Joseph Kemp Toole
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| 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. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Western Military Institute, New Castle, Kentucky |
| Occupation | Lawyer[2] |
| Signature |  |
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Joseph Kemp Toole (May 12, 1851 – March 11, 1929) was a Democratic politician from Montana.[3] He served as the first and fourth Governor of Montana.
Toole was born in Savannah, Missouri and attended public school in St. Joseph, Missouri. In 1868, he graduated from the Western Military InstituteinNew Castle, Kentucky with honors.[4] He moved to Helena, Montana in 1870; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871 and commenced practice in Helena. Toole was 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, in 1890 and they had three children.[5]
Toole was a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention at Helena in 1884 and 1889, and elected as a Democrat 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[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 in 1892 and 1904.
He served as the fourth Governor 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]
During retirement, Toole divided his time between his home in Helena and San Francisco, California, until his death on March 11, 1929, at the age of 77. He is interred at Resurrection Cemetery in Helena, Montana.
Media related to Joseph Toole at Wikimedia Commons| Party political offices | ||
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| First | Democratic nominee for Governor of Montana 1889 |
Succeeded by Timothy E. Collins |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee for Governor of Montana 1900, 1904 |
Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana Territory's at-large congressional district March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 |
Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Montana 1889–1893 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Montana 1901–1908 |
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| One at-large seat (1993–2023) |
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