An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 50

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 50

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Ile was married in San Francisco, in May, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth F. Porter, a native of Maryland. They have five children, namely: Elizabeth M., now Mrs. C. M. Dasher; Sarah E., wife of J. Landgraff; William T .; Elizabeth F. and Hettie May.

A. PUSEY, Superintendent of Schools of King county, Washington, was born in Champaign county, Illinois, November 27. 1853.

Renben Pusey, his father, wes a native of Ohio, and when a boy moved with his parents to Illinois, they being among the first settlers on the Sangamon river. He married Miss Eliza- beth Hawk, a native of Ohio, and eighteen months after his marriage departed this life, leaving a widow and infant son. This child, V. A. Pnsey, was taken by his grandmother, with whom he remained until the opening of the Civil war, when the home was broken up by his uneles going into the army. He then returned to his mother, whose untimely death occurred when he was eleven years old. Thus, at a tender age, he was thrown upon his own re- sources,

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From necessity, young Pusey's education be- came secondary to his efforts in sustaining life, but, with a desire for knowledge, he improved every possible opportunity, and by his study in the common schools and an attendance of one year at the seminary at Harveysburg, Ohio, he fitted himself for teaching, and at the age of eighteen years entered that profession. By hnus- banding his resources he was enabled to enter Westfield College in Clark county, Illinois, and there secured a thorough knowledge of the English branches. Ile was then appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the Seventh District of Illinois, and filled that office for eighteen months. At the same time he studied law, and in 1877 was admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court of Illinois, after which he entered into the practice of his profession at Champaign, that State. Afterward he removed to Kansas, where he continued in the practice of law until 1881. That year he went to Ne- osho, Newton county, Missouri, and resumed teaching, and the following year he was made principal of the public schools of that place.

In 1884 Prof. Pusey sought a location in the far West. Coming to Washington Territory, he settled at Farmington, where he taught school three years and at the same time edited the Farmington Post. In the summer of 1887 he came to King county and taught the school at Franklin Mines, subsequently becoming principal of the schools at Black Diamond. While at the latter place he was elected County Superintendent of Schools of King county. In 1890 he was re-elected to the same position, re- ceiving a majority of 3,800 votes, and in the convention of 1892 he was again re-nominated. and elected, receiving a plurality of 3,560.

When Prof. Pusey assumed the duties of his office in January, 1889, there were 5,000 chil- dren of school age in the county, 120 teachers, and very few school buildings worthy of men- tion. Each district had only about three or four months of school, the same teacher having charge of two or three schools during the year. With the increase of population there are now (1893) 16.831 children of school age, 323 teach - ers, and the school districts have increased from sixty-eight to 113. The old buildings have largely been replaced by commodious new ones and the system of instruction has been greatly improved. The corps of teachers represents nearly every State in the Union, many of them being graduates of State normal schools, and

by the annual system of institute work adopted by Prof. Pnsey the course of instruction is be- coming more and more advanced. Prof. Pusey is engaged in this work with enshusiastic devo- tion. Though his earnest and persistent efforts is being perfected a system of instruction that is unsurpassed by any other county or State.

The Professor resides at Yesler, on Union Bay, where he owns forty acres of land and where he has erected a- spacious and elegant home. He was married in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1878, to Miss Amnand M. Pusey, a native of Illinois. They have had three children, only one of whom is living.

F A. TWICHIELL, County Anditor of King county, Washington, was born in Wash- ington county, Minnesota, November 15, 1860. Ilis father, Ebenezer C. Twichell, was born in Oswego county, New York, and was married to Miss Polly A. Twichell. of the same county and name, thought not related. Their ancestors were English people who emigrated to New England at the time of the Puritan set- tlement of that country. Ebenezer (". Twichell was a mechanic by trade, but bis chief ocenpa- tion was farming, which he followed in Illinois from 1853 to the fall of 1854. Then he re- moved to Minnesota, where he passed the rest of his days. His life was characterized by sim- plicity, honesty and industry. While he affili- ated with the Republican party, he never en- tered actively into the political arena.

F. A. Twichell attended the district school of his county until he was thirteen, when he en- tered the high school at lastings, Minnesota, employing the unoccupied moments before and after school and on holidays at the usnal drudg- ery of farm work, of which there was always plenty to do. At the age of seventeen he began self-support and also assisted in helping his family, as his father had become an invalid. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching. His first school was a disorderly frontier one, in which the pupils had been masters of the sitna- tion. . Upon assuming authority therein, he es- tablished rules of discipline and etiquette, soon became the ruling influence, and completed his service, which however, entirely satisfied him with school-teaching. He next entered a gro- cery store as clerk, and remained three years

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

Then he went into the paper and notion store of W. P. Stanley, of Hastings,-now of Seattle,- and in 1884 became the manager of the store, meanwhile reincing the stock preparatory to re- moving to Seattle, which he did in January, 1885. Mr. Twichell continued in the employ of Mr. Stanley up to March, 1887, and at that time he was appointed Deputy Auditor of King county. He acted as deputy till the fall of 1890, when he received the unanimous nomina- tion of the Republican County Convention for the first place, and was elected Auditor at the November election with a handsome majority. The office also combining that of Recordler, Clerk of the Board of Connty Commissioners, and purchasing agent for King county institu- tions, its routine work necessitated the employ- ing of a force of from fifteen to forty men. Mr. Twiehell performed the several duties with such promptness and fidelity that at the convention in 1892 he was the unanimous choice for re- election, and was re-elected by the largest vote and majority of any candidate on the county ticket. He has also served two terms as a men- ber of the City Council of Seattle.

He was married in Hastings, Minnesota, in 1884, to Estelle M., daughter of W. P. Stanley. Their only child is Marjorie A.

Mr. Twiehell affiliates with the subordinate, encampment, canton and Rebekah degree lodges, I. O. O. F., the K. of P., and the A. O. U. W.

Z D. BROWN, attorney-law, Spokane, Washington, was born in the Territory of Oregon, in 1858. He was educated at the Willamette University at Salem, that State, where he took a commercial course. In 1873 he began mercantile life in Scio, Oregon. In the spring of 1880 he removed to Klickitat county, Washington, but one year later, in the spring of 1881, came to Spokane, where he has ever since remained.

Mr. Brown entered the law office of Shaw & Mallory, of Salem, Oregon, in 1876, for the purpose of reading law, from which, in 1886, he was called away to look after business mat- ters. Mr. Brown again took up the study of law in the office of Nash, Kinard & Murry, at Spokane, Washington, with whom he remained until the fall of 1888, when he determined to attend a, law school, choosing the Cumberland

University, of Lebanon, Tennessee, from which institution he graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1888. After being admitted to practice in the courts of the State of Tennes- see, he returned to Spokane, Washington, and was admitted to practice in the courts of that State.

Mr. Brown has been closely identitied with the growth and prosperity of the beautiful city, in which he has chosen to make his home, deal- ing largely in real essate. Mr. Brown is a young man of ability and integrity, and very popular, making friends wherever he goes. He was married, in 1889, to Miss Marie L. Ayatte, of Montreal, Canada.

W W. REDHEAD, in the employ of Knapp, Brunell & Company, of Spokane, Washington, was born in Ashtabula, Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1863, a son of Henry and Henrietta (Sinclair) Redhead, na- tives of England and Pennsylvania respectively. The father was a merchant by occupation.

W. W., the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the public schools of Ashtabula, Ohio, and while in that city he was engaged in the mercantile business two years, and in a railroad office six years. In 1887 he came to Spokane, Washington, where he immediately found em- ployment with Knapp, Brunell & Company as bookkeeper. Four years later he was promoted to manager of the company's business at Spokane, snd he still holds the position. The main office of this company is at Portland, Oregon, and they also have branch houses at Colfax, Walla Walla, Seattle, Dayton, Tacoma, Spokane, Ellensburg, Pullman, Palouse, Oaks- dale, and Davenport, in Washington; and Athens, Albany, and Island City, Oregon. All of the branch houses in eastern Washington are under the control of the Spokane house, and they now have an annual trade amounting to $300.000.

Mr. Redhead was married, at the age of seven- teen years, to Miss Elizabeth Sheldon, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, and they have had four children: Raymond, aged twelve years; Carl, ten years; Earl, eight years; and May, four years. Politically, Mr. Redhead is identified with the Democratic party, and socially is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a

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bright, young business man, and by his ability has placed the business of the company he repre- sents on a firm and seenre basis. Ile is kind and courteous to all, a characteristic that has won him many friends in the city and surround- ing country.

G S. WOLVERTON, a hardware merchant of Spokane, was born in Oregon, in 1864, a son of John and Mary J. (Neely) Wol- verton, natives of Ohio and New York, respectively.

G. S., the subject of this sketch, and the youngest of seven children, took a scientific course at the Monmonth College, Oregon, and was valedictorian in the class of 1886. He also attended the Portland College. In 1886 Mr. Wolverton located permanently in Spokane, Washington, although he was a property holler in this city in 1885. In company with his brother, A. P., he now owns the Temple Court block, a five-story building, one of the largest and finest in the city. Ile also holds an interest in the Wolverton & Byrd Hardware Co., which is one of the largest of its kind in the city, and is located in a fine structure on Riverside avenne. Mr. Wolverton is erecting a residence in Brown's addition, which is in keeping with progressive ideas and social standing.

He was married, in 1890, to Miss Eva B. Prosser, a native of Ohio. They have one son, Guy S., aged twenty months. In his political views, Mr. Wolverton is a Republican. He is one of the wealthiest young men in Spokane, and his business ability is beyond question.

R EV. B. HIELD, Principal of the School of the Sacred Heart, of Spokane, was born in Switzerland, in 1851. Ile was edu- cated at the Universities of Munich and Vienna, and graduated in medicine in the Medi- cal College of Zurich. Ile began the study of theology at Salzburg, Austria, was ordained a priest in 1877, and was the: pre"essorof mathe- mathies and music in Mount Angel College, Switzerland, until 1882. In that year he came to the United States, and first took charge of a parish in Oregon one year, was procurator of a large farin and sawmill for the Benedictine

Fathers in that State, three years, and was made director of the Mount Angel. College. located forty miles south of Portland. Three years later Father Held came to Spokane, where he was Chaplain of a hospital and assisted in church work one year, and then started his present school. He erected a church, and bought the high-school bnilding on Fifth street, where he now has a membershipof 350 pupils, and teaches the full classical course, the high and common school branches. They make a specialty of music and the languages, and employ four sis- ters and three male teachers. The school promises to become one of the most successful in the city, and Father Held has proved himself an able manager of any educational institution. The church, founded at the same time, is also in a very flourishing condition.

J OIIN TATE, Notary and Justice of Medi. cal Lake, and one of its pioneer settlers, was born in England, in 1839, the eldest child of Thomas and Elizabeth (Betts) Tate, natives also of that country. The parents came to America in 1856, going first to Northern Wisconsin, but soon afterward located in Cass county, lowa, where they were among the early pioneers. They purchased and improved Gov- ernment land. The father died in 1887, but the mother still resides on the old homestead with her two daughters and one son.

John Tate, the subject of this sketch, attended school in England, where he also studied civil engineering, and after coming to this country attended school in Wisconsin. After removing to Iowa he taught school there several terms, and then engaged in farming. In 1873 he pur- chased a farm near Portland, Oregon, where he remained six years, and then, on account of ill health, came to what is now the town of Medi- eal Lake. Mr. Tate was one of the first campers on the bank of the lake. He took up a home- stead one mile from the lake, later purchased and improved a quarter section of railroad land adjoining. but in 1888 embarked in the real- estate, insurance and collecting business in the city, which he still continues. He was the first real-estate agent in Medical Lake, and now makes many sales. In addition to his valuable farms near the busy and growing resort of Medical Lake, he also owns good property in the eity.

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Politically, he is an active Republican, was in- strumental in organizing that party in this county, and has been a delegate to State and county conventions.

In 1861 Mr. Tate was united in marriage to Mise Jane Davis, and they had eleven children, namely: Thomas R .; Edna, wife of Arthur J. Cone, of Crescent Park, Washington; Eliza, a teacher by occupation; Martha, who died in youth; Anna; Seth, a printer of Pullman; Ed- ward; John, who died at the same time as his mother, aged seven years; Ivy; Roy; and one deceased in infancy. Mrs. Tate died September 12, 1888. Our subject takes an active interest in educational matters, and is a member of the Methodist Church. He was a member of the first quarterly conference at Spokane, in 1880; was one of the organizers of the church in this city, and is now Superintendent of the Sunday- school. Mr. Tate has been a pioneer to several State-, but has seen none that promised such prosperity as is now coming to the vicinity of Washington, where he has made his home. There, under his observation, the wilderness has given place to prosperous towns and well tilled fields. He is greatly interested in improvement and public affairs, and is a civil officer.

D R. JOHN M. SEMPLE, Superintendent of the Eastern Washington Hospital for the Insane, at Medical Lake, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1857, a son of Andrew and Catherine (Matthews) Semple, natives also of that country. The parents came to America in 1868, locating in Utica, New York, where the father was engaged as a printer. In 1882 they removed to Kansas, and are still residents of that State.

John M., the fifth of nine children, attended private schools in Scotland until coming to this country with his parents, after which he was a pupil in the public schools of Utica, New York. In 1872 he began learning telegraphy, and soon became an operator in the former city, also at- tending school at night. In 1880 he went to Albany, where he secured employment in the Mutual Union Office, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, as chief operator, remaining there until the spring of 1882. He began the study of medieine in 1882, as a private student of Pro- fessor Hailes, and the following year was ap- pointed Clinical Assistant and Apothecary of

the Utica Asylum. In the fall of 1884 he re- sumed the study of medicine at Bellevue, New York, from which college he was graduated in 1886. In the latter year he received the ap- pointment in the State Asylum for Insane Criminals at Auburn; was House Physician and Surgeon one year in the King County General Asylum; next re-appointed at the Asylum in Auburn; and in December, 1889, came to Spo- kane, Washington. Dr. Semple was engaged in a general practice one year, and then, at the opening of the Eastern Washington Asylum, was appointed to his present position. Under his charge the death rate has been but three per cent., and the recovery of patients thirty per cent., which is a high average for such institu- tions. The Doctor was a delegate from this State to the meeting of the American Medico- Psychological Society at Washington, District of Columbia, May 3, 1892.

lle was married in 1890, to Miss Almira Bennett Clary, a native of Auburn, New York, and a daughter of John L. Clary. To this union has been born one son, John Clary. Mrs. Sem - ple is a member of the Episcopal Church. So- cially, the Doctor is an active member of the Masonic order. Dr. Semple is well qualified for his position as the head of such an institu- tion, as his study and practice since beginning his profession has been in a great degree of mental diseases, and he has been among such patients in the most extensive institutions in the land. The Eastern Washington Hospital for the Insane under Dr. Semple's charge, is not only well kept and excellently disciplined, but is noted for its cleanliness.

H ON. JAMES O'NEILL, who has long been identified with the growth and development of the great Northwest, is now State Senator of the Second District, comprising the counties of Spokane and Stevens.

Mr. ('Neill was born in Schenectady county, New York, in 1826, the oldest in the family of five children of James E. and Elizabeth ( Marsh) ()'Neill. His father was a native of Ireland, and his mother of New York. Grandfather Jame; ()'Neill came to America in 1812, first settled in New York city, and afterward moved to Schenectady county, where he spent the rest of his life and died. He was a tanner by trade. .

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Grandfather Silas Marsh, a native of Connecti- ent, was also one of the pioneers of Schenectady county. Ile kept a hotel and a fine farm. His death ocenrred in that county. James E. ('Neill was fifteen years old when he went with his father to Schenectady county, and in that county he spent his life. He built a store at Duanesburg, conducted business there from 1819 to 1876, and died in 1878. His wife lived until 1887 or 1888.

James received his education in the public schools and in the Albany and Gallupville academies. He began clerking in his father's store, and was afterward employed as clerk in Albany until 1849, when he engaged in busi- ness for himself as a provision merchant. In 1851 he went to New York, and conducted a similar business in that city until 1853. That year he came West, making the journey via the Isthmus of Panama, and upon his arrival in Oregon, located in Oregon City. He was agent for Wells, Fargo & Co. until the fall of 1857. After a visit to New York in 1858, he settled in Portland in 1859, and engaged in business there until 1861. Ile was soon afterward ap- pointed teacher and superintendent of the Nez Perces, and was in charge of that tribe of Indians until 1868. Then he returned to New York, again engaged in the provision business there, and remained until 1878. Coming back to Washington that year, he was appointed farmer for the Coeur d' Alene Indians, whiel position he tilled until 1887, and during that time materially advanced the interests of the Indians. He resigned in 1887. He had also been Postmaster of Che-we-lah for some time, and that position he resigned the following year. In 1881 he was representative to the Territorial Legislature from Stevens and Spokane counties. In 1888 he was elected County Anditor of Stevens county, filling the office two years. In the fall of 1889 he was elected to his present position, that of Senator, for a term of four years. While a member of the Territorial Legislature he put the bill through, incorporating Spokane Falls in 1881. In the Senate he is now serving as chairman of the Committees on Indian Affairs and Mines and Mining, and is also a member of the Com- mittee on Internal Improvements.

The Major, as he is familiarly called, has always taken an active part in political affairs. At his majority he was a Whig, and continued as such until the Republican party was

organized. In 1855 he was a delegate to the first Whig convention ever held in Oregon, held at Corvallis. He was one of the leading spirits at Oregon City all the time he resided there. In 1856 he was elected Mayor of Port- land, and in 1857 was re elected to the same position. He was a delegate to the Seattle Convention in 1892.

Mr. O'Neill was married, in 1849, to Miss Caroline M. Grinnell, a native of New York. She died in 1871, leaving one child, Kate, now the wife of W. W. Tompkins, of New York city.

A great reader, an extensive traveler, a close observer of men and affairs, possessing a genial disposition, being a good converser and having a fund of reminiscences, he is indeed an agree- able and entertaining gentleman. He was a citizen of two Territories when they were vested with the dignity of Statehood, has wit- nessed the various changes which have taken place on the Pacific coast during the past four decades, and has not only been a witness to these changes but has also taken an active part in them, aiding materially in advancing the best interests of the great Northwest. As pub- lie official, municipal, county and State, he has discharged his trust with the strictest fidelity and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

G HARLES B. DUNNING, a member of the Spokane county bar, and a man who for several years has been prominently identified with the various interests of Spokane, was born at Smithville, New York, January 16, 1840. His father, John Dunning, a native of Scotland, went to Ireland when a young man, and was there married to Miss Ellen MeKay, a native of the Emerald Isle. Immediately after his marriage he sailed with his bride for America, landing at New York about 1831 or 1832, and soon afterward settling in Chenango county. New York, where he now resides, hav- ing reached the advanced age of ninety-three, still being in the enjoyment of excellent health. He owns a fine, well-improved farm there. Mr. Dunning's mother died in 1873.

Charles B. made the best use of the edu- cational advantages afforded him, and at the early age of fifteen years began teaching school. He subsequently entered Cincinnatus Academy,

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in Cortland county, New York, taking a full course and graduating in the spring of 1862.

In August of the same year he graduated, Mr. Dunning enlisted in the Eighth New York Cavalry, then going to the front, and served until the close of the war. being mustered out in Virginia, June 7, 1865. Hle served under Generals Buford, Wilson and Custer in the Army of the Potomac, was under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, and during that time participated in many of the most important battles of the war. Twice he was wounded: at Brandeth Station, in Virginia, in 1863, he received a bullet wound in his leg, and while in hospital was promoted as Sergeant; in 1864, at Waynesborongh, Virginia, he received a sabre cut in the knee.

The war over. he returned home, and the following two years studied and taught school, being in poor health during that time. He was then engaged in various occupations until the fall of 1879, when he sold out and came West. Landing in Walla Walla, Washington, that winter, he pre-empted a soldier's claim and bought other property, improved the same, and was engaged in stock raising there for six years. For the past six years he and his family have been residents of Spokane, and the proba- bility of his leaving this city of his own free will is slight. Since coming here he has served the city in the capacity of Municipal Judge and as Justice of the Peace, in the meantime being admitted to the bar. While in office he tried more than 5,000 cases, and it is a fact worthy of record that not a dozen of them were ever appealed to a higher court. Mr. Dunning is interested in the McCabe, Johnson & Co. hardware business, has invested in the city of Hudson, a beautiful town site on the Columbia river, and is also interested in a number of mining camps. He has always been a worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and since coming to Washington has served as dele- gate to the State Convention. He is a member of Sedgwick Post, G. A. R., and at this writing is Assistant Adjutant General for the Depart- ment of Washington and Alaska.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 50

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