Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 163

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

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Mr. Heilbronner has risen through his talents and efforts to the position in his community to which he is entitled because of his constructive achievements. He possesses in marked degree the characteristics of stability, power of concentration, personality,

general ability and a working knowledge of human nature which enable him to attain in full measure the popular heart and confidence, and in all of his undertakings reaches the understanding of the public directly and surely. In his business he dis- plays tact, courtesy, intelligence and sound judg- ment, while as a citizen he shows in every action that he possesses that broader sense of responsi- bility which urges him constantly to forward new measures for the improvement and expansion of Butte and Silver Bow County, and he is universally recognized as a useful and valued representative of the best interests of this region.

WILLIAM H. TAYLOR. Now living retired at Great Falls, William H. Taylor was on the ground when this now thriving city was a mere village, and for a quarter of a century had an active career as a rancher, miner, stock raiser and contractor.

Mr. Taylor, who before coming to Montana was a veteran English soldier, was born in Lancashire, England, March 22, 1860, a son of William and Ellen (Ellison) Taylor. His father was a farmer and died in England in 1866, at the age of thirty- seven. He was a member of the Church of Eng- land. Of his five children two died in infancy. His widow came to Montana in 1878, and was one of the early women to domicile in this territory. She came up the Missouri River as far as Fort Benton. For several years she was employed at Fort Benton while the Eighteenth United States Regulars were stationed there. In 1884 she moved to the present site of Great Falls and built one of the first homes in the town, on Second Avenue, South, and Third Street. Here she lived the rest of her life with her daughter, Mrs. Martha Jane Wright, and died in 1912, at the age of eighty.

William H. Taylor secured his early education in the schools of England and at the age of sixteen, on July 26, 1876, joined the British army in the Two Hundred and Seventy-third Manchester Regiment. He was in service for eight years, being honorably discharged on December 5, 1884. He saw a great deal of service in the British Empire and partici- pated in the bloody Egyptian campaign in 1882.

Mr. Taylor came to Great Falls, Montana, in 1887, and for some months was employed by the Sand Coulee Mining Company. In the spring of 1888 he went on a ranch for himself in Meagher County, but subsequently sold his preemption there. In 1891 he homesteaded and engaged in cattle rais- ing until July, 1903. He then returned to Great Falls and became a contractor for city sewer con- struction. In 1908 he and B. P. McNair bought the S. H. Ranch and Mr. Taylor had the active man- agement of this property until December, 1913, when he sold his interests and retired.

He is affiliated with Cascade Lodge No. 34, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons ; Great Falls Chap- ter, Royal Arch Masons; Black Eagle Commandery No. 9 of the Knights Templar, and in politics is a republican.

March 4, 1885, at Standish, England, he married Miss Ellen Simm, a native of Lancashire, England, and daughter of John and Mary (Pennington) Simm.

JOHN VALENTINE CARROLL, for many years a prac- ticing physician and Government surgeon at Fort Benton, now a resident of Great Falls, owns some of the largest stock and ranching interests in North- ern Montana. He is one of the principal owners and managers of the Benton Sheep Company and the Northwestern Livestock Company, which, to- gether own about twenty-five thousand acres of land

John Vilanul K.V.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

in Chouteau County. These companies have oper- ated on an extensive scale the sheep and cattle in- dustry for over a quarter of a century.

Doctor Carroll is an interesting example of the man of contemplative thought, of scholarly tastes, who has made a big success in practical business. As a young man he was attracted to the Northwestern frontier, and the fascination exercised by the coun- try is still strong and he is one of Montana's real enthusiasts.

He was born at New York City February 14, 1854, son of James and Mary B. (Welsh) Carroll. His parents were born in Ireland and were married in New York in 1853. His father came to this coun- try in 1840 and followed the trade of merchant tailor. He died in 1888, and his wife died in the same year. James Carroll was at one time an officer in the old Ninth New York Militia, which later be- came the Sixty-ninth. Its membership was almost entirely Irish, and during the visit of the Prince of Wales to this country the entire regiment was placed under arrest for refusing to parade in the Prince's honor.

John Valentine Carroll, who was the only one of five children to survive infancy, was educated in the public schools of New York, spent one year in Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Vir- ginia, a year at St. Francis Xavier University in New York, and in 1879, before completing his studies in the medical department of the University of New York, came to Montana. Though not qualified by degree for the practice of medicine, there was a great need for men of medical training in the new country, and by special permission of the secretary of war he found his time and energies thoroughly taken up by professional duties. In 1886 he re- turned East and received his degree in medicine from the University of New York, and during the following year was a member of the staff of the Asylum for the Insane.

Doctor Carroll then returned to Fort Assinniboine, where he had spent his earlier years in Montana, and on July 19, 1888, was appointed surgeon at Fort Belknap. He continued his work as a Government physician until September 24, 1895. Then, following a year of post-graduate work at the University of Michigan, he located at Fort Benton, and carried on a large private practice until 1908.

The community of Fort Benton owes much to the enterprise and enlightened judgment of Doctor Car- roll. He was a willing worker and frequently a leader in any movement directed to the attainment of some important community project. One instance was the building of an opera house greatly needed by the town, and he served as president of the com- pany. For a number of years he was identified with the Board of School Trustees, and as a man of university training succeeded in influencing much of the work of the board in the direction of better schools and improved standards. He also served as chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. Besides the business connections above noted Doctor . Carroll was president of the Benton Electric Light Company, was vice president of the Stockmens Na- tional Bank, and a member of the firm of Mee & Carroll, cattle ranchers.

At Fort Assinniboine, September 22, 1882, three years after he came to the territory, Doctor Carroll married Miss Martha Simpson, of St. Paul. Her father was a mining engineer. Four children have been born to their marriage. John V., Jr., born at Fort Assinniboine, May 2, 1884, completed his educa- tion in the Virginia Military Institute, the West Point of the South, receiving his diploma with the class of 1904. In 1913 Governor Stewart appointed him commissary general of Montana, with the rank

of major, after he had served two years as first lieutenant of Company M of the Montana Second Regiment of National Guard. The only daughter, Grace Mary Virginia Carroll, born at Fort Belknap February 2, 1890, is the wife of Charles W. Houck, of Great Falls. Charles Simpson Carroll, born June 7, 1895, at Fort Belknap, was educated in the Fort Benton High School, the U. S. Naval Academy, Eastman's Business College at Ponghkeepsie, New York, and served with the rank of second lieutenant in the Quartermaster's Corps during the World war. James Martin Carroll, the youngest, was born at Fort Benton June 27, 1899, and has abont com- pleted his work in the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

WASHINGTON J. McCORMICK, who came to Mon- tana in 1863, and was one of the founders and builders of the City of Missoula, died in 1889, but the memory of his character and achievements is still vital in the history of his home city. In recent years his son Washington J. McCormick has proved a worthy possessor of the honored name, being one of the able and brilliant young lawyers of the state.

The late Washington J. McCormick was born near Muncie in Delaware County, Indiana, in 1835- His grandfather, John McCormick, was a native of Virginia and a soldier of the Revolution. Other branches of the family in America included that to which McCormick of Harvester fame belongs, and James C. Blaine was also a descendant of a Mc- Cormick. Rev. William McCormick, father of W. J. McCormick, was a native of Virginia and a soldier of the War of 1812, a Baptist minister, and for many years followed his profession in Indiana, and was also honored with judicial office in that state.

Washington J. McCormick was a graduate of old Asbury, now DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar in 1856, at the age of twenty-one. He at once identified him- self with the great West, coming to Utah in 1857, and rose to distinction in the law and politics in that territory. He served as acting secretary of state, attorney general and chief justice of the Supreme Court of Utah. On coming to Montana in 1863, he lived in Virginia City and practiced law two years and was secretary of the first democratic conven- tion of the territory. He was one of the first Jaw- yers to be admitted to the bar in Montana. In 1864 he was chosen a member of the Territorial Legis- Jature, and in 1865 moved to Deer Lodge and was elected to the Legislature from that county. From . 1866 to 1868 he was superintendent of the Flathead Indian Agency, and in the latter year came to the present site of Missoula. Here he became asso- ciated with Captain Higgins and Hon. F. L. Wor- den in developing and planning those activities which constituted the groundwork of the new city. He was the founder and first editor of the Missoula Gazette, and was also extensively interested in mill- ing and stock raising. At four different times he represented Missoula County in the Legislature.

The late W. J. McCormick was distinguished not only for the services indicated above, but a broad versatility of talents and public spirit made him an invaluable ally in every undertaking in his com- munity. He was a gifted lawyer, wielded a great influence in politics, had fine literary tastes, and he needed no impetus of personal reward to work for benefits that would be distributed among the people at large. He was one of the local citizens of Missoula who did most to secure the building of the Northern Pacific Railroad through the town. Though not a Catholic, he gave the grounds in Mis- soula where the church, school and hospital stand.

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His death was due to injury received in a wind storm at Fort Owen. He had bought the property from Major John Owen in 1870. Fort Owen was the oldest fortification in Montana. Mr. McCormick died February 3, 1889.

In 1869 he married Miss Kate Higgins, daughter of Christopher P. and Edith (O'Byrne) Higgins and sister of the late Capt. C. P. Higgins of Mis- soula, an associate of Mr. McCormick in some of the pioneer enterprises of Missoula. The seven children of Mr. and Mrs. McCormick were all born at Missoula. Mary Edith O'Byrne, William Wor- den, John Francis Higgins, Blanche Ada Louise, Veronica Honore Hester, Paul Christopher and Washington J., Jr.

Washington J. McCormick, Jr., was born at Mis- soula, January 4, 1884, and was only five years of age when his honored father died. He was given every advantage of good home, environment and scholastic training. He attended the public schools of Missoula, the University of Montana, Notre Dame University in Indiana, and graduated from Harvard University in 1907. He received his law degree from Columbia University in 1910, was ad- mitted to the New York bar and began practice at Missoula the same year. In ten years he has more - than justified the confidence of his friends and admirers, and has gained a high and influential place in the Montana bar. Mr. McCormick, Jr., was elected to the Legislature in the Sixteenth Legis- lative Assembly from Missoula County. Politically he is a republican, and has been active in a number of local campaigns.

In 1915 he married Miss Edna T. Fox, of Twin Bridges, Montana, a daughter of John F. Fox of that place. They have two children, Washington J. and Angela Patricia. He is a member of Hell Gate Lodge No. 383, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

STEPHEN A. SCHMITZ. Having spent his life as a patternmaker, Stephen A. Schmitz is an expert in his line and fully qualified to discharge the duties of his present position, that of superintendent of the pattern department of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company's foundry. He was born at Bloom- ington, Illinois, October 10, 1867, a son of John Schmitz. The birth of John Schmitz occurred in Germany in 1831, and his death at Bloomington, Illinois, in 1904. Between nineteen and twenty he come to the United States because of the obligatory military service exacted in his native land, and reached Chicago, Illinois, in 1850, where he lived for a time and was married. By trade he was a cabinetmaker, and seeing a suitable opening he went to Bloomington, that state, where he worked at his calling and also engaged in the furniture and un- dertaking business, being a pioneer business man there. He was a democrat in his political convic- tions and voted the ticket of that party after secur- ing his citizenship papers. His wife was Mary Metzger before marriage, and she was born in Ger- many in 1836, and died at Bloomington, Illinois, in 1880. Their children were as follows: Peter, who is a pattern maker living at Hastings, Nebraska ; Helen, who married Henry Krieger, a retired merchant, lives at Bloomington, Illinois; Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Flinchback, is deceased, having passed away at Bloomington, Illinois; Anna, who is deceased, married James McGrath, who after his wife's demise left Bloomington, Illinois, and went to California, where he is still living; Angela, who died at Bloomington, Illinois, in 1881, aged nine years; and Stephen A.

Attending school until 1880, Stephen A. Schmitz began working in September of that year, and was

employed in general lines of labor until he went to Florence, Wisconsin, in 1882 and began his ap- prenticeship at pattern making and followed this trade as a journeyman at Marinette, Wisconsin. In 1890 he came west to Anaconda, Montana, as a pattern maker for the Tuttle Manufacturing & Supply Company, which later was merged with the Anaconda Copper Mining Company as its foundry department. The plant shut down in 1891 and Mr. Schmitz went to Duluth, Minnesota, and later to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and subsequently worked at his trade at different points in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. In 1899 he returned to Anaconda and resumed work as a pattern maker in the foun- dry department of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, rising through the position of foreman to be superintendent of his department, and has con- tinued as such since June 1, 1906, having under him fifteen men. His office is in the pattern shop of the foundry department on the corner of Adams and Sixth streets, Anaconda.

In politics he is a republican. He belongs to Ana- conda Lodge No. 239, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Anaconda Homestead No. 312, B. A. Y. Mr. Schmitz owns his residence at No. 603 Main Street.

In July, 1899, Mr. Schmitz was married to Miss Gussie Murafska, born at Watertown, Wisconsin, the ceremony being performed at Milwaukee, Wis- consin. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz have the following children : Walter, who was graduated from the Anaconda High School, lives at Anaconda and is with the Washoe Reduction Works of the Ana- conda Copper Mining Company; Gilbert, who is attending the Anaconda High School; and Edgar, who is also attending the same high school. The second child, Lawrence, died when about eighteen months old.

Mr. Schmitz is one of the experienced men in his line and has proven the advisability of confining oneself to one particular calling instead of wasting effort in acquiring a partial knowledge of many. Having located permanently at Anaconda he nat- urally is interested in its growth, and gives to the city a wholesome and intelligent attention without entering into public life.

HOWARD E. MATSON. A man of energetic nature, sound judgment and excellent business qualifica- tions, Howard E. Matson, secretary and treasurer of the Butte Battery Company, is meeting with acknowledged success in his undertakings, and through a diligent use of his faculties and oppor- tunities has proved himself a useful and worthy citizen. A son of the late F. F. Matson, he was born in Beardstown, Illinois, August 2, 1885, and there acquired his preliminary education.

Born in New Jersey in 1858, F. F. Matson fol- lowed the tide of immigration westward when a young man, settling in Beardstown, Illinois, in pioneer days. Buying a tract of land that was still in its virgin wildness, he cleared and improved a farm, on which he lived and labored until his death in 1893. He was a democrat in politics, and a much respected citizen. He married Elizabeth Nickel, who was born in 1859, and is now residing in Butte, her home being at 1015 West Porphyry Street. Three children were born of their union, as follows: Howard E., the special subject of this sketch; Finis F .; and Edna, who was educated in the schools of Beardstown, Illinois, and is now the wife of William Roberts, a salesman for the Spo- kane Company, with home at 1015 Porphyry Street, Butte, Montana.

Finis F. Matson was born in Beardstown, Ili- mois, in December, 1888, and was there educated.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

An electrician by occupation, he came to Butte in April, 1907, and for a time worked for the Montana Power Company. In February, 1917, he established the Exide Service Station, and met with such marked success in its management that in May, 1919, he had the business incorporated as the Butte Battery Company, with plant and offices at 207 South Montana Street. It is one of the leading firms of its kind in Western Montana, and its offi- cers, all men of recognized ability, are Finis F. Matson, president; Thomas Davis, vice president ; and Howard E. Matson, secretary and treasurer. An independent democrat in politics, Finis F. Mat- son was candidate for clerk and recorder of Silver Bow County, and made a good run at the polls. Religiously he is affiliated with the Baptist Church. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Lulu Atkins, two children have been born, Alice and Helen.

Leaving school at the age of fifteen years, How- ard E. Matson worked on a farm near Chandler- ville, Illinois, for three years, when his widowed mother, who had been living in that vicinity, moved back to Beardstown, where he remained for awhile. Going then to Quincy, Illinois, he attended the Gem City Business College, and for four years worked for the State Savings and Loan Company, obtain- ing valuable business knowledge and experience. Coming from there to Butte, Montana, in April, 1907, Mr. Matson was employed in the bank of W. A. Clark & Brother until August, 1918, start- ing as a clerk and being promoted to receiving teller. In the meantime he became associated with his brother Finis F. Matson, financially assisting in the establishment of the substantial business now carried on by the Butte Battery Company, in which he owns a half interest.

Mr. Matson married, June 18, 1907, Miss Ida C. Adam, a daughter of William and Joanna Adam, her father being a merchant in Quincy, Illinois, where the death of her mother occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Matson reside at the Mueller Apartments. Politically Mr. Matson is a republican, and fra- ternally is a member of Butte Lodge No. 22, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.

A. T. PURDY. Coming to Montana when a boy, A. T. Purdy has lived his active life in the territory and state, and has found here both adventure and achievement. Mr. Purdy for a number of years past has been widely known as owner of the noted fruit farm, the Twin Orchards Ranch, in Lincoln County, near Eureka.

Mr. Purdy was born in Jackson, Michigan, in 1866, fourth among the eleven children of Henry and Mary (Keeler) Purdy. He spent his boyhood days in Michigan, but at the age of fifteen came alone to Butte, Montana, and was soon working in the mines.

Mr. Purdy married Terecia LeBeau, who was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of Alexander and Ida (Towsley) LeBeau, her father being of French ancestry and her mother of German. She was one of a family of nine children, being the oldest. She was six years of age when her parents came out to Butte, but she grew up in their home at Kalispell. Mr. and Mrs. Purdy were married at the LeBeau ranch, a mile north of Kalispell.

They then moved to Foy's Lake, where Mr. Purdy was engaged in the timber business. Subsequently at Tobacco Plains he homesteaded 160 acres a mile southwest of Glen Lake, and remained in that com- munity eight years. During these experiences Mr. and Mrs. Purdy had all the trials and hardships of pioneering. Mrs. Purdy frequently lived alone

with her children while her husband was absent on his duties as road supervisor. Five children were born into their home: Frances, Lynn, Gordon, Alex- ander and Thomas. They were well educated in the public schools. Frances is the wife of Jerome Filiatreau, a rancher near Eureka, and is the mother of three daughters, June, Edith and Joyce. Lynn married Miss Jessie Crowley and has a son, Donald. Gordon, who is employed in the St. Paul Lumber Mill at Tacoma, Washington, married Inez Doble. Alexander and Thomas are still at home and students in the district schools.

Mrs. Purdy's mother, who died in 1896, at Kalis- pell, was a devout Christian of the Adventist faith, and was greatly beloved by her own people and many friends. Mrs. Purdy's father came to the Purdy home for a two weeks' visit, and has so enjoyed the environment that he has remained two years with them.

Mr. and Mrs. Purdy are republicans in politics. Mrs. Purdy while growing up became an expert in assisting her father on the ranch and has been a fearless rider. She still keeps at the ranch her faith- ful old dog Collie, which has shown almost human intelligence. Mr. Purdy has served as school trus- tee, ditch director, and in other offices connected with the public welfare.

For a number of years the Purdys owned and operated the Meadow Home Dairy at Eureka, and on selling that bought 200 acres at the foot of the beautiful Rocky Range near Independent Mountain. This ranch contains two large orchards, thus giving the name Twin Orchards to the ranch. This is one of the largest fruit farms in Lincoln County, and thousands of boxes of apples are marketed every season. The Purdy home has always been noted for its hospitality, and friends and acquaintances alike have learned to esteem the beauty of the sur- roundings and the welcome of entertainment. Mr. Purdy is the type of citizen whose influence is always for the good of the community. He is a man of convictions and ready to act on them. A few years ago, as a typical instance, he learned that a local character, who had claimed to have been a rough rider, had cruelly shot his horse in the flank, and threatened the life of his young companion if he betrayed this act of cruelty. Mr. Purdy on learning of it visited Huff and said he would give him just two hours to go back on the road and put the horse out of suffering and return and report. He per- mitted the bully no excuse or delay, and he remained to see his orders faithfully executed.

C. F. RICHARDON, vice president and manager of the farm loans department of the Citizens State Bank of Roundup, which he helped to organize and of which he was cashier for several years, is one of the most prominent men and public-spirited citi- zens of this region. He was born at Dexter, Michi- gan, July 14, 1872, a son of Jacob and Rose (Wild- ner) Richardon, both natives of Germany. The father died on July 27, 1916, aged seventy-five years, as he was born May 4, 1841. His wife, who was born July 2, 1848, died on March 2, 1002. They were married at Stuttgart, Germany, and became the parents of seven children, of whom three now survive. Four of their children were born in Ger- many, and the remaining three in Michigan, C. F. Richardon being the sixth in order of birth.

Jacob Richardon served an apprenticeship in a jewelry factory, but having a distaste for the trade he went into business with a Mr. Siegle who was the discoverer of the formula of carmine red, and they began manufacturing this product, and while connected with this concern he met his wife, who

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 163

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