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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.


     JAMES ODGERS, a pioneer newspaper man of Davenport, is a native of Cornwall, England, and was born January 24, 1850.  He came to the United States at an early age, settling first at Lambertsville, New Jersey, and in 1868 removed to Otoe county, Nebraska.  In 1888 he came to Douglas county, Washington, residing there until 1890, when he removed to Davenport.
     For eight years since coming to Davenport, Mr. Odgers held the position of United States commissioner, his appointment coming from Judge Hanford, still on the federal bench.  During his career in journalism he has owned the Almira Journal, the Coulee City News and the Davenport Tribune.  The latter two were founded by him and the Davenport Tribune, still a prominent paper in its field, he established in September, 1900.
     In partnership with G. K. Reed, he laid out the towns of Almira, Hartline, and Coulee City on the Washington Central branch of the Northern Pacific railroad.
     December 9, 1880, Mr. Odgers was married to Laura M. Harper.  To this union have been born two sons, Lee and Carlyle.  Mr. Odgers is a member of the Masonic fraternity, his membership being in Mount Moriah Lodge of Syracuse, Nebraska.
 


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