The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-03-05
News of the Treasure State
THOMAS ARTHUR, ONE STATES MOST
PROMINENT BUSINESS and POLITICAL
LEADERS,. dies AT PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

&8
most prominent leaders in business
and politics, died last Thursday eve
ming at Phoenix, Ariz., where he had
been seriously i'll for more than a
month. -
The body, accompanied by Mrs. Ar
thur and her brother, c. F. Williams
Of Two Dot, was taken to Helena
Tuesday morning, and funeral serv-
ices were held there Tuesday after
noon with the Rev. James F. Nc
Nance, pastor of the First Baptist
church Of that city, paying high
tribute to the life and character of
the deceased. Burial was In Forest
vale cemetery.
The casket in the Placer hotel was
banked with flowers, tender tributes
to his memory, and men who had
worked side by side with him gath
cred reverently and scrrowfully about
his last resting place. The casket
was borne to the grave by George
". Lanstrum, J. T. Carroll, James
H. Stewart, J. Burke Clements, John
G.. Brown, and J. A. R. Nelson, and
the honorary pallbearers were Gov
ernor J. E. Erickson, Dr.. o. NJ.
Lanstrum, D. R. Albin of Billings,
J. Bruce Kremer Of Butte, Charles
Akofer of Waller, Associate Justice
John A. Matthews, J. L. DObell of
Butte, Sam V. Stewart, Leon Shaw Of
Billings, W. M. BOle Of Great Falls,
Will A. Campbell, w. w. Cheeley Of
Great Falls, and W. E. DOwlin of
Billings. Scores of men prominent
in newspaper, political and business
circles came here for the funeral.
Concerning Mr.. Arthur's career,
the Helena Independent of last Friday
said:
Remarkable Career
Thomas Arthur was the representa-
tive in Montana of the Continental
Oil company. His death closes a re-
markable business and political car
Ger, most Of which was lived in
Montana. His business activities in
Guided oil operations, real estate,
mining, and for many years a hotel IN
AAG CAky VI D4A4AAAk0s 4AC Wd0 OlAC VI
the first operators in the oil fields
of Wyoming, and became associated
in that field with Judge Freeman.
one of the heads of the Standard Oil
group. Freeman, at that time, head
ed the Mutual company, of which Mr..
Arthur was a representative in this
state for several years prior to its
consolidation with the Continental.
Prior to his ventures IN the oil bust
ness, Thomas Arthur operated a ho-
tel in the city Of Billings for several
years.
To Billings First
He went to Billings from st. Paul,
Mimi, in 1893 and opened a real es-
tate office. After several years in
Billings he went to California for g
few years, returning to the Yellow
stone city later where he made his
permanent hcme, until he moved Il
Helena, and later to Great Falls, fol-
the purpose of being nearer the nortl
Montana oil fields.
Pioneered On Cat Creek
Thomas Arthur pioneered the Ca
Greek oil field for the Mutual com
pany when Judge Freeman was at it
head. He was among the first i
all the oil fields of the west excep
possibly the Kelvin.
His business operations of the pas
10 years were extremely successful
although his earlier ventures, Will
on a large scale, never brought tn
returns that were anticipated. NJ
Arthur and his associates re-cpene
one of the famous mines Of ColOrad
a.feW years ago, and this investmeI
is said to have returned the Montan
man and his associates large sums.
Thomas Arthur entered petite
when he entered the state and We
the storm center of many a polite
battle. He was chairman of Il
Democratic state central committC
of Montana in 1914 and 1915, and ",
considered one of the most loyal par
men Of his time.