Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 132

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 132

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He was joined in practice in 1914 by his brother, Robert E. Mulroney, who had completed his edu- cation in the University at Georgetown, D. C. Early in the World war Robert Mulroney left his prac- tice and entered the Great Lakes Naval Training School at Chicago. In 1898 Edward C. Mulroney enlisted in Company G of the Fifty-second Iowa Regiment during the Spanish-American war, and served until the end of the war.

On April 28, 1910, Mr. Mulroney married Mary C. O'Leary, a daughter of D. J. O'Leary, of Des Moines, Iowa. They are the parents of one son, Thomas, born January 5, 1914. Mr. Mulroney is a member of Hell Gate Lodge of Missoula, Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Knights of Columbus and the Spanish- American War Veterans.

G. W. DAY. As education along certain lines is essential to industry, to efficiency, to comfort, to tolerable existence, the modern world cannot produce, distribute or exchange without schools. The best cure for misery is abundance, and abun- dance means skill and science in production and distribution. Economic problems have their social and political aspects, and we cannot make men ef- ficient in industry without teaching them something additional. The mechanical progress of humanity is the result of education. But to train the mind and hand is not.necessarily to train the whole man, to educate him morally and emotionally. This was perceived long ago, and true philosophers have em- phasized the necessity of building character, of mak- ing good citizens and good neighbors by means of education. What ails the world is insufficient edu- cation of the right kind. Education is power, in- dependence, penetration and ability, and the lack of it naturally brings about a reverse condition. With all of these arguments in favor of better and higher education in mind it is not difficult to com- prehend why such stress is laid upon the proper selection of educators, for it is through them that the rising generation gains its bias, and receives its instruction. The United States has the best public schools in the world, and this much to be desired condition is largely the legitimate outgrowth of the faithful and intelligent work of the men and women placed in charge of them. One of these educators who is enjoying a wide-spread popularity, which he has certainly earned, is G. W. Day, super- intendent of the city schools of Philipsburg.

G. W. Day was born at Gaithersburg, Maryland, September 25, 1883, a son of George W. Day, and grandson of Jacob Day, born at Gaithersburg, Mary- land, in 1816, his father having come to the United States from Ireland to Maryland at an early day. Jacob Day was a contractor and builder who passed his life in his native city, where he died in 1893.

George W. Day was also born at Gaithersburg, Maryland, in 1849, and he is still a resident of that city, having spent his entire life in that neighbor- hood. A man of action, he owns extensive farm- ing interests in the vicinity, and is possessed of

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considerable means. In politics he is a democrat, and in religious faith a Methodist. He married Johanna Reid, who was born at Gaithersburg in 1859. Their children are as follows: Walter, who is a merchant of Washington, D. C .; G. W., whose name heads this review; William, who is a whole- sale merchant of New York City, New York; Charles, who served in France and Germany dur- ing the Great war, was recently mustered out of the army; Ernest, who is also a veteran of this war, served overseas in the Eighty-second Division as corporal, was wounded and gassed and received a shell shock, but is now convalescing, having been recently mustered out of the army; Myrtle, who is the widow of William Hammond, has lived with her parents since Mr. Hammond's death in 1918; Elbert, who is in the railroad business, lives at Washington, D. C., where he is serving as bag- gagemaster at the Union Station; Elsie, who is the twin sister of Elbert, married a Mr. Mosberg, a merchant of Washington, D. C .; Lillian, who married William Mills, a contractor and builder of Gaithersburg, Maryland; and Jesse, who is at- tending the Gaithersburg High School, lives with his parents.

Professor Day attended the public schools of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and was graduated from the Montgomery County High School at Rock- ville, Maryland, in 1905, following which he took a one year's course at Tanner's Business College at Washington, D. C. In the fall of 1906 he entered the Randolph-Macon College at Ashland, Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1910 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. For the subsequent year he was coach and instructor in history and science in the Grand River Institute at Austinburg, Ohio, when he was made principal of the Calleo, Virginia, High School, and held that position for two years, and for the next three years he was superintend- ent of schools of Belfield, North Dakota. In 1917 he came to Montana as principal of the Joliet schools, and a year later returned to North Dakota and was principal of the school at Bottineau, one of the largest of its kind in the state. In 1919 the school board of Philipsburg succeeded in securing his services as superintendent of the city schools, and he is already proving that their choice was a wise one. He has twelve teachers and 320 pupils under his charge, and is giving a personal attention to details which is proving very effective. In 1914 Professor Day homesteaded 320 acres of land be- tween Red Lodge and Billings at Shane Ridge. He is independent in politics. The Methodist Episco- pal Church holds his membership.

In 1912 Professor Day was married at Canton, Ohio, to Miss Ruth Spangler, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Spangler, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Spangler was a merchant of Canton, Ohio. Professor and Mrs. Day have no children. They are very popular and are gathering about them a delightful social circle, as they have in other communities in which they have resided. Although in the very prime of life, Professor Day has at- tained to considerable prominence in his profes- sion, and as he is a close student, is continually adding to his store of knowledge, while his various experiences are proving of value to him in his work. Of a pleasant personality, Professor Day possesses the ability to impart knowledge easily, and to win the confidence and respect of his pupils, being their friend as well as instructor. While he places a proper value on scholarship, he is not satis- fied to rest content with merely teaching the words of the text, but opens up new fields of study in awak- ening the interest of his charges so that they of their

own accord are anxious to read and study to a much further extent. Such men as Professor Day render a great service to their communities, and cannot be over-praised for their self-sacrifice and earnest efforts.

JOHN M. KEITH has been identified with Mis- soula nearly forty years, and nearly all of that time in the capacity of a bank executive. Mr. Keith, who is president of the Missoula Trust and Savings Bank, was born in New Brunswick, Can- ada, June 5, 1859, son of Lewis and Rebecca (Blakely) Keith. His parents spent all their lives in New Brunswick.

John M. Keith grew up on his father's farm and acquired an education sufficient for each day's re- curring responsibilities. He had some mercantile training in his home town, and with that as his chief recommendation came to Missoula in 1881. Missoula was then one of the pioneer centers of trade and commerce in the territory of Montana. Its chief firm was the Eddy-Hammond Company, the predecessor of the Missoula Mercantile Com- pany. Mr. Keith remained with the Eddy-Hammond Company as clerk and later as office manager, and left the concern in 1888 to become cashier of the Missoula National Bank. He was with that in- stitution over twenty years, and when it was reor- ganized as the First National Bank he became its vice president and the chief executive in charge of its affairs. In February, 1910, Mr. Keith became the first president of the reorganized institution now known as the Missoula Trust & Savings Bank, and the wisdom and discretion with which he has guided that institution is well indicated in its mag- nificent assets and the great influence it wields in the commerce of Eastern Montana. Mr. Keith is also president of the First National Bank at Plains, has some business interests at Spokane, and is a member of the Hammond Lumber Company of San Francisco.

As a successful business man and banker his tastes have never run in political channels, and his public service has been rendered as a matter of conscientious duty. He served three terms as mayor of Missoula, being elected without opposition on a citizens ticket and giving an administration com- pletely free from partisan bias. He has also been a member of the school board and library board. Fraternally he is a member of the Masons, Knights of Pythias and the Elks. In 1800 Mr. Keith mar- ried Miss Harriet Beckwith, also a native of New Brunswick, and daughter of Charles and Sarah Beckwith. Mrs. Keith is now deceased, and her only daughter. Jennie, died at the age of four years.

CHARLES H. MCLEOD. One of the oldest and larg- est mercantile enterprises in Montana is the Mis- soula Mercantile Company, which has not only en- joyed many years of prosperous business, but has represented an imposing aggregate of personal abil- ities and resources in the men who were its founders and have been its chief officials. One of these is Charles H. McLeod, who became identified with the business at its organization forty years ago. Mr. McLeod has in recent years turned over many of his active responsibilities to his son Walter H. McLeod, as noted on other pages.

Charles H. McLeod was born in New Brunswick, Canada, February 14, 1859, and is of Scotch an- cestry. His father was a farmer and blacksmith who died in 1871.

C. H. McLeod attended public school to the age of fourteen, and spent his early life on a farm. He

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learned business by working as clerk and in other capacities in small stores. He came to Montana in 1880, and from that time to the present has been identified with the business fortunes of Missoula. He was a clerk with the old firm of Hammond and Eddy. This firm was the outgrowth of a pioneer store conducted by Bonner and Welsh. The partner- ship was also designated as Eddy, Hammond and Bonner, and from 1875 to .885 as Eddy, Hammond and Company. In 1885 A. B. Hammond, R. A. Eddy and E. L. Bonner, were the chief partners in organizing the Missoula Mercantile Company. The business was capitalized at $300,000. Mr. Hammond being the first president and Mr. McLeod vice presi- dent and general manager.

Mr. McLeod has also been interested in the Mis- soula Water Company, the Missoula Light and Power Company, and the First National Bank of Missoula. In 1886 he married Miss Clara L. Beck- with, a native of New Brunswick. Their two chil- dren are Walter H. and Helen B.

THOMAS HILL PRIDHAM. Since establishing his home at Chouteau in 1912 Mr. Pridham has been quietly and busily engaged in reaping the fruits of a large professional business as a lawyer. His pro- fessional success has been well earned. For a num- ber of years he had a varied and eventful expe- rience, and by personal ability earned every step of his promotion.

Mr. Pridham was born in Essex County, England, January 24, 1871, and as a boy elected to make his own way in the world. His parents were George and Elizabeth Frances (Harvey) Pridham, both now deceased. He was the seventh in a family of eight children who reached mature years and six of whom are still living. George Pridham was a noted missionary and educator. He began his career as a missionary in 1850. From 1855 to 1868 he was head master of St. Paul's College at Cal- cutta, India. From 1868 to 1871 he was vicar of East Tilbury, Essex, England, and then entered upon his duties as vicar of West Harptree, a post of responsibility he held for thirty-one years, from 1871 to 1902. He died September 23, 1902.

Thomas Hill Pridham was educated in local Eng- lish schools and at the age of 14 left home and came to America. His first experiences were in Mani- toba. During 1885 he worked on a farm near St. Charles, Minnesota, and attended school in winter. For several years he worked for his board and clothing while getting his education. For a time he was an employe of Governor Job A. Cooper in Col- orado. In 1888 he returned to St. Charles, Minne- sota, and resumed his work in the high school there, from which he graduated. Later he completed the course of the Minneapolis High School, working for his living as a bookkeeper while in school. He also was employed as a street car conductor for one or two summers, and was with the civil engineering staff which built the first interurban lines between St. Paul and Minneapolis. He was also a freight brake- man with the Great Northern Railway. During this time he was making progress in his law studies in the University of Minnesota, attending night school. Later he entered the railway mail service, working in the office of the superintendent at St. Paul, while attending night law college. Mr. Pridham grad- uated from the law department of the University of Minnesota in 1897, and in the same year was ad- mitted to the Minnesota bar. He continued in the mail service until 1899. In that year he was dele- gated by the United States Government to go to Alaska and establish mail service in the mining dis- tricts. His official title was chief clerk at large. On

the beach at Nome there were only seven tents when he first arrived there, and his headquarters were at Circle City on the Yukon River.

Having completed his work in the far North Mr. Pridham returned in July, 1900, to St. Paul, and after his marriage opened a law office at Austin, Minnesota, where he remained until 1910. In that year he was appointed by James A. Tawney of Min- nesota as special agent in Montana. He remained in this work at Helena from July, 1910, until No- vember, 1912, when he moved to Choteau and en- gaged in the general practice which now comprises the bulk of his activities and interests.

In October, 1900, Mr. Pridham married Miss Frances M. Cosgrove, a native of Cork, Ireland. They had six children : Dorothy, Jane Marion, Phyl- 11s and Daniel, twins, Frances Lois and Kathleen Janice.

JOHN ELLIOTT, while a native of Pennsylvania has spent most of his life in Montana, and his con- nections are with the pioneer stock in this state. Of a family of miners, he has had considerable mining experience on his own account, but for the past several years has attended to a growing and large practice as a lawyer in the City of Butte.

Mr. Elliott was born in Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1883. His people came from the Province of Ulster, Ireland, and were Protes- tants. His grandfather David Elliott, was born in Ulster, was an Irish farmer, and came to the United States about 1873, living the rest of his life retired at Freeland, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Lawn, also a native of Ulster, who died at Free- land. Hugh Elliott, father of John Elliott, was born in Ulster in 1853, and lived there to the age of eighteen. On coming to the United States he found employment in the mines at Freeland, Pennsylvania, and also conducted a meat market and was pro- prietor of an old-fashioned inn. In 1888 he came to Montana, was one of the early settlers at Butte, and after one year of employment as a painter and paper hanger went to Cokedale and worked in the coal mines six months. He was a miner at Granite for seven years, following which he located and developed a coal mine at Drummond. In 1897 he removed to Norris, Montana, where for five years he was an employe of the Revenue Mine, and two years of that time was mine foreman. In 1901 he located and developed a gold mining claim at Wash- ington Bar, and has given most of his attention to that property since. His mining operations have been attended with considerable success. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, a republican, and is an active Mason, being affiliated with Bagdad Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Butte. Hugh Elliott married Catherine Jones, who was born in Wales in 1859. They are the parents of nine children : Thomas, a partner with his father in the gold mine and a resident of Norris; John; Anna, who died at Davenport, Iowa, in November, 1919, the wife of J. S. West, a blacksmith living at Norris ; Alexander, associated with his father in business at Norris ; Joseph Orr, a miner at Butte; Hugh, Jr., at home ; David, a miner living in the State of Washington; Jenkin and Charles, still at home.

John Elliott acquired his education in the public schools at Granite, Montana, but left school at the age of fourteen and for several years earned a liv- ing in the mines at Norris and Drummond. Dur- ing 1908-09 he attended the Detroit College of Law in Michigan, graduating with the LL. B. degree in 1909. On returning to Norris in 1909 instead of engaging in practice he took charge of the mine and handled its operations until October, 1913. He

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then came to Butte, and after reviewing his law studies with I. G. Denny was admitted to the bar in June, 1914, and since that date has been in active general practice. For four years he was associated with James E. Murray but since 1918 has been in an office of his own in the Phoenix Building.

Mr. Elliott is a member of the Silver Bow Bar Association, is a republican, is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and is a member of Virginia City Lodge No. 390, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Butte Aerie No. II of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His home is at 305 South Wash- ington Street. In June, 1910, at Butte, he married Emma Margaret McCall, daughter of David and Nettie (Foster) McCall, who reside in Jefferson Valley, Montana. Mrs. Elliott is a member of a very interesting pioneer family of Montana. Her mother. Nettie Foster, was the first white girl born in the state, being a daughter of Z. D. Foster, who settled on a ranch in Jefferson Valley in the early sixties, and is still living, a resident of Whitehall. Mrs. Elliott is a graduate of the parochial high school at Butte. They have one child, Genevieve, born in 1914.

DAN T. MALLOY. In the six years since he began his practice at Butte Mr. Malloy has gained a good business as a lawyer and has commendably identified himself with the best interests of the com- munity. He was in an officers training camp during the World war, and for a time was deputy county attorney.

A native of Montana, he was born in the City of Helena July 7, 1890. His father is P. F. Malloy, who was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1845. He is a real pioneer of the Northwest. Coming to the United States about 1861, he located at St. Paul, Minnesota, and was connected with some of the pioneer freighting outfits from St. Paul westward. He made his first acquaintance with Montana in 1869. He was connected with a surveying party engaged in the preliminary survey of the route for the Northern .Pacific Railway. These surveyors were under the protection of United States troops commanded by the lamented General Custer. Not long afterward P. F. Malloy settled at Bismarck, North Dakota, and became prominently connected with business affairs in that city, being in the freight- ing and general transportation business, a hotel proprietor and grain buyer and shipper. In 1887 he located at Helena, Montana, and was in the service of the Northern Pacific Railway there and after 1897 lived at Butte. He retired from rail- roading and since 1914 has lived on his ranch at Hesper, Montana. He is a democrat and a Catholic. His wife was Mary Catherine Taggart, who was born in Wisconsin in 1855. Of their four children Dan is the youngest. Minnie, the oldest, is the widow of B. E. Predmore, who was a jeweler at San Diego, California. James P. was a shoe merchant at Butte, where he died at the age of thirty-five in 1918, a victim of the influenza epidemic. Emmett E. is a civil and mining engineer at Butte.

Dan T. Malloy graduated from the Butte High School in 1908. The following year he earned his own living, and in 1909 entered the University of Michigan Law School. He remained there until graduating with the LL. B. degree in 1913. He is a member of the college fraternity Kappa Beta Psi. Mr. Malloy began practice at Butte in 1913, and for a year and a half was associated with H. A. Frank. From 1915 to 1917 he served as deputy county attorney, and since then has conducted a general civil and criminal practice with offices in the Hennessy Building. He also has some mining in-

terests, is interested in the home ranch at Hesper, and has some valuable real estate, including several dwellings in Butte and a modern home of his own at 636 West Silver Street.

In August, 1918, he entered the service of his country and was in the training camp at Boulder, Colorado, for a time and afterward was in the officers training camp in the artillery branch at Louisville, Kentucky. He was mustered out Decem- ber 16, 1918.

Mr. Malloy is unmarried, is a democrat, member of the Catholic Church, is a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, being affiliated with Council No. 668 at Butte, and is a member of Butte Lodge No. 240 of the Elks. He belongs to the County and State Bar associations and is a member of Silver Bow Club at Butte.

JOHN H. DURSTON, manager of the Butte Daily Post, has been actively identified with Montana journalism for over thirty years. He is well known in Montana, and his reputation is based upon a career as a practical newspaper man, teacher and scholar, with attendance in universities both at home and abroad and with many honors as teacher and student.

He was born at Syracuse, New York, February 19, 1848. His father, John Durston, was a native of Bristol, England, and came to this country a young man. He was a shipwright and built many boats for operation on the Erie Canal. He died at Syracuse in 1863. He was a republican and an active member and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, Sarah Hurst, was born near Dublin, Ireland, and died at Syracuse in 1901. Her father, Thomas Hurst, also a native of Ire- land, came to the United States about 1830 and. settled at Syracuse, where he was a building con- tractor. He died at Syracuse in 1857, when over seventy years of age. Thomas Hurst married Mar- garet Morris, a native of Ireland, who also died at Syracuse. John Durston and wife had four chil- dren: J. F., a business man of Syracuse; Thomas W., who lives at Newark, New Jersey, and is a re- tired merchant; John H .; and George W., who was a Syracuse merchant and died at the age of sixty.

John H. Durston after graduating from ' high school attended Yale University until his junior year in the class of 1869. He is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Greek letter fraternity. After leaving Yale he continued his studies abroad at Heidelberg University in Germany and received on examination, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from that institution in 1870. On returning to this country he became a member of the faculty of the Syracuse University and enjoyed the dignities of a college professor until 1880. In the meantime he had spent one year in Paris, studying and specializ- ing in civics.

Mr. Durston has been a newspaper editor since 1880, when he became editor of the Syracuse Standard. In 1887 he came to Montana, and in 1889 established the Anaconda Standard and was editor of that paper until 1912. In 1913 he established the Butte Daily Post as the successor of the Butte Inter Mountain. Mr. Durston is a republican in politics, a member of the Episcopal Church and of the Ana- conda and Silver Bow clubs. He has his home on a farm near Bozeman.

In 1871, at Syracuse, he married Miss Mary Har- wood, daughter of George W. and Martha (Watson) Harwood, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was a Syracuse business man. Mrs. Durston was a graduate of the Syracuse High School. They are the parents of two children: Martha H. D. is

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the wife of F. W. Peckoyer, in the real estate and coal business at Anaconda; and Laura, wife of John Maxey, a coal dealer with home at Bozeman.

ARTHUR W. MERKLE is one of the most prominent insurance men in Montana, and his work in that line has well earned him the responsibilities as state manager for Montana of the Prudential Insurance Company.

Mr. Merkle has lived practically all his life within sight of the Rocky Mountains, and is a member of a pioneer western family. He was born at Virginia City, Nevada, December 23, 1882. His father, Thomas Merkle, was born in Kentucky in 1831, and was a California forty-niner. A butcher by trade, he was employed by several of the California not- ables of the early days, including J. A. Mackey, James Fair and Mr. O'Brien. He followed his trade at Virginia City, Nevada, where he married and lived until he removed to Butte, Montana. In that city he was one of the early butchers, and was actively engaged in business until he retired in 1918. He is still living at Butte, an honored pioneer. He is a stanch republican, a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and while a resident of Virginia City was chief of the volunteer fire de- partment. Thomas Merkle married Mary Dempsey, who was born in Ireland in 1840 and died at Butte in 1913. They had a large family of children. Nellie, the oldest, is the wife of W. W. Blood, a business man and property owner at San Francisco ; Louise is the wife of Judge F. P. Langan, of Virginia City, Nevada, who as a district judge has presided over several trials of national prominence. Katy is unmarried and a trained nurse at Butte. Thomas P. is assistant foreman for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company at Butte. George W. is a prominent citizen of Belt, Montana, where he owns coal mines and is proprietor of a general store. Susie died at Butte in 1907, unmarried. Horace J. is state manager of the Prudential Insurance Com- pany for Colorado and Wyoming. Arthur W. is next in age, while the youngest is Christine, living with her father.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 132

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