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James Vatis Harrington Sr.

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James Vatis Harrington Sr.

Birth	:	Oct 1843 Pictou, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada
Death	:	17 Apr 1920 Montana, USA
Burial	:	Fairview Cemetery, Columbia Falls, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate	:	48.2668991, -114.1836014
Description	:	J. V. Harrington. For more than three decades the honored and venerable pioneer and substantial farmer whose name appears above was a resident of Western Montana and a prominent factor in its material growth, playing well his part in the material, civic and moral upbuilding of the same. He noted many wonderful changes after he made his advent into the wilderness here and he talked interesting-ly of the early days when this section of the country was still the home of the Indians and the haunts of many varieties of wild beasts. The death of this honored Montana pioneer occurred... Read More	J. V. Harrington. For more than three decades the honored and venerable pioneer and substantial farmer whose name appears above was a resident of Western Montana and a prominent factor in its material growth, playing well his part in the material, civic and moral upbuilding of the same. He noted many wonderful changes after he made his advent into the wilderness here and he talked interesting-ly of the early days when this section of the country was still the home of the Indians and the haunts of many varieties of wild beasts. The death of this honored Montana pioneer occurred on the 17th of April, 1920. J. V. Harrington was born in the quaint and historic Town of Pictou, Nova Scotia, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Norton) Harrington. He was educated in the public schools of that country, but when only fifteen years of age he determined to cast his lot with the people of the states. Going to Eastport, Maine, he was soon engaged in engineering work, his first job being the erection of machinery on the steamboat "Westmoreland." He then sailed to Portland, Maine, and Boston, Massachusetts, and during the summer time made many trips to Philadelphia and to southern ports, whence vegetables and other farm products were brought to the northern ports. During the winter months he sailed to New Orleans, carrying marketable produce from northern ports. This program he carried out during three seasons on the steam-ship "Oriental," calling at the ports of New Orleans, Pensacola, Havana and Cienfugoes, and carrying north a cargo of melons and other tropical and semi-tropical fruits and vegetables. At length Mr. Harrington decided to transfer his attention to the Great Lakes, and for some time he served as an engineer on a tugboat on the lakes and Detroit River, occasionally taking trips to Cleveland and Erie. One fall he was taken sick with the "fever and ague" and was compelled to lay the boat up at Milwaukee for the winter while he went to Chicago for medical treatment. About the time he recovered sufficiently to think of work a call was made for men to work on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, mechanics especially being called for. Mr. Harrington answered the call and went to the Wasatch range, which was then the termi-nus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, where he was engaged as an engineman. However, hearing wonderful stories of the success attending gold hunters in Montana and Idaho, he determined to venture in that line himself. He first located at Rocky Bar, Idaho, where his mining venture was fairly successful. He determined to solve the best means of working the ground in sluicing and hydraulic power, and in this he was successful. Possessed with a natural desire to see the country, he then went to Arizona. While there he became engaged in a round-up of some bad Indians, being associated with a noted Indian fighter named Smith. On one occasion also he was with General Crook, the famous Indian fighter, at a time when the Indians had been unusually ugly, killing men, women and children in a most dastardly manner. Mr. Harrington joined with other citizens and United States troops and they pursued the Indians, killing 103 of the savages and taking others as prisoners. From Arizona he came by horseback to Montana, and at Butte he was again engaged as an engineer. While there he helped to erect the largest hoisting engine in the State of Montana, also one of the largest Cornish pumps in the state. Two years later Mr. Harrington came to the Flathead Valley and filed on a homestead claim of 160 acres, and also bought considerable land adjoining, his holdings of Montana land finally amounting to about 1,000 acres. This has continued the home ranch to the present time, though the family now spend the major portion of their time in their modern and comfortable home in Kalispell. At one time Mr. Harrington operated a threshing machine on the land where now stands the beautiful and thriving City of Kalispell. In this connection it is worthy of note that to Mr. Harrington belongs the credit for bringing the first steam thresher and the first steam plows to the Flathead Valley. The secret of his success was simply that he made the best use of the opportunities that presented them-selves. He was a good business manager and accumulated a goodly property, but at the same time was generous in his support of every measure for the general good and was of material assistance to others who had a hard time getting started. He was a stockholder in the First National Bank of Kalispell and was also the president of the Dayton State Bank, both being strong and influential financial institutions. He was active in all matters affecting the Flathead Valley during all the years of his residence here, and related many interesting stories. Among these he told of one occasion when Indians had committed depredations in Missoula County. Mr. Harrington was instrumental in capturing and bringing them to justice, three of the criminals being hung. Three escaped, and it took three years of good work to capture and bring them to justice. While hunting and fighting Indians in Arizona Mr. Harrington had learned how to deal with them, and his services were now most valuable to the authorities in their efforts to round up the criminals. While living in Butte Mr. Harrington was married to Mrs. Nellie Hathaway, who was born in Idaho, the daughter of William and Mary (Edwards) Richards. By a former marriage Mrs. Harrington became the mother of a daughter Elizabeth, and an adopted son, James. Three children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Harrington, John, Viva and Nellie. All of these children have been educated in the public schools of Kalispell. John is assisting in the operation of the home ranch. James, who also is helping to operate the ranch, married Rosa Lerch, and they have two children, J. V., Jr., and Hilda. Viva, who possesses a remarkable singing voice, is specializing in music and is now a student in the Chicago Conservatory of Music studying both instrumental and vocal. Nellie, who has attended school in Spokane, is now a student in the Kalispell High School. Elizabeth is the wife of J. W. Harrington, of Alberta, Canada. Politically Mr. Harrington was an earnest supporter of the democratic party, while fraternally he was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Religiously he was an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife, of which they are generous supporters. Mr. Harrington was a great believer in travel as an educational agent, and made a number of pleasant and interesting trips. In 1913 he and the family took a trip to Liverpool, England, Swansea, Wales, London, England, and Belfast, Ireland. Mr. Harrington by ceaseless toil and endeavor gained a marked success in business affairs, won the respect and confi-dence of men and was recognized as one of the distinctively representative citizens of his community. page 609-610 Stout, Tom, ed.. Montana, Its Story and Biography; A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Montana and Three Decades of Statehood. Vol. II. Chicago and New York, USA: The American Historical Society, 1921

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James Vatis Harrington Sr.'s memorial?
James Vatis Harrington Sr.'s memorial is located at: Fairview Cemetery, Columbia Falls, Flathead County, USA.
When did James Vatis Harrington Sr. death?
James Vatis Harrington Sr. death on 17 Apr 1920 in Montana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the James Vatis Harrington Sr.'s memorial?
Latitude: 48.2668991
Longitude: -114.1836014

Family Members:

Spouse

Nellie Richards Harrington

(1864 - 1932)

Children

James Vatis Harrington Jr.

(1884 - 1959)

John W “Jack” Harrington

(1889 - 1962)

Mary Ann Harrington

(1896 - 1896)

Hiram W M Harrington

(1898 - 1900)

Theodore R D Harrington

(1902 - 1902)

Glen Harrington

(1909 - 1909)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Fairview Cemetery
Columbia Falls, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2668991, -114.1836014

2. Trinity Cemetery
Kalispell, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2550011, -114.3071976

3. Candy Bar Ranch Burial Site
Kalispell, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3232820, -114.2872510

4. Conrad Memorial Cemetery
Kalispell, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2052994, -114.2885971

5. Montana Veterans Home Cemetery
Columbia Falls, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3627434, -114.2145691

6. Glacier Memorial Gardens
Kalispell, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2463989, -114.3285980

7. Saint Richard Cemetery
Columbia Falls, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3633003, -114.2177963

8. Creston Cemetery
Creston, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1757000, -114.1080000

9. Woodlawn Cemetery
Columbia Falls, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3703003, -114.2121964

10. Northridge Lutheran Columbarium
Kalispell, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2194400, -114.3374870

11. Demersville Cemetery
Kalispell, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1657982, -114.2932968

12. Spring Creek Cemetery
Kalispell, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2364006, -114.3930969

13. Bethel Cemetery
Somers, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1058006, -114.2102966

14. Lone Pine Cemetery
Bigfork, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0970000, -114.0875000

15. Whitefish Cemetery
Whitefish, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.4115380, -114.3565200

16. Bethany Cemetery
Bigfork, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0885000, -114.0296000

17. Bigfork Community Cemetery
Bigfork, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0872000, -114.0303000

18. Little Family Cemetery
Bigfork, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0373500, -114.0810500

19. Aldous Family Farm Cemetery
Kila, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0857314, -114.4571241

20. Bear Dance Cemetery
Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8955889, -114.0302417

21. Baptiste Gravesite
Columbia Falls, Flathead County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1006012, -113.6624985

22. Indian Cemetery
Dayton, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8664017, -114.2897034

23. Elmo Cemetery
Elmo, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8305588, -114.3486099

24. McKay Cemetery
Sanders County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8013992, -114.6418991