Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-01-14

JOHN w. TATTAN, JUDGE OF THE
18TH DISTRICT DIES
AT RIVER TOWN
Had Hold Office for % Years; Was
One of Montana's Most Prominent
Pioneer Characters; Came to State
In Early Seventies

John w. Tsttan, judge of the twelfth
judicial district for the last 25 years
and a prominent figure In judicial circles
of tho state for more than half q oen-
fury. died at Fort Benton the other day
after an Illness of several months.
Judge Tattan has been failing In health
since last June when his wife passed away
only a few days after they had celebrated
their golden wedding anniversary. On
October 27 he fell and broke his collar
bone and was confined to his bed until his
death.
In 1901 Mr.. Tattan was appointed as
Judge of the twelfth judicial district and
neld this position continuously until the
time OF his death. In 1900 he served as
judge of the tenth district and previously
had been probate judge and county attor-
ney of Chouteau county.
John w. Tattah was born In Middleton,
County Cork; Ireland, on May q, 1877, but
when is years old came to the United
States. landing at New York city on April
10, 1865. He first located in the metal
mining regions of Minnesota where he fol.
lowed the profession Of civil engineering
until 1870, when he enlisted in the United
States army.
He. was assigned to the Seventh regi-
ment of the United states. infantry, sta
toned at Fort Shaw. but In 1872 was trans.
ferred to Fort Benton, where. in 1875, he
received an honorable discharge with the
rank of sergeant.
III vi II 6ulhG ttui MT ldtthD
was elected to the office of probate judge
of Chouteau county and his services were
so satisfactory that he was reelected to
succeed himself, with the exception Of one
term, until 1909. DESERVING his original
profession of engineering, he had studied
law and was admitted to the bar In 1877
In 1899 Judge Tattan was elected county
attorney of Chouteau county. He also
served as attorney for the Northern Round
up association and white In this position
oOSiSfa6 In riddtnn nnrfharn AfnVns ~
virtually all of its bad men,"
Judge Tattan supported the democratic
party, but in the primary election OF 1920
was defeated for the nomination of Judge
on the democratic ticket. More than 400
republicans wrote his name on their ticket
and he became the republican nominee
and was reelected by q good margin.
On April IL, 1870, Judge Tattan married
Alice Siefred, a native Of Iowa. To this
union two children we're born, John J.
Miss Tattan became the wife Of c. W.
Morrison. a Fort Benton merchant, and
died on February ii, 1923. John j. Tattan
resides at Glasgow but several weeks ago
returned to Fort Benton to be at the bed
side of his father.
Judge Tattan is survived by his son,
six grandchildren and two great grand
children. Four OF the grandchildren are
children of John j. .Tattan, while the two
great grandchildren are the sons of Mrs.
Alice Kirwin OF Carter, q daughter OF Mrs.
Morrison.
The golden wedding anniversary of
Judge and Mrs. Tattan, celebrated on ~ Y
so Of this year, WAS attended by scoges
of northern Montana residents. A special
delegation from Great Falls, representing
the Cascade County Bar association. was
among those which offered congratulations
on that day.
Mrs. Tattan became seriously III imme-
dintely following the celebration and
passed away at a Fort Benton hospital
on June 5.
Mrs. Tattan's death had a pronounced
effect on Judge Tattan's health and his
condition was poor throughout the re-
mainder Of his life. The fall last October,
which resulted In a broken collar bone, If
believed to have fastened his death.