The Bozeman courier., 1926-07-23
A. W. ORION of
BOHEMIAN HEADS
STATE PIONEERS
Has Lived i'm Montana Since 1864
-0ldtime Printer 49, Brief
Sketch of Life

A. w. OrtOn, who came to Montana
in 1864 and who for more than IS
years has been a resident and busj-
ness man of BOZeman, was hOnOred
last Saturday at Fort Benton when
the Society Of Montana Pioneers
chose him for its president for the
ensuing year. Mr.. OrtOn succeeds
Mary A. Walton Of Deer Lodge in
/ that office.
Patrick Carney Of Waterloo was
named vice president Of the society,
and Frank d. Brown Of MissOula and
S. F. Tuttle of Boulder were re-
elected secretary and treasurer, re-
specCively. The convention selected
lIissoula as the place of meeting next
year, the date fixed being August .,
the anniversary Of the battle Of the
Big Hole, fought in 1887.
The Society of Sons and Daughters
Of Montana Pioneers reelected w.
A. Clark, III, as its president; Fred
w. Scheuer of Butte, vice president,
and Miss LOttie Rumssy Of Helena,
secretary. George P. Porter Of Hell
ena was chosen treasurer. The Sons
and Daughters will meet next year
in Missoula with the Pioneers.
BOzeman is proud Of the fact that
one Of her citizens has been chosen
to head the Society Of Montana Pho
neers, one of the most hOnOred and
respected organizations of the Treas
ure state. Mr.. OrtOn is well quail
fled to discharge the duties Of that
important office in a dignified and
satisfactory manner, and his selection
is matter for cOngratulatiOn among
the pioneers Of this section.
Mr.. OrtOn is one of MOntana's
early settlers. He was born at COun-
Gil Bluffs, Iowa, in 1885. In 1861,
with his parents and brothers, he
\ journeyed overland to Utah in a
b prairie schooner drawn by two yoke
u Of oxen. The family, in 1864, moved
to Virginia City, arriving there in
May Of that year. .--.
Three years later Mr.. Orton began
u his experience as a printer, becoming
the "devil' in the shop Of the Mon
tana Democrat, published at Virginia
City by John P. Bruce. Mr. OrtOn
worked on the Democrat for four
years, and then, in 1871, followed
Mr.. Bruce to BOzeman and was en-
= plOyed on the Avant-COurier. in
= 1878, however, 0lr. Orton returned "a
Z Virginia City and accepted a position
" on the MadisOnian. By virtue of this
early service, Mr.. OrtOn is the oldest
surviving pioneer printer Of the
u state.
a In the summer Of 1874 Mr.. OrtOr
- returned to Bozeman and engaged in
Is business, which he continued until
I" 1877, when he moved to Butte. There
le in 1882, with his five brothers, he
conducted the skating rink, and il
T. 1884 leased the Silver Bow club fOl
r three years. In 1887 he established
oe the Lotus club, which he conducted
~ until 1890, when he returned x
.h Bozeman and founded the musit
ls house that at present bears the nam'
of Orton Brothers.
~ Mr.. OrtOn, now in his list year
n is still as active as many men tW,
10 decades his junior He is dis
40 tinguished by a genial manner end ;
happy disposition, two wonderful
aides to long life and contentment
- In civic, political, and business af
fairs he takes IA keen interest, AM
when Oldtimers gather for a dane
or a frolic, "Unele AL" as he
known to his hundreds of friends Il
the Gallatin, is among the livelies
Of the bunch. And he votes tn
Democratic ticket.