Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 64

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 64

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Dr. Smith was born at Van Wert, Ohio, September 3, 1868, of English ancestry, but of a family that has been in America since colonial times. His ancestors first settled in Pennsylvania. His grand- father, George W. Smith, was born at Basil, Olio, in 1816, and spent most of his life at Basil and Van Wert. He was a millwright by trade, and was also one of the builders of the Ohio Canal. He lived retired at Baltimore, Ohio, where he died in 1892. His wife was Elizabeth Reese, a native of Ohio who died at Baltimore.

Amos Smith, father of Dr. Smith, was born at Basil, Ohio, in 1841, and has spent all his life there with the exception of one year in Nebraska. He has had various business interests, operated flour and saw mills and also doing much contract work. He is now retired. Amos Smith is quite well known in Billings, where he has spent four summers. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in the Seventeenth Ohio Infantry. He was color bearer of his regiment and was all through the trouble, participating in such notable battles as Shiloh, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, siege of Vicksburg, and with Sherman on the march to the sea. He has been a republican for over fifty years, and for the past sixteen years has served on the election board, and religiously he is a Methodist. Amos Smith married Flora Mumaugh, who was born in Van Wert, Ohio, in 1847. They have six children, Edward Sherman, who was a machinist and was struck by lightning in South Dakota June 14, 1893; N. B .; Mary Eliza- beth, who is unmarried and living with her parents ;

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William M., a physician and veterinary who was in the Government service when he died at Cincinnati, Ohio, January 29, 1919; Walter C., living on a ranch near Billings; and Grace Henrietta, the wife of Vernon D. Johnson, a civil engineer living at Elkton, Virginia.

N. B. Smith was educated in the public schools in Ohio, and found employment at home until he was twenty-nine years of age. In the meantime, in 1893, he graduated from the Ohio State University with the degree D. V. M., and for seven years had a busy practice in his home community. In 1894, the year after his graduation, he was appointed a member of the State Board of Examiners for veterinarian by Governor Mckinley, serving two years, the short term, and was then reappointed for the long term of six years by Governor Bushnell.

Doctor Smith resigned from this position to enter the Bureau of Animal Industry in 1900. His services with that branch of the Federal Government re- quired his presence at Kansas City, Missouri, where he represented the bureau in the packing houses. In 1902 he was transferred to Billings, and in 1907 was transferred to the stock yards at Omaha and did field work for the bureau until June, 1914. At that date he resigned to become deputy state veteri- narian at Billings. For a number of years he has also carried on a large private practice, and has completely equipped offices and stables at 202 North Twenty-fourth Street. Doctor Smith also owns a fine irrigated ranch of 160 acres six miles west of Billings. His modern home is at 2411 Second Avenue, North.

Doctor Smith is a republican, a member of the Methodist Church, and is affiliated with Basil Lodge No. III, Knights of Pythias, in Ohio.

May 28, 1909, at Kansas City, Missouri, he mar- ried Miss Anna North. She was born at Kansas City and was educated there. She is the daughter of James O. North, who was born in Kentucky in 1836, lived in his native state to the age of twenty- one, and at the beginning of the Civil war joined the Confederate Army and was all through the period of hostilities as a bugler in a regiment under the command of General Joe Shelby. He died at Kansas City October 6, 1910. He was a democrat and a Baptist in religion. Mr. North married Mollie Julia Clause, who was born in Missouri in 1860, and is still living near Holt in that state. Doctor and Mrs. Smith have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, born September 2, 1914.

ELIOT W. KEENE. A true type of the energetic, public-spirited and enterprising business men who have contributed largely toward the growth and advancement of the industrial and mercantile inter- ests of their home city is Eliot W. Keene, of Bil- lings, a widely known and successful shoe merchant and automobile dealer. A son of G. S. Keene, he was born in Gallatin, Daviess County, Missouri, July 25, 1876, of English lineage, his immigrant ancestor having come from England to America in colonial times, settling in Virginia. His grandfather, George Keene, a prominent physician and surgeon, and a veteran of the Mexican war, spent his entire life in Kentucky, dying in Louisville prior to 1876. He married a Miss Ballard, a beautiful Kentucky maiden.

G. S. Keene was born in 1843 in Louisville, Ken- tucky, and was there reared and educated. Migrating to Missouri in early manhood, he bought a tract of wild land, and with toilsome perseverance, laboring in winter's cold and summer's heat, he placed it under a good state of cultivation, enduring at first the usual hardships, dangers and difficulties of pioneer life. Coming from there to Montana in

1910, he bought a ranch near Billings, his land adjoining Broadwater Avenue, a valuable piece of property which he still owns, although he has lived retired from the activities of business since 1916, his home being in Billings. Politically he invariably casts his ballot with the democratic party. He mar- ried Lavina Hubbard, who was born in Daviess County, Missouri, in 1849, and into the household thus established nine children were born, including : Olivia, wife of Charles D. Wynne, of Bozeman, Montana, a painter and decorator; Laura, who mar- ried O. M. McCarty, of Billings, a teamster ; Worth, a rancher residing five miles west of Billings; Eliot W., the subject of this sketch; May, wife of Simon Shackelford, an agriculturist living on his ranch five miles west of Billings; Love, living with her parents, is the widow of Lawrence Cushman, who was killed in 1918 in an auto accident at Logan, Montana; Hattie married H. O. Hyatt, assistant manager of the Great Western Sugar Company at Lovell, Wyoming; and Georgia, wife of Oscar White, a machinist in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railway Company, with his home in Livingston, Montana.

Receiving his preliminary training in the rural schools of his native county, Eliot W. Keene com- pleted his early education at the Gallatin High School. Reared to agricultural pursuits, he remained on the home farm until nineteen years old, when he made a trip to Yellowstone National Park. Return- ing by way of the Yellowstone River, he walked from the river over the trail to Bozeman, Montana, where, with the Nelson Story Milling Company, he learned the trade of a carpenter and millwright, serving an apprenticeship of two years. Coming to Billings in 1899, Mr. Keene followed the carpenter's trade two years, and was subsequently associated with the Billings Brewing Company four years. Being then under the administration of W. B. George, appointed street commissioner, he filled the office for two years. During that time the foundation for the Billings City Hall was made, one of the men employed by Mr. Keene in the work having been Tom Stout, who made his first appearance as a workman in Montana at that time.

Mr. Keene was afterward employed as a contrac- tor and builder until 1913, in that industry carrying on an extensive business. He constructed a part of the large building belonging to the Billings Brew- ery: the J. R. Scott Building; the Raedemaker Building on Broadway; fourteen fine residences in Billings, in the meantime moving fourteen times, as he assumed possession of each house as soon as it was completed, and had to move as he disposed of each; and various other of the more important buildings of the city. In 1913, forming a partnership with L. E. Garrison, he established the Keene- Garrison Shoe Store, it being the largest and most up-to-date store of the kind in Montana, and still owns a half interest in the business. During the same year Mr. Keetie embarked in the automobile trade, being agent for the Cadillac car for a year, hut since that time has handled the Oldsmobile cars. The Montana Oldsmobile Service Station and sales- room is located at 112 North Twenty-ninth Street, where courteous and prompt attention are given each and every patron. Mr. Keene is president of the firm, and as sales agent covers a territory em- bracing the whole of Montana and Northern Wyo- ming. Along the Rim Rock, adjoining Billings, Mr. Keene has a beautiful home, which with its attractive surroundings makes one of the most valnable and desirable estates in the vicinity.

Mr. Keene married in 1901, in Billings, Miss Teresa Blackford, who was graduated from the high school in Shelby County, Missouri. Her par-

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ents, Andrew and Mary (Thomas) Blackford, are residents of Billings, her father being a retired agri- culturist. Mr. and Mrs. Keene have slx children, namely: Ellsworth, born March 25, 1902, is now, in 1919, a sophomore at the Saint Thomas and. Saint Paul College, a military school; Frances, born in 1904, attends the Billings High School; August, born in 1907; Merry Nell, born in 1909; Ruth, born in 1910; and Catherine, born in 1915. Politically Mr. Keene advocates the principles of the democratic party. Socially he belongs to the Billings Midland Empire Club, and fraternally he is an ex-member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

CHESTER R. INGLE. A worthy representative of the Yellowstone County bar, Chester R. Ingle, of Billings, possesses a large measure of genuine talent, a distinctive personality, and a legal knowledge and skill that have brought him success in his profes- sional career and won him an honored position among his fellowmen, both as a man and as a lawyer. A son of John H. Ingle, he was born at Burt, Iowa, May 4, 1880, on the paternal side being of pure Dutch ancestry, the founder of the Ingle family in America having come from Holland to this country, while on the maternal side he is of Irish descent.

Born in Virginia in 1854, John H. Ingle was a small child when his parents removed to Tennessee, where he was brought up and educated, as a boy and youth being well drilled in the many branches of agriculture. Realizing that more favorable op- portunities for improving and advancing one's financial condition were offered young men of in- dustry and ability in the West, he made his way in early manhood to Iowa, settling in Burt, Kossuth County, where he subsequently bought land, and in addition to carrying on general farming most profit- ably was for many years successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1891 he removed with his family to Guymon, Oklahoma, and is still residing in that place, being one of the foremost farmers and stockmen of Texas County. He is an independent democrat in politics, but takes no active part in public matters. He married Mary McChesney, who was born in Troy, New York, in 1859, and of their union five children have been born, as follows : Guy, a farmer, resides in Liberal, Kansas; Chester R .; Roy of Omaha, Nebraska, is associated with an automobile company as machinist; Olive, wife of William Brown, a garage owner in Wichita, Kansas; and Ruth, living with her parents.

Accompanying his parents to Kansas in childhood, Chester R. Ingle acquired his rudimentary education in the public schools, in 1898 being graduated from the high school at Liberal, Kansas. Ambitious then to further advance his knowledge of books, he attended the normal school at Stockton, Kansas, and in 1904 was graduated from Campbell Uni- versity at Holton, Kansas, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Immediately locating at Liberal, Kansas, he opened a law office, and during the seven years he remained in that place built up an excellent practice, at the same time establishing a wide reputa- tion for legal ability and skill. Going to Bremerton, Washington, in 1911, he was there successfully engaged in his professional work for two years. In 1913, hoping to make a permanent location in some wide-awake city, Mr. Ingle came to Montana, settling in Billings, with his office at Room 2, Belknap Building, and his residence at 1141 Miles Avenue.

A formidable opponent in any cause, be it civil

or criminal, Mr. Ingle labors unweariedly in the interests of his clients, and his efforts have been generously rewarded, his practice having became ex- tensive. A man of good financial foresight, Mr. Ingle has made judicious investments, among his other landed holdings being a valuable ranch of 600 acres situated twelve miles northwest of Billings, which he wisely devotes to the raising of grain, in his agricultural experiments meeting with gratifying results. He is a stanch republican in his political views, and while a resident of Bremerton, Washing- ton, served as city attorney.

In 1907, at Stockton, Kansas, Mr. Ingle was united in marriage with Miss Beth Bartholomew, a daugh- ter of Elan and Rachel ( Montgomery) Bartholomew, of Stockton. Her father, Mr. Bartholomew, is a botanist of national reputation, and his son Albert, who has an equal knowledge of that science that treats of plants, is professor of botany at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin in Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Ingle have one child, Chester, born January 30, 191I.

FRANK VON ESCHEN, manager of the Billings branch of the Ryan Grocery Company, is one of the most enterprising and reliable young business men of Yellowstone County, where he is most well and favorably known. He was born at Shelby, Iowa, March 25, 1886, a son of F. Von Eschen, born in Switzerland in 1847. He died at Shelby, Iowa, in 1895, having been brought in his boyhood by his parents to the United States. Settlement was made in Wisconsin, and there he was reared, but after his marriage he moved to Shelby, Iowa, and con- tinued farming the remainder of his life. The Lutheran Church had in him an earnest and stead- fast member. F. Von Eschen was married to a lady whose first name was Rosa, and they had the following children: George, who resides at Shelby, Iowa, where he is engaged in merchandising ; Florian, who is a professor of Willamette College of Salem, Oregon; Edward, who is a manufacturer of operat- ing tables for physicians, resides at Kirksville, Mis- souri; Ben, who is a farmer of Shelby, Iowa; Aaron, who is also a farmer of Shelby, Iowa; and Frank, who was the youngest.

Frank Von Eschen attended the public schools of Shelby, Iowa, and was graduated from its high school in 1904, following which he took a com- mercial course at Boyles Business College at Omaha, Nebraska. He then entered the employ of the Pacific Express Company at Omaha, leaving it at the expiration of a year to go with Adams & Kelley, wholesale sash and door, of Omaha, with which he remained for another year. In 1907 Mr. Von Eschen came to Billings, and was first employed by Yegen Brothers, Incorporated, as stenographer and general office worker. After a year he repre- sented this company on the road, but a year later returned to the office. In 1914 G. W. Ryan bought the wholesale grocery department of Yegen Brothers, and Mr. Von Eschen went with him as an office employe. So efficient did he prove himself that in 1916 he was made manager of the Billings branch, and the development of this department since he has taken charge of it justifies the confidence dis- played in him by Mr. Ryan. The offices of this branch are located at No. 2816 Minnesota Avenue, and the headquarters of the company, operating as the Ryan Grocery Company, are also at Billings. Other firms associated with this company are the Ryan Mercantile Company, of Great Falls, Montana ; and the Ryan Havre Company, at Havre, Montana. Mr. Von Eschen is an independent republican. Well known in Masonry, he belongs to Ashlar Lodge No. 29, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. So-

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cially he is a member of the Masonic Club and the Midland Empire Club of Billings. He owns his modern residence at No. 230 Yellowstone Avenue.

In 1907 Mr. Von Eschen was married at Corning, Iowa, to Miss Anna Van Pelt, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Van Pelt, of Corning. Mr. Van Pelt is a retired farmer of that city. Mrs. Von Eschen is a graduate of the Corning High School, and a lady of delightful personality. Mr. and Mrs. Von Eschen have the following children: Harry L., who was born in 1908; Maurine, who was born in 1910; Kenneth, who was born in 1913; and Dorothy, who was born in 1915.

WALTER R. MOVIUS. A prominent and prosperous business man of Billings, full of push and vim, Walter R. Movius, junior member of the firm of Ryerson & Movius, Incorporated, real estate and insurance agents, is an industrious and diligent worker, allowing nothing to escape his observation that will in any way tend to advance the interests of his firm or his patrons, and although young in years is making steady progress along the pathway of success. A native of North Dakota, he was born at Lidgerwood November 19, 1890, of German lineage.

William R. Movius, his father, was born in Ger- many in 1850. Immigrating to the United States at the age of sixteen years, he first made his home at Yellow Banks, Minnesota, where for a time he was variously employed. When ready to start in life for himself he bought land in that vicinity, and with true pioneer grit and labor redeemed a farm from the wilderness. In addition to his labors as an agriculturist he was also there engaged for a number of years in mercantile pursuits. Opening a general store at Bigstone City, South Dakota, in 1875, he managed it successfully for fifteen years. Making a change of residence and business in 1890, he moved to Lidgerwood, North Dakota, where he operated a flour mill until 1917. Coming in that year to Mon- tana, he has since lived retired from business activi- ties at his home in Billings. He is identified with the democratic ranks in politics, is a faithful and valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to the Free and Accepted Order of Masons.

William R. Movius married Marcella J. Murray, who was born in Minnesota in 1861, and to them eight children have been born, as follows: Arthur J., a well known physician and surgeon of Billings ; Winfred D., a manufacturer of flour at Lidgerwood, North Dakota; Marcella, wife of N. J. Shields, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of San Luis Obispo, California; Pearl D. married Arthur Rosen- kranz, of Lidgerwood, North Dakota, an electrician ; Rex M., a resident of Plentywood, Montana, is treasurer of Sheridan County; Walter R., with whom this brief sketch is chiefly concerned; Harold E., of Billings, is associated with the Billings Laun- dry Company ; and Margaret, wife of Herman War- ren, of Mobile, Alabama, a railway employe.

Receiving his preliminary education in Lidger- wood, North Dakota, Walter R. Movius was grad- uated from its high school with the class of 1908. Subsequently entering the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Illinois, he was there graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1912. While there he joined the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, with which he is still affiliated. In 1912, in order to better fit himself for a business life, Mr. Movius attended the Mankato Commercial College, at Man- kato, Minnesota, continuing his studies there for a year. Establishing himself then at Plentywood, Montana, he was employed in the recorder's office for a year, and was afterward deputy county treas-

urer of Sheridan County and deputy assessor until April 1, 1915, performing the duties thus devolving upon him in a highly satisfactory manner.

Coming very soon after that date to Billings, Mr. Movius was field and office man for the Guaranty Investment Company for a period of eighteen months. Forming a partnership then with Mr. Lloyd H. Ryerson, under the firm name of Ryerson & Movius, he embarked in the real estate and insur- ance business, and in his undertakings has met with well merited success. The firm, which was incor- porated March 1, 1918, handles city properties and farm lands, having its full share of all the business of that kind carried on in Yellowstone County, its offices being located at 2905 Montana Avenue. The officers are men of great enterprise and energy, Lloyd H. Ryerson being president, while Mr. Movius is secretary and treasurer. Mr. Movius is likewise secretary and treasurer of the Billings Fuel & Feed Company, and president of the Billings Real Estate Board, offices for which he is amply qualified, and which he is filling to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and of the Billings Midland Club. He has an attractive home at 246 Wyoming Avenue, and there takes pleasure in extending its hospitalities to the many friends of himself and wife.

On June 21, 1915, at Plentywood, Montana, Mr. Movius married Ruth E., daughter of I. A. and Emily (Denny) Oakes, residents of Plentywood, where Mr. Oakes is serving as postmaster. Mrs. Movius was educated in Idaho, being graduated from the Boise High School. Mr. and Mrs. Movius have one child, Ruth Marie, born May 22, 1916.

LENORD L. WORTHINGTON. Sincerity and trust- worthiness are characteristics of Leonard L. Worth- ington, secretary and assistant manager of Yegen Brothers, Incorporated, of Billings, and his steady advance in the business world is because of them and his constructive work in every position he has held. He was born at Odell, Nebraska, October 23, 1882, a son of Eli Worthington. The birth of Eli Worth- ington occurred in Pennsylvania in 1850, and his death at Long Beach, California, in December, 1918. After being reared in his native state Eli Worthing- ton came as far west as Iowa, and after a brief stay in that state came on to Nebraska, homesteading at Odell, where he was a pioneer. He later estab- lished himself as a merchant at Odell, and in 1888 went to Beatrice, Nebraska, where he conducted a meat market until his retirement from business cares in 1910, at which time he established his residence at Long Beach, California, and there rounded out his useful life. Stanch in his support of republican principles and candidates, he never cared for political preferment, but did his duty as a citizen and up- right man. In the creed and teachings of Christian Science he found his religious ideals. Eli Worth- ington was married to Hulda Jane Parks, born in Pennsylvania in 1853. She survives her husband and makes her home at Billings. Their children were as follows: Hattie May, who died at Billings in 1905; Maude, who married L. H. Bostwick, receiving and shipping clerk for Yegen Brothers, Incorporated, lives at Billings, Montana; L. L., whose name heads their review; Frank R., who was accidentally killed by. a fire engine in 1913, while a member of the Maverick Hose Company of volunteer firemen of Billings; and Joseph, who is bookkeeper and receiv- ing teller for Yegen Brothers, Incorporated.

L. L. Worthington attended the common schools of Beatrice, Nebraska, and completed the junior year of the high school of that city, when, in 1900,

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he left school to become self-supporting in the em- ploy of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, with which he remained for six years, during that time being located at Beatrice. He then came to Billings, Montana, arriving in this city February 10, 1902, and was chief clerk in the local freight office at this point until the consolidation of the roads here, at which time he was made transfer clerk in the joint freight office, so continuing until March, 1905, when he was made claim clerk in the.local office for the same railroads at Omaha, Nebraska. In July, 1906, Mr. Worthington returned to Billings and began his connection with Yegen Brothers, Incor- porated, as a clerk. It was not long until his capa- bilities received due appreciation by his promotion to the position of head bookkeeper in 1907. Mr. Worthington is a man who is never content with doing merely what is regarded as the duties of a position, but reaches out to learn others, and added responsibilities were given him in 1910, when he was made credit man. In this latter position he displayed such sound judgment and proved himself so excellent a judge of character that in July, 1915, he was made secretary of the company and assistant manager, and as such he is adding to his reputation as an efficient business man. He is a stalwart re- publican. Like his father, he is a Christian Scientist. His fraternal affiliations are with the Billings Lodge No. 394, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Billings Midland Empire Club, the Billings Golf and Country Club, and the Billings Rotary Club. For some time he has been secretary of the Stroup Hardware Company of Bil- lings, and stands very high in the estimation of that house. Mr. Worthington owns his comfortable modern residence at No. 615 North Thirtieth Street.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume II, Part 64

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