USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 62
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
machine shop, which he sold to his partner in 1867. He then started in the cabinet and fur- niture business, following that until 1883, in which year he located in Spokane. He im- mediately went to work at his trade again and was thus employed for several years afterward. Mr. Abel is a typical pioneer, having ex- perienced all the hardships and privations in- cident to primitive traveling, and to the de- velopment of a new and unsettled country. He was married in Walla Walla March 20, 1870, to Caroline Saling, a native of Germany, who died June 16, 1889, leaving six children : Kate. who died March 15, 1892. at twenty-one years of age: Fred: Carrie, now Mrs. William Traub: Anna; Arthur and Clara. Socially Mr. Abel is affiliated with the A. O. U. W. and the I. O. O. F. Mr. Abel helped organize Washington Engine Company. No. I. of Walla Walla, in 1863. He held some of the promi- nent positions in Walla Walla county at a very early date.
WALTER FRANCE is a native of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, born January 28, 1844. In 1853 the family moved to Guthrie county, Iowa, where he lived on a farm for many years. He came to Seattle in 1881. and was engaged in the real estate business one year, then went to Farmington and worked a few months in a pork packing es- tablishment. In June. 1883. he arrived in Spokane and for several years afterwards conducted a second-hand store, then was in the grocery business, but finally gave his entire attention to speculating in real estate. As a speculator he was epecially successful, being a man of unerring judgment and quick to see a good investment. For the past four years he has given his attention almost exclusively
to mining and is interested in many very promising properties in this locality. In the spring of 1889 he was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the city council as repre- sentative of the fourth ward, and in 1893 he was elected on the Republican ticket council- man from the fifth ward. He was nomi- nated for mayor on the Citizens' ticket in April, 1895, but failed of election. Mr. France's record in this city, in both private and public life, is above reproach and he en- joys in the fullest degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He also has the distinction of being an old soldier. having served for five months in the Civil war in Company C, Forty-Sixth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, during which time he took part in several minor engagements. He was mar- ried in Guthrie county, Iowa, July 20, 1870, to Miss Mary E. Hewitt, a native of. Dallas county, that state. They have one daughter. Bertha G., wife of Mr. A. A. Young. of the firm of Young Brothers, importers of tea and coffee.
JOHN J. WHITE, city treasurer, was born in Cleveland, Ohio. July 24. 1861. When he arrived at the age of ten his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Mr. White received a high-school education, sup- plemented by three years' study at a seminary. In 1880 he removed to Seattle and found em- ployment as a bookkeeper for a large commis- sion house. Later he was engaged for a year as manager of the big Snoqualmie hop ranch, the largest hop ranch in the world, contain- ing upwards of three hundred acres. In 1887 he came to Spokane and accepted a situation as bookkeeper for J. D. Merrymann, who had a large grocery house, but in the spring of
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
1888 he became city clerk and remained in that office until 1890. In the spring of 1891 he was appointed deputy city treasurer and in the fall of 1891 was appointed deputy county clerk. In 1893 he became deputy county assessor, and in 1895 deputy city comptroller and deputy city treasurer. He was elected city treasurer on the Republican ticket in 1898 and has done credit to himself by the able and efficient manner in which he has performed the duties of that office ever since. Personally, Mr. White is a genial and wholesouled and is very popular with everybody whose good for- tune it is to meet him. He is very prominent in Odd Fellowship, being noble grand of Samaritan Lodge, No. 52, also chief patriarch of Unique Encampment, No. 32, a member of Canton Fortuna, No. 5, Patriarchs Mili- tant, and a Rebekah. He was married in Se- attle, June 14, 1887, to Miss Martha A. Price, a native of Victoria, British Columbia.
WALTER C. SIVYER, manager of the Inland Empire Company, was born in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, September 3, 1861. When he was seven years of age, the family moved to Fort Scott, Kansas. He graduated in 1883 from the Wabash College at Craw- fordsville, Indiana; proceeded thence to James- town, North Dakota; opened a real estate and insurance business, also practiced law in the United States land office. In 1887 he came to Spokane and opened an office for the trans- action of a general real estate, insurance and rental business. In December, 1893, he or- ganized and was elected manager of the Inland Empire Company, whose offices are located on the fifth floor of the Exchange building. The object of this company is to buy and sell real
estate, negotiate loans, and to act as trustee to make investments for non-residents, etc. They keep four employees steadily and are do- ing a very successful business. Mr. Sivyer is also a director in the Security Savings & Loan Association. He is quite a prominent young man. enterprising and industrious, and his influence in business circles will be felt more and more in the years to come.
FELIX M. PUGH, deputy United States marshal, is a native of Linn county. Oregon. born June 12, 1854. He grew up on a farm. took a business course in Portland. and in 1877 moved to Dayton, Washington, where he was engaged in the drug business about three years. In April. 1880, he came to Spo- kane county and took as a homestead. one hundred and sixty acres of land at Salteese lake, twelve miles east of the city, where he lived for the ensuing eight years. During this time he was deputy assessor four years and was engaged for a while in making the plats for the first map of this county. In 1888 he moved to Spokane and served as deputy sheriff for six years, then was nominated by acclamation on the Republican ticket for sheriff, but was defeated by a majority of only thirty-one votes. After the election he re- turned to his farm, where he remained. until 1896, being employed during one year of this time as deputy dairy inspector. He then re- turned to the city and in August. 1897. was appointed by W. C. Ide, chief deputy United States marshal for eastern Washington. Mr. Pugh is a thorough pioneer, having spent his entire life thus far on the coast. He has long been a citizen of this county and is well known and highly esteemed by all the old residents.
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He has both the experience and the natural cour- age necessary to eminently qualify him for the some times dangerous duties of the position he now holds. Socially, he is a member of the Elks and the Woodmen of the World. He was married in Linn county, Oregon, October 27, 1875, to Miss Fannie C. Taylor, a native of Oregon. They have four children, namely : Fred C., John T., Gladys and Ruth E.
HON. NORMAN BUCK, of the law firm of Buck & Craven, office 412 Hyde block, is a native of Erie county, New York. When he was thirteen years old his family moved to Batavia, Illinois, where they resided for three years, after which they went to the vicinity of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At this time Judge Buck was engaged in building fanning mills in his brother's shop, attending public school during the winter months. He at length entered the Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, from which institu- tion he received his degree in 1859. He next took a law course in Albany, New York. graduating in 1860; then opened an office in Winona, Minnesota, and practiced till 1862. On August 16, of that year, he enlisted in Company D, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served a year in the campaign against the Sioux Indians. He then went south, took part in an engagement at Tupelo, Mississippi, was in the battle of Nashville, the capture of Mobile, and many skirmishes. Having entered the army as a private, he rose in three years to the rank of captain, a fact which in itself speaks volumes for the charac- ter of his military service. After his dis- charge he returned to Winona, Minnesota, and served as judge of probate two years, then as
prosecuting attorney two more. Subsequently he was appointed United States attorney for Idaho territory, but soon became an associate justice in the Idaho supreme court, serving for eight years. In 1889 he opened an office in the Van Valkenburg block, Spokane, but was burned out in the big fire of that year, losing his four-thouand-dollar library. He was elected superior judge of Spokane county in 1892, and ably discharged the duties of that office for the ensuing four years. Judge Buck was the pioneer judge in many of the Idaho districts. Socially, he is affiliated with the G. A. R., the K. of P., the I. O. O. F., and the W. of W., and he was commander of G. A. R., department of Washington and Alaska, during 1896-97. Personally Judge Buck is an entertaining conversationalist and a very affable and pleasant gentleman. He was mar- ried in Galena, Illinois. September 26, 1863, to Francena, M. Kellogg, a native of Groton, New York. They have three children- Storey. secretary of the Chamber of Com- merce ; Julian F., and Nathan K., a mail car- rier of this city.
GEORGE W. LIBBY, M. D., office in the Trader' block, is a native of Hiram, Oxford county, Maine. After spending his boyhood days on a farm, he graduated from the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill, then took medical courses at Harvard and Bowdoin, receiving his degree in 1876. In 1875 he was house pupil at the Maine General Hospital. The succeeding seven years of his life were devoted to active practice at Searsport, Maine, then one year at Middletown, Connecticut. Arriving in Spokane in 1884. he has since applied himself assiduously to the study and
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practice of his chosen profession and his zeal and industry have been rewarded by an ex- tensive and very desirable patronage. He is a charter member of the Spokane County and of the Washington State Medical societies. He is a member of the United States pension examining board of this district and is an examiner also for several of the large life in- surance companies, and was for seven years a member of the medical and surgical staff of the Sacred Heart Hospital, of Spokane. He is also an occasional contributor to the Med- ical Sentinel. Dr. Libby is one of the leading physicians .in this city. Before starting to practice he took time to prepare thoroughly in a good college of liberal arts and in two of the best medical schools in the land, and he has since diligently cultivated his art. Hc has not, however, allowed his love of medical science to interfere with his fraternal and re- ligious duties. He is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and he and his family are active mem- bers of the First Methodist Episcopal church. He is president, also, of the board of trustees of the church, and delegate-elect to the gen- eral conference to be held in Chicago in 1900. He was married in Massachusetts, May 31. 1877, to Miss Jacova D. Pribble, of Augusta Kentucky. They have two children, Elva E .. born April 5. 1878, and George W., born Sep- tember 13, 1880, both natives of Searsport, Mainc.
HON. GEORGE TURNER, United States senator, was born February 25, 1850, at Edina, Knox county, Missouri. When nine years old he accompanied his family to Lebanon, Laclede county, Missouri, and there he resided for a number of years afterwards. At the early age of thirteen he was placed in
charge of a telegraph office, being an expert operator, and he held that responsible position throughout the remaining years of the war. A very precocious youth, he prosecuted his study of law vigorously, and when eighteen years old passed his examination for the bar. He shortly afterwards began practice at Mo- bile, Alabama, with a friend, Charles Mayer. of about his own age. In 1874 he was the candidate of the Republican party for attorney- general, but was defeated by a small majority. Two years later he was appointed United States marshal, an office which he held for four years. He was chairman of the Republi- can national delegations of 1880 and 1884 and has the distinction of being one of the three hundred and six who held out for the nomina- tion of General Grant for a third term. In 1884 he was appointed territorial judge of the fourth district, which included most of east- ern Washington, his office being located in Yakima. The next year lie removed to Spo- kane and in 1887 he resigned his judgeship to become a member of the law firm of Turner. Foster & Turner. He practiced in that firm a while, then with Mr. Frank Graves and later in the firm of Turner. Graves & M'Kinstrey. He was a member of the constitutional con- vention of 1889, and chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1898 he was elected to the U'nited States senate, where he has won for himself an enviable distinction for legislative ability and statesmanship. His speeches are always listened to with respectful attention and that on the Philippine question elicited much complimentary comment. Senator Turner has long been regarded as one of the foremost lawyers and statesmen of the state of Waslı- ington, and of his successful career his fellow- citizens are very proud. He was heavily in- terested in the Leroi mine, the sale of whichi
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made him wealthy. At present he owns much valuable real estate and is one of the largest stockholders in the Yellowstone Park Railroad. extending from Bozeman, Montana, to the park, a distance of one hundred miles. Sen- ator Turner was married in Montgomery, Alabama, to Miss Bertha Dreher, a native of that state.
AVERY E. DAVIDSON, a pioneer of September 18, 1878. is now employed as en- gineer at the court house. He was born in Marshalltown, Kentucky. December 12, 1851. When he was four years of age the family came to the coast and lived successively in California, Oregon and Idaho. Mr. David- son learned, in Portland, the trade of a marine engineer and machinist. In 1878 he came to Spokane and was employed as a sawyer in the saw mill of Cannon. Warner & Pease. the first mill of its kind in the county. He soon be- came superintendent of the business and re- mained with that firm until 1890. when he was compelled to leave on account of failing eye- sight and exhaustion from overwork. He spent several years in the mountains prospect- ing and recuperating. He was then employed as a boatbuilder and engineer by the Idaho Transportation Company and afterwards by the International Transportation Com- pany. During the years 1889-90 Mr. David- son served as a member of the city coun- cil from the third ward, having been elected on the citizens' ticket. For about six months of this time he was acting mayor. and an active participant in the big street rail- way fight, which took place at that time. He was also active in securing the construc- tion of the large, steel cantilever bridge on Monroe street. He has also held the position
of deputy United States marshal for eastern Washington.
On November 3, 1898. Mr. Davidson figured conspicuously in an exciting struggle with a couple of highwaymen. He and his wife were coming into the city on the Ross Park Street Railway, when the robbers boarded the car and ordered him and the motorman and conductor to throw up their hands. The others did so, but Mr. Davidson attacked one of the desperadoes and had a lively tussle with him on the car floor. Mr. Davidson was shot through the body and the men escaped, but were afterwards apprehended and are serving a ten-years' term in the Walla Walla peniten- tiary. Mr. Davidson was married in East Portland. September 22, 1875. to Hannah S, Black, a native of Tippecanoe, Indiana. They have two children, Wiliam T. and Earl A.
A. G. ANSELL. a pioneer of 1884 and a mining operator, office in Symons block, is a native of West Virginia, born November 9, 1852. In 1853 the family moved to Cal- houn county, Illinois, where he grew up. learn- ing the printer's trade in Hardin, the county seat. He taught school several years, then published the Calhoun County Democrat for about five years. Then, his printing office being destroyed by fire. he went to Topeka, Kansas, and found employment on the Topeka Daily Capital. He afterwards went to Glen- coe. Minnesota, and published the Enterprise. In February, 1884. he came to Spokane to ac- cept a position as city editor of the Chronicle. He worked for a while on the Review and spent a year as editor of the Colfax Gazette, then organized the Spokane Printing Company, which did job work exclusively for several
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
years. In May, 1895. he was elected city treasurer on the Republican ticket and served for two years. Since leaving the office he has been operating in mines and mining properties. Mr. Ansell is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., being one of the two grand repre- sentatives elected by the Grand Lodge of the state of Washington to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He is now serving his second term as such representative. He joined the order in Illinois in 1874. passed through the chairs in the subordinate lodge in Hardin and served two terms in the Grand Lodge of that state. He is a charter member of Samaritan Lodge. No. 52, of Spokane, and was elected grand warden of the Grand Lodge of Washington in 1893 and grand master in 1894. Mr. . An- sell is no less respected and esteemed outside of the order. He was married in San Jose. California. September 17. 1888. to Miss May B. Stockton, a native of lowa.
DAVID S. PRESCOTT, of the firm of Prescott Brothers, real estate, insurance. loans and rentals, was born in Minneapolis. Minnesota, January 11. 1859. In 1870 the family moved to the vicinity of Northfield and David subsequently received an education in the Carleton College, located in that city. 111 1880 he became a drug clerk in Minneapolis, hut two years later came further west and opened a store in Glendive, Montana, where he remained in the drug business until 1887. He then came to Spokane and, after serving as a drug clerk for a brief period. became chief deputy in the county auditor's office, which position he held for a year and a half. He was subsequently secretary of the Ross Park Street Railway for a short time, then bookkeeper for
the county treasurer until 1892. when he him- self became county treasurer, being elected on the Republican ticket. After ably discharging the duties of that office for two years he re- tired and became a member of the present real estate firm. Like his brother. Fred L., whose biographical sketch also appears in this volume, Mr. Daniel Prescott has been a liberal donor to the early enterprises of the city and has contrib- uted freely of his means and of his energies to the growth and development of Spokane. He is secretary of the Crawford Creek Mining Company. also of the Giant Mining Company. of Rossland. British Columbia, and of the Skylark Gold & Copper Mining Company, and he is connected with many other mining enterprises. Socially. he is a prominent mem- ber of the F. & A. M., being master of Spo- kane Lodge, No. 34. He was married in Le- mars, lowa. November 16, 1881. to Laura R. Betsworth, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Captain B. F. Betsworth. They have four children, namely: Ethel F .. Ernest S., Leslie F. and Verna L.
ARTHUR J. SHAW, receiver for the First National Bank, is a native of Aurora, New York, born April 6. 1856. He gradu- ated from the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, of Lima, in 1878, and proceeded thence to Roch- ester. New York, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar. October 6. 1881. He practiced in Rochester for two years, then came to Spokane. and. shortly after, was appointed by President Arthur receiver of public moneys at Lewiston, Idaho. Ile served four years. then returned to Spokane and became business manager of the Review. In 1888 he was made associate editor, a position which he held until
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July, 1890. when he was appointed postmaster by. President Harrison. He served under this appointment three and a half years. In 1893 he was elected cashier of the Browne National Bank, and remained in that position until the bank suspended during the panic. He was then made receiver, first of the Commercial Savings Bank, then of the First National, and finally of the Citizens' National Bank. In January, 1895, he received the caucus nomi- nation as secretary of. the United States sen- ate, but the Republican party failed to elect its officers. He is connected with many min- ing companies and is a member of the board of directors of the Bunker Hill Company. Mr. Shaw maintains a high rank among the business men of this city. His knowledge of the law, combined with a perfect mastery of every detail of the banking business, eminently qualifies him for the position he now holds. He was married in Rochester, New York. April 30, 1884, to Mary E. Munson, a native of Canandaigua, New York. They have two children. Arthur J., Jr., and Eleanor.
W. K. HOLMES. chairman of the board of city commissioners, is a native of Dover, England, born November 9, 1839. He early learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. and at seventeen years of age he came to Mil- waukee and engaged in the pursuit of that handicraft. The following year he became a member of Captain Starkweather's Light Guards, and he was in 1861 a member of Com- pany A, First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, for three months in the war of the Rebellion. Subsequently he enlisted in the Seventh Mas- sachusetts Battery and went with the Nine- teenth Army Corps. Mr. Holmes took part
in the Red River campaign, the capture of Fort Gaines, Fort Morgan, Mobile, Spanish Fort, Montgomery, Alabama, and in numerous engagements and skirmishes. He was mus- tered ont in 1865, after having served through the war. Returning to Greenlake county, Wisconsin, he engaged in carpenter work for a short time, but soon moved to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he was occupied as a builder for a number of years. He also kept hotel in Madelia, Minnesota, ten years. In 1890 lie came to Spokane and he has been serving the city in a public or semi-public ca- pacity ever since. He was bailiff of the mu- nicipal court seven years.then inspector of street building materials in the engineer's depart- ment. then a special police officer, and finally, in July, 1899. he became a member of the board of city commissioners. Mr. Holmes is chairman of the board of police and is a street commissioner, building inspector and chairman of the bicycle commission. During his long and varied public service in this city Mr. Holmes has invariably proved himself an officer of rare fidelity and ability and he has won the esteent and respect of the best citi- zens of Spokane. He is a member of the F. & A. M., and also of Sedgwick Post. No. 8. G. A. R. He was married in Greenlake county. Wisconsin, December 6, 1866. to Nettie M. Knox. a native of Wisconsin, and they have two children, Hattie E., wife of Martin M. Dossett. a banker in Madelia. Minnesota, and Frank S .. a railroad man.
FRED L. PRESCOTT, of the firm of Prescott Brothers, real estate, loans, insurance and rentals, offices third floor, Hyde block, is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, born May
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
16, 1861. When he was nine years old his family moved to the vicinity of Northfield, where he attended the public schools. He finished his education at the Minneapolis Academy, then lived for a number of years at Herman, Minnesota, employed as a clerk and afterwards as deputy postmaster. In 1886 he came to Spokane and after serving for a short time in the postoffice secured a po- sition as clerk for I. S. Kaufman & Company, real estate and loans. He soon became a member of the firm and remained in the busi- ness for several years. Subsequently he opened a real estate office alone, but in 1896 took in his brother, David, forming the pres- ent firm. Mr. Prescott is an active member of the First Methodist Episcopal church, being also one of the board of trustees and he was one of those who were active in starting the Jefferson Street church, located on the north- west corner Sharp avenue and Jefferson. Since his arrival here, Mr. Prescott has been closely connected with the development of the city. He has been a liberal contributor to railroads and other enterprises benefiting the public and has earned an honored place among the public-spirited men who have made Spo- kane the queen city of the Inland Empire. He was married in Herman, Minnesota, March 3, 1887, to Lottie E. Quilliam, daughter of James and Mary A. They have four children, namely: M. Genevieve, Grace, H. Raymond and Fred L.
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