H. W. DOUGLAS. By birth a New Englander, by nature a gentleman, by instinct and development a public-spirited man, the life of Postmaster Douglas is one of particular interest. He was born in Voluntown, Connecticut, on August 6, 1855, his parents being B. C. and Abbie A. (Salisbury) Douglas, the latter being a native of Augusta, Maine.
B. C. Douglas, himself a son of Connecticut, was one of the noble veterans of the Civil War. Enlisting in the Twenty-sixth Company of Connecticut Volunteers, he fought throughout that period of national struggle. AT the battle of Fort Hudson, he was wounded in the leg, the enemy's bullet having been ever since preserved as a relic of Mr. Douglas' patriotism. The latter part of his life was spent in farming in Wisconsin. He and his faithful wife, both ripe in years, died in 1904 and 1905 respectively, at their home near Wonewoc, Wisconsin.
Postmaster Douglas, when a boy, first attended the country school near the farm at Voluntown, continuing his educational progress at the high school of Baraboo, Wisconsin, after the family came west. Very soon after his graduation he showed his youthful enterprise by going in to the mercantile business at Wonewoc, Wisconsin. In 1880 he won as his life companion, Miss Alice Graham of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and their life together has been blessed by three children, now all grown to maturity.
Mr. Douglas remained in Wonewoc developing his mercantile enterprise, for twenty-five years, ultimately selling his property there and settling in Polson. Throughout his years of commercial activity, the subject of this account has not been content to narrow his activity to more personal efforts. His interest in the public zeal let to his election, while in Wisconsin, to membership in the Juneau county board of supervisors, which office he held for seven years He was also a deputy sheriff for a term of years, in addition to holding various other political offices. Such was his faithfulness in service and such his unswerving integrity as a member of the Republican party that many anticipated and all approved his appointment as postmaster of Polson, by President Taft, in 1911. He still holds and adequately discharges the duties of this office.
Of Postmaster Douglas' three sons, one, Lee, born in Redfield, South Dakota, August 29, 1887, died in Wonewoc ten years ago. Mr. Fred Douglas, who was born in Redfield, South Dakota, August 22, 1885, resides in Polson and is engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Iola Harrison, of Polson, October 13, 1911. His brother, Voir, born April 21, 1896, is still in School. The daughter of the house, Mrs. Mable A. P. Gale, now lives in Wonewoc, Wisconsin, her little son, Douglas Gale, being the postmaster's only grandchild. Her husband, A. P. Gale, who is highly respected by all who know him, is president of the largest bank in Juneau county, at Wonewoc, although but thirty-two years of age.
The Douglas family are valued supporters of the Methodist church of Polson. Both in and out of organizations, Mr. Douglas is a prominent figure in a large circle of friends and influential acquaintances, being a member of the M.W.A. and having attained to all chairs in the I.O.O.F. The conquest of game and large fish constitutes his favorite diversion.
Source: Montana, its story and biography: a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood - History of Montana, 1913. Page 1622