The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-10-05
J. F. Harris,
Early Pioneer,
Passes

! AS0Ol
Opened First Restaurant
In Eureka; Built First
Plastered House Here.
WAS ON BOAT RUN
JENNINGS TO FIT. STEELE
=
The passing of James Francis Har-
ris at his home in Libby last FRI
day at l2:l5 p. m. took away one Of
the earliest pioneers Of this dis
trict. Death called him at the ripe
age of 81 years and days.
Mr.. Harris had been busy at var
ious tasks around his home and
neighborhood all morning and was
apparently feeling we'll. Shortly at
ter the noon hour he was seen sit
ting down on the ground in the
back yard and since he had had
two or three heart attacks, Mr.
Harris and their daughter, Mizu
Anita, rushed out to his assistance.
They lowered him to the ground
and he passed away almost at once.
James Francis Harris was born in
Smithville, Ontario, on Sept 20.
1852, his mother having been visit
ing there. Within a year she re-
turned to their home in the states.
There he grew to manhood and
stirred by the pioneer urge, the SOS
found him engaged in various en-
teTprises in California and Oregon.
On August II, 1891, he was married
at Ashland, Ore, to Miss Emma
Parker.
In due time they moved to the
busting little city Of Spokane, Wn-
That was in 1896 and very soon
thereafter he and his family moved
to Lincoln county, first settling in
Eureka. He operated the first res
taurant IN Eureka and later gave
the building, which stood near the
present hotel to the Eureka school
district. It is believed to be still
standing. While there he plated the
toWnsite Of Harrisburg, lying near
what later became Fortine. Tho
tract still appears on tract books as
Harrisburg.
It was only short time there
after, however. until he decided to
cast his lot with the thriving little
frontier settlement of Jennings. AT
that time Jennings was the terminus
or boat traffic on the Kootenai river
to and from Fl. Steele Canada.
where mining boom was on. For
some time he operated hotel and
meatmarket at Jennings. He was
also employed on the boats making
the TT. Steele run and was in one
OF the much talked of boat wrecks
Of those days.
In 1898 Mr.. Harris moved his
family to Libby and they have made
their homes here ever since He was
always interested in mining and
other early day developments and
had hand in many of them.
It is interesting to note that the
present Harris home was built in
1899. It was the first plastered and
sided house in the pioneer town of
those days.
Mr. Harris enjoyed talking over
the experiences of those pioneer
days and had rich memory OF
them. One time he was caught at
Boomers Ferry with Christmas COM
ing on and with his wife and young
family IN Jennings. Trains were net
running because Of slides and wash
outs. So he started out to walk from
bonners Ferry to Jennings so as to
be home for Christmas, arriving in
time to help prepare the Christmas
dinner. He carried with him a tur-
key, some oranges and oysters to
add to the Christmas feast. AS he
passed through Libby, new bridge
over Libby creek was under con-
struction and he walked across the
bridge on plank. Another note of
interest is that Mr.. Harris started
taking the Spokesman Review in
those early days and has taken it
every day since then. At first it was
necessary for him to get it off the
train as it passed through Libby.
MT. Harris is survived by the
widow and their three daughter,
and one son: Miss Anita Harris.
Mrs F. L. Cloutier, Mrs. E. M Da
wilson and W. ]. Harris, all of
Libby.
Funeral services were held from
the Gompf chapel Monday afternoon
at 2:3O o'clock, the services follow
ing the rites Of the Christian Sci
ence church of which he was an at
,endant. Pallbearers were longtime
SWitzer, Sr.. W. w.
Blew, James Reedy, n. w. Red
field Norris Adams and George
Corbett. Burial was in the Libby
a large number of friends of
many years standing were present
to pay their last respects to man
whom they had honored for his in
legrlty and kindly spirit, and many
floral offerings also gave expression
70 that esteem. He will be missed IN
ibby circles