Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 142

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

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Clayton H. Tyler attended the public schools of Hartford, Connecticut, and then entered the law department of Yale University and was graduated therefrom. In 1900 he went to Seattle, Washington, and remained there until 1905, when he moved to Omemee, Bottineau County, North Dakota, staying there until the spring of 1909, when he came to Roundup and has the distinction of being the first of his profession to locate permanently in this city. In December, 1909, he was appointed a United States commissioner by Federal Judge William H. Hunt for a term of four years, and assisted pros- pective homesteaders in appropriating vacant Gov- ernment land in this vicinity. He belongs to the American Bar Association and the Sons of the American Revolution, and is eligible to membership in the Patriots and Founders. During the Spanish- American war Mr. Tyler was band master for the Third Connecticut Regiment. In addition to prac- ticing his profession, in which he specializes in commercial law, Mr. Tyler represents R. G. Dun and Company, and is president of the Crescent Oil

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Company. In politics he, like his honored father before him, is a republican.

On June 5, 1906, Mr. Tyler was married to Miss Minnie Mills, born at Washington, District of Co- lumbia. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler are numbered among the best people of the county, and are the center of a charming social circle, where they have a num- ber of congenial friends.

WALTER K. ADAMS. One of the men who became identified with the locality of Glendive during its early period of development is Walter K. Adams, who came to Montana in May, 1903, from his native State of Minnesota. He was born in Rice County of that state March 4, 1864, a son of Thomas C. Adams, and a grandson of Timothy K. Adams. The grandfather was a native of Massachusetts, where he followed farming. He migrated from that state to Vermont, and finally arrived in Min- nesota, where he died in Rice County after a resi- dence of five years. He married Mary Nichols, also of a Massachusetts family, and their children comprised two sons and four daughters. The Adams family were originally from England, and they trace their descent in this country to Henry Adams, a brother of a Revolutionary patriot and statesman, Samuel Adams.

Thomas C. Adams was born at Enowburg, Ver- mont, in 1837, and was eighteen years of age when he left his native state for Wisconsin, and a young man of twenty-four when he arrived in Minnesota. He was early inured to argricultural pursuits, and farming continued his occupation through life. His official connection with Rice County, Minnesota, was as a county commissioner, and he was a staunch sup- porter of republican principles and well known for his political convictions. He was a member of the Congregational Church, but never identified himself with fraternal orders. Thomas C. Adams married Georgia Vose, a daughter of Rev. Gilbert Vose, also a Vermont man and a Congregational minister. Mr. Adams died in 1916, but he is still survived by his widow, who is now spending the closing years of her life at Hammond, Louisiana. Their children numbered five, namely: Rena M., wife of William D. Abbott, of Winona, Minnesota; Walter K., of Sidney ; Hubert G., whose home is in Corvallis, Ore- gon; Burton S., postmaster of Sidney; and John Quincy, of Hammond, Louisiana.

Walter K. Adams received his training in youth on the farm, and the first twenty-one years of his life were spent in the country. From the district schools he entered the high school at Faribault, Minnesota, and later matriculated in Carleton Col- lege at Northfield, that state, where he prepared himself for a business career. He was first em- ployed as a bookkeeper for a milling company at Faribault, and after spending two years in their office he returned to the farm and for twelve years conducted the old homestead in Rice County. The expiration of that period ended his final connection with agricultural life, for in 1899 he was elected the county auditor and has since followed a business career. He was chosen on the republican ticket to the office of auditor, and served in that position for four years, on the expiration of which period he came out to Montana.

Mr. Adams was induced to change his place of residence to this northwest region through the in- fluence of a brother who was then identified with the Sidney locality. Shortly after his arrival Mr. Adams engaged in banking, assisting in the organi- zation of the Bank of the Valley, and he was made

its assistant cashier. The institution in 1908 was chartered as the First National Bank, and since that time Mr. Adams has served it as vice presi- dent. In partnership with his brother Burton S. Adams he has also dealt extensively in real estate, handling both dry and irrigated lands, and in this way they have contributed materially to the improve- ment and development of Richland County. Before Richland County had been organized Walter K. Adams served for six years on the Board of Com- missioners for Dawson County, his colleagues on. the Board having been Henry Dion of Glendive and L. C. Faultemeyer of Wibaux. The routine work of the county occupied these three commis- sioners, and the division or segregation of Richland County also occurred during their incumbency.

Mr. Adams was reared under republican influences at home, and he cast his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison and has voted at each presi- dential election since 1888. He represented his county in the Republican State Convention in Mon- tana. He was made a Mason in Faribault, Minnesota Lodge No. 9, where he still maintains his Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery membership, and is a member of Algeria Temple of the Shrine at Helena, Montana. He has sat in the Grand Lodge of the Eastern Star, of which he is a past patron. During the World war he served Richland County as fuel administrator.

In Rice County, Minnesota, September 4, 1889, Mr. Adams married Miss Elizabeth Herrington, who was born in that county November 19, 1861, a daughter of Elias and Mary (McDermott) Her- rington. The father, who was a farmer, came to Minnesota from Delaware, but the mother was born in Scotland and came to the United States through Canada. Mrs. Adams was the oldest of their five children, and she was splendidly educated in Pills- burys Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are the par- ents of four children, namely: Georgia K., who graduated from Carleton College of Minnesota and then became an instructor, is now a high school teacher; Mabel J., also a graduate of Carleton Col- lege, is a high school teacher in Billings, Montana ; Mary E., who also completed her training in Carle- ton College, is now principal of the high school of Mankato; and Winifred is a junior in the University of Minnesota, a member of the class of 1921.

MRS. D. T. DARLING. While there is a resident population at Hot Springs, that famous Montana resort is best known to the thousands of annual visitors. It is safe to say that as a permanent resi- dent none is better or more affectionately known and none performs a more useful service than Mrs. D. T. Darling.

She was born in Indiana, and her maiden name was Grundhoffer. She was married to Charles B. Darling of Harrisville, Rhode Island. They were married at Helena, Montana, and on April 17, 1891, they homesteaded in the Flathead Valley. Mrs. Darling went through all the hardships of pioneer- ing, and Mr. Darling died on the homestead, leav- ing her a widow with an only son. This son, Budd Olney Darling, was born at Rimini, Montana, and was educated in the high school at Kalispell. Mrs. Darling and her son were inseparable companions, camping, fishing and hunting together, dancing, and making all their work and pleasure a common lot. The boy had an unquenchable military ardor, and it was the call of patriotic duty that separated him from his mother and cherished companions. He has enlisted three times in the United States Army.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

November 7, 1909, he was mustered in and served until his honorable discharge in January, 19II. The outstanding feature of his duty in that first en- listment was when he was called upon to fight forest fires. September 4, 1914, he again enlisted at Butte, and served until his discharge in April, 1917. This time he was on duty on the Mexican border around Douglas, Arizona. June 28, 1918, he was again enrolled as an American soldier and served until February 24, 1919.

Mrs. Darling is a typical Western woman, whole- souled and warm-hearted, and her life seems to have been occupied principally in serving others. The heaviest burden she ever endured was when she had to part with her son when he enlisted to fight against the Germans. Her son, while not in the army, has been engaged in hauling passengers to and from Hot Springs. After he went into the army and in order to have occupation and to cover the sense of desolation, Mrs. Darling determined to take up the same work. For three years her Buick touring car has been carrying passengers from the railroad at Kalispell to Hot Springs and other sur- rounding points. She is a master at the wheel, and one of the most skillful drivers in Montana. Hun- dreds of people have been her passengers, and they have always been certain of a safe landing and of making the train on time. In three years of driv- ing, frequently day and night, she had to be pulled in only once. One time she had three men as passen- gers when something went wrong. The men felt that with a woman chauffeur the situation was hope- less. They made a crude attempt at locating the trouble, and finally Mrs. Darling asked them to go back and sit in the shade, and when relieved of their troublesome presence she quickly discovered what was wrong with the machinery and in a few minutes the car was run on its way. A hundred-mile drive at night has never had any terrors for this fear- less and confident motorist. One time as she was driving alone at night a flashlight was thrown on her and two guns pointed with an order to halt. She coolly obeyed orders, and then heard one of the men say to his companions, "Why, it's Mrs. Darling," and she was quickly told to go on. Later she learned that the men had been lying in wait for a load of liquor, and were posing as state officials to secure their shares

In former years the red men were always assured of warmth and food at the Darling home, and now while driving along the road whenever possible she asks these aboriginal inhabitants to ride, a favor much appreciated. She has many warm friends among the Indians.

Mrs. Darling has proved a good business manager, and since coming to Hot Springs by her own efforts has accumulated several nice properties, and has erected several cottages which she rents every sum- mer. She favors working girls who cannot afford high priced accommodations, and in her cottages one can secure all the comforts and at the same time have the protecting care and oversight of "Ma Dar- ling," as she is affectionately known.

Mrs. Darling volunteered her service overseas as an ambulance driver, but was rejected by the in- flexible rule of the army that no mother or wife might accompany a soldier son or husband to the front.

WILLIAM R. ALLEN, a former lieutenant governor of Montana, is a native son of the Treasure State, but his solid reputation rests not so much upon any- thing he has done in public life and politics as upon

his energy and forcefulness as a business executive and organizer.

Mr. Allen, whose home is at Anaconda, was born in French Gulch, Deer Lodge County, July 25 1871, son of William N. and Cordelia (Waddell) Allen. His father was of Scotch ancestry and a native of Missouri, being one of the early pioneers in Mon- tana. The mother was of an old Kentucky family.

William R. Allen started life with a good equip- ment, though chiefly natural ability and practical experience. His schooling was acquired in the gram- mar grades and in the Helena Business College, which he attended from 1888 until his graduation in 1891.

During the past quarter of a century Mr. Allen's name has been increasingly identified with some of the larger constructive enterprises of Montana. He is credited with having been the chief personal in- fluence which made possible the building of the Butte, Wisdom & Pacific Railway, which was the first line of railroad to open up and permit the de- velopment of the wonderful Big Hole Basin. Be- sides being president and chief executive of this railroad he is also president of the Boston and Mon- tana Development Company, the Boston Fire Insur- ance Company, a director of the State Savings Bank of Butte, and has been connected with a number of other corporations.

He is a type of business man whose services are needed in the public affairs of any community or state. However, his political record is brief, in- cluding service in the eighth and tenth assemblies and as lieutenant governor of the state and pre- siding officer of the Senate from January 1, 1909, to January 1, 1913. Mr. Allen is affiliated with the Masonic Order, Odd Fellows and Elks, the Mon- tana Club, the Lambs Club of Helena, the Silver Bow Club and the Anaconda Club. He married Miss Eliza Berkin. Their three children are Mil- dred, Esther and Ruth.

WALTER T. GUTz, cashier of the Camas State Bank of Hot Springs, is one of the able financiers of this part of Montana and a man widely and favorably known. He was born at Pomeroy, Iowa, a son of Fred and Anna Gutz, pioneers of Iowa, who had nine children. Walter T. Gutz attended the Iowa State University at Iowa City, from which he was graduated in 1911 with the degree of Bache- lor of Arts, and he later secured the degree of Doctor of Law. In June, 1912, he came to Mon- tana and located at Camas, and he and his brother, H. P. Gutz also a native of Iowa organized the present bank, with the latter as president and the former as cashier. It is capitalized at $20,000, and Walter T. Gutz is in charge of it his brother be- ing a resident of Selby, North Dakota. The acting vice president is B. A. Moore. This bank is the only one in the western part of the Reserve and does a large amount of business. The capability and reliability of the efficient young cashier in- spires confidence and the business men know that through its medium they are sure of having their finances handled in a manner entirely satisfactory to them and their business associates. When the bank was established the outlook was not encour- aging, but when confidence was inspired and the people made to feel that they could trust the officers of this institution business came to it, and now its affairs are in a very flourishing condition.

Walter T. Gutz was married to Corinne A. de Mers, a daughter of Jacques de Mers and his wife Leonie G. de Mers, the former of whom was a pioneer of Western Montana, coming here from

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

Canada and establishing a trading post for the Indian trade. Demersville, Montana, was named in honor of him. Mrs. Gutz attended the Butte High School and a business college of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Gutz have a daughter, Dolce Leah. Mrs. Gutz is a Catholic. A strong republican, Mr. Gutz has given his party a loyal support and will continue to do so, as he believes that the best interests of this country are conserved under re- publican administrations. An intelligent, upright and sound man of business, Mr. Gutz has had a strong influence in developing this region, and his community is under heavy obligations to him for his work in this respect. Both he and his wife enjoy the social life offered here, and their pleas- ant home is often the scene of delightful gather- ings of many frinds, to whom they give a warm- hearted hospitality.

MELVIN D. CLARKE. One of the men who is con- nected with the industry that is of suclı vital im- portance to the country and has borne such a dis- tinctive part in the development of Montana is Melvin D. Clarke, general manager of the Winne Creek Ranch Company and whose home is at Har- lowton. The cattle industry has attracted to it some of the most energetic men of the country, and in its ramifications it has influenced almost every branch of activity. .

Mr. Clarke was born in Waldo County, Maine, on the farm of his father, February 23, 1863, a son of Dudley Perley and Lucy Ellen (Warren) Clarke, both of whom were natives of Waldo County, Maine. Dudley P. Clarke died in 1898, when he was seventy- one years old, and his wife died in 1909, aged sev- enty-two years. They had twelve children, of whom six daughters and five sons lived to maturity, and nine now survive. Of them all Melvin D. Clarke was the sixth in order of birth. Dudley P. Clarke was reared in his native county and attended its schools. With the discovery of gold in California he joined the westward rush and in 1849 went to that state in a sailing vessel around Cape Horn. After three or four years in California, during which time he was engaged in prospecting on Feather River, he returned to his old home and bought his father's farm and there engaged in farming and raising standard breeds of cattle and sheep. He was a prominent man, serving as selectman and a mem- ber of the school board for several years, being elected to these offices on the democratic ticket. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In addition to attending the public schools of Waldo County Melvin D. Clarke had the additional advantage of a course at Freedom Academy. Leav- ing home at the age of twenty years, he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, and worked in a cotton mill for a year, and then came West to Billings, Mon- tana, where he arrived in April, 1884 making the trip from there overland to Judith Gap, where he engaged with Archie McGreagar, a sheep grower, and remained on his ranch for a year, leaving him to gó with C. E. Severance, who was also in the sheep business. In 1891 Mr. Clarke located on Milk River and was engaged in the sheep business for himself until 1895, in that year returning East, and for ten years was employed by the Boston, Massa- chusetts, Elevated Railroad Company. He then re- turned to Montana and for a time was in Meagher County, later locating on Smith River, where he was manager for the Clear Creek Range Live Stock Company. In 1916 he sold his interest in it and

located on Winne Creek as general manager for the Winne Creek Ranch Company. While living on Smith River Mr. Clarke was a school director of his district for six years. He belongs to Diamond Lodge No. 7, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Twodot, Montana; Harlowton Chapter No. 22, Royal Arch Masons; Helena Commandery No. 2, and he is also a thirty-second degree and Shriner Mason, belonging to Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Middleseck Lodge No. 17, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Malden, Montana, and is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias of Malden, Mon- tana. Politically he is a republican.

On June 10, 1909, Mr. Clarke was married to Miss J. Blanch Roberts, born in Brownville, Maine, a daughter of Granville Roberts. Mr. Clarke is a man who knows how to handle others, is reliable, re- sourceful and dependable, and can be counted upon to find a way out of every difficulty, and for this reason his services are highly valued by his asso- ciates and his community.

THOMAS LESLIE LYLE, who has spent nearly all his life in Montana, is a photograph artist by train- ing and talent and in five or six years has built up the leading commercial photography establishment in the state.

Mr. Lyle was born in Winnipeg, Canada, Septem- ber 8, 1887, and was about a year old when his parents Thomas and Bessie (Gamble) Lyle came to Montana. Thomas Lyle was born in Ireland in 1832, was reared in that country, and married there. His wife was born in Scotland in 1864. Thomas Lyle learned the trade of blacksmith and in 1885 came to America, living at Winnipeg, Canada, for two years, where he followed his trade, and in 1888 established his home in Helena. He was a blacksmith for many years and is now in the shops of the Northern Pacific Railway at Missoula. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife, while her home was at Helena, died at Rochester, Minnesota, in 1913. Leslie Lyle is the oldest of eight children. Margaret, the second, is the wife of Charles Dimmick, an electrician living at Los Angeles, California. William is an express mes- senger at Helena with the Northern Express Com- pany. Henry assists his brother Leslie in the studio. Andy is a freighter at the oil wells at Eastland, Texas. Robert is now with the United States Marines in the Philippine Islands. Bessie and Edgar are both at home attending public school. Four of the boys have military records. William spent a year overseas in the artillery division; Henry was one of the first American soldiers to go to France, and saw some of the hardest fighting in which the Expeditionary Forces participated, including the Argonne Forest and the St. Mihiel Drive. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. Andy Lyle entered the officers training school at Waco, Texas, but the armistice was signed before he was prepared for duty. Robert enlisted in the Marines three months before the armistice was signed, and, as noted above, is still in the army.

Leslie Lyle acquired his education in the public schools at Helena, but left school at the age of sev- enteen to go to work. His first three years were spent with the' Northern Pacific Railway, then three years in the employ of the Helena Electric Railway, and four years with the Missoula Light and Water Company in the railway department. During this period of four years he was diligently studying the technique of photography, having taken up the art as an amateur. In 1914 he returned to Helena and

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established a small studio, and from the first has emphasized commercial photography. He now has the leading establishment of its kind in the state, but also does high class portrait work. How- ever, his business as a commercial photographer brings him orders from all over the state and out- side states, and constitutes a service that is resorted to by newspapers, business concerns and many others who require the best class of work.

Mr. Lyle's studios are in the Pittsburgh Block and his · home is at 710 Hillsdale Street. He is unmar- ried. In politics he casts his vote independently and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

MRS. ANNIE PATTERSON WALKER. The record of leading personalities in the Flathead country would be incomplete without mention of Mrs. Annie Pat- terson Walker, a resident of this section of Montana for nearly thirty years and widely known and esteemed as proprietor of the Hotel National at Kalispell.

She was born in the land of purple heather in Argyleshire, Scotland, a daughter of Archibald and Jeannette (Simpson) Patterson, being one of the younger of nine children. She spent her early life in the City of Glasgow, where she attended school, and on April 27, 1887, was married to Charles M. Walker, of Aberdeen. In the month of May fol- lowing their marriage they left Scotland, crossed the ocean to Montreal, in which Canadian city they remained four and a half years, and then made their final stage of westward progress to the Flathead country. At Kalispell they entered the hotel busi- ness, and continued it jointly until the death of Mr. Walker on April 18, 1913. His death left Mrs. Wal- ker with only two relatives in Montana, Archie and Mathew Patterson, both of whom were born in Scot- land. Archie is connected with the K. M. Company of Kalispell, while Mathew, who wasa United States soldier during the World War, is employed in Spokane, Washington.

The Hotel National is regarded as one of the most complete and adequate hotels in point of service in Western Montana. It has the material equipment and facilities, but the dominating characteristic is the wholesome, homelike atmosphere due to the pervad- ing genius of Mrs. Walker as proprietor and man- ager. Mrs. Walker while she has revisited Scotland twice has never thought of leaving her home and friends in Montana. She is a member of the Eastern Star, the Maccabees and the Presbyterian Church. She has seen many changes in this sec- tion of Montana during her residence, and her own life and service have contributed in some measure to the progress which Kalispell has enjoyed.

JAMES CLINTON SMITH, of Pony, Montana, is one of the men to whose knowledge and practical ideas with reference to agricultural matters this region is deeply indebted. Not only has he operated success- fully as an individual, but also for the Government, and a number of the more progressive ranchmen have adopted his methods to their henefit and the advancement of their neighborhood. Mr. Smith was born in Muscatine County, Iowa, February 24, 1877, a son of James E. Smith, born in Iowa in 1851, and now a resident of Pendleton, Oregon.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 142

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