Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 83

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 83

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Mr. A. L. Smith was born in Red Wing, Minn., in 1860, and was reared and educated in that state. On the completion of his school days he entered the Citizens Bank, of Northfield, Minn .. as teller. Here he remained four years, acquiring a com- mercial experience that was of inestimable ad- vantage to him in after life. In 1883 he came to Glendive, and organized the Merchants' Bank, of that town, where he continued as cashier for six years, H. F. Douglas being the president for years, although residing at Fort Yates. Mr. Smith came to Helena in January, 1893, as

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assistant cashier of the Montana 'National Bank, and was made its president in 1897. He is also treasurer of the Iron Mountain Company. He is not a member of any fraternal society, but is president of the Montana Club, and has served two terms (six years) as chairman of its executive committee. His family came from Massachu- setts and New York, removing to Minnesota where his father was a pioneer, in 1852. His father still resides in Red Wing, engaged in merchan- dising. Mr. Smith has achieved a high reputa- tion in financial circles in the northwest, and is a man of great executive ability, of superior business qualifications and most pleasing social qualities.

F "RANK W. SMITH .- Born and reared amid the picturesque scenes and historic associations of the upper Susquehanna, and beginning the active duties of business life there, Frank W. Smith is now far from the home of his youth, but with the taste acquired there has selected for his residence in the far northwest a location in one of the most beautiful and picturesque sections of Montana. His life began at Towanda, Pa., April 15, 1858. His father, E. H. Smith, was born at Olean, N. Y., an unusually beautiful little inland city on the Al- leghany, and passed his mature life at Towanda in business as a very successful banker. The mother of Frank W. Smith, Mrs. Olean ( Martin) Smith, also a native of New York, is still living at Towanda. Mr. Smith received a thorough and liberal education at the public schools at Towanda, the Episcopal Institute at Burlington, Vt., and Swarthmore College near Philadelphia. After leav- ing school in 1876 he was six years in the shoe business at Towanda. But the wide and promising west seemed full of opportunity, and in 1883 he came to Wibaux, then Keith, in Montana, and lo- cated on the ranch which he now occupies, about twenty miles south of the prosperous little town of Wibaux, on Beaver creek, in a region surpassingly beautiful and inviting, his home ranch being known as Edge Hill.

Mr. Smith brought the first band of stock sheep imported into eastern Montana, trailing them through from California in 1883 and for many years he was one of the most extensive and suc- cessful sheep raisers in the state. A few years later he engaged in breeding high grade horses and cattle, the horses especially being stan-

dard bred and a credit to the state. His cattle are registered Galloways and his sheep high grade Rambouillets. In his ranch home and its products Mr. Smith takes great pride, and has spared no expense in making the establishment as complete and beautiful as possible. The barns, sheds, cor- rals, and other appliances for the farming and stock enterprises lack nothing that science has dis- covered or skill has fashioned for their purposes. And the residence is a triumph of architectural beauty, artistic adornment, convenient arrangement and complete equipment. Up to 1898 our subject gave his personal attention to his extensive stock business; but since then he has been interested with Pierre Wibaux and others in the now famous Uncle Sam mine in the Black Hills, which yields a free milling gold quartz. It was purchased and a new company, the Clover Leaf Gold Mining Company, was organized to work it in 1889. Mr. Smith is the first vice-president of the corporation and one of the principal owners of the property and franchises. They have a sixty-stamp mill in opera- tion, and the product is very satisfactory and seem- ingly inexhaustible.

Mr. Smith takes an active part in politics as a Republican, at all times deeply interested in the welfare of his party, but seeking none of its of- fice favors for himself. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order in lodge, chapter and com- mandery, holding membership in the various bodies at Towanda, Pa., his old home. He was married in August, 1888, at Detroit, Mich., to Miss Mary Edson, a native of that city. They have three children : Edson, aged 12; Marie, aged 10; and Ward, aged 9. It would be difficult to overestimate the good influence which this upright, enterprising, progressive and broad-minded citizen has exercised in his community and throughout the state. For many years he has been a potential force in business, politics, and educational, moral and social move- ments. Everything he has touched has felt the im- press of his quickening hand, which has never been raised to stop or stay anything that would contribute to the advancement or improvement of his fellows, and among them he is held in the highest esteem and most cordial regard.

JOSEPH SMITH II .- Among those prominent- J ly identified with the newspaper press of Mon- tana is Mr. Smith II, editor and publisher of the Madisonian, issued weekly at Virginia City, Madi-

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son county, and one of the pioneer papers of the state, dating back to 1869. Mr. Smith II is a son of the old Empire state, having been born at Hammond, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., on January 8, 1864. His father, William Smith, was born in Montreal, Canada, the son of William Smith, Sr., who was a native of Edinburgh, Scot- land, whence he emigrated to Canada about 1839. He took up his residence in New York in the early 'forties, and there devoted his attention to his trade of a carpenter and builder, and also en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. His family accompanied him upon his removals, and in the public schools of New York his son, William, received his educational discipline. He learned the carpenter's trade under his father and thereafter followed contracting and building. William Smith, Jr., was twice married, Joseph Smith II being the only child of the first mar- riage. His mother's name was Margaret Wilson, and she was born in Scotland, whence she ac- companied her parents to the United States.

Joseph Smith II effectively supplemented his preliminary educational training by completing a thorough course in the state normal school at Pottsdam, N. Y., entering that institution in 1882 and graduating therefrom in the class of 1888. Mr. Smith was dependent upon his own resources in defraying his expenses at the normal school, and while a student engaged in pedagogic work to secure the funds with which to continue his course. After graduating he continued to teach in the public schools of New York state and was principal of the schools at Prospect, Oneida county, for two years, after which, in 1890, he came to Montana, locating in Helena, where he remained one year, during which time he was in the real estate business. He next located at Beaver- head county, was engaged in mining for four and one-half years, and later was in the same line of enterprise in Madison county for eighteen months.

On January 1, 1899, Mr. Smith II became iden- tified with the "art preservative of all arts," pur- chasing the Madisonian, at Virginia City, of which he has since been proprietor and editor. The paper was founded in 1869, when Virginia City was still a bustling mining camp and thus figures as one of the oldest newspapers in the state. The original plant was brought in on the backs of mules, and a portion of that equipment is still in the office. The Madisonian is Democratic in

politics, is issued on Thursday of each week, is an able exponent of local interests and of the cause of the party whose principles and policies it advocates. Mr. Smith II is a writer of force and literary taste, and under his management the ven- erable paper has been distinctly rejuvenated. Mr. Smith II has been an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and while a resident of Beaverhead county was nominated by his party for clerk of the district court. In 1899 he was elected school trustee of Virginia City, and is now chairman of the board. He takes a lively in- terest in all that touches the material prosperity and normal advancement of his town, county and state, and is known as a progressive young busi- ness man, one well worthy of the esteem so uni- formly accorded him. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is identified with Montana Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M., at Virginia City.

H ENRY C. SMITH .- On the roster of Mon- tana's able jurists and legists is found the name of Judge Henry C. Smith, who is now exercising im- portant judicial functions as district judge of the First judicial district of the state. Advancement in the learned professions comes only through individual ability and effort, and the intellectual vigor, analytical power and dialectic potentiality of Judge Smith have gained him a leading place at the bar of Montana, though he is still a young man. Judge Smith is a native of Fond du Lac county, Wis., where he was born on August 3, 1862, the son of Lucian S. and Mary J. (Cooper) Smith, the former of whom was a mechanical engineer and for many years employed by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company in Wisconsin, to which state he removed in 1854, from Royalton, Vt. His death occurred at Milton Junction, Wis., in January, 1897. He was a son of William Smith, of Royalton, Vt., a tanner in that state, where he died leaving three sons, only one of whom is now living. The mother of Judge Smith died in 1888. She was the daughter of John Cooper, of Stafford, N. Y., whence he removed to Wisconsin, where his death occurred. Of the children of Lucian S. and Mary Smith the two surviving are Judge Henry C. and George P., of Dubuque, Iowa.

After an excellent preliminary education in the

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public schools of Oshkosh, Wis., at the age of eighteen years Henry C. Smith entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany. He retained this incumbency three years, but his ambition was to enter the legal profession. Accordingly he entered the law office of Judge John W. Sale, of Janesville, where he continued techni- cal reading until 1885, when he was admitted to the bar of the state upon examination before the circuit court. He entered upon active legal prac- tice in Janesville, Wis., and was for three months associated with Judge B. F. Dunwiddie, later enter- ing into a partnership with O. H. Feathers and M. G. Jeffries, the former being one of the United States commissioners to the Paris exposition of 1900. This association continued until July, 1888, when Mr. Smith consummated a professional al- liance with Henry Scott Sloan, son of Hon. I. C. Sloan, dean of the law school of the University of Wisconsin and a member of congress during the administration of President Lincoln. The partners came to Montana the same year, located in Helena, where they were associated in practice until July, 1889, and subsequently Mr. Smith was associated in practice with Thomas F. Casey, under the firm title of Casey & Smith, which obtained until July 4, 1890, the date of the death of Mr. Casey. Judge Smith then continued practice alone, retaining a representative clientage, until he was elected to his present position as judge of the First judicial district of Montana, in November, 1896.

Judge Smith has served on the bench with signal ability and his decisions show a full embodiment of the law applicable to the litigated points, being entirely free from judicial bias. The Judge has ever been a stalwart supporter of the Republican party and he is a deep student of the issues of the day and ever ready to defend his conviction. He has been an active and effective worker in the "grand old party," and for two terms each served as chairman of the Republican central committee of the county and that of the city of Helena. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Highlanders and the Modern Woodmen of America. As one of the distinguished members of the Montana bar and as a representative citizen of Helena, Judge Smith has won the esteem of a wide circle of friends in the capital city and through- out the state. On August 21, 1889, Judge Smith was united in marriage to Miss Frances Woodruff,

of Janesville, Wis., and they are the parents of three sons and one daughter, Parkhurst W., Henry C., Jr., Howard L. and Marion S., who died on March 24, 1901.

D AVID G. BROWNE .- Everywhere in our land are found men who have worked their own way from humble beginnings to leadership in official life, in commerce, in the great productive industries, the management of financial affairs and the control of the veins and arteries of traffic and exchange in the country. Prominent among the self-made men of Montana is David G. Browne, a man honored, respected and esteemed wherever known, and most of all where he is best known. It is a "far cry" from driver of a mule team to col- lector of customs for a district comprising two sovereign commonwealths, and yet between the two positions lies an epoch in the enviable career of Mr. Browne, one of the leading "progressive men" of Montana. He was born near Belfast, Ireland, on January 16, 1859. He early had train- ing in the public schools, but when a mere lad assumed personal responsibilities in the active duties of life. Self-reliance was thus quickened, and this has been reinforced by definite purpose, unwavering integrity, an alert mentality and a de- termination to win a success worthy the name, an equipment whose sterling values are not to be gain- said. At the age of seventeen years Mr. Browne emigrated to America, setting forth courageously to make his fortune in a strange Iand by energy and determinate effort. After residing about a year in the eastern states, coming to Utah, he se- cured employment with the Wells-Fargo Express Company's stage line at Kelton. After about one year he resigned the position to accept the more profitable occupation of driver of a twelve-mule freighting outfit, which transported goods and supplies from Corinne, Utah, to various places in Montana and Idaho. By effort and good manage- ment he was soon enabled to save sufficient money to purchase a team and equipment, and in freight- ing with this outfit he came to Fort Benton, Mont., in 1879. He was successful in his freighting en- terprise from the time of its inception, and before two years had passed he was operating four twelve- mule outfits of his own and hauling a large, im- portant business. He held contracts for nearly all the government military posts in Montana, Wyo-

Engây, Ernan?

David & Browne

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ming and Nebraska, and had special contracts for furnishing forage for the various forts, the rami- fications of his business being far-reaching and demanding the supervision of a keen executive.

In 1881 Mr. Browne became general manager for W. S. Wetzel & Co., of Fort Benton, who were then doing an extensive business in various lines, holding government contracts, conducting merchandising enterprises, having the agency for the Coulson line of steamboats, consisting of eight steamers, etc. He was in tenure of this position for about three years, still continuing individual freighting and contracting and making other in- vestments as opportunity presented. Later he turned his attention more particularly to the gov- ernment contracting, and he took and completed some of the largest and most important contracts let by the Federal authorities in this section of the Union. He also became largely interested in the cattle industry in Choteau county, and with this important branch of enterprise he has ever since been prominently concerned, having investments of wide scope and importance. The success which has attended his efforts has been due to his pro- gressive methods, his prescience and his marked capacity in an executive way, and in his personal supervision of all enterprises in which he has been interested.

Mr. Browne has been an active and influential factor in political affairs, and for many years he has been the recognized leader of the Democratic party in Choteau county, doing much to advance the party cause in the territory and later in the state. In 1884 he was a member of the board of aldermen of the city of Fort Benton; from 1887 to 1889, both inclusive, he held the responsible office of county commissioner of Choteau county ; he had also the distinction of being a member of the con- stitutional convention of 1889, which framed the present constitution of the state, that under which Montana was admitted to the Union. In this con- vention he was chairman of the committee on towns and counties as well as a member of several other important committees, and was otherwise active in the work of the assembly. He was an alternate delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1892 at Chicago, when Cleveland received his second nomination for the presidency, and he has served for sixteen years as a member of the Demo- cratic central committee of Montana, under territo- rial and state organization and is treasurer of the state Democratic committee, and a member of the

executive committee at the present time. For eight years he was incumbent of the office of chairman of the Democratic central committee of Choteau county.

Mr. Browne has been prominent in the business and industrial life of Choteau county, and he was secretary of the Fort Benton board of trade for fifteen years and one of the founders of the Stock- men's National Bank, of Fort Benton, and is now one of its leading stockholders and a member of its directorate. Mr. Browne had the distinction of being a member of the board of commissioners of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, and was elected treasurer of the Montana board of commissioners, doing most effective service in securing for the state its proper representation in the great exposition. On April 26, 1893, Presi- dent Cleveland appointed Mr. Browne to the re- sponsible and important office of collector of customs for the district comprising Montana and Idaho, the port of entry being then at Fort Benton. This was, in 1896, changed to Great Falls, when Mr. Browne took up his residence in that city re- maining there until July, 1901, when he again returned to Fort Benton. The same attributes which have been factors in his business success were brought to bear in the discharge of his official duties, and his regime was one which met with uniform endorsement, making his administration a marked credit to his ability and judgment and con- serving the best interests of the affairs under his jurisdiction. Mr. Browne continued to hold this office until July, 1901, more than eight years, serv- ing through President McKinley's entire first ad- ministration, after which he was succeeded by C. M. Webster. He is now giving his attention to his private affairs, and his acumen and energy are certain to make his career one of cumulative suc- cess. He is known as a thorough business man and courteous gentleman, and his genial personality has gained for him a host of friends in the state where he has lived and labored to such goodly ends.

HON. ROBERT B. SMITH .- In this work, whose purport is to leave a perpetual record of the lives and deeds of the progressive men of Montana, it is imperative that particular at- · tention be directed to Hon. Robert B. Smith, one of the distinguished members of the bar, and one upon whom has been conferred the highest honor

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in the gift of the people, that of presiding over its destinies as the governor of the state. Mr. Smith retired from this position in 1901, having given an administration which redounded to his credit and which passed into the annals of Mon- tana as one of the most thorough and discrim- inating ever recorded.

Robert B. Smith was born in Hickman county, Ky., on December 29, 1854, the son of Dewitt C. and Eliza (Hughes) Smith. His paternal grand- father was Eli Smith, who was born in New York, and removed to Kentucky in an early day, there engaging in agriculture until the close of his long and useful life. On the Kentucky homestead was born on November 5, 1832, Dewitt Clinton Smith, the father of the Governor, and he passed his entire life in Kentucky, dying in February, 1899, at his home in Graves county. His wife is still living, and she was a native of Kentucky, born in 1836, the daughter of Lewis Hughes. Her father was one of the first five men to set- tle in Ohio in 1789, from which state he removed to Kentucky, and passed his later years. Robert B. Smith was the eldest of nine children, and is one of three now in Montana, his brother, Joseph C., being a resident of Dillon, and his sister, Mrs. Emma Porter, having her home in Missoula. In the public schools of Kentucky Mr. Smith re- ceived his early education, later completing an academic course at Milburn, Carlisle county. He had in the meanwhile given clear definition to plans for his future life work, and went to May- field, Ky., where he began his technical reading of law in the office of Col. Edward Crossland, an eminent barrister. He proved a close and re- ceptive student, and secured admission to the bar of Kentucky at Mayfield in 1877, continuing there in legal practice for over three years. In 1882 Mr. Smith came to Dillon, Mont., where he en- tered upon an active practice, quickly gaining distinctive precedence and there continuing until 1889, when he came to Helena and formed a partnership with Hon. Samuel Word, whose son, Robert Lee Word, was later admitted to the firm. Samuel Word retired in 1892, and Mr. Smith was then associated with R. L. Word until each of the three original members of this well known firm assumed official positions. Hon. Sam- ttel Word went to Cape Nome, Alaska, his son was appointed by Gov. Smith a justice of the supreme court, while Mr. Smith became governor of Montana.

His official duties over, Gov. Smith resumed his profession at Butte and his fine talents and effective efforts have given him a reputation as one of the most distinguished representatives of the Montana bar. Released from the exacting duties of office, he is now concerned in much of the leading legal business in the state and fed- eral courts. As a Democrat Mr. Smith has been conspicuous in campaigns in the state, and long regarded as one of the wheelhorses of the party in Montana. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1884, and, in 1885, under the ad- ministration of President Cleveland, he was ap- pointed United States district attorney for Mon- tana, resigning the office on March 4, 1889, as he did not care to retain the office under the ad- ministration of a party with whose principles he was not in sympathy. In 1894 he was the unsuc- cessful nominee of the People's party for mem- ber of congress. In 1890 he was city attorney of Helena. In November, 1896, he was elected gov- ernor of Montana on the Democratic ticket, and to his distinguished gubernatorial services refer- ence has already been made. Fraternally Mr. Smith is identified with the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Order of Pyra- mids, while professionally he holds membership in the Montana Bar Association. On April 9, 1878, Gov. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Crossland, who was born in Kentucky, the daughter of Col. Edward Crossland, the able preceptor of the Governor's law studies. Two children, Mary H. and Edward C., grace their home.

C HARLES SPEAR .- One of the enterprising and successful young business men of Yellow- stone county is Charles Spear, and his practical experience has been gained entirely in Montana, of which state he has been a resident from his fifteenth year. He is now cashier of Billings State Bank, and a representative citizen of the county. He is a native of Atchison county, Mo., born on May 15, 1860, the son of Willis and Jane (Fer -. guson) Spear, both of whom reside in Billings, the father having been for many years an agri- culturist in Missouri and Montana. He is the son of John Spear. a prominent farmer of Missouri, where his death occurred. After attending the pub- lic schools of his native county until 1875, Charles Spear came with his parents to Montana, where

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the family located on a ranch on Flint creek, near Phillipsburg, Granite county, where the father en- gaged in farming and stockraising, receiving as- sistance from his son. In 1877 Charles entered the public school at Deer Lodge, and thereafter went to school alternate years until 1882, the last year being spent in the college at that place, he working on the ranch during va- cations and when not busied with his studies. In 1882 he located at Junction, Yellowstone coun- ty, where he was employed in the mercantile house of Paul McCormick, continuing to be thus en- gaged until the spring of 1890, when he formed a grocery partnership with W. H. Donovan in Billings. In February, 1900, Mr. Spear sold out to the Donovan-McCormick Company. He was then engaged in the insurance business, in part- nership with Henry White, until January 1, 1902, when he sold his interest to Mr. White and organ- ized the Billings State Bank. In his political pro- clivities Mr. Spear is Republican, an active worker in the party. In 1889 he was elected one of the county commissioners of Yellowstone county, and in 1900 he was appointed county assessor, to fill the unexpired term of Richard C. Wells. His fra- ternal relations are with Ashlar Lodge No. 29, A. F. & A. M .; Billings Chapter No. 6, R. A. M., and Aldemar Commandery No. 5, K. T., and he is now eminent commander of the chivalric body last mentioned. He is also a noble of Al- geria Temple of the Mystic Shrine, while he is also a member of the United Workmen.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 83

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