For the photos, newspaper articles and other information on this web page, we are grateful to our cousin Colleen and to the family of Lovezila Halloran, especially her great-grandson Jim and his daughter Blaire.

Our grandfather's brother and sister-in-law John and Lovezila Halloran

Death and Burial of John Halloran -- Summer 1892

The people of this community were shocked upon receiving the news of death of John Halloran last Thursday. John Halloran was one of the early settlers of Clark City, the first name of this city which later became Livingston. Last Thursday he was engaged in collecting stray horses near his ranch on the Stillwater river about twenty-five miles from the village that bears that name, on the Crow reservation. A storm came up and was exceedingly severe in the locality in which Mr. Halloran was at work, but he did not heed the storm but kept on. In crossing a high divide of Grand creek he was struck by lightning and instantly killed. After the storm his body was taken home and then brought to this place for burial. The funeral ceremony took place last Thursday and was very largely attended, attesting the high esteem in which the deceased was held by his numerous friends at this place.

John Halloran was born in at Towanda, Penn. and raised at Lock Haven in the same state, and when he grew to manhood he began life in the service of one of the railroad companies at that place. In 1879 he came west to Mandan, N. D., and was employed by the Northern Pacific R.R. Co. as a conductor. In 1880 and 81 he was engaged in business at Bismarck, N.D., and left there in 1882 and came to Livingston and formed a co-partnership with John Lampson. At that time this city was going under the name of Clark City, and the town was experiencing a boom and business was moving up towards Park and Main streets, and Mr. Halloran bought a lot on Park street and built a two story building thereon. Later he moved his place of business to Main street, and went out of business in 1884 and located a ranch on Deep creek. He again entered the employ of the N.P. and was night yardmaster two years. He was injured in 1888 by being crushed between two cars and was never able to resume work on the railroad again. After recovering sufficiently to get around he turned his attention to stock raising and was located on the Crow reservation. In this business he was quite successful and succeeded in amassing considerable property. In 1891 he was united in marriage to Miss Ladella Flanagan, who was for many years one of the successful teachers in the schools at this place. The deceased leaves a wife but no children, one brother and a sister at Bismarck, Dak., two sisters at Fargo, one at Helena, one at Buffalo, N.Y., and one at Erie, Pa., to mourn his untimely death.

The following remarks were made by ex-alderman D.I. Donovan at the grave.

My Friends,

We gather here this afternoon, to pay the last tribute we can on earth, to one so suddenly taken from our midst. It has pleased the Almighty to take our friend of many years to the Great Beyond, and we come to testify by our care of his earthly remains, our regard for his many virtues and pray to our God, that his few errors may rest lightly in judgement against him.

Of our friend departed there is none upon whose lips there is aught but words of praise for his honesty, sobriety and industry, his genial and charitable character, for the low and the high, the rich and the poor -- the open hand of good-fellowship was extended to all. Many left behind are indebted for bygone acts of charity and friendliness, given with open hand and generous heart and we feel assured that credit for such is before the judgement seat where his soul is now fled. Though no kindred but his grief stricken wife are here present, the numerous gathering of his friends will be a testimony to those that are left, that one of their blood has lived his life such, that he leaves hundreds of mourning friends in this distant land and that the last offices that can be extended to him on earth are done with many loving hands.

We come not to extol his virtues and to pass judgement on his errors, but come with kind hands and heavy hearts to consign all that is earthly to mother earth, and pray to God that he may rest forever in peace.

Los Angeles Times August 30, 1951 BIG JOB -- Jimmy Bates, 9, and his sister Beverly, 11, help their great-grandmother, Mrs. Lovezila A. Halloran, blow out 100 candles on her birthday cake.

Woman's Life Spans Century of U.S. Progress

One hundred years ago when Millard Fillmore was President, the War Between the States was still 10 turbulent years away, and Wells Fargo was making transportation history with its fast express to California, a girl was born on a farm near Columbus, Ohio.

Yesterday she (now Mrs. Lovezila A. Halloran) was given a birthday party at 2010 W. Washington Blvd.

She managed -- with the aid of her great-grandson, Jimmy, 9, and great-granddaughter, Beverly, 11, -- to blow out the 100 candles on her birthday cake without even ruffling the white orchid at her shoulder.

Booklet Tells History

The orchid she wore was sent by her grandson-in-law, James E. Bates, who with her granddaughter, Mrs. Thelma Bales, are parents of the children. Two other orchids lent delicate color to the pile of gifts Mrs. Halloran received.

An unusual feature of the 100th anniversary was a booklet prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Bates, who live at 2059 Balmer Drive. It was given to the guests. In brief paragraphs, marked by various of Mrs. Halloran's birthdays, a whole century of growth and life in the United States is recounted.

Halted by Buffalo

Occasionally there are such items as: "20 years -- I traveled across the plains of Montana in a covered wagon, and we had to camp for three days awaiting passage of a tremendous herd of buffalo."

And, "41 years -- My husband was killed by lightning (on their Montana homestead) and I transported his body by team and wagon 90 miles to Livingston for burial. It took me 10 days as there were no roads or trails and I had to travel at night and hide in the daytime because of bands of marauding Indians."

The item that brought chuckles, however, was, "70 to 79 years -- The awful years of flivvers, flappers, flagpole sitters, prohibition and prosperity."

Mrs. Halloran has outlived all her direct descendants except the Bates family. She does have one nephew here. He is E. A. Winstanley, Los Angeles County Chief Deputy Public Administrator.