Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 87

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 87

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1442

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

1893 to 1897 and caused so much destruction in moneyed and business circles. In March, 1898, he closed his connection with the bank to accept the appointment of receiver of the United States land office at Kalispell, in which office he is now .serving. In 1899 he established the Kalispell Liquor & Tobacco Company.

Nowhere perhaps has Mr. Whipps' executive ability been more plainly demonstrated than in his service as mayor of Kalispell. In 1893 he was elected as the Republican candidate to the mayoralty, by successive elections held the office three terms, and refused the offered fourth nomin- ation. During his official life as mayor he carried through many needed improvements and in the face of very great opposition. He put in a sys- tem of sewerage that has many times repaid its cost in the benefit to the health of the people. He also macadamized the business streets. He has never been beaten as a political candidate.

Mr. Whipps joined the Masonic fraternity in 1894, Kalispell Lodge No. 42, F. & A. M. He has been a member of Excelsior Lodge of Odd Fellows at Helena for fifteen years, and passed the chairs in Myrtle Lodge No. 3, K. of P., at Helena, during his residence in that city. At that time this was the strongest lodge in the state.

Mr. Whipps was united in wedlock at Helena, October 20, 1887, with Miss Anna E. Osterhout, a daughter of Edgar and Melissa Osterhout, natives of Wilkesbarre, Pa., where the family has long been prominent. Their two children are William O., born February 13, 1888, and Caroline L., born September 30, 1895.

OSEPH A. WIDMER .- At this juncture we J enter a brief record concerning one of the pioneer citizens of Lewis and Clarke county and one who has been prominently identified with the industrial activities of the state for a long term of years, his course having ever been such as to command the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has been thrown in contact in the various relations of life.

Mr. Widmer claims the old Empire state as the place of his nativity, having been born in the city of Buffalo, Erie county, N. Y., on the 27th of April, 1851, a son of Joseph and Cather- ine Widmer, the former of whom was born in Baden, Germany, and the latter in the state of

New York. In 1848 the father of our subject emi- grated from his native land to America, locat- ing in Buffalo, N. Y., where he engaged in the grocery business, in which line of enterprise he con- tinued operations for a period of eighteen years. In 1866 he turned his attention to the brewery business, in which he was thereafter engaged un- til the time of his death, which occurred in 1869; his widow survived until 1885. He was a Repub- lican in his political allegiance and both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church. Of their nine children four yet survive, namely : Joseph A., Christian H., Rosa A. and Emma J.

Joseph A. Widmer received his early educational discipline in the public schools of his native state and thereafter effectively supplemented the same by a course of study in the Bryant & Stratton Business College, at Buffalo, N. Y., where he was graduated in 1867. At the age of seventeen years Mr. Widmer began keeping books for his father and thus continued until the death of the latter in 1869. He was subsequently employed in a meat market for a period of three years. He then turned his attention to ranching and stock- raising in Lewis and Clarke county, Mont., be- ing successful in his efforts. He has ever since been identified with the ranching industry and has valuable real estate holdings in Lewis and Clarke county, but he gives his attention more particularly to mining enterprises, having important interests in both placer and quartz mines. The principal mines, in which he owns a one-sixth interest, are located two miles west of Canyon Ferry, at the mouth of Oregon gulch, the property being valued at $30,000. He also owns an interest of $5,000 in the dredge operated on the Missouri river. In pol- itics Mr. Widmer gives a stalwart support to the Democratic party and its principles, and he is known as one of the progressive and public-spir- ited citizens of Lewis and Clarke county, Can- yon Ferry being his postoffice address and place of residence.

F 'ERDINAND WEHR .- Stricken down by the cruel hand of death on the 18th day of March, 1900, at the early age of fifty-five, in the midst of his usefulness and while his plans of life were in full operation and steadily working out the great re- sults he had intended, still Ferdinand Wehr, the subject of this sketch, had accomplished much in the way of substantial achievement and secured a

I443

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

firm hold on the confidence and esteem of his friends and fellow citizens. He was born in Prus- .sia February 2, 1845, of parents who were natives of the same country, and who emigrated to the United States with their young family when our subject was nine years old. They settled at Hazel Green, Wis., where he was educated and remained on the homestead until the age of twenty-one, when he came to Montana and engaged in butcher- ing at Montana City. He followed this business at that place until 1882, and then removed to the Bitter Root valley, locating on a ranch near Cor- vallis, where, along with ranching, he had min- ing interests and conducted both very success- fully up to the time of his death. His farm con- sists of 400 acres of highly improved land, and he had in addition a comfortable home in Corval- lis, and valuable mining interests at Mineral Hill.

Mr. Wehr was not only thrifty, but far-seeing, enterprising and public-spirited, taking an active interest in matters affecting the general weal and leaving the impress of his breadth of view and excellent judgment on the life of the community and the county. The cause of the people in gen- eral was very dear to him and, although averse to public life he accepted the candidacy of the People's party for the office of county commissioner and was triumphantly elected. In this office, which is so close to the fountain heads of public sentiment and deals so directly and immediately with local interests, he was conspicuous for the common sense, good judgment and judicious progressiveness he evinced and won golden opinions from all classes for the manner in which he discharged its duties.

In religious faith Mr. Wehr was reared a Cath- olic. Fraternally he was identified with the An- cient Order of United Workmen. He was mar- ried November 30, 1879, to Mrs. Clara Appolonio, the mother of Joseph Appolonio, a very prosperous merchant of Victor, the story of whose useful life and successful business career is told on an- other page of this work. Their children are Ber- tha, now Mrs. Moses Humble, Clara E., Louisa and William F.

D AVID WILLETT .- The dominion of Canada has made no slight contribution to the per- sonnel of Montana's successful and enterprising business men, and among those who have been concerned with her industrial activities is Mr. Wil-

lett, the efficient manager of the O. G. Cooper ranch, in the vicinity of Bynum, Teton county. He is a native of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where he was born on the 27th of November, 1860, being the son of David and Margaret (Mc- Coy) Willett, the former of whom was born in Canada in 1832, removing thence to Montcalm county, Mich., about the year 1881, and there he has since devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. The mother of our subject is also liv- ing, she having been born in the state of New York in 1841.

In the public schools of the picturesque little hamlet of Burlington, on the St. Joseph river, in Calhoun county, Mich., our subject received his preliminary educational discipline, attending to his studies until he had attained the age of seventeen years and thereafter assisting in the work of the homestead farm until he had reached his legal majority, when he came to Montana, where he has since been engaged in various pursuits in different parts of the state. He made Helena his head- quarters for about ten years, doing general team- ing on contract during the greater portion of the time, principally in hauling wood and ore. In 1898 he located in Teton county, where he has since been acting as manager of what is known as the old O. G. Cooper ranch at Bynum, the same com- prising about 5,000 acres. In politics Mr. Wil- lett is a Democrat. He is well known and popu- lar in the county.

THOMAS J. WALSH, one of the leading mem- bers of the Montana bar, is a practicing and successful attorney of Helena. He was born at Two Rivers, Wis., June 12, 1859. The parents of Mr. Walsh were Felix and Bridget (Conner) Walsh, both natives of Ireland. They came to the United States in 1847 and located in Wiscon- sin, where the mother now resides, Felix Walsh, the father, having died in 1891. He was a lumber- man and filled some local offices. To them were born four sons and six daughters, Thomas J. Walsh, the subject of this sketch, being the only member of the family in Montana.

The subject passed his boyhood and youth- ful days in Wisconsin and there received his early education in the public schools. Subsequently he entered the law department of the Wiscon- sin State University, at Madison, having prior

1444

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

to this read law assiduously at Manitowoc and Sturgeon Bay. From the law department of the university he graduated in 1884, and the same year began the practice of huis profession at Red- field, S. D., where he remained in the enjoyment of a successful and lucrative practice for six years. It was in 1890 that Mr. Walsh first came to Helena, and here he has since resided, having built up a large and profitable practice. At Red- field, S. D., he was associated with his brother.

In 1889 Mr. Walsh was married to Miss Ellen McClements, a native of Wisconsin. They have one daughter, Genevieve. Mrs. Walsh was a gave it up and has devoted himself exclusively to teacher in Chicago and Mr. Walsh had taught eight years in Wisconsin.

The political affiliations of Mr. Walsh are with the Democratic party, in whose success he has ever taken an active and enthusiastic interest. During the campaign of 1898 he was an elo- quent and convincing speaker and made a thorough canvass of the district. Although not yet in the prime of life, Mr. Walsh has achieved financial and social success in the new state with whose people he has cast his lot. His superior legal abilities have won the recognition that they so justly deserve and the obstacles that he has en- countered in life have been overcome by his force of character and sound business judgment. He is well known in the state and numbers many friends.

G EORGE L. WILLIAMS .- One of the most prosperous and progressive ranchmen, lum- bermen and general business men of Meagher county is George L. Williams, of Dell Pine, who was born February 7, 1869, at the old town of West Stockbridge, Mass., in the shadow of the Housatonic mountains. His parents are Lorenzo and Jenny (Lyons) Williams, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Ireland. They are still living at West Stockbridge, where the father is a carpenter and farmer of good standing and many friends.

Mr. Williams spent his school days in West Stockbridge, and in 1883, when he was fourteen years old, came to Montana to live with and work for an uncle who was a cattleman on the Mussel- shell. He remained with the uncle four years, and then went into partnership in the cattle busi- ness and ranching on Big Elk creek, continu- ing the business some two years. Not being very

successful at it, he retired from the partnership and again went to work at the cattle business, in the employ of Sanford Moore on the Musselshell, being engaged in freighting at the same time. At the end of a year and a half he went into the service of Mr. Moore's brother, Perry, in the same line of work, and remained with him a year and a half, after which he began freighting on his own account, and also bought a ranch at the head of the Musselshell, with Spring creek run- ning through it. He continued freighting in con- nection with his ranching for four years, then

his ranch ever since, in connection with an ex- tensive business in sawing and dealing in lum- ber. Having water power for the purpose on his own property, he at first depended on this to run his sawmill, but in 1898 he bought a steam out- fit, and engaged in sawing some four miles up Cooper creek from his home ranch, where he is still actively and profitably engaged in the work, finding a home market for his entire output and all he can produce. On his ranch he raises su- perior cattle in good numbers, usually having at least 100 head.

Mr. Williams was married October 29, 1895, to Miss Effie Smith, of Quincy, Ill., a daughter of Fielding R. Smith, who removed from Illinois to Missouri, and came to Montana in 1887 and was a prosperous rancher on Big Elk, where he died in May, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two sons, Ira and Earl.

Mr. Williams is a very enterprising and pro- gressive man, his business is pushed with vigor, but he finds time to give due attention to pub- lic matters in which the welfare of the com- munity is involved, and contributes his presence and his inspiration to social affairs. He is the postmaster at Dell Pine, at the head of the Mus- selshell, and is concerned in a leading way with all the public life of the community, being one of its most useful, representative and respected citizens.

JOHN A. WOODSON .- One of the sterling pioneers of Montana is the gentleman who figures as the subject of this review and who is one of the honored residents of Meagher county. Mr. Woodson is a native of Columbia, Boone county, Mo., where he was born on the 28th of May, 1843, being a son of Warren and Amanda

1445

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

(Dick) Woodson, the former of whom was born in Powhatan county and the latter in Caroline county, Va. John Woodson, the grandfather of our subject, was likewise a native of the Old Dominion and was a son of one of the valiant patriots of the Continental line during the war of the Revolution, he and his brother Matthew having come from England to America in the early Colonial epoch, locating in Virginia. The ma- ternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a clergyman of the church of England, and was sent to the American colonies by King George III. Warren Woodson removed from Virginia to Kentucky in an early day, and thence to Mis- souri, where he passed the residue of his life. He held the office of clerk of the county court of Boone county, Mo., for a period of forty-two years and also presided on the bench of the pro- bate court for a long term of years, being incum- bent of this office at the time of his death. He was a man of strong intellectuality and sterling character and commanded the respect of all who knew him. He was twice married, of the first union four children were born, and of the latter seven, our subject being one of the children of the second marriage. His mother is still living, hav- ing attained the advanced age of ninety-one years.

John A. Woodson received his early educational training in the public schools of his native state and was thereafter matriculated in the Missouri State University, at Columbia, where he contin- ued his studies for a period of three years. In 1864 he started for Montana, making the long overland trip with an ox team and as a member of a quite numerous party, arriving in Virginia City on the 17th of September. He remained at that point for one month and was thereafter located in Confederate gulch for a period of two months, returning to Virginia City for the winter. In the spring he returned to Confederate gulch, where he engaged in mining and also conducted a general merchandise store, being thus engaged until September 1, 1868, when he was elected sheriff of Meagher county. This office he held for but a brief interval, since in the succeeding month he was summoned to the east by reason of the death of his father. He did not come again to Montana until a period of eleven years had elapsed, having made the second trip by rail and stage, in the fall of 1879, and by boat up the Missouri river in the year 1880.

Sulphur Springs, Meagher county, where he has since maintained his home. For a number of years after his return to the state he gave his at- tention to the sheep business upon a quite ex- tensive scale, meeting with severe losses, however, during the financial panic of 1893-4. In politics Mr. Woodson gives his allegiance to the Demo- cratic party, and he was a member of the First legis- lature after the admission of Montana to state- hood in 1889. Fraternally he has been raised to the master's degree in the ancient-craft body of Freemasonry, and is also a Knight Templar.

On the 21st of December, 1876, Mr. Woodson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Baker (de- ceased in 1888), who was born in Cooper county, Mo., the daughter of James Baker, a native of the same state. Of this union four children were born, namely: Warren R., who is now a resident of the city of Helena ; James B., who is a resident of the state of Washington, and Lucy and Ger- trude, who are deceased.

JAMES E. ABBEY .- The son of a well-to-do Pennsylvania farmer, and progressing through life toward prominence and consequence by the route which so many American leaders of thought have traveled, i. e., teaching in the public schools of the country, James E. Abbey, of Philipsburg, is well qualified by a useful and varied experience for whatever is likely to befall him in the way of public duty or private responsibility. He was born at Girard, Erie county, Pa., August 1, 1857, the third of seven children of James S. and Antoin- ette (Langworthy) Abbey, natives of New York, who removed to Pennsylvania early in their mar- ried life and engaged in farming in Erie county.

Mr. Abbey attended the public, primary and grammar schools of Girard, and finished his edu- cation at the excellent high school there, of which he was one of the two first graduates, getting his diploma in 1874. After graduation he taught in the public schools of the county for five years. In the meantime he had learned telegraphy, and was employed as operator along the line of the Lake Shore Railroad between Cleveland and Erie, working at nearly every station, and succeeding to the position of relief agent of this division of the road. He was employed in these two ca- pacities for five years ; the next two he furnished

Mr. Woodson at this time located in White lumber by contract for the Pennsylvania Railroad

1446

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

from land of his own. He then entered the em- ploy of the Northern Pacific; was placed at vari- ous points as station agent, finally reaching Bon- ner, Mont., on the Rocky Mountain division, where he spent two years and a half. From there he went to Philipsburg and served as agent for two years. He was then city marshal for a year, but resigned to accept the nomination for clerk of the court for Granite county, to which he was elected and now fills with credit to himself and advantage to the county. In the long progress from Penn- sylvania to this great western state, made step by step, he was at one time a justice of the peace in Kingsville, Ohio.

In politics Mr. Abbey was always a Republican of the regular type until the silver issue came into prominence, when he became active as an organizer of Silver Republican Clubs, and in other associations of the Silver Republican party. He was a delegate to its state conventions in 1896 and 1898, and was appointed as a delegate from the state to the National convention which met at Kansas City in 1890, but did not attend. He is at the present time (1901) clerk of the school board of Granite county. In fraternal relations he is identified with the Masonic order, having joined Lake Erie Lodge No. 347, in 1888, and subsequently helped to organize Temple Lodge No. 49, at Bonner, where he now holds member- ship. He is also a member of the grand lodge of the state, and is worthy patron of Pearl Chap- ter of the Eastern Star, at Philipsburg. In the Independent Order of Foresters he is chief ranger of his lodge. Mr. Abbey was united in marriage August 8, 1880, at Springfield, Pa., to Miss Addie C., daughter of Aaron and Sarah (Lawson) Pat- terson. Her father was a prominent tailor at Girard, that state. They have three children, namely: Raymond Clarence, and Florence, born in Ohio, and Zora Mildred, born at Rimini, Mont.

C HARLES ACHER, the progressive, wide- awake and thrifty ranchmen and cattlegrowers located in various parts of Montana are justly re- garded wherever they are known as among the most substantial, productive and useful citizens of the state. Among them no one is more justly es- teemed either in business or social relations, than Charles Acher, who owns and conducts a ranch of 320 acres of excellent land located in the Milk

river valley, about four miles east of Chinook. The whole tract is fenced and all the improvements re- quired by law are made. The land is in a good state of cultivation and yields profitable returns in general farming in addition to the raising of stock.

Mr. Acher was born in Ripley county, Ind., June 12, 1870. His parents were John and Magdalena (Fleck) Acher, natives of Germany, who came to America in about 1855 and settled in Ripley county, Ind. In 1861 the father enlisted in an Indiana regiment and served therein until the end of the war. After his return to the peaceful vocations of life he continued to carry on the business of farm- ing until 1882, when he died. His widow survives him and resides in the Milk river valley with her daughter, Mrs. Hulbush.

Charles Acher was reared on the Indiana home- stead and was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood. At the age of nineteen he re- moved to the state of Washington and worked as a farm hand for a short tme, when he found em- ployment as engineer for the Blue Canyon Coal Company, remaining in their service for three years. In 1895 he came to Montana to live and settled on the ranch which he now occupies. He was married October 11, 1896, to Miss Maggie Hazen, daughter of George Hazen, of Ripley, Ind. They are the parents of three sons : Ivor, Hazen and Charles, and a daughter not named. In political affiliation Mr. Acher is a Democrat, and is earnest and active in the service of his party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and gives intelligent and valued assistance in the management of his lodge.

H ARRY ADAMS, one of the successful young farmers and stockgrowers of Cascade county, of which he is a representative citizen, has a fine ranch located one mile east of Stockett. Mr. Adams is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having been born in Richland county, on November 15, 1868, the son of Thomas B. and Nancy J. Adams, the former of whom was born on Prince Edward Island and the latter in Ontario, Canada. Thomas B. Adams took up his residence in the United States when a young man, and during the Civil war he served in the Union army, being employed at work in the line of his trade, which was that of a car- penter and builder. He early came to Montana as an employe in the government service, and was in Helena when the capital city was a mere mining

1447

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

camp. In politics he was active in the ranks of the Republican party ; in religion both he and his wife were communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church. The mother of our subject died in 1894, while his father passed away in 1899, having at- tained a venerable age.

Harry Adams received a common school edu-, nation, and on his reaching the territory he located cation, and during the greater part of his business life has given his attention to farm work. He was employed in Minnesota from 1886 until 1889, and in the spring of 1890 he came to Great Falls, Mont., and entered the employ of Nathaniel McGiffin, en- gaged in ranch work. In 1895 he took up a home- stead of 160 acres, and in the following year added an eighty-acre desert claim; and in 1898 purchased 280 acres adjoining his original claim, 100 acres of which are fit for cultivation; the remainder of the ranch is utilized for grazing purposes. Mr. Adams is doing an extensive business in the raising of cat- tle and sheep and supplies all the meat utilized by the Cottonwood Coal Company. He has been sig- nally prosperous in his operations and is recognized as one of the leading ranchmen of the county, where he is held in high esteem. In politics he advocates the principles of the Republican party, but has never sought the honors of public office.

JOHN ADAMI .- Among the successful con- tractors and prosperous citizens of Helena is numbered Mr. Adami, who has made this place his home for more than a quarter of a century, coming here in his youth and is well known as one of the worthy pioneers of this state. He has attained success through his own efforts and has ever main- tained his reputation as an upright citizen and busi- ness man. He is a native son of the Fatherland, having been born in the province of Hessen on April 27, 1855, a son of Jacob and Catherine Adami. Jacob Adami was in his early life a weaver of linens and woolens, but later engaged in agricul- tural pursuits with which he carried on profitably a government contract in manufacturing sauerkraut for the German army. He died in 1859. Both he and his wife were members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and people of sterling character. Mrs. Catherine Adami lived to a venerable old age, dying in the last years of the nineteenth century. Of their nine children four survive, and all live in Helena. They are Mary, now Mrs. J. Amacker ; Jacob, Henry and John.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 87

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