USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 33
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In 1903 Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage to Miss Anna Warkow, of Lincoln, Nebraska. He is a democrat in his political views and for years was a prominent factor in the councils of the party, his opinions carrying weight among party leaders. He served for two terms as mayor of Gillette but has not been active as a seeker after office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which have grown to large proportions and which place him among the representative and prominent men of the state, contributing much to the material development of Campbell county and of Wyoming.
PERCY M, CROPPER.
Percy M. Cropper, one of the proprietors of the Casper Daily Press and Casper Record, published at Casper, Wyoming, was born July 29, 1881, in Mazo- manie, Dane county, Wisconsin, his parents being William M. and Mary (Wals- ter) Cropper. He acquired a common school education and afterward took up the study of law, to which he devoted his leisure hours for several years while employed on a Chicago newspaper. Much of his life, however, has been devoted to journalistic work. Before he was eighteen years of age he became police reporter at the old Maxwell Street police station in Chicago for the City Press Association and later he was employed on the Chicago Examiner and the Chicago Inter Ocean. He came west in 1904, going first to Utah, where he secured a position on the Salt Lake Herald. He was afterward engaged in the irrigation business in Emery county, Utah, and for a time devoted his attention to the brokerage business in Salt Lake City, but again entered the newspaper field as financial editor of the Deseret News of Salt Lake, retaining that position for a number of years. He became engaged in the oil business in Wyoming, holding large interests in the Casper Embar Petroleum Company, and he is now an officer in the Casper Trust Company and has many business interests in Utah. In November, 1917, he became associated with others in the purchase of the Casper Daily Press and Casper Record, which papers he is now publish- ing. The papers have been incorporated as the Casper Press-Record Publishing Company, Mr. Cropper being vice president and business manager. He is one of the best known journalists of this section of the country and also a representative business man, identified with various interests which have had to do with the upbuilding and development of the west.
In Salt Lake, Utah, on the 12th of September, 1908, Mr. Cropper was united
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PERCY M. CROPPER
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in marriage to Miss Mildred J. Hansen, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Hansen, and they have one son, John Samuel, born September 25, 1914.
Although interested in politics and civic affairs, Mr. Cropper has always preferred to stay in the background and has not cared to occupy public office. However, his aid and influence are given in support of various projects for the general good and his business efforts have largely been of a character that have contributed to general improvement as well as to individual success. He is a firm believer in the west, recognizing its countless opportunities and its unde- veloped resources, and he has done much to further its interests in many ways.
VICTOR J. FACINELLI.
Victor J. Facinelli, cashier of the North Side State Bank at Rock Springs, was born in Revo, in the Tyrol, in Austria, December 4, 1887, a son of Albert and Katherina ( Rossi) Facinelli, both of whom were natives of Austria, where they remained until 1888 and then crossed the Atlantic to the new world, taking up their abode near Joliet, Illinois, where the father engaged in mining. In 1889. however, he removed to Wyoming and came first to Rock Springs, where he engaged in mining for several years. He later entered the mercantile business. which he conducted for a time and then sold out, turning his attention to the retail liquor business. He died in April, 1908, at the age of fifty years, and is still sur- vived by his widow, who makes her home in Rock Springs. They had a family of four children, all of whom are living : Rose : Serafina, who is a teacher in the high school; Thomas Paul, a high school student ; and Victor J., who is the eldest.
Victor J. Facinelli was only a year old when brought by his parents to the new world. He attended the local schools and at the age of fifteen years became a student in the State University at Laramie, where he pursued his studies for three years. In June, 1906, he accepted a position in the First National Bank of Rock Springs as messenger boy and during the six years of his connection with that institution he rose to the position of assistant cashier. On the 15th of August, 1912, he became one of the organizers of the North Side State Bank, which he opened, and with the management and conduct of which he has since been closely associated. He has seen the assets of the bank grow to a million dollars in five years' time. In connection with his active work as cashier of the North Side State Bank, Mr. Facinelli is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Rock Springs, also a director of the Miners' State Bank of Superior, Wyoming, and is the princi- pal stockholder of the Labarge Live Stock Company. He is likewise a director of the Rock Springs Lumber Company and is secretary of the Rock Springs Fuel Company.
In religious faith Mr. Facinelli is a Roman Catholic. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Elks lodge at Rock Springs and has served as exalted ruler. He is a firm believer in the state and its future development, and his loyalty to its interests is indicated in the fact that his investments have all been placed in busi- ness projects of Wyoming.
JOSEPH R. HYLTON, M. D.
Dr. Joseph R. Hylton, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Douglas, bases his growing success upon thorough collegiate training and later study and investigation, which keeps him in touch with the trend of modern scientific thought and progress.
A native of Kansas, he was born in Elk county, on the 30th of January, 1883. a son of T. W. and Mattie ( Moore ) Hylton. He pursued his education in the public and high schools until he had completed the course in the latter and then
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entered Cotner University at Lincoln, Nebraska. He thus gained a broad literary education to serve as a foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of pro- fessional knowledge, and entering Bennett Medical College of Chicago, he pur- sued the full course there and was graduated with the class of 1906. Thinking to find better business opportunities in the west, he came to Douglas, Wyoming, where he has since been practicing with success. His patrons have constantly in- creased in number and the nature of his business has constantly grown in impor- tance. He is now serving as city physician.
On the 10th of August, 1909, Dr. Hylton was united in marriage to Miss Ora Davis and their children are: Roy H., Helen L. and Janice. Dr. Hylton finds recreation in rifle shooting, at which he has gained considerable proficiency. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and he is serving as a mem- ber of the state central committee from Converse county. His opinions carry weight in the councils of his party and at all times he keeps in touch with the trend of political thought. Fraternally he is a Mason of high rank, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the Consistory, and he is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Commercial Club and cooperates in all that has to do with the welfare and improvement of Douglas. Along pro- fessional lines his connection is with the Wyoming State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and thus he keeps thoroughly informed concerning the latest discoveries and theories of the profession. He went to the Mexican border as captain of the medical corps of the Wyoming Infantry in the summer of 1916 and he is now assigned to duty as major of the ordnance department, with the state troops of Wyoming. He is a young man of pronounced ability, broad-minded and public-spirited, having made for himself a creditable position in professional ranks, while he has become a recognized leader in democratic circles and in other connections which have much to do with shaping public thought and action.
DANEL R. GANIARD.
Danel R. Ganiard is a representative business man who has readily utilized the opportunities that have come to him and by reason of his indefatigable in- dustry and ready adaptability has steadily worked his way upward. He is now manager for the Western Auto Transit Company at Rock Springs and although he has made his home in that eity for only six years he is recognized as one of its wide-awake and progressive business men. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, April 29, 1885, and is the eldest in a family of three children whose parents were Myron A. and Emily ( Ross) Ganiard, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, the father having been born in Rochester, while the mother was a native of Brooklyn. The father engaged in business along mechanical lines in the east and afterward removed to East Moline, Illinois, where he still resides.
Danel R. Ganiard pursued his education in the public schools of the state of New York and mastered the branches tatight in the high school at Pough- keepsie, New York. He started out to provide for his own support when a youth of nineteen years, entering upon an apprenticeship to learn the machinist's trade. He completed his full term of indenture and gained a comprehensive and aceurate knowledge of the business, which he followed as a journeyman for five years. He was afterward associated with his father in systematizing the business of the Iowa Dairy Cream Separator Company at Waterloo, Iowa, where he re- mained for two years. He was also employed to systematize the interests of the Lisle Manufacturing Company at Clarinda, Iowa, and subsequently he removed to Topeka, Kansas, where he was connected with the Smith Automobile Com- pany as general foreman of the machine shop and engine assembly. He con- tinued in the latter place for two years and on the expiration of that period re- moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he arrived in the fall of 1911. He
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then became connected with the company which he now represents, being mana- ger for the Western Auto Transit Company. After four months with the com- pany he was advanced to his present position and he is also one of the stock- holders of the business, which was established and incorporated in 1910 with J. W. Hay as president, J. H. Anderson, vice president, T. S. Taliaferro as secretary and treasurer, and D. R. Ganiard as manager. Mr. Ganiard's thorough training along mechanical lines and his later experience in salesmanship have well qualified him for the onerous duties which devolve upon him in connection with the development and upbuilding of the business which he is now actively con- trolling and which is meeting with a substantial measure of success.
In 1906, in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Ganiard was married to Miss Grace Beal, a native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Beal, representatives of one of the old families of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Ganiard became the parents of four children, one of whom has passed away, Marjorie, who died in Rock Springs and who was the third in order of birth. The others are : Emily G., who was born in Waterloo, Iowa ; Robert, born in Topeka, Kansas ; and Lois, born in Rock Springs.
The religious faith of the parents is that of the Episcopal church, of which they are loyal adherents. Mr. Ganiard gives his political endorsement to the republican party and while not an office seeker he keeps well informed concern- ing the vital questions and political problems of the day and does all in his power to insure party success. His attention, however, is mainly concentrated upon his business interests, and his progress and prosperity are the direct result of his close application and indefatigable effort, intelligently directed.
ERNEST GEORGE BURDETT.
Ernest George Burdett, proprietor of a leading grocery establishment in the progressive city of Evanston, displaying in the conduct of his business interests the spirit of marked enterprise and advancement which has characterized the upbuilding of this city and the development of western Wyoming, was born April II, 1880, in Evanston, his parents heing James and Sarah J. (Lethbridge) Bur- dett, both of whom were natives of England, whence they crossed the Atlantic to America, and on the Ist of October, 1870, became residents of Piedmont, Wyoming. The father engaged in railroad work in connection with the con- struction of the Union Pacific and on the 10th of January, 1875, he came to Evanston, where he entered the employ of the firm of Blyth & Pixley, with whom he remained for sixteen years. He then entered into business on his own account as a partner in the firm of Dawson & Burdett, an association that was maintained for sixteen years, at the end of which time Mr. Burdett sold out and organized the Burdett Mercantile Company, conducting business under that style from 1910 until 1915, when he once more disposed of his business. Since then he has lived retired in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He has now passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, having reached the age of seventy-two, while his wife is living at the age of sixty-nine years. They had a family of thirteen children, of whom four died in infancy, while nine are still living : Alma J .; Mrs. P. G. Matthews ; Jim; William H., who is clerk of the district court; Charles L .; Frank J., a resident of Sho- shone, Idaho; Lorenzo; and Laurina.
Of this family Ernest George Burdett was the seventh in order of birth. His boyhood and youth were largely devoted to the acquirement of a public school education in Evanston, where he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1897. He then spent two years in his father's employ, after which he traveled in England, engaged in mission work in that country for two years. Re- turning to his native land, he acted for three years as clerk in the county court- house and was promoted to the position of chief deputy county clerk, in which
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capacity he continued for three years. He then embarked in business with his father, with whom he was associated until they sold their interests. In 1915 Mr. Burdett of this review established the Burdett grocery store, which is now one of the leading commercial interests of Evanston. He carries a large stock of staple and fancy groceries and enjoys an extensive trade which is steadily growing as the country round about becomes more thickly settled. He is also the secretary and treasurer of the Stahley Land & Live Stock Company, in which connection he is extensively engaged in raising cattle and sheep, the com- pany being capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars. He is likewise a director and the secretary of the Uinta County Fair Association and he does everything in his power to stimulate an interest in progressive farming and stock raising, and in the improvement of all lines of business leading to the substantial improve- ment and development of this section of the state.
On the 23d of September, 1903, Mr. Burdett was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Hortense Spence, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Spence, of Salt Lake City. Six children have been born of this marriage: Ernest J., born in 1904; Harold, in 1906; Marion S., in 1908; Benjamin, in 1910; Carl G., in 1914; and Geneva Hortense, born November 29, 1916. The four eldest children are now in school.
The parents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Mr. Burdett is superintendent of the Woodruff State Sunday schools. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he stands for progress and improvement in everything that has to do with the welfare and upbuilding of city, county or commonwealth. He ranks with Evanston's representative busi- ness men, occupying an enviable position in public regard by reason of a well spent life, fidelity to high standards of business and loyalty in citizenship.
WILLIAM R. LOWHAM.
William R. Lowham, filling the office of sheriff in Uinta county, discharging his duties without fear or favor and thus making a most excellent record as a public official, was born December 4, 1872, in London, Canada West, a son of Michael Lowham, a native of Ireland, who went to Canada in 1871 and was there engaged in railroading. In 1873 he removed to Wyoming and established his home at Rock Springs, where he acted as section foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad Company for twenty-five years. He is now retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits. He has been a resident of Evanston for the past twenty years and is numbered among its worthy and respected citizens. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He married Miss Eliza Burns, a native of Dublin, Ireland, in which country they were married. They became the parents of ten sons and one daughter.
William R. Lowham, the eldest of the family, was educated at Hilliard, Wyoming, and started out to provide for his own support when a youth of six- teen years. He was first employed by the Union Pacific Railway Company, beginning work on the section. From that humble position he advanced to engineer and devoted thirteen years to service in that connection with the Union Pacific. He was then elected to the office of sheriff of Uinta county in 1912 and made such an excellent record that he was re-elected and was again chosen for the third term. He is still serving in that capacity, owing to his second re-election, and he has made a most efficient officer, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. His name has become a menace to evildoers and conveys a feeling of safety to all law-abiding citizens.
On the 6th of July, 1903, Mr. Lowham was married in Evanston, Wyoming, to Miss Elizabeth A. Banner, a native of England and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Banner, who were pioneer settlers of Coalville, Utah. To
WILLIAM R. LOWHAM
SCENES ON THE WILLIAM R. LOWHAM RANCH
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Mr. and Mrs. Lowham were born the following children: Ellen Lucile, born October 30, 1905; Benjamin Richard, born February 3, 1907; Wesley Samuel, born January 29, 1909; George William, born December 6, 1912; and Clarence Leo, born August 18, 1916. All are yet at home.
Fraternally Mr. Lowham is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he also has membership with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire- men and Engineers. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church and his life is guided according to its teachings. His political support is given to the republican party and in former years he was one of the active workers in its ranks but more recently has not been active in politics, as he does not care to have politics interfere in any way with the faithful performance of his duties.
He is a self-made man whose prosperity has been won through earnest effort and close application. Since 1888 he has conducted a ranch covering an entire section of land in Uinta county, and thereon he is engaged in the raising of cattle and horses. He gives supervision to his interests in that connection in addition to discharging the duties of his office and is regarded as a wide-awake, alert and progressive business man as well as an official whose fidelity to duty is above question.
RAYMOND E. ROBB.
A well known and prominent figure in commercial circles in Laramie is Ray- mond E. Robb, who is manager of the J. C. Penney Company, one of the leading dry goods establishments in the southern part of the state. He was born in Monte Vista, Colorado, January 17, 1890, and is a son of Robert E. and Florence. (Col- lins) Robb, both of whom were natives of Iowa. At an early date they removed westward to Colorado, settling in Monte Vista, where the father engaged in the cattle business and in general agricultural pursuits. He still makes his home there, he and his wife being attractively located in Monte Vista. They had a family of two children, the daughter being Ethel Mae, now a resident of Denver.
The son, Raymond E. Robb, who is the eldest, spent his boyhood in Monte Vista, Colorado, where he attended school, while later he became a student in the high school at Pueblo, Colorado, completing his course there in 1909. He next entered the University of Colorado, spending one year as a student in the academic department, and on the expiration of that period he entered the employ of the Humane Remedy Company at Des Moines, Iowa, with which he was connected for a year. Later he returned to Colorado, settling in Del Norte, where he engaged in the dry goods business for two years. On disposing of his interests there he re- moved to Laramie and became identified with the dry goods trade of this city as an employe of the J. C. Penney Company. Advancing step by step as his ability and worth became recognized, he was made manager in 1917 and is now thus prom- inently identified with one of the leading commercial interests of this city. Long and varied experience well qualified him for the position and his efforts are con- tributing in marked degree to the success of the business.
On the 28th of October, 1910, in Boulder, Colorado, Mr. Robb was married to Miss Ethel M. Hill, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hill, of Des Moines, Iowa. They have become parents of two children: Constance Virginia, who was born in Del Norte, Colorado, May 28, 1913; and Sarah Beatrice, who was born in Del Norte, September 21, 1914.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and they have won an enviable position in social circles during the period of their residence in Laramie, the hospitality of the best homes being cordially extended them. In his political views Mr. Robb maintains an independent course, while fraternally he is connected with the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is today regarded as one of the representative young business men of Laramie, standing high in commercial
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circles and holding equal rank as a citizen. Alert and energetic, he is ready to im- prove every opportunity that comes his way and his ability is attested by his col- leagues and contemporaries.
CHARLES BOSEN.
Charles Bosen, proprietor of the Bosen plumbing shop in Sheridan, was born in Denmark, March 1, 1867, and is a son of Christian and Margaret (Hanson ) Bosen, who were likewise natives of Denmark, spending their entire lives in their native country. They had a family of nine children, of whom seven are living.
Charles Bosen was reared and educated in Denmark and came to America in 180)1, when a young man of twenty-four years. Crossing the Atlantic, he first settled in Indiana, where he resided for a year and then sought the opportunities of the growing west, making his way to Wyoming. He spent one year in Gillette and afterward removed to Sheridan, where he worked in various ways for several years. Later he learned the plumbing business, which he has since fol- lowed, and making steady advancement in this connection he is now at the head of a profitable business.
He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in Lodge No. 19, in which he has filled all of the chairs. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and efforts upon his business interests, and gradually through his own efforts he has worked his way upward and is today at the head of one of the important business concerns of his adopted city.
WILLIAM R. GRIER.
William R. Grier, secretary and treasurer of the Grier Lumber Company of Cheyenne, was born in Peoria, Illinois, on the 23d of October, 1869, and is a son of D. P. and Anna ( Mckinney) Grier. The father, who was long engaged in the grain business, was known as General Grier, having won his title by active service as a volunteer in the Civil war. He had joined the army during the early period of hostilities between the north and the south and was made colonel of the Sev- enty-seventh Infantry. Later he won promotion to the rank of brigadier general in the Thirteenth Army Corps. His last days were passed in St. Louis, where he departed this life in 1891, and his widow, surviving him, is yet making her home in St. Louis. They had a family of five sons and two daughters, of whom William R. was the third in order of birth. The oldest of the family is now de- ceased.
William R. Grier pursued his education in the public schools of St. Louis, in the Washington University and in Smith Academy. He pursued all branches of manual training and was graduated from the manual training school. He after- ward spent a short time with an engineering corps in Kansas and in 1889 he re- moved westward to Denver, since which time he has made his home in the western country. He spent some time at Cripple Creek, Colorado, and later removed to Cheyenne, since which date he has been located here, controlling his wide inter- ests. He makes his home in Cheyenne and is well known in the business circles of this city as the secretary and treasurer of the Grier Lumber Company. He is a man of keen sagacity and unfaltering enterprise and has readily recognized opportunities for judicious investment along business lines. His interests have thus been broad and he has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken. He brooks no obstacles that can be overcome by persistent
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