Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-07-31
BYRON F, STRONG FOUND DEAD
He Hau Lain Dead ard Alone in His
Own House for Over
One Week.
Had Resided in Montana for Over Il
Quarter Of " Century-POs-
sibly Suicide.

A telephone message, received by |
Sheriff Dwyer at 2:30 p. IN. yesterday, |
announced that Byron f. Strong, a
rancher and stockgrower, residing about
% miles north of Cascade, had been |
found dead in his bed at his house. The
discovery was made by Harvey d. Hall,
of Cascade, who won't to the ranch to
confer with Mr.. Strong in regard to some
business matters. He found the door OF
the cabin locked from the inside; this
surprised him and he effected an en-
trance.
A horrible sight met his gaze. On the
cd lay the lifeless body of Mr.. Strong,
badly decomposed and over-run by YER
min. the stencil in the house was aW-
full and the discoverer hastily left for
Cascade and sent the news to Great
Falls.
The last time, 80 far as known, that
Mr.. Strong was seen alive was July 81,
when he transacted some business and
obtained his mail in Cascade. A few
days prior to that he was in Great Falls
and here met many acquaintances, with
whom he talked, and then seemed to be
in a cheerful mood.
Mrs. Strong, who was in Helena,
it seems, had become anxious when
she did not hear from her hus-
band and had written to Mr.. Hall,
asking him to visit MIR. Strong. Last
Monday and egain on Wednesday Mr..
| Hall had visited the ranch, but found
| the door always locked. lie was not
then alarmed, thinking that Mr.. Strong
was, perhaps, riding the range, but yes
terday he became suspicious that all
was not right and burst in the door, find
ing the body, lying on its right side,
covered with the bedclothes.
Section men who had been working on
the Montana Central railway, near Mr.,
Strongs ranch, stated that they had
visited the house daily since july 81, al
ways finding the door locked and no Inv
ing being excepting the dog around the
| house.
Immediately, upon receipt OF the
Weitman left for Cascade.
A special to THE TRIBUNE, received
late yesterday evening, stated that the
coroner and sheriff had not yet returned
from the ranch.
until the officers return, no further par
ticulars can be obtained. 1t is thought
by some, on account of the trouble that
he had had, of his i'll health, and of the
fact that the door was locked from the
inside, that he may have committed sui
eide.
Mrs Strong was notified by telegraph
and will arrive at Cascade this morning.
Mr.. Strong was born in Michigan As
years ago. At Florence, st, Joseph
county, Mich, he attended school, Matt
Dunn, now Of Great Falls, being one OF
his schoolmates. In March, 1871, he left
. Florence and came to Helena, being first
, employed by the firm Of Garrison 4
| Wyatt, of which his uncle, A. M. Garrl
) son, was the senior partner. In a few
months he entered the mercantile estab
hshment at Helena of n. G. Power x Co
y as bookkeeper, and also rs machinist
g travelling in all parts OF northern Mon
q tana and setting up agricultural imple
q menta, thus gaining an extended ac
quaintance among the early residents o
a this portion of the state. lie remalne(
! with r. g Power * Co, for many years
afterWard locating at Cascade, where N
- accumulated considerable realty ant
:; live stock, and, it is believed. re left al
:, estate of several thousand dollars II
4 value.
:, He was twice married. His first wifi
= WAS the daughter Of Harvey English
= formerly police magistrate of Helena
~ Their married life was unhappy, and sh
10 obtained a divorce from him few year
70 ago. She remarried and Was killed b.
&c the cars at Glasgow, about year age
=. BY her he had one child, daughter
y who is now at school ut st. Peters Mis-
} sion.
=. August 27, lS95, he married, at Grea
20 Falls, Mrs. Neoma Largent, proprietreF
~ ~ of the lodging house over the BrunsW!c
- saloon, and widow of Rev j. NJ. Largen
10 of Ulm. She had one child, daughter
-, A few months ago she and her daughte
r. removed to Helena, whore they hav
since resided.
- Mr. Strong's mother formerly reside
re in Great Falls, and was for three year
n nuree for Robert Naughn's little daugf
10 ter. She died in Great Falls about thre
n years ago and was buried at Helena
y, MIR. Strcng's ester, Mrs w. M. Wyatt
~ resides at Fresno, Cal, where her hui
j. band is one of the wealthiest resident
;o MIR. Strong also had an aunt in Colorad
10 In many ways NiT 'otIobs was pocoiA'
% but he had host of warm friends in q
"a parts of the state and to none was I
~ more dear than to those who had know
10 him almost from boyhood and TO b
,a neighbors who had been in closest touc
na with him and learned to know the goc
qualities which characterized him.
He had suffered long from rheumatis
and frequently had extremely severe a
- tacks of indigestion. A few months az
he wrote to friend that he had ht
trouble and seemed to be despondent.
y Undertaken McBratney left this NOR
ing for Cascade, with casket, in whi'
the body will be forwarded to Helena I
interment.