Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 157

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

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Doctor Witherspoon acquired his early education in the public schools of St. Louis, also studied under private tutors, acquiring the equivalent of a high school training, and graduated with the degree Ph. G. from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. In 1889 he received his M. D. degree from the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis. In scholarship he ranked as one of the most proficient students in the history of that institution and was the fourth graduate to receive the gold medal representing the highest scholastic attainments. He is a member of the Phi Beta Pi college fraternity.

In December, 1889, after some months of experi- ence as an interne in the St. Louis Hospital, Doctor Witherspoon came to Butte and carried on an in- dividual and private hospital practice in the city until November, 1893. Then, on account of the death of his wife's mother, he returned to St. Louis, and was busy with professional duties in that city until November, 1906. He was instructor in anatomy in the Missouri Medical College during 1893-94, and from 1894 to 1906 was a member of the faculty of the Marion Sims Medical College. From 1897 he served as professor of operative and clinical sur- gery in the Marion Simms-Beaumont Medical Col- lege. That college since 1900 has been the medical department of the St. Louis University. Doctor Witherspoon went abroad in 1901, spending the months of March, April, May and June at Vienna and from July to September in Berlin, specializing in surgery and pathology. He again returned to Berlin in 1904, and pursued work along the same special lines from April to September. Doctor Witherspoon was the fifteenth American physician honored with a life membership in the Anglo- American Medical Association of Berlin.

Doctor Witherspoon again resumed his practice at Butte in 1906, and in April, 1907, became asso- ciated with the Murray Hospital as its chief surgeon. His work is now entirely confined to surgery and consultation. His abilities have lent a distinction to Murray Hospital, so that apart from its facilities as one of the best equipped private hospitals in the northwest, it enjoys the highest rank for its pro- fessional technique.

Doctor Witherspoon saw active service in the great war. He was appointed aid to Governor Stewart, with rank of lieutenant, in November, 1917. In January, 1918, he was made a major, and in the

early part of February was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa, as chief of the surgical section. In July, 1918, he was ordered to Wadsworth as chief of the surgical section of Base Hospital No. 56 to go to France. On August 12th he was made lieutenant- colonel. In the latter part of August he sailed for France and in the middle of September was sent on to the hospital center at Alleray, France. He re- mained there throughout his service in France, until the last of January, 1919, when he received orders to return home. He sailed from France in February and received his discharge from service on March 1, 1919. Doctor Witherspoon is a director of the State Tuberculosis Sanitarium, is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the Southern and Western Surgical and Gynecological Association, Montana State Medi- cal Association, the Butte Medical Society, the American Association of Anatomists, and was presi- dent of the State Medical Society in 1912. Doctor Witherspoon has always taken a keen delight in outdoor sports, especially fishing and hunting, and is a member of the Silver Bow Club, the Country Club, the University Club, and other social or- ganizations. He is independent in politics.

October 2, 1890, at St. Louis, he married Miss Nina Butler, daughter of W. C. and Evelyn (Hen- ley) Butler. Her mother is deceased and her father is a retired fire insurance adjuster living at St. Louis. Mrs. Witherspoon is a graduate of the Mary Institute of St. Louis. They have one child, Evelyn, now a junior in the University of Cali- fornia.

JOHN OLIVER. The life sketch of the well-known gentleman whose name appears at the head of this paragraph is closely identified with the history of Montana, for he has spent the major part of his useful, industrious and honorable life here and has been closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. His life, being one of unfailing activity, has been crowned by well-earned success, and at the same time he has won and retained the confidence and good will of all who know him for his clean life, his ability and his fair dealings with his fellow men in all the relations of life.

John Oliver was born in Neosho, Missouri, on September 22, 1871, and is the son of James F. and Martha J. (Finley) Oliver. James F. Oliver was born at Albany, New York, on June 21, 1844, and is the son of an Englishman. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Douse, was of Mohawk Dutch blood. James F. Oliver, who is a resident of McAllister, Montana, has been a farmer and stock- man during his active career in Montana. He is a republican in politics and has been deeply interested in church work. His wife, who was a daughter of Henry Finley, was born in Sacramento, California, in 1849, and died in Montana in 1912. They be- came the parents of twelve children, including two pairs of twins, and the ten surviving children are: Charles F., of Joliet, Montana; John, of Ekalaka, Montana; Mrs. John Dunn, of Red Lodge, Montana ; William F., of Syracuse, New York; Mrs. James Gordon, of McAllister, Montana; Clarence L., of McAllister ; Mrs. Roy Campbell, of Glendive, Mon- tana; Elvira, who is married and living at Sand Point, Idaho; Samuel, of Joliet, Montana, and Ethel, of Joliet.

John Oliver was taken from his native state to Sonoma County, California, in infancy, his father being engaged there in logging and wood contracting. He was brought by his parents to Montana on April 15, 1880, and here he secured his elementary educa- tion in the public schools, later entering the Montana

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Wesleyan University near Helena. He finished the junior year and then secured a teacher's license. He used it but a day and a half, however, and was then ordained as a Methodist minister, his ordination occurring at Anaconda by Bishop Mallalieu in August, 1898. He was assigned as pastor to Inston, Ekalaka, Park City and Forsythe. Coming then to Ekalaka, he abandoned the ministry. and engaged in business. He identified himself with the organi- zation of the Ekalaka Commercial State Bank, of which he became cashier, serving as such until Jan- uary I, 1915, when he sold his interests in the institu- tion. He had become interested in ranching and farming and is still giving his attention to that line of effort. When Mr. Oliver first came to Ekalaka, in September, 1898, he found here a blacksmith shop, four saloons, two stores and a hotel, it being then merely a trading point for the surrounding country. Its development since then has been of a substantial nature and now, as a county seat town, its future prosperity seems assured.

Among other things which Mr. Oliver has done, and which have been of direct public benefit, should be mentioned the work of transcribing the records of Carter County and that of Powder River County. In both cases he made complete and convenient in- dexes to the records, thus saving much time in their use.

Politically Mr. Oliver has always been a stanch and active supporter of the republican party with the exception of 1912, when he supported Colonel Roose- velt. He entered the political struggle in Fallon County as a candidate for state senator on the pro- gressive ticket, and was elected over two competitors by seven votes. He sat in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Legislatures and took an active and effec- tive part in the deliberations and actions of that body. In the Fourteenth Legislature his chief com- mittee assignments were those of towns and counties and new counties. He took an active part in the creation of new counties by amending the county division law so as to be able to create new counties. He was chairman of the committee on public lands, and he presented and had enacted a law known as the "Sunday Closing Law." In the Senate of the Fifteenth Legislature he was a member of the com- mittee on new counties, among several others, and in that session Wheatland and Carter counties were organized. In the fourteenth session there were nineteen republicans, sixteen democrats and four progressives, and in the organization of that body Mr. Oliver voted with the republicans, giving them a majority. In 1918 Senator Oliver was prominently mentioned as a probable nominee of the republicans for Congress.

Mr. Oliver has been married twice, first at Cascade, Montana, on March 4, 1899, to Gertrude P. Austin, who was born at Rocky Gap, Montana, the daughter of Henry and Sarah (Hongh) Austin. She be- came the mother of two children, Doris and Lowell. Sometime after her death Mr. Oliver married, at Miles City, in 1904, Marie Foster, who was born in Minnesota on November 12, 1875, the daughter of Samuel L. Foster, a native of Minnesota. He had been a Union soldier during the Civil war. He came to Montana in 1884, becoming one of the early residents of Ekalaka, where he engaged in the stock business. To Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have been born five children, namely : Gordon Ross, Jerome, Eugenia, Foster and Janis.

In every avenue of life's activities in which he has engaged Mr. Oliver has measured up to the full requirements of the situation. He has been success- ful in business, respected in social life, and as a neighbor he has discharged his duties in a manner

becoming a liberal-minded, intelligent citizen of the state, where the essential qualities of manhood have ever been duly recognized and prized at their true value.

OSCAR A. DAHL. Perhaps no one agency in all the world has done so much for public progress as the press, and an enterprising, well-edited journal is a most important factor in promoting the welfare and prosperity of any community. It adds to the intelligence of the people through its transmission of foreign and domestic news and through its dis- cussion of the leading questions and issues of the day, and, more than that, it makes the town or city which it represents known outside of the immediate locality, as it is sent each day or week into other districts, carrying with it an account of the events transpiring in its home locality, the ad- vancement and progress there being made, and the advantages which it offers to its residents along moral, educational, social and commercial lines. Carter County is certainly indebted to its wide-awake journals in no small degree, and one man who is doing a commanding work in the local newspaper field is Oscar A. Dahl, owner and editor of the "Ekalaka Eagle." He has long been connected with journalistic work, and his power as a writer and editor, as well as a business man, is widely acknow !- edged among contemporary newspaper men and the public in general.

Oscar A. Dahl is a native of Yankton, South Dakota, where he was born on September 14, 1889, and is a son of Ole L. and Anna (Olsen) Dahl, both of whom are natives of Norway. Ole L. Dahl came to the United States in 1885 and located at once at Yankton, where he obtained employment as a miller in the same flouring mill in which he works today, a period of over a third of a century. He was married at Yankton, and his wife died in 1899, leaving four children, namely: Lewis, of Yankton; Oscar A., of this review; Gus, of Yank- ton, and Sanford, of Vermilion, South Dakota.

When but ten years of age Oscar A. Dahl left his home in the company of a printer, who took him to the Black Hills. There he became a printer's "devil" in the office of the "Black Hills Union" at Rapid City, where he acquired a good knowledge of the art preservative, becoming an adept at his trade. He was afterwards employed on the "Rapid City Journal," the "Deadwood Pioneer Times," the "Lead City Tribune" and the "Lead City Call." In these various positions he was gaining valuable experience and an insight into newspaper methods, so that when in September, 1908, the business men of Eka- laka requested him to come here and establish a newspaper, for which they had raised the necessary funds which they proposed to loan to Mr. Dahl for the purpose, he was ready to accept their proposition. The "Ekalaka Eagle" was started the following Jan- uary and has been issued continuously since that time, being now the oldest newspaper in Carter County. At first the Eagle was unbiased in its political utterances, but when Mr. Dahl had reached his majority he gave the support of the paper to the democratic party, but it is now on an independent basis. He is a pleasing and graceful writer, cloth- ing his thoughts in easy language, and has the genuine journalistic instinct for news, the Eagle being an extremely readable and interesting paper. The typographical style of the Eagle is all that could be desired, and altogether it is a welcome visitor in hundreds of homes throughout Carter County.

Oscar A. Dahl was married in Helena, Montana, on September 22, 1913, to Idella C. Olsen, who is a

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native of the treasure state and a daughter of S. Olsen. Mrs. Dahl is a well educated and cultured woman, having supplemented her public school edu- cation with a course in the Mankato (Minn.) Normal School. She was then engaged in teaching in the schools of Carter County (then Custer County), and was afterward in the telephone service in Eka- laka. Fraternally Mr. Dahl's only connection is with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, while his political predilections are democratic. Keen percep- tion, tireless energy and honesty of purpose, com- bined with mature judgment and every-day common sense, are the concomitants which have entered into the success which has crowned Mr. Dahl's efforts here, and because of these facts he enjoys to a marked degree the respect and esteem of the people of the community.

CAMPBELL G. RICKARD. The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widely known as one of the honored citizens of Carter County, and for a number of years has been prominently identified with the commercial interests of Ekalaka. His well- directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought him prosperity, and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of any discouragements which may seem to rise. In all the relations of life he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact, and he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.

Campbell G. Rickard was born at Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia, on March 15, 1875, and is the son of Lewis and Elizabeth (McMillan) Rickard. Lewis Rickard was born in West Virginia, the son of Joseph Rickard, also a native of West Virginia and a life-long farmer in that state. He married a Miss Roush, and to them were born four children, Lewis being the only son. The latter re- ceived a limited education and began life as a farmer in his native state. Subsequently he moved to Nebraska, where he became a farmer and stock raiser on a homestead which he proved up near Harrison, Sioux County, but in the evening of life he returned' to West Virginia and died there. He married Elizabeth McMillan, who was born at Sten- benville, Ohio, and who died in West Virginia. To them were born twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, nine of whom grew to maturity. Those now living are: William, of Billings, Mon- tana; Mrs. Catherine Grim, of Harrison, Nebraska ; James, of Mason County, West Virginia; Adam, also of Mason County; Campbell G., the subject of this sketch; and Robert, of West Virginia.

Campbell G. Rickard was a lad of thirteen years when he accompanied his father on the move from their native state to Nebraska, and in the latter state he received his education. At the age of twenty years he began work as a cowboy with Charles Coffey, a well-known stockman of that region, and later he worked for the Van Tassel ranch in Wyoming. In 1896 he came to Montana, going to Tongue River, where he went to work for the "SL" ranch at Garland. This ranch was then man- aged by Judge Loud of Miles City, and Fred Hitz- feldt was the ranch foreman. He remained with the "SL" people about four years and then trans- ferred to the "LU" ranch, for whom he rode the range for a number of years. When he abandoned ranch work he went to Miles City, where he engaged in the retail liquor business, finally managing a

saloon for Jones & Hostetter there. In 1910 Mr. Rickard came to Ekalaka and engaged in the retail liquor business, with which he was identified until January 1, 1919, when he abandoned the business and became a partner in the Lantis-Rickard Lumber Company at Ekalaka, one of the enterprising and prosperous concerns of that city. Having come to Ekalaka prior to its incorporation, he has thus been a witness of its modern development and today is one of the most active boosters of the town. The Lantis-Rickard Lumber Company besides handling a full line of lumber and building supplies has also bought a number of eligible building lots, on which they have erected neat, substantial and comfortable homes, which they have sold, thus contributing in a very effective way to the improvement and upbuild- ing of the town.

Campbell G. Rickard was married at Ekalaka in February, 1913, to Marie Denison, who, like her husband, was born in West Virginia. Mrs. Rickard died, without issue, in December, 1918.

Politically Mr. Rickard gives his support to the democratic party, while fraternally he is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, holding his mem- bership in the aerie at Miles City. Genial and com- panionable, he has a host of warm and loyal friends, and is numbered today among the progressive and enterprising business men of Ekalaka.

DE Loss T. HALL. Among the well-known and influential citizens of Eastern Montana is the gentle- man whose name appears at the head of this para- graph, and to. whom belongs the distinction of hav- ing spent practically his entire life in this state. When he came here conditions were primitive in the extreme, and he has been an eye witness and a participant in the wonderful transformation which has taken place here. He has played well his part in the work of upbuilding the community, and has always tried to be fully abreast of the times, doing such good as he could in all the relations of life, consequently he is held in high esteem by those who know him, for he is a man of sterling char- acter and commendable attributes.

Mr. Hall's advent into Montana was in the spring of 1890, when he accompanied his parents hither from Hennepin County, Minnesota. The head of the family was Hollis H. Hall, who left the train at Mingusville, now Wibaux, and came by wagon across the country to the Ekalaka locality. He took up land in the "HS" basin, but after spending a few years here he returned to Minnesota and was not again within the state for several years. Ultimately he returned and died in Ekalaka on March 5, 1915, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a Civil war veteran. entering the army in Minnesota as a member of Company F, Eleventh Regiment, Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry. Eleven months of his service were spent in guarding the railroad tunnel through the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he was stationed when the war closed, and he received his discharge at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. It was the fortune of the Halls to be living in Custer County at the time of the great Sioux Indian outbreak, whose warpath seemed to lead across the settlement about Ekalaka. When the alarm was sounded the home of Mr. Hall became the rendezvous of the settlers, and it was hastily converted into a defensive stockade. Fortunately some circumstance led the Indians away from this locality, and the barricaded settlers breathed easier. That was the last Indian scare for this section of the state.

Hollis H. Hall was born in Sherbrook, Canada, and came to the United States at the age of twenty- one years. He went to St. Paul when it was the

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western railroad terminus and settled on a tract of timber land in Hennepin County, to which he ac- quired title and on which he farmed in summer, working in the timber woods during the winter months. Later he devoted himself solely to farming. He was a republican in politics, without ambition for office, and took a deep interest in all things elevating, having donated the site and assisted in building an Adventist Church on his farm. He was married in Hennepin County to Huldah Alger, who was born in Ohio in 1844, the daughter of Church Alger. She now resides in Ekalaka. She is descended from old colonial stock, tracing her ancestry back to Governor William Bradford, of the Massachusetts colony. Mr. and Mrs. Hall became the parents of the following children: Mrs. Luva Richards, of Vancouver, Wash- ington; Oel, of Ekalaka; Newman R. and Carlos, also of Ekalaka; Lela, wife of Horace G. Harding, of Ekalaka; and De Loss T., of this sketch.

De Loss T. Hall was reared and educated in Hennepin County, Minnesota. He attended the State Normal School at St. Cloud and later was a student in Chadron Academy at Chadron, Nebraska. He made a special study of steam engineering and engaged in the saw-mill business at the beginning of his independent career. He located his first plant eight miles south of Ekalaka, in what is known as the Sioux National Forest, that being before the creation of the forest as a national preserve and its protection by the Government. After sawing out a block of timber there the mill was moved six miles east of Ekalaka, where it stands today, and is still in active operation. It has a daily capacity of about 1,200 feet and includes a planer, lath mill and shingle mill, the product of the mill being consumed by the local trade.

Mr. Hall was married in Lead, South Dakota, on December 23, 1908, to Laura Booth, who was born in New York City, the daughter of Edward C. and Amelia (Zingg) Booth, the former a native of New York and the latter of Canada. They now reside in Hibbing, Minnesota. Of their nine children Mrs. Hall is the eldest. She came to Superior, Wis- consin, at the age of eight years, and was reared there. She came West to visit her relatives, and met Mr. Hall at Garrison, North Dakota. She was educated in the public schools at Superior, and graduated from the Normal School there in 1908. She began teaching in Westfield, Wisconsin, where she remained two years. She then entered a home- stead in North Dakota and taught while holding it and proving up on it. She took the civil service examination and entered the Indian School work at Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Mrs. Hall was crippled in childhood by the explosion of a kerosene lamp, which resulted in the loss of her left arm. She has done some teaching in Montana as a substitute. She is recognized as an exceedingly capable educator and was made county superintendent of schools of Carter County without being consulted, her name being placed in the legislative bill creating the county. She was elected to the position in November, 1918, thus succeeding herself in the office. She cast a republican ballot in 1916. As the first county superintendent it was her task to create order out of chaos, install the records, organize schools and set the educational machinery in motion. That she is a woman who really accomplishes results is evi- denced by the statement that she has succeeded in getting fourteen new schoolhouses erected during her official tenure.

Fraternally Mr. Hall is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Mrs. Hall, of the Daughters of Rebekah. She is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. In every phase

of community life affecting the welfare of the people Mr. and Mrs. Hall are consistent supporters and advocates of the best things, and because of their activity in civic and moral affairs as well as because of their splendid personal qualities they occupy an exalted place in the esteem of the people generally.

JESSE WALTER GRANT. A man who boldly faces the responsibilities of life and by determined and untiring energy carves out for himself an honorable success exerts a strong influence upon the lives of his contemporaries and all who follow him. Such men form the foundation of our republican institu- tions and are the pride of our civilization. To them life is so real that they find little time to plot either mischief or vice. Their lives are bound up in their duties, they feel the weight of their citizenship and take pleasure in sowing the seeds of uprightness. Such has been the career of Jesse W. Grant, a successful ranchman, auctioneer and formerly deputy sheriff of Custer County, long one of the best known men in that section of the state, and, owing to his genial disposition and open-heartedness, one of the most popular.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 157

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