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 79
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Henry W. Canfield spent his youthful days under the parental roof, dividing his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of an education in the public schools. Not desiring to follow farming he turned to the professions and in preparation for the practice of law pursued a course in the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1890. He then located for practice at Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where he remained for a year and a half. In 1892 he came to the Pacific coast, settling first in Colfax, Whitman county, Washington, where he not only entered upon the practice of law but also took active part in politics as a supporter of the democratic party. Two years later he was elected prosecuting attorney, which position he filled from 1894 until 1896. He also served as a member of the board of regents of the State Col- lege from 1897 until 1903, and in 1908 was elected judge of the superior court of Whitman county, serving on the bench until August, 1910, when he resigned to come to Spokane. His opinions were models of judicial soundness and his record on the bench was in harmony with his record as a man and citizen, dis-
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tinguished by faithfulness to duty and by a masterful grasp of every problem pre- sented for solution. On coming to Spokane, he formed a partnership with Reese H. Voorhees, under the present style of Voorhees & Canfield and they are now enjoying a good clientage that connects them with much of the important litiga- tion tried in the courts of the district.
In June, 1892, Mr. Canfield was united in marriage to Miss Alice Ferrington, a daughter of Rolden B. and Alice (Myler) Ferrington, of Detroit, Michigan. Their children are: Helen, Irene and Rolden, aged respectively seventeen, nine and three years.
Mr. Canfield is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained high rank, being now connected with El Katif Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His personal characteristics win him popularity, and his power of analysis and log- ical deduction, combined with ability to clearly and concisely present his cause, have constituted the salient features which have gained for him an enviable posi- tion at the bar.
DR. ELMER E. BRILEY.
Dr. Elmer E. Briley, one of the most prominent members of the medical pro- fession in Spokane was born in Illinois on the 14th of January, 1863, his parents being Samuel and Anna (Burford) Briley. About 1600 the first of the Briley family came to America from Ireland, they being three brothers who left their native land to settle in this country. Several members of their family were promi- nent during the Revolutionary war. The grandfather, who was of Scotch-Irish descent. was a prominent man at the time this country was engaged in the Indian wars. The father, whose birth occurred in Tennessee, is now residing in Fowler, Indiana. The mother, who was of English descent, was born in Indiana and her death occurred in Indiana in 1911. To their union three children were born: Dr. Elmer E., who is the subject of this review; Buford L., who is engaged in the real-estate business in Denver, Colorado; and Mrs. Carrie M. Briar, of Fowler, Indiana.
Elmer E. Briley spent his early boyhood days in Illinois and Ohio, and pur- sued his preliminary education in the common schools of Lebanon, Ohio. Sub- sequently he was a student at the Physiomedical College of Indiana, graduating with the degree of M. D. He immediately began the active practice of his pro- fession, locating at Hoopeston. Illinois, where he remained for one year before coming west. Upon his arrival in the west he located in Kendrick, Idaho, where he remained for one year, but in 1897 gave up the practice of medicine and was employed for a number of years in planning the construction of hospitals for the Northern Pacific. In January. 1907, he located in Spokane and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession in this city, giving his attention to both medicine and surgery. By continual study he is constantly promoting his cffi- ciency, and is justly regarded as one of the able practitioners of Spokane, mani- festing at all times a close conformity to a high standard of professional ethics.
On the 22d of November, 1902, in Kendrick, Idaho, Mr. Brilcy was married to Miss Lillias B. Farnsworth, a daughter of W. L. Farnsworth, who is a promi-
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nent merchant of Vancouver. Both the parents are from Ohio and are of English descent. The father is a direct descendant of Anakajean, who at one time owned the property on which Trinity church of New York now stands. He leased this tract and some adjacent property to the church for ninety-nine years, but the family unfortunately have lost one link in the chain of descent, and until it is traced Trinity church holds the property.
Mr. and Mrs. Briley are the parents of one child, Marjorie, who is nine years of age. Politically Mr. Briley gives his support to the republican party, and while he was living in Idaho he gave much time and attention to political issues and activities of his community. He holds membership in the National Physio- medical Association, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
JAMES W. BECKETT.
James W. Beckett is now at the head of the Beckett Investment Company, dealers in real estate, and in addition is connected with mining interests of the north- west. He was born in Peterboro, Canada, August 7, 1861, a son of Hugh and Jeannette (Fife) Beckett. The father was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and rep- resented a prominent Scotch family. He became a pioneer resident of Canada and died in 1907. His wife, who was born in Peterboro, Canada, passed away in 1911. She was a sister of W. H. Fife, who built the Fife hotel in Tacoma and was very prominent in that city. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Beckett were born the following named: Hugh, who is engaged in mining in Alaska; Tom, a resi-" dent of Dinsdale, Iowa; Frank, John and Henry, all of whom are residents of Traer, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Dodd, living in Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Jennie Dodd, who makes her home at Deer Lodge, Montana; and Mrs. Jessie Carlysle, of Hig- gins, Colorado.
The other member of the family is James W. Beckett, whose name introduces this review. He pursued his early education in the graded and high schools of Keokuk, Iowa, and in a college there and entered business life in connection with a general mercantile store in Dickinson, North Dakota, where he remained from 1886 until 1888. He was there at the time Roosevelt made his famous speech in that place. In the latter year he came to Spokane and invested the first thousand dollars which he had saved in what is now the Union Works. He was interested there for a year but afterward sold out and turned his attention to real-estate opera- tions. He has since continued to buy and sell property and is also quite actively interested in mining. For some time he conducted a general real-estate business alone, dealing in both city and country properties. He has several times been in- strumental in causing the realty transference of the old Cascade block, whichi lie first sold for forty thousand dollars and which he sold for the fifth time for one one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars-an excellent illustration of the rise of property values in this city. In 1908 he organized the Beckett Investment Com- pany, of which he became secretary, treasurer and general manager, with T. R. Welsh of Los Angeles as president and J. T. Scott of Coeur d'Alene as vice presi- dent. The company handles Spokane city and country property and has secured a large clientele, so that they conduct many important realty transfers each year.
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Mr. Beckett's mining interests have also become extensive and important. He is now connected with the Knob Hill mine at Republic and the Hobson Silver & Lead Company, Inc., of which he is the president, with H. Mabry as secretary and treasurer, and Robert Mabry as vice president. They own property at Ymir and Ainsworth, British Columbia. The former is gold-bearing property now under development, their shipment of ore in 1910 amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, yet they are now down only four hundred feet. There are three claims in this group and the mineral zone is two hundred and fifty feet wide, with a large fissure vein. The property includes large bodies of both low and high grade ore and they own their own water power to be developed in 1912 to five thousand horse power. Mr. Beckett is also the secretary-treasurer of the Lillie B. Mining Company, of which Robert Mabry is president and J. C. Buchanan gen- eral manager. Their holdings include four claims in a group at Slocan. They are developing this and thoroughly equipping the property with heavy machinery, com- pressors, etc. The work has already been done to a depth of one hundred feet and the values are in lead and silver. High-grade silver runs two hundred ounces and there is a large body fissure vein. The company expect to begin shipping in 1912. In the Ainsworth property they have six claims of lead and silver bearing ores and they are now down a depth of two hundred feet with a tunnel six hundred feet long. Mr. Beckett was also one of the organizers of the United Copper Com- pany at Chewelah but has since sold out. He was one of the first directors of that company.
On the 13th of November, 1889, occurred the marriage of James W. Beckett and Miss Leila M. Scott, a daughter of Wilson Scott, of Cambridge, Ohio, who was the oldest mail clerk in Spokane and died in 1910. They have two sons, Harry and Ralph, both at Berkeley, California. Mr. Beckett owns a block of ground at Tenth and Cannon streets, where he has a magnificent home, attractive in style of archi- tecture and furnished with all the conveniences and accessories which wealth, guided by refined taste, can suggest. He is a freeholder in Spokane, is a member of the Woodmen of the World and a life member of the Inland Club. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party and while he does not seek office, he is ever loyal in support of the principles in which he believes. He holds membership in the Westminster Congregational church and gives generously to the support of church work and kindred interests. He has never had occasion to regret his deter- mination to come to the northwest, for he has found here in its conditions such business opportunities as he desired and which have won him place among the most prosperous residents of the Inland Empire. At the same time his success has contributed to the progress and to the prosperity of this section, as does every im- portant business project which helps to develop the region.
WALTER C. HINMAN.
Ten years after the Pilgrims first landed at Plymouth Rock, representatives of a prominent English family came to the new world, braving the dangers of the long ocean voyage in order to enjoy the liberty and the opportunities of the con- tinent which was just beginning to be colonized. Long years passed and members
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of the family gradually drifted westward, so that F. J. Hinman had his birth- place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Having arrived at years of maturity, he married Lola M. Richards, a native of that state. She is still living, making her home at No. 4013 Whitehouse street in Spokane, but the father died in 1897. Their chil- dren were Walter C. and Harry F. Hinman, the latter a resident of Valdez, Alaska.
Walter C. Hinman was born in Brainerd, Minnesota, April 10, 1882, and pur- sued his college course in the University of Minnesota, entering the law depart- ment, from which he was graduated with the LL. B. degree in 1906. He then came to Spokane and entered upon active practice, in which he has since continued. He does not specialize in any particular branch of the law but continues in general practice and in this connection has gained a large and distinctively representative clientage. He is well known as a worker in republican ranks, was secretary of the county central committee in 1908 and has been a delegate to city, county and state conventions. His opinions carry weight in the councils of his party and his labors are effective in promoting its successes. His military history covers a period of five years as first lieutenant of Company I of the Second Regiment and he is now captain of the machine gun company of the same regiment of the National Guard of Washington. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Highlanders, of which he was chief counselor, and he belongs also to the Young Men's Christian Association. His interests are broad and his activities have always been along lines which call forth and develop the best in the individual and in the community.
DE WITT CLINTON NEWMAN, M. D.
Varied and eventful have been the experiences which have come to De Witt Clinton Newman in the practice of his profession which is now followed in Spo- kane, having here established himself in a creditable position as a capable physician and surgeon. His father, Aaron M. Newman, was a school teacher and farmer, who married Margeretta Miller, and they were living in Logan county, Ohio, at the time of the birth of Dr. Newman, on the 14th of September, 1857. When the time came for him to enter upon the work of acquiring an education he was sent to the public schools and passed through consecutive grades until he became a high-school student in Quincy, Ohio. His professional training came to him in Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1882, and the Cooper Medical College, at San Francisco, which also granted him a professional degree in 1883. The latter is now the medical department of Le- land Stanford University.
Throughout the greater part of his connection with the medical profession Dr. Newman has practiced on the Pacific coast, locating first at Amador City, Cali- fornia. and afterward practicing for a time in San Francisco. He afterward took up steamship work, acting as physician and surgeon of the steamships sailing from the California port, and eventually located at Cobar, New South Wales, where he remained for four years. Upon his return to his native land he opened an office in Spokane in 1889 and has since been numbered among the worthy repre- sentatives, of the profession in this city. Several honors of an official character have been conferred upon him. He was president of the state board of health in
DR. DEWITT C. NEWMAN
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1898-9 and was state health officer in 1900-01. He has also served as county physician and county coroner and his ability is recognized by the public and by the profession. He is accorded a large private practice and is most conscientious in the performance of his duties, being ever careful in the diagnosis of a case and seldom if ever at fault in his judgment concerning the outcome of disease.
Dr. Newman was chosen to public office as a representative of the democratic party, the principles of which he has always advocated. He feels particularly proud of the fact that in 1896 he was made one of the Bryan electors for the state of Washington and took an important part in the campaign which carried the state for the Nebraska statesman. Fraternally he is a Mason and has advanced to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, while in El Katif Temple he has become a noble of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge of Spokane.
Dr. Newman resides with his family at No. 1917 West Riverside avenue. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary V. Nickey, was a daughter of Jeremiah F. and Christiana (Miller) Nickey. She gave her hand in marriage to Dr. New- man in Chicago on the 12th of June, 1889, and they have one daughter, Marguerite. That Dr. Newman is a man of broad sympathies is indicated by the fact that on many occasions the poor and needy have found in him a friend, to whom his professional services have been given without hope of reward or remuneration. His high professional attainments and his sterling characteristics have justified the respect and confidence in which he is held by the medical profession and the local public.
HON. SAMUEL A. MANN.
It is usual to look to the history of warfare for tales of heroism and yet in the pursuits of daily life there is often demand for as heroic qualities as have ever been displayed by the soldier on the field of battle. Holding at all times to high ideals of citizenship and a patriotic devotion to country, Hon. Samuel A. Mann is deserving of warm praise and commendation, for his life history con- tains a chapter of personal and moral heroism equal to that of the man who wears the nation's bluc uniform. Notwithstanding all this, he has quietly and unostenta- tiously performed his round of daily duties, giving his attention to his clients' interests in an unwearied service that has won him wide recognition as an able minister in the temple of justice. His birth occurred in Hiawatha, Kansas, No- vember 27, 1868, his parents being Benjamin B. and Arminda V. (McGrew) Mann. His father was a very prominent figure in life insurance circles in that state and one of the organizers of the Kansas Mutual Life Association of Topeka, Kansas. In 1888 he removed to Salt Lake City and is now the clerk of the state conserva- tion board of Utah.
After mastering the early branches of learning in the public schools of Hiawatha, Samuel A. Mann attended the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kansas, and then, because of a roving disposition, entered the newspaper field, which afforded him the opportunity to change his location from time to time. He was also at various intervals in the theatrical profession and among the different
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newspapers with which he has been connected are the St. Joseph (Mo.) Herald the Chicago-Herald, then known as the Times-Herald, the St. Louis Globe-Demo- crat, the Portland (Ore.) Journal, the Salt Lake Times and the Spokane Chron- icle, with which he became associated in 1904. He was also at one time managing editor of the Oklahoma Capital at Guthrie, Oklahoma, and while living there was a member of the governor's staff.
In his work in connection with the Spokane Chronicle, Mr. Mann covered the police court news but in 1905 gave up newspaper work and accepted a posi- tion as clerk of the police court under Judge Hinkle. His duties in that connec- tion awakened in him the desire to study law and he devoted his evening hours to mastering the fundamental principles of the law contained in the leading text- books and commentaries. It is characteristic of Mr. Mann that he accomplishes what he sets out to do-a fact clearly illustrated by his preparation for the bar under conditions which would have been discouraging to many a man. On the 1st of January, 1908, he went to Olympia, where he successfully passed the examination before the supreme court and was admitted to the bar. In Septem- ber of that year, Judge Hinkle was appointed to the superior court bench and Mr. Mann was named as his successor in the office of justice of the peace and police judge. In the following November he was elected to the position and was ap- pointed police judge by Mayor C. Herbert Moore, which position he filled until he resigned to become the progressive republican candidate for congress in Janu- ary, 1911. He was defeated by a small majority and, turning to active law prac- tice, became senior partner of the firm of Mann & Forrest, which today occupies a prominent position in connection with general practice.
While serving as police judge Mr. Mann, in connection with Chief of Police John Sullivan, waged a campaign against the street talkers or anarchists, who for years had been a nuisance in this city, creating constant unrest and disturbance. They sentenced over three hundred of these men to the rock pile and thus incurred the bitter hatred of anarchists all over the country. Both received many threaten- ing letters, among which were death sentences from various anarchistic organiza- tions and supposed to be the same orders that were responsible for the Haymarket riot in Chicago. For over a year they both lived under constant guard day and night, but in spite of all precautions Chief Sullivan was assassinated in his home in February, 1911, but no trace of the murderers has ever been found. Mr. Mann won the admiration of all in the manner in which he continued his duties in the face of these dangers.
On the 3d of March, 1894, at Franklin, Illinois, Mr. Mann was married to Miss Alma Forrest, a daughter of Randolph B. and Mary (Randolph) Forrest, of El Reno, Oklahoma, where her father is now one of the leading lawyers of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Mann have three children: Vera, Erma and Priscilla.
In the days of his association with newspaper and theatrical interests Mr. Mann became a member of the Typographical Union and the Theatrical Mechanics Association. He also belongs to Tyrian Lodge, No. 96, F. & A. M., the Elks lodge and the Odd Fellows lodge at Guthrie, Oklahoma, the Knights of Pythias lodge of that place and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Spokane. His attention is now chiefly concentrated upon his pro- fessional duties and his handling of a case is always full, comprehensive and accurate, while his analysis of the facts is clear and exhaustive. While serving as police
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judge his opinions showed industry and care and challenged the approval of and commended themselves to the bench and har. The firm of which he is senior mem- ber has secured a large clientage and in the courts he is recognized as an advocate of power and influence, both judges and juries always hearing him with atten- tion and deep interest.
HARRY J. SKINNER.
Harry J. Skinner, who as a contractor has been closely associated with bridge building, railroad work and also with the erection of many of the principal struc- tures of Spokane, was born in London, England, April 10, 1852, and is one of a family of two sons and two daughters whose parents were James and Elizabeth (Adams) Skinner, the former a native of London, England, and the latter also of that country. The father was a representative of an old English family and became a builder, following that pursuit throughout his entire life. He passed away in 1888 at the age of eighty-four years and it was then an accident that caused his death. His wife survived him for two years, dying in 1890. The mem- bers of the family are: Harry J .; Walter, who is living in Brooklyn, New York; Kate, the wife of Martin Van Buren Gallandet; and Bertha, the wife of George Edmonds, also of Brooklyn.
Brought to America by his parents when only a year old, the voyage being made in a sailing vessel, Harry J. Skinner pursued his education in the public schools of Brooklyn and in his boyhood days became assistant to his father in his building operations. Later under further instruction he mastered the builder's trade which he followed in the employ of others until 1875, when he did his first work for Mr. Corbin, beginning the contracting and superintending of the con- struction of buildings on his own account. To this work he has since given his attention and was thus engaged in Brooklyn on the Manhattan Beach Railroad, working for Austin Corbin for two or three years. He also laid the foundation for the Manhattan Hotel at Manhattan Beach. In West Virginia he was sub- sequently engaged in building a hoop factory at Ronceverte for D. C. Corbin. From there he again returned to Brooklyn and engaged in contracting, which he followed until 1889. In May of that year he arrived in Spokane, coming west at the solicitation of Mr. Corbin to superintend the bridge and buildings of the Spokane Falls & Northern Railroad. Subsequently he took up contracting on his own account and has devoted his energies to the work from that day to the present. He built all of the bridges on the Spokane & International Railroad to the British Columbia line, did considerable work for the Great Northern Rail- road including the building of the depot at Newport, and the remodeling of the main building. He was also awarded the contract for the erection of the library building costing eighty-five thousand dollars and he also built the largest part of the factory for D. C. Corbin at Waverly. He likewise built the Peyton block at a cost of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars-a seven-story structure- and he added two stories to the old Peyton block. He erected the building for the Foresters of America and the Victor Hotel, and in fact on every hand can be seen fine buildings which are the handiwork of Mr. Skinner and bespeak his
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superior skill in building operations. He also built the shops for the Spokane & International Railroad and fifteen stores for Greenough on Sprague, First and Stevens streets. Some of the finest blocks of Spokane were erected by him and his labors have been an important element in the improvement and adornment of the city.
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