# Joseph Toole

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American politician

For the member of parliament, see [Joseph Toole (British politician)](/source/Joseph_Toole_(British_politician)).

Joseph Kemp Toole 1st & 4th Governor of Montana In office November 8, 1889 – January 1, 1893 Lieutenant John Rickards Preceded by Benjamin F. White as governor Montana Territory Succeeded by John Rickards In office January 7, 1901 – April 1, 1908 Lieutenant Frank G. Higgins Edwin L. Norris Preceded by Robert Smith Succeeded by Edwin Norris[1] Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana Territory's at-large district In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 Preceded by Martin Maginnis Succeeded by Thomas H. Carter Personal details Born May 12, 1851 Savannah, Missouri, U.S. Died March 11, 1929(1929-03-11) (aged 77) Helena, Montana, U.S. Party Democratic Alma mater Western Military Institute, New Castle, Kentucky Occupation Lawyer[2] Signature

**Joseph Kemp Toole** (May 12, 1851 – March 11, 1929) was a [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) politician from [Montana](/source/Montana).[3] He served as the first and fourth [Governor of Montana](/source/Governor_of_Montana).

## Biography

Toole was born in [Savannah, Missouri](/source/Savannah%2C_Missouri) and attended public school in [St. Joseph, Missouri](/source/St._Joseph%2C_Missouri). In 1868, he graduated from the [Western Military Institute](/source/Western_Military_Institute) in [New Castle, Kentucky](/source/New_Castle%2C_Kentucky) with honors.[4] He moved to [Helena, Montana](/source/Helena%2C_Montana) in 1870; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871 and commenced practice in Helena. Toole was [district attorney](/source/District_attorney) of the third judicial district of Montana (1872–1876), and a member of the Montana Territorial House of Representatives (1879–1881), and member and president of the Montana Territorial Council (1881–1883). He married Lily Rosecrans, daughter of General [William Rosecrans](/source/William_Rosecrans), in 1890 and they had three children, including [Warren Toole](/source/Warren_Toole).[5]

## Career

Toole was a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention at Helena in 1884 and 1889, and elected as a [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses (March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889);[6] he did not seek renomination in 1888.

Toole was the [first Governor of Montana](/source/List_of_Governors_of_Montana)[7] (the only Democrat on the ticket that year to be elected), serving from November 8, 1889, until January 1, 1893. He resumed practice of law in Helena. Toole was a delegate to the [Democratic National Conventions](/source/Democratic_National_Convention) in 1892 and 1904.

He served as the [fourth Governor of Montana](/source/List_of_Governors_of_Montana) from January 7, 1901, until April 1, 1908, when he resigned because of ill health. During his tenure, county treasurers were authorized to collect taxes on personal property, and there was legislation to ensure mine safety and mineworker protection.[8]

## Death

During retirement, Toole divided his time between his home in Helena and [San Francisco, California](/source/San_Francisco%2C_California), until his death on March 11, 1929, at the age of 77. He is interred at Resurrection Cemetery in Helena, Montana.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Former State Governors"](http://www.netstate.com/states/government/mt_formergov.htm). www.netstate.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Stout, Tom (1921). *Montana, Its Story and Biography – Vol I*. Chicago: American Historical Society. p. 444.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-jtoole_3-0)** Tribune Staff. ["125 Montana Newsmakers: Joseph K. Toole"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165553/http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers2/toole.html). *Great Falls Tribune*. Archived from [the original](http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers2/toole.html) on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Montana Governor Joseph Kemp Toole"](http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_montana/col2-content/main-content-list/title_toole_joseph.html). National Governors Association. Retrieved October 10, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["MISS ROSECRANS MARRIED"](https://www.nytimes.com/1890/05/08/archives/miss-rosecrans-married.html). *New York Times*. May 8, 1890. Retrieved September 11, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Joseph Toole"](http://www.montanahistory.net/governors/toole.htm). The Encyclopedia of Montana. Retrieved October 9, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["A Brief History of Montana"](http://mhs.mt.gov/education/studentguide/HistoryOfMontana.asp). The Official Website for the State of Montana. Retrieved October 10, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Joseph Toole"](http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_montana/col2-content/main-content-list/title_toole_joseph.html). National Governors Association. Retrieved October 9, 2012.

## External links

- Media related to [Joseph Toole](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Joseph_Toole) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Works by or about Joseph Toole](https://archive.org/search.php?query=%28%28subject%3A%22Toole%2C%20Joseph%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Joseph%20Toole%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Toole%2C%20Joseph%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Joseph%20Toole%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Toole%2C%20J%2E%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Joseph%20Toole%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Toole%2C%20Joseph%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Joseph%20Toole%22%29%20OR%20%28%221851-1929%22%20AND%20Toole%29%29%20AND%20%28-mediatype:software%29) at the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

- [National Governors Association](http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_montana/col2-content/main-content-list/title_toole_joseph.html)

- [The Encyclopedia of Montana](http://www.montanahistory.net/governors/toole.htm)

- United States Congress. ["Joseph Toole (id: T000312)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000312). *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress)*.

- [Joseph Toole](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7174026) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

Party political offices First Democratic nominee for Governor of Montana 1889 Succeeded by Timothy E. Collins Preceded by Robert Burns Smith Democratic nominee for Governor of Montana 1900, 1904 Succeeded by Edwin L. Norris U.S. House of Representatives Preceded by Martin Maginnis Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana Territory's at-large congressional district March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 Succeeded by Thomas H. Carter Political offices Preceded by Benjamin F. White Governor of Montana 1889–1893 Succeeded by John Rickards Preceded by Robert B. Smith Governor of Montana 1901–1908 Succeeded by Edwin Norris

v t e Governors of Montana Territorial (1864–1889) Edgerton Meagher G. Smith Ashley Potts Crosby Carpenter Hauser Leslie White State (since 1889) Toole Rickards R. Smith Toole Norris Stewart Dixon Erickson Cooney Holt Ayers Ford Bonner Aronson Nutter Babcock Anderson Judge Schwinden Stephens Racicot Martz Schweitzer Bullock Gianforte

v t e United States representatives from Montana Territorial (1865–1889) Seat McLean Cavanaugh Clagett Maginnis Toole Carter One at-large seat (1889–1913) Seat Carter W. Dixon Hartman Campbell Edwards J. Dixon Pray Two at-large seats (1913–1919) Seat Evans Seat Stout Rankin Districts (1919–1993) 1st district Evans McCormick Evans Monaghan O'Connell Thorkelson Rankin Mansfield Metcalf Olsen Shoup Baucus Williams 2nd district Riddick Leavitt Ayers O'Connor D'Ewart Fjare Anderson Battin Melcher Marlenee One at-large seat (1993–2023) Seat Williams Hill Rehberg Daines Zinke Gianforte Rosendale Districts (2023–present) 1st district Zinke 2nd district Rosendale Downing

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States Israel People US Congress Other Open Library 2 SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joseph Toole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Toole) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Toole?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.