USA > Washington > Spokane County > Spokane > History of the city of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume III > Part 17
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Mr. Greene was born in Oil City. Pennsylvania, on Christmas day of 1864, his parents being Dennis S. and Sarah M. (MeCray) Greene. Both were natives of Pennsylvania and the father was of English deseent. The family, however, was early established on American soil, the great grandfather of our subjeet having been born in Rhode Island, while his last days were spent in the Keystone state and his remains interred in Youngsville. The parents of Mrs. Sarah M. Greene were from the north of Ireland and represented old Scoteh-Irish Presbyterian families. Dennis S. Greene followed the occupation of farming as a life work. Among his ancestors were those who enlisted from Rhode Island in the struggle for independence and when the Civil war broke out, true to the aneestral example, he manifested the same patriotic spirit as a soldier of the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. In the family were but two sons and one daughter. the
1. P. GREENE
F
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brother of our subject being Harry M. Greene, master mechanic of The American Rolling Mills Company's steel plant at Middletown, Ohio. while the sister is Blanche, the wife of G. A. Waldo, connected with the auditor's office in Spokane county.
In the acquirement of his education Frederick P. Greene attended the high school of Youngsville. Pennsylvania, and the Northwestern Business College of Kansas City, Missouri. He also pursued the normal and collegiate courses of Chautauqua by correspondence and through attendance at summer schools. Soon after starting out in the business world he was employed for a year and a half as deputy postmaster in Youngsville. Pennsylvania, and then left the east for western Kansas, where he engaged in merchandising for two years. On the ex- piration of that period he removed to southern Missouri, where he conducted a lumberyard for two years, and subsequently he went to Kansas City, where he acted as principal in the commercial department of the National Business College. This was not his first experience as a teacher, however, for he had also taught school in Warren county. Pennsylvania. before leaving the cast. While in southern Missouri he had been admitted to the bar and practiced law for two years, but fol- lowing his removal to Kansas City again took up educational work. On leaving that place he went to Ritzville. Washington, in 1893, and was principal of the schools at Ritzville and also editor of the Ritzville News for a year. Later he was located at Burke, Idaho, where he served as head accountant for the Tiger Mercantile Company in 1896. In 1900 he came to Spokane and obtained the posi- tion of accountant with the Hazelwood Dairy Company until 1903. He was then other manager for the Wonder Department Store until January. 1907. at which time he became auditor of Spokane county, filling the position until the Ist of May. 1909, when he resigned to become manager of the Spokane Title Company. This was in May. 1910. He then engaged in public auditing and accounting until the first of January, 1911. since which time he has been treasurer and director of the Western Empire Insurance Company. In this field, as in all others in which he has entered. he is meeting with success. for he has determined purpose and unfalter- ing energy which conquer obstacles and ultimately reach the desired goal.
In his political views Mr. Greene has ever been a stalwart republican, stanchly advocating the principles which he believes most conducive to good government and taking a helpful part in campaign work. In Spokane he has served as a member of the city central committee and has been a delegate to many city and county con- ventions. He was called to the office of auditor in 1906 and a public expression of approval of his course came to him in his reelection in 1908. As stated, probably his most important service has been in preparing and securing the passage of the bill creating a bureau for the inspection of offices. The taxpayer has reason to feel grateful toward him because of the benefit to be derived from this bill. It has al- ready resulted in the discovery of many irregularities and has been the cause of many officials having to return money both to counties and cities. Mr. Greene has been the recipient of warm congratulations over what has been accomplished and the work has only commenced. Governor Hay personally expressed his satisfaction over the manner in which the bill kept a check on tax accounting methods. The bill was passed in 1909, after much preliminary work, its object being to provide for a uniform system of public accounting and for the auditing of accounts of all public offices. The work of the bureau has thus far been very effective, proving that great
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good may be accomplished in this manner. Mr. Greene was offered the appointment of head of the bureau but declined. As president of the County Auditors' Associa- tion he was enabled to do much for his bill in making known its purposes and its possibilities. There was much opposition but after a hard fight the bill passed the house by a strong majority. In the senate there was strenuous opposition, yet suc- eess ultimately erowned the project. Mr. Greene personally sent out over five thou- sand pieces of mail in two years when working for the measure. At the start he met nothing but discouragement, everyone declaring it an impossibility to get the bill through as the "state house crowd would kill it." However, he succeeded ul- timately in winning confidence and support and was appointed chairman of the legis- lative committee and the drafting of the bill was placed in his hands. That was just after the legislature of 1907 adjourned and Mr. Greene then started in to ereate publie sentiment in favor of the bill. so the people would fully understand what it meant and would be prepared to work for it in the session of 1909. He first se- cured copies of all existing legislation from every general assembly in all the states of the Union as well as all states which had adopted the uniform system. The next year he submitted the bill and delivered a paper before the auditors' association. This paper was printed in booklet form for distribution and he then secured the cooperation of the state grange through C. B. Kegley, its president, and by per- sistent campaigning and publicity measures created a demand for the legislation so strong that the bill eventually became a law. He appeared before the senate eom- mittee and was on the floor an hour and a half talking and answering questions. In 1903 he was appointed a member of the state hoard of accountaney by Governor Mead and has since held that position, in which connection he examines and lieenses public accountants. In December, 1909. he was elected a member of the eity board of education for a three years' term.
In addition to the public and private interests which have elaimed the time and energies of Mr. Greene he is also connected with mining, being largely interested in a British Columbia property, where a mill is being ereeted, near Tatlayoco lake in the Nanaimo distriet. The base is antimony. carrying gold and silver, and it is ex- pected that the property will be a very paying one.
Mr. Greene is a member of the Masonie lodge, the eonsistory, the commandery and the Mystic Shrine, thus having taken high rank in both the York and Scottish Rites. Ile is also a trustee of the Masonic temple. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he has passed all of the chairs. and is at the present writ- ing grand inner guard of the grand lodge of the state of Washington. He likewise belongs to the Inland Club, the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce and is widely known in the business and social circles of the city.
In 1890. in Van Buren, Missouri, Mr. Greene was united in marriage to Miss Clara L. Clay, a daughter of Robert Clay and Adelaide (Vance) Clay. Mr. Clay is a lumberman of Van Buren and a representative of an old southern family. Mrs. Greene had one unele in the Union army and others who were soldiers in the Con- federate army. Both the Vance and Clay families from which she is deseended on the maternal and paternal lines were old and prominent families of Kentucky. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Greene have been born three children, Hazel Annie. Nellie Lois and Lawrence Clay.
Mr. Greene is certainly entitled to twofold prominence. because of what he has accomplished in the business world and in behalf of the public welfare. His labor
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has been largely of a character that has brought no return save the consciousness of duty well performed, and with this he is content. He recognized a need and he met it and the state at large is profiting by his labor. In business, too, when he has seen something to be done he has not hesitated in the performance of the duty, and resolute will, determined purpose and honorable intention have carried mmmm forward to success in his different undertakings.
JOSEPHI A. BORDEN.
Joseph A. Borden, treasurer of the Shaw & Borden Company, is numbered with that class of Spokane's citizens who have the best interests of the country at heart and labor earnestly and effectively for the development and progress of the Inland Empire. His success in business, too, illustrates his activity, enterprise and sound judgment along the line which he has chosen as his life work. He is treasurer of the extensive printing establishment of the Shaw & Borden Company on River- side avenue, controlling one of the largest plants in their line in this section of the country.
Mr. Borden was born at Camden, Indiana. October. 19, 1862. his parents being George D. and Sarah J. (Ginger) Borden. The father was a merchant and served through the Civil war in the One Hundredth Indiana Volunteers. The son pursued his education in the public schools of Dunkirk, Indiana, and after- ward went to Washington, D. C., where he was employed in the government printing othiec for a period of five years, during which time he pursued a three years' law course at Georgetown University, from which he was graduated in 1889 with the degree of Master of Law. On the expiration of that period he removed to Colby. Kansas, where he engaged in law practice for a year, and in March. 1890. he arrived in Spokane. since which time he has given his attention continuously to the printing business, forming a partnership with John H. Shaw under the firm name of the Shaw & Borden Company. The business was incor- porated in 1894 with a capital of twenty thousand dollars and something of the growth of their business and its present magnitude are indicated in the fact that the capital stock has sine been increased to two hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars. This firm is one of the most progressive in its line in the Inland Empire. They conduct a large retail stationery and office goods store and do all kinds of magazine and catalogue work in their printing establishment. both departments of their business being thoroughly equipped. The store was first located in the old Heath building on Monroe street. whence a removal was made to the Spokane National Bank building at the corner of Howard and Riverside, which is now known as the Rookery. Since 1903 they have occupied their present site and the business is one of the foremost undertakings of its kind in the northwest.
While Mr. Borden has been actively engaged in the development and control of this enterprise. he has at the same time been an important factor in many activities which have contributed to the upbuilding and welfare of Spokane and is ready to do anything that will promote the interests of the city or of the Inland Empire. He was a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce and served on its first board of trustees. He was chairman of the first Pacific coast printers'
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cost congress. which was held at Portland, Oregon, in February. 1911. and was also chairman of the third international printers' eost congress, which was held at Denver, Colorado, in September, 1911. He is now the third vice president and a member of the executive committee of the United Typothetae of America and has charge of their affairs on the Pacific coast. He has every reason to be proud of the fact that he is the only member of the exceutive committee in the far west- an honor well deserved. In the line of his ehosen business he is known from one coast to the other and ranks as one of its most prominent representatives.
Mr. Borden is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained high rank, and is now a member of El Katif Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He spent ten years in active work in the chairs in all of the York Rite bodies. He belongs also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 228, and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is likewise a member of the board of governors of the New England Club. There always seems baek of him a reserve foree on which to draw and his resourcefulness enables him to meet any exigency or opportunity that arises. He has worked out along progressive lines, whether for the benefit of individual or community interests, and manifested a spirit of initiation in connection with many projects which have been helpful to the eity or which have contributed to the result of plaeing him in a foremost posi- tion as a representative of the printing interests of the country.
CHESTER F. YOUNG.
Nature is praetieal in her gifts and yet in no instanee do they come ready at hand. She demands the cooperation of mankind in the conversion of what she offers into marketable material. The broad prairies, rich valleys and almost limit- less forests of the northwest offered untold wealth to those who would exercise industry, perseverance and determination in utilizing the resources offered. To those who put forth diligenee and perseveranee the rewards were certain. as is indicated by the prosperous condition of this great Inland Empire. Chester F. Young has been one of the most potent forees in the development of this seetion of the country. As one of the pioneers in irrigating he demonstrated what could be accomplished in promoting the fertility of the region and his labors were equally effective in bringing population to the distriet and in inereasing values and pro- duetion.
His life history had its beginning on the 11th of October, 1863, in Peoria county, Illinois, his parents being Franeis H. and Eleanor (Smith) Young, both of whom were of English lineage, representing families founded in America prior to the Revolutionary war. The Young family was established in New England and Franeis H. Young was born in Conncetieut. He enlisted for service in the Civil war but was not aeeepted, owing to physical disability. He now makes his home in Ottawa, Kansas, where he is living retired. His wife, who was born in Penn- sylvania, died in 1911. She had five brothers who were soldiers of the Union army, all members of Illinois regiments.
Chester F. Young was the only child born of his parents' marriage but he has a half sister, Carrie, now the wife of Albert Fouts, of Ottawa, Kansas. His
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education was acquired in the schools of his native state and he was married and started out in life for himself at the early age of twenty-one years. It was in Chari- ton. lowa, on the 11th of June. 1884, that he wedded Emma L. Speck, a daughter of C. G. Speck, now deceased, who was of German descent and devoted his life to farming in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Young have become the parents of three dangh- ters, Helen, Jean and Ruth, all attending school as pupils of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Mr. and Mrs. Young began their domestic life upon an Iowa farm and farm- ing largely occupied his attention until 1889. However in the meantime he had resided in various localities. He lived for two years in Chariton, lowa. and then went to Ottawa, Kansas, where he spent the succeeding year. He then returned to lowa, continuing his residenee in that state for three years. He first came to Washington in 1888 and spent five years in this state. While in the north- west he purchased land in Colfax where he carried on farming for about six years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Ottumwa, lowa, and afterward went to Missouri, where he resided for two years. Again he became a resident of lowa and began buying and shipping horses and also purchasing and selling real estate. He was thus connected with the business interests of the middle west until he once more came to the Pacific coast in 1898. About 1901 Mr. Young became associated with the Oregon Land & Water Company at Portland and he is probably the first man who ever went upon the road in order to sell real estate. He after- ward formed a partnership with a Mr. Neeley and began the development of the famous Greenacres district. About half of the property had been sold when they took charge and when they disposed of the remainder they then opened East Greenacres, comprising about three thousand acres. When two-thirds of this had been sold D. C. Corbin bought out the Spokane Valley Land & Water Company and Mr. Young afterward sold land for Mr. Corbin for a year. He then became associated with H. J. Neeley in selling the land of Opportunity. Several years before, about 1898, the government wished to take the valley as an encampment ground but at length decided not to do so. This was felt as a calamity by people of the district but it has proved to be entirely the opposite. As encampment ground it would have yielded only a fraction of what it has brought as orchard land, to say nothing of the amount which would have been lost in population. After Jispos- ing of Opportunity Mr. Young and Mr. Neeley became purchasers of Orchard avenue, consisting of four hundred and ten acres, of which they sold one hun- dred and ten acres to the city. The remaining three hundred acres were divided into one hundred-acre tracts and then sold. On the 8th of December, 1909, the Neeley-Young Company merged with the Becher & Thompson Company and were also joined by E. G. Taylor who was selling Otis Orchards. That gave the com- bine the control of the land in Spokane valley under the gravity system of irriga- tion and during the period in which they were handling the Spokane valley land they were instrumental in securing its settlement by six thousand people. In the spring of 1903 there were twenty-eight hundred acres of the valley owned by four dairy farmers and today there are three hundred homes on that one tract, beside two box factories, two lumberyards, two pickle factories, two blacksmith shops. two churches and a new schoolhouse, and the price of the land has ad- vanced from two hundred and fifty dollars per acre to fifteen hundred dollars per acre.
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In handling all the properties with which he has been eonneeted Mr. Young has been a most helpful factor in promoting the methods of development which have ad- vaneed values and added mueh to the attractiveness of this region. He was one of the pioneers of the irrigation movement whereby thousands of acres of arid lands have been reelaimed and converted into fine farms. the products of which add thousands upon thousands of dollars to the wealth of the state each year. Mr. Young now lives in the northwest corner of Opportunity. about six miles from the eity, this distriet having telephone connection, electrie lights and mail delivery from Spokane. He has many private interests apart from his company associations. ineluding the ownership of five hundred acres of wheat land and fifty aeres in the Spokane valley. He has made a most notable record in his real-estate operations. having sold more land in the Spokane valley than any other one man, and he has also handled extensive property interests in Idaho and Montana. Mr. Young is now seeretary of the Spo- kane Valley Irrigated Land Company. Ine., of which D. M. Thompson is president : E. G. Taylor, viee president; and Phil T. Beeher. treasurer. Their principal prop- erties are Pasadena, Greenaeres, East Greenaeres, West Farms, East Farms and Otis Orchards. They disposed of Hazelwood. twenty-seven hundred aeres. for the Hazelwood Company, praetieally the entire amount now being sold.
Mr. Young exereises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party but never seeks nor desires offiee. He is a blue lodge Mason and a member of the Chamber of Commerce, but his interests and activities are largely eoneentrated upon his business affairs which, however. have been of a char- acter that have contributed to general prosperity and progress as well as to in- dividual sueeess. He has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way and his sound judgment has placed eorreet valuation upon such op- portunities. As he has steadily advanced in his business career he has come into important connections with the northwest and his name deserves prominent mention among those who have been leading factors in promoting the development of this seetion of the country.
EPHRAIM P. PENFIELD, M. D.
The west has often been spoken of as the country of the young man and one usu- ally finds that it is the younger generation that leaves home and utilizes the re- sourees and opportunities of the new country, yet character and ability will come to the front anywhere and. recognizing this faet. Dr. Ephraim P. Penfield did not hesitate to remove to Spokane after he had passed the half century milestone on life's journey. He came to this city in the spring of 1890 and here followed his profession until his death. his skill winning him recognition that was manifest in a "large and satisfactory praetiee.
He was born in Fairfield. Huron eounty. Ohio. April 5. 1833. His father, Sam- nel Penfield. was a descendant of one of the old Connectieut families and. migrat- ing westward, established his home in Huron county. Ohio, where he followed hoth farming and merchandising. He was a man of decided purpose and unfaltering determination and never hesitated to espouse a eause which he believed to be right. On aeeount of his advoeaey of anti-slavery and of prohibition he was put out of
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the Baptist church. When saner opinion prevailed, however. he was asked to re- sume his connection with the congregation and that he was a broad-minded man is indicated by the fact that he did so, generously forgiving those who had previously opposed him. He married Clara Woodfield and their son, Dr. Pentield, had the opportunity of attending school in Fairfield. Ohio, and afterward of becoming a student in a seminary at Norwalk. He then went to Cleveland to prepare for a professional career. entering Hahnemann College, from which he was graduated on the completion of the regular course. Hle located for practice in Newark, Ohio, where he remained for six years. subsequently removing to Bucyrus where he also continued in practice for a member of years, his experience and his continued read- ing adding to his broad knowledge and efficiency. At length, believing that the west held opportunities for the middle-aged as well as the young, he decided to establish his home in Spokane, where he arrived in the spring of 1890. He felt that the outlook was good and soon after his wife and family joined him-in De- cember of that year. Here he continued in the practice of medicine until his death, becoming one of the best known and most honored physicians of Spokane. holding at all times to a high standard of professional ethics.
It was on the 15th of April. 1857. in Fairfield, Ohio, that Dr. Penfield was united in marriage to Miss Louisa A. Smith, a daughter of Jonathan 11. and Be- linda A. (Holmes) Smith, formerly of Tompkins county. New York, where her father followed farming and merchandising. Dr. Penfield is now survived by his wife and three sons, as follows: James W .. of Spokane: Arthur E., engaged in the mining business at Wardner, Idaho; and Dr. C. S., who is one of the most promi- nent and successful practicing physicians of this city today.
Death called Dr. Penfield on the 9th of September, 1902. when he was in the seventieth year of his age. His political views were in accord with the principles of the republican party which he supported from the time age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belonged to the Odd Fellows Society, and was a man of firm belief and conviction, never faltering in his loyalty to a course which he be- lieved to be right. He was a lover of his home and all that was beautiful, was very fond of music, possessed scholarly attainments and habits and was most deeply interested in his profession from both the scientific and humanitarian standpoints. He enjoyed the companionship of people of kindred interests and ever held friend- ship inviolable. A man of marked individuality, the development of his character was based upon high and manly principles and there was in all of his life history no page that would not bear scrutiny.
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