David M. Trepp
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

David M. Trepp is a well-known newspaper man of Lewistown 
being himself a writer of much ability.  At present, he is 
the president chief stock holder and managing editor of the 
Lewistown Daily News, the only daily newspaper of that 
thriving city.

His father, Martin Trepp, was born in Nufenen Canton, 
Graubunden, Switzerland.  As a lad he came to America 
setting in Connecticut.  In 1864 he made the overland 
journey to Montana.  The trip was fraught with hardship 
and exciting incident but his early life as a mountaineer 
had prepared him for the former while his love of liberty 
and freedom, so natural to his countrymen, made him welcome 
all adventure.  Like all of the western emigrants he was 
attracted to Montana by the tales of her great mineral 
finds and himself hastened to begin a search for precious 
ore.  After a brief sojourn in the Treasure State, however, 
he began to realize that for him her cattle might assay a 
higher percent of gold than her ore.  So soon as he began 
to prosper his dreams of a return to the fatherland took 
form.  When he made a little home for himself in the new 
state he journeyed back to his land of eternal hills in 
search of the Swiss maiden who was to reign over it.  
The girl whom he sought was Anna Fimian who gladly 
returned with him to face her future in an unknown 
country.  They lived in quiet and comfort on their 
ranch until 1893 when Mr. Trepp suddenly passed 
away--a man in his full prime and vigor.  Of the 
family who was left to mourn him, his wife now 
lives in Lewistown with her daughter Margaret 
who is the chief bookkeeper in the office of the 
Lewistown Daily News of which her brother is 
president and general manager.  The oldest of the 
family, Lizzie Trepp Klinkman is the wife of Henry 
Klinkman who resides in Billings.  Elsie, the 
youngest of the girls has completed her schooling 
and is filling a position of trust in the Yegen 
Brothers bank of Billings.

David M. Trepp, the second of the four children is the 
only son of the family.  He was born in Townsend Montana 
on the 30th day of October 1885.  When he was four years 
of age, his parents moved to their ranch in Judith Basin.  
Upon the death of his father, the lad, together wit his 
mother and sisters made their home in Lewistown.  While 
attending school, at the age of thirteen, he earned his 
first money by acting as janitor of the building.  For 
his services he received the sum of eight dollars a month.  
That same year he entered the Lewistown high school, 
completing the course of that institution while still 
in his sixteenth year.  After being graduated from the 
Montana State University at the age of eighteen, he 
taught school in Fergus County, working on a ranch in 
the summer and holding for a portion of the time, a 
clerkship in a mercantile establishment.  In this 
way he was able to acquire a portion of the means 
with which to take a course in the State University 
of Minnesota, situated in Minneapolis.  After 
finishing his work he returned to Lewistown and 
became a reporter on the Fergus County Democrat.  
Neither the position nor the politics of the paper 
greatly pleased him and in 1907 upon the establishment 
of the Daily News, he was pleased to accept the 
position of city editor on that paper and to assume 
full charge of the department of general news. Here 
he invested the remnant of his savings.

Mrs. Trepp's interests are not confined to journalism 
alone although he has given much of his best effort to 
his editorial labors.  He is connected with Al Heinecke, 
a theatrical manager who is making a name for himself.  
They are in control of theaters in Lewistown, Moore and 
Harlow and have obtained an interest in several others.

On the 16th day of January 1911, Mr. Trepp was united in 
marriage to Miss Ruth E. French, the daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. S.B. French, well-known residents of Lewistown.

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