The facetious speaking of a man said, “He is a self-made man and he did not quit until the job was done.” Such is surely applicable to the subject of this sketch. He is a self made man, and he has done a good job. He is one of the leading young men of Nez Perces County, having demonstrated his ability, acumen and stirring qualities in his profession, that of the law, wherein he is making a brilliant success, but to gain which he has labored long and faithfully, making the most of all of his opportunities in life.
Mr. Tannahill was born in Selma, Van Buren County, Iowa, on July 2, 1872, being the son of John and Almira (Jones) Tannahill. The father was a carpenter and builder, born in Ohio, in 1843, and died in 1875. His father, Frank Tannahill was a native of Wales and he married Poly A., who was born in Iowa, and died in 1897. The mother of our subject was born in Iowa in 1847 and is living in Chautauqua County, Kansas. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Henry V. Jones, a native of Ohio, whose wife was Hulda Herrington, who died in 1898. George W. lost his father when he was a child of three. The mother married again and the stepfather being very kind to this lad gave him a good education until thirteen years of age, when he desired to do for himself and accordingly went to Indian Territory and rode the range for a Mr. Brown. Two years later we find our subject in school in Kansas and again in Indian Territory, this time working in a saw mill.
He then went to school and in 1890 came to Pomeroy, Washington, where he worked on a ranch, then went to Leland, Idaho, and farmed for himself for a couple of years. Then he turned his attention to operating a hardware store in Leland until 1896, when he sold out and removed to Valparaiso. Indiana, and entered the excellent law school of that place. He graduated in due time, having read law considerable before, and on September 14, 1897. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state of Indiana. He went to his old home and made a visit, then came on to Lewiston, where he has been practicing since that time. He has secured a good practice and is one of the reliable and capable members of the bar, having distinguished himself on many occasions, where he has done telling work.
Mr. Tannahill is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the K. of P., and the Eastern Star, having taken many degrees in the first order named. In political matters, he is a staunch Democrat, faithful to the principles of Jeffersonian statesmanship and is active in that realm. He is interested in the mercantile business with his brother, at Ho, Idaho. Mr. Tannahill has two brothers, Samuel O., in mercantile business at Ilo; John L., in stock business in Indian Territory. We wish also to record that the father of our subject was a faithful soldier for the Union in the Civil War.
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Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903