The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-12
GOV. SAMUEL I. HAUSER
The First Resident Chief Executive
in the History of the
Territory.
His Life and interests Inseparably
Linksd with Those OF
the State.
EARLY Experience as n Civil Eucineer-His
Busy Career in Mentana-Eich
NaturalA Gifts.

The following terSe sketcn -, elo Aio
and character of ex-Gov. Samuel L. Hauser
appsnred in the March number OF Iha
Niopazine of Western History. ana a superb
steel portrait OF him held the place of
honor as frontispiece. Ed
When President Cleveland in 1850 ap-
pointed Samuel L. Hauser to the office OF
governor of Montana, it was generally rec
ornized that he had made a choice TINT
would reflect credit upon himself as a Judge
of men; that would advance the best inter-
ests of the section over which he was to ex-
ercise cubernatorial powers, andthat would
give satisfaction to the people Of Montana.
Mr.. Hauser was one who braved all the
dangers of life in that newly opened section
of the west in its early days, and also one
of those who have been of great service in
developing its natural resources, and IN
opening it to the world by the creation OF
many new lines of transportation. Ills
life and the interests of Montana are IN
separably woven together, and it would be
impossible to speak of one without refer
ence to the other.
He is truly a sslf-made man, in the
best meaning of the term. He was born
at Falmouth, Pendleton county, Kentucky,
on Jan. 10. 1888, and received his early
training and education in that state. In
1854 he removed to Missouri, where ne en-
gagged in civil engineering in the employ OF
railroad companies. He afterwards served
aa assistant engineer on tho Missouri Pa
cifc and Northern Pacific. and was then ap-
pointed chief engineer OF the Lexington
branch, from Lexington to Sedalla, holding
the latter position until 1867. In the carrier
half Of that year he came up the missouri
river, and arriving at Fort BENTON in June,
he crossed the country from that point to
the head waters of the Columbia, where he
engaged in prospecting for a snor. time;
these engaged MIR. Hauser's attention for a
time. for in the fall of 1862 he went to the
Bannack mines, and in the autumn
Of the following year followed
Lewis and Clarke's route down the
Qualities and bearing of the man, and of
the dangers he faced in opening these new
lands to civilization, may be found IN the
thrilling story of "The Yellowstone Expe-
dition of 1863" now appearing elsewhere IN
these pages. Il
Mr.. Hauser Immediately became one of
the active men of the new territory: In
1855, in company with M. P. Langford. he
organized a bank at Virginia CITY
q %.nssr The : o firm T ns%' yea. 81 was =; for
him indeed, a busy one. He Or
panized a mining company, and erected the
first furnaces in the territory at Argenta;
In 1866 he organized the First National
bank OF Helena, aha uI5O II NV LSoAO
Mining company, now known as the ROPE
Mining company at Philipsburg, where they
erected the first silver mill in the territory:
Still interchangeable, this enterprls,ng and
energetic man, organized the flrst Nsti iona
of Benton, First National bank of Mis-
soula, and for several years devoted his at
tention to banking interests. A recent
writer in speaking OF Governor Hauser's
labors in this direction, says;
11n tho ANITA nt tn6 Ef4EG. yAKGS
the lead in regard to the number and re-
sources of har national banks. The old
est of these is the First Rational bank,
which was organized by Samuel i. Hauser
stockholders are some of the Oldest inhab-
itants Of Helena and of the state itself.
This bank is the officially designated de-
p~ositorv of the United States for Montana.
The following well known gentlemen y are AZ
Knight, cashier, and T.. II. Kleinsehmidt,
assistant cashier. The directorate is COM
posed of reliable and influential men; as
will be readily seen from the following list:
s; I; H E Al xn M Ho IT H ef1 Klsine
fiamiat, JON 3. i r. Alien Alien, G. Il.
Hill. {. K. Wells and 4. C.. Power. The
names of such men as these are IN
themselves a guarantee OF inc sounoness
ard SUCCESS of any enterprise or institution
with which they are identified. They are
the leading spirits of the community, and
are regarded as high authorities concern
ing all financial matters and IN the com
First National is 100000, and the surplus
and profits reach 100000. The First Ma
tional bank of Benton. Mont. the First
National of Missoula, Mont, and the First
National of Butte. the same state, are as,
ISOLATED with this we'll established and
Justly celebrated institution"
Gov. Hauser was also president of the
first railway within the limits of the terri
tory, the Utah d Northern. In connection
with associates, he has also bullt the follow
ing railway lines: The Helena & Jeffer-
son County; Helena q Boulder Val
ley; Helena Red Mountain; Helena North
ern: Drummond d Philipsburg; Missoula
g. Bitter Root Valley. He also organized
the Helena and Livingston Smelling and
Reduction company. and is its president,
and has probably done more to develop its
Nines and mining than any other one man
in the state. He is also a large real estate
owner, and has large investments IN STOCK
and mining interests.
In view of what has gone before, it is
hardly necessary to add that Gov. Hauser
is one of the best-known men in the north
west. and that he is ever ready to aid any
plan or enterprise that will advance the best
moral, educational or material interests OF
that section of our land. In politics he is
a democrat, and in 1884 was made a delegate
to the democratic national convention,
where he was appointed a member OF the
committee to notify the nominees of the
honor conferred upon them. In July, 1885,
as has been said, he was made governor of
Montana, and proved himself to be the
best governor the territory ever had. He
was also its first resident governor.
1t would be difficult to speak too strongly
Of the usefulness of a life like that of Sam
uel L. Hauser, whose every work has been
followed by benefcent results for the bet
teling of others. TO few men. indeed, in a
generation, are such rich natural gifts and
qualifications given az those with which he
has been endowed, and which he has used
80 wisely. so untiringly and SO freely in the
building up and bringing to the highest
point OF success attainable of every interest
that has been 30 fortunate as to secure his
assistance, cooperation and connection.
His appearance carries out the estimate one
would make of him, in reading the story of
his life-a handsome, kindly, manly coun-
%tenance, with broad, noble brow and eyes
that seem to look through you in their