Montana, its story and biography; a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood, Volume III, Part 95

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 95

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).

this bank he was chosen president. He is president of the First State Bank of Buford, organized in 1906, and of the Buford Mercantile Company, organized in 1901.

While we were winning the World war he became a large investor in federal securities and encour- aged everywhere the support of the war to free the world of autocracy. He has ever shown an in- terest in the education of the young, and in Dakota he was a partisan of district consolidation and be- came chairman of the School Board of his consoli- dation district.

In the month of February, 1917, Andrew F. Nohle married the girl whom he had known in childhood and whose father, Thomas Freeman, became one of his early neighbors on Mouse River. The wedding occurred at LaGrande, Oregon, and Tena Freeman was installed as mistress of the bachelor home of her husband at Nohle's Lake. Mrs. Nohle was born at Collingwood, Canada, and as a child of the West entered into the spirit of her husband's affairs. Like him, she is responsive to the demands of the present in preparation for the future and jealous of the customs of the times before the turmoil and confu- sion of the World war. Satisfied with the rewards which have been bestowed for his labor, content with the possession of ample means for the future and blessed with true friends who appreciate his quali- ties as a man and a citizen, Andrew F. Nohle approaches his "three-score-and-ten" in the full assurance of a well-spent life.

HARRISON J. FREEBORN. While qualifying himself for the profession of law, in which he is well es- tablished at Butte, Mr. Freeborn, who came to Butte eleven years ago, spent some seven or eight years with the East Butte Copper Mining Company, and when he left he resigned the responsibilities of four of five positions that had been concentrated under his personal management.

Mr. Freeborn was born at Erie, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1890, and is a young man who has won his way and his advancement largely by his own self reliant efforts. His grandfather, John Free- born, spent all his life in County Armagh, Ireland, where he was a land owner and agriculturist. John Freeborn, father of Harrison J., was born in County Armagh in 1853, lived there to the age of twenty- one, and on coming to the United States in 1874 located at Erie, Pennsylvania. He did some farm- ing in Northeastern Pennsylvania and then for a time was associated with a farm implement company, covering the district around Erie and Corey. In 1901 he moved to Iowa and was an official and stockholder in the Citizens National Bank of Des Moines until he retired in 1906. He is still a resident of Des Moines and is a republican and a Methodist. In 1878, at Erie, Pennsylvania, he married Agnes Brown, who was born in Newry, County Armagh, Ireland, in 1862 and came to the United States with her parents at the age of fifteen. The Brown family located at Erie. Her parents were Robert and Martha Brown. Her father was born in Ireland in 1840, for many years was an employe of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Com- pany, and died at Erie in 1916. Her mother died at Erie in 1899. John Freeborn and wife had a family of six children: Alexander, who lives on a farm in Erie County, Pennsylvania; William J .; Madeline, wife of Ernest Susong, a farmer at Dow- ney, Idaho; James R., timekeeper for the East Butte Copper Mining Company and a resident of Butte; Harrison J .; and Dora, who lives with her parents. The son William J. has for many years been iden- tified with the United States army and is a cap-

991

HISTORY OF MONTANA

tain in the regulars now located at Norfolk, Vir- ginia. At the time of the Spanish-American war he enlisted in the navy as a sailor, and was on the same ship with Captain Hobson and volunteered to sink the Merrimac in the harbor, one of the great- est exploits ever credited to the American Navy. After that war he enlisted in the army, and was in the Philippine campaign against Aguinaldo. Dur- ing the World war he had charge of the Base Hos- pital at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Harrison J. Freeborn attended the public schools of Erie, Pennsylvania, through the seventh grade, and finished his sophomore year in the high school at DesMoines, Iowa. On leaving home he spent a year working in the mines of the Black Hills, and in the spring of 1909 came to Butte and began employment in the mines of this vicinity. In Sep- tember, 1909, he entered the Butte 'High School, and continued his studies until May of the following year. During that summer he again worked in the mines, and was again in high school from Septem- ber, 1910, until January, IgII. At the latter date he left school to go to work for the East Butte Copper Mining Company as a laborer. At the end of eight months he was promoted to store keeper, and from time to time additional responsibilities were assigned him until he was storekeeper, time- keeper, cost accountant, assistant purchasing agent, and performed all these varied duties until he re- signed in November, 1918. In spite of this busy program Mr. Freeborn was diligently studying law at night, and was qualified and admitted to the bar in June, 1918. For the past two years he has been a rising attorney with a general practice and is located in the Phoenix Building at Butte.

Mr. Freeborn is affiliated with the Methodist Church, is an independent democrat in politics, and owns a modern home at 1229 West Platinum, the finest residential street in Butte. On January 18, IgII, at Butte, he married Miss Anne Donnelly, daughter of James and Margaret (O'Toole) Don- nelly. Her mother lives in Butte, where her father, a mine foreman, died in 1916. 'Mrs. Freeborn com- pleted her junior year in the Central High School at Butte. To their marriage were born four chil- dren : James D., born March 24, 1912; William B., born October 19, 1913; Harriet A., born in 1916; and Margaret Patricia, born November 22, 1919.

CHARLES H. CLAPP, who is president of the Mon- tana School of Mines at Butte, has been professor of geology in that institution since 1916 and is one of the leading authorities in the West in economic geology, mining and metallurgy.

Doctor Clapp, who is a graduate of the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology, was born at Bos- ton, June 5, 1883, being a member of an old New England colonial family, the Clapps having come from England and settled in Massachusetts about the beginning of the eighteenth century. His father, Peleg F. Clapp, was born at Scituate, Massachu- setts, in 1823, was reared and married there and spent an active life in Boston as a builder and con- tractor. He died in 1893. He was a democrat and a faithful member of the Unitarian Church and also belonged to the Masonic fraternity. In 1861 he en- listed in a Massachusetts regiment of infantry and was all through the war as a soldier. Peleg F. Clapp married Mary Manson, who was born at Scituate in 1845 and died at Boston in 1890. Of their six children Charles H. is the youngest, and most of them have followed professional careers. The oldest, Mary, is a teacher in the public schools of Boston. Harry is a patent attorney, practicing in Chicago. James is a Boston architect, Philip is Vol. III-22

a public accountant at Boston, while Lucy is the wife of Howard W. Read, connected with the Baker- Vawter Corporation and living at Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Charles H. Clapp attended the public schools of Boston while a boy, graduating from high school in 1901. He received his degree Bachelor of Sci- ence in mining engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1905. While he has had an almost uninterrupted career as a teacher, Doc- tor Clapp has also performed many practical services as a scientist. From 1905 to 1907 he was instructor in mining and geology in the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, and at the same time was assistant state geologist. From 1907 to 1910 he was instructor in geology in his alma mater, the Mas- sachusetts Institute of Technology, and at the same time was carrying on graduate studies which led to his degree Doctor of Philosophy in 1910. In the meantime, beginning in 1908 and continuing un- til 1913, he was geologist for the Canadian Geological Survey, most of his field investigations and other work being done in Columbia. From 1913 to 1916 he held the chair of geology in the State Univer- sity of Arizona, at the same time being state geolo- gist and also geologist for the United States Geo- logical Survey. He was then called to the Mon- tana State School of Mines as professor of geology, and in 1918 became acting president and in 1919 president of the institution.

Doctor Clapp is a member of the Geological So- ciety of America, the American Institute of Metal- lurgical Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is an inde- pendent democrat in politics, affiliated with the Uni- tarian Church, and is a member of the Silver Bow Club and the Rotary Club of Butte. His home is at 1204 West Woolman Street.

April 19, 19II, at Devil's Lake, North Dakota, he married Miss Mary Brennan, daughter of M. H. and Mary (Coyle) Brennan. Her father was a lawyer and died at Devil's Lake, where her mother is still living. Mrs. Clapp is a highly educated woman, being a graduate of the University of North Dakota, from which she received the degrees A. B. and A. M. Doctor and Mrs. Clapp have five chil- dren: Daniel, born January 28, 1912; Michael, born October 28, 1913; Mary, born February 16, 1916; Francis, born October 28, 1917; and Lucy, born No- vember 18, 1919.

ALFRED W. EISELEIN was one of the pioneers of the Town of Roundup, and established the Roundup Record, of which he is the present owner in 1908. He is a successful newspaper man, and has proved one of the ablest and most enterprising citizens of this section of the state.

Mr. Eiselein was born in Carver County, Minne- sota, September 9, 1884, son of Adolph and Mina (Ziemer) Eiselein. His father was a native of Ger- many and was an early settler in Minnesota, where for many years he was a merchant. He also became interested in land ownership and at different times had stock in local newspapers. His wife was also a native of Germany, but they were married in Minnesota.

Alfred Eiselein, who was next to the youngest in the family of eight children, grew up in Carver County and from the age of sixteen lived with the family in Renville County. He is a graduate of the Minneapolis High School and for two years studied art in the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts. As a boy he earned his first money in the newspaper busi- ness, and the trade and profession of journalism has been his permanent interest. At the age of twenty

992

HISTORY OF MONTANA

he was working as a printer in North Dakota, and conducted several newspapers in that state. In March, 1908, he was among the first arrivals at the new Town of Roundup, Montana, and in the following April established the Record. His chief equipment was an Army hand press. He now has a complete printing establishment with modern equip- ment, including linotype and cylinder presses, and has made the Record an influence in the steady en- lightenment and upbuilding of the community.

Mr. Eiselein is affiliated with the Modern Wood- men of America and the Elks, and in politics is a republican.

DANIEL R. CONWAY, managing editor of the Roundup Record, is one of the forceful men of his profession in Montana, whose flaming sincerity is evidenced in whatever he undertakes. He is an easterner by birth, having come into the world at Fairport, New York, June 27, 1889, a son of Thomas and Eva (Niblock) Conway. Thomas Conway was born at Elmira, New York, and died when only thirty-one years old, in February, 1892. His wife, who was born at Athens, Ontario, Canada, also died in February, 1892, when twenty-seven years old, leaving one child. Thomas Conway was a locomo- tive engineer on the Rome, Watertown and Ogdens- burg Railroad, and lost his life through an acci- dent. In religious faith he was a Roman Catholic. A strong democrat, he gave the candidates and principles of his party an enthusiastic support. For some years prior to his death he was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Daniel R. Conway was only two years old when his parents died, and was forced to make his own way from the time he was not much more than an infant. His first work was as a newsboy, and as he could he attended the Collegiate Institute at Athens, Ontario, Canada, and Magill University, selling papers and doing janitor work to pay his way through these institutions, having in view one objective, literary labor. His first newspaper con- nection was with the Athenian as a reporter. This journal was a weekly publication, and Mr. Conway remained with it for three years, and then went with the Union Gazette of Newark, New Jersey, as a reporter. Later still he was with the Cleve- land, Ohio, Plaindealer for some time, and then going to Iowa engaged with the Freeman Tribune at Webster City. In 1914 Mr. Conway came to Mon- tana and established the Sentinel at Scobey, Sheri- dan County, but after two years sold it and was with the Scott's Bluff, Nebraska, Star until in Jan- uary, 1919, when he located permanently in Round- up as managing editor of the Record, and here his talents receive proper recognition. He belongs to the International Typographical Union. In politics he is a strong republican.

On August 2, 1913, Mr. Conway was married to Helen A. Bryler, born at Webster City, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Conway have one daughter, Evelyn. His road to advancement has not been without battles, but he has fought them bravely and honorably, and when opportunity came he was ready.

DANIEL CARDWELL KYLE. The late Daniel Card- well Kyle was not only one of the most successful cattlemen of Valley County, but he was also one of the most beloved of its citizens, and is not only remembered for his good business judgment, his ability to overcome serious losses, and his foresight- edness in meeting the problems of curtailment of the open range and changes in marketing, but also for his open-handed hospitality, his kindness of heart and his flaming sincerity, whch instantly impressed

all who came into contact with him. Mr. Kyle's operations were carried on in the vicinity of Saco, in the Milk River Valley, but he was known all over this part of Montana.

Daniel Cardwell Kyle was born in Tennessee, July 25, 1854, but was reared on a farm in Palo Pinto County, Texas, and educated in an academy in that region. His parents, who had gone to Texas in 1858, were William and Prudence (Smith) Kyle, and their only other child was the twin sister of Daniel C., named Sarah, who married a Mr. Conat- ser, and she died in Palo Pinto County, Texas, leaving three daughters. There both parents also . died, leaving Daniel C. the sole survivor of his family. On the site of the old Kyle farm one of the richest oil fields of Texas has been opened up, but the Kyle family is no longer interested in it.

Mr. Kyle's career as a cattleman began when he bought 600 head of cattle from "Lum" Slaughter of Palo Pinto County, Texas, one of the pioneer cattlemen of that region, and took them up to the Panhandle country of the Lone Star State. This was about 1878, and he and his wife began ranching on Salt River, and remained there for eight years, and then sold their holdings for $135,000 and moved to Secorro County, New Mexico, paying $125,000 for a ranch and bought almost a whole county of land. It required much sacrifice and untold labor to even hold his own in that neighborhood, and he failed to get ahead on account of the drouths, so he left that state and shipped everything to Orrin Junction, Wyo- ming, from whence he brought his possessions across to the Milk River country, and here he spent the remainder of his life.

The advent of Mr. Kyle into Montana bears the date of October, 1892, and he took up land east of Saco, on which he established his ranch and began to run his 10,000 head of cattle. Unfortunately he had not taken into consideration the difference in climate, and during the ensuing winter lost about 90 per cent of them on account of the great frosts and low temperature. When spring came the canons north of Milk River, where he had ranged them, were almost full of the carcasses. This loss was heart-rending, for it wiped out all of the savings and profits of Mr. and Mrs. Kyle during their mar- ried life. The majority of people would have been so discouraged that they would have given up the struggle, but they were made of sterner material, and so went to work at once to rebuild their for- tune and clear off the $100,000 of debts this loss had occasioned. Notwithstanding these losses Mr. Kyle never lost his faith in the cattle industry, and once he realized the obstacles planned to overcome them, and so succeeded that when he died on July 19, 1910, he was one of the wealthy men of this region. His range brand was "NE," and he ran his horses under his son's brand, "KA." He never tried to run as many cattle again as he had when he came into the state, but he had those of better strain, being nearly all good grades of Herefords, and far more valuable than the Mexican "doggies" he drove into Montana.

Being among the first settlers of this neighborhood, the Kyle family became acquainted with the cowboys of the early days, who demonstrated their apprecia- tion of the hospitality and friendship offered them by denying themselves many of the comforts of life in order to help their new neighbors get on their feet after their great loss. Some of those former "cowpunchers" are still in the neighborhood, but are now men of prominence, and are still numbered among the warm friends of the Kyles, among them being Pleas Price, John Survant, J. L. Truscott, Harry A. Vagg and Colonel Saunders of Helena,

Daniel C. Kyls

mary a. Hyle

993

HISTORY OF MONTANA

all of whom loved Mr. Kyle for his inherent worth and his loyalty to them and his ever willingness to aid any of them in time of need.

A democrat, Mr. Kyle was appointed county com- missioner of Valley County after it was separated from Dawson County, and later served as sheriff. He was active in all public affairs, and was very prominent as a Mason, Kyle Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Hinsdale, being named in his honor. He was a Methodist, having joined the church in Texas while on a trip back there to bury one of his children, and upon his return to Mon- tana worked in harmony with "Brother Van" in all religious activities of this region, and the two were warm personal friends. The Kyle ranch on Milk River was the first place, it is believed, that the noted Montana preacher visited in this region, and he made it his abiding place when he was in the locality. Mrs. Kyle was very active in the work of the church at Saco, being one of its first trustees and serving on its first board with C. W. Nelson and Cecil Taylor.

On March 17, 1876, Mr. Kyle was married to Miss Mary A. McAdams, a daughter of Capt. William C. McAdams, a stockman and Indian fighter of Palo Pinto County, Texas, who settled in Texas years be- fore the war between the states, and as a youth of seventeen years participated in the Mexican war. His wife bore the maiden name of Anna Alexander and she was of English birth. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Adams had five daughters and two sons who reached maturity, those surviving being as follows : Mrs. Kyle, who was born October 6, 1856; Mrs. William Slaughter, of Dallas, Texas; and Mrs. Carrie Clay, of Sayre, Oklahoma. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kyle are as follows: Quinnie L., who is the wife of Allen Shaw, of Phillips County, Montana ; Callie, who is the wife of Charlie Peterson, of Glas- gow, Montana; and Daniel McAdams, of Saco.

Daniel McAdams Kyle as a member of the Mon- tana National Guard went to the Mexican border and spent several months helping to guard the Rio Grande frontier from invasion. Soon after his re- turn home he, with the remainder of his company, was called into the service of the World war, and went overseas to France with the 163rd Infantry, known as the old "Second Montana." He was as- signed to the Depot Brigade, was in the troop training service and was mustered out as a second lieutenant, reaching home early in 1919 .- By J. H. Christensen.

JAMES H. ROWE has been a figure in the business life of Butte for over twenty years, and has achieved a place where he is recognized as one of the best authorities on real estate in the city.

Mr. Rowe was born in Chicago August 6, 1874, son of Henry C. and Ellen (Regan) Rowe. His ancestors, of Irish extraction, lived in New England and Canada for several generations. Mr. Rowe acquired his early education in the De LaSalle In- stitute at Chicago, the Christian Brothers College at St. Louis, and the University of Chicago.

Coming to Butte in 1899, he at once began ac- tivities as a factor in local real estate and fire insur- ance circles. He is president and owner of the Lawlor and Rowe Corporation, which has played a prominent part in the building development, and has also handled some of the largest and most valu- able transactions in real estate.

Mr. Rowe is a man of education, of liberal public spirit, and has never failed to identify himself with any movement for the public good or with any patriotic cause. He is a democrat, but is more

concerned with the good government of the com- munity than with the success of partisan move- ments. He is one of the active and valued mem- bers of the Butte Chamber of Commerce, is a mem- ber of the Silver Bow Club, the Butte Curling Club and the Butte Country Club, and is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married Miss Josephine Sullivan, and their two children are Helen and James H.

DONALD A. PETRIE. When it is remembered that the majority of men never rise above the ordinary, but live out their lives in obscurity, and, dying, are forgotten, all the more credit must be accorded those who have enriched their communities, benefited their associates, raised a higher standard for the genera- tions to come, and demonstrated the worth of indi- vidual endeavor. The aggressive, public-spirited men of any locality plan for the future as well as the present, and so shape the future of the com- munity. Donald A. Petrie, one of the leading mer- chants of Martinsdale, is accepted as a man of prudence, safe and reliable, and his advice on busi- ness transactions is sought by many.

Donald A. Petrie was born in Scone, Scotland, on June 3, 1875, a son of David Petrie. The birth of David Petrie occurred in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1847, and his death at Stirling, Scotland, in 1915. He was reared in Perthshire, where he spent the greater part of his life, and so impressed the au- thorities with his dependability and ability to en- force the laws that for many years he was kept in office as a member of the police force, his period of service extending over thirty-five years. After his retirement from its arduous duties he moved to Stirling, where he died. In politics he was a tory. A very religious man, he found expression for his faith in the creed of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a devout member until the close of his career in this world.

David Petrie was united in marriage with Annie Farquharson, born in Spital of Glenshee, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1856, who died at Stirling, Scotland, in 1910. They had the following children: John, who lives at Lincoln, Nebraska, is a livestock agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad ;. Andrew, who is deceased; David, who is a grocery merchant of Buffalo, New York; James, who died in childhood; Alexander, who handles men's furnish- ings at Sheridan, Wyoming ; George, who is a sheep- raiser of Omaha, Nebraska ; Donald A., whose name heads this review; James, who is a merchant of Opal, Wyoming; Peter, who is in partnership with James at Opal, Wyoming; Finley, who clerks in the store of his two brothers at Opal, Wyoming; Robert, who lives at London, England, is a painter and decorator; Mary, who married William Mal- nock, formerly a member of the police force, lives at Stirling, Scotland; and Charles, who died in childhood.

Donald A. Petrie attended the public schools of Perthshire, and remained at Scone until he was nine years of age, when his parents moved to Banke- foot, Perthshire, Scotland. When he was fourteen years old he left school, and while still living at home made himself useful to neighboring farmers.

In 1900 Mr. Petrie came to the. United States and spent his first three years in this country on a farm owned by his uncle, Jolin Farquharson, in Campbell, Franklin County, Nebraska, but left that district in 1903 and went to Buffalo, Wyoming, and was a clerk in one of its stores for two years. In 1905 Mr. Petrie selected Martinsdale as his field of action, and coming here worked for H. E. Marshall, a merchant, until in June, 1915, when Mr. Petrie

994

HISTORY OF MONTANA

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 95

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