Biographies
"M"
ROBERT E. McFARLAND
Idaho has always been conspicuous for the high rank of her bench and
bar. She has had many distinguished lawyers and jurists capable of
crossing swords in forensic combat with the most eminent
representatives of the profession in any section of the country.
Directing his talents along the lines of legal practice, Robert E.
McFarland has gained distinction as attorney general of Idaho and is
now engaged in the private practice of his profession in Coeur d'Alene.
He was born at Independence, Missouri, November 21, 1857, and is a son
of the Rev. W. B. and Elvira (Early) McFarland. The father, a native of
Pennsylvania, went to Virginia in young manhood and was there married
to Miss Elvira Early, a sister of General Early of Civil war fame. She
was a native of the Old Dominion. After their marriage they removed to
Missouri, where the Rev. McFarland engaged in preaching as a minister
of the Methodist church, being active in that field until he retired
and removed to Lewiston, Idaho, making his home there with his son to
the time of his death in 1904.
Robert E. McFarland pursued his early education in public schools of
Missouri in the various towns to which his father's ministerial labors
called him. Later he attended Central College at Fayette, Missouri, and
began the study of law under Senator George G. Vest of Sedalia, in that
state. In 1880 he was admitted to practice before the Missouri bar at
Marshall and a little later removed to Socorro, New Mexico, where he
followed his profession for four years. He became a very active
representative of the Democratic Party while in the south and was in
1883 elected to the New Mexico legislature for a two years' term.
In 1884 he removed to Murray, Idaho, where he entered upon the general
practice of law. He continued his abode in the Coeur d'Alene district
and in 1884 was elected probate judge of Shoshone County, being the
first incumbent in that position in the county. Again he had become a
leading factor in democratic politics and through much of his
succeeding life he has been a prominent figure in" political circles in
the state. In May, 1885', he was appointed the first registrar of the
United States land office in Coeur d'Alene and in addition to
performing the duties of that position he continued in the practice of
law, holding the office of registrar until 1890. In 1896 he was elected
attorney general of Idaho and filled the position for one term.
Throughout his entire life he has been a close and earnest student of
public questions and issues and his position has never been an
equivocal one.
He stands firmly for whatever he believes to be right and does not
hesitate to express his honest convictions. It was characteristic of
him that when he became convinced that his political opinions were more
in accord with the principles and attitude of the republican party than
with the democratic party, he did not for a moment hesitate to give his
allegiance to the republican organization, and while he has remained
active in support of its principles, he has never sought or desired
office since 1898, preferring to concentrate his efforts upon his
professional duties. In that year he removed to Lewiston, where he
remained in active practice until 1906, when he returned to Coeur
d'Alene, where he has since made his home. He did not a little toward
shaping public thought and action while a resident of Lewiston and
remains a leading figure in the public life of Coeur d'Alene.
In November, 1895, Mr. McFarland was united in marriage to Miss Marie
V. Pendy, of Murray, Idaho, the wedding being celebrated at Coeur
d'Alene Mines. Her parents were John and Katherine Pendy. Her mother
was actively identified with mining interests and was the first owner
of the Gem mine. To Mr. and Mrs. McFarland have been born five
children. William B., who is engaged in the practice of law with his
father in Coeur d'Alene, was for one year chief law clerk of the Idaho
Supreme Court. He is married and has two children, Robert B. and
Elizabeth M. Kathleen 1s a school teacher of Coeur d'Alene. Robert E. .
. the third member of the family, was admitted to the bar just prior to
America's entrance into the war, when he enlisted in the navy, serving
on the cruiser St. Louis, which was among the first convoys sent to
Europe in 1917. He now follows his profession at St. Maries, Idaho, and
is a partner of his father in the firm of McFarland & McFarland,
the son caring for the branch office at St. Maries. John A., the next
of the family, is a student in Gonzaga College at Spokane, Washington.
Joseph P. completes the family.
Mr. McFarland belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His wife is very active socially
and has been president of the Woman's Club of both Lewiston and Coeur
d'Alene. She was also president of the Woman's Republican Club in both
cities and has been a very active and prominent member of the Coeur
d'Alene Red Cross.
[Source: History of
Idaho: the gem of the mountains, Volume 4; Edited by James Henry
Hawley; Publ. 1920; Transcribed and submitted to Genealogy Trails by
Andrea Stawski Pack.]
W. F. McNAUGHTON
W. F. McNaughton was born at Pewaukee Lake, Wisconsin, November 30,
1876, his parents being F. J. and Melissa (Washburn) McNaughton, the
former a native of Canada, while the latter was born in Vermont. The
father was a farmer by occupation and became a resident of Wisconsin
many years ago. In the early '70s he removed to Shelby County, Iowa,
where he was engaged in general agricultural pursuits.
His son, W. F. McNaughton, pursued his education in the normal school
at Woodbine, Iowa, and in the State University of Nebraska, completing
a collegiate and law course. He was graduated in 1901 on the completion
of his law course and located for practice at Sioux Falls, South
Dakota. In 1909 he came to Idaho, settling at Coeur d'Alene, where he
has since engaged in general practice.
Mr. McNaughton was united in marriage to Miss Mayme Johnson, of Harlan,
Iowa, and they have three children, Margery, Josephine and Francis. Mr.
McNaughton is a republican in his political views. He belongs to the
various branches of Masonry and to the Mystic Shrine and he is also a
member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. While modest and
unostentatious in manner and demeanor, his colleagues and
contemporaries at the bar speak of him in high terms.
[Source: History of
Idaho: the gem of the mountains, Volume 4; Edited by James Henry
Hawley; Publ. 1920; Transcribed and submitted to Genealogy Trails by
Andrea Stawski Pack.]
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