Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 35

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 35

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Doctor McCarthy was born at Hancock, Houghton County, Michigan, on October 15, 1875, a son of James McCarthy, born in Ireland about 1835. The paternal grandfather came to the United States from Ireland when his son James was but a lad, and located in New York City, where James McCarthy received his educational training.

When he was still a young man, James McCarthy came as far west as Hancock, Michigan, where he was married, and he became manager of the Quincy Mine. It was while discharging the duties of this position that he lost his life in 1880, when there was atı accident at the mine. He was a veteran of the war between the states. The Roman Catholic Church had in him a devout member. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Driscoll, and she survives him, making her home at Billings, Montana, her second husband being a ranchman of that locality. James McCarthy and his wife had the following children : Mary, who married John Leary, now deceased, a pioneer of Butte, which city he served as a fireman, lives at Los Angeles, California ; Gene, who was a mining engineer, died in Colorado; Dr. P. H., whose name heads this review; and James, who was graduated from the Creighton Medical Col- lege of Omaha, Nebraska, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, resides at Goldfield, Nevada. After the death of Mr. McCarthy, Mrs. McCarthy was married to Timothy Hanley, and their children are as follows: Jerry, who is a ranchman, lives at Bill- ings, Montana; William, who is a ranchman of Ne- braska; Abbie, who lives with her parents; Robert, who is a physician and surgeon of Billings, Mon- tana, was graduated from the Creighton Medical College of Omaha, Nebraska, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine; and Jennie, who is a teacher in the public schools of Butte, Montana.

Doctor McCarthy attended the public schools of O'Neil, Nebraska, and was graduated from its high

school course. For a time he followed mining in Colorado, coming to Butte from that state in 1892, and was employed by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company until 1898, when he matriculated in the Creighton Medical College and after completing the regulation four years' course was graduated in 1902 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Meanwhile, during the summer terms, he attended the Fre- mont Normal School of Fremont, Nebraska, and for two seasons was professor of chemistry and physiology in that institution. During 1903 Doctor McCarthy was interne in the Presbyterian Hospital at Omaha, Nebraska, and then came direct to Butte and has since been engaged in a general practice, specializing to a certain extent in surgery. In the years following his graduation Doctor McCarthy has taken many post graduate courses, for he is a close student and keeps himself abreast of modern thought in his profession. Not only has he studied at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chi- cago, but also in medical institutions of London and Paris, Europe, and of Baltimore, Maryland, New York City, New York, Cincinnati, Ohio, St. Louis, Missouri, and Rochester, Minnesota, specializing on surgery. He has not missed taking a course each year since securing his degree, and his efforts are rewarded by the reputation he has been able to establish as a surgeon, which extends not only over Montana but adjoining states. For some time he has been connected as surgeon with Saint James Hospital of Butte. He is a member of the Silver Bow Medical Society, the Montana State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Butte Country Club, Butte Council No. 668, Knights of Columbus, of which he is a fourth degree knight, Butte Lodge No. 240, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Butte Aerie No. 11, Fraternal Order Eagles. His offices are at Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8 Owsley Block, and his residence is at No. 823 West Park Street. Doctor McCarthy is a very heavy holder of real estate in different parts of Montana, all of his interests being centered in this state. Politically a democrat, he was elected from Silver Bow County as a delegate to the national conven- tion of his party held at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1916. Like his father he is a Roman Catholic.

In addition to his extensive practice Doctor Mc- Carthy is also a director in a number of business enterprises of Butte, and is in every way a promi- nent citizen who has the welfare of this region at heart, and is exceedingly generous in his support of its interests.

Doctor McCarthy was married at Omaha, Ne- braska, in 1905 to Miss Julia Stafford, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stafford. Michael Staf- ford was a pioneer of the Missouri Valley and served as superintendent of construction of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad through that part of the West. He is now deceased, but his widow survives him and resides at Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. McCarthy was graduated from a collegiate course with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Doctor and Mrs. McCarthy have a daughter, Mary, who was born on November 7, 1910.

When this country entered the great war, Doctor McCarthy tried to enlist, but was turned down on account of his physical condition. After a second examination he received his commission as captain on May 15, 1918, and was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana as captain of the development battalion, and was later made president of the board of demobilization. On December 18, 1918, he was mustered out of the service and, returning to Butte, resumed his practice.

Doctor McCarthy is a man who is always show-

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ing kindness both to individuals and institutions, and is interested in all that pertains to modern progress in the highest sense of the word. He is inspired by high ideals and gifted beyond the or- dinary in his professional attainments, and it is probable that his health has been impaired by the absorbing strain of his duties.

ERICK A. ERICKSON is a formally ordained minis- ter of the Lutheran Church and first came to Mon- tana in his capacity as a minister. He organized the church of his denomination at Big Timber, but about ten years ago accepted a call from his minis- terial duties to resume his former profession as a teacher, and has since been superintendent of the city schools. He is a skillful teacher, an educator of broad mind and long experience, and has made the Big Timber school system one of the best in the state.

Mr. Erickson, though born in Norway, May 28, 1873, is an American by training and has lived in this country since early infancy. His father, Arne Erickson, was born in 1834 in Norway, and mar- ried in that country Johanna Larson. She was born in 1835. They were farmers in Norway and the father served in the regular Norwegian army. In 1875, when Erick was two years old, the family came to the United States and settled at Mona in Northern Iowa, where Arne Erickson was a pioneer farmer. In 1879 he pioneered to Dakota Territory, locating on a farm in what is now Cass County, North Dakota. From there he moved to Grand Forks and homesteaded 160 acres and a timber claim of 160 acres at Reynolds. He still lives on his homestead there, though now retired from the re- sponsibilities of the farm of 320 acres which he owns. He has been a republican voter many years and is a loyal member of the Lutheran Church. His wife died at Reynolds, November 6, 1918. Most of their family of children are farmers or farmers' wives. Ele is the wife of B. Ellison, a farmer at Reynolds. Martin is one of the promi- nent business men of Reynolds, a farmer, banker, former member of the Legislature and former county commissioner. Lena is the wife of E. K. Grove, and they live on the old homestead at Reyn- olds. Annie lives at Reynolds, widow of S. O. Myhre, and she owns the farm on which she lives. Amund was a farmer at Reynolds and died in 1917. Erick A. is the sixth in age. Ole was also a farmer and died at Reynolds in 1911. Jennie is the wife of E. G. Brant, a rancher at Conrad, Montana, and Charles, the youngest of the family, is also on a ranch at Conrad.

Erick A. Erickson acquired his early education in the public schools at Grand Forks, graduating from high school in 1888. He received a Normal diploma in 1890 from the University of North Da- kota at Grand Forks, and for several years taught in Grand Forks County. In 1806 he entered Augs- burg Seminary and College at Minneapolis, where he completed the regular college course and re- ceived the A. B. degree in 1898, and then continued in the theological school and was graduated Bache- lor of Theology in 1901.

As a minister of the Lutheran Church Mr. Erick- son spent four years at Bellingham, Washington, after which he was professor of pedagogy and psy- chology in the Normal School at Madison, Minne- sota. In 1905 he came to Billings as a pastor of the Lutheran Church and a few months later was called upon to organize a Lutheran Church at Big Timber. When the church was constituted he re- mained as pastor and in that capacity was identi- fied with the life of this community until 1909.

Mr. Erickson became superintendent of city schools in the fall of 1909. In the spring of 1919, just ten years later, his contract was renewed for another three year period. He has the supervi- sion of a staff of nine teachers, and the enrollment in the Big Timber schools is 285 students. In 1909 he was also appointed a member of the County Educational Examining Board, and has filled that office continuously. He is a member of the Mon- tana State Teachers' Association, and is widely known over the state through his work as an in- structor in the Teachers' State Training School at Bozeman during the summers. He is a gifted penman, and penmanship is usually one of the subjects assigned him in the summer normals.

Mr. Erickson lives in a modern home which he owns on McLeod Street. He is a republican, is affiliated with Big Timber Lodge No. 25 Knights of Pythias and is a member of the Sons of Norway.

In 1902, at Bellingham, Washington, he married Miss Mary Mahlun, daughter of S. J. and Ingaborg (Austing) Mahlun. Her parents live at Reynolds, North Dakota, where her father is a retired farm- er. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson have had five children : Alvin, born March 14, 1905; Hilma Johanna, born January II, 1907; Leonard Melius, born December 24, 1908; Elmer Martin, born November 26, 1910; and Arnold, born May 24, 1916.

JOHN H. STEPHENS, the present sheriff of Fergus County, is a native of old Fort Logan, represents pioneer Montana stock, and his own career has been one of varied eventfulness, experience and service.

He was born May 9, 1878, a son of Albert J. and Fannie E. (Hillis) Stephens. His father, who was born in Pennsylvania, left home at the age of four- teen and spent all the rest of his life in the Far West. His first experience was in the mining dis- trict of Colorado around Pike's Peak. Later he went to California and arrived in Montana in the historic year 1863, first locating at Bannock City as a gold prospector. From there he went to Diamond City, was a miner for some time, and then engaged in the butcher business and located a ranch in the Smith River Valley, two miles from Fort Logan in Meagher County. In 1874, at Diamond City, he married Fannie E. Hillis, who was born in Indiana. They moved to a ranch in that year and Albert Stephens was engaged in the cattle business for many years, until 1903. He then sold his ranch and cattle and moved to Cannon Ranch near White Sulphur Springs, where he died in February, 1917, at the age of seventy-nine. His widow is still living on the old ranch at White Sulphur Springs, and is now seventy-one years of age. Albert Stephens during the '8os served as county commissioner of Meagher County. He was one of the first members of the Masonic Lodge at Diamond City and in politics was a democrat.

John H. Stephens was the second of eight chil- dren, six of whom are still living, four sons and two daughters. He acquired his early education in the grade schools of Lewistown, and attended busi- ness colleges at Davenport, Iowa, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Helena, Montana. In 1892 he located in Fergus County and was a stockman until 1900. He then farmed for two years and in 1902. entered the Osteopathic College at Kirksville, Missouri, taking the full course and practicing for two years at Dillon and White Sulphur Springs. In 1906 he returned to Fergus County and located a home- stead, where he engaged in farming and stock raising near Roy until 1913. He then remained in Roy engaged in the livery and grain business, and in

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November, 1916, the votes of a majority of the people of Fergus County called him to the office of sheriff. He was re-elected in 1918, and has given a thoroughly efficient administration of that im- portant post. Mr. Stephens is a member of Lewis- town Lodge No. 37, Free and Accepted Masons, and Judith Lodge No. 456, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically he is a republican.

On March 20, 1900, he married Lillian E. Cook. She was born in Vermont, a daughter of George W. and Emily H. (Orvis) Cook, a well known family of Lewistown. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have eight children, named Edith L., George H., Joseph C., Ruth, John H., Jr., Robert L., Mary C. and Lucile.

REUBEN E. Cov, manager of the Mountain State Telephone and Telegraph Company, with headquar- ters at Laurel, is one of the experienced young business men of Yellowstone County, and his abili- ties are held in high esteem not only by the offi- cials of his company, but also by his fellow citi- zens. He was born at Independence, Wisconsin, March 23, 1884, a son of E. S. Coy and grandson of Abraham Coy, a pioneer farmer of Wisconsin who homesteaded there, and died at Independence, that state, in 1907.

E. S. Coy was born in Minnesota in 1856, but was reared in and abont Independence, Wisconsin. For a number of years he was engaged in a mer- cantile business at Independence, and also engaged in farming, but he is now a rural free delivery carrier out of Independence. Politically he is a republican. For fifteen years he served Independ- ence as constable, and was city marshal for about fifteen years, always taking a very prominent part in civic affairs. The Methodist Episcopal Church holds his membership and has his loyal support. He was married at Independence, Wisconsin, to Barbara Cook, born in Wisconsin in 1864, and their children are as follows: George A., who resides at Laurel, Montana, is night train desk man at the yard offices of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company; and Renben E., whose name heads this _review.

Reuben E. Coy attended the public schools of Independence, Wisconsin, until he was fifteen years old,. when he was graduated in the high school work. In 1900 he entered the employ of the tele- phone and telegraph company at Independence, but at the expiration of two years left to become tele- graph lineman for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, working over the entire system until 1909, being during that period one of the two men thus employed. His first trip to Montana was made in 1902, and during the time he was work- ing as lineman he was frequently sent into the state, and was so pleased with conditions here that he located at Laurel in April, 1909, establishing himself in a clothing business, but closed it out in the fall of 1910 to enter the employ of the Mountain State Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany as exchange manager of the Laurel Exchange, comprising Laurel, Bridger, Joliet, Fromberg and Columbus, Montana. Mr. Coy has eighteen em- ployes . under his supervision, and the exchange at Laurel is located on Main Street. Politically Mr. Coy is a republican and served on the school board for five years. He affiliates with the Congrega- tional Church. Fraternally he belongs to Corin- thian Lodge No. 72, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Laurel; and Arcadia Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Arcadia, Wisconsin. A booster for Laurel, he is an active member of the Com- mercial Club. Mr. Coy owns a comfortable mod-

ern residence on Fifth Avenue, corner of Third Street.

In September, 1909, Mr. Coy was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah Schaffner at Independence, Wisconsin. She is a daugther of J. J. Schaffner, a retired farmer. Mrs. Coy is a graduate of the Independence High School and attended the State Normal School at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. There are no children. Mr. Coy is a splendid type of alert young western business man, aggressive, com- petent and effective, interested in his community and anxious to give it the best of service. It is such men as Mr. Coy that build up the newer por- tions of the country and set an example in civic usefulness the older localities would do well to follow.

MRS. MARY COLLIER JOHNSON. The Anaconda Business College is one of the most reliable institu- tions of its kind in this part of the West, and its courses are designed to give the students a practical knowledge of the fundamentals of commercial life so as to prepare them to step from the schoolroom into good paying positions. The institution is the outgrowth of the ideas and efforts of its owner, Mrs. Mary Collier Johnson, an educator of wide and varied experience and a woman of unusual business capacity.

Mrs. Johnson was born at Houghton, Michigan, and is a daughter of Daniel Sullivan, and grand- daughter of Timothy S. Sullivan, born in County Cork, Ireland, who came to the United States and after spending some time at Boston, Massachusetts, became a pioneer of the mining regions of northern Michigan, being one of the first to operate the Isle Royal mine of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan. His death occurred at Houghton, Michigan.

Daniel Sullivan was born at Boston, Massa- chusetts, in 1831, and he died at Tombstone, Ari- zona, in 1915. After his marriage which took place at Houghton, Michigan, where he had been reared, Daniel Sullivan was one of the pioneer prospectors of Pioche, Nevada, and then in the early '7os went to Tintic, Utah, and on into the Black Hills of the Dakotas in 1876. Still later he prospected at George- town and Leadville, Colorado, and was one of the very first to reach Tombstone, Arizona, which was established in 1879, and there he spent the rest of his life. Mr. Sullivan prospected for gold, silver and copper and made a fortune, but like so many of the prospectors re-invested in other mining prop- ositions. Politically he was a republican. His wife Mary was born at Swansea, Wales, in 1849, and died at Tintic, Utah, in 1874. Their children were as follows : Katherine, who married P. F. Clifford, a merchant of Butte, Montana: Mary, who married R. R. Johnson, lives at No. 23 Main Street, Ana- conda, he being clerk for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company; Margaret, who married W. E. Carpenter, superintendent of a mine in Humboldt, Arizona, and D. S. who lives at Tonopah, Nevada, where he also has mining interests.

Mrs. Johnson attended the public schools of Mich- igan and Arizona, and then became a student of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, taking a three years' course. Following that she attended the De- troit Business College of Detroit, Michigan. For the subsequent eighteen years she was engaged as a teacher in the public schools. for sixteen years of that time being connected with the Lake Linden. Michigan, High School as assistant principal. In 1901 her attention was turned to the West, and she came to Montana, spending her first two years in the state as an instructor of the public schools of Butte. A woman of broad vision with great faith

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in Anaconda, she decided to give practical expres- sion to it by establishing a business college, and in 1904 founded the Anaconda Business College at No. 23 Main Street, where the entire second floor is occupied. Pupils come to this college from the city and surrounding district, and her methods and thoroughness are commended by all who employ her graduates. She is very active as a member of the Anaconda Woman's Club, and was elected the first Republican County Central Committee woman of Deer Lodge County, which office she now holds.

R. R. Johnson came to Montana in 1888, and after a year spent at Butte, became associated with the Anaconda Copper Mining Company and has been a resident of Anaconda ever since. A democrat of influence he was elected on his party ticket as a representative to the Thirteenth General Assembly of Montana from Deerlodge County. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have no children.

JOHN B. COPPO. Strength of purpose, intelli- gently directed, generally brings about a gratifying material advancement. The man who, discovering the calling for which he is best fitted, forges ahead, undeterred by obstacles, undismayed by the chances and changes of life, is the one who reaches his ulti- mate goal. Such a man through his very prosperity proves his worth, for it is impossible for anyone to reach any height of good fortune if he shirks duty, or seeks to lay upon other shoulders the re- sponsibilities his own should bear. Great centers of industry develop men big of heart and brain, for competition acts as a stimulus and brings out the best in a man. John B. Coppo, member of the co-partnership operated under the name of the Butte Plumbing Company, is a man who honors Butte by his residence in the city, and is honored by it in the success to which he has attained.

John B. Coppo was born at Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan, on September 23, 1879, a son of John A. Coppo. The birth of John A. Coppo took place in 1845, at Ponte Canavesse, Piamont, Torino, Italy, and his death occurred at Butte, Montana, on April 20, 1919. Reared in his native place, he early developed a desire to see new places, and even as a boy he traveled through Switzerland, France and Germany, working as an apprentice to the tinsmith- ing trade, and later becoming a journeyman tinsmith. This gave him a variety of experiences, for, accord- ing to the custom of the times and country, he and his employers walked from place to place, crossing the Alps on foot by way of Mount Saint Bernard.

Having tasted of the pleasures of adventure, it was but natural that he should take a further chance, and in 1872, John A. Coppo came to the United States and located at Calumet, Michigan, and there followed mining for two years. Leaving Michigan, he went into the Black Hills during the rush to them after the discovery of gold, and was there from 1878 to 1879, but then returned to Calu- met, and for the next ten years was engaged in its mines. He then came to Montana and continued to work as a miner, being in the employ of the Butte & Boston Company, under Captain Hoatson as superintendent and Charles Palmer as general man- ager, and it was when he was so employed that his death occurred. Upon locating in this country Mr. Coppo declared his intention of becoming a citizen, and after due process of law received his papers, and thereafter lived according to the rules and regu- lations of his adopted country and gave an intelli- gent support to the candidates of the republican party. The Roman Catholic Church had in him an earnest and faithful member.

In 1874 he was married at Calumet to Madaline

Rigano, who was born in 1852, and she survives him and makes her home at Butte. Their children were as follows: Lena, who is the wife of John Lamuth, lives on their ranch in Brown's Gulch, Silver Bow County, Montana, and John B., whose name heads this review.

John B. Coppo attended the public schools of Calumet and Butte, remaining in high school through the sophomore year. He then entered the Butte Business College and after taking the regular course was graduated therefrom in 1897. When only fifteen years old he began working as office boy for J. R. Reed, and then was with the World Messenger Com- pany, but it was not until December 15, 1895, that he entered upon his real career, when on that date he began his apprenticeship to the plumbing trade with the Eschle Plumbing & Heating Company, with which he remained for nine years, becoming a jour- neyman plumber after six years of apprenticeship. Desiring to see a little of the country, Mr. Coppo worked at Boise City, Idaho, and Caldwell, Idaho, and then, in 1904, embarked in business in that city, but sold it in 1906 and returned to Butte, where until May, 1911, he was engaged in working at his trade. He then formed a co-partnership with William De Workin, under the name of the Butte Plumbing Company, and this association is still maintained. The establishment is located at No. 205 South Main Street, and the firm carry on a general heating and plumbing contracting business. Among many other important contracts they have carried out may be mentioned those of the Emmerson and Washington schools, and the Knights of Columbus and Young Men's Chirstian Association buildings, in which the plumbing and heating installation stand as monuments to their skill and fidelity in living up to the spirit as well as letter of their obligations.

The political convictions of Mr. Coppo make him a democrat. In his younger days and up to the year of 1900 he devoted his time and efforts to for- warding the great American sport, "base ball," being manager of Butte's best team in 1898, but in 1899 and 1900 worked as umpire in the Butte City League. As a lover of sport and feeling that his base ball days have gone, he now devotes his time in fishing in summer and plays the good old Scotch game of curling during the winter months. Born and reared in the Roman Catholic Church, he continues a mem- ber of it through sincere conviction. He belongs to Butte Council No. 668, Knights of Columbus, in which he has been made a third degree knight, and also a Butte Lodge No. 240, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, of which he is exalted ruler. Mr. Coppo owns his modern residence at No. 401 South Excelsior Avenue, and he and his partner own the building in which their business is located.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 35

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