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 76
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the discovery of gold there and spent some time in a search for the precious metal in the "diggings" on a branch of the American river. Later he returned to Oregon, where he again took up farming and stock-raising, becoming a prominent and in- . fluential citizen of his home locality, which was known as the Belknap settlement. He left that district in 1868 and removed to Lane county, his last days being spent in Eugene, the county seat, where he passed away in 1887. His wife, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Hannah Belknap, was also a native of the Empire state and with her husband crossed the plains. She, too, was descended from an- cestry represented in the Revolutionary war. Her grandfather died in the battle of Bunker Hill from exhaustion, caused by becoming overheated, and his son was shot through the body in a later engagement with the Indians in the same war; he, however, recovered. The Belknap family also sent its representatives to the war of 1812 and to the Civil war. Mrs. Gilbert survived her husband for twenty-four years, passing away in June, 1911, at the remarkable old age of ninety-six years. She retained her mental faculties to a remarkable degree and was a most interest- . ing old lady, her mind stored with many reminiscenses of frontier days. She belonged to the faithful band of pioneer women whose courage and endurance equalled that of her husband and brothers and fathers who undertook the task of reclaiming a wild western wilderness for the purposes of civilization. Mrs. Gil- bert spent the last nineteen years of her life in the home of her son J. B. Gilbert, and from his family received every care and attention which filial devotion could suggest. She was the mother of six 'sons, three of whom are yet living, and three daughters: Riley, who is the owner of a large tract of land of one thousand acres at Coulee City, Washington; Phineas, a millwright and mechanic of Spokane; Jane, the wife of the Rev. N. Clark, a capitalist of Spokane, but now residing in Berkeley, California; Mary, the wife of I. N. Edwards, who is called the "farmer- lawyer" of Lane county, Oregon, and has served as representative of that county to the state legislature; and Emma, the wife of F. A. Watts, a druggist of East Portland, Oregon.
The other member of the family is J. B. Gilbert, whose name introduces this review. He was reared to farm work, early assisting in the arduous task of devel- oping and cultivating new land and transforming a frontier district into a rich agricultural section. He came to Spokane county in 1880, when twenty-eight years of age, settling near Rockford. There he engaged in farming for eight years, securing his title to his land and making many improvements thereon. At length he sold out and established his home in town, where he engaged in the real-estate, loan and insurance business. He was one of the organizers of the town of Rock- ford and served in one official capacity or another there for about eighteen years. He was at different times clerk, councilman and city attorney, being continuously in office. He had not been regularly admitted to the bar, yet had read law to a considerable extent and his fellow townsmen felt that he was qualified for the duties of the position. In 1906 he was elected on the republican ticket to rep- resent his district in the state legislature and served in the session of 1907. There he worked most earnestly for the local option bill, which, however, failed to pass. He repeatedly served as a delegate to county and state conventions and for four years was a member of the county central committee, thus taking active and promi- nent part in the political work of the district, while at the same time he main- tained a prominent position in its business circles.
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In September, 1909, however, Mr. Gilbert disposed of his interests at Rock- ford and came to Spokane, where he operated in real estate until September, 1910, when he purchased an interest in the Independent Rapid Transfer Company. This is an incorporated company, capitalized for twenty thousand dollars, with his son- in-law, C. G. Reath as president and manager; Mrs. C. G. Reath as vice president; and J. B. Gilbert as secretary-treasurer. Their business is located at No. 105 East Sprague street and they have secured a good patronage. Promptness and honor- able dealing are features in their success.
On the 26th of February, 1873, in Albany, Oregon, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Irena D. Watts, a daughter of Russell and Diantha Watts, who crossed the plains in 1847 by way of the northern route and The Dalles. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have become the parents of five children: Lura A., the wife of Charles P. Thomas, a merchant at Freeman, Washington; Clyde W., who is en- gaged in the livery business at Coulee City, Washington; Claude D., who is fire- man of Station 1 of the Spokane fire department; Elva J., the wife of C. G. Reath, who is associated with Mr. Gilbert in business; and Georgia H., the wife . of Dallas Garred, a druggist of Walla Walla.
The parents are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Spokane, and Mrs. Gilbert is eligible to membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution. She belongs to one of the old American families, of English descent, the original settlement being made in Vermont. Some of her ancestors took part in the Revolutionary war. Later representatives of the family settled in Illinois and her father came from the Mississippi valley to the Pacific coast, becoming identified with farming interests in Linn county, where he died at the age of forty- two years. Mr. Gilbert belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all the chairs in the local lodge. Both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekahs and he belongs also to the Woodmen of the World having served in all of the offices and is now a past counsel commander. He has long been a stalwart and helpful supporter of the cause of temperance. He is an active worker in the republican party. His influence is always cast on the side of right, justice, truth and progress, and his efforts have been an element in the moral development as well as the material progress of this section in which he has resided for almost a third of a century.
HARVEY D. TRUNKEY.
Harvey D. Trunkey, vice president and treasurer of the Mcclintock-Trunkey Company, was born at Helena, Arkansas, April 26, 1875. His father, Frank Trunkey, served as a captain in the Union army during the Civil war and died in the year 1890, being survived by his wife who bore the maiden name of Eliza Power.
The education of Harvey D. Trunkey was largely acquired in the common schools of Arkansas although he was for five years a student in Chicago. He completed his course, however, in Arkansas, leaving school when seventeen years of age in order to enter business life, becoming bookkeeper for a general mer- chandise concern in Marianna, Arkansas, where he was employed for four years.
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He then formed a partnership with R. McClintock, of that place, and they estab- lished a wholesale general merchandise business which they conducted for a year. At the expiration of that period Mr. Trunkey removed to the west, settling in Spokane where he again became associated with Mr. McClintock in the Boothe- Powell Company, these two men being financially interested in the business. After two years Mr. Powell disposed of his interests and in 1902 the firm became the Boothe-McClintock Company. In 1906 Mr. Boothe sold out and in 1907 the present firm style of the Mcclintock-Trunkey Company was adopted and Mr. Trunkey has since served as vice president and treasurer as well as one of the directors. He thus has active voice in the management of the business, and his sound and discriminating judgment and enterprising spirit constitute salient and effective forces in the attainment of the success which has come to this house.
On the 29th of November, 1898, at Marianna, Arkansas, Mr. Trunkey was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Johnston, a daughter of Steven D. and Mary Johnston. They have become parents of three children: Mary Frances, Frank and Elizabeth, the two eldest being now in school. The family attend the First Pres- byterian church and Mr. Trunkey holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Woodmen of the World. His political indorsement is given to the republican party, for he deems its principles the most effective force in promoting good government. He is without ambition for office, however, as he finds his business makes full demand upon his time and energies. While his path has not been free of the difficulties and obstacles which always beset the way of the business man, he has regarded these as but an impetus for more persistent effort and upon the basis of sound business principles and close adherence to a high standard of commercial ethics he has builded his success.
JAMES WILSON HUTCHINS.
James Wilson Hutchins has since the fall of 1900 been the able manager of the Mullan Electric Light & Power Company. His birth occurred at Manchester, England, on the 21st of January, 1868, his parents being Thomas and Sarah (Wilson) Hutchins. He acquired his education in the place of his nativity and in 1885, when a youth of seventeen, emigrated to the United States, joining relatives in San Antonio, Texas. There he remained on a cattle ranch for three years and then made his way to the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, where he spent the year of the Oklahoma boom-1888-9. In the fall of 1889 he came to Wallace, Idaho, to take charge of the commissary camp of the railroad during the building of what is now the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, which was being extended to Wallace. In 1891, when the road was completed, he secured a posi- tion as lineman with the Bell Telephone Company. In 1892 he entered the serv- ice of the Wallace Electric Light Company, with which he remained for eight years, beginning as lineman and winning steady promotion until at the time of his resignation he held the position of foreman. In the fall of 1900 he became the manager of the Mullan Electric Light & Power Company of Mullan and in this capacity has remained continuously since, demonstrating his splendid executive ability in the successful control of this corporation. He is likewise interested in many of the mining properties of this section.
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In 1900 Mr. Hutchins was united in marriage to Mrs. Louise Heller, and they became the parents of a son, Robert Wilson who was born in September, 1907. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has acted as clerk of the school board of Mullan since 1905. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, belonging to Wallace Lodge, No. 331, of the latter order. The high regard and esteem in which he is uniformly held is manifest in the number of lasting friendships which he has won.
JOHN J. BROWNE.
Out of the depths of his mature wisdom Carlisle wrote: "History is the essence of innumerable biographies," and Macaulay has said: "The history of a nation is best told in the lives of its people." It is therefore fitting that the per- sonal mention of eminent and distinguished men should find a place in this volume, and in such a connection extended reference should be made of John J. Browne. Spokane is indebted to him in many ways. It was he who in 1879 drew up the bill organizing and planning Spokane county as it stands today. He has left his impress upon the commercial, industrial and financial development of this sec- tion of the state and has been equally active and helpful in educational and politi- cal lines. He has indeed taken prominent part in the transformation that has been brought about, changing Washington from a wild country into a great state, containing thousands of good homes and acres of growing towns, inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people. At all times he has participated in the persistent work of development which was necessary to pro- duce a change which is so complete that it has come to be popularly referred to as magical.
He came to the northwest in early manhood. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Greenville, Stark county, April 28, 1843. His parents were Andrew and Elizabeth (Goff) Browne, the former a son of James C. Browne, who, leaving his native place in the north of Ireland, became a resident of Pennsylvania and subsequently of Indiana. The Goff family is descended from Pennsylvania German stock. Elizabeth (Goff) Browne died when her son John was but two years old and he was afterward reared by his maternal grandparents in Indiana, acquiring his early education in the public schools of Columbia City, Whitley county, while later, at the age of eighteen years, he entered Wabaslı College in Crawfordsville. Summer vacations and the evening hours were devoted to the task of earning a sum sufficient to enable him to prosecute his education, and after leav- ing college he took up the profession of teaching, being given charge of the high school in Columbia City and also acting as superintendent of the schools in Goshen, Indiana. He found genuine pleasure in his work but felt that larger profits might accrue in the practice of law and accordingly pursued the regular course in the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1868.
Following his admission to the bar, Mr. Browne practiced for a year in Colum- bia City, Indiana, and afterward for four years in Oswego, Kansas. He also be-
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came identified with educational interests in the latter place, serving for a time as county superintendent of schools.
The call of the west proved irresistible to Mr. Browne and from Kansas he made his way to Portland, Oregon, where he entered upon the practice of law and also became an active factor in school work in that district, serving first by appointment and later by election as superintendent of the schools of Multnomah county. The moist atmosphere of the coast, however, brought on a recurrence of a bronchial affection, from which he had previously suffered and this decided him to seek a dryer climate, which he found east of the mountains in Spokane, coming to this city in the summer of 1878. One is hardly justified in calling it a city, for at that time its population numbered but fifty-four. In the ensuing years Mr. Browne has been a most active factor in its growth and development. The town sitc, embracing the falls and what has since become the principal business section was owned by James N. Glover, who had come up from Oregon in 1873, built the first sawmill and embarked in trade with the Indians and the few whites who were living in this section. His original holding was one hundred and sixty acres, of which he sold forty acres to Frederick Post. Mr. Browne in connection with A. M. Cannon later purchased a half interest in the one hundred and twenty acres, which Mr. Glover retained, each receiving a quarter share and paying Mr. Glover the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars. The property which thus came into their possession included the middle falls, representing nearly one-half the water power of the river. For seven years after arriving in Spokane Mr. Browne continued in the active practice of law but as the country was too sparsely settled to direct court sessions in this city alone, it was necessary to follow an itinerant course as court was held from time to time in the towns of Colfax, Colville and Walla Walla. However, Spokane enjoyed rapid growth and in 1885, owing to the marvelous de- velopment of the city, Mr. Browne's property interests had so increased in value that he was obliged to give his attention chiefly thereto and withdraw from active connection with the bar. The more important business interests of Spokane during these early days felt the stimulus of his cooperation, activity and enterprise. He and his partner, Mr. Cannon, were for a number of years associated in important business transactions. In addition to the holdings which they obtained from Mr. Glover, they purchased a part of the land owned by Frederick Post and thus obtained a half ownership in the lower falls. They were associated with A. J. Ross in the construction of the first street railway extending for four and a half miles, the project costing forty-three thousand dollars. Later they bought the interest of Mr. Ross, operating the line at a loss and then sold it to the Washington Water Power Company for one hundred thousand dollars. The necessity of a newspaper was recognized by them with the result that they established and for a time published the Spokane Chronicle, which they afterward sold. Later Mr. Browne became individual owner of the paper which he retained until 1898. Another evidence of his public spirit and his business ability is seen in the fine Auditorium block which he erected and which contains the theater that at one time, if not still, was the best designed and constructed theater on the Pacific coast. In this project Mr. Cannon was his business associate. Hc likewise became the president of the Spokane Mill Company and the Spokane Cracker Company. He displayed keen business ability and insight and the majority of his projects were
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carried forward to successful completion. In 1893, however, he sustained heavy losses in the failure of the Browne National Bank, which he had founded in 1888. The widespread and disastrous financial panic of that year forced the bank to suspend, paying to the creditors only thirteen per cent. It is said that the strength and character of an individual are never known until they are put to the test and it was this which showed of what mettle Mr. Browne is made. The remaining obligations of the bank were personally assumed by him and discharged in full without a single suit at law being brought against the bank. He was appointed its receiver by the federal authorities-probably the first incident of the selection of a national bank president to administer upon the affairs of his own suspended concern. His personal integrity, however, was so fully recognized that the Chemi- cal National Bank, of New York, which was one of the largest creditors of the institution holding its paper to the amount of forty thousand dollars, gave its re- ceipt in full in exchange for Mr. Browne's personal obligations at three and a half per cent.
Since that time the career of Mr. Browne has been one of continuous progress and many interests have felt the stimulus of his activity, aid and keen business discernment. He was the organizer of the Columbia Valley Bank at Wenatchee, Washington, capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, and with surplus and undivided profits of twenty-five thousand. Of this institution he is the president, and is also president of the Coeur d'Alene Bank & Trust Company, at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, capitalized for fifty thousand dollars, and the Bank of Oroville, Washington, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. His sons are associated with him in his banking enterprises, Guy C. being vice president of one and Earle P. a director of another, and all of their stock with the exception of a small amount in the Columbia Valley Bank is owned by Mr. Browne and members of his family. In addition Guy C. Browne is president of the Cashmere (Washington) State Bank, which is also owned by the family. In financial circles of Spokane John J. Browne is well known as the president of the Columbia Investment Company, having taxable property exceeding three hundred thousand dollars; the Spokane Investment Company; the Browne-Post Investment Company, in which his asso- ciate is F. T. Post; and the Prairie Development Company. Regarding real estate as one of the safest of all investments, Mr. Browne has become owner of twenty- two hundred acres in the district of Spokane, the greater part of which is well improved and today he is the largest individual taxpayer in Spokane county.
It has often been urged, and sometimes with considerable truth, that the suc- cessful business man of the present age has no time for cooperation in projects and measures which have their root in a desire to promote public welfare. But there are notable exceptions to this rule, of which Mr. Browne is one. His interest in educational work, aroused during his early period of teaching, has never diminished. Hc regards education as of the highest importance not only to the state but for the best promotion of material interests, and his labors in its behalf have been effective and far reaching since his arrival in Washington. His work as a member of the Spokane school board through a period of sixteen years, during much of which time he was its president, was of both a practical and progressive character and through his advocacy of improved methods the standard of the city schools was greatly raised. For a number of years previous to 1893 he was a member and president of the board of regents of the University of Washington, elected at
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Seattle, and later he was several years a member of the board of the State Normal School at Cheney. In 1896 he was transferred to the board of the Washington State College, at Pullman, in which he has held the office of president and is now vice president. He advocates advanced education as well as the most thorough training in the fundamental branches and his work in behalf of education is that of a practical idealist.
Spokane, too, has profited largely by the efforts of Mr. Browne to exploit its resources and opportunities. He has ever felt that dissemination of knowledge concerning the city would constitute one of the chief forces of its growth, and as- sociated with others, he organized several years ago the Publicity Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he has been one of the most active and effect- ive members.
Neither has Mr. Browne been neglectful of his duties of citizenship in relation to the political condition and situation of the country. He has ever kept thoroughly informed concerning the questions and issues of the day and possesses a states- man's grasp of affairs. In more recent years he has not consented to hold office but in 1872 was a delegate of Kansas to the democratic national convention at Bal- timore, and in 1888 was sent by Washington to the democratic national convention at St. Louis, where he served on the committee on platform and notification. Dis- approving the tendencies and leadership of the democratic organization he has in recent years taken no active part in political matters and has usually voted with the republican ticket. In 1890 he was made a delegate to the state constitutional convention of Washington, an election that came to him entirely unsought and un- expected during his absence in the east. However, he took helpful part in fram- ing the organic law of the state, serving as chairman of the committee on state, county and municipal indebtedness, drafting the article in the constitution under that caption, which was practically adopted without alteration. On all questions of municipal, state and national interest, Mr. Browne keeps abreast with the best thinking men of the age, and his conclusions are the result of a logical deduction made from thorough familiarity with facts. A contemporary biographer has said of him: "He is known as a speaker of earnestness, marked ability and extensive and exact information, especially on the more important questions of public policy that affect the interest of the northwestern country. On the subject of 'conserva- tion,' which in recent years has engaged so much discussion, he has delivered a number of addresses notable for the strength of the convictions expressed and for the arguments and facts by which they have been sustained. Mr. Browne holds to the view than any comprehensive scheme of control and regulation of natural resources by the federal government is mistaken in theory and inexpedient cconomic- ally, and that the conservation should be exercised by the states severally. A fundamental objection to such a federal system is, in his opinion, the discrimina- tion necessarily involved in favor of the east against the west. It is not proposcd by the conservationists to include in their program the existing developed re- sources of the country, in which private property rights have already been acquired, but to apply their doctrines to the still undeveloped and unacquired resources -- to the inevitable economic advantage of the developed east and disadvantage of the undeveloped west. In an address before the United States senate committee on public lands in the city of Washington, in February, 1910, Mr. Browne directed attention to this view of the question and also pointed out various objections of detail to the extreme conservation policy.
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