A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 89

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

USA > Montana > A history of Montana, Volume III > Part 89

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Ward was born July 11, 1887, at Oscoda, Michi- gan, a son of John Ward, who also is a native of that state but has been a merchant at Fort Benton, Montana, since 1897, a member of the firm of Ward & Morrison. John Ward was married in Michigan to Flora Camp- bell and of the six children born to their union, Colin N. Ward is second in order of birth. Through both paternal and maternal ancestors Mr. Ward inherits sturdy Scotch blood.

His education was begun in Michigan and was con- tinued at Great Falls and at Fort Benton, Montana, his high school studies having been completed at the lat- ter city at the age of twenty. After leaving school he took employment with the Teton County Operative Reservoir & Canal Company for the purpose of learn- ing surveying and civil engineering. After three years with this company he removed to Choteau in 1909 for permanent residence and became assistant to George Weed, then surveyor of Teton county. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Ward was elected to the office of county sur- veyor and has since been engaged in the discharge of its duties. In political views he is aligned with the Repub- lican party but takes no active part in its work. As the owner of 320 acres of land hear Brady, Teton county, he is further interested in the development of this section of Montana and warmly supports any proj- ect which has that aim in view. Young men of ability and true worth are welcomed in any community, and it is as a type of such citizenship that Mr. Ward is men- tioned herein as one of the representative men of Choteau.

JAMES M. HINKLE. The bar of Butte, Montana, is made up of men of more than ordinary intellect, many of whom have come from the older states and with years of professional experience behind them, well equipped in every way to serve clients, whatever may be the subject of contention. To be, then, recog- nized as a foremost member of such a body proves the possession of legal talents of a high order. Perhaps there is no lawyer in this section of Montana whose name is better known than James M. Hinkle, who has been a permanent resident of Butte since the spring of 1897. He was born in Jackson county, Indiana, December 21, 1852, and is the son of David and Nancy (Day) Hinkle.

David Hinkle was a native of Indiana and it is probable that his ancestry was German. The Hinkles have been long lived, the grandfather surviving to the age of ninety years and the father rounding out a useful life at eighty-five, his death taking place in 1903. In early manhood he married Nancy Day, who was born in Louisiana and died in Iowa, in 1890. In 1854 David Hinkle moved with his family from Jackson county, Indiana, to Jefferson county, Iowa, and engaged there

in farming during the remainder of his active life. A few years before his death he moved to Wayne county, lowa, where he lived during the remainder of his life. There were three children born to David and Nancy Hinkle, Susan A., George W., and James M., of whom Susan was the oldest and James M., the sub- ject of this article, the youngest. George W. took up the profession of medicine and James M., that of law.

James M. Hinkle obtained his education, after pass- ing the public schools, in Axline University and Par- sons College, the latter being situated at Fairfield, Iowa, and during his vacations and afterwards he taught school, some fitteen terms in all. He was ambitious to become a lawyer and directed all his efforts toward that end. While engaged in teaching he utilized his spare moments in studying the preliminary law books and afterward entered the law office of the Hon. James F. Wilson, United States Senator from Iowa, at Fair- field, Iowa. He was admitted to the bar in 1880 and at once entered into a law . partnership with Rollin J. Wilson, son of Senator Wilson, under the firm name of Wilson & Hinkle, which said law partner- ship continued about sixteen years, until Mr. Hinkle withdrew and moved to Butte. The firm of Wilson & Hinkle soon sprang into prominence after it was formed and was a pleasant and profitable partnership during the whole time of its existence. During the most of that time they were the attorneys for all of the railroads running through the county, the Burling- ton, the Rock Island and the Fort Madison and Des Moines railroad systems. Mr. Hinkle's health having given way to some extent, in 1897 he resigned his posi- tion as attorney for the several railroad companies named and came to Montana to regain his health, loca- ting in Butte, where he has been engaged in the active practice of his chosen profession and has regained his health.

He first came to Montana in 1890, in connection with the noted contested "will case" of Andrew J. Davis, a millionaire, who died in the spring of that year. Mr. Hinkle represented an illegitimate daughter of Mr. Davis in said matter at first, until he effected a com- promise for her with Erwin Davis, of New York, a brother of the deceased, by which an annuity was set- tled on the danghter and her mother, who lived in Texas. Mr. Hinkle was then retained by Erwin Dayis as one of the counsel in said matter in connection with the various litigations relating to the case. In the interests of his clients he spent much of his time in Montana prior to his permanently locating in Butte. Andrew J. Davis had been so well known in Mon- tana as a financier, on account of the millions of dol- lars in value of his estate, the case excited great inter- est throughout the United States, and the best legal talent was employed by the litigants. It reflects credit to Mr. Hinkle's ability as a lawyer for the manner in which he performed his part in said litigations.

He was also connected with the litigation in the noted Cochrane "will case" in Texas in 1910, where he took up the fight for a young lady in California, who claimed to be an heir, whose right to share in said estate was ignored and contested by the executor and other heirs, and he succeeded in winning out for her and establishing her right thereto, which meant a fortune to her. In this case he was pitted against some of the leading lawyers from New York and other places in the east who were representing different heirs, all of whom were joined together to defeat Mr. Hinkle's client.

While he is a fighter for the rights and interests of his clients, yet he maintains and practices true ethics of the profession. is true to his clients, courteous to the court and respectful to the members of the legal fraternity.

In Fairfield, Iowa, October 31, 1882, Mr. Hinkle was married to Miss Alna B. Young, a native of Fairfield,

James M. Hinkle

1587

HISTORY OF MONTANA

and a daughter of William and Sarah (Kirkpatrick) Young, both natives of Indiana. They have two chil- dren : Clara, who is now Mrs. Earl T. Gilbert, residing at Pueblo, Colorado; and Fred R., who has adopted journalism and is connected with the Butte Standard, at Butte, Montana. He married Miss Hazel Gindrup, and has one daughter, Marie Willette, born October 15, 1910.

Mr. Hinkle is a Republican in politics and a loyal party man, but has accepted no public office since com- ing to Montana. While living at Fairfield, Iowa, a city of about six thousand inhabitants, the two great parties were about equally divided and for several years the Democrats had control in city affairs. In order to have certain reforms brought about the leading Republicans determined to make an effort to elect a popular man to the mayoralty, one who might be sup- ported by both parties on account of personal rea- sons. When the subject was presented to Mr. Hinkle and he found that he was the one whom the Republi- cans desired to nominate for that office, he demurred and would not consent to be nominated for the rea- son that he was so occupied in his private law practice that he felt that he could not devote enough time to the interests of the city if elected, but during his absence from the city he was nominated for that office and was elected by about two-thirds of the votes of the city, which of course required a great many Democratic votes to make such a majority. Immediately assum- ing the duties of mayor he inaugurated and introduced such reforms in the management of city affairs that showed his ability as a public servant in the interest of economical government and made such a success- ful showing and record that he was renominated for a second term, and at that election there were only seven voted against him, which speaks volumes for him as a public officer and a popular man.

Mr. Hinkle is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and treasures his fraternal relationship in both organiza- tions.

JAMES HOLLAND. In every public undertaking, the success of the enterprise is due to the loyal leadership and disinterested service of some one or more citizens. Montana has been fortunate in the quality of her citi- zenship, that it has produced the leaders when required. Communities and cities like the state at large must depend for progress upon those who are willing to bear the burdens of public trust and responsibility. James Holland has been such a citizen of Havre, and besides his successful career in business has done much to identify his name with the civic history of the city and vicinity.

Mr. Holland was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, May 30, 1854, and was the oldest of eight children born to Martin and Margaret (McMahon) Holland. The father, a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1847, first settled in Jersey City and in 1875 moved out to Nebraska, settling at Friend, where he died at the age of seventy-nine. He was a successful lumber dealer. The mother, who was also born in Ireland, crossed the ocean and settled at Jersey City in 1847, and was married there on July 23, 1852. The father and mother lived to celebrate their golden wedding in their home at Friend, Nebraska. The mother passed away at Omaha, July 11, 1911, aged eighty-one, and both she and her husband now rest at Friend, Nebraska.

James Holland spent most of his youth at Pontiac, Illinois, where he attended the public schools and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1873. He assisted his parents at home until he was twenty- one, and when he embarked on his own career it was without capital or any influence to promote his suc- cess except his own efforts and energetic character. From school he had become apprentice to a blacksmith, serving three years at Pontiac, and later working a

similar time as journeyman. In 1877 he moved to Deadwood, South Dakota, and established a black- smith shop of his own for two years, and from there moved to Friend, Nebraska, where his parents lived, and was in the blacksmithing and carriage manufactur- ing business there five years. During this time he was married. His next move was to Broken Bow, Nebraska, where he engaged in the hardware and implement busi- ness. He was a prosperous merchant of that town for sixteen years; was a member of Governor Boyde's staff 1898 to 1890; was admitted to the Nebraska bar in 1891, and during the last two years of his residence there had served as superintendent of the Industrial School, under appointment for Governor Holcomb.

Mr. Holland became a resident of Montana in 1897 and during the first seven years was proprietor of a hardware and lumber business at Gebo, known as the Holland Lumber & Hardware Company. Finally, sell- ing out he moved to Havre, where he has resided since the fall of 1904. Here he established a department store under the name of the Holland Mercantile Com- pany, and did a fine business until the disastrous fire of 1905 swept the town, and he was nearly financially ruined. Since that time he has been engaged in the undertaking and real estate business, and has regained the ground lost. He has put on the market several additions to Havre, among them being University Place, and he has taken a very active part in the upbuilding of this city.

Mr. Holland was the organizer of the Havre Indus- trial Association and its president four years. Prob- ably his most distinctive service to this vicinity was given in his capacity as chairman of the county reorgan- ization committee, the principal work of which was the creation of the new county of Hill from old Chouteau. He made many friends by his work in this capacity and their appreciation of his services has often denominated him as the brains, heart and shoulders of the movement. In politics he is a Democrat of the radical progressive brand, one of W. J. Bryan's most ardent admirers and has been very influential in the party's work.

As a friend of the schools, he has been a member of the Havre board of education practically ever since coming to this city, and from his own experience be- lieves that industrial education should be taken up in our common schools, that every boy is entitled to a trade, thereby giving him something that cannot be taken away from him between Saturday night and Mon- day morning. Mr. Holland feels that by doing this we make the boy feel independent. He knows that if he is broke today he can get remunerative employment to- morrow and the temptation of raising a check or ap- propriating some one's property is removed, thereby cheating our jails and penitentiaries.

Fraternally he is a member of the Elks club at Havre, the Modern Woodmen of America of Havre, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Royal High- landers of Nebraska. His church is the Catholic.

Mr. Holland was married at Friend, Nebraska, Oc- tober 20, 1879, to Miss Mary Gavin, daughter of A. L. Gavin, a native of Canada. Mr. Holland always refers to his wife as his better two-thirds, she being in fact a helpmate. Eleven children have been born to their marriage, six of them being deceased, and the five now living are Edith, James G., who is city clerk of Havre and also associated with his father in business, Joseph A. and Josephine, twins, and Dorothy.

JAMES R. WHITE, postmaster of Kalispell for the past twelve years, was born in Boulder, Colorado, on April 16, 1877. He is the son of Fidillar and Mary (Flood) White, natives of Illinois, and Ontario, Can- ada, respectively. Fidillar White was born in Nash- ville, Illinois, and died in Kalispell, Montana, at the age of sixty. He was a millwright in his early years and in later life engaged in stock-raising on the Little

1588

HISTORY OF MONTANA

Missouri in Montana. He was a Civil war veteran, who served in Company G of the Fifty-fifth Ohio In- fantry and participated in a number of engagements. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and served throughout the war. As a young man, prior to his marriage, he served as a ship's carpenter on a merchant vessel between New Orleans and Liverpool. On one trip when they returned to New Orleans they were captured by Confederates and made prisoners. They made their escape and being picked up by a Federal gunboat made their way to New York. Mr. White returned home to visit his mother, after which he enlisted in the Union service, and fought through- out the remainder of the war. He was a member of the G. A. R. at the time of his death. Mrs. White survived him and is now a resident of Kalispell. When she was twenty years old she came to Illinois from Canada and taught school in that state, later removing to Colorado, where she met and married her husband in 1876.

James White was the only child of his parents. He was educated in the schools of South Dakota and Kalispell, graduating from the high school of the latter place in 1897. On leaving school he took up clerical work, and was also associated with his parents in the restaurant business which they conducted for a time in Kalispell. In 1900 Mr. White was appointed assistant postmaster, in which capacity he served for a year and a half, and on June 2, 1902, was appointed to the office of postmaster by Theodore Roosevelt. He was re- appointed in Roosevelt's second administration and was appointed a third time when Mr. Taft came into office, making twelve years in all that he has served his city. Under his regime, the office has maintained a high standard of service, and many improvements have been inaugurated as a result of his long and care- ful attention to the demands of the public. During his incumbency the office has advanced from the third to the second class, with city delivery, rural free de- livery, postal savings bank, and the parcel post.

Mr. White is a Republican, but not more than ordi- narily active in political affairs. He is a member of the Elks of Kalispell, the Kalispell Club, and is also a member of the Volunteer Fire Department of the city for the past twelve years. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church and of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. White was married on October 20, 1909, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Miss Nellie Ahearn, daughter of John Ahearn of Minnesota. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White, one which died in in- fancy and John Russell White, born June 29, 1912.

DR. ALBERT B. CUTLER, who has been established in Kalispell since 1897, is a native of the state of Indiana, born in La Porte in November, 1857. He is the son of Dr. D. E. and Adelia S. (Gregg) Cutler, both of whom are still living in Osage, lowa. The father was still engaged in active practice of his profession in Osage up until a few years ago, and he was one of the early dentists of his day. He is now eighty-four years of age. The mother of Doctor Cutler, of this review, is enjoying good health, although in her seventy- fourth year. They were the parents of three children: Albert B .; Morris L., also a doctor, who is now de- ceased, and who was located in St. Paul for many years; Mrs. Chauncy Burch, living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The early life of Doctor Cutler was passed in the schools of Osage, and he later took a medical course at Keokuk, Iowa, followed by a course in dentistry, and later took a term at the Philadelphia Dental College ; he also received expert instruction under the care of his father, who was regarded as one of the leading dentists of his time. In 1897 Doctor Cutler came to Montana, and almost immediately thereafter opened offices in Kalispell, where he has conducted a very suc-

cessful and ever increasing practice since that time. He is known for a skillful and competent dentist, and has won the confidence of the public along those lines. In 1911 Doctor Cutler was joined by Doctor Bughee, another competent and trustworthy member of the dental profession, and together they are engaged in their well earned practice.

Doctor Cutler is one of the prominent men of Kalis- pell, and is well known to a wide circle of friends in and about the city. He is a leader in fraternal circles holding membership with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, the Maccabees and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has been a member of the council of Kalispell and was president of the council in 1903. He is a member of the Christian church, the faith in which he was reared. Doctor Cutler is especially fond of fine horses, and is the owner of one of the fastest Morgan stallions in the United States.

In June, 1898, Doctor Cutler was united in marriage at Kalispell to Miss Laura V. Ball of this city. Two children have been born to them :- Erwin B. and Alene, both attending school here.

Dr. Earl V. Z. Cutler, eldest son of Dr. A. B. Cutler, was a graduatte of the Iowa City Dental College, and is now a prominent dentist in Osage City, Iowa. The second son, Harold B., who is a graduate of George Washington Law School, is now a prominent attorney at Lewistown, Montana. He was born in Osage City, Iowa.

GEORGE E. HURD is a member of the firm of Hurd & Lewis, leading attorneys of Glasgow and prominent in business circles of the city and county. Mr. Hurd has been identified with the progress of Glasgow since 1897, and he at first filled the more humble position of a telegraph operator, the while he finished up his law studies, preparatory to taking up his profession.

Mr. Hurd was born in Kent county, Delaware, on July 11, 1872, and is the son of James H. and Martha (Godwin) Hurd, both natives of Kent county. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, giving service in Company H of the Delaware Infantry. He was a farmer by occupation, and lived a quiet and uneventful life, sufficiently prosperous to afford his children excel- lent educational advantages. He died at his home in 1908, ten years after the passing of the wife and mother, whose death occurred in 1898. They were the parents of six children, of which number one is deceased. They are : Charles H., prominently known as a ranchman of Valley county, Montana; W. Walton, liveryman and rancher, of Glasgow; Henry H., a merchant of Glas- gow; Elizabeth, the wife of Edward R. Knotts, of Kent county, Maryland; and George E., who is the youngest of the family.

The public schools of Kent county afforded Mr. Hurd his early educational training, which was followed by a course in Dickman College, a preparatory school of Carlyle, Pennsylvania, after which he entered Amherst College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896, receiving his degree of A. B., after which he attended Harvard University in 1896 and 1897, special- izing in law. During his school days at home in Kent county, Mr. Hurd had learned telegraphy as a pastime, and this accomplishment served him to good purpose at the close of his college career. When he had completed his studies in the east, Mr. Hurd determined to see something of the west, and was advised by his brother, who is engaged in the ranch business in Valley county, to come to Montana. Arriving here, he was happily im- pressed by the opportunities offered by the state, and as he was without means and at the same time being of an independent turn of mind, the young man put his knowl- edge of telegraphy to use, while he finished up his law studies and arranged to enter on the practice of his profession. He took a position as a telegrapher in

8. Syn

1589

HISTORY OF MONTANA

Glasgow in 1897 and in a short time was made agent of the station, a position in which he continued until 1900 when he was admitted to the bar of Montana. From the beginning of his professional career Mr. Hurd has en- joyed a pleasing success, and has won a prestige and prominence of an exceptionally high order in the years that have elapsed. In 1902 Mr. Hurd was elected to the office of mayor, having the honor of being the first mayor of Glasgow, and he served three terms in succes- sion, resigning the office in 1907 owing to the press of local business. In 1908 Mr. Hurd formed a partnership with H. M. Lewis, and the firm is known as Hurd & Mr. Grant is sixth in a family of eight children. Alpin Grant, his father, who was born in Canada, gave his active years to agricultural pursuits and died in his native country in March, 1910 at a ripe old age. He was a devout Christian and a member of the Presby- terian church. In Canada he was married to Margaret McDonald, who survives him and still resides there. James D. Grant, a brother of our subject, resides in located in Montana. Lewis. Mr. Hurd has specialized as a trial lawyer, and takes the keenest delight in his work in the court room. His ability in that phase of his work is well known, and in 1911 he was appointed special prosecutor for the state, by action of the state legislature. Mr. Hurd is a Democrat in politics and is active in the interests of the party. He has achieved some fame as a stump speaker during political campaigns. He is a director in the Glas- . Anaconda and is the only other member of the family gow National Bank, and is the owner of a pleasant home in the city, as well as other valuable city property. While Mr. Hurd was practically without means when he came to Montana, he has, by the exercise of his splendid nat- ural ability and the application of his traits of determina- tion and integrity of the highest order, built up a stand- ing, both professional and social, that is unsurpassed in the city.

Mr. Hurd is a man of a kindly and cheerful disposi- tion, and one of his greatest pleasures is the extended motoring tours he makes through the state from time to time with his family, the length. of the trip being governed only by the time he is able to spare from his business.

In 1900 Mr. Hurd was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Hargadina, of Felton, Delaware, and one son, Robert H., has been born to them. They make frequent trips to their former eastern home, but the charms of western life never permit them to make extended visits, both being devoted to Montana and its many pleasing qualities.

HUGH D. GRANT. A well-known citizen of Anaconda, Montana, is Hugh D. Grant, the owner and proprietor of a blacksmith shop there, who has found in an in- dustrial career ample opportunity for good citizenship, a large experience, successful effort and for the de- velopment of skill. He was born December 21, 1870 in Canada, and lived there until he was about seven- teen years of age, acquiring his education in the public schools of his locality. In the meantime he served a three years' apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade and in that employment earned his first money while yet a boy. Having mastered his trade, he set out to make his own way in the world and passed over the border into the New England states, locating first in Massa- chusetts, where the most of eight years was spent in his occupation, the remainder of the time having been passed in New Hampshire. He then came west and for eighteen months worked at his trade at Aspen, Colo- rado. Following that he came to Anaconda, Montana, where he has since resided except during two years spent in Oregon. The first year here he worked on a salary and then he started in business for himself. After one year he took his former employer as a partner, which association was continued two years, or until Mr. Grant sold out and went to Oregon. The call of Montana brought him back at the end of two years, however, and once more he opened up business independently in Anaconda, this time to remain. He has been successful. Horseshoeing is his specialty and he is an expert in this line. In a case in his shop he has on exhibition nine samples of different kinds of horseshoes, each representing Mr. Grant's own handi- craft and skill. There are to be seen the plain grab toe, square toe, toe weight, side weight, the famous

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 89

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