Glacier County chief., 1939-03-03

In the death of John L. Carroll,
pioneer Butte merchant, Butte lost
another member of the fast-vanish-
ing group of trail blazers who not
only piloted Montana into the
ranks of statehood but likewise
helped to build the reputation for
generosity, charity and sterling
manhood that the west has long
enjoyed.
Death was due to a heart ailment
from which he had suffered for several
months. He was 70 wears of ace and
had lived in Butte SIS years He had
filled number of civic positions. Fra
ternally he was Mason and was past
grand master of the Grand Lodge of
Montana a. F. and A. M
Carroll was born in Mexican county.
pennsylvania, on Jan. 4, 1860. His early
days were spent on farm. 1t was his
ambition then to become a doctor, as
his older brother. Thomas H. Carroll
had been graduated from a medical
school and had been assigned the post
OF Northern Pacific physician at Boze-
man, Mont
In 1883 Carroll came west to be with
his brother at Bozeman. He then hoped
to accumulate enough money to COM
plete his medical course However. he
went to Butte a year later and his
plans for entering on a professional
career were abandoned.
His first job there was that of clerk
In retail grocery store. Later he Sc
cured position in a general merchan-
d1sing concern. II was then that he
decided to follow a business career in
stead Of medicine. Together with D.
W. MCINTYRE he founded a grocery
store at 316 North Main street. The
business was known as Mcintyre &
Carroll. In 1896 he bought his partners
interests. A year later he moved the
business to the Little 10 block at 1875
West Park street. His business flour
lshed and for years ranked as one of
the leading grocery concerns in the
mining district. He retired from bust
ness in 1921.
For many years he was president of
the old Butte Commercial association.
the predecessor of the Butte Chamber
OF Commerce. He served as a member
Of the city council from his ward dur
ing the years of 1906 and 1907. Follow
ing the turn of the century he was
republican candidate for mayor of
Butte, but lost to his democratic op-
ponent, Pat" Mullins, in a close race.
In Rotary Club
Soon after the Butte Rotary club was
Der. He was one of the most active
members Of the group until he retired
from business when his classification
with the club expired.
When the old Miners Savings Bank
& Trust Co. was organized in 1907,
Carroll was one of its charter directors.
The name of the bank was changed in
1888 to the Miners National bank Car
roll remained on the board and held
his post as director until his death.
He loved the outdoors and of recent
years never missed an opportunity to
hunt. He had a summer cabin on Rock
creek, where he and Mrs. Carroll spent
much of their time during the summer
months. They were often Joined there
by Butte friends over weekends.
The story of his love for fishing was
recalled by one of his intimate friends
of the streams of recent years. Soon
after he went into the grocery business
and during the time that stores re-
manned open until about midnight on
Saturday nights, he would load UP a
blackboard with provisions, get few
Of his stream associates and start for
RalSton. They would arrive there in
time for Mrs. Ralston to cook their
breakfast and then they would spend
the day on the Big Hole river They
drove to Butte in time to open the
store on Monday morning.