Edward Softley
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Edward Softley

family confidence: 0 — not family / context

Co-founder with person_james_murphy_son_of_pat_and_ellen and John F. Forbis Jr. of the Murphy-Softley exclusive ladies' apparel store (West Park st Butte), opened 1 March 1920. Former Hennessy's display manager (17 years' service prior to 1920). The 1920 Butte Miner story says "probably no man in the west surpasses Mr. Softley in window dressing."

Facts

Each fact shows how sure the archive is of it (0–100) and the sources it rests on.

Residence:
Butte, Montana
DateFactConf.Sources
1903emigration · 'Mr. Softley came to Butte 21 years ago' (Jan 1924), i.e. about 1903; his retirement 'marks the termination of 21 years connected with merchandising in Butte' (Butte, Montana)

Two papers; the year is computed from '21 years'.

901924-01-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5; 1924-01-02 — The Anaconda Standard, p.5
1903-1920employer · the Hennessy company: 'display manager and for a time superintendent of the Hennessy store, his employment with that company covering a period of 17 years' (1920); 'with the Hennessy company ... for 18 years' (1924) (Butte, Montana)

Four printings in two papers; 17 against 18 years is a counting difference.

1001920-03-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5; 1920-03-01 — The Anaconda Standard, p.6; 1924-01-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5; 1924-01-02 — The Anaconda Standard, p.5
1920-03-01event · with James J. Murphy and John F. Forbis Jr. bought the controlling interest in the Brown company, operating the store known as Green's on West Park street; Murphy and Softley took possession and the active management on 1 March 1920 (Butte, Montana)

Two papers (the Standard's text proofed 4 Oct 2026).

1001920-03-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5; 1920-03-01 — The Anaconda Standard, p.6
1920-10event · the Murphy-Softley company's window of Printzess garments was entered in the Printz-Niederman window display contest (Butte, Montana)

The firm is named, not Softley; that he dressed the window is an inference from his trade (60).

601920-10-24 — The Anaconda Standard, p.32
1923-03employer · partner in the Murphy-Softley company, 'women's furnishings house, at 22 West Park street': 'The firm is composed of James J. Murphy and Edward W. Softley' (Butte, Montana)

Printed.

951923-03-04 — The Anaconda Standard, p.10
1924-01event · 'severed his connection as an active member of the company' / 'retired from Murphy-Softley' to market the furniture polish he invented ('Supe-R-Shine', Butte Miner; 'Super-Shine', Anaconda Standard) (Butte, Montana)

Two papers.

1001924-01-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5; 1924-01-02 — The Anaconda Standard, p.5
—name · printed 'Edward Softley' (1920), 'Edward W. Softley' (1923) and 'E. W. Softley' (1924)

Same man in each story.

1001920-03-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5; 1923-03-04 — The Anaconda Standard, p.10; 1924-01-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5
—description · 'probably no man in the west surpasses Mr. Softley in window dressing and displaying goods for sale' (1920); 'making a reputation as a window dresser, his displays attracting attention frequently in national apparel magazines' (1924)

Newspaper praise, in the papers' words.

951920-03-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5; 1924-01-02 — The Anaconda Standard, p.5

Nexus

Open the full web →
×6×2×2×2James Joseph "James J." M… — 6 shared sourcesJames Joseph "James J." M…E. A. Brown — 2 shared sourcesE. A. BrownJohn F. Forbis Jr. — 2 shared sourcesJohn F. Forbis Jr.D. J. Hennessy — 2 shared sourcesD. J. HennessyEdward Softley

blood relationmarriageother documented tienamed in the same sources (×count)circle colour = family branch

Appears with

Sources linking to this person

<25 — Namesake / flag / context — 6

  • 1920-03-01 — The Anaconda Standard, p.6CHANGES ARE MADE IN BROWN COMPANY
    role: founding_partner_subject · identity 100 family confidence on this source: 0 · as printed: EDWARD SOFTLEY

    Identity: Named and pictured as a buyer (proofed).

  • 1920-03-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5WELL KNOWN BUTTE MEN BUY EXCLUSIVE PARK STREET STORE
    role: subject_secondary · identity 100 family confidence on this source: 0 · as printed: Edward Softley

    Identity: Named and pictured as a buyer of the store.

  • 1920-10-24 — The Anaconda Standard, p.32BUTTE FIRM ENTERS WINDOW DISPLAY CONTEST
    role: store_co_proprietor_and_window_dresser · identity 50 family confidence on this source: 0 · as printed: Murphy-Softley

    Identity: Names the Murphy-Softley company only; not Softley himself.

  • 1923-03-04 — The Anaconda Standard, p.10MURPHY-SOFTLEY CO. TO OBSERVE ANNIVERSARY
    role: subject_principal · identity 100 family confidence on this source: 0 · as printed: Edward W. Softley

    Identity: 'Edward W. Softley' as partner.

  • 1924-01-01 — The Butte Miner, p.5SEVERS CONNECTION WITH APPAREL STORE — E. W. Softley Will Devote His Time to Marketing New Invention.
    role: subject · identity 100 family confidence on this source: 0 · as printed: E. W. Softley

    Identity: Story about him ('E. W. Softley').

  • 1924-01-02 — The Anaconda Standard, p.5SOFTLEY RETIRES TO BUILD NEW LINE — Member of Murphy-Softley Firm to Put Polish Invention on the Market.
    role: subject · identity 100 family confidence on this source: 0 · as printed: E. W. Softley

    Identity: Story about him ('E. W. Softley').

Person ID: person_edward_softley_butte