An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 54

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

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At the close of the war General McKenny returned to Keokuk, Iowa, completed his studies in medicine at the lowa College of Physicians and Surgeons and graduated in 1866. The same year he was appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate as Superintendent of Indian Affairs of Washington Territory, and came to the coast January 1, 1867, to assume the duties of office, with headquarters at Olympia. In this capacity he served tive years, then resigned and engaged in handling real es- tate and later in the drug business, which he followed up to 1888, when he retired. He was President of the State Hospital for the Insane for a number of years. He has also been ac-

tively interested in the development of schools. During the construction of the Olympia d. Lemin railroad, he was president of the Company, president of Olympia Hotel Com- pany, and builder of the McKenny Block.

General MeKenny was married in St. Louis, in 1863, to Miss Adelaide, danghter of the llon. Washington King, the "Know-Nothing" Mayor of St. Louis, elected before the war.

G RAHAM BARCLAY DENNIS, one of the leading citizens of Spokane, was born June 1, 1855. His father was an Englishman by birth, a minister of the gospel, an author and linguist. The mother was of German descent. As far back as the family lineage can be traced on both sides, the heads of the families were professional men of note. The brothers and sisters of our subject lead professional lives.

The greater part of G. B. Dennis' boyhood life was spent in Cincinnati, Ohio, attending the primary and intermediate schools until his fourteenth year. He was always an industrious student, arithmetic being his preference over all studies. His earliest business experience was as a newsboy, at the age of ten years, and four years later, much to the disappointment of his parents, he left school and began the labor of lite for himself. The following three years were spent as an apprentice in the drug busi- ness, but the hard, dirty work experienced in the subordinate part of his duties did not pre- clude his taking a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical Institute, which was attended at night. Feeling that progress would be slow in this business, he next became an employee in a tobacco-manufacturing company, remaining there one year. At the age of eighteen years, and beginning to feel the want of education, he took a collegiate course, working at odd hours to defray his expenses at school. After leaving college Mr. Dennis took the local editorship of the Dayton (Ohio) Daily Journal, but long hours told upon his health, and he was forced to give up the work. He next secured the position of assistant business manager of the same institution, but after spending five years there his natural aptitude at mechanics and love of science, coupled with a naturally in- quisitive mind, led him into the field of inven-

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tion, and an electrical postage stamp canceler was the result. This was an ingenious and use- ful machine, but in order to bring it to a finan- cial success required more money and experi . ence than our subject could command. Out of position and penniless, Mr. Dennis then opened an office for the collection of accounts, which finally developed into a semi-banking business, including the organization of stock companies. Ten years of great success followed, then fail- ing in health, caused by overwork, a change of scene, life and climate was necessitated.

May 5, 1885, our subject came with his fam- ily to Spokane Falls. Although inexperienced in the habits and enstoms of Western people, he soon acclimated himself, and became, as the saying is, a Westerner. The town was then 1,200 strong, and presented a business activity unequaled by any similar town of its size in the Eastern States. Mr. Dennis spent the first year in a critical research into the resources of the country, which at that time were in their infancy, being little developed or understood, yet enough to warrant confidence. In 1886 he inade his first purchase of real estate, but, be- ing used and habituated to a very active life, he soon became tired of semi-activity. The mining country at that time began to show en- couragement, and he was soon led from a former similar occupation in the East into mining jour- nalism, and began the publication of the Spo- kane Miner, which was a success from many standpoints. Mining soon enlisted Mr. Dennis' attention, and resulted in his interesting the first Eastern capital in the development of mines in the Coeur d'Alene. In 1886 he was elected to the city council, served two years, and during that time much of the early public im- provement took place, -- streets paved, water- works and bridges built, etc., in all of which he took an active interest. In 1888 he organized the first company and erected the first electrical street railway in the Northwest, in Spokane. This undertaking was successfully accomplished in the face of repeated failures elsewhere, and great prejudices against electric locomotion. Mr. Dennis began to build the road according to his own and best ideas, and the result was a road scientifically, mechanically and practically perfect ; four miles of double track was laid, water being the generative power used for electrical propulsion. The buildings, brick and stone; the.cars the best the Pullman Company had ever built for the purpose np to that time,

and the result is the road has an operating ree- ord unequaled by that of any other. Although it has been in use four years, it still bears the prestige of being the best constructed street railway in America. Mr. Dennis resigned the presidency of the road after two years.

In 1890 he was elected a member of the School Board, and was Chairman of Committees upon Buildings. The magnificent high-school building and other school property were planned and constructed during this time, this same School Board having the honor of raising the standard of the schools in point of education, until to-day they rank first in the State for excellence. He was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Northwestern In- dustrial Exposition of this city, and was its first vice-president. Again broken in health, he made a visit to Europe in 1891, returning in the fall of the same year, and since that time numerous letters have been written by Mr. Dennis tor publication in journals at home and in the East. He has also delivered several lec- tures. In 1892 he was made one of the Trustees of the Jenkins University, an educational insti- tution which bids fair to be one of the highest standards of learning. He is Treasurer and a member of the Exeentive Board. This institu- tion was established through the munificence of Colonel D. B. Jenkins, of Spokane, he having endowed it with lands worth half a million of dollars. Mr. Dennis is also heavily interested in mica mining in Idaho, and is the General Manager of the Muscovite Mica Mining Com- pany, an organization comprising many of the wealthiest men of Chicago. He is also the president of the Old Dominion Mining and Concentrating Company, whose great silver mines, the greatest in the State, lie in Stevens County, Washington. To him is due the de- velopment of this famous property.

He has given very liberally to all enterprises that have tended to the betterment and growth of Spokane and the Northwest, and to-day is one of the largest holders of both unimproved and improved real estate in the city.

At the age of twenty-four years our subjeet was united in marriage to Hester L. Bradley, a native of Dayton, Ohio, and they have three children. Mr. Dennis is a Republican in his political views; religiously, is a member of the Presbyterian Church; is one of the wealthiest men of the State; is aggressive, yet tempered with judgment, and as a business man is con-

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servative, energetic and attentive. He has en- dured many hardships through life, but always had the star of success in view, and the will to work to attain it; always made a thorough study of every undertaking, its details, etc., and was never satisfied until he had thoroughly mastered it. Mr. Dennis has been the means of the business success of many others, and has rendered both moral and financial help. No man in the State occupies a more enviable po- sition. He has the ntmost confidence, regard, respect and honor of all those who know him. A young man yet in years, his fortune is full of added honors.

H ENRY WELLS DEWEY, M. D., al- though a young man, ranks with the foremost in his profession in the State of Washington. Ile was born at Hudson, New York, Jnne 30, 1859, and is a son of Henry Wells, Sr., and Mary L. (McGiffert) Dewey. In 1870, the family removed to Pitts- field, Massachusetts, where the subject of this sketch received a high-school education. In 1879 he began attendance at the medical de- partment of the University of Vermont, at which institution he gradnated with honor in June, 1881, winning in the competitive exam- ination the fine gold medal, the highest reward of merit which the faculty had the power to bestow. Dr. Dewey also holds from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York, a diploma, which he received in May, 1881.

After the completion of his studies, the Doctor returned to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he entered into partnership with his pre- ceptor, Dr. O. S. Roberts, with whom he was associated three years. While there, he served two years as City Physician, and was for two years a member of the Board of Health, in which latter body he acted as chairman for the year. Always a student, and ever mindful of progression in his chosen profession, Dr. Dewey entered, in the spring of 1587, the New York Polyclinic, where he further fitted himself for his life work.

In the fall of the same year, seeking a new field for the exercise of his energies, Dr. Dewey sailed, via the Isthmus of Panama, for Tacoma, bringing with him all his earthly possessions. He arrived at his destination on the first of No- vember, and at once entered with zest into his

work in his chosen location. His energy as a man and skill in his profession soon placed himn in front rank among his fellow citizens, and he became thoroughly identified with the best in- terests of his eity. On the completion of the Fanny Paddock Hospital, he was asked to take a place on its staff of officers, which proposition he accepted. In May, 1891, he was appointed a member of the State Medical Examining Board, by Governor Elisha P. Ferry, and in 1892 was elected president of that honorable body. In August, 1893, he was appointed by the Commissioner of Pensions Examining Sur- geon for the Pension Bureau. He is a charter member and was the second president of the Pierce County Medical Society, and also belongs to the Washington State Medical Society. Fra- ternally, he is prominently identified with the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar, a No- ble of the Mystic Shrine, and having taken the thirty-second degree.

At Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1882, Dr. Dewey was married to Miss Maud M. Brown, a lady of rare culture and refinement, and they have one child.

Dr. Dewey is one of the leading citizens of Tacoma, and, through his prominence in his profession, is a representative man of the State of Washington.

COMPTON, a pioneer of Klickitat county, was born in Marion county, Indiana, in 1828, a son of Joshua and Olive (Renwor- thy) Compton, natives of Ohio and South Carolina, respectively. The family ancestry can be traced through the Revolutionary period, also ean give reminiscences of the time of the coming of the Mayflower. The family is a long- lived race, some of the grandparents living to ex- treme old age. Joshua Compton moved with his family from Wayne county, Indiana, to Marion county, Indiana, at an early day, and at that time Indianapolis contained but a few houses. He bought 160 acres of Government land, paying $1.25 per acre, which he cleared, and put a part under cultivation. They ob- tained their living from their farm products and wild game, which was plentiful at that time. Mr. Compton died in 1842, and his wife de- parted this life some twenty years later.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

I. Compton, the subject of this sketch, re- ceived his early education and training in Ma- rion county. Being the third in a family of nine children, he was thrown upon his own re- sources at the age of eightcen years. In 1856 he went to Iowa, two years later returned to his home, in 1859 removed to Portland, Oregon, eight years afterwards removed to Puget Sound, and in 1876 came to Klickitat county, Wash- ington. Mr. Compton took np 160 acres of Government land, located six miles east of Gol- dendale, all of which is now under a fine state of cultivation. He had a fine orchard of apple, peach, pear and prune trees. He was engaged in farming and stock-raising until April, 1892, when he moved to and purchased four and a half acres in Goldendale. "Three acres is devoted to prunes and the remainder to other fruits and vegetables. Mr. Compton has had much expe- rience in fruit-raising, and will soon make that ocenpation one of the industries of the place.

He was married in Marion county, Indiana, in 1858, to Miss Mary Jane Turner, a native of Virginia. They have three children: Ida Alice Blanchard, living on the Columbia river; James T., who owns the old home farm; and Frank S., at home. The family are members of Grange No. 83, at No. 6, Klickitat county, of which James T. is Worthy Master, and was one of the organizers of the society in the county. Polit- ically, Mr. Compton votes with the People's party. He is one of the leading, thrifty and progressive men of Klickitat county, also one of the pioneers, and takes a deep interest in every enterprise for the good of his community.

W ILLIAM W. BEEKS, a prominent farmer residing in Pleasant Valley, Klickitat county, was born in Randolph county, Indiana, near the Ohio State line, Octo- ber 14, 1839. His parents, William E. and Christiana (Clenney) Beeks, were natives re- spectively of Ohio and Indiana.

The subject of this sketch, the first born in their family of six children, was reared to farm life and followed that calling until 1862, when he enlisted in the Ninety-sixth Regiment of Indiana Infantry. Participating in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, he was wounded by a musket ball, and has ever since been incapaci- tated for physical labor. He was discharged on

account of this wound, after serving about nine months. Ile is now receiving a small pension.

Soon after his return home from the war, he located at Wabash, Indiana, and seven years afterward he removed to Nodaway county, Mis- souri, and four years after that again to Mills

county, Iowa. Ile was in the latter county, however, but a few months, when he came to Washington county, Oregon. Since 1879 he has been a resident of the connty where he now lives. Ilis farm is located twelve and a half miles east of Goldendale. It comprises 320 aeres, all of which is enclosed, and he has 180 acres in cultivation. Ile raises live stock as his principal occupation.

Politically, Mr. Beeks is a stalwart Republi. can. He takes an active interest in educational work, and is now a Director of school district No. 15. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R., holding his membership in Baker Post, No. 20, and he is also a member of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.

He has been married twice. August 30, 1863, in Indiana, he married Elizabeth MeDan- iel, a native of Ohio, and they had one son, Joseph E. In April, 1873, in Missouri, he married Emeline Rees, a native of Ohio, and by this union there were two daughters: Min- nie M. and Eva E.

C HARLES McDOUALL, one of the lead- ing farmers and representative men in the vicinity of Medical Lake, is Postmaster of the town, and we offer the following brief sketch of his life.

Mr. McDouall was born in Pennsylvania in 1848, next to the youngest of six children of Peter and Sarah (Lang) MeDouall. His father was a native of Scotland, and his mother of New Jersey. The former came to America about the time he reached his majority and set- tled in Pennsylvania. In 1852 he went to Iowa and engaged in farming, and in 1867 continued his way westward to California, located at Santa Rosa and established himself in the merchandise business. He came to Washington in 1882 and settled on Puget Sound, where he died in 1886. Mr. MeDouall's mother is still living, and makes her home with him.

The subject of our sketch was educated at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa. He

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came with his parents to the far West, and for a time was engaged as clerk in California. In 1879 he came to Washington, and, after spend- ing one year in Walla Walla and one year on the Sound, finally located in Spokane county. Here he bought 160 aeres of land, a mile and a half northwest of Medical Lake, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of raising a fine grade of horses.

Mr. MeDouall takes an active interest in po- litical affairs. In 1886 he was elected County Commissioner, and served one term of two years. In June, 1892, he received the ap- pointment as Postmaster of Medical Lake. Since 1890 he has been a trustee of the State Insane Asylum, having been appointed as such by the Governor of Washington. Of pleasing address, frank and cordial with his fellow men, public-spirited and generous, Mr. MeDouall has hosts of friends here and is eminently fitted for the public positions he occupies. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity and of the Congregational Church.

In 1872 Mr. MeDouall was married to Miss Jennie Yales, a native of Missouri, daughter of William Yales. She went to California with her parents in 1852. They have three children: Mar- garet, Kenneth and Edith.

A NDREW LEFEVRE, engaged in the real- estate business in Medical Lake, was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1824, a son of Peter and Margaret (Osea) Lefevre, also natives of Canada. Our subject received no educational advantages, and was engaged in farming in Canada until twenty-three years of age. In 1851 he removed to California, where he engaged in mining three years, was one of the pioneer settlers of Siskiyou county, that State, and in September, 1850, removed to Walla Walla, Washington, to fight the Indians. In 1872 Mr. Lefevre moved to and located the town site of Medical Lake, where he is one of the largest land owners in the city. He also contributed largely to the establishment of the Asylum for the Insane at this place. Politi- cally, he votes with the Democratic party, and has held the office of County Commissioner one term.

Our subject was married in Canada, to Miss May, of English descent, who lived but three years after her marriage. To that nnion was

born two children, both now deceased. In 1862, at Walla Walla, Mr. Lefevre married Miss Annie Forrest, a native of Canada, and they had six children, two of whom survive, and are en- gaged in farming and stock-raising with their father. The wife and mother died twelve years after her marriage, and in 1875 the father was united in marriage to Mrs. Jane Kimbell, a native of Illinois. Mr. Lefevre has one of the finest residences in the city, the same being val- ued at $10,000, and containing all modern im- provements. Our subject is one of the most progressive and enterprising men of Medical Lake; is respected by all who know him, and is a credit to the State and country. The family are members of the Catholic Church of this city.

HOMAS CAMPBELL, a merchant of Medical Lake, was born in Illinois, in 1857, a son of David and Susan ( McMil- lan) Campbell. The father, a native of Scotland, came to America in 1832, locating in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mother was a a native of the United States, of Scotch descent.

Thomas, the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the common schools of Du Page county, Illinois, and in 1872 he entered the Elgin Acad- emy, where he took a commercial course. After leaving that school he remained at home until 1878, in which year be located near Medical Lake, Washington. He was engaged in farın- ing there for six years, when, in 1884, he em- barked in the mercantile business in this city. Mr. Campbell is a thorough gentleman, an en- terprising citizen, and a leading merchant of Medical Lake. He has a large trade from all the surrounding connties. In his political views, he is a stanch believer in the principles of the Democratic party.

In 1881, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Kittie M. Fancher, a native of Illinois, but subsequently a resident of California. At the time of her marriage she was a resident of Spokane county.

W ILBUR S. GLASS, a member of the law firm of Hyde, Glass & Reagan, Spokane, Washington, was born at Le Roy, below Rochester, New York, in 1852, son

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of Chester F. and Mary (Brown) Glass. Ilis father was a native of the Empire State and was by occupation a contractor and builder. Wil- bnr S. is the youngest in a family of three ehil- dren. His parents having moved to Illinois when he was quite young, he received his early edneation in the public schools of that State and afterward attended the Illinois State University at Champaign and took a law course at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was admitted to the bar in Illinois, in June, 1878. In 1880 he moved to South Dakota and located at Watertown, where he remained until September, 1891. He then spent a short time at Minneapolis, Minne- sota, and in 1892 came to Spokane. In Feb- ruary of this year he became a member of the firm with which he is now identified, and al- though a recent acquisition to this city he has made many friends here.

A Republican in politics, he is devoted to the principles of protection and is thoroughly in ac- eord with his party in all its living issues. Mr. Glass is quiet and unassuming in his manner, and is withal a perfeet gentleman. His many friends at Spokane and elsewhere will watch with interest his future career.

T HOMPSON M. MCKINNEY, one of the promising young lawyers of Spokane, Washington, dates his birth in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1864. His father, Robert Mckinney, was born in Ireland, and his mother, nee Annie Young, although a native of New York city, was reared in Ireland. Although his youthfnl days were spent on the farm, his father being engaged in agricultural pursuits, the subject of our sketch had the best of educa- tional advantages and improved the same. He took a preparatory eourse at West Sunbury Academy, after which he entered Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where he completed a classical course, graduating with the degree of A. B. in 1889.

Having finished his college course, Mr. Mc- Kinney came West and located at Waitsburg, Washington, where he was principal of the Waitsburg Academy a year and a half. In 1890 he came to Spokane and entered the law firm of Henley & Seott. That firm being dis- solved in 1891, he subsequently formed a part- nership, first with Mr. Ross, and afterward with

S. Aug. Johnston, with whom he is now asso- ciated. Notwithstanding he has resided in this eity so short a time, he has established himself well in business here and has made hosts of friends. Mr. Mckinney is a thorough scholar and a perfect gentleman. Possessing graee of manner himself, he has the happy faculty of making others feel at ease with him.

Ile is a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Spokane, and is Secretary of the same.

S YLVESTER HEATH, one of the early settlers of Spokane, Washington, and one of its most prominent citizens, is a native of Indiana, born in 1847. His parents, John and Sarah (Glass) Heath, were natives of North Carolina and Indiana respectively, and of their nine children he was the youngest. His father went to Indiana when quite young, spent his life on a farm in that State, and died there, in 1888. Ilis maternal ancestors were natives of Germany. Grandfather and Grandmother Glass came to America at an early day and located on a farm in Indiana.

Mr. Heath received his education in the pub- lie schools of Indianapolis, graduating at the high school there, in 1870. He was employed as bookkeeper six years, and afterward was en- gaged in varions occupations until 1878, when he came West. One year he lived in Walla Walla. The following year, 1879, he took up his abode in Spokane Falls, at that time a hamlet containing less than a dozen families. Here he was employed as clerk for Mr. Cannon, with whom he remained about two years. In 1881 he was appointed Postmaster, he being the third postmaster of the town, and served in that capacity seven years. When he entered the office its business was but trifling. At the end of his termn, however, it had, with the growth of the town, increased to a large extent. In 1885 Mr. Heath opened a book store, beginning with a capital of 850, and in 1889, at the time of the great fire, his stoek was valued at $20,000. He was one of the early promoters of the Ross Park railroad, and served as treasurer of the com- pany. In 1880 he entered 160 acres north of Spokane, and subsequently purchased 160 acres of adjoining land. On this track is now situ- ated the beautiful suburb of North Side. Here, in 1889, he ereeted his fine residence, one of the

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 54

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