An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 56

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 56

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cific Railroad along Clarke's Fork and Pend de 'Oreille Lake during the year 1882, and early in 1883 he located in Spokane county. Since his residence here he has been actively engaged in farming, milling and in buying and shipping grain, and in 1888 he was elected Treasurer of the county. and served two terms. For forty years he has been a prominent figure in the po- litical and commercial world of the entire Northwest, and few men have done inore toward the development of the Northwest than he. In fact, his name is a household word in this sec- tion of the country.

Personally, Mr. Cole is of light complexion and is rather stout. He is, indeed, a decidedly pleasant gentleman.

H ON. GEORGE DYSART, a well-known member of the bar of Lewis county, al- though a young man, has already made attainments in his profession that many an older man might envy. He is in every way worthy of representation in this volume.

He was born in the State of Illinois, June 26, 1865, a son of Joseph and Maria (Martin) Dy- sart, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respect- ively; the father died in 1876, the mother surviving until 1890. The Dysart family traces its origin to Scotland and to the ret- inue of the Prince of Orange in the time of James II; the first members of the family in this country located in Pennsylvania in 1780. George Dysart is the youngest of a family of five children. When he was a young child the parents removed to Nebraska and located in Nemaha county; there he grew to manhood, attending the common schools and the State Normal School. Having chosen the law as a profession he went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and entered the law department of the Uni- versity of that State, from which he graduated in 1887. He at once returned to Nebraska and located in Lincoln; he was connected for a time with the law firm of Billingsley & Woodward, but after a few months determined to try his fortunes on the Pacific coast. Upon coming to Washington he settled in Walla Walla, and was engaged in teaching school until June, 1889. Thence he went to Tacoma and there resumed his professional work; he

remained there but a short time, however, lo- eating permanently before the year was ont in C'entralia, Lewis county.

Politically he adheres to the principles of the Republican party, and has been active in the party councils. In 1590 he was elected Repre- sentative from Lewis county to the Legislature of the State; he was elected Police Judge at the first city election, and in 1890 was appointed County Justice of the Peace; he has also served as Deputy County Assessor, and in all these positions has discharged his duties with rare fidelity and ability. He has with unfailing zeal supported all measures which have been inaug- urated for the public benefit, and enjoys the confidence of the entire community.

Mr. Dysart was married at The Dalles, Ore- gon. January 1, 1891, being united to Miss Cora Butler; they are the parents of two children: Avis, and Lloyd Butler Dysart. Our subject is an honored member of the Royal Society of Good Fellows of Centralia.

OHN I. MELVILLE, cashier of the Bank of Cheney, was born in Scotland, in 1868, a son of Thomas R. Melville, a native of that country, and a farmer and auctioneer by occupation. John I. was educated in the Mad- ras Academy, at Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland, where he took a classical course, and graduated in 1885. In 1888 he came to the United States, locating in Cheney, Washington, where he identified himself with the Bank of Cheney. Mr. Melville now holds the position of cashier. of the institution, and is secretary of the Ma- sonic order. He owns valnable real estate in city and in other parts of the State, has proven himself a progressive and capable young bnsi- ness man, and has made a host of friends in this community.

J ACOB W. HARWOOD, of Medical Lake, Washington, was born Delaware, in 1843, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Hopkins) ITarwood, also natives of that State. Jacob W., the third of five children, was taken to Michi- gan at the age of six months, where he received his education, and was early inured to farm labor. In 1865 he removed to Montana, where

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for the ensuing four years he was engaged in mining, and then returned to Michigan on a visit. He was an Indian fighter, and had many narrow escapes from death. In 1872 Mr. Har- wood went to Kansas, remaining there from 1872 to 1876, and from that time until 1878 was was in various places in California, and in 1878 he engaged in farming in Idaho. IIaving been a life-long sufferer from rheumatism, he came to Medical Lake, Washington, in 1881, where he began the manufacture of Medical Lake Salts, and to-day is ahnost a well man, due en- tirely to the curative properties of the waters of the lake. In his political views, Mr. Harwood votes with the Democratic party. He served

six months in the late war, in the Thirtieth Michigan Volunteers, but the struggle ended be- fore he had a chance to go to the front. So- cially. he is a member of the G. A. R. and the Odd Fellows. Our subject is a large property holder in Medical Lake, is an aggressive man, and one from whom much valuable information can be derived.

D ANIEL W. GREGORY, a worthy citi- zen of Clarke county, was born in Dela- ware county, New York, May 6, 1827, a son of Iliram and Phebe (Raynolds) Gregory, also natives of the Empire State, tracing their lineage on this continent to the early part of the seventeenth century. The grandfather, Daniel Gregory, was one of the early settlers of Dela- ware county, and well and favorably known. Some of his descendants were soldiers in the war of 1812. Hiram Gregory, the father of Daniel W., was a line officer during that entire war. Mrs. Gregory, the wife of our subject, is also a native of New York State. Her mother, Mrs. Williams, was a descendant of Jonathan Lakin, of Revolutionary fame.

Mr. Gregory, whose name initiates this sketch, moved from New York to Jackson county, Wis- consin, where he resided twenty nine years. His chief ocenpation has been agriculture, although many years of his early life passed in the luni- ber business on the Delaware river, rafting manufactured lumber down that stream.

In 1883 he emigrated to the Pacific coast, lo- cating in Clarke county, Washington. He now resides about thirty-five miles northeast of Van- conver, where he has a farm of eighty acres,

twenty-five acres of which are devoted to gen- eral farming and gardening, and twenty-five being still in timber. There is also a fine or- chard. Mr. Gregory conducts a small dairy in addition to his other work. The residence, on a natural building site, is surrounded with bean- tiful flowering plants, neatly arranged about the lawn, displaying the good taste of Mrs. Gregory. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory were united in marriage in New York State, July 4, 1848. The names of their children are: Charles L., Hiram I., John W., Harry and Mary 1., now the wife of Frederick Spencer, a resident of Clarke county.

SAAC W. SIIUL TZ, Assessor of Lewis county, is a native of the State of Ohio, born in Licking county, January 8, 1850. His parents, Lawrence and Delilah (Bumgardner) Shultz, were natives of the State of Pennsylva- nia, of German extraction; they reared a family of seven children, of whom Isaac W. is the youngest. When he was a lad of ten years the family removed to Muscatine, Iowa, and there he received his education. He was trained in all the details of stock-raising and general farm- ing, and has given much attention to agricult- ure. In 1864 he removed to Manhattan, Kan- sas, and resided there until 1877, when he pushed on to the coast and located in Lewis county: here he owns 400 acres at Eden Prairie, one- halt of which is under cultivation; he also has four acres of orchard, consisting chiefly of apples, which were set ont as early as 1852; this is one of the most productive orchards in this section, and yields the largest crop gathered in Lewis county.

In addition to his official duties and agrienlt- ural pursuits Mr. Shultz conducts a large mer- cantile trade; he has two stores, one being lo- cated at Knab, his post office, and the other at Green River, the latter being in charge of his eldest daughter, Gertrude. Ile is also interested in mining, being a member of the Green River Mining Company. In politics he supports the issues of the Republican party, and was elected by this body to the office he now holds, in the fall of 1892. Ile is a man of unusual executive ability and striet integrity, and has discharged his official duties with rare fidelity. He is an honored member of the I. O. O. F., of Toledo, Washington.

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On November 13, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Dalton, a native of In- diana; they were the parents of four children: Gertrude, Margaret, Hala and Lettie.

Ţ HE CHENEY ROLLER MILLS of Cheney, Cummin Bros. & Co., proprietors, are among the best equipped flour mills in eastern Washington. The plant comprises a large four-story structure, with an additional warehouse, 50 x 100 feet, and has a daily eapac- ity of eighty barrels. The present site was pur- chased by the above firm in 1890, when it had been greatly depreciated in value and reputation, but they at onee renewed it wholly by new buildings, machinery, ete., putting in the Todd & Stanley Internal rollers. It has powerful steam facilities, with a sixty-horse-power engine. They mannfacture the celebrated Silver Leaf brand, which they send all over the United States, and have many testimonials of its popularity from dealers in Boston and other Eastern cities, as well as from home consumers. The firm buys most of the wheat grown in this section, and the Cheney Mills certainly constitute one of the most valuable developments of the thriving town of Cheney.

George F. Cummin, senior member and mana- ger of the firm of Cummin Bros. & Co., was born in Michigan, in 1844, a son of James and Julia (Beal) Cummin, natives of Ireland and New York, respectively. The paternal grand- parents, Alexander and Elizabeth Cummin, were natives of Scotland, afterward removing to the north of Ireland, and in 1832 came to the United States, settling in New York. Three years later the father of our subject, James Cummin, set- tled on a small place in Detroit, Michigan, where he was among the early pioneers. He purchased considerable property, now in the center of the city, and engaged in contracting and building. In 1840 he removed to Shiawas- see county, that State, where he eleared a fine farm, but was principally engaged in merchan- dising and the real-estate business in Corunna. Mr. Cummin was quite prominent in politics, served as County Treasurer for sixteen years in succession, and was the only Democrat elected at that time. He was very successful in his business undertakings, and was a large land owner. Ilis wife, the mother of our subject,

died in 1880, and the father still resides at the old home. Both were members of the Presby- terian Church.

George F. Cummin, the third in a family of six children, was reared and educated in Cor- runna, Michigan. His eldest brother, Alexan- der, succeeded to his father's business, and our subject remained with him until 1876. He then followed mining in Colorado; was with the Union Trust Bank of Chicago three years; was engaged in importing fruit, meats and rubber in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, for several years; and May 2, 1888, came to Washington, locating on the Sound. In 1880 he was joined by his brother, James F., and they afterward came to Cheney and purchased their present mill site. They have made many improvements in the building, and they now have one of the best mills in eastern Washington, with all latest improved machin- ery. Mr. Cummin also owns other valuable real estate in town. He is active in all publie im- provements, and is a prominent member of the Democratic party, which he has recently repre- sented in State and County conventions. He is an Alternate United States Commissioner, and represented Washington at the opening of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, in October, 1892. Was one of the organizers and is now vice-president of the National Bank of Cheney, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Temple Lodge, No. 42, of this city.

James F. Cummin, the miller of the Cheney Roller Mills, was born in Corunna, Michigan, in 1855, where he was reared and educated. After completing his, education he began mill- ing, which he has ever since continued. In 1884 he located in Kansas, and in 1899 came to Washington, where, with his brother, George, he purchased the Cheney Rolling Mills. Mr. Cummin has a handsome home, and other valu- able property.

HOMAS C. GRIFFITTS needs no intro- duetion to the readers of this work. His prominence at the bar, in polities, and in the business life of the State of Washing- ton, with his distinguished services in every position he has been called upon to fill, have made his name almost a household word in Washington and in the adjoining States.

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Born in Carthage, Illinois, December 5, 1857, he grew up in the sterling society of that portion of Illinois which, in the early years of his life, Lincoln and Donglas were making their battle ground. In 1889 he was elected to the Consti- tutional Convention of the State of Washing- ton, being the leading man on the ticket, although his district was very largely Repub- lican. His career in the constitutional con- vention was one of singular fidelity to the trust reposed in him. His own idea was that laying the foundation of the State was the greatest duty that could be imposed upon a citizen, and during the tifty-seven days the body was in session he was absent from his seat in the con- vention but one hour. Ile was ever present and industrious in his committee work, and his originality of thought and ideas, with courage- ous conduct in the defense of his convictions, made him beyond all question the most power- ful factor in that eminent body. A distin- guished member of that convention, now occupying high position in the State Govern- ment of Washington, said of Mr. Griffitts in the closing days of the convention, that his voice had prevailed in that body more largely than that of any other member.

Shortly after the adjournment of the consti- tutional convention Mr. Griffitts was persuaded to enter the race for Congress as the first Demo- eratic candidate of the State of Washington. Party spirit ran high in that election on account of the determination of the Republicans to bring Washington into the Union as a Repub- lican State, and, notwithstanding personal popularity and a brilliant canvass, he was de- feated. It is said that he accounts his defeat as the most fortunate event of his life Since that time he has devoted himself exclusively and assiduously to his profession, in which he holds position second to none in the State; indeed, his fame as a lawyer is not bounded by State lines, but is equally well established in several of the adjoining States.

Mr. Griffitts' distinguishing features as a lawyer are industry, tenacity of purpose, great astuteness, and analytical and logical powers, almost marvelons memory, and devotion to his clients, coupled with so complete a mastery of language and knowledge of human nature as to make him almost invincible before a jury. Ilis career at the bar has been marked with unvary- ing success. In the defense of persons acensed of crime he has been singularly successful,

having within ten years acquitted twenty-four different defendants of the crime of murder in the first degree without a single conviction, and having defended men and women charged with almost every crime in the calendar. In that period of time he has met with but one verdict of guilty. In the practice of civil law he has been no less successful, and there is scarcely a prominent lawsuit in the records of eastern Washington in the last eight years in which he has not appeared, and in which his handiwork is not shown. His career is marked with indus- try, integrity and strict attention to matters in hand.

In order that he inight the more assiduously prosecute his profession Mr. Gritlitts has pub- licly and privately announced that he is out of politics until he is ready to retire from the bar. He resigned his position as vice-president of the National Association of Democratic Clubs for the State of Washington, and studiously avoids participation in politics. Since his re- tirement from politics his business has grown to such dimensions as to require his constant attention with a large corps of assistants. It is a sure thing that when he again enters politics in Washington he can and will have whatever he desires.

In New York city, October 19, 1892, Mr. Griffitts was married to Miss Ada C. Mordaunt, an accomplished young English lady, daughter of Alfred Edwin Mordaunt and a lineal de- scendant of Lord Mordaunt, Earl of Petersbor- ough, and First Lord of the Treasury under William III. Mrs. Griffitts, however, has passed much of her life in Spokane, and is a most thorough American. Ifis home, presided over most graciously by this beautiful and amiable wife, is one in which happiness finds abiding place, and here our subject may be found at all times when his attention is not demanded at his office, in the court room, or in the discharge of business duties.

A LFRED NOACK, one of the leading business men of his section of country, is not a native of the land of which he has become so good a resident, as he was born in Dresden, Saxony, April 16, 1848. His parents, William and Wilhelmine (Hausler) Noack, were married in Saxony, but on account

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of the Revolution of 1848 were compelled to flee for their lives to America. The father now resides in California, but his wife died in Chicago, of cholera, in 1857. Our subject is the only surviving child, and grew to man's estate in Minnesota, where he engaged in the milling business, remaining there for eighteen years.

In the year 1872 he emigrated to the Golden State. settling in San Francisco, where he remained for ten years, when he traveled northward to Walla Walla, exchanging his calling from selling agricultural machinery for that of superintendent of the building of the machine shops now owned by Gilbert Hunt & Co., remaining with that firm for atout eighteen months. At the end of that time he began business in the implement trade, in which he continued very successfully until his stock of goods was destroyed by fire. Not allowing himself to be discouraged he again set up in business, continned for two years, and in 1887 was again burned out. At this time he in company with his wife started a glove factory, and since that time they have largely increased their business, until they now employ several hands to assist them in their work.

The marriage of our subject occurred in 1874, when he was united to Miss Louis Wagener, a native of California, a daughter of Ernest Wagener, a native of Hanover, Germany, but now one of the oldest pioneers of the coast, being one of the immigrants of 1849, who came to California in that year. Mr. and Mrs. Noack have had five children, namely: Edward, Ida, Willie, Walter, and George, the youngest, who is now deceased. The surviving children are at home with their parents.

When the late war broke with all its fury upon this fair land of ours, Mr. Noack was too young to engage in any of the conflicts that convulsed the nation, but before the strife was over, at the early age of fifteen he enlisted, and in the short time he was in service saw more hard fighting than many of the men who entered at the beginning, and remained until the grand review at Washington. llis command was Company G, Fourth Minnesota Infantry, which he entered September 5, 1864, participating in the battles of Allatoona and Savannah, Georgia, Pocatella, Columbia, and Bentonville. At Columbia, Sonth Carolina, he was very seriously injured by being run over by an ordnance wagon, and from this injury he

has never fully recovered. June 12, 1865, he received an honorable discharge at Louisville, Kentucky.

Our subject and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the former affiliates with the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Noack has won the esteem and confidence of his neighbors, and, notwithstanding his serious losses by fire, is now carrying on a thriving business, which is daily increasing.

D AVID SHEPHERD, one of the well- known and respected citizens of Clarke county, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, July 12, 1822, a son of John .ind Margaret (Ty- rie) Shepherd. The father and son were born on the same farm, which had been handed down for many generations. The father died in July, 1857, and the mother survived until June, 1874.

David Shepherd, the fifth in a family of six children, came to this country after the death of his mother, arriving in Portland, Oregon, in January, 1875. In the same year he returned to the home of his childhood for his wife, and the family were reunited Jnne 14, 1876. In that year Mr. Shepherd rented a farm on Lake river, Clarke county, Washington, bnt two years later, in 1878, purchased his present place at Washongal. The farm was a part of the old Stiles donation claim, and at that time consisted of 818 acres, but our subject now owns 1,507 acres, all in one body except 200 acres near by, which he rents. His place is well adapted to fruit-growing, and he intends to subdivide 400 acres into small tracts. On the home property there is an old orchard of three aeres, planted in 1852, which is still giving good returns. Mr. Shepherd has also 1,200 prune trees, three years old, and two acres in orchard of a general vari- ety of fruit on the 200-acre tract five miles northeast of Washougal. In addition to his fruit interests, he also has an extensive dairy, which excels both in quantity and quality of product. He milks abont seventy cows, and has produced as high as 2,000 pounds of butter per month, most of which is sent to Portland. For twelve years he has furnished butter to the old Oregon Steam Navigation Company, of the Co- luunbia river, which is now controlled by the Union Pacific Railroad Company. The dairy contains all the appliances of the latest and most

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convenient improvements for the manufacture of butter. The building is 60 x24 feet, and is well ventilated. On the farm are also found suitable barns for hay and shedding purposes.

March 10, 1848, Mr. Shepherd was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Reid. They have had eleven children, ten now living: John; Ellen, wife of John Mitchell. of Salem, Oregon; Da- vid; James; Isabel, wife of Joseph Erinie, now traveling in Europe; Alexander; William; Thomas; George and Christena, now Mrs. James Hood, and a resident of Government island, Oregon. Mr. Shepherd has been closely con- nected with the Presbyterian Church since early boyhood, and is a staunch advocate and zealous worker in the cause of temperance. IIe also takes an active interest in school matters, and has recently donated liberally to the erection of a handsome school building at Washougal. He is noted for his indomitable perseverance and excellent business qualities. Although not an ordained minister, he has officiated at many fu- nerals in his neighborhood, and is looked upon by all as an earnest Christian.

C OLONEL THOMAS MCARTHUR AN- DERSON, of the Fourteenth Infantry, is the present Commander of the Vancouver Barracks, and has held the office during the past six years. He is a native of Ohio, born in Chil- licothe in 1836. He received his literary edu- cation at Mount St. Mary's College, Maryland, and parsned his legal studies at the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1858. He practiced his profession for three years, but upon the breaking ont of the Civil war he enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He was commissioned Second Lieuten - ant of the Fifth Cavalry May 7, 1861, and re- ported to General George HI. Thomas, with whom be served in the first campaign of the war. May 14, 1861, he was commissioned Cap- tain of the Twelfth Infantry, and participated in nearly all the battles of the Army of the Po- tomac, being twice brevetted for bravery in bat- tle. After the war he served as Commissioner of Registration in the South, during the recon- struction period. He has served as Major of the Twenty-first Infantry, and also in the Tenth In- fantry; he was Lieutenant Colonel of the Ninth Infantry, and was promoted to the office of

Colonel of the Fourteenth Infantry, September 6, 1886. He has commanded many important military posts in the country, and for many years has been a contributor to military and lit- erary periodicals.

Colonel Anderson organized the Oregon and Washington branch of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution. He is a member of the Loyal Legion and the Military Service Institute.

The parental ancestry of the Colonel is traced to the Virginia colonists in 1635. His great- great-grandfather was a vestryman of St. Peter's parish, Virginia, about the year 1680; his great- grandfather lived and died at Goldmine, Hano- ver county, Virginia; his grandfather was Rich- ard Clough Anderson, Lieutenant Colonel Third Virginia Continental line, and Aid-de-Camp to General La Fayette. Several other members of the family were in the war of the Revolution: Colonel Thomas Marshall, Captain John Mar- shall (Chief Justice), General George Rogers Clarke, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Clarke, Captain John Anderson, and Major George Croughn. Governor William Clarke, for whom Clarke county, Washington, is named, was also a relative of the family. Colonel Anderson's maternal grandfather was Duncan McArthur, a Brigadier General of the war of 1812.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 56

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