Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 155

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 155

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Saint John's Episcopal Church was established on October 20, 1875, in the store of Foster & Ray, by Rev. M. N. Gilbert, who was afterward bishop coadjutor of the diocese of Minnesota, and the parish covers all of Silver Bow County. During the administration of Reverend Chapman the splendid parish house has been erected at a cost of $38,000. It is used for social service work as well as for the regular church work, and he and his people are con- templating building an addition to the church con- sisting of a chancel and organ loft, the latter to accommodate the magnificent new organ generously . donated by Senator W. A. Clark. This addition will cost approximately $20,000. The church is lo- cated at the corner of Idaho and Broadway streets, and the rectory is at No. 15 North Idaho Street.

Reverend Chapman is a republican. He is a Mason and has risen very high in his order, be- longing to Platte Valley Lodge No. 32, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at North Platte, Nehraska ; Euphrates Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, at North Platte; Palestine Commandery No. 13, Knights Templar, also of North Platte; was made a thirty-second degree Mason at Hastings Consistory No. 3, at Hastings, Nebraska; and he belongs to Zabud Council No. 2, Royal and Select Masters, of Butte. He is also a member of North Platte Lodge No. 985, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Butte Rotary Club. In his church honors have been conferred upon him and at present he is president of the standing committee of the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Montana and one of the examining chaplains of the diocese.

On September 3, 1902, Reverend Chapman was married at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss Carrye Garlick, a daughter of Henry and Ida (Stow) Garlick. Mr.

Garlick was a wholesale dealer in naval stores at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died, but his widow sur- vives him and now lives at Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Chapman attended the Oxford University at Oxford, Ohio. The children of Reverend and Mrs. Chapman are as follows: Henry Charles, who was born on September 3, 1903, is attending the Butte High School; Elizabeth, who was born on July 27, 1906, is attending the Butte High School; Frederick Garlick, who was born March 25, 1909; and Edwin Stow, who was born in May, 1912.

Reverend Chapman is very proud of the fact that his family on both sides dates back to the colonial period of this country. The Chapmans were founded here by Robert Chapman, who came from Whitby, England, and located in Massachusetts in 1635. John Russell, Mr. Chapman's maternal grandfather, was born near Wilmington, Delaware, in 1807, and died at Delaware, Ohio, in 1892. For some years he lived at Wheeling, West Virginia, and he was also at one time a resident of Berlin, Pennsylvania. By trade a millwright, he developed into an inventor of some note and among other patents he took out were those for a separator, a machine for taking smut from wheat, and also a rice cleaner, but was un- fortunate with reference to it, for although it was a valuable invention he did not receive a cent for it. He married Mary Smith, who was born in Western Pennsylvania. The execution of Lord Wil- liam Russell of England drove the Russell family out of England to the American colonies, and mem- bers of it settled in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, from whence they spread to different portions of the country. Miss Elizabeth Russell, a sister of the mother of Mr. Chapman, was a mis- sionary under the mission board of the Methodist Episcopal Church to Japan, where she spent forty- five years. It was she who founded the woman's college at Nagasaki, known as Kwassui Jo Gaekko. This lady gained and held the respect and esteem of all classes, and when she left Japan in the fall of 1919, was decorated by the Japanese emperor for distinguished service in the field of education, a most remarkable honor.

A man of scholarly attainments, Reverend Chap- man also possesses other characteristics which enable him to reach the understanding of his people di- rectly and surely, and to stimulate them to whole- hearted endeavor. He is a nobly gifted man, sin- cere and unselfish, patriotic and courageous and possesses a striking personality, general ability and a working knowledge of human nature and the mo- tives which control men and their actions, so that there is little wonder that he has risen to the place in his church and community to which his talents entitle him.

JUDGE SYDNEY SANNER, former associate justice of the Supreme Court of Montana, now one of the most distinguished members of the legal profession, has long been noted for his brilliant intellectual qualities, fine discriminating ability and a sensitive conscience. He is now conducting a large and im- portant law practice as a member of the firm of Templeman & Sanner, one of the strongest com- binations not only of Butte, but of the entire state.

Judge Sanner was born in Maryland on October 16, 1872, a son of James B. and Maria (Beetly) San- ner, natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. On both sides of the house the forebears were of Revolutionary stock, but when the disputes between the North and the South culminated in war, James B. Sanner, like many of his associates in Maryland, took the side of the South and gave expression to his belief by enlisting in the Confederate army.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

The supporters of the "Lost Cause" returned home after the close of the war broken in fortune, and Sydney Sanner, coming into the world during the difficult reconstruction period, was thrown upon his own resources when still a child. Until he was fifteen years old his education was entirely self- directed, but at that age he reached Helena, Mon- tana, and began to work his way through high school. His efforts proved successful, and he was graduated from the Helena High School in 1892. In the meanwhile he had given all of his spare time to the study of law and after completing his high school course he continued his legal studies under the preceptorship of Judge Henry C. Smith, of Helena, to such good purpose that he was admitted to the bar in 1894.

For two years after his admission to the bar Judge Sanner was engaged in a general practice at Helena, and then went to Big Timber, Montana, where he continued in practice for four years. He then moved to Miles City and formed a partnership with Judge George R. Milburn, which association continued until it was dissolved by mutual consent. Judge Sanner thereafter continued alone, building up a large and valuable clientele in the eastern sec- tion of the state. From 1903 until 1907 he served as a member of the Custer County high school board, and in 1908 was appointed to represent the First Ward of Miles City in the city council. During. that same year he was elected judge of the Seventh Judicial District, taking his place on the bench in 1909. During his incumbency Judge Sanner dis- played the sound judgment, the intellectual honesty and freedom from bias so necessary in a jurist, and his judgments were recognized as being so accurate that when he was placed on the democratic ticket for the high office of associate justice of the Supreme Court of Montana, his fellow citizens, irrespective of party lines, gave him handsome support and elected him on November 5, 1912. The nomination came to him entirely unsolicited, and was the ex- pression of his party's confidence in him and his capabilities.

A Miles City journal had the following reference to Judge Sanner's election :

"The election of Judge Sanner to the Supreme Bench will mean the loss to this community of one of the brightest legal minds in this section of the state. Regardless of party lines, local people will be glad to know of the honor which has come to the Miles City man, and they believe that he will estab- lish the same record for probity, fairness and effi- ciency in the Supreme Court that he has in the District Court since assuming his judicial office here.

"Judge Sanner has been a conspicuous and in- fluential force, not alone in the legal profession, but as a leading citizen, interested in the important public movements of the day, and it is but natural that he should have the esteem of the people in the communities in which he has lived, and the sincere . friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances."

Some conception of his work on the Supreme Bench may be gathered from the many opinions written by Judge Sanner, and the quality of that work may be gauged by the more notable of these opinions in Scott v. Waggoner, 48 Montana 541 ; Pittsmont Copper Company v. O'Rourke, 49 Mon- tana 288; Colbert's Estate, 51 Montana 462; Hill v. Rae, 52 Montana 378; Empire Theatre Company v. Cloke, 53 Montana 187; State v. Weinrich et al., 54 Montana 391; State v. Stewart, 54 Montana 506. These decisions have reached the dignity of na- tional authority.

Like millions of other Americans when this country

entered the World war, Judge Sanner tendered his services to his Government, and in October, 1918, he resigned his distinguished office to enter the United States army. He was placed in the Judge Advocate General's Department with the rank of major, receiving promotion on April 23, 1919, to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was honorably discharged with that rank. While in the service he was chief of the special board of review, created to re-examine records in court martial proceedings, and he was also a member of the general board of review charged with the duty of formally reviewing all cases of private soldiers convicted of violations of the Civil and Military law. Of his service in the army his commanding officer had this to say:

"I cannot see you go without expressing to you my deep personal appreciation of the splendid work you have done while on duty in this office. Your pro- found knowledge of the law, accurate judgment and strong common sense have combined to make you an invaluable member of the Board of Review of the Military Justice Division, the work of which has been of the most arduous, difficult and important character. I shall miss your wise counsel more than I can say."

After being mustered out of the service Judge Sanner returned to Montana and resumed the prac- tice of his profession at Butte. The firm of Templc- man & Sanner has offices in the Miner Building.

Judge Sanner was married in 1901 to Miss Kirtlye Hill, a daughter of W. D. and Lucy A. (Russell) Hill. Mr. Hill was a stockraiser and ranchman, but is now deceased. Mrs. Hill survives him and lives at Miles City, Montana. Judge and Mrs. Sanner have one daughter, Lucy Beetly, who is attending the Butte High School. Fraternally Judge Sanner be- longs to Yellowstone Lodge No. 26, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Miles City Lodge No. 537, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Montana State Bar Asso- ciation and of the American Legion.

Judge Sanner takes rank with the foremost orators of the state. He is a persistent student who has made himself a man of large learning and broad views. His vision is always forward. Responsive to the popular will, he has nevertheless been honest with himself and true to his settled convictions of duty. In every capacity his service has been loyal, faithful and fearless.

HAROLD GORDON GAINOR. A young man of sterling ability and worth, Harold Gordon Gainor, manager of the Walkerville Market, located at 27 West Daly Street, is distinguished not only as a native born citizen, but from the honored ancestry from which he is descended, being of substantial New England stock on both the paternal and maternal side of the house. A son of Louis T. Gainor, his birth occurred September 17, 1894, and with the ex- ception of the time during the World war that he was in the United States service has resided in Walkerville.

Born in 1860, in Maine, Louis T. Gainor received his education in his native state, and continued a resident of New England until after attaining his majority. Coming to Montana in 1883, he spent a brief time in Butte, from there coming during the same year to Walkerville, and establishing himself as the pioneer butcher of this suburb of Butte. He was at first associated with the firm of Bielenburg & Gurman, and later became junior member of the firm of Bielenburg & Gainor. The firm being dis- solved in 1918 he became sole proprietor of the large business which is now being carried on at 27 West Daly Street under the name of the Walkerville

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

Market, the leading meat market of the city. He has also been a member for the past thirty years of the Butte Butchering Company, of which he is now secretary and treasurer, its abattoirs being situated at the south end of Montana Street, Butte, and he is likewise secretary and treasurer of the Metropolitan Meat Company.

Public-spirited, progressive and intensely inter- ested in the establishment of all beneficial enter- prises, Louis T. Gainor was a stockholder in the Butte Independent Telephone Company, and from 1900 until 1902 held an interest in the Walkerville Drug Company. In 1900 and 1901 he served as mayor of Walkerville, and from 1911 until 1914, in- clusive, was a member of the local school board. Interested in the advancement of the prosperity of both Walkerville and Butte, he is numbered among the foremost business men of both cities. He is a republican in politics, and a member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 23, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Walkerville, and of Walkerville Camp No. 6422, Modern Woodmen of America.

Louis T. Gainor married Julia Hevey, who was born in 1871 in Vermont, and into the household thus established three children have made their ad- vent, as follows: Harold Gordon, the subject of this sketch; Hazel, wife of Elmer Duhame, a butcher for the Walkerville Market, residing at 849 West Broadway; and Virginia, born July 24, 1905, now a freshman in the Butte High School, is noted for hier brilliant scholarship.

Having acquired his elementary education in the Walkerville public schools, Harold G. Gainor entered the Butte High School, where he remained a student until completing half the course of study in the senior year. Then, at the age of eighteen years, he learned the butcher's trade with his father, with whom he has since been associated, at the present time holding a position of responsibility and trust as manager of the Walkerville Meat Market.

On July 13, 1017, Mr. Gainor voluntarily enlisted for service in the World war at Seattle, Washington, and during the following five months was with the United States Naval Reserve Corps at the University of Washington Camp on Lake Union. He then served for two months as fireman on the United States Steamship Great Northern, and the next month filled a similar position on the United States Steamship Maine. Being then transferred to the United State's Steamship Roanoke. he was made second class cook for fifteen months, having charge of the ice boxes and butcher's shop. During the time he was on the sea Mr. Gainor sailed all around the north coast of Scotland, and along the western coast of Norway, going 150 or more miles north of Bergen, near the "Land of the Midnight Sun." He was with the fleet that laid the mine in the North Sea, in his marine travels having experiences that are indelibly impressed upon his mind. On May 12, 1919, he dis- embarked at Newport News, Virginia, and on May 28, 1919, was mustered out at Bremerton, Wash- ington, but he is still a member of the United States Naval Reserve force, being on inactive duty. Re- turning to Walkerville, Mr. Gainor worked for the Schrock-Nelson Packing Company until September 17, 1919, when he assumed the management of the Walkerville Market, a position he is filling with characteristic ability.

Mr. Gainor married, in December, 1915, at Ana- conda, Montana, Miss Charlotte Collins, daughter of J. P. and Olive (Reese) Collins, who now reside at 1050 West Galena Street, Butte, where Mr. Collins, now a stationary engineer, was a pioneer settler.

ED MATHEWS. A broad-minded, public spirited citizen of Walkerville, a suburb of Butte, Ed

Mathews, now serving as mayor of. the city, has long been associated with the higher and better in- terests of this section of Montana, advocating and working for those enterprises that will be of lasting good to the people therein. He was born January 14, 1865, in Rockland, Michigan, where he was brought up and educated.

His father, John Mathews, was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1836, and as a boy came with his parents to this country, locating in Rockland, Michi- gan. Beginning work for himself as a miner, he remained in Rockland until 1887, when he came to Montana to pursue his chosen occupation in the mining fields of Butte.' Returning to Michigan in 1895, he continued his residence in Rockland until his death in 1899. He was a trustworthy citizen, and an adherent of the democratic party. His wife, whose name before marriage was Winifred English, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1838, and died in Walkerville, Montana, in 1890. There were eight children born into their household, as follows: John, a miner by occupation, died in Walkerville, Montana, December 19, 1889, aged twenty-nine years ; Anthony, a miner and business man of Butte, died in Butte in 1900; Patrick, also a miner, died in Calumet, Michigan, aged forty-five years; Ed, the special subject of this brief biographical review ; Mary, wife of Tom Mennie, a millwright in Detroit, Michigan; William, who owned and operated a meat market in Butte, died in that city at the compara- tively early age of forty years; George, whose death occurred at the age of thirty-three years in Butte, served on the police force of that city for six years ; and Agnes, unmarried, lives in Chicago.

Completing his studies in his native town, Ed Mathews, anxious to try the hazards of new for- tunes, came to Butte, Montana, in 1884, and engaged in mining in this vicinity until 1806, his home being in Walkerville from that time until the present, since .1893 having occupied the house at 10I Dunn Avenue. where he is enjoying all the comforts of life and very many of its luxuries. An influential member of the democratic party, and a highly respected and popular citizen, Mr. Mathews was elected county commissioner of Silver Bow County in 1896, and served in that capacity four years. In 1901 he opened a café in Butte, and after operating it successfully for eight years transferred his business in 1909 to Walkerville, locating at 3 West Daly Street, where he has established a well patronized café, which he is managing with great success.

Mr. Mathews has served as alderman from the Walkerville Third Ward four terms, and in April, 1919, had the honor of being elected mayor of the city for a term of two years. Possessing excellent business foresight and ability, Mr. Mathews has ac- quired considerable property. Fraternally he is a member of Butte Aerie No. II, Fraternal Order of Eagles.

In 1893, in Walkerville, Mr. Mathews was united · in marriage with Olivia, daughter of Jerry and Mar- garet (Holland) Murphy, who settled in Butte in 1879, in pioneer days, and there spent the remainder of their lives, the father having been a miner. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mathews, namely: Frank, who died at the age of twenty-two years, on January 24, 1919, enlisted for service in the World war in 1917, was sent as bugler to Camp Lewis, where he was mustered out De- cember 12, 1918: Pearl, born January 6, 1899, com- pleted the course of study in the Butte High School. and after her graduation from the State Normal College in Dillon accepted the position of teacher in the Blaine School at Butte; and Edward, born in 1901, was graduated from the Butte Business Col-

Victor Siegels

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

lege, and is now time keeper for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company.

VICTOR SIEGEL, superintendent of the Columbia Gardens, founded by Senator William A. Clark, is one of the representative men of Butte, and one who is held in the highest respect. He was born at Dresden, Saxony, Germany, on May 10, 1867, a son of Adolph Siegel, and grandson of Adolph Siegel, the latter being a manufacturer of textiles upon an extensive scale. Adolph Siegel, the younger, was born near Dresden, Saxony, Germany, in 1834, and he died at Dresden in 1880, having spent his entire life in that vicinity, and there developed into a manufacturer of lumber and pulp, and later became a merchant. He was a Mason and Lutheran, and a most excellent man. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Minnie Gunther, was born at Dresden in 1841 and died there in 1877. Their children were as follows: Clara, who is the wiodw of a Mr. Andreas a cattle buyer and butcher, lives at Leipsig, Germany; Otto, who died at the age of forty-three years at Missoula, Montana, was engaged in the hotel business in that city, to which he had come in 1885, being one of the pioneers of Montana; Oscar, who is foreman of large iron works at San Francisco, California; Victor, who was the fourth in order of birth; Lizzie, who married Charles Heck- ler, a retired hotel proprietor of Missoula, Montana ; Walter, who came to Montana in 1888, was a pioneer butcher of Missoula where he died in 1914; and Jennie, who married Albert Nuhshag, is a bank of- ficial of Strassburg, France.

Victor Siegel was educated in the public and Real schools of Dresden, receiving the equivalent of our high school course, and learned the trade of a florist and landscape gardener, and then in 1890 came to the United States. After a short period spent in San Francisco, California, he came to Butte, Montana, reaching this city on October 25, 1890. He first worked as an engineer in the old Centen- nial Brewery, but after a year there went with the Old Germania Mine, where he spent two years. Mr. Siegel then began work at his calling in the employ of Mrs. Jessie Knox, who owned the first green- house in the State of Montana, and remained with her for three years. Mr. Siegel then homesteaded 160 acres of land in the vicinity of Missoula, but later sold it, and went into the ice business in that city !. In 1899 he became connected with the Columbia Gardens, which were then being developed, as a foreman of construction, and two years later was made superintendent of them, and has since then held this responsible position and maintains his re- sidence in the park. He is a republican, a Lutheran and belongs to Silver Bow Lodge No. 48, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Montana Florists Association, which he is now serving as president.

In 1896 Mr. Siegel was married to Miss Helena Leck at Missoula, Montana, who was born near Bremen, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Siegel have one son, Victor, who was born on February 20, 1910.

The Columbia Gardens are located three miles east of Butte, at the foot of the Continental Divide, the beauty spot of Montana, and cover eighty-five acres. The beauty, splendid arrangement and costly proportions of these gardens staged amidst a vast horticultural display, make them a veritable dream of loveliness. Something like twenty or more years ago the site now occupied by these gardens was a patch of wild wood and bramble, with a few tumbledown buildings and a dance-hall. Butte needed a park, a place of recreation for the public and Senator W. A. Clark, recognizing this fact, looked about him for a proper location and found it, possessing a broad enough vision to recognize the natural possi-

bilities of the spot he selected. An immense amount of money has been expended on these gardens and at least $50,000 are spent annually in their main- tenance. Special attention has been paid to the pro- vision of attractions for the children, including the installing of roller-coasters, merry-go-rounds and a score or more of entertaining devices to keep them amused.

The landscape gardens, the work of Mr. Siegel, are a wonderful achievement. Emerging from the intricacies of cottonwoods, quaking asps, birch, aslı and kindred trees, one's view is met by a series of beds of luxuriant flowers, caressed by the clinging fingers of vines. Particularly noticeable is the ar- tistic way in which the gardener has fashioned the varicolored beds. Precision of detail and a fine sense of the really artistic, speak forth from the cheerful faces of the millions of pansies. These are a most remarkable feature of the gardens, where millions of plants vie with each other for supremacy in the eyes of those beholding their beauty. Any florist could well envy the beautiful pansy beds, as they are unequalled in size or color any place.

The whole garden landscape seems as if nature had spread a huge green rug upon the surface and flecked it with floral dots.

The great picnic grove is one spot in the gardens which the families of Butte and its vicinity claim as their own, and the management accords them all the privileges of the place. Here on summer days and evenings are to be found whole families enjoy- ing nature in the rough. It is Butte's outing place, and without it the gardens would be merely a beau- tiful spot, made so by artificial means and improve- ments. It is the custom of families to go out there with their hampers and enjoy their dinners on the grass. Rustic seats are everywhere, and water gurgles through sanitary spouts placed here ' and there for the convenience of visitors. Streams of clear water course down the grass-fringed water- ways and sing a sweet melody under the spreading branches of the trees and underbrush. To sit for an hour in this grove is better than a draught of the most approved drug tonic on the market.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 155

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