March 16 – On this day in Montana History in 1901 a unique document was created that is now part of the Montana Historical Society Archives collection. After a bitter fight in the Montana Legislature a bill was passed in February changing the name of Deer Lodge County to Daly County in honor of Copper King Marcus Daly. After a court fight and several other less dignified fights, the law was soon changed. But on March 16 Judge Welling Napton signed a document declaring that William Kelleher formerly of Ireland was now a U.S. naturalized citizen. The county listed was “Daly” not Deer Lodge. Even though Daly, who was an ardent Irish supporter, eventually lost the war, he was probably pleased that the document bearing his name as that of the county declared that Kelleher “renounced allegiance and fidelity” to King Edward VII of England.