William B. Pyper Hill County History of Montana, Sanders, 1913 The present United States Commissioner at Havre, William B. Pyper, became a resident of Montana while it was yet a territory and has been identified with business and public affairs for many years. Born in Ontario, Canada, august 6, 1869, he was a son of George A. and Edith C. (Ball) Pyper, his paternal ancestry being Scotch and his forefathers on his mother's side were Hollanders who had emigrated to America about the time of the Mayflower voyages. George A. Pyper, the father, now deceased was born in Ontario, was a successful merchant and took an active part in political and public life. The mother, who was born in Ontario, where she still resides is a descendant of the old Loyalist stock whose members received grants to lands in America from the crown and about the time of the Revolution moved from the colonies to Canada. Judge Pyper, the second of three children, attended the public schools of Woodstock, Ontario until he was fourteen. From that time forward he has depended on his own resources for his advancement in life. On leaving school he was apprenticed to the druggists trade and served an apprenticeship of four years in Woodstock. In March 1888 he came to the United States, first locating in St. Paul but in the following September became a resident of Montana, which has been his permanent home, and the state above all others to which he gives his full loyalty. During the first year he was manager of the drug department for Churchill and Webster at Great Falls, and then became connected with a drug house in Missoula. In January 1899 after having spent some time in several towns and cities of this state, he came to Havre, and was first employed as clerk in the store of A.J. Broadwater and H.W. Stringfellow, but in January 1902, established a business of his own in this city. In 1904 Judge Knowles appointed Mr. Pyper to the office of U.S. commissioner, and at the time of taking up the duties of this position he sold his store and has since given practically all his time and ability to the office and other places of public honor and responsibility. In April 1904 he was elected police magistrate of Havre and the next fall was elected justice of the peace, an office to which he has been re-elected and fills at the present time. In 1902 he was also county coroner. At Havre on July 8, 1908 he was united in marriage to Miss May R. Sanderson, daughter of George T. Sanderson, a prominent citizen of Havre. Mr. and Mrs. Pyper are the parents of one child, Edith M., who was born in Havre, February 17, 1911.