Alfred Otto ENGLET

ENGLET, SIBLEY, KEHN, CUPPETT, HUBBARD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/9/2012 at 17:18:01

June 3, 1878 --- March 25, 1921

ALFRED O. ENGLET

A tragedy that took away two young and prominent Montana business men and citizens occurred March 25, 1921, when an automobile overturned and instantly killed its two occupants, Alfred O. Englet of Lavina and Fred Sibley a rancher in the Emory country. In the death of Mr. Englet the Lavina community experienced a sense of irretrievable loss, since he had become widely and favorably known all over that section as a banker, and was really the active head of the Lavina State Bank. Mr. Englet had also shared in pioneer work in that section of Montana, having homesteaded, proved up and at the time of his death owned his claim in the Musselshell County. To a large extent the following facts regarding his family and life were obtained from Mr. Englet more than a year before his death and are therefore a reliable account of his interesting experiences.

He was born near St. Ansgar, Iowa, June 3, 1878. His father, Gregory Englet was born in Germany in 1826, was reared in his native country, served six years in the regular army, and came to the United States soon after his discharge. After some experiences elsewhere he located at Freeport, Illinois, was married in that state and in 1862 enlisted in the Union army in Company K of the seventy-first Illinois Regiment. He was on active duty until injured in the battle of Murfreesboro and for the greater part of his remaining service was confined to a hospital. He was a pensioner after the war and soon removed to Worth County in Northern Iowa, where he farmed and in 1880 moved to another farm in Hancock County, Iowa, where he spent the rest of his life. He died near Corwith in 1891. He was a republican, and an active member of the German-Evangelical Church and was also affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic.

Gregory Englet married Elizabeth Kehn, who was born in Germany in 1838 and died at Belmond, Iowa, in June, 1908. they were the parents of eleven children: Anna, a resident of Biggs, Oregon; George, a farmer living at Winlock, Washington; John, of Minneapolis; William, a baker who died at Fort Dodge, Iowa, at the age of twenty-six; Fred G., a passenger conductor with the Illinois Central Railway living at Chicago; Jacob, a farmer at Lavina, Montana; Joseph, a contractor and builder at Kanawha, Iowa; Edward, a farmer who died at Minot, North Dakota, at the age of thirty-four; Lou, a rancher at Lavina, Montana; Tillie, who died at the age of three years.

The youngest of his parents' family was the late Alfred O. Englet, who was not yet forty-three years of age when his energies were stilled by death. He was educated at Belmond, Iowa, graduating from the high school there in 1896. Following that he had a serious business training as clerk in stores at Belmond until 1903. In that year he went to Sawyer, North Dakota, and was manager of the local plant of the Rogers Lumber Company until January 7, 1907. for a few months following he was bill clerk for the Soo Railway at Glenwood, Minnesota, but during the panic in the fall of 1997 returned to Belmond, Iowa, to look after his mother who had been in ill healthy, and after her death he remained there until the spring of 1909.

Mr. Englet came to Lavina, Montana, May 26, 1909, and immediately filed on a homestead of 160 acres. His residence was on his claim until May, 1914, and he commuted it and made of it a valuable farm. While on the homestead in December, 1910, he entered the Lavina State Bank as assistant cashier. He was in its service continuously until April, 1916, when he removed from Lavina and became cashier of the Belmond State Bank. Then in June, 1919, he returned to the Lavina Bank as cashier and active head. This bank was established in April, 1909, as a private institution by D. W. Slayton, L. C. Lehfeldt, A. C. Bayers, H. J. Ries and L. Sandsmark. It was incorporated under a state charter in 1911, and has a working capital of $20,000, surplus and profits of $11,000, and deposits of $150,000. the bank home is at Main Street and First Avenue, and there was seldom a day when Mr. Englet was absent from his post of duty there.

However, he had other business interests, being vice president of the Lavina Consolidated Oil Company. He was president of the Lavina Commercial Club, served as school trustee of Lavina from 1912 to 1916 when he resigned to remove to Belmond. In politics he was a republican, and was Worshipful Master in 1918 of Lavina Lodge No. 107, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and was also affiliated with Billings chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons, and Miles City Council Royal and Select Masters, and was Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star, while Mrs. Englet was Worthy Matron. he was a delegate to the Grand Lodge of Masonry.

Mr. Englet and family lived in a modern house on First Avenue in Lavina. he married at Belmond, Iowa, October 25, 1899, Miss Sadie E. Cuppett. They were classmates and both graduated from the Belmond High School in 1896. Her parents were David L. and Lucretia (Hubbard) Cuppett, the latter now deceased. Her father is a retired business man and early settler of Belmond, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Englet became the parents of four children: Edward, born April 30, 1905; Harold, who died at the age of six months; Ruth E. born March 18, 1912; and Eileen, born April 17, 1915.

From an account of his tragic death which appeared in The Lavina Independent may appropriately be quoted a few sentences that voiced the general esteem felt for Mr. Englet: "The sudden death of Mr. Englet was a severe shock to the whole community as well as to his family. His work in the above named banks and in other offices he has held brought him in close touch with many individuals, most of whom were won to his friendship through his open heartedness and genial disposition. He had an enviable faculty of getting acquainted with people and making friends. he did not wait for those in need of a friend to seek him, but he sought them instead, and his friendship can be interpreted through his actions and work. The sentiment of 'let me live in the house by the side of the road, and be a friend to man,' found lodgment in his heart. he put it into practice and those many friends that he met beside the road will deeply mourn the death of Alfred Englet. he was a public-spirited citizen and an untiring booster in all things pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of the community. He was president and took an active part in the Lavina Commercial Club. He was a liberal supporter of the church and all forms of charity.