Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 48

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 48

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Mr. Bennett has never married. His time and energies have been completely absorbed by railway work. However, he is well known in fraternal cir- cles, is affiliated with Livingston Lodge No. 32, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Livingston Chapter No. 7, Royal Arch Masons, St. Bernard Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar, Livingston Consistory No. I of the Scottish Rite, in which he has attained the thirty-third degree, and Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Helena. He is also a member of Livingston Lodge No. 246 of the Elks and in politics is a republican.

CLINTON HEAD. The record of successful busi- ness men needs no introductory preface among the citizens of the community in which their prosperity has been gained, and Clinton Head is undoubtedly a member of the class just referred to. By his strict personal integrity and honorable dealings, combined with brilliant business qualifications, he has become not only one of the leading merchants of Yellowstone County's smaller communities, but also one of the most highly respected citizens of Pompey's Pillar.

Mr. Head was born at Bedford, Iowa, November 9, 1884, a son of W. T. and Cordelia (Burwell) Head, and a member of a family which, originating in England, was founded in America during colo- nial times. W. T. Head was born at Streator, Illi- nois, and was there reared and received a public school education. He was married at Streator to Cordelia Burwell, who was born in 1846 at Canton, Ohio, daughter of a sister of the late President William Mckinley, and some time after their mar- riage removed to Bedford, Iowa, where Mr. Head engaged in the life insurance business. In 1913 he changed his place of residence to Laurel, Mon- tana, where his death occurred two years later, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Head was also a member. He was a democrat in his political adherence, and during the Civil war fought as a soldier of the Union, having enlisted in an Illinois volunteer infantry regiment. Mrs. Head died at Bedford, Iowa, in 1910. They were the parents of the following children: Lula M., who is the wife of E. G. Moore, engaged in the implement business at Pompey's Pillar; Clyde, who is manager of operations of a large construc- tion company operating in Oklahoma; William, who is a painter by vocation ; Clinton, of this notice; and Edward, recently mustered out of the U. S. army, who is now a resident of Billings.

Clinton Head received his education in the pub- lic schools of Bedford, Iowa, and at the age of seventeen years gave up his high school studies and secured employment in a store near Sheridan, Wyoming. He worked there and at Sheridan for seven years, and in 1908 went to Monarch, Wyoming, where he established himself in the mercantile busi- ness. His success there was enough to encourage him to widen the scope of his operations, and in 1017 he came to Pompey's Pillar, where he pur- chased a general store. This is now the leading commercial establishment in this part of Yellow- stone County, and the trade has been built up through real business ability and untiring enter- prise, coupled with courtesy and an affable, agree- able manner which has gained him many friends.

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In addition to his business Mr. Head is the owner of a modern residence. He is accounted one of his community's live business men and public-spirited citizens, and readily gives his support to all good movements. His politics make him a democrat, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally Mr. Head is affi- liated with Monarch Lodge, Knights of Pythias.

In 1910, at Sheridan, Wyoming, Mr. Head mar- ried Miss Beulah Bateman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Bateman, residents of Monarch, where Mr. Bateman is fire boss in a coal mine. To this union there have come three children: Lucille, born December 31, 1911; Luella, born February 24, 1914; and Laurine, born May 20, 1917.

FREDERICK R. MUNGER has been chef and steward for some of the most noted hotels and cafes in tlie Middle and Far West, and is now proprietor of a high-class restaurant at Lewistown, Mr. Munger has spent practically all his active life in this line of business, and has a natural aptitude and ability for translating raw materials into perfect bills of fare, and has equal ability in managing the sys- tem and complicated running of large hotels and cafes.

Mr. Munger was born in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, October 21, 1878, a son of Thomas Ma- son and Martha A. (Patton) Munger. His father, also a native of Wayne County, Michigan, was a farmer and was also active in public affairs, serv- ing as deputy sheriff of Wayne County for over ten years, most of the time as turnkey in the county jail at Detroit. He was a democrat in politics. He died in March, 1904, at the age of sixty-five. His wife was a native of Chicago, and is still liv- ing at the age of sixty-seven. They were married in Detroit and had three children, Frederick R. being the youngest.

Frederick R. Munger grew up on his father's farm in Wayne County, Michigan, and attended public schools there. At the age of sixteen he went to work for the Gore Hotel Company in Chicago, spending about a year with them and then acquiring a valuable apprenticeship with the Fred Harvey hotel system. He was located in Dodge City, Kansas, and at various other points along the Harvey system of railroad hotels. Later he became connected with the Sherman House at Chicago as chef in the cafe, and presided over the kitchens when the famous College Inn adjunct of the Sherman House was opened. In the spring of 1904 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and. asso- ciated with others, opened the Parliament House, one of the best known and most liberally patron- ized cafes on the grounds of the Louisiana Pur- chase Exposition. He remained in St. Louis as chef and steward for one of the prominent hotels, and in 1907 came to Helena, Montana, and entered the service of the Grandon Hotel as steward for about two years. He then engaged in the restan- rant business for himself at Helena, and since 1911 has been proprietor of a prominent restaurant of Lewistown.

Mr. Munger married March 10, 1904, Miss Nora L. Donavon, a native of Rockford, Illinois, and the youngest of two sons and two daughters of Dennis and Julia (Leary) Donavon. Her parents were both born in Ireland. Her father died in 1885 and her mother is now living at Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Munger have one son, Frederick R., Jr. Mr. Munger is independent in politics and is active in Masonry, being affiliated with Morning Star Lodge No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, at Helena, Hiram Chapter No. 14, Royal

Arch Masons, at Lewistown, also Lewistown Com- mandery No. 15, Knights Templar, and Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Helena and the Scottish Rite Consistory.

HENRY E. SMITH. There is no greater construct- ive work than the proper training of the rising gen- eration, and those who are engaged in it are deserv- ing of highest credit. Some of the finest men and women of the country have and are devoting their lives to this important calling, and one of them de- serving of special mention because of his ability and fidelity to the highest ideals of his profession is Henry E. Smith, superintendent of schools of Three Forks. He was born at Rewey, Wisconsin, Janu- ary 28, 1889, a son of H. J. Smith, born in New York State in 1851, but reared in Wisconsin. H. J. Smith was married at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, to Eliza Walk- er, born in New York State in 1854, and they had the following children born to them: Thomas, who is yardmaster for the Northwestern Railroad, lives at Adams, Wisconsin; Frank, who is a miner of Mifflin, Wisconsin; Gertrude, who married C. D. Streeter, a railroad conductor, lives at Huron, South Dakota; Homer, assistant professor of education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Henry E., who was the fifth in order of birth; Guy, who died at the age of seven years; and Frood, who enlisted in May, 1918, in the United States army for service during the great war, served in France in the Sixth Division of Infantry and became a second lieutenant. Until 1915 H. J. Smith was section foreman of the Northwestern Railroad at Rewey, Wisconsin, but in that year was pensioned and moved to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where he still resides, employed as flag- man for the railroad. He is a republican. Through the medium of the Methodist Episcopal Church he finds religious support and he is active in the local denomination of that body. For a number of years he has been a Mason.

Henry E. Smith attended the public and high schools of Rewey, Wisconsin, being graduated from the latter in 1908, and then for two years taught in Grant County, his native state, in the second year being made principal of a graded school. In order to further perfect himself Mr. Smith then took a course at the Platteville Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1912, and since then has been attending the summer schools at the University of Wisconsin, also taken correspondence courses, and after spending a year at University of Wisconsin, re- ceived his degree in 1920. Between 1912 and 1914 Mr. Smith was principal of the high school at Vernon, Wisconsin, and then for a year was principal of one of the city schools of Reno, Nevada, resigning to accept the superintendency of schools of Three Forks in the fall of 1915. He has 2 schools, II teach- ers and 335 pupils under his supervision, and is noted for his efficiency and his influence over his pupils, who are gaining from him not only a tech- nical knowledge of the various subjects, but a broad outlook on life and a realization of the responsibili- " ties of citizenship. Professionally Mr. Smith belongs to the State Teachers' Association, the Gallatin County Teachers' Association and a member of Gal- latin County Education Examining Board. His fra- ternal connections are with Three Forks Lodge, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons, and Three Forks Chapter No. 29, Royal Arch Masons. He is a valued member of the Three Forks Congregational Church. Like his father, he is a strong republican, although he has limited his political work to supporting the efficient and dynamic candidates and principles of his party. The Smith family residence is at No. 319 Second Avenue, East, and is owned by Mr. Smith.

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On September 2, 1914, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Floy Rose, a daughter of B. B. Rose, a mer- chant of Three Forks. Mrs. Smith was graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Wis- consin, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have a daughter, Audrey, who was born December 27, 1918. They are delightful people socially, and in the intellectual atmosphere of their home an impetus is given to movements looking to- ward the uplift of their community and the advance- ment of humanity.

H. L. CURRIER. The best history of a community or state is the one that deals most with the lives and activities of its people, especially those who, by their own endeavor and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed themselves where they well deserve the title of progressive men. In the following paragraphs will be found the record of one who has pushed steadily forward and at- tained to a splendid success in one of the leading mercantile lines and who has earned a reputation as a man of rare business ability, sound judgment and sterling integrity, qualities that have won for him the universal confidence of the entire com- munity.

H. L. Currier was born at Wautoma, Wisconsin, on the 6th of July, 1881, and is the son of Byron P. Currier, who now resides at Frazee, Minnesota. The latter was born in 1855 in Brattleboro, Vermont, where he was reared and educated. In young man- hood he moved to Wisconsin, of which. he was a pioneer settler, locating at Wautoma, where he be- came a successful farmer. Eventually he moved to Frazee, Minnesota, which has since been his home and since 1914 he has been retired from active busi- ness life. In politics, he gives his support to the republican party, while his religious membership is with the Congregational Church. Mr. Currier mar- ried Amelia Pease, who was born in 1857 in Wis- consin, and whose death occurred at Washburn, North Dakota, where she and her husband lived for about ten years prior to locating in Frazee. H. L. Currier, the immediate subject of this sketch, is the only child living, two others, a boy and girl, dying at an early age.

H. L. Currier was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the public schools of Wautoma. His school attendance was completed at the age of sixteen years and he assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty years of age. Then, for five years, he was employed in a farm implement store in Washburn, North Dakota, where he gained valuable experience as a salesman. His next occupation was in an abstract office at Minot, North Dakota, where he remained for three years. Then, for a similar period, Mr. Currier was a travel- ing salesman, selling stationery to the trade and covering the states of Wisconsin, North Dakota, Texas and New Mexico. During the following five years he traveled out of Chicago, representing a large automobile accessory house in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. In 1914 Mr. Currier came to Montana as a representative of the Studebaker Automobile Company, of South Bend, Indiana, with whom he remained until 1917. In the latter year he became branch manager at Missoula for the Auto Warehouse and Service Com- pany, handling Studebaker cars, until 1918, when he became manager for the local office of the Missoula Motor Company, which position he retained until January 1, 1919. In these various positions, Mr. Currier not only demonstrated extraordinary quali- ties as a salesman, but also proved himself a man of unusual executive and administrative ability and

gained an enviable reputation among those who were familiar with his work. In January, 1919, Mr. Cur- rier bought J. W. Reely's storage plant and imme- diately organized a company known as the Security Warehouse and Storage Company. This company was incorporated, with the following officers: Pres- ident, H. L. Currier; vice president, E. P. Currier ; secretary and treasurer, Adolph Wacker. The com- pany's plant is located on West Cedar Street, along the Bitter Root Railway tracks. They do a general storage and transfer business, the volume of busi- ness being larger than any similar company in Mon- tana outside of Butte. Mr. Currier has been very successful in all his business ventures and owns several residences and other real estate in Missoula.

Politically, he is a republican and, fraternally, is a member of Minot Lodge, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, at Minot, North Dakota, and Washburn Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Wash- burn, North Dakota. He is also a member of the Missoula Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.

In August, 1918, at Conrad, Montana, Mr. Currier was married to Emaline Messersmith, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Messersmith, of Dickerson, North Dakota. Mr. Messersmith was a pioneer set- tler of Dickerson, having erected the first building there, and for many years was a successful stock- man and rancher, being now retired from active labor. Mrs. Currier is a graduate of the North Dakota State Normal School and prior to her mar- riage she had taught school at Dickerson. She is a lady of culture and charming personality and Mr. and Mrs. Currier are popular members of the social circles in which they move. Mr. Currier gives his unreserved support to every movement for the gen- eral good of the community and enjoys the good will of all who know him.

JOHN BOLLINGER is well known among the grain growers of Yellowstone County, being manager for the Powers Elevator Company at Pompey's Pillar. He is a practical grain man, and has spent all his life in the great harvest sections of the Northwest.

Mr. Bollinger was the first white child born at Harvey, North Dakota, on November 23, 1896. His family was among the pioneers and homesteaders of Dakota Territory. His grandfather, Adam Bol- linger, was born in Germany in 1825, and on com- ing to the United States went to the northwestern corn fields and settled at Eureka, South Dakota. His original homestead he still owns, and has ac- cumulated 960 acres. He is still living at the ad- vanced age of ninety-four, and makes his home with his son Adam.

Adam Bollinger, father of John, was born in 1874. and is now living at Medina, South Dakota. After his marriage at Eureka, South Dakota, he moved to Harvey, established his home on a quarter sec- tion of land, where he lived for four years. In 1900 he established the first general merchandise store at Medina, and was also the first mayor of that town and the first representative from that section to the State Legislature. He is still active as a merchant, and is the leading citizen of Me- dina. He is a stand-pat republican in politics, an active supporter of the Baptist Church, is affili- ated with Jamestown Lodge of Elks and has exten- sive farming interests in addition to his business in town. Adam Bollinger married Marguerite Wohl. who was born in South Dakota in 1875. John Bol- linger was the oldest of their children. Rose is unmarried, living with her parents; Albert and Adam both assist their father in his business; Til- lie is a high school student, while Elizabeth and

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William, the youngest, are still in the grade schools.

John Bollinger finished his education in the high schools of Medina and Jamestown, took a business course at Fargo, North Dakota, in 1913, and spent the following year at home with his father. He then entered the service of the Powers Elevator Company, beginning at the bottom of the ladder, working five months at Killdeer, North Dakota, and was then promoted to manager of the local plants. He was there seven months, and on No- vember 22, 1916 was assigned to his present duties as manager at Pompey's Pillar, Montana. He re- gards Montana as his permanent home, and is an active factor in local affairs. He owns a modern home at Pompey's Pillar.

Mr. Bollinger is a republican and a member of the Baptist Church. On July 3, 1917, at Medina, he married Miss Emma Mullinax, a daughter of Mark and Belle (Malcomb) Mullinax, both now deceased. Her father was a Kentucky farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Bollinger have two children, twins, born September 20, 1918, named Donald and Dale.

GLENN B. BLAKESLEE. Among the comparatively young men of Livingston who have forged to the front no better or worthier example than that of Glenn B. Blakeslee, the well-known merchant and a representative business man, could be found. He is known as a man of excellent judgment. Careful in his calculations, resourceful in his dealings and eminently honorable in his relations with others, people have always reposed confidence in his word and his integrity has been above criticism.

Glenn B. Blakeslee was born September 9, 1881, at Port Madison, Lee County, Iowa, and is a son of John G. and Harriet (Russell) Blakeslee. John G. Blakeslee was born at Shintown, Illinois, in 1841, and was there reared and educated. After his marriage, which also occurred there, he took up a homestead in Kansas, where he resided until the birth of his first two children. He then moved to Lee County, Iowa, and was engaged in the dairy business until 1887, when he located in DeSoto, Nebraska, and followed stockraising and farming. In 1889 he located in Bennington, Nebraska, where he operated a grain elevator and bought grain and live stock. Two years later he went to Newport, Rock County, Nebraska, and engaged in the com- mission business, handling live stock and hay. In 1893 he engaged in the commission business in Omaha, Nebraska, but a short time later he went to Oklahoma, where for two years he sold nursery stock. In 1898 he attempted to enlist for the Spanish- American war, but was rejected on account of his age. In 1903 he came to Livingston, Montana, and has made his permanent home with his son, H. D. and Glenn B. John G. Blakeslee married Harriet Russell, who was born in 1844 in Shintown, Illinois, and who died at Weaver, Iowa, in 1886. To this union were born the following children: Lucy is the wife of W. C. Bradford, of Livingston, and who is foreman of a carpenter crew on the Northern Pacific Railroad; Harry D., who is referred to specifically elsewhere in this work; Edward, who died in young manhood; John, who was drowned at Weaver, Iowa, at the age of eight years; and Glenn B. John G. Blakeslee is a republican in his political views. He is to some extent engaged in the real estate business, though is practically re- tired from active life.

Glenn B. Blakeslee received his elementary educa- tion in the public schools at Fremont, Nebraska, supplementing this by attendance at the Fremont Normal School, where he took a business course under Professor William Clemmings. Leaving

school in 1899, he came to Livingston in January of the following year and was employed as civil engineer by the Northern Pacific Railway for a year. Then for another year he was with the Winslow Mercantile Company and for the same length of time he worked in the store of Thompson & Brother. In 1903 his brother Harry D. Blakeslee purchased a partnership in what was then known as Houston & Alkier's, buying Mr. Alkier's interest. When H. D. Blakeslee entered the firm Glenn became asso- ciated with the store, and about a year later he bought Mr. Houston's interest. The firm was then reorganized under the name of Blakeslee Brothers, and continued until Glenn B. bought his brother's interest, January 1, 1914, becoming sole owner. He has now one of the leading stores of Southern Montana and does a business which would be credit- able in a much larger city than Livingston. He handles groceries, tinware, graniteware, crockery and queensware, being the largest dealer in the latter line in Montana. Prompt service, goods of quality and square dealing are the elements which have gained for Mr. Blakeslee the phenomenal business which he now enjoys, a business which shows steady annual gains. Mr. Blakeslee also has many other in- terests, among which are the following: The lead- ing general store at Wilsall; a ranch of 190 acres, known as the Riverside Ranch, located north of the poor farm, 21/2 miles east of Livingston; real estate and mining interests at Cook City, Montana; the washer and fan mill at Cokedale; is a director and the president of the National Mining and Develop- ment Company of Cook City; a stockholder in the Gardiner Cement Works; a stockholder in the Mon- tana Fire Insurance Company of Butte; a stock- holder in the Park Milling Company of Livingston, the Montague Overall Factory, the Livingston Ice Plant, the Montana Spring Wheel Company and the Simplex Auto Wheel Company of Everett, Wash- ington. He was also formerly a stockholder in the Park Creamery, but has disposed of his stock in that company. As a matter of fact Mr. Blakeslee has given his financial and moral support to practically every interest which has given promise of being of material benefit to Livingston. In return he has reaped bountifully himself and is enjoying a richly deserved prosperity.

In 1912, at Livingston, Mr. Blakeslee was married to May Trowbridge, a graduate of the high school at Delavan, Illinois, and the daughter of Frank and Marietta Trowbridge, the former of whom is well known throughout Southern Montana as a breeder of blooded horses. To Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee have been born the following children: Marietta, born September 8, 1914; Russell Glenn, August 8, 1916; Robert Franklin, April 29, 1919.

Politically Mr. Blakeslee gives his earnest support to the republican party, while his religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which local organization at Livingston he has been a trustee for the past five years. Fraternally he is a member of Zephyr Camp No. 151, Woodmen of the World, Yellowstone Lodge No. 10, Knights of Pythias, and Livingston Lodge No. 246, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Livingston Chamber of Commerce. He is strongly attached to the city of his residence and in which he has concentrated his business activities, and he now occupies an enviable place in the confidence of his fellow citizens.

HARRY D. BLAKESLEE. One of the leading citizens and representative business men of Livingston is Harry D. Blakeslee. His has been an active and use- ful life, but the limited space at the disposal of the

Mrs G. B. Blakeslee.

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biographer forbids more than a casual mention of the leading events in his career, which will suffice to show that earnest endeavor and honesty of pur- pose, rightly applied and persistently followed, will lead to success. He is a man of influence in local affairs and is looked upon as a man in thorough sympathy with any movement looking toward the betterment or advancement in any way of his com- munity, where he is regarded as worthy of the con- fidence and respect accorded him by his fellow citizens.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 48

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