An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 64

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 64

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Judge Dunbar was educated at the Willa- mette University, teaching two years while pur- suing his studies. In 1867 he moved to Olympia and commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. Elwood Evans, and was ad- mitted to practice before the Territorial Sn- preme Court in 1859. His career as a lawyer has been marked by success, he has had an ex- tensive practice throughout the State, and he has gained a reputation not only as a successful lawyer but also as one whose judgment can al- ways be relied upon. That same year, 1869, he was appointed Clerk of the United States District Court by Chief Justice Orange Jacobs, and performed the duties of that office until 1871, when he resigned, went to Yakima, and -engaged in the practice of his profession, con- tinning there thus occupied until 1875. He then moved to The Dalles, Oregon, and passed two years at that place. Returning to Wash- ington in 1877, he opened an office in Golden- dale and continued his professional life. In 1878 he was elected to the Upper House or Council of the Territorial Legislature, and was also elected Probate Judge of Klickitat county. In 1880 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Klickitat, Kittitass, Yakima, Clarke and Skamania counties. In 1885 he was elected to the Lower House of the Territorial Legislature, and upon the assemblage of that body was elected Speaker of the House. He also served several terms as City Attorney of Goldendale, and from 1880 to 1886 was editor and proprie- tor of the Goldendale Sentinel, a paper which zealously supported the principles of the Repub- lican party. The Judge represented the eleventh district in the Constitutional Convention in 1889, and was appointed chairman of the Com- mittee on Tide and Granted Lands, and was the author of the constitutional articles on school lands. He was a prominent candidate for Con- gress at the first State convention in Washing- ton in 1889, lacking only three votes of the

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nomination. At the same convention he was unanimously nominated as candidate for the office of Supreme Judge, to which responsible position he was elected by a large majority the following month. In January, 1893, after serv- ing two years as Associate Justice, Judge Dun- bar was chosen by his brother judges to fill the responsible and honorable position as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of · Washington -- a position he now occupies -- dis- charging the duties with credit to himself and friends and to the satisfaction of the public in general.

Being of a nervous temperament, Judge Dun- bar sought and has found rest and recreation in agricultural pursuits. He bought 280 acres of land near Goldendale, and became interested in grain farming and the raising of horses. After his election as Supreme Judge, he removed to Olympia, and while discharging the duties of that office, in order to continue his farming di- version, he purchased 170 acres of land near Olympia. On this property he is raising fine horses of Hambletonian Mambrino and Alta- mont breeds, and some Jersey cattle.

Judge Dunbar was married at Yakima, in 1873, to Miss Clara, daughter of William White, a pioneer of 1852. Her father was ninrdered while engaged in farming, six miles sontheast of Olympia, during the Indian war of 1855 and 1856. Judge and Mrs. Dunbar have three children,-Fred, Ruth and John,-all busily engaged in the pursuit of education.

W ILLIAM NELSON, a contractor, builder and brick manufacturer, of Chehalis, Washington, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1855, being a son of Richard G. and Adaline (Morrison) Nelson. The father is a native of Pennsylvania, being of English extraction, and the mother was born in the State of New York.

William Nelson, the third in a family of seven children, was engaged in farm work until eighteen years of age. He has been promi- nently engaged in the building trade of this city since the winter of 1883, and since that time has erected under contract the greater portion of Chehalis' brick business blocks. Among the number may be mentioned the Improvement Block, Racket store, Columbia Block, and the

Barrett Block, known as the Hotel Rainier. Mr. Nelson also did the stone work on the Commer- cial bank building and put in the sewer system of that city. His brick yards are located a short distance south of town, the enterprise be- ing yet in its infancy, although the capacity is for 25,000 brick daily. The output of the plant will be regulated by the demand, but the indus- try is one that can not fail to thrive under its present egective management. The yards will furnish employment to a corps of about twenty workmen.

March 15, 1893, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Bush, a native of New York. In political matters Mr. Nelson is identified with the Democratic party and his fraternal associations are with the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. He is a stockholder in the County Agricultural Association.

C HARLES C. LANDON, vice-president of the Vancouver Real-Estate Association, was born in the virgin forests of Vermont, near Irasburgh, Orleans county, October 24. 1853, a son of Daniel and Laura (Owens) Lan- don, natives also of that State, and both were descended from old and influential families of Vermont. The mother died in 1869, and the father survived until 1872, when he too passed away.

Charles C., the second in a family of five children, was early inured to the hardships of New England farm life, and attended the pub- lic schools of his native State. At the age of nineteen years he located in Minneapolis, Min- nesota, where he followed mercantile pursuits until 1875. In that year he removed to Santa Clara county, California, and during a residence of six years in that State he was engaged in farming and other occupations. In September, 1881, Mr. Landon settled in Portland, Oregon, where he established the Portland and East Portland Package Express Company, but at the expiration of eighteen months sold that busi- ness and took charge of the well known Abing- ton building, as janitor, for one year. Since 1889 he has been actively engaged in handling real-estate in Vancouver, Washington. The Vancouver Real-Estate Association was incor- porated January 25, 1892, with a capital stock of $10,000, and the following named officers:

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Joseph Bone, president; C. C. Landon, vice- president; H. E. Martin, treasurer; and W. H. Johnson, secretary. The firm does a general real-estate and commission business, handling large traets of land in the interior of Clarke county, also city and suburban property. Mr. Landon also owns individually thirty-three acres of land, which is a part of the old T. J. Thorn- ton claim. He is a stockholder in the Van- couver Trotting Park Association.

August 13, 1885, in Portland, he was joined in marriage to Miss Katie O'Brien, a native of Pennsylvania. In political matters Mr. Landon is a staneh advocate of Republican principles, and in 1891 was elected a member of the City Conneil. Socially he affiliates with the Sons of Veterans.

W ILLIAM E. WAGGONER, one of the substantial and respected farmers of Walla Walla county, Washington, was born in Moultrie county, Illinois, February 16, 1845, and received an education in the common schools of his distriet. His father, William Waggoner, was a native of North Carolina, who emigrated to Illinois at an early day, and died there in 1867, at the age of fifty-five years. His wife survived him until 1879, when she passed away at the age of sixty years. They reared a family of ten children, of which four are still living.

William remained at home with his parents until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted, July 5, 1862, in Company HI, One Hun- dred and Twenty-third Infantry, and served until the close of the war, having participated in many of the most serious of the battles of the whole struggle. Both at Perryville and Chickamagua he was in much danger, and the colonel of the regiment was killed in an en- gagement with Wheeler's force in Tennessee, but our subject returned without injury, and was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennes- see, After the war he engaged in farming, but not having enough land, and realizing the possi- bilities of the great and productive western coast, he started on a journey over the plains in 1879.

At that time the journey may not have been as dangerous as in the early days, but it was just as tedious, and for three months he was on the way, ever anxious to sec the land of the setting

sun across the lofty mountains. When he ar- rived in Walla Walla county, he soon found good land to rent, and continued renting for three years, and then had enough money to pur- chase a good farm for himself. His first pur- chase was of eighty acres, but now he has a fine place of 400 aeres, all in one body, situated nine miles northeast of the city of Walla Walla. Ilere our subject has built a good residence and is doing a fine farming business, raising on an' average 5,000 bushels of grain yearly.

Our subjeet was married November 17, 1870, to Miss Nancy J. Kennedy, a native of Illinois. Her parents, Lewis and Minerva Kennedy, who are both living in Lincoln county, Washington, came to Washington at the same time as did Mr. Waggoner and their daughter. Onr sub- ject and wife have had a family of four children; Icy, born May 10. 1872; Walter L., born De- cember 6, 1875; Oscar, born July 6, 1877; and Shelby, born March 20, 1887.

Our subject has been a very industrious man and has managed his affairs so well that he has accumulated a comfortable competence, and is among the most respected of the good people of Walla Walla county.

C HARLES McINROE, one of the leading farmers of Dry Creek, Walla Walla county, Washington, is the subject of the present sketch. He was born of Irish parents in Steuben county, New York, May 10, 1847. At the age of seven years his father moved to Wisconsin, and he was reared and educated in the common schools of that county. After our subjeet had grown to manhood he entered the lumber camps of Wisconsin, and continued there working for the next seven years, and by 1879 had saved enough money to pay his fare to Washington, the passenger rate at that time being about $200, as there was but one railroad across the mountains. He reached the home of his brother in Valley Grove and remained there for the next two years, hiring out among the farmers. lle was economical, as before, and in the time noted saved enough money to purchase 160 acres of land, six miles north of Walla Walla. There he is now residing, the happy owner of a fine farm of 400 acres under culti- vation, whereon he raises an average of 6,000 bushels of grain per year.

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After securing a good home, our subject re- turned to Wisconsin, and there married Miss Maggie White, in 1887. She was a native of Canada, a daughter of Walter and Matilda White, both of whom died in Wisconsin. No children have been born into the home of our subject, but in his wife he finds a congenial companion and efficient helpmate. Politically, he is a Democrat, and fraternally is a member of I. (). O. F. His own industry has procured him this beautiful home, and he is justly proud of it.

D R. EDWARD C. KILBOURNE .-- Among the representative business men of Seattle we find the subject of this sketch, who is actively engaged in advancing the interests of the city. He was born in St. Johns- bury, Vermont, January 13, 1856. His parents, Everette H. and Frances A. (Stone) Kilbourne, were natives of the same State, their ancestors being numbered among the pioneer settlers of New England. His grandfather, Ralph Kil- bourne, was one of the first dentists in the United States, and very skillful in his profession. Everette H. adopted the same profession, and practiced in Vermont up to 1858, then moved to Aurora, Illinois, and continued, in a general practice.

Edward C. Kilbourne was reared in Aurora, and educated in the public schools of that city. He then studied dentistry under the preceptor- ship of his father, and received further instruc- tion from the leading practitioners of Chicago and New York. Locating in Aurora, he com- menced his practice in partnership with his father, continuing until 1880, when, through failing health, he retired from the profession for the out-door exercise of the mining districts of Colorado, where he prospected for two sea- sons, regaining his health but attaining to no great financial prosperity. In 1882 he returned to Chicago and became treasurer of the Elgin Milk & Butter Company, remaining in that office up to November, 1883, when he came di - reet to Seattle. He then resumed the practice of his profession, which he continued very suc- cessfully about five years. In 1887 he was one of the active organizers of the first Territorial Dental Society, which was instrumental in se- enring the passage of the dental law for the pro- tection of the regular practitioners against quack-

ery and incompetent attendance. He was ap- pointed by the Governor as a member of the Board of Dental Examiners, and by that board was elected president, which position he held until his retirement from practice in December, 1888, to engage actively in the real-estate busi- ness. He was a member of the syndicate which purchased the Denny & Hoyt tract of 214 acres and located and named the town of Fremont. To properly develop this tract they purchased the old horse-car line and transformed it into the electric system, incorporating under the name of the Seattle Electric Railway Company, with a capital stock of $120,000, the company owning five miles of track. This system was continued by the company until January 16, 1891, when they re-incorporated as the Seattle Consolidated Railway Company, with a capital stock of $1,500,000. Dr. Kilbourne became treasurer, and in August, 1892, was elected president of the company. The system now comprises twenty-two miles of track, and five and a half miles additional are operated under contract.

In real estate the Doctor also platted Kil- bourne's Division of the Lake Union Addition, consisting of forty aeres. and Kilbourne's Di- vision of Green Lake Addition, of eighty acres, besides handling a large amount of inside prop- erty. In February, 1891, he organized the Pa- cific Electric Light Company, and became pres- ident. He obtained a charter from the city in March, and upon May 1. 1891, was furnishing lights to the city, evincing great enterprise in the rapid completion of the plant. In Septem- ber following, they consolidated with the Com- mercial Light Company, forming the Home Electric Light Company, of which our subject continued an executive, being vice president and manager.

During the winter of 1891-'92, Dr. Kil- bourne went to New York and purchased the two-third interest of Henry Villard in the Seat- tle General Electric Company, thus perfecting a consolidation with that company in March, 1892, forming the Union E ectric Company, of which the Doctor was elected president and general manager. The company hold a contract for lighting the city with are and incandescent lights, and also for furnishing power to the pub- lic. They have two power houses, the combined capacity being 2,000-horse power of boilers and engines; 750 are lights, 11,600 incandescent, with 270-horse power for-motor purposes. They

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are now furnishing nearly all the incandescent lights of the city, and about three-fourths of the arc lights.

Dr. Kilbonrue was married in Seattle, June 23, 1886, to Miss Leilla A. Shooey, a native of Steilacoom and daughter of O. C. and Emma (Bonney) Shorey, early pioneers of the Territory. With his manifold interests the Doctor attends closely to business, but for several years has served as President of the Y. M. C. A. and Trustee of the Plymouth Congregational Church.

J AMES McINROE .- Throughont Walla Walla county, State of Washington, our subject is well known and much respected. His parentage was Irish, but he was born in Steuben county, New York, March 11, 1841. His father, Lawrence M. MeInroe, had come to this country from Ireland when a small boy, and here married Anna Smith, also a native of Ireland. By trade he was a machinist, but later in life be engaged entirely in farming, remov- ing to Wisconsin for that purpose, in 1855. when our subject was thirteen years of age. Ile died in 1871, at the age of sixty-four years, but his wife still survives, being now eighty-one years old.

Our subject attended the common schools of New York, lowa and Wisconsin, and when he became old enough he hired out to work in the Inmbering camps of the last-named State, fol- lowing this occupation for four years. In the meantime, the opening up of the great western country along the coast had commenced, and our young lumberman decided he would like to go thither and try his fortune with the rest. Just at that time Judge Sharpstine, now of Walla Walla, was about starting to cross the plains and needed some one to drive a team, and here came our subject's great opportunity. In May, 1865, the train started, and after four months of travel they arrived in Walla Walla county. They had had some trouble with the Indians on the way, one of their number being killed by the savages, and they had to exercise great pre- cantion to keep from losing their stock.

After reaching Walla Walla, our subject hired ont to a farmer for whom he worked six months, receiving enough to buy him a bronco and a pack horse. Ile then loaded the horse and rode the pony, and thus started for the

Montana mines. lle followed mining that sum- mer, but upon not meeting with great success he returned in the fall to Walla Walla; but the next spring, not being altogether satisfied with his work in the mines, concluded to try in Idaho, and finding this much more profitable he continued there until 1877, returning in the winter to the ranch which be had purchased on Dry creek, six miles north of Walla Walla. Here he has now 600 acres of fine land, well improved, with a fine residence and everything to make the life of the farmer comfortable and happy. He is now engaged in raising stock, and has taken pains to improve it, owning some good Clydesdale horses and short-horn Durham cattle, also some fine hogs.

In 1872 our subject concluded to pay a visit to his old home in Wisconsin, which resulted, a year later, in his return to the coast accompa- nied by a wife. Ile married Miss Cordelia Nelson, a native of Ohio, but after four years he was again left alone, her death occurring May 6, 1877, when she was only twenty-one years of age, leaving behind two little boys: Law- rence Oriel and Frank H., both of whom are now young men and much respected, both yet at home. Our subject again married in Wis- consin, February 15, 1882, at which time he es- poused Miss Jennie Kent, a native of Wiscon- sin, a daughter of Edward Kent, who was a ha- tive of England; his wife, nee Sarah McQuinn, was a native of New York. Six months after- ward, our subject returned to his bome in Wash- ington. Four little ones have since come into the family: Sadie, Earl K., Maud P. and Cora.

Our subject may be termed a self-made man, as he started out in life poor and has built his own steps as he has climbed upward. In 1892 he received the Democratic nomination for the Legislature, and at the time of election lacked but twelve votes of an election. He has always been respected, and is a valued member of En- terprise Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., of Walla Walla. He is now a Director of the State Pen- itentiary at Walla Walla.

J AMES W. FOSTER, one of the pioneers of the State of Washington, was born in the State of Maine, was there reared and sent to the common school. His father, Philip Foster, was also born in Maine, and there mar-

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ried Miss Fannie Cummins. He was employed by a company to go to California to build some mills. A ship was loaded with machinery and he was put in charge, but on the passage the ship went to Honolula, Sandwich Islands, and was there about six months, and Mr. Foster pro- ceeded to Portland, Oregon. He finally settled at Oregon City, and entered the mercantile busi- ness, but later he engaged in the building of the toll road across the Cascade mountains, having his headquarters ou the west side. Here he es- tablished a trading post to furnish supplies to the immigrants. Mr. Foster was one of the earliest settlers of Oregon, coming about 1843. Ile died in 1887, at the age of eighty years. His wife died one year after marriage, leaving one child, the subject of this sketch.

Our subject was of such a tender age that he does not have any memory of the mother who passed away so soon, but he was kindly reared by his grandparents. In 1852 he had earned enough to enable him to pay his passage to San Francisco, to which city he sailed, around Cape Ilorn, reaching there that same fall, and then go- ing by a steamer to Portland, and to the home of his father. He took up a donation claim of 160 acres, improved the land, and lived there until 1859, when he came to Walla Walla, Washing- ton, taking a claim here, six miles southeast of the town, toward Cottonwood and on Spring- branch, at the foot-hills. Here he now resides, having improved his farm and put it into a good condition. For several years he was en- gaged in breeding and selling fine-blooded horses, by which enterprise he made consider- able money: some of these horses brought from $500 to 83,000; bnt of late years he has de- voted his attention to farming.

Horticulture has deeply interested Mr. Fos- ter, and he was the first man in Walla Walla county to set out an orchard, and he now has an area of eighty acres set out to all kinds of fruit. He transported his original trees over the Cas- cade mountains from Portland, Oregon, by means of pack horses, and at night would bury the trees to keep them from freezing. Owing to his inability to afford himself equal protec- tion, he had his feet frozen on the journey. The climate of this State favors the growing of fine fruit, and from this source he has a good income. Mr. foster has made it one rule of his life never to have anything that he could not pay for, and never to buy anything merely be- canse it was cheap. One source of honest pride

is, that he has never had a mortgage on his place, and was never asked to give security when borrowing money at the bank. He has one of the finest vineyards in the county, and his farm and orchard always supply all that ischoicest in the products of the land. When he first settled here he had no neighbors, and had to get his supplies from the pack trains. Many times has he seen the day when the larder contained nothing bnt beans. On one occasion he went four days without food of any sort. He took part in the Indian wars, enduring many hardships at that time, but has lived through all, and is now able to enjoy the fat of the land.

Our subject has worked indefatigably during his residence on the coast, and all that he owns he has gained by his own industry and manage- ment. He belongs to the People's party, and his first Presidential vote was for Weaver in 1892. The reason he never before voted for president was because he happened to be on the frontier or in a Territory at the time of the election.

In 1867, our subject married Miss Louisa M. Rockhill, a native of Iowa. Her parents, Anthony and Rosetta Rockhill, came to Wash- ington in 1864; were natives of Ohio, and are now living near Dayton. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are the parents of nine children: James W., Jr., Chester U., Jessie May, Nelson B., Iva C., Love L., Mildred R., and Essa.

P ATRICK O'KEANE has constantly re- sided in Vancouver for more than thirty- four years, and during that period has been prominently identified with the best interests of Clarke county, has been closely con- nected with the business element of the eity of Vancouver, and is recognized as one of its most most progressive and worthy citizens. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, March 17, 1828, a son of James and Catherine ()'Keane, natives also of that country.

Patrick, the fourth in a family of eleven chil- dren, emigrated with his parents to America in 1847, locating in Ottawa county, Illinois. On account of ill health he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1849; three years later went to New Orleans, but as the yellow fever was rag- ing there at the time he returned to Illinois in 1853. Mr. O'Keane visited in Naples, that

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State about two months. but in the fall of the same year went again to St. Louisand New Or- Jeans. In June, 1854, he started from New Or- leans and went by water to the Golden State, and in due course of time arrived in San Fran- cisco, where he remained until October, 1857. He then took passage on the steamer Old Re- public, for Portland, Oregon, but the vessel was stranded in the Columbia river, and he was transferred to the old Multnomah. He made his home in Portland until 1859, although a few months of that time was spent in Salem. Mr. O'Keane took up his residence in Vancou- ver, and since that time has been connected with many important enterprises. He owns both residence and business property in the city, also valnable timber land in the interior of the county. One traet, located twelve miles north- east of Vancouver, contains 560 acres, and em- braces some of the most valuable timber to be found in the State, consisting of ash, oak, fir and spruce. Mr. O'Keane is financially inter- ested in the Commercial Bank of this city, and was one of the early stockholders in the Van- couver, Klickitat and Yakima Railroad.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 64

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