Page 244 - Cornelius Hedges Story

231 The Cornelius Hedges Story

Walter Cooper, in 1863 he moved to Montana where he engaged in
various mining, shipping, and hunting enterprises. In 1868 he moved to
Bozeman and established a Sharps rifle and manufacturing and sporting
goods business. He also invested in several logging and railroad
operations. Cooper was active in the incorporation of Bozeman and
was a member of the first city council and a member of the Bozeman
Chamber of Commerce, a member of the state legislature and, heavily
involved in the establishment of the Montana Agricultural College.
Cooper became a Master Mason in 1873 in Gallatin Lodge No. 6 and
served as Worshipful Master in 1877.
James Rathbone Weston, arrived in Virginia City in 1863. He
received his degrees before coming to Montana. Weston was a member
of Diamond City No. 7 serving as Worshipful Master in 1866, 1867,
1868, 1869 and 1871. He dimitted to Valley Lodge No. 21 and served as
Worshipful Master in 1876 and in 1884 as well as serving as Treasurer of
the Lodge in 1887 and served as Grand Master of Masons in Montana.
He was a merchant by trade and served in the territorial legislature.
The first corner stone ceremony in the territory was presided over by
MWGM Weston .
Hezekiah Lord Hosmer, In 1836, He was the editor of The Toledo
Blade. From 1848 to 1855, he was a journalist. From 1836 to 1860, he
practiced law. In 1858, he wrote “The Early History of Maumee Valley”.
In 1855, he wrote, “Adela, The Octoroon” which was later published
in 1860. In 1861, he applied for the position of Librarian of Congress.
From 1864 to 1868, he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln the first
Chief Justice of the Montana Territory. He was postmaster of Virginia
City from 1869 until 1872. In the 1875 city directory, his law office
is at 434 California Street In 1887, he wrote “Bacon and Shakespeare
in the Sonnets” while he lived in San Francisco. In 1889, he was the
bookkeeper of The California State Mining Bureau. Hezekiah Hosmer
II died October 1893 in San Francisco, California. His funeral was at
the Golden Gate Commandery Nov. 5, 1893. He was a member of and
Worshipful Master Wood County Lodge and Rubecon Lodge at Toledo
and was the High Priest of Fort Meiggs Chapter R.A.M. In 1866 he
served as the first Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Montana. In
1872, he moved to San Francisco. He was elected Grand Prelate of the
Grand Commandery of California.
Edwin Warren Toole, came to Virginia City, Montana Territory in
1863. He later moved to Helena, a Lawyer by profession, he was Clerk
of the District Court, and very successful with investments in mining
and real estate. He was a candidate for Congress in 1871. His is the
brother of Gov. Joseph K. Toole.
W. B. Hundley, a member of the Territorial Legislature and of the
Montana Historical Society.