From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904 Transcribed by: Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- HON. MARTIN J. MALONEY Hon. Martin J. Maloney, who is so well known throughout the state of Washington, is now proprietor of the Hotel Colville, in Colville, Stevens county. He is decidedly a self-made man, and not one of the kind, of whom Mark Twain facetiously remarks. "He stopped before the job was complete." Any one noticing the epitone of the career of the gentleman now being mentioned will be struck with the energy, keen foresight, flawless judgement and executive ability displayed by Mr. Maloney. Martin J. Maloney was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, on January 1, 1859, the son of James and Bridget (Gallagher) Maloney. The father was born in South Carolina, and in 1849, sought the golden sands of the Pacific slope, returning to Missouri with a comfortable fortune. He purchased a plantation and was one of the influential and prominent citizens of his district, but in the time of war lost everything and died in 1865, a broken man. The widow soon followed the husband to the grave and then our subject and his brothers and sisters were taken in charge by Father Hamm, a Catholic priest, who bound them out to different families. Our subject was not pleased with his surroundings and when eight years of age started forth in the world for himself. At the age of fifteen he went to California and in 1879 came overland with his brother to Walla Walla, making the journey on horseback. After being employed a time at various work he and his brother, for F.M. Louden, established a dairy, which was the first in the territory of Washington. In 1881 took the position of foreman on the painter gang on the Northern Pacific. In 1882 he was appointed the first marshal of Sprague, it being then the largest town in eastern Washington. Following three successful terms in this office, he was deputy sheriff of Spokane county, then of Lincoln county, and in 1887 located in Ellensburg, taking charge of the Johnson House. Mr. Maloney was a prominent member of the board of trade and was among the first to agitate the removal of the state capital to Ellensburg The population on the sound was too strong and the project was undone. Mr. Maloney was interested in steamboating on the Columbia and was one of the builders and owners of the City of Ellensburg, a steamer plying on the upper river. In 1890 Mr. Maloney went to Bellingham Bay and there resided five years. He was a delegate to the national convention at Chicago, which nominated Grover Cleveland, it being his third nomination. Mr. Maloney was an ardent admirer of Cleveland and by almost superhuman influence was largely instrumental in persuading the eight Washington delegates to stand for Cleve- land solid. On the ballot that nominated him he won by six and one half votes, so it is evident that Mr. Maloney was instrumental in placing Grover Cleveland in the chair the last time. Mr. Maloney took active part in the campaign when the first governor of the state was elected, which was the most hotly contested election ever held in the state. During the financial depression of 1892, he lost his fortune and was forced, by Cleveland's refusal to appoint him United States marshal, to accept the bread and butter position, as Mr. Maloney laconically calls it, of deputy collector of customs at New Whatcom. He made an excellent officer and when the rush came to Rossland on account of the discovery of the mineral wealth there, he was transferred to eastern Washington, and inaugurated a system of handling the immense business that sprang up there, which is still used by the officers of customs. Mr. Maloney also took great interest in the development of the mineral resources of the country and was personally instrumental in the investment of many thousands of wealth here. He was instrumental in the draft of the bill that led to the opening of the north half of the Colville reservation. Upon the change of administration. Mr. Maloney was appointed a life officer in the customs, but resigned in 1899. After this he was active in political matters in Spokane and with the assistance of Henry Drumheller so managed the state campaign of 1900 that Rogers was elected governor on the Democratic ticket by a majority of two thousand five hundred, when President McKinley carried the state Republican by thirteen thousand majority. After this Mr.Maloney went to Marcus and operated a hotel and later came to his present position in Colville. He was elected to the state legislature in 1902, and made a record of which he may well be proud. Mr. Maloney is a staunch Democrat and a friend of Senator George Turner. At Sprague on June 7, 1883, Mr. Maloney married Miss Olive E., daughter of Ben and Mary J.(Howard) Davis, early pioneers of Oregon, and prominent people there. To this union there has one son been born, James H., who first saw the light on October 25, 1887. Mr. Maloney has the following named brothers and sisters, Mrs. Mary Gibney, John, Mrs.Ellen Muelhman and James J. Mrs. Maloney has two brothers, Walter, Benjamin, and two half brothers, Floyd Davis and John O. Jackson. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. 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