History of the city of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume III, Part 25

Author: Durham, Nelson Wayne, 1859-1938
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 778


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 25


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soldier, as an official, as a medical practitioner and as a business man has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and good-will of all with whom he has been brought in contact, his private activities and his public service win- ning him high encomiums from his fellowmen.


J. GLEN HARBISON. M. D.


While one of the younger medical practitioners of Spokane. Dr. J. Glen Harbi- son has given proof of his knowledge and ability in the line of his chosen profes- sion and has thereby won substantial recognition of his ability in a growing practice. He was born at Springfield, Illinois, July 12, 1881, and is a son of William H. and Ida E. (Sanner) Harbison, the former an architect and con- tractor of Springfield. He directed his son's education which was acquired in the public and high schools of his native city. In a review of the different profes- sions and commercial and industrial interests in search of a congenial life work, Dr. Harbison at length determined to enter upon the practice of medicine and in preparation therefor became a student in Hahnemann Medical College of Chi- cago, in which he completed the regular four years' course and was graduated in the class of 1905. His first actual experience came to him as interne in the Cook County Hospital of Chicago, where he remained for a year and a half. He then pursued a post-graduate course in the medical department of the University of Illinois, which granted him a diploma in 1907. In the summer of the same year he came to Spokane where he has since followed his profession and has a growing practice. College training today supplies young men with knowledge that previ- ous generations had to acquire through the slow and painful process of practical experience, and splendidly equipped for his profession, Dr. Harbison has had no difficulty in convincing the public of his ability and winning a fair share of the public patronage.


Along professional lines Dr. Harbison is connected with the Spokane County Medical Society, the Washington State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He also belongs to the Royal Highlanders and his religions faith is evidenced in his membership in the Central Christian church.


JAMES A. MCLEAN.


James A. Mclean, who has been interested in engineering feats in the north- west since 1887, was born in Canada, east of Toronto, on the 3d of June. 1866. a son of John and Isabella (Clark) Mclean, both of whom were natives of Scot- land. The father died in 1906 at the age of eighty. The mother removed to Canada as a pioneer in 1838. when she was but sixteen years of age. Her death occurred in 1908. To their union seven children were born: James Archibald, the subject of this sketch: Alexander, a resident of Oakland. California; Sammel A .. who resides in Chesaw, Washington : John N .. a resident of Nez Perce, Idaho; Alice Isabella, the wife of Charles Spotswood, of San Jose, California; Maggie,


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the wife of John Blaine, of Toronto, Canada ; and Catherine Jean, who is the wife of Charles Steffins. also of Toronto, Canada. The paternal grandfather of James A. MeLean served for twenty-one years in the British army and was captain of his company for many years and participated in several important battles.


James A. MeLean pursued his education in the common schools of Canada. When he had completed his studies he removed to Montana and was employed in railroad construction work. In 1887 and 1888 he was engaged in building rail- road for the Montana Central between Butte and the tunnel. After completing this piece of work he went to the Coeur d'Alene country and built railroad for the Northern Paeifie known as the Missoula eutoff. While in that part of the country he was also engaged in opening up the Grouse mine on Chloride Hill. In 1892 he moved to the west side of the Caseade mountains and built a portion of the Great Northern main line. In 1893 he built a portion of the Fort Shepherd & Nelson Railroad near Nelson. British Columbia. The following year he went to California and engaged in building a railroad from Monterey to Fresno and subsequently he moved to Shasta county. where he built a road from Keswick to Iron Mountain. In the autumn of 1896 he went to Trinity county, California. and ereeted eleven and a half miles of five-thousand-inch flume and nine thousand feet of tunnel. This undertaking covered a period of about two years and at the expiration of that time he went to British Columbia, where he took a construction contract on the Columbia & Western between Brooklyn and Gladstone. After completing this he went to Idaho. building a portion of the Clearwater Short Line, then purchased a sawmill and took out one hundred thousand ties for the North- ern Pacific Railroad. He then engaged in building railroad at Republie, Washing- ton, and also at Rexford on the Great Northern. In the fall of 1906 le diseon- tinued his connections with the railroads and entered the mining business. He acquired the Grant Consolidated Copper Mining Company, owning property at Chesaw, Washington. It comprises a group of ten claims, to which he has added five more sinee he has been managing the company. They have developed twelve hundred feet of underground workings and have a hundred horse power plant. drifting at a depth of six hundred feet. The values of twelve ear loads have six per eent eopper and four dollars in gold and silver. One vein is fifty-four feet between the walls and the other is twenty-four feet between the walls. It has a granite foot wall, a lime-hanging wall and diorite filling. To Mr. MeLean falls the task of developing this property and blocking out the ore. His exceptional ability is showing itself in the success he is having in finding the veins and bring- ing the ore to the surface. As soon as the railroad is extended to the property he will begin shipping the metal. He has also other mining interests and in these he is meeting with similar success.


On the 29th of December. 1897, Mr. MeLean was married at Sacramento, California, to Miss Miriam W. Govan. a daughter of James and Elizabeth Govan. The father eame to California from Philadelphia and is deseended from the Seoteh family from whom the town of Govan, in Seotland. derives its name. He moved to California as a pioneer and died at the age of eighty-three years, being the oldest member of the Veteran Odd Fellows some fifty years standing. His wife survived him three years and died at the age of seventy-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Govan were the parents of nine children, those surviving being: William, an offieer in the state eapital at Sacramento, California; Robert. a mining pro-


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moter and capitalist of Tonopah, Nevada: Elias, who is connected with real- "state and banking interests at Sacramento. California; Agnes, the widow of Thomas B. Hall, whe was a wholesale merchant of Sacramento, California; Jean- nie W .. who is engaged in educational work in Sacramento, California : and Miriam, who became the wife of James A. Mclean, of this review. To Mr. and Mrs. MeLenn four children have been born: Miriam, Elise. Robert Govan and Jean. Mr. Melean gives his political support to the republican party, The family attend the Presbyterian church. Mr. Mel.can is prominent in Masonry, holding membership in Lodge No. 10. F. & A. M .; Nez Perce Consistory of Lewiston, Idaho; and El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Spokane. He also belongs to the Illinois Commercial Men's Association. He is regarded as one of the most prominent mining promoters in Spokane and the benefits which many of his fellow citizens have derived from his advice have won him a large circle of admirers.


THOMAS HYE.


Thomas Hye is engaged in the real-estate business in Spokane and is also in- terested in the Spokane Taxicab Company, the Northwestern Drug Company and other enterprises. This, however, does not cover the extent of his activities, which are many, and are of an important character, contributing to the develop- ment and progress of the communities, in which they are located. Mr. Hye is recognized as an alert. enterprising business man, and his determined purpose enables him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he attempts.


A native of Rhode Island, Mr. Hye was born in Providence. February 20, 1863. His father, Frank Hye, was of Irish lineage, but was a native of Provi- dence and became a prominent and influential resident of his home town, where he served as city councilman. He was a soldier of the Civil war, with the Second Rhode Island Infantry and continued at the front throughout the long struggle. His death occurred in 1898. while his wife survived until 1905, passing away in Spokane. She bore the maiden name of Catherine Golden and was born in Ire- land. She' belonged to a prominent Irish family that later became well known in Rhode Island, where many representatives of the name are still living. The three brothers of Thomas Hye are: Frank. who is connected with the mining in- dustry at Elk City, Idaho; Leo, who is night cashier with the Washington Water Power Company; and William, with the Spokane Taxicab Company. The sisters are: Mrs. Mary Carlin, of Spokane; and Mrs. Agnes Plummer, who is now travel- ing in Europe.


In the common schools of his native city Thomas Hye mastered the branches of learning, which usually constitute the publie-school curriculum, completing his studies in the high school at Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Turning to business life he first engaged in merchandising in Bernalillo. New Mexico, and afterward turned his attention to mining in that state in 1879. He subsequently was again identified with mercantile pursuits until 1884, when he entered the employ of a mining company in Copper City, New Mexico, which pursuit claimed his atten- tion for five years. In 1889 he went to Denver, Colorado, where he spent almost


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a year, and in September, 1890, located at Farmington, Washington, where he again conducted a mercantile enterprise. In 1892 he bought out the Farmington Trading Company, conducting business until March, 1897. when he disposed of his stock and removed to Spokane. His first identification with business inter- ests here was as proprietor of a billiard hall in the basement of the Rookery build- ing, the first exclusive billiard hall in the city.


ยท In 1899. Mr. Hye made a trip to Dixie, Idaho, to open some mining property, and there with his associates built two mills and did considerable development work. Mr. Hye still retains his interest in the North Star Group there. For the past nine or ten years he has been engaged in the real-estate business, trading, buying and handling his own properties. He makes a specialty, however, of trad- ing and exchanges, and has become well known as an operator in real estate in Spokane. At one time he owned the Albion block on Howard street, also the Franc block on Front avenue, which was afterward torn down by the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He has also owned several apartment houses on Post and Third, and on Augusta and Lincoln streets. He buys and sells all the time and his operations here have been an important feature in real-estate activities in Spokane.


Aside from his Spokane interests, Mr. Hye is a heavy stockholder in a group of mines in Coeur d'Alene, now being developed, the property being located on Eagle creek, near Murray. He also owns much other mining stock and he is in- terested in the Washington Brick & Lime Company, the Idaho Lime Company and in other corporations and business projects. He is one of the heaviest stock- holders in the American Manufacturing Company, making pumps, water wheels and wrenches, with a factory on Division street. They are in control of fourteen different patents and they also put out a rotary pump. In fact all of the things manufactured are made from their own patents, including current motors, wrenches and other devices. Of this company, which is incorporated for two million dol- lars, Mr. Hye is the secretary and treasurer. with Charles L. Kik, of Spokane, as president ; and Walter L. Elkins, of Spokane, as vice president. Mr. Hye is likewise interested in the Patent Holding Company, owning the Diamond Car- riage Works, and in the Inland Improvement Company, operating in land in and near Spokane. He is also vice president and one of the largest stockholders of The Iceless Refrigerator Company.


On the 1st of June. 1896, at Farmington, Mr. Hye was married to Miss Mattie Fultz, a daughter of Matthew Fultz, a pioneer of California and of Washington, who crossed the plains to the former state in 1849, and came to Washington at a very early day. He was of German descent and is now deceased. Mrs. Hye's mother, who after her first husband's demise married David Delaney, is an adopted daughter of Marcus Whitman and one of the survivors of the dreadful Whitman massacre. Mrs. Delaney's sisters are: Mrs. Kate Pringle, deceased, who was prominently known in the northwest; and Mrs. William Helm, of Portland, Oregon.


In politics Mr. Hye is a democrat and active in the party work. He has served as delegate to county and state conventions and as a member of county and state central committees, acting in the former capacity. and has done much to aid his friends in obtaining office. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he has filled all of the chairs and is now a past chancellor and past


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deputy grand chancellor. In the Odd Fellows society he has also filled all of the chairs in the local lodge, is a past grand and past chief patriarch. In the Wood- men of the World he is past counselor commander and he belongs to the Eagles and to the Chamber of Commerce. He went to New Mexico in the pioneer epoch in the history of that state and became largely familiar with frontier life there, owing to the unsettled condition of the country, the Apaches being very trouble- some at that time. Since then he has been connected with pioneer experiences in various sections of the country and his labors have always constituted an effective clement for progress and improvement.


ROBERT C. SWEATT.


Robert C. Sweatt, a Spokane architect whose well developed powers have found expression in the erection of some of the fine buildings of the city, was born in Chicago, December 8, 1872, a son of John B. and Elsie L. (Carlisle) Sweatt, who were then residents of Chicago and since 1903 have made their home in Spokane, where the father is engaged in the contracting and building business.


In the public and high schools of his native city the son acquired his educa- tion and pursued his architectural course in Columbia University of New York city. He afterward went to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where he followed his profession for about three years. In 1901 he came to Spokane. where he entered into partnership with Lewis R. Stritesky, under the name of Stritesky & Sweatt, the junior partner being in charge of the designing department, while Mr. Stri- tesky superintended and building operations. In 1906 the firm was dissolved, since which time Mr. Sweatt has practiced his profession alone. Among the princi- pal buildings which the firm designed and erected were the Shoshone county court- house at Wallace, Idaho, the Westminster apartments of this city and the Schade Brewery Company's buildings. Since the dissolution of the partnership Mr. Sweatt has designed the new Peyton building, the Children's Home, the Lever Hotel and the Knights of Pythias temple here, and one of the more recent of his works has been the Spokane County Tuberculosis Hospital. He is also the offi- cial architect of the school board and under his supervision the city is making plans to completely revolutionize their future school buillings.


Mr. Sweatt has never held public office but has been actively identified with the insurgent republican party and was one of the leaders in the contest for a commission form of government. He was a member of the committee and chair- man of the sub-committee on meetings that directed and carried on the fight and finally succeeded in securing the adoption of the commission plan.


Mr. Sweatt is pleasantly situated in his home life, having been married on the 30th of September. 1896, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Miss Jennie Odegard, of that city, a daughter of John and Maren Odegard. Her mother is still living but her father, who was a teacher and edneator by profession, has been dead several years.


In Masonry Mr. Sweatt has attained the Knights Templar degree and he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge. He is a member of the Inland Club, the Spokane Society of Social and Moral Hygiene, is a director of the


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Town and Country Club and a trustee of the First Universalist church. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the executive committee on the first Enakops carnival and a member of the executive committee who will have charge of the new Auditorium to be erected in Spokane. He has entered into all progressive public measures and is a champion of the city and her welfare.


EDWARD JAMES CANNON.


Well versed in all departments of the law and especially proficient in corporation law. Edward James Cannon by the consensus of public opinion is placed in a fore- most position among the distinguished attorneys of Spokane and at the same time is active in control of important invested interests. He was born on a farm near Warnerville, Juneau county, Wisconsin, February 21, 1866, a son of James and Eliza (Noonan) Cannon, both of whom were of Irish lineage. The maternal grand- parents were both natives of Ireland and Michael Noonan, the grandfather of Eliza (Noonan) Cannon, was a civil engineer and overseer of public works in the south half of Ireland during the famine times, His wife reached the remarkable old age of one hundred and nine years. James Cannon has devoted his life to farming and now makes his home in Cresco, Iowa. His family numbered eleven children, the brothers of Edward James Cannon being: Harry, who is a prominent physician and surgeon of St. Paul; John M .. an attorney of Ritzville, Washington; George, who is practicing law in Minnesota; and James, who is engaged in the insurance business in Minneapolis. The daughters of the household were: Mary, the wife of M. A. Montague, who is engaged in the land business in Iowa; Lyda, the wife of P. M. Daly. in the interior department of Washington, D. C .; Marcella, the wife of Thomas Gerraghty, an attorney of Valdez, Alaska; Margaret, the wife of Frank J. O'Rourke, of Freeport, Illinois, who is assistant editor of a daily paper there; and Theresa and Katherine, at home.


When Edward J. Cannon was a lad of eight years the family removed to the Hawkeye state and following the acquirement of his more specific literary education he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, in the fall of 1887 and there entered upon the study of law in the office of Thompson & Taylor, who directed his reading until his ad- mission to the bar on the 1st of June, 1890. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in St. Paul, where he remained until January 1, 1906, when he came to Spokane, having received the appointment of division counsel for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company for that portion of the line extending from Paradise, Montana, to the Columbia river and including all of its branches. In this capacity he still continues and at the same time is counsel for the Spokane. Portland & Seattle Railroad from Pasco eastward. In addition he practiced in partnership with Arthur B. Lee, the firm pursuing a general practice and enjoying a high reputation for ability in the profession. Since that time changes have occurred in the firm and there are now six lawyers in the office. They represent seven of the casualty com- panies doing business in Spokane and Mr. Cannon is also attorney for the First National Bank of Hillyard and the National Bank of Commerce of Spokane. As division counsel of the Northern Pacific he has twelve hundred miles of road under his legal direction and is legal adviser for altogether two thousand miles of road.


EDWARD J. CANNON


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NARY


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In addition to his other railway connections he is attorney for the Camas Prairie Railroad and the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railroad. In the field of corpor- ation law his work has been of a very important character. He is also attorney for the Stanton Packing Company and attorney for various irrigation companies, and probably no firm in Spokane has a more extensive corporation practice. They employ their own court stenographer and their own claim agent. Outside the strict path of his profession Mr. Cannon has extended his efforts into other fields and is now president of the First National Bank of Hillyard and a director of the National Bank of Commerce of Spokane. He is also president of the New World Life In- surance Company and acts as its counsel. He is the owner of one hundred and sixty aeres of land, on Half Moon prairie, which is devoted to the raising of fruit.


On October 9, 1890. at St. Paul, Minnesota, Mr. Cannon was married to Miss Helen L. Appleton, a daughter of James B. and Louise (Walker) Appleton, of Osage, Jowa. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cannon, Louise Marie, Helen Eliza and Marcella. At 416 East Rockwood boulevard is situated the family home, over which Mrs. Cannon graciously presides and where she dispenses cordial hospitality to the numerous friends of the family who are wont to gather there for many a pleasant hour.


Mr. Cannon is well known in social connections as a member of the Spokane, Spokane Country and Inland Clubs and is a life member of the Spokane Athletic Club. Ile likewise belongs to Spokane Lodge. No. 228. B. P. O. E .. and the Knights of Columbus, in which he has held all the chairs. He is also connected with the Chamber of Commerce and his cooperation is given to every movement instituted by that organization for the benefit and upbuilding of the city. His entire life has been characterized by continuous advancement. Every step in his career has been a for- ward one and the thoroughness with which he has mastered every task and per- formed every duty constitutes the secret of his success. In the law he has never failed to give careful preparation and a keen analytical mind enables him to readily determine the salient points in a case and apply legal principle and precedent cor- reetly. In the field of business, too. his sound judgment has manifested itself in judicions investment and the wise control of his interests.


W. J. KOMMERS.


At the age of fourteen years W. J. Kommers could not speak a word of the English language; today he occupies an enviable position in the world of finance as a representative of banking interests in Spokane. The heights to which he has risen in his business earcer indicate a life of intelligent and well directed activity and a thorough mastery of the tasks he has undertaken. He was born in Mount Calvary, Wisconsin, January 13. 1872. His father. Mathias Kommers, was born in Germany and was the son of a prominent German citizen and military officer. In early life Mathias Kommers came to the new world and for many years was engaged in general merchandising but is now living in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He had one brother who served in the Civil war and was wounded in the strife. Mathias Kommers was united in marriage to Margaret Wolf, a native of Mount Calvary, Wisconsin, and a member of a family that was represented in the Revo-


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lutionary war and also in the Civil war. She, too, is of German descent and it was the language of the fatherland that was spoken in the Kommers home, where the family included five sons and three daughters, the brothers of our subject being: Adolph, now of Spokane; Louis, living in Wabeno, Wisconsin ; Alphonse, a resident of Antigo, Wisconsin ; and the Rev. Joseph Kommers, of Hortonville, Wisconsin. The sisters are Mary, Angeline and Anna. all residents of Fond du Lac. Wisconsin.


W. J. Kommers was educated in Mount Calvary, a restricted rural community of German settlers, to the age of fourteen years when he was sent to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended the Pio Nono College, pursuing a commercial course, which was completed by gradnation with the class of 1889. The following year he accepted a position as bookkeeper for a hardware company in Superior, Wis- consin, where he remained for a year, when the Northwestern National Bank was formed with Mathias Kommers as one of the stockholders, and his son, W. J. Kommers, was given the position of messenger in the bank, to serve the first year without salary. He remained with that institution in various capacities for twelve years, serving during the last four years as its cashier. In 1902 he came to Spokane to join D. W. Twohy, who with his associates was at that time perfecting the purchase of the Old National Bank. He has since been connected with these gentlemen, becoming assistant cashier but having more particularly in hand the interior organization and development of the bank. He spent much of his time in advertising the institution and bringing it to public notice, had charge of the working force and systems of the bank and assisted also in the credit department. In the fall of 1909 the growth of the bank made it necessary to find new quarters and the new site and the erection of a building for the Old National Bank and all the details were placed in charge of Mr. Kommers. The volume of business that developed in this connection was so great that he was practically disassociated with the work of the bank in the conduct of his daily interests for the next two years, his labors only ending with the complete rental of the building and an organization developed to operate it. Prior to this undertaking he was given earte blanche for three months and traveled all over the country, studying architecture and planning the details of the bank and its offices. His suggestions and ideas were accepted, for the officials recognized that he thoroughly knew the needs of the bank and possessed, moreover, knowledge concerning the requirements of office tenants in the city. The responsibility of fixing the rental space of every square foot in the immense building and putting it on a paying basis was his. His work was completed on the Ist of January, 1911, when the Old National Bank moved into its new home. Without relinquishing his position as assistant cashier of the Old National Bank and also continuing to serve as assistant secretary of the Old National Bank Building Company, Mr. Kommers was elected to the cashiership and directorate of the Union Trust & Savings Bank, an institution allied to the Old National Bank and conducted under practically the same owner- ship. He is so engaged now and is serving the same interests. He has always displayed special fitness for the building up of organizations to rank with the representative business enterprises of the northwest and has given special atten- tion to the question of publicity, believing that judicious advertising is one of the potent elements in success. To bring to the knowledge of the people the institu- tions which he has represented, their purposes, their plans and their merits, has




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