Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 153

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

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Intensely patriotic, Mr. Tinsley took a very ac- tive part in war work, having charge of the Lib- erty Loan drives. Under his able management the district, which included Harrison and Pony, or school districts Nos. 11, 43 and 45, subscribed its full quoto in each drive. In the Fourth Liberty Loan drive, the district subscribed $37,500, although the allotment was only $27,500, owing to Mr. Tinsley's forceful direction. He is one of the best types of western citizens, alert, considerate and dependable, profoundly alive to the best interests of his section, and determined to give it every chance for advance- ment. Having spent his entire life in Montana, there are few men here who are better fitted to do it honor, and to reflect added prestige not only through the medium of industry but also as a pub- lic official.

LESTER H. LOBLE has been a factor in Helena's professional and industrial affairs from the time he left the school room to take up the active duties of life, and since his admission to the bar he has enjoyed prestige in the legal profession in Helena.

He was born in Helena April 9, 1893, a son of Henry Loble, whose birth occurred in Romania in 1859. He came to the United States in 1876, and after remaining for a short time in the City of New York went on to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he embarked in a general mercantile business and became one of the successful business men of that city. But in 1890 Mr. Loble sold his business there to come to Helena, where he resumed mercantile in- terests, establishing a general merchandise store un- der the name of Loble and Company. This was subsequently changed to the New York Store, and he continued as the president of the corporation until his death, which occurred in the year 1913. From a modest beginning Mr. Loble gradually en- larged his interests until he stood at the head of one of the leading mercantile establishments in Helena. Since his death the business has been continued and is today the largest department store in Helena. Mr. Loble was a republican in his political affiliations, was a member of Temple Emanuel, and had fra- ternal affiliations with King Solomon Lodge No. 9, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Helena, Helena Consistory No. 3, thirty-second degree, also with Montana Lodge No. I of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and he was a charter member of the Montana Club and a mem- ber of the Lambs Club, but the last named has since been discontinued.

Henry Loble married Hattie Marks, who sur- vives him and resides in Helena. She was born in Diamond City, Montana, in 1871, a daughter of Leo- pold Marks, whose birth occurred in Germany in 1834. He was the founder of the Marks family in the United States, and his death occurred in Helena in 1906. During the Civil war he served through- out the struggle as a Confederate soldier, a mem- ber of a Mississippi regiment, and after peace was declared he started for the Northwest territory, traveling by boat up the Mississippi River to Fort Benton and thence across the plains to Diamond City, Montana, where he arrived in 1866. Mr. Marks became one of the pioneer merchants of that place, but after a number of years he removed to White Sulphur Springs, where he was also a merchant,

and from there came to Helena in 1890 and after- ward lived a retired life. In his early life he had married Clara Levey, who was of French descent and was born in Alsace-Lorraine. She is still a resident of Helena, and has attained the age of eighty-four years. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Loble. The younger, Lenora, married Albert Aloe and resides in St. Louis, Missouri, where Mr. Aloe is a manufacturer of optical and surgical instruments.

Lester H. Loble attended the public schools of Helena and the high school through the sophomore year, and then entered Cascadilla School at Ithaca, New York, from which he graduated in 1911. He next entered the New York University, New York City, where he continued in the law department through the junior year, and during the time also studied in a law office in Wall Street, New York City. On the 24th of December, 1914. Mr. Loble was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court of Montana, and has since been engaged in a gen- eral civil and criminal practice at Helena, with of- fices in the Court House. During the year of 1914 he served as a member of the Board of Aldermen of Helena, and in the fall of 1916 was elected the county attorney and was re-elected to the office in 1918.

Mr. Loble is a member of the Lewis and Clark County Bar Association, of which he is the present secretary, and is also a member of the State Bar Association. Fraternally he is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 9, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Helena Consistory No. 3, fourteenth degree, and also of Montana Lodge No. I, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, at Helena, and is also a member and for the past two years has been pres- ident of Helena Aerie No. 16, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is also a member of the Delta Chi Epsilon Greek letter fraternity, Cascadilla Chapter.

Mr. Loble resides at 419 North Ewing Street, Helena. He was married in 1910, in Spokane, Wash- ington, to Miss Charlotte Sillers, a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Keenan) Sillers, who reside in Helena. Mr. Sillers is one of the Montana pioneers, and he is engaged in the livery business in Helena. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Loble : Clarice, who was born July 9, 1914, and Henry, who was born May 25, 1917.

E. D. BAKER, M. D. Since locating at Twin Bridges in 1910 Doctor Baker has developed a large private practice and in many ways has used his influence to promote the welfare of the community.

Dr. Baker was born at Bloomington, Illinois, Oc- tober 12, 1880. His family were among the origi- nal settlers of that section of Illinois, the heart of the great corn belt, and one of the prosperous cities of the Prairie State. Doctor Baker's family was also identified with the pioneer settlement of the State of Kansas. The Baker ancestors came over at the very beginning of colonial settlement in New England. His great-grandfather was Dr. John Baker, a native of Ohio, a physician, and also a civil engineer. Dr. John Baker surveyed the origi- nal townsite of Bloomington, Illinois. He died at Leroy in that state. Sidney D. Baker, grandfather of Doctor Baker, was born in Ohio in 1824 and grew up in McLean County, Illinois, where for many years he followed merchandising. Later he retired and moved to Council Grove, Kansas, where he died in 1908. Sidney D. Baker married Eleanor Edwards, a direct descendant of Jonathan Edwards, one of the most distinguished divines in the early colonial period of New England.

F. W. Baker, father of Doctor Baker, was born

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at Bloomington, Illinois, in March, 1859, was reared and married in that city, became a merchant, but in 1882, on account of ill health, retired from busi- ness and moved to Council Grove, Kansas, where he lived on a farm. In 1919 he retired and is now a resident of Anaheim, California. He is a repub- lican, has given life-long support to the Methodist Church and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. F. W. Baker married Hester Sherfey, who was born at Des Moines, Iowa, in 1860. Doctor Baker is the oldest of their children; Fred S. is a farmer at Edna, Texas; Sidney W. is a watchmaker by trade now engaged in ranch- ing at Twin Bridges; George F. is an optician liv- ing at San Francisco; George owns an orange grove at Anaheim, California; Solomon F. was instructor in aerial gunnery during the World war and held the rank of lieutenant in the Aviation Department of the army and is a resident of Mount Clemens, Michigan.

Dr. E. D. Baker was about two years old when his parents moved to Council Grove, Kansas. He graduated from the high school there in 1900, spent two years on his father's farm and then entered the Kansas City Hahnemann College, affiliated with Kansas University, graduating M. D. in 1910. Soon after receiving his diploma he came to Montana, settling at Twin Bridges, and has been busily en- gaged in general medical and surgical practice. From the time he came to Twin Bridges he has been physician for the State Orphans Home here. He is also health officer for Twin Bridges. He owns his office building on Main Street, also a modern home on the main thoroughfare, and has a ranch on the McHessor Bench, fifteen miles south of Twin Bridges. Doctor Baker has served as a member of the Twin Bridge City Council, is an independent democrat in politics, and is a stockholder in the First National Bank. He is a member of the Madi- son County and State Medical societies and the American Medical Association. Doctor Baker re- tains his affiliation with Council Grove Lodge of Masons in the same lodge of which his grandfather and an uncle were members. He is also affiliated with Council Grove Chapter No. 36, Royal Arch Masons, and at Twin Bridges he is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He is a trustee and active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Doctor Baker married at Council Grove, Kansas, June 19, 1900, Miss Cora May Kinkel, daughter of Charles and Cora Kinkel, the latter now deceased. Her father is a retired farmer at Colby, Kansas. Mrs. Baker is well known in the Twin Bridges community for her skill as a musician, both vocal and instrumental. She finished her musical train- ing with two years in the New England Conserva- tory of Music at Boston. Doctor and Mrs. Baker have two children: Catherine Elizabeth, born March 20, 1914; and Emory, Jr., born April 1, 1917.

JOHN C. SHANNON. The extensive ranching and landed interests developed and owned by John C. Shannon are located some forty miles northwest of White Sulphur Springs, in the locality known as Fort Logan. The postoffice of Shannon was es- tablished on his ranch many years ago and Mr. Shannon was personally delegated to take charge of the office and was postmaster there for sixteen years, until the office was re-established at Lewis.

Mr. Shannon came to Montana in territorial days, and had a great deal of the rough and rugged expe- rience of the mining camps and the ranch and range of that period. He was born on his father's farm in Washington County, Wisconsin, July 8, Vol. III-35

1854, son of John C. and Margaret (Riley) Shan- non. His father, a native of Rhode Island, died at the age of sixty years, while his mother was born in Lancaster, England, and died aged sixty- seven. They were married in Wisconsin, and their family consists of seven children, four sons and three daughters, John C., Jr., being the second in age. John C. Shannon, Sr., went to Wisconsin with his parents when he was a small boy. He was old enough to give some spirited assistance to the family in clearing away the woods and developing a home on the banks of Lake Five in Washington County. After reaching manhood John C. Shannon was mar- ried, and then started farming for himself. He left his family early in the Civil war to join a Wisconsin regiment, and served his country well and faithfully until the close of the war. Upon his honorable dis- charge he returned home, resumed farming in Wash- ington County, but after about a year moved to Chippewa Falls in Chippewa County. The great industry in the Chippewa Valley at that time was lumbering, and he spent several years in that busi- ness. After that he resumed farming, and farming was his occupation until his death. He was a demo- crat in his political affiliations.

John C. Shannon, Jr., acquired a public school education in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. He was about seven years old when his father entered the army, and he has an interesting recollection of life in war times, assisting his mother in plowing and planting and harvesting the wheat crop, which was the family's chief dependence for food. He con- tinued to live at home until 1877, and in that year started West with Montana as his destination. A railroad train took him as far as Bismarck, then the terminus of the Northern Pacific. There he embarked on the steamer Benton, which carried him to Fort Benton, the head of navigation on the Missouri River. On leaving the steam boat he and others hired a freight outfit of six horses, which carried them and their equipment to Helena. An- other outfit then took them to Pioneer, Montana, where Mr. Shannon found employment working in a mine for about two years. Altogether he was greatly pleased with Montana and the great life of the West. After returning home to visit his parents he married on June 16, 1880, Miss Angia Hoyt, and he and his bride soon afterward started West, traveling by the same route as he had taken on his previous trip. However, from Bismarck to Fort Benton they were passengers on the steamer Rosebud. For about nine years Mr. Shannon made his headquarters at Helena, and had varied expe- riences and employments. In 1889 he moved to the Smith River Valley in Meagher County, where he homesteaded and began the cattle business. This has been his chief interest throughout the period since Montana has been a state. His land holdings have grown until he now personally owns about 9,000 acres. On the whole he has had good fortune in the management of his cattle and livestock interests. In recent years his cattle herds have frequently ranged between 1,000 and 1,200, and in normal sea- sons he ships a number of carloads direct to the Chicago market.

Mr. Shannon has never been interested in political office and in politics votes for the best man. Seven children have been born to him and his wife. Effie, the oldest, is the wife of H. F. Bonesteele and the mother of four sons, and the Bonesteele home is in Oregon. Ethel is the wife of Murray J. Johnston, and they have five children. Grace is the wife of Jay East and the mother of one son. The fourth child is Theodore. Angelina is the wife of William Granger, Margaret is the wife of Chester Hixby, and

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Ruth, the youngest, was married to Roston Teets and has one daughter.

WILLIAM HENRY FLUHR is one of the fortunate young men of Montana. He had the good fortune to be born in that state. He also inherited a sound mind and a sound body, good capabilities, and was especially fortunate in that he discovered early use- ful objects and purposes for his talents and energies. Montana, like other states that owed their original wealth to mineral resources, is gradually building up its permanent program of agriculture, and no one phase of its agricultural life is being given more at- tention than dairying. For this reason Mr. Fluhr as state dairy commissioner has a work of tre- mendous possibilities, and he is in every way quali- fied by practical training and experience for the office he directs at the state capital.

Born at Helena, June 22, 1891, William Henry Fluhr is a son of John and Augusta (Sleiker) Fluhr. John Fluhr was born in Germany in 1849, was reared and educated in his native land and came to this country about 1869. He lived for several years in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where he con- ducted a cooperage plant. He followed the

same business in Northern Pennsylvania, and afterward moved to Jamestown, North Dakota, where he owned and operated a meat market. In 1882 he moved his business to Bismarck, North Dakota, and in 1884 came to Helena, where he was one of the pioneer meat market men. He continued this business actively until his death in 1898. He was a republican voter and a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife, Augusta Sleiker, was born in Germany in June, 1843, and is still living at Helena. Her father came to this country about 1854, and for a number of years was employed by a soda manufacturing works at Natrona, Pennsyl- vania, where his daughter Augusta was reared and educated, though spending part of her early life at Allegheny. John Fluhr and wife had a family of seven children: Lena, wife of M. M. Lyter, a prominent attorney of Seattle; Edith, wife of A. E. Schneider, who conducts at Seattle one of the leading art goods establishment in the North- west, and is a commission broker in art goods, be- ing an extensive importer from foreign countries ; Lucy, unmarried and living with her mother, and a clerk in the business offices of the Helena Record Herald; Clara, wife of Seth Maxwell, of Helena; Albert, who died at the age of nine years; William Henry; and Charles Nicholas, whose home is at Grand Forks, North Dakota, and he is a traveling representative for the United States Rubber Com- pany. Seth Maxwell, who married Clara Fluhr, has been a prominent leader in the democratic party of Montana, was commissioner of agriculture and pub- licity just before enlisting in the army, received a second lieutenant's commission at the Officers' Train- ing Camp at Presidio, California, and was assigned to the Tank Corps.

William Henry Fluhr attended the public schools of Helena, graduating from high school in 1911. The following year he worked for the Merchants Delivery Company of Helena. He then entered the Montana State Agricultural College at Bozeman, and was graduated in 1915. At Bozeman he specialized in breeding and feeding of livestock and in the pro- duction and manufacture of dairy products. Mr. Fluhr gained many distinctions throughout his high school and college career, giving evidence of the versatile abilities that have made him so useful a citizen of his home state. He was president of his graduating class in the Helena High School, and during his last year in high school was captain of the football, baseball, track teams and basket ball

teams, and earned an all star reputation in the high school athletic circles of the state. He has since been honored twice with the office of president of the Helena High School Alumni Association. While in the State Agricultural College he was president of his freshman class. He earned a place on the college baseball team. While now a very busy man with his official duties Mr. Fluhr gives his spare time to work as athletic coach for St. Charles College at Helena, and during the winter of 1919-20 gave that school a winning basket ball team.

After leaving the State College Mr. Fluhr was employed a month at Helena as a butter maker. He then went to Missoula for the purpose of be- coming head butter maker for the Missoula Cream- ery Company. He was diverted from that work, however, by his appointment on May 10, 1915, as deputy dairy commissioner of the State of Montana. During the past five years he has had a busy pro- gram in connection with this office and the related activities of the State and Federal governments in behalf of Montana agriculture and livestock hus- bandry. April 1, 1917, Governor Stuart appointed him emergency demonstration agent for the Meagher County Council of Defense, with headquarters at White Sulphur Springs. This appointment had been urged upon the governor by the Montana State Agricultural College Extension Service, acting in conjunction with the United Sates Department of Agriculture. His jurisdiction the first month included Meagher and Wheatland counties, Wheatland County being carved from the original territory of Meagher County later. Mr. Fluhr gave his time to this special work until October 25, 1917. At that date Governor Stewart appointed him state dairy commissioner, and though only twenty-six years of age at the time his administration of the office has completely justi- fied the confidence thus reposed in him. Mr. Fluhr and his staff have the responsibility of safeguarding and maintaining proper standards for the dairy prod- ucts of Montana, and the service involves sanitary inspection of dairies, creameries and other plants handling dairy products. Mr. Fluhr also acts in conjunction with the State Agricultural College in holding Farm Institutes, and during the past three years has appeared personally before farmers and dairymen's organizations in most of the counties to discuss subjects within his technical sphere.

Throughout the period of the World war Mr. Fluhr held himself in readiness for any patriotic service. He had passed the physical examinations preparatory to joining the colors, but the armistice was signed before he was called. He is an independ- ent democrat, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, the Helena Commercial Club, the United Commercial Travelers, the Helena Young Men's Christian Association, the Dairymen's Association, and the Montana Butter, Cheese and Ice Cream Makers' Association. Fraternally he is affiliated with Morning Star Lodge No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Helena Consistory No. 3 of the Scottish Rite, and is a member of the Patrol Team of Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine.

Mr. Fluhr owns a modern home, at 621 Brecken- ridge Street. September 4, 1918, at Belt, Montana, he married Miss Mae Montana Rush, daughter of Frank and Sarah (Lindsay) Rush, residents of Belt. Her father is a Montana pioneer, and has developed extensive interests as a rancher and livestock grower. Mrs. Fluhr was born at Neihart, Montana, and received her high school education at Belt and at Seattle, Washington.

JOE COLLIER is one of the enterprising farmers of Hill County, who is making a success of his opera- tions, and is rightly numbered among the repre-

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sentative agriculturists of this region. He was born in Weakley County, Tennessee, January 18, 1880, a son of James and Fountnella (Hughes) Collier, both of whom are deceased, he dying when seventy-four and she when sixty. They were natives of North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee,, respectively. They had twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, and there are still living seven sons and two daughters. Of them all Joe Collier was the seventh child in order of birth. James Collier was a farmer and dealer in tobacco in Tennessee, and for thirty- five years served as a justice of the peace. He was a Mason in his fraternal connections, a democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in his religious affiliations.

Joe Collier grew up in his native county, helping his father with the farm work and attending school. At the age of eighteen years he began clerking in a grocery at Decherd, Tennessee, but after two years of that work he came west to Grand Junction, Colo- rado, and was in the machine shops of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad for about one year. In the spring of 1902 he came to Montana and home- steaded in old Chouteau County, now Hill County, near the homesteads of his brothers Albert F. and Galitan H. Collier. The latter lost his life by being thrown from a horse on July 24, 1919. He was the sixth child in the family of his father. At his death Joe Collier took charge of his farm, and conducts it together with his own, having 640 acres of land under his control. Here he carries on farming and stock raising, and has about forty-five head of cattle and eighteen head of horses. Mrs. Collier has a homestead on the Big Sandy, known as Lonesome Prairie. Mr. Collier is a democrat, but his time has been too completely occupied with his private affairs for him to think about public honors.

On November 22, 1913, Mr. Collier was united in marriage with Leota Pearl McNabb, born at Prince- ton, Bureau County, Illinois, a daughter of John and Idella (Miller) McNabb. Mr. and Mrs. Collier have one daughter, Hallie. A hard worker, Mr. Collier has gradually increased his material posses- sions, all through his own efforts, and stands today an excellent example of the self-made, self-reliant western man, who is able and willing to hold his own with any one. Although his birth occurred in the South, he must be justly regarded as a product of the great West, for his mature years have been spent in it, and in it he has achieved his success.

STEPHEN J. ADAMS. One of the progressive and representative men of Montana is Stephen J. Adams, whose indomitable courage, persistent and aggressive efforts and his excellent management have brought to him the management which is today his. He has ever stood ready to do what he could in pushing forward the wheels of progress and advancing com- mercial prosperity in this vicinity, and his career, both public and private, has been one worthy of the high esteem which those knowing him best freely accord to him.

Stephen J. Adams was born in Jasper County, Missouri, on February 13, 1876, and is the son of John Henry and Christena (Winks) Adams, pros- perous and respected farming folk of that locality. John H. Adams was a native of Kentucky and died in 1886, at the age of forty-two years, while his widow, who is still living, was born in 1847. They became the parents of three children, Elizabeth, Stephen J. and Elsworth. The father received his education in the public schools of Kentucky, but spent the major portion of his younger days in Illinois, engaged in farming, and in that state he was married. Subsequently he moved to Jasper County, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 153

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