MTGenWeb Project LEWIS & CLARK COUNTY, MONTANA BIOGRAPHIES - SURNAME G-H-I-J

 

Frederick Gamer, History of the State of Montana, by Joaquim Miller, 1894 Frederick Gamer, a prominent Helena businessman since 1868, is a native of Germany, born December 20, 1844. His father, Charles Gamer, emigrated with his wife and nine children to the United States in 1861 bringing with him $3000 in cash and purchasing a farm in the state of Illinois where he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1872 in the sixty-third year of his age. He was a man of high integrity and in religion was a Lutheran. Possessing a fine physique and great energy, his life was one of useful activity. He died suddenly of heart failure. His wife survived him three years. All of their children are still living. Frederick was the fourth born in his father's family. He was educated and learned the shoemaker's trade in Germany and was seventeen years of age when they came to the United States. His first work here was in Chicago where he remained from 1861 to 1866. Then he went to Denver, Colorado where he worked for a year, clerking in a shoe store owned by J.P. Fink and Company. They sent him to Georgetown Colorado where he had charge of a store for them for a year. They then started the business in Helena, Montana and Mr. Gamer came and took charge of it for them. Later he acquired an interest in the firm and in 1872 his partners sold out to him. The brick block Mr. Gamer built in 1882 and in which he now manages his large business, No. 17 South Main Street, stands on the site where they first began operations in 1867, it having proved one of the best locations in Helena. In 1869 he established a branch store at Deer Lodge. He has also one at Anaconda and he now has a large store and business in Butte. In 1872 he built a residence in Helena, where he still resides. Eight miles from Helena he owns a section ofland which he has developed into one of the best farms in Montana, and where he is devoting some attention to the raising of fine Norman-Percheron horses. Mr. Gamer in 1862 united with the Methodist Church and became a charter member of the church in Helena of which he has ever since been a most devoted member and pillar. Mr. Gamer's married life has been a most happy one. April 9, 1872 he married Emma M. Fink, a native of St. Joseph Missouri. Their family consists of four sons and two daughters, all born in Helena and named: Milton A, Charles W.John F, Walter, Ada M. and Emma.Mrs. Gamer is also a most efficient member of the Methodist Church.

Adam Gerhauser, History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 Adam Gerhauser, one of Helena's respected citizens, was born in Bavaria, October 6, 1828, the son of George Gerhauser, a butcher. He learned the business of beerbrewing in Bavaria, and remained there until 1853. That year he emigrated to the United States and for a time worked at his trade in New York. From there he removed to Belleville, Illinois, where he continued in the brewing business four years. In 1857 he went to California and turned his attention to mining, in which occupation he has been almost constantly engaged ever since. His first experience in the mines was at Dutch Flat. From there he went to Grass Valley and afterward to Auburn, forty miles from Sacramento. During his early mining career he found one piece of gold that was valued at $108.00. Leaving California in 1860 he went to Nevada and at Carson City started up in the brewing business on his own account, continuing there until 1863 and that year going to Virginia City, Nevada and conducting a brewing business until 1868. In 1868 he located at White Pine, where he built a larger plant that ever at a cost of $20,000 and this he operated until 1870 when he sold out.The mining excitement at Cedar Creek then took him to that place. Finding nothing there, however, to induce him to remain, he came to Helena and on the 8th of June 1870 he started a brewery on South Main Street. The following year he was burned out and in 1874 in company with others, he started up in business again, and again his establishment burned out. Again he rebuilt, this time on Rodney Street, but after two years more in the brewing business he retired from it and converted his property into business blocks--Nos. 202 and 204, corner of Fifth and Rodney Streets. His interest in mines and mining did not abate during these years and he is now the owner of two goldmines. Mr. Gerhauser was married in 1864 to Tereca Schick, a native of Germany.

John D. Graham, History of Montana, Sanders, 1913 Prominent among the Scotch-Americans in Helena is James D. Graham, proprietor of the Montana News, a Socialist organ and one of the leading Socialists in this part of the state. He was born in the "land o' cakes" February 2, 1873, and is a son of Malcolm Graham, a native of that country. The elder man brought his family to America in 1886 when James was still a lad and made location at Livingston, Montana, where he successfully followed his trade as a machinist. He is now a resident of LeGrant, Oregon. The maiden name of the subject's mother was Bessie Denholm, and she was a daughter of George Denholm, a native of Scotland. This worthy woman died while the family were living at Livingston, on June 29, 1890, and her remains are there interred. James was the first born in a family of five sons and two daughters. Mr. Graham received his early education in the schools of Scotland and continued his studies until the age of thirteen when the more serious duties of life confronted him, the family being in modest circumstances. His first employment was in the ship yeads of his native Scotland, and he remained thus engaged for three years, coming to America with other members of the family in 1886. After arriving at Livingston, he was apprenticed to learn the machinist trade and followed the same until 1902. In 1905 Mr. Graham came to Helena and founded the Montana News, a Socialist paper, then owned by the Socialist party, but which is now entirely in the hands of Mr. Graham. His heart is in the cause and his word has great influence and weight in the councils of the new party which is every day gaining ground. He has the distinction of being the first Socialist candidate for Alderman in the state of Montana, running for this office while in Livingston, and he came within five vote of being elected. He was one of the principal factors in the defeat of the primary law in Montana and also did much toward putting a quietus to the Ronahue Militia bill and forcing the referendum, this requiring the acquisition of 8,000 signatures. Mr. Graham has fraternal affiliation with the Farmers' Society of Equity, and the Master Machinists' Union. He subscribes to the faith of his countryman, John Knox, being a valued member of the Presbyterian Church. He is a powerful advocate of municipal ownership and it is one of his fondest ambitions to live to see this in force all over the state of Montana. Mr. Graham laid the foundation of an independent household by his marriage October 24, 1901. Both he and his wife are highly esteemed by all who know them and have a wide circle of friends in the city of Helena.

Benn Greenhood -

George Hammond -

Charles D. Hard, History of the State of Montana, by Joaquim Miller, 1894 Charles D. Hard, a prominent citizen of Montana, whose residence is located near the Montana University, four miles north of Helena, was born in Rochester, New York, December 20, 1841. His ancestors, Scotch and English people were among the early residents of Vermont, and his father, Lemuel W. Hard, was born there in 1805. Mr. Hard's mother, who before her marriage was Mary Margaret Gray, was a native of Madison Co. New York of Scotch origin. Her family removed to Chicago at an early day, being among the first settlers of that city, and Charles M. Gray being Mayor of Chicago at one time. The father died in 1887, in the eighty-second year of his age. Charles D. Hard, the oldest of the family, was educated in his native city. In 1864 he went by the way of the isthmus to San Francisco and accepted a position in the store from which supplies were distributed to the soldiers stationed at forts near San Francisco. In that position he remained three years. In 1867 he came to Montana with Mr. Obannon, who received the appointment as Registrar of the first land office established in Montana. Mr. Hard at this time received the appointment of Deputy Collector of Internal Revenues for the Fifth district of Montana, served a year in that office, and was then appointed Deputy United States Marshal. His principal duties in the latter office were to suppress the ilicit traffic in whisky, which was carried on by white men with the Indians and others, and as can well be imagined he had an arduous task on his hands, his life frequently being in danger. In the discharge of his duties he made many trips all over the northern portion of the country, taking with him an armed posse and making arrests of desperate, lawless men. During the four years he filled that office he succeeded to some extent in putting a stop to their lawless traffic. He was also special agent for the Interior Department for four years, and during this period became widely and favorably known by all the best people of the State. Mr. Hard was married October 28, 1874, to Mae L. Fisk, a native of Rochester, New York. After his marriage he purchased 160 acres of land and took a homestead claim to eighty acres more, this being the property where he now resides, the whole cost of it being $1000.00. He built a little home on his land and soon afterward made a trip East in order to procure thoroughbred and trotting horses. He brought back with him ten fine brood mares and two thoroughbred horses, and at once became a successful breeder. He had the honor of raising in Montana the first registered thoroughbred, "Peek-a-boo" with which he won the first Derby race in Montana. He continued raising horses for many years. On this subject he is considered an authority. When the question of locating and building the Montana University was brought up, Mr. Hard with his usual enterpriseand liberality, offered to donate forty acres of his land and the offer was accepted. He has since erected a commodiious residence, built of stone, and in it he and his family are surrounded with all the comforts of life. His family is composed of four children: Carl B., Letia, George Gray and Bessie Chester. With the avenue of higher education so convenient for his children, Mr. Hard feels amply repaid for his liberality to the college. Mr. Hard has always been a reliable member of the Republican party. In addition to the offices already mentioned, he served as Under Sheriff of Lewis and Clark county for two years and also two years as Marshal of Helena.

Anton Hasher, History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 Anton Hasher, the enterprising boot and shoe merchant of Marysville, was born in Bohemia, where he was raised and educated and also learned the shoemakers trade. He came to the United States in 1887 and for the first six months followed his trade at Billings. He then came to Marysville, worked as a joiner three and a half years, and May 25, 1892 opened his present shoe store. Mr. Hasher keeps a complete line of stylish and reliable goods, also makes shoes to order and does general repairing. He is a young man of intelligence and integrity, an excellent mechanic and a good judge in his line of work.

Wyllys A. Hedges, History of Montana, Sanders, 1913 The Hedges family is of New England origin and Cornelius Hedges, the father of Wyllys was born in Westfield Massachusetts on October 28, 1831. He was married in Southington Connecticut in May of the year 1856 his bride being then but twenty years of age. The young couple moved to Iowa to begin making their way in the world, and in Buchanan County of that state, on July 3, 1857 was born Wyllys Hedges, the eldest of their eight children. Seven years later the family came to Montana. The trip from Omaha to Fort Benton was made by boat and thence to Helena overland. In the capital city Cornelius Hedges entered upon the practice of law and was one of the well known figures of the Montana bar. He enjoyed the honor of being called the father of Free Masonry in this state and at the time of his death in 1909 was the oldest living grand secretary in the United States. He was seventy-five at the time of his death and is survived by his wife, Edna L. Hedges and five children. Mrs. Hedges makes her home in Helena where her husband is buried. Two of her children also live in that city: Cornelius Hedges, Jr. who not only bears his father's name but holds the office of grand secretary of the grand lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. H.B. Palmer, a broker of Helena married Edna C. Hedges also of Helena. Henry Hedges was for a number of years a resident of Valley County Montana and he still retains his interests there though he and his wife now live in California. Emma, the other living member of the Hedges family is now Mrs. John Woodbridge of Boston Massachusetts. Wyllys Hedges began his training in the schools of Helena. He was of a scholarly turn of mind and he early put his fondness for books to practical use. In 1869 the first city library was formed in Helena and Mr. Hedges at the age of thirteen, was appointed city librarian at a salary of $40.00 per month. He was the second person to hold this office and undoubtedly the youngest. Mr. Hedges continued at this post for a year and two months and then he took his earnings and returned to his father's native town to go to school. When he finished the high school he entered Yale and upon leaving college he returned to Montana and filed on a tract of land which is now part of the town of Great Falls. He was the first to receive a patent in that district and it was there that he began the business of stock raising which he has followed ever since. In 1881 he came to the Mussellshell Valley and settled where the present town of Hedges stands. In 1884 on September 3, Mr. Hedges was married in the same Connecticut town where his parents' union had been consummated twenty-eight years before. His bride was Miss Ida S. Beach, a native of Southington, which place had been the girlhood home of Mr. Hedges' mother. None of the four daughters born of this union lived past childhood.

Higgins Cigar Store -

Joseph J. Hindson, History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 Steele, Hindson & Company, Helena Montana. This firm was organized and incorporated in its present form in 1892, William Steele being president, and Joseph J. Hindson, secretary and treasurer. They are jobbers of hay, grain, flour and feed and storage commission merchants, located at No. 1332 Bozeman Street, near the Northern Pacific Depot. William Steele, president of the above named company, is a native of New York City, born in 1849. Grandfather Steele, a Scotchman by birth, emigrated to America and settled in Baltimore, Maryland in 1800, later he resided in Brooklyn, New York where he was an importer of Irish linen. His wife, Ann Vaughn, was a daughter of Lt. Vaughn of the Revolution. Their son William Steele was born in New York in 1812, married Anna Ostrom, a native of Brooklyn, and a descendant of an old Colonial family, her maternal grandfather, John Faulkner also having been a patriot soldier in the Revolution. William Steele was a wholesale dry goods merchant in New York. He died in Philadelphia in 1887 in the seventy-fifth year of his age and his wife died in 1870. They had six children, the subject of our sketch being the third son and the fourth child. Mr. Steele received his education in New York City and was employed as a bookkeeper there until 1880. That year he came to Helena and accepted a position as a bookkeeper for Gans and Klein with whom he remained for ten years. In 1890 he severed his connection with that firm in order to engaged in his present business in which he has met with signal success. He was married in 1882 to Adelaide Bailey, a native of Allegan, Michigan and daughter of Jacob Bailey of that state. They have one daughter, Anna. Joseph J. Hindson, secretary and treasurer of the company was born in Liverpool, England in 1850, a son of one of Liverpool's wholesale grain merchants. Joseph J. assisted his father and early in life became thoroughly informed in regard to every detail of the grain business. In 1874 he emigrated to America and in Canada accepted a position as bookkeeper for the well known firm of Sanford and Evans with whom he remained for twelve years. He left in 1891 to engaged with the firm out of which grew the firm of Steele, Hindson and Company. Mr. Hindson was married in 1875 to Amelia Bamford, a native of England and a descendant of the English family of Bamfords. They have three children: Isabelle, Mary H and Joseph.

Joseph Horsky, History of the State of Montana, by Joaquim Miller, 1894 Joseph Horsky, real estate dealer at Helena, Montana, is a native of Austria, born October 6, 1842. He spent his youth in his native land and emigrated with his parents to this country, settling in Johnson County, Iowa, near the city of Cedar Rapids. His early education was received in Austria and after their removal to the United States he attended school in Iowa and Nebraska, his parents having moved from the former state to the latter. From Nebraska he went back to Iowa and in 1859 started for Colorado, but at this time inducements were offered him to remain in Nebraska, which he did and until 1862 was with his parents engaged in farm work. In 1862 Mr. Horsky went to Colorado and engaged in quartz mining, continuing there until January 1864. At that time he returned to Omaha for his brother John and together they started for Montana arriving in Virginia City on August 27, 1865, when he came to Helena, and from that time up to the present he has given his attention to the real estate business, having considerable property in Helena and also large ranching and stock interests. Mr. Horsky was married July 4, 1885 to Lettie Carr and they have two daughters. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge and Helena Chapter, No. 2 and also of the A.O.U.W. Politically he is a Republican but is not a politician and has never been an office-holder.

John Horsky, History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 John Horsky, one of Helena's respected pioneer citizens, dates his birth in Bohemia, Austria, May 16, 1838, his parents being natives of Bohemia. Mr. Horsky was reared and educated in his native land, and in 1855 came to America to make his fortune and establish his home in the land of the free. He first worked for wages as a farm hand in Iowa, and later learned the trade of brewer. In 1859 he started to Pike's Peak, but returned to Iowa and remained in that State until 1864, when he and his brother Joel came to Montana making the journey with oxen. Mr. Horsky at that time was still a single man and in search of a place in which he could better his condition. He and his brother arrived in Virginia City on the 31st of August, and all the following fall and winter they were engaged in mining, making, however no more than good wages. In the spring of 1865 he came to Helena and in company with George Butz he turned his attention to the brewing business. They built the first brewery in the city, the Helena Brewery. Mr. Horsky continued successfully in the brewing business until 1891 when having secured a competency, he sold out and retired from active life. During his residence here he has all along been more or less interested in mines and mining, having done much to develop these interests in Montana. He recently built on Main Street a fine brick block 42 x 110 feet, three stories and basement, which is rented for stores, offices and a commercial college.Mr. Horsky was married in 1869 to Miss Louisa C. Cory, also a native of Bohemia. Three sons have been born to them in Helena: Rudolph, who is attending the Medical College in Philadelphia; Edward, a clerk in the U.S. Assay office,and John, in a drug store.

Albert S. Hovey, History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 Albert S. Hovey, United States Deputy Mineral surveyor for Montana and Idaho, was born in Perry Ohio September 8, 1850, and resided there during the earlier years of his life. He received his education in the common schools of Ohio and Michigan, graduating in the common schools of Ohio and Michigan, graduating at Willoughby College where he took the classical course and afterward attending the University of Michigan taking a special course in civil engineering. He began work as deputy county surveyor at Cleveland Ohio under C.H. Burgess and then became Assistant United States Surveyor and Inspector under Major John M. Wilson, on harbor work and inspector of harbor improvements. He afterward made a complete survey of all that part of the Ohio canal bed which is within the Cleveland City limits for the Valley Railroad. Mr. Hovey came to Montana July 3, 1882 where he came chief mineral clerk in the Surveyor General's office in Helena under General Harris and afterward under General Green and afterward formed a partnership with A.E. Cumming and opened an office as general civil and mining engineers. In 1891 he engaged in partnership with Paul S.A. Bickel in the same line of business. The firm have their principal office in Helena, their field of operations extending throughout Montana and Idaho, Mr. Hovey being Deputy United States Mineral Surveyor for both states.

Robert H. Howey, History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 Robert H. Howey, one of Helena's prominent lawyers, dates his birth in Carroll County Ohio, April 8, 1842. He is of Scotch-Irish descent. Some of his ancestors settled in Pennsylvania previous to the Revolution and from there the family has spread out over various states in the union. The parents of Robert H. were Ebenezer and Julia Ann (Shaw) Howey, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1810 and the latter in Carroll County Ohio in 1820. The Shaws were an old colonial family and Mrs. Howey's grandfather, Nathan Shaw, served as a soldier in the Revolution as First Lt. of the First Battalion, Cumberland County, New Jersey Militia. He fought in the Battle of Trenton and in various other engagements in that war. Her father also served in the War of 1812. Mr. Howey's parents had five children, of whom only two are now living. The father died in 1861. The mother still survives, now in her seventy-third year. Robert H. Howey received his education in the public schools of Ohio and in Rural Seminary, afterward known as Harlem Springs College. He also took a course in the McNeily Normal School, Hopedale, Ohio where he graduated in 1862 receivingthe degree of B.A. Then he began the study of law under the instructions of Eckley and McCoy at Carrollton. It was during the Civil War that he was engaged in the pursuit of his studies but when Morgan made his famous raid through the state of Ohio young Howey dropped his studies and joined the Home Guards. Mr. Howey was admitted to the bar of the District Court of Ohio at Steubenville in 1867 and there engaged in the practice of his profession. Later, however, he accepted the position of Professor of Mathematics in Harlem Springs College. In 1872 he entered Western Theological Seminary at Alleghany, where in due time he graduated with high honors.After his graduation in April 1874 he was ordained by the Presbytery of Steubenville and was commissioned by the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions to take charge of a church at Unionville, Missouri. He at once went to Unionville,assumed charge as pastor and through his instrumentality, a church edifice was soon built. Later he was the principal of the public schools at Unionville. He continued there until February 1879 when he came to Montana and accepted the position of principal of the Helena city schools, serving as such for five successive years. At the end of that time he was appointed by Governor Potts as Superintendent of Public Instruction for Montana and served as such most efficiently until February 1883 and while acting in this latter capacity he ws appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to select the university lands for Montana. He selected for that purpose seventy-two sections. Few indeed,have done more to advance the educational interests of Montana than has Mr. Howey. Mr. Howey was married March 14, 1870 to Laura E. Spencer, of Cadiz Ohio, a graduate of Beaver College Pennsylvania with the class of 1868. She was at the time of their marriage and for several years after, engaged in teaching instrumental and vocal music. Since their coming to Helena she has been president of the W.C.T.U. of Montana and has delivered numerous lectures and organized many unions in Montana.

Duncan Hunter, History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 Duncan Hunter, a businessman of Helena, was born in Scotland, July 3, 1863 and received his early education in Scotland and England. In 1882 he emigrated to America and located in Dakota, where he remained two years, coming from there in 1884 to Montana and taking up his abode at Three Forks, There, with others, he was the owner of a ranch of 6,000 acres and was engaged extensively in the stock business, making a specialty of fine cattle. He was one of the founders of the town of Three Forks. In 1889 he sold his interests there and came to Helena, at once becoming connected with the Equitable Life Insurance company of New York. The first year he was here the business was managed by Burt and Hunter but after that Mr. Hunter became sole manager of the company's affairs in Montana. He resigned from the Equitable inSeptember 1893. Mr. Hunter is also interested in mining and in Helena real estate and farm lands. January 24, 1893 he was married to Miss Abby Lippitt, the daughter of the late Governor Lippitt of Providence Rhode Island.

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