An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 84

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 84

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iels held the office of county assessor. In his fraternal affiliations he is identified with the Mead Lodge, No. 46, I. O. O. F. He was mar- ried in Jackson county, Ohio, December 27, 1883, to Miss Jessie L. Osborne, a native of that state, and they have seven children, Harry D., Mabel L., Maudie, Bertha, Jessie, Hilburn and Clara.

WILLIAM MORTER, a pioneer of 1881, was born in Pennsylvania in 1842. He re- ceived a common-school education and after arriving at years of maturity was engaged in farming and burning lime until 1870, when he removed to Illinois. He went to Iowa the next year and engaged in the meat market business, following that line until 1879. He afterward spent a year in Kansas and a short time in Cali- fornia, but finally came to Walla Walla, where for some months he worked on a farm. His next move was to Spokane county and his next employment was making ties for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Upon finishing his contract, he came to Medical Lake, bought a salt plant there and for two years was engaged in making Medical Lake salts. He then main- tained a meat market for a time, but during the past three years he has been mining and prospecting in the various mining districts trib- utary to Spokane. He is quite heavily inter- ested in Medical Lake real estate, being owner of a half interest in the Lake House and of much other property on the lake front and in different parts of the town. Mr. Morter has always manifested considerable interest in the general welfare of Medical Lake, has taken quite an active part in its municipal affairs and has served for one term as a member of its city council. In fraternal affiliations he is an Odd Fellow.

JUDGE C. F. BACKUS, attorney-at-law, a pioneer of Spokane county of 1887, was born in South Bend, Indiana, May 3. 1845. In 1850 the family crossed the plains in an ox-train, of which his father was captain, and located in Linn county. Oregon, where Mr. Backus lived for the ensuing twenty years. He received an academic education, then was engaged as a stock-raiser. merchant and manufacturer. Sub- sequently he studied law in The Dalles, Ore- gon, securing admission to the supreme court in 1877. He then opened an office in The Dalles. and practiced there for about ten years, also tak- ing an active and leading part in the Republican political campaigns of the state. In March, 1887, he came to Spokane where he has ever since resided, engaged continuously in the practice of his profession. During 1891-92. also during 1897-98, he served as justice of the peace, and in 1898 he held the office of police judge for several months. In each of these offices he dis- charged his duties with skill, energy and impar- tiality, winning for himself the confidence and good will of his constituency. Fraternally he affiliates with the Foresters. He was married in Linn county, Oregon. April 16, 1868. to Elizabeth Leady, a native of Indiana, and they have two daughters. Lottie M., wife of H. E. Hamilton, a commission merchant in Spokane : and Velma. Mr. Backus's father is still liv- ing at Hood River. Oregon, though past eighty-three years old.

LOUIS H. HILBY, a pioneer of 1878. was born in California. December 24. 1850. and his entire minority was passed in that state, except about three years, during which he was absent in Virginia City, Nevada. He was engaged for some time in the quicksilver

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

mines of California, but the last few years of his stay there were spent in farming. In 1877 he moved to Walla Walla, Washington, worked with a threshing machine during the harvest season, then went to Palouse City. After traveling extensively over the country for some time he finally located in Spokane county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land on the south side of Moran prai- rie. For the first twelve years he was in the stock business, but recently has turned his at- tention more particularly to grain raising. For the three years succeeding 1882 he was absent at Badger Mount, where he had a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres, but in 1885 he sold this and returned to his home- stead. He has a fine farm on the prairie, rich and fertile and improved with a good house and barn and a splendid orchard covering fif- teen acres. He takes great pride in raising thoroughbred Clyde horses, Poland China hogs and Plymouth Rock chickens. Mr. Hilby is one of the inost energetic, progres- sive and successful farmers on Moran prairie, and he is also a leading and influential man in local and county affairs. He has at different times served his community in the capacities of road supervisor and justice of the peace, and in 1894 was nominated for the office of county auditor. Socially he is affiliated with the Unit- ed Moderns. He was united in marriage Feb- ruary 22, 1890, to Miss Louise Bauer, of Houser Junction, Idaho, and they have three children, Julia, Cora and John.

R. C. BROWN, a pioneer of 1878, was born in Pike county, Pennsylvania, in 1833. He was reared and educated in his native state, residing there until twenty-two years old. He then

moved to Michigan and farmed for twelve years, subsequently going to California. He was engaged in saw-milling in the Santa Cruz mountains for a year and a half, but afterwards returned to Michigan and followed the same occupation in that state for five years. At the expiration of that period he went back to Cali- foria. He worked as a carpenter there until 1878, then came to Spokane county and home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land half a mile west of Medical Lake. He now has a fine farm, forty acres of which are platted into town lots and the remainder reduced to a high state of cultivation. He is engaged in diversi- fied farming and gives considerable attention to fruit raising and to the care of his splendid orchard. Being a man of prudence and good judgment he has been enabled to make an ex- cellent success of that form of agricultural en- terprise, in which so many have failed. He was married in Michigan, in 1863, to Mrs. Amanda Ainsley, whose daughter, by a former marriage, resides in Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Brown is a daughter of Colonel John Ainsley, one of the pioneers of Michigan.

C. H. WEEKS, secretary and treasurer of the Spokane Dry Goods Company, was born in the Western Reserve, Ohio, July 8, 1842. He acquired a good common-school education and supplemented it by a course in the Western Reserve College. then became a railroad man. He held various positions in the operating de- partment of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany until 1877, when he accepted a situation in the traffic department of the Great Northern Railroad, holding various positions in this de- partment, the last of which was the general agency at Spokane. He was employed by that

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

company until 1894, then resigned to become associated with the Spokane Dry Goods Com- pany. When that firm finally incorporated, in January, 1895, he was elected secretary and treasurer, a position which he still retains. They have a very large wholesale and retail trade, extending over a wide area. Their busi- ness is large enough to require the services of about one hundred employees, including two traveling salesmen. Mr. Weeks is a business man of unusual ability, possessing the un- erring judgment. keen foresight and capacity for great labor always present in those emi- nently qualified for commercial pursuits. Since coming to Spokane he has ever manifested an abiding interest in the city's social and material welfare. He has been especially active in the promotion of the industrial expositions, and was one of the incorporators of the present Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a past director. In religious affiliations Mr. Weeks is identified with the Westminster Congrega- tional church of this city. He was married in Charles City, Iowa, September 13, 1886, to Miss Carolyn A. Barney, a native of Swanton, Vermont.

dissuade him from settling there, telling him that the waters of the lake were poisonous, but he soon discovered the falsity of their state- ments and the medicinal value of the water, so decided to make his home upon the banks of the lake. He took as a homestead the site of the present town and was engaged in farming for many years afterward. But when the town be- came quite large he retired from his farm and gave his entire attention to the real estate busi- ness. He was always a firm friend of Medical Lake and contributed in every way in his power to its material and social advancement. He was largely instrumental in securing the estab- lishment of the hospital for the insane at that place. Mr. Lefevre was one of the most enterprising and progressive men of the county and was highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him. Politically he was allied to the Democratic party, by which he was once elect- ed to the office of county commissioner. He was married before leaving Canada to Miss May, of English descent, who lived only three years after becoming his wife. She presented him with two children, both of whom are now cleceased. In 1862. at Walla Walla. Mr. Le- fevre married Miss AAnnie Forrest, a native of Canada, and they had six children. two of whom are now living. The wife and mother died in 1874. and the father was subsequently married to Mrs. Jane Kimbell, a native of Illi- nois. On January 15, 1900. Mr. Lefevre died at his home in Medical Lake, and his loss was mourned by a host of friends all over this part of the state.

ANDREW LEFEVRE, deceased, a pio- neer of 1872, was a native of Montreal, Cana- da, born in 1824. He was reared on a farm, receiving no educational advantages what- ever. In 1849 he removed to California, be- coming one of the pioneer settlers of Siskiyou county, that state, where he mined for three years. In 1856, however, he came to Walla Walla, Washington, to take part in the Indian wars then in progress. In 1872 he removed E. W. HAND, of the law firm of Hand, Taylor & Graves, 411-12-13-14, the Rookery building, is a native of Wisconsin, born May to Medical Lake, bringing with him a band of horses, cattle and sheep, and, in fact, everything necessary for farming. The Indians tried to | 23, 1859. He acquired his preliminary educ ?-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

tion in the public schools and in the Normal at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and. in 1886, entered the law department of the State University at Madison. He had previously read law in the office of his brother for four years, so that he completed their course in one year. In 1890 he began the practice of his profession in Phillips, Wisconsin, where he resided until the town was burned in 1894. He then came west, locating first at Wallace, Idaho. For the ensuing three years he continued the pursuit of his profession there, but in 1897 he came to Spokane and opened an office here. Later he formed a part- nership with Charles A. Fleming, the firm name being Hand & Fleming. In March, 1899, this partnership was dissolved and two months later the present firm was organized. They rank among the leading law firms of the city and have an extensive and constantly in- creasing practice. Mr. Hand is also interested in various mining enterprises. Fraternally he is identified with Spokane Lodge, No. 34. F. & A. M., also with Excelsior Camp, No. 5124. M. W. A., of which he has been clerk since its organization in 1897. Mr. Hand has always taken an interest in politics and has served as city attorney both in Phillips, Wisconsin, and in Wallace, Idaho. He was married in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, July 5. 1894, to Miss Lola A. Willis, a native of that state, who died Jan- uary 10, 1899, leaving one daughter, Ruth Mary.

CAPT. C. H. THOMPSON, a mining man, was born in Ohio. September 22, 1842, there acquiring his education. April 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company A. Fourteenth Vol- unteer Infantry, which served under Colonel (afterwards Major-General) Steadman. At the end of his three-months' term he re-enlisted,

becoming a member of the Eleventh Ohio In- fantry. He served in the Army of the Cumber- land and the Army of the Tennessee. and was with Burnsides and Thomas. He took part in twenty-seven different engagements, among which were the battles of Philippi, Carrick's Ford, Murfreesborough, Perryville, Stone River and Crab Orchard; was present at the capture of Morgan, and assisted in the siege of Knoxville. At Carrick's Ford he received a gun shot wound in the leg, and in the bat- tle of Strawberry Plain he was wounded in the side. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant of the First United States Col- ored Artillery at Knoxville, and in 1865 he became captain of the same regiment, which rank he retained until the close of the war. He was mustered out April II. 1866, after

a military service lasting from the time the first shot of the war was fired until after the last Confederate soldier had laid down his arms. Few men can boast of a more praiseworthy military record, and few have a better title to their country's gratitude. Retiring from the army, he returned to Ohio, but soon removed to Arkansas and engaged in raising cotton. He went back to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1869. opened a grocery store, and also took up the study of mining and retorting. Before a year had passed, however, he removed to Iowa, to accept a position as freight agent of the construction company which built the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad. He resigned in 1871, went to Boston and resumed the study of mining, taking a course of lectures in a school of tech- nology there. In 1874 he commenced operat- ing in mines and two years later he was called to take charge of the El Capitan mine in Cali- fornia. For the two years subsequent to 1880 . he was mining in Colorado. He then went east and engaged in manufacturing, but in 1885 he

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returned to the Occident. Since that time he has followed mining exclusively and with great success. He was one of the pioneers of the Virtue mine at Baker City, Oregon, is interest- ed in the Wonderful Mining Group in the Slo- cum country, in the Bunker Hill, at Sumpter, Oregon, and in the Keystone Belle, at Sump- ter, Oregon. He is president of the Miller Creek Mining Company, vice-president of the Wonder- ful and general manager of the Keystone. Cap- tain Thompson was a commissioner from the state of Washington to the World's Columbian Exposition, and in 1899 was appointed by Presi- dent Mckinley to a similar office in the Paris Exposition. He was married in Cleveland, Ohio, September 22, 1868, to Miss Clara E. Sherman, a native of Ohio, and a relative of General Sherman. They have one daughter, Geraldine. Captain Thompson is one of those men who possess the elements of success in their inmost beings. One hardly knows which to ad- mire the more, his splendid fight against the armed forces of disunion, or his equally heroic contest to win from Mother Earth her care- fully concealed treasures. In both species of warfare he has been a conqueror.

IV. R. BARTHOLOMEW, a pioneer of the spring of 1878, was born in the state of Wisconsin in 1854. When fifteen years old he removed to Dakota and there he resided un- til 1875, then crossed the plains with a team to Grande Ronde valley, Oregon. He maintained a harness shop there until 1878, but in that year removed to Spokane county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land three miles north of Medical Lake. He made his home upon this land until 1886, then went to Cheney and ran a stage between there and Deep creek

about three years. In 1890 he came to Medical Lake to engage in a general merchandise store with his father. Subsequently, however, he opened a harness shop, and to that business he has devoted his energies continuously since. Mr. Bartholomew has always taken a lively and intelligent interest in local affairs, and has fre- quently been elected to offices in the municipal government. During his residence at Cheney he was marshal and constable and since com- ing to Medical Lake he has held the office of constable continuously, also has twice served as assessor of the town. He is a man of good principles and unquestioned integrity, com- manding the respect and confidence of his neighbors. Socially he is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. He was married in Medical Lake in 1882, to Miss Vina Whitlock, who is also a pioneer of 1878. They have seven children. Claude, Ray. Myrtle. Birdie, Thomas, Gilbert and a child not named.

DAVID L. HALL. a pioneer of 1888, was born in Connecticut in 1836. His family moved by wagon to Pennsylvania when he was twelve years old, and he lived with them until eighteen, then purchased his liberty from his fa- ther for two hundred dollars. He worked for a merchant and lumberman for five years, but sub- sequently moved to Bordertown, New Jersey. where he went into the commission lumber business. During his residence in that city lie was twice elected mayor and he served as sheriff of the county for three years. Subsquently he removed to Travis county, Minnesota, and bought a farm, but he soon sold again and in- vested in Minneapolis real estate. He followed the lumber business in that city for eight years. then came to Medical Lake to take baths for

J. A. CRISLER Mica

MRS. J. A. CRISLER Mica

PETER DESGRANGES Rockford

D. M. VESS Rockford

HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

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erysipelas. He soon recovered completely, then bought a ten-acre tract four miles southeast of the city of Spokane, upon which he now resides. He has the entire place planted with fruit trees of the choicest varieties, and, being a good or- chardist, he succeeds in raising large quantities of the finest fruits. He produces as much as two thousand dollars' worth of fruit and vege- tables on his farm in one season. He is a Knight Templar in the Masonic order, and has been a member of the I. O. O. F. He was mar- ried in Binghamton, New York, in 1863, to Annie E. Tompkins, and they have one son, an expert engraver, who has worked on the New York Journal, and the San Francisco Exam- iner, and is now engaged on the San Francisco Call.

ALBERT E. WOOD, a pioneer of 1889, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1849, and lived there until ten years old. He was then taken by his parents to Minnesota, where he lived. engaged in mason work and in farm- ing. until 1889. He then moved to Spokane county and purchased land four miles southeast of Spokane, upon which he has made his home continuously since. He has a fine orchard of ten acres and does some market gardening, but pre- fers to follow his trade most of the time, rather than to engage extensively and exclusively in farming. He has long taken an active and in- telligent interest in the general welfare of his community ; he has been road supervisor five years, and school director for nine, and he also served as deputy assessor two years. He is one of the substantial and influential citizens of the county and a leader in his neighborhood. So- cially he affiliates with the United Moderns. He was married in Minnesota, in 1870, to Ra- chael C. Dilley, and they are the parents of six

children : Alfred E .. Charles, Gertie May, Fred E., Amelia and Violet. They are mem- bers of the Methodist church.

W. J. DOUST. a pioneer of 1887, is a na- tive of Syracuse, New York, and in that city he was reared and educated. In 1879 he came to Colorado where for a number of years he was engaged in mining. In 1887 he came to this county, located a homestead sixteen miles north of Spokane and engaged in farming, fruit-raising and the nursery business. He de- voted his energies to these branches of industry continuously until 1898, when he came to the city and received an appointment as clerk of the board of county commissioners. He dis- charged his duties as such officer with faith- fulness and ability until May, 1900, when he became a partner in the firm of Smith, Doust & Russel. They have a general merchandise establishment in Hillyard and carry a full stock of goods. In the political affairs of county and state Mr. Doust has always taken an active and leading part. Fraternally he is a promi- nent member of Mead Lodge, No. 146, I. O. O. F., having passed through all the chairs. He also affiliates with Excelsior Camp, No. 5124. M. W. A. He was married in Leadville, Colorado, December 6. 1879, to Miss Kittie Shroudy, a native of Syracuse, New York, and they have five children : Edwin H., William J,, Jr., Minnie, Kittie and Walter.

F. O. BERG, a pioneer of 1889, was born in Minnesota, December 24, 1862. Upon com- pleting his education he engaged in upholster- ing, and in 1883 he went to Chicago and turned

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

his attention to manufacturing tents, awnings and all kinds of canvas goods. In 1889 he came to Spokane, formed a partnership with J. T. Omo, and established a tent and awn- ing factory. He and Mr. Omo were also associated together in the art and molding business. In 1892 the partnership was dis- solved, Mr. Berg taking the tent and awning business. He has the largest and best equipped plant west of Chicago, and by his enterprise and ability has built up a very extensive trade. In 1898 he established in Seattle, the Seattle Tent & Awning Company, which is also do- ing an excellent business. Mr. Berg is a promi- nent thirty-second-degree Mason and belongs to all the bodies of that order. He also be- longs to the B. P. O. E. and the Red Men, and is a colonel in the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias.

MONTGOMERY HARDMAN, a pioneer of 1875, is a native of Indiana, born August 5. 1845, but he early came to Linn county, Oregon. He lived near Albany about five years, then moved to Walla Walla, where he resided until about thirty years old. He followed stock- raising as an occupation until 1875, then moved to Spokane county, located at Rosalia and be- came postmaster of that town. His postoffice and the one at Spangle were at that time the only offices between Spokane and Colfax. While at Rosalie, Mr. Hardman located a homestead, pre-emption and timber culture, and engaged quite extensively in stock raising. In 1888 he moved to Spokane where he has ever since re- sided. He has a nice home here and owns con- siderable real estate. He sold his farm near Rosalia, but is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres on the Spokane river, thirteen miles west of that city, also of a three-hundred-

and-twenty-acre farm near Bridgeport in the Big Bend country. He is a very enterprising, progressive man, and at present is one of the leading stock-raisers of the county, while for nine years he was among the foremost real es- tate and mining men. In the political life of city and county he has also taken an active in- terest. In 1892 he was appointed by Presi- dent Harrison special agent for the removal of the Spokane Indians onto their reservation. Socially Mr. Hardman affiliates with the A. O. U. W. and the Pioneer Association. He was married in Walla Walla, February .4, 1874. to Miss Dora Reed, a native of Oregon, and they have two children living : Gladys M. and Dora M., also one. Dell M., deceased. Mrs. Hard- man's father, J. M. Reed, crossed the plains to Oregon in 1852. He died in Walla Walla in 1895, aged eighty-five years. Her mother also died in Walla Walla in 1896, aged seven- ty-five years.

DR. HENRY B. LUHN. physician and surgeon, rooms 201-2-3 Peyton building. a pioneer of 1886, was born in New York. Aug- ust 14. 1867. His boyhood days were spent on the plains with his father, Captain G. L. Luhn. but at the early age of thirteen he entered the Villanowa College, near Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, and when sixteen years old he became a student in the Notre Dame Uuniversity, Indi- ana, from which he graduated three years later. He then enrolled in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. receiving his M. D. degree when only twenty-three years old. Being desirous of attaining a thorough familiarity with his profession, he next spent two years in hospital practice in Philadelphia. after which he returned to Spokane and opened an office here. Dr. Luhn has spared no labor

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

in his efforts to become a thoroughly proficient physician, and he has attained to a standing in his profession seldom reached by men of his age. Indeed, it is not often that we find a phy- sician so young as Doctor Luhn, who has had such an extensive experience, for he had com- pleted his college work and was practicing in the hospitals at an early age when most doctors are still contending for honors in the universi- ties. Dr. Luhn is a member of the Spokane County Medical Society, and of the Washing- ton State Medical Society. He is also one of the surgeons of the National Guard and a mem- ber of the medical staff of Sacred Heart Hos- pital. Fraternally he affiliates with the B. P. O. E. and the F. O. A., while he also belongs to the Young Men's Institute and the S. A. A. C. He was married in New York City, June 23. 1897, to Miss A. G. Higgins, a na- tive of New York. They are parents of two daughters, Marion and Catharine.

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An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 84

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