A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 69

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

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The public schools of the state of Ohio provided the earliest educational opportunities of William Clancy. He was yet a young boy when he mastered the three years' course of Carey College, at Sidney, Ohio. When he was but fifteen years three months of age, his par- ents with their children moved to Missouri, where the young sons joined their father in the clearing of their farm of three hundred and ninety-one acres. From a wilderness they transformed it into a beautiful and fer- tile farm, and the experience was one not without its value to the future barrister and jurist in its develop- ment, even in a manual way, of his executive ability. It was not long, however, before his pursuit of either indus- trial or educational success was overshadowed in im- portance by his duty to the nation.

When the imminience of a bitter struggle for the unity of this country became an assured fact, William Clancy was one of the first to enlist as a volunteer in her service. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company E, Fiftieth Regiment, Missouri Cavalry, for nine months' service, and at the end of that time he enlisted in Company K, Second Missouri Cavalry, with which he was engaged until November 15, 1863, when he was discharged at Hannibal, Missouri. He partici- pated in scouting duty through Missouri and Arkansas for that length of time.

Still determined to complete his general education and to pursue a professional course, young Clancy found means of doing so, despite the need of depending on his own endeavors for support in the interim. He pres- ently entered St. Paul's College at Palmyra, Missouri, from which he was graduated two years later. Thus equipped, he prepared to read law. In the office of M. C. Hawkins, a prominent attorney of Canton, Mis- souri, he spent two years of study mastering the multi- plicity of legal technicalities, situations and methods of procedure, which every successful lawyer must thor- oughly know. At Monticello, Missouri. he was admit- ted to the bar of that state on November 8, 1868.

In Edina. Knox county, of the same state he began

the practice of his profession. Here his superior abil- ity, his convincing sincerity and his deeply personal loyalty to his clients soon won him a large and impor- tant clientele and it was not long before he was recog- nized as a leading attorney in Edina and the surround- ing country. One of the honors which came to him here was his tenure of the office of judge of special court. Not long after, he was elected by popular vote to the office of county attorney. The large majority conceded him in this election clearly demonstrated the fact that William Clancy was persona grata in his own right, rather than as a party representative. The people at large recognized his unflinching honesty in interpreting conditions not always clear to others or of a nature to cause them to fear any action toward exposing or interfering with public abuses on the part of officials. He has long been remembered for his splendid service in dauntlessly bringing to public view a cabal of corrupt officials in Knox county, who were improperly using school and county funds entrusted to their care. Their private and unlawful enrichment ceased as a result of the Judge's fearlessness and public appreciation of his service in this regard was made known in an unmis- takable manner.

The political affiliations of Judge Clancy was for many years Democratic and his party journalism during his residence in Edina was of a very effective sort. At that time he was editor and originator of the Knox County Democrat and in his hands it was an influence of not a little importance in political affairs. It is still published as the organ of county Democracy in that locality of Missouri. Mr. Clancy's political alliance has ever been a matter of rational conviction. He does not believe that truth, political or otherwise, is necessarily fixed and unchanging. In the year 1892, therefore, he adopted the tenets of the Populist party, the theories and motives of which he strongly espoused.

On July fourteenth, 1893, Judge Clancy became a resident of Butte, where he has ever since been a citi- zen of importance and a man of public worth. He opened a law office in this city and was speedily recog- nized as one of the ablest members of the Silver Bow county bar. His popularity grew rapidly and after three years of residence and legal practice in the city he was asked to accept the Populist nomination for judge of the district-the second. At the election, in 1896, he was the successful candidate. At the conclusion of his term he had been a second time elected, this time with the large plurality of 1,388 votes. After eight years of distinguished service in this capacity, the judge re- tired, havng won the highest regard of the people for his wise litigation in all cases, some of these being among the most important mining cases ever brought before the courts of the United States. His impartiality, his fairness, his intuitive grasp of the necessary and lead- ing points of any given case, his strong handling of every situation, all have contributed to the high esti- mate accorded his judicial talent and his judicial con- science. The judge is unmarried and in spite of the absence of domestic ties he is the recipient neverthe- less of a warm regard on the part of all who know him and understand his rare personality, that lacks no qual- ity of affection as well as pride. He is a member of Lincoln Post No. 2, of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. Judge Clancy is a devout churchman, being a faith- ful member of the Roman Catholic church.

BERNARD KOPALD. A man whose industry, thrift and energy combined with superior business and exec- utive talents have enabled him to attain an enviable position in the business world is Mr. Bernard Kopald, who came to Butte, Montana, in 1893, and commenc- ing with a small furniture store that contained a stock of no more than a thousand dollars in value, now' conducts an' emporium that foots up sales to the

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amount of $40,000 in value annually, necessitating the employment of a full corps of salesmen. Mr. Kopald has a complete stock of furniture of all kinds at his establishment on West Broadway which is admirably displayed and the place attracts the best trade of the city to its doors.

Born in Austria July 14, 1868, of native Austrian par- entage, Bernard Kopald spent the first fifteen years of his life on his father's farm. He was the second old- est of a family of six children and in his boyhood days helped diligently with the work at home, and attended school as opportunity permitted until fifteen years old. At that age he was started out to perfect himself in a trade, as is required of all young men in that country, and for four years worked as a grocer's apprentice. His parents remained in Austria the remainder of their lives, the father, Israel Kopald, dying there in 1893 at the age of seventy-seven, and his mother's demise occurring in 1897 when she was fifty- four years old. After completing his apprenticeship Bernard bid good-bye to his home people and went out to seek his fortune in the new world. Upon his arrival in America he started at once for Omaha, Nebraska, and there secured employment as a clerk in the European Hotel. The next four years he worked faithfully at the hotel, saving his earnings carefully, and at the end of that time had a nice little sum laid by. This amount he thought would enable him to start modestly in some line of mercantile business and he decided to go further west to find a location for his venture. It was in April, 1893, that he located at Butte and established his present business and it has kept pace with that city's phenomenal growth until it is now one of the largest furniture stores here and its proprietor is counted as among the most substantial commercial elements of this section of the state.

Before coming to Butte Mr. Kopald was married at Lincoln, Nebraska, March 26, 1893, to Miss Lea Lewkowtz, a daughter of Bernard Lewkowtz, and a native of Germany. Four children were born of this union, two of whom died in infancy, Sadie and Pearl being the surviving members. Mrs. Kopald died June 4, 1901, and on October 10, 1906, Mr. Kopald was again married, his second wife being Sarah, daughter of Julius Silverman, an old settler in Montana and a resident of Helena. She died June 11, 1908, leaving Mr. Kopald again a widower. On February 22, 19II, Mr. Kopald and Miss Sarah Alderman, a native Rus- sian, were united in marriage, and they now occupy their comfortable residence at 611 West Park street.

While Mr. Kopald is a Republican he takes no active part in political affairs. He is a member of the ortho- dox Jewish church and is liberal in his support of that religious institution. In the fraternal world he is well known. He is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, Woodmen of the World, Bnai Brith, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been through all the chairs of the latter order.

Mr. Kopald is a man of strict moral rectitude, is strictly honest in all his dealings with his fellow-men, and is a citizen of the highest type, performing his public duties as a voter, and a man interested in the civic welfare of the community, in a manner highly creditable to himself. He has an enviable standing in the city, socially and commercially, and enjoys the esteem and respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

DAVID M. WOOD. The county treasurer of Cascade county is a Scot by birth and also by descent, and the other surviving male members of the Wood family are still living in the land of their birth. David Wood was one of the eight children born to Hugh and Mary Moffat Wood. Of these only three are now alive. Robert Douglass Wood lives at Kilmarnock, Scotland, Vol. III-15

and a sister, Mary Wood McMasters, has her home still further from that of her ancestors, and under stars even, which they never beheld, for she lives in Christ- church, New Zealand. David Moffat, the maternal grandfather of David Wood, was a sea captain who commanded a mail boat plying between Liverpool and the Scottish ports. He was drowned at sea in 1832, when the packet and all aboard were lost. This was the year of the birth of his daughter, Mary, who later became Mrs. Hugh Wood. She died in 1884 and is buried in Scotland. The paternal grandfather, Robert Wood, was born at Scotch Grace, where his father was a surgeon. Robert fought in the battle of Waterloo, and at his death in 1877 was buried with military honors. He had been a drummer boy in the battle on whose issue had hinged the fate of Europe. His son, Hugh Wood followed the mercantile business for some years, and died May 8, 1912, at the age of seventy- nine, was born February 21, 1834.

David Wood was the sixth child in his family and was born September 9, 1869. He received his education in his native country, attending the public schools and also the academy. Shortly after leaving school, he emigrated to America going first to Canada. Here he worked for the Alberta Railway, being stationed at Lethbridge. From 1889 until 1893 he was with this corporation, and then came to Sand Coulee, Montana. His business here was in the same nature as that in which he had been engaged in Canada. He began as timekeeper for the Sand Coulee Coal Company, and was promoted to the position of paymaster. For thir- teen years Mr. Wood was with this company, and then in 1906, he was elected to the office of county clerk. Four years later, he was the candidate of the Democratic party for county treasurer, and in 1912 he is still hold- ing that office.

Mr. Wood was married at Sand Coulee on Septem- ber 18, 1896. His wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Young, is the daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Young. Her father has now retired from business and makes his home in Seattle, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of two daughters. Margaret, born July 1, 1897, will enter high school in the fall of 1912. Her birthplace was Sand Coulee. Mary was born February 19, 1900, at Stocket, Montana, and is in the seventh grade.

The lodges of which Mr. Wood is a member are the Elks. the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen. In both the Odd Fellows and the K. P. he has been through all the chairs and has sat in the grand lodge of the order. Mr. Wood belongs to the church which is associated with' the history of the Scottish people, and which has given so many thinkers and reformers to the world: the Presbyterian. While possessing the characteristic virtues of his race. Mr Wood is a thorough American, and a most efficient public official. He has a wide acquaintance in this section of the state and an equally wide popularity.

JOHN MIEYR, a well-established tea merchant of Great Falls, and one of the prominent and highly esteemed men of his city, is a native of the Wolverine state and claims Ontonogan. Ontonogan county as the place of his birth. He is the son of John and Lena ( Kirtchen) Mieyr, both natives of Germany. The father came to America in his young manhood in the late thirties and settled in the copper region of the northern part of Michigan, and was prominent in the mining industry of that district for many years, prospering most happily, in like manner with many another of the early settlers in that abundantly rich and opportune country. The elder Mieyr offered his services to the nation when the Civil war broke out, but was rejected because of his deficient eyesight, and he was thus unprivileged to serve his adopted country beyond that service which

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every good citizen gives in the fulfillment of the every- day duties of civic life. He died in Michigan in 1903, having reached the advanced age of seventy-four years. His wife, who came to America with her parents in her girlhood and with them settled in northern Mich- igan, died in 1901, aged sixty years. They became the parents of a goodly family of sixteen children, of which family John Mieyr of this review was one of twins.

Educated in the schools of Calumet, until the age of thirteen years. Following his school days he was employed as a clerk for the Calumet Store Company, where he continued for some years. In 1893 he first came to Montana, and he was first employed in the smelters at Great Falls. In 1897 he became the agent of the Grand Union Tea Company in Great Falls Ter- ritory and continued in this capacity for nine years or until 1906. He then entered the business on his own responsibility. He started in a small way, but the re- sult of his efforts was soon apparent in the growth of the trade he controlled, and today the business which he conducts is one of the largest and most prosperous of its kind in the city. In January, 1912 he opened as an annex to his tea store, a variety or bargain store, which is rapidly coming to the front as the most popular shopping place of the city.

Mr .. Mieyr is prominent in business circles in Great Falls and popular in all circles in which he moves. He was a member of the school board from 1897 to 1900, and is a member of the board of directors of the Fair Association, and treasurer of the association. He is a director in the Great Falls Baseball Association, which is a member of the Inter-Montana League, and is one of the best known fans in the city. He is a Democrat, and takes a reasonable activity in political matters of his city and county.

On August 29, 1888, Mr. Mieyr was united in mar- riage with Miss Mayme Ryan of Calumet, Michigan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ryan of Calumet. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mieyr. They are: George Mieyr, born July 11, 1889, in Calu- met, Michigan. He was engaged in business with his father in Great Falls, was accidentally killed at Biben, Wisconsin, September 18, 1912. Myrtle, born in November, 1891, in Calumet, died in Great Falls in 1902. Richard and John, born in Calumet, both died there. Clarence, born July, 1899, is attending the Great Falls high school. Alice, born in June, 1903, is also a student in the schools of the home city, and Theodore, born in August, 1906, is the youngest mem- ber of this fine family.

Mr. Mieyr is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus, and is well known and popular in these orders throughout the state, in which he has many devoted and influential friends.

T. A. PRICE. Among the well-known citizens of Missoula, Montana, whose business, social and official career has been marked throughout with success and distinctiveness proclaiming a talent for leadership and initiative in various affairs of life is Mr. T. A. Price, a prominent real estate dealer and one of the members of the commission which governs Missoula under the new system. Mr. Price is a scion of a distinguished Welsh family, members of which have for generations been effective workers in fields of endeavor that have brought the name into good repute in various parts of the world. He was born at Waukesha, Wisconsin, April 26. 1868. the son of Thomas J. and Margaret Iones Price, both of whom were natives of Brecon, Wales, came to this country when young, and while they first became acquainted in their native land, were married in the United States. The elder Price followed the occupation of agriculturist for forty years in Wis- consin. then retired from active farming and removed

to Waukesha, where he died at the advanced age of eighty years on October 26, 1911, his wife having pre- ceded him to the better land a few months previous. He was a man of quiet, conservative disposition and was highly respected throughout the community in which he resided.

T. A. Price was educated in the district schools of the community in which he was born in Wisconsin, and later attended for a time Carroll College. When sixteen years old it became necessary for him to assist in the conduct of the farm and he early learned the value of industry and economy. He remained at farm work until twenty-two years of age then decided to abandon that occupation as life work, and pro- ceeded to learn telegraphy. After acquiring profi- ciency in operating in 1893 Mr. Price went west and came to Missoula and being pleased with the situation and outlook established a permanent residence here and has ever since maintained it, without at any time experiencing any regret over his decision, but on the contrary, often pausing to congratulate himself on the wisdom of his choice of a home.

At the time of his arrival here times were hard and one was not always able to choose the kind of work he would like to do and Mr. Price accepted the first employment that offered this being a job as driver on a delivery wagon. He worked hard for two years, lived frugally and saved his earnings carefully and at the end of that time found himself in possession of sufficient resources to enable him to purchase a half interest in the Bonner & Woodford grocery firm, he coming into possession of the stock of Mr. Woodford. The new firm became Bonner & Price and for twelve years the store was conducted with marked success and profit by these gentlemen. At the end of that period Mr. Price purchased Mr. Bonner's interest in the store then formed a partnership with J. B. Henley and the new firm was known as Price & Henley. In 1908 Mr. Price decided to retire from the grocery business and accordingly disposed of his share of the store to Mr. John Eigeman. The business had always been conducted with profit to its owners, and grew to many times its original proportions during the years that Mr. Price was engaged in its executive manage- nient.

After retiring from the mercantile business Mr. Price then engaged in operations as a real estate dealer and has since continued to be prominently identified with that line of commercial endeavor in this city. The success that he has achieved in financial and other respects has been solely the result of his own per- severing endeavor and his determination to win his way and win it honestly. He has lived here long and has had transactions with a large number of people, but all agree that whether or not one may acquiesce with him in his views on any given subject they cannot fail to be impressed with the conscientious- ness and inherent honesty of the man.

A record of Mr. Price's connection with public and official life in important capacities shows him to have accomplished much work of beneficial character to the community at large. He has always been deeply interested in educational affairs and facilities and was for several years a member of the city school board. a portion of the time serving as chairman of that body. He served on the old city council for a con- siderable time and so efficient did he prove in that capacity that when the first election under the com- mission form of city government was held he was elected one of the first two commissioners receiving the highest vote of any of the twenty candidates who were making the race. The department of the city's business which is under his special executive man- agement is that of streets, public improvements and parks. Mr. Price believes in administering public office with the same painstaking care and strict honesty

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that he would apply to his own private business and his acts are at all times an earnest of this principle. He has high ideals for civic improvement and wants to see Missoula a model city, in so far as it can be made so, and all his influence and power are bent toward achieving this end.

The home life of Mr. Price and his family is ideal. The marriage of Mr. Price and Miss Belle Hardy occurred at Groveland, Massachusetts, June 23, 1898. Mrs. Price is a native of that state, and hers is an old New England family, long identified with the his- tory of this country. Three children have been born of this union, Gladys, aged seven years; Margaret, two, and Baby Helen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Price are accomplished musicians and generous in the use of their talents for the enjoyment of their friends and the public, especially the church-going public. Mrs. Price is leader of the choir of the Congregational church of which the family are members and Mr. Price also is a member of that body of singers. Their lead -* ership in the most cultivated social life of the city is well earned and deserved and Missoula is fortunate in having people of this character so active in all lines of highest endeavor. Mr. Price is a member of sev- eral fraternal orders, including the Masonic lodge, and is personally popular among all classes of people with whom he comes in contact.

ANDREW MADSEN, who owns and conducts the Over- land Hotel at Dixon, Montana, has been a resident of this place since 1903 and in addition to his hotel inter- ests he is the owner of considerable realty at Dixon and he also has extensive mining properties in this sec- tion of the state. Inasmuch as he came to this coun- try a foreigner with no assets except energy and a determination to forge ahead the admirable success in life achieved by Mr. Madsen is the more gratifying to contemplate.

A native of Denmark, Andrew Madsen was born March 28, 1872, and he is a son of Absolom and Karen Christina (Peterson) Madsen, both of whom are now deceased, the former having died in 1904, at the age of seventy-one years, and the latter in 1900, at the age of seventy-five years. The father was a granite-cutter by trade and resided in Denmark during his entire lifetime. He was a soldier in the Danish army and saw active service in the war between Germany and Denmark, which lasted .from 1848 to 1864; he was cap- tain of the Jagers. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Absolom Madsen, the subject of this review having heen the youngest in order of birth. One son, James Madsen is a rancher in the Flathead country, Montana, and Charles Madsen is a resident of Omaha, Nebraska.

To the public schools of his native land Andrew Madsen is indebted for his rudimentary educational training and this discipline was supplemented with a commercial course in night school while learning the trade as carpenter. As a youth Mr. Madsen was a very willing errand boy and as he was often remuner- ated for his services he saved his money and at the age of fourteen years had one hundred dollars deposited in the Postal Savings Bank in Denmark. After leaving school he served a three-years' apprenticeship and learned the carpenter's trade. In 1889, at the age of seventeen years, he came to the United States and for the ensuing four years was a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, where he found work as a carpenter. In 1893 he came to Montana and for the next decade was engaged in farming in the Flathead country. In 1903 he disposed of his ranch and came to Dixon, where he erected the Overland Hotel, which he is now conduct- ing and which is the first hostelry in Dixon. He owns a great deal of valuable real estate in Dixon and is likewise interested in mining operations. He is a member of the Dixon Commercial Club and is an

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 69

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