An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 85

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 85

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WILLIAM D. PLANTS, a pioneer of 1886, was for many years one of Spokane's leading business men. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, September 4, 1846, but in1 1853 accompanied his parents to Henry coun- ty, Iowa. When twenty-three years old he came to Sacramento, California, whence, soon afterwards, he moved to Oakland. In 1870 he came to Portland, Oregon, and found a position with the wholesale grocery firm of Corbett & MacLeay, by whom he was employed for the ensuing nine years. He then came to Walla Walla and, with Mr. A. MacKay, opened a grocery store. Four years later he returned to Portland, and to the service of his former em- ployers. Coming to Spokane in 1886, he estab- lished here the first exclusively wholesale gro-

cery house in Washington. It was conducted under the firm name of W. D. Plants & Com- pany until 1897, but in that year, Mr. Plants was forced to retire from business on account of failing health. He made a trip to China and Japan for pleasure and recuperation during the years 1898 and 1899, returning to Spokane in the spring of the latter year. Mr. Plants is es- sentially a self-made man. Arriving in the west without capital or influence, he has, by industry. frugality and business shrewdness, worked his way to a place among the successful and mod- erately wealthy men of the Inland Empire. He lost everything in the fire of 1889, but such was his financial recuperative power that he soon was on the highway to prosperity again. He is one of the stockholders in the Centennial Mill Company. Fraternally he is identified with the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. He was married in Portland, September 17, 1873. to Miss Alvira E. Fisher, a native of Illi- nois, and they have one son, Kenneth Eardley. The family resides in an elegant home on the corner of First avenue and Chestnut street.

WILLIAM A. CORY, a pioneer of 1882, was born in Indiana, February 12, 1832. When four years old he was taken by his parents to Illinois. His first occupation was steamboat- ing on the rivers, between Chicago and New Orleans. In 1852 he crossed the plains to Port- land, Oregon, whence he afterwards journeyed to Yreka, California. Mr. Cory followed min- ing awhile, but later went to Stockton, where he engaged in the hotel business. Subsequently he went to Columbia, California, to look after mining interests. In 1856 he removed to San Francisco and became a partner in a box fac- tory, but he soon afterwards turned his atten-

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tion to millwrighting. In 1862 he and four others passed through the site of the present Spokane on a prospecting tour to the head- waters of the Saskatchewan river. Return- ing. Mr. Cory stopped for a time at Florence and Warrens, Idaho, then went back to San Francisco. He soon embarked in the stock busi- ness near Truckee, California, continuing in that enterprise until 1882, when he came to Spokane. He was proprietor of the Western Hotel here for some time, then followed the furniture and undertaking business until burned out in 1889. He next tried the real es- tate business, building a large number of resi- dences. He continued handling real property until 1895, then moved to Rossland, British Columbia, to practice as a phrenologist. Re- turning to this city in 1898. he established a meat market here and to that business he has devoted his energies ever since. Mr. Cory is a reliable and substantial citizen, in good stand- ing wherever he is known. He was married in Truckee, California, in August, 1880, to Miss Eliza G. Coffin, a native of Nantucket. Massachusetts, and they have one son, Edgar Allen.

ROBERT G. WILLIAMSON, a pioneer of 1876, was born in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, in 1834. He grew to manhood in the state of his nativity, then moved to Freeport, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming for seven years. He subsequently followed the same occupation in Hardin county, Iowa, and in son county, Kansas, spending seven years in each of those states. In 1875 he removed to Oregon and located at Albany, but after a year's residence, came to this region. He lived for a brief period on Pine creek in what is now called the Farmington country, but soon came to Spo-

kane county, and on August 9, 1876, home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land five miles southeast of Spokane. He also bought forty acres adjoining the homestead and one hundred and seventy-three acres on Richland prairie. He is engaged in market gardening, and also raises a great variety of farm products, and he formerly gave much at- tention to producing small fruits. Mr. Will- iamson is an industrious and successful farmer and has a fine place, rich naturally, and also well cultivated and improved. Personally he is a hospitable, kindly man, and he is well liked and highly respected by his fellow citizens. He was married in 1856, to Sarah H. Shelly. of Freeport, Illinois, and they have had eight children : Alpheus J., Flora A .. John S .. Annie M., Robert and Mina H., living; and Clark N. and Sylvanus A., deceased. Mrs. Williamson is a member of the Adventist church.

DR. W. H. ANDERSON. physician and surgeon at Medical Lake, was born in Sennett. New York. July 25, 1857. and resided there and at other towns in the state until twenty- one years old. He had excellent educational advantages. AAfter completing the primary work he attended the Auburn high school, the Monroe Collegiate Institute, at Elbridge, New York, and the Hamilton College, located at Clinton, that state. He spent two years, ISSI and 1883, in Harvard Medical College, then, after a severe attack of typhoid fever, went to Texas for his health. While there he was pre- vailed upon by other physicians to pass the state examination and begin practice, and this he did in 1885. He was engaged in the pursuit of his profession until 1889, then, wishing to become more thorough in the theory of medicine, he en-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

tered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which he graduated in 1890. The next year he came to Medical Lake. At the opening of the Eastern Washington Hospital for Insane, he was appointed assistant physician, a position which he held until September 1, 1897. Since that date he has devoted his attention mostly to building up and maintaining a country prac- tice, preferring the free outdoor life which is an incident of that form of professional activ- ity. Dr. Anderson is one of the leading physi- cians of Spokane county, and is so recognized by medical practitioners in this part of the state. He is a member of the county and state medical societies, also of the American Medical Association. In fraternal affiliations he is iden- tified with the Masons. He was married in Spo- ane in 1892 to Grace H. Reid, and they have three daughters, namely : Margaret, Catherine and Dorothy R.

J. T. CREWDSON, a pioneer of 1880, was born in Kentucky March 15, 1848, but, when two years old, was taken by his parents to Illinois. A twelvemonth later they moved to Missouri, where they spent about four years, afterward going to Sonoma county, California, Here Mr. Crewdson was reared and educated, residing in this and one or two neighboring counties continuously, until, in 1880, he came to Spokane. He homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, four and a half miles west of Med- ical Lake, and later secured, by purchase, an- other quarter-section adjoining and a quarter- section on Deep creek. For many years he gave his attention to hay raising principally, but he is now engaged in producing grain. He is one of the thrifty and progressive farm- ers of his neighborhood and is making an ex- cellent success of his various agricultural en-

terprises. He was married, in California, in 1875, to Mary M. Right, and to their union have been born six children : Mary C., Nellie, Dora, Martha, Dollie and George Dewey.

J. W. BUTLER, hotel man at Medical Lake, was born at LaPorte City, Indiana, in 1850. He was, however, reared in Iowa, hav- ing been taken there by his parents when five years old. Upon attaining adult age, he first tried farming for a few years, then went into a meat market enterprise and finally into the livery business. In 1876 he removed to Day- ton, Columbia county, Washington, where, for twenty-one years, he was a successful farmer and stock raiser. He at length sold out his in- terests there and moved to Medical Lake, Washington, taking charge of the Larson House, one of the leading hotels of the town. Mr. Butler is a substantial and respected citi- zen, standing high in the esteem of all who know him. He was married, January 7, 1873, to Miss Hattie M. Watrous, and to their union have been born eight children, four sons and four daughters.

FRED L. HARRISON, a pioneer of 1882, was born in Wisconsin December 14, 1862. He resided there until twenty years old, making the best of such educational opportunities as the public schools of his locality afforded, then came west and remained for brief periods at Seattle and Walla Walla. In the fall of the same year, however, he came to Spokane and went to work for J. M. Nosler on his farm. He afterward engaged in saw-milling, follow- ing that business for a number of years. Mr. Harrison is a man of a studious disposition and

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

has always devoted his spare moments to self- improvement. In 1897 he took a course in the Spokane Business College, from which institu- tion he received a diploma. By special appli- cation, also, he learned the trade of an engineer, and he is at present employed by the Hypotheek Bank to run an engine in the Eagle block. Mr. Harrison is a self-made man, acquiring by his own efforts a useful familiarity with many of the branches of . a liberal education and a breadth of information and culture not pos- sessed by multitudes who have had vastly su- perior advantages. To such men as he the cot- tage fireside is a most excellent college. He has always taken an active part in politics, stanchly supporting the Republican party. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of fine land ten miles north of Spokane.

HUGO HEYER, proprietor of the Concor- dia, is a native of Alsace, Germany, born Oc- tober 18, 1861. He grew to manhood in the land of his nativity, serving as clerk in his fa- ther's mercantile establishment. In 1884 he came to the United States and located in Rochester, New York, where he found employ- ment for a time in an optical establishment. He came to Spokane two years later and en- gaged in the real estate business, remaining here until 1888. He then went to Kettle Falls, Washington, where he became extensively in- terested in real property. After a residence of only one year, however, he returned to Spo- kane and a year later he engaged in the boot and shoe business, following that continuously for eight years. In 1898 lie sold out and en- gaged in his present business. Mr. Heyer is a successful man and has accumulated consider- able property since coming to Spokane. Fra-

ternally he is affiliated with the Red Men and the Sons of Herman. He was married. in Rochester, New York, September 14. 1885, to Albertina Altheimer, a native of Prussia. and they have two children living, namely : Oscar Walter and Alma Louise, and two de- ceased, Victor Hugo and Alfreda.

THOMAS BROWN. a pioneer of 1890. was born in Indiana April 2. 1842. He ac- companied his parents to Illinois in 1856 and it was in that state that he acquired most of his education. Upon attaining to adult age he engaged in farming, but his peaceful pursuits were soon interrupted by the imperative call of patriotism, and on July 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company B. Eleventh Missouri Infantry. He was many times under fire and participated in numerous severe engagements, among which were those at Vicksburg. Nashville, Iuka and Corinth. On the 2d of January. 1863, while out with a searching party, he was wounded by bushwhackers, receiving a shot in the left side, which confined him to the hospital for some time. He was also wounded in the head at Nashville, Tennessee. On January 22, 1866. lie was mustered out of the service, after a highly laudable career of military activity last- ing about four and a half years. He then re- turned to Illinois and devoted his energies to farming continuously until 1890. In that year lie removed to Deep Creek, Spokane county, where for the ensuing five years he followed the restaurant business. In 1895. however, he moved to Medical Lake and three years later lie came to Spokane to accept a position with the Michigan Cider Company, by which lie is still employed. Mr. Brown is an active, in- telligent citizen, always manifesting deep in-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

terest in politics and in the general welfare. He was married, in Illinois, August 16, 1866, to Mary E. Mann, a native of that state, who died in Spokane February 6, 1900, leaving four children : Mary E., wife of Horace Jenson, of Walla Walla; Willis E., of the firm of Brown & Seehorn, hatters; Earl and Eugene.

GEORGE D. SAUNDERS, a pioneer of 1883, is a native of Boone county, Iowa, born in 1855. He lived there on a farm until twen- ty-eight years old, then came to Spokane coun- ty and resided at Waverly for a couple of years. He next moved to a point eight miles north of Spokane, purchased an interest in a saw-mill and was engaged in manufacturing lumber for two years. Subsequently he went to Peone prairie, where he had some real estate interests, but, in 1890. he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, two and a half miles south- west of Rockford, upon which he has since resided. He has a fine orchard, covering ten acres, and has heretofore raised a great deal of wheat, but is now beginning to work into the dairy business. He is a progressive, enterpris- ing man, and takes an active and intelligent in- terest in all affairs of public concern in his com- munity. Socially he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity and the Woodmen of the World. He was married, in Iowa, in December, 1882, to Margaret Luther, and they have one son, Ernest Earl, now a student in the Spokane high school.

E. J. BOWER, a pioneer of May 5, 1884, is a native of Indiana, born in 1858. When fif- teen years old he came to Oregon and he lived on a farm there for several years afterward;

but in 1882 he moved to Idaho, where for two years he was engaged in surveying. He then came to Spokane county and followed the car- penter trade a while, but, having the wisdom to see and the courage to grasp an opportunity, he soon found his way into something better than working for wages. He conceived the idea of putting up natural ice at Loon Lake for the supply of Spokane, and he now has sev- eral ice houses at the lake, in which he pre- serves annually forty-five hundred tons of ice. He operates his business under the name of the Loon Lake Ice Company, but he is sole owner of the enterprise himself. Mr. Bower is also interested in mining and was one of the organ- izers of the Crystal Mining Company, in which he is now a director. Socially he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. He is also a prominent member of the Chamber of Commerce. He was married, in Spokane, September 20, 1887, to Miss Mary Mckinney, and they have two children, Paul M. and Altus E.

WILLIAM H. WRIGHT, a pioneer of 1884, is a native of New Hampshire, born Sep- tember 26, 1856. He received his education in that state, also learned the trade of a machinist. In 1884 he came to Spokane and found employ- ment with Mr. Weeks in his blacksmith shop. Becoming a partner the next year, he remained in business until 1889, then engaged in con- tracting and building. He erected a number of residences here, building for himself, in 1885, the first house ever put up in Heath's ad- dition, also sinking the first well dug in that part of the city. He learned the trade of a taxidermist in 1892. For several years past he has spent his summers in guiding hunting and exploring parties into the mountains, a task

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for which he is particularly well fitted, as he is naturally at home in such regions, being a great lover of nature in its wildness and va- riety. He was at the head of the government troops who went to the relief of the Carlin party in 1895, and in 1899 went with the Lewis Clarke party through California and Mexico. Mr. Wright has also been very active in pros- pecting and locating mines. He was married, in Spokane, October 22, 1885, to Miss Lizzie Hix, a native of Missouri, who came with her brother to this city in 1883. They have two daughters, Beulah M. and Blanche C. They have a beautiful home at 03215 Madison street, elegantly furnished in the most modern style. Both Mr. Wright and his wife are mem- bers of the Central Christian church and of the Pioneer Association, and Mrs. Wright is a very active member of the W. C. T. U., also of the Sorosis Society. Mr. Wright has also for a number of years taken photographic views of many different places in the United States for natural history publishers and sportsmen's magazines.

JOHN FISHER, a pioneer of 1886, is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born in 1832. He resided there until twenty-three years old, then went to Iowa, from which state, on March 21, 1862, he enlisted in the army, becoming a member of Company D, Seventeenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served under Sher- man in the Western Division, participating in the battles of Corinth, Iuka and Holly Springs, besides numerous minor engagements and skirmishes. On November 12, 1862, he was discharged on account of disability, not hav- ing rendered as extended a service as his pa- triotism prompted, but having done faithfully what he could. Upon leaving the army, he

returned to Iowa, where for the ensuing thir- teen years he was engaged in farming. He then followed the same occupation in Kansas for twelve years, subsequently coming to Spo- kane county. Arrived here. he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, one-half mile west of Mt. Hope, a tract which his brother. E. C. Fisher, had homesteaded twenty-six years ago. He has ever since been engaged in raising wheat, oats and fruit. He has a fine farm of good, rich land, and, being a thrifty, enter- prising man. he is making a success of farming. Mr. Fisher is also one of the substantial and respected citizens of his community, enjoying the hearty good will of his neighbors. He served as school clerk of his district for three terms. Mr. Fisher is past commander of J. B. Wyman Post, No. 41. G. A. R .. of Washing- ton and Alaska. He was married. in Monroe county, Ohio. in 1850, to Rachael Jane Rogers. and they have had ten children. namely: Clin- ton, Nelson, Louisa E .. James T .. John E .. Ce- celia B., Delora B. and Frank E .. living : also Charlotta J. and Kensie G .. deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher joined the Christian church together thirty-eight years ago and have been active and enthusiastic members ever since.

ALFRED METCALF, deceased. was born near Mentor, Ohio, not far from the home of Garfield, in 1824. When ten years oldl he was taken by his parents to Michigan and he re- ceived his education in the public schools and in an academy there. He married, and soon after started for California, arriving in 1852. He immediately engaged in mining enterprises in that state. In 1862, after the death of his wife, he removed to Boise Basin and in 1865 went to Confederate Gulch, Montana, mining

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

in each of these localities. He took no part in the great Civil war, but was a strong Union man, and boldly made known his sentiments, even though it often required great courage, for his companions often sympathized strongly with the Confederacy. In 1869 he went from Montana to witness General Grant's first in- auguration. While east at that time he was united in marriage with Jennie Dennis, of Lowell, Massachusetts. In 1871 he and his wife returned to California, where he had a thousand acres of land, purchased during his mining days. He engaged extensively in orange and fruit culture, but, in 1883, lost his fortune by generously becoming financial backer for friends. He then set out for the Cœur d'Alenes and resumed his mining. He was there until 1887, then came to Mount Hope, where, through his efforts, the first post- office was established and where his family still reside. He died July 4, 1895. His memory is still cherished tenderly by a host of friends and neighbors. He left three children, namely : Lucy H., William D. and Edward D. Fra- ternally Mr. Metcalf was a Royal Arch Mason. He was a lineal descendant of Joseph Metcalf, who came from England to Ipswich, Massachu- setts, in 1635. From him was descended Al- fred Metcalf's grandfather, Samuel, who served seven years in the Revolutionary war.

JAMES RIELEY, a pioneer of 1879, is a native of St. Johns, Newfoundland, born in 1838. He lived in the land of his birth until 1872, engaged in the fishing business, the great industry of that country, then spent a year in New Brunswick, but finally located in Wiscon- sin, where he worked in the lumber business until 1875. He then went to San Francisco 38

and from that city by water to Seattle. He was engaged in the lumber woods of Puget sound until 1879, in which year he came to Spokane county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, one mile west of Mount Hope, where he has ever since resided. He raises wheat as his principal crop, but engages to a limited extent in other kinds of farming, and has a splendid little orchard of two acres, the oldest in his section of the country, planted in 1880. Mr. Rieley is a devout member of the Catholic church.

FREDERICK A. DASHIELL, a pioneer of 1872, is a native of Kentucky, born in 1831. When sixteen years old he accompanied his- parents to Iowa, where he resided until 1852, then he crossed the plains by ox-team to Cali- fornia. He mined in that state for three years, then returned to Iowa, via the isthmus, and re- mained there until 1861. In that year he again crossed the plains by ox-team and finally lo- cated in Oregon, where the ensuing eleven or twelve years of his life were spent in farming and stock raising. In 1872 he came to Spokane county and settled, first, on a pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres, two and a half miles southeast of Spangle. He resided there until 1886, then moved to Waverly and farmed there two years, but subsequently came to his present place of residence, a mile and a half north and half a mile west of Mount Hope postoffice, where he has a farm of two hun- dred and forty acres. He has a splendid orchard of about ten acres, but raises hay as his principal crop. Mr. Dashiell has long been identified with various parts of the Pacific coast and has seen as much of frontier life, perhaps, as any man in the county. He is a re-

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liable and substantial man and has always had the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens wherever his lot has been cast. Indeed, he has sometimes held positions of prominence among his fellows and at one time represented his county in the Oregon state legislature. He was married, in Eddyville, Iowa, November 1I, 1857. to Margaret Peach, and they have had twelve children: Henry, deceased, Will- iam, Mary, George, Frederick, Maggie, Frank, deceased. Eugene, R. Raymond, Kate and Glenn.

JAMES LANGAN, a pioneer of 1879, is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, born in 1856. His boyhood, however, was passed in Wiscon- sin, as his parents moved to that state while he was still in infancy. When fifteen years old he «came out to Cheyenne, where, for two years, he was engaged on a large cattle ranch. He then went to Austin, Nevada, mined for three years, then tried the same occupation for a year in Arizona. He returned to Nevada, how'- ever, and followed mining excitements for a year and a half, but finally located in Virginia City. He resided there a year, then spent two years in the mines of California, but subse- quently came to Spokane county and located on a homestead, three miles southwest of Rock- ford. He since purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land, so that lie now owns a half-section. He is engaged principally in raising wheat and oats, but he also deals quite extensively in cattle and horses. He has a splendid orchard, covering about nine acres. Mr. Langan is a very thrifty, enterprising and progressive farmer and is one of the substantial and respected citizens of that vicinity. His farm, naturally fertile, is in an excellent state of cultivation and well improved with barn,

stable, fences, etc. He was married, in Idaho, in 1894, to Emma Ide, and they have a family of three children: Sherman, Josephine and Viola.

JERRY SULLIVAN, a pioneer of 1881, was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1839. He came to America about 1866 and located at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he followed the trade of a carpenter until 1875. He then went to Nevada and was engaged in mining there until 1881, then came to Spokane county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres two and a half miles southwest of Rockford. He has since procured, by purchase, four hun- (red and eighty acres more, giving a quarter- section to each of his two boys. He is engaged in diversified farming and raises wheat, oats, thoroughbred stock and fruit, and also does some market gardening. His orchard covers about six acres of land and produces many fine varieties of fruit. Mr. Sullivan has one of the best farms in that neighborhood, also splendid buildings and improvements. He is one of the most enterprising and thrifty farmers in that section of the county and his entire premises show the result of his well-directed and intelli- gent industry. He was married, in Desmet, Idaho, in 1882, to Mary Hurley, and they are parents of three children : Patrick, Dennis and Mary.

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An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 85

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