The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-01
spent FIVE 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'kenzie; Built Bus
mess College

~ q. @cIlOl, WOrlQ.16mOuS DanK.
er who died Friday morning, not only
lived In Bismarck for five years when
q young man but leaves a host of
friends here and his estate includes
considerable property in the Capital
City district.
Melons best friend here was Col
onel c. B. Little, president Of the
First National Bank, and in October
1882, 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 1887 after five years as q banker
In the then Dakota Territory
Many of Bismarck's ''old-timars'
will remember the Mellon brothers,
r. B. and George NJ. and some of
them recall visits paid them by their
more famous brother, Andrew w. Mel.
lon. who recently served as secretary
OF the U. 8. treasury and also as en-
bassador to the court Of st. James.
The story here Is that the two Mel
Ion 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. r. 3. 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 I came
out to see what q wonderful place 1t
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 1887.
The brothers had operated the
Mellon Brothers Bank" here. located
in building where the Hoskins-M ey-
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 as
q hotel, according to John Peterson,
veteran hotel man here. and later
was used as q hospital.
The property on which the World
War Memorial building stands was
purchased from the Mellon brothers
and considerable other property in
the city and district, including SEC
ton Of Missouri river bottom lands
south Of Bismarck. still Is owned by
the Mellon estate.
Had Vast Wealth
Mellon once is reputed to have told
q Bismarck friend, Frank Allen,
brother Of Police Magistrate Edward
s. Allen. that he didn't know just
how wealthy he was. But do know
one thing" he added. Il can 60 to my
vault in Pittsburgh and put my hands
on bonds valued at $ll6,O0O, 000."
r. B. Mellon also Is reported to have
been instrumental inlhaving President
Mckinley pardon Alexander McKen-
zie from prison In California after
Mckenzie returned from Alaska fol-
lowing the episode depicted In THE
Spoilers"
On his visit here 4 year ago. Mel
Ion recalled as though 1t 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 they
had more birds than they
could use. they kept the Sheridan
House practically supplied with game.
During that period. he said, dozen
deer were killed within the city Inns
it,.
For three years Of hts stay here,
Mellon was chairman Of the board Of
county commissioners.