A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 85

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

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Mr. Beatty carries one of the finest stock of goods to be found in any similar establishment in Montana, handling not only Rock Island implements and tools, but the Minneapolis line of goods, which includes the famous twenty-horse-power Universal Farm Motor, that has received the hearty approbation of the farmers that have tested it either in farming, threshing, or on the road, and also embraces the Minneapolis Standard Separator, which is a favorite with the leading dairy- men of the county. "Dad" Beatty likewise handles the Rock Island Little Giant portable wagon dump and

John. W. Kennedy

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elevator, the Rock Island Liberty plow, Rock Island buggies, and the Schuttler wagons, and carries in his stock the Peoria seeder, and the Winner separator, both of which are highly appreciated on the farm. In fact everything needed in the equipment of a wideawake, progressive agriculturist being found in his store, thresh- ing machines, farm motors, manure spreaders, plows, harrows, grain and cream separators, engines, pumps, vehicles, harnesses, oils and lubricants, farmers' hard- ware, etc., etc., his aim being to supply the farmers with the best of everything in his line, and at prices satisfactory to the buyer.

Politically Mr. Beatty is a Republican, but not an aspirant for official honors. He enjoys books, good music and good plays, and is exceedingly fond of hunting and fishing, taking trips whenever he finds leisure. He has never married, and being free from domestic cares and tribulations has the more time to attend to his business affairs. He has traveled extensively in our own country, and from personal observations and expe- rience has come to the honest conclusion that the busi- ness resources and opportunities outrival those of any other state in the Union.

JOHN W. KENNEDY. Clearly-defined purpose and con- secutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in fol- lowing out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible, and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have made Mr. Kennedy one of the prominent and suc- cessful men of Missoula, Montana, have also brought him the esteem of his fellow townsmen, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determina- tion and honorable methods.

John W. Kennedy, who is the owner and manager of the Kennedy Plumbing and Heating establishment, and carries on the most modern and admirably equipped and managed business of its kind in this part of Mon- tana, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, May 24, 1868. When he was a child his parents removed from the Blue Grass State to Omaha, Nebraska, and in that city he received his public school education. When a youth of seventeen he concluded to prepare for a use- ful career by learning the trade of a plumber and after mastering this difficult and important business in every detail, he set out, in 1889, for Salt Lake City, Utah. There he remained until 1896, being employed by a num- ber of firms. In the fall of the year last mentioned he first became a citizen of Montana, locating at Butte, where for three years he was an employe of the Kruger Plumbing Company. Following that he came to Mis- soula, where for a time after his arrival he was em- ployed by that important corporation, the Missoula Mer- cantile Company, whose plumbing and heating depart- ment, as previously mentioned, he later bought out, and established a business for himself, which today ranks as first among concerns of its kind in this thriving me- tropolis. It possesses the most up-to-date equipment made and the work done by John W. Kennedy is uni- formly satisfactory. He also owns the splendid modern building which his store partly occupies and it is safe to say that its equal can only be found in the large eastern cities, where all the latest improvements and ideas have been applied to modern construction. He employs seven or eight men throughout the entire year and in busy seasons this number is increased. He is also the president of the Montana Master Plumbers' As- sociation. He possesses all the requisites of the able business man, sound judgment, executive ability and honorable principles. He is one of the substantial men of the city and doubtless an even more successful fu- ture lies before him. He is one of the men whose

success is entirely due to their own efforts, no silver spoon having been in their mouths at birth.

Mr. Kennedy laid one of the important stones in the foundation of his success by his marriage on June 25, 1902, the young woman to become his wife and the mistress of his household being Frances Wilkin, of Phillips, Wisconsin, daughter of August and Mary Wilkin. They have a fine residence, which is the center of a gracious hospitality.

Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are communicants of the Cath- olic church and generous supporters of the same. In politics the subject is a Democrat and since the attain- ment of his majority has supported its policies and prin- ciples. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. Like most well-balanced men, he is fond of the open and thoroughly enjoys a hunt- ing or fishing expedition.

Mr. Kennedy is of Irish extraction, his father, Will- iam Kennedy, having been a native of Ireland. He came to America as a young man and located in New York previous to settling in Kentucky. He likewise was a plumber by occupation. He was one of Ameri- ca's gallant native sons who enlisted at the outbreak of the Civil war, and William Kennedy did not come out from the great conflict unscathed, being wounded while in that struggle. This estimable veteran citizen, now a resident of Omaha, is retired. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary Jane Crawley, was also a native of Erin and her demise occurred when the family were residing in Louisville. Margaret Kennedy, a sister of the subject, makes her home with the father in Omaha.

FRANK TOOLE, who has been identified with the business life of Montana for the past fifteen years is one of the leading citizens of Anaconda. He is a self-made man who began his practical career when a boy, and by energy and industry arrived at a point of the larger responsibilities and individual influence.

Mr. Toole was born at Madison, Wisconsin, on March 24, 1865, and is a son of William and Nora (Ryan) Toole. Another member of the family in Montana is John R. Toole, of Missoula, whose sketch appears on other pages. Father and mother were both natives of Ireland, and the former immigrated to this country when a boy, settling in Wisconsin, where he was a sub- stantial farmer until his death. Both he and his wife now lie at rest in Madison, Wisconsin.

Frank Toole attended the public schools, passed through the Madison high school, at the age of seven- teen left home and entered the train service of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, and for thirteen years followed railroading as a career. He was one of the popular and efficient men of that line and during most of this period was a train conductor. In 1897 he left the railroad for the larger opportunities of Montana, and has ever since been connected in some official capacity with the A. C. M. Company at Ana- conda. He remained the manager of the lumber de- partment of that extensive concern until June 30, 1911, when it was incorporated the Inter-State Lumber Com- pany, which took over the interests in this line form- erly conducted by A. C. M. Co. At that time Mr. Toole became manager of the yard at Anaconda.

Through his important business connections and as an individual citizen, Mr. Toole is one of the promi- nent men of Anaconda, and is a member of Silver Bow Club, at Butte, and Anaconda Club, at Anaconda: Fraternally, he is one of the active Masons, being a Knight Templar and Shriner, and is also affiliated with the Elks. His politics is Democratic. He married Miss Jean Mckenzie, and their only child was William Toole, now a resident of Wallace, Idaho. Mrs. Toole, who was a native of Franklin, Pennsylvania, died at Ana- conda in 1908.

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PROF. JOSEPH EATON MONROE. An enumeration of those men of the present generation, who have won honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have honored the locality to which they belong would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of the one whose name forms the caption of this sketch. He has sustained a very envi- able reputation in educational circles, being considered one of the most enlightened of Montana educators and today is giving thoughtful and able direction to the affairs of the Montana State Normal School at Dillon, with which institution he has been identified for fifteen years.

Professor Monroe was born in Xenia, Ohio, Novem- ber 26, 1864. There he resided until the age of six years and then with his parents left his home in the Buckeye state and went to Muncie, Indiana, where the Monroes resided for nearly nine years. In 1879 they went to Parsons, Kansas, remaining there for three years. Their next removal was to Fort Scott, Kansas, and fourteen years was the duration of their residence at that point. In 1897 Professor Monroe came to Dillon, Montana, and has since that time been connected with the State Normal School, having been identified with it since its organization. He now holds the office of acting president of the college and is professor of physics and chemistry, and much of the prestige and high standing of the institution is directly traceable to his influence.

Professor Monroe is a man of exceedingly fine edu- cation. He received his preliminary training in the public schools of Indiana, being graduated from the high school at Muncie. Having come to the decision to enter educational fields, he entered the Indiana State Normal School and subsequently the Kansas Normal College, from which latter institution he re- ceived the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then went abroad and studied for two and one-half years in the University of Glasgow, Scotland, taking special work in physics and chemistry. Then returning to America, he entered the New York University and there fin- ished his post-graduate work.

Both Professor Monroe and his admirable wife are members of the Presbyterian church and have been very zealous in assisting in its campaigns for good. In the matter of politics, to use the Professor's own phraseology, he is "Republican in general and inde- pendent in particular," and he takes a very keen in- terest in public affairs in their bearing upon the gen- eral welfare. He belongs to all the Masonic bodies from the blue lodge to the Shrine, has filled all the chairs in chapter and commandery, and has begun those of the blue lodge. He is prominent and greatly beloved in the ranks of this time-honored order, whose ideals of moral and social justice and brotherly love he exemplifies in his own living.

Professor Monroe was married in Fort Scott. Kan- being of the purest and his command of language wonderful indeed. He is widely sought as a lecturer and his silver-tongued logic has done much to bring success to a number of good causes.

Previous to entering upon his present collegiate work, he taught in various district schools in Kansas, and advanced to principal of several schools in In- diana and Kansas. Following that he was professor of natural science in the Kansas Normal College. He is a member of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science and also of the American Chemical Society. He belongs to the Montana Acad- emy of Science, and formerly held the presidency of this august body. He is president of the School- masters' Club of Montana at the present time and locally he is connected with the Beaverhead Club. His attractive personality and fine character have made him universally popular. He finds his chief diversion in good reading and is particularly fond of fishing. Music

and the drama are both interesting to him and he has a fine critical knowledge of both.

Professor Monroe was married in Fort Scott, Kan- sas, April 30, 1895, the young woman to become his wife and the mistress of his household being Elizabeth Eidson, daughter of Mathew B. and Mary J. Eidson, of Fort Scott, where the father for many years was a prominent architect and contractor. His demise oc- curred at Fort Scott in 1908, at the age of seventy-four.

The father of the subject of this brief record was Hugh Monroe, who was born in Dornoch, Souther- landshire, Scotland, in 1813. He came to America in 1836 and first settled in Toledo, Ohio, where he fol- lowed the business of a contractor and farmer. He died in Parsons, Kansas, in 1885, aged seventy-two years, and is there interred. The mother, whose maiden name was Jemima Steele, was born in Xenia, Ohio, in 1823, and was summoned to the Great Be- yond in 1899, aged seventy-six, while living in Muncie, Indiana. The union of the elder Mr. and Mrs. Monroe was celebrated at Xenia, Ohio. They became the par- ents of ten sons and daughters, Professor Monroe be- ing the youngest member of the family.

JAMES O'KEEFE. The sheriff of Deer Lodge county today is not confronted with the necessity of person- ally administering the law as sometimes happened in the "old days," nor does he have to contend with quite such strenuous conditions as seemed to be the natural concomitant of opening the new country, but the posi- tion is nevertheless one of great importance, calling for the exercise of a nice discrimination, unceasing vigilance, and the possession of personal valor of the highest type. These characteristics are embodied in the person of James O'Keefe, who is now filling his second term in the shrievalty. Of splendid physique and health, he combines with this physical good for- tune a pleasant disposition, amiable but firm, decisive manner, and a winning frankness that makes every man his friend. In personal popularity James O'Keefe is unique.

James O'Keefe, sheriff of Deer Lodge county, Mon- tana, was born on March 22, 1872, in Cork, Ireland, and inherited from his ancestors and the native soil the attractive traits of children of the Emerald Isle. He went to the National schools until fourteen years of age, when he immigrated to the United States by himself, coming west to Flat Center, Nebraska, to make his home with a sister. He continued his educa- tion in the public schools of that place for a couple of years, following this with a year's employment on a farm, then went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he secured employment as a railroad fireman. He fol- lowed that for six years and in 1897 located in Anaconda.

Securing a position with the A. C. M. Company, as fireman of the stationary boilers. he was after the lapse of two years promoted to engineer. After a year in this position he became a police officer of Anaconda His abilities as a guardian of the peace were quickly recognized and when two years had passed he was elected on the Democratic ticket as sheriff of the county. He is now serving his second term in that capacity. the citizens readily recognizing his especial fitness for the place.

The private life of Mr. O'Keefe has been as happy as his public career has been prosperous. He was mar- ried to Miss Ellen Dugan, daughter of Daniel M. Dugan, a pioneer of Nebraska, who rose to consid- erable prominence among the agriculturalists of that region. Their union has been blessed with four fine children. Emmett and James are pupils of the high school and Mary and John are attending the grade schools. The family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. O'Keefe is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. Eagles, Elks and the Catholic Order of

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Foresters. He has by his own unaided efforts accumu- lated considerable city and suburban property and owns a nice home. He is fond of all athletics and sports, particularly hunting, and has a fine deer head mounted, a trophy of a fine shot he made with his revolver while hunting one day.

The parents of Mr. O'Keefe bore the same name before their marriage, but were no relation. His father, Richard O'Keefe, died in Cork, in 1874. His mother, Ellen O'Keefe, passed away in the same city in 1909. The family of these two comprised six chil- dren, all of whom are still living. They are: Luke O'Keefe, a merchant at Boston, Massachusetts; Mary O'Keefe, now the wife of John Regan, a farmer at Flat Center, Nebraska; Katharine, who married and lives in New York; Timothy O'Keefe, engaged in farming near Cork, Ireland; Margaret, now Mrs. Robert P. Stapleton, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and James, the subject of this sketch.

HOWARD C. , PACKER. Equipped with a wide and comprehensive knowledge of the law, and possessing broad, keen and lucid powers of legal exposition, Howard C. Packer is fast winning for himself a posi- tion of importance among the representative lawyers of Hamilton, and can look forward to a successful career in his chosen profession. A son of Ezra C. Packer, he was born September 20, 1876, in Canton, Ohio, coming from honored Quaker lineage, the Packer family tracing its ancestry back to William Penn, the founder of the City of Brotherly Love. This family has in many ways been identified with the history of our country, from the immigrant ancestor having been descended many men of prominence and worth, note- worthy among the number having been Asa Packer. the war governor of Pennsylvania, and founder of Lehigh University, at South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Ezra C. Packer was born, reared and married in Ohio. He acquired an excellent education as a young man, being brought up as an Egulish Quaker, and has always taken an active and intelligent interest in anything per- taining to the advancement of learning, having been the projector and founder of Ashland (Ohio) College. In 1884 he migrated with his family to North Dakota, where he bought land, and for a number of years was engaged in farming. Coming from there to Montana in 1895, he purchased a ranch in Bitter Root valley, and there continued his agricultural labors until 1906, when he retired from active pursuits, and is now enjoying a life of leisure at his pleasant home in Hamilton. He married Mary A. Speelman, a native of Ohio, and to them three children have been born, as follows : Bertha, wife of F. H. Cotton, of Mason City, Iowa; W. C. Packer, of Helena, Montana, deputy county attorney of Lewis and Clark county; and Howard C. Packer.

After attending the public schools of Canton, Ohio, for two years, Howard C. Packer continued his studies in the public schools of North Dakota, whither his parents had settled, being graduated from the Bismarck high school with the class of 1893. He afterwards · attended the North Dakota Agricultural College until 1895, subsequently spending a year in the Univer- sity of Montana, at Missoula. Beginning the study of , law in Hamilton, Montana, in 1897, he was admitted to the bar in 1904, and during the ensuing four years was actively engaged in the practice of his profession with R. A. O'Hara. On April 1, 1911, Mr. Packer was appointed county attorney to fill out the unexpired term of Judge R. Lee McCulloch, and in this capacity is performing the duties devolving upon him with ability and fidelity.

Public-spirited and energetic, Mr. Packer takes a warm interest in everything pertaining to 1 e better- ment of local and county affairs, and as an active mem- ber of the Progressive ranks is prominently identified

with campaign work as a speaker. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JOHN A. SMITH. Born, reared to the age of twenty and educated in the land of Swedenborg, Gustavus Adolphus and Ericsson, eminent examples of pro- found speculation, military genius and mechanical in- genuity, John A. Smith, assistant city attorney of Butte, brought in his person when he came to this country at the age of twenty many of the characteris- tics of the sturdy, sterling and resourceful race from which he sprang, and has used them here not only for his own advancement but also for the good of the com- munities in which he has lived and labored.

Mr. Smith is a native of Dahlsland, Sweden, where he came into being on March 30. 1869. His parents, Anders Jonasson and Johanna Anderson, were also Swedes by nativity and passed their lives in the land of their birth. They were farmers and well-to- do in their occupation, and were also highly respected as good citizens, warmlv interested in the welfare of their country and the progress and prosperity of its people. The father was born in 1826 and died in 1896. The mother's life began in 1836 and ended in 1884.

Their son John A. was educated in the provincial schools of his neighborhood, and while attending and after leaving them worked on his father's farm. He remained at home with his father until he reached his twentieth year. then determined to seek larger oppor- tunities and more rapid advancement than his own country seemed to promise him, and for the purpose came to the United States. After his arrival in this country he journeyed west as far as Bessemer, Michi- gan, where he found employment as a miner in the Colby iron mines.

He worked there six months, then took another flight in the wake of the setting sun, going to the Black Hills in South Dakota. During the first year of his residence in that region he served as clerk of the hotel in Spearfish. By the end of that time there was great excitement over rich mineral discoveries at Terry, and he moved to that camp. But he did not try his hand at mining, notwithstanding the general im- pulse of the people of the camp in that direction. He secured a position as a carpenter's helper at Terry. In the summer of 1893 he went to Washburn, Wiscon- sin, where he assisted the clerk of the court there in his official duties. This connection gave him access to the law library, and he made good use of the chance thus given him to study law. In 1897 he came to Butte, and at once went to work in the copper mines. But he continued his law studies while working in the mines for two years, then completed his prepara- tion for the bar in the office of his brother, Carl J. Smith, then one of the prominent lawyers of the city, but now of Seattle.

Mr. Smith was admitted to the bar in 1900 and at once began the practice of his profession. From the first he was successful in his professional work, rising rapidly in prominence at the bar. He was appointed assistant city attorney after the last election in Butte, and during his tenure of the office has shown himself to be very efficient, enterprising and progressive. He is in the first rank in his profession, and is also highly esteemed as an excellent citizen.

On August 31, 1909, Mr. Smith was joined in wed- lock with Miss Eleanor Humphrey, one of the teachers in the Butte high school. They have one child, their son Herbert Humphrey Smith, who was born in Butte on August 27, 1910. The father is a Republican in political faith and allegiance, He has prospered in business and invested his surplus funds in Montana real estate. Among other pieces of valuable property which he owns is his attractive home at 823 West

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Porphyry street. His office is at 115 North Main street.

Mr. Smith is devoted to his business and gives it first attention at all times. But he has it so systematized that he can get away frequently without neglecting it to indulge his taste for outdoor sports of all kinds. He is cordially interested, too, in the progress and improvement of the city and county of his home, and gives every project that he deems worthy or wise his earnest practical support in promotion of the general welfare, but all his efforts in this direction are directed by intelligence and 'a broad view as to what is best for the community. He is universally regarded as a public-spirited and progressive men, and enjoys in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of the peo- ple of his city and county.

JOHN R. E. SIEVERS, PH. G., M. D. In these days, marked by such exceptional progress in invention, dis- covery and individual accomplishment, there is a nat- ural and imperative tendency to specialization. In no line, perhaps, is this singleness of purpose, this thor- ough and exhaustive inquiry along a given line more productive of remarkable results than in the practice of medical science. Among the representative physi- cians and surgeons of Montana who have directed par- ticular thought and investigation along special lines, at the same time keeping in touch with generic progress in a general way, is the eminent man whose career is the subject of this brief review. His prominence is such as to give special interest to any tribute to his efforts and effective labor.

Dr. John Rudolph Emile Sievers is of German birth, his parentage being of a highly respected and well-to-do class. To Jacob and Catherine (Ehlers) Sievers this son was born on May 31, 1869, in Itzehoe, in the prov- ince of Holstein. In that locality the father still lives and pursues his vocation, which is that of an apiarist and in which he is both successful and prominent; the mother passed from this life in January, 1912.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 85

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