Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 125

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1374

USA > Montana > Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1 > Part 125

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).

SOLOMON P. HEREN .- Among the leading stockgrowers of Park county whose labors have greatly contributed to the advancement and welfare of the community, is Solomon P. Heren. His life has been busy, useful, furnishing an example of honorable effort, steadfast purpose and fidelity to principle. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, on April 6, 1842. His father, Robert Heren, belonged to one of the pioneer families of that county, where he likewise was born. He mar- ried Henrietta Denny, also born in Chio, and they had six sons and four daughters, of whom Solomon was the tenth. In 1847 Robert Heren removed with his family to Andrew county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming until his death, in the spring of 1872.

Solomon P. Heren received his educational training in Missouri, and his first business re- sponsibility was that of clerk in a mercantile es- tablishment. Under a call from the governor of Missouri, in 1861, he enlisted in the state militia, was commissioned lieutenant and was in active service for nearly three years, having almost daily skirmishes with "bushwhackers." In January, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, Forty-third Mis- souri Infantry, and served as sergeant under Col.

Harding, receiving his honorable discharge at St. Louis in July, 1865, having been inustered out in Mississippi, where his regiment was in service. After the coming of peace Mr. Heren for a time engaged in merchandising in Missouri, later con- ducting farming and stockraising until 1872, when he started for Montana, coming by rail to Ogden, Utah, and thence driving a team overland to the North Boulder river, where he followed dairying until 1878, when he located on the Shields river and engaged in stockraising. In 1882 he took up a claim of land in Park county, about seven miles from the mouth of this river, subse- quently adding to its area by purchase until he now has in his home place 800 acres. In 1897, with his sons, Claud L. and Mark A., Mr. Heren purchased from the Northern Pacific Railroad five sections of excellent grazing land in the vicinity of Glendive, Dawson county. To this place they removed their herds of cattle and winter from five to eight hundred head. Mark A. Heren has charge of this ranch, Claud L. having located in Chicago. Mr. Heren now keeps only a small amount of horses and cattle on the homestead ranch. In their stockgrowing Mr. Heren and his sons give prefer- ence to shorthorns.

On July 4, 1867, Mr. Heren wedded with Miss. Maria L. Myers, born in Andrew county, Mo., and of distinguished ancestry. Her parents were Ephraim and Nancy (Williams) Myers, natives of Indiana and Virginia. Their family circle em- braced five sons and five daughters. The original American ancestors of the Myers family came from Germany nearly 200 years ago. Robert Myers, grandfather of Mrs. Heren, was born in Maryland. and married Mrs. Katurah Paul, whose first hus- band was killed while a Continental soldier of the- Revolution. Mrs. Heren is a woman of gracious refinement, and the home is one of truly Montana hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Heren have ten chil- dren: Rolla Preston, now chief inspector of live stock for Montana at Chicago, Ill., is a graduate- of the Northwestern Business Institute ; Claude L., assistant inspector under his brother in Chicago. educated at Lexington, Ky .; Frank K. has the management of the home ranch; Mark A., in charge of the Glendive ranch: Maud, wife of M. W. Bacon, of Butte, finished her education at Zanes- ville, Ohio; Solomon E., attending college at Grand Island, Neb .; Nancy Anna, Edith, Ashley and Dorothy are at the parental home. The family oc -- cupies a prominent position in social circles.

645

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

J AMES W. GEIGER, treasurer of Sweet Grass county, is a young man of signal ability and is held in high esteem in his home county and town by reason of his sterling characteristics and gen- ial personality. Mr. Geiger comes of stanch old German lineage, his great-grandfather having set- tled in America in the early days, and located in one of the northeastern states. His son David, grandfather of our subject, was numbered among the pioneers of Lancaster, Ohio, where was born Samuel M. Geiger, father of James W. Samuel M. Geiger married Miss Delilah Reddington, who was born in Indiana, and they became the parents of four sons and one daughter. In 1856 the father removed from Ohio to Adams county, Iowa, and there our subject was born March 4, 1871. His father was there engaged in farming until 1861, when the thundering of rebel guns against the ram- parts of old Fort Sumter aroused his patriotism and loyalty. He enlisted in Company F, Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the front and remained in active service until the close of the war, when he received an honor- able discharge. John W. Geiger passed his youth in his native state and was educated in the public schools, completing a course of study in the high school at Marion. In 1891, at the age of twenty years, he came to Montana and located in Big Timber, where he entered the employ of the Big Timber National Bank, remaining with that institu- tion until January, 1898, when he entered upon the discharge of his duties as deputy recorder of Sweet Grass county, having been appointed thereto the preceding December. This position Mr. Geiger retained until November, 1900, when he was elected county treasurer. He has administered the finan- cial affairs of the county with much ability. In politics Mr. Geiger gives his support to the Repub- lican party; fraternally he holds membership in the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in which he holds the office of chancellor commander. On October 4, 1894, Mr. Geiger was united in mar- riage to Miss Jennie Conklin, daughter of Aaron Conklin, of Detroit, Mich., in which beautiful City of the Straits she was born. Mr. and Mrs. Geiger have one son, Master Harold, who was born November 29, 1896.

TILLIAM ALLEN HENSLEY .- The son of Louis H. Hensley, a Methodist minister who removed to Kentucky from Virginia when a young man and was there married to Miss Clarissa

Powell and became the father of nine children, it is not to be supposed that our subject, William Allen Hensley, the sixth of the nine, started in life with very brilliant financial prospects. He did, however, secure a good education, attending the public schools regularly, and afterward graduated from Williamstown College in 1854 when he was nineteen years old. He was born near George- town, Scott county, Ky., April 30, 1835. On lay- ing aside his text books Mr. Hensley began teaching school near his home ; but after spending two years at the business he removed to Missouri and there engaged in merchandising with an uncle. After a time he again went to teaching, and be- came principal of the high school at Richmond, Ray county, Mo., for two years. At the end of that time he went into the southeastern part of the state and was successfully engaged in the stock commission business with Martin J. Clark until 1862. On account of the Civil war he sold his in- terests and came to Montana, making the trip across the plains and having a number of skir- mishes with the Indians on the way, but escaping serious consequences. He was captain of the train, and landed it safely in Alder gulch in the fall of 1862. Mr. Hensley first began business as a grocer in Virginia City, but after a few months sold out and engaged in placer mining in Alder gulch. From there he went to Diamond City and followed the same business at that point ; later at French gulch, and landed finally at German gulch in 1865, and there continued mining for four years. In 1869 he sold out and bought a large stock ranch in Deer Lodge valley, and gave his attention to the stock business until his death, which oc- curred January 2, 1893. While conducting the stock farm he also made investments in real estate in Butte and elsewhere throughout the state. He managed all his business with skill and diligence, giving close attention to all its details, and was very prosperous.

In political relations Mr. Hensley was a Demo- crat, and manifested a lively interest in the success of his party. He was married in Missouri No- vember 10, 1868, to Miss Luvina J. Hancock, of that state, and they traveled through the southern states until the spring of 1869, when they came to Montana. Both were members of the Methodist church. They have seven children living, namely : Stephen Kavanaugh, William Caples, Claude Mar- vin, Thomas Hubert, Oleta Edmonia, now Mrs. William Maxey, of Bozeman ; Edwin Emmett, and Rossie Evelyn ; another son, George Emory, is de-

646

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

ceased. The parents of Mrs. Hensley were Stephen K. and Ivy (Roberts) Hancock, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Kentucky. They removed to Missouri in their early married life, where the father followed farm- ing and stockraising until his death in 1891. They had nine children, of whom Mrs. Hensley was the sixth.

D ANIEL J. HENNESSY .- However much there may be in circumstances or training in the making of a man's career, no thoughtful man would seek to set bounds to their sway; the germ of the spreading oak is in the acorn from which it springs. These truisms may well be applied to Daniel J. Hennessy of Butte, one of the most ex- tensive, successful and enterprising merchants of the entire northwest. Mr. Hennessy was born in September, 1854, at Frederickton, New Brunswick, in the Dominion of Canada, and began his educa- tion at a collegiate school in that province. At the age of thirteen he left school and determined to begin the battle of life for himself, which he did by accepting employment in a grocery store for a time and then in a dry goods store, which was more to his taste and in which he remained until the western fever became epidemic throughout the land, and attacked him as it did thousands of others. In 1879 he came to Montana, arriving at Helena in April and remained a month, after which he visited Butte, where he secured a position of importance and responsibility with E. L. Bon- ner & Co., and soon demonstrated his capacity and business tact. In the fall of 1866 Mr. Hen- nessy began business for himself by organizing the firm of D. J. Hennessy & Co., and starting an establishment on Main street, above Broadway, moving soon after to the corner of Main and Granite. In this enterprise he was entirely suc- cessful, the business expanding with such rapidity and regularity that in less than three years an en- largement of its scope and rearrangement of its status was required. In the summer of 1889 the firm was incorporated with a paid-up capital stock of $250,000 under the title of the D. J. Hennessy Mercantile Company, and thus with enlarged facilities this new company started out with every indication of prosperity. But alas for human hopes! On Sunday, September 29, 1889, a dis- astrous fire which started at the corner of Granite

and Utah streets in a few minutes consumed in its ravenous holocaust his entire building and stock of goods, valued at more than $125,000. He was able, however, to save his books, and they were in such excellent shape that the full insurance he carried was promptly paid by every company concerned without hesitation or quibble. Before the end of the year he had erected and completely stocked a fine new building on the site of the old one, and presented to his patrons a collection of commodities which for extent, richness, variety, quality and comprehensiveness, surpassed any shown in the state. His pluck and enterprise brought due reward in a business triumph which is one of the notable mercantile achievements of the section and the time, proving him to be in fact as he is in name, the Merchant Prince of Montana and the northwest.

In November of that year he was elected as a Democrat to the first state senate of Montana, and in the distribution of terms he drew the short one. The next year he was re-elected for a full term of four years, and gave his constituents good service for half the term, being chairman of the committee on mines and mining, and a member of the finance and other important committees in the body. After serving his party faithfully for a year or more he resigned his official position, and has since devoted his attention exclusively to his enormous business, which is enough to occupy the mind and reward the industry of any man. The corporation over which he presides, and of which he is the direct personal manager, completed a handsome new six-story building in October, 1898, retaining for storage purposes four stories and the basement. The building is 88x200 feet, and houses one of the most elaborate, systematic, comprehensive and satisfactory department stores in the western states. Its stock is valued at half a million dollars. The company has a branch store at Centreville and another large department store at Anaconda. Of all this gigantic business, with its wide and varied ramifications, Mr. Hen- nessy is the presiding genius, the real inspiration and vital breath; and the manner in which he con- ducts it all and the uniform success which attends his efforts are proofs, strong and impressive, of his wonderful endowment for mercantile affairs. He is, moreover, as highly esteemed in private life for his numerous manly virtues and social attractions as he is in commercial circles for his superior qual- ifications in the domain of business.

647

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

CHARLES S. HEFFERLIN. - In connection with the upbuilding and progress of the beauti- ful city of Livingston, there is no man more promi- nent and who has contributed in greater measure than Mr. Hefferlin. He was born on February 5, 1856, in Leavenworth county, Kan., the son of Martin and Louise Ann (Humphrey) Hefferlin, the former born in Loraine, France, now Ger- many, and the latter in Ohio. Martin Hefferlin, on his emigration, located in St. Louis, Mo., whence he removed to Weston, Mo., and thence to Wyandotte, Kan., practically a suburb of Kansas City, and here he was a merchant until his death. His widow passed away at Livingston, Mont., in March, 1901. Of their six sons and one daughter, Charles was the third son. He came to Montana in 1882, and the remainder of the family later lo- cated also in Livingston.

Charles S. Hefferlin passed his boyhood days in Wyandotte, Kan., where he graduated in the high school with the class of 1872. He then for three years held a responsible position in the local post- office, and then was for three years more the chief clerk in the Wyandotte office of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, after which he was promoted to a posi- tion at Ellis, Kan., where he continued three years, and then held a similar position in Denver, Colo., for an equal time, his efficient services having in- sured these consecutive promotions. He next be- came cashier in the freight office of the Northern Pacific Railroad at Billings, Mont., where he lo- cated in the summer of 1882, and was later agent of the road at Custer. In 1883 he came to Livingston in a similar capacity, holding the office for five years, and manifesting a lively interest in the devel- opment of the town, in whose future prominence he had such confidence that he made liberal invest- ments in local realty. In the fall of 1888 Mr. Hef- ferlin opened the Merchants' Bank, as owner and cashier, which is one of the solid and popular banking institutions of the state.

In 1884 Mr. Hefferlin erected the Hefferlin Block, one of the city's finest business buildings, and in 1892 he erected the opera house, which is of modern design and equipments and has not lacked for appreciation from the local public. His enter- prise in forwarding the substantial upbuilding of the city has had still farther ramifications, since he has, at different times, erected twelve stores on Main street, while in 1898 he built and equipped the Livingston flour mills, fitted with the most modern appliances and contributing in marked de-

gree to the industrial activities of Livingston. H is honored as one of the representative men of the city and his popularity is due to his well directed efforts and upright life. In politics he gives alle- giance to the Republican party, and for the past four years he has been a valued member of the city council, while he has rendered efficient service on the board of education for eight years. On August 13, 1887, Mr. Hefferlin married with Miss Florence M. Holliday, born in Winterset, Iowa, the daughter of Samuel L. Holliday, of whom spe- cific mention is made on another page of this work, and this union has produced two children, Charles Holliday and Marie.

C HARLES R. HENDERSON .- Among the popular and progressive young farmers and stockgrowers of Choteau county is numbered Mr. Henderson, who has attained success in the pro- ductive industries of the state. He is a native of the Dominion of Canada and of Scottish origin. He was born in the county of Frontenac on March 2, 1867, the son of William Henderson, who was also born in the same county, where he made his home for the greater portion of his life. In 1886 he came to Montana, locating in the district of the Bear Paw mountains in Choteau county, and was here engaged in stockraising for about two years, later turning his attention to freighting in various sections of the Rock mountain region. He died in Flathead county in 1890. His wife, whose maiden name was Lovina Clixby, was likewise born in Frontenac county, Canada, and she died in the city of San Jose, Cal., in 1892.

Charles R. Henderson received educational dis- cipline in the public schools of Leeds county, Ontario, Canada, where he remained until 1882, when he made his way into the northwest territory, where he was engaged in teaming until 1885, when he crossed the international boundary into North Dakota, and was employed in that state for two years, coming to Choteau county, Mont., on Janu- ary 17, 1887. Within the following year he took up a tract of land at the head of Peoples creek, disposing of this in 1890 and removing to the town of Egan, Flathead county, where he was engaged in the hotel business for one year. For several years thereafter Mr. Henderson was engaged in stockraising on Black coulee on the southeast side of the Bear Paw mountains, and in 1895 he lo-

648

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

cated on his present ranch, which is eligibly situ- ated on Birch creek, near the little postoffice village of Warrick: Here he has made good improvements and is being duly prospered, giving his attention to the raising of cattle and also having a portion of his ranch under effective cultivation. He here owns 320 acres of land, and is known as one of the enterprising and public-spirited young men of his section. He is unwavering in his support of the Republican party, in whose cause he has been an active worker. From 1895 until 1897, inclusive, Mr. Henderson was incumbent of the office of deputy surveyor of Choteau county.

H ENRY BRUNDY .- While too much cannot be said in praise of the settled populations whose enterprise, energy and thrift build up new cities, communities and state in the wilderness, full faith and credit must be given to the pioneer pathfinders who go ahead and blaze the way. They are the advance guard-the scouts, so to speak -of civilization. They are men of courage, of resources, of good physique, of good sense, and of a sublime audacity of faith. To this class belongs the now venerable and highly esteemed Henry Brundy, of near Butte, who has borne his full share of the labor and service in the cause of de- veloping the great northwest, and wears on his person many marks of the burden.

Mr. Brundy was born February 22, 1826, near St. Charles, Mo., a son of John H. and Mary (Stoub) Brundy, natives of Germany, who came to the United States early in the century, where the father established a large coopering business. Both died at East St. Louis, Mo., about the mid- dle of the century. Our subject was educated in the public schools and the Catholic parochial school at St. Charles, and removed with his parents to Alton, Ill., and about four years later to Ed- wardsville, Ill., and there worked with his father at coopering. In 1843 they removed to East St. Louis, started the same business and conducted it on an extensive scale until they were washed out by the Mississippi flood of 1844. He then went down the river to New Orleans, and for two years worked at his trade as a journeyman, mak- ing barrels for the government, as it was during the time of the Mexican war and there was great demand for such articles ; but in 1846 he returned to East St. Louis, and joined his father who had again started the business there. He remained

with his father about a year, and then engaged in the grocery business with his brother-in-law for two years, but being burned out, he went to Peru, Ill., and opened a grocery store, continuing in the business until the gold excitement of 1848 set the whole country wild and even ruffled the financial and business waters of foreign lands. He joined the argonauts of 1849 by getting to- gether an outfit and becoming a part of the Dixon train of forty-two wagons, being the second train leaving St. Joseph. They had many contests with the Indians and some narrow escapes from serious disaster, but reaching the land of gold in July, Mr. Brundy at once went to work at placer min- ing, at which he made considerable money. Dur- ing the last two years of his stay in California he engaged in mercantile business on Weaver creek near Hangtown. He then sold out his business and returned to his former home at East St. Louis. There he started a hotel and livery busi- ness which proved to be so profitable that he de- termined to erect a hotel of his own, and did so at a cost of $140,000. This he conducted for two years, and in 1860 leased it and joined the Pike's Peak stampede. About two years later, however, the hotel burned, with little insurance. When he reached the Peak he began operations in mining and also in a mercantile enterprise, both of which he continued for two years, when he again returned to his old home. In the spring of 1862 he came up the Missouri on the first boat that ever came as far as Fort Benton, Mont., bought horses, pro- ceeded to the Bitter Root valley, went down to Hell Gate canyon, on to Gold creek, then down to Missoula, across the river and up to old Fort Owens, where they stopped for awhile. From there he made his way by easy stages to within about eight miles of Hamilton, thence to Pioneer gulch, where he remained until early winter, and finally to Bannack, where he went to mining, and built the first house in the town-the house in which the First territorial legislature of Montana held its sessions. He was a member of the Vigil- antes, and one of the leaders who took part in ridding the country of the notorious Plummer and his outlaw associates. While at Bannack he discovered some rich quartz mines, and return- ing to St. Louis he brought up the first quartz mill, consisting of a crusher and steam engine, and the first steam sawmill ever brought into the territory. With these he was enabled to carry on a very profitable business along two lines-

Носину Ват а

649

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

quartz mining and lumbering. He furnished by means of his sawmill the lumber used in all the early houses built in Virginia City, and started the enduring industry of quartz mining, where it had been previously unknown, with the eight- stamp quartz mill that is still in operation at Burlington. Mr. Brundy also furnished the lum- ber for the first houses in Butte, all frame build- ings in those days, his lumber yard being where Gans & Klein's store now stands on Main street, and in charge of Dr. Ford, who was Bitte's first postmaster. He continued in the litmber business until about seven years ago, and since then has resided near the mouth of the canyon that leads to Columbia gardens, being still engaged in min- ing. He has been eminently successful in all his business ventures, but the reason is plain and obvious. Nature endowed him with a clear vision, a positive character, a defiant courage and ex- cellent judgment, and he has not folded his talents in a napkin, but used them with skill and diligence. In the wide range of his movements and activities, he has, of course, been exposed to many dangers and perils from fire and flood, from storm and cold, from wild beasts and savage men; and he bears on his body many scars of his encounters with them all.

Mr. Brundy was married in 1884 to Miss Sarah Carver, a native of Virginia, and daughter of James and Amelia (Carter) Carver, also Virginians by birth. She was the third of their six children. In politics Mr. Brundy is a Democrat, and has always taken an active part in public affairs, not- withstanding the numerous and exacting business cares which have occupied his mind through life. While in East St. Louis he was captain of a military company, and wherever he has lived he has shown himself to be a man of positive con- victions and deeply interested in the welfare of his community. In this spirit, and as a matter of business thrift as well, he has extensive holdings and dealings in real estate in the city of Butte, notably in the Park City addition. Notwithstand- ing, and perhaps in consequence of, his very active and, it might be said, rugged, outdoor life, Mr. Brundy is still hale and vigorous, although the snows of seventy-five winters have whitened his hair, but the recollections of three-quarters of a century enrich his mind and enliven his entertain- ing conversation. He has borne the heat and bur- den of the day, and is now in the full enjoyment of the milder glories of its evening, serene in the

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.

Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 125

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago Publication date: [19-?] Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1374