USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 34
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and earnest effort, and his indomitable energy and enterprise have brought about the successful fulfillment of his plans.
On the 6th of May, 1896, Mr. Grier was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stewart, of Denver, and their children are : Ralph Stewart, who is receiving teller in the First National Bank of Cheyenne; Margaret, who is a high school gradu- ate and is now a student in the Denver University; Mary E .; Susan H .; and Anna Mckinney.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church. In social circles they occupy an enviable position and the hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends in Cheyenne. Mr. Grier is a republican in his political views and fraternally he is well known, being connected with the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Hoo Hoos, a prominent lumber organization. In 1917 Mr. Grier was president of the Moun- tain States Lumber Dealers' Association, an organization which has been in exis- tence for about sixteen years, and he was the first president ever elected from Wyoming. He feels that he has made no mistake in turning his attention to the west and directing his efforts in the midst of its activities. As the years have gone on he has steadily progressed and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities.
ROBERT B. FORSYTH.
On the roster of officials in Wyoming appears the name of Robert B. Forsyth, who is filling the position of state auditor. He was born in Newburg, Ontario, Canada, on the 12th of May, 1874, and is a son of James and Margaret (Stuart) Forsyth, the former a farmer by occupation. The parents have passed away. They reared a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom Robert B. was the youngest.
In the schools of Canada, Robert B. Forsyth pursued his education. He attended the high school at Harrowsmith, Ontario, and also a business college. He afterward learned telegraphy and for ten years devoted his time and energies to railroad work. On the expiration of that period he became bookkeeper for the Union Pacific Coal Company at Rock Springs, Wyoming. He acted for a time as head bookkeeper and later was appointed manager of the store. At a subsequent period he engaged in merchandising in connection with the J. P. McDermott Company, acting as secretary of the company. Thus step by step he worked his way upward, becoming more and more closely connected with the management of important business interests. After five years he was elected auditor and in 1910 he removed to Cheyenne to make his home in the capital city in order to discharge his duties at this point. In 1914 he was re-elected to the office for a second term of four years, so that he is the present incumbent in the position.
Mr. Forsyth was married May 12, 1895, to Miss Mary Ludvigsen of Rock Springs, and they have become parents of two sons, Donald and Stuart, the former now assistant deputy insurance commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth are consistent members of the Episcopalian church and socially they occupy an enviable position.
In politics Mr. Forsyth has long been a stalwart republican and upon the ticket of that party was elected to his present position. He has also held the offices of treasurer and mayor of Rock Springs and he represented Sweetwater county in the state senate for a period of four years. His opinions have carried weight in the councils of the party and he has done everything in his power to further its interests and promote its success because of his firm belief in the efficacy of its platform as a factor in good government. Fraternally he is a Mason of high rank, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of
ROBERT B. FORSYTH
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the desert. He is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he belongs to the Industrial Club of Cheyenne. He is fond of outdoor life, especially of hunting, and turns to that pursuit for recreation. He is a very public-spirited man, interested in the state and its development, and his coopera- tion can always be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good. He has ever regarded a public office as a public trust and it is a well known fact that no trust reposed in Robert B. Forsyth has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree.
WILLIAM MORRIS STANSBURY.
William Morris Stansbury, prominently known as a member of the bar of Douglas since 1910, was born on the 5th of October, 1882, in Braidwood, Illinois, a son of John and Mary Stansbury, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He ac- quired a common school education in Braidwood and afterward became a high school pupil in Joliet, Illinois. He also attended the University of Illinois and there pursued his law course, having determined upon law practice as a life work. Having thus thoroughly qualified for a professional career, he took up the active work and in 1910 removed to Douglas, Wyoming, where he has since been a well known representative of the bar. Three years later he was joined by his father and under the firm style of Stansbury & Stansbury they have since continued in practice and a liberal clientage is accorded them which has con- stantly grown in volume and importance as the years have passed by.
On the 18th of July, 1912, in Douglas, Wyoming, Mr. Stansbury was united in marriage to Miss Florence Reid, a daughter of Charles and Eliza Reid. They now have two children, Janet Elizabeth and William Morris, Jr.
The religious faith of the parents is that of the Congregational church and fraternally Mr. Stansbury is connected with the Masons and with the Woodmen of the World. In politics he is an earnest republican and for three terms filled the office of town clerk of Douglas, his reappointments being proof of the capability and efficiency which he displayed in the discharge of his duties. In 1916 he was elected police justice and is now occupying that position. He is identified with the Commercial Club and the Douglas Good Roads Club and is thus active in support of many movements which have to do with the welfare and upbuilding of this section of the state. He stands for progressiveness in all things and his activities have been farreaching and resultant.
PATRICK HENRY HEALY.
Patrick Henry Healy, connected with commercial interests in Rawlins, where he is engaged in merchandising as proprietor of a variety store, was born in Peoria, Illinois, May 26, 1869, a son of Daniel Healy, who was a native of Ireland but came to America at the age of sixteen years and first took up his abode in Peoria, Illinois. He had pursued his education in the schools of his native country and in young manhood he followed the trade of blacksmithing, which he learned after arriving in the new world. He continued to devote his energies to that pursuit throughout his entire life. About 1871 he removed west- ward from Omaha, Nebraska, and took up his abode in Rawlins, where he con- tinued to make his home until called to his final rest in 1900, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. During all the period of his active life he was employed at the blacksmith's trade in the shops of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. His political endorsement was given to the democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church. He married Ann Denn,
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a native of Ireland, who came to the United States in young girlhood. They had a family of thirteen children, seven of whom are living.
Patrick H. Healy, the fifth in order of birth, was less than two years of age when the family home was established in Rawlins, where he became a pupil in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until at the age of six- teen years he left school in order to provide for his own support. He was first employed as an apprentice at the printer's trade, serving a four years' term of indenture, during which time he gained a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the business. He was afterward connected with various pursuits and in 1899 he entered the cigar, tobacco and confectionery business, which he conducted suc- cessfully until April, 1912. He then sold his store and in December, 1914, estab- lished his present business, opening a variety store, which he has since carried on. He conducts the only exclusive variety store in Carbon county and has developed a trade of large and satisfactory proportions. His business methods are such as commend him to the confidence and support of the public and his patronage has constantly grown until his annual sales now reach a gratifying figure.
At Peoria, Illinois, on the 14th of October, 1914, Mr. Healy was united in marriage to Miss Anna Bertha Carter, a native of that state and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Carter, of an old and prominent Illinois family. Mr. and Mrs. Healy have become parents of one child, Ruth Garner, who was born in Peoria, Illinois, November 16, 1915.
In his political views Mr. Healy is a democrat, having supported the party since reaching adult age. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks and also with the Red Men and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, his connection being with St. Joseph's parish in Raw- lins. There are no esoteric phases in his life and the secret of his success is not hard to find. He started out in life a poor boy but early recognized the fact that industry wins and industry became the beacon light of his life. Working dili- gently and persistently, allowing nothing to deter him in carrying out his honest purposes, he has advanced step by step and has reached a creditable place in commercial circles in his adopted city.
DAVID G. THOMAS.
The subject of this sketch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1857, a son of the late John F. and Margaret (Griffiths) Thomas. Both parents were natives of Wales, and on leaving that scenic country, crossed the Atlantic to the new world, arriving in America during the early '50s. They met and were married in Pennsylvania and after a few years removed to New Haven, West Virginia, and their last days were spent in Macon county, Missouri. Dur- ing the Civil war Mr. Thomas served as a member of the Home Guard at Syra- cuse, Ohio. Throughout his entire life he engaged in coal mining and in this manner provided for his family, which numbered twelve children.
David G., the eldest of that family, attended for a few months the public schools in Fulton county, Illinois; but from the age of ten years, he had been employed in the mines of that state and of Missouri, until on attaining his ma- jority his health having failed, he sought it in the mountainous regions of Wyo- ming, arriving in the then territory, March II, 1878, taking up his abode in Rock Springs where he at once became connected with the coal mining interests. He served in various capacities in connection with mine operations, and he has been with the Union Pacific Coal Company all of said time, save for a period of about sixteen years, six of which were spent as the state inspector of coal mines, two years as county and prosecuting attorney of Sweetwater county, and six years as prosecuting attorney of Uinta county. Giving up the practice of
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law, at the solicitation of the general manager of the Union Pacific Coal Com- pany, who invited him to become mine superintendent at Rock Springs.
In May, 1893. Mr. Thomas was married in Bevier, Macon county, Missouri, to Miss Elizabeth E. Jones, a graduate of the State Normal School at Kirksville and a teacher in the public schools of Bevier. She was the daughter of David W. and Elizabeth Jones. They have become the parents of one child, Myfanwy Thomas, who was born March 8, 1894 in Rock Springs, and was graduated from the Wyoming State University and from Leland Stanford Junior University, and is the wife of Doctor John H. Goodnough, of Reliance. Wyoming.
Politically Mr. Thomas is a republican, was a member of the last territorial legislature, was for one term the mayor of Rock Springs, is at present a mem- ber of the state board of examiners for mine inspectors, a director of the North Side State Bank, and a member of the school board of Rock Springs.
Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias of which order he is a past supreme representative and with the Masonic order, having reached the Knight Templar degree in the York Rite and the thirty-second degree of the Consistory in the Scottish Rite, and is a noble of the Mystic Shrine.
. During his leisure hours he has found time to write verse and is the author of a publication entitled, "Overland and Underground," which has met with commendation and approval among the rank and file generally.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are both identified with the Presbyterian faitl.
W. D. MCKEON.
W. D. Mckeon is the vice president of the Newcastle National Bank and the secretary and manager of the Newcastle Land & Live Stock Company, oper- ating extensively in the sheep and cattle industry, their interests being surpassed by those of few individuals or corporations in the state of Wyoming. Mr. Mckeon in these connections displays marked discernment, executive ability and unfaltering enterprise and his activities are of a nature that contribute to the material progress and upbuilding of the section in which he resides.
He has always remained west of the Mississippi river, his birth having occurred in Springfield, Missouri, on the 14th of June, 1869, his parents being Dennis and Mary (Livingstone ) Mckeon, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania. The mother came of Revolutionary war stock, being a direct descendant of the Livingstone who administered the oath of office to George Washington when he was inaugurated president of the United States. Dennis Mckeon was a young man when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and shortly after he responded to the country's call for troops to aid in the preservation of the Union, enlisting in a New York regiment for active service in the Civil war. He went to the front under General Lyons. He had landed in the United States in 1863 in company with his brother-in-law, Patrick Carroll, who also enlisted and was shot through the breast at the battle of Shiloh. He was left for dead on the field, but crawled to the river where the wounded were being transported across, was picked up among the other injured men and finally recovered from his wounds. Dennis Mckeon, after about two years' active service, was honorably discharged in 1865. the war having been brought to a successful termination. Ile located in the vicinity of Springfield, Missouri, where he was married, and there continued to make his home until his death, which occurred about 1912. His widow still survives and is yet living in Spring- field.
W. D. Mckeon, of this review, was educated in the public schools and in his youthful days he learned the blacksmith's trade in the railroad shops at Springfield, Missouri. In 1889, when a young man of twenty years, he left home to enter upon his business career, going to Texas, where he rode the range for two years, and in the fall of 1891 he came to Wyoming and through
IL P Metron
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the succeeding five years was employed at blacksmithing in the shops of the Union Pacific Railroad, working along the entire line of the road through Wyom- ing. During this period, however, or in 1896, in company with John F. Hittle, he established business on his own account in a small way, placing a herd of cattle at the head of Green river, in Fremont county. He then resigned his position with the railroad company, in order to give his entire attention to his live stock business. About this time he sold his cattle holdings to his partner, Mr. Hittle, and organized the Green River Land & Live Stock Company, which was incor- porated with Mr. Mckeon as secretary and manager. He concentrated his entire attention upon the interests of the company, which engaged in sheep raising only until 1906, when they formed the Newcastle Land & Live Stock Company, which absorbed the former company. The newly formed corporation handles sheep, cattle and horses and has developed into one of the important live stock companies of the state. They control in the neighborhood of four hundred thousand acres of land, on which they range some twenty-five thousand head of sheep and from ten to fifteen thousand head of cattle. Care and attention to their interests, wisdom in the care of their flocks and herds and enterprising methods in the conduct of their business have brought to them a very substantial measure of success.
In 1896 Mr. McKeon was united in marraige to Miss Emily Bransfield, of Evanston, Wyoming, and to them have been born five children, of whom four are living, Mary Irene, Maurice J., Emily C. and William D.
In his political views Mr. Mckeon is an earnest republican and in 1896 he was elected to the office of treasurer of Green River. Under the administration of Governor Brooks he was appointed to the position of state sheep commis- sioner of the northern district of Wyoming, but political honors and offices have had little attraction for him, as he had always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his individual interests. However, he is never neglectful of the duties of citizenship nor unmindful of the obligations that devolve upon him in that way, and he stands for all that is progressive and worth while in the public life of the community. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. His life is indicative of what may be accomplished through industry and perseverance and may well illustrate to others what may be gained through earnest individual effort.
J. B. YOUNG.
Starting out in life with a common school education as his equipment, work- ing in the coal mines in his early youth amid constant danger, it would seem that there was little business outlook for J. B. Young, but ambition and determina- tion will eventually come to the front, and believing that his future depended upon his own efforts, Mr. Young so directed his labors that in the course of years he was able to start out upon an independent financial career. He further qualified for life's practical and responsible duties by close study and the read- ing of good books and thus he continually broadened his knowledge and pro- moted his efficiency. At length he determined to leave the mines and with the money which he had saved he established a small confectionery store in Rock Springs. The business grew and expanded and his activities were extended to still other lines. One after another branch was added until he is now at the head of an extensive trade and ranks with the leading general merchants not only of Rock Springs but of his section of the state. His trade covers a wide terri- tory and his business is most satisfactory.
Mr. Young is a native of Scotland. He was born at Gorebridge, December 14, 1866, a son of George and Katherine ( Black) Young, who came to America in the spring of 1888, making their way westward to Walsenburg, Colorado. The Vol. II-17
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father engaged in mining and in 1890 removed to Rock Springs, where he con- tinued in the same line of business. He died in 1899 at the age of seventy-three years, while his wife passed away in 1898. In their family were fifteen children, six sons and nine daughters.
J. B. Young, the tenth in order of birth, attended the schools of Scotland during the period of his youth and afterward took up coal mining in that coun- try, facing the many dangers incident to mining coal at that period, when life was not safeguarded as it is at the present time. He continued in coal mining at Rock Springs until 1897, when he established business on his own account in a small way and has since developed his interests until he now has one of the largest and most important general mercantile establishments in this part of the state. He began with a small stock and a limited capital but he based his activi- ties upon industry, determination and indefatigable energy and those qualities have constituted an excellent foundation upon which to build the superstructure of success.
On the 12th of February, 1906, Mr. Young was married to Miss Maude L. Rhodes and they have become parents of two children: George Nephi, who was born in Rock Springs in 1911; and Hannah Catherine, who was born in Janu- ary, 1915.
Mr. Young votes with the republican party and in 1892, again in 1894 and in 1896 was elected on that ticket to represent his district in the state legislature. He has also served as a member of the city council and has been a member of the school board of Rock Springs, standing at all times in support of progressive measures which have to do with the upbuilding and development of the com- munity in which he lives and of the commonwealth in general. He belongs to the Church of Latter-Day Saints and is first counsel to the bishop. His busi- ness record is characterized by continuous advancement owing to well defined plans carefully executed. His career has been marked by an orderly progression and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportuni- ties, which he has wisely utilized.
JOHN KOSHIR.
John Koshir, engaged in the dry goods business at Rock Springs, is a native of Austria. He was born on the 5th of January, 1869, and is a son of Michael and Agnes Koshir, who were likewise natives of that country, where they have spent their entire lives, the father being still engaged in farming there. In the family were five children.
John Koshir in his boyhood days attended the schools of Austria and for three years was in the Austrian army, rising to the rank of sergeant. He was then discharged, after which he remained for a year with his parents and on the expiration of that period came to the new world, attracted by the broader business opportunities which he believed he might secure on this side of the Atlantic. He located first at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in connection with railroad work and also in the mines. There he remained until 1898, in which year he removed to the west with Rock Springs as his destina- tion. He arrived in Sweetwater county on the 27th of August of that year and secured employment in No. I mine, where he worked until July 5, 1904. In the meantime, however, ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he carefully saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to establish a dry goods store. He began with a very small stock of goods, which, however, he has increased in order to meet the growing demands of his trade and he today has a large and well appointed store. He began business in a room ten by twenty-five feet and today occupies a building fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, having a very complete stock of new merchandise, representing the latest output of the manufacturers. He also owns the building in which
JOHN KOSHIR
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he conducts his business and in addition he is the owner of one of the most attractive modern residences of Rock Springs, erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars. His business methods have been most progressive and his enterprise and persistency of purpose have carried him steadily forward to the goal of success.
On the 13th of January, 1900, Mr. Koshir was united in marriage at Rock Springs to Miss Mary Zust. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, of which he is a stanch champion. In 1909 he was elected to the state legislature and was again chosen to represent his district in the general assembly in 1915. He has given careful consideration to the vital questions which have come up for settlement and his reelection to office is proof of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen and their recognition of his public spirit.
Mr. Koshir is numbered among the self-made men of Sweetwater county. He arrived in Rock Springs with a cash capital of but fifty cents and today he is one of the prosperous residents of the city, his success being indicated not only in his mercantile establishment but also by his investments in real estate, which are considerable. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to success- ful completion and he has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to America, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization he has advanced steadily, step by step, to the goal of success.
CLIFFORD C. SMITH. 1
Clifford C. Smith is manager for the Golden Rule Mercantile Company and in this connection is conducting one of the leading commercial enterprises of Evanston. His business is growing steadily as the result of well defined plans and purposes which are intelligently executed. He has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement and he has therefore put forth earnest desire to please his customers, while at the same time he has been thor- oughly reliable in all of his dealings.
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