A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 95

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

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man, C. A. McCarter, he established the Galata Lum- ber Company. He has since bought Mr. McCarter's interest and now conducts the principal business of the kind in this vicinity, dealing in lumber, farm machin- ery, coal, hay and feed, and has a large trade with the farmers and stockmen of this locality.

Mr. Wood was married in Great Falls, Montana, June 1, 1904, to Miss Emily C. Price. Their one child, born in Galata, September, 1906, is named May E., and is attending school in Great Falls.

As a lumberman Mr. Wood is connected with the Hoo Hoo fraternity. He is a stockholder in the Great Falls Telephone Company. At Galata he is now serv- ing as one of the school trustees, and gives his support to all movements for the advancement and welfare of his home town. He is independent in politics, and his wife is a member of the Congregational church.

WILLIAM A. MATHEWS. Each calling or business, if honorable, has its place in human existence, constituting a part of the plan whereby life's methods are pursued and man reaches his ultimate destiny. Emerson has said, "All are needed by each one," and this is as true in one avenue of life's activities as in another. A man has achieved the highest success who may be called a good citizen, who lives so that he can look any man in the face and esteems his own personal advantage less than the welfare of the community. One of the good citizens of white Sulphur Springs is William A. Mathews, who has resided here since 1905 and is en- gaged in wagon and carriage-making and blacksmith- ing. He is one of the several excellent members of society whom New England has given to Meagher county, his eyes having first opened to the light of day on April 25, 1866 in Lincoln county, Maine. His father, Joseph A. Mathews was also a native of Maine, in which state he has spent his entire life and where he now maintains his residence. He engaged in all his active career in the trade of blacksmithing. The maiden name of his wife was Helen Fitzgerald. This estim- able lady passed away in 1907, at the age of sixty-nine years and is interred near the old family homestead in the Pine Tree state. She and her husband reared four children, Mr. Mathews of this review being the youngest in order of birth.

Young William remained beneath the parental roof- tree until he reached the age of eighteen years, receiv- ing his education in the public schools and under the capable tuition of his father learning the trade of that gentleman. Upon leaving home he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, where for three years he was employed as a carriage maker; subsequently to that he located in Merrimack, Massachusetts and after a period in that place, went to Boston. Gradually there found an abiding place in his soul the ambition to come west and in 1808 he realized this ambition and crossed the continent to Montana. He first located in Martinsdale, where he conducted a shop for some six years and in 1905 arrived in White Sulphur Springs, where he estab- lished his present business. His work has always been in this line and his knowledge of it is unsurpassed, while his financial fortunes have been gratifying. His business is one of those sound and substantial ones, which have added in no small degree to the prosperity of tlie community in which his interests are centered.

Mr. Mathews is a Democrat, having since the attain- ment of his majority consistently supported the men and measures of the party of Jefferson, Jackson and Cleveland. He takes no active part in politics, how- ever, the honors and emoluments of office having never proved alluring to him. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Royal Highlanders and has gone through all the chairs in both lodges. Those topics and pursuits which most engross him are hunt- in«. fishing. horses, the drama, music and good reading. -in short he is fond of all the finer things of life. He

attends the Presbyterian church. When interviewed on the subject of Montana, Mr. Mathews said: "If you want health, good water, pure air and a good op- portunity in business, come to Montana."

Mr. Mathews laid one of the most important stones in the foundation of his success by his union with Annie Ganning,. their marriage being celebrated in 1896 at Merrimack, Massachusetts. They have a son and a daughter, namely: Joseph, a young man asso- ciated with his father in business, and Helen, a school girl.

HARRY A. BOLINGER, one of Bozeman's valued and active citizens, prominent in professional, educational and social circles, and a self-made man, has gained prominence through hard toiling and struggle in his early days, and his continued industry and perseverance in later years. Terminating his preliminary studies in the public schools, he did not feel well enough equipped to enter the struggle of business life, and accordingly solved the problem by working his way through the higher educational institutions, always directing his ardent ambition towards a definite goal. Today he has a wide professional reputation, and may well be classed among those who have assisted in ad- vancing their city's interests while forwarding their own.

Mr. Bolinger was born November 30, 1872, near Fort Scott, Kansas, and is the son of Adam and Mar- garet (Kough) Bolinger. He is of a family of six boys and one girl, he being the fourth child.

Adam Bolinger was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1838, and Margaret Kough was born in the same county, August 29, 1844. When a young man Adam Bolinger removed to Carroll county, Illinois, were for some years he was engaged in farm- ing and carpentering. In 1866 he went to Bourbon county, Kansas, where he engaged in farming and stock raising, and where he and his wife are now living in retirement.

The early education of Harry A. Bolinger was ob- tained in the country schools. He later completed the course in the Kansas Normal College of Fort Scott, Kansas, a private normal school founded and then run by D. E. Sanders, who was afterwards president of the State Normal School of Montana. For want of funds, Mr. Bolinger's attendance of that institution was interrupted by intervals during which he taught school and engaged in the lumber manufacturing in- dustry, the latter being in the state of Louisiana.

He graduated from the law department of the Kansas University in the year 1898, working in the probate judge's office at Lawrence, Kansas, during his last year in that school, and until October 1, 1898, when he came to Montana, where he has since been engaged in the practice of law. He engaged in the practice at Townsend for a few months, and for several years at Butte, and in July, 1903 moved from that place to Boze- man, where he has since resided and been engaged in the general practice of his profession. While in Butte he was assistant city attorney for a period of about four years, and assisted in representing that city in much important litigation. He was city attorney for the city of Bozeman for two years, and is and has been a member of the school board at that place for six years, and chairman of that board since 19II.

Mr. Bolinger was married July 8, 1902, to Miss Mary E. McIntosh, who was born near Fort Scott, Kansas, February 20, 1877. She is the daughter of Daniel M. and Sarah I. McIntosh, who were pioneers of Kansas, and who have resided in Gallatin county, Montana, since 1908. Mrs. Bolinger is the oldest of a family of four girls and one boy. Mr. and Mrs. Bolinger have four children : Margarette May, Ruth Elizabeth, Harry A., Jr., and Mary Elizabeth.

For some time Mr. Bolinger has been interested in

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farm lands, and is the owner of a large grain and stock ranch in the Shields River valley, Park county. In this, as in other ventures, he has been uniformly suc- cessful, his versatility being demonstrated in no uncer- tain manner. He has the happy faculty of making friends and the rarer one of keeping them, and is popular in professional, business and social circles.

AARON M. MIKALSON. The town of Eureka has no more enterprising and vigorously public-spirited citizen than Mr. Mikalson, who has been one of the active business builders in this community. He began his career by running away from home, arriving in Mon- tana without a cent of money. Industry, business ability and solid integrity have in a little more than ten years placed him among the leading business men in northwest Montana.

Aaron M. Mikalson was born at Hudson, Wiscon- sin, August 12, 1881. His parents were John M. and Sophia (Amundsen) Mikalson, both natives of Nor- way. The father was one of the pioneers at Hudson, having settled there about 1864. Farming was his occupation, and he is now living retired at Hudson. The mother died at Hudson in 1899 at the age of forty.

The second in a family of eleven children, Aaron M. lived at home and attended the public schools until he was seventeen years old. The spirit of adventure and independence being strong within him, he then left home and started west. Arriving at Great Falls, with- out money, he got a job with Strain Brothers, and by hard work was soon accumulating the capital for in- dependent business enterprise. Not long after he came to Kalispell and went into the lumber business on his own account, continuing there four years and doing a very good business. On leaving Kalispell he home- steaded a claim in Tobacco valley six miles from Eureka, and the 160 acres on which he was engaged in farming for several years is still in his property assets. In February, 1910, with a capital of several thousand dollars, he established at Eureka his pres- ent business in general merchandise-clothing, dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, etc .- and now has the largest store in town and a trade extending throughout this vicinity. His store building covers a floor space of 40 by 80 feet, and is filled with a well assorted stock.

Mr. Mikalson has taken the lead in various move- ments connected with the development of his section of the state. He is president of the Eureka Mutual Telephone Company and one of the original incorpo- rators; is treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce; and is secretary of the Lincoln County Fair Associa- tion. His politics is Republican. His fraternal affilia- tions are with the Elks Club in Kalispell, the Odd Fel- lows at Eureka, of which lodge he is secretary, and the Modern Woodmen of America in Eureka. He also has membership in the Eureka Club.

Mr. Mikalson was married at Harrodsburg, Ken- tucky, October 12, 1910, to Miss Hallie Lillard, a native of that state. Their one son, born in Eureka, June 6, 1911, is named Norman. By a former mar- riage Mr. Mikalson has two children: Arthur, born May 21, 1903, and Evan, born February 2, 1905, both natives of Kalispell.

EZRA SLACK is the founder and organizer of the firm of Slack, Miller & Robinson, one of the principal real estate firms in Kalispell, and he is known for one of the most valuable citizens in the city today. He has been a resident of Montana since 1898, and has made Kalispell his headquarters since that time.

Mr. Slack was born in Ontario, Canada, on Novem- ber 4. 1850. He is the son of James and Abagail (Woolev) Slack, both natives of Ontario, and both of them are descendants of early Pennsylvania settlers.

The father was a farmer, and in 1867 he settled in Michigan where he passed the remainder of his life. He died in 1910, having reached the good old age of eighty-four years. The mother died at the Michigan home in Ubly, Huron county, in 1905, when she was in her seventy-second year of life. They were the par- ents of six sons and three daughters, Ezra, of this review being the first born of the number. He spent his life on the farm to the age of thirty, and carried on diversi- fied farming, and thereafter was engaged in mercantile business in Ubly. When he was forty-eight years old he sold out his business interests there and determined to move to Montana. He visited Kalispell first, and was so impressed with the place that he sought no fur- ther for a location and thereupon settled here, engaging almost immediately in the real estate business, timber and farm lands being his specialty. He continued alone in the business, which was successful from the beginning, until 1910, when C. E. Miller became a member of the firm, and one year later A. L. Robinson was added to the personnel of the concern, the firm now being known as Slack, Miller & Robinson. They conduct a thriving and lucrative business in their line, and are known for the dependable methods which have won the confidence of the buying public in this city.

Mr. Slack is a Republican in his political views, but is not a politician in any sense of the word. He has declined various offices of a high order, among them that of mayor of the city, believing that he can best serve the public interest in an unofficial position. He is a Methodist, and is a man of quiet, homelike in- stincts, preferring the comforts of his own home to any outside enjoyments.

On April 11, 1872, Mr. Slack married Miss Catherine Scott, the daughter of Robert Scott, of New York state. They are the parents of three sons and five daughters, all of whom have reached years of maturity, and are now enshrined in homes of their own. George W. is a resident of Kalispell, and is general overseer of the timber department of the Sommers Lumber Com- pany. Alvin is a farmer, located near to Kalispell. Nettie married B. T. Minch, who is a farmer at Niarada, Montana. Eva married Charles Boomhouer, a farmer of Burlington, Washington. Bertha married Thomas Richardson, who is the manager of a promi- nent lumber company of Crescent Valley, British Co- lumbia, where they reside. Mary is the wife of Reuben T. Fleek, of Libby, Montana, where Mr. Fleek is engaged in the hardware and plumbing business. Clara is the wife of E. L. MeTaggert, a farmer of Edison, Washington. Charles W. is a resident of Seattle, Washington, where he is in business as an architect, carrying on a contracting and building business.

The home of the family is at 402 42nd avenue West, and Mr. Slack maintains his offices in the K. M. building.

JOHN C. MENAPACE, today the leading merchant of Three Forks, Montana, deserves unusual credit for his success. Every step upward in life's battle has been in itself a small skirmish. Always a tireless and ener- getic worker he never admitted the possibility of final failure.

His father, Martin Menapace, was a native of Lux- emburg and was for many years superintendent of the government mines of Germany and France. Hear- ing marvelous tales of the richness of American ore, he left the Fatherland, bringing his family to the United States, where they settled in Colorado. Miner's luck was not always in his favor and despite his technical knowledge he never made a valuable "strike." His en- tire life after coming to this country was spent in the quartz fields of Colorado in an almost vain effort to provide the necessities for his large family. He died in August, 1894, and was buried at Trinidad, Colorado. His wife, Margaret Nicholls, of German parentage, is

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still living at Starkville, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Menapace bore bravely much suffering and sorrow. Of the fourteen children who were born to them, ten were taken away. Of those remaining, Joseph B., the eldest son, is still a miner in Colorado. Lena and Martha, the older girls, are both married. Mary, the youngest, is the widow of Robert Swazie, who while superintendent of the Mexican Central Railway was killed and burned by the rebels in the revolution of May, 1911.

John C. Menapace was born in Nenlue, Germany, on the 21st day of January, 1878, and came to America with his parents while still in his childhood. Until the age of twelve years he was permitted to attend the public and private schools of Leadville but at that early age it was deemed necessary for him to begin to contribute to the family coffers, which illness and death had depleted. For four years he worked in the mines as a tool bearer, turning his meager wages over to his mother. When in his sixteenth year, his parents moved to Trinidad, Colorado, and here he obtained work as a miner, receiving' a man's wages. So strongly was he bound by a sense of duty to his family that until 1894 he continued to use his wages for their support. Feeling the necessity to begin life for himself, he left home for the first time in 1896, being then eighteen years of age, and went to Sheridan, Wyoming, where he found employment in the mines of that place. Later he came to Big Timber, Montana, with the idea of con- tinuing to work at his trade but the mines being crowded, he was obliged to seek employment in the Cottage and Grand Hotel. This was probably the real turning point in his career for had there been an open- ing for him in the mines of Big Timber he would doubt- less have continued his work in the shaft indefinitely, never having the opportunity to discover his gift for fraternizing with his fellow men, nor his commercial ability.

For five years he worked for the hotel company at Big Timber, finally becoming their chief chef, when he moved to Logan and took employment in a restau- rant, remaining there for about one year before the place was entirely destroyed by fire. After this casualty, he joined the Rock Island construction gang in their work of bridge building and construction about the station of Logan. During the two years that he was so employed he managed, by practicing the utmost economy, to accrue for himself a small amount of capital with which he entered into the mercantile business in Logan, form- ing a partnership with Mr. W. A. Roland. Mr. Roland was, at that time, a member of the Montana state legis- lature. The partnership lasted for four years with most satisfactory results, when Mr. Menapace sold his interest in the business to his partner that he might locate in the new town of Three Forks, Montana. Here he formed a second partnership, this time with Mr. M. S. Bryant, and they opened up the first store in Three Forks, located in the postoffice building. Three years later. Mr. Bryant was obliged on account of failing health to dispose of his interest in the business. He sold to Mr. W. W. Porter, the firm being known as Porter and Menapace. Before the end of the next two years Mr. Menapace disposed of his interest to a Mr. Madden and after a rest of only forty days opened up the general merchandise business which he conducts today with such intelligence and acumen. He has one of the best locations in the city and con- ducts the leading department store.

Mr. Menapace is always ready to assist with his time or money any cause that can serve Three Forks or the state of Montana. So general is his acquaintance and so genial his manner that he does much toward assuring the success of any measure that he has at heart. He was elected the first alderman of Three Forks and now holds the office of city clerk. On the ninth day of March, 1905, he was united in marriage

to Miss Emma Gustavson, a young woman from Wis- consin. They are the parents of one daughter, Olive, now four years of age.

HON. THOMAS D. OLMSTED. "If he's an Ohio man, watch out for him," used to be the political prophecy, and it is appropriate in regard to the Buckeye sons in all walks of life. One of the most progressive of the Ohioans who have been given to the Beaverhead Val- ley is Thomas D. Olmsted, mayor of Dillon and senior member of the firm of Olmsted-Stevenson Company, general merchants, theirs being a leading enterprise of this section of Montana and one of the most thor- oughly up-to-date.

Mr. Olmsted was born in Chilo, Ohio, October 9, 1870. He resided in the town of his nativity until about the attainment of his majority, when he went to Cincinnati and entered the employ of Nelson, Mor- ris & Company, the big packing firm, with whom he held the position of assistant bookkeeper. He remained with them for eighteen months and was then trans- ferred to their Chicago offices in the same capacity. After fourteen months in the "Windy City," Mr. Olm- sted was transferred again, this time to Danville, Illi- nois, where, in recognition of his efficient services, he was made manager of the branch at that place. His residence in Danville covered a period of four years, at the end of which time he severed his connection with Nelson, Morris & Company and went immediately to Omaha, where he became associated with the Ham- mond Packing Company as chief auditor in their pack- ing department. This was an extremely important posi- tion, Mr. Olmsted having many men under his direc- tion, but he successfully met all the requirements. Un- fortunately, however, his health broke down and in the hope of recovering it he secured a transfer to Colorado, with Denver as his headquarters, his new position be- ing as traveling salesman for the Hammonds. He con- tinued in such capacity until 1899, when he came to Dillon, with the intention of establishing himself inde- pendently in business in this thriving center. To this end he purchased the grocery stock of the O. E. Morse estate and organized the firm of Olmsted and Logan, he himself taking full command. On January 1, 1907, he sold out and purchased an interest in The John W. Morton Company. During his connection with The John W. Morton Company the business was very successful. In February, 1909, the Olmsted-Stevenson Company succeeded The John W. Morton Company and today this company has one of the finest establishments of this character in all the Beaverhead Valley. Not only has he been successful, but his career here has been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all transac- tions according to the strictest principles of honor.

Mr. Olmsted received his early education in the pub- lic schools of Chilo, and graduated from the high school of Felicity, and after going to Cincinnati he took a course in the Nelson Business College in that city. The most successful and adequate type of business man is born and not made, and from boyhood the subject manifested no small amount of commercial acumen. At the age of fourteen years he made his first considerable sum of money raising shoates. When sixteen he bought an assignee's stock of implements and sold them out at a good profit. This was his first real venture in busi- ness.

Mr Olmsted was married June 29, 1904, in Livings- ton, Montana, the lady of his choice being Alice Con- stance Chambers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George T. Chambers, of Livingston. They have a small son, Thomas, born November 15, 1905, in Dillon, and now attending the public schools. The Olmsted residence is one of the favorite gathering places of Dillon, the subject and his wife holding an assured social position.

Mr. Olmsted since his earliest voting days has sub-

Thomas Obter.

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scribed to the articles of faith of the Republican party and he takes an active interest in politics, both local and national. Known to be the warm champion of good education, he has for six years past served as member of the high school board. In 1911 he received the compliment of election to the office of mayor of Dillon, and in this office has given a clean, fearless and progressive administration. As mayor that fine public- spirit which is one of his salient characteristics has had opportunity to evince itself and he is one of the most popular officials ever possessed by Dillon.

Mr. and Mrs. Olmsted are members of the Episcopal church. The former is one of the staunchest devotees of baseball in all the county and facetiously declares that he would close the store any time in order to at- tend a good game. He is fond of the theatre and music and appropriates every opportunity in these lines. He is an all round good citizen, of pleasing personality and the possessor of hosts of friends.

Mr. Olmsted's father, Thomas Bingham Olmsted, was born in Cadiz, Ohio, November 16, 1833, and resided in the Buckeye state throughout his entire life. He was a farmer by occupation. The demise of this good citi- zen occurred March 15, 1880, when his years numbered fifty-seven, and he is interred on the old homestead. The mother, whose maiden name was Harriet Newel Porter, was born in Brown county, Ohio, June 15, 1840. She survived her husband for many years, being summoned to the Great Beyond December 23, 19II, aged seventy-two, and she now lies beside her cher- ished and devoted husband. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom were boys and three girls, and the immediate subject of this review is the fifth in order of birth and the only member of the family in Montana.

MICHAEL P. MAHONEY. In the public life and activi- ties of Anaconda and vicinity one of the most influential citizens is the present clerk and recorder of Deer Lodge county. Mr. Mahoney has been identified with Montana since early manhood, and first came into prominence in connection with union labor affairs.

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A history of Montana, Volume III, Part 95

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