WELLINGTON NAPTON, the son of Hon. W. B. Napton and Melinda Napton, was born in Saline county, Missouri, on Aug. 31, 1853.  He received his early educational training in the common schools of Saline, after which he was for two years a student in Westminster  College, which was followed by a like period in William Jewell College.  This ample training was then carefully chosen tutor, who devoted three years to the preparation of the pupil in the general culture which is so essential to the best training in any special field of study.  Later Mr. Napton read law under the tutelage of Judge W. W. Dixon, of Montana, having come to this state in 1873.  He returned to Missouri and was admitted to the bar in 1878, and in 1880 made his way back to Montana.  A vacancy occurred on the district bench in 1896, as a result of the election of Mr. Brantley to the supreme court, and Mr. Napton was appointed by Governor Smith to serve out the unexpired term. At its close in 1900 he was elected to that office for a term of four years.
     Since leaving the bench Judge Napton has resumed his private practice again, and is considered a good lawyer.  To an unusual ability in argument and a comprehensive knowledge of the law, he adds to compelling force of a strong character and the persuasive power of an attractive personality.  Admirable fitted to share in his success is his wife, who was Kate Kelley, a native of the state of Kansas, but of Virginia ancestry.  She is the daughter of Robert E. Kelley, who was United States marshal of Montana during the first administration of Grover Cleveland, and she has seen something of pioneer conditions in this great state.
     Mr. Napton is a member of the Masonic order.
Source: History of Montana, by Helen Fitzgerald Sanders, Vol. 2 of 3 - Illustrated - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1913 - Page 1044