The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-01
SPENTF|VE YEARS
IN BISMARCK; HAD
PROPERTY IN CITY
Col. c. B. Little, Capital City
Banker, One of His Best
Friends
WAS HERE IN OCTOBER, 1882
Came Here at Instigation Of
Alex M'Ksnzie; Built Bus
mess College
WAS HERE IN OCTOBER, 1882

r. B. Mellon, world-famous bank
r who died Friday morning, not only
lived in Bismarck for five years when
} young man but leaves q host Of
friends here and his estate includes
property in the Capital
City district.
Melons best friend here was COL
onel G. B. Little, president Of the
First National Bank. and in October
1892, Mellon came to Bismarck ITO see
my old friend, Col. Little" spending
two days in the city.
That visit, he said at the time, was
his first real visit here since he left
In 1857 after five years as a banker
In the then Dakota Territory
Many Of Bismarck's ''old-timers'
will remember the Mellon brothers,
r. B. and George N. and some Of
them recall visits paid them by their
more famous brother. Andrew w. Mel
Ion. who recently served as secretary
Of the u. 8. treasury and also Is en-
bassador to the court Of st. James.
The story here is that the two Mel
lon brothers were. sent west by their
father with a "a million dollars
apiece" to make their mark In the
world.
Knew Alex Mckenzie
At Duluth. MIMI. =. B. Mellon said
on his last visit here. he ran into
Alexander Mckenzie. famed political
leader, who painted such a glowing
picture Of this town out here on the
end Of the railroad line that ! came
out to see what Q wonderful place It
was"
Mellon liked 1t here and that same
year. 1882, met Colonel Little. who
had come from New Hampshire. Both
of US came out here to grow up with
the country" Mellon said here on his
last visit
Five busy years In Bismarck were
terminated with the death Of his
brother, George. at Denver in 1857.
The brothers had operated the
Mellon Brothers Bank" here. located
In a building where the Hoskins-Mey-
er store now stands.
The Mellon brothers built the build
ing now known as the Business Col
lege" building at the corner Of Sixth
st. and Main avenue. It was built .,
q hotel. according to John Peterson
veteran hotel man here, and latel
was used as hospital.
The property on which the World
War Memorial building stands was
purchased from the Mellon brothers
and considerable other property ir
the city and district. including sec.
ton of Missouri river bottom lands
south Of Bismarck. still Is owned b,
the Mellon estate.
Had Vast Wealth
Mellon once is reputed to have tole
q Bismarck friend, Frank Allen
brother OF Police Magistrate Edward
s. Allen, that he didn't know JUS
how wealthy he was. But I do know
one thing" he added. Il can 60 to m.
vault In Pittsburgh and put my hand
on bonds valued ct $4,000, 000."
r. B. Mellon also Is reported to hav'
been instrumental inlhaving Presiden
Mckinley pardon Alexander McKen
xie from prison In California aftel
Mckenzie returned from Alaska fol-
lowing the episode depicted IN "Th'
Spoilers."
On hts visit here year ago. Mel
lon recalled IS though It were yester
day the dedication Of the Northern
Pacific railroad bridge over the Mis-
souri, river in 1852 and the hay bust
ness which he established to supply
stock yards along the railroad.
Mellon and Little used to hunt to
gether, he said. and because the.
frequently had more birds than the
could use, they kept the Sheridal
House practically supplied with game
During that period. he said, . do1el
deer were killed within the city linn
it,.
FOR three years Of his stay here
Mellon was chairman Of the board Q
county commissioners.