The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-12-09

Judge William Y. Pemberton, dean
of the Montana bar, pioneer, Vigil
ante, who played an heroic part when
the decent men of the state were
fighting to take the territory of Mon
tana from the grasp of Henry Plum
mer, bandit chieftain and miners
sheriff, is about to retire, and has
rendered his resignation as librarian
of the Montana Historical society. He
has lived more history than many his
torians have written, and his passing
from active life recalls the stirring
times of half a century ago.. Failing
health is given as his reason for his
retirement. He is at Excelsior
Springs, Missouri, with relatives, and
will spend the winter in the south,
and hopes to return to Montana next
summer.
Authority on Montana History
Judge Pemberton is probably the
only living member of the Montana
bar whose memory and experience
might be quoted as authoritative on
subjects connected with the history
of the early territorial bar. He came
: to Bannack, Montana, fresh from his
law otudiOO, III iCOOt IN 40 q oWyCi
and subsequently as chief justice of
the supreme court he has partici-
pated in the development Of Mon
tana law, courts and precedence from
the very beginning of organized con-
ditions in the territory and state.
Judge Pemberton was born at
Nashville, Tennessee, June 1, 1841,
son of William and Martha (Brooks)
DnDo hnrfnn III &. 30 L1n 01fc6 md |
Scottish ancestry and the Pember-
tons we're early settlers in old Vir-
ginia. Judge Pemberton grew up in
Missouri, attended public schools, the
Masonic college at Lexington, Mo-,
and graduated LIB. from the Cum
berland university law school at Lee
banon, Tennessee, in 1861. For
about a year he practiced law in Mis-
souri, and in 1863 he arrived at Vir-
ginia City, Montana. He was one of
the few college trained and regularly
qualified lawyers in that pioneer mi
ming camp.
Aided to Establish Law
In the work of bringing about law
and order and a system of civil gov
eminent under the auspices of the
territory of Montana, Judge Pember-
ton played a notable part. In 1855
he moved to Helena, then only a min
ing town, and practiced law there for
several years. In 1868 he went back
to Missouri, and he also practiced as
a lawyer in the state of Texas. Judge
Pemberton located at Butte in 1880
and since 1909 has again resided at
Helena.
He was elected district attorney OF
the West Side district in 1882, and
prosecuted cases arising from most OF
the counties of western Montana. He
was reelected in 1884. In 1891 he
was appointed district judge of the
second judicial district and about a
year later elected and qualified for
the highest position in the state jul
dietary, chief justice of the supreme
court. He began his duties January
/, 1893, and served until 1899.
Large Law Practice
After retiring from the bench,
Judge Pemberton looked after the
interests of a large clientage, includ-
ing some prominent corporations.
Since June, 1909, however, he has
given his entire time and attention
" HIS Qutl6S DIS IlDIdIldu VI tllC otdCS l.
historical and miscellaneous library
at Helena. Judge Pemberton has
been one of the prominent democrats
of Montana from territorial times to
the present. He is a Knight Tenn
p1ar Mason and is a former president
of the Society of Montana Pioneers.
Judge Pemberton was a infant
when his parents died in Tennessee
and he knows little of his ancestry.
His grandmother on his mothers
side was a Powell, whose father was
at Yorktown under Washington at
the close of the revolution.
Made Montana History
Judge Pemberton left Bannack for