Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 106

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 106

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).

AUSTIN SWANDAL. To a great extent the pros- perity of the agricultural sections of our great country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy perseverance and the wise economy which so promi- nently characterizes the foreign element that has entered largely into our population. By comparison with their "old country" surroundings these people have readily recognized the fact that in America lie the greatest opportunities for the man of ambi- tion and energy. And because of this many have broken the ties of home and native land and have entered earnestly upon the task of gaining in the new world a home and competence. Among this class may be mentioned Austin Swandal, who by his indefatigable labor and honest effort has not only acquired a well-merited material prosperity, but has

376

HISTORY OF MONTANA

also richly earned the high esteem of all with whom he has been associated.

Austin Swandal was born at Stevanger, Norway, on the 28th of October, 1889, and is the son of Austin and Marie (Hereim) Swandal. The latter was born at Stevanger, Norway, in 1869, and died there in 1907. Austin Swandal, Sr., was born at Stevanger in 1862, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He came to the United States in 1898 and settled at Lennep, Montana, where he was num- bered among the pioneer ranchmen. He was suc- cessful, but in 1904 he returned to Norway, where he still resides. He had served as a soldier in the Norwegian army. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. To him and his wife were born seven children, namely: Anstin, the immediate subject of this sketch; Nels, who resides on a ranch twelve miles north of Wilsall; John, also a rancher, about eleven miles north of Wilsall; Ed, who is in part- nership with his brother John; Ole remains with his father in Norway and is a farmer; Matt and Christ are also with their father.

Austin Swandal, the son, received a good prac- tical education in the public schools of Stevanger, Norway, where he remained until 1905, when he came to the United States, locating at Lennep, Montana, where he homesteaded 160 acres, and also a timber claim of the same size. In 1913 he sold this land and moved onto his present ranch, which is situated about ten miles northeast of Wil- sall. Mr. Swandal owns 2,720 acres of land and also leases 3,000 acres. He is extensively engaged in the raising of cattle and sheep, in which he has met with eminent success, being counted one of the best ranchmen in this section of the state. He "runs" about 3,000 sheep and 500 cattle annually and has exercised rare discrimination and sound judg- ment in everything he has undertaken. He has a partner, C. K. Liquin, under the firm name of Liquin & Swandal, Mr. Swandal being the secretary and treasurer of the company.

Politically Mr. Swandal is an ardent supporter of the republican party, and his fraternal relations are with Wilsall Lodge No. 103, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In 1914 Austin Swandal was married to Ella M. Aspelund, the daughter of Ole Nelson Aspelund and Gusta Amalia Wittre, of Christiania, Nor- way, where the father, who was formerly owner of a ship and captain on his own ship, is now retired. To Mr. and Mrs. Swandal has been born one child, Gladys Marie, born Jannary 2, 1917.

OLE C. WOGAN is postmaster and a merchant at Roberts, has spent most of his active career in com- mercial affairs, though he came to Montana and went through the experience of developing a home- stead.

He was born in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, September 10, 1880. His father, Frederick Wogan, was born at Throndjem, Norway, in 1846, grew up in his native country, served in the Norwegian army, and after his marriage came to the United States in the spring of 1880 and was an early settler in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. He has done well as a farmer and is still living at Dawson in that county. He is an active member of the Lutheran Church. The maiden name of his wife was Oline Stigen, who was born in the southern part of Nor- way in 1851. She died at Dawson, Minnesota, in 1913. Their children were: Marit, a lumber dealer at Milan, Minnesota; Ole C .; Anna, who lives with her father; Olaf M., who is employed by his brother Ole at Roberts ; Oscar, a barber at Dawson, Minnesota; Selmer, who during the war was in

the Aviation Corps and in training at San Antonio, Texas; and Maria, wife of Lanritz Borgendale, a farmer near Dawson, Minnesota.

Ole C. Wogan attended public school at Dawson, graduating from high school and afterwards taking a course in a business college at Austin, Minnesota. For two years he was employed in a drug store at Austin, for another two years was assistant cashier of a bank at Gary, South Dakota, and was employed in the postoffice and as clerk in a store at Mobridge, South Dakota, two years.

Mr. Wogan came to Montana and took up a home- stead at Columbus in 1910. He proved up and lived on his farm four years, afterwards selling it. In the meantime he moved to Roberts in 1915 and bought out one of the principal general stores of Carbon County, and now owns both the store and building and has a trade of generous proportions drawn from all the country fifteen miles around Roberts. He also has a ranch of 160 acres near Gibson, Montana, owns a store building and a half interest in the stock at Boyd, Montana, and has one of the good homes in Roberts. He was appointed to the office of postmaster at Roberts in 1917.

Mr. Wogan is a democrat and is affiliated with the Lutheran Church. He married at Gibson, Mon- tana, in 1915, Miss Dora Forsyth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. O. Forsyth, both now deceased. Her father was a Montana pioneer, coming to the terri- tory in 1873, and was a well known rancher. Mr. and Mrs. Wogan have one daughter, Phyllis, born March 2, 1916.

WILLIAM HARRY BUNNEY. A man who has al- ways been able to take advantage of opportunities when offered him, William Harry Bunney, general manager of the M. W. & S. Railroad, with head- quarters at Belfrey, Montana, has risen steadily it the railroad business, and his successive promotions have been accorded him because he has deserved them, and not through the exertion of outside in- fluence in his behalf. Mr. Bunney is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where he was born January 6, 1880. His father, F. E. Bunney, who is now living at Puyallup, Washington, was born in England in 1852, in the Village of Penge, and was there reared, leaving England for the United States after attain- ing his majority. Marrying after coming to this country, he settled at Cleveland, Ohio, but left that city in 1882 to go west as far as Denver, Colorado. In 1884 he moved to Butte, Montana, being made station agent for what is now the Northern Pacific Railroad. From 1886 to 1888 he was in a mining business at Anaconda, Montana, but left that point in 1888 for Missoula, where he spent a year in rail- roading. He then was at Tacoma, Washington, for a time, leaving that city for Puyallup, Washington, where he has since 1910 been agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad. With the exception of the two years he spent in mining, Mr. Bunney has been engaged in railroad work practically all his life, and is still actively engaged in it. He is a re- publican. For many years he has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. In fraternal matters he maintains membership in the Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In 1878 F. E. Bunney was married to Lenora Roberts, born in Kentucky in 1859, and their chil- dren were as follows: William Harry, whose name heads this review; and Ethel, who married J. W. McCune, traffic man on the coast for shipping interests, resides at Tacoma, Washington.

William Harry Bunney attended the public schools of Montana and the Tacoma High School, from which he was graduated in 1898. Following that

377

HISTORY OF MONTANA

Mr. Bunney took a commercial course at the Ta- coma Business College, and then entered the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad, beginning at the bottom and working up from the job of engine wiper until he was made stenographer in the office. In 1903 he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, as stenog- rapher in the offices of the Northern Pacific Rail- road. Later he was made assistant to the chief clerk to the general manager of this road, and held that position until 1908. In that year he was made chief clerk to the superintendent of the road at Missoula, remaining as such until 1912. He was then made chief clerk to the superintendent at Liv- ingston, Montana, holding that position until 1918, when he was made general manager of the M. W. & S. Railroad at Belfrey, Montana. This road was built in 1907 and runs from the Bear Creek coal field to Bridger, connecting with the Northern Pacific Railroad at that point. Mr. Bunney is a republican, and while living at Livingston was chair- man of the school board and president of the Rail- way Club, the leading club of the city. He belongs to Livingston Lodge No. 32, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master ; Livingston Consistory, of which he is a thirty- second degree Mason; and Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Helena, Montana. Mr. Bunney is a director of the Mutual Building and Loan Association of Living- ston, and took a very active part in the business and social life of that city, as he is already doing at Belfrey.

In 1900 Mr. Bunney was married at Tacoma, Washington, to Miss Agnes L. Stephenson, born at Portland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Bunney have three children: Edward, who was born in May, 1902; Howard Irvine, who was born in December, 1905; and Gordon, who was born in May, 1907. Mr. Bunney is a man thoroughly experienced in every detail of his calling, and having worked his way up understands the possibilities of each posi- tion, and is able to judge accurately as to the capa- bilities of each man and to determine if he is rendering faithful and efficient service. No one who had not passed through similar experiences could so ably and justly discharge the onerons responsibilities of this position and meet promptly and capably the numerous problems which arise every day.

WILLIAM P. KNUDSEN. The handling of realty and the writing of fire and life insurance are two kindred lines of business which have for many years enlisted the services of some of the most virile men of the country. No community ever makes much permanent progress until its real estate is handled by men possessing a natural ability for such work, and the nature of their efforts brings them into contact with their prospects in such a confidential manner that it is but natural that they learn of their private affairs and are able to advise wisely as to the securing of proper protection through insurance for their lives and property. One of the men who is fast becoming a potential factor in the realty and insurance circles of Billings, Montana, is William P. Knudsen, president of the Knudsen Realty Com- pany, for he possesses ability of such force as to bring about successful terminations to the majority of his operations.

The birth of Mr. Knudsen took place at Merrill, Wisconsin, September 23, 1888, he being a son of Louis Knudsen. Louis Knudsen was born in Nor- way in 1852, and he died at Merrill, Wisconsin, in 1892. When only twenty years of age he left Nor- way for the United States, and after his arrival

in this country he built a saw mill forty miles south of Merrill, operating it for a time, but later ex- panding until he was a builder and contractor and millwright of considerable importance. He located in Wisconsin at a time when pioneer conditions prevailed, and went through the usual experience of the early settler in any new region. The Lutheran Church of Merrill had in him a consistent and earnest member. After coming to Wisconsin Louis Knudsen was united in marriage with Christina Hansen, born in Denmark in 1863, who survives him and lives at Merrill, Wisconsin. After his death she was married to John Nelson, who is a lumber grader at Merrill. Louis Knudsen and his wife had children as follows: Oscar A., who re- sides at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a traveling sales- man; Harold M., who is a veterinary surgeon at Kenosha, Wisconsin ; William P., whose name heads this review; and Olaf, who is a pattern maker at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By her second marriage Mrs. Knudsen had two children: James, who is a first class yeoman of the United States Navy on the steamer Leviathan, and Roland, who is also serving in the United States Navy, and is stationed at the Great Lakes Training Station.

William P. Knudsen was reared at Merrill and attended its common and high schools, being gradu- ated from the latter in 1905, following which he learned the fundamentals of business at the Spen- cerian College at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, putting them to practical use as a bookkeeper for a tele- phone company at Milwaukee for a year. He left that concern to become cashier and traveling sales- man for the O'Neil Oil and Paint Company of the same city, with which he remained for six years. Mr. Knudsen then went to the coast and for four months was with the Burroughs Adding Machine Company of Spokane, Washington, and for eight months was with the Shaw Borden Company, a stationery house of the same city. In 1913 he came to Billings, Montana, and for a brief period worked with the Billings Sugar Company, but later asso- ciated himself with the F. B. Connelley Company for a year. For the subsequent two years he was general office manager and credit man for the Ryniker Winter Hardware Company, but all of this time he was looking for a suitable opening for a business of his own, and in July, 1917, he opened the Roberts Realty Company, and later on, in February, 1918, he organized the Knudsen Realty Company, of which he is president; P. A. Hammer, vice president; and Z. B. Knudsen, secretary and treasurer. This concern handles city property, farm lands, stock ranches and business propositions and writes fire, accident, life and health insurance, and has the state agency for the Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Company of Omaha, Nebraska. The offices of the company are 15 North Broadway. Northern Hotel Block. Mr. Knudsen has expressed his confidence in Billings and Montana by investing quite heavily in real estate, owning a comfortable modern residence at 38 Grand Avenue, Billings; a seventy-five acre ranch near Roberts, Montana; and a · 320-acre ranch near Forsyth, Montana. Mr. Knudsen has found in Billings his inspiration and is advancing very rapidly along constructive lines, each expansion of his business giving him greater fields for operating. He is well known as a Mason belonging to Ashlar Lodge No. 39, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Billings Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; and Aldemar Commandery No. 5, Kttights Templar ; and he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. The Billings Midland Club and the Billings Real Estate Board, of which he is the secretary-treasurer, have in Mr. Knud- sett one of their most enthusiastic members, and one

378

HISTORY OF MONTANA

who may be relied upon to boost Billings and work for the creation of the "Greater Billings" spirit. His political inclinations make him a stalwart republican. In addition to his other activities Mr. Knudsen is secretary and treasurer of the Belle Mining Com- pany, another sound corporation of this locality. In October, 1915, William P. Knudsen was united in marriage with Miss Zona B. Marshall, a daughter of Attorney T. C. and Sarah (Martin) Marshall, prominent residents of Greybull, Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Knudsen have no children. Their home is often the scene of delightful social gatherings, for both are model hosts, and, holding their friends in high esteem, like to have them in their immediate circle. Mr. Knudsen is a man of high ideals with regard to business obligations, and his sound judg- ment and singleness of purpose are recognized by those who have dealings with him.

JOHN C. MARING, general freight and passenger agent at Anaconda for the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railroad, is one of the constructive men of this region, and owes his advancement in life to his own efforts. He was born at Harwood, Mis- souri, October 31, 1873, a son of John Maring, and grandson of John Maring, a native of Germany, who came to the United States in young manhood and became a pioneer of Richland County, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming for many years and there died when eighty years of age. He mar- ried a lady of New England birth, and she lived to be eighty-five. The maternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, as was his wife, and he died in that state, where he had long been a farmer, at the age of seventy-six years. His widow survived him for some years, passing away in Michigan when eighty-seven years old.

John Maring, father of John C. Maring, was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1821. and died in Harwood, Missouri, in December, 1889. A farmer, he operated a rural property in Richland County until 1866, when he moved to Missouri, and finally settled at Harwood. An active supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was a valued mem- ber of that denomination. In politics he was a re- publican. John Maring was married in Richland County, Ohio, to Elizabeth Glover, born at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, May 14. 1831. She died at Los Molinos, California. May 11, 1916. Their children were as follows: Wilbur F., who is in the insurance business at Carthage, Missouri; Edward, who is a hardware merchant of Ponca City, Oklahoma ; Elmer, who is a farmer of Los Molinos, California; Jesse, who is a railroad man with the Frisco Sys- tem, lives at Enid, Oklahoma; and John C., who was the youngest born.

John C. Maring attended the public schools of Western Missouri, and remained on his father's farm until he was sixteen years old, at which time he entered the employ of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis Railroad in the maintenance of way department as a clerk to the roadmaster, and held that position for two years. In 1894 he entered the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad at Livingston, Montana, as a car clerk, and was suc- cessively promoted through the various positions until he was made cashier, and then in 1898 he was sent to Billings, Montana, as freight and passenger agent for the road, and remained there for twe years. In 1900 Mr. Maring came to the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railroad as a clerk in the freight house at Anaconda, and has steadily risen until he is now general freight and passenger agent for the road with offices in the general office build-

ing belonging to his company, located on West Com- mercial Avenue, Anaconda.

In 1901 Mr. Maring was married at Billings, Montana, to Miss Maude Whaley, born at Clinton, Ontario, Canada, and they have one son, Gilbert, who was born on February 26, 1902. He was graduated from the Anaconda High School in 1919 and is a very promising lad. Mr. Maring is a democrat, but aside from giving an intelligent sup- port to the candidates of his party has participated but little in politics. The family residence is at No. 500 Main Street, Anaconda. The Episcopal Church holds Mr. Maring's membership and has his co- operation in all of its religious work. A hard worker, Mr. Maring has devoted himself to his business and his rapid advancement shows that his efforts have received a gratifying appreciation at the hands of his superiors. Having risen from the bottom he is conversant with all the details of his work and thus able to discharge the responsibilities of his position efficiently and satisfactorily.

JOHN T. SPENCER, editor and proprietor of the Bridger Times, of Bridger, Montana, is one of the trenchant writers of his part of the state, and his newspaper is devoted to the support of the prin- ciples and candidates of the republican party. Mr. Spencer is the adopted son of his mother's brother, his father, John Tobiason, having been killed in a shipwreck on Lake Ontario when John T. Spencer was an infant. Born in Norway, John Tobiason followed the sea for a livelihood and sailed all over the globe, braving the dangers of many ocean voy- ages to meet his death on one of the treacherous "inland seas" of his adopted country while following his calling. He married Ellen Spencer, a native of England, after he came to the United States, and their only child, born September 13, 1875, was left to the care of the bereft young widow, who died at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1889. John Tobiason was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. After the death of his father, John T. Spencer was taken by his maternal uncle, Samuel Spencer, who was born in England in 1844 and died at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in August, 1917, having come to that city in 1871. For a number of years he was a member of its police force.

When he was three years old John T. Spencer, who had been given the name of his adopted father, was taken from his birthplace of Sheboygan to England, but was brought back to it two years later, and there he was reared, being kept at school until he was seventeen years old by his excellent uncle, who knew the value of a sound educational training. When he was seventeen he left school and for a short period worked in a chair factory, leaving it to become a printer's apprentice at She- boygan. In time he became the owner of his own printing plant and conducted it at Sheboygan from 1896 to 1900. He then traveled on the road as the representative of a furniture manufacturing com- pany, covering Minnesota and North Dakota for five years, traveling out of St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1905 Mr. Spencer came to Missoula, Montana, with the Missoulians and was sent to Thompson Falls, Montana, and started the "Sanders County Ledger" for the Missoulian Company in 1906, when Sanders County was established. After placing this journal on a firm basis Mr. Spencer went to Sand Point, Idaho, for eight months. In September, 1910, he located at Bridger, and the following year, March 17, IQII, bought the "Bridger Times," which he has since edited, continuing its sole proprietor. It has an excellent circulation in Carbon and surrounding

379

HISTORY OF MONTANA

counties and is a strong factor in moulding and influencing public opinion. Mr. Spencer owns the building in which his plant and offices are located, and the entire establishment is thoroughly modern in equipment and methods. His paper was estab- lished in 1909, but since it came under his charge has been considerably expanded and its policies developed. Mr. Spencer also owns a ranch three miles south of Bridger. A very stanch republican, he served Bridger as alderman, and later as mayor, proving himself capable and fearless, and always lining up with the best element in civic affairs. For several years he has been on the Republican County Central Committee, and is very prominent in politics. The Episcopal Church holds his mem- bership. Fraternally he belongs to Golden Fleece Lodge No. 66, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Carbon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Red Lodge, Montana; Aldemar Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar, of Billings, Montana; Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Helena, Montana; and Bridger Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a director of the American National Bank of Bridger.

On June 11, 1903, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Pelletier, at Butte, Montana. She is a daughter of Paul and Annie E. Pelletier. Mr. Pelletier was a stockman during his later years, but earlier in life was a placer miner during the pioneer days of Montana, and served with the Vigilantes before law and order was firmly established in the state. His death occurred at New Chicago, Montana, but his widow survives him and makes her home with Mr and Mrs. Spencer. There are no children in the Spencer family.

JAMES P. BOLE entered the newspaper profession soon after leaving high school. While he has found time for every interest, having qualified as a lawyer and gained admission to the bar, newspaper work has kept a steady hold on him and he has never found it congenial to interrupt his work in that profession. Mr. Bole is editor of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and also has some important public responsibilities as receiver of public monies in the United States Land Office at Bozeman.

He is of Scotch ancestry on both sides. He was born at Belfast, Ireland, May 7, 1868. His father, Rev. John Bole, was born at Newton Stuart, Scot- land, in 1822, was reared and married in Scotland, and was a graduate in both the classical and theological courses in Glasgow University. He came to the Untied States as a regalurly ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in 1848. He was pastor of the church at South Ryegate, Ver- mont, which he served for ten years. After this long period of work in that pastorate he returned to Great Britain and for about six years was pastor of the Presbyterian Church on Linen Hall Street, Belfast, Ireland. It was during this time that his son James P. was born. In 1869, when this son was about a year old, the family returned to America, and the father again resumed work with his old friends and neighbors in the adjoining parish of West Barnet, Vermont, and continued active for thirty years, until he retired in 1899. The family residence, which he established in West Barnet and where he died in 1909, is still kept by his children just as he left it, and it is the scene of almost annual reunions among the children and their families. Rev. John Bole married Marion Simington Brown, who was born at Glasgow, Scot- land, in 1826 and died at West Barnet, Vermont, in 1913, having survived her husband four years. Margaret S., the oldest of their children, is the wife

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.

Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 106

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