The Louis & Catherine (Finley) Peone History by Kaye Hale

 The name of Peone has several spellings. The French spelling was seen early in this country as Pion. The Americanized version appears as Peone or Peon. Louis Peon was born 25 March 1823 at Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, WI. His parents were John or Jean B. Peon and Louisa Curtis (Rose). John B. Peon was born in Bordeaux, France. He died and was buried in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin in 1836. Louisa was apparently a native of Prairie du Chien, but Louis stated in the 1880 census of Washington Territory that his mother was born in Missouri. Louisa died in 1858 and was buried next to her husband in Prairie du Chien. Aunt Francis K. Perkins Hall Bauer and Uncle Murlyn Hall visited their resting place when traveling in that state (Louis Curtis is in fact Louisa Curtois).

Louis attended school in Prairie du Chien, but left to travel and see new country at the very early age of 11 years. He arrived at Fort Crawford June 25, 1846 to be mustered into service as a private in the Mexican/American War to serve under Capt. Knowlton's Company, Wisconsin. He was paid $10 a month. According to Grandma Amelia Peone Perkins in conversation with Aunt Fran, Louis was at first a water boy, probably due to his age. On July 10, 1846, he re-enlisted for a second service. He served under Taylor. On September 7, 1847 he applied for the Bounty Land Grant due soldiers who served their country honorably. The grant was issued March 25, 1849. The records did not state the location of the  grant, he took payment of $125 instead of land. In that year, 1843, he was described in his discharge papers as being 20 years old, 5-foot-7, fair complexion, black eyes and black hair.

After the war, Louis traveled through several of the Eastern state until 1852 when he crossed the plains with an ox team to the Dalles. By this time he had acquired carpentry and farming as a trade. He drifted north in the sound country of Whatcom and located a homestead in the modern area of Olympia, Washington. He abandoned the claim and went to the Kootenay County, Idaho area during the Pend d'Oreille gold excitement where he engaged in mining and packing. He, in company with R.H. Douglas and Richard Fry of Bonners Ferry was one of the first to settle in the Colville Valley. He prospected in the sprig of 1856 and that same year, married Catherine Finley, resident of Colville Valley. Father Joset performed the ceremony and recorded the occasion in the Old St. Paul Mission record housed in the archives of Gonzaga University, Crosby Library. The date was May 2nd, 1856. Catherine was born in 1835 in Montana to James Finley and Susan Bryere, also of Montana. They are all listed as Flathead Indians, however, in 1967, the Colville Indian Agency accepted this couple as Colvilles due to their long residence on the Colville Reservation as well as some of their children. Catherine and Louis's children were Narcisse, Angeline, Adolphus, Oliver, James, Mary P., Dennis, Emma (Amelia), Gilbert, Florence, George, Madeline, and Solomin.

By act of congress on May 20, 1862, Louis secured a homestead of 160 acres of Willamette Meridian, Washington territory. It was just out of the present city limits of Colville on the north. On May 3rd, 1889, he acquired 80 acres for a sum of $1,000 from James Durkin. Gilbert and Oliver Peone witnessed this document. Catherine had her allotment near Meteor west of Inchelium and south of Twin Lakes.

The Peones were very well respected. They grew the usual crops on their farm and raised a band of cattle, horses, and hogs. They sent their children to the mission school in that locality, and were principally Catholic in faith. Louis was also a staunch Republican and voted accordingly.

Louis died Sept. 12, 1905 in the Colville area, however, burial location is unknown. We think the logical place would be the Ward Mission Cemetery adjacent the St. Francis Regis Mission Church, which later burned. 

Catherine died March 6th, 1913 on the south half of the Colville Reservation in Meteor, Washington.