Thomas C. Bach

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

Thomas C. Bach, a prominent member of the bench and bar of 
Montana was born in Brooklyn New York, 
October 10, 1853 and is a descendent from English and Irish 
ancestors. His grandfather Robert Bach came 
from England to this country and settled on Long Island at 
an early day. He was there when the War of 1812 
began and when the attack was made on Long Island he joined 
the American forces and fought until the brave 
American army conquered the invading foe. He engaged 
successfully in the wholesale drug business and erected 
the first brick house in the city of Brooklyn. This building 
was afterward sold and finally passed into the 
hands of a charitable society and is now used as a home for 
aged and infirm women. He was married in Brooklyn 
to Miss Margaret Cowan, a native of Ireland. Their son, John 
Casnave Bach, the father of our subject, was born 
in Brooklyn in 1814. He married Elizabeth Nostrand who was 
born on Long Island in 1820. They had eleven children, 
eight of whom are still living. John C. Bach, like his father, 
was a druggist and both were members of the 
Episcopal Church. He died in 1885 in the seventy-first year of 
his age and his wife survived him two years, 
her death occurring in 1887 at the age of sixty-seven.

Judge Bach was the eighth child in his father's family, and 
when he was eight years old they removed to 
New York City where he was reared to manhood. He graduated 
in the Columbia College in 1875 with the degree 
of A.B. and in 1877 he completed his studies in the law 
department of the School of Arts graduating with 
the degrees of A.M. and LL.B. Immediately after his graduation 
he entered the office of Arnoux, Ritch and 
Woodford with whom he spent one year and after that was with 
the firm of Tenney and Aymar two years. 
The following two years he was engaged in the practice of his 
profession alone. In 1884 he came to Montana 
and after a short residence in Bozeman, formed a law partnership 
with Judge DeWitte of Butte where he 
remained until 1886. That year President Cleveland appointed 
him Judge of the Supreme Court of the Territory 
of Montana and upon receiving his appointment he came 
immediately to Helena where he has since resided. 
He held the office of Supreme Judge until 1889 when Montana 
was made a State. In 1892 he was elected a 
member of the State Legislature and was Chairman of the 
Judiciary Committee.

In 1889 he was married to Miss Kathryn Child, a native of 
San Francisco, California, and they have two 
children, Dorothy and Marjorie.


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