This story is an overview of the life and lifetime contributions of Frank B. Connelly. It was taken from a book entitled, "Montana, Its History and Biography", and was written in 1921, before Frank's death.
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| Portrait from "Montana, Its History and Biography" |
"Frank B. Connelly, one of the oldest and solidest business men of Billings, has been a resident of that city over thirty years, coming here after an experience in the wholesale hardware business in Chicago. He has used his early training and his ability to promote and build up one of the largest wholesale establishments in the Northwest, conducted under the title of F. B. Connelly Company, of which he is sole owner.
Mr. Connelly, who is also a member of the Montana State Senate, was born at Middletown, Iowa, September 5, 1862. His great-grandfather Connelly came from the north of Ireland to Pennsylvania in colonial times. His father, Samuel J. Connelly, who was born at Mingo, near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1831, was reared and married at Mingo, was a graduate of Washington College in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and soon after marriage moved to Middletown, Iowa, and in 1866 settled at Galva, Illinois. He spent two years as a farmer there and then moved to Toulon, Illinois, where he was in the livestock and butchering business. He died at Galva in 1904. During the Civil war he served as a member of the State Guards, was a republican always and an active member of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Samuel J. Connelly married Mary Johnson, who was born near Pittsburg in 1833 and died at Middletown, Iowa, in 1865. She was the mother of five children, Frank B. being the youngest. The oldest, Alice Anna, lives at Galesburg, Illinois, widow of George P. Flint, who was a farmer and stock shipper. Thomas J. died in September, 1915, at his farm twelve miles west of Billings. F. L. Connelly was in the insurance business and died at Lewis, Iowa, in 1913. William, the other child, died in infancy. Samuel J. Connelly married for his second wife Eliza J. Kennedy, who was born in Pennsylvania and died near Pittsburg. She was the mother of two children, one of whom died in infancy. Her surviving daughter is Mrs. Nannie M. Flannigan, wife of a carpenter and building contractor at San Diego, California.
Frank B. Connelly acquired his education at Toulon, Illinois, leaving high school at the age of eighteen. In the meantime he had learned the trade of cheese maker. When nineteen years old he went to Chicago and for four years was connected with one of the large wholesale hardware firms of that city and acquired a thorough knowledge of the business in every detail.
On coming to Montana in 1885 Mr. Connelly became connected with the hardware and implement house of Babcock & Miles at Billings. In 1894 the business was changed to the A. L. Babcock Hardware Company and Mr. Connelly was one of the active officials of the concern until August 1, 1904. He served as secretary and manager. During 1904 he was cashier of the Yellowstone National Bank, but in August of that year started his independent enterprise as a wholesale implement dealer. The business has since been known as the F. B. Connelly Company. This company is the distributing agency for some of the best known automobile and machinery houses in America. They handle the Holt Caterpillar engines and Combined Harvester for Montana and Wyoming, the Austin and Western lines of contractors and road building machinery the Marion Steam Shovel Company wares, the Garford motor trucks and Troy trailers, the Ford cars and trucks for Billings and vicinity, and the Fordson tractor. The plant and offices of the F. B. Connelly Company are at 423 North Broadway.
It is a familiar truth that the business man is often the most useful citizen of any community. Mr. Connelly was twice elected an alderman in Billings. He was elected to serve as a member of the House of Representatives during the eleventh session in 1909, and during that session was a member of the ways and means, banks and banking, towns and counties committees, and he introduced a bill requiring the railroads to maintain a bulletin at the depots for the reporting of the arrivals and departures of trains. He was also instrumental in amending the drainage law of that session. Mr. Connelly was elected a member of the State Senate in November, 1918, and during the 1919 session was chairman of the compensation committee in the Senate, chairman of the joint compensation committee, and a member of the finance and claims, insurance and highways committees. The bill providing for the location of a State Normal School at Billings was one that received his active and special support. Mr. Connelly, at his own expense, circulated the petition among the members of the House and the Senate to the governor to call an extra session to devise ways and means to use Montana stone instead of Indiana limestone in public building construction in Montana. The session was called and Mr. Connelly was successful in carrying the measure through. He was a member of the Republican National Convention that nominated William H. Taft for president.
Mr. Connelly is a republican in politics. He is affiliated with Ashlar Lodge of Masons, Billings Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Billings Commandery, Knights Templar, Billings Consistory of the Scottish Rite, and Bagdad Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Butte. He is a charter member of Billings Lodge of Elks and was the third exalted ruler of the lodge. He has been prominent in the Billings Midland Club, which incorporates the Chamber of Commerce, serving as president of the latter body in 1918, and as president of the Midland Club in 1919. In every way possible Mr. Connelly has exerted his influence in behalf of war auxiliary movements, and is president of the War Chest Fund of Billings. One of his sons was in the war as an officer.
Mr. Connelly married at Burke, Wisconsin, December 1, 1885, Miss Flora E. Hart, a daughter of Rev. J. C. and Faithful (Holmes) Hart, both now deceased. Her father was a Baptist minister. The living children of Mr. and Mrs. Connelly are noted briefly as follows: Frank G., who received a high school education at Billings and is associated with his father in business; Lieutenant Kenneth A., who attended high school and was a student in Beaver Dam Academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, when the war came on, and went with the National Army to France, serving with the rank of lieutenant until mustered out in February, 1919, and is now connected with his father's business; Lenora D., a graduate of the Polytechnic Institute at Billings and wife of Homer L. Guiler, connected with the F. B. Connelly Company; Glenn Hart, a student in the Billings High School; and Dean, a grammar school pupil."
[Montana, Its Biography and History, Volume 2. Transcribed by Vicki Bryan]
