The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1946-01-03
JdmesA. KraII
Lived a BUSY
Useful Life
Was a Veteran of First
World War; Served as
Lincoln County Rep.
WAS LIBBY BUSINESS
MAN OVER % YEARS

James Abraham Krall was born
September 80, 1890 at INVERSION,
Pa, and passed away December 81,
1945 at his home in Spokane, Wash,
aged SIS years, months and 81
days.
At the age of five years James
accompanied his parents to Crowns
town, Pa, where he began his early
schooling, later going to work in
the local cigar factory, where he
was employed until at the age of
II he decided to live in the West.
Reaching Shonich, Pa, he ran out
of money and found employment as
a soda fountain attendant in drug
store. He remained here for about
three months, then went to. Read
ing, Pa, where he was employed
in paper store. He liked this
business and decided to become a
merchant. himself. He remained
in Reading for about a year and
in 1908 went to Ohio where he
tried working on farm at Clyde
From Clyde, young Krall went
to work for the Elmore Manufacture
ing Co, which produced cars. He
started here as a helper in the
welding shop, later becoming
clerk in the cOmpany'S stock room.
But the West continued to beckon
and after six months, he found en-
ployment at a drug store in Velva,
N. D. While here he worked part
time in the depot of the Soo-Line
Railroad, where he learned tele-
graphy. He worked as an opera /
tors helper, later being promoted +
to chief operator and becoming re- /
lief operator between Minneapolis, (
Mimi, and Portland, ~ D. After
serving 18 months as an operator .
the young man took up bookkeep- /
ing for the railroad which he did .
while working part time in the
drug store to help pay his room
and board. His last position with
the Soo-Line was as station agent
at Velva, which he resigned in
1913 to enter the grocery business
at Oswego, Mt, starting his first
store in May of that year
When the First World War be-
gan Mr.. Krall enlisted in the army
and saw action in the Argonne For
est. He was assigned to the armys
department where he
held position of considerable res
possibility.
Following the war, he returned !
to Oswego, where he resumed his
grocery business. He came to !
Libby in 1922 at which time he ..
bought the Greiner Bros. Grocery.
In 1926 he bought the Guy Wal
ker Dry Goods Store Sand combined :
he two businesses. In 1886 he
;old the dry goods department to =
Pete, Chef and in December of +
.944, sold the grocery to Leonard {
Sleizer. P
In the summer of 1924 Mr.. Krall
vas united in marriage with Miss
Charlotte Hurtzberg, a teacher in e
he Libby schools, who survives =
i'm. Since coming to Libby, he :
las been outstanding in community y
fairs, serving IL years on the ~ ~
ity council. He was president of Z
he Commercial Club two years. p
resident of the Lions Club three u
ears, served Austin Reedy Post
10. 81 of the American Legion one al
ear as post commander, and later al
S post chaplain. He also served fl
ne local VIEW as officer of the vi
ay
Also surviving are two brothers, til
gorge and Frank of Pennsylvania. m
With the coming. of the recent tr
ar Mr.. Krall was chairman of the CT
and advisory COM
ittee for Lincoln county. and was w
0pointed commander of civilian sa
efense for Libby and Lincoln Nj
'unty He was chairman of the o
lbby committee for the 7th War
Dan, and was a member of the mi
cal Masonic and Moose orders. lei
e was chosen at the last election Sol
represent Lincoln county in the I'm
ate legislature, where he estab- Sc
he'd good record. After the raj
lie of his grocery business he en- de-
ged in real estate until last fall by
hen he decided to move to Spo- ior
ne where he had purchased an
artment house. The news that MI
r. and Mrs. Krall were moving ant
I'm Libby was a source of sincere ant
greet to the entire community
lose well wishes accompanied ME
en- when they moved November !
to their new home. r
evening, December -27, ,,.o
out BIS at his his home. he was D.,
ack and in Is minutes had passed
lck and in Is minutes had passed Eli
Funeral services were held "a "a
onday at 1870 p. m. from the 80 q
zen & Jaeger Gothic Chapel in Ia "a.
okane, with the Rev McQuary of bet
, Methodist church officiating. tho
was made in the Green rea
cd cemetery. he
The foregoing short history of DOS
III hraII as ne was Familiarity VIII,
own about town, shows that his TO
lie OF constant endeavor to less
prove himself and his COM NAT
nifty. He always stood for the mes