Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 14

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 1144

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acter and strong mentality, rise above their environ- ment and all which seems to hinder them, until they reach the plane of affluence towards which their face was set through the long years of struggle that must necessarily precede any accomplishment of magnitude. Such has been the history of Henry E. Loranger, who has lived a busy and useful life and is now numbered among the active, successful and popular citizens of Havre.

Henry E. Loranger was born in Muskegon, Mich- igan, on December 22, 1864, and is the sixth in order of birth of the twelve children born to Joseph and Hermonie (Doegge) Loranger. The father was a native of France and died on January 19, 1896, at the age of sixty-two years; the mother, who was a native of Canada, died on February 21, 1906, when seventy-five years of age. Joseph H. Loranger came to Three Rivers, Canada, when fif- teen years of age, and for some time thereafter was in the employ of the Canadian government. Soon afterwards he drifted over into the States, going first to Massachusetts, thence to Michigan, finally locating at Muskegon in the latter state. There he engaged in the lumber business, including a planing mill and box factory, in which he was successful financially. Eventually he returned to Canada, lo- cating in Montreal, where he organized the Globe Baking Powder Company. He introduced the first baking powder into Canada, and the remainder of his active years were spent in that business. Polit- ically Mr. Loranger was a stanch supporter of the democratic party and in religion he was a communi- cant of the Roman Catholic Church.

Henry E. Loranger was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the public schools of Muskegon. He earned his first money as a news- boy, selling the Bay City Tribune at the age of eleven years, and then at the age of fifteen years he was employed in the lumber yards. His next employment was with the Michigan Central Rail- road as a clerk in the freight department at Bay City. Later he was transferred to the train service, first as a switchman, then as brakeman, later as conductor, and finally as yard master at Detroit, whence he was transferred to Chicago in the same capacity. In the spring of 1897 Mr. Loranger came to Havre, Montana, and entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad as yard conductor, hold- ing that position three years. In 1900 Mr. Loranger engaged in the hotel business at Chester, Montana, his being the pioneer hotel at that place, of which he was one of the first settlers. He took a deep interest in the success of Chester, investing heavily in real estate there and erecting five buildings. Soon afterwards he took up a homestead five miles south of Chester, and there he engaged in the cattle and horse business, being one of the first to engage in that business in what is now Hill County. He was active in the initiation of improvements and de- velopments in this locality, being one of the or- ganizers of the Town of Chester and one of the first aldermen of that town. In 1908 Mr. Loranger sold his ranch and stock and in May, 1912, located his home permanently in Havre. About that time he was elected sheriff of Hill County, and, being re-elected to succeed himself, he served about two and a half terms, giving eminent satisfaction to the people by the manner in which he conducted the affairs of that office. After leaving the office of sheriff Mr. Loranger engaged in the automobile business at Havre, in which he is still engaged, be- ing one of the most successful men in his line in this section of the state.

On the 5th of October, 1888, Mr. Loranger was married to Frances Jeanette Hansen, of Veesoit,

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Michigan, the daughter of Mostim William and Eugenia (Andre) Hansen, both of whom were na- tives of Christiana, Norway. They are both de- ceased, the father dying on June 25, 1913, when sixty-nine years of age, and the mother on May 13, 1916, at the age of seventy-three years. They were married in Christiana, Norway, and became the parents of ten children, seven of whom are now liv- ing. They came to the United States in 1867, locat- ing at Manistee, Michigan, where Mr. Hansen en- gaged in farming, and was also interested in the lumber industry. He gave his support to the re- publican party and his religious affiliation was with the Baptist Church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Loranger have been born six children, namely: Arthur John was married to Gladys Rakestraw, and they have two children; Hubert E. married Hazel Mckinnon, and they have one child ; Francis Raymond, who will be mentioned in a later paragraph; Kenneth D. is a student in high school; Cecelia C. is a student in the junior high school in Brooklyn, New York; Dorothy E. is at home.

Francis Raymond Loranger attended the schools of Havre and graduated from the high school with the class of 1915, being the valedictorian of his class. He was deeply interested in all branches of athletic sports, in which he had gained high honors, notably in basket ball and base ball. In 1915 he en- tered the law department of the University of Mon- tana at Missoula. When the United States entered the World war on the side of the Allies, Francis Loranger was one of the first to enlist in Havre, enlisting on June 14, 1917, in the Marines at Great Falls. He was first sent to Mare Island, California, but was later transferred to Quantico, Virginia. Afterwards he was sent to San Juan Hill, Santiago, Cuba, having been assigned to the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Company of the Seventh Regiment. On March 12, 1918, he was operated on for ap- pendicitis and on recovery returned to his command. Later he was accidentally thrown from a moving motor truck and badly injured. He was hurried to the Brooklyn Naval Hospital, and soon after- wards was transferred to the Pelham Bay Park Hospital, where an operation was performed in the effort to restore him to health. His mother then took him to Los Animos, California, in the hope that a change of climate would be beneficial, and later took him to Fort Lyones, Colorado, where his death occurred on January II, 1919. He was buried at Havre on January 18th with military honors.

Politically Mr. Loranger is a warm supporter of the democratic party, though he is not as active in public affairs as formerly. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Havre Lodge No. 1201 Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and Havre Lodge No. 166, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He has always been deeply interested in whatever tended to promote the prosperity of his adopted town and county, and to him is the community largely indebted for the material development which it has enjoyed. He is a man of generous and kindly impulses, and enjoys to a marked degree the confidence and esteem of the entire community.

JOSEPH P. O'BRIEN. In placing the name of Joseph P. O'Brien of Havre, well-known railroad engineer and public spirited citizen, in the front rank of Mon- tana's private citizens, simple justice is done to a bio- graphical fact recognized throughout the northern part of Montana. A man of judgment and sound discretion, he has been a faithful employe for many years of the Great Northern Railroad, and has so impressed his individuality upon the community as

to gain recognition among its leading citizens and public-spirited men.

Joseph P. O'Brien was born in Lafayette, In- diana, on August 23, 1863, and is the son of . Pat- rick and Mary (Duley) O'Brien, both of whom were born in County Galway, Ireland. Both of these parents are deceased, the father dying in 1892, at the age of eighty-one years, and the mother in 1872, at the age of forty-six years. They were married in Louisville, Kentucky, and to them were born two children, namely: William, a railroad en- gineer, who lost his life at South Greenfield, Mis- souri, in 1911, when the boiler of his engine ex- ploded; and Joseph, the immediate subject of this sketch. Patrick O'Brien came to the United States in young manhood by sailing ship, landing at New York City. The voyage was a long and tiresome one, requiring thirteen weeks on account of continued storms which blew them back to within two days of their starting point after they had been out nine weeks. From New York Mr. O'Brien went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he went to work for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, later going to the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad. He was first in the track service, but was later transferred to the train service. He was in dif- ferent departments, but his last days were spent in the bridge and building department. Eventually he retired from active labor and spent his last days quietly in his home at Lafayette, Indiana. He was a faithful member of the Roman Catholic Church, while in politics he was a stanch supporter of the democratic party.

Joseph P. O'Brien received his educational train- ing in the public schools of Lafayette, Indiana, where his boyhood days were spent. His first em- ployment was in hoeing corn, for which he received twenty-five cents a day. Three years later, at the age of fourteen years, he began clerking in a whole- sale and retail grocery store at Lafayette, with which he was connected for about seven years. He then went to work for the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad as a fireman. Four years later he went to Fort Scott, Kansas, and went to work as a fireman on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad. Four years later he was promoted to the other side of the cab, and was so employed there up to 1894, when he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and engaged as engineer on the Great Northern Rail- road. On July 7, 1895, he came to Kalispell, Mon- tana, having been assigned to the run between Kal- ispell, Montana, Spokane, Washington, and Minot, North Dakota. About eight months later he came to Havre, where he has since resided. During the past eleven years he has been a passenger en- gineer on the road and is considered one of the most reliable and trustworthy employes of the Great Northern Railroad. It is said of him that in all his experience as a railroad engineer he has never struck a vehicle or a person, and he has been re- markably free from even the little accidents in- cidental to railroading. Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and during the past eleven years he has served on the board of adjustment of that organization. Mr. O'Brien has, aside from his railroad employment, other interests, being the owner of a prosperous grocery store in Havre, and which in his absence, is operated by his son. He carries a well-selected stock of groceries and enjovs a large patronage.

On April 14, 1903, Mr. O'Brien was married to Elizabeth M. Bailey, who was born in County Carey, Ireland. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien have been born two children, John J. and Elizabeth M.

Politically Mr. O'Brien gives his support to the

AStime

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democratic party, and his religious connection is with the Roman Catholic Church. He is one of the most unostentatious of men, open-hearted and can- did in manner, and enjoys to a marked degree the esteem of all who know him.

EDWIN C. CARRUTH. One of the most complete and systematically managed farms and ranches in Montana is owned by a Havre business man, Edwin C. Carruth. Ranch management is only one of the features of a very busy career on the part of Mr. Carruth.

This Montanan, widely known for his versatile gifts and energy and influence, was born at his uncle's farm eight miles from lake City, Minne- sota, May 7, 1866, son of Virgil D. and Julia E. (Cooley) Carruth. His father was a native of Chenango County, New York, was educated in his native state, and was a gallant soldier of the Union for four years and six months. He first enlisted and served for three years in the Forty-fourth New York Infantry. His second period of service was with the One Hundred Forty-fourth New York Regiment. He was in all the battles of his regi- ment and, participated in many of the great engage- ments of the Army of the Potomac. He was pres- ent at the Grand Review of the victorious army at Washington on July 24, 1865. He was a member of a company known as the French Zouaves. He was mustered out with the rank of corporal. Fol- lowing the war he spent his active career as a teacher. He lived for a time at Mount Pleasant, eight miles from Lake City, Minnesota. He also taught in Lake City and at Pepin, Wisconsin, until 1875. For many years he was superintendent of schools in Polk County, Minnesota, at Crookston. His last years were spent in the City of Washing- ton, where he served as captain of guards for the pension bureau of the Interior Department. He died at Washington in January, 1899, and was laid to rest beside many of his comrades in Arlington Cemetery. He was an active member of the Grand Army and was a Mason. His wife was born in Oxford, Chenango County, New York, and is still living, in her eighty-fifth year, making her home on Coronado Island, California.

Edwin C. Carruth was one of four children, three of whom are still living. He had little opportunity to attend school regularly after he was nine years of age. He earned his first money husking corn at seventy-five cents a day. He also worked in a drug store at Crookston for eleven dollars a month. After several years of general commercial experi- ence he became associated with W. E. Mckenzie in the management of the Crookston Times. Mr. Carruth has been in the newspaper business both in Minnesota and in North Dakota. In 1893 he and Mr. Mckenzie bought the Plainsdealer at Grand Forks, North Dakota, and continued that prosperous journal until 1901. Mr. Carruth on com- ing to Montana in 1901 was manager of the Hotel Havre at Havre until the building was destroyed by fire in 1904. He was associated with the con- struction of the new Havre Hotel, which was opened in March, 1905, and owns most of the stock of the corporation. About eighteen years ago he was granted a franchise by the City of Havre for the construction of a telephone system, and built up a prosperous independent exchange. In 1904 he also engaged in the real estate and insurance business and still carries that on, and is also manager of the Havre Hotel.

During 1912-14 Mr. Carruth was one of the prin- cipal promoters in prospecting for natural gas in the Havre field. He and his friends invested not

only money but much time and energy to that end, and in later years they saw their early expec- tations realized in the abundant supply that now furnishes natural gas for domestic purposes to the City of Havre.

Mr. Carruth is owner of a' sixteen hundred acre ranch, with the Great Northern Railway running through its center, located at Kremlin, twenty miles from Havre. He was the founder of the town of Kremlin. Mr. Carruth has more then $12,000 in- vested in machinery and equipment, and is one of Montana's farmers who believe in conducting a ranch on the same principles as a factory or store. He keeps books on all his operations, and has a system of reports for the daily field and machinery operation in line with the most approved system de- vised by agricultural experts.

At one time Mr. Carruth's name regularly ap- peared in the annals of American sport. He was an expert roller skater. When that sport was at its height in the Northwest, in 1890 he participated in many sectional and national races at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Fargo, North Dakota, Fergus Falls, Crookston and Minneapolis. From March 9 to 16 in 1895 he was in a six-day roller skating event on the Washington Avenue rink in Minneapolis, and took fourth place, all the eastern states being rep- resented in the event, with about twenty starters. He holds the world's record for a hundred miles on roller skates. He is also a splendid shot, and par- ticipated in many events in Minnesota, North Da- kota and also in Manitoba. He has used his shot- gun not only in exhibition tournaments but as a devotee of duck shooting, and is still an ardent lover of outdoor life and activity in every phase. He is a deputy state game warden and has supervision over a territory covering 17,000 square miles.

On September 8, 1888, at Crookston, Minnesota, Mr. Carruth married Miss Emily A. Mckenzie. She died at Grand Forks, North Dakota, July 26, 1902. On January 19, 1907, at Helena, he married Miss Ethel M. Dewar, a native of Crookston, Min- nesota. They have two daughters: Ethel Cooley and Jean Clover.

For many years Mr. Carruth has been a leader in the democratic party. He served as city clerk at Crookston, Minnesota, and was secretary of the North Dakota State Central Committee from 1896 to 1902. He has been secretary of the Hill County Democratic Central Committee in Montana for the past ten years, and has been the manager of the democratic campaign in Hill County and is now a member of the State Executive Committee and County Committeeman. He was also secretary of the Chouteau, Hill and Blaine County Division Com- mittee, which handled many difficult adjustments to he made when Hill County was created out of the larger Choutean County. Mr. Carruth was one of the organizers of the Havre Business Men's Asso- ciation. He is affiliated with Havre Lodge No. 55, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Chouteau Chap- ter No. 19, Royal Arch Masons, and is a charter member of De Molay Commandery of the Knights Templar at Havre, Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Helena and the Scottish Rite Consistory No. 2 at Butte. He is also member of Havre Lodge No. 1201 of the Elks and is a Knight of Pythias and Eagle. Taking it all in all he has had a strenu- ous life in Montana since coming to the state in 1901.

ELBERT HOMER STONE. A man of naturally sound judgment and shrewd perception, E. H. Stone, well- known merchant of Great Falls, has so ordered his career as to be eminently eligible to representation

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in a work of this kind. He has risen through his strictly moral habits, his attention to business and his desire to deal fairly, promptly and honestly with his fellow men, and his name stands high today in all business circles with which he has come into relationship. His social connections have ever been of the most pleasant character, and the fact that his surroundings are such as to make life enjoyable is solely due to his individual merits, his affable and courteous treatment of others and his strict adherence to justice in all his dealings.

Elbert Homer Stone was born in Macon, Missouri, on the 13th day of December, 1882, and is the son of Ronert E. and Laura L. (Gaunt) Stone, both of whom also were natives of Missouri. The father was born on May 25, 1860, and for a number of years was engaged in the lumber business, being associated with the Goodrich Lumber Company. In 1880 he came to Great Falls, Montana, and soon afterward located at Stockett, Cascade County, where for about ten years he was engaged in gen- eral merchandising. He then returned to Great Falls and organized the Star Clothing Company. He became the owner of a fine ranch of 1,000 acres, and on this place he engaged in the breeding of thor- oughbred cattle, in which he was successful. In 1914 he was elected to the Legislature on the demo- cratic ticket, serving one term. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mrs. Laura Stone was born on January 18, 1864, and is the mother of three children, of which number the subject of this re- view was the first born.

E. H. Stone secured a good practical education in the public schools of Great Falls. During this school period he was exhibiting those qualities of initiative and enterprise which have characterized him in ma- ture years, by establishing at different times two school papers, the "Patriot" and the "Stockett Post," the latter being established after the family had moved to Stockett. After completing his studies he became a clerk and bookkeeper for his father in the store at Stockett. Subsequently Mr. Stone went to California, where he was employed in mer- cantile houses at various places. Finally he engaged in the clothing business on his own account in San Francisco, but at the end of two years he sold the business and went to Portland, Oregon, where he organized the Old Salem Woolen Mill Company. He became the eastern buyer for this company, re- maining principally in New York City for about three years. He then became the western repre- sentative for Hoffman, Rothschild & Company, until this firm went out of the clothing business in 1914. In that year Mr. Stone came to Great Falls and engaged in the clothing business, under the name of "Stone the Clothier," a name which has since become one of the best known among the successful mercan- tile houses of Great Falls. Mr. Stone has been financially successful in this enterprise and has also acquired a fine ranch of 1,040 acres in Teton County, Montana, where he is interested in the breeding of white-faced cattle, in which he has been very suc- cessful. He is also financially interested in a num- ber of other enterprises, being a stockholder and director in the First State Bank at Sandcoulee, a stockholder in the Cascade Bank at Great Falls and in the American Bank and Trust Company at Great Falls. On November 1, 1919, Mr. Stone bought the Jensen Apartment Building at Great Falls, one of the finest apartment buildings west of the Twin Cities. He is treasurer of the Champion Silver Mine of Helena, and is also financially interested in opening of extensive coal mines in the northern part

of state. He is also financially interested in sev- eral of the oil companies who are going after oil in this state.

On the 7th of October, 1915, Mr. Stone was mar- ried to Florence E. Dickinson, who was born in Benmidji, Minnesota.

Politically Mr. Stone is an ardent supporter of the democratic party, but is not an aspirant for public office. However, he was appointed and is now serving as police commissioner of Great Falls. He is a member of the Commercial Club and the Merchants Association. Fraternally he is a member of Astoria Lodge No. 180, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Astoria, Oregon; Lodge No. 14, Fraternal Order of Eagles, of which he is president; and Cataract Lodge No. 18, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Stone is a man who would have won his way in any locality where fate might have placed him, for he possesses to an eminent degree those qualities which make for success wherever they are applied. By reason of these principles he has won and retained a host of friends.

FRANKLIN T. MERRILL. The study of the life of the representative American never fails to offer much of pleasing interest and valuable instruction, developing a mastering of expedients which have brought about most wonderful results. Franklin T. Merrill, the well-known cashier of the Montana National Bank at Havre, is a worthy representa- tive of that type of American character and of that progressive spirit which .promotes public good in advancing individual prosperity and conserving popu- lar interests.

Franklin T. Merrill was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 18, 1887, and is the son of Franklin A. and Hattie (Teece) Merrill. The father was born in New York City, where he was reared and educated. Later he studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar, following the practice of his pro- fession in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Eventually he moved to Great Falls, Montana, where he lived up to the time of his death. His widow now lives in Havre. They became the parents of five children, namely: Franklin T., the immediate subject of this sketch; George E., who enlisted in Company B, Three Hundred and Sixty-second Regiment, Ninety- first Division, at Camp Green in the State of Washington, was assigned to the Signal Corps and was honorably discharged after the signing of the Armistice; Olive, who died in infancy; Arthur J. enlisted in the Quartermaster's Department, United States army, in which he was commissioned a first lieutenant, and is still in the service; Robert T. enlisted in the Aerial Service at Fort Wright, being assigned to the Three Hundred and Sixth Squad- ron. He was sent overseas and served with the bombing squadrons in England, Belgium and France.

Franklin T. Merrill was reared at home and se- cured his education in the public schools of Great Falls, Montana, His first employment was as a newsboy on the streets of that city at the age of fourteen years. He then entered the department store of Strain Brothers, where he was employed until nineteen years of age. He then became con- nected with the First National Bank of Great Falls, starting in a humble capacity and by faithful service and strict attention to duty he was promoted from time to time until in 1917 he was paying teller. He then located in Havre, where he had been elected cashier and manager of the Montana National Bank, which position he is occupying at the present time. He is peculiarly well fitted for the business to which he is devoting himself, possessing sound judgment, keen discrimination and a wise

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 14

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society Number of Pages: 1144

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 1144