Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 165

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

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AUGUST SCHRUMP is one of the men of his day and locality who have responded in a remarkable degree to the urge of the times and developed a fine mercantile establishment at Roundup, and at the same time has discharged the onerous duties of several official positions. He was born in Iowa County, Wisconsin, on a farm owned by his father, on October 1, 1863, being a son of Bernard and Elizabeth Schrump, natives of Germany, who were married in their native land. They became the parents of nine children, seven of whom survive, and of them all August Schrump was the eightlı. After seven of their children were born the parents came to the United States on a sailing vessel, and after landing in New York City came west to Iowa County, Wisconsin, where they were pioneers of the rural districts of that region, and worked hard to develop a farm, and there both died. The Lutheran Church held their membership. First a Whig, the father later became a republican, and he was held in very high regard in his neighborhood as an in- dustrious, upright and dependable man.

August Schrump attended the public schools of his native county, and during his boyhood learned how to make himself useful under his father's ex- cellent direction. When he was fifteen years old he earned his first money pulling weeds in a corn field, for which he received twenty-five cents per day. Losing his parents, he was forced to become self- supporting. Having no one else upon whom he could depend, he exerted himself to the utmost and by the time he was twenty years old held a respon- sible position with an elevator company, and when he attained his majority was made its manager, hold- ing that position for twelve years. Having saved his money he was by then able to embark in a merchandise business at Lawton, North Dakota, where he saw a good opening, and continued there until January 3, 1908, when he moved his stock of goods to Roundup, where he has since remained. He has the distinction of having been the pioneer in his line at this place, and since he first came here has enlarged his business, now controlling a fine trade. While at Lawton he was appointed postmaster on September 25, 1892, and served under Postmaster General C. H. Payne until in April, 1898. On April 6, 1910, he was appointed postmaster of Roundup under Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock, and held the office for four years. In politics a republi- can, he has been very active in his party and repre- sented Musselshell County in the Fourteenth Mon- tana State Assembly. For some time he has been a member of the City Council of Roundup, and is now its chairman. Well known in Masonry, Mr. Schrump belongs to Unity Lodge No. 71, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Helena Consistory, by which he was made a Thirty-second Degree Mason, and Bagdad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Butte, Montana.

On September 5, 1889, Mr. Schrump was married to Nettie Fonger, born in Illinois. They have one daughter, Lottie, who is the wife of A. H. Goetz, of Roundup. Mr. Schrump is an excellent example of the self-made man, and his success in life is all the more to be commended in that it is the result of his own, unaided efforts. He has a hearty, sincere manner which impresses persons favorably, and lie has many warm, personal friends' in addition to his business associates. Taking a constructive interest in the commercial and industrial growth of Round- up, Mr. Schrump may be counted upon to give his support to those measures which have this end in view, and is certainly one of the county's most repre- sentative and highly respected men.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

WINFIELD SCOTT STOCKING. One of the veritable trail blazers of Montana and the Northwest, a pio- neer miner, rancher and town builder in Montana, was the late Winfield Scott Stocking, whose life of achievement and adventure came to a quiet close on January 4. 1910, at the age of seventy-three.

He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 15, 1837, son of Jared and Lucy (Bigelow) Stock- ing, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. Jared Stocking learned the cabinet maker's trade as a boy and made his trade the basis of a large and profitable lumber and fur- niture business at Grand Rapids, Michigan. He died in Chicago at the age of sixty and his widow survived him to the venerable age of ninety. Jared Stocking was a Presbyterian and a whig and repub- lican voter.

Winfield Scott Stocking was one of ten children and acquired an early education in the schools of Grand Rapids. From the age of fifteen he was making his own way in the world, employed in lumber and sawmill camps in Michigan, and also sailing on the Great Lakes. About 1859 he and his brother Jerome went to California, traveling by sailing vessel around Cape Horn to San Francisco. He was in the mining business .in California and in 1862 joined in the stampede to the Salmon River mines of Oregon. His party discovered the John Day mines in Oregon. In 1863 Mr. Stocking con- tinued his prospecting to a place known as Rocky Bar, Idaho, and while there he met Miss Margaret Henry, who had come from Louisville, Kentucky. They were married January 16, 1864, at Boise City, and their honeymoon was spent traveling overland to Bannock, Montana. Mr. Stocking continued min- ing and prospecting there, and also located a hay ranch on Crow Creek. In July, 1865, he had decided to go to Fort Benton for supplies. Mrs. Stocking not wanting to be left alone, accompanied him, and after they reached Fort Benton he returned with ox teams and took his household goods to the Fort. He built a home at Fort Benton, and in the fall of 1865 with nine other men went down the Mis- souri River to Camp Cook, and soon afterward moved his family from Fort Benton, where the In- dians had become threatening, to a place of safety at Camp Cook, where United States troops were on guard. In the spring of 1866 he returned on the ice of the Missouri River to Fort Benton, and from that time forward was a resident of that community. He engaged in the retail meat business and was also proprietor of the Benton Hotel for five years. In 1867 he had located the first ranch in Choteau County, and for many years did an extensive busi- ness in general farming and stock raising. In 1883 he built the first Opera House in Fort Benton, and he also served as one of the first county commis- sioners, being appointed in 1867. He was a member of the grand jury at Benton. In 1872 he planted the first fruit trees in Choteau County, and four years previously, in 1868, had raised the first grain on the banks of the Teton River. He was in every sense a pioneer, and by his initiative had an im- portant influence in the development of the country. He owned valuable property in and around Fort Benton. He joined the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Fort Benton in 1884. Politically he was a stanch republican and was a friend of many of the pioneer statesmen of Montana, including Paris Gibson.

Mr. Stocking and wife had two children: Katherine Lou, wife of Albert H. Stewart, a resi- dent of Great Falls, and John J.

THOMAS F. CORBALLY. Owing to his long con- nection with the public affairs of Cascade County, the name of Thomas F. Corbally, of Great Falls,

needs no formal introduction to the readers of this volume. In a straightforward, conservative man- ner he has sought to perform his duties as a con- scientious public official, believing, as was enunciated by an eminent American statesman, that "public office is a public trust." He has always. sought to perform the duties of a progressive citizen, and his support can always be counted upon in the fur- therance of any laudable movement having for its object the welfare of the general public.

Thomas F. Corbally was born in New York City on February 16, 1881. His parents, John P. and Julia (Smith) Corbally, were natives of Ireland, the father born in County Louth and the mother in County Cavan. They are both now deceased, the father dying in 1915, at the age of sixty years, and the mother passing away in 1914, at the age of fifty- eight years. They were married after emigrating to this country and meeting in New York City, and they became the parents of four children, three of whom are living. John P. Corbally came to the United States in young manhood with his widowed mother, landing in New York. He was a carpenter by trade and was an employe of the Stephens Car Building Company for many years. Politically he was a democrat.

Thomas F. Corbally attended the parochial school in New York City and also was a student in the College of the City of New York. In 1897, when sixteen years of age, he came to Great Falls, Mon- tana with his late uncle, Thomas Corbally, one of the first settlers of Great Falls. His first employ- ment here was with the B. & M. Smelter Company, and in 1906 he was appointed chief of the department of county clerk and recorder of Cascade County. He performed the duties of that position so satisfac- tarily that in 1910 he was appointed chief of the de- partment of county treasurer, holding the office until 1913. On March 17, 1913, he was appointed public receiver of the United States land office at Great Falls, taking over the office on April 2, 1913. He was the first land officer appointed by President Wilson, and has given to the office his very best efforts, discharging the duties of the position to the entire satisfaction of the government and the patrons of the office.

In February, 1909, Mr. Corbally was married to Bessie E. Rowles, who was born at Sunriver, Cas- cade County, Montana, the daughter of Presley H. and Ellen (McDonnell) Rowles, the former of whom is a native of Ohio and the latter of Connecticut. They are now living in Great Falls. Mrs. Corbally was the second in order of birth of the five daugh- ters born to them, four of whom are living. Mr. Rowles was one of the pioneers of Cascade County, having done much early freighting, later operating a ranch on Sunriver. To Mr. and Mrs. Corbally have been born three children, John P., Thomas T., Jr., and Elizabeth.

Politically Mr. Corbally is a stanch supporter of the democratic party and has been active in ad- vancing its interests. Fraternally he is a fourth- degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and also belongs to Great Falls Lodge No. 214, Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks. He has shown him- self to be a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in the welfare of his community, and today is recognized as one of the representative men of the locality.

GEORGE N. GRIFFIN. There are many individuals who attain material success, and there are many others who answer the call to serve in high positions in life. When both these ends are achieved by one

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man and entirely through his own unassisted efforts there is occasion for more than usual interest to be aroused in the consideration of the factors that have brought this about. It is a long step from the task of a mine boy picking slate from the dump of an English coal mine to a seat of equality among the dignified legislators of one of the great common- wealths of. United States. Such a step has been taken by George N. Griffin, a prominent citizen of Roundup, Montana, who now bears additional hon- ors and is serving under Governmental appointment as state coal mine inspector.

George N. Griffin was born in Lowestoft, County Suffolk, England, December 30, 1861. His parents were William and Susanna ( Nicholls) Griffin, na- tives of Cambridgeshire, England, the former of whom died in 1894, when aged sixty-seven years, and the latter when the youngest of the five children, George N., was a child. In 1879 the father and three surviving children came to the United States and located at Rapids City in Rock Island County, Illinois. There he worked until 1884 as a coal miner, although he was a tailor by trade, but in that year he went to Colorado, going into the business of raising cattle and horses, spending his last days on his ranch near Leadville. He was a sturdy, honest man, but accumulated no fortune.

To a large extent George N. Griffin has been identified with the coal mining industry all his life. Before coming to the United States he worked as a miner, having but indifferent school privileges in his youth, and after locating with his father at Rapids City, Illinois, he worked in the coal mines for about three years, and later at Kirksville, Iowa, for eighteen months, and at Angus, Boone County, Iowa, for two years. While at Angus he repaired his neglected education by attending night school, and also took a course with the International Correspondence School at Scranton, Pennsylvania. In June, 1886, Mr. Griffin came to Almy, Uinta County, Wyoming, where he resided for twelve years, during which time he held positions of responsibility, being fire boss and mine foreman. Later he spent one year at Lew- isville, Colorado, then moved to the Sheridan Coal Company neighborhood near Sheridan, where he was employed as mine foreman until he pushed on to Diamondville, Wyoming, where he was mine boss and assistant superintendent for three years.

In the spring of 1902 Mr. Griffin came to Gallatin County, Montana, where he was employed as coal mine superintendent with the Amalgamated Coal Mining Company for about six years. In the spring of 1908 he accepted the appointment of coal mine superintendent with the Republic Coal Company at Roundup, Montana, and continued his association with that company for six years, relations being severed with feelings of mutual esteem.

In the meanwhile the sterling qualities which made Mr. Griffin so useful and efficient in the positions of responsibility entrusted to him by some of the great- est corporate business bodies of the country were recognized by his fellow citizens at large as those most needful in the firm conduct of public affairs, this general feeling resulting in 1900, in his election from Uinta County as a member of the First Gen- eral Assembly of Wyoming. Public approval did not end here, for in 1910 he was elected a member of the Upper House of the Fifth Legislature of Wyoming, representing Uinta County. Although elected for a term of four years, Senator Griffin did not serve the full term, resigning his seat in order to accept a superintendent's position with the A. C. M. Company. At this time he was also a member of the town council and of the school board of Diamondville. In 1911 Governor Richards appointed

him a member of the State Board of Arbitration, which he served as chairman. For one year he served as city auditor of Roundup, and for six years has been a member of the school board. On July 28, 1918, Governor Samuel V. Stewart appointed Senator Griffin to the office he still so admirably fills, that of state coal mine inspector. Many other un- solicited honors have come to him as a result of his broad-minded, intelligent views on leading questions of. the day, and as tribute to his high personal character.

On May 8, 1882, Mr. Griffin was united in marriage to Miss Catherina Proud, who was born in England, a daughter of John and Hannah (Walker) Proud, both of whom died in the United States. Of their ten children Mrs. Griffin was the youngest born. To Mr. and Mrs. Griffin the following children have been born: Edith, who died in infancy; Edith (2), who is the wife of J. C. Knapp; Arthur, who is mar- ried; Maud, who is widely known as an educator in Montana, has served as county superintendent of schools in Musselshell County; Ruth, who is the wife of Dr. H. H. Cox, of Chicago, Illinois; Bessie, who is an expert stenographer; Harry P., who is a stu- dent in the department of journalism in the Univer- sity of Montana, received his honorable discharge from military service following the signing of the armistice, was a member of the auxilliary naval force, completed his training at Great Lakes and was then transferred to Pelham Bay, New York; Philip, who served during the great war as a member of the S. A. T. C. at Missoula, Montana, is a student in the Montana State University; Walter, who is a student in the high school at Roundup; Dorothy, who also attends the high school; and Mollie, who is a grade student.

Senator Griffin belongs to Bozeman Lodge No. 18, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, demitting to become a charter member of Unity Lodge No. 71, Roundup, and served as the first master of this lodge. He belongs also to Zona Chapter No. 12, Royal Arch Masons; St. John's Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar ; and Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Helena, Mon- tana. With his family he belongs to the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. As his father favored the policies of the democratic party, Senator Griffin in his youth accepted the same, but later, in the course of a busy and rather eventful life, he found reason to change his views and since then has been a zealous supporter of the principles of the republican party.

OSCAR R. McVAY, United States commissioner at Roundup, police magistrate of the city and a justice of the peace, is a man who is known for his effi- ciency, trustworthiness and absolute dependability, and his record amply justifies his occupancy of these offices. Mr. McVay was born on his father's farm in Union County, Iowa, August 27, 1858, a son of Jacob Newton and Rachel (Davis) McVay. Jacob N. McVay was born in Pennsylvania in 1828, and died in 1899, and his wife, born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1832, died in 1871. They were married in Ohio and had nine children, six of whom are still living, Oscar R. McVay being the fourth in order of birth. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Jacob N. McVay at- tended the schools of his native state, and left it in 1852 to move to Ohio, from whence he moved on westward to Illinois, and after two years there, during which time he was engaged in farming, he settled in Union County, Iowa, and until 1869 was engaged in farming and stockraising. In the latter year he went to Jasper County, Missouri, where he bought land and continued his agricultural activities up to the time of his death. While always voting the

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democratic ticket, he was not a man who cared for office and never songht public honors.

Oscar R. McVay attended the public schools of Iowa and Missouri, and until he was sixteen years old remained with his father, but at that time went to Kent County, Kansas, and rode the range in Kansas and later in Colorado and New Mexico for seven years. He then became a stationary engineer, and was employed as such in Missouri until 1896, when he came to Musselshell and was a rider for the old Roundup Ranch. His next occupation was saw- milling with his brother John V. McVay, and he continued in it until 1905, and was then made head sawyer in a large sawmill and held that position for two years. In January, 1908, he became pump man for the Republic Coal Company, but resigned in April, 1908, to go with the Carpenter . Creek Coal Company as hoisting engineer, but left its employ in July, 1908. Then, in October, 1908, he became engi- neer with the Republic Coal Company, and remained with it until March, 1910. In April of that same year he was elected police judge of Roundup, and with the exception of a short period has held that office ever since, and for the past seven years he has also been a justice of the peace. On Angust 15, 1916, he was appointed United States commis- sioner, and his record has been such as to insure his continuance in office for some time to come. He is a member of Order of Eagles. In politics he is a republican.

On November 29, 1880, Mr. McVay was married to Miss Emma E. Shenefelt, born in Illinois Sep- tember 10, 1862, a daughter of E. M. and Catherine Shenefelt, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shenefelt had thirteen children, of whom Mrs. McVay was the fifth. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. McVay are as follows: Ella M., who is the wife of William C. Grant, of Musselshell County, Montana, has nine children; Bertha M., who died in infancy; Pearl E., who is the wife of Oliver M. Wyman, of Yellowstone County, Montana, has five children; John O., who died in infancy; Creola F., who is the wife of Erin M. Beall, of Roundup, Mon- tana, has one child; and Ernest O., who is attending the Roundup High School. Mr. McVay is a man who has known how to take advantage of opportun- ity when it came to him. In his official duties hie plays upon his problems with the great searchlight of personal knowledge, and his decisions are seldom reversed.

PATRICK A. HOPKINS, assessor of Musselshell County, is one of the alert young men who are mak- ing this section of the state one of the best localities in the West, not only because of their official work but also on account of the encouragement they offer to agricultural and industrial activities, and the pub- lic-spirited interest they show in making public im- provements and supporting the good roads and similar movements.

Patrick A. Hopkins was born on his father's farm in Saint Croix County, Wisconsin, March 19, 1883, a son of Patrick and Catherine (Hennesy) Hopkins. Patrick Hopkins was born in County Mayo, Ireland, and died in 1886, aged fifty-two years. His widow was born at Rockford, Illinois, and is still living They were married in Wisconsin and had seven children, five of whom survive, Patrick A. being the third in order of birth. Coming to the United States in young manhood, Patrick Hopkins landed from the sailing vessel in which he had made the trip at New York City, from which he drifted westward and finally located in Wisconsin, where he obtained employment on steamers plying on the Great Lakes, and remained in this line of work for

about ten years. He then bought a farm on Erin Prairie, Wisconsin, which was in the wilderness of Saint Croix County, and here he worked hard to develop his land. As his earnings accumulated, he invested his money in another farm, which was in Goodhue County, Minnesota, paying $1.25 per acre for it, but he continued to reside on his original farm, where he died. From the time he was nat- uralized he voted the democratic ticket.

Patrick A. Hopkins grew up on his father's farm and during the winters attended the rural schools. When he was twenty-two years old he left home and bought a farm in Cavalier County, North Da- kota, on which he remained for three years. In the fall of 1909 he came to Musselshell County and homesteaded, and since then has been closely iden- tified with the development of this region. Like his father he is a democrat, and he was the suc- cessful candidate of his party for county assessor in 1918.

On June 27, 1917, Mr. Hopkins was united in mar- riage with Emma A. Voght, born in Pembina County, North Dakota. Mr. Hopkins is a man who has always worked hard, and his success in life has come from the fact that he has been industrious, thrifty and efficient in everything he has undertaken, and the people of Musselshell County feel satisfied with his administration of the affairs of his office. Both he and Mrs. Hopkins are popular, and their pleasant home is oftentimes the scene of the gather- ing of their many friends to partake of their open- handed hospitality.

ALBERT J. FOUSEK is one of the most useful citi- zens Great Falls has ever had. He has lived in that community for a quarter of a century, is a veteran business man now retired, and again and again he was called upon to render duty in public office. For many years he was a member of the city council, for two terms was mayor, and has also served in the Legislature.

Few citizens of foreign birth have been more frequently honored in Montana, and have more justly earned these honors and the confidence of American people than Mr. Fousek, who was born in Bohemia November 27, 1869, son of Joseph and Anna Fousek. His parents were natives of the same province. Albert was the youngest of three children, two of whom are still living. His father was a carpenter by trade and in 1876 brought his family to America, spending about six years in New York City. He worked as a carpenter with the Havemyer Sugar Company of New York. He then moved to Min- nesota, establishing a new farm in Renville County. He continued farming for a number of years, and later returned to New York City, where he remained about six months and received an injury from which he died. He died in New York in 1905, at the age of sixty-five. His widow survived him until 1918, being seventy-four at the time of her death. Both were members of the Catholic Church.

Albert J. Fousek was about six years old when brought to America, and acquired his early educa- tion chiefly in the public schools of New York City. He also attended school for a time in Minnesota. The first money he ever earned was in digging potatoes in Minnesota. For that heavy labor he was paid $10 a month. For about two years he worked as a farm hand. He was in St. Paul for some years, at first working at street grading at $1.50 a day, and then began an apprenticeship at the cigar making trade. He followed his trade in St. Paul until 1893, when he came to Great Falls and was employed as a cigar maker until 1896, when he en- gaged in business for himself. Mr. Fousek continued

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 165

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