years and his. run was from Den- ison, Texas, to Galveston, Texas. In 1896 he decided to go west and in that year settled at Colfax, Wash- ington, where he was clerk in a general merchandise store for a number of years. He subsequently secured a position as clerk in a store at Wardner, Idaho. His capital when he struck Washington consisted of a Canadian half dollar, his clothes were practically worn out, and he had no friends-in short, he was a stranger in a strange land. With the passage of time, however, he managed to save his earnings and on his arrival in Conrad, Montana. April 1, 1911, he was able to pur- chase the mercantile business of J. J. Van Bergen, who had established a store here in 1909. Lusher's Cash Store is now one of the best establishments of its kind in Conrad and a very satisfactory business is controlled. Everything is kept in stock-groceries, hardware, har- ness, dry goods and furniture. Although Mr. Lusher does not figure actively in local politics, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his constantly increasing business, he is an unswerving Republican in affairs of national import. In matters affecting the wel- fare of Conrad he maintains an independent attitude. He is a valued and appreciative member of the State

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Merchants' Association and in religious matters is a Christian Scientist.

November 5, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lusher to Miss Bessie Woodward, the ceremony having been performed at Colfax, Washington. Mrs. Lusher is a daughter of Edward Woodward, of Jack- sonville, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Lusher have no children.

EDWARD NEWTON BRANDEGEE. To be numbered among Montana's most distinguished citizens is Ed- ward Newton Brandegee, president of the Montana Clinton Copper Company, the Linus Mining Company, the Wilson Placer Company and vice-president of the Pope-Atchison Hardware Company. He is a man of well deserved prominence, not only in mining and real estate business but in public and political life. An ex- pert botanist, he has made large contributions to botan- ical work in the state in the line of furthering fruit cul- ture and in extinguishing such pests and diseases as menace its fullest prosperity. He has served as the state inspector-at-large of the fruit pest, and in the years 1902 and 1903, was president of the State Board of Horticulture. He is one of Montana's Yale men and comes of an unusually fine race, whose charac- teristics have been transmitted to him in definite degree.

Mr. Brandegee was born in Berlin, Connecticut, March 28. 1865. His father, Elisha Brandegee, born in 1814, died in 1884, his summons to the "Undiscov- ered Country" coming while a resident in Berlin. He was a physician of unusual attainments and engaged in practice in that place for half a century. He married Florence Stith, daughter of Major Townshend Stith, related to the noted British family, the Townshends, John and Charles Townshend having been members of the British Cabinet.

Mrs. Brandegee was born in Italy, her father being consul to Tunis at the time of her birth. Major Stith and his father were both prominent in national affairs. The subject's mother, who passed a part of her youth in Petersburg, Virginia, died at the age of eighty years in Berlin, Connecticut. Edward Newton Brandegee was the youngest in a family of twelve children, and although the last guns of the Civil war echoed about his cradle, two elder brothers saw service in the su- preme struggle between the north and south. There were Townsend and Charles Brandegee.

Mr. Brandegee, immediate subject of this review, re- ceived his first draughts at "the Pierian Spring" in the schools of New Britain, Connecticut, and completed his education in Yale University, graduating from that famous institution with the class of 1886. His first industry after leaving college was to engage in real estate business in Kansas City, Missouri, where he re- mained for one year. He subsequently removed to Denver, Colorado, and after residing there for a short period, he came on to Helena, which was to be the scene of his very successful career. His arrival in the city was on April 5. 1889, and he has ever since resided here, taking an enlightened and effective part in the many-sided life of the thriving community. . He has been chiefly concerned in mining and real estate and his more important offices and associations have been alluded to in a preceding paragraph.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 36

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