Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 45

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 45

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Spencer is a native of the Dominion of Canada, having been born near Prescott, province of On- tario, on February 9, 1838, the second in order of birth of the eight children of George and Clarissa (Wright) Spencer, natives of Ontario, the father born in 1804 and the mother in 1806, where they passed their entire lives, the father having been engaged in mining for a number of years, but turning his attention to agricultural pursuits after the destruction of his mills by fire. He was a son of Peleg Spencer, who was born in New England, where the original American ancestors took up their abode upon their emigration from England, in the Colonial epoch.

Almon Spencer, to whom this sketch is dedi- cated, was reared and educated in his native prov- ince, and in 1859 he entered upon a seafaring life, devoting about three years as a sailor on the great lakes. In 1864 he started for the Pacific coast, making the trip to California by way of Panama. He remained in that state only a brief interval, continuing his journey to Nevada, where the gold excitement was then at its height. He joined the stampede to that locality where he passed a few months, and in the spring, during the progress of the Sioux war, he made the trip with pack horses from Nevada to Idaho, without being molested by the savages, and devoted the summer to prospect- ing in the vicinity of Idaho City. In the fall of 1865 he started for Montana, arriving in Helena in October, having had no serious encounters with the Indians, although a constant menace at this time. Upon reaching Last Chance, Mr. Spencer joined with others in erecting one of the rude and primitive log cabins which were the usual type of habitation at that time in what is now the beautiful capital city, and in the winter he joined in the memorable Sun river stampede, which en- tailed much suffering to many of the eager gold seekers. The winter was one of great severity and many were lost while en route, perishing from cold or exhaustion, while the reports of the discoveries proved a veritable fiasco. On the return trip Mr. Spencer found one man lying ex- hausted in the snow, and picked the unfortunate fellow up and helped him onward, thus saving his life. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Spencer came to Meagher county, which has been the scene of his well directed efforts and noteworthy attend- ing success. For the first five or six years he gave his attention principally to prospecting and mining with varying degrees of success; and, in

alman Spmm

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the fall of 1872, he made a trip to his old home in Canada, where his marriage was solemnized. The following spring he returned with his bride to Montana, locating near Canyon Ferry, Meagher county, where he engaged in the meat and pro- vision business, continuing operations in this line for a few years and meeting with fair success. He was associated in this enterprise with his brother Harvey, and they eventually removed to White Sulphur Springs and opened the pres- ent general merchandise business in company with Hon. Thomas C. Power and brother, one of Mon- tana's leading capitalists and business men, who is still a resident of Helena. The four were there associated in the conduct of the business, Mr. Power and brother also having a store at Fort Benton, the general supply headquarters of the territory. In 1881 our subject purchased his brother's interest in the enterprise and thereafter continued in partnership with Mr. Power, under the firm name of Spencer & Co., for two years, at the expiration of which period Spencer & Co. dissolved partnership, the business then being con- ducted under the title of Spencer, Mayne & Heit- man. The concern now operates under the firm name of Spencer, Manger & Co., our subject hav- ing purchased Mr. Mayne's interest in the mer- chandising business and transferred to that gen- tleman his interests in the land and live stock which had been owned by the company. The mercantile establishment with its stock is excep- tionally select and comprehensive in all lines, and an extensive business is controlled, the trade be- ing derived from a wide radius of country nor- mally tributary to the beautiful little city of White Sulphur Springs. In addition to the retail sales- rooms the concern has a large warehouse, re- quired for the accommodation of surplus stock. The Spencer brothers erected the present store, which was the first business structure of any im- portance in the town. The firm has devoted much attention to interests aside from those purely mercantile, having had control of import- ant mining and ranching properties. At the pres- ent time it may be noted that they have a cer- tain amount of mining property under patent, a portion of the same being located in Copperopolis and a part of which was bonded and sold in 1900. While the original partnership association ob- tained, they also had landed and stock interests of extensive scope and importance, controlling thousands of acres of land and large herds of

cattle and bands of sheep. As has been before stated, Mr. Spencer disposed of his interests in this line. From even the few points here entered concerning the career of Mr. Spencer it will be seen that he is a man of great business ability, strongly recognized by the people of Meagher county, while his genial nature has gained to him a wide circle of friends. The family home, which is a center of gracious hospitality, is a fine brick residence, located immediately at the foot of Main street.

At Spencerville, Ontario, Canada, on the 14th of February, 1873, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Stitt, who was born in that province, the daughter of William and Margaret Stitt, who emigrated from the north of Ireland, where they were born and reared. Mrs. Spencer accompanied her husband on his return to Montana shortly after their marriage, and in this state their four children have been born, the youngest having the distinction of be- ing the first white child born in White Sulphur Springs. Of the children we enter the following brief record: Gideon Kennedy is associated with his father in business, being a member of the firm; Irene is the wife of Austin C. Gormley, of Great Falls ; Herman Wright is identified with the mercantile business in White Sulphur Springs ; and Almon Clark is a student in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, being a member of the class of 1902.

W ILLIAM H. SAFFORD .- This well known citizen of Great Falls is a scion of families identified with America from the early provincial epoch, and producing in each generation men of loyalty and women of gentle refinement. Repre- sentatives of both ancestral sides served as soldiers of the Revolution and in the war of 1812, while he upheld the family honor by valiantly defending the old flag in the Civil war. Judge Safford has contributed in no small measure to the ad- vancement and prosperity of Great Falls and Cas- cade county. He was born at Keeseville, N. Y., on December 3, 1844, bearing the full patronymic of his father, William Henry Safford, who was born in the same state on September 17, 1815, and was for years a druggist at Keeseville, where he died on November 4, 1846. Previous to her marriage his wife was Miss Julia Amelia Sanborn,

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born at Fort Covington, N. Y., on November 17, 1821, and in her venerable age she is tenderly cared for by her only daughter. Judge Safford is the youngest of three children, the others being Hiram Sprague Safford, of San Francisco, and Louisa M., wife of George V. Webster, residing at Gouver- neur, N. Y. His emigrant ancestors in the paternal line came from England to America between 1623 and 1630, while those of the maternal line were colonists of New England at an equally early date. His maternal great-great-grandfather actively participated in the Revolution, and the grandfather served with distinction as brigadier-general in the war of 1812.

William H. Safford attended the public schools and Keeseville Academy until he was eleven years old, and in 1855 he went to Willoughby, Ohio, for a few months, and then located in Pulaski, Oswego · county, N. Y., where he completed his education in the noted Pulaski Academy, and simultaneously was a clerk in a merchandising establishment. In December, 1860, he removed to Redwood, in Jef- ferson county, where he was living when came the call for volunteers in the Civil war. With his in- herited loyalty and patriotism he enlisted among the very first, in April, 1861, as a private in Com- pany H, Twenty-fourth New York Infantry. He was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, serv- ing in the First Brigade of the First Division of the First Army Corps, until his muster out, on May 29, 1863, when he returned to Redwood. On July 20, 1863, he re-enlisted, as sergeant in Company F, Twentieth New York Cavalry, and was mus- tered out as second lieutenant on July 31, 1865, practically serving the entire period of the war. In his first service he participated in the engage- ments of Second Bull Run, the battles continuing from the 22d to the 3Ist of August, 1862, and in the engagements of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, while during his second term in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina he was doing provost scout duty and other service of similar character.

The war ended Judge Safford returned to his old home and served a full apprenticeship to the harnessmaker's trade, becoming a skilled artisan. He followed this business there until May, 1873, when he located in the same employment at Far- well, Clare county, Mich. He was soon recognized as a leading citizen and served as township treas- urer, president of the village, member and secre- tary of the school board for nine years and as one

of the trustees of the county during most of his residence in Clare. In 1892 he removed to Great Falls, Mont., where is now his home. Arriving here in July, in October he built a store at Boston Heights, where he conducted a grocery with R. H. Knox, as Safford & Knox, which was con- tinued until April, 1894, when the Judge entered into partnership with Albert Sires in the Cascade Commission Company, this business ending in 1896. In November, 1898, Judge Safford was elected justice of the peace and was chosen his own successor in 1900. He has ever been a stanch Republican. On October 17, 1867, Judge Safford was united in marriage to Rosetta A. Kimball. Their four children are Edward Peck, born April 8, 1870, at Redwood, N. Y., is now division road master of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, with headquarters at White Pigeon, Mich .; George Perkins Safford, born August 8, 1873, died in 1881; William Henry, Jr., born at Farwell, Mich., December 24, 1874, resides at Great Falls ; Frank A., born at Farwell, August 8, 1878, died November 13, 1878.

The Judge was made a Mason at Alexandria Bay, N. Y., and became a charter member of Corning Lodge at Farwell, Mich. In 1890 he passed the capitular degrees at Mt. Pleasant, Mich., and is now past high priest of Great Falls Chapter. He became a member of the council of Royal and Select Masters in 1891. The Judge was com- mander of Gen. Charles Griffin Post No. 386, G. A. R., in Michigan from 1887 to 1892, and was its delegate to the national encampment at Milwaukee in 1889. His present affiliation is with Sheridan Post No. 18, at Great Falls, of which he was com- mander in 1896. He also served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Lawler in 1896, and of Gen. Walker in 1897, commander-in-chief of the Department of Montana. He also holds mem- bership in Sherman Tent No. 421, K. O. T. M., at Farwell, Mich. He was one of the prime factors in the erection of a soldiers' monument in Highland cemetery, Great Falls, this being the first erected in Montana. The monument is a dignified and beautiful piece of work, the lateral dimensions being 10x10 feet and the height fifteen. On the four sides are these inscriptions : "In memory of the boys who wore the blue ;" "In memory of the boys who wore the grey ;" "In mem- ory of the boys who fought in the Indian wars of Montana and in the Spanish-American and Philip- pine wars;" while the fourth is a history of an

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eight-inch Columbiad cannon, manufactured by the Federal government at West Point in 1854. This was sent south in 1860 by John B. Floyd, then secretary of war, and was captured by the Union troops in 1862 at Norfolk, Va., and used by them until the close of the war, when it was placed on Bedloe's island, in New York harbor. In 1898 it was presented to Sheridan post. This historical gun will surmount the monument.

CHARLES P. SCHERMERHORN .- As a lead- ing representative of the sartorial art in the capital city, and as one of the successful and pro- gressive business men of the state, this represent- ative of good old Holland ancestry merits recogni- tion in this compilation. Aside from his local in- terests he is prominently concerned in outside enterprises of wide scope and importance, having taken advantage of the opportunities afforded him and made an enviable record as an alert factor in the business world. Mr. Schermerhorn was born in the old Dutch town of Cobleskill, Schoharie county, N. Y., in the year 1859, the son of Will- iam J. and Sarah E. (Leonard) Schermerhorn, the former born in Cambridge, N. Y., and the latter in the national metropolis, their marriage being solemnized in 1857. The father received his edu- cation in his native town, and upon attaining ma- turity devoted his attention to the merchant tailor- ing business, in which he was long engaged. In religion he held to the faith of the Methodist Epis- copal church. His father, John S. Schermerhorn, was likewise a native of the Empire state, and the latter's father, the great-grandfather, was born in Holland, emigrated to America to join his worthy countrymen, so conspicuously concerned in the history of the nation while the grandfather was born in the United States. The maternal grand- father of our subject was an active participant in the war of the Rebellion, serving with distinction in the Union army.

Charles P. Schermerhorn was educated in the public schools of the Empire state, and as a young man became identified with his father in the mer- chant tailoring business at Glen's Falls, N. Y., where he was located for five years. In the year 1887 he came to Helena and engaged in the same line of enterprise to which he has since devoted his attention, controlling a fine business and se- curing a distinctively representative support. His

establishment is thoroughly metropolitan in its equipments, stock and facilities ; only skilled work- men are employed, and the products are up to the highest sartorial standard. He owns real estate in Glens Falls, N. Y., and is a far-sighted and reliable business man, respected in all the relations of life. Politically Mr. Schermerhorn exercises his franchise in support of the Republican party; re- ligiously he is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, as is also his wife. His fraternal alliances are with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In the former he has taken the capitular degrees. In 1893 Mr. Schermerhorn was united in marriage to Miss Emily Horner, who was born in London, England, whence she accompanied her parents to America as a child, her father becoming a prom- inent attorney of LaCrosse, Wis. Mrs. Schermer- horn is a graduate of Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Marion E., who was born in Helena in 1895, and who lends life and brightness to the family home, which is a center of refined hospitality.

0 RLANDO SAWYER .- This gentleman is a prominent citizen of Gilt Edge, Fergus county, a veteran of the war of the Rebel- lion and one who has been prominent in educa- tional work in various sections of the Union. He was born in Waldo county, Me., on the 14th of March, 1836, the son of Thomas and Betsey A. (Murray) Sawyer, both of whom were born in Maine, the former being of the old Hannibal Ham- lin stock and the latter in the maternal line, of the Grant . family, prominent in Maine history. Thomas Sawyer was a farmer in his native state until his death, which occurred in 1885. His widow survived him until 1893, when she, too, passed away, at a venerable age. Thomas Sawyer was a stanch Republican and one of the organizers of that party in Maine. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the Universalist church. Of their six children only Orlando survives. Those deceased were Mary, Almeda, Laura, Flora and Weston.

Orlando Sawyer attended the public schools of Maine until he was seventeen, and in 1853 he be- gan teaching and thereafter was identified with educational work for twenty years. From Maine he removed to Illinois in 1858, and from that state

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to Kansas, where he remained until he came to Montana. While engaged in teaching he continued his student habits, made marked advancement in knowledge, and filled with ability the important offices of classical examiner, county superintend- ent and principal for many years, and proved a dis- tinctive force in the educational field. During his educational work in Kansas he aided in organiz- ing the Kansas State Teachers' Association, and was its first secretary and second president. In 1863, during the Civil war, Mr. Sawyer gave evi- dence of his loyalty and patriotism by enlisting in the Union army. He served as sergeant major of the Nineteenth Kansas Infantry until he re- ceived his discharge at Fort Leavenworth in Oc- tober, 1864. His entire service was passed in Kansas and Missouri, engaged in guerrilla war- fare almost wholly, but he participated in the his- toric battle of Independence and the Battle of the Blue. Mr. Sawyer closed his connection with edu- cational work in 1873, and thereafter held for four- teen years the office of county surveyor of Wash- ington county, Kan., at the same time being en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and stockraising. In 1889 he cast in his lot with Montana, locating at Lewistown, where he conducted a successful livery business until 1894, when he removed to Gilt Edge, where he has since been identified with mining enterprises. He owns a one-third interest in the Whiskey gulch property, and has several promising prospects. He is one of the leaders of the Republican party in his section of the state, and was president of the Gilt Edge Republican Club during the campaign of 1900. For the past seven years Mr. Sawyer has been a justice of the peace at Gilt Edge, and is a leading citizen of the village, where he has a pleasant home. Fraternally he is identified with the Grand Army of the Re- public, the ancient-craft body of Freemasonry (of which he has been a member since 1865), the An- cient Order of United Workmen and the Select Knights. He is well known in this section of the state and is held in high esteem.

On the 25th of November, 1858, Mr. Sawyer was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Cushman, who was born in Penobscot county, Me., the daughter of Abial and Celia Cushman, likewise natives of the old Pine Tree state. Abial Cushman was a direct descendant of the Cushman who came to Plymouth, Mass., on the Mayflower in 1620. Abial Cushman was one of the leading business men of Maine, and was long engaged in lumbering on the

Penobscot river and also in merchandising. He ivas a Democrat and a man of influence. Mrs. Sawyer died on the 2d of June, 1867, leaving two children-Fred W. and Celia- a third child having died in infancy. On the 2d of January, 1868, Mr. Sawyer consummated a second marriage with Miss Nancy Andre, who was born in Ohio. To this union five children have been born, namely: Ida M., Annie C., Etta M., Burton J. and Frank E. Five of the children still remain at the parental home.

FREDERICK V. SCHEUER .- The career of this sterling pioneer of Montana gives an il- lustration of what is possible of accomplishment in this fair land of ours, and Mr. Scheuer has not been lacking in those essential equipments-en- ergy, industry and well directed purpose. He came to America in his youth, a stranger in a strange land, and without knowledge of the lan- guage of his adopted country. Success under such conditions implies indomitable perseverance and self-reliance, and that many obstacles must be en- countered and surmounted-difficulties unknown to the youth born and reared under our republican institutions. Mr. Scheuer is a native of the prov- ince of Rheinhessen, Germany, where he was born on March 10, 1832, the youngest of the five chil- dren of Adam and Helena Scheuer, both of whom passed their entire lives in Germany, the father as a farmer and wine merchant. In the public schools of his native land Mr. Scheuer laid the foundation for that education which found ampli- fication through the.associations of an active busi- ness career. At the early age of fourteen years he secured employment in a grocery and there remain- ing until 1850, when, at the age of eighteen years, he severed the home ties and valiantly set forth to seek his fortunes in America. Making his way to Ohio, Mr. Scheuer found employment in the con- struction of a canal, a work carried forward by the state. He thus was enabled to become familiar with the English language, fortifying himself for endeavors of a broader scope. He later became identified with the grocery business in Ohio, where he continued to make his home until 1857, when he removed to Indiana and there engaged in the grocery trade for two years. In 1859 the gold excitement in Colorado was at its height, and Mr. Scheuer joined in an expedition to Pike's Peak, safely reaching his destination and devoting his at-

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tention to prospecting and mining until 1862, when the alluring tales of the richness of the new "dig- gings" in Montana led him to make the journey to this state, then a portion of the territory of Idaho. He made his way to the old city of Bannack, and was there engaged in the placer mines until the spring of the following year, when he went to the Blackfoot mining district and remained one year. Desirous of becoming familiar with the processes of working silver ore, our subject made a trip to Nevada, locating in Virginia City, and was em- ployed in the Gold Hill mill and other places about eighteen months. His health being seriously impaired he returned to Montana and engaged in mining in Nelson gulch, near the present capital city ; but in 1866 he took up his abode at Union- ville, where he remained five years. He then went to Cable, where he engaged in mining during the summer of 1867; returned to Helena in the fall and entered the employ of James U. Whitlatch, with whom he was associated for a number of years. He was thereafter engaged in divers sec- tions of the state until 1878, when he entered the employ of Senator William A. Clark, in the Dex- ter mill, until 1879. Desiring business of his own he established a grocery in Butte, which he con- ducted very successfully for nearly eighteen years, disposing of the business in 1896 and removing to Park canyon, a few miles distant, where he has since maintained his home, his postoffice ad- dress being Woodville. He now devotes his atten- tion principally to his mining interests, having some valuable properties.

In his political allegiance Mr. Scheuer is arrayed in the support of the Democratic party ; fraternally he is identified with the time-honored Masonic order, being a member of Butte Lodge No. 22, A. F. & A. M .; Deer Lodge Chapter No. 3. R. A. M .; Butte Council No. 2, R. & S. M., taking a deep interest in the affairs of the various bodies of this noble fraternity.

On February 15, 1873, Mr. Scheuer was united in marriage to Mrs. Isabel Jackson, who was born in Christiania, Norway, and of their three children, the eldest, Catherine, died in infancy. Frederick WV. resides in Butte, and Rita is in Helena.

"Few there are in Montana today who can boast of having been wined and dined by Gen. Grant, exchanged cigars or borrowed a light from the illustrious statesman and warrior, but Freder- ick V. Scheuer, of Butte, enjoys that distinction," says the Anaconda Standard of August 4, 1901.

It was on the occasion when the Northern Pacific Railway was completed, an event which brought into touch the two oceans and girded the American continent with its first band of steel. "For years the work had been going on, and when it was an- nounced that the last rail was to be laid at Gar- rison, near Gold creek, all Montana flocked to the scene. * * * Gen. Grant, William Evarts, Senator Henry Teller, Carl Schurz and several noted Englishmen were present. * The occasion was a most auspicious one. The last spike was to be a golden one and the honor of driving it down was reserved for the president of the road, Henry Villard. *

* * Frederick V. Scheuer, voluble of speech and affable of man- ner, though slightly handicapped with a quaint German accent, stood among the great men un- abashed, enjoying the scene immensely. * * * 'Py chiminy,' said Mr. Scheuer, in telling the inci- dent to a reporter for the Standard, 'it vas pleas- antness to meet all dose Chermans. I made my- self solid mit dem und I shakes Carl Schurz py der hand. Ve vas standing close peside Cheneral Grant, and Carl Schurz says: 'Cheneral Grant, al- low me to presentation Herr Scheuer; of Montana." Cheneral Grant says : "I am delicious to meet you, Herr Scheuer," und he gives me a cigar. I did not have a match, und I says, "Cheneral, give me a light," und he hands me his own cigar. * * * I can never forget the joyousness of der peoples ven der spike was inade down. *

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 45

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