Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 159

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 159

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C P. SPELLMAN .- One of the practical busi- ness men and stockgrowers of Valley county is Mr. Spellman who has attained success through in- dustry and the discriminating utilization of the ad- vantages afforded in Montana. He was born on a farm near New "Frankfort, Scott county, Ind., on October 2, 1860. His father, William Spellman, born in Ohio, in 1828, as a young man removed to Indiana, locating in Scott county, where he has since resided and carried on a farm. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Miller, was like- wise born in Ohio. She accompanied her parents to Indiana, where she was reared and educated and still resides. Our subject assisted in the work of the old homestead while he attended the public schools of New Frankfort. In 1880, at the age of twenty, he came to Montana, and after being one year in the employ of Rev. F. A. Riggin, in Jef- ferson county, he rented the ranch for the next year.

In 1883 Mr. Spellman went to the Judith Basin, and herded cattle until 1888. In 1889 he was em- ployed in Helena until fall, when he went to Valley county and secured employment on the ranch of Henry Seiben in the Little Rockies, and remained

until the fall of 1892, when he secured a third in- terest in the general merchandising business of R. M. Trafton & Co., at Malta, to which he devoted his time until 1897, when he retired from the firm and has since given his attention to cattle and sheep, utilizing the range of the Little Rockies for his herds and conducting operations extensively and with excellent success. In politics he belongs to the Republican party. In Malta, on May 27, 1895, Mr. Spellman was united in marriage with Miss Olive Lotsenhizer, who was born in Michigan, and who died at Malta, May 26, 1897.

C 'HRISTIAN STEINBACH .- Twenty-five miles northwest of Wolf creek, in Lewis and Clarke county, lies a fine cattle ranch of 1,640 acres. It is the joint home of Christian Steinbach and Mr. Anton Alt, his business partner, a sketch of whom appears in another portion of this work. Mr. Stein- bach was born on March 10, 1860, at Wurtemberg, Germany, the son of Gottleib and Christina Stein- bach, natives of that place. Gottleib Steinbach was a hotelkeeper, combining this business with a profit- able bakery. He died in 1879, a devout member of the Lutheran church. The wife and mother, Chris- tiana Gottleib, is now in Wurtemberg, but has re- married with Louis Haag, a successful farmer. Christian Steinbach was a bright, intelligent lad, and improved every opportunity that offered it- self, making good progress with his studies in the public schools until he was fourteen. He then learned the trade of blacksmith, and paid $50 for a right to learn it. At this he continued to labor until he was twenty-two years old. During this time he passed eighteen months in Switzerland, and for three years he received fifty cents a day, which later was advanced to $2.50. The smallness of remuneration of labor in his native land induced him to come to the United States. Accordingly he sailed thither, landed at New York and immediate- ly came to Helena, Mont. He engaged at ranch work at $45 per month for eight months and passed the next six months in "tending bar." In the spring of 1883 he located at East Helena, and, with Mr. Anton Alt took charge of a farin owned by Chris- topher Keuck. Their two years labor in this enter- prise were well rewarded.

Christian Steinbach then found employment with Daniel Flowerree, driving a coach for $40 per month. After a few months in ranch work he re-

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turned to Helena and resumed blacksmithing in devoted his attention to teaming on the Northern that city until the next July. He then engaged in Pacific Railroad, whose line was then in process of construction along the Yellowstone river. In 1885 Mr. Stevens niade a trip to the Northwest territory, returning to Fort Benton in the fall and entering the employ of the Choteau Livestock Com- pany, with which he remained about eight years. In 1893 he located on his present ranch, at the mouth of People's creek and near Dodson station on the line of the Great Northern Railroad, which is his postoffice address. Mr. Stevens gives his at- tention to raising cattle and horses, and is conduct- ing operations on a constantly expanding scale. He is a Democrat in his political proclivities. In 1893, at the residence of the bride's father, Legre Ereaux, elsewhere mentiond in this volume, Mr. Stevens was united in marriage to Miss Rosalie Ereaux, and of this union four children have been born, Esther, Benjamin, Jr., Kate and Mary. a butcher's shop at Helena for seven months, re- ceiving $2.50 a day. Then, with his former partner, Anton Alt, he engaged in dairying, and this proved quite profitable. In the spring of 1891 he pur- chased the improvements on the ranch upon which he now resides. It then comprised homestead and desert claims of 160 acres each. In 1892 Anton Alt secured homestead and desert claims of the same amount, and this land was added to the original ranch. Other lands have been added until the property embraces 1,640 acres, and on 100 acres hay and grain can be profitably raised. On June 24, 1886, Mr. Steinbach was married to Miss Emma Milch, a native of Baden, Germany. Her father early a miner was a farmer in later life, and now resides in Philipsburg. His wife died on Septem- ber 2, 1896. They were both members of the Cath- olic church. Of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Steinbach three are dead. The living ones are Lia C., Henry A. and William C. The parents are Catholics. On national issues Mr. Steinbach affili- ates with the Republican party, but in local affairs he is extremely liberal.

BENJAMIN STEVENS .- Successfully engaged in the raising of cattle and horses on his fine ranch property on the Fort Belknap Indian reservation, Mr. Stevens is recognized as one of the progressive and representative young business men of this section of the state. He is a native of Clayton county, Iowa, born on January 19, 1862, the son of Christopher Stevens, who was born in Kentucky in 1834, and who removed to the west, having been for some time engaged in farming in California and having eventually taken up his resi- dence in Clayton county, Iowa, where he continued in the same vocation until his death, in 1866. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Benton, was born in New York in 1841, and died at Sacra- mento, Cal., in 1878.

Benjamin Stevens received his educational dis- cipline in the public schools of McGregor and Clay- ton, Iowa, and he continued at the old homestead until 1878, when he started out in life on his own responsibility, making his way to the west and be- ing engaged in freighting in Nebraska, South Da- kota and Wyoming for some time. In 1880 he came to Miles City, Mont., and for the ensuing four years

BENJAMIN F. STICKNEY may most consist- ently be designated as one of the pioneers of the Pacific coast and of Montana, in which state he has maintained his residence for nearly forty years, having been identified with the early his- tory of the territory, and having witnessed the var- ious stages of development which have placed Montana well to the front among her sister states. With the development of her various resources he has been concerned, and is now one of the pros- perous farmers and stockgrowers in the vicinity of Craig, Lewis and Clarke county, where he is held in the highest esteem for his sterling character and well directed efforts.

Mr. Stickney is a native of Monroe county, N. Y., where he was born on October 23, 1838, being the son of Abia and Diana Stickney, both of whom were born in the old Green Mountain state of Vermont. In 1844 they removed from the state of New York to Ogle county, Ill., where the father continued to be engaged in farming until his death, which oc- curred in 1851. He was a devoted member of the Christian church, as was also his wife, and in politics he gave his support to the Republican party from the time of its organization. The mother of our subject entered into eternal rest in 1863.

Benjamin F. Stickney received but limited edu- cational advantages in his youth, attending the common schools of his native state in a rather desultory way, but this discipline afforded founda-

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tion for the large fund of well assimilated infor- mation which has come to him through personal ap- plication and association with men and affairs in the long years of his useful and honorable life. He began to assist his father while still a mere lad and continued on the old homestead until he had at- tained the age of nineteen years, when he began to work for himself, dividing his income with his par- ents until they had passed to their reward. In March, 1859, he went to Missouri, whence he re- turned to Illinois in the spring and entered the employ of A. E. Bowles, a farmer, whose place was located five miles north of Quincy. In the fall of the same year he proceeded to St. Joseph, Mo., where he engaged in the work of bridge car- pentry, in the employ of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, with which he continued until 1860, when he went to Colorado, in the employ of the Lyons & Pullman Company, driving a team through to Central City and making the trip in seven weeks time. Immediately after arriving at his destination he severed his association with the firm mentioned, and engaged in prospecting and mining on his own responsibility, meeting with fair success. In the fall of 1863 Mr. Stickney bought a team and wagon, secured a load of provisions and started on the overland trip to Virginia City, Mont., where he devoted his attention to freighting and mining. He eventually purchased a claim in Bevin's gulch, mining the same out with good returns, after which he resumed freighting for a brief interval and then purchased a claim in Alder gulch, where he secured good results from his placer mining until the supply of water ran short, when he gave the claim to his friend, Edward Plank, and resumed freighting between the various mining camps in the territory. He continued in this line of enter- prise until 1872, when he sold his business to John A. Largent and Joseph Hill, and in the spring of that year took up his abode on his present ranch, the original property being a squatter's claim of 160 acres, and the same being located east of the present village of Craig and on the Missouri river, the entire tract being available for cultivation. His crops for the first six seasons were failures, being destroyed by grasshoppers, which were so num- erous at times as to reach a depth of four inches at various points. He engaged also in the raising of cattle, in which he has been successful, while his efforts to raise horses in the earlier years were not very satisfactory, though of late he has been more successful in this line. In 1898 he engaged also

in sheepgrowing, and this branch of his ranching industry has proved consecutively profitable. Since purchasing his first claim he has added 2,894 acres to his ranch and also leases 1,440 acres of railroad land. From 1872 until 1875 Mr. Stickney was as- sociated with Mr. J. F. Wegner in the operation of the Craig ferry, and in the latter year our subject purchased his partner's interest, and has since con- ducted the ferry across the Missouri river at this point. He also built and conducted the first general merchandise store in Craig, opening the same in 1886 and retaining a successful business until he disposed of the same in 1896. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party.

On the 3d of November, 1873, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stickney to Miss Rachel Ware- ham, who was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of George and Annie Wareham, likewise born in that state, the father having devoted his life to the vocation of farming. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and his religious affiliations were with the Church of God, of which his wife was a member. The latter passed away in 1854, and he lived until May 5, 1895, dying at a venerable age. Mr. and Mrs. Stickney have three children : Annie L., Rosa M. and Abbie.

W ALTER D. STORY .- The prosperous, pro- gressive and enterprising ranchman who forms the subject of these paragraphs is a native of Meigs county, Ohio, where his life began in 1861. His parents were Byron and Betsey J. (Co- nant) Story, the former a native of New Hamp- shire and the latter of Ohio. The father was brought to Ohio when he was a child and became a prosperous farmer. His family consisted of eight children, of whom Walter was the oldest. Our subject attended the public schools of his native place until he was ten years old, and was then sent for nine years to an excellent private seminary located at Tupper's Plains, not far from his home. After leaving school he worked on the farm for a year, but with a longing for the freedom and op- portunity afforded ambitious young men in the great northwest he came to Montana in 1881, ar- riving at Bozeman by way of Dillon and Virginia City. His first work was at the West Gallatin Flour Mill, but he soon gave it up to take a place in Nelson Story's bank at Bozeman, Mr. Story being his uncle. In the spring of 1882 he went to Yellow-

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stone valley and took charge of his uncle Nelson's cow ranch, remaining until 1885; he then went twenty miles south of Livingston and took charge of his uncle's horse ranch, where he remained until 1889. At that time he went to Park City, as the partner of his uncle in the ownership of 13,000 cat- tle, which he sold to M. H. Murphy in 1891, and the next two years was engaged in delivering them. In 1893 he purchased a farm of 480 acres two miles west of Park City, which he stocked with 200 head of cattle and 400 horses. In 1897 he erected a barn 34x50 feet in dimensions, and two years later another 50x100 feet, each with a stone basement. His dwelling is 15x30 feet with an L 24x40, and all other buildings and improvements on the ranch being in keeping therewith. He has the land all fenced and under good irrigation, and 200 acres in a high state of cultivation, with a small but very fruitful orchard. His stock consists of 300 cattle and 100 horses at this time ( 1901).

Mr. Story was married in 1884 to Miss Kate Payne, of Ohio. They have three children living, namely : Ralph, aged fifteen ; Rose, aged fourteen, and Clara, aged ten, all attending school in Park City. The oldest child, Wilbur, died in 1901 at the age of sixteen. In politics Mr. Story is a Re- publican, but liberal in his views. He is broad in religious belief and a liberal contributor to several churches. He has one of the best ranches in Yel- lowstone valley and is esteemed one of the leading and most useful citizens of his county.

LBERT

A C. STOUTENBURG .- Living in peace and plenty on a farm of 700 acres of good land, located four miles south of Utica, in Fergus county, which he has made a model of thrift and fruitfulness, Albert C. Stoutenburg is apparently safe from the shafts of adversity and beyond the reach of ill fortune. He is native of County Grey, Ontario, Canada, where he was born on August 16, 1862, a son of Peter and Caroline Stoutenburg, the former of Holland and the latter of English nativity. They emigrated to Canada in their early life, and the father there engaged in farming, at which he prospered. He belonged to the Liberal party in politics, and both were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their family consisted of thirteen children, of whom Albert G. was the youngest. Mr. Stoutenburg had but few educational advantages in the schools, being obliged

when thirteen to devote his time to labor on the farm, and to continue at this until he was eighteen. But, being of an observing disposition, quick to learn and tenacious to retain, he is self-educated from active contact with men of affairs in the hard school of experience. In 1880 he came to Mon- tana, locating at Helena, where he secured ranch work at a compensation of $45 a month and board. After a faithful service of some months he re- moved to the Judith basin and remained four years with his brother John, who was manager for the Sage Creek Sheep Company. At the end of that time he went back to Canada and spent two years speculating in grain. He then returned to Mon- tana and took up the homestead portion of his pres- ent ranch, adding to it until it embraces 700 acres, on which he produces large annual yields of hay, oats and barley. For some years after taking pos- session of it he raised cattle on a scale commen- surate with his facilities. But he is now giving his attention almost wholly to sheep. In politics Mr. Stoutenburg is a Republican. He was married on March 26, 1885, to Miss Mary A. Campbell, who was born in Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Thomas M. and Jane Campbell, Irish by birth,

who came to America when they were young. The father was a Christian minister and a member of the Masonic Order. The Stoutenburgs are the parents of eight children, one of whom, Maggie, is now deceased. The living are: Jane C., Sarah, Albert C., Jr., Edward, Emily, Peter M. and Mary A. Both parents are members of the Presby- terian church and enjoy the good will and esteem of their neighbors, and have a large number of ad- miring friends.

CUSTAVE STROBEL .- Printing, "the art pre- servative," which is still essentially in posses- sion of masters of the craft, although Mergenthaler has replaced the deft digits of the compositor with a mechanical device that greatly lessens the labor and reduces the importance of the art, has in Montana no worthier or more respected represent- ative than Gustave Strobel of the State Publishing Company, of Helena, who was born in Iowa, in 1866, the son of John G. and Verena (Walser) Strobel, natives of Germany, who, emigrating to the United States, settled in Iowa, where John G. became a prosperous shoemaker. Gustave was edu- cated in the public schools and when seventeen came

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to Montana, and for a time he was here engaged in mining; but having a mechanical mind which could not find its proper expression in delving or digging, he turned his attention to the trade of printing, to finish here the course he had begun in his more eastern home. To this end he entered the employ of the Journal Publishing Company, of Helena, and remained with it for seven or eight years. He then established an office of his own which has since been merged in the State Publish- ing Company, of which he is the president and a stockholder and controls its mechanical department.

The State Publishing Company has come rapidly into favor and business success, has a wide and high reputation for the excellence of its work, and is recognized as one of the leading printing plants of the northwest. Its great prosperity and the firm hold it has on the confidence of the public and the business community is largely due to the skill of Mr. Strobel and his ability in conducting its affairs. He is a member of the Typographical Union of Helena and gives to its welfare an energetic and earnest attention. He married in June, 1899, with Miss Charlotte Ashman, daughter of Stephen Aslı- man, a well known merchant of Philadelphia. Mr. Strobel is a modest, unassuming gentleman, who knows no higher aspiration in life than to do well his duty wherever its claims may lead, and in so doing has illustrated forcibly the value of a clear purpose intelligently followed out. His career is a credit to the manhood and industry which have made America great.

H AVILLAH B. STRONG, who is one of the prosperous and enterprising farmers and stock- growers of the Sun River valley, Cascade county, has achieved a worthy success and is also honored as one of the veterans of the war of the Rebellion. He was born on the 6th of September, 1839, in Allegany county, N. Y., being the son of James and Orpha Strong, likewise natives of the old Em- pire state, whence they emigrated to Illinois in 1843, and still farther west in 1849. The father was originally engaged in farming, but later turned his attention for a time to freighting through the west, being this engaged until 1869, when he came to the Sun River valley, in Cascade county, Mont., where he engaged in farming and stockraising upon quite an extensive scale, meeting with success. The mother of our subject passed away on the 3d of June, 1900. His father still resides in Cascade

county, of which he is an honored pioneer. He originally voted the Democratic ticket, but eventu- ally transferred his allegiance to the Republican party. His wife was a devoted and consistent mem- ber of the Methodist church.

Havillah B. Strong, the immediate subject of this sketch, had rather limited educational advan- tages in his youth, his boyhood days having been passed principally in Illinois, where he attended the district schools as occasion . presented. He con- tinued to assist his father on the farm until he had attained the age of eighteen years. At the out- break of the Civil war he tendered his services to the cause of his country, enlisting in 1862 as a mem- ber of the Ninth Illinois Infantry, with which he served three years, after which he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge and being mustered out in 1865. The succeeding five years Mr. Strong was engaged in farming in Iowa, whence he returned to Illi- nois, where he passed one year, and in 1872 came to Sun River, Mont., where he has since devoted his attention to farming and stockgrowing, in which gratifying success has attended his discriminating and careful methods. He took up homestead and pre-emption claims aggregating 320 acres, and has since purchased an additional 435 acres, while so excellent is the system of irrigation available that the whole tract may be put under a high state of cultivation His industry and upright dealings in all the relations of life have given him prestige and the high regard of the people of the community. In politics he gives his unqualified support to the Republican party.

On the 3d of April, 1863, Mr. Strong was married to Miss Susan E. Cronk, who was born in New York, as were also her parents, Festus and Amelia Cronk, both of whom are now deceased. Festus Cronk was a successful farmer and stockraiser, was a man of highest integrity, and in politics was a stalwart Republican. To Mr. and Mrs. Strong six children have been born, and one of the number, Mary L., is deceased. The others are Arthur, Al- bert, Ida O., Ada M. and Eva. Mrs. Strong is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church.

M ORTIMER L. STRONG, who is one of the representative ranchmen of Cascade county, and who may be justly considered a pioneer of Montana, was born near Belvidere, Ill., on the 20th of November, 1850, being the son of James and

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Orpha Strong, both of whom were natives of the old Empire state, whence they removed to Illinois in the year 1843 and six years later came to the far west, the father engaging in freighting in divers sections of this portion of the Union. In 1859 he was one of the number that formed the Pike's Peak rush and was always a pioneer. Hc was long associated with and a personal friend of the celebrated Kit Carson, Jim Bridger and other historie characters. In 1869 he came to Sun River valley, where he was successfully engaged in ranch- ing and cattleraising until 1882. He then sold his ranch to his son Mortimer and made his home in Sun River village until his death, which occurred on September 9, 1901, in his eighty-sixth year. He was one of the highly respected citizens of the county. Originally he gave his support to the Democratic party, but in later years was affiliated with the Republicans. His wife was summoned into eternal rest on the 3rd of June, 1900, having been a devoted member of the Methodist church.

Mortimer L. Strong, to whom this sketch is spe- cifically devoted, received a common school edu- cation and continued to assist his parents until the year 1871, having aided in the operation of the parental ranch during the time that his father was engaged in freighting. In the spring of 1872, having attained his legal majority, he engaged to work for his father for wages, and thus continued for a period of three years. In 1874 he filed entry op a pre-emption claim of 160 acres, and later secured desert and homestead claims, aggregating 320 acres, while he has also purchased about 800 acres. This fine ranch property he has improved in an excellent way, has here been successful in raising cattle, 400 acres of the ranch being available for effective cul- tivation.

Politically Mr. Strong gave his support to the Republican party until the silver issue became para- mount, when he transferred his allegiance to the Silver Republican party, of whose principles and policies he has since been a stanch advocate. He has been very energetie and has used marked discre- tion in his operations, while his life is ever con- formed to those high principles of integrity which invariably beget objective confidence and esteem.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 159

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