Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 46

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 46

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* * Der crowd vas vild with delightedness und der scene I shall never forget. I drank Rhine vine with dose Cher- mans, and smoked cigars with Cheneral Grant un- til it was time to go back to Butte. * I

* * had such a pleasant conversations by Cheneral Grant that I hated to leave. Any way I vas not hungry like some of dose fellows.' Mr. Scheuer enjoys telling the story, and many old-timers will remember the incident."

JOHN SCHREINER, one of the most progres- sive stockraisers and business men of Broad- water county, first came to Montana in 1880. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, on July 26, 1839. In 1854 he came to the United States, landing at New York. After ten days of fruitless searching for employment he purchased a small outfit and started peddling. He could not speak a word of English and carried a card on which was written:

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

"Do you want to buy anything?" He had no dif- ficulty in making change. For two years he re- mained in New York city and its suburbs, and it is evident that a lad of young Schreiner's ability did not long transact business by the aid of a written card. He soon familiarized himself with English and was employed for two years as a clerk at Pome- roy, Meigs county, Ohio, and then started for him- self in merchandising and made a success of it. In 1868 he erected a woolen mill which he operated for ten years. He also built a flouring mill which proved a profitable venture.

In 1880 Mr. Schreiner came to Bozeman, Mont., where he engaged in the wholesale liquor business for a short period, but this proved unsuccessful, ow- ing to his inability to collect large outstanding ac- counts. In 1882 he built the first frame house in Livingston, Park county, paying $40 a keg for nails. About that time he organized a mercantile business in Townsend, which he continued one year and then purchased the fine ranch upon which he now re- sides. He then opened a mercantile business at Wickes, in connection with branch stores at Elk- horn and Basin, which were managed by his sons. He also had a large department store at Helena for two years. In 1896 he returned to his ranch to the development of which he has since devoted almost his exclusive attention. During the Civil war Mr. Schreiner served as a captain in the Sev- enth Ohio Battery, recruited at Middleport, Ohio, and was honorably discharged. On September 27, 1860, Mr. Schreiner married with Miss Margaret Scharff, born at Pomeroy, Ohio, on April 5, 1841. Her family emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1840. Their children are: Annie; Henry J., in business at Pony; Frederick Philip, on the Broadwater county ranch; William, a progressive merchant at Townsend ; John, Lena, Frances, Chris- tina, Maggie, Helen and Wendell.

Mr. Schreiner has always been a strong supporter of the Democratic party, and in 1874 he was the Democratic nominee for state treasurer of Ohio, on the ticket with Gov. William Allen. Mr. Schreiner led his party by 1,923 votes but was not elected. In 1876 he was a delegate from Ohio to the Democratic convention at St. Louis, which nominated Samuel J. Tilden for president. For a number of years he was chairman of the Democratic county central com- mittee of Jefferson county, Mont., and in 1892, 1894 and 1896 he was a member of the Democratic state central committee. He was also long a trustee of the Ohio state insane asylum, and for several years he

has served as school trustee. He has been an Odd Fellow for over forty years and has passed the chairs, while he also is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His life story is that of a successful self-made man of the highest order and his friends are numbered in all circles of society.

A DOLPHUS W. SCHREIBER .- Elsewhere in this work we make reference to the junior mem- ber of the mercantile firm of Schreiber & Gaugler, who conduct merchandising in the little town of Ubet. The senior member of this firm is the sub- ject of this review, and this enterprise figures as only one of numerous undertakings with which he is identified. He retains his residence in. Diamond City, Broadwater county, and is known as a young man of business acumen and discrimination.

Mr. Schreiber is a native of Meigs county, Ohio, born on September 25, 1860, the son of Philip and Mary Schreiber, who emigrated from Germany to America and took up his abode in Ohio, where the father was long successfully engaged in mer- cantile pursuits and where his death occurred on the 15th of December, 1873. His widow is now living in the Missouri valley, near Townsend. He was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics was a Democrat. He and his wife were early members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom now survive. Their names are : William H., Amelia, Katherine, Ella N., Philip E. and Adolphus W.

Adolphus W. Schreiber received his education in the public schools and the Nelson Business College, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1879. At the age of nine- teen he began to assist in the store established by his father and continued by his mother, and was thus employed until he was twenty-three years old, when his health became impaired, and in order to recover it he traveled for some time in the south, extending his journeys to Colorado. From this state he came to Montana in the spring of 1883, locating at Bozeman, where he was connected with various business enterprises. He later was inter- ested in prospecting in the vicinity of Sixteen Mile, and came to Diamond City, Broadwater county, where he established a general store which he has since continued with success. He is interested in various mines and prospects in this locality, and

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owns a half interest in the store at Ubet, Fergus county. Mr. Schreiber is a young man of marked force and individuality of character, and has the confidence and regard of those who know him. In politics he is an ardent Democrat, and active in local affairs of a public nature. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners of Broad- water county, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

`OURT SHERIFF, postmaster of Canyon C

Ferry, Lewis and Clarke county, first came into the territory of Montana in 1866. He was born in Mercer county, Ill., April 2, 1845, the son of Abram Sheriff, of Pennsylvania. In the early pioneer days, when Illinois was a western state, Abram Sheriff removed there from Pennsylvania and set- tled on the banks of the Mississippi river. Court Sheriff, his son, passed his early boyhood days in Mercer county, where he secured an education of the practical business order. Following his school days Mr. Sheriff engaged in clerking, and in 1866 he pushed on to Montana with a party of nine men. At Fort Laramie they were held up and required to await the arrival of others. A few reinforcements straggled in and the party pulled out with less men than the officers at the fort required to form the train. They made an ar- rangement with one named "Buckskin Joe" to see them through in safety, and elected him cap- tain, but it was the last they ever saw of "Buck- skin Joe ;" he disappeared as completely as though he had been engulfed, "and he never came back." So the party courageously went on, piloting them- selves. They came up the North Platte to Green river, Soda Springs, and arrived in Virginia City July 5, 1866. Within a few days Mr. Sheriff started for Helena, but continued on to Diamond City, where he secured employment for a short period. In the spring of 1867 he returned to Helena ; thence to the vicinity of Canyon Ferry, where he now re- sides. Here he engaged in mining, with varying success, and remained for several years. Re- turning to Helena he passed two years engaged in bookkeeping, and in 1875 removed to Cave gulch, where he opened a general store. In 1880 Mr. Sheriff returned to Canyon Ferry, and engaged in the mercantile business with good success. In 1883 he opened a general store, and was also con- nected with the Bedford Mills, at Bedford. To

his other important industries Mr. Sheriff has added a hotel, livery accommodations and other lines of business, all of which are profitable.

In August, 1873, Mr. Sheriff was married to Miss Sarah Golding. To them were born two children: Rose, now Mrs. Earle Turner, residing in Butte, and Edith, now Mrs. Al. Badger, of Helena. In October, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Hooper, of California. They have three children attending school in Helena-Mary, Court and Frederick J. Mr. Sheriff has led an eventful but prosperous life in Montana. For twelve years he conducted a stage line between Helena and White Sulphur Springs. Since his arrival he has been interested in mining properties and is now a heavy holder in the Magpie mine, which he lo- cated in 1867. He is still looking for the pay streak, which on several occasions he has struck only to see it fade away. On Mr. Sheriff's first trip out to this country, the rivers being high and no crossings the party was compelled to utilize their wagon boxes as boats, caulking the seams and making them water-tight. Mr. Sheriff is well known throughout Montana, has made a host of friends, acquaintances and business associates, by all of whom he is highly esteemed. He is a man of great force of character, sagacious business judgment and liberal views. At various times he has been appointed postmaster, and is now fill- ing that position most capably. Politically he is a Republican, and takes an enthusiastic interest in the campaigns, in which he is an influential worker.

W T ILLIAM FREDERICK SENGBUSCH, vice- president of the American Brewing and Malt- ing Company, of Great Falls, first came to the city in 1896. He was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on August 15, 1861. He is the son of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Rohrdanz) Senbusch, bothı natives of Prussia. The father was born in 1831 and came from Prussia to the United States in 1857, locat- ing on a farm near Milwaukee, where he died in 1883. The mother was born in 1835, and her mar- riage occurred in Milwaukee in 1860. Both of the grandparents are dead.

Mr. Sengbusch received his elementary educa- tion in the public schools of Milwaukee and then was graduated, in 1887, from the Spencerian Busi- ness College. He was then for two and a half years in a clerical position in the wholesale drug-

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house of Green & Button, and later was with C. E. Andrews, coffee and spice manufacturer, both of Milwaukee, and with Mr. Andrews Mr. Seng- busch remained nine years. He was then an im- portant factor in the organization of a company, of which he was chosen vice-president and general manager. These positions he held for four years, and until he disposed of his interests. In August, 1896, Mr. Sengbusch came to Great Falls, and purchased an interest in the American Brewing and Malting Company. In January, 1897 he was chosen its vice-president and has since held that posi- tion. In 1883 Mr. Sengbusch was married in Mil- waukee to Miss Wilhelmina Lambrecht. They have three children, Lawrence, Arnold and Ger- trude. Mr. Sengbusch resides in an elegant home on Fifth street North, Great Falls. A history of the extensive brewing plant with which he is con- nected will be found in another portion of this work under the head of The American Brewing and Malting Company.

F 'RANK STEPHENS .- "Leaves have their time to fall, and flowers to wither at the north wind's breath," but Death has all seasons for his own, and Frank Stephens was called from the active pursuits of life in the full flower of his use- fulness when he had the promise of many years of serviceable labor before him. He was born in Ireland in 1836, the descendant of an Irish ancestry on both sides of the house, long honor- ably known in the civil and military annals of the green little isle. His parents were Timothy and Mary (Dunn) Stephens, who both died in 1847, when he was only eleven years old. The family being thus broken up he came to America with an older brother, who began life in the new country as a farmer in Indiana. Here the young orphan worked on the farm, having opportun- ity to snatch from the toilsome requirements of his existence only a few sessions of night schooling, such as it was in the Hoosier rural districts of half a century ago. In 1860 he removed to Utah as a teamster for the United States government and remained there three years engaged for most of that time in the brewery business. In 1863 he started overland to Montana, locating on his arrival at Alder gulch and there also carrying on the brewery business for a year. He then be- gan farming on Mill creek near Sheridan and

continued at it until 1870, when he removed to Deer Lodge valley and farmed for twenty years.

Mr. Stephens took up his residence in Butte, in 1890, where he built the Stephens block at Mon- tana and Park streets, opened a lodging house and embarked on a profitable real estate career. He was very successful in his new venture, aiding materially in building up and improving the city, helping many men of moderate means to com- fortable homes and acquiring considerable prop- erty. In the midst of his multiform utility and beneficence, he died on December 7, 1898, leav- ing to others the completion of his work and also a creditable record of zeal in the perform- ance of duty, high-minded honesty of purpose, breadth of view and progressiveness of spirit, a stimulating sunniness and courtesy of disposition and the faithful discharge of every proper obliga- tion. He was married on March 2, 1863, to Miss Jane Parker, of Canada, who survives him and makes her home in Butte. Their children are Thomas F., living in Butte, Jennie, now Mrs. Vincent, and William T., residents of Deer Lodge valley, and Arthur H., in business in New York. Another daughter, Mary A., died some years ago. Mr. Stephens was an active and valued member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

T THOMAS F. STEPHENS, the oldest son of the late Frank Stephens, of Butte, a brief record of whose creditable and helpful life also is given above upon this page, was born on his father's farm on Mill creek, near Sheridan, Madison county, Mont., on April 6, 1867. He began his scholastic education in the public schools of the county, and finished with a two-years course at the college at Deer Lodge, Mont. After leav- ing this institution in 1888, he began farming and stockraising in Deer Lodge valley, and later, in 1892, conducted a thriving meat business in Anaconda. He sold this out in 1894 and returned on his farm in Deer Lodge county, remaining there until 1896, when he removed to Butte, en- gaged in the grocery business. A year later he became a real estate dealer, continuing this voca- tion until the death of his father, when he took charge of the estate, and organized and was made president of the Stephens Investment Company of Butte. The affairs of the estate and the business of this company give ample scope for his energies

Frank Stephens

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and have enabled him to show of what sterling stuff he is made.

Mr. Stephens does not neglect his proper share of interest and service in matters which concern the public weal. He was deputy assessor of Deer Lodge county in 1894 and has been potential in creating and directing a healthy public sentiment in favor of whatever might benefit the commun- ity, the county or the commonwealth, being him- self a far-seeing and progressive man and com- municating by contact his zeal and wisdom to others. The only fraternal society he belongs to is the Order of United Moderns. He was mar- ried on October 1, 1896, to Miss Emma J. Cosens, of Deer Lodge valley, a daughter of L. E. and Mattie (Allan) Cosens. Her father was a native of Illinois who removed to Iowa, and is a veteran of the Civil war, in which he was conspicuous for daring and endurance on many a hardfought field. Her mother was born, reared and married in Iowa, and with her husband came to Montana not long after their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have one son, Alonzo George, who brightens their home with the sunshine of his presence.

C HARLES SCHUMACHER .- One of the pop- ular and attractive business establishments in the capital city of the state is the Model bakery, lo- cated at 131 North Main street, of which the subject of this sketch is proprietor. His thorough knowl- edge of the business in all its details has enabled him to cater to a representative patronage, and the products of his establishment are invariably of a superior quality. Mr. Schumacher, who is of stanch German lineage, was born in the city of Philadel- phia, Pa., in 1862, being the son of Andrew and Clara (Herrlein) Schumacher, both natives of Ba- varia, Germany, whence they came to the United States in the year 1855. The father was a litho- grapher by profession, and after coming to the United States he was employed by the Western Bank Note Company and other prominent con- cerns, being a thoroughly skilled workman. His father-in-law conducted the first lithographic es- tablishment in the city of Nuremberg. Charles Schumacher accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Chicago when he was a boy, and in that city received his earlier education in the public schools, continuing his studies by a course in the German-American Institute. There he learned the

baker's trade under most effective discipline, and to this has since devoted his attention. He returned to Philadelphia, his native city, but in 1889 he lo- cated in Helena, and gave inception to his present enterprise, which he has since conducted very suc- cessfully, his courtesy and ability gaining him the confidence and respect of his many patrons.

In politics Mr. Schumacher gives his support to the Democratic party ; fraternally he holds member- ship in the Modern Woodmen of the World, the Pioneers of the Pacific, and has held several official positions in its order, also the Sons of Herman, in which he has held all the official positions. In 1898 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Schumacher and Miss Helen Muhlig, a native of Saxony, Ger- many, where her father was prominently identified with the manufacture of lace. Of this union two sons have been born, namely : Clarence H. and Rolf A.

G EORGE W. SCOTT is one of the enterprising stockgrowers of Jefferson county, who came to Montana in 1882, and has achieved success. He was born in Pocahontas county, Va., now W. Va., on January 28, 1859. He is the son of Robert and Jeanette (Cutlip) Scott, both natives of Virginia, the father of Greenbrier and the mother of Poca- hontas county. They have six sons and six daugh- ters. Robert Scott was a farmer and died in 1863. He was many years survived by his wife, who died in 1899 at the age of eighty-two. The paternal grandfather, Robert Scott, was a Scotch emigrant, and a millwright who, marrying in Scot- land, made his American home on Locust creek, in Pocahontas county, Va., where he built a mill which he operated until his death.

George W. Scott received his education in the public schools of the picturesque place of his na- tivity, and in 1877 removed to Missouri, locating in Vernon county. Here he remained engaged in farming until 1882, when he came to Montana and to Whitehall, where he entered the employ of Maj. E. G. Brooke. Six months later he began working for a party at Fish Creek, also assisting in running farm machinery, self-binding harvesters being then just introduced. Mr. Scott devoted much of his time to fitting, adjusting and repairing them and passing three years in that vicinity. He then re- moved to Judith Basin, where for one season he assumed charge of a large herd of cattle. On re- turning to Waterloo he purchased a crop, and rented

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the F. E. Curtis ranch, on which for the five years he was here located he enjoyed unusually good suc- cess in business.

In 1891 Mr. Scott purchased railroad land in Pleasant valley, and this he has improved until he now has one of the most valuable and convenient ranches in Jefferson county and is profitably en- gaged in general farming and cattleraising. Mr. Scott was married on December 18, 1885, to Miss Sarah Howls, a native of Utah, and daughter of Samuel Howls, who was born in England. To them have been born eight children, Bertie M., Reverdy, Delta, Kyle, Roy, George, Myrtin and Myrtle, twins. For six years Mr. Scott served as school trustee with ability and conscientious devotion to duty, and fra- ternally he is a member of the United Workmen, the Order of Pendo and the Bankers' Life Associa- tion. By the community in which he resides he is esteemed for his sound business judgment, progres- sive views and high integrity.

OHN A. SEARS .- The great Prairie state of J Illinois, once the frontier and unbroken wilder- ness of this country, has contributed her quota of the forces which are redeeming from savage wild- ness the farther west, and of this number no one is entitled to more considerate appreciation than John A. Sears, now residing near Corvallis, whose record proves the flexibility of American manhood and demonstrates that pluck, perseverance and business capacity can, in this country, command the favors of fortune and bring success from the most adverse circumstances. Mr. Sears was born on September 17, 1849, in Coles county, Ill., the son of John and Hettie A. (Radley) Sears, natives of Kentucky, and the parents of eleven children, of whom John was the eighth. He was educated in his native county and engaged in cultivating the paternal acres until he was twenty-two years old, when he removed to Osborne county, Kan., and took up a homestead of 160 acres, which he farmed for sixteen years, coming to Montana in the spring of 1886, where he bought 280 acres due west of Corvallis. Here he has a beautiful home, raises cattle in goodly numbers and fruit in great quanti- ties and of excellent quality. His location is al- most ideal and the finest in the valley, command- ing fine views of Grantsdale, Hamilton, Corvallis and Stevensville, together with a wide sweep of country, both picturesque and fertile.

Mr. Sears believes in the correctness of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, but does not seek the ·honors or emoluments of political preferment. He was married at Oregon, Mo., on January 1, 1871, to Miss Maria Hawkins, and has seven chil- dren : Albert (deceased), Hettie, Frank, Ida, George, William, Isaac and Edwin. After walking life's way with him for nearly twenty years Mrs. Sears, in July, 1890, surrendered her trust and lay down to rest at the behest of the great Disposer. On September 17, 1895, he re-married, the bride being Miss Addie Wing, the daughter of Jolin and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Wing, of Luray, Kan., the marriage being solemnized in the Bitter Root val- ley. Mr. Sears is very progressive and enterpris- ing. He has planted every tree in his orchard of forty-seven acres, and erected all of the buildings with which his place is so plentifully supplied. He has the largest barn in the valley, and a two-story, cight-room residence, surrounded with beautiful grounds and furnished with evidences of taste and judicious regard for comfort. His daughter, Het- tie, is the wife of John Johnson, a neighboring farmer, and another daughter, Ida, is the wife of a minister in Colorado.

JOHN O. SELSTROM, a man of unusual energy and one of the prominent miners and stock- raisers of Cascade county, resides near Stockett. He was born in the northern part of Sweden on November 10, 1859, the son of Peter and Sophia Selstrom, both natives of Sweden. The mother died in 1886, and Peter Selstrom now resides with his son John. The family emigrated to the United States in 1866 and located at Red Wing, Minn. In Sweden the father was a well-to-do farmer, accumulating considerable property. In 1869 he took up a homestead claim in Wright county, Minn., where he developed a good farm. John re- mained on the Minnesota farm until 1872, then went to the copper district of Michigan and was engaged in a company store as an interpreter until 1877. He then added to his education by attend- ance at a creditable school and later worked for a month at Prince Arthur's Landing on the Canadian Pacific. Returning to Michigan by a circuitous route through Winnipeg, he remained there until 1879, availing himself of the advantages of St. John's College, where he completed his literary edu- cation by a full course.

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For awhile after his graduation he stayed at the Minnesota home and came to Fort Maginnis, Mont., then in construction, and in that vicinity Mr. Selstrom worked eight months for Col. Broad- water, as a night-herder. From then until 1884 he freighted with headquarters at Fort Benton, and in September, 1884, joined the stampede to the Little Rock mines, and here he remained nine months. From 1885 until the fall of 1887 he was mining at Wickes, coming then to Evans, his present loca- tion, where he took up pre-emption and tree claims, and now has his home. Here he raises fine cat- tle and cultivates 200 of the 800 acres of his Cas- cade county land, while he owns 500 acres outside of the county and winters about 200 head of cat- tle. On February II, 1897, Mr. Selstrom was married to Miss Frost Purcell, of Lineville, Iowa, an accomplished lady and a successful teacher. She is the daughter of Dr. B. F. and Sophia (Laughlin) Purcell. The widow of Dr. Purcell, who died in 1887, lives in Great Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Selstrom have had two children, Ivan, de- ceased, and Franklin.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 46

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