Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 15

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 15

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).

Boulder River is widely known for its dairy cattle, and Mr. Busha has his home there, a modern resi- dence, surrounded with a complete equipment of high class barns and other buildings. His business offices are on McLeod Street in Big Timber. Mr. Busha is a republican in politics and is affiliated with Big Timber Lodge of Masons and Livingston Lodge No. 246, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Busha has good reason to be proud of his family, and besides the three sons who were soldiers all his children have fitted themselves for positions of usefulness and honor. He married at Little Elk in Meagher County, Montana, in 1885 Miss Ida L. Pound. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Pound, pioneers in Western Wisconsin in 1854, are now deceased, the father having been a pioneer business man of Missoula, a real estate broker. Mrs. Busha taught in the school at Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and was the first teacher in the school at Martinsdale on the Musselshell River. The oldest of their family of ten children is Beulah, who finished her education in a girls' seminary at Petersburg, Virginia, and is the wife of Ernest R. Paterson, a prominent merchant at Big Timber. Thad C. Busha, second of the family, was a student of the Big Timber High School and is receiving teller in the First National Bank at Mason City, Iowa. Lenore, a graduate of the Sweetgrass County High School and a student of the State University at Missoula, lives at home with her parents. Charles Thomas, Jr., is the oldest of the three sons who were in the army. He had completed his junior year in the law department of the State University at Missoula when in 1917 he entered the Officers' Training Camp at the Presidio, California, was com- missioned a first lieutenant, and went overseas with Company C of the Three Hundred and Sixty-Fourth Infantry. Later he was promoted to captain of Company D of the same regiment and was with the Expeditionary Forces until he returned to this country on April 6, 1919. Mabel Busha is a graduate of the College of Montana at Deer Lodge, and is the wife of Alfred Johnson, a stock raiser at Hall, Montana. Helen is a graduate of the County High School and is stenographer for the Master Mechanic of the Northern Pacific Railway at Livingston. Beatrice, a graduate of the County High School, is assistant cashier in the Commercial Bank and Trust Company at Big Timber. Willard M., also a high school graduate, is clerking in a store at Big Tim- ber. Homer saw his first military service on the Mexican border, re-enlisted at the beginning of the war with Germany, and went overseas where he won his commission as second lieutenant. He was with the Three Hundred and Fourth Heavy Tank Service and was a machine gun instructor. He returned to the United States March 17, 1919. Theodore C., the youngest of this interesting family, is a graduate of the County High School. He . enlisted in February, 1918, was in training for the aerial service at Waco, Texas, and was mustered out in April, 1919, and is now on his father's ranch.

HARRY J. WATERS was on the ground soon after the founding of the now thriving town of Rapelje, entered the general merchandise business, and out of a wealth of long experience in that line has promoted and built up one of the most thriving concerns of its kind in that part of the state.

Mr. Waters was born at Oskaloosa, Iowa, July 20, 1868. His remote ancestors came from Germany, but for several generations lived in Pennsylvania. His father, Matthew Waters, was born in Pennsyl-

HISTORY OF MONTANA

vania in 1833, and as a young man went back to Oskaloosa, Iowa, from Ohio, where he was reared. He was one of the early operators in the lumber business at Oskaloosa and continued a resident of that city until his death in 1886. During the Civil war he was a member of an Iowa home guard and was called out for service in Northern Missouri during Price's raid. He was a republican and an Odd Fellow. Matthew Waters married Lucy Shel- ton, who was born in Kentucky in 1831 and died at Oskaloosa in 1879. A brief record of their family of children is as follows: Henry B., a harness maker who died at Hastings, Nebraska, in 1910; Medly A., a rancher and traveling salesman of Billings, Mon- tana; William Irving, a harness maker by trade, who came to Montana in 1883, followed his business at Miles City, Helena, Great Falls and Missoula, became the pioneer in his line at Great Falls and Missoula, and subsequently moved to Florida, where he owns and occupies a ranch; Charles, the fourth in the family, died in infancy; Cora, who died at Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1897, was the wife of W. P. Welch, now a real estate and insurance broker at Miles City, Montana, and also a justice of the peace there; Harry J .; and Fred, who died in infancy.

Harry J. Waters acquired his early education in the public schools of Oskaloosa, but his school days were ended at the age of fourteen, and at that period of his youth he entered a printing office. Mr. Waters might qualify as an old time printer. He worked two years at Oskaloosa, spent three years in a print- ing office at Washington, Kansas, and for another three years was assistant postmaster in that town. In 1892 he went to Belleville, Kansas, and clerked in a general store there four years. That was his initial experience in merchandising. The five fol- lowing years he spent in a general store at Wash- ington and for four years he traveled over North- west Kansas selling groceries. For three years he was connected with the dry goods business at Lex- ington, Missouri, and in these places he acquired a thorough knowledge of general merchandising.

Mr. Waters came to Montana in 1908, first locating in Billings, where he spent four years with the Kelley Mercantile Company, then for two years man- aged the store of the McDaniel Sheep Company, was for seven months with Hart-Albin Company, next clerked in Carl Friedman's store and with its successor, the Cole-Williams Company, for two years. He came to Rapelje on August 1, 1917, and estab- lished and built one of its two leading general stores which marked the pioneer business section of the new town. He was first associated with W. C. Spalding, but Mr. W. C. Cole, of Edgar, Montana, bought out Mr. Spalding's interest on March I, 1919, and the firm is now the Waters-Cole Com- pany. They have a fine store on Main Street.

Mr. Waters also quickly identified himself with the public affairs of his town, and is chairman of the school board. He is a republican, a member of Billings Council of the United Commercial Trav- elers, and was first president of the Commercial Club of Rapelje, serving in 1917-18.

He married Miss Grace Cropper, of Washington, Kansas, in 1893. Her parents, W. H. and Helen Cropper, reside at Nora, Illinois, her father being a retired miller and stockman. Mr. and Mrs. Waters have two children: Lucy E. a graduate of the Bill- ings High School and now a teacher in Stillwater County, Montana; and Robert M., who is connected with the Lake Basin State Bank at Rapelje.

HARRY M. JOHNSON, manager of the Public Utili- ties and Townsite departments of the Anaconda

Copper Mining Company, is a man well qualified for his position and capable of handling the various and important problems which are constantly being presented to him. He was born at Oswego, New York, June 25, 1883, a son of John J. Johnson, also born at Oswego, who lived there all his life and died there in 1884. He married Catherine Brady, who was born and died at Oswego, passing away in 1890. Harry M. Johnson was the only child of his parents. At his mother's death the lad was taken by his aunt, Mrs. Anna J. Hartnett, and reared in her home.

After attending the public schools of Oswego, Harry M. Johnson, at the age of sixteen years, left high school and obtained a position as messenger boy with the New York Central Railroad. From the first he exhibited such ability and willingness to work and learn that he was promoted through the various positions to be chief clerk in the account- ant department, with headquarters at Oswego, New York, remaining there until 1906, when, in Sep- tember of that year, he came to Anaconda, Montana, to engage with the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Rail- road, holding a clerical position for two years. Mr. Johnson then went with the Anaconda Copper Min- ing Company and until I911 handled traffic matters in the Washoe Reduction Works, but in that year was transferred to Salt Lake City, where he was associated with the ore purchasing interests of the International Refining & Smelting Company for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, but in June, 1913, was brought back to Anaconda to take charge of his present departments, which cover the electric lighting of Anaconda, the conduct of the water- works and the street railway. Mr. Johnson has seventy-five men under his supervision, and has offices at No. 101 Main Street. He is a Roman Catholic, and belongs to Oswego Council No. 227, Knights of Columbus, being a Third Degree Knight. Mr. Johnson also belongs to the Rotary Club, Ana- conda Lodge No. 239, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Anaconda Club and the Anaconda Country Club. He resides at the Alpine Apart- ments.

During the great war Mr. Johnson enlisted for service, and was commissioned captain in the ord- nance department, being mustered into the service on October 22, 1917, and was sent overseas on February 7, 1918, where he was detailed to assist in the orgainzation of ammunition depots and the transportation of ammunition on the lines of com- munication, with his headquarters at Tours, France. In the discharge of his duties Mr. Johnson traveled all over France, and was on the firing line in March, 1918. For thirty days he was with the British command on observation work, rendering during the period he was in the army a very efficient service. He was returned to the United States on December 29, 1918, and was mustered out of the service on January 4, 1919. Mr. Johnson was cited by General Pershing for exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous service while a member of the American Expeditionary Forces.

In 1912 Mr. Johnson was married at Butte, Mon- tana, to Miss Kathryn Evans, a daughter of Owen C. and Emily (Church) Evans, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Evans was one of the pioneer merchants of Helena. Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have no children. During his period of activity Mr. Johnson has risen steadily, and entirely through his own efforts, and his present standing with his company and community is all the more creditable on this account.

The Fans lad

HISTORY OF MONTANA

FRANCIS MCHENRY GRAFTON began his career in Montana in 1896 in the office of the Anaconda Cop- per Mining Company at Anaconda. For a number of years he was in the service of that great cor- poration, with increasing responsibilities and at dif- ferent posts. He is now manager of the Interstate Lumber Company at Hamilton.

Mr. Grafton was born at Cambridge, Iowa, March 5, 1877. He is of an old English family early settled in Virginia. His great-great-grandfather as an Eng- lish boy was apprenticed to an employer in Virginia. Later he became an extensive land holder, planter and slave owner in Virginia. His slaves were set free by the grandfather of Francis McHenry Graf- ton. The latter's father was Dr. William Hill Grafton, for many years a prominent physician and a gentleman of cultivated mind and character. Doc- tor Grafton was born at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1826, was reared and married in that city, and in 1847 was the honor graduate from the medical de- partment of the University of Maryland. He prac- ticed at Baltimore a number of years, with an in- terval at Denver, Colorado, and finally moved to Cambridge, Iowa, where all his children were born and reared. After many years of professional labors he retired and in 1904 moved to Los Angeles, where he died in 1908. He was a democrat, held various local offices, and was a particular friend of schools and education. He was a very ardent Methodist and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He served as a surgeon with the Union army during the Civil war. He was on the battlefields of Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg, and remained with the medical department of the army after the war, assisting in closing up the last five hospitals maintained by the army, the final work of this nature being done at Washington. Doctor Grafton married Sarah Liv- ingston, who was born in Ohio in 1849, and is still living at Los Angeles. They had the following children : William D., in the fuel and produce busi- ness at Anaheim, California; Francis McHenry; Edward L., a publisher of magazines and books and manager of the Grafton Publishing Company at Los Angeles; Albert Kurtz in the real estate and insurance business at Los Angeles; Eugene Hill, a printer at Los Angeles; and Mary, wife of R. B. Newcomb, an orchard owner and orange grower and also a produce dealer at Santa Ana, California.

Francis McHenry Grafton received his early edu- cation in the public schools of Cambridge, Iowa, graduating from high school in 1892. He chose a commercial career and had his early experience in several stores in Iowa, including a year at Perry. He graduated in 1894 in the shorthand and typewrit- ing course from the Capital City Commercial Col- lege at Des Moines, following which for a year and a half he was employed in a law office at Harlan, Iowa.

In 1896, coming to Montana, he became clerk and stenographer for the Anaconda Copper Mining Com- pany. Four years later he was assigned similar du- ties with this corporation at Belt, Montana, where he remained a year and a half. For ten years he was general bookkeeper for the Big Blackfoot Mill- ing Company at Bonner, though in the meantime, in 1907, he spent about a year at Los Angeles. In 1911 Mr. Grafton came to Hamilton, and for five years was with the local plant of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. In 1916 he accepted his present interests as manager of the Interstate Lumber Com- pany, one of the leading corporations of the kind in western Montana. He is also a stockholder and director in the Grafton Publishing Corporation of Los Angeles.

Mr. Grafton is a republican, and at Missoula is affiliated with Ionic Lodge, No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with Hamilton Chapter No. 18, Royal Arch Masons, and is past commander of St. Omar Commandery No. 9, Knight Templars at Missoula. He is affiliated with Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Helena.

In 1905, at Hamilton, Mr. Grafton married Miss Mabel M. Markle, daughter of John M. and Celia (Parish) Markle. Her mother is now deceased. Her father, living with Mr. and Mrs. Grafton, is a former superintendent of the Hamilton plant of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. Mrs. Grafton. finished her education in a girls' seminary at Spo- kane, Washington. To their marriage were born two children: Jean Frances, born in 1908, and Car- roll B., born in October, 19II.

ERI M. FARR, M. D. One of the skilled and reliable physicians and surgeons of Billings is Dr. Eri M. Farr, whose reputation is not merely a local one, but extends over a wide territory, and he is oftentimes called into consultation by his brother practitioners. He was born at Muncy, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1884, a son of Smith B. Farr. The birth of Smith B. Farr took place at Moreland, Pennsyl- vania, in 1838, and his death at Muncy, that state, in 1902, he having never left it. He devoted his life to farming. A stanch republican, he always sup- ported the principles of that party. The Baptist Church held his membership. The maiden name of his wife was Anna M. Warn, who was also born at Moreland, Pennsylvania, in 1847, and survives him, making her home at Muncy, Pennsylvania. Their children were as follows: Doctor Farr, who was the eldest ; Mary, who married Morris D. Worthing- ton, resides at Curwensville, Pennsylvania, where he is a stenographer; and Roy, who is an attorney of Los Angeles, California. Smith B. Farr was a son of Richard Barcley Farr, and his father, the great- grandfather of Doctor Farr, was a Revolutionary soldier named William Farr, who served in the Colonial army from Pennsylvania. The Farr family of this country is of English origin, but has been in the New World since an early day in the history of the American Colonies. Richard B. Farr was born in Pennsylvania, and died at Moreland, that state, shortly before the birth of Doctor Farr. He was a lumberman, and never left his native state.

Eri M. Farr attended the grammar and high schools of Muncy, Pennsylvania, being graduated from the latter in 1901. For the subsequent three years he was a student of Bucknell University, and then attended the Medico-Chirurgical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1908, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For the following eighteen months he was an interne at the Robert Packer Hospital at Sayre, Pennsylvania, specializing in surgery, and then engaged in a general practice in that city, remaining there until 1913. In that year he came west to Billings, and has remained here, building up connections which are creditable and profitable as a physician and surgeon. His offices are at 205-207 Electric Building. Doctor Farr built a comfortable modern residence at Billings in 1913, and here he makes his home. Professionally he belongs to the Yellowstone County Medical Society, the Montana State Medical Society, the American Medical Asso- ciation. Well known as a Thirty-second Degree Mason and Shriner, he belongs to Irem Temple of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. He is a member of Billings Star Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; the Canton Encampment of the Odd Fellows ; to Billings Lodge, Woodmen of the World; and Bil-

HISTORY OF MONTANA

lings Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He also maintains very pleasant social relations as a member of the Country Club. Doctor Farr is assistant surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railroad, and is examiner for several life insurance companies, having a very large clientele in this line. He was also a member of the Medical Advisory Board during the war for the Fifth District, comprising five counties.

On January 29, 1912, Doctor Farr was married at Sayre, Pennsylvania, to Mrs. Laura (Reed) Fish, a native of Iowa, and they have one son, Malcolm, who was born January 2, 1913. Mrs. Farr was educated in the public schools of Billings, having come to that city from her birthplace, Manino, Iowa. She is an Episcopalian, and a strong sup- porter of her church. Her father, William W. Reed, died at Manino, Iowa, when she was still a child, where he was engaged in merchandising and was postmaster. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Lyons, and she, too, was born in Iowa. The children in the Reed family were three in number, as follows: Lydia, who is married; Mrs. Farr; and William. In 1896 Mrs. Farr was first married to John W. Fish, clerk and treasurer of Yellowstone County, and a prominent man, who died in 1910, leaving her with two children, namely: Dorothy Fish, who was born June 2, 1908; and George Fish, who was born March 27, 1910. Doctor and Mrs. Farr are very prominent socially and are admirable entertainers, enjoying gathering their many friends about them at their hospitable home. In his pro- fession Doctor Farr stands deservedly high, being recognized as one of the able and experienced prac- titioners of Yellowstone County. Possessing as he does the characteristics which make for good citizen- ship, he has always been considered as one of the best types of American manhood, and can be relied upon to take a creditable part in all movements inaugurated to improve civic conditions and bring about moral reforms. Still in the very prime of vigorous young manhood, he retains the enthusiasms of youth, while his experience and knowledge give weight to his judgments, and the influence he wields is not inconsiderable.

CHRISTIAN T. SWENSON has been a banker at Scobey since April, 1914, is a man of wide experi- ence in financial affairs, and since the age of seven- teen has been an employe or working official in bank- ing institutions.

Mr. Swenson is an American by nearly thirty years of residence, but was born May 19, 1886, at Frederickshald, one of the larger cities of Norway. For a time his parents, Thorer and Carolina (Han- son) Swenson, lived at Christiania, the capital city, but in 1893 the family sailed for America, landing at New York, their destination being Crary, North Dakota. On reaching there the father engaged in his trade as a painter, and has continued to follow that occupation ever since. He also proved up a homestead, has been identified with farming and land holding, and is now a man of financial inde- pendence. He early acquired American citizenship and has voted as a republican. He and his wife were reared Lutherans but are now members of the Congregational Church. They reared three sons: Christian T .; Stanley P., a banker at Michigan, North Dakota; and Lawrence, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Crary, North Dakota. Thus all the sons have chosen banking careers.

Christian T. Swenson was reared at Crary from the age of seven, and acquired a public school educa- tion, supplemented later by a commercial college course at Fargo. His first important business train- ing was in the capacity of deputy postmaster at

Crary. Then, at the age of seventeen, he went to work and became a student of banking in the First National Bank of Crary. He also homesteaded near Stanley, and lost enough time from his posi- tion to prove up and secure a title. From the bank at Crary he went to Williston, North Dakota, and for a year had charge of the local business of the well known farm loan corporation of E. J. Lander & Company.

The First National Bank of Scobey was chartered in April, 1916, succeeding the State Bank of Scobey, which opened its doors at old Scobey in October, 1913, being the second banking house in the town. The state institution was capitalized at $25,000, with G. A. Fadness president, and from April, 1914, Mr. Swenson as vice president, while early cashiers were J. C. Jackson and O. J. Helland. When Mr. Swen- son became vice president the institution had moved to the new town and the banking house was located in the street, while its permanent home was being erected, this being occupied in the fall of 1914. When the bank took out a national charter the officers remained the same until L. V. Hanson be- came cashier and N. L. Nelson, of Plentywood, be- came president. The financial statement at the close of business in 1919 shows capital stock of $30,000, surplus and undivided profits of $17,321.70 and deposits of $462,415.04.

Mr. Swenson gave his effective personal aid to the work of raising funds during the war, though the cashier of the First National Bank was the offi- cial spirit of the drive. Mr. Swenson is president of the Sheridan and Roosevelt County Bankers As- sociation. Fraternally he is a Mason.

At Casselton, North Dakota, February 4, 1914, he married Miss Ingleiv Jesten, who was born near Christiansand, Norway, in March, 1886, and was three years of age when her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jesten, came to America. The family lived for a time near Moorhead, Minnesota, and finally settled at Casselton, North Dakota, where Mrs. Swenson grew up and was educated. She is a graduate of the State University of North Dakota and was a teacher before her marriage. Mrs. Swen- son is the youngest of three children, the others being Mrs. A. S. Needles, of Scobey, and Torfin Jes- ten, a railroad engineer at Breckenridge, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson have three young children, Lois, born in 1915, Stanley, born in 1916, and Robert, born in 1917. The Swenson home is a modern six- room residence on Main Street, and one of the centers of hospitality of the town.

CHARLES JAMES BUZZETTI. The senior member of the leading mercantile firm of Carbon County, Charles James Buzzetti, is one of the experienced business men of Fromberg, and since its establish- ment in 1908 the house of Buzzetti & Emmett has grown until it occupies its present prosperous as- pect. Mr. Buzzetti is a native of Genoa, Vernon County, Wisconsin, where he was born December 23, 1872, a son of John and Delphine (Jambois) Buz- zetti, and grandson of a Mr. Jambois, who was born in France, but came to the United States at an early day, and after stopping for a time in New Orleans, Louisiana, came up north to Genoa, Wisconsin, where he died, having been a farmer all his life.

John Buzzetti was born near Genoa, Italy, in 1837, and he died at Genoa, Wisconsin, in 1882. In young manhood he left Italy, where he had been reared, and upon coming to the United States located at Genoa, Wisconsin. With the outbreak of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the North, and in 1862 gave practical expression to his preference by en-

HISTORY OF MONTANA

listing in the Seventy-First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, when he returned to Genoa, Wisconsin, and spent the re- mainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. His political sentiments made him a republican. From birth he was a Roman Catholic. John Buzzetti was married at Genoa, Wisconsin, his wife having been born at New Orleans, Louisiana, April 21, 1843. She survives him and lives at Fromberg, Montana. Their children were as follows: Peter, who died at the age of forty years in a boat wreck off the coast of Seattle, Washington, was a barber; John, who was drowned on the Mississippi River when three years old; Jennie, who married Ed Shomers, an architect, lives at La Crosse, Wisconsin; Charles James, who is fourth in order of birth; Tony, who is proprietor of a cafe at Fromberg; Mayme, who married Fred Rahrer, a breeder of thoroughbred horses, resides at Fromberg; Frank J., who is a busi- ness man of Fromberg, and Emma, who married M. F. Emmett, the junior member of the firm of Buzzetti & Emmett, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work.

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 15

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