(From
The Billings, Mon., Gazette of 8th April.)
J. D. Matheson, police judge
and a resident of Billings since 1882, died about 2.30 o'clock
yesterday morning at his home, 200 North Thirtieth St. Heart failure,
complicated with other ailments, is thought to have been the cause.
He was at his office Thursday
as usual, but for the last two or three days had complained of
illness. Judge Matheson was 70 years old March 7 of this year.
John
Dalgleish Matheson was born at Simcoe, Ont., County of Norfolk, March
7, 1846. He received his early education in the schools of Canada and
after extensive preparation was admitted to the bar in Toronto in 1871
He
continued the practice of law until 1882, when he removed to Montana,
bringing with him his wife, to whom he was married in 1872, and their
family.
There are five
children: Edith, now Mrs. James Chapple; Beatrice, now Mrs. J. H.
Johnston, William Panton, John Ray Douglas, Katherine, now Mrs. J. R.
Vredenburg. All but the youngest son are now living in Billings.
J.
R. D. Matheson is a captain in the United States army with the
engineering corps. He is now stationed at Brown's Landing, N.C. In
addition to the children the deceased is survived by his widow, Mrs.
J. D. Matheson and 11 grandchildren, all but three of whom live in
Billings.
There are two
brothers, Robert Matheson of Chicago, and Walter Matheson, formerly of
Billings, now residing in Vancouver, B.C.
Mr.
Matheson came to Montana in the spring of 1882, coming as far as
Rosebud, on the train and proceeding overland to Billings.
He
purchased the Billings Post and edited the newspaper for several
years. In 1887 he became editor of The Billings Gazette and in 1897
organized The Billings Times. He continued in newspaper work for
several years and his editorials were widely read and quoted
throughout the northwest.
Judge
Matheson was one of the first justices of the peace in Billings,
serving in that capacity with Fred Sweetman in 1883. In the same year
he served as corresponding secretary of the Billings Board of Trade.
His editorials did much to
influence public opinion and he wast [sic] constantly engaging
in work beneficial to the welfare of the public.
In
1901 he was appointed city clerk of Billings and continued to succeed
himself in office until 1911. Until his election as justice of the
peace he engaged in the real estate and insurance business.
He
was public spirited in a high degree and had always the best interests
of the community at heart. He was active in securing legislation
beneficial to the people at large.
Judge
Matheson was a member of Ashlar Lodge No. 29, A.F. and A.M., of the
Eastern Montana Pioneers' Society, of which he was president last
year, a member of the library board and of various social orders and
lodges.
