Old Missoula

Last of the Blacksmiths in Missoula

Blacksmith of Many Years in Missoula Quits

John Doll Says Days of the Trade Are Gone. Succeeded by Garage.

After being engaged in the blacksmithing business in Missoula for nearly 50 years, John Doll has turned the key on his shop at 221 West Broadway and retired.

The old place is being remodeled to become a garage and will open as such within a few days, Mr. Doll said.

“Blacksmithing is over. The business has been dropping off from year to year until a blacksmith shop is almost a curiosity,” Mr. Doll said Thursday.

“Well I can remember the days when we had from 8 to 20 head of horses to be shod in a day. Now we do not have that many in a year. In the height of the horseshoeing days and in the prime of life, I have shod as high as 21 horses alone in a day. But there were not many of those days, as 21 horses to be shod represent a lot of work.”

He recalled that in the earlier days in Missoula when racing was popular he had shod some of the fastest horses on the tracks in those days.

Mr. Doll, who is nearing 73 years of age, has been actively engaged in the blacksmith business for 55 years, he said Thursday. He started his trade in Germany in 1880, and came to
America in 1882. Four years later in 1886 he came to Missoula. After a short time here he engaged in the business for himself in a shop on West Front street. “I came to the last location here on Broadway just 29 years ago next Saturday,” Mr. Doll said.

“I have never regretted locating in Missoula. I am glad that I came here and have enjoyed a good business during the good days, and I thank the people of Missoula for the patronage they gave me during the 49 years I was in business here.

“I hope that my successor with his garage business enjoys the same business that I did when blacksmith shops were a necessity.”

The passing of the Doll blacksmith shop leaves but one, that of J. S. West, 136 West Front street.

 

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on August 16, 1935.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/352384591/?terms=%22John%2BDoll%22

 

John Doll passed away in Missoula in 1962, at age 99. His obituary, from The Missoulian on October 20, 1962, appears below:

John Doll Dies In 100^th Year

A resident of Missoula for 76 years, John Doll, 99, 610 W. Spruce St., died in a local hospital late Thursday night. Funereal services are pending with Marsh, Powell & Livingston Mortuary in charge.

Mr. Doll was born Feb. 23, 1863, in Reiden, Germany, and came to the United States in 1882, and to Missoula in 1886. He was apprenticed to a wagonmaker in Germany and learned the blacksmith trade after coming to this country.

He operated a blacksmith shop from 1887 until his retirement in 1937. The business was located for 49 years at 221 W. Broadway. He was president of the blacksmith union for 10 years.

Mr. Doll was married to Cora Lincoln March 6, 1901, in the Odd Fellows Hall in Missoula. They live in the home on Spruce street for 61 years.

He was a former member of the Odd Fellows and Woodmen of America, of which he was commander for two years.

Survivors besides the widow include a grandson, Al Ham, Missoula; a granddaughter, Mrs. Cora Jepsen, San Jose, Calif.; six great-grandchildren and a son-in-law, A. H. Ham Sr. Missoula.

 

John and Cora Doll were the parents of Wynona Doll, who married Albert Ham of Butte in 1928.

 

James S. West.

The “last” real blacksmith in Missoula, according the above article about John Doll, was James S. West who died in Missoula in September of 1962. He was born in Pony, Mt. in 1883, grew up in Willow Creek, and learned the blacksmith trade in Bozeman while a young boy. He had shops in Ennis, Norris, and Virginia City. He arrived in Missoula in 1917 and had shops in various places around the area. He retired from the business in 1961. He married Dorothy Stow in Missoula in 1921. His widow, three daughters and 16 grandchildren survived him.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/349454407/?terms=James%2Bwest