Michael A. Flanagan
History of the State of Montana, by Joaquim Miller, 1894 

M.A. Flanagan, a druggist and the Postmaster at Fort Benton, 
came to Montana in 1866.
 
He was born in Dubuque, Iowa, January 6, 1841, a son of 
Matthew and Mary (McNarama) Flanagan, natives of Ireland 
who came to America, married in New York, settled upon a 
farm in Iowa and for several years, in addition to farming, 
the father was a contractor and a builder of highways. 
They had two children: Mary, now the wife of Hon. T.C. 
Power; and Michael A., whose name introduces this sketch. 
The father died in the fifty-sixth year of his age and the 
mother at the age of sixty-five years, both devout 
adherents of the Catholic faith and people of the highest 
respectability. 

Michael A., the eldest child, was educated in the public 
schools of Dubuque and at Sinsinawa Mound College in 
Wisconsin; was in the grocery business in Dupbque, Iowa 
for two years, and then allured by the gold excitement 
in Montana, crossed the plains and arrived at Virginia 
City Montana in July 1866; after about one and a half 
years'sojourn between Virginia City and Helena he came 
to Fort Benton. At first here for a number of years he 
was in the employ of T.C. Power and Brother as their 
bookkeeper. In 1875 he started out in the drug business
 being the pioneer in that line in Fort Benton and has 
continued in it ever since, having a successful trade. 
In addition to drugs and patent medicines, he deals also 
in paints and oils. 

Mr. Flanagan has been an intelligent Republican all his life 
and in 1880 received the appointment of Postmaster and has 
now held that position for more than twelve years, giving 
perfect satisfaction. He has financially succeeded in 
business; has a ranch near the city and real estate within 
the corporate limits and has built both his store 
building and a good residence, which is one of the 
pleasantest homes in Fort Benton. Mr. Flanagan is a 
gentleman who has attended strictly to his own business 
and has never sought office or desired it. He has always 
taken an active part, however, in the public enterprises 
of the town, is enterprising and liberal and he and his 
family are highly esteemed by the entire community in 
which they have so long been active and respected citizens. 

Mr. Flanagan was married in 1873 to Elizabeth V. McKinley, a 
native of Philadelphia, Pa., and the daughter of John 
McKinley of Dubuque Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan have 
four children: M. Genevieve, Grace, Virginia and Frank 
T. Both parents are active and prominent members of the 
Catholic Church. Mrs. Flanagan has had much to do with 
the erection of the church edifice and in fact has been 
identified with all its growth and prosperity. 


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