An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 129

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056

USA > Washington > An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 129

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Mr. Ward was married in San Luis Obispo county, California, July 1, 1878, to Miss Martha Ilasey, a native of the Golden State. They have four children: John, Delia, Porter and Lyman. Our worthy subject is a member of Goldendale Lodge, No. 31, F. & A. M., and belongs to the Eastern Star; he is also a member of Friend- ship Lodge, K. of P. He has been prominent in Democratic politics in Klickitat county, and has twice made a splendid raee upon the county ticket, cutting the narrow majority to thirty- seven votes in 1890.

W ALTER R. LAIDLER, a prominent citizen and leading agricnlturist of Kliekitat county, Washington, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, November 12, 1856. His parents, John and Mabel (Robson) Laidler, were natives of England, and the father

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was a mechanical engineer by profession. Wal- ter R. was reared to maturity in his native coun- try, and had been engaged in clerking for a year or two when he determined to seek his fortune in America. Accordingly in 1874 he set sail for the United States, and immediately after landing proceeded to California. Arriving in the Golden State, he located on a farm in Solano county, near Suisun City, where he was engaged in farming until his removal to Klickitat county in 1879. He first settled on a piece of school land, and in 1883 he purchased 160 acres from A. J. Smith, who had originally located the land. Mr. Laidler has added to this from time to time until he now owns 1,500 acres, all in one body, excepting a tract which lies three iniles distant. In the season of 1893 he had 700 acres in growing grain; he usually keeps 100 head of horses, and owns the full-blooded Clydesdale stallion "Look-at-me-now." In ad- dition to his extensive ranching interests, he is connected with the Farmers' Mercantile Com- pany of Goldendale, being a member of the board of directors.

Mr. Laidler was married at The Dalles, Ore- gon, July 19, 1881, to Miss California Record, a daughter of A. J. and Martha (Clinger) Record, early settlers of Oregon, where they made their home in the '40s. Mr. and Mrs. Laidler have a family of three children: Samp- son, Edwin and Charles August. Our subject is a member of Alumus Lodge, No. 15, 1. O. O. F., of Goldendale, and belongs to Friend- ship Lodge, No. 27, K. of P. He has been a conspicuous figure in political circles of Klick- itat county, and under the Territorial regime he accepted the position of Clerk of the District Court in 1887-88. Ile was the Democratic candidate for Probate Judge in 1888 and 1890. Ile was a delegate to the State Convention in 1892, and is now a member of the Democratic Central Committee of Klickitat county, where his services are greatly appreciated.

H ON. J. J. BROWNE, one of the founders of the government of Spokane, and an original contributor to its general good and advancement, has been a prominent factor in the history of the community since the '70s. Being a man of excellent judgment and forethought, he realized in the early days

what has since come to pass, that Spokane Falls would one day be a great city. So he invested heavily, and very wisely held fast to his prop- erty until it reached its present high valuation. Instead of selling when prices were low, he made additional purchases. Thus he has grown immensely wealthy. Of course he suffered those hardships and privations characteristic of pio- neer life, and is justly entitled to the happiness growing out of a handsome fortune and a re- spected position. He assisted in building up the city by his enterprise and wealth, and can look back with smiles upon his record,-one of undiminished grandeur, of virtue and integrity, a character unimpeached and unimpeachable. Mr. Browne is a man of exclusive and temper- ate habits, though he does not hold himself aloof from the world, so frequently the case with the thoughtful. His face wears an almost serions expression, which deepens as the sub- ject demands. By some Mr. Browne might be thought conservative, but there is method in his manner. He is cool and calculating, self-sus- tained, and systematic in his business, and in this way accomplishes a great deal more work with greater ease than those of a fussy and nervous nature. It is owing to this sublime trait in his character that Mr. Browne has suc- ceeded so remarkably in life. He is a man of strong will power, and thinks and acts for him- self.

Hon. J. J. Browne was born in Greenville, Ohio, April 28, 1843, son of Andrew and Eliza- beth (Gott) Browne, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana respectively, his father being a farmer by occupation.

At an early age he moved to Columbia City, Indiana, where he was reared and received a common-school education. His desire for a better education was so strong that at eighteen years of age he sought Wabash College, and re- mained for three years, working mornings and evenings to pay his board and tuition. In 1868 he graduated in the department of law at the University of Michigan, and soon after located in Kansas and engaged in the practice of his profession, under the firm name of Browne & Glass, Mr. Glass having been his classmate at Ann Arbor. In 1874 he removed to Portland, Oregon, and resumed the law, practicing alone.

Attracted by the genial climate of eastern Washington, he came to Spokane Falls in 1878, where he soon built up a practice that extended far into both Washington and Idaho Territories.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

He has ever been foremost in the organization of any enterprise tending to the advancement of the city. He was president of the Spokane Mill Company, which was organized in 1885. In conjunction with Mr. Cannon and A. J. Ross, he built the first street railway in Spokane. He was president of the Spokane Cracker Company, whose factory was destroyed by the great fire. He began his career as a banker in 1889, at the corner of Post and Riverside streets, the Browne National Bank having been organized in June of that year, with a capital stock of $100,000. About two years ago the bank was moved to its present commodious quarters in the Auditorium. one of the handsomest buildings in the city. Mr. Browne is president of the bank. He is also president of the Spokane Investment Com- pany, which owns the Auditorium building, he holding halt of its stock. Ile is proprietor of the Spokane Daily and Weekly Chronicle, and contemplates in the near future erecting one of the largest and most commodious buildings in the Northwest, for the exclusive use of this large paper. Mr. Browne also has extensive farming interests, owning 1,800 acres of land, located five miles south of Spokane. Of this large tract 1,200 acres are under fence and cul- tivation. Ilis pre-emption claim, which he filed abont 1878, covered what is now a part of the business district of the city and the best resi- dence district, known as the West End. It is here his elegant home is located, it being one of the handsomest in the city, and being assessed at $70,000. With the growth of his fortune Mr. Browne has made many generous donations to public purposes and to charitable and educa- tional institutions. He presented to the city one-half the land embraced in the present park, his friend A. M. Cannon giving the other half.

Not only in business circles is Mr. Browne prominent, but also in political and educational affairs he has taken an active part. In 1872, while a resident of Kansas, he was a delegate to the National Convention at Baltimore that nominated Horace Greeley. He has also served as a delegate to the Democratic National Con- vention since coming to Washington. In Port- land he was elected Superintendent of Schools, which office he held three years, resigning the same when he came to Spokane. At the Demo- cratic county convention, held at Spokane in August, 1892, he was recommended for United States Senator from Washington. He is a mem- ber of the Board of Regents of the State Uni-

versity, having served as such for two years, and for the past six years has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Jenkins University. Mr. Browne has the largest private library in the Northwest, and while he is a great reader. well posted on all general topies, he gives particular attention to the study of political economy.

He was married in 1874, to Miss Anna W. Shalton, a native of Warren, Ohio, and a mem- ber of a prominent and highly respected family. They have had seven children, six of whom are living: Guy C., Earl P., Alta M., lone S., IIn- bert D. and Ilazel J.

C APT. GEORGE W. BULLENE was born in Saratoga county, New York, Decem - ber 17, 1822. Ilis parents, Alfred and Susan (Baker) Bullene, were natives of the same State, his paternal ancestry dating back to the Puritan settlement of Massachusetts. Alfred Bullene was a ship carpenter and boat builder, and was prominently connected with the early lumber interests of Oswego county. In 1834 he removed to Wisconsin and located in Salem, Kenosha county, where he engaged in farming. Going to Wisconsin at that early day, before schools were organized along that frontier, our subject was deprived of the advantages of a common-school education.

Remaining with his father until his seven- teenth year, George W. then left the home eir- cle, and, going to New York city, apprenticed himself for four years in the old " Novelty Works" at the foot of Fourteenth street, on East river, and there learned the principles of mechanical engineering, with construction and drafting. Completing his term of service, he then followed his trade in different shops and upon the river and bay during the summer months up to the spring of 1846, when he started for New Orleans, and worked in every shop of importance between New York and that eity. Arriving in New Orleans in December, 1846, he then enlisted in the Second. Texas Cavalry for the Mexican war, and performed active service in different localities up to 1848, when he was discharged from service. He then went to St. Louis and followed his trade in win- ter and the river in summer until 1854. He then accepted the position of superintendent in the erection of all classes of mills between Texas

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

and Minnesota. May, 1861, found him in New Orleans, and he secured passage to St. Louis upon the old steamer " Imperial," which was the last boat through before the commencement of the Civil war. At St. Louis our subject looked over the situation and then returned to his family in Grundy county, Missouri, and there enlisted in the Home Guards of the State militia, who were very active in driving the secessionists out of northern Missouri. 1u April, 1862, Mr. Bullene enlisted, at Gallatin, in the First Missouri Cavalry, and served in Missouri and in the Trans-Mississippi Depart- ment up to December 14, 1863, when he was discharged because of disability from wounds. He then returned to his family, but by reason of his active work during the war he decided that it would be safer to leave that country, so he came to the Pacific coast by the Panama route, landing in San Francisco February 13, 1864. He then began work in the Pacific Iron Works, being chiefly engaged in fitting out boats and setting machinery. He fitted ont the "Cyrus Walker," and as engineer brought her to the Sound and landed at Port Gamble in October, 1864. The boat is still in commission upon the Sound and is in good condition. Re- turning to San Francisco, Captain Bullene con- tinned with the Pacific Iron Works up to Sep- tember, 1865, when he came to Port Gamble as master mechanic of the Puget Sound Mill Company, remaining in that capacity until May, 1868, when he accepted a similar position with the Port Madison Mill Company, and there re- · mained until October, 1873. He then resigned and came to Seattle and started a small machine shop, which he operated for five years. He then returned to Port Madison and accepted his former position with the mill company, remain- ing with them until their failure in 1883. Captain Bullene then accepted a similar position with the Tacoma Mill Company, and superin- tended the construction of their new mill. This work he successfully accomplished by building over, under and through the old mill withont stopping the machinery, thus erecting the first double sawmill upon the Sound, the same having a capacity of 212,000 feet of lum- ber per day. Subject then went to Hoquiam, Gray's harbor, and rebuilt a large mill for A. M. Simpson, returning about 1885 to Seattle, where he has since resided.

He was appointed United States Boiler In- spector of Puget Sound in January, 1873, and

has continnonsly held that position, with the exception of an interval of thirty months. His district is now extended from Gray's harbor to Chilcat, and occupies his entire time and atten- tion.

He was married in Grundy county, Missouri, May 11, 1856, to Miss Hannah McClure, native of Ohio. Nine children have blessed the union, seven of whom survive: Aurora, Everette E., Arthur, Alice, Howard, Thomas and Ida. So- cially, Captain Bullene affiliates with the F. & A. M. and G. 1. R., Miller Post, No. 31, of Seattle. Ile has always felt unbounded faith in Seattle, and, though it was but a small hamlet when he first arrived, in 1864, he invested his money, and has watched with interest and pleasure the growth and development of the " Queen City of the Northwest."

A LFRED THOMAS, one of the pioneers and substantial farmers of Walla Walla county, Washington, was born in Hardins- burg, Breckenridge county, Kentucky , April 16, 1828. His father, Joseph H. Thomas, was a native of Hardin county, Kentucky, and the grandparents of our subject were natives of the Blue Ridge country of Virginia. The maiden name of his mother was Gouldsberry, a native of Marysville, Maryland. By trade Mr. Thomas was a tanner, following that trade for many years, but died in 1850 at Dubuque, Iowa, of cholera, at the age of sixty years. Mrs. Thomas died at the age of sixty-four, years in 1870. They had reared a family of eleven children, but only four of them are now living, and our subject was the fifth of the family.

The latter was reared and educated in the common schools of the county and learned the tanner trade, at which he worked until 1849, when he emigrated to Linn county, Iowa, where he bought 160 acres of land, improved and farmed there until 1870, when he came to Washington and settled where he now lives, two miles east of Walla Walla. Here he bought 146 acres of land and commenced to make a home in the new country. He immediately met with suecess in farming and now owns 1,100 acres of fine land. In theearly part of his set- tlement he made and hauled 60,000 rails from the mountains with which to fence his land. He cultivats 650 acres, raising on an average on

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

his farm 15,000 bushels of grain. Upon the place he erected a nice residence, at a cost of 84,000, but it was burned. However, he re- placed it. He handles considerable stock, es- pecially horses and thoroughbred Jersey cattle for the city trade, selling them in Walla Walla to people who want to keep a nice cow in the city.

Our subject was married December 10, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth Lewis, a native of Indiana, who went to lowa in 1832 with her parents. She lived happily with her husband and assisted in the making of the home in the new country, but in 1878 she passed from earth. She was a good woman, and was mourned by her husband and nine children, the names of the latter be- ing,-Elizabeth, the wife of John Byrum; Ellen, the wife of Nathan Patterson; John; Cora E .; Joseph, now practicing law in Walla Walla; Mary, teaching school; Eugene, Bert and Eliza.

Mr. Thomas was married a second, time, to Margaret Lewis, a consin of the first Mrs. Thomas, and they have had four children born to them, Lavina H., Raymond, Alvin and Ruth. Our subject relates that he had four "bits" in his pocket at the time of his first marriage, and now is worth at least $75,000, much of it saved by his industrious wives. Ile is a relative of Ben Hardin, Judge Paddock and General Thomas of Kentucky fame, all noted lawyers of that State. His father was in the war of 1812 and was with General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Thomas is a Knight Tem- plar Mason and has been quite prominent in the order.

W R. HAMMOND, a pioneer of the coast and one of the respected citizens of Walla Walla county, Washington, was born in Forsythe county, Georgia, March 4, 1839. His father, Joseph Hammond, also a na- nativeof Georgia, married Polly Brooks, who had been born in Virginia. They removed to Arkan- sas in 1850, when William R. was a small boy, and later he removed to Hill county, Texas, and died in 1886, at the age of sixty-eight years. Mrs. Ilammond died in 1855, at the age of fifty-five years, and they had fourteen children.

William R., the fourth child, was reared on the farm, and therefore had very little oppor- tunity for an education, receiving only a very common schooling in Arkansas and Georgia, when he could be spared from the work of the

farm. In 1844 he decided to try to reach the Pacific coast, believing that here he could find more ways of advancement than he could in his home locality. In the spring of 1854 he started for the West with a man who hired him to assist driving a herd of cattle, promising that he should have $50 and his board. They came as far west with the cattle and a number of ox teams as Salt Lake City, but as it had become late in the season they were compelled to go by the way of the southern route to Los Ange- les, California, in order to get through the mountains. The trip was made in nine months, and they had great trouble with the Indians, losing many of their cattle by raids. The Mor- mon Lee armed and put into motion a band of the Utes and Nez Perces, and they harassed our subject and his partner to a great extent.

After landing at Los Angeles, Mr. Hammond and his brother bought 160 acres of land near the city and put in a erop, but, owing to the large number of Mexican cattle their crop was destroyed, and they abandoned the farm and went to the mines, leaving their land, which they still own, and it is now very valuable. After he had quit mining our subject went into the lumbering and logging business, which he followed until 1837. At that time the gold ex- citement was high in British Columbia, and thither he started. However, he became afflicted with rhenmatisin and was left at the Dalles, all expecting him to die, but he gained strength and was soon able to travel and came to Walla Walla. Here he was employed in the Quartermaster's Department of the United States army for one year, in 1857-'58. Next, he took up a claim on the foot-hills east of Walla Walla, and then followed teaming for five years, doing a fine business in freighting, and with his trading in land was able to buy .land near the town.

At this time our subject made a wise move by purchasing a fine dairy farm of 450 acres, but he has now but eighty acres left, as he has sold a portion, the land being so valuable. His present farin is located two miles from the city, and for this he has refused $500 per acre. This is a beautiful farm, well improved and is very comfortably situated.

Mr. Hammond married, in 1860, Miss Ame- lia Lanksley, a native of Tennessee, who came here in 1856, and they had ten children, nine of whom are yet living. Their names are: Emory, now of Colfax; Josephine, the wife of

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James Fields; Mattie, the wife of John Reser, living near Walla Walla; Lida, John, Gertrude and Jennie, at home. Our subject is a valuable member of the Masonic order, and politically is a Republican.

S AMUEL C. HYDE, a prominent lawyer of Spokane, Washington, was born April 22, 1842, in the old and historic town of Fort Ticonderoga, New York, where the beau- tiful Lake George empties into Lake Champlain. When he was a child his parents removed with him to Wisconsin, and settled near Oshkosh, where he grew to manhood, helping to develop a farm in the new country, and receiving only such education as the common schools of that time afforded. Ile served as a private soldier in the war of the Union, in the Seventeenth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.

After the war Mr. Hyde married and settled in Iowa, where he completed his law studies at the law school of the Iowa State University. He was admitted to the bar, and practiced his pro- fession at Rock Rapids, Iowa, for seven years. In 1877 he moved with his family to the Ter- ritory of Washington, living at Puget Sound for two years. Mr. Hyde may well be consid- ered one of the pioneers of Spokane and the In- land Empire, having arrived here May 4, 1879, when the place was a little trading hamlet of less than a hundred people. The following year he brought his family here, and the next year his father's entire family settled at Spo- kane, and the Ilydes have been important factors in building up the city, some of the finest business blocks here having been built by them. Mr. Hyde was elected Prosecuting At- torney for the Northeastern District of Wash- ington in 1880, and was re-elected for three consecutive terms, holding that office for six consecutive years. He is now in active practice at the bar, and may justly be said to have achieved a position as one of the first lawyers in the State. "He is a member of Sedgwick Post, G. A. R., of this city, and is frequently called on to address the boys in blue. He also speaks upon political questions in behalf of the Repub- lican party. On the platform Mr. Hyde always speaks with energy and earnestness, and is at times most eloquent.

Ilis marriage soon after the war has already been referred to. This important event oc- curred January 18, 1869, the lady of his choice

being Miss Mattie Rogers, of Rosendale, Wis- consin. She died February 13, 1891, leaving two children, Earl and Kate, who have grown up almost from infancy in Spokane. Earl is now attending Williston Seminary at East- hampton, Massachusetts, and Miss Kate is with her grandmother at Tacoma.

H ON. CHARLES E. LAUGHITON, Lien- tenant-Governor of Washington, was born in Penobscot county, Maine, June 4, 1846. He was reared in his native State, and is a graduate of the Friends' College at Vassal- borough, Maine, with the class of 1862. That year he enlisted in the Second Maine Regiment, but, being under age, was not permitted by his parents to enter the army. He then went to Boston to study law. In 1863, however, he went into the army as cashier of sutler, attached to the Fourteenth Maine Regiment, and con- tinned in the service until the war closed.

Returning home after the war, Mr. Langhton resumed the study of law, but ill health soon compelled him to discontinue it. In 1867 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was ap- pointed postal clerk on the Union Pacific Rail- road. He was subsequently connected with the Virginia Railroad for some years; was ap- pointed Auditor of said road in 1875, and held that position until elected Lieutenant-Governor of Nevada in 1882. At the expiration of his terin of four years he removed to the western part of Stevens county, now Okanogan county, in the State of Washington. During his resi- dence in Nevada he was engaged in mining and milling speculations; now has large mining in- terests in Okanogan county. He was admitted to the bar at Tacoma in 1888, and in November of that same year was elected to the Territorial Legislature, being joint Representative from Okanogan, Stevens and Spokane counties. Oc- tober 1, 1890, he was elected Lieutenant-Gov- ernor of Washington, and during Governor Ferry's absence from the State in December, 1890, acted in his stead.

Mr. Laughton owns a fine estate near Con- conully, the county seat of Okanogan county, and here, surrounded with all the comforts and luxuries of life, he and his wife reside, he having married at Sacramento, in 1871.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

G EORGE DORFNER began business in Tacoma in June, 1888, on D and East Twenty-eighth streets, and removed to his present location, 319 East Twenty- fifth street, on March 1, 1892. He was one of the early settlers in this part of the city, there being only two who have been here as long as he has. Mr. Dorfner is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born on the 24th day of March, 1838. Ilis parents were John and Theresa (Limbech) Dorfner, the former having been born December 26, 1796, the latter in January, 1804. The subject of our sketch passed his childhood days on a small farm, where he worked with his father between the ages of six and twelve years; but he soon removed to Hagen, where he learned the trade of miller and baker. Hagen is situated in Langericht- Mitterfels, Bavaria. After mastering his trade he traveled through Germany, making his living as he went until 1860, when he decided to try the new country of America. Ile sailed from Bremen on the 17th of May, on the Anno Delius, arriving in New York the 5th of July, 1860. He soon drifted to Pennsylvania, thence to Illinois, and there worked on a farm for nearly two years, finally reached Chicago, when the Civil war broke ont. He enlisted in Com- pany D, Forty-third Illinois Infantry, on the Ist of March, 1862. He joined his regiment at Pittsburg Landing, and then began a series of hardships so common to the soldier. He was at the battles of Cornell Mountain, Bolivar, Tennessee, Vieksburg, Mississippi, and Helena, Arkansas. His last engagement was at Jenkins' Ferry, on the Saline river, April 31, 1864. He returned to Pennsylvania after the war ended, and there began work again, and in the subse- quent year was married. He again tried his fortune in Illinois, but remained only seven months, when he returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1870, when he went to Kansas and took up a homestead in Marshall county, near Marysville, where he remained five years. In 1875 he began business at Marys- ville, Kansas, and there remained for eighteen years. He left Kansas on the 8th of March, 1888, and went direct to Tacoma, where he now resides.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 129

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902 Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1056

Author: Hines, Harvey K., 1828-1902
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1056