Samuel Thomas Hauser
Encyclopedia
Samuel Thomas Hauser was an American industrialist and banker who was active in the development of Montana Territory
. In addition to his many business interests, he was appointed the 7th Governor of the Montana Territory
, serving from 1885 to 1887.
on January 10, 1833. His early education occurred locally at the Chittenden School while his father, a judge and lawyer, and a cousin who had graduated from Yale University
overseeing his later education.
At the age of 19, Hauser went to work for the Kentucky Central Railroad. He then moved to Missouri
in 1854, where he worked as a civil engineer
for the railroads. He began as an assistant engineer for the Missouri Pacific
and Northern Pacific
railways and worked his way up to become chief engineer on the Lexington
to Sedalia
branch.
Hauser married Ellen Farrar of St. Louis in 1871. The marriage produced two children: Ellen and Samuel Thomas Jr.
from where he spent several months prospecting
before arriving at the mines in Bannack
later in the year. The next year his prospecting efforts took him down the Yellowstone River
. His efforts proved successful and within a few years he owned six silver mines. He also built coal mines and several silver smelters, including Montana Territory
's first smelter in Argenta.
In addition to his mining interests, Hauser developed a number of other business activities. In 1865 he joined with Nathaniel P. Langford
to establish a bank in Virginia City
. The next year, Hauser founded the First National Bank of Helena
. He later opened banks in Benton
, Butte
, and Missoula
. Hauser oversaw the build-out of the Utah and Northern Railway
within Montana Territory, and also acquired a large real estate portfolio in support of his mining and ranching interests.
In 1870, Hauser participated as a member of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition. He was also active in efforts to preserve the Yellowstone area and his lobbying efforts helped see the creation of the Yellowstone National Park
. Politically he was aligned with the Democratic Party
and served as a delegate to the 1884 Democratic National Convention
. Despite being a Democrat, Hauser's business influence was large within the territory that he even influenced the selection of Republican
appointees.
appointed him to the position on July 3, 1885. He took office on July 14 of the same year. During his term of office, his many business interests consumed much of his time and many of his duties as governor were delegated to his personal secretary.
As governor, Hauser was an advocate of Free Silver
and supported relocating the territory's indigenous population
to the Indian Territory
in order to free land for settlers. To appease cattle interests within the territory he appointed a territorial veterinary surgeon while, in an effort to constrain territorial spending, vetoed the establishment of a territorial insane asylum.
In order to free himself to concentrate on his business activities, Hauser submitted his resignation in December 1886. His last day in office came on February 7, 1887. Hauser died in Helena, Montana on November 10, 1914 and was buried in the Forestvale Cemetery.
Montana Territory
The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
. In addition to his many business interests, he was appointed the 7th Governor of the Montana Territory
Montana Territory
The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
, serving from 1885 to 1887.
Background
Hauser was born to Samuel Thomas and Mary Ann (Kennett) Hauser) in Falmouth, KentuckyFalmouth, Kentucky
Falmouth is a small city in Pendleton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,058 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pendleton County and is the meeting point of the South and Main forks of the Licking River.-Geography:...
on January 10, 1833. His early education occurred locally at the Chittenden School while his father, a judge and lawyer, and a cousin who had graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
overseeing his later education.
At the age of 19, Hauser went to work for the Kentucky Central Railroad. He then moved to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in 1854, where he worked as a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
for the railroads. He began as an assistant engineer for the Missouri Pacific
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
and Northern Pacific
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
railways and worked his way up to become chief engineer on the Lexington
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
to Sedalia
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...
branch.
Hauser married Ellen Farrar of St. Louis in 1871. The marriage produced two children: Ellen and Samuel Thomas Jr.
Montana
In early 1862, Hauser left his position with the railroads for Fort Benton, MontanaFort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established a full generation beforethe U.S...
from where he spent several months prospecting
Prospecting
Prospecting is the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource companies to find commercially viable ore...
before arriving at the mines in Bannack
Bannack, Montana
Bannack is a ghost town in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States, located on Grasshopper Creek, approximately upstream from where Grasshopper Creek joins with the Beaverhead River south of Dillon.-History:...
later in the year. The next year his prospecting efforts took him down the Yellowstone River
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, in the western United States. Considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri, the river and its tributaries drain a wide area stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of the Yellowstone National...
. His efforts proved successful and within a few years he owned six silver mines. He also built coal mines and several silver smelters, including Montana Territory
Montana Territory
The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
's first smelter in Argenta.
In addition to his mining interests, Hauser developed a number of other business activities. In 1865 he joined with Nathaniel P. Langford
Nathaniel P. Langford
Nathaniel Pitt Langford was an explorer, businessman, bureaucrat, vigilante and historian from St. Paul, Minnesota who played an important role in the early years of the Montana gold fields, territorial government and the creation of Yellowstone National Park.-Montana Gold Fields:On June 16, 1862...
to establish a bank in Virginia City
Virginia City, Montana
Virginia City is a town in and the county seat of Madison County, Montana, United States. In 1961, the town and the surrounding area was designated a National Historic Landmark District, the Virginia City Historic District...
. The next year, Hauser founded the First National Bank of Helena
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
. He later opened banks in Benton
Fort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established a full generation beforethe U.S...
, Butte
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, and Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
. Hauser oversaw the build-out of the Utah and Northern Railway
Utah and Northern Railway
The Utah and Northern Railway is a defunct railroad that was operated in the Utah Territory and later in the Idaho Territory and Montana Territory in the western United States during the 1870s and 1880s. It was the first railroad in Idaho and in Montana....
within Montana Territory, and also acquired a large real estate portfolio in support of his mining and ranching interests.
In 1870, Hauser participated as a member of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition. He was also active in efforts to preserve the Yellowstone area and his lobbying efforts helped see the creation of the Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
. Politically he was aligned with the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and served as a delegate to the 1884 Democratic National Convention
1884 Democratic National Convention
In 1884, the Democrats gathered in Chicago for their National Convention. The leading candidate for the nomination was New York Governor Grover Cleveland. Cleveland's reputation for good government made him a national figure. The Republican Party nominated James G. Blaine for president in 1884,...
. Despite being a Democrat, Hauser's business influence was large within the territory that he even influenced the selection of Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
appointees.
Governorship
Hauser became the first territorial resident to be appointed Governor of Montana Territory after President Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
appointed him to the position on July 3, 1885. He took office on July 14 of the same year. During his term of office, his many business interests consumed much of his time and many of his duties as governor were delegated to his personal secretary.
As governor, Hauser was an advocate of Free Silver
Free Silver
Free Silver was an important United States political policy issue in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Its advocates were in favor of an inflationary monetary policy using the "free coinage of silver" as opposed to the less inflationary Gold Standard; its supporters were called...
and supported relocating the territory's indigenous population
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
to the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
in order to free land for settlers. To appease cattle interests within the territory he appointed a territorial veterinary surgeon while, in an effort to constrain territorial spending, vetoed the establishment of a territorial insane asylum.
In order to free himself to concentrate on his business activities, Hauser submitted his resignation in December 1886. His last day in office came on February 7, 1887. Hauser died in Helena, Montana on November 10, 1914 and was buried in the Forestvale Cemetery.