mccannf
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.
FRANCIS W. MCCANN is a member
of the firm of De Bolt & McCann, who do a nice business in the hardware
and grocery line in Coulee City. Mr. McCann is one of the pioneers
of the county and is a first class business man, well known, and popular.
Francis W. McCann was born in Luzerne county,
Pennsylvania, on April 7, 1867, and his father, William McCann was also
a native of the Keystone State and served in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania
Volunteer Cavalry for three years and eight months during the Civil war,
being an excellent soldier. He is now a member of the G. A. R. After
the war, he went to Colorado, mining and made a fortune. Later, he
wrought in the Transvaal diamond and gold fields of Africa and accumulated
a large amount of money. He then set sail for his native land and
when in sight of it, the steamer was wrecked and he lost all his money.
Both parents are now residing in Wyoming.
Mr. McCann married Miss Margaret A. Day, a
native of Pennsylvania and our subject was the only child. He was
educated in the schools of Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Douglas county,
Washington, having the distinction of attending the first school in this
county. It was located about seven miles north of Hartline and taught
by C. C. Ladd. Following are the names of the other pupils who attended
the same school: Edward and William Day; Almira, Effie, Earl, and Elizabeth
Rusho; Estes Higginbotham; Henry Elmer; Ada, Ella, and Kitty Rusho; James,
Lucy and William Smith; Edwin and Ida Young. He was only eleven when
the family went from Pennsylvania to Nebraska and from that state, they
journeyed to this county, landing here on September 16, 1883. Settlement
was made about seven miles north from Hartline and there he remained until
he attained his majority. In 1889, Mr. McCann took an active part
in political matters and became deputy sheriff under Frank Day, the first
elected sheriff in the county under the state constitution. Later,
he was nominated for sheriff but was swept aside by the populistic wave
and served as deputy sheriff under Charles Ogle. In 1900, Mr. McCann
was elected on the Fusion ticket as county clerk, by a small majority,
over J. W. Wolverton, the Republican. He served in this capacity,
with satisfaction to all, until January, 1903, when he entered into his
present business, forming a co-partnership with Mr. De Bolt, who is named
in another part of this work.
On May 13, 1896, Mr. McCann married Miss Mary
E., daughter of John C. and Sarah (Browning) Higginbotham. Mrs. McCann
was born in Missouri, on July 3, 1878 and has four brothers and two sisters,
James F., Marshall, George, Thomas, Mrs. Lecta Drinkard, and Sallie.
To our subject and his wife, three children have been born, Ralph W., Frances
F., and John C.
Mr. McCann is an adherent of the Roman Catholic
church, while in political matters, he maintains an independent position.
He is very active in the interests of the community and is known as a progressive
and capable man.
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