Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 185

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 185

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So successful did he become in handling horses that in 1908 he began to concentrate on the breeding of blooded horses, and formed a partnership with a stockman in Iowa, the two importing Belgian horses and dividing their shipments, Mr. Cronk bring- ing his to Montana. He began his exhibitions at the local fairs, and in 1912 made his first exhibit at the Montana State Fair. With the exception of 1914 and

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1919 he has been an exhibitor ever since, and has taken more than $200 prizes, including champion stallion and champion mare ribbons. These exhibits have been valuable advertising and have brought him prominently before the stockgrowers of the country, and from across the international line in Canada. Lingot, the famous stallion and twice champion of the Percherons of Montana, is of Mr. Cronk's stable, and Lingot's get have never been beaten at the Mon- tana State Fair, and one of them, Lingot Linda, has been three times champion of the Helena State Fair.

Mr. Cronk's success with blooded cattle has been chiefly with the Shorthorns, although he has some fine specimens of Herefords on his ranch. While he has never been an exhibitor of cattle, he has bred and sold some 400 bulls, and thus rendered a valuable service in encouraging the introduction of blooded cattle in the state. On his ranch the junior Cronks are breeding Shetland ponies and Chester White hogs, and are making a record not to be overlooked. One of his sons entered a calf contest put on by the Blaine Farm Bureau, and sold his calf at auction for $400, for which he had paid $175. He fed it 117 days, weighing it at 540 pounds and selling it at 940 pounds.

A strong believer in alfalfa, Mr. Cronk has grown it for many years. His valley land is under his own irrigation system, and with it he has been able to grow four tons of alfalfa to the acre, and has some of the best settings of that hay to be found. His claim of 320 acres has grown into a ranch of about 3,000 acres, in which his wife's claim is included, and about 1,600 acres are under irrigation, and 500 acres carry alfalfa. His substantial improvements include an eight-room residence; two horse barns, one being 32 by 32 and another 64 by 72 feet; a granary with a storage capacity of 8,000 bushels of grain, including his granary rooms in the barns; sheds for cattle and other buildings for his machinery and appliances needing shelter; and a tenant house which is in ac- cord with his other buildings, for he has regard for the comfort of those whom he employs, all of these representing an outlay of from $12,000 to $15,000. Mr. Cronk also has ranching interests on Savoy Creek, this property being known as the McDaniel ranch, and is fairly well improved and devoted to alfalfa and grain.

On February 5, 1901, Mr. Cronk was married at Fairfax, Iowa, to Miss Annie Rogers, a daughter of James Rogers. Mrs. Cronk was born at Fairfax, Iowa, where her father was an early settler and farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Cronk have the following children : Norma, Roger, Johnny and Ruth.

Both by inheritance and conviction Mr. Cronk is a republican, and he cast his first presidential ballot in 1896 for William McKinley.

In addition to his other interests he is interested in the Farmers State Bank of Coburg, of which he was the first president, and he is president of the Blaine County Farm Bureau. Coming in the second selec- tive draft, Mr. Cronk submitted his questionnaire about a week before the signing of the armistice, and although he was connected with the very im- portant industry of food production and because of that was entitled to exemption, he laid no claim to it, being ready and willing to respond when called into the service. 'Mr. Cronk belongs to the best type of western manhood and is self-reliant, clear-brained and dependable. Long ago recognizing the impera- tive necessity for the production of better stock, he has gone about his business in a highly efficient man- ner, and his remarkable success acts as a strong incentive to others to follow his example. He has always had the good of his community at heart and has been generous in his benefactions to it, but his

real service has been in the encouragement of agri- cultural activities and the advertising of the advan- tages of the region through his own stock operations. His will and resourcefulness have enabled him to overcome obstacles which have arisen in his path, and he has developed these characteristics and others *which give him the power to stimulate men to whole- hearted endeavor to become, as he, worth-while citizens and upright and prosperous men.

JOHN W. MCKEE. The high and responsible call- ing of banking has placed John W. McKee in the front ranks of the business men of Sheridan County. A number of years ago, soon after he arrived on Montana soil, the First National Bank of Plenty- wood was organized, and since the beginning of its history Mr. McKee has been the active man in the management of its affairs. The bank was organized with a capital of $25,000, but its growth has been rapid and secure, and in 1920 its capital and surplus is valued at $45,000, and its officers and directors are men of the highest standing. Its president is A. J. Langer, of Plentywood, its vice president is John H. Davis, its cashier is John W. McKee, its assistant cashier, Rose A. Lauritzen, and its second assistant cashier is Roman C. Nathe, who also constitute the bank's board of directors with the addition of I. L. Shippie, of Plentywood.

Mr. McKee was born at Rosita, Custer County, Colorado, February 16, 1882, but when he was eight- een months old his parents removed to Ottawa City, Canada, and on May 24, 1894, the family home was established at Kennedy, 'Minnesota. His father was David D. McKee, who was born at Quebec, Ontario, of Scotch-Irish parents, his father being David Mc- Kee, a millwright. The younger David followed gold mining in Colorado and subsequently bridge building and contracting, but after locating in Minne- sota he became a bookkeeper for the Kennedy Land & Town Company. His death occurred in the town of Kennedy, January 1, 1901, when he had attained the age of forty-seven years. He had married Annie Ryan, who was born at Quebec, Ontario, Canada, and was the daughter of a native Irishman, whose sons became conspicuous in the business life of the United States. One, Dennis Ryan, built the Ryan Hotel in St. Paul and was the owner of two of the famous mines of the country, the Horn Silver at Frisco, Utah, and the Bassick at Rosita, Custer County, Colorado. This Dennis Ryan was also the first man to attempt to tunnel the Hudson River at New York. Patrick Ryan, another son, was a wealthy miner at Salt Lake, and the third, John Ryan, the only sur- vivor of the family, is a prominent and wealthy stockman of Salt Lake.

The following seven children were born to David and Annie McKee: John W., the Plentywood bank- er ; David D., cashier of the State Bank of Tappen, North Dakota; Catherine, wife of Charles J. John- son, of Fairview, Montana ; Anna, also of Fairview; Mary, who married Andrew H. Strand, of Wildrose, North Dakota; James P., assistant cashier of the State Bank at Tappen, North Dakota; and Helen, wife of Garland Smith, the postmaster of Plenty- wood. The mother of these children survives her husband and resides at Plentywood.

John W. McKee received his educational training in the public schools and in a business college in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later studied law for three years under F. W. 'Medbery at Ross, North Dakota. But instead of pursuing the law as a voca- tion he entered upon a business career and has pur- sned it chiefly as a banker. In 1905 he went to Hope, North Dakota, where he was employed as a book- keeper in the First National Bank until he went to

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Ross, that state, to become the yard manager for the St. Anthony and Dakota Lumber Company. After five years with that corporation Mr. McKee went to Rugby, North Dakota, where he spent a year in the lumber business, and from that point he came to Montana in January, 1913. In this new location he engaged first in the real estate and loan business, but in the following August associated himself with the First National Bank as its acting cashier, and since then his time has been given almost entirely to the banking business. He is also the secretary of the McKee-Lang Land Company of Plentywood, organ- ized for the purpose of doing a general land business, buying, selling and farming, and they are doing an excellent work in developing property adjacent to Plentywood. During the recent period of the World war Mr. McKee was at the head of the Liberty Loan Committee of Plentywood, and was the custodian of the money collected in one of the drives.

At Denver, Colorado, July 15, 1915, Mr. McKee was married to Miss Emily Landmark, who was born in Trondhjem, Norway, but was brought by her par- ents to the United States in infancy and was reared at Canby, 'Minnesota. She attended the public schools and the Winona Normal School, becoming a teacher at the close of her school days, but was en- gaged in the abstract business at the time of her mar- riage. Mr. McKee has always been a supporter of democratic principles since casting his first presi- dential ballot for Judge Parker in 1904.

JOSEPH C. TOPE. A young lawyer of brilliant qualifications for leadership and effective work in his profession, Joseph 'C. Tope is a graduate of the law department of the State University, and is serving his third term of service as county attorney of Prairie County. He has made law enforcement a realty, and his vigorous prosecutions have given a distinctly bet- ter tone to the entire community over which he has jurisdiction.

Mr. Tope was born at Arcola, Indiana, September 10, 1891. His great-grandfather, John Wesley Tope, was of Scotch ancestry. He was born in 1798 and died in 1872. He became an extensive land owner and farmer in Jackson County, Ohio, and was able to give each of his children eighty acres of land. He was noted for his strong physique, being the cham- pion strong man of a large region. He won a contest at log lifting at a barn raising, lifting two more logs than his competitor with the competitor on top of the load. He married Polly Campbell, and they were the parents of six daughters and four sons.

One of the sons was Brice Tope, who spent all his life in Jackson County, Ohio, and it is said that he was never fifteen miles from home in all his days. He died within a mile of his birthplace. For only two days did he work away from home, and that was helping build a railroad, at wages of $1.10 a day. He married Amelia Scott, who was born on the Scioto River in Pike County, Ohio. She died in 1876, about eleven years before her husband. Their chil- dren were James, George W., Elmer and Mrs. Ressa Van Fossen of Jackson, Ohio.

George W. Tope, father of the Prairie County at- torney, is a well known rancher and farmer in Chou- teau County, his home place being about two miles from old Fort Benton. He was born in Jackson County, Ohio, in January, 1863, and lived on his father's farm until he was eighteen, when he ac- companied two brothers to Indiana. He had ac- quired a country school education. In the vicinity of Cherubusco and Fort Wayne, Indiana, he worked in a wagon shop, learning the trade, and eventually established a shop of his own, which he conducted for several years at Arcola and Cherubusco. Abandoning Vol. III-42

the forge and bench, he came to Montana in 1908, and is still occupying the homestead he entered. He handled stock on a modest scale and has always been a progressive and forward-moving farmer, intro- ducing novelties and experimenting with things to determine their practicability and adaptability to the region in which he lives. He has maintained himself a representative citizen, is a democrat in politics, and was called upon to act as agent for the county in purchasing the seed supplies authorized by the bond issues of 1919. George W. Tope married Nettie V. Aker, who was born in Allen County, Indiana, where her father, Jacob Aker, was an early settler from Virginia. He acquired an education in the country region of Allen County. George W. Tope and wife have the following children: Bertha, wife of Free- man Ramsey, of Fort Benton, Montana; Edith, wife of C. F. Deck, of Fort Benton; Joseph Clarence; and William Herman, a farmer at Fort Benton.

Joseph C. Tope was eighteen years of age when he came to Montana. He had grown up at Cherubusco, Indiana, attended the public schools there, and was in the second year of high school when he came with other members of the family to Fort Benton in May, 1909. Mr. Tope is a graduate of the Fort Benton High School and in 1911 entered the University of Montana, receiving a scholarship for the excellence of his work in high school. While the scholarship pro- vided for his tuition he paid the rest of his expenses by clerical and other work. He had only $40 when he entered the university. He carried on both the classi- cal and law courses, received his A. B. degree in 1915, and his degree in law the following February.

Qualified by his degrees for a professional career, while looking for a location he stopped off at Miles City. He became acquainted with Hon. George W. Farr, who caused him to linger a few days while this well known lawyer was making up his mind concern- ing the merits of the young law student. Mr. Farr decided to send him to Terry with a commission to open a law office under the firm name of Farr & Tope. Mr. Tope reached Terry traveling on bor- rowed money, and in the old Lumber Exchange Building opened the firm's office and in Terry tried his first suit at law. He was associated with Mr. Farr until January 1, 1917, when, at the beginning. of his first term as county attorney, the partnership was mutually dissolved.

When Mr. Tope began his residence at Terry on May 1, 1916, he was a total stranger. Neverthless in August he was urged to make the race for county attorney. He did this reluctantly, feeling that he was too new to interest the public in his candidacy. In the four-cornered race before the primaries he won the republican nomination, and defeated his opponent in November by almost a three to one vote. He suc- . ceeded William G. Armstrong, the democratic en- cumbent, and began his duties with a heavy criminal docket of stock theft and forgery cases. Well equipped as a lawyer, courageous and determined, he prosecuted the docket of cases with an outcome most favorable to the county and state. He was especially vigilant against the "rustlers," relieving the county of some undesirable citizens, and at the same time attracting an increased population of substantial home makers. In 1918 he succeeded himself, winning the nomination in the primaries and defeating his demo- cratic opponent in November. The vigor of his first term has characterized also his second administration, and cattle rustling in that section of the state is today regarded as a rather hazardous pursuit.

At St. Mary's, Idaho, January 1, 1916, Mr. Tope married Miss Rhea C. Townsend. She was born at Peru, Nebraska, a daughter of George and Kate (Hudson) Townsend, the former a native of Ne-

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braska and the latter of Indiana. Her parents now reside at Turlock, California. Mrs. Tope is the youngest of four children, the others being Mrs. Ida M. Platt, of St. Mary's, Idaho; Dr. Adelbert, of Minatare, Nebraska; and Harry H., who died leaving a family at Lincoln, Nebraska. Mrs. Tope was educated in the Beatrice High School and spent two years in special work in the University of Montana at Missoula, where she met her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Tope have one son, John M., representing the fifth generation of this family record.

Mr. Tope chose his affiliation with the republican party on reaching his majority. He is a member of the Sigma Nu college fraternity, and in Masonry is affiliated wtih the lodge, chapter and commandery, and a member of Algeria Shrine of Helena, Montana. He is a member of the Terry Community Church, is president of the Terry Chamber of Commerce, is attorney for the State Bank of Terry and also acts as counsel for a number of local business firms.

JOHN WEINSCHROTT. There are many men who attain material success and there are many others who are called to high positions in life. When both these ends are achieved by one man and entirely through his own unassisted efforts there is occasion for more than usual interest to be aroused in the con- sideration of the factors that have brought this about. It is a long step from the primitive Hungarian home to a seat of equality among the leading men of Plevna, but such a step has been taken by John Weinschrott, a successful merchant of this city and ex-mayor of the municipality where he has lived since 1911.

John Weinschrott was born at Bockovar, Hun- gary, on December 1, 1886, a son of John Wein- schrott, who was born in the same place as his namesake. When the younger John was ten years old the family immigrated to the haven of so many of foreign birth, the United States, sailing from Hamburg, Germany, on a steamer of the North Ger- man Lloyd line bound for Baltimore, Maryland, and after a trip of fifteen days reached their destina- tion without any unusual incident occurring save the children had access to all the sugar they could eat when that commodity was being unloaded at New York City.

There was quite a large settlement of Hungarians in the locality about Regent, North Dakota, and the Weinschrott family came West to join their fellow countrymen. The elder John Weinschrott entered a homestead, proved it up and there made a home for his family until 1909, when he retired. In 1910 he paid a visit to his old home in Hungary, but returned to the United States well satisfied that he had been wise in making the change he did. In Ig11 he located permanently at Plevna, where he is now living in retirement after his long years of strenuous effort. He married Johanna Schaffer, a daughter of John Schaffer, likewise a farmer, and she is also living. Mr. and Mrs. Weinschrott be- came the parents of the following children: Lena, who is the wife of John Klemm, of Dickinson, North Dakota; John, Jr., whose name heads this review; Joseph, who is a farmer located near Gladstone, North Dakota; Anna M., the wife of Peter Collin, of the Gladstone district; and Nick, who is a farmer and lives near Plevna, Montana.

John Weinschrott, Jr., was reared in North Da- kota and educated in the country schools and priest's school at Richardson, North Dakota. Having learned to be a farmer, for the first three years following his majority John Weinschrott followed that call- ing, putting to practical use the knowledge he had

gained, but it did not satisfy his ambition, and with three associates he went into a grain, lumber and implement business at Regent, North Dakota. In the fall of 1910 he came to Montana looking for a better opening, and spent his first months in the state at Broadview. After looking the ground over thoroughly he decided to locate permanently at Plevna, and put in a stock of agricultural implements aggregating about $2,000, in a building 181x30 feet. Since then as his trade expanded he has added the handling of furniture and hardware, and in 1914, erected his present store of two-stories, 24x70 feet, which has later been extended until it is now 140 feet in length. He maintains his residence above his store, and still owns his original store building, which has been used for different purposes.

John Weinschrott has always supported the re- publican party, casting his first presidential vote for William Howard Taft, although Colonel Roose- velt was his choice for the nomination. He has always been identified with Plevna since he came to it when it was little more than a hamlet, and he the first merchant. Steadfastly he stuck to his business, rising above all discouragements and over- coming numerous obstacles, and he helped to or- ganize the Commercial Club, of which he was second president, serving as such from 1913 to 1918. He also contributed his support in the establishing of the Plevna school district, and has been a mem- ber of the school board ever since. In 1918, two years after Plevna was incorporated, Mr. Wein- schrott was chosen mayor or chief councilman. Dur- ing 1911 he was very active in trying to get a market established at this point, but realized that such efforts were liable to be abortive until proper banking facilities were afforded, and then, with cus- tomary public spirit, he set about to interest V. S. Hinsl, representing the Bargerding interest of Min- nesota, to open a state bank at Plevna, serving it as vice president until he disposed of his interest in it.

On November 25, 1906, John Weinschrott was mar- ried near Gladstone, North Dakota, to Frances Herold, a daughter of Peter Herold, who brought his family to this region from Hungary in 1898, having been a resident of Josefvalva. After coming to this country he engaged in farming. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Anton, and they became the parents of the following children: Mrs. Weinschrott, who is the eldest; Nick, who is a farmer near Gladstone, North Dakota; Mike, who is engaged in farming in the same neighborhood as . his brother; Elizabeth, who died unmarried; and Peter, who is a resident of Dickinson, North Da- kota. Mr. and Mrs. Herold have retired from their farm and are living at Dickinson. Mr. and Mrs. Weinschrott have had the following children born to them: John A., Anna Catherine, Frances (who died in infancy), Mary, Joseph Peter, Helen and Agnes.

The Weinschrotts are members of the Catholic Church, in which faith both Mr. and Mrs. Wein- schrott were reared, and he has been actively iden- tified with the growth of the church at Plevna, having served as one of its trustees since 1911. During the World war Mr. Weinschrott served as a member of the executive board of the Red Cross Chapter at Plevna, and rendered very. valuable as- sistance in bringing the contributions of this district up to the necessary quota. Upright, strictly hon- orable in every respect, a man of action and deter- mination, Mr. Weinschrott not only has made a success of his undertakings, but has carried his community with him, and is one of the recognized leaders in this part of Fallon County.

6.m. West- Belle & West

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CHARLES M. WEST. The student of history can- not help but be impressed with the fact that war no matter when it is waged is very similar. While during the World war new methods of warfare were introduced, the underlying principles were the same as those of the great conflict in our own coun- try when brother was arrayed against brother, sec- tion aginst section, and in each the identical high patriotism and personal sacrifice command reverent admiration. One of the veterans of the last men- tioned conflict who is still spared to his family and country is Charles M. West, now living in honor- able retirement at Kalispell after a busy life. He was born at Raymond Centre, New Hampshire, April 2, 1846, a son of Nathaniel D. and Mary (Giles) West, and the youngest of six children, and the only survivor.

Growing up in a good home, Charles M. West was sent to the local schools, and had laid his plans for a useful and happy life when the war clouds, long gathering burst upon his country. With others he formed a company at West Newberry, Massachu- setts, for a three months' service, which then was regarded as the likely length of the war. He went by train to Boston, Massachusetts, and his first night's experience as a soldier was gained while camping in historic old Nathaniel Hall. Next morn- ing, boy fashion, he started out to see the town, and crossed to the Charleston Navy Yard, where his brother Franklin was employed as chief engineer. Surprised at the sight of his brother, Franklin West told him that men, not boys, were needed at the front and took measures to have the venturesome lad sent back home.

This, of course, was discouraging to the patriotic boy, but he did not relinquish his determination to go to war, and when another brother, William West, made a visit home in 1862 he accompanied him back to his own home in Wisconsin and enlisted from that state on June II, 1864, at Prairie du Sac, in Company K, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, for three years, and was mustered into the service at Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. West was sent to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he joined his regi- ment in time to start on the expedition up the Red River under Colonel Guppey and General Banks, and participated in numerous battles, including that of Sabine Crossroads, Kane River and Alexander. He assisted in erecting the famous dam over the Red River. General Bailey conceived the project of building this dam with the idea of bringing the iron- clad gunboats down the river in high water from the point where they had stranded. Until he pro- posed this plan it was intended to blow them up to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. Some doubted the feasibility of this plan, but he was allowed to carry it out and was successful. For his efforts he was rewarded by promotion to the rank of brigadier general. After the building of the dam Mr. West's regiment made a 500 miles march down the Missisippi River, skirmishing all the way, subsisting principally on hardtack, and not much of that, and coffee, and many of the soldiers died from exposure an'd lack of proper food. The regi- ment went on to Fort Gaines, Alabama, and was at Fort Morgan when it surrendered. From there it went to Mosquito Point, where Mr. West was taken sick and was returned to the hospital at New Or- leans, but as he was unconscious all of the time he has no recollection of the trip. When sufficiently. recovered he obtained a ninety day furlough and paid his brother William a visit in Wisconsin, and then rejoined his regiment at Helena, Arkansas, from whence the regiment was sent to Dolphin Island and from there to Spanish Fort, participat-

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 185

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