Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 88

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 88

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Thornton Street has reason to revert with pride to his ancestral record, and the data is suf- ficient to justify him. He is a native of Wapello county, Iowa, born March 21, 1848, a son of Joseph H. D. and Emily (Burnett) Street, natives of Kentucky; thence the former accompanied his father on his removal to Illinois and later to Wis- consin, eventually locating in Iowa for a number of years. His earlier manhood was devoted to agri- cultural pursuits ; completed his literary education in Jacksonville College, Ill., became prominent in connection with political affairs in Iowa, having established a pioneer Whig newspaper at Ottumwa, and continued its publication for some time, sup- porting Gen. Taylor for the presidency. Under the regime of Gen. Taylor Mr. Street was receiver of the United States land office at Council Bluffs. The father of our subject came to Montana in 1865. He practiced law in Bozeman and Gallatin City and served for several years as probate judge of Gallatin county, where his death occurred in 1873, his wife having passed away in Gallatin county, in 1867.

Thornton Street was reared and educated in Iowa, and in 1864 started for Virginia City, Mont., in company with his brother Thomas P., now a resi- dent of Missoula. They came overland with a train whose captain was John T. Clayton and Eugene Munn its wagon-master. They drove mule teams, arriving in Virginia City June 20, 1864. Mr. Street remained there a short time, and then went to Summit, Madison county, and engaged in prospect- ing and mining about one year, meeting with fair success. He was in Virginia City during the memorable flour riot of 1864-5, but was not an active participant in the same. In the meantime our subject's father had arrived in Gallatin valley, accompanied by another son, Theodore L., now engaged in farming on property owned by our subject. The father located in Gallatin valley in 1865, and upon joining him in that section our subject purchased a ranch, and there devoted his

attention to farming and stockraising until 1888, when they sold their property and effected the pur- chase of the W. O. P. Hays place, located on East Gallatin river, five miles north of Belgrade, Mr. Street's postoffice address. This ranch of 300 acres has continued to be the home and base of opera- tions for Mr. Street. It is divided into nearly equal parts by the East Gallatin, and more than half the tract is under irrigation. The ranch is devoted principally to the raising of hay and oats, is well improved and shows the evidence of careful man- agement. Mr. Street has been very successful in his farming operations, and is honored as one of the enterprising and reliable men of this commu- nity, ordering his life upon a high plane of integrity and ever seeking to do good to his fellow men. He is an elder of the Presbyterian church on West Gallatin river, and is an active and devoted worker in the cause of the Master. In his political alle- giance Mr. Street gives an unwavering support to the principles and policies of the Prohibition party.

JAMES W. CARTER .- In a history of the J prominent and influential citizens of Choteau county, Mr. Carter is certainly deserving of men- tion; his well directed efforts, his ability, his loyalty to duty and his fidelity having gained him the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. Mr. Carter is recognized as one of the extensive and representative stockgrowers of this section of the state who employ advanced methods in conducting enterprises that largely promote the industrial progress and material prosperity of the county.

Mr. Carter is a native of the province of Nova Scotia, having been born at Truro, Colchester county, on December 20, 1847, of stanch old English lineage. His father, George Carter, was born in England, in the year 1816, and when about twenty-five years of age immigrated to America, locating in Nova Scotia, where he continued to re- side until 1883, when he came to Montana, locat- ing on a ranch on Wolf creek, in Lewis and Clarke- county. He devoted his entire active life to agri- cultural pursuits, but is now retired and is passing the evening of life in that repose which is the just reward of years of earnest industry and ap- plication. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Kisselpaugh, was born in Nova Scotia, in 1823. and she and her venerable husband now make their home at Wolf Creek, honored and esteemed by all.

A.M. Carter

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who know them. In the public schools of his native town James W. Carter received excellent educa- tional advantages continuing his studies until he had attained the age of about twenty years, in the meanwhile assisting in the work of the homestead farm. After leaving school he continued to be iden- tified with agricultural pursuits for a time and then engaged in the general merchandising business at West Branch, Nova Scotia, successfully following this line of enterprise for seven years. In 1879 he came to Montana, locating at Wolf creek, Lewis and Clarke county, where he conducted the Wolf creek hotel and also operated a stock ranch for a period of nearly fifteen years. In 1893 Mr. Carter came to Choteau county and located his present ranch, on Little Sandy creek, five miles south of the station on the Great Northern Railroad. Here he now has a fine property, his landed estate comprising 3,000 acres, in addition to which he leases other lands, and utilizes ranches which are owned by his children, the whole constituting a princely domain in one of the most favored sections of the great state of Mon- tana, and being eligibly located between the Little Sandy creek and the Missouri river. The property is highly improved with excellent buildings, fences, irrigating ditches, etc., and is one of the most valu- able and attractive ranch properties in the county. The system of irrigation is a particularly effective one, deriving its supply of water from three large reservoirs, fed from the Little Sandy creek. The largest of the reservoirs covers a tract of 500 acres, while the other two have respective areas of 134 and seventy-four acres. Mr. Carter is here engaged in raising cattle upon an extensive scale, his herds running an average of from 1,200 to 2,000 head of high-grade stock, while in conducting the work of the ranch forty horses are utilized, and a small army of men, who are retained throughout the entire year. Much of the land is available for cultivation and is exceptionally fertile and prolific, yielding large crops of hay, grain and garden products.

Mr. Carter is a man of strong mentality and marked independence in thought and action, pro- gressive and public spirited in attitude and ever ready to lend his aid and influence in behalf of all worthy causes and projects which tend to progress the advancement of the county and state ; while, as . a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, he takes an active interest in political affairs, being one of the prominent rep- resentatives of his party in this section. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd

Fellows, being a charter member of Dearborn Lodge No. 22, at Dearborn, Lewis and Clarke county, which was organized in 1883. On April 17, 1870, in his native town of Truro, Nova Scotia, Mr. Carter was united in marriage to Miss Letitia Ann Porter, who was born at New Annan in that pro- vince, March 31, 1852. They are the parents of six sons and one daughter, namely: George W., who was married at Boise, Idaho, November 25, 1900, to Miss Lodema Bates; and Stewart, Peter C., Lennie May, Floyd Leslie, Chester Arthur and James Lester, all of whom still remain at the par- ental home. The family occupy a prominent place in the social life of the community, and their spa- cious and attractive home is a center of gracious and unreserved hospitality.

W ILLIAM STUEWE, superintendent of the Lewis and Clarke County Hospital, is a resi- dent of Helena. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., April 14, 1853. His parents were Frederick K. and Gertrude (Dierker) Stuewe, natives of Mis- souri and Virginia, respectively. The father was a retired capitalist, in early life a brickmaker and florist, and he died in St. Louis, as did the mother. William Stuewe, the subject of this sketch, re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Missouri and graduated from the St. Louis Uni- versity in 1866. He was a youth of studious hab- its, with a strong predilection for scientific investi- gation, but for a period following his graduation it appeared as if he would be deflected into a mer- cantile career, as he engaged in the grocery busi- ness in 1872 and continued therein for two years. He then moved to Callaway county, Mo., became connected with the Insane Hospital and remained® there four years. He then went to Leadville, Colo., where he was engaged in mining until 1880, meeting with considerable success. From Leadville he re- moved to New Mexico, and was employed by the Sante Fe Railroad Company in prospecting for coal, operating some mines there in 1884. The advent of Supt. Stuewe into Montana was by way of Bozeman, he arriving there in September, 1885, but remaining only a short period, going thence to Hunter's Hot Springs. Two years thereafter, in March, 1887, he came to Helena and in December assumed charge of the County Hospital. Under his efficient direction the institution has been greatly improved, two new wings having been added to the building at a cost of $18,000.

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Politically the affiliations of Supt. Stuewe are with the Democratic party, in the ranks of which he is a most active and influential worker. He is rec- ognized as one of the party leaders, and manifests a lively interest in all matters of party manage- ment. During his residence in New Mexico Mr. Stuewe was elected to the territorial senate, and also served for a time as under sheriff. In 1884 Mr. Stuewe was married in New Mexico to Alice Lovelace, born in Halifax county, Va., the daugh- ter of James O. and Amelia W. (Maynard) Coan, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Stuewe, however, was reared and educated in Missouri. They are the par- ents of two sons : William F. and Coan A., native sons of Montana. Fraternally he is a member of the Catholic Knights of America and of the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks. Both himself and wife are members of the Catholic church.

The care and attention that Supt: Stuewe has bestowed upon Lewis and Clarke County Hospi- tal, and the manifold improvements which he has added thereto have won the hearty commendation of all citizens of the county, irrespective of party. In his line of work Mr. Stuewe is an enthusiast, and to his sound, practical judgment is due the high position this hospital now holds as one of the best in the state of Montana. The Superin- tendent is a man highly respected, not only in Lewis and Clarke county but throughout the state, in which he numbers a wide circle of warm personal friends who value him for his worth.

H ENRY H. SWAIN, PH. D .- Montana may well be proud of her scheme of popular edu- cation and of the facilities afforded in this all- important line, while the state has been signally fortunate in enlisting the co-operation of educators of marked intellectual attainments and prestige as instructors. Prof. Swain sustains a high reputation in educational circles, and is eminently qualified for the important and exacting position of president of the Montana State Normal School, at Dillon. Prof. Swain is a native of the beautiful old city of Providence, R. I., where he was born on March 29, 1863, being the youngest in a family of five children. His father, Rev. Leonard Swain, was born in the state of New York, and was a man of fine attainments and exalted ideals. He graduated from Dartmouth College and later pursued his divinity course in Andover Theological Seminary, where he graduated, and soon afterward was or-

dained a clergyman of the Congregational church. He held pastoral charges at Nashua, N. H., and Providence, R. I., and was a devoted worker in the church until his death, which occurred in 1869. He married, in 1847, Miss Julia Allen, who was born in New Hampshire, and died at Providence in 1866 after a life of usefulness.

After the death of his parents the subject of this review moved to Iowa, being at that time about seven years of age. In the public schools of that state he received his preliminary education, and in 1880 he matriculated in Beloit College, Beloit, Wis., where he completed the classical course and gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1884. Later he completed post-graduate courses at the University of Chicago and at the University of Wisconsin, the latter conferring upon him, in 1897, the de- gree of Doctor of Philosophy. On leaving col- lege Prof. Swain turned his attention to pedagogic work, and his success has been such as to eminently justify him in his choice of vocation. He taught for a time in an academy in the city of Milwaukee, Wis., and for seven years held the chair of history and political economy in Yankton College, S. D. In 1898 Prof. Swain came to Montana and be- coming identified with the State Normal School at Dillon, was assigned to the chair of economics and history. Filling the position with ability and show- ing much disciplinary force, tact and executive ability, his election to the presidency of the insti- tution, in April, 1901, was a natural sequence. The Professor is thoroughly devoted to the work of his profession, and his retention as president can not but make for the advancement of the institut- tion in efficiency of its curriculum and in the hold which it will retain on popular support. He is at the present time state secretary of the Montana Sunday School Association.

In the city of Denver, Colo., on July 31, 1889, Prof. Swain was united in marriage to Miss Mira L. Olmstead, who was born in Ohio, and came to the west as a teacher. Professor and Mrs. Swain became the parents of three sons: Joseph Ward, who was born in 1891 ; Albert F., born in 1894, and George, who was born in 1897 and died within the same year.

C ARL SWANSTRUM .- Not with the warlike animus of the Vikings of old have come the sturdy sons of the Norseland to America, but rather with a high regard for the accomplishments of

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peace and with a spirit of enterprise which has brought success in the new world, and among the successful and highly esteemed farmers of Madi- son county is Carl Swanstrum, whose postoffice address is Blaine, his fine ranch lying near the line of Madison and Beaverhead counties. He was born in Sweden, September 18, 1838. His father, Nels Swanstrum, passed his life in Sweden, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits. Carl was left an orphan in his childhood, and his educational advantages were those of the public schools of his native land. He devoted seven years to learning the trades of glazing, gild- ing and cabinetmaking, and as a journeyman, worked at them for two years prior to his immigra- tion to America. In 1864 he embarked on a sail- ing vessel for America and was sixty-four days in making the voyage. He located in Chicago, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for one year, after which he removed to Ottumwa, Iowa, and was employed in building bridges on the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad until 1867, when he entered upon a two-years contract in con- nection with the construction of bridges on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad. the contract proving a profitable one to him. In 1871 Mr. Swanstrum came to Montana by railroad as far as Corinne, Utah, and thence by wagon to Madison county, where he took up a tract of land and purchased horses and cattle, his intention being to give his time principally to the stock busi- ness. In later years, however, he has cultivated a large portion of his ranch, securing fine yields of grain and hay. He now owns 420 acres, and his place has the best of improvements, while he is known as one of the progressive men of this lo- cality and worthy of high esteem.

In politics Mr. Swanstrum gives his support to the Republican party, and though he has never sought public office he has maintained a deep inter- est in local affairs and has rendered efficient serv- ice on the board of school trustees. Fraternally he holds membership in West Gate Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., at Twin Bridges, in which he has held the stations of junior and senior warden, and is also identified with Twin Bridges Lodge No. 17, A. O. U. W. On September 13, 1870, Mr. Swan- strum was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Hilbig, who was born in Iowa, the daughter of George and Catherine Hilbig, natives of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Swanstrum have five sons and three daughters: C. Albert, born in 1871; John A.,

1873: William P., 1875; Katherine A., 1877; Margaret A., 1879; Lena E., 1883; Carl O., 1886; and Fred P., 1890.

JOHN A. SWEAT, M. D., for the past ten years one of the leading physicians and sur- geons of Great Falls, Mont., was born in Brown- field, Maine, on October 23, 1856. He is the son of Jesse P. and Eliza (Spring) Sweat, also natives of the Pine Tree state. The father was a graduate from both the literary and medical departments of Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me., and practiced medicine for fifty years in Maine. During the Civil war he was surgeon of the Twenty-third Maine, serving in the Army of the Potomac. His last years were passed in Minneapolis, Minn., where he died. The grandparents of our subject were English by descent and were of Puritan stock, early settling in New England.

John Aiken Sweat, an only son, was reared from infancy in Maine, and there received his early edu- cation. At the age of fourteen he came to Minne- apolis, and was matriculated at the University of Minnesota and from this institution he graduated in 1876. Subsequently he studied medicine and later entered the medical department of Bowdoin College, the alma inater of his father, graduating from that famous school in 1880. Dr. Sweat then attended a series of lectures at the Columbia (N. Y.) Medical College, and began practice with his father, but shortly afterwards removed to Minne- apolis, where he continued in an active and repre- sentative practice until 1883, when he joined the Canadian Pacific Railway as surgeon of the Pacific division. Here he remained until 1890 when he made his home in Great Falls, Mont., where he has since resided.

Politically Dr. Sweat is a Democrat and was elect- ed by his party as a member of the house of repre- sentatives of the Maine legislature, serving in the session of 1880-1. At present he is president of the Montana state board of medical examiners. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the North Montana Medical Association, of which he has been president. In 1888 Dr. Sweat was united in marriage to Miss Mary Towle, of Maine. They have three children, Ruth, Jack and Helen. Fraternally Dr. Sweat is a Freemason and belongs to the Benevolent Order of Elks, in which organiza- tion he is exalted ruler. Dr. Sweat enjoys a most

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excellent professional reputation. In his home city he is highly esteemed and thoroughout the state he has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, all of whom speak of him with the highest respect.

L) OBERT E. TAYLOR .- A long established or I\ leading hotel in a community is one of its most characteristic institutions. Its life is, in effect, an epitome of that of the community itself. All the currents of business and pleasure which have in- terested the people around it, have flowed through its corridors and impressed its atmosphere. Dis- tinguished men and stately ladies have slept be- neath its roof; the toiler and the idler alike have fed upon its bounty ; political schemes and commer- cial projects, shunning the light of day in their in- cipiency, have been whispered into being in its secluded chambers; and moist, merry men have used it for their mirth when they were festive. The Finlen Hotel in Butte is an institution of this character. It has always been a favorite with the traveling public and, as the McDermott, was widely and favorably known for many years. On February 1, 1901, the present proprietor, Robert E. Taylor, took charge of it and, with his inevitable energy and push, entirely remodeled and refitted it and raised the standard of its entertainment in every respect to a rank commensurate with the character of its patrons and the bustling, pro- gressive city in which it is established.

Mr. Taylor has had a long and instructive ex- perience in catering to the appetites of the people and is well versed in the tastes and the fancies, the wants and the whims of men, as he has amply dem- onstrated during his short tenure as proprietor of this house. He was born in Venango county, Pa , a son of David F. and Martha E. (Clough) Taylor, also Pennsylvanians by nativity. His father, a prosperous and prominent farmer and merchant, who was born in 1846, is still living at Butte.

Mr. Taylor's early education was not neglected and did not suffer from indifference on his part. He was sent to the primary and intermediate schools of his native county until he completed their entire course of study, and then attended the Pennsylvania . Academy at Utica. At the age of seventeen le went to Oberlin, Ohio, and learned telegraphy, being subsequently an operator at Cleveland for a year, relinquishing his place to ac- cept that of clerk in the Forest City hotel in that

city. He continued there for two years, thus be- ginning a career in the hotel business which has been eminently successful and useful. In 1888 he came to Butte and accepted and filled for two years a similar position in the old St. Nicholas hotel. In 1890 he went to Missoula and served as clerk one year in the Florence hotel in that thriving city, then returning to Butte, where he entered into a co-partnership with A. A. Sandah in the C. O. D. steam laundry, in which he still retains an interest, but retired from active connection with it on Febru- ary 1, 1901, to take charge of the hotel which he is now conducting with gratifying satisfaction to its patrons.

Mr. Taylor is an enthusiastic Mason, being a member of Silver Bow Lodge No. 48, A. F. & A. M., Deer Lodge Chapter No. 3, R. A. M., Mon- tana Commandery No. 3, K. T., and Algeria Tem- ple, of the Mystic Shrine, in all of which he is active and serviceable. He was married in No- vember, 1894, to Miss Katherine M. Griffin, of Minnesota, daughter of James J. Griffin. They have three children : Robert D., Effie and Ruth M. In politics Mr. Taylor is a Democrat and keenly alive to the welfare of his party, taking an active interest in everything involving the prosperity and advancement of his city, his state and his country. In local affairs he gives counsel and substantial aid to every enterprise which in his judgment will promote the good of the community. His chief interest, however, centers in his business, and to this he devotes the skillful attention, good judgment and courtesy of manner gathered in his long ex- perience and thereby has made the Finlen a hotel of the first grade, up to date in all particulars and worthy of the expense and enterprise he has lavished upon it. He has, moreover, the true spirit of hospitality which knows just how to welcome the coming and speed the parting guest and to provide for the whole comfort of the stranger beneath his roof.

ACOB SWITZER .- One of the most highly J esteemed citizens of Helena, and the president of the Switzer Brick and Terra-Cotta Company, Jacob Switzer was born in Alsace, October 17. I839. Alsace is one of those Rhine provinces, which has alternately belonged to France and to- Germany from time immemorial. It is now Ger- man territory for it was ceded to Germany at the close of the Franco-Prussian war as a part of the

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indemnity demanded of France by the "Iron Chan- cellor," Prince Bismarck, and paid to Germany by that nation.

Jacob Switzer, a son of Jacob and Fannie Switzer, natives and lifelong residents of Alsace, received his education until he was eighteen in that province. In 1857 he came to the United States, and first settled in Leavenworth, Kan., and he resided in Kansas for over twenty years, ex- cepting one year passed in Denver and Leadville, Colo., in 1860. While in Kansas he was an eye- witness of and at times a participant in the sangui- Hary scenes of border warfare connected with the admission of that state into the Union, and he fully realizes the significance of the term "Bleeding Kansas." In 1877 he first came to Montana and at once located at Helena, and has since been a resident of the capital city and closely identified with many of its leading industries. At present he is heavily interested in mines and mining operations tliroughout the state.

But it is in connection with the manufacture of brick that he is more widely known. In 1890 he purchased land near Blossburg, which contained clay eminently suitable for the manufacture of fire- brick, terra-cotta, vitrified brick and tiling. (For street paving vitrified brick is the best material yet discovered.) The plant erected by the company is equipped with the latest and best machinery and employs between fifty and sixty men. His entire product is of the best quality, and rated A I, and has its chief market in Helena. From the manu- factory to the railroad station Mr. Switzer has built a mile and a half of track, and now has the convenience of loading cars on his premises to facilitate shipment. The capacity of the plant is 90,000 brick per day, no matter how large the order may be he has the ability to fill it. Mr. Switzer was married in 1881 to Miss Louise A. Sarstedt, a native of Philadelphia. They reside in one of the comfortable homelike homes of Helena, planned and built by them. Mr. Switzer has been identified with the Republican party, but has never sought public office. He is recognized one of Montana's sagacious business men and is highly esteemed and popular.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 1, Part 88

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