USA > Washington > King County > Seattle > A volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of the city of Seattle and county of King, Washington, including biographies of many of those who have passed away > Part 35
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Mr. Collins was happily married in 1891 to Miss Anna Chapin, a daughter of William Castner Chapin, of Philadelphia. They have three children, Elma C., Charles R., and William Chapin. The parents hold mem- bership in St. Mark's Episcopal church, in which Mr. Collins is one of the vestrymen. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and is well informed on the issues of the day, yet has never been an aspirant for office. He has become interested in property of the city, owning some valuable real estate, and is also a trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of Seattle. This is a utilitarian age, in which business interests are predominant, and when business affairs are assuming extensive proportions, and marked progress is being made along all lines of industrial work. Realizing that there is ever room at the top and that op- portunity for advancement is never lacking, Mr. Collins has so qualified him- self for his work that his skill and ability have continuously enabled him to progress in the line of his chosen vocation, and he stands to-day among the leading representatives in the department of mechanical engineering on the Pacific coast.
RALPH W. EMMONS.
Twelve years have passed since Ralph W. Emmons became identified with the interests of Seattle, and during all this period he has been recog- mized as one of its leading law practitioners. Time has but brightened his reputation in professional circles and among the leading men of the city has given him a prestige that is indeed enviable. His birth occurred in Orion, Oakland county, Michigan, on the 11th of December, 1854, and he is of English descent. The progenitor of the family on American soil was Rev.
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William Emmons, an Episcopal minister, who came to this country in an early day took up his abode in New Hampshire. The great-grandfather, William Emmons, served in a New York regiment during the Revolutionary war. Elias R. Emmons, the father of him whose name introduces this re- view, was born near Sandy Hill, New York, and he was married to Miss Sarah Carpenter, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Ro- chester, New York, and were prominently engaged in milling pursuits there. Mr. and Mrs. Emmons became the parents of four children, of whom three are still living.
Ralph W. Emmons received his literary training in the schools of Mi- chigan, while his professional studies were pursued in Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, and he was admitted to the bar of Oregon in 1882. Forming a partner- ship with his brother, A. C. Emmons, he then embarked in the practice of his chosen calling in Portland, Oregon, where they have maintained an office for the past twenty years, and for the past twelve years they have also practiced in Seattle, in both places meeting with a well merited degree of success.
The marriage of Ralph W. Emmons and Cornelia Harris was cele- brated in 1890. The lady is of English descent, and her ancestors were among the early American settlers. Her father, Joseph Harris, was a Union soldier during the great Civil war. Tpo Mr. and Mrs. Emmons were born three sons, Ralph, born in Portland, Oregon, and Harris and Arthur, born in Seattle. The family reside in a beautiful home on Beacon Hill, and Mrs. Em- mons is a valued member of St. Mark's Episcopal church. On attaining ma- ture years Mr. Emmons became identified with the Masonic fraternity, and he has ever since retained his membership therein, and he is also a member of the Sons of the Revolution. He has always been an ardent and active Re- publican, maintaining a high standing both in political and professional circ- les, and Seattle numbers him among her leading and influential citizens.
JOHN W. McCONNAUGHEY.
King county is fortunate in that it has a class of men in its public offices who are faithful to duty and have the best interests of the community at heart, placing the public welfare before personal aggrandizement and the good of the community before partisanship. On the list of public officials appears the name of John W. McConnaughey who is occupying the position of county treasurer. He is also well known in commercial circles, being en- gaged in the manufacture and sale of paint in Seattle. A native of Ohio, he was born in the city of Dayton in April, 1860, and is of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
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In the Keystone state David McConnaughey, the grandfather of our subject, was born and removing westward became one of the pioneer settlers of Day- ton, Ohio, where he secured a farm from the government and placed the land under a high state of cultivation. To its development and improvement he devoted his energies up to the time of his death which occurred in his sixty-eighth year. John C. McConnaughey, the father of our subject, was born on the homestead farm near Dayton, on 1824, and after arriving at years of maturity married Miss Elizabeth A. Keplinger. Her father also was a pioneer of Ohio and for many years an owner of a flouring mill there. Mr. McConnaughey was a farmer and stock raiser who spent his entire life in his native town and died at the age of seventy-two years. His wife still survives him and is now sixty-nine years of age, her home being in Dayton, Ohio. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are still living. Three of the sons are on the Pacific coast, C. K. McCon- naughey, being the cashier in the treasurer's office of King county, while D. F. is manager of the Seattle Paint and Varnish Company, the stock of which is owned by John W., D. F. and C. K. McConnaughey.
To the public school system of Dayton, Ohio, John McConnaughey is indebted for the educational privileges he received. In 1885 he left home in order to enter upon an independent business career and making his way to the west was engaged in the brokerage business in Wichita, Kansas. He traveled all over the western part of that state and at length sought a home on the Pacific coast, removing to Portland, Oregon, in the fall of 1889. The month of July, 1892, witnessed his arrival in Seattle, where he continued in the brokerage and real estate business until April, 1898, when he organized the Seattle Paint and Varnish Company, under which name he and his brother, D. F. McConnaughey, are conducting a wholesale business, manufacturing all of the goods which they handle. They make everything in the paint line and their business is proving a very satisfactory one, bringing to them a good income annually. The product of their factory finds a ready sale upon the market owing to the excellence of quality as well as reasonable price and the reliability of the house. Our subject is also largely interested in city real estate, including both business and residence property, his investments having been so judiciously made that they have greatly augmented lais capital.
Mr. McConnaughey is identified with all of the interests of Seattle and is well known not only because of his real estate dealings and his industrial and commercial interests, but also because of the active part which he takes in promoting movements and measures calculated to advance the general good. He is a valued member of the Rainier Club, the Athletic Club and of
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the Chamber of Commerce. In politics he has been a lifelong Republican and in the fall of 1900 was elected to his present office by a good majority and is filling the position with much ability. He has thirty employes in his office under him and has given a surety bond of $233,000. He sustains an unassailable reputation for integrity and honesty in all business transactions and the choice of the public in calling Mr. McConnaughey to office was cer- tainly a wise one. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a thorough representative business man. his standing being high in the community and he is both widely and favorably known in the city of his adoption.
CHARLES B. FORD, M. D.
Each calling or business, if honorable, has its place in the scheme of human existence, constituting a part of the plan whereby life's methods are pursued and man reaches his ultimate destiny. "All are needed by each one," wrote Emerson. The importance of a business, however, is largely determined by its usefulness. So dependent is man upon his fellow men that the worth of the individual is largely reckoned by what he has done for humanity. There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due than to those self-sacrificing, noble minded men whose life work has been the alleviation of the burden of suffering that rests upon the world, thus lengthening the span of human existence. Their influence cannot be measured by any known standard, their helpfulness is as broad as the universe and their power goes hand in hand with the beneficent laws of nature that come from the source of life itself. Some one has said, "he serves God best who serves humanity most." The skillful physician then, by the exercise of his native talents and acquired ability, is not only performing a service for humanity, but is follow- ing in the footsteps of the Teacher who said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me."
A name that stands conspicuously forth in connection with the medical profession of Seattle is that of Dr. Charles Bickham Ford, one of the young- er members of the profession. He is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, born August 17, 1873, and on the paternal side is of Scotch and English ancestry, while on the maternal side he is of German and English ancestry. The Doctor's paternal great-grandfather removed to North Carolina in a very early day, and his son moved from that state to Mississippi, where he was a planter for a number of years, and was also a member of the Mississippi state senate. His son, William Pendleton Ford, was born in Mississippi, in 1847.
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He was there married to Miss Clara B. Kline, a native of Shreveport, Louisi- ana, and a daughter of John Jackson, also of that state. They were of Ger- man ancestry, the progenitor of the family in this country having been among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, and the Doctor's ancestry on both sides were active participants in the Revolutionary war. William Pendelton Ford joined the Confederate forces when but fourteen years of age, and was a brave and valiant soldier until the close of the great sanguinary struggle. He was wounded in battle, and his death occurred at the age of forty-six years. He removed from Mississippi to Louisiana, and served as cashier of the Merchants & Farmers Bank of Shreveport. To Mr. and Mrs. Ford were born three children, two sons and a daughter, and of these Edward G. now resides in Baltimore, Maryland. The daughter died in infancy. The mother still survives, and now makes her home with her son, the subject of this review, in Seattle. The family are members of the Episcopal church.
Dr. Charles B. Ford received his literary education in the University of South Sewanee, Tennessee, and his professional training was acquired in the Bellevue Medical College, in which he was graduated with the class of 1895. In order to still further perfect himself in his chosen calling he spent a year and a half in the Brooklyn Hospital, and upon the expiration of that period he came to Seattle and entered upon his professional career. He soon se- cured a liberal and remunerative practice and won recognition as one of the leading physicians of the city. He has given special attention to the prac- tice of surgery, in which he is considered an expert, and in addition to his large private practice he is also serving as assistant surgeon to the Marine Hospital. He is a valued member of the King County Medical Society and of the Washington State Medical Society, and his skill and experience along the line of his chosen calling far outreach his years. He is a genial gentle- man, always courteous and considerate, of broad humanity, sympathy and tolerance, and possessed of that sincere love for his fellow men without which there can never be the highest success in the medical profession. His friends are legion, and the history of Seattle would be incomplete without the record of his life and work.
MRS. JOSEPHINE P. MCDERMOTT.
This is an age in which woman's ability in many departments of busi- ness life has been widely recognized, because she has successfully entered the ranks of commercial and professional life and proved that her skill is equal to that of man. Mrs. McDermott is the efficient president of The Bon
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Marche, Nordhoff & Company incorporated department store, which is one of the largest and most popular department stores in the northwest. It is located at 1419-35 Second avenue and 115-123 Pike street, and an office is maintained in New York city for the purchase of the goods. Four hundred employes are found in the Seattle establishment and there are twenty-five departments in the store, handling all such goods as are sold in the large de- partment stores of New York and Chicago. Edward Nordhoff, now de- ceased, and his wife, who is now Mrs. McDermott, came from Chicago, where they had been employed as salespeople, to Seattle in 1890, and started a little store in North Seattle with quite limited means, but they worked to- gether and their straightforward business methods and liberal policy, to- gether with courteous treatment of their customers, brought them a large patronage, and their success from the beginning was almost phenomenal. The business increased rapidly each year, and in 1897 still larger quarters were required for the enterprise and they removed to the present store on Second avenue. But when Mr. Nordhoff was about to realize his highest dreams of success death claimed him. The business was then incorporated. R. G. H. Nordhoff, the brother-in-law of Mrs. McDermott, became her part- ner. He is a gentleman of exceptionally fine business ability and became the vice-president of the new company, while Mrs. Nordhoff was made president. They are conducting the business along the lines first planned, buying goods for caslı, selling at a small profit and therby making large sales. Absolute courtesy to all patrons is demanded from their employes, and the business has grown each year until it has assumed very extensive proportions. Each Saturday night they give concerts to which the customers are welcome, and the generosity and liberality with which they conduct the business has brought them hosts of friends.
Edward L. Nordoff, who was the founder of this business, was born in Germany, pursued his education there and in that country became familiar with business methods. Emigrating to the new world he took up his abode in Chicago, where he secured a clerkship in one of the large stores of that city. His capability, keen insight and untiring energy continually brought him promotion until he became the manager of a large mercantile establish- ment there. After his marriage he removed from Chicago to the northwest to engage in business on his own account and met with the highest success in his undertaking. He was devoted to his business, was continually watch- ing for opportunity to extend its scope, and yet he was ever found as a genial, generous, public-spirited and enterprising citizen and was highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact through business or social relations. Shortly
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before his death he induced his brother, R. G. H. Nordhoff of Buffalo, New York, who had been a successful business man of that place, to become identi- fied with the commercial interests of Seattle, thereby adding a valued addi- tion to its mercantile circles.
Mrs. McDermott was born and educated in Chicago and there gave her hand in marriage to Edward Nordhoff. Since their removal to Seattle she has given her entire attention to the business and has deservedly earned her position as the most popular and prominent business woman of the city. The policy maintained in the store has ever been a most liberal one, reflecting credit upon the owners. Mrs. McDermott has an individual interest in those who are in her service, and all know that fidelity will lead to promotion as opportunity offers.
On the 4th of June, 1901, Mrs. Nordhoff became the wife of Frank M. McDermott, a popular and prominent business man of Seattle, numbered among the extensive and successful merchants; both are widely and favor- ably known in this city, and their efforts have contributed to the business prosperity of Seattle. The success of the enterprise of which Mrs. McDer- mott is the head has been gained along the old time maximis such as, "Hon- esty is the best Policy," and that, "There is no excellence without labor." The large department store of Nordoff & Company is to-day one of the lead- ing commercial enterprises of the city and its representatives have been a valued addition to Seattle.
JOHN G. GRAY.
The ancestry of this Seattle lawyer is English, and his father emigrated to this country at an early age and became a Congregational minister. While in the service of the church he was pastor of churches in New York, Illinois, lowa and Nebraska. His family consisted of five sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living.
John G. Gray was born in 1861. He was educated in the public schools of Whiteside county, Illinois, and at the age of sixteen years began teach- ing in Nebraska. His legal education was acquired in the law office of Abner W. Askwith, Esq., now a leading lawyer of Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1887 Mr. Gray was admitted to the supreme court of Iowa, and in 1888 he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and in 1890 became a member of the firm of Booth, Lee & Gray, which firm enjoyed a good practice. In 1898 he removed to Mountain Home. Idaho, and was engaged in business ventures outside of his profession. In September, 1899, lie removed to Seattle and resumed the practice of the law.
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July 1, 1901, he formed a partnership with Mr. Hugh A. Tait. form- crly of Ogden, Utah, under the firm name of Gray & Tait, and the firm continued until January 1, 1903, when Mr. Tait accepted the appointment of assistant corporation counsel for the city of Seattle. The appointment was unsolicited upon the part of Mr. Tait, and came to him on account of his reputation as a careful lawyer acquired in the trial of cases confided to the firm of Gray & Tait. Mr. Gray retains the business of the firm, has a number of clients, and they have confidence in his ability. In 1893 Mr. Gray married Miss Nellie Strickley, and two daughters and a son have been born to them. In politics Mr. Gray has ever been a Republican.
GENERAL J. D. MCINTYRE.
There is no man in King county whose life, if it were written in full here, would make so thrilling a romance as that of Brigadier General J. D. McIntyre, of Seattle. He is fifty-one years old, by profession a mining engineer, and until 1890 had lived almost continuously on the outskirts of civilization. His life has been a part of the history of many of our western mining camps. He is a crack shot, and has had more sanguinary encoun- ters with white men, Indians and wild beasts than could be recounted in a volume. It may be said of him that he does not know the sense of fear. For the past eleven years he has settled down to a quite home life, has ac- quired a large fortune and lives in his own beautiful home overlooking Lake Union, in Seattle. A visit to his home on Lake Union is well worth anyone's while. The originality of the architecture of the house and grounds is a reflex of the character of the man.
Gen. McIntyre was born at Point Fortune, Canada, on December 4. 1851, of Scotch parents. His great-great-grandmother was a daughter of a brother of the Duke of Argyle, and his great-great-grandfather was a real admiral in the British navy. His great-grandfather was a lieutenant in the British army, and distinguished himself at the battle of Quebec, and was with Gen. Wolff when he fell. The family, consisting of father, mother and three children, of which the General was the oldest, emigrated to the United States in 1858, and in 1859 the General's father (since dead) went to Pike's Peak, afterwards Denver, Colorado, but then a part of Kansas. He engaged in mining and took out a great deal of gold in Georgia Gulch. He built the first toll road in Colorado. The family followed in 1860, taking four months to make the journey by team. It was on this trip that first began the series of exciting adventures that lias followed this boy's career ever since. The
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I.g. m Intyre
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whole route was infested with Indians. Their travels were often impeded by great herds of buffalo. Flocks of graceful antelope glided by them con- tinually. This boy, naturally of a martial spirit, here got his first lessons in fighting Indians and hunting. The train consisted of one hundred wagons, and young McIntyre was rated as good a shot as any man in the train. When the train reached Loup's Fork, of the Platte river, it ran into five thous- and Crow Indians on the war path, but how they escaped being all massacred is too long a tale to recount here. In crossing Loup's Fork a great cloud- burst occurred, breaking the cable on which the ferry boat crossed the river, and some forty on board, including the boy McIntyre, were carried down the mighty flood at a violent speed, but, strange as it may seem, all were saved from this danger also.
Denver, at this time, contained only seventy-five houses and was sur- rounded by apparently a great desert. For about seven years young Mc- Intyre never knew what it was to be free from the danger of an attack by Indians. Gen. McIntyre says his growth was stunted by the strain on his nervous system.
A public school was started in 1863 at Denver and one of the first boys to appear at this school was young McIntyre. In 1864 the negroes were admitted to the school, where many southern children attended, which caused a great riot. At a meeting young McIntyre was chosen captain, not because he was opposed to the colored children's attendance, but because he had the coolest head and seemed the best qualified for leadership, although he was scarcely fourteen years old, and many boys in the school were much older. Within an hour he had organized the whole school into three companies, ap- pointed officers, secured a drum and fife, a flag and was marching down La- ramie street, Denver, to the school board, which was in session. He told no one his plan, but marshaled the three noisy companies close around the offices of the school board. He selected two other boys as a committee to see the school board and went in, when he made the following speech :
"Mr. Chairman, we come to you as a committee of the Denver public school children, to say that owing to the prejudice growing out of the war many of our school boys and girls are opposed to occupying the same seats. with the colored children, and, while we recognize the right of colored chil- dren to attend our school, we believe it would be wiser to put the colored chil- dren in a room by themselves, and give them a separate teacher for a while. When the prejudices, growing out of the war, have had time to die out. no doubt we will all look on this thing differently."
A hurried consultation was held by the school board, in which all agreed
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that the boy was right. They then and there announced that they would give the colored children a separate teacher, until further notice.
In 1870 young McIntyre, then nineteen years old, was elected enrolling clerk of the eighth session of the Colorado legislature. During the session a concurrent resolution was passed almost unanimously through both Senate and House, asking the delegates in congress to give young McIntyre the first vacancy at West Point. This was done because of his special fitness and ability, and for certain achievements which were known only to a few. He went immediately to the Military Academy at West Point, but soon saw that the wild frontier life, hunting and fighting Indians, had not given him the requisite education to enable him to pass the examinations, and he must re- turn home, greatly to his disappointment. About this time was the period of the worst hazing at West Point. They made a bronco of plebe Mcintyre, and had another cadet ride him, greatly to the amusement of the first and second classes. He stood this hazing like a stoic, until one man asked to see his sweetheart's picture. This infuriated young Mclntyre, and he whipped two men, a second and third class man dreadfully, before he could be over- powered and taken off. A number engaged in the melee, and pressed him back to the wall. He told them they were a lot of cowards, for a dozen to jump on one, and that he could whip the whole academy one at a time. They were very glad to let the young bronco go, and the word was passed around the academy that no man should haze him again, and they never did. It is a custom at West Point that a good fighter shall not be hazed. He then went back to Denver and studied for several years with civil and mining en- gineers.
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