Individual Details
George Augustus HORKAN
(4 Jul 1876 - Nov 1933)
George, who became a prominent judge in Montana, did not have the best start in life, losing his mother at the age of five and his father in a drowing accident just four years later.
It is not known who raised George and his younger sister after the death of their parents but we do know that George emigrated to the United States in 1890s. He lived initially in Montana, presumably because he had an uncle, George J. Horkan, who had settled there. In Montana the younger George worked as a ranch hand (on his uncle's farm?) for a couple of years until he had saved enough money to move to Washington, D.C. where he found employment in the government Printing and Census Department. He remained in the job for five years, during which time he attended night school, completing a preparatory course in the Flynn Preparatory and Business College. He subsequently began law studies at Georgetown University, graduating in 1902. A year later he returned to Montana where was admitted to the bar. He lived in Forsyth, Montana for many years where he practiced law and was active in the Republican party. He also had farming and other business interests in Forsyth and served as County Attorney for two terms and was appointed clerk of the Forsyth Board of Education. Between 1921 and 1925 he served as judge of the old Fifteenth Judicial District of Montana, comprising the counties of Rosebud, Musselshell, Treasure and Golden Valley. Around 1928 he moved to Bozeman, Montana where he continued to practice. He died about five years later at the age of 57.
It is not known who raised George and his younger sister after the death of their parents but we do know that George emigrated to the United States in 1890s. He lived initially in Montana, presumably because he had an uncle, George J. Horkan, who had settled there. In Montana the younger George worked as a ranch hand (on his uncle's farm?) for a couple of years until he had saved enough money to move to Washington, D.C. where he found employment in the government Printing and Census Department. He remained in the job for five years, during which time he attended night school, completing a preparatory course in the Flynn Preparatory and Business College. He subsequently began law studies at Georgetown University, graduating in 1902. A year later he returned to Montana where was admitted to the bar. He lived in Forsyth, Montana for many years where he practiced law and was active in the Republican party. He also had farming and other business interests in Forsyth and served as County Attorney for two terms and was appointed clerk of the Forsyth Board of Education. Between 1921 and 1925 he served as judge of the old Fifteenth Judicial District of Montana, comprising the counties of Rosebud, Musselshell, Treasure and Golden Valley. Around 1928 he moved to Bozeman, Montana where he continued to practice. He died about five years later at the age of 57.
Events
| Birth | 4 Jul 1876 | Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo | |||
| Marriage | 11 Sep 1906 | Forsyth, Montana - Marie NEWNES | |||
| Death | Nov 1933 | Veterans' Hospital, Sheridan, Wyoming | |||
| Burial | Sunset Hills Cemetery, Bozeman, Montana |
Families
| Spouse | Marie NEWNES (1880 - 1949) |
| Child | Miriam J. HORKAN (1908 - ) |
| Child | George Warren HORKAN (1909 - ) |
| Child | Carroll Virginia HORKAN (1910 - ) |
| Child | Kathleen HORKAN (1913 - 1972) |
| Child | William G. HORKAN (1916 - 1975) |
| Father | Patrick Thomas HORKAN ( - 1885) |
| Mother | Mary Kate MONAHAN ( - 1881) |
| Sibling | Mary Josephine HORKAN (1879 - 1944) |