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Prominent in the business circles of the State of Montana
John E. Davis
iHe is the pioneer wholesale grocery man of
Butte City. He is a nephew of Andrew Jackson Davis, deceased, a son of John A.
Davis, and a brother of A. J. Davis, all prominent in the history of this
part of the country, and mention of whom is found else- where in this work.
John E. Davis was born in Rockford, Illinois, July 24, 1858, and was reared
and educated in Chicago. He began his business career when he was sixteen
years of age, and for eight years from that time was connected with the
real-estate business of E. A. Cummings & Company. In 1884 he came to Butte
City, Montana, and, in partner- ship with his father, started their wholesale
grocery business. The partnership continued until 1888, when John E.
purchased his father's interest and became sole owner. He has since continued the
business with increasing prosperity. He wholesales to dealers in his own
city and does a large business throughout the southern part of the State.
During the early years of his residence here he traveled extensively over the
State, visiting every little hamlet and mining camp and thus establishing a
trade which has since been uninterrupted, many of their earliest customers
still dealing with the house. The fact that his old customers stand by
him, is the strongest proof of Mr. Davis' honorable dealings and his
popularity. He buys his goods for cash in the best markets of the United States and
hence obtains the inside price on all goods.
The brick building he occupies, at the northeast corner of Arizona and
Park streets, was built by the firm and affords ample facilities for his
extensive trade. Mr. Davis was married in 1883 to Miss Tenie B. Irons, a native
of Chicago, and the daughter of James Irons, of that city. They have two
children,—Aggie and Tenie, both born in their beautiful home in Butte City.
In his political views, Mr. Davis is in harmony with the Democratic party.
He is a member of the Silver Bow- Club of Butte City.
Ethelbert S. Becker, a prominent merchant and hanker of Forsyth, Montana,
is a member of the firm of Alexander & Becker, extensive dealers in general
merchandise, and bankers. He was born at Selma, Alabama, in 1863, a son of
Duane O. Becker, a prominent business man of Selma.
E. S. Becker received a good, practical business education, came to
Montana in 1883, and in the spring of 1889 became associated with Thomas
Alexander in the general mercantile business, which he had established in 1883.
They have built up a large trade and are doing an extensive mercantile and
banking business. The bank was established March, 1892, and is named the
Merchants' Bank. Cash capital, $20,000; Thomas Alexander, president; E. S.
Becker, cashier. Mr. Becker is also largely interested in the sheep industry and
in real estate, and has a fine residence. He is a modest gentleman, as
practical, safe business man, and well and favorably known. Is a Democrat. He
and Mrs. Becker are social favorites in Custer county. Mr. Becker was
married in December, 1888, to Miss Mattie Sears, a daughter of J. D. and Mary A.
(Devall) Sears, of Glendive, Montana. Her father is a rancher and stockman
in Dawson county, this State, and is a native of the State of New York. Mr.
Becker has two children,Leland S. and Helen.
Dr. T. J. Murray, founder of the Murray-Freund Hospital, at Butte City,
Montana, is a gentleman of intrinsic worth as a benefactor to his race. He
ranks with the leading members of the medical profession in Montana, and is
therefore entitled to more than a passing notice on the pages of this work.
A resume of his life is as follows: Dr. T. J. Murray was born in Newport,
Tennessee, July 30,1855. The Murray's were early settlers of Virginia, and
later were residents of Tennessee, and it was in Greene county, Tennessee,
that James C. Murray, the Doctor's father, was born and reared. He removed
from there to Cocke county, where he was a successful grain and stock
farmer. His wife, net Elizabeth Manning, was also a native of Tennessee and a
descendant of one of the old families of the South. They reared a family of
seven children, all of whom are living, occupying honor- able and useful
positions In life. The parents are worthy members of the Baptist Church, and
are as highly esteemed as they are well known.
Dr. Murray is the eldest in his father's family. He was reared in his
native county and was given the best of educational advantages. After attending
a private school for some time, he took a course in Roanoke College,
Virginia, and then devoted his time and attention to the study of medicine,
first attending lectures at Nashville, and later at Philadelphia. Having
completed his medical course, Dr. Murray entered upon the practice of his
profession in the swamps of Mississippi, and continued there three years. He then
came West to Colorado, where he practiced three years, and in 1885, came
from there to Butte City. Here he at once established himself in practice, and
has since met with eminent success. In 1890, seeing the need of a hospital
in Butte City for the care and treatment of the sick, he devoted his
energies to the founding of such an institution, the result being the
Murray-Freund Hospital, a boon to suffering humanity and a monument to the Doctor's
skill and enterprise. This hospital is a fine building, 40x100 feet, four
stories high, and fitted and furnished throughout with all the modern
conveniences for the comfort and successful treatment of the sick.
While Doctor Murray conducts a general practice, he makes a specialty of
surgery in all its departments, and in this specialty has had signal
success, his fame as a surgeon extending far and near. Frequently he is called in
consultation, both in general practice and in surgery. He is a member of
the State and County Medical Societies, the State Board of Medical Examiners,
and the Board of Railroad Surgeons, and he is also employed by all the
railroad companies having lines running to Butte City. Dr. Murray was happily
married, July 24, 18S9, to Miss Margery K. Ketlsey, who was born in Ohio
and reared and educated in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both the Doctor and his wife
have hosts of friends in Butte City.
source: An illustrated history of the state of Montana 1894
Ethelbert S. Becker, a prominent merchant and hanker of Forsyth, Montana,
is a member of the firm of Alexander & Becker, extensive dealers in general
merchandise, and bankers. He was born at Selma, Alabama, in 1863, a son of
>Duane O. Becker, a prominent business man of Selma.
E. S. Becker received a good, practical business education, came to Montana
in 1883, and in the spring of 1889 became associated with Thomas Alexander
in the general mercantile business, which he had established in 1883. They
>ecker, cashier. Mr. Becker is also largely interested in the sheep industry
> and in real estate, and has a fine residence. He is a modest gentleman, as
> practical, safe business man, and well and favorably known. Is a Democrat.
> He and Mrs. Becker are social favorites in Custer county. Mr. Becker was
> married in December, 1888, to Miss Mattie Sears, a daughter of J. D. and
> Mary A. (Devall) Sears, of Glendive, Montana. Her father is a rancher and
> stockman in Dawson county, this State, and is a native of the State of New
> York. Mr. Becker has two children,Leland S. and Helen.
>
> Dr. T. J. Murray, founder of the Murray-Freund Hospital, at Butte City,
> Montana, is a gentleman of intrinsic worth as a benefactor to his race. He
> ranks with the leading members of the medical profession in Montana, and is
> therefore entitled to more than a passing notice on the pages of this work.
> A resume of his life is as follows: Dr. T. J. Murray was born in Newport,
> Tennessee, July 30,1855. The Murray's were early settlers of Virginia, and
> later were residents of Tennessee, and it was in Greene county, Tennessee,
> that James C. Murray, the Doctor's father, was born and reared. He removed
> from there to Cocke county, where he was a successful grain and stock
> farmer. His wife, net Elizabeth Manning, was also a native of Tennessee and
> a descendant of one of the old families of the South. They reared a family
> of seven children, all of whom are living, occupying honor- able and useful
> positions In life. The parents are worthy members of the Baptist Church, and
> are as highly esteemed as they are well known.
>
> Dr. Murray is the eldest in his father's family. He was reared in his
> native county and was given the best of educational advantages. After
> attending a private school for some time, he took a course in Roanoke
> College, Virginia, and then devoted his time and attention to the study of
> medicine, first attending lectures at Nashville, and later at Philadelphia.
> Having completed his medical course, Dr. Murray entered upon the practice of
> his profession in the swamps of Mississippi, and continued there three
> years. He then came West to Colorado, where he practiced three years, and in
> 1885, came from there to Butte City. Here he at once established himself in
> practice, and has since met with eminent success. In 1890, seeing the need
> of a hospital in Butte City for the care and treatment of the sick, he
> devoted his energies to the founding of such an institution, the result
> being the Murray-Freund Hospital, a boon to suffering humanity and a
> monument to the Doctor's skill and enterprise. This hospital is a fine
> building, 40x100 feet, four stories high, and fitted and furnished
> throughout with all the modern conveniences for the comfort and successful
> treatment of the sick.
>
> While Doctor Murray conducts a general practice, he makes a specialty of
> surgery in all its departments, and in this specialty has had signal
> success, his fame as a surgeon extending far and near. Frequently he is
> called in consultation, both in general practice and in surgery. He is a
> member of the State and County Medical Societies, the State Board of Medical
> Examiners, and the Board of Railroad Surgeons, and he is also employed by
> all the railroad companies having lines running to Butte City. Dr. Murray
> was happily married, July 24, 18S9, to Miss Margery K. Ketlsey, who was born
> in Ohio and reared and educated in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both the Doctor
> and his wife have hosts of friends in Butte City. Transcribed by (Jane Rice)
>
>
>
> source: *An illustrated history of the state of Montana 1894*
>
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