Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 81

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 81

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Fisk J. Shaffer attended the public schools until he was fifteen, and then learned the carpenter trade under his father. He later was enabled to again attend school for one year, but his most liberal and broader educaton has been gained by his long years of experience and through well directed reading. At the age of twenty, in 1864,

he started on the long journey from Omaha across the plains by Bridger's route to Idaho City, where he arrived in the fall. While he was in Omaha the first ground was broken for the Union Pacific Railroad, and he was one of the first to throw a shovel of dirt there. He worked in the placer dig- gings of Idaho for a time, and was then em- ployed at his trade in Idaho City, which had been swept by a disastrous fire. In the spring of 1866 he began prospecting on the west side of the main range of the Rockies, from Blackfoot to Nevada creek, traversing the lava beds and pros- pecting all streams and eventually locating in Buf- falo gulch until September, when he came to Hel- ena. Here he has since resided and engaged in contracting and building, meeting with ultimate success. In the early days, however, he had finan- cial misfortunes, which he surmounted, and dem- onstrated the integrity of his character by meet- ing every obligation which had been incidentally incurred, although through no fault of his. His skill as an architect and builder is shown in Hel- ena by the Power, the Atlas, the Weinstein (on Broadway) and the Goodkind blocks. He has erected many. large buildings in various sections of the state. In 1871 he, with Henry Yergy, formed the firm of Shaffer & Yergy, and they engaged in the manufacturing of dressed lumber and of sash, doors, blinds, etc. They brought to this city the second planingmill operated in the state. This partnership continued for a full dec- ade and, after disposing of the milling plant. they were engaged in the hardware trade about a year, and in the meanwhile made investments in land and livestock, which were taken by Mr. Shaffer as his share upon the dissolution of the partnership. He has since disposed of the stock- raising industry, in which he had been duly suc- cessful, together with a ranch of 400 acres. He still owns much valuable realty in Helena, in- cluding several excellent dwellings. He laid out and platted Shaffer's addition to the city. Many of the finest business and residence buildings of Helena were designed and erected by him, and clearly designate his precedence in this profession.

In his political proclivities Mr. Shaffer renders allegiance to the Republican party, while in relig- ious thought he inclines to the Unitarian faith. Fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Amy E. Plummer, step- daughter of C. H. Ellis, whom she accompanied

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to Montana in 1864 and who is well known as an early pioneer of the state. She was born in Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are the parents of three children, Beatrice A., a graduate of the Helena high school and a vocalist of talent. She pursued her musical studies under effective di- rection, including that of Madam Medini, of Hel- ena, and Madam Vincent, of Louisville, Ky. Guy F., also a graduate of the high school, is pre- paring himself to be an architect. Thomas Win- field, a member of the high school class of 1902.

JOSEPH SHINEBERGER .- As the years are gathered into the abyss of time so the surviv- ing pioneers of the west are crossing the "great divide" to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." Thus, for the sake of historical information of an accurate character and that permanent record be made of the vicis- situdes they encountered and the work they per- formed, it must be remembered now is the time when it should be written while they yet remain to relate the thrilling incidents of frontier life. In view of these conditions a work of this nature fulfills a high mission, and in the case at hand it becomes a pleasure to enter a brief resume con- cerning the life and accomplishment of another of the sterling pioneers of Montana, and one who is conspicuously identified with the industrial ac- tivities of the great state of which he may be termed one of the founders and builders. No man in Beaverhead county is better known and enjoys greater confidence and esteem. Joseph Shineberger is a native of Philadelphia, Pa., where he was born on January 5, 1836. His father, Nicholas Shineberger, was born in Germany, but was brought to the United States when a mere child, and as he was reared in an English family he never acquired his native language. He became a manufacturer of soap and candles, having been for a short time a resident of Illinois, but passing the greater portion of his life in Philadelphia, where his death occurred. He married Miss Mary Ann McCrallish, who was born in the "city of brotherly love," where her father operated a soap and candle manufactory, the family being of Revolutionary stock. Of the eight children born to Nicholas and Mary A. Shineberger the subject of this review was the fourth. Joseph Shineberger was equipped with a common school education when he entered the

office of his uncle, who was a commission merchant for an English hardware house in Philadelphia. He here continued to be employed for two years, and took a position as shipping clerk in a shovel factory, eventually learning the business in all its details, even to work at the anvil and furnace. In 1859 he started for the west, the gold excitement in Colorado being the magnet that directed his course toward Pike's Peak. He went to Alton, Ill., by rail, and there joined his brother-in-law, who was outfitting a train for the purpose of establishing a general merchandise store in the new mining dis- trict. Five Murphy wagons and five yoke of oxen to each wagon, with two drivers to each team, com- prised the train. The trip was made by way of Fort Laramie, and no trouble was had with the Indians, though other difficulties incidental to the long journey were not lacking. The fording of the Platte river was attended with no little danger and at the hazard of stock and cattle. The train arrived in Boulder, Colo., in July, 1859, and there the stock of goods was exposed for sale, the establishment being conducted under the firm name of Davidson, Beth & Co. Mr. Shineberger's first occupation was in the way of assisting to put up hay, and he recalls with amusement his ineffective attempts to wield the scythe, his lack of progress resulting in his as- signment to the work of pitching hay, to which he devoted his attention for a fortnight. He then began placer mining on Four Mile creek, and later associated himself with four other men and whip- sawed lumber, with which they constructed sluices, but the placer mines did not yield appreciable re- turns, and he thereafter continued mining in va- rious localities, with varying. success until 1861, when the excitement incidental to the discovery of gold on Blue river led him to join the stampede to that locality, making the trip on foot in company with two companions. They had no slight dif- ficulty by reason of the deep snow which they were compelled to traverse. They engaged in pros- pecting, but finally exhausted their stock of "grub" and money. Mr. Shineberger found it necessary to sharpen the tools used by himself and his party, and approaching another miner in the district who had a set of blacksmith tools, he was assured that he might have the outfit if he would sharpen the im- plements of the men concerned. One man stated that he could make charcoal, and this he did, after which our subject set up a primitive blacksmith- shop and found his services so much in demand that he continued the work, while his partners de-

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voted their attention to prospecting. He accumu- lated quite an amount of money through his labors, but eventually began prospecting, in which line he soon exhausted his available resources, and he was "broke;" he then began working a claim in Cali- fornia gulch in 1862. When winter came on he found himself in a somewhat precarious position, but found employment as a barkeeper, a work with which he was entirely unfamiliar, but which enabled him to secure a "grub stake." He held the position as night barkeeper during the winter, and the fol- lowing spring joined the stampede of gold seekers on the way to New Mexico. He was well equipped when he started on this tour, but he endured many hardships, and met with such poor success that he started on the return trip to Colorado. In company with a large party he made his way to Fort Garland. The trip began in mid-summer, and Mr. Shine- berger recalls the fact that on the 4th and 5th days of July the party traveled without other food than the fish they could catch in the various streams and the wild onions they occasionally found. They crossed the "great American desert," which has been whitened by the bones of many victims and is a veritable Golgotha. Starting in the morning, they could discern timber in the distance, but trav- eled all day without finding water. About ten o'clock the following day they came to a pool, a portion of the company were utterly prostrated from thirst and the effects of the scorching sun. Mr. Shineberger was one of the three who suc- ceeded in reaching the pool. They filled their can- teens and returned to the point where the remain- der of the party had stopped, and the entire com- pany finally moved forward and encamped near the pool. When they reached Fort Garland their aggregate capital was represented in the sum of $5.00, but with the spirit of the true soldier of for- tune they decided to toss the coin to determine whether to expend it for food or tobacco, the re- sult being in favor of the narcotic. Mr. Shine- berger secured provisions and continued his jour- ney to Denver and Golden City. His shoes were worn out, and he was equipped with rawhide moc- casins. When he arrived in the vicinity of Golden City he and his two companions waited all day on the outskirts, and in the early evening Mr. Shine- berger entered the store of his brother-in-law, Leonard Briggs, and was supplied with shoes and clothes. Mr. Breth, a partner in the firm, then asked him if he had had supper, and when a nega- tive reply was given he instructed the three jaded

travelers to go to the hotel and order supper at his expense. They obeyed with alacrity, but ordered for six persons, and, when the landlord inquired for the missing three he was assured that the pres- ent triumvirate were prepared to act as proxy for three extra men, which the appearance of the table finally indicated. In the winter of 1862 Mr. Shine- berger visited his old home in Philadelphia, and the following spring he returned to the west. At St. Joseph, Mo., he met Martin Barrett, of whom mention is made elsewhere, and they started in company for the Salmon river mines in Idaho. They made the trip with horse and mule teams, equipped with one year's provisions, and when their train arrived at Snake river they were in- formed of the gold discoveries at Bannack, Mont., and thereupon determined to deflect their course to that point. Mr. Shineberger arrived in Bannack in July, 1863, and later joined in the stampede to Horse prairie, where Mr. Barrett took up a tract of wild land, while our subject proceeded to the mining district and staked off a claim. As it proved impossible to secure the requisite water for placer work he returned to his partner, informing him of conditions. Mr. Barrett remained on the ranch and Mr. Shineberger then went to the new diggings in Alder gulch, where he worked for wages for a few days, and then bought a claim at German bar which he worked with excellent success, tak- ing his gold dust to his partner for safe keeping. He made some of the trips to the ranch at night, exercising the utmost caution, as holdups were very common during that period. After working his claim for two seasons he purchased five yoke of oxen and a Murphy wagon and engaged in freighting between Salt Lake City and the mining districts of Montana. He still has in his possession the running gear of his wagon. At the time of the stampede to Elk creek, below Deer Lodge, he took a stock of flour to that point and thence transported it on pack animals to Elk creek, where he disposed of the same at a large profit. As he had to wait there for payment from the local mer- chants, he learned that milk was not to be had at any price, and was informed that if some one would furnish same he could secure two dollars per gal- lon. The outcome was that he agreed to secure some cows and to furnish milk for one summer at the rate of one dollar per gallon. He accord- ingly came to the ranch owned by himself and his partner, and there secured some cows, which he took to Elk creek and did a thriving and profitable

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business. At the end of the season he returned to the ranch, and has since been identified with farming and stockgrowing in this section. He was associated with Mr. Barrett for a number of years, when the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent. During the severe winter of 1886-7 he lost cattle to the value of $75,000. He now has a fine ranch property of 15,500 acres, located in the Red Rock valley, his residence adjoining the village of Red Rock. He has about 2,500 head of cattle, but is turning his attention more particularly to the sheep business, in which line he intends to operate upon an extensive scale, having now about 5,000 head. He is one of the representative and progres- sive men of Beaverhead county, and has attained prosperity through his own efforts, gaining the con- fidence and respect of his fellow men. He is a stock- holder in the Dillon State Bank, and has other in- terests. In politics Mr. Shineberger gives his sup- port to the Democratic party, but has ever refused to become a candidate for any position. Fraternally he is identified with the time-honored order of Free and Accepted Masons, having been one of the foun- ders and charter members of Bannack Lodge. among the first organized in the state. He has never married, but cared for his mother and sister with utmost devotion until the former was sum- moned into eternal rest, while his sister. Maggie. is now the wife of William Roe, of Dillon.

L OUIS P. SICHLER is a man of distinct in- dividuality and has shown marked executive ability. Just in the prime of his early manhood, the success he has attained is not only greatly to his credit, but a brief review of his career should serve as an incentive to others and be read with pleasure by his numerous friends.

Louis P. Sichler was born in Sherifdan county. Mo., June 7, 1869, being one of the two children born to Philip and Louisa ( Becker ) Sichler, natives of Germany. The father of our subject came to America in the early 'fifties, having been an offi- cer in the German army, and wounded while in active service. After coming to the United States lic located in the city of St. Louis, Mo., and at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion he tendered his services in support of the Union cause, but owing to his wounds was unable to pass the required physical examination and was rejected. He made St. Louis his home for many years, was

engaged in the stock commission business and a representative member of the stock exchange. Eventually he removed from that city to Moberly, Randolph county, Mo., where he made large in- vestments in real estate, owning the local opera house and other valuable city realty. In 1880 he made a business trip to Los Angeles, Cal., where he invested heavily in real estate and ad- vanced about $60,000 for the promotion and main- tenance of a distillery at Santa Ana. At the time of the financial panic in that section he was com- pelled to take this property, and met with heavy losses. He made California his home for several years, eventually removed to Chicago, where he remained for some time, meanwhile his family going to Red Lodge, Mont., where he joined them and passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in February, 1895. His widow is now living at Spokane, Wash.

Louis P. Sichler received his early education in the public schools of St. Louis and Leavenworth, Kan., and completed a two-years' course at the Christian Brothers' College, at Marysville, that state. After leaving school Mr. Sichler passed two years in a wholesale house in St. Louis, also in Kansas, thus gaining a practical knowledge of business methods. In 1884 he located in Glen- ullin, N. D., and engaged in the raising of live stock until 1891. He took an active part in sup- pressing the uprising of the Sioux Indians, ten- dering his services as scout to Capt. Dunn, at Fort Yates. Though matters assumed a very serious aspect at times, there was no actual con- flict with the Indians during his time of service. In 1891 Mr. Sichler came to Montana and located at Red Lodge and engaged in conducting a gen- eral store. In 1894 he accepted the office of under- sheriff, and during his incumbency many incidents occurred in bringing malefactors to justice. In 1893 he followed the White brothers and a man named Moore, who had stolen a band of horses from a point near Absarokee. To escape they crossed the Crow Indian reservation and reached a point near Sentinel Butte, in the Bad Lands. Mr. Sichler, having William Ramsey, of Billings, and Jefferson Barbour, of Medora, as deputies, followed their trail for thirty days, succeeded in capturing the thieves and taking them to Billings, where they were held until trial, one of the number be- ing sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of four years and the other two for seven years each. While confined in the jail at Billings their friends

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held up the jailer in broad daylight, attempting to free them. They were intercepted by the of- ficers and a running fight was kept up for several miles. The leader of the party was afterward arrested in Helena and received a four years' sentence. Mr. Sichler received reward for this capture, and his record in the office of under sheriff was highly creditable. When Carbon coun- ty was created Mr. Sichler resigned his position, returned to Red Lodge, and took up a tract of land on Clark's fork, where he erected a fine ranch residence and other buildings, making the place one of the best equipped in this section of the state. Here he was extensively engaged in the raising of cattle and horses until the fall of 1900, when he removed to Red Lodge to afford his children better educational advantages. He has one of the finest homes in the city and is the owner of other valuable realty in Red Lodge. where values are rapidly appreciating.

For a number of years Mr. Sichler has been in- terested in placer mining properties on upper Clark's fork, and in 1894 disposed of a portion of his holdings to United States Senator Diet- rich and a Mr. Holdridge, general manager of the B. & M. Company, who later erected a dredge and worked the property. meeting with meagre success. Our subject still has large holdings in that section and has made trips to the financial centers of the east in the interests of the property and hopes to push its development in the near future, believing the prospects to be exceptionally promising. Upon locating in Red Lodge Mr. Sichler engaged in the real estate and insurance business, establishing a general brokerage office and has already built up a very successful business, his operations being of wide scope and import- ance. He is thoroughly public spirited in his at- titude and is known as one of the progressive business men and sterling citizens of the county. In politics he pays allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally is identified with the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World.

On the 17th of February, 1889. Mr. Sichler was united in marriage to Miss Anna Peopel, who was born in Germany, being the daughter of Andrew Peopel, who is now a resident of Rich- mond, Va., having a fine plantation four miles distant from that city. Mr. and Mrs. Sichler have three children: Walter. Fannie and Earnest.

A J. SHORES .- Lawyer residing in Butte. Born on June 26, 1853, in Logan county, Ill., where parents still live. Admitted to the bar in 1878 in Minneapolis, Minn. Practiced in Minne- apolis until 1891, when he removed to Great Falls, becoming counsel for Great Northern Railway Company for this state. Remained in the ser- vice of that company until December, 1900, when he removed to Butte, where he is now employed as one of the attorneys for the Anaconda Company.

DETER J. SHEERAN, M. D., is a native of far-distant Vermont, having been born there in Essex, Chittenden county, on July 13, 1868, the son of John and Helen (Finney) Sheeran, natives respectively of Ireland and Scotland, who came with their parents to America when mere chil- dren. Both were reared and educated in the Green Mountain state, where their marriage was solemnized, and where they still make their home after useful lives passed as typical New England farmers. Peter Joseph Sheeran was reared amid the invigorating influences of the Vermont home- stead farm. His early scholastic training was re- ceived in the public schools and the high school at Essex, where he was graduated with the class of 1886, being eighteen years of age. Thereafter he matriculated in St. Joseph's College, at Burl- ington, Vt., where he continued his literary studies and then entered the medical department of the University of Vermont, also located in Burlington, and was therefrom graduated in the class of 1894, he simultaneously obtaining the degree of Doc- tor of Medicine.

Dr. Sheeran decided to cast in his lot with the medical practitioners of the new and progressive state of Montana and hither came in the same year which marked his graduation, and for two years served as attending physician at the state insane asylum at Warm Springs, Deer Lodge county, and then he located in Butte, where he has since been successfully engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery. Soon after his arrival in Butte the Doctor was appointed county physician of Silver Bow county, and of this office he has been incumbent for more than three years, giving careful and discriminating ser- vice in this position of responsibility and trust. In May, 1901, he was appointed secretary of the county board of health, and in both of these con-

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nections he maintains a lively interest in ad- vancing proper sanitation and in otherwise safe- guarding the public health and welfare.

He is an active member of the Rocky Mountain Inter-State Medical Association, the Montana State Medical Association and the Silver Bow County Medical Society. In politics the Doctor maintains an independent attitude, using his fran- chise in support of men and measures, instead of following partisan lines. On July 17, 1896, Dr. Sheeran was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Matthews, born in Michigan, the daughter of John Matthews, who has been for a number of years a resident of Butte. Dr. and Mrs. Sheeran have a sturdy little son, Frank Ronald, born on April 14, 1898.

H ON. JOHN W. BLAIR .- The heroes of today are those who have aided in transforming the once desolate wilderness into fruitful fields and have made the desert plains to blossom as the rose; and conspicuous among their number in Montana is the Hon. John W. Blair, of Helmville, Powell county, born in Ohio in 1842, the son of Thomas and Mary (Saylor) Blair. The father, a native of Ohio, is still living at Seneca in that state at the venerable age of eighty years. His paternal grand- father was of Scottish lineage, born in the north of Ireland. Mrs. Mary (Saylor) Blair, who died in 1863, was born in Ohio of Virginia ancestry, her father being Samuel Saylor, and one of the heirs of the famous Ball estate of Virginia, which holds title to large blocks of valuable realty in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. The Ball family were very close of kin to Martha Washington.

John W. Blair received a good common school education, and, fond of adventure, at the age of twenty-one became one of a party of 300 making the trip across the plains with mule teams to Alder gulch, Mont. At one time a week passed in which they had nothing to drink but alkali water. At Virginia City, where he arrived in July, 1864, he found the usual activity of a full-fledged mining camp, with wealth on every hand, wealth in yellow gold and wealth in the goods bartered for the gleaming metal. Mr. Blair remained there during the summer and passed the winter in Utah. In the spring he went to Last Chance gulch, and there sojourned until 1872. In that year he came to Helmville, then in Deer Lodge county, and lo-

cated a ranch two miles from that place. In 1893 he erected thereon a handsome two-story residence which, with the numerous substantial and com- modious barns and other buildings, presents an im- posing and attractive appearance. Since his first occupancy this property has increased in area and value until Mr. Blair now has 22,000 acres of excel- lent land. He is the largest individual taxpayer in Powell county, and his ranch is one of the largest owned by any person in the state. While he con- ducts an extensive ranch business, everything is made subservient to the interests of the live-stock industry, of which he makes a specialty. He has about 100 full-blooded shorthorn cattle which he keeps exclusively for breeding. He also has a fine band of sheep of superior breed.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 81

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