Archives West Finding Aid

Charles W. Cooley was born on May 10, 1894 in Laurin, Montana, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Cooley. His father was from Ohio, and his mother's parents came to Virginia City, Montana Territory, looking for gold. Charles Cooley's great-grandfather was a boyhood friend of Abraham Lincoln in Kentucky, and his grandmother was the "accepted" doctor of the Virginia City community, even though she had no formal training. Charles's family moved to Virginia City when he was nine years old, and he lived there until he was twenty. During his early years, Charles worked in the Butte mines, and later in the office of Goodyear Tire Company. He traveled for various tire and car companies for several years. He became the owner of Cooley Chevrolet in Lewistown, Montana, in 1939. He was an active participant in many business and economic development projects in Lewistown. He served on several local boards, and served as chairman of the Montana Citizens Committee on the State Legislature from 1966 to 1972. He raised and bred Arabian horses and served as chairman of the board of the Central Montana Fair and Rodeo in Lewistown for three decades. Charles W. Cooley died in Lewistown on November 14, 1980.