Individual Details
George William Theis
(16 Oct 1859 - 17 Jun 1937)
From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904 Transcribed by: Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- GEORGE THEIS
George Theis was the first settler to locate in the region of the Colville valley, where he now has an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, just five miles from the county seat. He has it well improved with all buildings, fences, and so forth, necessary and was recently offered four thousand dollars for the estate. He was obliged when coming to this section, to cut all the roads alone and has shown remarkable energy and stability as an opening pioneer. George Theis was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 1859. His parents were natives of Germany and came to this country in 1850, locating in Pennsylvania, where they remained until their death, having been the parents of six children. Our subject received his education in Pittsburg and remained with his parents until the time of their death, then resided with his mother's sister until fifteen, at which time he began work in life for himself. He learned the boiler maker's trade and remained at it until nineteen, then went to Ohio and enlisted in the regular army where for the next five years he was found. He was sent to San Francisco and later to Vancouver and finally in 1881 came through where Spokane now stands, it then being but a village. He went to Fort Spokane where he remained until the time of discharge in 1885. Mr. Theis remarks that on coming through the village of Spokane, the citizens turned out emmasse with tin horns, tin cans and every available instrument to make noise to welcome the soldiers, so glad were they to see the people coming west. They had come on the first regular train entering Spokane. Immediately following his discharge, Mr. Theis located as a homestead, the place where he now lives, and at once devoted himself to its improvement. He labored there steadily until 1891, then took a position in the Colville smelter for three years. After this he built a sawmill and operated that until 1893, when it burned down. He immediatley rebuilt then sold and returned to his farm, where he has been occupied in general farming and stock raising since. In 1883, Mr. Theis married Miss Rachel, daughter of Austin and Hester Prouty, natives of Ohio and Iowa, respectively, and parents of seven children To Mr. and Mrs. Theis seven children have been born, as follows: Violet, Roy, George, Alva, Albert, Fred and Theodore. Politically, Mr. Theis is an active Republican and a man of influence. He is a member of the A.F. and A.M. and is well respected as a man of substantial qualities and uprightness.
George Theis was the first settler to locate in the region of the Colville valley, where he now has an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, just five miles from the county seat. He has it well improved with all buildings, fences, and so forth, necessary and was recently offered four thousand dollars for the estate. He was obliged when coming to this section, to cut all the roads alone and has shown remarkable energy and stability as an opening pioneer. George Theis was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 1859. His parents were natives of Germany and came to this country in 1850, locating in Pennsylvania, where they remained until their death, having been the parents of six children. Our subject received his education in Pittsburg and remained with his parents until the time of their death, then resided with his mother's sister until fifteen, at which time he began work in life for himself. He learned the boiler maker's trade and remained at it until nineteen, then went to Ohio and enlisted in the regular army where for the next five years he was found. He was sent to San Francisco and later to Vancouver and finally in 1881 came through where Spokane now stands, it then being but a village. He went to Fort Spokane where he remained until the time of discharge in 1885. Mr. Theis remarks that on coming through the village of Spokane, the citizens turned out emmasse with tin horns, tin cans and every available instrument to make noise to welcome the soldiers, so glad were they to see the people coming west. They had come on the first regular train entering Spokane. Immediately following his discharge, Mr. Theis located as a homestead, the place where he now lives, and at once devoted himself to its improvement. He labored there steadily until 1891, then took a position in the Colville smelter for three years. After this he built a sawmill and operated that until 1893, when it burned down. He immediatley rebuilt then sold and returned to his farm, where he has been occupied in general farming and stock raising since. In 1883, Mr. Theis married Miss Rachel, daughter of Austin and Hester Prouty, natives of Ohio and Iowa, respectively, and parents of seven children To Mr. and Mrs. Theis seven children have been born, as follows: Violet, Roy, George, Alva, Albert, Fred and Theodore. Politically, Mr. Theis is an active Republican and a man of influence. He is a member of the A.F. and A.M. and is well respected as a man of substantial qualities and uprightness.
Events
| Birth | 16 Oct 1859 | Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States |  | ||
| Marriage | 14 Feb 1884 | Rachel Almira Prouty | | ||
| Census (family) | 1887 | Stevens, Washington Territory, United States - Rachel Almira Prouty |  | ||
| Census (family) | 1892 | Stevens, Washington, United States - Rachel Almira Prouty | | ||
| Census (family) | 1900 | White Lake Precinct, Stevens, Washington, United States - Rachel Almira Prouty | | ||
| Death | 17 Jun 1937 | Bremerton, Kitsap, Washington, United States | | ||
| Burial | Artondale Cemetery, Gig Harbor, Pierce, Washington, United States |
Families
| Spouse | Rachel Almira Prouty (1866 - 1913) |
| Child | Geoganna Theis (1884 - 1887) |
| Child | Vilenta "Violet" Theis (1885 - 1965) |
| Child | Henry Roy Theis (1888 - 1970) |
| Child | Esther Theis (1889 - 1892) |
| Child | George Austin Theis (1891 - 1965) |
| Child | Alva "Alvia" Edison Theis (1894 - 1971) |
| Child | Albert E Theis (1895 - ) |
| Child | Fred Howard Theis (1900 - 1972) |
| Child | Theodore Richard Theis (1902 - 1967) |
| Child | Ann Loretta Theis (1904 - 1973) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Genevieve Theis (1910 - 1972) |
Notes
Census (family)
R. A. Prouty 67 MW, Farmer, married born OhioEsther Prouty, 40 FW, married, born Miss
Sarah Prouty, 16 FW, single, Iowa
Ann Prouty 13, FW, single Iowa
J. B. Prouty, 10, MW, single Iowa
Geo. Theis, 26, MW, Farmer, born Ohio
R. D. Theis, 20, FW Iowa
Vilenta Theis, 1 FW, WA
Census (family)
J.A. Prouty 28 M IA [James Austin]R.A. Prouty 72 OH, married [Richard Austin]
Esther Prouty 58 F Mich, married
C.H. Prouty 34 M IA [Charles Henry]
J. B. Prouty 14 M IA [Jessie Bertie]
George Theis 31 M, PA
R Theis 28 F, IA [Rachel]
Violet Theis 6 F, Wash
Roy Theis 4 M, Wash
George Theis 1 M, Wash
Richard Queener 29 M, MO
Anna Queener 18 F, IA
Albert A Queener, 1 M, Wash
G F Prouty 32 M, Farmer, MO [George Francis]
L.C. Prouty 16 F, Iowa
Rosa Prouty 3 mos., Wash
Census (family)
George Theis Head M 39 Oct 1860 Ohio Germany Germany, FarmerRachel Theis Wife F 34 Sept 1866 Iowa Ohio Michigan, married 16 yrs, 9 children born, 6 living
Violet Theis Daughter F 15 Washington
Henry R Theis Son M 12 Washington
George U Theis Son M 9 Washington
Alva E Theis Son M 7 Washington
Albert E Theis Son M 2 Washington
Fred H Theis Son M 0 Washington
Endnotes
1. Sommer, Glenna J., Family group reports for children of Richard Austin Prouty and Esther Marmon. (Reports dated 2 Apr 1992, mailed by Gloria Gibbel.).
2. Sommer, Glenna J., Family group reports for children of Richard Austin Prouty and Esther Marmon. (Reports dated 2 Apr 1992, mailed by Gloria Gibbel.).
3. Sommer, Glenna J., Family group reports for children of Richard Austin Prouty and Esther Marmon. (Reports dated 2 Apr 1992, mailed by Gloria Gibbel.).