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From History of North Washington, published 1903, now in public domain. 
Submitted by Candy L. Grubb March 27, 1997. Both above notices must remain 
when copied or downloaded.

candyg@ieway.com

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JOSEPH LAPRAY

	Joseph Lapray, one of the earliest settlers of Stevens county,
Washington, distinguished for his business ability, public spirit, and
force of character, after an eventful life, crowned with social and
financial success, passed from earth in 1900.
	He was Canadian by nativity, having been born in Montreal,
January 3, 1834, the son of Louis and Rosalie (Gilbert) Lapray.  The
father was born in France; the mother in Canada, the former coming to
Montreal while it was yet a wilderness.  Here he met his future wife,
married and settled down to the independent life of a farmer.  Their
union was blessed with three children, Rosalie, married to Edward
Mathews, of Hyacinth, Canada; Virginia, wife of Peter Langillier,
Canada; and Joseph.  Louis Lapray, the father, was highly connected,
his relatives being wealthy and notable people of France.  The death
of one of them left a large fortune to be divided among heirs, of whom
Joseph was one.  This bequest he declined, saying that he needed nothing
that he could not earn for himself, and advising the administrators of
the estate to distribute it among the poor.  This is a striking 
illustration of our subject's generosity and independence.
	Joseph was graduated from the Catholic College of Montreal,
and at the age of fourteen years began life for himself.  Coming to
the United States, he crossed the plains in 1859, in company with
Charles H. Montgomery, a sketch of whose career is given in another 
portion of this work.  It was their intention to push on to Fraser
river, but they located for the time being at Colville, Stevens county.
Here he pre-empted a quarter section of land, which property he owned at 
the time of his death.  In 1874 he removed to Walker's Prairie where
he lived and died.  He, also, located a homestead on one hundred and
sixty acres, subsequently adding to the same, until he owned a thousand
acres, where he engaged in the cattle business, having a band of six
hundred head.
	In 1882 Mr. Lapray controlled a profitable sawmill business in
Lincoln county, which he conducted fifteen years.  The property on which 
his widow now resides, nine miles south of Springdale, is sprinkled 
with buildings until it resembles a small village by itself.  He
purchased a bridge of James Monoghan, which he afterwards rebuilt, 
locating it across the Spokane river and converting it into a toll 
bridge.  This structure was afterwards bought by the two counties of
Stevens and Spokane, and is still known as the Lapray Bridge.  He also
constructed twenty miles of roadway between this bridge and his saw
mill.  It is at present a county road.
	In 1872 our subject was united in marriage to Roseline Miganault,
daughter of Joseph and Corinne (Luseier) Miganault, natives of France.
They came to Canada when children, and the mother died at Montreal in
1891.  The father, one of the French nobility, still resides in that
city.  They were the parents of the following children: Lucie, deceased;
Charles, a dairyman, of Winnipeg; Victor; Corrine, married to Joseph
Broullet, of Falls River; Peter; Joseph, a sister of the Order of 
Teachers of the Catholic religion, in Montreal; Louis; Etinne; Sophie,
deceased; Mary, a Sister of Charity; and Roseline.
	To Mr. and Mrs. Lapray were born six children: Alice, wife of
James Newhouse, Stevens county; Edward, in Idaho; George; Corrine,
living with her mother; Florence, married to Fred Merchant, of Spokane;
and Joseph, at present living on the homestead in Stevens county.
	The political principles of Joseph Lapray were in line with 
those of the Republican party.  In 1872 he was elected treasurer of
Stevens county, but after that he would accept no other office.  He 
was a devout and earnest member of the Catholic church.  His bereaved
widow is a most excellent woman and highly esteemed by a wide circle
of friends who recognize in her a youthful vitality and elasticity
that have withstood the many trials to which she has been subjected.