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The Hands of the Workmen

Reid Gardiner, R.W. Past Grand Secretary, Editor

of a special grand jury investigation of
Cornelius B. Nolan the alleged bribery of legislators. In 1910,
43 Grand Master Nolan was elected to the Montana House
nd
1908-1909 of Representatives and served one term.
While County Attorney, Nolan began to
Cornelius B. Nolan was born December build a private law practice that would
24, 1855, in County Limerick, Ireland. He eventually become an extensive civil and
was educated in Dublin. In the fall of 1873, criminal practice. Initially, he worked with
at seventeen, Nolan immigrated to the John Bean and then, between 1901 and
United States. Nolan settled in Oswego, 1904, he was a partner with attorney Albert
New York, where he worked as a day I. Loeb. In 1906, he formed a partnership
laborer with a railroad section crew while with Senator Thomas J. Walsh, which
pursuing his studies at Oswego Academy. expanded to include William Scallon.
In 1877, Nolan moved to Port Allegheny,
Pennsylvania, and worked in a tannery for Brother Nolan once appeared in a
two years. A year later, he went to St. Louis, lawsuit in the Admiralty Court in New
Missouri, to visit his brother, Thomas. He York, where he displayed such an intimate
remained there fi ve years studying law knowledge of nautical terms that the
in Roger Foster's law offi ce and at the St. Louis Law Judge after the trail remarked, commenting on the fact
School. In 1884, he was admitted to the practice of law that it was more surprising because his adopted home in
in the Missouri courts. After a brief period working as a Montana was so far distant from the sea. Brother Nolan
stenographer for an agricultural house in Chicago. retorted, "Did your Honor suppose that I came over in a
hack?"
Brother Nolan was initiated in Hesperia Lodge No.
411, on July 15, 1885, passed August 10, 1885, and In addition to his law work, Nolan invested in mining
raised September 2, 1885. In 1886, he received the and real estate, acquiring ranch properties in Broadwater,
York Rite degrees in Chicago. He affi liated with Helena Park, and Wheatland counties. He was also an active
Lodge No. 3, Helena, Montana on April 20, 1889; he participant in many organizations. He served, with the
also affi liated with Helena Commandery No. 2, and rank of colonel, on General Toole's staff in the state
joined Alegria Shire Temple where he became Potentate militia.
in 1890. He was also a member of Miriam Chapter No.
1, OES and served as Patron for three terms. He was In 1894, Nolan married Harriet Shober. Harriet, the
elected Worshipful Master of Helena Lodge No. 3 in niece of Helena attorney John H. Shober, Sr., a native
1892, and in 1806 he was chosen Senior Grand Warden of Dodge County, Minnesota. During the 1870s and
and was elected Grand Master of Masons in Montana in 1880s, she had taught in the public schools of Adair
September of 1908. He was a gifted public speaker, and County, Iowa. In 1887, she moved to Helena, Montana,
his presence an inspiration and delight to his brethren. to live with her uncle. After her marriage to Cornelius
He was known to be a prodigious worker, of irrepressible Nolan, she became active in Helena community projects,
good humor, a profound scholar and thinker, a peerless Democratic Party politics, and the work of the American
orator. He also attained the foremost rank in the state at Red Cross.
the Bar and in Masonry.
Cornelius Nolan died in Butte on June 24, 1922, and his
Nolan moved to Montana to become private secretary wife Harriet died seven years later, August 23, 1929, at
to the general manager of the freight and passenger Lake McDonald. They are buried at Forestvale Cemetery,
service of the Northern Pacifi c Railroad. However, not Helena, Montana.
long after his arrival in Montana, he resigned his railroad
position to become offi cial court reporter for the First
Judicial District of Montana, which included Lewis and
Clark, Jeff erson, and Beaverhead counties. Reporting
for Judges N.W. McConnell and Henry L. Blake,
Nolan received training which was of great value in his
subsequent career. Nolan was elected County Attorney
of Lewis and Clark County in 1889. Chosen on the
Democratic ticket, he held the position by re-election for
fi ve years. In 1896, he was elected Attorney General of
Montana. During this four-year term, Nolan took charge
Volume 95 Number 1 Montana Freemason Page 5