A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 59

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

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While devoting his time diligently to the prosecu- tion of his private business Mr. Erickson is also mindful of his duty as a high-minded citizen and takes much interest in public affairs. The confidence which his immediate neighbors and associates have in his ability and honesty was convincingly shown when they elected him to represent the Fourth ward on the city council for two years. Although a Republican in national politics he believes in men rather than measures and exercises worthy independence in his decisions and actions in other matters as well as political affairs. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of the Maca- bees and Royal Highlanders orders.

The marriage of Mr. Erickson to Miss Ellen Erick- son occurred in Missoula, in 1896, and they have six children, Marie, David, Evelyn, Hilma, Frank and Robert. Mrs. Erickson, like her husband is of Swedish nativity.

FREDERICK S. BACHELDER. The execution of civil and criminal process throughout the county, the complete control of the jails and prisoners under his jurisdiction, the attending of courts and the preservation of the peace, as constituting the duties of those who hold the office of sheriff, make it necessary that the incumbent of this office be an individual of the highest degree of

F.S. Bachulder.

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efficiency, integrity and energy, and for this reason, when a man has received three consecutive elections to this position, it is ample evidence of his capability and of the general confidence and esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. Sheriff Frederick S. Bachelder, of Red Lodge, now serving his third term as chief officer of Carbon county, has gained a well- merited reputation in his official capacity, and also holds precedence as one of the leading farmers and sheepmen of his section. He was born at Castleton, Rutland county, Vermont, May 27, 1867, and is a son ·of William N. and Agnes ( Curtis) Bachelder.

William N. Bachelder was born in the state of Vermont, and there was the proprietor of a hotel at Castleton until 1872, in which year he removed to Fort Collins, Colorado, and engaged in the sheep business, having purchased the ranch of Mr. Abner Loomis. Several years later he disposed of this property and removed to Orchard, Colorado, where he purchased a tract of 320 acres of land, which he devoted to cattle and sheep raising for six or seven years, then retiring and spending the remainder of his life at Fromberg, Montana, where he died in 1905, at the age of seventy- seven years. A stalwart Democrat in politics, he was active in the ranks of his party, and while a resident of Colorado was appointed by Governor Eaton a member of the state irrigation committee, of which he acted as chairman for some time. Throughout his life he was a consistent member of the Universalist church, and prior to leaving Vermont built a church of that faith at Castleton. His wife passed away in 1876, at Fort Collins, Colorado, having been the mother of six children, of whom two survive: Frederick S. and Ida A., the latter the wife of Dr. R. L. Thorpe, of Denver, Colorado.

Frederick S. Bachelder was five years of age when he accompanied his parents to Fort Collins, Colorado, and there he secured his early education in the public schools. Reared to the vocation of sheep and cattle raising, at the age of eighteen years he left home and removed to Wyoming, where he worked as a cowboy in the employ of the Powder River Live Stock Company for three years, then returning to Colorado to visit his father. On his return to Wyoming, he was employed by the same company for another year, and in the spring of 1891 came to Billings, Montana, where he secured employment as a cowboy with the Ox Yoke Cattle Company, with which he was connected several years. Subsequently he became a bartender in Linton Broth- ers' establishment in Billings, but after about three years removed to Joliet, Montana, and engaged in the grocery and liquor business, remaining therein with some degree of success for three years. At this time he took up government land on Clark's Fork, in Carbon county, where he first engaged in farming and cattle raising, but after several years sold his cattle and replaced them with sheep, which he now raises in addi- tion to carrying on general farming. He is known as one of the substantial men of his community, an ex- cellent agriculturist and an acknowledged authority on matters pertaining to sheep raising. In his political views Mr. Bachelder is a Democrat, and on the ticket of that party was elected sheriff of Carbon county No- vember 6, 1910, having formerly served from 1900 to 1902 as deputy sheriff. His term of office was so satis- factory to the voters of the county, that in November, 1908, he received the re-election, and in November, 1910, again succeeded himself. A man of courage, he has the strength of his convictions, and has demon- strated that he regards his office as a sacred trust and that he is fully capable of preserving the peace within the borders of Carbon county. In fraternal matters he is connected with Bear Tooth Lodge No. 534. B. P. O. E., in which he has numerous friends, as he has, indeed, throughout this part of the state.

Mr. Bachelder was married July 18, 1893, to Miss Mary E. Casey, of Billings, who was born at Paterson,

New Jersey, daughter of Daniel Casey. They have an interesting family of six children, named as follows: Eva May, Ida A., Freddie, William F., Sidney and Claude.

JAMES SULGROVE. The oldest lawyer of Choteau, Montana, is James Sulgrove, who located there in 1892 when the town had barely begun its existence and therefore he may also be termed one of its pioneer citizens. In the score of years that has passed since then he has in numerous ways been prominently iden- tified with the public life of Teton county and there is probably no one within its borders better or more favorably known than Mr. Sulgrove.

Born in the beautiful city of Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 31, 1861, he is sprung from two prominent pioneer families of the Hoosier commonwealth, the Sul- groves and the Jamesons, and is a son of Berry R. Sulgrove, who was one of the most talented and most widely known journalists that Indiana has produced. More extended mention of the interesting journalistic career of Berry R. Sulgrove will be found in the sketch of Leslie Sulgrove, of Helena, which appears on other pages of this volume. The entire life of the father was spent in Indiana, where he was born March 16, 1827, and died at the city of Indianapolis in 1890, his age at death being sixty-three years. Mary M. (Jame- son) Sulgrove, the mother of James, was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, April 29, 1829, and died at Choteau, Montana on December 1, 1905 at the age of seventy-six years. She had accompanied her son to Montana in November, 1891. Of the four sons born to these parents, James is the youngest and is one of two now living, his brother being Leslie Sulgrove, of Helena.

In the public schools of Indianapolis James Sul- grove pursued his scholastic studies, graduating from the high school there in 1880. Upon completing his high school studies he entered the Central Law School in Indianapolis and remained one year, when the school was discontinued. He then completed his course in law in the office of Florea & Wishard, a well-known legal firm of Indianapolis, and was admitted to the bar on December 12, 1882. Until 1891 he practiced his profession in Indianapolis; then in that year he re- moved to Montana, where on the motion of Judge Cornelius Hedges, he was admitted as a member of the Montana bar on March 9, 1892. About a month later and after purchasing a lot of law books he set out with his belongings for Choteau and arrived there on the 18th of April. His was the first law office opened there and in the score of years that has passed since then his priority has retained the distinction both of time and professional ability. By appointment from the Montana legislature creating Teton county, he served as county attorney from March, 1893 until January, 1897, being re-elected in 1894, and filled that office again in 1901 and 1902. He has also served as a member and as chairman of the Choteau board of edu- cation. In politics Mr. Sulgrove is a staunch Repub- lican and formerly took an active part in the work of his party in Montana but in recent years has with- drawn from active participation in political affairs. His fraternal associations are with the Chevalier Lodge No. 12, Knights of Pythias, at Choteau, of which he is a past chancellor commander.

At Choteau, Montana, on March 31, 1907, Mr. Sul- grove wedded Miss Christina McPherson, whose par- ents are John A. and Sarah McPherson, residents and natives of Prince Edward Island. Mr. and Mrs. Sul- grove have three children: James M. Sulgrove, born October 23, 1908 at Choteau, Mary Christina, born September 1, 1910, and John Leland, born September 30. 1912.

Mr. Sulgrove has carved his own career and by well- directed efforts and perseverance he has achieved no

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mean degree of success. Besides a profitable law prac- tice, he owns 640 acres of irrigated land adjoining Cho- teau and the most of it is under cultivation. Oppor- tunities may abound, but not every individual has the vision to see or the courage to dare when he sees. Mr. Sulgrove saw opportunity and seized it; he met dif- ficulties and overcame them; and by his own strength has won his place among the successful men of Mon- tana.

JOHN HENRY Booz. Success comes to some men only after long years have been spent in trying to locate their proper groove-the occupation in which they can make the most of their talents, and the field in which to carry their ventures through to a conclu- sion. Often these years, although seemingly illspent, are the direct cause of an individual's prosperity, for during the period in which he has striven to find himself and his proper environment, he has been devel- oping, perhaps unknowingly, the very traits which eventually raise him to a place of importance among his fellows. A case in point that may be noted here not inappropriately is the career of John Henry Booz, of Raymond, Elkhorn county, Wyoming, who, although not at present a resident of Montana, claims the Treas- ure state for his home as the scene of his first success. Mr. Booz was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, April 17, 1858, and is a son of the late Thomas and Mattie (Whitehead) Booz, natives of the same county.

The early life of Thomas Booz was spent in Rocking- ham county, where he was engaged for a number of years in agricultural pursuits, but in later years he removed to Georgia, and after spending some years on a farm near Rome, in Floyd county, went to Polk county, in the same state, and there passed away in 1909. His widow, who survives him, resides at Cedar- town, Georgia. They had eight children, as follows : Katie; John Henry; Walter, residing at Cedartown, Georgia; Benjamin, living in Chicago, Illinois, where he is chief clerk for the Trans-Continental Freight Bureau and Passenger Association; William, living at Cedartown, Georgia; Thomas, whose home is at Rome, Georgia; Elizabeth, also a resident of Cedartown; and Lillian, the wife of William A. Evens, a promi- nent attorney of Sandersville, Washington county, Georgia.

John Henry Booz received only an ordinary school- ing in his youth, as at the age of sixteen years he decided to sever family ties and enter the world of business on his own account, intent on making his fortune. Accordingly, he ran away from home and made his way to Texas, where he worked at whatever occupation presented itself until he had become suffi- ciently experienced to make his services valuable to the cattle men, when he was given steady employment. The year 1891 saw his advent in Montana, and at Billings he secured work as a cattle herder, an occupa- tion which he followed for seven years, in the mean- time carefully saving his earnings. He eventually found himself in a position to enter the field on his own account, and began in a modest way to raise cattle. His business grew to such an extent that in 1907 he was able to purchase a large band of cattle from John W. Cole, and in 1907 he became associated with Thomas A. Snidow, the prominent business man and capitalist of Billings, and the cattle and horse business known as the Basin Cattle Company, is owned by John H. Booz and Tom ,Snidow. Mr. Booz was made superintendent of this company in Bighorn county, Wyoming, and has charge of 2,300 head of white-faced Hereford cattle, of which 1,000 are pure Hereford breed. In addition, the company is engaged in raising high-grade Percheron, Belgrade and Shire horses, having imported a number of stallions. The greater part of Mr. Booz's time is spent in looking after the ranch, but twice a year he visits Billings

to renew acquaintance with the many who know him in that city. Although he has made over $150,000 in the business in the few short years since he came to Montana, he has not been spoiled by success, and is the same genial, hearty, whole-souled man that he was when he came as a stranger from the Lone Star state looking for a chance to earn his living at some honest employment. He is a Democrat in his political views, but his business activities have kept his time too occupied for him to think of actively entering the public field. He has never married.

CHARLES H. FOOT has been practicing law in Kalis- pell since April, 1891, and bears the distinction of be- ing the first representative of his profession to locate in the city. He has carried on a continuous practice here since that time, and has gained prominence and position in his profession, as well as in other ways.

Born in Minnesota, near the town of Willmar, on Mav 11, 1859. Charles H. Foot is the son of Silas and Julia A. (Barton) Foot. The father was a native of New York state who moved to Minnesota in the an- tumn of 1858 a pioneer of the state. The subject was the first white child born in that section of the country, which was in a practically uncivilized and wholly un- settled state when the family went there to make their home. The country was infested with hostile Indians, and Silas Foot was massacred in the spring of 1863 by Sioux Indians, while his brother, Solomon Foot, was wounded and narrowly escaped a similar fate the sum- mer before. That year marked the outbreak of the Sioux war, and more than one family was bereft of its mainstay and support before the uprising was quelled. The mother, a native of Ohio, was married in her home state. She was the mother of six children, and when her husband was foully murdered, the eldest of her little family was but twelve years old, Charles being next to the youngest. She died in March, 1886, aged fifty-six years, having lived to see all her chil- dren well started in independent careers despite the heavy handicap of their youth.

Charles H. Foot attended the country schools as a boy, and was also privileged to attend the high school and State Normal at St. Cloud, Minnesota, graduat- ing from the latter institution with the class of 1882. After leaving the normal school he spent five years in Minnesota engaged in teaching, and in 1886 decided that he would enter the profession of law. He accord- ingly went into the law office of_Capt. Oscar Taylor of St. Cloud, and for two years devoted his every energy to the study of law. At the end of that time he was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law in St. Cloud, but in April, 1891, went to Kalispell. As mentioned in a previous paragraph, he was the first lawyer to hang out a shingle in Kalispell, and though other lawyers have come, and some have gone, Charles H. Foot has remained steadfast, and has won a most pleasing clientele to himself with the passing years.

His early experience as a teacher gave him a knowl- edge that has made him invaluable to his adopted city in educational circles, and he was trustee of the district school board from 1893 to 1897, and on the high school board from 1898 until 1911, with the exception of a two year period when he did not serve. He is a di- rector in the First National Bank, as well as its au- thorized attorney, and is similarly connected with other local concerns.

Mr. Foot is a Republican, but not particularly active in politics, not being ambitions as an office seeker, and only interesting himself in politics as a good citizen may always be expected to assert himself. He is a member of the County, State and American Bar Asso- ciation, and fraternally is connected with the Yeomen and Maccabees. He is a Unitarian in his religious belief.

On April 28, 1890, Mr. Foot was married in St.

Cechui A Johnom

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Cloud, Minnesota, to Miss Theresa Polley, daughter of John and Amanda Polley, both natives of Minne- sota. Six children have been born to their union: Dorothy, born in Kalispell, November 12, 1891; Eu- gene B., born February 21, 1895; Jessie, born June 8, 1897; Katherine, born January 22, 1899; Isabel, born July 27, 1900, and Helen, born December 22, 1901.

The family home is maintained three miles south of the city, where Mr. Foot has a fine ranch of 240 acres. It is a well developed place, boasting fine orchards, modern buildings, etc., and Mr. Foot gives no little at- tention to the breeding of thoroughbred horses on his ranch.

ARTHUR D. JOHNSON. As president of the Johnson Lumber Company at Conrad, Montana, Arthur D. John- son is a prominent and influential factor in business circles in this section of the state. He is likewise an energetic and public-spirited citizen and has been in- cumbent of a number of local offices of important trust and responsibility.

In the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 14, 1878, occurred the birth of Arthur D. Johnson, whose parents, Lars and Martha (Johansen) Johnson, were both born and reared in Norway. Lars Johnson im- migrated to the United States in the year 1872 and for a period of twenty years he was engaged in the con- tracting business at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He came to Montana in 1891 and is now a resident of Flathead valley, where he is engaged in fruit farming. His cher- ished and devoted wife was called to eternal rest in Minneapolis in 1893, at the early age of thirty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of four sons, of whom Arthur D. was the first born.

Arthur D. Johnson was educated in the public and high schools of Minneapolis and he also pursued a com- mercial course in the Minneapolis Business College in that city. In 1895 he came to Montana and located in Kalispell, where he secured a position as bookkeeper for the North Western Lumber Company, for which concern he worked at various periods-in all five years. For two years he was in the employ of the O'Neil Lumber Company at Kalispell and for three years he was with the John O'Brien Lumber Company. For two years he was manager of the O'Brien Lumber Com- pany at Havre and from 1905 to 1907 was superinten- dent of the North Western Mills at Kalispell. In the latter year he came to Conrad and in company with B. J. Boorman, of Kalispell, purchased the plant, yards and stock of the Somers Lumber Company, which was in- corporated with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars and known as the Johnson Lumber Company. In June, 1911, Mr. Johnson purchased Mr. Boorman's share, the same being now incorporated with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. It is known as the largest retail lumber business in Teton county and the company also deals in coal, hay and grain. A. D. Johnson is president of the company; Charles W. Johnson, vice-president ; and Mrs. F. M. Johnson, secretary and treasurer. Yards are operated at Brady, Montana, under the manage- ment of Charles W. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson is an Independent Progressive in his political attitude and he has served his home community in various important official capacities. In April, 1911, he was elected a member of the Conrad board of alder- men and is incumbent of that position in 1912. He is president of the Merchants Association at Conrad. He was a poor boy and his success in life is the outcome of his own well-directed endeavors. In addition to his lumber business he is the owner of six hundred and forty acres of ranch land in Montana, two hundred acres of that tract being under cultivation. In a fraternal way Mr. Johnson is a Mason, being connected with Black Eagle Commandery No. 8 at Great Falls and with the blue lodge at Conrad, being elected as master for 1013, Helena Consistory No. 3 and Algera Temple, A. Vol. III-13

A. N. M. S. at Helena. He is likewise affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and with the Royal High- landers.

January 15. 1902, at Kalispell, Montana, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Johnson to Miss Florence May Disbrow, a daughter of E. S. Disbrow, of Ne- braska. Three children have been born to this union, namely-Helen Lucille, Charles Arthur and Robert Eugene. In their religious faith the family are devout members of the Presbyterian church.

HON. DAVID FRANCIS SMITH. One of the able and prominent members of the Montana bar is Judge David Francis Smith, of Kalispell, who has served two terms as judge of the eleventh district and in 1904 was a strong candidate for the office of chief justice of Mon- tana but was defeated owing to the overwhelming Roosevelt tide of that year. In no profession is a career more open to talent than in that of law, and the men who succeed are men of strength, moral and mental, men who have made careful preparation for their profession and then have the native ability to use their equipment. Character makes the final decision as to a man's status in life. Judge Smith ranks among the most prominent of Montana lawyers; his judicial service was dignified and impartial and as a citizen he stands for the best and highest ideals of useful living.

He was born at Benedicta, Aroostook county, Maine, February 1, 1865. The family was established in the Pine Tree state by his father, William H. Smith, who came to America from his native Ireland and settled at Bangor, Maine, in 1820. He was a merchant dur- ing the greater part of his life, and died at Flint, Michigan, in 1874, at the age of seventy, while on a visit to a son. William H. Smith married Sarah A. Moore, a native of Maine, who died at Benedicta in 1874 when forty-five years of age. David Francis Smith is the eldest of two children born to their union.

In the public schools of Aroostook county, Maine, and in the academy there Judge Smith obtained his earlier education, graduating from the latter institution in 1885. In 1889 he completed the course at Colby Col- lege, Waterville, Maine, where he was graduated as a Bachelor of Arts, and following this he matriculated in the Boston School of Law, which institution awarded him a Bachelor's degree in 1891. During his student days he taught school, did soliciting, and engaged in other work of a like nature in order to obtain the means to defray his expenses. After time has been given in which to prove their merit, the names of such students are usually the ones on the alumni roll which the alma mater points to with pride. After graduating from the law school in 1891 Judge Smith came to Montana and first settled at Columbia Falls, but in 1896 he removed to Kalispell, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He was elected judge of the eleventh district in 1896 and was re-elected to that responsible station in 1900, winning for himself recognition as one of the ablest district judges of Montana. As previously mentioned, he was a candidate for the office of chief justice in 1904 but was defeated. He has won a professional suc- cess and at the same time has given heartily of his time and ability to further the progress and public welfare of his community. At all times he is a patron of useful learning and is now and has been for a num- ber of years president of the high school board of Flathead county. A Democrat in politics, he has long held a prominent place in the counsels of his party in national, state and local affairs. Fraternally, he af- filiates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus, and in religious faith he is a devont communicant of the Roman Cath- olic church. His professional interest is shown by his membership in the county, state and American bar associations.

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At Boston, Massachusetts, on February 1, 1892, Judge Smith was united in marriage to Miss Hattie M. Col- lins, a daughter of Rev. and Mrs. W. H. H. Collins, the latter of whom was Miss Elizabeth Hartwell be- fore her marriage, and both of whom were born in New Hampshire. Three sons have blessed the union of Judge and Mrs. Smith. Harold Smith, the eldest son. born at Columbia Falls, Montana, on July 16, 1893, graduated from Phillips Andover Academy in June, 1912, and in September following entered Har- vard University ; Charles, born in Kalispell, Montana, on August 3, 1899, and Walter, born in the same city on March 25, 1902, are both attending the public schools of their native city.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 59

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