Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 162

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

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ANDREW J. OLSON. The history of the Village of Froid comprises a decade, and the enterprise of Andrew J. Olson has been a factor in the community from the very beginning. His chief business has been the Froid Hardware and Implement Company, and through this business organization he has also participated actively in the surrounding agricultural development.

Mr. Olson was born in Goodhue County, Minnesota, October 8, 1874. His father was Jacob Olson, who was born in Sogn, Norway, in 1839. The grandfather was known at Jacob Olson Nesse, a farmer, his last name being given because of his residence in the community of Nesse. Jacob Olson, Jr., married in Norway Martha Nesse, daughter of Andrew Ander- son, a farmer of the Village of Nesse. Jacob brought his wife to the United States in 1873, first locating in Goodhue County, Minnesota, later going to Fargo, North Dakota, where he rented land two years, and then returned to the Thirteen Towns community of Polk County, Minnesota, where he bought a home- stead relinquishment and proved it up and developed a good farm. He died at his country home from blood poisining in 1914. After naturalization he voted as a republican, was a Lutheran, and was known as an industrious citizen and good neighbor. His widow is still living and their children are: Ole, of Fosston, Minnesota; Andrew; Mrs. Susan Nelson, of Bagley, Minnesota; Elling, whose career is briefly noted below; Hans, of Scobey, Montana; Louis, of Fosston ; and Sina, wife of Albert Hoialm, of Clearbrook, Minnesota.

Andrew J. Olson was reared in Polk County, Min- nesota, spent his life on his father's farm until his majority, and had a country school education. On leaving home he joined his brother Elling and Mr. Louis Lohn in a saw mill industry at Lengby in Polk County. He went into that business with his personal confidence as his chief capital, and for four years he and the other members of the firm prospered.

Mr. Olson left Minnesota, and in company with his brother Elling came to Froid in April, 1910. They began business as the Froid Hardware and Implement Company, but after less than a year his brother Elling died and was succeeded in the firm by Dwight Lohn, son of their former partner in the saw mill.

The Froid Hardware & Implement Company put in its original stock of shelf hardware in a store room 16 by 32 feet. In the summer of the same year they built the present business house, 48 by 70 feet, with additional room for storage and ware- house, and there is also an implement shed 40 by 76 feet. The firm has been conservative and has ex- panded its business as rapidly as the trade, the de- velopment of the country and their resources justified, and it is now a department business, the four chief departments being furniture, hardware implements and harness.

Mr. Olson has also done a part as a farmer in this region since 1911. The firm owns eleven quarter sections in Sheridan County near Homestead. This ground was developed from the grass roots, and the company have operated etxensively as wheat and flax growers. Eight crops have been planted and some- thing has been harvested every year, not even the disastrous season of 1919 registering a total failure. The year 1912 was the premier season, when they harvested twenty-eight bushels of wheat as an acre average from 540 acres, and eighteen bushels to the acre of flax from 400 acres. In 1919, after partial destruction by hail, wheat threshed about three bushels and a somewhat smaller quantity of flax was obtained.

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Though very busy with his private affairs Mr. Olson has cooperated with his fellow citizens in com- munity affairs, and since the incorporation of Froid has been a member of its council and also a mem- ber of the school board. He cast his first presiden- tial vote for Major Mckinley in 1806 and is a re- publican.

In Polk County. Mitmesota, July 2, 1000, he married Miss Clara Haaglund. She was born at Sacred Heart, Minnesota, May 9. 1881. Her father Mr. Lerud married Mary Johanson, and Clara was his only child. The widowed mother subsequently became the wife of Nels Haaglund, and Mrs. Olson took that family name Nine children have been born into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Olson, named Clarence J. Arthur M., Gladys L., Hardin L., Stella J., Clifford A. Elmer J., Marion C. and Florence A.

MELZER N. STEVENS. Fealty to facts in the analyza- tion of the character of a citizen of the type of Melzer N. Stevens, of Harlowton, Meagher County, is all that is required to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the community, because it is the honorable reputa- tion of the man of standing and affairs more than any other consideration that gives character and stability 10 the body politic and makes the true glory of a city, community or state revered at home and respected in other and distant localities. In the broad light which things of good report ever invite the name and character of Mr. Stevens stand revealed and secure and, though of modest deemeanor, with no ambition to distinguish himself in public position, his career has been signally honorable, and it may be studied with proft by the youth entering upon his life work.

Melzer N. Stevens was born on his father's farm in Waldo County, Maine, June 12. 1862, and is the son of Shelito and Mary (Reckleiff) Stevens. Both parents were also natives of Waldo County. the former born in 1830 and the latter in 1840, and both are deceased, the father dying in 1914, at the age of eighty-four years and the mother in 1886, at the age of forty-six years. Of the ten children born to these worthy parents six are now living. Shelito Stevens taught school in his younger days. but eventu- ally engaged in the lumber business. He hewed a farm out of the wilderness in Waldo County and became a successful general farmer and stock raiser. He was a lover of horses and owned a number of standard bred animals, and also blooded cattle. He was a Quaker in his religious belief and a demo- crat in politics.

Melzer N. Stevens spent his boyhood days on the paternal farmstead, working for his father in summer and attending school in wintertime. He was in- tensehr ambitions to make his own way, however. and at the age of seventeen years he left home and took employment in a cotton mill at Waterville. Maine. where he remained about three years. In April, 1884, he came to Montana and found employ- ment on a ranch, where he remained until 1800. He then engaged in the sheep business in Meagher County, under the firm name of Berry & Sierens. of which M :. Stevens was the active manager. They were prospered in their enterprise, and in 1906 the business was reorganized as the Winnecook Ranch Company, of which Mr. Stevens is president. This company owns 18,000 acres, which are devoted to the breeding and raising of live stock, and it is considered one of the most important live stock ranches in southern Montana. In 1906 Mr. Stevens assisted in the organiaztion of the Harlowton State Bank, and was elected its president. In April. 1917. the bank- ing business was reorganized under the name of the

Continental Bank and Trust Company, and again Mr. Stevens was chosen president, and still remains at the head of this well-known institution. He is also financially interested in several other banks. Mr. Stevens is in the fullest sense of the term a pro- gressive. virile, self-made American citizen, thor- onghly in harmony with the spirit of the advanced age in which he lives. He made good use of his opportunities and prospered from year to year, con- docting all business matters carefully and syste- matically. and in all his acts displaying an aptitude for successful management

On July 31. 1892, Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Therese M. Clark, who was born in Waldo County, Maine, the daughter of Dudley and Lucy (Warren) Clark, both of whom also were natives of the old Pine Tree State. On the maternal side she was a direct descendant from General War- ren of Revolutionary war fame. These parents had eleven children, of whom nine are living. Dudley Clark spent practically all his life in Maine, except- ing during the great gold excitement in California in 1849, during which period he spent some time in the Golden State, but eventually returned to his old home farm in Maine, where he spent the remainder of his davs.

To Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have been born two sons, Irving T. and Richard W. Irving secured a good education in the public schools and then entered the Montana State College at Bozeman. In June. 1918. be enlisted in the military service of his country. He was first sent to Fort George Wright, whence he was transferred to Fort Riley and then to Camp Lee. After the signing of the armistice he received his discharge at Fort Logan, and is now a student in the Montana Agricultural College at Bozeman. Richard W. is a student in the high school at Harlowton.

Politically Mr. Stevens is a republican and has taken a laudable interest in public affairs. Though not a seeker after office, he was elected a representa- tive to the Legislature in 1915 and served as a mem- ber of the ninth session. Fraternally he is a member of Star of the West Lodge No. 38. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Unity. Maine; Waterville Chapter. Royal Arch Masons, at Waterville, Maine: Waterville Commandery. Knights Templar. at Waterville : Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Helena, Montana Personally Mr. Stevens is a most companionable gentleman and has a host of warm and admiring friends.

MISS GRACE MARIE LEARY, principal of the high school at Polson, has done some splendid work as an educator in Montana. is a graduate of the State University, and is a member of one of Montana's prominent families.

She was born at Merrill, Wisconsin, a daughter of James Edward and Margaret |Rousseau) Leary. Through her mother she is of French ancestry. She was one of the younger of five children, and in 1006 came with her parents to Montana. Her father located at Libby, where he engaged in the lumber and mining industry. He and a partner operated the first saw mill at Libby. James E. Leary served two terms as a member of the State Senate of Montana, and was a leader in business and public affairs.

Grace M. Leary graduated with honors from the Libby High School in 1011. and soon afterward entered the University of Montana at Missoula, where she took the full four years' course, while Dr. E. B. Craighead was president of the university. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1915. and while at university was a member of the local

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chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. After graduating Miss Leary remained at home about a year, and spent much of her time in outdoor activities. . She is a typical western young woman, and finds both pleasure and relaxation in the mountains and . valleys of the Treasure State. For three years she was teacher of English in the Lincoln County High School at Eureka, and in 1919 entered upon her present duties as principal of the high school at Polson. She has proved her ability as a school ad- ministrator, and possesses the qualifications of scholarship and the other qualities that make up the successful educator. Miss Leary was reared in a home of Christian influences and is a member of the Catholic Church.

JAMES S. EGAN. Many of the more active and prosperous business men of Silver Bow County are identified with the great mining interests of the state, prominent among the number being James S. Egan, of Centerville, the efficient superintendent of the Mountain Consolidated Mine, one of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company's properties. A son of John F. Egan, he was born December 21, 1875, in Vir- ginia City, Nevada, where his parents were pioneer settlers.

Born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1833, John F. Egan came to the United States in 1844, a bright, active lad of eleven years, and as soon as able to work for wages engaged in farming in New York State. Not content with tilling the soil, he migrated to California when a young man, but not finding congenial employment soon made his way to Vir- ginia City, Nevada, locating there in 18-, in early pioneer days. Becoming familiar with pick and shovel, he was engaged in mining and prospecting throughout Nevada, and for fifteen years was super- intendent of the Andes Mine. A clear-headed, brainy man, possessing marked executive and business ability, he became an influential member of the re- publican party and very prominent in civic and political affairs. He served as a member of the Nevada State Legislature a number of terms, and at the time of his death, April 14, 1894, was serving as state treasurer, a responsible position which he assumed January 1, 1890, under the administration of Governor Colcord, his death occurring a few months before the expiration, on December 31, 1894, of his term of service. He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and belonged to the Catholic Knights of America.

John F. Egan married in 1866, in Virginia City, Nevada, Mary E. Bride, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1841, and having been brought by an aunt to this country when a child was reared and educated in Boston, Massachusetts. She died at a. comparatively early age, her death occurring in Nevada, at Virginia City, in September, 1892. Seven children were born of their union, as follows: Mary, wife of Richard Galligan, of Butte, a miner at the Montain Consolidated Mine; John, of Butte, em- ployed as a stationary engineer with the Anaconda Copper Mining Company; Annie, who died in in- fancy; Lillian, wife of George Wright, a prominent business man of Virginia City, Nevada; James S., the special subject of this sketch; and Edward and Ger- trude, who died in infancy.

Acquiring his rudimentary education in the paro- chial schools of his native city, James S. Egan entered the Nevada State University at Reno when a boy of fifteen years, and there took a business course of two years, and a two years' course in min- ing engineering, continuing his studies in that in- stitution for a year and a half after the death of his father, when he was forced to leave in order to earn

his own living. Locating in Butte on April 14, 1896, Mr. Egan began as a miner with the Miles-Finlen Company at the Ramsdell-Parrot Mine, where for four years he was time keeper, and was afterward at the Old Parrot Mine until it was shut down. Returning to the Ramsdell-Parrot Mine, he continued with it until that, too, was shut down. For a year there- after he was in the employ of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company as bookkeeper in its hardware de- partment. Subsequently beginning as a miner at the Speculator Mine, he was soon promoted to blacksmith helper, a position that he held two years. Entering then the employ of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, he began work as a common miner in the Bell Mine, and was subsequently promoted, and for sixteen months served as assistant mining engineer. Being made mining engineer at the Mountain Con- solidated Mine in 1909, Mr. Egan filled the position to the entire satisfaction of all concerned until Febru- ary 14, 1919, when he was promoted to his present responsible position as superintendent of this mine, having under his supervision 500 employes. This mine is situated north of Butte, in the Town . of Centerville, and on the property of the mine owners Mr. Egan has his residence and offices.

He married June 7, 1899, in Butte, 'Mary T. Leary, a daughter of John and Mary (Brennan) Leary, neither of whom are now living. Her father, a native of Massachusetts, was a pioneer of Virginia City, Nevada, where he was for many years em- ployed as a foundry moulder. Mr. and Mrs. Egan became the parents of four children, namely : Mary, born in March, 1900, was graduated from the Butte High School, and is now a sophomore at the State Agricultural College in Bozeman; Alice died at the age of thirteen years; John died in infancy; and James Harold was born December 7, 1906.

Religiously Mr. Egan is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Politically he invariably supports the principles of the democratic party. Fraternally he is a member of Butte Council No. 668, Knights of Columbus, and is a fourth degree Knight.

EDWARD M. GANS, M. D. As a physician, surgeon and banker Doctor Gans has been a prominent citi- zen of Judith Gap for a number of years, and added a further distinction by more than a year of overseas duty as an officer of the Medical Reserve Corps.

Doctor Gans was born at St. Cloud, Minnesota, December 27, 1875. His father, Mathias Gans, of German ancestry, was born at Treves, Province of Loraine, in 1829. He was reared in his native city and was very liberally educated. He was a skilled musician, and. became prominent in the early life and affairs of the State of Minnesota, where he lived for many years. He soon acquired an apt knowledge of the English language after coming to this country in young manhood. For one winter he worked in the South, and then pioneered to Stearns County, Minnesota. For a number of years he taught school in Minnesota, during the '70s served for eight years as county treasurer of Stearns County, and after that lived quietly on a farm at St. Cloud, where he died in 1906. He was a demo- crat in politics, and had made prominent friends in the public affairs of Minnesota. He was a Catholic in religion. At St. Joseph, Stearns County, he mar- ried Mary Eva Pung. She was also born near Treves, Loraine, in 1839, and was five years of age when her father, Arnold Pung, came to America and settled at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Arnold Pung became a Wisconsin farmer and died at St. Joseph, Minnesota, at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Mathias Gans is still living at St. Cloud, past eighty

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years of age. She and her husband had a very large family of children, thirteen of whom grew up: John, a music instructor at St. Cloud, Minnesota ; Hubert, owner of a job printing establishment at St. Cloud; Joseph, who for many years has made his home at Uniontown, Washington, where he was formerly a teacher and later a rural mail carrier ; Peter, a Catholic priest at Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Michael J., a druggist at Perham, Minnesota; Mary, wife of W. L. Morton, owner of a poultry farm at Watertown, Wisconsin; Edward M .; Leo P., a Doctor of Canon Law and rector at the Catholic Cathedral at St. Cloud; Nestor, a railroad man in the service of the Grand Trunk Railway at Canada ; Norbert, a foreman in the Republic Iron & Steel Company's mine at Gilbert, Minnesota; Anna, un- married and employed in a book bindery at St. Clond; Wilhelmina, wife of E. J. Treischel, a farmer a mile south of St. Cloud; Rose, wife of Joseph Schroeder, an electrician at St. Cloud.

Doctor Gans spent his early youth in Stearns County, Minnesota, was educated in the rural schools, and then qualified and taught in similar schools in that county for three years. In 1899 he graduated from the State Normal School at St. Cloud, following which he was principal of schools at Carmen one year and another year at Clear- water, Minnesota. He then entered the medical department of the University of Minnesota at Min- neapolis, and received his M. D. degree June 1, 1905. For two months he was an interne at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth, and after that was con- nected with the Moore Hospital at Eveleth, Minne- sota, until March I, 19II. He practiced about a year at Dickinson, North Dakota, and in April, 1912, located at Judith Gap, where his abilities quickly gained him a profitable general practice in medicine and surgery.

Doctor Gans signed up for the service of the Medical Reserve Corps July 12th at Kalispell, and was commissioned a first lieutenant August 28, 1917. He reported for duty April 1, 1918, at the Medical Officers' Training Camp at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was sent overseas June 1, 1918, sailing from Ho- boken on the 12th of June. Thenceforth the detailed record of his military service is as follows: Landed at Liverpool, England, June 23, 1918; was on duty at Base Hospital No. 3 at Monpont, France, to Sep- tember 9, 1918; went to the front lines in Alsace with the First Battalion, Forty-Second Artillery, C. A. C., operating at LaChapelle and Dannemarie ; after the signing of the armistice sailed from St. Nazaire, France, February 5, 1919, arriving at New- port News, Virginia, February 18th, and was mus- tered ont at Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois, March 5, 1919. He received a commission as captain No- vember II, 1918.

Doctor Gans returned to Judith Gap April 15, 1019, and at once resumed his private practice. His offices are on Main Street and his home on Meagher Avenue.

Doctor Gans has been quite active in public affairs at Judith Gap, serving as mayor three years, until he resigned to enter the army. He was also health officer of Judith Gap. Politically he is a republican and was commander of Wheatland County Post of the American Legion from the time of his return from abroad until January 1, 1920. He is affiliated with Lewistown Lodge No. 456 of the Elks, Duluth Council No. 447 of the Knights of Columbus, and is a member of the Fergus County Medical Society, the Montana State Medical Society, which he served as third vice president, the American Medical Asso- ciation, the Association of Military Surgeons, and the American Officers of the Great War. Doctor Gans is also vice president of the Security State

Bank of Judith Gap and a stockholder in the State Life Insurance Company.

September 26, 1906, at Stillwater, Minnesota, he married Miss Genevieve Aurelia Wolf. Her par- ents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wolf, reside at Still- water, her father being owner of the plant of the Wolf Brewing Company. Mrs. Gans is a graduate of the Young Ladies' Seminary at St. Joseph, Min- nesota, and of St. Joseph's Academy at St. Paul, where she specialized in water color painting. Doc- tor and Mrs. Gans have three children: Paul, born August 5, 1907; Edward, born June 10, 1909; and Genevieve Aurelia, born March 2, 1914.

JOSEPH B. SIMPSON. The development of the state of Montana from the open range of former times to the carefully cultivated ranches of today has been brought about through the indomitable energy and persistent industry of the men who had faith in their undertaking and were broad-visioned enough to know that their work would terminate successfully although they had to pass through much hardship to reach such an end. The state has always been, and will continue to be, a great cattle and sheep country, and the most successful of the operators have recog- nized this fact and, while experimenting with some crops, have specialized in the stock industry with very gratifying results. One of these men who is numbered among the worth-while residents of the state is Joseph B. Simpson of Gildford, one of the extensive stockmen of his region. .

Joseph B. Simpson was born at Port Burwell. Ontario, Canada, September 22, 1873, a son of John and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Simpson. John Simpson was born in Birmingham, England, and died at Dela- ware, Ontario, Canada, in 1914, when ninety-five years of age. He and his wife were married in Can- ada, and they had three sons and three daughters born to them, all of whom are living. Of these Joseph B. Simpson was the second son and fourth child. The mother of these children died when Joseph B. Simp- son was a small child. John Simpson was a soldier in the English army and served in the Crimean war and also in Ireland, following which he came to Canada by sailing vessel, and after landing taught music in Quebec until 1873, having been bandmaster in the army and a natural musician. In 1873 he embarked in a boot and shoe business at Lawrence Station, Canada, and continued in it until his re- tirement, when he moved to Delaware, Canada, and there spent his last years. All his life he was a member of the Church of England.

Joseph B. Simpson attended the schools of Canada, and early became a wage-earner, his first money being acquired herding cows and pigs, for which he was paid one dollar a month. Later he engaged as a farm hand, first receiving four dollars a month, his stipend later being increased to eight dollars per month, and finally to fifteen dollars per month. Having by this time reached the age of twenty years, in the spring of 1893, he realized that he must branch out if he intended making anything of his life, and he came into Montana. Reaching Havre, he was engaged by a sheepman as sheep herder, and for three years Mr. Simpson continued to work for him, during that period being almost completely isolated, away from railroads and civilization, practically all of the time being alone, save for now and then meet- ing with an Indian or two. During this time he saved his wages, and then in partnership with his brother Ernest J. he bought 1,000 head of sheep and entered upon his career as a stockman, branching out until now he buys, sells and raises sheep, cattle and horses. His magnificent ranch of 4,000 acres of his own and 4,000 additional he has leased from the

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 162

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