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 80
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On the 25th of April, 1875, in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Skinner was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor W. Warnock, a daughter of Andrew Warnock, of that city. Their four children are: Miss Bert Skinner; Ella, the wife of W. W. Hyslop, of Spokane; Robert, a machinist of this city; and Harry, who died December 5, 1906, at the age of twenty-three years.
In his political views Mr. Skinner has always been a democrat but does not regard party ties at city and state elections. In New York he was a delegate from the fourth ward of Brooklyn to the convention when Robinson was candidate for governor and he has been a delegate to the county conventions held in Spokane. He has twice been the nominee of his party for representative but shared the usual fate of a democrat in a republican stronghold. It has never been a matter of deep regret to him that he has not been called to public office, however, for his business interests make continuous and growing demands upon his time. He is a member of the Builders Exchange and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, serving as a trustee of Lodge No. 228 for three years. His fraternal and social relations claim all of the time which he cares to spare from a business that has placed him among the prominent builders and contractors of Spokane and the Inland Empire. He has steadily worked his way upward in this field and his labors have brought to him not only prominence but success. His opinions are largely accepted as authority upon any complex questions regarding building ope- rations for he combines broad practical experience with thorough understanding of the scientific principles that underlie his chosen life work.
JAMES DURKIN.
James Durkin, a wholesale liquor dealer who was enrolled as one of Spokane's citizens in the early part of 1897, has developed here a business of extensive pro- portions, being one of the foremost representatives of this line in the west. He was born at Walsall, England, August 8, 1859, a son of Thomas and Mary (McGuire) Durkin, whose family numbered fourteen children. In the year 1866 the father came with his wife and children to the new world, settling in Decatur, Illinois, but afterward removed to Liberty, Clay county, Missouri. In youth a spirit of adventure and love of change was strong within James Durkin and, com- bined with a restless, roving disposition, caused him when nine years of age to run away from home. He made his way to Brooklyn, New York, where he joined an uncle and there began earning his own living by selling the Brooklyn Eagle. After a few years spent in that city he again made his way westward and Per- ham, Minnesota, became his destination. In 1886, however, he decided to seek his fortune upon the frontier and in March of that year he located at Colville, Stevens county, Washington, where he remained until the early part of 1897,
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when he came to Spokane. Here he has engaged in the wholesale liquor business and has developed a large trade, so that his activities return to him a substantial annual income. He is a self-made man, learning the lessons of life largely in the school of experience and turning each to good account as the years have passed by. Since the establishment of his business his capable management has added yearly to its growth until it is today one of the largest wholesale liquor houses in the west and in all of his business transactions he has been found thoroughly reliable.
On the 8th of August, 1882, at Perham, Minnesota, Mr. Durkin was married to Miss Margaret Daily, a daughter of Bartholomew Daily, of that city. They have five children: Joseph, who is associated with his father in business; Ed- mund, a student at Columbia Law School, Columbia College, New York; Eva, who married Leo Jones, of Seattle; and Ruth and Emmett.
FRANK ANSLEY.
Frank Ansley, who is well known in connection with the mining interests of the northwest, having promoted many companies for the utilization of the rich mineral resources which nature has lavished upon this section of the country, came to the coast from the Mississippi valley, his birth having occurred in Marshall, Calhoun county, Michigan, July 1, 1865. His father, George W. Ansley, also a native of that state, is now living in Spokane. He went to California in 1877 and the following year came to Washington. On the 10th of June, 1878, there left the city of San Jose a party northward bound, which party included George W. Ansley, his wife and three children, Byron Carver and his wife, Rush Hotch- kiss, his wife and two sons, Mr. and Mrs. Jerve Barber, George Robinson and Sylvia Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Brown and George Brown and his family. The party continued their journey to the north and upon reaching the northern part of the state of California were joined by William T. Barnes and James M. Lackey and their families. It was the intention of the party to go straight north to Walla Walla by the Goose Lake route but, owing to Indian troubles, they were com- pelled to return westward from Alturas and cross the Cascades into the Willa- mette valley in Oregon at Ashland. They traveled north as far as Eugene, Ore- gon, where they paused for three weeks to rest their horses and wait for the Indian troubles to subside, after which they again traveled eastward over the Cascades into eastern Oregon and arrived at Walla Walla, September 10, 1878. Byron Carver and R. C. Brown, with their wives, there remained, while the remainder of the party continned on to Colfax, where they again rested for a period and awaited the report of five of their party, who had journeyed on into what was known as the Four Lake country, now White Bluff Prairie, looking for homesteads. They were successful in their trip and each member of the party secured a desirable piece of land, George W. Ansley settling on a tract adjoining the north end of West Medical Lake. He was engaged in the stock business for many years but is now living retired in Spokane. During the period of the Civil war he served as a soldier in the Fourth Michigan Regiment of Infantry with the rank of sergeant and was wounded in the arm. His wife, who bore the
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maiden name of Georgia Knickerbocker, was born in Ohio and died in 1909. Like her husband, she was of English descent. Their children were: Frank, the sub- ject of this review; Sherman, who is now living on Puget Sound; and Lena, the wife of Eamor Humphrey, of Bluecreek, Washington.
Frank Ansley was only twelve years of age at the time of the removal to the Pacific coast and a youth of thirteen when he came to Washington. He was educated in the common schools and worked upon the home farm until about twenty-five years of age, since which time he has given his attention to real estate and mining. He devoted his energies to handling property for only a short time, however, and now gives his entire attention to mining. He has promoted many companies and was one of the organizers of the Morning Mining Company, of which he became president, so serving until it was merged with the Mammoth Silver Lead Mining & Smelting Company, now known as the Metaline Consoli- dated Mining Company, owning property at Metaline Falls, Washington. This is being vigorously developed, with much ore ready for shipment. The company is now engaged in opening up a further reserve. It has seven properties and is a silver and lead proposition. They have an eight hundred foot tunnel and are now sinking a shaft which has already reached the depth of three hundred feet. The ore runs from two and a half to five ounces in silver and from six to seven per cent in copper. Mr. Ansley was also one of the organizers of the Oriole Mining Company in the same district and is now its vice president. They have five claims with twelve hundred feet of tunnel work and a shaft to the depth of one hundred and thirty feet. This has silver, lead, gold and copper values and is still in the development stage, but they can ship if desired. The average values run thirty dollars per ton and they have a true fissure vein in quartzite. Mr. Ansley is likewise interested in the Orient Gold Mines, Limited; was one of the organizers, is the largest stockholder and is the president. They have two claims, the values run in silver and gold at fifteen dollars per ton and they have an enormous body vein on top which measures seventy-five feet. They are en- gaged now in development work.
In September, 1893, Mr. Ansley was married to Miss Edith Moss, a daugh- ter of L. S. Moss, of Medical Lake, now retired. He is an old resident of the Medical Lake country and is of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Ansley have one child, Homer, who is attending school. Mr. Ansley was at Medical Lake during the great fire but did not suffer any loss by that conflagration.
His political allegiance is given the democratic party and he was formerly active as a worker in its ranks, serving as county committeeman for a year and as delegate to the state and county conventions. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World and he was one of the first men to join the famous 150,000 Club of Spokane. He was also active in the Chamber of Commerce but his mining interests have kept him away from the city to so great an extent that he has not been permitted to take an active part in its projects at a more recent date. He is of an inventive turn of mind and has patented two or three articles now in general use. His record in this connection and in business circles is a creditable one of which he has every reason to be proud, for his success is at- tributable to his close application and unremitting diligence and energy. His long experience has brought him sound judgment in mining and his labors are proving an important element in the development of the northwest. He has witnessed
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much of the growth and progress of this section of the country, coming here in pioneer times as previously described and watching the progress that has con- verted this from a frontier region into a thickly populated and prosperous sec- tion of the country.
MALCOLM ISBISTER.
Malcolm Isbister, president of the M. Isbister Heating & Plumbing Company, established the business in 190+ and its gradual and substantial growth has brought them to a position where they control a large share of the patronage in their line. Mr. Isbister is a native of Orkney, Scotland, born May 28, 1842, his par- ents being Malcolm and Margaret (Isbister) Isbister. The father followed the sea and also engaged in farming and at his little island home the subject of this review pursued his education and learned the trade of carpentering. He after- ward went to Glasgow, where he following shipbuilding for a period of three years and in 1866 he came to America, then a young man of twenty-four years, anxious to acquaint himself with the conditions to be found on this side the At- lantic that he might here lay the foundation for future success. He did not hold to the opinion, as many have done, that advancement and prosperity were to be had for the asking but settled down to earnest, honest toil and was engaged in general contracting work during the period of nearly sixteen years which he spent in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1882 he returned to his native country and resumed the occupation of farming, which he followed for a period of eleven years.
Mr. Isbister then returned to the new world and made his way direct to Spo- kane, where he arrived in 1893. In that year he purchased a half interest in the plumbing establishment conducted by Edward Riley, the business being located at the corner of Howard and Railroad avenue. That fall he purchased Mr. Riley's interest and has continued to conduct the business ever since. On the 1st of Jan- uary, 1904, the company was incorporated under its present name, with Mr. Is- bister as the president, and, the continued growth of the business demanding larger quarters, they removed on the 1st of January, 1910, to their present building, which was erected especially for them. Mr. Isbister is one of the best known men in his line of business in the state of Washington. The company has installed heating and plumbing apparatus in a number of the most important buildings of the city, including the Sacred Heart Hospital, the new Palace store, the Hutton building, the Paulsen building and Mr. Paulsen's new residence. Their work is also done in the insane asylum at Medical Lake and in the Lincoln county court- house at Davenport, Washington. Mr. Isbister's prominence in business circles, especially in the line to which he has devoted his attention during his residence in Washington, is indicated in the fact that he is now the president of the State Association of Master Plumbers of Washington and is president of the Spokane Association of Master Plumbers of Spokane. He is likewise the president of the Togo Mining & Smelting Company.
On the 16th of December, 1895, in Spokane, occurred the marriage of Mr. Isbister and Miss Jeanette F. Fulton, a daughter of Thomas and Fannie (Arthur)
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Fulton, of this city. They now have three children: William Malcolm, aged fourteen, who is a student in the Saylor School for Boys; James Roy, twelve years . of age; and Netta May, aged nine. All three children are yet at home with their parents at No. 1729 Eighth avenue.
Mr. and Mrs. Isbister are members of the First Presbyterian church and in its teachings find the motive power which has largely governed their lives and shaped their relations with their fellowmen. Mr. Isbister belongs to Spokane Lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M., and has taken higher degrees in Masonry which have enabled him at length to join El Katif Temple of the nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a member of the Canadian Order of Foresters and of the Chamber of Commerce and is much interested in the organized, systematic movements of the latter to promote the business activity of Spokane and make known to the public the resources and the opportunities of the city. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come here, for in the eighteen years of his residence he has made continuons progress and is now at the head of a large and growing industrial enterprise which annually crowns his labors with a merited and sub- stantial financial reward.
FORD S. BARRETT.
Conducting a business at Spokane in real estate, rentals, insurance and loans, in which he has been engaged since 1898, Ford S. Barrett has acquired a good clientage that is indicative of his enterprising and progressive spirit. He was born in Oakland county, Michigan, May 14, 1871, and his parents, Daniel and Louise (Woodman) Barrett, were also natives of that state. The father had two brothers who were farmers and became soldiers of the Civil war, one of them losing a leg because of wounds sustained in battle. Members of the Barrett family were origin- ally from Massachusetts and New York. The family is of English origin and its establishment in America antedates the Revolutionary war. Daniel Barrett, the father, left Michigan in 1901 and came to the west, his home being now in Spokane. He lost his wife, however, in January, 1908. She, too, came of a family of English origin, dating back in this country to the period of earliest American set- tlement. Her ancestors took part in the Revolutionary war. Her grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812 and she had one brother who served in the Civil war. Her father was prominent in Michigan, serving as a member of the territorial legislature in early days. Ford S. Barrett has two brothers, D. Roy and Lewis, both of whom are residents of Spokane.
In the public schools of his native state Ford S. Barrett began his education and supplemented his high-school course by six months' study in the Queen City Business College of Seattle. He came west alone in 1889, arriving here soon after the fire. He was employed in different ways and after pursuing a business course secured a position as stenographer for the Solicitors Loan & Trust Company of Seattle. In 1892 he was transferred to Walla Walla, working for the same com- pany as secretary to the manager there until December, 1893, when he was trans- ferred to the Seattle branch as manager and traveling examiner. In 1895 he was sent to Spokane as manager for the company with which he continued until 1898,
F. S. BARRETT
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when a desire to engage in business on his own account prompted him to open a real-estate and rental office, handling also insurance and loans. He has been en- gaged in this field to the present time, covering a period of fourteen years, conduct- ing a general real-estate, rental, loan and insurance business. He put upon the market the Hills, Front, Second and Grand View additions to the city and in his real-estate operations has contributed largely to the development, growth and im- provement of Spokane. He represents a number of the most reliable fire insur- ance companies and his clientage in that field has become extensive.
On the 19th of November, 1896, Mr. Barrett was united in 'marriage to Miss Minnie Ehlers, of Spokane, a daughter of Fred Ehlers, who is of German descent and is now proprietor of the Pacific Iron Works. The three children of this mar- riage are Lucille, F. S., Jr., and Lawrence Temple. The family attend the Unita- rian church and Mr. Barrett is a republican in politics, somewhat active in the local ranks of the party, which he has represented in state and county conventions. His military history covers service with the militia of Seattle and with Battery A of Spokane. He wore the uniform altogether for five years and served as sergeant of Battery A. He belongs to Spokane Lodge, No. 228, B. P. O. E. and also to the Spokane Athletic Club and the Inland Club. He is likewise a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and its interests and activities find in him a cooperant factor because of his loyalty to the city which he has adopted as a place of residence. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible and there is in his life history no esoteric chapter but a continuous progression that has resulted from his close application and laudable ambition.
EDGAR WILLIAM McCOLL.
Edgar William McColl, who is superintendent of the money-order department of the Spokane postoffice, was born on the 25th of February, 1859, in San Fran- cisco, California, his parents, being William and Louisa (Mitchell) McColl. The father was a prominent merchant of San Francisco and was one of the founders of the Produce Exchange which is now known as the Chamber of Commerce of that city. His death occurred there in 1881.
Edgar W. McColl acquired his education in the public schools of San Fran- cisco and there prepared to enter Harvard University with which institution he became affiliated in 1877 as a member of the class of 1881. During his collegiate course his father's illness and subsequent death compelled him to return to Cali- fornia. Later he again entered Harvard, but owing to his long absence found himself so in arrears in his work that he finally gave up the idea of completing his course. After leaving Harvard he went into business and from 1882 to 1888 was in Texas in the sheep-raising business and later engaged in business with his brother under the firm name of McColl Brothers, New York dealers in Cali- fornia fruits. He had also engaged for a short time in mining in El Paso, but in April, 1888, came to Spokane and for the next ten years was interested in various occupations, principally the furniture business. During a part of one year of this time, however, he was in the Coeur d'Alene mining district. In 1898 he ac- cepted the appointment of money-order clerk at the city postoffice, and in 1905 Vol. II-38
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became superintendent of the money-order division of the Spokane postoffice, which position he still occupies. His long employment with the government is due to his careful work, accuracy and integrity.
Mr. McColl was married at Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Miss Emeline Bill- ings of that city, but since his marriage las resided continuously in Spokane. To their union four children have been born: Henriette Lilliene, born February 9, 1889; Priscilla Louisa, born April 22, 1891; Edgar Warren, whose birth occurred on the 9th of June, 1893; and Nellie, born October 17, 1896. The pleasant and substantial residence which Mr. McColl occupies at the corner of North First avenue and Carnahan street attests to some degree his business prosperity and his desire to surround his family with the comforts and luxuries of a pleasant home.
ADOLPHUS F. McCLAINE.
Adolphus F. McClaine, who for about twenty-nine years has been a repre- sentative of banking interests in the northwest and is now president of the Trad- ers National Bank of Spokane, has attained his present place of honor in the business world through his own efforts. It is a well known fact that success depends greatly upon opportunity but the reason of the great majority of failures is that the individual does not recognize his opportunity when it is presented and that which differentiates the career of the successful man from him who meets failure is that the former is found equipped for the turn. of the tide. This statement finds verification in the life of Adolphus F. McClaine, who has ever recognized the opportune moment and by well formulated plans and persistent energy has attained to the position which he now occupies in financial circles.
He was born at Silverton, Oregon, March 15, 1860, a son of Fielding and Sarah Frances (Porter) McClaine. The family was founded on the Pacific coast when the father came from Sangamon county, Illinois, and settled in Oregon in 1852. About the same time the mother made her way from Pike county, Missouri, to the northwest and they were married six years later in Silverton. Fielding McClaine devoted his attention and energies to general farming and cattle-rais- ing for a number of years and when success had crowned his efforts turned lis attention to the money-loaning business. He was without desire or ambition for public office, always concentrating his energies upon his individual affairs. Both he and his wife have now passed away.
Adolphus F. McClaine supplemented his public-school course at Silverton by study in the State University of Oregon, from which he was graduated with the class of 1880. Immediately afterward he returned to his native town and, asso- ciated with Alfred Coolidge, here reorganized their fathers' money-loaning busi- ness into a private bank under the name of Coolidge & McClaine, the latter serv- ing as vice president of the institution since its organization. This by no means comprises the extent of his activities, however, for he has become equally promi- nent as a factor in banking circles elsewhere. He, with Mr. Coolidge, or- ganized what is now the Colfax National Bank of Colfax, Washington, and has continuously served as its vice president. In 1887 he entered business circles of Tacoma as one of the organizers of the National Bank of Commerce, filling
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the office of cashier for several years, but entirely severing his connection with that institution in 1892. In all of his varied undertakings in the field of bank- ing he has been associated with Alfred Coolidge, theirs being always a most harmonious partnership. For some years Mr. McClaine had been connected with the Traders National Bank and in 1909 was called to the presidency in which connection he has since bent his energies to administrative direction and exe- cutive control. He has formulated many plans which have worked out to the benefit of the bank and yet to still other fields he has extended his labors, be- coming president of the Metaline Falls State & Savings Bank, of Metaline Falls, Washington.
On the 28th of July, 1886, at Eugene, Oregon, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McClaine and Miss Mae Underwood, a daughter of James B. and Mar- garet I. (Charles) Underwood, of New York state. They have become parents of a daughter and a son: Sarah Margaret, twenty-three years of age, who is with her parents in the family home at No. 1212 Summit boulevard; and Adolphus F., Jr., who is attending Cornell University. Mr. McClaine's social activities have brought him into connection with the Spokane Club, the Spokane Country Club and the Spokane Amateur Athletic Club, being a life member of the last named. Political honors and emoluments have no attraction for him. He prefers that his leisure should be devoted to social affairs and those interests which are a matter of enjoyment and pleasure to him, while his hours of business are given to his extensive, complex and important banking interests. He has ever studied the specific needs of the banking institutions with which he is connected along the distinctive lines of his life work and his has been an active career in which he has accomplished important and far-reaching results. The Traders National Bank under his direction and that of his associates has adhered to the prin- ciple that the banking institution which most carefully safeguards its business in order to protect its depositors is the bank that most merits and deserves the public confidence. It is evidence of the public approval of the bank's conservative management and sound business principles that during Mr. McClaine's connec- tion therewith its business has steadily grown in volume and importance, placing it among the important financial concerns of the northwest.
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