An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 79

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 79

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).

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

lumbia City, and in April, 1877, came to Cheney and filed on the first quarter-section of land in the township. He now owns two hundred and forty acres and is extensively en- gaged in fruit growing. the fruits being apples. pears, plums and prunes, with cherries and small fruits of every variety. No irrigation is needed and he claims to produce fruits that cannot be excelled in the world. He harvests annually about one thousand boxes of apples and other fruits in proportion. Among the improvements noticed on his fine farm are two new fruit houses of stone and lumber, needed in the business of handling his crop. Fra- ternally Mr. McFeron is identified with Temple Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M., of which he is master. He was married. April 1, 1877, to Lois M. Martineg, who died in 1889. He was next married, March 5. 1896, to Mrs. Cath- erine Benoist, sister of Dr. Turner. They have no family.

DR. H. A. WELLS was born in St. Johns- bury, Vermont, in 1851, where he attended the local academy. At eighteen years of age he removed to Massachusetts and studied dentistry under his brother, J. B. Wells, at Ipswich. Later he graduated at Boston Dental College in the class of 1877. About 1880 he removed to Cheney, Washington, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He served as a member of the city council and has contributed liberally in personal effort and money to the advancement of every public en- terprise for the upbuilding of the city. Own- ing two hundred acres of land in the suburbs, he is interested in the development of the ag- ricultural as well as the educational interests of the neighborhood. He has for years been in good standing in the Masonic order. being

a member of the Blue lodge. chapter and commandery. Politically, he has always been a stanch Republican.

JAMES W. MINNICK, son of David and Elizabeth, was born in Iowa July 29. 1858. He was educated in the home district schools and engaged in farming until at the age of eighteen years. when he learned the blacksmith trade. After following this for some time in his native state, he left home at the age of twenty-two and located in North Dakota. where, after working two years at his trade, he came to the conclusion that Washington was a good state and in 1883 came to Cheney. He followed blacksmithing here until 1887. when he learned the watch and jewelry trade and engaged in that, at which he has been very successful. He passed through the in- cidents of pioneer life in Cheney- and has wit- nessed some of the Indian troubles. In 1898 he was appointed the telephone agent for Cheney, which is conducted in connection with his business as a jeweler. Mr. Minnick, like many other pioneers of the west. took up a nice farm in early days, but sold out to follow his present successful business. He was married November 15. 1881. to Fannie, daughter of H. B. Hansen, of North Dakota. They have six children : Martha E .. Herbert W .. How- ard. Rex E .. Olga and Harokl.

ABEL BROWN. proprietor of Brown's livery stable and constable of the Cheney pre- cinct. son of Charles and Margaret, was born in Klackamas county. Oregon, March 8. 1852. When he was nine years of age his parents

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

removed to Walla Walla, Washington, and remained there for twenty years. He was engaged in the drayage and general livery business, at which he was very successful. In 1881 he came to Cheney and engaged in the same business and now has the largest livery business in this section. He has served as constable and deputy sheriff two terms and is recognized as an active and efficient officer. He assisted very much during the Indian dep- redations in keeping the redskins away from the homes of the pioneers. Mr. Brown is a strong fraternal man, being a member of the Masonic, I. O. O. F., Rebekahıs and Wood- men of this place. He was married. August 12, 1877, to Julia, daughter of Patrick Nolan, a native of Canada. They have had ten chil- dren, five of whom are living: George, Ida, Margaret, Stella and Grace.

CLAUDE T. FINDLEY, proprietor of the most representative stationery and general notions store in Cheney, is a son of James and Sibbie, born in McDermott county, Illinois. March 6, 1875. When he was eight years of age his parents came to Cheney, where his father is a prominent farmer and has served as street commissioner for fifteen years. Claude T. was educated at the State Normal School and made the study of music a specialty, being a member of different orchestras and bands. In company with M. Peterson he opened the present place of business, as a partnership con- cern, and after fifteen months purchased the entire business. He carries a stock of about two thousand dollars and does a business of ten thousand dollars annually, supplying most of the books and stationery for the normal and surrounding district schools. His place

is the recognized headquarters for everything in his line and he has many staunch personal friends in the city who admire him for his ex- cellent business qualifications.

HENRY CORLEY, son of Andrew J. and Harriet A., was born in Illinois April 19, 1853. He was raised there on a farm and ed- ucated at the home schools. In 1873 he went to southwestern Kansas, then into Missouri, and spent some years at farming. He came to Spokane county October 5, 1879. and settled three miles west of Cheney, where he took up a farm of forty acres and worked it for three years, then went to Puget sound and after a short time returned here and secured his pres- ent farm of four hundred' acres seven miles southwest of the city. Mr. Corley conducts a dairy, hay and grain farm and is one of the substantial farmers of the county. He was married. February 5. 1880. to Rosetta Combs, They have seven children: Veffie, Lela, Ransome, Essie, Charlie, Nona and Andrew.

GEORGE W. PHILLIPS, son of Will- iam E. and Eliza E., was born in Limestone county, Alabama, January 15. 1830. His par- ents left in 1851 and located at Fort Jessup. Sabine parish, Louisiana, where he was edu- cated and began life as a clerk in a large mer- cantile house. In 1853 he went to Yam Hill county. Oregon, crossing the plains in wagon, requiring from May 12 to November 28 to make the trip. He took up one hundred and sixty acres of land and farmed it until 1859, when he sold out and engaged in general busi- ness, going to Wasco county and then to Wash-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

ington, where he organized Klickitat county and was appointed clerk by Governor Ferry. After two years he was elected county commis- sioner. He later returned to Yam Hill county and was elected assessor for four years in succession. He is an Indian war veteran, fighting through the winter of 1855 and 1856 in the United States volunteer army. Mr. Phillips was one of the party that was com- pelled to live on horse flesh for several weeks during the Indian troubles. He came to Cheney in 1887 and was appointed deputy as- sessor for five years. He never was a candi- dlate for any office in this state, but was the first officer this side of Snake river. His wife. whose maiden name was Mary J. Ladd, died in Oakesdale, Washington, in 1893. They had seven children, namely: Oscar, Lillie E., Richard M., Charles W., Mattie, Mamie, liv- ing, and William T., deceased.

THOMAS B. S. COLEMAN. son of Fleming and Lydia Ann, a pioneer of Novem- ber, 1876, was born in Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, August 19, 1841. His parents removed to Ohio, then to Iowa, where he was brought up on a farm. In 1861 he enlisted in Com- pany H, Seventh Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and served four years and four months in the war of the Rebellion. He was in the battles at Blue Mills and Crab Orchard, Missouri, and was taken prisoner at Perry Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862, and held at Fort Smith for twenty-eight days, when he was paroled and returned to service. After being dis- charged from the service he was engaged in farming for several years in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Oregon and then came to Spo- kane county. After spending a while near

Dayton, he came to his present location, seven miles south of Cheney, in 1877, and took up a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He is engaged in general hay and stock farming and grows considerable garden stuff. He was married January 1, 1868, to Margaret Ann, daughter of Winfield and Lucy Buckley, of Missouri. They have five children : U. S., Lydia A., Scott, Olive M. and Lucy M. Mr. Cole- man is a member of General George Wright Post, G. A. R., at Cheney.

HUGH D. BELL, son of Thomas and Mary, was born in Ontario, Canada, December 5, 1867. The family removed to California i11 1875 and remained there until the spring of 1880, when they came to Cheney and took up a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, where they have a fine hay and stock ranch. Among their possessions is a fine Jersey herd, and dairying is one of the industries in which they are engaged. Hugh D. was married. De- cember 12, 1893, to Bertha, daughter of John and Catherine Peters, a native of Germany. They have three children: Leslie, born De- cember 12, 1894: Annie B., January 15. 1895. and Lola. June 15. 1897.

WILLIAM K. GRIFFITH1, son of Will- iam C. and Celia, was born in east Tennessee. Anderson county, September 2, 1833. He was raised there on a farm and left .April 4. 1862. In making a gallant attempt to reach the federal lines for enlisting in the army. he was wounded and could not enter the serv- ice until October, 1862. when he enlisted and was appointed orderly sergeant and later made

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

second lieutenant of Company A, in the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, serving as scout, and was in the fight at Nashville, Tennessee, with Hood. He left the service in 1864 and returned home, where he remained until April 5, 1876, when he started for Washington, reaching Colfax in May, 1876. Mr. Griffith remained for some time in Garfield, then came to Cheney, where he bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres and is now engaged in dairying, raising hay, cattle and horses, his place being six miles from the city. He was married, February 7. 1864. to Harriet, daughter of Shadrach and Susan Stevens, of Morgan county, Tennessee. They have had four children: Samson R .. Robert P. and Harriet Cordelia, living, and William Wesley, deceased. Mr. Griffith is a member of George Wright Post, No. 23. G. A. R., of which he is past commander.

BENJAMIN F. SAWYER, son of Levi and Elizabeth, was born in Northumberland. west Canada, June 12, 1837. He was edu- cated in his native land and brought up on a farm. At the age of twenty-five years he came to the United States, and located in Ohio, where he was engaged in the grocery business for sixteen years. After a successful experi- ence in Ohio he removed to South Dakota and engaged in farming for seven years, when he came to Washington, arriving here in 1887. He purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and has improved it, being now very successfully engaged in raising wheat, barley, oats and cattle, and conducting a fine dairy. Mr. Sawyer was married, February 2, 1861, to Rosella Sullivan. They have had nine chil- dren: Mary, Cora . B., Ida, John W. and Chester L., living, and Hattie, Maggie, Mattie and Gracie, deceased.

AUGUSTUS F. LESHER, son of Jacob and Ann, was born in Grant county. Wiscon- sin, November 13, 1846. His father died in California and he was brought up on a farm in Missouri. When nineteen years of age Mr. Lesher went to Texas and spent some years, then returned to his home state, Missouri, and, in 1883, came to Sprague, Washington. He resided at Sprague for four years, then came to Cheney, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land and bought four hundred and eighty acres of railroad land. four miles out of town, and engaged in general farming and stockraising. Mr. Lesher is one of the big farmers of this section. He was married, February 27. 1868, to Margaret J .. daughter of John and Elizabeth Harmon, of Missouri. They have five children : Lucy A., John P., William, Kate and J. Orlan. Mr. Lesher en- listed in August, 1864, in Company K. Forty- fourth Missouri Infantry, under Captain Na- than Winters: was discharged in March, 1865, and is a member of General George Wright Post. No. 23. G. A. R., at Cheney. His father was a lieutenant in the Seminole war.

JAMES E. BURBANK, son of Harry and Minerva, was born in Polk county, Ore- gon, June 14, 1859. He attended school in his native place until at the age of eleven years, when his parents removed to Yakima valley and engaged in the stock business. In 1881 he came to Cheney and bought two hundred and forty acres of land and engaged in growing hay and raising stock. He now raises large crops of hay, which he bales and ships to all points in Washington and British Columbia. Mr. Burbank is the principal stock raiser in this section, having a good herd all the time and feeds for others. His hay baling and ship-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

ping business is the largest in Spokane coun- ty and his varied interests extend in every di- rection. He has mining stock in the Napa Gold Mining Company on the Myers creek reservation, the Butcher Boy in Deadwood camp. British Columbia, and the Boston Gold Mining Company ; also in the Shonee and many others at Cheney. He was married. December 16. 1878, to Effie E., daughter of George and Adeline Pyburn, of Yakima. They have one child, Zella Marie, born July 8, 1897. Mr. Burbank is an enthusiastic member of Cheney Lodge. No. 21. I. O. O. F., having passed through all the chairs, and was representative to the Grand Lodge one term. Mrs. Burbank is a member of the Rebekahs and has been hon- ored with all the chairs and as representative to the Grand Assembly at Walla Walla.

ABRAHAM R. CULVER, son of David and Clara, was born in Lucerne county, Penn- sylvania, March 20, 1842. When he was five years old his parents removed to Illinois, where he attended school and was brought up on a farm. He then went to Black Hawk county. Iowa, where he spent three years, then moved to Richland county, Wisconsin, spending one year, then to Rock county, where he en- listed in the United States army. He served as a private in the army for four years, being in Company G, Thirteenth Wiscon- sin Infantry. Mr. Culver took part in the engagements at Fort Donelson, Huntsville, Alabama, and at Painted Rocks, Alabama, where he was taken prisoner and held in the Cahaba prison for one hundred days, when he was exchanged. He was discharged June 4. 1865, at Madison, Wisconsin. He spent ten years at farming in Minnesota, then was in

the lumber business in Oregon for one year and came to Cheney May 6, 1877. Mr. Culver first tried the lumber business, then bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. to which he added until he now has six hundred and forty acres. He now has thirty-four fine Jersey and Shorthorn cattle and supplies the Cheney creamery with milk. He was married in Minnesota, October 13. 1868. to Mary. daughter of Frank Schermer, of Nicolet coun- ty, Minnesota. They have had eleven chil- dren : Lyman, Walter, Ralph, Louis. Alonzo, Frank. Abraham, Robert. Gaylord and Ollie. living, and Clara, deceased.

FREDERICK H. RUSHMEIER. a pioneer of 1884, was born in Manchester, England. October 9, 1865. While yet in infancy he was brought by his parents to the United States. They located first in Chicago, but after two years moved to McLeod county, Minnesota. where Mr. Rushmeier was reared and educa- ted. He learned the trades of a carpenter and a machinist and engineer. followed farming a while, and was also interested with his father in a general merchandise store. In 1884 the entire family came to Spokane and Mr. Rushmeier worked at his trade for a time. Afterwards the father took a homestead and Frederick worked with him for a while, but subsequently accepted a position in the city. He remained there until 1896, then came to Rockford and established his present business there. He is sole proprietor of the leading saloon and bil- liard hall in the town. His father died in Spo- kane in 1895, but his mother still lives on a farm near that city. Mr. Rushmeier was mar- ried in Minneapolis, March 15, 1886. to Miss Bertha Bahr, and they have had six children,

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

namely : Annie, Lillie, George and Henry, liv- ing, and Mary and Willie, deceased. Mr. Rushmeier is a member of Spokane Tribe, No. 9. I. O. R. M. He is also chief of the Rockford fire department and has held the office for three successive terms.

THOMAS GRIER, son of John and Mar- garet, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 6th of July, 1823. He spent several years in Belmont. Morgan and Jasper counties at farming and blacksmithing, then removed to Fayette county, where he handled general farm products. Later he farmed in Illinois and was engaged for three years in the sheep business at Portland, Oregon. He then came to Cheney and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres three miles out of the city and is now actively engaged in general farming, his prin- cipal crop being wheat. His land produces an average of twenty-five bushels per acre and he rents it, getting from five hundred dollars to six hundred dollars per year from the rentals. He has served as school director for four terms and road supervisor one term. Mr. Grier was married, September 6, 1840, to Be- linda Wakefield, who died in April, 1844, leav- ing two children: Jedediah and Mary. He was next married, August 26, 1845, to Mary Holcomb. They have five children : John, Elmer, Margaret, Laura and Jennie. Mr. Grier has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty-seven years.

THOMAS W. ODELL, son of John P. and Sarah, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, December 12, 1853. His parents removed, in 1854, to Rock Island county, Illinois, where

he was brought up and educated. He learned the trade of masonry and plastering and re- mained there until 1872, when he removed to Iowa and followed his trade with mixed farm- ing. After spending several years in Iowa, he came to Cheney, where he still resides. He bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres and worked it until 1896, when he moved into the city. Mr. Odell has served as mayor for three terms and is now serving as councilor on his second term. He was a school director for three years and is a much respected citi- zen. He continues to work at his trade, being an experienced man in his line.

Mr. Odell was married, October 26, 1876, to Harriet, daughter of Charles and Rebecca Vanduser, of Iowa. They have five children : Charles P., Effie, Luella. Sarah and Myrtle.

GUNNER T. EVERSON, proprietor of the Cheney Hotel, was born in Wisconsin, April 21, 1858. He was reared and educated in that state, then, at the age of twenty, came out west. He traveled quite extensively for a number of years, residing for varying periods of time in several of the principal cities, and finally locating at Cheney in 1886. He first embarked in the grocery business, then followed mining, farming and stock raising, etc., but finally purchased the Cheney Hotel. In 1887 he had married Miss Eveline Anderson. When they assumed control of the hotel it was natural to expect that success would attend them, for both Mr. Everson and his wife had had a very extended previous experience as ho- tel managers, and both had learned the art of making friends of their guests. The results proved that a hotel, fitted up as that was, could be made to succeed in Cheney, though previous

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attempts had ended in dismal failure. The house now enjoys a large patronage and is in a prosperous condition. It is a fine, imposing, three-story brick structure, situated just across . the street from the railway depot, and in a po- sition to command an excellent view of the sur- rounding country. Within, the hotel is sup- plied with twenty bed rooms, two fine parlors, large commodious offices, dining rooms, bath- rooms, several sets of lavatories, electric lights, calls, and in fact everything to be found in the most modern and metropolitan hotels. For the benefit of commercial men there is an immense sample room, extending the full length of the building. The table is supplied always with the very best and affords a choice of every- thing in the market. In fact the appearance and tone of the entire premises bear eloquent testimony to the thrift and enterprise of the proprietors. Mr. and Mrs. Everson are par- ents of one daughter, Clara M.

WILLIAM H. SPENCE, son of Andrew and Nancy, was born in Canada, November 22, 1849. His parents removed to Iowa when he was six years of age, and he was educated and brought up there on a farm. In the spring of 1862 he went to California and remained there engaged in farming until the fall of 1879. when he came to Medical Lake and bought a farm of two hundred and seventy acres and en- gaged in the livery business. He is now en- gaged in raising hay and oats and conducting his livery, which is the largest in this section. Mr. Spence always has about one dozen first- class horses and rigs of all kinds for the ac- commodation of the traveling public and strangers desiring such accommodations. He has served as councilman for three terms, and

as a school director, and is a prominent citizen. He was first married, in 1873, to Mary Thomp- son, who died November 14. 1881. leaving two boys. George and Frederick. He was next married, in 1890. to Sadie. daughter of John and Sarah Eccles. They have no children.

HENRY STOWERS, son of Henry and Louisa, was born in Mercer county, Illinois, September 20, 1842. His parents removed to California in 1852 and remained there twenty- six years, where he was brought up and edu- cated on a farm. He engaged in teaming and followed that work for several years. Mr. Stowers came to Latah in 1879 and took up a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and has since purchased eighty acres additional. Wheat is his principal crop, his fields averaging about twenty bushels per acre. He makes his home on the wheat ranch and succeeds better than some others who live in the towns. He has been engaged with Mr. Seehorn on the North- ern Pacific Railroad and is considered a good man in all places where employed.

JAMES W. KNOW, son of James R. and Elizabeth, was born in Lafayette county, Mis- souri, April 3. 1860. His parents removed to Nevada when he was four years old, and later to Santa Cruz. California, where he was edu- cated and brought up as a farmer and freighter. He worked at the freighting business for some time. hauling goods to San Jose and the sur- rounding country. At the age of twenty-one years he left home and was engaged for some time in the lumber and lime business. Ile came to Latah August 11, 1881, and located on a

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles west of the town. He now resides three and one-half miles northwest of the town, where he is engaged in farming. Barley is his principal crop, averaging twenty-three bushels per acre. He also has a nice orchard of apple, plum and cherry trees and is engaged in rais- ing stock and horses. Mr. Know was married February 1, 1893, to Belle, daughter of William Duncan, of Tennessee. They have had seven children : Virgie and James, the oldest, and four, Leoma, Leona, Leola and Leon, quadru- plets, were born June 20, 1897, they being the only similar births recorded in the state of Washington. Leon and Leoma died when six months old, but the others are living. Their youngest, Dewey, was born October 1, 1898.

GEORGE W. ENSLEY, physician and surgeon, son of James M. and Amy A., was born at Gappsville, Pennsylvania, February II. 1864. He was brought up there and secured a common-school education in the home dis- trict schools. In 1883 he began studying medi- cine with Dr. Rohm, of Clearville, Pennsyl- vania, then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, from which he graduated in 1886. He then took a special course on diseases of the heart, throat, lungs and gynecology, and began practice in Pleas- ant Ridge, Pennsylvania, in 1886. After prac- ticing there for one year, he sold out and came direct to Waverly, in July, 1887, and in 1892 removed to Fairfield where he now has a fine practice. The Doctor is a member of the I. O. O. F., and examiner for the New York Life, Pennsylvania Mutual. New York Mutual, Aetna and other life insurance companies. His business averages about three thousand dollars

yearly, and he has the principal practice in this section. He was in attendance at the birth of the celebrated quadruplets at Latah. He was married November 26, 1891. to Elizabeth C., daughter of William and Mary Connolly, of Waverly. They have one child, Laura M., born October 19, 1897.

JOHN SERVICE, son of Alexander and

. Mary, was born in Scotland, April 7, 1858. His parents came to the United States and lo- cated in Ohio when he was six years old. Later they removed to Hannibal, Missouri, where his father was engaged in the carpen- ter shops of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Rail- way Company. His parents then moved to Lathrop. Missouri, where he was educated and learned telegraphy, being employed for three years on the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad. He then filled a similar position with the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific for two years and completed a fuller course in telegraphy at Washington, District of Columbia, after which he returned and worked on the Wabash until 1883, when he came west and worked at The Dalles, Ore- gon, for the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company at various points, as Arlington, Waitsburg and Fairfield. He now owns an in- terest in the Fairfield Planing Mill Company. This company carries a complete stock of all kinds of lumber, laths, shingles, doors and win- dows, paints and oils, being the only business of the kind in the county, outside of Spokane. Mr. Service also has had some journalistic ex- perience, having been editor of the Fairfield Progress for three years. He was first mar- ried to Cora E. Quiner, of Arlington, Oregon, who left him one son, Walter. He was mar- ried again December 11, 1891, to Mary Cleg-

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An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 79

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