USA > Washington > History of Washington the evergreen state : from early dawn to daylight with portraits and biographies Vol. I > Part 30
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and analytical faculties, a good memory, rare power of discrimination, a full measure of forbearance, patience and courtesy, with suitable firmness and dignity, and no pretension or pride of opinion, and a conscientious and inflexible fidelity to the duties of his position, which render liim a model judge.
HOGAN, FRANCIS PIERCE, was born in the town of Ballingarry, County of Tip- perary, Ireland, on April 23d, 1848. His father, a well-to-do farmer, who had suffered severe pecuniary losses by the famine that had overrun his native land the previous year, now determined to emigrate to America, that land of liberty crystallized in song as flowing with milk and honey. On Christmas Day, 1848, the family found themselves located upon a quarter section of land which they had purchased from Uncle Sam in the then wild regions of Columbia County, Wis. Here the battle of life began anew to this family. They continued with varying success to brave the many vicissitudes of frontier life, and the menaces of a savage Indian foe for many years. Gradually the country became settled, and as the tide of emigration pressed Westward the dusky native disappeared from the scene, leaving the land tranquil and prosperous.
Scarcely had this condition of things begun to be realized when the country was suddenly plunged into internecine war. Twelve children, six boys and six girls, had graced this family circle, wlien, on February 2d, 1865, the subject of this sketch, thien scarcely seventeen years of age, in response to a call from the President for three hundred thousand volunteers to recruit the ranks of a deplet- ed and bleeding army, fired witli true patriotism, tendered his services to his country. As he was not of age, the military authorities refused to accept him, and required the consent of his parents, which they were loath to give. His de- termination so appealed to his father that he resolved to accompany him, and botlı enlisted in Captain A. J. Cheney's company, K, Forty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry, commanded by Colonel Fellows. They were mustered into service at Madison, and were immediately sent to the front, and at once began picket duty. Shortly afterward young Hogan, on the recommendation of his First Lieutenant and former school-teacher, John Smith, was detailed to go on the staff of General Beverage, to carry dispatches to the different outposts adjacent to Rolla, Mo.
He held this position, which required both coolness and daring, until June, when the war was declared at an end. His regiment then went to St. Louis to do guard duty at the military prison, and was discharged at Benton Barracks on November 15th, 1865.
In the spring of 1866 young Hogan accompanied his family to Pope County, Minn., where he engaged in various pursuits, principally farming, freighting, and lumbering, until 1872. In the mean time he graduated in commercial studies at Bryant & Stratton's College, St. Paul. In the fall of 1873 he resolved to test the virtue of Horace Greeley's "Go West, young man, " advice. After much travelling about on the Pacific slope he finally settled in Southern Oregon, at Roseburg, where he began the study of law in the office of Watson, Lane & Willis. He was appointed District Attorney of Douglas County, and subse- quently elected Sheriff as a Democrat, though the county was largely Republican. He was elected a second term, and declined a third nomination to engage in the mercantile business.
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Mr. Hogan was eminently successful as a Western Sheriff, and during his resi- dence of fourteen years in Southern Oregon arrested more desperate criminals with rewards on them than any officer on the Pacific Coast. During this time he was employed by Wells, Fargo & Co. Express to hunt down the robbers that preyed upon the company's treasure and United States mail of Southern Oregon and Northern California. He served as Mayor at Roseburg, and was a delegate from Oregon to the National Democratic Convention at Cincinnati in 1880, and espoused the candidacy of General Hancock. In 1884 he was elected a delegate to the Chicago Convention from Oregon, and was an enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Cleveland from the very beginning, believing that he was most thoroughly in accord with the reform movement then uppermost in his party.
Mr. Hogan, in 1876, married Miss Mary Flood, daughter of J. C. Flood, the pioneer merchant of Roseburg, and granddaughter of General Joseph Lane, by whom he has five children, all daughters.
In 1887 his anxiety on account of the poor health of his family induced him to visit Spokane, Wash. Being favorably impressed with the healthfulness of the climate, as well as with a belief in the commercial growth and importance of the place, he removed there at once, and engaged extensively in real estate and build- ing, and by his energy and public enterprise has done much toward building up Spokane to her present importance.
Mr. Hogan is a man of great push and determination, and is broad-gauged in all business transactions. He is liberal to an extreme with his means in anything that will promote and advance the prosperity of his people or locality. His busi- ness sagacity and frugality have made him a comfortable competence. Having lived on the frontier all his life, he is thoroughly cosmopolitan in his views and habits and is a fair type of the genuine Westerner. In politics he has always been a Democrat, conservative in expression of his views, and scrupulously exact- ing in party morals. He was again called by his party, in 1892, to represent them in national councils, being elected a delegate by acclamation to the Chicago Convention, and, believing that the people and not the politicians of his party demanded the nomination of Mr. Cleveland, he lent his voice and vote to the accomplishment of that end.
COWLEY, M. M., was born in Rathdrum, County Wicklow, Ireland, May 9th, 1841. His early education was obtained in a private school of the first class in his native town, which he finished at the monastery of Clondalkin, near Dublin. In 1856 he emigrated to America, arriving in the city of New York in the month of July of that year ; went to Rochester City in the same month, where he had some relatives, and remained until the spring of 1858, when he concluded to go to California. He crossed the plains, arriving in Placerville in December of the same year, taking six months to make the journey. He found employment clerk- ing in a large mercantile business in the southern part of the State of California, which he followed for three years. He amassed quite a capital, and concluded to seck his fortune in the mining country of Idaho.
In the spring of 1862 he started from Portland, Ore., for the new Eldorado, the Salmon River mines, where he met with varying fortunes until in 1867 he located at Bonner's Ferry, on the Kootenai River, Ida., where he remained for five years, keeping store and conducting a ferry on the river.
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On July 4th, 1872, he moved to Spokane Bridge, about seventeen miles east of the city of Spokane, Wash., where he engaged in the general merchandise and cattle business, which business he followed for seventeen years, attaining a great measure of success, and amassing considerable means. During his residence in this place, in 1877, the Nez Percé War broke out, and spread consternation throughout the country. General Howard and all the Regular soldiers in the Department of Columbia were engaged in fighting them, and there were times during this war when it was a question who was going to come out best, General Howard or the Indians. When the scattered settlers left their homes and sought safety in the larger towns of Colfax and Walla Walla, Mr. Cowley remained at Spokane Bridge, having confidence in the Cœur d'Alene Indians, which, as events turned out, was not misplaced.
He became identified with the Traders' National Bank in 1885, was elected a director at its first annual election, and every election up to the present writing. In 1889 he sold his stock of general merchandise, rented his buildings, and re- moved to the city of Spokane, where he accepted the position of Cashier, and was elected President in January, 1892, which position he now holds. The bank, under his management, has achieved a phenomenal success, and stands to-day the lead- ing financial institution of the great city of Spokane, Wash.
Mr. Cowley was married in Walla Walla, Wash., in October, 1873, to Miss Annie Connelly, and has two daughters, young ladies, living with him at his beau- tiful home in this city.
Mr. Cowley is an active member of the Catholic Church, and is prominently identified with various educational and charitable institutions, giving cheerfully and generously of his means in furtherance of every worthy cause. His life has been a life of labor and hardships, and the well-merited success he has attained is the result of untiring energy and determination of purpose. He has not made his money, as many others, by the rapid increase of property, but by hard, un- ceasing effort ; little by little he has saved, investing his earnings judiciously, until now he is accounted among the most wealthy and influential citizens of the State. He is loyal and generous in his friendships, and a great favorite in both social and business circles.
GETCHELL, L. W. - Foremost among the financiers and promoters of large business enterprises in the great Northwest stands L. W. Getchell. In the work of organizing companies and enlisting capital in various enterprises he has had no superior in this region. He was born in Whitneyville, Washington County, Me., June 12th, 1849. His father, who died March 22d, 1892, was a prominent lumberman and shipbuilder of Machias, Me. Our subject received a common school education. From early youth to the age of twenty he attended the dis- trict school during the winters, and in the summer worked at his father's various enterprises. Fired with the restless spirit of enterprise, and desiring to see some- thing of the great world, he left his New England home in 1869 and went to San Francisco. After spending some time in the red wood timber region engaged in Jumbering, he returned to San Francisco, and for the next two years worked as a contractor and stevedore with considerable profit. Having accumulated a sub- stantial sum of money, he next went into the Yuba and Nevada Company's mines,
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engaging in mining there and at various other places. He was at Virginia City during the great Bonanza excitement, and from there went to Austin, Nev., where he leased the famous Ward mine. This venture proved very successful, and he operated the mine for several years and amassed a considerable fortune. He next took charge of the Manhattan mines in the same county, which he operated for about ten years.
In 1884 and 1886 he served as a member of the Nevada House of Representa- tives. He was elected Regent of the University, and had charge of the erection of the university buildings at Reno, and the sale of State school lands. In 1888 Mr. Getchell came to Seattle and invested quite extensively in real estate. This departure opened a new field of operations, in which he has since shown rare judgment and unusual executive ability. He soon afterward purchased the town site of Machias, Wash., which he plotted and sold, and then bought the town site of Getchell, which he also plotted and sold. He has extensive real estate inter- ests in the towns of Hartford and Snohomish. In July, 1888, while operating his town sites, his attention was directed to the Monte Cristo mines by a prospector who brought down a specimen of the ore. Mr. Getchell's experienced eye at once detected its value, and he sent the prospector back for more ore and a de- tailed report. Upon receiving these, he determined to make a personal examina- tion of the region, and weut at once into the district. After looking over the ground and examining the nature of the ore deposits, he became convinced of its great magnitude and value, and set about to buy and bond as many claims as pos- sible, thus securing thirty-one claims in the Monte Cristo, Silver Creek, and Cas- cades districts. Returning then to Seattle, he formulated his plans, went East, and incorporated the Silver Queen Mining and Smelting Company, with a capital stock of $5, 000,000, taking the position of General Manager. This was in 1890. At present the company is engaged in developing and working the various mines in the district, securing patents and putting them in shape to work, awaiting the completion of the Everett and Monte Cristo Road, now building from Everett.
Mr. Getchell was the original discoverer and agitator of the Monte Cristo dis- trict, and it was his information which led to the subsequent development and the founding of the new city of Everett. In December, 1891, the discovery of the Black Bear and War Eagle mines in the Loomston district was made and brought to the notice of Mr. Getchell. After examining the property, he formed a company consisting of himself, F. W. Dunn, and James Wardner, and bought the claim. The small mill was increased to thirty stamps, which will soon be in operation. With ten stamps the output was over $10,000 in bullion per month, and it is estimated that with thirty stamps in operation the output will reach $50,000 per month. The company is capitalized at $1,000,000.
All of these enterprises, aggregating an immense amount of capital and repre- senting varied and vast interests, owe their success principally to Mr. Getchell's rare business abilities and aggressive energy. He possesses that boldness in busi- ness methods which is so necessary to the highest success of great projects in new communities, and a persistency of purpose which never stops to think of defeat. He has been remarkably successful in a financial sense, and has accumulated a handsome fortune. He is a man of pleasing address and affable manners, and has many warm friends.
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Mr. Getchell was married June 12th, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Farnsworth, of Johnstown, Me. She died at Oakland, Cal., December 25th, 1875, leaving a daughter and a son, both of whom now reside in Seattle. Mr. Getchell was mar- ried a second time May 20th, 1880, to Miss Lilian Booth, of Austin, Nev. From this union there are four children, all sons.
SEABORG, HON. B. A., was born in Finland, July 29th, 1841, and in 1867 he came to the United States, and settled in the northwestern portion of New York. After a short residence there he removed to Pennsylvania, and became engaged in contracting and building, and also had charge of the Construction Department of the following railroads : Dunkirk, Warren and Pittsburg ; Ashtabula, James- town and Pittsburg, and Painsville, Jamestown and Pittsburg. In the fall of 1873 he went to San Francisco, Cal., where he remained a few months, thence going to Portland, Ore., where he remained two years. In 1875 he removed to Astoria, engaging in the salmon fishing business, where he lived five years, after which time he took up his residence at Ilwaco, Wash., where he at present re- sides, extensively engaged in salmon fishing and merchandising, under the name of the Aberdeen Packing Company, doing a large business, their trade extend- ing to Alaskan waters.
At one time lie was a large stockholder of the Ilwaco Railroad and Navigation Company, and was mainly instrumental in causing the road to be built, but later disposed of his interest to Mr. Jacob Kamm, of Portland, Ore. He has large in- terests in several steamers and transportation lines, and owns most of the town of Sealand, Wash. Mr. Seaborg, although not a politician or aspirant for political honors, received the nomination for the first Senate of the State of Washington, much against his inclination, and was elected to represent the counties of Pacific and Wahkiakum as Joint Senator by a very large majority. He was prominently identified with all legislation on the fishery question, and his maiden speech on that subject in the Washington Legislature was commented upon as a master effort.
In 1883 he was elected County Commissioner for Pacific County. and after- ward served as Chairman of that body. He is also one of the Pilot Commis- sioners, and the present School Director of Ilwaco, and has held those offices for several years. He is a very liberal man, and has given generously to all chari- table enterprises, is a staunch Republican and wise legislator. He owns three salmon canneries, one at Ilwaco, one at Gray's Harbor, and another at Bay Cen- tre, Wash.
In November, 1863, he was married to Miss Charlotte Hagglund. Seven chil- dren have graced this union, two of whom are dead. Personally Mr. Seaborg is of magnificent physique, kind and genial in manner, and with a pleasant smile, which seems to be always on his face, and which reminds us in every sense of a typical son of Thor and Odin. Being in the prime and vigor of manhood, and having already achieved great results in the financial and political world, we can safely predict still greater honors for him in the future.
POST, FREDERICK, the founder of Post Falls, Kootenai County, Ida., was born in Nassau, Germany, September 16th, 1821, the son of Frederick William Post, of
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Nassau, Lieutenant in the German Landsturm Army against Napoleon I. Until the age of fourteen he remained at home attending the schools of Nassau, then worked at mining engineering until he was twenty years old. At this time he entered the German Army, and served seven years under the Duke of Nassau. At the age of twenty-nine he came to this country and settled in Kendall County, Ill., where he remained for twenty-one years engaged in saw-milling, flour-mill- ing, quarrying, farming, etc. In 1871 he came to the present site of Post Falls, and purchased from the Cœur d'Alene Indians the site and water-power privi- leges where the town is now located. By act of Congress, passed March 3d, 1891, the Government authorized the issue of a patent confirming liis title to the prop- erty and rights granted by the Indians. Mr. Post has been engaged since the year 1871 in the work of improving and developing his property, first blasting rocks and building a saw-mill and canal for milling and manufacturing purposes.
In the fall of 1886 the Spokane Falls and Idaho Branch Railroad was built, and the town of Post Falls was laid out, Mr. Post personally superintending most of the work. He is still improving his water-power and the river for navigation.
Post Falls is twenty-four miles east of the city of Spokane Falls, and is located on the north side of the river in the beautiful Spokane valley. It is reached by the Spokane and Idaho Railway, leaving the main line of the Northern Pacific at Hauser Junction, only four miles distant from Post Falls. There is free water navigation from Post Falls to all points on Lake Cœur d'Alene and for many miles up the Cœur d'Alene, St. Joseph's, and St. Mary's rivers, which reaches into vast forests of the finest timber to be found in the country, which can be floated down stream directly to the water-power at Post Falls, making it the best possible location to manufacture everything made from the timber of this coun- try. And the climate is the most healthful to be found.
The town site adjoining the water-power is one of the most beautiful known -- a high, level plateau, and laid out square with the Government surveys with broad streets and avenues. The population is estimated at five hundred, with a splendid school employing three teachers, good churches, and all lines of busi- ness well represented.
There is yet a good chance for profitable investment, as property can still be bought at reasonable figures.
HALE, CHARLES E., was born in Spencer, Worcester County, Mass., July 14th, 1848. His educational advantages were limited to the instruction afforded by the common schools of his native town, and at the age of sixteen years he left home and began the battle of life for himself. Going to Milford, Mass., he learned the trade of watchmaker and jeweller. He remained at Milford three years, and then went to Worcester in the same State, where he worked at his trade for about. a year. Desiring to engage in some occupation which offered greater opportuni- ties for advancement, he removed to Lafayette, Ind., and entered the employ of O. W. Pierce & Co., wholesale grocers. He spent five years in their service as travelling salesman, and at the expiration of that time embarked in the wholesale grocery trade for himself in partnership with C. C. Robinson, under the firm style of Robinson & Hale. They continued business successfully for three years, when Mr. Hale's health failed, and he disposed of his interests to Mr. Robinson.
Jonathan Johnson
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After a year of rest Mr. Hale, in 1882, again engaged in the wholesale grocery trade, this time at Peoria, Ill., as a member of the Hale-Sloan Grocery Company.
In 1888 the members of this company sold their business at Peoria, came to Tacoma, established the Tacoma Grocery Company, and have continued to do business under that style ever since. The success and growth of the business of this house has been very remarkable, and the firm ranks as one of the first in the State of Washington. This gratifying condition has in no small measure been due to Mr. Hale's exertions, his constant watchful care, and the exercise of a high order of business ability, no less than his well-recognized high personal in- .tegrity. The most conspicuous attribute of Mr. Hale's character has been that of energy. This has been the main secret of his success. Beginning life without the bestowed advantages of wealth or liberal education, he has pursued his plans and work with untiring and steadfast industry, and has steadily pushed onward and upward to financial success and a prominent place in the business world. On men of work and worth like him the prosperity of communities depends.
Mr. Hale was married in November, 1883, to Miss Fannie Taylor, of Lafayette, Ind. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are now living- Florence, aged seventeen ; Robert, fourteen ; and Louise, eleven.
JOAB, COLONEL ALBERT EMERSON .- Among the progressive, intelligent, and enterprising young men who have brought to our coast a business capacity and enthusiasm of progress which augur well for the future of the Pacific Northwest, the popular attorney whose name heads this sketch is deserving of mention. Colonel Joab was born December 14th, 1857, in Pomeroy, Meigs County, O., and, at an early age he removed witlı his parents to Terre Haute, Ind. He attended the public schools of the latter place, graduating from the High School in June, 1876.
After visiting the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, in that year, he en- tered the Phillips Exeter Academy, one of the oldest and best institutions of learning in the United States, at Exeter, N. H. Graduating from this the fol- lowing June, he entered Yale University in the autumn of 1877, where he com- pleted his education. On leaving his Alma Mater, he made a tour of the West, and in Colorado was caught in the whirlpool of excitement then prevailing in the rich mineral districts of the Centennial State. All of his available funds were soon exhausted in ill starred mining ventures, and he entered the educational field, in which he soon attained a high position, becoming City Superintendent of Schools at Colorado Springs.
In 1884 he went to Chicago, where he held the Chair of Mathematics in the University School. During all the time he had been engaged in the educational work he pursued a course of study, with a view to entering the legal profession. This he continued in Chicago under able instructors, and on returning to Colo- rado he was admitted to the Bar of that State, on a certificate from the Supreme Court, entering at once upon the practice of his new profession.
In 1888 he came to the Puget Sound country on a tour of inspection, in the interest of certain Eastern capitalists. On his arrival at Tacoma he was so favor- ably impressed with the magnificent scenery and delightful climate, the intelli- gence and enterprise of the people, and the splendid opportunities for a prosper-
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ous professional career, that he decided to make Tacoma his future home. He began the practice of his profession here, and has been successful in securing the confidence and esteem of a large number of desirable clients and building up a large practice. Colonel Joab is a man of liberal education and broad culture sup- plemented by travel. His practice in Tacoma has demonstrated a high order of ability, which will enable him to attain a leading position at the Bar. He takes a lively interest in political affairs, and has won an enviable reputation as a pub- lic speaker. He is deeply attached to the home of his adoption, and takes an enthusiastic and active interest in all matters tending toward the city's advance- ment. On April 6th, 1893, Governor John H. McGraw appointed him Colonel . and Assistant Commissary General on his staff.
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