James Duvall (The Founder)

    Mr. Duvall was a simple man who lived simply.  James happened to be the one who sold the property to the Cherry Valley Town site Company, and thus it was he for whom the Town was named.  Even though his brother ten or so year before in the area.  His idea was to log off the hills of the area and live with his brother.

    When James came, he acquired the land from riverbank up to the hillside extending a mile east of what is known as the pole line road, which is now known as 275th NE.  James had his logging camp located on the SE corner of what is now 3rd Ave. and Bruett RD (Road to Cedarcrest).  His first job was to clear off enough of the woods in order to setup a road (skid road) for transporting the logs to the river.  He managed to buy some black bulls to move the logs out of the woods, and onto the skid road.  In his first years James did not have his family living with him, but once the cabin became habitable he brought is wife named Annie, and their several children to live with him.  At this time their were no stores or supply firms, and postal service was erratic, and usually mail was held in Monroe for someone to pickup, at this little cross roads - which wasn't even named yet.

    After the town of Duvall was established, Duvall returned and visited the people he knew, he seemed to not be amazed at the growth of the town, and that it was named after him.