Eugene Burford Braden
History of Montana, 1898
US Genweb Montana Archives

Eugene Burford Braden, manager of the U.S. Public Sampling 
Works at Helena, dates his birth at Indianapolis Indiana, 
May 12, 1864.

Mr. Braden is of Irish descent.  His great grandfather Braden 
was born in Ireland and emigrated from that country to this, 
settling in Pennsylvania.  On one side of his ancestry 
belonged the noted Robb family.  William Braden, the father 
of Eugene B. was born in Pennsylvania in 1820.  He married 
Miss Martha B. Burford, a native of Kentucky and on her mother's 
side a descendant of the old Virginia family of Ruckers.  
After their marriage he removed to Indiana and at Indianapolis 
in 1844 founded a blank book and publishing business, in which 
he continued until 1880 when his death occurred.  His widow is 
still living.  They had a family of four children, all of 
whom survive with the exception of the eldest.

Eugene Braden, the second son in the family was educated in 
Indianapolis and Kentucky and began life for himself as a 
railroader, first as ticket agent at Indianapolis. Next he 
was at San Francisco, general agent for the Manitoba road 
and afterward at Los Angeles as general agent for the Chicago 
and Northwestern.  To him belongs the distinction of having 
sold at Helena the first ticket and made the first waybill 
for the Great Northern Railroad.  In 1887 he was cashier of 
the Montana Central Railroad.  After this he went back to 
California but a year and a half later returned to Helena 
and since October 1890 has been with his brother in the 
U.S. Public Sampling Works occupying his present position.

The business consists in sampling ores and selling to the 
various smelters.  June 5, 1894 Mr. Braden received from 
President Cleveland the appointment of assayer in charge 
of the Helena U.S. Assay Office and took charge of the 
office during the succeeding month.

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