Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-03-04
NOTED PIONEER
LIABLE JURIST
Judge Jason w. Strevell Dies at Miles
City After illness Of But Short
Duration.
WAS OF STURDY DUTCH STOCK
A Republican in the Time of Lincoln
and a Lifelong Conscientious
Presbyterian.

Miles City. FEB. 27.-Judge Jason
w. Strevell died here at his home this
morning at a few minutes after nine
o'clock after a brief illness. During
the latter part Of last week Judge
Strevell suffered an attack of grip
that confined him to his bed. This
was followed later with symptoms of
pneumonia and finally diabetes set
in.
The community had expected to
hear that Judge Strevell had passed
away and this morning when the re-
port Of'his death became known about
town there was everywhere manifest
ed a feeling of deep loss. Il is hard
TO realize that the man who mas filed
so large a place in the life of the com.
munity for nearly a quarter of a cen.
fury is gone.
The funeral will be probably held
on Monday, as Charles Streyell, the
judges adopted son, cannot reach here
earlier than that time. The body will
be buried in Chicago, where the other
dead members of the family have been
inferred.
Jason Woolrick Strevell was of
Dutch-American ancestry. He was
born les Albany. N. Y, In 1882, the
son of Harvey and Elizabeth Lewis
Strevell. His grandfather, Woolrick
Strevell, was wagon master in Wash.
ington's army and his mother was the
niece of Col. Lyman Lewis, a revolu.
tionary officer.
His father was in early life a teach.
er, but later he became a farmer in
his native state.
Jason w. Strevell was the fifth of a
family Of six children, and his early
life was filled with hard work and
plenty Of 1t. He worked as a farm.
hand in summer, and by saving his
earnings he was enabled to attend
school in winter. After taking a
course in Rensselaerville academy in
Albany county in his eighteenth year
he went into the office of Peckham &
Tremaine, then one of the most prom,
inent law firms in Albany. Here he
studied law for five years and in 1856
was admitted to the bar. His lega'
education complete, he decided to e
west and in the year of his admission
Ia the bar he located in Pontiac. III.
where he practiced law until 1879.
During most of that time he was
prominent in the affairs of his adopt
ed state. He was a member of the
lower house of the Illinois legislator,
as a Republican from 1864 to 1868 ant
was a member of the senate from 1865
to 1872. He was one of those who was
favored with the personal friendship
OF President Lincoln, and he took al
active part in securing his nomination
for the presidency.
In 1864 President Lincoln appoint
ed him to a position of trust in thu
custom house at New Orleans, but h,
soon returned to the practice of law
He was also a member of the cleo
toral college that elected Hayes to thu
presidency.
I In 1879 the western fever agaiI
4 seized him and in that year he cam
TO Miles City, where he has since lv
ed. Outside of one term as distric
! judge and serving as a member of tn,
Montana constitutional convention h,
I had little to do with politics in thi
state. though his influence has al
I ways been felt at election time.
! Though for many years he had heI,
t leading positions in the bar of eastern
\ Montana, he also was interested II
! other branches OF business and was
1 few years ago largely intercs II in tn
I cattle industry. At the time Of hi
I death he was a director of the FRS
National bank of Miles City, and th
: owner of much valuable real estate Il
Montana. Phoenix. Ariz.. AMI racomt
Wash.
In 1853 he was married 70 Mrs
Elizabeth Kelly of Lake City M;nr
Mrs. Kelly had a son. Charles. wh-l
the judge adopted and who is now eI
20 gagged in business in Salt lake, I'm.
, Who also was for several years a men
her of the firm Of Miles, Strayell 4
Timer Of this place.
But one child, a daughter, was bor,
to judge and Mrs. Streycll. She maj
70 ried Geo. VI. Miles Of this place.
Nephew OF General Nelson A. Miles
and one of the most prominent bus
ness men here. Mrs. Miles died SO,
g eral years ago, leaving n child, il
son Miles. now at Princeton Univcri
ity. Mrs. Strevell died last July arte
many years of suffering.
The judge has been a lifelong meu
Der of the Presbyterian church, ana a