Governor of the Montana Territory. Benjamin Franklin White was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, and received his schooling at the nearby Pierce Academy. Having been raised in a seaport, it was no surprise that White began his life as a merchant sailor. His career at sea was brief. Following his second voyage, he preferred to remain in California, where he found work in the Napa Valley supervising a fruit farm. Later he traveled to Idaho, where he engaged in the salt making business, and furthered his education by reading the law. He was admitted to the Bar, and by 1868 he was the Clerk for the United States District Court. In 1876 White moved to the Montana Territory, and was the founder of both the town of Dillon and the First National Bank of Dillon. Subsequently he served two terms as the Mayor, and in 1882 was elected to a term in the Montana Territorial Legislature. In 1889 President Benjamin Harrison selected White as the Governor of the Montana Territory, an appointment which lasted from April 9, 1889 until November 8, 1889. His administration’s main focus was to create a new constitution for Montana, and to guide the Territory into statehood. Following Montana’s admission as a state, White returned to the Montana House of Representatives, where he served as the Speaker, and later was elected to the Montana State Senate. He died in Dillon, Montana on December 4, 1920.
Governor of the Montana Territory. Benjamin Franklin White was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, and received his schooling at the nearby Pierce Academy. Having been raised in a seaport, it was no surprise that White began his life as a merchant sailor. His career at sea was brief. Following his second voyage, he preferred to remain in California, where he found work in the Napa Valley supervising a fruit farm. Later he traveled to Idaho, where he engaged in the salt making business, and furthered his education by reading the law. He was admitted to the Bar, and by 1868 he was the Clerk for the United States District Court. In 1876 White moved to the Montana Territory, and was the founder of both the town of Dillon and the First National Bank of Dillon. Subsequently he served two terms as the Mayor, and in 1882 was elected to a term in the Montana Territorial Legislature. In 1889 President Benjamin Harrison selected White as the Governor of the Montana Territory, an appointment which lasted from April 9, 1889 until November 8, 1889. His administration’s main focus was to create a new constitution for Montana, and to guide the Territory into statehood. Following Montana’s admission as a state, White returned to the Montana House of Representatives, where he served as the Speaker, and later was elected to the Montana State Senate. He died in Dillon, Montana on December 4, 1920.
Bio by: Ernest
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