William B. Raleigh History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 USGENWEB Montana Archives May be copied for non-profit purposes. William B. Raleigh, one of Helena's most prominent and successful dry-goods merchants, is a member of the well- known firm of Raleigh and Clarke. He was born near Dover, Tennessee, October 27, 1846. Some of his ancestors emigrated from England to this country at an early day and settled in Maryland, where James Raleigh, the father of William B was born. James Raleigh married Margaret W. Bailey, a native of Tennessee. He was engaged in steamboating and made his home in Tennessee up to the time of his death which occurred in 1848. Besides a widow, he left three daughtersand one son. This son, William B. was then 2 years old. His mother reared her family and lived to a good old age,her death occurring in 1888.In 1866 Mr. Raleigh began his mercantile career as a clerk in a store at St. Joseph Missouri. In 1869 he became a member of the firm of Bailey, Kay and Company (afterward Bailey, Townsend & Company), wholesale dry- goods dealers with which he was connected for nine years, and during that time became thoroughly acquainted with the quality and cost of goods and all the details of the dry-goods business. Disposing of his interest in that establishment, he and a partner opened five retail stores in different localities, every one of which proved a success. In 1878 he sold out and came to Helena, and it was soon after his arrival here that the firm of Raleigh & Clarke opened up the largest dry-goods establishment in the city of Helena. During all these years, from 1878 up to the present time, it has held its leading position as the best house of the kind. Their large store is well filled with choice goods and an air ofneatness pervades the whole establishment. They do both a wholesale and retail business and an important feature of their store is their mail order department, goods being sent to parties in distant towns. Mr. Raleigh's mercantile enterprises are not confined to Helena alone. He is president of the Gallatin Valley Mercantile Company, which has a fine store and stock at Bozeman. He is also connected with the leading dry-goods house at Great Falls, the firm name being W.B. Raleigh & Company. Mr. Raleigh was married in St. Louis Missouri, November 1, 1871 to Medora T. Clarke, daughter of Albert G. Clarke, one of Helena's most respected pioneer merchants and the senior member of the firm of Clarke and Curtin. Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh have four children: Susie B., Albert C., Margaret E., and Walter W. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.