Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 48

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 48

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M ISS MARY E. JACKMAN, principal of the Jackman Commercial College, Helena, is one of the most accomplished and progressive women of the state. She was born in DeKalb county, Ind., and is a daughter of Wesley and Sarah (Baxter) Jackman. The father was a native of Ohio, the mother of Washington county, Pa. The early edu- cation of Miss Jackman was acquired in the common and the high schools of Auburn, Ind. She completed a course at the State Normal School at Danville in that state, from which she was gradu- ated in 1883. Having completed her high school studies she taught in the district schools of Indiana, earning enough money to complete her normal course. Her early life was passed in a sharp com- petition between brains and worldly adversity, and brains gained a brilliant triumph. Almost by her unaided efforts she acquired financial and social prosperity and she is recognized in her home city as one of its most capable business women. Following her graduation from the State Normal School Miss Jackman taught in the State University (colored) at Marion, Ala. Later she prepared herself to teach shorthand and typewriting, and taught these branches in Prof. Garland's business college at Indianapolis, Ind.

Miss Jackman first came to Montana on a visit to her brother, Charles Jackman. The attractions of Helena were not lost upon her quick and appre- ciative mind, and so pleased was she with the city and its surroundings that she decided to remain here and teach. At first she had a desk in the office of the New York Life Insurance Company, and there her initial work was of a private character, in stenography and in typewriting, with occasional les- sons to others. In 1892 she found it essential to

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have larger quarters to accommodate her rapidly increasing number of pupils, and she secured offices in the Bailey block. In 1893 the Montana Univer- sity organized a department in shorthand and Miss Jackman was selected as its principal. In addition to her duties at the university she continued teaching on her own account. Many of her pupils have obtained substantial recognition in their pro- fession. One of them became county court re- porter at Deer Lodge, and another was in the surveyor-general's office at Helena. In 1895 Miss Jackman located at her present offices in Klein- schmidt block, Sixth avenue and Warren street. Here she organized her business college, and here she met with the success which is merited by her acknowledged ability, practical common sense and business sagacity. The college occupies two flats, and she employs five teachers in stenography, type- writing, bookkeeping, telegraphy, plain and orna- mental penmanship and the elementary studies. Prof. S. A. D. Hahn, one of the most accomplished penmen in the northwest, is one of her corps of teachers and has charge of the important branch of practical penmanship.

Miss Jackman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the Epworth League, of which she has been president, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of which she has served as treasurer. For five years she has been state super- intendent of the jail and prison work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She is a member of the Florence Crittenden Home Society, of Helena, one of the board, and chairman of the devotional committee. The business and 1 social career of Miss Jackman is above criticism. She is regarded, not only by the community in which she resides, but throughout the state, as a high-minded, accom- plished and philanthropic woman, one whose in- fluence is for good and for the advancement of society in general. On June 12, 1901, she pur- chased the Engelhorn Business College which had been established in 1883, and consolidated it with her school under the name of the Jackman Com- mercial and Helena Business College, thus forming an institution of increased power and influence, and. at the same time, enlarging its prosperity.

THOMAS JACKSON .- The lamented subject of this memoir, whose death occurred at Sea Breeze, Fla., April 4, 1901, was born at Rochester,

N. Y., in September, 1843, a son of Joel and Julia A. (Southworth) Jackson, both natives of Dutchess county, N. Y. The father resided for most of his mature life on his farm at the edge of Roches- ter, now well within the city limits, and being a man of strong personal magnetism and great force of character, and a prominent member of the Society of Friends, he was one of the representative men of that section of the state. He was descended from one of two brothers who came to America from the north of Ireland in early Colonial days, and settled in Massachusetts, some of their posterity afterwards locating in New York. The South- worths, ancestors of the mother, also settled in New England in Colonial times, having come over from England. Mr. Jackson passed his school days in Rochester, going through the public schools, and was graduated from its celebrated free academy. He then took a special course of training at a good business college, and also learned the carpen- ter's trade. After completing his apprenticeship, he followed teaching in the public schools of Rochester for some years. In 1878 he was married to Miss Emma Gordon, of Allegany, N. Y., daugh- ter of F. F. and Sarah (Smith) Gordon, natives of the now farfamed village of Chautauqua. The Gordons were of Scotch ancestry, and the great- grandmother of Mrs. Jackson, a highly esteemed lady in her day, was Miss Sally Lyon, of French descent. Mrs. Jackson died in 1888, leaving her husband and four children as her survivors. The children are Faith, Edith, Ernest and Joel. Another son, Rollin, is also deceased. Mr. Jackson was married to her sister, Miss Virginia Gordon, May 22, 1891. She survives as his widow, with their one daughter, Grace.

Mr. Jackson came to Montana in 1869 and taught school for a number of years in Madison county. In 1875 he bought the property now oc- . cupied by his widow. It consists of over 300 acres of land and produces large quantities of grain and hay, and supports numbers of stock. Horses were given especial attention by Mr. Jackson for a long time prior to his death and he had some of the finest in this section of the country, both in draft and carriage horses. He paid $3,000 for William Allen, a thoroughbred stallion with a record of 2:13, which had won many famous races, and which he bought for breeding purposes to improve the stock of his neighborhood. In addition to his ranching, stock and other monetary affairs Mr. Jackson took great interest in educational matters

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and in everything which had a tendency to promote the best interests of the community. He was a gentleman of excellent character, possessing a genial and obliging disposition, and was beloved by everybody who had the good fortune to know him well, and respected by all who knew his life and record. Mrs. Jackson was a fit companion for stich a man. She is a highly cultivated and well balanced lady, who has much of the knowledge of the schools and much also of that more practical kind which comes from experience. She was educated in the schools of Rochester, N. Y., and at the Buffalo normal school. She taught with great success for a number of years in her native state and also in Montana. She has a fine resi- dence in Bozeman, where she lives in the winter to secure the best educational advantages for her children.

H YMAN JACOBS (deceased), so long the leading general merchant of East Helena. was born at Dubejenskey, Poland. Here he re- ceived his education and in 1848, at the age of nineteen, he came to the United States. His first three years here were passed in peddling dry goods in the smaller towns of New York. He then went to California, where he opened a store at Drytown. For three years he had a lucrative trade and then he went to St. Louis, Cal., and continued in the same business three years. Fortune had smiled upon his efforts in the new country which he had adopted for a home, and he was now on the high road to prosperity, and he returned to Germany and was there united in marriage to Miss Rosa Engler, daughter of Elias Engler, a capitalist, and during his stay at Thorn, Germany, he engaged in the elevator and grain business. Mr. Jacobs re- turned to Nevada in 1867 and for two years con- ducted a general merchandising at Belmont. In 1869 he went to Pioche, Nev., continuing in the same business. He first came to Helena in 1889 and in 1890 he opened the store he operated at East Helena until his death on October 20, 1901.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs had five children : Louis, now a prosperous merchant in Utah; Max, at present conducting the East Helena store, and Adolph, a merchant of Globe, Ariz. Of the daugh- ters, Tina married Louis Sultan, also a merchant at Globe, and Jennie is the wife of Leopold Flat- low, a member of the firm at East Helena. Mr. Jacobs affiliated with the Democratic party, hut

was not a strong partisan. He was an active men- ber of the Jewish church, and one of the most re- spected, influential and progressive citizens of East Helena. He overcame the seemingly insurmount- able obstacles of the great west, and had a busy life crowned with financial and social success. In his death the commercial activities of this section met a great loss.

Max Jacobs, son of the late Hyman Jacobs. and an active member of the mercantile house at East Helena, was born in Germany in 1865, and at the age of five years came to the United States with his parents. They immediately pushed on toward the west, and located at Pioche, Nev. Here the youth received his education in the public schools, and then, in company with his brother, Adolph, opened a dry goods store at Royal City. Nev. In 1888 Mr. Max Jacobs came to Montana for the first time. He was still a partner of his brother, and they opened up a 'general stock of merchandise for sale. In 1890 this business was con- solidated with that of his father and Mr. Leopold Flatlow. another partner, went from Helena to Globe, Ariz. The death of his father left Max in sole charge of the business at East Helena. Mr. Jacobs is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Woodmen of the World and the Sons of Herman. and a prominent `member of the Jewish church. He is a Republican in political creed. He is a young man of promise and superior business ability. So long has he been in this country that he is thoroughly identified with all its interests. He is highly esteemed by the residents of his home city, and throughout the state he has a large number of friends and acquaintances.

0 W. JAY, late of Pony, Mont .. who departed this life June 11. 1898, leaving a stricken con- munity and a large number of devoted friends to mourn their untimely bereavement, has on record a career of useful citizenship, faithful discharge of duty, elevated manhood and congenial companion- ship, which is an incitement to generous endeavor in others and a pleasing recollection to all who knew him. He was born in the state of New York. May 2. 1838, and belonged to a family which occupies a high place in the annals of that great common- wealth, having given to the country its first chief justice, distinguished diplomats and divines, and men eminent in other lines of public life. Mr. Jay

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was left an orphan by the death of his mother when he was five years old, and that of his father when he was seven. He was, however, carefully reared by his older brother, John, who gave him such edu- cational facilities as the circumstances of the case would permit. In 1861, when he was twenty-three years of age, he left the peaceful fireside at which he had grown to manhood, and sought a new home in Denver. Colo. Two years later he removed to Montana, arriving in October and locating at Alder gulch, where he was engaged in mining until 1874. winning abundant results from his labor and losing them in other mining ventures. On the whole, however, he was successful, and was a man of considerable consequence and property when he died.

On the last day of March, 1874, he was married to Miss Helen J. Wilcox. a Canadian by nativity, born at Brantford, Ontario, a daughter of Allen and Phoebe A. (Ryerson) Wilcox, also natives of Canada. After his marriage he sold a property he owned in the Ruby valley and purchased the home which his family now occupies, known as the Cook ranch and located about five miles from Pony. It contains about 1,600 acres, well improved with good buildings and other necessary appliances, and brought to a high state of cultivation by skillful farming. Here he enjoyed the quiet life of a suc- cessful agriculturist and stockraiser, securely fixed in the cordial regard and confidence of his con- munity, and contributing to its advancement in every good way both by precept and example. He was a member of the pioneers of Montana, and very prominent in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he was one of the founders. In this order he represented his lodge in the grand bodies on many occasions, and was its master work- man for five years in succession, retiring with a record of which any man might be proud, and re- ceiving from the lodge an elegant gold medal as a recognition of his valuable services. He was also a Master Mason. At his death he left a widow and three children, who still survive hin. Mrs. Jay's mother, who is living with her, and is a well pre- served old lady, also descends from a distinguished family. Her father was the Rev. William Ryerson, one of five brothers, all clergymen, and all promi- nent in educational matters, and among the best known and most useful men in the Dominion. One of them was sent by the provincial government on a two years' trip to investigate the school systems of different countries and report with recommen-

dations on his return. The result was the excep- tionally fine free school system now in operation in the Province of Ontario. Their father and a brother were colonels in the British army, and won distinction in the service.

JOHNSON & JENSEN is the firm name of two of the progressive and successful business men of Great Falls. Their enterprises have been numerous and widely diversified, including a laundry, brewery, a profitable ranch and other interests. They have now sold the laundry and ranch and own a controlling interest in the stock of the Montana Brewing Company. This valuable plant, located at Great Falls, has an annual capacity of 45,000 barrels of beer. Running on full time it manufactures 200 barrels per day and is provided with the modern pneumatic malting machinery, being the only plant in the northwest equipped for this highly improved method of manufacture. Their products are mainly sold in Montana.

The city of Great Falls was just springing into life when Messrs. Johnson & Jensen, brothers-in- law, decided to cast their lot therein. Mr. Jensen was the first to come, but he preceded Mr. Johnson but a few months. They purchased two lots on First Avenue North, and erected a brick building 30x50 feet in dimensions, with two stories and a basement, in which they established a steam laundry. Three years later its capacity was inadequate and a second building was erected adjoining it, 22×100 feet in size, with two stories and a basement. In its rear a two-story frame was built in which to house their employes. A fifty-horse power engine · was employed to drive the machinery and they were the second laundry firm in the country to use electricity to heat their rolls and flatirons. Electric light was manufactured from their own dynamo and from the first the business was a pro- nounced success. Meanwhile on their two-hundred- acre ranch near Great Falls the brothers-in-law kept a fine herd of cattle and were making a superior article of dairy butter. They also raised and sold vegetables and poultry with marked suc- cess. In various parts of Great Falls they still hold valuable real estate. In fact the unqualified statement can be made that their every investment since first coming to Great Falls has proved financially successful.

In Sweden, on December 19. 1858, was Fred. G.

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Johnson born. His parents were Andrew G. and Sophia (Peterson) Johnson. In 1866 they emi- grated to Minnesota, remained there nearly twenty- one years and then, in 1887, made their homes in Great Falls. In 1890 Andrew G. Johnson, the father, died at the age of sixty-nine years. When he came to Minnesota Mr. F. G. Johnson was but six years of age, and after receiving his education he was in the draying business in Minneapolis. In 1887 he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Johnson, a native of Indiana. They have two sons and two daughters, Frederick Leroy, Edna May, Myrtle Evaline and William Stuard. In 1887 he made his home in Great Falls and is now president of the Montana Brewing Company. He is a Popu- list.

In Denmark, on August 25, 1851, was born Stuard R. Jensen, the junior member of this emi- nently successful firm, of old Danish ancestry. He was educated in his native country by his father, who was a school teacher. He came to this country at twelve years of age, locating first in Wisconsin where he began life in America by working on a farm for $8 a month. Two years thereafter he found his way to Minnesota and there learned the cooper's trade but for the last two years of his Minnesota life he was engaged in the grocery busi- ness. Mr. Jensen was united in marriage to Miss Selma Johnson, a sister of his partner, on August 24, 1875. They have two children, Adel and Walter. Politically Mr. Jensen is an active Popu- list. The First ward of Great Falls has been repre- sented in the city council by Mr. Jensen for two years and as alderman he has rendered efficient service. In the November election of 1900 he was chosen from Cascade county to a seat in the lower house of the Montana legislature, where he served as the chairman of the committee on education and as a member of the committee of affairs of cities, showing in both relations legislative powers of a fine character. In January, 1899, Mr. Jensen was chosen secretary and treasurer of the Montana Brewing Company, which position he is now filling.

DOBERT S. HAMILTON .- The touch of R Midas, which transmutes everything to gold, when unaccompanied by that unhappy monarch's sordidness, is a source of great power for good among men, and they are most fortunate on whom the rare gift is bestowed who use it properly.

Among this number must be reckoned Robert Stavely Hamilton, of Helena, to whom the science of finance in all its bearings has seemed as easy of mastery as the acquisition of his native tongue. He is one of those men whose mental capabilities run naturally to the acquisition and large use of money, and who handle propositions involving its manipu- lation on scales of magnitude with great caution yet with a facility and a fruitfulness surprising to nearly all who witness the operations. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1839, and is of Scotch ancestry. His parents were James and Mary (Hemphill) Hamilton, also natives of Ireland, who died there after long and useful careers, leaving three sons and six daughters, of whom one son is now a resident of Ohio, and was during the Civil war a volunteer in the Seventy-fourth Ohio In- fantry. The Hamilton family is an old Norman one, coming to England with William the Con- queror in 1066, and the name appears in the Doomsday Book. The descendants have been long established, not only in England but in Scotland and Ireland. Mr. Hamilton's parents were Cove- nanters, followers of John Knox, whose ancestors came originally from Airdrie, Scotland, among the number being Francis Mckinley, a grand-uncle of President Mckinley. Following his settlement in County Antrim, the grandfather, James Hamilton. bore arms in the Irish rebellion, and after the battle of Belna-hinch fled to Scotland with william John Stavely, where he remained until amnesty was de- clared, when he returned to Ireland, but the mag- nificent estate of the family at Airdrie had been confiscated to the crown.

Robert Stavely Hamilton emigrated from Ireland to America in 1852, locating at East Cambridge. Mass., where he worked in a hardware store until 1856. In that year he came west and after passing a short time at Minneapolis, settled at Little Falls. Minn., and opened a hardware store. He served as postmaster of the town by appointment from President Lincoln in his first term. The appoint- ment was made in March, 1860, and Mr. Hamilton resigned in the spring of 1864, at which time he started with an overland train to Montana, he leav- ing it, however, to pay a visit to Henry county, Ill .. where, on March 23, 1864, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary A. Fergus, daughter of James Fergus, a well-known western pioneer and a distinguished citizen of Fergus county, which was named in his honor. (Mr. Fergus, of whom ex- tended mention is made in another part of this

Robert Stanely Hamilton

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work, left his family in Minnesota and came to what is now Montana in 1862 with the first of Capt. Fiske's expeditions, locating at Bannack.) Mr. Hamilton and his wife and the rest of the Fergus family joined the western-bound ox train and they crossed the plains on their wedding trip, arriving at Virginia City on August 20, 1864. He at once opened a hardware store and began an active and profitable business, which he conducted until 1870, when he removed to Helena, where he has since been an important factor in the commercial and social life of the city. In 1875 he turned his atten- tion to the stock industry, a business in which he has been continuously engaged since that time, and in which he has been eminently successful. He be- gan by raising cattle and Norman horses and is one of the extensive stockgrowers of the state. It is but just to say that in this branch of industry his success is largely due to the unusual executive abil- ity of his wife, who, from the beginning, has had a partial management of the ranch and its interests, and has exhibited in connection therewith a breadth of view, an enterprise and an indomitable industry sufficient to command success and indica- tive of the highest quality of business capacity. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have four children, Mary A. (Mrs. Frank E. Hawksworth), Robert Emmet. Thomas Moore and R. Stavely, Jr. Mr. Hamilton is a stanch Republican in politics, but has never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of pub- lic office, and in social life is characterized by great modesty. Fraternally he holds membership in the Masonic order.

G USTAF. G. JOHNSON .- Among the pro- gressive and popular farmers in Gallatin valley, whose productiveness is unequaled by that of any section in the state, is the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph and is familiarly known to his many friends as "Gus." Johnson. He is a native of Helmstad, Sweden, where he was boru October 7, 1848, being the son of James Johnson, who was born in the same town. In 1870 he came to America, located in Johnson county, Kan., and engaged in agricultural pursuits; within the follow- ing year he was joined by his wife and their eight children. He remained in Kansas about thirteen years and then removed to Utah, which continued to be his home until his death, which occurred in 1895. He had purchased property in the latter 16

state, had accumulated a not inconsiderable for- tune, and was able to pass the latter years of his life in comparative retirement from active labors or business.

Gustaf G. Johnson attended the public schools in his native land until he had attained the age of sixteen years, assisting his father in his farming pursuits. He came to America with his parents, and aided the family until 1871, followed farming in Kansas until 1874, when he joined the Collins company and made the trip overland to Prescott, Ariz., where he devoted his attention to mining operations and to freighting. He was thus en- gaged for nearly three years, but afterward asso- ciated himself with a German named Philip Schriner, in the purchase of a freighting outfit, with which they made the trip westward to Cali- fornia, passing through Los Angeles and up the Owens river valley to Bodie, where they engaged in freighting to the mines for three years. Having disposed of his interest in the outfit to his partner within the second year, he started a road station, but soon afterward Mr. Schriner was taken ill and Mr. Johnson purchased the freighting outfit and placed his partner in charge of the station, while he continued the freighting business for one season thereafter and then sold out, his partner having died in the meantime. During the time of his holding the freighting contract in Bodie, in 1881, he was associated with Don Cameron, to whom reference is made on another page of this work. Mr. Johnson disposed of his business and equipments in the spring of 1882, and started for Montana in company with Mr. Cameron, arriving in Bozeman in May of that year, their intention being to engage in the raising of live stock, but they finally deciding that they had not sufficient capital to justify the venture they then determined to look up suitable land for farming purposes. They made a tour through Gallatin valley, the re- sult being that Mr. Johnson selected his present location in West Gallatin valley, two miles from the Cameron bridges, or the "benches," as the title is familiarly applied. Here he now has a fine ranch of 640 acres. Within the first summer after taking up his claim Cameron and Johnson made an arrange- ment with Matthew Neible, whose farm was located on the Neible ditch, to enlarge the ditch sufficiently to afford irrigation for their property. Others in the locality became identified with the enterprise, and the work of improving the waterway was completed in six months, the ditch carrying 3,600

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 48

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