Thomas Charles Power (May 22, 1839February 16, 1923) was a Republican senator from

Montana Montana ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota to the east, South Dakota to the southeast, Wyoming to the south, an ...

and an American businessman.

Early life, education, and career

Born near

Dubuque, Iowa Dubuque (, ) is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. The population was 59,667 at the 2020 United States census. The city lies along the Mississippi River at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a region ...

, on May 22, 1839, Power attended public school and graduated from Sinsinawa College with a degree in engineering. He then worked as a surveyor in

Dakota Dakota may refer to: * Dakota people, a sub-tribe of the Sioux ** Dakota language, their language Dakota may also refer to: Places United States * Dakota, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Dakota, Illinois, a town * Dakota, Minnesota ...

until 1860, when he entered the employ of an engineering company. There, he participated in government land surveys covering much of

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

and what was then the

Dakota Territory The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of ...

."Thomas C. Power Taken By Death At Helena Home", ''The Missoulian'' (March 17, 1923), p. 1. Between 1861 and 1867, he was primarily engaged in trade along the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

, eventually becoming president of a steamer line. Power first came to Montana in 1864, partnering in his enterprises with his brother, J.W. Power. After settling in

Helena Helena may refer to: People *Helena (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Katri Helena (born 1945), Finnish singer * Saint Helena (disambiguation), this includes places Places Greece * Helena ...

in 1876, Power started T. C. Power and Bro, which was a mercantile company through the northwestern

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and western

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

Senate service and later life

In 1889, Power ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Montana, winning the nomination of the Republican Party on the first ballot, but losing the general election to Democratic candidate

Joseph Toole Joseph Kemp Toole (May 12, 1851 – March 11, 1929) was a Democratic politician from Montana. He served as the first and fourth Governor of Montana. Biography Toole was born in Savannah, Missouri and attended public school in St. Joseph, Mis ...

, the only Democrat on the state ticket that year to be elected. A conflict erupted over the respective roles of the governor and the state legislature in appointing the first two members of the

United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...

for the state, but on January 2, 1890, the Republican-controlled legislature elected Power to the second seat,"Elected Senator From Montana", ''Chicago Tribune'' (January 3, 1890), p. 2. which he then held until March 3, 1895. Power died at his home in Helena on February 16, 1923, and was interred in Resurrection Cemetery. The town of

Power Power may refer to: Common meanings * Power (physics), meaning "rate of doing work" ** Engine power, the power put out by an engine ** Electric power, a type of energy * Power (social and political), the ability to influence people or events Math ...

in Montana is named after him.Encyclopedia Dubuque, Thomas Charles Power
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References

1839 births 1923 deaths People from Montana Territory Republican Party United States senators from Montana People from Dakota Territory Sinsinawa Mound College alumni Montana Republicans 19th-century United States senators {{Montana-politician-stub