The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-03-22
THOMAS c. "
PIONEER IS DEAD
HAD TRADING POST HERE IN
THE 8Os-S. T. COGSWELL
AN EMPLOYEE


the early days of eastern Montana
call him as a river freighter. Soon
after S. T. Cogswell, then 81 years
of age, came here in 1885, he entered
the employ of the T. C. Power Co.. as
clerk in their store, which occupied
the same site as Mr.. Cogswells pres
ent bushes at Oldtown. .
The following account of Mr..
Powers death and sketch of his life
is reprinted from the Great Falls
Tribune Of March 10:
Former Senator Thomas c.. Power
for more than half a century one of
the greatest forces behind the devel-
opment of Montana, died at his home
in Helena Friday afternoon. Exer-
cising for many years the most power
full influence of any man in the state,
in both and politics, Mr..
Powers death closes a career that
promises to go down in history with
statesmen whose lives and works are
linked with the growth of the nation.
Mr.. Power succumbed to a lingering
illness which made an invalid of him
last September. He was "a years of
age.
Starting with his establishment 81
years ago of a trading post with the
Indians at Fort Benton, then the head
of navigation on the Missouri, Mr..
Power has been a prominent figure
in the commercial development of
the northwest. He made his first
visit to Montana in 1864, but did not
remain here. Going to Omaha he
opened a business which fourished
on northwest trade via the Missouri.
Later he added freighting to his trade
enterprises, e~ncountering phenomenal
success in both ventures.
Boat Builder
Mr.. Powers business prestige be-
came strengthened when his brother,
John M. Power, of Helena, added cap
ital to the business and became a
partner. In 1874, Thomas Power,
with others, built the steamer "Ben-
ton," for transporting goods up the
Missouri. The same men late built
the "Helena'' in 1876 and the Butte"
in 1878. The "Black Hills" was then
bought by them, strengthening their
transportation business to a formid-
able concern.
Reaping the fruits of his under
takings. the late senator built his
residence in Helena, a structure which
has become one of the show places
of the capitol city and still remains
the Power home. His interest in his
home was constant and any project
which favored his home city received
unqualified support from him. He
was responsible for the Power build
ing, one of the largest Office buildings
in the city.
He was married in 1876 to Miss
Mary T. Flanagan, who died several
years ago.
Rancher
At all times Mr.. Power was more
or less intimately associated with the
livestock industry. He owned con-
siderable grazing land in the vicinity
of Great Falls and maintained several
large herds of cattle. In recent years
he became identified with the auto /
mobile sales business, the T. G. Power !
Motor Car Company being n of the !
largest concerns of it's kind in the |
northwest. |
In political life the sphere Of Mr..
Powers influence extended far be- :
yond his home state. For half a J
century he was councillor of public !
men and often his advice was sought
matters of national import. He I
went to Washington as a senator J
when Montana was merely starting !
her career of statehood and since 1
then his position as a herald of po- /
thought had been eminent. !
Republican !
Thomas Power was a republican.
In 1888 he was nominated for COVER /
nor. In 1889 he was the logical can
didate, for the United States senate J
and was chosen by the assembly, serv- 1
ing the state in Washington from
1890 to 1895. (
Since holding the highest office in
.he state, Mr.. Power had been in
private life He was long prominent
banking circles, having organized
he American National bank in Hell
ana, OF Wnlcn ne was president d.
he time of his death.
Born of farming parents in Du-
,uque, Iowa, May %, 1889, when
lew advantages were prevalent in
hat pioneer country, Powers youth
S a vivid story of obstinate struggle
against accountable odds. Obtain
ng only a rural school education as
boy, Power later made more IA
,orable circumstances for himself
md entered Sissinawa Mound col
eye in Wisconsin, completing a three
ear course in engineering and sell
nee. After a brief term of teaching
chool, Power entered the employ OF
n engineering concern as rodman,
'oing on a survey for the government
nd covering much of Iowa and the