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George A. Fellows

George Arthur Fellows was born January 23, 1860 to George and Ann Marie Fellows in Snow Point, Nevada County, California. He attended public schools at Napa City in the state, finishing his education at the University of the Pacific, San Jose from which he graduated with honors. His first employment was for the Southern Pacific R.R. as agent at Antioch, California.

In 1882 he came to Cheney as night operator for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Within a short time he was made day operator and after three years was promoted to the position of agent.

On September 9, 1888 he married Mabel J. Harris, daughter of pioneers John A. and Annie Shindler Harris whose father was postmaster at the time, with Mabel his assistant. The Fellows became parents of one child, son Arthur, born September 29, 1898. This marriage ended in divorce about 1910. Mabel died two years later and in 1918 George married Cora Mae Reeder.

During threatening times with Indians he acted as Indian scout for the Spokane County Sheriff. As a result of his dependable cooperation he was offered the nominations of several County offices, declining in every case to enter the political field. He felt his first responsibility was toward his job and his city, although vitally interested in all politics and a staunch Republican. City government was his only concession to holding office, with time on the city council leading to his election as Mayor in September, 1909 when the city of Cheney became a third class corporate town after a special election had been held according to law.

During the first year of his administration the usual problems surfaced dealing with the city water supply. Wooden pipes were in need of repair; a shortage of water in May of 1910 prompted the Mayor and councilmen to decree sprinkling be limited to the hours of from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Violators were told they would be fined $2.50 and their water shut off until the fine was paid. Two months later the ruling was changed to NO watering with the exception of watering trees from a bucket. Hoses were to be shut off at the hydrants and violators dealt with harshly. The first violation earned the penalty of water being shut off and a $5.00 fine assessed; second offense, water would be cut off from the offender's property for the remainder of the season. This order was to be rigidly enforced. Mayor Fellows appointed a committee of council members and citizens to inspect the old pipe line from Fish Lake in view of putting that source of water into use at once. The committee of Dr. Francis Pomeroy, Water Sup't Robert Tweedy, Mr. Nye and Mr. Oppliger proceeded to examine the system, reporting it could be activated with a few repairs, pipes in the lake extended from 150 feet to 200 feet into the lake and a direct connection from Fish Lake to the reservoir made soon. On July 27 the materials necessary for the repairs were purchased with pumping to begin in the near future. During Mayor Fellow's second term in office water works were extended and improved in the hope of eliminating problems at a later date.

The Mayor appointed Dr. R.J. Andres as City Health Officer. From old council records it appears there was plenty to do in this capacity. One complaint of a town citizen concerning a neighbor's manure pile causing pollution to the complainant's private well led to the discovery by the City Marshal and Dr. Andres that not only was the huge manure pile offensive; the offending party's barn was in the street. He was ordered to clean up the mess and move his barn out of the street and onto his own property, all within 30 days.

In November of 1909 the city went modern by renting a typewriter from the Underwood Typewriter Company for $5.00 a month. It was to be used and kept by the City Clerk.

Even in the 1900's the barter system was used by businesses and individuals. The City was no exception. The Cheney Brick Co. traded the City $18.00 worth of water pipe for the like amount in water usage.

Mr. Fellows enjoyed membership in some of the local fraternal orders, including Oriental Lodge, No. 74, F. and A. Masons; the Cheney Knights of Pythius and 32nd degree Scottish Rite Masons with membership in Spokane.

George A. Fellows made Cheney his home until in his later years. He then moved to California, where he died on September 1, 1937 at 77 years of age. Cremation and inurnment was at Cypress Lawn Cemetery, Calma, California.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988.