Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 59

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 59

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J. H. Hennessy is a native of the State of Wis- consin and the son of John and Ellen Hennessy. He was reared on the paternal farmstead, and se- cured his education in the public schools of his home neighborhood. Upon reaching mature years he engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native State, but later moved to the State of Minnesota, and still later to North Dakota, where during the follow- ing seventeen years he was engaged in farming. He also operated a threshing outfit there and did a large amount of work in that line. In 1904 Mr. Hennessy came to the Flathead country, Montana, and located in Whitefish, where he engaged in the hotel business. The Whitefish Hotel, of which he is the proprietor, is one of the best known caravansaries in Western Montana and for many years has been a favorite stopping place for transient guests and for those who desire the hest of service. The hotel is eligibly situated and splendidly furnished, every effort pos- sible being made to make the guests of the hotel feel at home, the spirit of hospitality and good cheer being in evidence to an unusual degree for a public place.

Mr. Hennessy was married to Margaret Gunning, who was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of John and Mary Gunning. She was educated in the pub- lic schools of Richmond, Wisconsin, completing her studies at the school conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. To Mr. and Mrs. Hennessy were born six children, namely: Edward, Beatrice, Mary Ellen, Bernadette, Elaine and Vincent. Mary Ellen, who was a graduate of the high school at Whitefish, be- came the wife of Dr. W. E. Clifford, of Kalispell. Of the children born to the subject and wife only one is now living, Elaine, who is a student in the White- fish schools.

Politically Mr. Hennessy is a stanch supporter of the democratic party, while fraternally he is a mem- her of the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife are faithful members of St. Charles Roman Catholic

Edward Lamoureux

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HISTORY OF. MONTANA

Church at Whitefish, to which they are generous con- tributors. Mr. Hennessy is a close reader and keen observer, taking an intelligent interest in passing events and holds decided opinions of the great ques- tions of the day. He is a great admirer of President Woodrow Wilson, whom he looks upon as one of the greatest characters of the present age-a man who has given his life to the cause of universal peace. Mr. Hennessy is a strong booster for the Flathead country-in fact, he is one of the most active mem- bers of the Boosters' Club of Whitefish. As a man reliable and trustworthy in every respect, public spirited in his attitude toward every movement for the general good, he has won and retains to a notable degree the confidence and esteem of the entire com- munity.

E. B. KNOTT. One of the leading business men and best known citizens of Flathead County, Montana, is E. B. Knott, a member of the well known and pop- ular firm of Knott & Thurson Mercantile Company at Whitefish. He has succeeded in his chosen life work because he has been persistent and energetic and honorable in his dealings with the public, and he has therefore had the confidence and good will of all, which are indispensable factors if one succeeds in any line where the public has to be depended upon.

E. B. Knott was horn in Lima, Ohio, and is the son of William and Eliza Knott. He was reared to manhood in his native town and attended its public schools in his youth. In 1869 he went to Rochester, Fulton County, Indiana, where he engaged in busi- ness, remaining there until 1880, when he went to Texas. In the Lone Star State he was employed for four and a half years as a range rider in the cattle business. Later he went to Ord, Nebraska, where he was engaged in the stock business until he came to Kalispell, about sixteen years ago, since which time he has been closely and prominently identified with the mercantile and amusement affairs of Kalispell and Whitefish. Here he first engaged in the real estate business, in which he met with pronounced success, but about three years ago he formed a partnership in the general mercantile business which is now conducted under the title of the Knott & Thurson Mercantile Company. The store is one of the leading establishments of the kind in Flathead County and enjoys a large and constantly increasing business, which can be attributed to the high quality of the goods carried and the prompt service and courteous treatment, while the members of the firm are personally popular in the community because of their splendid personal qualities. The store, which is located on the corner of Second and Baker streets, is 52 by 120 in size and has recently undergone ex- tensive improvements, including the construction of a mezzanine floor, which is now given exclusively to the display of furniture, while the lower floor is de- voted to hardware and kindred lines. A large and well selected stock is carried and the concern is one of the most successful and reliable houses in the city. Mr. Knott, aside from his mercantile interests, is also responsible for the establishment of one of the most popular and attractive amusement enter- prises in the community, this being the Princess The- ater, which he established several years ago and which already has justified the judgment of Mr. Knott in its inception. It is artistically and conven- iently arranged and enjoys a deserved popularity.

Mr. Knott was married to Emma Stone, who was born in England, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Stone, and to them has been born a daughter, Laura E., now the wife of Harry Taylor, who is manager of the Western Union Telegraph office at Kalispell. Mrs. Taylor is well educated and special- Vol. III-14

ized in music and dramatic art, in which she has at- tained not only great excellence, but also a wide reputation. She is now acting as pianist at the Princess Theater, where her music delights the peo- ple who attend there nightly. In 1918 occurred the death of Mrs. Emma Knott, and her death was sin- cerely mourned, for she was a woman of kindly qualities of character and had endeared herself to a host of warm friends throughout the community.

Politically Mr. Knott gives his support to the re- publican party, while fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is an attendant of and a generous contributor to the Epis- copal Church. Mr. Knott is one of the most enthusi- astic boosters for the Flathead country and loses no opportunity to 'spread abroad the good features of the locality. He is an intense admirer of its scenery, which rivals that of Switzerland in many respects. He has worked hard for the success which is now his, and has honorably earned the reputation which he enjoys as one of the leading and public-spirited citizens of his community. He is held in high esteem by all who know him, for he has thrown the force of his strong individuality and sterling integrity into making the community what it is.

EDWARD LAMOUREUX. The older settlers of Mon- tana found an entirely different condition of affairs when they came here to those which prevail today. Prior to the opening up of this region for homestead- ing the open range was free to any man who de- sired to let his cattle feed on it, and many fortunes were made in the cattle industry by those who realized the desirability of taking advantage of such opportunities. It was difficult for these pioneer cattlemen to realize that their great herds must give way to the encroachments of settlers, but the more progressive among them made other arrange- ments for continuing their cattle raising, or turned their cnergies into other channels. One of the men who has the distinction of being a very early settler and pioneer cattleman of Hot Springs is Edward Lamoureux, now living retired, but formerly one of the important factors in the cattle industry of this part of the state.

Edward Lamoureux was born in Canada in 1834, of French-Canadian ancestry, a son of Julian and Mary (Cyr) Lamoureux. He left Canada in young manhood, and coming to the United States was for a time engaged in mining in California, but then came to Montana and embarked in the cattle industry. At the time he came to this vicinity there was only one settler, an Indian, and Mr. Lamoureux bought his interest. Then wild game was very plentiful, and Mr. Lamoureux became a mighty hunter and has a number of decr head and bearskins as trophies of his skill.

He was a man of good sense and anxious to profit by any opening which occurred, and so conducted a ferry at Cedar Creek, and while there used to kill on an average three deer a day, furnishing his less energetic neighbors with venison. His hos- pitality has been well known for many years, and it is his pride that no one ever came to his house for help without receiving it. In the early days there were practically no taverns or places where the traveler could receive food and shelter save at the homes of the settlers, and to their credit be it said that few ever refused entertainment, such as it was.

Coming to Hot Springs before the virtue of the waters became famed the country over, Mr. Lam- oureux has lived to see many changes and to wel- come those who have joined him in the upbuilding of the community in which he has always taken such

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great pride. He was a friend to the Indians and sought to give them a fair deal. It is told of him that when one Indian of his acquaintance died Mr. Lamoureux took up some of the boards of the floor of his cabin, made a coffin out of them, in which he placed the body which he had clothed with some of his garments. During the period this Indian's widow survived him Mr. Lamoureux cared for her, and when she died took up some more boards for her coffin.

Those were exciting days, and many incidents occurred which Mr. Lamoureux relates entertain- ingly. Four Indians at one time attacked a party of white men, freighting a load of provisions, at Libby, Montana, and killed them. Two of the In- dians escaped, the others being killed. A party of white men went to the chief of their tribe and demanded the surrender of these men, and they were handed over, and one of them was hung in the manner of the day, by placing a rope around his neck, throwing the other end over the branch of a tree, the Indian being on horseback. When the rope was properly secured the horse was driven out from under the condemned man, and the body was left dangling. The other Indian broke away from his captors and tried to go free by jumping into the river, but they shot him, and his dead body drifted ashore much further down the stream.

Mr. Lamoureux was married when a young man to Mary Matt, who died about 1905, since which time he has lived at his home, a comfortable resi- dence surrounded by forty acres of land, being cared for by Mrs. F. Richard, who was with Mrs. Lam- oureux in her last illness and gave her a daugh- ter's affection and attention. The maiden name of Mrs. Richard was Rosa Tanguay, and she is a very efficient housekeeper. In politics Mr. Lamoureux is a democrat. Among other of the oldtimers with whom Mr. Lamoureux maintained friendship was Father Ravelli, the first priest in this part of the county, whom Mr. Lamoureux used to drive to keep his appointments with the Indians. The years sit lightly on this venerable pioneer, who, although eighty-five years of age, can saddle and mount a horse as he used to years ago when that animal was practically the only means of getting from one place to another in this western country. It is interesting and instructive to listen to Mr. Lamoureux's recol- lections of the early days and draw a contrast be- tween them and the present, and he takes pride in the fact that he has borne his part in the devel- opment and expansion of this region.

SAMUEL HILBURN. Among the strong and influen- tial citizens of Western Montana, the record of whose lives have become an essential part of the history of that section of the great Treasure State, the gentle- man whose name appears above has exerted a hene- ficial influence throughout the community where he resides. His chief characteristics are keenness of perception, a tireless energy, honesty of purpose and motive and every-day common sense, which have en- abled him not only to advance his own interests, but also to largely contribute to the moral and ma- terial advancement of the county.

Samuel Hilburn is a native son of the old Buckeye State, having been born at Xenia, Ohio, and he is the son of Cal and Louisa (Fleishman) Hilburn. He was reared at home and received a good practical education in the public schools of Xenia. He sup- plemented this training by a thorough course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Detroit. Thus equipped for a business career, Mr. Hilburn came to Montana in January, 1882, and settled at Miles City, where he engaged in the mercantile business. Later

he located at Terry, this state, where also he was engaged in the operation of a store until May, 1891, when he came to the Flathead country, locating at Kalispell, where for three years he was engaged in the mercantile business. He was then elected treasurer of Flathead County, serving one term, and then, at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, he enlisted in the Montana National Guard, in which he received a commission as first lieutenant. He be- came a member of Company H, First Regiment of Montana Volunteer Infantry, and during the war he was promoted to a captaincy. He was sent to the Philippine Islands, and in that country took part in a number of the most important engagements of the conflict over there, including Cavite and Manila. He remained there one year, and received his honorable discharge at San Francisco in October, 1899. He then returned to Kalispell and was engaged in the mercantile business until 1900, when he was again elected county treasurer. So satisfactory was his administration of the office that in 1902 he was elected to succeed himself, thus serving two terms, or four years, his last term expiring on March 1, 1905. In the meantime Mr. Hilburn had been elected mayor of Kalispell, in which office he served two years-a period characterized by a number of splendid im- provements and a thorough business-like administra- tion of the city's public affairs. Upon the expiration of his term of office he engaged in the warehouse and store business, which engaged his attention until June, 1914, when he was appointed postmaster of Kalispell. He was reappointed to that position in September, 1918, and is the present incumbent of the office. Mr. Hilburn literally believes that "pub- lic office is a public trust," and in demonstration of that belief he has so conducted the affairs of the of- fice as to win the approbation of both the postoffice department and the patrons of the office.

On November 22, 1915, Mr, Hilburn was married to Mrs. Grace Close, a native of Minnesota, and a 'lady who has endeared herself to a large circle of warm friends.

Politically Mr. Hilburn is a stanch supporter of the democratic party. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Spanish-American War Veterans. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Hilburn are members of the Church of Christ, Scientist, at Kalispell. Mr. Hilburn has to a remarkable degree enjoyed the con- fidence of his fellow citizens of Flathead County and the City of Kalispell. In no way is this fact empha- sized in so unmistakable a manner as the unanimity with which he has been elected to the various offices of the county and city, he never having been defeated for any office to which he has aspired. He is emi- nently deserving of the success which he has attained, for he has forced his way to the front through oh- stacles, overcoming conditions which would have dis- couraged many less courageous; but he has within him those attributes which never fail of success when backed by energy and ambition. He has ever stood at the forefront in advocating measures which promised to advance the best interests of the city. and he has richly earned the confidence and esteem of the people.

GEORGE T. HODGSON came to Montana in 1875 with his wife and one child. He remained only a brief time, but has vivid knowledge of conditions prevailing at Helena and other points in the state. Now a properous retired rancher living at Kalispell, Mr. Hodgson knew that town when wild grass grew several feet high and furnished substantial pasture for great herds of cattle on the very ground where the city's best homes are now built. In Helena he

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saw miners running their ditches and digging for gold in the very streets, and he met many wagons piled high with buffalo hides, that being one of the chief commodities of commerce in that day.

Mr. Hodgson was born on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Canada, the old homestead being in one of the picturesque regions of Canada. His parents were William and Mary (Archie) Hodgson, and he was fourth in a family of ten children. He received his education in the public schools and was working as a clerk in a store when in 1873 he mar- ried Miss Euphemia Marcure. She was born in New Brunswick, a daughter of Regis and Ozeta (Theri- ault) Marcure, of French ancestry. She was educated in public schools to the age of ten and after that in a Sisters School in New Brunswick. For two years after his marriage Mr. Hodgson continued clerking for a general merchant.

In 1875 he and his wife came to Montana. He lived at Missoula six months, being employed by a mercantile firm there. He had come west by railroad train as far as Sioux City, then took a boat up the Missouri River and was thirty-five days in reaching Fort Benton. Before getting to Missoula there was another two weeks' journey by covered wagons. Mr. Hodgson was not satisfied with the Montana of forty- five years ago, and leaving the territory he jour- neyed by way of Ogden, Utah, and thence by rail- road to New Brunswick, where he formed a partner- ship with a cousin and established a country store in the state of Maine. They did a prosperous and thriving business there for ten years. His earlier visit to the Northwest had impressed him with the charm of the mountain region, and Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson in 1886 disposed of their interests in the East and coming to Montana settled in Flathead County. Mr. Hodgson filed on a homestead, proved up and was soon doing a prosperous business as a farmer and stock man. He developed a fine farm of 240 acres and on that farm he and his wife laid the foundation of the prosperity they enjoy today. In 1917 they sold the farm and bought a fine residence on First Avenue, East, in Kalispell.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson : George, Charles, Sophia, Mary, Lena, Emma, Leon- ard, Alvenia, William and Fred. All are living ex- cept Fred. George married Miss Lena Pauline and is a rancher near Missoula. Sophia is the wife of John McIntosh, an automobile man at Kalispell, and they have three children, Allan, Frank and Helen. Mary is the wife of Burt Hubbard, an electrician at Troy, Montana, and their children are Burnett, Clark, Marie, Kenneth and George. Lena is the wife of Charles Watson, a druggist at Ontario, Oregon, and her children are Phyllis, Alice and Margaret. Emma is the wife of William Monroe, of Seattle. Alvenia married Robert Boreland and has a daughter Roberta. William is a butter maker at Butte.

Mrs. Hodgson was reared in the Catholic faith. Mr. Hodgson is hundred per cent republican in poli- tics. He was elected clerk of the school board and served for a number of years as a member. He and his wife sent their three youngest children to the Kalispell High School.

JOHN KENNEDY, assessor of Flathead County, is one of the aggressive young men of this region who has risen through his own efforts to be one of the best representatives of Montana, although he is of Canadian birth, coming into the world at Kingston. He is the son of John and Maggie (Shea) Kennedy, and the youngest of their thirteen children.

Mr. Kennedy was graduated from the Seaforth High School of his native country but came to the

United States in 1891, locating at Kalispell, where for fifteen years he was connected with Listel's Cafe. In 1913 he was elected chief clerk for the county assessor, and served as such until 1916. In 1917 he was elected assessor on the democratic ticket and has recently been re-elected to the same office. Mr. Kennedy made application for his papers of naturali- zation at Saint Paul, Minnesota, and his second pa- pers were taken out at Kalispell.

Mrs. Kennedy was a widow, Mrs. Hattie Reynolds, when she and Mr. Kennedy were married. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gould of Wisconsin. Mr. Kennedy is an Odd Fellow and his wife a Rebekah, and she is also an enthusiastic worker in the Wom- an's Relief Corps of Anderson Camp, Grand Army of the Republic, her father having served his coun- try as a soldier in the war between the North and the South.

Since he became a member of the official force of Flathead County, Mr. Kennedy has proven his worth as a man, and is regarded as one of the coun- ty's most valuable citizens. He is earnest, steadfast and reliable, and is rendering a valuable service to the taxpayers by placing a fair and equitable value on their possessions, not permitting any outside in- fluence to swerve him in his work.

MAJOR JOHN DELANEY, one of the men who is serving his country in the United States army as a member of the Russian Railroad Service Corps, is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens of Whitefish. Mr. Delaney was a master mechanic at Whitefish when he entered the 'service of his country and was sent from San Francisco to Japan, where he spent a year, and then went forward to Vladivo- stok and Harbin and still later to Omsk in the in- terior of Russia. He was promoted to the rank of major after reaching Russia, and is assistant superin- tendent of construction work. With his comrades he is experiencing the hardships incident to the occu- pancy of this region, but is enthusiastic in his support of the administration, and firm in his adherence to the democratic party and its principles.

On September 21, 1915, Major Delaney was mar- ried to Mrs. Mullin, a widow, with a daughter. Vera, who was graduated from the Flathead High School, and is now a student of the Downer College at Mil- waukee, Wisconsin. Mrs. Delaney was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of George and Emeline Opdike. She attended the public schools of her native state, and later took a course in a nurse's training school, from which she was graduated, and for the subsequent eight years was a trained nurse of Kalispell. She is now conducting the Radium Hotel of Whitefish with remarkable suc- cess, and is recognized as one of the best business women of the county. She belongs to those brave American women who in order to release their hus- bands for military duty threw themselves into the breach and developed into active forces in the indus- trial world.

Major Delaney is a member of the order of Elks. and his wife of the Royal Neighbors. In his religious faith Major Delaney is a Catholic. Having served the Great Northern Railroad Company as a master mechanic for some years he was well fitted for his present work with the United States forces, and those who knew him in this country know that the work carried on under his supervision is of the best of its kind. He has many warm personal friends in Flathead County who are following his career and they, with his family, feel very proud of him and of the sacrifices he has made in order to uphold this administration in its foreign policies. Both Mr.

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and Mrs. Delaney are very fine people and are rightly numbered among the best representatives of Flat- head County, loyal and patriotic citizens.

ROBERT J. DE MERS. The merchant is the man who comes into close commercial touch with the people of any neighborhood, and he knows them for what they really are. In dealing with them he learns of their failings and good qualities, and if asked seldom errs in placing the correct estimate upon their rectitude. His position is an important one, for not only does he accommodate the public by furnishing it with the kind of goods they want, but he also adds to the importance of his region by increasing its financial transactions, and generally a man who can successfully conduct a mercantile es- tablishment possesses requirements necessary in a good citizen, else his prosperity would not be of long duration. Such a man is Robert J. De Mers, vice president and manager of the Hot Springs Com- mercial Company, one of the leading mercantile establishments in this section of the country.

Robert J. De Mers was born at Jocko, Montana, the old Indian agency, a son of Jacques and Leona G. (Garnot) De Mers, both of French ancestry. They had two sons and two daughters, namely : Robert J., Jacques Julian, Corinne and Blanche. At an early day Jacques De Mers came to Montana and was an extensive trader in this state and Indian Territory, with posts at Coeur d'Alene, De Mersville and Frenchtown, and developed into the most im- portant and successful trader in the northwest. He was a man of remarkable insight into human na- ture, and great kindness of heart. Although in busi- ness to make money, he never turned an honest man away, and would give credit whenever he was con- vinced the man asking it was worthy, even if he was not sure of any payment of his account. His own integrity was unflinching, and he was so recognized as a man of his word that his mere spoken promise was taken as another man's bond. Living as he did at the outposts of civilization, oftentimes his house would be the only one for many miles around, and he kept his door open for all travelers, enter- taining them all with an open-handed hospitality not easily imagined in these days of self-centered people. Although it is now many years since this most ex- cellent man rendered his last account, he is remem- bered with grateful affection by the older settlers, and his example of industry and honesty is held up to the younger business men as one worthy of emu- lation. When he died in 1889 the entire state lost one of its representative and honorable men, and the mercantile world a potent factor.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 59

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