Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 25

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 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Aune was born at Delavan, Faribault Coun- ty, Minnesota, July 19, 1884, a son of Peter and Bargild (Iverson) Aune, natives of Norway, where the former was born in 1860 and the latter in 1861. The Aune family was first founded in the United States by the grandfather of Mr. Aune, who came here during the excitement raised over the dis- covery of gold in California, in 1849. After spend- ing some time in California he returned to Nor- way, but this country had made such an impres- sion upon him that he decided to make it his home, and in 1866 again came here, this time with his family. Locating in Faribault County, Minnesota, he passed the remainder of his career in farming. Peter Aune was but six years of age when he ac- companied his parents to the United States, and his education was secured in the district schools of Faribault County, where he passed his boyhood in assisting his father with the work of the home- stead. He inherited this property at his father's death and made numerous improvements there, de- veloping it into one of the most valuable proper- ties in the locality. He continued to be engaged in farming and raising stock for some years in Faribault County, but finally disposed of the home- stead at an attractive figure and moved to Cot- tonwod County, where he bought land and engaged in farming and stockraising until 1913. Since that time his attention has been given largely to busi- ness ventures, for Mr. Aune has been a most suc- cessful and energetic man and has branched out in his activities in a number of directions. He is now the owner of undertaking establishments at Heron

Lake, Jeffers, Lamberton, Windom, Cotton and Highwater, in addition to which he superintends the operation of his farm and has large landed inter- ests in the states of South Dakota and Oregon. Mr. Aune is a member of the Lutheran Church and in politics a republican. He was married in Nicollet County, Minnesota, to Bargild Iverson, and they are the parents of three sons and three daugh- ters, all of whom are living.

The eldest of his parents' children, George D. Aune received his education in the public schools of Faribault County, Minnesota, and Saint Olaf College. His boyhood was passed on his father's farm, and his first money was earned during the threshing season, but he had no desire for an agri- cultural life, and when the opportunity presented itself accepted the chance to enter the First State Bank of Walnut Grove, of which he was assistant cashier for two years. In 1907 he came to Mon- tana, and, at Moore, became identified with the Judith Commercial Company, in which general store he worked for six months. In the meantime he had entered Government land and eventually proved up on 160 acres. Subsequently he entered the State Bank of Moore, of which he was assistant cashier until 1913, and then removed to Denton, Montana, where he became one of the organizers of the Den- ton State Bank. Of this institution he remained cashier and manager until May, 1918. That month marked his advent at Lewistown, where he became associated with J. N. Osborne, under the style of Osborne & Aune, general agents for the Montana Life Insurance Company. The firm is doing an excellent business, and Mr. Aune has already es- tablished himself in public confidence and that of his business acquaintances as a man of marked abil- ity and energy and of strict integrity and probity. Mr. Aune is a member of the Western Star Lodge No. 104, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Lewistown Lodge No. 456, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. He is a Lutheran in his re- ligious belief, but at Lewistown supports the Metho- dist Episcopal Church in its benevolent and char- itable work. As a voter he favors republican candi- dates and principles.

On June 15, 1910, Mr. Aune married Miss Chaun- cie A. Albright, who was born at New Haven. Pennsylvania, a daughter of David J. and Martha K. (Ash) Aune, who were the parents of three sons and three daughters. Mrs. Aune was the third child in order of birth and four are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Albright are farming people of near Stafford, Kansas, and are held in high esteem. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Aune : Arlene M., Judith O. and Margaret L.

FRANK C. CLINE. President of the Billings Laun- dry and owner of one of the valuable ranches of this section, Frank C. Cline has earned the right to be numbered among the leading business men of Billings. He was born at Bay City, Michigan, March 6, 1876, a son of M. C. Cline. The Cline family was established in the United States by the grandfather of Frank C. Cline, and he died at Simco, Ontario, Canada, before his grandson came into the world. M. C. Cline now resides at Saginaw, Michi- gan, but he was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1847, and was there reared. After attaining his majority he came to the United States and located at Bay City, Michigan, where he became superintendent of the Industrial Iron Works, this concern being en- gaged in building large cranes, so that his position was a responsible one. Here he remained until 1901, when he moved to his present location to become foreman of the Jackson-Church Company, but he is

HISTORY OF MONTANA

now retired. Politically he is a democrat. His re- ligion is that of the Roman Catholic Church. While living in Canada he served in the Dominion Army. M. C. Cline was united in marriage with Margaret Leonard, born at Jersey City, New Jersey, and died at Bay City, Michigan, in 1895. Their children were as follows: Frank C., whose name heads this re- view; Arthur M., who owns a laundry at Stockton, California ; and Mabel, who died at the age of thirty- five years. After the death of his first wife M. C. Cline was married to Kate Moriaraty, born at Mon- treal, Canada, and their children are as follows: Leo, who is attending the Ann Arbor Training School for the , United States Service, and Martin, Jr., a student, who is at home.

Frank C. Cline attended the public schools of Bay City through the eleventh grade, and the Bay City Business College, from which he was graduated in 1896. Too close application to his books brought on a period of ill health, and he decided to enter the business world, his first position being with the Bay City Telephone Company. Mr. Cline then learned the laundry business and established the Val- ley Laundry at Bay City, selling it in 1897. For the subsequent twelve months he was at Grand Forks, North Dakota, being there connected with railroad work, but then re-entered the laundry business at Delano, Minnesota, selling his establishment seven months later. In 1900 he came to Montana and for two years had charge of the National Laundry at Great Falls, leaving that city for Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he owned and operated a laundry for two years, and then sold it. For a short period there- after he had charge of the New Laundry at Butte, Montana, and then, in June, 1907, came to Billings and bought the Billings Laundry, having as part- ners in his venture George H. Casey, T. J. Casey and Frank T. Ryan. This laundry, which was estab- lished in 1894, is the largest establishment of its kind in Southeastern Montana, and gives employ- ment to over 100 persons. Work is sent to it from points as far distant as 200 miles in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. The building, located oppo- site the post office, is of brick and is supplied with every modern appliance known to the laundry trade. Mr. Cline today is the majority stockholder and is its president and Mrs. Cline is the treasurer. Mr. Cline is independent in his political views. He be- longs to the Roman Catholic Church of Billings, and to Billings Council No. 1259, Knights of Colum- bus, and Billings Lodge No. 394, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Since coming to Billings he has been connected with the Midland Club and the Billings Golf Club. His residence is regarded as one of the finest in the city, and it is located at 729 North Twenty-ninth Street. In addition to his other holdings he owns 640 acres of valuable ranch land nine miles east of Billings, which he devotes to the growing of grain.

In 1907 Mr. Cline was united in marriage with Miss Louise Hayes, a daughter of John and Louise Hayes, the former of whom was a merchant, but is now deceased. The latter, who survives, lives at Escanaba, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Cline are the parents of the following children: Dorothy, who was born April 23, 1908; Arthur, who was born in June, IgII; Francis, who was born February 10, 1915, and John Martin, born March 31, 1919. A sound, reliable and upright business man, Mr. Cline has forged ahead and has firmly established himself in the confidence of the people of Billings. His name stands for good work and honorable methods, and his business shows a healthy and gratifying in- crease annually.

ERNEST C. BUSCH. A man who can speak with authority on the life and times of Montana going back over forty years is Ernest C. Busch, a retired rancher living at Lewistown. In his early days in the state Mr. Busch worked as a sheep herder, and he has covered a large part of the state in his experiences with sheep, cattle and horses.

Mr. Busch was born in Germany, October 28, 1849, a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Wilah) Busch. His parents spent all their lives in Germany, where his father was a produce dealer. His father died at the age of seventy and his mother at seventy-four, Ernest being the oldest of their eight children, two of whom are now living.

Mr. Busch finding the conditions of Germany op- pressive and restrictive of business opportunity came to this country in 1876. His first destination was Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he arrived in the month of March. After working out as a farm hand for about two years he came up the Missouri River to old Fort Benton, Montana, thence to Sun River, working as a cowboy, and later in the vicinity of Fort Maginnis took employment as a sheep herder. In 1883 he located his homestead in section 27, town- ship 14, range 19, and made a start with a small flock of sheep. In 1890 he disposed of his flocks and began raising cattle and horses, and from that time on was connected with general farming until Novem- ber 1, 1918, when he leased his farm and with ample means retired to enjoy life at Lewistown, where in addition to his own home he owns considerable real estate. Mr. Busch is a republican but has never cared for office, and has done his part as a Montana pioneer by studious attention to his own business and respecting always the rights and privileges of others. January 1, 1898, he married Miss Dena Al- bers.

LESTER PARK WORK is vice president and manager of the Story-Work Sheep Company, which with re- lated interests comprise one of the most extensive sheep outfits in Montana. Mr. Work is a young business man, well fitted by experience and training for the great responsibilities he bears, a native Mon- tanan and son of a noted pioneer of this country, John F. Work.

John F. Work; who is still living at Bozeman, was born June 30, 1835, not far from the battlefield of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. He was a son of James and Marie (Black) Work, his father also a native of Pennsylvania. James Work during the early '4os moved to Illinois and later to Missouri, was a broom manufacturer and meat packer in those states, and in 1849 started overland for Cali- fornia with a hull team. In 1853 he returned to Missouri and resumed pork packing, but during 1862-63 was again in California engaged in mining and farming, spent another year in Idaho, and after that lived on a farm in Missouri until his death in 1869.

John F. Work was too young to accompany his father to California. He spent his early life on a Missouri farm and in 1857 took up the business of driving cattle from Missouri to the twin cities of Minnesota. In 1859 he went to the Pike's Peak gold mines. He was a member of the party with his father which started with an outfit of mules and horses to California in 1862. At South Pass he left the party to join an expedition going to the gold mines at Salmon River, and had many varied ex- periences and adventures in Idaho and Washington. In the latter part of 1865 he arrived at Virginia City, Montana, soon afterward went to Helena, and in succeeding years was identified with several pioneer communities in the Northwest, including

Ernest. C' Busch

MRS. ERNEST C. BUSCH

HISTORY OF MONTANA

Deer Lodge. He was at Bozeman in 1867 and in 1872 he located on a ranch on the Upper Yellow- stone River in Park County. He was a rancher and miner for several years and in 1876 accom- panied an expedition to the Black Hills. He was superintendent for several large cattle firms in Montana, also continued his business as a freighter, and about 1880 became interested in the sheep busi- ness, which he handled on a growing scale in con- nection with many other activities in transporta- tion, contracting, and other lines of business. He made his permanent home at Bozeman in 1892. He was personally associated with many of the fore- most men of Montana in pioneer and later times, and probably no one now living has a better mem- ory of the history of Montana over a period of fifty years than John F. Work.

January 10, 1884, he married Mary Evelyn Stone, who was born in Missouri. Her father, Jeremiah Stone, came to Montana in 1883 and was a rancher near Bozeman for many years. John F. Work and wife had three children: Ward, who died in child- hood; Vida M., who is the wife of Ray C. Hollo- way, a Bozeman merchant; and Lester P.

Lester Park Works was born thirteen miles east of Livingston February 25, 1889. He was educated in the common schools of Bozeman, completed his junior year in the Gallatin County High School and spent two years 'in the Montana State College. On leaving school in 1909 he entered the sheep business in the Yellowstone River Valley, and for a time was associated with Peter Koch, a Montana pioneer who died at Pasadena, and with John Har- vat, the well known business man of Livingston. These men handled sheep on a thousand hills and in many valleys of Montana. They bought out the Briggs Ellis outfit, one of the largest in the state. In 1914 Mr. Work withdrew from this combination and became associated with T. B. Story of Boze- man, organizing the Story-Work Sheep Company and the Clear Range Sheep Company. In the in- corporation of the Story-Work Sheep Company T. B. Story is president, Mr. Work, vice president and manager, and W. P. Harmon, secretary and treas- urer. In 1918 this firm sheared 65,000 old sheep and raised thousands of lambs. They own 100,000 acres of deeded land in Park, Sweetgrass, Gallatin, Broad- water and Meagher counties. The offices of the corporation are in the Story Block at Bozeman.

Mr. Work is also interested in real estate at Bozeman and has a modern home there at 415 South Central Avenue. He is a republican in politics and is affiliated with Bozeman Lodge No. 463 of the Elks. At White Sulphur Springs, Montana, in November, 1917, he married Miss Olga Black, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Powell Black, both now de- ceased. Her father was a pioneer lawyer at White Sulphur Springs. Mrs. Work is a graduate of the College for Girls at Lexington, Kentucky.

JEFFREY P. WHYTE has lived in the Bitter Root country of Western Montana for the past twenty years, and has developed one of the leading mer- cantile concerns at the town of Darby in Ravalli County.

His ancestors were English. His grandfather was born in England in 1799, and was an early settler in the province of Quebec, Canada, where he followed farming. He died at Carillon, Quebec, in 1889. Capt. John Whyte, his son, and father of the Montana merchant, was born at Carillon, Canada, in 1847. He was reared and married in his native province, and became a boat captain on the St. Lawrence River. He lived for many years at Grenville, but since 1884 has had his home at

North Bay in Ontario and is now retired from his profession. He is a liberal in political thought and a Catholic and Knight of Columbus. He mar- ried Bridget Carlon, who was born in Ireland in 1845 and died at North Bay in 1908. A brief record of their children follows: Thomas, a farmer at Wisawasa, Ontario, Canada; Jeffrey P .; Robert, a demonstrator for the Ross Rifle Factory living in the City of Quebec; Rose Ellen, wife of William Tray- nor, chief mail clerk on the Canadian Pacific Rail- way, living at North Bay, Ontario.

Jeffrey P. Whyte was born at Grenville, Quebec, Canada, August 19, 1876, and received most of his education in the public schools of Wisawasa. He left school at the age of eighteen, and worked in the lumber woods of Michigan until he came to Montana in 1900. Then for eight years he was connected with the lumber industry of the Bitter Root Valley until 1908 when he opened a cafe at Darby. He conducted that business seven years, and in 1915 opened a toggery store and in 1918 built the substantial structure on Main Street which houses his. present mercantile concern, with a full stocked department of groceries and a store for men's and boys' clothing. He also owns a modern home on Main Street.

Mr. Whyte is a member of the Catholic church, is affiliated with Hell Gate Lodge No. 383, of the Elks, and is a democratic voter. In April, 1908, . at Hamilton, Montana, he married Miss Josephine Solleder, a daughter of August and Mary (Lyman) Solleder, who reside at Darby, Montana. Her father is a carpenter and builder. Mr. and Mrs. Whyte have two children: Gordon, born in June, 1909, and Maxine, born in September, 1910.

OSCAR O. MUELLER. From the practice of law to a position of trust in the Government of his community is but a step for an individual to make, one that has been frequently taken to the better- ment of the aspirant and his constituency. In his professional practice an attorney must necessarily show his hand, expose his ability, the strength of his personality and the stand he takes on the fun- damental principles governing society. Should he, at some future time, desire to enter political life he must rely upon the record of his practice to gain him support. He may be accredited with the requisite knowledge and experience, but unless the footprints he has left behind him are clear and clean and in unshaken places he cannot inspire nor hold public confidence. If, on the other hand, he leaves behind him a succession of imprints all leading unerringly in the proper direction, the pub- lic recognizes him as being trustworthy, and the step from legal practice to a repressentative posi- tion in the Government is successfully accomplished. Of the members of the Fergus County legal pro- fession who have impressed themselves upon their communities as worthy of trust and have thereby been honored by election to public office, Oscar O. Mueller, city attorney of Lewistown, is an example.

Mr. Mueller was born on his father's farm in Madison County, Iowa, March 29, 1877, a son of George and Katherine (Schutt) Mueller, the for- mer born at Waldeck-on-the-Rhine, Germany, in 1846, and the latter was born in Germany in 1851. George Mueller was but thirteen years of age when he emigrated to the United States on a sailing vessel which made port at New York after a voy- age of three weeks on the Atlantic. After spend- ing some time in New York City he went to War- saw, Illinois, where he remained for three years, and during that time was married. He and his wife became the parents of seven children, all of

HISTORY OF MONTANA

whom are living, of whom Oscar O. was the fifth in order of birth. From Warsaw Mr. Mueller re- moved to Madison County, Iowa, and there worked as a farm hand. He was industrious and frugal, and eventually managed to accumulate sufficient means to purchase a farm of 160 acres, on which he engaged in farming and stock raising operations. As the years passed he continued to add to his holdings until he and his youngest son were the owners of a full section of fine farming land, which is still in their possession. They are also exten- sive breeders of graded stock and are well known among the agriculturists and stockmen of their part of the State of Iowa. Mr. Mueller is one of the prominent men of his locality and has various interests, one of which is the Farmers Insurance Company, of which he was one of the organizers and of which he has served as president for about ten years. He takes an active and interested part in the promotion of the best interests of his lo- cality, and in his political adherence is a stanch republican.

After attending the public schools of Madison County, Iowa, Oscar O. Mueller took a four-year course in the Iowa State Normal College, being grad- uated therefrom in the class of 1903. At that time he entered upon a short career as a school teacher, being for two years principal of schools at Stacy- ville, Iowa, but this was not his chosen vocation, and in 1905 he entered the law department of the University of Iowa, being graduated therefrom with his degree of Bachelor of Law with the class of 1908. He was admitted to the Iowa bar, and Sep- tember '11, 1908, came to Lewistown, Montana, being admitted to practice in this state in the month following, when he at once settled down to the duties of a professional business, the growth of which has since been as rapid as it has been satis- fying in its importance. He maintains offices in the Empire Bank Building and is accounted one of the leaders of the Fergus County bar. His knowl- edge of the fundamental principles of his calling and his skill in presenting his arguments put him in a position where he was recognized as being of official qualifications, and for two years he served as assistant county attorney. On June I, 1916, to fill a vacancy, he was appointed city at- torney of Lewistown, and May I, 1917, received the reappointment to that office, which he has since filled with ability and fidelity. He is a republican in politics and his fraternal connections include membership in Lewistown Lodge No. 37, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master, and Hiram Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is at present high priest.

On June 9, 1915, Mr. Mueller was united in mar- riage with Miss Josephine Cook, who was born at White Sulphur Springs, Montana, the elder of the two children of Charles W. and Abbie (Kenne- cott) Cook, pioneers of Montana, where they are now living, the former a native of Unity, Maine, and the latter of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Mueller are the parents of one son, Glenn H.

H. LEONARD DEKALB. A former judge of the Dis- trict Court, H. Leonard DeKalb began the practice of law at Lewistown in 1902, and has been identi- fied with many important professional and public interests since that date. .

Judge DeKalb was born at Alexandria, Nebraska, May 10, 1879, a son of Thomas J. and Margaret (Raugh) DeKalb, both natives of Pennsylvania. His. father was born in Philadelphia April 2, 1845. His mother was born in Luzerne County June 15, 1847. Thomas J. DeKalb was educated in Philadelphia

and in 1861, at the age of sixteen, enlisted in the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry and served with the Army of the Potomac until the close of hostilities. He was in the battle of Gettysburg and all the other campaigns of his regiment. At the close of the war he returned home, taught school for several years, and then set out for the western frontier, locating in Jefferson County, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead and where he still lives, owning between 700 and 800 acres of land. He gave his active super- vision to general farming and stock raising until 1904, since which year he has lived retired. He has served several terms as county commissioner of Jef- ferson County, is a .democrat and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife had six children, three sons and three daughters, all living.

H. Leonard DeKalb attended the public schools in Nebraska and finished his law course in the Uni- versity of Nebraska with the class of 1902. He was admitted to the Nebraska Bar in June of that year and on the 24th of December arrived at Lewistown, Montana, where he was soon admitted to the state bar. Since then he has been busied with a general practice. He was elected city attorney of Lewistown in 1904, and filled that office six years. On March 31, 1917, he was appointed district judge, but re- signed from the duties of that office May 18, 1918.

Judge DeKalb served as a member of the County Council of Defense. He is a democrat and a mem- ber of the State Bar Association. He is junior partner of the well known law firm of Belden & DeKalb, of Lewistown. Fraternally his affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

May 30, 1905, Judge DeKalb married Vera B. Mc- Clean. She is a native of Muscatine, Iowa. They have one daughter, Nellie Mohrine.

EDWIN L. FENTON. There are no obstacles so great that they cannot be overcome provided a man brings to bear upon them a sufficient amount of mental effort and persistence. One of the advantages of this country is that opportunities are offered to all alike, and that the poor boy can give rein to his ambition with just as much hope of attaining to the goal he sets for himself as the one who is the son of wealthy parents, and sometimes with more, because in the first instance the economic necessities of the lad without means are sufficiently urgent to compel him to exert himself to the utmost and to develop every faculty. Edwin L. Fenton, one of the alert business men of Laurel, Montana, presents in his re- markable career a case which comes under the above classification. Left an orphan, and reared in an orphan school, he has never ceased to press forward, and each time he has entered a field he has regis- tered the sharp, resonant impressions of the vibrat- ing needle of experiences gained in a former one. His every act has been sharp, clear and illuminating, and yet at the same time he has kept an open mind and heart and quick understanding for the needs of humanity. The result has been that he has not only achieved material prosperity, but he has been elected · and re-elected to various offices by his appreciative fellow citizens and stands today as one of the repre- sentatives of the highest type of western manhood and American citizenship.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 25

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