Samuel Word History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 USGENWEB Montana Archives,maintained by burns@asu.edu Samuel Word, Helena, Montana, is one of the most prominent pioneers of the State. He is a native of Kentukcy, born in Barboursville, Knox County, January 19, 1837. His ancestors came to this country from Scotland and were among the early settlers of South Carolina, previous to the American Revolution. From two brothers who came from Scotland and settled in South Carolina, sprang the stock of Words scattered through Virginiaand most of the other Southern States. His more immediate ancestors settled in Virginia and Tennessee. William Word,Samuel's father, was born in Powell's valley, Tennessee, in 1808. He went with his father and family to Knox County,Kentucky where he was reared and where he married Susan Boyd Banton, and where their son Samuel was born. William Word afterward resided for a number of years in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky and in 1856 removed from thereto Kansas thence to St. Joseph Missouri where his death occurred, in the seventy-third year of his age. His wife survived him a few years, when she passed away, also at about the age of seventy-three. Both were devout christians and firm believers in the teachings of Alexander Campbell. By occupation Mr. Word was a farmer, and at one time alsoowned and operated a tannery.Their son Samuel early developed a taste for the study of law, and read in the office of Andrew J. James, afterward Attorney-General of the state of Kentukcy. While reading law young Word began to feel the need of a higher education.In order to obtain the funds with which to secure a college education he engaged in school teaching, meanwhile keeping up his law studies. After this he entered Bethany College, Virgniia, where he remained until his health failedand he returned home. After recuperating for a while, he entered the office of Silas Woodson, of Missouri, afterward Governor of that State and under his instructions continued the study until August 1858. At that time he obtained a license to practice law and enetered upon his professional career at Oregon Holt County, Missouri where he became a partner of Colonel James Foster of that place. While he was successfully engaged in the practice of law there he became acquainted with the daughter of his partner, Sarah Margaret Foster, to whom he was married. She was born in Clay County, Missouri, a descendant of Irish and Scotch ancestry, her father being a native of Ireland and her mother,nee Hannah J. Thompson, of Scotch descent.Soon after his marriage Mr. Word set out for Idaho Territory and landed at Alder Gulch in the summer of 1863, and there engaged in placer mining. Alder Gulch at that time was the Mecca of everyone who had heard of its golden wealth.Hundreds of miners were working day and night in this gulch. Mr. Word, however, did not continue his mining operations long, but turned his attention to the practice of his profession in Virginia City as Alder Gulch was afterward called. A year later he returned to Missouri, settled up his affiars there, and again made the trip to Virginia City, this time being accompanied by his wife. Since that date, he has been a resident of Montana and his professional career here has been one of eminent success. He has become especially noted as a criminal lawyer. It has been said of him by another that he detested the quibbles and technicalities of the law, but hadhigh and profound respect for justice. He has been known to enter upon the prosecution of an alleged criminal with the proviso that should he through the course of the trial become convinced of the innocence of the prisonerhe would be allowed to withdraw from the case. As an orator, Mr. Word has great power and appears at his best before a large audience, where his eloquence rises with the occasion and holds his hearers spellbound.In 1865 Governor Edgerton appointed Mr. Word Prosecuting Attorney for an unexpired term for the First Judicial District of Montana. After serving his time he was elected for the suceeding term of two years. For nine years he was the counsel for the Union Pacific Railroad Company.It was Mr. Word who conceived the project of putting the famous Drum Lummon Mine on the market. He secured its saleto an English syndicate. To the judgement and ability of Mr. Word, Mr. Jefferson Lowrey and Mr. Mallory is due thecredit of giving an impetus to the mining industry of the Territory in 1884-5 their efforts gaining for it a world-wide reputation and bringing to the Territory a vast amount of wealth to be utilized in the develoment of her mines, thus affording employment to thousands.To Mr. Word also largely belongs the development of the coal industry in Montana. The people of the Territory had for years relied upon the forests for their fuel and no effort had been made to prospect the country for coal, goldand islver mining being the all absorbing industry. Mr. Word and Hon. Walter Cooper came into possession of the Rocky Fork coal fields and immediately set to work to utilize them. They succeeded in securing the co-operation of the following gentlemen: Samuel T. Hayser, Henry Villard, Thomas F. Oakes, James L. Platt and James B. Hubbell. They secured the building of a railroad fifty miles in length from Laurel on the Northern Pacific road to Red Lodge, where the coal fields are located. Thus a new industry was opened up and there sprung into existence large energies directed in a channel hitherto undeveloped in Montana. Since then other coal fields have been opened up and are being occupied.Mr. Word has all his life been identified with the Democratic party, has been an active worker in its ranks and through his earnestness and eloquence has done much to bring victory to his party in Montana.Mr. and Mrs. Word have four children: William, born in 1862, married Alice Cowan of St. Joseph Missouri; RobertLee, born in 1866, is a graduate of the Law Department of the Columbia College, New York, Charles F., born in 1871 is a graduate of Yale College, and May, the only daughter was born in 1875. Their home, which Mr. Word hadbuilt in accordance with his own ideas, is the embodiment of elegance and luxury, the grounds, the edifice and the furnishings all combinbing to make an ideal home. Mr. Word is one of Montana's best citizens, one of her ablest lawyers and one of her most genial and social gentlemen. He has not only accumulated a fine fortune, but what is best he is also liberal with it and with it makes others happy and knows how to enjoy it himself.This brave pioneer has well earned and richly deserves his prosperity and it is pleasant to know that while hehas done so much to develop the resources of the great state in which he has so long resided that she has returnedto him such ample reward. 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. 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