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 4
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and has also devoted his attention to mining, being at the present time interested in valuable properties in the Priest Lake copper country.
In politics Mr. Le Page is independent, preferring to support the individual rather than to cast his ballot in behalf of any political organization. He takes an active interest in the election of competent men to office and recognizes that a pub- lic official should exercise the same energy and good judgment in the discharge of his duties as in private affairs. A member of the Knights of Columbus and Red Men, Mr. Le Page can claim many friends in those orders. He has gained a prom- inent place in the estimation of his associates and the public, and richly deserves the good-will of the people, irrespective of political or other affiliations.
CHARLES ADAMS.
One of the enterprising younger members of the business circles of Colville is Charles Adams, vice president of the Colville Loan & Trust Company and the Bank of Chewelah, in addition to which he is financially interested in other activities of Stevens county. His birth occurred in Mason, Michigan, on the 16th of June, 1877, his parents being Ira W. and Sophia (Van Houten) Adams. His father passed away in 1908, but the mother, who has attained the age of sixty-seven, is still living and continues to make her home in this state. Ira W. Adams originally came from New York state, whence he removed to Michigan, residing there until 1887, when he came to Washington, thereafter making this state his home. In both the paternal and maternal lines our subject is descended from American ancestry, his forefathers having located in this country during colonial days.
The education of Charles Adams was begun at the usual age in the common schools of Michigan and completed in those of Washington, his student days being terminated at the age of fifteen years when he became a wage earner. His first year in the business world was spent in Portland, Oregon, whence he removed to Spokane, where for three years he was employed by Mitchell, Lewis & Staver. In 1896 he went to Fairfield, this state, and engaged in the hardware business for two years, but at the expiration of that period he returned to Spokane. During the following eighteen months he was in the employ of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, leaving their service to enter that of the American Steel & Wire Company, being connected with the Spokane branch of the latter concern for one year. His next removal was to Loon Lake, this state, where he engaged in farming for a year, when he came to Colville to take the position of assistant county treasurer. He filled this position for four years, at the end of which time he was elected treasurer for a similar period. Following the expiration of his term of office, he became identified with the Colville Loan & Trust Company, acquiring an interest in this institution on the 1st of January, 1911, since which time he has held the office of vice president. In addition to his other interests Mr. Adams, with several others, owns a large marble quarry in the vicinity of Colville, the operation of which gives every promise of proving most lucrative.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with the chapter and the Order of the Eastern Star, and he also belongs to the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Knights of Pythias and Eagles. In politics he is an ardent republican and is
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prominently identified with the local faction, being at the date of sketch chairman of the county committee. Mr. Adams has the utmost confidence in a great agricul- tural and industrial, as well as commercial, future for Washington and is one of the enthusiastic workers in the local Chamber of Commerce. A man of clear judg- ment and initiative who has always been found thoroughly trustworthy and respon- sible in both his public and private life, Mr. Adams is favorably regarded and highly esteemed by his associates in both business and social circles.
JAMES CLARK.
History was formerly a record of wars and conquests but has become a record of business activity and of man's utilization of natural resources. In this connec- tion the life work of James Clark is notable. He came to America when a youth in his teens and gradually worked his way upward until he became one of the con- spicuous figures in mining circles in the west and in fact his name was known throughout the length and breadth of the country. Prosperity did not come to him as the result of fortunate conditions or circumstances, but because of his keen sagac- ity, manifested in judicious investments and the careful conduct of his business interests.
He was born in Ireland in 1849 and died on the 8th of August, 1901. Within that period he accomplished that which would be a credit and honor to the life of any individual. His parents were James and Mary Clark, and while spending his youthful days in the parental home he pursued his education and thus laid the foundation for his later advancement. Favorable reports reached him concerning business conditions in the new world and he was but seventeen years of age when he with his brother, Patrick Clark, came to the United States. They made their way westward to Butte, Montana, and while Patrick Clark became associated with Marcus Daly as foreman in the development of the Alice mine and later in the opening and operation of the Anaconda mine, James Clark worked as a miner and day by day added to his knowledge and experience of the business. Later he made his way to the Coeur d'Alene district where he was also engaged in mining, and eventually he became interested in mining property at Rossland, British Columbia, being superintendent of the well known War Eagle mine. He was afterward one of the original discoverers of Republic camp, locators and owners of the Re- public and other mines there and from its sale realized a handsome fortune. As the years passed he became recognized as an expert on mining property and its possibilities, and the soundness of his judgment was proven in his splendid suc- cess, making him one of the wealthy men of the northwest and one of the best known representatives of mining interests in the entire country.
Mr. Clark was married in Butte, Montana, in 1883, to Mrs. Charlotte (Will- man) Toner, a daughter of Henry and Alicia (Foy) Willman, of Ireland. They have three children: Agnes, at home; Patrick of the Traders' National Bank, in which institution the estate has large holdings of stock; and Katherine, at school. The family circle was broken by the hand of death, when on the 8th of August, 1901, Mr. Clark passed away. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and fraternally he was connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of
JAMES CLARK
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Elks. He was a devout adherent of the Roman Catholic church. His friends found him a very witty man, quick at repartee and a most congenial and entertain- ing companion. He possessed the characteristic versatility and ability of people of his nationality and his record is a credit alike to the land of his birth and the land of his adoption. In business his associates and colleagues found him reliable as well as enterprising and progressive, and his efforts were ever of a character that con- tributed to the general development and consequent prosperity of the northwest as well as to his individual success.
CHESTER A. GORDON.
Chester A. Gordon, manager of the Coeur d'Alene Hardware Company, is one of the enterprising and promising young business men of Wallace, of which city he has been a resident for the past six years. He is a native of Illinois, having been born in Chicago on February 1, 1882, and is a son of Harry J. and Emma (Cowin) Gordon.' When our subject was a lad of about six years the parents removed west, locating in Spokane in 1888. The father, who was an engineer, ran the dummy engine on Cook's railroad in that city, and during the great fire of 1889 he was instrumental in assisting many people to get away from the vicinity imperiled by the flames, many unquestionably owing their lives to his timely assistance. A few months later he passed away, his demise occurring late in the year of 1889.
After the death of the father the mother with her family returned to Chicago, and there Chester A. Gordon finished his education. When old enough to go to work he laid aside his text-books, and applied himself to assisting his mother inas- much as he became at least self-dependent. His first position was that of office boy with the M. D. Wells Company, a wholesale boot and shoe house of that city. He was only fifteen years of age at this time, but showed such willingness and ability in the discharge of the various tasks assigned him that the firm promoted him from time to time in accordance with the efficiency he displayed until he had attained a good position. He withdrew from their employment in 1905 and came to Wallace to become bookkeeper for the Coeur d'Alene Hardware Company. This company was incorporated in 1892 under the management of W. W. Hart, who in 1883 became identified with the hardware and mining-supply business in the west and who was long associated with J. R. Marks in this business in Billings, Montana; Murray, Idaho; and Spokane, Washington. The Coeur d'Alene Hardware Company was under Mr. Hart's management from the time of its organization until his death in 1910, and it is unquestionably due to his unremitting energy, initiative and thorough knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the business that the company forged ahead until it is now the largest concern of the kind in the northwest, They carry a complete stock of mining machinery and supplies necessary for the opera- tion and maintenance of mines, as well as a large stock of general hardware. Their policy has always been to supply all things needful to any worthy or reliable min- ing concern in times of difficulty, and it is unquestionably due to this fact that many of the important companies that are now thriving and prosperous were able to develop or tide over great financial difficulties. Following the death of Mr. Hart, in 1910, Mr. Gordon was promoted to take his place, as manager, and has ever
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since continued in that position. It is a responsible and difficult position, requiring clear judgment, business sagacity and executive ability of more than an average order, but thus far Mr. Gordon has at all times proven fully equal to the demands made upon him.
Mr. Gordon has made many friends during the period of his residence in Wal- lace and is highly esteemed. He is a member of the Elks, belonging to Wallace Lodge, No. 331, B. P. O. E., and takes an earnest interest in the work of the order. He is meeting with financial success in his various undertakings, being interested in a number of mining properties in the district, and his future as gauged by his past gives every assurance of being most promising.
JOHN W. GRAHAM.
John W. Graham is the president and treasurer of the John W. Graham Com- pany, conducting an extensive establishment as paper dealers and stationers. The business has developed from a small beginning and is the visible evidence of the enterprising spirit and reliable, progressive methods of him who stands at its head. He has been a resident of Spokane since the spring of 1889, arriving here when about twenty-nine years of age. His birth occurred at Rockport, Indiana, March 24, 1860, his parents being Robert and Sophia (Stocking) Graham. He was left an orphan when quite young, pursued his education in the public schools of his native town and started to earn his living by selling papers. Subsequently he conducted a news stand, adding periodicals to the sale of papers, and by this venture he gained knowledge of the paper trade to some extent, so that it was a logical step in his career when, following his removal to Minneapolis, in 1885, he secured employment in a stationery establishment, thns gathering preliminary experience in the field of business in which he has since operated so successfully. He there continued until the spring of 1889, when he came to Spokane, securing a position in the periodical and stationery store of Sylvester Heath. This establishment was completely destroyed in the big fire of August of that year and Mr. Heath then determined to retire from the business and devote himself to other interests. Mr. Graham, with prescience sufficient to rec- ognize what the future had in store for this great and growing western country, then resolved to engage in business on his own account and opened up with a three- hundred-dollar stock of stationery and paper in a small sloping tent borrowed from Mr. Heath which stood on Monroe street on the site opposite the Spokesman's Re- view building, and upon the ground where Mr. Heath's building now stands. Mr. Graham was accorded a good patronage from the beginning and the following spring occupied half of a store in Mr. Heath's building. In September, 1890, the business had grown to such an extent that he removed to the Great Eastern block, now known as the Peyton block, at the corner of Riverside and Post streets. At first he occupied but half of the store hut subsequently bought out the occupants of the other half and as his business still continued to grow took in the next store where he carried on his commereial undertaking until 1898, occupying two full stores at that time when the building was almost completely destroyed by fire. In the fall of 1900 the John W. Graham Company removed to their present location. The spacious, three-story building they occupied was consumed by fire in August, 1910, and replaced by the
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splendid five-story building, in which they now carry on their business and which extends through from Sprague avenue to First avenue, their store being one of the most splendidly equipped in the Inland Empire. Their wholesale building, situated on the Spokane Right of Way measures one hundred and fifty feet front, by one hun- dred and twenty feet deep, and is three stories in height, being built five years ago. In 1896 the John W. Graham Company was incorporated with the founder of the business as president and treasurer. The stock has been increased until now there is a paid-up capital of five hundred thousand dollars and the corporation is one of the most flourishing in this part of the country. They sell anything made of paper and their business throughout eastern Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana is carried on by a force of ten salesmen. Throughout the twenty-two years of its existence the enterprise has constantly grown and developed along substantial lines, due to a harmonious working-together of employer and employes, many of whom have been longer in the service of this company than any other men in any store in Spokane, and the success of the undertaking has won for Mr. Graham recognition as one of the foremost merchants of eastern Washington.
In Spokane on the 28th of October, 1891, Mr. Graham was married to Miss Alta Burch, a daughter of Dr. and Laura (Havermale) Burch, of this city. Her father was one of the early pioneers here and his wife is a daughter of the Rev. Samuel G. Havermale, who took up his abode in Spokane in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have a daughter Molly, born April, 1904, and they reside at No. 607 South Monroe street, which residence was erected by Mr. Graham, in 1907, and is set in the most spacious and beautiful lawns in the city. He has taken a prominent part in the work of the Chamber of Commerce and is always ready to do anything that will help Spokane or the Inland Empire. He has never been actively identified with politics nor held political office but was one of the directors of the Young Men's Christian Association, at the time the new building was erected and assisted in raising the funds for the same. He belongs to the Elks Lodge, No. 228, and to the Spokane Club and the Spokane Amateur Athletic Club. A man of pleasing personality, he makes friends wherever he goes. Aside from a genial and courteous disposition the sterling traits of his character are manifest in his determination, his adaptability and his persistency of purpose which have constituted the foundation of his present suc- cess in the commercial world.
WILLIAM L. SAX.
William L. Sax, who is serving his second term as mayor of Colville, in addition to the discharge of the duties of which office he is also conducting an abstract busi- ness, was born in Schoharie county, New York, on the 26th of July, 1864. His parents were Peter and Rebecca (Richtmyer) Sax, both of whom are now deceased, her father having passed away in 1905 and the mother in 1893. In the maternal line he is descended from one of the old Dutch families of the Empire state.
After the completion of his preliminary education, which was acquired in the com- mon schools of Kansas, William L. Sax engaged in teaching. When he had acquired sufficient means he took a course in the State Normal school at Emporia, Kansas, continuing to attend this institution at various periods until he was twenty-four years
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of age. He was compelled to depend upon his own efforts for further study and taught school between times, in order to acquire the money to defray the expenses of his education. His close application, hard study and confinement undermined his health and he was forced to seek another climate, so he went to Colorado and spent a year in the mountains. In 1888 he came to Washington, locating near Spokane where he engaged in teaching, later following the same vocation in both Spokane and Stevens county until 1896. In the latter year he withdrew from the work of the school room to take the position of deputy county treasurer. After serving in this capacity for two years he was elected county superintendent of schools, discharg- .ing the duties of this office with rare efficiency and satisfaction for five years.
In 1901, he bought an abstract business that has since been incorporated as the Stevens County Abstract Company. He continues to be identified with this com- pany and is recognized as one of the most capable men in this line in the city, his books being complete in every respect and kept up to date with the county records.
On the 12th of January, 1892, Mr. Sax was married to Miss Minnie A. Morgan, a daughter of Newell C. Morgan, a veteran of the Civil war, and unto them have been born two sons: Karl, who assists his father in the abstract business; and Paul, who is still in school.
Fraternally Mr. Sax is a Mason, having taken the degrees of the blue lodge, and he also belongs to the Odd Fellows and has filled all of the chairs in the latter lodge. In his political views he is a socialist and takes an active interest in all municipal affairs, having filled the mayoralty chair since 1909. He was elected to this office on both occasions on an independent ticket, and has made a most efficient and generally highly satisfactory executive. Mr. Sax is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he has been president, and takes an active interest in all of the work of this organization, being one of the progressive citizens of the community whose support is accorded to every movement advanced to promote the public welfare.
EUGENE V. BOUGHTON.
Eugene V. Boughton, one of the capable representatives of the legal profession in Coeur d'Alene, where he has been engaged in practice for the past five years, was born in Quincy, Michigan, on December 21, 1875. His parents, William H. and Julia E. (Ball) Boughton, were well known farming people of Saginaw county, that state. The father was one of those brave, patriotic men who offered his services to his country at the opening of the Civil war and remained at the front until the close of hostilities.
Engene V. Boughton attended the common and high schools in the acquirement of an education, and, after graduating from the high school, entered the mercantile business at Evart, Michigan, in the employ of Davy & Company. Subsequently he was made manager of their branch store at Leota, Michigan, where he remained for over a year. He then decided to launch out into an independent business ca- recr, and in partnership with S. E. Sayles he established two stores at Custer and Greenland, Michigan, respectively, operating the same until the summer of 1903, he disposed of his interests and matriculated in the university at Ann Arbor, grad- uating with the degree of LL. B. with the class of 1906. He was admitted to the
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bar at Lansing, Michigan, the same year, and immediately thereafter came to Coeur d'Alene, believing that better opportunities were here afforded for a young attorney than were to be found in the more thickly populated districts of the middle west. A man of good presence, intelligent and practical he made a favorable im- pression from the very first, and consequently met with little or no difficulty in building up a good practice and now has a well established clientage. Mr. Boughton's preparation for his work has been very thorough, and in addition to this he has a logical mind, fine reasoning faculties and an exceptionally good com- mand of English, all of which are of inestimable value and are absolutely indis- pensable to a successful legal career. He is conscientiously devoted to the interests of his clients and exercises exceeding care and precaution in the preparation of his cases, overlooking none of the minor points upon which the decision of a case so often hinges. His arguments are always especially strong, each point following in its regular sequence and presented in a strong, forceful manner that is most con- vincing.
Mr. Boughton was united in marriage on the 21st of June, 1899, to Miss Eda Sayles, a daughter of Joseph and Nettie Sayles of Evart, Michigan, the former of whom for many years was judge of Osceola county. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Boughton, as follows: Irma Bernadine, whose birth occurred at Ann Arbor, Michigan, on June 1, 1905; Donald James, who was born at Coeur d'Alene, on the 29th of January, 1908; and Robert Eugene, born on March 1, 1911. The family home is located at No. 1111 North First street, this city, where they have a very pleasant and attractive residence.
In matters of faith both Mr. and Mrs. Boughton are Presbyterians, and fra- ternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masons, having taken the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. He is past venerable master of the Lodge of Perfection, and belongs to Idaho Consistory, No. 3, S. P. R. S .; and he is also a shriner, holding membership in El Katif Temple, Spokane. Mr. Bough- ton's devoted attention to the interests of his clients, his unquestionable integrity and his broad and comprehensive knowledge of civil law have all combined in es- tablishing him among the attorneys of recognized prestige in Kootenai county.
LEE B. HARVEY, M. D.
The medical profession of Stevens county finds a worthy representative in Dr. Lee B. Harvey, who has been located at Colville for eleven years past and has gained a reputation which is not confined within the limits of the state of Washington. He comes of good Scotch and English ancestry and was born in Montgomery, Alabama, October 12, 1868, a son of Z. and Jane (Emerson) Harvey. The father died in 1892 and the mother passed away one year later. The ancestors of our subject on the pa- ternal side were early Scotch and English settlers in the United States, a grand- uncle serving with high credit in the Civil war.
In the public schools of his native state Lee B. Harvey received his preliminary education. Subsequently he became a student of the University of Alabama, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B. Having decided to devote his life to the healing art, he entered the medical department of the University of St. Louis
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and after pursuing the regular course was graduated in 1900 with the degree of M. D. Immediately after receiving his diploma he came to Colville and has since ac- tively engaged in practice at this place. In 1904 he went to Chicago and took a post- graduate course of three months in Cook County Hospital, under the auspices of the University of Chicago. Two years later he pursued a similar course at the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania and in 1908 visited the celebrated Mayo Brothers at Rochester, Minnesota, and spent several weeks at their hospital, observing their methods and gaining valuable information as to the most successful methods in surgery. In 1905 Dr. Harvey built the Colville Sanitarium, of which he is manager and owner. This institution is strictly modern in all its appointments and is considered one of the most complete establishments of the kind in the northwest, its patrons being attracted from a wide region tributary to Washington.
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