Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 15

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

USA > Montana > Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III > Part 15

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F) Merrice

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conservatism, tempered with a spirit of progress and enterprise which enables him to weigh carefully and judiciously every question put up to him.

Fraternally Mr. Merrill is a member of Great Falls Lodge No. 214, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is a past exalted ruler, and of the Knights of Columbus. He was one of the organizers of the Rotary Club of Havre, and served as its first president. In matters political Mr. Merrill gives his support to the democratic party, though not a seeker after public office. Though not a resident of Havre for a great length of time, he is not underestimated by a people who have learned to appreciate his true value as a potent factor in business affairs. Though a man of unpre- tentious demeanor, he possesses that silent force that attracts men and enjoys a well-deserved popularity in the community honored by his citizenship.

JAMES HOLLAND came from Nebraska and other states to Montana twenty-two years ago with a good business record. His activities in Montana have been in the northern section of the state, and for the past fifteen years he has been one of the men of distinctive enterprise and ability in the af- fairs of Havre.

He was born at Jersey City, New Jersey, May 30, 1854, son of Martin and Margaret McMahon Holland. His parents were both born in County Monaghan, Ulster, Ireland, and both were born in 1832. Martin Holland came to this country at the age of sixteen in 1848, and landed from a sailing ship at New York City. In Ireland he had served an apprenticeship as a merchant or storekeeper's clerk. He was in the grocery business in Jersey City and lived there until 1855, when he went to Chicago and entered the lumber business. In 1861 he moved to Pontiac, Illinois, and was a lumber dealer in that city for a number of years. Having bought land from the Burlington Railway in Saline County, Nebraska, he moved his family out to oc- cupy the land in 1877, and the rest of his active life was spent in Nebraska. He developed a fine farm with all the modern improvements. He was a devout Catholic, but never took any active inter- est in politics or public office. He died in 1911, and his wife died July 11, 1914. They were married in Jersey City, July 23, 1852. Margaret McMahon had come to this country in 1847. Martin Holland and wife had eight children, and two sons and three daughters are still living, James being the oldest child. Martin Holland and wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1902. At that time they were congratulated by their children, grand-children and many friends. In the company gathered to do honor to the old couple were also Anthony and Margaret (MacFarland) Gavin, par- ents of Mrs. James Holland. The latter couple also lived to celebrate their golden wedding in 1905, at which occasion Martin Holland and wife were guests.

James Holland was one year old when his par- ents moved to Chicago, and he spent most of his boyhood at Pontiac, Illinois, where he attended pub- lic schools, graduating from high school in 1873. He learned the carriage blacksmith's trade at Pontiac, and that was his line of work for about fifteen years. In 1877 he moved to the Black Hills district of South Dakota and conducted a blacksmith shop at Deadwood for two years. He then went to the home of his parents at Friend in Saline County,. Nebraska, and continued blacksmithing there until 1885. From that year until 1895 he was a mer- chant at Broken Bow, Nebraska, building up a large trade in the hardware and implement business. He

then removed to Kearney, Nebraska, and for two years served as superintendent of the State Reform School. In 1891 he was admitted to the Nebraska bar, but has made his knowledge of this profession . chiefly serve his own business affairs.

Coming to Montana in 1897, Mr. Holland located at Gebo in Carbon County, and established there the Holland Lumber and Hardware Company. In 1904 he moved to Havre and engaged in business as the Holland Mercantile Company. His store was completely burned out in 1905, and the greater part of his prosperity accumulated by years of careful management was swept away. He resumed business as an undertaker and real estate dealer, and is still active in that line. He has put on the market sev- eral important additions to the city of Havre. For several years Mr. Holland was also engaged in farming largely on an experimental basis.

He organized and for four years was president of the Havre Industrial Association. He was also chairman of the County Reorganization Committee, and as a result brought about the formation of the new County of Hill in 1912. For the past twelve years he has been a member of the Havre School Board and for six years its president. He is a prominent democrat, and during the war period was chairman of the several drives for Red Cross, Knight of Columbus and the Allied war fund. He was also chief of the American Protective League. He is a member of the Elks, Knights of Columbus, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and for several years has been finance clerk of the Modern Woodmen of America.

The greater part of the success he has achieved in life Mr. Holland credits to his good wife. She was Miss Mary A. Gavin. They were married Oc- tober 20, 1879. She was born in Ontario, Canada, and reference has already been made to her par- ents. Mr. and Mrs. Holland had eleven children, five of whom are still living: Edith, James G., Joseph and Josephine, twins, and Dorothy. James G., former clerk of Havre, has been associated with his father in business since 1903 under the firm name of Holland & Son. He is a graduate of the Acme Business College of Seattle and married Vio- let Lepper. The daughter Josephine is a Catholic Sister in the Convent of the Ursuline Academy at Great Falls. Joseph, her twin brother, enlisted in the Medical Reserve Corps at Fort Wright in Washington in 1917, saw active service in the Toul sector in France, and received his honorable dis- charge in 1919. The daughter Dorothy is a grad- uate of the Ursuline Academy at Great Falls and is now attending the State College at Bozeman.

PHILIP D. CLACK. The Clack family is closely identified with the constructive work of developing Hill County, its members not only improving their own properties but promoting and completing what is known as the Havre Irrigation Canal, which is 9 miles long and 20 feet wide, by means of which a large region has been redeemed from the wilder- ness and made very productive land for agricultural purposes. One of the men who is widely known not only because of his membership in the Clack family, but also because of his own efforts as a ranchman and ice dealer of Havre, is Philip D. Clack.

His birth occurred in Lamar County, Texas, on July 7, 1877, and he is a son of John W. and Re- becca (Davis) Clack, natives of Alabama and Lamar County, Texas, respectively. When he was about fifteen years old John W. Clack was taken to Texas by his widowed mother, and there he was educated, completing his studies in Makinzie College. During

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the war between the North and South he served on the Confederate side, and at its close engaged in farming in Lamar County, Texas. Later he sold his farm and going to Fort Worth, Texas, was engaged in a drug business for five years. He then established himself in a cattle and farming produc- tion business in Western Texas, which occupied him until 1901, when he joined his son in Montana, and became one of the very prominent factors of Hill County, he and other members of his family building the Havre Irrigation Canal. His death occurred in 1915, when he was seventy-seven years of age. While not desiring to enter politics, he always sup- ported the candidates of the democratic party, and took an intelligent interest in current affairs. The Presbyterian Church was the medium through which he expressed his religious ideas. The first wife of John W. Clack died in 1877, at the age of twenty- four years, leaving two children, namely: Maude, who is the wife of Ray L. Sands; and Philip D., whose name heads this review. Mr. Clack was married secondly to Josephine Davis, sister of his first wife, and she bore him two children, namely : Daisy Lee and H. Earl. After the death of the second Mrs. Clack, Mr. Clack was married third to another sister, Carrie Bell Davis, and they had two children, namely: Weaver and Louise.

Philip D. Clack grew up at Fort Worth and attended its schools until he was fifteen years old, when he began his business career with a partner of his own age named Burts Johnson. Learning that they could secure several hundred goats from a man about 100 miles from Fort Worth, these lads went to him and tried to negotiate a sale, but he, realizing their youth, would not accept the money until they were vouched for by some one of mature years. Not discouraged, the plucky lads traveled twenty miles to a mutual acquaintance and induced him to return with them so as to effect the transfer The boys did so well with their first purchase that they later returned and bought the business from this same man. Mr. Clack continued in the stock industry in Texas until 1899, when he came to what was then Chouteau, but is now Hill County, and engaged as range rider with the Pioneer Cattle Company, continuing with it during the summer and fall of that year. For the subsequent five years he was in a draying business at Havre, but then sold it and began raising registered Shorthorn cattle on his farm, which is one and one-half miles south of Havre, and he is still in that industry, but in 1909 added the handling of ice to his activities and is the leading man in that line for this region. His farm is under the Havre Irrigation Canal, and he and other members of the family own about 2,500 acres, 1,500 acres of which are affected by the irrigation improvement.

On November 14, 1902, Mr. Clack was united in marriage with Cornelia Timmons, born in Young County, Texas, a daughter of J. Worth and Nannie (Willis) Timmons. Mr. Timmons is one of the prominent cattle men of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Clack have three children, namely: Worth M., John R. and Cornelia. Mr. Clack belongs to Havre Lodge No. 55, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. and Havre Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. The Presbyterian Church holds his member- ship. He has inherited his political beliefs from his father, and votes the straight democratic ticket. Although still in the very prime of life Mr. Clack has many years of useful endeavor behind him, owing to the fact that he began to be self-sup- porting at an age when most boys are still in school and dependent upon their parents' care. Aleri, vigorous and aggressive he has been able to bring

a successful termination out of all his ventures, and he is a valued asset to his community.

JOHN A. ANDERSON. There was a time when Montana was not looked upon as a desirable ter- ritory for general farming, but that myth has been dissipated through the enterprise and careful meth- ods of determined, intelligent agriculturists. While irrigation has brought many additional acres under profitable cultivation in recent years, there are farmers and cattlemen in Chouteau County who have prospered from the time they settled on their homesteads, twenty years ago. For about that length of time John A. Anderson has lived here, and through industry and thrift has been abundantly successful.

John A. Anderson was born in Sweden, March 31, 1876. His parents are Andrew and Christina (Johnson) Anderson, the former of whom was born in Sweden sixty-five years ago and the latter two years later. Their four children are living, John A. being the second in order of birth. The father was thirty years old when he brought his family to the United States and located at Norway, Michigan, where he is employed in the iron ore mines.

John A. Anderson had public school advantages at Evanston, Illinois. In 1897 he came to Montana and for some time worked in a sawmill in the Bear Paw Moutain region in Blaine County, and then homesteaded. Later he bought additional land, and from a small beginning has built up an exten- sive business as a general farmer and raiser of fine cattle, at the present time having 200 head on his ranch, which is situated thirty-eight miles south of Havre, Montana.

In 1912 Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Ellen Johnson, who was born in Sweden, and they have two children, Dorothy and John. Mr. Ander- son pays close attention to his own affairs and has never been willing to accept any public office that would greatly engage his time, but his deep interest in the public schools has caused him to serve on the school board of his district for the past twelve years. He votes the republican ticket because he sincerely believes in the principles of that party. He is widely known and is considered a repre- sentative citizen of this county.

GEORGE WALLACE MERKLE for many years has been closely identified with the business, community and civic affairs of Belt. He is head of the leading coal corporation of the city, is also a merchant, and is widely known over that section of the state as a leader in the democratic party.

Mr. Merkle was born at Virginia City, Nevada, February 21, 1875, and all his life has lived in the atmosphere and environment of the mountain count- try of the West. His parents were Thomas and Mary Ann (Dempsey) Merkle. His father, who was born at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1841, was a butcher by trade, and went overland to San Fran- cisco in 1863. At the discovery and early develop- ment of the famous Comstock lode he removed to Virginia City, Nevada, traveling from California overland with mule team. He did mining and pros- pecting there and also followed luis trade, and in 1889 removed to Butte, where he again combined his trade with mining and prospecting in Mineral County. He is now living retired in the City of Butte. He has never been in politics, and has usu- ally been identified with the republican party. His wife was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, and died in 1914. at the age of seventy-two. They were married in Virginia City, Nevada, where she

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had come when a girl, and of their nine children eight are still living, George W. being the fifth in age.

George W. Merkle acquired his early education in the public schools of Virginia City and later at- tended the Butte Business College. For a time he studied law in the office of Judge Frank P. Langan, of Nevada. He lived for a time in California and worked on a farm in Plumas County at $20 a month. At Virginia City he was employed in a grocery store for $40 a month and later, in order to learn a new business, accepted an opportunity to work in a clothing store at $15 a month. For a time he was in a broker's office at Virginia City and then came to Butte and put in eighteen months at the copper mines. Again he returned to Virginia City, clerked for a grocery merchant eight months, and then took the management of a grocery store at Gold Hill. He was there some six months and then returned to Butte, working in the copper mines six months and as timekeeper for a similar period.

Mr. Merkle came to Belt in the fall of 1898 as bookkeeper and later as cashier in the coal depart- ment of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. He made good in these responsible relations to the cor- poration and on March 1, 1914, he leased the Ana- conda Coal Mine at Belt and operated it personally for four years. On March 1, 1918, he organized the G. W. Merkle Coal Company and has since served as president of the corporation. On June 17, 1918, he also bought the mercantile interests of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company at Belt, and has the man- agement of that flourishing local business. On March 1, 1919, Mr. Merkle also took over the man- agement of the Waldo Hotel property.

Throughout his residence at Belt he has been iden- tified with that group of local citizens planning and working for the welfare of the community. He was one of the organizers of the Commercial Club and served as its president, organized the Belt Amusement Association, and from time to time his name has been associated with other enterprises. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Modern ,Woodmen of America, is an active democrat, and as a young man in Nevada had some experience as a member of the National Guard.

June 17, 1902, at Belt, he married Miss Katherine Mary Murphy, a native of Canada. They have one daughter, Katherine Mary, born May 17, 1903.

ROBERT B. ANDERSON, one of the prosperous farm- ers of Hill County, has long been a resident of the West, and has lived long enough in Montana to participate in the momentous changes which naturally occurred when the open ranges were closed. He is a native of Scotland, where he was born on June 16, 1859, a son of William and Mary (Henderson) Anderson.

William Anderson was born in Scotland, but came to the United States with his wife and five chil- dren in 1869, and from then on was a resident of Pennsylvania. Entering the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company, William Anderson rose through several stages to be weighmaster and coal inspector, and was holding the latter position when he was taken ill, on March 9, 1897, his death occurring three days later, when he was seventy-four years and ten months of age. His wife, who survives him and makes her home at Avoca, Pennsylvania, was born in Scotland on October 30, 1832. They had five sons born to them, namely: James, John and Walter, all of whom reside at Avoca, Pennsylvania; Robert B., whose name heads this review; and William, who lives at Staten Island. William Anderson was

a consistent member of the Langcliffe Presbyterian Church of Avoca, and his funeral services, begun at his late residence, were completed in this church, his pastor, Rev. D. T. Smyth, officiating. Fraternally William Anderson was a member of Valley Lodge, Knights of Honor. A man of sterling Christian character, honorable in all of his dealings, William Anderson was held in the highest esteem by all who had the honor of his acquaintance.

Robert B. Anderson arrived in the United States on his tenth birthday and completed his schooling in Pennsylvania. The trip across the ocean from Scotland is well remembered by Mr. Anderson, and it was taken on the steamer "Europia" to New York City. At what would now be considered an early age, he went to work in the coal mines, and later was employed in a powder mill. In 1880 he came West to Cheyenne, Wyoming, over the Union Pacific Railroad and went into the ranch and cattle business, his initial start being three head of cattle, but he increased his herd to eighty head. During the hard winter of 1886-7 he lost the greater part of his cattle, but resumed business in the spring and continued in it until 1888, when he sold and went to Bingham County, Idaho, where he was in the employ of the Warbonset Cattle Company, the largest of its kind in the country, as line rider. In the fall of 1892 Mr. Anderson came to Montana and took charge of the stock of this company in old Chouteau County, now Hill County, as foreman, con- tinuing in that position until the company went out of business in 1896. In 1897 Mr. Anderson was appointed live stock inspector for the State of Mon- tana at the Union Stock Yards, Chicago, and held this position until 1901, when he returned to Chou- tean County to a ranch he had previously bought, and locating on it took up farming and cattle raising. In time he took up a homestead near his original farm, and now has 480 acres of land, eighty acres of which he plants each year in wheat, which yields about forty-two bushels to the acre. Quite recently he reduced his herd from 100 head to fifty head. In 1910 he erected his present comfort- able four-room residence. He is a republican and cast his first vote for James A. Garfield for the presidency, and has continued to support the same principles in politics ever since. While living in Wyoming he was elected a school trustee, and he has held that office in both old Chouteau and Hill counties. He is an active member of the Lincoln Farm Association and is a very representative man in every respect.

On January 3, 1898, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Streit, born at New Orleans, Louisiana, January 16, 1876, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Curley) Streit. Joseph Streit was born in Germany, and he survives, mak- ing his home at Highwood, Montana, being now seventy-six years of age, but his wife died in 1891. They had five sons and one daughter born to them, Mrs. Anderson being the second child in order of birth. With fifteen other boys Joseph Streit left home with the intention of coming to the United States, but he was the only one who was successful, and it took some time to accomplish his object. He first made his way to France, where he learned to cook, and later he learned the coppersmith trade. Finally, in the late '50s, he took passage on a sailing vessel and landed in New York City, from whence he gradually made his way to New Orleans, Louisiana. When the war between the states broke out he en- listed in the Union service, and following the dec- laration of peace he re-enlisted in the regular army, following the calling of a soldier for thirteen years, serving under Colonel Moale. When Montana was

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still a territory he came to Highwood, and was one of the first three settlers of this section. He was one of the pioneers of old Chouteau County, and one of its first cattlemen, and was here before the county was organized. Although a democrat, he never took any active part in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have two children, namely: Mary Isabel, who is the wife of Carl H. Wylade, of Seattle. Washington, and has one child, Robert H., now three years old; and William H., who is attending the Helena High School, Class of 1920.

The old days of the cattle industry are past, the closing of the open range bringing about a revolution in it, but those men who were foresighted enough to make provision for the inevitable change have greatly prospered and have done their part in de- veloping the communities which have sprung up about them as a result of the division of land into homesteads, which brought in settlers. The men who were pioneers here naturally understand con- ditions better than those who have come here later on, and are able to deal with them in a more com- prehensive manner, so the majority of them have been more successful. All, however, old settler and new, are proud of the advancement which has been made and of the prestige Montana has gained among the other states of the Union.

EDWARD O. REDWING. In all that constitutes true manhood and good citizenship Edward O. Redwing, successful ranchman of Hill County, is a notable example and none stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the people. His career has been characterized by duty faithfully performed, and by industry, thrift and wisely directed efforts he has acquired a liberal share of this world's goods, besides earning a reputation which has never been clouded by the commission of unworthy acts. Because of his generous and kindly nature he has won and retained the good will and esteem of all who have come in contact with him.

Edward O. Redwing was born on February 10, 1871, on his father's farm in Fillmore County, Min- nesota. His parents, Alf. and Betsy (Henge) Red- wing, were natives of Norway and both are deceased, the father dying in 1915, at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother passing away in 1910, at the age of seventy-five years. They were married in Winneshiek County, Iowa, and their union was blessed with twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, nine of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Redwing came to the United States on the same steamer, landing at New York City. At that time Mr. Redwing was a young man of nineteen years and full of ambition and enthusiasm, and he came at once to Winneshiek County, Iowa, of which he was one of the pioneers, and there he engaged in farming for some years. Later he removed to Fill- more County, Minnesota, where he bought 200 acres of land and there developed a fine farm. He carried on a diversified system of farming, in con- nection with which he gave considerable attention to the breeding and raising of fine horses, of which he was particularly fond. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and served effectively on the school board for a number of years, being a strong advocate of education. Politically he was an earnest supporter of the republican party.

Edward O. Redwing was reared on his father's farm and secured a good practical education in the public schools of Fillmore County, Minnesota, which he was able to attend during the winters, his sum- mers being given to the work of the paternal farm- stead. He earned his first money by husking corn at the age of nine years, for which he was to get 50

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 15

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