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 82
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On August 31, 1899, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Mary E. Graham, a daughter of Harvey Graham, a native of Toronto, Canada, whence his parents removed to Michigan: from 1900 till his death in the following year Mr. Graham resided with Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Mr. Brown is a stanch member of the Republican party; judging by the success of what may be reasonably considered the first half of his life, a still brighter future awaits him, and he will no doubt always be numbered with the leading business men of the Pacific coast.
IRA A. NADEAU.
Ira A. Nadeau is a general agent of the Northern Pacific Railway Com- pany at Seattle and is a prominent factor in the transportaion interests of the northwest, his superior business ability and executive force well qualify- ing him for the discharge of the important duties of the responsible position which he now occupies. He has been a resident of Seattle since January, 1883, and comes from the Mississippi valley, his birth having occurred in Monroe. Michigan, on the 23d of January, 1856. He is of French ancestry on the paternal side, while on the maternal side the ancestors can be traced back to a family of English birth that was early established in New York. The paternal grandfather. Joseph Nadeau, settled on the Raisin river, near Monroe, Michigan, in 1804. becoming one of the pioneers of that state. In fact, few had ventured within the confines of Michigan at that time, the work of improvement and progress having been scarcely begun. He served
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his country as a soldier in the war of 1812 and was a very loyal and progres- sive citizen, and contributed his full share to the early development of his adopted state. From the government he secured a tract of land which he improved, and on which he carried on farming for many years. He at- tained the ripe old age of eighty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Guior, was also of French lineage.
Philip Nadeau, the father of our subject, was born on his parents' farm near Monroe, Michigan, in 1824, and was there reared and educated, becom- familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He married Miss Lucy Begnell, who was born in Cattaraugus, New York. In order to provide for his family he followed merchandising for many years in Monroe, Michigan, becoming an active factor in the commercial interests of the place. He prospered in his undertakings and as the years passed accumulated a comfortable competence. He died on the 3d of February, 1902, at the age of seventy-eight years, in the town where almost his entire life had been passed, and where in public affairs his usefulness was widely felt. He had been called to fill various positions of honor and trust ; was a member of the city council and was sheriff of the county. A man of high integrity of character and of business ability, his town and county ranked him among their valued representative citizens, and when he was called to his final rest Monroe mourned the loss of one who was ever known to be of upright life, trustworthy and honorable in all his dealings. His good wife still survives him and is now in the seventy-eighth year of her age. This worthy couple were the parents of eight children, all of whom are yet living. One of the sons, H. P. N., resides in Spokane, Washington, and with the exception of our subject is the only member of the family living in this state.
Ira A. Nadeau was the fifth in order of birth, and to the public school system of Monroe he is indebted for the literary advantages which he en- joyed. Thinking to make the practice of law his life work, when he had put aside the text books used in the public schools he entered the office of Edward Willits, who later was a member of congress and assistant secretary of agriculture under President Harrison. After a thorough training, in which he largely mastered the greatest principles of the science of jurisprudence. Mr. Nadeau was admitted to the bar in the year 1878 and began the practice of his profession in his native town. where he remained for three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, with the intention of opening an office there, but on meeting with friends, business propositions were presented to him which turned his attention into other
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channels. The firm of Stephens, Waters and Nadeau was organized for the purpose of engaging in the lumber trade, and this was conducted success- fully until 1883. At that time Mr. Nadeau sold his interest in the firm and came to Seattle. He entered into business relations in this city in con- nection with the Oregon Improvement Company in order to secure its right of way and lands. He afterward served as its local treasurer and also of the Puget Sound Shore Railway Company, continuing in the latter position until the road passed into the possession of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, which now has an entry into Seattle. Mr. Nadeau had become agent for the Puget Sound Railway Company and remained in that position until the line was absorbed by the Northern Pacific Railway Company in 1890. In that year he was made general agent of the Northern Pacific and so continued until September, 1893, at which time he resigned from the operating department of the road and became the general agent of the line, continuing in the latter office up to the present time.
Since his arrival in Seattle Mr. Nadeau has taken an active interest in the growth and improvement of the city, and his counsel and labors have been effective in promoting general progress along substantial lines. For a number of years he has been an active and influential member of the Cham- ber of Commerce and through a considerable period has served as one of its trustees. He is a popular and valued member of the various social and fra- ternal clubs of the city, and in politics is a stanch Democrat who believes in the gold standard. Mr. Nadeau was happily married in 1885, the lady of his choice being Miss Flora Fonda, a native of St. Joseph, Michigan, and a daughter of Captain John Fonda, an old resident and highly respected citi- zen of Seattle. They have two children: Madeline and George Fonda, both of whom are still students in school. Mrs. Nadeau is a valued member of the Episcopal church and belongs to various ladies' clubs of the city, taking an active interest in the social life of this place. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nadeau have a large circle of friends, and the leading citizens of Seattle have counted the city fortunate in that it has elicited the co-operation and aid of such a progressive and enterprising man as the subject of this review.
RICHARD J. GRAHAM.
One of the oldest and best known merchant tailors of Seattle is Richard James Graham, who since pioneer days has been connected with the devel- opment and substantial progress of this section of the state. He is a native of Lancashire, England, born March 5, 1853, a son of William and Margaret
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(Scott) Graham, natives of Scotland. The father is descended from Mal- colm Graham, one of the old Scottish chieftains. William Graham was a sec- ond lieutenant in the British army, but later in life sold his commission and emigrated to New York city in 1854, where he carried on merchant tailor- ing for a number of years. For some time thereafter he was engaged in business in Detroit, Michigan, and in 1874 took up his abode in Albany, Ore- gon, where he followed his chosen calling for some time and is now the owner of a fine fruit farm. He has reached the seventy-fifth mile-stone on the journey of life, but his wife lies buried at Albany, she having passed away on Easter Sunday of the year 1897. They had four children, of whom Richard J. is the only survivor.
Richard J. Graham received his literary education in the public schools of Detroit, Michigan, and his business training was received under the direc- tion of his father at New York city, and together they were engaged in the tailoring business in Albany, Oregon, for a number of years. In 1880 the son came to Seattle, where he has since been recognized as one of the leading merchant tailors of the city, and during the twenty-two years which marks the period of his residence in Washington he has won and retained the confi- dence and good will of all with whom he has had business or social relations. In political matters he is a Republican, and prior to his removal to Seattle he served for some years as the efficient member of the Albany school board, while for a time he was also chief of the volunteer fire department of the city. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in St. John's Lodge No. 62, at Albany, Oregon, was after- ward transferred to Eureka Lodge No. 20, of Seattle, and was a charter member of Ionic Lodge No. 90, of this city, serving as its first master under uniformed division, and also under charter. He was exalted in Bailey Chap- ter No. 8, Royal Arch Masons, became a charter member of Seattle Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons, and a charter member of Seattle Council No. 6, Royal and Select Masters, and is a past thrice illustrious master. He re- ceived the degree of knighthood in Seattle Commandery No. 2, and is a mem- ber of the grand lodge of the state and also of the grand council of Royal and Select Masters. Throughout all the years of his life he has exemplified the beneficent and helpful principles of this fraternity in his every day life.
Jn 1874. in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Mr. Graham was united in marriage to Miss Frances Helena Nichols, also a native of the Empire state, and she accompanied her husband on their removal to the Pacific coast. Three chil- (Iren have been born of this union, Eugene F., a native of Eugene, Oregon ; Pearl, who was born in Albany, that state; and Sa-Dell, a native of Seattle.
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All are at home, and the family reside in one of the pleasant dwellings in Seattle, located on Queen Anne Hill at the corner of Prospect and Warren avenues. They enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes of Seattle, and their circle of friends is almost co-extensive with their circle of ac- quaintances.
JAMES R. MASON.
James R. Mason, a representative of the insurance business in Seattle, handling both fire and marine insurance, has for fourteen years resided on the Sound, and while conducting a successful enterprise in the line of his chosen calling in the field of commerce he has at the same time been a citizen of worth, loyally and actively interested in everything pertaining to the general progress and upbuilding of this portion of the state. Mr. Mason is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in the city of Ashland in 1859. His father, James Mason, Sr., was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, and when a young man removed to Ohio, where he was engaged in the insurance business. He was married in that state to Miss Day, and to them were born four children, of whom the subject of this review is the only one now living on the coast. On the paternal side the Mason family is of Virginia stock and on the maternal side our subject is a representative of an old Maryland family. Both families were represented in the Revolutionary war.
In the public schools James R. Mason acquired his preliminary educa- tion, which was supplemented by a course in the University of Wooster, at Wooster, Ohio, where he pursued classical studies. He then entered into business with his father, and this connection was maintained for a number of years, so that he early became interested in insurance in its various phases. Having heard and thought considerable about the west and its ad- vantages. Mr. Mason ultimately decided to locate in this section of the country and in 1888 made his way to the west. His first home was at Port Townsend, and there he started in business on his own account. The agency which he established soon became a profitable one and he carried on busi- ness there until January, 1898, when he decided to come to Seattle, as he recognized the fact that this city had before it a great future. Here he opened his office for the transaction of marine and fire insurance, and since the first few months has occupied a pleasant suite of rooms in the Hallard building. He represents the Home Insurance Company of New York, the Canton Insurance office, limited, of Hong Kong, and the Western Assur- ance Company of Toronto. He has written a very large and profitable busi-
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ness in both branches, fire and marine He gives close and earnest attention to his business and to some extent is interested in shipping.
On the 24th of October. 1901, in Seattle, Mr. Mason was united in marriage to Mrs. Alice Baldwin. They attend the Presbyterian church and he is a member of the Seattle AAthletic Club. In politics he is an earnest Republican and takes an active interest in county and state conventions. He has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his entire attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with very creditable success, being recognized as one of the leading representatives of insurance in the north- west.
HARRY WHITE.
It is especially fitting that in a volume giving the history of the men of Seattle and vicinity that some mention should be made of one who was the city's chief executive following that trying crisis of 1889, which will always remain as one of the most memorable events in the early history of the city. And after the devastating fire of that year Mayor White was the leader in the work of rebuilding and carrying out improvements on a larger scale so as to give opportunity for the unhindered and phenomenal growth which has followed since that time.
Mr. White was born on a farm near Columbus Junction, Iowa, January 5. 1859, being the son of Robert A. and Hannah E. White. His early edu- cation was confined to the country schools with the exception of one term at the Eastern Iowa Normal School. He had become pretty thoroughly grounded in business matters when he came to Seattle in 1887, and he at once began buying, improving and selling real estate. He also engaged in the sale and development of mining property, principally in Alaska; he is still connected with some large mining enterprises in Alaska and is promoting some oil lands there. The purchases are made through Mr. White's Seattle office, but the disposition of the property is usually effected through his Lon- don connections.
On December 31. 1895, Mr. White was married at Harvard, Nebraska, to Miss Anna Morrow, daughter of Colonel John C. Morrow. They have no children. In 1889 Mr. White was elected one of the eight city council- men of Seattle, and while in this office took an active part in advocating municipal ownership of the water works and other public utilities. At the following mayorality election city ownership became the chief issue, and as its advocate and on the Republican ticket Mr. White made the race and was
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elected; at the expiration of the first term he was re-elected for two years. His first two years in office covered the period of rehabilitation of the greater part of the business district of the city from the effects of the great fire, and it was here that his broad views in regard to the future welfare of the city proved of lasting benefit. As a result of his leadership the streets were all widened and regraded, Railroad avenue was planked and put in a passable condition, and the railroads removed from the streets and avenues to Rail- road avenue. At that time the administration of the city was conducted under the old territorial charter, but by the time of his re-election to the mayorality the new charter had been secured and adopted, and under this more modern document the city was enabled to buy the water works and in- augurate the present system of water works. And among other extensive reforms and innovations brought about while he was chief executive were the organization of the fire department, the police department, the present system of laying out the parks, and the establishment of the public library. It is thus clear that Mr. White has not only been successful in his own busi- ness, but by his public-spirited endeavor has helped make the great metropo- lis of Puget Sound what it is, and may deservedly be given a place among the city fathers.
JAMES NUGENT.
On the roll of Seattle's early settlers is found the name of Captain James Nugent, who has put aside the active cares of business life and is now living in quiet retirement at his pleasant home in this city. He was born in the old Bay state in East Boston on November 16, 1845, and is of Irish an- cestry. His grandfather, James Nugent, was a mative of Ireland, while his father, also named James, was born and reared in Massachusetts, where he was married to Miss Catharine Gallagher, also a native of the old Bay state. The father was a contractor and builder, and he died at the early age of thir- ty-two years, but his widow survived him many years, her death occurring at the age of sixty-four.
Captain Nugent was the oldest of his parents' four children, and in early life the care of his mother and the younger children fell upon his young shoulders. The educational privileges which he enjoyed were those afforded by the common schools of the county, and after putting aside his text books he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked when only eleven years of age. He was thus engaged till 1867, when he came to the Puget Sound country. where he was at once made mate of the steamer Success, plying be-
James Mugent
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tween Seattle, Port Blakeley and other ports, and he subsequently became the owner and captain of this vessel. He later became the owner of the Seat- tle, for many years was owner of the Michigan, and during the nineteen years in which he engaged in this career he had the fortune never to meet with a shipwreck. At the same time he made many investments in Seattle. property, which now bring him a handsome income. In 1892 he built for himself and family a beautiful residence at 1118 Cherry avenue, the corner of Miner avenue, where his home is surrounded by beautiful grounds, in the care of which he takes much pride and pleasure. Since 1896 he has lived retired at this comfortable home, enjoying the comforts which many years of per- sistent effort have brought to him.
In 1877 Captain Nugent was happily married to Miss Emily Fish, a native of Belvidere, Pennsylvania, and a descendant of a prominent old American family. The union has been blessed with one daughter, Etta, who is now the wife of Walter S. Fulton, a leading member of the Seattle bar and the present prosecuting attorney. Captain Nugent has been a life-long Dem- ocrat, and in his fraternal relations is a member of the Knights of Pythias and. the Ancient Order of United Workmen. A large acquaintanceship has en- abled Mr. and Mrs. Nugent to gain a large circle of friends, and their social qualities have made them popular with all.
L. CHARLES NEVILLE, M. D.
Dr. L. Charles Neville has attained to a position of distinction as a representative of the medical fraternity and as a leading business man of Seattle, where he has made his home since 1890. During this time he has witnessed the rapid growth of the city from a population of forty thousand to three times that amount.
The Doctor was born in Canton, Stark county, Ohio, September 22. 1863, and is a son of Rev. William Neville. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to the great-grandfather of the Doctor, who was a lineal descendent of the house of Warwick, of England. Crossing the Atlantic to the United States, he settled in North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary war, seeking a home in the new world because of political reasons. Later he removed to Maryland, where his son, Edward Neville, was born. The latter afterward became a resident of Pennsylvania, and died in that state at the age of eighty-six years. The Rev. William Neville is a native of the Keystone state, and has devoted the greater part of his life to the work of the ministry of the United Brethren church, but is now living retired, at
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the age of eighty-two years, making his home in Galion, Crawford county, Ohio. He married Lydia J. Hartsoughi, a native of Ohio, and to them were born eight children, of whom the Doctor is the fourth in order of birth. One brother, Edward, is a graduate of the Fort Wayne Medical College and is now living with our subject.
In the public schools of his native state Dr. L. Charles Neville pursued his early education, and later was a student in the Fostoria Academy, at Fostoria, Ohio. When he had completed his studies there he engaged in teaching for three years in Crawford county, Ohio, during which time he took up the study of medicine. He then entered the Toledo Medical College at Toledo, Ohio, and was graduated in March, 1889. He practiced for a short time in that city and then went to Logansport, Indiana, where he practiced for a year. Owing to a fire he lost all that he had, and he decided to come west, hoping to retrieve his losses here.
The month of October, 1890, witnessed the arrival of Dr. Neville on the coast. He knew no one west of the Mississippi, but he located in Seattle and with resolute purpose determined that he would succeed if success could be gained by close application to his work, by honorable dealing and by un- faltering perseverance. He has never had a partner since coming to this place. He started in alone, and has built up a very satisfactory practice, because the people have recognized his capability in meeting the complex problems which arise in the treatment of disease. He has not made a spe- cialty of any branch of medicine, though he has had special training along certain lines, but he prefers that his practice shall be general, and he reads broadly concerning all departments of the medical science. He is now ex- amining physician for a number of insurance companies. Whatever tends to bring to man the key to that complex mystery which we call life elicits his interest and attention, and he has ever done everything in his power to promote his efficiency in his chosen calling. To some extent the Doctor has become interested in mining, and is the president of the Crown Point Min- ing Company in the Chelan district. He was one of the incorporators of this company, which is now on a paying basis. He has erected and sold three residences in the city. and now owns the old Latimer residence on First avenue and Vine street
In Ohio, in 1884, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Neville and Miss Jennie C. Wisterman, a daughter of J. D. Wisterman, a merchant and grain dealer of Galion, Ohio. They now have one son, Richard Douglas. The Doctor is quite prominent in social and fraternal circles. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is a past noble grand. He
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is also a member of the Woodmen of the World, of the Knights of the Mac- cabees, the Foresters of America, and in the last named has filled all of the chairs and was the first grand chief ranger of the state, while for eight years he was deputy supreme chief ranger. In politics he is a Republican, but the demands of his profession leave him little time for political work. He is connected with the King County Medical Association and the State Medical Association, and thus keeps in touch with the advanced thought and inves- tigation of the medical profession. He has been remarkably successful in his chosen field of labor, and his time is devoted almost exclusively to his professional duties.
REGINALD HEBER THOMSON.
For the past eleven years Reginald Heber Thomson has been the city engineer of Seattle, and great credit does he deserve for what he has done in behalf of the city in regard to its streets, its sewers and its splendid water works, as his efforts have largely contributed to its improvement and its up- building, and his name is inseparably interwoven with its history. Mr. Thomson is a native of Hanover, Indiana, his birth having occurred there on the 20th of March, 1856. He is of Scotch ancestry. His great-great-grand- father. William C. Thomson, went over from Glasgow, Scotland, to county Donegal, Ireland, about 1726. James Thomson, the great-grandfather, was born in county Donegal in 1730, and emigrating in 1771 to America he located at Conocoheaugue, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and became the progenitor of the family in the new world. He removed to Derry town- ship, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1778, and on the second day of April in that year James Henry Thompson, the grandfather of our subject, was born. The great-grandfather and all his family removed from the Keystone state to Nicholas county, Kentucky, in 1793, and the grandfather was there married, December 12, 1799. to Miss Sarah Henry. He was the ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, had a great love for music and pos- sessed considerable ability as a singer, leading the church singing for many years. He was also an extensive and prosperous farmer and influential citi- zen and for fourteen years served as magistrate of Nicholas county, while for two years he filled the office of county sheriff. Later he removed to De- catur county, Indiana. This was in the year 1828 and he was accompanied by many friends, a settlement being made at Greensburg, near where the grandfather departed this life on the 7th of August, 1840, at the age of sixty- two years. His wife removed to Olympia. Washington, in 1852. in com- pany with her daughter Mary Elizabeth, the wife of the Rev. George F.
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