Early pioneer. Developer. In early years had moved with his wife, Margaret, to the town of Chewelah, Washington, which he helped found. James purchased land there from the Indians and began farming and opened a trading post. He was involved in numerous ventures in Walla Walla, Washington, Couer d'Alene, Idaho, and Spokane, Washington. He helped to organize the Spokane Falls and Northern Railroad and installed the water works and electric system in the growing town of Couer d'Alene, Idaho. He founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 1889, the year of Spokane's horrendous Great Fire, helping hundreds of hungry and homeless. James and Margaret were blessed with six children: John, Mary, Ella, James, Agnes, and Charles. Margaret died on April 22, 1895, at age 42, leaving him with four children under the age of 10. Son Ensign John Monaghan (Navy) was killed in action on April 1, 1899, in an ambush at the First Battle of Vailele, Samoa. A statue of this son was presented to James as a gift by the people of Spokane on October 25, 1906, reflecting the high regard in which they held James and his son, Ensign John Monaghan, who the first appointee to the US Naval Academy from the state of Washington. This statue still stands to this day in downtown Spokane.
Early pioneer. Developer. In early years had moved with his wife, Margaret, to the town of Chewelah, Washington, which he helped found. James purchased land there from the Indians and began farming and opened a trading post. He was involved in numerous ventures in Walla Walla, Washington, Couer d'Alene, Idaho, and Spokane, Washington. He helped to organize the Spokane Falls and Northern Railroad and installed the water works and electric system in the growing town of Couer d'Alene, Idaho. He founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 1889, the year of Spokane's horrendous Great Fire, helping hundreds of hungry and homeless. James and Margaret were blessed with six children: John, Mary, Ella, James, Agnes, and Charles. Margaret died on April 22, 1895, at age 42, leaving him with four children under the age of 10. Son Ensign John Monaghan (Navy) was killed in action on April 1, 1899, in an ambush at the First Battle of Vailele, Samoa. A statue of this son was presented to James as a gift by the people of Spokane on October 25, 1906, reflecting the high regard in which they held James and his son, Ensign John Monaghan, who the first appointee to the US Naval Academy from the state of Washington. This statue still stands to this day in downtown Spokane.
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