USA > Washington > History of Washington the evergreen state : from early dawn to daylight with portraits and biographies Vol. I > Part 51
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HEIFNER, CHARLES G., attorney-at-law, of Seattle, was born March 15th, 1864, in Oxford, Ia. A common-school education, followed by farm labor, tells his story up to the age of twenty. He then taught school for a single term, after which he entered the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Ia., graduating in 1887 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He became Principal of Manilla High School, Iowa, a position which he held for two years, and then resigned to devote himself to the study of law, for which purpose he became a student at Ann Arbor University. Here he pursued his studies for a year until August, 1890, when he went to Seattle to settle, and was admitted to the Bar of the State of Washington. He takes an active part in politics, is Chairman of the City Cen- tral Committee, and holds the Secretaryship of the Board of Public Works. He was married April 2d, 1888, to Miss Lydia Day, of Shenandoah, Ia., by whom he has two children. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, has been District Deputy Grand Chancellor of Iowa, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. His early studies and large educational experience have laid a strong foundation of mentality on which this young lawyer bids fair to build a super- structure of success which will not only bring him fame, but substantial results of pecuniary reward.
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HEILIG, A. R., attorney-at-law, a popular and progressive citizen of the City of Destiny, was born in Berks County, Pa., September 16th, 1859. The common schools of his native place prepared him to graduate from the county high school, which he left with honors at the age of fourteen. Two years later we find the youth leading the young idea of Berks, which he continued to do up to the age of eighteen. He then entered the law office of Cyrus G. Den, of Reading, Pa., where he completed his legal studies, being admitted to the Bar at the age of twenty-one in 1880. He practised in Reading for some years for himself, then re-entered the office of his friend, where he remained until 1887. Removing to Kansas, he became Manager of the Pennsylvania Investment Company, loaning nearly half a million on mortgages. Coming to Tacoma in 1889, he opened an office and renewed the practice of law. He was made Secretary and Attorney of a committee of one hundred prominent citizens, in which capacity he formulated important municipal legislation ; was also Secretary of the committee to prepare a new city charter for Tacoma, and subsequently compiled its ordinances ; was Republican nominee for Comptroller. The firm of Heilig & Hartman are also the attorneys for the Union Pacific Railroad system west of the Cascades, as also for many other large corporations. He is an active politician, ever alive to the inter- ests of the Republican Party. Mr. Heilig was married in 1883 to Miss Lillian W. Whitaker, of Reading, Pa., and the issue of this union is two children, a son and a daughter. He is prominently identified with the Sons of Veterans, was Division Inspector in 1891, and Adjutant the previous year.
HELM, CHARLES J., of Ellensburg, State Senator for Kittitas County, was born in Oregon in 1852, being the fifth in a family of seven children born to G. W. and Julia Helm, both of whom deserve honorable mention as pioneers of those distant days when Oregon almost rivalled in danger and privation the inci- dents of early settlement in Kentucky's " dark and bloody ground." The sub- ject of our sketch was educated in the public schools of Oregon and the Willa- mette University. In 1868 he located as a stock-raiser in Klickitat County, Wash., a business in which he is still engaged. He is also largely interested in farming, and holds valuable realty, both city and suburban. His handsome residence in Ellensburg is well known. He is, moreover, the owner, with Mr. B. F. Reed, of the Horton Hotel, one of the best equipped of its kind. Mr. Helm was elected Senator to represent Douglas and Kittitas counties in the Legislature by the Re- publicans at the last general election. He is also one of the proprietors of the Okanogan Stage Company, whose headquarters are located at Virginia City, Waslı, Senator Helm has two brothers, leading divines of the Methodist Church. Like most pioneers, the Senator has a fund of personal incidents and experiences to relate, which find many deeply interested listeners, though it may seem strange to speak of so young a man as " an early settler ;"' but it must be remembered that the growth of Washington from wilderness to advanced civilization has been wonderfully exceptional.
HELMS, J. C., contractor and builder, was born near St. Catherines, Canada, September 1st, 1853. He accompanied his parents to Huron County, Mich., when but an infant, and received the usual common-school education of that
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vicinity. In 1869 he enlisted in the Sixth United States Cavalry, with which regiment he served three years until honorably discharged at Peel Pine Canyon in 1872. He then established himself as a builder and contractor in Denver, Col., where he remained until 1881. Going from thence to Washington, he located in Seattle, following the same business. It is his boast-no small one in this specu- lative age-that he never earned a dollar since leaving the army that was not made at his trade. Ifis ability was recognized by his appointment in May of 1892 as Superintendent of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharfs, which office he still retains. Mr. Helms was married May 1st, 1874, to Miss Rachel R. Wallace, of Olathe, Kan., one child, a daughter, being the result of this union. He is Chief Ranger of Court Alton, No. 866, Independent Order of Foresters. No man is better en- titled to ascribe his success to his own persistent, unaided efforts than the subject of this brief biography.
HENDERSON, J. PARK, a young attorney, of Seattle, Wash., is a native of the Golden State, having been born on a farm near Antioch, Cal., in 1869. His early opportunities for gaining an education were very limited, and he is for the most part self-taught. In 1880 he came to Seattle, and at an early age began to carn his own living by selling papers. His business habits even at this time were most exemplary, and his energy and business capacity won for him the favor and regard of the business men of the city. In 1885 he secured a position with the Lowman and Hanford Stationery and Printing Company, and soon rose to the responsible position of Manager of the branch store then located on Yesler Avenue. He had charge of the paper warehouse of the company, and later learned the printer's trade in the job office. Devoting his leisure hours to the study of shorthand, he soon became proficient in that art, and in 1887 entered the office of the Attorney-General as a clerk and law student. Here his close appli- cation to business and study impaired his health, and he was obliged to take a long vacation. After spending several months in California, he returned to Seat- tle and resumed his legal studies in the office of Burke & Haller. On the motion of Judge Burke he was admitted to the Bar on November 17th, 1890, his twenty- first birthday, passing a most creditable examination. He at once began the . active practise of his profession, which he has successfully continued to the pres- ent time. His reputation as an able lawyer has steadily increased, and at the present time he enjoys a lucrative and growing practice. Among his professional brethren his talents and attainments are universally recognized and conceded to be of a high order, their recognition of his merits and ability having been shown on many occasions. He is a man of genial and social nature, who looks on the bright side of life, and believes in extracting all the good out of existence possi- ble and consistent with right living.
HENDRICKS, GEORGE W., farmer, of Latah, Wash., was born in Franklin County, Ind., in 1844, being the son of L. M. and Dealla (Hardesty) Hendricks. His father was a fariner and of German descent, as the name seems to indicate, while the mother came from English parentage. George was the seventh in a family of ten children. He followed the trade of a carriage painter in Illinois for some years. He has been an extensive traveller, and has visited many coun-
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tries. He came to Washington Territory in 1878 and located at Latah. He is still unmarried, though the possessor of a pleasant home, a fine farm and all need- ful accessories. His aged parents still survive and make their home in Illinois. The father has reached the ripe age of ninety, and the mother has added three years to fourscore.
HEXTER, V., merchant, of Oaksdale, is a native son of the Evergreen State, having been born in Washington in 1847. The second son in a family of eight, young Hexter received his rudimentary education in the common schools prepara- tory to a full course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. Upon completing his studies he located in Idaho, where he remained ten years, engaged in mer- chandising, then removed to Oaksdale, Wash., his present home, where he estab- lished himself in business, investing a capital of $80,000 and building up a trade second to none. Blessed with large administrative talents, Mr. Hexter was also an organizer of the State Bank of Oaksdale and is a director in this flourishing corporation, whose paid-up capital is $60,000. He is also a director in the First National Bank of Oaksdale. In 1888 Mr. Hexter married Miss Pauline Webber, of Minnesota. They have two children. A leading citizen, much esteemed in his section and wherever he is known throughout the State, Mr. Hexter is a large property-holder, besides owning the pretty town residence where he makes liis home. He is a Mason of high rank, having received the thirty-second degree, Mystic Shrine, and holds an eminent place in the Knights of Pythias. He is a Democrat in politics and a thoroughgoing business man.
HICKEY, PATRICK, the proprietor of the Rockford Livery Stable, is of that nationality which seems ubiquitous whenever strong arms and brave hearts are needed. Born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1851, and uneducated in any school save that of his own quick wit and observation, he managed, by devoting his spare moments to study, to pick up a fair amount of knowledge. Leaving home at thir- teen, he became a miner for the precious metals, and continued in this work for nearly nine years. Securing a railroad contract, he devoted five more years to this occupation, after which he became a traveller, visiting many sections of the Union, till, after four years of wandering, he determined to locate, and has been for the past five years a respected citizen of Rockford. He is the owner of his livery business, in which he lias no competitor in the place, and finds it re- munerative. Mr. Hickey married in 1891 Mrs. Francis Osborne, of Dakota, where his wife's parents still reside. He is a Catholic, a Republican, has been a delegate to conventions on several occasions, is a member of Fairfield Lodge, No. 40, of Odd Fellows, and a considerable property-owner, both within and outside of Rock- ford, besides the handsome outfit required to operate his extensive business.
HICKS, M. L., farmer and stockman, of Kittitas Valley, was born in 1839. His father was a school-teacher, and died in 1843, leaving an only child, the sub- ject of our sketch. Receiving his early education in his native State, young Hicks, moved by that restlessness and desire to better himself so common to the youth of New England, went West in 1859, reaching Port Gamble, Wash., by way of Panama. Here he found work in the logging camps. From thence he
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drifted to the White River, King County, where he became a farmer, and from thence to his present location in the Kittitas Valley, where he bought land, and now owns over one hundred and sixty-four acres, four miles north of Ellensburg. which has turned out to be not only fertile but very productive. Mr. Hicks was married in Kittitas Valley in 1883 to Miss Viola Elliott, a native of Ohio, born in 1852. They are blessed with three children. Mr. Hicks is a member of the Farmers' Industrial Union. He has suffered from " Indian scares, " but holds the somewhat singular belief, not altogether flattering to his neighbors, that "the whites are bigger thieves than the red-skins."
HILL, GEORGE A., attorney-at-law, of Seattle, Wash., was born December 24th, 1842, near Memphis, Tenn., and left his native State in infancy with his parents, who settled in Louisville, Ky. In 1853 the family made the long and tedious journey across the plains and settled in Benton County, Ore., where young Hill received his early education, completing the same in the common schools of Albany, Ore. After leaving school he went into the mines of Eastern Oregon and Idaho and remained there for two years. Meeting with but indifferent suc- cess as a miner, he returned to Albany, Ore., where he engaged in the drug busi- ness with his father, R. C. Hill, continuing the same for six years. In 1874 he was elected Clerk of Linn County, Ore., and served one term in that office. He then removed to Wasco County, Ore., and engaged in stock-raising. This ven- ture did not prove successful, and in 1880 he removed to Seattle, Wash., where he has since resided. Having pursued a course of legal studies, he was admitted to the Bar at Seattle and entered upon the practice of the law, which he has actively and successfully continued ever since, with the exception of an interval of two terms' service as Police Magistrate of the city. As a lawyer he is in- genious and untiring in resource. Admirably equipped for every-day practice and every vicissitude, he is thoroughly devoted to the cause of his clients, whom he numbers by the score. He is highly esteemed as a citizen, and whatever tends to the material welfare of the community finds in him ready support and encour- agement. He is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter of Seattle, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Hill was married June 19th, 1870, at Albany, Ore., to Miss Julia A., only daughter of Jeremiah Driggs, a pioneer of 1847. They have two children living, both sons.
HILL, GEORGE J., M.D., physician and surgeon, of North Yakima, was born in Yreka, Cal., April 17th, 1856. His father, Le Grand Hill, was an architect and a native of Virginia ; his mother, Ethenia Owens, was also born in that State. Educated in the public schools of Oregon and the University of Califor- nia, where he took a classical course, young Hill pursued his medical studies at Salem, Ore., graduating in 1877 with the degree of M.D., and in 1881 with the same degree from the Medical Department of Ann Arbor. He then travelled extensively in Europe, visiting the leading hospitals of England, France, Scot- land, and Germany. Locating, on his return, at Portland, Ore., he remained a year constantly engaged in practice, then at Goldendale, and from thence to Ann Arbor to further improve himself in his profession. In 1884 he came to Yakima,
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where he soon acquired and continues to increase a large and lucrative practice. He was married in 1881 to Miss Anna Williamson, of Oregon. She died in 1888, leaving one child. In 1890 the doctor was married again, to Miss Harriet Roherer, of Illinois. He is the owner of a pleasant city home and other valuable property. He was one of the commissioners who located the Insane Asylum at Medical Lake, and has filled the office of County Coroner. He claims descent from a highly respectable and wealthy ancestry. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fel- lows fraternities, a Democrat in politics, and withal a man of strong individuality, with a mind rich in culture, the result of education and extensive travel.
HILL, L. W., attorney-at-law, of Puyallup, Wash., was born in Minerva, Essex County, N. Y., July 9th, 1843, and removed with his parents to Eagle, Clinton County, Mich., in 1854, where he received the benefits of a limited education. He attended the State University at Ann Arbor, graduating therefrom in the Law Department in 1877 ; was admitted to the Bar in 1879, and began practice in Clinton County, Mich., where he remained for fourteen years. He then came direct to Puyallup, where he has ever since continued his professional work, and by diligent attention to its duties he has built up a lucrative business. He was elected Mayor of Puyallup in December, 1892, on the temperance ticket. He was elected to the House of Representatives of Michigan in 1887, serving one term. He taught school for eight winters. In 1885 he was admitted to practice in the United States courts. In 1869 he was elected Township Clerk, School Inspector in 1870, and Justice of the Peace in 1873. He was a candidate for sev- eral other important political offices while in Michigan, among others that of Prosecuting Attorney, and received a handsome vote in one instance during the presidential campaign, running one hundred and seventy-three votes ahead of that given to James G. Blaine. He was married June 15th, 1870, to Miss Mary A. Dravenstatt, of Eagle, Mich., formerly of Ohio. One child graces this union, a son, now in his twenty-first year. Mr. Hill's varied and ever-creditable record speaks well both for his perseverance and his industry, and promises a fruitful harvest-time as the fitting reward of the unremitting effort of its spring.
HILL, WILLIAM LAIR, of Seattle, attorney-at-law, was born on August 20th, 1838, on a plantation in McNairy County, Tenn. His early education was obtained in the common schools of his native State. In 1853, while still a youth, he crossed the plains to Oregon, where he attended the district school in Benton County, and assisted his father on the farm. Four years later he became a student in a college in Oregon, where he spent three years in study, teaching school in the meanwhile to pay his expenses, and also beginning in a desultory way to apply himself to the study of law, having determined to fit himself for that profession. In 1860 he entered the office of G. H. Williams, a distinguished lawyer of Port- land. Mr. Hill was admitted to the Bar in December, 1861, but immediately entered the army as a civilian in the Pay Department, a position which he re- signed, after a year or more of service, to open a law office in Portland, Ore. Here he practised his profession and devoted himself to editorial work until the fall of 1864, when he was appointed Judge of Grant County, but resigned before the completion of his term, returning to his practice at Portland, where he remained
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until 1878, acting also from 1872-77 as editor-in-chief of the Oregonian. The combined labors of his legal and editorial duties proved, however, too much for his health, and he was obliged to seek the dryer climate east of the Cascades to recuperate. Upon the partial restoration of his health he opened a law office at The Dalles in 1879, and in 1884 began the codifying and annotation of the laws of Oregon in two volumes, a literary labor which obliged him to visit San Fran- cisco in 1886 to supervise their publication by Bancroft. While attending to this business he practised at Oakland until 1889, when, the book having gone to press, he settled in Seattle, where he at once obtained a large clientage. In 1890 he was appointed by the Legislature a special commissioner to gather together, codify, and annotate the laws of Washington, then in a very confused condition, a work which he performed in a very creditable manner and published in two volumes in 1891. In 1892 he issued a second edition of the Code of Oregon, bringing its annotation down to date. Mr. Hill, who is a radical Republican, stumped the State for Garfield, and two years later for the State ticket, and has been a speaker in many campaigns from 1860 to the present time, besides being a constant contributor to newspapers and magazines on political and educational matters. He was married in 1865 to Miss Julia Chandler, the eldest daughter of Rev. George C. Chandler, D.D., who was president of the college Mr. Hill attended. Three sons and a daughter have graced their union. Mr. Hill is a thirty-second degree Mason. We add nothing to this life history by way of comment-his record speaks for itself.
HINCHLIFF, CHARLES W., of Latah, Wash., was born of English parentage, his father and mother, Henry and Martha, being both natives of the island beyond the sea, in March of 1853. His parents, turning their back on the dominions of the British Queen, came to the land of freedom in 1854, and located in Michigan. Educated in the public schools of Illinois, the subject of our sketch engaged in business for awhile, but attracted by the charms of the Evergreen State, moved West in 1878 and located in Washington. Here he followed various callings till, coming to Latah in 1892, he opened a store for general merchandise, which will compare favorably with any establishment of its kind in this beautiful section of Eastern Washington. His invested capital is estimated at $25,000 in merchan- dise alone, in addition to which he is interested in milling, and the owner of large stores at other points in the State. Mr. Hinchliff married in 1884 Miss Annie Steel, of California. Their union is blessed with two children. He is a Masonic brother, and was a Councilman of the city of Spangle, Wash., a position he filled with acceptable ability.
HOGAN, JOHN W., merchant, of Ellensburg, Wash., was born thirty-eight years ago in Fayette, Seneca County, N. Y., sixth in a family of nine sons born to Patrick and Mary (Murphy) Hogan. His parents emigrated from Ireland in 1845, settling in the Empire State. Young Hogan obtained his early education in the public schools, supplementing their instruction with a course in the higher English branches at the Geneva Academy. He followed farming up to the age of nineteen, then engaged in the dry-goods business as a clerk at Auburn, N. Y., in which he continued for eleven years in that place, and afterward at Chicago
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until 1883, when he removed to the Pacific Coast, locating at San Francisco, where he continued the same occupation for five years in various prominent dry- goods houses of that city. Removing to Spokane, he associated himself for two years with the Great Eastern, a leading house. In 1889 he came to Ellensburg, and with T. C. O'Conner established his present business, investing a large capital in dry goods and men's furnishings. Under the able management of Mr. Hogan the firm has built up a large business, which is constantly increasing. Mr. Hogan has twice held the office of City Councilman. He was married in 1889, at Spokane, to Miss Lulu E. Haas, a native of Wisconsin. They have one child. Mr. Hogan is a substantial and public-spirited citizen, a thorough business man, ever anxious to advance the best interests of the community where he resides. In politics he is a Democrat.
HOGAN, PAUL S., of Mt. Vernon, Wash., County Clerk of Skagit County, was born in Palmetto, Campbell County, Ga., April 1st, 1866, and in 1877 came to Whitman County, Wash., where his parents settled on a farm. Here the early life of our subject was passed, attending the common schools in winter and assisting in the laborious duties of the farm during the summer months until he was twenty years old. At this time, through the courtesy of J. W. Arrowsmith, he was enabled to enter the Territorial University at Seattle, where he profitably spent three terms. On leaving the university he came to Skagit County, and after working at logging about a year became a clerk in the store of Clothier & English, at Mt. Vernon. He remained with them until the fall of 1892, when he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for County Clerk. In the ensuing elec- tion he received flattering evidence of his personal popularity, being elected by a majority of sixty-nine in a county giving an average Republican majority of three hundred. In the short time he has held the office of County Clerk he has shown marked fitness for the position, and without any disparagement to others, it is only simple justice to say that the county never had a more conscientious or useful official. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
HOGUE, J. D., son of Westley and Ann Hogue, was born at Millbrook, Mercer County, Pa., September 4th, 1837. March 26th, 1889, he was appointed Post- master at Tacoma, and filled that important position with satisfaction to the com- munity until the appointment of his successor in 1893.
HOLCOLM, GEORGE U .- Among the prominent factors in the wonderful devel- opment and growth of Washington during the last few years, the name of George U. Holcolm deserves prominent mention, not only on account of his conspicuous position in the community, but also by reason of his notoriety in all forward movements, to say nothing of his high character for sterling integrity and worth. Independent, full of courage, self-reliant, and possessing naturally great business sagacity, he has achieved results which place him among the most successful busi- ness men and financiers in the State.
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