Page 12 - Montana Freemason Feb 13

Montana Freemason February 2013 Volume 86 Number 1

Elected Governors of the State who were Freemasons

Governor Nov 8, 1889 – Jan 1, 1893 Lt Governor
Jan 2, 1893 – Jane 3, 1897
1. *Joseph Toole (D) Jan 4, 1897 – Jan 7, 1901 John E. Rickards (R)
2. John E. Rickards (R) Jan 7, 1901 – Apr 1, 1908 Alexander C. Botkin (R)
3. Robert B. Smith (D) Apr 1, 1908 – Jan 5, 1913 A.E. Spriggs (D)
4. *Joseph Toole (D) Jan 6, 1913 – Jan 2, 1921 *Frank G. Higgins, *Edwin L Norris (D)
5. *Edwin L. Norris (D) Jan 3, 1921 – Jan 4, 1925 *William R. Allen (R)
6. *Sam V. Stewart (D) Jan 4, 1925 – Mar 13, 1933 *W.W. McDowell (D)
7. *Joseph M Dixon (R) Mar 13, 1933- Dec 15, 1935 *Nelson Story, Jr (R)
8. *John E. Erickson (D) Dec 15, 1935- Jan 4, 1937 *Frank A. Hazelbaker (R)
9. Frank H. Cooney (D) Jan 4, 1937 – Jan 6, 1941 *Tom Kane, *Ernest T. Easton (R)
10. Elmer Holt (D) Jan 6, 1941 – Jan 3, 1949 *William P. Pilgerman (D)
11. *Roy E. Ayers (D) Jan 3, 1949 – Jan 5, 1953 *Hugh R.Adair (D)
12. *Sam C. Ford (R) Jan 5, 1953 – Jan 2, 1961 *Ernest T. Eaton (R)
13. John W. Bonner (D) Jan 2, 1961 – Jan 25, 1961 *Paul Cannon (R)
14. *J. Hugo Aronson (R) Jan 25, 1961 – Jan 6, 1969 *George M. Gosman (R); *Paul Cannon (R)
15. *Donald G. Nutter (R) Jan 6, 1969 – Jan 1, 1973 *Tim M. Babcock (R)
16.*Tim M. Babcock (R) Jan 1, 1973 – Jan 5, 1981 *Dave James (D) and *Ted James (R)
17. *Forrest H. Anderson (D) Jan 5, 1981 – Jan 2, 1989 Thomas L. Judge
18. Thomas L. Judge (D) Jan 2, 1989 – Jan 4, 1993 *Ted Schwinden (D)
19. *Ted Schwinden (D) Jan 4, 1993 – Jan 1, 2001 George Turman
20. *Stan Stephens (R) Jan 1, 2001 – Jan 3, 2005 *Allen Kolstad (R), *Denny Rehberg (R)
21. Marc Racicot (R) Jan 3, 2005 – Jan 7, 2013 *Denny Rehberg (R)
22. Judy Martz (R) Jan 7, 2013 - *Karl Ohs (R)
23. Brian Schweitzer (D) John Bohlinger (R)
24. Steve Bullock (D) John Walsh (D)

* Freemason

Joseph K. Toole (May 12, 1851 - March 11, of the constitutional convention of 1884. During
Toole’s term as delegate to the 49th Congress and
1929), born in Savannah, Missouri. A 50th Congress of the United States from March, 1885
Lawyer and territorial Legislator, and through March, 1889, his efforts lead to the passage of
territorial delegate to the United States the Enabling Act of 1889 which allowed the Montana
Congress, Governor Toole was elected Territory to form a constitution and state government.
Montana’s first Governor in 1889 and Toole declined a 3rd term in Congress and became a
served until 1893. Toole was a popular governor and member of the constitutional convention of 1889, in
was re-elected to the post for two more terms from which year he was also elected the state’s first governor.
1901 to 1908. He attended public schools in St. After serving one term as governor, he resumed the
Joseph, Missouri and graduated from the Western practice of law. He was reelected governor in 1901
Military Institute in New Castle, Kentucky. He read and again in 1905. He retired April 1, 1908 on account
law in the offices of Webb and Barber of New Castle. of ill health and divided his time between his homes
At the age of 18 Toole left St. Louis by steamboat and in Helena, Montana and San Francisco, California. He
arrived at Fort Benton, Montana in the spring of 1869. died in Helena on March 11, 1929.
He traveled on to Helena. Toole continued studying
the law, was admitted to the bar in 1871 and entered Brother Toole was a member of member of Helena
into a successful partnership with his brother, Edwin Lodge No. 3, EA Degree on Feb 2, 1878, FC Degree on
Warren Toole. The same year, he was elected at the age Oct 19, 1878, MM Degree on Nov 9, 1878. He served
of 21 as district attorney of the Third Judicial District as Worshipful Master in 1882.
and served from 1872-1876. He was elected a member

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