A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 37

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

USA > Montana > A history of Montana, Volume III > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Politically Mr. Brandegee is a Democrat and is an active worker in party ranks, his word having great weight in party council. He enjoys general confidence and esteem, and is always and everywhere the high- minded, dignified and truth-loving gentleman. With him "duty" is far more than a mere rhetorical ex- pression, and in all emergencies he fully answers its most exacting demands. In 1908 he was a candidate for mayor and he has also been presented by his party as a candidate for county commissioner, and although the political situation was such that he was not elected, it is nevertheless generally recognized that he is emi- nently well qualified for any high position.

Mr. Brandegee was married in 1899, the young woman to become his wife being Miss Harriet Pope, daughter of Francis and Hannah Pope, natives of Mon- tana and of the finest pioneer stock. Their union was celebrated in this city. They share their charming household with two children: Florence Stith Brande- gee and Harriet Pope Brandegee. Their residence is situated at 327 North Rodney street, while Mr. Brande- gee's offices are located in those of the Union Bank & Trust Company.

Mr. Brandegee's paternal ancestors came to America from England at an early date and served in the colonial and early American wars. The maternal an- cestors were also of English stock, arriving on our shores prior to the Revolution, in which they gave service in the Continental line. The family has pro- duced an unusual number of patriots and men of staunch citizenship.

CHARLES W. LANE. A man who has, throughout his career led a well-rounded life doing his part as citizen and soldier, as well as in private business and social affairs maintaining positions of influence and honor, is Mr. Charles W. Lane, of Butte, well known in this sec- tion of the northwest through his connection with nu- merous activities that naturally tend to keep one in the public eye. Through his own efforts Mr. Lane has achieved success in'whatever line of endeavor he has elected to exert himself, and also been put forward by his friends at various times to run for elective office in the state, and in the resultant contests proved himself to be one of those rare individuals who can make victory of defeat, and come through a political cam- paign with more friends than when he entered the con- test. Being a Republican in politics and this city strongly Democratic in voting strength, Mr. Lane, al- though not desiring to make a run for office, and accepting nominations only upon the earnest solicita- tion and insistence of his friends, has yet been a partici- pant in some of the closest contests the city has ever seen. In one case, when running upon the Republican ticket for legislature and knowing that a victory against the Democrats was practically an impossibility, he yet came within the very small margin of sixteen votes of winning the race.

Mr. Lane was well fitted for the battle of life by birth, education and training, and is a fine example of the truth of the oft-repeated declaration that "blood tells." He was born in Newcastle, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1850, and is the only surviving member of the family, his only sister, Helen, having died when sixteen years old, and both his parents being deceased. His father was a Methodist minister, Rev. Ebenezer B. Lane, a native of New York state, his birth occurring near Silver Creek in 1818, while he died at West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, in 1865. His mother, in maidenhood Adeline R. Ray, was born in 1821 at Meadville, Pennsylvania, in which city she also died in 1905, having attained the advanced age of eighty-four years.

Reverend Lane was a man of superior education and unusual literary talent and took great pride in the edu- cation of his children, himself acting as their instructor when they were very small. As a result of this effective training the son, Charles, who was very precocious and loved study, at the age of five years could not only read fluently, but was as advanced in other branches of study, in this respect being equal to the average child of ten years.

Charles W. Lane received his first training in public schools at Jamestown, New York, but completed his high school work at Meadville, graduating from that institution when only fifteen years old. He next en- tered the Allegheny College, but was obliged to abandon his course in the Junior year on account of the death of his father, by which he became the sole support of his widowed mother. Mr. Lane had during his school days earned a part of his expenses and was always of an in-

1417

HISTORY OF MONTANA

dustrious character. When a young boy he learned the trade of carriage painting, and worked at that occupa- tion in spare time while attending school and college. The first year in college he earned twenty-five cents daily working before and after school sessions, and the second year he earned twice that amount.

Upon leaving college, Mr. Lane first secured a good position in the auditing department of the Atlantic & Great Western Railway, beginning with a salary of seventy-five dollars per month. He proved to be an exceedingly competent employee and during the eleven years that he served this railroad company and its suc- cessors in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York City, was steadily advanced to more responsible positions and when he finally resigned, had climbed far up the ladder of competent railway .management. During all these years Mr. Lane supported his mother and gave her every comfort that could be desired. On November 20, 1878, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, he was married to Miss Marian E. Douglas, daughter of Hon. Joshua A. Douglas, one of the most prominent men in that section of the state, who then occupied a place on the Supreme Court bench from Crawford county. Of this union two children were born, Ralph Douglas, now a resident of New York, and Elsie Britton, a daughter.

During his college days Mr. Lane was in the employ of Wright Brothers, proprietors of the McHenry House, Meadville, Pennsylvania. He left the employ of the auditing department of the Erie Railway in New York, and for three years was proprietor of the Mc- Henry House and a popular summer resort hotel at Lake Kenka, called Grove Spring Hotel. In June, 1889, Mr. Lane resigned that connection, however, and went west locating in Butte. Some three weeks after his arrival there he secured the position of deputy assessor under Assessor M. L. Holland, of Silver Bow county, and retained the office for two years.

Following this, Mr. Lane accepted a position as cashier for the M. J. Connell Lumber Company, and continued to discharge the duties of the place until the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, when he patri- otically responded to the call for volunteers and was made a regimental quarter-master sergeant, his company being one of those sent to the Philippine Islands. He remained in service there throughout the war, partici- pating in all engagements on the islands with the First Montana Regiment. He was a gallant soldier and a · competent officer and when mustered out was a lieu- tenant of Company A of Great Falls, Montana volun- teers.

Upon his return from the Philippines Mr. Lane again resumed commercial life and purchased a half interest in the blacksmith establishment of H. Heideman, and for some time the business was conducted in partner- ship by these gentlemen under the firm name of Heide- man & Lane. At the end of ten months Mr. Heideman withdrew from the business, disposing of his interest to Alec Johnson, and subsequently the firm became Chas. W. Lane & Company. This partnership contin- ued until 1907, when Mr. Lane purchased Mr. Johnson's interest in the enterprise and he has ever since con- tinned to conduct the establishment as its sole execu- tive head and owner.

The shops are located at Nos. 126 -: 30 South Arizona street and are one of the best equipped in the city. A large trade is served and the volume of work turned out necessitates the employment of a large corps of the best blacksmiths that can be secured. "The quality of work done cannot be improved upon and the high reputa- tion of the establishment brings to the shops a con- stantly increasing flow of profitable business.

In the sporting world, also, Mr. Lane is a conspic- uous figure and has been for many years. He is reputed to be one of the best known and most enthusiastic base ball fans in the state, and at one time Mr. Lane refused an assignment in the National League. He, it was, who organized the first base ball team in Butte and was

identified with the state league. His fame as a sports- man and his intelligent interest in that field is further attested through his connection with sporting journal- ism, for several years having been correspondent of the St. Louis Sporting News, and since 1874 dramatic cor- respondent for the Dramatic Mirrar, of New York. Mr. Lane is a clever and versatile writer and is thoroughly informed on the subjects in which he specializes.

The second marriage of Mr. Lane occurred at Poca- tello, Idaho, where he was wedded to Miss Mary Ella Leith, daughter of Charles Leith and a native of Mon- tana. The Leith family came to this state in an early day, making the trip across the plains with an ox team, and was among the first white people to locate near Helena. Mr. Leith was a miner and prospector. Mr. and Mrs. Lane are members of the leading social cir- cles of Butte and maintain a beautiful residence at No. 1108 W. Galena street. Fraternally, Mr. Lane is affili- ated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, as a charter member and one of its two first promoters, and at its organization he was also a charter member of the Ora Plato Club, which has been disbanded.

Besides the property which he owns here, Mr. Lane has in his possession the family homestead in Pennsyl- vania, which is now in part occupied gratitously by the old family nurse. Personally, he is a man of high ideals and unimpeachable integrity, liberal and progressive in his ideas and methods, and has a wide acquaintance among the best and most intelligent classes of people, and by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance is held in the highest respect and esteem. He is a citizen of which any state might well feel proud.

S. ROBERT FAIR. One of the representative business men and citizens of Butte, is a native of St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, his natal day being November 26, 1857. His parents were Robert and Rebecca (Leahy) Fair, the former a native of Ireland and was the first resident of Fairville, St. John county, the town being named for him, and died there in 1904. He was en- gaged in general merchandising during the greater part of his business life. The mother was born in Ireland and came to Lancaster county, St. John, N. B., when single. There she died in 1901 after a life full of use- fulness to her family and community in which she lived.

S. Robert Fair was one of six children born to his parents, being the third in order of birth and the only one residing in Butte.

He began his education in the provincial schools of St. John, and completed it, as far as he was able to go, at the Fredericton University, being sixteen years of age when he left that institution. When a young man, he went to Boston, Massachusetts, and began the study of pharmacy in theory and practice in the drug store of Messrs. Kelly & Berkley, of that city. After a short time in Boston he went to New York City, and thence came to Butte, Montana, in 1889.

For more than twenty-three years, Mr. Fair has been identified with the growth and development of the Treasure state, manifesting a keen interest in any move- ment or project that would work for the advancement of its interests. Mr. Fair's interests are varied and ex- tensive.

As a chemist, for which his early education fitted him, he is well known, and his connection with the mining interests of the state, as well as in other lines of in- dustry, he has always been on the side of progress. In this connection it may be stated as an interesting fact, that he opened and discovered the Mayflower mine, and sold it to Senator Clark for $150,000. For a number of years he has been connected with retail drug trade of Butte, and as the owner of the Fair Drug and Assay Supply Company, at No. 115 East Park street, he oc- cupies a position among the representative business men of the city.

Mr. Fair has been successful in business, at the same

1418

HISTORY OF MONTANA

time retaining the respect and esteem of his fellow citi- zens, among whom his honesty of purpose and business integrity are never questioned. Modest and unassum- ing in manner, he represents a high type of citizenship such as any conimunity would welcome.

In politics Mr. Fair is a Democrat, but takes no active part in political matters. He has a large acquaintance among the public men of both parties and gives his sup- port to such issues, as in his judgement, are for the best interests of his town and state.

Mr. Fair was married in St. Johns, New Brunswick, to Miss Caroline Lingley, who was born and reared in that city, a daughter of George R. Lingley. To this union have been born three children: Nellie, now the wife of A. C. McDaniel, a rising young attorney of Butte; Katherine and George. The family home at No. 221 North Excelsior street is a center of refined social enjoyment and hospitality attesting the high social stand- ing of its members.

PERRY HOWLAND MANCHESTER, one of the well-known and highly esteemed citizens of Butte, which city has been his home for nearly a quarter-century, was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, on November 6, 1843, and is a descendant in both lines of families which have long been settled in this country. Elias Manchester, his great-grandfather, was a soldier of the Revolution, en- listing in Colonel Van Shack's First New York regi- ment. Caleb Manchester, son of Elias and grandfather of Perry H., was. a resident of the state of New York, of Scipioville, Cayuga county, and there his son, Elias C., was born. The latter removed to Michigan at an early period of his life, taking up his residence in 1836, in Battle Creek, Calhoun county, of which he thus be- came a pioneer and in which he spent the remainder of his life. He had married, in her native state of New York, Miss Amy Ann Howland, daughter of Perry How- land, who lived, at Ledyord, Cayuga county, that state, and a descendant of the noted Howland family of south- eastern Massachusetts, and whose ancestry, traced to the Mayflower, contained members of such great promi- nence in the history of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Amy Howland Manchester also held the distinction of being a birthright member of the Society of Friends.

To Elias Manchester and his wife, in their Michigan home, ten children were born, of whom seven are yet living, and among whom five sons went forth to give yeoman service in the Civil war. Stephen, the first to enlist, entered the service in April, 1861, in Company C, Second Michigan Infantry, for three months' service. Because of illness after the Peninsular campaign, he was honorably discharged in the fall of 1862. He sub- sequently re-enlisted for three years in the same regi- ment and company. He died at Harbor Springs, Mich- igan, in 1910. After the enlistment of Perry H., who was the second of the brothers to enter the army, Caleb next joined the service in the Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, enlisting for three years. He is now a resident of Augusta, Michigan. Charles E. and Elias H. together enlisted in February, 1865, in the First Michigan Cavalry, and Stephen reenlisted for the third time, with these two brothers. At present Charles E. resides in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Elias H. in Kansas City, Missouri.

Perry H. Manchester was eighteen years of age when he laid aside his text books to enlist in Company C, Twentieth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was mus- tered into service on July 29, 1862, at Battle Creek, Michigan. He went into camp at Jackson, Michigan, and on September 5th accompanied his regiment to Washington, D. C., where they were assigned to the Ninth Army Corps, under General Burnside. They then marched to Alexandria, Virginia, and again back to Washington, their absence having caused them to miss by one day the battle of Antietam. They then took part in the battle of Fredericksburg; in February, 1803, they went to Newport News; one month later they moved northward to Baltimore; and finally they marched to

Kentucky, where they engaged with Morgan's raiders in the battle at Horseshoe Plains, in May, 1863. Mr. Man- chester was with the Army of the Cumberland while it was making its gallant record, was present at the fall of Vicksburg, from there went to Jackson, Mississippi, and back to Crab Orchard, Kentucky, where sickness incapacitated him for active duty, his regiment preced- ing him to Knoxville, Tennessee, and leaving him in hospital. In the spring of 1864, having joined his regi- ment at Annapolis, Maryland, he participated in the memorable Peninsular campaign, seeing active service in the battles of The Wilderness and Spottsylvania. He was wounded on May 24, at North Anna river. The injury was not at first regarded as a serious one, but it proved to be such, confining him in a Washington hos- pital for some time. He was finally removed by his father to Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, where he remained from September, 1864, until the close of the war, and he was on crutches when he received his discharge.

As soon as he had gathered sufficient strength, Mr. Manchester entered the Eastman Business College in Chicago, where he was graduated in March, 1866, re- ceiving the highest honors in a class of twenty-four. He secured a position as bookkeeper in Battle Creek, his native city, where he pursued his vocation until 1871, when he removed to Nebraska, took up a homestead in Clay county and followed agriculture until 1880, when he returned to Battle Creek. He changed his location to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1881, and engaged in the lumber- ing pursuits of that place during the winter, after which he resumed bookkeeping in Battle Creek; there he con- tinued that occupation until February, 1884, when he was chosen secretary and manager of a cooperative store at that place. After one year he conducted merchandise operations for himself until June, 1889. At that time he came to Montana, his first location in this state being in the vicinity of Bozeman. In October he came to Butte, where he assumed the position of bookkeeper for the Nelson Story & Company flour and feed business. In August, 1890, he was made manager of this business and continued in the executive incumbency until August I, 1900, at which time Mr. Story disposed of the con- cern. Mr. Manchester was employed by the new firm until January 19, 1901. In the March following he became manager of the Trull Transfer business in Butte-now known as the Montana Transfer Company. He thereafter combined the responsibilities of manager and bookkeeper for the company with those of time- keeper and bookkeeper for the Nipper mine until Feb- ruary, 1902. In the fall of that year he engaged as a merchandise broker on his own account, continuing for one year, at the end of which time he became connected in the capacity of cashier, with the Story Flour and Feed Company. In the spring of 1905, for considera- tions of health, he resigned this position and spent the following year in California. In May, 1906, he again engaged in the merchandise brokerage business, which he has since continued.

In politics Mr. Manchester is an unwavering adherent of the Republican party and his first ballot was cast for Abraham Lincoln on his second term. He has held a succession of civic and political positions. While resid- ing in Nebraska he was elected to the office of justice of the peace. In April, 1901, he was made an alderman from the Seventh ward of Butte, in which capacity he served for two years. In 1906 he was elected a member of the tenth legislature of Montana, his term of service as a representative being two years. Mr. Manchester is very prominent and widely known in G. A. R. circles, being a member of Lincoln Post, Number 2, in which he has held all offices and is now filling that of adjutant. In 1897 and 1898 he was assistant adjutant general for the Department of Montana under Col. Peter R. Dolman; in 1900 he became department commander for Montana and served one year, which made him a mem- ber of the Soldiers' Home Board during that time; from

1419

HISTORY OF MONTANA

November of 1910 to May, 1911, he held the same posi- tion and also that of quartermaster general under the department commander, Robert G. Huston. Fraternally Perry Manchester is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 24, of the order of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons and has served for several years as its treasurer. He has furthermore for a number of years been a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which organization he is a past master and in which he held for a number of years the office of receiver. He was also affiliated with the Royal Templars of Temperance during the existence of that order in the city of Battle Creek.

On November 6, 1867, in Battle Creek, Michigan, Mr. Manchester was married to Miss Amitys Piper, who was born in Ontario county, New York, on January 18, 1845, and who, like her husband, comes of old New England ancestry. Her paternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier while her maternal grandfather, Silas Phelps, enlisted also in the Continental army, entering in 1775 at Lynn, Massachusetts, for a term of service closing in 1783. During the years of her mar- riage to Mr. Manchetser the family has been completed by the birth of two sons and one daughter, all of whom have grown to maturity and have founded homes of their own. Theodore E., who was born September 20, 1868, was a member of Company G, of the First Mon- tana Volunteers during the Spanish-American war ; dur- ing the service he was wounded at Manila on February 23, 1899. He is now connected with the Puget Sound naval station at Bremerton, Washington. Theodore Manchester married Miss Dorothea Clare and they have one son named Elias Thomas. The second son of Perry Manchester and his wife is Edward P. who was born January 3, 1871; who married Miss Cornelia Enderley ; and whose present home is at Escondido California where he conducts a fruit farm. Orra E. Manchester who was born on July 11, 1876, became Mrs. Charles H. Little and resides with her family in Butte. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Little are as follows: Helen A., born April 21, 1899; Grace O., born July 29, 1904, and died in August, 1905; Eugene E., born February 26, 1908; and Marjorie H., born October 20, 1909.

Mrs. Manchester is a member of the Women's Relief Corps, in which she has been quite active, serving in all the chairs and also as department president, the latter in 1896 and 1897. She and her daughter, Mrs. Little, are members of Ruth Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Both are also members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Since June, 1890, Mr. Manchester's residence has been at 927 south Arizona street, Butte.

NICHOLAS J. TRAUFLER, whose entire active career during his residence in Montana, whither he came in the year 1889, has been devoted to the great mining industry, has for two terms been the unusually efficient incum- bent of the office of sheriff of Virginia City, which place has represented his home since 1893. Mr. Traufler was born in the city of Dubuque, Iowa, the date of his nativity being the 20th of December, 1864. His father, Nicholas J. Traufler, was born in the great Empire of Germany, whence he immigrated to the United States at the age of eighteen years. In 1841 Nicholas J. Traufler settled in Iowa, where he entered a tract of government land and where he was engaged in farming operations until his demise, in 1911, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Betz, was born in Germany and she met and married Mr. Traufler in Iowa. She passed to eter- nal rest in 1910, aged eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Traufler became the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this biography was the second child and oldest son.

As an infant Nicholas J. Traufler, Jr., was brought by his parents to Independence, lowa, where he was reared to the age of seven years, at which time the family home

was established in Bremer county, that state. He passed .his boyhood and youth on the old homestead farm, in the work and management of which he early began to assist his father, and his rudimentary educational train- ing consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the district schools of Bremer county. In 1889, at the age of twenty-five years, he came to Montana and set- tled in the city of Butte, where he followed mining for one year, at the expiration of which he went to Granite City, there engaging in the mining industry for eigh- teen months. He then returned to Butte and in 1893 came to Madison county, locating near Sheridan, where his home has since been maintained and where his attention has been devoted to mining operations and to politics.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 37

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