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 68
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to James McCain, an attorney of McMinnville, Oregon, and died August 17, 1908. Prescott Cato, born in De Soto, Nebraska, in 1856, is living in California. Potter Charles, born in De Soto, Nebraska, June 17, 1859, practices law in Tacoma and Seattle. He came to Washington in 1884 and entered upon practice as a member of the law firm of Sullivan, Wolford & Sullivan in Colfax, and in 1889 he was sent as a member from Pierce county as a delegate to the constitutional convention. Rhoba May, born on the Sweetwater in May, 1862, became the wife of A. Mead, of Colfax, Washington, and they now reside in Iowa. Mary Isabelle, born in Yam- hill county, Oregon, March 28, 1864, became the wife of Frank C. Morse, of Col- fax, Washington, and they now reside in Olympia, where Mr. Morse is a clerk in the land department.
Judge Sullivan supplemented his early education, acquired in the public schools of Dallas, Oregon, by study in Willamette University of Salem, that state. He began teaching school in Polk county, Oregon, in the spring of 1868 and followed that profession at intervals for ten years. The family resided upon a farm in Yamhill county, Oregon, until the fall of 1864 and then went to Dallas, removing thence to Salem in 1874. In 1878 they became residents of Colfax, Washington. In December, 1877, Judge Sullivan went upon a ranch ten miles north of Colfax and there resided for two years. In the meantime he had devoted his leisure hours for several years to reading law and when he had mastered the principles of juris- prudence sufficiently to enable him to pass the required examination for admission to the bar, in June, 1881, at Colfax, he opened an office for practice in that city with O. L. Wolford and in 1884 formed a partnership with his brother Charles and O. L. Wolford, under the firm name of Sullivan, Wolford & Sullivan. Following the withdrawal of Charles Sullivan, the firm name became Sullivan, Wolford & Chadwick. At length Mr. Wolford retired and the admission of another partner led to the adoption of the firm name of Sullivan, Chadwick & Brown. When Mr. Brown severed his connection with the firm the name was changed to Sullivan, Chadwick & Fullerton. Both Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Fullerton became members of the supreme court of the state and Judge Sullivan was appointed superior judge of Whitman county about January 1, 1891, his term covering two years. In 1892 he was elected to the office for four years, so that he remained for six years upon that bench. Removing to Spokane, he began practice in this city with the firm of Nuzum & Nuzum, on the Ist of January, 1899, and remained with them until ap- pointed to the superior bench of Spokane county on the 17th of March, 1907. On the 8th of November, 1908, he was elected to that position for a term of four years. He has won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed. While he was well grounded in the principles of common law when admitted to the bar, he has continued through the whole of his professional life a diligent student of those elementary principles that constitute the basis of all legal science and this knowledge has served him well in passing upon intricate questions which have come before his court for decision. He has been constantly inspired by an inflexible love of justice together with that delicate sense of personal honor which has controlled him in all his personal relations.
On the 27th of April, 1882, in Colfax, Washington, Judge Sullivan was united in marriage to Miss Maria Lucy Spaulding, a daughter of the Rev. D. L. Spauld- ing, a Methodist minister, who died in Spokane in 1905. Her brother is also preaching in the Methodist church, being now located at Toppenish, Washington.
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The Judge and Mrs. Sullivan have three children. Frankie Belle, who was born at Colfax, March 25, 1883, was graduated from the Spokane high school and nor- mal school and now resides at Bellingham. Floy, born in Colfax, May 25, 1884, is also in Bellingham. Elva Marie, born in Spokane, June 30, 1902, is attending school. Judge Sullivan holds membership in Spokane Aerie, No. 2, Order of Eagles, of which he has been president for the past two years. He took an active part in Republican politics in Whitman county and was a delegate to the republican territorial convention of 1888 but has not been an active worker in republican ranks since taking his place upon the bench. He allows nothing to interfere with the faithful performance of his judicial duties and his decisions indicate strong men- tality, careful analysis and thorough knowledge of the law and an unbiased judg- ment.
JOHN DOWD BASSETT.
Jobn Dowd Bassett, head of the Connecticut Investment Company, which he organized in March, 1911, with offices located at 115 Wall street, Spokane, has been prominently identified with the financial interests of eastern Washington since locating in Ritzville twelve years ago. He is a native of New England, having been born in Plainfield, Connecticut, on the 6th of January, 1858, and is a son of W. E. and Mary (Dowd) Bassett. The parents were also natives of Connecticut and there the father, who was a graduate of Yale University, was identified with the ministry of the Congregational church for more than a quarter of a century. He passed away in his native state in 1881.
Reared in the vicinity of his birth, John Dowd Bassett began his education in the common schools but later attended Williston Seminary at East Hampton, Massachusetts, following which he spent a year at Yale. Having decided upon a business career he terminated his student days in 1878 and entered a law and real-estate office in Rochester, Minnesota, where for six months he discharged the duties of a clerk. At the expiration of that period he returned to Connecticut, locat- ing at Norfolk, where for some time he held a clerkship in the bank of Cowles & Eldridge. Late in the autumn of 1880 he again went west, spending the succeed- ing six months on a cattle ranch in Kansas. The following year he again located in Norfolk, where in 1883 he became associated with a Mr. Clark in establishing the mercantile house of Clark & Bassett. In the fall of 1886 the west again at- tracted him and he went to Hartington, Nebraska, purchasing an interest in the Cedar County Bank. He remained there for five years, during which time he be- came identified with three or four banks in Nebraska and Iowa. From early boy- hood, Mr. Bassett had been deeply interested in the northwest and during the pass- ing years closely observed its progress and development, believing that it was ulti- mately destined to become one of the wealthiest districts of the United States, so he disposed of his interests in Nebraska in 1891 and came to Ritzville. There he organized the Adams County Bank, after which he went to Snohomish, this state, and established the Snohomish National Bank. He spent six months in Washing- ton and at the end of that time went back to Norfolk to become secretary of the Aetna Silk Company, remaining there for eight years. In March, 1899, he dis-
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posed of all of his eastern interests with the expectation of making his home in the west thereafter. Upon his return to Washington he first located in Ritzville, continuing to reside there until 1909. During the ten years he lived there he or- ganized from twelve to fourteen banks at various points in Adams, Lincoln, Grant and Benton counties, being the principal stockholder and president of each. In June, 1909, he disposed of the most of his banking interests to the Union Securities Company of Spokane, being associated with this company in the capacity of super- visor of their various banks until January, 1911. While located at Ritzville, Mr. Bassett had engaged quite extensively in making loans on farm lands and in March of the latter year he organized the Connecticut Investment Company of Spokane, which concern has taken over and increased the business he conducted while living in Adams county. Although this organization has been in existence but a few months, its development has been most satisfactory and under the capa- ble direction of its founder it will unquestionably become one of the leading invest- ment companies of the city.
On the 31st of August, 1886, Mr. Bassett was united in marriage to Miss Julia L. Selden, of Norfolk, Connecticut, who died in July, 1896, and they became the parents of three children, as follows: Joseph E., who was born on November 27, 1887, graduating from Whitman College in 1910, now engaging in the opera- tion of a fruit ranch at Attalia, Washington; Mary D., born on the 15th of De- cember, 1889, a member of the class of 1912, of Whitman; and Emma S., whose birth occurred on the 15th of September, 1891. In 1898 Mr. Bassett married Miss Alice Case, of Barkhausted, Connecticut. The family home is located at South 730 Lincoln place, where they have a very pleasant and attractive residence.
Mr. Bassett is a deacon of Westminster Congregational church, in which his wife and children also hold membership, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order at Ritzville, having joined this organization while living in Connec- ticut where he was senior warden of Western Star Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M. of Norfolk, and he is likewise a member of the Ritzville Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. Ever since granted the right of franchise, Mr. Bassett has taken an active interest in politics, voting the republican ticket. He was elected to his first office, which was that of town constable, in Connecticut in 1880, later he was made secretary of the county school board, and he was at one time city treas- urer of Norfolk, and also chairman of the county committee, while in 1887 he was a member of the state legislature. From 1905 to 1907 he represented Adams county in the Washington legislature and in 1909 he was state senator. While in the legislature he was chairman of the bank, insurance and education committees, having been chairman of the latter committee twice, and was instrumental in intro- ducing and promoting the passage of many important laws affecting these activities. He was at the head of the education committee when the present code was sub- mitted and passed in 1909, and the following year, in 1910, he was appointed chairman of the committee to prepare the insurance code now in effect in this state. Devoting as he did a great deal of time and attention to the work on educa- tion and insurance, Mr. Bassett probably introduced more bills bearing upon the vital issues of the session than any other one member. During his last term he was the second member of the appropriation committee of the senate. Mr. Bassett has always been prominently identified with the development and promotion of the
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various public benefactions, and is now a member of the state library commission, trustee of the state anti-saloon league, member of the Spokane board of associated charities, and a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association, Whitman Col- lege and the State Congregational Association, while in 1909 he was chosen vice president of the State Bankers' Association. When living in Ritzville he ex- pended much effort in the organization of the Carnegie library, having been presi- dent of the board from 190+ until he removed to Spokane in 1910, and secured the donation for the building from the eminent philanthropist whose name it bears. Mr. Bassett is a man who is interested in all that pertains to the material, intel- lectual, moral or social welfare of the community, and is tireless in his efforts to promote the adoption of every movement that he feels will in any way tend to ad- vance the public standards or uplift humanity.
JOHN W. STRACK.
John W. Strack, who is one of the prominent civil engineers of Washington, was born in Ontario, Canada, on January 26, 1857, his parents being John and Lena (Demert) Strack. When he was but a child the family removed to Michigan and there in the common schools he received his early education. When he was thirteen years of age it was necessary that he should permanently lay aside his text-books and start to earn his own livelihood. He was employed in any position which he could obtain until 1874, when he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and for nine years worked in the Washburn mill in that city. Leaving there he came to Spokane and since his arrival in this city has been actively engaged in civil engineering work. His first two years were spent in railroad construction work in and near the city and subsequently he was a member of the surveying party that was employed by the Spokane Palouse branch of the Northern Pacific road. He next took a position with the surveying crew employed by the Narrow Gauge Railroad under D. C. Corbin. In 1889 he had acquired sufficient skill in his chosen pursuit and had won recognition for his ability to such an extent that he was able to open up an inde- pendent office under the firm name of Riblet & Strack. Among the civic positions which he has filled have been city engineer under the administrations of Mayors Firth, Drumheller, E. L. Powell and during a part of the term of H. N. Belt. From 1894 until 1898 he served as county engineer and for two years was employed by the Washington Water Power Company. Since that time he has been engaged in private engineering. When he was associated with B. C. Riblet under the name of Riblet & Strack from 1888 to 1891 they had the distinction of platting one-half of the city of Spokane. Since then Mr. Strack had the preliminary work in connec- tion with the surveying and platting for the Vera Land Company's irrigation pro- ject and the Loon Lake irrigated land.
On the 12th of December, 1889, Mr. Strack was married, at Spokane, to Miss Ida May Snyder, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Snyder. To their union two children were born: Royal B., who is twenty-one years of age; and John Lester, three years of age. Mrs. Strack's death occurred on the 24th of January, 1911.
In politics Mr. Strack maintains an independent attitude, being fully aware of the corrupt policies frequently propagated by the parties who are dominated by
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machine rule. He has, however, taken an active part in political affairs as far as the promotion and welfare of the city have been concerned. By sheer force of perseverance, effort and hard labor Mr. Strack has risen from an obscure position to one which involves skill, technical knowledge and a good degree of work. It is not so much the position which a man holds as the heights to which he has risen from his starting point that reveal the success of a business career such as that of Mr. Strack. He had to face many difficulties which only indomitable will and great courage could overcome, but he has met and conquered these situations and today enjoys a success which attests his worth.
ARTHUR N. CANTRIL.
Arthur N. Cantril, general manager of the Spokane Gas & Fuel Company, which position he has filled since the 1st of January, 1910, has during the brief period of his residence in this city established himself in an enviable position in the public regard, by reason of his business capability and his personal worth. He was born at Castle Rock, Colorado, January 23, 1877. His father, Simeon W. Cantril, a native of Iowa, represented an old New England family of English and Scotch descent that was founded in America prior to the Revolutionary war. He became a soldier in the Civil war, serving throughout the contest between the north and south. He was general superintendent of the Denver City Tramway Company and was chief deputy county assessor at Denver for one term. His death occurred in December, 1909, but his widow is still living in Denver. She hore the maiden name of Nagel, was born in Iowa and came of a family conspicuous in the Revolutionary war. The Nagels are of German descent and the ancestry is traced back to Fred- erick the Great. Mrs. Cantril holds membership with the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons and a daugh- ter: Arthur N .; Albert H., a physician and surgeon of Douglas, Wyoming; and Edna E., who has recently left the university at Denver and is now attending col- lege in Madison, Wisconsin.
Arthur N. Cantril spent his hoyhood and youth in Denver, pursuing his educa- tion through consecutive grades in the public and high schools of that city. Throughout nearly his entire business career he has been connected with the line in which he is now engaged. He was first employed by the Denver Consolidated Gas Company in 1895 as assistant to the meter repair man, and acted in that capacity for eight months, after which he was made salesman in the Welsbach department. In 1899 the gas and electric companies were consolidated and Mr. Cantril was made manager of the sales department of the new company. Subsequently he was called to the management of the fitting department, in which he continued until he left that position to enter the commission business on his own account in Denver. After two years, however, he returned to the Gas & Electric Company and after a year spent in the new business department he was made manager of the business depart- ment for the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Gas Company. Mr. Cantril spent a year and a half there and then again took a long step in advance when he accepted the appointment of general manager of the Pueblo Gas & Fuel Company at Pueblo, Colorado. There he remained for three years, when he was made manager for the
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Spokane Gas & Fuel Company, which position he has filled since the 1st of Janu- ary, 1910. The policy of the company has been outlined by Henry L. Doherty, of No. 60 Wall street, New York city, who owns the Spokane company as well as many other properties throughout the country, including the one at Denver. His is a broad-minded and liberal policy, his first consideration being that of approach- ing as nearly as possible to perfection in all branches of the service and according to the people courteous treatment at all times. Straightforward deailng has ever been a salient feature of the business and the policy of Mr. Doherty has been faithfully carried out in Spokane. Mr. Cantril is putting forth every effort in his power to give to the public service of the highest possible character.
While residing in Pueblo Mr. Cantril was a director of the Chamber of Com- merce and of the Transportation Club. He was also an officer in the Elks lodge of that city and was offered the position of lecturing knight in the order, but business interests called him away from Colorado. A resolution was passed by his lodge eulogizing the work that he had done, Mr. E. J. Scott in his resolution speaking of it as a "beautiful work," also indicating how Mr. Cantril would be missed in the order and commending him to all true and faithful Elks everywhere. While in Denver he belonged to the Royal Arcanum and was past regent of Denver Coun- cil, No. 593, and at one time a member of the grand lodge of the state of Colorado. He was also a member of the Royal League and he now belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being identified with Oriental Consistory, A. A. S. R., and also El Katif Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also holds membership with the Spokane Club, the Country Club, the Inland Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
On the 9th of September, 1899, Mr. Cantril was married in Denver to Miss Edna Hardeman, a daughter of Robert Hardeman, deceased, who at one time was mayor of Aspen, Colorado, and was prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cantril hold membership in the First Presbyterian church and their interests and activities are always found on the side of order, of progress and improvement. Mr. Cantril has made advancement in the business world through the wise use of time, talent and opportunities. He has ever made his service of worth in the different positions which he has filled and has therefore been called to a place of large responsibility as manager of the Spokane Gas & Fuel Company.
SAMUEL MERRILL.
Samuel Merrill, who is president of the National Lumber Company, whose offices are located in the Paulsen building, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on the 19th of December, 1852, his parents being George E. and Susan (Putnam) Merrill, who died on the 22d of December, 1869, and the 14th of March, 1907, respectively. The Merrill family trace their lineage back to the Revolutionary times, and the great-grandfather of the subject of this review was a prominent soldier in the Revolutionary war. Samuel Merrill was given his early educational advantages in the public schools of Haverhill, and subsequently attended high school for two years. After he put aside his text-books and was about to start upon an independent career to earn his own livelihood, he removed to Danville, Illinois, where he was employed for five years. In 1876 he went to Denver, Colorado, and
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worked for a lumber company of that city for seven years previous to removing to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he again engaged in the lumber business, this time forming a partnership with Mr. Morrison, and for eighteen years conducted an extensive establishment. They also opened a branch at Salt Lake City, and the son is now president and manager of that concern. Mr. Merrill disposed of his lumber business in Wyoming, moved to Salt Lake City and subsequently, in 1905, came to Spokane, where he has since been actively associated with the same line. He is now president of the National Lumber Company, as well as the Exchange Lumber Com- pany, and is interested in the Spokane Valley Lumber & Box Company. He seems to possess an intuitive sense of lumber valuations, and in handling all the property which has passed through his hands he has proven his worth as a lumberman and his ability as a business man. The success which is now his is entirely the result of his own efforts, his perseverance and his untiring energy.
On the 9th of August, 1880, Mr. Merrill was married in Denver, to Miss Tresa Pennington, a daughter of Edmund and Isabell (Roberts) Pennington. To them six children have been born, namely: George E., who married Lillian Chapman; Mary and Ruth, who are attending school in Boston, Massachusetts; Eleanor, who is a student at Brunot Hall; and Helen and Samuel, who are attending the public schools of Spokane. In politics Mr. Merrill is a republican and one of the promi- nent members of the political circles of this city. However, his political activities have not been confined to civic circles as he has served as a member of the first state legislature of Wyoming and was also a member of the senate for two terms. He was mayor of Cheyenne one term and served on the city council for three years. He holds membership in the Inland Club, the Knights of Pythias, where he has passed through all the chairs, and is a first-degree member of the Masons.
LOUIS OLSON.
There is no doubt that some men are born to success. They are endowed with courage, self-reliance, and physical and mental strength and they seem to possess true ideas as to the value of life and the great importance of improving every opportunity. All obstacles give way before such determined spirits and they gain leadership wherever they are known. Louis Olson, of Deer Park, belongs to the class briefly outlined. He is a native of Sweden, born September 13, 1857, a son of Olaf and Cecil (Olafson) Olson. The mother died in 1860 and the father was called away twelve years later.
Louis Olson received his education in the common schools of his native coun- try. At the age of fifteen he began meeting the world upon his own account and for three years worked in the timber lands of Sweden. He served two years in the Swedish army and farmed for a number of years in Norway. He was mar- ried in the latter country and at the age of twenty-six, in order to possess advantages which he could scarcely hope to enjoy in the thickly populated regions of the old world, he emigrated to America alone, proceeding direct to Chicago. There he was taken sick with typhoid fever and was ill for eighteen weeks. This was rather a discouraging experience for a young man starting out among strangers but he resolutely faced the new conditions and upon recovering his strength went
MR. AND MRS. LOUIS OLSON
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to Michigan and was employed for eight months in the lumber districts. He then returned to Chicago and sent for his family. He next went to Hicks, North Dakota, and worked in the harvest fields and at other employment for eight months. In 1888 he arrived at Spokane, Washington, and was employed for two months on a farm and for eleven months in sawmills. He then located on a homestead near Deer Park, where he lived until 1910, since which time he has resided in town. In 1906 he purchased a butcher shop in Deer Park and added a line of groceries. The year following he. erected a new double building and organized a company which was incorporated as the Olson Mercantile Company. He disposed of his interest in the business in 1911 but has retained ownership in the building. He is now engaged in erecting another large business building in Deer Park and is also selling cord wood upon an extensive scale to Spokane companies. He has served as vice president and president of the First State Bank of Deer Park but does not hold any office in connection with that institution at the present time. Having been unusually industrious and energetic, he is recog- nized as one of the most flourishing citizens of Deer Park. He has been espe- cially fortunate in buying and selling land in this region and now owns three hun- dred and twenty acres near Deer Park and valuable property in the town.
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