An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 19

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever
Number of Pages: 888

USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 19

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

secured control of it in 1889. It runs east from Spokane on the main track to Houser Junction, then branches off to Lake Cœur d' Alene where connections are made with steamers for Harri- son, the Mission and other points on the lake. The Washington & Idaho runs through the eastern portion of the Palouse country to Te- koa, where it branches off to the Cœur d' Alene mining camps. About eighteen or twenty passenger trains arrive and depart daily from Spokane. The freight traffic of these roads is something enormous.

THE MULLAN ROAD.

In 1862 Lieutenant John Mullan construct- ed a government wagon road from Fort Ben- ton to Walla Walla that received his name. The old settlers often refer to the "Old Mul- lan road." The building of that road to the Spokane valley stimulated immigration to this country. It was followed by the establishment of mail routes and post offices. It reached al- most to this city on the south side of the river and turned south through Moran prairie and crossing Latat creek (Hayman's) about sev- en miles south. Some traces of the road can be seen to-day.

WHOLESALE AND JOBBING.

The wholesale and jobbing business of Spo- kane have grown to great proportions. The increase during the last four or five years has been from forty to fifty per cent. This is due to the large crop of wheat three years ago, the opening of the Colville reservation and mining developments therein, and also in the Cœur d'Alene country and British Columbia, and the general revival of business.

H. J. Shinn & Company .- This company, which is agent for the Snake river fruit farms, Yakima. Wenatchee. Walla Walla, Palouse. Potlatch and home grown products, was or- ganized in 1889 under the name Snake River Fruit Company. Mr. H. J. Shinn becoming proprietor. it soon assumed its present name.

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

They handle green and dried fruits of every description, including delicious fruits, both for- eign and domestic, also produce, butter, eggs, etc. The premises occupied are on Post street along the line of the Northern Pacific Rail- road, thus affording admirable transportation facilities. The building is brick and is one story high, and contains a basement. There is 55×100 feet of floor space. The business ex- tends in all directions. Six persons are required to do the work at the warehouse and two trav- eling men are constantly on the road.

Charles Uhden, wholesale commission and brokerage ; agent for Hill's strictly pure maple sugar and syrups; Acme Mills and Ralston health cereals, Ritzville flour, grass, clover and garden seeds .- Mr. Uhden came to this city eleven years ago and was associated with Hon. O. B. Nelson in the grocery business for nearly four years, where he began the com- mission business at 923 Railroad avenue, where he still continues. He employs five assist -. ants.

Benham & Griffith .- This firm of whole- sale grocers and tobacconists, consists of Lu- cuis T. Benham and Thomas S. Griffith, the latter being manager. It started in business in 1888 and now employs about ten men in its warehouse at 813-819 Railroad avenue.

Hammond Packing Company .- This com- pany, which has its general office at South Omaha. established a branch office here a few years ago with G. C. Howe as manager. They deal in beef and pork products, smoked meats, canned meats, lard, etc. Their commission house is on the Northern Pacific track, between Mill and Post.

H. G. Stimmel & Co., jobbers of fruits and produce, located at 917-921 Railroad avenue, between Lincoln and Monroe streets. D. H. Anderson and H. Louis Schermerhorn are as- sociated with Mr. Stimmel in the business. which is extensive.

Swift & Company, wholesale packers, branch of South Omaha house, established at 827

Railroad avenue two years ago; F. T. Powles, manager.

Julius Lund & Company, manufacturers' agents, representing Licore Fricke & Com- pany, tea and coffee, San Francisco, and other standard manufacturers of canned goods, can- dy, biscuits, cheese, oil, cigars, etc. He has been in the business eight years and has three men on the road.

Boothe-Powell Company .- These wholesale grocers are the successors of E. L. Powell Company, which was organized in 1894 and began to do business at 914-916 Riverside av- enue. The present name was assumed three years ago and the place of business is Post and Railroad. The present officers are L. F. Boothe, president ; H. C. Wilson, secretary ; H. D. Trunkey, treasurer; L. F. Boothe, R. O. McClintock and H. D. Trunkey, trustees. Sev- enteen persons are employed.

J. R. Clifford & Company, 823 and 825 Railroad avenue, brokerage and commission merchants, wholesale dealers in butter, cheese and eggs ; also flour, hay and grain. The sen- ior member has been in Spokane for a dozen years. He was in the insurance and real es- tate business for several years, and launched out in the wholesale business five years ago. which has extended from year to year to the present time.

Ryan & Newton Company .- The company has a capital and surplus of fifty thousand dol- lars, and the officers are T. F. Ryan, president ; L. M. Davenport, vice president : J. Newton. secretary and treasurer. They are wholesalers in fruit and produce. butter. eggs and cheese. and manufacturers of Gold Leaf butter. They organized in 1898 and have an extensive plant on the corner of Post and Railroad avenue. with a storage capacity of seventy-five cars. with eleven compartments. Twenty-five per- sons are employed and their trade reaches to Alaska, and even to foreign countries.

The Emporium .- This is one of the leading wholesale and retail dealers in dry goods, no-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

tions, men's and boys' clothing. gents' furnish- ings, cloaks, suits and wrappers, ladies' fur- nishings, hats and caps. The proprietors are R. Weir. A. Bremmer and D. McLeod, and their place of business is 824-828 Riverside. corner Lincoln. They started in business seven years ago and the increase of patronage is an evidence that they are gaining in favor with the people. The company has a branch store at Cascade City, British Columbia.

The Palace Department Store .- Mr. R. Weil. the proprietor of this store, began to do business on a small scale on Railroad avenue and Howard street in March, 1890. The busi- ness increased so that the following year larger quarters were occupied in Temple court. River- side avenue. In another year the increasing business still demanded more extended accom- modations and two floors were occupied at 520 Riverside avenue for several years. . At present the Buckley building, corner Riverside avenue and Post street, with its four large floors (for- ty-eight thousand square feet ) is filled with goods of all descriptions. The number of em- ployees reach one hundred and forty, with a yearly pay-roll of $50.000. The mail orders during last year reached nearly forty thousand dollars, and the aggregate receipts nearly one- half million dollars.

Spokane Dry Goods Company .- Twelve years ago Comstock and Patterson started in the retail dry goods business in the Crescent block. The original name was "The Cres- cent," and still continues as designating the re- tail department. In January. 1895, the estab- lishment removed to the Lindelle block on Riv- erside, Washington and Sprague, when the "Dry Goods Company." jobbers was organ- ized. The present building. extensive and ad- mirably equipped. on Riverside avenne, near Mill street, owned by the company, has been occupied since March. 1809. It is a three story building and every portion is filled with goods. Over a dozen departments are conducted. The officers are R. B. Patterson, president : J. M.

Comstock. vice president : C. H. Weeks, secre- tary and treasurer. There are ninety-six per- sons employed and their territory extends alı over the vast "Inland Empire."

Whitehouse Company ( Incorporated), im- porters and retailers in dry goods, cloaks, car- pets and millinery .- The first Whitehouse store was opened in 186- by Messrs. C. Monteith and S. Seitenbach. The present company was organized in 1897-President. O. L. Rankin ; secretary. l'. F. Parker. It has a large and choice stock of goods and is in a most central location on Riverside and Howard. The com- pany employs fifty persons and the business is constantly increasing.

Northwestern Improvement Company .-- This is the successor of the N. P. Coal Com- pany, established in this city over a dozen years ago. The present general agent is Dexter Shoudy, and the company deals in Roslyn coal. lump coals. anthracite, blacksmith coal and foundry coke, and block and split wood. Office and yard. 120 South Monroe street.

D). Holzman & Company, wholesale wines. liquors and cigars .- The business was estab- lished by Mr. Ilolzman in June. 1884. the present firm namie being adopted in Janu- ary. 1891. when Mr. J. A. Reubens became a partner. The premises occupied consist of an entire two-story and basement building. 50x 125 feet in area. In the basement a bottimg department, with improved machinery. is fitted up where all kinds of carbonated beverages and beer are bottled. The office and salesroom is on the first floor and the second floor is used for storage. Seven persons are employed and the business extends throughout Washington. Ida- ho, Mentana and British Columbia. Mr. David Holzman came here from the Black Hills. South Dakota, where he was formerly engaged in the clothing business. Mr. J. A. Reuben- hails from the same place and was at one time in the wholesale insiness there. Both gentle men represent their house on the road, and the local man gement is in the hands of ale ..

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

A. Schiller, who also came from the Black Hills, and who has had charge since the in- ception of the business.

Spokane Drug Company .- It started as the Avenue drug store in 1888. In 1890 it re- moved to Sprague and Howard. doing both retail and wholesale business, until it removed to its present location on Howard near Main. Its business at present is exclusively wholesale and twenty-five men are employed, with three men traveling outside and three in the city. The officers are Valentine Peyton, president : I. N. Peyton, vice president ; A. W. Dalland, secretary and treasurer.

M. Sellers & Company ( Incorporated ). di- rect importers and jobbers in crockery, glass- ware, cutlery, plated ware. white and decor- ated china, tinware, granite iron ware, house furnishings, stoves, ranges, wooden and willow ware, wrapping paper, paper bags, etc .- This company began business in this city ten years ago and it has extended from year to year. Mr. Freidlein is the local manager and ten persons are employed in the store. The goods are sent not only all over eastern Washington, but also to the adjoining states.

J. W. Graham & Company .- This is recog- nized as a leading business house of Spokane. and their business as wholesale and retail deal- ers in books, paper, stationery, wall paper, office supplies, fancy goods and photographic sup- plies has developed to great proportions. Their business was established in August. 1889. first as a retail stationery and news stand in a small tent about twelve feet square. This enterpris- ing firm has kept fully abreast with the rapid growth of Spokane, and as the city built up and jobbing houses were established, John W. Graham & Company moved into the Great Eastern block (now Peyton), corner River- side avenue and Post street. in 1890. . The business has been managed from its incipiency by John W. Graham and his brother, James J .. the members of the firm, and the business has been extending from year to year. There are 8

forty-three persons employed in the establish- ment at the present time. They occupy two storerooms in the Peyton block. with rooms on the third floor as their salesrooms. . In ad- dition to this, the entire basement of the block is occupied by their wholesale stock of station- ery and shipping rooms. Their wall paper de- partment occupies a part of the once Hogan, but now Peyton, building in the rear, but con- nected with the main salesrooms by an arch- way. Their principal stock is carried in their ware house recently built on the Northern Pa- cific railroad track between Lincoln and Mon- rce streets, consisting of the first floor and base- ment. 50x80 feet. The territory covered by this firm as jobbers embraces all that part of the state of Washington lying east of the Cas- cade mountains, northern Idaho, western Mon- tana, and into British Columbia. For this ter- ritory they have the exclusive sale of the Rem- ington Standard typewriter and Edison mime- ograph. They are publishers' depository in: Washington east of the Cascade mountains for the recently adopted school books, and every- schoool book is kept in stock.

Shaw & Borden Company, wholesale and retail stationers, printers and bookbinders, cameras and photographic supplies, 609 River- side avenue. Hyde block. The officers are Johmn H. Shaw, president ; J. D. Estep, vice-presi -- dent : Jos. A. Borden, treasurer : Walter M .. Burns, secretary .- This company started in' business on a small scale in 1890, and has grown from year to year until it has become one of the most popular and important in the city. The business is increasing rapidly so that three floors are now occupied and forty persons. employed.

Holly. Mason, Marks & Co .- This exten- sive and flourishing establishment, one of the largest of its kind in the entire west, was orig- inally established thirteen years ago under the. style of Newport & Holley, and was thus con- ducted until 1886, when the name was changed to Holly, Mason & Company. In January,

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

1889, a corporation was formed and the pres- ent style adopted. The company is incorporat- ed under the laws of Washington, with large paid up' capital, and the present officers are : President, Frederick H. Mason ; secretary and treasurer, Howell W. Peel. They are jobbers of heavy, shelf and builders' hardware, wagon- makers and blacksmiths' supplies, etc. The im- mense stock carried represents the finest prod- ucts of the home and foreign factories. It in- cludes hardware of all kinds, wagonmakers' and blacksmiths' supplies, plumbers' supplies. mining machinery, stoves, furnaces, tinware of all kinds and general house furnishing goods. The offices and salesrooms are at 118-124 Howard street, an extensive six-story and basement brick building, Sox120 feet in area. They are agents for the Sterling and Crescent bicycles. Seventy-five men are employed and their goods are sent all over eastern Washing- ton, northern Idaho, west Montana and Brit- ish Columbia.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY.

The principal dealers in agricultural imple- ments and machinery are Mitchell, Lewis & Staver Company, established fifteen years ago; The Union Warehouse & Machine Company ; J. 1. Case Threshing Machine Company, deal- ers in engines, horse power. self feeders, stack- ers, belting, oils; W. W. Redhead, dealer in Studebaker wagons and carriages, plows, etc. Spokane Machinery Supply Company make a specialty of mining machinery.

OTHER IMPORTANT FIRMS.

Griffith Heating & Plumbing Supply Com- pany, also Arnold, Evans & Co., in the same line; Jones & Dillingham, paints, oils and color-grinders, painters' supplies and glass. wholesale and retail.

HARDWARE FIRMS.

Spokane Hardware Company, Thomas F. Conlan, proprietor : Jensen-King-Byrd Com- .

pany. O. C. Jensen, president and manager, J. C. Byrd, vice-president ; Charles L. King, secretary and treasurer ; McGowan Brothers, F. W. & M. B .; McCabe Johnson Company. J. H. McCabe, president : Millard Johnson, secretary and treasurer.

Tull & Gibbs .- This firm started nine years ago under the name of Tull & Dice. Two years ago the present company was incorpor- ated. The business lias been extending from year to year until it extends over a vast ter- titory. In addition to the five stories filled with goods at Sprague and Mill. they have an immense warehouse on Railroad avenue. The proprietors are P. T. Tull and F. D. Gibbs.

H. M. Herrin & Company, wholesale fruits and produce, butter, eggs, cheese, lemons, etc. One of the oldest firms in this line and enjoying an extensive business.

Spokane Paper Company and Gray Ewing Company, wholesale dealers in paper-bags and baskets. etc. Established in 1890.

Baum & Company, wholesale and retail dealers in oils, paints, wall-paper, etc. Estab- lished eleven years ago.

BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS.

The W. D. Knight Company, printing, book-binding and paper boxes. Established in 1878.

The Wright-Greenburg Company, print- ers, binders, publishers, and successors of H. W. Greenburg & Company. Established ten years ago.

Union Printing Company, established by the Alexander Brothers eleven years ago, now owned by W. H. Ryer.

J. R. Lambly is one of the oldest printers in the city.

Winship Quick Print is the successor of Wilcox & Snow, beginning business twelve years ago.

Every line of business is represented in the metropolis of the "Inland Empire," and a full description of all would fill a volume. Sev-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

eral houses engaged in musical instruments, art goods, millinery, carpets and drapery, glassware, mens' clothing, harness and sad- dlery, drugs ; bakeries and confectioners, bicy- cle dealers, green houses, hotels (the Spokane, the Pacific, the Grand and Cadilac being the most prominent). The boarding houses are numerous. The city is well supplied with architects and assayers of a high order, and there is a small army of agents of all descrip- tion. The mining, brokerage, real estate and insurance businesses have grown to great im- portance.

BANKS.

The first to do banking business was the Bank of Spokane Falls, opened in June, 1879, by A. M. Cannon.

The First National Bank was organized on December 5, 1882, with a capital of $30,000. F. R. Moore, president ; J N. Glover, vice presi- dent ; H. L. Cutter, cashier.

Traders National Bank was organized De- cember 20, 1885, with $75,000 capital. E. J. Brickell, president; J. Hoover, vice president. Present officers: M. M. Cowley, president; D. M. Drumheller, vice president ; Charles S. Elting, cashier; J. E. West, assistant cashier ; capital and surplus, $300,000.

The Spokane National Bank was organized February, 1888, with $60,000 capital. W. H. Taylor, president ; Warren Hussey, cashier.

Spokane Loan & Trust Compay, afterwards Washington Savings Bank, was organized July, 1888. Capital, $50,000. H. L. Tilton, presi- dent; A. M. Cannon, vice president ; Donald Ross, manager ; K. J. L. Ross, cashier.

Citizens National Bank was organized April 22, 1889, with a capital of $90,000. B. C. Van Houten, president ; John L. Wilson, vice president ; J. F. McEwen, cashier.

Browne National Bank was organized March 22, 1889, with $60,000 capital. J. J. Browne, president ; F. Heine, vice president ; Theodore Reed, cashier.

Exchange National Bank was organized June 17, 1889, with a capital of $65,000. J. Hoover, president ; A. J. Ross, vice president ; E. J. Dyer, cashier. Present capital and sur- plus, $394,000. Present officers, E. J. Dyer, president ; F. Lewis Clark, vice-president ; C. E. McBroom, cashier; W. M. Shaw, assistant cashier.

Washington National Bank was organized in 1889. Capital, $100,000. H. L. Tilton, president ; A. M. Cannon, vice-president ; F. E. Goodall, cashier.

Spokane & Eastern Trust Company was or- ganized July 24, 1890. Capital, $100,000. J. P. M. Richards, president; Isaac M. Foster, secretary. Present capital, $100,000. Present officers, J. P. M. Richards, president; H. M. Richards, vice-president; R. L. Rutter, secre- tary.

Old National Bank, successor to Pacific Bank, commenced business January 4, 1892. Authorized capital, $500,000; capital paid in, $250,000. Present officers: S. S. Glidden, president; W. D. Vincent, cashier.

Washington Safe Deposit & Trust Com- pany, established in May, 1890. McCrea & Merryweather, managers.

SPOKANE POSTOFFICE.

The first issue of the Spokane Times, April 24, 1879, contained the following item: "We enjoy simply a semi-weekly service. Small favors from Uncle Sam are thankfully received, larger ones in proportion. This section of country is certainly entitled to a tri-weekly mail, at least, inasmuch as there are two im- portant military posts north of us and a rapidly increasing settlement all over the country." The first postmaster of Spokane Falls, ap- pointed in 1874, was C. F. Yeaton, and Mrs. L. S. Swift was the active one. J. N. Glover was the second postmaster, and continued until 1880. The first postoffice was located near the southwest corner of Howard and Front. Ou October 14. 1880, Sylvester Heath became

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

postmaster, and continued until April 17, 1886. During his term the postoffice was located the most of the time on the southwest corner of Riverside and Mill. Mr. Heath was succeeded by J. J. L. Peel. During his term of office the location was changed to south side Riverside avenue between Stevens and Washington. The carrier system was also introduced, six carriers being engaged. The directory of 1889 gives a brief report of the postoffice business: "The wonderful growth of the city may be judged by the increase of postoffice business. The quarter ending June 30, 1889, shows 6,776 pounds of newspapers sent out of the county, 1,715 inside the county. Registered letters and packages sent, 2,060; received, 3,025. Letters sent to other offices, 19,169. Receipts for stamps and boxes, $7,468.25. Free delivery was established January I, and during June the five carriers delivered 44.516 letters, 3,494 pos- tal cards, 29,506 papers and circulars. They collected 3,679 local letters, 28.859 mail let- ters, over 4,000 postal cards and 2,000 news- papers." In 1891 Arthur J. Shaw was ap- pointed postmaster, and carriers increased to fourteen, and the business correspondingly. Charles E. Munson was assistant postmaster. Mr. Shaw was succeeded in 1894 by Howard T. Mallon, Fred E. Baldwin, assistant. Before the close of his term the postoffice was removed to the corner of Riverside and Lincoln.

The force at present is as follows: George IV. Temple, postmaster; Byron Dieffenbach, assistant postmaster; John R. Fullinwider, money order clerk; Charles Riddiford, registry clerk; H. E. Brown, assistant registry clerk, W. H. Overend, superintendent of carriers ; Miss Edith G. Grimmer, stamp clerk; Richard R. Dunn and John Syler, general delivery clerks; Miss L. B. Nelson, box clerk; P. M. Gauvreau and John Talbott, mailing clerks; Fred Z. Alexander, assistant money order clerk; Samuel R. Kelly, stamper; Edgar Mc- Call, Frank J. Stitz, directory clerks; Orla C. Bacon, A. J. Connel, John P. Pond, distribu-

tors. Carriers-T. R. Jones, S. S. Berven, MI. G. Williams, Z. A. Pfile, R. L. Hanson, P. T. Weeks, Charles E. Nelson, James D. Smith, George Dewey, John H. Hoxie, Delano Dav- enport, Otis Davenport, John Wilkstrand, Fritz Thorild, James T. Rubicam, Bert E. Davis, Nathan K. Buck, William N. Alexander, A. E. Helbig, Harry H. Smith. Sub-Carriers-Fred Boyd, A. G. Lepper.

The postoffice removed from the corner of Riverside and Lincoln to its present quarters in 1898. There are now forty-three persons employed. It will be interesting to compare the report at the beginning of this year, as printed in the Chronicle, with that of twenty years and ten years ago :

The total receipts for last year, ending De- cember 31, 1899, amounting to $90,226.43, and for the quarter ending December 31, 1899, they reached $24,980.90.

According to Postmaster Temple's state- ment, the records for the Spokane postoffice for the last four years are as follows :

For the year 1895-

Quarter ending March 31. $10,871.IO

Quarter ending June 30. 9,537.90

Quarter ending September 30. . 9.806.03

Quarter ending December 31 ... 12,062.77

Total $42,277.80

For the year 1896-

Quarter ending March 31. ŞII,686.91

Quarter ending June 30. 12,866.58

Quarter ending September 30. .. 12.454.19

Quarter ending December 30. .. 15.336.77

Total $52,344.45

For the year 1897 ---

Quarter ending March 31 . $15.003.88

Quarter ending June 30. 15.426.28

Quarter ending September 30 .. 16,120.51

Quarter ending December 31 .. 18.211.24

Total

. $64.761.91

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

For the year 1898-

Quarter ending March 31 $17,644.20

Quarter ending June 30. . 17,683.47

Quarter ending September 30 .. 17,630.85

Quarter ending December 31 . 22,085.03

Total $75,043.55

For the year 1899-

Quarter ending March 31 $21,480.79

Quarter ending June 30. . 22,156.16

Quarter ending September 30. . 21,608.58

Quarter ending December 3 I 24.980.90

Total $90,226.43

Business in the registry department for in- ternational exchange alone has increased 160 per cent. in the last three years, while for the last year there has been an advance of 76 per cent. In registered letters for distribution in the city there has been an increase of 49 per cent.

The tables for the amount of registered mail for the last two years, according to the figures of Chief Registry Clerk Riddiford, are as follows :

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An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 19

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn Publication date: 1900 Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever Number of Pages: 888

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever
Number of Pages: 888