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 51
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Mr. Gifford is secretary of the Mining Men's Club and although one of the younger business men of Spokane, is becoming widely known in mining circles in the northwest, because of the extent and importance of his relations and the methods employed. Both the Princess Republic and the Hydraulic Placer Com- pany are doing an excellent business and there is every indication that success in large measure will be theirs in the future.
SAMUEL C. WOODRUFF.
A resident of the state of Washington since 1865 Samuel C. Woodruff, super- intendent of the State School for the Feeble-minded at Medical Lake, has been closely identified with the upbuilding and growth of this section of the west, hav- ing been very influential in directing the attention of the nation to the natural advantages of our great northwest thus attracting many settlers and inducing capitalists to invest in this locality. He was born in Hong Kong, China, Sep- tember 20, 1858, and was a son of Samuel C. and Martha (Crosby) Woodruff, his father dying when he was a lad of seven. The grandparents were among the early settlers in Oregon, where Captain Crosby had a warehouse on a site now included in the big wholesale district of Portland, while the Woodruffs were among the first white people in Japan after that country threw its doors open to the peo- ple of other nations. The father of the subject of this review ran the first line of steam packets between Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Samuel C. Woodruff obtained his education in the public schools of Washing- ton and attended a private academy at Olympia, Washington, until fifteen years of age. During the following five years he was assistant postmaster at Olympia
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and he learned the printer's trade, securing employment on the Washington Stand- ard at Olympia for the next three years. He then entered mercantile lines and conducted a stationery and book store at Olympia for three years and at Seattle for two years. Being appointed steward and accountant for the Western Wash- ington Hospital for the Insane he removed to Fort Steilacoom, Washington, where the asylum was located, and for the following six years served in this capacity acting also as secretary of the board. At the end of that time he resigned and returned to Olympia in order to look after his various interests there. He re- mained there seven years being interested in numerous business enterprises, prin- cipally in real estate, the car company, a hotel and several other corporations. Then he resided in Spokane for a while and also in Seattle, where he was va- . riously engaged in promoting commercial undertakings. Again appointed to his former position in the Western Washington Hospital for the Insane he returned to Fort Steilacoom, where he remained four years, leaving this for a ranch near Seattle on which he resided a year and a half when he was appointed to his pres- ent position of superintendent of the State School for the Feeble-minded at Med- ical Lake, Washington. He was financially interested in the Capital National Bank of Olympia, of which he was a director for many years. Not afraid to take a business hazard he has met with triumphs and defeats but has always remained hopeful watching the country about him grow and develop until it has become a veritable land of promise for those who long ago saw its possibilities and were willing to make immediate sacrifices for the future rewards which have been theirs.
In 1895, at Olympia, Washington, Mr. Woodruff married Miss Edith Burn- trager, a daughter of George H. and Mary Burntrager. One daughter, now de- ceased, was born of this union. In his fraternal relations Mr. Woodruff is asso- ciated with the Elks, being a past exalted ruler and life member in this order. Politically he votes with the republicans and for two years was the president of the school board at Olympia, Washington. Having lived in this territory prac- tically all his life, he possesses the true western spirit of intense loyalty to his section of the country and an infectious enthusiasm for its many advantages.
J. CLEVELAND HAAS.
In the great and undeveloped country of the northwest there have come many men whose superior educational training have enabled them to recognize the oppor- tunities and advantages of this section and utilize the natural resources as factors in the development of the country and in the attainment of success. To this class belongs J. Cleveland Haas, and his work in connection with mining interests has made him widely known throughout this section of the country. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, March 2, 1870, a son of David and Theresa (Cone) Haas, both of whom were natives of Austria-Hungary. Following his arrival in America David Haas became a prominent citizen of Houghton county, Michigan, the state of his adoption, filling a number of county offices there and taking an active part in molding public opinion. For a long period he was engaged in merchandising but retired about ten years prior to his death and resided in Cleveland at the time of his demise, which occurred in 1906. His widow is still living in that city. In
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their family were nine ' sons and three daughters, the latter all residents of the east. One son, Nathan Haas, was a mining engineer and lost his life, being drowned in Porcupine Lake, Ontario, while trying to escape from the forest fires in July, 1911.
In the common and high schools of Houghton, Michigan, J. Cleveland Hass pursued his early education and afterward attended the Michigan College of Mines, thus gaining comprehensive and scientific knowledge that has proven of inestimable value and benefit to him during the period of his residence in the northwest. Immediately after leaving the high school he conducted a newspaper called the Houghton Press, but abandoned that undertaking after two years. It was subsequent to that period that he entered the College of Mines, from which he was graduated in 1890 with the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Engineer of Mines. He later engaged in professional work in northern Michigan in the copper and iron districts and came west on the 1st of January, 1893, making his way to the coast. In March, however, he returned as far as Spokane and then spent the ensuing summer in prospecting in British Columbia in connection with Bruce White. The year 1894 was passed in the boundary district of British Co- lumbia and he opened an assay office in Midway, British Columbia, which was the first in the district. He spent most of his time in British Columba in mining work, development, operation and in following his profession until 1900, being largely in the boundary and Trail creek (Rossland) districts. In 1900 he opened an office in Spokane and engaged in general practice as a mining engineer and con- sulting engineer, in which field he has since continued withi eminent success, ex- amining and reporting on mines. He has made reports on mines all over the United States and British Columbia. He did some of the first work at Phoenix on the Granby property before the Granby people got hold of it, and he prob- ably did as much as any one in opening up the Boundary district. His reports were used in inducing the Canadian Pacific to build a line there from Trail. He has spent much time in the Coeur d'Alenes and at the present time is interested in a number of properties in British Columbia. He has also made investments in the Humboldt Consolidated Gold Mines in Mormon Basin, Oregon, and is con- sulting engineer for the company which has been incorporated with W. H. Turner, of Spokane, as president; Fred R. Mellis, of Baker City, Oregon, as vice-president; James A. Howard, of Baker City, as secretary; William Bowers, of Baker City, as treasurer; and J. C. Haas, as consulting engineer. This is a free gold propo- sition, having large bodies of good grade milling ore and rich shipping ore de- veloped to a depth of three hundred feet, and fifty thousand dollars has been produced in a little mill during development work. They have a ten-stamp mill which will be increased to twenty-stamps. There is a full equipment of build- ings and machinery and the work is now in condition to carry on the development rapidly. Mr. Haas is also interested in the Golconda mine in Sumpter, Oregon, doing development work, and he has a number of mining interests in the Boundary district of British Columbia.
On the 11th of July, 1904, at Tacoma, J. Cleveland Haas was united in mar- riage to Miss Constance M. Schroder, a daughter of J. Schroder, a contractor and builder of Seattle. The only child of this marriage is Donald C., who is six years of age. Mr. Haas is not only prominent and influential in mining but also in so- cial circles. He was made a Mason at Houghton, Michigan, is a member of the
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Knights of Pythias fraternity, belongs to the Inland Club, the Town and Country Club, the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. That his ability is rec- ognized in scientific circles is indicated by his election to membership in the Amer- ican Institute of Mining Engineers and the Canadian Mining Institute. He is counselor for the state of Washington of the western branch of the Canadian In- stitute; is a member of the American Mining Congress; and the National Geographic Society of Washington, D. C. His scientific knowledge and long experience have made him an important factor in development work in the northwest, his labors constituting an important element in general progress and prosperity so that he may well be termed one of the builders of this section of the country.
MARION F. SETTERS, M. D.
Marion F. Setters displayed the elemental strength of his character in his efforts to obtain an education and the same spirit of determination and laudable ambition have characterized him in his later life work, bringing him to a creditable position as a representative of the medical profession in Spokane, where since the 1st of January, 1902, he has successfully practiced as a physician and surgeon. He was born at Milan, Missouri, June 5, 1870, his parents being Rev. Peter and Ellen E. (Warren) Setters. His father was a minister of the Baptist church and on coming to Washington in 1879 settled near Reardan, in Lincoln county, where he divided his time between preaching the gospel and farming, thus spending his remaining days. He died in 1905 and is still survived by his wife. Their family numbered five sons and four daughters.
Marion F. Setters was but nine years of age when the family arrived in the northwest and in the public schools of Lincoln county he acquired his early educa- tion, after which, at the age of eighteen years, he began teaching in order to pay his way through a business college in Spokane. His more specifically literary education was acquired in the Cheney Normal School at Cheney, Washington, and then, having determined upon the practice of medicine as his life work, he began studying in the medical department of the University of Denver at Denver, Colo- rado, where he was graduated with the class of 1897. Returning at once to this state, he passed the examination with the highest average an applicant ever re- ceived before the examining board. Opening an office in Harrington, he there remained in successful practice for six years. In the meantime he remained a close student of the best medical literature and also pursued post-graduate courses in the Chicago and New York Polyclinics. Seeking a broader field of labor, he came to Spokane on the 1st of January, 1902, and entered into partnership with Dr. J. G. Cunningham, with whom he was associated for five years, since which time he has practiced alone. He does not specialize in any particular field but continues in the general practice of medicine and is a trusted family physician in many of the best households. His duties are ever performed with a sense of con- scientious obligation and with strict adherence to the highest professional ethics.
Dr. Setters is well known in fraternal circles of Spokane, holding membership in Spokane Lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M., Spokane Lodge, No. 228, B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while of Im-
DR. M. F. SETTERS
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perial Lodge, No. 134, I. O. O. F., he is a past grand. He has never taken active part in politics or held public office, preferring to give undivided attention to his professional duties. He is medical director of the Western Casualty Company and in addition has an extensive private practice, which is the merited recognition of his broad learning, ability and untiring devotion to his profession.
PHIL T. BECHER.
The rapid growth of the northwest has furnished a fruitful field of labor for the real-estate man and in turn he has been an active factor in the development, settlement and progress of this section of the country through the exploitation of its interests and its resources. Prominent in real-estate circles in Spokane is Phil T. Becher of the firm of Becher & Thompson, Inc. He was born at Meerut, East India, December 16, 1857, a son of General Septimus and Augusta E. Becher. The father, an officer in the Bengal Staff Regiment, was a member of the British army for fifty-five years and served in the Sepoy and Mutiny wars in India. He reached the very remarkable old age of ninety-two years and his wife died at the age of seventy-nine. The surviving brother of our subject is Robert A. Becher, who is now a mining engineer and British consul at Burmah, India, while the sister, Margaret S. Becher, resides in London.
Phil T. Becher, in the acquirement of his education, attended successively Rugby school of England, the Polytechnic College of Dresden, Germany, and a college in Geneva, Switzerland. He speaks both French and German and his linguistic power has been of considerable assistance to him in his profession. He entered business circles as foreign correspondent for the Hudson's Bay Company in their home offices in London but thinking that the opportunities of the new world were superior to the business advantages of the old, he crossed the Atlantic in 1876 and took up his abode in San Francisco, California. For a period he de- voted his attention to the insurance business in that city, after which he became proprietor of a ranch. Settlement in the '80s turned to the northwestern portion of the country and in November, 1882, Mr. Becher came to Spokane, taking up his abode on Peon Prairie, where he developed and improved a ranch. The fol- lowing year he homsteaded a claim about sixteen miles north of Spokane on what is now known as Becher's Prairie, having been thus named in his honor. He with- drew from active connection with agricultural interests, however, in 1887 and took up his abode in the city, where he opened a real-estate and insurance office. Splen- did success has attended his efforts throughout the intervening period and the rec- ords sustain his claim that between 1889 and 1900 he sold more land than any other man in the state of Washington. He has made it his purpose to keep. thor- oughly informed concerning realty values, has studied the real-estate market and has foreseen the possible rise or diminution in prices and has so placed invest- ments that his labors have brought substantial rewards. In 1904 he formed a partnership with D. M. Thompson and incorporated the business under the pres- ent firm style of Becher & Thompson. In 1909 he became one of the organizers of the Spokane Irrigated Land Company, of which he is the treasurer, and to-
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gether these two companies have brought more than five thousand settlers to the Spokane valley. Among the tracts which they have opened are those known as Greenacres, East Greenacres, Opportunity, Otis Orchards, East Farms, West Farms and Pasadena.
Mr. Becher has been married twice. At Chico, California, on the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1880, he wedded Ruth Brison, who died in Spokane in 1895, leaving five children: Ethel I., Percy C., Harry P., Margaret A. and Elizabeth R. On the 3d of June, 1896, Mr. Becher was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Annie B. Junken, of this city. Mr. Becher belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also holds membership with the United Artisans. He has never sought nor desired public office nor taken an active part in politics, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which have constantly grown in volume and importance. The work which he has done for the Spokane valley, while bringing direct remuneration to himself, has also been of the utmost possible worth in the development of this section; and when the history of the northwest shall be fully written, substantial credit must be given to Phil T. Becher for the important part which he has played in making known to the country the vast resources of the northwest and promoting its upbuilding through his real-estate operations.
FRANK JOSEPH DORSEY.
Frank Joseph Dorsey, who has been connected with the insurance business in Spokane for eleven years, is the capable superintendent of agencies of the New World Life Insurance Company, whose offices are in the Old National Bank building. His birth occurred in Seaforth, Huron county, Ontario, on the 9th of July, 1856. his parents being Mathew and Anna (Ryan) Dorsey, whose deaths occurred in 1877 and 1888 respectively. The parents were among the early settlers of Huron county. Ontario, having emigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1844.
Frank J. Dorsey received his education in the public schools of Seaforth, On- tario, until he was twelve years of age. During this time he had also assisted his father on the home farm and for three years after laying aside his text-books per- manently, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for five years, three of which were spent in apprenticeship. After working as a contractor in Seaforth for a short time he was employed as a brakeman on the Grand Trunk Railroad until 1881, when he resigned to accept a position at Winnipeg at the time the Canadian Pacific was being built. For three months he served as brakeman near Winnipeg, when he was promoted to conductor and his was the first overland train from Winnipeg to the coast on the Canadian Pacific road. He was connected with this company until 1891, when he engaged in the tent and awning business in Winnipeg with Messrs. Hope & Company and for two years was thus occupied before entering upon the horse- breeding business for a short period. After this he came to the United States and located in Minneapolis, where he became identified with the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad as conductor. He remained in their employ until 1898, when he came to Spokane and entered the employ of the Spokane Falls & Northern Rail-
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road as freight and passenger conductor. Later he acted as train master until 1901, when he resigned to accept a position in the insurance business with the Equitable Life Assurance Society. In 1905, however, he severed his connections with this company and until the 5th of August, 1911, was employed by various insurance companies in this city. At that time he accepted the position of superintendent of agencies for the New World Life Insurance Company, with which concern he has since been identified. He built Recreation park and in 1905 and 1906 was manager of the Spokane baseball team.
Mr. Dorsey married Christine Mckay, a daughter of Captain William S. and Catherine Mckay. Their marriage occurred on the 9th of January, 1883, at Goderich, Ontario, and to them six children have been born: William, who is mar- ried to Georgia Green, a daughter of ex-Congressman Green, of Nebraska; Frances C., who married Dr. Harry T. Graves; Lillian C., who is residing at home; Loreine Claire, who is a student of the Spokane high school; Frederick, who is attending Gonzaga College; and Lewis D., whose death occurred as the result of an accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In politics Mr. Dorsey is independent and in religious faith is a member of St. Aloysius Catholic church. In fraternal relations he has attained the fourth de- gree, in the Knights of Columbus and at present is grand knight of Spokane Council, No. 683. He is also state deputy for the Knights of Columbus in Washington. Since 1896 he has been a member of the Elks and in 1910 he was esquire in the Spokane Lodge, No. 228, B. P. O. E. The insurance circles have been greatly benefited by the intelligent work and enthusiastic attitude of Mr. Dorsey and the New World Life Insurance Company realizes that much of its success and of its constant growth is due to the able work of its superintendent of agencies.
WINFRED S. GILBERT.
Among the practitioners at the Spokane bar whose thorough understanding of the law has gained a desirable clientele, is numbered Winfred S. Gilbert, now prac- ticing as a member of the firm of Hamblen & Gilbert. He was born at De Ruyter, New York, December 7, 1877, his parents being Frederick W. and Adelaide S. (Sutton) Gilbert. The father, widely known in railway circles, came to Spokane with his family in 1891 as division superintendent for the Northern Pacific Rail- road Company in charge of the Idaho division, with headquarters in this city. His position naturally gave him much to do with the upbuilding of the city and he willingly and eagerly availed himself of every opportunity to promote its interests. and progress. His worth as a representative of the road was also acknowledged in promotion and at the time of his death, in 1909, he had become general superin- tendent of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, with headquarters at St. Paul, Minnesota. His widow, Mrs. Gilbert, now resides in Spokane, where her two sons, William A. and Winfred S., are engaged in the practice of law. The two daughters are: Frances G., the wife of L. R. Hamblen, partner of her brother Winfred; and Olive G., the wife of Henry A. Yeomans, of Belmont, Massachusetts.
In the public schools of Spokane, Winfred S. Gilbert pursued his studies and afterward attended the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in
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1899 with the LL. B. degree. He at once returned to Spokane entering the prac- tice of the law. After practicing alone for four years, he became a partner of the law firm of Hamblen, Lund & Gilbert, which association was continued until the withdrawal of Mr. Lund on the 1st of January, 1909. Since that time the part- nership has been maintained under its present form. The firm has a large prac- tice, connecting them with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of the district. His prominence in local professional circles is indicated by the fact that the Spokane Bar Association has honored him with election to its vice presi- dency, in which position he is now serving.
On the 15th of December, 1903, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gilbert and Miss Edna M. Smith, a daughter of Levi and Helen Smith, of this city, and they have four children: Adelaide, Harriette, Elizabeth and Frances. The family attend All Saints Episcopal cathedral and are well known socially in the city. They have an attractive home at No. 227 Ninth avenue, which Mr. Gilbert erected in 1904. He belongs to the Spokane Club and is prominent in republican circles, although he has never held nor desired office. For a time he was president of the Spokane County Republican Club. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he served as a member of the school board in 1908-9. He is now vice president of the Young Men's Christian Association and has been a member of its board of directors for the past decade. He took a very active and helpful part in raising the fund for the new building which was erected in 1905 and is in thorough sympathy with the purposes of the organization for the best development-physical, mental and moral-of the boys and young men of the city. His influence is always on the side of right and progress and his position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one.
GLENN B. DERBYSHIRE.
On the roster of officials of Spokane county appears the name of Glenn B. Derbyshire, who is now serving as county clerk, having been elected to that posi- tion on the 8th of November, 1910. Moreover, he is widely known throughout the state as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and through business associations, too, he has gained a wide acquaintance. His birth occurred near Adrian, Michigan, January 12, 1874. His father, William Derbyshire, a native of Onondaga county, New York, was connected with the secret service at the time of the Civil war. He became one of the pioneer residents of Michigan, set- tling about sixteen miles from Adrian, in 1845. In the upbuilding of his part of the state he took an active and helpful interest and at one time served as tax collector in Lenawee county. His occupation was that of farming and through the careful and systematic cultivation of the fields he provided a comfortable living for his family. He married Maria Newitt, a native of Syracuse, New York, who still resides on the old homestead in Michigan but Mr. Derbyshire passed away in March, 1908. They were the parents of four sons, the brothers of Glenn B. Derbyshire being: Daniel Z., who is employed in a factory at Adrian, Michigan; William N., who is engaged in the clothing business at Hudson, Michigan; and Paul M., who is cultivating the old homestead farm. There are also two half-
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