SUMMARY

Edward Ira was a World War 1 veteran, Federal Marshal, Post Master, in Montana, Wyoming, and Washington State.

Edward Ira was the third child and second son of famed Quartermaster Sergeant Paschal Conley Jr. of the Buffalo Soldiers. His mother was Mary Jones Conley.

While traveling across the Upper Midwest on the Northern Pacific Railroad, from Oregon to Idaho, through North Dakota, and to Minnesota, he was often treated as any White man would be. This undoubtedly helped him execute his duties as a military guard and Federal Marshall protecting gold, silver, gems, currency, bank notes, and transporting dangerous outlaws who characterized the Wild West.

In retirement, Paschal and his beloved wife Mary began taking part in the social life of the town. In 1907, Paschal became as the president of the Colored Co-operative League for the region. His wife Mary was elected the treasurer.

Edward Ira Conley grew up on Fort Assinniboine in Havre, Montana as a child. At 14, his family moved into the nearby town of Havre.

Life was predictable and safe on the Fort, but not easy at all. The Fort was once one of the most important forts in the U.S., with 10 companies of infantry and cavalry. It encompassed 704,000 acres and 104 buildings, with a bakery, laundry, blacksmith, general store, chapel, post office, hotel, library, hospital and a school. Although the fort was a self-sustaining compound, the weather was harsh.

Edward didn’t see his father much as a child. Lieutenant Conley was on duty most of the time, and rarely at home. He was at Colonel Pershing’s side on one expedition after another across the American West, culminating with the Spanish-American War in Cuba. He retired in 1906 after his posting at Fort Robinson in Nebraska.

In 1905, life changed for Edward Ira at 14 years old. The Conley Family moved into Havre, in 1906. He performed well in high school, as his father Pashcal Jr. began spending a great deal more time with his family. He became a substantial land owner in town, building four different houses. Paschal’s prominence grew which created more opportunity for his children.

Meanwhile, Fort Assinniboine closed in 1911.

The core of Edward Ira Conley’s story begins with the Green Bottom Inn & Equestrian Center. There, Edward Ira’s great-grandparents, James & Jane Conley, managed the resort’s operations and staff.

James Conley was initially trained as coach and carriage driver, then as an ‘avener’ and equerry, managing all of the horse and stable matters. His son, Paschal, was his ‘Groom’ caring for the horses.

The owners of many Southern equestrian sporting centers wanted their operations managed in the tradition of European nobles. This meant an avener reported to the stable master with complete responsibility for the horses, including walking and training schedules, feeds,  and veterinary care.

All of this allowed James Conley’s son, Paschal Conley Sr., to be trained as a stable and livery manager. Young Paschal Sr. would greet the guests’ horse-drawn carriages and tend to them for the duration of their stay. His brothers would repair the coaches and their wheels, paint them as needed.

After the death of James Conley’s father, Green Bottom resort founder, John Oldham Connally, in 1845, the resort closed. The Conley siblings took their various trade skills to the market as entrepreneurs. The children of James & Jane Conley would eventually accumulate considerable wealth by selling their skills throughout the Tennessee Valley and the Western frontier.

The Parents of Edward Ira Conley were his father, Sgt. Paschal Conley Jr. and Mary Jones Conley. His father Sgt. Paschal was the son of Paschal Sr. and a popular Buffalo Solider with the 24th Calvary at the time of Edward’s birth.

Edward Ira Conley was born in the ‘Wild West’ at Fort Buford in North Dakota in 1892.

Fort Buford is today a national monument to the spirit of the settlers of the Western Frontier.