An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 64

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 64

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CHARLES F. SMILEY, a pioneer of 1878. is a native of Yuba county, California. born in Marysville October 29. 1863. When quite young he went to San Francisco, where he atended school until coming to Spokane. He came here with his brother-in-law, Mr. W. C. Gray, who opened the first hotel in the city. the California House, where the city hall now stands. He remained in business with him for ten years, then returned to California and

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, but in the same year he came back to Spokane and engaged in farming near the city. In 1890 he went to Idaho, where for the ensuing four years he followed his former occupation, farming. Subsequently he sold out, returned to Spokane, and after being employed in various capacities for a couple of years accepted a position with John W. Graham & Company as city solicitor, and he has been performing his duties as such con- tinuously since. He is a man of energy, tact and busines ability, and his personal good qualities render him a universal favorite. He was married in Spokane August 14. 1886, to Eliza W. Morris, daughter of Thomas Morris, of this city, and they have two children : Clara, born April 21, 1887. and Amy Gladys, born April 14, 1894.

J. H. GRIFFITH, of the Griffith Heating & Plumbing Supply Company, is a native of Illinois, born in Princeton February 20, 1859. He was educated in the public schools of that town and when sixteen years old apprenticed to learn the machinist and engineering busi- ness with the P. M. Manufacturing Company. He remained with them five years, then ac- cepted a position with the Haxtun Steam Heat- ing Company, of Kewanee, Illinois, now known as the Western Tube Company. In 1888, while still in their employ, he was sent to Spokane to start Holley, Mason & Company in the business of steam and hot-water heat- ing, and after the death of Mr. Holley became a stockholder of the firm. He remained with them through the building boom subsequent to the fire, and had full charge of their steam and hot-water heating department. In March.

1892, he bought their heating business and started for himself, opening up under the firm name of the Griffith Heating & Ventilating Company in a small building on Howard street. He continued in business until March. 1894. when the present firm was formed. In 1898 they concluded that there was sufficient field for a jobbing supply house, so they branched out in that line and have been very successful in building up an excellent business. Mr. Griffith has devoted his entire time and energy assiduously to one line since early boyhood, and he has the mastery of his vocation which one would naturally expect from such concen- tration. His minute knowledge of the details of his business, combined with industry and fidelity, are the means by which his success has been attained. He is interested in mining to some extent and owns considerable real estate in Spokane and at St. Joseph. Missouri. and the firm own their own building. Socially he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F .. the Elks. the K. P .. the .1. O. C. W. and the Bankers Life Association.

AXEL HERMAN, a pioneer of 1886. is a native of Denmark, born near Copenhagen March 20, 1867. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his own country and afterward at college. from which he graduated when eighteen years old. He emigrated to America the following year and after a short residence ir Iowa came to Spokane and found employ- ment with the Spokane Street Railway Com- pany. He worked for them six years as su- perintendent of construction, then for the city as assistant street superintendent two years, after which he engaged in contracting. Dur- ing the three years spent in that business lie

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had several contracts from the company for which he had formerly worked, and one to set the poles for the Edison Company. Later. however, he became interested in mining, pros- pected the Huckleberry mountains and located a number of claims, many of which promise well. In July, 1898, he bought out the Still- water Exchange and has since been engaged in that business. Mr. Herman is a very active Republican and takes a lively and intelligent interest in all the issues of his party. He is also looked upon as a prominent man in min- ing circles and has been president of the Her- man Gold & Copper Mining Company. also of the Hecla and the Edna Gold & Copper Mining Companies. He is a member of the Red Men and the Foresters. He was married January 1, 1899, to Masalina V. Comstock, of Boscobel, Wisconsin.

CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, senior mem- ber of the firm of Andersen Brothers, grocers, 401 Riverside, is a pioneer of 1888. He was born in Rebe, Denmark, May 29, 1854, was educated in the public schools there, and when seventeen years old set sail for America. He settled in Avoca, Iowa, engaged in the general merchandise business, and remained there for eight years, then came to Wakefield, Nebraska, to open a branch store. He was at this time a junior member of the firm of O. B. Nelson & Company, of Avoca. He remained in Wake- field until 1888, then came to Spokane where the firm had opened a grocery store the year before. Their place of business, located on Howard and Riverside, was burned out in the fire of 1889, and they reopened at the present location. In 1895 Mr. Andersen and his broth- er bought out Mr. Nelson and they have ever

since been doing business under the present firm name. When Mr. Andersen arrived in America he was without capital or influence, and he owes his success to his own patient industry and assiduous attention to business. Socially he is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He was mar- ried to Miss Marie Nelson, of Avoca, Iowa, May 29, 1875, and they are parents of two children, Elmer and Lulu.

E. H. STANTON, owner of a cold stor- age plant on Riverside avenue, is a native of New Hampshire, born in Bartlett, November 24, 1862. He was educated in the public schools of that vicinity, but at the age of eight- een left school to engage in the meat market business in his native town. In 1890 he moved to Sprague. Washington, and opened a whole- sale and retail packing house, but was burned out in the fire of 1895. He then came to Spo- kane and organized a firm known as the Spo- kane Meat Company, to build a cold storage plant and run a general packing house, manu- facturing all packing house products. Since that time he has bought out one after another of his partners until he now owns the entire business himself, including a modern abbatoir. located two miles east of the city. Mr. Stanton began life without capital, and has never re- ceived anything by inheritance, so that he owes his success solely to his own enterprise and ability. He has now a business unsurpassed by any of its kind in the state, and he ships to British Columbia and all parts of Washing- ton, Idaho and Montana. His trade has grown steadily from the beginning, and he now has twenty-two employees on his pay-roll. Socially Mr. Stanton affiliates with the Maccabees. He was married February 4, 18844, to Miss Cora

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Conway, of New Hampshire, and they have one son, Frederick, who was born July 17, 1887.

GEORGE H. HUGHES, a partner in the Griffith Heating & Plumbing Supply Company, is a native of London, England, born Novem- ber 29, 1850. When only one year old he was brought by his parents to Utica, New York, and in that city received his education. At the age of fourteen he left school to engage in farm work, and three years later he entered the employ of Charles Miller & Son, of Utica, as an apprentice to the plumber's trade. He afterward worked for the same firm two years as a journeyman, but began business for him- self at twenty-three, forming the firm of Wicks & Hughes. . After a period of eighteen months they took in Lester Griffith as a part- ner and the firm then became known as Wicks, Hughes & Griffith. They did business under that name in Utica from 1874 to 1894, then Mr. Griffith resigned and the firm has since been operating in the east as Wicks, Hughes & Company. In 1888 they established a branch store in Watertown, New York, and two years later one at Thousand Island Park, New York. and one in Spokane, Mr. Hughes coming here to open up the business in that city. In the spring of 1894 Mr. J. H. Griffith, of Spokane, was taken into the branch business here and the present firm was organized. The firm in Utica is among the largest contractors in the state of New York and did the plumbing on Thousand Island Hotel and on a great many of the palatial summer residences for which the islands are noted. The firm in Spokane easily stand at the head in their line of busi- ness here, shipping goods to all parts of Wash- ington, Idaho, Montana and British Colum-

bia. Mr. Hughes is also interested more or less in mining, is a stockholder in the Rambler and Caribou mines, as well as in numerous other properties. He is essentially a self-made man, having wrought his way up from a very small beginning to a place of leadership in the business world without financial help from any source. In his remarkably successful career he has overcome obstacles that would have been prohibitive to a less courageous spirit. He probably owes his success to his thorough mastery of every detail of his business, the fact that he possesses the sagacity to see and the courage and resolution to grasp his oppor- tunities. Mr. Hughes is a member of the National Union, of which he was president for the past year. He was married on May 10, 1876, to Miss Sarah E. Clark, of Mohawk. New York, and they have a family of three children, Edward H., Clara E. and Ina H.

JOHN A. PEACOCK, attorney at law, office, 416 Rookery, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born August 14, 1861. He was educated in the public schools of Newport, Kentucky, but when sixteen years old left school to en- gage in business with his father, who was a contractor and builder. After spending some time in that business he took up the study of law in the Cincinnati Law School, from which he graduated in 1888. He then entered the office of R. W. Nelson, at Newport, Kentucky, and studied under him until he secured admis- sion to the bar. After practicing there for a brief period lie went to Pierre. South Dakota, where he opened an office in the fall of 1889. Three years later, in 1892. he came to Spo- kane and began practice in the Traders' block. Subsequently. in 1895. he moved to Hazel block

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and entered into partnership with Mr. S. A. Wells, with whom he was associated until Mr. Wells received an appointment as receiver in the land office. In May, 1899, he came to his present quarters where he has a fine practice. Mr. Peacock is a lawyer of ability, and his business, already large, is sure to increase as time goes on. He owns a comfortable home on Maxwell avenue. He is also interested in mining to some extent. On July 3, 1893, he was married to Miss Annette Denton, of Roch- ester, Minnesota, and they are parents of two children, John Denton and Ethelind.

OLIVER R. STOCKWELL, a pioneer of 1887, is a native of Vermont, born in Water- bury, December 9, 1851. He acquired his ed- ucation in the public schools and in Green Mountain Seminary. When twenty-two years old he became a trainman on the Central Ver- mont Railroad. In three months he was given charge of a train as conductor, but, after eight- een months, was compelled to give up on ac- count of sickness. Upon recovering he was appointed station agent on the Montpelier & Wells River Railway, but two years later resigned and entered the New Jersey Business College of Newark, New Jersey, as teacher and advertiser. He spent a year there, then opened a real estate, insurance, commission and auctioneering business. which he conducted alone for fifteen months, then with a partner until 1883. For some time subsequent to that date he was engaged in 110 active business. At length, however, he went to Littleton, New Hampshire, and worked at inside hardwood finishing. He came to Spokane in the spring of 1887 under a six months' contract for car- penter work, but after two months and a half

purchased his release and went into the gro- cery store of Gates & Company as salesman. Shortly afterward he bought a half interest in the company. He remained in the business until the summer of 1889, selling out just be- fore the fire, then engaged in real estate broker- age in partnership with J. M. Martin. In 1891 he was sworn in as a police officer and he served thereafter until February 28, 1895, being jailor and desk sergeant for two years of that time. Since retiring from office he has frequently served as special officer and in every instance has proved himself one of the most trustworthy and reliable men ever placed on the city's pay roll. He is now the owner of several promis- ing mining claims. Socially he is affiliated with the Maccabees. He was married Octo- ber 20, 1880, to Miss Sarah E. Hinds, of New- ark. New Jersey, and they have one daughter. Jennie. born November 10, 1884.

JOHN J. BROWN is a native of Sumner county, Tennessee. born March 23. 1827. At an early age he was taken by his parents to Illinois. His early educational advantages were scanty enough, but he afterward took a course at Cumberland College. On January II, 1852, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Kirkpatrick, with whom, a few months later, he set out for Oregon. Their company had many encounters with Indians, chief among which were the famous battle of Shell Creek and the severe engagement at Pacific Springs, where the Clark and Oatman families were killed a short time before. Arriving in Linn county, Oregon, Mr. Brown and his wife each received from the government a quarter-section of land and at once engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Brown was the breeder

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and raiser of the famous horse Webfoot. In the spring of 1881 he came to Spokane county and took a homestead, upon which he resided until 1886. He then engaged in the real estate business in this city, following that until 1893, when he turned his attention to mining. He and his- sons have large interests in the Bullion mine. Mr. Brown was formerly quite promi- nent in local politics. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a prominent thirty-second- degree Mason. Mr. Brown has four sons: Z. M., a large dealer in Portland, Oregon ; J. F., manager of the Eagle Woolen Mills ; Z. D., now in Cape Nome, Alaska, and H. J., a clerk in the land office in Spokane.

CHRISTIAN NAGEL, a pioneer of 1885, is a native of Wurtemberg. Germany, born April 30, 1853. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his fatherland, but at the age of fourteen left to learn the cabinetmaker's trade. He was engaged as a journeyman in that busi- ness from 1867 to 1880, living, during that time, in a great many different cities in Ger- many. In 1880, however, he came to Amer- ica, locating in Philadelphia, where he followed his trade for the ensuing five years. He then moved to Clark's Forks, Idaho, built a shingle mill and remained there until 1887, when he came to Spokane. Arrived here he opened a saloon known as the Montana Exchange, which burned down in the fire of 1889. He did business for a while thereafter in a tent, but in 1890 built the stone saloon and frame lodg- ing house near the Northern Pacific Railroad depot. In 1890 he moved to Sprague, between Mill and Post, and three years later opened the Panhandle saloon opposite the Auditorium. where he is doing business at present. He is

affiliated fraternally with the Sons of Herman, being a charter member of Spokane Lodge. No. 9. also with the Red Men. He was mar- ried November 16, 1881, to Mary Heck. of Bietigheim, Baden, and they have five children : Annie, Louisa, William. Frederick and Louis. Mr. Nagel owns a fine residence at No. 1524 Fourth avenue, as well as considerable other property in the city, and he is quite extensively interested in mining.

F. M. ELLSWORTH. of Ellsworth & Flemming, lawyers, a pioneer of 1877, is a na- tive of Pennsylvania, born March 4. 1844. When three months old he was taken by his parents to the site of the present town of Ains- worth, Iowa, and he received his education in Washington College. On July 22. 1861. he enlisted as a private in Company F. Fifth lowa Infantry, which served under General Grant. He was promoted for bravery at luka. Mississippi, to the rank of second lieutenant of Fourth lowa Battery. Mr. Ellsworth par- ticipated in the battles of Iuka. Corinth. Thibodaux. Shreveport and many other en- gagements and skirmishes. He was wounded in the battle at Iuka. On leaving the army he entered upon the study of law in the office of Major John F. Lacey at Oskaloosa. Iowa. and he was admitted to the bar of Nebraska in 1869. He practiced in that state for nine years, serving one term as prosecuting attorney. He also was representative of the tenth dis- trict in the state legislature, elected on the Re- publican ticket. In 1871 he removed to Seattle. Washington, where he practiced in company with Hon. C. II. Hanford until 1878. In 1879 he came to Colfax, where he resided un- til 1897. He served as prosecuting attorney

J. H. MARKS SPOKANE

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of Whitman county from 1881 to 1883, and during 1888 was United States commissioner under Judge Hanford. Since 1897 he has been practicing his profession in Spokane. Mr. Ellsworth has the distinction of having tried the first case that ever came up in a court of this county after its organization, a case be- fore Justice Steve Liberty. He also attended the first court held in Stevens county. Mr. Ellsworth has witnessed the development of our state jurisprudence almost from its be- ginning and is perhaps well posted in the stat- utory law of Washington past and present. He ranks among the ablest attorneys of this city. He is president of the Columbia River Mining Company and secretary and treasurer of the Empire Mining & Milling Company. Fraternally he is a Blue Lodge Mason, an Odd Fellow and a member of the G. A. R. He was married March 21, 1871, to Emeline Smith, of Hamilton, Ontario, and they have five children : Minnie, Carrie, Susie, James and Frank.

JAMES MORRIS, a pioneer of 1879 and one who has done much for the development of Spokane, is an Englishman by birth. He came to America in early life, finally drifting to California, where after years of successful speculation he at length lost his fortune in the stock market of San Francisco. He then decided to come north, not having any fixed destination in view, but resolved to find a place which, as he pithily expressed it, "was not, but was sure to be." At Pendleton, Walla Walla, Lewiston and many other towns he heard the opinion expressed that Spokane, should it ever get a railroad, would surely be- come to a great city. So he came here, and, find- ing the town as rich in undeveloped resources 28

as he could desire, decided to cast in his for- tunes with Spokane. He opened a mercantile establishment and continued in that business four years. then sold out at auction. He has ever since given his attention to handling and improving real estate, mining. etc. He erected a great many buildings both before and after the fire. Indeed. he is prominent among the men whose energy, enterprise and courage have converted the wilderness into the busy and prosperous city. He has contributed with lib- eral hand to the early improvements and enter- prises and has ever manifested a willingness to bear a lion's share of the public burdens. Indeed, he is in every respect a worthy citi- zen and just such a man as is needed in the de- velopment of a new city.

JOHN W. DIMMICK, a pioneer of 1877. is a native of Illinois, born June 11, 1847. In 1852 he emigrated with his parents to the Willamette valley. Oregon, where he was reared. When fourteen he lost his parents and was thereafter left to his own resources with- out anything upon which to rely except a common-school education. He came to Walla Walla in 1862 and worked at anything he could get for two years, then went back to Oregon and attended school a couple of years. In 1864 he went to southern Oregon, but after working in the mines a year returned to the valley again. He made a trip to eastern Ore- gon, then spent two years in the mines of Sac- ramento valley, California, finally returning to his early home. In 1877 he came to Spo- kane county, took a pre-emption in Rock Creek valley and later homesteaded the same claim. He was engaged in farming there until 1899. In that year he came to the city of Spokane.

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where he has resided since. Mr. Dimmick is one of the reliable and thoroughly trustworthy citizens of the county, highly esteemed and re- spected by all. An old pioneer, he has wit- nessed the gradual transition of the country from barbarism to civilization, and in all these years he has invariably manifested a willing- ness to help along everything for the best in- terests of the country. He assisted in erecting the first school and church building in Rock Creek valley. He was married in Lane county, Oregon October 24, 1872, to Mary Josephine Montgomery, a native of Lane county, Oregon. and they have three children : Loyal B., Clara M. and Minnie Lee. Fraternally Mr. Dim- mick is affiliated with the F. & A. M.

H. MIEDEKING, a pioneer of 1886, is a native of Ohio, born November 17, 1865. He acquired his education in the public schools in Nelson College, from which institution he grad- uated in 1882, though at that time only seven- teen years old. In 1886 he arrived in Spokane, and, having great faith in its future, he set- tled here and has been prominently connected with the business interests of the city ever since. Fraternally he is identified with the Elks and the Foresters.

/D. A. DARLING, proprietor of the Fount- ain Sample Rooms, is a native of Iowa, born March 5. 1865. When fifteen years of age he went to Brownsdale, Minnesota, where he grew to manhood, and where for a number of years he was engaged in farming. In 1887 he re- moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and em- barked in the grocery business, but eighteen

months later he came to Ritzville, Washing- ton, and opened a place of business there. He resided in that town continuously until 1896, in which year he came to Spokane and en- gaged in his present business. He is a very en- thusiastic fraternal man, being a member of the Uniform Rank. K. P., the B. P. O. E .. No. 228, of Spokane, the Improved Order of Red Men, No. 9, of which he is trustee, the Forest- ers of America, and the F. O. E. He was mar- ried in Ritzville, Washington, October 9, 1895. to Miss Sylvia V. Lee, a native of Ohio, and they are parents of one child. Mabel L.

SAMUEL DIMMICK, a pioneer of 1875. is a native of Illinois, born in Schuyler county December 17, 1850. but he may truthfully be classed as a son of the west, having been brought to Oregon by his parents when only two years old. His father took a donation land claim in Benton county. Oregon, and Mr. Dimmick was raised there, receiving such edu- cation in the public schools of that period af- forded. He was left an orphan at the age of ten years and went to live with his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. Star. As soon as he became fifteen he started in life for himself and he con- tinued to work as a farm hand until twenty- one, then as foreman for three years longer. In 1875 he came to Whitman county, Wash- ington, and took a pre-emption, upon which he resided continuously until November, 1881. when he moved his family to Palouse City. From 1875 to 1881 he was engaged in freight- ing between Walla Walla, Lewiston and Spo- kane, and he was here when there was nothing beside the falls but a few huts and when all the supplies had to be brought from Walla Walla. He moved his family from Palouse

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City to Spokane on December 10, 1898. Mr. Dimmick is well known to all the old settlers of this section far and near and he commands their respect, confidence and good will. He is an industrious, public-spirited man, and has done much for the improvement of his com- munity and for the general progress. He is a member of Palouse Lodge, No. 46, A. F. & A. M. He was married June 20, 1874, to Elizabeth A. Breeding, of Lane county. Ore- gon, a daughter of William P. Breeding, a pioneer of Oregon of 1849. They have three children : Carrol Bertram, Pliny Justin and Mary Edna, the last named of whom is a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church of this city.

HARVEY J. MARTIN, captain fire sta- tion No. 1, Spokane, is a native of Illinois, born in Decatur, August 30, 1865. He was educated in the public schools until seven- teen, then spent a year in the normal and two years in Champaign College. Upon complet- ing his education he engaged with his brother in tile manufacturing in Macon county, follow- ing that business for about a year. He then, in 1887, came to Spokane where for two years he was engaged as a real estate speculator, be- ing connected at the same time with a cigar and tobacco store on Post street. After the fire he was engaged in contracting for a time, then bought out the ticket brokerage and real estate business of P. D. Tull, forming the firm of Hobs & Martin. He was thus employed until August, 1891, when he received an ap- pointment on the fire department. He was pro- moted to the position of foreman in 1892 and to the captaincy of station No. 1 in 1894. Mr. Martin has always been a faithful and efficient officer and has contributed not a little toward

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An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 64

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