Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 17

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 17

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

and lives at Spokane, Washington, where he is em- ployed by the Portland Cement Company. Mr. French was born in Madison County.

Growing up at Virginia City, Mr. Gohn attended its schools until he was seventeen years of age and then began working in his father's meat market. In 1904 he was elected to the office of county treas- urer, and held it for four years, and then returned to the meat market and conducted it until 1914, when he was elected county treasurer and the duties of that office occupied him for four years. Once more he came before the public, this time for the office of county clerk and recorder, and was elected by a gratifying majority, and is now discharging its duties, with offices in the courthouse. He is a very strong republican, and a power in local politics. Fraternally he belongs to Montana Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; Virginia City Chapter No. I, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest; Virginia City Commandery No. I, of which he is past com- mander, and Bagdad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Butte, Montana. He holds membership card No. 1 in Oro y Plata Lodge No. 390, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Alder Gulch Aerie No. 664, Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Gohn owns his modern residence on the corner of Jackson and Idaho streets.

In April, 1896, Mr. Gohn was married to Miss Mary Frances Vickers at Virginia City. She is a daughter of Robert and Martha (Borrell) Vickers, residents of Virginia City. Mr. Vickers was a pio- neer merchant of this city and is one of the highly respected men of his community. Mr. and Mrs. Gohn have had the following children born to them: George Harold, Robert Edward, Martha Mildred and Philip Harry, George Harold was born Janu- ary 8, 1897, enlisted for service during the great World war in March, 1918, in the United States Navy, and made five trips on transport service as a fireman, and was mustered out in January, 1919. He is now in the employ of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company at Butte, Montana. Robert Ed- ward, who was born January 9, 1900, is in a meat business with George Dawson Vickers at Sheridan, Montana. Martha Mildred died when she was ten years of age. Philip Harry was born August II, 1907, and is attending school. During all of his pub- lic service Mr. Gohn has proved his reliability and worth, and the people of Madison County are in- debted to him for his faithfulness and capability, and he is so popular that if he cares to enter the race for another and higher office within the gift of the people there is no doubt but that he will be elected. Such men as he are rare in public office and when one of his calibre is secured the people like to retain him, knowing that in his hands their inter- ests are carefully safeguarded.

ROBERT VICKERS. In business circles at Virginia City no man is held in higher regard than Robert Vickers, proprietor of one of the leading mercantile establishments of Madison County. He has not been a merchant all his life, however, for during earlier years, as a sailor, miner, laborer and trav- eler he was led into many strange places, and experi- ence taught him lessons that have been very helpful in his present vocation, for which, judging from his success, nature evidently intended him.

Robert Vickers was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, February 15, 1830. His parents were William and Frances (Wilson) Vickers, both of whom were born in England. They were reared and married in Lincolnshire, where the mother of Mrs. Vickers died in 1899. When Robert, the youngest of the

three children of the family was yet an infant, the father came alone to the United States and died shortly afterward in New Jersey. The two older sons were Dean Wilson and Thomas, the former of whom died on his ranch in Nebraska in 1913, and the latter of whom, a sailor, probably lost his life on the sea.

Mr. Vickers attended school near his mother's cot- tage in England until he was old enough to become a sailor, and before settling in the United States made two trips from Great Britain to New Orleans, one to Quebec, Canada, and then shipped on a vessel that rounded Cape Horn and sailed to its port on the coast of Chili, South America. By that time the youth had wearied of the life of a sailor, and, taking advantage of opportunity, escaped from the ship, and alone and on foot made his way to the City of Valparaiso. For a time he found employ- ment in the harbor of that city, and made two short trips along the coast on a sailing ship, but it was his ambition to reach the United States and he put forth every effort to do so. In the spring of 1854 he reached San Francisco, and for the next ten years followed mining in the State of California and in Nevada, and at Austin, in the latter state, spent some months engaged in contracting and building. In April, 1865, Mr. Vickers came to Vir- ginia City, and after following mining for eighteen months accepted a position as clerk in a store. In 1867 he established a clothing store in partnership with Henry Elling, but in the following year sold his interest to Mr. Elling and went back to England on a visit.

A year later Mr. Vickers returned to Virginia City and embarked again in the mercantile business, for twenty months conducting a tobacco and cigar store, then, in partnership with Edward Walter, bought the clothing store of Cohen Brothers, but sold his interest one year afterward. Mr. Vickers led an open air life for the next three years, buying and operating a ranch, then returned to the clothing business and conducted a store for nine months, following which he was in the sheep business for eighteen months. In the meanwhile he had become somewhat interested in politics and was elected as- sessor of Madison County, to the duties of which office he gave attention for two years. Relieved of official responsibilities, he returned once more to the business field, and again with Henry Elling as a partner, bought a clothing store and they built up a fine business. After the death of Mr. Elling, Mr. Vickers bought the Elling. interest from the heirs and has continued the business until the present. He has developed and expanded it into one of the leading stores in Madison County.

In England, on April 5, 1869, Mr. Vickers was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Borrell, who was born and educated in England. In 1919 Mr. and Mrs. Vickers celebrated their golden wed- ding anniversary. They have had the following chil- dren: Robert A., who is editor of the Hardin Tribune, resides at Hardin, Montana; Mary F., who is the wife of George E. Gohn; Dean, who lives at Tacoma, Washington; Nellie, who is the wife of Luther V. Buford, who has charge of the waterworks at Long Beach, California; George D., who is in the meat market business at Sheridan, Montana ; Richard B., who is agent for the National Biscuit Company at Butte, Montana; Bessie M., who is the wife of Walter M. Brown, a mining engineer at Searchlight, Nevada; Martha F., who is the wife of Benjamin F. Stutenbury, of Virginia City, gives her father assistance in his business, and Ella R., the wife of Paul L. Mitchell, who is a druggist at Kan- sas City, Missouri

Pete Johnson

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Mr. Vickers has been an active and public-spirited citizen since coming to Virginia City, taking an in- terest in all substantial enterprises for the public welfare and furthering all movements looking to law and order. He owns one of the city's com- fortable and attractive residences. With his family he belongs to the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a democrat and at times has accepted public of- fice, in which he has given honest faithful service. He has been school trustee many years and has served as alderman of his ward. His Masonic con- nections include membership in Virginia City Lodge No. I, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was worshipful master for five successive years; Virginia City Chapter No. I., Royal Arch Masons, and was grand high priest of the state; Virginia City Commandery, Knights Templar, and for the past twenty years has been secretary of the Chapter and Commandery; and Algeria Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Helena. He also was grand patron of the Grand Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star of Montana.

PETE JOHNSON. A highly respected citizen of Belt who, although an American by adoption only, has had the interests of Cascade County at heart for a number of years is Pete Johnson, a man who has won success in life because he has been persistent and never permitted obstacles to thwart him in his course when once he knew he was right. He came here with no capital and, liking the country and having faith in its future, he cast his lot with the people of this locality.

Pete Johnson was born in Sweden on February 13, 1863, and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Oleson, both of whom are deceased, the father dying in 1904, at the age of ninety-two years, and the mother passing away when the subject was a lad of nine years. He is the seventh in order of birth of their eight children, six of whom are living. The father was an honest, hard-working farmer in Sweden and a member of the Lutheran Church.

Pete Johnson attended the public schools of his native land, and at fifteen years of age he shipped as a sailor on an ocean-going ship, following that vocation for some time. In the spring of 1880 he came to the United States, spurred by the hope of bettering his opportunity for advancement in this land of opportunity. Landing at New York City, he soon thereafter went to Chicago, where he remained for about four months, during which time he was employed in Kirk's soap factory, receiving $1 a day. In the fall of that year he went to Kearney, Ne- braska, where he was employed as a farm hand, working from sunrise to sunset, for which he re- ceived $7 a month and his board. Following this experience he was for about one and a half years employed as a section hand on the Union Pacific Railroad, at $1.10 a day. During the summer of 1882 Mr. Johnson was employed in a brick yard in Denver, Colorado, following which he was for a short time again employed on a railroad at Gunni- son, Colorado. Returning to Denver, he obtained work for a time in the Union Pacific Railway shops, but soon went to Pocotello, Idaho, where he went to work for the Oregon Short Line Railroad. For about three months he helped to lay the rails over the Snake River at the American Falls, Idaho, and then went to Grass Creek, Utah, where he mined coal for two months. He was next employed at the coal mines at Rock Springs, Utah, thence returning to Denver and not finding work there he went to Trinidad, Colorado, where he mined coal for a time and also at Ingleville, Colorado. Then in 1883, hav- ing determined to see more of the world, he went

to San Francisco, and from there started for Alaska, that being during the crest of the excitement over the gold discoveries there. When he arrived at Vic- toria, British Columbia, he met a number of men who were returning from Alaska, having been un- fortunate in their search for the precious metal and, discouraged by their stories of conditions there, he returned to Seattle, Washington, and engaged in mining at Newcastle, about twenty miles from Seattle. From there he walked to a place called Ensworth, there having been no railroad across the Cascade Mountains at that time, making a total dis- tance of 275 miles which he had walked overland in nine days, the greater part of the time without food. That was in the month of July, but at that time the Cascade Mountains, over which he walked, had from a foot to three feet of snow. He then traveled by rail to Butte, Montana, reaching there in 1884, and during the following year he was employed in mines and smelters. From there' he went to Anaconda, where he was employed in the Anaconda Company smelter for some time. From there he went to Timber Line, where he was em- ployed in coal mining, but in 1886 he was again employed in mining at Butte. He walked from Butte to Helena at that time, there being no rail- road between Helena and Butte, then going to Marysville working in the mines there for three months, and then returning again to Helena. From there he drove a freight team to Great Falls, cross- ing the Missouri River on a ferry boat at Great Falls, this being before the time of the railroads here. He spent the summer and winter prospect- ing for coal in Sand Coulee. In the spring of 1887 he bought a team of horses and at Sackett he built the first lime kiln in that section of the coun- try. About the same time he located a tract of Government land about eleven miles south of where the Town of Belt now stands, and at the head of Neal Creek. There he built him a log cabin and entered the improvement of the land, which at that time had not been surveyed. Up to 1889 he farmed his land during the summers and mined during the winter months. He continued the improvement and cultivation of his land and was prospered in his labors, so that he began adding to his possessions from time to time until today he is the owner of about 3,200 acres of land. In connection with his agricultural operations Mr. Johnson has also given some attention to the raising of live stock at times. He makes a specialty of Hereford cattle and has been very successful in every phase of his farming operations. His son Roy is now associated with him in the ranch business, permitting Mr. Johnson to look after his other interests. In 1920 he completed a hotel and store building at Great Falls, which lias proven a good investment. It is also worthy of note that Mr. Johnson's foresight in building a lime kiln was rewarded later, for he furnished the major portion of the lime used in building operations in the City of Great Falls.

In January, 1892, Mr. Johnson was married to Anna Larson, who was born in Sweden, and to them have been born the following children: Jes- sie, who died at the age of twelve years; Roy A., who married Persis Paulson, has a daughter, Julia Eleanor. As stated above, Roy is associated with his father in the ranch business. He is a member of Cascade Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Great Falls.

Politically Mr. Johnson gives his support to the democratic party and has taken a keen and intelli- gent interest in local public affairs. His ability and public spirit were recognized when in 1906, and again in 1908, he was elected a member of the

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board of county commissioners, in which position he rendered good service to the county. Frater- nally he is a member of Great Falls Lodge No. 214, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. On arriving in Great Falls Mr. Johnson possessed $2 in money and the world of ambition to succeed.

L. F. MOLLEUR, M. D. In the great emergencies of life that threaten disturbance of physical well being and often mental equilibrium, the first thought and call is for the help of a physician, and seldom, indeed, is this call ever unheeded. It was such an urgent call that brought Dr. L. F. Molleur to Virginia City in January, 1919, when an epidemic of influenza threatened to decimate the city and local medical men were taxed to the limit of their endurance. With professional skill he rendered generous and unselfish service at that time, and has remained here as a resident and practicing phy- sician and surgeon.

L. F. Molleur was born at St. John, Canada. His parents were Francis and Eulalia (Bachard) Mol- leur, whose ancestors settled at St. John many years ago. His father was born there in 1829, fol- lowed an agricultural life and died there in IgII. He belonged to the liberal party in politics, and he was a faithful member of the Baptist Church. The mother of Doctor Molleur was born at St. John in 1833 and died there in 1888. In their family of children L. F. was the third in order of birth, the others being: Adele, who is the wife of Rev. Ed- ward Pelletier, a minister of the Presbyterian Church at Sault Ste. Marie, Canada; Perrier, who is a farmer near St. Philip, Canada; Cyril, who is a physician in Canada; Helen, who is the wife of Stanislaus Choniere, a miner at Boise City, Idaho; and Mrs. A. Flockhard, whose husband is in the wholesale bakery business at Sault Ste. Marie.

Educational opportunities were at hand in Doctor Molleur's boyhood and after completing a course of study at St. John he entered Victoria College at Montreal and was graduated from that famous university in April, 1890, with the degrees of M. D. and C. M. He established himself in practice at Waltham, Massachusetts, and continued there for eight years, then came to the great West and en- tered into practice at Butte, Montana. Two years later he became a resident of Melrose, Montana, where he practiced for eighteen years, serving dur- ing a large part of that time as health officer of the city and also of Silver Bow County. He be- came interested to some extent in the cattle business and conducted a ranch in Silver Bow County, which he sold in 1916. He still owns his residence at Mel- rose.

At Butte, Montana, in 1915, Doctor Molleur was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dudden, who is a daughter of Benjamin and Joharina (Fulton) Dud- den. The father of Mrs. Molleur was a sailor, in early life but later engaged in placer mining and was the discoverer of what is known as the German Gulch Mine. He is survived by his widow, who lives near Butte in Silver Bow County. By a former marriage Doctor Molleur has two children, namely: Aline, who is the wife of Isaac Dodgson, a farmer and rancher near Melrose, and Eugene, who enlisted for service early in the great war as an aviator, in 1918 was sent with the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe and still remains abroad. Doctor Molleur has made many personal as well as professional friends since he came to Virginia City. In addition to attending to a rap- idly growing practice, he is serving as health officer

of Virginia City and Madison County. He is identi- fied politically with the republican party, belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a valued member of the New York Medical Society. He attends the Presbyterian Church.

GEORGE P. LEINENWEBER. To comprehend and sup- ply the necessities of trade is the foundation stone of commercial life, and not only communities prosper when intelligence and efficiency enter the mercantile business, but states and countries seek such mediums in their dealings with each other. To buy and to sell may not be difficult to any man standing still, but to be able to buy judiciously in order to sell profitably is something different, for this means active expansion, further opportunities, more distri- bution of wages and wider usefulness. Hence, the successful business man is a beneficent factor in a community, for his advancement means its chance of progress. In this connection may be mentioned an able business man of Alder City, George P. Leinen- weber, who has built up a large mercantile enter- prise here on a sound commercial foundation.

George P. Leinenweber was born in Madison County, Indiana, October II, 1869. His parents were Mathias and Helen (Smith) Leinenweber, whose ancestors came from Germany and settled in Indiana in pioneer days. Mathias Leinenweber was born in 1839, and was one of the early settlers in Madison County, where he still lives on his pioneer farm, long since retired from active life. He mar- ried Helen Smith, who died in Madison County in 1909. Of their nine children George P. was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follows : Rose, who lives in the City of Indianapolis, Indiana, is the widow of Joseph Speltz, who was a farmer; Lizzie, who is the wife of Frank Wolf, who is a farmer in Madison County, Indiana; John, who is a farmer in Illinois; Matthew, who is a farmer in Madison County ; Frank, who came to Montana and engaged in mining, died at Boulder when twenty- eight years old; William, who is foreman of a stone quarry, lives at Indianapolis; Maggie, who is the wife of Andrew Burke, a farmer in Madison County, and Ella, who is a Sister of Charity and travels as a Catholic teacher.

George P. Leinenweber obtained his education in the country schools in Madison County. He re- mained at home assisting his father until twenty- one years of age, in the meanwhile gaining a knowl- edge of the carpenter trade. This he put to good purpose after coming to Missoula, Montana, in 1891, where he remained one year working as a carpenter and builder. His skill grew with experience, and during the following year at Bozeman he did a large amount of building, continuing in the same line at Virginia City. In 1901, however, when he came to Alder, he turned his attention to another line. Having traveled over a wide extent of country he had noted what the people needed most in order to live comfortably and make headway on farm and ranch and in the home. He resolved therefore to supply these needs. In the above year he estab- lished his large general store at Alder, securing a fine business location on Main Street, and put in one of the largest stocks ever brought to this section of Madison County. It covers all kinds of mer- chandise except dry goods, and includes farm im- plements and flour and feed. As a merchant he has been very successful, for patrons soon realized that they were being dealt with honestly. Since locat- ing permanently at Alder Mr. Leinenweber has in- vested in property and has large holdings in city and vicinity. He owns all the land between his store and the river, owns his handsome store building and

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commodious warehouse, and has one of the most comfortable modern residences of the town.

At Virginia City in 1897 Mr. Leinenweber was united in marriage to Miss May Gilbert, a daughter of Henry and Margaret Gilbert. The father of Mrs. Leinenweber, the late Henry S. Gilbert, was a pioneer of Madison County, Montana, and formerly was a prominent brewer in Virginia City, in which place his widow still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Leinen- weber have two sons, Orlando and Gilbert. The former assists his father when at home, but is a student in the Beaverhead County High School at Dillon, Montana. The latter also assists his father and is attending school at Alder. They both are promising and popular young men. In early man- hood, Mr. Leinenweber became affiliated with the democratic party and has been a loyal supporter of its principles and policies ever since. He has fre- quently taken a useful part in civic affairs as a good citizen, but has accepted no political honors. He has been a Mason many years and belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Virginia City. He is a liberal contributor to all good causes and is uni- versally respected.

JAMES H. HADZOR, postmaster of Sheridan, is a native Montanan, and has been in business and official life in several localities of the state.

He was born in Madison County, in which is located the Town of Sheridan, where he has his home today, on July 26, 1887. His father, George F. Hadzor, was born at Newry, Ireland, in 1838 and was a boy when his parents came to Canada. In early manhood he went to the mining districts of the great West, was a miner at Salt Lake City, Utah, where he married, and in 1866 he came as a pioneer to Montana, crossing overland from Salt Lake City by prairie schooner. He engaged in gold mining at Pony, and then took up a homestead of 160 acres near Norris. This homestead is still owned by his widow. He lived on it and engaged in min- ing at the same time. His homestead is irrigated land located two miles south of Norris. As an ex- pert miner his services were frequently employed by Marcus Daly. He was a democrat and a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity. George F. Hadzor, who died at his home near Norris in 1907, married Bessie Brown, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1840, and is making her home at the ranch near Norris. She is the mother of thirteen children, a brief record of whom follows: Isabell, wife of J. D. McLeod, a lumber and coal dealer and rancher at Norris; George B., on the home ranch at Nor- ris; Marion, who died in childhood; Elizabeth, de- ceased wife of E. A. Barter, a rancher at Norris ; Agnes, with her mother; Isaac D., connected with the Montana Power Company at Butte; James H,; Robert C. and Ray, both on the home farm; Paul, who is employed in a meat market at Ennis; Mon- tana, working in a store at Harrison, was a soldier in the great war, enlisting in 1918 with the Ninety- First Division, taking part in the famous San Mihiel campaign, the Battle of 'Argonne Forest and serving as a machine gunner, being mustered out in May, 1919: Grace, wife of Lincoln McDonald, a rancher near Norris, and Edna, the youngest, a professional pianist and musician at Butte.

James H. Hadzor acquired his early education in the rural schools of Madison County. He left school and home at the age of twenty and spent three years in a store at Ennis, for six months was an employe of Lutey Brothers grocery house at Butte, was in a general store at Logan six months, and for four years was connected with the Buford Mercan- tile Company at Alder. He then established a busi-

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 17

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