Biographical Sketches

DENNIS DRISCOLL

DENNIS DRISCOLL, one of the leading merchants of Basin, Jefferson county, Mont., was born in County Cork, Ireland, in April, 1839.  He is the son of Patrick and Mary Driscoll, the father being a prosperous farmer in County Cork.  Dennis remained at home, assisting his father on the farm until he was fifteen years of age, and received a good education in the public schools.  In 1854 he came from Ireland to the United States and located at first in Newark, N. J., where he was for some time engaged at work in a malleable iron foundry.  In 1861 he went to San Francisco, and he was employed in mining in California until 1863, when he came to Boise City, Iowa, and continued in the occupation of a miner until 1866, in which year he came to Montana, locating in Silver Bow county, near Butte.  For awhile he continued placer mining, but in 1876 he returned to New York, where for some time he was in the grocery business.  In 1877 he came back to Montana, settling at Walkersville, Silver Bow county, where he again went into trade.

Mr. Driscoll opened the first store in Walkersville and in 1885 started a store in Basin and in 1898 he removed to that place to give this business his personal attention, having previously disposed of the store at Walkersville, and he is firmly established as one of the enterprising, successful and highly respected citizens.  In 1877 Mr. Driscoll was married to Miss Mary Taaff, daughter of John Taaff, a florist of Newark, N. J.  Their children are: Anna, Ellen, Mamie, Margaret, Dennis, Jr., and John.  Mr. Driscoll is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and was for four years treasurer of the lodge in Walkersville.  Financially and socially he has been successful during his residence in Montana, and he is a popular member of Basin's highest circles of society.

Source: Transcription from the book, Progressive Men of the State of Montana, author and publication date unknown; located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 15 June 2022.

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