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 44
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CHARLES A. FLEMING.
A city official as popular as he is efficient is now serving as city clerk, which position he has filled continuously since 1903, or for a period of eight years. He was born at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, March 21, 1868, his parents being Michael and Catherine Fleming, of that city, both of whom were pioneer residents of the Badger state. His father had removed from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Wis- consin when the latter state was a territory and the mother was born there during territorial days. For a number of years Michael Fleming engaged in the lumber business, becoming one of the representative and prosperous merchants of Eau Claire. Both he and his wife are now deceased.
Charles A. Fleming is indebted to the educational opportunities offered by the public-school system of Wisconsin for his early mental training. He attended the graded and high schools of his native town and later took up the study of law in the office of a local attorney. His reading was thorough and a retentive memory gave him such an adequate knowledge of the law as to secure his admission to the bar in 1896. He remained in practice for only a brief period in Wisconsin and in the spring of 1897 came to Spokane, where he engaged in active law practice until
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appointed city clerk in 1903. No higher testimonial of his efficiency could be given than the fact that he has been annually reappointed since that time and remains the present incumbent in the office, the duties of which he has carefully systematized and discharges with marked ability. While a democrat in principle and formerly an active worker in the party, he has done no campaigning since he entered his present position, nor is he connected with any outside business, but concentrates his whole time and attention npon the duties which devolve upon him and which are constantly increasing owing to Spokane's rapid growth. When he was first ap- pointed city clerk there was a population of less than forty thousand while today the inhabitants of the city number more than one hundred and twenty-five thou- sand.
On the 27th of December, 1893, Charles A. Fleming was married at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Miss Cora Thompson, a daughter of G. Taber Thompson, of that place. They now have two sons, Albert Thompson and George B. Mr. Fleming belongs to the Elks lodge of Spokane but is not a club man. He possesses rather a retiring disposition, his interest centering in his home, yet he has many friends whom he has won through his gentlemanly and courteous treatment of all with whom he comes in contact either in the discharge of his official duties or in the social affairs of life.
HON. HORATIO N. BELT.
Among the builders and makers of Spokane Horatio N. Belt was numbered, and that he enjoyed the confidence, honor and good will of his fellow townsmen was manifest in his election to the mayoralty of the city, in which office his administration was extremely beneficial, holding in check restless and unlawful elements and promoting many valuable projects along the line of general im- provement.
A native of Illinois, he was born in Jersey county, October 1, 1841, and traced his ancestry back to one of two brothers who came from England soon after the Revolutionary war. The family has since been prominent in the new world. The father of Horatio N. Belt was a soldier of the war of 1812 under General Jack- son and died in 1869, on the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans.
Horatio N. Belt had the usual experience which fall to the lot of the farm boy who divides his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of an education. He afterward engaged in teaching school for five years but think- ing to find greater profit in commercial enterprises, he then engaged in the con- duct of a flour mill and general mercantile establishment in Jersey county, Illi- nois, success attending him in this venture by reason of his well directed energy and his unfaltering determination. He continued in business there until 1882, when he removed to Bunker Hill, Illinois, where in connection with other interests he engaged in the banking business under the firm style of Belt Brothers & Com- pany. In 1887 he came to Spokane and invested largely in real estate, purchas- ing an interest in the Ross Park addition and building a home there. He was one of the promoters of the Ross Park Street Railway Company, the first successful
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electric line west of the Missouri river. In all business affairs he displayed sound judgment that had its root in a close study of the situation and of its possibilities.
Mr. Belt was also prominent in the public life of the city and in 1891 was chosen as a member of the city council. In 1895 he was honored with the highest gift that his fellow townsmen could bestow upon him, election to the mayoralty for a term of one year, and was again elected to the same office for two years in 1896. He was Spokane's chief executive during the most trying period in the history of the city, when the panic, Coxey's army, the American Railway Union strike and other things conspired against peace and prosperity. His popularity among the working people saved many riots and prevented bloodshed. In 1896 he was prominently mentioned for governor at the Ellensburg convention and would have been almost the unanimous choice of the delegates had not the ques- tion of location defeated him. Spokane then had the congressman and attorney general, and the party could not place him on the ticket. He was very popular with the silver republicans and those making the fusion party of the state. He was a close and discriminating student of the questions of the day and gave earnest consideration to the position and possibilities of his party relative to the best interests of the majority.
On the 16th of December, 1869, in Jersey county, Illinois, Mr. Belt was united in marriage to Miss Martha Tipton and they have three children: Cora L., who is now the widow of L. S. Roberts and has two children, Dorothy L. and Marshall A. Roberts; William L., an expert accountant now residing in San Francisco; and Horatio C., an attorney of Seattle.
Mr. Belt belonged to the Masonic order and held membership in the First Presbyterian church, to the teachings, of which he was ever loyal, its principles dominating his life in all of its varied phases. He died in that faith August 22, 1900, and thus passed from life one who had had an important part to play in the history of Spokane, in molding its destiny and shaping its policy as well as in promoting its business activity. The same spirit of advancement which actuated him in all his private relations was manifest in his public life and any movement with which he became connected was benefited thereby.
SIDNEY H. WENTWORTH.
Sidney H. Wentworth, practicing law at the Spokane bar since 1908, was born at Brewer, Maine, July 23, 1877. His parents, Benjamin and Annabelle (Wake- field) Wentworth, came to this city in 1889 from Thomaston, Maine, and the father was for a time employed in the C. & C. mills, while later he entered the service of the Washington Water Power Company and is now with the Exchange National Bank.
Sidney H. Wentworth pursued his education in the public schools of Spokane and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1896. He then entered Williams College at Williamstown, Massachusetts, as a member of the class of 1900 and when his course there was completed, and liberal education qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties, he returned to Spokane and was employed by Jones & Dillingham for about a year. At the end of that time he too became con- Vol. II-21
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nected with the Exchange National Bank but, thinking to find a professional career more congenial and hoping also to find it more profitable, he returned to the east in 1904 and pursued a law course in Harvard University. He was gradu- ated with the class of 1907, at once returned to the Pacific coast and that year was admitted to the bar, since which time he has engaged in practice here. He is now one of the referees in bankruptcy for the district court of the United States for the eastern district of Washington and aside from this he has a good clientage, which indicates that he is making steady progress in his chosen profession.
Mr. Wentworth resides with his parents at No. 1049 Eleventh avenue. His political support is given to the republican party. He is not a member of any secret order or society but belongs to the University Club and in its membership has many friends.
JOHN L. DIRKS.
John L. Dirks, for twenty years a practitioner at the Spokane bar, was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1866, a son of Leonard and Maria (Green- wood) Dirks. The father was for many years in charge of the cabinet work of the J. G. Brill Car Company. When a boy he had come from Holland, his native coun- try, to America and settled in Philadelphia, but passed away many years ago.
In the public schools of his native city John L. Dirks pursued his education and in 1882 when a youth of fifteen years he came to Washington, settling at Ellens- burg, where at one time he filled the position of assistant postmaster. For eleven years he resided at that place and during the latter part of his residence there lie took up the study of law, largely mastering the principles of jurisprudence and thus qualifying for admission to the bar. He was licensed to practice in the courts of this state in September, 1902, and came at once to Spokane where he has since followed his profession.
Mr. Dirks was married in Ellensburg, Washington, September 27, 1892, to Miss Hattie C. Scott, and unto them have been born two children, Donald and Dorothy. He has never sought public honors nor office, preferring to give undi- vided attention to his professional duties.
GEORGE M. FERRIS.
Among the law firms practicing in the courts at Spokane is that of Cannon, Ferris, Swan & Lally, which was formed on the 1st of August, 1910. For a num- ber of years previous to this, however, Mr. Ferris had been associated with the senior member and had been a representative of the legal profession here from October, 1903. He was born at Sterling, Illinois, July 24, 1878, his parents be- ing George Joseph and Katherine (Ryan) Ferris, the former an engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. When a lad of six years he became a pupil in the public schools of his native city and afterward had the benefit of instruction in Beloit College, at Beloit, Wisconsin, from which he was graduated with the
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class of 1898. He afterward attended the Northern Illinois Law College at Dixon, Illinois, and was graduated therefrom in 1902. During his college days he became a noted ball player and supported himself while pursuing his studies by playing on the Rockford, Illinois, team and later with the Omaha team of the Western League. In 1902 he came to Spokane and played professional ball with the Spokane team during the sessions of 1902-06, inclusive, while the winter months were devoted to his law practice. He was admitted to the bar here in October, 1903, and remained alone in practice for a time but later became associated with Mr. Cannon, and on the 1st of August, 1910, the present law firm of Cannon, Ferris, Swan & Lally was formed. In the courts Mr. Ferris is an advocate of power and influence and both judges and juries hear him with attention and deep interest. His thought is always clear and logical, his deductions sound, and the zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession and the careful regard evinced for the in- terests of his clients have brought him a large business and made him very suc- cessful in its conduct.
In February, 1904, Mr. Ferris was united in marriage to Miss Renick Gimble, a daughter of John S. and Carrie (Carpenter) Gimble, of Spokane. They now have one child, Martin E., six years of age. Mr. Ferris was manager of the Spokane baseball team in 1906. He is very popular in this city and has made hosts of friends by his ability as a ball player and his gentlemanly conduct at all times. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus but has never taken active part in politics or held pub- lic office.
JOHN H. FEATHERSTON.
John H. Featherston was one of the founders of the business that is now con- ducted under the name of the Imperial Coffee & Tea Company. Of the company he is now vice president and manager and his labors have been a strong element in the development and expansion of this business, which is today the largest of the kind in the Inland Empire. His record does not display any unusual factors, yet the fact that his insight and sagacity enabled him to recognize an opportunity and his laudable ambition prompted him to its utilization. In legitimate lines of trade he has won his prosperity and his history shows what may be accomplished when industry and determination form the basis of success.
Mr. Featherston is a native of Montreal, Canada, his birth there occurring Octo- ber 20, 1870. His parents were William Ralph and Julia Richie (Macalister) Featherston, and the father was a merchant of that city. Spending his youth- ful days under the parental roof, John H. Featherston pursued his education in public and private schools there and in McGill University, from which he was gradu- ated in 1893 with the degrees of B. A. S. Recognizing the fact that the trend of emigration and of business activity was westward, he at once made his way into British Columbia, where he devoted his energies to mining until 1897. In that year he came to Spokane, having noted its business conditions and its opportunities. Here he opened an office as assayer, and soon afterward entered into partnership with A. W. McMorran, under the firm name of MeMorran & Featherston. His partner was a drug chemist and together they began the manufacture of druggist's
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sundries, afterward extending their line to include extracts and spices. About a year later H. E. Curtis purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business under the name of the Spokane Extract & Spice Company. In 1903 the business was incorporated under that name, Mr. Featherston remaining as vice president and manager. On the 1st of January, 1908, the Mcclintock-Trunkey Company pur- chased the Curtis interest in the business and in February, 1911, the name was changed to the Imperial Coffee & Tea Company. Their trade in tea and coffee is today the largest in the Inland Empire. In 1910 they roasted about a half mil- lion pounds of coffee and the present year will considerably increase their sales. They have the most complete facilities for roasting and grinding coffee and spices to be found in the Inland Empire and their business is being developed along progressive lines, every effort being put forth to make the house known to the trade and to insure an increased patronage. They base their success upon the quality of their goods, the personnel of their house and their service to their customers.
On the 1st of January, 1900, Mr. Featherston was married to Miss Edna Lee Perrine, a daughter of Mrs. Josephine Perrine, of Spokane. Mr. Featherston takes no active part in politics and belongs to no fraternal orders or clubs. However, he holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce and seeks the development, growth and improvement of the city through that avenue. He is also a member of the West- minster Congregational church, of which he has served as a trustee. His life, at all times upright and honorable, is in harmony with his professions and commends him to the confidence and good-will of his fellowmen.
RUDOLPH DORN.
Rudolph Dorn, manager at Spokane for the Aetna Life Insurance Company, was born February 28, 1852, at Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany, and is a son of Paul and Katherine Dorn of that city. His education was acquired in the public and high schools there, after which he joined the Fifth Bavaria Infantry Regi- ment and served through the Franco-German war. At the battle of Woerth, on the 6th of August, 1870, he was wounded. He participated in the siege of Paris and at length was mustered out because his physical condition rendered him unfit for field service, but he was recommended for commissary duty, which, however, he declined to accept. After regaining his health he went to Vienna, Austria, where for some years he followed an insurance brokerage business, representing a number of German companies. Attracted to America in 1888, he first made location in Bloomington, Illinois, where he became treasurer of the Mason Air Brake & Signal Company, with headquarters in Chicago, until 1893. In that year his recognized ability led to his appointment to the position of general agent for the Aetna Life Insurance Company, with headquarters at Helena, Montana. He discharged his duties in that connection so capably and promptly that in 1899 he was made manager for Washington, Idaho and Montana, with headquarters in Spokane. His long ex- perience has made him thoroughly qualified for the onerous duties that devolve upon him in a position of large responsibility. He is today recognized as one of the foremost representatives of insurance interests in the northwest.
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On the 19th of June, 1872, at Sinbach, Bavaria, Mr. Dorn was united in mar- riage to Miss Pauline Sturney, a daughter of Christian Sturney of that city. They have one son, Siegfried A. G. Dorn, of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Dorn is iden- tified with several societies, including the German War Veterans of 1870-1, the Elks Lodge, No. 228, of which he is a life member, the Knights of Columbus, in which he has attained the fourth degree, and the Spokane Club. He is a man of pleasing personality whose life experiences have counted much in the development of character and he has made many friends here.
JOHN M. CAMPBELL.
John M. Campbell is the vice president of the Spokane Title Company, whose financial rating places it on a high plane of the business interests of this character in Washington. He had liberal educational advantages to serve as the foundation for his success but no financial aid at the outset of his career. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, December 2, 1876, and came of distinctively honorable and representative ancestry, his parents being Professor John and Esther (Bradshaw). Campbell. His father devoted much of his life to study. He died at the age of sixty-five years. His widow long survived and passed away in 1901.
John M. Campbell acquired his early education in the public schools of Detroit and afterward attended the Orchard Lake Military Academy prior to entering the University of Michigan, in which he was a student for about two years. He left the university before finishing his course in order to come to Spokane in the spring of 1889, here joining an older brother, A. D. Campbell, who was manager for the Western Union Telegraph Company in this city.
John M. Campbell worked with his brother for a time and then sought employ- ment in the mines in this vicinity. His ability and resourcefulness enabled him to advance rapidly and he filled the position of superintendent of some of the best mines in this part of the country. In 1896-7 he was in Alaska, going by way of the overland trail into Dawson. He met the usual experiences of such a trip and of life in that unsettled and undeveloped region. Not meeting with the success that he anticipated, he returned to Spokane and here entered the abstract business, which in time led him into other fields. In 1901 he organized the Realty Abstract Com- pany and was its president until 1908, when this company, with eight others, con- solidated under the name of the Spokane Title Company, of which Mr. Campbell has since been the vice president. It has a fully paid-up capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and ranks as one of the strongest financial concerns on the coast. Mr. Campbell's previous experience in the abstract business and his thorough knowledge of realty values constitute him an important factor in the man- agement and control of the business in which he is now engaged.
On the 17th of March, 1911, occurred the marriage of Mr. Campbell and Miss Juanita Hinckley, whose father came to Spokane from California in 1879 as divis- ion superintendent of the Northern Pacific Railway. He was thus identified with railway interests until he met his death by accident about 1895.
Mr. Campbell votes with the republican party and is an ardent advocate of its principles but has never aspired to office. His name is on the membership roll of
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Spokane Lodge, No. 228, B. P. O. E. and he is well known as a popular member of the Spokane Club, the Spokane Country Club and the Spokane Amateur Athletic Club. He believes in that progress which is tempered by a safe conservatism and therefore takes no unwarranted risks. In every possible manner he safeguards the interests of his clients and at the same time develops his business along substantial lines which make it a constantly growing force in the financial circles of the city.
WILLIAM J. HARRIS.
William J. Harris, a Spokane capitalist interested in many paying mining propositions and also in hotel properties in Spokane, was born in Halton county, Ontario, on the 17th of August, 1859. His parents, William Wellington and Han- nah (Aikins) Harris, were pioneer residents of that section of Canada, to which the father removed with his parents from Pennsylvania about 1815. William Wellington Harris was a young lad at that time and in the ensuing years he ex- perienced all of the hardships and privations of frontier life and aided in all the arduous labor incident to the establishment of a home and the development of business interests in a new district. Both he and his wife have been dead many years. Of their family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, four of the brothers came to the west and are well known as business men in the various sec- tions where they reside. John Harris owns and operates a large stock farm on " the Salmon river. Daniel Harris, who was one of the pioneers of the Rossland mining camp of British Columbia, now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his four sons and one daughter, who have the distinction of being the discoverers of the Nine Mile mountain near Hazelton, British Columbia, and who are owners of the American Boy group and the Silver Cup mine of that section. Thomas Harris, another brother of the family, now living at Creston, British Columbia, was the discoverer of the White Grouse Mountain district, near the headwaters of the East Kootenai river, and is the owner of several group claims, the most prominent of which is the Bonshaw mine. Of the two brothers who remained in the east, Joseph Harris still lives on the old farm in Ontario, while Hugh Harris, also a farmer, resides about sixteen miles from the old homestead.
William J. Harris received such educational advantages as his native county afforded. The schools, however, were mostly little log buildings and the methods of instruction were quite primitive. As soon as old enough to handle the plow William J. Harris began work in the fields and did other labor incident to . farm life. He was quite young when his father died and he afterward left home, com- ing to the United States when but twelve years of age. For a time he was em- ployed on a farm near Osage, Iowa, and, accumulating a little money, he worked his way all over Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, finally settling in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. In the fall of 1884, when the Coeur d'Alene mining excitement broke out, he disposed of his interest in Sioux Falls and made his way to that district, where he arrived with about four thousand dollars in cash. He had no experience in mining and after sixty days found himself entirely without capital. He did not become discouraged, how- ever, and the next five years of his life he spent in mining and doing any kind of honest work that he could secure. He was one of the first men to work on the
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famous Sullivan & Bunker Hill mine, which was his first experience in hard rock mining. As Mr. Harris states, his five years were not a success as far as money was concerned. It was all hard work and very little reward; but he gained much valuable experience which proved the foundation for his later success. However, it is a long lane that has no turning and his way at length led him into more pros- perous fields.
In the spring of 1889, Mr. Harris determined to come to Spokane with the intention of entering into business in this city. At the time of his arrival he had but thirty-five cents in his pocket. He had learned, however, that industry and determination go far toward securing success and he resolved that those qualities should constitute the basis for advancement. He first took a position as manager of a restaurant that was conducted by a Mr. Wolf, whom he had known in the Coeur d'Alene district. A few weeks later he secured a restaurant that was being conducted in a tent on the present site of the Young Men's Christian Association building by two men from the Palouse country. In a few months he had realized seven hundred and fifty dollars above all expenses and this sum he invested in an interest in a hotel on the present site of the Empire State building. By the following spring he had accumulated enough to purchase an interest in the Mer- chants Hotel on Riverside avenue and it was while conducting that hotel that he became interested in the LeRoi mine, in which several of the prominent men of Spokane made their fortunes. A complete history of the LeRoi appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Harris was a director from the time the company was in- corporated and was its general manager at the time the property was sold to the British Syndicate. He was also one of the committee of four to select the site for the Northport smelter. There have been but few intervals during the entire period of his residence in the northwest that he has not been connected in greater or less degree with mining interests, and at the present time he is a director of the June group of copper mines on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and also of the Good Friday Consolidated Company of Red Mountain, British Columbia. He is the sole owner of the Quartz Creek placer mine in Clearwater county, four miles from Pierce, Idaho, and also of the Waldo dredging property which is in Josephine county, forty miles west of Grants Pass, Oregon.
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