Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 159

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 1126

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Mr. Brown is the owner of a modern residence at 321 Yellowstone Avenue, a dwelling at 308 N. Lewis Avenue, farms in the Crow Indian Reservation, and 160 acres of valuable land near Billings. His political faith causes him to support the republican party. Mr. Brown is prominent in fraternal affairs, being a member of Libanus Lodge No. 154. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Monticello, Indiana ; Billings Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; Aldemar Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar; Billings Consistory, thirty-second degree : and Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Helena ; and of Monticello Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He also be- longs to the Spanish-American War Veterans and the Billings Midland Club, and he and Mrs. Brown hold membership in the Congregational Church.

Mr. Brown was married June 1, 1910, at Indianap-

olis, Indiana, to Miss Helen Norris, a graduate of the Shortridge High School of Indianapolis, and subsequently a student at Indiana University. She is a daughter of James C. and Carrie (Vawter) Nor- ris, the former of whom was engaged in the whole- sale millinery business at Indianapolis up to the time of his death. Mrs. Norris still survives and is a resident of that city. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown; Edmund Vawter, born April 19, 1914, and Elizabeth Ann, born March 13, 1918, both at Billings.

GEORGE H. ASSELSTINE. The true Western spirit of progress and enterprise is strikingly exemplified in the lives of such men as George H. Asselstine, one of Great Falls honored citizens, whose energetic nature and laudable ambition have enabled him to conquer many adverse circumstances and advance steadily. He has met and overcome obstacles that would have discouraged many men of less deter- mination and won for himself not only a comfortable competency, but also a prominent place among the enterprising men of this section of the great Treas- ure State. Such a man is a credit to any community, and his life forcibly illustrates what energy and con- secutive effort can accomplish when directed and controlled by correct principles and high moral re- solves, and no man is worthier of conspicuous men- tion in a volume of the province of the one at hand.

George H. Asselstine was born in Kingston, On- tario, Canada, on April 16, 1875, and is the eldest of the three children born to his parents, Henry and Hattie (Bliss) Asselstine. The father, who was born June 7, 1837, died May 28, 1920, at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, died at the age of twenty-nine years. Henry Asselstine was first a carpenter by trade, and subsequently became a railroad contractor, hav- ing constructed all the bridges on the Northern Pacific Railroad from the North Dakota state line to Missoula, Montana, and did other extensive railroad construction work in the latter state. He retired from active business when abont sixty years of age.

George H. Asselstine began the serious program of life at an early age, for when only nine years old he engaged in selling newspapers on the streets of Chicago. When eleven years of age he obtained employment in a book store, at twenty-five cents a day, but subsequently he again sold newspapers and shined shoes. In 1890 Mr. Asselstine came to Great Falls and obtained employment as a clerk in Strain Brothers' general store, at what then seemed to him the big salary of ten dollars a month. However, to Mr. Asselstine the size of the salary was not the big thing. He was looking ahead, and here he found the opportunity for which he had been looking, for here he gained experience of the best kind, and so well did he avail himself of his opportunities and so efficient did he prove himself in every position in which he was placed that he was promoted from time to time until eventually he became manager of the store. He remained identified with that store for nearly twenty-seven years, enjoying during that period the fullest measure of confidence on the part of his employers and the good will of the patrons of the store. After severing his connection with Strain Brothers, Mr. Asselstine engaged in the wholesale fruit and produce business, under the firm name of Devine & Asselstine. Success attended the enterprise from the beginning, and now this firm is the leading concern in its line in this section of the state. They handle oranges, lemons, strawberries in season and all other fruits and produce for which there is a local demand in carload lots and distribute to practically this entire district.

Geo. 78. asselstore,

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

On the 30th of Angust, 1905, Mr. Asselstine was married to Nell Short, who was born in Kansas, and they are the parents of two children, Ruth and George H., Jr.

Politically Mr. Asselstine is a stanch supporter of the republican party and his fraternal relations are with Great Falls Lodge No. 214, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Commercial Club and the Employers' Association. In every relation of life Mr. Asselstine has per- formed his full duty and because of his faithfulness and integrity, as well as his perseverance and indus- try, he has richly earned the high standing which he now enjoys, his friends being in number as his ac- quaintances.

THOMAS MATTHEWS, M. D. Some one has aptly said, "He serves the Master best who serves humanity most." There is no class to whom we owe more gratitude than the self-sacrificing, self- denying, noble-minded men whose life work is the alleviation of suffering and the ministering of com- fort to the afflicted, to the end that the span of human existence may be lengthened and a greater degree of satisfaction enjoyed during the remainder of their sojourn. Among the physicians and sur- geons of Western Montana who are proficient in their chosen calling and are conscientious workers in the sphere to which their life energies are de- voted, the name of Dr. Thomas Matthews, of St. Ignatius, who, while yet comparatively young in years, has shown a profound knowledge of his profession.

Thomas Matthews was born at Calumet, Michi- gan, on December 5, 1881, and is a son of John R. and Martha (Moreshead) Matthews. John R. Mat- thews was born in England in 1847 and died at Calumet, Michigan, in 1892. He came to the United States in young manhood and settled in Calumet, Michigan, where he at length became a foreman in the mines. He was a republican in his political views. His wife also was a native of England, born in 1849, and her death occurred in Los An- geles, California, in 1914. The children born to this worthy couple were as follows: John, who died at Calumet at the age of twenty-one years ; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Alfred James, chief mining inspector for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company at Calumet; William, who is a paymaster in the mines at Calumet; Anna, who is the wife of Amos Snyder, who is manager of one of the de- partments in a big store in Los Angeles, California ; Rhoda is unmarried and lives in Los Angeles ; Thomas is the immediate subject of this sketch.

Thomas Matthews received his elemental educa- tion in the public schools of Calumet, and then was a student in Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, Michi- gan, where he was graduated in 1906. Having de- cided to make the practice of medicine his life work, Mr. Matthews then matriculated in the med- ical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in 1910 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then became interne in the Northern Pacific Hospital at Mis- soula, where he remained one year, but in 1911 he came to St. Ignatius, where he has since re- mained, engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery. Doctor Matthews is also surgeon at the St. Julian Hospital at St. Ignatius. Doctor Matthews has built up a large and lucrative prac- tice, being numbered among the representative cit- izens of this locality, and known as an able, reliable and progressive physician. He is esteemed for these commendable traits, together with his cordial dis- position and genuine worth, and, although he has been more or less active in various relations with his fellow men, his name stands out more prom-

inently in connection with the medical profession, in which he is a prominent figure.

Politically Doctor Matthews gives his support to the democratic party. He is a member of the Mis- soula County Medical Society, the Montana State Medical Society and the American Medical Associa- tion. He owns a modern and conveniently arranged residence in St. Ignatius, and is also the owner of a splendid ranch located about 11/2 miles north of St. Ignatius.

EDWARD O. SISSON, who from 1917 to July, 1921, was president of the State University of Montana, has had an exceptional experience in educational affairs during the past thirty years.

Mr. Sisson was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Eng- land, May 24, 1869, and came to the United States in 1882. His father, George Sisson, was born at Lanchester, England, in 1828, and though he also came to America in 1882 and lived for two years in Kansas, the rest of his life was spent in Eng- land.

Edward O. Sisson received his early schooling in the Royal Grammar School at Morpeth, England. In 1882 he entered the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan, graduating with the degree Bachelor of Science in 1886. The following five years he taught, two years in rural schools, two years in the Manhattan High School, and one year as superintendent of schools at Mound City, Kan- sas. In the fall of 1892 he enrolled as one of the first students of the University of Chicago, and graduated with its first class in 1893, with the A. B. degree. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity. In 1892 Mr. Sisson founded the South Side Academy, which became one of the best preparatory schools in Chicago. He remained as its principal until 1897, and at the same time carried on post-graduate work in psychology and philosophy at the University of Chicago.

In 1897 Mr. Sisson became director of the Bradley Polytechnic Institute at Peoria, remaining in charge until 1904. During 1903 Mr. Sisson spent some months abroad in Germany on a leave of absence, doing special work in the University of Berlin and making a study of the German school system. In 1904 he entered Harvard University, and received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1905. His thesis was "The Protestant Religious Instruction in the Prussian Schools."

During 1905-06 Doctor Sisson was assistant pro- fessor of education at the University of Illinois. and in 1906 came to the Northwest as head of the Department of Education at the University of Washington. He remained there until 1912, and during 1912-13 was head of the Department of Edu- cation of Reed College in Portland. From 1913 to 1917 he was commissioner of education for the State of Idaho, and in the latter year entered upon his duties as president of the State University of Montana.

Doctor Sisson has served as a member of the Advisory Council to the Simplified Spelling Board; the Revision Committee on Secondary Education of the National Education Association ; is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the College Teachers of Education; and the Religious Educational Association. He is also a member of the Montana State Educational Asso- ciation and is president of the Inland Empire Teach- ers' Association. He is author of "The Essentials of Character," published in 1910, and is joint author of The Social Emergency, published in 1913, and Principles of Secondary Education, published in 1914. He has also published many articles in educa- tional journals. For a number of years he has been a popular speaker on educational and other

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

subjects. At Missoula he is a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and other local organizations. In the year 1917 he entered upon his duties as president of the State University of Montana, his resignation of that office taking effect in 1921.

November 29, 1899, at Lawn Ridge, Illinois, Doctor Sisson married Miss Nellie Stowell, daughter of Calvin and Priscilla (Greenhalgh) Stowell. Her mother resides in Los Angeles. Her father was an Illinois farmer and died at Boise, Idaho, in 1917. Mrs. Sisson is a graduate of the Art De- partment of Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, and also pursued the study of art in Berlin. Doctor and Mrs. Sisson have two children: Margaret, born February 19, 1908; and Calvin Richard, born July 12, 1910.

PRESTON R. FELKER is superintendent of schools at Superior, Montana. He is a graduate of the University of Montana and has made school work his profession and was superintendent of schools in Dakota before he came to Montana.

Mr. Felker was born at Meriden in Jefferson County, Kansas, December 15, 1887. His paternal ancestors were Holland Dutch and were colonial settlers in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Jacob Felker, was born in Pennsylvania in 1823 and spent his life as a farmer in his native state and near Martinsburg, West Virginia, where he died. He was a Union soldier in the Civil war. C. H. Felker, father of the superintendent of public schools at Superior, was born at Pennsylvania in 1854 and was reared at Hagerstown, Maryland, and Martins- burg, West Virginia. After his marriage in Illinois he moved to Jefferson County, Kansas, where he developed a farm, and since 1890 has lived in Jack- son County, Kansas. He is now a retired resident of Hoyt in that county. He is a republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. C. H. Felker married Agnes V. Fairchild, who was born at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1856. Of their five children Preston R. is the youngest. Mabel, the oldest, is the wife of A. B. McCoy, a resident of Meriden, Kansas; Horace W. lives on the old home- stead in Kansas; Florence is the wife of Charles Diehl, a funeral director at Emporia, Kansas; and Calvin died in infancy.

Preston R. Felker attended the rural schools of Jackson County, Kansas, and graduated in 1912 from the State Normal College at Emporia. The following two years he was superintendent of schools at Emarado, North Dakota, and spent three years in a similar capacity at Egeland, that state. One year of residence, 1917-18, at the University of Montana in Missoula gave him the A. B. degree, and in the fall of 1918 he came to his present duties as superintendent of schools at Superior. Mr. Fel- ker has the local school system thoroughly well or- ganized, with seven teachers constituting his staff and an enrollment of 125 pupils. Mr. Felker is also owner of a farm three miles south of Superior.

He is a member of the Montana State and the Inland Empire Teachers' Association, is an inde- pendent voter, a member of the Baptist Church, and is affiliated with Mountain Lodge No. 110, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Superior, Western Sun Chapter No. 11, Royal Arch Masons, at Mis- soula, and Coral Chapter No. 70 of the Eastern Star at Alberton.

August 14, 1912, at Rossville, Kansas, he married Miss Jessie Doud, daughter of E. S. and Rose (Stamp) Doud, her mother still a resident of Ross- ville. Her father, who died in 1909, was a Union soldier and for many years a mail carrier and pen- sioner. Mrs. Felker is a graduate of the Rossville High School, also attended the Kansas State Nor-

mal College at Emporia and the State University of Montana, and as a teacher spent three years in the rural schools of Wabaunsee County, Kansas, two years in the grade schools of Ogden, Kansas, and one year at St. George, Kansas. Mrs. Felker's brother, Eventus S. Doud, was in the first draft, standing fourth on the roll, and was sent overseas in June, 1918. He was among the American sol- diers who gave up their lives in October, 1918, during the Argonne Forest battle. He was awarded a distinguished service medal.

FRANK B. CAMPBELL. One of the worthy native sons of the thriving city of Missoula is Frank B. Campbell, secretary and treasurer of the Independ- ent Oil Company of that city. He is easily the peer of any of his fellows in the qualities that con- stitute correct manhood and good citizenship. He possesses not only those powers that render men efficient in the material affairs of the community, but also the gentler traits that mark genial and helpful social intercourse. In his daily affairs he manifests a generous regard for his fellows, and he therefore commands the good will of the people of the southwestern part of the state, where he has spent his life.

The Campbell family from which the subject of this sketch is descended is probably originally of Scotch origin, though the family eventually became located in Ireland, whence the subject's great-grand- father immigrated to the United States, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he spent the re- mainder of his life and died. Among his children was Bartley Campbell, who was born and spent his entire life at Pittsburgh. He was a contractor and builder by vocation and was a veteran of the Civil war. He married Bridget Lavey, a native of County Clare, Ireland, and to them was born Hugh B. Campbell, father of the subject of this review. Hugh B. Campbell was born in 1868 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Montana in 1876. They finally settled in Missoula, and here he was reared and educated. For twenty years he was successfully engaged in the transfer business, and then, from 1907 to 1909, he served as sheriff of Missoula County, to which office he had been elected on the democratic ticket. Upon the expiration of his official term, Mr. Camp- bell bought from Mentrum & Briggs the Western Montana Electric Company, which he owned and operated up to 1914. In the following year he es- tablished the Independent Oil Company, of which he is still the owner and which is now incorporated. The company does a wholesale oil business, sup- plying the trade of Missoula and the neighboring country. The Independent is one of the leading oil companies of Western Montana and is enjoying a well deserved prosperity. The officers of the company are as follows: President, Hugh B. Camp- bell; vice president, Hugh Campbell, Jr .; and secre- tary and treasurer, Frank B. Campbell.

Politically Mr. Campbell is a stanch supporter of the democratic party, in the ranks of which he has been an active worker for many years, and he served as a member of the city board of aldermen for fourteen years. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, of Hell Gate. Lodge No. 383, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Missoula Chamber of Commerce. Hugh B. Campbell was married to Mary Kelley, of Provi- dence, Rhode Island, where her birth occurred in 1872. To them have been born the following chil- dren: Frank B., the immediate subject of this re- view; Hugh, Jr., who is now a student in the Mon- tana State University, at Missoula, and who is a senior member of the Iota Nu Greek-letter college

S. S. Hobeen

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

fraternity ; Ursula is a graduate of the Sacred Heart Academy at Missoula, and is now teaching at the Target Range School in Missoula County; May is a student at Sacred Heart Academy; and Charles H. attends St. Joseph's Academy.

Frank B. Campbell, who was born at Missoula on July 8, 1892, was reared at home and secured a good elementary education in the public schools of Missoula, graduating from the high school. He then became a student in Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, Indiana, where he was graduated in 1914, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. The following year he became actively identified with the Independent Oil Company, which was. at that time organized by his father, and he has since de- voted himself to that company.

Politically Mr. Campbell is an independent dem- ocrat, and his religious connection is with the Roman Catholic Church. Fraternally he is a member of Missoula Council No. 1021, Knights of Columbus, and of Hell Gate Lodge No. 383, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

In September, 1916, at Sioux City, Iowa, Mr. Campbell was married to Helen Coen, daughter of M. J. and Naomi (Weber) Coen, of Spokane, Wash- ington, where Mr. Coen is manager of the Crescent store. Mrs. Campbell is a graduate of St. Mary's Academy and of Notre Dame University at Notre Dame, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are the parents of one child, Frank, Jr., born on September 16, 1917.

Mr. Campbell has succeeded in his work because he has labored earnestly and honestly, doing well whatever he has undertaken and keeping himself well posted on the trend of the times in material, civic and moral evolution. His conduct has been such as to inspire the confidence and respect of his fellow men.

SIMEON S. HOBSON. The best title one can estab- lish in the high and generous esteem of an intelligent community is a protracted and honorable residence therein. Simeon S. Hobson, one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Central Mon- tana, has resided here for many years and his career has been a most commendable one in every respect, well deserving of being perpetuated on the pages of an historical work of the nature of the one in hand. He has been a man of well defined purpose and has never failed to carry to successful comple- tion any enterprise to which he has addressed him- self. Coming to Montana when it was a compara- tively new country and under many unfavorable auspices, but knowing that the country was destined to take a very high rank in the productive localities of the North, he applied himself closely to his work and waited for the future to bring its rewards, so that today he is one of the substantial and influential men of the locality.

Simeon S. Hobson was born in York County, Maine, on the 29th of April, 1839, and is the son of Enoch and Nancy (Strout) Hobson, both of whom were also natives of the State of Maine. They are both deceased, the father dying at the age of seventy- five years, and the mother when sixty-five years of age. Of their eight children, the subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth and is also the only survivor. Enoch Hobson devoted his entire active life to agricultural pursuits. He was a faith- ful member of the Free-will Baptist Church and in politics was an old-line whig.

Simeon S. Hobson received his educational train- ing in the district schools of his home community and in Limerick Academy. When but fifteen years of age he obtained employment às clerk in a general

store for one year, for which he received his board and forty dollars. For his second year's service he received his board and one hundred and twenty-five dollars. In 1865 Mr. Hobson went to Davenport, Iowa, and obtained employment with W. C. Words- worth & Company, a wholesale dry goods firm. Starting in as an inside man, he soon afterward be- came a traveling salesman for the company, and eventually acquired an interest in the business, with which he was connected up to 1879. In the spring of the following year Mr. Hobson went west as far as Ogden, Utah, thence by rail to the end of the narrow-gauge railroad in Idaho, thence by stage to Helena, Montana. Here he engaged in the cattle business, being one of the pioneers in that business in the Judith Basin. He had many herds of cattle in the mountain ranges and in North Dakota. He also gave considerable attention to the raising of sheep in Fergus County. He had altogether many thousands of both kinds of animals, in the handling of which he was very successful. During this same period he was also interested in farming. He con- tinued the stock business over twenty-five years, but of late he has cut down the cattle and sheep herds to a comparatively small size, and has turned his attention to the raising of wheat, having put out 7,000 acres to wheat in 1918 in Fergus, Cascade and Teton counties. Because of the drought in that year he did not get his seed back in the next crop, but, nothing daunted, he repeated the same planting the following season. Again the weather conditions were unfavorable and the results were the same, but Mr. Hobson feels that the tide is bound to turn in his favor, so does not feel discouraged with his experi- ence so far as a wheat raiser. Mr. Hobson has taken a keen interest in the general development of the communities where he has been interested in a business way, and has contributed in various ways to the development of the country. He was the organizer of the Fergus County Bank at Lewistown and was president of that institution for twenty-two years. He has been eminently public spirited in his attitude on the vital questions of the day and ren- dered appreciated service as a member of the State Constitutional Convention. He also served as a state senator from the Twelfth (Lewistown) Dis- trict in the sixth session. Mr. Hobson usually spends the rigorous months of mid-winter in Cali- fornia and expects hereafter to spend the mid-sum- mer months in Maine.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 159

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