The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-08-21
Ed LAWL0R, PIONEER,
GOES TO HIS REWARD
a thriving town, before Hardin
was founded.

q eAA!ASAAAS eo"AA, OcAoAS 11dIOAIA
In the spring of 1907, coincident
with the founding Of Hardin MI.
Lawlor filed on a homestead on
the bench, three miles west Of
Hardin, which he owned until
about five years ago, when he dis
posed OF all his farm property.
In 1916, in partnership with Dan
King, MI. Lawlor erected the Har-
riet theatre building, on Center
avenue, later purchasing MI:
Kings interest and for the past
70 years owned and operated Har-
din's movie theatre until a few
months ago, when he turned over
n management to his son-in-
law, Hugh Wells, and with Mrs.
Lawlor moved to Kalispell, where
they have since made their home.
In the earlv DAYS of Hardin, Ed
ward Lawlor was a prominent
figure, being for many years a
member of the citv council, and
was n of the organizers and
treasurer of the Big Horn Canyon
Irrigation & Power Co., which
spent several years of hard wolk
and many thousands of dollars in
an effort to have constructed the
Big Horn canyon dam, the sur
veys and maps made by this COM
pany being now in the files of the
army engineers at WASHINGTON.
D. c., and doubtless will in time
be utilized in the construction OF
this great irrigation and power
project.
For the past five years Mr.. Law
lor had been one of the active
promoters in the Cut Bank oil
field, his efforts having finally
met with pronounced success, as
at the time of his death he was
the owner of two producing wells
which made him independently
well-to-do. OF the trio of men
who were indirectly credited with
the opening of this great oil field,
only one, Bill Hoerr, survives. Ed
Lawlor, Chris Yegen and Mr.
Hoerr in 1881 leased land in what
Is almost the center of the field
and tried to finance drilling the
discovery well. After successfully
getting a camp erected and a rig
placed, the job of finishing the
well was turned over to Roy G..
Tarrant, who brought in the
first commercial oil well in Cut
Bank. Mr.. Lawlor and Mr.. Hoerr
later on drilled four. wells on leas-
es which they solely held and
brought in two commercial wells
which are highly productive. Chris
Yegen died nearly two years ago
at Cut Bank, where he was engage
ed in the mercantile business.
Besides the widow, the former
Mrs. Lula A. Cleland of Hardin.
to whom he was married at Lin
coin, Neb., March 10, 1919, he
leaves a stepson, A. G. Oliver, and
the latter's little son, A. G. Oliver,
Jr.; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Hugh
wells. and one sister, Miss Kath-
crime Lawlor of New York CITY.
Fraternally, Mr.. Lawlor was a
charter member of Saints John
Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. Masons of
Hardin, having Omitted from st.
Elmo Lodge No. 1853, st. Elmo, nj,
when the Hardin lodge was organ
lied in January, 1914. He was al
SO a member of the various Scot
fish Rite bodies, the Consistory
and Shrine at Billings.
Edward Lawlor was a public
spirited citizen, always ready and
willing to give of his time and
money to any project for the
benefit of the community. He
was a true friend and performed
many acts of charity unbeknown
to those about him. He will be
missed. not only by those near TO
MIN, but by a wide circle of friends
as we'll.
Funeral services were held at
Smiths funeral home in Billings.
Thursday afternoon at two o'clock.
Rev: j.. A. Meeke, pastor of the
Methodist church at Dillon. an
intimate friend of many a Of
ficiating, who preached a touch-I
Ing eulogy, recounting their friend
ship Of 16 years and telling of the
many virtues of MI. LaWlor.
A quartet comprisip~ Mesdames
E. c. Kuehn, C. A. Brotherson. W.
A. Ransier and 6. A. Baker. ac-
companied by Mrs. W, ]. Brekke.
sang Beautiful Isle of Somewhere;
and 1.-THE Beautiful Garden of
Prayer" The floral offerings were
beautiful and profuse.
AT the cemetery the final rites
were performed by Saints John
Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. M, of
which he was an honored menu
ber, Dave L. Egnew, acting as wor-
Sh1pful master, conducting the
impressive Masonic service. Up
wards Of 40 Masons from Hardin
were in attendance. Intermentl
was in Mountview cemetery. PAIL
bearers were M. r. C~alderwood,
Lyle J. T%intinger, F. A. Rowland,
R. p. Ross, Dell M. Kelly and
Frank J. Kopriva.
FORMER HARDIN RESIDENT
WILL FLY HERE SUNDAY.
Bill johnson Spear, graduated.
from the Hardin high school with
the class of 81, will be here Sun