In 1913, Fairview was in its infancy, it was a very promising field for any business to relocate and start up an establishment. Such was the case of Roy J. Cowles. He opened the first law office in Fairview, establishing himself in the office of the Fairview Times. His admission to the Montana bar was accomplished by recommendations and proof of qualifications.

Roy was born Oct. 17, 1885, near West Concord, Minn., to Eddy and Cora (Vanderhyde) Cowles. Five children were born of this marriage. His paternal grandfather, Demarcus L. Cowles, had been one of the early settlers of Minnesota.

Roy’s father, Eddy, received limited education, but under his father’s (Demarcus Cowles) instruction became well-trained in agricultural pursuits. He took up a homestead claim in Moody County, S.D., where he spent seven years being employed as a farmer and butcher. Returning to West Concord, Eddy took up farming and started raising pure blood stock, first breeding Durham and Holstein cattle, but later started raising Poland China Hogs. He had extensive holdings of land in Montana, which was being developed under the supervision of his son Roy, under the irrigation project that was reclaiming much of the land around Fairview. Roy graduated from West Concord High School in 1903 and taught school for a year in South Dakota and a year in Minnesota. He entered Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn, to continue his studies in the classical department and then worked his way through the law department of the University of Minnesota. Odd jobs he held while continuing with his studies were a clothing salesman for the Plymouth clothing company, then a clerk for the J.I. Case Threshing Company until the panic of 1907 threw him out of a job.

The Panic of 1907, also known as the 1907 Banker’s Panic, was a financial crisis that occurred in the United States when the New York Stock Exchange fell close to 50 percent from its peak the previous year. Panic occurred as this was during a time of economic recession, and there were numerous runs on banks and trust companies. The 1907 panic eventually spread throughout the nation when many state and local banks and businesses entered into bankruptcy.

After losing his job, Roy went to work as a collection clerk for the law firm of Deutsch, Allen & Brading, and upon completing his law course, he opened a collection and real estate office in Minneapolis, Minn., in the Security Bank Building.

Although there were no attorneys in the Cowles family, Roy was directed toward the law as a profession through the influence of his grandfather Vanderhyde, who was a wide reader, well informed on politics and history, and was gifted as a talker and debater. While at his home, Roy was encouraged to select a profession; his wish to become a lawyer met with no opposition. Roy graduated from the University of Minnesota in June 1909 and was admitted to the Minnesota bar upon his diploma. On Jan. 23, 1913, after a successful experience of four years as a lawyer, he opened the first law office in Fairview.

His first court case was one for damages against the Great Northern Railway Company, which had acquired possession to a piece of the right-of-way under the “right of eminent domain.” The land involved was in North Dakota and comprised seven acres of the proposed yards of the railroad company in Fairview. Cowles and his associates won the case in the trial court, and it was again won in the Supreme Court.

Roy was also identified with the county division fight. It was staged in the spring of 1913 after his arrival. Roy was one of the opposers of the proposition to divide Dawson County, but the battle was lost and Richland County was formed. Roy drew up the incorporation papers transforming the Village of Fairview into a city and served as the first city attorney.

As secretary of the local of the local Commercial Club in 1913, he took a prominent part in the adjustment of the differences between the government and the farmers. He also drew up the papers for the chartering of the Fairview Brick Company, the Albert Hotel Company and the Alling Mercantile Company. He served as attorney for the Bank of Fairview and for the Security State Bank.

While a student at the University of Minnesota, Roy met Miss Lillian Bennett. Lillian graduated from the University of Minnesota and specialized in history and economics, winning the Bryn Mawr scholarship for that university. During the time she was taking her university work, she taught in the Duluth schools and was principal of the Bellview schools.

After her graduation, she spent two years in the work of the Associated Charities in Minneapolis. Roy and Lillian Cowles had three children, Roderick J., Logan Bennett and William Eddy. During World War I, Roy was one of the three members of the Legal Advisory Board of the county and one of the “four minute” speakers.

Both Roy and Lillian were active in the battle waged for statewide prohibition, working in the cause until Montana Prohibition passed.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Information compiled from “The Montana History.”