Rudolph F.W. Molt
Yellowstone County
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

Self reliance, energy, honesty, all these traits of character 
have been instrumental in attaining for Rudolph F.W. Molt, of 
Billings, the remarkable measure of success which has attended 
his efforts but, more than anything else perhaps, credit must 
be given the resolution that has been bestowed on his operations 
and caused him to forge steadily forward in the face of all 
difficulties and discouragements.  The extent of the various 
enterprises in the sheep industry in Montana would no doubt 
prove a matter of astonishment to the residents of the eastern 
states and the magnitude with which this business has been 
carried on by many of the progressive citizens of this formerly 
barren country is probably unknown to the majority who have 
never visited the Treasure state.

Rudolph F.W. Molt is a native of the Fatherland, having been 
born in Klein Waabs, Germany, January 19, 1859 and is a son 
of Hans and Louisa (Witt) Molt.  Hans Molt spent his whole 
life in agricultural pursuits in his native country where he 
passed away at the age of sixty-six while his wife died when 
she was forty-nine.  They were the parents of seven children 
of whom two are now living, Rudolph and Emma, the latter the 
wife of Frederick Paulsen, living in Germany.

Rulplph F.W. Molt received a public school education in his 
native country and came to the United States in 1886.  In 
March of the following year he located at Billings and here 
secured employment as a sheep herder but in 1889 he engaged 
in the business on his own account, starting out in a small 
way and each year increasing the size of his flocks until 
he became one of the large sheep raisers in this part of 
Montana.

His ranch is located in the Lake Basin country, the scene of 
many years spent in the sheep and cattle business, where he 
witnessed both success and reverses and which holds for him 
many pleasant memories of the days he spent in the industry 
and there he still owns 30,000 acres of land.  He has lately 
disposed of his sheep cand cattle, as eighty per cent of 
this land is farm land, although he makes his home is No. 
318 South Twenty-ninth street.  Mr. Molt is one of those 
who proved that the advantages of personal advancement in 
connection with the industrial life of Montana do not lack 
for appreciation.

In 1894 Mr. Molt was married to Miss Alvina Lehfeldt, who 
was born at Dennison, Crawford County Iowa, a daughter of 
Rudolph and Mary (Witt) Lehfeldt.  To Mr. and Mrs. Molt 
have been born three daughters, Emma and Bertha, both 
attending high school and Alma, who died November 13, 
1910 at the age of nearly twelve.