John D. Kennedy

A person known for his sharp business sense, as an entrepreneur and rancher was J.D. Kennedy. He does not attain pioneer status as he came to the area about the time the county was formed. Born, John Douglas Kennedy to Dougald Kennedy and Roselia M. (Enk) Kennedy on December 22, 1863, at Farmington, Wisconsin, he was known as J.D. 

J.D., attended public schools in Polk County, Wisconsin then Saint Paul Business College in Minnesota. His first job was as a purser on a steamer on the Mississippi. He then engaged as a steam thresher in Fargo, North Dakota. J.D. left the threshing business and moved to Montana in 1888. 

The earliest reference found is this comment in the January 18,1894, Philipsburg Mail: “J.D. Kennedy, the contractor has gone east on a visit.” He was licensed as a Stationary Engineer Second Class, December 2, 1889, for Steam Engines and worked in this capacity at Southern Cross, the Wyman Mill on Marshall Creek, Gold Coin, and then Granite and Philipsburg until 1896. 

J.D. then bought a ranch south of Philipsburg on Spring Creek. This ranch was sold to H.A. Featherman on March 29, 1919 for $40,000.00. The family then bought the Boge place just north west of town, south of Duffy’s. J.D. also operated The Philipsburg Transfer Line, with a partner C. F. Scherning and started a stage line between Philipsburg and Harvey Creek District. The major hauling was done between Philipsburg and Quigley during the town’s short life. 

 The September 23, 1898, Mail, stated “J.D. Kennedy received during the week from Chicago several brilliantly cut sapphires. The stones were taken out of his claim on the West Fork of Rock Creek.” Then in the November 11, 1898, Philipsburg Mail was the statement: “J.D. Kennedy is making preparations for departure to Wisconsin, where he will engage in contracting.” 

On November 18, 1898 the official vote count for Sheriff of Granite County was announced with George Metcalf of the Silver Republican Party 678 votes and incumbent Finley J. McDonald of the Daly Democratic Party 672 votes. Next, the December 2, Mail stated F. J. McDonald was contesting the results. Shortly thereafter, the headlines read “George Metcalf is Sheriff.” 

Then the December 30, issue read, “Mr. John D. Kennedy has been appointed Under-Sheriff by Sheriff George Metcalf.” That same paper contained a short comment, “J.D. Kennedy returned from a several weeks visit to his old home in Avery, Wisconsin.” Obviously the appointment to Under-Sheriff had changed his mind about remaining in Wisconsin. 

During the year of 1899, statements appear in January and July that discussed J.D. Kennedy as under-sheriff and announced that “Jack” was now the “possessor of a handsome Cleveland bicycle” and a trotting horse, “…indications appear that he intends to be ahead of the procession and deal out speedy justice.” Then a headline, November 24, 1899, reads “Captured at Last” and the article described how “Under Sheriff J.D. Kennedy was married last Tuesday evening at Omro, Wisconsin to Miss Anna Anderson…Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are expected here sometime next week, when a lively reception will be tendered them.” The next issue reads “Under Sheriff J.D. Kennedy arrived on Wednesdays train from Wisconsin accompanied by his bride.” 

The June 15, 1900, edition of the Mail, announced: “Twenty eight head of horses were sold to Under-Sheriff J.D. Kennedy from Mr. Wm. Hanson, of Lower Willow Creek--He is leaving for Nome (Alaska).” F.J. McDonald was returned to the office of Sheriff in 1902. 

The next mention of interest in public office was in 1904 when J.D. was nominated by the Republican Party for Sheriff. Headlined on the front page of the Philipsburg Mail ,November 4, was the statement: “What he will do if elected sheriff. J.D. Kennedy, Republican candidate for sheriff, pledges himself, if elected, to give police protection to every citizen of Granite County, the rich and the poor alike. The rancher, the merchant or the private citizen will be assured the same protection as the rich corporation. Mr. Kennedy further pledges that he will employ a deputy only when actually necessary and when he does the people will know that he is earning his salary. He will send him out to patrol the county on horseback when there is nothing to do and make the business of stock rustling less profitable. Mr. Kennedy, when Under-Sheriff did work along this line and he is the only officer in Granite County who ever did.” 

He lost the election to F. J. McDonald, by 161 votes. Nominated again by the Republican Party, for Sheriff in 1906 J.D. won the election against Robert McDonel a Democrat, by 150 votes.                                               

In 1908 the nomination for Sheriff was again J.D. Kennedy. This time he beat David H. Morgan the Democrat by 210 votes. During this election there was a lot of mud slinging and I found where Mr. Morgan previously had worked as the jailer with knowledge of one of his prisoners working under the jail floor as evidenced by his own admission. This lead to a jail break after the following arrest was made. “Sheriff Kennedy returned from Butte Wednesday bringing two boarders for the county jail. They are Sam Gohlson and Frank Turner, charged with stealing four horses from the range in the upper valley known as “Porter ridges”. Two of the animals taken are the property of Sheriff Kennedy, one belongs to the Hickey brothers and one to the Quinlan brothers of upper Rock Creek.” The Anaconda Sheriff Fleming was in Butte and saw a black horse that he knew belonged to Kennedy. When he began questioning why the Sheriff’s horse was in Butte, he found that three men in the Butte jail had horses stabled at Sloan’s livery stable. Fleming telephoned Kennedy and found that the horse had been stolen. The men had forged bill of sales on their person and were turned over to Sheriff Kennedy to be prosecuted in Granite county. 

The next event was on January 17, 1909 when four men, dug a hole through the jail wall. “The fugitives were Clarence Black, Sam Gholson and Frank Lalonde (alias Turner), awaiting trial on charges of horse stealing, and Herbert Porter, serving a jail sentence for stealing an overcoat.” The newspaper detailed how: “Sheriff Kennedy and Under-Sheriff Scott, assisted by friends, started in pursuit as soon as the prisoners were missed, and by the aid of lanterns were able to track them and learn the direction in which they had gone. Two of the men wore high-heeled cowboy boots which left plain imprints in the snow.” The trail went past the electric light plant, down the railroad tracks to Schoonover’s land and into Durfee’s Lane. At about midnight Sheriff Kennedy got on horseback and followed the trail from the slaughter house past Hermanson’s place but by the time he got to the top of the hill such a storm was blowing that all signs of the trail were lost. After searching all the known cabins down Sluice Gulch to the Mungas Mill he returned to the jail and notified surrounding law enforcement of the escape.” 

They again set out searching on Monday morning, to no avail. “Toward evening George Higley, a lad of about 18 years of age, came in from the Crawshaw place in Antelope Basin and notified the sheriff that the four men were hiding there.” Apparently, Sam Gohlson had worked at the Crawshaw place the past fall, so knew the area well and when the four men showed up about 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, they found young George there alone. Monday afternoon he [George Higley] could not endure to stay there any more so he made an excuse that he had promised to stay with a neighboring boy that night and would have to go. After promising “hard and faithfully” not to say a word to anyone about their presence he was permitted to leave. He rode straightway to town and told the sheriff. The sheriff left at once with D.A. McLeod and Forest Ranger Harry Morgan, arriving at the area about eleven p.m. that night. They stayed at the Breen ranch until daylight then surrounded the ranch house and: “…called for them to come out. They complied reluctantly and emerged, several of them but partially clad. An inspection of the cabin disclosed a double barrel shotgun loaded and ready to use and two rifles not loaded. One of the guns was lying in one of the bunks apparently between two of the men while they slept. All of the guns belonged to the ranch. A team was procured from the Breen Ranch and the captives were brought to town arriving at the jail about 1 pm.” 

 All the defendants plead not guilty on March 2, 1909, with a trial date set for March 8, 1909. Before the trial, Lalande, Gholson, and Black changed their plea to guilty and were sentenced to three years in Deer Lodge Prison. Porter saw the wisdom of not going to trial over the jail break and plead guilty to stealing the overcoat for a sentence of six months in Deer Lodge. 

The jailbreak created a lot of controversy. A picture in the Tex Crowley collection shows a pseudo hanging of four stuffed figures dangling from nooses attached to the light poles at Broadway and Sansome Street, which was a public response related to the above event.

 In 1911, after his last term as sheriff, J.D. bought the Clawson Brother’s steam threshing machine, from Hall. Frequent mention is made in the newspaper that fall and the ensuing years when the threshing machine came through town. 

J.D. joined the Progressive or Bull Moose Party (instituted by Theodore Roosevelt) in 1912 and became a candidate for Representative in the Montana Legislature. Everyone on the ticket was defeated and he again returned to his business enterprises.

J..D. continued to earn a decent living as an article in the Philipsburg Mail, January 3, 1913, listing paid taxes for 1912 has “J.D. Kennedy $249.93.” 

The August 18, 1916 Mail published an ad “For County Commissioner, J. D. Kennedy .” John F. Shoblom also ran on the Republican ticket. The November 17, 1916 Mail, published the Official Count of Votes Cast on November 7, 1916 as John Kaiser Democrat with 728 and John D. Kennedy Republican with 725 giving Kaiser a plurality of three votes. John again returned to his business enterprises. 

A search through the family papers demonstrates they were very complex and he was an astute business man. Multiple loans, mining interests, oil interests and property deeds are evident and it is apparent that a large amount of property was acquired by making loans to individuals. The loan was secured by property such as lots, homes or mining claims. When the individual did not satisfy the obligation the property was foreclosed on. A record in 1907 showed interest in the following mining claims: “Old Tex, Sheriff, Montana, New Hope and Under Sheriff” all with Florian Winninghoff, W.C. Scott and Paul Scott. The claims are described as Gold, Silver and copper veins. In 1918 J.D. received “The Old Crow” as collateral for a loan with no indication the loan was repaid. 

The names of numerous ranchers are included in his loan papers and a payment schedule meticulously kept of all payments and interest owed. From researching these records it appears that many ranches in the area would not be in operation today if J.D. had not seen fit to assist them in their finances. One page copied from the Clerk and Recorder record in the family documents, lists thirty deeds of property for Anna and J.D. Kennedy . 

 J.D. ran for office again in 1922 as a Republican for Granite County Representative in the State’s Legislature and won. He was re-elected to this position in November 1924 and was Chairman of the Committee on Corporations. In 1926, J.D. was a candidate again on the Republican ticket for Senator to the Montana Legislature from Granite County. He won the General Election against Democrat, John R. Page and served a term of four years. An important document in the family records, is the engraved invitation from Governor of Montana, J. E. Erickson appointing J.D. to the State Reception Committee “on the occasion of the visit of Colonel Charles Lindbergh to Helena, Montana on September 6, 1927.”

Business obviously continued to be productive even while J.D. was serving as a legislator. His 1927 assessed taxes were $407.38, compared to American Gem Mining Syndicate’s assessment of $262.32. 

During the late 1920’s, John was President of the Anaconda Petroleum Corporation. This was composed of Anaconda, Maxville and Philipsburg investors.. It is unknown what happened with the final outcome of this venture. 

 At the end of his first term as State Senator, J.D. was again nominated by the Republican Party for the office of State Senator and lost to John R. Page a Democrat. John then focused all of his energy on his many business ventures. 

J.D. ran for State Senator of the Republican Party again in 1934 and was again defeated by John R. Page: Next was the purchase of the old brewery from John Knoch (previously Kroger’s Brewery) and the capital stock of the corporation was to be 1000 shares “at a par value of $100 each” announced the Philipsburg Mail, February 12, 1936. The President and Director was S.L. Proven of Missoula with other directors being: “J.D. Kennedy of Philipsburg, W.E. Keeley and Thomas O. Collins of Deer Lodge and H.I. Goble of St. Ignatius. Clyde J. Neu of Philipsburg was named secretary-treasurer…They expect to have beer on the market by early spring”. Whether this was a money making venture is not known. J.D. did ultimately own the property. 

 The next major undertaking that J.D. is credited with was the petitioning and development of a stable banking system in Philipsburg. The end result was the Flint Creek Valley Bank. Demonstrating J.D.’s continued financial acumen is the fact that he was still a Director and re-elected President of the bank, just weeks before his death at the family home on March 13, 1949.

All banks were having large problems during the 1920’s and 1930’s and Philipsburg was no exception. In 1921: “…more than one in three of Montana’s banks had closed-a total of 191-and their depositors had lost about $30,000,000 in four years. The banks of the financial centers were so full of money that interest rates had to be cut to get it into circulation….but half of the farmers and ranchers of Montana had gone bankrupt for lack of a little credit. Evidence that local banking, was virtually non-existent by late 1930, is evident in the checkbooks possessed by J.D. One is for the Deer Lodge Bank and the other one is for Montana State Bank in Butte. 

A four page document on legal sized paper is present in the family possessions that was the original petition J.D. circulated to establish a bank. The original petition reads as : Philipsburg, Montana October 26, 1939 To Whom it May Concern: We the undersigned residents of Philipsburg and Granite County, having a high regard for the community in which we live and in which we make our living, feel that it is entitled to and will support the business institutions essential to its progress and well being. We feel a sound and substantial banking institution owned and operated by people interested in the progress and welfare of our community is essential to our well being. We deplore the fact that Granite County with its varied forms of wealth, its numerous assets and its splendid citizens is now entirely without banking facilities. It is our conviction that Granite County can easily support one or more strong banks and we pledge our whole hearted support to any good banks whose owners and operators will establish a bank within our county and who will undertake earnestly to serve the county in a manner which the community has a right to expect consistent with sound banking practices. Signed: H.A. Featherman, Fred Coward, J.C. Penny C. by (??) Wainscott, A.J. Murray, Philipsburg Grocery, Frank Conley, Winninghoff Motors, Safeway Store, ? Hyder, Granada Theatre by F. Horrigan, Geo. Hayworth, A.G. Haverty Contractor, Doe’s Drug Store by M .E .Doe, Chas. L. Everhard, Goody Shop by Mrs. H. Kaiser, Gambles by J. Beretta, Panama Pool Hall by A.D. Stoddard, Economy Grocery, White Front Bar, J.D. Kennedy (rancher),Frank M?, Philipsburg Laundry, Joe J. Gillies (rancher),Kelly’s Variety Store, Sweet Palace, The Corner Bar, Courtney Hotel, Philipsburg Hardware, Huffman Grocery by R. Huffman, City Meat Market, G. Franchino, J.C. Harrah, C.A. Metcalf, ? Edgar (Commissioner), R.D. Metcalf, Jenkins Garage, James Keating for the Banquet Café, Midget Lunchroom by Addington, Silver Tavern by George McKee, E.T. Irvine, Grogan Robinson Lumber, Allen McKenzie, W.F. Bentz (rancher), A.C. Knight M.D., Vatis Page, R.C. Shaver Jr. DDS, Fan Cole Sullivan, Wilson Funeral Home, F.A. Tinklepaugh, Walter Steber, F. E. McDougal, L.B. Manning, Edison W. Kent Attorney, Doris E. Hoehne, Arthur Taylor, Jake Polich, W. L. Degenhart, C.J. Hansen, C.C. Edwards(rancher), Ralph L. McLeod, Erick V. Johnson (rancher),Edward Rodda (rancher),A. Budel (rancher), J.W. McDonald (rancher),Geo. Sutherland(rancher), Olaf Sandin (rancher), J. and H. Shoblom (ranchers),Henry Wyman (rancher), G.A. Schoonover (rancher), Dad’s Lunch by D. Phillips, Wallace McPhities, Sid Willis (rancher),C.H. Degenhart (rancher), G. Miltenberger, Myrtle Miltenberger, Ed Sanders (farmer),J.C. Yob, Town Grocery by L.M. Wanderer, Peter Mungas, W.E. Metcalf, Frank Waldbillig (rancher), Joe S. Porter, P.W. Merrifield (rancher),K. Hannah (rancher),A.E. Clure (rancher) W.H. McClain, David T. Bowen (rancher), A. S. Webb (rancher), James Foley (rancher). 

All the ranchers designated themselves as ranchers except Ed Sanders states farmer and W.H. McClain did not identify his occupation. 

The April 12, 1940, Philipsburg Mail stated: The new bank is incorporated with capital belonging entirely to local persons and local business concerns, so that any and all profits earned and all advantages and conveniences returned by the new business venture will be enjoyed altogether by the residents and business concerns of the Flint Creek Valley and Granite County. 

An engraved “Year End Message of Thanks and Our report of Condition” dated “at the close of business December 31, 1940.” shows $339,010.13 in Resources and Liabilities and lists the officers as: H.A. Featherman, President, R.D. Metcalf, Vice-president, B.G. Paige, Cashier and Clarence Superneau, Assistant-cashier. The Board of Directors were: H.A. Featherman, R.D. Metcalf, B.G. Paige, John Rodda and J.D. Kennedy. 

 By December 31, 1948, the resources and Liabilities were listed as $1,583,270.89, with the Officers listed as J.D. Kennedy, President, A.J. Murray, Vice-president, BG. Paige, Cashier, Gemma Mazza, Assistant-cashier and W.C. Bowen, Assistant-cashier. The Directors were: J.D. Kennedy, A.J. Murray, E.V. Johnson, J.H. Mellen and B.G. Paige. 

 The above has been renamed Granite Mountain Bank