Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 84

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 84

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George Francis Stannard was the youngest of his sons. He came to France with his people when an infant, and for eight years was brought up carefully under French instructions. Then the Franco-German war came on and the family re- turned to Ireland. Here George was educated at the celebrated Kingstown School, near Dublin, being there graduated in 1880. The curriculum of this school is of the highest order, fitting its stu- dents to pass the hardest examinations, that of the East India civil service. After his graduation Mr. Stannard took the military examination in February, 1880, and received the commission of second lieutenant. He served three years in mili- tary life in Ireland, and became the senior lieuten- ant of the Fifth Battalion of the Eighteenth Royal Irish Regiment. He resigned his commission in 1883 and studied civil engineering in Dublin for three years. In 1886 he came to the Northwest Territory of Canada, at the request of Col. McIllree, then captain of K Troop, N. W. M. P., and now assistant commissioner at Regina. He was to re- ceive an appointment at the Banff coal mine, but being asked on his arrival to wait six months be- fore commencing its duties he refused to wait, and, to become acquainted with the life of the west, joined J. H. Conrad's cattle outfit, at Maple creek, and was a "cowboy" for two years. This closed his connection with England and brought him to Helena, Mont., from whence he came to the Flat- head valley in March, 1888, to accept the offer of T. J. Demers of a situation as bookkeeper at the large mercantile establishment he had located at

the steamboat landing on the Flathead river, later known as Demersville. He was finely qualified for this position, and by his geniality, ability and courtesy made many friends. This situation he held three years until the death of Mr. Demers and the purchase of the mercantile interest by the Missoula Mercantile Company. During these three years Mr. Stannard and John E. Clifford purchased the land surrounding the original plat of Demersville, and in 1889 and 1890 they platted extensive additions to that village and placed the lots on sale. The real estate firm of Clifford & Stannard continued in business at Demersville until 1893, when, the new city of Kalispell having attracted thither the people of Demersville, Mr. Stannard established a real estate office in Kalis- pell, in the building with W. H. Griffin, and in 1896 they formed a partnership, which still exists. They have been the leading real estate men of Kalispell and transact a large business in insurance and mining property as well. Mr. Stannard has devoted his energy to these three industries, is the principal owner of promising copper properties at Tobacco Plains, in West Fisher mines and has other valuable mining property and real estate. Mr. Stannard became an American citizen by naturalization, at Kalispell, during the first term of court held in Flathead county in 1893, Judge Dudley DuBose presiding. Mr. Stannard is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church of Ireland, and also past chancellor and the present keeper of records and seals of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias, worthy advisor of the Kalispell Lodge of Modern Woodmen of America, secretary of the Royal Highlanders, and has been secretary of the Flathead Agricultural Society from its or- ganization in 1897. Mr. Stannard possesses strong vitality and is a great enjoyer of athletic sports. In November, 1871, the Royal Humane Society of England presented him with a certificate for saving a man's life. He is also the holder of one of the famous Henley medals, granted in 1872, for successful competition in rowing races. His crew won every race they rowed in for two con- secutive years in England, Ireland and Scotland.

Mr. Stannard has lived in seven countries, Guernsey, France, Ireland, Scotland, England, Can- ada and the United States, and he esteems the charming valley of his present home as the superior of all other lands in its beauty of natural scenery, fertility of soil, opportunities for development and its promising future.

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L EONARD JARVIS CHAPMAN .- The truly worthy gentleman of whom we write has been long a valuable citizen of the Flathead valley. He has had an adventurous and varied life in many of the early camps of the northwest and since 1887 has been connected in a high degree with the agri- cultural advancement of northwestern Montana. The Chapmans are an old-time English family, coming down through early Colonial life in Massa- chusetts and Maine (then a portion of Massa- chusetts known as the District of Maine) to the present as prominently identified with pioneer life in various sections. And not alone that, for they have stood foremost in many lines of human en- deavor in every generation from Pilgrim days to the present. His paternal great-grandfather, Thomas Chapman, son of Anthony Chapman, of Ipswich, Mass., was the settler of the first parcel of land cut in the town of Damariscotta, Me., and his maternal great-grandfather, Benjamin Chap- man, was son of a sea captain of Ipswich and died on the island of Granada in the West Indies. The family has intermarried with families notable in American history and New England life, and is connected with the Goulds, the Jarvis's, the Mer- rills, the Longs and others of equal reputation.

Ephraim Chapman, father of Leonard J. Chap- man, was a drum-major in the war of 1812, and, as was the usual custom of that day, varied his farming operations of the summer by the making of boots and shoes in the winter. Reading, study, thought and conversation along historic, moral and religious lines has long been characteristic of New England, and Ephraim Chapman was a true son of the soil. He was well educated for those days, and, as an ardent Democrat, knew well how to define his political creed by logic and argu- ment. He was a ready and convincing speaker in lyceums, town meetings and the like. He had a cultivated voice and was one of the leaders of singing in the old Baptist church of Damariscotta, of which for years he was a valued member. He was quite a traveler and made several sea voy- ages. He built the school house of the home village and was prominent in all local matters. His wife, Nancy Chapman, was his fitting mate. A woman of superior culture and gifts, she shared with her husband the esteem of the whole peo- ple. Ephraim Chapman died on February 9, 1842, aged fifty-four. His widow lived on the home place until her death sometime in the 'eighties. In their family were eleven boys and two girls.

Leonard J. Chapman was the seventh son. His birth occurred at the Damariscotta homestead on September 7, 1829. New England lads are put to work early and our subject was fashioning shoes under the paternal roof before he was twelve years old. After his father's death he continued at this work, and when fourteen was apprenticed to shoe- making with his uncle, John Chapman, at Noble- borough for four years. On completing his ser- vice he went to Alderborough, where on his eighteenth birthday he hired out to work at his trade and in six months was the foreman of the shop, the largest one in the county. His motto was even then "The best or nothing," and in 1849 he went to the best factory in Quincy, Mass., and placed himself under instructions to learn more about his trade. After four months tuition he re- turned to Maine and was there married on Feb- ruary 26, 1850, to the cultured lady who has shared so many of his years of romantic frontier life, Miss Julia A. Chapman, a daughter of Elbridge and Catherine (Bartlett) Chapman, and a native of Waldoborough, Maine.

Mr. Chapman was a natural mechanic, and he desired a field for more extended research in this direction than existed in the trade he had so long followed, and, after working at shoemaking a few months after his marriage he abandoned this and immediately entered a shipyard, where he became a proficient workman until May 5, 1855, when he sailed from New York to California by the Panama route. From San Francisco he went at once to the gold fields, stopping first at Amidor, where he built a church, and then engaged in building mills in Calarveras county, at Tuolumne, Stanislaus, etc., until 1867. From this time to 1870 he was erecting various kinds of wood-working machinery in San Francisco. In 1870 he was ap- pointed foreman builder at the United States navy yard at Mare Island by Secretary Robeson, and held this responsible position for five years. Fol- lowing this occurred a series of years in the min- ing region of Nevada and an acquaintanceship with those world-renowned producers of mineral wealth, Mackay, Flood, O'Brien and others. Mr. Chapman put in hoisting works, quartz mills, saw- mills, water wheels, all through the mining coun- try around Virginia City and his work was de- manded in the most notable of the great mines. Later he was on the Carson putting in turbine wheels, etc., and in 1880 he was at work in Bodie, Cal., at an altitude of 9,163 feet, where he put in

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a large Corliss engine for one of the mines. Con- tinuing at this responsible but profitable employ- ment he went to Gold Hill, at Virginia City, and this was his headquarters for four years. From Virginia City he went to Stockton, where during his three-years stay he erected mills, framed the large pavilion, superintended the construction of White and Thomas's mill and the building of com- bined harvesters for two manufacturing houses. His inventive power has been shown by valu- able inventions patented by him. Did the limits of this work permit, many interesting reminis- cences of life in mining camps could be drawn from Mr. Chapman's personal experience, showing strange conditions and adventures.

In 1886 his oldest son, an invalid, then a resident of Butler, went to the Flathead valley to try the climate as a restorer of his health, and was a teacher of the half-breeds on the Flathead reserva- tion. His health improved, and in the spring of 1887 he came to the head of Flathead lake and lo- cated a claim of 160 acres, the same now being the home of his father and mother. The ac- counts given by the son were so attractive that the parents came at once from California and made their home in this delightful spot. Here they have since resided. Their health has greatly improved, and here Mr. Chapman became the pioneer of the fruit industry of the valley. They brought the first piano into this county. Since their residence here their life has been quiet and uneventful-quite idyllic. Mr. Chapman has worked with trees and bushes and plants, ever more and more astonished at the wonderful revelations of the fertility of the Flathead soil, and he has now 125 trees in bear- ing, comprising apple, pear, plum, prune, cherry, etc., and luxuriant rows of currants, barberry, blackberry, black and red raspberries, with other large and small fruit intermingled. He has done more than this. He has taken thought and care of garden and farm products. As an evidence of this we would state that he has developed a variety of corn maturing a week earlier than the earliest variety heretofore known. A charming air of cul- ture and refinement surrounds the home.' All the current magazines and leading agricultural and horticultural journals are at hand. In such sur- roundings this worthy couple are passing the pleasant autumn of active and useful lives. Mr. Chapman says his politics are "Jeffersonian, Lin- colnian and Sumner," but he leaves political of- fice-seeking life entirely alone. Their two chil-

dren are Arno Juan, now foreman of the print- ing department of the Kalispell Bee, and Leonard J. B. Chapman, connected with the First National Bank of Kalispell and leader of the Kalispell band.

H ENRY BURMEISTER .- It may be denied that America has yet attained a distinctly na- tional character or type, but it is certain that in the composite makeup of our national individuality there is no element which has contributed more significantly to the best brain and brawn than has the German fatherland, and from the domain of Emperor William comes the subject of this re- view, who may be consistently termed one of the pioneers of Montana, and who is now one of the truly representative farmers and stockgrowers of Cascade county, his finely improved ranch being located in Chestnut valley, five miles southeast of of the village of Cascade, where he is engaged in the raising of sheep on a very extensive scale. Mr. Burmeister is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born on the 27th of November, 1841, his parents being John and Katherine Bur- meister, both of whom were born in Germany, where they passed their entire lives, secure in the esteem of their fellow men. The father devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and both he and his wife were devoted members of the Lutheran church. His death occurred in 1850, and his wife survived him until 1868, when she too passed to her reward.

In the excellent public schools of his native land Mr. Henry Burmeister laid an effective foundation for that broad general knowledge and wisdom which have come to him as the result of his asso- ciation with the practical affairs of life. He be- gan his independent efforts in 1856, when but fif- teen years old, when he engaged to work on a farm for wages. In 1862 he was drafted into the military service of his country, becoming a mem- ber of a company of grenadiers, with which he served until 1867, when his ambition led him to seek his fortunes in America. He accordingly severed home ties and emigrated to the United States, locating in Cook county, Ill., where he en- gaged in farm work until the following year, when he made his way to Burlington, Iowa, where he se- cured a position as brakeman and foreman in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, with which he remained until

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the winter of 1870, when he came to Helena, Mont., whence he went forth as a prospector and even- tually found work in the mines as a wage earner.

To this occupation he devoted his attention for two seasons, after which he went to the Prickly Pear valley, in the vicinity of the present capital city, and accepted the position of foreman on the ranch of John Thoma, retaining this incumbency until the spring of the centennial year, when he joined one of the first prospecting parties bound for the Black Hills. His success in this new field was of a distinctively negative character, and in 1879 he returned to Helena, where he once more entered into an association with Mr. Thoma, this time on the basis of operating the latter's ranch on shares. He was careful and indefatigable in his efforts, and was successful in his ranch work, be- coming thoroughly impressed with the possibil- ities in the line. In 1881 he removed to his pres- ent location in Chestnut valley, five miles south- east of Cascade, where he associated himself with Frank S. Reed in the sheep business, starting in with 1,000 head and having a winter pasturage of 3,200 acres. Success has attended the operations of the gentlemen from the start and they now have fully 10,000 head of sheep on their ranch. Entirely through his own efforts Mr. Burmeister has ac- cumulated a fortune and won a reputation as one of the representative sheepgrowers of the state, so that he feels that he made no mistake when he cast in his lot with America and with this new and vigorous state of Montana. In addition to his other interests he owns real estate in Great Falls.

In his political adherency Mr. Burmeister is firmly aligned in the support of the Republican party, while in the Masonic fraternity he has ad- vanced to the Knights Templar degree, being a member of the commandery in Great Falls. He is straightforward in all his dealings, and to him is given the confidence and esteem of all whom he meets in the various relations of life.

F FREDERICK L. BUCK .- One of the young but progressive citizens of Belt, Mont., is well known as a most skillful dentist in the community in which he resides. His parents, Charles A. and Eliza Buck, were among the earliest pioneers of Rochester, Olmstead county, Minnesota, where our subject was born February 17, 1867. Roches- ter at the time of the advent of his parents was but

a small hamlet, containing but a scattering few log houses, the homes of prospective farmers who lived afterward to make the vicinity of the Zumbro valley blossom as the rose. They came there in the early 'forties, long before the territory was admitted as a state, and they saw Olmstead county develop into one of the finest agricultural districts in that section of the country. The elder Buck was engaged for several years in the saddlery business, and it was owing to ill health that he removed from Pennsylvania to Minnesota. Later he went to St. Paul, where he died on July 7, 1887. The parents were members of the Presbyterian church, the mother having passed away in 1871. Politically Mr. Buck was a supporter of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and fraternally a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

F. L. Buck was a studious youth, applied him- self to his books, and made the best of the educa- tional facilities afforded by the public schools of Minnesota. At the age of sixteen he found em- ployment in driving the mail wagon which plied between the union station and the St. Paul post- office, a position of considerable responsibility. He continued thus two years and was then given a position in the postoffice as clerk, where he re- mained four years longer. He was an ambitious youth, and at the conclusion of his postoffice ser- vice he determined to study dentistry, and accord- ingly he did so under the instruction of Ellis Brothers, and with them he came to Montana, and located at Missoula, where he remained three years. Dr. Buck then traveled through various portions of the state, practicing his profession until 1896, when he settled at Quigley, Mont., remain- ing one year. In 1897 he removed to Belt, Cas- cade county, where he has since built up a large and lucrative practice, making a specialty of crown and bridge work.

On July 3, 1888, Dr. Buck was united in mar- riage to Miss Lanta May Ellis, of Jackson, Mich., daughter of Norman E. and Alma Ellis, natives of New York. Her father followed the practice of dentistry, coming to Wisconsin, thence to Min- nesota and later to Montana, where he died in 1889. He was a Mason of high degree, and also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Both his wife and the mother of Mrs. Buck died in 1896. Dr. Buck is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a supporter of the Republican party. His wife is a member of the Methodist church.

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

EDWARD D. BEACH, who is one of the suc- cessful and energetic young ranchmen of Fer- gus county, is a native of the state of Illinois, having been born in Lee county, on Christmas day, 1875. He is the son of David L. and Sarah Beach, both of whom were born in the old Buckeye state. The father removed from Ohio to Illinois in his early manhood, and in the latter state devoted his attention to the work of his trade, that of a black- smith, with which he was identified until his death. He was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. David L. Beach entered into his eternal rest in 1876, and his wife passed away in 1880. Of their seven children six are living at the present time, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Adelbert, Sumner, Eugenia, Edward D., Katharine and Lillian.

Edward D. Beach was left an orphan at the age of five years, and thus his educational advantages were somewhat limited in his early years. He at- tended the public schools as opportunity afforded, and when he was but nine years of age assumed personal responsibilities by securing work on a farm, receiving ten dollars a month and his board for his services. After two years he went to Colorado, where he secured work as cook on the round-up, in which line he was retained five sea- sons, passing the winters in making hunting ex- peditions in the mountains. Thereafter he was engaged in ranching in Wyoming until the fall of 1897, when he came to Montana, locating in Fer- gus county, where he was in the employ of the Buffalo Creek Sheep Company for a period of two years. At the expiration of this time Mr. Beach purchased his present ranch, which comprises 160 acres and which is located in the immediate vicin- ity of the postoffice of Garneill. Here he devotes his attention principally to the raising of hay and oats, while he conducts a very profitable enterprise in the way of general freighting in this section of the state. In politics Mr. Beach exercises his fran- chise in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, and is not sorry that he cast in his lot with the state. In the cumulative success that has attended the vigorous efforts of Mr. Beach, the young men of other states may find incentive and a good example to follow. Montana can provide the same conditions for thousands who can here win wealth if they will apply themselves to its acquisition with the same diligence.

TILLIAM J. CRISMAS .- Twenty-one years have passed since Mr. Crismas came to Mon- tana, and gave to the development of her resources the benefit of his enterprise, skill in agriculture and industry in every line of activity which en- gages his attention. He was born in Howard county, Iowa, December 19, 1857, the son of Al- fred and Catherine (Welch) Crismas, the former a native of Brighton, England, and the latter of Lon- donderry, Ireland. The paternal grandfather came to America in the 'thirties and there located in Canada, where he remained until his death. The father of Mr. Crismas, after his marriage in Can- ada, removed to Iowa in 1841, and remained in that state until 1871, engaged in farming. From there he removed to Howard county, Kan., where he made his home until he died at the age of sixty-four, in 1889. His wife died on May 13, 1888, aged sixty-two. Their family consisted of ten children, all of whom are living.

Mr. Crismas passed his school days in Iowa and Kansas, remaining on the homestead until 1880, when he came to Montana, locating at first near Townsend, where he remained until 1887. He then went to White Sulphur Springs, where he leased a section of land and engaged in the cat- tle business. There he passed ten years in suc- cessful business operations, and then sold out and removed to Rocky Fork creek, where he bought an Indian allotment and started farming and fruitgrowing. In the latter line he has pushed his enterprise until he has some 1,500 trees, prin- cipally apples, in good bearing order. He also has a large number of plums, pears and cherries, and all are yielding abundantly, and in addition a fine and promising output of small fruits. His en- tire farm is well irrigated, and with its modern residence, well arranged and beautifully furnished, its commodious barns and other outbuildings, and its general thrifty and productive condition, forms one of the most attractive and valuable homes in the county. He has here clearly demonstrated that Montana can produce fruit equal in quality and in quantity to that produced in many sections which lay claim to being ideal fruit countries.

Mr. Crismas was united in marriage in October, 1888, with Miss Lola Pickering, a native of Ellis- ville, Wis., a daughter of John G. Pickering, of Broadwater county, Mont., an account of whose life is given elsewhere in this work. They have two children living, Roy and Bernice. Another son, Francis, is deceased.

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M ISS FANNIE L. SPURCK .- A highly esteemed and skillful school teacher for a number of years, and rising from the post of teach- er to that of county superintendent through her merit, Miss Fannie L. Spurck, of Kalispell, is a fine illustration of the progressive woman who, using her opportunities to advantage, becomes a force for good in the community and meets the responsibilities of life in a masterful way. She is a native of Peoria, Ill., where she was born April 20, 1872. Her father, William Spurck, was born at Kickapoo, Peoria county, Ill., and now lives at Nelson, Neb., where he has been engaged in the drug business and farming for the past twenty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Miss Hattie R. Kingsley, is a native of the same place, but is now living at Kalispell.

Miss Spurck was educated at the public ele- mentary and high schools at Nelson, Neb., Hast- ings College, Hastings, Neb., and at the normals for teachers in Nuckolls county, Neb., which she attended for a number of years. She began her professional career as a teacher in the Nuckolls county, Neb., schools, and later taught a year at Nelson. During the next three years she was assistant principal of the Gothenburg high school. In 1896 she came to Montana and, locating at Kalispell, began teaching in the public schools of the town. After three years of excellent service as a teacher, in 1899 she was elected county super- intendent of schools, on the Democratic ticket, and was re-elected in the fall of 1901. She has won golden opinions from all classes of school patrons for her progressive and enterprising methods, her breadth of view and the vigor of her administra- tion of school affairs. She is very active in her interest in school matters and is highly esteemed as one of the most progressive and forceful edu- cators of the state. She is also prominent in the national educational bodies. She is a member of Chapter J. P. E. O. Society, of Nelson, Neb. Socially as well as professionally Miss Spurck is a lady of influence and superior qualifications, and has a host of friends in all parts of the county and elsewhere where she is known.

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 84

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