Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 126

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 126

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Edward Francis Conyngham received his early education in England and Ireland, and was graduated from Trinity College with the class of 1882, receiv- ing the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He took his medical degree at the Minneapolis College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, in 1886, and was graduated from" the University of Minnesota in the following year, after which he did post-graduate work at Edin- burgh, Berlin, Leipsic and Vienna, during 1893 and 1894. Since locating at Missoula he has built up a large and representative practice and is not only known for his skill and ability in his profession, but because of the invention of several ingenious and valuable surgical instruments. Doctor Conyng- ham has had varied military experience, having been a volunteer in No. 2 (Students) Battery, First Edin- burgh City Artillery, during his student days, and a surgeon in the "Army of Liberty," Mexico, in 1910. An expert shot, he has been president of the Missou- la Rifle Association (N. R. A.) since 1916. Formerly Doctor Conyngham was United States pension ex- amining surgeon, but resigned in 1903. In 1917 he was named as a draft physician and continued to contribute his services in that capacity during the greater period of the great World war. His politi- cal tendencies make him a republican, and his re- ligious faith is that of the Episcopal Church. As a fraternalist he is past master of Ruby Lodge No. 36, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and a mem- ber of Harmony Lodge No. 49, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and Western Sun Chapter No. II, Royal Arch Masons, both of Montana.

On April 16, 1905, Doctor Conyngham was united in marriage at Lewiston, Idaho, with Harriet Sylvia Berkley, daughter of Hugh Berkley, a veteran of the Civil war and the first settler at what is now Pom- eroy, Washington. To this union there have come

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two children: Edward Francis, born December 14, 1906; and Katherine Stuart, born July 26, 1915.

GEORGE MICHAEL JENNINGS, M. D. It is not al- ways easy to discover and define the hidden forces that move a life of ceaseless activity and large pro- fessional success; little more can be done than to note their manifestation in the career of the indi- vidual under consideration. Doctor Jennings has long held distinctive prestige in a calling which re- quires for its basis sound mentality and rigid pro- fessional training and thorough mastery of tech- nical knowledge with the skill to apply the same, without which one cannot hope to rise above the mediocre in administering to human ills.

George Michael Jennings was born in Pembina, North Dakota, on August 13, 1880, and is a son of Patrick F. and Bridget (Glynn) Jennings. Pat- rick F. Jennings was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1852, and was reared and educated. In 1870 when about eighteen years of age, he came to the United States and made permanent location in Ohio. In 1878 he moved to Pembina, North Dakota, where he followed his trade, that of a plasterer, and also did considerable contracting. In 1891 he went to Cavalier, North Dakota, where he became the owner of a hotel, to the operation of which he devoted himself until his death, which occurred in 1915. Politically Mr. Jennings was a democrat, and he was a faithful member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Patrick F. Jennings was married to Bridget Glynn, who was born in 1851 in County Mayo, Ireland, and who died at Cavalier, North Dakota, in 1903. To this worthy couple were born the following children : Agnes, who is the wife of Fred I. Harris, a miller at Cavalier, North Dakota; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank T. Hall, who is in railroad work at Los Molinos, California; George M., the immediate subject of this review; James G., who is a druggist at Upham, North Dakota; Ethel G., the wife of Paul A. Remington, chief surgeon at the Tacoma Hos- pital, Tacoma, Washington.

George M. Jennings received his elementary edu- cation in the public schools at Cavalier, North Da- kota, including the high school. He then pursued preparatory studies in the University of North Da- kota, graduating from that institution in 1903, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Having determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, he then matriculated in the medical department of the University of Minnesota, at Minneapolis, where he was graduated with the class of 1907, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. While in medical school he was a member of the Greek-letter fra- ternity Alpha Kappa Kappa. In 1907 Doctor Jen- nings came to Missoula as interne for the Northern Pacific Beneficial Association Hospital, in which capacity he served for one year, at the end of that time being appointed assistant surgeon. Doctor Jennings early demonstrated his ability as a physi- cian and his possession of unusual skill as an oper- ating surgeon, so that by 1912 he has richly earned the appointment which came to him as chief surgeon of the hospital, in which responsible position he is still serving. The hospital is a large modern brick structure, conveniently arranged and eligibly situ- ated, being remarkably well adapted to the require- ments of hospital uses. It has accommodations for ninety patients and there are thirty-five employes under Doctor Jennings' supervision. Doctor Jen- nings possesses a mind well disciplined by severe professional training, which together with a natural aptitude for investigation and research, have pe- culiarly fitted him for the noble calling in which he

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is engaged. He is a careful reader of the best pro- fessional literature and keeps himself in touch with the age in the latest discoveries pertaining to the healing art.

Politically Doctor Jennings gives his support to the republican party, and is a member of the Ro- man Catholic Church. He is a member of Missoula Council No. 1021, Knights of Columbus, and is also identified with the Missoula Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Afissoula County Medical Society, the Montana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, as well as the American College of Surgeons.

In 1910, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, Doctor Jen- nings was married to Sabra Swenson, the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Swenson, the former of whom is a merchant at New London, Minnesota. The mother is deceased. Mrs. Jennings possesses a splendid education, having completed her elementary studies in the East Side High School at Minneapolis, and then attending and graduating at the University of Minnesota with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. To Doctor and Mrs. Jennings have been born the following children : Eileen, born in 1911; Donald, in 1913; Katherine in 1915; and George Carroll, born on December 19, 1918.

Personally Doctor Jennings is a man of generous nature and kindly impulses, who has won a host of warm and loyal friends since coming to Montana. Widely recognized as a leader in his profession, he is also appreciated because of his suport of all movements looking to the advancement of the com- munity along all legitimate lines.

C. J. FORBIS. The gentleman to a review of whose life the following lines are devoted is recognized as one of the able and energetic young business men of the western part of Montana, being now engaged as an architect in the City of Missoula. Though com- paratively young in years, Mr. Forbis has already at- tained a gratifying success in his chosen vocation and enjoys the confidence and good will of those with whom he has been associated either in a business or social way.

C. J. Forbis is a native son of the great Treasure State, having been born at Butte, Montana, on October 27, 1888, and is the son of William P. and Lenora B. (Jenks) Forbis. William P. Forbis was born in Missouri in 1852, and his death occurred at Missoula, Montana, in 1898. He was a genuine pioneer of Montana, having come to this state in the early '60s, during the Civil war. He first settled in Virginia City, where he gave his attention to pros- pecting and mining, later following the same pur- suits at Helena and Butte, reaching the latter place in 1868. He worked entirely on his own account and was fairly successful in his efforts. He became a prominent citizen of Butte, and stood high in the esteem of the people of the community. He was a democrat in politics and at one time served as col- lector of internal revenue for one term. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married to Lenora B. Jenks, who was born in 1860 in Iowa, but who now resides in Missoula. To this worthy couple were born the following chil- dren : H. T., who is specifically mentioned elsewhere in this work, is engaged in the real estate and loan business in Missoula; C. J., the immediate subject of this sketch; Leona Belle is the wife of A. E. Drew, of Missoula, who has charge of insurance of the Forbis-Toole Company, of which corporation he is secretary.

C. J. Forbis received his elementary education in the public schools of Butte and Missoula, graduat-

ing from the high school in the latter place in 1905. He then attended Michigan University, at Ann Ar- bor, for one year, and became a student in the Mon- tana State University at Missoula, where he was graduated in 1912. Mr. Forbis then took up the study of architecture in the University of Minne- sota at Minneapolis, where he attended during 1914- 15-16. Returning to Missoula, he opened offices and entered upon the active practice of his profession. He has already received wide recognition as an architect of original ideas and practical knowledge of the standard forms of construction. He has designed several of the best schoolhouses in Missou- la County, as well as many fine residences, business houses and other buildings. He has entered into a professional partnership with Henry Howell, under the firm name of Howell & Forbis, Mr. Howell having charge of the branch office which the firm maintains at Butte.

Politically Mr. Forbis is independent, preferring to give his support to the men and measures which most nearly meet his approval, regardless of party lines. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyte- rian Church. He is also identified with the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce, both of Mis- soula.

On December 15, 1916, at Kalispell, Montana, Mr. Forbis was married to Josephine Hunt, the daughter of G. W. and Harriet (Cratchet) Hunt, of Kalispell, where Mr. Hunt is engaged in the lumber business. Mr. and Mrs. Forbis have one child, William Hunt.

A whole-souled gentleman and public-spirited cit- izen, Mr. Forbis is ready at all times to use his means and influence for the promotion of public improve- ments and the advancement of any measures looking to the welfare of the people generally. He has been successful because of his industry and his close ob- servation of everything having a bearing on his pro- fession. Genial and approachable, Mr. Forbis enjoys a well-deserved popularity in this community.

WARRINGTON RICHARDS is the president and active head of Joseph Richards, Incorporated, the oldest and largest undertaking business at Butte. The business was established nearly thirty years ago by Joseph Richards, and today it represents the acme of complete equipment and service, and in those re- spects would bear favorable comparison with any institution of its kind in the country.

Warrington Richards, who has been a resident of Butte over twenty years, has become known as a substantial community builder, a man of thorough public spirit, and generally popular and deservedly so. He was born at Goldsithney, England, October 4, 1878. His grandfather, Joseph Richards, spent all his life in England, was a carpenter and wheelwright and died at Goldsithney in 1882. The father of Warrington Richards also bears the name Joseph. He was born in England in 1838, acquired his father's trade of carpenter and wheelwright, and for a number of years lived in America. He came to this country in 1890, followed the trade of car- penter and builder at Central City, Colorado, and in 1895 moved to Butte, where he continued work at his trade until 1904. In that year he returned to England and is now living retired at Teignmouth. During his American residence and citizenship he was a republican voter. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. His wife bore the maiden name of Jecoliah Dabb. She was born in England in November, 1839. and is now making her home with her daughter Mrs. W. J. Willey at Butte. The chil- dren were nine in number: Joseph: Samuel, who is connected with a grocery store at Denver, Colo- rado; Martin, who died at the age of twelve years ;

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Lillie, wife of W. J. Willey, a machinist's helper at Butte; Rosie, wife of John Dimler, of Denver; Grosvenor, who died in Butte at the age of twenty- one; Ada, who died in Butte in 1916, and her hus- band, Andrew Johnson, a miner, is also deceased ; Warrington, who was eighth in order of age; and Agatha, wife of E. D. Pue, a coal merchant at Butte.

The oldest son, Joseph Richards, founder of the business known as Joseph Richards, Incorporated, was born at Goldsithney, England, in February, 1865. He was reared and educated in his native country and in 1892 located at Butte and established the business known as Richards, the Butte Undertaker. All his competitors of that time have since gone out of business, leaving his establishment undis- puted in point of time, and also in efficiency and character. Joseph Richards continued active in the business until 1912, when he sold out and is now living retired at San Jose, California. He is remem- bered as one of the prominent business men of Butte, and at one time was president of the Monn- tain View Cemetery Association. He was a re- publican, and served as coroner of Silverbow County in 1895-96. He is a Royal Arch Mason and Shriner, a member of the Episcopal Church, and while in Butte had affiliations with twenty-three fra- ternal organizations, including the Sons of St. George, the Red Men, Moose, Modern Woodmen, Woodmen of the World, Degree of Honor, the Fra- ternal Brotherhood, Odd Fellows, Eagles and the Elks. He is also a member of the Butte Auto Club and the Silver Bow Club. Joseph Richards married Miss Anna Zweifel in February, 1899.

Warrington Richards was twelve years of age when his parents came to the United States. Up to that time he had attended school at Goldsithney, and he also attended school at Central City, Colo- rado, after 1890. On coming to Butte in 1895 he was employed as clerk in a local store until the fall of 1897, at which date he became associated with his brother in the undertaking business. In 1912 the business was incorporated as Joseph Richards, In- corporated. The parlors are at 15-19 South Montana Avenne, and the facilities include motor hearses and every other improved equipment, besides an ex- pert personal staff. Besides Warrington Richards as president of the business the secretary and treasurer is George T. Wade. Mr. Richards is a republican, is affiliated with Butte Lodge No. 22, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Shoshone Tribe No. I Im- proved Order of Red Men, Sons of St. George, Silver Bow Camp No. 5805, Modern Woodmen of America.

He married at Butte Claire A. Rand, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest A. Rand, the latter now de- ceased. Her father is a farmer at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Richards have two children: Anita, born March 6, 1903; and War- rington Jr., born June 6, 1917.

ROBERT D. PUGSLEY came to Missoula in 1901, a young man of good education and sound business experience, acquired in Eastern Canada. He has been continuously connected with Missoula's oldest and best known business house, the Missoula Mer- cantile Company, and has risen from a clerkship to the management of its wholesale grocery depart- ment.

Robert Daniel Pugsley was born at Penobsquis in New Brunswick, Canada, July 22, 1877. Two broth- ers left England and were colonial settlers in Amer- ica, and as Loyalists one branch moved to Canada. Mr. Pugsley's grandfather, Daniel Pugsley, was one of the first settlers at Penobsquis in New Brunswick.

He died there at the age of eighty-five. Robert Pugsley, father of the Missoula business man, was born at Penobsquis in 1824 and spent his life there as a farmer. He died in 1896. He was a conserva- tive in politics. His wife was Miss Agnes Morton, also a lifelong resident of Penobsquis. Amelia, the oldest of their children, died at Penobsquis at the age of sixty-two. wife of Thomas Morton, now a retired harness dealer at Penobsquis; Sanford, a dentist at Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada ; Henrietta, wife of Edgar Wallace, a farmer at Penobsquis; Albert, proprietor of a hotel at Monc- ton, New Brunswick ; Isabelle, a trained nurse whose home is at Cromwell, Connecticut; Augusta, un- married, and living with her sister Henrietta.

Robert Daniel Pugsley, the eleventh and youngest child, was educated in the public schools of his native village, graduated in 1896 from the Academy at Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and also took the fresh- man year in Wolfville College. He attended Kerr's Business College at St. John, New Brunswick, and following that for three years was employed by the Sussex Mercantile Company at Sussex, New Bruns- wick,

In 1901, when he came to Missoula, he was made a clerk in the grocery department of the Missoula Mercantile Company. In 1909 he was promoted to the responsibilities of manager of the retail depart- ment, and since February 26, 1919, he has been manager of the wholesale grocery department of this concern.

Mr. Pugsley is a republican voter, is a vestryman in the Missoula Episcopal Church, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1919 he sold his fine residence at 601 Daily Avenue and is now living at 202 South Fourth Street.

In 1899, at Penobsquis, Mr. Pugsley married Miss Annie Freeze, daughter of Byron and Matilda (Hall) Freeze, both now deceased. Her father was a farmer. Mrs. Pugsley is a graduate of the Acadia Seminary at Wolfville, Nova Scotia. To their mar- riage were born two sons: Edwin Albert, born April 4, 1900, now a clerk in the hardware department of the Missoula Mercantile Company; and Robert Byron, born November 9, 1910, a student in the Mis- soula public schools.

HUGH B. CAMPBELL came to Montana when a very young man, and his extensive business experiences have made him a leading citizen at Missoula, which has been his home for the greater part of the time he has spent in this state.

Mr. Campbell, who is president of the Independent Oil Company, was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1868, and started earning his own living when only nine years of age. His grand- father, Hugh Campbell, was a native of Ireland, brought his family to America and established a home at Pittsburgh, where he spent his last years. He was a bricklayer and contractor. His wife was Mary Trainor, a native of Ireland, who died in Pittsburgh. Their son Bartley Campbell was born in Ireland in 1832, and was a small boy when his parents settled in Pittsburgh. He grew up and married there, and for a number of years followed the business of contractor and builder. He died at Pittsburgh in 1874. During the Civil war he was a Union soldier and was in all the battles and cam- paigns of his command. He was a Catholic and a democrat in politics. Bartley Campbell married Mary Lavey, who was born in Ireland in 1834 and died at Missoula, Montana, in 1910. Thomas Fran- cis, the oldest of their children, was drowned at Pittsburgh at the age of eleven years. Mary is the wife of Frank Stinger, a contractor and builder, and

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a well known citizen of Missoula. The third is Hugh B. James D. is a molder at Missoula, and Alice is the wife of a locomotive engineer, Mr. Shaw, and lives near Spokane, Washington.

Hugh B. Campbell received his early education in the public schools of Pittsburgh. At the age of nine he became a boy helper in a glass factory, attending school when not otherwise employed. On leaving Pittsburgh and coming to Montana young Campbell located at Missoula, where he soon became a member of the firm of Stinger & Campbell in the transfer business. They organized the Missoula Transfer Company, the pioneer business of its kind at Missoula. Mr. Campbell was actively associated with this business until 1909. For five years he was also a partner in the Western Montana Liquor Com- pany. In the meantime, in 1914, he established the Independent Oil Company, and has made this the leading wholesale oil business of Missoula. The company maintains a plant on the tracks of the Chi- cago, St. Paul and Milwaukee Railway and has extensive facilities for serving the needs of their trade.

Mr. Campbell has also been an influential figure in political affairs. For four years he was an alder- man of Missoula, and for two years was sheriff of Missoula County. He is a democrat in politics, a member of the Missoula Chamber of Commerce, and is affiliated with Hell Gate Lodge No. 383 of the Elks.

His home is at 202 West Spruce Street. He mar- ried at Missoula in 1891 Miss Mary Kelley, a dangh- ter of Patrick and Hannah (Gallagher) Kelley, the latter now deceased. Her father is a retired Mon- tana rancher and makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. The latter have five children : Frank L., vice president of the Independent Oil Company of Missoula; Hugh, a student in the State University of Montana; Ursula, a graduate of the Missoula High School and now a teacher at Target Range in Missoula County; May, a senior in the parochial high school at Missoula; and Hall, a student in the parochial schools.

PAUL D. WILCOX. Though a recent addition to the citizenship of Missoula, Mr. Wilcox has spent prac- tically all his life in the northwestern and Pacific states. For several years he has been connected with the Bissinger Company, one of the largest firms in the West dealing in hides and wool. Mr. Wilcox is manager of the Missoula branch of this company. He was born at Little Rock, Arkansas, November 16, 1873. His grandfather was Timothy M. Wilcox, and he was born at Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1814. He was a physician by profession, and practiced in a number of localities in the Middle West and North- west. During the Civil war he served four years, being captain of Company C of the Third Missouri Infantry. After the war he moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, later came out to Portland, Oregon, and in these various localities practiced medicine. In 1883 he was called to Washington, District of Co- lumbia, as a witness in the famous Star Route trial, involving some of the most extensive frands ever uncovered in the national postal service. After his duty was discharged as a witness he remained in Washington and served in a position in the Pension Bureau. He died at Washington in 1886. His wife was Mary Randall, who died at Portland, Oregon.

Frank R. Wilcox, the only surviving child of Dr. Timothy M. Wilcox, was born at Galena, Illinois, in 1849, and died at Portland, Oregon, in May, 1912. He spent his boyhood at Galena and was a graduate ' of the classical course from the University of Mich- igan. He lived at Little Rock, Arkansas, three years,

and during that time married. He was in the real estate business in Arkansas. In 1875 he went to Port- land, Oregon, was engaged as an expert accountant for a time and later as a hardware merchant. In politics he was a republican, was a member of the Unitarian Church and affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Frank R. Wilcox married Helen Morey, who was born in Arkansas in 1851, and died at Portland, Ore- gon, in 1875. She was the mother of three children: Guy R., a steam fitter at Portland, Oregon; Paul D .; and Mary E., wife of William Bradley, who from 1882 until 1909 was a railroad man with the North- ern Pacific and is now living retired at Spokane, Washington.

Paul D. Wilcox was about two years old when his parents moved to Portland, and about the same time he was left motherless. He was educated in the Portland public schools, but at the age of twelve he went to Washington, District of Columbia, to live with his grandfather, Doctor Wilcox. While there he learned the core maker's trade. Returning West to Spokane in 1888, he served a three years' ap- prenticeship at the plumber's trade. For a number of years Mr. Wilcox followed mining at Rossland in British Columbia. While there he became ac- quainted with Gen. Charles S. Warren of Butte, and a warm friendship has always existed between them. In 1904 Mr. Wilcox located at Sand Point, Idaho, was in railroad work there one year, and for four years held the office of under sheriff of Bonner County. He made a race for the office ot sheriff on the republican ticket, but that was an off year for the republicans and he was defeated. In 1910 he be- came construction foreman with the Oregon Power Company at Eugene, remaining there 21/2 years.

On returning to Spokane he entered the service of the Bissinger Company, and since July 1, 1919, has had charge of their Missoula branch, located at 905-909 South First Street, West. The headquarters of the Bissinger Company are at San Francisco, and the corporation maintains branch houses in all the large cities of every state west of the Mississippi.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 126

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