Judson B. Losee

Some biographical information I found about Judson Losee:

(History of Montana, by Joaquin Miller, 1894 USGENWEB Montana Archives May be copied for non-profit purposes.)

Hon. Judson B. Losee, a prominent businessman and enterprising citizen of Anaconda, Montana, was born in Genesee County, New York, August 26, 1849. He is a descendant of French ancestors who were early settlers in Canada. His father, Dr. James Losee was born in New York State and was married to Elizabeth Mathews, also a native of New York State. They spent their lives in Genesee County where he was a successful practicing physician for many years, his death occurring there in the seventy-second year of his age. His widow still survives him, and is now (1894) eighty years of age. They had nine children, of whom only four are living. Judson B., the subject of our sketch, is the youngest of the family. He was educated in the public schools and when his older brother enlisted in the service of their country, in 1861, the work of a man devolved upon him, at the early age of thirteen years. Soon afterward he began to do for himself as a clerk in a store, and followed that occupation for ten years.

In 1878 Mr. Losee came up the Missouri River to Fort Benton, reaching that historical town on June 11. He clerked two years for Raleigh & Clark in Helena, and then, in partnership with A.G. Clark, Jr. opened a store at Glendale and did a successful business there for several years. After severing his connection with Mr. Clark, Mr. Losee formed a partnership with Charles Armstrong, and they did a banking and mercantile business there for a number of years and also had branch stores at Hecla, Lyon and Twin Bridges. In 1886 they sold out their business in Glendale to the Hecla Mercantile & Banking Company and built his present brick block in Anaconda. This building is 25 x 120 feet, is located at 110 Main Street, one of the best business locations in the city and is stocked with a fine assortment of dry goods, boots, and shoes and gentlemen's furnishing goods; and here Mr. Losee has since been doing an extensive retail business. In 1888 he took in as partner who had been his bookkeeper at Glendale for seven years and the firm name has since been Losee & Maxwell. Mr. Losee was married in 1869 to Alice Flagg, a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan and daughter of Mr. Isaac Flagg of that city. They have three children, Gracie, Bessie and Harry.

Chronological notes from IOGR files are:

1880 Jun 1 - Census has him listed at Glendale, Beaverhead County, M.T. as Judson B. Losee, age 30, married, spouse not listed, a dry goods merchant from New York.

1880 - Atlantis ad shows dry goods merchant

1882 Jul 29 - noted in the Dillon Tribune, Z.E. Thomas has sold out his interest in the firm of Thomas & Armstrong to J.B. Losee, former partner of A. G. Clarke.

1882 Oct 3 - In a Dissolution Notice that appears in the Butte Miner, it is stated that the partnership of Z. Edwin Thomas and Charles Armstrong, dealers in merchandise at Glendale, Lion City and Hecla, has been dissolved by mutual consent. Thomas has sold his entire interest in the entity to Judson B. Losee. All accounts payable and receivable have been assumed by the new venture known as Armstrong and Losee.

1883/84 - listed on the Beaverhead County top taxpayers list, published in the Dillon Tribune.

1886 Sep 10 - The Dillon Tribune mentions that during a meeting of the Glendale Republicans, Mr. Losee was elected as chairman.

1887 Jul 29 - Tribune notes, "J B Losee and Ed. Maxwell, formerly of Glendale, are going to open a dry goods store in Anaconda...."

1896 - Anaconda city directory lists Judson B Losee, occupation at Losee & Maxwell, residence at 216 East Fourth Street.

1900 Jun 5 - Census - listed at Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, Montana is Judson Losee, age 49, married 29 years, a merchant from NY; Alice is 49, from Canada, has borne 3 children, all are living and they are: Grace 24, Bessie 19 and Harvey is 14.

1910 Apr 19 - Census - listed at 1601 Palm Ave., Seattle, King County, Washington is Charles Armstrong, age 52, married for the past 31 years, a wholesale merchant, from Mn/Can/NY; wife Bertha E. is 48, married past 31 years, has borne 8 children, just 2 survive. They are Carl E. age 25, married for one year, from Montana; and Cora E. is 22, single and of Washington. Also here is friend Judson E. Losee, age 60, married for 39 years, from NY/Wi/NY; a dry goods merchant, o/a.

1910 Apr 25 - Census - listed at Long Beach, LA County, California is Judson B Losee, age 60 of NY/unk/unk; own income; Alice A is 59, has borne 3 children, all living and is from Can/Can/Can. (note: since Judson shows up on census in Seattle also, most likely Alice furnished the info here in his absence, accounting for the "unk" nativity source of his parents.)

1920 Jan 20 - Census - listed at Long Beach, LA County, California is Judson B Losee, age 70 of NY/NY/NY; chief clerk at railroad; wife Alice is 68 and from Can/Can/Can; daughter Grace is 44, single, born in Michigan and not employed.

1930 Apr 14 - Census - listed at Long Beach, LA County, California is Grace Losee, head of house, age 54, single, a stenographer for a letter shop, from Mi/NY/Can; father Judson B Losee is 80, from NY/US/NY; mother Alice is 78 and from Can/Can/Can. A note states that she is staying with son on Vista Drive.

source:: http://www.glendalemt.com/Biographies/Losee_Judson.htm

Note: Sometime between 1900 and 1905 he served as a Trustee for the City of