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Daniel F. Percival

One of the first pioneers to establish a farm on Rock Creek a few miles south of the settlement of Cheney was Daniel F. Percival, the man destined to become the leading force in the formative years of this city.

Daniel was the son of Gordon and Emmeline Percival. He was born in Bangor, Maine on November 16, 1839. His father, a lumber dealer, had pioneered that area in former years. Daniel was taught the basics of the lumber trade until enlisting in the Union Army in 1862. He received an honorable discharge the following year. Service in the army left him with many memories of historic events he had witnessed, including the fall of Richmond and the surrender of General Robert E. Lee.

The far West was in the early stages of development; public domain was being offered to all comers willing to face the hardships of a pioneer. On May 1, 1866 Daniel started for that new land, traveling by ox team in a wagon train. The journey was a challenge of great plains and mountains to be crossed, with hostile Indians along the way. Before they reached their destination 70 members of the wagon train had been killed in Indian attacks. It was September when the group arrived at last in Bozeman, Montana.

Two years of working in Montana and Daniel felt it was time to move on. This time he headed for California on horseback with his bedroll, rifle and enough money for a start wherever he chose to try. San Diego seemed a likely place and he tried his luck in business there for two years. The big city was a disappointment so he traveled on to Portland, Oregon where he opened up a lumber operation.

In 1872 he became restless for less populated areas, sold the business and came here. He found the location he had been seeking on Rock Creek (now called Pine Creek) about 5 miles south of town, which is presently the site of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. He built his home on approximately the same place the Refuge headquarters stands. He then returned to Portland where he married Elizabeth Blythe on April 3, 1873. Four years later they were granted complete ownership by taking out a Cash Entry Claim, a method by which a homestead could be completed by paying the government a cash amount instead of finishing out the requirements imposed on the homesteader for five years. They received their U.S. government grant in September of 1878 for the total of $300.00.

The farm was a profitable venture. Daniel Percival seemed to have a knack of succeeding at anything he tried. He advised other settlers that only stock raising and diversified farming could pay here, with grain crops limited to the amount needed to feed the farmer's own herds.

This part of the country was encompassed in Stevens County at the time. The need for a good County Commissioner to represent this area was evident and in 1874 Daniel Percival entered the field of politics by becoming a commissioner for a one year term. In 1876 he was a member of the legislature, his second term in that office ending in 1880. While in the legislature he introduced the bill which organized Spokane County.

1881 found the Percivals turning from farming to banking and real estate sales. They moved to Cheney where he established his private bank which burned in an early Cheney fire which wiped out the business district of the little town. Nothing daunted, the next morning after the fire the bank opened for business as usual, it's safe sheltered in a tent.

In 1889 the Honorable Percival (a courtesy title bestowed on him by admirers) organized the First National Bank of Cheney with board members composed of several astute and respected Cheney men. D. F. Percival was made president of the new bank. The large, two-story structure was on the corner of First St. and Normal Avenue, (now College Avenue) .

In spite of his many interests the Honorable Percival was never too busy to take an active part in his town's betterment. His political influence aided efforts of the town leaders to change the status of the Benjamin P. Cheney Academy to that of a State supported institution. In 1890 the change was approved by the legislature and the Academy became the Cheney Normal School.

His endeavors on behalf of this community led to the incorporation of the city, an act approved by the Territorial Governor on November 18, 1883. It provided for the officers to govern the city until the first annual election could be called in June of 1884. The governor then named the Honorable D.F. Percival as Mayor who would create the city municipal government. Eight prominent Cheney citizens were named to serve on the common council until the June election. The slate of officers was listed as D.F. Percival, Mayor; T.M. Calloway, L. Walter, J.S. Mount, W.W. Griswold, J.H. Hughes, councilmen; A.H. Callow, Marshal; J.W. Still, collector and T.T. Clark, assessor. This group of men planned and carried out the start of a durable foundation on which the present city has been built.

In June, 1884, D.F. Percival was elected Mayor by a large majority and the work of the council and Mayor began in earnest. There were decisions to be made, ordinances to pass and a general assessment made of needed projects of benefit to the citizens. Law and order must be kept, a priority which had been somewhat sketchy in the past. Fines must be set for breaking city rules; law breakers unable to pay their fine would be put to work on streets or other city property as the city officials saw fit, until the fine was worked out. A health officer was to be appointed to make sure sanitary conditions within the city limits were observed. A "pest house" for communicable diseases must be designated so that a quarantine could be in effect when necessary. Each new day brought additional problems to be settled in those first months of incorporation.

Individual wells furnishing water for city residents were inadequate for private homes and fire protection as well. In 1890 a reservoir system was built, an expensive process which involved bringing water from Fish Lake to Cheney via wooden pipes. Although the water came directly from the lake, it was perfectly pure for drinking as were all lakes and streams then. The pumping system was owned by a Portland based firm.

A privately owned electric light plant was built in the spring of 1891 at a cost of nearly $15,000.00. Louis Walter was hired as agent for the company. The first few street lights were installed shortly after the plant was in operation. Two dynamos supplied the power capable of lighting 700 incandescent lights. Cheney was modernizing under the guidance of Mayor Percival and the council.

The energy and interest of the Honorable Percival knew no bounds. On July 5, 1882 a meeting was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church here to organize a local unit of the Woman's Suffrage Association. D.F. Percival was chosen as one of the seven member program committee. He was a staunch supporter of the movement and worked tirelessly for passage of the bill to recognize women's votes until the bill was defeated in 1890.

He was also president of the board of trustees of Eastern Washington Insane Asylum at Medical Lake, a position he held for eight years.

Twenty three years of marriage to Elizabeth Blythe came to an end with her death on June 18, 1896. He later married Mrs. Fannie Osterman.

Daniel F. Percival died in 1907. Cheney business houses closed during the time of his funeral services and a host of friends paid tribute to his memory. A leading citizen, good friend and popular member of the community was gone. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988