Francis L. Niven was born and raised in the Gallatin Valley. After attending grade school near Manhattan he graduated from Gallatin County High School in Bozeman in 1928. In 1929 his father, William W. Niven, opened a butcher shop in Bozeman, the North Side Market. Francis worked at the family business throughout the following years, eventually buying out his father's interest in December 1944. Niven married Ethel Scheytt, a former resident of Maudlow, Montana and the couple continued operating the North Side Market while Francis attended college during the Depression. In 1933 he graduated from Montana State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Industry and earned a Master's Degree in 1934. He was a member of the Montana State College Livestock Judging team to the Pacific International Livestock Exposition in 1931 and in 1932 he received the highest score ever given an Agronomy Judging Contest member. Francis was a county Extension Agent from 1936-1944. The Nivens also raised registered Columbia sheep for many years on their property near Bozeman. Frances stayed active in a number of community organizations throughout his life. He served as a director of the Montana Winter Fair for twenty two years, served as president of the Montana Archaeological Society from 1958 until 1959, and served as director of the Gallatin County Historical Society from its inception in 1977. His interest in Montana history, especially the Manhattan area, resulted in the gathering and writing of a history of the town. Niven was also active in the Masonic fraternity and the Rotary.
From the guide to the Francis L. Niven Papers, 1901-1982, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)
