Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 121

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 121

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Theressa Heller, who was born at Hamburg, Ger- many, and died at St. Louis in 1881. Their children were as follows: Louis, who lives in California; Rose and Annie, both of whom are deceased; Bertha, who is also deceased; Sig, whose name heads this review; Samuel, who is deceased; Jacob, who is in Texas; and David, who is in California.

Sig Goodfriend attended the public schools of Col- linsville, Illinois, until he was thirteen years old, and then left Illinois for the West, going first to Grand Island, Nebraska, where for twenty-one months he was cashier in a general merchandise store. Returning to St. Louis, he spent eleven months in that city as stock boy in a clothing store, and then for two years was at New Douglas, Illinois, working in a general store owned by his brother- in-law. Simon Epstein. During these years Mr. Goodfriend learned to gauge public needs and felt qualified to go into business for himself, which he did at Sidney, Nebraska, for twelve years conduct- ing a mercantile establishment. On September 9, 1895, having looked the territory over, Mr. Good- friend felt that here in Anaconda he 'would find an opening for a store he had had long in mind, and therefore opened it up, at first, until he could try out his plan, in a small way, gradually expanding until he now has the leading establishment of its kind in this part of Montana. Mr. Goodfriend car- ries a full and timely stock of men's and boys' clothing and wearing apparel in his store at Nos. 113 and 115 East Park Avenue. His trade is drawn from the careful dressers of Anaconda and Deer Lodge County, who appreciate the fact that they can secure from him everything worn by men and boys and be sure that each article is the best of its kind and entirely suitable for the purpose for which it is designed. Employment is given eight salespersons, and an unsurpassed service is rendered.

Mr. Goodfriend is a democrat, but his business cares have been too heavy for his entrance into politics. Fraternally he belongs to Anaconda Lodge No. 239, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Colfax Lodge No. 20, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand; and Montana Lodge No. 13, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor. He is also a member of the Ro- tary Club, which he served as secretary for two years; the Anaconda Country Club and the Rocky Mountain Club. Mr. Goodfriend owns a business block at the corner of Chestnut Street and Park Avenue.

On February 23, 1897, Mr. Goodfriend was married at Seattle, Washington, to Miss Rose Deppe, born at Decatur, Illinois, in 1872, and who died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, April 2, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Goodfriend had no children. Mr. Goodfriend has always recognized the fact that it was essential to possess high moral character as well as business ability, and has chosen his assistants with this idea in mind, so that he has been instrumental in de- veloping among his force high types of citizen- ship and in this, as in other ways, furthering the advancement of the city in which he has been located for so many constructive years and of which he is recognized to be so potent a factor.

JAMES MCCLARTY, sheriff of Park County, has been identified with this section of Montana for many years, was an early homesteader, and while formerly owner of a fine ranch, he was also promi- nently engaged in business at Wilsall, and that com- munity was his home until he came to Livingston to administer the responsibilities of his present office.

Mr. McClarty was born at Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, in January, 1862. His grandfather, James McClarty, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1779, and on coming to Canada established his home on a farm at Owen Sound. He was a prominent character in that locality in the early days. He was a skillful fifer, and it is said that he played on his fife the first tune of music ever heard in Owen Sound. He died there in 1869. William McClarty,

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his son, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1829, and was nine years old when he accompanied his parents in 1838 to Ontario, Canada. He grew up at Owen Sound, was reared and married there, and spent his life as a farmer. In 1900 he sold his farm interests and lived retired at Owen Sound until his death in 1915. He was a conservative in politics, was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was active in the English Episcopal Church. William McClarty married Catherine Morrissey, who was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1837. She ac- companied her parents in 1844 to one of the new farms of western Canada, and her death occurred at Owen Sound in 1911. Of their children, Jane, the oldest, died at the age of seven years, while Ellen, the second, has never married and is still living at Owen Sound. The third is James, while the fourth is William, a farmer in Ontario. Hugh and Melinda both died in early childhood. Albert Allen when nine years of age went to New York City, was educated there, and was a collector for Whitehall & Tatem, a wholesale drug house, until he died at the age of thirty. Esther lives at Owen Sound, but .spent her married life on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada. Dan is in the mining busi- ness at British Columbia. Frederick Charles is a farmer at Owen Sound. Ernest was a farmer at Swift Current in Saskatchewan, and died there in 1918. May is the wife of Isaac Glenn, a farmer at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

James McClarty was educated in the public schools of Owen Sound, and lived on his father's farm until he was twenty-six years of age. It was in 1889 that he came to Livingston, Montana, and the first year was a farm hand on the Shields River. He then took up a homestead of 160 acres of rail- road land, and finally bought the remainder of his section from the railroad company. He owned 640 acres, and had it well developed as a farm and ranch. He sold this in 1911, and afterward ac- quired 440 acres of ranch lands, and sold this prop- erty in 1919.

Meanwhile, in 1907, Mr. McClarty had engaged in the livery business at Livingston, and three and a half years later sold out and went to Wilsall, a new town on the Shields River branch. He was the source of much of the enterprise in that new com- munity and engaged in the livery, feed, sales stables, draying and transfer business until the fall of 1918, and still owns the business, its active manager being his son-in-law, John R. Haley. Mr. McClarty also owns three dwelling houses at Wilsall, is a director of the Farmers Elevator there, and still keeps in touch with the affairs of that community.

Mr. McClarty was elected sheriff of Park County in November, 1918, and began his official duties for a term of two years January 7, 1919. For three and a half years previously he had served as deputy sheriff, but kept supervision over his business in- terests at the same time. While living on his farm Mr. McClarty served as postmaster five years at Lat. He is a republican, is a member of the Livings- ton Chamber of Commerce, and is affiliated with Wilsall Lodge No. 103, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Wilsall Lodge, Brotherhood of Amer- ican Yeomen. He actively supports both the Pres- byterian and Congregational churches.

November 29, 1890, he married Miss Margaret D. Mitchell, daughter of Alexander and Susan (Thomp- son) Mitchell. Her mother resides at Owen Sound, Ontario, where her father died. Her father spent all his life as a teacher. Mrs. McClarty died at Wil- sall September 30, 1917, and was the mother of three children. Anna May, the oldest, is the wife of John R. Haley, mentioned above as a partner

of Mr. McClarty in the business at Wilsall. Ellen Elsie is the wife of Virgil L. Sherwin, manager of the grocery department of the Wilsall Mercantile Company. Violet Mitchell married Arthur I. Poor, a grocery merchant at Bozeman, Montana. Mr. McClarty was married June 4, 1919, to Mrs. Eloise Helen Tuggle, widow of the late Archie B. Tuggle, of Shields, Montana. Mrs. McClarty has two chil- dren by her former husband, Beatrice Tuggle, aged twelve years, and Lawrence, aged ten years.

MERLE C. GROENE, deputy county attorney of Fer- gus County, and a member of the prominent law firm of McConochie, Groene & McKenna at Lewis- town, has been prominently before the public in several capacities since his arrival in January, 1916. As a private practitioner and in the performance of his official duties he has evidenced the possession of a thorough knowledge of the principles, theories and practice of his calling, and as citizen and sol- dier has shown his public spiritedness and patriotism.

Mr. Groene was born at Atchison, Kansas, June 12, 1886, a son of John H. and Lucy A. (Hommer) Groene, natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana, and the parents of two children, of whom Merle C. is the elder. John H. Groene is now a prosperous real estate dealer of Kansas City, Kansas, and takes an interest in republican politics. Merle C. Groene attended the graded and high schools of Kansas . City, Kansas, following which he enrolled as a stu- dent at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, graduat- ing with his degree of Bachelor of Law in 1909. He was admitted to the bar of Kansas, but in the same year came to Kalispell, Montana, and in July, 1909, was granted permission to practice in this state. Subsequently he located at Whitefish, where he was appointed city attorney, and filled that office for four years in an entirely capable manner, handling many cases and protecting the city's in- terests in a masterly way. His work in this office gained him the appointment of public administrator of Flathead County, an office which he held for two years, and in which he also displayed his capacity for executive work, and in January, 1916, came to Lewistown, where he embarked in general practice. On January 1, 1917, Mr. Groene was appointed chief deputy county attorney for Fergus County, but re- signed that office July 1, 1918, to enlist in the service of his country, and August 4, 1918, arrived at Camp Johnston, Florida. He received his commission as second lieutenant, and was assigned as an instructor in the officers' training school of that camp. The signing of the armistice, which terminated hostilities, made the need of further service unnecessary, and Lieutenant Groene received his honorable discharge December 4, 1918. Returning to Lewistown, he re- sumed his duties as chief deputy county attorney, and again engaged in practice as a member of the firm of McConochie, Groene & McKenna. This firm is accounted one of the strong legal combinations of the county and has taken part in much important litigation, in which Mr. Groene has exemplified his legal acumen and soundness of knowledge. He belongs to the county, state and national bodies of his profession, and has an excellent reputation among his fellow practitioners, who have found him a valued associate and a worthy and honorable oppo- nent. Mr. Groene's fraternal affiliations are with Whitefish Lodge No. 64, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Loyal Order of Moose, Lewistown Lodge No. 456, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Phi Alpha Delta college fraternity, and he and Mrs. Groene belong to Marie Chapter No. 36, Order of the Eastern Star. His political views make him a democrat.

g. a. Thaler

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On July 19, 1911, Mr. Groene was married to Miss Leah G. Stephenson, who was born at Bozeman, Montana, the second of the three children of John E. and Edith (Tipton) Stephenson, residents of Westphalia, Kansas, where Mr. Stephenson is en- gaged in the banking business.

JOSEPH A. THALER. It is a pleasure to investi- gate the career of a successful, self-made man. Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, be- ginning the great struggle of life alone and un- aided, gradually overcomes unfavorable environ- ment, removes one by one the obstacles from the pathway of success and by the master strokes of his own force and vitality succeeds in forging his way to the front and winning for himself a position of esteem and influence among his fellow men. Such is the record of the popular member of the faculty of the Montana State College, to a brief synopsis of whose life and character the following paragraphs are devoted.

Joseph A. Thaler, professor of electrical engineer- ing in the Montana State College at Bozeman, was born at Koessen, Austria, and is the son of Michael A. and Anna Thaler. Michael A. Thaler was born in 1849 at Koessen, and his entire life was spent there, his death occurring in 1909. He was a scythe manufacturer and filled a place of importance in the community. His wife was born at Koessen in 1851, and died there in 1882. To them was born the following children: Michael is a lithographer by trade and is employed by the Morgan Lithographic Company at Cleveland, Ohio; Joseph A. is the next in the order of birth; Jacob and Anna remain in Austria; Elizabeth is the wife of Simon Zimmer- man, a retired scythe manufacturer of Kitzbuhel, Austria.

Joseph A. Thaler received his educational training in the public schools of his native town, but at the age of twelve years he left his studies and was apprenticed to a locksmith for four years, as was the custom in that country at that time. After com- pleting his apprenticeship Mr. Thaler worked as a journeyman locksmith until 1883, when he decided to come to the United States in the hope of finding opportunities of bettering himself. Upon reaching this country he continued westward as far as Salt Lake City, stopping on the way at Kansas City, Missouri, Colorado and other states en route. Shortly afterward he enlisted in the United States Army, being assigned to the Sixth Regiment of United States Infantry, with which he served five years. He served as clerk in the commissary de- partment and also acted as commissary sergeant. In 1889 Mr. Thaler went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and for a year was employed as a hotel clerk. He then entered the employ of the street car company of that city as a conductor, but was later made a night foreman, and still later day foreman, in which capacity he served until 1894. He then en- tered the University of Minnesota, at Minneapolis, where he was graduated in 1900 from the department of electrical engineering. This important event in Mr. Thaler's life was but the culmination of previous efforts he had been making, as opportunity of- fered to secure a technical education. While in the army he had attended the schools provided by the army and Young Men's Christian Association. When admitted to the university he was at first only admitted as a special student, as it was not thought that he was qualified for university work, but he showed such aptitude for study and such progress that he was admitted as a regular student. While at college he became a member of the Greek- letter fraternity Sigma Xi. During his senior year he was an instructor in mathematics in the uni- Vol. 11-28

versity, and in 1900 he was appointed instructor in engineering and mathematics for half the time, the remainder of his time being spent in the engineer- ing department of the street railway. During this same period Mr. Thaler also taught in the night schools of the Young Men's Christian Association, so it can be seen that he did not have much leisure time. In 1902 Mr. Thaler received an appointment as assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the Montana State College at Bozeman. In 1903 he became an instructor in mathematics in Purdue University, at Lafayette, Indiana, but a year later he returned to the Montana State College as pro- fessor of electrical engineering, which chair he is still filling. His offices are in the Engineering Build- ing. Professor Thaler is one of the most popular members of the faculty, not only because of his genial and approachable disposition, but also be- cause of his splendid ability as an instructor, for he thoroughly understands his subject and pos- sesses an unusual capacity for imparting his knowl- edge to others.

Professor Thaler owns a comfortable and attrac- tive home on Third Avenue, South, which he built in 1910, and also owns a splendid ranch of 640 acres, located about thirty miles northwest of Boze- man.

Politically Professor Thaler is independent of party lines, preferring to support the candidates and policies which meet his approval. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his fraternal relations are with Western Star Lodge No. 4, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Electrical En- gineers, and also belongs to the Montana Engineers Society, the Society for the Promotion of Engineer- ing Education, and the National Educational As- sociation.

In 1910 Professor Thaler was married to Mabel Thorpe, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Thorpe, of Bozeman, the father being a civil engineer and surveyor by profession. Mrs. Thaler graduated from the Montana State College with the degree of Bachelor of Science, and subsequently received the degree of Master of Science from Wooster Uni- versity of Ohio. To Professor and Mrs. Thaler have been born the following children: Joseph Thorpe, born November 21, 1911, and Gretchen Adalaide, born August 31, 1913.

Personally Professor Thaler is affable and pop- ular and stands ready at all times to encourage and aid all laudable measures and enterprises for the general good. By a life consistent in motive and because of his fine qualities of head and heart he has earned the sincere regard of a vast ac- quaintance, and his success in his chosen field of endeavor bespeaks for him the possession of superior attributes.

WILLIAM REECE PLEW, B. S. The career of Wil- liam Reece Plew, of Bozeman, is an illustration of the possible control over limitations and the rewards to be acquired through the accepting of ordinary opportunities through the medium of determination and industry backed by unswerving ambition. Granted only a common school education in his youth, he found himself able to secure advanced instruction and training through his own efforts, and in this way has risen to a place of marked prestige among the educators of Montana, as professor of civil and architectural engineering in the Montana State College.

William R. Plew was born at Merom, Indiana, October 31, 1878, a son of James and Ellen ( Sales- bury) Plew, and a grandson of Simon Plew, who

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came from Pennsylvania as a pioneer to Indiana and passed his life as a shoemaker, his death occur- ring in Sullivan County, that state, prior to the birth of his grandson. James Plew was born in Sullivan County in 1828, and was there reared and married. When still a young man he went to Merom, Indiana, where he conducted a ferry on the Wabash River, but later removed to Hutsonville, Crawford County, Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his career as a farmer and died in 1883. He was an undeviating republican of the old school, and during the Civil war served the Union in the capacity of secret agent. Mr. Plew married Ellen Salesbury, who was born in 1845 in Crawford County, Illinois, and died at Hutsonville in 1890, and they became the parents of six children; namely Charles, a rail- road man of Flat Rock, Illinois; Perry, who is en- gaged in business at Kellogg, Idaho; James U., a machinist of Rockport, Indiana; Miss Hester, of Hutsonville, Illinois; Mary, the wife of Adolphus Lawhead, of Kellogg, Idaho; and William Reece.

William Reece Plew was sent to the public schools of Hutsonville, Illinois, and in the spring of 1898 was graduated from the high school there. During that same year war was declared upon Spain by the United States, and Mr. Plew, who possessed some musical talent, enlisted December 20, 1898, in the band of the Fourth Illinois Infantry, with which he was sent to Savannah, Georgia, and then to Havana, Cuba, where he saw several months of service. Returning to the United States when peace was declared, he was mustered out of the service May 2, 1899, and then returned to Hutsonville, where he secured employment in a drug store. After one year he removed to Palestine, Illinois, where he be- came the proprietor of a news and periodical stand, and so firmly established himself in the confidence of the people that he was elected town clerk and subsequently city clerk. By 1903 he was ready to continue his educational training, and at that time went to Terre Haute, Indiana, and enrolled as a student at Rose Polytechnic Institute. He was graduated therefrom with the class of 1907, receiv- ing the degree of Bachelor of Science in civil en- gineering, and in the fall of the same year was ap- pointed instructor in civil engineering at the institute, a position which he filled during the regular winter terms, while in the summers he worked for the Paris Bridge Company of Paris, Illinois. In 1910 Mr. Plew resigned from his position at the Rose Polytechnic and came to Missoula, Montana, as in- structor in civil engineering in the State Univer- sity. He was made assistant professor there in 19II, and two years later was transferred to the School of Engineering in Bozeman as assistant professor in civil engineering. In 1914 he was advanced to pro- fessor of structural engineering, and in 1916 was elevated to professor of civil and architectural en- gineering, positions which he holds at this time. His offices are in the engineering building of the State College, while he maintains his home in the Ever- green Apartments. Mr. Plew is widely and favor- ably known in his profession, and is a valued mem- ber of the Montana Engineering Society and of the American Society of Civil Engineers. As a voter he maintains an independent stand, and his religious faith is that of the Christian Church, while frater- nally he is affiliated with Bozeman Lodge No. 18, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Terre Haute Camp, Modern Woodmen of America.

In September, 1900, Mr. Plew was married at Palestine, Illinois, to Miss Elizabeth Batey, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Hulse) Batey, the latter of whom survives at Palestine, Illinois, where Mr. Batey, now deceased, was a farmer for many years.

Mr. and Mrs. Plew have one daughter, Maurine Lucille, born December 19, 1901, and a graduate of the Gallatin County High School. Miss Plew is eligible to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.

COL. FRANCIS M. MALONE, of Miles City, one of the advisory editors of this publication, has been a prominent factor in Montana's life and affairs for over thirty-five years.

He located at Miles City in 1883 as representa- tive of the livestock department of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad, which he had previously served as traveling freight agent, with headquarters at Indianapolis. For many years Colonel Malone was general agent for the road over the territory of the Northwest, with headquarters at Helena. In March, 1907, he was retired on half pay and the following year severed his connection with the rail- way company and has since been active in looking after his varied interests in Montana.

Colonel Malone was born at Toronto in Vermilion County, Indiana, July 31, 1838, son of William L. and Nancy ( Winn) Malone. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1803 and was a pioneer settler on Government land in Vermilion County, Indiana. He spent his life as a farmer and died there in May, 1878. His wife was born in Ohio and died at the age of thirty-five.

Colonel Malone grew up in western Indiana, had a district school education and much training and discipline on the home farm. At eighteen he was working as a farm hand in Shelby County, Illinois. He left the farm and on August 12, 1861, enlisted in a local company, and not finding any assignment with an Illinois regiment he was mustered in at Quincy, Illinois, with other recruits for the First Kansas Cavalry, which afterward became the Seventh Kansas, known as the John Brown, Jr. Regiment. At Fort Leavenworth the regiment was organized as the First Kansas Cavalry, and Colonel Malone became captain of Company F on September 14, 1861. His early duties were along the border, but early in 1862 the regiment was ordered to Shiloh, and became part of a brigade commanded by Col. Philip Sheridan, in the Sixteenth Army Corps, com- manded by Gen. A. J. Smith. Mr. Malone and his comrades reenlisted as veterans on November 19, 1864. Captain Malone was promoted to major Au- gust 12, 1863, was made lieutenant-colonel November 17, 1864, and was commissioned colonel of the regi- ment by Governor Crawford of Kansas, though never mustered in with that rank by reason of the regiment not attaining the required numerical strength. After the Civil war Colonel Malone par- ticipated in some of the Indian campaigns in the West, and for a time was post commander at Fort Kearney, Nebraska. He was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth with his regiment September 29, 1865. His army record shows that he was in the thick of the fighting and frequently courting responsi- bilities and dangers beyond the ordinary range of duty. Some of the high lights in his military record are the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Tupelo, Holly Springs, and many of the engagements making up the history of the progress of the Union armies through Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Mis- souri.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 121

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