An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 97

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

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Though these interests have been extensive, he has also found time for other enterprises. In 1866, through the process of loan and inort- gage, he came into possession of the Wasco Woolen Mill at The Dalles, which he operated for a time, until determining there was no profit in the business, then sold the machinery, and in 1879 refitted with flour-milling machinery,

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which he operated as the " Ilighland " mill, and continued to 1889, when the mill was de- stroyed by fire.

In 1880 he bought an interest in a drug store at The Dalles and formed the co-partner- ship of Kinersby, Snipes & Kinersby, which business is still continued, it having increased from a stock of $10,000 to one of $60,000, and conducted in both wholesale and retail depart- ments, with an extensive and lucrative patron- age.

In 1886 Mr. Snipes engaged in the banking business at Ellensburg, under the name of Ben E. Snipes & Co., erected one of the finest stone bank buildings in the State, and is condneting a general banking business. In 1890 he started the branch house known as the Roslyn Bank of Ben E. Snipes & Co. to accommodate the mining interests of that locality. lle also owns extensive landed interests in Klickitat and .Kit- titass counties, and has recently purchased the Hill tract of 100 acres within the city limits of Seattle, which he has platted and subdivided and placed upon the market.

Mr. Snipes was married in Columbus, Klicki- tat county, in 1864, to Miss Mary A. Parrett, a native of Oregon, and they have one son, Ben E., Jr.

In July, 1890, Mr. Snipes removed his fam- ily to Seattle, and purchased a handsome resi- dence on the corner of Eleventh and Madison streets, where he now resides. Thus briefly have we attempted to portray the life of a sne- cessful pioneer, who has overcome the manifold trials of life in dangers untold, hardships with- ont number and heavy financial losses. Yet with keen foresight, good judgment and per- sistency of purpose he has followed closely the allotted line of development and has arisen triumphant in the possession of wealth, with an unsullied reputation and enjoying the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

R OBERT NIEDERGESAESS, general manager of the Seattle Brick and Tile Company, was born in Germany in 1846. He was carefully educated in the Von Crousaz Institute in Silesia. Later he devoted his attention to mechanical engineering, and especial attention was paid to the brick manu- facture. In 1866 he began the practical part of

brick-making in his father's little brick-yard near Glogau, Silesia, and there developed and built up a very successful business, which is still continued by his brother Julius, and an- nnally pays very handsome dividends. In that yard our subject constructed the first brick ma- chine in that part of the country. The impetus given to trade after the Franco-German war enabled him to engage largely in building operations in varions provinces and to spend his spare time in traveling. In 1874 he went to Gleiwitz, accepting the management of a large manufacturing establishment, which he soon placed upon a sound financial basis.

Ile was married in Stow-Bedon, England, in 1875, to Miss Caroline P. R. Godfrey, and re- sided near Gleiwitz until 1877; then removed with his family to Wellington, New Zealand, and started a small brick-yard, and later engaged in mining and building kilns, brick and pipe machinery, remaining until 1887, when he de- cided that the country was insufficiently de- veloped to give proper scope to his progressive ideas, and he would visit America.

Upon arriving in the United States he was quick to see the opportunities which the coun- try offered, and, learning of the difficulties at- tending the manufacture of brick in the free flow of clay from the machine, his inventive genius evolved the "lubricating die," which remedied the evil, and is now in general nse throughout the United States. Applying to the Frye, Sheckler Company of Bucyrus, Ohio, Mr. Niedergesaess sold them his patent and found ready employment in the adjustment of brick machines throughout the interior, creating a large demand for his improved machine and making for himself a wide reputation.

In the fall of 1887 he went to Germany on a visit, returning to America in the spring of 1888. He then came to the Pacific Northwest in the interests of Frye, Sheckler & Co., and after improving their trade at Portland he came to Seattle and found the brick business in an undeveloped condition, owing to the inability to work the clay to advantage. With his inven- tion and experience he set the machinery run- ning for the Seattle Brick and Tile Company, and was then offered an interest in the business, which he readily accepted, as he could foresee the great possibilities in that line of mann- facture. He was made general manager for the company, the yard being situated on Smith's cove, and rapidly increased the business.

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After the fire of 1889 they started the yard in Sonth Seattle, where they have valuable property and extensive works. To meet the in- creased demand for superior brick in 1891 Mr. Niedergesaess erected a continnons kiln after his own invention, which has been steadily run- ning for years. In July, 1892, Mr. Nieder- geaess was one of the organizers of the Everett Electric Brick Company, and was made treas- urer of the company and manager of the manu- factory.

The latest of the many inventions of Mr. Niedergesaess is an elevator, which for practi- cability and usefulness is a great labor-saving machine. Thus has scientific knowledge and practical work developed and built up one of Seattle's manufacturing interests, which is self- sustaining and prosperous,-one which opens employment to many men, and one which has been built up to its present standard by busi- ness thrift, integrity and enterprise.

Mr. and Mrs. Niedergesaess have five chil- dren, three sons and two daughters. They are all receiving a practical education, and the boys are developing inventive ideas which are being fostered and characterized under their father's watchful gnidance, their chief aim being the perfection of steam engines and other motors by the direct application of heat for obtaining the nearest approach to its equivalent, i. e., power either by the agency of steam, gas or electricity.

B F. BRIGGS, one of the oldest financiers in the city of Seattle, was born in Free- town, Massachusetts, July 19, 1832. Ilis parents, Franklin and Sarah (Hathaway) Briggs, were natives of the same State, their ancestry dating back to the pioneer settlement. Franklin Briggs was a seafaring man and a master of sailing vessels for about forty years. The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of the old Bay State, and at the age of eighteen years made his first cruise at sea. He became Master at the age of twenty years, and in 1853 started for California via the Nicaragua route. Ile embarked from New York upon the old steamship "Constitution," and re-em- barked npon the "Golden Gate" upon the Pacific coast. Dnly arriving in San Francisco, he was then employed as Master of a small schooner in running about the bay and up the

Sacramento river. After three years of service he took charge of the Rincon Point warehouse in San Francisco, and remained as superintend- ent for five years, when he engaged in the grain- commission business with Captain E. G. Lamb, and continned until 1869, when the firm dis- solved.

Mr. Briggs was married in San Francisco, in 1868, to Miss Rebecca Horton, a native of Illinois and danghter of Dexter Horton, a pioneer of Seattle. In December, 1869, Mr. Briggs removed to Seattle at the solicitation of Dexter Horton, to act as cashier in the estab- lishment of Mr. Horton's private bank. Mr. Briggs continned as the trusted cashier for a period of twenty years, with barely a week's cessation from the continnous discharge of duty. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Briggs resigned from the bank and became the cashier in charge of Mr. Horton's private financial interests, and superintendent of the Seattle and New York business blocks. He is also one of the execu- tors of the estate of P. H. Lewis, deceased, and is the trusted director in other financial matters.

He is largely interested in the Capitol Mining Company, in Stevens county, and the Industry mine in King county. Both of these are iron mines possessing flattering prospects. He also owns 200 acres of land on Lake Washington, with one-quarter of a mile water front, and 300 acres three miles north of the lake, besides valnable improved residence and business prop- erty in the city of Seattle. The first Mrs. Briggs deceased in 1875, leaving three chil- dren: Ida, Alford and Lanra.

Mr. Briggs was married in Seattle, in 1878, to Miss Sarah Griffith, native of Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed by four children: Franklyn, Clarence E., Clyde and Herbert.

Socially Mr. Briggs affiliates with the F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican, " first, last and all the time," but in no sense a politi- cian, and, save for serving one term as member of the City Council, he has strennously declined every political preferment.

E DWARD MILLER. Among the busi- ness men of Tacoma who have been asso- ciated with the city since the early days of the new town, is the subject of this sketch. He came here as a workman at his trade, began business for himself shortly afterward, in a

J. L. Crawford.

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small way, and now ranks among the substantial business men and manufacturers of Tacoma. A brief outline sketch of his career, giving some of the salient features, becomes, on that account, an interesting feature in this volume of Washington history.

Edward Miller is a native of the State of Wisconsin, born at Mishicott, Manitowoc county, on the 26th day of January, 1860, his parents being Henry and Wilhelmina (Hleber- lein) Miller. His parents were natives of Ger- many, but both came to this country when young, and were married here.

Our subject was reared in his native town, and there received his schooling, after which he learned the trade of tin and galvanized iron working, at which he was occupied there until 1884. In that year he came to Tacoma, a young man, twenty-four years of age, and after looking around went to work for the firm of Ilarvey & Young. He had in view his own establishment in business, however, and after two months with that firm, he, in partnership with Fred Keller, opened a small shop at 1,504 Railroad street. This partnership lasted about a year, and then Henry G. Peters bought out the interest of Mr. Keller, and the firm of Peters & Miller was formed. Business had in- creased meantime, but still the shop was not a large one. They soon removed to No. 912 Railroad street, where they remained five years, at the end of which time they put up a large brick structure on Jefferson avenne and Twenty- fifth street, and inoved into it. The growth of their business during all this time had been regular and rapid, and in 1891 they incorpo- rated as the Peters & Miller Company, with a capital stock of $25,000, and Mr. Miller became vice-president of the company.

In July, 1892, Mr. Miller sold ont his stock in that concern, and opened for himself a new establishment at No. 1,513 Tacoma avenue, and on the property erected a building, the same being completed in the spring of 1892, and being 25 x 100 feet in ground dimensions, and fonr stories and basement in height. Mr. Mil- ler utilizes the basement and ground floor in his business operations. His trade extends all over the State of Washington, in galvanized iron and copper work, composition and metal roof- ing, etc., and he does a great deal of contract work.

Ile was married in Wisconsin, on the 11th of September, 1881, to Miss Frances Hartmann,

a native of that State, born in Milwaukee. They have three children, viz .: Oscar, born October 11, 1882; Arthur, born August 29, 1884; Edward, born November 7, 1887.

Mr. Miller has passed the chairs of Crescent Lodge, No. 44, I. O. O. F., and for two years past has been its Treasurer; he is a member of Tacoma Encampment, No. 8, Tacoma Canton, No. 4, and Rebekah degree lodge, No. 1; is a member of A. O. U. W., No. 32, and of the Germania Society, of which he has been Treas- nrer for the past four years. As a business man Mr. Miller's capacity is indicated by the record of this progress in Tacoma, as, though yet a young man in years, he is thoroughly recognized as one of the reliable, substantial men of the city. He belongs to that class of business men who win friends by courteous de- meanor, and hokls them by fair, considerate treatment. For these reasons he and his estab- lishment enjoy the highest standing in the busi- ness circles of the city and State.

S AMUEL LEROY CRAWFORD, one of the representative business men of Seattle, is among the few citizens of adult age born npon the Pacific Coast. He is a native of Oregon, and a grandson on the maternal side of Robert Moore, who crossed the plains in 1842 and settled in the Willamette valley, and who figures prominently in the pio- neer history of Oregon, having been one of the organizers and an officer under the first civil government established west of the Rocky mountains. He was a man of great force of character, well educated and by nature and training well adapted to lead and direct the forces of civilization in the remote West. Dur- ing the entire period of the provisional govern- ment, as the government of the settlers was termed in Oregon, which existed until the Gov- ernment of the United States was extended over the Territory, Mr. Moore rendered efficient service in the maintenance of law and order, and was one upon whom the settlers in this trying and dangerous period relied with absolute con- fidence and trust. He located his claim upon the site now occupied by Linn City, where he lived honored and respected until his death.

The parents of our subject, Ronald C. and Elizabeth J. (Moore) Crawford, natives of New

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York and Illinois respectively, came to Oregon in 1847, were married in 1852, and settled near Oregon City, where their son, Samuel, was born in 1855.

Ronald C. is a brother of Medorem Craw- ford, who, with Dr. Elijah White, crossed the plains in 1842 and settled in the Willamette valley, and was a member of the first Territorial Legislature. He has done much in the way of preserving a record of the early pioneer days in Oregon, his public addresses before the Oregon Pioneer Association, in 1881, and his contribu- tions to the press at various time throw much light on the earliest attempts to carry civilization to the shores of the Pacific.

In 1862 the family of Ronald C. Crawford, removed to the Walla Walla valley, Washington Territory, and two years later to Walla Walla. In 1864 Ronald C. Crawford was appointed Dep- uty Collector of Internal Revenue for Oregon, and for the next five years the family lived a portion of the time at Oregon City and later at Salem. In the public schools of these two cities, and, for a brief period, at the Willamette Uni- versity, the principal part of the education of our subject was received. With his parents young Crawford, in the fall of 1869, removed to Olympia, Washington, where his father en- gaged in the furniture manufacturing business. Ilere for two years he attended school, but in September, 1871, entered the printing office of to Washington Standard to learn the printer's trade. Ile remained in this office four years. In the meantime his parents had moved to a farm in Lewis county, and the support of the family largely fell upon him, and, that he might fully discharge his duty in this regard, he not only worked during the day but spent his eve- nings engaged upon work for the public printer. In 1875 he was elected Assistant Clerk in the lower honse of the Territorial Legislature, at which time his father was a member of the Legislature from Lewis county. Later on he was employed by C. B. Bagley, at that time public printer, and also worked on the Daily Echo in connection with the latter, at times performning the various duties of city editor, compositor and pressman. When the Daily Intelligencer of Seattle was established in June, 1876, Mr. Crawford took charge of the mechanical depart- ment of the paper and was there employed for about four years, when he was placed at the head of the local department, where his energy and natural talent for newspaper work at ouce

became manifest. In 1880, in connection with Thomas W. Prosch, he purchased the paper and for two years it was most successfuly conducted. Under their management, with Mr. Crawford at the head of the local department, this journal assumed the first place in Washington Territory journalism. It was at the most trying period of its existence, and the success attained was largely dne to Mr. Crawford's tireless activity and well directed efforts in its behalf. Mr. Crawford continued as joint proprietor nntil the paper was consolidated with the Post, as the Post-Intelligencer, when he sold his interest, bnt remained in charge of the news department until November, 1888. It was while serving in this responsible and arduons position that Mr. Crawford performed not only a highly appreciated work in behalf of the paper, but acquired an enviable reputation for integrity and business ability, and became one of the best known characters in Washington Territory. Upon retiring from newspaper work Mr. Craw- ford, in connection with Charles T. Conover, who had also been employed upon the Post- Intelligencer, formed a co-partnership in the real-estate business. Both of them being thor- oughly known and of the highest standing in the commercial community, their success was not only instantaneous, but they at once stepped to a foremost place among the real-estate firms of the city, their transactions for the first year aggregating $1,250,000. Their success can be easily accounted for. They determined upon a course of action which they have persistently followed, and that was to handle nothing but strictly inside and business property ; to conduct their business as other lines of trade are eon- ducted, and to eschew everything which savored of the methods which have brought the real- estate business into disrepute in all parts of the country. The result was that they quickly gained the absolute confidence of the people and have been entrusted with many of the most important real-estate transactions ever consum- mated in this part of the country. It is also a fact that the members of no firm have done more to elevate and give an honorable tone to business in which they are engaged, a business which has suffered perhaps more than any other through disreputable practice of dishonest men. They have spent large sums of money in ad- vertising the advantages of Seattle and the resources of Washington, and to them is accred- ited the appropriate appellation of " The Ever-

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green State," which was first used in their descriptive catalogne published in January, 1890. Their work in this direction has had a far-reaching effect in attracting capital and aiding in the development of this section of the country. In this regard, as well as in hearty co- operation with all honorable means to advance the good of Seattle, they are always foremost.

Mr. Crawford is not only a hard worker but a man of fine business capacity. Ilis life from early boyhood has been one of incessant activity, and in every position in which fortune has placed him he has most admirably discharged every obligation placed upon him. His faith in the city of his home and his steadfast loyalty to its interests have ever been marked in his career, and no one has more willingly devoted a part of his time and means to advance its material welfare. The substantial success which has rewarded his effort in business has placed him, while young in years, in affluent circumstances and broadened his opportunities to still further contribute to the good of the community in which his lot is cast. As one of the native sons of the Pacific Coast, he has reflected honor upon his sturdy ancestors who braved all the dangers and suffered all the privations of the remote West to make possible the rich inheritance of their posterity.

Mr. Crawford was married April 30, 1890, to the youngest daughter of Dr. M. F. Clayton, of Sacramento, California. The only child of his wife by a former marriage, a son of ten years, is not only a loved and cherished member of his family but will be henceforth known as Frank Clayton Crawford.

J C. DIERINGER, the leading man in the new town of Dieringer, Washington, was born March 12, 1851, twenty miles from Canton, Ohio:

Mr. Dieringer is truly a self made man. He began life ou his own responsibility when he was eleven years old, working to support him- self during the summer and attending school during the winter. He was employed as clerk in a general merchandise store for three years prior to moving to Madison, Wisconsin, where he elerked in a hotel for a year and a half. At Madison he attended the Wisconsin University for three years, and was a student in the Worth-

erton Business College three years. Ile was employed in railroad work for the Wisconsin Central one year, as a member of a surveying party, and after that went to northern Wiscon- sin to work in the pineries. Ile assisted in taking several fleets of lumber down the Missis- sippi to St. Louis, being employed for two years as superintendent of the C. J. L. Meyers Lum- ber Co. After that he turned his attention to the boot and shoe business, being employed as traveling salesman for the wholesale firm of Meisner Bros., and after traveling for some time engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, with a capital of abont $7,000. Owing, however, to the great depression in money matters throughout the State about that time, he was obliged to close his business, and again we find him in railroad employ. He was civil engineer for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and afterward for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, being employed by the latter company from 1880 till 1882. In 1882, accompanied by his wife, he went back to Wisconsin, and that same year came to Tacoma, Washington, he being in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. While working for the com- pany, he located on 160 acres of land in Stuck valley, but he was obliged to enter contest in order to get the land, which was first filed on by II. Dagget. Mr. Dagget vacated and then William Spinning commenced contest. After much liti- gation, three decisions have been rendered: the case was finally settled February 6, 1866. In July of that year Mr. Dieringer moved on to his farm, and has since devoted his time and ener- gies to its improvement and cultivation. Ile has cleared 160 acres and tiled the same, having put in 313,600 feet of tile, at a cost of about 89,000. He has ten acres in hops, ten acres in orchard and small fruit, and the rest is devoted hay and grain. He has about forty-five milch cows, fifteen horses, seventy-five sheep and sixty hogs, and his farm is well equipped with all the necessary implements and conveniences. He has a hop kiln 32 x 60 feet, and a barn 40 x 80 feet, and another 30 x 60 feet. As showing the fer- tility of his soil we give the yield per acre of his crops: Potatoes, 350 bushels; hay, three and one-half tons; hops, one and two-thirds tons per acre. Mr. Dieringer runs a general store, has charge of the railroad station, and is also Post- master at Dieringer, having been appointed Postmaster by President Cleveland. Since 1592 he has also been a Justice of the Peace.

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Mr. Dieringer was married August 6, 1877, to Ann B. Schmitking, of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin. They have two daughters and one sou,- Josephine and Grace, and Andrew M.

It should be further stated that Andrew Die- ringer, the father of our subject, is of German birth, is a blacksmith by trade, and is now living on a farm. In 1854 he settled in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he took a homestead claim to 320 acres of timber land, cleared the same and put it under cultivation, and still re- sides on the old homestead. Mrs. Dieringer, the wife of our subject, is also of German birth.

G HARLES E. MORRIS, Treasurer of Klickitat county, Washington, is one of the most capable officials, and is in every way worthy of the confidence reposed in him. Following is a brief sketch of his personal career: He was born in the State of Wisconsin, January 3, 1850, a son of Eliam and Susan (Good) Morris. During his infancy he was brought by his parents across the plains to the Pacific coast, and a settlement was made at North Yam Hill, Yam Hill county, Oregon, which has since been the family home. Here Charles E. grew to maturity, receiving his edu- cation at the common schools, and a thorough training in all the details of agriculture. He remained npon his father's farm until 1879, and then started out to seek his own fortune, buoyed by the hopes and anticipations that happily are always the accompaniment of inexperienced youth.

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An illustrated history of the state of Washington, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 97

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