Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 103

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 1126

USA > Montana > Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II > Part 103

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Tom Sandell, the youngest of the family, was edu- cated in the public schools of his native Norwegian community and was about fifteen years old when in 1898 he came to the United States. For two years he lived at Sharon, Wisconsin, with his uncle Martin Anderson, an early farmer there, whose father had come from Sogn, Norway. In 1900 Mr. Sandell re- moved to Capron, Wisconsin, and during the two years there he attended high school and perfected his knowledge of the English language. Returning to Clinton he worked on a farm three years and then for four years farmed south of Beloit in Boone County, Illinois.

The record of his experience in Montana begins in 1910, when he came to Wibaux. For one season he was employed by T. M. Eberson in constructing grain elevators. About that time he determined to learn the grain business, and worked for one season as a helper. As a young man of promise and abil- ity the Occident Elevator Company sent him in 1912 to Clyde Park as manager of their local interests. He represented the Occident Company until 1914, then for one year was manager for P. A. Schneck- loth's elevator and since then has been manager at Clyde Park for the Bozeman Milling Company. This company is an incorporated firm with head- quarters at Bozeman and operates elevators in dif- ferent towns of Southern Montana. The elevator at Clyde Park is a large one and is located on the Northern Pacific Railway tracks, having a capacity of 40,000 bushels. The general manager of the com- pany is Charles Vandenhook.

Mr. Sandell is a republican in politics. He is vice- grand of Clyde Park Lodge No. 64, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. As a fixture in the citizen- ship of Clyde Park he owns a modern home on Main Street and Fourth Avenue. He married at Livingston, Montana, in 1914, Miss Esther Bliler. Her parents, Ves and Clara (Coe) Bliler, live at Bozeman, where her father is assistant in a hard- ware and implement store. Mrs. Sandell is a gradu- ate of the public schools of Wilsall, Montana. To their marriage were born three children, Tom, Jr., born December 4, 1915, Alice Irene, and Margaret Christine, twins, born October 7, 1917.

JACOB THORKELSON, M. D. Foremost among the medical practitioners of Anaconda stands Dr. Jacob Thorkelson, who has been established in this city, with a suite of offices in the Daly Bank Building, since July, 1918. A specialist in surgery, his medi- cal knowledge and surgical skill are universally ac- knowledged, and professionally and otherwise Dr. Thorkelson is held in high esteem. Doctor Thorkel- son was born and grew to the age of sixteen years in Norway. His parents were Thorkel and Maren (Peterson) Jacobson, both of whom were born and died near Bergen. There were two sons born to them, Jacob and Peter, the latter of whom died in the old home near Bergen.

In considering a man's life career, early environ- ment must be noticed, and it may not be unrea-

sonable to assume that the wide and varied ex- periences of one whose fortune it was for a number of years to view life from the deck of a sailing ves- sel, from cabin boy to captain, in a hundred alien ports, had its influence and, further, possibly awakened the sleeping talent that, cultivated, has made Doctor Thorkelson so truly useful in the prac- tice of the noblest of professions.

Following his graduation from the Bergen High School, the youth Thorkelson, then sixteen years old, shipped as a cabin boy on a vessel sailing from a Norway seaport. Promotion followed, and the time came when he commanded American ships out from Philadelphia. During the years that he fol- lowed the sea he visited almost every country ac- cessible to vessels, South America, Africa, China, Japan and India, and the ports of Europe and the United States. In 1892 he came to this country with the intention of becoming an American citizen and was naturalized in 1901.

It was in 1907 that Doctor Thorkelson began the serious study of medical science, and with the class of I911 he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Maryland, with his degree of M. D. During 1912 he served in his alma mater as associate professor of anatomy, and during 1913 held the chair of professor of anatomy in that institution. He then came to Montana and engaged in practice at Dillon, and from there in July, 1918, came to Anaconda. He is surgeon of the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs, and formerly was county physician of Beaverhead County. He is a member of the Deer Lodge County, Montana State and the American Medical associa- tions, the Association of Anatomists and the Medi- cal Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, and belongs to the Anaconda and the Anaconda Country clubs. He is also quite prominent in fraternal life, belonging to Laurel Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Laurel, Delaware; Bagdad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Butte, Montana ; Hope Chapter No. 17, Royal Arch Masons, and St. Elmo Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar, of Laurel, Delaware; Laurel Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Oray Plate Lodge No. 390, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Virginia City, Montana ; and Dillon Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, of Dillon, Montana.

JAMES E. MEREDITH. While his active relations with the business and civic affairs of Montana are comparatively recent, James E. Meredith is a vet- eran of the lumber business, and brought to his work as manager of the Midland Lumber and Hard- ware Company of Pompey's Pillar a fund of ex- perience and learning gained largely in the North- western states.

Mr. Meredith was born at Atlantic, Iowa, August 7, 1872. His people came originally from Wales and settled in this country in colonial times. His grandfather was a real pioneer. His name was Joseph. He was born in 1781, and when the middle west was a wilderness he went into the Illinois country and made his living by hunting and trap- ping. He followed the same business later in Iowa and after the discovery of gold in California went over the plains, to the Pacific Coast in 1849. He finally returned to Illinois and died at Peoria in 1884, more than a hundred years old. John L. Meredith, father of James E., was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1836, grew up and married there and was one of the early settlers on a farm near Atlan- tic, Iowa. In 1884 he moved to Groton, South Dakota, continued farming, but from 1913 lived re- tired at Hot Springs, South Dakota, where he died

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in the spring of 1915. He was a very staunch re- publican in his political affiliations and a member of the Methodist Church. John L. Meredith married Keturah Doty, who was born in Illinois, 1837, and died in Groton, South Dakota, in 1905. They were the parents of three children: Addie, living at Gro- ton, South Dakota, widow of James Carmine, who died in 1918, leaving a large farm; Jessie, living at Eureka, California, widow of Albert Sells, who was a farmer at Groton, South Dakota; and James E.

James E. Meredith attended rural schools at Brown County, South Dakota, and lived on his father's farm until the age of eighteen, when for two years he farmed independently, operated a well drilling machine in Brown County for four years, took up the homestead claim of a quarter section near Minot in that state and proved up on it, and lived there until 1902. He left the farm to go into the lumber business, working and learning all de- tails of the industry in a yard conducted by the Rogers Lumber Company at Donnybrook, North Dakota. He was there for two years, and then for seven years was manager of a yard at Fagus, North Dakota, for the Rogers Brothers, Incorporated. In IgIo he became manager for the Atlas Lumber Com- pany at Timberlake, South Dakota, remaining there four years, following which he was manager for the Schultz Lumber Company at Beach, North Dakota. until 1918. In June, 1918, Mr. Meredith came to Pompey's Pillar, Montana, and has since been man- ager of the Midland Lumber Company. The head offices of this concern are at Miles City.

Mr. Meredith is a republican, and retains his Odd Fellow membership in Timberlake Lodge. He mar- ried at Groton, South Dakota, in 1893, Miss Flora Kranhold, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Kran- hold, the latter now deceased. Her father is a re- tired farmer at Groton. Mrs. Meredith, who is a graduate of the Groton High School, has two sons, both of whom were soldiers. Earl J., born Feb- ruary, 1895, was with a hospital unit with the army in France, while Chester O., born May 11, 1897, was with the Army of Occupation in Germany.

SAMUEL M. NYE. Examples that impress force of character on all who study them are worthy of record. By a few general observations may be con- veyed some idea of the characteristics and worthy career of Samuel M. Nye, for many years a well- known mechanic at Livingston, but who is now liv- ing in honorable retirement in his pleasant home there, having through his industry and wise fru- gality accumulated a competency. He has pursued the even tenor of his way in a quiet and unosten- tatious manner, which never courts publicity, always doing the right as he understands it and attending strictly to his own affairs. The elements of a solid and practical nature which unite in his composition are not a matter of wonderment when we learn that he comes of sterling English ancestry, of the same blood that has entered so largely into the building of that great cosmopolitan character, the American of today.

Samuel M. Nye was born in Lewiston, New York, on October 22, 1852. His father, William Nye, was born in England in 1818 and his death occurred in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1879. He was reared and married in England and came to the United States in 1851, locating at Lewiston, New York, where he entered the employ of a mercantile firm. In 1858 he moved to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and entered the employ of the Great Western Rail- way, with which he remained until his death. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, to which he gave active support. He married Sarah Elizabeth

Tucker, who was born in England in 1818 and who died in Hamilton, Canada, in 1890. They became the parents of seven children, as follows: William W., who was a carpenter, died at Saskatchewan, Canada; George James was the proprietor of a flour mill at Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada, where his death occurred; Francis Charles was a machin- ist, but died at Buffalo, New York; Louisa Jane, who resides at Jamestown, New York, is the widow of William Ross, who was superintendent of a ma- chine shop in that city; Samuel M. is the imme- diate subject of this sketch; Sarah Elizabeth, of Hamilton, Canada, is the widow of John Patterson, formerly a master tailor in that city; Arthur Jesse, deceased, was superintendent of a steel bridge and machine factory at Toronto, Canada.

Samuel M. Nye attended the public schools of Hamilton, Canada, completing his studies in the grammar school, which he left at the age of fifteen years. He then learned the trade of a boiler- maker with the Great Western Railroad, with which he remained until finishing his apprenticeship. He was then employed in Michigan by the Pere Mar- quette Railway, in Missouri by the Iron Mountain Railway and in Minnesota with the Northern Pacific Railway. He had a splendid record with the latter road, beginning in Brainard, Minnesota, in 1882 and continuing uninterruptedly until 1918, when he re- signed. In November, 1884, he was transferred by the company to Livingston, where he became fore- man of the boiler shops, which position he held up to the time of his retirement.

In political matters Mr. Nye gives his support to the republican party. He was one of the first coun- cilmen for the city of Livingston and served several terms in that capacity. His fraternal record is a most interesting one. He is a member of Living- ston Lodge No. 32, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master and of which he has been secretary since 1893; Livingston Chapter No. 7, Royal Arch Masons; St. Bernard Com- mandery No. 6, Knights Templar ; Eastern Montana Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons, in which he has been exalted to the thirty-third and last degree, and of which body he has been secretary since 1899; Algeria Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Helena; Orient Chapter No. 6, Order of the Eastern Star, of which he is a past worthy patron, and he is also a past grand patron of the Order of the Eastern Star for the State of Montana, and he is a member of Moun- tain View Hive No. 1, Knights of the Maccabees. He was one of the founders of the Railway Club, of which he was an active member for many years. He is a trustee of the Masonic Association of Livingston, which handles all affairs connected with the Masonic Temple. The latter is a commodi- ous and well arranged building, comprising two stories and basement. It contains two large and well arranged lodge rooms, which are used by the Masons and other fraternal orders. The offices of the Chamber of Commerce are also in this building, as are other offices. Mr. Nye has rendered effective and highly appreciated service to the various bodies to which he belongs and in which he is held in the highest esteem.

In 1875, in Hamilton, Canada, Mr. Nye married Sarah E. Shipton, who was born in 1856 in Wool- wich, Kent, England, and whose death occurred in 1918 in Livingston. To Mr. and Mrs. Nye have been born the following children: Samnel M., Jr., who died in 1913, at Glendive, Montana, was foreman of the boiler shop of the Northern Pacific Railway at that place ; William A. is a printer at The Dalles, Oregon; Walter M. is the owner of a 420-acre ranch

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near Willsall, Montana; Frank G. is a merchant in Livingston; Charles E. is a boiler-maker by trade ; John A., who resides in Livingston, is foreman of air inspection for the Northern Pacific Railway; Louis is vice president of the State Bank of Liv- ingston, one of the leading banks of this section of Montana, and much of the success of which is directly due to the indefatigable efforts and sound business judgment of Mr. Nye; Edith M. is the wife of Glenn R. Brown, a brakeman on the Northern Pacific Railroad. She completed her education in the Park County High School.

FRANK B. BAIR. Bringing to his calling good business methods, excellent judgment and keen per- ceptive faculties, Frank B. Bair, of Billings, is meet- ing with highly satisfactory results in his labors as vice president and general manager of the Montana Live Stock and Loan Company, having been a con- spicuous factor in building up and extending the business operations of the organization and in mak- ing its influence felt in the leading agricultural and financial circles of Southeastern Montana. Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, June 29, 1881, he is still in manhood's prime.

His father, Elias Bair, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1843, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. After his marriage he bought land in Lancaster County, and by dint of perserving toil improved a productive farm, on which he resided many years. In 1899, having accumulated a fair share of this world's goods, he removed to Philadelphia, where he lived retired until his death in 1912. In politics he was identified with the republican party, and in religion he affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Elizabeth Raymond, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1846, and is now a resident of Philadelphia. Of the fourteen children born of their union, two died in infancy, the others being as follows: John D., who is extensively engaged in the live stock business in Lancaster County, Penn- sylvania : Annie C., residing in Philadelphia, is the widow of R. L. Shirk, a former employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; William Henry, who was for a time engaged in business at Phila- delphia, died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, when but twenty-six years of age; Jacob R., of Philadelphia, is a conductor on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; Samuel G., foreman for a contract- ing company, resides in New Jersey; Clement R., of St. Paul, Minnesota, is cashier for Swift & Company: Mary E., wife of Park Foulke, a brick contractor at Coatesville, Pennsylvania ; Harvey E., of Philadelphia, holds a responsible position as fore- man on the large Woods estate; Frank B., of whom we write: Sarah, wife of Walter Cosner, of Phila- delphia, an automobile dealer ; Rachel, wife of R. L. Pearson, a salesman in Philadelphia; and Rebecca, who died at the early age of fifteen years.

Acquiring his early education in his native state, Frank B. Bair attended the rural schools of Lan- caster County, completing his studies in Philadelphia. Beginning life for himself at the age of fifteen years, he was variously employed for awhile, for three years serving as conductor on a trolley car in Philadelphia. Continuing in that city, he was subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits for four years, buying and selling goods on the instalment plan. That line of industry being scarce suited to one of his energetic temperament and enterprise, Mr. Bair went to the wide-awake city of Chicago in 1909, and for four years thereafter was employed in the Stock Yards, where, with the Clay, Robinson & Company firm, he became thoroughly acquainted with the details of the live stock business. In 1913, Vol. II-24

continuing with the same company, he was live stock salesman in St. Paul, Minnesota,' for three years, gaining a practical experience that has since been of inestimable value to him. Locating in Billings in 1916, Mr. Blair has since been actively associated with the Montana Live Stock and Loan Company as vice president and general manager of its affairs, a position that he is filling in a most competent man- ner, the organization under his skillful supervision being in a highly flourishing condition. Mr. Bair is also secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Billings Stock Yards Company, which is carry- ing on a thriving business. Mr. Bair is one of the busiest men in Billings, his offices being located in the Exchange Building at the stock yards, one mile east of the city.

Although affiliated with the republican ranks, Mr. Bair takes no active part in the management of pub- lic affairs, his private interests demanding his en- tire attention. Socially he is a member of the Bil- lings Midland Empire Club, and fraternally he be- longs to Philadelphia Lodge, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Order of Masons, and to Saint Paul Camp, Woodmen of the World. Religiously he affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He owns a fine residence at No. 1029 North Thirtieth Street, where he and his wife take great pleasure in en- tertaining their many friends.

Mr. Bair married, in 1904, at Mount Carmel, Penn- sylvania, Miss Edna M. Philips, a graduate of the Mount Carmel High School. Her parents, Ed. and Ida (Maurer) Philips, are residents of Mount Car- mel, where Mr. Philips is a blacksmith in the mines. Mr. and Mrs. Bair have three children, namely : Edna Elizabeth, born in August, 1905; Frank E., born in September, 1915; and Katherine, born in January, 1918.

LIVINGSTON PUBLISHING COMPANY. One of the most influential newspapers in Montana is the Liv- ingston Enterprise, owned and published by the Livingston Publishing Company. The Enterprise was established as a weekly in 1910. In 1914 a con- solidation was effected between the Enterprise and the Post, the Enterprise being continued as a daily issue with the Post as a weekly. Since 1916 the Enterprise has been a morning paper, previously having been issued in the afternoon. The Living- ston Publishing Company has one of the best equipped plants for newspaper work in the state. The Enterprise is regarded as a democratic paper and has a circulation all over Park and surround- ing counties.

The company is incorporated, Robert S. Phillips being the president and J. Thomas Melton, the vice president. Mr. Phillips is editor and general man- ager, and J. Thomas Melton is the business manager.

J. THOMAS MELTON, business manager of the Enterprise, is a printer and newspaper man of al- most lifelong experience. He was born at Texar- kana, Arkansas, September 20, 1875, and was only twelve years old when he went to work in a print- ing office. His ancestors originally lived in Eng- land, where the family were noted as cloth manu- facturers and their home was known as Melton- Mowbray. Then name of the family was also transferred to a special make of cloth, a broad- cloth with a rough finish being known as "Melton cloth."

Several generations ago one branch of the Mel- ton family came to America and settled in South Carolina. D. W. Melton, father of J. Thomas, was born in South Carolina in 1838. He lived there during his early years, and afterward moved

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to Missouri, where he was a farmer and was in a similar occupation in Louisiana and Arkansas. In 1870 he went to Texarkana, before a town was established there and before there was a railroad and before there was a bridge over the river. After remaining there several years he returned to Iron Mountain, Missouri, for twenty years and then went back to Texarkana and finally moved into Texas and died at Kildare, that state, in 1903. He had served in the Confederate army with a Missouri regiment, being assigned to ambulance duty. He was a democrat in politics. D. W. Mel- ton married Amanda Strickland, who was born in North Carolina in 1840 and died at Texarkana in 1895. Louis, the oldest of their children, is in the lumber business at Kildare, Texas; Eliza is the wife of Henry W. Cook, a carpenter and con- tractor at Texarkana; William M. is a contractor and builder at Tulsa, Oklahoma; Martha is the wife of A. N. McDaniel, a rancher, mill man, tim- ber dealer and generally prominent in the business affairs of Redwater, Texas; Harriet is the wife of H. W. Cox. a ailroad employe living at Texarkana ; while J. Thomas is the sixth and youngest of the family.

J. Thomas Melton attended public school in his native town, and in 1887 went to work in a print- ing office. He spent twelve years learning and working at his trade in Texarkana. In 1897 he started out as a journeyman, and the course of his wanderings took him through Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska Wyoming, South Dakota, Cali- fornia, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. He first visited Montana in 1906, spending a brief time work- ing for the Billings Times under Col. C. M. Mor- ris. After that he resumed his journey toward the coast. On his way back he became foreman of the Times at Wallace, Idaho, for a year. For six years Mr. Melton was at Chandler, Oklahoma, as manager of the Chandler News, and while there he married. In 1900 he established a job printing office at Hamilton, Montana, and after three years sold out. He then spent a year as manager of the Granite County News at Drummond and on ac- count of his wife's health moved to Portland, Ore- gon, in 1913. Later in the same year he returned to Montana, and was with the Henley Printing Company at Missoula until 1913. He then resumed his residence at Hamilton, spending one year with the Ravalli County Republican. Mr. Melton came to Livingston in 1916 and at first was in the job- bing department of the Enterprise, was made fore- man of that department, then superintendent, ad- vertising manager, and since September 1, 1918, has been business manager of the company.

Mr. Melton is a republican in politics. 'He is an active member and president of the board of trus- tees of the Christian Science Church at Living- ston and is affiliated with Hamilton Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.

He married Mrs. Effie G. (Gilstrap) Frazier at Chandler, Oklahoma, in 1909. Her father, Austin Gilstrap, was a Kansas farmer. She was born at Colfax, Illinois, and died at Missoula, Montana, in September, 1913. In July, 1916, Mr. Melton mar- ried Miss Maude Furnham at Livingston, daugh- ter of David and Matilda (White) Furnham. Her parents live at Sparta, Wisconsin, her father being a Wisconsin farmer.

JUDGE JAMES F. O'CONNOR. While Judge O'Con- nor has been a resident of Livingston only fifteen years, few citizens have more interests by which they may be readily identified with the enterprise

and life of the community. He is a former judge of the District Court, a successful lawyer, presi- dent of the Northwestern National Bank, a rancher, and was also president of the Livingston Publish- ing Company, publishers of the Livingston Enter- prise.

Judge O'Connor was born at California Junc- tion, Iowa, May 7, 1878. His father, Patrick O'Con- nor, was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1827, and at this writing is ninety-two years of age. Evidently he had as much enterprise and vigor of performance as he had years of life. He was reared and married in his native Irish county and came to the United States in 1852. He did his first work as a railroad man in Wisconsin. Subsequently he became a pioneer in California Junction, Iowa, and has spent the greater part of his life as a farmer. He has developed several handsome farms which he still owns in. the vicinity of California Junction, and is now living at Missouri Valley, Iowa. He has always beenr democratic in politics and is a member of the Catholic Church. He married Brid- get O'Brien, who was born in County Clare in 1836. The record of their children is a very un- usual one. There were ten in all, and the first eight were daughters. Every one of these daugh- ters married a railroad man. The only two sons chose the profession of law. Judge O'Connor is the youngest of the family. His brother was Maurice O'Connor, who died in 1917, at the age of forty-two, at Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was asso- ciated in practice with the present Senator Kenyon of Iowa. A brief record of the daughters of the family is as follows: Mary, wife of James H. Clark, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Ellen, wife of Mar- tin Burke, of Missouri Valley, Iowa; Anna, wife of William Mahoney, of Casper, Wyoming; Agnes, who married Michael O'Connor (not related) and lives at Missouri Valley; Elizabeth, wife of W. M. Kelley, of Spokane, Washington; Susan, wife of Charles Shinkle, of St. Louis, Missouri; Johanna, wife of John Dougherty, of Topeka, Kansas; and Emma, wife of J. P. Finucane, of Houston, Texas. All of them it will be noted reside in railroad cen- ters.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 103

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society Number of Pages: 1126

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 1126