Levi Boots Pendroy's parents were James Martin and Sarah Jane (Baldwin) Pendroy
After the civil war in 1883, many Pendroys including the James M. Pendroy (Levi Boots Pendroy's parents) and other Pendroy families went west in a covered wagons.
These Pendroy families founded what was referred to as the Pendroy Colony in the North Dakota Territory which became Pendroy, North Dakota near the current towns of Velva and Towner N. D. in the Mouse/Souris River area in north central North Dakota. (McHenry County)
In addition, Levi Boots Pendroy mentioned above later became the namesake for Pendroy, Montana, once a town of over 400 but with about 100 people now in 1998.
According their own family branch, both James Andrew Pendroy and Levi Boots Pendroy started the town of Pendroy, Montana. I base this on the written comment in 1941 biography of James (b 1862) Martin Pendroy, written by his son Charles Pendroy in 1941.
B 1861 at Otley Iowa - D 1955 in Long Beach Cal. at age 93. "Pendroy was born in Otley, (Marion Co,) Ia., and as a young man in company with his father and three brothers, traveled in a covered wagon to the Mouse River of North Dakota and settled in that area. Later a post office was established and named Pendroy, North Dakota.
The following information was published in the publication "Pendroy, a Wide Spot In The Road", 1991, Pendroy Book Committee, Griggs printing and Publishing: Page 3, Author Diane Bingham:
"In 1916 the Great Northern Railroad announced the extension of their north - south railroad line from Bynum to Porter bench. It was at this point that Pendroy (Montana) was born. In these early years Louis W. Hill, son of James Hill, was president of the Great Northern Railroad. James Hill met L.B. Pendroy west of Devil's lake, Dakota Territory in 1885 while he was scouting this country for a possible route for his railroad."
Pendroy was one of the early pioneer homesteaders and businessmen of Teton County, Montana. LB had been a surveyor and associate of James Hill the builder of The Great Northern railroad. When this line pushed their branch north of Choteau in 1916, they named the terminus Pendroy to honor LB.
Go to page about the current town of Pendroy Montana.
The Choteau Montana county paper ran an article in 1955 on the death of James M. Pendroy's son Levi Boots Pendroy at age 93 also stating this.
The full text of the 1955 Choteau county Montana paper article from 1955 contains a picture of the elderly Levi B. Pendroy.
(Here is the full unaltered text of the newspaper article about Levi B. Pendroy.)
Late L.B. Pendroy Worked for Jim Hill.
Article from 1955 "The Acantha" newspaper - Teton County Montana (Choteau)
Levi Boots Pendroy, 93 - Teton County pioneer and one-time associate of Jim Hill, died Jan. 25 at long Beach, Calif., and was entombed in the Los Angeles Abbey Mausoleum Feb. 2.
Pendroy was born in Otley, Ia., and as a young man in company with his fathers and three brothers, traveled in a covered wagon to the Mouse River of North Dakota and settled in that area. Later a post office was established and named Pendroy, North Dakota.
Subsequently L.B. Pendroy joined in building the Great Northern Railroad through North Dakota and his daughter, Mrs. Patricia M. of Long Beach, Calif., writes The Acantha that, "Dad was Jim Hill's right hand man. He helped him survey, and many nights slept under a tree or any other shelter he could find with Jim Hill." Hill was the world famous builder of the Great Northern Railway.
When this line pushed north of Choteau at a later date, they named the terminus Pendroy, in honor of L.B. Pendroy, as he was one of the early homesteaders and businessmen of that area of Teton County.
In 1911, Pendroy brought a huge Rumley engine out on the bench and broke sod, planting flax and wheat on the virgin land.
He and his family moved from Pendroy to California a number of years ago. Survivors are three daughters. ...
One was listed from Canada and two other daughters were listed from California. The name of Mrs. Levi Boots Pendroy was Jesse Robinson.
It is believed by the author that there were 4 children. They had children Luella, Martha and Charles identified in the picture. Another daughters first name mentioned in the obituary was Patricia. Their only son Charles (pictured above) died in a farm equipment accident as a young man in Pendroy Montana.
Author note: About 15 years ago some of my relatives contacted some people in Pendroy, Montana asking about L.B. Pendroy. Of course we were all curious about how the town got its name and who the founder was. An older woman of the town of Pendroy Montana knew of them and this information was provided in the letter. "L.B. also had a brother named Jim (James A. Pendroy) who lived and farmed in this area. ....LB and Jim were called the Wheat Kings of Montana". They were some of the first farmers in this area to own tractors or combines. Jim had children by the names of Claude and Floyd. The Ritenour family bought the Pendroy land in 1924 and 1926. The original Pendroy home burnt down sometime in the late 20's or early 30's. It is believed that all the Pendroys moved to California."
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