The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-08-09
PRIEST RIVER.
A Herald Correspondent Writes a Bus
mess Review OF the Town.

About 40 miles northeast from
Spokane on the north bank of the
beautiful Pend d. Oreille stands the
busy little town of Priest Piver.
In a southerly direction thro Ugh
lovely valley, containing vast
forests of White Pine, Cedar, Fir
and Tamarack flows the river from
which our town received its name.
The town was started about the
time of the building of the Great |
Northern railroad. When the
writer reached here in the spring
of '94 the place contained two stores
one saloon and one small hotel to-
gether with four or five small log
shanties. Now we have popula-
ton of about 800 and store and
resident buildings TO be proud of.
At this time the general mercan-
tile business is represented by Chas.
Jackson, who started here in 1890,
with $3.50 cash, the clothes on
his back, an old blanket and piece
of canvas for bed. Now while
not as wealthy as an Aston his face
wears that contented expression
worn only by those who are fnan-
cially alright. He carries large
stock of goods.
John Gowanlock, the resident
manager and principal stakeholder
of the Priest River Mercantile Co.,
as early as '92 had faith enough in
the towns future to invest his little
all in small stock of merchandise.
This has shown that his faith was
not misplaced for today they have
one of the largest and best stocked
general stores to be found in north
ern Idaho.
In 1898 Mrs. M. P. Jones, wife Of
NJ. p. Jones, Great Northern pump
man at this place, and one of the
earliest settlers, decided that the
! people of Priest River needed a
bakery, confectionery and cigar
store and judging from present in
dications she guessed rightly, for
: she has since added a restaurant
and stock of fancy groceries and
pronounces trade good.
In 1900 Mears Bros. of Neenah,
Wis, while looking over the country
= decided that Priest River needed
another store and Immediately be-
: gan to hustle. The result is fine
building 30x70 the lower floor OF
. which Is filled to overlooking with
D Stock of general merchandise
D flour, feed, clothing aud hardware
. In addition TO the above, Mears
0 Bros. handle large quantities o
. cedar poles, piling, wood, etc G
Q |. Mears, our postmaster, has charg'
. of the store, his brother, Richard
o attending to the timber business
o Lum Der for the needs of the town
o and vicinity Is manufactured b,
o our genial fellow townsman, Elme
Q Granam. In addition to this mil
@ we have every reason to bellev
. that another year Will see one O
9 the largest and best equipped tim
o Der manufacturing p ants In tn
o northwest located here.
o Those wishing "a square meal or
o nights lodging may be accommodate
% either at the Priest River HOte
a Mrs. Baker lanulady; or AT the 5
Elmo, Nels AlDerts proprietor.
Melder Bros. carry a full line {
a drugs, medicines. toilet articles an
n cigars, the business Is III charge ,
81 u. n. Melder, competent chemis
q Should one require liquiu relreSt
I" ments he need only call on w. /
N Lennley, Charles jackson or +. \
v Kramer 10 have his wants supple
with an article that VIII make h
heart glad.
ids The real estate business is locke