The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-07-04
Great Falls MOurns the Death of One
Of Her Foremost Citizens
j. Stewart Tod.
Cut Down in the Prime of Life and
just at the Beginning of his
Life-wOrk.
Resolutions of Respect Passed by the
Rainbow Cuba Brief Sketch
Of His Life.

"In the midst of life we are in death"
How applicable is that famous Biblical
quotation to the history of Great Falls for
the 9th of June, 1891. Everyone in this
city cannot but voice that sentiment to-
day. A few days ago and one Of the
leading and foremost citizens of the city
walked the streets attending to the af-
fairs of life in the full strength of a Wig
orous manhood; today he lies in the cold
embrace of death,
''The quiet haven of us all"
Only four days between a healthy,
active life and the quiet serenity of
death. What a blow it was to his nu-
merous friends in this city and vicinity
when they learned yesterday morning
that J. Stewart Tod was no more. They
could hardly credit the report until they
read In the morning paper the dreaded
news, then skepticisin had to give way
to truth.
Yesterday was a sad day in Great
Falls, especially in business circles.
Though the sun shown bright for the
first time in several days the brilliancy
was unable to penetrate the pail that
had settled on the hearts of the de
ceascd's friends and acquaintance. The
leading bank in the city was closed out
of respect to the dead who, while in life,
held a prominent position in its dircc-
tory. His Office where he was always to
be found discharging the multifarious
duties and attending to the many cares
which often beset a busy life, was also
closed and the door-knob ap-
propriately draped. Everything will
remain AS when he left it
until the arrival of the brother.
a special train is performing all that
human ingenuity car do toward annihil-
ating the distance from Chicago here.
He is expected to reach this city some
time Monday morning, barring delays.
Then the question of the final disposition
of the remains will be decided. The
body has been embalmed and the face
presents a natural appearance to those
familiar with the deceased.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
j. Stewart Tod, at the time of his
death. was in the forty-tirst year of his
age, having been born in Scotland some
time during the autumn of 1851. He
to America in 1861, while a mere
boy, with an elder brother, but O after
to his native land, where he
remained until grown and educated.
Coming to America again, he embark
ed INTO various business enterprises.
For a time he was engaged in the milling
business at Fergus Falls, Minnesota,
lie returned east and became interested
in the New Brunswick railway, being for
several months its vice president.
HIS LIFE IN THIS CITY.
Mr.. Tod came to Great Falls in Octo-
Der, 1887, and was "A resident up to the
time of his death. For a while he was
general manager for McMurphy e. Co.,
dealers in wood and coal. lie then be-
their successor, and carried ON the
business very successfully. Later Mr..
Tod went into the draying business, and
in the fall Of 1888 formed a partnership
with Mr.. Kelly, under the firm name of
Tod Il Kelly, accountants, etc. He was
a member of that firm at the time of his
He was always ready to identify him
self with every enterprise for the good of
this city. He might be called the father
Of the present race track, and to his un-
efforts belong the the credit of cs-
tablishing the North Montana Fair asso-
The fair grounds and the Tod
building are his monuments, as cverlast-
ing as bronze itself.
That he will be sadly missed whenever
any public enterprise is on hand no one
:an dispute. II is hoped that his last
place will be near the city he
loved SO well; that mourning friends
may erect over his ashes a monument
of the man. But if fate should
lccrce that he be buried elsewhere,
if across the stormy seas in the soil
If his rugged native land, the citizens of
treat Falls will always keep green the
memory of j. Stewart Tod.