USA > Washington > History of Washington the evergreen state : from early dawn to daylight with portraits and biographies Vol. I > Part 41
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well-to-do farmer of West Virginia. They have a family of four children, two of whom are students at the Sisters' Academy. The doctor has a fine residence in the city and other valuable property. He was elected Coroner in 1892 and is also City Health Officer, besides holding the office of local surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Fraternally he is a Mason and member of the Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rink. He takes an active interest in the affairs of the city. He has a fine library, both of general and professional literature, and is a close student.
COHN, BERNHARD, of Pomeroy, Wash., was born in Germany in 1857. His father, Gaza Cohn, a merchant, and his mother, Josephine, were both of that nationality. Fifth in a family of nine, he received his education in the public and high schools, with physical training in the gymnasiums of his native land. In 1872 he came to the United States, located in San Francisco, and became a clerk and bookkeeper in that city and other sections of California. Removing to Washington Territory in 1883, he established a general merchandise business and continued it until September, 1892, when the Pomeroy Mercantile Company was formed with a paid-up capital of $30,000, Mr. Cohn being a large stockholder. He became its General Manager, and still continues to conduct the affairs of its large and increasing business. He is evidently well fitted for the task he has undertaken, being one of the most energetic and enterprising business men in the community, with an enviable reputation for industry, honesty, and that business sagacity whose strongest foundation is undeniable common sense ; yet with all this he does not neglect mental cultivation, being a close student and a ripe scholar.
COLE, FREMONT, attorney-at-law, of Seattle, was born September 18th, 1856, in Covert, Seneca County, N. Y. ; received his education in the district school and at Farmers' Village Academy, studied law at Watkins Glen, and was admitted to the Bar of New York in 1880. He practised at Watkins Glen for ten years. In 1884 he was elected to the State Legislature, and was re-elected for five suc- cessive terms. In January, 1888, he was elected Speaker of the lower branch of the Legislature, and was re-elected to the same important position in the follow- ing session. He came to Seattle in June, 1890, and at once began the active practise of the law, forming a partnership with Messrs. E. F. Blaine and L. Devois, under the firm name of Cole, Blaine & Devois. He withdrew one year later, and now practises alone. He was married in September, 1888, to Miss Charlotte Roberts, of Watkins, N. Y. They have one daughter.
COLLIER, E. L., Auditor and Recorder of Whatcom County, Wash., was born November 1st, 1858, at Campbellsburg, Washington County. Ind., and received a common-school education in his native place. Losing his mother when he was but four years old, he early became acquainted with the hardships of life, and at the age of twelve years we find him earning his own livelihood by laborious farm work. He continued his agricultural labors in his native State until 1878, at which time he started for Montana. Stopping at Clay Centre, Kan., he spent one year there engaged in farming pursuits. Going thence to Virginia City,
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Mont., he worked in the mines there until 1884, when he migrated to California. He remained in San Francisco until the spring of 1888, when he came to New Whatcom, Wash., where he has since resided. In 1890 he was elected Auditor and Recorder for the county of Whatcom, was re-elected in 1892, and is now serving his second term in that office. As a public officer Mr. Collier is con- scientious and painstaking in the discharge of every duty, winning the respect and esteem of the people of the county, whose interests he has honestly guarded and earnestly endeavored to promote. In manner he is genial and affable, and numbers his friends by the score. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
COLLINS, JOHN, a thrifty farmer of Walla Walla County, was born in Ohio in 1843, his parents being natives of Ireland, who emigrated to the Buckeye State in 1840. The subject of our sketch, after receiving such limited education as the district schools of his section could bestow, entered upon the active business of life by becoming a miner in Colorado, near Denver. From thence in 1868 he removed to White Pine, Nev., where he still engaged in the same pursuit. After many years of adventurous wandering Mr. Collins finally settled upon his present farm in Walla Walla County. He tills no less than seven hundred and sixty acres of choice land which well rewards his labors, his heaviest crop often reach- ing thirty-five bushels to the acre. His improvements are extensive, and were all built by himself. He is married and has had six children. What more could a Western farmer ask-a fine farm, a pleasant home, abundant conveniences, and children growing up about him.
COLLYER, SAMUEL, Cashier of the Merchants' National Bank of Tacoma, is the eldest son of the Rev. Robert Collyer, the eminent Unitarian preacher of New York City. He was born July 6th, 1847, near Keighley, Yorkshire, England, and at the age of seven came to America with some friends of his father, locating near Philadelphia, Pa. In 1859 the family removed to Chicago, and Samuel received his education in the public schools of that city. At the age of seventeen he began his business life as clerk in the office of the purchasing agent of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, and also acted as stationer of the system for three years. He then entered the employ of Messrs. Bates & Co., wholesale lumber dealers, remaining with them for twelve years. In the spring of 1880 he removed with his family to Silver Cliff, Col., where he engaged in the lumber business and ranching for four years. This venture being unsuccessful, he entered the employ of the Bradstreet Commercial Agency at Denver, Col., and removed his family to that city. In 1885 he was appointed the Superinten- dent of Bradstreet's Salt Lake City office, and fifteen months later was transferred to the Portland, Ore., office, where he remained in charge for fifteen months. In 1888 he severed his connection with the Mercantile Agency to accept the position of Cashier of the Merchants' National Bank of Tacoma, which office he has since filled. He is a director and stockholder in this bank, President of the Western Washington Industrial Exposition Company, Vice-President of the Tacoma Cham- ber of Commerce, Treasurer of the World's Fair Commission, and is connected with various other business enterprises. His life throughout has been that of an
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active, useful, far-seeing man. He is keen and sagacious in business, and pos- sesses the highest order of financial ability. As a citizen of Tacoma he has been vigilant in promoting the interests of the community with reference to all public enterprises and improvements. Frank and genial in manner, kindly and generous in his nature, he is deservedly popular with a host of friends. Mr. Collyer was married October 11th, 1871, to Miss Rebecca Moore, of Chicago. She died in December, 1876, leaving one daughter, who is married and resides in Chicago. December 9th, 1879, he was married to Miss Louise Dewey, of Chicago, and by her he has one son, Norman.
CONOVER, CHARLES T., of the firm of Crawford & Conover, investment brokers of Seattle, was born in Schoharie County, N. Y, August 7th, 1862, and there received his early training and education. At the age of sixteen he went to Amsterdam, N. Y., and began to learn the printer's trade, but soon abandoned it, and in 1880 became a reporter on the Troy (New York) Times, under John A. Sleicher, the present editor of the New York Mail and Express. Returning to Amsterdam, he became city editor of the Evening Recorder, and so continued for about a year. He then returned to his native county and took charge of the weekly Cobleskill Herald, which he conducted until his twenty-first year, when he disposed of his interest in that paper. About this time he came into posses- sion of quite an estate left him by his father, and, impressed with the advantages of the West, removed to Port Moody, B. C., where he engaged in the lumber business and lost the most of his means. He then went to Tacoma, Wash., where he obtained a position as reporter for the Tacoma Ledger. A few months later he was offered and accepted the city editorship of the Seattle Post Intelligencer, and removed to that city, where he has since resided. After one year's service on the Post Intelligencer he resigned, and this closed his career as a " newspaper man." He then, in 1888, formed a partnership with S. L. Crawford, also of the Post Intelligencer staff, under the firm style of Crawford & Conover, and embarked in the real estate business. The venture proved a successful one, and Craw- ford & Conover are household words throughout the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Conover is a director in the First National Bank of Seattle, and is identified with many important enterprises. Although a young man, he has attained a leading position in financial circles, and has a highly honorable reputation. The popular and appropriate title, the Evergreen State, the official sobriquet of Washington, was first suggested by Mr. Conover. He was married in June, 1891, to Miss Louise Burns, of New York City.
CONOVER, DR. S. B., a practising physician of Port Townsend, Wash., was born in New Jersey, September 23d, 1840. He received his early education in Trenton, N. J., and his medical training in Philadelphia. He served in the United States Army as Acting Assistant-Surgeon at Nashville, Tenn., Philadel- phia, Pa., and Cincinnati, O., until 1865, when he resigned to engage in private practice at Trenton, N. J. One year later he again entered the army as A.cting Assistant-Surgeon, and served as Post Surgeon at Lake City, Fla., until 1868, when he became State Treasurer of Florida, a position which he filled until the expiration of his term in January, 1873, when he was chosen United States Sen-
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ator. He entered upon this important office March 4th, 1873, and served with distinguished ability until the expiration of his term in 1879. Dr. Conover took an active and influential part in the reconstruction of the State of Florida, served as delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and was Speaker of the State House of Representatives. In 1880 the Republicans chose him as their candidate for Governor, and while he firmly believed he was honestly elected, the Democratic Party being in control of the political machinery, the certificate of election was given to his opponent. Dr. Conover was chairman of the Florida delegations to the National Republican Conventions of 1868 and 1876. After attending several courses of lectures at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, he again took up the practice of his profession in Florida, and continued there until his removal to Port Townsend, where he enjoys an extensive and lucrative practice. He is a member of the World's Fair Commission of the State of Washington. Dr. Conover is progressive and public-spirited in his ideas, and one whose entire career has been synonymous with integrity and manliness. He possesses in an eminent degree the qualities most needed in a public official. During all the years of his public life he so acted as to leave the impression under all circum- stances of being animated by a conscientious purpose to faithfully discharge every trust, regardless of consequences-a record which firmly established him in the confidence and respect of the public. He is genial and social in nature, easily wins and retains friends, and is deservedly popular in the city of his adoption, where he has justly earned the good opinion of his fellows.
CONRAD, JAMES H., a representative farmer of Tampico, Wash., was born in New York in 1840, being the eldest of a family of three children born to Samuel and Keziah (Hollister) Conrad, both of whom were natives of the Empire State. Leaving home at the age of sixteen, young Conrad began life for himself, spend- ing three years in Maryland, and then returning to his native State, where he remained until he reached twenty-one. Migrating to Illinois, he engaged in various occupations for a period of eight years, when he removed to Missouri and thence by the overland Salt Lake route to Portland, Ore., whence, after a long sojourn, lie went to Yakima, Wash., and took possession of the fine farm which - he still cultivates. He is also a considerable land-owner in other localities, has acres of hops, fine hop houses, a beautiful orchard-in short, all that goes to make the life of an agriculturist an enviable one. Mr. Conrad was married in 1863 to Miss Mary A. Greeve, the daughter of a prominent merchant of Illinois. Their union has been blessed with six children.
COOK, LUCIAN F., of Tacoma, a son of Silas and Catherine F. Cook, was born in Watertown, O., February 26th, 1849. His father was an inventor of some note and one of the pioneers of Tacoma, coming there when the great city of the present was but a place of some seven hundred souls. Young Cook received a common school education, removed with his parents to Western Iowa in 1846, and entered the Commercial College of St. Joseph, Mo., but did not complete its course. He engaged in newspaper work in 1883, and published the Dunlap Reporter for eight years in Dunlap, Ia. ; then sold out and began to conduct the issue of the Harrison County News, which he edited for two years. He
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came to Washington in 1884, located at Tacoma, and became a real estate dealer, being also identified with other enterprises. He organized the Puget Sound Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Company. For two years he was President of the Young Men's Christian Association of Tacoma, and was President of the Humane Society. He is an owner and director of the Lake Park Railroad and Improve- ment Company, and a very large real estate owner in the counties of Pierce and King, aggregating half a million dollars. He is President of the Around the World Publishing Company ; patentee of a system of elevated and electric rail- roads, now building an experimental line in Tacoma. Mr. Cook is a business man, largely identified with the later history and progress of Tacoma. He is a devoted member of the Congregational Church.
COOK, MORTIMER, capitalist, of Sedro, Wash., was born in Mansfield, O., Sep- tember 15th, 1826. Like many another farmer's boy, he attended the district school in winter, working on the paternal acres during the summer months. This lasted until he reached the age of twenty, when he enlisted in the First United States Infantry, at Burlington, Ia .; was sent to the frontier of Southwestern Texas, and served under the biographer's command until his discharge in 1850. He then entered the Quartermaster's employ at Eagle Pass, Tex., in which he continued for two years. In the spring of 1852 he went to California, travelling alone from San Antonio, Tex., to Mazatlan, Mexico. Reaching San Francisco, May 23d, 1852, he embarked in mining and speculating, starting a mining store at Rabbit Creek, Cal. Attracted by the Frazer River gold excitement of 1858, he journeyed thither and started a ferry on Thompson's River, known as Cook's Ferry, a great success. He was also the proprietor of a general mining store at Lytton, on the same river. In 1864 he returned to Ohio, purchased the old homestead and resided there for three years, but finding its dull monotony too wearisome for an adventuresome spirit, sold out and removed to Topeka, Kan., where he built the iron bridge across the Kaw River, and remained for four years. · Then he went to Santa Barbara, Cal., where he established the First National Gold Bank of that city, of which institution he was President for five years. He came to Skagit County, Wash., and located on the present site of Sedro, invest- ing heavily in land both in Skagit and the neighboring counties. He also started a shingle mill and store, and is now giving his attention to the cultivation of six hundred acres, which he purposes making a model farm. He was married Jan- uary 14th, 1863, to Miss Nancy F. Pollock, of Mansfield, O. They have three daughters. Mr. Cook has filled the office of Mayor of Santa Barbara, Cal., for three years, is a worthy Mason and an Odd Fellow. It has fallen to the lot of the biographer to trace the history of one of his old soldiers from the humble position of high private in the regulars to the larger dignity of capitalist and ex-Mayor. His old commander congratulates him on his success.
COOKE, E. N., a farmer and stockman, and also interested in mining, is noted as being the discoverer of borax and soda deposits in the Crab Creek country. He cultivates his farm of seven hundred acres nine miles east of Ellensburg, in the fertile Kittitas Valley. He was born in Oregon in 1854. His father was a native of Ohio, his mother of New York. His father was a veteran of the Mexi-
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can War, a pioneer of the Pacific Coast, coming to Oregon in 1850, and removing to the Kittitas Valley twenty years later, where he died, October 1st, 1888, leaving a widow and nine children. He was for four terms a member of the Territorial Legislature, Auditor of Yakima County, prominent in the organization of Kittitas County, and afterward its School Superintendent. The subject of our sketch received his education in the common schools of Oregon and Washington. He followed the cattle business, took up land, and by thrift and enterprise has achieved his present success. He was married in 1881 to Miss Yocum, a lady of education, who was born in Minnesota in 1860. They have three children.
COOPER, JOHN H., M.D., a prominent physician and leading citizen of Farm- ington, Wash., was born in Sidney, Shelby County, O., October 30th, 1851. His father was John Cooper, a planter, of Virginia, and his mother a native of the Keystone State. Dr. Cooper received his rudimentary education in the district schools of Ohio, and then entered Westfield College, Ill., intending to take a scientific course, whichi, however, he did not fully complete. He received his medical training at the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, graduating in 1875, with the degree of M.D. Locating in Illinois, he remained two years there, then returned to Monticello, where he continued to reside for seven years. Mov- ing to Washington in 1885, he located at Farmington, where he has ever since remained actively engaged in the practice of his profession. The doctor married in 1882 Miss Mary H. Piatt, a cousin of the famous Washington journalist of that name. Three children have blessed their union. The doctor, who is the owner of a pretty city residence besides other valuable real estate, has held the office of Mayor and also that of City Councillor, and has been largely instrumental in the improvement of the city, both morally and materially, during his term of office, especially in the matter of its water supply. He is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Republican in politics, a public-spirited citizen, and in all respects a representa- tive man.
COOPER, TRANDELL M., farmer and politician, of Sprague, Waslı., was born in New York in 1848. His father, John Cooper, was a farmer and merchant of Rutland, Vt. ; his mother, Louise A. Cooper, was a native of Oswego, N. Y. Young Cooper was educated in the public schools of Illinois and by private tuition. He removed to Illinois with his parents, who located in Buslinell in that State, where he lived until he reached his majority, when he went to Iowa, re- mained a year, then returned to Illinois, and after two years' stay went back to New York. During these years he was engaged in clerking for various mercan- tile firms. In New York he interested himself in the dairy business, and so con- tinued for four years. In 1877 he migrated to Oregon and followed the same pursuit until January, 1880, when he went to Spokane, and spent seven years in farming. He was elected Treasurer of Lincoln County in 1886 and Auditor in 1888, offices which he filled with marked ability. He has served two terms as City Councillor, and has been elected to all these positions in the Democratic interest, in every instance running ahead of his party ticket, though the county is strongly Republican. He was married in 1888 to Miss Alice M. Bassett, of Maine. It is needless to speak of Mr. Cooper's personal popularity ; his election to office tells the story.
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COPLEN, A. D., of Latah, Wash., assayer and mining engineer, was born in Iowa, December 15th, 1862. He received his education in the public schools, Spokane College, and Kent Academy, Maine. Determining to devote himself to mining, he pursued his geological studies at Colorado College, obtaining the indorsement of that institution as an expert in mines and assaying. Coming to Latah he formed a partnership with his brother, engaging in farming, but with- out relinquishing his prospecting. Eminently successful in this, he not only dis- covered several mines, but in company with his brother located valuable deposits of fire and pottery clay in the vicinity of Latah, which finds a ready market in Portland. The brothers have also been so fortunate as to unearth during their subterranean researches some wonderful remains of prehistoric men and animals. These bones were in a fine state of preservation, have formed the theme of lec- tures, and been carried by the railroads free of charge throughout the State for the information of the people at large. They are now in Chicago. They include tusks of some unknown animal whose dimensions when living must have been stupendous ; they measure over ten feet in length by as many inches in diameter, the shoulder-blade being forty-four inches and the pelvis six feet. The brothers are not without hope of making further discoveries.
COPLEN, GEORGE W., A.B., of Latah, Wash., was born in Iowa in 1856, being the eldest child of his father's third wife. He gained the rudiments of knowl- edge in a preparatory school at Vancouver, Wash., from whence he entered the Pacific University of Forest Grove, Ore., graduating in 1881 with the degree of A.B. Locating at Latah, he took up a pre-emption claim. Returning to Forest Grove, he engaged in business, which he followed until his return to Latah, where he devoted himself to farming for a time. In addition to this he associ- ated himself with his brother, A. D. Coplen, and engaged in mining in the Cœur d'Alene district. Their success in this " search for hidden treasure" is shown by the increase of their holdings, the brothers being not only large owners of valuable mining property in the district above mentioned, but real estate in the cities of Latah and Spokane. Mr. Coplen is a candidate for Representative on the " prohibition ticket," a member of the Methodist Church, Farmers' Alliance, and other societies, a man of education, versatility of talent, and shrewd business common sense. He married in 1882 Miss Sarah E. Bowlby, of Oregon. They have two children.
Cox, JAMES W., a representative citizen of Cle Elum, was born in 1858 in Indiana. He was a son of Samuel Cox, a merchant of that State, and Rachel (Miller) Cox, a native of Kentucky. Young Cox received his early education in the public school of his native district. His first employment was in railroading, a pursuit which he followed in different States of the Union for a period of seven- teen years. He came to Washington Territory in 1888, locating at Cle Elum, where, after three years spent in his old occupation, he engaged in merchandising, to which he still devotes his attention. He is counted not only a capable and enterprising business man, but well worthy of the esteem in which he is generally held. Mr. Cox was married at Holton, Ind., in 1879, to Miss Frances E. Parker, a native of Indianapolis, Ind. He has, in addition to his handsome cottage resi-
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dence, other valuable city property. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and one of those progressive inen whose inter- est in events aids in no small degree to advance the best interests of the com- munity at large.
CRABTREE, GEORGE WASHINGTON, a prominent business man of Waitsburg, Wash., was born in Kentucky in 1850. His father, Z. Crabtree, was a Kentucky farmer, his mother, Marie J. Crabtree, being also a native of that State. In 1852 his parents crossed the plains by ox-team and located in the Willamette Valley, where George received the rudiments of education until the age of seventeen, when he engaged in farming, a pursuit which he continued for upward of five years. He then removed to the vicinity of Waitsburg and became foreman of W. H. Ingalls's ranch, in whose employ he remained four years. Then he came into the city and established himself in the livery business. He keeps a large and well-cared-for stable, and finds no reason to complain of a lack of patronage. He was married in 1870 to Miss Laura Mitchell, a native of Oregon. Two chil- dren were born to them, but neither survives. Mr. Crabtree is the owner of a pleasant city home, and feels a warm interest in the progress and substantial im- provement of Waitsburg. He is an active member of the Christian Church, taking an active part in every good work ; is a Democrat in his political convic- tions, works for his party and sincerely desires its success. Personally he may without egotism claim to be a popular and highly esteemed citizen, possessing the confidence and regard of all who know him.
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