A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 73

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

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Mr. Vineyard's paternal ancestors came from Hol- land in colonial days, and members of the family served with distinction during the Revolutionary war as soldiers. His maternal ancestors were of Scotch birth, and the original family homestead, secured from the government in Missouri, before that common- wealth secured statehood, is still in the Vineyard name. Stephen Vineyard was born in Roanoke county, Virginia, and for many years was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Jefferson county, Missouri, whence he removed when a young man, and where he still makes his home, as does his wife, who was born in that state. They had a family consisting of one daugh- ter and seven sons, Elmer L. being the second oldest.

The early life of Mr. Vineyard was spent on the old family homestead in Jefferson county, and during the winter months, when his services were not needed in cultivating the farm he attended the district schools of the vicinity. When eighteen years of age he left home to accept a position with F. E. Meyers & Brothers,

of Ashland, Ohio, manufacturers of pumps and hay tools, and for this concern he soon became sales rep- resentative for Missouri and southern Illinois. After spending three years with this firm, Mr. Vineyard resigned his position to enter the service of Fair- banks, Morse & Company, in engineering and irriga- tion work, and after spending some time in erecting engines came to Montana as representative of the company in 1894. From that year until 1900 he was with the Great Northern Railroad, being engaged in the water supply department and in the erection of pumps and kindred work, and in the latter year re- turned to the employ of Fairbanks, Morse & Com- pany and continued with that firm until 1904. In 1905 he formed a partnership with T. E. Lowery and estab- lished the irrigation and machinery business of the Lowery Engineering Company, at Great Falls, this association continuing until 1909, at which time Mr. Vineyard severed his connection with that enterprise to become state representative for the Aultman & Taylor Machinery Company. Since accepting this position Mr. Vineyard has increased the business in his territory by 200 per cent, and the concern does one of the largest trades in the Northwest. The long and thorough experinece of its local representative has stood him in good stead, and there is no better informed man in this line in the state. As a business man he has won the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances, and is very popular in social affairs. His political views are those of the Dem- ocratic party, although he has taken no active part in matters of a public nature; and he was reared in the faitlı of the Methodist church.

ALBERT J. FOUSEK. The correct definition of public service is that every department of public life shall be conducted in the best possible manner for the welfare of the largest number. It is given to all citizens, even in private life, in some measure to influence society and in some degree to affect the tone of political morality, but those who take an active part have the fuller op- portunity given them; they can impress their ideas more emphatically and more immediately bring pres- sure to bear on public tendencies. One of Great Falls' progressive and public-spirited citizens, whose name has been associated with the work of public reform, and a stalwart adherent of municipal ownership, is Albert J. Fousek, alderman of the Third ward for the last six years, and well known in business circles of the city. Mr. Fousek is a native of Bohemia, and was born November 27, 1869, a son of John and Anna E. Fousek. The family came to the United States in about 1877, settling in Renville county, Minnesota, where John Fousek spent the latter years of his life in farming, and died at Olivia. His widow survives him and still makes her home on the old property. Of their children, Albert J. is the youngest.

Albert J. Fonsek was about eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to this country, and until he was fourteen years of age attended the public schools of New York City. At that time the family re- moved to the Minnesota farm, and there he continued until he attained his majority. As a boy, during his residence in New York, he had learned the trade of cigar maker, and after leaving the farm followed that vocation as a journeyman until November 25, 1894. At that time Mr. Fousek came to Great Falls, where he secured employment in the cigar factory of Emmet R. Race, in whose service he continued for three years, and then embarked in business on his own account. Start- ing in a small way and manufacturing his own product, the excellence of his goods and the able manner in which he has directed his affairs have caused the business to grow steadily and it now has assumed large proportions. the monthly output being about 17,500 cigars, and a number of skilled workmen being employed. Mr. Fousek is a Democrat, and at all times has stood for good

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government and honesty in politics, a friend of edu- cation, morality and public-spirited citizenship. His aldermanic services have been of great value to his city, and he has been able to get through some good measures and to help defeat some bad ones. He has been the indefatigable champion of municipal ownership, and is now engaged in gathering data along this line with the idea in view of eventually seeing numerous measures now in preparation advocated. His business ventures have been successful and he has given evidence of his faith in the future of Great Falls by investing much of his capital in realty in the city, where he also owns his own home, a modern residence. Fraternally, Mr. Fousek is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and also holds membership in the Commercial, Electric City and Taxpayers' Clubs and the Cigar Makers' Union.

On November 20, 1892, Mr. Fousek was married at Montgomery, Minnesota, to Miss Anna Havelick, daughter of F. J. Havelick, a native of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Fousek have had six children: Mary and Lydia, born in St. Paul; and Bert, Louis, Benjamin and Blanche, born in Great Falls. The family residence is situated at No. 721 Second avenue, South.

JOHN A. ARTHURS. The history of the city of Ches- ter will always give distinction to the name of its first mayor, Mr. J. A. Arthurs, who was the first offi- cial chosen to fill this post when the city was incor- porated, and is also the present mayor, having been re-elected.

Mr. Arthurs, who has been identified with northern Montana throughout his active career, was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, March 18, 1880, and was educated in the local schools of that city. He was at an early age thrown upon his own responsibilities, and has won success in business and public honors through the force of his own character and resources. In 1894 he came west and entered the employment of the Benton Cattle Company as a cowboy, his work and headquarters being eighteen miles south of the site of Chester. After eight years with this company, he spent about nine months in Chicago, after which he returned to Montana and started in business for him- self at Chester. As a representative business man, his fellow citizens chose him as the first mayor of the new city in 1909, and in May, 1911, again elected him by a large majority. His politics is Republican, and his church is the Methodist.

Mr. Arthurs was married in Chicago, March 6, 1905, to Miss Beatrice Barnes. They have a comfortable home in Chester, and have a large circle of friends in the city and vicinity.

Mr. Arthurs' father was James A. Arthurs, who was horn in Ontario, Canada, in early life moved to St. Joseph, Michigan, and was a prospering farmer, but died when his son was about five years old. His wife was Rosa (Des Broe) Arthurs, a native of Michigan, and now living in Kalispell, Montana, at the age of forty-nine.

CHARLES A. LENHART. Standing conspicuous among the live, energetic and prosperous business men of Townsend is Charles A. Lenhart, who holds a position of importance and responsibility, being secretary and manager of the Townsend Hardware Company, of which he is a stockholder and a director. A native of Ohio, he was born, April 3, 1876, in London, Madison county.

Mr. Lenhart's father, Samuel Lenhart, was born in York county, Pennsylvania in 1837. At the age of nine- teen years, wishing to try the hazard of new fortunes, he trekked across the plains with a wagon train to Montana, and at Last Chance opened a blacksmith's shop, which he managed to such good purpose that he accumulated a sufficient sum of this world's goods to enable him to return east, and commence life in a more

civilized community. Locating in Ohio, he resided in London until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted as a soldier in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Going to the front with his command, he took part in many engagements, at the Battle of Antietam being severely wounded through the body and arm. Being taken to the hospital, he remained there a year, and then returned to London, Ohio, where for ten years he was engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. Then, owing to ill health, he was forced to sell out his business and seek a change of climate. Going with his family to South Dakota, he was for four years engaged in the lumber business at Hill City. His health again failing, he came to Montana, and after spending a year in Helena, he went, in 1895, to Town- send, where he was engaged in blacksmithing five years. He then returned to Helena, and was there a resident until his death, March 28, 1911. His wife, whose maiden name was Isabelle Crawford, was born in Madison county, Ohio, and is now living in Dayton, Ohio. Four children were born to them, one of whom has passed to the life beyond, and three are living, namely: Charles A., the special subject of this brief sketch; Glenn, who is in the employ of the International Harvester Company, at Helena; and Grace Mabel, a stenographer and bookkeeper, living with her mother in Dayton, Ohio.

Charles A. Lenhart obtained his high school educa- tion in London, Ohio, and at Hill City, South Dakota. Soon after leaving school, in 1894, he came to Town- send, Montana, and was here fortunate enough to find employment with the Berg Hardware Company, with which he was connected for twelve years, gaining a thorough knowledge of the business in all its details. Going then to Lewistown, Montana, he was tliere em- ployed by the Montana Hardware Company for a year, and the following three years was in the employ of the Anaconda Hardware Company, at Anaconda, Mon- tana. Returning to Townsend in 1910, Mr. Lenhart became one of the incorporators of the Broadwater County Hardware Company, and is now not only one of its stockholders, but is manager and secretary of the firm, a position for which he is amply qualified, not only on account of his natural abilities, but by rea- son of his long and valuable experience in this branch of trade, his extended acquaintance throughout north- ern Montana, and through the fact that the firm to which he belongs is the successor of the oldest estab- lished hardware company in Townsend.

Mr. Lenhart married, November 3, 1899, Isabelle Norton, who was born in Montana, where her father, George A. Norton, was a pioneer settler. Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart are the parents of six children, namely : Auburn Earl, Samuel Arthur, Donald Vaughn, Algers Norton, Paul Leighton, and Elizabeth Crawford. Mr. Lenhart is a member of North Star Lodge No. 19, I. O. O. F. at Townsend.

HARRY C. NEFFNER. An essentially prominent and influential citizen of Montana, who thinks the Flat- head region of this state in every way comparable to the Garden of Eden, is Harry C. Neffner, who has been a resident of Dixon for the past three years. Mr. Neffner is most successfully engaged in the lumber business in this place and he is a citizen whose loyalty and public spirit have ever been of the most insistent order.

Harry C. Neffner was born in Clinton county, Ohio, April 7, 1869, and he is a son of Henry Neffner, whose birth occurred in the city of Columbus, Ohio, and who has lived in the Buckeye state during his entire lifetime. In his younger days the father was engaged in the four-milling business but later in life he turned his attention to lumbering and the operation of a sawmill. He was a gallant soldier in the Union ranks during the Civil war and was one of the valiant defenders of

John G. authors.

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Cincinnati during Morgan's raid. He is now a resi- dent of Martinsville, Ohio, and has reached the age of seventy-four years. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Cole, was born in New York, whence she went to Ohio as a young girl, there meeting and mar- rying Mr. Neffner. She was summoned to the life eternal in 1904, at the age of sixty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Neffner became the parents of four children, all of whom are still living in Ohio except Harry C., the oldest in order of birth.

In the public schools of Clinton, Ohio, Harry C. Neff- ner received his educational training and he resided there until he had reached his twenty-first year, in 1890, when he went to Tacoma, Washington, where he was engaged in the lumber business for the ensuing five years. In 1894 he came to Montana and settled at Columbia Falls, where he looked after the late Marcus Daly's lumbering interests for a period of five years, at the expiration of which he went to Sedan, this state, there engaging in the lumber business on his own account. He was a resident of Sedan for twelve years and met his first reverses when his entire butsi- ness saw-mill and lumber was destroyed by fire. Un- daunted, however, and with renewed courage, he took what could be gathered from the wreckage and came to Dixon, where he established a lumber yard and where he is now recognized as one of the leading busi- ness men of this section. In addition to lumber he handles building material of all kinds, including cement, and also deals in the various kinds of coal in demand in this part of the state. The scope of his operations has increased wonderfully within the last few years and he controls an extensive and lucrative business. As a boy he earned his first money unloading lumber on Saturdays, attending school during the week days. After finishing high school he became a teacher and was engaged in that profession in Ohio for some three years prior to coming west.

In politics Mr. Neffner is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Progressive party stands sponsor and while he is deeply and sincerely interested in all matters affecting the good of the gen- eral welfare he is not an office seeker and contents himself with voting for men and measures that will benefit the town and state at large. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of Hoo Hoo. In religious matters he and his wife are active and devout members of the Con- gregational church and she is a valued member of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. Neffner has traveled a great deal and is well posted on the western country. He says: "Nothing has ever been put in print that exag- gerates the merits of Montana and the Flathead coun- try. Before settling in Dixon I traveled by team and tent through the Palouse, the Big Bend and Nez Perce country, looking for a location-also through the Flat- head reservation. I decided on Dixon and do vou know why? Because I found it to be the land of plenty. It is the gateway to the Flathead Indian reserva- tion. The climate is as glorious as the gates of Heaven ; the water as pure as the morning dew, the soil is as fertile as the Garden of Eden-and only twenty-six miles to Paradise."

At Kalispell, Montana, in September, 1906, Mr. Neff- ner was united in marriage to Miss Emma Palmer, daughter of William and Mary Palmer, of Big Fork, Montana, where Mrs. Palmer, a widow, has a fine ranch. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Neffner, namely,-Mary Ann and Emmy Lou.

JOHN F. FERGUSON is editor of the Conrad Observer and has been identified with local journalism at Con- rad, Montana, since 1905. The dissemination of news, the discussion of public questions and the promotion of the general welfare of his community through the

columns of his paper constitute life's object with him as a private citizen. In addition to his interests in journalism Mr. Ferguson is the owner of a fine farm of 440 acres in Teton county, the same being in a high state of cultivation.

At Watertown, in Herkimer county, New York, December 19, 1859, occurred the birth of Mr. Ferguson, who is a son of Oliver A. Ferguson. The father was born in the Empire state of the Union in 1819 and during his active career was a millwright by trade. He was summoned to the life eternal in 1873, at the age of fifty-four years. His wife, whose maiden name was Katherine Kincaid, was likewise a native of New York and she died at Belleville, province of Ontario, Canada, at the age of eighty-six years, her demise having occurred June 10, 1911. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson and of the number six are living, in 1912.

In the early '6os the Ferguson family removed from New York to Ontario, Canada, and there the young John F. received his educational training, which included a course in the high school at Belleville, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1874. After leaving school he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the printer's trade. During the first year of his apprenticeship he received a salary of five dollars per month and during the last three years his salary amounted to five dollars per week. After becoming a full-fledged printer, Mr. Ferguson worked as a journeyman for two years in Canada and then went to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked in the offices of a number of the leading newspapers of that metropolis. He was in the employ of the Inter Ocean before that paper had linotype machines. He remained in Chicago for five years, at the end of which he came to Mon- tana. This was in 1894 and he first located at Great Falls, where he entered the employ of the Great North- ern Railroad Company as fireman. Three and a half years later he was made engincer on the Great North- ern line and he continued as such until the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, in 1898, when he enlisted as a soldier in Company A, First Montana Volunteers. He was in the service of the United States army for eighteen months and was a non-commissioned officer and wagoner of his company in the Philippine Islands until he received his honorable discharge, in Novem- ber, 1900, at San Francisco. He participated in a num- ber of important engagements marking the progress of the war and acquitted himself with all of honor and distinction as a soldier.

After the close of his military career Mr. Ferguson returned to Great Falls, where he became a member of the city fire department. This position was not to his liking, however, and on April 25, 1901, he accepted a position as editor and publisher of the Shelby Inde- pendent. He remained at Shelby until November, 1904, when he came to Conrad, where he has been editor and proprietor of the Conrad Observer since April, 1905. At the time of his advent in this place there were but nine buildings in the entire town. Mr. Ferguson owns the lot and building in which his news- paper offices are located and his plant is equipped with all the latest equipment in the way of printing presses. The Observer is a weekly paper and has a circulation of seven hundred and fifty; it boasts a large list of advertisers. In politics the paper favors the Republi- can party and Mr. Ferguson himself is a stalwart in the ranks of that organization. While he does not take an active part in local politics he exerts considerable influence for the good of the public welfare through the medium of his paper. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with Conrad Lodge No. 80, Free and Accepted Masons, and he is likewise a member of the Modern Woodinen of America at Conrad.

September 5, 1911, was celebrated the marriage of 1 Mr. Ferguson to Miss Gertrude M. Shoemaker, a

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daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Shoemaker, a native of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have no children. They are popular in connection with the best social affairs of Conrad and are honored and esteemed by all with whom they have come in contact. Their home is the scene of attractive gatherings and is renowned for its generous hospitality.

SAMUEL H. BAUMAN. A recent educator has said that "the true business college aims to fit men to live, and to make a living, too. It not only inculcates truth, honest dealing, industry, enterprise, thrift, tem- perance-the foundation of correct living-but also gives an occupation in which these virtues may be practically applied." This statement appearing as the foreword in the catalogue issued by the proprietors of the Great Falls Commercial College, of whom Samuel H. Bauman, the special subject of this brief personal review, is one, shows that this educational institution was established for a wise and useful pur- pose, and its large number of ex-students now num- bered among the most successful young business men and women of the state, and its present body of wide- awake students, prove that its founding was not in vain.

Samuel H. Bauman was born in Lansing, Iowa, January 18, 1864, and grew to manhood on the pa- rental farm. His father, the late Samuel A. Bauman, was born and bred in Switzerland. Inheriting the industry and thrift of his ancestors, he was anxious to begin life for himself under the best possible con- ditions, and as a youth bade good-bye to home and friends, and crossed the broad Atlantic in search of fame and fortune. He located in Iowa in pioneer days, and subsequently, having accumulated some money as a farm laborer, bought a tract of land in Lansing, Allamakee county, and on the homestead which he improved carried on general farming until his death in 1908, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. His wife was born in New York state, and is still liv- ing on the home farm, in Lansing.

The third child in a family of nine children, Samuel H. Bauman was educated in the Lansing schools, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1881. Scholarly in his tastes and ambitions, he was allowed to continue his studies, and attended first the Buffalo Business College in Buffalo, New York, and the Daven- port Business College, in Davenport, Iowa. Being graduated from the latter institution, Mr. Bauman, in 1885, accepted a position as instructor in the Helena Business College, at Helena, Montana, where he taught for eight years. Coming to Great Falls, Montana, in 1894. Mr. Bauman, in partnership with Mr. Robert Deardorf, established the Great Falls Commercial Col- lege, which under their wise management has grown and flourished, being now the leading institution of the kind in northern Montana, if not in the entire state. This college aims to give to young men and young women a practical training in business affairs. the busi- ness course embracing bookkeeping, rapid calculations, hanking, correspondence, business arithmetic, commer- cial law, spelling, and business writing. The shorthand course includes shorthand, touch typewriting, manifold- ing. letter copying, business writing, correspondence and spelling. The English course, with which it is nec- essary all should have a familiar acquaintance, com- prises a course in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, arithmetic, history, geography, and letter writing. A rapid, legible and easy style of penmanship is taught with each course, and daily drills are given in spelling and the study of words, the ability to spell and use words correctly being of vital importance in every walk of life. To accommodate pupils who work during the daytime, a night school is in session three evenings each week for seven months, beginning in October, in- dividual instruction in chosen studies being given to

each student. The school has been successful from the start, at the present time, in 1912. one hundred pupils being enrolled.

Politically Mr. Bauman is a Republican, and frater- nally he belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Great Falls. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Bauman married, at Helena, Montana, in April, 1893, Elizabeth Steinberner, who was born in Ohio. She passed to the higher life in April, 1900, in early woman- hood, leaving no children.

ERNEST A. SOUTHWICK, who has resided in Libby since 1909 and who has maintained his home in Montana since 1894, is here most successfully engaged in the newspaper business, being editor and part owner of the Western News, a prominent weekly paper with a cir- culation of one thousand. The dissemination of news, the discussion of public questions and the promotion of the general welfare through the columns of his paper constitute life's object with him as a private citizen for he has been interested in journalism during practically his entire active career thus far.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 73

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