A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 67

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

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Some weeks after his arrival in this city to remain, . he opened a private school here with no capital but ability, both natural and acquired, energy that stopped at no obstacle, and honesty of purpose that has never wavered in the slightest degree. In October, 1903, he started the Garden City Commercial College, and con- ducted it on the third floor of the First National Bank building until sometime in 1904, when he moved it into the building it now occupies, which he had erected for the purpose. The building is an imposing and attractive one, a credit to Missoula in its architectural features, and as completely equipped as a commercial college as any in the country, if it does not surpass them all in this respect. Here is a manifestation of progress from a humble start to a splendid and far- famed institution, and its achievement is altogether due to the arduous and self-denying labor of Professor Reitz and his highly accomplished wife. She has been the teacher of the shorthand department in the school since they started life together, and deserves fully one-half of the credit for their success in their useful undertaking. They have two children, their son Zaner Walter, now aged eighteen years, and their daughter Edith Alpha, aged twelve at the time of this writing (1912).

Professor Reitz has been an active and helpful factor in the progress and development of the city and county of Missoula. He has stood for a clean town, believing that he was in some measure responsible for the moral as well as the educational welfare of his pupils. Mis- soula, like most other western cities, has at times been wide open, and many and bitter have been the con- tests over this feature of its life. Professor Reitz has always clamored for the strict enforcement of the law, and has fought for it through peace and through turbulence, continuing his efforts in the face of the most violent opposition, and when failure seemed inevitable .. For he is one of the men who never give up, and only unlimbers his full battery at such critical times as would drive weaker men from the field, and he has done much to make the city orderly and law-abiding.

He is a fighter and does things. When the bridge from the north to the south side of the river was swept away, on the 7th day of June, 1908, and the people were obliged to go three miles around to get across, the city had no money to build even a temporary structure. The city council could do nothing, as it had no funds. He took the matter up, and in a few hours raised $1,100 for the erection of a new bridge, which he swelled to $6,000 within the next few weeks. He then received bids, awarded the contract for the building of the bridge, gave bonds as guarantees of good faith and supervised the work of construction. The bridge was completed and opened for traffic and turned over to the city council free from debt. More than to any other one man is Missoula indebted to him for speedy relief from a great inconvenience at the time, and for a permanent improvement of great value in this matter.

Professor Reitz yielded to the importunities of his friends sometime ago and started an enterprise in the coal trade. The Garden City Commercial College Coal Company is the result, and from it the people are

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always sure to get full weight, the exact quality prom- ised and prompt deliveries at the most reasonable cost to them. Professor Reitz believes firmly that honesty in business will be as successful, not only in the long run, but all the time, as any other course in mer- cantile dealings, and he conducts the affairs of this coal company on that basis.

He applies the same rule to every thing connected with his school, and parents have always felt that their children were in safe hands when under his con- trol. For they know him to be a man of the strictest integrity and uprightness in every relation of life, and zealous in inculcating his principles in all who receive his tuition. Missoula has no better or more useful . citizen, and none whom the people of every grade and class hold in higher or more deserved esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Reitz are ultra religious and for many years have been members of the Brethren church, always doing all in their power to further the cause of Christianity.

JOHN G. JACKSON was but a youth of eighteen years when in 1892 he accompanied relatives from his native England to America and settled with them in Montana, arriving in this state on July Ioth of that year. All of this world's goods he possessed at that time was the suit of clothes he wore, but he had a large capital in the way of health and pluck. Twenty years have passed since then and the whole of that period has been spent in Montana. Today he is the proprietor of the Teton Steam Laundry at Chotean and owns 80 acres of good land near the town. Mr. Jackson started life absolutely at the bottom of the ladder and the rungs by which he has climbed to a competence have been work, self- confidence, energy, but principally work.

Born in England on October 23, 1874, to Joseph and Anna (Borrow) Jackson, he is the eldest of their ten children, whose names and dates of birth are as fol- lows: John G. of this review; Margaret Ann, born March 13, 1876; Joseph, born March 13, 1877; William, born February 6, 1880; Elizabeth Sarah, born January 18, 1882; Robert, born March 16, 1884; Stephen, born October 28, 1886; Hannah Mary, born June 10, 1889; Thomas, born October 3, 1891; and Alice Annie, born February 10, 1894. John G. Jackson is the only member of this family that has come to America. Joseph Jack- son, the father, who is a machinist, was born in England about 1842 and is still actively following his trade. Eng- land was also the mother's nativity and she too is still living.

After attending the schools of his native shire to the age of about fourteen, Mr. Jackson began to learn the machinist's trade hut had only followed it a year when he availed himself of the opportunity to come to Amer- ica with relatives. He began to earn his way by his own exertions . by accepting employment on the farm of his uncle, John Borrow, who settled ten miles south of Choteau and who there also engaged in stock-raising. After three and a half years spent on the ranch and in other duties as a farm hand, he took up a homestead for himself and followed farming long enough to prove up on his claim. Selling his property, he purchased a residence in Choteau and for the following seven years was engaged in stationary engineering. His training in England, though of a short period, had been thorough, and without difficulty he passed the Montana examina- tion to practice engineering, receiving his license on March 31, 1905. Four years later, or on March 15, 1909, he purchased the Teton Steam Laundry, which was the first steam laundry in that county and was established bv C. P. Crane about 1900. Since Mr. Jackson has had charge of it the business has more than doubled and withal it has proved a profitable venture. In addition to this he also owns a farm of 80 acres lying near Choteau.

On January I, 1897, at Valparaiso, Nebraska, were pronounced the solemn marriage rites that united him to Miss Maria Jane Petch, a daughter of John William Petch. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have three children: Law- rence P., born May 9, 1898; George Vincent, born De- cember 25, 1902; and Margareth Mary, born August II, 1904.

In politics Mr. Jackson is a Republican, and frater- nally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World at Choteau. He and his family are members of the Episcopal church.

CHARLES A. McCARTER. In the town Galata, that is now about five years old and is one of the flourishing trading centers of northwestern Montana, Charles A. McCarter was the first inhabitant to erect a building, and at different times he has owned the most important business enterprises of the town. In the future history of this region he will be written of as one of the prominent pioneers. and his work and influence have been very important factors in the development of this locality.

Mr. McCarter was born at Diamond Dale, Michigan, January 29, 1877, and during his boyhood attended the public schools. His school days ending when he was fifteen, he came out to Montana in 1892, and became connected with the cattle business which was then the principal industry of the northern part of the state. His headquarters were at Augusta, and three years later he moved to Choteau, where he acquired large interests in cattle and lands. It was in 1907 that he moved to the townsite of Galata and erected the build- ing in which was opened the C. A. McCarter store. There were only three houses in Galata at the time, · and his store was a small affair and its trade was drawn mostly from the surrounding stock and farming country. He has since built up his business into the largest concern of the kind in this vicinity, and his other interests here include a livery barn and exten- sive land holdings in this section. Mrs. C. A. Mc- Carter has the postoffice, having been appointed post- mistress in 1907, and has just been reappointed.

Mr. McCarter's parents were James and Margaret (Kirkendall) McCarter. The father, who died in Michigan in 1910 at the age of seventy-three, was a native of Scotland, coming to America when a young man, and was a continuous resident of Diamond Dale, Michigan, for forty-five years. He was a successful contractor and builder, and a prominent and respected citizen of his home locality. The mother, who was born in Charlesworth, Michigan, is still living in Dia- mond Dale, at the age of sixty-seven. Charles A. was the third. in their family of six children, the others being : John, who is a resident of Montana; William, who is still in Diamond Dale; Mary, resides in Dia- mond Dale; and Cora and Cynthia, live in California.

At Havre, Montana, on February 15, 1906, Mr. Mc- Carter was married to Miss Minnie Olsen. Four chil- dren have been born into their home. James was the first child born in the town of Galata. He was born in December, 1907, and died the following year. Jennie was born in Galata, May 27, 1909, Charles was born on April 25, 1911; and William J., was born October 15, 1912.

In politics Mr. McCarter is Republican. He affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife. is a member of the Lutheran church. He is one of the representative men and vigorous, public-spirited citi- zens of this new country of northwest Montana, in whose modern development he has had an important share.

JOHN LYNES, now the owner and manager of a large and profitable plumbing establishment in Great Falls, Montana, has been absolutely self supporting since he

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was a child of ten years. His father, Samuel Lynes, came to America from England, his native land, during the fifties. He was a carpenter by trade, but after mov- ing to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he took up horticulture and at the time of his death was running a florist shop. His wife, Lizzie (Egan) Lynes, of English birth like her husband, lived only a few years after the birth of her son, John Lynes, of this review.

The boy attended school in a somewhat desultory fashion until his tenth year, selling papers on the streets during the morning and evening hours. He found no pleasure in the shell of a home made deso- late by the death of his mother, and in the spring of 1870 he ran away, and in some manner managed to earn enough to sustain life. On August 24, 1874, when he was fourteen years old, he secured a position with John C. Stevens, a Milwaukee plumber, and here he re- mained for six years, first as an apprentice and later as a paid assistant. It was during these years that he learned in a most thorough manner, the trade which has since spelled success for him. In 1880 he left Milwaukee, the city of his birth, and went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he followed his trade for eight years, earning a more than comfortable living. It was in St. Paul that he met and married on November 19, 1884, Julia McCarrick, the daughter of Thomas McCarrick of that city. She was born on the 25th of November, 1864. Four years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lynes pushed on westward, locating first at Helena, Montana, but eight months later went to Butte, where they made their home for a number of years. Mis- soula at about that time began to show great prom- ise for the future, and Mr. Lynes moved to this city, leaving it in 1889 for Great Falls, their present home. For seventeen years after settling in Great Falls, Mr. Lynes was an employee of the Collins Heating & Plumbing Company, and was a most valuable assist- ant to this firm. On September 1, 1909, he severed his connections with that firm to establish a business in his own right at No. 309 Second avenue, South. Here Mr. Lynes has been most prosperous, and han- dles the lion's share of the plumbing and pipe fitting business of Great Falls. He owns, in addition to his rapidly increasing business, the residence property where they make their home, at No. 710 Fifth avenue, South.

In Great Falls, on the thirteenth of May, 1898, a son and heir was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lynes,-Francis E. Lynes, now (1912) a lad of about thirteen years, who is about ready to enter the high school of the city. He will receive every possible educational advantage, for his father knows only too well the handicap of a limited school training.

Mr. Lynes is one of the highly esteemed citizens of Great Falls, where he is appreciated at his full worth. He is a Republican as to national politics, but he does not recognize the wisdom of injecting partisanship into city government. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has taken all the degrces, and is also a member of the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Lynes is a devout member of the Roman Catholic church.

HON. WILLIAM R. C. STEWART. Prominent among Montana's judiciary stands the name of Hon. William R. C. Stewart, of Bozeman. In 1902 he was appointed judge of the district court of the ninth judicial district, and today, after more than a decade spent in his high office, retains in an eminent degree the confidence and esteem of all classes and holds a foremost position among the distinguished members of the Montana bench. Judge Stewart has become equally well known in financial circles, and his activities in promoting the cause of education in Gallatin county place him among those who have rendered valuable service to his com-

niunity. He was born March 21, 1866, in Monroe county, Ohio, and is a son of John Wilson and Marie A. (Carle) Stewart.

John Wilson Stewart was born in Virginia (now West Virginia) in April, 1833, and until some years prior to the breaking out of the Civil war resided on his father's farm in his native state. Removing at that time to a town near Springfield, Illinois, he engaged in farming. On the breaking out of the Civil war he en- listed in a West Virginia infantry regiment, and served with distinction in the War of the Rebellion, partici- pating in the capture of General Morgan. When he had completed his service he again engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Ohio, but in 1883 removed to eastern Kansas, and there followed farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred February 28, 1911. He was a Democrat in his political views, a consistent mem- ber of the Christian church, and was fraternally con- nected with Belleville (Ohio) Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he was master for twelve years. Mr. Stewart married Miss Marie A. Carle, who was born in Febru- arv, 1835, and she died April 8, 1908, having been the mother of five children: William R. C .; Sallie W .; Samuel V., a resident of Virginia City, Montana; Hal H., a prominent attorney of Bozeman; and one who died in infancy.

William R. C. Stewart secured his education in the schools of his native county, and when the family removed to Kansas, in 1883, the youth decided to turn his attention to school teaching. The district of which he was given charge lay in an outlaw section, and four teachers before Mr. Stewart had given up the post, being unable to maintain discipline over the lawless students. Although not much more than a boy him- self. the new master soon brought about order and succeeded in finishing his term. At this time he de- cided to continue his studies and for a time attended the Normal College, at Fort Scott, Kansas, but after a period spent in that institution went to Kansas City, Missouri, and secured employment in a hardware store. Mr. Stewart's advent in Bozeman occurred May 5, 1892, at which time he entered the offices of Luce & Luce, with whom he prosecuted his law studies for about two years, being admitted to the bar May 1, 1894. Associating himself with R. D. Steel, he began the practice of law, and in the fall of 1895, when the Gallatin Abstract Company was formed, became its president. Three years later, in 1898, he was elected county attorney, in which office he served one term. On November 5, 1895. Mr. Stewart was admitted to the firm of Hartman Brothers, the style at that time being changed to Hartman Brothers & Stewart, and with this legal firm he was connected until his election as county attorney in November, 1898, serving as same in the years 1899 and 1900, and was in private practice until December 13, 1902, when Gov. J. K. Toole ap- pointed him to the position of judge of the Dis- trict court of the ninth judicial district. He re- ceived the election to this office in 1904 and again in 1908, and throughout the term of his incumbency has displayed signal ability, preserving the dignity of the bench and fully vindicating the faith placed in him by the citizens of his section. For seven years Judge Stewart was a member of the school board, and during four years of this time acted as chairman. He was active in the organization of the Salesville State Bank and Belgrade State Bank, and for some time was active in the management of these sub- stantial financial institutions. Fraternally Judge Stewart belongs to Gallatin Lodge No. 6, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master, and other higher Masonic bodies, being a member of Bagdad Temple, Mystic Shrine and Bozeman Lodge of Elks. Judge Stewart and family are members of the Baptist church at Boze- man.

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On May 17, 1894, Judge Stewart was married to Miss Ethel M. Armstrong, in Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. Stewart is a native of Missouri, and the fourth in order of birth of the seven children of Judson and Virginia (Neff) Armstrong, the former a stock raiser and farmer of Missouri. Mr. Armstrong served as an officer in General Price's army during the Civil war, one of his comrades in arms being the late Mark Twain. Judge and Mrs. Stewart have had two children: Mildred Virginia and Harold W.

A man of vast legal knowledge and wealth of infor- mation on general subjects, Judge Stewart has brought to his high office a profound comprehension of human nature, which, coupled with a conscientious devotion to duty, has served to make his administration a notable one. Having the welfare of his community at heart he has taken a foremost place in the various movements which have served to develop Gallatin county, and both as public official and private citizen he well merits the esteem in which he is universally held.

JUDGE CONRAD R. HOFFMAN. One of the best known and most influential citizens of Libby, Montana, who, during a residence covering a period of twenty years, identified himself with various business enterprises was Judge Conrad R. Hoffman, who at various times had been engaged in stock raising, farming, butchering, mining and the real estate business, and served eleven years consecutively as justice of the peace and later three years more, being justice of the peace and police magistrate at the time of his death. During his long and active career he so conducted his affairs as to win the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens in what- ever locality he has found himself, and until his death was considered one of his community's most represen- tative men.

Judge Hoffman was a native of the fatherland, hav- ing been born at Gera, Saxony, Germany, July 4, 1837. In his native country he received a good common school education and learned the butchering business, but could see no future for himself in Germany, and accordingly, at the age of seventeen years, embarked on a sailing vessel at Bremen, and after a voyage of three months made port at New Orleans. There for a short time he was employed at his trade, but in 1857 went to Illinois, and about the time of the Mountain Meadow massacre started across the plains from Mil- ton, Illinois, for California, his party reaching their destination after a trip of six months, during which they met with many hardships and privations. Upon arriving in the Treasure State, Mr. Hoffman at once engaged in mining, a business which he followed with some measure of success for several years, and while there, in 1861, at the first call for volunteers for the Union army, attempted to enlist, but defective eyesight caused his rejection. From California he went to Car- son City, Nevada, and after a varied experience in mining at that and other places, he went to Boise, Idaho, and from there to Umatilla, and subsequently to Portland, Oregon, where he remained for twenty- two years, and where all his children were born. İn 1887 Mr. Hoffman went to Spokane, Washington, and established himself in the butchering business. In this business he met with well-merited success, building up one of the finest enterprises in eastern Washington, but the great fire which destroyed Spokane in 1889, wiped out his business, and he was deprived of the fortune he had so laboriously accumulated and was obliged to make a fresh start. In 1892 he came to Libby, his rare foresight enabling him to perceive that this was to become the center of a great commercial and industrial community, and here engaged in the butchering business. He was also for a number of years engaged in farming on Libby creek, about three miles south of Libby, where he developed one of the

finest ranches along the creek, but up to the time of his demise he devoted all his energies to the real estate business, mining and the justice work. Alert, pro- gressive and industrious, Mr. Hoffman succeeded in making a place for himself among the substantial men of Libby, and his integrity and fair dealing made his name synonymous with legitimate business methods throughout Lincoln county. In political matters a pro- gressive Republican, he was twice elected justice of the peace, and later, on the resignation of A. C. Sheldon, he was appointed to complete the unexpired term of office by the county commissioners. Fraternally, he was connected with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in all of which he was immensely popular. September '24, 1867, Mr. Hoffman was united in marriage with Miss Medora C. Barkwell, of Portland, and they had a family of eight children, of whom four are living : Mrs. Paey; Archie; Louis and Robert, the last-named being master mechanic in the Standard mine, and the father of two children: Robert and Ruth. The family is widely known and highly respected throughout Lin- coln county. Judge Hoffman died in Libby, August 27, 1912 and was buried in the Libby cemetery, Libby, Montana.

ROBERT PAULINE was born in Greenock, Scotland, in October, 1871, but coming to America with his parents at the early age of two years, he has imbibed the spirit of Americanism until he is in sympathy and education a true American. He is the son of Thomas and Agnes Pauline. The father after coming to America settled in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was employed for years as an engineer in the service of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad, giving thirty years of service to that company, and being one of the oldest engineers in the employ of the road at the time of his retirement. He died at the age of sixty, in 1903. The wife and mother still lives in St. Paul. She is now sixty-five years of age, and is strong and active. They became the parents of six children,-Alex D. Pauline is an engineer in the employ of the Great Northern Railroad, located at Whitefish, Montana; George T. is a roundhouse foreman in the service of the Great North- ern at Lamont, Washington; Mrs. H. T. Fifield of St. Paul; Mrs. R. H. Glennon, of Three Forks, Montana; Mrs. S. E. Johns, of Somers, Montana, and Robert, of this review.

As a youth, Robert Pauline received the educational privileges afforded by the schools of St. Paul, and at an early age went to work in the machine shops of the Great Northern Railroad Company at that city, where he learned the machinists' trade. He continued to work first as a fireman and later as an engineer for that road, and was with the construction train when the Great Northern built their line through to Mon- tana. He reached Kalispell in 1892, and continued in the employ of the Great Northern as an engineer until 1902, and in that year he entered into the laundry business in Kalispell. The business at first was con- ducted on a small scale, being the first venture of the kind that Mr. Pauline had ever become connected with, but subsequent development of the concern has shown him to be a man of no little business enterprise and ability. The present flourishing establishment known as the Kalispell Laundry is the direct outcome of his small investment of ten years ago, and is one of the solid business concerns of the city today.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 67

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