USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 41
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Joseph Schott, who was the fourth in order of birth, pursued his education in the schools of his native land and when sixteen years of age started out to provide for his own support. Thinking that he would have better business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic, he camne to America in the year 1879 and located with his mother and the other members of the family at Buffalo, New York. He remained there, however, for but a short period, after which he removed to Farmers Valley, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by his cousin, Ervin Schott, a local brewer, into whose employ he entered with a view of learning the brewer's trade. He remained there for eighteen months, but not liking the business, he abandoned his position and returned to Buffalo, where
JOSEPH SCHOTT
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he began work at the butcher's trade. He followed that pursuit in Buffalo and in St. Louis, Missouri, for a number of years, after which he removed west- ward, taking up his abode at Green River. Wyoming, on the 7th of March, 1885. His financial condition rendered it imperative that he secure immediate employ- ineri, which he did with George B. Spinner, a pioneer butcher, with whom he continued for seven months. He was afterward with the Union Pacific Railroad for a similar period, beginning in the fall of 1885, and later he took up his first trade with Karl Spinner, proprietor of the Green River Brewery, for whom he acted as assistant brewmaster, and later became brewmaster in that establish- ment. He next went with William Weimer and took charge of the Big Horn Hotel at Green River, which he conducted for a year, beginning in 1889. He then left Wyoming and went to the Pacific coast with Seattle, Washington, as his destination. For eighteen months he was engaged in the liquor business in that city and then sold out, removing to Nelson, British Columbia. There he engaged in mining and prospecting but met with no great measure of success in that locality and from Nelson he afterward returned to Spokane, Washington. where he spent the winter. He was later engaged in railroad construction work between Spokane and Canada and in the summer of 1893 he located in Walla Walla. Washington, where he worked in the harvest fields. He also spent some time in North Yakima, Washington, as an employe in the hop fields and later he engaged in construction work on the Northern Pacific Railroad in Washington. Settling in Tacoma, he there spent the winter and in the spring of 1894, when Coxey's army was removing eastward, he returned to Green River, Wyoming, and for a time was employed in the Overland Hotel. He next took work in the repair shops of the Union Pacific Railroad at Green River, where he remained from 1895 until 1900, when he resigned his position and returned to Europe, visiting relatives and friends. When he again came to the new world he regarded Wyoming as his only possible place of residence and made his way to Rock Springs, where he again became connected with the interests of William Weimer. He purchased an interest in the business, which had been originally established in 1895 and which was then conducted under the partnership relation until Octo- ber. 1910. At that date Mr. Schott purchased Mr. Weimer's interest and has since carried on the business alone.
In his political views Mr. Schott is a socialist. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. In 1895 his mother returned to Germany, where she remained until her death. Mr. Schott, however, has taken advantage of the business conditions of the new world and the opportunities here offered and, step by step, he has worked his way upward until he is now one of the prosperous merchants of Rock Springs.
THOMAS JUSTIN SWISHER, M. D.
Thoroughly trained for professional activity, Dr. Thomas Justin Swisher, a graduate of Rush Medical College of Chicago, has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Rawlins since 1904 and in the inter- vening period, covering fourteen years, has developed a practice of large extent and importance.
He was born in Mercer county, Illinois, May 16, 1872, a son of Abram B. Swisher, who was born in Pennsylvania and represented one of the old families of that state, of Swiss descent. The founder of the American branch of the family came to the United States prior to the Revolutionary war, in which six brothers of the name participated, rendering valuable aid in the struggle for independence. In later generations members of the family have largely devoted their attention to professional pursuits, becoming active and prominent in the field of medicine and of law.
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Abram B. Swisher was reared and educated in the Keystone state and about 1850 removed to the west, settling in Mercer county, Illinois. He was married in the latter part of the '50s and afterward returned to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, carrying on business at Jerseytown, Columbia county. Following the close of the Civil war he disposed of his business in that state and again took up his abode in Mercer county, Illinois, where he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, continuing an active representative of farming interests up to the time of his death, which occurred August 29, 1885, when he had reached the age of fifty-six years. On his first removal to Illinois and prior to his marriage he taught school, taking up the profession when but eighteen years of age. His was an active and useful life, winning for him the honor and respect of all with whom he was associated. His political endorsement was given to the democratic party and he took an active interest in local political affairs and in civic matters, doing all in his power to further the development and upbuilding of city and county and uphold civic standards. He served for thirteen years as county supervisor, his long retention in that office being proof of the capability with which he discharged his duties. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Boruff and was born in Illinois, representing one of the old pioneer families of that state whose ancestry could be traced back to the colonial period of Virginia. Mrs. Swisher was born in 1840 and is still living on the old homestead in Illinois. The Boruffs were of English and Scotch descent. By her marriage Mrs. Swisher became the mother of two sons and four daughters, but one of the sons died at the age of six years. The others are : Lou, the wife of William Mardock, who is a resident of Mercer county, Illinois ; Thomas Justin ; Elsie, the wife of Henry Noble, also living in Mercer county ; Nellie, the wife of Max Colberg, a resident of Mercer county; and Jessie, the wife of Guy C. Mordock, of the same county.
Dr. Swisher was reared and educated in his native county, pursuing his education through the graded and high school and in Valparaiso University of Indiana. With a good literary training as a foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional knowledge, he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1903. In the meantime, however, he had taken up the profession of teaching, which he followed prior and subsequent to the pursuit of his literary education, devoting five years altogether to that branch of professional activity. He regarded it, however, merely as an initial step to other professional lines, and with the desire to become a member of the medical profession, entered the Rush Medical Col- lege of Chicago, where he pursued the complete course and thus became well qualified for the practice of medicine and surgery. Following his graduation he accepted the position of assistant surgeon for the Deering harvester works of Chicago, spending nearly a year in that connection, after which he determined to try his fortune in the west and removed to Rawlins, where he arrived on the 5th of March, 1904. Since then he has been in active and continuous practice in this city and his pronounced ability has won for him very gratifying success. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern professional thought, research and investigation and is conversant with all those principles which have to do with successful medical practice. He is registered as a physician in Illinois, Wyoming. Colorado and Utah and he belongs to the Wyoming State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has served as county physician of Carbon county, as city physician of Rawlins, attending physician to the state penitentiary and for the past five years has been health officer of Carbon county, while he enjoys a large private practice.
On the Toth of July, 1911, Dr. Swisher was married in Tacoma, Washington, to Miss Louise Marcella Castaing, a native of New York city and a daughter of Louis and Carrie (Stine) Castaing, the former a native of France.
Dr. Swisher is a democrat in his political views and has been an active worker in party ranks, doing all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. He was elected a member of the state legislature in 1909
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serving for one term, and he has cooperated in many plans and movements to advance the welfare and promote the progress of his state along political and other lines. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Highlanders and the Modern Woodmen of America. At the present time he is serving upon the local draft board of Carbon county. A thoroughly trained and capable physician, he is well qualified to act in this capacity and to care for the onerous duties of a large practice, having demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate and involved problems that are continually confronting the physician.
WILLIAM H. BRINE.
William H. Brine, deputy warden of the Wyoming State Penitentiary, was born in Calhoun county, Texas, July 8, 1871, a son of John and Katherine (Keenan) Brine, who were natives of the Lone Star state, where they were reared and married. The father became one of the big stockmen and prominent farmers of Texas, where he continued to reside until called to his final rest in 1901. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1880. In their family were two children.
William H. Brine, the younger, spent his boyhood days in Texas and after his textbooks were put aside worked for his father in connection with the cattle industry. After leaving home he was employed as a cowboy on various large ranches and by prominent stockmen in the Panhandle of Texas and in New Mexico, there residing at the time when life was often an exciting experience, owing to the lawlessness of the cowboys and the fact that desperate characters entered the state and seemed to enjoy stirring up trouble in that section. In 1900 Mr. Brine made his way northward to Colorado and began prospecting in the mountains of the northern part of the state. There he located and proved up on some claims, which he was forced to sell in order to raise the necessary funds to meet his immediate expenses. His land has since proven rich in ore and those acquiring it have become wealthy. In 1905 Mr. Brine gave up pros- pecting and removed to Rawlins. In 1910 he was appointed a guard in the Wyoming State Penitentiary and later was appointed deputy warden. He is a man of cool judgment, is never excited and is splendidly fitted for the responsible position which he holds. He is devoid of all fear and he commands the respect of those who are under restrictions in the penitentiary. They know that while he is not a harsh taskmaster, he will not permit the rules of the institution to be broken.
In June, 1914, Mr. Brine was married to Miss Flora Evans, of Rawlins, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Graves Evans, of Ottawa, Canada. Fraternally Mr. Brine is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His life experiences have been broad and varied. connecting him with many phases of the development of the west, from the cowboy life in the south to the mining experiences of Colorado and now to government service in Wyoming.
JOHN HYNDS, M. D.
Dr. John Hynds, a physician and surgeon practicing in Buffalo, was born in Norborne, Carroll county, Missouri, May 14. 1880, a son of Dr. A. J. Hynds, who is a graduate of Rush Medical College of Chicago of the, class of 1871 and now engaged in active practice in Kansas City, Missouri.
The son, Dr. John Hynds of this review, was educated in the Norborne high school and was graduated with the class of 1897 from Westminster College at Fulton, Missouri. He registered as a pharmacist in October, 1900, and spent nine years in the drug business. During that period, in 1904, he entered the
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University Medical College at Kansas City, Missouri, in which he prepared for the practice of medicine and surgery, winning the M. D. degree as a member of the class of 1908. He afterward spent a year as interne in the Kansas City General Hospital and six months as assistant house surgeon and also six months on the police ambulance. This broad and varied experience was of the greatest value to him, gaining him knowledge and training that could never be obtained as quickly in any other way. In 1909 he came to Sheridan, Wyoming, and was house surgeon in the Wyoming General Hospital until 1911, when he resigned and went to Chicago, Illinois, tor the Burlington Railroad Company. There he was associated with the medical and surgical department of the corporation for a time, but afterward returned to Sheridan and engaged in general practice. In February, 1917, he removed to Buffalo, where he has since been located, and although he has been a resident of the city for little more than a year, he has already won for himself a very substantial practice and has gained recog- nition among his colleagues and contemporaries as an able member of the profession.
In March, 1913, Dr. Hynds was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Callender, of Galesburg, Illinois, and to them have been born two daughters, Mary Eliza- beth and Dorothy Alice.
Dr. Hynds is of the Presbyterian faith, while Mrs. Hynds is a member of the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, having mem- bership in Sheridan Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Orient Chapter, No. 102, R. A. M., of Kansas City, Missouri; De Molay Commandery, K. T .; and Kalif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is likewise a member of Galesburg ( Ill.) Lodge, No. 894, B. P. O. E. Along strictly professional lines he has connection with the Sheridan County Medical Society and the Wyoming State Medical Society and through the proceedings of these organizations keeps in close touch with the trend of inodern professional thought and investigation, while his native powers and talents have placed him in an enviable position in the ranks of the medical profession in Johnson county.
ALBERT P. HEITZ.
The history of Albert P. Heitz is that of a remarkably successful business man, who within a comparatively few years has made for himself a most envi- able and creditable position in the commercial circles of Kemmerer, being presi- dent of the Kemmerer Hardware & Furniture Company, his associates, like himself, being young men, who, however, are the possessors of broad experience and of much determination and energy. Accordingly a business of large propor- tions has been built up.
Mr. Heitz was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, August 22, 1885, a son of W. G. and Serene ( Wallace) Heitz, both of whom were natives of Iowa. Remov- ing from Washington, Iowa, they came to Wyoming at an early period in the development of the state. The father later engaged in the meat business for the Frontier Supply Company at Frontier for seventeen years. During the time that he had charge of the meat department he made it a profitable enterprise, bringing to the company a large surplus every year. He resigned this position in order to engage in business with his son at Big-Piney. He still makes his home in Wyoming, residing at Big-Piney at the age of sixty-six years, but his wife passed away in 1899, when forty-six years of age. In their family were six children, one of whom has passed away. The others are: George, living at Superior, Wyo- ming ; Stella, the wife of Dr. Robert Hocker, of Kemmerer ; Mrs. Charles Beach, living at Frontier, Wyoming ; and Howard, who is a business man of Big-Piney.
The other member of the family is Albert P. Heitz, who was the fifth in order of birth. In his boyhood days he attended the schools of Rock Springs and of Ogden, Utah, and after his school-days were over went to Frontier,
ALBERT P. HEITZ
RESIDENCE OF ALBERT P. HEITZ
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Wyoming. He resumed his studies in the high school of Burlington, Iowa, while subsequently he spent two years as a student in the academic department of the University of Wyoming. He then came to Kemmerer and secured a position in the Hoskins mercantile house, with which he remained for three years, and for a year he was connected with the drug store of J. B. Roberts. Later he accepted a position with the Mountain Trading Company of Diamondville, Wyo- ming, under the management of Mr. Dickey, and there remained for three years, after which he returned to Kemmerer and organized the Kemmerer Hardware & Furniture Company. The business started in February, 1910, under partner- ship relations, Mr. Heitz being associated in the venture with J. W. Neil under the firm style of Neil & Heitz. At first they had only a stock of hardware, but later Mr. Heitz purchased a five thousand dollar stock of furniture and incor- porated the business under the present style of the Kemmerer Hardware & Fur- niture Company, of which he became the president, with R. H. Embree as vice president and W. J. Witherspoon as secretary. These officers retain their posi- tions and they have developed one of the largest and most representative business enterprises of their section of the state. They further extended the scope of their activities in 1917 by organizing the Up-To-Date Auto Company, the management of which is in the hands of W. J. Witherspoon, secretary and treasurer of the company. They handle the Overland and Ford cars and in two months they sold thirty-five Overlands. They also maintain a Ford garage and their business has reached very gratifying and substantial proportions. Mr. Heitz is vice president of the Up-To-Date Auto Company, with Mr. Embree as the president and Mr. Witherspoon as the secretary.
On the 7th of June, 1910, Mr. Heitz was united in marriage to Miss Dora Sneddon, of Diamondville, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Sneddon, of Diamondville, Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Heitz now have two children: Wil- liam, born October 31, 1912 ; and Albert, born June 1, 1915.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Heitz is a Mason and he is identified as well with the Chamber of Commerce, being heartily in sympathy with all of its care- fully organized plans for the upbuilding of the city, the extension of its trade relations and the maintenance of all those interests which constitute forces in municipal development and progress. He and his wife are very prominent in the social circles of Kemmerer and he has recently erected a most attractive home, which, outside of the lot on which it stands and the furnishings, has cost five thousand dollars. One of its chief features is its warm-hearted hospi- tality, which is always extended to their many friends. Mr. Heitz well deserves mention in this volume, not only because he is contributing to the commercial development of the state, but also because his record should serve as an inspira- tion to young men, showing what may be accomplished when determination and ambition point out the way. He has worked upward entirely without assistance from others, and laudable ambition and energy have been the salient points in his successful career.
HERMAN ABRAHAM.
Herman Abraham is the proprietor of the Laramnie Steam Laundry & Clean- ing plant and is one of the substantial business men of the city whose worth is recognized in his election to the executive committee of the Laramie Chamber of Commerce. He was born in Germany, May 27, 1877, a son of Adolph and Emma (Doekfert) Abraham, who on crossing the Atlantic to America settled in Fremont, Nebraska, where the father engaged in carpentering, there spending his remaining days. His widow is still a resident of Fremont. In their family were seven children, of whom Herman was the fifth in order of birth.
It was during his early childhood that Herman Abraham was brought by his parents to the new world. He attended the schools of Fremont, Nebraska,
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and afterward engaged in the railway business as cashier of the Northwestern Railroad at Fremont. At a later period he removed to Mitchell, South Dakota, where he engaged in the laundry business, continuing there for five years. On the expiration of that period he came to Laramie, where he arrived in February, 1912. Here he established a laundry, buying out the firm of Stitcher & Sons, since which time he has developed the leading laundry business in this section of the state. Not only does he receive a liberal patronage from his fellow towns- men but also has a large outside trade with surrounding towns along the line of the railway in southern Wyoming. He came to Laramie in search of a loca- tion and that he made no mistake in his choice is indicated in the success which has come to him. The .volume of business now accorded him is due to his un- tiring energy and excellent work. He displays close application and unfaltering perseverance in all that he undertakes and he has based his success upon the satisfactory work given to his patrons. He has added many features to his large plant in the way of modern machinery. At one time the entire plant was de- stroyed by fire and he was compelled to buy outright new machinery and equip- ment. Today he has one of the model laundries in this state, giving employment to a number of workmen, together with an outside force. He has an up-to-date auto delivery system for the city and everything about the business is conducted according to the most progressive ideas.
On the 23d of September, 1907, Mr. Abraham was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Bergman, of Blair, Nebraska, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Bergman, of Blair. They hold membership in the Lutheran church. He is connected with the Loyal Order of Moose and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a prominent and active member of the Chamber of Commerce, in which he is serving as a member of the executive committee, and his alert, en- terprising spirit makes him a valued representative of that organization, which is formed to promote the upbuilding and development of the city, to extend its trade relations and to uphold its civic standards.
OSCAR LOUIS HENKEL.
Oscar Louis Henkel, secretary and treasurer of the Pacific Market at Rock Springs, was born at Green River, Sweetwater county, Wyoming, October 16, 1891, a son of the late Ludwig Henkel, who was a native of Germany and came to America in 1885, making his way direct to Green River, where he was suc- cessfully engaged in the live stock business and also conducted a liquor business and a sheep ranch. His several interests were carefully managed and brought to him a substantial measure of success. In 1894 he removed to Rock Springs, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred October 3, 1911, when he had reached the age of fifty-six years. In early manhood he wedded Louise Schneider, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1887, settling in Baltimore, Maryland. There she became the wife of Mr. Henkel. They had been companions in childhood and were educated in the same school. Mrs. Henkel is still living in Rock Springs. By her marriage she became the mother of four children: Louise, who is the wife of O. E. Bradbury, cashier of the First National Bank at Evanston, Wyoming; Helen, who is the wife of Joseph L. Whitman, engaged in the oil business in Casper, Wyoming : Arthur G., who is a law student in the State University of California ; and Oscar L., of this review.
The last named was the second in order of birth. He was educated in the public schools of Rock Springs and when fifteen years of age made his initial step in the business world, being first employed in sheep shearing. In 1907 he entered the meat business in connection with the Chicago Meat Market of Rock Springs, with which establishment he was associated until 1915. He learned the trade during that period and afterward removed to Riverton, Wyoming, where he entered business on his own account, conducting a store successfully at that
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place for eighteen months. He then sold out and returned to Rock Springs. where he purchased his present business, becoming secretary and treasurer of the Pacific Market, which is one of the best establishments of the kind in the state. It is thoroughly modern and sanitary in equipment and in conduct, and in every particular shows the supervision of a wide-awake, alert and energetic business man. The shop has an output of twenty cattle a mouth, from forty to fifty sheep and upwards of two thousand pounds of dressed pork and about eight calves. The company also carries a full line of seasonable vegetables and fruit, together with canned goods and canned meats. The meats carried are all home dressed and the company makes it its custom to handle the best of every- thing. The trade has steadily grown and city markets cannot afford better opportunities for shopping in this connection than can be found at the Pacific Market of Rock Springs.
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