Banking was an important aspect of any community and the name of Joseph A. Hyde, was prominent in the banking business. On January 10, 1895, it was announced in the Philipsburg Mail: “The annual election of officers of the First National Bank took place on Tuesday and resulted as follows: President, Joseph A. Hyde; Vice President, J.M. Merrell; Cashier, James H. King; Assistant cashier, Allan P. Bowie; Directors--Joseph A. Hyde, J.M. Merrell, James H. King, Dr. W.I. Power and Allan P. Bowie.”
Prior to this Hyde was associated with the Granite branch of the bank, which closed in 1893, and Hyde was associated with Freyschlag, Huffman & Co.’s store. On January 27, 1897: “Joseph A. Hyde, president of the First National Bank of Philipsburg, arrived from Deer Lodge last evening, and at once began the work of closing up the business of the First National, which will go into voluntary liquidation on February 10, with sufficient funds to meet all demands. As successors to the business of this institution, Mr. Hyde and Mr. King will at once open a private banking business, and will undoubtedly meet with success due them as business men of unusual ability. Mr. Hyde began the banking business in this city in January 1888, which he conducted as a private institution until January 1, 1892, when it was merged with the National Bank, with that gentleman as president, which honorable office he now fills. Mr. King has been the accommodating cashier of the First National Bank for a number of years, and by his close attention to business, together with his ability as financier, has assisted in making it one of the solid institutions of the state.”
The next reference I found on the front page was: “Notice to Depositors. Having decided to discontinue the banking business, all customers are requested to call for settlement. Hyde & King Bankers, Philipsburg, May 26, ’97, “, Citizen Call. In another column of the same edition, also on the front page was this article “Hyde and King, Bankers, have decided to go out of the banking business in Philipsburg. See notice to customers elsewhere in the Call.”
The first reference I found of the Joseph Hyde family was, “Born to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hyde, Deer Lodge, August 18, 1875, a daughter”, in the New Northwest, August 27, 1875. The Philipsburg Historic Walking Tour, states the Hyde Block, was built by Joseph and Mary Hyde, in 1888, and it housed the First National Bank, until the silver crash in 1893, which is in direct conflict with the previous articles, stating the bank closed in 1897.The Granite branch of the bank closed in 1893. Joseph Hyde died at his home in Seattle, September 25, 1921, according to word received by his niece Miss Clara D. McDonel.
Joe traveled from Missouri to Montana in 1866, on a river boat and settled in Helena, for four years. He then moved to Deer Lodge, where he managed a hardware store. Next, for three years, he managed a livery business, with the late H.G. Valiton. Then, moved to Butte, where he managed a hardware business for three years, after which he sold his interest and became president of the Miner Publishing Company. Two years later, he became Cashier, of the First National Bank of Butte and served in that position for five and one half years. In January 1888, he came to Philipsburg and opened a bank, which was later incorporated as the Joseph A. Hyde Banking Company. In 1892, this was succeeded by the First National Bank of Philipsburg, with Mr. Hyde as president. He was a large holder of real estate, in Deer Lodge County and owned considerable business property in Butte…Married in 1873, to Miss Mary Hammond, daughter of the late Mr. William and Jane Hammond of Philipsburg. Survivors were: three daughters: Mrs. Alfred Ayerest, Mrs. Wilbur Strange and Miss Elizabeth Hyde; two sons: Joseph A. Hyde Jr. and Thomas Hyde, all of Seattle. His lodge affiliations were the Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias and the I.O.O.F. After retiring from business in 1903, he and the family moved to Seattle.
There are two Hyde’s buried in the Philipsburg cemetery: E.B. “Doc” Hyde born November 19, 1852, died December 7, 1918 and Geo. W. Hyde born 1892, died 1939. E.B. (Doc) had a memorial written about him in the December 13, 1918, Philipsburg Mail. Following are the words used by F.D. “Sandbar” Brown in the eulogy. “If he accumulated no wealth it was because men of his type have no use for it...He envied the prosperity of no one. Of his means he gave help to the needy and without comment.”
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