USA > Washington > History of Washington the evergreen state : from early dawn to daylight with portraits and biographies Vol. I > Part 46
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EWART, CAPTAIN JAMES, of Colfax, Wash., was born in Scotland in 1831, being the eldest child of Robert and Sarah Ewart. Educated in the schools of his native land, he took a classical course in the Academy of Douglas, which, however, he did not finish. He came to the United States in 1851, locating at Lonsdale, R. I. After working for a time as a mechanic in the machine shops, he removed to Logan County, Ill., and engaged in farming, and so continued till the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the Second Regiment of Illinois Cavalry, which was attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps. He proved his devo- tion to the flag of his adopted country by service in many prominent battles of our civil strife, supplementing his Rebellion experiences by fighting the Indians on the Texas frontier, and was honorably discharged on January 3d, 1866, with the rank of Captain. He then located in Missouri, where he remained for five years engaged in merchandising. In 1871 he removed to Washington, settled on the present site of Colfax and engaged in farming. The Captain espoused a Scottish lady of good family in 1854. The result of this union has been ten chil- dren, of whom eight survive. Their children have grown up, married, and taken prominent places in the localities where they reside. The Captain is a Mason and a member of a Grand Army of the Republic post, of which he is the Past Commander. He comes of an ancient Scottish family, who, unlike many of our shoddy millionaires, can track back their ancestry to 1300. He was the first Auditor of Whitman County, Clerk of the Washington Court of Colfax, and Jus- tice of the Peace. Though now retired from active life, he finds in his pleasant home and in the esteem and regard of his fellow-citizens that abundant reward which his energetic life and faithful discharge of duty well entitle him to receive.
FAIRCHILD, JAMES C., of Tacoma, the prompt, popular, and energetic Treas- urer of Pierce County, is a native son of the Pacific Coast, having been born at Santa Clara, Cal., June 1st, 1851. After a preparatory course in the public schools of Santa Clara, he became at the age of twelve a student in the Oakland Military Academy, where he remained until the age of fifteen. At sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the profession of civil engineer ; at twenty-one he entered upon the active duties of that calling, being engaged in various governmental and railroad surveys. In 1878 he became a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Removing to the Territory of Washington in 1882, he became im-
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mediately connected with the Carbon Hill Coal Company as its Paymaster and Engineer. In 1890 he was nominated by the Republican convention as Treas- urer for Pierce County, and was returned at the ensuing election by a majority of 1759. He was unanimously renominated in 1892, and again elected by a large majority. Mr. Fairchild stands high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens as a man in all respects well worthy of the position he so ably fills.
FAIRWEATHER, H. W .- One of the most prominent men in banking circles in Eastern Washington is H. W. Fairweather, of Spokane. He was born May 20th, 1852, in St. John, N. B., and received a common school education. At the age of fourteen years he began railroad work, first with the Old Colony and Vermont Central Railroad companies, and later with the Oregon Railway and Navigation and Northern Pacific companies. In the employ of the latter company he came West in 1871, and remained with them in various capacities, as Assistant Superin- tendent, Auditor, and Traffic Manager, until 1877, when he accepted the position of Auditor and General Freight and Passenger Agent of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. He succeeded the late Dr. D. S. Baker as Vice-President and General Manager of the Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad, which in 1878 became a part of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. Mr. Fair- weather continued as Superintendent of the latter company until 1881, when he came to Ainsworth, Wash., and took charge of the construction and operation of the Northern Pacific Railroad, continuing in that capacity until 1883, when he resigned to engage in banking and mercantile business at Sprague, Wash. He organized the First National Bank of Sprague, and was its President for about seven years. In 1890 he came to Spokane and assisted in organizing the First National Bank of that city, of which he is Vice-President. He is also a stock- holder in the Traders' National Bank of Spokane, the Spokane Savings Bank, and the First National Bank of Wallace, Ida. Mr. Fairweather was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Washington and a member of the first State Senate. He was married March 14th, 1875, to Miss Mattie Curtis, of Kalama, Wash., by whom he has three sons and two daughters. He is an enthusiastic member of the Masonic Fraternity, having attained the thirty-second degree. Mr. Fairweather is a man of great natural intelligence, with a well-developed mind and extensive practical experience. The many trusts which during a busy lifetime have been placed in his hands have been discharged faithfully and honorably.
FARNHAM, CAPTAIN JOHN, a retired shipmaster, of Seattle, Wash., was born in Wiscasset, Me., November 6th, 1820, and became a seafarer when but a youth. Coming in at the " hawser holes," he gradually worked his way aft from Second to First Mate, and finally Captain of a Boston ship. At the age of nineteen he went to a Boston college to finish his education, but abandoned scholastic train- ing to become the master of the ship Washington Irving, his first command. For forty years he commanded ships sailing from the port of Boston. During the Mexican War he was at Vera Cruz. He had charge of the ship Titan, of Boston, chartered by the French Government during the Crimean War as a troop trans- port. After three years spent in this service he sailed for New Orleans, following the seas until 1865, when he settled in Seattle. He has acquired considerable
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property on Puget Sound, and is counted one of the wealthy citizens of Washing- ton. He has reached the age of seventy-three, but retains his youthful vigor to an extent which bids fair to make him a centenarian. Captain Farnham was married March 27th, 1844, to Miss Helen Mack, of Boston. His wife, who is but a few months younger than himself, has proved herself a faithful companion through an unusually exciting and adventurous life, during which she has sailed with him to all parts of the world. Age has laid its hand lightly and as yet touched but tenderly this long-united and devoted pair. They have the best wishes of all who know them for added years and continued prosperity.
FAY, JOHN P., a distinguished lawyer, of Seattle, was born in Westboro, Worcester County, Mass., August 1st, 1861, graduated from the high school of his native town and also from Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire. He took a two years' collegiate course at Harvard, with the addition of a year at the law school of that institution. He became Principal of Public Schools in Upton, Mass., and served one year, at the same time pursuing his law studies. He was instructor in Rhetoric and Greek for one year in Oxford Academy, Pa., and then resigned for the purpose of continuing the study of law at Boston, Mass. He was admitted to the Bar of Massachusetts in 1885, and began practice. He went to Nevada in the fall of 1885, and practised for four years at Eureka, at the same time taking great interest in school work, and filling the position of Principal of the Public Schools. In the winter of 1889 he was Clerk of. the Nevada Senate until the close of the session in March, when he left for Seattle and formed a law partnership with Jolin P. Gale, of Boston, in May following, and at once took a prominent place among the leaders of the Seattle Bar. He has been eminently successful in many important cases, notable among which was the celebrated " tide land contest," which involved millions of dollars and was of immense im- portauce to the State. Upon the death of Mr. Gale, Mr. Fay organized the firm of Fay, Gest & Henderson, which still continues. Mr. Fay successfully conduct- ed for his clients another most important case, involving a vast sum, in behalf of the bondholders of the Oregon Pacific and Willamette Valley and Coast Rail- road Company, under the foreclosure of the $15,000,000 mortgage of the above companies to the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company of New York City. Mr. Fay is retained as attorney for no less than eighteen corporations, both Eastern and local, and the firm of which he is senior member has established offices at Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash., with a large and growing practice ; yet he started in life with no other capital than his own native talent and determination to succeed. In his profession he is a close student of the law, an indefatigable worker and eloquent advocate. Truly, as Webster said, " There is always room in every profession at the top." An independent fortune has rewarded his labors, as well as a business reputation which cannot but add largely to his gains. Some lives tell their own story, and need no biographical flattery to point the moral of their tale.
FELLOWS, GEORGE, farmer, of Spangle, Wash., was born in New Hampshire February 22d, 1826. His parents, Stephen and Rachel (McGaffey) Fellows, were also natives of that State. Young Fellows received his education at Mount Mor-
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ris, Rock River, Seminary. He crossed the plains to California in 1850, and fol- lowed gold-mining for twelve years. Coming to Washington Territory in 1880, he located on a section of land near Spangle, where he still resides. Mr. Fellows is a careful farmer, having made many improvements. He is also a breeder of fine draft horses. He has held various offices, and was a member of the sec- ond State Legislature. Mr. Fellows was married in 1856 to Miss Anne M. McCabe, daughter of Thomas and Maria McCabe, of Illinois. They have a family patriarchal in size, reaching the number of fifteen. Mr. Fellows is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and in politics is an independent. He is a man of property, and has made good use of both natural gifts and educational advantages.
FERGUSON, JAMES, farmer and stockman, of Kittitas Valley, Wash., was born in Indiana in 1839. His parents were Kentuckians, his father having been a farmer of that State and a minister of the Gospel for thirty years. Young Fer- guson received his early education in Iowa, where he also worked on a farm. Coming to the Sound in 1860, he reached Oakland September 14th of that year and embarked in the lumber business. He settled in his present location in the Kittitas Valley in July, 1872, taking up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which cuts two tons of hay to the acre. His farm is situated four miles east of Ellensburg. Mr. Ferguson was married in Victoria, Canada, Janu- ary 23d, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth McCune, who was born in Iowa in 1851. They have nine children. While Mr. Ferguson's buildings are not all that he might wish, he has reason to pride himself on his fine stock.
FIELDS, FLETCHER R., farmer, of Walla Walla, Wash., was born in Ohio in 1845. His father, Nathan Fields, was a native and merchant of Virginia, his mother, Sarah Aiken Fields, being from Ohio. Educated in the public schools of Ohio, young Fields enlisted in 1861 in the Fifth Kansas Cavalry, and went to the front, where he saw service under General Lane with the Army of the South- west. He was honorably discharged in 1864 at Fort Leavenworth, and engaged in the freighting business between Leavenworth and Santa Fé, in which he con- tinued until he came to Washington in 1869. Locating at Walla Walla, he re- turned to freighting, but discontinued it at the expiration of a year to devote himself to agricultural pursuits. He has a farm of six hundred acres all under cultivation, yielding forty bushels per acre, and considered one of the most fertile in the county. Mr. Fields was married in 1873. He is a member of Lincoln Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and a Republican in politics. A careful farmer, but not so much occupied with the bread-winning business of life as to exclude a warm interest in the educational progress of the neighborhood where he dwells, Mr. Fields is deservedly honored and respected by the whole com- munity.
FIFE, COLONEL W. J., a pushing, energetic, and talented citizen of Tacoma, Wash., was born at Medford, October 25th, 1857. He is the oldest son of W. H. Fife, an early pioneer of the City of Destiny. Mr. Fife came with his parents to Tacoma when it was a settlement of only forty inhabitants, worked in his father's store, and acted as its first Assistant Postmaster when the metropolis of the pres-
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ent was still a hamlet of the wilderness. Colonel Fife, always studiously in- clined, entered the California Military Academy in 1876, graduating at the head of his class in the Business Department. While at the academy he made such rapid progress that at the age of twenty he was appointed Post-Adjutant and Military Instructor on the academic staff. After completing his course he re- turned home and became an able assistant to his father in his extensive business enterprises. In 1880 he was elected First Lieutenant of the Tacoma Rifles, the first military company organized in that city. He was also the first Secretary of the Fire Department. In May of 1881 he married the oldest daughter of Senator Levant F. Thompson, and has now three children. In 1882 and 1883 Colonel Fife, anxious to extend his knowledge, became a student at the Columbian Law University at Washington, D. C. Returning to Tacoma, he was elected Captain of Company C. Tacoma Guards, N. G. W., and by his indomitable will and firm administrative ability has given his command a national reputation. Few men have done more for the improvement of the military and National Guard of Wash- ington than Colonel Fife, whose company rendered valuable service after the great fire in Seattle, June 7th, 1889, when for fourteen days they assisted in pre- serving order, to the infinite relief of the inhabitants of that stricken city. In 1891 Colonel Fife and his command were called out by the Governor to serve at Black Diamond and Gillman during the mining trouble, which lasted for four- teen days. He retired from active service in 1892, taking with him the respect and esteem of his brother officers and subordinates. In 1893 the Governor of the State of Washington made Colonel Fife Chief of Ordnance on his staff, with the rank of Colonel, to the satisfaction of the entire brigade of the State. A fine speaker, an able writer and man of many friends, Colonel Fife and his amiable wife enjoy a popularity second to none. He is a type of the men who do that which is committed to their hands with all their might, and do it well, knowing of no such word as fail. Tacoma owes much to his unwearied enterprise and never-failing energy.
FINNEY, WILLIAM, merchant, and Mayor of Davenport, was born in Ohio in 1833. His father, James Finney, was a Pennsylvania farmer, his mother, Rebecca (Briggs) Finney, being a native of the same State. Fourth in a family of twelve, young Finney received a common school education, with the further advantages of a course at the Washington Academy of Ohio, supplementing the knowledge thus obtained by graduating from Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Cleve- land. Beginning the active labor of life, he located in Morgan County, O., where for ten years he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. Removing to Illinois, he engaged for sixteen years in the lumber business, which he relinquished for the manufacture of brick and tile. In 1888 he migrated to Washington and estab- lished himself as a general merchant at Davenport, in which occupation he is still engaged. He was married in 1859 to Miss Melissa Hayes, a native of Ohio. They have four children. Mr. Finney is not only the present Mayor of the city of Davenport, but was also its first Treasurer. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and an independent in his political faith. He is a man of property, having $10,000 invested in his business. He is the owner of city realty, a nice residence, with all those pleasant surroundings that go to make up the material happiness of a home.
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FISH, DANIEL R., farmer, on the north fork of the Cowiche, was born in New York in 1837, being second in a family of five born to Henry S. and Polly (Rus- sell) Fislı. His parents were both natives of the Empire State. Leaving home in 1855, young Fish went to Michigan, where he remained until 1860, when he crossed the plains by team with a company of twenty wagons, and arrived without special adventure in California in August of that year. Here he engaged in farm- ing, but removed to Salmon River during the gold excitement. After prospect- ing awhile he returned to The Dalles, where he remained until 1864, then migrated to Umatilla, and after various changes, during which he traversed the greater part of the Sound country, he came to Yakima in 1869. He bought his present farm in 1888, where he has ever since resided. He has four hundred and fifty-five acres under cultivation, two hundred head of fine horses and cattle, a splendid orchard, and his own system of irrigating ditches. He was married in 1883 to Miss Celesta Chapman, daughter of Andrew Chapman, a prominent farmer of Oregon. This lady died in 1889, leaving one child. Mr. Fish has a pleasant home, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows fraternity. He is a Republican in politics, a fine farmer, and a genial gentleman.
FISH, RICHARD C., farmer, of Sprague. Wash., was born in Jackson, Mich., February 12th, 1852. His father, John Fish, was a mechanic, born in Batavia, N. Y., and his mother, Caroline G. Fish, was a native of Jackson. Third in a family of five children, Richard received his early education in the schools of his native State, and then followed railroading for seven years. In 1874 he went to California, where he farmed for six years, coming to Washington Territory in 1880. Here he located on the farm which he still cultivates. He has no less than seventeen hundred acres, eleven hundred of which are improved, their crops being wheat and barley, with an average yield of sixteen bushels to the acre. He is the owner of city and suburban homes, and is in every way pleasantly estab- lished. He was married in 1886 to Miss Dora J. Littlefield, daughter of William Littlefield, of Pennsylvania. They have four children. Mr. Fish was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1882, holding office until 1888, when he was elected Sheriff of Lincoln County, and again in 1890. He is a Republican, and is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He has made an excellent record in both the offices he has been called to fill, having proved himself a faithful and efficient incumbent of each.
FISHBACK, HON. CHARLES F., attorney-at-law, of Seattle, Wash., was born at Independence, Warren County, Ind., July 9th, 1856. His family, being admirers of General Fremont, gave the name of that distinguished explorer to their son - his middle name being Fremont. When he was but three years old his parents removed to Kansas, his father, William H., locating at Olathe, where young Fish- back received his early education in the public school and Poole College, in which latter institution he afterward became an instructor. While still a mere youth, his ability as a teacher secured for him the position of principal of the Aubrey High School, which he resigned to organize an academy and business college at Olathe, Kan. He began the study of law in the office of Hon. J. P. St. John, afterward Governor of the State. He removed to Colorado, and going to Lead-
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ville, spent some time in the mines, leaving to resume his legal studies in the St. Louis Law School, where he graduated with distinction, taking the work of both the junior and the senior classes in one year, an achievement till then unknown in the history of the institution. He began practice as counsel in a famous mur- der case, and after varied experiences in Colorado and California, came to Wash- ington in 1890 and opened a law office in Seattle. Appointed Assistant to Dis- trict-Attorney Carr, he retained that position until the close of the term. He is now senior partner in the law firm of Fishback, Elder & Hardin, whose spacious offices and library are located in the Squire-Latimer Building. The firm enjoys a lucrative and ever-increasing business. In 1889 Mr. Fishback was married to Miss Anna E. Derry, a most charming and talented young lady of Napa, Cal., who has already won a leading place in the social and intellectual life of Wash- ington. Mr. Fishback is an eloquent advocate, and being still a young man, may well anticipate a most successful career in the future.
FISHER, DAVID, farmer and stockman, of Kittitas Valley, was born in Penn- sylvania in 1835. His parents, who were both natives of Germany, emigrated to America in 1820, locating in the Keystone State, where the father died in 1841, leaving a wife and seven children, of whom David was the youngest. In 1845 the mother removed with her family to Missouri, and to the Far West in 1863, where she died. Young Fisher received his early education in Missouri, and in 1855 came to Oregon, teaming from The Dalles to the Idaho mines. Here he prospected successfully. He reached the Kittitas Valley in 1872 and took up land two miles west of Ellensburg, where he now owns two hundred acres of fine fertile soil. He is a breeder and raiser of fine stock, especially the thoroughbred Galloway and Durham cattle. He is still unmarried. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance and a stockholder in the Ellensburg Irrigating Ditch. He is an old pioneer, inured to its hardships and thoroughly conversant with the many dangers and privations which beset the first settlers on our Western frontier,
FLINT, ISAAC A., deceased, a pioneer farmer near Yakima City, born in Che- nango County, N. Y., was the youngest son in a family of three born to John and Rachel (Purdy) Flint. He commenced his life's labors at eighteen as a farmer. In 1844 he entered the ministry and preached until 1889. After leaving his home in the State of New York he travelled to Michigan, much of the way on foot, remained there a short time, and then in 1836 went to Chicago, and from thence by team to Wisconsin, where he took up a claim. In 1844 he migrated to Mis- souri and engaged in the lumber business. In 1845 he crossed the plains with ox- teams, being obliged to exercise great vigilance to prevent the Indians from kill- ing the cattle. Arriving safely at Sutter's Fort, on the Sacramento River, Cali- fornia, being the first to cross the Sierra Nevada with wagons, they wintered in Sonoma County, Cal., then visited Oregon in the spring of 1846, where Mr. Flint remained until 1847 in the Willamette Valley. He then left his farm and jour- neyed with a party up the Cowlitz to Puget Sound, and by canoes to Whidby Island, suffering great privation, and narrowly escaping destruction in the break- ers. Saved by friendly Indians, they were cared for by the savages until suffi- ciently recovered to resume their march. Before arriving at Whidby they were
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reduced to such a state of starvation that one eagle was all that six white men and three Indians had to subsist on for three days. From Whidby Mr. Flint, whose name and endurance seem to have been synonymous, made his difficult way through twelve miles of timber, finally reaching the English fort at Nesqually The other men came around with the canoc. Continuing their explorations after recruiting their strength, they passed with canoes down to the Columbia River, meeting with many adventures and not a few dangers. After taking up a claim near Salem, Ore., Mr. Flint, attracted by the gold excitement, went to the mines and remained three years. His first wife died in California in 1846. In 1852 he returned to Wisconsin, and married Miss Emeline L. Phinney in 1853. He recrossed the plains by ox-team the same year, reached Rogue River, Oregon, settled in Douglas County, Ore., moved to Salem in 1865, thence to Yakima City in 1869, where he resided with his family until 1891, the time of his death. A widow and six children survive and lament his loss. Few men had a wider, more dangerous and varied experience of frontier life than the late Mr. Flint.
FLINT, EUGENE V., a farmer on Parker Bottom, near Yakima City, was born in Wisconsin in 1841. He was the son of Isaac A. and Sarah (Bigclow) Flint, the father being a native of New York and the mother born in Canada. While still a child young Flint crossed the plains with his parents by ox-team in 1853, being so fortunate as to escape the Indians, then so hostile to settlers, and arrived safely in Oregon. In 1860 they removed to California. Mr. Flint there enlisted, and was stationed in Arizona, and had numerous skirmishes with the hostile reds while engaged in doing escort duty to the stages and government trains. Upon his discharge he migrated to Washington Territory, engaging in various pursuits, until he finally settled upon the farm which he still cultivates. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and politically a Republican. Few veterans have a pleasanter location or brighter outlook for their declining years than Mr. Flint.
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