Lee Mantle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lee Mantle
United States Senator from Montana
In office January 16, 1895 – March 3, 1899
Preceded by	Wilbur F. Sanders
Succeeded by	William A. Clark
Mayor of Butte, Montana
In office 1892–1893
Preceded by	Henry J. Mueller
Succeeded by	Eugene O. Dugan
Speaker of the Montana Territory House of Representatives
In office 1889–1889
Preceded by	F. K. Armstrong
Succeeded by	Charles P. Blakely (As Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives)
Member of the Montana Territory House of Representatives from Silver Bow County
In office 1889–1889 Serving with E. Congdon, W. H. Roberts
Preceded by	C. W. Hanscom, William Thompson
Succeeded by	L. T. Schmidt, J. K. Clark, F. T. Courtney, J. A. Hogan, H. L. Frank, W. J. Penrose, J. W. Gilligan, A. M. Day, A. M. Dusseault, W. Thompson (As members of the Montana House of Representatives)
In office 1887–1889 Serving with C. W. Hanscom, William Thompson
Preceded by	J. T. Baldwin, John F. Forbis, W. O. Speer
Succeeded by	Lee Mantle, E. Congdon, W. H. Roberts
In office 1883–1885 Serving with John F. Forbis, Daniel O'Grady
Preceded by	John M. Bell, Israel Clem, Stephen DeWolfe, C. B. Houser, R. G. Humber, J. K. Pardee (from Deer Lodge County
Succeeded by	J. T. Baldwin, John F. Forbis, W. O. Speer
Personal details
Born	Theophilus Washington Mantle (1851-12-13)December 13, 1851 Birmingham, England
Died	November 18, 1934(1934-11-18) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California
Resting place	Mount Moriah Cemetery, Butte, Montana
Political party	Republican Silver Republican
Spouse	Etta Daly (M. 1922-1934, his death)
Children	1
Occupation	Newspaper publisher Businessman
Signature

Lee Mantle (December 13, 1851 – November 18, 1934) was an important American businessman and politician from Montana. He was a member of the Republican Party. He is best known for serving as a United States Senator for Montana from 1895 to 1899.

Mantle was also a newspaper publisher and a successful businessman. He invested in real estate, mines, and insurance companies. His career shows how people could achieve success in the American West during the late 1800s.

Early Life and Moving to America

Lee Mantle was born as Theophilus Washington Mantle in Birmingham, England on December 13, 1851. His father passed away before he was born. His mother, Mary Susan Mantle, took care of the family.

In 1864, his mother decided to move the family to the United States. They settled in Salt Lake City, Utah. After some time, his mother felt that the church missionaries had not been fully honest about certain church practices. Because of this, the Mantle family decided to leave their church affiliation.

First Jobs and Moving West

Lee Mantle started working at a young age to help his family. When he was 10, he worked for his room and board. He spent several years as a cattle herder and farm worker. He earned about $50 a year, which was a good amount of money then.

At 16, he got a job with the Union Pacific Railroad. He drove teams of oxen to haul supplies for building the railroad. After the Transcontinental Railroad was finished in 1869, Mantle walked about 125 miles to Malad City, Idaho. There, he worked for Benjamin F. White, driving an ox team at a salt factory.

Learning Telegraphy and Business Ventures

In 1872, Mantle learned how to operate a telegraph. He agreed to maintain the Western Union telegraph line between Green River, Utah and Ogden, Utah during the winter. In 1873, he became a telegrapher on a stagecoach line between Corinne, Utah and Helena, Montana.

A year later, he bought the telegraph station near Haskell Pass in Flathead County, Montana. He worked as the Western Union operator and postmaster. He also bought a share in a toll road through Monida Pass.

Starting a Political Career in Montana

In 1877, Mantle sold his businesses in Haskell Pass. He moved to Butte, Montana, which was a growing mining town. He worked as a telegrapher for Wells Fargo and also started Butte's first insurance company.

Mantle quickly became involved in local politics as a Republican. He helped lead the effort to make Butte an official city. This effort was successful, and in 1880, Mantle was elected to Butte's first city council.

Newspaper Publisher and Legislator

In 1881, Mantle started the Daily Inter Mountain newspaper. This was the first Republican newspaper in Western Montana. Through his newspaper, Mantle became a key leader for the Republican Party in Montana. He helped shape the party's ideas and organization.

He was elected to the legislature of Montana Territory in 1882. He served again in 1886 and 1888. In 1889, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the House for the territory's last legislature.

Mayor of Butte and National Politics

Mantle was a delegate to the 1884 Republican National Convention. This is where the Republican Party chooses its candidate for president.

In 1890 and 1892, Mantle was the chairman of Montana's state Republican convention. In 1892, he was elected mayor of Butte and served one term.

Serving as a United States Senator

In 1893, there was an open U.S. Senate seat for Montana. Governor John E. Rickards appointed Mantle to fill the spot. However, the U.S. Senate decided not to let him join. They said the governor could not make an appointment if the state legislature was meeting.

Election to the Senate

The Senate seat remained empty until January 1895. At that time, the Montana Legislature finally elected Mantle to the position. He served a partial term from January 16, 1895, to March 3, 1899.

In the Senate, Mantle was part of the Finance Committee. He worked to change a tariff law called the Dingley Act. These changes would help wool growers.

Supporting Free Silver and Timber Interests

Mantle also supported the Free silver movement. Many miners in Montana believed that allowing silver to be used as money would make their mines more valuable. Because of this belief, Mantle joined the Silver Republican Party in 1896 and became its chairman in Montana.

Another important issue for Mantle in the Senate was protecting Montana's timber (forest) interests. In 1897, President Grover Cleveland set aside six million acres of forest land as a timber reserve. Mantle believed this would hurt Montana's mining companies, which needed timber to build and expand mines. He also thought it would harm logging companies. After William McKinley became president, he reduced the size of this timber reserve.

Mantle ran for reelection to the Senate in 1899 but was not successful. He returned to the Republican Party in 1900.

Later Life and Family

After leaving the Senate, Mantle went back to his business interests. He owned parts of an electric company, real estate, mines, and insurance companies. He was also active in community groups like the Masons and the Elks.

Mantle continued to be involved in Republican politics in Montana. He was a delegate to state and national Republican conventions. In 1904, he declined to run for governor but became the state Republican Party chairman.

In 1902, Mantle was chosen to lead Montana's efforts for two big events: the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis and the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon. He was in charge of creating and managing Montana's displays at these events.

In 1921, Mantle moved to San Francisco, California. He later moved to Los Angeles.

Marriage and Son

Lee Mantle was a bachelor for most of his life. In 1922, at the age of 70, he married Etta Daly. She was 25 years old, and he had known her since she was a child. They were married until his death in 1934. They had one son, Lee Mantle Jr. (1922-1985).

Lee Mantle passed away in Los Angeles, California, on November 18, 1934. He was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Butte, Montana.