An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 48

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 48

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Royal G., Florence and Edna. Politically, Mr. Wilson affiliates with the Republican party, and socially is a member of the Masonie order and Knights of Pythias. His investments in Spo- kane have been very profitable, and he has great faith in the future growth and prosperity of this city.

J USTICE C. F. BACKUS has been a well- known and respected citizen of Spokane for many years. All of his interests, both in a personal and professional sense, are identi- fied with this eity, and it is therefore appro- priate that more than a passing mention should be made of him in this work.

Mr. Backns was born in South Bend, Indiana, May 3, 1845, third in the family of G. W. and Mary E. (Hardman) Baekns, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. IIis father was born in 1817 and is still living, being now a resident of Waseo county, Oregon. His mother died in 1868. Mr. Baekus may well be called a pio- neer of this great Northwest, for, although a native of Indiana, he has always lived in the far western section of the country, having been brought overland by his parents to Oregon in 1850. They made the long journey with ox teams, being seven months en ronte, and settled in Linn county, Oregon. In 1850 the father secured elaim to 640 acres of land, in Linn county, which he at once began to improve and as the years rolled by developed into a fine farın.

The subject of our sketch was reared in the beautiful Willamette valley, which, though so so naturally peaceable and quiet, was in those early days the scene of many stirring events be- tween the white settlers and Indians. Inured to hardship and toil, Mr. Baekus grew to man- hood, sturdy, vigorous and determined. The border schools only sharpened his desire for a thorough education, and as soon as he could prepare himself he entered Willamette Univers- ity, where he graduated in 1866. In his early life he was engaged in various occupations, be- ing in a mereantile establishment a portion of the time. He read law in the office of Watkins & Bird at The Dalles, and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Washington in 1877, sinee which time he has constantly prac- ticed both in Oregon and Washington. He

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came to this city in 1887, and was soon after- ward appointed to the responsible and promin- ent position of Poliee Judge during the tempo- rary incapacity of the presiding judge. This office he filled with satisfaction to all. Ile has since been elected a city Justice, which position he now occupies, and for the duties of which his many years of practical experience eminently fit him.

As has already been stated, Mr. Backus is truly a pioneer of the Northwest. He was a resident of three Territories, Oregon, Washing- ton and Idaho, when they assumed the dignity of Statehood, and while he has been a witness to the changes which have brought about the de- velopment of this section of the country, he has done his part toward advaneing its welfare. In 1862-'63 he was a director and secretary of the company which constructed the Willamette Valley and Cascade wagon road. The Judge has traveled extensively over this part of the country, has ascended Mount Hood, has been in many Indian raids, has speculated in cattle, and after a somewhat eventful life is pleased to settle down in what he is convinced will become the future great city of the Northwest, Spokane.

He was married in 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Leedy, a native of Indiana. She died in An- gust, 1891, leaving two children, Lottie M. and Velma.

Mr. Backus is a member of the A. O. U. W.

A LBERT ALLEN, a well-known lawyer of Spokane, Washington, was born in Indi- ana, in 1846, son of John Wesley Allen, a native of Illinois, and Lovisa Jane (Gny) Allen, he being the second in their family of eight children.

After completing his studies in the publie schools, the subject of our sketch began the study of law, and for a time was in the office of ex-United States Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the law department of the State University of Wisconsin, at Madison, and after receiving his degree of LL. B. he at once established himself in the practice of his pro- fession at New Richmond, Wisconsin, where he was in partnership with F. P. Chapman. He subsequently moved to Deadwood, Dakota, and for eight years successfully condueted a law practice at that place, being engaged chiefly in

mining litigations. Then he went to the Coeur d'Alene country, and in 1887 came to Spokane. Here he has since resided. While he has con- dneted a general practice and his career has been a signally snecessful one, he has given spe- cial attention to mining suits, in which line of work he excels.

Mr. Allen was married in1873, to Miss Lillie D. Munson, who was born in Vermont and reared in Wiseonsin. They have three chil- dren, Frank D., Emma Gertrude and Fannie May, aged, respectively, nineteen, seventeen and ten years, and all are now students in the pub- lie schools of Spokane.

Politically, Mr. Allen is a Republican and is firm in his allegiance to that party. Person- ally, he is as popular as he has been successful, there being few men, if any, in Spokane better known or more highly respected than he.

C HARLES B. HOPKINS, General Man- ager of the Inland Telephone and Tele- graph Company Spokane, Washington, is one of the enterprising young men of the North- west. Following is a sketch of his life and an- cestry.

Charles B. Hopkins was born in San Fran- cisco, July 18, 1855, oldest child of Charles and Lney S. (Baker) Hopkins, natives of New York and Illinois, respectively. Ilis father was one of the "Forty-niners" of California, and upon his arrival in San Francisco engaged in mer- chandising and also practiced law. In 1861 he enlisted with his father-in-law. Colonel Edward D. Baker, and became Quartermaster at Fort Vancouver, where he remained until the close of the war. In 1865 he engaged in the mer- chandise business at Portland. He subsequent- ly removed to Walla Walla, where he was ap- pointed United States Marshal for Washington, and served eight years. He and his family now reside at Seattle.

Mr. Hopkins' grandfather, Colonel Baker- was one of the prominent men of his day, dis- tinguishing himself as a legislator, orator and soldier. Ife was born in London, England, February 24, 1811, and at the age of four years came with his parents to America and located in Philadelphia, remaining there ten years. In 1825 the family moved west to New Harmony, Indiana, and a year later he walked from there

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to Belleville, Illinois, then the most important town in that State. After a sojourn of two or three years there he went to St. Louis, and thence to Carrollton, Illinois, where he began the study of law. Ile was married April 27, 1831, to Mrs. Mary A. Lee. The year follow- ing his marriage, he served in the Black Hawk war. In 1837 he was elected to the State Legis- lature, was re-elected the next year, and twice, 1845 and 1848, was elected to the United States Congress. In the meantime, in 1846, he raised the Fourth Illinois Infantry and served in the Mexican war. In 1852 he came to the far West, located in San Francisco and engaged in the practice of law. Ile subsequently removed to Oregon and was soon afterward elected United States Senator, being one of the first senators from Oregon. Ile volunteered his services in the war of the rebellion in 1861, beeame Col- onel of a California regiment, and was killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff in October, 1861.

Mr. Hopkins' father having located in Port- land just after the war, Charles B. attended sehool there from 1865 to 1872. In 1873 he went to Wall Walla. There he learned the trade of printer in the office of Spirit of the West; spent two years there and then a year in Port- land and Puget Sound, working at the same business. The following year he was guard at the penitentiary on MeNeil's Island. In 1877 he located in Colfax, Washington, and, in part- nership with E. L. Kellogg, founded the Palouse Gazette, of which paper he become sole pro- prietor in 1879. In 1882 he founded the Mir- ror, and sold out a month later. That same year he was owner of the Chronicle of Spokane Falls. Ile was also the founder of the Sprague Herald. Ile was engaged in newspaper work up to 1889. and during all those years took an active part in developing the resonrees and advaneing the in- terests of the various new towns that have sprung up in Washington. In 1882 he was Commissary General of Washington Territory.

In 1886 Mr. Hopkins started the first tele- phone line in Eastern Washington, from Colfax to Almota. He extended the system rapidly and established the exchanges of Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Colfax. The first two he sold out to Mr. W. S. Norman, after which he devoted his time and attention to extending the lines tribn'ary to the Colfax exchange until May, 1890, when all the systems of Eastern Washing- ton were consolidated under the title of the In- land Telephone and Telegraph Company, of

Spokane. Mr. Hopkins then became the gen- eral manager. This company has connections with over 100 eities and towns, this being one of the most extensive inland systems in the world, and its advancement and development is greatly dne to Mr. Hopkins' business ability and untiring industry.

Ile has always been an active and working member of the Republican party. While a resi- dent of Colfax he was Mayor of the town, and resigned that office, when he came to Spokane iu 1890. Ile is one of the Commissioners of the World's Fair.

Mr. Hopkins' lovely home is beautifully furn- ished throughout, is located part way up the bluff, and commands a magnificent view of the Spokane Valley. Ile was married May 2, 1880, to Josie Davenport, a native of Oregon and at the time of her marriage a resident of Colfax. They have two daughters, Carrie and Eva.

J. L. PEEL, Auditor of Spokane county, Washington, was born near Jackson, Ten- nessee, in 1834, only child of James and Martha (Weaver) Peel. His father was a native of England, and by occupation was a machinist and millwright. Young Peel attended an aead- emy at Somerville and then took a elassieal course at Jackson College, Memphis, Tennessee.

At the age of sixteen he eame West, arriving in San Francisco, August 20, 1850, and on the Pacific coast he has since resided. For sixteen years he was a miner and was subjected to all the vicissitudes of a pioneer. He took his part in the various Indian fights, and at various times was engaged as merehant, rancher, packer, ac- countant and railroad employe, and he also filled various public offices. He was Surveyor, As- sessor and Justice of the Peace at different times, during his stay in Plumas county, California, and was Justice of the Peace in Nevada county, that State.

Mr. Peel arrived in Spokane Falls, April 17, 1884, and the ensning fall was elected JJustice of the Peace for this township. Subsequently, he received the appointment of Postmaster of Spokane, and took charge of the office Septem- ber 1, 1886, retiring September 7, 1889, having served three years and seven days. When Mr. Peel assumed the duties of this office Spokane had a population of 4,000. During his ineum-

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bency the population increased to 20,000; and in order to supply the needs of the people he embarrassed himself financially in endeavoring to supply clerical help. After retiring from the office he was engaged as register and collector for the city water works. In 1890 he was elected Auditor, which office he has ably filled, and in 1892 he was renominated by the Demo- cratie County Convention, for the same office, the nomination being by acclamation, and was elected.

Mr. Peel was married in 1860 to Miss Mary E. Robinson, a native of Missouri, but a resi- dent of California at the time of their marriage. They have five children. Lelia A. is the wife of E. J. Dyer, cashier of the Exchange National Bank of Spokane. Mattie E. married an enter- prising and well-to-do Nevada gentleman. How- ell W. is an employe and stockholder at Holly, Mason, Works & Co., one of the largest estab- lishments in the Northwest; Etta M. is the wife of Frank C. Landrum of Centralia, Washington; and Bell has just graduated at the high school in this city.

Mr. Peel is a man of broad and progressive views, is a great student and has read much of the current literature of the day. He is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow.

F REDERICK A. TILTON, deceased, was born in Littleton, New Hampshire, in 1855, youngest son of Franklin and Laura ( Balch) Tilton, natives of Vermont. His father was one of the early settlers of Littleton, was a merchant and a leading citizen there. He died in 1867, and his wife in 1872. Both were members of the Congregational Church.

Frederick A. received a high-school education in his native town, and at the age of twenty en- gaged in the mercantile business, continuing the same for fifteen years. He then spent two years in Florida, in the real-estate business. Coming to Spokane in March, 1889, he invested largely in realty, and successfully conducted a real-estate business in this city and vicinity. In company with Mr. Stocker he owned the Calhoun Addition at Gray's Ilarbor, and also had a number of lots there. Besides this he had reality at Hogniam. He also did a large renting business. Mr. Til- ton was a Republican and took an active part in political affairs.

Ile was married in 1875, to Miss Hattie G. Sawyer, a native of Littleton, and they had four children: Laura B., Frank P., Rebecca C., and William HI.

Mr. Tilton was a nephew of Henry L. Tilton, a capitalist of Spokane.

The untimely demise of the subject of this sketch occurred May 30, 1893.

H ENRY L. TILTON, one of the wealthy and influential men of Spokane, was born at North Danville, Vermont, May 3, 1828, and the early years of his life were spent on a farm, where he soon developed the good qualities of character which have led him so snecessfully through life.

At the age of twenty years he moved to Lit- tleton, New Hampshire, where he occupied a position as clerk in a store, and by his economical habits he saved money enough in a couple of years to make a journey to San Francisco. He arrived there in the early part of 1850, when many of the pioneers of the Golden West had braved the dangers of the trip across the plains. Jlis first venture was to sell water to these brave sojourn- ers. Ile followed this business for a short time only, and for one year subsequently he acted as clerk in a hardware store, but his superior busi- ness qualifications soon commanded the recogni- tion they deserved, and we next find him as the senior member of the firm of Tilton & Cady. From his humble start in life he soon advanced to one of the principal business men, and after three years of lucrative business he was enabled to retire and return East, locating in Littleton, New Hampshire. Consecutively he became a dealer in lumber, a trader in timber land, a merchant, a banker, and he was honored by his fellow citizens with a seat in the State Legisla- ture.

During the year of 1885 Mr. Tilton made a journey through the West, and during his tour of inspection he visited Spokane Falls, where his foresight and business knowledge at once gave him prescience of the chances which investment offered here. Ile made large purchases of real estate and established the Tilton Loan Com- pany. He associated himself with I. S. Kauf- man in ereeting the new postoffice building and the handsome and imposing granite block, two structures of which older cities might feel justly

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prond. He again visited his home in the East and returned in 1888, and when he realized that his faith in the future development of Spokane Falls had been well tonuded he bought more realty and organized the real-estate and loan firm of Tilton, Stoker, Frye & Co. He has been one of the men on whom this community could always count when money was needed and assis- tance required in the interest and welfare of the city. Ile was one of the originators of several of the most substantial banking corporations.

Judge Tilton, as he is commonly known, is erect in figure, and his commanding and vener- able form are in perfect accord with an honorable career. Few men can delight in a more thorough knowledge of having done their duty toward their fellow men in the city in which they re- side than Judge Tilton.

Mr. Tilton has not been inclined to political life. He was, however, a delegate to the Chicago Convention in 1880, which nominated James A. Garfield for President, and was elected one of the New Hampshire Electors on that tieket. He was a member of Governor Straw's staff, with rank of Colonel, in 1872.

S AMUEL W. BROWN, one of the repre- sentative citizens and pioneers of Clarke county, was born in Meade county, Ken- tucky, in 1819, a son of Samuel and Henrietta (Hobbs) Brown, natives of Pennsylvania. Samuel, the tenth in a family of eleven children, re- moved with his widowed mother and family to Knox county, Illinois, when quite young, and was there reared and educated, completing his course in the Knox County Academy in 1842. He was early innred to the hardships of farm life, and followed that calling for many years. In 1849 he was elected Sheriff of Knox county, for one term; then followed farming two years; and next engaged in merchandising in Gales- burg until 1857. He was the second Mayor of that city, serving a term of two years. In 1857 Mr. Brown was elected a member of the State Legislature for one term; following this he re- tired to private life for a time, but in 1861 was appointed by Abraham Lincoln as Receiver of Public Moneys in the United States Land Office at Vancouver. He came with his family, via the Isthmus and San Francisco, and took up his residence in this city July 11, of the same year.

He continued in office over twenty-one years, and during that time also engaged in other en- terprises.

In 1861 onr subject started the unrsery busi- ness now conducted by Cook & Son, which he personally superintended abont twelve years, and then leased the property. This is probably the largest and most complete nursery north of California. Mr. Brown is also the possessor of a large amount of property in the city limits of Vanconver and in the county. He was one of the chief promoters and the first president of the Vaneonver & Yakima Railroad, is vice-presi- dent of the Vancouver Transportation Company, and has been connected with other enterprises, both public and private. His life has been an active and progressive one, has been prominently identified with the growth and prosperity of this city from the first, has represented the city's official head, and has been a member of the Town Council. Politically, he is a Republican, and in years past took an active interest in poli- ties. Mr. Brown's active business career was cut short some few years ago, owing to ill health. He returned to the East with his son, Edward, remaining there about fifteen months, and dur- ing nine months of that time lay perfectly help- less at Battle Creek, Michigan, receiving treat- ment in the Sanitarium of that city.

He was joined in marriage, in Illinois, to Miss. Harriet H. Miles, a native of Indiana, and they have had three children, two now living: Charles, president of the First National Bank, of Vancouver; and Edward L. Floyd M., died in 1863. Mr. Brown met with a sore affliction in the loss of his estimable wife, who died in this city in April, 1888.

F RANCIS M. LOUDEN, one of the lead- ing farmers of Walla Walla county, a sue- cessful stock-raiser and a pioneer of Cali- fornia, was born in Boone county, Kentucky, February 7, 1831, and resided in Kentucky nn- til he was thirteen years of age and then removed with his father to Illinois. His father, Spencer Londen, was a native of Kentucky, and there married Mabel W. Bates, a native of Massachu- setts, born near Plymouth Rock and belonging to one of the families well-known in that locality. Mr. Londen removed to Illinois in 1847, lived

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there until 1856 and then removed to California by water. By trade he was a carpenter and contractor and until his removal to California had always worked at his trade. He died in 1874, at the age of seventy years. His wife still survives and lives on the old homestead in California at the age of eighty-four years. They reared a family of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second.

At the age of eighteen our subject thought often of the great gold beds lying in the gorges and the sandy river beds of California, and he, in company with four others, formed a partner- ship and fitted up a horse team with wagon and neccessary supplies and started on the danger- ons path across the plains, bound for the gold fields of California. After leaving the Missouri river the youths journeyed all alone taking a little over four months to make the trip. After reaching California our subject went at once at mining, following this employment until 1851, by which time he had made enough money to enable him to fit out a pack train, and he then went into packing, following this rennmerative employment for twenty-one years. lle packed freight over every Territory west of the Rocky mountains and in nearly every mining camp throughout California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Washington, having many escapes and running many risks. All readers of this volume who were early settlers will readily un- derstand many of the dangers which attended the freighting business at that time, as the In- dians were often very hostile. Our subject can tell some blood-curdling stories of those days and of the dangerous places he has been in, and at last he tired of the life and having made money he decided to settle down with his family.

Our subject married in 1869, and in 1878 with his family he settled in Walla Walla county, Washington, where he bought 160 acres in the bottoms of Walla Walla river, twelve miles west of the city of Walla Walla. Here he has made a fine home and probably will spend his remain- ing years here, engaged in stock business. He has always worked with the old adage in mind that if a thing is worth doing at all it is worth doing well, and his first purchase was to improve his stock by buying a few fine animals, one of the male animals costing $2,000. His herd of 125 head of horses are all fine, some of them real blooded animals. In this country the trot- ting Hambletonian breed is the favorite, and our subject has representatives of it.

Mr. Londen now owns 4,000 acres of fine land and 2,000 are cultivated to raise feed for his stock. He does not farm and raise grain to sell, but as he keeps about 600 head of cattle and 125 head of horses he needs much feed. More would be raised, but as the land is getting settled the range is being closed up. He has a fine farm here, a good house and barns and everything convenient. He takes great pride in raising bees and has much honey to sell yearly.

In 1869 our subject was elected by a large majority to the responsible office of County Commissioner, and served two years, he being the only Democrat elected in a Republican county. Ile was re-elected in 1890 and again in 1892, by a larger majority than any other can- didate, either Republican or Democrat. He was appointed by the Governor of the State as one of the Board of Trustees of the Washington Penitentiary, and still holds that position, being a very able and efficient officer.

Mr. and Mrs. Londen have three children: M. J., Francis HI., and Hettie Irene, all of whom are yet at home enjoying the comforts of a pleas- ant and happy residence in this delightful lo- cality. Mr. Londen is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically he is a Democrat, and east his first ballot for Grover Cleveland in 1892.

W ILLIAM H. OVERLOCK, Mayor of the town Kent, King county, Washing- ton, was born in the State of Maine, October 17, 1865. His parents, Jacob and El- mira (Nowell) Overlock, were also natives of the Pine tree State, both being now deceased. Will- iam H. is the fifth of the family of five chil- dren ; he was reared amid the scenes of his birth, and received his education near the old farm, which was his home until 1881. In that year he began the journeyings that were not to end until he had passed beyond the great plains and over the mountains of the Pacific Coast States. He first went to Lawrence, Massachusetts, but after a few months went to Boston, where he en- gaged in butchering stock for market; he be- came expert in this business and also developed into a good judge of market animals.

The quiet New England methods of business were not according to the ideas of "Young America," so onr subject determined to go West; this he did, and for a period of two years

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was mining in Arizona near the town bearing the cheerful name of Tombstone. Ile was very snecessful in this venture, but after a time came to the coast, and permanently located in Kent in 1890. Ile took up the old occupation of butchering, and as he is a complete master of the business he has won a large and steady pat- ronage. Choosing his stock from the pastures of the surrounding country he has the advantage of those depending upon wholesale packers. Ilis shop is neat and clean, and the stock is handled with the utmost care and nieety; the assistants are capable and courteous, and are zealous in their efforts to please enstomers.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 48

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