An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 70

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

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and consolidations until April. 1892, and was then appointed City Electrician by the Fire Commissioners, entering upon the duties of the office May 1. The office embraces the fire, po- lice and water electric departments, utilizing fifty-seven and a half miles of wire, with nu- merous signal boxes, improved machinery for fire and police service connected with headquar- ters, and electric indicators at the reservoir connected with the office of water department, all furnished with the most modern attachments, and under the constant supervision of the skill- ful electrician.

Mr. Pinkney was married November 5, 1890, to Miss Ella Murphy, a native of Cleveland, Ohio. They have one child, Amadeus R. So- cially, our subject affiliates with the Young Men's Institute, A. O. U. W., and A. O. of F., and is treasurer of the Seattle Yacht Club. In the latter organization he derives much pleas- ure, owning an interest in a yacht, and is an enthusiast in that manly sport.

- HOMAS ROCHESTER SHEPARD, one of the busiest practitioners in corporation law in Seattle, was born in Dansville, Livingston county, New York, in 1852, a son of Charles and Catherine (Colman) Shepard, natives also of that State. The paternal ances- tors came from England, and settled in Massa- chusetts in 1638, and the descendants are now scattered through Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New York. The mother of our subject was a grandchild of Colonel Nathaniel Roches- ter, of Westmoreland county, Virginia, who served through the Revolutionary war, and then settled in the little town called Falls Village, but the name of which was subsequently changed in honor of him, to Rochester, New York. Charles Shepard, who is still living, at an ad- vanced age, was one of the active citizens of Dansville, was an extensive property holder, president of the first railroad which entered the town, and always foremost in matters of enter- prise and development.

Thomas Rochester Shepard. the subject of this sketch, received his preparatory education by private instruction, and at the Seminary of Dansville. He next entered Williston Semi- nary, at East Hampton, Massachusetts, gradu- ated there in 1870, and then became a student of

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Yale College. He left that institution before completing the freshinan year, to engage as a civil engineer in railwork in Wisconsin, at which he continued in that State and New York until Jannary, 1875. In that year he engaged in the study of law with his brother, Charles E. Shepard, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and by close and persistent work was admitted to the bar on February 21, 1876. In the following March Mr. Shepard began practice with his brother, and this firm continued until Septem- ber, 1881, when the former removed to Mil- wankee. In 1883 he was joined by his brother, and they continned in general practice in the State and Federal Courts, giving particular attention to commercial law. In 1883 they pub- lished Shepard's Wisconsin Digest of the Su- preme Court Reports, a two-volume, octavo edition, which came into general use.

The above firm dissolved partnership in 1889, and Mr. Shepard came to the Puget Sound coun- try, locating, after due consideration, in Seattle. On April 10. 1889, he opened an office, where he continued until after the fire of June, follow- ing. He then became associated with Job P. Lyon and Everett Smith, under the firm name of Shepard, Smith & Lyon. This partnership continued until July, 1890, and our subject was then elected City Attorney for a short term of three months. During that time he conducted in the Superior and Supreme Courts the defense of the bond cases brought against the city of Seattle, and by winning these suits enabled the city to issue nearly $1,000,000 of water and sewer bonds. In November, 1890, he entered into partnership with Judge Thomas Burke and Mr. Andrew Woods, under the style of Burke, Shepard & Woods, and they are still among the leading law firms of the city. They are attor- neys for the great Northern Railroad, and give particular attention to corporate law. In the interest of the firm Mr. Shepard has been promi- nently connected with the Seattle Harbor Line case, one of the most important cases of the State, as it involved the rights of all owners of property abutting upon the water ways of the State. The firm obtained a decree in the Supe- rior Court, which was reversed in the Supreme Court, and was recently argned by him be- fore the Supreme Court of the United States. The case of Brown vs. the City of Seattle. re- garding the liability of the city for the injury to abntting property by cutting street grades, etc., was conducted in the Superior and Supreme

Courts by Mr. Shepard, and damages were se- cnred. He has also been active with the litiga- tion and preparatory steps toward the issuing of all bonds by the city of Seattle. Being a close student, and possessing a judicia! mind, with quick comprehension, he has achieved a recog- nized standing in cases turning especially upon points of law.

Mr. Shepard was married in 1879, to Miss Caroline MacCartney, of Dansville, New York. They have one child, Arthur MacCartney Shep- ard.

AMES R. McDONALD, one of the prom- inent railroad developers of the State was born in Glengarry, Canada, April 16, 1844. flis father, Donald McDonald, was born in In- verness, in the highlands of Scotland, and in early manhood emigrated to Canada, where he engaged in farming and in the lumbering busi- ness. He was married in Canada to Miss Aun McDonald, also of Highland Scotch ancestry. James R. was reared npon the farm and was af- forded the usual educational advantages allotted to farmers' sons. At the age of nineteen, he went to Detroit, Michigan, and passed three years in the lumbering business, in which oc- cupation he had received practical training under the guidance of his father. About 1866 he went to the source of supply in the lumber regions of the Saginaw valley, where he began by driving team, subsequently acquired an in- terest in the business, and eventually became an extensive operator, continuing about fifteen years and attaining a high degree of success.

Learning of the extensive lumbering interests of the Puget Sound district, in 1883 Mr. Mc- Donald visited that favored spot and became so much impressed with the great wealth of timber bordering the Sound that he at once purchased 10,000 acres of land in Mason county. In the spring of 1884 he organized the Seattle Lumber Company, of which he waselected secretary. The company established one of the largest lumber- ing plants in Washington. Under his manage- ment some thirty miles of railroad were con- structed for the purpose of reaching the timber lands of his company, and the town of Shelton was created. In 1886 he was elected president of the company, and in 1889 bought an interest in the Pacific mill in Tacoma. These indus- tries were successfully continned up to 1890,

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when the several interests were merged into the Washington Southern Railway Company and ineorporated with a capital stock of $15,000,000, the intention being to extend their road to the Straits of Fuca, and to connect with the north- eru and central trans-continental routes. Mr. McDonald was elected president of the company. Periliminary surveys have been made and plans are being consummated looking toward rapid construction. Mr. McDonald was also an act- ive participant in the organization and con- struction of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad, and acted as president for about five years, until the road was sold to the Northern Pacific Pacific company, in February, 1890.

Mr. McDonald was married in 1870. to Miss Harriette F. Felton of Bay City, Michigan. Two children have blessed this nnion: Donald J. and Harriette A.

Although Mr. McDonald has been interested financially in other business enterprise-, his especial attention has been given to his lumber and railroad interests, in the management of which he has achieved conspicuous success. From his arrival on the Sound his faith in Seattle's future greatness has been unlimited, and he stands among the foremost to contribute to such enterprises as tend to the development and prosperity of this city of his adoption.

C HARLES F. FISIIBACK, one of the representative attornies of the Seattle bar, was born in Warren county, Indiana, July 9, 1856. His parents, General William H. and Sarah T. Fishback, were natives respect- ively of the States of Indiana and Ohio. The Fishback ancestry were from Holland, and were among the earliest immigrants who assisted in the foundation and settlement of Virginia. His mother, Sarah T. Fishback, was a lineal descend- ant of Daniel Boone, the famous pioneer of Kentneky. His father, General Fishback, was educated for the law, and in the early years of lis manhood located at Olathe, the seat of Johnson county, Kansas; this was in 1859. During the war of the Rebellion he took a conspicnons part on the side of the Union; was appointed Colonel of a regiment of Kansas volunteers, which he resigned to accept an appointment as Brigadier General of the State militia, and in the later years of the war was on

the staff of Major General Curtis. General Fishbaek was a conspienons figure in the civil and political history of Kansas, representing his county in both branches of the State Legisla- ture, and being from time to time prominently mentioned in connection with the highest offices of the State.

The subject of this sketch, Charles F. Fish- back, received his early education partly in the publie schools and academies of Olathe and partly at the State University of Kansas. He graduated at the Poole College at Olathe, and in 1880 graduated in the law department of Washington University, familiarly known as the " St. Louis Law School," having taken the two years' course at law in a single year, and having passed both examinations with honor, and receiving the degree of LL. D. On motion of Henry Hitchcock, then dean of the faculty. Mr. Fishback was at onee admitted to the bar in St. Louis, but commenced practice at Lead- ville, Colorado, where he was attracted by the great silver-mining excitement. He gained his first reputation as an eloquent advocate in the defense of Charles E. Bakewell, charged with the murder of two policemen who were attempt- ing his arrest. These trials were conspienous in the early history of Leadville, and gave Mr. Fishback such a reputation as enabled him to immediately enter upon a large and Inerative practice, though only twenty-four years of age.

After varions experienees in the flush time of Colorado, Mr. Fishback removed to California in 1887, and located at Lakeport, in Lake county, where he stood at the head of the local bar, and in April, 1890, concluding that the opportunities were too limited for his ambition, decided to remove and locate either at San Fran . eiseo or Seattle. His first visit to Puget Sound settled the question of his future location, and he soon after removed to the Queen City, and established his permanent home. Soon after his arrival he was appointed Assistant District Attorney, under Colonel E. M. Carr, for the district then composed of King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties. He soon obtained the - entire confidence of his superior in office, and virtually had complete charge of the duties of the office until the end of the official term.

Mr. Fishback afterward formed a partnership in the general practice of law, with Thomas B. Hardin, and the firm was afterward strengthen- ed by an alliance with John H. Elder. The firm of Fishback, Elder & Hardin enjoys the

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confidence of the business community in a large degree, and as the gentleman composing it are men of liberal education and broad experi- ence, the future of the firm is apt to become conspienous throughout the Northwest.

Mr. Fishback is already a prominent figure in the politics of Washington, having been a member of every State convention of the Repub- lican party since the organization of the State. During the campaign of 1892 he was associated with United States Senator John B. Allen in making a canvass of the leading cities of the State, and is known as one of its most eloquent and able orators.

In 1889 Mr. Fishback was married in Napa, California, to Miss Anna E. Derry, a most amiable and accomplished lady. Mrs. Fishback has taken a leading part in educational and philanthropic work in Seattle, and is promi- nently connected with the Bureau of Associated Charities of that city, as well as in all the social and intellectual advancement of the State.

F REDERICK A. CHURCHILL, M. D., representative among the medical practi- tioners of Seattle, Washington, was born in Ilillsdale, Michigan, June 25, 1856. His parents, Professor C. H. and Mary (Turner) Churchill, are natives of New Hampshire, their ancestors being among the pioneer settlers of that State. Professor Churchill is a graduate of Dartmouth College. After his marriage, he moved to Hillsdale, Michigan, where he was a professor in the Hillsdale College until 1859, since which time he has been professor of astronomy in. the Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio.

The subject of our sketch was educated at Oberlin, where he received the degree of A. B., and subsequently that of A. M. lle then engaged in the study of medicine and entered the Homeopathic Medical College at Chicago, where he graduated in 1882, with honorable mention, his average being 1,286 out of a possible 1,300, at that time the highest average granted by the college. After his graduation he served one year as house surgeon of the col- lege hospital, and a second year as lecturer and demonstrator of chemistry at the college, which position he resigned in 1884 to come to Seattle, deeming this the future city of the Northwest.

Here he immediately engaged in practice, soon became prominent in his profession, and to-day is ranked among the foremost practitioners of the city. With the change of city charter in 1890, provisions were made for the establish- ment of a Board of Health, and Dr. Churchill was appointed a member of that Board, the duties of which position he discharged for two years, having full charge of the sanitary affairs of the city.

Dr. Churchill is a member of the State Homeopathic Medical Society, and is president of the King County Homeopathic Medical Society, which he was actively instrumental in organizing. Socially, he is a member of the F. & A. M. Being a great student and devoted to his profession, he has neither time nor inclina- tion to engage in outside interests.

He was married in Chicago, in 1883, to Miss Martha Blanke, a native of Hamburg, Germany, a lady of refinement and culture, and a graduate of the musical conservatories of Leipsic and Weimar. They have two children, Elsa and Frederick A., Jr. The Doctor and his family reside on Olympic avenue, in Queen Ann Town, where he has recently completed a beautiful home, with a commanding view of city, Sound and mountain scenery.

D AVID BECKETT, senior member of the firm of Beckett & Shelton, wholesale and retail grocery dealers of Vancouver, was born in Canada, July 28, 1857, a son of James and Catherine (Carberry) Beckett, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. The mother was reared in Canada from early girlhood. The family moved from that coun- try to Michigan in 1868, where the mother died July 18, 1874.

David Beckett, the oldest in a family of six children, was reared in Michigan. In 1888 he located in Goldendale, Washington, where he was engaged in the manufacture of sash and doors three years. At the expiration of that time he engaged in his present business, on the cor- ner of Main and Seventh streets, Vancouver, where the firm carry a large and well-selected stock of choice groceries. Beckett & Shelton are successors to John D. Geoghegan, and their trade extends far into the interior of the county and surrounding country.

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Mr. Beckett was married November 6, 1884, to Miss Anna Glick, a native of Iowa. They have three children: Mabel, Evert and Verea. In his social relations, our subject affiliates with the K. of P. He is a prominent and progres- sive citizen, and is ever ready to aid and en- conrage public enterprises that have for their object the advancement of Vaneonver and of Clarke county.

H G. PEEBLES, electrician of Vancouver city's electric-light system, was born in Chesterfield, Illinois, October 26, 1869, a son of H. M. and Hattie (Smith) Peebles, natives also of that State. Our subject, the second in a family of five children, accompanied his parents to Dade county, Missouri, when twelve years of age, where he was reared to farm life. He followed that calling until 1889. when he became a resident of Vancouver, Washing- ton, and an employe at the city's electric light plant. By reason of practical knowledge and ability in the economical handling of the city's property, Mr. Peebles was appointed to the im- portant position he now holds in 1893. He takes no active interest in political matters, and socially affiliates with the Order of United American Mechanics.

G ARLOS W. SHANE, Notary Public and City Librarian of Vanconver, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 9, 1817, a son of John and Mary (Cosby) Shane. The father was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, De- cember 29, 1785, and died June 3, 1850. His father, Henry Shane, was also a native of Hagerstown, and kept what was known in those days as a tavern. The Shane family located in Maryland early in the seventeenth century. The mother of our subject was born on Cub creek, Louisa county, Virginia, February 28, 1782, and died July 10, 1844. The Cosby an- cestors were Colonial settlers of Virginia, and participated in the Revolutionary war. Zacha- riah Cosby, the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier of Washington's army at the surren- der of Cornwallis. He was born in 1754, and died May 27, 1834.

Carlos W. Shane, the fourth in a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, re- ceived his early education in private schools, and although the educational privileges of those days were indeed ineager, yet the foundation was laid for an education received later in life, through the school of experience. On his arri- val at man's estate he engaged in teaching for a few years, and later learned and followed book- binding until 1846. March 4, of that year, le arrived in Oregon City, where he bound the first book ever bound in Oregon, and probably on the coast. Governor Abernethy had pub- lished an addition to Webster's spelling book, and Mr. Shane bonnd about 800 copies. For the first year after his arrival in Oregon he did any and all kinds of work, then engaged to Marcus Whitman to teach school, but for some reason unknown to our subject the agreement was never consummated, and then came the news of the Whitman massacre. Mr. Shane taught school for a time near Oregon City, and in 1548 drifted into boating on the Columbia river to Astoria, using a whale boat, and being fairly successful in this enterprise. In 1850 he located a claim on Lewis and Clarke river, three years later lived on the ground occupied by Lewis and Clarke in 1806-'07, and there found some of the foundation of their cabin, built in the year 1806. The trail over which they had traveled daily to and from the coast, to watch for a vessel, remained perfectly defined, and was several inches deep. Mr. Shane resided on this claim until 1857, then traveled over a large portion of the State of California, engaged in inining, etc .: in 1866 resumed teaching in this State; in 1870 took up a homestead fourteen miles northeast of Vancouver; in 1874 again visited California, Los Angeles county, and five years afterward returned to Vancouver. In 1881 Mr. Shane was appointed Depnty Auditor, filling that position two years, since which time he has been a Notary, and at the present is Li- brarian of the City Library.

W ILLIAM HOLT BREWSTER, one of the representative and progressive busi- ness men of Vancouver, was born in England in 1844, a son of John and Hannah (Holt) Brewster, the former a native of Ireland,

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and the latter of England. William, the third of six children, left school at the age of twelve years, and accompanied his father to Australia, where the latter died in 1858. Mr. Brewster then returned to the land of his birth, but two years later came to America, becoming an American citizen within twenty-four hours after landing. He enlisted in Company M, Thir- teenth New York Cavalry, for the late war, and served until 1865. Although Mr. Brewster was not a direct participant in any of the noted bat- tles, he is none the less entitled to even greater distinction. His command was always on scout- ing duty, as the advance guard of Sheridan's Army of the Potomac, and all old soldiers will know the danger of that, branch of service, and few have a relish for the constant moving and hardships connected with scouting, or, in other words, spying upon the movements of the enemy. While at Loudoun Valley, Virginia, Mr. Brewster was captured, but by taking des- perate chances made his escape to the Federal lines, thereby, if not saving his life, at least avoiding the dreaded Libby Prison.

After the close of the struggle he was em- ployed as elerk for Lee, Bliss & Co., New York city, but six months later went to St. Louis, Missouri, and joined the Third United States Cavalry. Having a knowledge of pharmacy, which he had made a special study some years before, he was enlisted as a Steward, serving on the frontier three years. After returning to St. Louis he became a commercial traveler, next went to San Francisco, California; later engaged as clerk in a dry-goods store in Portland, Ore- gon, and at the breaking out of the Indian war we find him at the front, and later in charge of the post at Colville. Mr. Brewster was dis- charged in 1879, and for the following twelve months was employed as clerk for Captain Ainsworth, of the O. S. M. Company. In 1880 he established his present business, which is one of the largest general merchandise houses in Sonthwestern Washington. His stock con- sists of choice and fresh fruit, groceries, and delicacies of all kinds. He also carries a fine stock of hardware. Mr. Brewster was elected to the City Council in 1891, and has always taken an active interest in the general develop- ment of the eity and county. Socially, he is Post Commander of the G. A. R., Ellsworth Post, No. 2, and is a member of the A. O. U. W., K. of P., and the I. O. O. F., having passed all the chairs in the last two orders.

Our subject was married at Vancouver, Washington, February 25, 1879, to Lucy L. Dupuis, and they have two children, Robert N. and William H. Mrs. Brewster had five chil- dren by a former marriage.

C HARLES E. MACFARLANE, secretary of the Michigan Lumber Company, and the P. C. MacFarlane Lumber Company, was born March 8, 1870, a son of P. C. MacFar- lane. Charles was reared in Osceola county, Michigan, and at the age of thirteen years re- moved with his parents to Franklin county, New York. Four years later he engaged in the lumber trade with his father, and in 1887 ac- companied his parents to Vancouver, Washing- ton. From March 1, 1892, to Mareli 1, 1893, he was junior member of the firm of Jaggy & MacFarlane, carrying a full line of dry goods, millinery, ladies' and gents' furnishing goods, etc. The business was first established by John Jaggy, who conductel it successfully until our subject became a member of the firm. Although a young man in years, Mr. Mac Farlane is prom- inently identified with the business circles of this eity and Clarke county. He has now given up merchandising and devotes his whole atten- tion to the lumber business.

May 20, 1891, in Vancouver, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Wintler, a native of Washington, and a daughter of Henry Wint- ler, of Walla Walla. To this union has been born one child, Edwin. Mr. MacFarlane is a man of industrious habits and many sterling qualities, striet and attentive in business mat- ters, honorable in transactions with his fellow men, and has the respect and confidence of the entire community.

H II. ST. JOHN, general agent for the Great Northern Railroad, is one of the many shrewd business men who have re- cently taken up their abode in Spokane, Washington.

The Great Northern completed their line into Spokane about the first of June, 1892, and Au- gust 15 established their quarters here. Mr. St. John had been in the employ of the company

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abont thirteen years at Grand Forks, North Dakota, and they, knowing full well his natural ability and special fitness for the position, re- moved him to their office in this stirring place. He has at heart the interests of the company he so thoroughly represents and will do all in his power to advance the interests of the road and make it a popular one.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 70

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