Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 89

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 89

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Being progressive and of industrious habits and sound judgment, Mr. Aman has developed a most comfortable home from what was once unproduc- tive although fertile land. Here he is successfully engaged in successful cultivation of the soil and in raising cattle and horses. Mr. Aman was mar- ried on October 18, 1892, to Miss Catherine Mock, who was also born at Goefis, Austria, on July 17, 1868, the wedding being solemnized at Helena. Mrs. Aman is a willing, cheerful and worthy help- meet to her husband, having, while a girl, ac- quired salutary hàbits of thrift and industry under her paternal roof and while she was employed in the embroidery and silk factories of her native town. They have two children, Katie, a bright, intelligent girl, and Leona. Mr. Aman politically acts and votes with the Republican party. He is a member of the Choteau organization of the Woodmen of the World. The surroundings of his home indicate prosperity, and he has won the esteem of the residents of his community.

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PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA.

CHARLES A. ANDERSON .- Born in Oerebro, Sweden, in 1846, and educated in the excellent state or public schools of that country, Charles A. Anderson was well prepared for the battle of life. His parents were Andrew Neilson and Mar- garet Anderson, natives of Sweden, and he was the second of their eight children. After leaving school, at the age of seventeen, he learned the trade of a tanner and currier, at which he worked in England until 1870, when he came to the United States and worked at his trade in Boston and other places for a number of years; then went to Ne- vada and spent three or four years working at min- ing and in mills. In 1875 he came to Montana and followed the same occupation for three years, going thence to Philipsburg, where he engaged in the lumber and coal business, in which he con- tinued to the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1893; the sad event being deeply re- gretted by a large circle of admiring friends and acquaintances, the uprightness of his life, his busi- ness capacity and his usefulness in the community having made him universally esteemed.

T HEODORE ANDERSON, brother of Charles, was born on December 21, 1856, at Oere- bro, Sweden, the youngest of the family of eight children, and went to school in that country until he was sixteen years old, when, like his brother, he learned the tanner's and currier's trade, and worked at it in his native country until 1881. In that year he emigrated to the United States and went to work at his trade in the morocco factories at Lynn, Mass., where he remained for ten years and then came to Montana to work for his brother in the lumber and coal business at Philipsburg. Two years later, when his brother died, he was ap- pointed administrator of the estate, and his father, who was the only heir at law to the estate, made him a present of the business left by his brother, which he is still successfully conducting.

Like his brother, Mr. Anderson has always taken a lively interest in all matters affecting the welfare of the community and although an inde- pendent voter in politics, he never shirks his duty. He served a term as city councilman in Philips- burg, and administered the affairs of the office in such a manner as to win the approval of all classes of the people. He was married in 1886, at Lynn, Mass., to Miss Emily Johnson. They have no

children of their own, but have an adopted son, who is now twenty-one years of age, and has been in the navy for ten years or more. It is high praise, but not too much to say of Mr. Anderson, that he is a worthy and consistent follower of his brother's high example, and practices in his daily life the integrity, the enterprise and the social amenities for which the brother was distinguished.

CHARLES M. ANDERSON .- Shortly after Montana became a state a young man came to Cascade county who has attained prominence as a cattle raiser. He had failed with sheep, but he has succeeded most admirably in repairing his fortunes. Mr. Anderson is a native of Sweden, born on March 7, 1869, the son of Andrew and Ida Anderson. The father was a farmer in Sweden and both parents were devout Lutherans. Charles M. Anderson began at the age of eight years to assist his parents on the farm, and remained with them until he was eighteen, when he came to America and settled in Whiteside county, Ill. His first year's employment was at rail- road work and the second farming for $21.50 a month and board. In 1889 he came to Montana and located at Great Falls. He worked at rail- roading and freighting for a year, and then was employed in the cattle business, receiving $40 a month and board, while later he devoted unpro- ductive time to mining and prospecting. In 1893, with J. C. Kellier, he purchased a band of 600 sheep, which they increased to 3,000, but they suf- fered a total loss from fire, and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Anderson then began to raise cattle, in which enterprise he is still engaged on his handsome ranch, thirteen miles southeast of Belt. The property comprises about 1,500 acres, including homestead, desert claims and 200 acres are under cultivation, yielding bountiful crops. In 1895 Mr. Anderson married Miss Hilda C. Hultin, a native of Sweden and daughter of Gus- tavus and Mary Hultin. They are members of the Lutheran church and the father is a farmer. Politically Mr. Anderson is a Republican and his. earnest industry and care, and intelligent man- agement has brought him success and many friends. He is well known in the community in which he resides, and highly esteemed by friends and neighbors. He has one son, Roy C.

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T HOMAS W. ANDERSON .- The subject of this sketch has seen the great northwest of the United States under varied skies and many phases. For years he had the interesting experi- ence of going from camp to camp throughout the mining regions, viewing life as it appeared at each of them in their kaleidoscopic changes.

Mr. Anderson was born at Cambridge, Guern- sey county, Ohio, December 8, 1829. He was the ninth of ten children, and his parents were Hum- phrey and Levina (Shannon) Anderson, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. He attended the public schools of his native place and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty years old, when he joined that heroic body of men known to history as the "Forty-niners" and landing in California, he located in Nevada county, engaged in mining for three years and then went to Placer county and spent the next two in the same occupation. In 1858 he joined a stam- pede to the Fraser river country in British Colum- bia, and remained in that region two years, going from there to the Puget Sound country, where he worked for another year in a lumber camp. At the end of that time he joined a party to Rocky creek, British Columbia, and spent the summer there. In the fall he made a journey to Walla Walla, Wash., where he worked at lumbering, put in a few months at Orofino in the same terri- tory, and then removed to Florence, Idaho, re- maining there one winter, and in the spring started out prospecting. He was one of a party of sev- enteen who discovered Warren's Diggings in Idaho, but only remained there a year, going next to Boise, where he spent three years in min- ing. From there he came to Montana, locating at Garnet in 1866, and a little later at Beartown, which was the largest town in the territory in 1868-70, and one of the richest camps then known. He has remained in this neighborhood ever since and in company with his partner, Edward Magune, has in operation a number of mining claims and is still acquiring others.

In politics Mr. Anderson is an ardent Republi- can, but has never been an active party worker. He enjoys life in the mountains and takes special pleasure in recalling the conditions of the coun- try when he came into it in comparison to what it is now. He is well posted in the local history of the places where he has lived, and fully appre- ciates the progress which has been made in the development of Montana, to which he has faith-

fully and continually contributed as he has had op- portunity. There is no better citizen than Mr. Anderson, and none more highly esteemed.

A NTON ALT .- In partnership with his brother- in-law, Christian Steinbach, (on another page of this work appears a biographical notice of Mr. Steinbach) controlling their fine ranch in Lewis and Clarke county, Mont., is Anton Alt. He was born at Baden, Germany, on January 16, 1855. His parents were Joseph and Madelina Alt, also natives of Baden. Joseph Alt was a successful farmer and both the parents were members of the Catholic church. He died in 1873, but his widow lived until 1893. Until he was fourteen years old Anton attended the public schools of Baden and was a diligent student. He then ob- tained employment in a sugar refinery, working for fifty cents per day for two years without an increase in his pay wages. He then learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he rendered faithful service for seven years for $5.00 a week. Then followed three years of soldier life and he emi- grated to the United States. Mr. Alt came directly to Helena and at once entered into partnership with Mr. Steinbach, which has continued to the present except the three years he served as a bartender. In 1888 he was married to Miss Eliza Milch, a sister of Mrs. Steinbach. They have had three children, Joseph C., Eugene J. and Louisa F. The parents are members of the Catholic church. The Republican national ticket is sup- ported by Mr. Alt, whose business is now very prosperous and profitable.

S 'ILAS ANWAY .- In the important matter of irrigation in Teton county, Mont., Silas An- way has been an interested and enthusiastic factor and his efforts are duly appreciated by the rap- idly increasing number of residents of Burton bench. He was born in Cook county, Ill., near Chicago, on May 4, 1851. His father, Erasmus Anway, was a farmer and a native of New York, who removed to Howard county, Iowa, where he died in 1857. His wife, Margaret (Best) An- way, was born in Ireland, coming to the United States when a child. She died in Chicago in 1873. Mr. Anway is the youngest in a family

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of five children, four boys and one girl. One brother is living in Minnesota and the sister in Chicago. Two brothers enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war and both gave their lives for their country, one being killed during an assault on Vicksburg and the other dying of measles. In the public schools of Howard county, Iowa, Silas Anway received his rudimentary edu- cation, subsequently attending the Iowa State University at Fayette. Following his graduation he engaged in farming in Iowa and Minnesota until 1896, when he came to Teton county, Mont., and secured homestead and desert claims near Choteau on the Burton bench. Here he has a splendid 240 acre ranch, devoted to general farm- ing and stockraising. He was one of the first to agitate and carry to completion the celebrated irrigating system which is fast converting the "bench" into a veritable garden spot. As pioneer in this beneficent movement Mr. Anway deserves great credit and it is certain that his efforts are greatly appreciated. In 1876 Mr. Anway traveled extensively in the northwest, visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota and numerous other places of interest. Politically he is an adherent of the principles of the Republican party. Mr. Anway was among the first to pitch a tent on the pres- ent site of Deadwood. After having passed through many and varied experiences in differ- ent states he is firmly convinced that Montana is the best state in the Union. He is strictly temperate, using neither liquor nor tobacco.

T `HOMAS P. ASPLING .- Of stanch old Eng- lish lineage and a pioneer of Montana, since he has maintained his home here since the age of fourteen years, Mr. Aspling was born in Platte county, Mo., on Christmas day, 1850, the son of Thomas and Georgia (Kelly) Asplin, the former of whom was born in London, England, and the latter in Fredericksburg, Va., about 1820. He came to the United States as a young man, first lo- cating in Missouri, and engaging in merchandising in Parkville and Kansas City. In 1864 he came to Montana and for four years engaged in mining at various points in the state. In 1868 he lo- cated in Deer Lodge, where he has conducted a prosperous merchandising business until the present time. His wife, who was born in Virginia, in 1834, died at Deer Lodge in 1896.

Thomas P. Aspling when nine years old accom- panied his parents across the plains, arriving at Virginia City on September 20, 1864. From 1868 to 1876 he was employed in his father's store at Deer Lodge, and passed the following year pros- pecting in the Black Hills. In 1878 he removed to Fort Benton and for nine years was employed by Joseph Hirshberg & Co., at that place and at Choteau. He thereafter was a bookkeeper in the general store of Joseph Kipp at the Blackfoot reservation for two years, after which he accepted a position in the store of Joseph Hirshberg & Co. at Dupuyer. In the fall of 1900 he was the Demo- cratic candidate for clerk of Teton county, being defeated by only eight votes, and in 1883-4 he served as under sheriff of Choteau county under James McDevitt. The marriage of Mr. Aspling to Miss Mary Dolnie, who was born in Canada in 1873 was solemnized in Fort Benton, in 1884, and two of their four children, Lillie and Willis, are living. Albert died in April, 1897, at the age of four years, and Georgia in August of the same year, at the age of six.

B ARTON W. S. ARMSTRONG .- One of the most prominent and successful ranchmen of Cascade county, Mont., is a native of Lawrence county, Ind., born there on June 22, 1846. He is the son of Ari and Polly Armstrong, also natives of Indiana, and liis name is Barton W. S. Arm- strong. The father, an intelligent individual, has made a scientific business of farming in which he has been very successful, especially in stockraising. He is an active Republican, and served two years as commissioner of Lawrence county. He is a prominent Freemason and a devout member of the Christian church, as was his wife, who died in 1855. Barton W. S. Armstrong had few school ad- vantages, but he made the most of his opportunities, and observation and experience in active business life have largely supplemented his early education. He early began to work on his father's farm, and when nineteen owned an interest in the property. At the age of twenty-one he was actively engaged in farming and stockraising on his own account.

In the fall of 1899 he came to Montana and pur- chased the W. I. Baker ranch on Otter creek, con- prising 1,120 acres. He has added to this property 440 acres of deeded land, 150 acres of which he cul- tivates. His whole realty of deeded land and "filed

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on" land is about 12,000 acres. The principal in- dustry in which he is interested is the herding of sheep of which he has 13,000 head. The ranch is located seven miles southeast of Belt, and on it has been demonstrated that Cascade county can pro- duce as finely flavored apples as can be grown in any land. He has also devoted considerable attention to Hereford cattle, of which he has many fine speci- mens. Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage on June 3, 1880, to Miss Candace E. Gainey, born in Lawrence county, Ind. She was the daughter of Adin G. and Margaret Gainey, also natives of In- diana, where her father was long a successful mer- chant and a prominent Baptist. His wife was a de- vout Methodist and died in 1858. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are Walter, Harry, Webb, Urmey, Gayton and Imo. Mrs. Armstrong, a highly cultured lady and a highly valued member of the Baptist church, did not long enjoy life on the pleasant ranch on Otter creek, dying on Febru- ary II, 1900, and she is mourned by a large circle who valued her for her many virtues of Christian character, her quiet unostentation and her gen- erous hospitality. Mr. Armstrong belongs to the Christian church and politically he is a stalwart member of the Republican party. Mr. Armstrong is highly esteemed and is a most valuable addition to the representative men of Montana, standing high as he does in character, ability and in wealth.

AVID L. SHAFER .- On the roster of Mon- tana's sterling pioneers stands the name of this honored citizen of Fergus county, where he has been extensively engaged in cattleraising. His ranch is located one mile from the village of Cot- tonwood, his postoffice address.

Ohio figures as the place of Mr. Shafer's na- tivity, where he was born in Clark county, on the 16th of March, 1837, the only child of David and Amanda (Combs) Shafer, both of whom were born in Virginia. They emigrated to Ohio in early days, becoming pioneers of that now populous com- monwealth. During his early residence in Ohio David Shafer gave attention to freighting over the Alleghany mountains, later engaging in the livery and sales-stable business at Springfield. He was one of the influential citizens of the city, an ardent Democrat in politics, and served one term as mayor. He and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Educated at the public schools David L. Shafer, from the age of sixteen until he was nineteen, re- ceived a practical training in agriculture on the stock farm of his grandfather, Jacob Ernst, also a resident of Clark county. He then came west- ward to Iowa, locating in Henry county and there engaging in farming for two years. In 1857 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, secured a government contract for breaking ground and putting up hay and grain for the Omaha Indians. Remaining in that locality until 1859, he journeyed to Denver, Colo., called thither 'by the gold excitement. He first engaged in the lumber business but soon be- came a miner for the golden treasures. For a time his search was successful but later dame for- tune abandoned him and in 1864 he crossed the plains to Montana and located at Gallatin City. He there took up farming and stockgrowing until 1869, when he removed to the Prickly Pear valley, near Helena, where for two years he was in the same vocation. In 1871 he located on the Missouri river in Jefferson county and engaged in raising stock until 1882, when he took up his abode on his pres- ent fine ranch property in Fergus county. Here he filed entry on a desert claim, and to this added until the area of his estate now aggregates 1,250 acres. Here Mr. Shafer has devoted his attention to the raising of stock of high grade, and has devel- oped a beautiful home, peculiarly adapted by loca- tion and improvements for its purpose.

Mr. Shafer has ever maintained a distinctively public-spirited attitude and has contributed his quota toward the furtherance of the general good in all civic lines. He has been one of the influential supporters of the Democratic party, and was a rep- resentative of Gallatin county in the territorial legislature in 1868 and 1869. He also served for a number of years as justice of the peace, and was for some time the surveyor of Gallatin county. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of both the lodge and encampment, also of the Society of Mon- tana Pioneers.

On the 26th of December, 1870, Mr. Shafer was united in marriage to Miss Donna Perkins, a native of Ohio. She descends from notable families in early American history, is an artist of no mean ability and possesses the winsome qualities of geni- ality and cheer which tend to not only make her home a home in the truest sense of the word to its inmates, but an attractive one to "the stranger with- in its gates."

W. T. McFarland

D. L. Shafer

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FRANK G. ARNETT .- The subject of this narrative is a gentleman of enterprising and progressive business methods, marked individuality and executive ability, and prominent in the great stockgrowing industry of Montana, being the resi- dent manager and one of the principal stockholders of the Diamond Cattle Company.

He is a native of Henry county, Ill., where he was born on his father's homestead August 8, 1865, the third of the six children of George and Mar- garet (Sieben) Arnett, the former of whom was born in Warren county, Pa., in 1833, and the lat- ter in Germany in 1840. George Arnett removed with his parents to Henry county, Ill., where they were pioneers and where he grew to manhood and has since made his home. He was married at Spring Hill in the county of Whiteside, in 1857.

Mr. Arnett, our immediate subject, first came to Montana in the spring of 1881, when he was fifteen years of age, locating in Chestnut valley, Meagher county, where he was employed on a cattle ranch until the latter part of December, 1882, at which date he returned to Illinois. He then attended school two years at Colona and Davenport, finishing a six-months course at Davenport Business College in March, 1885. In April following he returned to Montana, locating at Flat Willow, where he took charge of a stock ranch owned by Henry Sieben, of Helena, and remained on it until November, 1888, at which time he again returned to Illinois, settling on this occasion at Thomson, Carroll coun- ty, and there engaged in mercantile business for a period of one year, when he disposed of his in- terests and once more sought the stock ranges of Montana. Thereafter he was engaged in the stock business in Lewis and Clarke county and in Meagher county until the spring of 1894, and the ensuing four years was employed by the Conrad Kohr Cattle Company, being for the greater part of this time in charge of their cattle interests in the Sweet Grass hills.

In the spring of 1898 Mr. Arnett became a mem- ber of the Diamond Cattle Company, the other in- terested principals being Henry Sieben and Elizur Beach, both representative and influential citizens of the state. The company purchased a number of squatters claims on the Missouri river, about seven miles southeast of the town of Culbertson, in Val- ley county, and now owns deeded lands aggregat- ing 1,360 acres, besides controlling large adjoin- ing tracts held under lease and scrip. This exten- sive ranch property is all fenced and is recognized as 92

one of the finest stock ranches in the state, and from it large numbers of cattle are cared for and matured for the Chicago market. On the ranch Mr. Arnett has an attractive and comfortable home which is a center of gracious and refined hospitality.

In political relations Mr. Arnett is a loyal sup- porter of the Republican party and its principles. Fraternally he is identified with Glasgow Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M., at Glasgow, Valley county, taking an abiding interest in its affairs. He was married in the city of Colville, Wash., June 6, 1900, to Miss Elma Brockman, D. D. S., who was born at Glasgow, Cloud county, Kan., November 1, 1876, the daughter of John H. and Mary O. Brockman, the former of whom is deceased. Mrs. Arnett is a young woman of fine scholastic and professional attainments and very pleasing grace of character. After finishing an advanced academic education, she completed a thorough course in the Western Dental College, at Kansas City, Mo., where she was graduated in 1899, receiving first prize for opera- tive dentistry. She immediately moved to Spokane, Wash., where she opened an office and entered upon the practice of her profession. Since her marriage she has had an office at her home on the ranch, and has there secured an extensive and profitable body of patrons, and she is recognized as a proficient and progressive member of her profession.

R ICHARD AUCHARD .- The subject of this review has been a resident of Montana for more than a score of years, and here he has been successful in his operations along two of the great industrial lines which give the state its prestige- agriculture and stockgrowing. He is a man of sterling character and has gained the confidence and respect of the community in which he has passed so many years, being recognized as one of the representative ranch men in the vicinity of Augusta, Lewis and Clarke county. Mr. Auchard is a native of North Bay, Oneida county, N. Y., where he was born on the 20th of April, 1829, his parents, David and Sarah Auchard, being likewise natives of the old Empire state, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in his ninety-ninth year. The mother of our subject was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, and her death occurred when she attained the age of eighty-four years.

Richard Auchard, the subject of this sketch, at- tended the district schools in the vicinity of' his

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home during the winter months, and the balance of the time found his services in requisition on the parental farm. He remained at home until he at- tained the age of nineteen years, and then began to serve an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade, to which he devoted his attention until he reached his legal majority. He did not feel satisfied with this vocation, believing that it afforded few oppor- tunities for advancement or the attaining of more than nominal success, and he thus drifted into other lines of occupation. He found employment in driving a team on the old Erie canal, devoting himself to this somewhat prosaic and monotonous work during one summer, after which he was giv- en the position as pilot on the canal, serving in this capacity for four years and receiving $25 per month and board. In 1854 he purchased a freight- ing outfit and engaged in the transportation busi- ness between New York city and Buffalo for three years, his enterprise the first year showing most satisfactory returns, but as a sequel of the finan- cial panic which then ensued, the following two years did not prove as successful. In 1857 he dis- posed of his equipment and business and pur- chased sixty-seven acres of land at North Bay, Oneida county, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1868, when he sold out at a profit and engaged in the building of canal boats, con- tinuing in this line of industry until 1873, trans- acting a business which would have yielded good profits had not the panic of that year rendered it impossible for his patrons to make payments. In common with many others, Mr. Auchard thus found his financial resources at the lowest ebb, and he was variously engaged thereafter until 1879, in the spring of which year he came to Montana, de- termined to retrieve his fortunes if possible. From Bismarck, Dakota, he came by boat up the Missouri river to Fort Benton and thence by stage to the Dearborn river, where he was employed on the ranch of his brother, David, until February of the following year. His wish being to establish a home for himself, he sought a location, and finally purchased for $1,200 a ranch of 160 acres, one-half mile south of Augusta, Lewis and Clarke county, and here he has since made his home. This was indeed a fortunate venture. In two years time this was paid for from the products of the farm, and from then on he has prospered. In 1884 he took up a homestead claim of 160 acres, and has since added to the area of his ranch until now he has' 1,120, the place being well improved and re-

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Progressive men of the state of Montana, pt 2, Part 89

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