The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-12-16
Death Calls A
Mont. Pioneer
Last Sunday
William Edison DOak Was
Early Day BOatman on the
Upper Missouri River
WAS HERO OF BOAT
WRECK ON KOOTENAI

With the passing early Sunda,
morning of William Edison Doak
one OF Lincoln County's oldest Mo
neers was claimed by death Mr.
Ooak has been in poor health fo]
many months but died suddenly a
<:OO a. m. in his home.
Bill Doak, as he was famiIiarv
SHOWN about Libby lived in the
old Days of the West. Born in On
Lario, when a lad he came to the
States and became a boatnan on tbe
Missouri River in that epic period
when great cargoes of freight came
np the river to Old Fort Benton
Ills experiences in those DAYS were
varied and vivid. He has told The
writer of loaning his best boots to
Trend, and few days later rid
ing up on horseback to the swing
ing body of horse thief, who had
oeen tried, condemned and exec
uted by the vigilanteS, to find those
same boots encasing the feet of the
dead man.
1t was some years later that he
came to Lincoln County. but arriv-
ing here, he returned to his oc-
cupation as a river man. and IT,
gether with the late J. F. Harris
was a member of the crews who
Piled the Kootenia River from len
nings to Fort Steele, British Col
umbia in the old river STEAMBOATS,
OF the COS. It was while SERVING
as purser of one of these boats
probably the J D. Farrell. that
boat wreck occurred near JENNINGS
and Mr.. Doak became the hero az {
the occasion and was credited with
reSculng all the passengers on the
Inflated steamboat.
humor, the ex-boatman also was t
an excellent story teller. and MANY u
were the true and interesting ex- q
periences he related in q fascin atin,rl G
way 70 his audiences both young -s
ana old, VINO never tired of listen q
ng to the tales of the riyerboat a.
.nd frontier days as recalled bv
heir old friend. "
Mr.. Doak'S middle name of Edi- Kis
on recalls to many the fact that ~
.e was distant cousin of Thomas =;
olson the famous inventor. thew ~
eing related through one of the ~
libby mans grandmothers. ~
William Edison Doak was born ,
uly %, 1859 in Ontario. Canada c.
nd passed away at his homo in NJ
libby, Montana December II. l948.
ged SO years, four months and 10 mr.,
avs. He came to the United States sts
1879, and moved to Libby in rec
1911. July 10, 1898 he was united est
marriage to Miss Nellie Nc nr '
lellan of Rathdrum, Ida. The c 70
uple have always made their n e
me in Lincoln County. fI CI
With the passing Of the river anC
ats on the Kootenai, Mr. Doak ten ten
rned to other pursuits. At one den
ne ne operated a skating rink cess
Kalispell and while Libby An
ends of the present day seem to sbo
oW little of his ability on roller naIl
ates, he was justly proud of his and
on ice skates with r
lch he was an expert. for
ames Reedy recalls that back in tbro
z and 1903 both he and Doak Ran
re connected with a sawmiu at nat
and Lake. Later the latter oper- Dec
d frelghting line in the DAYS Dec
ore trucks, when the freight Doc
IS were powered by horses. In Dec
Sc days he freighted for the Dec
'wshoe mine and other well Dee
- ilillii4s CIsIiiiS. II was pack Dec.
lleeT udyS ana When county As Dec.
or Leslie Leigh was a lad. that Dec
William Doak freight Doc
the Leigh family and their pos
sons to their new ranch on Il
IN Creek. This was an office Ill
ormed for many of the early -
ers of the county by the ex- I'd
rman.
r. and Mrs. Doak moved out TX
their Pipe Greek ranch in
The Doak Ranch as it was
Vn, became the scene of many Inc
time parties and dances, mem open
OF which are still cherished 10, a
lany of the oldsters and a num- Sundi
Ot the younger generation who staten
still remember something of resi- L
old days. The
=. Doak was active in the public Sugge'
OF the community, serving in mas
IL as deputy county treas greetll
under William Raymond. He Inc
70 past president of the Lin is one
County Historical Association. three
passing of men like Bill" Doak Town,
something from the country I'VE c.
sentiment which cannot Inlrlee
placed. He is survived by his Grass
v in addition IN nnaDv friardc deliver
ister, Mrs. Thomas Fleetwood Inc
led him in death several stated,
IS ago by PEG
eral services were held Wad- nice CT
Y at 200 n, m. from the Connf ceived
al Home with fhe Rev Toroes been m
son. pastor of the Ijbbv Prae7 that tn
an Church officiating Two mas ev
Lead Kindly Light and Rock Ola
rs were sung by Mrs. George the va,
we'll and Mrs. Howard Rol- AJl,;r ~
it'll Miss Inez Ratekin at the rac ls;r-o
Casket bearers were Fred .-~---~.
Leslie Leigh, E. L. Kemp, in the
J!arke, Sr, James Reedy and of Mr.
Harris Interment was made on in