Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 56

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 56

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

C. D. O'Neil was born in Osborne County, Kan- sas, a son of D. C. and Belle L. (Frear) O'Neil. His father, DeWitt Clinton O'Neil, was a Union soldier. While living in New York he enlisted in the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, serving as a sergeant. He was sent home on account of ill- ness, later going to Michigan, and recovering his health volunteered a second time, with the Sixteenth Michigan Regiment, and altogether served three years.

C. D. O'Neil was educated in the public schools of Missouri and at the age of seventeen came to Montana to join his brother C. I. O'Neil, who at that time was working at Belt. Subsequently the brothers moved to Flathead County, locating at Kalispell, where they bought a lumber business. Since then they have energetically developed their business and their facilities, and in 1902 incorporated the O'Neil Lumber Co. This is one of the largest organizations of its kind in Northern Montana. Be- sides extensive yards they operate a planing mill. sash, window and door factory and box factory, and are owners of 5,000 acres of timber land adjacent

852

HISTORY OF MONTANA

to Kalispell. From this timber their mills manufac- ture a large part of the material worked up by the planing and other factories in the city.

C. D. O'Neil married Miss Emma A. Engermann, who was born in Renville County, Minnesota, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Gaffney) Engermann. Her father was also a Union soldier, serving with a Minnesota regiment. Mrs. O'Neil was educated in the public schools of Minnesota and came to Montana in 1898. To their marriage were born four children : Vera Ann, Wilda May, Dewitt Clinton and Carle Francis. Dewitt C. is a student in the fourth grade of the Kalispell public schools, and the daughters are also in school. Wilda May has shown much musical talent, and her studies are being directed by one of the competent instructors of music in Kalispell. She is a member of the Kalispell Grade School Glee Club, a talented organ- ization that has earned much credit by its perform- ances on different occasions, including its part in the program of the recent Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union convention at Kalispell. The children are all members of the Presby- terian Sunday School and Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are workers in the First Presbyterian Church. For a number of years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school. In politics he is a republican and was a warm admirer of the late Theodore Roosevelt and one of the delegates at the State Progressive Convention at Billings in 1912. Though a very busy man, various objects of good and better- ment in his community have been accorded his time and energies. For several years he served as fire chief of Kalispell, and is one of the men most en- thusiastic about the wonderful resources and other attractions of the Flathead country. In 1909 he erected the family residence on First Avenue, West, one of the most attractive homes in that part of the city.

JOHN ARTHUR LAMB, M. D. For nearly twenty years the City of Kalispell has been fortunate in having available the professional skill and excep- tional abilities of Dr. John Arthur Lamb, a man of the highest qualifications and ideals as a physi- cian and surgeon.

Doctor Lamb was born June 1, 1874, at Ottawa, Canada, son of William A. and Helen (Black) Lamb). His mother was born in Scotland and his father was of Scotch ancestry. Third in a family of five chil- dren, Doctor Lamb was liberally educated, attending school at Ottawa, and completing his medical educa- tion in McGill University at Montreal, where he graduated in 1898. During 1899 he had an extensive hospital experience in ,New York City, and in 1900 came to Montana as a contract physician for the coal mining companies at Sand Coulee. He re- signed that work and located at Kalispell in 1901, and has ever since been busied with a large general practice.

December 29, 1909, Doctor Lamb married Miss Maud Talbott. She is a native daughter of Montana, born at Butte, where her parents, James A. and Josie (Ramsdell) Talbott, lived for years. Her mother was a beautiful character, and tributes to her Christian womanhood are still expressed in the com- munity where she lived. Doctor and Mrs. Lamb are attendants of the Episcopal Church at Kalispell. Politically he is a republican, and is a prominent Mason, having filled the office of master of his Lodge, high priest of the Chapter, eminent com- mander of the Knights Templar, and is a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, while he and his wife are both members of the Eastern Star.

For a number of years Doctor Lamb served as city health officer of Kalispell. He was chairman of the local Medical Advisory Board during the war, and also received a commission as captain in the Medical Corps, and had given up his office and made all preparations to go to the front when the armistice was signed. Some years ago Doctor Lamb had an in- teresting experience at the well remembered sink- ing of the steamship Republic a few miles out of New York harbor. This maritime disaster occurred January 19, 1909. Among the thousand passengers on board one was Doctor Lamb, who was bound for Europe on a tour of professional study and investiga- tion. During the hours of danger and confusion on the stricken vessel he went quietly about his duty as a professional man, and rendered invaluable aid to the passengers. Afterward the steamship company as an expression of their gratitude for this assistance asked him if he would accept a com- plimentary round trip ticket over Europe, and doing so he again sailed from New York and enjoyed an extended European tour with all expenses paid. Doctor Lamb is a physician and citizen whose life has well justified the confidence and esteem in which he is held.

OTTO JENSEN. Among the capable citizens and substantial business men of Kalispell is Otto Jensen, proprietor of the Glacier Park Meat Market, one of the best equipped and most sanitary markets in the Flathead country.

Mr. Jensen, who is a Montana business man of wide experience, was born in Frederickstadt, Nor- way, December 27, 1872, son of Arve and Carrie (Anderson) Jensen. He was the third in a family of four children, and received his early education and business training in his native country. At the age of twenty-one, seeking the larger opportunities of the western hemisphere, he started for America with his sister Albertina. They took passage on the steamer Iceland at Christiana, crossed the ocean to New York, and their first destination was Fargo, North Dakota. Mr. Jensen was soon working steadily in that vicinity, and while there he met and married Miss Janna Arves, also a native of Norway. They were married at her home near Fort Ransom, North Dakota. After one year of happy wedded life Mrs. Jensen passed away, leaving one daughter, Janna. Leaving his daughter with her grandparents to take the place of her mother in their hearts and home, and by whom she was tenderly reared and educated, Mr. Jensen came to Montana and spent some time at Missoula looking over the state. He eventually decided to cast in his lot with Kalispell, and since then has been actively engaged in the meat business.

At Kalispell he married Dense Marco, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Marco. Mr. Jensen is an honored member of the Norwegian Church, the church of his forefathers, and is a liberal supporter of its various causes, while Mrs. Jensen is a mem- ber of the Christian denomination. Mr. Jensen gives his political support to the republican party. He is a member of the Elks. Coming to this country with his principal asset a sterling character inherited from his forefathers, and aided by honesty. industry and progressiveness, he has achieved that success which every American looks forward to, and has also come to enjoy a large circle of friends and their confidence and esteem as one of the able men of his community.

W. M. CUSICK, county commissioner of Flathead County, is one of the best known men of this region and one who deserves the confidence he inspires. He

annanand

William M. weick

Helena Cusick

853

HISTORY OF MONTANA

not only has made a name for himself in politics, but has also proven his worth as a business man and rancher, and owns a fine rural property five iniles outside of Kalispell. He was born at Burbank, South Dakota, a son of Benjamin and Emma (La Dien) Cusick, both of whom were of French ancestry, his birth taking place on December 16, 1878.

Growing up at Burbank, South Dakota, W. M. Cusick attended its schools and then put himself through the State University, from which he was graduated in 1896. With the close of his school days Mr.Cusick entered the mercantile field and success- fully conducted a large dry goods store at Burbank until 1901, when he sold his business and bought his present ranch, on which he has since been occupied with the various branches of agricultural industry. Since becoming the owner of this property Mr. Cusick has put in some very valuable improvements which enhance its value and aid in his operation of it.

In 1905 Mr. Cusick was married to Miss Helena Nye, and they have one daughter, Velma. Mr. Cusick is a Mason. The democratic party receives his support, and he was elected county commissioner on its ticket. A man of high character, Mr. Cusick transacts the business of his office in the same manner as he does his personal affairs, and the county is the beneficiary of such action. Owing to the fact that he is well educated and that his judg- ment with relation to men and affairs is sound, his advice is often sought, and his policies followed. Possessing as he does a strong personality and genial nature, Mr. Cusick is sure to have a large following and the county is to be congratulated that a man of his influence is so conscientious and upright a man and public servant. Few movements are inaugurated and carried to a successful completion without his co-operation, and he is responsible for much of the advancement shown in recent years. Having lived at his ranch in Flathead County since coming to Montana, he is naturally deeply interested in all that pertains to this region, and may be depended upon to give it a fair and impartial administration in his present office or in any other to which he may later be elected.

HARRY GATISS. A pioneer of the Flathead coun- try, a man who has always been a leader in local development, whether in the clearing up of the land or in the promotion of good institutions, Harry Gatiss owns one of the fine ranches and one of the fine country homes in the vicinity of Creston.

A native of England, he was born in County Dur- ham May 16, 1864, a son of Luke and Elizabeth Gatiss. Reared and educated in his native country, he came to the United States when a young man, and in August, 1891, he first located in the Flat- head district, with his brother Robert, who was located on land eleven miles east of Kalispell. At that time all this district was densely wooded with fir, spruce and pine. Harry Gatiss went to work with a will to achieve a home, and in 1895 he found a companion for his home and a sharer in his enter- prises by his marriage with Miss Rose M. Wilson. They were married at Butte, Montana. Mrs. Gatiss was born at Thursk, York County, England, a daugh- ter of Henry and Mary (Coates) Wilson. She is a cousin of David Coates of Seattle, one of the prominent political leaders of the Northwest. Her father for many years was a ship store merchant at Glasgow, Scotland, and did a large business as a ship chandler. Her mother's great-grandmother was Lady Hilton of Hilton Castle, England, and Mrs. Gatiss has in her home some valuable silverware which once belonged to Lady Hilton and was used

in Hilton Castle. Mrs. Gatiss' education was carefully supervised by her parents at Glasgow, and she had the advantage of the best instruction afforded by the music masters of that and other cities. She trained herself as a choir musical director and teacher, and for years has enjoyed a large circle of students in Montana and has done much to elevate musical standards in her own community. With literary as well as musical gifts, she has written many articles that have been contributed to the press.

Mr. Gatiss when he first came to America lived in Nebraska for a time, and for three years served in the regular United States army. Years later, when the World war came on, he had the satisfac- tion of seeing his only son a soldier, and he and his wife never lost an opportunity to keep the patriotic work going on in their own community.

The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Gatiss is Robert Hilton Gatiss, who was born at Butte August 15, 1896. He was carefully trained at home and given the advantages of the schools of Flathead. Early in the war with Germany he volunteered with his Montana comrades, and was assigned duty as photog- rapher with the engineers, serving in Company A of the Two Hundred and Eleventh Engineers in the Lafayette Division. He received his training in Camp Forest in Georgia and Camp Meade in Maryland. After the signing of the armistice he made the wise choice of returning home to assist his father on the ranch.

The first home of Mr. Gatiss in the wilderness of the Flathead country was a log cabin. He prizes a photograph of that cabin, showing also a dressed deer hanging in front. It was the scene of earnest labor, and it also marked a period in his life when he was possessed of "that delightful discontent which the hope of better things inspires within us," and it is gratifying to know that the ambitions and labors of those early years have borne ample fruit. A large ranch now responds to his efforts as a man- ager, and for his family he has erected a beautiful modern home, with a complete water system and other facilities for comfort and convenience. Mr. and Mrs. Gatiss are independent in their political attitude. Both were reared in the Church of Eng- land. Mrs. Gatiss is a member of the Eastern Star. Their associations and activities have raised up for them a large circle of friends, and these many friends as well as home and other substantial interests give them enduring ties of affection for the Flathead country.

F. W. Buck. A pioneer of the Flathead country, where he has lived for thirty years, F. W. Buck is a merchant of long standing, and the people of Kalis- pell and many of the residents of the surrounding territory have learned to appreciate the quality of service and the quality of goods carried in Buck's Grocery at 302 Main Street.

Mr. Buck came to Montana from Iowa in the fall of 1890. At that time Kalispell was not in exist- ence. He came by way of Flathead Lake to old Demersville and settled near Columbia Falls. Through all the subsequent years his interests have been identified with Flathead County. His primary occupation was farming, and when he left the farm he established a business, and owned and conducted a general mercantile store at Creston, where for seven years he was also postmaster, keeping the office in his store. From Creston he moved to Kalispell and established a business of which he is proprietor today. He has lived to see many changes for the better in the Flathead country. and his own energy and industry have assisted in the upbuilding.

854

HISTORY OF MONTANA

Mr. Buck lost his good wife several years ago. He is the father of three sons and a daughter, Thelma, who lives in California. The sons are Harry, Earl and Fred. They were well educated at Creston. Harry, who is the active manager of his father's business, married Miss Adele Werner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Werner, and they have two children, Thelma and Harry Werner Buck. During the World war one of the sons, Fred, responded to the call for volunteers and was trained as an aviator at Kelley Field in Texas. Later he was sent to France, where he was on duty for thirteen months. He received his honorable dis- charge after the armistice, and was with one of the early contingents to return home. It has been a source of gratification to Mr. Buck to see his sons as they came to manhood engage in the same line of work with himself. All three sons now have a part in the store, the oldest assuming the man- agement, so that Mr. Buck has comparative leisure. In politics the Buck family support the principles of the republican party and are attendants at the Methodist Church.

JOHN E. UEHLINGER, who is the representative of the New York Life Insurance Company, came to Kalispell about the time the city was laid out and founded, and has been prominently associated with many phases of its business and social life.

He was born in New York City, a son of George and Anna (Burgin) Uehlinger. He attended the Hayward Street School in Brooklyn and at the age of fifteen came to the Flathead country to visit a schoolmate, Andrew Grosswieler. The visit be- came a permanent sojourn, and for four years he worked on the Plume horse ranch. Mr. Uehlinger located at Kalispell in 1894, and for twenty-five years has been one of its hard working business men. He has developed a tremendous business for the New York Life Insurance Company.

June 9, 1897, he married Miss Elizabeth Kirk. When she was two years old her parents, George and Elizabeth (Gray) Kirk, left Scotland and came to America, settling at Watertown, South Dakota, and subsequently moving to Spokane, Washington. When Kalispell was founded the Kirk family moved there, the townsite being improved with only two shacks at the time. The first white child born in Kalispell was Etta Kirk, a niece of George Kirk. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Uehlinger began housekeeping in the same block where they are living today. They have had their home there for twenty-two years.

Three children have been born to their marriage : Archibald E., Mildred and Eunice. Archibald grad- uated with honors and as president of the senior class from the Kalispell High School, and showed unusual proficiency in mathematics, mechanics and modern languages. He had an ambition to continue his education in a military school. About that time Montana's congresswoman, Janet Rankin, advertised competitive examinations for appointment to the great army and navy schools. Archibald Uehlinger took both examinations, and had the unusual distinction of winning first place in each. Having a choice, he selected the navy, entering the Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he is now in his second year. The daughter Mildred Uehlinger is a graduate of the Kalispell High School, and during her high school course became a stenographer and in her senior class was employed in that capacity by the county attor- ney. She is now attending the Montana State Uni- versity at Missoula and is private correspondent for the president. She has also specialized in music, and her present plans are to make music a pro- fession.

Mr. and Mrs. Uehlinger attend the Episcopal Church, and she is one of the active Guild workers and in various church undertakings. She is also a member of the Eastern Star.

Mr. Uehlinger is a democrat and time and again has gone out of his way to encourage and help the party to success. He is one of the prominent mem- bers and present exalted ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Kalispell, serving his local lodge as leading knight, and was formerly esquire, a post he held fiftten years and during that time officiated in the initiation of over 400 members. He has many tokens of friendship and esteem from his fellow Elks, including a life membership card.

F. B. ARNETT. Throughout his residence in Mon- tana, which has continued for many years, Mr. Ar- nett has been closely identified with the ranching and stock raising interests, and is one of the most substantial men in the Flathead Valley. His ranch and farm are located close to Columbia Falls.

Mr. Arnett was born at Mount Ayr, Iowa, a son of William L. and Mary M. (DeLong) Arnett. His father was a dutiful Union soldier during the Civil war, serving in Company M of the Third Iowa Cavalry.

F. B. Arnett was educated in his native village and afterward attended the Washington State Col- lege at Pullman. At Colfax he married Miss Lily Richardson, who was born in that city, a daughter of William and Phoebe (Stockton) Richardson. Mrs. Arnett was liberally educated, attending school at Colfax and also the Washington State College. After his marriage Mr. Arnett moved to Flathead County and bought on time a farm of 120 acres. Then followed years of hard work, economy and thrifty management until the farm was paid for, and since then its area has been increased to 200 acres. The Arnett country home is 31/2 miles south of Columbia Falls. It is a well improved place, devoted to general farming and stock raising, and has a herd of full blooded Holstein cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Arnett have one daughter, Elma, a student in Bad Rock District School No. I. Mr. and Mrs. Arnett are members of the Methodist Church at Elk Park and fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and American Yeomen, his wife being a member of the auxiliaries of these two orders. Politically he fa- vors the republican party, but frequently casts his vote for the man. He has served as a member of the school board of his district and several times as chairman of the board. Mr. Arnett has found the opportunities his ambition craved since coming to the Flathead country and is one of its most loyal citizens.

JOHN H. FoY. After any section has been ad- vanced beyond the pioneer state it is difficult for those who then come to it to realize what efforts were expended to develop it, and the hardships en- dured by those who put forth these same efforts. Montana is among the younger states both as to political and industrial development, and therefore many of its pioneers are still living in its midst, wlio talk entertainingly of the days when this great commonwealth was still on the frontier of civili- zation. One of these pioneers of Flathead County is John H. Foy of Kalispell.

John H. Foy was born at Ogden, Utah, one of the family of nine children born to his parents, John M. and Alice (Jost) Foy, the father born in Pennsylvania, while the mother was a native of Nova Scotia. After their marriage they went to Utah, where John M. Foy was employed as a scout in the Indian warfare. John H. Foy was reared in

Maroz & Joy Johulterior

855

HISTORY OF MONTANA

the West, going in young manhood to Montana, and in 1879 was married at Bozeman to Miss Nancy Jane Gregg, a daughter of William and Ashsah (Phelan) Gregg, natives of Scotland and Ireland, respectively. After five years at Bozeman Mr. and Mrs. Foy, together with his parents and a. married sister and her family, came to Flathead County, making the trip with covered wagons drawn by teams, and being many days on the road. They reached here on September 22, 1883, and from that day to the present the Foys have been residents of this county. At that time the country was new, Indians were numerous and wild game abundant. All provisions had to be freighted a distance of 137 miles by wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Foy went through the days of hardships cheerfully and will- ingly because they knew that their privations thien would result in their future prosperity.

The children born to the Foys were as follows: Earl, who died when thirteen days old; Murdon H., who was born in 1885; and Gurdon H., who was born in 1893. Murdon H. Foy was graduated as a civil engineer and had a bright future before him, when he was wounded by the accidental dis- charge of a gun, and his death resulted, his pass- ing being regarded as a tragedy by the community in which he was held in such high esteem. Gurdon H. Foy was married to Miss Nellie B. McCarthy, a daughter of Judge McCarthy. He is now employed by the Great Northern Railroad, and lives at White- fish, Montana. The one child of Mr. and Mrs. Gurdon H. Foy is Perry Eugene.

When the Foys first came to Flathead County they found there was great need for lumber on the part of the settlers who desired to erect homes on their new locations. They therefore selected as their homestead a beautiful property on a body of water that now bears the family name and is known as Foy's Lake, and here erected a saw-mill, which was the first in the county, and here was prepared a greater part of the lumber used by the earlier settlers in the construction of their first homes. The cabin which housed John H. Foy and his wife at first had no floor save that provided by nature, and was built of logs, for the mill was not then in operation. A small window and one door fur-, nished the openings, but the door itself had to wait until Mr. Foy could spare the time to go 137 miles to Missoula, the nearest trading point. After se- curing a load of necessary provisions he himself sawed out three boards in a saw-mill and brought them back to make a door for his cabin. He filed a homestead and pre-emption claim near Demers- ville, now Foy's Bend. Of course there were no taverns in those days, and it was not long before the traveling hunters and prospectors learned that Mrs. Foy was an excellent cook and imposed upon the open-handed hospitality of the excellent couple. Hunters, trappers, miners and Indians flocked to this general headquarters, and not only expected to receive their meals, but depended upon Mr. Foy for all kinds of information. Finally, almost in self-defense, they began to charge for their serv- ices, and in time Mr. Foy became the proprietor of several wayside taverns of the period. The ex- periences of Mr. and Mrs. Foy with their various guests are interesting enough to be placed in a book by themselves. When a man out of luck and with empty pockets turned up at the tavern he was treated to the best the house afforded, and often- times given a new start in life, for no one ever appealed in vain to John Foy. Mrs. Foy was the proud possessor of a small cook stove during those early days, and on it she used to cook royal meals for the hungry wayfarer as well as for her own

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 56

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