"Spokane and the Spokane Country, Pictorial and Biographical, De Luxe
Supplement."  Vol. 1.  Spokane, Chicago, Philadelphia:  The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company, 1912. p. 31.
 
JAMES MONAGHAN

     Inseparably interwoven with the history of Spokane is the name of James
Monaghan, who from the time that he first arrived her in frontier days down to
the present time, has left his impress upon the substantial development and
upbuilding of the western empire.  Today he is a leading factor in financial
circles and at different times he has been closely associated with the mining
interests and railroad building of the northwest.  His birth occurred in
Belturbet, Ireland, September 22, 1839, his parents being John and Mary Ann
(O'Riley) Monaghan of that place.  He was the youngest of three children and was
only three years of age when left an orphan.  He afterward made his home with
his maternal grandparents until seventeen years of age, when the interesting
reports which he heard concerning the United States led him to sever home ties
and cross the Atlantic to the new world.  He took up his residence with his
brother, a New York physician, with whom he remained for some time but he heard
the call of the west and in 1858 made the trip to the Pacific coast by way of
the isthmus of Panama, reaching Vancouver on the Columbia river in May.  His
financial condition rendered it imperative that he gain immediate employment and
he secured a position in connection with the operation of a ferry on the Des
Chutes river near The Dalles, Oregon.  He was also employed in connection with
the sailboats of the Upper Columbia, which in those days controlled the traffic,
and he secured a position on the Colonel Wright, which was the first steamboat
that sailed on the Columbia from Wallula to Calilo.  He was also connected with
the operation of a ferry across the Spokane river about twenty-one miles below
the present city of Spokane, and finally purchasing it, continued in that
business until 1865, when he built the bridge over the river, which is now known
as the La Pray bridge, named in honor of Joseph La Pray, who purchased it from
Mr. Monaghan.  While thus engaged Mr. Monaghan planted the first apple trees in
Spokane county.  His name is associated with many of the "first events" and his
labors have given impetus to various lines of activity which have constituted
the foundation upon which the present progress and prosperity of the city and
county rests.
     Since first coming to Washington Mr. Monaghan has spent practically his
entire time in this state.  In 1869 he became identified with the business
interests of Walla Walla and while living there in 1871, was married.
Immediately afterward he removed to what is now Chewelah, in Stevens county,
although at the time there was no town and the work of settlement had scarcely
been begun in that part of the state.  He purchased land from the Indians and
conducted a trading business, ultimately founding the town.  In 1873 he became a
merchant of Colville, then the principal town of northeastern Washington and
also secured the government contract for handling mails and furnishing supplies
to the troops.  His activity later included public service of an important
character.  He filled the office of county superintendent of schools, county
commissioner and justice of the peace, discharging his duties with a promptness
and fidelity that won him the commendation of all concerned.  He also made
arrangements with the quartermaster's department for moving supplies and
equipment from Colville down the Columbia river to Foster Creek, now Bridgeport.
When the survey of the river was made by Lieutenant Symonds, of the United
States army, the name of Monaghan Rapies was given to that portion of the stream
near the mouth of the Nespelem river.  He made the transfer of the government
property and supplies from the army camp at Lake Chelan across the country to
the site of Fort Spokane, and finding Walla Walla a more convenient place from
which to conduct his business operations he removed his family to that city,
which had been the early home of his wife.  The frontier post of Spokane was
established in 1882 and Mr. Monaghan became the post trader, and at the same
time became associated with C. B. King.  Both were equally interested; Mr.
Monaghan conducted the store at Fort Spokane and Mr. King the store at Fort
Sherman, on Lake Coeur d'Alene.  In 1883, following the discovery of the mines,
he was associated with Mr. King and others in putting on the first steamers on
the Coeur d'Alene and also laid out the city of that name.  The following year
they built the first wagon road from Kingston to the Murray mining camp and also
made the original survey for an electric road from Coeur d'Alene to Spokane.
Selling his interests to D. C. Corbin and others in 1886, Mr. Monaghan then
returned to Spokane, where the family home has since been maintained, although
at different times business interests have called him into other districts.  He
was one of the organizers of the corporation which in 1888 began the building of
the Spokane Falls & Northern Railway, having the line surveyed the following
year, after which Mr. Monaghan sold his interest to Mr. Corbin.  He was also one
of the original owners of the Cariboo Gold Mines in British Columbia, personally
superintending the work and was president of the company until 1898, when he
sold his stock.  The financial panic of 1893 caused him severe losses but with
indomitable courage and energy he has recovered from these and is today one of
the substantial citizens of Spokane, where in financial circles he is well known
as a director of the Union Trust company and also of the Traders National Bank.
     It was on the 30th of November, 1871, in Walla Walla, that Mr. Monaghan was
married to Miss Margaret McCool, a daughter of Robert and Margaret McCool, and a
native of Donnamore, County Donegal, Ireland.  She was born August 12, 1852, and
her death occurred in Spokane, April 22, 1895, her loss being deeply deplored by
many friends as well as her immediate family, for her attractive social
qualities and kindly spirit had endeared her to all who knew her.  Mr. and Mrs.
Monaghan were the parents of six children:  John Robert, born in Chewelah, March
26, 1873, and who died near Apia, Samoa, April 1, 1899; Margaret Mary, whose
birth occurred in Colville, January 31, 1876; Ellen Rosanna, who was born at
Fort Spokane, November 12, 1885; James Hugh, who was born in Spokane November
10, 1888; Agnes Isabel, born November 9, 1891, in Spokane; and Charles Francis,
who was also born in this city, August 12, 1894.
     In the development of Spokane James Monaghan has taken a most active and
helpful part and is still alert to the opportunities of promoting the growth and
substantial improvement of the city.  He was one of the fifteen freeholders who
drafted the new charter of Spokane in 1891 and was chosen city commissioner.  He
came to the west when the Indians were more numerous than the white settlers,
when hardships and dangers were the lot of every pioneer but he recognized the
opportunities of the new country with its undeveloped resources and taking
advantage of these he has steadily advanced in the business world, making a most
creditable record in the management of his affairs and in the attainment of
success as the years have gone by.  At the same time he has been closely
associated with the public life of the community in the support of projects and
measures for the general good and he stands today as one of those sturdy
citizens who have been the builders of the great state of Washington.
     
* * * *

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in August 2006 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.