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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     JOHN M. FRIEL, of the firm of Christenson & Friel, leading real estate men of Waterville, is one of the early settlers of Douglas county and has wrought with courage and success here since those days of pioneering.  His father, Neil P. Friel, was born in Donegal county, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1848, settling in Philadelphia.  Three years later, he moved to Amboy, Illinois, where our subject was born, in 1861.  He is now living near Westport, South Dakota.  He married Miss Margaret McMenamin, a native of Donegal county, Ireland, who died in November, 1903, at Westport, South Dakota.  Our subject was reared in Illinois until eighteen, having gained his education from the district schools, finishing the same in the high school of Amboy.  At the age last mentioned, he went to Chicago and operated in the steel mill for five years.  After that he joined the police force in Chicago, remaining in the same until 1886, when he went to South Dakota and visited his parents.  In the fall of 1887, he journeyed to Puget Sound, and the spring following that came to Waterville.  He filed on a pre-emption and a timber culture which later he sold, then bought land, now owning six hundred and fifty five acres, which is rented.  His residence is in Waterville, where he has a comfortable dwelling.  For four years and nine months, Mr. Friel was deputy sheriff of Douglas county and during that time he was known as a terror to horse thieves and evil doers and the marked efficiency in discharging the duties incumbent upon him in that capacity manifested him as one of the energetic, thorough, substantial and spirited men of this section.  On January 15, 1903, Mr. Friel, engaged in the real estate business with Mr. Christenson and they are handling farming land, principally, doing a good business.  Mr. Friel has one brother, Dennis O., and the following sisters, Kate, Margaret, Mary Johnson, Ella, Celia, Adeline and Mrs. Ed Stearns.
     On December 7, 1897, at Waterville, Mr. Friel married Miss Mary M. Woolverton, a native of Blissfield, Michigan.  Her parents, Milton and Ella (Boone) Woolverton, are natives of Ohio and now residing at Blissfield.  Mrs. Friel has one brother, Warner J., and one sister, Rose Mallory.  To our subject and his wife, four children have been born, John Bryan, Neil P., Warner, and Agnes.
     Fraternally, Mr. Friel is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the W. W.  He was originally a Republican, then a Populist, but is now an ardent admirer of the great Nebraskan Bryan for whom his son is named.  While Mr. Friel takes a keen interest in the matters of the day, he does not manifest especial activity in politics.  He is one of those genial, fearless and upright men who win friends on every occasion and is known as one of our leading citizens.
 
 

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