A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 5

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

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Mr. Mulligan earned his first money working for Paul McCormick, his duties being driving a mail wagon and running a ferry across the Yellowstone river. Later he became a cowboy for Mr. McCormick and subse- quently for the H. X. ranch, but eventually returned to Junction. The Northern Pacific having completed its building, Mr. Mulligan then secured employment in the freight house, working at Livingston until 1886, and subsequently became a fireman for the railroad. In 1898 he was made freight brakeman and on April 17, 1900, began his duties as conductor of a freight train. Since 1909 he has had a passenger run. During the many years that he followed railroading in this section, Mr. Mulligan had gained a wide acquaintance, and his popularity has been gained through a courteous and genial manner and the faithful discharge of his duties. He is a member of Hiram Lodge No. 52, A. F. & A. M., at Forsyth; Yellowstone Chapter No. 5. R. A. M., at Glendive; and Damascus Commandery No. 4; he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Order of

Railroad Conductors, of which he is secretary at Forsyth; and Yellowstone Chapter No. 5, Order of the . Eastern Star, of which his wife is also a member. In political matters he is a Democrat, but has never cared for public office, although at all times ready to lend his influence in behalf of any movements which promise to be of benefit to his community.

Mr. Mulligan became acquainted at Forsyth, Mon- tana, with Miss Zelda A. Campbell, and on January 14, 1904, they were married. She was born at Nevada, Missouri, and is the daughter of William H. and Ruth Campbell, natives of Missouri and residents of Little Rock, Arkansas, where Mr. Campbell is engaged in fruit growing. Mrs. Mulligan is the eldest but one of the five children of her parents, four of whom are living, and she was educated at Warrensburg, Missouri. Later she taught school at Ekoloka and Forsyth, Mon- tana, and while teaching in the latter named city, met her husband. They have one daughter, Ethel Elizabeth Mulligan.

WILLIAM HARRISON COBURN. It will not be gainsaid by any resident of Boulder that one of the city's most energetic, progressive and generally valuable and admir- able young citizens is William Harrison Coburn. The possessor of splendid executive qualities and an energy that never flags, his success is a logical result. He is ex- tremely versatile and has been interested in many fields of endeavor in his less than thirty years, among them being ranching, mercantile business, hotel business and now is in charge of the Boulder Mine Company, whose interests he has successfully managed for a number of years.

Although of southern parentage, William Harrison Coburn is a son of the great West. He was born in Meacham, Oregon, June 18, 1884, and lived there for the first twelve months of his life. His parents then re- moved to Boulder, Montana, and there he lived until 1898, and then went to Meagher and Fergus counties. There he resided for the ten years previous to 1908, in which year he came back to Boulder. He began the life of a rancher as a boy but tired of the life to some ex- tent in time and at the age of nineteen went to White Sulphur Springs, Montana, and entered mercantile busi- ness at this place. His first position of this character was as an assistant to Anderson Spencer, manager of a mercantile company, and he remained in this associa- tion for about six years.

Mr. Coburn decided to cast his fortunes with the new town of Roundup, Montana, and he opened up the first mercantile establishment in the place for D. P. Mumbrue, a railroad contractor, who was concerned with the build- ing of a railroad through the West. Mr. Coburn, whose identification with any business seems to spell success, developed the Roundup enterprise into a successful con- cern and then sold it for Mr. Mumbrue to H. E. Mar- shall, who still continues it. After disposing of all his Roundup interests, the subject went to Lewistown, Mon- tana, where his grandfather, Mr. William Trotter, was engaged in the management of the Day House, and there Mr. Coburn tried the role of "Mine Host." In this as in all other endeavors he was eminently successful, being so well fitted to inspire the confidence of his patrons, that he might consistently have chosen this business per- manently, had his interests not been in other directions. His grandfather, however, became ill and sold the hotel. It was following that that Mr. Coburn returned to his childhood home-Boulder. He at once took charge of the Boulder Mine Company and has ever since devoted his energies to its affairs. This is one of Jefferson county's largest and most important institutions.

A glance at Mr. Coburn's history shows him ever to have been a very self-reliant young fellow. He earned his first dollar when in Butte, working for his uncle John Berkin, in the Raven Mine, as top boy. His education was received in the public schools at Boulder, but he did

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not have the advantage of a high school training, as Boulder boasted no higher department to its schools in those days. He belongs, if any one does, to that splen- did company-the self made man, and he is almost as strenuous as a certain popular American hero, believ- ing in keeping busy all the time. He has filled a num- ber of positions and most of them have been executive positions. In Meagher and Fergus counties he still retains ranching interests, and he is very loyal to the glorious state of Montana.

In the matter of politics Mr. Coburn has Republican inclinations, but he is far too busy to take an active interest in politics, although, like all intelligent voters he sees the necessity of keeping posted as to current events. His fraternal connections are with the Masons and the Elks, and in the former time-honored order he takes great interest. He is fond of all out-door amusements and pursuits and very appropriately holds the office of deputy state game and fishwarden, for Jef- ferson county. He is fond of good reading and believes that "He who loves a book never lacks a friend," al- though he is by no means in want of the latter. In the matter of religion he is a communicant of the Episcopal church. .

Mr. Coburn was married November 30, 1909, at Lewistown, Montana, the young woman to become his wife and the mistress of his household being Mabel E. Hoffman, daughter of John and Sadie Hoffman. They have no children.

In glancing at . Mr. Coburn's forbears we find that his father, James Coburn, was born in Louisville, Ken- tucky, but came west first to Oregon and then to Mon- tana. He ultimately engaged in railroad contracting for a number of years, but is now retired, traveling continually and having no permanent residence. The elder gentleman was married in Oregon to Mable Staf- ford, daughter of George and Mabel Stafford. She is a native of Iowa. Mr. Coburn of this review is the eldest of the three children born to this worthy couple. The subject's maternal grandfather, George Stafford, came to Iowa in his young manhood and died there when his children were very young. His wife's maiden name was Sarah Harris. She is a native of Virginia and is now living in Boulder, having made this her home off and on for a quarter century. The subject's step-grandfather, William Berkin, is still living in Meagher county, aged about eighty-six years. He is one of Montana's stanchest pioneers and shipped the first boat load of ore out to Butte. The ore was hauled by wagon to Fort Benton and then by water to Swan- sey in Wales. He still has the original bill of lading. The late Colonel Sanders was a great friend of the Coburn family and he and Mr. Berkin were associated in freighting interests in the early days. Mr. Berkin's postoffice address is Lewis postoffice, Meagher county, Montana.

PETER MILLER was born on the twenty-second day of December, 1860, at Oberamerstadt, a suburb of Darmstadt, Germany. Johannes Conrad Miller, his father was a German farmer, himself born in Ober- amerstadt. He was an enthusiastic member of the Liberal party in the Fatherland and fought under Hecker and Struve in the unfortunate revolution of '48; fought for a German parliament, freedom of press, trial by jury and the formation of a popular militia. Government and historians of Germany have alike tried to draw a veil across this chapter in the life of the nation. Possibly the bloodshed might have been averted, but the fact remains that such men as Conrad Miller risked their lives for the principles that have since triumphed in their land and the struggle forms a land- mark, a dividing point between the ancient and the modern political life of Germany.

After the adjustment following the war, Mr. Miller settled down to till the soil of his beloved province. Vol. III-2

He won for his helpmate in future years Christina Geier, a native of Murdrick, Germany. She passed away in July of 1911 at the home of her oldest son, Johannes, in Darmstadt, being then in her seventy-eighth year. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were the parents of four children, one daughter Margaret; a son, Johannes, named for his father; Peter, the subject of this sketch, and Phil- lipp, who still resides in his boyhood home.

Peter Miller received his early education in the schools of Germany under teachers who make the im- parting of knowledge their real life work. At nineteen he immigrated to the United States with an education that most of our college men might well envy. He was thoroughly grounded in the common branches, spoke fluently several languages and was a specialist in botany and horticulture. This latter line of study he had dili- gently pursued during his vacations from general school work. In the spring of 1880 he landed in New York. his expert knowledge of plant life making his services valuable in any land. After one year in that city he moved to Pittsburg, where for three years he devoted himself to the floral business. Having heard much of the great opportunities of the west and knowing that the vast extent of tillable land would be more to his own liking, he left Pittsburg for North Dakota. In 1886, only a few months later, he pushed on to Helena, where he accepted employment in the firm of Miller & Rondy, florists. For only a year was he employed in this capacity before he began purchasing the business for himself. The property was run down and the hot houses neglected and in general need of repair. Not a day during his stay but that he saw where there was a leakage of time or money. Almost from the time of his purchase, his labor and scientific methods began to bring him a small return-small at first but rapidly increasing until now the old hot houses have been re- placed with six splendid new ones of the largest size ; the grounds are in perfect condition and the equipment of the most modern; and even, with the improvements, there has never been a year that the capital invested has not brought him a good return. Mr. Miller now has the distinction of being the oldest established and one of the best known florists in the entire state of Montana.

Four years after his becoming his own master in the business world, Mr. Miller won for his wife Miss Emeline Drake, a young woman who was born in the Adirondacks of New York State. They were married on the twenty-fifth of June, 1891, but only for twelve short years was she permitted to be the mother of the home. In the summer of 1903, she was attacked by a fatal illness, her life passing out with the summer. She left motherless, in the father's care, six little children, the oldest of whom, a son, Arthur, was not yet five years of age. Bessie, the third daughter and Sarah, the baby, have followed their mother. Arthur is now in his young manhood, while Ruth and Hattie have completed the public school education, and Henry is attending the schools of Helena.

Mr. Miller is devoted to his home and spends all of his leisure among his children and his books. He is a man of the keenest intelligence and has a surprising fund of general information, his knowledge of history being particularly wide and accurate. In his political views, he is independent, believing, like his father in all reforms that tend to strengthen the rights of the people. He is a member of the Sons of Herman and of the Germania Society. The family have for genera- tions, been members of the Roman Catholic church.

FELIX LUDGER ST. JEAN, M. D. Among the successful physicians and progressive men of Anaconda, Montana, should be mentioned Dr. Felix L. St. Jean. He has been a resident of Anaconda for twenty-five years or more, and during this time has risen to prominence not only in his profession but as a business man and able man of affairs. 'A man now in his prime, the

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doctor has had years of valuable experience not only along professional lines but in the study of humanity, and his keen judgment of men has given him consider- able influence over his friends and acquaintances, who cannot be blind to the observation that years of close contact with men has made possible. Therefore in standing for progressive measures, in deciding that the people are wise enough to govern the country, in spite of his having seen the worst of humanity, the doctor has influenced many to his way of thinking and has accomplished much for the cause of modern political thought in his section.

Dr. St. Jean was born in Sherrington, Canada, on the 9th of March, 1864. His father was Ludger St. Jean, who was born in Canada and is now living in Anaconda, where he follows commercial pursuits. His mother was Sophia Vautrin, also a native of Canada. who is also living in Anaconda. The doctor received his early education in the Montreal normal schools, and after the completion of his secondary education was sent to Laval University, from which he was grad- uated in the class of 1889, with the degree of M. B., M. D., C. M. He came to Montana before completing his course of study at the University, arriving in Ana- conda where he was to make his future home in 1886. Upon receiving his diploma, he came directly to Ana- conda and there entered upon the practice of his pro- fession. His practice has grown with the years and now Dr. St. Jean has a large clientele both in the city and in the surrounding country. He is deeply interested in his work and gives his patients not only medical aid but hearty sympathy and brotherly kindness. Not con- tent with preaching progress to others, he has acted on his own theories and has done much to add to the material prosperity of the city. He has built and now owns several business blocks, and is also the owner of a beautiful home. In a business way he is especially interested in mining and mineral lands. In 1890 he became the organizer of the Butte and Georgetown Mining and Milling Company, which owns a large and are gold-bearing placer mines. The future of the com- pany, with the value of their property becoming each valuable property, consisting of mineral lands, whereon dav more certain, is a brilliant one.

Doctor St. Jean is politically of the new party, the Progressive Republican, believing that the party stand- ing as it does for reform and the tearing down of some of the custom-made laws that would seem to be a menace to the welfare of the people of the country, is the only one by which the common people of the land can obtain a fair show. As a believer in principles not in men, the, doctor himself is one of the strongest arguments for the new party, for it is principles not men that always win in the long run.

Out-door life appeals to the doctor and he is par- ticularly fond of spending a few weeks each year in camp out of reach of civilization. His automobile is also a great source of pleasure as well as being very necessary, for he and his wife spend much time driv- ing around the country and visiting the mining camps. He is a member of a number of fraternal organizations, believing thoroughly, as one of his profession must, in the great principles of brotherhood that all of these organizations are based upon. He belongs to the National Union, the Maccabees, and to many others.

Dr. St. Tean was married to Miss Rosalbe N. Nadau in Butte. Montana, in 1803. Mrs. St. Jean was born in the town of Central Falls, Rhode Island. Four chil- dren have heen born of this marriage: Aline Marie and Irene Martha are now in the high school; Felix Albert, and Jeanette Eugenie.

JUD A. HASLEY. In business and the general activi- ties of citizenship, Anaconda has during the last quarter of a century had no citizen more prominent than Jud A. Hasley. His name and career need no introduction to the people of Anaconda, and in the history of the state

his record has a proper and interesting place. He was born in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 1, 1862, and got his education in the public schools of that city. The trade of plumbing has been the basis of his entire business career, and he was engaged in the installation of plumbing in large buildings of various cities through- out the northwest at a time when only the most modern private homes had any sort of equipment of this nature. The learning of his trade and the earning of his first wages came together while he was serving his appren- ticeship in Milwaukee. His pay at the start was two dollars and a half per week, and the money he gave to his mother.

After acquiring his trade and reaching the age of twenty-one, Mr. Hasley spent several years as a journey- man in the original sense of the term. That is, for nearly a year he worked at St. Paul, then spent about six months in Kansas City, from there went to Omaha, where he stayed three months, and after that was at Denver for six months. While at St. Paul he worked on the plumbing contract for a new high school then being erected. In continuing his westward course from Denver, he took a very original method of travel and one very little employed then, and which at this modern time would seem even more hazardous and difficult than it perhaps seemed then. He rode out of Denver on one of the old high-wheeled bicycles, and with this vehicle performed the long journey through Salt Lake City to San Francisco, passing through the Yosemite Valley en route. After a short stay in San Francisco, Mr. Hasley came on to Montana, arriving at Helena in November, 1886, and has been a resident of this state ever since. His first job was in placing the plumbing in Sam Ward's residence, and then in the court house at Helena, where he remained nearly a year. During the following year at Butte he installed the plumbing for W. A. Clark's house and the old court house. At Missoula, where he was located for six months, he put in the plumbing for the Florence Hotel. The last stage of his journeyman career was Anaconda, where he came to do the plumb- ing for the Montana Hotel. This contract finished, he decided to make a permanent location here, and accord- ingly he opened a small shop and started business in a small way. Since then he has always kept the lead in his line of business, and for a number of years has en- joyed a very large and lucrative trade.

Mr. Hasley was married in Butte August 29, 1888, to Miss Cora B. O'Niel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John O'Niel, of Laclede, Missouri. Two children have been born to their marriage: Edith M., now the wife of Frederick K. Brunton, of Anaconda; and William A., who is a student in the local high school.

The parents of Mr. Hasley, John B. and Catherine (Brunner) Hasley, were both born in Switzerland, and were married there. Soon afterward they came to the United States and located at Milwaukee, where the father spent the rest of his life. During the Civil war he was a soldier for several years in the Union army, and his body is now resting in the government ceme- tery at Milwaukee. His death occurred when he was eighty-one years old. The mother still survives and makes her home with a married daughter in Milwau- kee. Of the five children in the family, Jud A. is the youngest.

Mr. Hasley and his wife are members of the Episco- pal church in Anaconda. He has long been active in Masonry, and is a past master of Accacia Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M .; a member of Anaconda Chapter, No. 16, R. A. M., at Anaconda, and Montana Commandery, Knights Templar, as well as charter member of Bagdad Temple of the Mystic Shrine, both of the latter bodies at Butte. He also affiliates with the Elks and the order of Eagles. He belongs to the Anaconda Club and is on the board of directors of the Anaconda Gun Club. Hunting and fishing and all kinds of athletic sports are among his diversions, and he has won many prizes for

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his skill with gun in club matches. He is a member of the Veteran Fireman's Association and was formerly a chief of the old volunteer fire service. He and Mr. Collins, who is now chief of the modern fire service in Anaconda, were both members of the old volunteer de- partment, and as a team they held for three years the championship for hose coupling. As a matter of fact, their record has never been surpassed, so they are still regarded as champions. Some years ago Mr. Hasley took quite an active part in Democratic politics, but his growing business caused him to cease any participation except as a public-spirited citizen who is ready to sup- port any movement for the advancement of his com- munity and state. He was formerly a member of the Anaconda city council. Mr. Hasley and family reside in a beautiful home at 416 Main street. He is a man of strong and pleasing personality, and for many years has enjoyed the esteem of his many friends and associates in this city. His extensive travels and observations long ago convinced him that Montana is the state of states, and here he expects to remain through life.

HENRY AVARE. As might be inferred from his name, the state game warden of Montana is of French descent, although he was born in New England, in the town of Worcester, Massachusetts on December 12, 1868. His father, Peter Avare, was born in Canada, of French parents. The date of his entrance into this life was 1823, and thirty-one years later he immigrated to Illi- nois, then rather a new state, although it had been suf- ficiently populated to be a member of the Union for thirty-six years. Mr. Avare did not remain in Illinois, but moved to Massachusetts and later into Connecticut, where he remained until his death in '1883 at the age of sixty. His wife, too, was of French Canadian stock, her parents being prosperous farmers of Canada. Her maiden name was Salina La Cosse, and at a very early age she changed this to Avare. Henry was the sixth of ten children to whom the mother was more than ordinarily devoted. The Avares were parents of the old-fashioned type. The father was a successful farmer and his wife a model mother and helpmeet. She con- tinued to reside on the homestead in Connecticut until her death in 1896, being but sixty-five at the time she passed away. Both she and her husband were members of the Catholic church, in which faith their children were reared.

Henry went to school in Worcester, and later in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. At eighteen he came to Montana and took up his residence in Butte, where he engaged in the lumber and timber business. This he followed from 1886 until 1890, when he sold out to give his attention to mining. He had discovered the Calumet mine near Butte. Mr. Avare operated this from 1890 until 1893 with excellent returns, but in 1893 came the great depression in business and the tremendous slump in silver. The manager of the Calu- met concluded that wood was more to be desired than silver, so he again took up the timber business remain- ing in it for three more years.

In 1896, Mr. Avare was appointed deputy sheriff of Silver Bow county, and when he accepted this office he disposed of his stock of lumber. He was again put up by the Democrats for this office at the close of his first term and again he received the appointment. In 1901 he was chosen deputy state game warden and served in this capacity until 1909. At the beginning of that year, the office of game warden became vacant, and Mr. Avare was appointed to fill the unexpired term. When the three months of his predecessor's time had expired, Mr. Avare was reappointed for a period of four years, and he is now engaged in discharging the duties of that responsible position.

Montana is a happy hunting grounds for devotees of the rod and gun from all parts of the United States, and the efficient work done by Mr. Avare will result

in the reservation of the game for many years. He is a fearless officer and one who is not found wanting in the performance of any duty incident to his office. In addition to his public work, Mr. Avare holds respon- sible positions in several financial companies in which he is interested. He is vice president of the Butte and Georgetown Mining and Milling Company and director of the Butte Copper King Mining Company, and has stock in several other noted companies. Whether serv- ing the public in office or in a commercial venture, Mr. Avare's work is characterized by the painstaking excel- lence which assures success.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 5

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