Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 5

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 5

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Clement J. Baldwin attended the public schools of Willmar, Minnesota, and then took a business course in the Willmar Seminary, which he completed at the age of eighteen years, going to work for the whole- sale cigar firm of Winecke & Doerr of Minneapolis, Minnesota, with which he remained for seven years and then, in May, 1902, located at Bridger and estab- lished the Baldwin Lumber Company, Incorporated, of which he is president. The main yards are at Bridger, on Main Street, and the company has branches at Fromberg and Belfry, Montana. In addition to his large interests in his lumber company Mr. Baldwin owns his residence at Bridger, the yards and offices occupied by the lumber company, and 665 acres of irrigated land on Dry Creek, Carbon County, Montana.

Mr. Baldwin has been very active in politics, work- ing always as a republican. Elected to the Bridger City Council, his record in that body made him the Vol. II-2

logical candidate of his party for mayor, and he was elected to that office by a very gratifying majority, and he was returned for a second term. There were so many measures before the public that needed a strong man to push them that Mr. Baldwin was selected for assemblyman, and has been re-elected twice, having served continuously as the representa- tive from Carbon County from 1914. During his service in the Legislature he has been chairman of the committee on banks and banking, and a member of the committees of ways and means, railroads and transportation and trades and commerce, and was vice chairman of the ways and means committee. He introduced and had passed the bill which divided the high school funds equally among all the high schools in the county according to the number of students, which previously had all been given to the county high school; the bill which exempted real estate and chattel mortgages from taxation by the state, and these bills are now on the statute books. Mr. Baldwin has always served the best interests of his constituents, and that they appreciate his abili- ties and willingness to devote himself to the good of his district is practically demonstrated by his reten- tion in office.

CHARLES WIPER. Just as there are no rules for building character, so are there no fixed rules for achieving success. The individual who can arise from mediocrity to a position of recognized emi- nence is he who can recognize and utilize the op- portunities that appear before him. The es- sential conditions of human existence are ever the same; the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly, and when on the highway leading to the goal of prosperity one man passes others who per- haps started out before him, it is because he pos- sesses the power to use advantageously the oppor- tunities which are given to all. Of the men of Lewistown who in their careers have made the most of the chances which have been given them, Charles Wiper, cashier of the Empire Bank and Trust Company, is an excellent example.

Mr. Wiper was born at Forman, the county seat of Sargent County, North Dakota, October 31, 1885, a son of Robert and Mary (Coleman) Wiper. His father, who was born in Scotland and came to the United States in young manhood, was origi- nally a coal miner, but eventually developed into

HISTORY OF MONTANA

a prosperous wheat raiser and stockman of North Dakota, where both he and his wife, who was a native of Pennsylvania, passed away. Mr. Wiper was a republican and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Of the twelve children in the family eleven are living, and Charles was the eleventh in order of birth.

Charles Wiper received good educational advan- tages in his youth, first attending the little public school at Forman and then being sent to the North Dakota Agricultural College at Fargo. His first position was with the Ransom County State Bank at Sheldon, North Dakota, where he acted as book- keeper and subsequently held a like position at Bow- bells, that state, with the First National Bank. From the latter position he went to the Citizens State Bank of Ryder, of which institution he was for seven years cashier, and then removed to Win- nett, Montana, where he became one of the organ- izers of the Winnett State Bank. Mr. Wiper re- mained as cashier of the latter bank until January, 1918, when he was called to his present position as cashier of the Empire Bank and Trust Company at Lewistown. Mr. Wiper has impressed his abil- ity not only upon his associates, but on the public in general, and his personal popularity has con- tributed toward the success of the institution which he represents and which has a high standing among the finanical concerns of Fergus County. Mr. Wiper is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 115, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Winnett, having been first past master of this lodge; Hiram Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons; Lewistown Commandery No. 14, Knights Templar; Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine; and Lewistown Lodge No. 456, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a republican.

Mr. Wiper was married June 19, 1915, to Miss Elsa Baldwin, and they are the parents of one son, Thomas.

RAY A. LATHOM is a native son of Montana. He was born in Livingston January 30, 1891. He is one of the progressive young leaders in politics in Stillwater County and he is now in his second term of service as county clerk.

His father, George D. Lathom, is an old timer of Montana, and has lived in the state nearly forty years. He was born at Gallatin, Missouri, in 1860, son of John D. Lathom, a Missouri pioneer and a farmer, who spent his last years in that state. George D. Lathom came to Montana in 1882 and for a dozen years rode the cattle range as a cowboy. Most of his work was done in Yellowstone Valley near Livingston. In 1894 he homesteaded 160 acres in what is now Stillwater County, and that quarter section is part of the present ranch and farm of 230 acres. This farm is in the irrigated section and is highly productive both as a grain and stock ranch. George D. Lathom is a democrat in politics. His home is on Stillwater River, six miles south- west of Columbus. He married Mary L. Denny, who was born in 1869. Ray is the oldest of their children. Myrtle is the wife of Stanley Milan, a farmer, machinist and automobile expert living. at Great Falls. Mattie is a teacher in Stillwater County. Earl is on the home farm, while Lemuel and Lyle live with their brother Ray and attend school at Columbus.

Ray Lathom was educated in the rural schools of Stillwater County, in the high school at Columbus, and was in the Abbott Business College at Billings until 1908. The next four years his time was em- ployed chiefly in surveying in what is now Still-

water County and at Lander, Wyoming. During 1912 and until March 24, 1913, he was a driver of automobiles. Upon the organization of the county government of Stillwater County he became deputy county clerk, and in 1916 was elected chief of that office and re-elected in 1918.

Mr. Lathom has had six years of experience in the National Guard. He enlisted in Company K of the Montana National Guard in 1907 and served a full period of three years. In 1911 he enlisted in Company B of the Wyoming National Guards at Lander and again served three years. He went in as first rank and duty sergeant, and was promoted to top sergeant and later to acting second lieutenant.

Mr. Lathom is a republican, is affiliated with Stillwater Lodge No. 62, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, at Columbus, Billings Lodge No. 394 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Columbus Camp No. 842, Woodmen of the World, and is an active member of the Stillwater Commercial Club.

Mr. Lathom has a modern home at the corner of A Street and Third Avenue, North, in Columbus. He married Miss Birdie F. Hunter, of Missoula, July 6, 1915. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Hunter, reside at Missoula, where her father is foreman in the stockyards of the Northern Pacific Railway.

HAROLD FREDERICK FORSYTH, chief draughtsman of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, has been advanced to positions of added responsibility and dignity because of his ability and fitness for the discharge of their duties. He was born at Ham- mond. New Brunswick, Canada, September 25, 1882, a son of R. W. Forsyth, also born at Hammond, in 1845. He died at Port Townsend, Washington, in 1912, to which he went in 1889, and was there en- gaged in contracting and building. At Hammond he had owned and operated a sawmill, and been suc- cessful with it. After coming to the United States and securing his citizen's papers he espoused the principles of the republican party. A member of . the Episcopal Church. he actively supported it. A brother of his. David Forsyth, is an archdeacon of the church in New Brunswick, Canada. R. W. Forsyth was a Mason, and well known in his order. The maiden name of his wife was Annie M. Drum- mond, and she was born in Upham, New Brunswick. Canada, in 1855. She survives him and makes her home at Anaconda. Harold F. Forsyth is the only living child of his parents.

But a child when his father moved to Port Townsend, Washington. Harold F. Forsyth was reared there and attended its public schools, and was graduated from its high school in 1809. For the subsequent two years he worked on the daily paper there, and then for three years was in the employ of the government in the construction work of coast defense fortifications, in the engineer- ing department, as draughtsman and instrument man. Realizing the need of technical training, Mr. Forsyth then entered the State University at Seattle, Washington, and completed the junior year in the engineering course, after which he returned to the government service and remained in it for three and one-half years, being employed on the con- struction of the Gray's Harbor Jetty at Aberdeen, Washington. Mr. Forsyth then went with the Washington State Highway Department and for two years was occupied with the construction of high- way bridges, and for one vear was construction engineer for Charles C. Moore & Company of San Francisco, California, during that period being occupied on the construction of a power plant at

MaCalam

HISTORY OF MONTANA

Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1912 he was with the American Smelting & Refining Company as de- signer at their smelter at Tacoma. Washington. His work in these connections brought him to the notice of the Seattle Port Commission and his serv- ices were secured as district engineer for the con- struction of large docks and water terminals on the water front of Seattle. In 1916 Mr. Forsyth came to the American Smelting & Refining Com- pany again, as a designer at their smelter at Salt Lake City, Utah. During February, 1917, Mr. Forsyth formed his connections with the Ana- conda Copper Mining Company, first being a de- signer in the general offices, but was soon advanced to be construction superintendent, and then chief draughtsman, which position is commensurate with his ability and varied experience. He has under his supervision twenty-four dranghtsmen, with offices in the general office building of the Washoe Reduction Works, two miles east of Anaconda. Mr. Forsyth is an independent republican. He belongs to the Episcopal Church and is a Mason, a member of Acacia Lodge No. 33, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Anaconda. The Anaconda Club, the Anaconda Country Club, and the Greek letter col- lege fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, hold his member- ship and interest. Mr. Forsyth resides at No. 602 Maple Street, Anaconda. He is unmarried.

HERMAN CARL PAGENKOPF, manager of the Stone, Ordean, Wells Company, is one of the enterprising men of Butte who has risen to his present position through business merit and personal aptitude. He was born near Belgard, Pommerania, Germany, on April 7, 1877. a son of Albert H. Pagenkopf, born in 1851 in Pommerania, Germany, where he was reared, educated and married. By trade he was a flour miller, and came to the United States in 1887, locating at Hastings, Nebraska, where he still re- sides, being now retired, although after coming to this country he was engaged as a general workman. He is a democrat and a member of the Lutheran Church. With all young men in Germany, Albert H. Pagenkopf received a training in the German army during his obligatory military service. His wife bore the maiden name of Augusta Boehlke, and she was born in Germany on October 1. 1854. They became the parents of the following children : Herman Carl, whose name heads this review; Paul E., who is a rancher and lives at Hamilton, Mon- tana, is specializing in the production of White Leg- horn chickens, and was for fourteen years an em- ploye of the Butte Street Railway Company as con- ductor ; Emma, who married J. Albert Van Schoik, Jr., a dairyman, proprietor of the White Clover Dairy Farm of Red Bank, New Jersey; Alma, who married Roy Schuffeberger, of Moorfield, Nebraska, a rancher, died at Hastings, Nebraska, on May 10. 1919: Emil who is city salesman for the Capitol Commission Company of Helena. Butte and Great Falls, Montana, is a resident of Butte; Minnie, who married Roy C. Roote, a teamster of Springfield, Massachusetts ; Otto, who is a veteran of the World war, resides at Davenport, Iowa, where he is an electrician ; William O., who is also a veteran of the World war, was in the Officers Training Camp at Camp Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, and is now associated with his brother-in-law. J. A. Van Schoik, Jr., in the dairy business at Red. Bank, New Jersey ; Fred C., who is now on his homestead near Man- ville. Wyoming, has recently been mustered out of the United States army after eighteen months over- seas during the World war; and Anna, who is living with her parents.

Herman Carl Pagenkopf was educated in the pub-

lic schools of Hastings, Nebraska, and was graduated from its high school in 1895, and until 1901 was a clerk in a grocery at Hastings, Nebraska, leaving that city for Butte, which he reached on May 3, 1901. For the following four years he clerked for Lutey Brothers, and then became a salesman for the National Biscuit Company, covering Butte and western Montana, and leaving that corporation to occupy the same position for the Bozeman Milling Company, with headquarters at Butte, although his territory included western Montana and southern Idaho, with which he remained until July 1, 1914. He then became manager for the Butte branch of the Stone, Ordean, Wells Company, with offices at the corner of Wyoming and Iron Streets, Butte. Mr. Pagenkopf's territory covers both Helena and Butte and extends from Wolf Creek on the north to the Idaho line on the south, and from Logan, Mon- tana, on the east, to Deer Lodge, Montana, on the west.

In his political affiliations Mr. Pagenkopf is an independent voter, but his business responsibilities havebeen too onerous for his assumption of a pub- lic character. Both by inheritance and conviction he is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Pagen- kopf belongs to Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 24, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Deer Lodge Chapter No. 3. Royal Arch Masons; Zabud Council No. 2, Royal and Select Masters; and Butte Council No. 106, United Commercial Travelers. He owns a modern residence at No. 1820 South Gaylord Ave- nue, Butte, and real estate in Salt Lake City, Utah.

On September 26, 1906, Mr. Pagenkopf was united in marriage at Butte to Miss Mabel Genevieve Davis, a daughter of Charles E. and Eliza Jane (McTucker) Davis. A sound, reliable and dependable business man, Mr. Pagenkopf has proved his value to his company and his community and is held in the high- est esteem by all who know him. During the period he was on the road he learned the needs of patrons, and so is able to order the affairs of his present concern much more intelligently than if he had not acquired his knowledge by practical experience and first hand contact with those with whom the com- pany is carrying on business. Having made Butte his headquarters for so many years, Mr. Pagenkopf is naturally very much interested in its present and future, and willing and anxious to do everything that lies within his power to bring about a normal and healthy expansion of business. Such men as he are valuable additions to any community, and deserve the consideration they generally command.

W. L. A. CALDER, attorney-at-law, is engaged in a civil practice at Laurel. He was born at Ottawa City, Province of Ontario, Canada, April 12, 1875, a son of W. G. Calder, now a resident of Inkster, North Dakota. The Calder family originated in the Highlands of Scotland, but members of it came in an early day to Canada, and W. G. Calder was born in County Glengarry in 1839, but was married in County Stormont, Canada, and thereafter until 1891 lived in the City of Ottawa, Canada, or the near vicinity, where he carried on a business as a car- penter and contractor. In 1891 he came to the United States and spent some years at Forest River, North Dakota, leaving them in 1899 for Inkster, that state, where he is still working actively at his trade. In 1918 he came to Laurel to erect an apartment house and a number of private residences for his son, W. L. A. Calder, and when the contract was completed, returned to Inkster. He is a republican. but while living in Canada was one of the original Orange Men. The Methodist Episcopal Church holds his membership. Fraternally he is an Odd

HISTORY OF MONTANA

Fellow. W. G. Calder was married to Dorothy Logan, born in County Stormont, Canada. Her father, who was born at sea, became a surgeon and served with the British forces in India and Australia, and on board an ocean steamer plying up the St. Lawrence River to Quebec before he settled in the Province of Ontario, Canada, becoming one of the pioneer physicians and surgeons of that region, and oftentimes riding for a radius of 100 miles to see his patients. The children born to W. G. Calder and his wife were as follows: Margaret, who mar- ried W. T. Saunders, a ranchman, and resides at Laurel, Montana; Lucy, who married W. E. Cham- berlin, a merchant and extensively interested in farm lands in Yellowstone County, Montana, and North Dakota, resides at Laurel; W. L. A., whose name heads this review ; Mary, who married Harry Parker, resides at Livingston, Montana; Dorothy, who mar- ried L. G. Gemmill, a ranchman, resides near Laurel; and Lilly, who married a Mr. P. E. Sorensen, a banker, resides at Wheaton, Minnesota.

W. L. A. Calder attended the public schools of Eastern Ontario, Canada, and the University of North Dakota, being graduated from the normal de- partment in 1899 and from the law department in 1905. In the latter year he began the practice of his profession at Grand Forks, North Dakota, leav- ing there in 1909 for Laurel, where he has since re- mained. His offices are located in the Spencer- McCauley Block. Mr. Calder is an able lawyer and his practice is a large and valuable one. He has demonstrated his faith in the future of Laurel and Yellowstone County by investing quite heavily in its realty, owning a modern residence at the corner of Fifth Street and Fifth Avenue, an apartment house and four bungalows at Laurel and a ranch of 160 acres outside the city. Both by inheritance and conviction he is a republican. Fraternally he belongs to Grand Forks Lodge No. 255, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Grand Forks, North Dakota; Grand Forks Camp, Modern Woodmen of America; Manvel Lodge, Brotherhood of American Yeomen; and the Grand Forks Lodge of United Order of Foresters. He maintains membership pro- fessionally with the Yellowstone County Bar Asso- ciation and the Montana State Bar Association.

In 1900 Mr. Calder was married at Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Miss Louise McDonald, a daughter of James and Catherine (Wickam) McDonald. Mr. McDonald, who is now deceased, was at one time a ranchman of Grand Forks County, North Da- kota. Mr. and Mrs. Calder have two children, Cath- erine, who was born December 24, 1907, and W. L. A., who was born February 7, 1911. .

DAVID HILGER. A life of larger and broader serv- ice to his home state of Montana it would be difficult to conceive than that of David Hilger of Lewistown. Mr. Hilger has lived in Montana over fifty years, his father was a distinguished charac- ter at Helena, and the son has been even more prominent in the making of history at Lewistown. His has been fundamental activities. They have been concerned with the improvement and devel- opment of land, the opening of new resources, the establishment of important industries and institu- tions, and the working out of an enlightened pro- gram of improvement affecting not only Lewis- town but the state at large.

Some reference should be made at the beginning to his father, the late Nicholas Hilger. Nicholas Hilger was born in the Duchy of Luxemburg, Octo- ber 28, 1831, a son of Daniel and Susanna (Evert) Hilger. In 1847 the entire family came to America, first locating at Buffalo, New York. In 1854 Nicho-

las Hilger went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and soon afterwards settled at Henderson in that territory. He became prominent in the early affairs of Min- nesota Territory, serving as justice of the peace, holding a position in the United States Land Office, helped take the census of Minnesota preparatory to statehood and was elected county auditor, an office he held from 1857 to 1864. He also held a commission as captain of a regiment in the state militia.

He first came to Montana in 1864 as a member of the Sully Expedition, which arrived at Helena September 27, 1864. While in Montana he was appointed the first deputy recorder for Edgerton County. On June 1, 1865, he started east to get his family, but was delayed in Minnesota, for some time by his business interests and did not return until 1867. He developed a large farm and ranch on the Missouri River and was active in public affairs as justice of the peace and probate judge. Nicholas Hilger married in 1857 Susanna Moerseh, of Minnesota.

David Hilger was born in Minnesota, January 1, 1858, the oldest of the ten children of his parents. He was old enough to enjoy and appreciate the excitement and the constantly unfolding wonders of the three months' journey overland to Montana. The Hilger family was part of a large colony of sixty families and 300 single men, one of the larg- est and most important additions to the citizen- ship of the territory. David Hilger grew up at Helena, finished his education there, and became a cattle and sheep raiser in Lewis and Clarke County. His interests increasing and demanding a larger scope of range, he moved in 1881 to Dog Creek in the northern part of Fergus County, a date that identifies him with the very early pioneer settle- ment of that part of the state. He began with a small flock of sheep and meager equipment, but in the course of twelve years had become one of the dominant men in the sheep industry of Mon- tana.

Mr. Hilger is properly credited with being one of the men most influential in the upbuilding and promotion of Lewistown as a commercial city. Gradually as his ranch holdings were sold off he concentrated his interests at Lewistown. He and George W. Cook became associated in the real estate business, and in course of time out of this grew the Hilger Loan & Realty Company, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the state, with Mr. Hilger as president. He and other business men organized the Judith Hardware Company in 1890, a business that has drawn to itself some of the most capable men in that section of the state. Mr. Hilger was long president of the com- pany. For seventeen years he served as vice presi- dent and as president of the First National Bank of Lewistown, resigning the latter office on Janu- ary 9, 1917. He has since been chairman of the board of directors of the bank. In April, 1910, he organized the Flat Willow Ranch Company, own- ing 3,500 acres of land, and is president of the company. On December 27, 1910, he organized the Fergus County Land and Irrigation Company, of which he is president. These are important proj- ects for the irrigation and reclamation of large bodies of land in Fergus County.

There is hardly a man of more versatile abili- ties and accomplishments than David Hilger in the State of Montana. For years his has been a dis- tinguished name in the democratic party, but his prominence in politics is due primarily to the dis- interested work he has accomplished in behalf of the public welfare. Politics with him is incidental

HISTORY OF MONTANA

to a genuine and sincere public spirit and public service. In the spring of 1894 he was appointed register of the United States Land Office at Lewis- town, and at that time made his home in the city. He served four years. He was selected to pre- side over the first County Democratic Convention held in Fergus County, and was chairman of the first County Central Committee, and also chairman of the first Democratic Municipal Convention in Lewistown. At considerable sacrifice of his pri- vate interests he served as a member of the Eighth Legislature in 1903-04, participating in the two ex- tra sessions of that assembly. one ' to appropriate money for a Montana exhibit at St. Louis in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and the other to consider the Fair Trial Bill which was made a law. This recalls a more recent service when by ap- pointment of Governor Stewart he was made chair- man of the Montana Commission of the Panama- Pacific Exposition at San Francisco in 1915. This commission had in charge the expenditure of a sum of $78,000, $50,000 having been appropriated by the Legislature and $28,000 subscribed by the citizens. The record of Montana in the Panama-Pacific Ex- position is a notable one and is described in detail in the general history of that exposition.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 5

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