A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 53

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

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Iseo. Pringle .

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handling the affairs of the public. He has served two terms as constable of Harlem township, subsequently was made deputy game warden of Chouteau county for two years, and then became deputy sheriff, in which position he served four years. In January, 1909, he moved to Fort Benton, where he filled the office of jailor for two years, and in the fall of 1910 was elected county assessor, an office which he fills at the present time. He is a Republican in his political views and an active and influential worker in the ranks of the party. In fraternal matters, Mr. Buckley belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Odd Fellows, the Eagles and the Knights of Columbus, is a popular member of the Harlem Club, and consistently attends the Roman Catholic church.

At Fort Benton, Montana, February 22, 1905, Mr. Buckley was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Theresa Murray, daughter of John Murray, of Milfne- apolis, and they have had three children, as follows: Emmet F., born at Great Falls, November 22, 1906; Arthur William, born at Harlem, November 13, 1908; and Philip Sheridan, born at Fort Benton, February 2. 1912.

ALBERT MAURER, prominent merchant of Great Falls and one of the leading men of his community, is a na- tive born Iowan, born in Muscatine county on the 25th of April, 1874. He is the son of Benedict and Elizabeth (Marolf) Maurer, both natives of Switzer- land. The father came to America when a young man and settled at. Milton Junction, Iowa, where he lived the life of a pioneer farmer, and passed away there at the age of sixty-seven in the year 1887. The mother, who came to America as the bride of Benedict Maurer, died at Great Falls, Montana, at the home of her son, Albert, and is buried by the side of her life-partner in the cemetery at Milton Junction. She was seventy- three years of age when she died, and was the mother of eight children.

Albert, the fifth child born to his parents, was edu- cated in the public schools of his home town, later attending the high school at Muscatine. His educa- tion was finished at the Wilton Collegiate Institute, and he was twenty-one years of age when he concluded his schooling. During his school days his father had conducted a mercantile establishment at Wilton Junc- tion, and in this house Albert received the early busi- ness training which was of such value to him in later life. After leaving college he studied telegraphy, and for some years was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific as an operator, and later was agent for that company at various points, giving five years to that service. He then resigned his position with the railroad company and came west, arriving in Great Falls in July, 1890. After a short period, he, with John B. Maurer, an older brother, purchased the business of J. H. Johnson & Company and established the business which has grown from a small concern to the largest mercantile house in Great Falls. They dealt in gen - eral merchandise, and by careful management and the exercise of the natural business ability which was theirs by birth and training, the brothers prospered from the beginning. The partnership continued unbroken until in September, 1896, when Albert Maurer purchased the interest of his brother John and has since con- ducted the business alone. The business aggregates a yearly amount of $60,000, and is constantly growing. In addition to his mercantile interests, Mr. Maurer is engaged with his brother, John B., in a live stock business of extensive nature in the Teton county region, and in that also is prospering in a most agreeable manner.

Mr. Maurer is a Republican, but not active in politi- cal affairs. He is a Lutheran in his religious faith.

GEORGE PRINGLE. In every nook and corner of the wide world the traveler will find the Scotchman. Every- where, plodding, patient, determined, steadfast, reliable, prosperous. To understand his nature one must know Scotland. If he appears crabbed, stern, unsocial, dour (as the Scotch say), consider the barren land in which he has fought nature for all the centuries in order to wring from a fertile soil and harsh climate a subsistence for himself and his family. But that is only one side of him. Beneath the practical and rugged exterior lies deep a softer stratum and from this stratum one can dig up the poet, the dreamer, the idealist, the hero. Against Black Douglas and his cruelty stand out the heroes Wal- lace and Bruce. Against the treacherous Comyn can be shown such noble spirits as Chinese Gordon; even among the faithless Stuarts the historians find James the Fifth, the poet king and lover of righteousness. Against the cynical Carlyle can be shown the kindly and equally able Walter Scott. Against Archbishop Sharpe can be shown John Knox; and finally against the crafty money lovers like Gilbert Glosson can be shown Bobby Burns, the greatest true poet the world has produced. This many-sided land has given to America a body of citizens whose priceless value can not be reckoned and who have made such an imprint upon our history that any of our citizens are proud to claim Scotch blood. Among Missoula's Scotchmen is that good citizen, George Pringle, proprietor of the leading monument works of Missoula.

Mr. Pringle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 24, 1860, and in his native country received the ad- vantages of a good common school education. At the age of fourteen years he began to think of a life work and commenced to learn the trade of a stone cutter and carver in the historic city of his birth and at the age of twenty years he was a skilled workman, doing the very best kind of monument work. It occurred to the young man that the newer land of America pre- sented greater opportunities for energy and ambition and in pursuance of this idea, he crossed the blue At- lantic and landed in America in March, 1881. He re- mained in New York for a time and found work at his trade in that state for a year. Desiring to see the west, of which he had heard such flattering report, he came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and there found employment, remaining within that city until the year 1890, when he came to Missoula, Montana. After a year here, dur- ing which he was constantly employed, Mr. Pringle went to Helena and there assisted in the stone work on the Helena jail. He came back to this place and worked as a journeyman until 1900, when he began busi- ness for himself and he has proved indeed successful on an independent footing, owning today the leading monument works in the county. His success has been directly traceable to his energy, industry and thrift, and he has made his way quite without assistance. Besides the native stone used in his works, many of his monu- ments are made from imported granite and marble. He has had considerable recognition in public life and acted as a member of the city council for two terms, or four years, and as county clerk and recorder for one term of two years. In every trust he has proved his quality and enjoys general respect and regard.

Fraternally he is a member of the Masons, Knights of Pythias, the Elks, and the Eagles, being state president of the last-named. .

The subject was happily married on June 10, 1887, his chosen lady being Miss Agnes Charlton, also a native of Scotland, whom he first met in Minneapolis. The following five children have been born to their union : Andrew Edgar, George, Jeannie, William and James. The family are members of the Presbyterian church.

The subject's father. Andrew Pringle, was engaged in the transfer business in Edinburgh. His demise oc- curred in that city in 1871. The mother's maiden name was Margaret Gow and she came to the United States

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in 1878, settling in Minneapolis and acquiring property there. This worthy lady passed away August 28, 1899. There were seven children in the elder Pringle family, as follows: William Pringle, carpenter and contractor, who died in Butte, Montana, July 29, 1900; Andrew, re- siding in Michigan; Jessie, now Mrs. McGuffy, of Phil- adelphia ; David P., merchant tailor, of Minneapolis; Alexander, a plumber residing in Oregon; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. William Coles, of Hereford, Herts, England.

When asked to give his opinion of Montana, Mr. Pringle replied : "Montana can support twice the popu- lation that it does at the present time with scarcely any assistance from the outside world. We can raise all we need here and the mineral resources of this wonderful state are as yet undeveloped."

FRANK LAMBERT. In the nine years which have elapsed since Mr. Lambert established the Lambert Mer- cantile Business in Polson, the concern has, under his careful and wise management, made rapid strides in de- velopment and progress. From a small, unpretentious affair, the business has grown to be the large and flour- ishing establishment it is today, and it is one of the solidest, best paying and generally up-to-date concerns in this part of the state. It now occupies a fine two- story building and a large warehouse adjoining, with a meat market in connection. Up until three years ago Mr. Lambert conducted the business alone, but in 1909 he took a partner in the person of Mr. Grove, who has since shared the responsibilities with him.

Frank Lambert was born in Jefferson, Ash county, North Carolina, on October 2, 1871, and is the son of Reuben and Mary Lambert. The father, who was a native of North Carolina, was born in 1842, and died in 1898 at the age of fifty-six years. He passed his life in agricultural pursuits, and died in the state in which he was born and where he passed his life. The mother, also born in North Carolina, died in 1878 at an early age. They were the parents of five children, Frank Lam- bert being the first born of that number.

The country schools of Jefferson, North Carolina, gave to Mr. Lambert such education as he started life with, and when he was eighteen years old he came to Montana and settled in Billings, becoming interested in the cattle business there, in which he continued until 1902. In that year he came to the Flathead reservation and again became actively engaged in the cattle business, remaining for two years. In 1904 he withdrew from his ranching operations and established what is now the Lambert Mercantile Business in Polson. The population at that time was scattered, and at first the business was limited, but with the growth of the country and the gradual settlement of the district, business increased gradually, and he was warranted in making numerous extensions to handle the ever growing trade. Mr. Lam- bert has demonstrated his ability as a merchant and man of business, and it is not too much to predict that he will yet be identified with the big mercantile inter- ests of the state.

In 1904 Mr. Lambert was united in marriage with Miss Ada Murray, of Missoula, Montana. No children have been born to them.

Mr. Lambert is a member of the Woodmen of the World. and in his political affiliations is a progressive Republican. He is a good citizen, always bearing his full share of the civic burdens, and has proved a valuable acquisition to the communal life of the city which has represented his home since 1903. He has a large circle of stanch friends in the state, and is an enthusiastic pro- moter of the best interests of Montana.

THOMAS E. MILLS. Not all the industries of Helena are those which deal in metals, brick, produce, and the things which minister to the primal wants of man. The great Northwest has a taste for the luxuries and the graces of life and in Helena, for instance, the trade in

flowers would rival that of an eastern city of twice its population. At the head of the horticulture industry of the region stands the State Nursery Company, of which Mr. Thomas E. Mills is president. Born in Middlesex, England, in 1869, Mr. Mills came to America when buť four years of age. His father, James G. Mills was a prominent agriculturist of Virginia, and in the city of Hampton in the Old Dominion, Mr. Mills grew up and received his education. He decided to follow his father's interesting line of work, and at the age of seventeen, re- turned to England and spent three years in London studying at the Royal Horticultural Gardens. In 1890, he returned to the United States and came to Helena. His father came with him and together they began the business which has grown to the State Nursery Com- pany.

At present, Thomas E. Mills is president of the com- pany and W. F. Mills, the vice-president. The secretary and treasurer is Walter Card. The project was started in 1890 with six hundred square feet of glass and now some twenty odd years later, this has increased to the largest institution of its kind in the northwest. The nursery is located in the extreme western part of Helena, close to the celebrated Broadwater natatorium. One would scarcely expect to find in the heart of the Rocky Mountains so complete and so extensive a hor- ticultural plant. The prevalent idea of Montana in the eastern section of the republic is of a place given to mining and stock raising, and it would greatly surprise many of the dwellers of the east and middle west to learn that one may do a thriving trade in exotics in the far west. One thing for which the State Nursery Com- pany is famed is its American Beauty roses. The so- ciety of Helena are very fond of these decorations and use great quantities of them, the city being famed for its production of this gorgeous flower. One novel feature of the green houses is the system of heating. The hot springs about a mile away supply the heat, as the pressure is sufficient to secure a good circulation. when piped into the plant. The owners do not depend entirely upon Nature to protect their flowers from her frosts for they have three heating plants on the grounds which they use when the weather is exceptionally severe.

Mrs. Mills has been in Montana only one year less than her husband, as they were married on January 12, 1891. She too is a native of Middlesex, England, and resided there until her marriage. Their family con- sists of two daughters and two sons, all in school in Helena. Gwendolyn, the eldest has finished the high school and is now continuing her studies in selected lines. Miss Dorothy, born in 1895, is in high school. William, born in 1905 is in the Kessler school, and Thomas E., who celebrated his sixth anniversary in 1912, is just beginning his education.

Mr. Mills is the holder of a large amount of valuable real estate in the city. He is a Mason and a member of the Montana Club. He and Mrs. Mills are communi- cants of the Episcopal church. Both are well known in the city and extremely popular in their large circle of acquaintances.

GEORGE T. MCCULLOUGH, M. D. For nearly twenty- two years a physician in active practice in Missoula and throughout the surrounding country for many miles in every direction, and during the greater part of that period mingling freely with the people of the county in the administration of their public affairs, in which he has always taken a very earnest and helpful interest, Dr. George T. Mccullough has endeared himself to the residents of this region both as a professional man and as a citizen. In his professional work he is learned, resourceful and skillful. As a citizen he is progressive, broad minded and stimulating in his influ- ence for good; and as a man he is upright, estimable and worthy in all the relations of life.

Dr. McCullongh's life began at East Springfield,

GEORGE T. MCCULLOUGH

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Jefferson county, Ohio, on November 22, 1858. His parents, Alexander and Beth Anne (Hammond) Mc- Cullough, were also natives of Ohio, and lived in that state until 1872, when they moved their family to How- ard county, Missouri. There they engaged in farming and raising live stock during the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in that county in 1880 and the father in 1884. The doctor's paternal grandfather, John Mccullough, came to this country from the north of Ire- land soon after the Revolutionary war and settled in Ohio, where he was a pioneer and farmed extensively after breaking up the wild land on which he took up his residence. His son Alexander, father of the doctor, served in the Civil war as captain of an Ohio regiment in the Union army and participated in a number of important battles in that contest.

Dr. George T. Mccullough obtained his academic edu- cation in the district schools of Ohio and Missouri, fin- ishing it at Central College in Fayette, in the state last named. After leaving that institution he began the study of medicine, but a short time afterward suspended his attention to this to assist in a government survey in New Mexico. When his services in that connection were ended he entered the medical department of the University of Missouri as a student, and from there was graduated with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1889.

For a few months he was engaged in practice, then began a post graduate course in Bellevue Hospital Med- ical College, New York City, which he completed in 1890, receiving a diploma from that great institution. He then passed a few months in Mexico, and in June, 1890, came to Missoula, where he has ever since resided and been busily occupied with an extensive and very active practice, except during a short time in 1898, when he took another post graduate course of special instruc- tion in the city of New York.

Mr. Mccullough has demonstrated his knowledge of his profession in both theory and practice to the full sat- isfaction of the people of Missoula county and is one of the leading practitioners of the medical science in this part of the state. He was president of the Mon- tana State Medical Society in 1899, and has long been an earnest interest and an active part in every phase Mountain Inter-State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and an ex-president of the Missoula County Medical Society. He has served as county phy- sician and is a member of the board of United States pension examiners for Missoula county, and has taken an earnest interest and an active part in every phase of the activities belonging to his profession in this part of the country.

In his political faith and allegiance the doctor is af- filiated with the Republican party. And while he is not desirous of any of its honors or emoluments for him- self, he is always zealous and effective in the service of the organization because he believes firmly in its principles. He believes firmly also in fraternal organ- izations as beneficial and uplifting forces, and belongs to a number of them. He gives his lodges all the time and attention his other engagements will permit, and does everything in his power to make them as influen- tial for good and as useful as possible.

When the Missoula Trust and Savings Bank was or- ganized the doctor was chosen its first vice president. He served the bank in this capacity for a number of years, and is still a member of its board of directors. He is, moreover, deeply interested in every element of the industrial, mercantile and social life of the commu- nity, and always ready to give his aid in making them as potential for the general welfare and wholesome prog- ress of his home locality as they can be rendered. On July 1, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Mollie Massey, a native of Missouri, who came to Montana with her husband in 1800, and resided in the state ever afterward. Mrs. McCullough died of apo- plexy September 26, 1912, leaving a son, Massey S. Mc-

Cullough, and a daughter, Maude B. Mccullough, both graduates of the state University of Montana.

Mrs. McCullough's early life was spent in several cities-Booneville, Jefferson City, Springfield, Kansas City and St. Louis, in all of which places she has friends and relatives. Her college training was received at Christian College, Columbia, Missouri. Mrs. McCul- lough was, before her health failed, an earnest worker in the Episcopal church of this city. She was beloved by a large circle of friends and her loss will be sin- cerely mourned, although death came as a blessed relief from long illness.

Mrs. McCullough was the daughter of Benjamin U. Massey, who was secretary of state in Missouri at the beginning of the Civil war.

Dr. Mccullough is still engaged in active practice in the same office he located in on coming to Missoula twenty-two years ago.

GEORGE. A. HORKAN, a leading lawyer of Forsyth, Montana, and one of the most prominent citizens and political leaders of Rosebud county, is a son of Erin, born in Ireland, July 4, 1876, and was about fifteen years of age when he left the shores of his native isle to come to the United States. Locating in Montana, he first settled at Miles City and remained a resident of Custer county until 1897, employed in the meantime in herding cattle and sheep and in working on a ranch. He then entered the government service in the print- ing and census department at Washington, D. C., where he continued thus employed until 1902. His earlier education, acquired in the public schools of Custer county, was supplemented by a preparatory course in the Flynn preparatory and business college at Wash- ington D. C., and after his removal to that city he took up the study of law in Georgetown University, from which institution he was graduated with the law class of 1902. He remained in the national capital about one year after completing his legal studies and then came to Forsyth, Montana, to practice his profession. He is a thorough student of law, gives the most provident care to the cases intrusted to him, and has shown in the process of his practice that he possesses all the qualities which go to make permanent success.

His character and acquirements have made him a prominent and valued factor in the public life of his community. As a Republican and active political worker he has served as chairman of the Rosebud County Re- publican central committee and in an official capacity has served as county attorney two terms, as well as clerk of the Forsyth board of education, and at the state convention of the Progressive party, held at Helena, Montana, September 6th and 7th. He was nominated as one of the parties' choice for congress for the state of Montana.

He was chairman of the first state Progressive con- vention held in Montana, and also chairman of the Montana delegation of the first national Progressive convention held in Chicago, August 6th and 7, 1912. Fraternally Mr. Horkan is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias and has been chancellor commander of his local lodge of the latter order four times and is now deputy grand chancellor of district No. 44 of Montana. Mr. Horkan is also a member of the Forsyth Club. He is interested in farming and enjoys all forms of out-door recreation, his automobile affording him many pleasur- able hours amid the diversified scenery of Montana.

Mr. Horkan is the son of Patrick T. Horkan and Mary Monahan, who were natives of Ireland and spent their entire lives there. The father was engaged in the mercantile business and was a devout Christian gentle- man. He died in 1885 and was buried in Dublin beside his wife, who had passed to the life beyond in 1881. There were but two children born to their marriage:

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George A., of this review, and a daughter who is now married and resides in Washington, D. C.

At Forsyth, Montana, on September 11, 1906, Mr. Horkan wedded Miss Marie Newnes, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Newnes, of Howard, Montana. To this marriage have been born two daughters and a son : Miriam J., George W. and Carroll V.

JOSEPH MCKINNON. Civilization will hail riches, prowess, honors, popularity, but it will bow humbly to sincerity in its fellows. The exponent of known sin- cerity, of singleness of honest purpose, has its exem- plification in all bodies of men; he is found in every association and to him defer its highest honors. Such an exemplar, whose daily life and whose life work have been dominated as their most conspicuous char- acteristic by sincerity, is Joseph Mckinnon, who has been interested in mining projects in Montana for a number of years past and who is now secretary and treasurer of the Miners' Union, No. I, having been elected to this office in December, 1910.

Joseph Mckinnon was born in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, the date of his nativity being the 29th of January, 1867. He is descended from a fine old Scotch ancestry, both his paternal and maternal grand- fathers having been born and reared in Scotland. Mr. McKinnon is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Gillis) Mckinnon, both of whom were born in Canada, the former in 1820 and the latter in 1830. Alexander Mc- Kinnon, was a son of Neal Mckinnon, founder of the Mckinnon family in America, and his wife was a daughter of John Gillis, who immigrated to Canada from Scotland about the year 1838. During the major portion of his active career Alexander McKinnon was engaged in business as a merchant tailor in Nova Scotia and he was summoned to the life eternal on the 5th of March, 1881, his cherished and devoted wife, who survived him by a number of years, having died on the 8th of February, 1896. Concerning the five Mckinnon children Alexander and John reside in Canada; Charles maintains his home in Butte, as does also Joseph, the immediate subject of this review; and Mary A. is . the wife of Randall McInnis, of Canada.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 53

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