Transcribed by Anna Newell
AYERS, Roy Elmer
(1882—1955)
AYERS, Roy Elmer, a Representative from Montana; born on a ranch near Lewistown, Fergus County, Mont., November 9, 1882; attended the rural schools and Lewistown High School; was graduated from the law department of Valparaiso (Ind.) University in 1903; was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Lewistown, Mont.; also became engaged in ranching and the raising of livestock; served as attorney of Fergus County, Mont., 1905-1909; member of the Montana Board of Education 1908-1912; judge of the tenth judicial district of Montana 1913-1921 and justice of the State supreme court from January 1922 until his resignation on November 22, 1922, when he resumed the private practice of law in Lewistown, Mont.; during the First World War served as chairman of the Fergus County Exemption Board; delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1920 and 1940 and to every State Democratic Convention 1906-1940; elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1937); was not a candidate for renomination, but was a successful candidate for Governor of Montana and served in that office from January 4, 1937, until January 6, 1941; resumed his ranching activities; died in Lewistown, Mont., May 23, 1955; interment in Lewistown City Cemetery.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present; contributed by A. Newell
Transcribed by Barbara Ziegenmeyer
Professor Henry A. Davee
Prof. Henry A. Davee. A man of broad mental attainments and excellent executive ability, professor Henry A. Davee, superintendent of the city schools of Lewistown, has met with well-deserved success in his professional career, and has gained distinctive recognition as one of the foremost educators of Fergus County. A son of the late Zachariah Davee, he was born, July 29, 1872, in Martinsville, Morgan county, Indiana, but spent a large part of his earlier life in Illinois.
Zachariah C. was a native of Illinois. His birth having occurred in Martinsville, Clark County, in 1840. As a young man he spent several years in Indiana, in the township of Martinsville, but on returning to Illinois with his family took up his residence in Coles County, that state. Eventually he removed to Kansas, and there spent his last years, dying in 1908, at the age of sixty-eight years. He married Elvira King. Who was born in Indiana in 1842, and died in Illinois in 1882.
The second child in a family of three children, Henry A. Davee was but three years old when his parents moved from Indiana to Illinois, which was his home during the ensuing fifteen years.When the family migrated to Kansas. He received his preliminary education in the public schools of Illinois. And later attended the Kansas normal collage at Fort Scott. Coming to Montana in 1897, Mr. Davee entered the teacher's profession, and, with the exception of one year spent as a student in the state normal collage.
At Dillon, taught in the public schools for six years, meeting with good success in his work. Entering the University of Wisconsin in 1904, he was there graduated with a degree of Ph.B., and the following year was superintendent of schools at Roseburg, Oregon. Returning to Montana, Professor Davee accepted the management of the schools at Lewistown, which under his supervision have made noteworthy advancement in various lines, new courses of study having been introduced, and newer methods of teaching, while the efficiency of each department has been increased.
Lewistown has, indeed, reason to be proud of her educational institutions, which rank favorably with any in the state. The proper housing of the school children of the city is being solved by the Lewistown board of education, which is making a through study of the best way of heating, ventilating, and obtaining the best possible sanitary conditions for its school buildings, the city being perfectly willing to spend money for the benefit of children.
The corps of instructors in the schools are men and women of talent and culture, nine-tenths of them being collage or normal school graduates, and many of the specialists in their particular studies. A thorough training, is given in the fundamental branches of learning, while special instruction in music, art, domestic economy and science, and in mechanics, the industrial department. With its well equipped shops being an important feature of the industrial training given to the boys. The new Garfield School building is one of the best in the county, and the new Lincoln School building is not surpassed in the beauty of its architecture, its furnishings, and its equipments by any building of a similar nature in the state.
In the domestic science department of schools the girls are taught how to use thimble and needle; the various kinds of stitches. And how to make them; how to use a sewing machine; and the art of cutting and fitting patterns; the making of underwear and dresses; and the cooking of plain and fancy dishes; the aim being to help prepare the girls for home makers and keepers, many of them becoming competent cooks and dressmakers through the lessons first learned in the schoolroom.
A stanch democrat in politics professor Davee takes much interest in public matters. But is not an office seeker. On November 5, 1912, he was elected state superintendent of public instruction on the democratic ticket. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of the Independent Order Of Odd Fellows, in which he passed all the chairs; and of the Modern Woodmen Of America, in which he has filled all the offices. He also belongs to the Outlook Club, of which he is now president. He is very loyal to the state of his adoption, and says that Montana spells opportunity to the man who is honest. And willing to work.
Professor Davee married, December 24, 1902, at Chinook, Montana, Mabel Flinders, daughter of John and Mary Flinders. And into the household thus established two children have made their appearance. Chalmer and William Robert.
HENRY A DAVEE
First taught In rural schools of Bourbon County, Kansas in 1891
Principal of schools in Corvallis, Montana 1898 & 1899
Superintendent of schools in Chinook, Montana 1899 - 1905
Hoquiam, Washington 1905 - 1904
Roseburg, Oregon 1906 - 1907
Lewistown, Montana 1907 - 1915
Montana State Superintendent of Schools 1915 - 1917
Director of Teachers' Training
State Normal College in River Falls, Wisconsin 1917 - 1925
President of Murphy College in Eastern Tennessee 1925 - 1928
Superintendent of schools in Geraldine, Montana 1928 - 1955
Plains, Montana 1955 - 1941
Source: History of Montana by Helen Fitzgerald Sanders Published 1913 Vol. 3 Pages 1584 & 1585
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