Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 154

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 154

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

Min. He at once cast about for employment and in a short time secured work on a farm at $15 per month and board. On that farm he remained three years, assisting at odd intervals in the butchering business at East Minneapolis. Two years more were passed at other employments and he then came to Montana and settled at Helena where he freighted for the Wickes Company, worked on a ranch and teamed around the city of Helena. He passed two winters in hauling wood at wages of $40 and $50 per month. At all times and in all places he managed to do the best he could, and in . this he did his full duty. Young in years but full of ambition and hustle, he felt that the time had come when he should be at work for himself in- stead of living dependent on the will of others; hence, in the spring of 1887, he located twelve iniles southeast of Augusta, Lewis and Clarke county, securing a desert and homestead claim of 160 acres each, and to which he has since added 395 acres purchased of the railroad company. In years past Mr. Sale has devoted much attention to general ranching and sheep and cattleraising. But in 1895 he disposed of the cattle business at a good profit, and has since relied more particularly upon farming in which he has been successful, hay and oats being the principal products. Mr. Sale is a member of the Catholic church. Politically he affil- iates with the Republican party, although he does not consider himself an ardent politician. He acts in matters politic as in matters of business, thought- fully weighing and deliberating as to what would be for the best interests of, not only himself indi- vidually, but for all.

0 LLAI SANDWICK, a successful farmer and cattlegrower, was born in Aalesund, Nor- way, on December 10, 1848, the son of Kundt and Ragnhild Sandwick, both of whom passed their entire lives in Norway, where the father was a farmer. Both were members of the Lutheran church, and the mother passed away in 1889, the father surviving until 1898. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools of his native land until he had reached the age of fourteen years, when he entered the preparatory school, where lie continued his studies two years, receiving a diploma from that institution. At the age of sixteen he became an assistant keeper at Hugsten light-house, near his native town, issuing his re- ports weekly and also keeping the books wherein account was kept of the material consumed. He

was well pleased with his work, but, like many another of the sturdy Norsemen, he became in- terested in the tales of the United States, and de- termined to emigrate to America. This he did in 1867, locating in Minnesota, where he secured work on different farms, later on securing a clerkship in a grocery at Lesueur, that state, for one year and in the spring of 1868, resumed farm work in the vicinity of Minneapolis. In September he went to Omaha, Neb., where he secured a clerkship in a general store, being thus employed for two years, when he was given charge of stock yards in that city. In this connection Mr. Sandwick made the acquaintanceship of W. H. Guthrie, of Helena, Mont., and becoming impressed with that gentleman's accounts of Montana, decided to ac- company him here, in 1873, and was engaged in herding cattle for Mr. Guthrie until 1875, in the fall of which year he purchased about thirty-five head of cattle and then took them to Flat creek, to- gether with a band of 210 head that belonged to R. S. Hamilton, herding the latter on shares. At the . expiration of four years they divided their stock, and from the sale of his cattle Mr. Sandwick re- alized $4,000. In 1879, in association with Angustns Hultine, he purchased 167 head of fine horses, and devoted liis attention to raising this line of stock, with fair success.

In the spring of 1882 Mr. Sandwick purchased 120 acres of land in Prickly Pear valley, the same constituting his present ranch, and he then dis- solved partnership with Mr. Hultine, each having 125 head of horses in the division of the stock. In 1900 he sold his horses and is now devoting liis attention to farming and cattlegrowing, in which lines the outlook is most favorable. His ranch is well improved, having an effective system of ir- rigation and being one of the desirable places of the county. In politics Mr. Sandwick maintains independence, and fraternally lie is a Master Mason.

October 16, 1886, Mr. Sandwick was united in marriage to Miss Mary Colby, a native of Warner, N. H., she being the daughter of Levi O. and Mary D. Colby, natives of New Hampshire, where the father was engaged in farming until his deatlı, which occurred August 5, 1884. He was a men- ber of the Congregational church, as is also his widow, and was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The mother came to Mon- tana with Mrs. Sandwick, and has ever since been an inmate of the home of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Sandwick have had two children, Carrie M., who is deceased, and Georgia M.

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

C HARLES R. SCOFFIN, one of the most ex- tensive ranchers and influential citizens of Te- ton county, is a gentleman who has had a wide ex- perience in the world, both on land and sea. His services to the United States have been various and valuable, while the same is true of his patriotic efforts in behalf of good citizenship in his home county. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, on December 1I, 1839, of ancestors residing for generations in that country. His father, born in 1796, emigrated in 1852, settling at Racine, Wis., where he was a popular veterinary surgeon, until his death in 1866. His wife, Mary ( Beason) Scof- fin, was born in Lincolnshire in 1809 and died at Racine in 1862. Charles R. Scoffin began his suc- cessful business career when he was fifteen years of age, for three years giving faithful service as a clerk in grocery stores in Racine and Dubuque, Iowa. He then chose the life of a sailor and shipped from New York in the merchant service in 1858, but at the opening of the Civil war, he en- listed in the United States navy and was assigned to the cruiser Huntsville, as master's mate. He served with distinction until the close of the war, when he was mustered out with the rank of ensign. During his naval career he was employed mainly in blockade duty on the coast of Florida and in the West Indies. In the last ship in which he served, The Hibiscus, of Com. Bailey's fleet off the Florida coast, he held the position of sailing master.

Mr. Scoffin came to Gallatin county, Mont., in 1866 and was engaged in farming for two years, when he went to Helena and secured a position with the A. M. Holter Lumber Company, remaining with that firm until July 1, 1870. In 1871 he was con- nected with a surveying party on the line of the Northern Pacific, and in the summer of 1872 he was under Col. De Lacy on the Salmon river in charge of Northern Pacific boats. He passed the season of 1873 in the Puget Sound country, but in 1874 returned to Helena and was in the employment of Holter Brothers until the fall of 1877, when he engaged in the sheep business on Rock creek at the mouth of Prickly Pear canyon, with D. C. Hol- brook, E. J. Lyons and Charles W. Gray. This partnership was continued until 1879, when their flocks were transferred to the Truchot ranch near Choteau. In 1880 Mr. Holbrook sold his share of the sheep to Milton Cooper, Mr. Lyons removed his portion to another locality, while Scoffin and Gray went with the remainder to Willow creek, re- maining together two years. In the fall of 1882

our subject located by himself on Dupuyer, now Scoffin creek, eight miles west of Dupuyer.

He purchased the W. D. Jones place, near Du- puyer, which eighteen months later he sold to O. G. Cooper. He resided on the Jones ranch during the winter of 1884, and the next summer selected his present valuable ranch on a tributary of the Dry fork of the Marias river, near Pondera. In addition to his pre-emption and desert claims of 320 acres, he has purchased land until he has now 3,000 acres, and this ranch, in the way of favorable location, improvements and area, is called one of the finest in Montana. It is named the Spring Creek ranch, is watered by forty never-failing springs, and is devoted principally to high-grade sheep and horses, carrying an average of 7,000 of the former and 500 of the latter. In Chicago, Ill., in 1886, Mr. Scof- fin was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Smith, born in Vermont on September 17, 1847. They have no children. Her mother was a member of the noted Bailey family of New England, Admiral Bailey having been deputized by the English gov- ernment to survey Vermont in 1638. Another prominent member of the family was one of the founders of Bowdoin College, Maine, the alma mater of numerous distinguished men, and where the celebrated poet, Henry W. Longfellow, was once a professor. In 1879 Mr. Scoffin was one of the first five residents and voters of the Old Agency. now Choteau, the others being James Gibson, Ed- ward Dennis, Samuel Burd and Thomas William- son. He is an influential factor in Republican cir- cles of Teton county, and the state as well, in which he has a wide acquaintance. He is a member of Chevalier Lodge, K. of P., of Choteau, and of Choteau Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M.

JOHN SANFORD, now the postmaster of Silver, Mont., was born at' Dorsetshire, England, in 1829. At the early age of twelve he left school, and became an apprentice in the shop of a shoe- maker in London. Later he learned the trade of engineer, and during the early years of his life he followed both occupations in London. He also kept the Seaside Hotel at Seaton in Devonshire, England, for about two years. In 1869 he emi- grated to the United States, and to Weeping Water, Nebraska, where he secured employment as an engineer in a flouring mill. Subsequently he re- moved to Omaha, where he was an engineer for

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

about eighteen months. He then came to Montana, first going to the ranch of his brother in the Prickly Pear valley, about twenty miles north of Helena, where he remained two years, engaged in farming and as stockman, then in Deer Lodge, followed his trade of shoemaker for about one year. He then returned to the Prickly Pear valley, and was for some time engaged in placer mining. His next location was Helena, where he worked at shoe- making for a time, and then started for the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Stopping at Silver Star, Montana, he saw a fa- vorable opportunity to engage in business, and re- mained there about two years. Subsequently he worked at shoemaking in Pony, Montana, and also Bozeman. He then visited at various placer mining camps in Montana, finally locating at Gregory, in Jefferson county. Here he kept a saloon until the mining company operating at that place closed and the town went down, when he again returned to his brother's ranch at Prickly Pear. He remained here until 1896, when he was appointed postmaster at Silver, Mont., a position he still holds. In 1865 Mr. Sanford was united in marriage at Shaftes- bury, England, to Miss Matilda Denbeigh, who died at the early age of twenty-five, leaving no children, and was buried in Shaftesbury, England. Mr. Sanford has had a varied career and it is in- teresting to hear him relate his many experiences on two continents. After a somewhat stormy past, he is quietly passing the evening of his life at Sil- ver, enjoying universal respect and esteem.

JOHN H. SAUL .- Two miles south of Arming- J ton, Cascade county, is located the handsome ranch of John H. Saul, which is furnished with the appurtenances for a successful prosecution of agriculture. He was born in Germany, on October 29, 1852, the son of Valentine and Margaret Saul, natives of Germany. In the Fatherland his father was a wool-cleaner. After bringing his family to the United States and settling near Galena, Ill., he passed eight years as a miner in the lead mines, and then for two years he was engaged in gardening. He then removed to a farm in Wisconsin which he profitably cultivated. In 1877 he removed to Helena, Mont., where he now resides. For several years he was engaged in ranching in Deer Lodge county. The family are members of the Catholic church, while in politics he is a Democrat.

John H. Saul received but limited school privi- leges and is a selfmade man of the best type. At an early age he began to assist his parents and this he continued until he was thirty-three years old, in the meantime learning the carpenter's trade. In 1885 he engaged in hotel keeping in Helena, and in 1888 he conducted a similar enterprise in Great Falls. In the fall of 1888 he sold this to his brother-in-law, Peter Pilgeram, and located on his present ranch, a pre-emption claim of 160 acres, which is susceptible of high cultivation, raising large crops of grain, vegetables and cattle. On May 2, 1885, Mr. Saul was married to Miss Katherine Wiegand, a native of Germany. She is a daughter of Albert and Katherine Wiegand, both Germans. Her father was a successful farmer in Germany, and both parents were Catholics. Mrs. Saul emigrated from Germany to New York about 1880, from there going to Indianapolis, and from that city to Helena, Mont., where she and Mr. Saul were married. They have no children, but are kindly caring for three nephews and nieces, one of whom, Katie, they have adopted.

JULIAN H. SAWIN is a worthy representative of the stockraising and ranching interests of Cascade county, and though a native of old New England he is a typical westerner-active, alert and progressive-with that indomitable self-reliance that ever insures success. Mr. Sawin was born in Cov- entry, Orleans county, Vt., April 6, 1856, the son of John and Julia Sawin, natives of Canada. The father was a laboring man; a devout member of the Roman Catholic church, and was inflexible in his integrity of character. He died in 1889, and his widow now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Jennie Ripley, in New Hampshire. The moth- er is likewise a communicant of the Catholic church.

Julian H. Sawin had such early educational ad- vantages as were afforded in the public schools of his native state; but while a mere boy the responsi- bilities of life devolved upon him, and at the age of eleven years he was employed at farm work, so continuing until he was sixteen, when he accom- panied his parents on their removal to New Hamp- shire and devoted his time to working in fac- tories or on farms, as opportunity · presented. In the centennial year he returned to Vermont, and there was again identified with farming pursuits until the fall of the succeeding year, when he made

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a visit to the parental home prior to coming to the west, where he had determined to try his fortunes. . In the fall of 1878 he arrived at Colorado Springs, Colo., and in that state was engaged in ranch work until 1886, becoming thoroughly familiar with the life of the plains; and in the year mentioned he went to Helena, Mont., in which city he remained a month, after which he located in Cascade, where he secured a position as chore-boy in J. P. Dayer's store, retaining the incumbency until the next sum- mer, when he engaged in herding horses for a large concern, resuming his clerical work during the win- ter. The following summer found Mr. Sawin em- ployed at ranch work for the Swett estate, and for three seasons he operated the ferry boat across the Missouri river at Cascade. In the winter of 1889 he was employed by the government to carry the mail across the river. He remained with the Swett estate until the spring of 1893, assisting in the round-up work until the opening of fall, when he located on his present ranch, thirty miles south of the city of Cascade, and has since devoted his attention to cattleraising, his well directed efforts and thorough knowledge of the business bringing to him a due measure of success. His ranch com- prises 240 acres, secured by Mr. Sawin in two claims-the one a homestead claim of 160 acres, while the remaining eighty acres was a desert claim. In politics Mr. Sawin gives a stanch support to the Republican party and its principles.

M ATHIAS SCHLITZ .- This prosperous and enterprising ranchman of the Little Porcupine creek region in the Yellowstone valley, who has won his success by his own industry and good manage- ment, was born in Germany on November 23, 1864. His parents, John and Mary Schlitz, were long en- gaged in farming in Germany, where the mother died in 1867. In 1872 the father, with his son, who was then eight years old, emigrated to the United States, settling in Jackson county, and later in Kos- suth county, Iowa, where the father is now a pros- perous farmer. Mathias attended the schools of Bellevue, Iowa, and when he was eighteen years old left home. In 1881-82 he was in Colorado and Ida- ho, and from 1882 to 1884 was working on rail- roads then building in Oregon. In the fall of 1884 he came to Montana, and, determining to settle per- manently on a ranch of his own, bought the one which has ever since been his home, which is located on Little Porcupine creek in the Yellowstone valley

and comprises 480 acres, all devoted to raising sheep, cattle and hay. It is one of the finest ranches in the valley, and has been made so by the industry, intelligent farming and excellent judg- ment of Mr. Schlitz. In politics Mr. Schlitz is an ardent Republican and omits no effort on his part to secure the success of the principles and candi- dates of his party. He was married at Minne- apolis, Minn., in 1888, to Miss Augusta Larsen, who was born in Sweden in 1866. They have six chil- dren : Harry C., ten years; Guy M., eight years ; Lulu E., six years; George D., three years, and Grace and Gladdis, twins, fourteen months old. For his excellent qualities of head and heart, his enter- prising and progressive methods in his business, his breadth of view in public affairs, and his attractive accomplishments, Mr. Schlitz is highly esteemed.

S YDNEY SANNER was born in Maryland, in 1873, the son of James B. and Maria (Beetly) Sanner, the former also a native of Mary- land, and the latter of Virginia. The father was a soldier for the Confederacy in the Civil war. Both parents were of Revolutionary stock. Our subject was the eleventh of thirteen children. He began his education in his native state, and at the age of fifteen came to Montana, locating first at Butte, but soon after removed to Helena, and went to school, working in the intervals between school hours to pay his living expenses. He was gradu- ated from the high school in 1892, there making by hard study, an excellent record. While attending the high school he diligently. studied law, and after his graduation continued his studies under direction of Judge H. C. Smith. He was admitted to the bar in 1893, and began the practice of his pro- fession in Helena, but in 1895 removed to Big Timber, where he remained four years. In 1899 he took up his residence at Miles City, forming there a professional partnership with Judge George Milburn. This lasted only a short time and was dissolved by mutual consent, after which Mr. San- ner began practicing alone. He has been very suc- cessful in his work and has a large, remunerative and increasing practice, and a strong hold on popu- lar regard.

In all the departments of his professional labors Mr. Sanner is well qualified, but he enjoys trial work more than any other. He is an industrious student, a close and cogent reasoner, a fluent and

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effective speaker, and a conscientious and honorable practitioner, having both the admiration of his large and growing clientage and the respect and esteem of his professional brethren. He has conducted many important cases in eastern Montana, and has made a good reputation in them all.

In politics our subject is an ardent Democrat, and is always active in the service of his party. Twice he has been its candidate for county attor- ney, once in Sweet Grass county and again in Custer. In neither case was he able to overcome the large adverse majority in the county, but his defeat was of considerable advantage to him, as he has gained in practice more than the office would have paid him. He is an active member of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Miles City club.

S TEPHEN SCOTT .- As one of the pioneers of the northwest Mr. Scott is clearly entitled to representation in this volume, while he is honored as one of the sterling citizens and successful stock- growers of Valley county. Mr. Scott comes of stanch Scottish extraction, he himself being a na- tive of Quebec, Canada, where he was born on August 10, 1845. His father, Jonas Scott, born in Scotland, was brought to America by his parents when six years of age, the family settling in the province of Quebec, where he was reared and edu- cated. After leaving school he became a pilot on the St. Lawrence river, and was engaged in that capacity until his death, which occurred at Quebec in 1894. His wife, whose maiden name was Adel- phia Gone, was born at Wolf river, P. Q., and her death occurred in 1879. Stephen Scott received his education in the schools of Quebec and the town of Patten, Maine. In 1856 he came to California, was employed on a cattle ranch during the first winter, and in the following summer devoted his attention to operating a threshing machine. He passed the winter of 1857-58 in the Columbia mines in Calaveras county, and in the spring went to the San Juan river mines, soon, however, returning to San Francisco, where he was engaged in teaming until the spring of 1859. In the fall of 1859 he went to the mines at Washoe, Nev., returning to California in the spring, and until 1862 he was min- ing at Port Wine, Sierra county.

In 1862 Mr. Scott went to the Caribou, B. C., mines, and thence to Queen Charlotte's Island, where he purchased an interest in two developed

mines, and remained until the winter of 1865, when for six months he was mining copper at Rocky Bar, Idaho, whence he came to Helena, where he joined a party of prospectors and, in the spring of 1866, went to the Wind River mountains, in Wyoming, returning to Helena in the winter of 1867- 68 and working in Oregon gulch until Au- gust, when he went north to Winnipeg with a drove of horses. In the winter of 1869 Mr. Scott went to Devil's lake, N. D., and from there to Fort Stevenson, while in the spring of 1870 he was at Fort Buford, which he made his headquar- ters for eighteen years. Mr. Scott operated wood- yards on the Missouri river for several years, fur- nishing fuel to about forty steamboats, at the same time operating a ranch near Williston, N. D. In 1888 Mr. Scott removed his stock to a ranch on the north side of the Missouri river, located about six . miles from the town of Culbertson, and this prop- erty he still owns. Later he established his home on his present ranch on the Fort Peck reservation, on the south side of the Big Muddy and traversed by Wolf creek Here he has a beautifully located, well watered and excellently improved ranch prop- erty, devoted o the raising of cattle and horses, while extensiv: annual yields of hay are cut on the place. Mr. Scott raises a high grade of stock, uses discrimination in his operations and has been signally prospered. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and fraternally he is identified with Yellowstone Lodge No. 84, A. F. & A. M., at Fort Buford. In 1876, at Fort Buford, Mr. Scott was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Lambert, and they have five children : Jessie, Lizzie, Annie, Jo- seph and Stephen.

B ARNEY SCHNEIDER .- This gentleman is a well known and popular citizen and business man of Billings, whose loyalty to his adopted coun- try has been shown by his long service in the regular army. He was born in Germany on October 8, 1849, the son of Peter and Anne Elizabeth (Lich- tenberger) Schneider, both representatives of old German families. The father was a shoemaker and the grandfathers weavers. Mr. Schneider attended the excellent schools of his birthplace and acquired the trade of shoemaker under the effective direction of his father. At the age of sixteen years he sailed for America, arriving in New York in 1865 and soon afterward going to Philadelphia, where he

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worked at his trade until 1869, when he returned to New York city, and was employed in a fish-oil fac- tory for some months, then after a short visit to Philadelphia enlisted at Fort Hamilton in the United States army, as a member of Battery M, First New York Artillery. He was in service for five years, being honorably discharged in New Orleans, where he then worked at his trade for two years, when he again enlisted, becoming a private in the Third United States Infantry. His regiment was soon ordered to Pennsylvania, where it took part in sub- duing the riots at Scranton in 1877, after that being stationed at the Helena (Mont.) fairgrounds.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 154

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