Lawrence Mulholland
Silver Bow County
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

One of the progressive citizens of Butte Montana whose 
position entitles him to mention in the history of this 
section of the state is Lawrence Mulholland, who has 
resided here for twelve years and is at present filling 
the office of city electrician of Butte.

Mr. Mulholland was born in Randolph County Illinois, 
May 14, 1864.  His father William Mulholland, came to 
the United States from Dublin, Ireland, his native city 
when a young man.  Some years after his arrival he 
entered a homestead in Randolph County Illinois, upon 
which he resided until his death.  He married Mary Stipe, 
a native of Westmoreland County, Virginia, who maternal 
ancestors, the Truman's settled in Virginia at an early 
day.  The Stipe family is of Dutch origin.  The elder 
Mulhollands were the parents of ten children.

Lawrence Mulholland spent his early boyhood days on the 
farm.  He attended the district schools of the county 
and the high school at Sparta, Illinois and subsequently 
became a student at the Carbondale normal College.  
After teaching two terms of school he decided to go west, 
arriving in Montana in 1887.  He at once went to work 
in the construction department of the Great Northern Railway 
Company, between Fort Buford and Fort Benton, later 
entered the electrical department of the same road and 
the next year entered the employ of the Northern 
Pacific Railway.

Upon attaining proficiency in the work, Mr. Mulholland was 
soon placed upon the regular staff of electrical workers 
on the railway's lines and until 1898 he remained in the 
employ of the Northern Pacific Railway Company, where he 
joined the rush to the Klondike region and spent nearly 
two years in prospecting and placer mining in the 
vicinity of Dawson.  On his return, in 1900 he immediately 
resumed his former position with the Northern Pacific 
Railway Company, in the electrical department, being 
employed in its various lines and at various places on 
the system between St. Paul Minnesota and Portland, 
Oregon.  It was in 1900 that he first made Butte his 
headquarters and he has been a resident of this city 
ever since that time.

In 1909 Mr. Mulholland left the employ of the Northern 
Pacific and engaged in telephone and electrical work in 
Butte, working as an electrician in the High Ore mine for 
more than a year, preceding his appointment as city 
electrician, May 1, 1911, which office he still holds 
and devotes his whole time to its attendant duties.  

On April 10, 1895, Mr. Mulholland married Miss Hattie 
MacKenzie, a native of Sparta, Illinois.  Two children 
have been born to them, the elder son dying in early 
infancy.  Kenneth, the surviving son, is a native of 
Butte, born July 20, 1902.