Orren Emerson
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
May be copied for non-profit purposes.
USGENWEB Montana Archives

Judge Orren Emerson, County Treasurer of Deer Lodge County 
dates his arrival in Montana in June 1865, and for nearly 
three decades has been identified with its interests.
He is a native of the state of Maine, born June 21, 1831, 
a descendant of English ancestry. Daniel Emerson, his 
grandfather, emigrated from England to this country at an 
early day and settled in Maine, where the Judge's father 
Samuel Emerson was born in 1789. Samuel Emerson married 
Fanny Parlan, also a native of Maine and they reared their 
family and spent their lives in that state. Eight of their 
ten children are still living, Orren being their third-born. 
The father died in 1849 at the age of sixty years, and the 
mother passed away in 1875, at the age of seventy.

Judge Emerson grew up on his father's farm in Maine, and 
received his early education in the common schools, 
attending school during the winter only. When he reached 
his majority he started out in life for himself. For two 
years he was employed in sawmill work in the state of New 
York. Then, in 1854 he went to California, making the 
journey by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, and for 
eight years thereafter followed the fortunes of a miner 
in the Golden State. Next we find him in Boise City Idaho 
where he remained two years mining nd also doing a blacksmith 
business, having a partner in the latter.

In 1865, the subject of our sketch arrived in Montana. He 
brought with him a blacksmith outfit, came by way of Walla 
Walla, and first located at Elk Creek and later at Blackfoot 
City, carrying on the blacksmith business at both places. 
In those days he received good prices for his work. For 
making am miner's pick he got $16 and for shoeing a horse 
$12. From Blackfoot City he removed his business in 1867 to 
Phillipsburg, where he purchased property and built both a 
residence and shop and where he met with great prosperity. 
He also engaged in quartz mining successfully for an] number 
of years and while there was one of the discoverers of the 
Speckled Trout Mine and of the Poor Man and he owned an 
interest in the Princetown. He parted his interest in these 
mines for a few thousand dollars and they afterward yielded 
large dividends.

In 1870 Mr. Emerson came to Deer Lodge. Here he soon 
afterward engaged in business which he successfully 
carried on for a number of years. On one occasion 
while prospecting in the mountains he had the misfortune 
to lose his right arm, the result of an accidental 
discharge from his rifle. Finding himself thus disabled 
he turned his attention to the study of law and in 1890 
was admitted to the bar. At that time he was elected 
Probate Judge of the county in which capacity he served 
efficiently for six consecutive terms of two years each, 
and in 1892 he was elected to his present office , that of 
County Treasurer.

Judge Emerson was married some years ago to Miss Elizabeth 
Vestal, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Taylor Hughes of 
that state.

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