John S. Tooker History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 USGENWEB Montana ArchivesMay be copied for non-profit purposes. John S. Tooker of Helena Montana, is a native of the state of New York, born in Seneca County, January 7, 1835.Mr. Tooker descended from the English and Dutch, his ancestors being among the earliest settlers of America. His father, Rev. Ellflit Tooker, a Baptist minister, was born in Rhode Island; his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Smith was a native of Seneca County New York a descendant of one of the early Dutch families that settled in that state. They had a family of ten children, of whom only four are now living. The mother passed away in 1840, and the father survived her until 1853.John S. Tooker, being left an orphan at an early age, was reared from his fifth year by his brothers. They removed to Lansing Michigan when the capital was located there, and at that place the subject of our sketch received his earlytraining and served an apprenticeship in a foundry and machine shop. He grew up with the city and became one of her most successful manufacturers.In 1856 he reached his majority and being a lover of liberty and a hater of oppression, and believing that human slavery was a great stain on the republic, he espoused the cause of the Free-soil party and cast his first presidentialvote for General John C. Fremont. Although he was sneered at for supporting Fremont, young Tooker had the courage to stand by his convictions. When the Republican Party was founded, he became prominent in that movement and aided in its organization. when Fort Sumter was fired upon his patriotism was roused to a high pitch but his business relations prevented, as he thought, his participation in the war. The following year, however, the country's need became so greatthat he entered into an engagement with his partners, promising to pay them $5 a day while he was absent and in October 1862, we find his name enrolled among the list of volunteers. He went out as a member of Company G, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, having entered the service as a private. He was soon afterward made Orderly Sergeant. With his regiment he followed the fortunes of the war for a year and nine months, fighting with all his might in the same line he had voted. His horse falling when he was on it resulted in a severe sprain which disabled him from active duty and his brave career was ended by his honorable discharge in March 1864. He returned to Lansing Michigan and as soon as he had sufficiently recovered he resumed business. His business grew to large proportions and ere long he became one of the most prominent men in the city.Upon first coming to Montana, Mr. Tooker interested himself considerably in mines and mining with varied success and has still valuable mining property. He is now Clerk and Recorder of Lewis and Clarke County to which positionhe has been elected three times in succession. All the business of the county goes through his office and has his best attention.October 5, 1858 Mr. Tooker married Emma L. Hayes, a native of Farmington, Michigan, a daughter of Dr. W.H. Hayes. Her father is one of the prominent men of Michigan, being now a resident of Lansing. He is a Methodist minister, an ex-mayor of Lansing and has served as a member of the State Legislature. Mrs. Tooker died in 1869, leaving an only son, Clyde J., now a businessman in Montana. In 1873 Mr. Tooker married at Lansing, Agnes Edwards, a native of Fort Plain, New York and a daughter of C.T. Edwards, a well-known citizen of Lansing. 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.