USA > Washington > Spokane County > Spokane > History of the city of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 26
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At the usual age the son began his education in the public schools and through the periods of vacation assisted in the work of the home farm, early recognizing the value of industry and determination as factors for successful accomplishment in the business world. He felt that the limits and opportunities of farm life were somewhat circumscribed, and wishing to enter a broader field of labor, he left home and accepted a position in the freight department of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. After a few years, however, he de- cided that still better advantages could be obtained in the far west and in the spring of 1882 arrived in Spokane, where he has since made his home. He found
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here a small town of comparatively little commercial or industrial importance, yet he recognized its advantageous situation, and with people in the west and its fu- ture he identified his interests with the growing little city. For the first two years he was employed as a clerk in a general store and later obtained his milling ex- perience through four years' service as an employe in the Clarke & Curtis mill. Finding in this a congenial occupation and one which promised substantial results, Mr. Glasgow used the capital which he had saved from his former earnings in the development of a business which was established under the name of the Centennial Mill Company, his partners in this enterprise being Moritz Thomsen and George Pahl. They erected a mill and the business increased rapidly as the country be- came more and more thickly settled. Today theirs is the largest business of the kind in the state, for they not only operate the Spokane mill but have eleven others situated in various parts of Washington. Mr. Thomsen, who is president of the company, now makes his home in Seattle and looks after the branch of the busi- ness there, while Mr. Glasgow manages the home office, bending his energies to ad- ministrative direction and executive control.
On the 7th of August, 1887, Mr. Glasgow was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. McLeod, of San Francisco, California, and they now have one daughter, Ethel Leonora Glasgow, who resides with her parents at the Westminster Hotel. With appreciation for the high and commendable purposes upon which the fraternal organizations have been founded, Mr. Glasgow is connected with Tyrian Lodge, No. 96, F. & A. M .; Oriental Consistory, No. 2, S. P. R. S .; Cataract Commandery, No. 3, K. T .; El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; Imperial Lodge, No. 134, I. O. O. F .; and Spokane Lodge, No. 228, B. P. O. E. He is also a member of the Spokane Club. He has never taken active part in politics, or held public office, yet he is ready at all times to do anything for the advancement of the city and has been a cooperant factor in many movements which have been followed by tangible results for the progress and upbuilding of Spokane. Moreover, he is one of the most popular residents of the city because of his sterling worth and his unfeigned cordiality. He is at all times appreciative of good qualities in others and in his own life has given proof of the Emersonian philosophy, that the way to win a friend is to be one.
JOHN W. WITHEROP.
John W. Witherop, a Spokane capitalist whose whole business career has dis- played the utmost fearlessness, capability and initiative, was for a long period con- nected with the development of the oil fields of Pennsylvania, maintaining an in- dependent position in opposition to the methods of the trust. He was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1860, his parents being Peter Titus and Olivia J. (Barnsdall) Witherop. His family were among the pioneers in the oper- ation of the oil fields of Pennsylvania, owning and drilling the second completed oil well in the world, for it was at Titusville that oil was first discovered. In that district John W. Witherop was reared and early had the opportunity to witness the development of a great industry, for his father continued to produce oil for many years.
JOHN W. WITHEROP
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His own interest in the business was thus stimulated, and after the acquirement of his education he turned his attention to that field of activity. In his youthful days he was a student in the Peekskill Military Academy of Peekskill, New York, graduating as adjutant of the battalion, and in the Buchtel College of Akron, Ohio. He next pursued a law course in the University of Pennsylvania-and was vice- president of the class of 1881,-in order that he might have the benefits of a legal training in his business, for already the oil interests had become sharply con- tested and efforts were being made toward a consolidation which would crush out the individual producers and refiners.
Following his graduation, and admission to the bar of Philadelphia, John W. Witherop returned at once to Titusville, where he became a member of the firm of Rice, Robinson & Witherop and began producing and refining oil. His partners were also men of experience in the business and from the outset the firm became recognized as leading factors in the development of the oil fields and in the control of the trade. This was in 1881. The following year the Standard Oil Trust was organized, and so important had the firm of Rice, Robinson & Witherop become that they were offered every inducement to join the newly organized corporation ; but Mr. Witherop, who had the decisive voice in the management of the business, determined to remain independent and for many years successfully fought the trust in both the domestic and the foreign trade.
During the period Mr. Witherop was president of the Independent Oil Refin- er's Association of Titusville, Pennsylvania, and as the head of this association and as a member of the firm of Rice, Robinson & Witherop, he prosecuted the fight against rebates which the railroads were giving to the Standard Oil trust, and at the same time exacting from the independents excessive rates for transportation to seaboard. Such was the condition of affairs when he undertook this great cause, but Mr. Witherop was equal to the occasion and single-handed he fought the rail- roads for their discrimination in favor of the Standard, and for a fair chance and square deal for the independents, and he won, as usual. He not only obtained for the independent refiners greatly more reasonable rates, but he stopped the rebat- ing to the Standard, and on this fairer basis of rates the independent oil refiners have ever since competed favorably to themselves with the trust, and owe their continued existence, to a very great extent, today to John W. Witherop. There are many other cases that he fought out with the Standard trust, and fought well and won. One being when the trust tried to freeze out Mr. Witherop's firm in Buffalo, but in a short time he brought the trust to terms, and the business of the inde- pendents was put on a profitable basis. This and many other fights he won despite all the efforts of the trust magnates to either force the independent oil refiners into the combination or put them out of business. At length, however, his health failed him and in 1891 he sold his oil interests to his partners and in 1892 came to Spo- kane, where he has during the past twenty years, with unremitting action and de- termination, exerted his lifelong tendency of curbing the unlawful movements of the corporate powers.
Mr. Witherop was one of the pioneers in the great mining industry of the northwest, and as early as the year 1893 he penetrated the wilds of the mountains of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and British Columbia, riding on the back of a "cayuse" over the old Indian trails, searching for some of the mineral wealth con- tained in those vast fields of opportunity. In the early history of the Rossland
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Camp, in British Columbia, Mr. Witherop was one of the large owners of the famous Josie mine, and was vice president and a trustee of the company then own- ing that property. The Josie adjoins the great Le Roi mine, and is now oper- ated by the Le Roi Company, a British corporation. Mr. Witherop owns valuable and extensive mining interests in various parts of the northwest, and he is a large owner of real estate in Spokane and elsewhere, his most recent purchase being the Elks' Temple, which is one of the largest and handsomest blocks in the heart of the business section of the city.
On the 29th of September, 1885, occurred the marriage of Mr. Witherop and Miss Belle Rose Andrews, a daughter of William H. and Rose (Eddy) Andrews, of Titusville, Pennsylvania. Her father was for years a prominent figure in the re- publican party of that state and for a long period served in the state senate and as chairman of the republican state committee of Pennsylvania. For some years he has resided in New Mexico, from which territory he is now a delegate to congress. Mr. Witherop has never become actively engaged in politics, nor has he sought nor held public office. He prefers the quiet of home life, and the association of a select circle of friends. His residence for eighteen years has been at West 2430 Pacific avenue.
HOMER J. SHINN.
Homer J. Shinn as the president of the H. J. Shinn Company, of Spokane, is at the head of the largest commission and fruit-shipping business in the Inland Empire and has demonstrated his initiative spirit and executive force in the es- tablishment, management and control of this undertaking. He was born at Quincy, Illinois, June 10, 1865, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Reeder) Shinn, who, leaving the middle west in 1880, came with their family to the Pacific coast, traveling by stage from Wallula Junction, which was then the terminus of the railroad. Spokane was their destination and soon after their arrival the father made arrangements, whereby he became engaged in stock-raising in Whitman county. He afterward returned to the city, where he established a window, door and sash manufactory which was conducted under the name of the Spokane Manu- facturing Company. He was one of the pioneers of the northwest and one of the first to engage in this line of business in the Inland Empire, his industrial and com- mercial activity adding much to the development of this section of the country. His death occurred here in 1891 and the mother, surviving for about fifteen years, passed away in 1906. In their family were six children, namely: Pet, who mar- ried William Manning, of Spokane; LeRoy and Horace, both now deceased; Max- well, a resident of Grants Pass, Oregon; Wilbur, of Derby, Kansas; and Homer J., of this review.
The last named was a youth of fifteen years when the family came to Wash- ington and his education was continued in the public schools here and in Spokane College. He was afterward proprietor of the Black Hawk livery stable situated at the corner of Main and Howard streets and subsequently the business was removed to Riverside avenue, where the Tidball block now stands. Later Mr. Shinn engaged in the feed and grain business on Riverside avenue on the present location of the
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I. X. L. store and in 1886 he embarked in the commission business on the present site of the Holly-Mason Company building at the corner of Howard street and Railroad avenue. Following the great fire of 1889 he removed to his present loca- tion at the corner of Howard and Railroad and the business has grown until the company today exceeds all other commission merchants and fruit shippers of the Inland Empire in the volume of business conducted. They receive fruits from Cali- fornia in carload lots, distributing the same all over the northwest and shipping immense quantities into Alberta. They are the largest shippers of apples in this section, sending large quantities to New York and also to England. The business in its present extent and importance is largely due to the efforts and capable man- agement of Mr. Shinn whose enterprising spirit overcomes all difficulties and ob- stacles and falters not until the goal of success is reached. Mr. Shinn has never sought nor desired public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his busi- ness affairs, and is now president of the Keystone Produce Company, of Lewiston, Idaho, and the Keystone Fruit Company, of Entiat, Washington, which are sub- sidiary companies of the H. J. Shinn Company, the latter owning five hundred and twenty acres of very valuable fruit land near Wenatchee, Washington, of which one hundred and fifty acres have been planted to pears and apples.
Fraternally Mr. Shinn is connected with the Masons and has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of EI Katif Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Spokane Club and to the Inland Club. He is pleasantly situated in his home life, having been married on the 25th of July, 1888, in Spokane, to Miss Phoebe Barmon, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Barmon, of Detroit, Michigan. The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Shinn is at No. 1405 Eighth avenue and was erected by him about two years ago. One has but to read between the lines of this review to learn of the determined spirit, unfaltering enterprise and excellent busi- ness ability of Mr. Shinn, for from a humble position in the business world he has worked his way steadily upward until he is now one of the most prominent repre- sentatives of the fruit trade on the Pacific coast.
DAVID B. FOTHERINGHAM.
David B. Fotheringham, a Spokane capitalist with offices at 511 Empire State building, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, October 19, 1856, a son of William and Isabella (Boyd) Fotheringham. The father conducted a general mercantile store in Cleveland and afterward removed to Waterford, Pennsylvania, near Erie, where his last days were passed, his death there occurring in 1870. The mother long sur- vived him and passed away in Spokane in 1888. Their family numbered four children. David, Isabella, Jennie and William, but the last three died before reach- ing maturity.
David B. Fotheringham pursued his education in the public schools of Water- ford and of Erie, Pennsylvania, and on starting out in life learned the carpenter's trade. He was about fourteen years of age at the time of his father's death and from that time forward has largely been dependent upon his own resources. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible and his advancement has come from his ready recognition and utilization of opportunities which others have
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passed heedlessly by. In 1877 he left Pennsylvania and removed to Denver, Colo- rado, where he engaged in the contracting and building business until 1883. In- teresting stories from time to time reached him concerning the development and growth of the northwest and it was this which led him to establish his home in Spokane, where he arrived on the 1st of November, 1883. For many years he con- tinued in business here as a building contractor and among some of the most notable buildings that he erected here are the Spokane county courthouse, the Washington school, the Nettleton school, the Webster school, Hotel Spokane and the M. Seller & Company building. He retired from active business six years ago but still acts as vice president of the Washington Brick & Lime Company. His patronage for a long period was so extensive and his labors so carefully and wisely directed that he derived therefrom a substantial annual income that in time gave him the competence that now enables him to live retired.
On the 27th of September, 1882, at Raton, New Mexico, Mr. Fotheringham was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jennings, a daughter of Captain William H. and Catherine Jennings, of that place. The father was a captain of the United States army and after many years devoted to the military service of his country died at Raton in 1898. The mother has since made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Fotheringham. Unto this marriage there were born four children: William Henry, who is engaged in the real-estate business at Cooes Bay, Oregon; David Dalton, operating a fruit ranch on Pleasant Prairie; Benjamin Harrison, a student; and Bernard Jennings, who is also pursuing his education. The family residence is at No. 2128 Second avenue.
Mr. Fotheringham is a valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance has been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he is active in its work, doing all in his power to pro- mote its growth and secure the adoption of its principles. He served as councilman of Spokane in 1888 and in 1891 was called to the office of mayor for a two years' term. His loyalty to the best interests of the community is well known and it is a recognized fact that his cooperation can always be counted upon to further any progressive municipal movement which his sound judgment suggests. During the period of his residence in Spokane he has gained a wide acquaintance, winning a prominent position not only in business circles but in the regard of his fellow towns- men whom he meets in political, fraternal and social relations.
GEORGE SMITH BROOKE.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in business and financial circles in Spokane than George Smith Brooke, who is at this writing the head of the oldest banking institution of the city, for the Bank of Spokane Falls, which had previously been founded by A. M. Cannon, sometime since passed out of existence. Mr. Brooke's insight has been clear, his sagacity keen and in the performance of the interests under. his control he has displayed business ability and integrity that well entitle him to the success and honorable name that is now his. He has resided on the Pacific coast since early
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manhood, although his birth occurred at Dubuque, Iowa, February 12, 1855. His father was the Rev. Robert Dunbar Brooke, an Episcopal minister, who was born in Maryland and was educated at Princeton University, New Jersey. The mother, Mary Watson (Smith) Brooke, was born in Virginia and was the daughter of an Episcopal minister. The ancestry of the family can be traced back in direct line to Sayer de Quincy, one of the barons who signed the Magna Charta at Runnymede in 1215. The authenticated lineage of the family goes back through David, king of Scotland, and Fergus II to Charlemagne. The family was founded in America by Robert Brooke who after his graduation from Wadham College at Oxford, came to Maryland in 1650. He was the founder of Charles county and afterward served as colonial governor. On the pages of Mr. Brooke's ancestral history also appears the names of Colonel Lloyd Beall and General James Slaughter, who were officers of the Revolutionary war. His uncle, Lloyd Brooke, was one of the first settlers of Walla Walla county and aided in its organization, while another uncle, Isaac W. Smith, was acting secretary of state under Governor Stevens.
Rearcd in a home of culture, where education and character development werc rated above all else, George Smith Brooke was given excellent school advantages and is a graduate of Griswold College of Davenport. Entering business life he was for two years employed as car recorder for the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad Company and in 1874 came to the Pacific northwest. He first established his home in Portland, where for four years he occupied the position of bookkeeper with the firm of Allen & Lewis, of that city, and during the succeeding four years was bookkeeper and passenger agent for the Oregon Steam Navigation Company. In the summer of 1874 while purser of a steamer running between Ce- lilo and Lewiston, the boat was laid over on Sundays at Wallula and from that period he dates his residence in Washington. Ever watchful of opportunities for advancement and with laudable ambition to work his way steadily upward, he re- moved to Sprague in 1882, recognizing there a favorable opening for a banking business. He thereafter became a partner in the firm of Fairweather & Brooke and established a banking house of which he became manager, his partner being at that time division superintendent of the Northern Pacific Railroad. There were only two other banks in Spokane county at the time-a small institution known as the Bank of Cheney which had been organized by John C. Davenport, and the Bank of Spokane Falls, founded by A. M. Cannon. In 1886 the private banking house of Fairweather & Brooke was incorporated as the First National Bank of Sprague and in 1896 was transferred by special act of congress to Spokane, the name being changed to the Fidelity National Bank of Spokane though it retained its original charter number. As both of its predecessors in the banking field have since passed out of existence this remains the pioneer banking institution of Spo- kane county and from the beginning Mr. Brooke has been its president. To his administrative direction, executive control, powers of keen discernment and of clear sagacity the success of the bank is due and it now ranks among the foremost financial institutions in the northwest.
On the 8th of November, 1882, Mr. Brooke was united in marriage to Miss Julia I. Hill, of Westport, Connecticut, and they have six children, Robert Dun- bar, Rebecca, Julia Eltinge, Philip Slaughter, Mary Watson and George Magruder.
In his political views Mr. Brooke was originally a democrat but since 1896 has stanchly supported the republican party. For three terms he served as mayor of
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Sprague, was chairman of the school board for fourteen years and aided in the organization of Lincoln county. At the present writing he does not take active part in politics because of the demands of an important and growing business, although in the duties of citizenship he is never remiss. He holds membership in the Epis- copal church and also with the Spokane Country Club and is of social, genial na- ture, easily approachable and always courteous. His substantial qualities of man- hood and citizenship, his business ability and his sterling worth have gained him a high position in public regard.
CHRISTOPHER C. DEMPSEY.
Christopher C. Dempsey, who is the owner and proprietor of Hotel Dempsey located at 407 Front street, is well known in the business circles of the city as a man whose business judgment is demonstrated in the success which has attended his efforts. He is a western man by inclination and training and is imbued with the progressive spirit which has been a prominent factor in the building up of the northwest. His birth occurred in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 28th of De- cember, 1858, his parents being Connor and Mary (Duffy) Dempsey, the former of whom passed away in 1868, while the latter died in Spokane, July 5, 1911, at the venerable age of eighty-two years. The father was a prominent agriculturist of Wisconsin and for fifteen years was chairman of the town board. During the gold excitement in the far west he made a trip to California, leaving in 1852, but two years later he returned to Wisconsin and again devoted his time to the develop- ment of the farm which he owned.
Christopher C. Dempsey was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin, but during the summer months he was actively engaged in assisting his mother in the cultivation of the home farm. When he was twenty-four years of age he desired to make his own way in the world, but before entering definitely upon any career wished to see something of the world. He spent a short time in Chicago before going to Louisiana, where he remained before going to the Panhandle of Texas, where for two years he worked at surveying. Subsequently he went to Denver where he conducted a restaurant for one year, but in the fall of 1888 he came to Spokane and has since been one of the active promoters of various business under- takings in this city. His first enterprise in this city was engaging in the restaurant business on Post street near the Pacific Hotel. Fortune favored him however, and just before the fire of 1889 he disposed of this property which otherwise would have been destroyed and been a serious loss to him financially. After the fire he started another restaurant on Bernard street which he conducted for a year, when he removed to Howard and Main streets, and there stayed in business until he was elected sheriff in 1896. At the completion of his term of office in 1898, he en- gaged in the livery business for one year until January, 1900, at which time he disposed of his business and assumed the management of Hotel Dempsey which was situated at the corner of Main and Stevens streets. He occupied that location until 1905 when he erected the building which is now known as the Hotel Dempsey. It is a substantial three-story and basement brick building, covering a ground plan of sixty by one hundred and forty-two feet. It contains ample accommodations for
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