An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 49

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 49

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grew into the business and in 1886 went to Lawrence, Kansas, to take charge of a gas plant. In 1887 he came to Spokane, took charge of the local business and now owns the greater part of the stock. A sketch of the gas plant appears in the history of the manufactur- ing industries of the city. Mr. Hopper is also president of the Carbondale Coal Company, of Castle Rock, Washington, treasurer of the Rosslyn Coal Company, and president of the Northwestern Flax & Fibre Manufacturing Company, which was incorporated for the pur- pose of manufacturing grain sacks from flax straw. He is also president of the Butte, Mon- tana, Gas, Light & Coal Company.

Mr. Hopper is a man of remarkable busi- ness ability, as is easily discerned from the way the gas business has grown and prospered un- der his management.

D. F. EAKIN, M. D., physician and sur- geon at Hillyard, a pioneer of 1883. is a na- tive of Carroll county, Ohio, born June 21, 1830. He lived there until 1859, attending the Hagerston Academy, also the academy at Salem, Ohio, and graduated from the Cincin- nati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1858. The following year he removed to Pike's Peak. Colorado, and engaged in the practice of medi- cine and in mining. Soon, however, he went to Glenwood, Iowa, practiced his profession there until August, 1862, then enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Regiment of Volunteers and was commissioned assistant surgeon. He was mus- tered out in 1864, and at once returned to Glenwood and resumed the practice of his pro- fession. In 1871 he went to Beloit, Kansas, where he was engaged in practice until 1882, in which year he removed to Ritzville, Mis-

souri. In. 1883 he came to California, and thencé to Spokane county, locating at Rock- ford. He pursued his profession there until 1890, then moved into the city of Spokane. In: 1897 he changed his location to Hillyard. where he now resides. He is surgeon for the G. N. R. R. and was a member of the board of pension examiners under President Harrison. Dr. Eakin has been an assiduous student of medicine and surgery for many years, and has the extensive and thorough knowledge of his profession which one would naturally expect to find in a man who has concentrated the ef- forts of a lifetime in one directon. The Doc- tor. however, has always taken an active in- terest in public affairs and in politics. He was married in Malvern. Ohio, in October. 1854. to Miss Amanda J. Brothers. They have five children. Frank E., a laundryman in Seattle: James D .. a wholesale liquor dealer in New Mexico: William N., miner in British Co- lumbia; Carrie, wife of Dr. J. W. Rhodes, of Tekoa, and Carl N., a mining man in British Columbia.

MRS. SUSAN RUSK, widow of Robert J. Rusk, is a pioneer of 1882. She was born in Toronto, Canada, and the first twelve years of her life were spent in that city, then she moved with her parents to Milwaukee. After a brief residence, they went to McGregor, Iowa, where they resided for one year. They then traveled around considerably, living for short periods at Hannibal, Missouri, St. Paul. Belle Plaine and Le Seuer, Minnesota, but finally located at Alexandria, that state, where, on January 30, 1869. Mrs. Rusk was married. In 1876, she with her husband, moved to Santa Cruz. California, and thence, in 1882. to Spokane. On the twenty-second of April,

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1886, Mr. Rusk was killed by Indians, while away from the city on leave of absence from his duties as a member of the Spokane police- force. The body was found ten days after the tragedy, in a stream known as Dead Man creek. For some time prior to his decease Mr. Rusk had served as officer No. I, on night duty, there being at that time only one police- man in Spokane. The city marshal did police duty during the day. Mrs. Rusk is an active member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. She is the mother of six children, Ida M., wife of F. H. Back, of Cœur d' Alene, Idaho; Robert J., clerk in the mercantile house of Ferris & Company, Pullman, Washington, later assistant postmaster in the same city; Charles F., chief machinist in the Spokesman Review office; Elizabeth B., wife of Leroy Clark; Richard J., telegraph operator in this city, and Jennie I.

THEODORE HENCOE, a retired brewer, is a native of Offenburg, Germany, born September 22, 1857. At the age of four- teen, he began to learn the trade of a brewer, and he followed that business continuously until 1880, when he emigrated to the United States. He located at St. Louis and was en- gaged in his old occupation there until 1882, then moved to San Francisco and followed the same business in that city for the ensuing four years. In 1886 he came to Spokane and erected the Hencoe Brewery, the oldest build- ing of its kind in the city. He continued in business until January, 1899, when he sold his plant to Reinhart Martin, and retired from active participation in commercial pursuits. Mr. Hencoe was always a careful, energetic business man, and has been invariably suc-

cessful in his line. He was married in Spo- kane, September 28, 1893, to Babette Hoff- man, a native of Germany, and they are the parents of three children, Mary E., Minnie B. and Elsie.

JACOB LOERTCHER, a retired mer- chant and a pioneer of 1884, was born in Swit- zerland, June 24, 1848. He served a five years' apprenticeship to the trade of a tinner and galvanized iron worker, and when nineteen years old emigrated to the United States. He located in Rochester, New York, and followed his trade there until 1877, in which year he came to Portland, Oregon, and started in busi- ness for himself. In May, 1884, he came to this city and organized a firm known as Loertcher & Abernathy for handling all kinds of plumbers' supplies. They were the first to engage in that business in the city of Spokane, and they had a flourishing trade until the fire of 1889 burned them out. Mr. Loertcher then retired and has since been attending to his own extensive private interests. He is essentially a self-made man. Arriving in this country when only a boy, without capital or influential friends, he has worked himself up by patient and persistent industry, and later by his shrewd and intelligent business man- agement, until he now ranks among the suc- cessful men of the city. Socially Mr. Loertcher is a prominent member of Samaritan Lodge. No. 52, I. O. O. F., and has taken all the de- grees in that fraternity. He also belongs to B. P. O. E., No. 228.

NEAL E. McNEILL, attorney-at-law, is a native of Iowa, born November 10, 1875. He graduated in Onawa high school in 1893,

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then entered the Drake University Law School, from which institution he received the B. L. degree. He was admitted to the bar in Des Moines, Iowa, October 5, 1898, then moved to Butte, Montana, opened up a law office and was building up a fine practice when his health failed, and he was obliged to seek a more salubrious climate. Accordingly, he moved to Spokane, arriving here July 1, 1899, and he has since been engaged in the practice of law in this city. Mr. McNeill is a bright, capable young man, and one who will undoubtedly suc- ceed at the bar, if he thoroughly regains his health.

Socially he affiliates with the Modern Woodmen, being venerable consul of Goodwill Camp, No. 5923.

GEORGE W. BURCH, a pioneer of 1882, was born in Franklin county, New York, Jan- uary 15, 1845. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Fort Covington, New York, and itt a college at La Chute, Canada. In 1861, he went with his brother to Livingston county, Illinois, and he was engaged in farming there for the ensuing five years, after which he moved to St. Peter, Minnesota, and followed the same occupation until 1882. In that year he came to Spokane and accepted a position as salesman for the Echo Milling Company, and was employed by them for the next two years. He then went out onto his farm just outside the western city limits, and lived there until 1887, when he moved to his present magnificent resi- dence on the corner of Monroe street and Nettie avenue. He was a stockholder in the Wash- ington National Bank until 1893, but he re- tired in that year and has since given his en- tire attention to looking after his own exten-

sive real estate interests. He is a public-spir- ited man and has always shown a willingness to do his share toward building up any insti- tution for the general benefit. He was one of the seventeen who organized the first Pres- byterian church in Spokane county. At that time he was elected an elder in the church. and he has held that office continuously even to the present time. He was married at Fort Cov- ington, New York, March 30, 1875, to Miss Margaret Foster, a native of that town, 'and they have a family of five children. Charles, now bookkeeper in the National Iron Works, of Spokane, Arthur, Erwin, Ruth and Irene.

MARCELLUS H. PRATT, contractor and builder. a pioneer of 1883. was born in Piscat- aquis county, Maine, January 17. 1836. In 1850. he moved with his parents to Waukon, Iowa, where he learned the carpenter trade, and went into business as a contractor and builder. He has the honor of being a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in the Twelfth Iowa, a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps. in 1863, and having served continuously till the close of the war. After being discharged he returned to Waukon, resumed his former occupation, and resided there until 1883, when he came to Spokane. He worked at his trade in this city continuously until 1894. then went into business as a dealer in cigars and confec- tionery. In 1899 he sold his store and again went to work as a contractor and builder, an occupation which he has ever since followed. Mr. Pratt is one of the substantial citizens of this city, and commands the respect and esteem of his wide circle of acquaintances. He was married February 17. 1859. to Miss Isabel Israel, a native of Warren, Pennsylvania, and

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they have three children, Clarence, now con- ductor on the G. N. R. R., Marcellus A., tele- graph operator in the Northwestern yards in Chicago, and Ella, wife of Arthur Townsend.

J. W. BOYD, deceased, was a native of Martinsburg. West Virginia, born September II, 1830. His parents moved to Carmi, Illi- nois, in 1837, and he was raised there and fol- lowed farming in that vicinity for many years. In 1892, he came to Hillyard, engaged in the hotel business, and continued in that occupa- tion till his death, which occurred July 31, 1897. He was a member of the First Baptist church of Spokane. During his lifetime Mr. Boyd was always a substantial and reliable inan, and. although not ambitious for leader- ship, invariably stood well among his fellow- citizens wherever his lot was cast. He was married at Carmi, Illinois, April 29, 1877, to Miss Dollie Birdsong, a native of Illinois. They have four children, Edward B., a barber in Spokane; George W., real estate dealer in this city; Samuel S., manager of the Hagen- back show, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Mary I., wife of Peter Olson, an engineer. Mrs. Boyd owns and conducts a large rooming house in Hillyard.

H. R. STEARNS, one of the leading citi- zens of Hillyard, is a native of West Bend, Wisconsin, born February 5, 1855. He lived there on a farm until twenty years old, receiv- ing his education in the public schools of that county. He then moved to Dakota and en- tered the employ of the C. M. & St. P. R. R., as a bricklayer. In 1887, he moved to Denver, Colorado, where he was engaged in bricklay-

ing until 1889. On February I, the same year, he came to Spokane, engaged in the real estate business and continued to deal in land until 1894, when he moved to Hillyard. He received from President Cleveland an appoint- ment as postmaster, April 1. 1894. and held the position until April 1, 1900, discharging his duties in a manner highly satisfactory to all the patrons of the office. He is also local agent for the Hillyard Townsite Company. Mr. Stearns has always proved himself a thor- oughly reliable and trustworthy gentleman, ever ready to do what he can for the promo- tion of the general good. and enjoys in abund- ant measure the respect and goodwill of his fellow citizens. He is a leading member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Hillyard, also of Samaritan Lodge, No. 52. I. O. O. F .. and of Spokane Council, No. 1371, Royal Ar- canum. He was married in Spokane Febru- ary 28, 1893, to Mrs. Elino Cheever, a native of Oswego. New York. They have three children. Herbert J., Rose R. and Florence M.

NATHAN LEIGH. a grocer at Hillyard, is a native of Oswego, New York, born April 6. 1839. He spent the first sixteen years of his life in that city, then moved to Winona, Minnesota, where he resided until 1861. He then made a trip overland to Oregon, located at Salem and engaged in the lumber business. He resided there until 1872, then moved to Virginia City, Nevada, where he was engaged on the railroad as foreman of the track depart- ment for two years. Retiring from that po- sition, he turned his attention to mining, and before long had located the North Carson Mine, near Carson City, which proved to be quite a dividend payer. He sold out in 1877,

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and engaged in mining at Tombstone, Arizona. where he soon became the owner of several paying properties. He, however, sold his en- tire interest in 1886, and moved to Kingston, New Mexico, where he entered the employ of Thompson & Gallas, as a miner and mill man. He afterwards located at Hillsboro and was engaged in receiving and shipping until 1892, when he moved to Cheney, Washington. He purchased a farm near Cheney, resided on it until 1896, then moved to Spokane and en- gaged in a mercantile line. He was in busi- ness with William Garretson in the O. K. grocery until May, 1899, then moved to Hill- yard and engaged in his present business. He is a member of the Baptist church at Salem. Oregon, and of Cachise Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Tombstone, Arizona. He also belongs to the A. O. U. WV. at the same place. He was mar- ried in Salem, Oregon, May 6, 1861, to An- geline Halley, a native of that state, whose father, Bartholomew Halley, crossed the plains with the Waldo expedition, organized and brought to Oregon by Dr. Whitman in 1844.

. PETER OLSON, engineer on the Great Northern Railroad, with headquarters at Hill- yard, is a native of Sweden, born September 15, 1865. He was, however, raised in the United States, as his parents came to Knox county, Illinois, when he was yet in early in- fancy. In 1883 the family moved to Chicago county, Minnesota. Three years later he se- cured employment from the Great Northern Railway as engine wiper, at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He became a locomotive engineer and has served for the same company in that capacity ever since. In 1892 he moved to Hill- yard, where he now resides. By virtue of

patient and unceasing application. he has be- come a thoroughly reliable and competent me- chanic, and he is looked upon by the company as one of its most trustworthy and valued em- ployes. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen of Leavenworth, Washington. He was married June 25, 1895, to Miss Mary I. Boyd, a native of Illinois, and they have one child, Ralph W. Mrs. Olson is a member of the First Methodist church of Hillyard.

J. H. BROWN. late telegraph operator at Hillyard, is a native of Allegheny City, Penn- sylvania, born April 23. 1845. When twenty years old he went to Grand Rapids. Michigan, where he was employed by the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad as brakeman. While in their employ he was run over by a train, losing one arm and having the other broken in four places. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1879. and practiced his profession i11 Big Rapids, Michigan, until 1882. when he moved to Newton, Kansas, and entered the service of the Santa Fe Railroad as station agent. In a short time, however, he accepted employment from the Northern Pacific Rail- road, and was station agent for that company successively at Valley City. Dakota, Hauser Junction, Washington, and Rathdrum, Idaho, remaining in their employ until 1887. He then went into the service of the Central Wash- ington, as operator, but in 1890 was trans- ferred to Post Falls, Idaho, and in 1893 went to Cœur d' Alene City as manager of a steam- boat line. A year later he entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad, taking charge of the station at Hillyard. In 1898 he became agent for the Pacific Coast Railroad and con- tmnued in their employ to the time of his death.

C. E. HILL FAIRFIELD

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which occurred December 11, 1899. He had long experience as a railroad man, and under- stood all the details of his business as perhaps very few operators ever do. Socially he affili- ated with the K. P. He was married in Big Rapids, Michigan, April 13, 1879. to Miss Ella Booth, a native of Indiana, who still sur- vives him. They were parents of three chil- dren, Ruthford P. (the first white child born in Pima county, Arizona), Harry E. and Mil- dred. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church at Hillyard.

DR. W. D. VALENTINE, a pioneer of 1884, was born at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1850, but when three years old was taken by his parents to Ogle county. Illi- nois. He graduated from the Rock River College in 1870, then went to the Northwestern University, taking a degree from that school in 1872. He also graduated from the State Univer- sity in 1873. He thereupon entered the Chicago Medical College, completed its course in 1875, then completed a course in Pulte Medical Col- lege, of Cincinnati, in 1877. He also gradu- ated from the Physio-Medical Institute at Cin- cinnati, in 1880. While studying medicine, he taught for a time and was prominent among those educators who raised the standard of scholarship in Ogle county till they won the gold medal at the Centennial Exposition of 1876. Dr. Valentine began the practice of medicine at Polo, Illinois, where he remained two years. He then continued his practice at Lanark until 1884, when he came to Spokane, and he now has an extensive patronage in this city. Up to the time of the fire of 1889, he was a liberal contributor to the various enter- prises of the city, but at that time his losses 21

were very heavy. After saving property be- longing to several of his neighbors. he finally turned to save his own, and carried out some of his office effects, but these were burned in the street. The Doctor was at length com- pelled to flee from his office. On reaching the foot of the stairs, he found the air full of fire, and as he crossed the street he was badly burned internally, and lost a very valuable package of money and securities. A man who crossed just ahead of him was suffocated in the street. Such was the effect upon the Doc- tor's lungs and upon the mucus lining of his stomach, that, for three years, he was unfitted for work, but he finally recovered fully and re- sumed his practice. Dr. Valentine wisely took time in his youth to secure a very thor- ough general and professional education and his early training with the experience of later years has naturally placed him in the front rank of his profession. The Doctor also takes an interest in mining, and is now vice-presi- dent of the Federal Mining & Smelting Com- pany. He is a member of the Vincent Method -. ist Episcopal church, and is prominent in Sa- maritan Lodge, No. 52. I. O. O. F. He belongs to all the branches of Odd Fellowship and has passed through all the chairs of the order. At present he is examining physician for Excelsior Camp, No. 5124. M. W. A. He was married in Foreston, Illinois, March 23, 1881, to Miss. Lydia Meyer, and they have two children. William E. and Florinne. Mrs. Valentine was born in a pioneer log house near Foreston, Ogle county, Illinois, April 23, 1861. She early won distinction among her schoolmates at Foreston, some of her work being sent to the Centennial Exposition of 1876. At the age of seventeen, she began teaching in the public schools and she followed that profession until her marriage in 1881. She has been

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prominent in the early history of the W. R. C. of Spokane and it was at her home that Sedg- wick Post met after the fire until a meeting place could be secured. She served as oracle of Spokane Camp, R. W. of A., during the current year. Mrs. Valentine was also fore- most among the pioneers of Methodism in the county.

F. M. TAYLOR, superintendent of the Arlington Heights Land & Home Building Company, was born in Buchanan county, Mis- souri, September 15, 1851. Four years later he accompanied his parents to Donephan county. Kansas, and in 1863 moved with them

to Nebraska City, Nebraska. In 1868 he made a trip to California, traveling through Arizona. New Mexico and Texas, and having many. ex- citing adventures with Indians. After an ab- sence of about five years he returned to Ne- braska City, and lived there until 1885. then moved to Colby, Kansas, and opened a real estate office. In 1890 he came to Spokane. entered the employ of J. J. Browne as fore- man on his farm, and the following year ac- cepted a position on the Spokane police force. In 1892 he resigned and went to Montana. where he opened a hotel, and soon was elected constable of Flathead county. In 1894 he moved to Hillyard, where he has since resided. Mr. Taylor has always maintained an intel- ligent interest in politics, and has taken a lead- ing and active part in all the campaigns, local and national. He was allied with the Demo- cratic party until the fusion of 1896, on ac- count of which he joined the Republicans. The same year he became constable of Hill- yard, winning the distinction of being the only Republican elected that year in this county. His re-election two years later testified that his

constituency were convinced they had made no mistake in their former choice. Socially Mr. Taylor is affiliated with the K. P. fraternity. He was married in Nebraska City, January 6. 1874. to Mrs. Lanie Edwards, ncc Hill. They have one child. Rose E., wife of Paul A. Smith. Mrs. Taylor also has three chil- dren by her former marriage, namely : Alice. wife of Charles Miller : Maud, wife of Joseph Coverly. and J. F .. foreman of the Nelson Bindery at Nelson, British Columbia.

WILLIAM J. DWYER, mechanic and farmer, is a native of Limerick, Ireland. born August II. 1852. When a year old he was brought by his parents to Webster. Massachu- setts, and in 1858 lie accompanied them to Windham county, Connecticut, where his father died. In 1871 he and his mother re- turned to Webster. Massachusetts. Five years later the mother died also, and Mr. Dwyer went by steamer to Galveston. Texas. He had early learned the trade of a carpenter, and he followed that occupation in Texas for a year, then moved to the Black Hills, South Dakota, making the journey with freight teams, and experiencing many difficulties with Indians. He lived in the Black Hills a short time. then resided for brief periods in San Francisco. Portland, Oregon, and Dayton. Washington, respectively. finally locating in Colfax. Washington, where he opened the first furniture store in that town. In 1882 hie sold out, moved onto a farm and engaged in farm- ing and dairying. In 1887 he moved to Spo- kane. and with W. H. Adams opened the pioneer furniture store of the city. In 1889 he again sold and embarked in the real estate business, but the next year he retired and with

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his family made a trip to Europe, visiting Ire- land, England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Bel- gium, the "Bridge of Sighs," at Venice, the Holy City, the battle ground of Waterloo and the crater of Vesuvius, bringing with him a piece of the lava in which he imbedded a French five-centime coin while the lava was still boiling hot. Returning to Washington they lived a year in Spokane, then a while at Medical Lake, but finally settled three-quarters of a mile east of Hillyard, where they erected a magnificent residence, costing five thousand dollars. Mr. Dwyer is the inventor of a ma- chine known as the Slime Plant for saving the tailings from concentrators, receiving his pat- ent April 26, 1898. He was married in Co- lumbia county, Washington, June 21, 1888, to Miss Maggie G. McGreevy, a native of Fayette county, Iowa. They have four children. Margaret F., Mary V., William J., Jr., and Helen I. The family are members of the Cath- olic church of Hillyard.

JOSEPH S. ALLEN, receiver of the Ya- kima Investment Company, a pioneer of 1881, is a native of Crawfordsville. Indiana, born December 6, 1849. In 1864 he moved with his parents to Rochester, Minnesota. He at- tended the Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana, read law in the office of Stearns & Start, and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. In 1871 he moved to Olympia. Washington, and opened a law office with his brother, John B., ex-United States senator. He continued in practice there until 1881, when he retired on account of ill health, moved to Spo- kane and bought a fine three-hundred-and- twenty-acre farm near the city. Three years later he moved into town and again began

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An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 49

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