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 66
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tects in Chelsea, London, and had been in the business and in the same office for about sixty years. Thus he was enabled to acquire a very thorough training, and he also gained much practical knowledge of the craft by work- ing for an elder brother. This brother, Thomas Marcus Houghton. is a prominent English architect, a member of the British Institute of Architects, Society of Arts, Sanitary Institute, and master of chancery in all courts of justice. After he had carried on this preliminary work for a few years and was able to stand on his own feet, as it were, he married and in 1884 decided to make America the field of his endeavors. He first spent some time in the east, then came to the Pacific coast. and in 1889 cast in his lot with that of the growing city of Seattle. It was about this time that the big fire swept away a large part of the city, and thus afforded a good field for the builder. He became associated with a Mr. Saunders. and they built a number of business houses, somc of the more prominent being the Bailey building, the P. I. building, Olympic block, the headquarters of the city fire department, Rain- jer hotel, four of the city school buildings. In 1892 Mr. Saunders went east, and since then Mr. Houghton has been alone in the business. Some of the more recent buildings which he has erected are: The Arcade, the Esta- brook. the Curtis, the Cascade laundry, the Lippy. the Cataract Company, the Otis, the Grand Opera House of Seattle, the Spokane Theatre, the Grand Opera House at Butte, Montana, Beck's Theatre at New Whatcom. besides many residences. This is certainly a good record, and he could desire no better monument to his deeds than this list of structures. many of which will be in existence long after their builder has passed away.
Mr. Houghton is a well rounded man and has been interested in other matters than his business. He is a Republican in politics; he belongs to the Trinity parish church and for three years sang in its choir ; and he is a mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce, the Seattle Driving Club, the Society of Engineers, and an associate of the American Institute of Architecture. He finds his principal recreation in riding and driving, and owns three fine riding horses. Mr. Houghton was married in England in 1884. just before com- ing to this country. The lady of his choice was Margaret Ann Crude. who was of Devonshire family and a graduate of Edinburg University. They have had two children, but only one is living. Gordon T. . 1.
JAY A. KELLOGG.
In political circles as well as in business life Jay .\. Kellogg has long been recognized as a leader in Washington. In addition to many local po- sitions, he has served for four years as state senator and has labored earnestly
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and loyally for the best interests of city, county and state. Ile has spent nearly his entire life upon the Pacific coast, and the spirit of enterprise and progress so characteristic of this section of the country is exemplified in his career. A lawyer by profession, in addition to his practice he is also engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business.
Mr. Kellogg was born in Boone county, Illinois, in 1853. His father, ER D. Kellogg, was born in Vermont and after residing for some years in Illinois made a trip to California in 1859. Three times he crossed the plains, returning to the east in order to buy horses, which he brought back with him to California. He had no trouble with the Indians, but the party which im- mediately followed that with which he traveled were molested by the red men and lost considerable stock. Eli Kellogg engaged in milling, farming and merchandising. He took a prominent part in public affairs, was recog- nized as a leading and influential citizen of his community and was called to represent his district in the state legislature, where he served for two terms, proving a valued member of the house. In his political affiliations he was a Republican. In Illinois he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Passage, and to them were born four children, of whom our subject and a sister are living in Seattle. The father also resides in this state, making his home in Lincoln county, and is the owner of over eight hundred acres of very fine and valuable wheat land south of Spokane. In his business affairs he has prospered, becoming one of the well-to-do residents of Lincoln county, and he is also prominent in public affairs there and has served as county com- missioner.
When very young Jay A. Kellogg was taken by his parents to Cali- forni. where he was reared. pursuing bis preliminary education in the pub- lic schools and later attending St. Joseph College. In 1879 he came to Washington and entered upon his business career as proprietor of a jewelry store in Dayton, where he remained until his removal to Seattle. Desiring to fit himself for the profession of law, he began reading under the direction of a preceptor, and in Dayton was admitted to the bar, after which he aban- doned mercantile pursuits in order to engage in practice. On his removal to Seattle he also became engaged in the real estate and loan business. lle has made a specialty of the former and has been very successful. No man in the city is better informed concerning realty values and the possibilities of the real estate market than our subject. His business methods, in strict conformity with the ethics of commercial life, combined with his enterprising spirit and unfailing courtesy, have gained him the public confidence, and therefore he is enjoying well merited prosperity in his undertakings.
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Mr. Kellogg has been twice married. In Dayton, this state, he wedded Miss Sina Coleson, and to them were born two children, Jay C. and June. After the death of his first wife Mr. Kellogg was again married, in Spokane, in 1895, when Cora Lake became his wife, and they now have one son. In 1898 he erected his present home, which is a pleasant one, and there hospi- tality reigns supreme. Mr. Kellogg is an important factor in political circles and is found among the stalwart supporters of the Republican party. While at Dayton he served for three terms, covering six years, as county auditor and four successive terms was mayor of that city. He was also honored with election to the state senate and served so capably that he was re-elected. He left the impress of his individuality upon the legislature enacted during that period, for he was an active working member of the upper house and labored earnestly for the adoption of every measure which he believed would contribute to the general good. Since coming to Seattle in 189; he has been sent as a delegate to various city, county and state conventions. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias fraternity, in which he is connected with the uni- formed rank. He is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. He stands as a high type of our .American manhood, energetic and reliable in business, loyal and progressive in citizenship and trustworthy in all the private relations of life.
ALPHIUS BYERS.
Ulphius Byers, who has attained distinction as one of the ablest mem bers of the Seattle bar, is now practicing as a member of the firm of Byers & Byers. In this profession probably more than in any other success de- pends upon individual merit. upon a thorough understanding of the prin- ciples of jurisprudence, a power of keen analysis, and the ability to present clearly, concisely and forcibly the strong points in his cause. Possessing. these necessary qualifications, Mr. Byers is accorded a foremost place in the ranks of the profession in Washington. and stands to-day as one of the most esteemed members of the Seattle bar. He is also a prominent and influential member of the common council of the city.
A native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Byers was born in Lawrence county on the 22d of February, 1865, and is of English and Scotch ancestry. John and William Byers, who settled in Maryland in 1650, were the progen- itors of the family in America. Our subject's great-grandfather. Robert Byers, was born in Virginia and served in the Revolutionary war, while
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the grandfather, William Byers, was also a native of the Old Dominion and an officer in the war of 1812. The latter married Miss Betsey Russel !. who was a native of Connecticut and a representative of an old New Eng- land family. From Virginia William Byers removed to Lawrence county. Pennsylvania, where he died at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. Like his ancestors he was a Presbyterian in religious belief. The family was a most worthy and substantial one.
Ambrose Byers, the father of our subject, was born on the old home- stead in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in 1824, and there spent his entire life as an industrious and upright farmer. In early manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Mary McCracken, a native of Mercer county, Penn- sylvania. She came of a family which was also of Scotch origin and which for three generations had resided in this country. True to the patriotic instincts of his ancestors Ambrose Byers entered the Union army during the Civil war and fought for the okl flag and the cause it represented. He departed this life in 1887. at the age of sixty-three years, and is still sur- vived by his wife, who is now seventy-three years of age. Both were val- ned members of the Presbyterian church, and held in the highest regard by all who knew them. To them were born eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom three sons are now on the Pacific slope, these being Horace G., professor of chemistry in the Washington State Uni- versity ; and Obed .A. and Alphius, who comprise the firm of Byers & Byers, engaged in the practice of law in Seattle.
Alphins Byers acquired his literary education at West Washington College. Pennsylvania, and pursued his legal studies at the Washington Uni- versity in St. Louis. AAfter his admission to the bar he came to Seattle in 1892, his brother Obed A. having preceded him two years, and they at once formed the present partnership. Although they are engaged in general prac- tice. they make somewhat of a specialty of land. corporation and mercantile law. and are meeting with most gratifying success. They have prospered financially since coming west and have acquired considerable real estate of value in the city where they now make their home.
In 1895 Alphius Byers was united in marriage with Miss AAda Shallade, a native of Wisconsin, and this union has been blessed by one daughter. Catherine A. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum, and he and his wife occupy an enviable position in social circles where intelligence and worth are the passports into good society. Both he and his brother have been life-long Democrats, and are active in the work and councils of the party, attending its conventions and doing all within
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their power to secure its success. In 1900 our subject was elected a member of the city council, and is now chairman of the judiciary committee and the committee on claims. In this capacity he is doing the city valued service, and is recognized as one of its most useful and public-spirited citizens Holding marked precedence among the members of the bar, and retaining a clientele of so representative a character as to alone stand as evidence of his professional ability and personal popularity, Mr. Byers must assuredly be ac- corded a place in this volume.
GEORGE E. WEBSTER.
George E. Webster is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, born on the 15th of October, 1845. His father, Alvah Webster, was born in New Hampshire, March 17, 1822, and was engaged in merchandising in Sand- wich, that state, for many years, but is now living retired from active busi- ness cares, enjoying a well earned rest. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Manda Barber, was born at Orleans, on Cape Cod, in 1825, and is also living. Both came of early New England families.
Their son George E. acquired his education in the excellent public schools of Boston, and at seventeen years of age he began earning his own living. He turned his attention to teaming and soon became extensively en- gaged in the mercantile transfer trade, being well known in this connection in Boston for a quarter of a century. From 1888 until 1890 he conducted a boarding stable in Boston, and in May, 1891, came west to Seattle. In Sep- tember of the same year he took up his abode in Enumclaw. where, in con- nection with F. O. Nickerson, he purchased the mercantile establishment for- merly owned by the firm of Griffin & Blake. The new firm conducted the enterprise for seven years, and in 1897 Mr. Webster disposed of his inter- ests and returned to Boston, where he conducted a store for a year, but find ing that the eastern climate was seriously injuring his health, he returned to this city in 1898. During the period of his first residence here in 1892, he was one of the organizers of the Enumclaw Improvement Company. This was composed of George E. Webster. W. H. Cooper. F. O. Nickercon, Sam- uel Lafromboisc, Arthur E. Pool, and C. C. Reeber. They took an option on sixty acres of the townsite land from F. O. Nickerson, and during the three years of the existence of the company many valuable improvements were made in the town. Among the buildings erected was a hop house, forty by one hundred feet, which was afterward turned into a creamery, but in 1902 it was destroyed by fire. The Improvement Company was forced out of ex-
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istence by the great financial panic of 1893. After his return to Washing- ton, in 1898, Mr. Webster opened a grocery store at Green Lake, Seattle, where he remained until 1002, when he again came to Enumclaw and be- came a member of the Webster-Eckhart-Syms Company, which was estab- lished and incorporated in the spring of 1902 and is now conducting a gen- cral mercantile store.
In 1863 Mr. Webster was married in Boston to Fannie M. Savage, who was born in Maine in 1848. In his political views Mr. Webster is a stalwart Republican, and he belongs to the Crescent Lodge of Masons at Enumclaw, having demitted from Faith Lodge of Boston, which he joined in 1871. His name is also on the membership rolls of Enumclaw Lodge No. 132. Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
LEWIS R. DAWSON, M. D.
Lewis R. Dawson, M. D., is one of the most successful, capable and dis- tinguished members of the medical profession in Seattle. He has made his home in this city since 1884 and is enjoying a constantly increasing patron- age in the line of his chosen calling, as he has demonstrated his skill in coping with the difficult problems which continually confront the physician. The Doctor is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Warren, Trumbull county, on the 23d of June, 1856. The family is of English descent, but no record has been preserved concerning the establishment of the Dawsons in America. Isaac N. Dawson, the father of the Doctor, was born in Penn- sylvania and in early life lived in Newcastle, that state, where he engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil. He removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, and at Warren began the manufacture of linseed oil. in which work he was thoroughly posted and by reason of his experience, knowledge and capable management conducted a prosperous business. He became one of the lead- ing and influential citizens of Warren and took an active part in the official life of the city, serving as justice of the peace for many years, also as a mem- ber and president of the board of education, while for twelve years he occu- pied the position of chief executive of Warren, and his administration as mayor proved of practical benefit to the city along lines of substantial im- provement and progress. His death occurred there in 1878. In early man- hood he married Nancy L. Reeves, a daughter of John Reeves, a pioneer of Trumbull county, who was born in Connecticut and removed to Pennsyl- vania from that state and later became one of the first to locate in Trumbull county, Ohio. Mrs. Dawson attained the age of seventy-four years and her
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death occurred in July, 1900, when she was laid to rest by the side of her husband in the cemetery in Warren.
The Doctor was educated in the public schools and later in the Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio. Being thrown upon his own resources he engaged in teaching school in Warren in order to meet the expenses of a college course. When he had completed his literary education he at once entered upon the study of medicine under Dr. John R. Woods of Warren, and after his preliminary reading was accomplished he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan. at Ann Arbor, and was graduated there in June, 1882, after three years of earnest and unremitting study. During the following year Dr. Dawson filled the position of assistant sur- geon at the Quincy copper mines of Hancock, Michigan, and then after visiting friends in the east came to Washington, spending some time in Walla Walla, Tacoma and Portland, and in January, 1884, reached Seattle. He visited these varions places in search of a location and decided that the last named offered the best opportunities. Accordingly he determined to take up his abode here, and his success in the line of his profession has demonstrated the wisdom of his choice. At first he was alone in practice, but in 1887 he entered into partnership with Dr. Thomas T. Minor, who was one of the most able members of the medical fraternity here. This relationship was maintained until the death of Dr. Minor in December, 1889. For about a year, in 1891-92, Dr. Dawson was engaged in the practice of medicine in partnership with Dr. James B. Eagleson, since which time he has been alone, and the large patronage accorded him is an indication of the confidence re- posed in him by the public. After his graduation he largely gave his atten- tion to the diseases of women and in that branch of medical practice was very successful, but since his return from the Spanish-American war his practice has been more general and has included considerable surgical work. The Doctor has served for fifteen years in the national guard of the state and is now retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In December. 1884, he enlisted in the Seattle Rifles, Company B. First Regiment, National Guard of Washington, and in September, the following year, was made second lieu- tenant, while in May, 1888, he became first lieutenant. In June. 1890, he was appointed surgeon of the First Regiment of the National Guard of Washington with the rank of major, serving as such till 1896, when he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and brigade-surgeon, and upon his honorable discharge after fifteen years of faithful service he was retired with the latter rank. He was holding that rank at the time of the breaking out of the Spanish-American war in 1808, when he tendered his services to Governor
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Rodgers and was appointed major and surgeon of the First Washington Volunteer Regiment. From May until the following October he was on duty at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, and in the Presidio of San Fran- cisco, and on the latter date was assigned with his regiment for duty in the Philippines. He was at the front at the battle of Santa Ana, and in all of the engagements in which the regiment participated, as well as the first ex- pedition under General Lawton against Santa Cruz. With his regiment he afterward returned home and was honorably discharged.
The Doctor was married in 1888 and has two sons by this marriage, Lewis R. and W. Ralph C. On October 6, 1902, he married Theresa Eliot Reno, a native of New York. He is very prominent in fraternal and social organizations and belongs to Arcana Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., Washing- ton Lodge of Perfection of the Scottish Rite, the Washington chapter of the Rose Croix and the Washington Council Knights of Kadosh. He has also attained the thirty-second degree in Lawson Consistory and belongs to Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Tacoma. He is likewise identified with the Spanish-American War Veterans and the Washington Chapter of Sons of the Revolution. He belongs to the Rainier Club, to the Seattle Athletic Association and to the Golf and Country Club. In the line of his profession he is connected with the King County Medical Society, Washing- ton State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Asso- ciation of Military Surgeons of the United States. In manner he is kindly and genial, and his unfailing courtesy, supplementing his pleasing person- ality and strong mind. makes Doctor Dawson popular with a large circle of friends.
JOHN T. CONDON.
John Thomas Condon is now dean of the law school which forms one of the departments of the State University of Washington. This is his ahne mater and now he is honored with a position as a member of its faculty. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence and is, moreover, possessed of the ability to impart clearly and concisely to other: the knowledge that he has acquired. Mr. Condon is a native son of Wash- ington, his birth having occurred at Port Gamble on the 20th of September. 1863. His parents were John Stephenson and Catherine Ellen (O'Callag- han) Condon, both of whom were natives of Ireland and were descended from old families of that land. The father was born in the county of Clare and the mother near the city of Cork. For years the Condons were connected with
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walks of life demanding strong mentality. were representative of the pro- fessions and were teachers and professors in the University of Dublin.
Mr. Condon's father came to America in 1844. first making his way to Canada and thence to New York city. He was a volunteer in the Mexican war, and served throughout the period of hostilities. He afterward went to San Francisco and ran on a steamer to Panama. In 1860 he went to Port Gamble, Washington, and engaged in the lumber business. He was there married and later came to Seattle, where in partnership with John Collins and M. R. Maddocks he built the Occidental Hotel. After residing for four years in Seattle he returned to Port Gamble, where he spent his remaining days. He was a war Democrat and for several years held the office of coun- ty commissioner. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Catholic church and he died in that faith in 1882. His widow survives him and is now living with Professor Condon in Seattle. In the family were six chil- dren, of whom five are living, all born in Port Gamble. Mary E. is now the wife of William B. Jacking: Richard B. is superintendent of the mill in Port Gamble and is married and has two children; Alice E. is the wife of B. J. Griffith, of Seattle: Eleanor \. is a teacher in the schools of this city.
Professor Condon, the second of the family, was educated in the Uni- versity of Washington, being graduated with the class of 1888. He later en- tered the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was grad- uated in 1891, and in 1892 he was a graduate of the law department of the Northwestern University of Chicago. He has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, carrying on a general law practice for several years in partnership with Mr. Wright, under the firm name of Wright & Condon In 1899 he was appointed dean of the law school of the University of Wash- ington and is now ably filling the position, giving his entire attention to his duties in connection therewith. He is an efficient educator and is accounted one of the learned members of the profession in the state of his nativity.
JUNIUS ROCHISTER.
One of the prominent members of the Seattle bar, and until recently a lecturer in the law school of the University of Washington. Junius Rochis- ter was the senior member of the law firm of Rochister, Corkerk & Childer He was a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Damonville, that state, on the 16th of June, 1857. He represented an old English family. trac- ing the ancestry back to the mother country, although at a very early date representatives of the name came to America. The progenitor of the family
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in this country was John Rochister, who came with two brothers, and were the founders of the city of Rochester. New York, the place being named in their honor. Later he settled in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Mr. Rochister of this review is of the fifth generation of the family born in this country. From the original ancestor, John Rochester, the family name of John Rochester was continued through three generations in the line of direct de- scent to our subject, the spelling having been changed in the meantime to Rochister. The members of the family have ever been people of the highest worth, and advocates of all that tends to advance the country and its welfare along substantial lines of progress and improvement. The family was rep- resented in the war of the Revolution and the paternal grandfather of our subject was conspicuous in his connection with Daniel Boone in the early settlement of Kentucky. He had the honor of being the first merchant within that territory. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian and died at the age of fifty years.
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