A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 63

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

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ALBERT J. WEDUM. The Norwegian type has found many representatives in the New World and has as- suredly contributed its quota towards the onward move- ment of progress, its executive ability being great and its direction of affairs along safe and conservative lines. Among the Norwegian citizens who have taken up their residence in Montana none is more a credit to his country than Albert J. Wedum, proprietor of the A. J. Wedum Lumber Company at Dillon, one of the county's most prosperous and well-conducted in- dustries.

Mr. Wedum was born in Norway, February 1, 1873, and there resided until about the age of seventeen years. He is the son of Anton J. and Bertha J. Wedum, who still reside in their native country, the father being engaged in the mercantile and summer resort busi- ness, which lines of endeavor he has followed through- out the greater part of his active career. They be- came the parents of five children, four being sons and Mr. Wedum, the immediate subject, is the third in order of birth. Two of his brothers and his sis- ter are now in America. John A. Wedum has be- come a prosperous dealer in lumber, hardware and building materials; is married and resides at Alexan- dria, Minnesota. James W. Wedum is manager of the Lewis Wedum Company, of Glasgow, Montana. He is married. The sister, Carrie, became the wife of Olaf Soby and resides at Stady, North Dakota, her husband being an agriculturist of extensive property. The youngest brother, Theodore Wedum, is married and resides in Norway. He is associated with his father in the mercantile business.

When as a youth of seventeen years Mr. Wedum came to the Land of the Stars and Stripes, he settled in Kensington, Minnesota, where one of his older brothers had preceded him, and was engaged in the mercantile business. He remained there but a short time and then went to Wilmar, Minnesota, where he took a course in a business college, his liking for a commercial life having become apparent to him. His identification with Montana dates from April, 1892, when he located at Glasgow, and there remained six years in the employ of the Lewis Brothers, merchants and bankers. He proved faithful and efficient and was rapidly advanced. In the spring of 1898 he was seized with the gold fever and went to Alaska, landing first at Port Valdes and then going on into the Copper river country. He remained in Alaska only about a year, during which time he followed prospecting and mercantile business. At the end of the period men- tioned he returned to Glasgow, and when the Lewis Wedum Company was organized he became a member of the firm and continued with the successful enter- prise until 1909. In that year he came to Dillon and bought out the Dillon Lumber Company, now known as the A. J. Wedum Lumber Company and he has since maintained his residence here. Under his force- ful and sagacious management the concern has grown to large proportions and has added greatly to the pros- perity of the community in which it is located. Branch yards at Armsted and Grant have been opened since Mr. Wedum took charge of the business. In addition to his lumber business the subject has other interests, mercantile and otherwise, of wide scope and impor- tance.

Mr. Wedum was happily married on April 27, 1905, at Waupun, Wisconsin, his chosen lady being Ella O. Bronson, daughter of Gustav and Carrie Bronson, of

Waupun. They maintain an interesting and hospitable home in Dillon. Mr. and Mrs. Wedum are members of the Lutheran church. The former is a prominent Mason and has filled all the chairs in the blue lodge, being now past master. He is a member of the Beaver- head Social Club and the Beaverhead Commercial Club, being a member of the advisory board of the latter. He is an adherent of the Republican party, but is not active in politics, having in public affairs only the interest of every intelligent citizen. He is a devoted follower of Isaac Walton, and he is also fond of hunting, and his love of music amounts al- most to a passion, no one finding greater pleasure with the "heavenly maid." Though one of the busiest of men, he finds time for the cultivation of the finer things of life. He is a bright and shining example of the man who has made his way absolutely alone, with- out pull or favoritism, and he is now one of the most prosperous and highly esteemed citizens of Beaver- head county. His business capacity was apparent even as a small boy, when he and his two brothers specu- lated in goats and sheep and Albert J. had a bank account before he was seventeen. In fact, it was in this manner that he earned the money to come to America. From childhood economy and good business judg- ment were instilled into him. He received his early education in the public schools of Norway.

HENRY HUBERT, JR. Switzerland is the native place of Mr. Hubert, Jr., although he has lived in America since he was a boy of twelve. His father, whose name is also Henry, was born in Switzerland, and there followed the profession of painter and decorator. Upon his removal to this country he continued to work in the same line, and still follows his calling in Missoula. In the province of Alsace-Lorraine he met Marie Truxler, and they were married in that place. Four children were born of their union, two boys and two girls. The latter two did not live to grow up, but both sons are now living in Montana. The younger. Ernest E. Hubert, is a student in the State University at Missoula, and the elder, the subject of this review, is in business in Butte. The mother died in Missoula, in 1904, and is buried there.

Henry Hubert, Junior, was born in the historic town of Basel, Switzerland, on May 15, 1879. He did not enjoy the advantages of the university training in the town of his birth, for when he was but one year old his parents moved into France, and there they re- mained until Henry was twelve years of age, when they immigrated to America, coming direct to Montana and taking up their residence in Missoula. This was in the disastrous year of 1892, when the panic paralyzed business everywhere, but in the west the blow fell heaviest, for the drop in silver deprived them of one of their chief sources of industrial enterprise, and therefore of revenue. . The Hubert family shared in the general hard times and consequently Henry was obliged to begin at once to make his way for himself. He had received his early education in the schools of France, and he continued fhis in Missoula, afterwards spending one year in the high school of Philipsburg, Montana. He left home at the age of fifteen and went to Helena, where he secured employment in a drug store, remaining there four years while learning the business. This was not his first venture in the com- mercial world, for when a boy he had earned his first money at the thorny task of picking goose-berries for a Mr. Beckwith, at the rate of five cents a gallon.

After finishing his apprenticeship in Helena, Mr. Hubert went to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he took a course in pharmacy in the Valparaiso University. He was able to earn his way through this institution, and upon completing his studies he returned to the west and secured work in Butte, where he has been for the

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past twelve years. For the first six years after ar- riving here, Mr. Hubert worked as a clerk in one of the leading drug stores of the city, and then started in business for himself. The half dozen years in which he has been conducting his own establishment have proved him an excellent business man, as well as an able clerk, and the prosperity of his enterprise is wit- ness of his ability. It has been entirely by his own efforts that he has been enabled to accomplish what he has done. He has been unaided by financial assist- ance from his parents, nor has he had influential friends to support him.

On October 5, 1908, Mr. Hubert was married to Miss Cora Meyer. The wedding took place in Helena, the birthplace of the bride, and the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Meyer. Mr. Meyer was for years in business in Helena, but is now retired. The acquaintance of Miss Meyer and Mr. Hubert began while the latter was working at learning his trade in Helena, as Mr. Meyer conducted one of the leading drug stores of Helena. Their union was of short duration, for Mrs. Hubert died in Butte on November I, 1911. She is buried in Helena, the city of her birth. No children were born of their marriage.

Mr. Hubert is secretary of the Silver Bow Druggists' Association. His favorite diversions are horseback riding and reading, as he is a man who is fond of study and devoted to open air life. He is deeply in- terested in political conditions, but rather as a student than as a politician. He supports the Republican party in matters of national policy, but he is not active in the local organization. His qualities as an individual and as a man of business have made him recognized as one of the men who are making Butte so powerful a com- mercial city and the leader of the inland empire.

JOSEPH DAGENAIS. In naming the successful busi- ness enterprises of Stevensville which have been de- veloped through the enterprise, sagacity and ability of men of energy and progressive ideas, prominent men- tion should be given the pharmacy of Wilson & Dage- nais, now the leading establishment of its kind in the city. Joseph Dagenais, one of the proprietors of this venture, has been a resident of the city since 1892, and during this time has raised himself from a humble clerkship to a position among his community's leading business citizens. Mr. Dagenais is a native of Mon- treal, Canada, and was born September 8. 1872, a son of Joseph and Alice (Wills) Dagenais. His father, a native of Canada, followed the pursuits of carpenter and contractor in his native country, and a beautiful example of his skill may be found in the Cathedral at Montreal, the spiral staircase, built by him, being a masterpiece of architectural work. He died in 1899, while his wife, a native of Wisconsin, passed away not long after the birth of Joseph. They had nine chil- dren, of whom six still survive: Leopoldine, now Mrs. St. Denis, of Montreal; Jennie, twin of Leopoldine, now Mrs. Aime Beaubien, of Hamilton, Montana ; Emma, who married Joseph Verdon, of Montreal; Joseph ; William, living in Hamilton, and Sarah, who is married and resides in Montreal.

Joseph Dagenais received his preliminary education in the French language in Montreal College, and subse- quently spent one year in the Catholic College, but not liking the religious training left home at the age of six- teen years and went to Winnipeg. After a short stay there he went to Lethbridge and on to British Colum- bia, and then returned by way of Lethbridge, and made his way to Great Falls, Montana. On arriving in that city, Mr. Dagenais found himself in circumstances that were far from encouraging. He had borrowed the money with which to make the trip, and was unable to speak the English language, but with characteristic zeal and perseverance he accepted whatever opportunities

presented themselves and soon was receiving employ- ment regularly as a scenic and fresco painter. During these years Mr. Dagenais worked hard, his spare time being devoted to gaining a knowledge of the language, and being temperate in all things was able to put by a goodly share of his earnings. He subsequently went to work in the planing mills of Hamilton, and after sev- eral months returned to scenic and fresco painting, and thus continued until 1897, which year saw his advent in Stevensville. Here he secured employment in the drug store of Frank Cyrwitch, continuing in his em- ploy until 1905, in which year he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Fred W. Wilson, and purchased the establishment. This has been developed into the leading pharmacy in Stevensville, handling a full line of drugs, medicines and proprietary articles, and carry- ing all side lines that go to make up the stock of a first- class establishment. Each year has seen the trade ad- vance, and progressive methods and modern ideas as- sure its future growth. Mr. Dagenais' urbanity and strict integrity have established for him an enviable reputation in business circles. He owns a very neat and pretty dwelling, which he had erected himself, an abode of complete domestic felicity, as well as of genu- ine hospitality. In addition to hunting and fishing, of which he is very fond, Mr. Dagenais has gained some- thing more than a local reputation as an amateur photog- rapher, and many of his well-chosen views have been copy-righted and form a handsome collection.

In 1902, Mr. Dagenais was married to Miss Myrtle Dobbins, of Stevensville, and they have one child, Thel- ma. Mr. Dagenais is a member of the Catholic church, while his wife is connected with the Methodist congre- gation, and is well and favorably known in religious and social circles of Stevensville.

George W. Dobbins, the father of Mrs. Dagenais, was born July 7, 1830, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and as a child accompanied his parents, J. D. and Nancy (Smalley) Dobbins, to Marion county, Missouri, where his father was engaged in general merchandising, farm- ing and stock raising until his death in 1842, his wife having passed away in Quincy, Illinois, in 1836. George W. Dobbins left Missouri at the age of twenty years, bound for California, and left DeKalb in an ox-team, with his brother, W. J., the latter's wife, and another pioneer. At the present site of Atchison, Kansas, they joined forces with others who were making the jour- ney, and the whole party, consisting of twenty-one wagons and one hundred people, crossed the plains, the men walking practically all the way. Leaving Atchison May Ist, they arrived at Placerville, California, August Ist, and during those three months had passed fully forty thousand Sioux Indians, having considerable trouble with the redskins and being forced to kill one of an attacking party. On the journey they had pur- chased rockers and shovels and on their arrival at once engaged in placer mining. The first two days' work, however, resulted in only seventy-five cents worth of gold, and Mr. Dobbins moved on to Drytown, on Dry creek. Here he was almost immediately successful, and continued to carry on placer mining during the fall and winter, accumulating large sums and in one day clear- ing $1,000. With the usual prodigality of the miners of that day and locality, however, he was not careful in hoarding his earnings, the old English proverb that "money easily earned is easily spent," being true in his case, while food was held at almost prohibitive prices, one dollar a pound being paid for almost all food stuffs. As a consequence, when he left Dry Town, Mr. Dob- bins had a capital of only $1200. At that time he went north on a trip to Sacramento City, to visit the new mining district, and settled about twenty miles east of that city, where he remained two years, making plenty of money. Subsequently he went to Sierra county, California, but after one month returned to the

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vicinity of Sacramento, locating in Brown's Ravine, where he remained for six years, leaving that locality in 1858, bound for Frazierville. After six months in that locality, Mr. Dobbins went to Butte county, but left there in 1859 at the time of the excitement over Pike's Peak, Colorado. The trip took three months, and when it was accomplished the prospects looked so bad that Mr. Dobbins became disgusted and started to leave for the Missouri river, but while making prepa- rations met a party who induced him to remain, and as winter went on it appeared that the locality might prove valuable. Returning the following spring he be- gan work in California Gulch, but his prospects did not encourage him and in 1862 he came to Montana and took up a claim on the present site of Stevensville.

Mr. Dobbins came to Fort Limki long before Alder Gulch was opened, the Florence excitement bringing him to Montana. He remained one month at Limki, and during his stay there assisted in the capture of eleven Indians who had stolen and killed a horse be- longing to a member of the party. Ten of these were held while the other was sent away to bring another horse for the one that had been stolen, and eventually a party of Indians ransomed the prisoners by giving up two horses. On the recommendation of a pioneer named Joseph Blodgett, Mr. Dobbins and his wife traveled to the Bitter Root country, a distance of about two hundred miles, and on the way found miners at work in the Big Hole diggings badly in need of food. Mr. Dobbins went back to Fort Owen and purchased from Mr. Blodgett eighteen packloads of vegetables, which he brought back to the Big Hole diggings and sold to the miners for two hundred dollars in gold dust and a span of American horses and harness, all valued at about five hundred dollars, these being the first vegetables sold or taken out of the Bitter Root valley. That year the news was received that big diggings had been struck at Grasshopper Falls, and later came the Bannack City stampede, in both of which Mr. Dobbins participated, but in 1863, took charge of the black- smith shop at Fort Owen, where he made enough to lay in a crop and raise six hundred bushels of potatoes. These he sold for three dollars per bushel, and during that year wheat brought fifteen dollars per bushel, other food stuffs being proportionate in price. For many years Mr. Dobbins was engaged in stock raising, but in 1902, platted his land and sold eighty acres to George May, losing forty acres to the Stevensville Townsite Company in a lawsuit.

Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins are now living in retirement, enjoying the fruits of their long years of labor. They experienced all the hardships and privations which are the lot of all early settlers, and have lived hard, rugged lives, but despite this are enjoying good health for those who have reached their years, Mr. Dobbins being eighty- two and his wife sixty-nine. They were married October 15, 1860, she having been Miss Louisa Salee, a native of Missouri, and they have had nine children, of whom three are deceased, the others being: Jefferson, resid- ing in Stevensville: Jackson, of Phoenix, Arizona; Stel- ing, of Stevensville; Eva May, the wife of Fred W. Wilson, partner of Joseph Dagenais in the drug store business; James D., living at Victor, Colorado, and Myrtle, who married Joseph Dagenais. Mr. Dobbins is a Socialist in his political belief, and at one time was a candidate on that ticket for the office of mayor, but on account of political conditions met with defeat.

JOHN S. TOWERS. Among the leading men of Miles City, Montana, is John S. Towers, postmaster and a veteran of the Civil war, a man whose activities both in war and peace have led him into many parts of the United States. He was born November 6, 1841, on his father's farm in Chittenden county, Vermont, and is a son of Robert and Harriet (Bullard) Towers, and a

grandson of Robert Towers. The latter came to the American colonies as a conscript soldier in the British army during the Revolutionary war, and afterward settled in Vermont and became an American citizen. The mother of Mr. Towers was born in Massachu- setts, but the father was born, lived and died in Ver- mont. He was a man of consequence in Chittenden county and was twice elected a member of the Ver- mont legislature.

John S. Towers attended the public schools in the winter time and helped his father with the farm work during the summers, as was the general custom. He was twenty years of age when civil war between the North and South was proclaimed and patriotism ran high in his neighborhood. . He was enrolled in the first company of volunteers organized at Richmond, Vermont, but was prostrated with typhoid fever before he was mustered into the regiment. It was almost a year later before he had recovered enough to think of assuming military duty, and then went to Washing- ton, D. C., where he was assigned to hospital duty and then was made a sutler clerk and continued as such for two years. He was then removed to Brandy Sta- tion, on the Orange and Alexander Railroad, where he spent the winter of 1863-4. Mr. Towers was then made selling agent for Daniel Shaw, a sutler, and sold goods on the old plantation of General Lee, removing then to City Point, where he was sutler's clerk in the em- ploy of Shaw & Morse. His business took him then to Hampton Roads and later to Fort Fisher, arriving at the latter place three days after the fort had surren- dered. Mr. Towers and his companions slept for some three nights on the sand on the beach and then ac- companied the fleet that sailed up the Cape Fear river to Wilmington, North Carolina, where Mr. Towers superintended the opening of a sutler's store. Three weeks later he loaded his goods on a schooner and fol- lowed the troops for about fourteen miles up the river, some three or four weeks later following to Raleigh, North Carolina, and it was during this time that the news reached Mr. Towers of the surrender of General Lee. He then returned to Vermont and spent about a year regaining his health.

When sufficiently recovered to re-enter business, Mr. Towers returned to the south and at Mobile, Alabama, entered the employ of the New Orleans, Mobile & Texas Railroad Company, as a passenger conductor on the run between Mobile and New Orleans, and con- tinued in this position until the spring of 1879, when he resigned, on account of his wife's failing health, and returned to the north. For the following five years he was connected with street railway construction for the firm of Rexford & Company, afterward going into contracting on the New York & New England Rail- road, under the firm name of Rexford & Towers, hav- ing formed a partnership with his former employer. This firm was later identified with a large amount of of railroad contracting, including the Chicago, St. Louis & New York, known as the Nickle Plate road, and still later built the New Orleans & Shreveport Railroad. He had also operated for six years on street contract- ing at Long Island City. In the spring of 1892, after disposing of his railroad contracting business, Mr. Towers came to Miles City, Montana, and became in- terested here with his brother, Charles B. Towers, in a gentlemen's furnishings and boot and shoe business. In 1906 Mr. Towers was appointed postmaster of Miles City by President Roosevelt, and to this important public office he has given his attention ever since. He belongs to the Progressive branch of the Republican party.

Mr. Towers was married (first) to Miss Jennie S. White, who was born at Richmond, Chittenden county, Vermont, and died in 1881, leaving no issue. On Jan- uary 18, 1882, he was married to Miss Edith L. Wood-

John thuwant

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ruff, who was born at Elizabeth, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Towers have an adopted daughter, Lillian B. They are members of the Episcopal church, Mr. Towers being a member of the board of trustees. He is identified fraternallv with North Star Lodge, A. F. « A. M., at Richmond, Vermont.

JOHN SURVANT, as president of the Malta Mercantile Company and one of the big ranch owners of this sec- tion of the state, is eminently deserving of some men- tion in this historical work. He is also the owner of the Hinsdale Mercantile Company of Hinsdale, Mon- tana, and is state senator from his district. Mr. Sur- vant was born in Linn county, Missouri, on January II, 1864, and is the son of Joseph and Nancy (Barker) Survant. The father and mother were both natives of Kentucky, and the father served in the Civil war. He was a prisoner at Andersonville, and after being ex- changed, was drowned on his way home when the steamer "Sultana" was destroyed in the Mississippi river opposite Memphis, Tennessee, in the spring of 1865. The mother is still living in Chillicothe, Mis- souri, at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of three children, all living. Richard Logan is a ranchman at Trinchera, Colorado; Jane Amanda, the wife of Richard G. Johnson, lives in Chillicothe, Missouri, and the third, and youngest member of the family, is John, of this review.

As a boy John Survant attended the public schools of Chillicothe, Missouri, and was graduated from the high school at the age of eighteen years. In 1883 he began for himself in New Mexico as a stock raiser and rancher, remaining there for a number of years, when he sold out and went to southern Colorado, where he accepted a position as manager for the Bloom Cattle Company, the largest cattle company in the northwest. Mr. Survant has been connected with this company since 1885, and as a result of his ability and success as its manager, he still retains an interest in the business. In 1892 he came to Malta and a few years later or- ganized the Malta Mercantile Company, with L. C. Edwards and William McClellan as partners. Since that time Mr. Survant has bought out the interests of his partners and the firm is now incorporated, with Mr. Survant as president of the concern and principal owner. It is interesting to note that of Mr. Survant's original Montana homestead of one hundred sixty acres, eighty acres of it are now within the corporate limits of Malta. In addition to being the owner of several ranches in Valley county, he owns a handsome home in Malta. The Malta Mercantile Company, of which he is president, is one of the largest concerns of its kind in the city and county. The establishment requires the services of five clerks, with the same number in the Hinsdale store.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 63

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