USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 97
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ried, in Spokane. to Mary S. Dralle, and the fruit of their union is two children, Myrtle and Willie.
LAWRENCE STUTLER, a pioneer of 1870, was born in Germany in 1835. He came to America in 1852 and located in Pennsyl- vania, where he lived until 1857. He then started west with a company of Mormons, re- maining among them until 1859, in which year he came on to California. He resided in that state until 1860, subsequently going to Nevada, where he followed mining excitements for the ensuing seven years. At length, in 1870, tired of wandering and desiring to establish a home for himself, he came to Spokane county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on Paradise prairie, to which he after- ward added eighty acres more, procured by purchase from the railroad company. Though he came here in an early day, when there was much danger from Indians, so tactfully did he manage the red skins that he escaped without any trouble whatsoever from that source. He ' now has a fine farm and a pleasant home and is engaged mostly in producing hay.
WILLIAM PETTET, a pioneer of 1883, was born in England in September, 1818. He came to New York in 1836, but two years later removed to Mobile, Alabama, where, in com- pany with two practicing physicians, he estab- lished a drug store. The following year, how- ever, his partners and two assistants succumbed to the yellow fever. In 1841 he established a commission house in New Orleans, but in 1842 he accompanied the Amos Kendall party as
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far as Galveston. On May 6, 1846, he left Independence, Missouri, on the overland trip to San Francisco, then to Yuba Bueno, paying the usual tribute to Kansas Indians for passing through their territory. The party often had trouble with Indians and on the Truckee river had a severe fight to recover stock driven away by them. When near Truckee Lake they were overtaken by a snow storm. Mr. Pettet joined a party of six and started for Sacramento val- ley, leaving their wagons and about sixty per- sons who refused to proceed, but camped near the lake. The party reached Sutter's Fort in safety, but those who remained all perished except four, and these were insane when they finally reached assistance. Mr. Pettet remained at the fort for the purpose of enlisting emi- grants as they came in for the war, then going on to southern California. Having secured quite a number he took them to the sloop-of- war Portsmouth, at San Francisco, where they were fitted out for service. Returning to Yuba Bueno he established the firm of Ellis & Pettet, for the purpose of dealing with the Russians at Sitka, Alaska. Subsequently he sold out to become city clerk of San Francisco. He was later appointed sheriff, but at the close of his term he returned to New York, and, in 1851, came back to San Francisco, sending via Cape 'Horn the material for the first iron building erected in San Francisco. It was destroyed by fire a few weeks after its completion. Ill health again compelled him to return to New York and while there he became interested in the mercantile business. In 1868 he and his family visited Europe, remaining until 1873. He came to Spokane in 1883 and made some in- vestments in real estate. The following year he, with the late F. R. Moore, F. Cham- berlin and William Nettleton, secured the block on which the county court house now
stands, and at their own personal expense erected a building for the reception of the coun- ty records when these were brought from Cheney. Mr. Pettet, with Messrs. Moore and Chamberlin, also established permanent arc lights for the streets. From this partnership grew the present Edison Electric Light Com- pany. In the spring of 1889, three months be- fore the great fire, Mr. Pettet was unfortunately stricken with typhoid fever, from which he never fully recovered. He now resides. gen- erally, at his home, Glasgow Lodge, on the North Boulevard, where he has a forty-acre tract within the city limits and a beautiful resi- dence on the banks of the Spokane river, fitted up in English style. In 1897 his eightieth birth- day was celebrated by a garden party, attended by over two hundred of his friends. Mr. Pettet's benign influences have been very sensi- bly felt in Spokane, to the development of which he has contributed incalculably. He has al- ways been a man of great energy and his su- perb business ability and keen foresight have made him eminently successful in his various enterprises.
CHARLES G. SHRIMPF, dealer in hard- ware and contractor for gravel. pitch, slate. iron and tin roofing and sheet iron work of all kinds, is a pioneer of 1887. He was born in Germany April 4. 1857, and grew to manliood in his fatherland, receiving good common- school advantages. In 1880, however, lie emi- grated to Chaska. Minnesota, where for a short time he was engaged in lumbering. but in 1881 he moved to Minneapolis and went into busi- ness for himself. He came to Spokane in 1887 and, with H. Weigman, established the Sprague street bakery, on the corner of Mill and Sprague. He sold out, however, in 1889 and.
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after taking a trip east and back, engaged in his present business in company with L. Rein- hardt, the firm name being Reinhardt & Shrimpf. Mr. Reinhardt having retired in 1898, Mr. Shrimpf has since been sole owner and proprietor. He is a shrewd, far-seeing and progressive business man and, though without means when he first arrived in the United States, has pushed his way, in spite of every obstacle, to a place of considerable prom- inence among the commercial magnates of this city. He manufactures cornices, hot air furnaces, heating appliances, etc., and handles all kinds of hardware, slate and iron roofing and sheet iron work. Mr. Shrimpf has always taken considerable interest in politics and in 1894 was the candidate of the Democratic party for representative to the legislature. He is a prominent member of Samaritan Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F., having passed through all the chairs. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the I. O. F. He was married, in Minne- apolis, April 4, 1886, to Miss Minnie Gazett, a native of Minnesota, and they are parents of one son, Albert E.
7.
T. J. BEARD, a pioneer of April 5, 1878, was born in Illinois in 1839. When thirteen years old he crossed the plains with his parents to Linn county, Oregon, where he lived for the ensuing eight years. He then went into the mines of Oro Fino, Florence and Boise, Idaho, spending about five years in these regions, after which he returned to Linn county and erected a warehouse on the Oregon & California Rail- road. This he operated for about three years. He next lived in Astoria for a year, going thence to Tangent, Oregon, where he kept a general merchandise store until 1878. Selling
out in that year, he came to Spokane county and located on a homestead, three and a half miles northwest of Cheney, upon which he has ever since resided. He is now engaged in rais- ing wheat, oats and timothy, and he has also a fine orchard, one of the oldest in the county. Mr. Beard is an energetic, progressive and suc- cessful farmer and one of the most highly es- teemed and respected citizens of his neighbor- hood. He has formerly been affiliated with the P. P. and the I. O. O. F. He was married, in Oregon, in 1872, to Margaret Dougherty, a na- tive of Brooklyn, New York, and they have a family of seven children, Mary, Florence, Hor- tense, Estella, Olive J., Pearl and Annie.
EUGENE BERTRAND, deceased, a pio- neer of 1883. is a native of Wisconsin, born April 26, 1848. He was educated in the public schools and in Ripon College, at Ripon, Wis- consin, where for four years he was a student. Upon completing his education he engaged in farming, following that occupation continu- ously until 1876. He then removed to Salt Lake City and followed mining until 1878, when he went to Eureka, Nevada, to seek his fortune in the mining region of that vicinity. During the years 1881 and 1882 he was clerk in a large grocery firm, but in the following year he removed to Spokane. His first employ- ment here was in grading Howard street, but he subsequently entered the service of Sweney & Lindern as clerk in their general merchandise store. In November, 1883, he bought a con- fectionery store, located on Riverside avenue, where the Hyde block now is. After two years he enlarged his stock, by adding a full line of groceries. He moved his store to Sprague street in 1885 and in the fall of the same year
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to Mill street, where he remained until 1889, when he returned to Sprague street. He was burned out in the big fire, but reopened in a tent, doing business under this primitive shelter until he could procure a building. He sold out in 1893 and has since been engaged as clerk and later as collector and solicitor for the Mar- shall Mill Company. During his long residence in Spokane Mr. Bertrand always took a lively and intelligent interest in the political, material and moral welfare of the city. holding several important offices in its municipal government. In 1886 he was elected city treasurer and he discharged the duties of that office faithfully and ably for two terms thereafter. In 1893 he became a member of the city council and so satisfactory was his service in that body that he was twice re-elected. Fraternally he affil- iated with the I. O. O. F., Mount Carlton Lodge, No. 103, with Spokane Camp, No. 99. W. of W., with the J. O. U. A. M. and with the Pioneer Association. He was also a mem- ber of the Westminster Congregational church. On May 23, 1869, he was married at Mantor- ville to Miss Orilla Lansing, a native of New York, who survives him. He died in Spokane May 15, 1900.
EDWARD HILBY, a pioneer of 1879, was born in California, in 1858, and he lived there on a farm until he attained his majority, then came to Spokane county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on the south side of Moran prairie. He is engaged in gen- eral farming, market gardening and fruit cul- ture and has a fine orchard covering about fif- teen acres. He is one of the substantial and leading citizens of his community and takes an active and intelligent interest in all affairs of public concern in his locality, and he now
holds the office of constable. He was married, in Spokane county, in 1893. to Lizzie Bailey. and they have a family of three children. Frank E .. Edward and Richard.
EDGAR F. GRAVES, a pioneer of 1878. was born in New York state in 1864. He resided there until eleven years old. availing himself of the educational opportunities of- fered by the public schools. He then went to Michigan and lived in that state until 1878. meanwhile graduating from the high school at Lowell. His next move was to Spokane, where for a year he attended the first little school or- ganized in this city. He then taught a year, after which he followed civil engineering on the Northern Pacific Railroad for about three years. Returning to Spokane at the expiration of that period. he purchased a half-section of railroad land. upon which he raised stock and farmed for five years. He then moved into the city, invested in city property and embarked in the real estate and loan business. He was unusually successful for a number of years, but, speculating a little too boldly, hie was caught by the panic and lost everything. He was, how- ever. possessed of a brave spirit and remark- able recuperative power in financial matters and could not long be held down by reverse of for- tune. He purchased a farin on time. also built a fine house. He then set vigorously to work to retrieve his losses, and so successful has he been that lie is now out of debt entirely and on a good financial footing. He gives most of his attention to raising timothy hay and stock. In his fraternal affiliations he is identified with the I. O. O. F. He was married. in Spokane county, at Morgan's store. in 1883. to Ilallie Davis, also one of the early pioneers of the
FREDERICK C. HAHN ROCKFORD
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county. They have seven children: Emma, Ethel, Grace Greenwood, John W., Edgar Lorenzo, Alice and Howard D. Mr. Graves' mother was a cousin of General Joe Hooker. Her mother, ncc Moore, was one of the first graduates of Oberlin College.
CORNELIUS W. MURPHEY, a farmer, four miles east of Medical Lake, a pioneer of 1872, was born in the state of New York in 1829. When nine years old he accompanied his parents to Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until twenty-five years old. In April, 1854, he sailed to San Francisco, Cali- fornia, and the ensuing twelve years of his life were spent in the mining regions of that state. He then went to work for the Central Pacific Railroad Company as foreman of a construc- tion gang and nine months later engaged in the hotel business at Reno, Nevada. In the fall of 1868 he went to Treasure Hill, where he was proprietor of a hotel and actively interested in mining enterprises for about a year. In 1871 he started for Washington territory. He spent the winter in Walla Walla, but the following spring came on to Spokane county. He pre- empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in the vicinity of Medical Lake, then home- steaded eighty acres more and he has since pur- chased three hundred and twenty acres of rail- road land. He is now engaged in raising wheat, oats, barley and vegetables, and for many years has been quite extensively inter- ested in the rearing of fine horses and cattle. Mr. Murphey is a splendid specimen of well- preserved old age. He enjoys a degree of manly vigor and good health for which many young men of half his years would willingly barter their gold. He seems to be little the
worse for the heroic struggle he has made against the hardships and discouragements of pioneer life in this and other new countries. Like most old settlers, he has had his share of conflicts with the Indians, but these have failed in all their efforts to drive him from the home of his choice. Among those who have opened up and developed Spokane county few have borne a more substantial part than has Mr. Murphey. He was married, in Bingham- ton, New York, December 29, 1849, to Mary Ann O'Brien.
HIRAM ROTHROCK, a pioneer of 1878, was born in Pennsylvania in 1840. He resided in that state until eighteen years old, acquiring a good common-school education, then went to Lawrence. Kansas, and engaged in farming. On August 20, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, which served under Steele in the Second Division of the Seventh Army Corps. He participated in the battles of Kane Hill, Pea Ridge and numerous other en- gagements, everywhere acquitting himself with honor and courage. He was mustered out at Duball's Bluff, Arkansas, June 21, 1865. His father. a minister, was shot and killed by Quan- trell, during the raid of that guerrilla on Law- rence, Kansas.
After the war Mr. Rothrock returned to his farm and there resided until April 11, 1878, when he set out for California. He resided in Calistoga about two months, then joined a pack train from California bound for Spokane coun- ty. They arrived after a seven-weeks journey, having passed through the territory of hostile Indians three days before the Warm Springs and Umatilla massacre. Upon reaching his destination, Mr. Rothrock homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land seven miles
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southwest of Spokane, where he has ever since resided. He is one of the substantial and re- spected citizens of the county and ranks among the thrifty and successful farmers. He was married, in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1867, to Susana Ruffe, and to their union four children have been born : William H., deceased; Data, who for four years past has been a teacher in the Irving school, Spokane; Edward, in the Chronicle office, and Elwood, deceased.
DAVID BEMISS, a pioneer of 1889. was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1840. He availed himself of the excellent opportunities offered by the public schools of that country and at seventeen began teaching. A year later he en- tered an academy to prepare for college. In 1861 he matriculated in Toronto University, from which he received the B. A. degree in 1865 and the M. A. degree in 1866, also the silver medal in natural science. After leaving college he accepted a position in the public schools at Clinton, Michigan, where for four years he served as the superintendent of the schools. He then taught at Birmingham a year, after which he was elected to the super - intendency of the Coldwater city schools. Dur- ing his incumbency of that position the standard of education rose until the right of certification was accorded these schools by the University of Michigan, a privilege never ex- tended to any but institutions of the highest rank. Mr. Bemiss also distinguished himself as an institute worker and lecturer, serving during 1877-78 as president of the Michigan Association of City School Superintendents. In 1878 he was called to superintend the Man- istee schools, which also improved under his supervision until they became affiliated with the
University of Michigan. He served these schools as superintendent and as a member of the board of education for nine years. In 1887 he was called to the superintendency of the Fort Scott schools, Kansas, and in 1889 he resigned to accept a like position in Spokane. For ten years he labored unremittingly for the advance- ment of the cause of education here, and suc- ceeded not only in bringing the schools of this city to a high standard of excellence, but ex- erted a powerful and very beneficial influence in the educational development of the state. His career as an educator has ever been marked by thoroughness and ability, and his efforts have always counted for the cause of sound scholar- ship. At present he is on his farm near the city, taking a deserved and much needed rest. Mr. Bemiss was appointed by the State Teach- ers' Association to organize a state reading circle and was president of it for a while. He was a member of the state board of education and has served as president of the Washington State Teachers' Association. He is a member of the National Council of Education, an or- ganization of sixty members taking the leading educators from all parts of the United States. He was married, in Canada, in 1866. to Phebia M. Page. a native of Canada, and they have four children, Catherine M .. Clarence D., El- bert V. and Florence R. The daughters grad- uate from the Cheney Normal June. 1900. One son is a dentist in Spokane, the other a druggist.
THOMAS NEWLON, a pioneer of 1866, was born in Illinois December 7. 1834. In 1852 he crossed the plains to Oregon. start- ing April 15 and reaching The Dalles AAngust 15. He remained there a short time, but soon went to California, then back to The Dalles,
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where he remained for three years. He next moved to Walla Walla, thence, in 1860, to Orofino, Idaho. After spending three years mining in that region he returned to Walla Walla, lived on a farm in the vicinity until 1865, then purchased a boat, started a ferry at Riparia and operated it successfully for a year. He then came to Spokane county, built a cabin to live in and constructed a bridge above Trent. He subsequently went back to the Snake river, but soon returned to his bridge and remained in charge until he sold out in 1868. He then made a trip to Libby creek, then back to Mon- tana, where he was engaged in mining until 1872. In the fall of that year he returned to Spokane county and followed the carpenter's trade for a time, but later built a ferry boat at Spokane bridge after Cowley's bridge fell in. In 1876 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on Moran prairie, where he has since resided. He now has two hundred and fifteen acres of land and is engaged prin- cipally in raising hay and grain, but also has a splendid orchard of thirty-five acres. Mr. Newlon is one of the very oldest residents of the county and has himself contributed not a little to its progress. He is a good, substantial citizen and enjoys the respect and esteem of his neighbors generally. He was married, at Col- fax, in 1875, to Isabelle Kirby, and they have three children, Ollie, Guy and Laura. Mrs. Newlon is also an old pioneer, having come to Spokane in 1872, when there were only four men and one lady in the town.
H. E. SANDS, a pioneer of 1877. is a na- tive of Sweden, born in 1847. When twenty years old he came to America, and after spend- ing two years in Iowa, enlisted in Company
I, Second United States Infantry. His com- pany served in the south from 1873 to 1877, then was sent to the state of Washington for service in the Nez Perce war. About a year and a half after coming to this state Mr. Sands was discharged at Fort Colville. In 1880 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, a little over three miles southwest of Mica postoffice, and upon this land he now resides. He has about fifteen hundred fruit trees on his farm. Mr. Sands has been a very progressive and industrious man in former years, but lately has had poor health and has been unable to take the active part in his farm work which he other- wise would. He stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens and has the respect and con- fidence of his community. He was married, in Spokane county, in 1891, to Sarah D. John- son, and they have two children. William El- mer and Maude.
CHARLES F. STOKES. a pioneer of 1886, was born in England in 1857. He lived there until twenty-three years old. acquiring his education in the public schools and subse- quently serving as clerk in an office. Arriving in the United States, he located at St. Paul, Minnesota, and became a salesman in one of the furniture stores of that city. He, however, only remained six months in his situation until he determined to learn the trade of a cabinet- finisher. He entered the employ of the Pull- man Sleeping Car Company with that end in view, and remained with them until 1886, in which year he came to the city of Spokane. He worked as a journeyman cabinet-finisher here for three years, then engaged in the fur- niture business for himself just in time to be- come a heavy loser in the fire. Resolved to try a less hazardous occupation next time, he
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moved out to a farm of fifty acres, five miles east of the city, upon which he has carried on a dairy business continuously to the present time. He is milking twelve cows now. Mr. Stokes is one of the thrifty, progressive and substantial citizens of the community and takes a leading interest in everything for the promo- tion of the general good and the material and social advancement of the neighborhood in which he lives. He was married, in Chicago, October 5, 1882, to Sarah A. Hetherington, and they have a family of three children. Hubert O., Vida Spokane and Ellis May.
C. F. MORGAN, a pioneer of 1879. is a native of Indiana, born March 5, 1832. In 1839 his family moved to Iowa and five years later crossed the plains by ox-team to Clackamas county, Oregon. In 1855 Mr. Morgan en- gaged in the Indian war, serving under General Wool. He participated in a number of severe engagements, notably the battle of Cascade Falls. He had been sent by Quartermaster Rhenby with six men and two hundred head of oxen from Vancouver to The Dalles to bring supplies for the volunteers and was in Cascade Falls when the town was attacked by one thou- sand Indians. A number of the whites were killed, but assistance at length arrived and the Indians were defeated. Of those captured, six- teen were hanged. A month later Mr. Morgan and his men proceeded to The Dalles, where they fitted out a train of fifty wagons and se- cured an escort of seventy-five men. With these they advanced to Walla Walla, transport- ing provisions and ammunition. They met the Washington volunteers and turned over to them their store of supplies. Mr. Morgan aft- erward returned to Oregon and followed cab-
inetmaking there until 1870, except during three years spent in the mines near Idaho City. In 1870, however, he moved to the Walla Walla valley, where for nine years he was a farmer. His next move was to Spokane county. He took a homestead in the southwestern part of the present city limits, but this he sold in 1887, He then engaged in the grain and feed business until burned out in the fire of 1889, when he went into poultry raising on Hangman creek, an occupation which he has followed ever since. Mr. Morgan is a typical pioneer, possessed of the courage and strength of character essential to success in a new country. Few men have seen more of the early development of the Northwest, and few have borne a braver part in the early struggles than he. He was mar- ried in Iowa, in 1853. to Miss Martha Sackett, who died at Fort Laramie May 8, 1854. while crossing the plains. He was next married, in Oregon, in March, 1857, to Miss Ruann Reed, a native of Illinois, and in 1867 he married Miss Hannah Hardesty, a native of Indiana.
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