Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 89

Author: Stout, Tom, 1879- ed
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 1144

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THOMAS S. JOHNSON. While one of the very prominent men of the county, invested with the duties and responsibilities of sheriff, Thomas S. Johnson made his mark in the county not through politics, but as a pioneer settler and widely known as a successful rancher and farmer, and was never a candidate for any office until he was called to the shrievalty.

Mr. Johnson, who has made his career in North- ern Montana and has been a resident about Malta for over twenty-one years, was born in Blanco Coun- ty, Texas, September 16, 1872. His grandfather was a physician in Mississippi and Texas, spending his last years in Eastern Texas. His older sons, John, Jesse and Nathan, all wore the uniforms of Con- federate soldiers, and Nathan was killed while in the war. The youngest son was James Johnson, who was born in Mississippi while his parents were migrating to Texas. He acquired a very limited education, since he grew up in a pioneer district,

and during a portion of the Civil war was engaged in supplying beef cattle to the Confederate army. He became a stock farmer and rancher in Blanco County, and the county seat, Johnson City, was named in his honor as one of the first settlers after the Civil war. In DeWitt County, Texas, James Johnson married Julia Moore, a native of that coun- ty. They reared the following children: Thomas S., the subject of this article; Julia, wife of N. T. Stubbs, of Johnson City, Texas; Pearl, wife of Harvey Roper, of Robbstown, Texas; Nathaniel, a ranchman, in Mason County, Texas; Myrtle, wife of Ralph Chumm, of Austin, Texas; Melissa, wife of Oscar Fossett, of Johnson City, Texas; and Olla, Mrs. Jay Chapman, of Johnson City.

Thomas S. Johnson spent his boyhood and youth in a section of Texas where stock raising was almost the only occupation. He attended a district school near Johnson City, but was only thirteen years of age when his father died. His mother died ten years later. Thomas being the oldest of seven chil- dren had the responsibility of looking after the younger people of the household, and at the age of fifteen he began earning money away from home as a range hand, and he continued working until he saw his brothers and sisters in places of safety and favorably situated, and was then free to look after his own welfare. Some of his acquaintances in Texas had already gone to Montana, and he deter- mined that he could best work out his destiny in this section of the far Northwest. Practically with- out capital, unmarried, and with his chief experience as a cow man and farmer, he started for Montana, traveling over the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Rail- way from Texas to Kansas City, thence by the Bur- lington route to Edgemont, South Dakota, and then proceeding along the partially completed tracks to- ward Deadwood and Bellefourche. Reaching the end of the railway he crossed 200 miles of country to Glendive by stage, whence the trains of the North- ern Pacific carried him through Billings to Helena, Great Falls and finally to Malta, where he arrived in 1899.

Immediately he went on the range working for the "Circle C" outfit, and soon left that to become an employe of Ben D. Phillips, one of the best known of the pioneers of the region. With him he spent several months and then engaged in ranch- ing on his own account. Conditions were adverse, and his capital was soon dissipated. For almost two years he was then in the employ of the Bloom Cat- tle Company's "Circle Diamond" outfit, after which he established himself at ranching again on his own account just below Malta on Milk River. In that locality he is ranching today. His pioneer brand was WY, but the more popular one was BH, under which his cattle still run, though his horses bear the old WY mark. In the production of beef he has emphasized so far as possible the Shorthorn and Hereford strains, and has been a dealer as well as a raiser of cattle. Almost from the beginning he has been a shipper to the St. Paul and Chicago markets. Through years of earnest effort Mr. John- son has made a notable success. He took his home- stead in the Milk River Valley, and it is now part of his Valley ranch of 622 acres. He also owns a section on the south bench near Malta, this being grazing land.

While busy with his ranching Mr. Johnson has not neglected an active interest in community af- fairs, though he steered clear of politics except as a voter until 1918, when he was elected sheriff as successor to Sheriff Crabb. During his term there has been only the routine of administrative burdens, though he was called upon to arrest one

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

of the citizens of the county for murder. He grew up in the home of democratic parents and acquired his politicai attitude. in a state intensely democratic. His father was a Mason, and Sheriff Johnson joined that order at Malta, and is a past master of the Lodge and a member of the Scottish Rite Con- sistory and also Algeria Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Helena.

At Malta July 3, 1906, Mr. Johnson married Mrs. Josephine C. (Barge) Joiner, a native of Pennsyl- vania. She was visiting a sister in Montana when she met . Mr. Johnson. She also took up a home- stead near her husband, proved it up and still owns it, it being included in their Valley ranch. While Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have no children of their own a young man, Charles Williams, is growing up in their home and is being educated.

AUGUST AND SAMUEL FULLER. The gentlemen whose names appear at the head of this paragraph are the owners of extensive farming interests in Flathead County. Their valuable property has been acquired through their own efforts, their persistency of purpose and their determination, and the pros- perity which is the legitimate reward of all earnest efforts is today theirs. They are what they are from natural endowment and self-culture, having attained their present position through the impel- ling force of their own genius. They possess not only those powers which render men efficient in the material affairs of life, but also the gentler traits that mark genial and refined social intercourse. In their daily affairs they manifest a generous re- gard for their fellows, and as large-hearted, whole- souled gentlemen, actuated by principles of honesty, no men in the county merit and command more fully the good will of the people.

August and Samuel Fuller are natives of the State of Indiana and the sons of Thomas and Eliza (Wolf) Fuller. By the death of their parents they were left orphans at an early age, so that their youthful years were not characterized by the lov- ing home care and comforts which should be the heritage of every child. However, they were made of sterling stuff and determined to "make good" in some way, somewhere. Hearing of the wonderful openings in Montana for settlers they determined to cast their lot with the new country and in 1889 they came to Missoula, Montana, and from there a little later they came to Flathead County, locating a good tract of land on the border of Foy's Lake, on which they filed a homestead claim. The country about them was then practically unoccupied, except by Indians, miners and hunters, so it took some nerve and courage for the two boys to enter alone on the task of creating a farm out of the raw land as they found it. Their first task was, as it was with every pioneer, the erection of a log cabin, and then followed the breaking of the soil and the other labor incident to the establishment of a new home. They were filled with all the enthusiasm of youth, and they allowed nothing to detract their attention, so that it was not long until they found themselves on the road to success. During the subsequent years they have maintained the even tenor of their way, and because of their strict attention to their interests and their exercise of good common sense they have not only had success, but have also gained the re- spect and confidence of all who have known of their struggles and their triumphs. Their first cabin home was long ago replaced by a comfortable and attractive residence, which, with its attractive nat- ural surroundings, makes as cozy a home as can be found in the vicinity.

August Fuller was married to Mrs. Mary A.

Barry, the widow of Samuel M. Barry. She was born in Michigan, the daughter of Francis and Matilda (Cooper) Burnham. Francis Burnham was a vet- eran of the Civil war, having served three years and nine months, and a son, William Burnham, served in the Spanish-American war.

Politically the Fuller brothers give their support to the republican party. August Fuller took an active part in the organization of the first school of Foy's Lake, and he gave efficient service as a member of the school board for two years. In every phase of life's activities the brothers have been true to every trust and are eminently entitled to representation among the leading men of their section of the state.

JOHN DAHLGREN had a long and thorough train- ing in commercial affairs in Minnesota before he came to Montana, and in this state has been chiefly prominent as a banker. He was organizer and from the beginning has been manager of what is now the American Bank and Trust Company of Missoula, and is president of three other banks in the state. The American Bank and Trust Company of Missou- la is one of the best fortified financial institutions in the state. In the fall of 1919 its resources aggregated approximately $1,857,000. It has capital stock of $100,000, surplus and profits of nearly $22,000, and deposits aggregating over $1,600,000. The officers are A. D. Stephens, president; John Dahlgren, vice president and manager; Ģ. F. Peterson, vice presi- dent; and F. J. White, cashier.

John Dahlgren was born at Vermland, Sweden, February 9, 1875. His father, O. H. Dahlgren, was born in the same locality in 1841, and for many years lived in Sweden as a land owner and timber merchant. In 1889 he eame to the United States, was a farmer at Warren, Minnesota, and since 1909. has been retired at Turlock, California. He is a republican and a member of the Congregational Church, and as a young man in Sweden served in the regular national army. His wife, Martha John- son, died in Sweden in 1883, the mother of the following children: Halver, who is assistant cashier of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank at Dixon, Montana; Lena, wife of John Rosenberg, a farmer at Vincent Creek, Washington, Minnesota; Olaf, a farmer at Turlock, California; John; and Walfred, a farmer at Turlock, California.

John Dahlgren acquired his early education in the public schools of his native country. He was fourteen years of age when he came to this country with his father in 1889, and later attended the busi- ness college in Minneapolis. For a year he worked on his father's farm, and then went into the service of the leading store at Argyle, Minnesota, and learned every detail of the business through an ex- perience of fifteen years as salesman and collector. He not only proved his diligence and efficiency but also achieved the respect and gained the confidence of his business associates, and he came to Montana well fortified with commercial credit.

In the fall of 1909 Mr. Dahlgren organized the Scandinavian-American State Bank of Missoula, and when the bank was opened for business in January, 1910, he was cashier, and has been the active executive in control of the bank's affairs from the beginning. In 1917 the bank was reorganized as the American Bank and Trust Company, since which date Mr. Dahlgren has been vice president and manager. At that time the capital was in- creased from $50,000 to $100,000. The modern bank home is located at the corner of North Higgins Avenne and Cedar Street.

Mr. Dahlgren is also president of the First

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971

HISTORY OF MONTANA

National Bank of Shilo, the First National Bank of Ronan, and the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Dixon, Montana. He is vice Swedish Consul for the State of Montana and had many responsi- bilities and duties in that position during the World war. He was also a member of the Missoula County Committee for the sale of Liberty Bonds, and had the satisfaction of seeing the county sur- pass its quota at every campaign.

Mr. Dahlgren is a republican and is affiliated with Covenant Lodge No. 6, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Hell Gate Lodge No. 383, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Laurel Lodge No. 11, Knights of Pythias. He is owner of a modern home at 528 Daily Avenue. In June, 1912, at Spring Grove, Minnesota, Mr. Dahlgren married Miss Geneva Newhouse, daughter of Peter and Carrie Newhouse, residents of Spring Grove, where her father is a wholesale lumber dealer. Mrs. Dahl- gren is a graduate of Stout's Institute. To their marriage were born two children: John O., Sep- tember 7, 1913; and Robert, October 25, 1914.

HALVER DAHLGREN, assistant cashier of the Farm- ers and Merchants State Bank of Dixon, is a brother of John Dahlgren of Missoula, who is a prominent banker of the state and is president of the hank at Dixon. The facts in the career of John Dahl- gren are noted on the preceding page of this publica- - tion.

Halver Dahlgren was born at Vermland, Sweden, in May, 1866, and grew up in his native country, acquiring a common school education. For two years he served in the regular Swedish army. He worked on his father's farm, and left home at the age of seventeen. He came to the United States in 1892, first locating in Warren, Minnesota, where he spent two summers on a farm and in winters he served an apprenticeship and worked at the pho- tography trade. For about a year he was in a hard- ware store at Warren and spent nine years with a general mercantile firm at Oregon, Minnesota. He next bought out a general store at Northland in Polk County, Minnesota, and during the next two years was also postmaster of the town. After selling out and visiting in California and Washing- ton, Mr. Dahlgren came to Montana in 1916, and has since been assistant cashier of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Dixon.

This bank was established in 1911, and has capital of $20,000, surplus and profits of $3,500, and de- posits of approximately $110,000. Mr. Dahlgren took up a homestead of 160 acres near Dixon, proved up and resides on his ranch, located 11/2 miles west of Dixon. He has a modern residence and all the equipment of farm outbuildings. Mr. Dahlgren is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is unmarried.

JOHN K. BELL. The name of John K. Bell has been associated with the history of Saco since 1891, and for some years he has been one of the mer- chants of the place. He is a native of the Emerald Isle, having been born in County Donegal, near Pettigo, Ireland, June 6, 1867, a son of John and Mary (Kennedy) Bell. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom ten grew to reach mature years, and those who came to the United States in addition to John K., who was the youngest of the whole family, were as follows: Bella, who is the wife of David Kennedy, of Saco; Annie E., who died at Bellingham, Washington, as Mrs. David Kennedy; David who is now a resident of Windsor, Ontario, Canada; Thomas, who is also a resident of Windsor; James, who died at Tilbury, Ontario, Can-

ada; and Jane, who married John Moore, died at Detroit, Michigan. William and Mary are still liv- · ing in County Donegal, the latter being the wife of John Irwine.

John K. Bell was a farmer's son. He left school at an early age, and for five years was employed as a merchant's clerk in his native land. He came to the United States when he was eighteen years old, sailing from Londonderry aboard the Peruvian of the Allen line, bound for Quebec. The steamer was nine days crossing the Atlantic, and reached the harbor without unusual incident. Mr. Bell took the train at Quebec and landed at Tilbury, Ontario, without delay, and while visiting relatives gained his first impressions of America. After seven months he crossed over into the United States, and came by train from Detroit, Michigan, to Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and then by stage to Bottineau, North Dakota, as this was prior to the building of the Great Northern Railroad.

Starting out as a hand on a cattle ranch near Bottineau at $16 per month, he worked for wages for two years, saved his money, investing it in cattle and ran them for a year. He then placed them out on shares and came to Great Falls, Mon- tana, and worked as cook in the B. and W. board- ing house connected with the B. and W. smelter. At the close of the two years he spent there he was receiving $125 per month.

His cattle had been brought from North Dakota to the Saco country, and he ranched here for three years, and then, closing out his cattle, bought sheep and ran them until 1916, a period of twenty-three. years, during which time he found the industry a profitable one, although of course there were years of depression which threatened disaster. When he disposed of his sheep Mr. Bell began merchandising, and handles hardware, implements and lumber, and is still interested in cattle and horses as a stock -. man. His homestead adjoining Saco has twenty of the original 160 acres platted and included in the Saco townsite as the Bell Addition to Saco. Mr. Bell has other interests, and was one of the or- ganizers and first stockholders of the First Na- tional Bank of Saco, which he served as its first president, and he is now one of its directors.

John K. Bell was made a citizen in Montana, his final papers being given him at Glasgow, and he cast his first vote as a republican and has never changed his party. In 1896 he voted for William Mckinley for the presidency, and that was his first presidential vote. Reared a Methodist, he connected himself with the church of that denomination at Saco, and is now one of its trustees.

On November 22, 1899, Mr. Bell was married at Saint Thomas, Ontario, Canada, to Miss Mar- garet Courtenay, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Walker) Courtenay. Mrs. Bell was born at Bel- fast, Ireland, in 1877. She has two half-brothers, Thomas G., of Windsor, Ontario, Canada; and John1 Courtenay, of Bender, Saskatchewan, Canada. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bell. When they located permanently at Saco Mr. Bell erected one of the best residences in the county, it being an eight-room bungalow with full base- ment, furnace and all modern conveniences, includ- ing hot and cold water, sewer and electric lights.

Since coming to this country Mr. Bell has made four trips to Ireland, one of them being taken as a passenger on the ill-fated Lusitania, that a few years later was sunk by a German submarine, an atrocity which formed the fundamental cause for this country entering the World war as active and victorious participants.

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HISTORY OF MONTANA

WILLIAM G. SCHNEIDER was the first and is the present county clerk and recorder of Phillips County, and for twenty years his residence and activities have made him a widely known and popular citizen of this section of Montana.

Mr. Schneider was born at Theresa, Wisconsin, October 16, 1875, but from the age of four years lived in the State of Minnesota. His father, Fred Schneider, was born in the same Wisconsin town, learned the harness and saddlery trade, and spent all his active life in that occupation. He moved out to New Richland. Minnesota, in 1879, and for forty years was a factor in the business of that lo- cality. In 1919 he returned to Wisconsin and is now a retired resident of Milwaukee. Fred Schnei- der married Kate Vogelsang, who was born at Brush Creek, now Arlington, Iowa. Of their two sons and six daughters William G. is the third in age.

William G. Schneider acquired a common school education in Minnesota and was a factor in the life of the home until he reached the age of twenty- five. On May 5, 1900, he arrived in what was then Valley County, and his first home was at Saco. His first Montana dollar was earned as a sheep herder on the ranch of W. H. Taylor. A few weeks later he joined F. W. Korman, purchased land near the village and engaged in cattle ranch- ing. The partners ran stock under the brand YS for five years. Their stock was chiefly Minnesota "dogees," and that fact and the hard winters de- feated their efforts as ranchmen and they finally had to give up the enterprise after losing all their capital and practically all their time. After the dis- solution of the partnership Mr. Schneider entered the service of the C. W. Nelson Company, general merchants at Saco, and when that firm was in- corporated as the Saco Mercantile Company Mr. Schneider became a stockholder and secretary and treasurer. He was an active factor in the business until 1909, when he became cashier of the bank of C. W. Nelson at Saco.

A popular banker, well known for his business abilities, Mr. Schneider was a logical candidate before the people for the office of clerk and re- corder of Phillips County, and was elected in Feb- ruary, 1915, being re-elected in 1916 and again in 1918, and for the past five ' vears has given his chief time and attention to the duties of this office. He grew up in a home divided as to its political convictions on the money question, his father being a gold democrat while the son favored free silver. The son was able to cast his first presi- dential vote in 1896, when the democrats split into two wings, his father supporting the gold standard ticket of Palmer and Buckner, while William G. Schneider voted for Mr. Brvan. He has been an active worker in the democratic party ever since. During the World war he was secretary of the Selective Service Board, and gave a great deal of his time to the ardnous and complex duties of that work. He is a past grand of New Richland Lodge of Odd Fellows in Minnesota and is also a Master Mason.

At Saco, June 29, 1908, Mr. Schneider married Miss Margaret Shanks. She was born in Comber, Ontario, Canada, August 23, 1889, daughter of R. J. and Mary (Sellers) Shanks, now residents of Detroit, Michigan. Mrs. Schneider is the older of two children, her sister being Miss Frances Shanks. To Mr. and Mrs. Schneider was born one son, Rich- ard George.

ALBERT J. INGRAHAM was one of the most widely known and honored pioneers of the Flathead coun- try. His residence began there before there was a

Town of Kalispell, and in thirty-five years he par- ticipated in many of the developments which have made that community famous among Montana dis- tricts.

He was born at Joliet, Illinois, April 10, 1860, a son of Nathan D. and Ruth (Gooding) Ingraham. Mr. Ingraham came to the Flathead country in 1884 and filed on a homestead nine miles northwest of the present site of Kalispell. He went to work and did his work well in proving up his claim and home- stead. After coming to Montana he married Miss Sarah Catherine Ditty, a native of Missouri and a daughter of William H. and Nancy J. (Ridgway) Ditty. She had come to Flathead County with her father, her mother having died in Missouri. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham located on the ranch and he became one of the successful stock raisers of that vicinity.

Their son Philip Albert was educated in the high school at Kalispell and married Florence V. Odjard, of Mankato, Minnesota, a daughter of Ole Odjard. Mrs. P. A. Ingraham was educated in the high school at Mankato, and she and her husband now reside at Minneapolis, where he is a salesman for the New Idea Spreader Company of Coldwater, Ohio.

At the time of the Spanish-American war Albert J. Ingraham was one of the first men from the Flathead country to volunteer his services to the Government. He joined Company H of the First Montana Regiment and was sent to the Philippines. He saw some of the bitter hardships of the service in those islands during the insurrection. One of the circumstances that helped make his army life in the Philippines more pleasant was the presence of his old neighbor and friend, Andrew W. Swaney. They were battle mates together in all their ex- periences on the island.

After his return from the Philippines, Mr. In- graham was appointed by the governor of Montana a member of the State Board of Managers of the Soldiers Home at Columbia Falls. While in that capacity he made friends of all his associates and members of the Home. He rendered service in that capacity for nineteen years, until his death. He was also first deputy sheriff of Flathead County, under Billy O'Connell, and later was elected sheriff, filling the office four years. He was also a mem- ber of the Board of County Commissioners. It has been frequently remarked that no man in the Flat- head Valley was more widely or favorably known than Al Ingraham, as he was familiarly called. He and his wife were active members of the Presby- terian Church at Kalispell, and fraternally he was affiliated with the Elks, with all four branches of Odd Fellowship and with the Modern Woodmen of America. His son is a member of the same frater- nities. Father and son have given active support to the principles of the democratic party.

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Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 89

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