Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 201

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 201

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Growing up in a country town, Clyde McLemore attended the village schools, the Everton High School and the academic department of the Missouri State University, spending eighteen months in the last- named institution. Following that he took a law course in the university, from which he was gradu- ated in 1911, with the degree of Doctor of Law. His fraternity work was done as a member of the Sigma Chi and Phi Delta Phi Greek letter societies. An athlete, he was a member of the university base- ball team, with which he played for an entire season.

Having completed his legal training Mr. McLe- more took the examinations at Guthrie, Oklahoma, and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court, and he was also admitted to the bar in Mis- souri. His first lawsuit was tried in Oklahoma, and it was an ordinary civil case. As long as he remained in Oklahoma he confined himself to a civil practice, being at Muskogee, that state, from 1911 until 1912, when he moved to Billings, Montana, there forming a partnership with E. E. Collins un- der the firm name of Collins & McLemore. For some years this was one of the strong legal firms of Billings, but then was dissolved and Mr. McLe- more became title examiner for the Bankers Loan & Mortgage Company of Billings, with which he remained until his retirement from that position in the early part of 1919 in order to locate permanently at Baker as an associate of Senator Booth. The firm of Booth & Mclemore was formed in May, 1919. In addition to his other work Mr. McLemore has contributed a number of articles to some of the leading law journals of the country. In his politics he has always been a republican, and he cast his first presidential vote for Colonel Roosevelt in 1904, but has never taken an active part in pub-

lic affairs. For some years he has been a member of the Odd Fellows. Brought up in a strong Pres- byterian home atmosphere he is naturally a member of that denomination.

On August 7, 1907, Mr. Mclemore was united in marriage in his native county to Lucy Talbutt, a daughter of Mason and Clara (Kimber) Talbutt. Mrs. McLemore was born in Dade County, Missouri, on March 28, 1888, and attended its public schools. Mr. and Mrs. McLemore have two children, Felicia, who was born in 1910; and Claranette, who was born in 1913.

WILLIAM C. HENDERSON, vice president of the First National Bank of Jordan, is a prosperous ranchman and early settler in this region, and has participated in the development of it. He was born at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, a son of John W. and Mary (Allen) Henderson, who, in 1876, went to Kansas and homesteaded in Smith County, where John W. Henderson spent his remaining years, dying there at the age of fifty-seven years. His widow survives him. They had the following chil- dren: James W., who lives at Nezperce, Idaho; John J., who lives at Topeka, Kansas; William C., whose name heads this review; Meade 'M., who is a resident of the State of Washington; Clyde, who lives at Wheeler, Washington; Juliet, who is the wife of Ray Moore of Stone, Oklahoma; and Sadie, who married William H. Smith, died at Smith Cen- ter, Kansas.

John W. Henderson was born in Pennsylvania, and enlisted for service during the War Between the States from his birthplace as a member of the Sixteenth Cavalry under General Sheridan, and was in the campaign against General Ewell. With the exception of frozen feet, Mr. Henderson suffered from no disability as a result of his military service, although he took part in a number of important engagements, and was mustered out as a sergeant. After going to Kansas he became very prominent and served for two terms as probate judge of Smith County. Politically he was a republican, in religious faith a Presbyterian, while his fraternal connections were with the Odd Fellows. A man of excellent education he was able to express himself intelligently, and always was looked up to in his community.

It was during July, 1892, that Mr. Henderson came to Montana, he being at that time under age, as he was born August 4, 1874. Landing at Miles City, he found himself in a strange place and with- out friends and with but two dollars to his name. In order to provide for his immediate necessities, he took a job milking cows and irrigation work on a ranch for which he was to receive his board, his employer promising to give him something bet- ter to do when "it turned up." However, after six months, realizing that there was no likelihood of his receiving any better remuneration from this man, he took an examination held for aspirants for teachers' certificates, and was successful in obtain- ing one. For the subsequent year he taught the Hockett School on Powder River, following which he went to Ekalaka and was there employed with several merchants, remaining there for five years, when he left it for Forsyth to embark there in a merchandising business, which he conducted for a year. Selling this store, Mr. Henderson came to Jordan, when it was still a part of Dawson County. At that time it contained the post office, and that was all. He erected the first store building, which he stocked with a general line of goods. The logs for this building were hauled from the "breaks"

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some distance away. It was a primitive affair, but served for the first year, and then he replaced it with another log building, which is now a part of the West business house. In addition to this prop- erty, Mr. Henderson owns the post office building and his large ranch. In order to aid in the devel- opment of Jordan Mr. Henderson contributed the lots upon which the Jordan amusement hall was erected and has in many other ways proved his public spirit. For twelve years he continued in the mercantile business with marked success for he understood it, having not only his Montana ex- perience in this line to guide him, but that he ob- tained in his father's store where he was a clerk prior to coming to Montana. At the termination of the twelve years he sold his business and turned his attention to ranching.

Mr. Henderson began his career as a stockman with a few head of sheep as an experiment, in- creasing his flocks until he is now one of the lead- ing sheepraisers of this region. His ranch is located below Jordan, with his homestead on the Big Dry, as the nucleus of it, and there he maintains his headquarters. His farming is confined to the rais- ing of hay from the native grass.

At the same time as he operated his mercantile establishment Mr. Henderson acted as postmaster of Jordan to the satisfaction of the patrons of that office. He took part in the organization of the First National Bank of Jordan and also of its predeces- sor, The Farmers State Bank, becoming vice presi- dent of the institution at the time it was national- ized. The Farmers State Bank was capitalized at $25,000, the same figures being maintained by its successor. Mr. Henderson's associates in the bank are: H. P. Wiley, president; and George Ayer, cashier. The board of directors is as follows: H. P. Wiley, H. V. Bailey, James Vance, George Ayer and William C. Henderson. In spite of the fact that this bank was opened for business while America was engaged in the World war, and went through the disastrous drought of 1919, the deposits of the bank are $100,000.

While living at Ekalaka, Mr. Henderson enlisted at Miles City in the Third United States Cavalry Rough Riders, Captain Brown's company, for service during the Spanish-American war, and was sent to Camp Chickamauga Park, where he remained for six months, and was then mustered out of the service, in November, 1898, following which he re- turned to merchandising.

A republican, William C. Henderson cast his first presidential vote for William Mckinley. Taking an active part in politics he was elected to the Mon- tana State Assembly, and served in the fifteenth session, in 1917 under Speaker O'Connor, a demo- crat, and was assigned to the Live Stock, Agricul- ture and Federal Relations committees, his chief interest being to secure favorable legislation for live stock and agriculture. His record was such that he was re-elected in 1918 from Dawson County, and had the pleasure of belonging to a republican house. He was made chairman of the Live Stock Committee, and a member of the Agriculture and New Counties and Divisions committees, and intro- duced a bill creating the new county of Garfield. In the special session of the assembly in February, 1918, called to pass legislation to promote the in- terests of the war, to help win it and to keep down pacific influences and pro-German propaganda, Mr. Henderson voted for the laws creating the Council of Defense, defining criminal syndicalism, sabotage, and for the punishment of malicious destruction of personal property, and for laws relating to the use

of the American flag, providing seed grain for the farmers and similar measures, and later helped to carry them into effect by serving on committees at home. He was a member of all the Liberty Loan committees of Dawson County, and also those taking charge of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation and Red Cross drives, he and Mrs. Hen- derson being life members of the last named organ- ization. Fraternally Mr. Henderson is a thirty- second degree Mason and belongs to the Mystic Shrine of Helena, Montana. He holds membership in the Miles City Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On June 15, 1889, Mr. Henderson was married at Smith Center, Kansas, to Bertha A. Simpson, a . daughter of Adam and Bertha Simpson. Adam Simpson was a Scotchman, who, after spending some time in Ohio, came west to Kansas and became a homesteader in Smith County, where he spent the remainder of his life. His widow survived him but is now also deceased. Their children were three sons and four daughters, Mrs. Henderson being the fourth in order of birth. During the War Between the States Mr. Simpson served in the Union army.

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson became the parents of one daughter, Marguerite, who was graduated from the Miles City High School and is now attending the Montana State University. A man of means, Mr. Henderson can take pride in the fact that his present wealth is the result of his own intelligent efforts and wise investments, while the prominence he has attained in public affairs has been won by his faithfulness to the responsibilities he assumed with his oath of office and his ability in promoting and carrying out broad-visioned measures for the betterment of the two great industries in which he and so many of his constituents are interested, agri- culture and live stock.

MATTHEW J. ROKE, sheriff of Garfield County, has the honor of being the first to hold this very important office in the newly created county, and he is living up to the heavy responsibilities of his position in such a manner as to entirely justify the confidence displayed in his capabilities by those who elected him. Mr. Roke is one of the best known men in this region into which he came in 1892, spending a number of years as a cowboy both here and in other places.

It was at Joliet, Will County, Illinois, on Decem- ber 31, 1866, that Matthew J. Roke came into the world, a son of Stephen J. and Catherine (Prichard) Roke. Stephen J. Roke was also a na- tive of Illinois, but his parents were born in Ver- mont. The name was originally "Rourke," clearly indicating Irish extraction, and Sheriff Roke pos- sesses many of the sterling characteristics generally associated with the open-handed, kind-hearted, cour- ageous sons of Erin. When he was seven years old, Matthew J. Roke was taken to Norton County, Kansas, by his parents, they coming west in the hope that a change would prove beneficial to Stephen J. Roke, whose health had failed as a result of his army experience during the War Between the States. He enlisted for the war in Company C, One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Stone River. This wound and the effects of exposure so wrought upon his health that in spite of the change in climate, he died when less than thirty. The maternal grand- parents were James and Mary Prichard, early set- tiers of Illinois, of Irish ancestry. Mrs. Stephen J. Roke is now a resident of Denver, Colorado. She and her husband had two children, namely :

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Matthew J. and John S., the latter being a resident of Hill, Montana.

Matthew J. Roke attended school in Norton County, Kansas, but when he was only fifteen years old he began riding the range about Las Animas, Colorado, for the Prairie Cattle Company, going from there to the Bridle Bit outfit owned by the Union Cattle Company which ranged from the Platte to the Belle Fourche rivers, and remained with it for ten years. He then rode his cow horse into Montana from Cheyenne, Wyoming, with the Home Land & Cattle Company, better known as the "N bar N" ranch, which outfit grazed the North- west from the mouth of the Prairie Elk to the mouth of the Yellowstone, and from the Mussel- shell to the mouth of the Yellowstone. Mr. Roke rode range along the Big Dry, wintering at Round . Butte, and then from the first of April until the first of November he was a spoke in the wheel of what was perhaps the largest "cow outfit" of this region. This company was composed of the St. Louis Neideringhaus brothers who shipped beef cat- tle by the thousands every year from the early '80s until they closed out their ranch in 1898. Mr. Roke then went with the "79" outfit of the Murphys, owned by John T. Murphy of Helena, Montana, who had large ranching interests in Montana. He called his outfit the Montana Cattle Company. Mr. Roke rode the range for him all over Dawson, Fergus, Rosebud and Yellowstone counties and wit- nessed the closing of this ranch as a member of its last force.

Deciding to continue ranching, Mr. Roke con- tinued in this line of work on his own account, and later entered as his homestead the headquarters of the old "79" ranch, and has here since resided. It is near the post office of Edwards, and here Sheriff Roke has spent his most constructive years, passing from young manhood to middle age. His cattle are run under the brand "TAN" until he dis- posed of it in 1917. He still maintains his home on his ranch, which to him is a sacred spot.

During his early years in Montana the necessity for hard and unremitting work kept Mr. Roke so fully occupied that he had but little time or in- clination for politics, but feeling in accord with the principles of Woodrow Wilson he voted for him for President. When Garfield was created Mr. Roke was selected as its first sheriff in the bill of organization, and he assumed the responsibilities of that office on April 1, 1919. His first official act was issuing papers in an attachment case and this was performed at Jordan, the county seat. Mr. Roke belongs to Bill and Jerry Aerie, Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 176, of Billings, Montana, and Miles City Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. A man of unquestioned courage and up- rightness of character, Mr. Roke is eminently fitted for the office he now holds. Known all over this part of the state his association with the affairs of the new county was a wise one for the standards he is raising in the office are of a high order and his successors will have to live up to them in order to satisfy their constituents, so that Garfield is in- sured fair and reasonable enforcement of the laws and maintenance of order. As a resident of the state during its formative period, Mr. Roke took an effective part in the transition from a region of open range and undeveloped lands to its present desirable status, and because of his work in this and other connections, no history of his community would be complete without mention of him.

ALONZO FLUSS, one of the most successful ranch- men of Prairie County, is also prominent politically

and is now serving on the board of county com- missioners. His advancement has come about through his own merit, and he is closely identified with this region which he has assisted in develop- ing. Mr. Fluss was born in Tazewell County, Illi- nois, July 12, 1875, a son of Fred Fluss, a native of Germany, who came to the United States in young manhood, being then but eighteen years of age, and located in Tazewell County, Illinois. There he was married to Melissa Haimline, who survives him and still resides near the old Fluss homestead in Tazewell County. After being successfully engaged in farming for many years, Fred Fluss retired and lived to be eighty-nine years old, dying in I9II. He and his wife had eight children, the survivors being as follows: Carrie, who is the wife of David Bickle of Ismay, Montana; Delia, who married George W. Burt of Miles City, Montana; Leslie, who lives in Texas; Emma, who married James Lancaster, of Minier, Illinois; Alonzo, who lives at Terry, Montana; Bertha, who is the wife of William Fulton of Ismay, Montana; and William, who lives at Ismay, Montana.

Reared on the farm where he was born, Mr. Fluss, known to his associates as Lon, had but few educa- tional advantages, but learned to conduct a farm and generally make himself useful. He remained at home until he left Illinois for Montana, making the trip by train and landing at Terry with $35 in his pocket. He joined his brother-in-law, George W. Burt, and from November, 1900, until the fol- lowing spring he helped build the sheds for caring for the sheep and the general chores on the premises and received $20 per month. In the spring Mr. Burt suggested that the young man invest in some sheep, but the latter realizing his financial condi- tion said that it was impossible for him to do so. However, Mr. Burt, recognizing his reliability and desiring to give his wife's brother a start, told him he was willing to sell him a half interest in 2,000 of the best sheep he had ever raised, and allow him to run them on the ranch, and at the same time pay him $40 per month. In addition he pro- posed that he put in 900 lambs of his own and allow Mr. Fluss $40 per month addition for caring for them. They remained in partnership for seven years, during this period making no division, and then Mr. Burt sold off the sheep until but 10,000 were left, to which he gave Mr. Fluss a bill of sale for half; a half interest in eighty head of horses that had accumulated on the ranch; ten shares of bank stock to the value of $1,000, and the headquarters ranch on Powder River, where Mr. Fluss still resides, all of which Mr. Burt felt Mr. Fluss had earned by his faithfull service.

Beginning to operate alone, Mr. Fluss traded his interest in the sheep to Mr. Burt for the latter's interest in the. horses and a 1,520-acre ranch on Whitney Creek. For about two years following Mr. Fluss lived at Ismay, Montana, and looked after Mr. Burt's stock interests as well as his own, while Mrs. Fluss proved up her desert claim, but at the end of the two years he returned to his old ranch where he branched out in the horse and cattle in- dustry, adopting the brand "bar-G" under which he has since run his horses and cattle, the former being bred up to a good average Montana breed of the Percheron strain. He operates on his horse ranch of 168 acres and his ranch on Whitney Creek, and has associated with him in his business another brother-in-law, Gilbert Booth. Mr. Fluss has de- veloped a pumping plant system of irrigation which has been in operation for eighteen years and which proves' conclusively that farming can be carried on

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very successfully with artificial irrigation. He has forty acres under cultivation, and any time he desires to extend his system can bring 100 acres more into a state where plentiful crops can be produced.

Although Mr. Fluss cast his first vote for William Jennings Bryan for President on account of his admiration for that statesman, ever since he has voted the straight republican ticket. The bill which created Prairie County bore his name as one of the members of the first board of commissioners, and he was then elected to succeed himself. As a mem- ber of the first board Mr. Fluss was occupied in making arrangements for the proper conduct of the new county, securing quarters for the county offi- cials, levying the first taxes in such a manner that Prairie County has the lowest tax levy in the state, building many bridges, grading roads, some of which are permanent improvements, and in other ways carrying along the routine affairs of the new section. Associated with him are H. J. Bramer and Robert Hamlin, and the fact that these three gentlemen composed the first board is evidence that the people of Prairie County are fully satisfied with the work of their representatives. In addition to the responsibilities of commissioner, Mr. Fluss dis- charges those pertaining to membership of the school board of District No. 5. During the progress of the Great war, Mr. Fluss contributed generously to every drive and bought heavily of the Liberty Bonds of each issue.

On March 18, 1904, Mr. Fluss was married at the home of George W. Burt at Terry, Montana, to Irva Booth, a daughter of James and Hannah (Lancaster) Booth. Mr. Booth spent his last years in Tazewell County, Illinois, where he died and is buried. Mrs. Fluss is one of the ten children born to her parents, namely: Carrie, who is the wife of William Brooks of Minier, Illinois; Gilbert, of Prairie County, Montana; Hannah, who lives at Minier, Illinois; James, who lives in Tazewell County, Illinois ; Emma, who is a resident of Minier, Illinois; Mrs. Fluss and her twin sister, Mrs. Robert Pratt of Tazewell County, Illinois, who are next in order of birth; John, who lives in Tazewell County, Illinois ; Harrison, who is also a resident of the same county as John; and Mattie, who married Fred Gainor of Tazewell County, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Fluss have three children, namely: Ivy, Jay and Leo.

Scrupulously upright in his political dealing, Mr. Fluss has not only rendered valuable service to Prairie County, but made a record for himself which will always stand, and which is liable to lead to further honors in the future. Capable and honorable men are in demand and the constituents of Mr. Fluss recognize that they will be well and ably represented by him no matter what office he may be called upon to occupy for he understands conditions, is vastly proud of this region, and is willing to give to it the best of his efforts to further extend its usefulness and increase its population.

BERNEY E. KEMPTON. One of the old and promi- nent names of the Yellowstone Valley in the vicinity around Terry is Kempton. There is a specially warm spot in the hearts of old residents here for the memory of the late James B. Kempton, who was a rancher and business man in what is now Prairie County and by his energetic pursuit of business and forceful character helped make history and promote substantial development.

James B. Kempton was born at Jackson, Michigan, in 1843. His father, Joseph Kempton, was a native of Maine, as a young man was a sailor on whaling vessels and afterwards became a pioneer settler near

Jackson, Michigan. He married Eliza Foote and James B. was one of a family of four daughters and three sons. The latter had very little education, no good schools being at hand when he was a boy. When he was about eighteen years of age the Civil war broke out and he became a member of the First Iowa Cavalry, as a volunteer and private, and served three years. He went through the war without wounds or capture, and afterwards took an active part in the Grand Army of the Republic.

From Iowa Mr. Kempton went west over the plains with a bull train and was one of the pioneers in Colorado. His settlement was thirty-five miles below Greeley at Fremont's Orchard. There in 1869 he established himself in the cattle industry, adopting as his brand "69." He owned one of the largest hay ranches on the South Platte River and maintained his home there until the spring of 1884.

In the meantime as early as 1880 he had been to Montana seeking a location for the cattle business, and selected a ranch site on Tongue River. His temporary location there was known as the "J Mule Shoe" ranch. His second ranch was on Cedar Creek, where he was an original settler and where he re- mained until 1890. He then moved to his third loca- tion, known as the Kempton Home Ranch, part of which he had acquired as early as 1884. For seven years he was actively identified with the Cedar Creek property and eventually turned it over to the XIT Company, the largest cattle concern in Montana. His last years were spent on what everybody about Terry knows as the Home Ranch. Here he was a breeder of the Percheron horses. He did much to introduce good horses into this section of Montana, and was also highly successful in the production of beef cattle. He carried out some valuable experi- ments in combining the bloods of the Shorthorn, the Hereford and the Polled Angus strains, seeking good beef qualities and a stock adapted to the range con- ditions of Eastern Montana. Mr. Kempton frequent- ly shipped his livestock by train load, and was a prominent figure on all the great cattle markets, in- cluding Chicago and Sioux City. He had numerous brands, but one of his first and one that is still used is the "J Lazy J."

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 201

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