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 58
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Mr. Allen has declined on account of his poor health to enter political life, although he has had unusual opportunities and possesses strong natural inclinations in that direction. He declined the United States attorneyship for the territory in 1874; also nominations for district prosecuting attorney and for the upper house of the legislature, which were successively tendered him by caucus at the repub- lican convention held at Cheney in 1886. In the same year he declined to be nomi- nated as corporation counsel of Spokane, his friends being anxious and able to secure the nomination. He has, however, filled important public trusts. In 1894 he was appointed by Governor McGraw a member of the state capital commission, serving three years and resigning upon a change of administration, Edmund Rice and Judge Burke, a former chief justice, being his appointed colleagues. In 1897 he was appointed by Governor Rogers a regent of the State Normal School at Cheney, serving four years, Hon. N. W. Durham and Hon. J. J. Browne being his colleagues.
In January, 1895, Mr. Allen, George Donald, president of the Yakima National Bank of North Yakima, and Paul Schulze, then general western land agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, were appointed by Judge C. H. Hanford, of the federal court, receivers of the Yakima Investment Company, then owning and operating the Sunnyside canal in Yakima county. This was then and probably now is the largest irrigating plant in the northwest. The government now owns and operates it under its reclamation service. Mr. Schulze died soon after his appointment and, Mr. Donald retiring in January, 1898, Mr. Allen remained in sole charge of the receivership, which he conducted to a successful conclusion in July, 1900. He takes pride in the fact that each of these appointments was tend- ered without solicitation or influence from any source.
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On November 5, 1878, Mr. Allen was united in marriage, at Oakland, Cali- fornia, with Miss Mary Furlow, a native of Rochester, Minnesota. They are the parents of five children, namely, Mary Josephine, Joseph Shepherd, Jr., Paul Beard, Madeline Elizabeth and Mildred Irene. Mary Josephine is the wife of L. R. Rutherford, who resides at St. Helens, Oregon, and the mother of two children, Wade Alexander and Land Raymond. Joseph Shepherd Allen, Jr., resides at St. Helens and is assistant cashier of the Columbia County Bank at that place. He married Miss Evelyn Fonner, of Spokane, and they have one child, Jane Emily Allen. Paul Beard Allen resides at Perker Heights, near North Yakima, where he conducts a large fruit ranch, being part-owner. He married Miss Anna Evers, of Spokane, and they have one child, Paul Beard Allen, Jr. Madeline is a student . at the State College at Pullman and Mildred is a student of the Lewis and Clark high school at Spokane.
Mr. Allen holds membership in John A. Logan Camp, Sons of Veterans, and in the First Presbyterian church of Spokane. Notwithstanding the handicap of poor health which he has carried from an early age, he has attained a place in the highest rank among the lawyers and orators of the state. His knowledge of the law is profound and comprehensive. He possesses keen power of analysis and discrimina- tion, with great force of clear, strong and persuasive presentation. Supplemented by his habit of careful preparation, these have rendered him especially effective with courts. He has delivered many political addresses, which have been pro- nounced by qualified judges equal to the best ever delivered in the state. By care- ful investments Mr. Allen has acquired a comfortable fortune, having large hold- ings of real estate in Spokane and in other parts of the state. Having no active business pursuits, he spends his time largely in the companionship of books of which he is very fond. He is an interested reader and observer of social and politi- cal events, and takes an active interest in local affairs. Like all men who have lived in this country from its early days, he has unbounded confidence in the future of Spokane and her great Inland Empire.
Mr. Allen traces his political ancestry through a long line of whigs and republi- cans, with whom the abolition of slavery was a sacred dogma. He has always held to the great doctrines of the republican party, though supporting Mr. Bryan in 1896 and later Hon. George Turner for governor of Washington. He is at present a progressive republican, President Taft being his ideal of a true progressive.
JAMES TAYLOR BURCHAM.
Among the prominent representatives of the legal profession of Spokane is James T. Burcham. He is a great student of the economical questions which are before the country today and is an excellent speaker who, when occasion demands, presents his views in a most clear and concise manner. Indiana numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Washington county, on the 15th of January, 1873, his parents being James Fayette and Isabelle (Lusk) Bur- cham. The father was an agriculturist, and in 1891 removed with his family to Salem, Oregon, where in 1897 his death occurred.
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James T. Burcham began his education in the public schools of southern In- diana and the high school of Salem, Indiana. Later he attended Leland Stanford, Jr., University, graduating from that institution in the class of 1897, receiving his A. B. degree. The following year he entered the law department of the same uni- versity and in 1901 received his LL. B. degree. Following his graduation he be- came a member of the faculty of the law department of his Alma Mater, remain- ing in that position for three years. Later he was a lecturer in the law department of the University of Chicago. During this time he was also serving as contributing editor to Pomeroy's Equitable Remedies. Desiring to take up the practice of his profession he removed to Spokane in the autumn of 1904 and has since been engaged in active practice in this city. Three years after his arrival here he associated him- self with John E. Blair whom he had met while they were both members of the faculty of Stanford University.
On the 16th of June, 1902, Mr. Burcham was married to Miss Emilie Henry, a daughter of L. D. Henry, of Salem, Oregon. They have two children, Henry Macgregor and Donald Lusk.
Throughout his life Mr. Burcham has taken active part in political affairs and is an independent. He was a member of the "syntax committee" of three, the other two members being J. Grier Long and E. E. Sargeant, who were specially appointed to recast the provisions of the charter it had decided upon then in regard to expres- sion and phraseology. The entire charter was drafted by this committee with a view to its mode of expression, and its recommendations were accepted by the charter revision committee almost verbatim. Although Mr. Burcham has been active in pro- moting progress and advancing the interests of civic organization, it is to law he de- votes his attention principally and his success at the bar is due to untiring efforts and energy.
NOAH A. KRANTZ.
Noah A. Krantz, who has achieved notable success as a voice teacher, is unques- tionably one of the best known men in musical and artistic circles, not only in Spo- kane, where he has been maintaining a studio for the past eight years, but in the entire state of Washington. He is a native of Sweden, his birth having occurred in the city of Stockholm on the 25th of January, 1860, and a son of A. P. and Mary (Andrews) Krantz. The father passed away in 1909 but the mother is still living at a ripe old age.
In the early childhood of Noah A. Krantz his people emigrated to the United States, locating in Minnesota. There he was reared to manhood, acquiring his pre- liminary education in the public schools. He subsequently entered the college at St. Peter, Minnesota, where he pursued a four-years' course, and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. From early childhood he had manifested un- usual musical ability, evidencing a rare appreciation of tone values and an excep- tionally fine sense of pitch; in addition to this he possessed a good voice, while his interpretation both of vocal and instrumental selections showed marked individuality. As it was his desire to adopt music for his life vocation after the completion of his collegiate course, he returned to his native land and spent five years in the Royal
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Conservatory of Music at Stockholm. There he industriously applied himself to the study of piano, voice and composition, and at the expiration of that period was graduated in all three. He then returned to America to assume the duties of dean of music in Bethany College at Lindsborg, Kansas. He was identified with this institution during the succeeding ten years, and it is very largely due to his pains- taking and tireless efforts that the musical department of this college has achieved a national reputation. In all probability his greatest achievements while there, was in the work of the choral societies and their annual rendition of the world's great- est oratorios, the artistic excellency of these productions bringing both him and the college highly merited renown throughout the middle west. In 1904, Mr. Krantz came to Spokane and established a studio, and has ever since given his entire atten- tion to vocal work. He is director of the Elks' quartette and it is due to his efforts that this musical organization has attained such wonderful popularity in this sec- tion. Mr. Krantz is a remarkable teacher of voice, as he possesses the faculty of intelligently presenting to his pupils the technic of this, without doubt the most difficult of all the arts. He has built up a fine class and numbers among his pupils many of the leading vocalists of the city.
At Lindsborg, Kansas, on the 12th of June, 1893, Mr. Krantz was united in marriage to Miss Edna McPhail, a daughter of John and Mary McPhail, and they have become the parents of three children, as follows: Viola, Lawrence and Emerald.
Fraternally Mr. Krantz is affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and he also belongs to Spokane Lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M. In addition to his musical ability, Mr. Krantz is a very sagacious business man and during the period of his residence here has made some very lucrative speculations in real estate, and holds the title to several pieces of valuable city property. He is very popular in both musical and social circles and has made many friends, who accord him the esteem his many substantial qualities well merit.
JOSEPH PLASTINO.
A notable example of the men of foreign birth who have risen to positions of distinction and prominence in connection with the business interests of Spokane is found in the life record of Joseph Plastino, who is engaged in the real-estate and in- surance business at 219 Washington street and who is the owner of considerable valuable property in Spokane. A native of Italy, his birth occurred on the 21st of March, 1869, his parents being Michael and Marie (Patella) Plastino, both of whom are still living.
Until twelve years of age Joseph Plastino attended the public schools in his native country and there received such education as is afforded the average youth. At that age he left his native country and came to America, locating in New York, where he attended school for nine months before the family removed to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. In that town he attended the public schools for three years and during this time acquired his fundamental knowledge of the English language. Later he removed to Denver, where he accepted employment on a railroad, but at the same time studied and attended school whenever he had an opportunity. The zeal and energy which he displayed in striving to acquire an education is not com-
JOSEPH PLASTINO
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mon among the Italians who come to this country. In 1887 he came to Spokane and for ten years was engaged in construction work for the Northern Pacific Rail- way. At the end of that time he had acquired sufficient capital to engage in business upon his own account and he has since been conducting a real-estate, insurance and contracting business. Thrift and able management have ever been salient charac- teristics of his life and by keen discrimination for values and careful study of opportunities he has become the owner of a valuable building located on the south- west corner of Washington street and Front avenue, of another building on Stevens street and of considerable other city property. The success which is his has been won by hard labor and in the face of discouraging circumstances. After receiving an education of a very few years he entered upon his business career with no asset excepting his perseverance, energy and ability for hard work and he has succeeded to a degree which is as phenomenal as it is gratifying.
On the 24th of March, 1894, Mr. Plastino was married at Spokane to Miss Susan Scarpelli. To their union five children have been born: Anthony, who is studying law at Gonzaga College; Michael, who is a student in the medical depart- ment of Gonzaga College; John, who is studying pharmacy; Margaret, who is at- tending school at Brunot Hall; and Eleanor, who is residing at home.
Mr. Plastino has never taken an active interest in politics and has never been an aspirant for office. He casts his vote with the republican party and he holds membership in the Roman Catholic church. He is an exemplar of Free Masonry and as such a member of Tyrian Lodge, No. 96, A. F. & A. M., of Spokane. He has never had cause to regret having left his native land, for in America he has found the opportunity to succeed. In this country he has been given privileges as great as given to any other citizen and he has so availed himself of these opportunities that he ranks high among members of the business circles of Spokane, and especially his Italian countrymen.
DANIEL W. HENLEY.
Daniel W. Henley, a member of the law firm of Henley & Zent and prom- inently known in connection with mining interests in the northwest, is a native of Hendricks county, Indiana. He was born January 6, 1852, a son of William Hub- bard Henley, who was born in North Carolina and was descended from English ancestors who settled in the new world before the Revolutionary war, establishing a home in North Carolina while it was still numbered among the colonial posses- sions of Great Britain. William H. Henley began business alone as a contracting carpenter but at the time of his marriage secured an eighty-acre claim in Indiana on which stood a little log cabin that was the birthplace of his son Daniel. Within twenty feet of the corner of this little pioneer home the permanent residence of the father was built in which he remained until his death, in 1861. There he engaged in stock-raising and farming, converting his land into productive fields from which he annually gathered good harvests.
The youthful experiences of Daniel W. Henley were such as usually come to the farm boy. His father, who was fairly successful in his agricultural pursuits. saw to it that the son was well educated and after mastering the preliminary
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branches of learning taught in the district schools, he attended Earlham College, completing the Latin scientific course in that institution. He next matriculated in the law department of the Simpson Centenary University and won his B. L. degree in 1876. He then opened an office in connection with John H. King in Hampton, Iowa, and two years later they were joined by the Hon. A. G. Kellan, who was afterward Mr. Henley's law partner in Spokane. While advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, close application, wide reading and thorough preparation will eventually win success and through the employment of these agencies Daniel W. Henley made continuous progress as a practitioner in the courts. In 1888 he went to Lawrence, Kansas, where he continued in successful practice until June, 1889. He then came to Spokane and secured an office in the Tull block, equipped it in an attractive and appropriate manner and thus prepared for business. He opened his office on Friday and the following Sunday saw his work destroyed in the great conflagration which swept over the business district of Spokane. Ob- stacles and difficulties have always seemed to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part and, facing this disaster, he set to work with even greater deter- mination and was not long in winning a creditable position at the Spokane bar, becoming a member of the firm of Connor, Henley & Scott. He afterward prac- ticed as a member of the firm of Fenton, Henley & Fenton until March, 1896, when he withdrew from that connection and was joined by his old Iowa partner, the Hon. A. G. Kellan, the firm of Henley & Kellan being organized. In 1897 Mr. Lindsley, who had previously been a law clerk in their office, was admitted and the firm name of Henley, Kellan & Lindsley was assumed. This connection was continued for about five years, after which Mr. Lindsley withdrew and the firm again became Henley & Kellan, thus continuing until the latter's death in 1909. Mr. Henley was alone thereafter for a year, when he was joined by Judge Walter W. Zent under the firm name of Henley & Zent, which still continues. Mr. Cannon also came into the firm with Judge Zent but did not continue long on account of his business interests in Ritzville, Adams county. Almost from the beginning Mr. Henley has occupied a prominent position as one of Spokane's most capable law- yers, his ability in argument being recognized by all. His colleagues and contem- poraries are also cognizant of the fact that he is ever thorough and careful in the preparation of his cases and is seldom if ever at fault in the citation of a legal principle or precedent.
It has often been remarked that a man successful in a profession does not possess the qualities requisite for attainment of success in other lines. If this be true Mr. Henley's career is'one of the exceptions that prove the rule, for he has won a place among the leading mining men of the northwest. He was vice pres- ident of the great Le Roi mine from the time it was organized until it was sold, and this property alone placed him among the wealthy residents of the city. He has also owned a share in several other fine properties and is still heavily in- terested in a number of the leading mining camps of this region, devoting much of his time to mining and also to making loans. He is still an officer in several of the prominent mining companies of Spokane. His activities in connection with the Le Roi mine would alone entitle him to more than passing notice. He was one of those who purchased the property and organized the Le Roi Company. He was its first and only vice president during the time the property was owned by an American company and it was during his term of office that the work of de-
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velopment took place and the first shipment was made. They sent the ore to Everett, Tacoma and Helena and when the Trail creek smelter was built they shipped considerable ore to that and afterward built their own smelter at North- port, shipping to that place during the remainder of the period of the American ownership. Mr. Henley is still interested in three mining companies with very flattering prospects. They own Galena properties with values running in silver and lead, and also the Wagner Mines, Ltd., at the head waters of Falls creek, a tributary of Duncan river. In the same camp operates the Great Divide Mining & Milling Company, owning silver and lead mines carrying silver, lead and also gold. The silver and lead values in these properties are almost phenomenal. Mr. Henley is also interested in another mining company, the Frances Jewell, a group of claims with silver and lead showing twenty feet of ore open cut across the ledge. At small expense the drift tunnel will tap the ledge at thirty-five hundred feet depth. He also has a gold mine in the West Fisher district of Montana. All are ready to ship and are only awaiting means of transportation. He also has five groups in British Columbia, four claims in each, and all of them are crown granted. Mr. Henley was at one time a director in the Old National Bank, during which period he was active in the Le Roi mine.
In Morgan county, Indiana, occurred the marriage of Daniel W. Henley and Miss Emily Stanton, a native of that state and a daughter of Chalkley and Ruth Stanton, the former a farmer by occupation. Mr. Henley is connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the commandery, consistory and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and was formerly very active in Masonic circles. He gives his political support to the republican party, which he has loyally supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to that class of rep- resentative men who have been the upbuilders of the northwest-men who are not afraid to venture where favoring opportunity leads the way: Without any vault- ing ambition to accomplish something especially great or famous he has pursued his course with determination, utilizing the advantages at hand, and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. He has gained prominence both in the practice of law and through his mining operations and yet he remains today the same genial, cordial gentleman, appreciative at all times of the worth of others, free from ostentation and display and yet qualified to meet on their own ground people of the utmost prominence and intelligence.
THE INLAND EMPIRE BISCUIT COMPANY.
The Inland Empire Biscuit Company is a consolidation of the Inland Cracker Company and the Empire Candy & Cracker Company. The Inland Cracker Com- pany was a corporation organized in the spring of 1903 by F. W. Kiesling, with J. K. Smith and B. R. Ostrander as associates. Mr. Ostrander withdrawing in 1907, his interest was taken over by Messrs. Kiesling and Smith. F. W. Kiesling was the manager of this plant from its inception.
The Empire Candy & Cracker Company, originally the Empire Candy Company, was organized by Fred E. Krause and E. F. Gurske in 1899. In 1905 this con- cern was reorganized and a cracker factory was added and then became the Em-
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pire Cracker & Candy Company, Messrs. Krause and Gurske associating with them Will H. Murgittroyd and Dr. Lanstrum. In 1908 these two concerns con- solidated under the name of the Inland Empire Biscuit Company with the follow- ing officers : Fred E. Krause, president; E. F. Gurske, vice president; F. W. Kies- ling, secretary; Will H. Murgittroyd, treasurer. The officers today are still the same. They do a general candy and cracker business, manufacturing a full line of candies, confectionery, crackers and fancy biscuits, and theirs is the largest, finest and best equipped cracker and candy plant west of the Mississippi river, employing two hundred and twenty-five people.
The buildings now occupied were built for the company and are owned by them and cover a ground space of eighteen thousand square feet, being one hundred and twenty by one hundred and fifty feet, four stories, which gives them a floor space of seventy-two thousand square feet. They employ twelve traveling men and have branch agencies at Seattle and Tacoma. They cover with their goods the entire Inland Empire, south as far as Baker City, Oregon; west to the coast; north to the British line; and east to Butte, Montana. Their plant contains all .modern machinery and is thoroughly up-to-date in every respect, being a model institution of its kind. The growth of the enterprise has been continuous and rapid and it now ranks with the important business interests of Spokane.
ANDREW JASPER COSS.
Andrew Jasper Coss, who was chosen sheriff of Adams county in November, 1908, has since been continued in the office by reelection. He is numbered among the prominent and respected residents of Ritzville and organized the present Ritz- ville fire department. His birth occurred in Marion county, Oregon, on the 28th of February, 1866, his parents being William R. and Mariette (Hutton) Coss. The family took up their abode among the early pioneer settlers of the Sunset state. William R. Coss, who passed away when our subject was a lad of twelve, had lost his wife when their son Andrew was still very young.
Andrew J. Coss began earning his own livelihood at the tender age of eight and obtained but a meager education in the country schools of Marion county, Oregon, working on a farm at the same time. Reading, observation and experience have constantly augmented his knowledge, however, until he is now a well informed man. When a youth of fifteen he went to Salem, Oregon, to learn the machinist's trade, being employed for three and a half years in the Salem Iron Works. At the same time he was connected with the Salem fire department. After leaving the iron works he accepted a government position as assistant engineer on a boat which was engaged in the work of clearing the Willamette river of snags and obstructions, spending some time in this employment. After returning to Salem he was identi- fied with the fire and police departments for seven years, severing his connection therewith in 1893. Subsequently he spent two years as a miner in southern Oregon and then traveled about the country for several years. In 1898 he came to Ritz- ville, Washington, and worked on a threshing machine for one season. In 1899 the town of Ritzville engaged him as marshal and city engineer and in these capacities he ably served for a period of nine years. In the meantime he organized the present
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