Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 121

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > Montana > Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2 > Part 121

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In politics Mr. Loring is a Republican, and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the party, being a gentleman of positive convic- tions and a strong sense of duty. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and holds the rank of past chancellor in the order, and has twice repre- sented his lodge in the grand lodge of the state. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of Pyramids and the Independent Order of Good Templars. In the last organization he at present (1901) oc- cupies the official station of vice-templar. In re- ligious affiliation he is actively identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, and is one of its most zealous workers, especially in the Epworth League work, in which he has been prominent and very serviceable for years. In the fraternal orders and the church work Mr. Loring enjoys the social features ; but they appeal to him on higher grounds. He sees in them a means of uplifting and improving mankind, and elevating the general tone of human life, and it is on this account that he finds so much enjoyment in their meetings.

E E. LEECH .- Among thie representative young business men of Teton county is nun- bered Mr. Leech, whose progressive methods have made him one of the leading farmers and stock- growers of his section of the state, his finely im- proved ranch being located in the vicinity of Du- puyer, which is his postoffice address. Mr. Leech was born on December 15, 1864, at Afton, Union county, Iowa, the son of James P. and Mary (Cooper) Leech, the former having been born in Virginia in 1838, and removing to Iowa when nineteen years of age, locating in Lucas county as a pioneer farmer and where he conducted agricul-

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ture and was a veterinary surgeon until his death in 1865. Mrs. Mary (Cooper) Leech was born in Pennsylvania in 1840, and still retains her residence in Afton, Iowa. E. E. Leech completed a course in the high school of Afton, thereafter continuing his study in Parsons College at Fairfield, Iowa, and further supplementing this education by a course of study in the well-known business university at Valparaiso, Ind. Mr. Leech left home at the age of nineteen years to cast in his lot with Montana, whither he came in 1884, locating in Choteau county, and taking up tracts of government land in the vicinity of the present village of Dupuyer. He has since added to the area of his estate until he owns 2,920 acres on Dupuyer creek and the dry forks of the Marias river.

This ranch is one of the most eligibly located and one of the best improved in Teton county, giv- ing evidence of the discriminating methods which have been brought to bear by the enterprising pro- prietor, who began his labors here when scarcely more than a boy. Through an effective sys- tem of irrigation Mr. Leech is enabled to raise ex- cellent crops of hay, while he gives especial atten- tion to the raising of horses, cattle and sheep, usu- ally running about 10,000 head of sheep. Mr. Leech is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, being one of the leaders of the local councils. In 1893 he was chosen to represent Choteau county (of which Teton was then an integral part) in the lower house of the state legislature. He proved a capable representative of the interests of his county and state, being one of the active workers in the assembly. Fraternally he is identified with Cho- teau Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M., and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias at Choteau. In 1889, at Buchanan, Mich., Mr. Leech was united in marriage to Miss Mary Geyer, who was born near North Liberty, Ind., and they have two children, Arba and Florence M.

OHN D. LOSEKAMP .- In the attractive and J enterprising little city of Billings will be found a progressive class of business men who have by their public-spirited efforts contributed to the growth and development of their city, county and state, and a leading representative of this coterie is the gentleman whose name initiates this re- view and who has been called upon to serve in positions of distinctive trust and responsibility.

Mr. Losekamp is a native of the state of Ohio, having been born in the city of Dayton on Septem- ber 30, 1850. His parents, Jacob and Catherine Losekamp, were both born in Germany. John D. Losekamp had very limited educational ad- vantages in his youth, his father removing to the west when our subject was but two years of age, and little opportunity was afforded for the attend- ing of school. That he has grown to be a man of broad and exact information and mature judg- ment is due entirely to his own capabilities and self- application. Mr. Losekamp grew up under the in- vigorating influences of western life, and his ar- rival in Montana dates from the year 1882, when the firm of Losekamp & Brother came hither from the Black Hills, S. D., where they commenced busi- ness in 1877, making the trip with mule teams and being nine weeks en route to transport their stock of boots and shoes. The firm located in Billings, whose site was then marked only by a little cluster of tents and one or two cabins, and engaged in the boot and shoe business, the original store having been a tent, and continuing until 1885, when John D. Losekamp succeeded the firm, and has since been numbered among the leading business men of the city he has aided so materially in develop- ment and progress, now having one of the prin- cipal mercantile establishments of Billings and re- taining a representative support from the wide trade territory tributary to the city.

In politics Mr. Losekamp gives his support to the Democratic party and its principles, and has been the recipient of important official positions. He was for six years a member of the city coun- cil of Billings, and in 1898 was elected as a Demo- crat to the lower house of the legislature. In the general assembly he was not a mere figure- head, but made his power and ability manifest. He was the father of the county free high school law, enacted by the general assembly in 1899, a measure that will prove of great and enduring benefit to all sections of the state, it being assured that such a high school will be established in Bil- lings within a short time, while a number of other counties have already availed themselves of the privileges afforded under the provisions of the new law. Mr. Losekamp is an ardent sportsman, and is making strenuous efforts to preserve the game of the state by the enactment and enforce- ment of adequate laws. In 1897 he imported a flock of Chinese pheasants with the idea of se- curing a natural increase until the same should

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become eligible for legitimate sportsmanship. In October, 1898, Mr. Losekamp secured from the United States fish hatchery at Rochester, N. Y., a large quantity of brook trout of several varieties and other game fish. Under his supervision and at his own expense they were taken to the waters of Bear Tooth, Little Rock and other lakes, twen- ty-five pack horses being required in their trans- portation. These waters now abound with fish, and afford much enjoyment to the sportsman.

In his youth Mr. Losekamp was a resident of Leavenworth, Kan., whither his parents had re- moved in 1854, coming from Ohio. He was thor- oughly familiar with and vividly remembers the al- most daily exciting incidents of "Border Ruffian" days; the struggle of John Brown to secure a free state government ; the excitementover the "Lecomp- tor constitution," and other acts which immediately preceded the Civil war. He tells of numerous ad- ventures of that stirring period, and is quite fa- miliar with the peculiar methods employed by the "Kansas Jayhawkers" in their encounters with the "Border Ruffians." Fraternally he is iden- tified with the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

L' OWTHER & CLIFTON .- Romance can pro- duce nothing to equal the realities of every-day life in America. The names at the head of this re- view represent two old and noble families of Eng- land, whose history runs back through centuries and is glorious in peace and war. And two of their descendants are content to leave the traditions of their houses and the luxuries of their estates, and create new homes in the plains of the great northwest, following the occupation of the patri- archs and sighing not for the drawing rooms of courtly Europe.

Cecil Clifton was born in 1862 at Kirkcudbright, Scotland, the son of A. W. and Lady Bertha ( Hast- ings) Clifton, natives of Lancashire, England, where the Cliftons have had estates since the eleventh century and which are still held by the family. Mr. Clifton's father was a captain in the Royal rifles, and took part in the Crimean war, par- ticipating in its most famous battles. He has been retired for many years and resides on his Lancashire estate. The mother, Lady Bertha Hastings, who had a long line of noble ancestors, after the death of the Marquis of Hastings claimed the barony of Grey de Ruthyn, which was granted by the queen,

and at his mother's death the title descended to Mr. Clifton's eldest brother, now Lord Grey de Ruthyn. Mr. Clifton was educated by private tu- tors and then passed four years as a student of agri- culture. When he had finished this course, in com- pany with Mr. Harold Lowther, he came to America, made a tour of Canada, and finally they located to- gether on their present ranch which Mr. Lowther had already taken up and in which Mr. Clifton pur- chased an interest. They organized their enterprise as the Northfield Ranch Company, with headquar- ters on the Musselshell, eight miles below Roundup. The ranch contains over 2,000 acres, and, as the river runs through it, they have an abundant supply of water. A large part of the land is under irri- gation and produces heavy crops of hay. The build- ings are ample in number and superior in quality, and the ranch is thoroughly up-to-date. The spec- ialty of the company is a high grade of range cat- tle, and they usually have a herd of 2,000 or more, having reduced the number in recent years as the range has become more limited.

Harold Lowther was born in 1864, and is a son of William Lowther. He belongs to an ancient Eng- lish family and is a first cousin of Lord Lonsdale. His brother was for a time attache to the British embassy at Washington, and is now attache at San- tiago, Chili. He was entrusted by the British gov- ernment to purchase American horses for use in the Boer war in South Africa, and the number bought ran into the thousands. Mr. Lowther himself was a soldier in the Matabele war in South Africa and now passes most of the winters in England. Mr. Clifton also makes occasional trips to England, but does not like the ocean voyage. These gentlemen are enterprising and successful. Their business is con- ducted on a high plane and is profitable to them and beneficial to the community.

A NDREW LINDSAY .- Standing high on the roll of Montana's early pioneers, having first come to Bannack in 1863, and throughout a long and varied career of usefulness contributed to the advancement and development of what is now the great Treasure state, Andrew Lindsay is distinct- ively one of the progressive men of Montana, and presents in his own life an epitome of the forces which have produced her marvelous progress. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, September 15, 1833, the son of William and Euphemia (Ritchie) Lind-

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say, natives of Scotland who immigrated to the United States in 1835, locating at Mount Holly, N. J., where the father was engaged in farming and raising stock until his death, about 1848. His widow died in Columbus county, N. C., in 1892, at the age of ninety-one years. Their son, Andrew, attended the public schools at Mount Holly and Bridgeboro, and later, while learning the carpenter's trade at Philadelphia, completed his education at night schools in that city. In 1857 he removed to Kansas and there worked at his trade for one year. He then returned to his old home in the east and there remained until 1859. In Feb- ruary of that year he went to Denver, Colo., where he followed mining and worked at his trade until 1863. In September he came to Bannack, Mont., prospected a few months and went to Alder gulch. In autumn of 1864 he drove a bull team hauling freight from Milk river to Virginia City. From thence he went to the Kootenai county, but returned to Alder gulch and there passed the win- ter. In 1865 he was placer mining in German gulch, and in the fall of that year went east and remained until 1877, when he returned to Montana. From June to October he chopped wood at Post No. 2, on the Yellowstone, now Fort Custer. Since then he has been living on his present ranch of 304 acres in Pease's Bottom, devoting his attention to farming and raising stock. During his earlier residence in the west he had plenty of adventure in fighting Indians and hunting buffaloes, and achieved distinction as an Indian fighter and a ter- ror to the savages. In 1878 he began buffalo hunt- ing on the Yellowstone and followed that occupa- tion until 1880 quite successfully.

Mr. Andrew Lindsay is a Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fre- mont. Since then he has stood faithfully by the principles and candidates of his party, although not seeking office or political honors.

W ILLIAM LUNSTROTH is one of the sturdy sons the Fatherland has given to our Ameri- can republic, thereby adding to the aggregate of our most worthy citizenship. He is one of the enter- prising young farmers and stockgrowers of Cas- cade county, his ranch being located one mile from Houskin, his postoffice address. Mr. Lunstroth was born at Steinhagen, Germany, on January 27, 1871, the son of Henry and Katherine Lunstroth,

natives of the same place and where they passed their entire lives. The father was successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, but died at the age of seventy-one years, his good wife having passed away at the age of fifty-six.

William Lunstroth attended the excellent public schools of his native land until the year 1885 and assisted in the work of the paternal farm until 1887, when he severed home ties and came to America. In the spring of 1888 he made his way westward to Nevada, where he secured work on a farm and was thus employed until the fall of 1890, when he came to Great Falls, Mont., and thence to the ranch of his brother Augustus, located near Evans. Here he remained until April, 1892, when he secured a position in the Butte & Montana sawmill at Great Falls, which he held until the following spring. He then took up his present homestead claim of 160 acres and engaged in raising cattle. In the fall of 1900 he purchased 160 acres adjacent to his home- stead, paying therefor $500. Of the 320 acres in- cluded in his well improved ranch, seventy-five acres are available for cultivation. Mr. Lunstroth is en- terprising in his methods and his success is assured. His property at the present has a valuation of $4,000. In politics he exercises his franchise in support of the Democratic party and its princi- ples, and in the community he is esteemed as a re- liable and industrious business man and citizen.

HARRY B. LIMPERT, who is the capable and enterprising foreman of the fine ranch of the Willow Creek Stock Company, located ten miles west of the village of Augusta, Lewis and Clarke county, is a young man who has secured a position of marked responsibility and trust since coming to Montana, and this fact is indicative of his ster- ling integrity, his fidelity and his executive ability. Mr. Limpert is a native of the village of Hespeler, province of Ontario, Canada, where he was born on the 19th of January, 1864, being the son of Val- entine and Susanna Limpert, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Canada. The father for many years followed the vocation of a house painter, and is known as a man of ster- ling character, being a member of the Lutheran church, while the religious faith of his wife is that of the Presbyterian denomination.

The early educational advantages of Harry B. Limpert were such as were afforded in the public

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schools of his native town, and his school days ended when he was thirteen years of age, when he became an employe in a woolen mill, and later took up the trade of house painting, to which he devoted his attention for a period of thirteen years. In 1892 Mr. Limpert came to Montana, believing that superior opportunities for individual effort were afforded in this new and growing common- wealth, and after passing two months in Helena and in the vicinity of Dillon, he then came to the ranch on which he is at present installed as fore- man, the same comprising 4,200 acres and being more particularly devoted to the raising of cattle upon an extensive scale. Mr. Limpert is unflag- ging in his zeal in promoting the interests over which he is thus placed in charge, and he holds the confidence of his employers and of all others with whom he is thrown in contact in the various relations of life. His political support is given to the Republican party without reservation, and fra- ternally he holds membership in the Woodmen of the World and Modern Woodmen of America. On the 16th of January, 1895, Mr. Limpert was united in marriage to Miss Bertha M. Smith, who was born in Canada, the daughter of Hiram and Maggie Smith, natives respectively of Canada and Ireland, the father being employed in the capacity of manager of a large woolen mill in Canada. He is a member of the Methodist church, while his wife is a communicant of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Limpert have had three children, John being deceased, while the two surviving are Ber- nice and William V., bright and interesting young- sters, who lend cheer to the family home.

TRA W. THRASHER is one of the progressive and successful farmers and stockgrowers of Cascade county, his home ranch being located thirty- one miles southeast of Great Falls in Upper Sand Coulee. He was born on February 27, 1857, at North Branch, Lapeer . county, Mich., being the twelfth and youngest child of William P. and Harriet Thrasher. William P. Thrasher was of American parentage, his grandfather receiving a pension from the United States government for his services in the army of the Revolution. His wife, Harriet, was a native of Canada, where they were married, in the province of Quebec, and they resided until they removed to Michigan in 1856, where the father engaged in farming and continued his resi-

dence until 1877. During the Civil war he ren- dered service in the Union army as a veterinary surgeon and draws a pension of $12 a month for disability incurred in the army. In the spring of 1877 he removed to Phillipsburg, Phillips county, Kan., where he devoted his attention to agricul- ture until the spring of 1881, when he located at Blue Springs, Neb., and was there engaged in the practice of his profession as a veterinarian until 1885, when he removed to Loup, Sherman county, Neb., where he was similarly engaged until the spring of 1892, when he came to Cascade county, Mont., where he was identified with ranching un- til October, 1897, when he returned to Loup, Neb., and resumed the work of his profession. In poli- tics he gives his support to the Democratic party. He and his wife now reside at Blue Springs, Neb.

Ira W. Thrasher secured his educational training in the public schools which he attended until 1869, and thereafter assisted his father on the farm until 1875, when he took up a pre-emption claim of 160 acres in Phillips county, Kan., placing eighty acres of the tract under effective cultivation. In the spring of 1881 he sold his farm for $900, and removed to Blue Springs, Neb., where he engaged in the carpenter business about a year; then re- turning to ·Matteson, Kan., in which vicinity he purchased a farm of 160 acres. He was there en- gaged in stockraising until the fall of 1887, when he came to Radersburg, Mont., when he followed carpentry until 1890. At that time he removed to Great Falls, where he was similarly engaged until July, 1896, when he exchanged his farm in Kansas for 160 acres of this present ranch, where he has since been engaged in raising cattle on an extensive scale. He simultaneously purchased 160 acres from A. B. Elkins, and in April, 1900, bought an equal amount from M. A. VanCleve; while in the fall of 1900 his son filed on a homestead claim of 160 acres and his wife also took up a claim of equal area, thus making the aggregate reach 640 acres, of which 250 are available for cultivation. On his ranch he has at the present time a large band of cattle and a sufficient num- ber of horses for the effective prosecution of the ranch work. It may be mentioned, incidentally, that in 1880 Mr. Thrasher made a trip through Colorado and New Mexico working at his trade and seeking a location, but eventually he decided in favor of Montana,. and has had no reason to regret his choice. His ranch is not only beautiful in natural location, with abundant supply of water,

Ira W. Thrasher

Mrs. Ira W. Thrasher

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but its development has been carried along on in- telligent lines, and, from the interest shown in the construction and arrangement of its buildings and general plan of improvement, deserves special men- tion as one of Cascade county's representative homes of industry and culture. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife is a charter member of Great Falls Tent No. 14 of the Ladies of the Maccabees, in which she hield the position of lady commander. They are both communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church and in politics our subject gives his support to the Republican party. The postoffice of Evans is located at their house, and Mr. Thrash- er has long been the efficient postmaster.

In 1877 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Thrasher to Miss Hannah Chilson, daughter of Newton and Sabrina Chilson, the former of whom was born in Norway and the latter in the state of New York, their marriage having been cele- brated in Wonewoc, Wis. Newton Chilson was a soldier of the Union during the entire Civil war and draws a pension of $16 a month for disability incurred in the service. From Wonewoc, Mr. and Mrs. Chilson removed, in 1873, to Franklin county, Neb., where the former was engaged in farming and stockraising until 1887 when he came to Rad- ersburg, Mont., and was there identified with min- ing until the spring of 1890. He then took up his abode in the city of Great Falls, the family home being at 406 Fourth avenue, southwest. Mr. and Mrs. Thrasher are the parents of four children : Elithan N., Sheldon H., William P. and Hattie P.

JOHN C. LYNDES .- Born at Brookfield, Vt., November 17, 1865, and reared on a farm in Illinois, whither his parents moved when he was a boy, passing his young manhood in the vocation of a teacher, and all the while preparing himself for his life work by close attention to everything of in- terest around him and by zealous application to every line of study that he took up, John C. Lyndes, the only practicing lawyer in Forsyth, came to the bar with many advantages of mental training which he secured by his own industry and good judgment in using his opportunities. He was educated in the public schools of Lake county, Ill., and when nine- teen years of age began his career as a teacher, serv- ing four years in one of the schools in which he had been a student. He then came to Montana and

taught at Lame Deer agency and other places in Custer county until 1896, saving his money and investing it in livestock. From 1895 to 1898 he studied law, finishing his legal studies in the Ne- braska University, from which he graduated in 1898. He was admitted to the Montana bar in 1899, and locating at the promising town of For- syth, has already built up a good and profitable practice, in addition to which he is interested with his brother in sheep, horses and cattle. He was formerly editor of the Forsyth Times, an ably con- ducted weekly newspaper, and since his residence in the town began he has been foremost in every movement for its advancement, being an enthusi- astic believer in its future. He is a Republican in politics, but has never held office. He was mar- ried in 1898 to Miss Alice Mercer, at Miller, Neb.

T THOMAS W. LONGLEY .- Manager of the stock interests of the Fletcher Brothers, who occupy several ranches with from twenty to thirty miles of range in Rosebud county, Mont., Thomas W. Longley has acquired the superior qualifications for the stock business which he possesses through a long apprenticeship, learning by actual experi- ence every detail of its practical workings. He was born in Callaway county, Mo., October 3, 1850. His parents were Thomas W. and America I. (McGary) Longley, the former born in Massa- chusetts in 1807 and the latter in Missouri in 1812. The father, when a boy, accompanied his parents to Mississippi, from whence they removed, in 1834, to Missouri. . He was a physician and surgeon and a prosperous farmer, and died at Fulton, Mo., in 1865, and his widow died in the same state in 1875.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 121

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago Publication date: [19-?] Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Bowen, A.W., & Co., firm, publishers, Chicago
Publication date: [19-?]
Publisher: Chicago : A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1092