BIOGRAPHIES

J. Arthur Hall

J. ARTHUR HALL. - In the business life of the thriving little city of Big Timber, Sweet Grass county, Mr. Hall occupies a position of prominence and influence.  He is president of the Big Timber National Bank, and the principal factor in its organization.  He is yet a young man, but is recognized as an able financier and enjoys the respect and confidence of the public by reason of the honorable and straightforward business policy which he has ever followed.  He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution.  Mr. Hall is a native of Nashua, Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he was born on March 24, 1862, being one of the seven children of Jacob D. and Anna M. (Brooks) Hall, both of whom were born in the old Empire state.  In 1856 the father removed with his family to Nashua, Iowa, where he erected the first frame building in the town.  He engaged in farming near the little pioneer village, wherein he retained his residence, and witnessed the progress of the place to an attractive town of considerable importance.  In the public schools of his native town J. Arthur Hall received his preliminary education and continued his studies until 1878, when he matriculated in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette, and there completed his education.  Mr. Hall entered upon his business career by taking a position in a lumber and grain commission house, but at the expiration of six months he resigned to accept a position in the Commercial Bank at Milford, Dickinson county, Iowa, where he remained three years and thus acquired a thorough and intimate knowledge of banking methods and the details of counting-house operations.  He was then offered a position in the Sac County State Bank, at Sac City, which he accepted and served efficiently as cashier for three years.  In 1891 he came to Big Timber, Mont., effected the organization of the Big Timber National Bank, and served until 1898, when he was elected president and has since been at the head of the institution.  As chief executive he has administered the affairs of the bank with signal ability, giving to the institution prestige as a solid and well conducted monetary establishment.  The bank began operations in a somewhat modest way, but its business has steadily increased and it now carries deposits amounting to more than $300,000.  In 1893 Mr. Hall became prominently identified with the sheep industry in Sweet Grass county, having had at times as many as 20,000 head on the range.  He is also president of the Midland Coal & Lumber Company, with headquarters at Big Timber, the corporation being of recent organization but one that contemplates extensive operations.  The bank building is one of the finest structures in the town, having been specially erected therefor in 1897.  The building is of stone and is thoroughly metropolitan in design and equipment.

In politics Mr. Hall renders allegiance to the Republican party, but has never sought or desired official preferment.  When in 1895 the bill was passed creating Sweet Grass county, Mr. Hall was one of the chief supporters and promoters of the act.  In 1896 he received the nomination for state senator, but refused the honor on the grounds that the exactions of his business would not justify the acceptance.  In 1899 he was appointed one of the commissioners to whom was assigned the duty of selecting a site for the postoffice and federal building in Butte, Mont.  In 1901 Mr. Hall was appointed a member of the board of county commissioners and made chairman of the board, his interest in the welfare of the county being such that he did not refuse to render service in this capacity.  On November 16, 1892, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Emetine Marks, who was born in Sac City, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas J. Marks, one of the pioneers of Iowa.  To our subject and wife three daughters have been born: Ruth, who is deceased, Irene and Helen.

Source: Transcription from the book, Progressive Men of the State of Montana, author and publication date unknown, pages 1381-1382, located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 30 June 2022.

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