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.