The Doe Family

Everett Doe at the Doe Rexall Drug Store Circa 1917 

The Doe’s were an early merchant family and still remembered in Philipsburg. Although no longer a mercantile and drug store the business housed in their building continues to carry the Doe name. The first comment I found of Doe’s while researching the newspapers was December 19, 1895. 

The members of the May-Pringle combination, who have traveled all through the western country and have played in much larger cities, said they have not anywhere seen a stock of holiday goods or a collection of books equal to the present display at the store of M.E. Doe & Co. As a result they bought their Christmas presents here.

 The next article thanks the Doe’s when they remembered the Mail office New Year’s Day by presenting the staff with a bottle of the celebrated Harper’s whiskey. All the staff could say was thanks, but assured Messrs Doe & Co., that the chemical was not wasted on the drifted snow, according to the January 2, 1896, Mail. 

Known always as M.E. Doe, Marshall arrived in Philipsburg in 1885 and opened a retail business with J.D. Thomas (brother-in-law) on “upper “Broadway. In 1888 A.E. Dearborn (Pharmacist) was hired to take charge of the pharmaceuticals and prescription department of the M.E. Doe Drug store. They later moved to a more central location according to Marshall’s obituary. The earliest Sandborn Insurance map shows the store at it’s current location in 1889. 

Marshall was Born on April 25, 1856 in Canada. The Doe family moved to Shepardsville, Michigan when he was eight. At the age of twenty three M. E. came to Butte where he engaged in mining; operated a skating rink and then joined a survey party at Anaconda where he worked for two years. He then left for California for one year before showing up at Philipsburg. 

Marshall married Jennie Crable in Los Angeles on July 25, 1895. The couple met in Butte before she attended business school in Los Angeles. Announced in the Philipsburg Mail “On July 7, 1896 a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Doe”. This son, Marshall E. Doe Jr, died after suffering a convulsion at the family home on Montgomery Street, April 28, 1899 and was buried in the Philipsburg cemetery. (Current articles date the Doe home as being built in 1902, so they must have already lived on the property prior to building the current structure included in the Philipsburg tour of historic homes.) 

Following the birth of Marshall were three more children: Everett in 1901; Milton in 1908. and a daughter Margaret. In 1910, Doe’s became known as the Rexall Drug Store 

M.E. Doe & Co. are so well and favorably known for their sterling honesty and square dealing that we predict a great success for them with the Rexall Remedies, and they are heartily congratulated in bringing this great and modern business enterprise to Philipsburg.

 In 1917, the cast of the operetta “The Pennant” included Everett as Owen and Margaret as Mrs. Reno Grass. M.E. Doe bought out J.D. Thomas’s, interest February 1, 1918 and in 1921 C.K. Durkee of Glasgow, Montana, accepted a position as pharmacist in the M. E. Doe drug store. 

Everett Doe married Miss Wilda Marie Wetzel, on December 31, 1925, in St. Louis, Mr. Doe had been studying for the past two years in the Pharmacy School, in St. Louis. After a honey moon in Minnesota, the couple made their home in Philipsburg. 

M.E. Doe, died at his home, on October 13, 1928. “Taken ill at work, he was brought home and put to bed, on October 10. He died from bronchial pneumonia and a blood clot in the lung." 

Survivors were: his widow; a daughter Mrs. L.W. (Margaret) Maxson; two sons: Everett, who was associated with the business and Milton, a student in a School of Pharmacy, in St. Louis; his mother, Mrs. James Doe, in Ovid, Michigan and four sisters and three grandchildren. He held membership in the Philipsburg Rotary Club and Granite Camp, Woodsmen of the World. The funeral was held at the family home with Rev. Maris, of the Methodist Church officiating. Services at graveside were conducted by the Woodsmen. 

Milton married Ruth Anderson, at the Doe house on Sunday, May 27, 1934. After a wedding breakfast the couple left for Billings, where they attended a Rexall convention. 

Mrs. Jennie C. Doe, died at her home after being ill for several weeks, on February 19, 1938. 

Everett Doe died at the age of 66, January 5, 1967 in Arcadia, California after an emergency surgery. Everett retired in 1965 after nearly 45 years as the Pharmacist at Doe’s Rexall Drug. Survivors were his wife and daughter Marilyn Lovitt and family. 

 Research has not revealed Milton’s obituary.