USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 45
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His record is indicative of the opportunities offered to the foreign-born citizen in the new world, and his success is due to his own efforts and perseverance. Working his way upward, he has advanced step by step, wisely utilizing his oppor- tunities and his talents, and he has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the United States, to which he pledged his loyalty on crossing the Atlantic and of which he has ever been a faithful champion.
JOHN WATT.
John Watt long well known in Laramie, has an enviable reputation for hon- esty and fair dealing and is today at the head of one of the leading clothing es- tablishments of the city as the result of his close application and progressive business methods. He was born in Fraserburgh, Scotland, February 7. 1878. a son of John and Elizabeth ( Trail) Watt, who came to America in 1890 and took up their abode in Laramie. In early life the father was a seafaring man and in that connection visited almost every civilized part of the globe. Both he and his wife passed away in Laramie.
John Watt, whose name introduces this review, was a lad of twelve years when he accompanied his parents to the United States. He began his education in the schools of Scotland and continued his studies in the public schools of Laramie, mastering those branches of learning which well qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. After leaving the public schools he entered the Wyoming State University, which he attended for one year, and then made his initial step in the business world, entering the employ of Mr. Lehman, with whom he continued as confidential clerk for twenty-two years. Anxious, however, to engage in business on his own account, he carefully saved his earnings and in March, 1915, bought out his employer and has since conducted the business alone on even a more extensive scale, success in substantial measure rewarding his labors. He has one of the splendidly equipped clothing stores of southern Wyo- ming, carrying a large and attractive line of goods, while his business methods. his reasonable prices and his enterprise commend him to the support and con- tinned patronage of the public.
In September, 1907, Mr. Watt was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Lohlein. of Lusk, a daughter of Mrs. M. T. Lohlein. They have become the parents of one child, Lester, who was born in Laramie in 1911 and is attending school.
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Fraternally Mr. Watt is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party, but at all times casting the weight of his aid and influence on the side of progress and improvement. He is a self- made man, having started out in life empty-handed and worked his way upward through persistency of purpose, diligence and determination. His course meas- ures up to high commercial standards and through the long period of his resi- dence in Laramie he has enjoyed an enviable reputation as a business man and as a citizen.
DANIEL D. POTTER.
The centralized interests of the great Union Pacific Coal Company have led to the development of important productive industries which have been assimi- lated with the direct operative plants of the coal company. Such a one is the Commercial Light & Power plant at Rock Springs, of which Daniel D. Potter is the superintendent, thus representing one of the important Union Pacific inter- ests in Wyoming.
He was born June 9, 1870, in Plattsville, Ontario, Canada: His father, George F. Potter. a native of that country, is a carpenter and builder by trade and is now residing in Blackfoot, Idaho. He removed to the west in 1872, settling first at Salt Lake, where he resided until 1885, when he became a resident of Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he followed his chosen vocation for a number of years. In 1911, however, he removed to Blackfoot, Idaho, where he now makes his home. In his business career he has been quite successful. He mar- ried Lucy Alice Dukes, a native of London, England, who when eight years of age was brought by her parents to the new world, the family home being estab- lished in Canada, where she was reared and married. She is also living. Twelve children were born of this marriage, of whom Daniel D. is the second in order of birth.
The public schools of Salt Lake accorded Daniel D. Potter his early educa- tional privileges. He started out to provide for his own support when a lad of but thirteen years and since that time he has learned life's lessons in the practical school of experience. He was employed by his father and thus mastered carpen- tering, which he followed until 1888. He then took up the business of house painting, in which he engaged until 1896. On the 4th of December, 1885, he arrived in Rock Springs, where he has since made his home. On the 13th of De- cember, 1896, he became connected with the Union Pacific Coal Company's Com- mercial Light & Power plant, beginning work as a laborer and from that humble place he worked his way steadily upward through successive promotions to his present position of large responsibility. He was called to the office of superin- tendent on the Ist of June. 1917, and is now acting in that capacity. In the elec- tric plant five people are employed. Mr. Potter is an expert in all branches of the work under his control and is thoroughly qualified to direct the interests of the company at this point.
On the 5th of October, 1896, Mr. Potter was married in Rock Springs, Wyo- ming, to Miss Ellen Walters, a native of England and a daughter of Noah and Elizabeth (Walters) Walters, both of whom are living, having been residents of Rock Springs since 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Potter have become the parents of four children : Mabel, born 1897 ; Harry, 1899; Ralph, 1901 ; and Clarence, 1913. All of the children were born in Rock Springs. The parents have been called upon to mourn the loss of their third child, who died at the age of four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter are members of the Episcopal church and the former gives his political allegiance to the republicana party. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Eagles. His has been an active and useful life. From 1891 until 1894 he was engaged in horse raising in connection with his other business activities but that undertaking because of the low prices being paid at that time
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proved a failure, causing him considerable loss. Undiscouraged by this venture, he persevered in his business career, starting again in other fields, and he has more than made good as the years have passed. He is today one of the promi- nent business men of Rock Springs, alert, energetic and determined, his life rec- ord proving what may be accomplished through individual effort and persistency of purpose.
EUGENE BERTAGNOLLI.
Eugene Bertagnolli, president and manager of the Union Mercantile & Supply Company, owning and conducting three stores, located at Rock Springs, at Kem- merer and at Superior, Wyoming, makes his home at Rock Springs and from that point directs his constantly increasing business interests, which have placed him with the leading merchants of the state. He is a young man who has not yet reached the zenith of his powers but already has attained a position in commer- cial circles that many a man twice his years might well envy.
Mr. Bertagnolli is a native of Austria. He was born at Trient, Tyrol, May 4, 1889, a son of Fedel and Virginia ( Bertagnolli) Bertagnolli, who, though of the same name, was not a relative of her husband. Both were born and reared in Austria, where the father engaged in farming throughout his entire life. He passed away in 1909, but the mother is still living and is yet a resident of Austria. In the family were six children: Joseph and Leopold, who are residents of Rock Springs : August, living in Austria ; Mary; Ade; and Engene, who is the eldest.
During his boyhood days Eugene Bertagnolli attended the schools of the Tyrol and also an Italian school. The year 1907 witnessed his arrival in Rock Springs, Wyoming, at which time he was a youth of eighteen years. He organ- ized the Union Mercantile & Supply Company, beginning business in a small way but developing his interests as the years have gone by until his trade has now reached very extensive proportions. On the organization and incorporation of the company in 1907, Henry Bertagnolli, now deceased, became the president and treasurer, with Eugene Bertagnolli as the vice president. The undertaking pros- pered from the beginning, and seeing the possibility for the successful extension of his interests, Eugene Bertagnolli established in 1909 a second store at Supe-' rior, Wyoming, of which he remained manager until August 10, 1917, when upon the death of Henry Bertagnolli he was elected the president of the com- pany and manager of the Rock Springs store. The company also owns a store at Kemmerer, which was opened in 1914 and which Eugene Bertagnolli also manages. At the various stores a general mercantile business is conducted and all three establishments are proving profitable investments. In addition to his commercial interests M1. Bertagnolli is the owner of considerable ranch prop- erty, which is conducted under the name of the Superior Live Stock Company, the land being located on Green river. He is also the treasurer of the Superior school board, and while conducting important business interests, has found time to cooperate in measures and movements for the general good.
On the 8th of April, 1912, Mr. Bertagnolli was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Bertagnolli, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ignaz Bertagnolli. They have become the parents of two children: Otto, who died October 11, 1917, at the age of eleven months, and was buried in Rock Springs; and Olga, who was born in Superior, Wyoming, in 1913.
Fraternally Mr. Bertagnolli is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Superior. He is also identified with the Red Men, and is a Knights Templar Mason. He also has membership with the Knights of Pythias and at all times is loyal to the teachings of these various organizations, which are formed for the mutual benefit of the members. He is a supporter of the Red Cross and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. In coming to the new world he found the business oppor-
EUGENE BERTAGNOLLI
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tunities which he sought and in their utilization he has made steady progress until he has long since left the ranks of the many and now stands among the success- ful few.
MISS EDITH K. O. CLARK.
Miss Edith K. O. Clark, filling the position of state superintendent of public instruction in Wyoming for a four years' term, with office in Cheyenne, was born in Washington, D. C., on the 7th of September, 1881, a daughter of George W. and Sara (Robinson) Clark. The father was a lawyer by profession and became one of the chief examiners in the land office at the national capital. He was also interested for some time in cattle interests in Wyoming, but both he and his wife have passed away. In their family were two daughters and a son, all resi- dents of Wyoming.
Miss Edith Clark, of this review, the eldest of the family, pursued a public and high school education in Washington, D. C., and was graduated from the schools of Des Moines, Iowa, after which she studied at Grinnell College, Iowa. She pursued a course in library training in the University of Wisconsin and in 1906 she came to Wyoming, taking up the profession of teaching in Johnson and Sheridan counties, where she remained as a teacher for two years. She was then elected school superintendent of Sheridan county and so continued for six years. The splendid record which she made in educational circles led to her nomination on the republican ticket for the office of state superintendent of public instruction, to which position she was elected in the fall of 1914. She assumed the duties of the office in January, 1915, for a four years' term and has made most valuable suggestions and done most excellent work in systematizing and improving the schools throughout the state. Many problems are presented to her for solution in regard to the conduct of the schools, and her broad expe- rience, clear insight and high ideals have rendered her opinions and decisions of the utmost worth in these connections.
Miss Clark gives her political allegiance to the republican party. She belongs to the Episcopal church and she is also identified with the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is a broad-minded woman, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress along all those lines which touch the general interests of society, and her professional activity is based upon a recogni- tion of the fact that the object of education, according to Kant, is to teach each individual to reach the highest perfection possible for him.
JOSEPH FULLER.
Joseph Fuller, who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Cokeville, belongs to that class of progressive business men who are the real promoters and npbuilders of the state of Wyoming, carefully directing their business affairs and at the same time casting the weight of their influence upon the side of public progress and activity.
Mr. Fuller was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1867. His father, Thomas Fuller, was a native of Germany but came to America prior to the Civil war and settled in Pittsburgh, where for many years he made his home. For an extended period he was connected with the Standard Oil Company but is now living retired and makes his home in Bellevue, Ohio. In early manhood he wedded Barbara Wills, a native of Germany, who came with her husband to the new world. To them were born seven children, Joseph being the third in order of birth. The mother has passed away, her death having occurred in January, 1912, when she was seventy-two years of age.
Friet K. O. Clark
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Joseph Fuller was educated in the public schools at Parkers Landing, Pennsyl- vania, and when a youth of seventeen left home to provide for his own support. He is a self-made man in the fullest sense of the term, for from that age he has depended entirely upon his own resources and whatever prosperity has come to him is the direct result of persistent labor intelligently directed. On leaving the east he removed to Helena, Montana, where he was in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in connection with the transportation department. He continued with that road until 1888, after which he made his way to the Pacific coast and was with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at various points, including Seattle and Portland. He next removed to Montpelier. Idaho, where he was representative for the New York Life Insurance Company for three years. On leaving that state he became a resident of Cokeville, Wyoming, where he took up his abode in the spring of 1905. Here he originally engaged in the liquor business and in 1916 he established his present store, opening a full line of furni- ture and undertaking supplies. Since concentrating his attention upon this business he has enjoyed a growing trade and today is accorded a very liberal patronage. This was not his first venture along this line, for while in Montpelier he also conducted a furniture and undertaking establishment for three years and was thus well qualified by practical experience for the duties and activities which now claim his attention. His business methods commend him to the confidence and support of the public and he is enjoying a rapidly growing trade.
Mr. Fuller was married in Montpelier, Idaho, in 1883 to Miss Nellie Doyle and to them have been born six children, Barbara, Joe, Marie, Irene, Stanley and Ruth. The daughter Irene is now the wife of James Reddy, of Pocatello, Idaho. Joseph, Jr., has enlisted in the United States Marine service.
Mr. Fuller is a democrat and at one time served as city councilman of Coke- ville. He was also one of the most active workers in the installation of the city water works and has taken a helpful part in promoting many public achievements which have greatly benefited the city and upheld its civic standards. He was made a Mason in Montpelier, holding membership in King Solomon Lodge, No. 27, A. F. & A. M. He also became a member of Montpelier Camp, No. 167, W. O. W. At all times his aid and influence are on the side of progress and improvement along material, social and political lines. He is today one of the most progressive business men of Cokeville, where he carries a complete line of furni- ture and in the undertaking department he has a full equipment, having a morgue, a hearse and everything necessary for the fitting conduct of funerals. In his business affairs he has at all times been actuated by a spirit of unfaltering industry and enterprise and he never stops short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose.
FRANK KERSHISNIK.
Frank Kershisnik is the president and manager of the Rock Springs Commer- cial Company, which is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars, and it has been largely through his efforts that this business has been developed to its present extensive proportions. Honored and respected by all, no man occupies a more enviable position in commercial circles in this section of Wyoming, not alone by reason of the success which he has achieved, but also owing to the straightfor- ward policy which he has ever followed. He has been most watchful of oppor- tunities pointing to advancement and success and has never hesitated to take a forward step when the way was opened.
He was born in Poland, Austria, January 24, 1874. His father, the late John Kershisnik, was also a native of Austria, where he successfully followed farming, his death occurring there in 1888, when he was forty-one years of age. He represented a very prominent family of the country and was active in public
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FRANK KERSHISNIK
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affairs of his community, serving as mayor of his city, as did several of his ancestors. In fact, the family was connected with the mayoralty there for thirty years. In commercial circles, too, John Kershisnik made for himself a most creditable position, being engaged, extensively and successfully, at the time of his death in the lumber and flour milling business. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Mrak and she, too, was born in Poland, Austria. They had a family of ten children, seven of whom are yet living.
Frank Kershisnik was educated in the schools of his native country and when a lad of fourteen years started out to provide for his own support, entering upon an apprenticeship to the tanner's trade, at which he served a term of indenture of three and a half years, during which period he gained a thorough knowledge of the business. He then left home to seek his fortune in America, attracted by the business opportunities which he heard were to be enjoyed on this side the Atlantic. He arrived in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in November, 1891, and entered the employ of the Union Pacific Coal Company in their mines. He continued to work in the coal fields in that way until the fall of 1895 and later went to Dia- mondville, now in Lincoln county, where he was employed for six months by the Diamond Coal Company. While working in the mines he had many hair- breadth escapes from death and on several occasions at the risk of his own life he saved his fellow workmen. He was on a number of occasions in close prox- imity to several who were killed or entombed. At length, however, he abandoned coal mining and went to California, settling in the northern part of that state as one of a colony of Austrians who took up their abode upon a farm. The enter- prise, however, proved a failure and caused the loss of his entire capital, he having previously saved six hundred dollars from his earnings, which sum he invested in the agricultural project. He then turned his attention to gold mining in California and was forced to work for a dollar per day and board. He remained in that connection for seven months and afterward went to Calaveras county, California, where he again took up work in the gold mines. He spent two years in that locality, where he arrived an entire stranger with a cash capital of but forty-five cents. While there he saved four hundred dollars as the result of his untiring industry and strict economy. He later went to Johnston county, California, and was employed in the mines of that locality for six months during the winter of 1898-99. In the latter year he made his way to the Coeur d'Alene country of Idaho and on his arrival found the place under martial law on account of the strike situation. He remained in that locality for about a month and then went to Rossland, British Columbia, where he was again engaged in mining for ten months. He then proceeded farther northward, where he continued mining, but eventually he decided to return to the United States and visit his old companions at Rock Springs. The result of this return visit was that he went to work in No. 10 mine but remained there for only two months. On the expiration of that brief period, through the friendship of the late Albert Facinelli, he entered the liquor business and won pronounced success in that undertaking. During the first year he with eight other companions and working men established and incor- porated the Rock Springs Commercial Company, but from time to time some of the original owners have sold their interests until now but three remain. The business was incorporated in the spring of 1901 with a cash capital of about four thousand dollars, which has since been increased and the business developed until the trade now amounts to one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars. They employ eight sales people and their store covers a floor space of forty by fifty feet. Mr. Kershisnik is the principal stockholder. He is also a director of the North Side State Bank and he owns and conducts a ranch of eighty acres near Burley, Idaho. His business affairs have been wisely and profitably conducted. He has ever been a most earnest worker, displaying indefatigable industry and perseverance in all that he has undertaken, and his unremitting diligence has in the course of years brought him a substantial measure of success.
In May, 1901, Mr. Kershisnik was married in Rock Springs, Wyoming, to Miss Annie Perko, a native of Austria, with whom he had been reared as a child-
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hood companion. They have become the parents of seven children, Frank, Amelia, Joseph, Max, Fannie, John and Annie.
Politically Mr. Kershisnik has always been a stalwart republican since becom- ing a naturalized American citizen. He served for one term on the city council of Rock Springs and has always been interested in politics. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also the St. Louisan Society, which he organized in 1894. He is likewise a member of Bear Lodge, and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He is entirely a self-made man. When he arrived in America he not only was without capital but had incurred an indebtedness of one hundred and sixty dollars. When he started in the saloon business, which was his first commercial venture, he had a capital of two hundred dollars. Gradually, however, he has worked his way upward, his efficiency and business management proving the salient features in the attain- ment of his present day success, bringing him at length to the position of presi- dent of the Rock Springs Commercial Company, in which connection he com- mands a business of large volume, so that his annual income is most gratifying.
CHARLES A. SIEGEL.
Charles A. Siegel, who is engaged in the bakery and confectionery business in Evanston, manifests in his commercial career an alert, enterprising spirit which brooks no obstacles, and overcomes all the difficulties that continually arise in business activity. He has built up his trade on a basis of excellence of output and honorable dealing, and his patronage is steadily increasing. Mr. Siegel is a native of Alsace, France, born on the 10th of December, 1858. His father. Joseph Siegel, was also a native of Alsace who after the Franco-Prussian war was one of the many who signed the declaration that he wanted to remain
French. He served in the French army five years, stationed at Lyons, in the Twelfth Léger, under Louis Philippe, afterwards returning to his home town, Rhinau. He was asked and accepted a government position with the Douane, or as a line guard. He passed away in Basel in 1883 at the age of eighty-three years. Throughout almost his entire life he was in government service and became widely known as a most capable, reliable and trustworthy official, en- joying the respect, confidence and honor of colleagues and contemporaries. He married Walburga Heitzman, also a native of Alsace, who died in 1869. In their family were six children, of whom three are living: Mrs. Helen Lohrer, living in Basel, Switzerland; Frank, who is a baker by trade and makes his home in Boise, Idaho ; and Charles A., of this review.
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